Author's Disclaimer: I don't own anything belonging to "The Legend of Korra!" Nothing.
Author's notes: What time is it? THE REUNION! It's that time, people! Come on, let's go!
"Watching"
Chapter twenty-one "The Reunion"
Korra leaned over Pepper's saddle as Air Temple Island came into view. Figures dotted the courtyard, but she scanned over the figures in red flight suits and air acolyte robes to the large white furry beast resting for a nap in the morning sun.
Korra's heart surged with unexpected and unbridled joy. "NAGA!" she yelled as soon as they were in earshot. Wonderfully, her pet raised her head instantly, recognizing her, and looked around, tail thumping on the cobblestones.
As soon as Pepper landed, Korra was leaping out of his saddle, landing on a well-placed gust of air. Naga raced toward her and nudged her hard, leaped high while whining, and lifted Korra straight up into the air as she hugged onto the large panting muzzle. Korra hugged her head as they came back down, fingers giving affectionate scritches along her polar bear dog's ears.
"I missed you so much, girl!" Korra exclaimed. Naga's large black eyes shone with love. Korra was enveloped by the honest love her pet had for her and held on, eyes closed. She could hear Tenzin's kids and Opal climbing down behind her, but this moment was three years too long in coming. As well as for other people….
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" Bumi exclaimed beside her. Korra opened her eyes and was lifted up into a full-body hug by the older airbender. "Bum-ju and I sure missed you!" He had really slimmed down and was clad in his own flight suit. 'Asami did a wonderful job on the suits,' Korra reflected. Her heart surged. 'Asami…..'
"It's so great to see you again, Bumi! And you too, Bum-ju," Korra gave a flash of her old smile to him and his spirit companion.
Tenzin and Pema rushed out to the courtyard, flanked by air acolytes and airbenders. The kids were collected up into hugs by their parents and all too soon, Tenzin made his way to Korra, eyes crinkled with relief.
"I'm so glad you're okay," he whispered. Korra's throat felt like there was a lump in it as she hugged him back. Tenzin may have been her airbending master, but he was also a father and his affection made her feel like a heel for disappearing. Everyone here loved her. She could have come back sooner.
"I missed you, Tenzin," Korra said. She squeezed the older man back.
But Korra knew it was beyond Tenzin to push her face in the dirt about her disappearance. However…. "I hate to get right down to business, but I want to hear what happened at Zaofu. Where's Su and her family?"
Korra couldn't stop from wincing, face twisted in agony. 'Thanks, Tenzin.'
Bumi picked up on the mood change and frowned at his brother. "Way to ruin the moment!" he muttered. Opal stalked past, shoulders tensed and chi a whorl.
"Kuvira's whole army was there. She captured Mom, Dad, and my brothers," she said, oddly keeping out Korra's mental state or moment of weakness. Korra was stupidly grateful but the mercy still made her feel horrible. Korra's strong shoulders slumped in shame.
"I thought I could handle things….but I lost," she admitted. Tenzin's strong hand settled on her shoulder and squeezed.
"No one expected you to handle Kuvira on your own," he said, trying to ease the worry in the Avatar's eyes. "It's up to all of us to find a way to deal with her. We're just glad to have you back!"
"Is Dad here?" Korra asked, looking around. She hoped and feared he was. Tenzin shook his head as Pema came over for her own hug.
"No, he had to assemble his troops in the Earth Kingdom. I'll radio him soon," Tenzin promised. Jinora tossed down the luggage from Pepper's saddle, the air acolytes catching the bags with ease. Jinora tossed Korra's bag at her and she caught it barely in time.
"I should radio Mom….and Mako and the others now that I'm back," Korra said casually. As she turned, bag shouldered, Bumi's voice rang out.
"You should really give Asami a call. She's been here so often, it's like she's part of the family!"
Korra halted, one foot in the air, her heart in her throat. Fear and longing made her throat seize up and she tried to remember how to breathe. "I'll….do that."
Jinora made a "get-to-it" gesture to Korra, and disappeared around Pepper, Kai meeting her around his massive side. Korra raised a brow at her although she was gone and couldn't see it.
"I'll call President Raiko…" Tenzin was saying to Pema and Opal as Korra made her way to the relative quiet of the temple halls. She followed the familiar path to the temple communications room. An air acolyte met her in the hall and walked in ahead to set up the radio. Korra asked for the coordinations to the South Pole palace and waited for the clicks to connect. Her mother was summoned and after a tearful greeting, Senna verbally berated her daughter for pulling a disappearing act.
"I'm sorry, Mom…I'm so sorry…." Korra said, resting her forehead on one hand. Her heart felt weary with the strain she'd caused her parents.
"Just know you never have to do that! Your father and I love you, no matter what!" Senna scolded, and sniffled. Korra was horrified that her mother was crying; obviously she was trying not to let it be audible.
"I'm here with Tenzin on Air Temple Island. Believe me, I'll let you and Dad know if I go anywhere!" Korra pledged. Her mother sniffled loudly.
"You better! I raised you better than that, Korra!"
Korra said goodnight, feeling lower than an ant-flea. She was ready to just go to the dining hall and put up with the guilt of being around the others would undoubtedly cause, when she spotted the telephone receiver on the corner of the large desk.
"I'm going to use the telephone," Korra said to the air acolyte who was hovering. "Can you please leave me alone?"
"Of course, Avatar Korra. Let me take your bag to your room," the woman smiled, giving a bow. Korra nodded and regarded the receiver as she left, bag in tow. Her dark fingers tapped on the desk as indecision set in.
She was so used to avoiding everyone, and what was one more day? But she hadn't written to Asami in weeks…..more like months now. She had to be wondering where she was.
Korra felt a surge of Raava's light and her heart lightened, just for an instant. 'Go to where your heart desires,' Raava whispered in her soul. Korra nodded and picked up the receiver before she could change her mind. She dialed Asami's office number and waited for the connection to stop clicking.
The phone rang five times. Just as it was going on its six ring and Korra was debating whether to just hang up and walk out of the room, the phone picked up.
"Hello?" It was Asami, and she sounded unrushed, even though she was six rings too late in picking up her own office line.
Korra's heart sped up and she gripped the desk with her left hand. Her right clenched the receiver so tight, she thought she was going to break it. "A-Asami?" she made out.
The line grew silent and she heart quiet rustling on the other end. "Korra?!" Asami gasped.
Korra took a deep breath and began with something that anyone could say…. "Hi, Asami. I'm back. Tenzin's kids found me…." Well, okay, not everyone.
"Where were you?" Asami asked, sounding dangerously close to tears. Korra's heart sank. "Were you with your dad? Were you okay?"
"I wasn't with my dad…in fact, I think I've worried everyone to death," Korra said, shame in her tone. Asami tsked her but tried to brighten. Korra needed assurances, not another reaming.
"You'll have to tell me all about it. I'm just glad you're here!" she exclaimed. Korra's heart gladdened.
"You should come over to the Island for dinner. Mako too!" Korra said.
On the other end, Asami's hand tightened around the receiver. Korra would only naturally ask after Mako. He was their friend. It didn't mean jealousy hadn't just reared its ugly head. "I'll give him a call. And I'm so sorry, I can't come tonight, Korra. CFO meeting. What about the Four Elements tomorrow? Their restaurant is amazing," Asami said.
Korra's heart sped up and she cleared her throat. "Sounds great! Tell me Mako's coming too."
"He will. I think even Mr. Bodyguard will want to be interrupted at work to know you're home," Asami teased. Korra blushed, a small smile on her lips.
"I can't wait to see you both."
'Especially you….'
"I missed you, Korra. Team Avatar, back together," Asami smiled. She and Korra said goodnight and the engineer leaned back in her desk chair, head tilting back. A wide smile was on her face.
"Alright!" she cheered and knocked over a stack of drawings from her engineers with the accidental jab she executed. Asami couldn't find it in herself to be mad, and she collected the papers up, humming under her breath. She really wished she could put Chen off tonight. But Raiko had issued a bonus with their completion of the infrastructure project. They really had to hammer out which chief engineers and foremen deserved a chunk of the surplus.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Korra," Asami said. She couldn't stop smiling the whole way to Chen's office, ledger in hand.
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Korra said goodnight to everyone and made her way to her room. Her bath was a semi-public affair, with Ikki, Jinora, Opal and the other female airbenders climbing into the large tub Korra had chosen and asking her questions about her travels.
Opal was downcast and Korra really needed to apologize. She knew actions would be better than any words, but Tenzin was meeting with Raiko tomorrow. Korra slid the door to her room shut and tried not to dwell on her shame of losing to Kuvira.
Even half conscious and entombed by earth, Korra had heard Opal and Jinora's words as Kuvira tried to take them.
"We got the poison out….. what's wrong with her?"
"Indeed, what's wrong with me?" Korra muttered. The past shame couldn't cancel out her excitement for tomorrow. She was going to see Asami and Mako….. her friends were glad she was back.
Naga padded inside with her and flopped by her thin bed. Korra went to the washroom to brush her teeth. She cast a sad look around the familiar washroom. She and Asami had both used this same room before she'd left…..
Asami was so glad she was back. She could hear it in her voice. Korra pulled on a pair of pajamas, silently thanking Pema for holding onto her old clothes. Naga panted happily up at her and Korra was put to a peaceful mindset. She sat on the edge of her bed and patted the polar bear dog's muzzle.
"Asami tomorrow," she confided to Naga. "It's been awhile, huh?"
Naga tilted her head to the side and whined curiously.
"I know, girl…." Korra was rather pent up thinking about the following day, but she turned off the beside lamp and settled down. She could hear the other airbenders entering their rooms down the hallway and Korra smiled in the dark. She finally felt safe, within the walls of Tenzin's home. She should have come back so much sooner. She knew her dark self was out there, but the comfort of Air Temple Island had made her forget her anxiety.
When Korra's eyes closed, she dove for sleep.
The first dreamscape made Korra so happy, she thought she was airbending the whole way. She was walking into an Earth Kingdom town, unfamiliar clothes in shades of green covering her tall body. The town residents called out greetings but Korra hastened to get to one home in particular. Without bothering to knock, she opened the front door. A beautiful woman was stirring something in a pot on the hearth and she straightened at the sound of her voice. She turned, eyes crinkling and gave a happy cry as she met Korra's gaze. The woman looked unfamiliar, but her features kept shifting to Asami. Korra strode across the room, dropping satchels and bags and a long war hammer, scooping her wife up in her arms. Asami twined her arms around her neck and they kissed eagerly. The unrivaled joy in Korra's heart was matched by the tears in Asami's eyes as they kissed and embraced, hands roaming eagerly. Asami laughed when Korra picked her up in her arms and carried her to the bedroom.
Naga whined in her sleep and Korra opened her eyes. She smiled in the darkness and scrubbed a wrist across her dampening eyes. Past life memory or no, the emotions of the dream were still with her as she patted Naga in the dark. Love and joy because she had come home….. Would Asami feel the same way tomorrow?
Korra sat up, and took a drink of water from the glass beside her bed and flopped eagerly under the blankets again. As she curled on her left side, she fell back to sleep almost instantly.
This dream's landscape was far more familiar, because it was at the South Pole. A far-flung village lay in a tangle of icy upthrusts of rock and earth, protected by the cruel winter winds. At the edges of the mountainous rock formations lay a cave. Only the tribal medicine men and healers were allowed in, but oft times tradition could be overlooked when desperation was high for a miracle.
Korra ducked as she pushed into the darkness of the cave. A lone torch glowed far off in the cave's depths, and she pushed the fur hood off her dark hair as she strode forward. Cupping a fireball in one hand to help light the way, she moved toward the torch and the elaborate stone shrine etched deep into the cave wall. Before it was her wife, a beautiful woman with long dark braids. She was near naked, belly distended in late pregnancy, as she bowed before the shrine, begging the Spirits for a healthy birth. Korra knelt beside her and in a flash the Water Tribeswoman became Asami. Korra tugged her mittens off and ran gentle fingers across her pale cheek and down her bare flesh, warming her though her chi.
"You should have waited for me," Korra whispered, smiling gently. Asami smiled back and happily fell into her arms, seeking her warmth through the furs and her extended chi.
"I knew you would find me," Asami said. "There! Can you feel it? The baby kicked!"
Korra's hand was collected and placed on Asami's huge belly and her heart seized up at the fluttering beneath her fingers. "I knew everything would be alright…."
"Of course you did," Asami's hands framed her face and she leaned in for a kiss. "You're the Avatar."
Korra kissed her gladly, one arm going around Asami's neck. The howling winds outside the cave didn't reach the ears of the two women who sighed and moaned into each other's mouths.
Korra woke groggily the next morning and Naga nudged her arm eagerly, silently asking for a walk. Korra was still tired, but the sleep she had was deep and soothing. And the dreams stilled her anxiety and her soul's worries.
"Come on, girl," Korra smiled, pushing back the covers. She ran to pee in the washroom and followed her polar bear dog out, not caring if anyone saw her in her pajamas.
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Korra didn't have much in the way of new outfits, with Pema having held on to her Water Tribe garments. After walking Naga, Korra washed up and dressed in an old pair of blue trousers, blue tanktop and fur pelt. There was even an old pair of her boots and Korra gladly slid them on. She ran both hands through her short hair, trying to even it out. It was too late to ask one of the air acolytes for a trim.
Korra ate breakfast with everyone who was glad to see her. Korra tried to be gentle to Opal but the airbender had stalked off for meditation after eating. Tenzin walked beside her, speaking in a low comforting tone. Korra was glad he was there for her, and finished up. She had a few hours until lunch and decided to help teach airbending forms. Kai was quick to learn and the other adults were coming on just fine.
Meelo barked instruction but Ikki and Jinora were far more patient. Korra's eyes softened as she took them all in. She should have come back sooner!
"Where are you going?" Meelo wondered as Korra noted the time. She patted Naga's nose and tapped her glider on the ground.
"To meet a few friends in the city. I'll be back in a few hours," she said.
"Do you need anyone to come with?" Jinora asked. Korra's heart sank at the concern in her gaze. She shook her head.
"It's Asami and Mako. We'll be fine," she said. There may not be anything dangerous at firsthand, but Korra was still nervous.
She glided into the city and made her way to the Four Elements. A doorman at the reception hall asked for her to check her glider, so Korra handed it over easily. Her hands, now free, twiddled together as she took in the various people gliding to and fro from the main area of the hotel. A hallway far off had to lead to the aforementioned restaurant and Korra made her way there. Her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest.
Korra caught sight of Asami before she noticed she was there. The engineer was wearing a smart coat over her red skirt, and her legs were crossed, exposing a good amount of her stockings. Her clever green eyes were focused on a magazine in her hands and Korra's eyes took her in from head to toe.
'Go on, Korra….she's been waiting!'
"I hope you haven't been waiting long….." Korra said out loud. Asami's eyes flickered and quickly darted up from the magazine to her. Her green eyes settled on her face and Korra's heart lurched.
A Earth Kingdom wife waiting for her return from war, a Water Tribeswoman offering prayers to a sacred place in the frozen tundra of the South Pole, her belly distended with her pregnancy….. all of the women were different but to Korra's heart, they were all Asami. And Asami was gazing softly at her now, as if she couldn't believe she were there.
"Only three years," Asami's eyes twinkled to let her know she didn't mean any harm. She rose to her feet and Korra was surprised how natural it felt to put her arms around her back as Asami clasped her close. It not only felt natural, it felt….right. After several long moments, their bodies pressed close together, Asami leaned back. She stayed close, her hands holding Korra's strong shoulders as she took her in from head to foot. "It's so good to see you again!"
"You too," Korra's eyes softened at the taller girl. Asami kept darting an appreciative glance up and down her form. Korra was glad she had her old clothes; her Water Tribe tanktop showed off her shoulders and breasts in a very flattering way.
"And I'm loving the hair!" Asami said honestly.
Korra blushed a bright red at the compliment and touched the ends of her short length. "Thanks….you're looking snazzy as always." The compliment was turned back easily but it was the truth. Korra knew her coat and outfit were newly tailored and Asami looked far too good in it.
"Thanks," Asami's green eyes sparkled. Korra closed her eyes against Asami's shoulder as the engineer's arms went around her again. She held onto Asami's back, inhaling the flowery fragrance of her shampoo in her hair and a subtle perfume. All too soon, the hug was over and Asami led her down the hallway toward the dining area of the restaurant. "Come on, Mako got us a table at the restaurant."
Korra's heart sped up. She knew she owed Mako an apology for bailing on him too, but she was also a little excited to see him. She hoped he wasn't too mad at her. The two women found Mako leaning against a nearby pillar. Korra was shocked to see him as finely dressed as Asami; his detective's jacket was fine, but the new suit he was wearing was sharp and pressed. He had even gelled his hair and his shoes were new.
"Hey!" Korra called, holding one hand up in a wave. Mako's eyes widened and he straightened, turning toward her. Korra was glad to see his eyes light up and he held his arms out.
"Korra!" Mako exclaimed, and they hugged each other. Korra noted that while it was nice, it was nowhere near as long or warm as Asami's just now. It didn't mean she didn't gladly hug him back. "How have you been?"
Before Mako could respond, a skinny young man dressed far more elaborately than even Asami or Mako squicked up between them, and got pretty much in her face. Korra tensed on reflex.
"Hello there, Prince Wu! Rightful heir to the throne, and this guy's boss!" Wu gave an affectionate shrug to Mako who was trying not to glower. "I bet he's told you a lot about me."
"Nope….not a thing!" Kind of hard to when she hadn't even written Mako back and had been on the move. Korra's heart lurched guiltily. Wu wasn't deterred and flung a friendly arm over her shoulders, ushering her to the nearby table.
"Then we have so much to talk about!" Wu gave Korra a gentle nudge, urging her to slide into the table and sit. He took up residence on her left side. Asami moved quickly, beating Mako to slide in and collect Korra's other side. Mako sighed and sidled in after her. She couldn't resist turning to give a terse whisper.
"I thought it was just going to be the three of us!" she frowned. Mako pouted apologetically, silently asking for forgiveness.
"Sorry, I couldn't ditch him! But he promised to be on his best behavior," Mako pleaded. On cue, Wu leaned toward Korra.
"Hey, pop into the Avatar State for me!"
Korra tried not to bury her face in her hands. "What? No!" She wasn't sure she could on command.
Asami's eyes softened and she scooted closer to Korra on the cushion. "So, can you go into the Avatar State again? I was worried when you told me you couldn't."
Korra's eyes softened toward Asami but Mako's next words made her clench. "Wait, when did she tell you she couldn't?"
Asami and Korra both looked away, thankfully not at each other, but they looked far too guilty for it to be just a one-time occurrence of leaving him out. His next words hammered in the apparently intimate level.
"What's going on with you two?"
"I…. wrote to Asami while I was away," Korra admitted. Her eyes dropped to the tablecloth. "I asked her not to tell you. Sorry."
Mako's golden eyes flashed with a familiar hurt. Korra had seen that hurt in her dreams when she bypassed him for Asami….. "So why didn't you ever write to me? Or Bolin?"
"I don't know," Korra's eyes softened with guilt. "I guess I didn't know what to say."
"A hello would have been nice," Mako groused. He leaned back into the cushion, arms crossed. He couldn't keep from scowling down at the tablecloth. Korra knew him well enough to know he was well and truly hurt.
Wu piped up to try and calm the whirling chi's of the other three at the table. "Mako, if it makes you feel any better, she didn't write to me either!"
It did not have the desired result. "Why would she?...Never mind!"
"I'm sorry I didn't stay in touch…. but I'm back now," Korra tried to soothe his stung ego. "And I want to know everything about what's been going on with you two."
'Please don't be dating,' Korra's inner voice called. Korra squashed it down as she turned to the woman at her side. Asami's green eyes softened and her voice picked up in excitement.
"Well, I kind of have some big news. I went to visit my father for the first time….. He'd been writing me letters and I guess I finally felt ready to try and forgive him," Asami said. Korra's heart went out to her. Hiroshi was Asami's only living relative and to take such a big step in forgiveness was huge for that relationship. It didn't mean she wasn't worried…..
"Are you sure you can trust him? He might just be manipulating you again…." Korra meant well, really she did, but Asami's flash of anger made her wince internally.
"You think I don't know what my own father is capable of?" Asami flared out.
"No, no I didn't mean…" Korra's hands raised defensively, her blue eyes wide with regret.
Asami hammered on. "You don't get to disappear for three years and act like you know what's best for me!"
Mako's brow quirked crazily. The argument that had formed between the two women might as well have been on a deserted island. They seemed locked into each other and had all but ignored him and Wu, one angry, the other trying to soothe her, and for all intents and purposes, looked like a lover's quarrel. His heart turned over in his chest. And for once, he knew how Asami felt when he had turned his attention unwittingly to Korra. Jealousy was a fickle creature that clung to his breast and wouldn't let go.
"One year…. I was technically on the road one year…" Korra's shoulders slumped and she flashed guilty eyes to Asami.
"I still didn't see you for three whole years! Even if you were with your family in the south for two of those, you didn't bother to come back!" Asami went on. Her heart was in her words. Korra reached out, hands raised hesitantly. Memories of clasping a jilted wife's shoulders in her hands as she pleaded for forgiveness flashed through her mind. Korra gulped.
"It's not like I PLANNED to be gone that long, I wanted to come back!" Korra leaned closer. Asami's eyes were angry but focused on her. "But I never felt ready until now!"
"As much as I'm enjoying this little catch-up, my royal bladder is about to explode!" Wu said, setting his water glass down. He sidled out of the booth and gestured to his pouting bodyguard. "Mako, come oooooon. I need you to stand guard."
Mako pursed his lips angrily. "I'm not going to hold your hand every time you have to empty your royal bladder. Go to the bathroom on your own for once!"
Wu looked crestfallen. He bit his fingertip and slouched off. "Fine…" he pouted.
At this interesting development, Korra felt she had to ask. "Do you always go to the bathroom with him?"
Mako turned to her, glad for the diversion. "I don't go-with-him, with-him, I just stand there in the general vicinity while he….." He slouched in the booth. "I don't wanna talk about it."
The day was shaping up to be a bad one and Korra's heart surged. The three fidgeted, trying to put conversation onto stable footing. But Asami's heartfelt words still turned over in Korra's mind. She had to make it up to her…..
The waiter brought over a steaming tray of food. Korra took one of the four plates offered and served Asami, silently asking for her forgiveness. She quirked her brow at the octopus fritters, but Asami was already taking a careful bite. Korra handed Mako a plate and they helped themselves to a few, keeping the princely portion for the prince.
"I wonder what's keeping Wu…." Mako looked around, finally noting his absence. "He's not one to miss out on lunch. I'll go check on him."
With Mako gone, Asami and Korra turned as one unit toward each other. Korra noted Asami looked guilty for unloading her anger on her. And Korra just felt hella guilty for her disappearance.
"Korra, I…"
"Asami, please….."
"I'm sorry," they finished together. Korra's brow quirked at the flustered engineer.
"No, I'm the one that should be sorry," Korra insisted. "I went off the radar because I thought I had to find myself. I should have written you more. I should have let you in on what was going on."
"You'll still have to explain it to me," Asami said, but her hurt was being replaced with twinges of concern. "I'm sorry for lashing out at you."
"I deserve it," Korra's shoulders slumped. She took a bite of an octopus fritter, the chewy legs feeling like rubber between her teeth. "I should have known I could have leaned on you."
Korra's words made Asami's heart speed up. She rested a hand on Korra's bare shoulder and squeezed. Korra's wide blue eyes took her in with surprise.
"You can. You're back now. And just know I'm here for you."
'More than you think I am.'
Korra gave a relieved smile. Asami was pleased to see her old lopsided grin bloom before her eyes. "Thanks, Asami. What would I do without you?"
'What would I do without you?' the memory of Korra laying in her bed on Air Temple Island, legs unmoving sprang to Asami's mind. Her eyes softened.
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me about it?" She asked. Korra grinned.
"We really need to catch up," Korra admitted. "Wonder what's taking Mako so long. We know Wu went to the bathroom."
Asami's mind twitched with possible outcomes. "Come on….let's search the hallways. Something's up."
The two women sidled out of the booth and made their way down the hall after Mako. He came out of the men's restroom and shrugged at them both. Korra noted he was starting to look worried.
"He's not in there," Mako said belatedly. He turned down another hallway and Asami leaned against the wall next to Korra.
Two men in worker's livery passed by them and Korra's mind turned over, as she took in the laundry cart they handled.
"Be right back," she muttered to Asami.
Korra cornered the two men on the back docks and inquired after the Prince. The men refused to have seen him and Korra was ready to walk away until one of the large white sacks moved and a familiar head popped out.
"I'm in laundry!" Wu announced deliriously and collapsed. Korra frowned and turned to the first man. He got the jump on her and knocked her out with a tide of earthbending. Korra was berating herself, as the wind was knocked out of her and the men took off in the work van. She made out Mako and Asami running toward her. One of her arms cradled her side.
"They've got Wu! Get the car, I'm going after them!" Korra announced.
She charged around to the front of the building to try and halt the van with her own surge of earthbending. The street roiled up in rocky rivulets but the van got away. Asami pulled up beside her in a convertible, tires screeching, and Korra was all too glad to jump into the back seat. She only had to trust the engineer would get them to the van in time as she peeled out, dodging afternoon traffic.
"Turn right here! We'll cut 'em off!" Mako suggested, pointing to an upcoming sign. Asami bypassed the street and turned onto the freeway ramp. "You missed the turn! Where are you going?!" he screamed.
Asami glared at him, but upshifted the convertible into fourth gear smoothly. "I know these streets better than you…I built some of them!"
Mako pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his seething frustration to himself. The street pulled up onto an overhead bridge and Korra stood up in the backseat, spotting the work van below them.
"What are you doing?! Sit down!" Mako snapped at her. Korra ignored him and leaped out of the car, spiraling down onto the top of the van on a current of airbending. She tore a hole in the metal of the van's roof, and peered down at the startled driver.
"Where is he?" Korra demanded. She hopped inside and tugged the driver out of his seat. After knocking him against the back of the van, she hopped into the driver's seat and smashed her boot on the brake. The van came to a halt and she came out of the back, dragging the man by his collar.
"Wu's not here! This guy was the only one in the truck!" she announced. It may not have been the same as saving the prince, but at least a culprit was apprehended. Mako grabbed him up from Korra and slammed him against the side of the van.
"Where's the prince?!"
"Halfway to Kuvira by now!" the man grimaced as Mako slammed him back into the van again. A twisted smile distorted his face. "All hail the Great Uniter!"
Mako groaned. Luckily, a local squad car pulled up behind them and Mako let them collect the man. "Take this guy in for booking. Charge him with kidnapping. Tell Chief Beifong that Prince Wu is missing and put out an all-points bulletin. We'll keep looking!"
"Where do we start?" Asami worried. "There are thousands of satomobiles in the city!"
"They could try smuggling him out on an airship," Mako suggested. Asami nodded.
"Or a boat!" she added. Mako threw his hands into the air with frustration.
"He could be anywhere! The ONE TIME I don't watch him pee and this is what happens!"
"You couldn't have known this was going to happen," Asami tried to soothe him. "Where should we go first, Korra?"
She turned toward Korra who had been walking slowly away. A few spirits glided beside her and the Avatar laid her hands onto a large chunk of spirit vine that was growing out of the street beside them. Asami watched curiously as Korra concentrated, not knowing the way her chi spiraled along the vines across the city, honing in on Wu's aura.
Her eyes snapped open. "They're taking Wu to the train station!"
"Are you sure?" Asami wondered. "How do you know?"
"I'll explain on the way, just drive! We're running out of time!" Korra clambered into the backseat. Asami turned the key into the ignition and revved the engine. Mako barely had time to hop into the passenger seat.
As the convertible sped along, Mako craned his neck to look back at Korra. Despite the situation, they finally all seemed at ease with each other again. "So how do you know where Wu is by touching spirit vines?"
"I learned how to connect to people's energy through them," Korra tried to explain. Asami darted a glance over her shoulder.
"Who taught you that?"
"Lin's mom," Korra said casually. Mako and Asami started. "I found her in the swamp. That place is like one giant spirit wild."
"You met Toph?" Asami was impressed. "What was she like?"
"Uhm, a cranky more miserable version of Lin," Korra admitted. Mako glanced back at her.
"Is that even possible?"
"You'd be surprised," Korra grinned. Asami parked at the rail station; illegally, Korra noted. The three hopped out and Asami pulled a shock glove out of the trunk.
Korra was secretly happy she kept one on standby and nodded her approval. "Nice," she said as the three jogged into the station. Asami grinned at her.
"Always be prepared, that's the motto," she said. Korra smiled at her as they moved.
The three looked around rapidly, eyes darting from the crowds of citizens coming and going from he trains. "He could be anywhere!"
"Hang on…" Korra knelt and extended her chi. Even without her hands directly on a spirit vine, she was startled she was still able to latch onto Wu's aura. She straightened and pointed. "He's on that train!"
"Come on, hurry!" Asami nudged Mako and the three ran down the stairs toward the platform Korra had pointed to.
"How do you know?" Mako panted. The train was taking off, picking up speed. Korra leaped onto the outside of a car, reaching automatically to pull Asami up behind her. She had to trust Mako would make his way on behind them.
"I don't," Korra admitted as they slid the door to the train car open and walked in down the aisle. "But I had a feeling, okay?"
Mako was not convinced. "And I'm just supposed to trust your Avatar feelings?"
His tone quirked Korra's anger. She turned from following Asami to whirl in his face. "You wouldn't have to if you had guarded the prince like you were supposed to!"
Mako glowered at her, familiar anger in his gaze. Korra turned from him and stalked down the aisle, eyes fixated on Asami's red coat. "Oh! So it's MY fault Wu disappeared!"
Korra turned back to him. "Well, it's certainly not mine!"
Asami grit her teeth. It sounded like an old quarrel coming back up and she didn't want it to go into full swing. "Guys! Sssh! Listen!" she hissed, as rattling sounded from the luggage around them. She pointed at a large trunk.
Mako opened the trunk and everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Wu popped up like a toy, hands shoving out at Mako. Mako clasped his shoulders and gave a gentle shake.
"Wu! Wu! It's me!" he called. The effects of his drugged state still made Wu's eyes wobbly and they darted from him, to Korra and Asami.
"Mako? Am I dead?" he wondered plaintively. Mako sighed and hauled him to his feet.
"No, you're on a train. We're gonna get you out of here!" Mako insisted.
The door to the car slid open and Korra's chi surged as she noted a man and woman charging in, metal sheets flying toward them. She jumped in front of Asami on reflex, bending the metal away. Another door slid open and she glanced back at Asami and beyond her to make out other flunkies heading toward them. Korra flung her wrists, the metal of the roof peeling apart like a sardine can.
"Everyone out!" She urged. Asami and Mako, of course, looked ready for action. Wu stamped one foot on the ground.
"I'm not going up there!" he yelled indignantly. Korra glowered and she flung the prince onto the roof with a gust of airbending. His outraged scream of panic rang in their ears as Korra pushed Asami and Mako up after him. Soon all four were running on the car roofs, Korra pausing after jumping with Asami across to the next car, and waited for Mako to toss the prince toward her. She caught Wu easily and Mako leaped across after them.
Three of Kuvira's soldiers leaped up like a bad monster mover, cornering them on either side. Mako jumped in front of Korra, who was holding onto Wu. His back kick was caught by a metal cable and he was felled. Korra grabbed the next metal cable and slung it around her forearm. Her other arm clutched the terrified prince.
Footsteps came up behind them and Kora groaned mentally as she made out the other soldier coming up on Asami's left. She shouldn't have worried when Asami flew at him with a well-timed back kick, and landed her shock glove onto his neck. Electricity pulsated from the glove and the man screamed as he fell. Korra's adrenaline screamed excitedly, but the remaining soldiers peeled up the metal of the roof on either side of their group, trying to push them inward.
Korra looked around wildly, and her gaze settled on the valley below the train tracks. Her eyes lifted and locked with Asami's, and her green gaze was oddly calm.
"Jump!" Korra yelled to everyone, her left arm going around Asami's waist. She held Wu with her other arm and Mako latched onto him. As Mako and Asami jumped off the train, trusting her, Korra whirled a gust of wind around them. They still fell hard, her cushion of air bouncing them off the concrete pillar of the train track below them, and sufficiently jolted, Korra's concentration broke. The gust of wind disappeared around them as they all hit the dirt. Everyone bounced and sprawled, unsure if they had made it out in one piece or not. Korra raised on one elbow, internally berating herself until she saw Asami lift to her feet, smoothing out her clothing. She had to be alright, if she was concerned with her appearance.
Asami gave her a shy smile and tugged Korra's arm, helping her to her feet. Korra groaned and set her hand to her lower back.
"Sorry, that was bumpy," she apologized to everyone. Mako was helping lift Wu to his feet, but they looked none the worse for wear.
"We made it," he told her, and Korra was assured. Rough landing and bruises or not, a win was a win and they had found the prince. Korra started to tell herself to relax when Wu flung his arms around Mako.
"Thank you thank you thank you! You are getting a raise, buddy!" Wu insisted. Mako jerked a thumb to Korra.
"You should be thanking Korra! We never would have found you without her," he said. Wu clasped his fist in one hand and gave an appreciative bow. Korra was oddly flattered.
"I owe you my life, Avatar!" he said. Then he spoiled the moment. "If only there was some way to repay you… I know, how about a night on the town?"
Korra grimaced as he clasped her hand between his. "You're asking me out…right now?" Airbending or not, it was still a rough landing and she wanted nothing more than to take a long bath and soak.
"So…. Put you down for a maybe?" Wu quirked his thick brows.
"How about a never?" Korra ignored his hurt expression and turned to her friends. "Not exactly what I imagined for our first day back together."
Asami quirked her lips at her. "But it was kinda like old times! Getting into weird scrapes and all. Well, except for the getting-on-each-other's-nerves part."
"Actually," Mako interjected. "That IS like old times for me and Korra."
Korra gave a wry smile to him. She was pleased to see a wide smile spreading Mako's lips. "I'm sorry things got so tense earlier."
"It's alright," Asami offered. "After being apart for three years, there's bound to be abit of an adjustment period."
"Yeah, but it's great to have you back," Mako said.
"There's no place I'd rather be!" Korra admitted. She and Asami locked eyes and she blushed as the engineer's arms drew around her shoulders, pulling her in. Mako closed in around them, wide arms holding them close. Wu tried to sidle into the group hug but Korra shoved him back.
"You guys are the greatest!" he gushed despite the physical rejection. Asami watched a small blush dart across Korra's face as they separated.
"What do we do with him?" Korra scrubbed her red cheek with one wrist.
"I need a cushy safe-house!" Wu agreed. Mako sighed.
"I know just the place," he said, turning pleading eyes to Asami. She nodded.
"The mansion's big enough. And your family's already there," she said. Mako's smile was apologetic but thankful.
"I suppose we should call the Chief from there," Mako said. "Come on, let's go."
Everyone turned to walk back toward the rail station and Asami's satomobile. It still took quite abit of time, and Korra refused to airbend the prince who voiced his displeasure at the trek. The four drove in relative peace toward the Sato mansion, Wu chattering the whole way. Asami stole a glance in the rearview mirror at Korra. She was lounging behind her in the backseat, one arm across the back of the seat.
"Wow! I didn't know you came from money!" Wu exclaimed when he took in the Sato grounds. Asami pulled into the front gate, watching the door guard shut the gates after they entered.
"I don't. This is Asami's place," Mako said. Asami brought the satomobile to a halt and turned off the ignition. She opened her door, watching Wu clamber out after Korra clumsily.
"There's a nice guest house in the gardens. That's where Mako's family is staying. Unless you want a guest room in the mansion?" Asami asked.
Wu shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, straightening it out. "As a proper guest, I'll stay in the guest house!" he decided.
Introductions aside, and after Mako carried his grandmother off, who had fainted dead away, Asami turned to an uncharacteristically quiet Korra.
"What a day huh?" Korra smiled. Asami touched her elbow and tugged gently.
"Come on. Mako can find us once everyone's settled. You still have to tell me about your travels," Asami urged. Korra followed her, feet feeling very light.
End for now
End notes: And everyone's back together again! Do that review thing.
Most sincerely, pen
9/06/2016