Monday, January 26th
Korra woke up uncharacteristically early Monday morning. She sat up with a yawn, looking tiredly around the apartment. She needed to go talk to Lin. She shuffled down the hallway, eyes half closed, and went into her bedroom to get a change of clothes. Asami was sprawled out across the bed on her stomach, Naga sleeping with her head lying on Asami's shoulder. Korra got her clothes out of the closet as silently as she could, and made her way back into the hallway and toward the bathroom so she could shower. She showered as quickly as she could and got dressed, the pit in her stomach growing as she thought about the Equalist bombings over the past two days and what Lin would have to say about it.
When she was dressed, she went back into the bedroom, putting on her boots and rummaging around in the desk as quietly as possible, looking for a notepad and a pencil. Once she found what she was looking for, she jotted down a quick note, tearing it off the pad, folding it, and leaving it on top of Asami's phone. Korra got the key to her motorcycle off the counter, pulling her coat on over her head and jogged out the door to the apartment, ready to be at the police station.
Korra went into Lin's office without a word to Saikhan, though the older man eyed her cautiously as she sauntered into the station. Lin was expecting her, Korra knew that. Lin didn't look up from her work when Korra came into the office and plopped down in the seat in front of Lin's desk.
"Hey, Chief," Korra grunted, crossing her arms.
"Have you talked to Raiko?" Lin cocked up one eyebrow, not looking up.
"Not since Saturday."
"He's called me four times in the past hour." Lin scowled, "For someone who's releasing my prisoners on a whim, he sure acts like he wants me to do something."
"I can't stand him either, if it helps."
"It doesn't."
"Well if he's releasing Equalists, how are you going to keep them down?"
"I don't know. Can the White Lotus help us?"
"If I'm being threatened," Korra shrugged, "Part of their job, 'protect' the avatar."
"Well, I think this counts. You're the one most at risk."
"I was. They don't care who gets hurt now. It's chaos."
"Speaking of hurt, Korra," Lin looked up with a frown, "Want to know the death count?"
"No." Korra grumbled, "I feel bad enough."
"We share that problem then, Korra. It's my job to keep the city safe, and here I am. Raiko undoing what I've done, dead bodies in the street."
"We have to stop them." Korra interrupted, "I can't stand this."
"You're a whole problem on your own, Korra," Lin sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I refuse to be responsible for the death of the avatar."
"Not your fault if I'm volunteering. You've not ordered me to do anything."
"Won't make it any easier, Korra. How is Sato?"
Korra's face faded from a frown to a light smile almost instantly.
"Asami's better. Opal too. I know you were worried about them."
"Hiroshi really the one leading the Equalists?" Lin changed the subject quickly.
"Seems that way."
Lin released a deep breath and rubbed her forehead.
"Do you have anything on him, Korra?"
"No. Opal punched him though."
A grin played in the corner of Lin's mouth, if only briefly.
"How'd that play out?"
"He tried spreading the blame around, Opal snapped on him and socked him through the face. I nearly smashed his head in when he went to swing back."
"What stopped you?"
"I won't do that to Asami," Korra shrugged, "Much as I want to break his neck. Is Raiko doing anything for the victims or their families?"
"No." Lin was scowling again, "Toza is the only one who has tried to do anything. How's that coming along?"
"We've got a few restaurants that are going to donate food. We'll sell plates of it and give the money to the families of the dead probenders."
"How many are dead?"
Korra frowned, she didn't want to talk about it, "The problem is we can't find anywhere safe enough to do the fundraiser, not now."
"You pick a place, Korra, I'll make it safe." Lin promised, staring at her, "If Raiko won't help, I'll be damned if you'll be stopped."
"Aww, Lin, you're going soft."
"Don't push it, avatar."
"You sound like Opal."
Lin grinned a little more, looking back down at her papers.
"You're going to have Opal gray-haired by the time she's thirty, Korra."
"She reminds me almost daily," Korra grinned.
"You been staring down the barrel of anymore Equalist guns?"
"No," Korra's grin faded as rapidly as it had come, "But I would again in a heartbeat. At this point, Lin, it's anything I have to do to stop them. No reason for these innocent people to die."
Lin nodded slowly and rubbed her forehead.
"I hope we can keep things from becoming that drastic." Lin sighed, standing up from her desk, "The White Lotus' presence will help, if we can get them."
"Can't hurt to ask," Korra shrugged.
"It can't, you're right. But I have other things to deal with right now. Come on," Lin motioned Korra to follow her, "Someone called about something pretty large being dropped off at Aang Memorial Island. I want to look into it."
"Lead the way, Chief."
The first thing Asami saw was Naga. The massive dog had her head bowed playfully, her entire body wiggling along with her tail. She pounced around Asami several times, barking eagerly, wanting Asami to play with her. Asami stood up from where she had been lying, and bent at the waist, putting her forehead against Naga and ruffling the dog's ears. When Asami released her, the panting dog bounded a few yards away, turning and barking at Asami again. She wanted Asami to follow her.
Asami followed obediently, a smile threatening to break her face. Naga's white fur contrasted against the dark strands of grass, and despite how high the grass actually was, Asami never lost sight of Naga's back, weaving a path ahead of her.
Eventually Naga stopped, sitting down on a hill and panting heavily. She was waiting on Asami, and when Asami was next to her, she loped lazily down the hill, into a field of fire-lilies, their light petals in full bloom. Asami sat down with a sigh amongst the flowers a moment later, laying down with her arms behind her head. She could hear Naga barking again close by, and Asami let herself take a deep breath, watching as the fire-lilies around her swayed in the warm breeze. The smell of salt water came with the wind, bringing with it the slight rustle of footsteps. Asami looked up, expecting Naga, but instead found Korra, standing just above Asami's head, looking down at her with a crooked grin. Her eyes were bright, metallic, almost faded steel, and as clear as icy water. It made Asami feel warm at first, but most of all, safe.
"Are you just going to lay here all day, sunshine?"
Asami felt herself shake her head, still unable to help her smile, and Korra moved to her side, pulling Asami to her feet.
"Let's find Opal," Korra told her, taking hold of Asami's hand and pulling her gently along behind her. Asami felt her fingers tingle.
The pair of them walked hand in hand down toward a narrow stream, where Asami could see Opal staring down at something at her feet. As they drew closer, Asami saw it was a pale looking kite, laying limply on the ground before Opal.
"Opal, what are you doing?" Asami asked, looking from the kite to her friend.
"I wanted to fly the kite today," Opal sighed, "But the breeze isn't strong enough."
"Make it stronger?" Asami raised one eyebrow, "You're an airbender after all."
"What?" Opal blinked at Asami in surprise, "That's news to me, I've never been able to bend."
Korra was laughing, a deep rumble to Asami's left, and Opal crossed her arms with a frown.
"Other than Korra," Opal grumbled, "You're the only airbender around right now, Sato. You want to help me out?"
"I'll see what I can do," Asami laughed, watching as Korra bent over and picked the kite up.
"Better you than me," Korra's words were laced with her own laughter as she passed the kite to Asami, "If something happens to her kite, Opal will eat me alive."
Somehow, Asami managed to get the kite into the air, watching it soar across the clear, pale sky. She glanced to her side and found Opal and Korra standing next to her, both their heads turned up as they watched the kite twist in the air.
"Nice," Opal finally grinned.
"Here you go, Opal," Asami laughed, handing her the kite string, "Have fun."
"The kite is in one piece," Korra chuckled, "Good job, sunshine."
Korra got off the boat at Aang Memorial Island with Lin, looking around for anything out of place. They made their way from the beach up the slope toward the museum at the base of the statue, Lin's mouth pressed into a hard line. The only thing Korra could see when they got a full view of the museum was the crumpled remains of Asami's car, that Korra had last seen in Hiroshi's garage.
"Oh no," Korra groaned, her shoulders slumping slightly.
Lin cast a sideways glance at Korra, raising one eyebrow.
"What?"
"That's Asami's car," Korra sighed, "I was the one who made it look like…well…"
Korra motioned at the mass before them and Lin scowled.
"Who put it here?"
"I left it in Hiroshi Sato's garage at Future Industries, so I'll give you three guesses."
"Great."
Lin bent the bottom of her shoe off, slamming her foot into the ground a moment later. Korra went to step closer to the museum, but Lin's arm shot out in front of Korra's chest, stopping her from moving any nearer.
"The entire thing is rigged with explosives," Lin growled, "We need to get off the island. Now."
"What are we going to do about-." Korra began, interrupted when Lin grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her down to the boat.
"I'll have to get a crew out here to try and deal with it," Lin muttered, "We can't be here if the half the fucking museum gets blown off."
"What happens if-."
"There's no one else on the island," Lin pulled Korra into the boat, "As soon as we get back to the docks, I'm putting a call in to keep it that way."
"Why would they put it here?" Korra frowned, looking back at the island.
"I have my guesses. None of them are good for you."
Asami woke up a few minutes before her alarm went off. When she sat up in bed she was greeted by a tired huff from Naga.
"Good morning, Naga," Asami chuckled, scratching the top of Naga's head before reaching for her phone.
She pulled her phone off the charger, picking up Korra's note as she did so.
"Going to be with Lin all day. Don't let Opal worry too much, sunshine. Hope you have a good day."
She smiled and shuffled into the kitchen, where Opal was sitting at the table, eating a bowl of cereal.
"Isn't that Korra's?" Asami grinned, sitting down at the table with her.
"Yeah," Opal nodded, a look of disgust on her face, "I'm out of yogurt. I don't know how she eats this crap. It's mostly sugar. Speaking of the wonderful avatar, where the hell is she?"
"With Lin," Asami replied with a yawn.
"I knew you'd know," Opal snorted, looking at Asami with a grin, "She doesn't tell me anymore. She knows I'll worry."
"Is she wrong?" Asami raised one eyebrow.
"No," Opal shook her head and laughed, putting her bowl in the sink.
"Do you want me to go pick up some groceries, Opal? I have plenty of time today."
"I would," Opal sighed, "But I'm not exactly comfortable going out and getting blown up. That should go for you too. I don't want you risking it."
"Make me a list," Asami insisted, "I'll go after my class."
"Braver than me," Opal admitted, "Korra still think you're safe, after yesterday?"
"I don't know. I don't think so, but if you need groceries, I'm going to go get them."
Bolin and Mako helped Asami carry the last of the groceries upstairs into the apartment. Opal wasn't back in the apartment yet, and as Asami started putting the groceries away, Bolin sat on the futon and cut the television on.
"Bo, really?" Mako crossed his arms and raised one eyebrow, "Already watching TV?"
"Well I've got to do something," Bolin shrugged, picking the remote up and flipping through the channels, "You want help, Asami?"
"No thank you," Asami smiled, putting the milk in the fridge.
"See, Mako?" Bolin motioned toward Asami, "She doesn't need me, so I can watch television."
"Have you seen Korra today?" Mako asked, rolling his eyes at Bolin.
"No," Asami replied, pushing her hair out of her face, "Have you?"
"Nope." Mako shook his head and sat down at the kitchen table.
"I have," Bolin replied slowly from the futon, "She's on television."
"What?" Asami asked, crossing into the living room quickly as Mako shot up out of his seat.
Bolin had stopped on the news station, and they could see a view of Aang Memorial Island, a small boat between the camera and the island itself.
"Chief Beifong discovered early this morning there were explosives placed on Aang Memorial Island. Avatar Korra and Chief Beifong are in the boat with the bomb disposal squad, who are using robotics on the island itself with the hopes of safely deactivating bomb. Visitation to the island and museum have been restricted at this time."
Asami sat down next down to Bolin without breathing. The press were unable to get any closer than the docks, and were forced to fixate on the view of the boat, where the shapes of Lin and Korra could faintly be seen on the deck, watching the island. Asami put her hands over her mouth and put her elbows on her knees, staring at the television as the reporter continued repeating the information.
A half an hour later, nothing had changed, and Opal had returned, sitting next to Bolin and Asami, watching worriedly along with them. All four of them were silent, fixated on what was playing out before them. After a good long while, the boat turned and started back toward the dock.
"The authorities are now confident that the explosive has been deactivated and are returning to the docks. The next course of action is to remove the device from the island and dispose of it."
The cameras were immediately on Lin and Korra as they climbed out of the boat and onto the dock. Lin leaned close to Saikhan and spoke momentarily in his ear, before she and Korra were lifted into one of the police airships. As soon as they were on board, the airship turned toward the island and began heading that way.
"We are going to use the airship to lift the device off the island," it was Saikhan's speaking now,"Chief Beifong, along with several other officers, are going to attach metal cables to it in order to do so. Avatar Korra has, to my understanding, volunteered to be lowered down with the cables, in order to make sure they are properly secure."
"Is she fucking crazy?" Opal was barely breathing, "What if they didn't disarm it?"
None of them answered her, watching anxiously as the cameras followed the airship. When it was over the island, Opal wordlessly took hold of Asami's hand, squeezing it tightly.
The four of them sat silently for several minutes, until a large mass was slowly lifted off the island. Asami drew a sharp breath, recognizing the shape, even at that distance.
"Oh no," Asami muttered, putting her face in her hands.
Korra had texted Opal and Asami sporadically enough that afternoon after she had been on television that by the time Korra got back to the apartment that night, Opal was already asleep in her room. Korra hadn't expected to Asami be awake either, but as she closed the door to the apartment behind her, she found Asami sitting on the futon, watching television with Naga's head in her lap.
"Still up, sunshine?" Korra smiled tiredly, pulling her coat off and laying it across the back of one of the kitchen chairs.
"Yeah," Asami sighed, "I'm sorry."
"For?"
"Putting you and Lin through all that today. I shouldn't have told you to smash the fucking car, I knew it would piss him off. What if Lin had gotten hurt? What if you had gotten hurt?"
"Asami," Korra rubbed her neck and let out a slow breath, "You didn't load it with explosives and put it on the island, and neither did I. We didn't do this."
Asami pushed her hair out of her face and looked up at Korra with another sigh.
"Don't worry," Korra continued, "They were sending a message this time. No one got hurt."
"This time. I'm tired of apologizing for my dad, for feeling responsible. This is so ridiculous."
Korra sighed and went to sit on the coffee table in front of Asami.
"None of this is your fault, Asami." Korra told her.
"I just want to be able to do something to stop them."
"Maybe Lin has something you can do," Korra shrugged a little, "I'd ask her."
"I will," Asami nodded, "I bet you're tired though, I should let you go to bed."
"I'll stay up with you as long as I can, sunshine."
"Thank you, Korra."
"Naga," Korra clicked her tongue, looking at the dog in Asami's lap, "Down."
Naga climbed off the futon with a huff, and Korra moved to the seat next to Asami. Asami sighed, leaning on Korra's shoulder and closing her eyes. After a couple of minutes, Korra took hold of Asami's hand and smiled at her.
"How was class?" Korra asked, raising her eyebrow.
"It was fine. A little boring, honestly. I had to buy groceries today after class, too."
"Oh I bet that was fun," Korra smirked.
"As uneventful as it could have been, considering what's happened the past few days," Asami muttered, "Mako and Bolin helped me bring all the stuff up when I got back. By then you and Lin were all over the news."
"I wish I could have seen it instead of been involved," Korra shrugged her free shoulder.
"Seeing it wasn't good for Opal's nerves," Asami chuckled a little, "Mine either."
"I think you're both alright now," Korra laughed.
Asami elbowed Korra playfully and smirked. Korra rubbed her side and frowned, fighting back a yawn.
"Tired?" Asami raised one eyebrow.
"No, just been a long day."
Asami hummed in response, muting the television and squeezing Korra's hand. They sat on the futon, silently together, and Korra watched the muted television with half interest, listening to Asami's breathing. When Asami started snoring, Korra stood up with a yawn of her own, picking Asami up and carrying her into the bedroom to put her in bed. She laid Asami down as gently as she could manage, covering her with the blankets and leaning down, kissing Asami lightly on the forehead.
"Sleep good, sunshine," Korra told Asami quietly. She got to hear Asami mumble a goodnight in her direction before she closed the bedroom door, and she smiled as she made her way back into the living room.