Chapter Thirty Four
Apparently, tonight is Asami's night to wake up screaming. She clutches the sheets tight enough to rip them with her nails. The sweat that coats her body makes her feel like she's just showered. She still doesn't hear Korra's reassuring words or feel her hands gently touching her. She doesn't see anything but what's haunting her dreams. She doesn't hear anything but her own harsh breathing.
Korra can't do anything until she comes back to herself. She just knows that she can't leave her side.
Slowly, Asami begins to snap back to reality. She forces her breathing to slow as she squeezes her eyes shut. Then, she leans a bit into Korra, letting her familiar scent pull her back completely. Before she looks at Korra, she wills her heart to stop trying to escape her chest. She grabs the bottle of water from her nightstand with trembling fingers and takes small sips even though plenty of it ends up spilling on her naked chest.
She kicks the covers off of her feet and reaches for her black silk robe that stops just above mid thigh. She quickly wraps it around herself, ignoring the pain in her back and arms.
"Asami?" Korra calls when her love still doesn't turn to her.
"I'm going to take a shower," she says quietly.
Korra reaches out with her hand, but drops it and drops her head as she hears Asami close the bathroom door and lock it behind her.
#
Asami breaks down in tears the second she turns on the water. She can't bear to look at Korra after her dream. It felt too real. It was just too much. It's been five days and she can still smell the room. The mold, the dust, the hint of disinfectant. She can still feel her bindings keeping her trapped in place.
The nightmares don't help. Watching Korra die, feeling her fear as she begs for Asami to save her, seeing the light drain from her eyes, the vibrant blue dimming into nothing, her face go slack. It's torture.
The water is as hot as she can manage. It beats against her skin, turning it red, but she doesn't care. The pain gives her something to focus on. It reminds her that she's alive and safe.
She just needs to gain her composure.
Korra's been doing a bit better than her, but she's had some nightmares of her own. She always wakes up and reaches for Asami, making sure that she's still there with her and that Asami knows she's not going anywhere.
Even with everything Korra's dealing with, she still tries to protect Asami.
"And what do I do? I run away." Asami slams the side of her fist into the wall as she allows the water to rain on her from the head down.
It's just too bad that the water can't wash away the emotional scars that have been branded inside her.
#
Korra sits up in bad for five minutes staring at the locked door to the bathroom, willing it to unlock. Her wish doesn't come true and the distance between them feels like a hundred thousand miles.
She grabs her crimson Fire Ferrets hoodie off the floor and pulls on her black sweat pants before checking the time. 4 a.m. With a sigh, Korra runs her fingers through her messy hair and texts Asami's phone that's sitting on the nightstand.
I need to go for a drive. I'll be back soon.
Then, she purposely sets her own phone on the bed and grabs her keys and her gun.
#
Asami spends about twenty minutes standing in the shower before she finally decides to scrub herself clean. Slowly, she begins to relax and as each minute passes, she begins to feel horrible about locking Korra out.
She's smart enough to know that the action of locking the door was like locking Korra away from her emotions as well. Korra wants to protect her and she wouldn't let her.
Asami has always been independent. She just wants to be able to protect herself.
As soon as she opens the door, she begins to apologize, knowing Korra wouldn't be able to sleep until she knew Asami was okay.
"Korra, I'm sorry I ran away. I just…" She looks around the room and her eyes stop at the empty bed with the tangled sheets.
"Korra?" she calls quietly as she re-wraps her robe around herself. Her heart drops as she gets no response, automatically assuming the worst. She sees Korra's phone on the bed and then her own still in its place on the nightstand blinking at her in the moonlight.
She reads the message and bites her lip to keep from becoming overly upset. "It's my fault. I hurt her feelings because I'm an idiot."
#
Korra parks her car under the shadows of the trees and turns off the engine. She stares at the obnoxious structure ahead of her with contempt. The pristine lawn, tall windows, flawless trim all around, paved driveway, and tasteful brick bring a snarl to her face.
"He gets to live here, comfortable while she's with me suffering."
Korra's never known hate, but this is close. She knows she's walking a tightrope in a hurricane and she doesn't care. Maybe she can blame it on her head injuries. Korra pulls her gun and checks the safety. Then, she pulls up her hood and stalks to the front door.
#
Kuvira groans and raches to silence her phone as Asami's ringtone blares through her bedroom. The haze of sleep is still wrapped firmly around her as she slowly realizes who's calling. She wouldn't call if it wasn't important.
" 'Lo," she mumbles into the phone as she sits up and tries not to wake her husband.
She's met with silence at first then, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…"
Kuvira quietly walks to her bedroom door and then opens it, trying to allow her eyes to adjust to the darkness. She bumps into something but holds back her curse.
"Asami, if you called, something's wrong. What's going on? Where's Korra?"
"I was hoping she came to see you. It's stupid. I'm overreacting."
"Asami. You don't have to apologize. Just tell me what happened," Korra says softly, growing more awake by the second.
Silence again. Asami grips the phone tightly on the other line, willing the bad images to melt away.
"Asami, please."
"I-I had a nightmare. Korra was murdered in it. When I woke up, I freaked out and locked myself in the bathroom and took a shower. When I came out, she was gone. She left her phone on the bed and texted me before that saying she was going for a drive." She laughs sadly. "Like I said, I'm stupid. I shouldn't have woke you."
"It's Korra's turn to be silent. She pictures the entire situation, imagining herself in each of their position. Asami called her because she knows Korra the best. "Look, you called because you're worried and I understand. How are you feeling right now?"
"Stupid, but worried like you said," she admits. "I just… it's just been hard with everything."
"It takes time. I know you guys wanted space, but maybe I should come to visit tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll stay up for a bit and see if she stops by. If she does, I'll make her call. She probably just needed to clear her head. Don't think the worst. She's coming back to you."
"Okay," Asami says quietly as if a parent just told her that there really aren't monster under the bed. Not quite sure if she believes her yet. After all, for Asami, everyone leaves.
"Sami," Kuvira begins. "Korra loves you. So do we."
"Okay," she says a bit louder this time. "Sorry again and goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Kuvira presses end on the call and then shuffles back to bed. She quietly pulls the cover back on and lies on her back thinking about what Asami said.
She intentionally left her phone because she didn't want to be contacted. She wouldn't do that to Asami who's in a vulnerable state without reason.
But why?
Kuvira frowns.
Phones can be tracked.
"Shit, shit, shit!" she yell-whispers. She pops up and dives for her drawer, pulling out a black tank top and some jeans from her closet. As she reaches for her black leather jacket and nikes, Baatar sits up in bed rubbing his eyes.
"Work?"
"Personal," she growls. "I think Korra is about to do something very stupid." She pulls on her shoes and fumbles as she tries to lace them.
"Like…"
"Like kill Hiroshi Sato." She goes to her dresser and grabs a ponytail holder to quickly pull her long hair back.
Baatar hops out of bed, glasses already on. "I'm coming with you."
"No."
"I didn't ask," he says in a voice that he rarely uses with his wife.
She doesn't argue and through her silence, he continues to get dressed.
"Don't slow me down," she finally adds.
"I'll see you at the car."
#
Korra slams her foot as hard as she can against the sweet spot of the door as she's done hundreds of times. The sound of wood splintering echoes into the night, but she doesn't care. She allows a dark part of herself to take charge.
Vengeance.
The part of herself that demands justice for Asami, for the hurt and pain that she endured, for the parts of themselves that they will never get back.
Something has been triggered inside of her.
Heart pounding in her ears, she sprints up the long stairway to Hiroshi's bedroom. By the time she gets there, he's standing outside his doorway looking confused in nothing but some green silk pajama bottoms.
"Korra?" He strains his eyes to see.
She pulls off her hood and slams into him with her forearm, pushing him back into the room. He cries out in surprise and pain as his head finally meets the wall.
Blue eyes dark with rage, she defiantly meets surprised ones.
"Look at me, Hiroshi." She presses her forearm harder into his neck causing him to cough spittle onto her burning cheek. She ignores it. "You destroyed her! You caused all of this. Her spirit is broken and I don't know what to do."
Hiroshi stands there pinned between Korra and the wall. It's as if he's been trapped by a hungry lion with a slab of meat tied around his neck. He knowsthat there's no reasoning with her.
"You left her some money before the government takes it. You gave her all your shares of the company, but you didn't give her what she needed most. You, Hiroshi. She needed you. She needed you to not be the worthless son of a bitch that you turned out to be. She almost died because of you!"
She stares at him with wild eyes. He shuts his and tries to breathe. His eyes flash open as he hears the click of a weapon, her body weight suddenly off of him.
"Say something!" she screams as she points the gun at his chest, her aim sure, no trembling. "Say something," she hisses.
"I'm everything you said I am and more. I thought that I was being a good father. I thought that I did the best I could. But, I won't beg for my life." He lifts his chin, but his knees are trembling.
"She wakes up screaming. Sweat drenches her body. Every loud noise scares her. You did that to her."
"I'm sorry; more than you ever know."
"I almost died. I could have lost my career. But, I was just collateral damage. You don't care about me. And that's okay, because I think you're disposable too. Iroh told me how you were ready to kill yourself. I wonder if you're still ready."
Korra fires three shots.
#
Kuvira and Baatar Jr. rush through the broken front door.
She stops to look around. Then, she screams, "Korra!" Just as the gunshots echo in the large mansion. She pulls her own firearm as she rushes up the stairs, led by the ominous sounds.
Too late. She's too late.
She turns the corner, afraid of what she may find.
Korra still has the gun pointed. Hiroshi crumples to the ground, urine trailing down his leg. Three bullet holes pierce the wall next to where Hiroshi was standing.
Finally, she drops the gun.
"Korra?" Kuvira hesitates. Baatar finally makes it to the party.
Korra doesn't turn. She continues to stare down a frightened Hiroshi whose heart is throwing a rave in his chest.
"I'd never hurt Asami like that. I just needed you to feel the fear that she felt. You needed to understand what she's feeling all the time. I want you to remember this feeling while you rot in jail. Remember the feel of your piss running down your leg and you better never forget that I should have put the bullet through you."
Then, she turns and walks away ignoring Kuvira until she gets to the front door. Baatar stays in the room, stunned, staring at a weeping Hiroshi as Korra allows Kuvira to take the gun from her hand.
Finally, she breaks down and cries into her best friend's arms.