Chapter 17: The End of The Road
Keeping her new secret relationship under her hat was harder than Asami realised. It wasn't like she couldn't a secret. The whole secret thing actually added seductive flair to the relationship. No, it was just the fact that they had trouble with the actual hiding of the relationship. People seemed to demand more from Asami these days – whether it be Future Industries issues or her friends trying to help her fill in her days. She guessed the reason behind her friends doing that was because they believed her marriage was over and needed some distractions. It wasn't that she was ungrateful, it was just that she did enjoy her privacy every now and then.
Their first major miss came from when Korra spent her first night over at their house for a long time. It had taken a couple of weeks after their first date. She had come over to visit her and they had ended up ordering takeaway before things started to get steamy. It had simply started with a few kisses but before they knew it, they were all over each other. Clothes had been disregarded within minutes. It hadn't taken them too long to get back into the swing of things.
They had fallen asleep before the pair of them knew it. Truth be told, neither of them minded. Just being with each other, felt right. It was truly a comforting feeling – which Asami was sure was something that Korra felt too. Asami had laid awake for a while, just looking at her significant other, playing with her hair as she did. It was perfect. Just like the old days. However, her perfect morning had been interrupted by someone knocking on the door and then letting themselves in when nobody answered.
"Asami, it's us," came Bolin's voice from down the hallway. "We've brought breakfast."
Panic started to set in. If Bolin entered her bedroom…well let's say that not much would be left up to the imagination. It would be very clear about what was going on.
"Korra," Asami had tried to shake her lover awake. "Wake up!"
"No, I would not like to engage in a game of chess Mr Turtleduck, how about a game of Pai Sho instead?" Korra mumbled in her sleep.
"Korra!" Asami whispered with more urgency as the footsteps headed into the kitchen.
"That move is illegal," Korra said as she awoke suddenly. "Asami?" she let out a yawn. "What's the matter? What time is it?"
"Bolin and Opal are in the kitchen right now!"
"Oh spirits," Korra said. "What do we do?"
"I don't know," Asami's brain went a little haywire as she looked around the room for possible options.
"Asami?" came Bolin's voice again. "Are you in your bedroom? Can we come in?"
"In the closet," Asami mouthed as she pointed in that direction.
"Oh, hell no," Korra said. "I would rather jump out the window."
"Butt naked?" Asami raised an eyebrow.
"Good point."
Asami barely had time to throw Korra into the closet with all her clothes and put on a silky pink dressing gown when the door opened and in walked Bolin and Opal. Asami tried her best to look inconspicuous.
"Oh, hey guys, sorry, late riser today for some reason," Asami said, trying to throw on an innocent smile.
"Were you talking to someone?" Opal asked, sounding a little suspicious. "We heard voices."
"Nope," Asami shook her head, not daring to meet the other's eyes.
That was when her eyes noticed Korra's jacket sitting on her chair. If they noticed it, they would realise it was Korra's very quickly. It wasn't hard to miss the army emblem or the Water Tribe badges on it. Asami shuffled in the direction to make Bolin and Opal's eyes moved onto her and away from the jacket.
"So, I just found out that I have extra work today and can't do breakfast," Asami said pretending to groan.
"Oh, really?" Bolin looked highly disappointed. "Right now?"
"Um yeah, we are working on new prototypes and it's gotta be done, sorry guys."
"We understand," Opal took her husband's hand and started to head out. "We, uh, will let you get back to your work."
The way she put emphasis on that last word made Asami question what she meant. Was there something she knew? As soon as the front door had clicked shut, that was when she noticed Korra's bra lying next to the bed where she had flung it. Sweat dripped down her face. Did Opal see that? Did she know? The closet door opened and Korra popped her head out.
"Are they gone?" she said. "Can we continue?"
Asami had to laugh before allowing Korra to kiss her and resume what they had been up to the previous night.
Korra was walking along the road to Future Industries. She wanted to see Asami. Ever since they had started their relationship again, they had practically seen each other every single day. It had been tricky to sneak in and out of Air Temple Island without Pema or Tenzin catching her. She knew it was absolutely fine of her to come and go – it wasn't as if she was a teenager again with a curfew – but if she got caught, it would lead to several questions and they were questions she didn't want to answer.
One night after sneaking home late – so late in fact, it was nearly morning again – she could have sworn Pema winked at her when Pema asked how her night went. Then again, Pema probably has experience in this. Before Jinora moved in with Kai, there was a little sneaking around regarding that. It was information that Tenzin shouldn't and will never know. Everyone involved knew he would blow his top if he was to find out that Kai was staying over when he shouldn't have been. Thankfully, Pema had been an ally and helped the couple in their shenanigans.
Korra reached the elegant building that was Future Industries close to twelve o'clock. After heading straight into the elevator, she pressed the top button for Asami's floor. She found Sakura, Asami's assistant going through stuff on her computer. When Korra approached her, she gave a small sniff of disapproval (Korra honestly thought it was due to her being a sore loser in regards to Korra proving herself correct) but allowed Korra to enter Asami's office with no resistance. Asami was busy tapping away at her computer and didn't even look up to see who had entered.
"Sakura, the Takahashi file is on my desk," Asami said pointed, without taking her eyes off her computer.
"I would oblige but I have no idea what to do with that file," Korra joked.
Asami looked up and a smile came over her.
"Korra!" she said, brimming with happiness. "What brings you here?"
Instead of sitting on the chair opposite Asami, Korra perched on the desk and swung her legs around so she could face Asami. She slid her body so that she was barely touching Asami.
"I wanted to see if you wanted to do lunch but judging by the massive spreadsheet on your computer, you may be busy," Korra said. "Although, maybe you have time for other stuff," she carefully rubbed her foot against Asami's knee.
Asami's breath caught in her throat. For a second, it looked like she couldn't speak but she soon managed to clear her throat.
"I, er, would love to but the present situation makes that quite, ah, impossible," she glanced at Korra, giving her a once over.
"Suit yourself," Korra said as she lay down on the desk, unzipping her hoodie so that it revealed a little bit of cleavage. She watched as Asami's eyes wandered over to her. Korra could have given a small giggle. Teasing Asami when she had to work was one of her favourite pastimes. It wasn't the first time she had done it and it certainly will not be the last either.
"Korra," Asami's said in a breathless voice.
"Yes?" she asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
Asami suddenly pushed aside all her notes on her desk to climb on top of her. Their lips met in fierce passion as they made out on her desk. They had only been at it for a minute when there was a knock at the door with Sakura calling out for her boss. Asami leapt to her feet as did Korra. They tried to look as inconspicuous as possible as Sakura came in. When she entered, her eyes wandered to the mess on the floor of files, to Korra's unkempt hair and to Asami's unconvincing look that everything was fine.
"I, er, was going to say that I need the Takahashi file for that custom order," Sakura said, the corner of her mouth twitching, "but I can always come back later if you want." Her eyes wandered between her boss and Korra.
"No, no," Asami said. "Here it is. "She produced the file with a flourish. "I was just, er, telling Korra that I am super busy and can't do lunch."
Sakura looked as if she didn't buy that for a second but she decided against questioning it as she left the room. Asami would have betted decent yuans that Sakura knew exactly what they had been up to. It wasn't exactly hard to make out.
"We should put a bell on her," Korra muttered.
Asami laughed. "That may be useful." She brushed her lips against Korra's. "To be continued?"
"You know it."
The next couple of months flew by and soon the trial of Raiko was upon them. Not much made Asami nervous but this would be one of them. She had been pacing around the courthouse waiting for her turn to testify. Outside, with her, was Korra who was giving her encouraging looks. Asami's eyes met Korra's again and she gave a thumbs up.
"I wish I didn't have to do this," Asami muttered. "I'm usually not this nervous at speaking arrangements."
"This is a different kettle of fish," Korra said, giving her a one-arm hugged. "That was about business and this is personal. All you got to do is get up on the witness stand and tell the truth. Nothing more. Nothing less."
"You've been so good to me throughout all of this," Asami rested her head in the crook of Korra's neck. "How did I get so lucky?"
"I think I am the lucky one when you agreed to go out with me."
"What time? Before or now?"
"Both." Korra then stood up straight and surveyed her wife. "Speaking of that, when do you think it will be time to announce things? We've been seeing each other for a few months now."
"I don't know," Asami shrugged. "I know you wanted to initially keep it a secret but with everything that is happening now, I don't know. I guess all I can think of is this trial. Maybe when it's over?"
"Whenever you want 'Sami," Korra gave her a small kiss on her forehead.
The door opened and the prosecution lawyer stepped out.
"It's time," she said.
"Remember, if you feel nervous, just look at me," Korra said. "Pretend you're speaking to me."
"Yeah, I can do that," Asami nodded. The nerves were starting to cause her to shake. She turned to the lawyer. "I am ready."
The three of them entered the courtroom and the lawyer – a woman by the name of Aiko – led Asami to the witness box. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Korra taking a seat at the back next to Bolin, Opal, Mako and Tenzin. She gave her a small nod of encouragement as Asami sat down.
"For the record," Aiko said, "your name is Asami Sato, is that correct?"
"That is correct."
"Head of future Industries?"
"Yes."
"Please tell the court what happened on the night of question."
Asami shifted uncomfortably in her seat but launched into her story. However, her nerves started to get to her. She started to stumble over words and she was sure that she wasn't making a very convincing witness. In the defendant's chair, she could see Raiko and he was giving her daggers. That only made her trip over her sentences even more.
"Miss Sato, are you alright?" Aiko asked.
Asami's eyes met Korra's who gave her a nod. Remembering what Korra had told her, she continued her story as if she was just speaking to her. It was as if the entire courtroom disappeared and only the two of them were present. Her nerves started to ebb away and she started to get more into her account of what happened.
"Thank you Miss Sato," Aiko said. She turned around to go back to her seat. "Your witness," she said to the defence lawyer. The defence lawyer got to his feet and instantly the nerves started to come back. There was something she didn't like about the way he was looking at her.
"Miss Sato," the defence lawyer started, "you were – and currently legally – married to Korra Sato of the Water Tribe, is that correct?"
"Objection, relevance?" Aiko said.
"I'll get there soon Your Honour," the defence lawyer said to the judge.
"I'll allow it," the judge said. "Answer the question Miss Sato."
"Yes," Asami was confused as to what Korra had to do with everything.
"She was part of United Republic Army, with the rank of captain, is that correct? Who went to fight the war against Commander Guan?"
"Yes."
"Miss Sato, do you recognise this article?" the defence lawyer placed a magazine in front of her opened to the page about Raiko's criminal misdeeds during the war. "Defence article four, your honour." the defence lawyer added to the trial judge.
"Yes, I do."
"Wasn't your wife involved in the operation that is mentioned in the article?" the defence lawyer said.
Asami's heart dropped. She now knew where this was going.
"Yes, she was but –"
"Isn't it true," the defence lawyer said, cutting off Asami, "that you believed that my client is responsible for your wife's capture and believed death?"
"I suppose so," Asami said. "But again, that has nothing –"
"Isn't it far more likely that you fabricated my client's involvement in your attack as to get him back for the pain that he has caused you and your wife?"
"Objection!" Aiko suddenly intervened.
"No further questions, your honour," the defence lawyer said with a smirk that Asami did not like the look of.
Korra was outside the courtroom waiting for Asami to come out. She had just watched her being interrogated on the stand by that smarmy defence lawyer. How dare he bring up her involvement in the war! As if that had any standing in the way Asami would act. Although, she was sure she had seen a couple of jury members looking a little questioning at Asami when that defence lawyer finished up. That did not bode well for things.
"That was completely unfair," Opal said, voicing Korra's thoughts.
"You can say that again," Mako agreed.
"Unfortunately, if that is how the defence is going to argue the case," Tenzin said, "they may have turned a few jury members against Asami."
"So, they're just going to believe lies?" Mako demanded.
"It wasn't really lying," Tenzin shrugged. "Korra did go to war, Raiko is responsible for what happened, that defence lawyer is just making connections for the jury."
"It's a good move, I'll give him that," Opal said. "A very underhand one though."
"Couldn't agree with you more," Mako said.
The door to the bathroom opened and outwalked Asami. As soon as her testifying was over, the judge called for a thirty-minute recess. Asami had walked exceptionally fast to the bathroom where she had asked to be alone. The rest of them had waited outside for close to twenty minutes while Asami processed what she needed to process.
"You okay?" Korra asked when Asami walked towards them before Asami shrugged.
"Things will be okay Asami," Opal said.
"Yeah, they will be," Asami suddenly got a burst of confidence, "because I have Korra."
There was a murmur of surprise and shock throughout the group as Asami stood next to Korra.
"You sure you want to do this now?" Korra asked her.
"Yeah, I think it's time," Asami answered.
"What's going on?" Mako shifted his gaze from one of them to the other.
"Korra and I are back together," Asami said with a bout of confidence.
"What?" there was a collective gasp from the group as they processed this information. Once it had sunk it there was a small cheer from all the members. Bolin fist-pumped the air. Opal shrieked with joy. Mako gave the pair of them a warm smile. Tenzin clapped his hand on Korra's shoulder in a proud father-figure moment.
"How long?" Opal asked.
"Since Varrick's election party for Zhu Li," answered Korra. "Asami and I got talking and one thing led to another…"
"I knew you had been up to something," Opal gave her a cheeky grin. "It was written all over your face and your messed-up clothing and hair did help allure to something." There was a moment of realisation in her face after she spoke. "Oh, my spirits, I knew you had company over that day Bolin and I came to see you. So, it was Korra?" she wagged her eyebrows at the pair of them.
Korra gave a sheepish grin as a response. Asami gave a small giggle at her significant other's expression.
"But wait," Mako said suddenly, "that party was ages ago! You've been hiding it for that long?"
"We initially thought it would be best to keep it under raps until we were sure," Korra said. "Then the whole trial thing happened and Asami wanted to postpone telling people due to the stress of that."
"Makes sense," Opal shrugged.
"What about Umi though?" Mako asked. "Weren't you two a couple?"
"Well," Asami said, "we kind of were but it's complicated. The short story is that my love for Korra just wouldn't go away," she gazed fondly at her partner, "and I wouldn't want it any other way."
"I am just so happy for you two," Bolin brought the pair of them in for a massive hug which nearly crushed their ribs. "Opal and I get the next double date. We're free next Tuesday."
"Let them breathe Bo!" Opal tried to suppress a laugh but failed. "Oh, and there's no pressure about that date," she added to Korra and Asami.
The door to the court then opened and everyone started to file in for the next part of the trial. It was time for other witnesses to say what they had seen or heard.
A few days later, the trial came to a close and the judge sent the jury out to make their decision. Korra and Asami were currently at their home – Korra was starting to see it more and more like her home again over the last days.
"Can you stop pacing, it's driving me mad," Korra said to her wife.
"Sorry! I can't help it!"
Korra was sitting on the living room couch – well to be more precise she was sitting upside down with her head touching the floor and her legs tapping against the wall. There was the daily newspaper in her hands which she was reading – it was upside down to everyone else though. Asami couldn't sit still. There would be times where she would walk aimlessly around the house for hours. Currently, she was pacing up and down the living room with her hands behind her back. It was driving Korra insane.
Korra sighed as she put down the newspaper. She gave a warm, comforting look at Asami from where she was.
"I know it's nerve-racking," Korra said. "We just got to be patient."
"It's been three days Korra!" Asami said. "Three!" She heled up three fingers to emphasise her point. "Surely that would have been time for the jury to come to a decision."
"Maybe they're just being thorough with the evidence?" Korra suggested. "We are talking about a man's life here. It's not an easy thing to ask of anyone."
"But surely if they think he's guilty they would have reached their decision by now. Surely this means that they doubt my evidence! They think that the defence lawyer was telling the truth and I used the attack to frame Raiko for what he did to you!"
"Woah!" Korra jumped to her feet and raced over to Asami and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Okay, you're officially spiralling. Breathe in, breathe out." Korra repeated those words as she breathed in and out while Asami copied her. "Better?"
"Yeah," Asami nodded. "Sorry, it's just that sometimes my brain goes a little haywire."
Korra gave her a warm smile. "Hey, no need to apologise. I know what this means to you. This is the bastard that thought he could imitate you but he was wrong. He messed with the wrong team here."
Asami returned Korra's smile. "Thanks Korra, you don't know what it means to know that you are on my side."
"Always Asami, I will always be by your side."
They gave each other a warm smile before Asami's phone suddenly went off. She checked her messages and a grave look came over her.
"What?" Korra looked concerned.
"The jury's back."
Asami entered the courtroom gripping tightly to Korra's hand. Together they took a seat at the back of the courtroom next to Bolin and Opal. The moments where everyone was taking their seats seemed longer than it actually was. However, before she knew it, the judge had called for silence and asked the jury the question everyone wanted to know the answer to; what this whole trial had been about. There was a sharp pause; Asami couldn't breathe. Everything was riding on this one moment.
The foreperson took to her feet. Asami made eye contact with her for one brief second before she turned to look back at the judge. There was a silence that hung so delicately in the air. Another pause and then…
"We find the defendant guilty," the foreperson said.
The courtroom was up in arms at this announcement. Some people cheered and others looked outraged. There were calls that the jury was rigged and there were others that yelled responses to those people. The noise got so loud that the judge had to bang her gravel several times to get the room to calm down.
"Order, order!" she yelled. As the room died down, the judge turned to the jury. "The court thanks you for your service. You are dismissed." She turned to Raiko. "Bailiff, please take the defendant into custody."
"Hands off," Raiko protested. "You can't do this to me! I was the President of The United Republic. You can't do this to me!"
Asami felt her hand being squeezed by Korra and she turned to her with a look of shining relief. Korra mimicked her expression. They had done it. Raiko had been found guilty. The jury had believed her story. They hadn't thought she had concocted this story to get revenge for her wife.
That night, they went out and partied. They were in one of the upscaled bars and they all were drinking top-notch alcohol. It wasn't just Asami, Korra, Bolin, Mako and Opal. They were joined by Tenzin and his whole family, not to mention Lin, Su and the rest of the Beifong clan. Pretty much everyone that they knew was in this bar, drinking and talking, having a good time.
Asami was standing next to Korra sipping a glass of champagne. She and Korra were chatting to Su about the trial. Unfortunately, she had missed most of it as she had matters to attend to in Zaofu and only just arrived mere minutes ago.
"You lied to me Sato," came the curt voice of Lin from behind them.
Asami awkwardly cowered away slightly. "I know."
Lin's eyes moved from her onto Korra. "The knowledge that you were back in a relationship with this one," she gestured with her drink to Korra, "would have been important to know. It also helped to put the whole fight thing into perspective."
"We just weren't telling people yet," Asami said. "Besides, I was never really asked about my love life, so I didn't exactly lie."
"Splitting hairs Sato," Lin gave a small smirk. "You're on thin ice. Thin ice."
Lin walked away to order another drink from the bar. Su was giving a chuckle and shaking her head.
"Don't mind her, she's just cross she didn't see it earlier," Su told them. "I for one knew it was only a matter of time." She tapped her nose when she saw their confused looks on their faces. "Women's initiation."
"So, when were you guys going to tell us?" the voice of Opal took their attention off Su and onto her. "About this?" she waved her hand over them to indicate she meant their relationship.
"Probably tonight actually," shrugged Asami giving a sideways glance at her partner who nodded slightly.
Opal looked satisfied at this answer but her face dropped suddenly.
"Oh no," Opal was looking beyond Korra and Asami.
They turned to see what she was looking at and they saw Bolin standing on the bar. He looked like he was about to give a speech.
"Should we stop him?" Korra whispered to Asami.
"I think it may be too late for that," she whispered back.
"May I have everyone's attention?" Bolin said loudly. There was a moment as he waited for the many conversations around him to die down. Once everyone's eyes were on him, he continued. "Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for being here today, means a lot to myself and I believe it means a lot to some other people here that you are all here showing your support so thank you." Smiles and nods in the direction of Asami, as well as Korra, followed this remark.
"Next, I would just like to say that, in front of everyone, Mako, you owe me fifty yuans. I told you that Korra and Asami would get back together." Mako had gone a deep red colour as he was forced, in front of everyone, to get his wallet out and slap the cash into Bolin's outstretched hands. The embarrassment being maximised as possible was surely what Bolin had in mind. Asami couldn't help giggle at Mako's expense.
"All I said was that they may not get back together considering what had been happening," Mako muttered as everyone laughed at his expense again.
"Now, everyone, a toast, to the best couple in this room – besides myself and Opal of course," a burst of spattering laughter happened at these words. "to Korra and Asami!"
Everyone drank to these words and soon the music was pumping again and everyone was queuing to get in a word with the happy couple. Asami quickly realised that they would be swamped if she didn't act soon.
"Come on," she whispered into Korra's ears.
Korra allowed Asami to led her out of the bar and onto the balcony outside. The sun was starting to set properly now. A soft glow illuminated the world around them with an orange glow. Korra rested herself on the railing and looked out at the world beyond.
"It is beautiful isn't it?" Korra sighed.
"It is rather," Asami said, blushing as she looked at Korra rather than the sunset.
Korra picked up on this as she turned to face her lover. There was a coy smile hanging around her lips.
"Asami Sato, you little flirt."
Asami let out a small giggle and gazed at Korra. There was something that she wanted to ask her and now seemed like the perfect moment.
"What?" Korra asked as she noticed that the other was giving her a longing stare.
"I just want to say Korra, that without you by my side throughout this entire affair, I don't know what I would have done. Would I have managed as well as I did? Would I have had the courage to testify? Would I have been able to do any of it?"
Korra took her hands. "Of course, you would have. You're Asami freaking Sato. You're a total badass."
"I think I'm Asami freaking Sato – as you put it – because of you. You have always given me the strength to do anything I set my mind to. I love you so much Korra. The time we spent apart was the longest and worst moments of my life. When I thought I had lost you, I wasn't sure that I could continue but now that you're here, standing in front of me, I know that anything is possible."
Asami reached into her pocket and pulled out Korra's old wedding ring. The one she had left with her before she had run off to Ba Sing Se. Asami had made sure to grab it before they had gone to court. She held it out to Korra who was giving her a questioning look but there was still a small smile playing around her lips.
"I want us to married again, I want you as my wife again," her mouth was dry. The whole world seemed to sit still. "Korra, will you be my wife again?"
There was a small pause as Korra took the ring in her hands and gave it a turnaround in them.
"Oh 'Sami, like you had to ask," she grinned.
"Is that a yes?" Asami said, also grinning.
"Yes," Korra said slipping the ring back onto her left ring finger. "Yes, it is."
There was a small pause before their lips again for one of their most passionate kisses yet. All was starting to feel right with the world again. The pair of them felt themselves losing themselves to the kiss. Asami didn't want this moment to end.
"Hey guys," Bolin poked his head out and couldn't help grinning at the scene before him. "Stop making out and come back in. There are so many people who want to talk to the couple of the moment!"
Korra and Asami broke apart, grinning still.
"Coming Bo," Korra said. She turned to look at Asami. "I guess that's our cue. You coming, my beautiful wife?"
"Always right besides you, my beautiful wife," Asami grinned again.
The truth was she couldn't stop grinning.
Together, the pair held hands and stepped back into the bar for the rest of the party. Asami felt as if the whole world was where it should be. She had Korra back. She couldn't be happier at that thought.
THE END
A/N: So this is the final chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. Any questions, feel free to PM me. Thankf to everyone who faved, followed and review. Means a lot! Until next time!
