Korra stood outside the courtroom in Republic City with Asami. The drab halways and stuffy interior had never been friends of hers. The building did not hold any good memories for her.

Memories of angry encounters with Tarrlok flashed through her mind. The fights about how to approach the equalists flashed through her mind. One in particular stood out. She remembered the night Tarrlok had Asami arrested for being a non-bender out past curfew. The once dormant anger inside her now boiled to the surface as she tried desperately to soothe it and began to process a fresh wave of emotions.

The tribunal had just handed down Kuvira's verdict, she was sentenced to house arrest under the care of Suyin Beifong for her crimes against the now defunct Earth Empire as well as the crimes against Republic City and Zaofu. The verdict was met with mixed emotions from everyone involved.

Korra could feel the heat rising inside her body. Her mocha skin was burning as anger inside her rose and tears threatened- inside of her, her emotions were jumbled.

She was torn between the anger that Kuvira got off too easy and a small sliver of happiness that the tribunal had taken in to consideration the fact that Kuvira had changed. Whether she liked it or not Kuvira had brought Asami back to her and for that she'd always be eternally grateful.

She felt that Kuvira had redeemed herself at least somewhat as she had stopped Guan and willingly sacrificed herself to be experimented on in a successful effort to save those who were brainwashed by Commander Guan which included Mako, Bolin, and Asami.

Kuvira had shown remorse, she was not the same person who was hell bent on conquering the world but none of that changed what Kuvira had done to the world and the atrocities she had committed on anyone who opposed her.

On a more personal note, it did not change the fact that for Korra, Kuvira had harmed the one person who meant everything to her- Asami Sato. Kuvira had taken away the raven haired, jade eyed beauty's father and nothing she did could ever redeem herself in Korra's eyes as hurting a Asami was akin to hurting her if not worse.

Korra knew Asami wasn't on the best terms with her father, but none of that took away the pain of losing her him- he was the only family she had left. He was her last connection she had to her mother. For that Korra could never have sympathy or compassion for Kurvira- it made her want to obliterate her, wipe her being from it's very existance.

Korra had been the one there for Asami when Hiroshi died. She watched the raven haired beauty just fall to pieces. This tore Korra apart inside- Asami had always been emotionally strong, and to watch her just fall apart was hard.

All Korra had wanted to do since the moment she had laid eyes on Future Industries CEO was protect her, protect her from the cruel world they lived in. As the avatar, Korra saw the world through different less jaded lenses than Asami and her friends. She knew how cruel and unkind this place could be.

The instant she had met Asami something inside her stirred, a voice in the back her head told her to protect the woman. Something drew her to Asami, it wasn't just her slender, curvaceous figure or her breathtaking good looks. It was like hypnotising, magnetic attraction. A sense of familiarness.

When she returned from three year solo journey of healing and self discovery, she finally acknowledge her overwhelming feelings love and sexual desire for the CEO and was delighted that they were reciprocated. It was then she silently vowed to protect her from pain. She failed miserably as Kuvira had managed to crush Asami.

After Hiroshi's death Korra had been there to hold her and wipe the tears from her eyes. To tell her things would be okay. To reassure that she would always there for her, but Korra knew things for Asami would never be the same. She helped her pickup the pieces and protected her from a world that wasn't willing to acknowledge the good in her father, that both Korra and Asami saw.

Korra's glacial azure eyes studied the jade ones of her girlfriend's she could detect that a storm of emotions was taking place underneath the cool, composed exterior Asami put on- it was all façade but it wasn't fooling Korra.

She wanted to reach out and touch her ivory skin in an act of comfort but hesitated. Something in Asami's eyes seemed off- like she was far away in a world of her own. Lost in her memories. She was slipping back to the day she lost her father. Korra could sense the emotions bubbling to the surface.

Korra wanted to say something to comfort her, offer her shoulder to cry, do something for her, but she fumbled over the words in her mind. She didn't know what to say. What do you say in a moment like this was all she could think.

As she tried to focus her mind on what to say Korra struggled- Asami had an intoxicating effect on her. Whenever she was in her presence, Korra found it incredibly hard to focus- her mind always seem to wander back to Asami. She loved the jade eyed beauty and nothing in the world was going to change that.

She often wondered if the young CEO was drawn to her in the same way, felt the same intoxicating feelings as if she were drunk on love and couldn't get enough of her.

The truth was Asami felt the same way. She felt the same intense love, the same feeling of familiarness with Korra as if they had spent a life together. As if she had been put on this earth specifically for Korra. They were so in tune with each other's emotions. It was strange, but it felt so right neither of them questioned it.

Asami felt everything and nothing all at once. It was incredibly overwhelming, confusing, and scary. Part of her was understandably way beyond furious that Kuvira had gotten so light for the vast array of crimes she had committed. Asami knew that killing her father was only the tip of the iceberg, but that did not make it hurt any less.

She had never had a very strong or prosperous relationship with Hiroshi. He was not exactly father of the year. But, she that blame did not land solely on his shoulders. Asami had to admit she did not make things easy for her father.

Growing up Asami was daddy's little girl, until that fateful night she lost her mother. That night set their relationship on an entirely different trajectory where they would eventually become enemies.

The older Asami became, the more she rebelled against her father. She began to lash out against his stifling rules and his constant need to shelter her. She eventually became wild in her teen years. She began to date men just to spite her father, and eventually sent her away to a private all school.

Once word had reached her father that she was just as wild there she was swiftly returned home where Hiroshi hoped he could keep his daughter away from being with women.

Asami really began to resent him at this point. This when Hiroshi had started to sow seeds for his equalist agenda, he began to share his growing displeasure of benders, beyond that of his usual hatred of fire benders. It wasn't just this though, he found fault in everything she did. Nothing and no one was good enough for him.

As usual Asami continued to rail against Hiroshi and began seeking relation ships with benders to spite her father. Despite her rebelling, they pair got along well enough to work together.

Hiroshi was able to set aside his differences with his daughter as she entered her mid teen long enough to nurture her natural talents as an engineer. Through their love of machines and the compulsion to create and build things they began to mend their relationship. Asami treasured this period in her life.

She still rebelled during this time, but on a much smaller scale. It was a period in her life where she could honestly say she felt happy and complete. Those moments were so rare and few. But they didn't last long, because old habits die hard and Hiroshi was unveiled as a member of the equalist party and it crushed her.

She remembered that moment. She recalled the intense, soul crushing pain of betrayal of the one person in life who was supposed to be there for her. She felt so used, so broken. But in the end, Hiroshi had redeemed himself giving his life in order to aid in the downfall of the dictator Kuvira.

However his death hit her hard like a ton of bricks. She didn't think she would ever be able to recover. She had been so harsh to her father. She had left so many things unsaid, she never had the chance to say so many things...

Asami also felt like the sentencing of Kuvira final brought her a weird sense of closure or as close to closure as she was going to get. It put an end to her search for justice for her father. The sting of how light her punishment was not lost on her, but she had to admit she owed Kuvira a debt.

Kuvira had saved her from Guan. Though Korra had spared her the details of what she had said and did while brainwashed- she knew instantly by Korra's reactions that if Kuvira hadn't helped Asami may have been lost to Korra. She could also tell by the avatar's relief at the success of Kuvira's sacrifice that in her altered state Asami had not been good to Korra and it hurt to know she hurt Korra.

Then there was a matter of her heart- Asami loved Korra more than she thought she was capable of loving anyone. Of all the emotions she was feelings she was trying to hold onto this one. If it wasn't for Korra and her love Asami didn't see how she would be able to make it through this.

Korra was not only the love of her life, but she was her best friend- she was her everything, her rock, her world. Without Korra, Asami was nothing.

Then there was a nagging feeling of emptiness, of nothingness. It threatened to consume her. It was as if she was no longer able to feel, like she and her emotions were just shut down.

Lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, Asami's delicate frame jumped when a familiar hand reached out and touched her softly on her shoulder.

"Sorry did I startle you?"

The voice belonged to a tall, well built fire bender with amber eyes and coal black hair. Mako stepped into her line of vision, his eyes looked on her jade orbs that betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Mako," her voice came out squeaky and shaking as she tried to fight back tears of anger, sadness, and confusion.

Asami shook her head and closed her eyes blinking slowly a few times. She was trying to regain her composure and shake away the need to release the tears welling in her eyes.

Once she regained her composure, Asami put her best "I am fine" face on as she met Mako's gaze. His eyes were soft and warm but they were also filled with concern.

Asami knew he had seen her façade crumble, he had saw her moment of weakness.

"Are you okay, Asami?" It was Korra's voice that rang out, the normally calm voice was steeped with concern as her eyes met Asami's with a look of concern as she closed the gap between them her arms pulling Asami close. She saw something in Korra's eyes as the avatar glanced at Mako almost as if she was telling him to back off.

"Fine." Asami's reply was a lie but her tone was warning to everyone to drop it. She did not want to have this conversation. At least not here in such a public place.

It wasn't that she was afraid to show her emotions it was quite the opposite actually. Asami was worried if she opened up here she wouldn't be able to stop the flood gates. She wanted to talk but she wanted to do it where she could be in the safety of Korra's arms.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Mako inquired. Though things between Asami, Korra, and Mako were still a little strained he genuinely cared about Asami. He wasn't in love with her anymore, but he still loved her. He would always have a special place in his heart for her.

Asami shook her head 'no'. Though she appreciated her friend's offer- it wasn't his comfort she was seeking at this point in her life and for the moment all she wanted was Korra.

"Well if you need to talk later..." Mako offered his voice trailing off as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He wanted Asami to know he'd always be there if she needed him.

"Thank you," she replied meaning every word of reply her eyes were sincere. She appreciated his kindness especially now given how there was still a little bit of uneasiness between the three of them with the revelation of Korra and Asami's relationship.

"See you tomorrow?" Mako inquired, it wasn't that he didn't trust Korra to comfort Asami, he just felt a burning need to be there for her. He may not have been the best boyfriend and may not have always been there for her when he was dating her but, he was determined to redeem himself by not disappointing her as a friend.

"Yes. Maybe the four of us could meet at my place, and go for drinks," Asami offered knowing that a night out might be a welcome distraction from her emotions come tomorrow.

"I'd like that. I will talk to Bolin at home. I hate do this but I have to get back to the station or Chief Beifong is going to kill me," Mako replied as he gave Asami a quick embrace and nodded to Korra before heading down the stairs and out the door.

Asami sighed her eyes met Korra's, the avatar was definitely studying her. Korra had seen through her charade, she knew that Asami was far from okay.

"Answer me honestly this time, how do you really feel?"

Korra's voice was unwavering and dripping with concern as her blue eyes seemed to pierce through Asami's soul and her read her thoughts. The fact that Korra was hurting herself was not lost on Asami either.

She had never seen Korra this way with anyone before, she was so concerned her need to protect and fix the the jade eyed beauty was obvious and it was sweet.

She made Asami's heart swell with feelings of intense love and the comforting feeling of being wanted, a feeling of belonging- something that she had not felt in a long time and it was something that only Korra was capable of giving her at this point in her life.

"I-I honestly don't know. The only thing I know is it's exhausting," she offered as a meek reply not wanting to start explaining the storm of feelings brewing inside her brain. She honestly didn't know if she could explain how she felt.

Asami looked exhausted, Korra could see her cool exterior was starting to breakdown.

"You want to get of here?" Asami asked as she struggled to push away the sorrow that was creeping into her head space. Her eyes were locked on Korra's.

The glacial eyes blazed brightly with love as she studied the young woman in front of her. Asami saw this and tried to capture of the of euphoria it sent throughout her body. Seeing Korra light up with love for when she was at such a low point in her life only made her more enamored the beautiful, muscular, toned avatar.

Korra nodded and took Asami's hand in hers, the two walked silently back to Asami's car. Asami slid into the driver's seat and guided the car through the streets toward her apartment.

After a short while she pulled her car into the driveway of modest two story duplex. The building was inconspicuous, Korra never would have guessed the wealthy young CEO lived there.

It was one of the many properties Asami owned along with Future Industries. Late in his life, Hiroshi had dabbled in real estate and had collected a small number of properties he hadn't yet converted into rentals. Asami had chose this property for it's proximity to her office and warehouse workshop.

"Where are we?" The avatar asked, unfamiliar with the latest place Miss Sato was calling home.

"My apartment."

Asami wouldn't stay at her mansion outside of Republic City, there were too many memories. The few memories she had of her mother lingered there, and all the memories both good and bad of her father lurked around every corner.

If she returned to her main residence she feared the memories would consume her, the grief would overrun her life. Not to mention the fact that Mako, Bolin, and their family were staying there while they awaited their home to be rebuilt back in Ba Sing Se.

Not that she was staying away because of them, Asami just was not ready to be around a group of people yet. She did not want to hear people offer their sympathy to her, she wanted a chance to finish processing how she felt first.

Korra wasn't sure what she expected to find when Asami unlocked the dark mahogany door to apartment but what she saw was not what she expected.

The interior was nothing like she had expected, the furniture was modern yet modest. Asami had chosen simple furniture that lacked all of flamboyant grandiosity that the Sato Estate projected. Her simplistic style and soothing colors created an environment that was as warm and welcoming as Asami.

"Make yourself at home." Asami said gesturing to the two vacant sofas and open chairs in her living room.

Korra watched as Asami stepped out of her shoes and collapsed on the soft sofa nearest to her allowing a deep sigh to escape her lips as she shut her eyes and contorted her face as she concentrated on her emotions.

Korra took a deep breath calming herself. She told herself to relax as she took in her girlfriend's apartment. Since her return from the spirit world vacation with Asami, Korra had taken up residence back at Air Temple avatar had done so at the request of Tenzin- there were still so many air benders to train and he needed her help.

Korra had been so busy since that vacation she and Asami had been back for two months but they had spent very limited time together, alone. Korra had constantly been running from one crisis to another, each one pulled her further away from Asami.

Her eyes hadn't left Asami's face as she watched her slowly open her eyes and blink away whatever thoughts she had been trying to hide. Korra sat down next to Asami who laid down with her feet in Korra's lap.

"Are you okay?" Korra asked knowing now Asami would let her guard down because she was there to pick up the pieces.

"I don't know. I just feel so much it is overwhelming. One minute I am feeling so many things and then the next it's like... Like I am dead inside and feel nothing. It's like there is just a void in me that I shove all of my emotions in," Asami confessed as she exhaled loudly- it felt good to say it out loud, to let someone know she wasn't okay.

And, to know that the person wasn't going to judge her, to think less of her, or be angry at her. To know that person was going to accept her as she was and love her for who she was that meant the world to her.

"I am sorry. I am sorry that you feel that way. But don't push how you feel away. Let the emotions run their course otherwise they will sneak up on you and consume you," Korra advised as her azure eyes met her jade ones conveying love and support.

Asami didn't question Korra about why she assumed the emotions would consume her, she knew from the letters Korra had sent during her three year self imposed exile that Korra was in a dark place.

Though she had never given Asami specific details about what had unfolded during this time, she knew that Korra had faced her share of inner demons. It was Asami's regret that wasn't there for Korra the way Korra was here for her now.

"As much as I resented my father I loved him. He was miserable man in the end, but he was still my dad. We didn't have a good or healthy relationship most of my life, but for the most part he tried. I just rebelled and pushed him away. I was awful, Korra," Asami admitted as tears welled in her jade eyes and started falling softly down her cheeks..

She sat and began sobbing into her knees trying to comfort herself as Korra adjusted herself, and wrapped her arms around Asami and pulled her close.

"He knew you loved him. I am sure you weren't an awful child. You're the sweetest, most caring, loving person I know."

Asami blinked, Korra's words were sweet, but her point of view about what kind of person she was, was well severely biased.

"That's sweet but I really was a terror," she sobbed.

"Do you want to talk about? Maybe if you say it out loud you will realize it isn't that bad," Korra whispered softly as she stroked Asami's back affectionately. She ran her finger's through her raven black hair trying to calm her.

She had never seen Asami so upset, so vulnerable. Usually the black haired beauty was always so level headed and calm, it made Korra uneasy and worried to see her so upset. She wanted to take away her pain, to kiss away her tears.

"I guess I should begin at the beginning. Back in the Fire Nation my parents come from noble blood lines. Both of their families are held in high esteem. My father comes from a family known for producing fire bending prodigies. The fire benders go on to serve in the army and rise in the ranks quickly, they hold jobs at the most prestigious fire bending academies and even go on to be body guards for the fire lord. They are known for being trainers to both fire lords and avatars. The non-benders go on to master martial arts and teach at the private schools and hold jobs that are considered prestigious. They train the royal family in self defense," Asami starts pausing to let Korra drink in the information.

Korra listened intently, this information was new to her. Mako had said Asami was well connected but she never in a million years expected this. However, it did explain why Asami was such a gifted martial artist and excelled in hand to hand combat.

It just made her love her girlfriend even more. She had been drawn toward Asami the moment she laid eyes on her. She hadn't been able to put her finger on it but, the moment Korra met Asami she had an overwhelming feeling she had known her from somewhere. Like she had been the missing piece to the puzzle that was her life.

The more time she spent with Asami, Korra began to wonder if she knew from somewhere, perhaps a past life. Korra wasn't sure of humans other than the avatar were reincarnated but she couldn't help but feel like she had known Asami in another lifetime.

"And my mother, she was able to trace her blood line back to Fire Lord Chaeryu. Her family was an offshoot of the royal family. It traced back to his illegitimate son Chaejin. So I am technically very distantly related to the Fire Lord Izumi. Anyway, with both my parents hailing from noble and highly regarded families, as being non benders they were expected to make advantageous marriages to make their families even more powerful. So, with me not being a bender I am expected to make an advantageous marriage," Asami began stopping when Korra tensed and tightened her grip at her last words.

Korra felt a ripple of panic pulse inside her. She didn't understand why Asami would enter a relationship with her if she had no intention of remaining in it.

"I found this out after my mother passed and I entered my teen years. At this time I wasn't too happy with my father. He had been very controlling trying to protect from the world. It was revealed to me that I was betrothed to Prince Brasa, General Iroh's younger brother. I wasn't thrilled to have my future already decided for me as my father was already controlling every aspect of my life. So I did what any teenager does I rebelled. Nothing I did was ever good enough. No one was ever good enough for me. Though I was betrothed I was still expected to learn how to be in a relationship. I start dating boys he didn't approve, getting in trouble in school, the entire routine. When word reached my father about my behavior he only doubled down on his need to control me. So I upped the ante. I snuck out, didn't come home and spent the night with whoever I was seeing," Asami replied with regret in her voice.

There was more than regret in Asami's voice, there was a pleading nature to it as she silently begged Korra not to judge her for her past mistakes. She wasn't that person anymore. If Korra could believe that Kuvira could change, she would have to believe that she had changed, she just had to.

Korra's eyes met Asami's, she couldn't keep the jealousy and possessiveness she felt for Asami out of her eyes. Sure, Korra was probably never going to meet the past lovers of Asami, but it didn't take away the sting.

They had been with Asami, something she hadn't accomplished yet but that wasn't do to lack of desire or effort. It also did not matter that Korra wasn't part of her life at this time, she still felt an unassailable feeling of possessiveness and jealousy. Korra had been with Asami emotionally but the state of the world and her duties prevented her from physically being with Asami. She had spread too thin, too exhausted by the time she was able to get time with Asami that was uninterrupted. And, uninterrupted time with Asami was rare as both women were in high demand. Asami had her hands full rebuilding cities and Korra was helping rebuild and restore balance to the world.

This was out of character for Korra, and she didn't know where the emotions came from, they consumed her. She felt them from deep within her very core as if they were ingrained in her very being.

Korra never knew General Iroh had a brother, she knew he had a sister, Princess Ursa, who was named after Lord Zuko's mother. The fact that Asami was betrothed to this Prince Brasa was infuriating. But, Korra knew Asami wasn't done with her story, the least she could do was hear her out before she jumped to conclusions.

She may not have been dating Asami long but they had been friends for years, she knew she was good person and couldn't fathom a situation where Asami would knowingly set a person up for a broken heart.

"I wasn't aware Fire Lord Izumi had second son," Korra said carefully ensuring she kept the frustration and panic out of her voice. She took deep calming breaths. In and out as she focused on her breathing trying not to allow the firestorm inside to ignite the flames that were threatening in her fingertips.

She couldn't let her emotions overrun her. She deserved to let Asami finish explaining, and more importantly this was about Asami's feelings not hers.

"Brasa is the youngest. He likes to keep a low profile and stays out of the spotlight. He has been able to successfully do it since he isn't likely to become to fire lord. He is really and sweet. He is taller, more muscular, rugged version of his brother," Asami replies oblivious to the fact her words were sending Korra into jealous fit.

Knowing Brasa was a handsome young man didn't do anything to ease how she felt, in fact it just added more fuel to the fire. Picking up on this Asami spoke:

"We aren't betrothed anymore, Korra. After my father's fall from grace, Izumi called off the arrangement. Brasa was devastated, though he is third in line for the throne, it deemed a scandal too big for the royal family to take on. It worked out for the best, it leaves me open for you."

At those words Korra let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She felt a wave of relief sweep over her. Asami was free to be hers, and hers alone. She wondered if the young woman felt the same way.

The truth was Asami felt the same way Korra did.

"After that, my father sent me to a prestigious all girls boarding school in the Fire Nation. I thought I was finally away from his prying eyes, but quickly realized I was only further under his thumb as members of his family were instructors, and sister was the headmistress. Upon this discovery I acted out further, experimenting with women. When he got wind of that he yanked me out of school before a scandal could break and ruin the betrothal to Brasa. I was transferred to different school in the Fire Nation for the rest of the year before I returned home where I remained so he could personally see that I had no further relationship women," Asami explained.

Korra saw the sadness in Asami's eyes as she feared that the avatar would judge for what she had done in her past. Korra felt a little sting, but she honestly couldn't judge Asami or feel ill towards for her past decisions. That was behind her, all that mattered to Korra was the here and now. She told Asami so she kissed the tears from cheek pulling her close.

The raven haired beauty sobbed louder, she felt worse telling Korra, instead of being upset and validating her feelings, Korra was being understanding and sympathetic.

Korra was being amazing- she felt she didn't deserve someone so special. Deep down Asami wanted to be told she was terrible to her father because she felt like a horrible person, but all Korra could tell was how perfect she was and be there for her to support her. She didn't feel like she deserved it.

"It is okay. You may have done those things but, it doesn't mean you were a terrible child or purposefully hurt your father. He knew you loved him. He knew this because when you came back, you worked on your relationship. When I met you, you were proud of him. You worked happily side by side with him. He loved you- you may not know this but when you were dating Mako he threatened him if he mistreated you. It shows he still cared for you," Korra offered.

Asami heard her words, but they didn't exactly have the desired effect. She knew Hiroshi had threatened Mako- it was his usual motivation for anyone she had brought home. But the reason behind it was not necessarily because he wanted to protect his daughter, but rather protect the marriage he had arranged for her.

She didn't dare vocalize to this Korra though because she was one of the only people who was able to see the good was left in Hiroshi toward the end. Telling her would make that vanish, and she didn't think she could live with herself if she did that to her father's memory. She also did not want to be at odds with Korra on such a touchy subject.

Asami made no effort to stop the river of tears flowing from her eyes as she cried into Korra's shoulder. She allowed herself to fall into her girlfriend's embrace. She let the feeling of her warm welcoming, muscular arms wash over her. It felt so right to be in her arms.

Korra held Asami tight and whispered "You are not terrible. You are perfect. You are kind, seet, and loving. Most importantly you are mine." She whispered the words over and over again until the tears stopped flowing.