Seeking Answers
Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Korra, nor do I profit from this writing. Please support the original creators.
Spoilers: Legend of Korra through Finale & Turf War Comic Series
Ikki was lost in thought as she wondered the grounds of Air Temple Island. While she was glad for the beautiful weather, it did little to quell the flurry of thoughts that were rushing through her head. She wasn't sure how to find the answers she sought with asking awkward questions.
Ikki was trying to do that less often as she had started to notice the unintended consequences of a misplaced question. The last time she had done this she had asked Wei and Wing if they ever had feelings for the same person like Mako and Bolin had with Korra. The resulting incident would not be soon forgotten and an airship's worth of familial ribbing was still ongoing between the two pairs of brothers.
Ikki considered for several moments before deciding that may she should try her father's and grandfather's favorite method of finding answers. Meditation. And so, she made her way over to the meditation pavilion. Ikki was not surprised to see that the pavilion was already occupied.
Asami, Korra, and Kya were sitting by the railing overlooking the bay chatting away merrily. Korra and Asami were holding each other around their waists. Asami was leaning into Korra's side with her head on Korra's shoulder. The couple had gotten a bit bolder with public displays of affection over the last month since they returned from the spirit world, at least when around friends and family on the island and Asami's home. Ikki thought the pair were adorable and so sweet together. And right now they looked cozier and more content than Ikki had ever seen them. However, the vision of romantic bliss that brought Ikki back to her flurry of thoughts.
Kya looked up and called out, "Hi there, Ikki. Did your dad send you? Is everything alright? You look concerned about something."
Shaken from her thoughts, Ikki replied in a rush, "Hey Aunt Kya, Korra, and Asami. Everything is fine. I was just going to meditate on something for a bit. Don't mind me and don't let me stop your conversation."
Kya nodded, "Alright, Ikki. We'll try not to distract you too much. We're here to talk through it if that would help. We'd never judge you, dear."
Ikki flashed her Aunt a shy smile before settling into her usual meditation pose and began to calm her mind and try to interpret the flurry of emotions and thoughts that had been swirling within her for the last several hours.
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the pavilion, Asami restarted the conversation, "I think you were just about to tell us about Ember Island, Kya?"
"Right, Ember Island," Kya replied shifting her concerned eyes from her niece with some hesitancy. "It's a fairly popular vacation destination but for good reason. The Island's beaches are unparalleled with soft sand and gentle tides. Despite its popularity, it isn't too difficult to find the best authentic fire nation cuisine or most any form of entertainment or leisure you're looking for away from the crowds."
"The beach sounds fun," Asami grinned.
"And I know you love fire nation food, dear," Korra continued, "Where do people usually stay?"
"While there are some inns, I think you two could find a house to rent. Maybe even buy one with your statuses. You could probably convince Lord Zuko and Izumi to let you stay at the royal villa. They used to do that for dad when we'd go as a family even when their family wasn't joining us. I'm sure you two would have a great time playing house," Kya finished with a wink and a grin.
Korra and Asami laughed, though there was a slight pink hue to their cheeks. "That would be wonderful," Korra said a little shyly.
"We'll definitely be adding it to our list," Asami agreed. "Are there any other places you'd recommend for us to visit?"
"I have a few more. If you're looking for something close, there's a nice little spa and resort a little way outside of the city. You might want to avoid most of the Earth Kingdom for now, but the Fire Nation has some other great spots to visit – the Capital, Nyahitha, the Sei'naka clan ancestral home, Roku Island, the Jang Hui River – and they've come a long way in restoring their tolerance since the war ended. If you want to go to the Earth Kingdom, Kyoshi Island is always worth a visit." Kya ticked off the locations animatedly.
"Kyoshi Island sounds fun. Right, Korra?"
"Absolutely. We've both looked up to Kyoshi for ages. Do the warriors remember that Kyoshi dated women?" Korra asked hesitantly.
Kya gave a hearty chuckle. "Oh, they know alright. They call women like us 'friends of Kyoshi' and are very welcoming. They would be given that a good portion of the Kyoshi warriors are 'friends of Kyoshi' themselves."
"Really?" Asami asked slightly stunned.
"Oh yeah. I swear every few years I catch wind that they're debating becoming a full-fledge separatist community and barring all men from the Island again. I've had some great times on that island. Uncle Sokka and I bonded a lot over both being romantically involved with Kyoshi warriors," Kya sighed wistfully as she briefly lost herself to her memories.
"It would be great to be around more women like us," Korra offered.
"Absolutely. I'd love to listen in on one of those debates. I certainly understand wanting space away from men with how sexist and condescending some of the ones I run into can be." Asami muttered in disgust. Korra squeezed Asami lightly and rubbed her knee comfortingly.
"Well, they'll be thrilled to find out that the first female Avatar since Kyoshi is a 'friend of Kyoshi' and in a loving relationship with another woman. Though I get the feeling that they might want the two of you to stay or at least visit often," Kya smirked.
"It does sound like a perfect place to visit, but we might want to plan a longer trip just in case," Asami noted stroking her chin.
"You're probably right. Maybe we could learn how to fight like a Kyoshi warrior while we're there. You'd look great in their make-up, 'Sami." Korra waggled her eyebrows at Asami.
"I was just thinking the same about you, my dear." Asami shot back. "Maybe I can find out some information about Kyoshi's girlfriend. I think Tenzin told me her name was Rangi. I'd love to know more about her."
A frustrated shuffling from the other side of the pavilion caught the three women's attention. Ikki was not having much luck meditating. She was simply too agitated to properly clear her mind and address her emotions properly. It didn't help that the older women's conversation was much more interesting either. Though, if anyone could answer her question it was her Aunt and two adopted older sisters.
Asami seemed to pick up on Ikki's discomfort and hesitancy. "Are you alright, Ikki? We can go somewhere else if we're being too loud."
Ikki made her way over and sat down next to her Aunt. Ikki began, her voice riddled with anxiety, "I've just been thinking about something, but meditation doesn't seem to be helping. I've been trying not to ask as many awkward questions, but I don't know how else to make sense for this. Can I ask the three of you, please?"
"Of course, Ikki. You can always ask us anything when it's just us family," Kya empathized, gesturing for Ikki to get comfortable.
"Korra and I are always happy to help one of our adopted little sisters," Asami added gently as Korra nodded her support.
Ikki quickly gave the three grateful hugs before taking a seat next to her Aunt. Ikki took a deep breath, considering how to phrase her question. It was clear to all three women that the poor girl was a bundle of nerves.
"How do you know if... How do you know who you like? Like how Korra and Asami like each other." Ikki asked not certain she'd got her meaning across correctly.
As Korra and Asami both rubbed their chins in thought – the two were beginning to pick up each other's mannerisms – Kya replied, "Deep breaths, dear, no need to be anxious. Just so we can give you the best answer, are you asking how you'll know who you're attracted to or how did we realize we are attracted to women?"
"Uh...well...umm...Both," Ikki stammered.
Asami smiled, for the first time since Ikki arrived picking her head off Korra's shoulder, "How about we take the questions one at a time then?"
Hearing no objections, Asami continued, "Attraction can come in a lot of forms. Sometimes it feels like a hummingbird in your stomach and as if you're floating on air. Other times it's more subtle and suddenly hit you one day seemingly out of the blue. It really depends on the person and how they make you feel."
Korra gave Asami a look that could only belie loving devotion, "Asami's right. Sometimes you'll feel it right away. Other times it will build over time out of friendship like Asami and me. It can start as physical, emotional, or spiritual and in the best relationships it grows into a balance of all three."
Kya picked up the thread, "When it's mutual it can feel as if your energy and theirs are drawn to each other like the ocean and the moon. Does any of this sound at all familiar, Ikki dear?"
Ikki appeared to be drinking in every word, "I think so. I've been feeling so weird sometimes, but it does feel like that but maybe not quite so powerful."
Kya smiled kindly, "It sounds like you might be having your first crush, my dear."
Ikki squirmed excitedly, "You really think so? What were your first crushes like?"
Kya laughed, "Well that will get at your second question. I'll start. I had my first crush when I was about your age, Ikki. Our whole family was vacationing on Ember Island with Fire Lord Zuko and his family. It had been a few years since I had seen Izumi and we were exceptionally good friends growing up. Still are for that matter."
"Anyways, for the first few days of the trip, whenever I was anywhere near Izumi, I would get tongue-tied, clumsy, and red-faced. After a few days, I talked to your grandfather and he helped me figure it all out. Later Izumi and I talked about it. Though she didn't feel the same way, we worked through it and it only served to make us better friends."
"Bolin and I had something similar happen," Korra added grinning, "He's been a great friend ever since and he and Opal are wonderful for each other. I guess I should go next."
Asami smirked, "I can't wait we never got around to sharing about this. Go on, my dear."
"Oh, hush you," Korra teased. "I barely spent any time around people remotely my age until I can to Republic City. The first crush I had on a man was actually Mako, but my first crush was one of the younger women who served as a White Lotus guard at the compound where I grew up. I really admired her grace and kindness whenever we interacted."
"I think you like older women, dear," Asami said with a wink and a waggled eyebrow.
"You're not that much older than me, 'Sami," Korra shot back.
Korra and Asami began to flirtingly tease each other completely forgetting Kya and Ikki were even there. Kya appeared to be barely holding in her laughter while Ikki couldn't stop giggling. After a few minutes, Kya had had enough.
A gentle splash of water hit Korra and Asami on the shoulder before retreating leaving them startled but perfectly dry. They turned to see Ikki giggling like mad and a highly amused Kya smirking at them. A light blush overtook Korra and Asami and they offered muttered apologies. The resemblance the couple had to a pair of cat deer caught in a spotlight was too much for Ikki as she collapsed to the floor overcome with giggles.
"You two lovebirds can flirt and kiss once we finish answering Ikki's questions. We'll even give you some privacy. We wouldn't want two of the most important people in the recovery effort feeling pent up and distracted from the world around them," Kya offered with a knowing look that made Korra and Asami blush deeper.
It took about a minute for Korra, Asami, and Ikki to pull themselves together. Korra and Asami shifted so they were holding each other gently once more around their waists.
Once settled, Asami continued as if the distraction never occurred, "I had my first crushes on a boy and a girl at the same time. When I was about a year or two older than you Ikki, I begged my father to go to a pro-bending match. At the time there was this team with a puissant Earth Kingdom woman and a dashing Water Tribe guy. Throughout the match, I was transfixed with how they moved. At first I thought I just wanted to be a bender but that never quite fit right. A few weeks later at a Future Industries party I overheard some of the guests' slightly older kids talking about their crushes and I was able to make sense of what I was feeling."
Korra looked for a moment as if she were going to interject some flirty insinuation but a sharp look from Kya seemed to quash the impulse for the moment.
Kya kindly asked, "Has this helped at all, Ikki?"
Ikki nodded, "It's helped a lot. Thank you! I've been really confused because I think I have a crush on Huan, especially after dancing with him at the wedding. But there's also this really sweet girl around my age that I met while working in the refugee camp. It's okay to have a crush on more than one person, right?"
"Absolutely, Ikki." Korra replied, "You'll probably have several crushes throughout your life. As you can see Asami and I may not have been each other's first crush, but we couldn't be happier together now. It's okay if your crushes overlap. And no matter what anyone tells you it's perfectly normal to like men and women, just men, or just women."
"Having more than one crush will only be a problem if you act on one while you're already in a relationship with someone else." Asami added, "That's what caused the problems between Mako, Korra, and I when we all first met."
"I understand," Ikki nodded solemnly before bursting into a face-splitting smile. "You're all the best. I feel so much better."
Ikki quickly gave them all hugs. Kya stood after hugging her niece and took her by the hand. "How about we give these two lovebirds some privacy and go see if your mom needs any help with dinner?"
Ikki quickly agreed after commenting on how clearly happy Asami and Korra made each other. Kya gave the young couple a wink and led their excitable younger sister towards the temple dining area.
Korra and Asami enjoyed the quiet sunset before them for a few moments. The only sounds they could hear were the gentle waves of the bay and the distant snores of a sky bison. Korra and Asami turned to each other and shared a loving look that morphed into a prolonged tender kiss.
"So, my love," Korra broke the silence, "what is this I hear about you being attracted to strong benders?"
Asami snorted in laugher, "No matter how much I tease you about liking older women, I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"
With her signature lopsided grin, Korra simply replied, "Nope."