This is cross-posted, but let's see if anyone reads this from this site.

So the arc of Korra learning to walk, as brief as it was compared to her mental health struggle, hit a very personal note. when I was a teenager I had a brain tumor removed from the balance/coordination center of the brain and as a result I had to learn how to walk again. I had to have help with bathing, dressing, getting in/out of bed and chairs. So I really wanted to tackle this arc in a fic. I elected to write it from Asami's POV for several reasons but I still hope you enjoy this story!


Asami ran the brush through Korra's hair, a palm braced against her scalp to prevent pulling. The room was quiet, as it often was as of late. Korra's usually chatty nature subdued into a near-silence. She gave her hair a few final brush strokes, stepping back to check her work before setting the brush down on the end-table to grab her wolf-tail wraps and started to work her hair into its usual style. Sometimes she would talk to Korra, about whatever subjects popped into her head. Other days, like today, she simply let the room stay silent as she helped her get ready for the day.

"Here, lovely as always." She said after some time, holding a small hand-held mirror to her. Korra nodded, and Asami set the mirror down. "Are you cold? Do you need your coat?" she asked, the other girl shook her head. But Asami could see the goosebumps on the bare skin of her upper arms, and grabbed the garment anyway, hooking it over her own arm to bring it with them. "Ready?" she asked, idly toying with Korra's hair. Korra nodded, her hands folded in her lap, head tilted down slightly.

Asami unlocked the wheelchair's brakes, and turned her to head to meet with Tenzin and his family for breakfast. It was their last day at Air Temple Island, and Tenzin had wanted them all to share their meals together before Korra moved to the Southern Water Tribe village. Korra had spent the last two weeks taking her meals in her room, eating half of what was served on a good day, a few bites at best on others.

"Are you sure you want to come with me? South… I mean." Korra asked, her voice hoarse. Asami paused her reach for the doorknob, stepping around and crouching to her knees so she could meet Korra's eyes, grabbing one of her hands.

"Of course. I'm here for you." She answered. She paused, giving Korra the time she needed to respond, if she wanted to at all.

"It's just a few weeks." She said. Asami smiled and nodded, though she had a hunch that this trip to the Southern Water Tribe would not be so brief. When Korra had first told her she would be moving back home, she was quick to offer her company. Since the incident with Zaheer, Asami had been by her side. Helping her to wash, dress, and other necessities. The daily tasks she hadn't allowed anyone else to assist her with. It was a rare time Korra was quick to respond to her, accepting her offer.

Since then, she had made short trips back to the Sato Estate to pack some belongings, and review her workload so she could figure out what could be pawned off on Varrick, and what could be worked on remotely from the south. She gathered the materials necessary to do so; Zhu Li's help was instrumental in managing all this on such a short timescale. Varrick had promised to do his best to fill in the gaps her absence would leave. And by that, he meant hiring extra engineers, and buying her more notebooks so she could work on designs and mail them back to Republic City. This would still cause delays in their work, she just hoped not enough to significantly negatively impact Future Industries. As for helping President Raiko with further repairs to infrastructure, well he could kiss her ass if he had any complaints about her temporary relocation and associated delays.

Asami gave Korra's hand one more squeeze before she stood up, and they headed to meet everyone for breakfast. The wheelchair was too high for Korra to comfortably eat at the table, unless a bowl was set on her lap. This was the excuse she often used to avoid eating with everyone.

"Would you like some help?" Asami offered. She saw Korra glance around the room, lines appearing in her face before she nodded, her eyes downcast. Asami locked the chair, and aided Korra in lowering her to the cushion before the table, helping her adjust the position of her legs. Once sure she was as comfortable as she could get her, she took a spot beside her.

"Korra! It's great to see you with everyone!" Pema welcomed her, bouncing Rohan in her arms as she waved to her with one hand. The other three children all welcomed her as well, relocating themselves further down the table to be closer to her, Ikki and Meelo momentarily fighting over who got to sit on Korra's left.

"Aren't you afraid of girl-cooties?" Ikki taunted her brother, which finally won her the coveted spot.

"It's nice to see everyone." Korra replied.

"Jinora's the one spreading cooties everywhere." Meelo pouted, jutting his bottom lip as he glared as his eldest sister.

"You're not supposed to scratch." Ikki agreed, pointing an accusing finger at Jinora.

"Yeah you're leaving cooties everywhere!" Meelo agreed.

"I'm trying not to." Jinora replied. Her shaved head was sporting new stubble, the new blue arrow tattoos scabbed in some spots, the combination looked like it left her uncomfortable.

"Leave your sister alone you two. And Ikki, give Korra some room to breathe." Pema scolded. Ikki pouted, scooting over.

"The itching will get better." Tenzin said, and then turned his attention to the end of the table, "And Korra, it's so nice to see you decided to join us." Korra forced a smile that didn't touch her eyes and nodded. A moment later a young woman came through the doorway leading to the kitchen carrying a tray with bowls of rice.

"Everyone, I wanted to introduce our newest acolyte. This is Anju." Tenzin introduced. "She wanted to prepare breakfast for everyone as thanks for welcoming her to Air Temple Island." He continued. A round of welcomes went around the table, and Tenzin went around and introduced everyone. Anju smiled, and when her eyes settled on Korra, Asami could see the way she stiffened and clasped her hands tight under the table. She reached over, placing her hand over her blanched knuckles, lightly rubbing until she felt some of the tension relax.

"I-it's an honor to meet the Avatar." Anju stammered. Korra tried again to smile, dragging her eyes up from the table.

"Thank you for cooking for everyone." She replied. Anju brightened, a bright flush coating her cheeks. She passed out the food and everyone tucked in, engaging in conversation. Korra idly mixed her food, but did take bites. Asami talked to her, getting occasional short answers but mostly talked about whatever came to mind. Pointless technobabble about engine design adjustments for the satomobiles, anecdotes about Varrick managing to injure himself in the machine shop, or herself for that matter; shaking her hand with the phantom tingle in her fingertips recalling when she gave herself a hearty shock off a battery.

"I would have paid to see you with that puffed-out static hair." Korra chuckled, a genuine smile finally pulling her features.

"Unfortunately, you'd have to smuggle Mako in your bags and get him to shock me to see that." Asami replied.

"Tempting." Korra replied, getting a light shove in answer. Asami smiled as she saw Korra finish her plate, probably the first time she had seen her finish a meal in two weeks. After, she leaned forward, holding herself up on her forearms leaning on the table.

"Tired?" Asami asked. Korra's brief levity drained away, her eyes taking on that distant glaze as she nodded. "Do you want to head back to your room?" Korra nodded, staring through the table. Asami noted the way Pema was glancing at them from up the table, and she turned her attention to the kids.

"Okay everyone, let's head out to meet with the acolytes! Show them some new bending tricks!" She grunted as she awkwardly got to her feet while balancing her sleepy infant in one arm, the three kids forming air balls and riding them outside. Tenzin excused himself to help Anju with dishes. Asami noted the way everyone avoided looking at Korra as they left the room one by one until she was left alone with her. She heard Korra mumble something, but decided not to ask her to repeat herself.

"Ready?" Asami asked.

"Can't do it on my own, so it's if you're ready." Korra snapped back. Random outbursts were not an uncommon occurrence, and she let the flash of hurt come and fade, trying not to let herself hold onto it. Korra's eyes were firmly locked on the table, avoiding Asami's eyes as she came down to hook her arms around her shoulders and under her knees. Korra's slung an arm around Asami, knowing how badly these transfers went when she was stubborn and refused to participate. She tried to will her legs to move, bend, anything. But she was limp save for her arms as Asami pulled her off the floor with a grunt, lowering her onto the chair. Korra pushed hard against the arms of the wheelchair to try and hoist herself into a more comfortable position. She had never realized how much she had to use her legs to move her upper body. Even her core body failed to participate. She tried a second time, Asami standing patiently beside her, knowing from experience to let her try. But by the third attempt she was out of breath, and beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Please…" Korra asked. Asami wrapped her arms around her once more, counted to three and with Korra helping with her arms they were able to hoist her into a more comfortable sitting position. It took Korra a few moments to catch her breath, eventually settling and folding her hands in her lap. "Thank you…" she said, lines appearing between her brows. "Sorry I snapped at you."

"I get snippy too when I'm tired. Fairly certain Varrick is still terrified of daring to wake me if I'm taking a nap." Asami replied. Korra chuckled,

"It's hard to picture you pissed off enough to scare someone. Unless you're already about to give them a zap with your glove."

"Sometimes it's temping to give Varrick a nice shock. Zhu Li would probably not know whether to slap me, or send me a flower bouquet." This time Korra laughed in earnest, bringing a smile to Asami. "Now what do you say about a game of pai sho?" she asked as she turned Korra's wheelchair to bring her back to her room. Once back, Korra fell back into her quiet, and they played several games of pai sho. Asami let her win a few games, though she suspected Korra knew this. Nonetheless she would smirk at each victory, and display mock-anger at each defeat and demand a rematch. She seemed oddly like Bolin when playing.

Lunch and dinner passed quite similar to breakfast, a quiet affair and mutually exhausting transfers from the wheelchair to the cushion and back again. After dinner, once back in her room again, Korra asked for help into bed and pulled herself into the back corner. It took Asami a few moments to realize it was about as far as she could get herself away from the window, where the acolytes were training their air bending outside.

"If you're not too tired I packed some of my books." Asami suggested, hoping to offer her a distraction. Korra had never been particularly good at sitting still for long periods to do something like read, but she had managed a long session of pai sho. Korra nodded at the suggestion, though as the night progressed Asami noticed that she still appeared to be on the first few pages of the book her gaze once again distant.

"Would you like to take a bath tonight? I'm not sure there will be running water on the ship to the south pole." Asami suggested. Korra's frown deepened, and she didn't answer at first, and Asami resumed reading for the time being. After several minutes passed Korra spoke,

"I should." she replied.

"Do you want to" Asami clarified. She tried not to push Korra, to give her what little agency she could. The question seemed to soften Korra's expression, who nodded this time.

"A hot bath feels nice" she admitted.

"Which nightclothes do you want tonight?" she asked. Korra shifted herself to the edge of the bed, gripping her pantlegs to pull her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Same as always" She replied. Asami didn't press the issue, reaching for the first pair of sweatpants and tank top in the drawer. She wondered if she slept in these clothes in the south, and how in the name of spirits she kept warm. She wanted to shiver at the thought. She placed the clothes atop the dresser, turning back to Korra.

"I'll get the bath filled for you and come back, okay?" she offered. Korra nodded, and she left the room. A ways up the winding halls she ran into Tenzin, and gave him a polite greeting.

"Korra seems to be in slightly better spirits today. It was nice to see her eating with everyone." He said.

"Maybe she's feeling encouraged about going home, that Katara can do something." She suggested.

"My hope is that my mother can help her get back in touch with her spiritual side." Tenzin replied. "I've tried to help her meditate, but it doesn't go well. But how do you think she's doing tonight? She seems more… open with you as of late." he asked.

"About as well as we can expect." Asami answered.

"I'm glad she's agreed to let you go with her. I think the company will do her well" He replied. He himself had offered to go with her, and Korra had declined. Telling him that his children needed him, that the new air acolytes needed him. He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder,

"Thank you for being there for her." He said.

"Of course, I'll always be there for her." She replied. He smiled and gave her a nod, hesitating as if he had more to say, but cleared his throat to wish her a good night. In the bathroom she drew a hot bath, laying out towels and a washcloth, got the soap. She returned with Korra, her nightclothes on her lap.

"The room is all steamy." Korra remarked.

"If I remember, you like your baths boiling hot." Asami replied. "If you prefer a preview of home though the water around the island is cold this time of year." She offered. Korra laughed,

"Live in the cold you earn a new appreciation for hot water. Ever sat in a hot spring in winter?" She asked.

"No, but my mother used to tell me about the ones near her home as a child." Asami replied. "Now hop in the pot before it goes cold." Korra reached down to pull off her top, but required help to do more than that. Asami bent down, instructing Korra to hold onto her neck and stood up, wincing at so much weight hanging off her neck and pushed Korra's pants down enough that she could seat her back down in the wheelchair to remove them fully.

Asami wondered if this was why she agreed to let her come with her south. When she first realized she needed help with such personal tasks, Asami was the only one she allowed to help her. She rejected Pema, offers from acolytes who worked in hospitals, offers to have her mother come up to Republic City. The first time Asami had helped her she had kept her arms crossed tight across her chest, shoulders pulled in and she had cried.

"I can't do anything for myself. This is humiliating." Korra wept.

"If you're not comfortable we can find a different option." Asami offered, but Korra shook her head.

"I don't… I can't have anyone else do this for me." She replied, shaking her head. She sniffled, trying to stop her sobs and rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand. "I'm the damn Avatar and I'm stuck in a wheelchair needing to be dressed and washed like an infant. How the hell am I supposed to be the bridge between worlds if I can't even stand up?" Korra asked, her voice thick with sarcasm as she called upon her title. Asami dropped down to her knees, reaching to grab one of Korra's hands tightly within her own, and look her in the eye. Her initial words of encouragement stalled in her throat. She knew that Korra was sick of everyone telling her she just needed time. Reminding her of how broken she was left after Zaheer. Of all the good she's done since coming to Republic City.

"I'll be here to help you with anything you need, and I'll give you space if that's what you want. We don't need to bathe today." She said, though, truth be told, she certainly hoped Korra wouldn't take the chance to back out of washing. Her hair was greasy, she smelled unwashed, of body odor and dried blood, of the astringent smell of medicated ointments. She hoped that getting herself clean and fresh would help her feel better, a bit more like herself. Korra squeezed her hand back, new sobs shaking her shoulders.

"Please, stay." She asked.

She was surprised how quickly Korra moved from this sense of humiliation, to acceptance with allowing Asami to aide her in bathing. Once undressed Asami was able to lift her, notably lighter than the first time she did this, and lowered her into the warm water. Asami noted how the wounds from her battle were finally fading. The once dark purple bruising across her lower back, her chest, and left hip and thigh had faded at the edges to yellow and green. Lacerations on her arms and hands were pink scars with a few lingering scabs, and Asami felt a fleeting impulse to trace the scars, rub away any lingering pain. Despite the signs of healing, her limbs looked thinner, the definition of her muscles seemed less pronounced. Her collarbones and ribs stuck out.

"This new soap Pema got smells nice," She remarked. Korra nodded. She was able to reach the majority of her body, Asami helping where she could not. Asami was sitting on the floor next to the tub, her back resting against it. She had offered to wait outside instead, but Korra had said it was okay if she remained in the bathroom.

"It's nice. Not quite as nice as yours." Korra replied, voice trailing off into a mumble halfway through her sentence.

"If you like it, I can go to the estate to get some to bring with us." Asami offered. There was a pause, and she imagined Korra was shaking her head.

"We leave tomorrow… you don't have to go all the way back. Besides, the ferries end soon."

"I can catch the late ferry, pack up some soap, then take one of the small boats from the estate docks to get back." She explained. Korra shook her head again and Asami shrugged and accepted defeat, not wanting to start an argument. But made a mental note to leave instructions for her assistant to have some of the soap sent south. When Korra finished what she was capable of, Asami helped her finish. She draped towels over her wheelchair and hoisted her out of the water, setting her down on the chair and handed her a towel to dry herself off, and they worked together to get her into her usual sleepwear.

Asami took the towel, and with a silent nod of permission better dried Korra's hair. She lightly ran her fingers through it to prevent large snags, not wanting to damage her hair by brushing it while wet.

"Did I ever tell you your hair is very pretty?" Asami said. She could see the way Korra's ears flushed red and smiled at it, tucking a bit of the damp hair behind her ear. Korra's hands were folded in her lap, and Asami took a moment to gather all the soiled and wet linens, save for Korra's clothing, and placed them in the laundry basket. She gave Korra's shoulder a light touch, prompting her to turn and look up at her. "Ready for bed?"

"Yeah. Not sure either of us will sleep well on the ship." Korra answered.

"I've never been much of a pirate myself." Asami replied, then placed a hand over her left eye. "Think I can pull off the look?"

"Need a peg-leg to finish the look."

"Hmm. You can always use those bender-powers of yours to freeze a leg off." This got the other woman to actually chuckle.

"And you'll still somehow have a pair of legs to turn every head in Republic City." Asami felt her cheeks heat up and smiled. She wheeled her back to her bedroom and felt a chill rush down her arms.

"Want me to close the window?" She asked, concerned about Korra's wet hair. But she shook her head no. She locked the wheelchair close to the bed, scooped her up, and placed her down. Korra shifted herself more to the center of the bed, trying to drag her legs over using the legs of her sweatpants. "Do you need anything? A cup of tea maybe?" Asami offered. Korra shook her head. "I'll be in the kitchen for a few minutes then I'll be in the next room if you need me." She said. Korra nodded, that distant look coming back to her eyes. She frowned and turned, pausing at the doorway. "Goodnight."

"'Night" Asami let out a breath once in the hall, glancing at the door before walking to the kitchen. She used a match to ignite the stove and set the kettle to heat the tea she had brought with her in a small wooden box. Tenzin and his family had express a fondness for the tea, so she intended to leave the rest of it behind for them. She took her mug to the table and sat down, rubbing roughly at her face. She folded her arms and rested her head down, resting for a few moments while her tea cooled. She had never been very good at figuring out when the water kettle was hot enough for tea and simply let it boil.

"Asami?" She jolted up, blinking a few times and searching for the voice. She saw the eldest airbender daughter looking at her from across the table.

"Oh. Jinora. Can I help you with something?"

"No I just came to have some tea, guess you had the same idea. You okay? I don't think I've ever found you passed out at the table before"

"I guess I'm just a little tired." Asami replied, cupping her hands around her tea to warm them and took a sip, finding it lukewarm.

"Want to meditate with me? It always makes me feel better. I was just coming in to get some tea first." Jinora offered. Asami shook her head and gave her a a smile,

"I've never been very good at that. Or anything spiritual really… Lucky for Korra, Katara will be at the Southern Water Tribe." She replied.

"You're still welcome to come try." Jinora said.

"Thank you, but I should head to bed." Asami replied. She was very fond of the airbender family, but had never been particularly good with children. Jinora seemed mature beyond her years, but at her core she was still a child.

"Before you leave tomorrow… I just really wanted to say thank you for helping Korra." Jinora said. Asami looked up and drummed her fingers against her tea mug.

"She's my best friend, I'd do anything for her." She replied.

"She's like family. Everything that happened… that she's been through. I'm happy she has you."

"Don't sell yourself short." Asami replied. She stood up, taking her mug with her. "I know she considers you all family too." Jinora smiled at her when she heard this, momentarily looking much more like the child she was, rather than the airbending master. "I'm going to try to get some sleep."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight Jinora." Asami wished. She walked back to her room that was one door down from Korra's. She paused at her door, debating checking in one last time, but shook her head. Korra would call for her if she needed her. She slid open the door to her room and closed it behind her, feeling the fatigue wash back over her. Get yourself together. You've had later nights than this behind your desk. She chided herself. She set her tea down on the small table beside the bed and changed into her own nightclothes. Dark red satin pants with a button-down top. She usually wore nightgowns, but the night was chilly and she wanted something a little warmer.

She took another sip of her tea, now almost cold, and settled against the pillows; and was asleep within minutes.