Asami stared blankly in front of the mirror. Her hair is a mess, bruises along her body are visible in the washroom's faint light, and some scratches of dirt in her clothes and face. She was able to take her jacket off, leaving a tank top underneath. The water on the sink is flowing, and she had a damp cloth on her left hand as she was supposed to clean herself up, but her body wouldn't move. So, she just stood there, staring at her reflection—through her reflection, when a light knock startled her.

"Asami?" It was Mako. She immediately turned the water off and opened the door to the washroom. Mako was looking at her with concern in his eyes as he continues, "Korra's awake now and—" She didn't let him finish and darted towards Korra's room.

0

It was the night after Korra's fight with Zaheer. Asami thought it would be the last battle for the Avatar. Her heart shattered when she saw Korra lying on the ground after giving one final push to bring Zaheer down. Asami wanted to hold Korra, but her father beat her to it. All she could do was watch and hope that Korra is okay.

When the poison was out of her body, they immediately transported the Avatar to the airship to tend her wounds. Korra's body is a mess, is an understatement. The whole ride back to Air Temple Island Asami can hear the girl screaming from the hallway as they try to patch up whatever wounds they can in Korra's body. Tonraq and Kya were with Korra the whole time, and she didn't want to be a bother just by being there and not do anything. It hurt to hear Korra's anguished screams, and Asami just wanted to hug her pain away. If only it were that easy.

I'd give up everything to take the pain away, Korra . If it were that easy.

She didn't know when her feelings for Korra developed, but she's sure that her love for the Avatar is more than platonic. It may be the long nights they shared when one had trouble sleeping, so they just talked all night and shared experiences from when they were kids. It may be when they spent in the desert trying to survive the giant fish attacking them when Asami noted that they work well together. It may also be when Asami volunteered to watch Korra's body as she meditates to the spirit world, and she wasn't sure then. At the same time, she stared at the Avatar in a lotus position and wondered why her heart sped up. A blush was creeping in her cheeks while thinking about how Korra's lips taste like if she kissed her then.

She wasn't sure then, but she knew now. She was in love with her best friend.

When they reached the island, they were able to sedate Korra and carried her through a stretcher into her room. Asami didn't know how long she stared at the door to Korra's room, contemplating if she should go in and just hold Korra or let her rest. A hand touched her shoulder, and she looked at the direction where it came from and saw Mako staring at her.

"We should let her rest for now. She'll be asleep for a few hours. At least that's what I heard from Kya." Mako held both of Asami's shoulders, and with a quick motion, he hugged her.

Asami didn't realize she was holding her breath until she felt Mako's arms around her, and she started to break down. She felt her legs tremble, and if it weren't for Mako's firm grip around her, she would've fallen on the floor. She quietly cried in Mako's arm.

"She's strong, Asami. She'll get through this like the last time." Mako tried to console Asami, but his voice betrayed him as she heard his voice crack at the last sentence.

They held each other for a while until Asami broke the hug and finally calmed down.

"I'll let you know when she's awake, but first we need to eat dinner and then wash up afterward. Most of them are in the dining area already", Mako started. She looked at Korra's door one last time, then she nodded and followed Mako in the dining room.

0

Asami was almost at the door when she heard a groan and a cry, quickening her pace. At the door, she saw Korra sitting on her bed grimacing but stopped when she saw Asami at the door. She stared at those blue eyes that never fails to entice her in ways she wouldn't think would be possible. Blue eyes that lights up when she gets excited about something. But right now, those blue eyes showed sadness. A look Asami never wanted to see and would do anything just to take away that look. Broken. The Avatar was broken.

"Hey, Asami." Korra gave her a strained smile, and with a few steps, she was beside Korra. Asami just noticed the people around the room. Tonraq and Tenzin were talking in the corner. Bolin and Opal near the door with Mako catching up with her now, and a healer on the left side of Korra who is about to heal a wound on her stomach.

"Hey there," Asami said as she held her right hand, squeezing it gently as a sign to let Korra know that she's there. And she's not leaving.

"I'm going to start and try again, so try to be still Avatar Korra." The healer said, and Korra nodded. A warm blue, glowing water from the basin moved its way onto Korra's stomach, but as it hits her skin, the water tribe girl squeezed Asami's hand tightly and howled in pain. Her scream was unbearable and so broken.

"STOP! STOP! Stop it!" Asami shouted. She didn't even think as her other hand swatted away the healer's hands, the water splashed onto the floor and made a protective stance over Korra.

Everyone in the room was startled in how Asami reacted and couldn't care less as long as she doesn't see Korra crying in pain. The healer was staring at her, shocked but composed herself afterwards. Pema came in the room with a dinner tray and set it down on the table beside Asami and said, "Maybe Korra can eat dinner first, then we'll try again tomorrow?" Pema gave the healer a warm smile in a gentle way that just puts Asami at ease.

The healer nodded and gathered her healing materials. With a quick bow to everyone, she was out of the room.

Bolin and the others said their goodnights and went to their rooms. Tenzin gave Asami a smile and walked out of the room with her wife as well. Tonraq went to the other side of Korra and kissed her forehead, "I'll be outside sweetie, seems like Asami has it all under control." He gave a quick nod and smiled at Asami as well, and he went out and closed the door behind him.

Asami realized she was still holding Korra's hand, she pulled away and got the bowl of soup from the tray.

"Let me feed you." Korra looked at her and nodded. Asami can still see the tears falling from her cheeks, so she held the soup on her right hand and wiped Korra's tears using her left thumb.

"Thank you, Asami," Korra said. "You didn't have to do this."

"I'm always here for you. I don't mind, Korra. Whatever you need." Whatever you need, Korra, if you'll have me.

Korra didn't say another word and let Asami feed her. After she managed to eat a few bites, the CEO excused herself and told the Avatar that she'll be right back.

Asami got up and grabbed the tray to take to the sink. When she was done washing the plates, she went back to the hallway but stopped midway to Korra's room. She let out a broken sob and just stood there, holding on to the wall in the hall with her left hand while she tried to cover her mouth with her right so that no one would hear her crying.

"Why did you have to be the Avatar, Korra." She said to no one in particular.

A few more moments, she finally stopped crying, gathered herself, and went back to Korra's room. As she opened the door, she met the younger girl's eyes and smiled, "We should change your clothes and get you ready for bed." Without waiting for an answer, she got some clothes from the drawer and placed it on the bed's foot. She then went back out the door and told Korra that she'll be right back to find a basin and cloth to wash the patches of dirt on her skin. Asami mentally slaps herself why she didn't think of getting all the stuff she needed, but then again, her mind is too tired and too worried for the girl she just left in the room.

When she got back, she closed the door behind her and went to Korra's side. She sat down at the edge of the bed and wasn't sure how to proceed. It's as if Korra read her mind, she then tried to untuck her vest and started, "Might need help in removing this." She looked at the engineer apologetically.

"Of course."

Asami started to lift her vest, and once it was removed for some reason, her eyes just stared at Korra's body. Beneath the scratches and bruises and dirt, Korra's abs were toned beautifully, and her biceps were just perfect. Not too buff, but you can tell the years of training are visible.

Asami's now aware that she's been staring too long, so she coughed, "Uh, I'm gonna touch you now—I mean, clean you, uh wipe you with the cloth." She finished lamely.

Korra didn't notice how Asami became flustered as she seems so deep in her thoughts, and the CEO gave a sigh of relief. After she changed Korra, put away the stuff she used, and turned off the light so that Korra can now rest.

"Can you stay with me for a while?" Korra asked.

Asami didn't have to be asked twice. So she went to the side of the bed where she can fit herself in, and as if her hands had a mind on its own, she slid her right arm under the younger girl's neck and the other on her stomach, holding her close.

"Is this okay?"

"More than okay. Sorry, you've done so much already, Asami. I just didn't want to be alone."

"Don't say sorry, and I told you, I'm more than happy to help," Asami said.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me."

Asami felt Korra try to snuggle closer as much as her strength wanted her to, and her heart is starting to flutter.

"We'll get through this together, Korra. I promise."

"Tell me a story? Anything. Just so I can go to sleep." Korra said. Asami just smiled in the dark but began, "Well, there's this story I used to read when I was a kid." The Avatar chuckled.

"Of course, all you did was read when you were a kid." Korra teased. Asami playfully pokes the side of her stomach, "Hey. I enjoyed it. Anyway, according to this book, there's a myth about how you find your one true love—your soulmate. To know that he/she is your soulmate, you have to directly look them in the eye and see if the stars are dancing."

"Pft. What? That's crazy. How can you see the stars in someone's eye?" Korra said, bemused, but Asami continued, "Shush, Avatar. The two main characters in the story somehow found each other. The girl, Nuzi, was blind, and the guy, Tok, accidentally bump into her, and right at that moment, the guy saw through the woman's eyes that the stars were dancing."

"Tok knew that he had to do something to get Nuzi and be with her for the rest of his life and so when he realized that she can't see his eyes, he found ways to make her feel his love."

"Diff he courffted her like a genffleman?" Korra asked as she's drifting off to sleep.

Asami giggled lightly and said, "Yes, like a gentleman. Tok gave Nuzi flowers with the most amazing smell, sang to her to relay her love through the messages of the song, and made her feel protected and not alone through his touches. With the lack of seeing him, he never stopped pursuing her. Nuzi fell in love with the guy eventually because he made her feel the love she deserves."

Asami was quiet for a moment and was pretty sure that Korra is already asleep. Still, then she asked her, "Have you seen the stars dancing in someone's eyes, Asami?" barely a whisper.

You mean those blue eyes of yours I got to see when we went all around the globe to look for air benders? The same eyes that met mine on the dining table when we had our inside joke that no one seems to understand but us?

As her brain tried to think of something to answer the question, she heard a light snore coming from the girl beside her. She smiled and caressed her cheek. "Through your eyes, Korra."

After a few minutes, she wiggled out of Korra's bed and tiptoed out of the room as quietly as possible and went to her bedroom. There's a long road ahead, but Asami will make sure that Korra knows she means it. That Asami will do anything for her.