It's been two weeks since Korra's battle with Zaheer. Two weeks since Asami moved back to Air Temple Island. Nobody was surprised 'cos everyone assumed that she'll be staying for a while to take care of the Avatar. Ever since the healer's incident during the first night, she has never left Korra's side.

Korra can't move her legs. The battle took a significant toll on her body. From what Asami understood, Korra had suffered injuries internally, including her spine, thus the lack of feeling in her lower extremities. Kya said she's going to walk again, but not anytime soon. Hence, Korra needing assistance with almost everything.

Asami helped change her clothes, assisted to bathe her, encouraged her to eat as much as possible, held her during the healing sessions, and stayed with the Avatar when the nightmares came.

The nightmares were terrible. It happened almost every day. After Asami made sure Korra was asleep, she leaves Korra's room, goes to her room, then right when she is about to sleep. She finds herself getting back up whenever she hears the screams of the Korra.

0

"NO! Stop. Please!" Like muscle memory, Asami bolted upright and ran towards the Korra's room, "I don't want to!" the girl screamed.

Oh, Korra.

She reached through the door, slid it open, and swiftly moved to the bed.

Sitting down, facing Korra, she stroked her right arm, trying to wake her up.

"Hey, Korra. It's Asami, you're okay. Please wake up." Korra was beaded with sweat and looked strenuous from whatever nightmare she's having now.

Please wake up, I can't protect you in your dreams.

On cue, Korra's eyes opened, followed by a loud gasp. She was breathing heavily and was looking around the room, possibly concerned about the threat she just had in her dream. She then locked eyes with Asami.

"You're okay. It was just a nightmare." Asami then scooted closer, now hugging Korra.

"It's Zaheer. He was trying to kill me again. I wasn't gonna make it." Korra responded, exhaling slowly, trying to catch her breath.

"You're safe now, Korra. I want you to follow my breathing, okay? Just breathe in and out." Asami held Korra's left hand and placed it on her chest to feel her breathing. "Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Good."

It's Zaheer again. Asami thought. She would give everything just to keep that man away from Korra. He has hurt her terribly, and seeing Korra struggling like this, pains her to the extent of invigorating her needs to track down Zaheer and just end him. Whatever it takes.

Korra's breathing went back to normal, and they were both able to relax. Their position in bed didn't only make Asami's stomach flip, but it also made her self-conscious.

Ever since she mentally admitted to herself that she likes Korra more than a friend, Asami has been hyper-aware of how close she's been with her. She has been there to take care of Korra's needs. Asami didn't mind though, she loved spending all her time with her, and whenever those blue eyes look at her, it's like she's about to melt in a pile of goo.

Much to her dismay, she had to keep her feelings in check. Korra doesn't need this right now. She'll do everything for Korra, even if it means hiding her own emotions.

Being in bed with Korra and holding her close isn't helping her cause one bit. This is what friends do, right? Just casually snuggling in the same bed when one is having a nightmare, and the other soothes her faster than a bolt of lightning—just friends.

"I'm sorry, Asami. I'm always keeping you up at night. It's the fourth time it's happened now." Korra suddenly spoke in the darkness.

"No worries. You know I'm always here. I don't want you to go through this alone." Asami responded.

"I don't want to keep doing this to you, Asami. You don't have to come in here all the time whenever I have nightmares." She sighed deeply.

"Well, you're making it harder for me to sleep with all your screaming anyway,"

Asami tried to joke but then regretted it after as she felt her friend move away.

She held on to her closer, "I'm kidding. I want to, I want to be the person you see when you wake up from a terrible nightmare."

"Oh, so I can see that beautiful face of yours?" Korra chided, she can feel her smiling.

Korra isn't even aware of how her words can affect the older girl. Asami can feel her cheeks rise in heat as she laughs nervously, "Right, yeah… You're beautiful too." She blurted, then flinched at her lame retort but was relieved when she heard Korra laugh.

They held onto each other for a few more moments until Asami broke the silence.

"Say, would you mind if I just sleep here with you? If you keep having nightmares every night, it'll be easier for me to wake you up. I mean, I can sleep on the cot, I wouldn't mind."

"Wow, you really mean it when you said you're here for me," Korra responded with an uneasy tone.

Asami reassuringly kissed her forehead, a gesture she growing accustomed to, "Korra, I'm your friend. You have saved me a lot of times more than you think, and I'm very grateful for it. It's the least I can do. You sacrificed yourself to save the air nation, and I will be here to help you as much as I can with your recovery."

Korra scooted closer and settled on the engineer's neck. She can feel the younger girl's breath that sent an electric shock to her spine and made her own breath hitch. Just friends.

"Okay."

"Okay." Asami smiled despite herself.

0

"Is it a bad time to bother you with tea right now?"

Asami looked up from where the voice came from. She was sitting in the patio, sketching a design for a wheelchair that she'd come up with for Korra to use and comfortably move about. It was getting harder carrying the younger girl to and from the bathroom.

Tonraq was approaching her, she closed the book and smiled at the broad man.

"Not at all. Is Korra okay?" Asami asked, wondering why Tonraq came to see her. She left the younger girl a few hours ago after the healing session because she wanted to rest. Knowing Korra, what she meant was she wanted to be alone and doesn't want to be bothered. It wounded Asami, but she just nodded and left.

"She's fine. She's sleeping right now." Tonraq sat beside her and handed the tea.

"Thank you, Tonraq." She sipped her tea, tasting a mixture of jasmine and honey, just how she wants it.

"Ha. I should be the one thanking you, Asami. You've been with Korra all throughout. I can't even approach her sometimes, but it doesn't matter 'cause I know she has you." Tonraq responded genuinely.

Asami blushed at the thought of being the only person to get that close to her. She was the only person Korra trusted with most of her care. Asami thought that she didn't want anyone to see her that broken. The girl who once headed into trouble with fist first is now struggling to even hold her spoon. Yet Asami was there for her all the time, and Korra didn't mind. The heiress didn't mind either.

"Your daughter has done so much for the world that doesn't even appreciate her. It's the least I can do." Asami paused, then shrugged, "it's my way to say that I appreciate her, I guess."

Tonraq smiled at Asami. He stood up and bear-hugged the poor girl.

"Oh." Was all Asami could say. Tonraq broke the hugged and looked at her with gentleness in his eyes.

"I'm glad she has a friend like you. I know you're busy too, especially with a company in your hands. You don't know how much it means to me that you make time to take care of my daughter." Tonraq stated.

Asami just laughed.

Had a massive argument with the entire board members' cos I asked for another leave to be here, maybe moved some things to accommodate my absence. Oh, I also casually cancelled meetings here and there just to be here, with Korra. Not a problem.

But she won't admit that to anyone, most notably to the father of her beloved.

"Don't worry about it, I guess it's one of the perks of being CEO of a company is being able to leave if I want to," Asami stated cockily. Liar.

"You can take a break and head to the city if you want, Asami. Senna is coming in two days. She'll help with Korra's care, and I'm sure Korra wouldn't mind if you take time off to yourself."

She thought of it for a moment. She'll have to go to her workshop anyway to finish the wheelchair she was building for the water tribe girl.

"I guess I can go now. I have to finish this project I'm working on." She finally said.

"Is that what you were doing this whole time?" Tonraq presumed.

"Yeah. I was thinking of building this for Korra." She showed the sketches she was working on to the chief and gladly took it to examine her drawings.

His eyes widened for a moment and then looked at Asami, tears welling up at the corners of his eyes.

"You're doing this for Korra?"

"I figure she'll need it to navigate around so it'll be easier for her and—" Asami got cut off with another bear-hug from the man.

Asami hugged him back, welcoming the warmth of a loving father she has been longing for.

"You're perfect for my daughter, you know?" Tonraq declared, and all she could do was smile.

00000

"They found the remains of the other two inside the cave."

"Did they bury them somewhere?"

"There wasn't much to bury, as far as I know."

It was Tenzin and Lin talking in the dining room, together with Kya and Bumi.

"They made arrangements for Zaheer's prison, they found a location deep in the mountains."

"Well, are they certain that he'll never be able to break out again?" Bumi asked.

Lin nodded, "I checked the prison myself; it's bending proof. He can't escape this time."

Asami quietly passed by the dining room, not wanting to interrupt their conversation. Deep down, she wanted to ask why they didn't just vote to execute the man who poisoned Korra because he doesn't deserve to live after what happened. She decided not to.

Kya looked up, seeing Asami and smiled, "Hey. You okay?"

Everyone saw her now, so she stopped walking and acknowledged everyone. "Yeah. I was just gonna check on Korra. I'm gonna head back to the city to work on something."

They all nodded and went back to their conversation, but Kya started with a knowing look in her eyes, "She'll be fine with us. I'll check up on her while you're gone." Kya smirked, giving her a knowing look. She knows. Did she? At that moment, all Asami could do is stare at the older woman with shock. Kya was still giving her that look so she then smiled shyly and briefly said, 'thank you' before walking away and towards Korra's room.

Crap. Was I that obvious?

As she opened the door, she saw Jinora sitting on a chair talking to Korra. They both looked in her direction.

"Oh, hey, Asami! I was just leaving." Jinora said with her calm tone.

"Oh, no I didn't mean to—"

"No worries," she then stood up and looked at Korra, "I'll talk to you later, okay?" Korra nodded, and Jinora gave Asami a warm smile before she went out and closed the door behind her.

She then approached the water tribe girl and took the chair Jinora was sitting moments ago.

"Hey, you." Asami went for Korra's hand and held it. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than I was this morning, I guess." She smiled at the heiress but not reaching her eyes.

Asami squinted her eyes, not convinced, but decided not to pry. "I'm heading out to the city for now. I just have to finish this project I'm working on." She gave her lead engineer the idea to start the wheelchair for Korra a few days ago, but she'll have to come and see the progress in person.

She wasn't sure, but she might've noticed a disappointed look from the Korra's face and then it was gone. "Oh, okay then."

"Unless you don't want me to. I can—"

Korra squeezed her hand gently. "It's okay. You've been locked up here with me since the first day, Asami. You have things to do." Korra said reassuringly.

Asami moved her chair closer, then pulled the Avatar's hand in her face, feeling the touch of her hand. "You know I don't mind at all."

"I know."

They held each other for a moment, not wanting it to be over. Much of her disappointment, Asami broke the silence while laying Korra's hand back in bed.

"Sooo, what were you and Jinora talking about?" Asami decided to ask, looking at the water tribe girl.

"Oh, I was just telling her about this dream I had last night."

"Nightmares again?"

"No. It was actually a good one." Korra said shyly, and for an instant, she saw the girl blushed.

"Oh, can I know what it's all about?" Asami queried, now genuinely interested.

Korra laughed nervously and kept stealing glances from Asami but couldn't lock eyes with her. She raised one eyebrow. She finally locked eyes with the girl and noted her look with something. Doubtful? No. Wistful, perhaps.

"It's nothing really. Just a silly dream." Korra stated but not as convincing as she wants it to be.

A knock startled both of them, and they both looked to the direction of the door, and she was pretty sure she heard Korra sighed relief. Pema came in with a food tray smiling at both of them.

"It's time for you to eat, missy. You missed lunch again today." Asami stood up and gave Pema her chair so that she can feed Korra. "Asami, the ferry is about to leave, I heard you're going to the city today?"

"Yes. I was just saying bye to Korra." She smiled at Pema then looked at the blue-eyed girl. "I guess I'm off for now then. I might come back tonight to check on you 'cause I'm sure I'll miss you." She blurted. Surprised by her brave flirting attitude towards Korra.

And to her amusement, she was certain this time that Korra blushed, and it made her smile wider. They stared at each other for a moment until Pema coughed and started, "Okay, Korra. Time to eat your food now. You won't get full just by looking at Asami." This time, it was Asami's turn to blush. She then composed herself and waved goodbye to Korra.

She was smiling by herself on her way to the dock. Maybe there's a chance? There's no way. Unless?

She was hopeful. That's all she needed, at least for now.