Crepuscular waves of light and shadow passed overhead as Asami drove through the deserted streets. Although most lights flickered in a familiar yellow hue, a few glowed in a steady, eerie purple, the product of a more benign use of the spirit vines' energy. According to the radio, City Hall was still blocked off, so she'd decided to go back to her workshop, hoping that Korra would come find her there.
Her mind was still racing from that afternoon's talk with Pema. After recovering from the initial shock that Pema had discovered her and Korra's secret, she had told the older woman about the relationship and some of the struggles she and Korra had been facing. It was a relief to feel like someone understood what she was feeling, why she couldn't share Korra's easy enthusiasm for telling the world about their love.
Pema had pointed out that moving in together would be a major step forward as a couple and a large commitment to make so early in their relationship. She hadn't outright advised against it, noting wryly that her relationship with Tenzin had moved even faster, but merely said that living together brings out the best and the worst in a couple. Asami had told her about the challenges they had finding time to spend together and how she worried about Korra's health, seeing her grow more tired with each passing day. Pema didn't offer a solution, reminding her that dating the Avatar would always mean seeing her risk herself for others.
Asami shuddered, thinking back to when she'd almost lost Korra, right when she realized the depth of her feelings for her. Zaheer's poison stole three years from them. She thanked the spirits every day that it hadn't stolen a lifetime from them. The physical scars had faded with time and Korra had once more become the fierce warrior who'd saved the world many times. But the ghosts of the past still lingered in the corners of Korra's mind. On rare occasions, she'd wake up crying, clinging to Asami for safety. On even rarer occasions, she'd wake up screaming.
The passing lights slowed as Asami turned into her garage at the base of the tower. The evening's shadows gave way to the blazing glare of the floodlights. The guard bowed respectfully as she exited her Satomobile, leaving the keys so he could park it for her. "I am glad you are well Miss Sato, I surmise you were not troubled by the street closures?"
"I'm fine Lintong, has anyone come to see me in the last few hours?" She hoped Korra would be waiting for her upstairs. Her heart was heavy with hope and anxiety, wanting to share the afternoon's news as soon as she could.
"No Miss Sato, are you expecting a guest at these late hours?" he said with an expression that didn't betray the slightest hint of curiosity.
"The Avatar might come by later," she said, trying to keep her tone casual, "if she does, let her up to my office. If anyone else comes, tell them to contact my secretary for my schedule."
"Of course, Miss Sato. I will let Miss Korra know she has kept you waiting," he said, giving her the slightest glimmer of a smile. By now, most of her personal staff were used to Korra coming and going at all hours and thought nothing of expecting her to arrive in the middle of the night. Some must have deduced their relationship, but unlike everywhere else, Asami didn't worry about her secret. Her personal staff had been chosen for their discretion and absolute loyalty to the Sato family, another gift from her late father. Most would sooner die than betray the Sato heiress' trust.
"Don't be too hard on her. She's probably had a hard day already," she said, his levity coaxing a smile through her worries. When her father had been imprisoned for his crimes and she'd lost her company, she expected her staff to abandon her. But they hadn't, and she was grateful to them.
She rode the elevator up alone, silent save her thoughts and the pounding of her heart. Korra wasn't back yet. It wasn't impossible to believe that the negotiations could run late. Her office felt enormous and empty when she stepped out of the elevator. She resigned herself to wait until Korra arrived, confident that her girlfriend would come find her once she could leave City Hall.
With each passing minute, her worries grew. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Barely fifteen minutes had passed since she arrived, yet she felt like her talk with Pema had happened days ago. After another agonizing few minutes, she went over to the closet and dug through the abandoned machinery. Her father installed police scanners in his Model Y Satomobiles, and although most had been confiscated, Asami had managed to smuggle one to her office. If she could at least learn what was going on, she might feel a little better.
Although the metalbenders had cleared away all the rubble from the earlier attack, several diplomats remained unaccounted for, mostly Kuvira's most unflinching supporters. Raiko had managed to calm Prince Wu and ordered a police officer to find a list of the day's attendees. "Dammit Lin, I thought you had the perimeter secured," he said, scowling as he joined her in surveying the damage.
"My officers cleared the plaza, we had people posted on every rooftop, and nobody could've gotten in or out once we sealed the entrances. They had to have been here before we arrived, and to get this many people into City Hall undiscovered, they must've had help from the inside."
"Much as I don't like it, that's probably right. I'll have the full staff list sent to the police department. I want full background checks, investigation of known accomplices, and alibis for the last 24 hours from anyone who's set foot in this building." The officer arrived with the list of diplomats and Raiko gestured for him to give it to Lin. "Arrest anyone on that list who's disappeared on charges of assisting a terror attack." He looked around at the remaining diplomats, then chuckled. "It looks like you might get a chance to arrest Donghai after all."
Lin handed the list back to the officer, then turned to the assembled dignitaries. "You heard the president. Nobody leaves until we've counted all of you, line up against the wall, now!"
The cold hand of panic gripped Korra's heart. She had promised to meet Asami once the negotiations ended for the day. Asami would've heard about the riots earlier and would undoubtedly be worrying about her. The last tendrils of sunlight slithered through the window as day gave way to twilight. It would already be dark before she could get to Asami's workshop. The creeping pool of exhaustion had also started to well up inside her, the price of using the Avatar State after days of little sleep.
Korra got Lin's attention and pulled her aside from the chaotic scene as diplomats jostled to be the most obliging detainee. "What's the matter kid?"
"I told Asami I'd meet her at her office downtown. I know you want to keep this place locked down, but could you make an exception?" She paused, not wanting to reveal too much, but feeling the need to justify herself under Lin's stern gaze. "She probably heard about the attack. I don't want her to worry about me."
"I should've expected you'd find a way to make my job harder," she said, her words belied by an amused smile, "I'll find you an escort out, and manage Raiko for you." As she walked away, Korra could hear her chuckle under her breath and mutter, "Who would have thought that one would become such a softie?"
Korra went to say a quick goodbye to Tenzin before Lin's escort came to find her. As she embraced her former teacher, he said, "Once again we are in your debt Avatar Korra." His words brought bashful colour to Korra's cheeks. "If you can, please radio my wife and let her know I'm okay. Raiko, Lin, and I will be going over the security plans again tonight, and I don't want her to worry why I'm not home."
Korra promised that she would as soon as possible. A young officer was waiting nearby and Korra followed her down the steps and through the hallways to the back entrance. There she found a police cruiser waiting for them. The officer gestured for Korra to sit in the passenger seat, while she got behind the wheel. The police had temporarily lowered the barrier sealing off City Hall, and soon they were off, zipping through the darkened streets.
Trying to distract herself from thoughts of Asami, Korra studied the young woman. She must be new to the force, since she looked as young as Korra when she first arrived in Republic City and nearly as lost. Still, the hard-edged uniform seemed to suit her. Her face was closer to handsome than beautiful, with the stony heaviness of loss weighing down her eyes.
"I don't think I've seen you around before. Did you join the force recently?"
"Yes ma'am. Just after the attack ma'am."
"You don't need to be so formal, I'm not Chief Grumpypants. Call me Korra, what's your name?"
"My name is Mei-mei ma– I mean, Korra."
The woman was clearly not interested in volunteering more information than specifically requested. Nevertheless, she and Korra kept up this facsimile of a conversation until they reached the Future Industries tower. Korra learned that Mei-mei had grown up on the Outer Islands of the Fire Nation, moved to Republic City two years ago to live with her brother, who served in the United Republic Forces as a naval engineer, and his wife, and had originally worked as a children's school teacher, but joined the police after said brother was injured during Kuvira's attack.
"It was nice to meet you Mei-mei. Hopefully I'll see you around again!"
Mei-mei granted Korra a shy smile, the first of the entire drive. "Same to you Korra. I hope to see you again too."
Korra was about to get out of the car when the police scanner crackled to life. "Chief Lin to all patrol units. There has been an attack on City Hall. Repeat, there has been an attack on City Hall. Return to HQ for information on wanted fugitives. You are authorized to arrest on sight, with lethal force if necessary. Until further notice, do not discuss the situation with civvies. Wait for further orders."
They paused, Korra glancing at Mei-mei as the young officer stared at the wheel. Then a bolt of realization hit Korra. "I have to go." She dashed from the car, startling the guard as she ran for the private elevator to Asami's office.
"There has been an attack on City Hall. Repeat, there has been an attack on City Hall." Lin's words blurred as Asami collapsed into her seat. An attack on City Hall and no information on possible casualties. Her mind raced to the worst possibilities, picturing Korra caught in an explosion, surrounded by metalbenders, or buried under a mountain of debris.
Damn the blockade, she was going to City Hall to make sure Korra was safe. If any police tried to stop her, they'd find that Asami Sato was a force to be reckoned with. She grabbed her coat as she ran to the elevator, repeatedly jabbing the call button in her impatience. When the bell announced its arrival, she stepped forward, trying to enter the doors as quickly as they could open.
Only to run headlong into Korra. The Avatar, who had tried to exit in just as much hurry, bowled her over. "Asami!" Korra said in surprise. "I'm so, so sorry!" She offered Asami a hand, pulling her up from the ground.
Although her ears were still ringing slightly, Asami felt like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "Korra! You're okay!" Her eyes started to tear up.
Even though Korra's voice was still shaky from worry, she pasted a confident smile on her face. "And why wouldn't I be okay?"
"Don't be stupid Korra." The barb seemed to sting Asami even more than Korra, "When I heard there was an attack on City Hall, I thought you'd been hurt, or worse."
Seeing her girlfriend shaking, a cocktail of fear, relief, hurt, anger, and love, Korra felt her façade collapse. She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Asami, and pulling Asami into her shoulder. Asami's breathing was jagged, then deliberately slow, then finally, steady. Korra absentmindedly caressed Asami's back, while murmuring quiet reassurances in her ear.
Asami turned her head to look at Korra, her eyes misty. "I'm such a mess," she said with a weak laugh, "here I promised to be strong for you, so you wouldn't be scared when you had your nightmares, and I'm crying over the smallest thing."
Korra gently kissed Asami's forehead. "Whenever I'm in danger, all I think about is how to make sure I come home to you. I can't stop being the Avatar, but I'll do everything I can to make sure nobody ever comes between us."
Asami leaned in to kiss Korra, both drinking in the other's presence, letting the silence carry away their fears. "You know, Pema said pretty much the same thing this afternoon," Asami said, breaking off the kiss after several long, tender moments.
"Pema! That reminds me, can you radio Air Temple Island? Tenzin wanted me to let Pema know that he was okay, but that he wouldn't be able to get home until late."
"Of course." Asami went to her desk, flipped on the built-in radiotelephone, and waited for Air Temple Island to respond. Once she convinced Meelo to put his mother on the line and he gave his sorrowful goodbye to his 'most beautiful lady in the world,' she relayed Korra's message. "That's that. By the way Korra, there's something I wanted to…" When she turned, she saw her girlfriend fast asleep on the couch, having only managed to kick off her boots before landing facedown on the cushion. Asami smiled at the peaceful normality of the scene. She had wanted to share Pema's thoughts about them moving in together, but it was not so pressing that it couldn't wait until morning. After all, Korra was safe, and she wasn't going anywhere.
Unlike Korra, she changed out of her work clothes into a pair of pajamas she kept at the office, then cuddled into Korra's side on the couch. She never woke, but Asami saw her smile widen as she rolled to her side to let Asami snuggle closer.
Korra batted pointlessly at the beams of light streaming through the windows and into her face. Unlike most mornings, she felt no weight pressing against her. She sat up, groggily rubbing sleep from her eyes. Asami was sitting at her desk, quietly reading some papers.
"Hey, you're finally up," Asami said, putting the papers down and joining Korra on the couch.
"How long've you b'n up?" Korra's words came out slurred as her body slowly climbed into wakefulness.
"Maybe an hour or so. You seemed so tired last night that I decided to let you sleep. But now that you're up, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." Korra nodded for her to continue, curiosity pushing out the last vestiges of drowsiness. "I talked to Pema about our relationship," Korra bolted upright, "before you get mad, I didn't tell her we're dating, she figured it out herself. She made me feel a lot readier to tell everyone tomorrow, when your parents are here.
"That's fantastic Asami! I just know everything is going to be great. I can just feel it."
"I also told her we'd talked about moving in together."
"Oh?"
"She didn't exactly discourage it, but she did warn me that it was a big step in our relationship, and that we'd learn a lot about ourselves as a couple if we did." Asami's tone was hesitant as she searched for words that would get her point across without hurting Korra's feelings.
"I know it's a big step. That's why I want to take it! I want to know everything there is to know about you." Korra was not dissuaded at all by Asami's words stepping gingerly around the topic.
"I want to take it too, but," Asami trailed off, leaving her last word hanging in the air.
"But what Asami?" Now Korra too hesitated with each word, pain creeping in at the corners of her eyes.
She didn't want to say it aloud, but she couldn't leave it unsaid. "But what if we're not ready? What if it hurts our relationship, rather than helping it? What if living together tears us apart?"
The words sat there, dense and heavy like fog.
Korra searched Asami's face, Asami tried to meet Korra's eyes and explain, but guilt at the pain she saw choked off her words. After several strained moments, Korra spoke in a tiny voice, "Do you really think that would happen?"
"I want to say 'of course it wouldn't,' but," Asami tried to hold her voice level, "but the truth is, I don't know. I've never taken that step with anyone. I've never felt scared like this before. Nobody has ever meant what you do to me."
Korra didn't know how to feel. Despite her bravado, there was always a little voice that told her she didn't deserve Asami, that someone so beautiful, intelligent, and talented would cast her aside, that she would be the one left loving more, that you never wanted to be the one who loved more. But here was that same beautiful, intelligent, and talented woman telling Korra that she loved Korra more. The little voice wanted to play it cool, be a little aloof, but the pain was too raw, too real. She pulled Asami into a tight embrace and closed her eyes as that shiver of fear shook its way out of her body.
"You're not mad?" Asami said.
"How could I be mad? I have an amazing girlfriend who means the world to me." They pulled apart, Korra's hands sliding down Asami's arms to take her hands, lacing their fingers together. "I just want to see you every minute of every day so badly that I stop thinking."
"Then why don't we take things one step at a time? We both agreed that there'd be little point moving in together until everything has calmed down. But your parents will be here tomorrow, and we get to share this amazing relationship with all our friends. Then, there will be another step to take the day after that, and another the day after that."
"I like the sound of that, and I'll try to be patient." Korra broke into the first genuine smile of the morning, "I'm so lucky to be dating such a genius." Asami mirrored her smile. "By the way, with City Hall damaged, they've cancelled today's meetings, and I hear the new Varrickboards are out. Want to go see if we can talk him into letting us give them a test ride?"
"I haven't seen Zhu Li lately either. That sounds wonderful." The weight of the morning's conversation was gone, but not forgotten, as the two women left to enjoy their day together, hand in hand.