My first attempt at an alpha/omega dynamic fic, forgive me if it's not as good as some others. This is LoK, and I am trying a newer route I'm unsure if anyone else has tried.
Alpha Avatar Korra has made herself swear to never take a mate, but when the Earth Queen 'gifts' one to her, she makes a choice to save her life. Korra's always up for a challenge, but in the case of this omega, challenges alone will be difficult to face.
Alpha Korra
Beta Asami
Omega Kuvira (I know normally she's an alpha bc of her dominant personality, but in this story she is an omega)
I don't own Legend of Korra.
Enjoy!
Avatar Korra stood tall and proud on her golden throne, carefully but begrudgingly putting all those droll lessons in etiquette and manners to good use as she stared down at the group of people below her. On her right was Lady Asami Sato, heiress and CEO to the company Future Industries, her trusted advisor and best friend, and on her left on a giant blue satin pillow was her pet polar bear dog Naga, her beloved furry companion since childhood.
"Repeat what you said to me Sir Gunn." despite her calm composure, the avatar's hard blue eyes gave away her inner emotions. The little man before her shook under her gaze, his nerves were easily showing as he read from a scroll.
"It's as we said Avatar Korra, I was sent here by her majesty Earth Queen, and to put an end to the potential war between the Earth Kingdom and the other nations, she has gifted you this lovely omega flower." Gunn motioned some men, Dai Li agents to move closer, and they brought with them a young woman, probably the same age as Korra, bound in heavy metal chains and looking rather haggard and desolated. Her hair was down so Korra couldn't see her face well, but she saw the woman hadn't a care if she lived or died on the spot.
"Why have you brought her here? I never asked nor wished for the queen to send me a…slave."
"It is a gift for you that's worthy my lady Korra; we all believe you would benefit from this omega." Korra got the meaning behind the words, and it sickened her.
"I have no use of an omega at this moment, and why is this one in chains?" Gunn glanced at the young woman with pity while the men gave distaste and hate, and then turned his attention back to Korra.
"This, woman, is a criminal who was arrested for theft of many jewels and gold from wealthy citizens in the upper ring. She was apprehended and arrested for five years, but it seems somehow she hasn't gone into a full heat." that was interesting.
"Why was this?"
"Our best healers have determined that she has kept her omega status a secret for years, reasons being so she would not be treated as one or mated to an alpha. Someone has been slipping her suppressants, but she is still somewhat healthy; she would make a great…company for you." Korra looked at the woman again, realizing that whoever this was no doubt lived in the worst parts of the lower ring and had suffered abuse in prison. Her body was thin and pale, and Korra could smell her from a distance; she was filthy and malnourished, the Earth Queen's prison was some of the worst, the rumors proved true right here.
"You can tell the queen that while I…appreciate the gift, I have no use for an omega at this point. You can take her back, or you can send her off to Zaofu."
"My lady I advise against that." Asami spoke up and Korra turned to her.
"Why do you?" Asami knelt down next to her and whispered in her ear.
"You know that we're still at odds with most of the kingdom, and refusing a gift from the queen is not in your best interest. If you refuse her, the queen will take us to war." Korra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Her power is no threat to me or the others."
"I know, but you promised your father and the other leaders if there were a more peaceful way to end the animosity between you and the queen you would take it."
"I don't want a mate right now."
"You don't need to, but you have to protect her. You see how those guards look at her, and her frailty; she won't make it through the month if she goes back to jail." Korra glanced at the woman and saw Asami spoke the truth, and going against her better judgment, she turned her attention back to the men.
"Very well." Korra sighed and stood up, walking down the steps towards the woman. The Dai Li guards shoved her forward and tried to make her kneel, but Korra stopped them. She put her hand under the woman's chin and gently lifted her face up to hers. "What's your name?" the girl's eyes moved upwards, and Korra saw they were green like emeralds, but a bit darker.
"Answer her." the head Dai Li's voice boomed and the girl flinched, but her eyes didn't leave Korra's.
"K-K…Kuvira." Korra's eyes flickered with emotion for a minute. Something about this girl seemed very familiar, but she couldn't figure out why.
'She is yours.' Korra's inner alpha shouted in her mind.
'Shut up.'
'She must be ours, she is here, we must have her.' her inner alpha raged again, but Korra kept her face neutral.
"My lady." Asami's voice broke Korra from her thoughts, and she removed her hand from Kuvira's chin.
"Asami, do you know if Kya is still in the city?"
"She is."
"Call her to the castle; tell her I have a patient waiting. Also, please go buy Kuvira some clothes, can't have her wearing rags like this forever." she traced the collar of Kuvira's dirty shirt.
"At once my lady." Asami bowed and left the room swiftly.
"Unshackle her." Korra looked at Gun, who immediately produced a key.
"That is not wise avatar." the head Dai Li spoke up. "This prisoner is highly dangerous, she's a bender, and she will attack if you free her."
"And how do you know that?" the man smirked slightly.
"I was there the day she was apprehended, she injured most of my men, nearly killed one, and it took myself along with multiple others to bring her down. She cannot be trusted without chains."
"She is not a wild beast, and she is in no condition to fight. It looks as if she can barely stand, and I can sense she hasn't eaten properly in days."
"Prisoners get fed every day." the man growled.
"But how often every day?" Korra glared so hard the man didn't speak, and then turned back to Kuvira. "A healer will determine what you can and can't eat Kuvira; your body is greatly weakened. Now, if I unchain you, will you fight me?" the girl hesitated, but shook her head. "If you try, you'll fail, do you understand?" she nodded, and Korra held out her hand for the key. Gun gave it to her, and she unlocked the shackles on her wrists and ankles; Kuvira rubbed at her wrists trying to soothe the raw skin, and bowed her head at Korra.
"Thank you." her voice was dry, she needed water.
"Gun, you may give the queen my thanks for this gift. This will not stop the troubles between our countries, but it's a start. If she wishes to negotiate more, then we'll arrange a meeting not only with myself, but the other world leaders as well." Gun bowed his head.
"As you wish Avatar, I will pass your message along." the small man walked back towards the large doors with the Dai Li agents behind him. Once they left, Korra took Kuvira by the arm gently and led her towards a back door.
"Come on Naga." the giant polar bear dog quickly ran up to them, and Kuvira flinched back. "It's alright, she won't hurt you she's just excited." Naga sat down and panted at them, but Kuvira was still cautious. "Come on; let's get you to a room." Kuvira stayed quiet the whole way, keeping her head down as they passed corridors straight to Korra's own private wing.
"Woof!" Naga treaded over to her own giant, fluffy silk pillow in the far corner of the master suite. Korra shut the doors behind her, and Kuvira froze in her spot. The room itself was decorated in colors and murals of all four nations; there was a mural of the ocean with flying dolphin fishes, snow wolves, and even polar bear dogs on ice cliffs decorating the walls. The furniture was elegant, beautifully designed through water tribe and even earth kingdom, but the biggest piece of all was one giant patio bed with a canopy. The curtains around the bed were drawn with see-through blues, and the mattress had satin and furred blankets covering it.
"Kuvira." Korra's voice broke Kuvira's stare. "Go into the bathroom." Kuvira stared at her. "You need a bath, your skin is dirty and your hair needs a wash." Kuvira's eyes lit up slightly at the word bath, so she did as she was told. When Korra led her inside she stopped again; it was half as big as the suite. Kuvira stood very awkwardly in the middle of the room, so Korra pointed to a rack.
"Go ahead and put on one of those robes, and take off those filthy rags." Kuvira moved on command, it was almost scary. Korra could only guess what she'd been through at the hands of those Dai Li monsters, but she wasn't going to push for answers.
Once the bathwater was high and warm enough Korra went into the closet and pulled out some towels, oil soaps, and a loofa. She set everything on the sink or the tub's edge, and then turned to a rather nervous Kuvira dressed in the fluffy white bathrobe. Korra motioned for her to come forward, and Kuvira went rigid when her fingertips grazed her cheek.
'Claim her.' Korra pushed her alpha down again. Her senses were flying high right now, she could tell Kuvira was scared so thank the spirits Korra had great control over her alpha's rage.
"Now, I'll give you an hour to clean up. When you get finished I'll have some clothes you can wear, and after that Healer Kya will come examine you." Kuvira shook a little. "Calm down, Kya is a good healer and she is also a friend. After she's finished I'll get you some food and then I want you to rest, alright?" Kuvira's eyes were full of confusion and worry.
"W-Why?" Korra placed a finger on her lips.
"Don't ask any questions yet, just go clean up alright?" Kuvira nodded hesitantly. Once Korra left the room she went over to the bed and started prepping it for the poor omega.
Poor omega was a mild understatement, filthy and ragged, frightened and passive, malnourished, without going through a full heat, it was amazing this woman could even stand. Korra had no idea who she could be, but something about her was very familiar. Her inner alpha recognized her somehow, the smell under the dirt and grime, but she couldn't place it. All that could wait though, for now she was going to make sure Kuvira got the care she needed, and if possible figure out what to do with her. She couldn't turn her loose no, nor could she just put her in servitude, Kuvira needed her help, and she would get it.
Knock knock knock
"Enter." one of the servants came in, a young woman by the name of Xin.
"Mistress, Lady Asami has returned with Healer Kya." quick and punctual as always.
"Send them in." moments later both said women walked into the room. Kya bowed to Korra, who did the same, and Asami handed Korra a large red bag.
"Some of the stores were already closed; I forgot there's that huge sale going on tomorrow so they're putting out all new items tonight. I did however manage to swing by my office and grab some spare clothes, two outfits that could fit her."
"That'll have to do, she's washing now." Korra walked up to the older water bender. "It's good to see you again Kya."
"It's been a while hasn't it? Over a month since I saw you?"
"Afraid so, sorry about pulling you away so fast, I know Chief Beifong wouldn't appreciate me stealing you so soon in the day." Kya rolled her eyes.
"Lin will be fine, no worries. Now, Asami briefed me in the car but I want to hear from you now before I see this woman. She said she's an omega, and she was given to you by the Earth Queen?"
"That's right, and she's in terrible shape I'm surprised she can even move."
"I'll know more when I see her, but correct me if I'm wrong here…Asami said she's never gone through a full heat?"
"That's what the queen's 'lackey' said, and I can see that up until this point no one knew she was an omega. Someone smuggled her suppressants, in prison." Kya was shocked.
"Is that even possible? From what my dad told me those Dai Li watch every single second of what goes on in those cells…"
"Unless they were in on it, probably wanting her heats to build up until they explode, dangerous but effective if any of those Dai Li's were alphas."
"Which would have her as a slave in the making, until they decide to 'gift' her to me; and I know something's afoot."
"With the queen there always is, but what do you plan on doing with her?"
"First off get her healthy, she needs medical treatment and nourishment, after that…I'm not sure." Kya gave her a look. "You know I'm not looking for a mate right now."
"Yet you remember the White Lotus is on you about finding one, and if you don't soon I fear my wayward brother may intervene and set you up with someone."
"I can't just choose a mate, it's not that simple."
"I know, some alphas have to acknowledge the call of a mate or the heat does it for them. That worked all too well for me." Kya gave a crooked grin and Korra fake-gagged.
"Ugh please don't remind me of the time I walked in on you and the chief…I still have nightmares about that." she shuddered and Kya gently gripped her shoulder.
"Hey, all I'm saying sweetie that if your alpha makes the call, and one answers, take the chance. The White Lotus was hard on my parents even if they were soul mates, I don't want to see you pressured like they were." Korra sighed, she knew Kya meant well. Aang and Katara were neither alpha nor omega, but both had dominant traits. Aang had been pressured before marrying Katara to rebuild the air nation, and despite it all both of them made it. Nothing was perfect, but they were a good couple.
"I know it's close, my alpha is on the prowl."
"Good, that's the first step." Kya smiled. "Now, let's get the bed set up for this patient."
"I'll go check on her." Korra walked back towards the bathroom and knocked. "Kuvira?" she didn't get a response. "Kuvira, I'm coming in." Korra slowly opened the door and froze instantly; Kuvira was still in the tub, but her head was barely above the surface.
"KYA!" Korra ran and yanked Kuvira up under her arms, quickly laying her on the floor.
"Korra, move away." Kya was calm and quickly checked for a pulse. "She's alive, but weak." Kya's hands moved along her body. "No water in her lungs, the heat must've made her pass out."
"I only left her alone for a few minutes."
"Like you said, she's in bad shape a bath wasn't probably the best way to start. Help me get her to the bed." Korra gently picked the unconscious woman up and followed Kya to the bed. "Asami call an ambulance, tell them Healer Kya is calling!"
"On it!" Asami rushed out of the room while Kya and Korra made way to get the unconscious omega dried and dressed in some clothes before the paramedics came. In about ten minutes they arrived, following Asami with a gurney and a kit.
"Let's get her onboard, I have a feeling what this could be."
"I'll ride along, Asami you coming or going?"
"I'll meet you there; I think I'd better make a call to the chief before the media does." Korra nodded and left with Kya and the paramedics. The entire time Korra kept her eyes on Kuvira, seeing her so vulnerable and weak; her inner alpha was raging, protectiveness firing her nerves up as they reached the hospital. It took every ounce of restraint to hold her when she saw the healers, male and female, putting their hands on Kuvira as they took her into a room. Kya stayed by her side, and told Korra to wait until they finished. Korra wanted to protest, but she knew she could trust Kya.
"Korra?" Korra looked up at her name being called, seeing none other her friend and your typical neighborhood cop Bolin.
"Hello Bolin, what're you doing here?"
"Oh I'm here with Mako checking out a mugging from early this morning, what're you doing here in the emergency ward?" Korra glanced at the door. "Is it Asami?"
"No, no she's ok it's…it's a bit complicated to explain."
"Complicated as in difficult to explain, or complicated as in you can't or don't feel like talking about it right now?"
"A bit of both, look right now can you keep me being here a secret? I promise I'll let you guys know later, but I need to wait until the healers come out." Bolin smiled.
"No problem, I'll let Mako know. Oh and I forgot, the chief wants to see you tonight at the station; she didn't say why."
"Can you pass a message to her? I might be here a while."
"Sure, I'd better get back before Mako thinks I've left again. See you later Korra." Korra waved at him and he vanished down the hall.
Thirty minutes had passed and no one had come out yet; Asami had come to join Korra in waiting, having taken care of the media 'not' finding out about the incident thanks to Chief Beifong. Asami brought her some tea, and it helped but didn't help her anxiety. Korra had only met this woman earlier today, and already she was in the hospital. The alpha part of her wanted to run in there and protect Kuvira, but with the staff around Korra wouldn't risk making another mistake.
"Avatar Korra." Korra stood up when she heard Kya call her, seeing the healer all sweaty and a bit worn out.
"How is she?" Kya shook her head.
"We've managed to stabilize her, but she's not out of the woods. Her body is going through what we call a 'collapsed heat'." Korra paled.
"I'm sorry, what is that exactly?" Asami was a beta, even with her basic knowledge of alphas and omegas there were still some things she didn't understand.
"The name speaks for itself, when an omega doesn't go through a full heat for an extended period of time their bodies begin to shut down. Most omegas can last up to a month, but from what we're seeing…this girl hasn't ever had a proper heat probably since she hit puberty."
"But how is she still alive? If she's never gone through a full heat then…" Asami looked to Korra.
"Kya, is there anything else you saw?"
"Yes, several underlying injuries, including several old healed and recently unhealed fractures. Her ribs we've wrapped up, along with most of her limbs, and she hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. She's got some infections too but we're giving her an IV and antibiotics." someone had used Kuvira as a punching bag, and then let her 'rot' in a cell.
"So the collapsed heat is the main issue, how can it be helped?" Kya turned to Asami.
"This is the first time I've ever seen something like this, and in my own knowledge I only know of two other cases both which occurred in the water tribes. Both were young, in good health, but neither wanted to be 'claimed' by an alpha, and they both made it until their early adulthoods before the heats turned on them."
"How are they able to go on that long?"
"Most omegas don't experience their first heats until the age of sixteen, some are early bloomers but some can go as far as until age nineteen before their 'calls' reach out to any alphas. In the case of those two, they went on until age twenty-one and the heats 'collapsed'. Both were in the hospital for days, cared for by top healers including my mother, but their bodies almost gave out until…" Kya trailed off.
"Until they were claimed by alphas…" Kya nodded at Korra. "How did that happen?"
"The second to last day the heats forced out their 'calls' or auras if you will, and it reached out to two alphas who were both healers one of whom was under the watchful eyes of my mom. Both alphas claimed them to save their lives, and of course both omegas while grateful were furious. Long story short, it worked out in the end and the last I heard both omegas were thriving and happy."
"So…the only way to save Kuvira is to let an alpha claim her?" Asami looked at Korra.
"Not so soon, it's very touch and go. Right now she's recovering, but…"
"But?" Korra was afraid of the answer.
"Her body is in such bad shape that if her call does come out, she could go into shock and we might lose her. Also, her call would be huge, having been buried for so long, it could attract any alpha within several miles. We'd have a crisis on our hands." Korra's eyes closed in frustration.
"So what can we do?" Kya gave Korra a look, and Korra caught on. "Kya…"
"I could tell the minute we started talking about Kuvira, your aura changed slightly." she leaned in to whisper. "Your alpha wants her Korra, you can't deny it."
"I can't just take claim over her."
"You have to, it could be the only way to save her." Korra glanced at Asami, and she seemed to agree with Kya. Korra's alpha was raging again, so she took a deep breath and focused her eyes on the door.
"Can I see her?" Kya nodded and let her inside, the other healers had already left so it was just them there. Korra looked at the bed Kuvira was in, and felt her heart drop at the sight. Kuvira was unconscious, hooked up to many machines and almost every part of her body was wrapped up. She looked weaker than before, her skin seemed to have paled a new shade, and her eyes were sunken in. Korra's alpha senses picked up a faint scent, and it was almost…floral and earthy? Of course she's an earth nation citizen, but something about this scent was familiar.
'She is ours, claim her.'
'I can't…'
'You must, she is dying, and you must claim her.'
'I can't take her against her will.'
'Her omega is calling for help, her mind is muddled but she is no fool.'
'I can't.'
'YOU MUST OR SHE WILL DIE!' Korra's alpha was a stubborn one, and an irrational one at times. She had known sooner or later she'd have to find a mate, but if it were up to her alone, she wouldn't have one. Being the avatar alone was dangerous, and while Korra was deemed fearless by most, she had many enemies.
'I can't do this…' Korra moved to Kuvira's bed, gently smoothing her hair from her face. Spirits she looked so helpless, how didn't she see this sooner?
'Look at her, she is ours.' Korra leaned down slightly, taking a small whiff of Kuvira's scent again. It was weak, but it was also strong, and it was making Korra's senses run wild. Her mind was going back and forth with this, but right as she made her choice, Kuvira let out a small whine in her sleep. It was the final push needed, and Korra couldn't fight it.
'I'm sorry.' Korra bent down further and planted a small kiss to Kuvira's lips.
