"Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness."

— Anne Frank.

Chapter 18 - Light in the Dark

Cerulean eyes stared up at the dark ceiling of the airship. Why couldn't she sleep? She should be tired, exhausted. Ever since they boarded the airship earlier in the day, she and Beifong were busy mulling over notes and statements. One question had been particularly a thorn in Beifong's side. How had Tokuga and a pair of Dai Li agents ended up colluding with one another?

She groaned, noisily turning onto her side. The bed creaked which earned her an annoyed grumble from Beifong to be quiet. Korra needed to have a serious conversation with her girlfriend about why police airships did not offer comfy sleeping quarters or many sleeping quarters period. And why did she end up with Beifong as a sleeping mate?

"Korra, I swear if you don't settle down, I am going to kick you out and make you sleep in the common area."

She ended up on her back again and sighed loudly. This time, she closed out the rest of the world, thinking back to when they'd said their goodbyes.

Their farewell wasn't filled with tears. The remnants of their earlier conversation hung heavy over both of them, but the heaviness was signaling the new phase of their relationship. A new perspective of their life together.

Asami took it upon herself to give Korra a mini driving lesson on their way to the station. Korra really did try to understand everything she was saying especially after her teasing, but none of it was sticking. How was bending the four elements easier than driving a car?

Parked outside the station, Asami leaned over the seat and placed a lingering kiss against her girlfriend's cheek. She lingered so long that a very distinct mark of lipstick stained the dark cheek. Upon pointing it out, Korra blushed deep enough to nearly match the lipstick, but made no attempt at wiping it away. She knew she was going to have to wipe it away before entering the station, but the small mark of Asami's lips on her skin made her happy and wish she had a more permanent part of Asami with her.

Leaving her was never easy, but leaving her after just being released from the hospital really wasn't ideal. The still healing burn marked called for her. Asami caught on and tipped Korra's head back up.

"Nope, none of that, baby," she warned and kissed the tip of her nose, leaving more lipstick on her. "I love you, and I'll see you in a few weeks."

"I love you too."

This time, Korra took the initiative and tangled her hands in Asami's hair. While she had been more cautious in regards to the physical side of their relationship, every kiss the last several days seemed to burn hotter than any before. Even the quick, rushed ones.

Their kisses didn't escalate too far besides a few stray groans and moans from both of them. Korra let out a particularly loud one when one hand tightened around her bicep and another scratched up and down her stomach.

"Are you two done sucking face? The sooner we leave, the sooner we can return so you two can go back home with no warrant for arrest for public indecency."

Beifong's interruption had Korra retreating away from Asami faster than she could blink. Except she was a little too frantic and ended up jamming her back right into the doorhandle. Asami giggled with a light pink covering her cheeks, and Korra was burning hotter than a sauna and rubbing the tender spot on her back. Beifong stood a few feet away, tapping her foot impatiently with her arms across her chest.

"Nice makeup, Avatar," Beifong jabbed, but the slight curling of her lips told them she was kidding for the most part. Korra began swiping at her face to remove the makeup, and Lin turned her attention to Asami. "Asami, you're looking much better. I do hope the Avatar hasn't been treating you like a porcelain doll."

Asami glanced at her girlfriend adjusting the rearview mirror to remove all traces of the makeup. "She's been more vigilant, but I know she does it out of love," she replied, rubbing her back in support. "We've had many talks. We're good. We're great."

"Well, that's good to hear. We do need to go though, Korra." Lin turned on her heel, climbing the steps to head back inside and wait for her, but not without one last jab. "If you're not in here in five minutes, I'm getting the hose."

Peeking at one another, they burst out laughing. The CEO of Future Industries and the Avatar just got caught by the chief of police like a bunch of teenagers. As embarrassed as Korra was about that and being caught with red lipstick all over her face, the angelic laughs of Asami made it worth it.

"I'll be right here waiting for you when you return. Be safe," she whispered, brushing a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

"You too."

One last lingering kiss between the two, Korra finally exited the car.

She fell asleep to the image of Asami driving away with her black hair whipping around in the wind.


Running wasn't getting her any closer to her destination. Darkness encircled her besides the sparse green illumination around the room and the underlying light of the waterfall. No one else was here. It was only them.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally reached her destination, but it was ghastlier than she expected. A crimson ocean spilled beneath them. A heavy heat and disgusting wetness soaked through her pants when she knelt down by the still form.

There couldn't possibly be this much blood in the human body? A long slice from her navel to just below her breasts released blood that was captured by the white shirt. Where her heart laid remained untouched, protected beneath skin and bones, but blemished from the blood splatter. A hole the size of her hand occupied her neck, revealing veins, arteries, muscles and tendons through the spurting, hot blood vibrating in time with the erratic heartbeat.

How was she still alive?

Past a gaping mouth covered with blood spilling out was dull green eyes. They were unresponsive, stuck in limbo between life and death, trying to analyze which reality would be less punishing. A strangled gasp left her lips, drops of blood striking Korra's face.

"Help…me," she pleaded quietly through the blood spilling out. "Your…fault…Avatar."

Struck in the heart at the harsh words, she bent water from the waterfall over to her damaged body. Those words hurt, but they were true. It was Korra's fault. She pushed aside the salt in her wounds, determined to heal the damage underneath the blood and help her. But the world pushed back harder with an ocean of salt.

The nightmare was only beginning.

Blocked. Not clogged, not narrowed, but blocked off with no chance of penetrating them. The blood flow was continuous, intermingling with the useless glowing water. Every single chi path was impenetrable by her powers. Stagnant, none of her weak chi would flow to where it was needed the most to stop the bleeding.

The Avatar had all the power in the world, but there was nothing she could do with her healing abilities. She bled with her, emotionally and mentally. If she had the power, she would switch lives with the bleeding woman, no questions asked. She never asked for any of this yet she refused to surrender.

Attempt after attempt to breach the blockages, they were all failures. The increasing intensity of blood infecting her pure waters taunted her, spoke to her that she wasn't fulfilling her duty. The blockages remained strong, but her life spoke to her. It hung on by a thread, grasping onto a sliver of life inside of Asami Sato, begging to be saved by a savior.

But the blood spoke louder, pronouncing victory and conquering the sliver of life. Chi sank heavily and ceased to radiate warmth, life just like the beating in her chest. All the color drained from her body, leaving only the blood on the surface and foggy green eyes for her to fixate on and haunt her.

Korra tried to hold it together. For who, she wasn't sure. Maybe to let her spirit leave in peace, but the last bit of restraint snapped.

Everything around her came crashing down. The hopeless water sunk to the floor for the blood to ravage on. Her screams ricocheted off the walls, louder and louder with each bounce. Unintentionally, the white glow of her eyes defied the darkness. Fists pounded on the earth beneath them, fracturing the floor except for the spot where they lay.

And when that white glow faded away, the darkness consumed them except for the jennamite and natural light from the waterfall. She collapsed on the ground, burying her forehead into the bloody water and pathetically pounded on the floor. She pleaded with the spirits above that they were playing a cruel trick on her in retribution for something she'd done in a past life.

But nobody answered. Asami died in her care, beneath her on the dirty floor. She had felt her dying breath leave her body.

She tried shaking her shoulder, hitting her lightly against the checks, anything to wake her up. The facts and evidence that she was dead were right in front of her.

Korra pulled her bloody and battered body into her arms, carefully tucking her face into her shoulder, pleading for her to wake up. The body was still warm, blood was still oozing out, but it was quickly leaving, having no purpose or meaning anymore for the entity it occupied.

"Please, I need you," she cried, burying her face into her dark hair and squeezing her lifeless body closer to her.

"Asami died because of you. It's your fault. You didn't watch Asami's back like you promised. You. Have. Failed," he mocked cruelly, heavy, disgusting breath against her ear, voicing every insecurity of hers. The words echoed in her ears, triggering an unforgiving shiver up her spine and a new wave of tears. "Admit it. Your precious Asami is dead because of you, Avatar. Did Asami really deserve to die? I think-"

"Korra, wake up!"

Korra she shot up in the uncomfortable bed, quivering so hard the bed rattled. Her heart pounded a hundred miles a mile. This was her reality. Sterile sleeping quarters, and Beifong standing over her.

It wasn't all a dream though. Tears streamed down her face. She looked away from Beifong and wiped them away, wishing that wiping away the tears could wipe away the feelings manifesting inside of her.

"It sounded like someone was killing you in your sleep you were thrashing so much," Beifong said softly. There was no judgement in her voice, just stating her observations.

Korra brought her knees up to her chest and buried herself into them, hiding from Beifong and the rest of the world. "No, no I was very much alive, but dead at the same time," she croaked, trying to get a bearing on herself.

Beifong perched herself on the edge of the bed and placed a hand against the young Avatar's shoulder. "Let me guess: Asami died and you were ridden with debilitating guilt?"

"How did you know?" she asked, muffled by her legs. "Was I talking in my sleep?"

"Have you forgotten that I'm the chief of police? I've seen many things that even you haven't seen, Korra. I've seen many situations that a majority of people never will. I would never wish them upon my worst enemies."

Korra looked at Lin with a new perspective. "I-I never really thought of your job like that. Most of the time I'm with you, we're either trying to save the world or stop people from trying to kill me."

"I've lost officers over the years. Many officers. Good. Bad. Old. Young. Bodies I've had to shift through rubble, identify on the scene. Crime and death don't discriminate. Every time an officer falls, do you know what I feel when I have to inform family about their death on the job? It's not fun. It's not fun at all."

"Do you know how many officers you've lost as chief?"

"Ninety-four," she replied without any hesitation. Seeing the shocked expression on Korra's face, she laughed dryly. She shook her head and leaned her elbows on her knees before elaborating. "Given how many years I've been chief, it's not the worst. Just because I'm not crying about them doesn't mean I've forgotten them. Knowing that I drill into every single officer, staff member when they join the force of the inevitable high-risk dangers associated with the job, is a small piece of solace I find when one of them falls. In the end, it is their choice under their own free will to join the force. We all live with the choices we make in our lives."

"I know they're not really your family, but all those hours spent together with them, personal topics, topics that made them humans instead of just officers, must've came up on slow shifts."

Beifong grunted and sighed heavily. "You can't serve the public when you can't even serve yourself. Get some rest, Avatar. I have a hunch there's more to this case than meets the eye. If there is something we're not seeing, it's a matter of when it will all be revealed."

Laying back on the hard bed, Korra considered what Beifong had said. As much as her heart knew Asami was safe and well at home under the protection of Naga and with their friends only a phone call away, her mind was leading her in the opposite direction.


Asami sat up propped against her headboard, a contract in hand and Naga's head resting on top of her thigh. The soft fur felt nice against the healing skin and nerves as she continually petted the beloved polar bear dog lest she get growled at for stopping. Like owner, like polar bear dog.

Since Korra left, she conducted her press conference. She enlightened the world that she had not been suicidal and it was an unfortunate series of events. She took no questions from the crowd, saying what she had to say and reinforcing her health. While her problems weren't magically solved with that one press conference, she had tamed the wildfire.

She and Gin were working on getting another one scheduled in the coming weeks to reiterate the previous one, but transition to focus on the latest happenings with Future Industries.

The phone beside her began ringing. Naga lifted her head up at the noise, ears perked, but lowered back down after watching Asami leaning over and taking it off the hook.

Asami had been waiting days to hear it ring and with one highly anticipated caller.

"Asami Sato." Asami had made the mistake of being too excited the previous day and saying how she was waiting for her call only to be met with Bolin attempting to be suave until letting out a belly laugh.

"Asami…" Fret wasn't the tone Asami wanted to be greeted with.

"What's wrong?" She sat up straighter in bed, disturbing Naga again. "Did you and Lin make it to Ba Sing Se safely? Are you at the palace yet?"

"Yeah, Wu set me up in a lavish suite and sung the entire way," she answered softly and flatly.

"Honey, what's wrong?" she asked again, pressing harder this time.

"I…I had a nightmare the first night away. Then a few more on the way here. Are you okay? Are you safe?" Timidness accented the apprehension now.

"I'm at home in our bed. Naga's right here with me. Aren't you girl?" Naga opened one eye at the calling of her name, but grumbled and returned back to sleep. "I'm perfectly safe and haven't over extenuated myself like I promised."

"That's good. Yeah, that's good."

A heavy silence fell over the line. Korra was fighting internally with what was and what could have been. The tables had turned in more ways than one. Korra was now the one having nightmares instead of her. Asami had a few nightmares, but none that were bringing her down like before.

"What can I do to make you feel better, Korra?" The only indication that she was still on the line was that she could hear her fast breathing. "What if I go stay with Tenzin and Pema until you get back? That way, someone will always be with me and you sure as hell know that Pema will make sure I don't push myself too hard."

Seconds passed before she responded, "I think that will help." Another long pause. "You ended up dead in every nightmare, 'Sami. It's terrifying to think if-"

"What did I tell you about what ifs, Korra?" Asami interrupted, wanting to hear no such things from her. "I love you. We'll make it past this. Any time of day, call me, you hear me?"


"I'm sorry for keeping you late, Gin. Thank the spirits we were able to get through this pile of paperwork together."

"It's not problem at all, Ms. Sato. It's my job. I especially can't let you do too much work or Korra's fist will meet my face."

"Don't worry, I'll protect you if Korra tries to throw fists at you. I do apologize about the…slobber though. Please, deliver the dry-cleaning bill to me when you get the chance."

Per their conversation from the night before, Asami was going to stay on Air Temple Island until Korra's return. It slipped by her mind last night and during the crazy day at Future Industries to call and ask Tenzin and Pema if it was alright, but she was certain it was okay. She'd done it on many occasions while Korra was gone during those three years.

That was why Naga was currently in her office and slobbering all over Gin's face and clothing. She was going to need to set up an appointment at the spa for her after all the lovable, but very wet kisses.

Once Naga was all strapped up with her luggage, the women and polar bear dog made their way downstairs and outside. They bid farewell to one another, Gin heading off in the direction of her car.

Naga whined, obviously not happy that she was couped up in Future Industries' CEO's office most of the day.

"Aw, I'm sorry, girl," Asami apologized, petting her muzzle and snout. "You ready to head to Air Temple Island?" At the excited bark and rapid tail wagging, Asami laughed and mounted her. "Go, Naga, go!"

Naga was fast, but not quite as fast as a Satomobile. Or at least at the speed Asami was accustomed to driving at. It wasn't often that she rode Naga in the heart of the Republic City. That was her and Korra's thing.

But seeing Republic City atop of Naga made the lights seem to sparkle that much more. The arena shone brightly and muffled screaming could be heard, a probending match going on no doubt. The spirit portal shimmered with spirits in the night, a beacon of hope in the darkness. The lights surrounding Asami in the city's infrastructure would switch on and off at humans' will, but the spirit world would never stop shining.

There was always light in the darkness.

Arriving at the docks, Naga slowed to a heavy trot. She pulled back on the reins, stopping Naga in her tracks from boarding the ferry.

"You want to go for a late-night swim?" The excited whine she received was all the answer she needed. "No deep diving though!"

Treading the water seemed satisfactory enough for the polar bear dog who kept her rider and luggage above the surface. Now away from the city lights and the spirit portal, Asami saw the stars and moon lighting up the skies and bouncing off of Yue Bay. Like the spirit portal, they were the light in the dark. Sometimes they weren't visible, but never gone.

The first natural occurrences of the light in the dark not manipulated by mankind and never could be.

"Aw, Naga! No, no, Naga!" Asami shrieked when Naga jumped onto the docks and shook herself dry. "Are you satisfied now, Naga? You still managed to get me wet."

Naga trotted up the stairs happily, knowing the entire layout of Air Temple Island by heart. Over the numerous amounts of stairs and by the housing section of the island, the moment she set sights on the whole airbending family outside by the pond, she pounced over and began licking the children with vigor, knocking Jinora on her back and at the mercy of the huge animal.

"Oh, thank goodness! You're safe, Asami," Tenzin said, relieved. He and Pema briskly walked over to Naga and greeted Asami as she dismounted her.

"What do you mean? Has there been another attack on the city?" Before she could turn and look back at Republic City again, Pema grasped the sides of her arms.

"No, dear. We've been trying to reach you for a little while now. We tried your office, your home, even the boys, but no one was sure where you were, throwing us all into a panic." Dread immediately moved into Asami, heartrate spiking.

"Why were you trying to reach me? Has something happened to Korra?"

"No," Tenzin replied immediately, not wanting her to worry and keeping in mind his promise to her. "Hisakata and Midori are not on the island."

Asami's heart dropped at the implications of that. She hadn't seen either of them since before the battle. Only Korra had seen them since. "What do you mean they're not on the island?"

"Ever since Midori arrived, the two of them would lock themselves in a room. That's not much different than when it was just him, but when it was just him, sometimes we'd see him roaming the island and watching some of the airbenders or being drug along by Meelo," Pema explained.

"We'd seen them earlier in the day together for once, but at dinner, we knocked on the door only to find it empty," Tenzin elaborated. "We checked the island. No whistles, wingsuits, or gliders have been stolen. Nothing of importance or value was stolen. The only thing we have found to be missing is food."

Asami was shocked, words escaping her as Pema continued. "We alerted Lin about it and she said that she's going to have some officers look for them. Meelo's rendering some drawings of them, but it's such a big city. They may not even be in the city anymore."

Asami turned towards Republic City, the spirit portal continuing to glow. They couldn't have possibly been kidnapped again, right? Were they telling the truth about being orphans or were they pathological liars?

Whichever it was, Asami prayed they were safe.


Posted: April 7, 2021

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