But she said, where'd you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I'm not looking for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero
Some fairytale bliss
Just something I can turn to
Somebody I can kiss
I want something just like this
-The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
Something Just Like This
Chapter 25 - Something Just Like This
Tears streamed down Asami's face by the end of Korra's heartfelt proposal. Through her sniffles, she split the short space between them and raised a hand up to Korra's cheek. She paid no attention to the necklace, locking her gaze with Korra's eyes.
"You're the Avatar. But when you're with me, you can just be Korra. And when your duty calls, I'll be right there with you," she promised, voice full of emotions. "I'll marry you for you, Korra. You're Korra, the woman I will love forever, before anything else."
Elated, over the moon at her acceptance, Korra threw her arms around Asami's shoulders and smashed her lips against hers. The Asami from five years ago never would've imagined being in her arms, lips in a tangle of loving kisses and caresses in a secret hideout behind a waterfall, sealing their official engagement.
In the haste and celebrations, a little plunk behind Asami snapped them back to reality.
"Shit!" Korra hissed, pulling away and bending the necklace out of the water as Asami giggled at her losing her cool. "Sorry for ruining the moment. I wanted it to be perfect and-"
"Shh…" Asami pushed a finger against her lips, smiling to ease the worry on Korra's face. "You talk too much. It is perfect." For the first time, Asami looked down at the circular pendant and traced the carving. Eight ovals arranged in a design that reminded her of a white lotus's flower petals from above, eight thin half petals arranged on the outside and interlocking with the ovals, and eight thin lines in between the ovals and half petals. "It's beautiful, Korra."
"Do you know what it is?"
Asami raised an eyebrow. "A sleek overhead view of a white lotus interlocking with other petals?"
Korra shook her head with a small smile. "I thought of doing the Future Industries' logo first, but then I thought, I want what I carve to define what you are besides what everyone else sees you as. White lotuses signify beauty, grace, wealth, knowledge. You're that and so much more, Asami. Eight petals, eight half-petals, eight lines. Every component relies on the other in order to be connected in stone. Eight symbolizes infinity and the constant flow of energy and power. Infinite love between us, and together, we will always continue moving forward."
If Asami wasn't already crying, the meaning of the design sent another flood of tears down her cheeks. Some stray tears escaped Korra too as she became a little choked up in her explanation.
Korra flipped over the necklace, showing the reverse side of the ribbon that was different than the traditional dark blue of betrothal necklaces and what was on the front.
"That's…" Asami couldn't find her words. The reverse side's design was Korra's old armband.
"Not exactly traditional, but it still counts. I originally wanted to have this design on the front and back, but then realized it would've clashed too much with your professional outfits so I compromised to make it unique," she joked with a laugh. "Besides, I think I like this better. Like the true symbolism behind the craving, unless people really know who Asami is, they won't know. It'll be between us and our friends."
Asami smiled through her tears and overwhelming emotions. "I love you. How about you make it official, fiancé?"
She didn't have to tell Korra twice. She turned around and pulled her hair away from her neck to allow Korra to clasp it together. After a small kiss against the back, Korra froze the water in front of Asami to see her reflection with the necklace on.
Seeing her reflection in the water with the necklace on, engraved with the symbol of love that Korra designed and carved with her own hands, she touched the pendant and felt a little spark.
This wasn't a deadly spark that almost mortally wounded her, though it did unintentionally hide part of the area where it had been. No, this spark sent chills through her body of what her bright future held with Korra.
It felt like the necklace and pendant always belonged there.
And she'd fight until her last dying breath if someone wanted to rip it off her neck or tear her and Korra apart.
"Beautiful like always," Korra whispered lovingly and kissed her cheek. "I actually have one more thing for you."
She pulled her to the back and propped Asami up on a little rock landing. Korra bent a rock away to reveal a hollow space where Asami assumed she hid the necklace. This time, she pulled out a little black velvet box.
"I know the necklace and your acceptance makes it official, but I also made you a ring." She flipped the top of the box open to reveal a simple silver band. A diamond wasn't present though. Instead, a round gemstone sat in the middle with smaller gemstones flanking both sides. They were shades of blue, black, grey and gold marbled across it with little veins of green, portions of the blue even seemed to be glowing intensely as the light of a nearby candle flickered off of it. "What do you say, 'Sami?"
"Always yes, Korra." And Korra slid the ring on her left finger and kissed it. The stone only inches from her face, Asami's eyebrows furrowed and searched her brain. "What kind of stone is this?"
"I'm not entirely sure. I uh-" Korra sheepishly smiled and rubbed the back of her neck. "I found it where I got ambushed underwater. Varrick and many others couldn't identify what it is. It kind of glows more whenever someone touches it." To demonstrate, Korra touched the stone and the light blue portions did glow brighter. "I thought it was neat and kind of symbolic of my healing abilities and the power you wield with your electric glove."
"Look at you being all symbolic," Asami teased and traced a finger along the stones, watching the blue parts intensify. "But I love it, and I love you." Then she raised an eyebrow. "Varrick, huh? You're the real reason he's going into the jewelry business?" The guilty smile told her everything. "When you went to the South, it wasn't because of some Water Tribe conflict?" Korra nodded. "Fire Nation?"
"Okay, that was legit Avatar business! Except I may have made a quick pit stop here before returning home."
"There wasn't really an emergency on Air Temple Island either, was there?"
"The emergency was a freaking out Avatar and getting last minute advice and pep talks." A bashful expression overcame her face. "I didn't overstep by proposing here, did I? I know this is kind of your mom's place, but once I saw Heiwa Springs-" Asami slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Don't regret a single thing you've done, Korra. I love everything. I love you." Asami guided Korra's lips to hers with her left hand adorning her new ring that she would proudly wear for the rest of her life. "How about we get back to everyone else now? Do they know what you had planned and why Bolin or one of them haven't interrupted us?"
"I can't slip anything past you now that everything's out, can I?"
"Nope," she sung, emphasizing the p and keeping her lips sealed. "Come on, I want to show off my fiancé off to our friends."
As soon as they emerged from the little hideout, Bolin and Varrick were popping corks off champagne bottles. Congratulations went all around, Kinu taking photos of the whole celebration.
They tried prying for details about their future wedding, but neither woman had any idea at this point. They simply wanted to enjoy and celebrate their engagement and worry about that later.
Once the excitement died down a little bit and Varrick veered into a lovely story about Varristones once more, Korra tapped Asami's shoulder and led her to the hidden hideout once more with Kinu following closely behind with her camera.
In the privacy of the cave, Kinu conducted a gorgeous engagement photo session between the newly engagement couple in the water and on the rocks for photos that would be priceless and span generations and lifetimes.
News of their engagement spread like wildfire once Asami was spotted wearing the necklace and ring. Because the press was nosy and wouldn't leave them or their friends alone without some details, the couple annouced they'd gotten engaged on vacation with no specifications on where or how.
Like Asami's necklace and ring, they could see the face of it, but not the true significance of it. They deserved some privacy in their lives.
Life was good for the both of them. A few weeks had passed since their engagement and winter was beginning to set in. A new year was impending in a few short weeks, a new beginning.
There was once more a lull in action that required the Avatar's presence. Perhaps the world was thanking the Avatar for her service and letting her relax and celebrate with her new fiancé.
She assisted Beifong and the police force with some of the more serious crimes, but was anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop in the Tokuga and Dai Li case. She was almost certain there was one, but maybe there wasn't. Whatever game they were playing, she was going to be prepared just in case.
Korra sat in the kitchen by herself after eating the lunch that their chef prepared for her after her vigorous workout. Asami had gone off earlier to handle something that came up at work that required her immediate attention.
The Avatar wasn't exactly sure what to do with herself, tapping her fingers against the island. It was a little cold out, but she decided to grab a book and sit out back. Asami had pointed out that she should read some more so she figured she should listen to her fiancé. Just thinking about that word brought a stupid grin across her lips.
On her way out with a random Fire Nation book from the library, she threw on her newly acquired Future Industries jacket in custom blue. It didn't offer protection from the cold, but she was from the South. A chilly day in Republic City was nothing, but having a part of Asami wrapped around her was comforting and everything she could ever ask for in the world beside Asami herself.
She exited the door, but stopped in her tracks. Naga was taking a nap out not too far from her, but in the distance near the pond were the kids. They'd hired a PI to investigate the information they'd been given, but hadn't heard back from him yet so they were still here, not that she or Asami minded.
What caused her to pause was watching the young boy waterbending. His sister sat not too far from him with her knees to her chest, observing. It wasn't unusual to see them outside, but this had been the first time she'd seen either of them bending since they came here.
It never occurred to her to offer them lessons, but really watching the boy, she was thinking she had to. Whatever he learned on the streets wasn't proper form and it made her cringe as both the Avatar and a natural waterbender.
"You know, your form's not the best," Korra pointed out, kneeling down to their level a few feet from them. "It leaves your center vulnerable to attacks. Keep your arms in tighter to protect your center and have better control of your movements."
He eyed her skeptically, but Korra nodded at the pond with her chin, telling him to try it again. Hesitantly, he listened to her instruction, and Korra was proud at the much better form this time around.
"Thanks," he mumbled and took a seat facing the pond.
"You two have been here a little while, and I've been extremely rude." Korra shook her head at her embarrassment and laughed a little. "I haven't even been as busy as usual. How would you two like some bending lessons?"
"Like, actual lessons? Hands on?" Midori asked, intrigued and scooted over closer to Korra. "Actual useful stuff to defend ourselves and attack?"
"Sure, but there's a lot more to bending than just attacking and defending. It's an art. It's a part of your being, an extension of your identity. Asami's not a bender, but her combat skills are her extension."
"I've…never had a teacher before," Hisakata confessed and spun around, forming a little circle between the three of them. "I had to learn by watching from a far and innate ability."
"Everybody needs a teacher. Hell, I've had four masters teach me!" That drew giggles from the kids. Korra wished they did that more in the presence of others. "Who better to learn from than the Avatar? And don't think I won't be learning myself through lessons. I've never actually taught bending to young children so there might be a bit of a learning curve, but it'll be good for me. For us. Growth from both sides."
The siblings eyed one another and left the Avatar out of the loop. After a few moments, they both nodded their heads.
"Great! Do you know healing or metalbending?"
"Do you think if I knew metalbending I would've carved picks out of bones to break into cars? Or if he knew healing, we would've had as many minor injuries as we did on the streets?"
Korra grimaced and chuckled nervously. "You've got a point there." She stood up and brushed herself off. "Alright, I need to see what I'm working with besides biting, spitting, water whips, ice spears, rock chucking, and feet earth shackles. Show me everything you've got."
Asami was worn-out. Work hadn't picked up that much, but she swore with how much energy she was exerting every day the last few weeks, she might as well have been working double shifts on one of her factories' floors in heels and a constricting dress.
Pulling into the garage and switching the engine off, she leaned back in her seat and sighed, closing her eyes briefly. If she really wanted to, she could've taken a nap right there, upright and all. Sneaking around and making up excuses that she was having work problems that required the CEO's supervision ever since they returned from Sanmyaku was tiresome.
With some help from Varrick through Varristones and Tenzin guiding her to the Southern portal for a four day "business trip", she'd finally completed everything. Korra being Korra, believed it. Like always, it wasn't without some pouting and clinginess, playfully asking if she could ditch the business meetings to spend time with her instead.
It was always hard being away from Korra, but now that they were engaged, it stung them both a little more.
When Korra wasn't clinging to her or in the safety of her office, Asami pondered and sketched up a few designs. One after another, none of them called to Asami or were worthy to be worn by Korra.
Oftentimes in her brainstorming sessions, she traced her own carving, hoping it would spark some inspiration in her brain. It'd been hopeless for a while, her mind at a complete blank. She had to design one with just as much significance as hers. Then one day all alone in her library, it just clicked while reading a book.
With the help of Senna, Tonraq, and Katara, she'd crafted, designed, and carved the pendant. Then with the help of the woman who stitched the material for her necklace, Asami's betrothal necklace for Korra was completed and one of a kind even if it didn't appear so.
The other holdup was Varristones. Asami didn't want to do a ring. She'd never seen Korra wear a ring before in her life, and it didn't seem like her type of jewelry.
At Varrick's suggestion, choosing a simple silver armlet band was the easy part. The hard part was finding a stone to embedded in the inch and a half wide band which caused a significant delay. Leave it to the eccentric business man to come plowing into Asami's office one day with a box of stones and explanations that ended up being perfect.
The finished product was worth it and laid in a velvet box in the passenger seat.
Asami never told Korra about her own plans for a proposal. While her plans only included the necklace before, she was on board for another piece of jewelry with a stone too. Korra deserved symbols of their commitment and love for one another too.
She was down the hall from her bedroom when their butler informed her that Korra and the kids were outside by the pond. Entering her room and peering out her bright bay window, there they were. Korra was in the water and the kids sat at the edge of the pond. That sight ignited something inside of her.
She was going to do it. Why wait? They were already engaged. As much as she knew Korra would love any elaborate plan for a proposal, she knew she'd love being away from the public eye and being in the safety of their bedroom when presented Asami's tokens of her love for her. Privacy was something that was precious to them.
From the time it took to get outside, Korra was bending a water spout in the pond now and saying something to the kids. None of them saw Asami walking up to them for most of the way, but when Korra did, the water spout receded. Korra burst out of the water and ran over to Asami, practically tackling her and collecting her in her strong arms and lifting her off the ground.
Asami laughed, kicked up her feet, and wrapped her arms around Korra's shoulders. The sun shined brightly overhead, but it appeared that sunlight seeped into both of their souls at that very moment. A simple appearance was all it took to make them both giddy with joy.
The couple were soaking up each other's appearance that neither of them noticed the kids smiling at their reunion, at their love for one another before gazing down into the lake to give them privacy.
"I leave for a few hours, and this is the reunion I get?" Asami laughed, still in the air and Korra's arms.
"I missed you." She planted a big kiss on the business woman's lips. "I was lost without you. I was so lost that I was going to start reading a book until I found the kids out here."
"Spirits, I almost caused the Avatar to read? The nerve of me!" She tried to keep a serious face, but it was a hopeless effort. "You're such a sap, but I'll love your sappy ass."
"Damn straight you will! And I'll love your sappy ass."
"What were you doing bending my pond, anyway? I don't want to have to call whoever I'd have to call to refill a pond like I've had to call my interior and exterior contractors."
"The beds and the driveway were not my fault!" Asami threw her her best bitch brow and made Korra pout. "I apologized for that! I finally offered lessons to the kids and I was showing them so more advanced mores. I'm surprised you never suggested me to do it."
"And they accepted?" Asami never brought it up before because they were working on getting them comfortable and trusting of one another. Bending lessons was the last thing on her mind.
"Pretty easily too. Nothing too advanced. Right now, I'm just trying to work out some of the bad habits and forms they picked up on the streets and on their own."
Asami smiled down at her fiancé and cupped the dark cheeks, stroking the skin tenderly. "You're an amazing woman, you know that, right? You've done so much for the world, but what you've done and continue doing for those kids, they'll remember for the rest of their lives."
"They'll remember you too, baby."
Asami was no stranger to helping people, but helping these two innocent lost children was a feat that she could see firsthand. In a way, they reminded her of herself. Going through the motions of life to survive, but not knowing who they really were.
In a few short months, Asami unlocked a part of identity that laid dormant for so long, but now that it was out in the open, she felt freer and lighter than ever before. She knew with her and Korra's guidance, they too could reach this feat once they were reunited with the family she knew was out there waiting for them.
"Can you pause the lessons for the day? I want to discuss something with you in our bedroom which will require you to put me back down, baby."
Sensing the importance in her tone, Korra placed Asami back on the ground and told the kids that they'd be in their room. They waved them off and said they were going to hang out for a while longer outside.
Upstairs and in their room, Asami asked Korra to wait on the bench seat and look outside. Korra being Korra didn't suspect a thing and listened. Asami crouched down and opened the bottom right drawer of her nightstand, blocking Korra's view of what she was doing with her back in case she was nosy.
She had since moved her father's letters and his personal photograph to a secret safe in a storage room for safe keeping. This time she was met with the parka she stole from Korra and was now hers and several business and engineering books. Usually, Asami wasn't so messy, but she figured having all that in there would ward Korra off from snooping in there.
What occupied the space now was the flat, oblong dark blue box and the black velvet box. The boxes were about as fancy as this was going to get.
Closing the drawer as quietly as possible, she took in Korra gazing out the window. She had a perfect view of her slender left profile, beams of light streaking across it. Usual leather boots and blue pants, but the blue Future Industries jacket was perfect. She really was an idiot for not giving Korra her jacket sooner or getting the custom one made.
It was Asami's turn to lay forth all her cards, all her emotions and give Korra just as an amazing proposal as she'd done for her.
She took a seat next to Korra on the bench, the black box behind her, and she rested a hand on Korra's thigh to draw her attention.
Asami opened the blue box in her hand, presenting her own craftsmanship to her fiancé. The Avatar looked stunned to say the least.
"Korra, I love you, and while it's already official, you kind of beat me to the punch," she laughed and tried to keep her tears at bay. "Bolin asked me a few months ago if I heard wedding bells anytime in my future. I was hesitant to answer that, not because I doubted our love for one another, but because of the timing. But time is relative to every individual. There are no guarantees for us, but we've still chosen one another. We understand each other in ways no one else in this world does. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you're an incredible Avatar, but when you're with me, you can forget your duty to the world and just be Korra, daughter of Tonraq and Senna of the Southern Water Tribe. You've always done all the proposing to me, but now it's my turn. Will you do me the honor of wearing this necklace for you as both the Avatar and as Korra when we get married?"
She reached out and traced the fairly simple pattern of yin and yang, push and pull, a well-known symbol of the Water Tribes. Korra didn't desire anything flashy in life, but the symbolism ran deeper than she and everyone else knew.
"You were planning on proposing too?" she finally spoke and looked up from the carving.
"Hid books about Water Tribe culture and betrothal necklaces and everything," she admitted with a smirk. "Do you know why I chose this design?"
Korra furrowed her eyes, confused. "Because you know about Tui and La in the North and that I'm a Water Tribe native?"
Asami smiled at her innocence. She removed the necklace from the box and held it in her hands, holding the design up closer to their faces and tracing the lines. "That and because it's symbolic of your ability to bond all four elements. The circles representing the dualism are firebending and airbending. Positive and negative jing, attacking and evading. The curvature dividing yet connecting is waterbending, switching between positive and negative jing, push and pull. And finally, the line around the outside bounding yet connecting is earthbending, netural jing, waiting and listening. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
"Asami," she breathed out, taken away, "…I don't have the words to say what a spectacular, impressive woman you are for this. I truly don't deserve you, but yes, I'll marry you and wear your necklace."
Before Asami latched it around Korra's neck, she showed Korra that she too had visited the same woman that she had visited in the South. Korra's necklace was the traditional blue on the outside, but on the inside, it was Future Industries red with the logo right behind where the pendant laid. Once it was safely latched onto Korra's neck, Korra sealed their lips together, thanking her for everything.
"I have one more thing for you," Asami mentioned and pulled out the other black box. "Don't think I'm letting you get off so easy. I got a necklace and a ring. You get an extra accessory too." She opened the box to reveal the silver armlet with three gems set in it.
"Sapphire, emerald…what's this one in the middle?" she inquired, tracing the polished stones.
Asami smiled once again. Asami removed it from the box and caressed the gems. "None of those. Special ordered and thought of thanks to Varrick. The green one's malachite, dedicated to the heart chakra. It symbolizes taking action and welcoming change to find one's true path while protecting the spirit through the journey. The blue one's azurite or 'Stone of the Spirits', dedicated to the sound and light chakra. It allows the bearer understanding of life, stimulating the mind to take the course it innately desires, and allowing love and compassion to occupy space once burdened with one's false perceptions. The middle one's them intertwined. Together, they allow the mind to be free, to protect and heal, enhancing one's flexibility in motion and thought and becoming a better person."
Now Korra was crying, beaming with a sparkle in those blue eyes for the woman who put forth so much effort for her. Korra couldn't find the right words, but chuckled instead. "You had to one up me with all the symbolism, babe?"
Asami reached her left hand up, allowing Korra to feel the metal from her ring. "You're the Avatar, master of all four elements, and the love of my life. You've shown me what I never knew I always wanted and needed in life. You deserve everything and more for everything you do for the world and for me, Korra."
Asami allowed Korra the honors of slipping the armlet on her arm. She thought she'd do her right arm like she did with her old armband, but she slipped it on her upper left arm, proudly showing off the gems.
"It's not a ring, but it might as well be. Can't stray too far from tradition, now can we?"
Korra leaned back on the bench against the wall and pulled Asami into her lap. The two shared short, loving kisses in one another's arms to rejoice in their second engagement. They began slowing, pulling away and resting their foreheads against one another.
"Varrick's getting all his business from us."
Asami's body quaked with laughter. "And whose fault is it for giving him the idea of starting a jewelry line?"
"Ow, touché, fiancé."
Asami hummed then smiled a little. "When I snuck off to the South to get help from your parents and Katara, they mentioned the Glacier Spirits Festival. Would you be interested in that with our friends? It can be a celebration for our engagement. I haven't been to one since the whole dark spirits and Unalaq crisis."
"I would totally be up for that, but can you leave work for that long? I know it's been a crazy year with everything and you and Varrick working on the VarrSato."
Asami nestled her head underneath Korra's chin and gazed out into the beautiful world beyond the window, sighing happily. "I know Gin's capable of making sure things don't burn to the ground while I'm gone. It's not like I can't work while I'm in the South. But if we do go, I'll dedicate as much time as I can to be with you and our friends. We do have a wedding to plan that we haven't really made any definitive plans for."
"Do you want to get married soon? Later? The legality of all it is great, but knowing you're wearing the necklace I carved for you and the ring I made for you as your loyalty and devotion to me is all I really need."
"We can worry about a time later. I just want to lay here, in your arms by this window for a little while."
They did just exactly that. Occasionally, through their conversations, they'd both lay soft kisses against the other's skin, setting fire to one another and tinkles through their entire bodies. They always had to act like strong, well-put together women to the outside world, but alone, they could be soft, goofy, falling apart inside, and relish in one another's presence that they were both healthy and alive.
"Korra?"
"Yes?" Korra pressed a kiss against the side of top of her head.
"I'm really tired."
"Then sleep, rest," she whispered rendered, rubbing her hands up and down her back to lull her to sleep. "You've earned it. I've got you forever. I love you, Asami."
"Love you, future Mrs. Sato," she mumbled, green eyes already closed. Moments later, she began snoring lightly against her chest, sleeping peacefully.
Korra split into a wide grin hearing that, head resting between the bay window and wall. The kids sat side by side on the edge of the pond, safe and sound. The sea blue afternoon sky hung overhead, clarity limitless over the Sato property and the rest of the world. A smattering of fluffy and wispy clouds accented and contrasted the rich sky, enhancing the sky's natural beauty. The sun danced along the forest's treetops and bathed the couple in a winter warmth, a lively glow on top of the heat inside.
Korra's eyes soon fell heavy too despite only waking a few hours ago. Even asleep, Asami possessed power over her and demanded they be connected and united. She stopped fighting it, tightening her hold on Asami's body and slipped under too, peacefully and irrevocably in love with Asami Sato.
The world only saw what they wanted to see in the CEO of Future Industries and the Avatar. Asami and Korra saw beyond what the world presented them as. Like their betrothal necklaces and additional tokens of love, the world saw one thing which had merit, but only they knew the true person that laid under all of that.
After all this time, every little insignificant choice, every significant decision in their lives and in the lives of all those around them carved their destinies to this moment with each other.
All the past heartache, all the impending pain, all the foreseeable struggles were worth it for this.
Asami and Korra earned the right to rest in the privacy and comforts of their home, safe in each other's arms by the bay window overlooking the glorious Sato grounds.
Posted and Completed: June 4, 2021
That's all they wrote! After All This Time was my first foray back into the LoK fandom, my first foray into W/W, and my first story to eclipse 100k words so it'll always hold a special place in my heart.
So, is there a sequel? Potentially. I have an idea and part of an outline, but nothing's written out. I will say that if the sequel does get written, I have planted many (subtle) seeds in After All This Time for it.
Thanks to everyone who's been on this ride with me! You're all the best! Love all of you and send virtual hugs!
