Two bodies dropped on the floor with a thud. Despite being blindfolded and hogtied, they flopped around like fish out of water, trying their best to get away. Electricity crackled as a heavy glove silenced the muffed grunts of the heftier of the two. The smaller one quickly shut her mouth, knowing well that that pain was something to be avoided.
"Good job," a low voice whispered in the dark. "I'm sure your father must be proud."
Eyes darted around empty roads through night vision goggles, still high strung from the mission. She knew exactly who was approaching at the sight of a familiar mask. The symbol of their revolution, the mask of Amon.
"I takes a lot to impress him, but I'm working on it," Asami spoke. Tired eyes watched as a couple of chi blockers loaded their new captives into the back of a truck. Whines and kicks could be heard through resonating from the van; the passengers were clearly refusing to give up without a fight.
Since the revolution, rumors of a cleansing station started circling through the underground. They all feared the rumor that once you were caught by an Equalist, there was no safe return. They had every right to be afraid. Even if it were only one thug at a time, the Triple Threat Triad would be taken down.
The loaded vehicle sped away, leaving a trail of dust behind it. The two were left to talk alone. "I hear you've been seen around with the Avatar," the solemn voice gave no leeway to emotion. "I hope you know what you're doing."
"Yeah. I figured I'd use the opportunity to get close to her and her friends," Asami confirmed. "Future Industries has decided to sponsor their bending team. As long as they do well in the competition, we'll gain unguarded access to the stadium."
Although the gasmask covering the chi blocker's mouth made her breathing echo and her voice almost unrecognizable, Amon was certain of who it was. After all, Asami was one of his top protégés. There was no family name he depended on more than Sato. Even if young girl had just stepped into her position two years ago, she was quickly working her way up the ranks.
"She's not just a lowlife thug, you need to be careful," Amon advised as he stepped out of the shadows. The light tapping of his heavy boots echoed against the cobblestone. Slow and menacing, his movements seemly moved with perfect precision. "She has a lot more power and potential than anyone we have faced. More than everyone you have faced put together."
"Trust me, she doesn't suspect a thing," Asami spoke after freeing herself from her mask. Taking a deep breath, she filled her lungs with fresh air. The cool air created a fog around the town, allowing the two to meet under a small veil of secrecy.
"We have to cut her down before she gets any stronger," Amon said. "There is a rumor going around that she's having trouble with mastering airbending. Has she been making any progress?"
"She hasn't mentioned anything to me," Asami admitted. The fact that this information was news to her, Asami knew that she had a lot to do before they could move in on the girl. Her racing heart slowed to normal and she ran a gloved hand through her hair. "Yet."
The bodies inched their way closer to each other. Asami was hardly ever afraid of anything, but the eerie sense of indifference sent ripples down her spine. Pensive greens narrowed as Asami tried to see past the kabuki mask. No one she has ever spoken to, not even her father, has seen who lay beneath that hard facade. Curiosity was eating her alive.
A strong grip dug into Asami's shoulder and snapped her back to the situation at hand. She did her best not to wince. "You don't want to mess this up for us, Asami."
"Time's up, Fire Ferrets. Off the field now," a grumpy voice called over the intercom promptly ending their practice session. As the competition drew near, each team was allowed an hour a week on the actual field allowing the teams to get accustomed to the grounds. The three groaned and their shoulders slumped as they tramped back to the locker rooms.
Bored out of her mind, Asami was glad when the trio was forced to move from the arena. Practices were getting tedious to watch and got little from being there. She wasn't one to enjoy just sitting on the sidelines while the others had all the fun.
Having to sit an hour surrounded by the musky smell of the jockstraps and sweatbands was far from comfortable. She did her best not to touch anything that looked like it hasn't been washed and counted the tiles on the ceiling as she kicked her legs back and forth out of boredom. Just as she hit 1,059, the grinding gears of the ramp pulled her attention to the trio.
All three of the members greet her enthusiastically with ash and dirt covering their faces. "Oh man, you guys don't look so great," Asami winced at their appearances. They all stopped in their tracks at her words just before they pulled her into a group hug.
It was clear that their uniforms had seen their days. They frayed apart at the seams, battered and torn. The worn armor didn't seem to offer much cushion and created more of a hindrance than anything else.
"What're you talking about, we did great!" Korra shouted, still bursting with excitement. Korra still wanted to give another congratulatory hug but was put off by Asami's statement. Turning to her partner-in-crime, she pulled Bolin into a bear hug and lifted him off his feet.
"Oh, come on, babe," Mako called out as he moved and wrapped his arms around her waist. His sweaty forehead pressed against hers and his thumbs slipped under the hem of her shirt. Rough fingertips started tracing delicate skin as he whispered in her ear. "We weren't that bad."
Shivers spread throughout her body and she bit her tongue from lashing out at his boldness. Asami gripped his forearms and pulled his wandering hands from her waist and out of range. "Come on, guys. You know I wasn't talking about your practice. I meant your uniforms. How old are those things anyway?" Asami asked as she shook the pad that was sliding off of Mako's chest.
"Hmm... I'm pretty sure we inherited them from the last team that retired. Though, I'm pretty sure they can't be more than 10 years old," Bolin answered as his finger pointed at his chin. As if on cue, the left arm padding on Korra's uniform hit the ground. The two looked at each other and shrugged. "I could be wrong."
"Oh, man. You guys will be representing Future Industries soon, you can't be going out there in those rags."
Suddenly struck with inspiration, Asami turned to the only female athlete. "Korra, stop by my place tomorrow. Mako, Bolin, I'll need you guys to be home after lunch. We'll see what we can do."
With a heavy sigh, Korra knocked at the front entrance. Even though she was patrolling the Sato estate earlier that morning, she had to return to the island for her daily meditation. Her airbending master was not allowing any slack when it came to her training, trying to force her spiritual side out of her by extending her meditations to two hours. Korra showed up as soon as she could, just after noon. Although she wasn't in the best of moods, a grin was on her face now that she was out and moving about. Anything was better than being stuck between in and out of consciousness.
"You're late," Asami answered the door and ushered the Avatar in.
Asami walked the girl down an unfamiliar hallway and Korra took the opportunity to look around. The humble Water Tribe native was positive that she would never become accustomed to the massive size of Asami's residence and all the luxuries it held. Marble statues, elaborate paintings, and exotic tapestries lined the walls as far as the eye could see.
"The boys are getting fitted for their uniforms already. I'll be fixing yours up myself," Asami informed her as they slowed their pace.
"Yeah, sorry, thanks," Korra apologized as she followed the quick-footed girl. After turning the corner twice and passing half a dozen different rooms, Korra gave up on trying to memorize the way and trailed behind obediently.
"Tenzin's been pretty upset that I'm not getting any closer to airbending," Korra started to explain herself. "He insists that if I can increase my pro-bending practices that his practices should be no problem."
"And how's that working out?" Asami asked curiously, arching a brow. She was curious for more information but had to make sure not to show it. The duo continued down the halls and only stopped when they ran out of pathway. Opening the door to a small tailoring room, Asami guided Korra onto a small platform in the middle.
"Take this off," she commanded, pointing at her outfit. Asami turned away to grab Korra's new uniform.
"Well, it's not really," Korra answered as she absentmindedly dropped her pelt and pulled her shirt over her head. "I'm still no better at dodging those damned doors and meditation is just pointless."
"Those too," Asami instructed, gesturing at her pants. Once Korra stood in just her underwear, Asami gathered the garments and folded them, setting them in the corner. "What doors are you talking about?" she asked. Asami took a step back and assessed Korra. She was pretty confident that she had gotten the measurements right but there was no room for error.
"Apparently there is an ancient airbending training exercise where you move between these swinging door or gates or whatever," Korra started to explain, using her arms for emphasis.
Taking a measuring tape, Asami walked up to the girl and ran it across the length of her shoulders. The light touch sent a chill down Korra's spine and the hairs on her neck stood on end. Asami attempted to soothe the feeling by resting her palm on her upper back. Moving on, she forced the bender's arms to still as she measured the arm length and listened tentatively.
"He said that I need to 'be the leaf,'" Korra air quoted and slumped in defeat. "Whatever that means."
Asami reached from behind to wrap the measuring device around Korra's hips then moved to her waist. Muscles instantly stiffened at her touch. "You need to relax," Asami said. Languid brushes were Asami's attempt to put Korra's mind at ease, but unbeknownst to her, it was having the opposite effect.
It wasn't that Korra was afraid, it was that she was uneasy. For the bender, bodily contact usually came in the form of punches or kicks and recently she's been fond of hugs. But, the gentle hands that grazed her stomach sent unfamiliar tingles throughout her body. After a few calming breaths, she was proud of the fact that she was able to relax her body. It appeared that Tenzin's meditation sessions weren't a complete loss.
"Lift up your arms," Asami instructed. Hands were wary as they moved to work around around Korra's chest, trying to remain as professional as possible. She chewed at her lip, desperately trying her best to avoid touching any extremities. Although her fingers itched, she fought against the urge to let her hands linger on the sculpted abdomen in reach.
Korra's body was the epitome of fit and it took everything within her for Asami not to just stare and appreciate the work of art in front of her. Unlike Mako's angular frame, Korra's body held a softer look. Muscles didn't bulge out of her thin frame but, even with the slightest of movements, they refused to go unnoticed. The heiress as glad she was standing behind the athlete, it allowed to her admire as much as she wanted without being caught.
After taking notes of the measurements, Asami cleared her throat and moved away. She avoided temptation by not bothering to measure the girl lower half. She settled back at her desk and worked on the top. Pulling in the sleeves and loosening a few stitches, she made the necessary adjustment before tossing it over to the girl. As Korra pulled the top over her head, Asami held the bottoms at Korra's waist to roughly judge the length.
Korra shifted around until the top was comfortable and took the offered pants from Asami's hands with a smile. She quickly stepped into those as well, glad to see a nice fit.
Pausing, Asami looked up at Korra and couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at her frazzled hair. For the moment, the avatar stood several inches taller than the seamstress and it was a little unsettling. Korra jumped around in her spot, getting a feel for the new uniform. The baggy pants allowed her legs all the freedom they needed and the improved padding lightened the load noticeably.
"So, I take it those gates are wind propelled?" Asami revived the previous conversation. She stood back at a respectable distance as Korra got accustomed to her outfit. Once Korra stopped moving about, she stood up and moved to her. Smoothing out the uniform, she admired her work and gave a satisfied smile. She pleased that everything more or less fit snuggly.
Korra stood still as expert hands tucked in loose fabrics and curious eyes watched as the girl worked around her. "Well, yeah. How did you know?"
"The leaf glides through the gates?" Asami stepped back and nodded in approval. She grabbed the chest piece and secured it around Korra's torso.
"Wait, what? Have you done it before?" Korra asked. Her breathing hitched as Asami pulled it tight and fastened it in the back.
"Step into these," Asami laid out a pair of boots in front of her and grabbed her arm guards. Asami cleared her throat as Korra finished gearing up. "No, I haven't done it, but I have read about it. It was supposedly didn't have much to do with the bending itself, but rather the mindset needed for it. It was to teach you the flexibility to change. With the wind."
Korra jammed her feet into the boots and secured the tightly. "Great, even a non-bender knows more about airbending than I do."
Gritting her teeth, Asami tossed the gloves at Korra's head. "Just because I can't bend doesn't mean I can't read."
"No!" Korra exclaimed with a hint of panic in her voice. The bender allowed the gloves smacked her in the face, knowing that she had deserved it. "That's not what I meant. It's just so frustrating. I mean, even Meelo can do it blindfolded and he's only five!"
Korra's sudden outburst matched Asami's frustration and the heiress decided to let the remark slide. Korra looked downcast as she rubbed the reddening spot on her forehead. Soft eyes pleaded for sympathy.
If she were being honest with herself, the Equalist wanted to stay upset. She wanted to call the Avatar out on her bigoted statement. She wanted show her that she could be just as much. She wanted cleanse her of her bending and show the Avatar how it felt to be a part of the large population she belittled. She wanted to do so much, but she couldn't. She needed to wait and play this out.
Asami let out a sigh and eyed the girl in front of her. The guilt was evident in Korra's expression and it was hard to ignore. It wasn't as if Asami didn't understand the pressure that was placed on Korra's shoulders; a similar weight rested on hers as well.
"How does that feel?" she asked as she tied on her blue sash, giving up grudge.
The softening of Asami's demeanor put Korra's heart at ease and she gave a timid smile. Korra moved about and stretched. "I think this is pretty good." A few jabs in the air and swift kicks, Korra shadow boxed to test her mobility. "What is this made of? How come it's so light?" she asked as she bounced on the balls of her feet.
Falling into the chair behind her, Asami massaged at her temples. Exhaustion finally hit her and she berated herself for letting something so trivial like uniforms keep her up all night. The aesthetical design was simple, but that wasn't the problem. To find a sturdy yet lightweight material to replace the armadillo bear shell was what proved to be most difficult. It was only after testing several skins, shells, and leathers was she satisfied.
"It's hippo cow hide," she answered as a smile crept onto her face. Korra's dexterity seemed greatly improved from yesterday's practice now that she had a properly tailored uniform. The weight difference and flexibility created allowed more mobility. The freedom provided was almost as much as her usual clothes.
"I've never heard of that being used before," Korra mumbled as she back flipped off the podium. The bender landed with her hands up in a pose and whispering a tada. Asami rolled her eyes and gave a slow, sympathetic clap.
"I haven't heard of being using before, either. I'm pretty sure it hasn't but here's to trying something new," Asami straightened up and admired her work one final time. The leather groaned as Korra continued practiced motions and jabs, letting out a few puffs of fire as well. "It won't offer as much protection as your last uniform, but I figured if they can't hit you, it won't matter."
Cheers echoed through the stadium as the teams retreated back to their locker rooms. The Fire Ferrets continued to fire up the crowd as they shook their hands over their heads. They took several bows as fans tried to throw flowers while the diehard ones tried to throw themselves onto the platform. The Fire Ferrets had won their first match and were working their way to the championship.
"That was amazing, you guys!" Asami greeted the trio and Mako twirled his girlfriend around in excitement.
"Yeah! Did you see me? I was like, boom, pow, bam, take that," Bolin jabbed in the air, swinging from side-to-side as he dodged invisible elements. "Can't hit me, I'm the pro-bending pro."
Korra's laugh boomed through the room as she watched Bolin's exaggeration of the events. She decided to jump in and threw a few playful swings at the boy. The two danced around each other, avoiding feeble blows with a few chuckles.
"No, but really, Asami, these new uniforms were great," Korra said as she splashed Bolin with the nearby bucket of water and straightened up. Blue eyes examined her clothes as well as her teammates, not finding even a scratch. "No one could hit us. We really gotta thank the genius that came up with it."
Mako cocked an eyebrow and pulled Asami into his side. Warm, proud smiles adorned both their faces. "Then why don't you?"
"Wait," Korra asked in complete awe. Her jaw visibly dropped. "Wait, no. You? You designed these?"
"Oh, please. Don't act so surprised," Asami rolled her eyes and pulled away from her protector.
"No, wait. But-" Korra was at a loss for words. "This is amazing, how, wait- what?"
"I couldn't let my team go out in that tattered old uniform you guys had before. You gotta make us look good out there," Asami smiled as she spoke and playfully punched Korra's shoulder. "I just thought I'd take the liberty to make some minor adjustments to them. It's no big deal, really."
Wide eyes examined the non-bender in disbelief. Korra was blown away that someone barely a year her senior had thought of something so ingenious. "So, you can fight, race, and design, what else are you hiding from us?" Korra asked jokingly with a laugh.
"You'll see," Asami winked almost flirtatiously at the girl. "But for now, I need to go," Asami said as she kissed her boyfriend goodbye. "My dad wanted to talk to me about something. I take it you guys are going to go out and celebrate?"
"Or I can head home early and we can celebrate," Mako whispered as he let his lips linger on plump reds.
"Behave," Asami tapped his chest as she pushed away. "I'll see you guys tomorrow?"
The pair eyed the couple with a grimace and waved their friend goodbye. "Yeah, yeah. Sure," they dismissed her and pulled into another group hug.
Asami leaned against the side of the chair, not wanting to take a seat. Hiroshi sat behind his desk, stacks of blueprints sitting at his side. His usually well-kept salt and pepper hair started to fall into his face every time he ran his hands though it. The whole room screamed formality and Asami wondered when their father-daughter relationship morphed into such a business affair. If the fact that they seldom saw each other wasn't bad enough, they hardly talked about things outside of Equalist or Future Industries matters when they did see each other.
"I don't like you hanging around her anymore," Hiroshi spoke. Removing his gold-rimmed glasses, he rubbed at the bridge of his nose. The pressure allowed some relief and Hiroshi's face relaxed.
Asami forced herself not to scoff. "I can't just stop seeing her. She's part of the Fire Ferrets. She's also one of Mako's good friends."
Her hanging around the Avatar wasn't something she was doing for the fun of it. The relationship she was building wasn't for the sake of wanting to be her friend.
"It doesn't matter. We're going to strike the stadium next week during the finals. We won't need her or the team anymore."
Teeth clenched and eyes narrowed as his words sunk in. Asami had just seen Amon two nights prior yet he hadn't mentioned anything of an attack. Even though she had volunteered for their most important and dangerous missions and she was in charge of dealing with all affairs pertaining to the Avatar, she still received information second hand. It appeared that Amon still didn't feel that she was worthy enough for him to relay his plans directly.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice full of spite.
"The Equalists are planning an attack on the area," Hiroshi said, raising his brows at his usually collected daughter. "We're going to end this pro-bending nonsense once and for all. They'll have two options. Either they close down the arena or we'll attack."
"That's stupid," Asami retorted with furrowed brows, her voice escalading. Asami ran her hands through her bangs, a mannerism that she seemingly picked up from her father. Amon was a mastermind. He managed to covertly organize thousands of people to rebel against norms that have been set in their world almost 10 thousand years ago. He was no fool and Asami knew that he was smarter than that. "He has to know they won't cancel the finals. They need it. It's the only thing that keeps the city together."
"And that's exactly what he's counting on," Hiroshi spoke in a booming voice. He wasn't fond of the way his daughter was talking back to him and disrespecting their leader. "Whoever wins the match will lose their bending. Asami, we're sending them a message." Large hands slammed on the desk in front of him. "It's time the city takes us more seriously. It seems that all they care about is their pathetic excuse for a sport. All that the media has been focusing on the tournaments. It's as if they forgot that we even exist.
"We are their enemy and we'll make it be known. Their beloved athletes, the ones that have proven to be the best, will fall before the city at the hands of a non-bender."
Asami looked over at her father, her commander, and reverted back to her stoic disposition. She hadn't thought that things would progress as readily as they had, but she masked her bewilderment. She calmed herself at the thought of the whole 'befriending the avatar' charade would be over soon. She recalled her yearning for a day that she would be able to live life comfortably, without lies. A life without feeling threatened or oppressed.
"You'll need to start moving the gloves over to the stadium," Hiroshi instructed as he settled back into his seat. "We'll need at least four dozen at hand. Figure out a way to distribute them once the Equalists are inside. There can be no suspicion on the day of the tournament so make sure your little bending team doesn't get in the way."
"I'll start the planning tomorrow," Asami said before dismissing herself.
She understood that it was time that she took her job more seriously. It was time that she proved her worth.
"You're the best, you know that, right?" Mako slurred out in a drunken stupor. His usually spiky hair was mussed and flopping around as he stumbled out of the door.
The three athletes worked their way out of Narook's and through the empty streets. The cool air was refreshing after being in the stuffy restaurants for so long. It had seemed that Korra was the only one who could actually enjoy it, as she was the only one who could stand on her own two feet. The boys stumbled about and tripped over themselves.
The team captain turned to the rookie and gave her a sloppy smile. Korra returned with a lopsided grin of her own as he draped his arm over her shoulders. If anybody were to ask, she would blame warming cheeks on the alcohol and heat. Mako turned to her and she scrunched her nose at the harsh stench of alcohol on his breath. "I'm being completely serious here, we wouldn't even have made it to the semis without you!"
"Yeah! Really the best!" Bolin concurred boisterously. Wanting to get in on the fun, Bolin pushed his brother to the side and Korra was temporarily freed. She didn't have enough time to enjoy the breathing space though. Before she knew it, the young earthbender had lifted her up onto his shoulders.
"Whoa, settle down there, buddy," she called out as she laughed.
Korra balanced herself, gripping his hair as if they were reins. He wobbled back and forth, zigzagging through the empty roads. She had thought he had finally got used to her on his shoulders but nearly fell when he decided to start running down the street at full speed. Korra's pleas were muddled by their laughter until Bolin took a sharp nosedive. Tripping on the curb of the sidewalk, the tower of two fell faster than they could think and Korra barely managed to stop herself from face planting. She stood with a pained hiss and dusted her palms off on her pants.
"Bolin, you alright there?" she asked as she looked around and found the boy snoozing in his spot. With a heavy sigh, Korra tugged at his shirt, trying her best to lift the boy to his feet. When she managed to stand him up, she pulled his arm over her head so that he could lean against her.
Through all the commotion, the only thing she got from the younger brother was a sleepy grumble and resistance. He didn't seem to mid the small scratch on his forehead, but the deadweight was more than Korra could carry. Luckily, his big brother came to their rescue. Mako wrapped Bolin's free arm around his shoulder as well, and bore most of his weight.
"Korra, I really appreciate this," Mako said. He was trying to sober up as he tripped along the road. His heavy tongue told her that it wasn't working very well.
"What, did you think I was just going to leave him in the ditch?" she asked with an amused laugh. Every few steps they took, she had to shift his weight so she would drop him. She didn't want her teammate to wake up with two bruises on his face.
"No, not just with this. I mean, everything. You really saved our asses, you know?" Mako shot a grin over to her. "So, thanks."
"It's really nothing," Korra dismissed as she fought down a blush. Even if he reeked of alcohol, his silly drunken grin made up for it.
"I mean it!" Mako blurted. Words gushed out of his mouth like a burst pipe. "I mean it's so cool that you saved our team and all, but you even helped me save Bo. We owe you, big time. I owe you big time."
"Don't mention it, it's not a big deal." Korra was losing the battle against a shy smile. His drunken honesty was a nice change from his usual stoic self.
"And the fact that you're so cool with Asami!" Mako continued to ramble just as she was about to send some compliments his way. "I mean, I know you had feelings for me, but you put that aside so we could be happy. That takes a lot. That's very big of you, Korra."
"Ha ha," Korra laughed nervously. "Right, no biggie."
Korra's stomach dropped at the mention of his girlfriend. His current girlfriend and her new friend, Asami Sato. Mako thought that she befriended the girl to play nice. He believed that it was it was all so that she could be a good friend to him. He was right, that would've been big of her, but the truth was so much stranger. She had accidentally befriended the newest member of their group despite the fact. In fact, she had abhorred the very idea of it when they had first met, but it was hard to hate someone that was so welcoming. Asami Sato was so kind, generous, and thoughtful. If she was willing to put in the effort despite their little feud, Korra figured the least she could do was try as well.
"You know what?" Korra asked, successfully changing the subject. "How about I help you take this lump of rock home?"
Korra kicked a pebble as she trudged around after dropping the boys off in their temporary new residence. She had decided to surveil the Sato's property, keeping to her promise she had made weeks prior. Cool air to fill her lungs as she took a deep breath, enjoying the serenity that it brought. The quiet was welcoming after such a loud and eventful day.
A light tune caught Korra's attention and she snapped out of her trance. Before she knew it, she found herself following it. It was a familiar melody, one that she was sure she had heard before. She stopped when she came face-to-face with a high wall of the manor. The source of the music was coming from a room two stories up, most likely from the room that was still lit. At a quarter past midnight, Korra figured it was safe to assume that the room belonged to Asami. Wanting to confirm her suspicions, Korra needed a way to get up there.
If I could only airbend, Korra scoffed internally to herself. With a defeated huff, Korra decided on the next best thing. Feet shoulder width apart, she braced herself before creating a solid rock platform to level her to the window. She cringed a bit at the loud rumbling that accompanied the boost, but it was unavoidable.
Steading herself on the windowsill, she peered into the room. She scanned the room from corner to corner and was surprised to find it completely empty. Some time between locating the source and looking through the window, the light singing had stopped. Lacking better judgment, Korra pushed through the open window and jumped inside. She only got three steps into the room when her feet were swiped from beneath her.
Quick reflexes kicked into gear and Korra landed with her arms behind her. Quickly, she flipped herself back up into a standing position. Still recovering from the fall, she didn't have much time to react when something was wrapped around her neck. She barely had enough time to slip her hand between the object and her neck, desperately pulling to keep it from choking her.
"Korra?" Asami questioned in a hushed whisper.
Asami instantly released her grip and unwrapped her hands from her makeshift weapon. Dropping the sash, she rushed to Korra's side as she collapsed to the ground. Crouching to her side, she slid a supporting arm behind the younger girl's back to help her sit up, making sure to create a clear pathway for her to breathe.
"Well, hello to you too," Korra managed to choke out in a hoarse voice. After a few rough coughs, she was finally able to steady her breathing. She sat cross-legged in her spot and rested her arms on her knees. With a few deep breaths, she took a few moments to calm down.
"What are you doing in here? It's past your curfew!" Asami yelled at her in a whisper. It didn't matter that her property was the size of Republic City Park, it was a habit. "And what happened to your hand?"
The bed dipped as Korra took a seat. The exhaustion from the day started to settle in as the rush from Asami's attack faded. Curious eyes followed Asami as she turned on all the lights before disappearing into the bathroom. She returned before she could be missed with a small, clear box.
"Well, after you left we headed to Narook's," Korra recapped as she settled herself on the bed. "Shots of ginger cactus juice were going around and before I knew it, Mako and Bolin were completely gone."
Korra started to get more animated as she spoke. Wild gestures helped emphasize her story telling and there was a smile stretching across her face as she recalled their shenanigans. Asami had to grasp her excited hands so she'd stop flailing them about.
"So anyway, Bolin had the great idea of trying to carry me and somewhere along the line I guess I was dropped."
"Ahh," Asami said as she got an understanding of the situation. She examined the cut and reasoned it wasn't more than a mere scratch. "That's where this came from, I take it."
Figuring she should at least clean the cut out, Asami moved as if on autopilot. She dabbed astringent onto a clean cloth and took Korra's calloused hand in her own, holding it palm up. Making sure she wouldn't pull away, she held on tightly and touched the fabric to the wound.
"Jeez, what is that?" Korra cried out at the stinging sensation.
"It'll clean your cut and help it heal quicker," Asami reasoned as she held through her squirming for a few seconds longer. Once Asami let go, Korra brought her hand to her face and started blowing cool air onto the wound, trying to rid it of the burning feeling. She narrowed her eyes at her assailant and shook her hand a couple of times before Asami grabbed her wrist again. Afraid of what pain awaited her, Korra grimaced but was relieved when all Asami did was wrap a bandage around her palm.
"I think it would've been easier if I had just healed it myself," Korra grumbled under her breath to herself.
Green orbs hid beneath lids as Asami chided herself. Of course. How could she have forgotten that Korra was a waterbender? She was the Avatar for goodness sake. She could've healed it faster and more efficiently on her own.
"But, thanks," Korra said with a warm smile. "Anyway, as I was saying, someone had to make sure those numbnuts got home safely."
"How noble of you," Asami said and packed up the medical kit. The image of poor little Korra having to help carry full-grown boys through the city night must've been quite a sight. "Honestly, I'm surprised you weren't fumbling along side them."
"Yeah, well. I guess I can hold my liquor better than they can. I am from the Water Tribe. In cold winters, we drink shots like water," Korra boasted while flexing her arms as to prove her prowess.
"That, and...," she gave a pause, "I have meditation tomorrow morning. Tenzin would murder me if I missed another one."
So she has some sense of self-control, Asami thought to herself and let out a small chuckle. "Well, that doesn't explain why you were sneaking into my room well past your curfew."
"Well," Korra stressed, mocking the elegant, rich girl, "I figured since I was here, I should do my rounds before heading bac-"
"Wait, you actually do that?" Asami asked incredulously. Wide eyes look at the Avatar in disbelief. She hadn't expected Korra to actually go through with the extra security. It was a little white lie they had made up together weeks ago to try to get her out of trouble.
"Well, yeah. Every morning and every night. Didn't I tell you I would?" Korra sat up in her spot and watched as Asami moved around her room.
"Well, yeah, but I didn't think you'd actually do it" Asami explained. Asami settled herself back at the mirror, the spot that she was before Korra had trespassed. Green orbs met tired blue ones through the mirror and she sent a smile Korra's way. "You know, Mako can't even remember to lock the door."
"Haha, yeah, I do know. I usually have to lock it for him," Korra laughed, grinning back at the girl. "You should really get a better security team."
"Well, I've tried but then she got herself placed on a curfew," Asami teased as she continued to remove her makeup. "Now I just have to hope that those two reckless 'numbnuts' will do the trick."
Korra couldn't respond, too distracted by the girl in front of her. She watched in awe as Asami worked seamlessly, switching between different bottles. Korra had never having seen Asami without her perfectly painted face before. She looked... softer, almost. The dark bags under Asami's eyes gave proof to her busy schedule and Korra couldn't help but notice that her fair cheeks were sprinkled with light freckles. Raven hair was still damp from her shower and the weight caused her curls to appear straight.
Asami was vaguely aware of the attention she was receiving as she stole peeks through the mirror. Pretending as she hadn't noticed, she continued to pull her wooden brush through her hair and turned to the seated girl. "You know, you should really wear your hair down more often."
Standing from her spot, Asami motioned for Korra to come over. Korra was disoriented for a few seconds, realizing that she was caught staring. Shaking her head to clear her mind, she brought her attention back to Asami. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come here," Asami beckoned over. Korra refused to move so Asami moved to pull her from spot. The non-bender sat the avatar in front of her vanity and started to pull her ties from her hair. Korra cocked an eyebrow as gentle fingers start to comb through knotted hair. Careful not to tug too hard, Asami worked to untangle the unruly locks. "There, see? It suits you."
"It gets in the way when I fight," Korra argued at the impracticality of it. Her hands fidgeted in her lap as they fought the urge to slap Asami's hands away.
"Well, you can relax here," Asami countered. Gazes met through the reflection and she gave a comforting smile. Fingers mindlessly continued to comb through her hair as she got lost in her thoughts. Asami couldn't remember the last time she was able to enjoy someone's company like this. The feeling of just goofing off and relaxing with a friend felt foreign. "There's only me here and it's not like I'm going to attack you."
"Ha," Korra let out a dry laugh, tempted to rub a sore spot on her ankles from her earlier fall. "I don't know about that. You do pack a heavy punch."
Even though Korra had hit the nail on the head, she couldn't help but feel a tang of dismay. Asami's gaze shifted to her own hands as she allowed silky strands fall through her fingers one last time. She scolded herself internally for acting so foolishly and started to pull away.
"No, wait," Korra called out. She turned to face the girl behind her and caught Asami's retreating arm before she could move out of range. "I didn't mean- I wasn't complaining. It's just that I'm not used to things like, well, this. I've never had a girl friend before. Well, except for Naga, but I don't think she really counts."
Gentle hands found their way back to her scalp and light massages lull Korra into a daze. Finally letting her guard down, Korra recalled the only other time she had a friend before the Fire Ferrets. It was long ago, before she was burdened by her avatar duties and expectations. It was the only time she was able to run around freely without worrying what others thought of her.
Asami's quiet humming slipped through her unconsciousness and Korra started to hum along.
"My mom used to sing this song to me as she brushed my hair," Asami said with a nostalgic smile as she ran the comb through Korra's hair. The urbanite was surprised Korra had even heard the tune before; she had believed it to be a Fire Nation lullaby.
"Every day she would take me to Republic City Park and we would eat lunch together," she continued. "Before I could run around with the other kids, she'd make sure my hair was nice. But then I would go and mess it up again."
A warm, comforting laugh filled the room as the heiress recalled such happy and distant events. Shaken from her stupor, heavy lids opened to find a pensive look on Asami's face, stopping Korra's heart in its tracks.
A/N: OKAY, so, I ended up changing the fitting scene around and only after I rewrote it that I realized Korra needn't be half naked for that. Oh well, where's the fun in being clothed around each other? Spice things up a little, girls! Also, I've been having troubles with the line breaks. Some of them appear but some don't. Until I figure out how to fix this, I apologize. Or, you can read it on AO3. I believe that one works better.
Also, from this chapter on it's going to be more AU-y. Some of you liked that it followed the show (which I like as well) but I kind of wanted to try something new. I hope I don't lose too many of you guys! This is a celebratory update for reaching 600 followers on tumblr! Plus, thanks for all the follows! I hope this is up to your standards.
As always, please let me know what you think. What you liked, what you thought was pointless, anything. Reviews are like crack. I need my fix.