Authors notes:
I wanted to try something different with this chapter, namely a first person perspective, as I feel like a third person narration doesn't really get a characters feelings across very well. Or it could just be that I'm bad at it. But hey, maybe this experiment will help with that.
Also, to those who take time to write reviews, spirits bless your souls. I would really appreciate getting some criticism on this. Don't get me wrong, being told my works flaws isn't fun, but I really wanna improve as a writer, and this story is kinda my outlet to do so. Please be constructive, and don't be afraid to point out flaws when ya see em. Also please let me know if you find any grammar or spelling mistakes, and I'll try to correct them.
Also for those wondering why it's rated m when the first chapter was pretty tame? Well I'd like to point out that Korra and Asami (as of season 3) are teenagers. Hormones are a powerful force. Also, I know it may seem out of character, Buuuut, I always sorta imagined Korra as the type to have a lot of thoughts just under the surface that she's not speaking out loud. Don't get me wrong, she speaks her mind, just not all of it. Korra is a master of at least 3 elements by season 3 (as there is some debate over whether she has mastered air-bending by that point) and restraint and self control are important parts of bending. I think she has more self-control than people realize is all I'm saying.
Alright, enough of my insecure ramblings, lets get into the chapter. Also, hell, that was longer than I meant it. But I feel I had to say some things.
Chapter 2; Revelations
Asami's first person point of view
I didn't know what was louder, the sound of my heart beating its way out of my chest, the sound of my feet stomping the hard-wood floor of the Gym as I paced back and forth, or the screaming I was doing in my head. What in the name of raava was that!? I'm not a bender! How did I do that!? Did I do that!?
"Asami," I jumped back nearly 30 feet when i heard Saren speak up. Wait… 30 feet!? "Oh spirits damnit, now you're even worse than before, i was gonna ask you to calm down, but evidentl-"
"CALM DOWN!?" I covered my mouth, as Saren and Naomi flinched. Damnit, i hadn't meant to snap at him like that! What's wrong with me!? "S-sorry. I didn't mean to yell like that."
Naomi speaks up "it's ok Asami, listen, you should go talk to the avatar, see if she knows anything, you two are friends right?"
"Of course! I'm sure korra will know something! Probably… hopefully… Uh Saren, you should probably come too, you also… ya know." I say as I begin to leave, not even bothering to go change out of my workout clothes
"Airbent? I know." He states calmly as he and Naomi follow me.
"How can you be so calm right now?!" I ask, utterly incredulous. Saren has always been rather guarded with his emotions, especially around new people, but I always assumed that was more of just a natural expression of his introversion rather than any actual discipline and self control.
"Because if I'm not calm, I might hurt one of you, and I will *not* let that happen. You've been shooting gusts this whole time, my guess is it's because it's tied to your emotional state, like Naomi's lightning."
I look around myself, seeing that Saren's right, there's wind kicking up all around me. As I walk I try the breathing exercises my therapist taught me.
Naomi "right! Pretty Much all bending is affected by emotion in some way or another! For example, I can only really lightning-bend when I'm super angry or embarrassed."
It's then that I consider Sarens words more carefully. He was controlling himself because he was worried for Naomi and I. Honestly that's not surprising, the guy has a big heart. He just doesn't show it very often, so him being honest now actually makes me feel a bit better. Knowing that even after we drifted apart a bit, he still cares.
The wind slowly dies down as I continue my breathing exercises. Never thought I'd use them this way. I'll have to remember to thank my therapist when I inevitably talk to her about this.
30 minutes later we're stepping off the ferry to Air Temple Island, and I see Korra heading up the steps, we must have just caught her as she was getting here. She said she was stopping to run a few errands after the press conference. "Korra!"
She turns to look at us, and seems to stop dead in her tracks as I make my way up to her. Why is she just staring at me?
Korra's point of view
Oh my spirits! Why is she in workout clothes!? Well.. she was working out obviously, but Why didn't she change!? Why do I find her so fucking hot right now!?
I've been struggling with how i feel about Asami for a week now. I've always been Bi, I knew that, I just didn't know that I was attracted to Asami until a week ago. We were investigating the spirit vines and I tripped and fell face first to the floor. Or, I would have hit the floor, if Asami didn't catch me. As soon as I realized that I was leaning on her, my face got really hot, and I suddenly became a stuttering mess. Yeah, I had a crush. Wait... shit! I'm staring! Say something!
"H-hi Asami! What's up?" Smooth. Good, keep it up korra.
"Well.. something is up, but first are you ok? Your face is red and your voice is a bit higher than usual."
Ok, I was not smooth. Not at all. Fuck. Uh.. it's ok! I got this! Uh… what's a good excuse?! "I was doing some flips on my glider on the way here, it tends to get blood pumping to my head on the down-swing."
Asami narrows her gaze at me. Spirits, how does she make the "i totally don't believe a word your saying" face so damn sexy!? Focus! Focus korra, change the topic, stop staring at those long... beautiful legs… i said stop! Not do it more! Do as i command eyes! (Eyes: never!)
"Anyway, you said you had a problem? What happened? And why is Saren here with you?" Good! Change the subject! Genius!
Asami seems about to say something before Saren cuts in "we're here because Asami and I suddenly started air-bending during our training today." He states casually.
That sentence smacks me like a boulder to the face. They were air bending!? That shouldn't be possible! "Are you su-" I don't get to finish my sentence as Saren shoots a gust of wind directly at my face, forcing me to doge.
"Shit! I didn't mean to put that pressure in! Sorry! I wasn't trying to kill you, I swear!" Saren says nervously. Well that's a shift… he seemed to be pretty calm and in control before.
I take a few deep breaths "it's alright Saren even if that had hit me, it wouldn't have done much damage." He sighs in relief "Now, all of you, follow me right now, we're gonna go see tenzin. Though… uh you guys should probably get changed first.."
"I didn't bring a change of clothes." Asami mutters.
FUCK! ok.. korra, you can do this, just… keep the filter working, don't talk about how much you want to pin her down an-STOP! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
"That's fine," I say trying to keep my voice from cracking, as I resume my climb up the steps from the dock. "you guys must have been pretty startled, so uh.. I don't think I've met your other friend there." Ha! Subject, changed! Score one for the avatar!
The white haired girl waves enthusiastically "I'm Naomi Izumi! Martial artist, firebender, occasional lightning bender, and this doofus's partner in training." She wraps an arm around Saren's shoulder, which seems to surprise him as he jumps a bit and looks away. "Specifically training Asami."
"Oh, cool!" I say, smiling at her "I can see you guys are clearly doing a great job. Though.. gotta ask, what's up with the white hair?"
"It's dyed." She says quickly, seeming nervous about the subject.
"She's a closet Yue fan-girl." Saren cuts in with a teasing grin. "She reads stories about her and Chief Sokka's romance every night."
"Saren! Don't embarrass me in front of the avatar!" She growls as she punches him in the arm. Sparks fly and Saren groans in pain.
I'm just happy for the distraction from… nothing. Nope. Don't need to be distracted at all. Totally.
We get to the temple and find everyone gathered around the dinner table. Tenzin seems to be annoyed by Bumi for something, no surprise there. Meelo and Iki are surprisingly not being disruptive, and seem to be letting bumi take the reins on that one. Jinora is quietly eating her food, seeming lost in thought, Pema and Kya are talking calmly as Pema cradles little Rohan. Both wave as the others and I enter. And Bolin is stuffing his face. All in all, about what i expected. Glad this place is still normal at least. No spirit vines, ancient evil spirits, or random non-benders turned air-benders. Well not yet anyway.
Most stop and look at the new arrivals, save for Bumi and Tenzin who are still arguing, and Meelo who seems interested in said argument for some reason.
Bolin looks at the two newcomers, then at Asami, then at me "who are the new people? They look built like bodyguards but they're all dressed like they're about to do a photoshoot for a sports magazine. Wait, are they? Is Asami?"
I sit next to bolin, deciding that we should at least let tenzin finish his argument with his brother before we shatter his worldview about the status of air-benders. I'm polite like that. "they're Asami's personal trainers. They're here because they were with Asami when they found out something pretty important. Can't say what until Tenzin's done being Tenzin. What are they arguing about anyway?" I notice Asami sit next to me. As long as she's not any closer i should be fine.
Then she scoots closer as Saren joins the limited table space, Turning down an offer of rice from Meelo. Then Naomi sits, forcing Saren and Asami to scoot over more… and Asami is now sitting shoulder to shoulder with me. Spirits why have you forsaken me!?
"Oh, apparently Bumi thinks he's an airbender now. And apparently he's not very good at knitting. I'll have to get back to you on that second thing though, I wasn't fully listening yet." Bolin states while continuing to stuff his face.
I nearly choke on the rice I had just begun to eat "Bumi air-bent!?" All heads turn to me, including Tenzin and Bumi. Whoops. At least they're not fighting anymore.
"See tenzin! The avatar believes me!" Scratch that.
"Korra, you can't honestly bel-" he's cut off as a bowl suddenly flies across the room, nearly hitting bumi square between the eyes, but being stopped by a cyclone of air. He's airbending!? My jaw (and everyone else's) is on the floor. But wait? Who threw the bowl? I look around the table and see Meelo looking quite pleased with himself. Of course it was him.
Tenzin picks his jaw up off the floor "brother," he clears his throat trying to compose himself "I humbly apologize for doubting you." Then the bowl drops. And shatters.
"Ooooon that note, i have more, uh... good..? News…? Asami and her friend are also air-benders apparently." Asami glares daggers at me as everyone's jaws drop again, Saren just shrugs, now spinning a cup in a small cyclone in front of him. He's taking to this pretty fast…
I don't know what it is, but something about him just feels… off. Not bad, I just get the sense that there's more to him than he lets on. Something big. Could just be misreading things though.
"W-what?" I ask Asami, trying to ignore the immediate urge to apologize and proclaim that I will never anger her again.
"Good news!? This is insane news! I'm not an air-bender." Asami shouts, seeming even more angry now.
"my sore jaw disagrees." Saren cuts in, now repeatedly tossing the cup in the air with gusts of wind, before it's snatched by Naomi and she scolds him for being a child at the table.
"You know what I mean Saren! I air-bent, sure, but I'm not an air-bender! I can't be! This doesn't make any sense!" Asami rambles on, seeming more scared by the second. I just want to hug her, hold her against my chest and tell her everything is gonna be ok.
"Maybe it has something to do with harmonic convergence?" Jinora speaks up.
Tenzin sighs heavily and strokes his goatee "possibly…" he trails off, clearly contemplating the matter.
"look," I begin, trying to lower the tension in the room. "we can figure this stuff out later, but for right now, Asami and Saren need to get their bending under control. Bumi too. Ya know, before someone gets hurt or something gets broken." Pema clears her throat, looking at the broken bowl. "Ok… uh... before *more* somethings get broken." Pema nods, seeming satisfied with my pledge not to continue our valiant (if misguided) battle against her tableware.
"you can't seriously be thinking of just going back to training!? Training and fighting doesn't fix every problem Korra!" Asami says, now glaring at me even worse than before. Please no! I'm sorry!
I turn to face her, already hating that choice as I see the fear in her eyes "I know it doesn't, and I'm sorry if I made it seem that way. I know you're scared, but that's kinda the problem, bending is a form of self-expression. When a bender's emotions are out of balance, their bending becomes unbalanced as well. We need to teach you and Saren control before things get out of hand. I know it's scary, but please, trust that I'm gonna do all I can to help you." I plead with her as I take one of her hands in mine.
Asami looks fearful, then confused as I hold her hand, and then takes a few deep breaths as she considers my words "ok, i believe you. I trust you Korra. If you think this will help, then I'm with you." She squeezes my hand.
I blush. Oh spirits I didn't think this through! "Good. Now lets go train. It should only take a bit to get it under control. We can go from there, one step at a time."
Tenzin nods from across the table "very well, Jinora, you teach Bumi the basics, i will teach Saren."
"thank you Master Tenzin, I've heard many good things about you as an air-bender." Saren says, surprising a few people at the table. Tenzin especially.
"You have?" Tenzin seems taken aback.
Saren just nods. Not elaborating further.
Tenzin clears his throat "well, it's good to hear someone actually voice respect for my being an air-bending master."
Saren seems surprised "is it so rare? That seems horribly disrespectful to you, and the decades you've put into mastering your art."
Tenzin nods sadly. "Yes, it seems so many have lost respect for the air nation these days… in any event, korra, since you seem so… invested in the topic, perhaps you should handle Asami's training." He says looking between us.
It's only then that I realize I'm still holding Asami's hand. I quickly let go, standing up straight as a board "RIGHT!" FUCK! CALM DOWN YOUR HORMONAL TEENAGE MESS! "e-erm… i mean.. r-right. Asami, if you wouldn't mind following me." I start leading her out to the courtyard. Or at least I'm hoping I am. I didn't really stop to check if she was following me. Ok, I hear footsteps. That's good. Calm down Korra, get your raging hormones under control.
"So… how are we gonna do this exactly." Asami asks.
"I was thinking hands-on training. You seem the type who would benefit from that teaching style." I say, relieved to have some form of distraction.
"... what exactly does 'hands-on' mean in this context…?"
Spirits, kill me now.
Authors notes:
So there we have it. I'm not sure I'm entirely satisfied with how Korra's inner monolog turned out, but I hope it's at least entertaining to read. Next chapter will be Asami and Korra having some bonding time. And maybe a bit of Saren's training with tenzin, but honestly I don't plan to write that. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I wanna focus more on the main characters. I did kinda spend the entire first chapter introducing saren and Naomi, so i wanna refocus on Korra and Asami.