Republic City had changed so much since Korra had arrived over four years ago, fresh off the boat and bright-eyed at all the strange and amazing sights that greeted her. Back then, she had no idea of the life that waited for her. The friends she'd make, the horrors she would face.

Wind whipped her short hair around her face. Korra leaned back in her seat and breathed in, the smell of nature all around despite the fact that they were in the middle of a bustling city. She looked to her left, smiling as her eyes met Asami's.

Asami was at the wheel of her satomobile, driving them through the now winding streets of Republic City, around the vines that people had grown to accept as part of their unique metropolis. Korra reached to brush her fingers through Asami's hair, tangling in the smooth locks.

"Do you want us to crash?" Asami teased. "I'm trying to drive here."

"If I wanted us to crash, I would have offered to drive."

They both laughed.

It had been a month since the new spirit portal had opened in Republic City. A month into the long, painful process of rebuilding everything Kuvira had destroyed. Korra and Asami had been hard at work, helping to pick up the pieces and get people back on track. So many had lost their homes, lost their livelihood in the attack. Even with all the work they had done, there was still so much to do. Korra almost felt guilty. It had been selfish of her to take a vacation in the middle of all that unimaginable loss.

As if sensing Korra's turn of thought, Asami reached for her, her fingers twining through Korra's hair.

But then...the spirit world had been just what Korra needed. Just what Asami needed. Korra felt a thrill as she thought of it. She had barely dared to share her feelings even before, when she had asked Asami to go with her. The spirit world had changed that. Everything was more clear there.

Korra reached to catch Asami's hand and she held on. "I'm glad you're here."

Asami smiled. "Someone has to drive."

Korra laughed. "No, I mean...I'm glad you're here. With me."

Asami met her eyes. "I know. Me too."

Her voice was soft, full of a gentle caring that touched Korra in a way she didn't know was possible. An angry shout startled them both out of the moment, and Asami swerved.

"Sorry!" Asami shouted, waving sheepishly at another driver as they sped past.

"Maybe I should drive," Korra commented, trying and failing to hide a grin.

"Oh, no. That was definitely your fault," Asami teased back. There was a grin on her face as she eased into the throttle and they sped down the street. The wind whipped their hair as they practically flew down the nearly abandoned road.

The drive had actually been Korra's idea. The pair had been buried in the rebuilding effort, each bringing their own strengths to the city's aid. That morning, Korra had walked in on Asami in her office and found her asleep in her seat, her head slumped on the desk and engineering designs scattered across the normally pristine room.

At first, Korra hadn't wanted to wake her. She looked so peaceful, so...beautiful, honestly. She had always been a little jealous of how Asami could effortlessly put herself together. The outfit, the makeup, the hair. Sure, at first she had thought Asami was just a pretty face, flirty and insincere. But even then, when she'd had feelings for Mako and thought Asami was just getting in the way, Asami still found a way into her heart. Despite how complicated things got, they somehow managed to become friends. They had been through so much together.

"Korra!"

Korra blinked, noticing now that they had stopped. Asami looked at her, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

Asami looked unconvinced. "You said you thought I needed time off, but I'm pretty sure we could both use a break."

Korra smiled. "You're right about that." She looked around them, taking in the site of what had once been a groomed and well-kept park, but was now tangled with spirit vines. Most people would have been quick to complain about the change, but Korra thought it was beautiful. Spirits floated amongst the towering trees, weaving between the branches and the vines.

"Oh, Asami. This is perfect."

Asami winked at her. "I know. Come on." She didn't bother opening the door, but jumped out of the satomobile, landing lightly on her feet. She stretched out a hand and smiled. "Walk with me?"

Without hesitation, Korra climbed out and took Asami's hand, fingers automatically twining together. It just felt right. No pressure, no expectations.

They walked together through the park, pausing occasionally as a spirit came up to talk to Korra.

"Since we can't go back to the spirit world with everything that's going on, I thought this would be close."

Korra squeezed Asami's hand. "I haven't felt this at peace since we got back." She bumped Asami's shoulder with her own. "This was my idea, you know. I'm obviously not as good at planning a romantic date as you are. I just thought you'd love a nice drive."

Asami pulled Korra closer, her free hand sliding up Korra's arm to rest on her shoulder. "You were right. And I thought you'd enjoy being close to the spirits."

Korra didn't answer. Asami was too close now. Korra leaned in without thought or conscious effort, brushing Asami's lips with her own. They had kissed before, but somehow it still surprised her when Asami pressed against her, deepening the light touch into something more. They parted, neither speaking, resting against each other with their foreheads touching. As if by a common thought, they began walking again, slowly making their way around the park, fingers still intertwined.

They stayed there until Korra's stomach started to growl. At first she ignored it until she noticed Asami's look.

"What?" Korra asked, feeling her face flush.

"Well, either there's a platypus bear in this park or one of us is hungry."

Korra's face grew even warmer. "I, um. Well, maybe I am a little bit hungry."

Asami laughed. "It's okay, me too. You want to go get something?"

"Lead the way," Korra said with a grin.

Their trek back to the satomobile took less time than Korra expected. She hadn't realized they'd already made a nearly complete loop around the park. Time just slipped away when she was with Asami. They each climbed back in the car and Asami turned it around, taking them back towards the heart of the city.

Most of the buildings on this side were in various states of ruin. Some had a gaping hole through the side, revealing the rooms inside, while others were untouched. They drove past several heaps of rubble that had once been businesses or apartments. A few people wandered the streets, some families that had returned, hoping to salvage some shred of their lives.

Despite the bliss of their morning together, Korra felt her heart sinking again as the sight of them drove home the cold reality of what Kuvira had done. For a second, Korra felt the old doubt slipping in on her. She was the Avatar. She'd had her chance to stop Kuvira at Zaofu, but she wasn't ready then. She'd fought so hard to accept what had happened to her during her fight with Zaheer and everything in the three years after that, but healing was not something that could just happen overnight.

Korra felt the gentle pressure of fingers on her skin. Asami slid her hand down Korra's arm, then gripped her hand, almost as if she had been reading Korra's mind. "You did everything you could. And more, Korra. You didn't just stop her, you saved her. Don't forget that."

Korra squeezed Asami's fingers. She didn't answer, they just drove in silence. It wasn't that she didn't believe Asami, more that she didn't know how to respond. Asami trusted her. Ever since her arrival in Republic City, both her actions and motives had been questioned and people had doubted her. Back then, she'd seen it as a challenge, even though it had hurt. Now she still felt vulnerable, and she hated that feeling. Even though, as Asami had said, that was exactly what had enabled her to talk Kuvira down in the end.

"Thank you, Asami. For everything. I don't think I'd be here if it wasn't for you."

"You forget how strong you are, Korra. And I don't mean the bending and your Avatar spirit. I mean you. Give yourself some credit."

A rush of affection flooded Korra, and to her surprise she felt the sting of tears in her eyes. "I've had a lot of people who've believed in me. My parents, Tenzin, Mako and Bolin, even Beifong. But somehow...somehow when you say it I just… I don't know, I guess I believe it more."

Asami smiled at her, and Korra was surprised to see a slow blush creeping up her face, almost as if she were caught off guard by what Korra had said.

A sudden explosion drowned out the sound of the satomobile and dust billowed across the street in front of them, coming from somewhere off to the right. Korra instantly recognized the sound. It wasn't the sound of an explosion like the ones Varrick had designed. It was bending, the sound of earth crashing and breaking.

Asami slammed on the brakes and the car came to a neat stop, spinning to face towards the explosion.

"Now what," Korra said, even as she was already leaping out of the satomobile. Behind her, Asami retrieved her electrical glove and jumped out to join Korra.

"Let's find out."

Korra nodded and they set out at a run, towards the billowing cloud of dust.

There were a few faint shouts and screams. No doubt more of the evacuees that had returned, hoping to find their homes livable. Instead they had found more of the same violence they had fled.

Korra didn't stop to think what might have caused the explosion. In the aftermath of Kuvira's attack, there had been plenty of criminals trying to take advantage of the chaos. She didn't think much of their type, petty lowlifes who had no problem taking from those who had nothing left. Not so long ago, she might have felt some excitement, or more accurately satisfaction, from the idea of facing down such people. Now she only felt a hollow ache.

Korra and Asami came around the corner. Korra moved swiftly, bending the air to clear the cloud of debris so they could see what was happening. A group of evacuees huddled together, clutching several children at the heart of their group, trying desperately to shelter them. There were five attackers, a mix of earth and firebenders by the look of them.

Korra stepped ahead of Asami. "Hey! Leave them alone!"

The thugs turned swiftly towards the pair. They might have belonged to one of the street gangs, but Korra wasn't sure. Mako would have known.

There was little hesitation in their response, even though they must know she was the Avatar.

Korra and Asami flew into action, both splitting off to handle their own targets. They worked together effortlessly. Korra blocked a fireblast from one, spiraling the flame harmlessly away from herself before stamping one foot down, the ground rocking beneath the man. He stumbled, and then the earth sprouted around his feet, up to his neck, locking him in place. Two others came at her, earth and fire flying her way. Korra threw up a quick earth shield, sliding to the left even as their attacks impacted her shield. She slipped around the earthen wall and threw a blast of air. The firebender caught her attack square in the chest, flipping twice before he landed in a cloud of dust. She caught sight of the earthbender fleeing into a nearby building. In a quick motion, she had buried the firebender the same way she had her first attacker.

Korra spared a quick glance at Asami and saw she had her two benders under control. "I'm going after him!"

She dashed into the building, pausing to allow her eyes to adjust to the lighting. The lights inside were on, flickering a bit as the power fluctuated, still not back to normal after the battle.

Korra didn't see the earthbender anywhere. She pulled on her firebending and held the flame in her outstretched fist, wary of any surprise attack as she started her search.

Korra both heard and sensed the low rumble as it began. She dashed around a corner and saw the earthbender. His arms were raised, and as he met her eyes, he jerked them downwards. Korra flung a fireball at him, but it was too late. The building was crumbling around them. She flung her arms up to catch the floor above her as it collapsed, but something struck her head. Light flashed in her vision and she crumpled.