Asami finished tying the two thugs together. Their heads sagged, both unconscious from the shock of her glove. She didn't spare them a glance once she had finished tying them. The evacuees were huddled close together, looking fearfully now at Asami.
"It's okay," Asami assured. "I'm with the Avatar, you're safe now."
As if on cue to her words, the ground shook again. Stone creaked and snapped and the ground beneath Asami's feet bucked. She steadied herself and spun around.
Asami could only watch in horror as the building collapsed. Slowly at first, the top floors leaning precariously as the battle inside destroyed critical supports. Then it all happened at once. The middle of the building crumbled in on itself and stone and timber crashed to the ground. Dust and debris filled the air, rushing out from the structure.
She heard more carnage as the building landed atop the neighboring house. She couldn't see through the dense cloud that filled the street. She couldn't breathe. It wasn't the dust in the air, though that alone would have been enough to choke her. She had stopped breathing the moment the building had begun to topple.
Asami was moving without conscious thought. Slow, jerky movements. One foot in front of the other, until she was running blindly towards the site of the destruction.
What was she going to find? Had Korra been able to bend herself to safety? Images flashed to her mind unbidden, unwanted. Korra's body, crushed beneath the unforgiving stone.
In the swirling dust, she didn't see the low, crumbling wall, until she ran right into it. It caught her in the shin and only her quick reflexes saved her from a complete tumble to the ground. She caught herself on her hands and got swiftly back to her feet and stumbled on.
Never before had she so wished she had some bending. She could bend a gust of air so she could see, so she could find Korra. Or even better, she could have caught the building and stopped this all from happening. Asami had always relied on her wits and skill and expert knowledge in engineering. All that had done for her was allow her to know exactly what was going to happen while being powerless to stop it.
She came to the edge of what had been the foundation. The bulk of the building had collapsed to her right, but it had crumpled the stone at the base into a crude mass of stone, wood, and glass.
Asami picked around the walls until she found a blown out section with a promising dark cavern leading out of her limited vision. Squinting inside, she spared a glance at the rest of the structure. Logically, crawling into a newly collapsed building was beyond stupid. As the rubble settled, it was bound to shift and cause new collapses that could fill any remaining spaces.
So it was with full knowledge that she ducked into the crack in the wall and ventured into the darkness.
Where it had been difficult to see outside in the cloud of dust, it was impossible here. Brief flashes of light blinded her as the various light fixtures and electrical devices shorted, still powered. Asami would have to be careful. There could be exposed wiring blocking her path.
Shielding her eyes from the blinding flashes, Asami fumbled for the flashlight at her belt. She coughed as she thumbed the on switch. A swath of dim yellow light cut through the dark. Asami covered her mouth and nose with her arm.
"Korra! Korra! Can you hear me?"
The only response was a dull clatter as something shifted and more of the structure crumbled.
Asami picked her way carefully through the wreckage. She had to wind her way through what used to be rooms, climbing over stone that blocked her way.
"Korra! KORRA! Please...please…"
Her heart stuttered as she saw a darkened patch of wall, still mostly intact. Scorch marks marred the surface and a portion of the doorframe still smoldered. Firebending. She was here.
Asami didn't know how long she had been searching. Scattered thoughts bounced around in her brain, her mind too overwhelmed to just think. She shone the light around what used to be a long hallway, looking for any sign.
When she saw it, she let out a small choked sound. A hand stuck out from the rubble. In her state, it took a moment to process that it was a large hand, pale-skinned, with two golden rings that glinted dully in the light of her flashlight.
It's not her. It's not...not her.
Asami felt along the collapsed wall, searching for any way through. She reached the end of the hall and it really was the end. Stone blocked her path forward. Strangling a cry, she turned and worked her way back, past the motionless hand.
It must be the Earthbender Korra had been fighting. If he was here, then Korra had to be close.
Asami found a way through, though the engineering part of her told her that the narrow gap was definitely not structurally sound. Ignoring that voice in her head, she squeezed through as gracefully as she could manage, trying not to disturb the leaning walls that held the space open.
She should have gone for help. Bolin and Mako were in the city. Bolin's earthbending would make easy work of the search. But did Korra have that long? If she was...no. I can't think about that.
"KORRA!"
Asami stood, holding her breath, waiting desperately for a response she was so afraid would never come. Then she heard it.
"...'Sami…"
The voice was so soft, Asami barely heard her over the creaks and groans of the slowly shifting stone around her.
Through her desperation, some reason took over and Asami worked her way forward, slower now as she shone her light around the room. The light flickered over a blue spot, stopped, and then flashed back. Korra's blue clothes stood out in the light against the dark stone around her.
"Korra," Asami gasped. Forgetting all caution, she surged forward, scrabbling over the debris in her way.
Korra was streaked in blood mixed with dirt, caking her face. But her eyes were bright, shining brilliant blue in the light. Asami knelt beside her, wanting nothing more than to pick her up right there and hold her close. Reason held her back. If Korra wasn't trying to bend her way out, then something was horribly wrong.
Asami flashed her light over Korra, checking to see how bad her injuries were.
"No...you're…'Sami…"
"Shh," Asami whispered, completely focused on getting Korra out of there. "You're going to be okay."
The Avatar grabbed at Asami's arm, her fingers slipping weakly on Asami's wrist. "Not safe."
Asami didn't answer. She'd found the problem. A slender piece of wood jutted out of Korra's side and looked like it pinned her to the floor. Rubble was strewn across her legs, but from what Asami could see it looked like Korra's legs were trapped, but not crushed.
"Is he…?"
"What?" Asami barely registered the question. She reached to touch Korra, brushing her face with gentle, trembling fingers. "I have to get you out of here."
"I tried to save him. He was...he...brought it down. Right on top of us. I...stupid. Should have seen…"
Asami leaned in now, tears spilling over her cheeks. "This is not your fault. You did everything you could. I need you to focus. Look at me, Korra."
Korra's eyes were unfocused. She blinked slowly, obviously fighting to clear her head and do what Asami asked. "Asami?"
"I'm here. Korra, I'm here."
Comprehension flickered in Korra's eyes, and for a moment the fierce determination Asami knew so well shone through. As quickly as it came, it flickered and Korra mumbled more incomprehensible nonsense.
Asami leaned in close, bringing her light up to inspect the mat of blood on Korra's face. She clearly had a head wound, but with the mess of mixed blood and dust, she couldn't find it.
Laying her flashlight aside, Asami took Korra's face in her hands to ground her. "Korra. You have to focus. I'm not losing you now. Stay with me, okay?"
Korra clung to Asami's voice. Her breathing rasped and caught, but she seemed more calm, focused. One of Korra's hands flicked out, and the motion ripped a gasp of pain from her. At the same time, a low rumble filled Asami's ears and stone rose out of the floor, four pillars slowly sliding into place to support the rubble above them.
"Korra," Asami gasped. "You need-"
"It's not safe. You know that...better than…" Korra trailed off, losing focus again.
The short burst of earthbending had exhausted Korra. Knowing they were losing precious time, Asami grabbed her flashlight and stood, hunched over under the low ceiling above her. She needed something to lever the stone over Korra's legs. That was something she could handle.
Asami found what she needed in the tangled wreckage of a doorframe. She tore the strip of decorative wood from what was left of the doorway and inspected it. It was thick enough to support a load at the right angle. One problem down. The next could be helped with some critical waterbending, but Asami wasn't sure Korra could handle that. If there was even water nearby that the Avatar could pull from.
Asami knew she could free Korra's legs. But if she tried to carry Korra out of there, she would have to deal with the shard of wood through Korra's side. Simply pulling her free could open the wound even worse and Korra would bleed to death before they made it to a waterbender who could knit the wound closed.
When Asami returned to Korra's side, the Avatar's eyes were closed, her lips parted, but no sign of breathing. Asami dropped the strip of door trim and her light. The flashlight clattered, shining a beam upwards.
"Korra! Korra, please. Wake up."
Trembling fingers felt for a pulse at Korra's throat. Asami gasped with relief when she felt a faint flutter under her fingertips. She had to wake Korra up. Asami was no healer, but she knew that sleep was a danger now. She bent close, stroking Korra's face. She wasn't even sure what she was saying, nor did she hear the panic in her own voice.
Damn it! You didn't survive Zaheer to die to some lowlife thug. "WAKE UP!"
Korra's eyes flickered, bleary and still unfocused. Asami kissed her, her lips gentle and wet with her own tears.
"You scared me."
"Sorry. Just so tired."
"I know. We're almost there, okay? I need you to stay awake. I think you have a concussion." One hand still on Korra's cheek, Asami fumbled for her forgotten flashlight. She shone the light on Korra's stomach, then shifted to inspect the wound closer. It wasn't as bad as it had looked at first glance. The wood was streaked with blood, but it was small, about the width of Asami's thumb.
"I'm sorry, Korra. This might hurt," Asami warned. She slid her hand under Korra's ribs, moving down her side to feel for the other end of the wooden shard. She had to know if it had her pinned to the floor as she had first thought.
Korra groaned, but didn't fight Asami's search.
Tear's stung Asami's eyes. "I'm so sorry. I'm done." She pulled her hand free. "I don't think you're pinned, but I'm worried about moving you. I can free your legs, but I-"
"Do it. I'm...fine. I'm fine."
Leave it to Korra to say she was fine.
"Your definition of fine is a little different than mine," Asami said, a soft laugh slipping out with the concern in her voice.
Korra smiled. "You're beautiful."
"And you're delirious. I don't want to hurt you, but we don't have much choice. If I don't move you, we're going to die when this thing decides to fall on us."
Korra's gaze sharpened now, but she didn't force any of her bravado. Asami knew Korra's first choice would be for Asami to leave her and save herself, but they both knew that wasn't going to happen. Her eyes held Asami's. "Do it."
Asami nodded. She took Korra's hand and squeezed, her thumb stroking gently. She picked up the doorframe and stood. Propping the end of the wood trim inside the gap of stone she slowly, carefully lifted. Korra braced herself on her elbows, straining. As Asami cleared enough space, Korra pushed herself back and her legs slipped free. She collapsed, panting in short, ragged breaths.
Asami left her flashlight on, but clipped it back in place on her belt. "Okay, let's get you out of here."
She crouched by Korra, sliding one arm under the woman's shoulders while pulling Korra's left arm over her own. Slowly she stood, pulling Korra up with her. Korra's boots scraped at the floor as she tried to support her own weight.
Unbalanced on the shifting rubble, Asami lost her footing and the pair nearly tumbled into the wall. Korra pushed back against Asami's weight, holding them both steady long enough for Asami to get her feet situated.
Korra gasped and choked, succumbing to a fit of coughs from the effort.
"Spirits, Korra. I'm sorry."
Unable to speak through the wracking coughs, Korra just clutched at Asami's shirt with her free arm. As the coughing fit subsided, she loosened her grip but didn't let go, her fingers tangled in Asami's shirt.
Asami swallowed hard. "Korra…"
"I'm okay," Korra assured her. Her fingers slipped free and she shifted her weight, still supported by Asami. Her knees bent slightly, feet spread. Asami recognized the stance. Strong, unmoving. Korra's arm moved, arm straight first, then sweeping up in front of her. The building rumbled again as the earth shifted. It was a slow, careful bending. Asami knew it took focus. She cast a worried glance at Korra and was met with the white, glowing eyes of the Avatar. Wounded as she was, what might have been a simple application of earthbending on any other day was a struggle.
The earth shifted, moving aside the rubble ahead of them even as pillars rose to support the floor above. A sliver of light broke through the darkness, widening as Korra cleared a path. Asami was moving as soon as she saw the light. Korra's feet moved at first, helping Asami, but then Korra went slack as her eyes returned to brilliant blue. Her head sagged and Asami shifted her grip on her girlfriend, now backing out of the building and pulling Korra along.
Her heart pounded. "We're almost there, Korra!"
In a cloud of dust, Asami pulled Korra out into the clear. She lowered her to the ground and rushed to her side. Korra's eyes flickered open, then shut again.
"I'm awake," Korra mumbled. "Don't...worry."
"I'm going to call Tenzin," Asami promised. "We'll get Kya here to heal you. Just hold on."
Asami's heart tore when she stood, leaving Korra in the dirt. She had to get help, fast.
Asami raced towards the sound of voices, finding a small crowd there, voices raised and mingling as everyone discussed the building collapse. She rushed a young man and grabbed him by the shirt. She could tell by the sudden terror in his eyes that she had frightened him, but she didn't let go. "I need a phone. Now."