Asami couldn't stand the waiting. She needed a project. She'd already worked on the glider, but didn't want to ask Korra to try it again. What if she gets hurt and then has to go out and fight? Instead she threw herself into making new armor for Korra, and Zaofu had one of the best forges in the world. The blacksmiths at Zaofu had techniques she had never heard of before. They were able to refine the metal into a much better quality, allowing for a lighter alloy, without losing protection. She forced herself to focus on the task before her, imagining every strike of the hammer as a blow against Zaheer and his group of assassins. She didn't want to think about what might be coming.

Korra had told her that she planned to give herself over to Zaheer in exchange for the others. On the surface it was a fair trade, four hostages for royalty. But every time she thought about it, her heart wrenched. She's given so much already, does she have to give her life? She struck the hammer again, sparks flying from the steel. If she has to fight, she's going to have the best. The best weapon, the best armor, the best chance at surviving.

"Asami?" Asami whirled around, brandishing the hammer like a weapon. Kai took a step back. "Whoa! Hey, I thought you heard me come in."

Asami sighed and set down the hammer. Her arm ached and she wondered how long she'd been at the forge. "I'm sorry Kai, did you need something?"

"You wanted Korra's measurements?" He held out a piece of paper. Asami was little disappointed. She had hoped Korra would deliver them herself.

"Yes, thank you." She took the paper and studied the numbers.

"Asami…she's not doing well." She almost missed Kai's words over the roar of the nearby fire.

She turned to meet his eyes. "Korra?"

He nodded. "All she has done is train. She's had Su throwing some kind of knife at her for the past hour." He hesitated. "Without armor on."

"Without…" Words failed her as anger took over. "Where?"

Kai pointed down the hall. "In the southern courtyard, behind the library."

Asami stormed out of the forge, not caring if anyone got in her way. What kind of idiot goes into a practice without armor on? She's going to get herself killed in training before she even fights Zaheer.

Korra panted hard and she wiped the sweat from her brow. "Again."

Suyin gave her a concerned look. "Korra, maybe you should take a break–"

Korra shook her head. "Again!"

Suyin sighed and drew her knives. She moved back to her position a short way from Korra. Suyin had explained that the type of weapon Zaheer used was mid to short range and wasn't as effective at a long distance. After watching Suyin demonstrate the throw, they worked together to help her learn to dodge.

Korra took a breath and stood with her arms at her sides. She knew if Zaheer were to attack her, she wouldn't have time to drop into a stance. She had to be able to move out of the way from a standing position. She waited, her eyes never leaving Su's.

A flicker of movement was her only warning. She twisted to her side letting the knife fly past her, keeping her profile to Suyin. Smaller target is harder to hit. Su threw again, this time a series of knives, one after the other. Bumi had once tried to show her how to move circularly, to avoid attacks. She hadn't seen much use for it at the time, but called upon the knowledge now. None of the knives were able to touch her. She dropped her arms and grinned. "Alright, this time try-"

"Korra!"

Korra winced, not from the volume, but the tone. "Asami, hey…" She turned to meet the fury heading her way. "I thought you'd be working in the forge, did you finish-"

"Just shut up!" she growled. "I did not break you out of a cellar to have Suyin throw knives at you without any kind of protection."

Korra held out her hands in surrender. "Asami, I'm just-"

"Trying to get yourself killed?" she interrupted.

Korra sighed. "I'm fine, we were-"

Asami jabbed her finger against Korra's chest. "What if you were injured? How are you going to fight him if you're injured?"

Korra gestured to the door nearby. "There are healers in the–"

"I don't want to hear your excuses!" Asami said.

"I have to be ready. I can't let him incapacitate me again," Korra explained. "Do you honestly think he's going to honor any negotiation that we make with him?"

"We could still find them, you might not have to negotiate."

Korra shook her head. "We're running out of time. Every day we get the same report: no one knows where they are. They've holed up somewhere, and they aren't coming out."

"You still should be using at least padded armor, something."

"I needed the mobility, and he won't want me in armor when we meet again."

"Maybe not visible armor, but I could make some chain mail that –"

"Asami…"

"Your Highness!" A messenger ran into the courtyard. He panted lightly before handing a piece of paper to Suyin. "They've contacted us for the exchange."

Suyin met Korra's eyes. "They want to meet at the mountain range on the border of our lands."

"Can you get your people in place?" Korra asked. The plan would not work if Suyin's stealth units were not able to make it to the meeting place.

Suyin frowned. "It'll be cutting it close."

"Korra," Asami grabbed her by the shoulders. "There's got to be another way."

Korra shrugged her shoulders. "I'm open to suggestions." She watched Asami's scowl deepen as she thought through the alternatives. She opened her mouth to say something, but instead turned and walked away.

Before she could give chase, Suyin spoke up. "Korra, there are still some details we need to go over."

Korra raised a hand to her neck, fingers touching the delicate chain there before traveling down to brush across the pendant. "There's something that I need to do first."

Asami ran her fingers over the carefully formed metal links. She did not trust her eyes anymore. They were already heavy with drowsiness. Her hands, though, they were always steady. She closed her eyes and allowed her fingertips to search the chainmail for any imperfections.

She found one and opened her eyes, grabbing her pliers and fixing the link quickly. The bump in the shirt was no more. Any weakness the warped metal might have caused would not harm Korra.

She drew in a shaky breath, setting the pliers aside once more. Her hands went back to work. She had gone over the chainmail more times than she would ever admit. They had taken the plate mail from her earlier, or she would still work on that. They had told her to get some rest, but her mind would not settle.

The creak of the door startled her but she did not look away from her work. "Asami?"

She glanced back to see Korra walking inside, her thin tunic hanging loosely off her shoulders. Asami turned back to the chainmail, but her hands suddenly trembled. She braced them on the table, not trusting herself to hold it anymore. "Is there something I can help you with?" she asked.

She heard footsteps approaching. She felt warmth as Korra drew closer. Still, she did not turn to face her. "I need to talk to you," Korra said.

A hand touched her shoulder. Asami inhaled sharply and caught the scent of sandalwood mixed with other unnamable things. Somehow, it blended together to form something that was uniquely Korra. "About?" she asked. Picking up the pliers, Asami forced herself to work the chainmail again.

"I know you're upset with my decision." The hand slid down to grip her forearm gently. "I would be, too, if our positions were reversed." Asami's hands shook too much. She would only ruin the armor if she tried to work on it right now. "But I wanted to tell you why I'm doing this. I want you to understand I'm doing it for their lives."

Finally, Asami turned around, bumping into the table as she backed into it. Barely inches separated them. "I know, Korra," she said, fighting to keep a warble out of her tone. "I know that you would have made another choice if you could." She allowed her gaze to meet Korra's deep blue stare. The soft crinkles in her face spoke to a deeper worry, something beyond confronting Zaheer. There was no fear there, just concern.

"Then there's something else I need you to know." Korra reached between them, taking one of Asami's trembling hands and folding it in her warm grasp. "I want to tell you now. I might not get another chance."

"What are you talking about?" Asami asked. She pulled her hand out of Korra's and cupped her cheek. "You'll be here with me tomorrow night just the same as tonight." Tears pressed for release. She swallowed them back, and yet her lower lip trembled with the effort.

"Asami." Korra closed her eyes for a moment before continuing. "I might die."

"You won't!" Asami turned and grabbed the chainmail. The tears finally crawled down her cheeks. "You won't. I made you chainmail. See? You can wear this under your shirt." She shoved a fistful of the metal ringlets toward Korra. "He won't get a chance to poison you. Nothing will get through." Korra stood there quietly. Asami felt a sob climb through her chest. It released in a broken sigh. "You know that, right? I would never let anything happen to you, not while you're in my armor."

Korra's hands were on her waist. "All the same." She pulled her close. Asami could only stare, first at Korra's lips, then her eyes. "You deserve to know." The warmth of Korra's breath feathered against her cheek as she leaned closer.

The chainmail fell to the floor, her hands wrapped around Korra pulling her into the embrace. The feel of Korra's lips was soft and passionate. Korra's hand slid up to tangle in Asami's hair and she faltered, leaning back against the table for support. Korra moved with her, keeping their bodies firmly pressed together as she deepened the kiss.

Asami gasped as she felt Korra gently bite at her lower lip. Korra's tongue pressed against her mouth, making her legs tremble. Part of her desperately wanted to lose herself in the moment. She almost did, but then Korra broke away.

"Asami I-"

"Don't," Asami interrupted. "Don't say it, not like this. Not because you might never get to." She cupped Korra's face and took a moment, wanting to memorize every detail. "You're going to come back to me. When you do, then you can tell me. You can do some stupidly complicated romantic gesture if you want, but only after you return. So...so you have a reason to come back." She gripped the front of Korra's tunic as if she could stop her from having to leave.

"Okay." Korra pulled Asami into her arms again, resting her face against the crook of her neck, like she'd done at the ball. She never wanted to move from that position.

"Korra?"

Korra pulled away and met her gaze. "Yes?"

"Kiss me again?"

"Of course," Korra murmured. She captured Asami's mouth in a sweet kiss, and she clung to Korra tightly, wishing that the moment would never end.