"Can we stop in the South?" Asami looks over at Korra as her ponytail flips in the expeditious wind caused by the speeding satomobile. "Sure. Why?" She asks as her emerald eyes skim over Korra. She wears her navy blue parka, but this time she wears a blue bandana around her neck. "Just because. I'll tell you when we get there."
It's not as cold as Asami thought it would be, though she was prepared for the worst. Korra had mentioned to her it was, in fact, flipping cold in the South during the winter, so it would be best to spend the whole day shopping just to pick out the right clothes. At first, Asami thought it was ridiculous. But now she understands as she stands next to her car and watches Korra slide out of the satomobile with her navy parka. "This way." Korra motions Asami to follow, and Asami slides her arm around Korra's. "What is this place?" Asami asks when they begin walking in a trail of tree's that loom over them expectantly, glossed with white powder. "It's a cemetery." Is all Korra says as she keeps her gaze straight and her body remained confident. "You don't have to stay strong for me you know." Asami begins, and Korra smiles a soft smile and relaxes. "Sorry. I guess it's just habit." Yet, Asami grips Korra's hand in reassurance.
Asami watches as Korra leaves her side for a moment, grazing over the headstones until she settles at one just a few yards away from them. She glides over to her lover, her emerald eyes glistening in the falling snow as she scans the stone. 'Senna- A loving mother' is engraved on the stone, and Asami lets out a gasp that fills the air. "Korra." She says softly and hugs her from the side as Korra lets the tears cling to her cheeks. "If only she could see me. Seen how I've grown and saved the country. How I wish she knew how much I loved her and could've stopped what happened to her. I can't save everyone. I couldn't save her. I couldn't save my father. I've killed more than I've saved, Asami. I'm a murderer." Korra whispers, the snow slowly dropping around them. Soft howls could be heard around, and the trees didn't dare move in the cold breeze. Korra slides the bandana off her neck and sets it on the stone, watching it quickly be buried by the snow. "She gave this to me a while ago. She said I looked good in blue. But I thought she did too." Both of them stay silent for a long while. "She knew." Asami states confidently after a moment, "She knew you loved her. All mothers know. But you did what you had to do to save others." Now Asami tries to stay strong, but Korra quickly hugs her back. "Asami, we have each other. We love each other and that's all we need. Okay?" Both girls cry into each other for what seems like an eternity, before Asami pulls away reluctantly. "We've got to get going." She watches her breath fill the air around them, and Korra's blue eyes shining. "Alright. I love you, Asami Sato. With all my heart." Korra kisses her and the snow stops in the air. Asami doesn't have to say a thing; she lets her lips express themselves.
"I don't like this."
"What do you like?"
"Sleep. And you."
"I'm flattered."
"And I don't like this."
Asami sighs heavily. It's been two hours in a plane and already Korra is complaining. "Why don't you like this?" Korra huffs and folds her arms. "I don't get why we have to fly to the facility. Why do we have to go there and have 'specified training'?" She even uses her fingers as air quotes. Asami places a hand on her thigh. "We're flying because the United Nation's facility is located far away. There are specialists there who need to speak with us. I doubt they'll tell you how to fight or anything. We just need to get in shape again and know what we're doing." Asami gives her girlfriend's thigh a soft squeeze. Korra's expression turns solemn as she keeps silent.
Asami brushes a brown strand from Korra's azure eyes as she shifts in her seat. "I thought you'd be happy about this? You're saving countless lives again." Her emerald eyes sparkle with worry as Korra looks away. "I've killed the same amount as I've saved, Asami. One including my father. I don't…. I don't even know if I can hold a gun again. Let alone shoot it. I barely hold up in the squad." She looks away with a pained expression. Asami grasps her hand and looks to her sternly, "Then don't. Don't use a gun. You can use something else." Korra's eyes meet with green ones in consideration, then shakes her head. "It seems I can't find the good in things I suppose." She slides her arm up to cares Asami's cheek thoughtfully with the back of her hand, "I'm glad I have you. You keep me going." Korra says. Asami's eyes begin to water, and she kisses Korra quickly. "I love you so much. Don't ever think you're not courageous enough, because I've seen you go out right in the middle of battle. You don't need to be afraid; not when I'm here with you. Okay?" She whispers to her as tears start to stain her cheeks. Korra wipes them away, "Okay. I love you too."
It's cold; like a fan on the winter air and it's literally blowing right on Asami. "What the hell? It's so cold!" Asami swears she could see her breath slip through the air. She feels Korra wrap her arms around her, "It actually kind of is." Korra looks around in the room they're in: It's small and has an official 'office table' with chairs clattered around it and a few pictures of boats pinned to the wall. They arrived at the facility just a few minutes ago and were escorted here. Out of all places, an office room? And why was it so cold? Korra shakes her head. "What is it?" Asami asks, leaning into her heat source. Korra watches as Asami's voice travels in the air with the cold and then lets out a prolonged sigh of confusion. "Why a meeting room? I mean, we're going to be fight-"
"WELL TELL MEELO I SAID NO!" Korra's interrupted by a deep voice just beyond the office's room. Asami tilts her head, "I wonder who that is?" Korra chuckles, "I know who it is." Right then, a bald man with a tattoo of an arrow that slides over his head barges into the room, flinging the door shut behind him. "Kids these days! I swear, if I catch them playing around with those antique swords again-" "Tenzin?" The man whips around to see Korra and Asami sitting with each other at the office table. "Korra!" They both jump and Korra pulls him into a bone-crushing hug. "Tenzin! It's been so long!" She says in half-laughter, and Tenzin chuckles painfully, "Ah!- Y-Yes, I'm glad you're alright! If your mother would have found out I let you get hurt!-" Korra (much to Asami's surprise) smiles wide. "How are you? And the kids? It's so good to see you!"
For the next few minutes, the two reunited friends talked long and hard about their lives, along with a current events. "Oh! I almost forgot, Tenzin, this is Asami." Asami smiles as her name is mentioned, and Tenzin greets her respectfully. "My mother has told me a lot about you Ms. Sato. I'm happy for you both, congra-" Korra kicks Tenzin from under the table as Asami gives a puzzled look. "Thanks Tenzin! She's a great GIRL-FRIEND." Korra emphasizes 'girlfriend', to which Tenzin finally catches on. "Oh. Oh! Right, again, I'm happy for you both." Korra's face is bright red and Asami is still looking puzzled, but mutters a 'thank you'. "So how do you to know each other?" Asami asks after a pause, and Korra smiles wide. "Tenzin was my sword instructor when I was little. Taught me everything I know." She puts her hands up to mimic gripping a sword. "At first she was terrible." Tenzin starts and Korra flashes him a dirty look while Asami giggles. "It was her worst fighting style. She was good at hand to hand and amazing at her shooting skills. But when I started her with sword training, it all went downhill." He starts going on about how her stance was never relaxed, how her balance was completely off, and never flowed with the sword. Just when Korra is about to open her mouth so sputter a witty remark, the office door opens and another figure walks in, and Asami is sure she knows who this person is.
"Ah, if it isn't little miss Sato." The figure stands whilst folding its arms, and Asami smiles while Korra gives a confused look at her. "Hello Lin. I see you've moved on from the police force?" Korra has now jumped, clenched her jaw, and slid further down her seat in hopes of hiding herself. "Yes, I can't just settle for something lesser than the United Nations, after all." Lin Beifong stands tall with her green clothing that drapes around her affably, yet enough for it to look evenly demeaning with her stern face. Her gaze travels to Tenzin, who answer with a nod, and then settles on Korra's back head, where her face soon drops.
"Well well, look who we have here." Lin pulls at Korra's pony-tail and the water tribe girl yelps. "H-Hey! That hurts you know!" But she immediately blushes and rubs the back of her head. "Uh, hey Beifong. Long time no see." Lin scowls low and tosses Tenzin a stern look, "I don't think I'll be working with her. She not only was arrested three times and escaped all three, she took half the force with her little 'revolt'." Korra stands with sudden fierceness, and Asami pulls her down back into her seat. "What do you mean, working with her?" Asami changes the subject so fluidly no one notices, though she'll have to talk to Korra later about the accusation made by Lin. "We called you here because you need specified training. We have to know if you're ready or not to actually go into the field." Tenzin explains, his voice projecting in the room and a cloud follows from his breath. "What's the cold for?" Korra asks. "It's freezing in the field; I was sure you were used to it, but I had to make sure with Asami that she could handle it." Asami raises a brow, and Korra grasps her soft hand. "She'll have me, so we'll be fine." "That might not be the case." Both the girls scowl in unison. "What do you mean?" Tenzin sighs and rubs his two fingers against his temple, as if trying to relieve a head-ache. "Many of our soldiers were separated upon arrival. For the most bizarre reasons too." Lin pips up, and she flips some papers onto the table to change the fearful subject. "So far, you've past your first test with the cold. Next, we train you. Get your bodies back in shape, along with some added skills. Then we'll get you your gear and send you off. Sound good? Should take up to a few months."
Korra and Asami exchange looks, and you can see the gears clicking in their heads until Asami nods slowly. "Fine.-" "Wait." Korra stands and touches her lover's shoulder to stop her from standing. Her gaze is now one that Asami almost fears, and she speaks slowly. "What aren't you telling us?" Asami watches as Tenzin tenses, but Lin doesn't move. Korra, however, keeps pressing. "Why do we need special training for something like this? The cold? Being separated? There's something you aren't telling us. And unless we know soon, you aren't getting the help you need." The tan girl grips Asami's wrist and pulls her from the room just like that, without another word.
"Korra! Korra what the hell was that?" Asami calls to her and Korra keeps pulling her down the hall. "I don't like secrets, Asami. Especially from the friends." Korra begins to explain, but a shout from the end of the hall catches their attention. "What was that?" Korra asks, and both girls slow to a stop. "Help!" Now they run, jogging down the widened hall towards the distress call. Upon turning the corner, a man in red tries to avoid them, but Korra flips him right over her and keeps moving with Asami beside her giving a worried look. "Something's going on!" Korra shouts with annoyance as they skid around another corner.
The duo stop just in time to see a huge room, build largely around an arena, which Asami guesses is to use for practice. But practice has gone too far, as blood is splattered on the tan mats that the men stand on, and a figure lying helplessly on the ground. "Coward! You fight like a coward! Yelling for help!" Another man stands above the figure, kicking him hard in the side. Asami is about to grab for Korra, but she's already sprinting to the arena. She jumps on the ring, digging her heel into the attacker's leg, sending him kneeling to the ground. She uses her other leg and knee's him in the jaw, dropping him fully to the ground. Asami thinks it's done, but it isn't. Korra just keeps going; kicking and punching mercilessly as the man lays on the ground. "Korra!" Korra's blue eyes are filled to the brim with hatred, her breathing that of a bear. "Korra stop!" She keeps her body punching, feeling her muscles burn with hate and disgust. "KORRA!" Asami is now behind the tan girl and grabs her arms, flinging her back and putting her in a brace. Everyone's eyes are widened with surprise, some even with fear. The air has stilled, and no one talks as Korra's eyes never leave the 'once attacker now victim' that is now unconscious. She breaths heavily, until she blinks and comes to reality. She falls limp in Asami's arms, and tears spill fast. "I'm sorry. I- I didn't know what was happening. I-" Asami catches her as she almost falls, "Korra, it's okay. You need to rest. Come on, let's get out of here."
"She's not ready. She still has that serum in her. It's affecting her."
"Maybe she isn't; but she still is Korra. And she's smart. She'll find out eventually."
"Maybe. But for now, it's best for her to control it. And for her not to know. Not until she's ready."
Tenzin shakes his head, "Fine, Lin. I guess we'll do this your way."
Alrighty, Chapter 2! I hope you like it. Reviews are great, and so are you who do! I love you guys! :) Alright, ready for your questions?
1. Do you think Tenzin and Lin are hiding something big from Korra and Asami? Any idea's what?
2. Are you surprised at Korra's behavior? Or not really?
3. What do you think is going to happen when the girls actually get into the field mission?
Read on!
-PMI