Disclaimer and description in ch 1.
"What just happened?" Asami asked, made uneasy by Korra's dumbfounded expression.
"You firebended." Korra said, continuing to drive.
"I...firebended? But that's impossible. I'm not a bender." Asami said.
"I saw the fire come out of your hands. The root recoiled and that's why we didn't crash. You firebended, Asami." Korra explained, glancing at her friend.
"But...how?" Asami said, looking at her now shaking hands. Just then, her shower experience came back to mind and everything started to make since.
"My mood swings have been off the charts and I just thought it was because of my feelings of uselessness. I haven't been getting cold like I usually do. But I've also felt more alive than I ever have, even when I'm tired. Spirits! I'm...I'm a firebender." She said more to herself than to Korra.
"What does this mean?"Asami turned to Korra, looking like a scared kitten and needing some comfort.
"Asami, listen to me. It's gonna be okay. We helped a bunch of new airbenders, we're gonna help you too, okay?" Korra said in a soft, loving voice, as not to scare her. Asami just nodded. Korra decided she'd said enough and focussed on the road again.
The rest of the ride back to Asami's place was silent and, to Asami's gratitude, uneventful. Korra could only imagine what was going through Asami's head, so she left her to her thoughts. Every now and then she'd glance over at Asami just to see a vacant expression plastered on her face.
Korra sighed heavy-heartedly as she pulled up to the Sato estate's front gate. She put in the passcode and drove up the long road to the mansion. She pulled up and parked in front of it. Korra turned off the car and gave Asami her keys.
Asami took them as she opened her car door and went inside the mansion, Korra right behind her. She put her keys on the holder and just stood there.
Korra closed the door and set her glider by it. She walked around to stand in front of Asami, to look her in the eyes, but Asami's gaze was focussed on her hands once again.
"I really firebended?" Asami said finally looking up at Korra.
"Yes, you did." Korra said.
"I have thought of what it would be like to be a bender but I accepted the fact that I'd never ever be able to. And now...now, I'm a firebender." Asami said.
Fast paced footsteps could be heard coming from down the hall, approaching them. Bolin rounded the corner, with his hand cocked back and Pabu on his shoulder.
"Hey! Think fast!" Bolin said as he threw his ball.
Korra readied her hands to catch the ball as she moved to put herself between it and Asami, but it burst into flames before reaching her.
Korra instantly used airbending to wrap around the ball to suffocate and extinguish the fire, while also effectively catching the ball.
"Heh. How's that?" She said with a half smile, throwing the ball back to him.
"Well. That's certainly a new reaction. I like it!" Bolin said with his signature grin.
"Bolin cringed expecting Adami to berate him for throwing a ball in the house. When she didn't, he looked between his two friends, finally noticing the odd atmosphere.
"Sorry about that. Well uhh...we'll just go. Come on Pabu! Let's go play with cousin Tu!" Bolin said. Pabu screeched in response and the pair took off.
Korra turned back to Asami and saw the shocked look on her face.
"I did that, didn't I? Set the ball on fire." Asami asked, even though she knew the answer.
"Yeah." Korra said anyway.
"I didn't mean to. I didn't even think. I put my hand up and it just caught on fire." Asami explained, staring at her hand.
"That's because you don't have control of your fire yet. But don't worry, Asami. You're a natural. With training and instruction, you'll be a better firebender than even Mako." Korra said smiling.
A small smile tugged at Asami's lips as she looked into Korra's eyes again, but it disappeared as Korra's words sunk in.
"I have to train. Who's going to train me? Will I have to go to the Fire Nation? I don't want to. I don't want to leave my home, my friends, my family, you." Asami said, fear evident in her voice.
"Asami, if you went to train in the Fire Nation, there's no way I wouldn't go with you. But you don't need to stress yourself out because you don't have to go anywhere. I'm going to train you." Korra said, reassuringly. Asami smiled a big, genuine smile and hugged her friend briefly.
"But you're so busy, I can't ask you to do that for me." Asami started to refuse.
"You aren't asking. I'm offering. Besides, I've always wanted to have a student. I've been a firebending master since I was twelve." Korra responded.
"Thank you, Korra." Asami said, relieved.
"No need to thank me. I'm your friend, I'm here for you. Always." Korra said.
Asami moved over to the couch and curled up on it. She sighed, closing her eyes and settling into it.
"You really think I could be better than Mako?" Asami asked, sleepily. Korra sat next to her.
"You already are better than Mako. In every way." Korra replied, but Asami had already started softly snoring. Korra carefully picked up Asami and carried her to her room where she laid her down. She started to move away but Asami wrapped her arms around her, effectively pulling Korra into bed with her, and snuggled into her chest.
Korra watched her love interest as she slept, wanting more than anything to kiss those perfect lips. Instead, she decided it was time for her to leave. She carefully untangled herself from Asami, and was rewarded with a tiny whimper.
Korra started to leave but stopped in her tracks when she heard her name.
"Korra." Asami whimpered. Korra moved back to her side.
"I'm here." Korra said taking her hand. Asami pulled Korra's hand close to her face, needing to feel her close, and let out a sigh of relief as her senses were filled with Korra's scent and warmth.
"I'm not going anywhere, Asami. As long as you want me, I'll stay by your side." Korra confessed. She gently took her arm back long enough to change into her pajamas.
After changing, she slipped into the bed next to Asami and felt the taller woman's body relax at her touch.
As she held Asami, she thought about her life there in Republic City. Everything that she'd gone through, she'd lived through. She was stronger because of it. She thought about her friends and how they helped her with everything.
"They've been there for me since I got here. Especially Asami." She let her mind wander, Asami being the center of her thoughts. They were best friends. Everyone knew that. But what they didn't know, was that Korra was in love with her best friend. Madly, irrefutably, and unconditionally in love. She couldn't think of anything she wouldn't have done for Asami.
"Asami...Will I ever be able to tell you? If I did have the nerve to tell you, what would you say? How would you react? If you didn't feel the same way, could we remain friends?" Korra wondered.
Those same thoughts plagued her mind everyday. There wasn't any doubt that Korra wanted to tell her how she felt, but she wasn't sure how it would impact their friendship and she just couldn't risk it. She decided a long time ago that if Asami was happy being friends, then that's how things would stay.
She pushed the thoughts from her mind and tried relaxing, focusing on the sound and rhythm of Asami's inhales and exhales. Before she knew it, she was dreaming.
Korra stood next to Asami showing her a particular firebending stance.
"Like this?" Asami asked, attempting to mimic the stance.
"Almost." Korra replied. She knelt down in front of her friend to fix her footing before standing and moving behind Asami.
She put her left arm under Asami's left and her right arm under Asami's right, pressing her body against Asami absentmindedly.
Asami bit her lip at the sensations caused by that innocent act.
"Right there." Korra's voice came in a soft tone from right next to her ear
Asami felt the heat rising up in her body.
Suddenly a burst of fire flew from her hand and hit the target that sat 20 feet away.
"I did it!" Asami exclaimed.
Surprised and not thinking about how close Korra was she turned around to face her, brushing their lips.
Instinctively, they both leaned in to the soft kiss. It was quick, but full of built up emotions. They let out twin groans at the electrical contact.
As they pulled away they locked eyes.
Korra continued to hold Asami but only loosely, just in case she wanted to pull completely away even though by the look in her eyes that was the opposite of what she wanted.
"I've been in love with you since we met." Korra said breaking the silence.
"Korra, I've always loved you." Asami said. She leaned in to kiss Korra again, wrapping her arms around her waist. Korra wrapped her arms around Asami's neck.
Korra was awakened by a soft hand stroking her cheek. She opened her eyes to see Asami watching her.
"I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sorry. It's just that you had this frustrated look on your face." Asami said, removing her hand.
Korra blinked and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before looking to Asami again. Her beauty was enhanced by the sunlight that framed her as it shone in through the window.
"It's probably time for me to get up anyway." Korra said in her slightly raspy morning voice.
"No, it's Saturday. You should be able to sleep in and get some much needed rest." Asami said.
"Oh and look who's talking," Korra chuckled.
"What are you talking about?" Asami asked, with slightly furrowed brows.
"You're telling me that I need to rest. You need it more than anyone. Miss What-Is-Sleep-Sato." Korra teased.
"I do sleep. Just not as much as other people, perhaps. But I sleep enough." Asami defended.
"Well, as much as I'd love to continue sleeping, I can't. We should start your training as soon as possible." Korra said, sitting up and removing her arms from around Asami.
"You're right... But do you mind if we eat first?" Asami said, feeling a little apprehensive.
"You're gonna need the carbs and protein so that sounds like a good idea." Korra agreed.
Asami looked away for a moment, worrying her lip. Korra's eyes dropped to get lips.
"If only wishes came true." Korra said out loud without realizing. Asami's eyes shot back to Korra. Korra looked away this time.
"What do you mean?" Asami asked.
"Oh nothing. Just thinking out loud. So what do you want to eat?" Korra responded trying to change the subject.
Asami decided to let it go.
"I don't know. I want something that will give me the energy I need without filling me too much." Asami answered. They thought for a moment.
"How about I make you a Senna Surprise?" Korra offered.
"A what?" Asami asked, looking a little hesitant. Korra laughed.
"It's a sandwich that my mom used to make me when I would train. It's packed full of protein and it won't make you too full." Korra explained.
"I'll try anything once." Asami responded. They got out of bed and went to the kitchen. Korra immediately got started on making her mom's special recipe.
"I wish I could wake up to you every morning." Asami thought as she sat quietly, watching Korra move about.
Korra hummed while she spread spicy mustard over the slices of bread. She was so focused that she didn't notice when Asami got up to make them some tea.
"Mako told me that he found a place for him and Bolin," Asami broke the silence. Korra turned to her.
"I'm sure it'll be nice to have your house to yourself again." Korra said. She noticed the sad expression that flashed across Asami's face.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Korra asked, pausing her hands.
Asami just shook her head as she continued what she was doing. Korra let it go and looked out of the window at the clouds that were slowly rolling in.
"A storm is brewing, I wonder who the lightning will strike?" Korra wondered aloud.
"Are we going to train in the rain?" Asami asked following Korra's eyes.
"No. When the rain starts, we'll call it a day." Korra answered.
"Firebending in the rain is a more advanced level of training." She went on to explain.
She finished making and plating the sandwiches and handed a plate too Asami who thanked her and went to sit down at the island.
They ate quickly and made their way to Asami's giant backyard.
"I'm going to show you the motions, you follow along." Korra said, already in instructor mode. Asami nodded.
Korra started by showing Asami the basic moves of the ancient form. Korra had learned this form and the traditional form not long after she was discovered by the White Lotus.
Korra glanced at Asami from time to time, checking her form. It was nearly perfect. Much better than Korra was when she first started learning.
Before they knew it an hour had passed.
"Would you like to take a break?" Korra asked.
"No. I feel like I've almost got it and if I stop now, it'll slip away." Asami answered.
"Suit yourself. I'm going to get us some water." Korra said, moving to go inside.
She walked through the back mudroom to the kitchen and grabbed two bottles out of the fridge before walking back outside. She hears the thunder starting in the sky.
"I'm back." She said.
Asami didn't reply. She didn't even notice that Korra spoke but was vaguely away of her presence.
She carefully stepped in time with her circular hand movement. As she raised her arms, she instinctively closed her hands so that only two fingers remained standing at attention.
Korra felt the heat before she heard it. The tell tale crackling.
"Asami wait… How do you know how to do that? Ya know what, nevermind. You should stop, that's a really advanced and dangerous move." Korra said as she started walking towards her student.
Asami was so focused on what she was doing she didn't hear Korra. Didn't hear the lightning. But she felt it.
Lightning struck Asami's right hand.