Korra went to the buffet table to grab herself a beer. Taking a deep breath, she paused to look at her surroundings once more. The hall had a soft golden glow because of an overly expensive chandelier. Everything was rather extravagant. A red carpet was laid out starting from the main entrance door which ended underneath a big podium for tonight's main speakers. The Captain reminded herself that she was safe. She then turned her attention to her captivating date who was with a short haired girl chatting up some rich guy. Asami somehow took her mind off of things. This reminded her that the young CEO pointed her attention to children. Silently, she went for the direction of the children. Kids. Now that she could handle.
~xXoXx~
Opal couldn't keep the curiosity in anymore. Not that she even had the patience to because her normally solitary friend has finally brought someone to these events. It was a very mysterious someone at that.
"So… What's the story?" Opal asked.
Asami wasn't sure if this was the place to respond honestly. "What story?"
"Well, Captain Beefy of course!" Opal giggled.
"I wouldn't…" Asami's words died on her lips as she realized she had been duped. If things were completely platonic she would have played along. Very smart, Opal.
"Ok. I'll let this pass… for now but you owe me some details later." Opal winked, noticing another rich man coming on their way.
Asami was grateful for her friend's sensitivity. "Thanks. When we can speak more privately I'll let you know what's up."
~xXoXx~
Korra immediately got into the groove with the children. Except for one whom she decided to call grumpy, for now. She had no idea why the child was so angry and little idea as to why she was the target of it. This bothered her. Later, she intended to talk the little guy and maybe give some tips to help him. Right, like how I help myself?
She pushed that thought aside and tried to enjoy the time with the children who were chatting with her. Next thing she knew, she was "Big Sis" and that made her happy. This was a nice feeling. Korra didn't have this quaint feeling of happiness ever since the war ended. She felt a little of that weight on her shoulders ease up. Once again, she turned to grumpy and held his gaze properly. He stiffened a bit but he told her his name.
"My name is Leo."
"I'm Korra." She paused to think on how to phrase her thoughts carefully. "So, What's up?" Apparently, she wasn't very eloquent today.
The young man eased his stance a little. "Would you even listen?"
Korra smiled and sincerely replied, "Yes."
"I hate the military! They took my parents away." Leo said, letting the pain out through his voice.
Korra bit back a smart reply. She noticed that the little boy was close to tears. The feeling of dread surged through her and she didn't know what to do about it. Instinctively, she reached out for Leo and embraced him. "I'm sorry."
In a fashion she didn't want to, her own ghosts came back to haunt her. She wasn't crazy but when she looked up, she could see the figure of her first officer looking at her. He too was in his officer's attire while he held a glass of champagne. He quietly stared at her. The captain felt like it was mocking her. Failures she had already admitted to herself for about a thousand times. Korra shook her head and the figure vanished.
Leo must have felt her shudder because he finally decided to speak. "What's wrong?"
Korra decided to put it lightly, "It's nothing." In a clever attempt, she redirected his own attention to him. "What about you?"
"I… I'm still mad." Leo said.
"Give it time kiddo. Here…" Korra fished out a calling card from her pocket. "Call me if you're having trouble. I'll visit you in the orphanage."
To be frank, she didn't know what she was after when she offered this to Leo. She knew a little bit of the pain he is suffering. Perhaps, the Captain hoped that she could help ease his pain even if it was just through talking to him. Maybe she saw a little of herself in the young man. It didn't matter.
The child silently took the offered card and went back to his friends. For the first time that night, he smiled and waved back at Korra. She gave him a smile and waved back.
Sadly, this sensation of joy wasn't meant to last. Korra could smell the metallic tang of blood and it made her nauseous. Rivulets of sweat started forming on her neck and forehead. She couldn't breathe. Her heart was racing and her chest felt completely constricted. The entire room looked like her last battlefield. It was all too real.
"No…" was the last thing she muttered before she fought her visions and headed for the restroom.
~xXoXx~
Vigilance. It was the thing that had Asami keeping an eye on Korra. Especially when a frown creased her features and she could see that the soldier was having a little trouble breathing. The CEO wasn't the type of person to just assume everything was ok. Korra was already troubled when they got here and kept a mental note to keep an eye on her. So when she bolted off towards the direction of the restroom she became unsettled.
"Hey Opal, would you mind it if I took a little break?" Asami said, desperately trying not to show her nervousness.
Opal considered not letting her get away but when she saw concern in her friend's eyes, she just couldn't say no. "Sure. I can handle things from here."
"I owe you." Asami said, gratefully.
"Don't worry. I'll cash out on it soon." Opal said before shooing Asami away.
The CEO made her way past the cocktail table and strode towards the restroom. To anyone just observing, she just needed to go to the bathroom. It pains her to keep up appearances even here but she had to. Still, she was set on one goal. Something kept nagging at her to be by Korra's side. Questions ran through her mind. Asami had only met this girl once and yet, why did she care?
Why did she care too much about it?
Something pushed her towards her goal. The CEO wasn't sure if it was her head or her heart but she just had to go. An explanation would come later. Something was more important right now and that would have to come later.
~xXoXx~
Korra stared at herself in the mirror. She noticed that she was white as sheet and the bags under her eyes seemed to have gotten darker. More importantly, it wasn't just her staring back. Once again, she saw her first officer staring back at her and he kept quiet as if to mock her.
"What do you want?"
The Captain had yet to realize that Asami Sato stood right behind her. She continued being oblivious as her attention was focused on the phantom who appeared to be mocking her.
Asami froze at the sudden burst of anger from Korra. What did she do now?
She silently observed the Captain whose back was as stiff as a board. Korra's hands were on the counter, straightening her arms, which made her head sink a little against her shoulders. Then she noticed those blue eyes weren't quite looking at her. They were concentrated on the cubicles which were, thankfully, empty. Now, she was at a loss as to what to do. She still had a sense to lock the door, however.
The phantom didn't cease in Korra's mind. Guilt surged through her like an unwanted visitor. She wanted to punch something. So when someone unwisely decided to place a hand on her she immediately turned around and tried to land a hit on the person. Much to her surprise, she found herself face down on the floor instead. Her arms hurt from being held at an angle it wasn't supposed to go.
"Is this how you greet everyone, Captain?" An all too familiar voice said.
Korra's eyes widened in shock. She knew exactly who that voice belonged to. Before she could reply; however, tears seemed to stream down her eyes. She couldn't stop them.
Out of the corner of Korra's eye, the first officer crouched down beside her. She could tell he nodded and left her vision entirely. "Do I have the right to be forgiven?"
Asami could only stare in wonder. What could the Captain possibly mean? Could it be she was speaking about her experience during the war?
A lot of these questions swam in Asami's mind. She chose to let the Captain go and help her up, a part of her wished that she could somehow replace that pained look with a smile. Korra wasn't a blackboard and she knew this. Whatever the story was, she would listen if her friend would let her, she hoped that's how Korra saw her too.
When they both got themselves presentable, Korra immediately apologized for her behavior. The Captain gave Asami a smile which didn't reach her eyes and left.
"Twenty minutes." Asami said.
Korra turned around, stunned. "Excuse me?"
"I'll be done here in twenty minutes. Wait for me in the parking lot." She commanded and left the restroom first.
Korra was stupefied to say the least. Someone who wasn't from the military actually commanded her to go do something and she was willing to follow it.
The Captain hadn't the slightest clue why.
~xXoXx~
In the last ten minutes of the evening the CEO of Future Industries couldn't keep her mind out of her date. The ever mysterious captain just seemed to distract her at every turn. It was like having a lighthouse in her brain and she was steering ever so slowly towards it. The thought was maddening.
It was the fifth time she sighed but who was counting?
Opal apparently was. "What's in that beautiful head of yours, Ms. Sato?"
Asami contemplated on her answer. Somewhere, in her rational mind, knew that she had to apologize. After all, she was going to disappear for the rest of the night in a few minutes. "I'm thinking on how to disappear tonight."
The young noble anticipated this. "Ok. I'll cover for you."
Opal Beifong, one of Asami's best friends, had decided to cover for her. She didn't even ask why. Perhaps the young noble had decided to root for Asami's date. After all it had been nearly six years since she last went with one.
Asami decided against questioning her friend's logic. "Thank you." She waved Opal farewell and headed straight for the building's parking lot.
Some small part of Asami doubted that Korra would still be there but she went anyway. It wasn't like she could be productive whilst thinking about the Captain.
~xXoXx~
Once they got into the car, Korra apologized profusely for being a terrible escort. Somehow, it didn't sit right with the Captain on having failed a simple task such as this. If she wasn't able to stand the mention of war now, how will she be able to report back for duty? Korra grit her teeth at this question.
Asami silently observed the brooding Captain. Korra's entire body was rigid with tension and her anger was rather permeable in the air. The CEO took a deep breath and silently decided to head for her mansion. The sorrow that came with the thought of Korra dealing with this alone was rather painful thought for her. It was rather funny to feel this way since she had only known Korra for literally a few hours. She allowed for Korra to simmer down in the car while she herself pondered on what to do for her unexpected guest at the Sato Estate.
Nearly an hour passed and they were driving through the gates of the Sato Estate. The open field of grass seemed nearly endless and a few other buildings could be seen in the distance. A sizeable fountain was in the center of the driveway that led to the mansion. The mansion itself was rather imposing with its mammoth size and rich architecture. It was rather obvious that the Satos had done well for themselves and wasted no expense in their home. The mansion was fit to accommodate any ruler if the owner so wished.
Korra was in a trance-like state. She hadn't registered the passing of time or the change in surroundings ever since she got stuck on the thought of coming back to duty. It wasn't until a gentle touch on her shoulder snapped her out of it that she realized that she was nowhere near her apartment in downtown Republic City. On a normal day she would've whistled in awe of the place she was standing in now. Her eyes met worried green ones. She nodded her consent and allowed herself to be led inside. She felt like she was in no position to contest the care she was being given. Korra focused on Asami's form and was led to a red plush sofa.
The officer couldn't even appreciate the gorgeous chandelier that illuminated the room softly. Red and wooden tone textures were everywhere in the room and meshed together quite nicely. A huge painting of a distant sunset by the coast reminded Korra so much of her home in the Southern Water Tribe. She missed the massive glaciers of her home and the cold that came with it.
Korra then turned towards the presence of her host. "What am I doing here?"
The truth was Asami didn't know how to answer that question aside from being compelled to not leave Korra alone for tonight. "I thought you could use the company. I'm not here to pity you. I… want to understand the heavy burden you carry and perhaps share some of it with me?"
"No one else should suffer for my mistake, Miss Sato." Korra replied in a dull tone.
Instinct commanded Asami to reach out for Korra's hand. "I may not know what you are currently feeling at the moment but I want you to know that you don't have to face these feelings alone." Asami laughed mirthlessly to herself. "I know I've only known you for a short while but in those few moments I find myself unable to leave you alone."
A surge of emotion violated Korra's heart and it ached rather painfully. "I'm not alone?" Tears were flowing freely from Korra's eyes.
Asami shook her head. "No. You're not anymore."
Korra hung her head and grit her teeth. Her heart felt like it was in pieces but somehow it felt like it was being soothed as well. So many emotions ran through her mind but she was stuck on this profound sorrow that has haunted her ever since she came home from that blasted war. War was something she had prepared for all her life but nothing could quite prepare her for losing her comrades all in a single moment. Her heart wasn't convinced that it couldn't be prevented. Perhaps something more could have been done. She hadn't realized she was openly sobbing until she felt arms wrap her in a tight embrace. She found herself returning the gesture quite hard and allowed herself to be comforted for the first time.
A/N: Jesus Christ. I am so sorry for haven't being been able to update on this for so long. Argh. I cannot even begin to explain my anger recalling the douche who stole my laptop two years ago. It's been rather difficult saving up for a new one... that and I was really in dismay over losing 8GB worth of written work. Nevertheless... the direction I want to take this story in is still very much intact but... I no longer have a beta so I claim responsibility for all the mistakes on this chapter. I really want to see this story through to the end so hopefully I'll be able to recover all of my lost progress.