AN:The amount of Angst the finale caused me should be illegal!
Disclaimer: yeah no.
The light scribbling of a Future Industries ball point pen was the only sound that could be heard through out the office space. That and the occasional chair squeak, back crack, and heavy sigh.
No other noises or voice for that matter had been heard over the past few days.
Not a soul dared bother Ms. Sato much less even try to offer her words of reassurance.
They saw no reason to risk their own safety by telling her what she most likely already had heard a million times.
"So sorry for your fiancé."
"You're both in our prayers."
"Best of wishes for a speedy recovery."
Nothing would offer her any comfort and everyone knew it.
The engineer had just returned to work four days ago, but only staying until 11 tonight at the latest. Not even attempting the all nighters she had pulled in the past, where the lines of her paperwork eventually blurred together.
Instead, the young woman would give herself the bare minimum of time to check over the company's latest crisis before rushing to catch the late ferry to Air Temple Island.
If she was being completely honest though, Asami would happily admit that she'd rather be back home all day. Her real home with the airbenders and her friends, allowing the assistant directors below her to handle all of the trivial things.
She missed helping Pema make dinner for the large family. Laughing as Bolin tried to outsmart Ikki at a game of Pai Sho. Watching on amusedly as Bumi and Kya drove Tenzin to the point of erupting. Tucking in the kids at night.
And of course, trying her best to get the daily light-won't-reach-my-eyes-but-you-still-made-me-kinda-happy smile out of Korra.
An old saying tells of the 5 stages of change. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and finally acceptance.
The CEO didn't know whether or not she wanted to laugh or cry at the very mention of other emotions. For her poor girlfriend there seemed to be nothing more then depression.
Yes it had been three full weeks now since the incident. The poison continued to limit the Avatar's strength and recovery.
The frown that had marked Korra's face for so long now made Asami almost wish she could see the anger and bargaining or other emotions.
The poor thing barely talked, let alone ate, and it was a miracle in itself if anyone could get a word in that would reach past the fog now clouding her heart.
Well anyone besides the engineer of course. Her girlfriend was the slight exception to the usual silent treatment.
Not that she blamed Korra, of course not. Anyone in their right mind would be traumatized after suffering such an attack.
Though as time passed it was no longer just the poison that was harming the tan girl. It was also her mind.
Asami could feel it in her very soul. Sense the deep seeded loathing and sadness that the Avatar never confessed. She just knew behind all those blank looks and short replies there was a growing darkness forming.
It became worse everday.
So concerned was she that the heiress almost hadn't come into work at all. Being reluctant to leave the island for fear of the ticking time bomb behind her girlfriend's eyes.
But of course a call from one of her partners stated there was an issue with the latest financial reports and recent Cabbage Corp law suits that required her IMMEDIATE attention.
It was something that would take her at the least a week to fix. If that...
But seeing Korra only late at night after returning from a long day of paperwork was even more heartbreaking then leaving her for the day.
Asami wasn't stupid. She saw how those big watery irises would widen with happiness only to immediately drop. Telling the heiress that the younger girl had been waiting up.
Putting her own already nonexistent sleep schedule on the line to do so.
No amount of signature lines or fine print detailing could erase the completely miserable to joy right back to miserable look the wheelchair bound girl showed after each night.
It had only been half a week since she returned to the world of business and the Sato girl could feel the stress she was causing the Avatar.
Though she considered just trying to work from home, the CEO knew she'd never be able to function.
Every second she would try to focus on her deadline, her thoughts would lead to Korra and from their on everything would spiral into panic. Until she literally would have to abandon her work and go check on her.
No it was better just to finish the mandatory stack of files by the end of the week and be back by the water tribe girl's side as quickly as possible. Completely and 100% undistracted.
Actual speaking of distractions.
Asami noticed that her clock showed it was almost noon. Maybe since she was a little ahead for today she could take a long lunch.
Just rush and catch the midday ferry, perhaps convince Korra to join her. Wheel them both up to the peak of the island for a picnic.
The sun was out, and it was a nice enough day.
Before the pale woman could stand to set her plan in motion, a sudden ringing of her office line buzzed.
Narrowing her ember eyes, the CEO picked up line 1.
"Elli, I thought I told you I'm not taking any calls today-"
"M-ms. Sato! I'm sorry, but Councilman Tenzin called and said it was an emergency-"
The landline fell with a clack.
"H-he said something happened with Avatar Korra and-
Asami was out the door before her assistant could finish.
Sprinting directly into her car, the roar of a Satomobile rang through out the streets as citizens rushed to avoid being hit. The young woman would worry about getting a speeding tickets later.
Right now she had more important things to worry about.
Somehow making it to the docks in record, possibly life endangering, time, the pale woman barely gave the crewman second to speak before yelling Air Temple Island.
The tone was enough to get the now terrified White Lotus guard to bend their boat across the water like his life were on the line.
It actually may have been.
Before they even made it to the landing strip, Asami could feel the wind around her coming from unnatural directions. It wasn't the type of breeze mother nature could create. This was the work of an out of control bender.
Hoping off of the water vessel, the engineer sprinted towards the direction of the chaotic element. Moving in time to see Pema, Bumi, and the children huddled by the house doorway closest to the training yard.
"Asami! Thank spirits you're here!"
"What happened?!"
Looking out to see what the terified family saw, the pale woman saw Mako, Bolin, Tenzin, and Kya trying hopelessly to speak to Korra.
Who currently was surrounded by a ring of fire/rock/wind/water, creating a sphere like barrier. Glowing eyes and snarl in place.
"She was outside for an hour just staring at some of the equipment, but when Kya tried to bring her inside for lunch she went into the Avatar State! The wheelchair rolled off the cliff side and she started screaming and hovering and surrounding herself!"
The mother looked completely distraught and Bumi was trying his best to keep the kids calm. Asami took in all of what she had heard and looked out into the yard again.
The pale woman couldn't hear what everyone was shouting at Korra, but she knew they were all failing for good reason.
They didn't know what to do.
Turning to move, the CEO marched into the war zone with determination. Ignoring everyone's barley audible warnings to watch herself.
"Korra! It's me. Korra look!"
Standing directly below the furious girl, the older girl waited until she noticed the glowing pair of eyes peer down to stare at her with barely visible comprehension.
"Listen to me Korra okay? I know you can hear me, you need to breathe. I understand what made you so upset."
The winds picked up in ferocity causing the engineer to hold her hands over her mouth. Projecting her voice with an added shout.
"You are not weak Korra! The training will still be here when you have recovered. No one is blaming you and no one thinks of you as any less of an Avatar!"
Her girlfriend looked as though she had snapped mentally, but Asami wasn't done.
"It doesn't matter how hurt you are now! Everything that has happened does not define you. You are more then the Avatar, Korra...you are human and you need to remember that! You need to breathe!"
Lowering slightly, the older woman could see that the rings of elements were beginning to still and the snarl on the tan girl's face was becoming less and less intense.
"I told you I would be here for you and I'm keeping my word. You are still the same girl I fell in love with. I will protect you...even against yourself."
The air stilled completely, as Korra dropped. Properly being catched by the all too ready heiress below.
"I got you."
Moving a strand of hair out of the Avatar girl's eyes, Asami smiled as cerulean irises came into view. First blinking in confusion before shame and hurt began to overwhelm them.
The memory of what had happened causing tears to fall, as the taller woman wiped them away.
"I'm sorry..."
"It's okay now, you're safe. It's okay."
Kya moved to usher everyone out of the courtyard, while Tenzin tried to approach the two lovers.
The engineer noticed this and peered over at him with a weak smile.
"I'll bring her inside in a minute. Could we just..."
"Take all the time you need."
Thanking the young woman with a bow of respect, the airbending master left the two to talk.
Korra tried to meet her girlfriend's eyes after she was sure the older man was gone, only to immidiately look down.
Focusing instead at the salty blotch marks of fresh tears staining her blue shirt.
"I...don't want to be broken anymore..."
"I know you hate this, but it's not forever...I'll be by your side always."
Clutching onto the leather fabric beneath her suddenly weak hands, Korra whispered.
"You shouldn't have to...deal with me like this I mean. I would understand if..."
Shaking in sorrow, Asami rested her forehead down against the tan girl's own and allowed her own tears to fall.
"No amount of damage done to your soul"
One kiss to her forehead.
"body,"
Another kiss to her cheek.
"or heart could ever change the way I feel about you. I don't care if you're Avatar Korra, Probending Korra, Hurt Korra or anything. I will never stop you because you are my Korra."
Placing one last tender kiss onto the weak girl's lips, the water tribe girl gave the first real genuine smile Asami has seen in the past weeks.
Smiling at the sparks that ignited briefly behind the no longer dangerous clouds blocking her eyes.
It was small but it was a great enough sign to show that Korra was changing yet again. Only this time for the better.