"Where are we going?" asked Korra as she pushed the wheelchair down the hall. Its occupant, Asami, pointed at a door adjacent to the one leading to where the pools were. Korra moved forward, opening the door before taking the wheelchair's handles again and heading through the indicated doorway.
Inside was a short hallway leading to a sort of lodge that clearly had been newly added. The lodge was rather plain at the moment, its only defining feature was a sunken circular pool both long and shallow enough for someone to lie down in."I had the construction crew build this while we were away before getting started on fixing the walls." Asami explained. "I figured you'd need somewhere to practice your healing... I never thought that you'd be using it to fix me though."
"You didn't need to do this Asami. I would have been fine practicing in the pool with a bucket... but thank you." said Korra.
Asami slowly reached over her shoulder to place her shaky fingers onto Korra's. "I wanted to do it though, and you're welcome." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay I'm ready."
Korra walked around the wheelchair to stand in front of it before lifting Asami from the chair. She was as gentle as she could be but the simple act of carrying Asami over to and then lying her down in the pool was enough to make tears leak from Asami's eyes and she kept her mouth tightly pressed together. Korra gently brushed a few of the tears away with the back of her fingers. "I know it's painful and I'm sorry for that but it will stop hurting eventually. We just have to fight through it okay?"
"This is what it was like for you after what Zaheer did wasn't it?" asked Asami, staring down at her unresponsive legs. "I don't know how you handled it. I can't brush my hair, write my name... anything really. Even talking is uncomfortable... how long did it take for you to recover?"
"It took months before I could walk again but I was fighting Katara at every step, making things harder than they should have been. Somehow I don't think you'll be as difficult as I was." Korra gave a fake looking smile hoping to make it seem like more a joke and Asami hesitantly returned it as the Avatar began bending water to heal her.
"All right Asami, I want you to take it nice and slow. It's okay if you don't make it very far, the important thing is taking as many steps as you can."
Asami was sitting at one end of a pair of waist high rails, Korra standing at the other. It was only four meters but such a short distance had never been so intimidating before. She grabbed hold of the rails and pulled herself out of the chair. Sharp needles flared up all over as the muscles in her legs protested being put into service again after such a long vacation from their duties. Asami hissed softly but she urged her right foot forward and it haltingly cooperated, but not without all those needles complaining even louder than before. A second step followed the first but then her legs gave midway through a third and the only thing keeping her face from the floor was her vise like grip on the rails.
Korra was at her side in a heartbeat. "Are you alright Asami?" she asked.
Asami stared sullenly at her legs before lurching her way back into the wheelchair with as much grace as a person whose legs weren't working right could manage. "Why are you here Korra?"
"What?"
"Why are you here? You don't have to help me. I could hire rehab specialists to do this. There's more important things for the Avatar to deal with. You could be helping Wu and Tenzin with the elections in the Earth Kingdom. Instead you've been here, dealing with my broken butt for the last six weeks."
Korra put her hand on the armrests of Asami's wheelchair as she crouched down in front of it. "Don't do that. You're important too. Mako, Bolin... me, all of us care about you and we want you to get better. I could be out there doing Avatar stuff but I'm here because this is where I choose to be and I'm not going anywhere until you're back on your feet." She turned away to look at the rails and avoid the pained expression her unintentional pun had put onto Asami's face. "Speaking of which, are you up for trying again?"
Asami leaned to the side looking past Korra at the two rails and the empty patch of air at their end, a seemingly impossible goal for her to reach. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the pain she knew was awaiting her right now and in the days to come. "Okay."
Korra's fists were held up near her chin as she circled to her right, eyes focused on her opponent. Every step she took was mirrored by her opponent as the two of them revolved around an invisible and unmarked spot on the floor, both willing the other to make that first move. Korra feinted a left jab and her adversary retreated backwards before coming forward and responding in kind.
The dance between the two of them began in earnest once the standoff had broken. Jabs, crosses, kicks high and low flew back and forth but the few that did connect were blocked by arms or legs. Growing fed up with the stalemate, Korra growled and threw a high kick towards the head. The kick caught nothing but air and her opponent dropped low while shooting forward to grab the Avatar's other leg with both arms. Seconds later the two of them were sprawled on the ground, Korra on the bottom.
Korra twisted and squirmed, trying to get away and back up to her feet but every action somehow only made things worse for her. In mere moments she found herself lying on her side, one arm held above her at an angle and twisted in such a way so as to apply pressure to her shoulder. She tried to pull it free in a last ditch effort but to no avail, that grip was clamping down like a vice. Korra slapped her hand on the mats several times.
Asami scooted away from Korra to one side as she pulled her protective headgear off. "You always get impatient and do something reckless Korra. Took me long enough to punish you for it…" Her voice trailed off as she saw tears running down the Avatar's face and she crawled back over to Korra's side in alarm. "What's wrong? Did I hurt your shoulder? I didn't think I was cranking the joint very hard."
"No, no, no you didn't hurt me. My shoulder's fine. It's just... all these sparring sessions of ours you've never gotten me until now." Korra reached up to put a hand on Asami's cheek, a jubilant smile on her face to go along with the tears. "The way you were moving today... you're back. You're finally back."
Asami bit at her lip as she considered her so-called victory before shaking her head. "But I didn't, I mean not really. Even if you weren't pulling your punches you haven't used bending at all since we started sparring. If you were then I wouldn't have been able to take you down or get a submission."
Korra sat up and hugged her knees as she continued to argue the point. "Oh come on Asami, you're not giving yourself enough credit. Sure I'm not using my bending but that's because this is about getting you back to form. It wouldn't have been fair for me to use my bending while you were still out of shape. If you really want me to then I could start bending an element from now on. But that can wait for another day. I think we should celebrate. What do you say to dinner tonight?"
That drew a laugh from Asami. "We have dinner together every day Korra."
Korra threw her hands up in the air, exasperated. "I mean a fancy dinner without Kaya or any of the staff... you know just the two of us."
Asami started pulling off the protectors she was wearing on her wrists. "A fancy dinner? Just how fancy are we talking here? Black tie? White tie?"
"Uhmm." Korra pulled her helmet off, ponytails identical to the ones she had sported when first arriving in Republic City spilling out. "Do you still have the dress you wore to Varrick's wedding? That red one."
Asami took Korra's helmet from her, a wry look on her face, and tossed them into one of the boxes for holding equipment lining the wall. "I think I can manage that. How does dinner at nine sound to you?"
Korra brushed at her hair as she broke eye contact looking down and to the side. "Sure. That sounds good to me. I have some stuff to take care of but I'll see you then." The Avatar hurried off, but not without glancing over her shoulder at Asami from the doorway.
Asami was there at the appointed time but Korra hadn't shown up so it was just her and the food on the table. Roast duck, arctic hen, watermelon, peaches, mango juice for drinking along with kale cookies and mints for dessert. It was simpler fare than what her chef was accustomed to preparing but this was what Korra had requested. In addition to the food several candles had already been lit before Asami had shown up and there was a pleasant touch of vanilla to the air. She glanced at the grandfather clock in the parlor, its minute hand almost touching the symbol for two when the door opened.
Asami's breath caught in her throat when Korra entered the room. The Avatar was holding a bouquet of red roses in one hand and a small paper bag in the other but it was her outfit that drew Asami's eye. She had seen Korra wearing that black dress once before in the Fire Nation and that night had ended with... Asami shook her head to clear the memory just looking at Korra had brought up and she prayed the flush of her cheeks wasn't too obvious.
Korra set the bag down by her chair and she carried the flowers over to Asami. Her face reddened as she spoke, more to the floor than to Asami. "I don't know much about flowers but I thought they were pretty and that you might like them."
Asami took the bouquet from Korra bringing them up to her nose as she inhaled the scent of the roses. "That's sweet, thank you." She glanced around the room for a moment before heading for the door. "Hang on a second, these need a vase. I'll be right back." said Asami. To Korra's surprise the butler was already waiting outside the door with a vase full of water. Korra hadn't said anything to the man, or even seen him for that matter, but he must have spotted her carrying the flowers and predicted Asami's reaction. Asami flashed a quick smile as she took the flowers, seemingly unfazed by his presence there. "Thank you." She headed back for the table setting the flowers down in the middle of it before seating herself. "Well this is a pleasant surprise. A candlelit dinner, roses, both of us wearing dresses. Quite the celebration for me tapping you out." Korra blushed again and broke eye contact once more. Asami lifted an eyebrow but mentally shrugged it off. "Well let's eat shall we?"
Normally Korra had no reservations about chowing down with more gusto than anyone Asami had ever met but not tonight. She was still eating but in much smaller bites than usual and significantly slower as well. After several minutes Korra set her fork down, her plate still half full. "Asami." she began, her voice uncharacteristically tentative. "Can I ask you something?"
"What is it Korra?"
"Do you... do you blame me for what happened? For what...she did to you."
Asami's fork stopped halfway to her mouth and she set it back down. They had never discussed what had happened in that hotel room, not once. The closest they had come to it was the daily sessions of healing and their discussions of the progress Asami had been making. Her name had never come up either and Korra's use of the word 'she' was as near as either of them had gotten to referencing her, as if saying that name might summon the person who had inflicted those burns upon Asami. "Why would I blame you for that?"
"Because she did it to get back at me for what I did to her. The only reason she went after you was for revenge. On me." said Korra, the guilt she had been carrying for the better part of the last year manifesting itself in her voice. "If it wasn't for me then you never would have gotten hurt."
Asami got up from her chair, moving over to crouch by Korra's chair and taking the Avatar's hand in hers. "No, Korra. I don't blame you for that and I never will. Yes I got hurt but it's not your fault and I don't want you to blame yourself for it either. Every time I've followed you into battle there's always been a chance that I could get wounded or killed, and that's a risk I've accepted." She squeezed Korra's fingers. "If anything you're the reason I'm still alive. When I realized I had been abducted I knew you would figure out where I was and come rescue me. I just had to endure..." Her voice dropped to a small whisper and it almost seemed as if the room itself had gotten darker. "And I did..."
Korra sighed audibly and her posture straightened as if a weight had been removed. She pulled her hand free just enough so that she could turn it over, interlacing their fingers together. "You asked me something a long time ago, 'What are we?' I've been thinking about that every since you asked me that, trying to come up with the answer. When I realized what was happening to you I was furious, angrier than I've ever been before and I hope I never get that way again. All I wanted to do was kill her, and I was going to. But when you said my name though I realized something else. I was even more scared than angry. I was terrified that I could lose you. These past months have shown me what an idiot I've been and how much I've been taking you for granted. You've always been there for me no matter what. The Equalists, Unalaq, rebuilding the Air Nation, that whole mess with Zaheer, stopping Kuvira. You've stood by me every time and I've never really said thank you."
She gripped Asami's fingers tighter than before. "So thank you. For always being there for me." Korra turned in her chair, her other hand reaching down into the bag she had brought in with her. When it came out a choker necklace with a platinum pendant attached to it was in her fingers. Asami covered her mouth with the palm of her hand and a strangled squeak came out of her when she realized what that necklace was.
"Wait this isn't right." said Korra as she looked down at Asami. She stood up from the chair pulling Asami to her feet, then knelt down in front of her. "Okay that's better." She held the necklace up towards Asami. "So... I'd like us to always be there for each other. What do you say?"
Asami touched the pendant with her free hand as she looked at what Korra had made for her. The piece of jewelry was a thin flat disc with the symbols of the four elements meticulously carved into its surface near each 'corner'. A long moment passed as the two of them looked at each other, Korra waiting for an answer on pins and needles. Asami took the necklace from Korra's grasp, fastening it around her neck with a soft click. "Yes."
Korra had been envisioning this moment for months, trying to see every possible outcome. What was she going to say to Asami, what would be the best way to explain the epiphany Korra had had. How would Asami react? Would she be excited that Korra was proposing? Was it possible that Asami preferred to be the one asking? Would Asami say yes or was there a chance that she would say no? That she didn't feel the same way towards the Avatar, that all she wanted to be was a friend, or a friend who tied her up and more. But with a single word Asami dispelled all of Korra's doubts and fears she had been harboring about the most important question of her life.
Korra stood, her arms wrapping around Asami and their lips came together. This was far from the first time she had kissed Asami but in a way it was. Every previous time had been carnal in nature, seeking to feed the ardor that had been driving her but not this time. This was gentle, slow and Korra could feel a joy coming from the other woman that had not been present for a long time. It was infectious in nature and she couldn't help but grin widely when they finally broke apart. "So does that answer your question Asami?"
"It does but now I have another one. Getting engaged is a lot bigger than a joint-lock so how exactly are we going to celebrate now?" asked Asami, trying to look serious and utterly failing as her smile kept re-emerging every time she put it away. "I have a few ideas. You, me, some rope or maybe a pair of handcuffs and a couple of toys I want to introduce you to."
"I'm willing to keep being your pet but not tonight Asami. Something else I realized was that all I've done is take. The things you've done to me... I never knew stuff like that existed or that I'd enjoy it so much. I've never returned the favor though, you have needs too and I haven't been a good partner about meeting them. So tonight you're going to sit back and let me take care of you." Korra took Asami's hand, gently pulling until the other woman followed her out into the hallway. Moments later the two of them were standing next to the bed that they had been sharing these past few months. Korra reached behind her back with both hands, undoing the zipper of her dress. She tugged the front down to her waist, exposing her bare chest to Asami's eyes, before pushing it down to her ankles and pulling one foot out at a time. The only piece of clothing remaining on the Avatar as she waved her finger in a circle was a plain pair of white briefs. "Turn around please."
Asami turned about to face the bed at Korra's request. A pair of hands reached around to grasp her chest while Korra pressed herself against Asami's back. Asami's breath caught in her throat as those fingers curled inwards while pushing her breasts together before letting go. Nothing happened for a moment as Korra's fingers moved up and down her back gently pulling at the dress in a few places as if searching for something. "Where is the zipper on this thing? I can't find it." Korra asked after she had given up in frustration.
The consternation in Korra's voice couldn't help but make Asami giggle. "This dress doesn't have a zipper like yours does. Here." Asami put her fingers on Korra's wrist guiding the Avatar's hand to her right side where Asami's belt was tied. "Start there and everything else will follow."
Korra deftly undid the knot and let the sash float to the carpet. Her hands gripped the folds of Asami's dress pulling them loose leaving the other woman in heels and a red slip. This time there was a zipper for the Avatar to undo as she kissed the side of Asami's neck. Asami shuffled her feet a bit and she stretched her neck to the side, hoping for more, a desire Korra was only too willing to oblige while she pushed that slip down and unclasped the other woman's bra. "Okay beautiful, on the bed now." Korra playfully smacked the bottom in front of her and Asami jumped just a tad before crawling onto the bed on all fours and rolling over onto her back.
The Avatar hesitated a few moments to take the sight of Asami's body in as she lay there. There were still a few faint red blotches that Korra could see if she focused on them but Asami's pale skin stood in stark contrast to the black hair splayed about her shoulders and the sheet beneath her. Seeing Korra's gaze beginning to wander, Asami rubbed her legs together and lifted her arms above her head forcing her breasts to even greater prominence. Korra felt her spine tingle and then she was clambering onto the bed, positioning herself above Asami. "Just to be clear -" Korra began. "-you're okay with me doing this right?"
"Yes Korra. I'm more than fine with it." said Asami with a smile meant to be encouraging.
That was all she needed to hear. Korra brushed some raven locks away from Asami's shoulder, making space for her lips along that neck and collarbone. Her hands glided up along Asami's arms feeling those deceptively strong muscles while her mouth ventured south. Asami trembled ever so slightly when Korra got to her breasts, that tongue of hers brushing against one nipple. It swelled and grew stiffer as the Avatar's tongue came back again and again before Korra turned her attention to its twin, not content to play with just one. Then Korra was on the move once more all the way down to Asami's thighs.
Asami stopped her there, one hand lifting Korra's chin before her mouth arrived at its destination. "Wait. I know you've never done this before so let give you a bit of advice first." She opened her legs wider then pulled her panties to one side before spreading hers folds. Her free hand pointed at a particular spot on her right and Korra's left. "Right here is what I want you to aim for. I'll tell you if I want you to go faster but when you get the right speed don't change unless I ask you to okay?"
"Okay." Korra grabbed Asami's panties and pulled, eager to get them out of the way. Asami raised her bottom from the bed then held her ankles in the air letting Korra remove her last remaining article of clothing. Korra ran her hands along those open thighs, the feeling of that soft skin exciting her even further. "I've been waiting months for this." said Korra as she lowered her mouth. All those nights in their bed, afraid to touch Asami while she recovered, no matter how much she wanted to make the other woman moan.
Korra took a few seconds to admire all the glistening parts there for the taking, before her tongue slid upwards along the very center. Asami's thighs closed in around her head and Korra gently pushed them back down as she licked a second time then a third. Her eyes flickered upwards to check Asami's reaction and was rewarded with a promising sign. Asami was holding her breasts in both hands, her fingertips rubbing back and forth ever so slightly. Korra's tongue grazed Asami's core again, provoking a quiet gasp. This time Korra didn't stop, her tongue continuing to run over the area Asami had indicated over and over.
One of Asami's hands let go of her breast and she tangled her fingers in the hair on top of Korra's head. "A little faster Korra... to the left...yes...right there. Don't stop!" she huskily urged. The hand not holding Korra's hair found its way to her mouth and Asami bit down on her index finger. It had been so long since she or anyone else had touched her down there and Korra's tongue was focused on just the perfect spot. Asami's body shuddered and Korra started to pull away but Asami's fingers tightened their grip holding her in place. "One more... please?" Asami begged, desperate for this to not end so soon.
The Avatar's tongue came back as she started over. Asami moaned, feeling that tip flick against her without respite. She tangled her other hand into Korra's hair keeping that mouth in position as Asami's hips rocked back and forth from each pass against her. The first one had been quick but the sequel was so slow as to be a torturous but ultimately explosive orgasm. Asami's back arched from the mattress and her final string of groans came from somewhere deep within her.
When Korra sat up her cheeks was shiny from rubbing against Asami's inner thighs and the liquid on them. The Avatar wiped her face off with her fingers before licking them clean. "I had no idea that you would taste so good. We should do this again Asami."
Asami propped herself up, one cheek resting on her fist as she rolled to her side. "I wouldn't mind that Korra. Or is it Mrs Sato now?" She tapped her other finger against her other cheek. "Avatar Korra Sato. Got a nice ring to it."
Korra crawled up to lay next to Asami on the bed though she had to angle her hips in order to avoid the wet spot in the sheet. "You want me to take your last name?" She looked up at the roof of the bed. "Can't say that ever occurred to me but I suppose I can think about it."
Asami leaned over softly kissing Korra's lips. "I'm just teasing you. You don't have to take my name or anything like that." She rolled over putting her back into Korra's chest and pulled the Avatar's arms around her. "And we shouldn't be discussing something like that right now anyways." Asami glanced over her shoulder for a moment. "I love you Korra."
Korra nestled her chin onto Asami's shoulder as she replied without thinking. It was something she had said before but Korra hadn't truly understood what these words meant at the time. But now she did.
"I love you too Asami."
So this is the end of The Avatar's Anagnorisis Redux. If you made it this far thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.
