Well, it took forever but here's the new chapter! I tried to make it worth the wait! ^_^ And I'm back from my gram's now, so I'll be posting a new chapter at least once a week again.
Also, for those of you who don't know, I'm on tumblr ( .com). I post more accurate estimates of when new chapters will come out, and sometimes teasers, so feel free to check that out if you so desire.
Who was Unalaq kidding? One day since their return from the spirit portal and already the city was immeasurably tense. Only a third of the northern troops departed Harbor City to establish a safe perimeter around the portal. The rest of the soldiers marched through the city streets under the guise of "stabilization," though the Southern Water Tribe wasn't in any state of collapse so far as Asami could see. Plus there was the blockade she'd awoken to, leaving her cut off from her company and Republic City until Unalaq saw fit. That was fantastic.
And she couldn't walk through the streets to the palace without feeling heated glares exchanged between northerners and southerners. Now, as she stood outside the royal palace, waiting for Korra to finish her talk with Unalaq, the line of soldiers kept shooting looks at her, shifting their spears.
Feet scraped against the stone steps of the palace entrance. Asami turned towards the sound. Korra was the picture of stress. She walked hunched forward and on the balls of her feet, like she could run at any second. Even through her blue, fir trimmed coat, Asami could see a tension in her back and shoulders as she passed by. She barely nodded at Asami before she continued to walk down the street. A few long strides was all it took for Asami to catch up.
"I take it your talk with Unalaq didn't go well." Asami reached forward and brushed off some loose snow clinging to the right side of Korra's jacket. "What happened?"
Korra's eyes darted down to the bits of snow falling away, eyes narrowed. "He's not helping, that's what happened. I tried to tell him to back off. Varrick and my dad are right. Sort of. The troops? The blockade? I mean, how did my uncle think people were going to react? They've had free reign for so long and he comes in and just…decides!" She threw her hands in the air. "So I tell him this, tell him people are frustrated and there's talk of rebellion and you know what he says? It's my responsibility to make sure there isn't a war! Mine! Because the Avatar's supposed to keep the peace. But he's the one making all the aggressive moves! My tribe hasn't even done anything yet.
"And what kills me is that I'm doing everything he says I should be but he doesn't see he's part of the problem. I'm asking him, an involved party, to tone it down because his actions are upsetting the balance between our tribes but noooo. Not to mention how all of this is going to start affecting the spirits. Seriously, how are battle-hardened soldiers better emotional influences than civilians?"
Asami was totally lost now. "I thought opening the portal fixed the spirit problem." Clearly it hadn't if Korra thought there was another problem looming.
A long sigh escaped Korra. "In the texts I've been reading for my training—that Unalaq gave to me—it says spirits are shaped by the energy around them. If the energy's positive, the spirits retain their light side and they're pretty friendly, or at least leave you alone. But when exposed to a lot of negative energy, a spirit's darkness takes over. That's what happened to all of the spirits that attacked us before."
"So all this strife between the tribes…" Asami began.
Korra nodded. "Any spirits still hanging around are going to feed off that negative energy. I don't even want to think about what'll happen if there's a war. All the horrible feelings that come with fighting…" She shivered and Asami did, too.
A war between the water tribes. Asami swallowed hard, not wanting to say what happened at Korra's parents' house after she left to seek Unalaq. But Korra was the Avatar and, if she wanted to keep balance, she had to know how hard that was going to be. "Then there's something I should tell you. After you left Varrick's meeting, he told everyone they should start preparing for war." She paused when Korra swore loudly, scaring a group of arctic hens in the yard they passed. "It gets worse. He hasn't said as much, but I'm willing to bet Varrick's going to ask me to sell him what's left of Future Industries' mecha tanks. He might even ask me to make more."
Korra stopped short and clenched her fists. "You can't do that!"
Asami held her chin high and put her hands on her hips. "You think I want make weapons just like my father?" Asami shot back. "Over the past six months, I've been trying to prove to people I'm not like him. If I let Future Industries produce weapons again, then they'll never believe me. All they'll see is another Sato profiting from violence." She wanted to change the way people saw her company, to get rid of the stain her father and Amon left on it. She thought Korra understood that. She'd been by Asami's side for those six months…
The indignation slipped from Korra's face and she shrank back. "I'm sorry," she said, eyes firmly on the ground. "I reacted instead of thinking. All day, I've been listening to people more interested in justifying their side in the fight than avoiding conflict altogether. So when I heard weapons my mind just…I know you don't want to be a weapons dealer, Asami. I'm sorry."
She meant it and felt awful about it; it was written all over her face. "Apology accepted," said Asami after a second, not able to completely rid her tone of the stiffness.
Today had been terrible for both of them, so she didn't hold it against Korra for being upset but Asami wasn't going to let her take her frustrations out on her either. The two started walking back towards Tonraq and Senna's, the quiet stretching uncomfortably.
Finally, Asami couldn't take it. "You're beating yourself up internally, I can feel it." The slight burn in her chest stopped so Asami leaned over, put on her best smile and nudged Korra in the ribs. "If you feel that bad, why don't you take me to dinner to make it up to me?" she asked lightly. Not that she actually expect Korra to pay, but food (especially water tribe cusisine) usually improved Korra's mood immensely.
Instead of teasing back, Korra shook her head. "I can't go anywhere. Everyone hates me."
Discomfort fluttered in Asami's gut again. "What do you mean?" When Korra didn't say anything, Asami asked, "What happened?"
Korra scratched the back of her head, then started talking fast. "On my way to see Uncle, I tried to break up an argument. Apparently, a kid accidentally hit a soldier with a snowball and the guy overreacted. He almost water whipped the kid." Asami's stomach churned at the thought. What kind of people made up Unalaq's forces? "Some guys from my tribe heard the kid screaming, so they rushed over and I don't know what words were exchanged but when I got there, they were at each other's throats.
"I tried to get them to back off, and the soldier did, but the two guys started yelling at me. If one of my dad's friends hadn't shown up and dragged them away, I think they would've started fighting me. People from my own tribe." She huffed and her footsteps wavered.
No wonder she was so miserable. "That's awful, Korra. They're adults and they should've known better." Especially that solider, but Asami didn't think adding that would help.
"That's not even the worst part. The kid? He looked like he's Meelo's age. He made another snowball, hit me in the head. The he called me the worst Avatar ever." She pressed a hand over her right eye and Asami swore she saw Korra wipe away a tear.
"You're not the worst. And he's just a kid, Korra. He doesn't know what it takes to be the Avatar, what kind of hard choices you have to make in the name of balance." I can't even comprehend it all, Asami thought.
Stopping in the middle of the street, she put her hands on Korra's shoulders and drew her into a hug. Korra's face pressed into the scarf around Asami's neck, but her hands stayed at her sides. For once, Asami didn't feel like her heart was going to beat out of her chest at their closeness, but then again, the twisting pain in her stomach kept her nerves at bay. Korra was so tortured inside but Asami didn't know what to do other than physically be there. So they stayed like that for a solid minute, Korra breathing deeply, Asami running a hand up and down her back.
Finally, Korra peeled her face away enough to speak, albeit muffled by Asami's coat. "Thanks, Sami."
"I think you need to take the night off. Seriously, let's go get dinner," Asami said as Korra pulled away from her.
Korra looked at her, frowning again. "I don't think I should. Varrick and my uncle—"
"As your best friend and soul mate, I say you deserve to. We'll go to your favorite restaurant, order your favorite dish," Korra opened her mouth to protest but Asami carried on. "And we'll sit at a table in the back, away from everybody so no one bothers you."
The frown disappeared as Korra mulled it over. Asami hoped Korra didn't think too hard about the scenario she laid out though because, well, one might think it was a date. Her breath caught as Korra's eyes found hers again. "That sounds…" Suddenly, Korra's answer felt heavy, like the outcome could make or break Asami's mood. "…really nice, actually. Yeah. Let's do it. I know just the place."
A tug around her arm sent Asami reeling forward. She laughed as Korra dragged her down the street, winding through the dinner crowds but keeping a tight grip on her, keeping her close. Korra must be starving, she thought, but hoped maybe Korra was excited about having dinner alone with her. It didn't really matter, though as long as they ended the evening lighter than they were now. Stopping Unalaq and Varrick could wait for one night, right?
For what felt like the hundredth time this evening, Korra rolled her eyes. Of course she had to pick the one restaurant Bolin and the twins were at. Her cousins sat quietly in front of their empty plates staring off into the distance while Bolin laughed awkwardly, trying to tell her, Asami, and Mako about his "delightful" day with Eska.
Korra leaned in close enough to Asami so she could whisper, "I thought they were going to be eating at the palace."
Because this was supposed to be a quiet, relaxing dinner with Asami. Only Asami. Something warm brushed her hand clenched on the seat bench. Soft fingers traced circles on the back of her hand. Korra shivered when Asami tipped her head down, leaned into her space, and said, "Guess we're cursed." The following smile made Korra want to lean in closer, but she did the opposite, feeling eyes on her.
Sure enough, when she glanced back at the group around the table, Eska and Desna were staring at her. Bolin was laughing nervously about something, and Mako looked like he was trying to drown himself with his glass of water. Abruptly, Eska stood. "We must acquire more sustenance." Her brother stood and the two glided away toward the counter on the other side of the restaurant.
The moment the two were out of earshot, Bolin twisted in his seat to face them and he slammed his hands on the table. "You guys have to help me!" He whined.
"With what?" Mako asked, balling up his napkin and throwing it on the table over his half-eaten bowl of noodles.
"Breaking up with Eska! She's not my soul mate like I thought."
"We know," Korra, Asami, and Mako said all at once.
Bolin's eyes bulged. "Why didn't you say anything then?!"
"Why did you think she was your soul mate in the first place?" Asami shot back.
Bolin sagged in his seat and clasped his hands together. "Okay so I've never really felt anything from my soul mate and I figured that's because she must live a pretty pampered life and Eska's a princess so you can't get more pampered than that, right?" He looked between all three of his friends seated across from him.
"Or, you know, your soul mate could be leading a normal life?" Mako rolled his eyes. "Not everyone gets to fight bad guys with the Avatar." He shot a smile at Korra and she punched his arm lightly, smiling back.
"Yeah, yeah." Bolin's eyes fell on Korra. "Why didn't you warn me about your cousin?"
Was he really going to go there? Anyone with enough sense avoided Eska; her aura alone could freeze baby otter-penguins. "Because I thought it was obvious and you ran off before I could say anything!" Korra snapped.
Asami laughed and Korra fought the smile threatening to spill across her face because wow, Asami had a pretty laugh and she felt Asami's hand brush hers under the table again.
"Why're you so grumpy?" Bolin asked. "I've got a huge problem here! I'm the one who should be grumpy!"
Though she tried to say she didn't want to be pulled over here in the first place, Mako beat her to the punch. "Because you're interrupting their date, bro." The smirk on his face made Korra flush—with anger or embarrassment she wasn't sure.
She and Asami were not…they were going to eat dinner. Together. Alone. At a quiet table. Wait. "I—" she started to say.
"We're—" But Asami stopped speaking, waiting for Korra to finish.
Too bad all the words in Korra's head evaporated, leaving her dry-mouthed and staring at Asami. Thankfully, Bolin saved them. "Ooooooh, why didn't you guys say so?" He slapped his forehead. "Gogogo, do your soul mate date thing. Mako will help me with my breakup stuff. He's a master at breaking girls' hearts." Korra felt Mako aim a kick under the table.
After Bolin oofed and his hands darted under the table to clutch his shin, Mako turned to her and shoved, pushing her straight into Asami's side and nearly sent both girls tumbling off the bench. They both stood in the nick of time. Korra glared at him, but all he did was continue to smirk. "There's a table in the back corner."
Ready to wipe the look off his face, Korra reached out to grab his shirt collar, but Asami pulled her back. The two walked away from the table. In the farthest corner, Korra saw there was in fact a free table and no one was seated around it. Asami's hand squeezed her arm, so Korra looked at her, which was a mistake.
Green eyes peered down at her, freezing her in place. Her eyes shifted when Asami's glossy, red lips started moving. The last time she stared at Asami's lips, they'd been lipstick-free. How would they feel now, especially if she leaned up and—
"Korra, are you listening?"
Her gaze snapped back to Asami's eyes. "Can you say that again?" Don't blush, don't blush she repeated in her head.
Asami looked at the floor. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she said, "Forget Mako." She cast a glare over Korra's shoulder. "Let's just grab a table and order something."
The hand on her forearm slipped down to her wrist. Asami gently pulled her towards the table in the back but it seemed to take forever. Each step felt like a stride through snow, her feet dragging, heavy with invisible, excess snow. Yet the table grew closer and as Korra took in the setup, all she could think was that it looked intimate. A small crystal vase with a sub-zero blue rose sat in the center of the table. Two tea candles flickered on either side of the vase, adding a little more light to the dim corner space. And the table was just big enough for two people to sit comfortably. Korra gulped as Asami let go of her and took a seat.
When she didn't immediately sit, Asami glanced at Korra, worried, so Korra hurriedly sank in the empty chair. Her feet bumped against Asami's. "S-sorry." The menu Asami had in front of her face at least prevented her from seeing Korra's blush.
Until those startlingly green eyes peered over the paper menu and crinkled around the edges. Asami was smiling. "You look nervous."
Korra swallowed hard. A pitcher of water and two cups were on the table, so Korra poured herself a glass, chugged it, then filled the second cup for Asami. She pushed it across the small space between them, afraid her shaking hands would spill it if she dared lift the cup.
"Thanks," Asami said, taking the glass behind her menu.
Korra realized she never responded to Asami's previous comment. "It was kind of weird, what Mako said." If Korra could just see what kind of face she was making, maybe this wouldn't be so…awkward.
Asami hummed. Apparently that was the only reaction Korra was going to get so she went on. "I mean, when you think about it, this does kind of look like a date but—"
Coughing halted Korra. Asami dropped the menu and covered her mouth with her left hand while her right slammed the glass of water on the table. "I'm okay," Asami wheezed when Korra started to stand. "Inhaled an ice cube, that's all."
It took a few minutes of reassuring before Korra felt comfortable enough to sit back fully in her chair. In that time, the waiter came over and took their order, Asami stuttering through her order, holding back another round of coughs. Once he left, Korra folded her hands in her lap. "I didn't mean to make you choke."
"It's okay," Asami said, pouring all of her attention into centering the vase. "You just caught me off guard."
"By saying this looks like a date?" Korra cocked her head. "When Bolin and I went out, we had dinner together and this feels like…" we're on a date right now, but Korra lost the courage to keep speaking
Because what if Asami didn't want to date her yet? Granted most of Korra's daydreams or momentary staring sessions were spend thinking about kissing Asami, but dates were supposed to come before kissing anyways, right? What if Asami hadn't thought about kissing her yet either? Ugh, if only the White Lotus included soul mate training in her Avatar regiment.
She glanced at Asami, who was arching an eyebrow. Then, her friend spoke carefully, like she was choosing her words one at a time. "This does have the atmosphere of a date. But when I suggested we go out, I meant," Asami bit her lip and looked away, "as friends."
"Oh." Something tingled in Korra's chest, like she'd eaten something spicy. But unless her body was randomly hurting, Asami must be painfully upset. She wasn't the only one. The word "friends" made Korra frown. She felt like she'd been slapped.
Across from her, Asami's head snapped up. "You're disappointed," she said, sounding entirely too cheery.
"I guess," Korra admitted. Friend. Just a friend. "You were upset, too. I felt it." She reached up and touched the base of her throat, where the tingling had started.
A laugh broke through Asami's lips, startling Korra. Then, Asami was reaching across the table, tugging Korra's hand free and lacing their fingers together, grinning unrestrained. Korra had never seen Asami so happy before.
"I was, yes. But Korra, do you know what this means?" She squeezed Korra's hand.
Her throat was too dry again but Korra hadn't bothered to refill her own glass. "That we both want this to be a…not friend thing?" When Asami nodded, Korra's heart beat fast and she could help but smile. Asami wanted this, wanted her. In the date sense, anyways. "So… this is a date? Our first date?" Say yes. Korra hoped she wasn't mouthing the words because she didn't feel in control of what her face did anymore.
Another hand squeeze. "If you want it to be," Asami said, suddenly looking shy.
"I do." She clutched at Asami's hand hard, not caring how sweaty her palm was.
"Good. Me too." Scratch her earlier statement, this was the happiest Korra had ever seen Asami. Her face practically glowed with warmth in the dim candlelight. The sight made Korra's chest swell. Spirits, she was on a date with her soul mate!
Before any more could be said, the waiter arrived, laden with two bowls of steaming seaweed noodles. Korra all but drooled as her bowl was set in front of her, the aroma hitting her and making her stomach growl. She must've made a face because Asami laughed. "Hungry?" She let go of Korra's hand but she left hers on the table.
"Starved," Korra admitted.
"Go ahead, dig in." Asami laughed again, but soon, she was eating her noodles with more gusto than Korra would've expected from a prim and proper heiress. "These are amazing!"
"The best," Korra said around a mouthful of noodles. She blushed when Asami stared at her after half the green noodles slip from her mouth back into her bowl. "Sorry."
Asami shook her head, chewed, and swallowed. "It's cute."
Korra nearly spit out all of her noodles in embarrassment. Instead, she finished her mouthful and stared at Asami because she could. She didn't feel weird now, looking unabashedly at Asami, because for the first time she really let herself look as more than a friend. Her black hair looked glossier in the low light, flowing over her shoulders and framing her face. Her pale, green eyes kept meeting Korra's before flitting away, always alight with a bright energy that left Korra smiling. Korra couldn't look away. "Well, you're gorgeous," she finally said. "And smart," she added hastily, afraid she was being too superficial. Plus, Asami was really, really smart.
"Thank you." For once, it was Asami blushing brightly, her cheeks like rosy petals.
They enjoyed their noodles in silence, trading glances. Looking away, finding each other again. But eventually, Korra's curiosity outweighed her hunger. "So, how long have you wanted to date me?" she asked.
Asami looked at her for a moment, then back down at her food. "Not too long," she said, scooping up more noodles and taking a small, delicate bite. How she managed to make eating noodles look sophisticated blew Korra's mind. "You?"
"Not sure, but tonight just…clicked." Everything felt right in this moment. "This is nice. I like this. You. Us." Was that going too far? Asami's grin and the way Korra's heart swooped made her think not.
After that, conversation was easy, like it always was. They talked long after their bowls were empty and the tea candles almost burned out completely. Asami had re-linked their hands after the meal and Korra was overwhelmed with the urge to never let go, which was scary and thrilling all at once. It wasn't until their waiter came over and asked them if they wouldn't mind moving along that they paid and left.
Outside was pitch black. Only the lanterns lining the shop exteriors and the southern lights dancing in the sky lit the path up the hill, back to Asami's hut. Korra offered her arm and Asami wrapped both of her arms around it, leaning into Korra's side. This was new, Asami not hesitating to touch her. And Korra no longer felt weird about relishing the contact.
It was because they were more than friends now, Korra realized. Sure, she and Asami figured out they were soul mates over half a year ago, and they'd shared each other's pain, but it didn't feel quite real. Not until now.
The silence around them was perfect as they leisurely wound up the path. Korra deliberately walked slowly; Asami had no problem matching her pace. They were almost parallel with the royal palace when Korra decided to stop, to drag the night out a little longer. With her free hand, she reached into her coat pocket and plucked out the item she'd stashed there. She slipped her arm free from Asami's grasp, which earned her a huff and a heart-skipping pout. "Korra," she began, reaching out to take Korra's arm again, but Korra held up a hand.
"I have something for you." She held up a pale blue rose, bleached white in the darkness.
Asami reached out tentatively, her mouth rounded in surprise. "Where did you—"
"Stole it from the vase on our table," Korra said, stepping close enough to thread the stem through a button hole on Asami's jacket. "I thought you could press it in one of your sketchbooks. If you want." She scratched the back of her head and looked at her feet. Their feet. She was so close to Asami.
Hands settled on her hips and she was tugged forward until her body was pressed against Asami's. Korra looked back up. Yeah, they were really close. With her head tilted down, Asami's eyes were almost even with Korra's. But Asami wasn't staring into her eyes. "I have something for you, too," she whispered, like saying it louder would scare Korra away. "Close your eyes."
Korra did as instructed, heart beat increasing as Asami's left hand left her waist and a second later, skimmed Korra's cheek. Asami's mitten was gone so her fingertips skated over Korra's skin, tracing a searing line from her forehead to her jaw before cupping her face completely. Korra did her best not to gasp, but she was pretty sure she was hyperventilating. She felt unsteady on her feet.
A thumb brushed over her bottom lip. Asami's voice, closer than ever, cut through the haze seeping into Korra's mind. "You've got noodle broth right here." Her thumb pressed hard against the corner of Korra's mouth.
"Asami," Korra whined, face flushed. "Did you really tell me to close my eyes so you could wipe broth off my face?" She really hoped not.
"No." Something bumped against her nose and Korra stopped breathing altogether. Her eyes strained to open, to see if Asami was as close as she imagined, but just as she started open her eyes, warm breath brushed her lips. Asami was going to…to…
The sound of shattering glass, followed by a shout and several bangs broke the blanket of silence around them. Korra's eyes snapped open and Asami jumped away, her hair whipping around as she looked for the commotion. Several of the palace windows burst with light seconds later and a dark figure bolted out of the main palace door.
Korra looked to Asami, her mind reeling. They almost…but focus Korra, focus. Someone's attacking the palace. Do something. "I don't suppose you brought your glove."
Asami shoved her bare hand into her coat pocket and produced the aforementioned accessory, pulling it on swiftly and firing it up. "I did."
More figures spilled out of the palace ahead of them. Korra smiled grimly. "Then let's go." With Asami at her side, she charged up the stairs.