Part 2: The Circle of Trust
Chapter 5 : The Inner Ring
Korra awoke to find herself lying on her back on a simple stone floor. As awareness gradually returned, she could make out the figure of Asami lying asleep on her side next to her, with a contented look on her face. Korra vaguely considered shutting her eyes again and just burying her face in Asami's chest…
Meeting with Katara. Don't keep her - and Aang - waiting.
Suddenly, a wave of despair washed over Korra, remembering the events of the past 24 hours, and how she believed she had been finished when Kuvira fell - only for the universe to gop up even worse problems in her lap. Korra began to cry softly, mind racing - what would a Spirit Civil War mean for the world? Would she ever just get any time to simply… be?
I told you yesterday, we have enough time. Don't dwell on might-have-beens, Korra. They lead nowhere.
Korra was starting to tolerate Raava's increasingly vocal presence better, but she still felt like she wanted to just shut herself away from the world.
Oh no; Aang did that once, and look how that turned out. No iceberg Korra! Plus, you'd be missing Asami.
Korra got the impression that Raava was beginning to understand how humans worked a lot better now - and she was right, Korra telling herself, "I need to take strength from my love for Asami - just like Uncle Iroh saidShe finally managed the strength to resist sleep's temptation, and woke Asami. Asami cooed, "Korra, are you all right? Have you been crying?" reaching out to tussle Korra's messy hair. Asami said, "If it's about what happened yesterday, we should talk to Katara, like we planned," smiling slightly, offering, "I can carry you again, if you like," laughing lightly and pretending to kiss Korra on the lips.
To Korra's surprise, she didn't blush this time, instead sighing in contentment, saying, "No, I can handle myself now - but thanks anyways." A mischievous gleam entered Korra's eyes, saying, "Maybe we can pick up where we left off in the Spirit World later… after our talk with Katara," knowing there were things that had to be done. Korra could see Asami blushing slightly, but without the deeper colors she found denoted shame or embarrassment, Asami saying, "That sounds like a real good idea, Korra. Let's go find Katara." Korra touched the ground to get a read on where Katara was, and they headed towards her location - Tenzin's house.
As they approached, she could hear some unusually loud conversation between a man and a woman. Getting closer, she could recognize the voices - Tenzin and Katara. Korra and Asami held back a fair distance, Korra figuring that whatever conversation they were having should be left alone.
"- she IS your daughter, Tenzin, but you have no business telling her who she can and cannot like! Would you have liked it if I told you that you had to keep dating Lin instead of breaking the relationship, and never known Pema?" Korra heard Katara's voice break out.
She and Asami snickered - they could hear Tenzin's signature sigh from all this distance, Tenzin admitting, "I guess you're right, Mother - but the moment I catch that Kai reverting back to his old habits again, I am separating them! That's final! Now leave me be - I feel the need to meditate after all that … civilized discussion." Korra heard an audible sliding, and the slight rattle of a bamboo door slamming against a house's frame.
Seeing that Katara was coming, and not wanting to be caught staring at Tenzin's quarters, she turned to Asami and whispered "Look like we're talking about something, quick!" Asami's green eyes flared slightly, saying, "Like what? We can't appear to be talking about this - stuff - we're supposed to keep under wraps, and certainly not what -"
"Oh dear, please don't tell me you're bickering already. That isn't supposed to come for another 20 to 30 years," an old sage female voice said behind them. Asami and Korra turned to face a smiling Katara at the same time, who continued, "I can only guess that you two heard something of that conversation. Look, I don't like yelling at family members, and it's not like our family is as out of whack as the Beifong clan - but disagreement is part of any healthy relationship."
Huh. Never thought of that, Raava said within Korra's head. "Wait, seriously - you didn't know that already? That explains a lo-"
Not now, Korra! I may like humans, but I have not really been paying attention to the fine nuances of human-y-ness until recently. Like… really recently. Korra snickered slightly. Human-y-ness…
Katara asked, "You think yelling is funny, Korra? Or are you talking to that voice in your head again?" unconvincingly wagging her finger. Between Raava's awkwardness and Katara's finger-waggle, Korra burst out laughing, finally quieting with a smile. She drew a deep breath, and let out a long sigh, admitting, "You got me." Korra raised her arms in mock surrender, saying, "I was snickering at the voice in my head. Now let's go underwater before Tenzin decides he needs to ask me how to meditate into the Spirit World or something." Korra picked up a few tiles off the terrace, and motioned to the now levitating pieces of earth, saying, "Hop on, and let me bend us there." Katara smiled, stating, "I'm sure Tenzin won't be happy about these slabs being absent, but he can be unhappy with a lot of things. Plus, I've never seen somebody do this before." Asami was already trying to find her balance atop her tile, and as soon as Katara got on hers, Korra used a brief pulse of the Avatar State to launch them towards water.
Just before impact, her eyes flashed again, as she created an air bubble around them, also creating channels inside the solid sea floor to pump air in and out of their hiding place at the same time. She wound down the Avatar State with impeccable control - control of it something she would never take for granted again. Sensing she could still talk while maintaining the water bubble, she turned to face Katara, who looked like she wanted to help, staying Katara's hand from moving as she said,"No, Katara, it's fine - I've got the bubble. If I need a break from talking, Asami will take over so I can focus on the bubble and keeping a steady stream of air going. Don't want to suffocate."
And so Korra began explaining what happened in the Spirit World the day before in greater detail, taking a break from talking when Asami was reading the transcript from Iroh's warnings and prophecies. She decided to feel the flow of the water as she maintained the bubble and the path of the wind through her earthen breathing tubes to relieve some stress. It felt much better than the brute force bending she relied so heavily on. Korra finally saw what the White Lotus Masters and Tenzin meant by "feeling the element" and connecting with it, rather than merely commanding it to obey her will.
Her eyes suddenly opened - and wondered why she had never tried to follow her tutor's advice before. She felt as though she were flowing as water, and light as air. She was only knocked out of her reverie when Asami lightly tapped her leg, asking, "Korra, did something bad happen? Why did you open your eyes like that? I finished talking for you, up until the point where I blacked out - I figured you might be busy talking to Raava or something." Korra chuckled lightly, answering, "I was just doing what my Sifus - Katara included - have been telling me to do for years: actually feel the elements I am bending instead of just figuratively yelling at them to obey my command."
What had been a concerned expression on Katara's face lightened as she said, "Yes, it's always good to listen to what your teacher has to tell you - and it sounds to me like Raava might be asking you to teach her more of humanity. I know the purpose of the Avatar is in large part to teach what Aang called the Avatar Spirit - what we now know to be in large part Raava - what it is like to be human." Katara put her hand to her chin, and asked "Would that have anything to do with why you snickered earlier? It's not nice to laugh at someone who is learning, much less someone who is part of you, and a very powerful spirit to boot."
Yeah, that wasn't very nice - now say you're sorry, she heard Raava intone in her head, but not entirely seriously - it was almost as if Raava were practicing something. That was human-y, right Korra?
Korra just laughed, and said out loud "Yes to both of you," after which Katara snickered slightly. Before she could start telling Katara more fully what happened after Asami blacked out, Raava had another question. What is that sound you humans keep making sometimes before or after you laugh? It sounds like you're going to choke. Korra figured explaining humor to Raava would take a pretty long time, so she merely thought to herself, "That's complicated, and part of human humor - something very few people know how to explain well. I'll try my hand at it later." This dual conversation was starting to wear on Korra, and she just wanted both to end. She told Katara all about the uncontrolled Avatar State she experienced, and the position it occurred in. After she had told Katara of where her left hand went, it looked like a lightbulb went off in Katara's head.
Katara began, stating "So Asami told me that 'Uncle' Iroh said that a great spirit would give someone a great gift - one that had never been given before. And you said that your left hand, pulsating with what could only be the energy of Raava, touched Asami roughly above her womb. It appears Raava has seen that you and Asami could never have a child naturally, and has seen fit to make this possible in an unknown manner. It would appear that Raava values you very highly, Korra - this sounds like something she hasn't done since the days of the first Avatar, Avatar Wan."
Korra had a familiar feeling again, and let herself be subsumed immediately instead of resisting - she knew that Raava would not hurt Katara, much less Asami. Korra felt the great white spirit begin to speak through her chest: "Yes, Katara, you are correct - Korra has achieved much in her lifetime, as your son Tenzin told her directly. I have also seen sacrifices made by humans, such as that of Hiroshi Sato, Asami's father, and also the bravery exhibited by your eldest granddaughter, Jinora. The world would likely have fallen to the darkness and madness of Vaatu had she not helped illuminate me for Korra, or if Korra had not relied upon her own essence instead of mine when I was weak. These reasons, and others, are why I have decided to push for individuals - spirit or human - to be judged based on their worth and merits and not simply by the status of immortal or mortal. Given that Korra made the choice to reverse Avatar Wan's original decision on the Spirit Portals ten thousand years ago, and allow human and spirit to mingle freely once more… Change must occur to prevent atrocities such as those committed by Kuvira the 'Great Uniter' against the physical spirit vines - or those plotted by Long Yumao the Opportunist against humans and those spirits who do not despise mortals. Even before giving Korra this gift, I gave humanity a gift - one which you haven't found explicitly yet. I look forward to seeing the reaction of the first to figure it out." Korra could feel her own consciousness resume primacy once more as she heard Raava finish, "That is all."
And Avatar, the Spirit World meeting is still on, though substantially shortened - I did not anticipate speaking so long. An energy pushed me on, as I saw the glittering eyes of Asami and Katara - a distinctly human-y energy. The spirit's voice paused momentarily. Was it… pride? Korra still did not understand Raava fully, but she did remember how the comment from Tenzin had made her feel, and what it meant to her. Korra thought "Yes, I believe so," to herself - or more accurately, Raava.
How far the world has come since the days of Avatar Wan…
Korra shook her head slightly - she could have sworn that Raava's thoughts and her own were as one for that sentence alone. She turned to face Asami and Katara, and suddenly realized she was feeling tired - not exhausted like last night, but she could definitely benefit from a short rest. No - she wanted to do something else first, she thought, winking at Asami.
Katara shrugged, saying, "I thought my involvement with the spirits would be done when Aang passed on - shows me what I know." Katara must have seen the slight rings under Korra's eyes, as she stated, "Korra, you look like you could use some sleep, and I think Raava made plenty clear what has happened, and why, even if she won't say anything about this other gift. I will talk to Mako about what has happened here, and as you 'expand the circle of trust', as Raava had told you, let me know who to fill in." Katara looked to Korra's arms, and noticed they were slowing in their motions - something Korra had just now noted herself. Katara offered, "Korra, let me take control of the water bubble, and you can get us back to where we were before. I may be old, but I can still bend. If you're careful with your earthbending you might even be able to put the tiles back in the right place."
Korra managed a slight smile. After they returned in the way they came back to Air Temple Island and Korra had sensed Mako's position, she told Katara where he was - thankfully, alone along the north side of Air Temple Island, on the shore near a fire he had bent. Upon hearing of the fire, Katara's face lit up, and she said, "Good - maybe that fire will get out the water I miss. I didn't tell you, but you started letting the bubble down a little at the end, my dear," as she bent the moisture out of all three's hair and clothing.
After Katara left, Korra and Asami returned to Tenzin's artifact room. Looking at Asami, she felt a rush of something that told her she wasn't tired anymore, never would be again. She had never felt this feeling before, and although it was similar to the many adrenaline rushes she had felt over the years, though adrenaline never made her feel like losing control. And… grabbing Asami's butt? Or her chest? She couldn't quite put the name on this feeling, but she was really liking it. She managed to splurt out, as they entered the room, "Asami, close that door. There's something I want to do, and badly." Korra could feel an odd grin forming on her face, all the while staring intently at Asami's shapely rear end as she went to shut the door.
Asami must have known something Korra didn't about facial expressions, as when Asami turned around, her cheeks flushed almost completely, and she began pouting her lips. This just made Korra more… what? Apparently, Asami knew, saying, "I've seen that look before. Looks like somebody wants to pick up where we left off yesterday, before that … interruption." Asami smiled, putting her hands at the bottom of her vest, which she began to unbutton and remove, revealing her shirt underneath. As Asami finally began removing her shirt, Korra felt one of her hands shoot a blast of air that knocked her own off.
Asami stopped suddenly, looking at Korra's increasingly sweaty body, fixating on Korra's chest. She could barely hear Asami as she said "Now, no really funny business - I may be pregnant, but I don't want someone, goodness forbid Tenzin, walking in on us - going all out with each other," over the sound of Korra's own increasingly heavy breathing. Korra managed to mumble "Sure, yeah, whatever," intending to "push it" some - her body demanded it! Asami seemed to buy it, since she came closer, and lightly touched her bare shoulder. Korra felt a shiver shoot up her spine, like lightning.
Unable to stand it any longer, Korra dropped to the floor, rolled over, grabbed Asami by the waist and drug her down on top of her. She felt all kinds of new sensations through her body, and made to grab at Asami's butt. Her hand lay outstretched over her partner's rear now, and Asami giggled, rolling so that both were on their sides. She then pressed into Korra's face, kissing her on the lips.
Suddenly, she felt a rush of the same feeling she had felt what seemed like so long ago, during the failed vacation - love. This feeling tempered what she now remembered her father had called "lust", and she no longer had any intention of pushing too hard on Asami to do a lot more than what they were currently doing. Korra grinned mischievously, though - she still wanted to push a little.
Asami muttered dreamily "I always wanted to do this…" as she rolled once more, putting Korra staring up into her beautiful face again. With but a little input from Korra, her hands began making bending motions - she was going to take off those cursed straps - bras - around their upper bodies that kept them from fully physically touching. Korra dismissed the random thought of, "Shouldn't you call them breasts?", thinking, "What? No, I - " Seeing them move in front of her, Korra no longer did something as boring as thinking. Both her own and Asami's metal bra clasps began to move, and Korra could tell she had a mesmerized look on her own face.
She was shocked to feel the slap - it was light, but still stung. Asami pushed away from her, leaving her on the floor alone. She didn't like being alone - not when she got so close…
Asami said, crossing her arms, "HEY! I told you, no really funny business - I was fine with everything up to your sneak attempt to undo my bra. It's not that I don't feel the same way for you - just not here." Asami paused, lowering herself back over Korra. She noticed Asami's eyes glittering, and her cute mouth grinned wildly. She put out a finger, and began tracing Korra's collarbone, saying with a sultry voice, "That's what mansions are for, silly."
Asami and Korra both burst out laughing, seemingly laughing harder than they ever had in their lives. Korra's mouth opened so far her jaw hurt.
Korra suddenly felt like doing nothing more than just cuddling next to Asami - she felt tired enough for a short nap. Even though Asami wasn't sleepy, she seemed glad to join Korra for a close slumber.
As Korra drifted off to sleep, she mumbled, "I regret nothing."
Neither do I, Korra. Sweet dreams, young Avatar.