Author note: Thank you ToasterMarketingBoard for editing this chapter! You're da best!
Day four of Kuvira's trial quietly came to a close. Tenzin and Jinora reported back to Korra with the feeling that tomorrow would be the final day of evidence and then it would move to the jury's 'deliberations.' The group agreed that deliberations would likely take a day or two, to pretend that the jury really considered their decision.
Dinner was over and the sun was starting to set when Korra popped open the wings on her airglider. She turned towards the city and was about ready to take off when Pema raced towards her.
"Korra!" the mother called out.
"Pema?"
"You're headed to Asami's, right? If my daughter is there, can you remind her that she has a curfew?"
Korra grinned. "I'll send her on home when I get there."
"Thank you," Pema said, patting the Avatar on the shoulder.
Korra arrived at Asami's apartment, rapped on the door a few times and waited. She looked down at the bouquet of flowers she had 'borrowed' from the gardens she passed on her way over. It wasn't as nice as the one she had purchased the other day, but the Avatar felt it made up for that in variety. After a few moments Korra tried the door again, with no answer. She could hear noise coming from inside; perhaps Asami was listening to some music, so she knocked a little louder. When no one answered Korra tried the door and fortunately it opened.
A giggling Asami and Ikki looked up at Korra as she walked into the apartment. As she suspected music was playing loudly from the phonograph. The two girls were sitting on Asami's loveseat; their fingers had little white balls in between them, splaying them out.
"Korra!" they said in unison.
"Hey," Korra replied, feeling a little out of place, "what are you two up to?"
"Doing our nails," Ikki said, proudly holding her hand out. She wiggled her fingers for emphasis. "Want us to do yours?"
"That's okay."
Asami got up to greet her girlfriend. "You brought me more flowers? You're too sweet. Can you air dry my nails so I can give you a proper greeting?" she asked, holding her hands out.
Korra shot a gust of air on the nails, quickly drying them.
"You're so handy," Asami said, draping her arms around Korra's shoulders and giving her cheek a few pecks.
The Avatar blushed and squeezed her girlfriend's body to hers. "I was hoping maybe we could try going for that walk."
"Let me just put these in some water," Asami replied, breaking the contact.
Korra took a seat across from Ikki. "Your mom's looking for you."
The young airbender started to slide down in her seat. "Lame."
The Avatar smirked, leaning forward and picking up one of the small bottles of polish from the coffee table between them. "You like this kinda stuff?"
"Mhmm! I like feeling pretty."
"Air nomads aren't really known for their glam, are they?"
"It's so stupid, I don't see how makeup and fashion would make us any worse at airbending." Ikki pouted, going to cross her arms, but then catching herself. She inspected her nails to make sure she hadn't smudged any of the paint.
"You won't get in trouble for that, will you?"
The young airbender examined her nails while she thought. "I don't think so."
Asami returned to the seating area, and stood behind Korra's chair. She leaned over the Avatar, wrapping her arms around her neck again, and rested her chin over one of her broad shoulders. "If you do get in trouble, we can always paint your toes instead. Those are easier to hide."
Ikki beamed and nodded. "Okay!" The young airbender held out her hands. "Korra, will you dry mine too, then I'll leave you guys alone."
The Avatar obliged and gave the young girl a quick hit. "Couldn't you have done that yourself?"
"It's better if someone can do it for you. I wouldn't want to risk messing up the polish," Ikki said, picking the white balls out from between her fingers.
The three girls then headed for the door. Asami grabbed a jacket off the coat rack and tucked it under her arms.
Once outside the apartment building, Ikki walked over to Asami and gave her a hug. "See you later!"
"Be careful flying back," the engineer said, squeezing back.
The young airbender moved over to Korra and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Night Korra."
Korra's expression softened and she embraced the young girl back. "Night Ikki, tell Pema I won't be coming back tonight."
Ikki blushed and gave Korra a nod before flying off. When the girl was gone, Asami pulled out a coat she had tucked under her arm and handed it to Korra.
"I'm not cold."
"If we're going for a walk I want to hold your hand, and we can't really be seen doing that yet so…"
"Why do I have to wear it?"
"You're the Avatar, you're more iconic," Asami said, putting the garment on Korra for her. The Avatar sighed and let her girlfriend have her way. Once the hood was up and over Korra's head, Asami was satisfied and took her hand. "Lead the way," the engineer said with a squeeze.
The pair walked away from the building towards Korra's namesake park. The sun had nearly set, and one by one the street lights flickered on.
"So… should I be worried?" Korra asked with a playful grin.
"Worried about what?"
"Ikki, Opal was teasing me about her moving in on my turf and I'm starting to believe her."
The engineer let out a laugh. "Ikki? She's a little young, don't you think?"
"I'm younger than you," Korra said, checking her shoulder into Asami's as they walked.
The engineer stopped walking, causing Korra to jerk back. Asami used the momentum to pull her girlfriend towards her and quickly captured her face with her free hand. She forcefully pressed her lips to Korra's, and when she was met with reciprocation she deepened the kiss, stroking the Avatar's tongue with her own. Once Asami felt she had proven her desire, she broke contact but kept her face close. Korra's pale blue eyes searched her own.
"Korra, you think after pining over you for three years I'd be picked up by another so easily?"
Korra opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out. Asami smiled, satisfied, and started walking away without her.
"I was only teasing," the Avatar explained as she caught up with her girlfriend, linking their hands together again. "You two have just become really close since we came back from the Spirit World."
"We have… she and I realized we have a few things in common." Asami felt a slight blush forming on her cheeks. "I always wanted a sibling; if my parents had more children, I don't think life would have been so lonely after my mother passed. I had my father, but I knew he'd go before me, though not this soon... Ikki, she's starting to feel like a little sister to me... it's nice."
"I think she feels the same way," Korra said with a squeeze.
"Did you ever want siblings?" Asami asked.
"I wondered what it would have been like to have one, but they would have just been another person I'd been separated from growing up. I am happy with the family I've found here in Republic City. I'd say I have found a similar sisterly connection with Jinora."
"Funny how that's worked out, I hope the two of them get along with each other someday."
"I'm sure they will when they're older, and until then they've got us."
The conversation died down once they reached Avatar Korra Park. It was Korra's first time there since the renaming. They weren't too far into the park before she could see her statue in the distance.
"You know, back in the Spirit World I had a vision of us coming to this park for our first date, but that was before I learned about your little addition to it. Now I feel like it would be kinda arrogant of me to bring you here."
"Why start worrying about that now?"
"Hey! I'm not…" Korra started, but she stopped, knowing Asami was right.
The engineer curiously cocked her head. "Not going to finish that sentence?"
A large grin crept across Korra's face. "So anyways, on this date, I thought we'd bring some bread so we could feed the turtle ducks. I shoulda asked you for some before we left..."
Asami looked around and spotted a lone vendor. The owner appeared to be starting to pack up, so she let go of Korra's hand and sprinted over.
The vendor turned around, startled by a voice.
"Excuse me sir, can I buy something before you close?" Asami called out, waving the man down.
"Sure Miss," the man said, going back to the other side of the cart.
The engineer looked at the menu; it was all meat-filled steamed buns. She shrugged, figuring they'd have to do.
"Four moo-sow buns please."
As she paid, Korra joined her. "Steamed buns?"
"There's bread on the outside, we can just pick around the meat filling," Asami said, passing her girlfriend the bag of buns.
Korra grinned and looked in the bag. "Mmm, these smell good."
"Those are for the turtle ducks!" the engineer scolded, linking her arm in Korra's. "So now this is officially our first date, right?"
"Not until we find some turtle ducks," the Avatar replied, tucking the bag under her free arm. "We should find some over by the water."
Not long afterwards the girls located a small family of turtle ducks, still swimming in the small stream that divided the park. They took a seat on the bank and started breaking off pieces of the dough from the steamed buns. Asami saw Korra sneak a few bites of the buns as she fed them.
Soon more of the little creatures started joining the original family, catching wind of the free meal. The girls had to start picking bits off faster to keep up with the squawks for more. Asami broke off a big chunk and tossed it into the water, then froze.
"Oops."
Korra looked over at her girlfriend, and then followed her line of sight, spotting the big piece of bread with meat bits on it. It was quickly gobbled up by the fowls and then gone.
The girls turned to each other.
"It should be fine… not like there was any turtle duck meat in there…" Asami tried to explain nervously.
Korra's face went serious as she leaned closer to Asami's face. "Careful Asami, that's how it all starts."
"What starts?" the engineer whispered, feeling the need to keep the conversation between them.
"They get a taste for flesh, and pretty soon they start getting curious about other meat sources, and before you know it, they're attacking humans. We saw that in the south, with the otter penguins."
"What have I done?" Asami exclaimed, slapping her hands to her face.
Korra pulled out the last bun from the bag and broke it in half. A puff of steam came out as it separated. She passed Asami her half of the bun and took a big bite of her own. "It's only a matter of time before they shut down the park because people don't feel safe."
"So you're doing everyone a favor by eating that bun?"
The Avatar nodded, shoving the rest of it into her mouth, "That's right, you should be thanking me!"
"I'll have to change your statue, make you holding a steamed bun in your hand," Asami said with a wink.
Korra blushed, and directed her attention to the turtle ducks. "I can't believe you did that…"
"Like I said at the trial, you made a great sacrifice for the Air Nation and saved our city many times. It's well deserved, my dear Avatar."
Once the last of Asami's steamed bun was gone, the turtle ducks started to leave. Silently the pair watched them lazily paddle away, the parents in front and the babies staggered behind them.
Korra rested her head on Asami's shoulder and let out a little sigh. "I'm sorry I left you the way I did the other night."
"Were you upset with me?"
"No, I just had some doubts about the plan. I wondered if Kuvira was worth risking all our lives over."
"You never questioned that about a mission before."
"The other times I was sure it was for the right cause."
"Korra, you can't start worrying about us now, we're with you all the way."
"I knooow, Raava already lectured me about it," Korra whined, raising her head from Asami's shoulder.
"Well you need to listen to her, she's right."
"I just wish I could go with them."
Asami's fingers sought out Korra's. "I know, I'm stuck here the whole time. Don't you think I'm stressing about letting you go off without me?"
"Suyin was smart to leave you out, someone needs to pay our bail if we all get arrested."
The engineer chuckled, "So that's the reason."
Korra looked down at their linked hands. She felt the soft skin of the back of Asami's hand with her thumb. "So… I've been thinking, when I come back, I want to tell my parents about us. I need to go visit them, will you come with me?"
Asami was startled by the racing in her heart over the proposal. "I'd love to go with you, but don't you think it'd be kinda weird having me there while you tell them? What if they are upset about it?"
"Then we'll leave. If it bothers them, I'll give them the time and space to get over it, but I really don't think it's going to be an issue. I mean, everyone here was happy for us," Korra said, turning to look at her girlfriend. She smiled, noticing the light blush on Asami's cheeks. With her free hand, the Avatar reached out, and tucked the hair blocking her face behind her ear.
"Don't be nervous, they already kinda know you, and once properly introduced, they'll love you."
Asami's lips turned into a small smile. "Okay, and to seal the deal, maybe you could tell me a few of their favorite things, so I can bring them with me?"
"You want to bribe my parents?" the Avatar asked with a chuckle.
"Think of it more as a down payment on your dowry."
Korra sat up straight in her spot. Her face quickled flushed.
"Are there any sort of Water Tribe customs I should know about?" Asami asked, batting her eyes.
"Isn't it a little early to be asking these sorts of questions?"
"No, you want to ask these things now."
"Our only courtship custom is the betrothal necklace but…" Korra put her hand to her chin. "Huh, with two girls who would it go on?"
"Betrothal necklace?"
"You know the necklace my mother wears, my father gave that to her when he asked her to marry him. The man is the one who gives it, but, well, if we ever wanted to get married I'm not sure what would be the procedure."
Asami looked out on the stream; all the turtle ducks were gone. The only thing on the water was the reflection of the park lights. She started to get up and Korra followed her lead.
"Well the beauty of a situation with no procedure is you get to make up your own," the taller girl said, reaching out her hand. Korra took the hand offered to her and they started walking.
"I don't know of any customs in my family, and if we do have them, they're lost now. One thing I do know is that I would want to wear my mother's dress. She kept it, it's made of Fire Nation silks and lace, it's beautiful."
Korra looked over at Asami as she spoke. Whenever her girlfriend spoke of her belated family she noticed the twinkle in her eyes. She couldn't imagine having no blood relations left at twenty-two. Even if something happened to her parents she at least had her cousins, and more realistically Tenzin and his family. Katara was basically a grandmother or great aunt to her… wife in a past life. That family was living proof that bonds can transcend lifetimes.
Asami, she only had memories now, and the close circle of friends she'd made. Korra's heart swelled with admiration of her girlfriend's strength and resilience in the face of all she had lost. Even though it was way too soon, way, way too soon, Korra thought again for emphasis, she couldn't help but entertain the pleasant thought of formally making Asami part of her family. The Avatar cocked her head, inspecting her girlfriend's neck, and decided that when the time came, a betrothal necklace would look really nice there.
To be continued...