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Summary: As Korra embarks on a mission to aid in the Earth Nation's reconstruction, she entrusts Kuvira, currently under house arrest, with the protection of Asami Sato. Meanwhile, Republic City faces continued reconstruction and a growing threat to Asami's life. As she grapples with her complex emotions toward her father's murderer, Asami must navigate political intrigue and personal turmoil to secure her safety and the future of Republic City.

Set after the series finale and Ruins of the Sato ignored the stinging in her tight shoulder muscles as she loomed over the blueprints on her desk. Placing a finger in the top corner, she dragged it around, following an outline, making a mental note of the numbers and calculations written on the paper. Asami paused as Korra put her hand on top of hers, lacing their fingers together. Asami sat in the seat at her desk, lowering her head.

"Your calculations have been perfect just like the last three times you double checked them," Korra said. She gently moved Asami's hand and rolled up the blueprints before gently placing them off to the side of the desk. She then gently moved Asami's chair around, before kneeling down in front of her. Korra reached out and placed a hand on Asami's cheek, gently turning her head. "Please, talk to me."

"There's nothing to talk about," Asami insisted, her voice quiet. She raised her shoulder, brushing Korra's hand off. "You already made your decision, and there's nothing else I can do but go along with it."

"That's not true." Korra shook her head. "You know I value your thoughts and opinions. Just because I'm the Avatar-."

"I should listen and do what you think is right."

"No," Korra said. "I don't want you to be like others who blindly follow what I say just because I am what I am." She half-smiled. "What are you thinking?"

Asami took a deep breath, holding Korra's gaze. She then got up out of her seat and turned around to walk over to the large windows behind her desk. She grabbed two handfuls of the curtains before flinging them open. The lights of Republic City glittered along the harbor's waters. Avatar Korra Park was filled with people watching a performance by the Wandering Mask Troup or taking a stroll along one of the many paths. Turtleducks gently skimmed the surface of the pond, creating ripples and distorting reflected images.

"After my mother died, my father put his all into this company," Asami said. She continued to look out over the city. Korra got to her feet but decided not to join her girlfriend ad the window. She just stood and watched as Asami's eyes scanned the city.

"I remember," Korra said.

"He kept a watchful eye over me after that," she continued. "I had to ask for permission before doing anything, even using our pool or to take a walk on the grounds. I had someone follow me to and from school or when I went shopping in the city. He didn't think I noticed but I always knew. All of that I could handle."

Asami turned around, looking in Korra's direction, her green eyes filled with anger while her face remained calm. "I detested when he made decisions for me. Who I could and couldn't hang out with. When I would do my homework. What school I would attend. Don't get me wrong, I got into all of this after watching my Mom and Dad, but after she passed…I didn't feel like I had a voice, or a mind until I decided not to side with him and the Equalist movement. I don't like being a puppet."

Korra closed the space between the two of them, placing her hands on Asami's shoulders. "You're not a puppet."

"Then why did you agree to it?" Asami demanded. "My father was murdered because of all of this."

"The Earth Kingdom-"

"There is no Earth Kingdom anymore."

"The Earth Nation needs my assistance now more than ever to rebuild and become," Korra said. "It will be better that I do that now as the world turns towards being more…self-reliant."

"And I don't need you?" Asami asked.

Korra removed her hands from Asami's shoulders, stuffing them into her pockets. "The bad timing is not lost on me."

"Korra, a few days ago someone attacked me."

Korra inhaled sharply. It wasn't something she could easily forget. It was supposed to just be a simple day in the city, spending some time together, out shopping and grabbing some lunch.

It had become increasingly difficult for the two to find some alone time together as reconstruction projects continued in Republic City, and the calls for the Avatar's assistance in the Earth Nation from King Wu became far more frequent.

On that day, Korra and Asami had just left a store when someone ran up and struck Asami in the back of the neck. "Asami," Korra cried, holding her girlfriend in her arms as she slumped over. Korra kicked her foot out, using firebedning to knock the chi-blocker down the street. He gently placed Asami onto the ground, brushing some of her dark hair out of her face.

"My arms feel weird," Asami whispered.

"Chi blockers," Korra hissed, through gritted teeth as the chi-blocker got back to his feet.

"I'll be fine, go get him," Asami insisted.

Korra pressed her lips to Asami's forehead before calling out to the shop owner to watch over Asami before taking off down the street. Korra shouted out to people to move out of the way as she dodged civilians, never letting the chi-blocker out of her sight.

The two task members on the truck bent the water out of the giant tank, shooting towards the doors as Tarrlok and another task force member pushed the main doors open. The water quickly flooded the room and knocked the chi-blockers inside against the walls. Korra charged through and split the water in half, freezing the chi-blockers against the wall.

She spotted movement from the corner of her eye. A chi-blocker had flipped over a table to block the water from him hitting him. Korra rushed over, kicking the table away from him. The chi-blocker grabbed her leg before flinging her across the room. Korra landed on her feet. She waved her arms high in the air, bending some of the frozen water into a stream. She circled the stream of water around her body before punching it forward.

When the water struck the chi-blocker, she expected him to be swept off his feet from the force of the water. She was thrown off guard as a huge cloud of steam filled the room. Korra flinched as the water vapor stung her cheeks. The Avatar shielded her eyes and peered through the steam, looking for the chi-blocker. She dropped her arms, her mouth opening in shock when she watched the embers of a fire being put out at the end of the chi-blocker's fist. "What?" Korra gasped. The chi-blocker, no, firebender, slowly moved into a low, crouching position. He raised his arm high into the air and stepped forward, before being pushed back by a giant wave of water. It instantly froze.

Korra then unfroze the water, letting it splash to the ground before spiritbending nearby vines, tying him up to a nearby light pole. When Lin and her police force had arrived, she seized Equalists equipment and weapons from the body of the attacker as well as a photograph of Asami out shopping a few weeks prior.

"And that's why I need someone here with you. To make sure you're safe," Korra insisted. "I would have you be with Tenzin and his family, but he and Jinora are wrapped up with the new Air Nation recruits. The South Pole is too isolated even with a direct access from the new portal, and…I haven't really talked to my Dad since…well, you were there. Plus, the Fire Nation and Fire Lord Izumi has always been off by themselves. That didn't leave a lot of choices."

"A choice was to bring me into the conversation when my name came up," Asami pointed out. "I can come with you and help."

"I'm not disagreeing with you, but you're needed here."

Asami inhaled before slowly letting out the breath. She moved to take a seat in one of the chairs that faced her desk. Korra grabbed the other empty seat, moving to place it in front of Asami's before sitting down. Their knees touched. Korra reached out and grabbed a hold of Asami's hands.

"Then why did you do it?" Asami asked.

"I know I can make rash decisions for others without thinking, but as I have to focus on some many people at once and their safety-"

Asami stiffened. "Why are you hiding behind the Avatar title? I'm trying to talk to you, Korra."

"And I'm listening, Asami," Korra said, squeezing her hands. "Why are you picking a fight with me?"

"I'm not." Asami shook her head. "I'm just…letting you know that people view the Avatar and bending from many different points of view. Just like the equalist movement. I'm not saying I agree with the extreme lengths the Equalists stood for and put into play but-"

"But?" Korra repeated.

Asami smiled sadly. She leaned forward and pressed her forehead against Korra's. "I always knew the risk of being with you," Asami said. "I don't see you as the Avatar who is Korra. I see you as Korra, who just so happens to be the Avatar. There are a lot of responsibilities and decisions that you will have to make to keep balance in this world.

Korra pulled back. "I'm confused on what the overall issue is. Are you upset, and rightfully so, that I coordinated for Kuvira to keep watch over you while I'm gone? Or that I'm trying to bring balance to the world which includes eradicating this new Equalist threat, but you're agreeing with what they stand for?"

"I can't bend, Korra," Asami pointed out. "I have nothing against benders, but I don't see a problem with things being more equal. Just not their methods."

"Which is what started with your dad funding them," Korra pointed out. Her eyebrows furrowed, before realization raced across her face. "Who died in action-"

"Murdered," Asami interrupted.

"Murder by Kuvira, who will now be here."

Asami nodded. "Whom will be a reminder of everything. So much has happened since we first met. It's not just one thing. It's a lot of small things. For me, it feels like everything." She raised and lowered a shoulder. "With her here, I don't know if I'll be able to breathe."

Korra leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Asami's forehead. "I'm sorry. We will get through this. Together. You just have to trust me."

Asami pressed their foreheads together again. She then slightly rubbed their noses together. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the slight salty and smoky air around Korra. "I always have." She then started to chuckle. "It is nice to know that you care enough to have someone look after me…in the Sato Estate…in the middle of the city…with someone after me."

"The irony is not lost on me." Korra smiled. She then regarded Asami with a determined look on her face. "I promise you, whenever you need me I'm just a radio call away. I will be back as soon as I can. I should only be gone for a week at the most. I may protect the world, but you will always be my number one priority."

"I should be second." Asami pointed out. She opened her eyes, locking onto the blue ones in front of her. "You should be your number one priority to get back here safely."

Korra kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you." Asami squeezed Korra's hands before sighing heavily and leaning back in her chair, her fingers slipping out of Korra's hands and into her lap. "When does she arrive?"

Korra winced. "About an hour ago."

AN: This story was written between May 2024 and September 2024 as I participated in the WIP Big Bang. However, this story's plot/idea first came about in December 2022 and has been sitting around until I cam across the 2024 WIP Big Bang.