Previous chapter:

Korra separates herself—the Avatar—from the White Lotus. Then, Katara grants Korra a case—an heirloom. A fake watch to keep a betrothal necklace in that Aang once used to cheekily make Katara his "forever girl." The worlds then collide on the Winter Solstice to symbolize the elopement of Korra and Asami as they enter back into Republic City by its new spirit portal, together as fiancées.

Out Of This World

Everything is destroyed.

Kuvira is going to prison.

I'm not dead.

I am alive.

We are alive.

We survived again.

I am in control.

"Korra, you coming?"

"..."

"No."

Most of the people seated in Oogi's saddle peeked over the edge down to the Avatar.

"I'll follow you later," she said, gaze tracing the spiral which bored through the clouds, instead of meeting green eyes. Yellow light suffused her tired and worn face.

"...Okay then," Tenzin replied before anyone else could. "Yip yip."

In her peripheral she watched the sky bison fly away just in time for her resolve to slowly crumble. Korra's face twisted with tears of woeful anguish, falling without pause. She placed herself alone there on the ground in a cross-legged position in front of the new portal, feeling her shoulders shake whilst wallowing in her self-misery. Her ears picked up nothing but the stillness of the place, a war zone where everything was dead, the silence not speaking of what had occurred here just minutes ago.

The sun was not yet near peeking up over the horizon when she wiped her reddened cheeks, stood, and walked back into the new spirit portal of which she had inadvertently created. Having let out her pain, the Spirit World glowed instead of crackling thunder upon her, soothing her like it knew what she needed.

Using her newly found clairvoyant powers, that are infinitely more powerful in this world, Korra touched the ground of the flower fields and let herself be transported to Air Temple Island. There on her bed lay a fitfully asleep heiress with nightmares no doubt about him. How the hand mercilessly squashed Hiroshi Sato, and her unable to do anything but watch from a distance as she gently parachuted down to the ground. Asami woke up in the now, crying unashamedly, trying her best to keep quiet the sobs, suffocating them in the gap between her knees. Korra watched it all happen, floating above. She laid a hand on the shoulder of the girl who had lost everything.

Somehow Asami felt it. A cold touch from a spirit beyond.

"Dad?"

Just as quickly as it had appeared, the touch vanished and her laments continued to echo into unfeeling, empty space.

The energy around the crater shifts and the hundreds of spirits nearby can sense it coming from the portal, like a brain sending signals to a nervous system. Just weeks ago this place had been bustling with activity, hundreds of mecha suits circled the area, scavenging the humongous platinum titan, leaving only this hole and the vines and the ruins of a place that is no longer human. It is now the quiet new backyard to the spirits beyond leaving their world for this one.

Transcending from the Spirit World come two people and a beast, followed by a swarm of incandescent, undefinable creatures that are truly beautiful to look at. But these two women pay no attention to the wildlife around them. They only have eyes and hands for each other, the only things that seem to be important in this moment, that connects them and grounds them. It takes effort to peel their eyes away from one another, but once the one dressed in cold colors recognizes that the fluttering flakes from the sky is snow, she pokes the girl in warm colors beside her as if to say: 'look at this, have you seen anything like it?', even though they both just came from a place of ice the day before. And Asami would say no, thinking that all these beautiful things they've seen have made them that much more aware and grateful of the worlds around them. She thinks that they are incredibly lucky to have two worlds in their universe, meaning she'd be happy with just one, though, only as long as she is beside Korra.

Just then, her lover turns from the sky toward her, grinning from ear to ear like she can read her mind. They kind of do have telepathic powers, having been around essentially nobody else but each other, that now a shared look between them can speak volumes.

Not much has changed here, though they notice that the crippled and dead metal giant is missing from the pit, leaving it even more empty were it not for all the life around them. It feels like an evil metaphor for Korra, how she lost her legs and now the remains are nowhere to be found. But she is here, alive, exceptionally well and really, really in love with Asami Sato. Everything is different for them, in a wonderful way.

Even though they have left the Spirit World for now, it almost seems as if everything around them still responds to their emotions. Korra and Asami feel bright inside, so it must be shining on their reality. It's too good to be true, to think that this world would be happy as long as they are, but maybe it already always was. They just couldn't see out of the fog.

Finding their way through the Spirit Wilds, they see what used to be a road weaving its way through debris and around spirit vines, Satomobiles parked at its sides crushed beneath rubble. Everything smells fresh and green because of the vines spreading, sprouting up from beneath the cracked asphalt of Asami's roads, ignoring the snow piling on top of it in favor of growing strong. It all makes you want to breathe as much as you can, to feel your lungs expanding, working.

In the background, the endless spiraling beam trails upwards to split the sky. Asami's hand takes the delicately crafted crystal hanging on her necklace and twirls it between her fingers. From now on she'll always carry a little bit of light with her everywhere she goes and she's thankful for being so privileged as to have experienced the best of both worlds.

Everything is alive. They survived all of this and have the whole city to shape, make it the best it has ever been.

Behind them, Naga recklessly bounds straight towards the couple. With a whiff and a whine she begs for attention and receives it from both the girls with a few ruffles of the fluffy fur on her neck and behind her ears. A huge tongue unconsciously lolls out of the beast's mouth and dazed from affection, she doesn't notice the pair moving to climb up on her saddle. The Avatar removes her small green backpack and hangs it on the side of the huge polar bear dog to make room for the girl behind her.

"Yip yip, Naga!" Korra yells once seated comfortably with her gloved hands in homespun reins, the quip earning a laugh from Asami who's arms firmly wrap around her fiancées midsection.

'Yip yip' is not her command, but the animal guide happily takes off anyway towards a place she knows very well.

While riding away from the main island on one of the many large suspension bridges, Korra glances behind her as if it's the last time she'll ever look back. The entire peninsula flourishes with spirits and vines. This is not the same bustling metropolis she came to as a naive teenager, looking to buy food for her companion without any money. The cityscape now includes a spirit portal, one she had somehow made and yet feels no ownership over, and all the bridges lead to another world.

"This feels familiar," the woman who is older by a year in age, but far older than most, says to Korra—her equal, her other half, her one and only. Asami snuggles up to the firm back in front of her.

"Mmm, I'm not cold this time if you were wondering..." Korra responds lovingly, recalling when she was brought tea by this compassionate woman just a month ago. When the city still stood and things were much more uncertain.

Standing together under the gazebo on Air Temple Island, the couple watch the sun trail ever higher and snow sailing straight into the water below, instantly melting upon touching. White drops, each one completely unique and never repeating the same pattern again, getting lost in sea. A part of the bay freezes under the Avatar's hand to allow some flakes a place to land and remain in their special form for longer.

Life is unfair.

"How can you not be?" Asami enquires, then swipes a finger along her girlfriend's body. "Especially in this."

'This' meaning the red airbender suit that Korra found and desperately wanted to try on. "Ask yourself. Why does one bring hot tea to a born-in-the-south firebender wearing a tank top during fall?"

Asami flushes but finds no reason to defend herself. She got what she wanted, and seeing Korra in one of the suits that she made all those years ago is just a bonus. She bites the lower left half of her lip. Blue would be better for Korra.

"No wonder it fits so well, this explains all those drawings of me in your journal," Korra teases. "And you've been working on that thing our whole vacation. What are you planning?"

"Oh I have many ideas," replies Asami.

"Many brilliant ideas," corrects Korra.

A cough gains their attention and there stands Tenzin behind them. "Ahem, excuse me ladies. I thought I'd say one last goodbye before you left."

Korra giggles. "We're not going halfway around the world, Tenzin. I'm just moving in with Asami," she says with a smile on her face.

The Avatar's long time mentor gives her a genuine, almost fatherly smile back. "I remember a woman a long time ago who was brash and impulsive," he says then nods to the necklace around Asami's throat. "I see nothing has changed."

"No," the tribal woman responds. She meets Asami's eyes. "It really hasn't. I just know that there's nobody else I could possibly want to spend the rest of my life with."

"Besides, Korra Sato does have a nice ring to it," Asami replies, eyes and teeth shining.

The short woman chuckles and closes her eyes in content while leaning into the other woman's space, giving a short heartfelt 'yeah', which Asami responds to by doing the same and leaning in, and to Tenzin he has never seen two people so in love. The young duo then seem to realize that there is another person in the vicinity and turn to them, slightly panicked.

"Uh, thank you for dinner Tenzin..." says Korra while rubbing her neck, looking up into his gray eyes. "For everything." The next sentence she tosses over her shoulder, already moving towards the docks with her fiancée in tow. "Give Pema and the kids our best! Oh, and make sure Naga comes home!"

"I will, and Korra?" he calls out.

The Avatar—just about to take off with the other adult on her back, who is also carrying their packs—cranes her neck towards the tattooed bald man.

"Take care of yourself," he says, and when it usually was so easy to command the young woman, he finds it is hard to use the authoritative voice on her anymore. Besides, the scene is quite hilarious.

He catches a quick glimpse of her signature lopsided smile, which always tells of daredevil intentions, and he has never been so happy to witness it. A gust of wind signifies his former apprentice's departure into the skies, where the now high standing sun forces him to shield his eyes.

That nothing has changed is just something they hopelessly like to believe because then everything is so much less complicated, familiar, and old. Four years ago Tenzin found the two of them after a seventeen-year-old Korra had just invited Asami to stay on the island and showed the heiress her room. The heiress whom he had personally witnessed grow from a scared six year old girl who just lost her mother, into the cool, collected industry magnate they all know today. It's not like he knew back then, none of them knew what was going to happen in the future. But that anything stayed the same is just an illusion.

Learning to swim, ride a bike, drive, fly. All of these have one thing in common besides being different transportation methods. Once you learn how to do each of them, you'll never forget how to again. It may feel weird at first if you haven't done that thing in a while but it soon wears off.

Maybe Korra should have test flown the suit on her own first before carrying another person her back. Another person who is currently clinging onto whatever part of Korra's body she can grab onto.

"Don't worry Sami, there's nothing to crash into up here anymore." The Avatar can't keep the slight grin off her face.

Eventually they reach the Sato Mansion, where Sato is a little shaken and more than happy to be back on solid ground. The large house, or more like a castle, seems as empty and large as ever.

"I thought you were used to flying," Korra teases. "What with all your planes and stuff." The bender is suddenly pushed up against the double doors.

"I am, it's just that I didn't really get a chance to hold on to anything," Asami darkly voices into Korra's ear. "I am however what you would call an adrenaline junkie so it was fine, great even," she says as she grabs a handful of Korra's behind through the tight fabric. Her cheeks are rosy from both the weather and other circumstances.

"Ohh...right in the middle of the day?" Korra rasps. "Miss Sato, you vixen," she gets out before crashing their lips together passionately, hands roaming in thick raven hair.

They break apart far too quickly for either woman's liking, heads buzzing and lips swelling. Short and long hair already disheveled, if not from flying.

"Let's continue this inside, where it's a bit hotter," Asami suggests, drawing an involuntary moan from her lover which she takes as an agreement.

The doors push aside with the estate owner barging inside, her hand clamped around the accompanying Avatar's wrist. Only she forgot to take into account that Bolin's family still lives here. And, unfortunately, there comes the man himself rounding the corner just in time to see the two lovely ladies before they get the chance to bolt away and handle their unfinished business. The lavabender hollers at them and quickly moves to envelope them in one big hug rather than two separate.

"Korra, Asami! I missed you guys, welcome back!" He steps away then and pauses with widening eyes and stiffening body language. "...Whoa. You two look like you just came out of the fountain of youth."

The girls realize that this will have to wait so they brush their clothes down straight and greet their friend.

"Good to see you too, Bolin," Korra says, then she leans forward a bit because something caught her eye. "Hey! You have a stubble!"

The manly man rubs his now protruding chest proudly. "I know. Isn't it cool?! I can finally stop wearing fake mustaches! Although..." His excitement dies down a little. "Opal doesn't like kissing me when I have a beard."

"Where's Mako?" Asami asks, thinking that he cannot possibly be back at the station already.

"He's around here somewhere," he replies, then his lips turn into a smirk. The girls' eyebrows quirk. "I see the vacation went well."

"Oh, yeah..." the young rambunctious woman turns awkward all of a sudden, scratching her head again. The arm she raised falls and confidently grasps the hand of the more mature woman beside her whom she proposed to, earning another smile. "It did... I'm surprised you're not more surprised?"

"Oh I am, trust me. I'm happy for you and I'm just containing my excitement for your sake since it seems, and I'm only guessing here, that you two were about to go do something?"

They both blush furiously at being called out and a very flustered Asami yells, "Bolin!"

He scampers off laughing through the halls of the manor.

"We have to tell everyone before he does," Asami tells Korra.

The Avatar nods affirmingly and they leave their backpacks at the entrance. Beginning another adventure, they go look for the the family that's possibly scattered throughout the four, more like fifty, corners of the huge building. The investigation goes on for at least an hour before the couple gives up on finding anyone. There wasn't a single soul in the gym, the pool, the library, the dining room, the kitchen, the sauna (yeah, Asami has one of those in her house because of course, why wouldn't she?). Seeking a place to sit, the rich inventor walks into the living room with an Avatar clutching her arm.

"Congratulations!" comes a shout that startle the women.

They don't give much more of a reaction and just accept that the burly man, who is carrying a bottle in one hand and has an arm around Opal, most likely already told everyone who are gathered here.

Varrick and Zhu Li look happily married as if they've been that way already for twenty years.

Mako's here, and acting awkward again with slight movements of the arm that resemble some sort of wave.

All of the brothers' cousins and relatives take up the rest of the large space and Asami once more wonders, like she often has ever since the family moved in, how she and her parents ever could have used all this room by themselves.

They're all smiling genuinely, wearing festive red hats for the Year of the Dragon, and the billionaire feels very welcome in her own home.

"Yeah, who would've guessed?" Tu adds.

Suddenly discussion comes alive and people are giving their opinions, asking what they thought, if they saw it coming, arguing that they could see it from a mile away, and soon it's full-on party atmosphere in the lounge.

He finds her on the balcony, overlooking the destruction, under stars now visible without all the lights of the city. The skyline only illuminated by the great shining ray of the dome-like spirit portal, never stopping its ascent into space and beyond. Puffs of cold air reveal her calm breaths.

She turns around with her blue eyes shimmering brilliantly through the thick of the dark. "Sami?"

"No, it's me."

"Ah," she says and smiles. "Hey, Mako."

The detective approaches the Avatar's side to lean against the marble railing, his arm finally free of the sling and of any scars thanks to healers. "Sooo..."

A glint in her eye and the rise of one side of her lips tells him to loosen up. "Please don't tell me you're gonna be all stiff around me and Asami again."

He laughs. "No, no. I'll try not to... Listen," his tone catches her attention. "I'm sorry for ever being mad at you. You know, about not writing back?" he clarifies when nothing registered in Korra's face.

"Uhuh. Yeah, I'm sorry about that too. I just—" she begins and he can't stand seeing that dejected look on her face anymore so he cuts her off. She's gone through enough pain for one lifetime.

"Didn't know what to say. I know." She looks up at him, so he continues. "I get it now how much pressure you had on you, still have, to live up to everyone's expectations. I mean what would you have told me?" Mako says, slightly raising his voice, growing angrier at...himself? "That you were in pain every day? How alone you must have felt?" He scoffs. "Yeah, that would've been great reading material."

His breathing is slightly more rapid and clouds the air in front of him when the feeling of her hand on his upper back wills him to calm down.

"I'm sorry." His voice doesn't sound like his own. "I'm sorry I didn't realize that everything isn't about me. We really missed you, thanks for coming back."

The firebender grimaces with conflicting emotion. He came here to say he's sorry, and ended up feeling more guilty than he started out. The water tribe girl seemingly recognizes his turmoil and keeps comforting him. Her strong voice cuts through his doubt.

"Of course, I had to. And if there's one thing I've learned over these years is that it's never 'us against them'. We all have our differences, we just need to learn to stick together. It's important that you learn to forgive yourself."

He marvels at her wisdom, her matured character, her leadership. All of these traits more potent in this woman after so much experience, and he finds himself in more awe than ever of the Avatar. So much so that he becomes slightly intimidated of even knowing, being close to this person, who, just by meeting, changed his life both when she came into it and when she left.

"I'll always have your back," he states, as confidently as he can.

"And we'll have yours," comes a different voice. Also strong like someone who is the head above many people, but gentle and disarming. Serious, but not like his own, one that people would actually listen to.

Another pair of lithe fingers slip behind him to pat his uniform almost soothingly. Asami's ruby lips widen into a reassuring smile, and right below her chin and under her collar is a red ribbon with the most exquisite jewelry in all the four nations. There's no mistaking who it's from. She's betrothed to Korra.

And with that reminder he returns the girls' smiles with his own genuine one and backs away to give them their space, which won't be difficult in the huge mansion, which Asami just offered to his family. "You know, there were only a few people who really didn't think there was anything going on between you. And know that I'm not lying when I say it doesn't take a detective to see that what you have is something special. I really can't think of anyone else who deserves you two more than...you two."

"Thank you, Mako. That means a lot," his friends, who are also extraordinary prodigies, says.

"I should be thanking you," the former bodyguard says, and between the three of them it's just like old times. Although, not at all.

"That was some party, huh?" Asami converses while dabbing her face with a wet cloth.

"You can say that again," Korra answers her girlfriend. "Bolin and Varrick can not allowed to be in charge next New Year. I get that we need fireworks but that many, really? Thank goodness for Zhu Li and Opal."

She changes out of her usual clothes for the night, placing them in the hamper near the bedroom door. One of the benefits of dating a girl is that she can wear some of Asami's clothes, most of which are expensive or fancy in some way. And one of the disadvantages is that they cannot do laundry together without mixing up the colors. There are definitely worse problems, which is weird for Korra. There is always something threatening at the edge of dawn, but right now there is nothing.

Korra's brought out of her thoughts by the corner of her vision where she sees Asami moving to a glass cabinet and opening it.

"You want a drink?" she calls from the outside room.

Korra freezes up momentarily. Cold sweat swiftly appearing on her hands and on her forehead. "Uhh... No thanks!"

"...Whew!" comes Asami's relieved reply when she gingerly shuts the fragile door and walks back into the bedroom. "Didn't think you drank but now I know for sure."

"You don't drink either?" she says, visibly letting go of the tension in her body.

"No."

"Then why do you have-"

"It was my dad's."

"Sorry."

"It's okay. I promised I'd talk to you about everything. He drank a lot when mom died."

Korra moves to envelop her lover in a hug. Her gut feeling pulling her in all sorts of directions. Should she say something back?

"Why don't you drink?" Asami asks into Korra's shoulder.

"What?" is the muffled response.

"Why do you not drink?" she pulls away, looking into the southern girl's eyes fondly and squeezing her bicep.

"Oh, I... Alcohol isn't good for you, right? I mean, you saw Bo and..."

"No, it isn't. Not if you have too much of it."

"Right. Well, I just don't want to...at all. It feels like I would be poisoning myself."

"Mm," the older woman hums. "I'm glad we can communicate like this."

"Me too," the younger woman says. "Happy New Year, sweetheart."

Azure orbs look at the well-known features of the former heiress. Well-known because this woman is famous and her painted lips and shadowed purple eyes are everywhere. Korra is the only one who gets to see this person in the flesh, see her naked without colors. Natural and completely open to her eyes.

Home is something Korra has been looking for in all the places she's been and everywhere she has yet to go. All the areas and spaces and spots she's lived in are only just that, a place where she slept for the night and nothing more than a memory. But she has found a home here in Asami's arms, and so long as they're there for her to creep into and shield away from the world for a night and let her insecurities out, be human for a while, it doesn't matter where they move or where they go. It will be home, and she's never leaving or letting go of Asami Sato.

All the words she can't say she will try and express in the best way she knows how—physically. Korra begins by placing a gentle, grateful, reverent kiss on her girl's clavicle, and she hears the wry smile in the response she gets: "I'll never get used to this."

Two shapely legs sift through the silky blue blankets of a large bed, seeking those cold panels of the floor. Fine fingers reach for a robe that gets pulled across her curvy figure, suffusing the woman with cozy warmth. Korra lies spread out on the bed, one leg sticking out of the sheets. It gives Asami simple pleasure to get to see her lover like this. Korra, in the most intimate and vulnerable of places, where both she and her can find refuge from being a part of the world's elite.

Though it never escapes her mind that it just so happens that what she loves to do can also be done as a job, and it's something that many people need (or at least want). Without people, without demand, she would not be so very special at all, and at times when things are the most hectic and life-threatening, maybe that isn't so bad. To live in a universe where Korra isn't a desired target seen as something that needs to be taken off the face of the earth, just because she can bend all of nature to her will, and where Asami isn't pressured to be a perfect person that's the face of the most successful company in the world. But Asami isn't letting Korra go for as long as she is a Sato and in charge of Future Industries, for she needs Korra like she needs water and air, and all the Zaheers and Kuviras will have to take the Avatar from her cold dead hands.

Three horrid years.

Stacks of letters gone unread.

Now the remorse is shame.

So Asami will try to atone for ignoring him and finally listen, hear what Hiroshi has to say for himself. Not because she was ever wrong for not doing so in the first place, her dad had done so much wrong. But time heals all wounds, until they can be reopened again.

Life is unfair.

With shaky fingers she pulls out the drawer of her desk as quietly as possible. Therein lie all the neglected envelopes from her deceased father, untouched and still in pristine quality—as pristine as you can get when sending the letters from prison. Not enough near-death experiences will ever prepare her for opening these, so she might as well rip open the wounds right now.

And what she finds...

While Asami always favors knowledge, she really can't help but think it would've been best to just burn the letters while she still had the chance. It would've been better for her not to know that her father was diagnosed with a terminal illness and only had another year left.

Asami rushes to the bathroom and throws up.

She doesn't want this anymore, she thought it was over.

He lost so much weight in prison, now it all makes sense. Nobody grows so old in only three years. No one goes from being a jolly single-parent to a skinny gray-haired man with time running out and nothing to live for but his daughter. His daughter, who didn't even want to see him again.

The guilt eats her up from the inside. She gags and her stomach retches. All the food she ate during the party now floats in the toilet bowl. Another heave and her chest aches with the short-burst panting. A hand suddenly moves her hair away from her face and she sees Korra. Beautiful, lovely, concerned Korra.

When eventually her stomach is empty, Korra gives her some water which she gulps down to get rid of the foul taste stuck to her tongue. It burns her nostrils and teary red eyes, threatening to toss her back on the ground and force her to dry heave.

"Thanks," Asami says, and Korra's hand stroking up and down is the most comforting thing in the world right now. She takes another sip.

When done she places her glass on the sink and just stands there, with Korra still massaging, eyes closed and silent. The tears come very easily. No sobbing or frantic breathing. Just quiet crying in the dead of the night. It's always so easy to lose yourself in the darkness, Korra knows this, but this time she's here to pick Asami up and be there for her in the black void she never could pull herself out of.

She shares the pain as best she can, when finally the crying orphan falls asleep. She tried to stay strong for Asami, but nobody's watching now so the water begins to gather in her eyes but never falls. They're just there, in her vision, blurring everything. And they feel so heavy that if Korra blinked, then they would drop. She could have done something to prevent this from ever happening, not exactly for Hiroshi, but for his only child. Everyone gets taken away from Asami, her mom and now her dad. And damn it, Korra's gonna be the one to break that evil spell.

Why her?

That question bounces around in her head, plaguing her with the frustrating lack of answers, keeping her from finding any rest. Not until she has to flinch from the morning making its daily intrusion into Asami's room does Korra realize she's spent another night awake since when they fought Kuvira.

She turns her head at the sound of a sigh. It's her girlfriend of course, staring back and looking very worried.

"You didn't sleep," she says, more of a statement than a question. Asami sees Korra's bloodshot eyes before she has a chance to cover up. "Talk to me," she demands firmly and gently.

"Sometimes I worry that I'm not good enough for you," she answers, and the last thing Korra expects Asami to do is laugh, but here she is. Doing exactly that, very softly and very cutely.

"You and me both, babe," she smiles gleefully and kisses her. "I love you and all that you are, no matter if you can bend or not bend, are spiritual or not, if you're rich or have nothing, I still am so lucky to have you."

"I hate to steal your line but... You and me both, baby."

"I love waking up in your arms, but please go to sleep next time."

"Okay."

"You're all I have left."

It's finally time to say goodbye. Many times in her short life has Asami Sato had to do that. To her mother when she was six, to Korra when she was nineteen, and now to Hiroshi when she's twenty-two.

It's the most ironic lesson she's learned in her life. Life destroys.

Bowing down in front of his grave, she places the flowers upon the pile of dirt that's supposed to give the illusion that someone, something, is buried here, next to Yasuko's stone. Her parents were born five years apart—her mother the younger one—and Asami lived without her for most of her childhood. She wouldn't remember what her mom looked like if it weren't for family photos. Now if she were to take one, there would be two empty spaces next to her shoulders because for some reason it only now hits her that they're both gone, forever. There's no point in holding back anymore, and she lets those shoulders shake.

In the midst of her grief, she notices a shining under her chin. The crystal on her necklace is glowing. For now Asami can't be bothered to analyze why, it just is. Because one person did return to her. Gave her a family of broken souls, of airbenders, of Beifongs, of royals, and a Team Avatar of orphans, all of them who love each other.

In her new family photo there would be two empty spaces by her shoulders, and a hundred new filled ones, and one special spot right next to her reserved for that special someone.

The graveyard is a wonderful place and her parents will be well taken care of. She'll make sure to visit and say hello to the spirits idling around, guarding.

"Let's go," she rises and tells the blue-eyed woman who's stood within an arm's reach. They take each other's hands and Asami's carefully led out of the cemetery.

Black is definitely not Korra's color.

"You have visitors, Kuvira."

"Can you cut my hair?"

"How short?" the woman with inky black locks asks.

"I don't want to have to use a brush...or a knife."

"What is that?!"

"My Future Industries patented vacuum cleaner!"

Asami turns the machine on and it emits the loudest noise ever heard in history, making Naga and Korra yelp and run away, fearing the invention will explode in any second.

"See it as a wedding gift."

"This is for me?"

"All of it, I want you to have it. I imagined you driving the thing many times while building it when you were...away." For just a moment Asami becomes pensive, attempting to right herself by trying to make a joke and smile coyly with one side of her lips. "Thought you'd enjoy the roofless, aqua-marine, all-terrain model."

But Korra sees through it, right to the bottom, and she looks up with nothing to say but, "Thank you, love. It's perfect."

"Alright. Since you taught me how to drive and tinker with cars, I'm gonna return the favor and teach you how to meditate!"

"Seems pretty easy to me," the nonbender shrugs. "Whenever I watch you it seems like all you do is sit and breathe."

"You got the basics down," Korra winks. "And you're a lot more patient than me so this should only take an afternoon."

"Sami, this place is huge! How... What?"

"I wanted to spoil you and you deserve the best," the architect says, flattered by Korra's unguarded reaction. She was worried her fiancée wouldn't like it, but that was apparently unnecessary worrying. She has a girlfriend who loves her to bits, and the proof is right here. "We have our own place now," she finishes, almost as giddy as the woman who's energy is as contagious as any disease.

"Is there anything you can't build?" the waterbender challenges, arching a brow.

"Ask me and I'd do anything for you."

Korra looks surprised, as if the former heiress' remark was a new discovery. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Asami replies, tilting her head a little, unable to hold in her fondness for this person who holds her whole heart in the palm of their hand.

While the couple is in the middle of their new morning routine—meditation at sunrise on the roof of their penthouse apartment—Asami gets up and places herself in Korra's lap. The Avatar slowly cracks one eyelid open and is very confused for a moment before her eyes get blown wide into saucers when she sees what her fiancée is dangling in front of her.

"I know about your traditions, Korra. Technically I am supposed to give you the betrothal necklace," Asami says with a fond expression. "Just because you're marrying another woman doesn't mean you'll be exempt from what every other girl in the water tribes gets."

Korra unavoidably bursts into tears when the choker that is a beautiful aqua gets fastened around her neck by the hands of her beloved. The brilliant engineer figured she couldn't give her girl a pendant-type necklace like Korra did as it would be impractical for the Avatar, and instead there is a sapphire to mirror her own green crystal. Everyone will know who it's from, whom they've both laid claim on.

"Now you belong to me too."

But the tears don't stop for Korra, and Asami's getting a little worried when she herself has started to calm down but sees no sign of stopping for her fiancée. She lets her fingers tilt the chin of the tribal girl and her blue eyes are so clear it's like looking at a cloudless sky when it's still raining.

"I'm sorry," she snivels. "You're wrong though. There are some things I won't get that every other water tribe woman gets...things that you won't get."

"What do you mean?" Asami's heart is pounding at having seen Korra go from being completely happy to utterly sad at a moments notice.

"Kids."

Asami's eyes go as wide as Korra's had when she showed her the necklace. Then she recovers and all of it makes a lot more sense now. "Korra, I know that. There are still other ways to have children."

"S—So...y-you're not freaked out?"

"Of course not," and the smile she had on is back again, to reassure her soon-to-be-wife. "I do want a family with you one day."

"But—Aren't you sad you won't carry on the... the bloodline?" Korra says with no small amount of hesitation and uncharacteristic fragility in her voice. Something she can only display here, in their home.

"That never mattered to me anyway," the businesswoman says with certainty in her voice. "Besides, if I really wanted to make someone my heir, we could try insemination?"

It takes a while before Korra replies. When she does it's a mess but Asami allows her to finish what she's trying to say or else Korra may never say what she's about to say ever again.

"I am together with another girl—uhh...you are too, and that means that neither of us has to worry about getting pregnant, you know? And, um..." after much stuttering and stalling, Korra eventually visibly deflates and sighs with finality. "I didn't have to worry about that before anyway. Getting pregnant."

"That's... What are you trying to say, Korra?"

"I'm sterile."

Her hand flies up to cover her down-turning mouth, eyebrows scrunching up in pity for the first time in full view of Korra, because Korra hates pity. But now the twenty-one-year-old woman seems to accept it, either because it's her lover feeling pity for her, or because there's nothing she can do to heal this.

Asami speaks underneath her palm. "I am so sorry, Korra."

"It's fine..." she says, tired. "In the time I was away, my thoughts were never on anyone else but you whenever I thought about a partner. So not being able to have kids biologically related to me was not really a concern, and birthing is really painful anyway so I felt like I didn't really need more of that in my life. My biggest worry was always if you would accept me." At that last part Korra's voice turns solemn. "I didn't think that I'd be able to have a family at all when I was...handicapped. That I'd get to be happy again one day, that it was all over for me. But just thinking of you, rejection or not..." Asami shakes her head vehemently when Korra speaks. "You saved my life."

"I hate him!" Asami says into the short pointy fibers of Korra's hair and embraces her possessively. "How could he do such a cruel thing to an eighteen-year-old girl, to a teenager! To you..."

"I already said," Korra begins and hugs back, her face tucked into Asami's chest. Hugs her Asami. "It's fine."

Being in a relationship with the youngest industry leading CEO in the world has proven to be the most emotionally fulfilling experience of the Avatar's young life. Being loved by someone else who loves you just as much is truly the most satisfying and purest feeling of joy. They can both go from extremely happy to extremely sad and then back in the blink of an eye. Living together has warranted no lifestyle changes for either of them and the only changes have been for the better. Instead of Asami coming home alone, Korra's there to fill the void and listen to her day, give a back-rub maybe. She's found herself looking forward to the end of the day instead of looking forward to work. Sometimes they go out, and Korra's a very physical person so that translates into everything she does. Her partner is very affectionate and never bothers to hide it, not even in public. Secretly Asami enjoys the jealous attention of other people, and especially the attention from Korra herself. Newspapers didn't hesitate on labeling them the 'Power Couple of the Century', which friends and family have then gone on to say is not even sensationalist. They are, in the media's words, the biggest catches in the city who are also engaged to each other, before any of their friends who have also been in relationships for much longer. It's a conceited, guilty pleasure-type thought that Asami has been having (that no one will like her for which she couldn't care less about because she's got the girl and she's not going anywhere), that neither she or Korra can really 'marry up', so it only makes sense the most powerful and influential people in the world should get together with each other.

Asami and Korra are attracted to each other in every way possible; emotionally, physically, spiritually. Completely aware of their own and the other's flaws. Of the world they live in. In other words they are shattered, imperfect people, perfect for each other.

As they walk down the aisle together,

arm in arm,

with Master Tenzin officiating,

Chief Tonraq and Senna seeing both brides to the altar,

they wear flowing white dresses,

and bright smiles with wide cheeks,

standing together like they did at the portal.

Crying heard throughout those attending,

not one tear canal remains dry.

And the vows are spoken,

everyone holds their breath,

as those two words leave their mouths.

"I do."

Then a deep voice echoes in the temple.

"You may kiss the bride."

The hall stands in ovation,

cheers and catcalling from Bolin,

two women in love being answered by rejoicing and jubilation.

Their love expands beyond just them,

it means the world.

"People of Republic City, today you are witnessing history being made. The first television broadcast ever is happening right now and we are joined by its inventor, the magnificent Future Industries CEO Asami Sato, and the legendary Avatar Korra Sato. Lady Asami, please, tell us about these new inventions you and your wife have been working on."

"Thank you, I will, gladly. This 'collection' of revolutionary machinery, by us and our team at research and development, have been designing new solutions for a more sustainable future. We aim to rid the world of pollution and plan on doing so by using these new machines. The first one we've made is a fan-like structure to be used in conjunction with air flows. Avatar Korra helped me with all of these and she suggested that with all the natural resources in the world, why not also use the elements themselves as a renewable energy source?"

"Ah, I see, very clever. And the Avatar is really the only one who could help you test this, am I right? Well, we're all very curious now. What about the other elements?"

"I'm glad you asked. First of all we will be continuing our partnership with 'Blackstone & Moon' where the CEO and CFO, Varrick and Zhu Li, will help us distribute these apparatus all over the world, especially in poorer regions for free."

"Of course, I forgot to mention that. That is incredibly generous of you."

"It's nothing really and, to be honest, after helping build most of New Republic City and creating jobs for unemployed I have more money than I know what to do with. I don't really need any more and am only trying to do what's right. Besides, I already have everything I want right here by my side."

"Aww, that's sweet."

"The second invention is a water turbine that can be utilized by benders as much as the air one, but will also be placed in dams instead of high up like the air turbines. The third makes use of firbenders and is just an improvement of the power plants that were already present in Republic City."

"Does that mean you can lightningbend Avatar Korra?"

"I did learn how to, yes. During our vacation to the Spirit World. It's very handy and can be used for more than just destruction, as we've shown."

"Alright, that leaves earth. What have you come up with there?"

"In earthbending we only have a prototype that makes use of the very rare ability of lavabending to generate geothermal energy, but it isn't anywhere near safe yet or ready for demonstration. Same thing goes for our patented solar panels. The Fire Nation remains very interested in these technological endeavors."

"Yes, many exciting things going on at Future Industries. Did you want to talk about your other projects as well that also include your partnership with the 'Blackstone & Moon' company?"

"Yes. There are some secret projects, but the main ones are that we're in the planning stages for a few orphanages that will accommodate those many unfortunate children who lost their families at the hand of Kuvira. We will also be donating several thousand wheelchairs and prosthetics to hospitals, and keep providing food to homeless shelters."

"You two do a lot of good for this world and we all owe you our many thanks. We wish you all the best for the future."

"There's an Avatar parade?! I'm not going!"

"Korra, you have to. It's your parade," Mako insists.

"But I didn't do it all by myself! You guys were there too!" Korra says, exasperated.

"We know, Korra. We don't mind," Bolin tries.

"But I do..." she pouts.

"And we appreciate it," Asami says, "but we all think you should be there. People have been unjust towards you and blaming you for their problems ever since you first stepped foot in the city. You deserve to be praised for once. While we helped you, it was still you who came back to us and saved the city."

"If not for yourself, do it for the people," Mako adds.

Korra sniffles a bit, then sighs in resignation as her friends come to embrace her. "I don't believe all that, but thanks guys."

"The pixie cut really suits you!" Opal gushes.

"Thanks," comes the bashful answer. Korra subconsciously runs a hand through her choppy strands.

"Come on, don't embarrass my wife anymore," Asami says and hooks her arm with Korra's and thinks, Gosh, wife... I can actually say that. And by the looks of Korra's even redder face she's thinking the same thing, the dimples in her cheeks going deeper every time because she smiles almost constantly nowadays. "Let's go shopping."

"Yes! I can't wait to see Korra in heels." Bolin nudges the Avatar to which she lightly scowls.

"Can't believe I'm doing this..."

The newest airbending master talks around her boyfriend, "You haven't gone shopping a day in your life. You're missing out."

"So you thought the best way to amend that is to bring us on a double date to Little Ba Sing Se."

"Yep." The airbender laughs as Korra groans, the light-blue arrow on Opal's forehead creasing lightly with her skin. "Don't worry, we're taking you to a probending match later."

The four of them walk around the city for a while, taking in how it looks now. There are no vines since they expanded the city into 'uninfested grounds' as Raiko put it. People meander about, many casting glances at the newlyweds as they pass. Asami internally sighs. Right, this is still kind of...rare. Then she smiles again anyways because she can't help it when seeing the girl who proudly took her family name.

Thankfully their friends aren't as annoyed by the attention as they are, and after the twentieth discount offered by another one of the grateful shop owners, enough is enough. She means that it's great that people like them, like Korra, but she has money and can pay for herself. It's silly. So she offers they go to the park instead.

Beneath the stately new statue of the Avatar, Korra attempts to keep up with the genius billionaire in a game of Pai Sho on that peaceful spring day.

Later on in the evening they go watch a mover and laugh at Nuktuk's horrible acting skills and the 'revolutionary' special effects. Then Korra cries out when 'Prince Wu' rescues 'Princess Korra', mumbling angrily to Asami when calmed down, something about: "...that's not exactly how I remember it going."

Things have never been so normal.

Living near the portal was a great decision. It would forever remind them of their love for each other (as if they'd forget), the experiences they've shared both near and far, and neither saw it right to restrict access to the Spirit Portal. They hoped that the bridge to another world would one day give someone else as many great memories as it had for them.

Today Ambassador Zuko went on a trip to the land of the spirits to see a dragon.

Korra never did learn to hide her emotions well, always wearing them as exposed as her broad shoulders. Her reaction is exactly the one Asami expected. Healthy fear, and a bit of worry.

"I know it's kind of scary but I promise I would never use it on anyone who didn't deserve it," the inventor says as she retracts the smoking platinum cables back into her glove.

"No it's fine," the Avatar gulps loudly. Asami loves Korra's inability to lie, it makes her that much more endearing and it's also a breath of fresh air in contrast to some of the dishonesty going on in diplomatic meetings. "I know you won't use it against someone unless you had to. I trust you."

"No one but me is going to have access to these weapons, it's only for self-defense."

"Of course," Korra says, still slightly nervous. "What else did you have?"

Asami hurries to the table so she can relieve them soon of the uncomfortable atmosphere, and seeing her wife's fingers fidget is not really helping with the next thing she's about to show.

"I was inspired by the spirit cannon." There's the wince I expected. "Don't worry, it doesn't use vine energy."

"Okay, so what do you call it?"

"This, is a gun."

It's only them on the tarmac now. Pulling on the thick body in her arms, she attempts to get closer when they're about to go apart. The pilot motions for takeoff in a minute and enters the plane.

"Hey," Asami speaks softly. She leans down to press a kiss to her love's temple. "Don't cry. You'll be back soon. Make sure to help Wu with whatever he needs so you can come home, then we'll go on our honeymoon."

"I wish you could come with us this time too." Korra absentmindedly touches her necklace. Asami's heart swells and feels like it's going to burst at the gesture, since she knows that everything her Avatar does is real. No amount of time together will ever be enough to make her get used to this feeling of being loved by Korra.

"So do I, sweetie. But when we've missed each other the reunion will be so much sweeter."

Korra chuckles. "That's true."

They're back where they started again and she's being led by the hand somewhere new, she's being laid down on the grass, she's being kissed by her, her tongue plays around in her mouth, her clothes are ripped off while she takes her time. Which one of them? She doesn't know. All she's aware of is that it feels good.

She scrapes her fingers on that smooth skin of hers. Marking by biting, sucking, nipping, tugging, pulling, licking. They've done this a hundred times, and a hundred times too few.

Without their clothes on they're nothing but lust-filled women hungry for each other. They are no one, not this person or that person, just one girl and her companion. And they're about to devour each other.

One of them takes their time which frustrates the other. This is taking too long.

She doesn't voice her opinion though, those lips are too enticing to let go of for even a second. Those hands are too mind-blowing, those hips are too alluring, those curves are too torturous to not reach out for. These ebony locks are so enjoyable to have spilling out from between your fingers when you place a hand on her head. These short chestnut tresses are so wild and untamed that you can't help but roughly mess them up, and when you do her eyes are darker than you've ever seen them and they're staring right at you.

Her skin is wet and sweaty and hot, and prickles when caressed. She's dark and harsh like the coffee she drinks every morning and it reminds her of almonds. The figure in front of her shines and is the picture of utter perfection. Lily-white skin, satin-like to the touch, when licked it shudders, and moans when kissed right here...

Soon she regrets her decision on taking it slow, but her lover is already there to take care of her. She spreads her legs as the bronze beauty takes her deeply to the core, right from the start. It's soulful and invigorating. She cries out since nothing can hear her, no one but the woman furiously licking at her crotch right now. Just as she shouts, a mouth closes down on her clit, focusing all their attention on her most sensitive spot. She positively screams and her jaws struggle to stay closed, her hand shooting up to cover the pitiful whimpers as she breathes hard through her nose. Her heart is thundering in her chest and she drools a little bit out of the corner of her mouth, her blissful sighs of passion being uttered each time the warm thick tongue brushes across her womanhood. The assault is relentless and her body is trembling from the focused stimulation, she feels her insides throbbing as the girl continues to lap savagely at her lips and nub. Her hand shakes as it is removed from her mouth. The palm is wet from her breath and saliva, but she can't stop the gasping and grunting from escaping her lungs as she gets closer. Her stomach feels like it's being ripped apart and all that's left is heat, ceaseless, constant heat, and an unquenchable desire to relieve herself. Her pelvis is thrusting to meet her body's insatiable demands, squirming and fidgeting to find release to this unrelenting fire welling within. It's so intense when a whole tongue is used to stroke her whole length that she immediately cums, with erratic movements finding no edge to hang on or ledge to fall off of. Her fingers are pumping still and she's in a nonstop high where everything is moving and there's a brief sensation of having to pee. She feels her inner walls sucking up those fingers deeper, shivering around them before she slowly arrives back on earth, the aftershocks making it difficult to move her tongue.

"H-holy shit," says Asami, and tilts her head up to see an Avatar with a glistening face who's smugly licking off her fingers with that skillful tongue running up the length of her wonderful fingers. "You made me squirt."

"I made you swear," says Korra, and Asami's heart flutters when there's a pop as Korra finishes sucking off her digits.

They're looking at each other now. Hooded eyes, beating chests, a faint quivering that goes deep to the bone, flushed faces, and they're nobody again. She's going to take her time. Make it the best she's ever had, and she begins by taking a dusky nipple between her lips and brushing over it with her tongue. The girl is already quietly moaning, not sharing the same restraints, but also not vocalizing higher because there's a lack of pressure that she's unwilling to give. She's just there on top of everything that's normal and usual with her body, but giving wonderful sensations. It's not enough though, there needs to be pressure, and she's not gonna get it.

She shifts, moving, slithering if you will, down, but taking so much time. Every muscle that's visible has to be kissed, so they're gonna be here for a while, which is why she uses her hands to grab onto the cheeks of the woman below and demand a wide and sloppy kiss, full of desire so the woman will know what she already knows. Her wrists are suddenly grabbed onto and forced above her head and now she has a face full of perky breast which she doesn't hesitate to doing her thing with. Again there is that shudder that follows through her entire white body and it's so captivating she nearly misses her hands being captured above her head.

"Hey, what's going on!"

"Don't move, or else this will take forever."

Korra watches as her lover recedes back across her body, starting over again by kissing each and every one of her abdominal muscles, then her hipbones, as casually as possible, and she groans while throwing her head back, unable to do anything but watch. So she does that. It's Asami after all, she doesn't mind seeing that for forever.

Getting back slowly to where she were, she looks up to see the girl entranced and their eyes lock for that moment where she forgets where she is, then she remembers what she has to do. So she gets back to work, or rather pleasure, and now she has all of Korra to herself without interruptions. Yeah, she's definitely gonna take her time.

Soon both forget about time altogether, it's such a useless concept really since not even the Spirit World bothers to keep track of it.

In here, you can't feel hunger, and all you have is your emotions being projected.

So when Asami reaches her goal, the surroundings turn dark purple saying to anyone who might be nearby, no, you should not be here.

She's completely open to her. Her lips are petaled open and the pink flesh is open for her touch, but she touches it only with a finger on the wet, warm, velvety labia. Even though it's only on the surface, Korra grits her teeth and groans. She's been tortured for so long already that even the slightest touch might send her flying. That it does indeed, Asami discovers as she inserts her index finger halfway into slickness and Korra's breath hitches in surprise. Some fluid drips out of her already soaked core and onto the hand currently inside of her. She wiggles her finger playfully and the woman being manipulated squirms uncomfortably, her eyes squeezing tightly shut in painful pleasure. She grabs onto the thick brown thighs of her lover, spreading them wider as they attempt to close down in order to keep the finger within.

"P-please!"

She's panting now and her musky scent is absolutely intoxicating, so Asami practically drills her with everything she's got and Korra is shrieking. Her heart is thudding heavily against her ribs as a milky hand shoots up to cover her right breast where it's trying to escape out of her chest. She's getting what she wanted but it's going to be over far too quickly and there's nothing she can do to help it but continue screaming until her throat is raw from skipping up an octave. She's never had foreplay this long, that wasn't needed, and she's never come so fast in her life...but then. It stops. Right as she stands on the precipice, ready to take a leap, Asami stops. Her back falls from it arched position and she glances down between her legs to find a smirking woman with gorgeous green eyes, that's taking her orgasm away from her. Asami twitches her single finger inside and Korra hisses and throws her head back. She can almost cum by a single touch now, and Asami is waiting until she thaws back, then she curls her finger again and Korra's almost cumming again.

It goes on like this for so long that her head is spinning and she can't control the non-stop trembling and she's sweating all over her body. Asami (she found a pair of glasses in the bag and it's making her irresistible) is still there between her thighs and have moved to the even worse, licking and sucking on her clit while stimulating her g-spot with three fingers. She's pretty sure she's dry inside and can't get any more moist, any more sensitive, any more swollen. But each time Asami proves that wrong with some quick movements and blissful friction, which make her wail every time, and soon she's a slobbering, mumbling, incoherent mess, before Asami inevitably halts. She wants to come. She needs to come.

"What's that, sweetie?" Asami coos with a coy smile, her fingers lightly pushing in, causing Korra to stutter and her body to quake.

"I—ah... I, I, I, p-please...l-let m-e come...!"

"...Alright, I think you've earned it," Asami purrs and gives Korra no reaction time to prepare before she dives in.

If Korra thought she couldn't speak, and she certainly could because she just begged, she most certainly cannot anymore for she must have lost whatever was lost of her voice. All that can be heard is the slick noises coming from her drowning slit that's being practically pounded by Asami, her silent moaning and gasping, which is all she can really do at this point.

The warmth was overwhelming since the start but now Korra sees stars because it's finally time and she'll get her release. Her lover is ruthless and gives away all the pressure she craved from the beginning, and instead of being held off from diving into the abyss she's granted full access and she takes no readying steps back but instead plunges in head first. There's a final, long and hoarse scream of ecstasy that Asami finds is the sexiest sound she's ever heard as Korra cries out her undying pleasure and everything goes black.

Couching and sputtering, her torso flies up off the ground to fend off whatever threat just struck her with water, however it was only Asami with a cup she used to splash her awake. With her short hair dripping and sticking to her forehead, she looks through her bangs at her lover with a mouth wide open.

"You—you made me pass out."

"I'm one of kind," Asami smiles gently, a caring expression adoring her face. Then Korra realizes they're both still naked.

"Wanna take," she swallows, "a break?" Her heart still beats with the force of fifty horse-rhinos, and judging by the exquisitely flushed woman seated on knees above her, they're both in need of an ice bath.

"...Yeah," Asami speaks, her chest rising slightly faster than normal. "...yeah sure. I mean we have the whole honeymoon to..."

When Asami doesn't finish that sentence, Korra grins. "Do it all over again?"

Asami smiles wide and happily nods. Korra then grabs the arm of her wife and leads them on wobbly legs to their backpacks for a blanket.

Under that purple glow they snuggle together, in that way that they're both comfortable in, with Korra's head nestled into the crook of Asami's neck and Asami's head resting above Korra's protectively, under the safety of each other and of this world that's becoming more and more familiar. Only each other have they been with, only each other shall they ever be with.

The world isn't too big for just two people, not when those people have their own world.

A/N #1: When I first started this I knew I wanted to write something that I would want to read. I wanted to read about a slowly building relationship between Korra and Asami once they were in the Spirit World, because they both know about their feelings for each other and they slowly grow into being a couple, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do that justice. I know I'm bad at slow burn so I did what I know how to do and went with the more unrealistic (but not improbable) approach and had them just get together immediately and spend their vacation cuddling with each other instead of how it probably went down in canon with the two of them steadily edging towards a romantic relationship.

I can't see Korra or Asami being with anybody else other than each other. There are some great fics out there where this does happen and I stay away from those as much as I can, no matter how curious I am or how amazing the writer is. So you won't find break-ups, cheating, divorces, or anything like that here, ever. Tragic stories are great, but for these two I just can't handle it.

Which by the way... All the writers, authors, readers on this website, on AO3, people on subreddits, artists on tumblr, fans everywhere, you keep this show alive. We all do. Thank you for that and let's not stop doing what we do.

Long live Avatar!

A/N #2: Thanks for sticking around. Working on this has been an enjoyable and fulfilling experience so I'm definitely not going back on the promise I made a few months ago. There is always more to come and I'm always still learning.

In the meantime, you should check out this guy if you haven't already (copy+paste and just add the fanfiction website url before):

/u/1680947/MattHunX

He updates a lot more often than I do (with separate stories instead of compiling them into chapters. Why? I don't know) and their fics—which are all post-cannon—are very long and enjoyable, full of fluff 'cause we can all do with a little more love in our lives. They're sometimes cheesy and silly too, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But there's another reason why I'm recommending MattHunX (he doesn't even know that I am), because I'm going away to someplace which almost guarantees you won't be seeing anything from me in another month until I get back.

Thank you again for reading my self-indulgent, hedonistic writing. Hopefully it gives you some small amount of entertainment of what it does for me.

Next Chapter:

The End To A New Beginning

6 YEARS AFTER THE BATTLE OF REPUBLIC CITY

180 YEARS AFTER THE AIR NATION GENOCIDE

"Make a wish, Mommy!" says a little voice, no older than four.

"Yeah, hurry Sami!" Korra insists, almost in a fashion as childish as their daughter who's bouncing in the Avatar's lap.

"Why?" the engineer chuckles.

"There's a shooting star!" says Korra and points up into space.

While her wife and child are too occupied with discovering the phenomena, Asami's face slowly pales as she sees the celestial object begin to plunge into the atmosphere and break apart in an inferno, burning up the sky gradually into fiery reds. "Korra... That's not a shooting star."

That's a comet...

祸兮福之所倚，福兮祸之所伏 — "Tao Te Ching, Chapter 58"