Chapter 6

Preparations

"Ouch. Dammit." Asami looked at her finger, where a drop of blood was beginning to form. She was sitting on a long bench in the player's locker room, which they all called, the prep room. In front of her was a locker engraved with, 'Fire Ferrets: Korra.' and she had her girlfriends uniform across her lap. She was sewing a round patch onto it's left arm that had the words "Looking Snazzy Yourself" surrounded by a heart. She tried focus, and to ignore the cries coming from the table across room, where a young man was writhing in pain. A Waterbender had bent two small spheres around her hands, and was running them along her patient's foot. The water glowed, and a high-pitched humming jointed the noise.

Asami had seen Korra do the same thing many times. The first time Asami cooked for Korra, she cut her hand deeply while slicing carrots.

It bled profusely, and hurt terribly. With a calm relaxed look, Korra took her hand. "Let me take care of that," she said sympathetically, as she bent some water from the faucet to her hand and into a sphere, then held it over the cut. The water began to glow and hum, and the pain in Asami's hand vanished. When Korra was finished, there was nothing but a feint pink line.

"Whacha sewing on Korra's uniform?" sounded a high voice behind Asami. She jumped, surprised at having her mind snapped back into the present. The girl walked up and looked down at the patch. "'Looking snazzy yourself,'" She read aloud, "hmmmm, I don't get it."

"Uhh, it's kind of an inside joke," she examined the stranger. Her long blond hair was perfect, and her bight blue eyes shined. She was wearing nothing, except a sports bra, and white shorts. Which showcased her impressive figure.

"Between you and the Avatar?"

"Yes. Between me and Korra." She put the sewing needle away and stood up to face the girl. "You must be Kat."

"Yup! And you're Asami right? Korra's told me everything about you!" Kat said in an exited tone, extending her hand.

Funny, she left something out about you. "It's nice to finally meet you." Asami took her hand, and Kat shook it with a surprisingly firm grip.

"You have no idea how exited I am to be working with the Avatar. It's like a dream come true. But I don't need to tell you this, your Dating the Avatar.-"

Out of the corner of her eye, Asami spotted Korra coming through the doors with Tenzin, Bolin, and Opal. Perfect timing she thought, as Kat continued to ramble. She caught Korra's eye and gave a look that said Save me, and the four walked to where they were standing. Korra and Tenzin appeared to be arguing about something, but the stadium and the injured player, made it too loud to hear. As they drew closer she was able to pick up what they were saying.

"Korra, this could be a serious threat. You shouldn't take this lightly, you're the Avatar there are plenty of people who want to hurt you" Tenzin said to Korra, reproachfully.

"Look. Tenzin." She pointed at him with all four fingers, "Do you remember how many death threats I got from the Equalists? Or, how many I got after that picture of me, kissing Asami, made the front page? I heard worse almost every other day for months. We have no reason to suspect that this is anything different."

"We also have no reason to believe that it's not."

Asami's face went slightly pale at the mention of a threat to her girlfriend. She went to take a step towards Korra, but before she could move, Kat jumped in front of her, with a shocked face, "What? Korra! Someone threatened you?" she hugged Korra tightly, "Are you ok?" Asami felt a pang of annoyance.

"Yeah Kat," Korra chuckled, "It was nothing, some kid just gave me a piece of paper. It's probably just a weirdo doing a prank."

"Or another team trying to psyche you out." Bolin chimed in, "They're probably just afraid of facing the Ferrets." His tone was nonchalant, "The world of Probending isn't always glamorous."

"Or Korra's in danger," said Opal, glaring at Bolin. "Just let us call Beifong and ask for some officers to escort you until after the matches."

"Korra," Asami said in a worried voice, "What happened? What kid?" I leave for one second...

Korra shrugged off Kat, took Asami's hand, and squeezed it tight, "It was nothing. Right before I got onto the player's-entrance elevator a kid handed me this." Korra passed her the note.

"What did he look like?" asked Asami

"Short… and childlike… I don't know, I only saw him for a second. Bolin was on the elevator, so he didn't see him either."

Asami inspected the page, reading it's contents and examining the black bird stamp, "If someone threatened you, then you should definitely call Beifong. You probably shouldn't even be playing. We can cancel the match, and get a police escort back to Airbender Island."

"What? Cancel? That's crazy." Korra let go of Asami's hand and took back the letter, throwing it into her locker, "If you have to do something, then I'll accept an escort while I'm here. But we are NOT canceling the match. You can call Beifong."

"Good." Said Tenzin, "Because I already called her."

Korra's head popped out from behind her locker door. She narrowed her eyes at Tenzin, "Out. All of you, I have to get ready to play."

Tenzin told her that the officers were minutes away, which prompted an obscene gesture from Korra, and left for his seat. Opal grabbed Bolin's face, kissed him hard, and wished him luck. Kat sauntered off to get ready for the match, and Korra began to slip on her uniform. Asami hugged her from behind. "I'm worried about you." She said, kissing the back of her head. Korra paused and put her hands over Asami's, turning her neck back for a kiss.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. This is going to end up being some joke, and Beifong will be upset that her people wasted their time. Part of dating the Avatar, is dealing with the crazies of the world."

"That, and having to watch people throw rocks, fire, and jets of high pressure water at her."

Korra laughed, "Just this Avatar. Besides, injuries aren't as common as people think. In reality, very few Probender's ever get hurt."

Just then, a piercing scream made them jump, as a man on a stretcher was rushed past them, to the healer. His leg was bent at an unnatural angle, and there were severe burns across his face

Asami cocked an eyebrow, "you were saying?"

"Okay, maybe they're a little common."

Asami's eyebrows scrunched, and Korra laughed. She put on the last of her uniform and turned to face Asami, "Game time," she said, kissing her quickly, "Wish me luck, love you." Then, she darted off to the arena entrance before Asami could answer.

"I love you too," Asami called out to her, just as the doors closed behind Korra. "Good luck," Be safe.

Asami waited a moment. The pit in her stomach from the previous day was back. Only this time, it was the letter that rung in her head, and not Baiso's words. She got up, left the prep room, and headed to her seats, where Opal, and Tenzin's whole family, were already seated. Jinora, Opal, and Tenzin were discussing the activities of the various air-nomad troupes, while Pema tried to get Meelo and Ikki to stop fighting over popcorn, when the announcer, rising from his platform, caught their attention.

"Introducing, the only team that can bend all four elements, the Future Industries Fire Ferrets!" He blared into his microphone. Asami saw Korra standing next to Kat and Bolin, waving at the crowed, as the extending platform took them onto the home field side of the arena. The crowed roared, a chant of "AV-A-TAR, AV-A-TAR" began to ring through the arena.

"Facing," the announcer continued, "the big kings of downtown, the fighters with the crowns, the Republic City Royals!" again, the crowed erupted into cheers as the Royals were extended to the guest side of the field.

The referee called for captains, and Bolin walked to the middle, where an enormous man was already waiting. Asami was shocked when she saw the two men standing next to each other. He'd been too far away for her to truly realize it before, but the Royals' captain was at least two feet taller than Bolin, and weighed at least 200 pounds more. After the handshake, the announcer left the stage. The two teams and squared off in the middle, and waited for the starting bell. For a moment, the arena was almost quiet. Then, loud and clear, came the ding of the bell, and the match began.