Chapter Four – Breakfast

As Korra watched her best friend walk away toward the temple's kitchen – surely to get some food for Korra, as she had done religiously for almost three weeks now – the Avatar could not help but feel annoyed at her father for interrupting Asami's comforting words. She knew her dad and the other adults on the island meant well, but when they intruded on her and Asami's private moment it irritated the young Avatar to no end.

Tonraq was still examining the back of her head, checking it for any injuries, while the others gathered around her with sympathetic looks. Although, curiously, Pema had apparently decided to follow the CEO to the kitchen – leaving Korra to contend with Tenzin and her parents.

"Sweetie, are you sure that you're okay?" Tonraq asked her with worry etched into his voice.

"What do you think?" Korra bit out aggravatingly. She didn't mean to sound angry at her dad, but she just couldn't help her mood after his untimely interruption.

Tonraq only stared at his daughter sadly and, gently, picked her up and placed her back in bed on top of the covers. Korra only sighed and softly said, "Thanks dad." A ghost of a smile on her lips as she looked into her father's kind blue eyes.

"Of course." Her dad smiled at her and briefly grasped her hand before moving back to stand in the room's doorway. Senna came forward, knelt down at Korra's side, and took her right hand in her own. Korra's smile grew a little at her mother's action. Tenzin, thoughtfully stroking his beard, asked Korra what had happened.

And so, the Avatar recounted her nightmare to those gathered in the room. After Asami's considerate words and actions, Korra found that it was easier to recount the dream. However, she purposefully neglected to tell the adults about her desire to "give up" and the kiss that Asami had placed upon her forehead. They'd only over react, Korra thought, and besides, I would prefer if only Asami knew about those feelings.

"While Amon's appearance in your nightmare certainly makes sense, do you have any idea why you were... forced to watch Asami's... torture?" Tenzin asked, trying his best to be sensitive to Korra's harrowing dream.

"Tenzin, if it's alright with you, I would prefer not to think about that right now." Korra said somewhat forcefully.

"Of course, but I encourage you to think about why Asami was so involved in your dream at some point." Tenzin thoughtfully said.

"Okay." Korra replied.

"It really is wonderful that you have someone like Asami in your life, you know that right?" Senna asked, as she squeezed her daughter's hand.

"Yeah mom, I do know how lucky I am." Korra sincerely said with a hint of wistfulness in her voice at not having had the chance to finish speaking with her friend. Once Asami returned with her breakfast, she resolved to finish their conversation. She wanted to hear whatever it was that Asami was about to confess to her, she was sure that it was only good news.

As the CEO in question was walking down the dormitories' hallways, she was mentally berating herself. Stupid... I was about to confess my feelings for Korra. The last thing she needs to worry about right now is the way I feel about her. It'd only add to her burden and she's already bearing enough on her shoulders as it is. I just couldn't stand seeing her so sad and... maybe if she knew how I felt... she may-

"Asami!" a familiar motherly voice sounded behind the woman in question, interrupting her train of thought.

The CEO sighed under her breath, but turned around and etched a weary smile onto her face as Pema caught up with her.

"Oh!" Pema exclaimed.

"What is it?" Asami asked.

"You aren't wearing makeup." Pema stated.

Asami laughed quietly and said, "You're not the first person to tell me that today."

Pema offered a knowing smile in response and asked, "I take it you're going to get Korra her breakfast?"

"You even have to ask?" Asami said lightly.

"No, but I wanted to talk to you, in a less open area." Pema stated as she gestured to continue towards the temple's kitchen.

Asami and Pema resumed their walk down the hallway. They entered the kitchen and began to prepare Korra's meal, working in a comfortable silence for a while. After a period of time, Pema picked up their conversation from the hallway.

"You know, I've seen the way you stare at Korra when you think no one is looking." Pema said, as she set the teapot on the stove to boil.

"What!" Asami exclaimed, nearly dropping the dumplings she had just put on a plate.

"It's okay! I think it's sweet. You clearly love her and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that." Pema reassured warmly.

"You can tell how I feel about her just by a look?" Asami asked, as she set the rice to simmer.

"No, it's more than just a look," Pema admitted, "It's in the little things that you do for her, like making sure she's warm enough before going to bed or bringing her tea during sunsets at the gazebo."

Asami felt her cheeks burn at Pema's words and turned to face the woman.

"It's nothing special." Asami said modestly, although she knew that Pema was right.

Pema only offered up a kind smile and said, "No, it really is. Korra always seems happier when you're around her, her sadness seems to be diminished and that empty look in her eyes goes away for a while."

Asami did not reply to this for a few minutes and mulled Pema's words over in her mind. Conveniently, the tea kettle squealed and the rice finished simmering at the same time before Asami could reply.

Pema prepared the tea in a cup, while Asami scooped the rice into a bowl. The CEO then took a tray and placed the dumplings and rice on it and walked over to Pema. She placed the cup on the tray and walked towards the entrance of the kitchen, where she resumed speaking as Asami began the journey back to Korra's room.

"Have you told Korra how you feel about her?" Pema inquired.

"No, I haven't. It just doesn't seem like the right time, what with her injuries and mental state." Asami said sorrowfully.

"You know, Katara once told me that love can be the greatest healer of all. She told me of the time that Aang had nearly been killed by Fire Lord Zuko's sister and how despondent he had been afterwards. She said that it was only through the love and support of his friends that he managed to overcome his wounds and find the resolve to continue on." Pema informed Asami thoughtfully.

"I don't even know if Korra feels the same way and I hardly think it would be appropriate, given everything she's been through." Asami reiterated.

"Of course, I didn't mean to rush you into anything Asami, it's just something to think about is all." Pema reassured. "Trust me, when the time is right, you'll know when to tell her."

As they arrived back at Korra's room, Asami let Pema's words rumble around inside her head as she walked towards her friend's bed with the tray of food. Maybe with enough time Korra could...

These thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the Avatar's voice, "Thanks Asami." As Senna took the tray from Asami's grasp and set it down on her daughter's lap, the CEO fully came out of her reflection.

She looked at best friend and, true to Pema's word, Korra's eyes seemed to sparkle with a hint of life and warmth that had been absent only a while ago. Asami smiled kindly at Korra in response and said, "You're welcome."

The two stared at each other for some time before Tenzin inadvertently broke their gaze by coughing into his arm. Korra uttered a soft laugh at this, and it seemed to fill the room with a sense of solace and warmth that had not been there before the wealthy engineer's arrival. Maybe Pema was right, Asami thought as she looked around the room at Korra's parents and Tenzin, love could really be the medicine that Korra needs most right now.