Chapter Six – Leaving the Temple

Author's Note: I cannot say, "I'm sorry" enough to you wonderful readers. I meant to have this chapter up much sooner than this, but life got in the way. In short, I had to finish up my spring semester at college, then take a short summer course, and help my significant other move into her new place. However, in spite of its fairly long delay, I hope that you enjoy the sixth chapter of "Comfort and Nightmares" nonetheless; Lord knows you've guys and gals have earned it!



After the Avatar and the CEO's intimate discussion, Korra's parents, along with Tenzin and Pema, came back into the bedroom. Among them, only Tenzin seemed somewhat shocked to see that Asami had clambered up into bed with Korra and had her head resting on the young Avatar's shoulder.

"Dad, mom, I have something that I need to tell you." Korra stated.

"It's okay sweetie," Senna said with a smile, "we already know." Tonraq smiled in acknowledgment too.

"Really, it's that obvious, huh?" Korra said, somewhat sheepishly.

"Yeah, it is." Said Pema, "After all, Asami is in bed with you after all."

Korra only glanced at the wall in mild embarrassment. However, Asami placed her arm around the Avatar's shoulders, causing the young woman to look back at the adults gathered before them.

"How are you feeling sweetheart?" Senna asked, moving to sit down in the chair that Asami had previously occupied. Tonraq squatted by his wife, taking her hand.

"Well, all things considered, I feel better than I have in quite a while." Korra confessed.

"Hmm, I wonder why?" Tonraq mused wryly.

In response to this, Asami kissed Korra on the cheek, causing her already red face to darker by a fair degree. This prompted a gentle, deep laugh from the Water Tribe chief.

"There was another thing that I wanted to talk to you guys about, besides… this I mean." Korra stated, holding up her and Asami's joined hands. Taking a deep breath, the Avatar said, "I want to go back home, I'll think it'll be good for me – plus Katara will be there to help me recover."

"I think that's a great idea." Senna said, with her husband quickly nodding in agreement.

"Indeed," Tenzin stated, "and I think my mother will be able to help you more than you realize. Will Miss Sato be accompanying you back to the South?"

"Well, unless you don't want some company in the Southern Water Tribe, I'd be more than happy to come with you." Asami said tenderly.

"Of course, nothing would make me happier." Korra smiled in response. "After all, I don't know how long it'll take me to recover from my… condition. I don't think being alone down there would do me much good."

"It's settled then," Tenzin said, "When would you like to leave?"

"By the end of the week." The Avatar stated resolutely.

The rest of the week went by in a blur as, seemingly, the whole island was abuzz with preparations for Korra's return home.

Naturally, the Future Industries' CEO had the most to pack, but she did decide to leave some items behind.

Asami was just finishing packing her things when Senna rolled Korra into her room.

"Thanks mom." Korra said; noticing that Asami's whole makeup collection still on her dresser.

"Mom, could you leave us alone for a few minutes please? You could go help dad pack the rest of our things."

"Of course, no problem sweetie." Senna said, walking out of the room and sliding the door shut behind her.

"So, no makeup huh?" Korra asked dryly, glancing over at the plethora of makeup bottles and cases.

"No, after all, I did promise my girlfriend that I wouldn't wear any. I believe she said something along the lines of 'You look more beautiful without it.'" Asami said warmly, with a smile.

Korra laughed softly, causing Asami's smile to widen. "While I do think that's true, I'm not gonna deny that the purple eyeliner and red lipstick didn't look stunning on you."

"Well then, it looks like I'll be taking some makeup with me to the South Pole after all." Asami said, squeezing Korra's hand on the way over to her dresser.

"Hey, thank you." Korra said softly.

"For what?" Asami asked, packing the last of her materials into a small bag.

"Everything; I know that I must sound like a broken record at this point, but I'll never be able to fully express my gratitude for all that you've done for me." Korra said, turning her wheelchair to properly face the CEO.

Asami set her makeup bag down on the floor, came over to face the young Avatar, and knelt down in front of her. Taking Korra's right hand and speaking with her usual warmth she said, "It's nothing, really."

"Yes, it is. I mean, you're giving up running your family's company for me. A company that you spent the last eight months rebuilding, that's not 'nothing', it's quite a lot actually." Korra said.

"Well, when you're in love with such a wonderful person, it's quite easy to choose between them and your family's corporation." Asami said lightly.

At this, Korra laughed softly and said, "Huh, I'm still not used to this. The whole 'you being in love with me thing', it still doesn't seem real."

Squeezing the Avatar's hand, Asami said, "Well, it is real and it's been real for quite a while. I love you Korra and I'll do anything it takes to make sure that you get better."

Korra smiled at this and said genuinely with some humor in her voice, "Now why do I believe you Miss Sato?"

Playing along, the green-eyed woman replied, "I don't know Miss Avatar. Maybe it's because I'm the trustworthy sort?"

Before Korra could respond, there was an eager knock on the door. Asami went over to slide the door open and Ikki came in, quickly jumping onto Korra's lap.

The Avatar let out a light grunt at the sudden extra weight and, once she had adjusted properly, said, "Hi Ikki, what're you doing here?"

The girl in question eagerly responded, saying, "My mom and dad told me to come tell you two that they've packed the last of your things on the boat, and now they're just waiting for you and Asami to head down to the docks."

"Okay, I'm just about ready to go." Asami said, walking over to her dresser and slinging her makeup bag over her shoulder.

"Asami, why're you going with Korra back home?" Ikki inquired from the blue-eyed woman's lap.

"Well, I'm going with Korra to make sure that she gets all better." Asami said, picking up her last two suitcases, one in each hand.

Jumping off of Korra's lap, Ikki did her best to help push Korra out of the room and into the hallway, signifying that she wanted to head down to the docks.

As Asami left her room and began walking with Tenzin's daughter and the Avatar down the hallway, the former asked the latter, "Do you think being in love with Asami will help you get better?"

At this, unnoticed by the other two girls, Korra blushed lightly but said, "I'm sure it'll help more than I can know."

"That's nice! Me too, it's always comforting to know that someone you love is there to help you." Ikki replied enthusiastically.

"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" Korra said, slightly taken aback at the wisdom in Ikki's words.

After the exchange, a comfortable silence overcome the three young women as they made their way to the temple's docks.

Tonraq was loading the last of Asami's things onto the boat, while Tenzin, Mako, Bolin, and Asami talked down by the boarding ramp.

Bolin happily said, "Now don't take this the wrong way, but, I can't wait for you two to leave!"

Mako responded, "How else are they supposed to take that, but the wrong way?"

Bolin clarified, "I mean, because I've never had a pen pal before! I'm gonna write you two so many letters and, just to get the ball rolling here." He took two letters out of his coat pocket and handed one to Asami and the other to Korra. "Spoiler alert: Pabu and I already miss you guys."

Korra smiled softly at the gesture and responded, "Thanks. That's sweet."

Asami tucked her letter into her coat pocket, and put her hands on Korra's shoulders in a gesture of comfort, which Korra smiled at in response.

Asami removed her hands from Korra's shoulders as Tenzin approached. The airbending master said, "Now, I don't want you to worry about a thing while you're gone. Your recovery should be your number one concern. Jinora, the airbenders, and I have everything under control."

Although she knew that Tenzin meant well, Korra couldn't help but lose some of her happiness at Tenzin's words. Her once bright mood was dampened by a considerable degree by the man's words, she glanced at the ground as self-doubt began to claw its way back into her mind.

Asami, seemingly, was the only one to notice Korra's drop in mood and resolved to talk to her about it later. I'm not going to let her slip back into that dark pit, Asami thought to herself.

"If you're all done here, we're ready to go." Tonraq announced from the top of the boarding ramp.

"Alright, we're coming up then." Asami replied.

Asami then proceeded to wheel Korra up the ramp and onto the front section of the boat.

As the ship began to move out of the dock, Mako and Bolin said their final goodbyes.

"Get better soon!" the firebender shouted

"Don't forget to write!" the earthbender shouted too.

As the ship pulled out of the Air Temple's docks and into Yue Bay, it passed Aang Memorial Island. While Tenzin's words still rattled inside of Korra's head, she looked at the memorial and jumped slightly; letting out a small sound in the process.

"What is it honey?" Tonraq asked, looking at the memorial himself.

"Nothing, it's nothing dad." Korra replied.

Korra was lying, as she swore that she noticed Amon standing in between the pillars of the island's building. Amon is dead and there's nothing to be afraid of, get a hold of yourself. Korra's mind chastised her.

In spite of this fact, the Avatar couldn't help the chill that ran up her spine at the thought of the bloodbender and the sheer terror that he invoked in her.

Everything will be okay, nothing is gonna happen, and I'm going to be fine. Korra repeated to herself as the ship pulled out of the bay and into the larger body of water surrounding Republic City.

You say that, but do you really believe it? A certain deep voice mockingly replied in the young woman's mind. You think you're going to get better, but we both know that's not true; even with Asami's help. You're broken Avatar, and no amount of care can possibly fix you. Just wait, you'll come to see just how hopeless your situation really is. There is no saving you…