Senior Year

A spectacle.  They were going to take the airbenders’ airbending away and make a spectacle out of it.  Fresh tears ran down my cheeks at the thought.  And there was nothing I could do to stop it.  My heart clenched.  Beside me, Beifong had the same look of helplessness on her face.  I started to struggle hard against my chains again, but it was no use.  I didn’t have the strength to break them, and with Beifong’s bending gone, she was in the same position as I was.  Hope began to fade from me when suddenly I hear footsteps running down the hall.

The doors to the room banged open, and there she was.  Korra.  I stared wide-eyed at her, Mako joining her just seconds later.  They looked at us before rushing over to us.  I stood up slowly, Korra’s arms wrapping around me in a tight hug.  I leaned into her, trying my hardest to show how relieved I was to see her, when she placed her hands on my cheeks and kissed me softly.

She leaned back, tears in her eyes. “Never, ever, EVER do that again.”

I smiled softly.  Looking up at the chains, she began to firebend a controlled fire, cutting through the chains.  My arms dropping, I leaned against her, seeing Mako do the same for Beifong.  I looked back at Korra. “The airbenders?”

“They’re ok.  They’re on their way to get Pema and the baby right now,” she replied, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

I nodded, a small smile on my face, when a sudden pain shot through my body.  This…this feelings like bloodbending…but Arlin’s…he lost his bending to Amon…  Footsteps rang as they walked into the room, and suddenly, Beifong and I were thrown against the wall to my left.  We both hit the wall hard, a gasp escaping my lips as we crashed to the floor.  Damn it.  Slowly raising myself to my elbows, my eyes widen at the new arrival.

Amon had found us.  His bloodbending had us pinned to the ground, and Mako couldn’t move to help Korra as she was moved in front of Amon.  No…please don’t…no…  It only took a moment.  Korra fell to the ground, her eyes wide in horror.

“Korra!” I shouted as Leu walked inside with my father.

Frustration ran through my father’s face at the sight of me, his attention turning fully to Amon. “What is the meaning of this, Amon?” he shouted. “What have you done to my daughter?”

A quick hand raise, and my father was thrown against the wall, unconscious as he hit the ground.  Leu stood there watching the events unfold as he turned his attention to Amon, to Korra, and then to me.  Taking his mask off, I could finally see his face, the purple circles underneath his eyes.  He looked at me, his eyes full of sorrow, before turning his attention to Amon.  He dropped his mask onto the floor.

“I didn’t want to believe it, Amon.  What Korra said about you being a bender.  I thought she was lying, just as she had about loving me,” he said, raising his head to Amon. “I gave you everything, and you continued to lie to me.”

Crack.  Leu brought his foot down hard, crushing the goggles in his mask, his anger running through his body.  Pulling out his batons, they began to crackle as the electricity ran through them. “I gave you everything!” he shouted as he began to rush Amon.

He never swung once.  Amon raised his hand, bloodbending Leu into the air.  I watched in horror as his limbs were contorted in different angles, the pain that ran through his face.  To see how unwavered Amon was, how ruthless he was, was sickening.

“I don’t think I’ll be needing your services anymore, Leu,” Amon said as he threw Leu to the opposite wall.

I watched as he hit the wall, falling into the boxes and boards below him, the crunching of the boards as they broke under his weight and toppled onto him echoing throughout the room.  I clenched my fists, tears rolling down my cheeks as I looked at Amon.  He raised Mako up to face him, and fear ran through my body yet again.

Mako had a different plan, though.  Fighting against Amon’s bloodbending, Mako was able to discharge lightning from his fingertips, electrocuting Amon.  I watched as Amon’s body lit up in a blue light from the lightning before he was launched back near the door to the room.  The bloodbending stopped, allowing me to regain control of my own body, and I rushed over to Korra.  Helping to her feet as Mako knocked boards and boxes onto Amon to stall him, I moved as quickly as I could with her leaning on me.  Mako quickly grabbed Beifong, and we rushed out of the room.

“Asami…my bending…” I heard Korra whisper, a defeated tone present.

“We’ll get you some help-“ I started to tell her when the pain returned.

Mako and I were both forced to stop, Beifong and Korra flying from our arms and landing on the ground.  I was tossed up against the wall, landing hard on the ground.  Groaning, I slowly started to sit up on my elbows, seeing as Amon pulled Mako closer to him.

“Such a talented bender.  Such a waste,” Amon said as he moved to take Mako’s bending away.

I clenched my fists, reaching into my boot for my hidden knife, the one the guards had failed to find.  Not this time.  Amon wasn’t expecting me to charge at him with the knife.  The momentary confusion allowed for Mako to duck, and I was able to get a clean hit in on his shoulder.  The pain returned through my body, and I was thrown hard against the wall.  Pulling the knife out quickly, Amon turned his attention fully on me.

“You stupid little girl,” he said as he approached me.

I spat at him. “I won’t let you take anymore bending away, Amon, you sick bastard.”

His eyes narrowed at me, and a moment passed before his arm swung back then forward.  I gasp as the metal of my knife dug deep into my side, the pain almost equaling that of bloodbending.  Mako’s eyes widened in horror as Amon released his bloodbending hold on me, allowing for my body to fall to my knees.

“No!” I heard Korra shout before a blast of air rocketed past me, hitting Amon and knocking him back.

I looked over at Korra, and she was just as surprised as we were.  She can airbend.  Confidence returning to her, she started to unleash attack after attack at Amon, knocking him farther and farther.  He rose his hand, momentarily stopping her with bloodbending, but she was able to break his hold long enough to send one final attack at him, knocking him out the window.  I watched as Korra and Mako went over to the window to see where Amon had landed, while Beifong moved over to me.

She looked at the knife then at me, an apologetic look on her face.  I nodded, understanding what was about to happen.  She gripped the handle, quickly pulling the knife out.  I cried out at the pain.  Shit!  Fuck!  Spirits, that hurt a hell of a lot worse than I thought it would.  Beifong quickly pressed a cloth she had torn from her shirt against the wound, but it was already starting to bleed through.  Korra soon appeared beside me, her eyes moving from the wound to my eyes.

“You’re crazy, you know that?” she asked, her hand on my cheek.

I smiled weakly.  Taking off the chi blocker jacket she was wearing, she moved Beifong’s hands away and pressed it up against the wound.  Footsteps echoed through the hallway as others joined us.  I looked up to see Tenzin running towards us with Pema and the children close behind him.  Mako quickly ran over to stop them, keeping the children away from the scene.  Tenzin moved past him and came over to us, his eyes on the blood.

He looked up at Korra. “We have to get her to the hospital, Korra.  Now.”

She nodded, watching as he slowly lifted me into his arms.  Slowly, I rose my hands and put pressure back on the jacket as Tenzin started to carry me down the hallway.  Everything was starting to spin, which I contributed to the blood loss.  I could see Korra walking on Tenzin’s side, her eyes full of worry.  I gave her the best reassuring smile I could, my eyes starting to close.  It’s alright, Korra.  I’m fine.  That’s what I wanted to tell her; I wanted to tell her everything was going to be ok, but my eyes closed fully.  The last thing I heard was Korra calling my name before everything went dark, and silence enveloped me.

I remember it being white.  Nothing really around me.  I was alone.  I couldn’t remember how I got there.  Remembering what happened, my hands instinctively went to my side, but I was surprised not to find the wound.  What the hell?  I looked around, confused because there was nothing around me.  Just…blank space.  Where was I? 

“You’re in an inbetween state,” a voice said, behind me.

I turned to find myself staring at an older gentleman and a young woman.  I tilted my head to the side slightly, confused as to who they were.  I couldn’t place my finger on it, but they felt…familiar.  Both shared smiles at me as they watched me.

After a moment, I finally found my voice. “Where am I?  And who are you?”

“It’s not your time to cross over, Asami, so you are in a state of inbetween.  As for us, well you already know who we are,” the young woman answered, a smile still on her face.  Something just…seems so familiar.

A moment passed before the woman sighed, looking at the gentleman.  He nodded before they both looked at me. “It is time for you to return, Asami,” the man said as they both started to fade.

“Wait!” I shouted, reaching out to them. “You never answered my question!”

The woman smiled sadly yet warmly. “You already know us, Asami.  And don’t fret; you’ll see us again one day.  You and Korra will together.”

My eyes widened at Korra’s name.  How did they know Korra?  How did they know me?  So many questions ran through my mind, but I never got a chance to ask them.  They disappeared, and my vision went black.

My eyes slowly began to open, the bright lights of the rooms causing my eyes to narrow so to focus.  Where was I?  And why was I in so much pain?  I slowly started to look around.  I’m in…a hospital?  But why?  Slowly my eyes started to drift towards where the pain was emanating on my body, and I saw a large bandage wrapped around my stomach.  A moment later, the memory of being stabbed by my own knife rushed to my brain, causing me to gasp in a breath.  I was hurt.  I was bleeding.  Korra was…  I looked around, not seeing here anywhere near me.  Where was Korra? 

I could hear the heartbeat monitor start to flare up as my heart started to pick up a fast pace.  Korra’s not here.  Korra wasn’t here.  Where was she?  Where was she!  My fists started to clench, and I started to sit up slowly, ignoring the pain that went from dull to sharp and stabby as it focused in on my side.  I had to find her.  I had to find Korra.  She has to be alright.  Two nurses walked into the room and came over to me, trying to calm me down.  I can’t calm down.  I have to find her!  I have to-

She walked into the room, a bowl of food in her hands and worry written all over her face as to why I was upset.  I stopped struggling against the nurses the moment my eyes landed on her.  She’s ok.  She’s safe.  Seeing that Korra was the reason why I calmed down, they quickly checked my bandage and vitals before exiting the room.  Korra watched them leave, closing the door behind them, before taking a seat next to me.  My eyes never left her.

She smiled as she set the bowl of food, noodles of course, down on the stand beside my bed. “Hey.  How are you feeling?”

A moment passed before I realized I hadn’t replied. “Good,” I said, but my voice was soft and scratchy.

Smiling softly, Korra stood and went over to the sink to get me a glass of water.  It didn’t take me long to down it nor for her to bring over another.  I downed the second, looking down at the empty glass in my hands and thinking back to the two people I had seen in my dreams, or at least what I thought was my dreams.

“How long was I out?” I asked.

“About a day,” she answered, leaning forward to take my hand in hers.

“And Amon?”

She shook her head. “We haven’t found him yet.  Arlin’s missing as well; Mako and I had found him being held in the Air Temple Island’s tower, but he wasn’t there when Beifong sent officers to get him.  He was Amon’s brother.”

I sighed.  Both of them were gone.  Spirits, I hope they stay gone for good this time. “What about Leu and my father?”

“Your father’s ok.  In jail, but ok.  Leu…well he’s…” Korra started to say, but it only confirmed my thoughts.

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I pulled her close, ignoring the pain as it radiated in my side. “I’m sorry, Korra.”

She shook her head. “Don’t be.  I shouldn’t be this upset about it, but how he died was just…”

“It’s ok, Korra.  I understand,” I said as I squeezed her shoulders.

She took in a deep breath and released it slowly, leaning back slightly before wrapping her hand gently around the back of my neck and pulling my head close to kiss me.  Smiling, I kissed her back.  When we both leaned back, we were both smiling.  Spirits, that smile always makes me feel so warm.  So welcomed.  She gently pushed the strands of hair off my cheek, tucking them behind my ear, before a frown made its appearance.

“What is it?” I asked, taking her hand in mine.

She looked down at our hands. “I still can’t bend any of the other elements,” she said before looking up at me. “Tenzin wants me to go see Katara, but I wanted to wait until you were released so you could come with us.”

Placing my free hand on her cheek, I looked her in her eyes. “Korra, you don’t need to wait for me to see Katara.”

She squeezed my hand. “I want you there with me, Asami, in case…” Her voice trailed off as she stared down at our hands.

Gently lifting her head, I kissed her softly.  She returned the kiss, a small smile playing on her lips.  She knew I understood her fears, and she knew I wasn’t about to let her face them alone.  I leaned into her, her arm wrapping around my shoulders to keep me close.  After the past few days, I finally felt relaxed, and all it took was to be right here next to Korra.  It didn’t matter that she lost her bending; it didn’t matter that I had survived a near-death experience.  Everything was better whenever we were together.  Everything would be better when we were together.  And that’s just how I liked it.