Airport
The flight had landed and Asami was going mad. She was here. Somewhere beyond security she was here. And Asami couldn’t see her. It was pure torture, plain and simple. It shouldn’t be allowed. Asami debated trying to charm or beg her way through the gate. “Excuse me officer, but my internet girlfriend who I’ve never met before is getting off a plane. Can I just squeeze past?” It didn’t sound likely. Maybe she should have bought a ticket herself for an earlier flight and waited on the other side. Or maybe that was a little desperate.
There were a lot of flights arriving, an endless stream of passengers exiting baggage claim. Asami half wished she’d got a sign or something, but Korra was pretty big on keeping out of the spotlight. Better that she didn’t.
In the end she saw Naga first. Something about a dog the size of a small bear tended to make crowds part, especially if it was wearing a service vest. And then Korra emerged from the crowd, following the path Naga had cleared for her. Asami’s breath caught. Nobody looks at their best after a twelve hour nonstop flight but Korra looked absolutely stunning, albeit in a dishabille sort of way, as she wheeled her way across arrivals. She was wearing a sleeveless shirt, exposing gorgeously defined arms, and loose soft tracksuit bottoms. Her mother was walking behind her, Tonraq pushing the luggage trolley beside his wife. Korra came to a stop just short of Asami, Naga coming immediately to heel. Or, rather, to wheel.
“Hey.” Asami managed.
“Seriously?” Korra grinned. “I fly halfway round the world, and you go with ‘hey’?”
All of Asami’s nerves evaporated. Physical distance hadn’t changed anything.
“Oh, because you’re so conversational?”
“Well, I was going to say ‘I’m so glad you’re not an internet predator’, but it seems a little forced now. And where are my manners?”
Korra’s parents had caught up with them.
“Given the whole ‘first time meeting in the real world thing’...Mum, Dad. This is Asami Sato. Asami, this is Senna and Tonraq.”
Naga barked. Korra rolled her eyes.
“And Naga.”
They exchanged greetings. Asami went for a handshake and found herself in a bearhug instead.
“Daaad,” Korra groaned. “Put her down, please.”
“I can’t show some affection to my little girl’s girlfriend?” Tonraq pouted, setting Asami back down. Korra rolled her eyes.
“Not in public, and not by cracking her ribs. Besides,” Korra’s voice dropped a little as she added sulkily. “I wanted to be the first to hug her.”
Korra had clearly inherited her father’s pout. Asami had seen it online plenty of times but it was even more adorable in person. She was only too happy to wrap her arms around Korra instead. The stooped position was awkward but Asami didn’t let go, not even when her back began to complain.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” She whispered, so only Korra could hear.
“I keep pinching myself,” Korra replied, almost shyly. “Freaked out on the plane when it didn’t hurt. Then I remembered I can’t really feel my legs to start with.”
Asami snorted.
“You’re going to have to come up with some new material, Korra. For after the surgery.”
“I’m working on it.”
Korra was the one to pull away, the twisted position not doing her any favours either. She settled herself a little more comfortably against the back of the chair, closing her eyes briefly.
“Ok.” She said, her voice bright once more. “I don’t know about you guys but I think I’d like to see more of Republic City than just this airport, nice as it is.”
“Let’s get to the hotel,” Tonraq suggested. “Drop the luggage and freshen up before we do the tourist thing.”
Asami had a car waiting. She knew better than to offer to help as Korra manoeuvred herself out of the chair and into the vehicle, her father collapsing the wheelchair and slotting it into the boot. Asami took the seat next to Korra, letting her hand fall close to Korra’s own. At the first bump in the road Korra grunted in discomfort, her hand finding Asami’s of its own volition. She seemed a little startled at the contact but not at all displeased. She didn’t let go for the entire journey.
Asami: So what’s the plan?
Korra: Meet in about...
Korra: Hour and a half?
Korra: At the hotel?
Asami: Sounds good.
Asami: So what are you up to now?
Korra: Soaking away a long flight and day. Even first class chairs fuck my back up.
Korra: and twisting looking at stuff all day didn’t help
Asami: :(
Korra: not that I’m ungrateful for the upgrade! And I loved spending the day with you.
Asami: Are you still ok for going out tonight?
Asami: I could always just bring ice cream over?
Korra: Tempting, but I’ll be fine.
Korra: I’m going to be stuck in bed for a long time in the not-too distant future.
Korra: Save the ice cream for then?
Asami: Gladly.
Asami: I’ll even spoonfeed you when you’re too high/lazy to do it yourself
Asami: Could try and find a nurse outfit...? :P
Korra: Bleh
Korra: No offence, but if there is one thing that does not do it for me
Korra: It’s anything hospital related.
Korra: Like “Hi, I’m the person that changes your pee bag and has to wash your greasy, bed-bound ass! Salivate over me!”
Korra: I just don’t get it?
Asami: ...Well that’s one fantasy utterly ruined.
Korra: My bad :P
Korra: Not to mention the possibility of confusing situations under heavy narcotics. Can you imagine trying to dirty talk a nurse just trying to change your dressings?
Asami:...
Asami: This is less hypothetical than you’d like it to be, isn’t it?
Korra: Uh
Korra: Maybe...?
Korra: But I was on lots of painkillers! And he was very understanding!
Asami: He? So you thought he was a male sexy nurse, or...?
Korra: ...I’m going to have to go with ‘or’ on this one.
Asami: ...
Asami: Wow.
Asami: You really...wow.
Korra: Yeah. Morphine is a hell of a drug.
Asami:...If I’m at the hospital after the surgery I’m bringing a video camera
Korra: If???? :S
Asami: I didn’t want to presume.
Korra: Asami, I want you there. Really.
Korra: Even if it is just to mock me afterwards :P
Asami: Then I’ll be there. Every step (no pun/offence intended) of the way.
Asami: Now are you just going to taunt me by making you imagine you in the bath, or...?
There was a ping as the picture uploaded. Korra had her laptop on a tray across the centre of the bath, her hair pinned up to keep it out of the water and bubbles covering her up to the collarbones. It was an entirely decent picture. It just didn’t look like it was.
Asami: Me likey.
Korra: Just you wait for tonight ;P