Chapter Text
At Air Temple Island, the courtyard is a bright whirlwind of crimson, saffron and marigold. Voices overlap – somehow never too loud – and mixed with the creaking of wood, bells and chimes twinkling merrily in every door frame, it’s a pleasant affair. The smell of incense lingers in the air and Korra slips seamlessly through the controlled chaos.
It’s just her, everything she might need for the next day already tucked away in her quarters.
There’s Pema on the steps of one of the side halls, directing people without even needing to look down at the list in her hands while still somehow keeping an eye on Rohan. He’s taken to weaving his way through people’s legs with little bursts of air, giggling. Any airbender or acolyte who catches him just ruffles his hair and moves on, arms full but still managing.
He’s getting better, Korra thinks fondly, as none of them trip even as their robes muss.
Ikki squeals when she sees her from where she’s balancing on one of the roofs to help hang up a string of lights. “Korra!”
With a burst of air she propels herself up and off, floating over everyone before landing and hugging her tightly. Korra squeezes her back with a laugh.
“You act like you didn’t just see me this morning!”
“It’s been so long,” she whines before brightening, bouncing on her toes. “Oh! Have you seen Daddy yet? He’s been looking for you!”
Spotting Tenzin over the heads, Korra nods. “I see him. Should I be prepared for anything bad?”
Ikki’s face screws up in thought before she shakes her head.
“Nope. Not that I know of. Want me to come anyways?”
Korra shrugs. “I’ll shout if I need reinforcements. Now, back to work before Pema catches you! She’s on the warpath.”
"Or Lin," Ikki says seriously and they both shudder at the thought. With a salute and a goofy grin, Ikki skips off. Holding her staff close, Korra manages to make it the last few feet to join Tenzin on the raised walkway without smacking anyone with it. She grins as she skips the low steps entirely.
“Hey! Heard you were looking for me. Something wrong?”
Tenzin shakes his head as he steers them towards the thrown-open doors of the main hall. People stream in and out, offering Korra smiles and well-wishes as they do. Despite the sheer numbers, she feels at ease. Air Temple Island is her home.
“No, no, nothing like that,” Tenzin assures her. “I was just told to keep an eye out. Senna’s in one of the private rooms and last I saw Tonraq, he was with Asami.”
At the mention of Asami, Korra perks up. “How is she?”
Tenzin glances at her with a secretive smile.
“I’m under strict orders to not answer that question. However, I wasn’t told I couldn’t tell you she asked the same.”
“We’re literally on the same island,” Korra says, exasperated, even though the argument is old by now and clearly useless. “I don’t understand why we can’t see each other until tomorrow.”
Tenzin strokes at his beard in thought as they move through the hall, rooms cooling with each step thanks to the high ceiling dotted with wide windows and stone floors. Despite being so far from the kitchens, she can hear Meelo shouting instructions. The crowds around them begin to thin and their footsteps echo. “Hmm. If you had let me plan the ceremony, perhaps you wouldn’t be separated.” He laughs loudly at Korra’s dubious look. “Kidding. But it is tradition, more than just ours. Didn’t you both agree to tradition?”
Korra pouts.
“Yeah but that’s before I found out about not seeing each other!”
“Ah. Blame that on your mother, then. Bolin as well. I believe it was one of the things Asami told him about when he asked for family traditions.”
Tenzin stops, extending his hand towards the paper-screened double doors before them. It’s one of the receiving rooms, Korra recognizes, just a few halls over from her own quarters — no longer in the dormitory wing, though, new acolytes and airbenders filling up the existing dorms to the point they’ve had to build more. These are more tucked away, likely where Tenzin and Pema sleep. It’s probably how he doesn’t get lost.
She thanks Tenzin, his hand warm on her shoulder before he walks away, and steps inside. Senna looks up with a smile. “Hi, dear.”
Korra props her staff against the wall.
“Hi Mom. Sorry for the delay.”
Senna waves it away as she stands and crosses the room to hug her. “It’s your day. Well, tomorrow will be. We’re all on your time.”
“Don’t say that,” Korra warns. “I don’t want to be late to my own wedding. That’s why Dad, Lin, and Pema are in charge.”
“To Tenzin’s chagrin,” Senna laughs to which Korra joins as they sit.
There’s a cup of tea in front of Korra and she gently heats it in her palms, exhaling steam across the top before taking a sip as their laughter subsides. After a few sips, she turns to her mother. “So I’m guessing these are for Asami.”
“I’m not sure which of these she’d like most,” Senna frowns and smoothes a hand over one of the many hides laid out on the low table next to theirs. There’s even some on a rack on the far side of the room. “I’ve brought her favorite blends of tea from the last time you two visited but figured you’d know her best when it comes to this. Tiger seal, polar dog, seabirds, otter penguin? I brought along a few of the best buffalo yaks too. Your father insisted.”
Korra laughs. “How much does he have riding on that assumption?”
“No more than I.”
“Let me guess, your gamble was the arctic camel?”
Senna’s eyes crease even as she looks away. “I’m impartial in this, of course.”
“Of course,” Korra says mock-seriously but laughs at how the corners of her mother’s mouth twist. “Thank you for this, by the way. What do we have?”
“She already has outfits for when you come down,” Senna reasons with a shrug, “so I just stuck mostly blankets. I hope that’s alright?”
Korra smiles. “More than alright. She always steals mine anyways.”
Her mother nods to herself before going through the hides one at a time. There’s fine Tiger seal gloves with maroon stitching that matches a couple coats with similar stitching, trimmed in different kinds of fur. More leather goods with a million different patterned beads styles, plaid blankets, even quilts and bags. Extra harnesses for Naga and her puppies and so much more – Korra spots more than one pouch meant for infants that she pointedly ignores, much to Senna’s endless amusement.
She picks out a few blankets, the Tiger seal gloves and a matching winter coat, carved bone buttons shining, and two pairs of socks with a Fox antelope. Not that Asami’s lacking in cold-weather clothing but Korra knows she’ll love them regardless. She adds a pair of lined house slippers to the pile on second thought.
“I had a pair of those when I was pregnant with you,” she winks. Korra’s face flushes hotly.
“So! What’s next?”
Her voice is entirely too loud, panicked, but Senna just chuckles and pats her cheek fondly. “You’ll have to ask Pema. My job is the gifts.”
As it turns out, Korra’s due for the final fitting of her wedding clothes. Kya helps her dress carefully and kneels to mark any last-minute alterations needed before Korra ducks her head to allow Jinora to tie the beaded, red ribbon around the crown of her head. For the ceremony, her hair will be woven into elaborate braids.
Jinora gasps as she steps back. “Oh, Korra, you look beautiful.”
Korra smiles at her as Kya fetches a needle to replace a few loose stitches. Tonraq and Senna had brought the fine garment from the South Pole with them – along with Katara, to Korra’s delight – and with Kya’s help, Korra had tweaked it to not only her style but incorporate elements of every nation into it. When Tenzin had asked and she’d told him honestly, he’d nodded and called it a truly blended wedding. A wedding for the ages, a wedding of and for the world.
Despite it being of and for the world, both Korra and Asami had agreed their wedding would be a private event. As private as the Avatar and CEO of Future Industries could be, of course, but not open. An official wedding portrait would be released, as well as a few photographs from the reception, but none of the ceremony. That would be just for them, their families, and their friends.
Katara smiles over Korra’s shoulder.
“She’s right. You look fantastic. Incorporating different elements was a stroke of genius.”
Korra plays with her sash. While the over garment is red and white, per custom, she’s significantly lessened the layers of fur, not needing them, then built it back up. The glass beads placed in patterns are imported from all over but hand-stitched by those closest to her.
Despite not being very good at it, Korra did a few of them herself.
Asami had told her she’d be wearing her mother’s jade earrings so some of the beads are jade, others are blown glass from the Fire Nation or mined out of Earth Kingdom soil. The beads range in size and color, some painted, some rough to the touch. Metal, glass, lava rock, stone, wood, ceramic. Despite the sheer number, the garment isn’t heavy. Some of the panels on both the dress and pants are stitched by the air acolytes, others rich brocades shipped in. Some are even spun. Her outfit is truly a rich tapestry of all Nations.
She’d been nervous to ask Asami if it was alright. After all, the wedding was for both of them and they were just going to be two people getting married, titles forgone for the day. Korra was the Avatar, but she was also going to be Asami’s wife. Balance, Raava had reminded her, barely a whisper. It’s about balance.
“I think it sounds lovely,” Asami had just grinned. “I was thinking of doing something similar. We’re already getting married on Air Temple Island, blending our customs. Why not match that? I think I'll look good in blues, too."
So they had.
She doesn’t know much about Asami’s robes, but has been assured by Kya that not only will they compliment each other, they’ll complete each other. So Korra assumes she won’t be the only one in reds and whites as well as hues of yellow, green, and blue. Where she’s foregone her hood and Asami hers, she knows Tenzin will be presenting them both with loosely-woven white silks called khata.
Korra blinks, not realizing she’s begun to tear up. From where she’d risen to walk over, Katara takes her hand and pats the back of it.
“It’s alright.”
“I’m so happy,” Korra whispers and inhales shakily. She hadn’t even noticed Jinora and Kya leaving. “Katara, I’m so happy.”
Katara smiles up at her. “I’m so glad to hear that. There was a time I thought I’d never hear you say it again. But you’ve grown, Korra, so much. I’m proud of you.”
Folding her hand over Katara’s, Korra closes her eyes and breathes, waiting until she’s sure she’s stopped crying to rub her face. She laughs, still a little watery.
“Thank you.”
Katara cups her cheek and Korra bends at the waist enough for Katara to kiss her forehead. When she stands again, it’s Katara’s eyes that are shiny. Maybe she’s thinking about her wedding, her love, her life, like Korra is hers.
“Are you ready?” Katara asks.
Korra catches sight of herself in the mirror again. She straightens, nods.
“I am.”
She is. What she’s not ready for, however, is the waiting.
Sleep doesn’t come easy that night. The entire island seems to be holding its breath in anticipation and even though Korra had tried to run herself ragged so she’d sleep well, there was always someone willing to do it for her.
The lanterns have been strung, candles for lighting set out, low pillows for placing as seating. The carved wooden cups they’ll drink rice wine from three times are stacked and there’s baskets of barley to throw at the end.
Everything is ready.
It’s just waiting on them.
Korra had been dragged all over the entire day. Everyone seemed to have memorized a schedule she wasn’t aware of – when to send her next or where to sequester her so Asami could be brought out of her own quarters to oversee. Tonraq had only laughed when Korra pouted as Jinora had flitted off to help Asami with something no one would say anything about. So Korra had played with Naga before she had to be bathed, cleaned and oiled her glider, made her bed, read, even meditated to try to distract herself.
(Jinora had been called back, then, to keep an eye on Korra and make sure she wasn’t spirit-projecting herself to where Asami was. Korra curses herself for not thinking of it first.)
But now the island is quiet and Korra can’t fall asleep. There’s an electric current running underneath her skin. She tosses and turns, trying to ignore her wedding dress hanging up in the closet, but the moonlight keeps catching all the beadwork and throwing reflections over the walls. No matter how she twists, it’s all she can see.
A yearning ache bubbles up in her chest and Korra scoffs weakly.
She misses Asami.
It’s ridiculous. She and Asami had crawled out of bed just this morning together in their apartment, had breakfast, Asami braiding her hair as she always did before they set out for the docks. Korra had kissed her goodbye at the ferry with a cockeyed grin. Try not to miss me too much, she’d said.
Asami laughed. We’ll see each other tomorrow, she sighed, then leaned in again. Korra had let her, fingers still twisted in the fabric at her waist. When Asami had pulled away, she’d traced Korra’s bottom lip. But no promises.
Me either.
She misses Asami.
Korra throws the blankets off her as she sits up. Fine. She’ll go visit Asami – not see her, just talk to her through the door. That’ll be alright, she thinks, as long as she doesn't look. No harm done.
She doesn’t even bother dressing, just slipping her feet into her slippers before sliding the door open silently. Curled up in the corner snoring gently, Naga’s nose twitches.
Padding through the halls, Korra tries to remember where she’d heard Asami’s quarters were. They weren’t actually very far from hers, only down a few halls, but even now it feels like miles. It’s been a while since they’ve last been apart for more than just a few hours at a time. Even now when Asami's elbows-deep in a project, she still spent her lunches with Korra and always came home on time.
She stops at the hallway she thinks is correct and presses her hand to the wall. It’s a little bit of a cheat, using her spiritual abilities like this, but Korra thinks Raava would understand.
A warmth blooms in the back of her mind, the closest Raava will speak to her outside of the Spirit World. If an all-powerful, older-than-time-itself, glowing, sentient spirit could laugh, then Korra thinks Raava would be laughing at her.
Light floods her closed eyelids. There’s Asami in the left room at the end of the hall, already awake.
Korra doesn’t even dare to knock. Knowing the sheer amount of benders surrounding them, she just cups her hands as she sits outside Asami’s door and bends her voice into the other side.
“Hi,” she whispers and Asami starts. She’d been reaching for the door.
“Korra,” she murmurs and Korra watches her shadow join her on the floor. By the way the light moves around her, she thinks Asami is sitting with her back to the paper screen. “Hi, love.”
“Crazy day, huh?”
Asami hums. “Yeah.”
There’s silence for a few moments before Korra opens her mouth–
“I miss you,” they say in unison.
It’s only the hand in front of her mouth that manages to save Korra from waking the hall as she cackles. From inside, it sounds like Asami’s smothering her own laughter in the sleeve of her robe.
“I thought we agreed not to miss each other,” Asami breathes, mirth still evident in her tone.
Korra’s forehead bumps against the seam. “Easier said than done, I guess. Been a long time since we’ve been apart for a whole day. I forgot what it’s like.”
“How did we do it back then?”
She exhales a laugh. “Because we both thought we were in love with Mako?”
Silence. Then– “Oh, right. That better not come up in your vows.”
“There's no mention of our past disastrous romantic happenings in my vows,” Korra informs her smartly. “I made Bolin go make sure Mako’s speech didn’t include any either.”
Asami snorts. “Well, I made Opal go check that Bolin’s didn’t. So we’re safe on that front.”
“Did you check on Jinora?”
After a moment, Asami swears under her breath. “No.”
“We’re screwed.”
“Should probably just accept it now.” Asami agrees. “Hey, Korra?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I open the door? Just a little?”
“Why?” Korra sits up, eyebrow raised. “I mean, I wanna see you too, but I don’t know if—”
Asami almost sounds a little sad. “I want to hold your hand. Please?”
“Yeah, baby,” Korra assures her immediately, shuffling so she’s turned around facing the opposite wall. “Of course. I’m right here. I always want to hold your hand, dumb wedding rules be damned.”
The door slides open with a quiet shink! and there’s Asami’s hand slipping into hers. Korra sighs, pressing their upturned palms together and squeezing just to hear Asami do the same. The angle’s a little awkward but she doesn’t even notice.
She rubs her thumb over the pulsepoint at Asami’s wrist. “I really did miss you. I started crying in front of Katara I missed you so much.”
Asami laughs through her nose but her index fingers taps against Korra’s skin. Her hands are always so cold, Korra thinks, and wills her palm in Asami’s to heat. When she does, Asami sighs again.
“I missed you too. Don’t worry, I cried into your father’s arms after I tried on my dress. He did too.”
“He’s a sap,” Korra says fondly. She squeezes Asami’s hand again. “I’m sorry that it wasn’t your father here today. Or your mom. Your family deserves to be here too.”
“My family is here. In different ways.” Asami hesitates, tears clear in her voice. Her tone warbles. “And…yeah. My mom would’ve loved bossing everyone around with Pema. She enjoyed being in the thick of things. I think Dad would’ve just been running around like a headless possum-chicken.”
They both chuckle at that. Korra tilts her head back to stare at the ceiling. The moon is high in the window; they’re a few hours from daybreak. The knowledge twists in her stomach.
“Your heartbeat just went wild,” Asami notes.
“Yeah, well, we get married today,” Korra points out and makes sure to bend the sweat from her palms away before Asami can feel it – a move that makes Asami huff fondly.
“We get married today,” Asami repeats. She knocks the back of her head against Korra’s. “We get married today. I don’t think that’ll sound less insane until I’m walking down the aisle.”
Korra snorts. “Wow. At least wait until you get to the end of it, geez.”
They sit in a comfortable silence for a minute or two before Korra wipes her other hand on the thin cotton of her pants. Around them, there’s only the sound of people sleeping and a Sparrowkeet singing in the distance. “Hey, Asami?”
“Yes?”
“I can’t wait to be your wife.”
When Asami doesn’t say anything back, Korra chuckles. “If you’ve fallen asleep against the door I’m g–”
The door flies open on its tracks and Korra only manages not to fall flat on the floor by using her free hand to level herself with a burst of air. She twists. “Wha–”
Asami’s kissing her. Korra melts into it immediately, despite the fact they’re both on the floor, in thin pajamas, mere hours before their wedding, technically breaking the only real rule they had. Korra’s body is half in Asami’s lap and half sprawled out, Asami’s hair is tickling Korra’s nose, but she doesn’t care, just curls her fingers into Asami’s robe and pushes up to kiss her deeper. She pours all her feelings from the day into the kiss – the sadness, the longing, the elation, the nervousness.
Asami takes it all, and pours back. There’s her own pining in how her nose bumps Korra’s, hands framing Korra’s cheeks showing her excitement, her own fears and anticipation clear as day when she breaks the kiss to breathe heavily, warmth fanning across Korra’s chin. Their foreheads knock together.
Panting, Asami doesn’t lean back. “Are your eyes still closed?”
“Yeah,” Korra gasps. “Yours?”
“Mhm.”
Korra blindly wraps her finger around a curl sitting at the base of her throat. This same place on Asami rests her engagement necklace, a view that always makes her want to burst. Even just the thought of it makes her giddy. “On the count of three?”
“Why are we even still following this stupid rule,” Asami grouches, but obliges. They both sit up gingerly to avoid knocking heads and there’s the quiet rustle of the door sliding between them, leaving just their hands again.
Korra considers making a joke, something along the lines of remind me never to follow wedding traditions ever again, but realizes she’s too tired to. Sitting here, talking to Asami, then kissing her, seems to have settled her nerves.
“We should get to bed,” Asami murmurs as if reading Korra’s mind. They do a lot of that now, understanding the other so well she isn’t sure where one of them ends and the other begins.
Maybe they’re as bonded in soul as Raava and her. Balanced.
“I love you,” Korra says, hushed, but no less sincerely. Maybe it’s even more sincere here, on the eve of their wedding, completely alone. They’ll be at the altar soon.
Asami must turn because she’s pressing her lips to Korra’s knuckles before letting go. “I love you too. Goodnight, darling.”
“Sweet dreams.”
Laughing under her breath, Asami stands. Korra watches her shadow move across the floor as the door slides closed fully.
“They’ll be of you.”