Chapter Text
Everything hurt. She had felt pain like this before but never so encompassing, radiating from her chest. And oh her chest, was it possible to be alive and feel this kind of pain? Her body felt dense, yet somehow she was floating. Her eyelids were like glue and it was so hard to breathe. Why was it so hard to breathe?
But then her lungs expanded without her beckoning them and she ripped her eyes open in panic.
“Korra! Korra, please stay calm.”
Asami . That sweet voice could make her do anything and her heavy eyes found green, green that were lined with red and worry.
“You’re on a ventilator, Korra,” Asami explained. “It’s helping you breathe because your lungs are very weak. I know it’s uncomfortable but just let your body relax.” She reached for the call button on the side of the bed and pushed it. “They are going to have to come in and assess you ok?”
Korra tried to nod but the pain was too much and she couldn’t move.
Asami seemed to understand because she smiled softly before trying something else. “Why don’t you try blinking once for yes and twice for no, how about that?”
Shutting her eyes was easy, her lids like resistance weights snapping back into place, but she did it. She blinked once, for Asami.
“Good, are you in pain?”
One blink.
“Do you want some medicine?”
Two blinks.
“Korra...”
Two blinks.
“Ok. Is it ok if I stay here while they check up on you?”
She hesitated, but gave one blink. Asami’s smile was worth it.
An ICU doctor and a few nurses came in to assess her and took out her breathing tube, which had been a horrible feeling. They spoke to her but she wasn’t listening to much, all she heard was ‘cardiac arrest’ and ‘fluids,’ which meant absolutely nothing to her. Soon enough they were gone and it was just the two of them again.
“Don’t try and talk, it will hurt,” Asami began. “Are you tired?”
One blink.
“Get some rest, I’ll be here when you wake up, ok?”
Korra didn’t remember falling asleep after that but she felt a little better when she woke up later and Asami was still there, but she was asleep too.
She took this moment of peace to just look at Asami. Her doctor usually had a regality about her, a commanding presence that she naturally assumed whilst walking around the hospital, but right now? No, she looked like the 26 year old she was, she looked young and tired. Korra had only ever seen her in that dress ( that dress ) and scrubs, but now she was wearing joggers and a baggy sweatshirt and she was fucking cute.
Korra smiled at how nice it was that Asami was here, but then she remembered the last time they saw each other. She had felt like such shit a few minutes after Asami left and completely berated herself on how she had acted. The last thing she remembered was feeling her chest tighten, but she thought it was from the pain of yelling at Asami for something that wasn’t her fault.
She was still tired, and Asami was sound asleep, so she took one last look before following her lead.
When she woke up a second time, Asami was still there and typing on her laptop.
“Hi,” she rasped when Asami hadn’t noticed her and those green eyes shot up.
“Hi,” Asami smiled, “don’t talk, ok? We can do the laptop, if your hands are ready?”
She had never put so much thought into moving her body but as heavy as she felt, her arms were just fine and she nodded.
Asami handed her the laptop and Korra typed quickly.
‘I’m sorry for yelling at you.’
Asami chuckled. “I accept your apology, Korra, and we’ll get to that but we should talk about what happened?
‘I guess.’
“Essentially your body somehow went from completely fine to septic shock, resulting in cardiac arrest. Zhu Li just so happened to be walking into your room to check on you when you went v-fib. Her quick response was key in saving your life and we rushed you to the ICU where we had to shock your heart to get it back into proper rhythm, but with the heart and sepsis your body was crashing so we had to put you in an induced coma to try and regulate everything. You’ve had a blood transfusion from me to help fight the sepsis since your body recognizes my white blood cells. It’s been rough, but you’re awake.”
Korra stared at her as she took it all in and then typed.
‘How long was I in a coma?’
She curled into herself a bit. “Two weeks. It was for the best, even without your body shutting down you would have been in so much pain. Proper CPR is really brutal on the ribcage.”
‘It still hurts really bad. Who do I have to thank for that?’
Asami paused. “Me.”
Korra gave her a lopsided grin. ‘Always saving my life, aren’t you?’
Asami laughed but it also came out a sob and Korra was instantly worried. “I was so scared, Korra. Fuck I’ve never been so scared. You told me you wanted to give up and then that? You can’t do that to me, you promised you would fight.”
Korra went to type but Asami stopped her, tears flowing easily out of scared eyes. “Don’t you dare say sorry. For fucks sake, Korra, I’ve been going crazy this last week. I’ve never cared about someone the way I do about you and I’m so terrified. I can’t-I can’t live without you, do you understand that? Fuck the rules, fuck what people say, fuck cancer, I want you. Only you, Korra, and I’m so sorry I’ve pushed you away but I can’t anymore. I’m here, if you’ll still have me, but you need to promise me you won’t give up, I’m begging you.”
Korra stared at her with wide eyes before dropping her head to the bed and closing them slowly. She scrunched her eyes and replayed what Asami just said over and over again, trying to see if there was any catch, any way she misunderstood.
‘Say it again.’
“I want you,” Asami said with a watery laugh. “It took Opal yelling at me for being completely stupid to realize how much I want you. I want to give you everything, make you happy, do whatever I can to keep those beautiful eyes bright and a smile on your face. I’d rather live a scared life with you than a life of regret without you.”
Tears flowed hot and easy from Korra’s eyes as the words sunk in. After nearly a year of pain and suffering she saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and Asami was that light. Fuck this cancer but if getting the girl was the result, it might just have been worth it.
“I promise,” she rasped again. “I’ll fight, I promise.”
And then Asami was full blown crying too, she burrowed her face into the sheets next to Korra’s leg and let the feelings from the last two weeks overwhelm her. All Korra wanted to do was wrap her up and hold her tight but she couldn’t move so she placed a gentle hand on the back of Asami’s head to soothe her.
They stayed like that for a while and eventually Asami calmed down enough to turn her head and look up. Korra flashed her a smile and grabbed the laptop to type again.
‘If I had known that almost dying was the way to get you to give me a chance I would have done it sooner.’
Asami gave her an unimpressed look but Korra wore the cockiest grin that had both of them laughing, until Korra held her hand to her throat in pain.
“Ok, just relax, let’s not do that again. And you’re not allowed to die on me, you promised.”
Korra nodded and scooted to one side of the bed, holding open her free arm that was unencumbered by tubes and wires, and patted the bed for Asami to come and join her.
“I’m not sure that’s a great idea, Korra.”
But then Korra pouted and of course she gave it. She set the laptop down and looked at the door before slowly climbing into the bed. The angles were a little awkward and her stomach was in knots because they had never been this close but then Asami was cuddled into her side and planted a chaste but warm kiss on her cheek.
Korra turned her head and tapped her lips for a real kiss and Asami shook her head.
“Not a chance, Avatar. You have to get your immune system back before you get a kiss.”
Korra pouted and gave her pleading eyes but Asami just kissed her cheek again. “No. Get better, earn it.”
And then Asami was snuggling into the crook of her neck and she could feel her heartbeat quicken. As gentle, warm breaths puffed onto her neck Korra wondered immediately if she smelled bad. It’s not like she had been able to shower in two weeks so the sponge baths she must have gotten weren’t exactly her brand of body wash. Asami must have known what she was thinking because she snuggled deeper into their embrace and laughed softly.
“You have thrown up on me multiple times, I think I can handle your ICU smell,” she blew a puff of hot air onto her neck and Korra got goosebumps. “If you’re worried though, you smell fine. Good, even.”
Korra hummed and let herself sink into this moment. Even with all the wires and an uncomfortable bed, Asami fit perfectly along her side and every place they were touching sizzled. The doctor was tall, taller than Korra by a few inches so she had to bend her knees but a soft hand curled over her shoulder and lips were ghosting the side of her neck and it was just too perfect, too comfortable. She closed her eyes and let the nearly overwhelming feeling of happiness lull her to sleep, feeling more content than she had felt in a long time.
It was the best sleep she’s had in a year.
//
The warmth leaving her side is what drew her out of that amazing sleep and she reached out for it with her hand.
“Asami?”
“Hey, sorry,” Asami whispered. “We got caught. Apparently it’s against the rules to share a bed with an ICU patient.”
Korra hummed and opened her eyes. They must have given her some pain medicine because she felt lighter than earlier. Or maybe it was just sleeping with Asami curled on her. “I don’t like rules.”
“Neither do I,” Asami said with a wicked smile, “but I do sort of have to keep up appearances here.”
“Are you going to be in trouble?” Korra asked with a little worry in her raspy voice. Her throat didn’t hurt as much and she was happy to be able to talk.
Asami searched her face for a moment before shaking her head. “No, I’m not in trouble. There’s actually something I kind of need to tell you.” She scooted her chair closer and rested her elbows on the side of the bed. “I’m kind of rich, like really rich. As in like I technically somehow own over half of this hospital so in reality unless I commit medical malpractice I don’t think I can get fired.”
Oh they definitely gave her drugs because what? “Sorry, can you run that by me again?”
Asami scratched at her forehead awkwardly. “I’m Asami Sato, as in daughter of Hiroshi and Yasuko Sato, founders of Future Industries.” She puffed out her cheeks and let out a deep breath, smiling at the way Korra’s face dawned with realization. “When my dad died everything was left to me but he knew I didn’t want the company so through a bunch of legal jargon he put it in his will that I would get all of his shares of the company but CEO would be passed off to his assistant. I don’t really care to understand any of it, but Future Industries holds the majority of stakes in this hospital so in a roundabout way, I own it.”
“Wow,” Korra said in awe. She was no stranger to money, she had been paid more than she knew what to do with when she got signed to the Rebels, but this was a different kind of money. Deep pockets kind of stuff. “Wow.”
“And no one really knows either,” Asami continued. “The chair of this hospital, Varrick, he knows and he loves me. Opal and Zhu Li do too because Varrick and Zhu Li...well that’s another story for a different day. Tenzin of course knows but that’s about it. Sato is a relatively common last name so I float under the radar.”
Korra nodded dumbly, “that’s why I never connected it.”
“Does this...” Asami fidgeted nervously, “does this change anything...about us?”
Us . Korra about melted, but the concern on Asami’s face snapped her out of it.
“What? No!” Her throat screamed at the exertion and she calmed down before continuing. “No, Asami, that doesn’t matter to me. I have plenty of my own money so I’m not trying to be a gold digger and if you didn’t notice, I fell for you long before I knew any of this.”
Asami smiled wide and looked dreamy, “good.”
//
“Looking a little slow there, Avatar!”
Korra slowed her jog and stopped in front of the steps that Asami and Naga were perched on. “I was going easy on you,” she panted, bending over to catch her breath.
“What do you think, Naga?” Asami asked the dog sweetly, “do you think Korra let us win, hmm?”
Naga barked loudly and lolled out her tongue.
Korra scoffed. “Traitor.”
“Come on, champ,” Asami said with a laugh. “Lets go make some lunch.”
Their jogs had become a somewhat constant routine over the last few weeks. It had been a little over four months since Korra’s stay in the ICU, and things had really looked up in those months. The bone marrow transplant really started to kick in and her white blood cells decided to finally start working properly. Besides the low dose chemo of round three that was used to keep the leukemia at bay, Korra had started to feel a little more like herself.
She had started off by working out gently, just to build some of the muscle mass back that she had lost over her treatment. Nothing near her old routine, but she was working her way back to more than an emaciated body. She had a long way to go, but Korra smiled in the mirror more now when she could see the lines of definition returning.
Asami had been there every step of the way, too. Being incredibly rich had its perks, of course, and Asami’s house boasted a wonderful personal gym that had Korra drooling. It’s much safer this way, gyms are full of germs, Asami had stated plainly when she invited Korra over the first time. They trained together when Asami didn’t have work, which albeit wasn’t very often, but they made it work and somehow after about two weeks Korra got a key to the house. Naga likes the yard and you need a safe place to work out, Asami had offered with an easy air but Korra could see her blush.
When they started jogging together a few weeks ago it simply turned into an easy system of running with Naga and then coming back and making food. While Asami used to live at the hospital because it was all she had, she slowly had started staying home when she wasn’t needed. She had a pager if there was an emergency, but she had better things to do now, which of course was Korra.
Not that they do anything, they haven’t even kissed yet, but they’re working on it. They’ve come close a few times but it’s always been interrupted by a phone call or Opal being an ass, but there’s really no rush. They honestly have just been enjoying the time to actually get to know one another outside the hospital and outside of the sterile weirdness of those white walls. They go on little dates and talk endlessly, usually winding up in a park somewhere to enjoy the outdoors and fresh air. Asami always watched in adoration as Korra would tilt her head back and close her eyes, breathing in the open air and felt the elements around her.
It was beautiful. Korra was beautiful. She was positively divine and Asami was in constant awe.
Asami started to cook their food while Korra went to the bathroom to wash her face off from the run.
“Asami, look!” Korra said happily as she came out of the bathroom. She walked towards Asami and lifted up her shirt. “My abs are back!”
Asami looked and then looked again and wow. They sure were back. They probably weren’t as defined as before Korra started treatment, but damn . She was staring.
“Asami? Are you alright?”
“I’m gay.”
They both paused before breaking into laughter. Korra was holding her stomach she was laughing so hard and Asami had to walk away from the stove.
“Wow,” Korra said as she wiped away a tear. “Good to know I’m not the only one.”
Asami turned back to the food and shook her head. What a dork. “I’ll have you know that after your first appointment with me I ran to the cafeteria and had a gay panic about your abs to Opal.”
“So you like them?” Korra asked with a grin and patted her stomach.
Asami rolled her eyes and turned off the burner. “I like them and you. Now can you grab me the salt? This is almost ready.”
Korra winked and did as she was asked. “Asami, why the hell do you keep the salt up so high,” she huffed as she reached on her tippy toes for the salt on the top shelf of the cabinet.
“Because you over salt everything so I have to keep it away from you.” She walked over and reached up over the shorter woman to grab the salt and Korra turned around to pout.
“But salt makes everything taste better.”
Her retort was blocked by Naga coming up behind her and pushing Asami into Korra. She braced her hands on the counter as Korra grabbed her stomach for stability and their eyes locked as they were barely a breath apart.
Apparently Naga knew they needed a literal push to get their shit together. Neither of them knew who moved first but their lips were soft on each other and nothing else mattered in that moment. Asami tilted her head to deepen the kiss as her arms wrapped around that tan neck and Korra’s arms tightened around her waist.
“Is this ok?” Asami asked breathlessly when she pulled away after a minute.
Korra tugged her back. “Just shut up and kiss me already.”
And oh did she. Asami broke off to lift Korra up onto the counter, earning a gasp and tight hands in her hair as their lips crashed back together. She snaked her hands under Korra’s sweaty tank top to run her fingers over those abs and she could feel the frantic sigh on her lips. She moved her hands around and up Korra’s taut back, raking her nails down the lines of her spine and then pulling them flush together.
“I don’t want lunch anymore,” Korra panted when they parted for air. Her chest was heaving and those blue eyes were blown. Asami almost considered declining but Opal’s words crawled into her head. ‘The only thing certain in life is death, so make every day count. Cure her, kiss her, date her and fuck her senseless.’ Well she hadn’t gotten to the curing part, but she could take care of the rest.
She took one last look into those blown blue eyes before dragging Korra off the counter and carrying her to her room. Make every day count.
As they lie together sweaty and naked later, Asami running soft fingers over Korra’s back, she closed her eyes and let the feeling of unadulterated joy wash over her. It had been so good. So, so good.
Korra had been a little embarrassed at first, stating that it had been a while and that she was self conscious about her body, but then Asami had smiled reassuringly from between her legs and made Korra forget her own name. Minutes had turned into hours of touching, exploring, worshipping one another. Even though Korra wasn’t even at the top of her game in terms of strength and stamina, her willingness to learn and adapt had Asami shaking and crying out her name more than she knew she could.
Soft kisses into her collarbone brought her out of her thoughts and she giggled. “You want more?”
Korra kissed the spot again and sank further into their embrace. “No, too tired. I just like your skin, it’s so soft.”
Asami hummed and held Korra closer. Somewhere in the middle of a wicked tongue and fingers curling inside of her, Asami had finally dropped every last vestige of fear of what could be. Korra was here, she was alive against so many odds and fuck if she was going to waste any time worrying about what could be when she could be spending it like that. She had been stupid, but she wouldn’t change anything. Things were perfect, Korra was perfect. For the first time in a long, long time, Asami was happy. With hot, sweaty, dark skin against her own and light puffs of breath against her neck, Asami wondered if the delicious ache she felt from the joy in this moment would ever go away. She had plenty of time to find out.
//
It took six years. Six years and one relapse that nearly shattered her heart into a billion irreparable pieces, but Asami did it. A week before their third wedding anniversary, Asami finally did it.
She sat back in her chair and read over the reports again and again, stopping a few times to look into the microscope and see if it was real. As it sunk in her chest was screaming between tightening from excitement and bursting with joy. They say life flashes before your eyes before you die, but she wasn’t dying and now she held in her hand the key to keeping her wife alive and away from cancer's deathly claws. No, a life was flashing before her eyes now because there wasn’t a fear of death anymore.
Korra.
The first time they met, her bad days in isolation, weeks in the ICU; Korra slowly moving into Asami’s house without either of them realizing it; Asami seeing one of Korra’s games in person and getting to kiss her stupid on the field. So many memories flew through her head and they all swirled around those damn blue eyes and a cocky grin. Though their engagement and wedding had been lovely and symbolic, their true treasure was just getting to live a life together, a happy life. A life she couldn’t wait to continue for as long as the fates would allow.
She rushed home, to their home, where Korra was giving Naga a long needed bath since they had both been rather busy lately. Asami with her research and Korra being back on season, Naga had taken her freedom to dig in the backyard and get all muddy.
“Korra?” She called as she walked through the foyer in search of her wife.
“In here!” Korra called from Naga’s bathroom and yes, Naga had her own bedroom and bathroom. She was their princess.
Asami found her shirtless, elbows deep in dirty suds with an incredibly dirty and happy dog. “I did it, Korra.”
Korra grunted and scrubbed a patch of fur. “What did you do?”
“I isolated the proteins in the stem cells from the blood,” Asami choked. “They-they can be given to anyone now, no match needed...I-I did it.”
Korra dropped the scrubber and turned to her wife with wide eyes and suddy arms. “You did it.”
“I did it.” She covered her mouth with her hand and let out a sob. She did it. She didn’t have to worry anymore.
“You did it!” Korra took the two steps needed to reach her and swept Asami up into the air, bringing her back down into a tight embrace. “You did it. Fuck, I love you so much, Asami.” She kissed her cheek and held her close, neither of them caring about the suds. “You did it.”
Naga jumped out of the tub and toppled them both over, licking their faces and drenching them in dirty water but they both broke out in laughing sobs. This was their life, and they were going to be ok. They had each other, and Naga, and that’s all they ever needed.