Chapter Text
Korra couldn’t help but jump up from her seat in the stands, singing and swaying as the Water Nations national anthem played and the final members of her small team sat themselves in the stands. The music was loud, the atmosphere was amazing, Korra was more than stoked to be here at the Winter Games.
When the music quietened down and the brunette sat herself back in her seat she couldn’t help but look over at the United Republic team. They were all wearing black slim jackets with matching ski-pants, with golden trim and their emblem on their left lapel, but something was odd about them. She looked over the closest group to her; there was one guy with short black hair and the oddest eyebrows she had ever seen, wearing a red scarf. A younger, stockier guy next to him with a green scarf who was nudging the ribs of beautiful woman with thick black hair, green eyes and a maroon scarf. Clearly realising she was being watched by Korra, the girl looked up with a raised eyebrow causing the brunette to feel self-conscious and quickly turn away.
“Hey dad.” Korra looked to her father and coach who had been sitting by her side. “Why are the United Republic wearing different colour scarves?”
Leaning forward to look up at the neighbouring athletes, Tonraq smiled. “Well you see the United Republic was formed to unite the four nations. Those wearing red scarves are originally from the Fire Nation, green Earth Kingdom, yellow Air Nation, blue Water Nation and Gold are the ones born and bred in the Capital.”
Carefully pointing at the woman – who was talking to her teammates but still keept glancing over at Korra – she questioned her father once more. “Then why is she wearing a maroon scarf?”
Tonraq looked over just as she looked over, smiling he waved causing Korra to bury her head in her hands and groan. The woman smiled and waved back before flicking her hair and going back to her teammates. “I would say she is just sassy. Why do you like her?”
Nearly choking on air Korra put up her hands and shook her head. “What? No, I’ve only just glanced at her. So just – no I just – ”
Laughing, Korra’s father slapped her knee and went back to looking at the spectacle in front of them. “I’m just joking.”
Once her father stopped talking Korra tried to continue watching the ceremony but for whatever reason she couldn’t, every so often she would look at the girl in the maroon scarf until she looked back causing Korra to blush and look away.
Brushing her fingers through her chin-length hair, Korra took in a deep breath before putting on her helmet and pulling her goggles over her eyes. Checking her bindings one more time she put weight on her front leg while making the slightest of jumps, edging her board closer to the edge of the slope.
Taking in a deep breath the boarder edged herself over the edge, away from the prepared slope and down a marked off-piste run. Going from left to right in long sweeping turns, Korra avoided trees and the odd rock before she spotted a nice looking ridge. Anchoring her weight down, she slid over the large mound of snow before pushing herself off and crouching mid-air. At first Korra had been tempted to do a few tricks but her father would kill her if she was injured before her time-trial, so instead she had to make-do with powder snow and the cool air rushing past her face.
Suddenly Korra’s stomach dropped as she saw a person walking in her landing zone, using her stick to poke the ground. Gripping the front end of her board, Korra tried to move herself to the left as she shouted at the person below. “MOVE!”
The person looked up and quickly dived out of the way before Korra landed badly, her body falling and rolling several times before coming to a stop. Korra groaned while slowly wiggling each part of her body to make sure she was still in one piece.
“Shit, are you okay?”
Korra looked over at the person who she nearly hit; it was a woman – not just any woman, that woman from the opening ceremony yesterday. Groaning Korra tried to get herself up but was too deep in snow to move. “Yeah, no thanks to you. Do you mind helping me out?”
The woman nodded and quickly rushed over to Korra, pushing off a large pile of snow off her chest before releasing her feet from its bindings. “I’m sorry.”
Grunting, the brunette sat up and moved her now stiff neck, “Yeah, whatever.”
Grunting one more time, Korra pulled off her helmet and threw it to the ground. The Republic woman raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, “You…”
“Yes, what about me?” Korra said while trying to get herself onto her feet, sinking slightly in the deep snow.
“You were the girl who kept looking at me during the ceremony.”
Korra looked at the woman like she had never seen her before despite knowing exactly who she was. “Oh, was that you? I never noticed.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Bullshit, you were staring at me so much I bet you have my face memorised.”
“I wasn’t staring, but whatever. What I want to know is what the fuck was you doing standing under the ridge?” Korra huffed, picking up her snowboard and checking for possible damage. It was only her recreation board but still it would be expensive to replace if broken. Luckily it was fine.
Picking up her ski pole, the girl poked it through the snow several times. “I jumped off the ridge like you did and fell…one ski came off and now I can’t find it under this fucking snow.”
Korra couldn’t help but laugh. “That is why snowboards are more superior, can never lose them.”
“Yeah but you have to rely on skiers to pull you on a flat slope.” Korra rolled her eyes. “Now come on, you gonna help me? I helped you get out of the snow.”
Reluctantly Korra nodded before sticking her board upright in the snow. “Fine, but only because you asked so nicely.” She took one of the woman’s spare sticks and stared to poke in the snow. “I’m Korra by the way.”
“Asami.”
Sitting back in a lounge chair, Korra sighed before taking a quick sip of a hot chocolate. “So, what sport you competing in?”
Asami sat on a chair besides Korra, her hair loose on her shoulders and sunglasses masking her green eyes. “Skeleton, you?”
“Boarder Cross.” Asami laughed. “What’s so funny?”
Shrugging, Asami blew on her hot chocolate. “Nothing, just I kind of expected that…well that or halfpipe.”
Rolling her eyes Korra looked out onto the mountain. “Well I can’t exactly say I expected you to be doing the Skeleton.”
“And why not?”
“You just seem…I don’t know, not risky enough to do something so fast and dangerous.”
Turning over to look at Korra, her raised eyebrow peeking over her sunglasses, Asami scoffed. “Oh, so are you just going to ignore the fact that you found me off-piste, because we all know that’s not daring?”
Humming to herself, the brunette nodded. “Ha, yeah you’re right, sorry. So when if your first competition?”
“In four days, tomorrow I have practice runs then three days after we compete, you?”
“Uh…in like just over an hour, just some time-trials to figure out where to put us.”
Asami ran her fingers across her hot mug and chuckled to herself. “Then what the fuck are you doing on the piste? Shouldn’t you be preparing yourself?”
Putting down her hot chocolate Korra shook her head before sitting back in her chair. “Nah, I learnt the slope this morning and I’ve always found the more relaxed I am the better I do.”
“This your first games?”
Korra laughed, running her fingers through her hair before nodding, “yeah it is, I am like super stoked but super nervous ya know? Especially since I am the first female athlete from the Water Nation to compete in the boarder cross, it tends to be seen as a man’s sport.” Glancing over at Asami, she smiled. “What about you?”
Taking off her sunglasses, Asami shrugged while cleaning them with her scarf. “This is my second games; I first competed when I was seventeen and then took a bit of a break. Not gonna lie for a while I didn’t think I would be able to compete again.”
“Why not?”
“Well since my dad’s company is the one sponsoring our team, people thought the only reason I would be competing this time is because of him.”
Furrowing her brow, Korra looked at Asami with a confused look on her face. “What – I don’t get it…” As an answer Asami pointed at the Futures Industries logo on her right shoulder allowing the realisation to creep into Korra’s face. “Oh shit…you are Asami Sato… the Asami Sato! Shit…I didn’t realise…”
Laughing Asami put her hand up and shook her head. “You don’t have to worry about it Korra, I prefer it if people don’t know who I am.”
“So I’m guessing you managed to show the people on the committee whose boss, with like competing.”
“Oh yeah, just because my dad is the sponsor doesn’t mean I am incapable of racing, if that were the case I wouldn’t have gotten bronze last time.”
Sticking her tongue out, Korra shifted in her chair, “Bronze is nothing, I am going to get gold.”
A few seconds later Korra furrowed her brow, with a huff she pulled out her phone from her pocket as it vibrated. Leaning back in her chair, her head hitting the metal bar holding the fabric in place, the boarder groaned. “That is if I don’t miss the time-trials. Sorry Asami I gotta go.”
With a quick shrug Asami smiled. “No worries, I’ll talk to you later. And good luck.”
“Thanks.” With that Korra forced herself off her backside and made her way to her gear which had been sitting on the snow near-by the cafe. She knew she was late, not massively late, but late enough for her dad to kill her so she had to rush across the mountain.
Twenty minutes of fairly heavy boarding and one ski-lift later Korra was faced with a livid Tonraq. “Korra, where have you been?”
Almost keeling over, the boarder heaved while speaking, “I was just relaxing, you know – prepping for the trials.”
Taking hold of his daughters shoulders and forcing her to stand straight, he shook his head, “Korra, you are exhausted, this is no way to be before a race.”
Allowing herself to stand straight using her own strength Korra laughed and lightly slapped her father’s arm. “Don’t worry; I won’t be boarding for another twenty minutes so that’s enough time for me to get ready.” Tonraq raised his eyebrow. “Seriously dad, don’t worry it’ll be fine.”
Nodding Korra’s father took a step back before picking up a duffle bag and playfully throwing it at his daughter. “Right, so you better get changed because I don’t think the team will be too happy you boarding in anything other than team colours.”
Korra looked around the prep space for the boarders only to pout when she saw nowhere to get changed. She forgot that everyone else gets changed at the bottom of the ski-lift where there is a bathroom. For a moment Korra was tempted to take the lift down but she didn’t have enough time. With a shrug and a quick intake of breath she took her jacket off, throwing it on the ground before taking off her boots, standing on her jacket and quickly undressing. Despite her still wearing a thermal under-layer the other athletes couldn’t help but let their jaws drop when they watched Korra. Stopping midway through dressing, the boarder looked up at all those watching her before laughing, “What? It’s not that cold!” Saying that quickly caused the athletes to look away while she pulled on her trousers.
Once fully dressed Korra patted herself jacket down and started to do little stretches. It felt odd for her to be wearing something other than her normal snow-wear, but it was a good odd. Being able to say she wears the national emblem on her the back of her light-blue jacket because she part of a team made her heart fill with pride, she was in the games and she was going to win this.
“Korra, you’re up.”
Korra nodded at her dad before making her way to the starting gate. Tugging on her brown mittens and adjusting her goggles, she took in a deep breath and took hold of the rail either side of her. “You can do this Korra.”
Closing her eyes she listened to the beeping, and then she was off. Pushing herself out of the gate, Korra’s heart started to pound at a uncountable rate, the landscape around her became a blur and all she focused on was getting down to the bottom as fast as possible. As she came up to the penultimate jump, Korra prepared herself knowing that within meters of her landing she would have to make a sharp right. Her knees groaned with the hard landing before they were put under more strain as she only just made the turn. Crouching slightly she tried to maintain speed on the rolls before the final turn and largest of the jumps. “Come on Korra!” She shouted to herself as she left the comfort of the snow for the final time and planned to make her landing. With a final push she forced her board forward across the line and was greeted by a few sparse cheers and claps by the few people watching.
Grinding to a halt, Korra quickly looked up to the board to see her time. She was placed third so far. Even though she knows her time doesn’t make a difference to the medals she knows it means she will be in good standing for the knock-out rounds that start in a few days.
With a quick release of her bindings Korra walked over to her dad who had taken the lift down to see her. “Third, not bad, but what was up with that landing?”
“Which one?” Korra knew which one.
“On the second-to-last jump, you nearly missed the turn.”
Korra shrugged, pulling off her gloves and helmet. “Just need to remember to stay on the inside before I hit the top.”
Smiling, Tonraq took his daughters board as they made their way back to the lift, “Just one more run to go and you are good to go back to the village.”
Leaning against the barriers at the finish line, Asami smiled as she watched Korra in the distance. She hadn’t planned on watching Korra do some runs but she didn’t have much else to do, so she thought why not? Glancing over at the board, Asami noted that this was the boarders last run and she needed at least a second off her previous time to get a decent spot at the start-line for the knock-out rounds. She admits she doesn’t know a huge amount when it comes to boarder cross, but that is what the internet is for.
As the sun blinds her slightly, Asami squints and pulls her sunglasses down from her head while looking back at the slope, Korra coming ever closer. As the girl from the Water Nation comes over the final jump Asami’s stomach drops. Despite being a huge fan of speed Asami has never been a fan of heights – hence the reason she crashed when going over that ridge – and seeing Korra soaring through the air for a few moments made her feel uneasy.
Asami only let out the breath she had been holding when Korra landed firmly and slid quickly past the finish, pumping her fist through the air. As Korra came closer it took her a few seconds to see Asami and quickly came to a halt beside the barrier. Pulling off her brown and white helmet Korra gave Asami a crooked smile, “Didn’t expect you to be here.”
With a slight chuckle Asami leant against the barrier and glanced up at the slope before back to Korra. “I thought I would see how the other half live.”
Shaking her head in disbelief Korra laughed, “Well you will probably see us snow lovers have much more fun than you ice lot.”
Asami rolled her eyes for a moment before her face dropped, without warning Asami dropped behind the padded barrier as a wave of snow hit Korra. Squealing with shock, Korra turned back as Asami slowly lifted herself up. There stood an Earth Kingdom snowboarder pulling her goggles ups with a smirk on her face.
“You think this is funny?” The girl with the beauty mark on her right cheek ignored Korra completely, her eyes glancing over to the scoreboard before heading over to the exit. “Hey, hey don’t walk away from me!”
Before Korra had the chance to undo her bindings Asami took hold of her arm, “Korra, don’t bother…”
Sighing the boarder threw her head forward, trying to remove the snow that had fallen down her neck, “That was so not cool.”
“Actually I reckon it was cool, very cool.” Asami said trying to hold back a laugh.
“You know what I mean – ”
“Korra.” Her father interrupted, quickly walking over next to Asami. “I’ve been looking for you; I wanted to tell you that you did great…” He takes a quick glance at Asami with a raised eyebrow, he is sure he knows her from somewhere. “Who’s this?”
Korra groaned out ‘dad’ in embarrassment as she climbed over the barrier and Asami extended her hand to Tonraq. “I’m Asami.”
Taking Asami’s hand Tonraq introduced himself while staring at her black and maroon personal ski-outfit, and then when he saw the scarf it hit him. “I remember you, the girl at the opening ceremony…you are from the United Republic, making friends with the enemy Korra?”
Laughing, Asami ran her fingers through her hair. “Oh I am hardly the enemy Sir, I do Skeleton.”
With a proud smile to his daughter – who had managed to squeeze herself between the two taller adults – Tonraq patted her head. “Sir? I like her…now I’ll leave you two alone. Remember Korra, just because you have finished for the day does not mean you can eat junk.”
“I know dad.” Korra rolled her eyes as her dad walked away with her board. Glancing over at Asami who had a large grin, Korra gave out a nervous laugh. “You do know he’s joking right? He doesn’t see you as the enemy, he is all for the spirit of the games bringing everyone together.”
Picking up her skis Asami gave a genuine smile as the two women walked to the gondola to go back to the athlete’s village. “No it’s alright, your dad seems nice.”
The two women walked in silence until they arrive on the gondola, leaning back against the vertical rail Korra glanced at Asami’s scarf. Running her gloved hand against the back of her neck, Korra spoke. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, why do you wear a maroon scarf?”
Looking down at the woollen scarf around her neck, Asami ran her fingers across it. “Oh, it is the only part of our uniform that we are expected to wear and it is this colour because my family are originally from the Fire Nation.”
“Yeah, but normally people from there wear red not maroon…”
Asami thought for a moment as to why she wore this colour and ended up shrugging. “Well I guess I wear maroon more because it is a nicer colour.”
“So my dad was right.” Korra laughed out as she made her way out of the gondola and back into the cold mountain air.
Quickly rushing after Korra, Asami couldn’t help but raise her eyebrow in slight annoyance. “With what?”
Taking a quick few steps forward Korra spun on her heel before continuing to walk backwards, her hands in her pockets and a smirk on her face. “You wear it because you are sassy.”
Scoffing, Asami stopped, crossed her arms and cocked her hip. “I am not sassy.”
Korra watched as two United Republic athletes came up behind Asami, it took her a few moments but she realised it was the athletes that had sat beside her on the opening ceremony. “I beg to differ.” Said the taller man in a flat – but possibly sarcastic, Korra couldn’t tell – tone.
Moving so she is facing both Korra and her two teammates Asami smiled with flustered cheeks. “What you two doing here?” Korra watched with a raised eyebrow between Asami and her friend, something seemed odd.
“Just finished practice…” The taller guy looked over at Korra with a slight smile and extended his hand, which she was partially reluctant to take. “I’m Mako and this is my brother Bolin…we are teammates of Asami.” He looked down at her Water Nation jacket but said nothing.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Korra. What sport are you competing in?”
“Ice hockey.” Bolin interrupted with a big smile, which caused his brother to roll his eyes.
“So I guess you don’t value your teeth.” Korra laughed out while tucking her hands into her jacket pockets, her fingers playing with her lift-pass.
“I don’t, Mako does, and that is why I am surprised he was picked for the team.”
Putting his arm around his brother’s neck, Mako gave Bolin a serious look with a raise of his oddly shaped eyebrows. “Seriously Bolin? Is that anyway to talk to your Captain?”
Acting like he didn’t hear Mako, Bolin continued to talk to Korra while pulling himself from his brother’s grasp. “So what do you do Korra?”
Slowly walking ahead with Bolin, Korra couldn’t help but smile, if there is one thing she likes its friendly people like Bolin. “Boarder cross, just finished the time-trials.”
Bolin’s eyes lit up and he started to walk faster while almost bouncing on the balls of his feet. Neither Bolin or Korra noticed at first that Asami and Mako were a few meters behind them, just talking to each other rather than joining in the conversation. “Sweet, I love watching boarder cross! Tell me Korra, how does it work? Like, how do several races between four people dwindle down to the three medallists?”
Taking her hands out of her pockets, Korra ran her fingers through her bob while laughing. “You love boarder cross but you have no idea how the race works? Let me guess, you just love watching the crashes.”
“Guilty.” Bolin said with a sad face and a sadder tone.
Laughing, Korra shook her head. “Well it’s pretty simple, the first two to pass the finish line are brought to the next race, and we just keep racing until there are four left, then we battle it out for the medals.” Korra looks over to Asami who is talking to Mako a few steps behind with a blush on her cheeks.
“Battle is pretty accurate…Korra you alright?”
Snapping out of her gaze, Korra quickly looked back at Bolin who looked slightly worried and confused. “What? Oh yeah, fine, sorry, just zoned out for a second.”
“So what’s with you hanging out with a Water athlete?” Mako almost spat out as she tried to get Asami to look at him rather than Korra who was walking with Bolin.
“What? Korra is pretty cool and funny, and it’s not like I am going against her in the games. We can be friends.”
Mako crossed his arms, he was far from convinced. “Friends? Are you sure?”
“Oh my spirits Mako, Korra and I met like a couple of hours ago, we are just friends.” Asami did all she could to keep her voice down and her eyes from wandering over to Korra.
“Well just remembered what happened last time you became friends with someone during a game.”
Asai rolled her eyes. “Yeah I know, you broke my heart, no need to remind me.”
She was about to step away when Mako took hold of her arm, causing her to glare at him. “I just mean be careful.”
“Mako I am a grown woman, I am more than capable of looking after myself.” Turning away from Mako, Asami made her way to Korra with a bright smile before putting her arm across her shoulder. “Korra, let’s go get a drink, Mako and Bolin have somewhere to be.”
“We do?” Bolin asked to his brother.
Mako said nothing at first, instead rubbing the back of his neck before nodding. “Uh yeah, we need to go to the spa to wind down after training.”
The four athletes say their goodbyes before going their separate ways. Asami and Korra walked for another five minutes before reaching the bar and sitting themselves in a little booth. Asami went to get drinks, a coke for Korra and a sparkling water for herself before they finally got to fully relax.
“What were you and Mako talking about?” Korra felt proud of herself, she waited a whole ten minutes before asking. Asami on the other hand was not as proud of her patience, if she had a choice she would not speak about Mako. He was a nice guy, hell she dated him a few years ago, but she wasn’t in the mood to explain all that to Korra.
Shrugging Asami swallowed her drink before settling it down on the slightly sticky table. “Doesn’t matter, just he is being paranoid that’s all.”
Korra watched as Asami’s face dropped. Leaning forward the brunette placed a hand lightly on Asami’s, her hand was so soft and delicate, far from the roughness of Korra’s. “Hey, are you okay?”
At first Asami says nothing, just shrugs until she looked up at Korra’s ice blue eyes and concerned smile. “I’m fine, thanks it’s just….I dunno, he was just being a bit of a dick.”
With a smile Korra sat back and played with the straw in her glass. “Most men are dicks, that’s why I am so happy to be bi.”
Asami felt surprised at Korra’s announcement, she never expected someone to be so open about their sexuality especially when knowing someone for only a couple of hours. She doesn’t say anything back to that, she feels like she should say ‘me too’ but the words don’t leave her mouth, instead she settles with a faint chuckle.
It took a few minutes but eventually the pair got back into a full conversation, laughing and joking with each other while on occasion Asami flipped her hair – which caused Korra’s heart to melt slightly. In retaliation to this obviously flirting hair flip, Korra flipped her own hair dramatically which caused Asami to almost snort out her water. “Korra, you don’t have enough hair for that.”
With a cute pout Korra pats her hair as if Asami’s words had just hurt it. “It’s not the hair length that counts, it’s the sass, and despite this strong demeanour my sass out classes yours.”
“Really?”
“Yup, no contest.”
Asami was about to open her mouth to tell her to prove it when a tall woman with black hair and a bad attitude came over to their table. Both girls recognised her immediately thanks to the beauty mark on her cheek and the way her back remained as ridged as a steel girder. She looked over the pair before settling her glances on Korra. “Hey you, newbie.”
Korra sat back against the booth and raised her eyebrow. “Can I help you?”
“Do you know who I am?”
“Yeah, the douche that covered me in snow at the trials.”
Asami smiled when she noticed the woman’s eyebrow twitch but was also impressed with how she kept her calm. “The name’s Kuvira, I am three times gold medallist.”
“Good for you.” Korra rolled her eyes and looked at Asami as to say ‘seriously?’ which of course made Asami laugh.
Leaning forward, Kuvira placed her hands on the table so she was eyelevel with Korra. “I saw how you board and I have to say…you are not good enough to make it in this competition.”
Korra smirked. “What is this, your poor attempt to intimidate me?”
“No, I would never try and intimidate a fellow athlete, but I hope you are prepared to let your tribe down.”
Korra saw red. Standing up quickly, the brunette took hold of Kuvira’s hoodie, pulling her so close they were practically kissing. “What the fuck did you say?”
Kuvira didn’t back down, instead this display of anger fuelled her on. “You heard me; your people are nothing more than a tribe, nothing more than pathetic penguin-fuckers. And you’re friend here?” Kuvira looked over Asami with a proud smile. “Well I hope your ancestors are happy that you betrayed your Nation and helped to destroy mine.”
Tightening her grip on Kuvira’s hoodie for a moment, Korra thrust her back into a nearby column causing the whole bar to look at the pair of boarder. “That’s it, you, me, outside, right now!”
Asami wasted no time to come behind Korra, placing a calm hand on her shoulder and speaking in a soothing voice. “Korra, Korra, calm down.”
For a few moments Asami was worried Korra wasn’t going to let her go, instead actually taking her outside and beating the living crap out of her. But as the brunette took some deep breaths she nodded and let Kuvira go.
Shrugging her shoulders to adjust her hoodie Kuvira chuckled before making her way through the bar. “See you on the slopes.”
Korra waited until she heard the door slam before she picked up her glass of coke and threw it against the column. “Fucking freckled dick!” she shouted in anger.
Asami quickly crouched down slightly so she was looking into Korra’s eyes while her hands rubbed her arms. “Korra, calm down and breathe.”
“But she – ”
“I know, but it is not worth punching her and getting disqualified over it. You just need to make sure you bring your anger onto the slopes and destroy her.”
Korra sighed and took a step back. “You’re right.”
With a smirk Asami sat back down with Korra. “Of course I’m right, now do you want to have some dinner?”
“Dinner? It’s a bit early.”
Picking up the menu Asami shrugged. “Yeah but I have practice at 7am tomorrow which means early bedtime for me.”
Taking her own menu Korra started to scan down the options, if there was one thing she did know is that food cures all. “You’re right, Pizza?”
“I was more thinking something healthy.”
“Pizza is healthy!”
Looking over her menu at Korra, Asami couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “It’s so obvious you don’t compete in a sport that requires a skin-tight outfit.”
Two days later came the knock-out rounds and luckily for Korra they went by with little trouble except for the odd shove by some over eager boarders, but still within regulation. Korra was also proud of herself on managing to stay on her board when a certain angry Fire Nation boarder called P’Li tried to slam her into the net, causing P’Li to fall instead. But the knock-outs where nothing compared to what was to come. She knew as she rose through the ranks Korra would eventually have to face Kuvira who, at the moment was playing on the edge of what physical contact was deemed acceptable during racing. It was not going to be easy but Korra felt confident, she had her parents down there watching her, and she even had Asami there. They had been hanging out a lot which was cool because Korra never really had a friend before and Asami was most definitely the best kind of first friend, awesome and sexily sassy.
“Welcome to the women’s boarder cross semi-finals! Are you all excited?” A cheer came from the crowd which caused Korra to jump on her heels before stepping into her bindings. “You should be, we can promise you a great day of boarding, speed and crashes!”
As the cheer from the crowd became louder at the thought of crashes, Asami’s stomach dropped. “I am starting to like this sport less and less.”
Tonraq laughed at the young athlete as she played with the hem of her sleeve nervously. “Oh don’t worry Asami, it’s just a bit of fun and don’t forget your sport is far from tame.”
The camera panned across the waiting athletes until it came to Kuvira which caused Asami’s anger to build. “I know but the only person responsible for us crashing is ourselves, not other people who seem to have a personal vendetta against you for no reason.”
Back at the starting line, Kuvira looked over at Korra with a sly smirk. “Ready to lose penguin-fucker?”
Korra smiled. “Funny, I was going to ask you the same question.”
“Atheletes to your gates.”
The four boarders shuffled up to their starting gates before putting their final foot in the bindings and making last preparations. “Hey…Korra right?”
Korra looked over to her left at girl with green eyes, a sweet smile and an Air Nation uniform but a green scarf. “Yeah?”
The girl extended her fist and smiled. “I’m Opal; I just wanted to wish you good luck.”
“You too.” Korra smiled back, touching the athlete’s fist with her own before they looked forward once again, pulled their goggles over their eyes and their gum shields in their mouths.
First beep came; Korra gripped the horizontal pole by her side, pulling herself as low down as possible.
Second beep, her heart was pounding and her eyes were fixed on the first roller that came after the gate.
Third beep, gate falls down, Korra pulls herself out with a grunt.
Even at the top of the mountain, with the sound of board against compacted snow filling the air Korra could still hear the cheers of the crowd and for a second she was convinced she could hear the cheers of Asami.
Bearing down, Korra took the first bank to the left before hitting another three rollers. She was second; she could see Opal ahead while she was well aware Kuvira was behind. Making a tight right, Korra was able to undertake Opal before coming up to the penultimate jump. She was in the perfect position.
Eveything happened so quickly, as Korra was in mid-air she saw Kuvira coming up to her right with the corner of her eye. The Earth Kingdom athlete took hold of Korra’s jacket before she rammed her shoulder into her ribs. Immediately she felt a searing pain and crack vibrate through her body, which distracted her long enough to not realise that once she lands she would fail to make the sharp turn. As the boarders landed together Kuvira shoved Korra once more, causing her to tumble and slam into the red netting but she couldn’t stop, Korra kept rolling, and the nets captured her like a helpless fish.
The crowd wanted a crash, but this one was hard, instead of cheers it forced a series of gasps from the spectators. Asami’s heart sank and she quickly made a move to climb over the barriers. “Korra!”
Tonraq grabbed her arm, stopping Asami in her tracks. “Asami, no, there is nothing you can do.”
“But what if she’s hurt?”
“Then the medics will look after her…come on, let’s get out of the crowd and wait for her to come down.” Asami bit her lip then reluctantly nodded before walking with Tonraq and his wife through the now silent crowd.
When the world stop spinning Korra tried to move but couldn’t, every time she did she felt her body throb and a pole push against her back. “Fuck,” Korra whimpered in pain which in turn caused her more pain and breathing was starting to become impossible.
As Korra laid there she listened to the distinct sound of something dripping on the snow, she tried to move to see what was causing it but it only caused the pole behind her to push deeper. Carefully Korra moved her hand behind her, gripping the pole and trying to pull it from her back, but she couldn’t, it wasn’t just poking her it was in her. Moving her hand back Korra examined the crimson blood on her brown mitten, she couldn’t believe what was happening.
It felt like it took forever for the medic crew to come over to her, armed with first-aid kits and a stretcher. “Are you okay?”
“Oh just fine – oww.” She whimpered out with difficult breaths.
It took several minutes for the medics to cut through the nets to access Korra but when they did a series of gasps filled the air. Korra wasn’t aware just how bad her injuries were until they collared her and pulled her onto the backboard on her side. She wanted to ask what was happening but the pain was too much for her to bear. One of the medics brushed her hand against Korra’s cheek as they pulled her into the stretcher, “Korra, I’m Kya the lead doctor, can you hear me?”
Korra grunted. “Korra you had a nasty fall but everything is going to be okay, we just need to get you to the hospital. Alright?”
Korra grunted again while mentally screaming profanities with each little movement that caused her pain. As they skied down to the waiting ambulance Korra had to hold back tears when the pole – which she believed was being held by one of the medics – kept moving.
Tonraq was the first to see the ambulance and rushed over to wait for his daughter while Asami and his wife Senna pushed through the crowd behind. As Asami stepped out into a space the sight of Kuvira her sights and anger filled her chest. Without a second thought Asami stormed over towards the older woman with her fists clenched. “You fucker!”
“Asami.” Senna said as she rushed after Asami, but was basically ignored.
With a pleased smile, Kuvira put her hands behind her back. “Oh, is something the matter?”
Asami stepped closer, her chest against Kuvira. “Don’t play dumb, you know what you did!”
Taking a step back Kuvira laughed. “All I did was race; I can’t help it if your girlfriend can’t keep on her feet.”
“You fucking – ” Raising her fist Asami went to punch the boarder across the face until she felt and hand grasp around her wrist.
Looking down she saw Senna with hurt blue eyes – the same eyes as Korra – and a frown on her face. “Asami, don’t!”
Dropping her fist, Asami pulled away from Senna’s grasp and started to make her way over to the ambulance.
What an awful start to a friendship.