#shawndere

The young heiress ducked inside an igloo, moving to one side of the door to watch the lesson going on. An old Waterbending woman let a layer of glowing water flow over a life-sized cloth doll, pointing out the centres of body energy in a soft voice to her pupils. The woman- whom Korra had introduced as Sifu Katara- made gentle corrections as her students copied her movements, practicing on their own smaller dolls.

Sifu Katara smiled at Asami, returning her nod of greeting, and continued the lesson, reminding one boy to keep the water away from his patient's mouth and nose, and a girl to keep her elbows at her sides and not stuck out. Asami had eyes for only one student- a tall girl with her thick brown hair gathered into three wolf tails, a bright spark in her clear blue eyes. Her tongue poked out of the corner of her mouth in concentration as she focused on the doll, her brows furrowed.

Asami watched as Korra guided the bubble of water over a white circle painted on the doll's chest- then cried out in frustration as the bubble burst, splashing water onto the doll and the floor. Asami winced.

The old woman gave Korra a sympathetic smile. "Korra, why don't you take a break. Go for a walk, and come back when you feel in a more peaceful frame of mind."

Korra sighed and nodded, standing up and bending the excess water off her clothes and into a nearby bucket with a twist of her hand. She turned to leave, but her face lit up when she saw Asami. She crossed the room in a few quick strides to grab the other girl's gloved hand and squeeze gently. "Asami! What're you doing here?"

Asami let Korra pull her out side, into the bitterly cold morning air. She smiled at her friend and they walked, very aware that the Water Tribe girl hadn't yet let go of her hand. "I finished helping Lin for today, so I thought I'd come see what you were doing. How were the healing lessons?"

The Avatar made a face of exaggerated disgust, making Asami chuckle. "Ugh, I hate healing! It's almost as bad as Airbending was. Every time I think I've got it- Kaploosh!" She made a motion as if to mime splashing water." She shook her head. "I swear, I'm never going to get this healing thing down."

"Yes, you will," Asami promised, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

Korra laughed without any real humour. "Why, because I'm the Avatar?"

Asami stopped in her tracks, yanking Korra to a halt as well. "No," she insisted, looking her best friend dead in the eye. "Becuase you're Korra."

It was as if Asami could actually see the tension melt from Korra's shoulders, to be replaced by a soft smile. "Thanks, Asami." She leaned in and brushed her lips softly against the dry skin of Asami's cheek. 

Despite the cold, warmth shot through Asami's body. She wondered, breathless, if this was what it felt to be a Firebender, to have that lovely ball of heat inside your stomach all the time. Oh, right, she thought dazedly. That's why I'm still here.