Book 5: Family

Chapter 10

CHAPTER WARNINGS: pregnancy, adult shop, adult toys, public intoxication.

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The next day's events were largely overshadowed by the looming notion that Asami may or may not have been knocked up by Spiritually-generated semen. They both avoided talking about it as they went to bed and throughout the following morning. Varrick sensed nothing, but Zhu Li was watching them especially carefully as they picked up their findings.

It was as they feared: mercury interlaced with the explosives. There were also minimal amounts of actual Spirit vines, but it was unclear if those were there beforehand or just mixed in when the vines were destroyed. Either way, Chief Beifong was not pleased, but was at least able to use the information to help seek out the cause of the unfortunate disturbance.

"Now, you promise you won't give the healer any trouble?" Asami shot at her as they climbed out of the car. "I know you're feeling a bit hesitant, but she's just doing her job."

"I promise I won't interfere," Korra replied a little defensively. "I've got enough on my mind, I don't wanna fight with some old Water Tribe lady."

Most healers in Republic City were trained in the Northern Waterbending technique of chi-healing; the healer they ended up seeing seemed to be multi-ethnic. She had somewhat pale skin, so pale as to almost seem Fire Nation, but her blue eyes gave away some Water Tribe descent. She was also younger than Korra expected, probably no older than Pema. Perhaps Korra's notion of healers was too closely tied to Katara...

The smiling healer led them into a small room, which was dominated by a shallow pool of warm water at its center. Korra took a set on a cushion at the edge of the room. "So," said the healer, turning to Asami. "What seems to be the trouble? You don't behave as though you're unwell."

"It's not so much that I'm unwell," Asami began, taking off her jacket and laying it across a chair. As she made to untie her boots, she continued, "There''s an odd... disturbance in my chi. We were wondering if you could perhaps shed some light on the situation."

The healer gave an understanding nod. "There are many ailments that may cause a disturbance in one's chi. If there is something wrong, I will find it." She gestured to the pool of water. "Please lay down and try to relax."

Asami had known they would be doing this later on, and prepared accordingly. Slipping out of her boots and outer garments, a dark blue swimsuit was revealed underneath. Korra was holding a small bag with underwear to don afterward. Gingerly, she stepped into the water and reclined until she was lying back, then began to float gently upon the surface, allowing her eyes to close.

Korra leaned back against the wall and blushed a little, looking nervously at the healer. This situation was so strange and so inherently awkward, simply because of one possible outcome...

The healer waited until her patient was lying comfortably in the warm water. Then she raised her arms and began to Bend the water around Asami's body, back and forth in a steady rhythm, as she felt out the flow of chi in her body. After a few moments of this, the healer smiled knowingly.

"Ah, yes. This is a very common condition, and the change in your body's chi is expected." She let go of the water and folded her hands in her lap. "You are with child. The energy is unmistakable."

Both of Asami's eyes flew open. It was true. Against all the odds, a baby was growing inside of her. If the healer had taken any longer to state her diagnosis than that, she would have doubted her and sought a second opinion. But there was zero hesitation. Korra had fathered a child inside of her, and that was that.