She Watched As Korra Navigated Herself Around An Old Model, Looking More Off-balance Than She'd Ever

she watched as korra navigated herself around an old model, looking more off-balance than she'd ever seen her before. she'd... heard about what had happened in Zaofu, had noticed that the wounds she'd carried around with her before she left for the southern water tribe still lingered in the hesitancy of her blue eyes. it quietly broke her heart to see, made her fingers itch & soothing words start to crawl their way up her throat as she thought of the honest words on paper she'd chosen to share with her. but all she could do was be here for her when she needed a friend — ... & try to contain the heat that rushed to the surface at korra's insistent belief in her plan.

the nervousness she could sense was also NEW. she raised an eyebrow, eyes conveying laughter she felt bubbling up, " so you're all mine for the day then. i guess varrick finally came through for once, " up until she'd heard korra's voice she'd figured this was just another one of his empty promises. as much as she hated to admit it, she might owe him big time for this. " having extra hands right now would be a huge help. progress has been... a lot slower than I'd like, " but she wouldn't be letting her home, or korra down, " why don't you come over here ? " & she turned her back to her as she approached the hull of the mech she'd been working on for the past... ... — how many days had it been ? it dawned on her that it'd been a while since she'd even looked at herself in a mirror... not that it mattered all that much in the middle of a world crisis. she cleared her throat then, crouching low to the ground and hugging her knees as she inspected her latest work... " ... you think you could lift this thing for me ? "

❝The Avatar's got a role to play in preparing to face Kuvira too.❞ Stripped of selfhood this thoroughly, her words might even have the capacity to sound upbeat. ❝Your mechs are our best chance against that spirit weapon. That makes this the place I need to be.❞

Two flatteries, only one sincere. But she skirts the context with the skill of a master airbender.

—And lands right into another budding truth. She is glad to be here. Without so much as meaning to, Korra's revisited the conversation they had on Air Temple Island in the handful of days since. Like, a lot. Asami's rebuffs to each of her bleak recollections comes back in echoes at all the proofs that would support her. Misplaced or not, hers feels like the last wisp of faith Korra can claim hold to.

She doesn't have the words to tell Asami. It feels... important to.

Too important to mess up. Korra instead feigns curiosity at the object beside her. If it happens to be tall enough to slip behind until she can tuck away the train of thought, well, that's just coincidence.

It also hides the uninvited blush and unceremonious mental picture. That's not what she meant.

❝I'm- all yours.❞ No-- why. She hasn't felt this foolish with her words in a while, and that’s saying something. ❝...Just show me what you need me to do.❞