Some Korrasami! Referencing a screencap and challenging myself to redraw it with a different colour scheme :D
& THAT wasn't exactly how she was hoping this would go ( she'd shaken hands with at least ten people this week but her girlfriend might be her toughest sell yet. )
“ ... well, Tenzin does make some good points... ” she could tell when she'd make the wrong adjustment to the problem at hand, time to pivot the other way... she sat a hand upon korra's shoulder, gentle & reassuring like her smile was, “ besides... it's not like you don't have loads of other cities on a waiting list for the avatar's help right now. ... — my office has been more of a storage facility for letters to you lately... ” but that was a separate issue.
It feels as if breath itself has been sucked out of the room— or maybe just out of her. Korra's stomach is hollow like the dawning realisation.
❝Are you taking his side against me?❞
But bitterer than the words is the very notion of @satogem's betrayal.
a smile remained SAT at her lips as tenzin & pema's figures began traveling towards the harbour, slowly swallowed by darkness of the night sea. only once they were gone did she cant her head to the side to find a likely overdrawn grin on @inkorrnate's mouth ⸻ & her eyes roamed for a moment to find the rest of her was much the same. it ALSO didn't go unnoticed that they had only been three children apart ever since korra had sailed in.
she stepped over the imagined barrier uncaringly & wandered over, an eyebrow raised, a hand hitched against her hip as she spoke for korra's ears only, “ — you sure you're sure about not backing out tonight ? i won't hold it against you if you do, you know — ... ”
the sound of meelo declaring ' a pool party ! ' as he launched himself towards the edge of the chilly docks had her immediately choking back on her words, her hand planting itself on korra's arm ⸻ -
“ — or maybe i would actually. ”
I Would Do Anything For You.. 💕
she felt a faint tingle creep down the back of her neck, the familiar sensation of someone staring her way & she found herself double glancing at korra to confirm it had really happened— had korra just been... ? oh. right. " — sorry — i know i'm a bit of a mess right now. i just really want to get as many of these suits up & running as I can & there are still a lot of kinks that need ironing. " she felt the blood sap from her unexpectedly as the vessel sailed above her, bright green eyes lifting high to the taut muscles responsible, watching them curve under korra's smooth skin. it had been a long time & somehow that still got her. it only lasted a moment thankfully as her inner dialogue shamed her to a halt, to pull it together, you had literally asked for this. she shifted that rapt attention to the new viewpoint offered, the sound of a tickle in her throat being cleared as she took a look. nevermind the warmth she felt in her cheeks from seeing that spark she associated so much with her, make an appearance again. she wore a victorious smile on her lips for what she saw before her — the ease with which she could finish the job now. as much as she liked working with just her hands & the bare necessities, a little assembly line equipment would've really come in handy these last few days. but the avatar would more than suffice, of course. besides... she had been hoping she'd get to spend more time with her. she felt like she'd only just gotten her back & yet her chest felt sore empty again the moment she watched korra turn her back to her & glide out of her sight the other day — maybe that was why she'd been digging around for excuses to be on Air Temple Island recently.
she lifted the goggles back over her eyes, tipping forward off her toes & onto her knees, " ... you really are a lifesaver, you know that. this is perfect, I'll be just a few. " the valves were turned back on as she crawled under the body, bracing herself on her left hand & knees as she torched the metal. she tried to focus, but then how could she when she finally had korra to herself ? it was hardly an opportunity that fell into her lap often. she felt cracks starting to dance, one into another across the shell holding in everything she wanted to say to her. so many questions ran through her mind... but the one weighing heaviest was just— was she okay ? when she emerged, she handled the sight she was greeted with better this time around despite the way minutes of wear had made those muscles leap further from beneath her skin, " all done. you know if you're too good at the job i might just have to request you as my personal assistant more often. "
By some miracle, Asami's words don't actually make her want to combust on the spot. Instead, she's coaxed along by the good naturedness, into something more resembling optimism. It's nice to be needed.
She picks her gaze up off the floor.
And -
- loses any momentum she might've just gained.
It's escaped her imagination until now how Asami could ever present as anything except perfectly polished; but now she thinks she'll be haunted to the end of the Avatar cycle itself how she can make oil stains and flyaways look this incredible.
A revelation like this would surely have infuriated to no end her before. Now, Korra can't even find it in her to begrudge her this. Not when she knows that Asami's probably been here days without rest; not when she thinks of three years of kindness, or the personal cost involvement has asked of her. Now she can only stand in awe and gratitude and wonder if she's ever been deserving of her friend.
— Probably looking stupid and pulled apart in contrast.
The directive is a lifeline. Anything to take her mind ( eyes ) off -
well, everything.
Some of the Avatar's assuredness resurfaces. ❝Can I?❞
Oh she can. One-handed.
MUSE VS MUN
tagged by @inkorrnate @kingwu tagging: anyone who would like to!
there was increased breathing, sounds of an internal struggle before green eyes vied for her, " — korra. " — hands that were splayed open this time, waiting & wanting hers to fall in. she welcomed her, guilt-ridden & concerned only for her. like they were meeting after years apart. she bent down, held her tight with an arm wound around her,
so she could rest her chin on the avatar's shoulder & hunt for shadows under the door now that she wasn't being watched like a dragon-hawk. not surprisingly she found no signs of extra security outside. people always underestimated her, but she had learned a long time ago how she could use that to her advantage, like now, when she had her nosing into her neck, falling for it once again— there was no need to fix something that was working so faultlessly. another moment was given to asses the room in full, a pile of her usual clothes sitting on the desk in the corner of the room, taunting her like a sign of her expected transformation at the will of the avatar. she hated to give in like this, let her have what she wanted so desperately when her biggest weapon right now was resisting ( she couldn't lie about how good it felt to deny her, to be the one to personally take something from her. she'd waited so long for a moment just like this ) — but she'd spent the last few hours considering her options & becoming the asami everyone knew once more would give her an easier way forward. " something... must've gone wrong with the transformation if it didn't stick, " she contemplated groggily, pulling away to press the heel of her hand against her temple, eyes twitching shut, " it was like one really long bad dream... — how- long has it been ? "
The aches of a body knelt unmoving for too long are distant. Unimportant. All Korra knows is the wringing of hands ( intertwined, but only in her own; alone ) and the sick pit in her stomach.
Their stilted back and forths have long since lapsed, but that's not deterred the occasional hopeful glance— reading distance, demeanour, and most importantly,
searching for a tenderness she's always known in @satogem's eyes.
Korra's not expecting the sudden rustle hours into this dejection, almost trips over her prickling legs at the sound of
❝I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me.❞
and wants to sob from sheer relief.
❝Asami, ❞ ( I'm so sorry, thank the Spirits, I'm so sorry )
The smile pushes through the wet, slowly. ❝ - that's okay. I knew you'd break through Guan's conditioning.❞ because it's Asami, because what they have is stronger than anything anyone can throw their way.
Hands finally wrap around hers, righted.