Korra And Asami

She will thank her later. 😌💕

Once again, thank you @buildouraltarhere for inspiring this! ☺️✨

“I’m searching for a phrase that will release everything that’s pent up in me.”

— Henry Miller, in a letter to Anaïs Nin, featured in A Literate Passion: Letters of Anaïs Nin and Henry Miller, 1932-1953.

hands on her arms drew her in closer, sensing her uncertainty & aching to unburden her of it. she took it from her readily, now thrumming with frustration on her behalf. she'd found that happening more often lately, arched brows & silent criticism pointed right at anyone less than grateful for korra's help. she couldn't stop the pressure from coming from all angles but she knew she could provide some insulation to help keep her steady.

her hands fell to korra's, squeezing them tightly, " no one's perfect at everything, & you've helped so many people while we've been on the road lately. you should be proud. all those earth kingdom towns are better off because of you. "

her face tilted with an encouraging smile, hoping to help korra see what she did; she was a lot better at all this than she gave herself credit for. a few harsh words might have her bent slightly out of shape, but she had faith she could right herself with a little help. her forehead joined hers, " what matters now is making sure chun gets the help they need — & they wouldn't be if it weren't for you. this whole restoration trip was your idea. "

The smile lacks warmth. Or her signature spark, or maybe just sincerity. In truth, she's caught up in an earlier line of thought:

Do they? Has she?

She leans in, yearning for respite. Welcomes the sense of stability in the embrace. Korra already knows Asami's unequivocal answer if she chose to ask. She never has to. But...

public sentiment seems to love to disagree

no. matter. what. she. does.

❝It's just that... everyone wants me to be some kind of diplomat or politician lately- ❞ Her face tells it all. The role fits her about as well as a glove on a platypus-bear.

❝This- is something at least I know I'm good at.❞

But the people have spoken.

her lips parted at the sudden loss of contact, arms folding briefly across her chest as she gazed across at her, separated by their tent for the night. she didn't like seeing korra like this — looking at her with hot, stinging betryal. but that's what you got when you agreed to be the messenger. she found her hands lifting in defense despite no incoming attack, " it wasn't my idea but... Tenzin thinks that I should be the one who heads back into Chun... alone. "

she tried to smother the guilt spreading across her face as she took a step closer, stopping her hands gravitating from her sides to allow korra her space, " i'd really just be making sure my mechs are all working properly, considering the dicey terrain. hey — this isn't because of anything you've done wrong, okay ? it's not your fault these people happen to be great at holding grudges — " hundreds of years great.

❝Hey!— ❞

But the playful indignation is short lived, Korra's good-natured grin falling from her face just as quickly as her hand withdraws. The roundabout manner of Tenzin's directive plays like cleverly aimed strikes to her sore points. It brings up accusations abound aimed at the Air Nomad, alongside a healthy reawakening of taking his side again.

It sets her off preemptively.

Korra's two steps back before she knows it. With arms crossed and a little sharper than she should be with her girlfriend.

❝Well?❞

the sheer warmth that enveloped her, the smell of her skin, the way the avatar's voice vibrated straight through her from where she was pressed in — her body instinctually warmed it felt like being doused. she tasted something acrid sliding up her throat & she passed off her resulting expression as part of the aftereffects of what they thought she'd been through. a moment of reprieve was sought with locks of dark hair dangling between them; she could barely take the force of what she'd glimpsed in the avatar's eyes.

she piped up as her eyes squeezed shut, sighing words out in reply, " — right, it's all a little- murky right now... but I'm sure it'll start coming back to me, " hope & exhaustion clung to her speech as her hands gripped the edge of the bed on either side of her, her body rejecting the velvety soft way she spoke to her, the suffocating heat of her right there. she was the avatar — a danger to the world, never bound by any rules, the embodiment unchecked power that allowed innocent people to get hurt every day. & right now she was trying to bend her the same way she did every other stone in her path. she softened her mouth into a smile, peering her way to finally relent as she pulled herself together, " sure, i think i could use the quiet time before we get back out there... my head definitely feels like it's been hit by thousands of electromagnetic pulses. " her head was pounding, each beat telling her this was all wrong she shouldn't be here, she was playing a dangerous game giving into the avatar like this. they were both playing parts right now, trying to tug the other astray & onto a path of their choosing. she might not have been able to beat her earlier, but she knew could outsmart her, outmaneuver her, she had no doubt; she had learnt from the best. she would walk out of here free & with the avatar in tow as she had been tasked with. she just had to get this right.

her anchoring hold on the bed loosened, her hand gliding over the back of hers as she shifted backward. green eyes never left hers as her back sunk down onto the mattress, inviting her to follow. she chose to lighten the mood with a spark in her gaze & a humorous sway to her voice, " just to forewarn you, i might be lousy company right now, but... I'm really glad it was you here when i came to my senses. i'm- sorry you had to see me like that... i- have no idea what Guan even had me do... "

She hurtles into open arms. Into the crook of Asami's neck where the unfamiliar fabric is forgotten by grace of gentle brushing curls across her cheek and the subtle floral dabbed at the pulse point she now nuzzles. In her overwhelm, she misses the customary exclamation at arms wrapped always a touch too tightly. It doesn't matter. Everything is fine, everything is fine, everything is fine now that she is back.

With Asami, Korra has nothing and no reason to conceal. She leads with vulnerabilities and leaves the last of salt tears on skin as she's soothed back to clarity.

And she looks at her with the full weight of admiration.

For this woman who beats down brainwashing without missing a beat.

She repositions beside her girlfriend. Enough space to breathe after such an ordeal, but not so far that fingers don't still rest together. It'll be a long time before Korra is ready to disengage in full. Already she leans in, missing those eyes.

❝Less than a day. We were able to bring you back to Zaofu ❞ sometimes, when the soul returns to the body it needs a little help reorienting. Like waking up from sleep, or returning from the Spirit World. Maybe this is the same. ❝ - I managed to convince Su that the Avatar is all the guard she needs. She took— well, everything out of this spare room, but it's a lot more comfortable than a cell.❞

It all sounds so trivial now.

❝I can't wait to tell everyone that you're back.❞

Her touch doesn't abate.

Her voice is a tone lower. ❝But... I kinda want it to be just us for a little while more.❞

interruption at the workshop :)

it hurt her physically to see korra in so much turmoil, watching all that spirited energy of hers fizzle without an outlet. korra only wanted to help... & maybe her pride was a little stung too. she knew it was more than that, that this whole situation had slipped into sore crevices, insecurities asami hadn't helped smooth down in some time.

this time she couldn't help but breech the space between, her hands reaching out like that could help make this okay, " korra... the rest of the world knows that you're a good person, and a great avatar. you've proven that enough. do you really need this one town's approval ? "

concerned eyes lowered as she ducked her head, wanting to encompass all of korra's attention & pull her from any thoughts keeping her. one corner of her mouth embraced a smile, eager to liven her spirits, " ... and i'd sneak you in, but first i'd have to teach you how to drive it. " so that'd be a unanimous no, she gussed.

The sting is almost completely as expected, in the place already made tender by rejection. For a moment, all Korra can stand to picture is blowing into the village and showing everyone exactly how misguided saying no to the Avatar is. Mechs can't move flood waters.

She stops just short of voicing so. Because that's all her anger will be. Destructive. And to who?

❝According to the villagers, it is. And I can't even remember what I did!❞

Not that being able to connect to her past lives is likely to change any of this, but Korra needs somewhere to redirect it all.

She deflates when it passes.

❝You sure I can't go apologise on Yangchen's behalf? Maybe I can sneak in in one of your mechs.❞

Sitting on the outskirts is so antithetical she can hardly imagine it with Asami's company. With her leading the efforts where Korra can't go... the thought turns her tense.

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