Satogem - Bold & Brilliant

I Would Do Anything For You.. 💕

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.

& 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 little korrasami drawing I did for my sister last year that I thought might be due for some colour before pride month is over! Happy Pride to all my queer friends and allies ❤️

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.❞

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.

Korra and Asami

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.

she felt herself relax finally — the secret reason for her visit had been eating away at her from the moment she'd surprised her at the campsite, only exacerbated by korra's pure joy when she first landed eyes on her. thankfully the hard part was over now & she found herself leaning in, eyes closing as she let herself have this, " you're sweet. " before a soft laugh fell with her breath, " he didn't put it quite so enticingly, " no, she distinctly remembered tenzin's radio call asking for her help & the panic that had her heart dropping, the way her voice shook when she asked about korra. she could feel nothing but relief at the reality, even if she had to be the bad guy.

"... i was just looking for an excuse to come visit again anyway... i was hoping i could stay a couple of days this time. I've... missed you. I've missed this. " her hands squeezed between them, yearning for more now that she was giving in to it. as much as she missed her, it was hard sometimes to tear herself away from work without something more tangible than the selfish ache she felt, a good reason to leave the people counting on her back home.

Korra breathes in the reassurance and tries her best to expel the nagging thoughts. It's always so much easier from the inside of this embrace.

She breathes out. ❝...I hope so. It felt like the right thing to do, after all that they've been through.❞

It still feels shallow, and not nearly enough to repay the debt owed to the Earth Kingdom for her absence through those years of turmoil. But she's resolved to carrying that, at least, for as long as it takes to make right.

And she's been wasteful enough with their precious time in all the angst.

❝They're so lucky to have you coming in to help them.❞

Entirely honest this time ( she wouldn't have anyone else step in for her ), and evidenced in the way her eyes look up in affection. As is she.

Which reminds her...

❝I can't believe Tenzin got you to fly all the way out to handle me.❞ Said with no small amount of mirth. She not a complete stranger to self-awareness these days.

❝Are you staying the night, at least?❞