Thread. ⑊ Inkorrnate 04. - Blog Posts

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?❞

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.

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.

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?❞

a hand cupped the back of her girlfriend's neck, the other sliding along her waist to hold her now that she welcomed her touch, feeling the radiating heat begin to disperse between them. as terrifying as that had been she'd always had such admiration for korra's untamable ire when it came to the things she so whole-heartedly cared about, blazing what she could from her path. her mouth curved, “ — it's alright, i know how much you care about helping these people. enough that you'd even try to bite my head off a little, ” laughing words accompanied by a nervous chuckle. THAT had been the easy part — here goes nothing... “ — speaking of... there's something else Tenzin wanted me to tell you... ”

Her grip winds tighter around the glider, rooted in her plight. She's the Avatar, doing her job isn't supposed to be optional here. If she can't help when she's made for helping; what would that make her?

And yet,

smooth and soothing, deceptively soft, the words pierce skin.

Korra's smile is tentative, but her body is surer. Despite herself. She thinks letting go might just pull her very core to pieces, she knows the certainty of Asami will hold her together.

Korra drops the staff,

to find her heart quiet, her voice admiring.

❝Thank you. You always know what to say.❞

“ ... korra... hey— ”

she could feel the tension beneath her touch, the stinging heat of something moments away from combusting. but she only reached with her second hand to guide her nearer, her thumb brushing beneath her chin to help ground her, “ — they will be getting some help, no one's suggesting we just pack up & call it quits. ” “ i know how much you want to be a part of this... but these people have some old wounds that haven't healed yet. we shouldn't rush them, even if that means they're missing out... big time. ” her life had ultimately changed for the better from the moment korra had stepped foot into her hometown.

The soothing warmth doesn't quite negate the bruise of an ego. Korra presses on, in time with the thump thump thump of I can do this, I need to do this. Because, as much sense as the two make together,

❝But they clearly need my help!❞

❝Who holds a grudge over a ceremony that happened over three hundred years ago, anyway?❞

Decisiveness is written in her very stance. The pride! the stubbornness! none of it makes any sense! She's not about to just stand by over a slight that reaches beyond any living memory.

❝I don't care what the people of Chun want. I'm going.❞

& 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.