bold & brilliant

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.

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... "

just the two of us…

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.

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.

Oh wow, she really... did.

❝...Well, I wouldn't want to get in between you and the championship semi-finals.❞ That sub-zero tone and single raised eyebrow take the place of surprise. They say enough without falling into hot outrage — after all, Korra's been learning from the best in business.

But there are cracks in the ice. Of course there are, when the excitement so tangibly breaks through her more often withdrawn girlfriend.

❝You never seemed this pumped over our matches.❞

the gentle smile on her lips didn't melt away at the look she was being leveled with, confident she could smooth things over. her fingers brushed against her girlfriend's cheek, the other enveloping hers.

" ... well it is the first championship since they introduced air bending. everything's all uncharted & new, it is kind of exciting. "

she shifted closer, squeezing their interlocked hands as she raised an eyebrow in return, the corner of her mouth twitching, " ... & for the record, i was excited back then. i think you were a little distracted. " she reflected korra's expression back at her, light-hearted & teasing.  it was taking something out of her not to kiss her right now.

❝Did you really stand me up because of a pro-bending match?❞

she tried to contain the electricity she felt crackling beneath her skin after the night she'd had, endeavoring to make a trade for calming warmth, shining earnest eyes at her girlfriend.

her hand sailed forward to close the distance between them & help soothe the sting, " i'm so sorry I'm late, sweetie. the match went into overtime and there's really no leaving when there's a tiebreaker like that. it was an incredible finish. "

She will thank her later. 😌💕

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.

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 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.❞

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. "