She Felt A Faint Tingle Creep Down The Back Of Her Neck, The Familiar Sensation Of Someone Staring Her

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.❞

stratagem — a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end. independent ASAMI from the legend of korra. private & mutuals only. written by veronika, she/her, 21+

other half at @inkorrnate

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Mika Schneider

do u ever think about asami's wasted potential in the narrative & cry

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.

Andrea Gibson, "DEPRESSION [VERB]", Lord of the Butterflies

“ ... 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.❞

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?❞