Korra was beautiful without even trying to be. The Avatar laughed as she danced with Bolin, moving to the beat of the music, who was surprisingly nimble for an earthbender. Her short hair casually fell into her eyes, which while considerably lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, still carried the stormy grey of the sea.
It reminded Asami of Korra after the Red Lotus. That was awful and it wrenched Asami's heart to see Korra still hurting, despite having saved the world again. She remembered taking care of Korra when she needed help. It was so unlike Korra to need help. That was always something Asami had admired about Korra. She was so strong and always found out some way to win. Taking care of Korra had really helped her.
Still. Asami thought, absentmindedly fidgeting with the tight straps of her dress. She was still so stubborn. She didn't want me to come home with her to the southern water tribe. I would have done it without a second thought. She's my friend and she needed my help.
Korra's joyous laughter rang out high again. Her laugh doesn't ever reach her eyes. Asami noted. She's still in pain.
That's it. I'm going to talk to her. Asami thought. I have no idea what I'm going to say, but I know she still needs help. She moved to stand up and began to push her way through the crowd to get to to Korra.
"Excuse me, miss!" A young boy's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Can I interest you in a dance?" It was Meelo, the air bending son of Tenzin and Pema, offering Asami a bright red rose, while bowing to one knee.
Asami really didn't want to. But she didn't want to hurt the little boys feelings. He was far too eager. "Why, yes you can, my good sir." She joked, bending down and extending her arm to grab Meelo's smaller one.
Meelo barely came up to her hip, yet he tried to make up for it by using his airbending. It didn't smell too great, nor did it help him grow any taller.
By the time her dance was Meelo was over, she almost wanted to faint. It was pretty bad. She couldn't talk to Korra smelling like that!
She found Korra standing to the side, talking to Lin Beifong, Republic City's chief of police, as she took a break from the dances.
"Oh hey, Asami. I was just talking to Lin about her new clothes. Check it out." Korra said, pointing out the bright green of the Beifong uniform Su usually wore, that Lin was now wearing.
"Hey, Lin. Nice outfit." Asami said politely.
"You know, it's not actually that bad kid." Lin said, stretching her arms, almost smiling. "You should try it some time. Turns out my sister knows what she's doing after all."
She actually looks sort of peaceful. Asami thought. Now's my chance to talk to Korra.
"Do you think I can talk to Korra alone Lin?" Asami asked hopefully.
"Ah. I get it. Don't want the old crabby lady around to mess with you two. Do whatever you like. I'm not my mom." Lin shrugged and walked off to the food stands.
"That was a pretty good impression of Toph actually." Korra said, watching as Lin was bombarded with questions from Ikki.
They shared a laugh. Still didn't reach her eyes, Asami noticed. What's bothering her? How do I get it out of her?
"Hey, Asami" Korra turned to face Asami, her smile falling a little flat.
What do I say? How do I say it? "Hi" might be a good place to start genius. Shut up me! Asami battled her inner thoughts, which was really unlike her.
"I'm so sorry about what happened to your dad." Korra offered. "He didn't deserve it."
Asami came up empty.
My dad? No, stop it Asami. She thought. He's gone. There's no one left. They're all gone. She saw a gentle man she used to play pai-sho with.
What's happening to me?
"Hello? Republic City to Asami? Where are you?" Korra grinned, waving her hands in front of Asami's face.
"Korra…I…um…." Asami trailed off, attempting to stop her face from turning to a deep blush of scarlett. "Hi."
Korra looked confused. "Asami?" Korra began, reaching out for her arm.
Just then, Wu's fawning voice cut into their conversation. "Hello ladies, may I say that you are looking absolutely ravishing today!"
Korra's arm instantly shot away.
Asami found her voice. "Why thank you, your highness." She said. "I heard about what you did with the badger moles. That was pretty cool." Asami said.
Korra nodded in agreement, although she seemed distracted.
I hope she's not worrying about me. Asami thought. She's already had enough to worry about.
"Yes, it was pretty cool." Wu said. "I agree. Although you guys did some cool stuff to, if what Mako tells me is true. You see…
"Alright, King Wu, stop bugging them." Mako arrived, his arm still in a sling from his fight with Kuvira's engine.
"Wait, Mako." Wu said. "Korra. Will you dance with me?"
Asami had been watching Korra. She still seemed distracted by something. Asami followed Korra's gaze to the new Spirit Portal.
"Uh-huh, sure. Sounds good." Korra said, walking off in the general direction of the Portal.
"Well, that was rude of her." Wu huffed. "Asami you wanna dance with me?"
"Sorry, Wu, I have to take care of something." Asami said apologetically, backing away from the pair. As she walked away from Mako and Wu, she heard Wu say "What's going on with those two?" and Mako's audible sigh that said "I don't know."
Where did Korra go? She couldn't find her. Not at the tables, only Jinora and Kai were there. Strangely, they were only staring into each others eyes, not a word said between the two. Something in that innocent picture made Asami's heart race.
Not at the food stands, Lin was examining a strange array of food on a stick. Opal was laughing at Bolin as he ate too many hot peppers at one time, steam pouring out of his ears. They were so cute together.
Asami felt desperate. Where was she?
Then she remembered. One evening, on this very island, Korra had been unable to stay still. So she had gone out to the gazebo to stare at the calming waters. Asami would bet anything that's where she was now.
She hurried, feeling her heart racing. She didn't know what she was feeling, but she wasn't going to fight it.
She came across the clearing of the gazebo. She heard a man's voice. Tenzin!
"…My dad never accomplished what you did Korra. You are a very unique Avatar and a great person." Tenzin was rambling about Avatar Aang like he usually did with Korra.
Asami wasn't really in the mood for stories and she figured that neither was Korra.
She faked as if she had been running, stumbling onto the stone walkway that overlooked the stone steps where Korra was sitting.
Breathlessly, she spoke. "Tenzin. You need to help! Meelo just ate a whole bunch of beans! It's awful!"
Tenzin's eyes popped out of his head. "What? I told Pema not to let him eat that, it's bad for his health!" He stormed back to the direction of the party, yelling, "Meelo! Stop eating those beans!"
Korra smiled. Still didn't reach her eyes. "Sit with me for a while." She patted the ground next to her.
Asami gladly obliged
They watched the calming light of the Spirit Portal as it reflected itself off the dark waters of the ocean.
"It's nice isn't it?" Asami offered.
"Yeah. It is." Korra said, sounding rather downcast.
"Korra, what's wrong?" Asami asked, worried.
Korra turned to face Asami, her eyes a mess of stormy seas. Her face was twisted with worry.
"I've finally realized, Asami." Korra began.
"Realized what?" Asami said, confused.
"I've realized what's important to me. The things that matter. Being compassionate is more important than being violent. But more than that. I've realized how horrible a friend I've been to you." Korra said, looking down at her feet.
That's not true. Asami thought.
"That's not true!" Asami exclaimed. "You are an amazing friend."
"It's true. While you've always been there for me, I haven't always been there for you. I'm sorry Asami. I'll do better." Korra said, looking at Asami.
Asami pondered. "It was hard without you Korra. Just being around you. Well, it made my day better. And when my dad died..I thought I was going to lose you to." Asami felt her voice choke up with emotion.
No! Not in front of her! Asami thought furiously. I don't want to be a burden.
"Asami!" Korra said, quickly pulling her into a hug.
Asami felt her walls melt away, as her tears began to fall, sobbing uncontrollably.
She pulled Korra close to her as they held each other.
"It's all right Asami." Korra said softly. "You don't need to always be strong. I've learned that."
"Korra. You're all I have left. Did you know that?" Asami whispered through her tears, still holding Korra.
"That's not true!" Korra said. "You have Mako and Bolin." They let go of each other. Asami felt herself inexplicably longing to be held in Korra's arms again.
"They don't know me like you do. When you left, we fell apart. I didn't want to be with anyone but you." Asami said, remembering day after day of loneliness.
Korra contemplated. "I'm here now, Asami." She said, putting her hand into Asami's. "I'm here for you."
"Are you Korra?" Asami said. "Are you sure?"
"Anything you want. I'm good for it." Korra smiled.
Asami believed her.
"Well, to be honest with you," Asami said, playfully, wiping tears from her eyes. "I've never seen the Spirit World yet. You guys had all the fun while I watched Jinora last time."
"Alright! Let's go!" Korra said, standing up.
"That sounds perfect.' Asami smiled.
She stood up to. Then she realized.
"Just the two of us and like this?" Asami said, gesturing to their dresses.
"Uh, maybe we better change first." Korra said.
They hurried and met each other while the party was still going on. Korra was back in her usual water tribe clothing and Asami her battle suit.
They walked to the light of the new Spirit Portal.
They shared a slight smile and gave each other strength.
They walked hand in hand towards their future, the gold and green light of the portal seamlessly fusing to become one as years of suffering were washed away in a single moment of happiness.