"Why won't you quit, Avatar Korra? The people of this city clearly want to get rid of the Avatar, for good this time." - Amon.
A cold shiver running down her spine.
That's the first thing she felt as soon as she woke up.
Korra was sweating like she had just run a marathon, and her breathing was beyond heavy or uneasy. She was scared, mortified, terrified of what she saw. Of what she remembered.
In her dream, a unnerving shadow lurked behind her and above her. No, it wouldn't be exaggerated to say it felt like it was all around her. Its mere presence was out of the stuff of nightmares, a being of pure darkness destined to bring the end of the world were it ever left alone.
"Korra?" someone asked from the other side of the door, Korra watching intently as it opened.
"Korra, what are you doing there? It's already past midday. We have to get ready!"
She didn't know who or what she was expecting to see, but to both her relief and surprise it was Asami who was making her way into her room like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The truth is, she had every right to do so so naturally.
It had been two years since Korra was poisoned with mercury, and two years since she started to see the name of Avatar with a grimmer light. But just when she was starting to hit bottom, Asami was there to support her.
"She's been doing this for two years... Does she never get tired of me?"
Korra could only rise the left corner of her mouth in mockery to herself while she gazed towards Asami's direction. Asami had been coming to her place every day without anyone ever telling her to do so in the first place, and took care of Korra without a complain. For that, Korra felt unworthy of having such a good friend taking care of her.
It didn't remove the fact that even though Korra felt grateful to her, she couldn't muster up enough enthusiasm to laugh or smile for Asami.
She tried her best for her friend though and raised the other corner of her mouth, showing off a grim but sincerely grateful smile.
"Thank you Asami, I guess I was just having a bad dream, and—."
"Oooh no, I don't want to hear it. Not today, or did you forgot already what day it is today?" Asami looked grim for a moment there before showing off great enthusiasm for what was going to transcend in the city that evening.
Korra, with a both confused and tired look on her face, had to admit she had no idea what she was talking about.
Asami exhaled in disappointment. She was clearly getting irritated.
"It's your birthday? We're going to have a big party today!"
It still didn't ring a bell.
"Korra, we've been talking about this for days now—."
"I-I'm sorry Asami. I guess I still am a bit asleep. But don't worry, I'm sure it'll come back to me..." Korra could only look away as she kept showing off that same forced smile she's been giving to everyone for months now.
Asami knew Korra was lying. She's been having the same odd look on her face for over a month now, but as much as she wanted to pry and ask what was going through the Avatar's head, well... How can you ask such a thing of someone who went through so much pain already?
She gave up on that thought long ago. If Korra ever wanted to talk about it, she would do so with time. Korra's improvement had gone far already, as far as almost recovering her leg movement but even so a single wrong move from Asami could make all that progress crumble away.
Asami shrugged and shook off that uneasy feeling she had by clapping both hands together, making Korra look to her way again almost instantly and remove that grim look on her face too.
"Well enough about that. We have a lot to do today. We have to do something about that hair, and you still haven't eaten a thing today. We still haven't picked up the right dress for tonight—there might not be enough time, but... before I get overexcited about all this, I just wanted you to know that—I wish you a happy birthday, Korra!"
Korra waved off Asami as she made her way to make preparations for tonight. Once she was out of reach however, the next thing Korra's face showed was anger and jealousy.
She tried to deny it and hide those feelings deep into the back of her head by clenching her bed sheets with all her strength. But it was in vain, Korra was jealous of Asami's kindness and sweet smile, and angry because she had no way of doing the same thing for her friend.
