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Transformation
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Asami smiled at the couple that was stood in front of her and Bolin – they were at the end of Air Temple Island's main pier, embracing and crying and kissing and touching because just hours beforehand, there had been the very prevalent possibility that they would never do so again.
Because just hours beforehand, Korra had almost lost her bending to Amon and gone into the Avatar State – but then defeated him. Though draining and perilous, the Avatar had finally overcome the Equalist leader and defeated him.
She stood now, with her partner, her lover, with Mako, and both were seemingly glowing with relief. Asami's smile grew a little wider when she felt Bolin's hand reach for hers and squeeze it, before turning away to allow Korra and his brother some privacy.
The pair walked around the island like that – hand in hand, in perfect, comfortable silence. And while she knew Bolin wanted her to just relax for a few minutes and let go of those past few months even if only temporarily, she instead began to analyze them in that peaceful quiet.
She remembered hitting Mako with her moped and meeting him for the first time, their first date, their second date, when she had met Korra... the months, she thought bitterly, when she had been so blissfully ignorant. She didn't know of her treacherous father's involvement with the Equalists back then, didn't know how her world would so shortly fall before her very eyes.
She was so grateful for having her friends around – if they hadn't been there for her, she was sure she would have fallen apart at the seams.
She remembered with a smile starting Team Avatar with them all, but then a frown as she recollected learning of Korra and Mako's kiss and the jealousy and sadness it had instilled in her heart. It continued to deepen as her mind was filled with memories of when Korra had gotten kidnapped by Tarrlok and how focussed and worried her boyfriend of the time had been about the Avatar – how a few days later, she had finally confronted his dwindling feelings for her and spoken with him. How it had ended in their painful break up, with Mako apologizing futilely and profusely.
Bolin turned then, and noticed her scowl before squeezing her hand. Asami was brought out of her thoughts, and when she saw his softly smiling features and green eyes blinking at her, she felt her own face relax and adopt her pretty smile from before, his happiness radiating off of him and affecting her. This was not a time to be bitter, she told herself – this was a time to rejoice, because they had all won, they were all safe.
They continued to walk, with Asami stepping closer to the Earthbender as the chill of the bay hit her shoulders and face. Her face brightened as she recalled the pleasanter moments that occurred after her inevitable break up with the Firebender, that had led up to that one moment of shared, glorious victory.
Asami liked to think she had undergone a transformation of sorts in the time that she had known them all – though there had been some raw moments of indescribable shock and pain she had to go through first. She liked to believe that they had bettered her in the end – she was no longer sheltered and comfortably content, but independent and actually living.
It had been difficult for the first few weeks afterwards – to see Mako's affections for Korra, and how they were so obviously reciprocated. She knew the Firebender held back on his actions around the Avatar, for the sake of preventing Asami further hurt, but she had told him one day that it was okay – that the whole reason they had ended their relationship so he could be happy with Korra, and that inhibiting that just for her was wrong. She had told him that the hurt was to be expected at first, but that she would eventually get over him.
And she had.
It no longer stung her heart to watch Mako take Korra's hand or kiss her. In fact, her previously broken up heart pumped with happiness for the couple – they were just so happy together, and she was consequently glad for them. They deserved each other.
She had taken up other hobbies to occupy herself after her separation from the Firebender – she trained harder, began to read more avidly, enjoyed sitting and just pondering about the positives of her life as she watched the sunset. She was surprised by the beauty of the city she had never taken the time to notice, how beautiful and whimsical and saddening the world of literature was. She made realizations she figured she should have come to so much earlier – that she didn't need a man in her life, that all she needed was her friends and her confidence and herself. She grew up – maturing beyond being spoiled and naive, learning that the world wasn't always going to be fair to those who were. She began to live independently and for herself – not for any other person, taking the time to acknowledge the world around her and to just enjoy life.
She let go of her past, her heart growing lighter each day that passed, and looked ahead to the future of brighter days filled with never ending contentedness.
She looked over at Bolin then – he had become so important to her, too. He, like herself, had been forced to grow up in those past few months – he was no longer as childish and immature, but worldlier and wiser. He was still humorous and charming, but he had seen and suffered more hurt than he needed to, that his brother had tried so desperately to protect him from when they were younger.
A little after her break up with the Firebender, Asami struck up a real friendship with his brother. They had interacted beforehand, but in that time, they really began to talk, to associate and build something amiable. They found they had a mutual fascination with vehicles and their inner workings, a shared passion for racing and the adrenaline it brought. It was sometimes the little things that brought them closer – they liked the same flower, both had the same lovely, enchanting shade of green irises.
Bolin expressed concern for her and during the few times she would sometimes turn into an emotional mess and her eyes would randomly bubble with tears – from all of it, from the stress of everything around her – he was there for her. He would hold her and shush her and let her vent and would listen to her attentively. She would do the same for him when he would just crumble – he couldn't keep up his happy-go-lucky personality all the time.
They had grown up together in those few months following her separation, the threat of the Equalists growing more and more dangerous in their lives. They used each other for emotional support as the situation between them all grew direr, when things got rougher than usual. They were a shoulder to cry on to each other, a warm smile waiting to lighten the other's heart.
They had come to need each other, neither willing to let go of their closeness now that such a tense part of their lives had come and gone.
Bolin looked at her, feeling as though he was being watched, and caught her spring green eyes peering at him. Asami blushed sheepishly, for she had been very concentrated on him, but did not turn away, instead stopping and speaking his name, softly, like the Yue Bay wind that was whipping her glossy waves around.
"Bolin."
They stared at each other for a few minutes, the situation building, before Asami pulled him to her and hugged him, squeezing him. After a few seconds, his strong arms encircled her and held her to him, warm and steady. Asami could feel her heart thumping in her chest just a little faster than before – it was not the same alarming, jarring jump she had felt when Mako kissed her, or the nearly heart-stopping spike and then quiet stillness she had felt when she had seen the blue light of the Avatar state rip through the city.
No – it was soft, pleasant, and lulling. It made her eyelids flutter shut and her hum lowly, filled to the brim with indescribable comfort and elatedness.
Asami knew she kind of, sort of liked the Earthbender. A lot. He made her feel peaceful and content, warm and safe. To the non-bender, he held something Mako didn't – he wasn't as unpredictable. He would always be there for her, she knew that by the way he was holding her so closely; he would do anything to protect her. He wasn't scarily spontaneous or erratic – he had passion, but it was controlled and stable and constant.
Just like himself.
As Asami pulled away and smiled at him, their cheeks tinged pink and the sunset casting shadows over their features, she decided she wanted to nurture what they had. She felt the urge to kiss him, but at the same time, decided the hug was enough. It portrayed exactly how she felt about him, to him, in a subtler, more special way than a lip lock.
She didn't want to run into a rushed relationship like she had with Mako – because Bolin meant too much to her, he was worth too much to have it all blow up in their faces so easily. When, if, they did kiss – it would be the right time, sweet and gradual, not forced or hasty. They would build slowly upon what they already had, hopefully culminating in an even more deeply rooted connection between the two, a true lasting friendship and possible love.
"Thank you," she breathed whisperingly to him, and he raised his hand and caressed her cheek with his calloused fingers, before nodding and taking her hand again. For everything, she added inwardly.
"Thank you, too, Asami," he murmured, her name tender and making her heart flutter as it left his mouth. She gave him yet another gorgeous smile and then they began to walk again, closer this time.
Their relationship would continue to grow and bloom like a precious flower, that she would handle with meticulous care. Because if this is what she suspected it was – the beginning of love, maybe? – then it deserved to be treated with such unfailing respect, with gentle regard. Just like the man she felt it for, she decided as she placed her head on his shoulder, feeling more at ease in that one moment than she had in years.
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Author's Notes: Once a Bosami shipper, always a Bosami shipper. Only I would classify this as a drabble! XD