Tuesday 3:17am

It's positively freezing in this room: at least 50 degrees. Well it's not actually freezing, but it's a solid 15 degrees lower than what I can barely tolerate in my own place. But it's Korra's room so I have no right to complain. The heat radiating from her body makes it more bearable, though it would be a lot better if I could actually snuggle up to her. But we're already sleeping in the same bed so that would be crossing a boundary.

Over the past 3 weeks Korra and I have been spending a lot of time together, occasionally having sleepovers. Usually because it had gotten late and it made sense to just sleep at whoever's place we were at. At least that was what we said out loud, but there was an unspoken understanding between the two of us. We'd both been by ourselves for so long it was nice to have the companionship.

"What are you thinking about?" Korra asked. I was laying on my back and when I turned my head to look at her I was surprised to see that she was wide awake: laying on her side facing me. I wonder how long she's been watching me.

"Just about how close we've gotten over the past month." I said thoughtfully

"Is it…weird?"

"No, not at all. It's really nice actually."

"Oh…" she trailed off.

I turned to face her before filling in the blank I knew she wanted. "I was just trying to remember how it all started. I have most of it, but that day at the bar is a little hazy." I sighed. "To be honest the day before and after is also pretty bleak."

"I'm not surprised. You were drunk off your ass. I'd never seen someone so inebriated."

"Yeah. Not my best moment." I covered my face with both my hands and mumbled through my fingers. "I've only blacked out one other time. I hate not knowing things."

"Well why don't you start from the beginning and I'll fill in as many blanks as I can."

"Okay."

Wednesday Afternoon. 3 Weeks Ago
Double Helix Front Desk

"I'm sorry sir but I can't give you a refund."

"Why not? The coffee in my room was terrible!"

"But you drank all of it. And you broke both mugs. And you waited until the last day to inform anyone of your dissatisfaction"

"I want to speak to your manager!"

"You're talking to her."

"Well. Uh. I- I demand a full refund on my stay here! My accommodations were less than acceptable."

"Sir. You were here for 8 days. You ordered room service 12 times, ate in our restaurant 5 times, drank all the coffee in your room, opened and consumed most of the liquor in the liquor cabinet, broke 2 coffee cups, never complained about anything up until right now as you're checking out, and expect me to void all charges on your credit card?"

"You have terrible food and terrible staff! I should call the corporate office and complain! We could easily avoid getting you into trouble if-"

"No you know what. Please go ahead and call. My name is Asami Sato, general manager of the Double Helix. Location number 1568. Would you like me to write that down for you?"

The man walked away in a fury and my head dropped to the desk. "Uggghhhh."

"Is this a bad time?"

I looked up at the to find the holder of the woman's voice and- "oh" I recognized the blonde immediately "Hello. Looks like you're feeling a lot better."

"Much. I wanted to properly introduce myself. I know you helped out last week when I was...you know." She gestured. "But I was kind of out of it."

"Yeah. I get it." I responded.

"My name is Lucy." She extended her arm towards me and I met her half way, shaking her hand.

"Asami." I smiled. "Are you sure you're okay? Korra wouldn't let me call a doctor."

"Don't worry I told her not to. She healed me anyway. No need for unnecessary hospital bills."

"What? What do you mean she healed you?"

"Oh...You should ask her about that I guess." The blonde blushed. "So um. How long have you known Korra?"

"Uh-" I was still stuck on the healing thing. "I guess a few weeks. She's better friends with Bolin than me though."

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed that with the way she talks about you."

"She talks about me?" I asked

"Mhm. 'Asami is so great' 'Asami is so nice' 'Asami is so smart' 'Asami is unreasonably-' you get the picture. Ha! I really need to stop running my mouth so much. Just don't tell Korra I told you that she talks about you ok? Because she'd kill me. And I haven't seen her in a really long time and-"

"So does she get that nervous rambling habit from you then?" I interrupted, unable to hold back a laugh. This made Lucy laugh as well.

"I don't know. I guess we're just a lot alike because we spent so much time together as kids."

"So what's you guys' story? Both of you mentioned you hadn't seen each other in years."

"It's kind of long and complicated…" Lucy stated. Almost questioning if I had time to hear it.

"How about you give me the cliffnotes version now and we can save the long version for when I'm not supposed to be working?" I smiled

"Ok so basically Korra and I met back in my uh…home town when we were 10. We became instant friends, I took her in and we spent almost all of our time together. She left when she was 17, didn't hear from her or anything until the day you guys found me."

I quirked an eyebrow curiously: that was way too simple to have a complicated longer version. But I just sighed because it wasn't my place to press any further.

Present Day.

"Wait, that's the brilliant story she went with? We 'met' when we were 10 and became instant friends?" Korra laughed. "That's a good one."

"Yeah. She said it was complicated. And by the way neither of you have bothered to tell me the long complex details of your friendship. I'm really curious about it now."

"I'll tell you later. What do you remember next?"

"Fine. I'm holding you to that." I pointed "Hmm. I think that was the day I started drinking. I was at home that night and the day after. I went to the bar Tuesday evening…I think.

Tuesday Evening. or was it Tuesday Night? 3 Weeks Ago
Henderson's Bar

"Give me another" The shot glass collided with the bar, I'm assuming after I finished drinking whatever was in it.

"Are you sure? You've had 5 already-"

"Another!" I yelled. The bar keep just stared at me trying to decide if he should give me more tequila…or was it vodka? I pulled a wad of cash out of my coat pocket and slapped it in front of him. Just as I thought: another shot of yellow liquid was being pushed my way. Tequila.

"Gin and tonic!" I commanded. I'm not this person and I know that. But…today. Today and tomorrow are the 2 days out of the whole year I get to be as angry and sad and intoxicated as I want to be.

It's 3 hours later and I'm drunk. Not drunk enough to be completely unaware of my life but drunk enough to know that I wont be able to stand if I tried to get off of the bar stool I'm slouched on.

"Miss…is there someone you can call?" The bar keep asked. The gray haired man looked slightly afraid that I would shout at him, which I have been doing most of the night. But he got a nice tip from me so I don't feel so bad. I waved my phone towards him, signifying that I was already on it.

My very limited options are:

Bolin…eh.

Mako…double eh.

Mom…fuck that.

Taxi…too sketchy for a drunk woman traveling alone.

Korra…"mmmmm" I want to but I shouldn't. Subconscious sober brain is screaming no, but currently conscious drunk brain has already pressed the call button.

"Asami?"

"…Hi." I responded. The most timid voice I've ever heard coming from my throat and I couldn't control it.

"It's late are you okay?"

"Noooo" I sighed. "I was sad so I made margaritas at my house. But I ran out of stuff so I came to this bar. Now I can't drive and I want you to carry me home."

I heard a slight chuckle and rustling of sheets. "Where are you? I'll come pick you up."

"I'm a few blocks away. At Henderson's. Will you come pick me up?"

"How much did you have to drink?" Korra asked, and laughed again. "I just said I would. I'm on my way. Stay on the phone with me until I get there, can you do that?"

"Oh my god! I was just gonna ask that!" I stated excitedly. "I love your voice. It makes me feel better."

Present Day

"I did not say that!"

"You totally did! You said you wished my voice was a soundtrack so you could play it all the time."

"I'm having a hard to believing that, Mrs. Water Tribe." I poked

"Mrs. Water-Tribe?"

"It's hard to be a smartass with someone who doesn't have a last name! The only thing I could think of that sounded half way decent was 'Korra Water-Tribe.'"

"You're losing it, Sato." The blue-eyed woman laughed.

"Do you see how cool that sounded? You've ruined my chances for wittiness."

"Nah. I think you did that on your own, 'Mrs. Earth Kingdom'."

I just glared into nothingness because how can someone turn your own terrible joke into a good one?

"Oh don't pout. Do you remember what happened next?"

"I sort of remember you getting there. And after that, nothing."

"Ok. So I got to the bar, grabbed your keys from Henderson, and carried you to Bolin's."

"You actually carried me? I was a drunk mess. And why Bo's place?"

"Yeah. It was easier than trying to help you walk. You kind of passed out as soon as I picked you up so I couldn't get you up to your house. I would have taken you to my room but I had Lucy there, no room. Bo was closest, so we went there. I put you in his bed and left."

"Yeah, I remember waking up there…"

Wednesday Morning. 2.5 Weeks Ago.
Bolin's Apartment-Kitchen Table

"How you holdin up?" Bolin was moving around the kitchen: mostly washing dishes and cleaning up.

"Well. It's 9:30 and I'm sober. So better than usual."

"I know you're sad right now. But everything will be alright, it'll get better."

"That's just the thing, Bo. I am better. I live my life, I'm successful, I have friends, and I date…it's just something about today. I don't understand why it had to end that way."

"Yeah. I wouldn't either. I just hate seeing you like this, Asami."

"Sorry. I'm trying." A silence fell over us. Neither knowing what to say. A change of subject was definitely needed. "So how was my grand entrance last night?" I asked, curiously.

"It was pretty pathetic" My friend laughed. " You looked like a corpse when Korra brought you in."

"I didn't say anything embarrassing did I?" I groaned. Bolin sat a cup of coffee in front of me and took the seat directly to my right.

"I don't think so. Korra didn't mention anything. Just told me to tell you to text her when you woke up so she knew you were okay. She was really worried about you."

"Really? I feel so bad for calling her."

"I don't think you need to be. Korra really cares about you, I think she was happy to help you out."

"I hope so." I stretched my arms over my head before chugging half the cup of straight black coffee, grimacing as I nearly dropped the mug back on the table. "I'm gonna take a shower."

"Okay. I have to go to work. Make sure you lock up when you leave: spare key is in the drawer of my nightstand."

"Alright. Have a good day, I'll see you later…maybe."

"Please don't throw up on my floor." Bo stood up and planted a kiss on top of my head before ruffling my hair. "I'll text you later."

I heard the door slam and pulled out my phone to text Korra an apology.

Me: Hey! I'm so sorry about last night. I shouldn't have called you so late.

My phone chimed with a response less than 30 seconds later.

Korra: No need to apologize. That's what friends are for. If you ever need me I'll be there, no matter how late or what the circumstances are :)

Me: That's so sweet of you, but I still feel really bad. Anything I can do to make it up to you?

Korra: Hmmm.

Korra: How about a vanilla bean Frappuccino delivered, personally by the manager, to my door at 10am tomorrow morning?

Me: You've got a deal ;)

Me: Wait why not this morning?

Korra: Because I'm already working, I'll be out all day, and I'm sure you've got a hangover you need to cure.

Me: I guess those are all valid points…Why are you working so much today?

Korra: I sort of canceled all of my clients last week so I'm currently running low on funds. Gotta pay my room fee and feed myself. Not to mention Naga's vet bill. Those shots they gave her are so expensive!

Me: Oh…

Me: So I have a suggestion…

Korra: Oookay. What is it? If it'll get out of this bind then I'm up for it.

I didn't know Korra that well, but something in me knew she probably wouldn't be too keen to what I was about to say. She's very independent and outside help from someone she wasn't even that close to was probably unacceptable.

Me: What if I helped?

Korra: Meaning…

Me: Meaning I void the charges on your room and give you some cash to hold you over for a while.

Korra: No. Absolutely not.

Me: Come on. You need to survive. I've got more than enough money and we're friends right? If you're going to be there for me under any circumstance, I can be there for you too.

Korra: I appreciate that you want to help. But you've already done so much for me, I can't ask you for anything. Especially money.

Me: You aren't asking, I'm offering.

Korra: I can't

So stubborn

Me: Ok fine. Can I make one more suggestion?

Korra: yes. But I can't promise I'll agree to it.

Me: I void your room charges for 2 weeks and pay your vet bill. You pay me back when you can.

Korra: Asami…

Me: Korra…

Korra: I don't need handouts.

Me: It isn't a hand out; it's your friend trying to help you! Stop being so stubborn and accept it!

Instead of a reply my phone started ringing. I picked up hesitantly

"Hello?"

"You know, I don't appreciate being yelled at over text." Korra said sarcastically.

I sighed before responding. "I'm sorry. It's just you told me that you're struggling and I want to help you. I have the resources to do just that and you wont let me! Why wont you let me?" My voice was getting loud and I knew it, but I was honestly a little bothered.

"I am letting you…I just needed a little push."

"Really?!" I asked excitedly.

"Yes. Sometimes I push people away when I should be doing the opposite. I will accept your help, but I promise I'll pay you back."

"Great!" Aaaand long dramatic pause to allow for mood shift. "Hey, Korra. I'm uh-I'm sorry I yelled at you. I got a little carried away."

"Don't worry about it. Like I said, I needed a little push. I can be so stubborn and worried about my pride that sometimes I hurt myself in the process. I needed to be yelled at."

I just smiled. I liked to think she knew I was, even though we were just talking on the phone. "Didn't you say you were working?"

"Oh. Yeah I am. My next client is warming up with some cardio, so I had some time."

"Oh Ok. Well I'm going to let you go. I have to take a shower and try to get to work."

"Cool. Can I text you later?"

"Of course you can."

"Sweet!" She cheered. "I'll see you around."

I hung up and laughed to myself.

Wednesday Evening.
Down the street from Double Helix.

Bolin: You alive?

Me: Yep. I'm walking to the hotel now and I'm starving! Can you make me something?

Bolin: Wow. Gone before 6 I'm proud.

Bolin: Sure what do you want? Greasy hangover food? Or healthy Asami food?

Me: Can you put healthy Asami food inside the greasy hangover food?

Bolin: No problem. It'll be ready in 10!

"On your right! Look out!" I heard a man's voice shout. When I looked up it was too late. A guy riding a bike crashed right into me. His handle bar made direct contact with my ribs. I could swear I heard a crack but I was too busy trying to breathe to worry about it. I fell to the ground and hit the back of my head on the concrete. I was looking for the culprit but he was riding away already.

I was panting, and crying. My throat burned, my ribs hurt, my head was pulsing.


A lot longer than the last chapter. Hope you enjoyed this one. I've written ahead, so drop some reviews and let me know what you think so i can go ahead and post the next one :)