Enjoy!
Korra was trying really hard not to pee her pants. Her five a.m shifts usually felt like forever anyway, but this was a thousand times worse. She still had to go home and pack, Bolin's party was tonight, she hadn't decided what to wear, she was still attempting to hide and coordinate Opal and her brothers' arrival, they still had to go to the liquor store, Mako kept sending her encouraging texts that made her anxious, and Asami had been disarmingly nice to her the past two days even though Korra had just made her shed more tears in one day than she had in her entire adult life. All of that, on top of the excruciating slowness of the clock and of Zuko's swim strokes, was driving her mad. If she had to watch him creep out of the pool she would probably implode.
She wiped down the already dry deck once more, and rearranged the goggle box before sitting at the edge of the deep end and dipping in her feet. The pressure of the cool water around her legs was calming, and she made tiny circles with them as she eyed the clock.
"Something on your mind, young one?" she heard from her left, and noticed Zuko taking a break, holding on tightly to the far wall.
"Everything!" she said immediately, "Literally ten thousand things!" (Her anxiousness reared again as she spoke for the first time in three hours, and she had to remind herself to shutup before she told Zuko her entire life story. Fifteen minutes left!)
"I can't remember ten things these days, let alone ten thousand," he chuckled, swimming towards her. "It's been very good for my peace of mind."
"I guess they'll all be dealt with by tomorrow," she said.
"What's tomorrow?" Zuko questioned.
"Oh, I meant to tell you," she said. "I'm going home to the South Pole tomorrow with my family, so I won't be the one to let you into the pool the next two weeks."
"It won't be Hasook, will it? He is not as fun as you are," he chuckled.
"Probably not," she laughed. "He usually takes the later shifts. It might be Ryu."
"I can work with that," he smiled. "Has my grandson messaged you yet? I wouldn't want you to forget him in your time away."
"He hasn't (have not checked, totally forgot all about this) but I promise I won't forget, Mr. Zuko."
"Just Zuko is fine," he chuckled. "Have a good vacation!"
"Thanks, And Korra?"
"Yeah?"
"Those ten thousand things will work themselves out. You just have to let them."
"Are you telling me to 'go with the flow,'" she said blankly.
He chuckled. "You must hear that a lot, being from the Water Tribes."
"Yeah. And even more recently."
"There is a reason they say that. I promise."
"Thanks Mr. Zuko. Zuko. I'll try and remember that. I'll see you around!" she waved to him as she tried her best not to just bolt out of the gym, at the strike of ten.
Miss Sato: 7:20p.m: Driver will be picking you, Bobo and Mako up at your place at 9:00p.m. He will already have me, Opal, W&W. Don't be late.
Korra: 7:28p.m: pardon me, miss sato. driver? as in limo driver?
Miss Sato: 7:30p.m: Yes, ma'am. But don't tell Bo anything, it's his new present. I thought of it after you stole my original idea. (Also, this way none of us have to be DD!)
Korra: 7:30p.m: how come you didn't tell me :c
Korra: 7:30p.m: you're a genius!
Miss Sato: 7:31p.m: Because it's also part of your kind-of going away present? And I'm aware.
Korra: 7:31p.m: ohh, thank you! you didn't have to get me anything, really. what's the other part?
Miss Sato: 7:32p.m: Bolin said I should.
Miss Sato: 7:32p.m: You'll see when I finally decide on what to wear ;)
Korra: 7:33p.m: oh I forgot to tell u
Korra: 7:33p.m: i'll be charming your clothes off so don't bother wearing any
Miss Sato: 7:34p.m: My, my, my. Then I guess I'll be ready once I take off what I have on now?
Korra: 7:34p.m: which is?
Miss Sato: 7:35p.m: Black tank top, black boy shorts…no bra
Korra: 7:35p.m: tongue hanging out emoticon
Korra: 7:35p.m: hold on, Mako is here, he wants to go to the liquor store real quick
Miss Sato: 7:36p.m: Tell Mako you don't have time, you're in the middle of some seriously hot cyber sex.
Korra: 7:38p.m: LOL OMG no way, he would crash the car
Miss Sato: 7:40p.m: Get me something that's not gross. Also, MAKE SURE YOU ASSHOLES ARE BACK AND READY BY 9:00.
Korra: 7:38p.m: we will, promise!
Bolin was dressed first and pacing Korra's living room because he was so excited, yelling upstairs for Mako and Korra to hurry, because he thought they still had to catch the train. Korra "changed her outfit" about four times in order to stall, giving Asami's limo time to show up. She also told Mako his hair didn't look right so that he'd retreat back into the bathroom to fix it, which killed an extra fifteen minutes, easily.
"So are you going to go through with the plan?" he said, as he moved single hairs on his head into the right place.
"That is the plan,"Korra said, "Except there are no actual plans involved in it." She tugged at her rolled up shirtsleeve. "More just, 'spill your guts'."
"Going with the flow," Mako answered, taking more gel.
"Yeah. I got that. But, she's still got Iroh, so I'm not so sure how well it's going to flow," she reminded, picking at her bangs and wolftail. (Fucking Mako making her paranoid about her hair now…)
"You're way cooler than that guy, honestly, she'd be crazy to go for him over you" Mako told her turning around. "Also, Bolin told Asami she couldn't bring him cause Varrick hates him. Stole the lead in the play from him last year or something like that?"
(He can fucking act too?) "Really? (yaas Bolin! she would have to hug him later) It would have been good to know that hours ago so I wasn't flipping out about it! I purposely didn't ask her cause I didn't want to inadvertently give her the idea to bring him!"
"Well now you know! Bo actually said no lovers were allowed since he couldn't have Opal, but I guess that's a moot point now."
"He's going to freak! Speaking of, what did you get him?"
"You'll see. But it also goes against the rule too, sort of."
"Does it now!"
"Yeah. Maybe you'll end up breaking it too! And, if I don't get the chance to say it later, I've got your back tonight. Whatever you decide to do."
"I know, I appreciate it. Really."
"How does it look?" He asked, presenting his hair.
"Good. It was fine the first time, I just needed to kill some time."
"Seriously? Do you know how wrong this could have gone?"
They were interrupted by the doorbell, and Mako was tackled into the door as Korra flew down the stairs, even beating Bolin to the door, and shoved him straight over her couch as he went to open it. But it was not Asami that greeted her.
After a moment of shock, Korra shrieked. Literally, the loudest, girliest, most piercing sound that had ever left her mouth was now in the air, and she couldn't care less.
"THE PHONE STORE GIRL?"
She picked Bolin up, who was just getting up off the couch.
"This is the girl Mako met at the phone store!" she screamed at Bolin, whose face immediately lit up.
"Mako brought a girl?"
"We'll she's never going to come back here again if you guys don't SHUT UP!" Mako had finally made it down the stairs after recovering from Korra's tackle. "Hey. Sorry about them," he said, shyly waving to the girl, who stood amused in the doorway. "This is my brother, Bolin. Introducing you guys is my present to you, Bo."
"It is a true pleasure to meet you," Bolin said to her, shaking her hand frantically (as Korra gave Mako the thumbs up for excellent gift idea).
"You too," the girl laughed. "We've met," she said to Korra, shaking her hand.
"We have. And I just- I don't even know what to say- I'm so happy to see you." Korra finally got out. She was still recovering from her excitement. She almost missed the limo pulling up the driveway.
"Hey Bo! Speaking of gifts, Asami's got something for you!"
"Is it better then what is standing in front of me right now?"
"Take a look!" she pointed out the door.
They all stepped outside and into the driveway just in time to see Opal, Wing, Wei and Asami pose ridiculously outside the limo in party hats to yelled a wild "Happy Birthday!" for him.
They waited for Bolin's reaction, but he seemed to have broken. No sound came from him except a soft sniffling. Between Opal, the limo, Mako having a "girl-friend", his birthday, his heart, no matter how large it was, just couldn't take it.
"Aw, Bo!" Korra laughed, stepping up to side hug him. The rest rushed up to join her, squeezing him in the middle.
"You guys are the best!" he wailed, as Opal gave him a kiss on the cheek. When they all broke apart, he gave Asami her own bone crushing hug, and thanked her for being the best almost older sister a guy could ask for.
Once he'd let her go, Korra finally got a good look at Asami.
She
was
flawless
as always, in a backless, red, lace, longsleeved bodycon dress, that literally made Korra's jaw drop (like, what had the other options been? did she even want to know? whatever the case, she was sure this was absolutely the best choice Asami could have made). She didn't think Asami had noticed between Bolin's sniffles and hugs, but she literally had to tear her eyes away and pick her jaw up off the floor at the sound of Opal's voice.
"Who is this?"
Mako groaned as Opal brought attention to the girl, who really was finding this endlessly hilarious, and patted his shoulder.
"I'm his friend from the phone store," she giggled, shaking Opal's hand. "You must be Bolin's girlfriend?"
Screams and every version of "Mako brought a girl?" went around the group, for what seemed like twenty minutes before he finally managed to threaten to put them all in jail if they didn't stop.
"That is Bo's girlfriend," Mako finally managed to introduce. "And those are her brothers, Wing and Wei, and that's Asami!"
It seemed Asami was unsure of what to think of the girl. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she said calmly however, not one to miss a beat. "I hope you have a good time tonight."
"Oh, I am already having a fabulous time," the girl added, "I have a feeling it can only get better."
Asami raised her eyebrow, but smiled before moving her attention back to Bolin. "Well Mr. Birthday Boy, your chariot awaits you!" she motioned at the open door, and then to the rest of them. "And I guess you guys can come too."
Korra spent the entire first half of the ride staring at Asami and trying not to drool, trying to forget their last conversation about Iroh, (thinking about how she'd have to congratulate Mako on getting this girl to agree to come out with him tonight without her help) and debating whether she would just implode if her and Asami flirted tonight like they had been (and if she really really really was going to go through with her and Mako's "tell Asami you're madly in love with her before you leave" plan. It was very comforting that she was going to run thousands of miles away after if she did, (thank you Mako) but wow life is stressful).
She noted that she was sitting alone in her stupor as they pre-gamed, Wing and Wei already polishing off one of the bottles of vodka she'd bought for them, Mako mixing something for him and his girl, and Opal, Bolin and Asami yelling at each other in hushed tones in the corner. She caught Asami's eye before tearing herself away and deciding to get out of her head and make conversation with Wei, across from her.
He was trying to convince her that they had made out once when Korra was dating Wing (which, he had brought up so often since that time, she was reluctantly starting to believe him- but she knew she could never give in to doubt because an elaborate a long con like this was not unusual for the two of them), when Asami, slid over (she was trying really hard not to just gape at how the red material clung to Asami's thighs, or wonder why she was giving Opal and Bolin the finger) to sit next to Korra.
Korra was telling Wei how his stupid hair would never fool her when she felt Asami's hand on her thigh. She tried not to turn beet red immediately as Asami handed her a cup of something.
"What is it?"
"You're going to have to ask lover boy over there," she laughed.
"Which one? You can only tell they're related when they're being gross and mushy," Korra stuck her tongue out, since Opal and Bolin had started to make out the moment Asami had left them alone.
"The brooding one," Asami laughed. "And I think it's cute," she hesitated, as if gauging Korra's reaction. "Mako never lets go like this. Are you okay?"
"I'm great? I know, its kind of unusual, but I guess it does look good on him," she thought, noticing the uncharacteristic uncontrolled smile on her friend's face (maybe she had rubbed of on him a little).
"Not as good as this shirt looks on you," Asami teased, changing the subject (and tearing Korra's attention away from Mako) by playing with the sleeve Korra had meticulously rolled probably close to a hundred times.
"Thanks," she managed, hiding her face by taking a sip of the drink Mako had made. Once she'd composed herself she finally dared to blatantly look Asami up and down. "Not as good as that dress looks on you," she pointed. "On a scale of one to ten, definitely a thirty two."
Asami nudged Korra's shoulder. "I figured this was more appropriate than nothing."
"Probably," Korra nudged back. "I wouldn't want you to cause a scene."
"Don't do any heavy lifting tonight, you two" Opal said, tearing herself away from Bolin to beam at Korra and Asami. "Your clothes are so tight they might literally rip off."
"Fuck you," Asami laughed, while Korra stuck out her tongue. "Maybe that was the plan!"
"Well count me in!" Opal whooped, bringing out another bottle she had brought for Bolin. "Bo, why didn't you wear something tighter, can you hulk out of that?"
"I might have to do some pushups…but yeah," he said, testing the material.
"Don't talk about pushups Bo," Wing laughed. "You might get into another competition with Korra, and lose!"
"Remember how you couldn't use your arms for two days and Opal had to feed you?" Wei added snorting.
"Mental note, mention pushups once they've had enough to drink," Opal whispered over to Asami, winking and pointing subtly at Korra's arms, which were already tight against her shirt. Asami rolled her eyes and pushed her away.
"I just bought that for you!" Mako yelled. "You better not fucking rip it with pushups!"
"I mean if that's what the people want Mako! I will have to give it to them," Bolin laughed, flexing.
"You know where to find me, Bo," Korra pitched in, raising her cup.
"To pushups!" Opal cheered.
A while later, through all their conversations and boisterous laughing, came Bolin's yell came from the corner. "We're here! Remember the plan! We have to keep Korra awake!"
They all cheered in agreement chugged their drinks, and filed out of the limo in pairs. It seemed Wing and Wei had their own ideas on what mischief they were going to get into, which left Korra paired with Asami. She offered Asami her arm, which she accepted with an exaggerated courtesy and squeeze of her bicep, and they trailed off after the twins.
To say the house was huge was an understatement. She guessed it was 80% marble on the inside, with dark floors and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. That made it even more unbelievable as to how many people Varrick had managed to pack into the space to make it seem full. He was not kidding when he said he would be pulling out all the stops.
They made their way past the living room, which he'd turned into a stage for the bands that were playing through the night. Korra assumed they were mostly Varrick's friends from the art program by the way they took turns playing the instruments and making space for eccentric dancing in the crowd. They were mostly covers, so half the noise in the room was a result of a hundred voices drunkenly singing along.
They moved on to the kitchen, which had been turned into a bar. They decided to take one last shot as a group before they inevitably lost each other to the party (and hopefully, some making out ;) ). The reality of probably having to be alone with Asami all night shot a wave of panic through Korra, and she politely slipped out of Asami's grip and approached phone store girl.
"Hey, uh, mind if I borrow him for a second?" she pointed to Mako, smiling sweetly.
"Sure," the girl agreed patting him on the back. She was already engrossed with the rules of a drinking game Wing and Wei were attempting to explain to her. Korra didn't miss the strange look Asami gave her out of the corner of her eye as they retreated together.
Korra pulled him a few paces out of earshot before pacing in front of him nervously.
He looked confused as to why he was there. "Uh, what's up?"
"So um, remember that conversation we had…" she started, wringing her hands. "..it was a while ago, so you might not remember, uhm, where you called me a chicken, and I said fuck you, I'm not a chicken, and you said prove it, and I told you I would?"
"You mean the one from like three days ago?"
"Yeah, that one."
"What about it?"
She rolled on the balls of her feet. "Soooo, as it turns out…IamaGIANTFUCKINGCHICKEN, and there is no way this is happening!" She pulled at her hair as she went into a full on panic.
"What? You have to! We agreed, Korra!"
"I know, but I don't know if you've seen Asami today, Mako," she questioned calmly, stopping her pacing to look him in the eyes, "but if looks could kill, she could murder the entire Air Nation herself tonight."
Mako spared a glance over to their group, where Asami was sipping at something Bolin had made her, smiling and politely paying attention to the game Wei was explaining. His brows furrowed.
"What."
"Has Asami always been that attractive?" he asked incredulously, looking her up and down. It seemed he had just noticed exactly what she was wearing, (or that she was hot?) with same confused look on his face.
"Uh, yeah," Korra said, mocking his confounded look.
"…I feel like I messed up somehow," he said, mostly to himself, searching the floor.
"Yeah, you did, but focus! It's a problem Mako" she whispered frantically. "How am I supposed to be alone with her all night with you fraternizing with the cute phone girl and Bolin off with Opal? I'm going to freak out, I'm not going to know what to say-"
"Korra."
"And she's going to think I'm so weird and I probably won't be able to stop staring like a creep-"
"Korra!"
"And we're literally going to be here for like six hours, I do not have six hours of conversation planned-"
"KORRA!" Mako yelled, taking Korra by the shoulders and shaking her, finally snapping her out of her rant.
"WHAT!"
"Look, I'm here with phone store girl for six hours too, and I've only known her for what? Like two weeks? I definitely do not have six hours of anything planned, but I'm going to be okay." He told her.
"You're going to be okay?"
"Yes. And you've never needed conversation cards with Asami anyway Korra-"
"Wait, you don't have a plan, Mako?! What were you thinking!"
Mako shook Korra again. "Hey! This was because of you springing your "find Bolin a great present," thing on me last minute and I'm dealing with it!"
"Okay, sorry."
"I don't have a plan. That's the point. I'm working it out as I go, like you usually would, because we've got to go with the flow for this to work out, remember?"
"Go with the flow, right."
"We may have plans for the end of the night, but let's just see where it takes us until then, right?"
"Right, yeah, you're right, I'm sorry, she's just intimidating me a bit," Korra took a deep breath out.
"Maybe try telling her…without actually saying anything?"
"Like…show her?"
"Yeah, you're good at showing affection, right?"
"I guess so?"
"So you'll be fine. She obviously wants to be around you."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"Phone store girl is really into you too, sorry for taking you away," Korra apologized, snapping out of her panic.
"It's okay. One last pep talk!"
"Don't fuck it up Mako."
"Thanks. I'll do my best not to."
"Mako."
"Yeah?"
"Slap me."
"What?!"
"Just slap me. Right here," she pointed to her cheek.
"What? Why?"
"I need to focus! Come on just do it!" She squeezed her eyes shut.
"I'm not going to hit you!"
"Mako!"
"Korra! Okay, what if you hit me, really quick, right on the cheek, will that work?" he asked.
"Yeah, okay."
"Okay," he braced himself against her shoulders.
"You ready?"
"Ready."
Korra took a deep breath and whapped Mako right in the face. She saw him tear up, but take a deep breath in and out.
"Oh shit, was that too hard, I'm sorry!"
"No it's fine." She shook his head quickly to regain his focus. "You good?"
"I'm good. Thanks, Mako."
"You're welcome. Now let's get back out there."
"Good luck!"
"Good luck to you too, buddy."
They rejoined the group, Korra's nerves surprisingly more at ease. She saw Opal slap Asami's ass, and then run off behind Bolin when Asami looked like she might punch her. That was her friend. She had nothing to worry about. If Mako thought he could wing it, Korra definitely could, especially if she could pull it off without giving a long awkward speech about her feelings.
"Everything okay?" Asami asked her, a worried look on her face as Korra approached (and smoothly slid an arm around her waist- shit, is my hand on fire?) in an extremely bold act of possessiveness.
"Yeah, great," she smiled letting out a breath (Asami hadn't moved away).
"You sure?" Asami seemed to be searching her eyes for some sort of hint Korra could be lying. She seemed to ease when she didn't find one.
"Yeah. You going to teach me this game?" she said, nodding her head towards the kitchen table, never taking her eyes off Asami.
"Honestly, its less of a game and more Wing and Wei tricking you into taking shots," she whispered leaning back into Korra. "I don't think Bolin has realized yet," she laughed.
Korra studied the game for a moment before realizing there were no actual rules, and Wing and Wei were just making things up, and then pouring shots for anyone who messed up. "I totally would have fallen for it," she whispered back, shaking her head. "So, do you want to go check out the band instead?"
Asami gave her one last questioning look, before responding. "I do, but maybe later. I saw a card table over there I'd like to school a few people in," she smirked.
"Sounds fabulous. Shall we?"
They waved bye to Wing, Wei, Mako and his girl (Bolin and Opal whistling at Asami as she walked away), before joining the poker game that was currently in session.
"Hey girls," the dealer greeted.
"Hi," Asami replied sweetly. "What's the buy in?"
"Twenty a piece," he said. "And you're brave. You know this is strip poker, right?"
"I do now," she said. "Worst hand removes an item of clothing?"
"Every player but the winner removes an item," he clarified. "And as I'm sure you know," he said, motioning up and down at her with the cards, "you are only wearing one."
"I am aware," she looked over at Korra. "What do you say? You win one round and I'm out, I've got to win at least three to get those pants off."
"You know if I play I'll be sitting here naked in no time," Korra laughed. "So how about we see how I do with just one round, to start?"
"You're no fun," Asami pouted.
"There are simpler ways to get my clothes off Sato," Korra winked. "But I know you like a challenge, so lets at least take some off these guys."
"You know me too well," Asami smiled, throwing in the money from her clutch for her and Korra. "Let's play."
Two hours and seven rounds of strip poker later, Asami (fully clothed) had managed to win the life savings of six almost naked high schoolers, one of Varrick's parents "priceless" vases, a bottle of very expensive firewhisky, and the keys to one somebody's car, before she decided to show them a little mercy. Korra, at least, had the good sense to tap out early once she'd lost her socks, and resigned to being Asami's personal cheerleader and bartender.
"Think we've embarrassed them enough?" Asami asked her, as the next round ended, and the last of the guys was begging for her to take something besides his underwear.
"I think so," Korra agreed, leaning on the table. "And that firewhisky isn't going to drink itself," she added, pointing to the bottle in Asami's winnings pile.
"We'll, it's been a pleasure fellas, but I think we're going to get out of here," Asami stood up, straightening her dress, and picking up the bottle of whisky. "The rest is for you," she told the dealer, motioning to all the money and the car keys.
Korra lead her past the kitchen, an arm once more on her waist, where she stole two glasses and some ice, and to one of the balconies, where they found a bench a welcome reprieve from the loud music.
"So what have we here, Miss Sato?" Korra asked in a mock nasally voice, as she set the glasses on the railing.
"This would be the Dragon of the West Hibiscus Firewhisky," Asami read, looking over at her mischievously. "Breathe Fire," she added with a wink.
"Ooh, sounds fancy," Korra played along. "And the age? You know I like my whisky like I like my women- sophisticated."
Asami walked over with the bottle and began to pour into the two glasses. "Fifty years. Bottled the year Mt. Roku erupted," she explained. "All the ash it created made the soil richer that year, and they say you can still taste the flames, if that's sophisticated enough for your tongue?"
Korra laughed, raising the glasses in a toast. "I think it will do for now."
They clinked glasses, and took a sip of the firewhisky in question.
"Woah!" Asami was the first to cough after taking her first sip, "They were not kidding!"
"Holy shit, Asami, check, is my mouth on fire?" Korra asked, fanning her tongue.
"You're okay," Asami's face was bright red as she took deep breaths, trying not to laugh at Korra. "Wow," she cleared her throat. "I was not expecting that."
"Seriously, its not on fire?" Korra still seemed worried that maybe there was a flame they couldn't see.
"It's fine, Korra" Asami laughed. "Though I might have to sit down to finish this one." She took a seat on the small marble bench that occupied space on the balcony. She patted the space next to her and watched amusedly as Korra joined her, still fanning her tongue.
Their silence was calm, the cool night breeze carrying the sounds of the ocean with it, keeping them occupied. Korra would have been content with the silence, (once the fire on her tongue was out) but was too curious, and had to break it with the question that had been eating her since the night began.
"So is this the other half of my present? One on one time with you, and this finely aged whisky?" she asked playfully.
"Well, the whisky wasn't initially part of it," Asami said, smiling. "Just a perk of hanging out in my father's smoking parlor."
"I always wondered where you learned to play poker like that," Korra said, sipping.
"Yup. Though, the clothes usually stay on at those business meetings."
"I would hope so," Korra laughed, sniffling as the liquid burned her throat. "I don't think those guys have quite the same figure you do."
"I think not," Asami giggled, and finished her pour. "Want another?"
"Sure." Korra downed her glass in one large gulp, and coughed as her eyes began to burn. "Are you sure that stuff is legal?" she wheezed. "It really feels like my face is on fire."
"I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to take shots of a whisky like this, either, sport," Asami said as she poured for the two of them. "Probably doesn't help you're all Water Tribe. Can't take the heat."
Korra grinned. "Can't argue with that. Though I could stand to have few more hot fire nation things on my tongue." (I may not be able to take the heat but I can go with the flow!)
"Yeah, seems like there's a little flaw in your plan there," Asami joked.
"And what might that be?"
"The girl from the phone store?"
"What about her?" Korra asked.
"What do you mean? How are you okay with her?" Asami asked hesitantly. It seemed it was not a topic she had really wanted to breach.
"Okay with her?"
Asami was confused. "How are you okay with herrrrr if she's dating Mako…?"
"I think it's great she's dating Mako?" Korra said, getting confused herself.
"You're not making any sense. Didn't you have a fight over her?"
"You're not making sense! What fight? Why wouldn't I be okay with her?"
"How are you okay with her if you also want to date Mako?"
Korra spit out the sip of whiskey that was in her mouth, and it looked for a second like she was actually breathing fire. "WHAT? Mako?" She was on her feet now. "What makes you think that?" (No really, how had she been giving off Mako vibes when she literally only thought of Asami 24/7/365/eternity.)
"What do you mean?" Asami asked incredulously. "He said you guys were spending a lot of time together, and you have been. He said you get along way better than you ever did before. And you literally slapped him in the face earlier!" She seemed almost to be in a panic.
"That was, I asked him to! Not because of her!"
"Why would you ask him to slap you?!" Asami was standing now too. (How had she misread what was going on so badly? How had she reacted so badly?)
"I wanted him to pump me up, you know, uh…for the party?" Korra fidgeted for a moment before taking another huge gulp of her whisky. (If this conversation kept up she was going drink the whole bottle even though she was already feeling pre-tty good.).
"You've been all over each other the past few weeks!" Asami yelled, before covering her mouth in surprise. It seemed the firewhisky was making her blurt things she wouldn't normally.
"That…what! All over? We hang out because he's been helping me with… a project… and because I was helping him talk to her! I got him her phone number for crying out loud!"
"So, wait," Asami paused, fiddling with her glass. "That means…you don't like him?" she asked timidly.
This was her shot. If she went with the flow, there was only one logical place this conversation could go, but it seemed too real, too soon, too everything! (The love of your life just thought you wanted MAKO, maybe it would be completely unexpected if she dropped the "I love you" bomb right here, right now.)
"No," Korra looked over Asami seriously. "No. I do not like Mako." (How do I show her?)
"Fuck," Asami whispered, breaking eye contact with Korra to look down at her glass. "I'm sorry," she said eventually. "I just, I don't know what I was thinking. Fuck."
"I guess, I can see where you're coming from. We have been getting along a lot better lately, but, it's not because of anything like that, I promise you," Korra explained, stepping closer to Asami, who seemed to be having a tiny mental breakdown. "You alright?"
"Yeah, I just, uh I'm not used to being this wrong about something" she said, looking stricken. (I've made a huge mistake). "I guess I'm processing it."
"Welcome to my world," Korra laughed. "You could have asked me. How come you never said anything?"
Asami turned her gaze back to her glass, her eyes glazing over. "Well, uh, I wasn't sure how, or if I wanted to know? A part of me assumed there was no way, but… the evidence just seemed... overwhelming," she finished thickly.
"If there's anything Mako's taught me, is that evidence is unreliable," Korra smiled. "And that was during normal, regular, platonic, friend bonding," she assured, finishing the contents of her glass.
Asami was quiet, looking everywhere but at Korra.
"Hey. I forgive you," she soothed, not understanding why Asami hadn't recovered yet. "Let's just pour another glass, forget this craziness, and go dance? I've got all the hot Fire Nation I could want right here, even if she's only half," she said playfully. (Maybe I'll show you who I really want.)
"Yeah?" Asami smiled, finally meeting her eyes.
"Yeah," Korra answered, holding out her hand.
Asami seemed to consider Korra's offer, before looking up to consider how flushed the whisky had made Korra's face, how the wind messed up her hair, how her shirt really was very tight, how her blue eyes were sending shivers through her even though she was burning up from the whisky.
"Okay," she said, softly, taking Korra's hand and letting Korra lead her back to the railing. Korra picked up the bottle and poured the remainder into their glasses, so none went to waste.
"Are you okay?" Korra asked, feeling Asami's hesitation.
"Yeah," Asami smiled, more convincing now, drinking half the glass before stepping into Korra and wrapping her arms around her sides in a hug. "I'm sorry," she said again, burying her face in Korra's collar.
"You don't have to be," Korra assured returning the embrace, before she was distracted by a knock on the sliding glass door.
It was Opal, giving her the thumbs up and squealing, (or so she assumed, since she couldn't hear through the door).
"What is up with Opal today?" Korra asked.
Asami looked up just as Opal blew her a kiss. Her jaw set. "She's asking for me to kill her," Asami growled, stepping away from Korra. She pushed the glass in Korra's hand up to her mouth, so she drank and wouldn't ask her "for what?"
Korra noticed Asami watching the movement of her jaw and throat as she swallowed a gulp, and grinned. They had both just drank nearly half a bottle of whisky each. The flow (the alcohol) was ready to play.
"You know, I'm kind of upset you're so good at poker," she teased.
Asami blushed. "You had your shot, you just chickened out."
"When I get that dress off, I don't want it to be because of a card game," she said, taking another sip.
Asami shook her head, still blushing behind her glass. (Me either.) She considered the waves for a moment, before breaking her silence. "What was the project?"
"Hm?"
"The project. That Mako was helping you with."
"Oh, uh…its nothing. Well, not nothing, but-" (FUCK) "It's uh, something for you?" (Smooth, Korra, smooth. This whisky was making it unbearably hot, even out here.)
"For me?"
"Yeah, you know. Like from me…for you?"
"A present?"
"Something like that." (Wow, Korra, another amazing gift you have to think up).
"What is it!"
"I'm not telling you until you tell me what the other part of my gift was supposed to be!"
"Well, its going to sound stupid now…" Asami smiled, swirling around the last bits of ice.
"No, it wooon't," Korra whined. "Come on!"
"Well, it's not really a real thing," Asami paused, seeming unsure. She moved so she was in Korra's space again and clinked their glasses together, signaling her to drink. "Just something I thought was funny."
"I'm sure I'll like whatever it is," Korra assured, already nearing the end of her glass. She noticed Asami was flushed too, the red on her neck and chest almost matching the red of her dress. She would have to speak to the Dragon of the West for making such an excellent product.
"I'm sure you will too," Asami whispered, looking her right in the eye. "It was supposed to be," she moved closer, her mouth hot on the Southerner's ear, "what's underneath this dress," she finished sultrily.
Korra swallowed hard. If she wasn't on fire before, she was now. If Asami wasn't hot before, this whisky definitely made her. And the red. The red dress. "The dress itself isn't enough?" she laughed uneasily. "What's under it?"
"That's for me to know, and you to find out," Asami smiled easily, bringing her glass up to her lips one last time. She polished off the remaining whisky, and motioned for Korra to do the same.
"How do I find out?" Korra stuttered, her face burning up.
"You know that's not how the game works, Korra," Asami laughed, pulling Korra back inside. "Wanna check them out?" she yelled over the music, pointing to the band.
Korra could only nod dumbly as she was led into the crowd.
They ran into Opal and Bolin on the dance floor (or, the part of the living room that was not occupied by a mish mosh of instruments and speakers) and Opal immediately grabbed Asami and shook her.
"Where have you been!" she yelled, before she noticed Korra, red and disheveled from the wind. "Off alone with Korra this whole time?" she shrieked.
"Calm down, Opal," Asami laughed, nudging Opal in the stomach. "We just had a date with some expensive Fire Nation whisky," she explained.
"That explains why Korra is so red," Bolin laughed. "You still awake?" he checked.
"Shutup, Bo," Korra managed, even though every part of her really was on fire. "And yes, wide awake."
"Tahno's up next," Bolin told her, patting her back. "Calls his band the 'Wolfbats'" he added with finger quotes.
"That's a dumb name," Korra rolled her eyes.
"I know, the Fire Ferrets are way better, even though we're just a video game band."
"That's because I am an excellent drummer," Asami butt in, her arms around both their shoulders. "But let's see how well Tahno's guy does."
Tahno eventually approached the stage, and introduced the Wolfbats in his usual slow sneering tone.
"He looks extra emo these days," Bolin pointed out.
Korra was already getting a kick out of that. "Sing for us pretty boy!" she yelled up at him. (Korra and Tahno were both captains on the swim team, and endlessly ragged on each other from everything from their hair to their handwriting, which would lead most people to believe that they hated each other, whereas it could be explained more as an antagonistic respect (yeah, even they know it's strange, but since Asami'd punched him, it was true)).
Tahno caught her voice in the crowd before giving her the finger, and starting up his band. They played (obviously) only covers of emo or pop punk songs, which (don't tell Tahno) sounded pretty good.
They jumped and danced, (that whisky really did it's job) and screamed when they found Mako and phone store girl dancing on the other end of the room (GET IT MAKO!). Korra found her and Asami brushing against each other more than once in the sea of people. She eventually found the courage to pull Asami against her as they jumped, which Asami stopped in favor of simply leaning back into Korra's front, fingers intertwined on her waist (she hoped Asami couldn't feel how badly she was burning up, because she was on fire, and Asami's bare shoulder was just calling for her lips) as they sang along.
They remained like that until Wing and Wei came up behind them (You still awake Korra? Great!) and lifted Korra and Asami onto their respective shoulders and continued their hectic jump/mosh dance style while holding them up (How are they doing this!? Asami screamed, laughing. They're going to break something!)
Cheers erupted as the set ended, andTahno caught sight of Korra on Wing's shoulders in the crowd. He called her up to the stage, his usual arrogant smirk on his face, the crowd ooh-ing at the clear antagonism between the two.
"Come on Uhvatar," he teased through the microphone. "Why don't you show if us your voice is as smooth as your swim strokes?"
"Tahno, you fucking know it is!" Korra yelled back at him.
"How about you come show us?" He egged, getting the crowd to jeer him on.
She was egged on by her friends pushing her forward, and Wing hopping up nearer to the stage with her still on his shoulders, urging her to go take the stage.
"Show him how the Fire Ferrets do it!" (Bolin, stop, I drank too much to sound good-)
"Come on Korra, it would be so fun!" (You're just as bad as Bo, Opal!)
"Go. With. The. Flow." (Fuck you Mako!)
"It's okay if you're scared." (Asami too? Oh hell no. She was done being accused of being a chicken.)
"Bring it on, pretty boy."
"Well alright," he started, pulling Korra up out of the crowd. "The Wolfbats have very special guest tonight," he introduced. He earned whoops and cheers from the crowd. "Our very own Korra, of the Southern Water Tribe," he said smoothly, choosing a song off the band's list for her. He winked at her as he picked up his own guitar and moved off to the side.
Korra grinned. If she was going to be up here, she might as well make the best of it, right? Plus, theater kids love a show, and she could do a show. She approached the mic, and tapped at it. She heard Bolin's screams of her name from in the corner and pointed at him. "I want to give a shout out to my buddy Bolin- happy birthday Bo, you're the best!" she screamed. The whoops from the crowd became louder as Bolin's friends chanted his name.
"But as much as I love you, I'm going to have to dedicate this one to Miss Asami Sato," she finished with a wink. She heard a bloody scream of excitement and a wolf howl from the other end of the crowd, and pinpointed Opal holding her hand over her mouth and Mako, shrugging his shoulders sheepishly. Asami was also smiling shyly, shaking her head. The band started up again once she was ready, and she went nuts.
Korra's had never been shy on a stage (though she couldn't say it was her favorite place in the world), and her and Tahno had frequently shared one for swimming fundraisers where they'd do covers of old bands in the auditorium. She was thankful her friends were boisterous, and that she had drank enough to not care what she did. Her dance moves were just an amalgamation of things Wing had taught her, and a lot of jumping.
She remembered quickly that Iroh clearly could command a stage (and Asami had probably gone to see the dumb play) and decided to work with what she knew. At the break, she threw in a backflip off the speaker, and licked Tahno's guitar when he held it out to her, thanking him silently for giving her the opportunity to make Asami blush.
She looked her right in the eye as she knelt down on the stage and sang to her.
Why don't you show me a little bit of spine you've been saving for his mattress?
Asami's blush was as red as her dress, and Opal was squealing and shaking her. Mako was going nuts, (presumably because of Korra's brashness, and he was a fangirl for Korra if you ever saw one) lifting phone store girl onto his shoulders to cheer for Korra. Bolin had the crowd dancing, and Wing and Wei were moshing through the living room, taking Asami with them.
I only want sympathy in the form of you, crawling into bed with me.
That earned Asami's acknowledgement of Korra's challenge, and she indicated it to Korra with their usual signal of slicing her thumb across her neck.
You're dead.
Cheers resounded through the house as Korra finished, handing the mic back to Tahno. "Thanks," she smirked as she was swarmed by her friends. "Your band is gonna want a new singer now."
"Please, Uhvatar. Watch and learn," he said snapping his fingers at the other members. "Let's slow it down, boys," he told them, and the music started up once again.
Korra didn't see much more of Tahno's performance after Opal shoved Asami into her when she exited the stage. She didn't see much of anything except the green eyes in front of her.
"Hey," she laughed.
"Hey," Asami smiled back, gripping Korra's shirt to keep herself from falling over in the dancing crowd. "You're not too bad."
"Thanks," she said, rubbing her neck. "I really don't see why Tahno's got a band and not me," she added, nodding to his slow song. "He had to go for an obvious crowd pleaser to try and top me."
"So why not get some pleasure out of it?" Asami whispered in her ear, before wrapping her arms around Korra's shoulders.
"Huh?"
"You said you wanted spine, right?" she asked coyly, before shifting her hips against her friend in a slow dance. "You got it."
The resulting adrenaline from her performance must have boosted Korra's confidence, because rather than just stand there stupidly, she immediately reached out to hold Asami's hips (thank fucking god finally Korra good job). The room had become so crowded it seemed only natural they should be so close, but the side of Asami's head against hers and the smooth movements under her fingertips and softness pressed against her chest it seem even smaller. She really was going to have to thank Tahno. For as annoying as he was, he definitely helped with the flow.
However far away, I will always love you.
They moved slowly together, Korra silently hoping maybe somehow Asami would mistake Tahno's words for her own. She could whisper them now, right in her ear, I will always love you, lost in their haze, and it would be done, the weight off her chest replaced by Asami's, hot and heaving. But she was lost, preoccupied by the heat her friend radiated against her and the concentration it took to make sure she was never once out of sync with her hips.
She moved her hands up and down Asami's back, feeling the smoothness of the bare skin, and burying her face in her neck. It was an extremely intimate version of a slow dance, and as she reached the spot where the dress curved at the base of Asami's spine, she felt her friend's nose brush against her ear, almost pleading for her to continue. So she did.
Asami's hand stroked down Korra's shoulder and her nails raked down Korra's tight shirt, into the dip of her tricep as Korra gripped her bottom, her movements becoming less controlled.
Tahno had moved on to his next song, but all she noted was that the sleaziness of it fit perfectly with his voice, and it made her want to be even closer to Asami (a closeness that was not possible with the fabric between them). It seemed Asami felt it too, and their previous trance was replaced by more purposeful movements. The way they were pulling against one another was no longer enough, and Korra moved through the masses until Asami was against one of the tall speakers at the side of the stage (and now every part of her was pushed so close to every part of Korra, it was a wonder they hadn't just combusted from the friction). Asami groaned as Korra's hips pushed her up into the vibrating subwoofer, and she buried her face in Korra's sweating neck. Her hips were moving slowly from side to side to meet Korra's similarly slow, rough movements, causing her dress to ride up, and Korra could only sustain the motion (and its implications) for so long without wanting to rip Asami's clothes off entirely.
"Is it hot in here?" Asami asked breathlessly, her mouth still frustratingly close to Korra's ear, as Korra's fingertips moved up her exposed sides, and back down to her hips, pushing further.
Korra could barely register what was happening against her hips, let alone answer questions. But it was hot. Everything was hot. She didn't know which one Asami meant, but the answer was the same.
"Very," she groaned burying her face in Asami's hair.
"Then let's get out," Asami whispered, her lips ghosting over Korra's cheek.
"Will I find out what's under this dress?"
Her only answer was Asami pulling on her shirt collar through the crowd, and out the double doors at the back. Korra followed behind dumbly, seeing only Asami's weight shift on her curving hips as she walked. She barely noticed when Asami finally let go, and stood ten feet in front of her, next to the pool. (Only Varrick's family would have a beach house with a pool).
She did notice though, when Asami reached for the bottom of her skintight dress, slowly pulling it up over her head, revealing her matching lace underwear underneath, and Korra literally short circuited (goodbye ten thousand years of darkness, Ravaa has returned, spirits praise her).
She watched as Asami took a few steps into the cool water before flipping her hair around and motioning with a finger and bit lip for Korra to come join her (was it actually hotter out here than inside?)
Korra didn't move at first (she was burning the previous image into her mind). After a few seconds, it seemed to click that there was a beautiful girl in her underwear asking if Korra wanted to join her, half naked, in a pool. (Absolutely. Fuck yes.)
She fumbled with her shoes and the buttons on her shirt, not taking her eyes of Asami's gaze as she threw off her clothing. It was not nearly as graceful as Asami's, undressing (why did clothes even exist?) but eventually she got there, and bounded down the stairs, (she would have to thank her parents tomorrow for putting her in sports, because Asami had not taken her yes off Korra's core) where Asami grabbed the waistband of her underwear, and pulled Korra against her, before moving her hands up Korra's arms to squeeze her shoulders.
Korra didn't even know if she was playing a game anymore. If she was, she wanted to lose. If this was losing, she would play a losing game every day. (Why had she thought winning was so great her whole life anyway?)
"Better?" Asami asked.
"So much better," she answered, pulling Asami up against her by the waist again, trying not to notice how her rack threatened to spill out of the tight lingerie the closer she was pushed into Korra. "I guess I did manage to charm your clothes off."
"Not all of them," Asami smirked, running her hands back down Korra's arms and squeezing at her biceps. Her lips came dangerously close to Korra's, but those we're almost secondary to every other part of Asami that was currently against her.
"I wouldn't want to ruin such a perfectly wrapped gift," she countered, brushing her lips down Asami's cheek and neck as they wade together to the edge of the pool.
They heard Tahno's song ending from the boisterous cheers that came from the house, and as Asami's back hit the wall, she registered Bolin and Mako's screams somewhere in the mix. Something about Wu?
Asami smirked, and lifted Korra's head from her neck, playing with the hair at the back of Korra's head, her eyes pouring lust.
She could feel Asami's breath catch on her lips and her hips rise up against her as squeezed at her waist, before she reached out and took Asami's bottom lip between her teeth and pulled.
Mako and Bolin's yells became louder as Asami moaned and scratched at Korra's back, until Korra's teeth released her lip. Her legs came up to wrap around Korra's hips as Korra moved back in to kiss her properly. Her lips had barely brushed Asami's red ones when and she heard another yell of Cannonball! and a massive wave of cold water doused them both, breaking them apart.
"What the-"
"Wu! Get out of there!" It was Mako, and he looked frantic as Wu's commotion gained the attention of other partygoers that had seen him dive in. It was too late though, as three more people screamed and jumped into the pool with Wu (and Korra. and Asami.) effectively destroying any hope for privacy they'd had (at least their clothes were still on…right?)
Korra buried her face in Asami's hair and groaned. "I guess it's a pool party now, huh?" She said as at least twenty more people jumped into the pool.
"I guess so," Asami laughed hugging her friend.
"You weren't wrong about looking incredible in your underwear," Korra groaned into her shoulder.
Asami felt Korra's hands running down her figure once more, around the legs that were still around Korra's hips (actually moving further than they had gone before, good God) to grip behind her thighs. "What are you doing?" she whispered, gasping as Korra lifted her. "Not here!" she cried, thumping on Korra's chest.
Whatever possible sexy thoughts she had of what Korra might be up to were destroyed when she felt herself being lifted up even higher and flipped over Korra's shoulders, and she landed face first into the pool. By the time she recovered and brought herself back upright, Korra had already swam away cackling and was attempting to pull Bolin in by his pant leg, as he screamed to be let go.
"Don't be a baby, Bo," she laughed. "You're 18 now, take it like a man!"
"She's right babe," Opal chimed in, before she snapped her fingers.
Wing and Wei were at her side in seconds, lifting Bolin by the legs and heaving him into the deep end. Korra swore half the water in the pool splashed out as he landed.
"I'll get you for this, Opal!" But he didn't have to, as Wing and Wei approached her next, and gave her similar treatment.
Opal surfaced near Asami, and swam towards her, a sly grin on her face.
"So what are you doing here, all on your lonesome, in your sexy underwear?" she asked.
"What do you think I was doing?" Asami laughed, splashing Opal in the face. "It got too hot on the dance floor."
"Oh, I saw." Opal jeered. "Bolin nearly had a heart attack trying to get Wu to stay inside. I told him we should've tied him down."
"It's alright," Asami mused. "Wouldn't have been more than half a moment anyway. It had just gotten good."
"I'm going to kill that guy!" Opal yelled to the sky, "After all this?"
"What are you guys screaming about," came Korra's voice as she approached them again with Bolin in tow.
"How unjust the world is," Opal told her, before slumping into Bolin's wet shirt.
"You can say that again," Korra laughed, giving a sideways grin to Asami, who blushed. "This place is like a lifeguard nightmare," she added. "A hundred drunk people jumping around in a giant pool."
"Make that one hundred and two," Asami pointed out.
They looked over to see the phone store girl approach Mako from behind and wrestle him into the deep end ("My phone was in my pocket!" "I'll get you twelve new ones!")
"I knew I liked her," Opal said.
"Yeah, I think she'll fit right in," Korra laughed.
It was only an hour later when they were escorting Korra to the dock, still soaking wet, an inebriated Bolin leading the charge.
"Bes- best party ever guys. Best one. Ever," he slurred happily. He had his arms around Korra and Asami as they stumbled down the beach. "I'm so glad I have such good friends," he'd said, stopping in his tracks to pull them close, and nuzzle his forehead on their heads.
"I'm glad too, buddy," Asami agreed, chuckling at him and his displays of affection. They were all together now, even though they only had Korra for a little while longer, and she wanted to enjoy it too.
"Yeah, it's Mako that has terrible friends," Korra added. "That's the second day of mine Wu has ruined."
Bolin and Asami giggled at the thought, Bolin giving Asami a sly grin.
"Shutup Bo," she said through her teeth. He kept grinning at her as he slipped from underneath their arms and pushed the two of them together.
"Sorry," Asami laughed, as they knocked heads.
"It's okay," Korra said, slinging her arm around Asami's shoulder and pulling her close. "Thank you guys for walking me."
"It's our pleasure. Wouldn't want you getting lost… or walking into the ocean," Opal said.
"Please, where I'm going is a giant block of ice. It would be a disgrace for me to do either of those things."
"You got lost on your way to gym class that one day in middle school and ended up hiding under the stairs until the period ended," Mako reminded.
"And I thought I told you to lose that memory, or I'd beat it out of you," she said through her teeth, shaking her fist at Mako
"Hey, I'm just saying."
Eventually they reached the pier that Korra's boat home was docked and they sat, silently and drunkenly on the benches, Bolin smiling goofily with his eyes closed, until either Korra's parents and the limo that was taking them home showed up. There were already a few other passengers and crew members milling around.
"At least it looks nothing like the Titanic," Asami mused, burying her face in Korra's shirt.
Korra laughed. "I think it would be terribly bad luck if they did that," she smiled, pulling her friend closer.
"Do you have to go?" Asami asked softly.
"Unfortunately," Korra said regretfully, "But I'll be back before you know it!" (Had she done it? Did Asami know? Should she ask her? How were there more questions now than before?)
"Good," was all Asami could muster.
They were silent, until they heard splashes from the neighboring dock.
"What are they doing?" Mako asked.
Korra looked up from where she had been staring at Asami.
"Oh. It's this thing we do in the South. It's from a long time ago, before you knew if hunters or warriors were ever going to come back, or how long they'd be away. So when someone you love leaves on a ship, you jump in after it so the ocean spirit keeps you together," she answered. "I guess it's a little more of a statement there, where the water is freezing cold."
"That is extremely terrifying, but also extremely sweet," Opal said.
Eventually Korra's parents showed up, shaking their heads at the state their daughter and her friends were in. The ships horn sounded, and they went to drop off their bags while Korra said goodbye.
She hugged everyone, including Mako's girl(friend?), whispering Mako's favorite breakfast food into her ear. She laughed as the girl flushed a bright red, and she apologized.
Wing and Wei squeezed her and threatened to throw her into the ocean. Bolin and Opal thanked her for reuniting them and Opal gave her a mischievous pinch on the cheek, and called her a little heartbreaker (in her tight white shirt she knew would come off at some point!)
She and Mako embraced smoothly, and she promised him she would talk to him about the case while she was gone.
She paused when it was only Asami was left, blushing slightly next to Mako, her lip still red from where Korra had bitten it. She pulled her in and Mako smiled at Korra from behind Asami as she hugged her. She returned it, her eyes silently thanking him for whatever it was exactly they had accomplished. When they pulled away, she saw Asami on the verge of tears, and picked her up, squeezing her.
"I'll miss you," she sniffled.
"I'll miss you too," Korra smiled, putting her down. Asami nodded, but hesitated in front of her, playing with the top button of her shirt like she was considering saying something. After a moment of searching Korra's eyes, she looked away before planting a soft kiss on her cheek. "Have a safe trip, Korra," she managed.
"See you later, Korra!" they called, as she ascended the walkway. No more than twenty minutes later, as the ship was pulling away, they found Korra had run up to the deck so she could wave and yell more goodbyes to them.
They waved along with the other families, and as it reached the end of the dock, Asami felt her heartstrings pulled along with it, and the weight of her mistake pushing tears out of her eyes. She shoved her shoes into Mako's hands and ran, red dress and all, to the end of the dock and dove into the water (not southern cold, but still dark and terrifying)- where she hoped if not Korra, then the ocean spirit would hear her hoarse cries.
"I changed my mind!"
Opal, tiny but loyal, jumped in after her, hoping to get the message further.
