I strength out my legs on the couch and let out the loudest moan ever. When I open my eyes, I quickly get up and look around, noticing that it's daylight.
"You're a heavy sleeper, I dropped two coffee mugs and almost you. And you continued to sleep." Korra tells me, as she hands me a cup of coffee.
"You carried me?" I ask, noticing that we somehow switched chairs.
"Yes, I hope you don't mind. I would have carried you to your room. But I'm still pretty sore. It still was a struggle just getting you to that couch. Not like you're heavy or anything, It's just fatigue."
"Does Mako know you're here?" I ask, cutting straight to the chase.
"I left a note. But even if he did call, I wouldn't know. I can't find my phone anywhere." She replies.
I put my coffee cup down on the table and wrap myself into my blanket.
" After everything that happened between us, what made you come here?" I ask.
she sighs.
"I really had to get out of Mako's apartment. So when I heard him leave, I just left."
"And you choose here, out of all place?"
She looks at me in disbelief.
"Do you want me to leave? I would think you would be happy, since I'm making an effort in talking with you. "
"Trust me, I am! I'm just trying to understand."
she starts to relax again.
"This was the only place where I wouldn't be attacked with cameras and I couldn't go to my parents."
"Why not?"
she just glares at me.
Alright, maybe I need to calm down with the questions.
" I needed to talk to you. A text wouldn't have been the best approach, given our situation. " she adds.
I'm so glad she choose to speak with me in person. I don't think I would have been able to read so much hate on a tiny screen.
"I don't hate you Asami." she starts off.
"You have every right to though. No need to spare my feelings, Mako said worse."
"What do you mean by, Mako?"
Shit! She doesn't know, yet!
"I'm talking about in general like 'That sketch is bad' or something." I try to reassure.
I'm not lying! He has said that to me before.
She just stares at me and I can't take it any longer.
"He read the text you were trying to send me." I blurt out.
"Oh my Gosh! When?"
"Last night, but It's alright, he's not mad at you. He's just mad at me."
she looks like she's going to have a panic attack. I wished I never told her.
"I didn't mean for him to find out that way. I was going to tell him as soon as I talked to you, I swear."
"Why didn't you tell him, if you mind me asking?"
"I didn't want you to lose your job!"
She was worried about my job? Why wasn't she worried about her relationship? My job was the least of my worries.
"I did a terrible thing and you're still worried about me? How can you just do that?"
"You're good at what you do and your coworkers adore you. I didn't want you to be taken from them, due to a mistake."
A mistake?
"You think what I did was a mistake?"
She looks away from me.
"Please Asami. Don't say that it wasn't."
"It wasn't a mistake because... I wanted to do that the moment I first met you!"
I see a small smile form on her face, that she's not even attempting to hide.
"I know."
Then why are we having this discussion!
"Really?"
she get up from her chair, to sit next to me.
"Well, I wasn't sure completely at first. But the dinner with our family pretty much sealed the deal. As your Father spoke about your past. You kept starring at me, as if you were ashamed of such stories. If you just saw me as a friend. I doubt your reaction would have been so shameful. Also your attempt to kiss me in your room, helped as well."
What? I don't remember that!
I cover my face to hide my embarrassment.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, but you were clearly drunk. I didn't think about it too much."
" Why didn't you put up a wall between us, then!"
"WHY DIDN'T YOU?" she replies, with a bit of frustration.
"I thought I could get over it!"
"How did that go?"
I can't help but laugh at her question.
"Not very well, taken in fact you're upset about the kiss. Which you have every reason to be, by the way."
"I wasn't upset about the kiss , Asami! I was upset about what you said after it."
What did I say after it?
"When I asked you why you kissed me, You said 'you couldn't help it'. That statement itself, made me furious. Even with addicts 'I can't help it' doesn't cut it. If you can't help smoking, try nicotine gum. If you can't help drinking, try a hobby. It might be hard at first, but there are always options. Now I doubt your feelings for me were as strong as such examples given. But your best option/solution would have been talking with me."
Wow, she really has a point.
"You're right. But I want to let you know that, I wasn't messing with your head. Despite how you may see things. I never wanted all of this to happen. I should have backed away and respect that you were in a relationship, but I didn't. I didn't just ruin my job, but our friendship as well. It broke my heart, seeing you hurt and me being the cause of your pain was even worse."
"It's not your fault. None of this is your fault. I should have asked how you felt the moment I picked up on your feelings and you should had done the same with me."
What, is she talking about?
She digs into her pocket and pulls out a mini box and hands it to me.
"I found this in his medicine cabinet."
I open the tiny box and my heart drops.
"Is this another purity ring?" I tease, hoping my joke is the reality.
"It's an engagement ring. He wants to marry me, Asami."
I examine the diamond ring.
"You sure this is for you? It could be Bolin's for Opal, they seemed to hit it off nice."
she gives me a small smile.
"It could be. Because if he read my message, I doubt he still wants to marry me."
I see tears in her eyes and I'm debating if I should comfort her. I don't want to over step my boundaries again.
"Don't cry, Korra. He loves you. When we spoke last night. He still was willing to fight for you. Don't give up on him. He knows the kiss was my fault. You both can work through all of this."
She looks at me confused.
"What did he tell you last night?"
The question is what he didn't tell me last night! He was really giving it to me!
"Basically that you deserve the world and he's far more qualified in giving you that."
She quickly wipes away her tears.
"Did he say that or is that what you think?"
I don't understand what she's getting at. Does it matter?
"That's what I know. Mako and I have our differences, but we both want what's best for you."
"What about what's best for you? I want you happy as well." she replies.
Even though this discussion is about her, she still manages to think about me. Could she be anymore great?
I shrug.
"Don't worry about me. I will be fine,though. I think I'm going to stay with my Father for awhile to clear my head. Now that I no longer work for Fire Ferrets. I'm thinking about making my own art studio."
"I think that would be wonderful. Jinora would like that as well. You're like her hero and I don't know why. I'm the champion." she tease.
Which reminds me of her killer win!
I quickly get up and start throwing random combinations in the air, making the champ laugh.
"Oh my God! You were amazing, last night. You did the move and everything."
"Thank you, I wasn't expecting to do your move, It just happened."
"And I'm glad it did. you're crazy talented, please don't retire."
She runs her hand through her new haircut and it really does suits her.
"I really don't want to but, I'm tired of fighting. I think my talents are best suited along side Tenzin. I want to train upcoming fighters and help them be champions, such as Suki."
Here we go again.
"Suki and I are just friends." I yell out.
"I know, but you two should be much more than that. Suki constantly asks about you and I see the glow in her eyes when she sees you."
"Maybe so, but she made it very clear that she wants to focus on fighting."
Korra giggles.
"You believe that?. Suki is used to being in control. She probably told you that, just so she wouldn't feel tied down. But I think you give her a run for her money. Please don't give up on her."
The look in her eyes tells me she's hoping I accept her suggestion. I mean... Suki is a nice girl. I wouldn't mind seeing her of couple more times.
"Okay, I guess we could go out on a few dates, But under one condition."
"What?"
"You don't give up on, Mako."
"Trust me, I don't plan to. I just don't know what to tell him."
"Just be honest with him. I believe that's all he wants."
"I guess you're right. I'm really going to miss you." she says, pulling me into a hug.
"You're acting like I'm not coming back. Don't forget who I live with. Kuvira might burn this apartment down without me!"
We both start laughing and in the first time, out of all our hugs, I'm the first to pull away.
"Are we good?" I ask her, trying not to get caught up in the reality of it all.
"I'm always good. What about you?"
"I think I'll survive."
"Great, you're a fighter and I want you to keep something for awhile." she says, before getting up and heading to the kitchen.
"What a broken heart?" I call out.
"Asamiii." she whines, as she picks up a bag off the floor.
"I'm just kidding?" I tease.
Once she comes back over to the couch, she shows me what's behind her back and I open my mouth out of shock.
"Is that your champion belt?"
she looks down at the gold item in her hand.
"That's what this is? I thought it was a coffee holder." she tease, while handing it to me.
"I want you to keep it for awhile. I'm not ready to look at it again. Despite all that happened, you were the one that kept fighting. You didn't give up on me and seeing you in the stadium met the world to me. You deserve it."
I feel my eyes start to tear up.
"You're making me cry." she quickly backs away from me.
"Is it the good kind of crying? Because Kuvira said if I made you cry again, she would shoot me. Quoting 'Since fist don't bring me down, maybe a gun will. I should file a police report."
Leave it to Kuvira to make threats.
"It's the good kind."
" I'm happy to hear that. Could you do me one last thing?" she asks.
"Sure."
"Could you drive me back to Mako's apartment. I walked here and I'm still a little sore."
"Sureeee, it's the least I could do. But I'm not getting out the car! He might shoot me!"
Korra laughs but I'm serious.
He might!
The drive to Mako's apartment complex was full of laughs and conversations. It reminded me of the first time we hung out together.
Once I pull into a parking space, Korra takes off her seat belt.
"Thanks again, Asami. I guess it's time to face the music."
I grab her hand without hesitation.
"You will be fine."
" I hope so."
As she gets out the car, I see the ring still in my cup holder.
Maybe if I keep it here, she might not marry him.
Despite my internal thoughts, I know what's the right thing to do.
"Hey!" I call out. stopping the girl that changed my life.
"Yep?"
"You forgot, something." I reply, holding up the green velvet box.
She jogs back over to my car and before I hand it to her, I need her to do something.
"Think about it." I say, before letting it go.
"I think I already did."
Just hearing those words, I know what her answer is. I finally loosen my grip off the box, so she can take it. Because I know her answer will always be 'Yes' for him.
"Next time I see you ,I'm going to ask for your name. And you better have a different last name." I tease.
"We better be in an open field with no cars, then" she tease back as she heads up the stairs.
"Ohhh a country wedding, that's cute."
I hear her laugh and it's bittersweet.
But I'm happy for her. I hope they're able to work everything out. Actually, I know they will. As stubborn as Mako is, he's not going to let go of a gem like Korra.
Even though, I'm willing to fight for her. She made her choice and I need to respect that. I have no control over who she chooses because...
she's the boss of her own life.