Alone in her room, Asami took the time to unwind and begin to mentally assess where to begin. She moved to the closet, pulling it completely open with some effort. She stopped and waited in front of a selection of clothing, mostly in shades of black and dark red. An idle thought crossed her mind, about how her dark clothing tended to contrast Korra's light. But she was too preoccupied with sorting through a series of skirts to linger on it. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, her thin brow furrowing in concentration. With some indecisiveness, she settled on a black skirt with nice gold buttons, then moved on to picking out a matching long-sleeve coat and a top to go underneath it. She wandered back to the bed, tossing the articles on the unmade blankets.
Next, she'd have to decide on the accessories to go with the outfit. She picked over a series of boots, finally agreeing on a pair of ankle-high black suede with a slight heel. A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth, wondering if the added height would make it easier to tease Korra about being shorter. Once she made up her mind on the boots, she selected a pair of gloves and tights in matching colors, tossing the entire collection on the bed.
Asami then moved into the connected washroom. With towels already available, she moved to start the flow of water and attempted to adjust the heat to something enjoyable. She sat, silently, waiting several seconds before testing it with a hand, only to wrench it away quickly. "Ouch!" she squeaked. She thought the water nearly burned her, though it was more that it just startled her with the unpredictable amount of heat. She tapped at the gauge with a finger, trying to fine-tune the temperature. She'd have to get around to inventing a better warm water delivery system at some point.
While waiting for the water to adjust, she sat long enough to remove her slippers and began to unbutton the nightgown. She found she had time to think about the day's events thus far, having started with the nightmare. Only bits and pieces remained at this point. All she could remember was that Korra was there, and the large amount of dirt, or maybe it was sand? She tried to let her mind wander, but it returned to the same topic again. She hummed to herself, realizing she was thinking about Korra an awful lot lately. Of course, Korra was one of the only people she spent any time with. Mako and Bolin were her friends as well, though she did mostly spend time with them in concert with Korra. She thought briefly about Tenzin and some of the others, though again, she likely wouldn't know any of them if it not for Korra.
She found herself frustrated, her mind refusing to concentrate on anything else. She supposed she might be as equally preoccupied with any other person or subject if it was as much a part of her life as Korra is now. Before her, it was simply her work and research. No, if she was being honest with herself, there was also a time when nearly all she thought about was Mako. But that was years ago. And now all she could think about was the dream about Korra in the sand. She wasn't certain, but she started to wonder if the dream was about the time the two found themselves trapped in the Si Wong desert. It was certainly a possibility; she did, after all, think about the incident numerous times in the past, considering how dangerous it was at the time.
Stepping out of her robe, she moved into the stream of water, now at a tolerable temperature. It was a comforting sensation, the warm water helping put her in a more relaxed state. It was nice to finally have an opportunity to enjoy some silence and have a moment to think about things. She found that the droning of pouring water began to fade into the background, and she finally found some much-needed calm.
Asami didn't recall all the details. Escaping the desert was no easy task, but she did find it a rare opportunity to work with Korra. It was around that time that she remembered being able to spend more time with Korra and become better friends. Before then, she experienced a lingering feeling of rivalry with the Avatar. They did previously date the same person, even if they both eventually agreed that it wasn't the best decision either of them ever made. Asami wasn't sure why, but she never found herself blaming Korra for the taxing love triangle they found themselves in with Mako. Mako flip-flopped about dating both girls, on more than one occasion, and his actions were what caused all of the turmoil.
By the time the two crash-landed in the desert, Asami found herself getting along well with Korra. They had already been dealing with Zaheer and his allies, putting both of them in danger alongside Mako and Bolin. Fleeing from the group with a meditating Korra, being captured, escaping — she found all of it strangely energizing. Definitely not the danger part of it; she could probably go the rest of her life without being put through anything like that again and be perfectly content. But being able to work as a team with Korra, and see just how well they could cooperate and coordinate was a nice change of pace.
In the Si Wong desert, Asami attempted to fix the airship and get it running again, and Korra trusted her to be able to do so. Trust from Korra became something she took for granted. Even early on, Korra never accused Asami of siding with the Equalists, and saw fit to warn her about what her father had been planning. She didn't believe Korra at first, but even back then Korra was on her side, and always had been.
Once the airship repairs proved fruitless due to the sandshark monster's attack nearly destroying the entire ship, Asami once again came up with an idea to escape the desert, and Korra once again didn't hesitate to help execute the plan. In fact, Korra was essential to the success of the plan. Benders and nonbenders working together toward a common goal; Asami's father would've hated it.
As she remembered it, Korra even made peace with their previous captors once at the Misty Palms Oasis. That was another trait she admired in the Avatar; Korra often expressed the feeling that she failed to be a proper "bridge" between people or spirits, and that she possessed little ability to properly bring peace through negotiation. But Asami saw her do so on several occasions, even if force was more frequently their primary means of getting things done. Asami was never a very social person. Before meeting Mako and the Avatar crew, Asami knew very few people. Primarily just those around her at her father's company. When they reunited with Korra's father, Lin, and Lord Zuko, Korra attributed their escape from the desert to Asami. That was the kind of person Korra had always been to Asami: a selfless woman who wants desperately to help as many people as she can. Even if that meant putting herself in danger.
Because of Korra, Asami tried to strive to be a little more selfless and fight alongside her as much as she could. This mindset cemented in her due to the events following the desert escape. It was then that the group found out what Zaheer had in mind. He wanted Korra so badly that he was prepared to destroy the entire rebuilt Air Nation to get to her. And Korra, even knowing it would be a trap, agreed to surrender if it meant she could protect others.
During that time, her admiration for Korra had been growing. She found herself wanting more and more to let Korra know that she was there to lend her support. She just never knew an appropriate way to express it. It always seemed to Asami like the one thing Korra needed the most was a solid foundation of allies. And while her foundation grew during that time, Korra still always seemed to feel isolated and helpless. The anxiety over trying to protect the Air Nation led Korra to try and confront Zaheer in the spirit world — anything she could do to help. Asami immediately offered to watch over her, wanting to assist in any way she possibly could.
She followed Korra to the place of meditation. Yet another thing that Korra had going for her was her spirituality. Asami knew that Korra struggled with it early on, in the same way she wrestled with learning airbending. But compared to a normal person, Korra's spirituality was incredible. Asami hated watching Korra believe herself to be a failure. She shouldered so many responsibilities, and was burdened with so many things to know and master. It was all beyond what Asami could comprehend, and she couldn't help feel as though it was unfair for Korra to have to suffer through it all. She really needed… someone.
Asami stayed silent as Korra sat down. If nothing else, the quiet meditation would be a change of pace from the last few days. Asami appreciated the opportunity to rest quietly while Korra projected herself elsewhere. She thought briefly that it was nice to be able to enjoy a break, though she also recognized that Korra never stopped for one. She was still working tirelessly, even now.
Asami sighed. "I know you can't hear me," she began. She allowed silence to set back in, pausing for several long seconds. In some small part of her mind, she expected Korra to open her eyes again and ask her to keep it down. So she probed, only speaking the short sentence to make sure Korra was completely focused. "But I wanted to thank you. For a lot of things. For everything, really."
Asami felt restless. With Korra sitting in front of her, eyes closed, breathing slowly, Asami felt the opposite. She could feel her pulse quickening, and she began to pace. She made her path a large circle, walking around Korra with brisk steps. "I know that the first person out of us that I met was Mako. But if it hadn't been for you, when he and I broke up, I probably would have just moved on and went back to my father."
She paused, noticing that it was hard to speak. It was difficult to find her voice, and clearly convey her message. But it helped to be able to talk, even if Korra wasn't actually listening. "I guess it's also true Mako may not have broken up with me if not for you. But I can't say. The only thing I can say for sure is that you rescued me. My father, I don't think I could have stood up to him by myself. I wasn't—"
She resumed pacing, staring at the ground and looking at her nervously rattling knees. While she walked, she elevated her hands into her hair, pulling on handfuls of it and tossing it. Absentmindedly, she started to pull on it and play with it. Something of a nervous tick, unconsciously broadcasting her current vulnerabilities. "I wasn't strong enough. Not without friends like you, Mako, and Bolin. I know we didn't get along as well as we could have, but I really hope we're past that now. I've never really had friends before. My dad always seemed cautious about letting me stray too far. I guess I should have noticed a change in his behavior when he started letting me have more freedom. But I was just so glad to have others I could spend time with."
"I'm really glad I've been able to help you, the way you helped me. Being able to help you with your mission to rebuild the Air Nation, it's something I never would've even dreamed of being a part of before. It's just something I find really impressive about you. You don't hesitate to help others. You're really great, Korra. Amazing!"
Asami stopped again, allowing a heavy sigh to pierce the calm air once her speech concluded. She turned on her feet, returning her eyes to inspect Korra. She wanted to make sure the Avatar wasn't awake and listening to her prattle on and on. She'd probably appreciate the compliment, but poke fun. She wasn't sure she'd enjoy that right now. Instead, she wanted to be able to get everything off her chest.
"I know you sometimes don't think you're good enough, or that your decisions aren't the right ones. But you stopped the Equalists, and Unalaq, and you're going to beat Zaheer, too. I believe in you, and not just because you're the Avatar, but because you're a good person. I know you're going to find a way to deal with this, and everyone's going to be okay. For all I know, you've already beaten Zaheer in the spirit world."
She paused at that, letting the words linger in the air before melting. She hoped Korra was okay. There was no way to check, no way of knowing. Maybe she already won and was trying to secure him. Maybe she still was still looking for him. Maybe they were still fighting. But she couldn't bring herself to imagine that Korra lost. It just couldn't happen.
"I don't want anything to happen to you. I know how important your role is, and I know how willing you are to put yourself in danger to help others. I understand that. I just don't want to see you get hurt. You don't—you don't deserve that. I wish I could do more, if it meant you'd be safer."
Asami lowered her eyes, reflecting on her thoughts for a time. Eventually, she walked forward to return to Korra's side. She bent her knees, sitting down on the ground. Easing her legs in closer, she rested her arms upon her knees, and her chin on her crossed arms. "I guess that's everything I wanted to say. Thank you."
And just like that, Korra's eyes opened. She blinked several times, readjusting to the light around her and the scenery. Asami hesitated only a moment, heart pounding in her chest, hoping once more that Korra didn't actually hear the things she said. Or if she did, that she didn't intend to make it into a joke. She deeply enjoyed the times they were able to tease one another and be able to laugh about it, but she expressed too many pent-up feelings to want to be made fun of this time.
"Did you find Zaheer?" Asami asked cautiously.
"No, he wasn't there," Korra replied. She turned her head, looking Asami in the eye. "But there's someone I need to talk to."
The daydream began to fade. Asami's consciousness returned to her, and she realized she had simply been standing under the water flow for several minutes. With a downward glance, she noticed her fingertips starting to wrinkle. She reached out to the faucet and shut off the water.
Asami stepped free of the tub, reaching down to pluck two towels free of the nearby racks. She dried herself with one, and her hair with the other. After folding a towel around herself, she walked back into the adjacent room while vigorously drying her long hair. Once finished with the task, she discarded the towel onto the counter and stopped to stand in front of the mirror. She plucked her brush from nearby and began to run it through her hair.
She stared blankly at herself in the mirror while brushing her hair. Over three years passed since the Avatar dealt with Zaheer, and since she expressed all of her thoughts and emotions to have them fall on deaf ears. Even now she experienced difficulty explaining that Korra was one of the only friends she'd ever had, and by a fair margin the best friend she'd ever known.
Asami was under a great deal of stress over the last few years. She knew that her own difficulties were nothing compared to those faced by Korra. But she still couldn't bear the possibility of losing her best friend. The three year absence was challenging enough.
Her hair properly styled, Asami set the brush back down. She turned to address the pile of clothing behind her, carefully laid out on the bed. She picked through each article and began to get dressed after placing the second towel alongside the first. She put on the tights first, then the skirt and the black top. She left behind the jacket and gloves, returning to the mirror once half-dressed. She pulled open a drawer, sifting through the contents to locate a small container with different colors and styles of makeup. She placed the box in front of the mirror, popping it open and catching the initial stinging scent of powder and other cosmetics.
She set immediately to work, smoothing out the areas around her cheeks and along her nose with a spongy implement. Next, she picked up a colored utensil, removing the cap and working over the tops of her eyes. She carefully worked in a light purple shadow, trying to keep it from being too dark and therefore distracting. She always worked off the philosophy that one should pick a single feature and accentuate it, and Asami tended to select her lips. Although, she had been told she had lovely eyes in the past.
"I imagine," she found herself saying aloud, "that Korra would find this entire process wholly unnecessary. She turned to drop the pencil back into the case, making a sharp rattling sound when it fell into place. "I envy that degree of self-confidence." She finished by plucking one last tool from the box, applying a vibrant red color to her lips. Afterward, she batted her eyes and smacked her lips to make sure everything was in order. She folded the box back into its place and shut the drawer.
Now that she was finished with the difficult part, she returned bedside. She lifted and slipped the expensive coat over her shoulders, wiggling her fingers through the ends of the long sleeves. The shoes came next, lifting one foot after the other to the corner of the bed to slip them on. Lastly, the gloves, stretching tightly over her fingers. She inspected herself quickly in the mirror, leaning to one side and swaying as if about to fall over. She hummed in appreciation of her ensemble. "Hopefully Korra is ready to go by now," she mused. She elevated a small, sleek container from the nearby counter toward her neckline, creating a spritz of mist. The scent was lightly floral and just sweet enough to catch the nose. She set the bottle back down and turned to leave.
Her boots carried her across the hardened floor. The heels made an audible thump along the ground with each step, at least until she adjusted her pace and lightened her step to keep it from being a bother. She walked with a speedy shuffle, ready to return to the main area and reunite with Korra. That, and she was growing more energetic by the minute. Perhaps the promise of food lent her more motivation.
Once she rounded the corner, she slowed her steps. Her eyes examined the floor in the hallway leading toward the kitchen. Her vision darted left and right, looking for traces of the dirt that "someone" tracked into the mansion beforehand. She adopted an appreciative smile after being completely unable to find any remaining evidence. As expected, Korra did pick up after herself. That also meant she already returned.
A few steps later, Asami broke through into the kitchen. She came to a complete stop upon seeing Korra seated at the compact table in the middle of the open area. Korra managed to pick out an attractive outfit. Somewhat more feminine than her usual fare, though it still looked like it belonged. It was a nice change of pace.
She hovered in the entrance to the hallway for a few seconds more, until she was finally recognized. Korra sat up to greet her, and Asami took notice of her demeanor. Korra certainly looked more chipper than usual, which was a good sign. It made Asami respond in kind, brightening her outlook and her expectations for the remainder of the day.
