Korra bolted upright with gasping, ragged breath. Her eyes snapped wide open, and she raised both hands from her sides to clutch her face. A light sheen of sweat clung to her body. Several agonizing seconds passed while Korra tried to breathe. She felt as though the wind was knocked out of her, completely unable to inhale. She writhed, uncomfortably, until finally she felt the function of her lungs restored. She managed a weighted sigh of relief. One hand elevated to lay across her forehead, and she promptly flopped backward into the sheets. The impact made her bounce, shaking droplets of water from her skin.
Another nightmare. By now, a common occurrence, even if they were less frequent and powerful than three years ago. Closing her eyes and mouth, Korra forced herself to breathe through her nose, regulating each breath to calm her nerves. Placating turbulent emotions became something of a morning routine for Korra, and though she still found herself suffering, meditation and experience helped to ease the pain. Laying in her bed, Korra cracked her eyelids enough to see. She gazed into the ceiling, trying to make sense of the frightening visions.
It was Amon again. Logically, she knew he died, but dreams always found a way to make her fear the impossible. She was running, no longer willing or able to fight the man. She fled down hallways, only to witness him turn the corner. She raced up a spiral staircase, running from his shadow which pursued her on the wall. She ran until there was nowhere left to go, and then she hid. When he caught up to her, he walked slowly but purposefully toward her hiding place, as if he knew. He dragged her into the open, exposing her, making her vulnerable. He yanked her arm with such strength that she felt the pain of her shoulder dislocating. Korra struggled, but she was weak. He forced her to kneel, and then he took her bending away.
Amon's process was straightforward and practiced. He seized a handful of Korra hair, painfully pulling her head back. He then placed a thumb against her forehead, channeling some form of frightful energy through her core. She felt it boil her insides and ignite every nerve in her body. She was paralyzed, unable to fight back as Amon slowly separated her from her abilities. She felt his will cutting through her like a knife. Through the blood rushing in her ears, she heard a sickening snap when her connection to each element was removed, one after the other. First water, her native element. Then earth and fire. And lastly, air, leaving her with nothing. She collapsed to the floor in a heap. And then she woke up.
Korra eventually extended a hand overhead, snapping her fingers to create a spark of flames. She then twirled her hand in the air, similarly testing her ability to generate gusts of wind. Korra didn't know why she still feared losing her bending. But she vividly remembered what it was like to be without it. Until that point, bending was Korra's entire world. She was the Avatar. To lose it was to lose her entire self; her entire identity and purpose. She genuinely believed she couldn't go on. In a big way she envied Asami, the brilliant nonbender she was, never showing fear in the face of powerful enemies.
It was Asami that Korra thought of when she first lost her bending several years ago. Korra was a shell of her former self, unsure of how to proceed or what to do. At the time she only thought of her legacy. Korra, the worst Avatar of all time. The only Avatar to have her bending taken away, and to be unable to do anything to help the world. But there was a time between the disaster and her recovery in which she thought she could be more like Asami. Asami was brave in standing up to her father, and never let a lack of bending slow her down. She wondered how she could be more like that. How she might emulate the impressive woman. Asami Sato, who—
Korra stopped herself. Thinking of Asami forced her to remember the fight two days prior. She clicked her teeth and lowered her raised hand, slapping it across her face. Why did she have to fight with Asami? It was such a stupid thing to do. The last person in the entire world she wanted to upset was her. The last three years were very difficult for Korra, but she knew they were hard on Asami, too. Asami was there to take care of her when she couldn't walk. The woman was her only pen pal when she went home — if severe emotional withdrawal resulting in a single letter sent could be considered a pen pal. She was always there to talk or vent to. And she always put Korra's needs before her own. As a reward for all her care and loyalty, Korra saw fit to drive Asami away. She felt terrible.
Deciding to move, Korra sat up straighter and dropped her legs over the side of the bed. She felt miserable from the lack of actual sleep. She hoped Asami was able to fare better in that department. Korra tried to give Asami her space, allowing her a day to deal with her troubles. But now, Korra wasn't actually sure which one of the two should be the first to apologize. No doubt Asami felt just as bad about the fight. Maybe she hadn't slept well either. Korra rubbed the side of her head, taking notice of the lack of light illuminating the room. Another sleepless night, waking at odd hours. She started to wonder if either of them would ever return to normal sleep schedules. She could really use a full night's rest.
Korra wanted to believe Asami would allow her to say she's sorry. But maybe she didn't deserve to be forgiven. She imagined all the times she pushed the nonbender away. Asami was right, of course. Korra tried to do everything herself, to protect her friends. But it was unfair to them, and disingenuous. She needed to apologize to Asami. And hope that Asami would forgive her. It was almost funny, how often Korra felt the weight of the entire world on her shoulders, and yet all she cared about at the moment was the opinion of one raven-haired girl.
Groaning heavily, Korra dipped her head forward and hopped off the bed to start looking for something to wear. Pulled out of her sleep, she wore only a white tank top and a pair of shorts. If she was to venture out into the chilly night air, she needed something better. Moving in the dark proved difficult, and Korra nearly tripped on discarded shoes before remembering she could brighten the room by holding a small flame in her palm. Although, juggling fire while putting on clothes was a new challenge all by itself.
The room Tenzin provided for Korra at Air Temple Island offered significantly fewer options for clothing. Certainly not the large selection of outfits she had access to at the Sato mansion. She found it odd to think she might miss having more choices than she could possibly utilize. But something about picking between outfit A and outfit B felt underwhelming. She plucked the warmer option from the rack and changed into it. Once dressed, she combed her hair as well as a person could be expected to when using only fingers.
Korra pushed back the sliding door to her room enough to slip into the hallway. She clenched her teeth, trying to stay quiet and tiptoe to keep from waking anyone. Not that the building wanted to cooperate; each step on the wooden floor creaked far more than she remembered it ever doing. She moved slower with each pace, but the harder she tried to step lightly, the more noise it made. She carefully made her way to the nearest door, reaching out to a storage shelf to grab her collapsed air glider.
"Korra?"
She jumped, her fingers releasing the glider. It fell, banging loudly against the floor, generating a resounding clatter through the echoing hallway. Korra winced as the sound sent a sharp pang through her eardrums. She looked for the source of the voice, an embarrassed grimace on her face. She concentrated on a figure nearby. A smaller shape with short brown hair and a blue arrow prominently displayed on her forehead. Korra sighed with relief.
"Jinora. Sorry if I woke you up."
"You didn't," the younger girl replied. "Well, not exactly. I noticed you were having another nightmare. I thought I'd check up on you." Jinora stepped closer, bending down and scooping the air glider off the floor, handing it helpfully back to Korra.
Korra relaxed, turning to more fully face the airbender and address her. She accepted the folded staff with a nod of her head. "Thanks." Afterward, she made sure to clutch the glider with both hands, easing her back into the wall. Her nose scrunched with the news of her dreams becoming public knowledge. "Was I making that much noise?" she asked apologetically.
"No. Actually, I sort of sensed it from the other room. When you're distressed, you tend to have a very unstable spiritual energy," she explained. Jinora had a timid manner of speak, usually very shy when going into details about her abilities.
Korra smiled weakly. "That sounds like me." She released the air glider with one hand, reaching forward to place her palm on Jinora's shoulder. "You have such a strong spiritual connection. I envy that. And I appreciate you looking out for me. I just need to work some things out."
"Well, what's troubling you? Maybe I can help," Jinora offered. She clasped her hands together in front of herself, rocking in place on her toes. Korra couldn't tell if she was merely being helpful, or if she knew something and didn't want to elaborate.
Korra frowned, but decided it might be good to discuss some of her problems more openly for a change. That was one of the things Asami scolded her about, right? She removed her hand from Jinora's shoulder and leaned back into the wall. "Right now what's bothering me is that I was mean to Asami for no reason other than frustration. She was telling me something I needed to hear, and I snapped at her."
Jinora hummed as if trying to analyze the discussion. She posed with fingertips under her chin, squinting her eyes. "She's your best friend, isn't she?" Jinora asked.
Korra agreed with a short nod. "If anyone is."
"Is that where you're going now?"
Korra twisted her lips to one side. She studied Jinora for a long moment in an attempt to decode her thoughts. She expected to be told not to run off in the middle of the night. Something about thinking through what to say, or to make decisions based on logic rather than raw emotion. But Korra felt restless, and couldn't accept that answer. "Do you think I shouldn't?" she asked curiously.
"Actually," Jinora began with a shrug, "I think you should go. If it's worrying you this much, she's probably feeling the same thing. There's no sense in putting it off if it's something you both want. It's not a good idea to suppress your feelings."
Korra's heart sank, imagining Asami feeling the same stress. She became worried, and even more restless. But she appreciated the advice. She was wrong about what Jinora would tell her. She smiled appreciatively, tipping into a polite bow. "You're going to be as wise as your father one of these days."
Jinora visibly brightened, speaking in a timid voice. "Thanks."
Feeling a renewed vigor after the pep-talk, Korra turned away. She pulled on the door leading outside, pausing in the doorway and glancing over her shoulder to the young airbender. "Thank you, Jinora. I feel much better." She pushed through to outside, increasing her pace into a run. Throwing the glider into the air, the wings snapped open, and she jumped into it, taking to the air.
Far below, she could hear Jinora calling out to her. "Good luck, Korra!" The voice was encouraging, but rapidly faded into the distance until it was no more. She soared with the aid of the glider, bending air currents around the fan-like wings to achieve lift. She pushed herself higher and higher, until she could see Republic City stretched out in front of her eyes. She drifted easily over the large body of water separating Air Temple Island from the mainland, entering the city's airspace.
The city looked beautiful at night. Streets and buildings stayed dark with only the occasional light to guide the way. Korra could make out faint details and identify some structures. But she knew no one was moving below. Not at this time of day. In a sense, she could feel a lingering loneliness. She began to experience the paradoxical sensation of being entirely alone in a heavily populated area. She knew the buildings housed hundreds or more, but she was in no way connected to them. The emptiness was almost unbearable. It was similar to the void she felt in her stomach when by herself in Asami's mansion. Tiny, and hopelessly lost in an overwhelming maze.
Nervousness swelled in Korra's chest. She didn't enjoy the feeling of being alone. Somehow, Korra always felt the support of those around her. But pushing Asami away caused her to be disconnected from those emotional bonds. She needed to restore them.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the light in the darkness below her. Korra dropped suddenly. Her feet stretched toward the ground, and she began to force air around the wings to transition into a cushioned fall. She quickly descended upon catching sight of the Sato estate underfoot. She tilted the wings of the airbending staff, spiraling into a landing. She hit the ground in a jog, collapsing the wings of the wooden pole.
Small lights dimly illuminated the courtyard. Korra walked along grass and onto stone tablets. Anxiousness flared within her, coming within sight of the front door. She increased her speed, making her way to it with building excitement. Upon arrival, she leaned her staff against the doorframe and reached to knock. But she stopped herself short. What did she intend to say? When Asami answered, how would she greet her? She came all this way, motivated by emotion, only now to realize there was no plan.
But she couldn't give up now, and she couldn't walk away. She reached out, impulsively, striking the door with bare knuckles. She startled herself with the movement, a mild panic now working its way through her spine. She still needed something to say. Her mind switched into overdrive. Hello Asami, how are you? Asami, I came to say something important. Asami, you're looking nice. I need to speak with you. We should—
Korra heard movement beyond the door. She stiffened, swallowing a lump in her throat and waiting to see Asami for the first time in two days. The door opened a crack, allowing a pair of eyes to observe her for a brief moment. Korra stood back as the figure moved and opened the door completely. She let her jaw go slack, about to speak when she locked eyes with a male sporting a dull expression. A stuffy-looking man with a thin moustache in a sleek and expensive suit. "Yes, how may I help you?" he asked.
Korra raised an eyebrow, bewildered. She looked around, at the man and at the building. Her cheeks began to glow pink, sheepishly placing a hand on the back of her head in apology. "Oh, I—I must have the wrong mansion?"
The man retreated from the doorway with a parting nod, reaching to close it. Korra spun on her heel, pacing across the porch to leave. How did she mistake this mansion for Asami's? Was this an identical property? Was she on the wrong side of the city? Also, why was this man even awake at this hour?
She halted her steps, the gears in her head sliding into place. She reversed direction, lunging back to the entryway to shove a boot into the path of the closing door. It stopped abruptly against the side of her foot, sending a sharp pain up her leg. She sucked air through her teeth and squinted, but pushed on through the discomfort. "Wait a moment, this is the Sato estate, isn't it?" In her surprise, Korra forgot that Asami employed staff to do things like answer the door while she slept.
The man swiveled his head, glancing at Korra with a sedated expression. He placed a hand gently upon the door, charitably pulling it away from her foot. "It is, ma'am, but I'm afraid Miss Sato is resting. I can take a message for her, unless you would prefer to return in the morning."
Korra withdrew her leg, bending it at the knee and trying to rub the sides of her foot through the fabric of her boot. It only offered a mild relief for the discomfort. "I need to speak with her," she insisted.
The servant shot her a sideways expression, somewhere between puzzlement and annoyance. He clearly had a job to do, and Korra was making it difficult. "I would be happy to pass along any news you have as soon as she wakes."
Korra's eyelid twitched. She didn't come all the way from Air Temple Island to be turned away. She planted both feet firmly to take a more commanding stance and lifted her voice into a stern tone. "It's important. I need to talk to her now. Please fetch her for me." She stared at the man for several seconds before raising her hands and making a fluttering motion with her fingers, trying to usher him away. When he still didn't move, she growled under her breath and spoke louder. "Listen, I'm the Avatar. It's Avatar business type stuff."
The two stared at each other. Korra refused to back down in the face of the awkward silence. The butler finally spoke up. "And you wish for me to wake her for you, ma'am? Apologies, but, I don't believe I can fulfill that request."
"My name is Korra, and I—Look, can you just get her? Please? If she gets mad, just tell her it was my idea." She pointed past his shoulder, attempting once again to convince him to leave.
This time, he did. He shrugged, then gave a curt bow before turning away. "As you wish, ma'am." He closed the door completely, and Korra caught a glimpse of movement through the nearest window.
Korra glared, waiting for him to disappear out of view. She crossed her arms to pout, repeating his words to herself in a mocking voice. "As you wish, ma'am. My name is Moustache Man and I can't recognize the Avatar when I see her." She blew a raspberry and huffed.
Though kept waiting for a number of minutes, Korra did have time to cool off. When she picked up the sounds of approach, she unfolded her arms and looked hopefully at the door. It opened, and Korra's face immediately brightened. There in the doorway, wearing a red nightgown and black slippers, was Asami. A sleepy Asami, yes, but it was her. The heiress had tousled hair and was rubbing a delicate hand underneath one eye. She squinted, struggling with the persistent grasp of sleep. She looked to be in a complete daze, until suddenly her eyes stretched wide and locked onto Korra's face. Korra felt her heart jump in her chest, startled by the abrupt reaction.
Korra wanted to speak. She never did decide on what needed to be said, but staring at a surprised Asami only stupefied her instead of inspiring her. She prepared to talk, to open her mouth and stumble over words nervously, only to be cut short. Asami leaned into her hard, throwing both arms around her shoulders. She felt the other woman's tight cling, and it began to relax the muscles in her body one by one. Korra's eyelids drooped, then closed. She elevated both hands to Asami's upper back and squeezed, completing the embrace. An ocean of memories and experiences came flooding back. Through reexposure, she remembered Asami's warmth, and the softness of her skin, and the almost imperceptible floral scent of the day's nearly exhausted perfume.
Both girls were silent for many long seconds. Korra didn't move except to release a much-needed sigh of relief. So much tension knotted up in her body, very carefully unwound by Asami's unspoken forgiveness. Korra's skin tingled with the threat of a shudder. When she eventually did shake, Asami adjusted the hold on her and pulled her closer.
Korra finally decided to speak, taking in a slow breath. She felt the vibration of Asami's voice against her shoulder in the same instant she moved her own lips. They spoke in perfect sync, uttering the same two words in unison. "I'm sorry."
Korra smiled. She gave Asami a stronger hug, but only for an instant. She released the taller woman after, returning to a vertical position, though she kept her hands on Asami's shoulders. Asami stood as well, and Korra looked up into the woman's green eyes. Korra didn't know what to say, but Asami did. She peeled away, a slender hand lifting to catch Korra's palm and tug on it. Asami pulled her through the door and into the mansion, but not before Korra could grab her glider from its resting place. "Come in, Korra, it's cold outside." Korra didn't mind the chill, but she did catch a hint of a shiver from Asami, who was wearing much less, and nowhere near as used to low temperatures.
The movement created a blur around Korra's head. Her sense of balance suddenly teetered off course. It felt nice to be holding Asami's hand, and to be welcome into her home once again. She was ready to follow wherever Asami decided to take her. But the journey had one stop first. Both of them paused in the entryway, Korra catching the eye of the doorman now standing a short distance away with his hands folded behind his back. "Will there be anything else, Miss Sato?"
Asami addressed the butler with a pleasant smile and an air of professionalism. "No, thank you, that will be all. But do try to remember Korra's face next time. She's always welcome here."
Korra enjoyed watching the servant try to keep his composure while she made faces at him. She pulled on her lower eyelid with one finger and stuck out her tongue from behind Asami. He nodded solemnly. "Of course, Miss Sato."
The next thing Korra knew, she was being led by Asami through the hallway. Asami flashed her a smirk as they walked. "Be nice to the staff, Korra," she tried to say seriously, but her speech broke from a suppressed giggle.
The older of the two women continued through the mansion, eventually dragging Korra back to her room. Korra followed obediently, stopping once inside. She put her air glider away and glanced around the room to take in the details. Far from the first time she'd been in Asami's room, but she did find it cozy. Much larger and more decorated than any room Korra ever called her own, but it suited the businesswoman. Asami broke away to fetch chairs to sit in, though Korra opted not to wait and seated herself on the end of Asami's unmade bed. Korra reclined into a relaxed pose, holding herself up with her arms while swinging her legs.
When Asami returned, she placed a chair close to the bed and slid onto the cushion. She perched sideways on the seat, leaning her weight on the back of the chair. She crossed her arms along the top to rest her head there. To her side, she tucked her feet in close. Once she looked comfortable, she caught Korra's gaze and returned the smile she displayed. "It's nice seeing you smile again. We've been arguing a lot." Her words drifted from a happier tone into one that sounded more ashamed.
Korra frowned. "I don't want to fight anymore," she said truthfully.
"I never wanted to." Asami's voice was wistful and quiet.
Korra continued to kick her feet over the edge of the bed. She leaned to one side, watching Asami for a moment in uncomfortable silence. They already made up, but Korra knew that resuming normal conversation might be awkward at first. Korra swirled her tongue inside her mouth, trying to think of what she might say. Nothing came to mind. "So…"
"So, why were you up at this hour?" Asami continued helpfully. She turned a hand over to aid her question with a simple gesture.
Korra tilted her head in thought. She nearly forgot about that part. It was a nightmare that woke her, even though her brooding led her to want to apologize to Asami. "Oh, that. I had another dream. About Amon this time. He took my bending away," she continued. She probably didn't need to explain the details. Every dream about Amon was about losing her abilities. "Then I woke up."
Watching her quietly, Asami's face showed clear worry and concern. She sighed, then spoke. "I really hate seeing you suffering from things like this, Korra. You know I'm here if you want to talk about it."
Korra shook her head gently. "It's fine, I'm already over it. I'm getting more used to the dreams, and they barely bother me now. Honestly, I was more worried over whether you'd accept my apology."
Asami furrowed her brows, looking hurt. "Why wouldn't I?"
Korra winced, reacting to having apparently injured Asami. She treaded carefully. "I'm not used to people believing in me." She quickly added, "I know you always have, though. It's just that when I was stuck in a wheelchair, and when I was having trouble reconnecting with Raava, everyone doubted me. Even Tenzin. I end up doubting myself too, sometimes."
The older woman watched Korra with sad eyes. "The world hasn't been good to you, Korra," she said just above a whisper.
Korra raised a hand to her cheek, making some attempt to hide the emotion welling in her face. Asami may be concerned for her well-being, but it wasn't fun to hear the truth like that. So many unfortunate things happened to Korra in her life. Many hard battles and a lot of physical and mental trauma. Compared to past lives she'd spoken to, nearly all had fewer concerns in their lifetimes. And so few people seemed to have sympathy for her struggles. Supposedly it was all part of the Avatar's duties. But she didn't have to like it.
She sat in silence while pondering if there was anything she could do. She lingered on the unfairness of it all. Why her? But Asami spoke again, uttering a few short words with a timid voice. "Sometimes, I think—I wish you weren't the Avatar." She met Korra's eyes, continuing. "Maybe your life could have been more peaceful, with a lot less stress."
Korra quirked her brow, lifting her head to look at the tightly-coiled Asami in the chair. It was fantasy, of course, but the sentiment was nice. She allowed the conversation to carry them to an interesting place. "But then we may not have met. And you'd probably still be dating Mako."
Asami huffed heavily, exhaling through her nose. She loosened her reserved pose while rolling her eyes. "I really don't think I'd be dating Mako."
The edge of Korra's lip curled just a bit. She moved her hand from her cheek to her mouth, holding back a snerk. "Well, he did sort of cheat on you with me. And then got back with you. And then cheated on you with me, again." The unusual romantic history between the three could certainly be fun to talk about. But both girls were comfortably over the love triangle, and neither harbored any resentment toward the other. It seemed to be an unspoken rule between them to blame Mako.
From her spot on the bed, Korra watched Asami fidgeting uncomfortably. She blinked her eyes in Korra's direction, tilting forward in the chair. She sounded more curious now, but still apprehensive about the topic. "So, you and Mako—did you two ever—did you ever do anything?" she concluded, her eyes wide and inquisitive.
"Oh, geez," Korra replied. She covered her face once more to hide her furious blush. She grinned and gave a nervous chuckle. The conversation's direction embarrassed her greatly, but she jumped at the chance to share gossip with Asami. It was something of a new experience. Something fun to do with one of her only girl friends. "No, we never did. We only kissed. Mako was never very intimate."
"No, he wasn't," Asami mused.
Comparing notes from dating the same guy was kind of fun for Korra. She pulled her weight off her hands and leaned forward to address Asami more directly. The excitement from sharing stories made her more adventurous. "What about before Mako? Have you dated any other guys?"
The heiress looked taken aback by the question. Her cheeks turned a darker color, and Korra thought they probably both looked like tomatoes. "Actually, no. Mako was the first—well, person I dated." She averted her gaze shyly. But she was just as curious as Korra. "Have you ever seen… anyone else?"
Korra hummed to herself, taking the time to consider the question. Besides Mako, she was never official with anyone else. There was the occasional boy she found interesting when she was younger. And she was sure Bolin had something for her at one point. But that was it. "Mako was my first boyfriend too." After speaking, Korra raised a hand to cover her mouth to conceal a yawn.
"We're not very good at this dating thing," said Asami with a light chuckle.
Korra nodded her head to concur with the statement. But much as she liked to try out gossip, she realized she had very little, if anything to actually share. After a pause in the conversation, she revived the original topic. "Anyway, you know if I was never the Avatar, we wouldn't know each other." She turned a hand over, motioning to Asami, then herself.
Asami rolled her eyes upward in thought. "I know. And that would make me sad. But maybe you wouldn't have to go through all this, and you could be happy."
Korra hesitated for a moment, hanging onto Asami's words attentively. "You'd want that, even if that meant we weren't friends?" She didn't know why she asked such a strange question.
The inquiry did appear to make Asami uncomfortable, though. She tightened her toes and rubbed her legs together, wiggling. Her face remained red, and she answered as cautiously as before. Her voice stuttered over a few simple words. "I-I'd just like to see you happy, Korra, wh-whatever that might mean."
Korra lowered her eyes. She wasn't sure why, but hearing Asami say that made her feel very small. She didn't feel as though she deserved to be friends with someone so selfless. "That's kind of you to say." She fidgeted in place, lifting one leg onto the bed and looping her arm around it. She was growing tired, and used her other hand to rub at an eye before she spoke again. "Well, we are friends though, so we don't have to worry about that."
Asami settled her restless legs, chewing on her lip before answering. "That's true. And I'm glad I know you." She took a breath, exhaling heavily. "You're probably the best thing to happen to me."
"You really think so?" Korra wasn't so sure.
"I do," Asami returned with a smile. "You saved me from my father and the Equalists, and protected everyone from so many threats. It was hard seeing you go through so much difficulty. And I really missed you the three years you were gone. I'm glad to have you back." She paused, speaking slowly and concisely. "But I don't want you to leave me again. Wherever you go, I want to be there with you."
"You're sweet," Korra sighed. She blinked slowly, growing more tired by the minute. She leaned toward Asami, raising a hand to reach out for her. Asami eased closer as well, taking her hand and squeezing the palm. Korra enjoyed the touch of the soft hand. Asami had such delicate features. "You might think you need me, but I need you, too. You're the strongest support I have. I realize that now. And I appreciate it, I really do." Korra found it easy to pour her heart out to Asami. Whatever it was about the raven-haired girl, she felt a great deal of trust between them.
"I'm glad you're opening up to people again, Korra," said Asami. Her green eyes shined brightly when speaking directly to Korra.
"And I'm sorry I was so reluctant to do so. But I think I'm finally starting to understand you." Korra punctuated her reply with a yawn.
"Really?" Asami asked. She quirked an eyebrow and shuffled her feet. She dropped her arm, releasing Korra's hand. "I'm still not sure I understand myself."
Korra shut her eyes tight, yawning again with a concluding squeak. She groaned tiredly. "I'd love to talk more about it, but I think I should get some more sleep."
"You can stay here tonight if you want," Asami offered. "I don't mind."
"Which room was I staying in last time?" Korra asked in a sleepy daze.
"I think I'm going to stay up for a while, so you can use my bed." The sound of her voice was tender and thoughtful.
Korra fell backward, flopping heavily on the bed. She laid for a moment before sitting back up to take off her shoes, then curl up more comfortably on the sheets. She closed her eyes, welcoming sleep. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Goodnight, Korra." Asami lowered her chin onto her arms to relax. She sat quietly, watching the Avatar drift off to sleep.
