A/N: We're alive! Sorry for the delay but school was just being a pain in the ass. As a reward for your patience, here's a lengthy update. Please R&R, that helps in updating faster too. Thank BG-13 for her awesome work!
The car ride to the summit had been quiet. Upon arriving, Korra had managed a smile and opened the door for Asami. But once inside, she'd found a way to slip away from her girlfriend. Mako had immediately noticed the slight tension and had offered his company to the heiress as they discussed their friend.
Now Asami watched as her girlfriend took a second glass of champagne with the shake of her head. She sighed and took a sip of her own drink before excusing herself when she noticed her father heading in her direction, not looking pleased.
"What is the meaning of this," he practically hissed. He practically forced an article into her hands upon meeting, an article that happened to discuss Korra and Asami's relationship.
The engineer took a deep breath. "Well-"
"I'm not surprised," Hiroshi interrupted, making a dismissive gesture. "That's not what bothers me. What makes my blood boil is that I had to find out secondhand what has been going on in my daughter's life." A thin greying brow raised indignantly.
Internally the heiress sighed in relief. So that was what had him in a tizzy. "I was going to tell you," Asami tried to assure. "We're both just so busy-"
Her father opened his mouth to speak before stopping abruptly, his gaze shifting behind his daughter toward the entrance of the room.
The air surrounding the military officials tensed at the arrival of she noticed, she didn't show it outside of a slight upturn of the lips as she stepped into the base. Her green eyes scanned the crowd, mentally taking stock of all the officials that had shown up for the negotiating. Baatar cleared his throat next to her and gestured with his head over toward the check in table.
The Earthbender quickly signed her name before turning to see a familiar pair of cyan eyes watching her, studying her, sizing her up. Colonel Jordan hadn't changed at all. Kuvira smiled as she walked over to the official, asking the Nonbender to let them be. Baatar appeared uneasy with leaving her alone with the other military woman but did as he was told.
"Colonel Jordan, I have to admit this is a pleasant surprise," she greeted.
"Well I am a military official," Korra shot back easily.
"I thought your father took care of the Southern Tribe's affairs."
"He does. With me. After all," she answered, "I am his heir."
A small chuckle escaped the taller woman. "I've wanted to speak to you for some time, Colonel. I wanted to give you my condolences."
The glass the shorter military woman nearly snapped in her hand. There was still a noticeable cracking sound which caused the Great Uniter to fight off a smug smile. Kuvira clasped her hands behind her. The other woman was still very raw to the demise of her team.
"Don't talk about my team," Korra managed to say, her hands still trembling.
"Believe me when I say that I wasn't involved. My responsibility is to my people, so that they can help me rebuild our Nation," Kuvira continued, her voice the exact right pitch to convey humble.
The Water Tribe woman let out a harsh sound in response, regaining some of her lost composure. "Everyone knows what happens to the towns that defy you."
"The rumors can get rather exaggerated, I agree."
Korra scoffed.
"Colonel Jordan," the green eyed woman began, putting her hand on the other's shoulder. "I have no ill will toward the Tribes or the Fire Nation. Surely, you can understand that I'm just trying to unite my people during this turbulent time." Though her words were genuine, the way her hand tightened on Korra's shoulder belayed a less friendly intent.
Korra glanced at the hand on her shoulder, a sense of unease settling over her, seeming to seep into the pores of her skin. "That silver tongue of yours will turn to lead one day, 'Great Uniter,'" she managed to bite out, knocking the gloved hand away from her person.
Asami chose that moment to interrupt their conversation and steal Korra away to where they were assigned for the summit with a just polite enough nod of acknowledgment to the intimidating tyrant. That horribly foreboding feeling had intensified since the Great Uniter's arrival. They needed to get away from her.
The Metalbender smirked at their retreating figures, starting toward her own seat next to Baatar just to the right of the head of the table.
The military woman removed her tie, followed by her shedding her military garb. The meeting between nations had taken longer than expected. Kuvira had proven herself a great negotiator, never settling for less than what she wanted. She put up harsh restrictions on the traveling to the Earth Kingdom, claiming that the country was not yet secure for tourists. The remaining nations had in return asked that all weapon activity cease which she had surprisingly agreed to. The Colonel, her father, and General Iroh, however, had easily seen through the lies of her conformity, knowing it to be a simple political maneuver.
Now, back at the mansion, Asami sat next to the dark skinned woman on their bed, placing her hands on her shoulders taking note of how tense and knotted they were. Korra hummed in approval when she felt soft hands melt the knots away, leaning her head back against the other woman's shoulder. The heiress smiled gently, placing a soft kiss on her cheek, causing the soldier to look over at her, a tan hand covering a pale one.
"I'm sorry, for earlier," she commented quietly, referring to the conversation they'd had before leaving for the summit.
The heiress took in a deep breath, releasing it slowly through her nose. "I wish you'd talk to me," was the reply Korra received. That's all she wanted. She wanted Korra to let her inside her head, to quit blocking her out.
The Southern woman's expression harden slightly, not at Asami's words but more because of the rueful contempt she felt toward her situation. "You don't want to know what kinds of things go on in my head."
"I wouldn't ask if I didn't."
"Not now, 'Sami."
The ravenette sighed but nodded her head, standing to undress as well. When she was done she turned off her lamp, sliding into bed and turning on her side, facing away from the other woman. Her eyes drooped almost immediately, feeling the drain of the day. She was almost completely asleep when she felt the bed shift and a hand rest on her hip. It sat there before slowly wrapping itself fully around her waist, the other arm moving underneath to copy the action. She felt her bedmate scoot closer until her front was pressed to her back, and the CEO could practically feel the nerves and tenseness coming off Korra in waves.
But slowly, Korra seemed to relax, and she kissed the back of the older woman's head. Asami couldn't help but smile, content, one of her hands coming up to hold the two on her stomach. This is what she'd needed. This was what she'd been missing.
After dragging the colonel down to one of the Future Industries warehouses outside the city, Korra was happily surprised that her girlfriend was letting her test out the new, improved platinum suit. After months of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears it was fully functioning and packed full of surprises, which Asami had been sure to let Korra know about. Not only could it fly like the last one but the weapons system had been upgraded for a more...hands on propulsion based attacks. The military had already shown interest in mass producing the suit but she wasn't sure she wanted that, for it to be used as a military weapon. It still hadn't been tested in a real battle.
"I don't know how, but you've really outdone yourself, 'Sami," the younger woman commented as she walked forward in the suit, movement surprisingly easy, light.
The heiress hummed with a smirk. "And you haven't even seen everything."
"Oh?"
"The Mark 5 has improved upon the two previous prototypes," JARVIS cut in. "It is able to read a situation and follow more instinctual, as well as vocal, commands."
"Like what?"
Asami was the one who answered this time. "With JARVIS's help I've programmed the suit to easily open up to let the wearer in or out when necessary, wrap around another person, or display information about the surroundings on the visor screen."
Korra had already noticed all the readings in front of her face. But it was nice to know it was accurate. Asami had built it after all, so of course it was. She focused, her fingers twitched and the blasters in her hands pulsed toward the ground, lifting her into the air before she closed her hands into fists and she fell back down with a steady thud. "Well, how about that." Behind the mask Korra grinned.
The heiress chuckled and shook her head, looking back at the screens on the wall. Scans were showing that the suit was working properly. The energy source, a small arc reactor, was still distributing its power like it should. No excess, overflow, or leaks. Asami couldn't help but feel a little proud. The silver, sleek looking suit was functioning better than she'd hoped.
Korra raised her arm, palm open toward the target ready and waiting against one of the back walls. She narrowed her eyes and felt a slight jolt through her arm as it reeled backwards. Whoa. Perhaps a bit too much power there.
Something red flashed on the screen and Korra's eyes zeroed in on the warning sign. Something big. Something fast. Really close. There was a sound, something, a heavy thud. The room shook, Korra's heart stopped, and with a silent command the suit broke off and zoomed toward Asami, encasing her just as the wall blasted inwards, rubble and dust and metal knocked Korra against other machinery and burying her underneath a bit of rubble.
For the first few moments, everything hurt, Korra could hear her heartbeat in her ears, her breaths were coming in harsh pants, and her hands curled into fists as she pushed herself up, vision fading before being replaced with a blinding white light as she stood from the debris.
The engineer groaned as she pushed herself up, realizing the blinding, shifting lights in front of her eyes was the monitor screen of her suit. She blinked and got to her feet. She was in the suit. Her hearing cleared out and she looked up to see the giant hole in the wall. She stumbled toward that, and her green eyes widened.
Korra charged a giant metal behemoth, a machine twice the colonel's size, fist alight. The fire rebounded off the suit as the mech swung one of its trunk like arms downward, only for the brunette to catch it. Using this, Asami raised her hand and blasted the bot with a pulse. The mech staggered sideways, its head turning toward the new opponent. Korra wasted no time and with a ferocious, fiery roar she yanked her arms backwards and the mech's arm came off with a heavy groan.
And after that the machine didn't last much longer. Korra started to tear into the metal, bending and tearing and ripping it like it was wet cardboard. Asami had to dodge a sheet of what would later be revealed to be platinum, eyes widening as Korra's hands started to bleed and she showed no signs of stopping, not even when the mech had been reduced to a pile of wires and scrap metal.
Asami walked forward carefully, cautiously. She watched as Korra grabbed onto the things head, and with a violent yell ripped it off. And then the ticking started. "Korra!"
She moved forward just as the explosion happened, and Korra was sent flying backwards, landing several yards away. But she wasn't down long, regaining her footing, arms hanging limply in front of her, teeth clenched, eyes still that eerie, malicious white as she started back toward the fallen piece of metal. Asami remembered this. The suit opened with ease and the inventor stepped out. This was dangerous.
Korra's body paused, her head twitching toward the sound of Asami's suit before turning completely to face the heiress, eyes narrowing as she watched the other woman stop in her tracks.
"Korra..." she started, not as certain as she had been the first time she'd had to do this. "Korra, it's me. Asami."
Those haunting eyes stared at her, before their attention was drawn back to the fallen enemy. The attacks were renewed, simply tearing, dismantling. The heiress took another step forward and Korra's eyes were on her once more. Arms were dripping in blood from numerous lacerations, bruises along her knuckles.
Asami hated what she was about to do.
"I'm sorry. JARVIS, Sato 4-14-12."
She heard the suit before she saw it zoom passed her and toward the brunette, wrapping around and encasing the Water Tribe native. It shut with a deafening click, which only served to agitate the woman it encompassed. The suit rattled around as the Bender started to try and fight her way out of the suit that was now only giving very little leeway. Asami stepped back when part of the suit started to give.
"Sato 12-19-14."
At the command the suit straightened and powered down, joints locking the arms at its side. It rattled and shook, the gears straining but holding thoroughly. Asami watched it all with baited breath, and after what felt like hours the movement ceased. She approached one step at a time.
"JARVIS, vitals."
"She seems to have finally settled, though her body has sustained multiple injuries, all non-lethal." Asami released a heavy, relieved sigh. "Medical personnel and emergency responders are on their way."
She nodded. "Open it up."
"Miss Sato, I would recommend waiting for the reinforcements. The colonel is unpredictable. It's in the best interest of your safety."
"She won't hurt me."
"Given what just happened neither of us can be certain of that."
The inventor looked over the what used to be the big, hulking, muscle-bound mech. She took a deep breath and steeled her resolve. "I didn't ask for you opinion. Open the damn suit."
"My first priority is your safety and well being."
With a growl of irritation, Asami lost her temper. "And I'm looking out for Korra's. Override Sato 3-13-14."
The suit opened almost immediately and Asami stepped back to reveal the soldier's body before it slumped forward. The heiress easily caught her, cradling her in her arms before sitting down on the floor holding her against her. She pushed sweat and grim mangled brown hair as the Colonel came too, looking dazed and confused as her cerulean eyes blinked heavily, barely focusing on the woman hovering above her.
"…Asami?"
"Shh, you're okay," the heiress answered, only now noticing the alarms going off at the warehouse and the new echoing of the ambulances getting closer. "We're okay."
Asami gave Korra's forehead a kiss. The Bender had been out since the attack on the warehouse. General Iroh, a platoon, and medics had arrived shortly after the invading mech suit had been...disassembled. The engineer quickly asked for her lover to be looked at while she tried to explain everything that had happened. Rhodes had kept her company as she held on to the darker woman's hand, watching as all her vitals were checked. That had been yesterday.
"Hey," the heiress greeted with a soft smile, giving her a chaste kiss as blue eyes blinked open. "How are you feeling?"
The Southern tribe woman gave her a dreamy smile rubbing her thumb against the perfect skin of Asami's cheek. "Much better now."
Asami grasped her hand, leaning into her touch. She sat on the bed, clasping her hand. "Korra...what...exactly happened back there?"
The soldier sighed, sitting up against the pillows more. "I don't know. One second I was just reacting to a threat and the next...I felt blinded by rage." Her brow furrowed as she tried to recall what happened. "I wasn't even really aware of anything besides ... besides the mech...And then you..."
"Was that when you went into that...state?"
She shook her head. "No. I was mostly in control then. But... every second I was fighting the mech it started to feel different. I can't... I can't really describe it." It had started to feel...very, very wrong.
The heiress laid down next to her, arm wrapping around her torso as she nuzzled into the tan woman's shoulder. "Shh, rest. I'll be here."
Korra chuckled tiredly before nodding her head, too tired to argue. Sleep found her pretty quick. The engineer smiled as she ran her hand through chocolate locks. Someone cleared their throat, making her look up to see Mako by the door. She looked up at Korra before carefully and quietly slipping out of the bed.
"How is she?" the Firebender asked as Asami shut the door behind them.
"Still recovering."
He hummed in response. "She lost control again, didn't she?"
Asami sighed and crossed her arms over her chest before nodding. "Yes."
"Republic City and the other nations are declaring war on the Earth Kingdom." She shook her head. "As a Colonel-"
"She shouldn't have to go," the engineer responded vehemently.
"Korra is a military official and a loyal soldier to her country," Mako reminded her. "And then there's her team. She has people under her."
"You know she's not ready."
He nodded his head. He knew that. Even the chief knew that. But Korra had been cleared for duty. There was nothing either of them could really do. "That's why you built the failsafe."
Asami looked up to meet his amber gaze. "It's not what you're thinking."
"You were protecting her," the Firebender replied with a shrug, though his eyes remained serious. "Have you told her yet?" The heiress shook her head. "Asami..."
"I will," she answered firmly. "After she gets better."
All Mako could do was sigh and nod.
Hiroshi couldn't help but be worried for his daughter. Especially considering she was currently drinking more creamer and sugar than actual coffee at this point. This was why he had insisted that she allow him to visit her while she was on her break. He'd found her still in her office, studying a blueprint for one of her prototypes, eyes barely open and decorated with dark circles. Upon noticing him at her door she had smiled and stood, pushing the papers aside for the time being.
"Hey, Dad. Not that I'm unhappy but you really didn't have to come by."
He walked over and gave his daughter a hug. "Did you really think I would just rush off to the Northern Tribe for business after what happened at the warehouse Friday?" He raised a thick brow.
Asami sat back down with a shrug. "I told you I was fine. Besides, the Northern Tribe was a potentially big deal for the company. I know we can't really-"
"The Chiefs understood my delay. I wanted to make sure my little girl wasn't just telling me what I wanted to hear," Hiroshi countered with a dismissive wave, drawing a genuine smile from the woman. "How's Korra?"
The ravenette hummed. "She's at home getting some sleep."
"She's having a rough time, isn't she?" Asami nodded and the older man sighed. "How bad is it?"
"I've been up with her all weekend." She took a healthy swig of her coffee, rubbing one hand against her eye with a heavy huff. Neither Korra nor Asami had gotten much sleep due to Korra's night terrors returning with a horrible vengeance. "It's...It's really bad, Daddy."
Her father grabbed her hand, squeezing it to give her some form of comfort. He hated seeing his little engineer like this, a walking zombie because she just loved a little too hard. She'd always been this way for her oldest friend. "Korra needs help, Asami, and it's not the kind you can give her."
The heiress sighed and nodded her head in silent resignation. She knew that all too well. Really, the only person that could truly help Korra was Korra herself. "I know."
"Perhaps when she's better," Hiroshi started, his tone lighter in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I can finally have that father-suitor talk I've been dying to give her."
Her lips twitched, green eyes lighting up with wry humor. "Dad-"
"You could have told me. I would have been fine with it."
"It sort of just happened," she tried explaining. Everything had been happening so fast. There had barely been enough time to think, let alone announce her and Korra's relationship.
"A call, a message, an email, anything would have been fine," he answered, sounding more annoyed than upset. He tsked, his expression serious even when his eyes still held amusement. "I'll expect to be the first one to know about the wedding."
Asami's finger traced the rim of her coffee mug. "We haven't thought that far yet."
Hiroshi raised a brow. "You never date anyone you can't see that kind of future with."
The heiress shook her head. Of course she'd thought about that kind of future with Korra. Ten months together, and yes, within that time she'd considered it, thought about when Korra was better and they could... "It's just not the time, Dad."
He hummed thoughtfully before nodding, allowing the subject to be dropped with ease. "Now, how about we go get a decent breakfast and an actual cup of coffee?"
Emerald eyes looked up from her mug to her father. "What were you thinking?"
"That old donut place you liked when you were little."
Asami couldn't help the smile that graced her face. "Sounds perfect."
Republic City had taken Kuvira's attack on the Future Industries' warehouse as a declaration of war and as such, preparations were being made. Korra herself didn't remember much from that day, just that she had woken up to find Asami above he telling her everything would be okay. Now she found herself stuck in a meeting about exactly what action should be taken, and who was being deployed.
The Colonel hid a wince. She tried concentrating on the details being explained but the headache she'd been nursing all day wasn't helping. Finally, she asked for a break, which the other military members very much appreciated. She went to the back of the base, rubbing her temples as she tried to calm the drumming.
'Korra...' The Southern Tribe woman looked up, brow furrowing when she didn't see anyone. Again, the voice called her name. 'Korra...'
She blinked, suddenly realizing the voice was coming from within her. The soldier tried to focus only to be met with a migraine, causing her to whimper in pain. "Raava?" she called. "What's happening?"
'Listen to me. You must remain strong.'
Another wave of pain hit her, as the Colonel grabbed her head, trying to make it go away. "Make it stop. Please make it stop."
'Korra, you must be care-' The Spirit cut off there. The soldier shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the sharp pain in her skull to return. When it didn't she let out a sigh of relief before almost being blindsided with flashes.
She was at the Future Industries Factory, trying out the new Iron suit.
There had been explosion and she had fought the invader.
The pieces of the iron suit came flying towards her, trapping her as Asami had ordered it too.
The Colonel had felt panic, trying to free herself only for the device to shut down, effectively trapping her.
It opened a moment later and her best friend caught her.
"Korra?"
The military woman looked up to find the heiress looking at her, a familiar concern in her emerald eyes. But something else was pressing at the forefront of Korra's mind. A failsafe. Asami had built a failsafe into her suit. She shook her head, finally bringing her attention fully to her girlfriend, noting that the headache had disappeared.
"What are you doing here?" she finally asked.
"I kept calling and you didn't answer," the ravenette replied. "I wanted to ask you what you wanted for lunch and to remind you that I'm picking you up today." A pause. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything is fine." The soldier managed a smile as she stood. "I had a headache but it's gone now."
"Are you sure?" Asami gently pressed, as she caressed the darker woman's cheek. "I can take you home now, if you'd like?"
She shook her head. "No, it's fine. I'm fine."
The heiress studied her before letting out a sigh and nodding her head, giving her a kiss on the cheek before heading back toward the exit. Korra watched after her, her mind going back to what she had just seen. Had it been true? Did Asami...had she really put a failsafe in the suit? The mere thought caused a painful twisting in her stomach.
It couldn't be.
Waterbender sighed as the heiress rubbed gentle circles on her back. It had been a long day for the military woman, sitting in on military meetings for hours upon hours. The Earth Nation leader's attack would not be forgiven. Now she finally had a chance to avenge her teammates. Kuvira would pay for what she'd done. Both Water Tribes and the City had already started preparing themselves for war which meant more work for Korra. But it would be worth it in the end.
"Mmm, feels good," she mumbled, feeling herself drift off toward a desperately needed nap. Between night terrors and her job, she desperately needed a moment of shut eye.
Asami chuckled, pressing a kiss to her cheek, running her hand through the brunette's short hair. "I talked to Tenzin today."
"Oh?" came the half awake reply.
"I told him you'd go see him tomorrow."
The Colonel sat up at once, sleep forgotten, her brow furrowed. "Why would you tell him that?" She hadn't been back to see Tenzin since her and Asami's joint session a few weeks ago.
"The night terrors have been getting worse," the mechanic began quietly, cautiously. "I thought that maybe he could help."
Her girlfriend sighed irritably, straightening up. "Why would you do that?"
"What do you mean?" the heiress inquired.
"Why would you tell Tenzin that? It's none of his business."
"Korra, you have to talk about it. You can't carry it around-"
"Why do you insist I talk about this?" Korra asked, standing up from the bed. Talking about this stupid PTSD stuff with Tenzin hadn't helped her in the past. She doubted it would help now. It was a waste of time and money.
The emerald eyed beauty studied the tan woman. "What are you so scared of?"
The shorter woman's entire being tensed. "What am I scared of?"
"Why don't you want to go? Why is your health so unimportant to you? You act like you want to prove something but all you're proving is that you're afraid."
Korra felt her jaw clench and her hands turned into fists. She was not afraid of anything. "I'm afraid? What am I afraid of?" she questioned. "What do you think I'm afraid of?"
"You're afraid of me! You're afraid that I won't love you back!" Asami finally shouted. "I want to help you! I want to love you! I'm being honest with you!"
The Colonel walked away from the bed, the ravenette getting up to follow her. What was her problem? Why did she always have to force her to talk? "I'm not honest with you? Is that what you're saying?" She scoffed, grabbing her jacket from the foot of the mattress. "You're one to talk," she muttered just low enough that Asami missed it.
Asami blocked her way, closing the door. She wasn't finished. "No. You're not going. We're not leaving things like this."
"What do you want to know? What?" the Bender snapped. "That I see my team? Actually see them even though they're dead?"
The heiress was taken aback, her back not quite touching the door. "I-I didn't know that."
"I can't sleep in the same bed as you because I'm afraid of killing you? That this damn scar burns and aches and my chest feels like it's being crushed?" the other woman continued, pulling her tank down so the heiress could see the webbing of tissue below her collarbone. "You don't want to know that, Asami. Don't tell me you want to hear that!"
"I want to help you because I care. I want to help you." Why couldn't she see that?
"Help me? Do I have a sign on my back that says 'save me?'" A scoff as she gestured over her shoulder. "Do I look like I need that?"
"No, no- I just want to be with you," Asami replied, placing her hands on her lover's shoulders. "I love you."
Korra pushed the taller woman back, pressing her against the door as her other hand curled into a fist and punched the wall next to Asami's head. Her body was tense, shaking with anger, her eyes flickering between cobalt, red, and white. "Don't tell me that!" she shouted. "Don't tell me that!" Her words were starting to sound more desperate than angry.
The engineer shook her head, as tears trailed down her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around herself and Korra could feel her anger deflate. Then, as if a switch had been flipped somewhere in the recesses of the mechanic's mind, Asami's expression went neutral, though the tears welling up and sliding down her cheeks couldn't be so easily changed. She looked at Korra, her eyes searching the shorter woman's.
"Say you don't love me. If you say it, I'll let you go." Her voice was deceptively even, her eyes holding back a raging storm.
"Asami-"
"Say it." She had to. A part of her even wanted her to.
"Asami-"
"Put me out of my misery now if you really-"
"Damn it, Asami!" the Colonel finally cut off. "I can't. I won't, can't say that. "
The raven haired woman took a deep breath, eyes closing briefly before they opened once more, pinning Korra where she stood. "...Okay then." Korra took in that Asami seemed to have detached from the situation, her arms crossed in front of her, eyes merely observing. It was her business persona showing through, something she had mastered in her mid-teens.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sick of saying it." It almost felt as if the words had lost their meaning though they were no less true. "You're sick of hearing it. I can't seem to get my shit together."
Asami didn't answer, just nodded her head, showing she was listening.
"I love you. That's what I'll tell you. I'll say it everyday, because I feel like an ass that I ever made you doubt that. I love you, so much." And Spirits did she. The brunette tried to make the words sound as sincere as she could.
"I love you too," Asami finally replied. "Which only makes this all the more painful. If you'd just talk to me, or at least tell me to wait so we can talk later. Something besides this constant back and forth of you hiding things from me and me trying to pry them from you." She sighed and shook her head. "I'm so tired, Korra. Tired of fighting, tired of yelling, I'm just… Tired."
"Asami…"
"I think the smart thing to do right now would be for you leave," the heiress whispered quietly. "I think we both need time to ourselves."
Korra blinked in disbelief, that twisting in her gut was beginning to churn and boil. This didn't feel like the right thing to do. But she knew staying here would only get them fighting again and she didn't want that. So, she roughly pulled on her jacket, pausing before she actually opened the door and walked out.
She had no choice. Asami didn't want her here anyway. "See you later, 'Sami."
The heiress took a deep breath as she parked her vehicle in the parking lot of the bar. Mako had called her about an hour ago, leaving a voicemail regarding their friend. It seemed the Colonel had had one too many drinks and was becoming harder to control. She had considered not answering and letting the Firebender look after the brunette but considering the argument that had taken place few hours ago…
The ravenette was still furious but as much as their fight had hurt her, she cared too deeply about the Southern Tribe woman. So she turned off the engine and stepped out of her car, going up to meet the pair that was already standing outside around the side of the building.
"Hey, 'Sami," the solider greeted with a crooked smile. "Want to join me for a drink?"
The engineer pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to remain calm. "You've had enough for today. I'm taking you home."
"You are no fun at all."
"Oh, I'm plenty of fun. But I don't appreciate drunks."
The Colonel's eyes narrowed slightly. "Well if you wouldn't have kicked me out, I wouldn't have gotten drunk."
"Korra," the Firebender lightly scolded. "That's enough."
Asami held her hand up. "No. Let her, better she gets everything out in the open now."
The dark skinned woman barked out a laugh and shook her head. "There you go, trying to be all high and mighty." She gave an unsteady bow. "The ever proper Lady Sato."
"I'm beginning to think you enjoy making an ass of yourself."
"Oh, you're not as innocent as you want everyone to think." Korra steadied herself against the wall. "Did you think I wouldn't figure it out?" The ravenette didn't answer, unsure of what the other woman was referring to. "The suit." Emerald eyes flickered towards Mako who shook his head in response. "He didn't tell me," Korra offered, noticing the exchange. "But you just did, loud and clear."
"I can explain."
"You had a failsafe ready in case I went berserk. What's there to explain?"
"Korra-"
"No, you..." She paused and let out a bitter chuckle. "You had something ready. The suit had a built in failsafe! You think I didn't notice? No, once my head cleared up I really stewed on that pesky little detail."
Asami stepped towards her, hands out in a placating gesture. "I was only-"
The military woman shook her head. "Just admit it. You're terrified."
"What?"
The Firebender tried to hold his friend back only for her to push him away, jabbing a finger towards the engineer. She wasn't done just yet. "How could I have been so - What complete bullshit!" the Waterbender shouted. "You told me over and over that you thought I was getting better, that you believed I could get better." She shook her head. "What a load of shit! You had a fucking failsafe built into the suit!"
Asami sighed as she prepared herself to offer an explanation, trying to put out the fire before it got out of hand. "Korra, it was just a precaution in case –"
"In case I snapped," Korra cut off. "In case you needed to restrain me, subdue me. In case you needed protection from me."
There was a moment of silence as tension filled the air around them. Mako looked between the two women, one clearly furious and drunk and seething while the other... well she was unreadable. He internally sighed. He'd known keeping that from Korra would blow up in their faces.
"What are we to you, Asami?" she finally asked. "Huh? Am I just a project to you? That's it, right? You saw this broken, damaged little thing and thought that if you put in enough work, if you tinkered with it enough you could fix it. Because that's who you are. The engineer, the brilliant Asami Sato. I'm just your project."
The lieutenant colonel's eyes widened. That was a low blow. And one Korra had just landed on her best friend, her girlfriend. His amber gaze shifted to the ravenette, watching as her hands clenched before relaxing. The heiress' eyes had hardened, the sharp contours of her face more prominent as she fought off the urge to clench her teeth together. Any hope of the two backpedaling out of this was long gone.
"We've been in each other's lives for over twenty years. We've been there for each other through thick and thin. I've been there for you since the incident, I went to extreme measures to keep you alive because I couldn't bear the thought of a world where you didn't exist. I've sat there and listened, and bit my tongue, and tried to keep you and me from completely collapsing as individuals and as a team. I have been losing my mind, worrying and stressing and trying so hard to make sure you're ok. Constantly being shut down by you when I ask what's wrong. Just wanting you to talk to me, even if it's just a couple of words. And you..."
Her jaw clenched. "You have the nerve... You actually have the audacity to accuse me of not caring about you, of not loving you so much that it physically hurts."
Asami wasn't aware her voice had risen but it was enough to keep the shorter woman from interrupting, even sobering her up a bit. The mockery of a laugh that escaped the older woman's throat, this gnarled half cry that was completely devoid of any humor. "How fucking dare you."
There was a long drawn out moment of silence. And then Korra turned to Mako. "Take me to my apartment."
The amber eyed man turned his attention back to the brunette. "I'm not sure-"
Korra's eyes, the clearest they had been all night, were unflinching even as they glanced over at the retreating form of her childhood best friend as she made her way back to her car. Cobalt landed back on the raven haired man. "That's an order, Rhodes."
Mako could only nod as he helped his friend stagger to his car. "Yes, sir."
Korra would have to call her father in the morning to confirm her deployment to the border south of the UR. There was no longer any need for her to stay in the city, after all.