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#6 Done - Korra has always been conflicted, and she finally made her choice. It was just a shame she made the wrong one.
"I can't do this."
The words. Those words. They're like a knife plummeted deep into Asami's heart, and with every breath it twists and twists in her chest, and she wants to cry out in pain. But she doesn't, and instead she keeps her elegant stance – one hand on her hip, her face looking upright and into Korra's swimming blue eyes – but she doesn't smile. How could she even pretend a smile with those words?
Asami knows her voice gives away her façade and she can feel the tears catching in her throat, the words choking out in a way they were still coherent but very much dead. "Oh." Her hand falls from her hip, she knows her steady persona is broken – Korra knows her better than that. "May I ask why?"
It takes a while for Korra to reply.
"I'm back with Mako."
That stung Asami far more than she believed possible, and she could only think that this was her karma. Her karma for the relationship Korra and her shared when Korra was still with Mako. It made her want to laugh, the bitter irony of it burning in her chest and filling her lungs with hot air; she couldn't breathe. And so she sits down. And then she stands. And then she sits. And with every thump of her erratic heart she grows more confused.
"But - Mako –he's -"
Asami does not know how to finish. Mako's not good enough for her? Mako's a dick? Mako's hot-headed, dumb, childish, insecure, stupid, or just a complete and utter...
Thief.
That was what Mako was.
A dirty, rotten, no-good, cheating, little thief.
But she was no better, Asami knew; and Mako was none of those things, she knew, she knew, but it stewed in her stomach – this anger, this sadness, this bitter loneliness –
"I'm sorry." Korra says, her arms crossed against her chest. She looks like she means it. She does mean it. She meant it when she said it to Mako, and she means it now.
Asami finds herself standing again, and she takes two very long, very confident strides right into Korra's personal space, and she does not move away. Asami can feel the girl's breath on her face just as she had millions of times before, and it breaks her heart.
Asami makes her green eyes peer into Korra's stunning blue with every ounce of confidence she could muster. "This may be over for now." Asami says, and although her voice is breaking there is determination in it that sets her blood pumping. "But we are not over for good. I love you, Korra. I'm in love with you, and I know you are in love with me. I'm not going to give up on you, just like Mako didn't, because we are made for one another and I want you to know that. I can't believe –" her voice chokes, and Asami notes the wetness of her face. Oh, gosh, how pathetic must she look?
When Asami doesn't continue and she instead seems to shrink into herself, Korra immediately lifts an arm out and lets her finger stroke the milky delicate skin of the mechanic in front of her. "I am so sorry, Asami." She whispers. "I am so sorry."
But Asami aggressively hits her hand away and takes a step closer, her eyes boring into Korra's with even more determination than before. She says nothing, but instead wraps an arm so securely around Korra it's almost locked in place, and then she bows her head forward and joins their lips for what could be the last time. It is fiery and bittersweet, the ultimate coldness behind it never forgotten as they taste the salty tears of Asami.
And when they part neither girl speaks. Korra simply smacks a hand to her lips, a finger scrapping across their plumpness, and then with wide eyes, she turns and she walks away. Asami is left standing there with nothing but the sweet memory of their past to comfort her and the reminder that, one day, Korra might return to her.
And it is only that thought that keeps her heart beating.
