Everyone saw this coming. Korra had to find out. This is a companion (sort of) for chapter 43.
A newspaper was slammed down in front of Asami, making everyone in the room jump.
"When were you going to tell me about this?" Korra crossed her arms.
"Who gave you that?"
"Does it matter? What matters is that I didn't hear it from you. You've had your workers leaving in droves and you couldn't tell me."
"They haven't all been resigning, there was that one-" Meelo said a little too nudged him and whispered, "Shush.
"What?" Korra turned to him, her hands dropped.
Asami shot him a look that made him recoil. "We don't need to hear about that."
"I think we do," Korra glared at Asami for moment, before looking at Meelo, "What happened?"
"When we went to collect our new suits she was arguing with this lady. But she fired her when she called you a-"
"She doesn't need to hear that," Asami cut him off sharply, "That's enough Meelo."
The young airbender gulped, nodded and edged out of the room. The others in the room wisely choose to evacuate as well. Asami stood slowly, looking Korra in the eye.
"I didn't tell you because you didn't need to know."
"I? I didn't need to know? Asami, employees are leaving Future Industries because of-"
"Because they don't want to work for me anymore. Nothing to do with you."
"They don't want to work for you because they don't want a boss who's in a gay relationship. The relationship you're in with me. It has everything to do with me."
"Future Industries is my company. It's my responsibility."
"I never said it wasn't. But I'm your girlfriend. You're my responsibility."
"I'm your responsibility?"
"Yes!"
"Like I'm some helpless girl who needs others to take of her."
"What? No I just want to help."
"I don't need help."
"I didn't say you needed help."
"You called me your responsibility. Like I'm some obligation."
"I didn't mean it like that! And don't try to turn this back on me! You were the one who kept me in the dark. I had to find about it from some sleazebag cameraman on the street!"
"I didn't want you to know, because I knew you'd overreact."
"Overreact?" Korra put her hands on her temples, "I'm overreacting?"
"Well you certainly aren't calm!"
"Well you how do you think you'd feel if you were the last one to find out something important about me!"
"I wouldn't storm into a room spitting fire."
"I wouldn't be spitting fire if I heard about it from the first. How many employees have left?"
"That's not-"
"How many!"
There was a thick silence in the room.
"Thirty four last count."
"Last count? Are people still leaving?"
"I'm expecting more to leave after the New Year and they get their bonus."
"You're expecting more to leave? Are you're just going to sit back and let them?"
"I don't really want people like that to work for me. What do you expect me to do? Go around questioning my employees. It's their choice to leave. I can't stop them."
"We could do something."
"No we. This is my issues. You don't have to worry about it."
Korra took a breathe to calm herself, "But I am worrying about it."
"Then stop. I can handle this. I didn't tell you because I don't need your help."
"It's too late for the 'me not worrying' thing. I know. And I am worried. I'm worried about you. I'm worried that you didn't tell me anything."
Asami pinched the bridge of her nose, "This is why I didn't want you to know."
"That ship has sailed."
"Obviously," Asami folded her arms.
"I don't get why you're angry."
"Might have something to do with the fact that my girlfriend is yelling at me."
"Your girlfriend has good reason to yell at you. You lied to me."
"I didn't lie."
"You didn't tell me the truth."
Asami didn't deny that. Her fist tighten.
"I can handle this on my own."
"Yeah, you've said that. But you don't have to."
"I don't want your help. You've gone through enough the past few years. You don't need any more stress."
"Is that what this about? You don't want to put any strain on me?"
"After everything that you went through, I didn't want to put anything more on you. You don't deserve that."
"Neither do you. You're taking strain alone, when you don't have too. I'm here for you."
Asami frowned. Korra took a step closer and reached out to take Asami's arm. "Please let me be there for you."
"I shouldn't be causing you more trouble,"
"This isn't your fault. You're not the cause of anything here. But if you shutting me out, that only makes me worry more. Let me share the burden."
Asami's expression soften, and she let Korra pull her into a hug.
"I was just trying to protect you." Asami tucked her head against Korra's neck.
"We're a team. We do this together. No solo hero acts, okay?"
"…Okay."
"Can you tell me what that woman called me? What was so bad that you fired her?"
"You don't want to know. And I don't want to repeat it."
Nardragon~ until the next page.