Korra doesn't join Mako on the balcony.

Instead, she practices bending on a terrace just outside of the Sato mansion. Coordinating movements with the flow of chi through the body has always been a comfort to her, ever since she'd begun her first waterbending lessons with Master Katara at the tender age of five. It usually works to clear her mind, or at least help vent her frustrations, and right now, that is something that would probably be beneficial to everyone.

Tonight her fire burns hotly. Quick, bright bursts flash against the outer walls of the mansion as Korra goes through the forms she's learned over years and years of practice. She remembers her first firebending master – a rigid, horse-faced man from the United Republic – and everything that he'd taught her. But recalling proper breathing techniques and bodily posturing isn't quite enough to keep her focused.

Fragments of a conversation can be heard from where she stands. She can discern Mako's tone, but not his words. After finding Korra a bit shaken up, Asami offered to speak with him. And, in a cowardly move uncharacteristic to any respectable Avatar, Korra had accepted.

She just doesn't want to confront Mako right now and talk about their feelings, not immediately after he's all but admitted that he wants her back. It's not that she thinks he'll suggest dating again. He will undoubtedly respect Korra's newfound relationship with Asami. Nevertheless, it is a topic Mako is unlikely to drop since their last conversation ended rather prematurely. He'll want to apologize for being forward, presumptuous or something along those lines, and Korra doesn't need that.

Things are complicated and always have been as far as she and Mako are concerned. Addressing such a subject is something Korra would rather avoid, at least for right now. She feels too much with him. It seems like that has always been their issue.

But she still needs Mako. If finding a solution to her Avatar problems means dealing with an ex who still kind of loves her, then she'll deal with it. Mako isn't bad company, anyway. He is one of her most dependable and trustworthy companions. She should be appreciating their camaraderie for what it is, not avoiding him just because he's managed to embarrass them both.

Korra should be the one speaking with him. But it's too late now, as Asami has already taken the reins.

Though Korra can't really hear the two of them, she assumes Asami has explained to Mako what they wish to do: to visit the spirit world, to find a way for Korra to reconnect with the past Avatars. It may be a waste of time, a dead end or a never-ending goose chase, but if there is any chance that such information may be stashed away in Wan Shi Tong's expansive library, they will probably need more than two sets of eyes to find it.

Since Tenzin and Jinora are unable or unwilling to help them, Mako is their only hope. Korra doubts someone like Bolin or Ikki could be of much help, and while Varrick is smart, Korra doesn't believe his spontaneous moments of clarity would help him with reading books for days on end. And the last thing Asami needs is to be stuck in another realm with Varrick.

They could ask the entirely capable Zhu Li, now that she is no longer Varrick's assistant, but... No, it doesn't seem likely that she would leave her husband's side so soon after their wedding. It would be improper to ask.

Mako, it is.

It would be easy for Korra to shove all of her jumbled emotions into her firebending and burn down the decorative topiaries one hundred feet away from her. But the forms she practices tonight consist of graceful, long movements combined with speed and dexterity. Jumps, spinning kicks and lunges work Korra's muscles in wonderful ways until her entire body begins to ache. She's regained some muscle mass since she was injured by the Red Lotus, but she is still weaker – physically, at least – than she'd been in her prime.

Fifteen minutes into her impromptu workout, Korra finally takes the time to glance up at the balcony. Mako and Asami are both watching her, almost shoulder-to-shoulder as they lean with hands supporting themselves against the railing. Asami smiles and gestures for her to continue. Judging by their body language and faces, their conversation must either be going well or is now at a standstill.

Korra bends the sweat away from her temples before resuming, this time without creating fire. Her forms transition into quick-paced steps strafing around an invisible point, the spiraling, evasive maneuvers that Tenzin and the kids had taught her. One hand touches the inner elbow of her opposite extended arm. Manipulating air feels completely different than fire, in that the chi does not roar from her fingertips; instead, as she swirls, the air swirls as if it is an extension of her, building and building until she's created a wind funnel in the center of her circular path.

A few stray leaves and a pebble are picked up in the breeze. Finally, she stops, letting go her control of the air. The funnel wobbles and weakens until the leaves swirl lazily down to the ground. It is, admittedly, kind of beautiful.

Korra looks up to the balcony once again, curious to see if Asami is still watching.

She and Mako aren't there anymore. They've gone inside, leaving Korra to practice alone.

Korra gives herself a few minutes to catch her breath before heading indoors as well. Her two friends are found in a lounge room on the main floor, sitting on opposing sofas with a short table separating them.

Mako's voice eases into silence as Korra hesitates in the doorway. Asami, who had been leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, straightens immediately. She and Mako share a guilty look, as if they have been talking about something private. Or about her.

There must be more to their conversation than just the library. Mako appears uncomfortable with Korra lingering there, so his words must be meant for Asami's ears only.

Whatever. She'll respect that.

"I'll be upstairs," Korra tells them, even as burning curiosity makes her want to join their little chat. The others mutter an acknowledgment before she jogs up the long staircase to the second floor.

In the hall she passes a few oversized paintings of the Sato family. In one portrait, a toddler Asami smiles, bow in her hair and her dress a frilly, floral pink. Holding the girl in place on her knee, Asami's mother smiles in the exact same fashion.

The next portrait Korra passes features an older Asami and her father.

Throughout the hall, and especially outside of Asami's bedroom, there are several more framed canvases hung on the walls. The third display Korra examines is actually a set of two canvases placed side by side: one is a remarkable stylized rendering of a vase of flowers in a windowsill. The smaller painting beside it features red paint splatters and broad, butchered strokes that are apparently meant to resemble flowers more than a massacre. Cards tucked into the bottom-left corners of the frames read, in fine calligraphy, respectively: 'Springtime Blossoms' by Yasuko Sato, and 'Pretty Flowers' by Asami Sato, Age Four.

Against the wall, directly in front of the two canvases, stands a small table. Atop it rests an empty vase.

Korra doesn't look at any more of the Sato family's artwork.

She knows where Asami's bedroom is located, though she has never truly explored inside it. When Korra enters the dark room, it isn't quite the elaborate princess' suite she'd envisioned in her mind. The room has a simple, open layout with a four-poster bed as its centerpiece. Richly stained furniture lines the room, save for one wall of tall windows that allows light from the moon and the new spirit portal to stream in.

When Korra slips her boots off and falls onto Asami's bed, her first thought isn't that the mattress must be made of clouds, though it probably is.

It's of Asami and her dead parents.

Then Mako, and Bolin, and their parents too. Gone.

The brothers' mother and father had been killed by a petty thief. Asami's mother had been killed by gang members. Perhaps it is mere coincidence that these murders were perpetrated while the Avatar was unable to protect her people, but... if only Korra had been older then, an active Avatar and not a small child learning to control the elements, the crime rate in Republic City may not have been so bad during those years.

Even Hiroshi's death had ultimately stemmed from Korra's inactivity. Her excessive time spent recovering in the South had allowed Kuvira to amass enough power to start a war. It is apparent now that the Avatar must be dutiful at all times, for any time she may fail in this task, the world suffers, and innocent people die.

Korra wants to take her three closest friends and hold them all against her bosom. She wants to be there for Asami as if they were born of the same blood. No matter what may happen between them romantically, she will be there to support Asami, to protect her. And she feels the same way for Mako and Bolin—the Fire Ferrets, her team.

They're all so important to her. It is Korra's responsibility, as the Avatar, to keep them safe.

Being able to call upon past lives for advice would only make Korra stronger. Even if there isn't a way to reconnect to their destroyed souls, she must try—she should try for the rest of her life, even, if it means she will be better able to protect this fragile world and all its inhabitants.

Some time later, Korra wakes from her nap.

She didn't realize she'd been tired enough to fall asleep at all. The first thing she notices upon waking is Asami sitting beside her, illuminated by yellow light from the spirit portal shining in from the windows. Her attention is turned away, head angled downward as she fiddles with something in front of her. When the Future Industries jacket slips down from her shoulders, revealing her purple top beneath, Korra realizes her girlfriend is undressing.

"Um... Hey there?"

"Hi, Korra. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." Maybe not so fortunately, Asami removes only the jacket, her hairband and shoes. "Scoot over."

Korra obeys, making room for Asami to lie on the bed alongside her. Almost automatically, Korra's arm raises to guide her girlfriend to the crook of her shoulder.

Asami settles her body beside Korra's own, knees nudging one of her legs. A hand touches Korra's hip almost tentatively before sliding itself forward to rest over her belly.

This is something Korra likes. Despite sharing a sleeping bag at times, they've only slept entwined once before, in the spirit world. When she urges Asami just a little closer until their bodies are fully pressed against one another, the action feels natural, nice.

Dozing off has relaxed Korra enough to make her feel less nervous about speaking with Mako. If he's still here, she'll speak with him.

"Where's Mako?"

"Probably packing," Asami murmurs, snuggling her cheek against the space between Korra's shoulder and breast. Korra swallows heavily, turning her gaze toward the ceiling instead of the thick locks of soft, black hair now spilling over the both of them. "It took some convincing, but he says he'll come with us to the library."

That surprises Korra. Mako tends to avoid awkward situations, more so when it comes to interacting with his ex-girlfriends. But Miss Sato, it seems, has a way with words. "How did you convince him?"

Asami's index finger rubs idly against the blue fabric of Korra's top, just above her navel. "I told him you needed his help. Could he say no to that? He wants to spend time with us, since we've grown apart from how we used to be. The spirit world itself is what makes him the most nervous. I think his confusion with where we all stand adds to it."

"Right." Korra thinks yet again of the words he told her after the wedding, his vow to follow her anywhere upon request, no matter how crazy things may get. That offer must have included the spirit world, too. Knowing that sentiment may have been fueled by pining just as much as loyalty makes Korra uncertain about how to feel about it. "Thank you for speaking with him, Asami."

"No problem. I've had years to learn how to navigate conversations with him. It's not a big deal."

Maybe so, but it was to her. Words were never a strength for Korra.

"Did he tell you what happened in the powder room?" Korra asks. What occurred is not information she would consider withholding. Korra intends to be honest with Asami in all things, especially when said things concern their relationship. For better or for worse.

Asami looks up at her. "Yes, and it's fine. He didn't know about us," Asami says before sighing, slipping her hand further around Korra until it reaches the far side of her waist. Her voice is much quieter when she mumbles, "You chose me over someone else. That is the first time someone's done that."

Korra immediately knows what Asami is referring to. Mako, in a way, chose Korra over her twice. First, he'd essentially broken up with Asami to date Korra; then again, six months later, he unapologetically kissed Korra after he and Asami had just begun to rekindle their relationship.

Shame bubbles to the surface within Korra as she remembers how much of a role she'd played in seducing Mako the first time, tempting him and challenging him to leave his then-girlfriend. It had been such selfish, catty behavior, and Asami had deserved none of it. Korra hadn't been aware the second time around, assuming Mako was still hers to kiss because she'd lost memories of their break-up. Mako had been dishonest then, letting Korra believe all was well, discarding Asami again. His lying by omission hurt everyone, but Asami most of all.

Things are very different now. Korra tries to absorb the details of this moment, lying on such a quality bed with silken sheets and a beautiful woman at her side. Asami, the same woman she first looked upon with jealousy and insecurity. Korra's thoughts are of no one but her as she brings her other arm around Asami, hugging her partner.

"I will never hurt you like that," Korra promises. Asami's head lowers as their embrace tightens. It's an impulse that makes Korra brush Asami's loose hair over her shoulder, revealing every bit of her face. "I hope what we have lasts a long time... I will try as hard as I can to not fuck this up. Forgive me if I'm no good at this, though; I've never had a girlfriend before."

Asami giggles. "Neither have I. I wasn't even really sure I liked women until I started crushing on you. Maybe I just have a type. You're brave and motivated and caring. And muscular…"

This time it is Korra's turn to laugh. "How shallow," Korra jokes, though internally she's beaming. She's always been athletic, so it's great her physique is something Asami appreciates.

"I used to notice particularly good-looking women," says Korra, remembering the various girls that would catch her eye. There was a young White Lotus sentry that Korra had taken a liking to once, but people in general and especially lovely women were few and far between until she arrived in this city. Living in a sheltered environment, where mastering the elements was considered far more important than a worldly education, no one had explained much about romance to her. Suffice it to say she'd been a very confused young lady, intimidated by the girls she thought were unreasonably pretty, too flustered to ever say much to them. "I was intimidated by you, at first, actually," Korra adds.

"Really?"

"Of course! You were outgoing and rich and— and beautiful, and nice. But you weren't prissy either. After you took me for a spin in that satomobile on your father's test track, I..."

Korra pauses.

Asami pinches her side playfully. "Hm?"

"... I knew I had misjudged you." She knows her words must be sappy. It is not easy speaking so openly, despite all of Korra's determination to be honest. "I wish I'd known, in that moment, to date you instead. Sorry it took me so long."

Korra can feel, more than see, Asami's smile in the darkness. "You're being awfully sweet tonight."

"Am I?"

Their embrace mutually loosens, and Asami rolls back enough to rest her head on Korra's upper arm.

Korra isn't sure where her words are coming from. After tonight, and with everything that's happened recently, she's had many serious thoughts to dwell on. "I've been thinking, and... I don't know how to phrase this. You're really important to me, Asami."

"We've only been dating for a couple weeks," her girlfriend reminds teasingly. "Slow down."

"It's not that. I don't mean it in just a romantic sense." Korra finds Asami's hand with her own and takes a deep breath before speaking. "You're my best friend. I want to do whatever it takes to keep you, and everyone else, safe. I will try my hardest to find answers in the spirit library, or wherever else they may be. I won't stop looking until I can restore the Avatar spirit to what it once was."

Asami is quiet as she ponders Korra's words. Then, softly, she says, "It makes me happy to hear you say that. I want to try my best to help you, too. And Mako said something similar."

Korra blinks, caught by surprise. "What did you talk about?"

Asami brushes her fingertips across Korra's palm, tickling the suddenly overly-sensitive skin there. It's lovely and quite distracting, so Korra closes her hand around Asami's, gently discouraging it. "Nothing bad," Asami finally says. "We had a very lengthy conversation... One that was long-overdue. He started by apologizing for what happened between you two earlier tonight. He mistakenly assumed maybe you were interested in rekindling something. His fault, yada yada. And that conversation led to him apologizing for everything he's done to wrong me."

Somewhat incredulous, Korra scoffs. Real smooth, Mako. "Seriously? It's been something like four years. Kinda late there, bucko. Did he have to apologize for an hour or what?"

"Basically. He's a jerk."

At that, they both chuckle, as if they're the only ones in on a private joke. It isn't a very funny one.

"There were things that should've been said already," Asami continues more seriously, "but whatever happened between you two prompted him to say it now. So I'm glad. He has difficulty with people, and he says he's trying to be better about that."

Korra wonders what could have motivated him to do such a thing. He's never had a way with words or expressing his feelings, so it definitely seems out of place for him to have spoken at length about this. He isn't really the type to own up to his mistakes unbidden.

For the most part, though, Asami seems pleased with what Mako has said.

"You don't mind if he tags along with us to the library?" Korra inquires, just to double-check. "Won't it be a bit... weird?"

"I think it will be more awkward for you two. I got used to his bullshit a long time ago." Korra stirs at the expletive, not expecting it yet wholly amused by it, and Asami laughs. "Anyway, Mako and I are pals. And I understand why he liked you enough to do what he did, even if it did hurt me. In all honesty, I'd step on others' toes, too, if it means I get to have you."

Korra regrets the awful things that happened between the three of them. So much petty drama, and for what? Perhaps going on an adventure, just the three of them spending time together, can help patch any holes remaining in their friendships. The spirit world has unexpected ways of making things better, in the end. She desperately wants to feel better about it all.

"I really care about you," Asami admits. "Those three years apart from you gave me a lot of time to think about how you make me feel. You give me purpose, Korra. I just want to give you the same."

Those words shouldn't be so unexpected. The feeling behind them pulls at something deep inside of Korra. They haven't shared a word about love yet, and maybe it's wrong or it's impossible to love someone you've dated for a couple weeks. But you can love a best friend and confidant whole-heartedly, can't you?

That is the kind of love they share now, Korra muses, only this love comes with extra kisses.

Korra can't resist the urge to move so Asami is flat on her back and she is leaning over her. The raised-eyebrow look Asami gives her is surprised at first, but that expression changes once Korra touches her chin, turning her face up so that they may kiss. With purpose, indeed.

This one is in no way as chaste as their previous kiss. Their lips meet, moving hard and soft, fast and slow until one of them coaxes the other's mouth open. They then begin to sink into each other, in a sense; Korra's knee finds the space between warm thighs, while Asami's hand curls into Korra's hair as if attempting to bring her closer.

Korra touches the fabric of Asami's top, thumb brushing one breast, skirting her hand down over Asami's waist and the curve of her hip.

Eventually they part for air. The faint taste of lipstick lingers on their tongues, and Korra thinks she likes it, maybe, as it's evidence of how much composure she can make the other woman lose. Asami's hand falls to curve around Korra's ear and jawline. Those fingers slide from her neck, to her collarbone, and lower.

"Sometimes I can't believe this is real," Asami breathes. "That I'm with you. That I have you."

"It's real," Korra returns, just as hopelessly overwhelmed by it all.

They should stop, Korra knows, but it's been so long since she's had any such satisfaction. And never before has she heard a moan like Asami's, soft yet desperately pitched as she wordlessly encourages Korra to keep going, to keep touching her. Korra's thigh presses into her, then it's her hand, and then they're too invested to stop. So they don't.

It is, perhaps, also a reassurance for herself as Korra returns those words. "It's real," she mouths into Asami's neck. "You have me."