Korra Returns
Bolin sauntered down the corridors of the Zhu Li, a royal purple cloak draped around his shoulders and a strawberry Varricake in his hand. With Pabu perched atop his head like a living fur hat, he supposed he did resemble a king.
Many people would’ve found his behavior ridiculous given the existential battle ahead of them. However, a life of hardship, one in which he never knew if each day was his last, only made him value the fun moments even more. Everyone needed a little humor during dark times, right now, none more than Asami.
Pabu dipped his head to look Bolin in the eyes and chirped.
“I already told you. We need to cheer Asami up, otherwise she’s gonna be totally off her game tomorrow!” Bolin swatted the fire ferret out of his face. Pabu hopped off his owner’s head and returned to his usual position on Bolin’s shoulder, a tail wrapped around his neck.
In the months following Amon’s defeat, Bolin and Asami had grown close. After her father’s sentencing, Asami had essentially become an orphan and sought Bolin’s counsel on how to cope with her new reality. Through late night conversations, tears, and hugs, he had guided her through one of the darkest times in her life. In turn, she became the older sister he never had. In fact, Bolin knew Asami so well he could predict what was going through her mind right now, and that was what brought him to her room.
Bolin knocked thrice, the metal clanging as he did.
“Come in!” He heard a muffled voice from the other side call.
When the earthbender entered the room, he found Asami in her sleeping gown, sitting on the edge of her bed and staring at her feet. Her hands were clasping the mattress, and her arms shivered slightly in response to the frigid climate they were entering.
“Hey, how ya doing?” It pained Bolin to see her so troubled. Asami had a particularly unhealthy habit of bottling her feelings up to be strong for others, and it was often Bolin’s job to pry that bottle open.
“I’m fine. Just nervous for Harmonic Convergence is all.” Upon seeing Bolin’s raised eyebrow, she quickly admitted defeat. “Alright, it’s not just that. I’m upset over Mako and Korra...again.”
Bolin and Pabu exchanged knowing glances. The earthbender tilted his head towards Asami, and the fire ferret nodded in response to his silent request. Pabu leaped onto Asami’s bed and quickly clambered into her lap, eliciting a giggle from her.
“Okay, I know I judged you two earlier for getting back together, but you know you can tell me anything.” Bolin draped the purple cloak over her shoulders before taking a seat next to the nonbender. Asami gently grasped it and wrapped it around herself.
“Honestly, I’m glad you did.” Asami grasped the bridge of her nose. “I’m such an idiot. A giant, fucking idiot!”
“Hey, don’t be too hard on yourself. It takes two to tango, after all.” Bolin rubbed her arm, simultaneously consoling her and goading her to continue.
“But this time, it’s actually my fault. I was the one that kissed Mako and suggested we get back together, knowing he had literally just broken up with Korra.”
“You what!” Bolin gawked at Asami’s confession. He had assumed that it had been his ever-indecisive brother that had reignited the messy love triangle.
“I know, I know. I guess I was at a low point. I’d just been robbed, and Mako was there for me, and...I was mad at Korra,” Asami trailed off.
It took every ounce of discipline for Bolin to contain his astonishment. He sat as still as a stone and pursed his lips tightly together to prevent another verbal slippage. As foreign as this felt, Bolin knew he had to maintain his composure in order for Asami to feel comfortable enough to speak her truth. What Asami needed now was not someone to judge her but listen to her.
Bolin listened intently as Asami explained the promise Korra had made a day before her disappearance. Asami explained how she had been so hopeful that signing a contract with the two companies would’ve saved Future Industries without necessitating a buyout from Varrick. She explained how infuriated she was at Korra for breaking her promise to meet her that day, how she had falsely interpreted Korra’s lack of communication as indifference and how she had blamed Korra for Future Industries’ financial ruin—regardless of how erroneous that assessment was.
“Future Industries is all that’s left of my family. It’s my whole identity, so when Korra didn’t show up to help me save it, it felt personal.” Asami bit her lip. Silence shrouded the two friends as she struggled to piece her thoughts. “I guess I wanted to get back at her at that level too.”
Bolin knew the two girls had become warmer in the preceding months, but he didn’t realize the extent of their friendship. He could only come to one conclusion. She must care about Korra a lot, Bolin thought. Many people might have interpreted Asami’s actions as cold-hearted or spiteful, but Bolin knew that for someone as virtuous as Asami to lash out, she must’ve been badly hurt. Primarily by the terrible cards life had dealt her lately, on top of which Korra’s disappearance pushed her over the edge.
“I’m so ashamed of myself. Korra was attacked by a dark spirit! Instead of hiring a fleet of airships to look for her, I just assumed she just skipped town for the heck of it. What kind of friend does that? Then, to make things worse, I led Mako on. As spineless as he is, it’s not an excuse for me using him to hurt Korra.”
Asami’s voice quivered towards the end, and she began crying. Bolin pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and began dabbing the water off her face. When his fingers made contact, he could feel her shaking, and he suspected it wasn’t from the cold.
“I can’t believe how petty, selfish, and vengeful I can be,” Asami whimpered, “I-I don’t want to be vengeful. I don’t want to be like my fath—”
“Okay, that’s where I draw the line.” Bolin gripped Asami’s shoulders and forced her to meet his gaze. His chest constricted painfully upon seeing the lost look in her eyes. Dammit, Hiroshi, you did this to her, Bolin silently cursed. “Asami, you’re nothing like your father.”
Asami’s guilt hung over her like a dark cloud. Maybe it was because of her perfectionist upbringing, but it seemed that Asami was never able to forgive herself for making the most human of mistakes, even while she forgave others for far worse.
“Look, it’s natural to be selfish and even want to get even with someone, but none of those things make you a bad person. What makes good people different from bad people is good people own up to their mistakes, and that’s exactly what you’re doing now.”
He stared at Asami intently, watching the gears turn in her mind. When she finally processed his words, he felt her shoulders slump, and she let out a long sigh. Bolin let his arms fall to his side as Pabu took over his role, scurrying up to Asami’s shoulders and licking her face.
Asami giggled when the fire ferret’s small, pink tongue met her cheek. As she scratched the furry companion underneath his chin, Asami finally replied, “Thanks, I needed to hear that.”
Bolin smiled, relieved to have gotten through to the teen. Jeez, I swear you can be just as stubborn as Korra sometimes, Bolin mused.
“So now that we’ve established I’m not a total degenerate, I guess the next thing to do is to come clean to Korra and Mako,” Asami said as she ruffled Pabu’s head.
“If you ask me, Mako should be the one to break it to Korra they broke up.” Bolin smirked at the image of his brother trying to escape the Avatar’s wrath (again).
“And you’re sure Korra won’t get mad at me?” Asami asked, nervously.
“Dude, Korra kissed Mako while you two were still dating and when she was on a date with me!” Bolin exclaimed as he cringed at the memory.
Asami looked at him in surprise then chuckled. “I didn’t know about that last part.”
Bolin felt his cheeks heat up in response to her teasing. “It’s embarrassing for me! Do you know how many pro-benders I bragged to I was going on a date with the Avatar?”
Asami wiggled an eyebrow at him and quipped, “Then maybe you shouldn’t brag in the first place.”
Bolin pouted at this last comment. However, as much fun as they were having, Bolin was not totally divorced from reality. Uncharacteristically, he gave Asami a sobering reminder of what was to come.
“In all seriousness, we might be facing 10,000 years of eternal darkness.” Bolin watched as Asami’s expression fell. He hated to ruin her mood, but the most important lesson he had learned from both his parents’ untimely end and his life on the streets was this. “If there’s something you have to say to either of them, say it now while you still have the chance.”
Korra paced outside Asami’s room. Her heart pounded as she struggled to formulate a plan of attack. It was ridiculous. She had 10,000 years of darkness to ward off, yet here she was, fretting over what she had done now to offend Asami.
Relax, already! It’s not like you have to fight Vaatu as long as you close the portals in time, Korra reminded herself. However, her thoughts then immediately went to the worst-case scenario. But if you don’t...you definitely don’t want to end on bad terms with anyone.
Korra took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” a familiar voice called.
Gently, she cranked open the door and quietly slipped inside. There, Asami was sitting on the edge of her bed, wrapped in a purple coat. The narrow room was dim as the only source of light was the small lamp on her nightstand.
“Hey,” Asami greeted.
“Hey back.” Korra grimaced at the awkwardness of her reply. She hated these tense conversations, but by this point, she had learned that avoidance led nowhere. If she wanted to prevent another fallout with Asami, it was best to get straight into the subject.
Korra took a couple steps forward. Scratching her head, she struggled to find the right words. “So uh, I noticed earlier at the police station, you kinda stormed off. Please don’t tell me we also had a fight I can’t remember.”
Korra braced herself for a confrontation similar to the one they had had on Air Temple Island three months ago. However, Asami’s tirade never came. Instead, she glanced at Korra before averting her gaze to the floor. Is she...sad? Korra wondered.
After a deafening silence, Asami sighed. She forced herself to make eye contact, and Korra couldn’t help but worry at the confused expression she wore. “We didn’t have a fight, but I was mad at you.”
“Oh.” Korra rubbed the back of her neck, as if it would dissipate the panic that was setting in. Asami didn’t get mad at people without due reason, especially her friends. The Avatar was treading eggshells, not knowing what egregious action she had committed and what the proper response to it was. “So, uh, what did I do wrong?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
What? Korra watched Asami quizzically as she anxiously awaited her explanation.
“The day you were attacked, you were supposed to meet me at my office and help me secure contracts with two prospective companies, the last ones besides Varrick Industries remotely interested in doing business with me.” Asami drew the coat closer to her, as if she was trying to comfort herself, and Korra’s heart dropped at the sight. “It was sorta a last-ditch effort to save Future Industries, but you didn’t show up and the meetings floundered.”
Crap! Korra cursed silently. It was all coming back now. She remembered their meeting with Varrick, the promise she had made to Asami outside of his yacht, President Raiko handicapping her efforts to enlist the United Forces in the war effort, and setting off for the Fire Nation on a speedboat in tears. Wait, why was she crying?
“After my shipment was stolen,” Asami continued, cutting off Korra’s train of thought, “I didn’t have a choice but accept a buyout from Varrick.” Upon hearing this news, Korra’s jaw dropped as she began drawing the dots between her disappearance and Asami’s hostile reaction. “In my mind, I blamed you for putting me in that position. When you didn’t show up or return any of my calls, I thought you just didn’t care about me or my company.”
Korra stared at Asami, flabbergasted at her sheer irresponsibility. How could you have forgotten something as important as that? Asami hid her emotions well, but by this point, Korra had learned to see through the veneer she put up for everyone else. She was hurt.
You hurt her, Korra admonished herself.
“Ever since my dad betrayed me, I’ve been scared of being abandoned, so when you didn’t show up...I’m so sorry I assumed the worst of you. You nearly died. I should’ve called search parties to find you, but instead I was being petty and selfish. Then, to make things worse, I got—”
Korra’s body moved on its own accord. The next second, Korra was on Asami’s bed and pulling the girl into a tight hug. The unexpected action startled Asami, but Korra soon felt the engineer embrace her back. Maybe it was because of her maturity, but Asami was always the first to take responsibility for a messy situation, even disproportionate to her own contribution. Why do you always have to be so hard on yourself? Korra thought.
“You don’t have to feel bad about anything, Asami. I remember now. When I stormed off to the Fire Nation, there was no way I would’ve made it in time for the meetings. I should’ve let you know I was going to the Fire Nation, but I didn’t.”
Guilt hit Korra like a punch in the gut. Asami was risking her life to help Korra close the spirit portals, and Korra couldn’t keep a measly promise to show up to a meeting? However, her remorse couldn’t turn back time. You weren’t there for her that day, but you can be here for her now, Korra vowed.
“You have every right to be mad at me,” Korra whispered. Korra felt Asami’s grip on her tighten. The Avatar began to rub small circles into her back, hoping it would soothe her nerves. “I’m sorry I made you feel like you were being abandoned. I really am.” Asami dug her face deeper into the crook of Korra’s neck, causing Korra to blush at the sensation of her warm lips pressed against her skin.
After a few moments, Asami pulled back and met Korra’s gaze. Korra’s stomach fluttered when her eyes locked onto Asami’s emerald ones. Am I coming down with something? Korra wondered. “Thanks,” Asami said as she flashed her an empathetic smile, “I appreciate that. A lot.”
Relief washed over Korra, but she still needed confirmation. “So you forgive me?” The Avatar asked, trying to read Asami’s expression for any hints of residual resentment.
“Well, it’s a lot easier now that I have Varrick to blame,” Asami replied with a wink.
Both girls burst in laughter. Nudging her in the arm, Korra quipped back, “Good thing he’s behind bars where you can’t get him. I doubt he’d last a second in the ring with you.”
“Yeah, but I get the feeling that Zhu Li might rip my head off if I lay a finger on him.” Asami rolled her eyes at the thought. Korra couldn’t help but find the image of Asami struggling to fend off the petite but surprisingly mighty Zhu Li utterly amusing.
After their mutual laughter subsided, the atmosphere grew tense. This seemed to be a recurring theme of tonight, as it well should. After a few moments, Asami finally broke the silence.
“How are you feeling about tomorrow?” She cautiously asked.
It was the question Korra had been attempting to avoid all night. “Honestly, I’m terrified...” Korra trailed off.She wondered if this is how Aang felt before his battle with Firelord Ozai. They were both frankly “half-baked” Avatars, underdogs in a battle over the fate of the world. Unlike Aang, however, Korra was no hero. All she was doing was cleaning up a mess she had made, saving the day from an existential calamity she had created.
You thought you were too good for Tenzin’s training. Let’s see if you’re good enough to defeat Vaatu. At this thought, Korra laughed darkly. She had jeopardized her team, no, the whole world all because she was too stubborn, too arrogant, and too belligerent to listen to her mentors, to listen to reason.
Korra became so engrossed in her spiraling thoughts it took Asami tapping her arm to break her out of her trance. “Korra, are you okay?”
“Argh! I just wish I hadn’t listened to Unalaq in the first place. I can’t believe my own uncle could be capable of something so evil!” The last sentence elicited a noticeable reaction from Asami. Only then did Korra realize it may have triggered memories of her father, and she facepalmed herself as punishment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to remind you of your dad.”
“No, it’s okay. In a strange way, I feel like it brings us closer,” Asami reassured her.
Korra hummed in response. It dawned on her how physically close they were. They were sitting cross-legged, their knees grazing each other. Their faces were a mere foot apart, allowing Korra to examine the older girl’s features in detail despite the low light. There was something nerve-wracking yet thrilling about this all, and Korra prayed that the universe would allow her the chance to explore this unknown territory.
“Korra, I know it seems the world's fate is in your hands, and in a way it is, but you’re not alone,” Asami stated matter-of-factly, looking at Korra with an intensity that frightened the Avatar, “I promise we’re not gonna let Unalaq win.”
However, Korra was not so confident. All night long, she had played one question on loop in her mind: If I even couldn’t beat Amon without getting my bending taken away, how am I going to defeat Vaatu? Yet for some reason she chose to ask Asami a different question. “How can you be so sure?”
Asami’s expression briefly fell at the young Avatar’s self-doubt. She placed her hands on Korra’s shoulders. The warmth from her palms radiated throughout Korra’s entire body.
“Necessity is the mother of invention. Call me a nerd, but I’ve always believed in that.” Then, Asami trailed her hands down Korra’s arms until they reached her palms, sending a shiver down her spine. “We’re all gonna step up to the plate tomorrow. I know you won’t fail because you’re a fighter. It doesn’t matter how many times someone knocks you down, as long as lives depend on you, you’ll figure out a way to get back up and win. I know you will.”
The fervor in which Asami spoke touched her. As the almighty being the world depended on during crises, Korra was expected to always project strength. She was never one to show her vulnerabilities, but Asami was one of the few people who she could lower her guard around. Asami’s unwavering faith in her cut straight through her hard exterior and into her heart.
Asami squeezed Korra’s hands, and it was not lost to either how well her soft, slender fingers fit into Korra’s strong, calloused ones. “It’s getting late. We should go to bed. We’ll need all our strength tomorrow.”
Which reminded Korra of the second question she had intended to ask Asami tonight.
“About that…I was actually wondering if I could spend the night with you?” Korra’s sheepish request appeared to catch Asami off-guard. Feeling self-conscious, Korra elaborated, “Naga can’t fit inside the room, and I just don’t want to be alone right now.”
Korra half-expected Asami to ask her why she wasn’t making this request to Mako instead. Truthfully, asking Mako to comfort her would’ve been calling a police officer to a crime scene that didn’t exist. Mako’s presence was that of a dutiful officer, ready to take names and seek justice for those who had sought his help. Asami’s presence, however, was like a warm blanket that enveloped her, soothing her nerves and making her feel safe.
To Korra’s relief, Asami never asked. Rather, she simply clambered under the sheets, then gestured for Korra to lay beside her. Korra gladly complied, drawing the covers over both their chests as she switched off the bedside lamp.
Unlike the first time they slept together on Air Temple Island, there was no hesitation, no awkwardness between them. Back then, they had been highly attuned to each other’s boundaries. Now, boundaries was the last thing Korra wanted to have with Asami.
The two lay with their backs facing each other. The older teen’s body heat was like a radiator, relaxing the muscles in her body. A faint scent of lavender, presumably from Asami’s hair, wafted in Korra’s nose, lulling her to sleep.
However, Korra resisted the temptation just long enough to get out her last thoughts. “Asami...” She heard the sheets ruffle in response.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Even though she spoke through a yawn, her voice still sounded like sweet music to Korra’s ears.
“Thanks,” Korra whispered, trying to convey her gratitude, “for everything.”
“Mm.” Asami mumbled before falling silent.
Korra glanced over her shoulder. Squinting through the darkness, Korra could faintly make out Asami’s covered figure, rising and falling with each breath she took. There was something inexplicably calming about the scene. Korra didn’t understand how her friend could have this physical effect on her. Nevertheless, with Asami beside her, Korra finally felt secure enough to allow herself to let go and drift off into sleep.