She Stood Back & Gladly Watched From The Sidelines As Korra Navigated The Rolling Storm Of Children,

don’t be a stranger! (please linger near the door uncomfortably instead of just leaving. please forget your scarf in my life and come back later for it)

😡 🙂

stratagem — a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end. independent ASAMI from the legend of korra. private & mutuals only. written by veronika, she/her, 21+

other half at @inkorrnate

rules under cut.

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MUSE VS MUN

tagged by @inkorrnate @kingwu tagging: anyone who would like to!

& THAT wasn't exactly how she was hoping this would go ( she'd shaken hands with at least ten people this week but her girlfriend might be her toughest sell yet. )

“ ... well, Tenzin does make some good points... ” she could tell when she'd make the wrong adjustment to the problem at hand, time to pivot the other way... she sat a hand upon korra's shoulder, gentle & reassuring like her smile was, “ besides... it's not like you don't have loads of other cities on a waiting list for the avatar's help right now. ... — my office has been more of a storage facility for letters to you lately... ” but that was a separate issue.

It feels as if breath itself has been sucked out of the room— or maybe just out of her. Korra's stomach is hollow like the dawning realisation.

❝Are you taking his side against me?❞

But bitterer than the words is the very notion of @satogem's betrayal.

her spine straightened at the sound of her voice, a disbelieving smile curving at cherry-red lips as she raised the goggles from her face. she definitely hadn't been expecting to see korra here today... or anytime soon if she was honest. THIS was where she was most useful after all, working away under harsh lighting while her city was at the brink of war, knee-deep into steel & embers — unfortunately, that meant their paths didn't cross all that much ( not as much as she'd like them to ) but she could always count on meeting her at the end of the road. she reached over before turning around, twisting the valves beside her so she could gently set the torch down, “ i have to admit, i was expecting varrick to send... well, anyone else when he said he'd get me an assistant for the day — ” she turned, taking in how... endearingly small out-of-place korra looked standing next to the large prototypes she'd been working on. she felt herself warm pleasantly at the thought of getting to spend some time with her, alone; it had been a while to say the least. there had been so much unspoken history since they last stood together just them... & she tried to block out memories of empty tumblers, sleepless nights, & crumped papers piling on her desk that were too much, never right. it was moments like this that she almost wished she'd been brave enough to sign her name to one of them. “ — not the avatar herself, ” she quirked an eyebrow, pulling a hefty glove from her hand so she could brush a lock of hair from her slightly damp face, “ you sure you wanna get your hands dirty with me ? ”

She checks a chestful of thoughts at the door to @satogem's workshop. It doesn't exactly make her feel any lighter, but by the time she steps inside, the thick heat and smell of singed metal almost tastes refreshing.

— Until she finds her tucked into the side of a mechasuit and chokes on the smoke. It's a spectacle she's not thought to appreciate before today, but seeing Asami's welding sparks practically halo her dark foregrounded hair makes it very hard not to stare. Korra can only be thankful that she's remembered to smooth her windswept hair and straighten her clothes before entering—- only so she doesn't fall too short of the unrealistic expectation of looking as good as Asami at work, of course.

Her hands come to rest at hip level, surveying this unfamiliar setting. It sets off a flutter of nervousness as Korra's reminded of how she doesn't know the first thing about... any of this.

But it's better than not being of any use.

❝I heard you were looking for an extra pair of hands.❞

she felt a faint tingle creep down the back of her neck, the familiar sensation of someone staring her way & she found herself double glancing at korra to confirm it had really happened— had korra just been... ? oh. right. " — sorry — i know i'm a bit of a mess right now. i just really want to get as many of these suits up & running as I can & there are still a lot of kinks that need ironing. " she felt the blood sap from her unexpectedly as the vessel sailed above her, bright green eyes lifting high to the taut muscles responsible, watching them curve under korra's smooth skin. it had been a long time & somehow that still got her. it only lasted a moment thankfully as her inner dialogue shamed her to a halt, to pull it together, you had literally asked for this. she shifted that rapt attention to the new viewpoint offered, the sound of a tickle in her throat being cleared as she took a look. nevermind the warmth she felt in her cheeks from seeing that spark she associated so much with her, make an appearance again. she wore a victorious smile on her lips for what she saw before her — the ease with which she could finish the job now. as much as she liked working with just her hands & the bare necessities, a little assembly line equipment would've really come in handy these last few days. but the avatar would more than suffice, of course. besides... she had been hoping she'd get to spend more time with her. she felt like she'd only just gotten her back & yet her chest felt sore empty again the moment she watched korra turn her back to her & glide out of her sight the other day — maybe that was why she'd been digging around for excuses to be on Air Temple Island recently.

she lifted the goggles back over her eyes, tipping forward off her toes & onto her knees, " ... you really are a lifesaver, you know that. this is perfect, I'll be just a few. " the valves were turned back on as she crawled under the body, bracing herself on her left hand & knees as she torched the metal. she tried to focus, but then how could she when she finally had korra to herself ? it was hardly an opportunity that fell into her lap often. she felt cracks starting to dance, one into another across the shell holding in everything she wanted to say to her. so many questions ran through her mind... but the one weighing heaviest was just— was she okay ? when she emerged, she handled the sight she was greeted with better this time around despite the way minutes of wear had made those muscles leap further from beneath her skin, " all done. you know if you're too good at the job i might just have to request you as my personal assistant more often. "

By some miracle, Asami's words don't actually make her want to combust on the spot. Instead, she's coaxed along by the good naturedness, into something more resembling optimism. It's nice to be needed.

She picks her gaze up off the floor.

And -

- loses any momentum she might've just gained.

It's escaped her imagination until now how Asami could ever present as anything except perfectly polished; but now she thinks she'll be haunted to the end of the Avatar cycle itself how she can make oil stains and flyaways look this incredible.

A revelation like this would surely have infuriated to no end her before. Now, Korra can't even find it in her to begrudge her this. Not when she knows that Asami's probably been here days without rest; not when she thinks of three years of kindness, or the personal cost involvement has asked of her. Now she can only stand in awe and gratitude and wonder if she's ever been deserving of her friend.

— Probably looking stupid and pulled apart in contrast.

The directive is a lifeline. Anything to take her mind ( eyes ) off -

well, everything.

Some of the Avatar's assuredness resurfaces. ❝Can I?❞

Oh she can. One-handed.

She will thank her later. 😌💕

Once again, thank you @buildouraltarhere for inspiring this! ☺️✨

the tension that her touch seemed to trigger had her gaze captured, although ONCE AGAIN she couldn't exactly be sure if the daunting task of keeping three highly active air-bender children busy for a few hours had also yanked the rug out from under her or... the perpetual elephant koi wedged between them. she just WISHED that korra would talk to her about it already, but then she doubted rushing the avatar into a conversation like that would lead anywhere good ( the urge to let everything spill from her mouth kept her lips flattened into a line & her teeth catching her tongue. ) ... maybe she wasn't completely over the whole thing but she'd ALSO never let something so petty come between them. she liked korra, she liked her a lot.

“ i'm just glad i get to see it with you around. ” a warm smile thrown in her direction as her hand eased away, relief & calm rushing through her with korra around despite everything. “ ... — thanks... again, for offering to help earlier. i'm sure on top of all the other duties you've had since getting your bending back & figuring out air bending a night off would've been nice. but i really appreciate it. plus, it's nice to finally catch up with you again. ”

❝Wouldn't dream of it.❞

The Avatar's conviction spills over, full-hearted. ( If only the bravado went any deeper than skin. )

But the smile in her eyes is genuine— she can definitely relate to the children's excitement of being given free rein at long last. And, in the same vein, commiserate with the deputised at this time. Which is why she's here. With Asami. --It's not like she doesn't also live on this island, or spend most of her time here gladly orbited by the children; she's here to help a friend.

Because they are. Friends. The uneasy place in her stomach keeps score ( she's not sure ). She keeps her stance easy, unonfrontational, watching the dwindling distance with only a side glance. Close enough to attempt a grapple now, —not that she thinks Asami would want to, but if she did, she wouldn't exactly be unjustified, not after—-

Coiled muscles suppress a twitch upon contact, and she woefully considers bending a cold sea spray for the heat on her cheeks.

❝Not that I've not seen you handle yourself in tougher situations, but Meelo's just invented a new airbending move that's... -you have to see it for yourself.❞

do u ever think about asami's wasted potential in the narrative & cry