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#legend of korra angst
hazashiovo · 22 days
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korra (legend of korra) x reader angst to fluff 🙏🏻
I gotchuuu 😉👍
Korra x reader
+slight Kuvira x reader cause I have a huge brain rot for her🥲
Angst to fluff,mentions of trauma,long fic because it has plot in it.
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Korra has been...distant.
Ever since Zaheer and the red lotus poisoned her and forced her to fight in the avatar state she's been different,to you and to her family.
She doesn't eat,when she sleeps she has nightmares, she doesn't talk to you...and it's worrying you so much,your heart aches each time she sends you away with her deafening silence.
You try talking to her about Asami's accomplishment or Mako's new job,even how Bolin made a name for himself.
But each time she'd have that empty look in her eyes,as she sits in that wheelchair she despises so much.
Sometimes you wish you could read her mind,chase away the memories that are tormenting her.
"Please Korra,I'm begging you,try...for me,just...I know you can do it." You sit on your knees,hands on her knees. Eyes looking at her pleading.
"I'm not who I used to be, (Name). Stop trying to save me." She turns her head away, avoiding your pleading eyes.
"That's not true,and you know it!" You cup her cheek, bringing her face closer to yours,yet your eyes hardly connect with each other.
She grabbed your wrist, pulling it away from her face."I don't need you and your pity, so find someone else to nag and leave me alone already!" Korra snaps,anger running trough her body.
Your eyes whiden in shock and you feel like she squeezed your heart with her harsh words.
"Do you even love me?" You bite your lip, waiting for an answer you know you won't get.
You avert your eyes from her face. Disappointed with her lack of will to be with you.
"That's what I taught." You get up and turn around ready to leave. Ready for a new start away from here,from Korra.
"(Name) i-" she wants to get up,run after you ,hug you and tell you she loves you more than herself. But she can't even gather her words properly.
You stop for a second , wishing to hear those words,only fooling yourself further.
.
.
With time Korra started getting more ambitious. She wanted to return to the person everyone knew her as. The avatar.
Her wish to prove to you that she can do better was growing by the day. Even so,the last time you spoke to here was the day you left, a day she still regrets even now.
Sometimes she would just feel like giving up,but you reminded her who she was doing this for,giving her the will to fight.
It's been a year since you've left the south pole. Being there with the shell of your lover was too much for you to handle.
Since you returned to Republic city you've been reunited with Bolin, helping Kuvira restore order to the earth kingdom.
It really took your mind off Korra. Now that you joined Kuvira, you got stronger. Unlike someone,you didn't let your trauma and past tragedies hunt you anymore.
"Well done (Name), you're getting stronger by the day." The dark haired woman smiles, hand laying on your shoulder proudly.
You wipe some sweat of your forehead, smiling back at her. "That's the goal I'm reaching for." She nods, looking at your form.
"I remember the first time Bolin introduced you to me and my cause." She wraps some bandages on her wrist, preparing to spar with you, "You were so lost." You watch her moves carefully, getting in a fighting stance.
"Im not the person I used to be." You speak,words giving you a sense of deja Vu.
Kuvira lounges , throwing some big stones at you. You grin, dodging them.
Once you find your opening,you make some ice disks and throw them at her.
Kuvira bends herself an earth wall,then throws it at you.
You make yourself a wave of water,going around Kuvira's wall, your water wave is circling the older woman. Once water is all around her ,you let it fall,and freeze, traping her in ice.
You move towards Kuvira's frozen body. "You cold in there?" A smug smile adorns your face as you slightly bend down to meet with her face. Your hands lazily lay on your knees.
She smirks,your metal collar suddenly pulled towards her. "Don't get to cocky now. It's just the first time you finally got to beat me. Let's try it with metal bending next time hm?"
You roll your eyes, releasing Kuvira from the Ice cage that kept her down. "I'm confident in myself,but not that confident yet." arms crossed as she rubbed some sore spots on her cold hands.
"Can't you have some faith in yourself?Keep going like this and you won't be far from becoming my second in charge." She smiles.
You smile proudly, happy you can finally accomplish something more for yourself.
.
.
Another year passed,with you growing stronger and smarter every day,but the taught of your former lover never ceased to fade. Even now ,her return growing closer by the day. You wonder how she's doing, from what Tenzin has told you,she's having a great recovery.so far. Finally able to walk again.
You worked hard to become Kuvira's right hand,and you're now closer to your goal than ever.
So many cities you helped bring back order and balance , so many lives you saved while being part of this cause.
Unfortunately, Kuvira soon has to step down from her spot,the council finding a new king for the earth kingdom while your boss brought peace wherever she went.
.
"Oh and Flying monkeys!" You blink, looking at Bolin. "Isn't that what Avatar Aang had ?" You raise a brow,not remembering how this conversation even started. "That is so incorrect." Bolin crosses his arms. Looking ready to give you a lecture. "Avatar Aang had a flying Lemur AND a bison as his animal companions. Not a flying monkey, (name)." You roll your eyes. "Whatever you say rock brain." You smirk noticing his anoyed expression. "Hey! How many times have I told you to stop calling me that?" He pokes you in the waist,making you joilt up. "Stop that!" You glare at him,poking him back.
The two of you go on like this for a little while, attracting a few stares to yourself.
Until someone clears their troath.
"Am I interrupting something?" Lin stands towering over you and Bolin, giving you a bored look. "Chief Beifong!" Bolin is quick to bow down, dragging you with him.
"You little-" you stop yourself, locking eyes with the police chief, now giving her an awkward smile.
"If the two of you are done acting like monkeys,could you follow me?" You and Bolin now stand straight, noticing Lin's mood is lower than usual.
"I can't stay for chit chatting,maybe (Name) could solve this? I remembered I was supposed to meet with mako,like 30 minutes ago." The brunette boy gives you a sorry smile as you glare at him. "How convenient." Your comment followed by narrowed eyes,sent chills down his spine. Bolin took a quick look at chief Beifong,then left.
"Good. I wanted to speak to you anyways." You raise a brow curiously at the older woman's words. "You did?I mean ,you do?" She nods,not saying another word until you get to a remote Cafe.
The two of you sit down in a corner, quite remote from the rest of the people in the public space.
"So ,what did you want to speak to me about Chief?" You start, looking at the window.
"It's about Kuvira." Your face turns to Lin as she got your interest.
"What about Kuvira?" You tilt your head.
"I'm worried she won't step down and allow the prince to rule the earth kingdom." Lin stops,as a waitress brought the two of you two cups of tea,"Kuvira seems to take great pride in what she accomplished,but I don't think she's willing to stop there. People of earth empire call her The Great Uniter." The chief looks at her mug, waiting for you to respond.
You fiddle with your fingers, searching for the right words to describe Kuvira's wishes. "She has done so much for the earth kingdom,and she's a strong woman,in combat and in mind,the name fits her ,if km honest."
You stop to drink a little from your (chosen) tea, "And I know it's not my place to talk but...ever since Korra is gone,the people see Kuvira as their savior."
Lin sighs, "Kuvira is forcing people to do labor work for her , threatening them with their lives." You whiden your eyes at the words spoken from her.
"I know how she can be..harsh,.but she wouldn't do such a thing." Your gaze moves to the window.
"She is manipulating you (Name), because she knows how strong you are. Should I also remind you how you used to date the avatar?." You close your eyes tightly, trying to push away the taughts of Korra. "Why do you think she chose to have you so close to her? If Korra ever becomes a problem for her,she'll have you as leverage." Lin's fist tightens, looking at your expression.
"It's not true. If you saw the way she acts...you wouldn't say that.Kuvira wouldn't just use me like that." She sighs at your way of defending Kuvira. How could you defend such a woman?
"Everything Kuvira does is for a reason,keep that in mind (Name)." Lin gets up and leaves some money on the table.
You remain there , trying to piece together your racing taughts.
.
And just like Lin said,once it was time for Kuvira to back down and allow the prince to rise,she made the announcement that from then on the earth kingdom would be under her rule.
The rule of The Great Uniter.
This got you contemplating ever joining her,it doesn't feel right with you.
Bolin chose to stick around,but you wanted to leave. Being in a situation like this was too much for you.
"So you planned to just abandon me?" The person you didn't want to see the most right now was behind you, leaning on your door frame.
"This isn't right,Kuvira." You stated, covering your arms as you turn to see her.
"This is exactly what's right for the earth kingdom. I can't let that spoiled Prince destroy everything we accomplished." She pushed herself of the door way, moving closer to you.
"It doesn't feel right,I can't fight for something that doesn't feel right with me." Kuvira sighs. She places a hand on your shoulder. "I know what I'm doing,but I can't do it without you by my side. We accomplished so many great things together." She starts slowly guiding you towards a window. "Just look at how much good we did" her hands point at the window. "The land is safe again, raiders are not attacking innocent people or stealing. What more could you ask?" you look at one of the cities she got back and supplied,it looks at peace. What if she was right?
You bite your lip, "What happens with the people after we leave?" Her eyes meet yours,
"We give them a job, something to do to make the earth kingdom a better place,even the raiders."
Even if your gut tells you not to trust her,your mind reminds you of the great things she did so far. Kuvira never left you down.
"Are you telling the truth to me?"
She smiles, holding eye contact with you.
"Why would I lie?"
.
.
This is getting out of hand, Kuvira wants to attack Zaofu, Suyin's home simply for not obeying her terms.
"Kuvira this is madness,you can't do this!" You enter the command center ,she dismisses the people that were in the room, leaving you two alone.
"No. It's necessary for me to do this. Once Zaofu finally surrenders to me I get total control of the earth empire."
You scoff at her words.
"Do you even hear yourself?" Pacing around the room,you can't help but glance at her troops just outside.
"I thought you were with me on this, remember everything we fight for." Her armor slightly clangs as she walks towards you.
"I fight to make this world a better place,you fight to take control and rule and empire, excuse me but there's a difference." You move away from her,scoffing at the taught of helping her bring Zaofu down.
Kuvira glares at the back of your head.
"I'm doing this because no one else was willing to. And I have to make some tough choices that many wouldn't,why can't you see?" The tall woman runs a hand trough her hair, trying to calm herself down.
Now it all makes sense,Lin was right and you were stupid for doubting her.
"I'm leaving and you can't stop me. Not this time." She sighs, once you start moving towards the door, two of her metal bands parts push you to the wall,hands stuck above your head.
"Let me go."you glare at her trying to get away from her metal.
"I expected better from you." She shakes her head disappointed. You look around the room, trying to find a water source, yet nothing in sight.or reach
"Lock her up tight. Make sure she gets no visitors." Kuvira calls for two of her guards.as they take you away,you see the shrinking image of Kuvira's disappointed face.
.
.
.
You watch as Korra fights with Kuvira for your life,and Suyin's.
She got so much better,but there's still something wrong with her you just know it.
Kuvira seems to have the upper hand,until Korra knocks her down. She was so close,but she hesitates suddenly, giving Kuvira the opportunity to trap Korra.
"No!" You scream,Kuvira turns her head to look at you,a smile adorning her face. Looking around desperately,you see a little source of water, hopefully close enough to you.
You move your hands that are tied behind your back to use the water,creating a razor form to slice trough Kuvira's metal.
You take off running, attacking Kuvira with spikes of ice.
The metal bender pushes herself away from Korra , creating a shield for herself.
Kuvira Is pissed,how could you escape? Are her soldiers good for nothing at all? More importantly,what are you going to do?
You create a big ice shield that goes all around to fit you and Korra trough,finally getting to touch her after so long.
"Korra please get up!" You cradle her head in your arms as her upper body lays on your thighs (Kuvira is jelly~~) she opens her eyes,bright blue eyes you would lose yourself in.
"I came back for you." She smiles touching your face lightly,fearing you might be another one of her illusions. Your eyes whiden, smiling at her words
"I shouldn't have left you in the first place." A tear falls on her face (imagine Kuvira trying to break the ice while those two have their moment ☠️)
"I didn't mean anything I said that day,I'm so sorry,I didn't mean to send you away." Korra gets up,now on her knees ,face to face with you. Her hands cup your face, staring at you lovingly." I Love you." Hearing those words,you jump on Korra,giving her a big hug.
You sniff, smiling at her. "We should really focus on getting out of this situation now." Your voice cracks as you joke.
Korra stands up,ready to fight once more, her will stronger than ever.
.
.
.
I originally wanted to write something else,but this plot came so I just rolled with it. ┐⁠(⁠ ⁠˘⁠_⁠˘⁠)⁠┌
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addictedball · 1 year
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OK! Now it’s suffering time!
Imagine Aang and Zuko slowly getting to know each other at the Western Air Temple and then naturally develop a relationship so pure and romantic that grows just like them.
But life happens, they have to heal the world that was marred by the war, they search for Zukos’s mother, they have to move forward and build families.
Then they have to make choices and maybe one of them is drifting apart or hide their love. In TLOK we get to see that Aang wasn’t the perfect father. Maybe some of his travels to the Fire Nation have something to do with it.
Ohh a forbidden love 💔
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awakefor48hours · 5 months
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Fun fact about the Avatar universe that I don’t see touched on often: Fire Lord Sozin made gay marriage illegal, meaning that gay marriage was illegal all throughout the original ATLA story
Source: The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars part 1
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thatonebirdwrites · 6 months
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Korrasami prompt: Romance
Asami derives the idea of dating Korra after she gives Korra her first driving lesson.
"I never had a girlfriend before," Korra says after they clear the air about Mako. However, Korra strangely follows it up with a quick, 'except Naga.' 
Asami is left pondering what Korra means for several days.
Is Korra saying she is in a romantic relationship with her polar bear dog? Or does she not know the full meaning of the term girlfriend?
Asami assumes the latter. The former is too strange and disturbing for her to dare let lose on her far too vivid imagination.
So Asami endeavors to teach Korra what girlfriend means. Her plan involves first approaching the subject to gather data, next she will implement her 'date Korra' strategy, and finally romance will blossom and grow into a happy ending. It is surely a fool-proof plan.
She tries approaching the subject subtlety, by asking if Korra enjoys going out on the town. (She does.) If Korra enjoys flowers (if there's food involved). What Korra is looking for in a romantic partner (someone badass who can keep up with her).
Asami hopes this gives Korra a clue she's interested.
It doesn't. Korra instead calls them delightful chats with a friend.
It's a trifle frustrating.
She decides perhaps gifting Korra something magnificent will help. Since her first airship, that she designed herself, was completed by the time airbenders started appearing, Asami decides this is the moment of truth.
Korra is elated. Then calls her the bestest friend one could have.
Asami is a trifle discouraged, but she is if anything relentless when she sets her sights on a goal.
Her next attempt involves offering Korra dinner in Omashu. Surely a candlelight dinner at a noodle restaurant will do the trick?
Korra tells the brothers, and they crash the attempted date. Her only solace is Korra sitting next to her, their legs practically touching. Asami does her best to make Mako as uncomfortable as possible. (She still hasn't forgiven him for refusing to tell Korra he broke up with her when Korra had partial amnesia. Nor for leading Asami and Korra on during that time. Plus making him squirm amuses her.)
Perhaps the right combination of flowers, noodles, and tickets to a musical in Zaofu would work as a clue?
Instead, Korra calls that a girl's night out and drags Opal and Jinora along, which Asami doesn't mind, but it defeats her plan of a romantic night that hopefully ends with a kiss.
Her next tactic involves borrowing a jeep in Zaofu to go for a picnic in the mountains.
That somehow ends with Korra challenging her to a sparring match, of which Asami wins.
Honestly, why she doesn't kiss Korra the moment she pins her to the grass leaves Asami frustrated with herself. Surely that would clue Korra into her attempts at romance? (Her nervousness at the possibility of a kiss ruining the fun she's having with Korra is what stops her.)
All of this is before Zaheer. Before the poisoning.
Before Asami fights her way to the airbenders, before she picks the locks on their chains, before Asami is tempted to zap Zaheer's head to shut him up, before Asami panics over whether Korra will live or not.
Taking care of Korra is the role Asami assigns herself. She insists on it.
Tonraq takes her aside on the airship to Zaofu. "Are you sure, Asami?" He looks concerned.
Asami nods. "I am sure. I will stay at her side as long as she has me."
Tonraq smiles at her and grasps her shoulder. "I'm glad she has you."
Asami considers this a sad victory. She has won the approval of Korra's father, even if Korra herself doesn't view her in a romantic way.
So Asami tirelessly and selflessly stays at Korra's side those few weeks in Zaofu and Air Temple Island. She helps Korra bathe and dress. Brushes and does her hair. Helps her into the wheelchair. Takes her outside to breathe fresh air at times. Reads books out loud to her to help her fall asleep. Tucks her in at night. (She is tempted to kiss Korra's temple each time. One night she gives in and does so.)
In the end, Korra decides to head South to see Katara.
Asami doesn't think twice. She offers to relocate South with Korra and aid in her recovery. She doesn't say the truth out loud to Korra -- that doing so would mean giving up everything she has in Republic City if Korra's stay in the South turns out to be more long-term, but Asami doesn't care.
Korra is what matters to her far more than anything else. That is when she realizes that she is hopelessly in love.
"No," Korra says that day at the docks, "I appreciate it, but I'll only be gone a couple of weeks. A little alone time will likely be good for me." Korra sounds dejected. Her entire frame droops forward, and she stares at her motionless feet. Asami squeezes her shoulders and accepts Korra's words.
The rejection stings, but Asami does her best to stay supportive. Korra is in pain. She's depressed. Likely doesn't know what to do with that request.
So Asami endeavors to write Korra often.
At first, she doesn't know quite what to write. Asami chews on the end of her pen and glares at the empty paper in front of her. Obviously, she can't just say, "Korra, I love you ,and I hope you feel my love across the distance, so that you know you're not alone."
That seems presumptuous and possibly too heavy.
Instead, she decides the best way to handle the situation would be to share about her day and how she feels about that.
Her first letter is written a week after Korra left for the South:
Dear Korra,
I never know how to start a letter, so I will jump into exactly how this day is going. At this moment, I sit at my desk within my office at Future Industries. Before me lies a large stack of paperwork that requires my review and signatures. I do not look forward to this. If someone had warned me that being CEO means mountains of paperwork, I might have stolen a plane and flown off into the sunset instead. But alas, I must do my duty and will do my best to survive. Wish me luck!
It is now close to lunchtime, the mountain of paperwork half done, but my break was sadly not at all interesting. I had several meetings this afternoon, except, Korra, have I mentioned how boring older men are? No hint of humor, dry blandness, and sterile suits that look like they bought new that day. Is that how they spend their salaries? What do they do with the old suits? Recycle them? Put them on display in the world's ugliest museum? I must listen and speak with authority, otherwise these egotistical and horribly uncreative duds would refuse to recognize that I am the CEO not them. So I've learned two dozen ways to politely tell them how terrifically awful their ideas for the company truly are.
Have I mentioned that they have no color sense? Who puts blue and orange together on a tie? It looked like a glaring florescent sign like those we saw in Ba Sing Se's Middle and Lower Rings.
After those meetings, I escape to the factories. There I am able to work alongside my employees. Perhaps the best part of the day. I inspect the lines, repair sections that failed to work, and assist newly hired employees with the finer details of construction. Walking and working with my employees like this makes me look more human to them. Like I'm approachable. I don't ever want to be that CEO that lives in some ivory tower and fails to offer their employees living wages and benefits to help them thrive.
Actually, one of workers on the line reminds me of you. She's from the Southern Water Tribe but a nonbender. She was so excited to meet me and had some excellent ideas about engine efficiency. I took her aside and we worked on an engine to test a few of her ideas, and I dare say, they worked! I am giving her a raise, and she's now on one of our engineering teams working to make her designs a reality. I love moments like that.
That actually gives me an idea. Since we are badly in need of sales still to break even, why not help get our name out in a good way? I'm going to set up community forums in the Dragonflats and Water Boroughs to teach engineering to anyone interested for free. Longer courses will be available at a very low price. Way cheaper than the university is my goal, maybe for the price of a noodle bowl once a month? We'll have a repair garage attached to the forums, and students can work with our engineers on repairs to see how it's done. What do you think?
I better close this up else I write you a novel!
Love, Asami
It's the word 'love' that has Asami hesitating on sending it, but in the end, she figures it can't hurt. Maybe if she's more blatant about her feelings Korra will eventually understand that Asami has been trying to date her this whole time. At the very least, the word will hopefully provide a comforting reminder that Korra is indeed loved. Asami desperately hopes Korra understands that truth.
She will gladly remind her with each salutation to her letters.
There is no reply to her initial letter, but this doesn't deter Asami. If anything, it makes her more determined. She decides on a schedule, sets time aside for updating the letter throughout the day, and a time to send it.
She determines that two times a week can suffice at first. If her schedule becomes too intensive with the rebuild Republic City project, then she will downgrade to once a week. She will not stand for less than once a week however.
Months pass, but Korra doesn't reply to her letters. At this point, it becomes a habit. She writes the letters and starts to become more free in what she says. At first, Korra's mother replies with a thank her for the letters, but that stops on month three.
By month seven, Asami wonders if something is wrong with the mail system. Maybe her letters are getting lost? Does she have the right address? She verifies with Tenzin, who offers to call Tonraq. Asami sits in on that call and learns that Korra hasn't written anyone back. In fact, she's closed in on herself.
This worries Asami.
Is there a way she can still help despite Korra's refusal to allow anyone close?
She decides to keep her schedule. It helps ease her own worry to write, and maybe the steadiness of her letters will aid Korra somehow too.
Part of this decision hinges on a conversation she had with Korra on the airship:
---
"Tenzin's schedules got no room for fun!" Korra throws her hands into the air, frustrated.
Asami leans against the balcony railing next to Korra. The wind blows her black hair backward, like a cape. "If you built the schedule, what would it look like?"
Korra looks startled. "Oh. Hmmm, maybe time for Naga, meditation, I guess we ought to do some airbending practice.... Ugh, okay, I'm terrible at them." She smiles, sheepishly. "I lose track of the time and day a lot. Easily get caught up in doing stuff, and then whoops, I failed to go to meditation or whatever."
Asami tilts her head and studies Korra. The sunlight on Korra's skin highlights the gorgeous copper undertones, and a hint of sweat glistens the hairline of Korra's chestnut-colored hair. Her wolftails dance with the touch of the wind. Asami simply cannot get enough of looking at Korra's bulging muscles, the curve of her breasts, or her deliciously muscular thighs.
This is not helpful for Korra. Asami blinks and focuses on Korra's eyes instead. "Did Tenzin start building schedules because of that then?"
Korra sighs. "Probably." Her blue eyes meets Asami's green, and for a moment, Asami's breath hitches in her throat. So unfair how utterly beautiful Korra looks all the time. "How do you manage it?"
Asami can't think the longer she looks into Korra's eyes. Her brain refuses to function. Instead she thinks only of how Korra's lips might taste. She forces herself to look at the mountains below them, while she grips the cold metal of the balcony tighter.
"Being CEO, I have to abide by a schedule, and honestly, I had one my entire life. Even as a child. So I am used to drafting one for each day. I made one for today actually."
"Really? Was our talk part of that?" Korra asks.
Asami blushes. "I always leave space on my schedule for you. I call it the spontaneity with Korra hour."
Korra grins. "Really?"
"Yes." Asami says, firmly. "It's what I call a floating hour. My schedules aren't as strict as Tenzin's. I tend to have one thing that cannot be altered, that item grounds my day, then I build up the tasks that need to be done and set them around that root. I need to be flexible since emergencies can and often do happen."
"Oh, you know, I like that. Having one thing that roots everything else, and float the other stuff around it." Korra taps her chin. "Maybe I can convince Tenzin to adapt to that."
Asami laughs. "Good luck. He seems as stubborn as you."
Korra crosses her arms over her chest. "Stubborn? I'm not stubborn. I'm...." She struggles to find a word, only to sigh and slump against the balcony's railing. "All right, you got me."
The next day, Asami makes it her goal to find a root to help anchor Korra. This becomes more urgent when she listens to Korra complain of her failed attempt to convince Tenzin. Asami takes it upon herself to soften him to the idea, until he gives in and tasks her with making the schedules. (Korra sees the newly pinned schedules as her finally convincing Tenzin, and Asami doesn't have the heart to correct this.)
---
So Asami continues to write weekly to Korra. Perhaps this root will help stabilize things for Korra? She hopes so.
A year passes with no reply. Asami is frustrated, worried, and grieving. She wonders if it was something she said or did. Maybe Korra hates her letters?
On the day of Asami's birth, one year and two months after Korra left, Asami fails to write her weekly letter.
Instead, after work, she buys several bottles of whiskey and drives to the mansion. She parks far from the entrance to avoid being seen my Mako's family. The sun sets to a glaze of red and gold, stars start to shine in the night sky, and Asami glances at it and feels only despair.
She unlocks the workshop that holds the entrances to her father's hateful underground factory, steps inside, and locks the door behind her. The room has not changed since that fateful day she turned on her father. The floor is still ripped up above the trap doors, and the shelves are still full of workshop supplies. She opens the trap doors. The darkness of the factory looms like the maw of a hideous mouth. A suitable mockery of her birthday she supposes. She sits on the steps and drinks the whiskeys, wallowing in grief.
Her company still struggles to make sales. Although the construction projects are going well, the city rarely meets its financial obligation in their contract. This makes it difficult to pay her workers, and she has decides to take only ten percent of her usual salary and bonuses in order to make sure all her workers are paid a living wage no matter what. In turn, she dips deep into her remaining savings to keep up with the taxes on her estate, the upkeep of her satomobile, and the cost of her new penthouse she'd bought three months prior.
For her friends and loved ones, their lives deviate from her own in painful ways. She receives nothing from Korra. Bolin leaves to assist Kuvira. Mako dives headfirst into investigator work, and the Air Nation works hard to help people all over the world.
Asami feels cut off and lost. She drinks an entire bottle of whiskey, and tosses the bottle down the stairs. It clatters against the wall and shatters on the bottom step. She uncaps the next bottle and raises it in a toast.
"To the eternal autumn that is the Sato name! Grief and despair seems to be our fate. May this one day be broken."
She drinks that bottle too and throws it.
It shatters on the third step.
She calls in sick to work to recover from the epic hangover. Asami decides it best to tell no one of this incident.
Two weeks after her birthday, she receives a surprise in the mail. A letter with the postmarking of the Southern Water Tribe.
Hope crashes through her, and she sprints into the residential building, staggers into the elevator, and takes it to her penthouse. She rips open the letter by the time she reaches her door and has to juggle her keys with the letter to unlock. Leaning against the door, Asami unfolds the letter.
Dear Asami,
This is Senna. First, I wanted to express heartfelt thanks for your steadiness and kindness with writing Korra. I know it may be frustrating to not hear from her.
Second, are you all right? We missed your letter this past week, which was unusual. Korra wanted to write and ask if you were okay, but she was unable to put words to paper. I offered to assist, which is why I am writing you today.
I hope this letter finds you well. If you need anything, please feel free to ask myself, Tonraq, or Tenzin. I'm sure we can provide support. Be safe, Asami.
Senna
Tucked inside the letter is a folded origami triangle, which is the start of a crane. Nothing is written on the origami, and Asami isn't sure if Korra folded it or if Senna or Tonraq did. Maybe Katara? She inspects it thoroughly, but she cannot find any clue as to why it was included. Despite this, she carries it with her to work to display on her desk in honor of Korra.
The letter, itself, is a balm to her soul. Her weekly letters did impact Korra. Enough to cause worry.
Asami hates the idea that she causes Korra worry.
She endeavors to repair this immediately and sends a reply that is not at all part of her schedule. (She decides she'll restart her schedule that week, so Korra will end up with two letters for the week.)
Dear Korra, Senna, and Tonraq,
Thank you for your concern. I apologize for causing you worry! I never meant to do so. I am sorry for that. It has been a rough week for me. My birthday was this past week, and it brought sour memories of my father. I am okay now. I suppose the grief of that hits me hard during my or my former parents' birthdays, and I admit, I am unused to seeking assistance or support. So thank you again for checking in on me.
I plan to continue my schedule. I hope it helps to anchor you all. Give you a root on which to build your own days and hopes.
Much love to you all, Asami
Within a week and a half, Asami receives a reply to her spontaneous letter.
Dear Asami,
I understand how hard birthdays can be. I too struggle with grief on the birthday of my late mother. She died when I was a teenager from a lung disease that couldn't be cured. So I understand how hard grief can hit. No need for you to apologize. That is perhaps my message for you. Never apologize for your feelings. Your feelings are valid.
Feel free to write me further if you find it helpful.
Take care, Senna
Asami is so touched by Senna's reply, that she reexamines her schedule. Perhaps writing Senna can be added to it?
She decides to continue her weekly schedule for Korra, but adds another schedule, where she writes Senna twice a month. She is a little worried this is presumptuous of her, but Senna's letters did offer this twice now. So why not?
To Asami's shock, Senna does reply to her letters. She does not mention Korra. She instead describes the landscape of the South (mostly glaciers and mountains, where trees are rare, Asami learns), some of her duties as the wife of the Chief (surprisingly she does a lot of negotiation), and asks questions about Asami's work.
One of Senna's suggestions sends Asami to the Air Nation to check on their needs. This, in turn, causes Asami to build an airbending glider suit, which she leverages Future Industries resources to build. It is a rousing success among the Air Nation, and Jinora demands Asami start visiting more often.
This is why Asami finds herself scheduling time for dinner with Jinora and her family twice a month. The connection warms her heart.
When one year and five months have passed, Asami finds herself frustrated with work. Frustrated at how sales continue to flounder. Frustrated by Raiko being a jerk about her community forums. (He calls them 'useless time wasters when those attending ought to be working.' The gall of the man! Asami decides to open up more forums and builds a few homeless shelters just to spite him.)
More than anything else, Asami finds herself frustrated by Korra's lack of reply, and frustrated with herself for not being able to handle the silence. Korra is likely struggling with so much. Why should Asami expect Korra to have energy to reply to her inane ramblings?
After a particularly hard day at work, Asami returns to the mansion's workshop, opens the trapdoor, and drinks an entire bottle of whiskey. She sings a song she vaguely remembers her mother singing to her. Her father has also sung it whenever they visited her grave, but he stopped when Asami was eleven.
So she sings it to herself as she drinks and tosses crumpled up love letters to Korra into the darkness of the factory entrance.
"Winter, spring, Summer and fall.
Winter, spring, Summer and fall
Four seasons, Four loves.
Four seasons, For love."
Part of Asami is tempted to go down and smash things. Maybe rip apart what is left of the vile factory, wreck destruction in a way she'd never done before, but she can't bring herself to do this.
Asami Sato is an engineer. She fixes things. She doesn't break things.
Instead, she drinks the bottle and tosses it down the steps. It lands far enough away that she can't hear if it shatters or not.
She does not describe this day in her letter to Korra.
By the second year, Asami is lost in depression. Keeping to her schedule has become incredibly hard. She has managed to persevere this long. Surely, she can keep going, right?
She wonders if she loves a ghost.
Will Korra ever return?
By this point, Asami's whiskey drinking on the steps of the underground factory has become a monthly activity. She makes sure she is not seen by Mako's family -- how could she explain it? -- she verifies a radio is playing somewhere, and she locks the workshop door behind her. The trapdoor pulls up easier each time.
She is unsure of how much shattered glass lies at the bottom of these steps nor how many crumpled up love letters. (She's a little afraid to check.)
On the third day of the second year, Asami goes to the workshop for her monthly drinking. She sings sadly to the looming maw of darkness, drinks far too much whiskey, and passes out on the floor of the workshop. When she wakes in the morning, she has a massive hangover. One that leaves her confused as to where she even is.
For a terrifying moment, she's convinced she's been kidnapped. Only for her to hear the sounds of Mako's family shouting nearby about breakfast. That roots her in her reality, and she realizes she fell asleep in the workshop. How embarrassing.
The sink in the workshop doesn't work, which is frustrating. Asami hasn't needed it before, nor has she included the upkeep of this workshop in the duties of her mansion's staff. (She's actually written rules that forbid them from entering this place, and keeps it locked.)
Asami sneaks out to her satomobile. When she reaches her penthouse at the residential building near Future Industries, she is feeling terrible, her head pounds, and she wishes she could be swallowed by the earth.
But she must focus on recovery since she has work the next day. It will be a big day. Several of the road projects will be completed, and she must do a press conference with that hideous Raiko. (Asami hates press conferences with Raiko. He insists on shaking her hand and putting his hand at the small of her back for a photo every time. He is lucky to not get punched after.)
Asami then discovers a surprise in her mailbox. A white and blue letter leans against the side of the box. It has a Southern Water Tribe postmark.
Except the handwriting doesn't match Senna's.
Asami is far too hungover to process the script on the letter's envelope. She thinks perhaps she is delusional.
She decides to leave it on her kitchen counter and shower instead. (Hot water is excellent for distilling thoughts into coherent ideas.)
When she returns to the kitchen, her hair wrapped in a towel, she notes how the letter continues to take up counter space. The print writing is still not Senna's handwriting. Asami doesn't know what Tonraq's handwriting is like. She decides it must be his. Though why he would write her is not something her hungover-addled brain can fathom.
She decides to make breakfast first and drink as much water as she can stomach. After she eats her oatmeal and eggs, she cleans the dishes and puts them away. Getting out a book, she tries to read in the armchair by her balcony door. Her headaches causes her to fall asleep.
By lunchtime, the letter has not moved. It is still in the same spot with that same handwriting.
Asami wonders if the letter is daring her to open it.
Is she afraid of a letter?
How ridiculous! She is Asami Sato. CEO of Future Industries, listed as one of the top philanthropists in the Republic Times (that award was just four months prior), and a local community leader. A letter does not scare her.
She takes a deep breath and snatches it off the counter. Her finger rips it open.
Inside is a folded piece of paper and again that origami triangle, except this time, it's much closer to being a full crane.
Asami unfolds the letter and promptly drops it on the counter.
Korra's name is in the salutation.
Asami has to sit down.
Korra has written her back. She truly has written her back.
Asami feels like she's soaring high, where all the spirits in the world sing the love song her parents had sung so often when she was a child.
Korra has written her back! What joy! What delight! Asami grins and swoons at the sight of Korra's meticulously written characters.
She picks up the letter again to read.
Dear Asami,
I'm sorry I haven't written to you sooner, but every time I've tried, I never know what to say. The past two years have been the hardest of my life. Even though I can get around fine now, I still can't go into the Avatar State. I keep having visions of Zaheer and what happened that day.
Katara thinks a lot of this is in my head, so I've been meditating a lot, but sometimes I worry I'll never fully recover.
Please don't tell Mako and Bolin I wrote to you and not them. I don't want to hurt their feelings, but it's easier to tell you about this stuff. I don't think they'd understand.
Yours, Korra
Asami can't stop the tears from flowing. She pulls out her handkerchief and weeps. She wishes she could hold Korra. To kiss her forehead. To remind her that she is worth everything and that she can defeat this. She can recover.
In the end, Asami decides she cannot wait for her schedule day to write. She responds right away.
Dear Korra,
I understand. Don't worry about how long it took. I will always be here to support you. And don't worry! I won't speak a word of this to Mako or Bolin. I will continue my weekly schedule, but I wanted to get this to you as soon as I could. So you knew that I hear you and I understand. Recovery is hard.
Love, Asami
Asami stares at her letter and thinks of how inane it feels. It doesn't come close to summing up how she feels. She thinks again of Korra's worry about the Avatar state, and wonders if she can help with that. She doesn't truly understand how the Avatar state works, but perhaps she can do some preliminary research? Would that help Korra through this?
When Asami sees a problem, it immediately makes her want to seek a solution, but she doesn't know if that is wise for this.
In the end, she sends the letter as is. She continues her weekly schedule, but she adds in time for brainstorming. She visits every library in the city and Air Temple Island. She reads about chi pathways, chakras, and prior Avatars. She learns about how acupuncture opens up the chakras, and how this effects bending. She ponders if this can be turned into a way for Korra to still have the Avatar state without the Avatar state.
She decides to take the glider suite design and add in an acupuncture design to the back. Between meetings and mountains of paperwork, she works on this in the workshop in front of her office. Occasionally, one of her department managers asks her about the project, and she only levels a 'don't you dare test me' glare at them. The interrupter slinks away ashamed. It takes her most of the month to complete.
When she visits Air Temple Island for her second dinner of the month, she asks Jinora to chat with her in the meditation pavilion.
"Would you like to test an idea for me?" Asami is both excited and nervous.
Jinora grins at her. "Sure!"
"Really? I haven't even explained what it is." Asami is taken aback at Jinora's blind trust.
Jinora laughs. "It's you asking. Why wouldn't I say yes? I know you'd never hurt me."
Asami hopes that is the case. "Well, I have a prototype glider suit for you. Can you wear it for three days and write down your observations for me? If you find it uncomfortable or if something goes wrong, please call me immediately. I'll drop everything for this, okay?" She reaches into her backpack and takes out the suit. She has specifically designed it for Jinora's build.
Jinora takes it and looks it over. "Why is the back so hard?" She taps her fist against the spine of the suit.
"That's the acupuncture spine. It's meant to open your chakras." Asami is very nervous now. "At least, that's what I read. We'll see what if it works."
Jinora smiles. "All right. I'll do it."
Asami leaves the island feeling like she's on cloud nine. Maybe her wacky idea might actually work.
She receives the call during one of her meetings. Her assistant, Tariq, rushes into the room. His blue eyes are wide, his brown skin flushed likely from running down several flights of stairs to the meeting room. He gasps out, "Ms. Sato, you said if Jinora called to alert you immediately."
Asami stands. "Thank you, Tariq." She turns to the engineering team. "Excuse me, I must attend this emergency. We will reschedule." 
She rushes up the four flights to her office to take the call. Jinora sounds panicked, and talks far too fast for Asami to make sense of on the phone. 
"I'll be right there," Asami assures her and hangs up. Grabbing her keys, she swaps out her dress shoes for her sturdier boots and sprints to the elevator. The drive takes far longer than she prefers, and finding a spot to park her precious blue satomobile also eats up minutes.
On the ferry, Asami frets over whether her idea has hurt Jinora. She wouldn't be able to bear it if it did.
When she walks up the path from the docks, she is shocked to see several fully grown trees torn up by their roots laying across the path. A large clearing now exists where that grove of trees once stood. Jinora sits on one of the trunks holding the suit, her head downcast.
"Asami!" She looks up relieved. "You came!"
"What... what happened?" Asami stares flabbergasted at the destruction. At least the trees hadn't hit the buildings?
Jinora stands and hands her the suit. "I... I wore this and tried to air bend, but I couldn't control it. It was way powerful, far more than I'd ever felt in my life." She looks sad and kicks at the ground. "I'm sorry I couldn't do the full experiment. Dad forbid me from wearing it again."
Asami looks down at the suit and comes to the conclusion that this is perhaps the worst idea she ever had.
But it would be a funny postscript for Korra. Best to not explain the why however.
She adds it to her next letter. "P.S. Jinora and I did an experiment. However, things went awry. We accidentally tore up an entire grove of fully grown trees. Tenzin was furious. However, I think our remodeling added a beautiful clearing for picnicking."
Asami doesn't expect a reply. It has been three months since Korra's last letter.
To her surprise, a letter from the Southern Water Tribe shows up in her mailbox a week later.
Dear Asami,
What the spirits was this experiment? That sounds amazing. I wish I could have seen that. I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time. I could just picture Tenzin's face red with fury. Bet there was steam coming out his ears too.
It got me thinking. Do you think I've been in the South too long? If maybe that's why I'm stuck in my healing? I haven't made any progress since my last letter, and it's been eating me up. But your letter got me thinking that maybe I do need a change of scenery. My own remodeling maybe?
What do you think?
Yours, Korra
Asami is delighted to learn she caused Korra to laugh. However, Korra's question makes Asami wonder if now is the time to reveal her truth. She so badly wants Korra to return to Republic City. She wants to take Korra out on a date still, maybe even go on an adventure in the wilds to do some experiments with chakras (Asami hasn't quite let go of ways to help Korra find her Avatar spirit again).
But part of her holds back out of fear that Korra doesn't return her feelings.
Sure, Korra signs these letters with 'yours' but Asami doesn't know if that is a friendship-y 'yours' or a romantic 'yours.' In fact, Asami hasn't ever written someone like this before, so she doesn't know how friends sign letters. Business contacts use 'sincerely,' so that isn't any help.
Asami decides to play it safe. She will admit to Korra having her heart, but that is the most she will do. Surely, that won't scare her away? She doesn't want Korra to stop writing after all.
Dear Korra,
I want to say come here to Republic City, but I also know you need to feel ready to do that. So please do not see this as me trying to convince you to come back. I want you to now that whatever you decide, I will always support you. You have my word and my heart.
Whenever I am stuck on an idea, which feels often of late especially with how difficult things are with Future Industries, I will take a day and go hiking in the mountains. There in the wilderness I find a solace that can't be captured elsewhere. Nature has such beauty and wonder hidden around every bend.
Did you know that fractals are perhaps the most common type of growth among plants and fungi? They are a perfect repeating geometric pattern that is everywhere. I bring my magnifying glass sometimes to examine leaves, mushrooms, even rocks, and all have these lovely patterns.
This excites my imagination. Then when I reach the peak, I stand at the edge and take in the breadth of the world. I can see for kilometers in all directions. Did you know that one of the tallest peaks in Republic Nation is Mount Makapu and is within a day journey by Satomobile? That one is my favorite to climb. It sits on a peninsula that overlooks Yue Bay and the ocean. I can see so far, and I can touch the clouds. (Clouds are so wet. I know scientifically they are made of water crystals condensed into fog form, but it's quite different to physically feel such a thing on my fingertips).
It reminds me of our airship adventures. Where we wandered the Earth Kingdom, sparring, laughing, and having great fun. Perhaps that is what you need?
Sometimes a journey requires more than a step. You took a big leap to go South for healing, but now you face the next step of your journey.
I have hope that no matter where that next step leads you, you will find your way. It will be hard at first. Just as climbing a mountain is hard. (Let me tell you, if you don't get the right boots, your feet will hate you forever! So make sure you have good hiking boots!) Each step up the mountain gets harder, especially at higher elevations when there is far less oxygen. This makes the journey very, very hard.
But to stand there at the top of the world? It is worth the hardship and pain.
I think you are still climbing that mountain. You have not yet reached the peak, but you will, Korra, you will. And when you are ready to climb back down, I will be here to offer you a hug and a heartfelt congratulations at such a marvelous achievement.
And if you want someone to accompany you on this next stage of your climb, you have only to ask. I will gladly take leave to walk that with you.
May this letter inspire you to new heights. And remember, you have my support always.
Love, Asami
Asami again doesn't expect a reply. She, however, continues her schedule. Writing Korra is perhaps one of the few things that gets her through her long days.
She often finds herself in Avatar Korra park (this was the first thing she built, she is proud to say) and sits by the statue to draw. Sometimes, she comes late at night to sit between Korra's legs and whisper her secrets to the stone (she hopes she is less likely to be recognized at night).
During this time, the bureaucrats in charge of the city's contract keep being very dodgy about paying the full amount owed, and she is tired of this song and dance to get them to follow through. Her company badly needs the money.
At least sales has improved somewhat thanks to her efforts with community forums. She finds that the lower income boroughs have lots of interesting engineering ideas. This delights her. For some of the more promising ones, she offers to help realize their designs with a contract. She can't afford to pay them full time, but she can at least sub contract with them part time to fund their projects. This is well received by the public, and Asami can't help but preen with pride at how helpful it has been for people.
She eagerly shares these successes with Korra in her letters. For the bureaucrats, she mocks them in what she hopes is an amusing way. She badly wants to hear Korra laugh, but this she supposes is the next best thing.
At two years and five months, Asami receives a third letter from Korra. She has had a long day at the office and construction sites dealing with emergencies. Plus, she keeps getting letters from her father (why is he writing her at all? The memory of him trying to kill her haunts her dreams far more than she'll ever admit.) All of this grief and frustrations tempts her with heading to the mansion workshop to drink it all away.
Instead, she opens her mailbox to find the letter.
She barely reaches her penthouse before she has torn it open.
Dear Asami,
I don't know what I'd do without you. Honestly, you're the best thing that's ever happened in my life.
I've thought long and hard about your letters, especially the one about mountain climbing. I think you're right. I do need to take this next step, and I think I know what to do. But I need you to do something for me. I know this will be hard, and it's not fair to you. Especially with how kind you are. With how devoted and steady you've been despite my lack of replies. I am probably being selfish, aren't I?
But I don't think I can do this without knowing you have my back. Can you stop writing me in exactly one month from the postscript of this letter? I need everyone to think I am returning at that time. Please tell no one of this letter.
I promise that I'll come back to you. I just need more time. I need to finish that metaphorical mountain climb, and when I reach the peak, I hope I will find my Avatar state there. Thank you for being here for me. I hope to see you soon.
Love, Korra
Asami stares at the letter. Her fingers hover over the word 'love.'
What is Korra planning? Asami thinks through her last few letters, and then abruptly remembers the one she'd written in reply to Korra's questions.
Korra is going on a journey somewhere. She asks Asami to not share with anyone what Asami now knows. For Korra to entrust her with this? Asami's heart swells with love.
She will honor Korra's request.
Asami continues her schedule for one month and promptly ends it. She tells no one of Korra's final letter to her.
At two years and six months, Asami must attend the train station reveal and deal with President Raiko. (She really hopes he doesn't do that touching of her back while shaking her hand. She decides she'll step hard on his foot if he does. Maybe she'll break one of his toes. It'd serve him right.)
The crowd is surprisingly large. Reporters hog the front viewing area with their large, lumbering cameras and pen and paper. Asami is anxious but relieved to learn she doesn't need to speak. (She really doesn't like public speaking.) Instead, she smiles and cuts the stupid, red ribbon with the biggest and most ungainly scissors she's ever seen.
She hopes this is all she needs to do. The mingling after the ceremony goes significantly easier. Nod, smile, pretend to care about the inane ramblings of uninteresting people. Honestly, Korra is the only person Asami could happily listen to ramble. Certainly not stiff business people in their overly tailored suits, greasy hair, and badly chosen tie colors. She's mastered the 'pretend to care' expression due to her time as CEO.
At least, it would have been easy if not for Prince Wu. He corners her to her irritation, then blatantly hits on her. This makes her want to stab his eyeballs or maybe stab her own. Then he calls himself a super human, and she can't help but roll her eyes.
No, the only superhuman is Korra.
To her relief, Mako comes to her rescue. She could hug him. (Not kiss him, that is only for Korra, and she knows Mako well enough that even a kiss on the cheek would confuse him. She is not interested in him and will never be interested in him again. That ship sailed long, long ago. Korra is the only one who has her heart.)
Mako mentions Korra's return.
Asami can't look him in the eye. She knows the truth. So she looks at the ground, and says what needs to be said, "I can't wait to see her." For that is the truth, but when she will see Korra, Asami doesn't know.
Later that day, the boat from the Southern Water Tribe pulls into Air Temple Dock. Asami sits on a bench at the top of the path and watches, knowing Korra will not be there. Naga is however, which makes Asami wonder if Korra has decided to be incognito.
The others panic at first. They talk of searching for Korra.
Asami decides to go play with Naga before she loses her temper at how ridiculous everyone is being. She is tempted to tell them all off and demand they trust Korra's intentions. But she simply cannot take that risk.
Naga is delighted to see her. Nearly knocks her over. Asami decides to incorporate visits with Naga into her schedule. She decides on three times a week. For her, Naga is a fragile connection with Korra, the person she loves most in the world. This is the least she can do for Korra.
Tonraq finds her in the clearing -- the same one Jinora had made by accident during Asami's suit experiment -- and he watches her throw the ball for Naga for awhile. Asami is nervous at first, but slowly relaxes when he doesn't try to interrogate her.
Except, his next words breaks Asami's calm. "Asami, I wanted to ask. Korra wrote you, didn't she?"
Asami doesn't want to lie to Korra's father. Not after all her work to prove herself to him. "She did."
"What did she tell you?"
Asami turns and meets his gaze. She sees the worry in his expression, the furrow in his brows. Korra has his eyes and nose, she realizes. "Tonraq, you are asking that I betray Korra's trust. I can't do that."
His lips twitch in an almost smile. "I understand. May I ask if you are worried? Of all of us, you are the most calm."
Asami is worried. She can't help it. Not knowing where Korra is, or if she is safe drives Asami to distraction. But Korra has asked for her word and her trust. Asami gives it readily to her. "I do worry, but I cannot and will not speak further on this."
Tonraq studies her for a long moment. She finds herself holding her breath and hopes she hasn't made an enemy out of Korra's father.
To her relief, he reaches out and grasps her shoulder. "Thank you, Asami, for being there for my daughter. She couldn't have a better pa-friend."
Asami smiles and bows her head in reply.
When he walks away to join the others, she looks after his tall figure and wonders if the word he meant to say was 'partner.' EDIT: Got it up on AO3 now.
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kilo-charlie7 · 6 months
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Some chats about Lin in discord led to this angsty sketch. We were discussing how if an officer was ever KIA, Lin would’ve visited the family herself to share the news. I immediately pictured Lin handing back a badge to that officer’s wife. 😩
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freciunia · 13 days
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LIN BEIFONG SACRIFICE
this scene broke my heart so many times..
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wilcze-kudly · 22 days
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I haven't yet checked if this aligns with the timeline but in my head Lin and Tenzin's relationship fell apart very soon after Aang's death.
Like I think they were actually very good together, which may also be the reason they're so bitter now. But Aang's death would have crushed Tenzin but also added to the pressure of having to continue the Air Nomad legacy.
Like you're not only dealing with grief from your father dying but also 'oh fuck I'm the last airbender fuck fuck' and since Lin didn't want children, I think that's where the cracks would start to show
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nerdycanible1 · 2 days
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Heyo! Anyone want some Lin Fanart? :D
Here you go!
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I'd like to think this is right after Suyin hurt her and Lin may or may be blinded 👀💧
I'm not exactly good with expressions but I wanted to show Lin in both pain but also the anger and hate in her eyes.
All art belongs to me. If reposted plz credit!
Accidentally written a little one shot that's horrible. I meant to take a nap but just sat in my living room typing this and munching on food!
Enjoy- tho I doubt it'll be good 💀
Suyin would undoubtedly be upset she hurt her sister, but wouldn't be prepared to see this expression. An expression she's never seen on Lin before and is possibly ingrained in her mind forever.
Suyin would go to help Lin but Lin would refuse to let Suyin any closer and literally build a wall preventing Suyin from getting close.
Toph shows up and asking what happened, comforts Suyin upon feeling the little ones erratic heart beating all before Suyin tells her mother she's sorry and that Lin's hurt.
Toph goes to see what happens and all she hears is Lin barking at the healer to just do what they can and a slam of a door closing. Toph could sense something is wrong with Lin and can tell she'd faint at any moment if she don't step in only for Lin to hold her hand up at her mother and tells her, "Not now."
Before Toph could say anything Lin tosses her metal coils down on the ground and telling Toph that they'd need to be upgraded and that it's best for everyone in the facility to get them reworked.
Lin's face begins to swell up, the blood is trickling onto the ground and the healer helplessly following Lin around as she's barking orders but is starting to sway and almost faint.
Toph ends up freezing Lin in her place with her metal armor just to help the poor healer out and demands Lin to tell her what happened.
Lin straining too much and only just begins to fall to her knees as she can't fight against her mother in the state she's in, her heart aches, her face feels in agony and she feels ready to fall asleep.
The next thing she knows, she wakes up in a dimly lit room. She could smell the incense and the sandal wood and the light smell of spring in the air. She could hear yelling down the hallway between her aunt and mother, Suyin screaming that it was Lin's fault and of course the numbing pain on Lin's face.
She knew what happened and knew how bad the wound was. She didn't need a healer to tell her how bad the wound was because she felt it, could already sense her other senses strengthening.
With a sigh the metalbender slowly turned her head which made the blood in her head pump and practically caused her brain to ache as she tried to look out the window.
It took too long for Lin to focus and could see the sun had set a bit ago. She'd sit up and leave if she could but just the thought of it hurt Lin's head and she didn't want to go through that pain.
"We don't arrest family!!"
"And look what happened! Agni Toph, Lin got hurt and Suyin's in shambles! I'm not asking you to arrest Suyin I'm just asking you to help her. Ground her! She needs a mother Toph, not an absent one!"
"If I need any advice from you I'd ask! It's just a scratch, Beifong's don't get hurt!-"
"Mom?-"
"-And what do you know about raising kids Sugar Queen? Your two oldest couldn't wait to leave you and where are they now?!"
"-Aunt Katara?-"
"-That's not fair and you know it! They're grown up! Let them do as they and ex- you know what? Forget it! Since you're blind to see what's in front of you I'll tell you! Lin hates you and you don't know why! You're so concerned about your job, about your name, about your position, about metalbending that you forgot what's important!"
"And what's so important huh?!"
"That Lin is important too!"
The silence is what stung Lin the most. Maybe it was the hesitance or maybe the fact that her mother took a whole 10 seconds to finally respond. It was enough for Lin to realize her mother never saw Lin on any level of importance in a very long time.
"So what. She's a big girl, she doesn't need me. She didn't need me when she started tying her shoes, she don't need me now."
Lin sighed felt tears prickle in her eye before quietly crawling out of bed and out the window. She made her way down to the beach and sat down mauling over her aunt and mother's words.
Maybe her mother was right. Maybe Lin was the first to start pushing everyone away. Maybe she forgot what family was. It would make sense why her mother and younger sister were close and how she wasn't. Maybe Lin stopped being apart of the family once she realized she was nowhere near the same as them. When she was the one ruining their fun and becoming a "party pooper."
And even if that was true, even if it were very much apparent, it didn't hurt any less. People used to tell her how much her mother and her were alike. Nicknaming her Little Toph or Tiny Beifong. That she was going to be just like her mother and become a great metalbender.
She thought that since she looked like her mother, became an officer like her mother, bent the same stones as her mother, that she and her would share a bond. A bond that no one would understand but them.
It hurt her once Suyin was born, it was like Toph and her clicked right away and suddenly Lin wasn't Little Toph anymore. She became Miss cranky pants or miss you're-not-Suyin's-mom. She was no longer little Chief but an annoyance to her and her mother. A nag that ruined the fun.
The more people saw Suyin and Toph together the more they said Suyin was exactly like her. Rough, abrasive, strong, stubborn and a powerful metalbender.
A metalbender. Lin just realized why her mother favored Suyin over her. It was because Suyin was a great metalbender. Maybe that's why she loved Suyin more than her.
Lin ran her fingers through the coarse sand and stared up at the moon. Was she always this different? Was she ever in the spotlight to begin with? Lin didn't know but she knew she'd have to accept that she'll never be good enough. Even as she thought these things, Toph was probably taking care of Suyin because she was upset.
Maybe one day Lin would be a true Beifong and everything will be fixed. One day where she was just liked her mother and sister and they could be happy. One day where she didn't become a buzz kill.
Maybe one day she'll be a great metalbender that was worth her mother's time. She just hoped it was soon rather than later. She didn't want to be the only one left behind.
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melmalone · 8 months
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i don't wanna think about it
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Pairing: Lin Beifong x Kyoshi Warrior!Reader
Word Count: 5.4 k
Inspired by: "oh GOD" by Orla Gartland
Requested: "Can you write Lin x Reader where R is in love with Lin and Lin didn't realized she was also in live with R. Not until Lin was jealous when she saw Kya is making a move to R. 🥺🤭 (is it confusing? 😅 Anyway, yeah semi angst or pure angst )"
Summary: You've had feelings for Lin forever, but it takes her until someone else notices you for her to realize that she feels exactly the same way about you.
Author's Note: Repost from my old account! Playing catch-up with this new Tumblr account.
Legend of Korra Masterlist. | Navigation. | Requests Closed!
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When there was an urgent call about a disturbance at the Republic City Rift, there were plenty of people Lin figured would be there: Korra, the Airbenders, the guy who claimed to own the land - the list could go on. She wasn't expecting the Kyoshi Warriors, though.
She wasn't expecting you, hog-monkey-tying the latest leader of the Triple Threat Triad. Maybe most people would have struggled to recognize one person among the other green-clad warriors in water-resistant face paint, but as soon as she saw the familiar uniforms, Lin's eyes darted straight to your unique headdress. She gravitated towards you, trying to tell herself it was solely because of the Triple Threat you were gagging with a green sash to shut him up.
Really, though, she was glad to see a familiar face, one without a complicated history. You were honest, a reliable friend, a devoted warrior who had her own priorities and life, and you were always pleasant to boot, even in Lin's grizzlier moments. Sure, she was closer with Suyin and there were more good memories with Tenzin and Pema as her friends now, but everything with you had always been so easy. You and her went together like cherry-berry lemonade and watermelon juice.
"Chief Beifong," you said cheerfully as you kept the delinquent squirming beneath you still by pressing his shoulder blade firmly to the ground with your boot. "What a lovely surprise seeing you here."
"I think the bigger surprise is seeing you," she chuckled, looking around at your fellow Warriors dragging the other Triple Threats to police custody. After you hoisted the kid previously under your boot up, she took hold of him. "Is Kyoshi Island safe without you all to protect it?"
"It's certainly safer than this rift without us here."
Lin put her free hand on her hip as she looked around at the airbenders who'd been caught up in the fight while protecting the rift. A couple were injured, but nothing too bad. "And just how is the rift unsafe?"
"Izumi's kid--- Iroh--- telegraphed a message about how Raiko is considering calling in the United Forces to stop the Air Nation from preventing people like Wonyong Keum from claiming the land and turning it into a tourist attraction."
"Great," she said flatly, gesturing for you to follow her over to put the Triple Threat in the back of one of the cars with his other tied-up buddies. "Just what we need. The army. Thanks for coming to help the airbenders. I would join you, but the turf wars all over the city ever since Kuvira's invasion have gotten increasingly worse."
You nodded in understanding as she locked up the car. "It's fine. Maybe when all this is over, we could get dinner and catch up before I head back to the island."
She smiled at the suggestion and nodded, replying, "I'll try to find the time for it. It's good to see you."
"Good to see you, too." Your eyes shone with something Lin couldn't quite place, and you looked like you might have hugged her the way you always did whenever you saw Lin for the first time in a while. "Erm, I---"
"(Y/n)!" Kya called. When you and Lin turned to see her approaching you both, she grinned. "Oh, spirits. I thought that was you!"
You tossed your arms around her in a quick hug. "Hey, Kya! Haven't seen you forever."
Lin furrowed her eyebrows at how easily embrace had come with Kya but not with her. she weighed whether she wanted to ask you what was wrong. Usually, you were so comfortable with her, she'd normally be nearly knocked off her feet in an embrace with a remark about how long it had been since the two of you had seen each other in person. You both wrote letters to each other after going your own ways in life, so it wasn't like the two of you hadn't had any contact in years. While you never mentioned or indicated that something was off between the two of you, she couldn't help but feel some kind of distance stuck between you both.
Maybe her friendship with you wasn't as easy as she thought. She felt like a third wheel as you and Kya spoke.
"And yet you haven't aged a day," Kya replied, blue eyes looking up and down your figure.
Smiling back, you rolled your eyes playfully. "It's just the face paint."
"Please, you look great. Are you fifty or thirty? I can't tell. You know, I think it's so unfair that Tenzin and Bumi haven't grayed a bit, and yet I already look like an old lady."
At that, Lin cleared her throat. "So gray hair makes us look like old ladies?"
While Kya's eyes widened with a spark of worry that she offended Lin, you spoke up, "I think it makes you look dignified. Who's going to take someone who looks like a kid seriously? Besides, you're both powerful benders who could kick anyone's ass, and that's hot."
"Oh, really?" Smirking, Kya lightly rested her hand on your forearm and suggested, "I have to go help provide first aid, but maybe later, you can help me out and tell me exactly what you think is so hot about it." You mirrored her half-smile and agreed. Her fingers trailed down your arm as she went, and she nodded to Lin. "See you around, Lin."
When you turned back to Lin, your expression suddenly seemed strained and you took a step back. "I should go and help take care of the injuries. See you around?"
"Definitely," Lin nodded in agreement, even though she wanted to ask you what was wrong. You had initially been so happy to see her, but then you pulled back - even before Kya showed up.
But you had walked off and she had a job to do, so there wasn't time. She still looked back in your direction before she went, though. As you'd said, you went to assist with first aid. Suddenly an easy smile was back on your lips, and Kya was grinning along with you like she was your best friend, not Lin. There was none of the awkwardness or strain that you'd had in your expression with Lin. For some reason, that made her chest tight.
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"Maybe we should use the fan first before starting off with the katana," you nervously suggested as Lin tied the blindfold behind her head.
Toph glared in your direction, her hands folded behind her back. "Lin can't learn seismic sense by you going easy on her. Besides, she's already had plenty of practices feeling the ground. This test is definitive. If you're too scared, I can just ask Suki instead."
You swallowed thickly. Suki wasn't inhuman, but she was leagues ahead of you with weapons. Even if she held back on Lin, you worried your friend would be hurt.
"No need, Chief Beifong," you said in as steady a voice as you could manage.
Toph stepped back and said, "Begin."
You took a step forward, hoping Lin felt that on the ground. If she did, you didn't have any indication because she didn't move. Still, you slashed forward with the katana from behind her, from a high enough point and with a low enough amount of force that it wouldn't make contact with her, but you'd be lying if you said you didn't breath a sigh of relief at the fact that she immediately moved out of the way anyway and turned to face you.
Toph caught the hesitation in your stance, though. "(Y/n)! Do you want me to tell your master that you've been holding back in training?"
"No, Chief Beifong," you responded, going for Lin again.
This time, you were more confident in her ability to see you. She swerved and weaved out of the path of your sword like a boxer avoiding a stronger opponent to tire them out. The two of you skirted back and forth across the stone training floor, almost in some strange kind of dance. You wanted to grin with pride and congratulate Lin for how well she was doing, but if you lost your focus, you could hurt her. Besides, her mother wouldn't have appreciated you talking up Lin. So, you kept up doing your best and hoping Lin's best would be a perfect match for it. Your muscles were practically screaming for a rest by the time Toph called off the fighting.
Pulling off the blindfold, Lin asked, "So, Mother? Have I mastered seismic sense?"
Toph sniffed before the corners of her mouth tugged upwards. "Well, I'd say you're pretty good. A right sight better than most of the recruits I've been training recently. Just don't slack in your practice; keep your skills active. Rest for today, though."
You and Lin exchanged excited grins as you both left the training room and headed to Lin's room. Once you were out of Toph's earshot, you lightly shoved at Lin's shoulder. "You did so well!"
"Yeah, but 'pretty good' isn't perfect," Lin replied, her expression darkening slightly. "I still have a long way to go."
"I don't think it's that long. I mean, we're talking about Toph here. The fact that she complimented where you are now is extremely impressive."
Closing the door to her room behind the both of you, Lin moved to sit next to you on her bed and reluctantly agreed, "Okay, okay. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting her to actually smile a little! That was surprising!"
"I bet you that was a smile of pride," you gushed. You reached forward to pinch her cheek the way old family members would do to you when remarking about how much you'd grown. "Her little Lin is getting to be such a good metal-bender!"
She squirmed away from your hand with a groan before she retaliated by pinching your cheek. You responded by going to tickle her, which threw her into a fit of giggles. The two of you tangled into a laughing, goofy mess on her bed within a few seconds, stopping only when you realized the position you were both in. She was kneeling over you, and you had been pushed back onto her bed, splayed out with humor dazzling in your eyes. Panting with exertion from both the earlier training and this spontaneous play-fight, she paused and swallowed thickly. You looked so pretty in that moment, even though you were about as physically exhausted as she was. She could just...
You pulled her down into a kiss before she could fully think to do the same, but she matched you in intensity as soon as she felt your lips on hers. It wasn't the first time the two of you had kissed. When you were younger kids curious about what's so great about all this kissing adults do?the two of you had exchanged a very quick, very chaste peck. But now, you and Lin were almost adults in your own right, and this kiss was far from quick and chaste. She wanted more, and from the way you sounded against her mouth, so did you.
Just as her hands started to wander to your waist, sharp knocks resounded through her room. The two of you broke apart faster than the pieces of a shattered window.
"(Y/n), Suki's here to take you to your next training session with the Kyoshi Warriors," Toph said through the door.
Lin sighed in relief as she relaxed the stiff posture she scrambled to sit up into when she first heard the knocking. "Oh, spirits above. The only good thing about a mom who gives too much space is that at least she knocks." She looked over at you and her relieved smile fell. "From one training to another. It's sad you have to go so soon."
You frowned too, nodding. "Yeah. I mean, I can stop by tomorrow if you're free...?"
"Sounds like a plan." She got up from the bed and walked with you, stopping at the door to whisper, "And by the way, I promise I won't tell anyone about..." She gestured to the bed and then between you and her.
Surprisingly, this seemed to trouble you, so she explained, "Because our parents are from the Earth Kingdom. They don't really approve of that in the Earth Kingdom, you know?"
"Right," you said, smiling understandingly. "I won't tell anyone either. I promise."
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Lin woke up from her dream slowly, the memory feeling as tender and nostalgic as any other from her youth. Before Suyin left, before Toph retired, before Tenzin broke up with her. Before Lin had completely wasted her youth on trying to please someone who didn't want to be catered to and pleased. Before Suki died and you took over the Kyoshi Warriors of her village in her stead, leaving little room for the two of you to stay as close as previously.
She wanted to hold the memory in her hands and cradle it close to her chest. There weren't many moments in her life for the years between that day and just a few years ago where she'd felt something substantial besides bitterness. Today, though, she could almost feel the same youthful joy she had as a teenager when she thought of you.
Sitting up, she opened the bottom drawer of her nightstand and rifled through its contents. C'mon, where is it? It's gotta be... There! She withdrew a picture of you, sent with one of your recent letters. You were sitting under a cherry blossom tree in light blue clothes, your hair in a casual style framing your face with no paint on your face. You weren't even looking at the camera. You never liked posing, couldn't even stand when other people did it. When she sent you a picture of herself in her metalbending uniform for the first time, you complained that it looked too deliberate. She had to admit, you looked better laughing at something off-camera than you could have ever looked putting on a grin and staring directly into the shot.
Spirits above, when was she the sentimental type?
With a shake of her head, she got a start onto her day. She set your picture down on her nightstand and went to get dressed for work.
The next few days were a bit of a blur; Bolin submitted a report on the Triple Threats' attack on the rift that, for some reason, included the detail that Korra and Asami were now dating. Lin hadn't known that, and she was kind of surprised, but she figured that if they were happy, it wasn't her business. She reminded Bolin to keep to protocol and only include pertinent details in his next report. He and Mako later tried to accuse Wonyong Keum of hiring the Triple Threats to attack the rift, but by no means was Lin going to risk bringing Keum in for questioning without evidence. From there, everything spiraled when Lin was given a bad tip about the Triple Threat warehouse, Triple Threats attacked the police depot and freed Tokuga and the other members, and Asami was swiftly kidnapped.
Things weren't easy for you either; the Air Nation's peaceful protest did indeed lead to the United Forces being summoned. However, you and your Warriors voluntarily shielded them, having taken off your uniforms and weapons to keep the nature of the protest peaceful. It also helped that Zhu Li and Varrick came to show that Varrick Industries supported the protest. General Iroh certainly wasn't going to attack peaceful protesters to begin with, but it would be foolish for the president to order any attack after that, and equally foolish for any of his soldiers to risk mutiny. Whatever the reasoning, no one with half a brain could justify harming peaceful protesters and the leaders of a prominent business and the new generation of a long-thought-extinct-culture and the members of an elite group of female warriors (one of whom had a long and storied friendship with Fire Lord Izumi and Republic City's Police Chief). Still, having the army surrounding your small group was a lot of stress for all of you. And then everybody had to evacuate due to a threat of poison gas.
When all was said and done, she wanted to seek you out and ask you to that dinner you'd suggested... except that before she got to, Varrick and Zhu Li had invited everybody - the airbenders, the Kyoshi Warriors, Korra, Asami, Bolin, Mako, and Lin - for a good meal and a chance to get together in the interim between that high-stress situation and the election. When Lin received the invitation, she initially went to decline because she wanted to spend the evening with you, but then the messenger told her you were on the invite list and had already accepted.
So, here she was, in her nicest dark green jumpsuit, her hair parted slightly differently so that she felt like she put in some effort into her appearance. When she looked for you, she found you sitting at a table with Kya, Tenzin, Pema, Bumi, and a couple of women about your age who she guessed were other Kyoshi Warriors. Kya was on your left side, Bumi on her other side with Tenzin and Pema across from them. The Kyoshi Warriors were on the same side of the table as Tenzin and Pema. That left one chair on your right open.
You weren't wearing face paint, and your hair was loose. It was just like in the picture she'd been looking at the other day, except better. A posed picture was nothing compared to an unposed one, but any picture paled when compared to you in real life. There was something about seeing you in motion and hearing your voice that struck a chord in her. For a moment, it was like she was a kid who just wanted to kiss you all over again.
Lin felt tension she hadn't even realized was in her shoulders dissipate when you caught her eye and waved her over, pulling out the empty seat for her. "Hey! I was going to go looking for you if I didn't see you in a couple minutes. You're so punctual to these kinds of things, you're always one of the first ones here. I worried that maybe you didn't want to come."
"When have I ever missed a chance to see you?" Lin asked with a light tone, but after she said it, the words felt more powerful than she meant for them to. It caught her off-guard how much you meant to her.
Apparently, the suddenly sentimental question got to you too, because you blinked at her in surprise and ducked your head with a shy smile. "Never, if you could help it." You cleared your throat and gestured to the women across from you. "Lin, this is Daiyu and Xiuying. They're some of the highest ranked warriors from the biggest village. Warriors, this is Lin Beifong, Police Chief of Republic City."
"Nice to meet you, Chief Beifong," the woman you indicated to be Xiuying said, shaking Lin's hand.
Daiyu added, "We're happy to finally meet the woman (Y/n) always talks so highly of."
Lin raised her eyebrows in surprise only to find you still avoiding her eyes while fidgeting with your fingers. She smiled at the realization that you talked about her highly to your other Warriors, but it suddenly made her even more confused about your behavior the other day
"Oh, I love this song!" Kya chirped when the music suddenly changed to something more upbeat. "I have to dance. (Y/n), would you come with? It's no fun to dance by yourself."
You looked between her and Lin once before giving one of those awkward, strained smiles to the rest of the table and standing up. "Sure! Let's go."
As you left, Lin felt a wave of coldness sweep over her. She watched as you went to the dance floor with Kya, seeing the way Kya led you in a dance her parents had taught her when she was little. Lin recognized it because Tenzin had once taught her the same dance. It hurt to see your hands linked with Kya's. But there was still a grace to your movements that made Lin keep watching. She wondered what it would be like to dance with you, the two of you finding your own movements without the influence of someone else teaching you both.
"It's nice to see her happy," Xiuying commented as she watched you dancing with Kya. "I think being in the city again has done her a lot of good."
Furrowing her eyebrows in concern, Lin asked, "Is she not normally happy on Kyoshi Island?"
"She tries to be, most of the time. She has a duty to the island and to the Warriors, but sometimes when she thinks nobody is looking, she seems troubled."
Daiyu said quietly, "You know, she's almost the age that Suki was when she died. I think getting on in years is making her think about all kinds of things. When we were in our 20s, she used to say she'd be a Warrior until she died or could no longer fight, but now, she's been talking about retiring. I hope if she does, she does something that makes her smile again."
"I didn't realize she was unhappy. In our letters, she always seemed so positive."
"Of course she did. No matter what happened, she was always happy when writing you," replied Daiyu.
She said it so plainly that Lin wanted to ask about that coy spark in her eyes, but Lin instead found herself looking at you again. You and Kya had stopped dancing, and she was whispering something in your ear. After biting your lip, you whispered back in her ear. She pulled back suddenly before throwing her arms around you. Lin couldn't keep watching and turned away, pretending to be interested in whatever story Bumi was humiliating Tenzin with at the moment.
Of course, she should have expected that Tenzin would notice her trying not to pout and that he would jump at any opportunity to get away from Bumi's childhood stories.
"Lin, I think Bolin said you wanted to ask me some questions about the Triple Threat attack the other day," Tenzin broke in, getting up from the table. Her head snapped from you to him as she shot him a questioning look. "I think I finally have time for that, if we could talk for a moment."
Lin was about to say that she hadn't said any such thing, but Tenzin just raised his eyebrows at her and widened his eyes in some subtle, silent communication that she should just come along. So, she got up and followed him outside from the chatter and music to the relative quiet of the night sounds.
"Kya and (Y/n), huh?" he said, occupying himself with adjusting the sleeves of his formal robes. "How do you feel about that?"
She hated it.
"I don't really have feelings on it. It's none of my concern."
Neither of them looked at each other, but Tenzin said what she didn't have the strength to. "I know you love (Y/n)---"
"Don't know where you got that from---"
"You've always loved her," Tenzin said with a huff of laughter at the denial. "That was one of the reasons I had to break up with you."
While Lin would have normally inwardly cringed at the memory of their past relationship, she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "No... no, I loved you back then."
He didn't seem convinced; he didn't even react at the statement anymore than his previous slight amusement. "Maybe you did. But it wasn't in the way you loved (Y/n). We all always knew."
She shook her head at that last statement. No, everyone couldn't have known. No could have even suspected; her mother was Earth Kingdom, and that would never fly in the Earth Kingdom. "You couldn't have."
"Why do you think your mother always had the two of you train together? Why do you think Suyin always used (Y/n) as a distraction from herself when you nagged her? Why do you think that when we broke up, I told you to go to Kyoshi Island and talk to her?"
"You can't have known because I didn't even know!" she exclaimed, frustrated with her confusion and how lightly he was taking this. "And I'm the one who kissed her!" She froze as she realized what she said. She pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to remind herself to keep it together.
Curious, Tenzin said, "When was this?"
"Erm... I think a couple years before you and I got together."
Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "You kissed her all those summers ago and didn't even suspect that you might have had feelings for her? I know you shut out a lot of your feelings, but that was kind of cruel to her."
Lin flinched at that. She didn't want to hurt you - couldn't stand the idea that she was doing so. It made her eyes sting and her throat ache as she tried to hold back tears. You were always so focused on your work, on training and protecting those who needed help. How could she have known you wanted anything other than to be a strong warrior like your mentor? Did you lie awake the way she did these days - aching to go back to simpler times and have someone to warm your bed at night? Remorseful of the isolation, the sharp pain of living alone and without someone to hold and love?
"I didn't know how she felt," she defended, "how I felt. I didn't--- It's not---"
"You don't have to explain yourself to me," he interrupted. He set his hands on her shoulders and looked at her imploringly. "Lin, we all grew up together, and even though I wasn't as close to her as you were, she's my friend, too. I want you both to be as happy as you possibly can be, and I don't think either of you can move on without talking about this. Go to her."
He left her alone outdoors, and she mulled over his words. He had a point, she supposed. After all, her other relationships in her life had suffered for years until recently. There was a reason for that. Anytime she felt anything, she just... pushed it down and down, so deep inside her that she couldn't even think about it. She didn't want to think about it. Especially not with this! She had a reputation, she had a life! And what if her mother---
Okay, now even she had to admit that these were lousy excuses to even think of. Honestly, being the tough, intimidating chief of police for the whole city probably meant that it would take an actual major error on her part for her to lose her reputation. Maybe if worse came to worst, you might be held hostage or attacked by criminals to intimidate her, but you could handle yourself in a fight and then some. Besides, if Toph was willing to cover one of her daughters being a criminal, Toph probably wouldn't mind it if another daughter liked girls.
She swallowed thickly and steeled herself for the walk inside and to the drinks table where you were now situated with Kya, having a drink.
"(Y/n), can I steal you away for a minute to talk?" she asked, trying to look pleasant and not at all nervous.
You nodded, taking your drink with you, and followed her to a secluded corner away from the other guests at the party. "So!" you said when the two of you were alone. "What did you---"
Lin took you by the collar of your dress and did the one thing she'd been wanting to do for years ever since the last time she'd done it: She kissed you. But reducing the action to a simple kiss did it and you a major disservice. She opened up her heart to you and let every bit of adoration and affection she held for you out. Her hands held tightly to your waist to anchor her to you because if you drifted away again, she wouldn't be able to deal with feeling alone again for another day. Neither of you were getting any younger, so there was no more room for her to harbor regrets.
Your own brain was short-circuiting as you processed the fact that oh. OH. This is really happening! WHAT. By the time you lifted your hands to Lin's biceps, she was already pulling away, and a tiny part of you wanted to scream because you hadn't really gotten to enjoy the kiss before it was over.
"I love you," she said suddenly, bright green eyes searching your expression urgently. "I've loved you all our lives, and I don't want to waste another day not telling you or convincing myself that it's not true just because---"
You'd heard enough to know it would be okay to get another kiss from her. You threw your arms around her neck and cut her off by pressing your lips to hers in a second heated embrace, this time making sure you demonstrated your own fervor. It was only when you physically couldn't survive another second of not breathing that you pulled back and panted against her lips, "I love you, too."
"I know." She frowned, and her eyes seemed to shine with tears as she delicately took your face in her hands, thumbs skimming your cheeks. "I'm so sorry I didn't see it before. Years, decades we could have spent together---"
"Decades I would have spent on Kyoshi Island and decades you would have spent here," you said softly, making sure she knew you held no resentment against her. "We wouldn't have gotten much more time together than we've already had."
She was glad you weren't angry, but then she suddenly realized--- "Oh, spirits. Erm, about you and Kya...?"
"There is no me and Kya. She flirted a bit, it was good fun, but she realized I wasn't interested. She figured out I was into you." Scratching the back of your neck, you laughed, "I guess I'm a bit obvious."
"You and me both - Tenzin says I've been in love with you since we were kids."
"Obvious and oblivious," you joked, and the two of you shared giddy laughs. Once the moment passed, you folded your hands in front of you. "I didn't realize how much I missed Republic City--- how much I missed you until these last few days. Erm, do you think it would be okay if I stick around for a while? I was thinking of staying until at least the election to see if any bright young women would be interested in learning how to fight. This city can be pretty dangerous, after all."
It wasn't a bad idea, really. While chances were very low that anyone would want to move to Kyoshi Island and adopt the entire lifestyle of the Warriors, Lin could see some training and lessons as a positive and valuable experience for non-bending women. Besides, Zhu Li was definitely going to beat Raiko in the election, so it felt like a good time to offer more opportunities for female empowerment.
Plus, if you could be near Lin and doing something you loved while she did the work she loved, life would be as perfect as it could possibly be for Lin.
Beaming, she replied, "That would be fantastic! I think I could even help you arrange it."
You took her hands in yours and pressed another kiss to her lips. "Great. Let's worry about that tomorrow. Tonight, let's have fun!"
She followed you back to the dance floor, and together, the two of you enjoyed yourself more than you had in literal years. The night was easy the way things always used to be. Most importantly, there was no need to pretend you both were anything other than you were. She could look at you, feel what she felt all those summers ago, and feel good about it instead of dreading it so much she repressed it.
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if you liked this fic, please reblog! have a nice day!
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badgermolebender · 2 months
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A day in the life of Wu of the Hou-Ting Dynasty, King of all the Earth Lands, and Glorious Defender of Ba Sing Se, 54th Earth Monarch
Morning
* Wake up
* Get out of bed
* Get out of bed
* Come on, you really have to get out of bed now, you have responsibilities
* Get out of bed
* Breakfast - look over the day’s meeting schedule
* Read over reports from yesterday
* Consider writing Mako, he still hasn’t responded to your last letter
* Attend first meeting, with transportation ministers, discuss the new trains constructed by Kuvira and the funding needed to maintain the system
* Try not to freak out at the mention of Kuvira and the war, succeed — mostly
* Wish Mako was there, you could really use some of his straight-talking, no-nonsense comfort, he doesn’t need to put up with you, he doesn’t need your problems
* Attend second meeting, with financial ministers, argue with them over the new tax structure
* The next time one of them implies you are too young or inexperienced to know what you are doing you are going to scream
* NO! that’s what Auntie would do, you are not Auntie, you won’t let yourself be
* Succeed — for now
Midday
* Lunch - breathe, you can get through the rest of the day
* Consider writing to Mako, the worst thing that happens is he doesn’t respond, it’s not like he isn’t already annoyed with you
* Attend last meeting of the day, with cultural ministers, try once again to convince them to use their funds for a memorial for the victims of Lake Laogai rather than finishing The Earth Queen’s Temple, that it would be good to commemorate the history of the people not just the Royals
* Make no progress, argue them to a standstill
* Consider introducing legislation to undo centuries of discrimination against same-sex relationships
* Your ministers/the aristocracy/the remaining Dai Li would know, they would know
* They’d go after you, your reign, your life
* Decide to start small, tomorrow
Evening
* Dinner - try not to cry staring at the empty table
* Wish that your parents were alive
* Wish that any of your family were alive, so you weren’t king, so you didn’t have to do this, so you weren’t alone
* Feel guilty for thinking this, you’re doing good work, you know you are
* Read over reports from the day
* Wish you could run away to The Cave of the Two Lovers and live with the badgermoles
* Make notes for tomorrow’s meetings
* Consider writing to Mako, he hasn’t written back because he hates you
* He’s always hated you
* He’s always going to hate you
Night
* Go to bed
* Wish you weren’t so alone
* Wish he didn’t hate you
* Wish he could love you the way you love him
* Try not to cry yourself to sleep
* Fail
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calchexxis · 23 days
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I rarely hype up other fics, but this one is an absolute must-read (with some caveats) if you love both Korrasami, and deep-seated, well-written angst.
Set after the events of S3 where Asami follows Korra home, it takes things in a much more intense direction. Fair warning that this story deals with themes of SA trauma, suicide, and surviving the aftermath, but with all that said, I cannot stress enough how, for lack of a better term, important a story like this is.
It gives everything an unflinching angle, both from Korra's perspective as a survivor and from Asami's as someone who is in love with her and trying to be there for Korra through something no one should ever have to go through.
I won't say that this is a story for everyone, but for what it's worth, I do think it's a story people should read, if only because of the way it handles such a delicate subject matter.
I don't want to spoil anything more than the tags already provide, so I'll just say that if you've got the grit for it, this story is going to be well worth your time.
Cheers.
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minamoreh · 1 year
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wew roll with the punches really did something to my brain
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im--never--happy · 8 months
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I really fundamentally cannot understand how and why the avatar fandom has been sleeping on Mako. Especially with all the Zuko love. People love an angsty sad boi who just wants to do the right thing. And by god if that is not Mako I don’t know what is. Like. Mako as a character is soooo fucking angstable. So much angst potential right there. But fandom just collectively ignores him (or else hates on him for no fucking reason). Is he perfect? Of course not, but Zuko is so insanely far from perfect and all of Zuko’s wrongdoings so far surpass any of Mako’s. Yet fandom easily forgives Zuko, resident sad boi, for his actual fucking crimes (kyoshi village didn’t burn itself down, Song’s ostrich horse didn’t steal itself, Sparky Sparky Boom—I mean Combustion Man didn’t hire himself—lmao) in favor of focusing on his trauma and angst (don’t get me wrong I am an absolute slut for angst and complex nuanced discussions of trauma in fictional characters, and Zuko is such an amazing vessel for my insatiable thirst for angst. But. SO!! IS!!! MAKO!!!!!). But Mako doesn’t get that treatment. He’s vilified for his significantly less bad mistakes. And it makes no actual fucking sense. Because he is so primed for angst and he has insane amounts of trauma. And he’s so sweet. He just loves the people in his circle so fucking much, he just wants to do right by them, he just wants to protect them and keep them safe, and also fucking save the goddamn world. Jfc. He’s sooo GOOD. And the crazy thing is that he’d actually be a better fit for a lot of the specific angst and character traits people want to project onto Zuko that actually aren’t in line with Zuko’s character. Like when people write how Zuko is so humble and doesn’t think he deserves anything and is so intrinsically kind and patient and gentle. And that’s just… not canon Zuko at all. Canon Zuko is impatient and loud and shouts and so insanely fucking proud. He was raised a prince thinking he deserved everything because he was royalty. And yes yes so much abuse and lack of self worth and trauma. Yes obviously. But Zuko expects (or at least expected) people to give him things or do things for him because he was royalty. At least at one point. He doesn’t know how to cook or take care of himself or other people, because he’s always had people doing that for him, at least to a certain degree (I’m not saying the ship banishment was luxury but he still absolutely had a crew that did a lot of shit, like cooking and day to day grunt work for him). Whereas Mako IS humble and soft spoken and quiet and gentle. He never raises his voice with bolin and never lashes out in anger. Bolin and Korra say hurtful unfair and unkind shit to him, and he just fucking takes it. He doesn’t shout or throw insults back. He just accepts their anger and criticims and still fights to help and protect them. He is self reliant and raised his younger brother alone since they were both homeless orphans. He can cook. He also doesn’t think he deserves better when people treat him like shit, because he’s always been treated like shit. (Hello self worth self-loathing angst potential galore!!) Mako is everything that a lot of fandom want Zuko to be and he has endless potential for sad boi trauma angsting. But he gets hated for no fucking reason while Zuko gets idolized. And it makes no fucking sense and drives me absolutely fucking nuts
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crowentity233 · 11 months
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The Dragon's Keep (part 3)
*Finished*
Fire Lord Zuko x (Fem!) Reader
Part 1
Part 4
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You are a firebender named Ayushi, who has been accepted to guard over the royal family. You end up guarding Zuko through his travels to visit the sun warriors. The mission, protecting the newest dragons, begins.
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Suki patted you awake. "Ayushi, get up. The group is getting into uniform."
You tossed the covers over and stood up. "Thank you, Suki." You spoke quickly, getting your things in order. You grabbed your uniform.
Suki placed her hand over yours. "No uniform. You're going as a guest. Lady Ursa requested it." Her grin was wide.
"Oh... okay." You grabbed a fire nation outfit and got changed. You grabbed your bags and followed the warriors that were ready.
"Yushi!!!!" Kiyi called out running towards you. She grabbed your hand and pulled you to her mother. "Yushi, come on! It's going to be so much fun, we are going to go swimming, and make sandcastles, Zuzu said he would play too. We can go feed the turtle ducks..." kiyi kept talking about the different things you would be doing.
You listened to the girl smiling and laughing as she pulled you past her mother and through the doors following the warriors to the dock. "Wait, Kiyi. We have to wait for your family." You said between laughter.
"Go ahead, you two, we will catch up." Lady Ursa called out to you both.
"Yushi, let's go!" She let go of your hand and ran with the warriors walking around her. You ran after her, grabbing her hand and keeping up with her pace. This girl was a little ball of energy.
Lady Ursa looked back at her son, whispering while servants packed their things away. "No uniform?"
"I told Suki to tell her you invited her. I knew kiyi would like the company." He spoke softly to his mother.
Her lips perked up into a smirk. "Then I'm happy to have invited two guests." She led her son to follow her to the dock.
"Two?"
You got to the dock with Kiyi, both of you laughing. The first group of warriors weren't far behind.
"Uncle!!" Kiyi exclaimed, running to the man at the end of the dock. He was dressed in Earth kingdom colors, but Iroh was still very recognizable. Kiyi wasn't exactly related to him by blood, but she took to what Lord Zuko called him. it was such an innocent way of thinking. Of course, Iroh was more than happy to take on a niece.
"Princess! It is lovely to see you again. Who is your friend?" Iroh held his niece and smiled towards you.
"That's Ayushi. She tells me and Zuzu bedtime stories." She smiled proudly.
"You and FireLord Zuko. Must be some good stories." He grinned at the girl, setting her back down to her feet.
Your face tinted pink. Kids were just so blunt. "It's nice to meet you, General Iroh." You bowed.
"No, no, I'm just Iroh now. I am no general, I own a tea shop. It's a much better place to be."
"Im sure it is. I would love to visit one day." You smile politely.
"Uncle, look, it's Zuzu!" Kiyi yells out, pointing to Lord Zuko escorted with a second set of warriors.
Lord Zuko smiled brightly, seeing iroh. "Uncle!"
"Nephew!" Iroh bowed. The men hugged one another. "It's good to see you, Lord Zuko."
Lady Ursa greeted iroh. She stood beside you and grabbed your hand. "Thank you for being here. I know Kiyi and Zuko will love your company without being a guard. The royal life is very isolated."
You nod your head. "Thank you for inviting me."
She released your hand and walked into the door to go under deck. The warriors set up at their posts, and the others went under the deck to rest before nightfall.
"Yushi! Will you watch for Flying Dolphins with me?" Kiyi jumped up and down. You followed her to the side of the ship where she could watch for them. The ship left the dock, and the water below lapped around the sides. You watched the horizon. You turned your head seeing the land become smaller until it was out of your view.
"Flying Dolphins!" She yelled out. You turned back, seeing her happily watching the animals.
"She rode on them once when Aang was visiting." Zuko stood beside you peering over the side of the ship.
"I did! It was so much fun!" Her joy was infectious.
"It had to be fun. I wish I could ride on one. You're a lucky girl." You looked down trying to imagine what it would be like to ride on such a beautiful creature.
"Kiyi, come with me, honey." Ursa called for her daughter. She wore a smirk hidden behind the wall.
Kiyi whined but followed her mother's call.
You looked around the deck, and a few warriors stood guard at the other ends of the ship, but everyone else had gone inside.
"Are you excited to go to the island?" Zuko asked, breaking the silence that had eased its way as kiyi left.
"Yeah, I'm excited. I've never been." You glanced back over the waters.
"I went a lot when I was a kid." He watched the Dolphins flip around. "I have a lot of good memories there. We planned on going to see the Ember island players. Would you like to go with us? Kiyi is staying with her dad."
"Sure, are they any good?" You asked.
"No, they're terrible. My mother just loves to see them. She used to take me to see them every year when I was a kid. They always butcher love amongst the dragons."
"What are they performing?"
"Love amongst the dragons... again." He sighed.
"Well, we can take it as a comedy show. Are you sure I won't be intruding on your time with your mother?" You turned towards him.
"No, she would love for you to go. Uncle is going to be there, too." He paused."I think it will be like my sister is there. She kinda tried to take Kiyi during a freak out, so she has been a little bit shunned from the family."
"Oh, um, then I would love to go, and um... fill in for Azula." You gave him a soft, reassuring smile. "You know I'd watch anything about dragons."
"You really do love dragons..." He spoke softly.
"Yeah, they were something for me to dream about as a kid. I always wished on a star every night that a prince from far away would show up and fly me away on his dragon. It never happened, of course." You giggled softly.
"Sorry, I was the only prince but a little busy trying to deal with my father, and I thought they were extinct then." He chuckled.
Your eyes flicked over to him. "No, I dont want you to think I wanted you specifically to save me. It was more of a fairytale wish. I knew you were the prince, and Im sure it crossed my mind, but -"
"No, of course not," he cut you off. "I was joking since I was the only prince in the nation. I guess if there is an earth kingdom prince, he could have saved you, but I suppose he'd be on a badgermole." He placed his finger on his chin thinking. "I don't know if the earth king had a son."
"You're funny, Lord Zuko." You said giggling as he thought out a plan of who would have saved you from a life he knew nothing about. "It was just a fairytale. I made it out on my own. I'm here now on a royal ship as a guest. I would have loved to see a dragon, but I don't think I've done half bad."
Zukos cheeks tinted with the complement. The wind from the sea was his saving grace as it slowed the color from rising any further.
Land appeared on the horizon. "Is that it?" you asked.
Zuko's attention caught the land. "Yes, that's Ember island. I promised Kiyi that when we get there we are going to play on the beach."
"I didn't think to pack a bathing suit. I thought I was going to be guarding when you asked last night. I didn't get your mother's invite to be a guest until this morning. I guess I'll have to buy one when we get there."
"I can buy it for you. Our mother can stay with her until we get back and you get changed."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" You asked him, him being so accommodating seemed so foreign.
"I don't mind at all." The ship started to pull up to the dock.
Kiyi flew out of the door. "Zuzu! We're here!" She cheered tossing herself at her big brother.
"We are here." He hugged her. "We are going to the shops. You can stay with your mother until we get back. We will be fast, I promise." He smiled and let her back down.
"Okay, Zuzu. I guess that's okay, but be fast." She warned in a childish way.
He chuckled and ran his hand through her hair. She giggled and ran off to her mother.
"Come on, let's go now, or Kiyi will get upset." He walked towards the ramp to the dock. You followed him, and he led you down the sand paths. You walked around the busy streets. Your warrior complex hadn't left. You kept an eye on your surroundings. No one seemed to notice the FireLord was here yet. This seemed so reckless and not at all like your training, but you were following the Firelord in what was kind of like orders.
You passed by a few shops until he opened a door and let you walk in first. You walked in looking for your size and picked out one. "You can try on a few if you'd like. We have a little time before they even get off the ship. Get what you'd like. I got it."
In reality, he wanted to escape the ship before Suki saw and convinced you to take a few warriors. He didn't want spectators. He was well aware that he was being watched at the palace. This would be one of the few times he couldn't be truly alone with you, and he wasn't going to miss the opportunity. Making use of it was questionable, but at least he could be alone with you.
"Okay, thank you." You left out the Lord Zuko for prying ears. You searched around at a few bathing suits. Grabbing a few that you liked. You went into a changing room. You changed into a white one. You stepped out but shook your head. Zuko just glanced and kept his distance. You went back in and changed into a black one. Again, you stepped out, but it didn't really seem to match you. Zuko kept to himself but secretly enjoyed seeing you in such a contrast from your warrior outfit. You stepped back in and changed into a red one. This one was well fitted, hid areas that were on your radar as imperfections, and the swimwear made you feel good. You stepped out and nodded at Zuko. "This is the one."
He looked down, seeing you weren't in sandles. He grabbed your hand and led you to the shoes. Your hand was so delicate and yet held so much power. The warmth coming from your hand was a given sign of being a bender. It was so comforting in his own. He didn't want to let go, but he guided you to the seat and let go so you wouldn't question.
"You really don't have to..." You sat down as he grabbed a pair for you handing them to you.
He had guessed your size. They fit perfectly. "I insist." You slipped on the sandles and looked back up at Zuko. He offered his hand, and you took it he helped you up from your seat.
He held your hand and led you to the merchant. He didn't let go when he reached the merchant. He pulled out two gold coins and gave them to the man. "Here is your change..." He started to pick up the coins to hand Zuko.
"Don't worry about it." Zuko threw his hand up and turned with you still holding your hand. Confidence seething through him with you never pulling away or acting as if you wanted to pull away.
Your heart beat quickened as the old man spoke again. "Have a nice day." Then, under his breath mumbling ,what a nice young couple." You wanted desperately to turn and correct him, but zuko just continued walking. He opened the door for you to step out.
You both walked back into the streets. You held your clothes and shoes in one arm. You heard footsteps behind you. "There you are!" Suki looked up and down at the pair. Her hand fell to her hip. A smirk plastered on her face as Zuko finally let go of your hand. "We've been looking for you. You know you can't run off like that." She was speaking to Zuko. You were a free woman, but he was open for attacks at any moment.
"I just wanted time without an army behind me. I had Ayushi with me. We could have taken anyone who tried to attack."
"Next time, tell me that you're taking your girlfriend shopping at least." She giggled.
"She's not my girlfriend." "I'm not his girlfriend." You both said in unison.
"I'm joking you two." She poked fun at the pair. "Come on. your bags are already in the house. Kiyi is out at the beach." She paused her voice. When the pair followed beside her to the house. "Ayushi, you look so good in that. Don't you think so, Zuko?"
"Um, yeah, you do look... good Ayushi." Zuko said uncomfortably.
"Zuko, have you been working out? Ayushi feels his arm." Suki tries to grab his arm.
You wrap your arm around his and pull him closer, shutting her down as you all continue walking to the house. "Suki enough teasing, we get it. You think we are secretly together."
She smirks and leaves both of you entangled. You did exactly as she wanted. "Okay, sorry. I was just messing with you two."
You held Zuko's arm as you neared the house. His mother didn't notice your arrival. Kiyi was occupied by a group of scorpion crabs. Suki split from the pair, not saying anything. You both snuck in the house away from kiyi. "Will you show me to where I'm staying? I have to put my clothes away."
The clothes you were wearing still in the arm that wasn't entangled with his. He never pulled away. He led you to a room that had your bags inside. There was another set of bags and a bed opposite from the other. "I'm staying in here too. Uncle must be staying in the room I'm normally in..." He trailed.
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A/n: it's not as cliché as it seems trust the process.❤️‍🔥
Tag list:
@mochminnie
@i-put-the-ass-into-sass
@lylyysz
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thatonebirdwrites · 6 months
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Korrasami Weekly Prompts: Autumn
An Endless Autumn
Asami stood on the cliff that overlooked Yue Bay. The breeze from the ocean buffeted her lone form, scented with brine and the reminder of someone that Asami wondered if she'd see again.
She scuffed her boot into the dirt and knelt to pick up a leaf-adorned rock. Holding up the leaf, she twisted it back and forth. Red veins marked the golden tone of the fibers, and its edges crinkled with decay. She held it into the wind and released it to watch it flutter and soar up toward the clouds above.
Hefting the rock, she threw it as far as she could, and it was soon lost to the waves, the sound of its plunk lost to the beat of the ocean against the cliff.
"You know, you could throw it farther with a bit of airbending."
The familiar voice came from behind her.
Asami was used to it. She'd imagined her voice talking with her dozens of times in the last three years. "You know I'm a nonbender," she said, knowing she probably sounded crazy if anyone was around to witness.
"Well, yeah. I meant I could airbend it farther for you."
Asami sighed. "Sure, if you were here and not just in my head."
"And what makes you think I'm not here?"
Asami huffed. "You haven't been for three years!" She knelt and grabbed a fistful of dirt. The soil crumbled between her long, slender fingers. "And here I am, once again talking to you like you're here. I really am going crazy."
She stood and dribbled the soil over the cliff's edge. Bits of broken leaves fell with the soil toward the surf below.
"I don't think you're crazy. I think you're hurt and grieving."
Asami rolled her eyes. "Talking out loud to a voice in my head is crazy."
"Asami, come on. Just turn around and get down here, dammit."
That was the temptation wasn't it? Asami would come to this ledge weekly at the same day and time. She'd look over the bay toward Air Temple Island, and she'd hold conversations in her head with her, despite knowing it was continuous torture.
The ask to turn around would always happen, and she'd carefully climb down, keeping her back to the trees that hugged the slopes behind her. The ledge, more of a pillar that jutted out away from the mountain's slopes, overlooked the pathway to the mountain's peak, where the voice always seemed to emanate.
If she never looked, she'd never have to face the fact that she was slowly losing her mind.
Maybe she ought to head back, even though she'd barely begun her vigil. Staying here until the sunset was her usual fare, but something about how real the voice sounded today had her unnerved.
"I'm not falling for that," Asami said with a hint of anger. This was her vigil though. She couldn't let the voice tear her from it now. She scowled and sat down on the section of the ledge that faced the bay, her legs over the side. "Every single time you ask me that. And I know where that leads! No. So how about we get back to the usual?"
Her fingers dug into the soil and the fallen leaves that coated the ledge. The stone under it was granite, the hardness scraping against her fingernails.
"The... usual? What do you mean?"
"Playing coy now?" Asami laughed bitterly. "It's the vigil. You're supposed to ask me about my week. Or mock me for my stupidity. Asami Sato, the CEO of Future Industries, the philanthropist, community leader, who is in love with a ghost, desperate for what can never be. Here I am talking as if you're real. Keeping watch in hopes you'd return."
"Asami... I would never mock you. Do you seriously do this every week?"
Asami frowned, the urge to turn around even stronger, especially considering her voice was being strangely obtuse. She leaned back, her hands pressed into the dirt on either side of her, and looked at the clouds above. A hint of grey marked the edges of them, likely a storm brewing, and the cool wind had slowly increased in velocity.
The reds and golds of fallen leaves swirled like mini tornadoes on the breeze above her. An odd juxtaposition of her dark mood and desperate hope.
"I don't know why I like Autumn," Asami said, hoping if she changed the subject, the voice would go back to normal. "It's the season of melancholy. Where the world that was decays into the world that will be once winter ends. I suppose that's been my life, you know? Always trapped in autumn. In the decay of the world that was, but I never make it to winter, never to spring, never to the time of growth, where the world that will be springs forth."
The huff of what sounded almost like a polar bear dog echoed behind her.
"Wow, that's both beautiful and really sad. I guess I never really thought about Autumn like that. We don't really have it in the South, you know?" The crunch of rocks and leaves under boots drifted up from the path below. "So uh, how about you come down and you can tell me more about autumn?"
Asami's imagination was really in overdrive today, wasn't it? Was it because of Jinora's last phone call that they had a lead on where she might be?
Asami sighed. The ledge itself was narrow, barely enough for her to stand and sit, and the climb down to the path below fairly perilous, considering how the pillar jutted out over the surf at an odd angle. Part of the reason she'd chosen this spot was for the thrill of the climb, the fact that no one else could fit up here, and for the solitude it carried.
"Not falling for that either," she said, curtly. "The vigil is till sundown. You know that."
"What? That's it. I'm coming up there!"
Asami frowned. The voice had never threatened that in the past. "There's not enough room," she said.
"Then I'll just earthbend more ledge! Seriously, Asami, do you know how hard it was to find you? I tried calling, tried going to your office, and if it weren't for Jinora's tip, I wouldn't have found this place. So can you please listen and stop pretending I'm some damned voice in your head?"
Asami scrambled to her feet and before she could stop herself, she looked back for the first time in three years. The mountain's slope rose up behind her, the trees thick, but path at the base of the pillar held only footprints.
Of course, there was no one there.
"Dammit, dammit! I broke the rule." Asami grabbed a fistful of dirt and threw it at the path below. "Never look behind, never, ever look behind." She trembled at the sheer force of her grief, how it saturated her from her head to her toes. Tears stung her eyes, and the urge to throw herself off the narrow ledge haunted her yet again.
She'd never do it. Not if there was a sliver of hope of seeing her again, but today, the urge was far stronger than it'd ever been.
Asami dropped to the ground, pulled her legs up against her chest, her face in her knees, and shuddered.
The stone below groaned, the pillar trembled, but then it steadied. Quiet fell around her like the fallen leaves of autumn.
"Hey." The crackle of broken twigs sounded in front of her. "Hey, I really am here." Her words broke into a sob. "Please, Asami, look at me."
Hands grasped Asami's arms and gently pulled them away from her face.
Startled, she lifted her head, only to freeze in shock.
The pillar's narrow top was much wider from the earthbending, and there, kneeling in front of her, was someone Asami had feared she'd never see in person again.
Short chestnut hair was shorn short around her ears, and her skin was a deep brown with copper undertones. Her blue eyes regarded Asami, her mouth pursed in worry. Her clothes weren't blue at all but a green tanktop and pants, her boots the desert variety Asami had seen at Misty Palms Oasis back during the days when she thought maybe the world had hope. That maybe she could have a happy ending.
"No. No, I'm hallucinating..." Asami's shoulders shook. Tears blurred her vision. "You're not real."
Korra's fingers brushed away her tears. "I'm real. I'm just sorry it took me so long. You deserve so much better..." Korra's voice broke into a sob. "But I'm here now, okay? You don't have to do this vigil anymore."
Asami rocked forward and wrapped her arms around Korra for the first time in three years. And her arms collided with a real person. Korra's scent of ocean and soil flooded her nostrils, her body warm, her muscles solid under her soft skin. Sobs ripped through Asami's chest, and she held on tighter, afraid that if she let go, Korra would vanish again.
Korra's arms encircled her. She stroked Asami's hair and pressed her lips to the side of Asami's cheek. "It's okay. I'm here now. And I'm not leaving again, okay?"
The wind blew autumn leaves past their embrace and out toward the ocean. Asami's chest heaved, and she buried her face in Korra's hair. Maybe this year she'd finally escape her endless autumn and step into a new season, one of potential and hope instead of grief and melancholy.
With Korra's arms around her, that hope felt more real than it had ever been in her entire life.
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linnorabeifong · 18 days
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Sad Angst
Not the biggest Linvira shipper but I’ve read some absolutely adorable fics for them. So hear me out for the angst. I feel like with Lin being older and with her self sacrificing attitude everyone would expect her to be the one to die first… but what if she didn’t ? Kuvira is young, and blinded by ambition. Imagine her falling into a relationship with Lin while trying to redeem herself. Going on dangerous missions across the EK to try to make things right after the end of her house arrest… and one mission goes south. Leaving Lin alone…again.
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