(no subject)
Title: savor belonging to yourself
Recipient: innerbrat
Pairing: Korra and Asami gen; mentions of Korra/Mako
Summary: Asami's not sure what she's going to do next, but Korra is -- so they go penguin-sledding.
Notes: Spoilers for 1x12.
When Korra comes back from the tundra, she doesn't have to say a word before Asami understands that Korra can bend again. She is confident again, her back straight, her eyes gleaming: everything that she loves is in her grasp again. Her mood is contagious, and it doesn't take long before a full party gets underway. There's food and drink and even Chief Bei Fong laughs at least twice. The air is cold and crisp and clean, and although Asami has never wanted to come here to the Southern Water Tribe before, she can see how people spend their lives here, tucked into warm houses with their dearest friends, the whole world iced over around them, beautiful as any jewelry Asami's father has ever bought for her.
But she also understands what a Water Tribe plumber told her once, shaking his head as he sorted out the pipes in the master bath: it's beautiful and huge, the South Pole, except when it is smoky and small and overwhelming. He likes Republic City for how uncaring it is, he said, hands wrapped around the drain of the sink, laughing at his own words. No one knows your business, and more importantly no one thinks your business is theirs.
She nodded, at the time, not really sure what he meant. After all, she'd been in the public eye since birth; Republic City was no stranger to the lives of the Satos. When her mother died, she'd finally grasped it, as her father disappeared into his workshop, head bowed with loss, and she herself was passed around between female friends and relatives, who meant so well with their worried faces and constant questions. She'd wanted no one to notice her then. She wanted to mourn in private, to pour over her own grief.
She isn't listening to the conversation now, a spectator at the party, rather than a participant. Korra and Mako are holding hands under the table. Katara has just told a rather ribald joke, to judge by the embarrassed look on Tenzin's face, and without even thinking about what she is doing, Asami has gotten up and grabbed her coat, fastening it very tightly against the night.
She is happy for Korra. She can say that honestly. Korra has been a much better friend to her than Mako ever was, and she wishes Korra nothing but happiness. It's just hard for her to sit there and celebrate, knowing what waits for her at home. Her father has hurt her -- not in any physical way, so that a healer could bandage her and eventually her body could return to normal. No, he's shown her that he thinks some things are more important than family, and he's wedded himself to hate, with no place for her in his life. She almost can't bear the idea of going home to that empty mansion, to a life filled with kindness and deference, but not with his easy, warm affection. Without the smell of his pipe in his office and the roughness of his cheek when she kissed him goodnight. It's as if he'd died, but almost worse: she might see him again. She might have to fight him again. And that never gets easier.
It's cold out here -- not as cold as winter is, she knows, but enough to make her regret her choice, almost immediately. Still, she leans against the house and takes long deep breaths, remembering what she's been taught about meditation and calm. Just because she cannot bend, it does not mean that some of the surrounding philosophy is not useful. Once she entertained a wild desire to become an Air acolyte, to spend her days in meditation and spiritual concerns. It didn't last long. Asami loves her life as it is, loves her Satomobile and shopping and worldly ideas. But everyone needs a break sometimes.
She shuts her eyes, but only for a moment, because there are the crunch of footsteps over the ground. When she opens them again, Korra is standing there, grinning. She's bundled up and warm and incredibly present, and so happy that Asami can't help but smile back. She is nothing like any friend Asami has ever had before, and Asami likes that. She has always loved driving fast, living a life rich with experience, but Korra has taught her that what you can give is much more than an extension on rent or a coin in a bowl. She can give of herself, honestly, and people want that.
"Let's go penguin sledding," Korra says, her breath a cloud in the air, and Asami isn't sure she heard right. She lifts an eyebrow quizzically, but before she can ask for an explanation, Naga is snuffling at her shoulder.
She swings up behind Korra and is admittedly pleased when it seems that no one else wants to come along. Naga lopes easily over the ground. Korra leans back, craning her neck to say, "I used to do this all the time when I was a kid. It's an Avatar thing, apparently." Her ponytail is streaming in the wind past Asami's face.
"Did you say penguin?" Asami asks. Korra nods, and reins in Naga suddenly. They dismount, and Korra glances around and then crouches down in Naga's shadow. Asami hides her giggle with a hand. As if the polar bear dog isn't conspicuous enough on her own?
"You have to sneak up on them," Korra whispers. "That's the best way to do it."
This time Asami actually laughs, and it feels good to laugh. She hasn't done it in a while. Korra beams.
"I knew you'd want to come," she says. "Mako said --" Her face falls momentarily, seeming to realize that Mako might be a difficult subject, but she continues on anyway. "Mako said you'd never go for this, but just because he doesn't like moving fast, I bet. You and I are a lot more alike than I thought when we met. I bet we can give these penguins a good sledding. Come on!"
With that, she vaults over Naga's back and starts running over the nearest ridge. Asami can't help but follow, and after a moment they're in a field of squeaking penguins and she has absolutely no idea what she's doing. But it's fun, just the same. Korra keeps her from getting wet, bending in a way that suggests she's done this often enough to be expert, and Asami's laughing so hard her throat is hurting. This is ridiculous and silly and she loves it. Korra is right, she really does.
When the penguins get tired of their assault, Korra whistles for Naga, and they lean up against her warm flank and catch their breaths.
"You know," Korra says easily, "you could probably stay at Air Temple Island if you want, when we get back. I'm sure Tenzin wouldn't mind."
Asami looks at her, deep and long. Korra's hair is rumpled, her eyes are shining, and there's a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead. She is impossibly enthusiastic about this idea.
Asami opens her mouth to turn her down, gently, and finds that she can't do it. Maybe she could stay for a few days, until she and Korra and maybe even the boys can go back to the mansion and help her get things settled. She'll have to call her father's lawyer, find out what laws exist to deal with a company president who has run off to join a cult. She'll have to decide if she wants to manage it herself, or find someone to do it. But she isn't alone, and it was silly to think she was. Her friends are here.
"I will," she answers.
"Good," Korra answers, swinging into the saddle again, and they go back to the party, where they have hardly been missed. Bolin is doing terrible impressions and Tenzin is telling worse jokes, and the two of them slip back in without any trouble, like they'd never left. Bei Fong offers her a chair near the fire, and she sits down to unthaw. She loses at cards and laughs at Bolin and no one goes to bed until after three. She ends up sharing a room with Korra, who flops all over the bed and snores, but Asami can't really mind.
She sleeps very well, and when she wakes, the dawning sun glitters on the snow. With a bit of surprise, she finds herself missing the city and its worn but familiar streets.
"Let's go home," she says to herself, quietly. Korra mumbles something sleepily that might be agreement. That's good enough for Asami.
She tucks herself back in, comfortably, to dream a little more.
Recipient: innerbrat
Pairing: Korra and Asami gen; mentions of Korra/Mako
Summary: Asami's not sure what she's going to do next, but Korra is -- so they go penguin-sledding.
Notes: Spoilers for 1x12.
When Korra comes back from the tundra, she doesn't have to say a word before Asami understands that Korra can bend again. She is confident again, her back straight, her eyes gleaming: everything that she loves is in her grasp again. Her mood is contagious, and it doesn't take long before a full party gets underway. There's food and drink and even Chief Bei Fong laughs at least twice. The air is cold and crisp and clean, and although Asami has never wanted to come here to the Southern Water Tribe before, she can see how people spend their lives here, tucked into warm houses with their dearest friends, the whole world iced over around them, beautiful as any jewelry Asami's father has ever bought for her.
But she also understands what a Water Tribe plumber told her once, shaking his head as he sorted out the pipes in the master bath: it's beautiful and huge, the South Pole, except when it is smoky and small and overwhelming. He likes Republic City for how uncaring it is, he said, hands wrapped around the drain of the sink, laughing at his own words. No one knows your business, and more importantly no one thinks your business is theirs.
She nodded, at the time, not really sure what he meant. After all, she'd been in the public eye since birth; Republic City was no stranger to the lives of the Satos. When her mother died, she'd finally grasped it, as her father disappeared into his workshop, head bowed with loss, and she herself was passed around between female friends and relatives, who meant so well with their worried faces and constant questions. She'd wanted no one to notice her then. She wanted to mourn in private, to pour over her own grief.
She isn't listening to the conversation now, a spectator at the party, rather than a participant. Korra and Mako are holding hands under the table. Katara has just told a rather ribald joke, to judge by the embarrassed look on Tenzin's face, and without even thinking about what she is doing, Asami has gotten up and grabbed her coat, fastening it very tightly against the night.
She is happy for Korra. She can say that honestly. Korra has been a much better friend to her than Mako ever was, and she wishes Korra nothing but happiness. It's just hard for her to sit there and celebrate, knowing what waits for her at home. Her father has hurt her -- not in any physical way, so that a healer could bandage her and eventually her body could return to normal. No, he's shown her that he thinks some things are more important than family, and he's wedded himself to hate, with no place for her in his life. She almost can't bear the idea of going home to that empty mansion, to a life filled with kindness and deference, but not with his easy, warm affection. Without the smell of his pipe in his office and the roughness of his cheek when she kissed him goodnight. It's as if he'd died, but almost worse: she might see him again. She might have to fight him again. And that never gets easier.
It's cold out here -- not as cold as winter is, she knows, but enough to make her regret her choice, almost immediately. Still, she leans against the house and takes long deep breaths, remembering what she's been taught about meditation and calm. Just because she cannot bend, it does not mean that some of the surrounding philosophy is not useful. Once she entertained a wild desire to become an Air acolyte, to spend her days in meditation and spiritual concerns. It didn't last long. Asami loves her life as it is, loves her Satomobile and shopping and worldly ideas. But everyone needs a break sometimes.
She shuts her eyes, but only for a moment, because there are the crunch of footsteps over the ground. When she opens them again, Korra is standing there, grinning. She's bundled up and warm and incredibly present, and so happy that Asami can't help but smile back. She is nothing like any friend Asami has ever had before, and Asami likes that. She has always loved driving fast, living a life rich with experience, but Korra has taught her that what you can give is much more than an extension on rent or a coin in a bowl. She can give of herself, honestly, and people want that.
"Let's go penguin sledding," Korra says, her breath a cloud in the air, and Asami isn't sure she heard right. She lifts an eyebrow quizzically, but before she can ask for an explanation, Naga is snuffling at her shoulder.
She swings up behind Korra and is admittedly pleased when it seems that no one else wants to come along. Naga lopes easily over the ground. Korra leans back, craning her neck to say, "I used to do this all the time when I was a kid. It's an Avatar thing, apparently." Her ponytail is streaming in the wind past Asami's face.
"Did you say penguin?" Asami asks. Korra nods, and reins in Naga suddenly. They dismount, and Korra glances around and then crouches down in Naga's shadow. Asami hides her giggle with a hand. As if the polar bear dog isn't conspicuous enough on her own?
"You have to sneak up on them," Korra whispers. "That's the best way to do it."
This time Asami actually laughs, and it feels good to laugh. She hasn't done it in a while. Korra beams.
"I knew you'd want to come," she says. "Mako said --" Her face falls momentarily, seeming to realize that Mako might be a difficult subject, but she continues on anyway. "Mako said you'd never go for this, but just because he doesn't like moving fast, I bet. You and I are a lot more alike than I thought when we met. I bet we can give these penguins a good sledding. Come on!"
With that, she vaults over Naga's back and starts running over the nearest ridge. Asami can't help but follow, and after a moment they're in a field of squeaking penguins and she has absolutely no idea what she's doing. But it's fun, just the same. Korra keeps her from getting wet, bending in a way that suggests she's done this often enough to be expert, and Asami's laughing so hard her throat is hurting. This is ridiculous and silly and she loves it. Korra is right, she really does.
When the penguins get tired of their assault, Korra whistles for Naga, and they lean up against her warm flank and catch their breaths.
"You know," Korra says easily, "you could probably stay at Air Temple Island if you want, when we get back. I'm sure Tenzin wouldn't mind."
Asami looks at her, deep and long. Korra's hair is rumpled, her eyes are shining, and there's a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead. She is impossibly enthusiastic about this idea.
Asami opens her mouth to turn her down, gently, and finds that she can't do it. Maybe she could stay for a few days, until she and Korra and maybe even the boys can go back to the mansion and help her get things settled. She'll have to call her father's lawyer, find out what laws exist to deal with a company president who has run off to join a cult. She'll have to decide if she wants to manage it herself, or find someone to do it. But she isn't alone, and it was silly to think she was. Her friends are here.
"I will," she answers.
"Good," Korra answers, swinging into the saddle again, and they go back to the party, where they have hardly been missed. Bolin is doing terrible impressions and Tenzin is telling worse jokes, and the two of them slip back in without any trouble, like they'd never left. Bei Fong offers her a chair near the fire, and she sits down to unthaw. She loses at cards and laughs at Bolin and no one goes to bed until after three. She ends up sharing a room with Korra, who flops all over the bed and snores, but Asami can't really mind.
She sleeps very well, and when she wakes, the dawning sun glitters on the snow. With a bit of surprise, she finds herself missing the city and its worn but familiar streets.
"Let's go home," she says to herself, quietly. Korra mumbles something sleepily that might be agreement. That's good enough for Asami.
She tucks herself back in, comfortably, to dream a little more.