Mika Schneider

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

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

❝Wouldn't dream of it.❞

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

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

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

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

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

korrasami won my first patreon poll !

😡 🙂

Do it for her ❤️‍🔥

interruption at the workshop :)

a hand cupped the back of her girlfriend's neck, the other sliding along her waist to hold her now that she welcomed her touch, feeling the radiating heat begin to disperse between them. as terrifying as that had been she'd always had such admiration for korra's untamable ire when it came to the things she so whole-heartedly cared about, blazing what she could from her path. her mouth curved, “ — it's alright, i know how much you care about helping these people. enough that you'd even try to bite my head off a little, ” laughing words accompanied by a nervous chuckle. THAT had been the easy part — here goes nothing... “ — speaking of... there's something else Tenzin wanted me to tell you... ”

Her grip winds tighter around the glider, rooted in her plight. She's the Avatar, doing her job isn't supposed to be optional here. If she can't help when she's made for helping; what would that make her?

And yet,

smooth and soothing, deceptively soft, the words pierce skin.

Korra's smile is tentative, but her body is surer. Despite herself. She thinks letting go might just pull her very core to pieces, she knows the certainty of Asami will hold her together.

Korra drops the staff,

to find her heart quiet, her voice admiring.

❝Thank you. You always know what to say.❞

A little korrasami drawing I did for my sister last year that I thought might be due for some colour before pride month is over! Happy Pride to all my queer friends and allies ❤️

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

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

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

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

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

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

it hurt her physically to see korra in so much turmoil, watching all that spirited energy of hers fizzle without an outlet. korra only wanted to help... & maybe her pride was a little stung too. she knew it was more than that, that this whole situation had slipped into sore crevices, insecurities asami hadn't helped smooth down in some time.

this time she couldn't help but breech the space between, her hands reaching out like that could help make this okay, " korra... the rest of the world knows that you're a good person, and a great avatar. you've proven that enough. do you really need this one town's approval ? "

concerned eyes lowered as she ducked her head, wanting to encompass all of korra's attention & pull her from any thoughts keeping her. one corner of her mouth embraced a smile, eager to liven her spirits, " ... and i'd sneak you in, but first i'd have to teach you how to drive it. " so that'd be a unanimous no, she gussed.

The sting is almost completely as expected, in the place already made tender by rejection. For a moment, all Korra can stand to picture is blowing into the village and showing everyone exactly how misguided saying no to the Avatar is. Mechs can't move flood waters.

She stops just short of voicing so. Because that's all her anger will be. Destructive. And to who?

❝According to the villagers, it is. And I can't even remember what I did!❞

Not that being able to connect to her past lives is likely to change any of this, but Korra needs somewhere to redirect it all.

She deflates when it passes.

❝You sure I can't go apologise on Yangchen's behalf? Maybe I can sneak in in one of your mechs.❞

Sitting on the outskirts is so antithetical she can hardly imagine it with Asami's company. With her leading the efforts where Korra can't go... the thought turns her tense.