Chapter Text
After tossing and turning on the thin mattress in her Air Temple bedroom for several hours, Asami finally gave up on sleep. With a frustrated sigh, she threw off the blankets and stood. She stayed as quiet as possible as she crept outside.
The full moon illuminated the courtyard; providing plenty of light to see by as she walked to the meditation pavilion. She sighed, leaning against the railing and gazing across Yue Bay at Avatar Aang's statue and the Republic City skyline.
"Can't sleep?" The quiet voice made Asami jump slightly as she turned to see Korra walking up behind her. She shook her head as the Avatar stepped up beside her. "Me neither. Full moon. Waterbender thing. It makes our bending more powerful and just makes us...more aware of everything?" Korra explained uncertainly. "I can feel the water everywhere. The whole bay. The water in the plants and the trees. Almost like it's, I don't know, whispering to me." She trailed off and a blush stained her cheeks. "Sorry, I'm rambling. I'm sure you don't want to hear about a bending thing."
"It's okay," Asami replied with a small smile. "I think it's fascinating."
"Oh, well, good," Korra said with a crooked grin, rubbing the back of her neck. "So what's got you awake this late?"
"It's nothing," the engineer sighed, turning her gaze back to the water.
"It doesn't sound like nothing." Korra stepped closer to the taller girl, their sides just barely brushing. "Talk to me."
Asami was silent for a long moment. She let out another sigh as she pressed in slightly closer to the Water Tribe girl, taking comfort in her presence. "I'm just...tired of being alone."
"Alone? What do you mean?" Korra asked, glancing sideways and taking note of the troubled look on her friend's pale face.
"My mother died when I was six," Asami began, voice hitching slightly. "My father...was never the same after that. He kept becoming more and more distant. Really, looking back, I should have realized something was going on sooner. But anyway. Now he's in a jail cell. I broke things off with Mako-" Korra flinched next to her, gazing down at the water guiltily. "Don't, Korra. It's okay. I won't lie and say you weren't a factor, but I couldn't be with him after he broke my trust. That was his fault. I didn't have a whole lot of friends growing up, either. I didn't have...normal kid hobbies. I'd rather be under a Satomobile with my father learning how to change the oil rather than the stuff kids my age were normally into. And once he started hitting it big, either people were too intimidated by Hiroshi Sato's daughter, or they only wanted to know me because of being his daughter." She stiffened slightly, stepping away a bit to put some space between them. "Sorry, I guess I was rambling that time."
The blue-eyed girl chuckled softly. "It's okay. Everyone needs a good ramble once in a while. You're wrong, though."
"Wrong?" Asami rose an eyebrow.
"Mhmm." Korra stepped closer to the taller girl again, reaching out to gently take her hand. "You've got me. I mean, I wouldn't blame you if you hated me because I should have waited to get with Mako even if you guys were broken up instead of jumping right into a relationship with him so fast." She cleared her throat, blushing as she realized she was rambling (again). "But you've got me. I'm here for you. Bolin. Mako, even if that will be a little awkward at first. You've got Tenzin and his family. I know Pema and Jinora both love you already. We're never going to let you feel alone, I promise."
Asami sniffed, and Korra was horrified to see tears in the other girl's eyes. "Oh no! Don't cry. Is it something I said? What's wrong?"
Asami laughed even as tears still trickled down her cheeks. "Don't worry. You didn't say anything bad. They're...happy tears I guess. I might have lost my family, but you reminded me that I have another one here." She rested her head on the Avatar's strong shoulder, wiping the tears away. "And I don't hate you for what happened with Mako. I don't want him to come between us. I think we could be really great friends."
Korra nodded, wrapping an arm around Asami's waist in a sideways hug. "Definitely."