Chapter Text
Monday, December 6 172 A.G.
Today, I had a meeting with President Raiko and the city council. Ugh, I swear. I am grateful he and the city give Future Industries most of their business, but if I never had to speak to that man again, I would be all the happier. But... I digress. We discussed building some new roads and bridges throughout the city. It seems to be growing more and more every day. More than the current infrastructure can handle, anyway. Although I know that the President is only doing this so that he can boost his public standing (I despise helping him do it), I know that this would be a really big help to everyone. I have had some doubts about my future at the company, but I just keep on telling myself that what I am doing is helping people. That seems to keep going. Besides, I need something to keep my mind off of things since I haven't really been feeling myself lately.
After the meeting, I went and grabbed dinner with Mako and Bolin. We went to try out this new place called Fan's Dumplings which was amazing!! It seems like every time I find my new favorite restaurant, another place pops up and becomes replaces that one! We will for sure have to take Korra whenever she gets back, if she gets back... The three of us haven't been able to hang out as much as we would have liked. Mako is busy with his new job as detective, I'm busy running Future Industries, and Bolin is, well, I'm not entirely sure what Bolin is doing. He said he was helping Kuvira bring order and peace back to the earth kingdom, which has been in disarray since the earth queen died. But whenever I ask him about it, he gets so excited and starts telling a million different stories about things he has done with Kuvira in command. He is super proud of the work they have accomplished. Both of them seemed to be happy with what they were doing. We all had fun. It was like old times. Well, almost like old times... With Korra gone, I don't know if things will ever go back to how they were.
Its been almost a year since Korra left and things just don't feel right. I knew that when she left, things would change, sure. But it's all so much different than I thought it would be. I know it sounds irrational, but I can't really describe how I feel about it. Or maybe I just don't know what these feelings mean. I thought that it would get easier the longer we were apart. But its as if every day she is gone, this feeling, this... I don't even know what it is, gets worse. I know that we are good friends, great friends, but why does it all of a sudden feel like something... more?
I just wish she would write me back; it would make all of this so much easier. I mean, I get it, she is recovering and I in no way blame her for being focused on herself. No one wants her to get better more than I do. Considering everything that she went through, I know it will take time. But some selfish part of me just wants her to say something. Anything would do. Even if she just told me, "I'm fine", it would put my mind at ease. It would be so much worse if she was writing to Mako or Bolin and not me, but she hasn't reached out to any of us which really worries me. Maybe I should write to her mom to see how she is doing. Would that be too much? I don't want to overstep my boundaries or anything. I don't know. I think I will give her some more time and see what happens. More than anything I just wish I could be by her side and help her get better.
Asami sighed and set her pen down on her desk. "What is wrong with me?", she asked herself aloud as she buried her face in her hands. It was way past the usual time she would have gone to sleep, but these last couple of days she had been up late thinking about her friend. How Korra was doing, whether or not Korra had received any of the letters she had sent, if Korra ever thought about her. It was all playing on a loop in her head. She began writing in her journal again when she started having trouble sleeping. Writing her thoughts down brought her comfort when she was a girl after her mom died and she figured it could help her now. But it seemed like nothing she could do was helping her. Asami peered out of the open window in her study and looked at the stars twinkling in the night sky. She decided she needed to at least attempt to fall asleep so she would be well-rested for her meeting with Tenzin in the morning, so she closed her journal and placed it in its usual spot on her desk before making her way back to her room.
Asami stood outside of her family mansion waiting for Tenzin to arrive. She hadn't been able to sleep but three hours the night before and wanted nothing more than to be laying in her bed. No matter how much she wanted to forget her duties she knew, she had to see them through.
"Where is he?", she yawned to herself as she looked at her pocket watch. As if on cue, Tenzin and Oogie descended from the sky to greet her.
"Sorry I'm late", Tenzin apologized, jumping off the sky bison's back. "Pema was having some trouble with the kids this morning."
"It's alright", Asami assured him as she clasped the metal watch closed and put it back in her pocket. "Did you bring the sketches?"
Tenzin nodded his head and reached into Oogie's saddlebag, taking out several large scrolls. Just when she thought he couldn't carry anymore, he pulled out an envelope and handed it to Asami. "This was sent to us at air temple island from Tonraq and Senna. They asked us to pass it along." Asami grabbed the letter out of his hand quickly and stared at it. Even though it wasn't from Korra, it was something. She did everything she could to not look too eager to read it.
"Is she okay?", Asami asked the air bending master.
"Her parents wrote to us to say she is doing as well as could be expected. There may be more in your letter, seeing as you too were such close friends." Tenzin shited the scrolls in his arms, struggling to keep them from falling.
"Here, let m help you." Asami put the letter into the inside pocket of her jacket where it would be safe until she could read it. She grabbed a handful of sketches from Tenzin and lead him back into the mansion.
"I know you are eager to read the letter", Tenzin told Asami as they walked through the long halls of Asami's home. "This shouldn't take too long. The council just wanted to get your input on our preliminary sketches before presenting it to President Raiko."
Asami's face went red. Could he tell? she thought to herself. Luckily, she was in front of Tenzin so he could not see the embarrassed expression written on her face. "I will just read it once we are through", she told him calmly.
They had approached her office and Asami held the large wooden door open for her guest. Tenzin unraveled the sketches he had been holding and laid them out neatly on her desk before taking a seat. Asami did the same, saying, "Alright. Let's see what we have to work with."
As soon as Tenzin left, Asami ran to her room to read the letter from Tonraq and Senna. She sat on her bed and traced her fingers across the writing on the front of the parchment. To Asami. It was finally here, the thing she had been waiting so long for. But as she stared at the envelope, she found herself unable to open it. Her stomach was a twisted mess of nerves and every possibility of what the note could say swam through her mind. "This is dumb", she said aloud to herself after minutes of just sitting there. She broke the seal and proceeded to read the letter.
Asami Sato,
We are sorry that this letter is not from Korra herself. Our Korra has been through a lot this past year and still finds it difficult to get her thoughts down onto paper. Nonetheless, she wanted us to let you know how she was doing. Korra's condition is slowly but surely getting better. Her injuries are taking longer to heal than we anticipated, but each day she takes another small step towards recovery which is something we are all very grateful for. All things considered, she is doing just as well as you would expect.
Secondly, we wanted to let you know that Korra has been receiving your letters. We are aware that she hasn't been responding to you all. As we said, it's been hard for her to get her thoughts down. But all of us here can see that all of the letters, especially your's Asami, help her to keep pushing forward. Her friends mean the world to her and she hates not being able to be with you, doing all of the great things you all are doing. But, as we said, they give her another reason to keep pushing. Sending her letters won't make her better overnight, and they won't get rid of the pain she feels, but every little thing helps. Most importantly, the letters help take her mind off of things, even if just for a short period of time. We know it must be hard, writing letters and never getting a response. But just know, Korra appreciates knowing that you all still care.
Regards,
Senna and Tonraq
Asami smiled and laughed. "This is such a formal note. Tonraq must have written it." Her smile faded as she clutched the note to her heart. A single tear fell down her cheek. Whether it was from joy or sadness, she could not tell. All that she knew was that Korra needed her, that she was helping. So she would keep on writing to her, whether she got a reply or not.