A/N: BAWWW. Why all the hate for Asami? If anything, the shipping wars are Mako's fault for leading them both on. Besides, Asami and Korra would be galpals forever. 3

I do not own The Legend of Korra. Hell, I don't even own this computer!

Asami wrinkles her nose at the mirror, and dabs another layer of powder on her nose. She had spent a long time out in the park in the sun with Mako yesterday, and freckles were beginning to appear acroos her face.

She places the carved wooden brush lightly back into the ornate compact, and looks at the mirror again.

Perfect.

The piles of make-up are one of few remaining possessions of her mother she has left. The strings of pearls dangling in her jewellery box are hers as well, and the elegant silk qipaos and long skirted suits still hide traces of Mama's perfume, the perfume that she can no longer find.

Now Asami reaches into the drawer, blindly searching for the garnet ring she knows is hidden beneath the broken diamond chain her papa got her for her tenth birthday. She finds it, slips it onto her finger, and tries not to bite her lip.

Personally, Asami hates wearing make-up. Mascara runs in spider-trails down her face when she cries, her lipstick gets smeared on everything she eats, and rouge blurs her helmet's visor. Most types of perfume make her sneeze, and she loathes the feeling of sticky hairspray clinging to her curls. She would much prefer to tie her hair back in a messy wolf-tail and run outside bare-faced. She wants to be one of the girls that runs with the boys, races down the streets of the slums on falling-apart Satobikes and yell obscenities from the galleries at the matches in the arena.

But she can't.

Asami, barely four, observes her mother applying her make-up. Her lipstick, raspberry red, is painted on her lips in a perfect cupid's bow, and she blinks lightly while dabbing on mascara, the curlers abandoned nearby. Her eyelids are bright turquoise, nails echoing that colour, and her cheeks are burning pink.

This is the only time she gets to share with her mother. Mama is a busy social butterfly, and her tutors keep her away from the exalted woman. But every time Mama is getting ready, Asami hides in the huge armoire until her mother discovers her. She never sends her away, but plops her on the bed and tells her to watch closely. Sometimes, she even lets her borrow some of the red lip stain, and Mama laughs as she smears it messily on her childish lips.

Asami knew more about dresses than nations, and was content to emulate her mother in gossamer dresses and too-big hats. 'Always be proud of your appearance,' her mother told her, and Asami nodded enthusiastically as the nanny dragged her away.

Mama was an eternal lady, right up to the day the Agni Kai's attacked.

So Asami will redden her lips and varnish her nails, because it's all she has left.

I'm a firebender, so don't bother with flames. ;)

Please review, if at all possible. ~Gryfo