Korrasami – Crowning the Week
Author's note: Sequel to "Doubts and Certainties". The day of the party.
Fast jazz music could be heard through the closed wide double doors of Asami's office as her secretary was comfortably reading a magazine behind her desk. She could not guess why her boss and Avatar Korra felt the need to have it play from a record during work, as it had to be distracting. She could only assume there was not much actual work going on in there and she certainly was not going to interrupt whatever the pair was doing. It was a few minutes to ten and the music had only started half an hour ago. Asami told her she was ahead with paperwork, but knowing her, it did not mean she would slack off and not devote enough time for it. The phone rang and she answered. After listening for a few seconds she replied.
"Send them up and I'll let her know. Thank you!" She put the receiver down, stood up and slowly approached the door. She knocked and opened it to look inside just in time to see Asami dip Korra and they froze right in the middle of the dance move to look at her in surprise and slight embarrassment. The secretary had expected them to be doing something quite different and she quickly cursed her inappropriate thoughts about her own boss and her girlfriend. She banished the mental image and cleared her throat to inform Asami about a delivery.
"Sorry to interrupt! A courier just arrived with a package for you. He's on his way up." she told her and Asami had a broad smile as they all came out to the hallway, just as the elevator arrived.
A man carrying what appeared to be a newly made piece of clothing stepped out of it and walked over to bow in front of them.
"G-Good day, Miss Sato! Your coat has been made, according to the measurements and sketches you sent along with your request. A very nice rendition, if I may." he addressed her.
"Coat?" Korra looked at her as she began to suspect it was the very thing they talked about and Asami's smile confirmed it. The courier left after Asami paid for it and she pulled it out of the protective bag.
"Put it on!" she told Korra as she held it out for her. A dark blue, high-necked, sleeveless coat with a darker, marine blue sash, fur on the shoulders and at the end of the coattails that reached down below the knees. Korra pulled it on and went to stand in front of a mirror on the far wall. Her eyes widened as she stared at herself and looked at Asami, who appeared equally as impressed and satisfied with its appearance.
"You look amazing!" she exclaimed in almost a whisper and Korra could only grin at herself in the mirror.
"I love it!" Korra told, then something occurred to her. "Wait! Is this what you were drawing, yesterday? And didn't wanna show me?"
"Mmhm." Asami nodded.
"But, how did you know the right size?" Korra asked in surprise.
"I know your measurements." Asami shrugged with a not so innocent smile.
"Heh. Okay. If anyone else had said that, it would've been totally creepy." Korra looked at her with amazement. "I...should take it off...until the party." Korra suggested.
"Yes. Have to be careful. But, it actually has a stronger weave and it's more durable than normal coats. It's functional. And it's not just for parties." Asami explained.
"Thanks!" Korra hugged her with her hands on Asami's lower back and the latter's arms were around her neck.
"Only the best!" Asami exclaimed and smiled into their kiss, before they remembered the secretary was standing right there with them, who tried to keep her expression neutral as she stared at the pair in silence. "Oh..." Asami tucked her hair back behind her ear. "Right. That was enough practice. I should get back to work. We'll have time, later." she commented and led Korra back into her office by the hand. "We'll take lunch from the cafeteria, again." she told her secretary as they went in. The woman nodded, settled behind her desk and continued reading her magazine as she heard the music stop. Though the weather was calm outside and nothing was being constantly blown against the electrical barrier, Asami and Korra were sitting on the sofa, the same way they did the day before. Asami found it was more comfortable than her chair and they both felt each other's warmth, which seemed to have made it perhaps easier for the both of them to perform, even if only by a fraction. Asami was working faster and Korra was absorbing information better. The two hours until lunch passed quickly. Another stack of paperwork was out of the way and another magazine hit the table as Korra learned and understood as much as she could from it, without having to ask Asami.
Asami organized the papers on her table and sat back down next to Korra with a sigh, who rested her head on her shoulder. They heard a knock on the door and the secretary brought their packaged lunch in for them, put it on the table and pair said their thanks. "They are ready for a demonstration of the plasma-cannon prototype, down at Research and Development, when you have the time." she told Asami.
"Alright. We can go and see it after lunch." she said as she looked at Korra, who nodded.
"I'll let them know." The secretary said and left for lunch.
"They don't waste time!" Korra exclaimed.
"Well, they've been working on it since the wedding." Asami replied.
"You think there might be problems?" Korra asked.
"It's always trial and error." Asami told her. "I already made some modifications to my original designs. We'll see what they've made of those, then they can incorporate what I want to add, if they have to."
"Alright! Let's see what we've got!" Korra rubbed her palms together and went to open one of the bags and all the food canisters.
"Looks like five-flavor soup. Nice!" Korra exclaimed as it was a traditional Southern Water Tribe dish. She looked at the second course. "Dumplings with…" she niffed the creamy substance and dipped a finger in it to taste it. "Mushroom."
"Mmm…I love mushroom cream sauce." Asami commented.
"And we got…watermelon juice and a fruit tart." Korra finished examining it all, then laughed lightly as she recalled something. "I told dad about Narook's place, yesterday, where Bolin took me once. He was desperate for some Water Tribe grub. He really can't get used to anything else. Especially airbender food. And he really tried." she mused. "He went there this morning, too, after eating all he could at breakfast, which wasn't enough."
"So, you got your appetite from him, too." Asami laughed lightly.
"Us Water Tribe folk are just hefty eaters, I guess." Korra shrugged.
"Well, the Avatar is of all four nations. Her stomach should be able to handle everything." Asami told her, jokingly.
"I even tried swamp food when I was staying with Toph." Korra made a face as they started to eat.
"Couldn't have been any worse than gruel." Asami shuddered a little and Korra let out a light laugh.
"You're never going to forget that, are you!" she told Asami.
"For as long as I live." Asami groaned.
"And if you do, I'll be here to remind you." Korra reassured her.
"Aww, you're so thoughtful." Asami replied in a sweet voice.
"'Mom! I don't wanna eat this stuff! Well your mom had to eat street gruel in the sewers, once!'" Korra tried to speak in a child-like voice, acting out a scene between herself and a child refusing to eat. Asami blinked at her little performance. Even if she had been chewing anything, it would not have gone down the wrong pipe, because she would have forgot to even swallow, after hearing that.
"What?" Korra shrugged, pretending not to know what turned Asami speechless and the latter could tell, blushing lightly as she smiled at her. Though Korra was amused, she changed the topic as Asami seemed to always get dazed when she brought up the possibility of having a child.
"So...you got yourself a dress, too?" she asked her as she looked at the coat that was made for her.
"No. I'll just wear one from the handful I have." she answered her.
"Wow. Only a handful?" Korra teased her and Asami slightly raised a brow at her.
"I am an elegant rich girl." Asami commented.
"You look good in anything. Like, when you tried on those clothes in Zaofu."
"Couldn't resist!" Asami exclaimed, smiling at the memory.
"All the guards were impressed." Korra commented.
"And you?" Asami wondered.
"Well, you looked great. I didn't have any other thoughts, really. Just the usual." Korra answered her frankly with a shrug. She knew why Asami asked her and they have already talked about what they thought of each other at certain points during their friendship, which only grew stronger with every talk and every adventure they had.
"I missed a few chances to tease you with it, then." Asami sounded a little disappointed. "Every time you had those thoughts."
"You told me you would've been too busy blushing if I had said anything." Korra teased her.
"Or that." Asami admitted, feeling somewhat defeated. She pondered, trying to think of a moment where she wanted to know what Korra was thinking.
"So, what were you thinking about when...when we were in your room before the wedding and I adjusted your hair-piece for you." Asami smiled. "And...we were standing so close?"
"You mean besides telling myself to breathe?" Korra replied, trying to make it sound humorous, but it was still literally true and Asami could not look her in the eye with a straight face, as the blood rushing to her cheeks and the smile she could not hide, made it difficult. She cleared her thought, before she could muster the words.
"I think my heart skipped a few beats." She tucked a strand of hair, which was not really loose, behind her ear, a little nervously.
They let a few minutes of silence pass as they finished the soup and moved on to the dumplings.
"So how long will this test take?" Korra asked.
"Well, if everything goes well it shouldn't take more than a few minutes." Asami answered, sounding optimistic. "And I can finish the paperwork." she added. "After that, I can finally get back to the part I actually enjoy."
"You mean making things yourself." Korra concluded.
"Exactly. I didn't get to do that much, when I was working with Raiko on redesigning the city's infrastructure." Asami recalled with some disappointment.
"Yeah. You told me it was mostly drawing plans for buildings and tech stuff. But, you didn't get under a car or a plane much, like you used to." Korra remembered their conversation about it in the spirit world, when Asami told her about her work during their three years apart. "After what your secretary said, yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if you were the only person in the whole industry who gets herself covered in oil and grease...and enjoys it." she added with admiration and took a bite.
"What can I say? I like getting dirty." Asami stated and Korra immediately started to cough and pounded her chest with a fist.
"Oh-..." she said with a cough. "That you do." Korra told her, reaching for her drink while giving Asami a glare for her timing and they both knew it was true in more than one way.
"I think the last thing I worked on was the car we're using. Not counting the hummingbird-suits." Asami said.
"And it's not like you weren't busy. Doing all the things for the city. Highways, a train station, new roads, a giant statue of me!" Korra listed, emphasizing the last one and looking pointed at Asami.
"If you're going to give me so much praise, then I won't even try to be modest." Asami told her, appreciatively and smiled as she took a bite, herself.
"I haven't even started!" Korra exclaimed and Asami gave her a look, still chewing and she quickly swallowed it.
"Korra!" she exclaimed with laughter in her voice.
Anyone else in her place would have let even half as much praise, coming from one person, go to their head. But, not Asami. And they both knew it. She was never much for grandstanding, whereas other people in similar positions felt thoroughly entitled to it.
"It's not like you'll get bigheaded." Korra read her mind.
"Well…" Asami chose her words. "I'm only one half of something incredible." she finished, smiling to herself and taking a glance at Korra.
"Heh. As soon as we're done, you're going down!" Korra told her playfully and suggestively, then remembered. "Oh, wait…the test! Tch. Hrgh!" she growled.
"I'd save my strength for the party…and after." Asami said in a sultry voice.
"Then, I will!" Korra exclaimed and grinned in anticipation, taking a bigger bite.
After finishing their second course, they went for the fruit tart and Korra put it to her mouth without taking a bite and started rubbing it to her lips as if she was applying lip-stick. Asami turned to her to see she had made a moustache for herself from the cream and it curved upwards on the sides as she gave her a silly smile. Korra swiped her tongue over it and it was gone.
"Hey! I wanted to do that!" Asami exclaimed in disappointment.
"Oh, sorry!" Korra laugh and quickly finished her dessert, eating it messily on purpose to make sure some of it would stick. She looked at Asami, expectantly. The latter simply leaned in and kissed away all the bits that were adorning Korra's cute face, who blushed lightly at the contact.
"That's more like it!" Asami commented.
Lunch was over and it took them only less than half an hour to comfortably finish it all, leaving another half hour until they would have to make an appearance for the weapons test. Asami jumped slightly as Korra suddenly bolted from the sofa and ran into the bathroom. She merely blinked after her and was a bit worried, until she heard the familiar sound of Korra brushing her teeth and spitting out the toothpaste. She heard the tap run for a minute, after which she came rushing back and Asami followed her movement with her eyes, which went wide and she let out a gasp as Korra pounced on her. Asami did not move as Korra was lying on top of her. She was still as if a dangerous, unpredictable housecat had gotten comfortable on her after a binge, which she dared not to disturb. Unless it was a soothing stroke, which is exactly what Asami started doing as she caressed her, feeling the muscles in Korra's back, who moaned in response. Asami patted her on the back and Korra burped a little, which made Asami burst, but she stifled some of her laughter as she felt Korra suckle her pulse on her neck. None of them moved for minutes, when Asami nudged Korra, who groaned in protest.
"Just stay put! I'll only be minute." Asami told her as she got out from under her and went to the bathroom as Korra collapsed back on the sofa to lie on her side. Asami returned, like clock-work, after only a minute and pried Korra off, who groaned, again. "Come on! Let me get back under there!" she told her cutely, as if she was talking to a stubborn pet and propped her up until she positioned herself to lie back down. Korra did not wait as she clung to her and she made them both fall down, like timber. "And we still have almost half-an-hour." she whispered to herself as she stroked Korra, who lifted her head to face her.
"Let's make it count." Korra told her and she kissed her with a loud smack of her lips to start them off.
The clock had not even reached the third quarter mark when they faintly heard the phone ring outside in the hallway on the secretary's desk and it kept on ringing, which meant she had not returned from her lunch, yet. Korra quickly, though disappointedly, got up to let Asami go out and answer it. She followed her outside as she picked up the receiver.
"This is Asami Sato." Korra stood and listened, wondering who Asami was answering and what it was about. "Yes. She's here with me." Oh? Korra thought. Could it be Mako, again? "Do you want to talk to her directly?" Asami asked, but since she did not hand the phone over to her, she must have gotten a negative response to her question and whoever was at the other end of the line did not feel it necessary or perhaps was nervous about talking with her and was relying on Asami to pass on the message. Or maybe it involved her, as well, she thought. A sigh came from Asami and she kept answering between longer pauses. "We are. Yes it was already planned. The soonest we can leave is the day after tomorrow. Something like that. Hopefully. Yes. I'm sure we can do that. We'll figure it out. Okay. Thank you!" She hung up and looked troubled. She caught Korra's prying gaze.
"It was from Raiko's office. They've got reports of states south-west who are close to going to war over territories and several of them still have benefits from swearing their allegiance to Kuvira."
"You mean they got a bunch of mechs!" Korra guessed.
"Not a bunch of them, but a few are enough for them to think they can just wage a war." Asami stated.
"And since Kuvira gave them all protection, they're pretty much even. If they start a war it won't end, since none of them can really beat the other." Korra speculated.
"That's right. And I'm guessing the smaller states have just as much to defend themselves with as the larger ones can send against them. Kuvira must've have thought of that and she probably distributed resources equally, so even the smaller states could stand their ground." Asami reasoned.
"And if not, then it's even worse." Korra sounded worried. "Why can't they just stick with what they've got. I know she doesn't deserve a compliment, but Kuvira's power trip actually kept the states together after what happened to the Earth Queen. And now, things are gonna fall apart, again?" Korra sounded frustrated.
"And it's going to take time to fully implement a democratic system." Asami commented.
"So, what? They want the both of us to go and talk to them?" Korra asked.
"Well, a few of them are hoping that you showing up would help resolve the situation, peacefully. And I'll have an opportunity to extend Future Industry's support to help maintain and improve on what Kuvira gave them. And who knows, maybe I can get Su in on it, as well. But, the only way we can fit it in without changing our plan, is if we take an airship and make a detour as we leave for the South Pole. It shouldn't take more than a day or two and we can join up with your father and send the airship back." Asami explained, sounding hopeful. Korra looked to the side and down on the ground in front of her as she considered it all.
"I'm gonna ask them all to stop and you can work out a deal to get some...development going. If they don't listen, I'll roll some heads." Korra said firmly and cracked her knuckles. Her diplomacy and recent peaceful attitude only went so far when people were willing to start wars, when there was no one to oppress them and force them into anything. "I don't know who would say no to development. Especially without some dictator demanding things from them for all of it." Korra wondered, trying to understand people and their reasoning or lack thereof. All of it overridden by the need for dominance, when they should have been united, as forcefully as it happened. Apparently, Kuvira's unification effort did not erase differences and ambitions that have already existed. "I know it's my responsibility to keep the peace between the nations, but I'm not going to let their bickering drag both of us away, every time they can't work things out between themselves without a war. It's like we have to babysit states because they just can't get along. As soon as we turn our backs, they're right back at it and we need to separate 'em, because they want the same toy." Korra was exasperated just thinking about all the potential headache and test of patience the world is already creating for her. And for all they know, it could only be the beginning. Asami moved to take her hand and stroke it with her thumb.
"We're gonna be fine. They can't possibly refuse all that an alliance could give them. Trust me." she told her, encouragingly.
"Oh, I trust you! Can't say the same for them, yet!" Korra told her.
"Fair enough." Asami replied, smiling appreciatively. She was only trying to cheer her up, while she actually shared Korra's concern, but one of them being negative about it was enough. The elevator started moving and Asami checked her watch to see it was ten minutes to one and until the end of lunch-time.
"We'll have to tell my dad, when we get back." Korra said.
"He'll be just as thrilled as we are." Asami commented, dryly. "But, if all goes well, we won't lose any time and we'll get to the South Pole on schedule." she added, trying to remain positive. The elevator kept stopping, going to all the different floors and back to the ground floor, a number of times, as all the staff was returning from lunch. It finally made it to their floor and the secretary emerged. She briefly stopped in her steps, surprised to see the two just standing there, then walked up to them.
"Is everything alright?" she inquired.
"Just took a call. We're going to stop a war." Asami told her in a casual tone, as if she had just ordered food. Her secretary had to let it sink in, remove the tone and just interpret the sentence to feel the gravity of it.
"Uh...do you...need me to do anything?" she asked Asami, not at all certain what would be required of her.
"No. We'll manage." Asami told her, sounding completely relaxed as she looked at Korra, who gave her half a shrug.
"If you say so." The secretary replied, not entirely sure what stopping a war had entailed, but if her boss told her she had things under control, she certainly was not going to start doubting her.
"To the test, then." Asami calmly said and they got into the elevator, before it was called away. It stopped a few floors down and the doors slid open to reveal a clerk of mid-height, blue eyes and wavy ginger hair that was kept in a bun with a pin, waiting. Her face dropped, almost along with the dossier she was carrying, when she saw them.
"Going down?" Asami asked, casually and after it took a few seconds for the question to reach her, the clerk quickly shook her head and pressed her lips together. The pair exchanged looks and Korra got a grin on her face and Asami smiled as she watched her, having an idea what she was about to do. Korra took a step forward and grabbed the nervous clerk by her arm and pulled her inside as she let out a yelp. The now terrified woman stood directly in front of them, face to face, shaking.
"Which floor?" Asami asked her, not exactly doing anything to hide a clearly amused smile and held Korra's hand as the clerk stumbled over a single word.
"L-Lobby." she managed to tell them with considerable difficulty.
"What a coincidence." Asami mused, exaggerating her surprise.
The elevator made its descent and the doors opened, but the woman either did not hear it or her legs suddenly stopped working. Asami glanced at her, then to the open doors a few times, before the woman realized what she was meant to be doing. Her head turned, followed by the rest of her and she nearly ran out of there, disappearing down the corridor in one direction and the pair went the other way.
"That was fun." Asami commented and shared a naughty laugh with Korra.
Their expressions must have been unreadable as they walked passed reception and the lobby, where some lingering staff seemingly did not know what to make of their subtle smile that was barely there. One would think, after a phone call like that, they would have been just the slightest bit vexed, nervous or felt some other type of emotion that would have tugged on their face for expression. But, they have both silently agreed they would not let it affect their day or mood and would face things ahead of them with a healthy amount of nonchalance and self-amusement. Just enough to help balance some of the negativity, at least until they get to that bridge. Putting their worries aside, for two more days.
They exited the office building and could see the people working on the mechs to their left and another group massed to their right. They saw a sizable piece of the cut platinum plating being towed on a metal cart by a truck as the engineers were wheeling the much lighter prototype cannon out on a another one.
All who were present turned their attention and ceased any talking, even the ones wheeling the weapon forgot what they were doing and briefly turned towards their boss and the Avatar. It was a miracle not one of them had their feet crushed by the metal cart as it rolled on, before they went after it to catch it. The pair stared at the scene, which would have been almost comical, if it were not for the dangerous piece of technology involved.
"Promising start." Asami muttered to Korra, sarcastically as they joined the engineers.
"Good afternoon, Miss Sato! Avatar Korra." The lead engineer greeted.
"Good afternoon!" Asami replied and Korra waved. "We're taking the test outside, then?" Asami concluded.
"Yes. We felt it was more prudent, given what we are working with." he answered.
"Any complications?" Asami asked.
"None. So far. I suppose you have already made alterations for your original design." he assumed.
"Yes. We'll see if they're needed." Asami said as she turned to see the men setting up the target and the weapon. Everything was prepared and the group stood some distance away, observing as they prepped the cannon and aligned it to aim at the chunk of armor.
"You're going for the toughest thing you got, huh?" Korra asked the engineer, who was somewhat surprised by her inquiry.
"Y-Yes. We skipped the weaker materials. If it can punch through platinum, it can handle anything. It's faster this way." he explained. "On your mark, Miss Sato!" He turned to her.
"Commence!" Asami exclaimed in a professional tone and glanced at Korra to see her lips curve into a small smile, before she turned her attention to the humming noise as the cannon powered up, having energy fed into it by an independent, internal power-source, rather than through cables.
"No tripping over cables, right?" Korra commented and Asami smiled at her observation.
The machine began to vibrate as it charged and the engineers took a few steps back, ready to act on a moment's notices to abort the process, if anything went wrong. The cylinder emitted a faint glow, before there was a brighter flash of light and a flare-like projectile shot out of from it, hitting the platinum. The cannon, however, did not stop and continued to fire several more slugs as its aim started to climb from the recoil and some shots missed the target entirely, hitting the concrete behind it. The engineers rushed to power it down as the last few went high enough to arc their way to the roof of a warehouse, quite some distance away. The substance immediately melted the roof, burning through and cursing could be heard amidst alarmed gasps. They saw several workers run out of the building to stare up at the damage in panic and smoke could be seen rising through the holes. Without a word, Korra shot forward with her airbending and crossed the distance, propelling herself up on the roof, where she could see stacks of wooden pallets had caught fire and the molten metal had already burned its way through a few layers as the fire grew, beginning to engulf the entire section. Korra glanced around to spot a fire hydrant, used her metal bending to tear off the caps and bended the stream of water all the way up to dump it on the fire from above, dousing the flames in seconds. After making sure there was no longer a hazard, she leapt off to land on the concrete with a burst of air, where Asami and the others have already gathered.
"Nice work, Korra!" Asami exclaimed with relief in her voice as she gave a faint smile that grew wider the closer Korra got and she could see she was perfectly fine.
"Sorry about the fire hydrant!" Korra told the workers as she pointed a thumb at the mangled metal post.
"Oh, that's okay! No one could have extinguished those flames, let alone get to them, near as fast!" One of the warehouse workers said.
"And the damage was small. Only a couple of dozen palettes." Another worker waved it all away.
"The roof can be patched, before it becomes a problem in case of any rain." A third one commented.
"So what went wrong?" Korra asked Asami, who turned to the engineers, though she already suspected what it might have been.
"It seems the power-regulator needs adjustment. As well as the accelerator and recoil dampener." One engineer observed and the others nodded in agreement.
"I'll send those modifications, but it'll need more improvements." Asami told them, then they all looked back at the melted platinum that suffered serious damage despite the material's strength. "Not a bad start, though." Asami added. "I'll be leaving for a trip at the end of the week. You can put the project on hold while I'm away, after the modifications have been added." she told them.
"As you wish, Miss Sato! This concludes the first trial, then." The lead engineer replied and the men began hauling the equipment away.
"Carry on!" They bowed and the pair stood around for a few seconds as they both looked at the minor damage. "Again, not the kind of excitement I'd want for a day." Asami commented with a sigh.
"At least I got to do something." Korra said, hands on her hips.
"Let's get back. I'll have to make the paperwork for it and send the new designs. I'll finish the rest of it and we can get back to the island to get ready for the party." She told Korra as she linked elbows with her and they started to walk back to her office.
Another few productive hours, some reading and a meditating session later, they wrapped their workday up a few minutes before the official end of office hours and the pair stepped out of Asami's office to see her secretary was getting ready to leave, as well. The latter looked up from rummaging through her handbag, somewhat surprised and glanced at the clock.
"Wow. Last workday of the week and you actually leave just five minutes early, for once." she commented.
"Excuse my indolence!" Asami remarked with a smile. "Are you coming to the party at City Hall, tonight?"
"Yes. I'm going with a few colleagues." The secretary replied and the three of them waited for the elevator. "Planning to cut the rug?" she asked Asami, glancing between her and Korra as they were going down.
"You bet!" Asami exclaimed and her secretary kept slowly looking at both of them as the pair each raised their brow further, the longer she did it. "What?" Asami smiled her, as she appeared as if she was still trying to come to terms with the two of them.
"I'm just hoping the two of you can dance through at least one piece without getting blinded by the cameras." she replied and the pair exchanged knowing looks.
"I don't think that'll be a problem. We won't even see them." Asami said as she slowly looked at Korra from the corner of her eye and both of them smiled, sheepishly. The secretary covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, understanding their meaning.
They parted ways after leaving the building. The secretary went for her car that was parked outside the gates and waved to the pair from it as they passed the gate, heading towards Kyoshi Bridge, deciding to leave the car at the ferry, again, just for the night. The calm waters of the bay were slightly disturbed as the ferry made its way slowly towards the island and they could see a few sky bison playing in the air with a few airbenders around them that had to have been the kids. The pair disembarked and walked up the path, waving at the others from the gates at the top of the stairs, when they spotted them.
"Dad!" Korra called out to her father. "We got some bad news…" she started and Tonraq's expression immediately grew worried. "Well, it's not really bad, but…" she trailed off and Tonraq prompted her to continue with a concerned look and his expression feel further as Korra described what they would have to do, but he took comfort in the fact that it would not interfere with their journey much, if all went well. They would only need a day or two to settle things, barring any complications.
"I just hope you won't have to stay there any longer." Tonraq commented.
"Yeah." Korra sighed. "You're coming to the party, right dad?" she asked.
"Well, I…" Tonraq was not entirely sure he would be up for it.
"Maybe Lin will be there." Korra teased him and Tonraq folded his arms. "Come on! They'll be people from the North and South. I know you don't mingle much, but maybe you'll have something to talk about. And who knows! Maybe you can make some friends." Korra pleaded.
"And make some new partners for more trade. And it can help improve relations with people living away from the Poles." Asami suggested and Tonraq smiled at her way of thinking, agreeing with her.
"Alright. I might as well make the most of it." he accepted.
"Korra. Asami. You're early." Tenzin greeted as he took a few steps towards them. "Earlier than usual, at any rate."
"Asami got tons of work done and I put out a fire. It was a good day." Korra replied.
"Leave it to Asami to stop working after-hours on the last day." Pema commented from her spot on the wooden steps, keeping an eye on Rohan, who was trying to catch Pabu.
"Bolin!" Asami exclaimed as they both saw the guy come out from the dining hall, munching on a packet of kale cookies.
"Oh! What's up ladies?" he greeted them.
"Hi, Bolin! Wait…" Korra looked up into the sky and she could spot Opal among the children, who was also wearing her glider-suit.
"Yeah. Opal wanted some more training. They've been at it all day." he commented.
"So, when do you all wanna leave for the party?" Korra asked Tenzin and the rest as they took a few steps past Tonraq.
"We thought it would be best to have dinner, so we wouldn't have to worry about feeling hungry at the event." Tenzin told her.
"Me and Opal are gonna go back to the hotel, first, then we join you guys." Bolin explained.
"Whatcha got there?" Kya asked Korra, who was holding her coat, wrapped in the protective packaging, which was draped over her forearm so that it would not get creases in it. "Is it a dress?" she smiled in amusement.
"Hmph…nooo." Korra told her, evasively and Kya got more intrigued. "You'll see soon!" she added to stop her from asking more questions.
"Well, we still have over two hours until dinner." Tenzin stated as he looked up at the children.
"They're gonna be beat, before we even get to the party." Korra commented and looked at Tenzin, who gave her an unworried look with a hint of a smile, as if that was what he was hoping for all along. She blinked as she realized and smirked at him. "Let's put this somewhere safe. Then, we can…uh…" Korra started to say to Asami, about practicing some more dancing, but trailed off, as she did not want the others to hear, who looked at her with a mix of slight confusion and amusement, thinking she was talking about a certain activity that usually involved a bed. Kya snickered behind Tenzin, who raised a brow at her. "W-Wait, it's not about that, I swear!" Korra waved her hands, frantically.
"We're practicing." Asami tried to clarify without giving it away.
"Practicing what?" Pema asked.
"Dancing, probably." It was Kya who answered her and the pair blinked in surprise. "What? Some of the other women in the dorm can her the jazz coming from your room, after lunch until bedtime." she explained. "If you were doing something else, you wouldn't put on music…and you don't!" she continued and the pair looked even more surprised. "For one, it's too late to have it on past bedtime. And two, some can hear you two, anyway." Kya finished with a naughty grin and the pair blushed intensely with a look of embarrassment, while the rest of the adults gave them knowing looks. Pema put a hand over her mouth to hide a delightful smile and they looked at Tonraq behind them, who slowly glanced between them with a slight redness in his cheeks. Korra gave him an awkward lopsided grin and Asami pressed her lips together, looking at anywhere except in his eyes.
"Uh...let's...just…." Korra tried to say to get out of the situation and held up the coat.
"Um...we can hang it in my wardrobe with my dresses." Asami offered and they heard Kya's muffled laugh. "But, it's not a dress!" Asami emphasized, once more, looking pointedly at Kya.
"And it's not like I can't wear a dress! Right?" Korra would have put her other hand on her hip, but it was still linked with Asami's, who put her free hand on her own hip and held her head up defiantly to anyone who would say otherwise, in agreement with Korra.
"Right." She said.
"Okay...okay!" Kya waved her hands. "Don't go all power-couple on me!" she told them and her smile never faded.
"Are we still front-page?" Asami mused out loud.
"Ever since you came back." Kya replied, folding her arms. "By the way, Su didn't hang you from the roof for that comment?" She asked, referring to Korra's candid response in that very short interview.
"She...bound us with those metal strips and...threw us on a sofa." Asami shrugged, looking at Korra.
"She knows I'm right!" Korra said with a self-assured smile, head held high and they both turned to leave.
"See guys at dinner!" Korra said. "You and Opal staying 'til then?" she asked Bolin.
"Nah. We'll fill up at the hotel. We'll catch you guys at the party!" he told them and they parted.
The rest of the afternoon went as everyone had planned it would. There was time for work and for fun. Bolin went down to the bison caves with the children and Tenzin to use his lava and earthbending and expand the caves a little, at the latter's request, to which he eagerly agreed to, as he had been itching for something to do. Acolytes tending to the gardens and shrubbery or just walking about, could hear the music from Asami's room and some caught glimpses of the pair, one or the other appearing briefly in the window, as they twirled each other around. They could tell by the lack of suddenness in their movement that they were probably taking care not to exert themselves much, before the real dance at the party. The jazz stopped half an hour before dinner time and the pair emerged from the room, both wearing white, sleeveless sweat-shirts. Korra was tugging at hers to create some cooling air under it as they both worked up a sweat during their practice. They went to clean themselves, after which Korra laid out a set of clothes similar to her usual one, only thinner pants and boots, with her high-neck top being almost the exact shade of blue as her new coat, all of which she was not planning to put on until after dinner. Both put on their sleeping wear. Instead of her gown, Asami only pulled on black sweatpants, a pale red sweat-shirt and slippers. She and Korra both went to help prepare dinner with Pema, Kya and several acolytes.
"Well, don't you two look lovely!" came Kya's teasing, as soon as they entered.
"We're making a fashion-statement." Korra replied, trying to keep a deadpan expression to pretend they were being serious. Asami laughed lightly.
"They just might think that. If we'd show up like this, some would actually start dressing this way in public." Asami commented.
"Sometimes I see people who try to dress like me. Guys, too. It's like they're in the same group or a club or something."
"Weird." Asami made a strange face.
"They all had long hair and my ponytail. It was a while ago. Before the airbenders and when I was travelling." Korra clarified.
"Well, we can expect fans with short-hair, any day now, then." Asami betted.
"Covered in grease and motor oil, too." Korra added.
"I'll be curious to see where they'll find clothes like mine." Asami wondered.
"It's kind of like a uniform for your company. Maybe they'll break into one of your offices or a warehouse, where you have those." Korra shrugged and Asami gave her a slightly mortified look, not even considering the possibility to be all that remote.
"Su told me they practically broke into City Hall and the President's office." Kya mentioned.
"Yeah. If they're crazy enough to do that, then..." Korra shrugged, again. "And that was just the Press." she added as they continued.
Dinner was served and everyone gathered around the table, taking their usual spot.
"So...what's the plan?" Korra asked and everyone turned to her to elaborate. "You're flying to the party on bison or what?"
She turned to Tenzin, who raised a brow at her assumption.
"That'd be cool!" Kai commented.
"Pepper's not afraid of crowds." Jinora stated, being up to the idea. She looked at her father with pleading eyes and Tenzin rolled his as he gave in.
"Very well." Jinora stifled a squeal and exchanged looks with Kai.
"Oh, nice going." Asami quietly commented and Jinora turned her head to see her smug smile to which she narrowed her eyes.
"We're taking a taxi...or two." Pema said and corrected herself, accounting for Tonraq, Kya and Bumi.
"Suyin and her family will be arriving by a rental car." Tenzin added.
"Uh...anyone know if the Chief's coming?" Korra asked, exchanging nervous looks with Asami.
"Mako told me on the phone, she'll be there." Pema answered. "Why? Is something wrong?" she asked, after she saw the look they gave each other.
"Nope. Not a thing." Korra's reply was suspiciously fast. All the adults gave them a strange look, particularly Tonraq, who had a feeling whatever the pair was nervous about had nothing to do with their usual teasing of him with Lin. No one at the table was certain they wanted to her the story, except Kya and maybe Jinora, who were both looking at the pair with amusement and curiosity.
"No!" The pair said in unison, each trying to glare at one of them. Korra at Jinora and Asami at Kya.
"I'll get it out of Lin." Kya said, matter-of-factly and the pair visibly deflated. Kya and some of the others had enough to tease them with. They were sure that after hearing what happened they would never hear the end of it. Tonraq regarded them with some sympathy, seeing what will be in store for him at home, once his wife hears of him and Lin. He only hoped she will focus more on the pair.
The acolytes would not let Pema, Kya or the pair clean the dishes, after dinner. They had to prepare to leave for the party and they would not allow the four women to get their fingers wrinkled from the washing. Korra and Asami returned to their room and changed. Korra watched as Asami carefully slipped into a crimson high-necked dress that almost reached her ankles, with a cut on the side that ran up to reveal her right creamy thigh as she placed her foot on a stool to put her shoes on. She glanced up to see Korra was nearly salivating with her mouth open as she was ogling her. Korra pulled her coat on and they looked themselves over in the mirror, linked arms by the elbow and strolled out to meet the others who gathered at the gates, ready to go down to the ferry. Everyone wore the traditional formal attire of their nation, except Kai, who was in a black suit, sporting a bowtie that he kept adjusting with the help of Jinora.
"Oh, nice!" Kya exclaimed as the pair walked up to them.
"Both of you look wonderful!" Pema added and the pair thanked them quietly. Tonraq stood in front of them with a wide, approving smile.
"That's going to be the new tradition in the Tribes, soon." he commented.
"For both men and women." Asami beamed. "Or boyish women." she added with a giggle as she looked at Korra.
"Not boyish!" she protested. "Manly!" Korra exclaimed as she held up her free arm and flexed her muscles, their definition visible over her long-sleeved dark-blue gloves.
"You both look beautiful." Tonraq nodded, looking at them both.
"Everyone is present, then." Tenzin stated. "Jinora?" He turned to her and she smiled.
"I'll call Pepper. We'll follow you." she told him and Tenzin nodded.
"Let us be on our way!" he exclaimed and the group took the ferry across the calm waters of Yue Bay, gazing at the vine-covered edges of downtown, at the masses of moving lights along the docks. The parts of the area that remained intact shined as bright as ever, headlights flashing and vanishing into the brightness of the streets that lead further inland. Everything that moved in the distance seemed to be heading in one direction and they all knew where. They looked up to see a sky bison above them. Jinora and Kai had a bird's or rather a flying bison's point of view of the whole scene. Korra and Asami went for their car, while the rest got in the taxis that were waiting for them and they rolled out, turning their heads throughout the ride as they marveled at the spirit off the people that has been lifted. The streets were filled with merriment, even though only a small fraction of the general public could hope to even get anywhere near even just the entrance of City Hall. It did not seem to discourage anyone from seizing the night. Traffic congestions along the bridges were swiftly solved as people turned on the radio, got out of their vehicles and those who did not continue on foot, stayed and partied where they were. Patrolling police units observed from a distance to only interfere if the celebrations got out hand.
"This is crazy. I've never seen so many people just out on street, celebrating." Korra whispered in astonishment as if she was afraid they might hear her and become even more crazed.
"Me neither." Asami glanced around as she carefully drove through the busy streets. Traffic was not high as they neared City Hall, as there were a limited number of designated parking spots for invited guests, thus people did not bother to drive all the way there, only as close as they could get from one another. It was all the people crossing the roads everywhere that drivers needed to play closer attention to. The pair could see a dark stretch limousine in front of them with the tinted windows nearly making it impossible to tell who was inside if it were not for the rolled down window on the right side and the red furry head of Pabu sticking out, along with Bolin's, who was grinning and waving at people who recognized him. Some even ran after the car and Bolin shrugged to Opal, since there was nothing he could do to make his fans love him less, as she shook her head with a smile. The twins, sitting next to the pair, were doing the same on their side, trying to squeeze as much of themselves as they could past the other as the cameras flashed outside. They noticed a car overtaking them and Suyin, who was sitting across from her daughter, between a dreary Huan and her husband, went to the boys' side to see who it was. Nearly all their faces brightened even more, except for the obvious one, as Korra and Asami waved at them, then sped up to enter the cordoned off parking area, ahead of them. Using valets would have been far slower and potentially more hazardous to both the owners and the poor men and women who would have had to navigate the crowd to park rather expensive vehicles and not get mobbed or become part of an elaborate attack with the guests as the targets. This way, any one could quickly leave at their own leisure without having to wait for their car to be returned to them and the vehicles would be under constant surveillance, not only by hundreds of guards, but by a sea of partiers, separating the parking lot from anyone who would attempt a form of sabotage that could even endanger lives. The pair had the same thought about their car's safety and of their own as they were waiting for the Beifong's, Tenzin and the rest to park. As they all got out, Korra stopped Asami from doing so and got out to run around to her door and opened it for her. The crowd watched as the Avatar took Asami Sato's hand and helped her out of the car. Lenses flared and the screaming grew louder as Republic City's stylish power-couple stood hand in hand for a moment, before starting towards the entrance, along the secured path. They stopped to let the others catch up and hugged everyone.
"I'm absolutely in love with that coat and that dress!" Suyin commented.
"Asami had it made for me." Korra replied with a light blush, smirking at Asami.
"Mmh. Why am I not surprised?" Suyin said as she looked Asami over, one more time.
"Eyes up here!" Asami gestured to Suyin, who blinked at her, not the least bit embarrassed or ashamed and smiled at them, delightfully. The path leading up to the entrance was lined with dozens of guards as it lit up from the cameras that briefly turned the night into day, following the celebrity couple, Nuktuk, the Beifong Twins, the matriarch of the Metal Clan and the rest of her family, Master Tenzin, his family and siblings and Chief Tonraq of the Southern Water Tribe as they made it inside the building, where all eyes fell on them, immediately. Theirs got drawn to a metal statue recently put on the raised platform in the middle of the former council chamber as a tribute and decoration for the duration of the event. Korra and Asami stared in surprise, as they realized it was meant to symbolize...them. One half of the statue was half of a cog wheel, painted red, while the other was the symbol of the Water Nation, with wave patterns, painted blue. The two creating a full circle. A whole. As one.
"Not bad, huh?" They turned to see Mako walking up to them. "The decorators probably got a little excited. Can't say 'carried away', 'cause it would mean you don't deserve it. And you do." He told them as he stood.
"Mako! Hi!" Korra exclaimed as the three of them hugged, then she jumped back. "Oh, I totally forgot about your arm on the phone!" she said and Mako gave her a quizzical look.
"You know. That one last night-out with the team. Won't that be a problem!?" She pointed at his injured right arm, which was still in a sling.
"I'll be careful." Mako gave half a shrug. "Besides, the worst we could run into is a few triad goons and they're hardly trouble. Even with the occasional surprise airbender."
"Um...speaking of trouble...?" Asami started.
"The Chief is here, somewhere. Just don't make any sudden movements, like sneak up on her." he suggested with a knowing smile and the pair figured Suyin must have talked to him.
"Is she in uniform?" Asami wondered.
"She's on vacation." Mako was surprised, himself, as he could not believe it, even if he said it.
"I could hardly believe it, myself, when she told me." Suyin said as she joined them with the rest.
"Uh...did she say...why she took time off?" Korra pretended not to know.
"She only told me she might need another session with our acupuncturist, back in Zaofu." Suyin told them as much as she knew.
"You mean the same thing that got her all calm after she snapped." Mako made a face.
"She got all weird, after that." Korra commented, not really looking at anyone. If she had, she would not have continued. "Kinda creeped me out. I think I like her when she's all cranky." she added with laughter in her voice, as all eyes looked behind her, except Asami.
"Is that so?" Korra froze, along with Asami. They slowly turned to see Lin standing behind them in Zaofu fashion, arms folded, unnervingly calm. The pair made a nervous sound and started inching away.
Korra grabbed Asami and the pair bolted to the nearest room. Everyone, except Mako, stared after them, then at Lin, in confusion.
"I can't wait to hear this!" Kya exclaimed as she sashayed over to Lin, grabbing Suyin by the waist, along the way and they lead her away for a slow, subtle interrogation that involved a tray-full of drinks, which were not the only things that would eventually spill.
Everyone danced more in an hour than they averaged a year. The Chief's interrogation was put on hold as Suyin and Kya went to dance, much to Lin's relief. As promised, the pair found Suyin and both took her for dance, after they came out of hiding from Lin. They also indulged Kya and Mako, along with Bolin and Opal, as her mother watched in amusement as the latter nervously move between the pair, who were winking at Suyin, all three of them getting embarrassed glares from Opal for obviously teasing her. Tonraq found himself to be quite popular among others hailing from the Water Tribes and actually warmed up to a few conversations with them. Many of them, especially women, could appreciate his dancing, even. Tenzin took things slowly with Pema, skipping the more fast-paced music, whereas the kids seemed tireless. Jinora and Kai nervously moved around to the changing rhythms. They all noticed that many have stopped dancing and were looking towards the main dance-floor, where they slowly dimmed the lights and shone a single spotlight on one dazzling couple who were stealing the show with their performance. A dark-blue coat and a crimson dress, the colors of the statue in the front, twisted and spun around as Korra and Asami were in their element. Adapting to the rhythm, slowing down or speeding up their movements accordingly. The show-stealing act was seconds away from reaching its finish as the flashing of cameras intensified from the balconies, but the two could not see the world, any of it, around them. The only light they saw was each other's. The flame in the other one's eye, as each half of the pair locked their gaze, moving as one to reach the climax and the explosion of light as they pulled each other into a heated kiss under a thunderous applause and cheer that could be heard from the island. The moment immortalized like so many that was yet to come. They were panting heavily. Sweat gleaming on their foreheads and the crowd parted before them as they made an exit.
"There they go, again..." Jinora commented as the pair eloped from the party, just as they did from the last one.
They hurried past their symbol and out the front gate, where lingering packs of reporters and photojournalists nearly fell asleep while standing, propping one another up. Their eyes shot open as they saw a familiar pair of giggling blurry colors move along in their line of sight and as their vision focused, so did their cameras. The reporters attempted to slur a few questions their way, but they were either far too tired and their tongues were still numb from being half asleep or they took a more active part in the festivities and had a few drinks, forgetting they needed to stay reasonably articulate to do their job. The pair made it back to the car, still laughing in the cooling light breeze of the night. Korra pushed Asami up against the car as they made out and was grabbed and shove against it herself as they kept kissing. It was not from all the discipline and training that the guards around them were standing still. Stiff as a board. Paralyzed by the sight of the two women, who were either oblivious to their existence or had no care in the world.
The pair got into the car and were trying to catch their breath and Asami felt that she was about to partially break her promise to Korra, that she made in her office. Still panting, Asami gazed into her eyes and saw the flame in her own.
"Korra..." she whispered her name. "I...I don't...think I can make it back to the island." Her voice husky and dangerously low.
Korra instantly knew what she meant and it was not difficult to, since she felt the exact same thing. She looked ahead of them, glancing at the guards and at the crowd behind the blockade in panic and did the only thing that made sense to her. She raised her arms and a wall rose from the ground, high and wide around them, shielding them from view. Asami pulled a lever under their seats and Korra fell backwards with Asami already on top of her, before she even realized what happened. Outside, the guards and the crowd stood in silence and the last thing they could hear was the shrill sound of the car horn continuously blaring for long seconds, as it spared the more decent and innocent of ears from hearing what was drowned out by it.
Author's note: I figure Korra could definitely benefit from a little technical knowledge. It would help her take down foes who utilize tech more easily.