"Ugh." The half sigh half groan slipped from between my lips without me really noticing. Being responsible for so much of a business at such a young age was starting to take its toll. Though an older person probably wouldn't be any less stressed or tired. "No wonder my father went gray so early." I thought aloud.

I made my way back to Seattle from New York this afternoon. The sunny weather I'd left behind in the middle of July was gone. It was the end of August now and it wasn't raining at the moment but the pavement was wet beneath my feet. I could hear the splash of little puddles with every step I took. I could feel the cold weather in the bones that I had just broken a few weeks prior. You'd think with my level of education I'd make better decisions that walking the streets of an unfamiliar and busy city while texting. Taxis are pretty ruthless.

Despite my injuries I did my best to look good for work. I wore my usual business skirt, button up, and blazer. But I only really had one good arm so my wavy hair fell over my shoulders as opposed to the usually slicked back ballerina bun that I like to sport.

I finally made it to the familiar 25-story building; my pride and joy, my place of business and my home. The first hotel I took control of before my grandmother passed and left the rest to me. Double Helix is what I named it, the representation of a dream that died when I chose to take on the Sato family business.

"Glad to see the place is still standing." I said loud enough for anyone in the vicinity to hear. Most of the staff turned and was happy to see me, but their happiness turned to worry as they glanced at my casted arm and bandaged face. "It's not that bad." I insisted. "Now back to work. Show me why you're all so deserving of your end of the year bonus. I might be feeling generous this year."

This of course caused them to get right back to their jobs with smiles on their faces. I made my way to the hotel restaurant, which doesn't have a clever name. 'Hotel Restaurant' seemed almost silly. I went straight to the kitchen window to find the staff dancing to The Ramones. Typical.

"Having fun, Bolin?" I called out to the boy erratically shaking his hips while slicing vegetables.

"Asami?! Is that you?!" He said, not looking up from his task.

"In the flesh."

"Hold on let me finish this pepper and I'll be right out." He said.

"Don't chop off any more fingers please."

"I won't! Notice I didn't even look up. And I didn't chop off a finger I just stabbed my hand a little."

"That doesn't sound any better." I retorted.

"You say tomato I say it wasn't that bad."

I just shook my head and laughed, he's just as goofy as I remember.

"Why do you look like you went to battle with Optimus Prime?"

I hadn't even noticed when he walked out. "You say tomato I say it wasn't that bad." I mimicked his words from moments ago.

"Asami..."

"It wasn't so much a transformer as it was a Taxi..."

"You got hit by a car?"

"Texting and walking. Not such a good idea."

"What am I going to do with you?" Bolin groaned. "I was going to give you a big bear hug but you're all fragile."

"I'm fine. So how was everything while I was gone?"

"Good. But what was with that jack ass you had to replace you?"

My eyebrows shot up at hearing this. "Was Tom-Tom really that bad?"

"Uhhh yeah." Bolin said sarcastically. "He was mean to the staff and to the guests. He didn't know what he was doing and couldn't even catch on when we would tell him. Where did you find him?"

"He's FireLord Zuko's brother in-law. I was doing him a favor because he and my father were friends."

"FireLord...why do we even have one of those anymore? It isn't like there's any fire to lord over since bending kind of disappeared."

"You're a bender."

"Earth slash lava bender. Not fire."

"My point is that bending isn't completely gone."

"There are probably about 6,000 benders in existence now…maybe less."

6,000 sounded big but in the grand scheme of things it was practically zero. There were billions of people on the planet and this was all we had left. It was a topic that tended to make Bolin sad. He was essentially a dying breed.

"Why don't I get you some food?" He said, changing the subject. "If I know you, I know you haven't eaten today"

Couldn't argue with that so I checked in with the host, Jay, and he said I could sit where I wanted. So I sat under my favorite window. There were only 3 occupants in the restaurant. Me, a man in green robes, and a girl wearing a light blue shirt and dark blue sweat pants. It was quiet today. I thought about all the work that I had to catch up on before I could retire for the day. Then I remembered I left my luggage and brief case in the car and internally wept at having to go back outside to get it all. A salad was suddenly placed in front of me and I noticed the cherry tomatoes were arranged into a smiley face.

"How is everything, Korra? I trust it's to your liking?" Jay asked the other woman in the restaurant. It was a little unprofessional not to call her "Ms." But it's possible she told him not to.

"Actually, my chicken is a bit raw. Is it possible to get something else? I've lost my taste for this."

"My biggest apologies. Would you care for the salmon? Extra rice?" He asked playfully.

"That sounds amazing. You know me so well."

Okay. Obviously they know each other. Maybe she won't sue us. I waved my hand to the gray haired man before he turned away from me and he immediately walked over to me looking nervous as ever.

"Yes, Ms. Sato?"

I just glared, waiting for an explanation.

"This hasn't happened before. And Korra is a nice woman, she won't take action against the hotel."

"How do you know her?"

"She's been living here for a month. Comes in to eat 2 or 3 times a day."

"I see." I paused. "Her meal is on the house. See to it that her room is discounted for 3 nights."

"Yes Ma'am."

I sighed and touched my fingers to my forehead. Back 10 minutes and I'm already fixing an issue. I got up from my table, salad long forgotten, and approached the woman a few tables ahead of me. Her head was buried in a book, and she seemed to be softly giggling at whatever she was reading.

"Um, excuse me, miss." I said quietly. When she looked up I almost forgot what I wanted to say, her blue eyes were so piercing. "I hate to disturb you. I'm Ms. Sato. I'm the manager, and I wanted to formally apologize about your food. The salmon is on the house."

"Oh it's no problem. I'm sure they weren't trying to kill me...though I can't say the same for you. You look pretty banged up."

"Yeah." I giggle awkwardly. "Girl vs. car...the car won."

"Going up against a vehicle, you've got guts."

"Believe me, it wasn't intentional." I laughed awkwardly.

"Ms. Sato. I have your usual pasta." Jay said from behind me. I involuntarily jumped a little.

"Thanks." I said taking the plate out of his hands.

"Korra, I'll be right back with your salmon."

"Thanks, Jay. So Ms. Sato would you like to sit with me? I couldn't help but notice both of us were all alone."

"Oh...I couldn't. That would be..." inappropriate. Unprofessional. Over the line.

"Come on. I could use the company."

"I guess that would be ok."

I sat down and waited for Korra to get her food before I started eating. Boy could she eat. She finished all of her food before I got half way through mine, it was pretty impressive.

"Still hungry?" I teased. This caused a blush to rise to those dark cheeks. I could barely see it but it was definitely there.

"Yeah a little." Korea whispered.

"Here." I pushed my plate towards her.

"No. I can't take your food."

"Please. I'm full and I never eat leftovers. It would just be a waste."

"Ok...Thanks." She said and dug in without another word.

"Word on the street is you've been living here for a month. What brings you here?"

"A nasty breakup."

"Oh...sorry to hear that."

"Don't be. It's better that it's over. I see that now."

"That's wise of you."

She simply shrugged. "So what's a young girl like you doing running a place like this?"

"What makes you think I'm so young?"

"I'd wager you're no older than me."

"Oh? And how old are you, Miss Korra?"

"24 and a half."

"Hm...24 and three quarters. You were wrong."

"Psh. Semantics. I was still right. You are young."

"I suppose so."

"So how'd you get this job?"

"Lots of luck." I answered vaguely. She didn't really need to know that I actually inherited the place and 10 others just like it (but with different names) that happened to be on the east coast. I only manage this place because I like doing it. It's a fun job.

"Fair enough."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a personal trainer."

"Ahhh. So that's why you're so buff."

Korra blushed again and tried covering her arms with her hands. "No, It's not a bad thing. I think you look really good. I wish I had the time and will power to work for a body like yours...you have abs don't you?"

The dark skinned girl blushed again and looked away. "I take that as a yes."

"You know I could train you...if you wanted. You know after your bones heal."

"Are you calling me fat?"

"What! No! I would never; I mean you aren't at all. You just said that you...ugh." Korra grunted and buried her face in her hands. "I always manage to put my foot in my mouth."

I burst into a fit of laughter at the disheveled mess I'd made of the brunette sitting in front of me. "I was only joking. Maybe I'll take you up on your offer some day."

"Oh, you are terrible." Korra said through her teeth, she was trying not to laugh with me but she was failing miserably.

"I'm sorry. I saw an opportunity and I took it."

"Goodness, you're worse than Tom-Tom."

"Seriously? He was that bad?! This is the second time today I'm hearing about him."

"He was an ass. I can't believe you let that old fart manage your hotel. How old was he anyway?"

"Tom was only 77..." I started and when Korra gave me an unamused look I continued. "He's the firelord's brother-in-law, I only hired him as a favor."

"What? That guy was Tom the great martial artist of the fire nation?"

"You know who he his?"

"Of course. He's a legendary fighter. Not as legendary as his sister though. That is one scary lady."

"So you know them?"

"Uh..." Korra stuttered. "N-no. I just know them by reputation really."

"Alright." I looked at my watch and saw that I'd been talking to Korra for over an hour. "I hate to cut this short but I've gotta go to my office and get some work done."

"Right. Sorry to hold you up."

"No need to apologize. It was nice meeting you, Korra."

"You too, Ms. Sato."

"Asami." I corrected as I started to make my exit. My insides were screaming. I would meet a cute girl the one day I look I got attacked by ninjas in the dark of night.

"Asami." Korra echoed back soft enough that I almost couldn't hear it.

Jay was grinning at me mischievously as I walked towards him.

"What?"

"You and Korra seemed to hit it off."

"...Yes. You were right. She's a nice woman."

"Are you two going to have lunch again?"

"I hope so." I said passively. I held my composure until I was where no one could see the idiotic grin that was sure to break out on my face.