Asami flinched as loud beeping ripped her out of her slumber. She released a long sigh and turned on her side, staring at her phone as it buzzed and beeped. She groaned as she pushed herself up from the covers, nothing more than an oversized shirt covering her form. Her raven locks fell over her shoulders messily and her eyes were only half open as they stared out her bedroom's window in misery. The sun hasn't even begun to rise… she thought, releasing another sigh while she rubbed her face with her forearm. She rubbed her temple as the day's plans hit her. A meeting with Varrick, and then after that, a meeting with someone else, a public speech, a few deals… she groaned and stood up, her shirt only meeting below her waist. It was the last thing she had of her father, and she slept in it pretty much every night. Pulling the shirt off of her, she walked to her bathroom that was attached to her large room. A huge mirror covered an entire wall; a bathtub with jets lay beside it, a shower linked to the tub at the corner of the bathroom. Asami grunted and entered the shower, sliding the glass door open and stepping inside, relishing in the hot water that sprinkled her pale skin. She sighed, splashing her face and grabbing some soap.

Just about to leave, Asami stood in front of her mirror, making sure she looked okay for today. She adjusted some parts of her outfit and sighed, pulling her hair back. She picked up her keys and stepped out of her house, walking down to her Satomobile and starting the car.

x

"Will that be all, Ms. Sato?" Asami nodded curtly, taking the files from the man in front of her.

"Yes, thank you." The man offered a smile and turned tail, the last meeting of today finally coming to an end. Asami blew out a hot breath while she shuffled through the files. So many questions to answer… so many bills to pay. Patting herself roughly on the cheek, she walked back to her Satomobile, stepping into it and placing more paperwork on top of her rather large pile of work. Starting the engine, she noted that the sun was beginning to yawn behind the mountains. No matter. She's pulled plenty of all-nighters in the past.

"What the hell, Varrick…" Asami mumbled at her desk, pinching the bridge of her nose as she read the papers Varrick had offered her. He wanted everything she had with little to give back. Rolling her eyes, Asami set the paper aside, grabbing the next. Hours passed like flowing water, and when Asami had finally finished everything, it was surprisingly only eight. She set her head down on the cool wood of her desk. Her eyes fluttered shut and she sighed.

Asami woke up slowly, glancing down at her phone to see that only thirty minutes had passed. Still plenty of time to go to Avatar's Spirit. Nice. Rather wobbly, she stood up and barely fixed herself before she stepped out and got into her car to drive down to Avatar's Spirit. The crisp cold air of the night had woken her up a bit, but she was still drowsy nonetheless. She walked into the shop with a small sigh, seeing the woman who managed to take her breath away leaning over the counter to chat and laugh with a girl who appeared to be her friend. She wasn't much taller than Korra and wore a pair of red jeans with a white top and a yellow vest, revealing long blue tattoos going down her arms. Her hair was cut short to her ears and she looked like she was fresh out of college. The Southern woman swatted her friend away as Asami approached, wiggling her eyebrows and chuckling as she took a seat close to the front. Asami waved, the woman's azure eyes twinkling. She gave Asami a sweet grin that was awfully lopsided but still adorable. Asami's heart warmed and her troubles from previously melted.

"Hey," she murmured, returning her smile.

"You look like you had a rough day," the cashier said, raising a brow.

"Rough doesn't begin to explain." Asami groaned. "I'll have my usual ice coffee."

"I'll pay for it, in favor of your long day." The woman said, giving Asami another sweet smile. Asami's eyes widened.

"There's no need for that, really." She said, waving her hand.

"There is. It's no problem." She turned back to the guy who worked with her and told him Asami's order. He turned and got to it. "I, uh, never got your name," she said bashfully, scratching her neck. "Mine's Korra." Asami smiled and her heart warmed in her chest.

"Asami. Nice to properly meet you, Korra." Korra smiled and nodded, giving Asami her hand when she reached out. They shared a quick handshake and Korra laughed softly.

"So, tell me about you, Asami. I know this isn't really the appropriate place to ask, but it's whatever." Asami smiled and tucked some hair behind her ear. Korra leaned forward as Asami explained how she grew up with her dad due to her mom passing away, and how she her dad made sure she took after him in engineering. She explained how she went to high school here in Republic City and college too. She explained how she's now taking over her father's company and how it's stressful, which was why she looks the way she is now.

"How about you? Tell me about yourself." Korra shrugged and leaned back, placing her hands on her hips.

"Born and raised in the Southern Tribe, as you can probably already tell," she chuckled before she continued, "my family took great care of me and I went to school there until high. Then I moved over here and spent a little bit of high school over at Air Temple High, then got transferred over here at the city. I enjoyed the city a little more. I was a bit of a troublemaker in school, but that part of me wore off as I got older. I met my best friends Mako and Bolin over there the moment I stepped through the doors during freshmen year, and I met this lady," she cocked her head in the direction of her friend with the tattoos who was completely zoned out focused on her book, "at the Temple school, and we hung out a lot and texted and stuff like that. I met my best friend Opal there too, who lives in the Earth Kingdom right now, but she's coming down to visit next week. After school was over, Mako, Bolin and I bought this house together and we've been living the life since then. We all went to RCU together, and graduated with our degrees. I started working here the moment it opened a few years ago. Pays well. And that, is pretty much my history." She gave Asami another grin and Asami smiled, opening her mouth to speak but shortly cut off by Korra's friend.

"Don't forget the fact that she hasn't had a woman in her life since Mako!" she sneered, Korra visibly reddening. Woman?

"Jinora, what the fuck! Okay, maybe that's a little bit true, but that doesn't mean you have to go around shouting the fact that I'm-" Korra was cut off by Asami. Never miss an opportunity.

"It's alright! I haven't had anyone in a long time too, and uh I-I'm the same," Asami managed rather bashfully. Korra simply stared at her, slightly dumbfounded.

"You mean you like women?" she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. Asami nodded and opened her mouth but someone walked through the doors at that instant.

"I, uh, I'll talk to you later," she said, turning and walking to a spot in the shop. Jinora raised her eyebrows at Korra. Korra shook her head and slapped herself on the cheek.

"H-hi, how may I help you?"
x

Korra locked the door behind her.

"I keep staying until closing time," Asami sighed, slightly embarrassed.

"That's alright, don't worry about it," Korra replied, tucking the keys into her pocket. Jinora was at her side smiling at Asami.

"It was nice meeting you, Asami," she said politely. Asami smiled and nodded. "Well, we'll see you around," she grabbed Korra's arm and they walked back to their Satomobile. "won't we, Korra?" she whispered to her friend, Korra groaning. Asami smiled and stepped into her own Satomobile. The thought of the Southerner made her cheeks heat. The moon shone high in the sky, washing Asami's black car with it's white light. She pulled into her driveway and stumbled out of her car, exhaust clinging to her eyes. She never realized how tired she actually was until now. She collapsed in her bed after barely making it up the stairs, stripping all of her clothing off and not bothering to move any longer. She released a deep sigh and fell asleep.

X

Asami walked around downtown, enjoying the city commotion and vast life. She relished in the warm sun and crisp breeze. The busy bikers and busy streets. This was the life.

"E-excuse me?" a voice snapped Asami out her daze. "Do you know where I can find Kyoshi's Inn? I'm a bit lost," she added that last part with a nervous laugh. Asami scanned the woman; she was shorter than her, with a messy haircut to her ears, tan skin and large emerald eyes. She wore black skinny jeans and with a green cardigan and green tee that looked like a university shirt; it had a badgermole swiping at the sky with sharp teeth and sharp claws. That's Ba Sing Se University. She was holding a luggage bag.

"Yeah, I do. If you walk about a mile down the street and walk through Republic City Park, you'll see it not too far away." She looked a little bit confused, so Asami offered her a smile. "Or, I could walk you there. I'm not exactly headed anywhere. Was just going for a walk." The shorter girl smiled.

"Sorry if I cause any trouble,"

"None at all. What's your name?" Asami asked as they walked down the sidewalk, an appropriate distance from one another. "I'm Asami."

"Opal," she returned, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. The name was almost familiar to Asami.

"That's a pretty name. So, I see you went to BSSU?" Small talk, check.

"Oh, yeah," Opal looked down at her shirt. "I grew up in Zaofu but decided that University of Zaofu wasn't for me. A good friend of mine convinced me to go to BSSU; best decision I've ever made. Loved it. I went to high school for a year or two here in the City though. It was nice, made some friends." Asami nodded her head.

"I hear it's a good school. I grew up here but my dad convinced me to go to St. Kyoshi University. It was nice." Opal raised her eyebrows.

"Like- the SKU? That's impressive. What'd you go for? That's a rather impressive school." Asami chucked.

"Engineering stuff." Opal nodded.

"Ah. So you live in the city?" Asami smiled and nodded.

"This is my home. Love it here."

"Don't you ever feel like exploring? The Earth Kingdom is great and I've seen the Fire Nation before on a fieldtrip- it was incredible! I'm sure the Tribes are the same." Asami shrugged.

"Ehh. Maybe one day." Opal smiled and shrugged. After a silence paced through them, Asami decided to start up a new conversation. "So, what's your career?"

"I do some stuff for the Temples. They're extremely interesting." Asami's eyebrows rose.

"That's big stuff." Opal shrugged.

"Meh. What about you? I'm sure you do bigger stuff." Asami chuckled.

"Not really. I do some stuff for the city's technology." Opal gave her shoulder a nudge.

"See? Big stuff." Asami sighed.

"More like stressful stuff. I'd rather do all the engineering without all the nagging of other companies." Opal smiled.

"I know what that's like." They spent the rest of their walk chatting, Asami telling Opal a little more about herself and Opal doing the same. They loosened up a bit as their trek came nearer and nearer to an end. They were both laughing and joking by the time they reached Kyoshi's Inn, and Asami was happy to call Opal her friend.

"Here's my number- and my Skype. You should totally meet my other friends some time, you'd love them!" Opal chimed.

"You know what, maybe I should." Opal smiled and patted Asami's shoulder.

"It's settled then. I'll talk to you later, Asami!" Asami waved to the Earth Kingdom woman as she set off inside the Inn. Asami smiled and turned tail, deciding to take a walk around the park. Her mind was on a lot of thing as she wandered. Korra, Opal, Future Industries. Her past. Korra's past. She unlocked her phone, taking a seat on a bench. Opal had texted her.

O: made it to my room. thanks a lot for the walk! CC:

Asami smiled at the text.

A: Awesome. have fun visiting your friends. glad you made it safe. :)

O: i know i will! you should totally join us! after a few days alone with them tho of course

A: Sure, id be happy to. a few extra friends would be great.

O: what about this weds, over by that diner near Republic City Spirit Forest

A: That sounds good. i don't really have any plans for then.

O: cool! ill text you the time and stuff when the time comes. gtg, see you later!

A: :)

x

aaaaand chapter 2! i feel like i could've put a little more effort into this one but whatever! Chapter 3 is gonna be long, so, heads up for next week. Hope you enjoyed! (kuvira won't show until later chapters btw)