Chapter Two: Romantic Moped Rides
"Alright, well, I like Asami and I think Asami still likes me, if that dinner said anything. And right now I'm not super occupied with the end of the world or anything, so maybe I should ask her out. Or would that be pressuring her? I don't even know." Korra pauses and inhales and exhales deeply.
For the past two hours she has been pacing, then lying down, and then pacing again. The moon has been making its way to an apex as she loses track of time. Korra is tugging at her dark hair as she tries to figure out the proper course of action, knowing that it would be agonizing if she somehow made the wrong move.
The Avatar clears her throat and turns to her love guru. "So, what do you suggest?" Korra asks eagerly, blinking once with her bright sapphire eyes.
She waits patiently for her guidance, but Naga just groans and returns her head to her paws. Very helpful, Korra thinks with an audible sigh. Well, it is not as if a polar bear dog is exactly going to have the best advice on Korra's love life.
Korra stands up and starts pacing again, scratching at her nose and trying to think of the best course of action. She knows that last night at dinner she and Asami had a spark. Now all Korra has to do is somehow harness it, and it will all work out, and everyone will live happily ever after. The End. Right?
"Okay... I could... send her a letter...?" Korra scowls. "No, I'm never going to follow through with that. Call her... no, not that either... I'd panic and hang up right away."
The night continues in this vein, until Korra pours herself a bowl of water, does as many calming bending exercises as she can, and at last manages to fall asleep. But even in her slumber, she dreams of all of the ways that she and Asami could possibly go wrong.
Asami tosses and turns as well, knowing she will not get a wink of sleep as long as she is preoccupied with Korra. She keeps hearing Mako's words, and keeps thinking about the turtleduck made of a paper napkin. Korra held it as tenderly as if it were alive, and Asami knew at that moment that their feelings had yet to die.
Would they ever go away? It took so long for either of them to take action on what they felt for an eternity. And Asami thinks she might never forget what every kiss felt like, and how stupidly in love she was with the best friend she ever had.
To Korra, Asami was not a wealthy industrialist well known and respected by people. To Asami, Korra was not the iconic Avatar. They were together and each other.
Remembering that simply makes this situation more difficult to cope with.
Meanwhile, Mako and Bolin are lounging on Bolin's sofa, as Mako tries to focus on work. It is, however, difficult to focus while Bolin and Eska are having a cringe-worthy romantic conversation right next to him. And Mako thought he was clueless in the romance department. The two of them put any awkward relationship to complete shame.
"I have a question," Eska announces flatly and Bolin's eyes light up. Mako glances over his shoulder before deciding she is likely not talking to him. She and Desna seem to enjoy pretending Mako doesn't exist (that is, if they do enjoy anything). "I had heard that Korra was involved romantically with the inventor girl. Why is it that they did not express any signs of affection?"
"They didn't work out," Bolin says quietly, shrugging. "It broke my heart. I was rooting for them. I was rooting for them so hard."
Mako clears his throat. "Speaking of that, I've been thinking about something a little bit... conniving."
"Conniving how?" Bolin inquires quietly, his brow knit.
"Korra's back now, and you must have seen how she and Asami were. Honestly, I think they need a little push," Mako explains and Bolin squints at him, unsure what his brother means.
"What are you suggesting?" the earthbender inquires, leaning forward.
"I'm suggesting that we try to get them back together," Mako says clearly, shutting the book of grisly pictures and notes. "Or, if not back together, maybe have them give it a chance."
"They do need some interfering," Bolin admits, thinking of the way Korra caressed the paper turtleduck, or how, as Korra did tricks with Pabu, Asami's eyes were on the Avatar and not the Fire Ferret. "So, what's your plan?"
"It's a little complicated..." Mako begins.
[X]
Eska and Bolin arrive on Air Temple Island at sunrise, ready to put Mako's plan into motion. If Operation Get Korra and Asami Back Together is going to work, they will need help, and help is waiting right there for them, in the form of an excitable fifteen year old girl, who has swung down the staircase and dashed over to greet them.
"Hey," Bolin says, smiling as Ikki hugs him tightly. "Is your sister around?"
"Mhm. She's with my dad and aunt," Ikki says, waving for Bolin to follow her. And then Ikki staggers back and squints at Eska. "Hi, I'm Ikki, and you are...?"
"The Chief of the Northern Water Tribe," Eska explains flatly. She then adds, "I am also soon to be bound in eternal marriage with Bolin."
Ikki squints in confusion for a moment before uncomfortably smiling and resuming her walk into her home. Bolin takes Eska's hand in his, realizing at that moment how unafraid he is of that statement. It makes him abruptly realize just why Mako wants to do this for Korra and Asami.
Because people change, life moves on, fate pushes you in directions you never anticipate. And Bolin knows that, even if he and Eska didn't work out, as everyone insisted, he would have regretted not giving it a second chance more than it not working out.
Once inside, Bolin explains Mako's plan to Jinora and Ikki, as Tenzin looks mildly confused in the sidelines.
"Korra is back and she didn't even call?" Ikki screeches in disgust. "That's so unfair. I have so much to tell her about!"
"We've had... our hands full, anyway," Tenzin remarks dryly, glancing at the guest who has recently arrived.
Kya is on the other side of the room pretending to be listening to the radio, but actually listening to the hushed conversation. She popped in unexpectedly for Jinora's birthday last week, and Tenzin cannot imagine being more exasperated. Save, perhaps, if Bumi had decided to make a surprise visit as well.
"Well, yeah, anyway, so we need your help," Bolin says brightly. "I need you two to go to Asami's house and ask her to get tea and do girl things, or something."
"Why?" Jinora asks, looking Bolin up and down.
"Okay, we're going to get Korra and Asami to go on a date," Bolin eagerly explains. Jinora frowns as Ikki removes her eyes from Eska and nods eagerly.
"They broke up for a reason, Bolin," Jinora says quietly. "If they want to get back together, that's their choice, not ours."
"I disagree," says a loud new voice joining the discussion. Kya looks serious, and Bolin does not think he has ever seen her making that expression. "And I bet you anything they regret breaking it off. My mom talked my ear off last year when they broke up, about how much it hurt to see Korra that upset, and how she could think of a thousand ways around their problems. Korra isn't the first Avatar with a girlfriend."
Tenzin looks at Kya and she waits for him to protest. He begrudgingly and coldly says, "I... actually agree with her. If you want to help Korra and Asami, I suppose you came to the right place."
Bolin smiles. "So, Mako was thinking that, if anyone can prove that the Avatar can, uh, be the Avatar, and still have love and a family, it's you guys, right?"
The past Avatar's family is silent, and Bolin continues, "Mako has tasks for all of us that are suited to our strengths. I am, of course, the second in command in this plan of action, along with my fiancee. Ikki, you and your sister are going to do some of the heavy lifting and use your charms to... uh, charm Korra and Asami. Tenzin, you... be Tenzin. And Kya, Mako says he wants to talk to you about an important but secret part of the plan."
Kya snickers and pats her younger brother on the back. "I get a special job. Unlike someone..."
[X]
Korra is woken at nearly noon by someone knocking on her door. She furiously rubs her eyes and stretches as she groggily strides over and opens it. Bolin, Pabu and Eska, all standing there, looking well groomed and awake, while Korra has hippo-cow licks galore and is in her crumpled clothes from last night.
"So, Mako and Eska and Jinora and me have a plan," Bolin says brightly, skipping over pleasantries and jumping right into his mission. "You are going to ask Asami out."
"That's... well..." Korra rubs her eyes and steps aside to let the couple and fire ferret in. "That's not really an option, I think. I don't think she's that into me."
"You have to be brave," Bolin says, jabbing a finger at Korra. "We've already devised a foolproof plan. And you better get going because it starts in less than an hour."
Korra squints at them both as Naga makes a grumbling sound behind her.
"I don't have anyone to, uh, babysit Naga," Korra declares, cuddling up against her polar bear dog and raising her eyebrows hopefully.
"Naga," Bolin says firmly, "is going to have a play-date with Pabu. You are going to have a romance date with Asami."
Korra scowls for a moment. "Well, uh... I don't... have another excuse ready. Hmph. You got anything, Eska?"
"I believe that you and Asami have a strong physical reaction to each other, and Bolin and I both agree that you both should act on it." Pause. "And take pictures."
"That... part was unnecessary, uh, dear," Bolin whispers to his fiancée as Korra snorts and is hit by a small burst of silent guffawing.
"I had assumed you wanted me to ask when you mentioned it to me last night," Eska says dryly and Bolin squirms with a flush on his cheeks. "Is it not a cultural custom here, taking pictures?"
"Not outside of certain boroughs and shady stores," Korra teases with a lopsided grin, much to Bolin's further embarrassment.
And then her smile fades when she thinks about the fact that Asami is most likely going to turn her down. Why would someone as smart and successful as her let herself get into such a painful situation again?
"So, you and Eska will go to the teashop where Asami always gets her drink on the way to work," Bolin says brightly, waggling his eyebrows in pride of his plan. Korra has to admit it is not half bad, if a little bit creepy. "And then, hopefully, Asami walks in, and bam, you get talking, reminiscing, ask her out."
Korra frowns and Bolin sighs and tugs at his thick, dark hair. Eska stares blankly at both of them, only serving to make the situation more uncomfortable.
"Okay, but, Asami is smarter than all of us. What if she figures it out?" Pause. "She will figure it out."
Pabu screeches and Korra shoots him a glare. Bolin gestures at the fire ferret pointedly. "See, even Pabu thinks that you need to stop complaining and go get the girl."
"I did get the girl. And it didn't work out," Korra admits and Eska glances between both of them.
"Korra does make an educated and reasonable point. Her relationship most likely failed because of deep personal issues that I am sure she has yet to repair," Eska says, sounding like she is reciting from a book. Korra is not sure if she should take it as an insult or not, as usual when dealing with her cousin.
"Our relationship didn't work because of big issues too. And then we ran into each other in a park and it's like whole new people," Bolin insists, pointing frantically at Eska with a hopeful expression. Korra chews on her lower lip.
"Okay," she finally agrees and even Eska looks mildly startled. "If you and Eska can get back together after all of those years and live happily ever after in icy solitude, I can try to make things work again with Asami. I mean, if you two happened, anything could. Let's go."
Korra rubs her neck and tries to ignore the flutter bats in her stomach.
[X]
Meanwhile, across town, Asami is working on a project she knows will never have a conclusion. Goals, deadlines and clear objectives always have been her best friend as an engineer. So when she saw the decrepit satomobile moped on the side of the road for free, everything within her told her that it would be a waste of her time and it looked beyond repair.
Nothing in it was functional. The engine had, at some point, been replaced by a broken flower pot stuffed with smooth, pearly rocks. And that was the most functional part of the vehicle. The rubber on the wheels was in an incredibly sad, melted state.
It is still, after three weeks, nowhere near functional. Which is definitely the longest it has taken for Asami to figure one of these out since her dad told her what a socket wrench was. She supposes that part of her doesn't want to finish working on it, because the project has no correlation to her future, her business and the life she is trying to build.
She drops her wrench in shock when she hears a pounding on her door. It is at that moment, as she gets up and scurries to answer it, that she realizes how exhausted she is. Her worries about Korra and her conversation last night with Mako have kept her thought spinning incessantly.
And there, at the door, are Jinora and Ikki of all people. It has been a long time, since, although Asami has always considered them to be her close friends, they mainly were associated with Korra, and after their relationship ended, there were not many scenarios pushing them together.
"Hi, girls," Asami says warmly, stunned to see them. She has to admit she has not had much human contact outside of business now that she is in a crunch time for a new prototype that she must present to investors in two weeks. A dinner with friends, and now Jinora and Ikki is a drastic shift in her lifestyle of late.
Asami stands awkwardly before Ikki leaps into a tenacious embrace, and Jinora hesitantly joins the hug that nearly sends Asami crashing to the floor. As she regains her balance, and hugs the teenage girls, Asami's shoulders shake with laughter.
"You look awesome," Ikki says brightly and Asami mumbles a thank you. "Do you want to go out for some tea and shopping with us? Bolin says you're really, really overworked with that deadline, and so we thought we'd help out."
Asami blinks a few times and tries to sort her thoughts before replying, "Sure. I'd love to."
[X]
Korra waits anxiously at Asami's regular teashop as she wrings her hands and allows her drink to get cold.
"So, you are completely willing to face off with dark spirits and giant lasers, but not talk to Asami?" Bolin says and Korra frowns at him. "I'm not insulting you. Talking to girls is hard."
"Have you been communicating with other women, Bolin?" Eska asks and Bolin briefly looks more nervous than Korra. "I am making a joke and you are allowed to laugh."
Bolin and Korra exchange a glance, but before they can speak, Korra hears Ikki talking at great lengths about everything and nothing.
The Avatar looks up and her heart skips a beat as she sees that Asami is next to them, nodding along, but looking as if she has no idea what Ikki is talking about.
Asami stands in line and Bolin nods at Korra frantically.
"Go talk to her. Go," Bolin says urgently and Korra contemplates it for a moment before ducking beneath the table. "... or hide under the table."
"I'm not hiding," Korra replies sharply, as she peers at Asami from below. "I'm just ─ uh ─ I hide under tables to prepare myself for important conversations. It's an Avatar thing."
"Well, when you're ready, I guess," Bolin says as he sips from his drink. But as soon as Korra looks away, he waves at Asami, catching her attention.
She strides over, smiling at her friend, and then freezes in place.
"Korra?" she asks, kneeling down and coming face to face with the girl under the table.
"Asami! So great to see you," Korra says, flashing a horrified smile. "What a surprise. I'm just... uh... picking up some spilled sugar off of the floor to... make Republic City a nicer place."
Of that, Asami is very skeptical, but she thinks Korra hiding from her is kind of cute.
"Do you want to come up and join the world of humans?" Asami asks quietly and Korra hesitates for a moment before wiggling out from under the table and sitting down.
"The weather is great," Korra says and then sees the grey skies and the drizzling rain. "Ugh... ignore that."
Asami smiles slightly at her, trying to hide the fact that she feels just as awkward as Korra.
"It's weird running into you," Asami begins, and before she can follow through with her sentence, she turns and sees Ikki and Jinora watching the scene with wide eyes. "I think we just got tricked. Do you want to go outside where we don't have an audience?"
Korra nods, glances at Bolin with fear in her sapphire eyes, and then promptly follows Asami beneath the roof to stay out of the rain.
"You came here for a reason, I bet," Asami says, her mouth dry and her heartbeat racing.
The Avatar pauses before remembering herself. Bolin was right; she is braver than hiding under a table to avoid her ex-girlfriend. And she is brave enough to try to ask her out.
"I was wondering if, uh..." Korra glances at the window and contemplates escape before breathing in and out. She is the Avatar, she is brave, and she can handle this. "I was wondering if you would like to... do an activity together?"
Korra wants to run back to hide beneath the table as Asami bursts into a fit of laughter and squeezes her emerald eyes shut. As soon as she calms down, she looks at Korra and replies, "I would very much like to do an activity together. How about you come by my place tonight? It'll be fun."
"Awesome. Great," Korra says quickly before realizing she probably sounds too excited about it.
Asami tries her best to conceal her excitement.
Her excitement combined with fear, that is.
[X]
At the Republic City Police Station, Mako labors over his files, and the complicated set of information that he cannot manage to connect together for the life of him. He thinks he preferred working on preventing Triads from illegal activity over the murder desk. Republic City is a gruesome place, in ways that even as a kid on the streets, Mako does not think he understood.
He is waiting for a clue on the copycat killer he is tracking, and waiting for Chief Beifong, and waiting to hear from Kya. The fact that he is so concerned about Korra and Asami definitely detracts from his ability to focus on the murders.
Work. He should focus on work, instead of playing matchmaker with his friends.
However, he is quickly snapped back into his Korra and Asami plan when there is moderate commotion in the station. Mako stands up and peers through the blinds of his office to see Kya, finally here. She is at least an hour late, and Mako was assuming she would not show up.
"I'm here to see Mako," Kya says as she brushes past Lin and the rest of the confused officers. The chief opens her mouth to protest, and then decides it is not worth her time and returns to paperwork on the murders.
Mako clears his throat as she enters. "I'm glad you could make it."
"You certainly take setting up your friends pretty seriously. Maybe you should lighten up," Kya suggests, cocking an eyebrow. Mako clears his throat again. "Bolin says you think that my family could be helpful, because Korra and Asami broke up over Avatar duties, or whatever?"
"Yes. And I was thinking you could be even more helpful," Mako says as Kya starts examining the board stuck with pins on the Agni Kai Murders. "Korra and Asami are going on a date tonight; Bolin just called. Jinora and Ikki already convinced Asami to go to Narook's Noodles. I was thinking you could... maybe... do something a little less than legal for me."
Kya nods. "I'm listening."
"I was thinking you could call in an anonymous tip and therefore give me an excuse to go on a stake-out at the restaurant. You'll come too. Then we have a really good excuse to help guide the conversation between Korra and Asami in the right directions," Mako says, drumming his fingers on the table. Kya chews on her lip for a moment and he thinks she might say no.
"Until Lin decides to go on the stake-out and just ruins the entire date because she has no sense of romance or humor," Kya remarks and Mako sighs. "I like you. And I like them. Therefore, yes, I will break the law in order to set up a young lesbian couple. Hmm... sounds less savory when I say it out loud like that..."
[X]
Korra and Asami both spend more time getting ready than they ever imagined they would. Their previous dates were nerve-wracking, but they both felt so comfortable with each other as friends that it was easy. But after so long, it feels impossibly hard.
At last, Korra is happy with her appearance, and she takes off to Sato Manor.
Asami is pacing at the front door when Korra arrives, and they both look at each other, stunned, as if this is not real. And then they hug, both wondering what the nature of the embrace is. Asami slides away first, and takes Korra's hand in hers.
"So..." she says before trailing off.
"So..." Korra replies, licking her lips.
"Do... do you want to come see what I've been working on?" Asami offers, remembering how much Korra liked to sit around her garage and pretend she knew what the different tools were. They would laugh and enjoy their quiet moments together outside of the public eye.
"I would love to," Korra says eagerly, and Asami nods before leading her date further into the mansion.
"Welcome... to my pet project," Asami declares dramatically with affected gravitas. Korra shakes with silent giggles as Asami steps backwards towards the object beneath a curtain, her teeth firmly dug into her rosy lower lip.
"What is it?" Korra inquires slowly as Asami throws the oil stained curtain off of her pet project. And Korra's jaw drops in surprise. "That's... nice."
"Nice? That's all I get?" Asami asks with a small laugh. "This is the ultimate cure to insomnia, Asami Sato's officially dead archaic satomobile that has nothing going for it but a really nice paintjob."
"Might want to shorten the title for the magazines. I'm sure they'll be all over it," Korra says excitedly as she runs her hand across the hood. "And its new nice paintjob." She examines the red streaks all over her hand and cocks an eyebrow. And with a quick flex of her hand, the paint is gone from her hand, floating in bubbles of fire red through the air.
She guides the paint with her waterbending to the overflowing trashcan in the corner and bows pointedly. Asami smiles faintly, relieved that this is less awkward than she worried it would be. Korra grins and they both stand there, awkwardly smiling at each other, unsure whether they would stop or not.
Asami breaks the gaze first and Korra breathes a small sigh of relief.
"So, how about I take you for a ride on a not broken moped?" Asami suggests and Korra nods. "Then I was thinking Narook's Noodles and then just seeing where it goes." And then Asami's eyes flash as she realizes what she said. "Not in a sexual way. I didn't mean it that way."
Korra cocks an eyebrow in response, remarking, "And if I want it to be in a sexual way?"
Asami's lips spread into a small smile as she brushes past Korra silently, patting her shoulder as she heads to her second garage. The Avatar shakes her head and scampers after her date.
[X]
Korra is clutching Asami from behind, clinging on for dear life with her mouth clamped shut in hopes not swallowing bugs. The moped is uncomfortable, but Asami is very cozy to be pressed against. Pale moonlight shines on them, and the air smells like fresh rain. The streets are slick from the earlier rainfall, but the beautiful night is still not as beautiful as Asami.
Asami is very aware of Korra's breath on her neck as they cling to each other. She cannot help but feel clever for suggesting mopeds over racecars, because, admittedly, the contact feels wonderful. But on the forefront of her mind, she is consistently thinking about how she and Korra's relationship deteriorated over the years.
The things that broke them apart were so powerful and significant. And even though Korra's chin on her shoulder is the best feeling Asami has experienced in months, she also knows that she should know better.
Korra doesn't want to know better.
"Here," Asami says as she quickly rounds a corner. Korra digs her hands into Asami as she tries to keep from toppling over. "I was thinking a scenic route might be nicer."
The Avatar raises her eyebrows as she looks around at the glistening indigo water of Yue Bay. Asami slows down slightly, and Korra notices how they are almost alone on this road.
"Don't drive too close to the edge," Korra blurts out and Asami laughs. "What?"
"You don't trust me at all driving, do you?" Asami shakes her head slowly. "I trust you and Naga."
"Naga won't dive first over the edge of a cliff," Korra says and Asami shrugs.
"I'll try not to. Sometimes, though, I do just get that urge to drive off of a ledge and see what happens," Asami teases and Korra rolls her eyes. "Or to run over pedestrians..."
"I believe that part," Korra remarks and Asami makes a sound of protest.
"You hush," Asami murmurs in response and they continue their drive in peaceful silence.
[X]
Meanwhile, Kya begins dramatically, "Alright, we are newlywed Kama Moto, retired Red Monsoon and expert waterbender, and Zi Soto, stony-faced woman with no sense of humor, who Kama definitely calls ZiZi─"
"No. We are three people who are going to sit quietly at a corner booth and look inconspicuous," Lin interrupts coolly, already regretting not telling Mako and Kya to go home and let Lin carry on her stake-out in peace.
Lin showed up on the rainy grey streets in front of Narook's in plainclothes and with a mission on her mind. Mako, who asked if he could join her, as he has been working the case for four months now, had a woman in tow when she met up with him. And with a sigh, Lin decided the extra company wouldn't hurt her work, and that Kya is a very talented bender who wouldn't slow them down if it all goes wrong.
And now she sits at Narook's Noodles, thumbing through a menu as she listens to Kya and Mako debate if she wants to order the calamari loudly, with an incredible amount of passion for discussion of fried tentacles. Lin, at this point, wants to stab her eardrums with one of the chopsticks.
The drizzle of rainfall plinks and plunks against the ceiling, and the room is humid enough to suffocate Lin. Yet, she needs a lead, any lead. It was an anonymous informant who enabled her mother to bring down the original killer half a century ago, and Lin is praying for a reprise.
"Okay, he looks suspicious," Kya whispers into Lin's ear, ripping her from her reverie. "Right?"
Lin can only stare and remind her, "You're not involved in this stake-out.
"Loosen up. It's just police work," Kya admits, grinning.
"This is my best lead at this point, and you promised you wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize my work. This is very serious," Lin responds coolly as she decides upon what to order.
Kya sticks her tongue out and Lin does not even have the energy to roll her eyes. Grown woman. A grown woman.
"There they are," Kya hisses to Mako and he suddenly perks up.
Something tells Lin that Kya is not talking about the suspects in the murder case. Chief Lin Beifong cranes her neck calmly, and then looks at Mako with the disapproving glance that always makes him want to straighten his shoulders and apologize profusely for anything he has done wrong since he was five.
"You two are here to watch them, aren't you?" Lin asks, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
"Solid detective work, chief," Kya replies with a smirk and pointed wink.
Lin closes her eyes. "Mako, is this true?"
Mako makes a small groaning sound in the back of his throat.
"Yes, Chief Beifong," he admits begrudgingly, as Kya's smirk only widens. "I might have had personal and ulterior motives for asking to help on the stake-out."
"In our defense, we wanted to," Kya adds and Lin clenches her jaw tightly.
But before Lin can ask Mako what insane thought was going through his mind, Korra waves boldly at the trio, jabbing Asami's shoulder and pointing.
"Guys," Korra says, she and Asami walking over to their table. Lin thinks her jaw might shatter at this point, because the Avatar and CEO of Future Industries are going to draw attention, and there is no way Lin is going to be able to follow her lead. "It's so great to see you all. Can we sit here?"
"Yeah," Mako says, sliding across the booth to make room. Korra and Asami dive into the open space and both of them could not be more relieved to have run into friends on their date. It will definitely cut down on the discomfort.
"So, Korra, you completely stayed out of contact," Kya says, cocking an eyebrow. "How was your Fire Nation world-saving adventure?"
Korra shrugs. "Not bad. I like their soap. The Fire Nation has nice soap..."
Kya tries her best not to cringe at the poor girl and her romantic obliviousness, but Asami jumps in with, "I know, right? My grandmother used to order it in bulk."
Mako exchanges a glance with the older woman and Kya discreetly nods at him. That's love. She definitely thinks Mako is on to something, and she is not regretting this decision for a moment.
"And Asami, you've been up to some interesting things. I read your interview in Republic City Weekly while I was on the trip here from the South Pole," Kya says, gesturing to Asami.
"It was really nothing." Asami blushes and Korra gently elbows her.
"Don't play humble. You know you're everybody's favorite celebrity."
"Not everybody's," Asami insists.
"Well, you're my favorite celebrity, and my vote counts for all of my past lives too. So, you're over one hundred people's favorite celebrity," Korra says with a cocky grin and Asami smiles back. "I guess enough about us famous people. Why are you three here?"
Kya says, "We're on a stake-out for a dangerous criminal."
"Say that a little louder. Please," Lin mutters to herself.
Korra and Asami exchange a glance. "I've been back for three days."
"Never a day's rest for Avatar Korra," Asami says with a slow shake of her head. "But, what would a date with Korra be without the possibility of grisly death?"
Korra laughs, and tries to hide how thrilled she is to hear Asami say date.
[X]
"Our man didn't show up," Lin remarks as she and the quartet of loudmouths leave the Water Tribe restaurant. "I'm going to pretend it was because my informant was wrong."
"Instead of?" Kya asks.
"Instead of because of the four of you laughing like hyena-monkeys and shouting about police work and being the Avatar." Lin and Kya exchange a glance before they round the corner onto the dark, slick streets.
Korra glances over her shoulder and gives a toothy smile of apology. Lin, however, remains stoic.
"I had a lot of fun," Asami comments as she walks beside Korra. "We should maybe do an activity together again."
"I would love to maybe do an activity together again," Korra says instantly, hoping her reply does not sound too eager.
They are about to hold hands with suddenly Korra tears herself away. Asami is confused before she hears the shouting, and the bloodcurdling scream of a woman echoes through the night. Korra, Asami and Mako start running, and Lin and Kya pick up pace as well, springing into action.
In an alleyway, a corpse lies on the ground, and Korra tries to distinguish who the perpetrator is. A messy scuffle is going on between a woman and man, and Korra quickly lifts water from the storm drain nearby and tries to stop the ruby fire licking the sky.
But it comes down on the woman just as Mako lunges to tackle the man. They all missed...
Korra's heart speeds up as she turns to face the assailant, seeing that he is masked, and the minute Korra grabs a chunk of earth, his eyes flash and he starts running, recognizing her as the Avatar.
"Well, there's our suspect," Lin says as she attempts to cuff him before he can escape.
But he tosses from his hand a burst of flames that knocks the metal back towards its wielder. Lin starts to move forward, but sees Korra rapidly bending elements, Asami at her side, and realizes the wisest move is to call in other officers.
"Kya, check on those two!" Lin orders and Kya does not protest, as she summons ice daggers in one hand to protect herself, and water to heal in the other.
Asami doubles back to Kya as Korra and Mako are locked in combat further down the street. She sees Kya avert her eyes after checking the pulse of the two mutilated bodies, and then hears quiet crying. The engineer steps forward cautiously and follows the sound to behind a dumpster.
There is a little girl, who cannot be more than four or five, sobbing. Asami looks at her, then is struck by unwelcome images of her parents. Squeezing her eyes shut, she knows she needs to be strong, and she extends a hand to the girl.
"My name is Asami and I want to help you," she whispers and the girl gazes at her for some time before accepting her hand.
As Asami emerges from the alleyway, she sees the murderer fading, going further and further away.
"This can't be serious," Kya breathes in disbelief as Korra runs after the perpetrator. Asami grabs the young girl by the hand and passes her off to Mako before dashing after her date.
"Why can't it be serious? You jeopardized the stake-out with your ridiculous plots to get those two back together," Lin grumbles as she tries to locate a police telephone to call in back-up and people to examine the bodies.
"It can't be serious because that anonymous informant was me," Kya admits, her voice distant as she is unable to rid her mind of the bodies, and the panic of the moment. "I wanted us to bump into Korra and Asami."
Lin opens her mouth to complain, then closes it and walks to the pole with the telephone hooked to it to call for aid. They just saw a murder, and Lin has better things to do than bicker with her old friend.
[X]
At the police station, the little girl is sitting at an interrogation table, as officers remain at the crime scene piecing together the murder itself and taking care of the bodies. Lin, Kya, Korra, Mako and Asami returned to the office as soon as they lost their perpetrator.
"So, what's your name?" Mako asks brusquely, his tone urgent, and the little girl is silent. Asami is next to her, the small child having not let go of her hand for the entire journey to the police station. Korra is pacing angrily as Kya tries to calm her down in the other room. And Asami has been trying to keep the situation as calm and wise as possible, before anyone has a knee-jerk reaction.
Lin walks in. "Mako, go outside."
He reluctantly obeys, and Lin sits down in front of Asami. She pushes the little girl a chipped porcelain cup of sugared mint tea.
"Hi," Lin says and Asami is stunned by her warm tone. "I'm Chief Lin Beifong, and it's nice to meet you...?"
"Yumi," the girl replies quietly and Asami is yet again stunned.
"Yumi," Lin repeats, nodding. "I want you to know that you're safe here. I'm not going to let anything happen."
"You run it here?" Yumi asks softly, tilting her head to the side.
"Yes. I'm in charge of this whole station." Lin pauses and watches the nervous demeanor of the pint-sized witness. "It's okay to be scared."
Yumi purses her small lips and Lin studies her for a moment.
"It's okay to be scared," Lin continues, "but right now you're surrounded by strong people who want to help you. The Avatar is right outside, Asami is an extremely talented fighter. You're going to be okay."
Asami swallows. She has never been complimented by Chief Beifong, even indirectly like this. Yumi clings onto Asami more tightly, holding her with a steel grip.
"I want..." Yumi hesitates and Lin listens intently. "I want to go to sleep."
"That's fine," Lin says, although she wishes Yumi had been more forthcoming about her attacker. "Do you have any relatives?"
Yumi shakes her head. "Just my mom and dad."
Asami's lower lip trembles. She saw the fire coming down on Yumi's mother like a burning blade, and she cannot get the image out of her head. Except her own mother is in that stranger's place. Her father's corpse instead of the man in a business suit.
"I'll take her in for tonight," Asami says abruptly. "If it was a personal attack, they might come back for her. Korra and Mako can stay over too."
Lin hesitates and nods. "That sounds wise, if Yumi is alright with it."
Yumi nods and Asami looks through the glass window in the door, her eyes falling on Korra.
Destiny is a funny thing.