I sit at the hotel's front desk doing absolutely nothing. According to my advisors: One day a week I have to be out front in the depths of it all, and I've chosen Wednesday. It's always relatively dead because people don't really travel in the middle of the week.

Doing nothing was a little boring but having the job that I have it's nice to get a break once a week.

It had been 11 days since Korra and I had lunch together. Since then I've only seen her in passing, most of the time I was the one who saw her from afar. I tried to look her up in the guest log on the computer (thankful I had gotten my cast taken off so I could properly type) but there were a few other Korras staying at the Double Helix. All of their names were spelled differently. Cora, Korra, and, Korah. She's got blue eyes, dark skin, and wears blue all the time so maybe she's water tribe. They have a fascination with the letter K, so ruling out Cora may be a safe bet. I wanted to send the darker girl a basket of goods to further apologize for the kitchen staff nearly killing her.

In the middle of my search I could see someone walk in front of me and I was forced to actually do my job. When I looked up I was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar pair of blue eyes.

"Korra. Hi!" I said awkwardly

"Asami, good to see you. You got your cast off."

"Yeah, yesterday. It's great to have my arm back, I can finally put my face on like I like."

"I can see that. The up-do, the business clothes, the sharp makeup. You're a little intimidating."

"Intimidating?"

"Oh yeah. You definitely give off the "I'm totally professional but will bite your head off if you cross me" vibe going on."

"Is that a good thing?"

"It's a great thing! We need more strong, intelligent women in this world."

"Thank you." I blushed. "So how's your stay? is everything ok?"

"Now that you mention it, I do have a little bone to pick with you."

"Ok… what is it?"

"What's this business about me being on your tab?"

"Oh, that?" I started "It's exactly what it sounds like. You're a regular guest that I've heard great things about. Everyone here loves you. Whenever you eat here from now on your food is on me."

"This is about the chicken isn't it? I really don't need you to give me free food."

"It's about the chicken. If you were an ordinary guest I would have just given you that one meal free. But everyone that works here is quite fond of you and as of right now you aren't suing me, so I owe you one."

"And I can't change your mind?"

"You could try but I'm sticking to my guns."

"Bolin was right, you are stubborn."

"You know Bolin?"

"Yeah, he's a pretty cool guy. We bonded over bending."

"You're a bender?!"

"Yes." Korra laughed. "Water bender."

"That's so cool! I've seen earth and lava from Bo, but I've never seen water bending in action."

"Well I guess I'll have to give you a demonstration some time."

"I'd love that. Bo and I are actually going sparring this weekend. You could come watch if you want?"

"That would be great. How long have you two been friends?"

"Since I started staying here. He was one of the first people to be friendly."

"That sounds like him."

"We've been sparring a lot to keep our bending sharp. He just invited me to hang out with his friends, I don't know if I want to go though."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. I'm just a little hesitant."

"Well, as his best friend I can vouch for him. Whatever he wants to do will be fun and you'll be in great company. There's never a dull moment with him. Also, all of his friends are my friends too. All great people, you should go."

"Will you be there?"

"Since I haven't heard about this little get together, probably not."

"Oh...awkward." Korra said

"Don't worry about it. If it's on a week day I'd probably decline. Bo knows when he can and can't get me out of the house."

"Alright. I don't want to cause any tension."

"Really, it's fine. This is how we operate."

"Ok. Well I have to go change really quick: I'm covering a kick boxing class today."

"Kick boxing, personal trainer, water bending. Could you be any cooler?!"

Korra laughed and headed in the direction of the elevators. "Bye Asami."

"Bye Korra."

.

.

.

"It's just dinner."

"Nope."

"Come on, Asami. Don't be lame."

"Wanting a nice quiet night in isn't lame."

"But it's your birthday. You only turn 25 once."

"Yes, and I'd love to spend it with my ass firmly planted on my couch with popcorn and bad romcoms."

"But it's Saturday!"

"Exactly. It's the weekend, and I'm tired."

"It's only 6:30, and it's Saturday, and it's your fucking birthday!"

"Yes on all accounts."

"You're coming out with me, Sato. I'm going home to change, I'll pick you up in 2 hours."

"You won't let up on this will you?"

"Not a chance. Get changed and try not to look like a scary boss lady."

"Fine Fine. But you better have gotten me a good present."

I waited an hour to get up and shower. I put on some jeans and a simple red blouse: I pulled my hair into a lose ponytail that lay on the back of my neck. I put makeup on, as usual, but kept it light. Just focused on accentuating my eyes and coloring my lips. The hour came and went much too soon and I heard a knock on my door. Bolin waltzed in 3 seconds later.

"When I'm home you should let me open the door for you." I groaned.

"Then why'd you give me a key? I knocked to warn you I was coming in."

"Hopeless." I sighed. "Come on, lets get this over with."

"Hey, you mind driving?" the shorter boy asked enthusiastically.

"You really need to get a car." I said as I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.

"I will when my boss gives me a raise." He retorted

"You make good money. It isn't my fault you blow it all on food and fancy jackets."

We made it to the parking lot, and we got in my little Toyota.

"Can't we take the fancy car?"

"Nope." I replied simply. "I only drive the fancy car when I need to impress someone or when I feel like a big shot."

"It's your birthday."

"You know. You keep mentioning that but it isn't changing how I feel."

"You're so difficult."

"And you love it." I smiled. "So where are we going?"

Dave and Buster's. That's where we were going. The child inside of me was extremely happy to be here. It's Chuck. E. Cheese for adults, how could it not make you happy?

"Name's Bolin, I called in earlier." My friend said to the hostess.

"Right this way, sir." The young woman said and led us to the back of the restaurant section.

"SURPRISE!" came from all directions, and it scared the crap out of me. Familiar faces suddenly surrounded me and I was being bombarded with hugs. All of the friends I hadn't seen in over 2 months as well as their plus ones was here. I made a mental note to thank Bolin for doing this for me.

"Hey, birthday girl." I heard from behind me. I turned and burst in the biggest grin.

"Mako!" I shouted and threw my arms around him. "I've missed you, where the hell have you been?"

"Me?!" He laughed. "You're the one that was away on business."

"I guess that's true. How long has this been planned?"

"I had the idea a while back but we actually called everyone about a month ago to make sure no one would miss it."

"You helped plan this?"

"Of course. Do you think the goofball over there could handle all of this by himself?" The taller boy gestured behind him to where Bolin was doing some kind of dance while talking to...Korra?

"Uh, no he couldn't." I answered. "Would you excuse me for a minute?"

I didn't bother wait for a response. My feet carried me to the blue eyed girl before I could really think about what I was doing.

"So is this the big get together?" I asked out of the blue. Korra blushed and ran a hand through her long brown hair.

"Oh hey. I didn't know it was a birthday party. Let alone your birthday party. I wouldn't have said anything to you about it...and maybe I wouldn't have come. Um, happy birthday by the way."

"Thanks, I'm glad you're here."

"Really?"

"Really. I can now personally ensure that you'll have a good time."

"So I'm not intruding?"

"Look, you've been friends with Bo for over a month now right?"

She nodded slowly.

"Ok. Well his friends are my friends. You're more than welcome to be here. And you have two familiar faces here, so it won't be too awkward for you."

"Um yeah. Thanks."

"So who have you met?"

"Just Mako."

"Did he hit on you?"

"What? No!"

"Are you sure? He's a little shameless when it comes to women, and you're definitely his type."

"Me? Seriously?"

"Oh yeah. Beautiful, nice body, sweet, self sufficient."

"If that's the case he must hit on you all the time."

"That was pretty smooth." I laughed. "But no. He doesn't. Well he used to ask me out all the time when we were still kids, but when he figured out he wasn't my type he stopped."

"He's not your type? But he's so...good looking."

"Oh? You think so? Should I put in a good word for you?"

Korra blushed yet again and fumbled over some words before finally getting her sentence out.

"I-no. No,I think I'm done with guys for now."

"Guys lets eat!" Bolin yelled over the crowd of chattering people. I led Korra to the end of one of our designated tables and sat next to her so we could continue talking while we ordered and got our food.

"So you're done with guys? Does this have anything to do with the relationship you just got out of?"

"...Maybe."

I raised my eyebrows and waited for her to confirm what I already knew to be true.

"Okay yes. It has a lot to do with that."

"He must have really hurt you. What happened? If you don't mind me asking."

"I caught him cheating. I mean literally in the act, in our bed, on the sheets I brought from my old apartment. We had a huge fight, and he somehow blamed me. He kicked me out and kept my polar bear dog."

"Polar Bear Dog?! Where did you get one of those!"

"I found her when she was just a pup, half dead in the snow. This was back when I was 17, I was coming home from school and I saw her lying there shivering and so skinny her bones were showing through her skin. No sign of her parents or any siblings. I looked hard for them. There was no way I could leave her there, she was only a 30 pound puppy: So I took her in and nursed her back to health. We've been attached at the hip ever since."

"That's the cutest story I've ever heard. What's her name?"

"Naga. I really miss her."

"I'm so sorry. And I didn't mean to take away from your story, it's just polar bear dogs are so rare."

"No it's alright. To me that was the most important part. I'm better off without the guy, I can see that now."

Korra and I talked until our food came. Honestly she did most of the talking. I just wanted to know more about her so I kept asking questions. She presents herself like she isn't interesting but that's the furthest thing from the truth.

Everyone finished eating and I introduced Korra to Mako and Bolin's step brothers, Wing and Wei. Next was Iroh, Zhu Li, Jin, Sasuke, and Sara. Opal was missing but she was out of the country. Everyone was chatty and welcoming, except Sasuke. But he was a typical emo heart throb, you couldn't take his attitude personal.

Finally, it was game time, so everyone split up and undoubtedly spent more money than they set out to when they came. I was shooting basketballs with Mako, and failing miserably, he on the other hand hadn't missed a basket.

"So Korra." He started. "She's hot."

"Yep."

"I was flirting with her, but I don't think she noticed."

"I was right then. You were hitting on her."

"Did she say something?" He asked worriedly

"No. She had no idea."

"So do you think I have a chance? Or does she play for your team?"

"My team?"

"Yeah. The lezzy squad."

I frowned and punched the taller boy in the arm. "Don't call us that."

"Whatever, just answer the question."

"Well she just broke up with her boyfriend. So I'm guessing she's on the 'hetero squad.' You never know though. She could swing both ways."

"Alright, well find out for me. If she swings both ways, I'll back off."

"What?"

"You need to start dating again."

"Oh, so you're letting me have this one?"

"Exactly." Mako smiled.

"You're so full of yourself."

"No. Just confident." He corrected

"Whatever you want to call it."

After we played games, everyone gathered at the bar for drinks and cake; the worlds best combination. Everyone took shots until they were red in the face and took cabs home. Soon the only ones left were Mako, who was holding my drunk form upright: and Bolin and Korra who decided to start bending inside the bar. Bo bent a piece of concrete out of the floor and Korra stole the water out of someone's pitcher and started throwing ice shards every which way. Neither of them could hold their liquor.

"Excuse me miss." A young lady timidly approached me and Mako. "I'm going to have to ask you and your friends to leave. They're destroying my foundation."

"I am so so sorry." I slurred. I reached into my purse and pulled a business card out to hand to the woman. "I'll pay for the damages. Please call me when I'm sober." I laughed. It was more of a snorting chuckle really.

Mako and I gathered Bolin and Korra. Since Korra was going where I was going I decided that we could just share a cab, and the darker girl insisted on paying since it was my birthday and she didn't know to bring me a present. I walked Korra to her room and was about to bid her goodnight when I realized I didn't have my purse…or my keys…or my phone.


A/N : Someone made a comment last week that I felt was valid and needed to be addressed so for a little clarification, lets talk about Korra! In the first chapter she gets shy about her body and how muscular she is when Asami says that she's 'so buff'. In the Avatar universe our dear Korra would promptly flex her arms and say "hell fucking yeah, I am!". However this is an alternate universe where bending is an endangered art. There are few people who can do it and few who understand what it takes to be great at it. And that includes being strong mentally and physically. In this universe people don't understand what it means to be a bender because there's no one to educate them about it and there's no way they can really witness it because of how rare it is.

That being said, Korra (like Bolin) feels sad, abnormal, and alone in a world where her gift isn't understood like it used to be. It's an extension of herself that's withering away, and could easily cease to exist in a few generations. Her body is attached to her ability as a fighter and a bender, so when someone points it out it's like they're pointing out the part of her that's 'abnormal'.