CHAPTER 3

The party had been dwindling down after the conversation Asami had with Korra, both of them having returned to their table once their plans were made. The agreement was to meet on the outskirts of the new Spirit Portal a few hours later. There was a mutual agreement and eagerness to leave as soon as possible. As Asami had gathered her things and walked out towards her car, she heard her name called from behind in a forceful, yet soft, tone. "Asami! Slow down kid, I need to talk to you." Asami spun around to see Lin walking up to her. Flips began making waves in her stomach, knowing what Lin wanted to discuss.

"Hey kid, where are you headed off to in such a hurry?" Lin asked as an eyebrow arched in curiosity.

"I have plans that I need to see through right away; a trip, of sorts. I may be gone for a while," she responded quickly, not wanting to waste any time.

"A trip? Good thing I caught you then. I need you to swing by the station before you head off. I have some… paperwork… that I need you to sign."

"Can't it wait?"

"Depends on how long you'll be gone. Any idea when you'll be back?"

Asami paused momentarily, realizing that Korra hadn't mentioned when they might return, and a smile unknowingly crept across her face at the thought. 'Maybe she has no plans of us returning?' she considered. 'Of course we have to return, she's the Avatar and I have a company to run.' Her smile faded, shifting to a slight frown at the thought of returning to the real world.

"ASAMI!" The shout made her jump, pulling her from her thoughts.

"What? Sorry… I got distracted for a second." She shook her head, physically mimicking her mental shake in an effort to sideline her internal conversation.

"Yeah, no kidding. Mind enlightening me on what's going on? Your face just contorted in more ways than I can understand without an explanation."

"It's… complicated."

"Try me." Lin crossed her arms across her chest, leaning back slightly as she puffed out her chest, a scowl forming as she waited.

Asami sighed, recognizing Lin's stance as her 'I'm not leaving until I get what I want' expression. "Okay, fine. Just… give me a chance to talk it out before you chime in, please."

"I think I can manage that," Lin responded, her face softening at the sincerity in the girl's voice.

"It's like this… Korra and I spoke earlier, giving us the chance to clear the air on a few things and then decided that we both need a vacation. Well, more like she asked me to go on a vacation… just the two of us… and I said yes," the beauty started, her gaze flickering anywhere except the older woman's face. "I like her, Lin. I like her a lot. In fact, I've been certain for some time that I'm absolutely in love with her. But, we've never talked about it and I can't be certain she feels the same way." She stopped to catch her breath, her sentences running together leaving her little room to take in any air. "I'm supposed to meet her later tonight to go into the Spirit World for, the spirits only know, how long and I have no idea what I'm doing!" Long, slender arms stretched out in front of her, exasperating her last statement.

Lin nodded, expressionless as she listened intently.

"I just lost my father, your being here asking me to sign his death certificate as a stark reminder of that, and yet all I can think about is Korra," Asami continued. "I'm sure this makes me sound like an awful person, but don't I deserve to be happy for once? My parents left me with no family, and the one person I desperately want to be a part of my new family asks me out, but I am terrified of what might happen if she rejects me. How am I supposed to know that this… thing… between us is real? Does she love me? Do I ask? Do I let it play out and see what happens? Do I wait to see if she makes a move first? THIS IS SO CONFUSING!" She bowed her head in defeat and confusion, unsure of what all she just said in her speedy rant.

"May I speak now?" Lin quietly requested after a few seconds of silence.

"Yes."

"First of all, yes, the paperwork is your father's death certificate. I am so sorry, kid."

Rough arms grabbed the slim girl by the arms and brought her into a tight embrace, holding for a few minutes as she silently sobbed into the woman's shoulder. Lin's hug was strong but comforting; exactly what she needed. The metalbender pulled away before continuing.

"That being said, thinking about your own happiness certainly does not make you an awful person. In fact, it makes you stronger than most because, even though losing your father is sad and unfair, you're choosing not to be swallowed by your grief. Don't tell anyone this, but even I have a hard time with that."

Asami chuckled at the comment, remembering the 30-year grudge she held against her sister and her own recent rekindling from her long-time absent mother.

"Now, in reference to Korra…" Lin paused for a moment, coaxing Asami to look up at her as she brought her thumb and index finger to the bridge of her nose, rubbing aggressively. "Honestly, I don't understand what you kids see in that trouble maker. She saves the world a few times and everyone just falls all over her. Young people these days. Agni, help me, I'll never understand."

Asami crossed her own arms and pouted at the comment, waiting for Lin to continue whatever tirade she was about to go on.

Lin released the pressure on her face, a softer and more delicate expression in place of the cold one she had previously. A sigh escaped as she continued. "You'd be a fool to think she doesn't love you back. That senseless Avatar cares more for you than she may be willing to admit, without a little coercing, that is." She looked up, staring directly into Asami's eyes, giving the girl chills in wake of the Chief of Police's seriousness. "You're detail-oriented enough to have picked up on the subtle clues. That girl isn't exactly subtle. However, she's also been through a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, and the fact that she's let you in is a good indication that she trusts you unconditionally."

Lin stepped forward, resting a hand on Asami's shoulder as she continued her speech. The engineer's eyes remained wide as she listened closely, hanging onto every word.

"Look kid, I like you. You're a smart and determined young woman, much like I was at your age. I made a lot of mistakes, though, particularly in burying myself in my career without taking any time for a personal life. Now I'm old and bitter – again, don't tell anyone – wondering how my life got away from me and only now fixing relationships I should have fixed years ago. Don't do that." Lin pulled away, turning to face away as she collected herself for a long minute. "If the Avatar is what you want, go for it; you two work well together." She turned back to the raven-haired beauty as she spoke, her features relaxed and her tone low.

Tears were swelling in Asami's eyes as she listened to the heart-felt words coming from the typically stern woman. Her heart was beating rapidly and her breath kept catching in her throat. A smile appeared across her crimson lips, turning high on the edges in peak happiness.

"Just do me a favor. If you two do happen to end up together, tell her to stop destroying my city. Granted a giant mechatank just came barreling though and fired every which way possible, but she could have at least had the decency to lure it outside the city walls and save us all the burden of cleaning up after her… again." A joking grin danced across Lin's face with the comment.

Asami let out a breathy laugh, knowing that scenario would never have been possible, but appreciating Lin's cheery attitude; despite her likely legitimate frustration with having half the city destroyed and hearing that the Avatar wants to go on vacation. 'I'll have to let Korra know we'll owe everyone a debt of gratitude for taking the reigns while we're gone,' she mentally took note of, 'being that Lin is essentially giving us permission to take off.'

"Thank you, Lin. That was exactly what I needed to hear. Do you really think Korra's feelings are reciprocated?"

"I do," the older woman started. "But I also think you're going to have to be the one to start that conversation."

"Oh, really? Why is that?"

"Korra may be the Avatar, but she has rocks for brains, making her quite unlikely to know what to do. Not to mention she was raised in a compound that probably never had 'the talk' with her. We all know what a disaster the start to her relationship with Mako was. I'd guess that you probably don't want to go down that same road."

Asami smirked, yet her eyebrows furrowed at the apparent insult. "She's smarter than you give her credit for, you know."

"I'm aware," Lin laughed. "But not in this context. You're going to have to guide her along. She may be the Avatar, but you're the dominant personality. Use it."

"I see your point."

Asami looked around her, noticing that many of the party's guests had left as they talked. Not realizing that they'd probably been standing there from some time, her mind shifted back to her need to prepare before departing on her new journey with the woman she loved.

"I'm sorry Lin, but I really have to get going. I still don't know what I'm going to wear! Oh gosh, how does one even pack for the Spirit World?!" She buried her face in her hands as she dwelled on the thousands of outfit options in her closet.

Lin laughed once more, throwing a playful punch towards the girl's shoulder. "I think you'll be fine. I'm pretty sure Korra likes you when you're adventure ready, so I suggest you keep it simple. On that note, I'll let you get moving. Wouldn't want you to miss your date." Asami caught the wink Lin gave her just as she lifted her head from her now sweating palms.

"Thanks again. I never would have pegged you as the relationship advice giving type. I'll stop by the station before I head off to the portal."

"Me neither, kid. And don't worry about it. It can wait until you get back. Go be happy."

Asami reached out and pulled the stiff woman into a fiercely tight hug before pulling away and sprinting off towards her car. Lin smiled and waved as she saw the girl turn back to look at her, giving a small smile and a thumbs up as her final 'thank you' in appreciation. She headed back to the party, hearing Varrick yelling something about an 'after party of the century' and rolling here eyes, stating to herself, "I'll die before I'm caught at another function with these knuckleheads."