first of all i'd just like to say thank you for all of you that reviewed; the thoughts and comments were all very much appreciated! :) and i'm happy to hear that you guys are liking the asami pov's, so i thought i'd do another yet again. ;D

i'm not too sure were i'm going with this yet; i had a bit of a rough time trying to figure out what was going to happen in this chapter. i literally spent a few hours out of my week thinking about it (is that even normal, haha?). hopefully this'll be a nice transition though into the next one, and thing will start flowing together more so my brain won't hurt as often! xD


The Game Plan

I threw a wish in the well, don't ask me I'll never tell

I looked to you as it fell and now you're in my way~

I was scribbling furiously on a semi-blank piece of college ruled paper. Notice the past tense. Now I'm not doing anything really except thinking about what happened the other day at Korra's house. So now what I'm doing is thinking. What am I thinking about? Well, I guess you could say I'm thinking about Korra. More specifically how exactly I can do my best for her if she already tries so hard for me.

I trade my soul for a wish, pennies and dimes for a kiss

I wasn't looking for this but now you're in my way~

This is actually a lot harder than I thought it would be. I tap the tip of my pen on the hardwood table and frown. I'm sure there's more than a few people wondering what Asami Sato is doing here in the library by herself, staring at a piece of paper that I don't seem to be writing on with a conflicted look on my face. Since I'm an engineer, I have a habit of pulling out a piece of paper and a pen when I want to brainstorm or think of ideas - you know, sketching is something that comes easy to me, since it's been something I've done for years.

Your stare was holding, skin was showing

Hot night wind was blowi-

I feel a tap on my shoulder and pull out my earbud.

It's Opal, giving me one of her quirky smiles. "Hey, Asami."

"Oh hi, Opal," I smile back and quickly try to make myself look a little more concentrated than before.

Opal pulls out one of the chairs opposite from me. "Is it alright if I sit with you?"

I nod and Opal takes a seat.

"So watcha up to, Asami? It looks like you're working on homework or something," Opal says, her olive eyes flashing vibrantly with excitement. If she only knew that I'm trying to think of ways to comfort Korra maybe she wouldn't be so enthusiastic about conversing with me.

"Just thinking, is all," I reply with a short sigh. I wonder where Korra is, if she's not with Opal right now? Maybe she's in a class; I think Korra's told me before that her and Opal only share one class together.

Opal raises and eyebrow curiously. "What about? It looks like you've got something heavy on your mind."

I lift up my phone slightly from the table and catch a glimpse of my reflection on the darkened screen. I do look very preoccupied, that's for sure. Maybe confiding in Opal might not be such a bad idea; she's known Korra for longer than I have, so she might have some idea as to what might be a helpful suggestion.

I sigh again, this time more softly than before. "I've been thinking about Korra."

"Korra?" Opal looks a little taken aback. "Is there something wrong with her? Now that you mention it, I think you're right, she's always been somewhat peculiar to me-"

"No," I giggle. "There's nothing wrong with Korra." I take a moment to think. Maybe I'm wrong. "Wait - it's not that there's something wrong with Korra, really… It's more of an issue that I'd like to solve between her and I."

Opal pushes herself back in her chair, the level of her voice raising a few decibels. "Omigod did you guys get into a fight or something?" Opal gasps, and I almost feel like face-palming. Calm down Asami, calm down.

"No, it's not that-"

"Did she suddenly develop some kind of tragic life-threatening disease where she says she can't be with you anymore and you can't bear the thought of living without her?"

I try a fatigued grin. "...Opal, it's nothing like that, really."

Opal laughs and I relax, knowing she was only playing. "Heh, I know - I'm just joking with you." She takes a moment to give me a playful smirk. "Although if that ever happened, I'd be right there with you at her funeral, just so you know."

"Let's not talk about Korra dying just yet."

"Alright. Got it. Sorry."

I take a deep breath to make sure I'm prepared to say this. Opal is someone I can trust, I'd like to think. I'm sure she can help me out here. There's no need to be so nervous. "I want to know how to get Korra to open up to me. I want her to confide in me, if you know what I mean."

"Why would you want that?" Opal half chuckles, half scoffs. "That girl has more than her share of problems; I don't think you'd want to be involved more than you are now in her life."

"But that's exactly why I want her to confide in me," I put down my pen and rest a hand under my chin, propping up my elbow on the table. "I want to be someone who can comfort her. I know she has problems and issues - and I want to be the person to fix that. She's already done more than enough for me just by being my friend."

Opal grins and shakes her head at me. "Well… Aren't you dedicated?"

"Very," I grin back. Now I think we're getting somewhere. I lean in closer to Opal across the table. "So what do you think? How do you think I can get close enough to her that she'll start opening up to me more?"

Opal reaches a hand up to her chin, where she begins to stroke an imaginary beard in deep thought. "Hmm… That's a good question, Miss Sato…" Opal looks up at me again after a few seconds of silence. "Do you have any ideas?"

I want to say what I'm thinking of saying next, but I don't know if I should. It's because I'm not entirely sure, but if I am correct, then it could actually prove to be beneficial if I want to get closer to Korra and have her open up to me more. Maybe I should ask Opal if she sees it too. "Well, I'm not exactly too sure about this, but maybe if I am right it could help with me being able to comfort Korra."

"Go ahead," Opal waves her hand at me. "No one's going to stop you, it's a free country. What are you thinking?"

"I-" My voice is sounding more shaky than I expected. "I was thinking - maybe Korra kind of likes me?"

I'm kind of nervous after spilling this bout of information to Opal, but she remains straight-faced. Then out of nowhere she throws her hands to cover her mouth as her cheeks puff out and she tries to control her laughing.

I look around us quickly. One of the librarians turns her attention to us over at our table and gives me a deathly glare. "Opal," I try whispering, and place my hand on Opal's shoulder as I lean over the table. "What's so funny? You have to stop laughing so loud; we're in the library and people are staring at us."

Opal continues giggling for a while after calming down, and in a few moments she's at the point where she can talk again without being misunderstood since her previous fit of violent laughter. "Oh my god Asami, you're too funny…" Opal says, wiping away a tear.

I scrunch my eyebrows together. "What are you talking about? I'm being serious."

"No, I know you're being serious," Opal chuckles. "It's just that I can't believe that you've only begun to realize that Korra likes you!"

What? Was it that apparent to everyone already? "So she - she does like me, you think?" I ask her, my heartbeat steadily rising.

"Of course she does! She talks about you all the time to me when you aren't around, like about all the fun you two have together and all that. She really admires and adores you, you know. It's more than crystal clear to me that you're someone really important to her."

I can't help but smile at Opal. Okay, well, maybe she thought I meant a different kind of like… Paternally is probably what she thought I meant. Still, at least I get the gist. Korra admires and adores me. I'd like to think that's something I can work with. It's like what my dad used to tell me when I was younger: a Sato can make almost anything out of nothing. You've just got to put your mind to it.

That little hunch I've got about Korra liking me might actually be something. Those embarrassed smiles when I lean in close to her, her shaky replies when I play with her, or even that last time when I felt a shiver make its way across her skin as I placed a quick peck to her cheek. That has to mean something, right? It wouldn't hurt if I tried to investigate it; it could definitely be a way that I can get closer to Korra. If I was in my workshop right now sitting at my desk, I'd pull the light switch above my head - I think a really good idea has just been born.

"Opal -" I say to the girl across from me. She still has an unbelievably wide smile running across her face, and I know she's in a really good mood. "What would you say to the idea of friend dating?" If we're stuck in the friend zone right now, maybe this would be a good idea to bump things up a little bit? I mean, Korra doesn't have to know that we're friend dating; but it could be something like that. It'd be an easy way for her to feel more comfortable around me and for her to be willing to open up to me more so I can become someone she can confide in. Wow, I'm really starting to feel sly now. Then again, I can't help it.

I grin at Opal, who has a slightly dumbfounded look on her face. She places an index finger to her lips, and I notice that her cheeks are tinted pink. "A-Ah, I don't know what to say Asami… I didn't know you were into m-me, if that's what you're implying…"

Dear lord. That is not what I was saying. "No, no, no - sorry Opal!" I chuckle, waving my arms in front of me a little, as if trying to get rid of the current state of awkwardness. "I was talking about me and Korra, not you and I. Sorry if I confused you!"

The confusion written on Opal's face is quickly replaced by a look of relief. Opal runs the back of her hand across her forehead and sighs. "Phew! Haha, sorry for the mix-up then - I guess I got a little too carried away and jumped to conclusions. It's not that I don't like you or anything, it's just that I kinda..." She tilts her head form side to side in consideration before biting her lip. "...Already like someone else, but you probably already know who it is…"

I have to laugh. "Yeah, sorry for the mix-up. But I was talking about Korra and I." This could be a really good idea; I wonder if Opal will think it'll work? "But if Korra and I 'friend dated'," I make sure to add some air quotes when I say this, just in case things might not exactly go as planned. You never know what happens. "do you think she might open up to me more?"

Again Opal begins to stroke her non-existent beard. "Maybe. Now we might be getting somewhere."

"She doesn't have to know that we're friend dating, but if I make it like that, then she might feel more comfortable opening up to me, don't you think?"

Opal nods in agreement slowly, taking the idea into careful consideration. "Yes, yes… That might actually work… You mean, you won't imply that you're 'friend dating', just kind of be there in that kind of zone, where things will hopefully be more relaxed between the two of you, amiright?"

There's a matching mischievous twinkle in Opal's eyes that I'm sure she can see in mine. Now we're talking. "That's exactly what I mean."

"Mhm, I see what you're talking about now." Based on the expression on Opal's face I almost expect her to start growing a pair of devil horns. "Yep, from what I know Korra does need a little love in her life," Opal says, more to herself than to me. "You know Asami, I think this might actually be something good for her, now that I think about it."

"Well, I'm glad that you agree with me Opal," I reply, and give my hair a soft toss over my shoulder. This could actually work.

Now I'm starting to feel more hopeful about things. Who knew that one short conversation with Opal would turn out to be something so configuring. I lean down to pick up my satchel and stand up from my chair, throwing the strap over my shoulder.

"Hey," Opal calls out as quietly as she can without drawing too much attention. "Where are you going, Asami?"

"You're coming with me, Opal," I tell her, and she immediately rises as well, rushing over as we both make our way out the library door. "We're going to start putting this plan into action."


Before Korra got out of class Opal and I did a bit more brainstorming. You know, things (a few ideas were tossed around, but we weren't really able to come up with something agreeable yet) Korra and I could do together that she wouldn't really notice were things that a 'couple' would most likely do.

At least that's what Opal told me. Apparently, Korra doesn't have very high depth perception when it comes to feelings and whatnot. Which I'm not sure yet is either a good or bad thing when it comes to 'friend dating'. I guess you could look at it two ways. If everything goes well, she might not even realize what I'm trying to attempt. If she does realize that I'm trying to find a suitable way to get closer to her in order to be someone she can trust more, then hopefully she won't take my method the wrong way.

I would also like to point out that I'm not a pro when it comes to dating. Of course I've dated a few guys here and there… Things just didn't work out. The reason so was because pretty much every guy that I've ever dated was after something other than me. Yes, they'd get the pretty girl, but they'd also get a heaping pile of cash and a secured financial bedrock inheritance in Future Industries as well. And sadly that last part is was what most of them were after.

In a way I'd like to think that Korra and I are in a similar position; having had different yet painful experiences with our past relationships. If I do end up going through with this plan, I'm hoping that maybe it could help the both of us heal. I know things are going to be drastically different with Korra than they were with those other guys. She's just - different. She's sweet, and considerate, and adorable, and unique, and funny…

I think that's all the incentive I need to make me go through with this.

I lie down on my stomach, sprawled out lazily on the couch in my estate's living room. I'm trying to think about this a bit more. When I was talking to Opal, I think that I was a little too excited, maybe more than I should have been. But the more that I consider this idea, the more I start to like it. Would getting closer to Korra actually lead to this technical friend-dating thing? I think - okay, maybe I do consider myself to be leaning in that direction - but I do kind of like Korra. I don't see what problem there could be if we both liked each other, right? And if everything turned out fine, then maybe I'd even have someone closer than just a friend. We could be - I don't know - maybe girlfriends?

Still, I wouldn't want to make her do anything she wouldn't want to do. So if she's not into me, then I'll accept what she feels or has to say. It's what a friend would do.

And don't even get me started on that little nagging notion in the back of my mind that is begging for me to believe that maybe Korra might have some sort of feelings for me too. But since I'm a rational sort of person who tries to build on the foundation of materiality, then I have to be the realist that I am and push aside that thought for now; it's too soon to tell.

So. Step 1 of the 'Friend Dating Plan (ft. Korra)'?

According to Opal, that would mean hanging out a lot; which Korra and I have been doing for a while. We had to skip down onto the next part that comes after spending time together.

And that means doing something more official in terms of a relationship; taking it one step further than just hanging out.

Okay, Asami, take a deep breath. I reach out for one of the couch's cushions and hug it to my chest, propping up my torso.

What could Korra and I do that would be considered something two girls would do together who are friends but might want to be something more than friends, with one of them having some kind of secret plan to get closer to the other without her knowing?

God, I am so awkward.

I've never done this before. I think I might need some help.

I know what you're thinking; the super-genius engineering Asami Sato has no idea what to do for a first date?

Yes. I'm shaking my head at myself too.

I decide to look up some safe first date ideas to do in our area.

Scrolling down on my phone, I start to realize that there are a bunch of different, fun things that Korra and I could do together that she might not realize would be something I'm thinking of in a more romantic sense.

Wow, there's really a lot of good suggestions here… There's one that I'm finding sounds pretty fun, and it's actually something that we could do that won't take up the whole evening (I think it would be nice to get started on the plan soon, hehe). I wonder if Korra would also think it'd be something she'd be up for? Maybe I should ask her.

I decide to text Korra. I know she's just gotten out of swim since it's almost 6 o'clock, and she's probably either on her way home or there already. Maybe I might be able to get her free, and we'd be able to go out on this 'date'.

Me: hey, do you want to hang out this evening if you're free?

I find myself cringing a little at my use of the words 'hang out'. I know it's not really what I have in mind, but I can't exactly tell Korra that yet.

There's a few minutes before I get a reply, and when I feel the phone vibrate on the couch's seat, I quickly reach for my phone.

Korra: haha, you again asami? (not that i mind, hehe). ;P hmm… do i want to hang out…

I grin at the screen, knowing full well that Korra's pretending to think my question over.

Me: it's a one time offer; you can either take it or leave it. ;)

Korra: well, if you put it that way i guess i have no other choice than to take you up on your offer.

My grin widens when Korra texts me another message.

Korra: now what did you have in mind for this evening, miss sato?

Me: hm. i was thinking it might be nice if maybe you wanted to have a night on the town?

Korra: wow, asami, that's sounds pretty cool - anywhere specific?

I crack into a smug grin I wish Korra could see on my face right now.

Me: how about going to the lake? they have some cool stuff we could do there. plus, you said that you would show me around, remember? ;)

I can almost hear Korra sighing in defeat in my head. Yep, she did tell me that when we first met.

Korra: chicken nuggets… yeah, i did say that. okay, we can do the lake. i just can't stay out too late, alright? gotta be back home before the parents know i'm missing, haha. xD

I chuckle and smile at the screen. Of course that shouldn't be a problem.

There's another vibration within the palm of my hand, and I look at the screen again.

Korra: what time do you want to meet at the lake?

Me: how about 7:30? ;)

Korra: sounds perfect! :)

Oh man, this is great - I've got a date with Korra! God, I didn't know it was going to be so easy asking her out just like that… Wait a minute Asami, you didn't exactly ask Korra out yet. She has no idea that you're setting her up for a date with yourself, so she's more than likely to think of it as another outing with a friend.

Sometimes that rational part of me really gets on my nerves.

Jumping up from the couch I waltz out of the living room and head over to my room, gathering up some clean clothes for a shower.

In a matter of minutes (I really don't want to be late for this 'date') I'm out of the steaming water, the bathroom still a little foggy from the heat. I grab a hand towel and run it through my hair, scrunching it up here and there to soak up the water.

I stare at myself in the mirror for a brief while, contemplating how I look. My hair's still a bit wet, and I've managed to change into an outfit I think would be good for this kind of activity. It's not really anything special; just a pair of regular skinny jeans, a dark grey tank top, and a comfy black sweater thrown over it. Not to mention that I don't also want to dress too nice because it makes me stand out more, and I don't want anything like what occurred at the mall to happen again. That would be awful.

After putting on some lipstick, I think I'm about ready.

Leaving my room after grabbing my purse I walk through the rest of the house on down the hallway. Everything is very quiet; almost dead silent. It's not like it's something that I'm not used to; it's been like this for years. My dad is hardly ever at home, and when he is, he's usually busy working in his office and doesn't have much time to be spending with his daughter.

I decide to stop by his office and take a peek through the small crack of the open door. Like I figured there's no one there, but his office desk is littered with various piles of paperwork and a lamp is casting softly glowing light over the top. A twinge of sadness surges through my being slowly. It's hard being alone for most of your life.

I silently shut the door and make my way out of the mansion.

Outside I glance up at the sky before getting into my convertible. The sky has turned a deep shade of blue, and I know that night will be falling soon. The sky always gets darker during the fall and winter months because of days growing shorter, but I don't mind. It'd be more romantic going out during this time of the day, I think. The lights around the lake bouncing off the surface of the rippling water, Korra and I enjoying ourselves by having something warm to eat at the cafe, watching the sun sink below the horizon together (if it hasn't happened to already by the time we get there)...

All in all, it should be a wonderful first date. I hope.


so there ya go! so i guess now you know what asami's plan is and how she thinks she can get closer to korra, gaining more than a friend at the same time. i wonder how their first 'date' is going to go? O.o

sadly I've never been on a date before *goes off crying to a corner of the room*, so i had to do a bit of 'research' to find out some good date ideas, and also to look up the concept of 'friend dating' (hello again, urban dictionary!). xD this, as you can tell, is merely one but many of the final products of my long study, haha. since i had a bit of trouble with this chap, if you had some ideas of what you might want to see happen next, that'd be nice to know! (so far i'm thinking having them go paddle boating would be fun to see...). even if i don't end up using them in the next chapter, i could definitely see if they'd fit well somewhere in the future!

i hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and i would really appreciate reviews if you get the chance! :)