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Summary: "After his betrayal, I knew he was a terrible father. It wasn't until I watched you heal from the poisoning that I realized I was lying to myself this entire time." Korrasami. Set after Series Finale.
Asami quickly rushed out of the room. She pushed past Mako and Bolin who struggled to keep hold of the boxes in their hands as she went by.
"What's going on?" Bolin asked.
"I don't know," Korra said as she followed Asami through the halls of the Sato estate. "She just said she needs to talk to Varrick."
"Maybe it is about the new merger," Mako called out.
"I don't think so." Korra slipped a couple of times as she followed Asami. She quickly stopped at the bottom of the landing to make sure she didn't crash into Asami's back. Korra frowned in confusion before peering over Asami's shoulder.
Varrick was standing in the foyer with Tenzin and Pema. The quickly stopped their conversation once they spotted the two young women. Korra noticed the tips of Asami's ears turning red as she walked over toward them.
"How are you feeling, Asami?" Pema asked with concern. She held her arms out and waited for the raven haired girl to step into her embrace. "Tenzin told me everything."
"Everything?" Asami repeated. She looked over at Korra with a raised eyebrow.
"I didn't tell him," she quickly defended herself. "I didn't even know he was coming until I got here," she added.
"How much do you know?" Asami asked quietly.
"That you have been drinking a lot lately and got very sick," Pema answered. "We were so worried. The kids drew you some get well soon cards. They don't really understand everything. They just think you have a bad case of ice freeze," she said while handing her the small pile of drawings. "Rohan even pitched in."
Asami let out the air she was holding and thanked the older woman. She smiled at all of the drawings before showing Korra the handprints that Rohan had stamped into the middle of each card.
"Asami, I rushed over when I heard the news," Varrick said loudly. "Zhu Li and I send over a get well spa package," he said while thrusting the item into her hands. He then gave her a side hug before leaning down close to her ear. "May we talk for a second?" he asked.
"Sure," she said slowly.
"Before you do," Tenzin said while placing an arm on her shoulder. "Pema and I just wanted to let you know Asami that you are welcome at our place anytime."
"We think of you as family, just like Bolin, Mako, and Korra," Pema said. She grabbed a hold of Asami's hand, squeezed it, and then covered the top with her other hand. "Whatever you need, we're here for you," she said sincerely.
"Thank you," Asami said. She swallowed to snuff the lump rising whenever she was close to crying. "That means a lot. You two have both been so supportive and I really appreciate it."
"Over here." Varrick grabbed Asami by the shoulders and steered her away to a more secluded spot of the foyer. Korra's voice filled the room as she spoke to Tenzin and Pema about some of her recent work in the city. "Did you tell anyone?" he demanded.
"No, of course not," Asami hissed. She groaned and rubbed her temples. "I just remembered myself a few minutes ago. I was rushing to get back to the Future Industries building to go and speak to you before Zhu Li found out from someone else and-"
"Zhu Li knows," he interrupted. Asami then noticed that he didn't carry his usual bravado. His eyes seemed dull and didn't have his usual spark in them. "She's my wife, I can't lie to her. I told her right after it happened."
"Oh, but you can cause my company to go almost bankrupt and then force your way to get a stake?" she asked.
"Yes, I can lie to you all I want. I'm not married to you," Varrick answered. "This again, I thought we were past that. Who helped you created the hummingbird suits?"
"You did," Asami said with an eye roll.
"Right, I did a thing," he said while puffing out his chest. The spark in his eyes came back when he spoke of his own accomplishment.
"What'd she say?"
"She was mad but we're working through it," Varrick admitted. "We were at a rough patch in our marriage at that point. I think I just acted on my frustrations and needs." He gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry that I got you involved."
"I want to apologize as well," Asami said sincerely. "Things have just been, pretty messed up lately. I hope you can continue to work together and Zhu Li as well."
"Of course. She doesn't hold a grudge," Varrick said with pride. He paused for a second while thinking before sighing heavily. "Well except for against me apparently. She's still kind of mad about how I treated her as an assistant. Women, go figure." He shrugged. Asami rolled her eyes again. "Anyway, you need to come into work right away," he said while leading her back to where Korra, Tenzin, and Pema were standing.
"I still feel a little nauseous," Asami admitted.
"Do you remember that proposal we sent into President Raiko to help expand Republic City?" Varrick asked.
Asami nodded. She and Varrick were working on a design idea and created blueprints to help expand and rebuild Republic City after the standoff with Kuvira and the new Spirit Portal opening. It had taken them weeks to agree on set plans. Her eyes widened in shock as she let his words sink in. "It went through?"
"We have a meeting in a week," Varrick announced.
"Oh, that's excellent," Pema said happily. Korra half-smiled at Varrick before softening as she looked at Asami. Asami in turn blushed a bright red under her gaze.
"We should celebrate. I'll take you out tonight. Where do you want to go?" he asked.
"Nowhere," Asami sighed. "Well, I think I'm going to catch a mover with Bolin and then head to Air Temple Island to spend some time with the children and my friends." She smiled over at Korra.
"If you need to work," Korra started. Asami shook her head slowly.
"I don't trust myself to be alone right now," she admitted. Asami looked at the four other people in the room before taking a deep breathed. "I decided I'm going to quit cold turkey."
"Are you sure?" Tenzin questioned. "Detoxing can get pretty dangerous with going through it steps at a time."
"I'm sure I'll be fine with all of my friends with me," Asami said sincerely. She reached out and took a hold of one of Korra's hands before squeezing it. "This way I can work on getting our presentation ready with plenty of opinions."
"So, you're going to move back?" Korra asked. She tried to conceal her excitement but Asami could tell she was bursting with joy when her hands quickly turned warm.
"For right now," Asami said, not taking her eyes off of Korra. "If you would like me back," she added shyly.
"We need Team Avatar together to be able to handle Rohan, and Meelo," Korra said with a laugh. Pema giggled.
"They are starting to run everything," she added.
"I can't wait," Asami said.
"Things will finally be back to normal," Korra squeezed Asami's hand tightly. Asami nodded in agreement.
—One week Later—
Asami looked over the blueprints in her hand with excitement. She placed it on the desk and smoothed it out with her hands. "Okay, I think this will be the route Future Industries will take to help rebuild and expand Republic City after it has been partially destroyed by the Spirit Vines and Kuvira's attack," she explained. She quickly sat down in her seat behind her desk. "So what do you all think?"
Asami looked expectantly at President Raiko, Tenzin, Fire Lord Izumi, Suyin, and Korra's father Tonraq who were seated across from her in her office. They had all watched and listen to her and Varrick's presentation carefully.
"I like the idea," Tenzin said happily. "I think it'll be a great way to advance the city and still keep the Spirit Vines and the new Spirit Portal connected and out of harm's way."
"It is a very ingenious development idea. I applaud you on your continued success as you continue to run Future Industries after everything that has happened," Tonraq added. Asami smiled brightly underneath his gaze.
"Does the city have the budget for it?" Fire Lord Izumi questioned. "We don't want to over exceed our cities funding," she added.
"Varrick and I have communicated with Su and have found ways to be able to develop these new buildings with the some of the metal the Zaofu used to be created. We will save time and money," she explained.
"Many members of the Metal Clan have agreed to relocate here for a few months to be able to help," Su explained. "Myself included and I'm sure Lin would also be of service," she added.
"And the best part is I don't have to lift a finger," Varrick added. Asami fought the urge to roll her eyes but she did reach up and pinch him hard on the arm. "This way Asami and I can use our intelligent minds to help move the process along."
"Are you sure you both have thought everything out?" President Raiko shifted his gaze over to Varrick. Asami frowned. Varrick cleared his throat to speak but she raised her hand in the air to silence him. She got to her feet.
"Of course." Asami nodded. "We've been working on this idea since before the merger. The merger was the stepping stone we needed to acquire funding and-"
"I was talking to Varrick," President Raiko interrupted before turning to him again. Varrick look at him in surprised before looking over at Asami. He took a quick step to the side once he noticed the anger flashing in her eyes. She walked over and started down her nose at the President of Republic City.
"With all due respect, this whole thing was really my idea," she said slowly. "So, I believe I have the right-"
"Do you all believe we should be following Ms. Sato?" President Raiko turned and asked the four leaders of the four different nations. Suyin and Tenzin exchanged confused looks.
"Asami is one of the brightest minds in the city," Tenzin started.
"After me, of course," Varrick boasted.
Tenzin glared over at him. Varrick helds his hands up in defence before shrugging and making a show that he would remain quiet. "She helped created the roadways and railway system. She single handedly turned around her family's company. Why wouldn't we follow her?"
"I just never thought you would willingly follow someone with such an unstable life," President Raiko said nonchalantly. "I mean, how do we know that won't seep into her work?"
"Unstable?" Asami repeated.
"Well, you are currently in relations with the Avatar are you not?" he questioned. Asami felt her cheeks starting to heat up. "And there is a matter of those rumors about your favoritism to liquor-"
Asami gasped. She bit her lower lip and crossed her arms over her chest. After a few seconds she reached up and started to rub the front of her neck before swallowing hard.
"That's not on topic, Raiko," Su shouted.
"This is just like politics," he said calmly. "We pick the leaders we want and give reasons as to why they may not be suitable for the role. I'm just giving my opinion."
"Let's just take a vote," Tonraq boomed. He looked over at Asami before shifting his focus to everyone else in the room. "To follow through with Asami's and Varrick's plan, raise your right hand," he instructed while raising his hand. Tenzin, Fire Lord Izumi, and Su all raised their hands as President Raiko kept his firmly on the table.
"That's it then," Tenzin declared. He tried to smile over at Asami but she had looked away.
"This meeting is adjourned," Varrick said after a second. He walked over to Asami and placed a hand on her shoulder. She shrugged away and refused to look at anyone as they left the room. "He won't get away with what he said, Asami. Don't worry."
"Just let it go," Asami muttered. Varrick muttered a goodbye before leaving the room. The minute the door closed Asami walked back around her desk and collapsed into her chair. She blew a piece of her hair out of her face while drumming her fingers on the smooth wood.
After a few minutes of silence she looked at the still open mini fridge underneath her desk. Three small bottles of Atomic Lightning were chilling near the back. Asami starred at the bottles, watching as small drops of condensation slipped down the smooth glass. She licked her lips and swallowed hard.
A swift knock came on the door. Asami quickly kicked the mini-fridge door shut with her foot. She cleared her throat twice before starting to clean up the papers on her desk. "Come in," she called out.
"My dad just told me the good news," Korra said happily as she entered the room. She paused when she noticed Asami continuing to move around. "But you don't seem too happy."
"Oh, just President Raiko is being difficult as usual," Asami said with a small laugh. She walked around to the front of her desk and rested against it.
"Well, my parents decided to celebrate by taking everyone out to dinner," Korra explained.
"Oh, good," Asami muttered.
"Don't worry, they like you," she said reassuringly.
"They like me as Asami Sato," she explained with a scoff. She looked down at the ground before crossing her arms over her chest. "Not, Asami Sato the drunk dating their daughter."
Korra wrapped her arms around Asami and rested her head on the older woman's shoulder. "My parents are totally supportive of us," Korra said softly. "Things will be fine, don't worry."
Asami smiled and tilted her head so that she caught Korra's in between her shoulder and her neck. "I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here," she whispered. She pulled her arms out of the Avatar's embrace before wrapping them around her and giving her a hug.
"I love you, Asami," Korra whispered.
Asami paused. She looked down and noticed the shorter girl's cheeks turning a light pink.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Asami breathed. Her hands began to shake.