[A/N] My beta continues to amaze...


Great White Fluff FoodTruckMasterNaga 4h
Skoochy Heading your way on Tuesday, only one day late. Hope to see you!

Skoochy Skooch Skoochy 2h
FoodTruckMasterNaga AWWWWWWW YEEEAAAAAAH

Cryptozoological Foodie Chalupacabra 1h
FoodTruckMasterNaga You sure you don't need more practice time?

Great White Fluff FoodTruckMasterNaga 1h
Chalupacabra Oooh, somebody is starting the trash talk early. Might want to save your energy for your cooking. Not that it will help :)

Korra walked into her kitchen and looked around with interest at the piles of neatly prepped and packaged ingredients. Wu stood at the sink washing cutting boards and mixing bowls.

"Done already?"

He whirled around. "Hi, Chef Korra! I got here around eleven and finished up a little bit ago."

Korra winced and dropped her keys on the counter. "Wu, I like you right now, let's not change that, okay?" She noted his confused expression. "Just drop the 'Chef' part. I'm not a chef, I'm a food truck cook. Asami Sato is a chef."

A goofy grin spread across her face remembering Asami, beautiful and windblown and laughing at the wheel of her boat. Korra shook her head in rueful embarrassment. Thankfully, Wu didn't seem to notice. He wiped his hands dry on a dish towel before retrieving a large jug from the refrigerator.

"I didn't start the meat soaking yet; I wanted you to test the marinade first."

Korra grabbed a spoon and watched as Wu poured out a small dollop of Korra's special recipe.

"Texture looks okay." She licked the spoon. "Yum, tastes perfect. You do a nice job when you're not self-sabotaging."

Wu shrugged but looked pleased. "Yeah, yeah, Ch— Korra." He turned back to the refrigerator and started pulling out bags of cut meat. "I'll get these soaking and then I'll be on my way."

"Thanks, Wu. Nice first day." Korra started to turn, then paused. "Actually, I'm gonna go grab some dinner in a few if you want to come along. We can talk about what tomorrow's going to look like."

Wu's face lit up in happy surprise, and he nodded vigorously. "That would be really great, thanks!"

Korra climbed up to her bedroom loft and pulled off clothes still damp and salty from her brief yet enjoyable time on the boat. Asami had been apologetic about the short time they had been on the water but wanted to visit her father at the hospital. Korra dismissed all apologies with a kiss and a reminder of their date to Food Fight the following night. Then she had kissed Asami again, tangling her fingers in the woman's silky hair before tearing herself away with a groan and reluctantly disembarking. The parting image of Asami's sparkling smile had her grinning like a fool the entire way home.

"Hey," called Wu. "Your dog is asking to go outside, is that okay?"

Korra realized she was standing still, lost in thought and half naked. "Hang on!" She rummaged in her dresser for fresh clothes then thundered down the stairs, whistling for Naga. Wu waited next to the truck, examining the painting of the big dog on the hood.

"Come on, we'll take her with us."

Wu shook his head. "You really like your dog."

"She's the best. Also, if you mess with me or try to hook up with Jinora, she'll eat you. It's a very solid relationship."

"You're joking about her eating people, right?" Wu looked at the big dog with suspicion.

Korra smirked at him. "I don't recommend you try and find out."

Asami hesitantly pushed open the door to her father's room, not wanting to wake him if he slept. "Dad?"

"Asami." Hiroshi raised a hand and waved at her. "I'm so glad you came."

She pulled up a chair and sat down. He looked a little more alert than the last time she had seen him, and his bed was raised higher.

"So, how did all the tests go today?"

Hiroshi smiled. "Not too bad, but they took a long time."

"I'm sorry," Asami began. "I should have come earlier."

He waved this aside. "It's best you are here now, when I can properly appreciate your company." He patted her shoulder. "Kya stopped by already. And—" he hesitated. Asami waited, then cautiously reached out and rested her hand on his. His eyes widened in surprise. Then he took a deep breath. "My friend Simon came to visit."

Asami started. "Your friend from college?"

Hiroshi nodded, fear evident on his face. "There has been nothing going on, Asami. In fact we only got back in touch a few months ago—"

"Dad." She cradled his hand in both of hers and squeezed. "I wouldn't mind if he were more. In fact, I might even prefer it."

Tears ran down his cheeks and he choked out a sob. Asami jumped up when a loud beeping started above her head. She glanced up and saw bright red numbers flashing on the monitor. Her stomach lurched, and she squeezed his hand tighter.

"Dad. Dad! Please!" Asami found herself holding him tightly, her own tears falling. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I just want you to get better, and I want you to be happy, okay? I just want you to be happy."

He clung to her, nodding. The beeping stopped, and he drew a long shuddering breath. "I never dreamed I could actually have this conversation with you." His eyes glimmered with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Asami. You deserved better from us."

Asami sat back, wiping her eyes. "Well, then. You need to stick around long enough to make it up to me."

He blinked, then slowly nodded, his lips starting to curl upwards. "You're absolutely correct. I'll get right on that."

They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Naga trotted happily along, knowing that this path always led to the same place, and that place involved choice helpings of leftovers. Korra periodically reined her in, mindful of the wheezing behind them.

"You are without a doubt in piss-poor shape," Korra teased. "You must have skinny genetics to look like that when you cook for a living."

Wu glared at her as he struggled to catch his breath, then chuckled. "Well, yeah. My whole family is a bunch of sticks. I hate exercise."

"I clearly need a better employee questionnaire."

"Did you make me fill that out when I was drunk? 'Cause I don't remember any questionnaire."

Korra snorted. "Well, be warned, I'm gonna make you go to the gym with—" Her pocket beeped and she fumbled for her phone.

J-No: Where are u?

Korra: Taking wu to the dockyards to get some food as a reward for finishing all the food prep

Korra: Also, I require ribs

J-No: Want to come meet you

Korra: Srsly? ready to embrace your inner carnivore?

J-No: Yeah not so much you can just beer me

Naga whimpered in excitement as they turned the final corner before approaching The Dockyards, converted cargo containers stacked in a "U" shape on a big open piece of land near the water to make a smokehouse. A large canvas canopy stretched between the containers, sheltering rows of picnic tables. An impressive array of motorcycles sat parked nearby, and an even more impressive collection of bicycles were propped in an enclosed area manned by two heavily tattooed and bearded attendants. A pleasantly smoky haze emanated into the street, and Korra watched as Wu sniffed appreciatively.

"Damn, something smells amazing!"

Korra grinned at him. "Tastes even better."

They wound their way past the tables over to the window where a small line of patrons waited patiently to put in their order. Around three quarters of the tables were occupied, and a cheerful buzz of conversation filled the space.

"Hey Korralicious," drawled the dark-skinned woman behind the counter as they approached. "Haven't seen you in a while."

Korra nodded and smiled. "Nice to see you, Maya. This is Wu, and it's his first time."

"A virgin. How sweet. Sampler platter?"

"Of course, but with extra ribs, and three beers please." Korra glanced over at Wu, who was beet red and spluttering. "Wow, you're easy to fluster. We're going to have to toughen you up."

Maya laughed as she swapped Korra's cash for a number card on a small stand. "Alice may be by later. I'll let her know you're here if I see her."

They found a table near the edge that had a good place for Naga to lie down, though the big dog was practically vibrating in her excitement and had a hard time settling. Korra made sure their number sat high and obvious from its perch on top of a napkin dispenser and took a sip of her beer.

"So, you know that woman — is she the owner?"

"Sort of. It's a family operation. They're big in the local barbecue scene. I know her sister Alice the best. She runs a food truck, so we hang out a lot. Maya and her brother Langston run The Dockyards now because their parents are semi-retired at this point. Very cool people, all of them."

Korra spotted Jinora walk into the dining area, followed closely by Kai. She started to wave, then turned and looked hard at the panting malemute poised next to her.

"Wu, come with me. Naga, stay!"

"Wait, where—"

Kai nudged Jinora as he saw Korra barreling towards them, and she nodded as she moved to intercept.

"Jinora, wait!" Korra panted. "Stay there!" She reached Jinora and paused to catch her breath. "I didn't think to ask if you were coming with Kai."

Jinora looked confused for a moment, before she caught Korra's meaning. "I should have remembered that of course you'd bring Naga."

"It's okay, I have somebody else handy to be Kai's date. Wu, go stand next to him."

Both men looked at her in shock as she took the hems of their shirts and rubbed them against each other in an attempt to mingle their odors a bit.

"Look," said Korra patiently. "Naga gets a little unreasonable with men around Jinora. This doesn't have to be weird, but when we walk back to the table you guys sit together away from her, okay? We'll worry about breaking Naga in to the idea of Kai on a different day."

"You mean you weren't kidding about her eating people?" asked Wu in astonishment.

"Well, she's never actually eaten anyone," said Jinora, chuckling. "But she does make her displeasure known, and frankly I'd rather not tempt fate." She turned to Kai. "Can you and Wu go get a couple more beers?"

"Um—"

"Kai. We need more beer."

His eyes narrowed but he turned and dragged Wu back to the order window, already groaning at the now long line. Jinora followed Korra back to their table where she was met by the exuberant dog.

"I'm really sorry about what happened," Korra began. "I hope you know that."

Jinora sighed. "Being friends with you is like riding a roller coaster sometimes. You care so deeply about everything, yet you throw people for loops and sometimes it's exhilarating and sometimes it's terrifying, and I just—" She broke off and stared out across the cheerful hubbub. "I worry about you, you know?"

Korra rubbed her face tiredly and grabbed her beer. "I know, I know. Rollercoaster is a pretty apt analogy. I certainly feel like I've been riding one."

Jinora started ripping a napkin apart pensively. "Kai told me you and Asami got into it at the restaurant. Why did you even go there if you were still mad?"

Korra blinked. The memory of that altercation had faded dramatically in light of everything that had happened afterwards; she had almost forgotten it had happened at all. She started laughing, saw Jinora staring at her in shock, and laughed even harder.

"Oh man," Korra finally gasped, wiping her eyes.

Jinora leaned back with her arms crossed. "Now you're really starting to worry me, Korra. What the hell?"

"I wasn't mad. It was all a big misunderstanding, and in that case it actually it was Asami being a goof and not me."

"Shocking."

"Shut up. Anyway, we're good. We're more than good." Korra stopped, not sure what to say next.

Jinora peered at her suspiciously. "Are you blushing? Holy crap you're blushing. Oh girlfriend, you need to dish like right now."

"She's…" Korra trailed off, shaking her head. She felt her face heating and her smile widening by the second. "Honestly, she's the most amazing, incredible, badass, beautiful woman ever. Fuck, I can't even list all the ways she blows my mind. Top it off with being an amazing kisser and a general menace to my sanity and I've never felt like this about anybody before in my whole damn life!"

Jinora started giggling. "It must've been those damn Happy Cupcakes. Can't imagine what else she would see in you."

"Oh, fuck you very much." Korra growled, still grinning.

"Hey!" Wu hurried up with Kai in tow, each carrying more cups of beer. Kai's face was flustered as he sank onto the bench and proceeded to chug down one of the beers. When he finished, he immediately picked up another one.

Jinora smoothly intercepted him and held the cup above her head, out of reach. "Okay, sweet guy, what the hell just happened?"

Wu kept glancing nervously over his shoulder. "There was a lady in line who started hitting on him. I think she'd been drinking, because she wouldn't stop bothering him. She was practically rubbing her nipples on him." He turned to Jinora, a look of distaste plastered to his face. "I will say he was very polite and gentlemanly about it."

Korra snickered.

"Anyway, I could see he was getting really uncomfortable, so I gave him a big kiss on the cheek and bitched her out for hitting on my boyfriend."

"You might have warned me that you were going to do that!" Kai barked out, embarrassed.

Wu raised one eyebrow. "How could I have warned you? She was standing right there! 'Excuse me, Chef Kai, but I'm going to pretend to be your homosexual lover to make this crazy woman go away.' I think even she would have picked up on that."

"Yeah, well, thanks for doing it in front of all those biker dudes that started giving me kissy face."

Jinora and Korra lay collapsed against the table, howling in laughter.

"Oh, baby," Jinora hiccuped. "You'd probably make some nice man very happy."

"Ha ha."

Wu took a long pull at his beer. "Nah. I mean, don't get me wrong, Kai's pretty enough, but definitely straight."

Korra raised one eyebrow. "So you're of the man-eating tribe, nice. Are you in the market?"

"No way, I've given up." Wu declared. "I always seem to find the guys that make everybody's gaydar go off, but are actually as straight as the come." He looked over at Kai. "You don't even set off my gaydar, so you're good." He sighed. "I did meet this one guy I really liked, and I would have sworn on a stack of bibles he was into me, too. We met for coffee a few times, then drinks, then he asked me out to dinner. He apparently has a brother who works at a restaurant, so we chatted a lot about food and stuff. He actually knows quite a bit about wines. After dinner we went for a walk and I just tucked my arm into his, and he flipped out. Thought he was gonna arrest me or something!"

Jinora finished off her beer and leaned forward. "So then what happened?"

"He just gave me some lame excuse about not meaning to give me the wrong impression and ran off. I even had to take a cab back to my apartment, the asshole."

Kai looked outraged. "What a dick. Wait, why would he threaten to arrest you? Is he a cop or something?"

"Assuming he wasn't totally full of shit, he's allegedly Detective Fucking Mako of the San Francisco Police Department."

Wu looked around the table at the three shocked faces staring at him.

"What? What did I say?"

Korra: Hope everything went okay with your dad

Asami: It did. He actually got some promising test results. Fingers crossed

Korra: Damn, that's good news! Have mine crossed too

Korra: By the way, I hope you didn't want to keep things on the down low

Asami: Should I be worried?

Korra: I hope not, but Jinora and Kai know she got it out of me in about five minutes

Asami: …

Korra: Sorry if that wasn't okay

Korra: To be honest I want to scream how amazing you are from the top of sutro tower

Korra: I've never been good at subtle

Asami: I've noticed, and it's okay. I don't mind if everybody knows

Asami: Just please remember I'm new at this, so you'll have to bear with me while I figure out what I'm doing

Korra: Consider yourself in possession of an infinite amount of Get Out Of Jail cards

Asami: I hope to consider myself in possession of a lot more than that

Korra: …

Asami: Too forward?

Korra: You don't know how close I came to running back to your boat just now, but I'm forcing myself to be good

Asami: That's probably for the best, but I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow night

Korra: Double that. Sweet dreams, beautiful badass

Asami: Sweet dreams, adorable food trucker


[A/N] Coming up next, we finally see what Korra can do when she's throwing down...