Title: Because Of You
Pairing: Korra & Asami.
Rated: M
Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra and its characters. All rights belong to their respectable owners Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino.
Authors Note: Again guys, Thank you for the feedback. The Favs, Follows, Communities, PM's and Reviews it amazes me every time. Thank you. Sorry again for it being so late. I'm hoping to get back into the process of updating sooner than later. But for now bare with me. In this chapter things are gonna get a bit crazy. When your emotions get the best of you. What can you do other than react.
Warning: More Angst (don't you just love it?) and Blood (minor blood I don't know. Not to keen on fight scenes but I try.) Also there will be errors I will clean up later on.
PS: I wanna thank everyone who has reviewed voted for my Korrasami AU Drabbles. Some have voted on AO3 as well causing Special Delivery to be in the lead with Republic Enemies at a close second. Final decisions on which story will come next will come once we reach the last chapter of this story which is chapter 20. Until then you can still vote and I will add to which story you would like to read next. Again thank you all who have participated means a lot.
PPS: I said it before and I'll say it again. I do hate cliches because they tend to be dull and boring but that doesn't mean you can't present a cliche and make it interesting. That's what I intend to do. So bare with me. I appreciate all of you for sticking with this story so far. I never expected to get this amount of feedback for my first story here and I am eternally grateful for that. I have tons of AU ideas for these two and I don't plan on stopping now. I'm only getting started. Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Later guys.
Asami was in her bedroom staring across the room as Iroh continued to talk. She was subconsciously tuning him out. Her mind was on Korra. The look on her face when she kissed Iroh was daunting. As if she had broke her spirit. That was never her intention. She just wanted some distance from Korra. Her thoughts were interrupted when Iroh kept saying her name.
"Asami?" he said waving his hand up above her face. Iroh had his head resting on her lap as he laid on her bed in his muscle shirt.
She shook her head snapping out of her thoughts, "yeah?" she asked looking down at him. Her fingers still brushing his hair back.
Looking up at her suspiciously, Iroh pulled himself up into a sitting position. "Something on your mind?" he asked taking her hand in his own.
Asami eyes shifted down on to her lap, "no. its nothing," she said trying to convince herself more than him.
Iroh scooted back toward her and raised his hand underneath her chin for her to look at him. "Is it about that kiss earlier?" he asked as the look in her eyes showed regret.
"I'm sorry about that..." she said hoping she didn't cross a line.
Iroh shook his head with a small smile, "its alright," he said licking his lips lightly. "As much as I loved those lovely lips of yours on mines... I'm pretty sure that kiss wasn't intended for me," he said raising a brow at her.
Asami sighed and folded her arms causing Iroh to look at her attentively. "What gave it away?"
He tapped his index finger on his chin repeatedly thinking, only to shrug afterward. "I don't know maybe because it came out of no where. Or that you saw someone you were trying to avoid," he said lightly hitting her knee with his knuckle. "When we were younger, you usually would cover my mouth with your hand and make it seem as if we kissed. To claim me as your boyfriend to keep unwanted affections at bay," he said making an exaggerated gesture with his hands. "This time was different. I know its bothering you."
"No it isn't," she said defensively.
"Yes it is," Iroh insisted. "So much so that you haven't been listening to a word I've said since I came inside," he pointed out. "Not that I don't love hearing the sound of my own voice," he said with a chuckle to lighten up the mood. He gotten a small visible smile from her because of it. His gaze dropped for a second to get to the point. "But its clear to me that you are hurting. So please tell me what happened?" he nearly begged. He hadn't seen his dear friend in years and wanted to be able to help her while he was still there.
Asami remained quiet for a few moments not sure where to start. "I... I put my trust in someone I shouldn't have," she began to say. "And I got played. It really isn't much more to say then that," she said trying to simplify it without going into further detail.
Iroh could tell by the way she worded it that it was much more to it then that. He wasn't sure to press on it or not so he tread lightly. "Did you fall in love with him?" he asked assuming it was a guy.
"Her," Asami corrected without a second thought. Her gaze dropped from him thinking on his question. "And no. I didn't," she lied.
Sighing himself, Iroh knew it was a losing battle to engage any further into this conversation. "Well its a good thing you didn't," he said patting her on the thigh twice. "I mean most people who do they try to bottle up there feelings. As if that person they love most in the world doesn't exist. That they had no affect on them at all. They try to push them away at all costs. But it doesn't work. Love is something you can't fight. Yet they still do," he said trying to prove a point indirectly. "Not sure if its pride or what. But once you've given apart of your heart away. Its no way you can get it back. They will always have a piece of you," he said speaking from experience. It was something he often felt when he thought of her. "So they have to ask themselves the most important question of all," he said taking her hand in his own so she could look at him. "Can you see yourself living without this person?"
Asami listened and didn't answer. She wasn't sure if it was directed at her or what. His words were stuck in her mind. Trying to figure it all out. No matter how she felt. The confusion between love and betrayal. Could she live without Korra? She wasn't sure about it at all. So she stuck with her guns once she met his gaze. "You're right?" she finally said after a few minutes of silence. "Its a good thing I don't have that problem,"she said clearly still in denial.
Iroh watched her for a few minutes hearing her answer. He nodded and simply said, "okay," to drop the subject.
"I'm a go downstairs, get some tea. You want anything?" Asami asked as she got up from her bed.
He watched her and shook his head no. "No thank you. I'm good," he said still concerned for his friend.
Asami gave a small smile and ran her fingers through his hair to brush it back. "Okay, I'll be back," she said leaving the room with her smile disappearing into one of despair.
She had spent more than an hour downstairs thinking on what Iroh said. When she saw the time, she quickly came upstairs and back into her room to speak with him only to see him passed out. He was laying across her bed hand on his stomach as the other hanging off the side. He was snoring like a bear which made her giggle. She took a blanket she had in a near by chair and covered him with it. She looked down at him and brushed his strain of hair from his eyes. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Thanks..." she said in a whisper.
Walking across the room, Asami sat down by her window and looked out at the moon. It wasn't full like the night before she spent with Korra. "Korra..." she said under her breath. She began to hug her knees still thinking on everything until she eventually fell asleep.
Mako was at his desk early that morning going over the records of property the Red Lotus was using. It was an old abandon factory that use to manufacture automobiles. It was no documentation of who owned the property itself. It raised a big flag in his book.
Picking up the phone, Mako was about to call some one to help him find these documents that weren't on file only for Beifong to come out of her office. "Mako in my office now," she said before walking back inside.
He hung up the phone before he could even punch in the numbers. Standing up, Mako walked into Beifong's office. "Close the door," she said quickly with him doing so. He walked over to the front of her desk and stood there in silence. "I know you're aware of what happen with Korra," Lin said taking a seat.
Nodding, Mako wasn't sure if she wanted him to respond. "Yes I am."
"Good, so what I am about ask of you needs to be kept between us. Are we understood?" Lin asked looking him dead in his eyes.
"Yes Ma'am," Mako said quickly ready for the task at hand.
Lin sat up straight and took her time before continuing. "Things are gonna get out of hand soon. I know because I can feel it deep in my bones and their never wrong," she stated with a heavy sigh. "That's why I need you to keep tabs on Asami," she said seeing the confusion in his eyes.
"Asami?" He repeated. If anything he would expect her to mention Korra not Asami. "Why her?" he asked only to place his hand over his face questioning her.
Lin chuckled and let it slide, "because she's the wild card in all this," she explained. "She could expose Korra at any second. I got all eyes and ears looking out for any sign of Red Lotus activity with in the bounds of the city. So the only person left is Asami," she said knowing Korra wouldn't like it but it was the only strategy they had left. Lin trusted Korra enough to give her some space and handle herself like she wanted too. "If she does anything that's out of line. Even so much as J walk. I want you to cuff her and bring her ass in. We understood?"
Mako nodded and raised his hand up to his forehead saluting her. "Yes Cap," he said dropping his hand back down to his side.
"Good, get to it," Lin said taking her cup of coffee in hand.
Mako excused himself from the room and when to proceed with his orders.
Asami woke up the next morning with the blanket she placed over Iroh on top of her. Pulling it off, she stretched like crazy before sitting up seeing she was in her bed. "Iroh?" she said not getting an answer. She turned over to look at her digital clock by her bed side table only to see a note.
Taking it in hand, she read her name on the front of it only to open up to read what it said.
Note: Dear Asami, My apologizes for leaving so soon. I needed to hurry to the port in order to travel over to the Fire Nation. My Mother is expecting me. I will tell her hello for you. When you get a chance, please give me a call to let me know how Kai is doing as well as yourself. I know we didn't get to talk much last night since I passed out but I would like to tell you this. Love can't be ignored. No matter how much you try to fight it. Please do me a favor and give that a second chance to shine. I promise you won't regret it - Iroh II
Asami folded the note back up and sat it down on the side of her bed. "I'm not sure if I can..." she said as if he was right in front of her to respond to. She had a very stubborn streak but it wasn't that black and white. The situation she was in was more complicated than others could have imagined.
The way Asami saw it was Korra trying to gain an advantage toward her family. She knew the cops had it out for them but to this extend was beyond her. To go that far it made Asami question every single moment she had with Korra. She couldn't tell if it was real or not. Hell she didn't even know if Korra was her real name. Let alone felt the same about her as she did or if it was it just a clever tactic to get closer to her family. These thoughts had ran through her mind ever since she found those files.
She wanted so badly to believe in Korra. To see the good and finally give love a chance only to be proven otherwise. It broke her heart and wanted Korra to feel the same. She wanted her to know the pain she was going through. But seeing it first hand was torture on its own. Her feelings for Korra filled her with anger and sadness it was to much for her to cope with. She had enough to worry about with Kai. Him laying in that hospital bed unconscious. Not knowing if and when he would wake up. It was horrifying. Then it hit her. Like a bolt of lighting.
"Fucking Tahno..." Asami uttered as she ran her fingers through her hair. She still had unfinished business to take care of. That was making Tahno pay for what he did to her little brother.
Korra spent most of her morning getting reacquainted with her fathers old case file after the night she had. Watching Asami suck face with some guy tore a whole in her heart. She couldn't bare the thought of it so drown her sorrows in a bottle of the fire nations finest rum with coke. It had made her a little buzzed through out the night. The bartender watered down the drinks some since Korra was a lightweight. Calling Korra a cab home soon after since she was still to out of it to drive.
As embarrassing as last night was, Korra was determined to make her morning brighter by gaining some new information. She wanted to know the connection between Zaheer and her father. She had the box already open in front of her taking everything out carefully. She held up a bag of evidence with a black scarf with a red lotus symbol on it. It was the only lead at the time of his murder. The way the Red Lotus handled themselves was way more professional then that to leave something so significant behind. It was to simple. She wasn't sure if she was looking in the right direction.
Going over the statements and individuals listed for questioned. Korra thought it would be wise to check these people out gain some insight to what they could recall at the time of the murder. Getting her laptop out of her bed room, Korra saw her phone buzzing on the coffee table by the files. She placed her laptop down quickly on the couch taking her phone in hand hoping it was Asami. "Yeah?" she answered not even bothering to look at the caller ID. It was Mako.
"Hey Korra," Mako greeted his partner as he watched Asami's house. "The Cap's got me busy so I can't interfere in the case but we both know I'm not standing now," he said giving off half the truth. "And neither are you. So I was wondering if you could do me a massive favor," he said waiting for Asami to come out of her house.
Korra took a seat on the couch and held the phone up by her ear with the help of her shoulder. "Sure what is it?" she asked since she old him a least a million and a half favors as it is.
"When you get the chance I need you to pick up some documentation on that land we scoped out a few days ago from the Republic Records Office. Couldn't find any online seeing how I was restricted access but I gotta guy who is on stand by for me to pick it up and I can't at the moment. Gave him your name and description," he explained as Asami walked out of her house placing her jacket on. "So whenever you can it will be appreciated. I'll swing by later to pick it up," he said starting up his car as Asami was getting inside of hers.
Korra had placed her laptop on to her lap and began to type in red lotus scarfs. She was wondering if it was a unique design or manufactured somewhere else. "Sure Mako. I'll do it first chance I get," she said since she was some what distracted. "This guy got a name?" she asked on point again as she continued to scroll through numerous names of designers who were more pron to white lotus flowers than red.
Mako pulled off and chuckled a bit, "yeah names Chow Jr.," he said following Asami a few cars spaces behind. "You'll know him when you see him. I gotta go. Text me if you have any problems. Later partner," he said ending the call following Asami discreetly as possible.
"Yeah later..." Korra said ending the call. She found one particular designer that was way outside of Republic City.
Typing in further, she wanted to get a name and number. Finding it, she began to type in the number pressing call waiting for an answer. What felt like forever lasted only a few seconds when someone answered. "Yes Hello! I was hoping I could speak to one of your designers who made this special scarf," she said hearing another person heavy breathing at the other end of the line.
"Who is this," the voice asked unwelcoming.
Korra knew she didn't want to give out her name so she used her undercover one finally. "Raava. I was just curious seeing how I wanted to give my mother something special for her birthday," she lied blatantly. "Her favorite color is red and I wanted something particular maybe a flower," she said hoping to coax the person on the other end to give her something to work on.
Hearing a thought clearing, Korra sat up a bit as the voice spoke again. "You'll wanna talk to Vix then. She had done a design a couple of years ago similar to what your describing. She no longer works here though. So you'll have to find her on your own," the man said not interested in this conversation.
"Where can I find her?" Korra quickly asked.
"Last I heard she works at Little Ba Sing Se Mall. Opened her own kiosk after stealing almost of the materials I had," he said in a bitter groan. "Anyway, you'll be able to find her there," he said ending the call.
Pressing end herself, Korra sat back on her couch looking at the design on the scarf. "Little Ba Sing Se..." she uttered knowing she would have to make a detour first.
Asami drove to Suyin's house parking in the garage behind Wing's car. She had called everyone there before she when to take a shower. They needed to go over a few things before proceeding forward. Specially without Korra.
Getting out of her vehicle, Asami walked up seeing the Wei stuffing his face with chips as Wing was listening to his music. Opal came from inside of the house into the garage with Bolin at her side. "Asami!" she said running up to her giving her a huge hug.
Patting Opal's back, Asami forced a smile to come to her face. "Hey.." she said as her best friend released her grip.
"How's Kai?" was the second thing that came out of her mouth.
Asami scanned the concrete ground for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "Still no change," she said folding her hands leaning up against the side of Wei's car. "But there are some changes I need to address to you all-" she started to say only to be cut off by Wei.
"Where's Korra?" he asked with crunching sounds following.
Asami eyes narrowed a bit as she sighed heavily. "Don't know. Don't give a shit," she said with everyone giving her a look of shock.
Bolin looked even more confused than anyone only to realize why. "Why?" he asked wanting her to say it a loud for all to hear. The secret was weighing on him as it is but kept his promise to his brother and Korra.
"Why?" Asami repeated back to him as if it was foreign to her vocabulary. "Seems to be the word of the week. It doesn't matter why Bolin. All that matters now is we find a replacement before this competition starts," she said taking out her phone to draw up some candidates she had in the back of her mind.
Wing took his ear buds out and shook his head. "Its to late to find a replacement Sami'. Its only 3 days away," he explained growing agitated as it was. "We're already in a fucked up position as it is," he said referring to what happen to Wei. "We need Korra."
"We don't need her!" Asami spit back. "So don't bring her name up again!" she shouted with a threatening look in her eyes.
Wing folded his arms glancing across the room before settling his eyes back on Asami. "Fine. I won't bring up whats her name," he said referring to Korra. He pushed himself off the wall and walked closer to Asami. "But we need someone to fill her spot and not enough time to do it," he pressed on again getting her attention.
"I will find someone by today. You have my word," she assured trying to sound more calm though her tone said otherwise. "For now we have other business to take care of," she said placing her phone away.
Opal was afraid to ask at this point but did anyway. "What other business is that?"
Asami took a deep breath to gain her composer once again. "The breaks were cut in the car Kai was driving," she stated seeing her crew's face grow more serious than worried. "You all know what that means right?" she questioned seeing them all nod at once. "I'm going to find Tahno and settle this once and for all," she said in an aggressive tone of voice. "He won't get away with this," she said determined as ever. "And I'll handle it with or without you."
The twins looked at each other as Opal and Bolin shared a look as well. They all looked back at Asami giving her another nod in response. "Good. Lets ride," she said walking back to her car getting in. Opal got into her own with Bolin in the passenger seat. Wing got into his own with Wei taking up most of his back seat to stretch out his legs.
Mako was parked across the street watching as all three cars pulled off heading down the road. He turned his car back on and followed in their direction.
Korra waited in her rental car for a few minutes taking a breather before getting out. She was parked a few blocks away from the Republic Records Office. Not sure what to expect since she didn't have a warrant or any documentation to gain her access to what Mako was looking for. Korra kept her head lowered to make her she didn't draw any suspicion to herself. She was already suspended the last thing she needed was to get fired. Lin already told her that she wouldn't be able to bend the law to help her at this point on. She knew she would have to be extra cautious this time around.
Lightly jogging up the steps, Korra was about to walk inside until she heard someone 'psh' at her. Turning her head, she saw a man standing up against a column. "You Korra?" he asked holding something up against his chest.
Korra glanced back at the door only to walk over toward the man speaking to her. "Yeah, you Chow?" she asked with him nodding in response.
Chow handed over a file that had the documents inside. "I really need those back before my boss founds out. I replaced it temporarily with something else to use as a filler. But it won't be long before he notices. His kind of a stickler," he mention with Korra taking the file in her own hand memorizing the outline of the folder.
"Thanks. I'll let Mako know," Korra said meeting his gaze once more only to raise a brow. "You look familiar."
Chow chuckled slightly with a nod, "yeah I get that a lot. You must know my baby brother Tu," he said since Mako hardly ever mention his family for his own personal reasons.
Korra smiled with a nod of her own. "That I do," she said placing the file in a small knapsack bag she had hanging off one shoulder.
"Well I gotta go. My breaks almost over. It was nice meeting you Korra," Chow said walking to Korra's side. "Tell Mako my father said he could get him a new car with in a couple of weeks. Got a beaut sitting in his garage begging for a make over," he mention before heading toward the front entrance to the building.
Korra nodded and said, "I will," before jogging down the steps to head back to her car.
Asami drove directly to the race track that the competition was being held at. If Tahno was anywhere it would be here. She parked in a spot by one of the tints near by before getting out. Opal and Wing parked the sides of her getting out of there cars as well.
Walking, Asami headed toward the tint with the Wolfbats sign on it. She had her hands in the pockets of her jacket as she saw Ming and Shaozu. She started to pick up the pace in her walk nearly leaving Bolin and Wing behind.
They were laughing at something on Ming's phone, when Asami stepped in front of them. "Where is he?" was all she said to get there stepped up beside Asami with Bolin on the other side.
Ming shook his head putting his phone down. "Dunno. No one has seen him in days," he said looking Asami in the eye. Shaozu kept quiet himself with his gaze meeting the ground. "Heard about your brother," Ming said. "We hope he pulls through," he said in a remorseful tone.
The look of pity on his face pissed Asami off even more. She grabbed him by his throat and shoved him down on to the table behind him. "Asami!" Wing said reaching for her to pull off of him.
"Where is he?" she said demanding for the information. Ming was squirming trying to release her grip but it tighten. When Shaozu tried to intervene, Bolin stepped in front of him with his hands up to block him. "I know you're hiding him," she said so sure of it. She leaned down to his ear as she held the back of his neck toward the edge of the table. "You think he can get away with what he did to Kai you got another thing coming," she said shoving his neck further into the edge of the table before letting him go. Wing pulled her free arm to get her to back away from the poor guy.
Ming held the back of his neck rubbing it from the pain he felt. "If I knew where he was I would tell you..." he said crouching on to the seat.
Asami stood there and pointed down at Ming. "When I find him. His fucking done," before turning her attention to Shaozu. She moved Bolin out of her way with a small shove to his shoulder before getting in Shaozu face. "You got something to say?"
Shaozu gulped before shaking his head no. "Then you can pass along that message," she said pointing her thumb back over her shoulder to Ming. She pushed Shaozu by the shoulder as she walked past him and out of the tint.
Wing walked up behind her with a look of disbelief. "Are you insane! If they report that we could be disqualified. This isn't the way to go about this," he said trying to reason with her.
Asami stopped dead in her tracks and turned to Wing with one hand on her hip leaning to her side. "And what way do you have in mind? Kai is still in the hospital and the person responsible is still out there," she said pointing in no particular direction. "So I'm suppose to just sit back on my ass and do nothing?" she questioned as she got closer to Wing. "I'm doing this for Wei and for Kai. No one is gonna fuck with us. Never again," she said making that clear with the deadly look in her eye. What she said resonated with the feeling she was having for Korra. The betrayal and hurt all wrapped up into one. "Now you got my back or what?" she asked wondering if he would still question her.
Wing took a moment to respond. He looked over to his car where his brother was sitting. He was in the passenger seat holding on to his crutches. Taking a deep breath, Wing looked back at Asami and said, "always," as he raised his hand up feeling her taking it with a tight squeeze before releasing it.
Asami took a deep breath looking around the track area before looking back at Bolin and Wing. "I know where he might be next. Follow me," she said before walking back to her car.
Mako was reading his news paper only to see the three vehicles he followed before heading in another direction. He placed his paper down and began to follow in them yet again.
Korra was in little Ba Sing Se Mall trying to find the designer she had called about earlier. She wasn't sure if she would find her or not but it was a shot she had to take. Asking around, a few people pointed her in the right direction to where this Vix woman was.
She stumbled upon a small shop with designer fabrics with in the front window. Walking inside, Korra heard the bell ring above her head. Korra could see the clutter of materials all around the store and wondered if she was in the right place. "Hello?" she said aloud to address her presents.
A woman came from the back room and out to the front. She was a tall woman with long black wavy hair and hunter green eyes much darker than Asami's. She wore a unique tan jacket with a green emerald leaf symbol on the pocket patch with dark green pants and black boots. "Can I help you?" she asked as she folded her arms standing up against her counter.
Korra cleared her throat with a nod to follow. "Yes I'm looking for Vix," she said seeing the woman narrow her eyes a bit.
"Yeah and who the hell are you?" she asked cocking her head to the side.
"Raava," Korra answered quickly.
A chuckle escaped the woman's lips as she unfolded her arms. "Raava she says," the woman mocked as she walked behind her counter. She took a lighter from her draw and came back in front of the counter again. "You know the old saying goes that Raava was a spirit of light," she said flicking the lighter letting the fire linger a bit. "That brought people out of the edge of darkness," she began to babble lowering the palm of her hand over the flame. "Made them a better version of themselves than they'd ever hope to be," she said as her hand lowered further pressing against her palm. "But sometimes that light, like the sun, like this flame can burn you," she said placing her whole palm on it distinguishing it.
Korra watched in pure confusion at where this was going. Listening closely trying to figure out what the woman meant. A laugh came from the older woman as she tossed her lighter into the air before catching it and tucking into her jacket pocket. "Relax. I just find the meaning behind names interesting. So what do you want with Vix," she said getting back on track.
Reaching into the back pocket of her jeans, Korra took out the red lotus scarf handing it over. "She made this design and I wanted to know if she could make me something similar but with white in the background," she said causally as if she were willing to buy one.
The woman took the fabric in her hands and looked over the symbol itself only to shake her head. "Never thought I see this again..." she said lowly only to clear her throat. "You're a cop aren't you?" she asked bluntly which caught Korra off guard.
"Not anymore," Korra replied with a bit of shame behind it. "And You're Vix?" she asked quickly changing the subject.
The woman nodded drifting her eyes back down to the fabric rubbing it lightly. "Correctamundo," she said with a smirk looking back up at Korra. "So you got questions as to who this belonged to?" she said still holding on to the piece of fabric not letting it go for a second. She walked behind the counter and took a seat.
"I do. So can you tell me who. I know it was a few years ago but it will be really helpful," Korra said coming up to the edge of the counter.
Vix didn't answer right away. She took her cigarette from behind her ear and placed it between her lips. Taking that same lighter out, she flicked it on lighting up her cigarette before closing it back. With a few puffs, Vix took the cigarette from between her lips and blew out O shapes before speaking. "Helpful to you but how is it helpful to me?" she asked raising a brow.
Korra reached into her pocket and took out a few yuans that added up to a hundred placing it down on the counter. "Is that helpful enough?" she asked as the woman took the yuans in hand.
She counted it briefly and placed it back on to the counter sliding it across to Korra. "Not even close. But I tell you what," she said raising up the scarf. "Let me keep this and you'll get the information you're looking for."
"I can't do that," Korra said since it was evidence.
Vix eye lids narrowed down at Korra response and placed the scarf down on the counter. "Then no deal. I'm sure you can see yourself out," she said gesturing to the door as she placed the cigarette back between her lips.
Korra felt like her heart was stopping by the moment. She needed to get the information but knew she couldn't give evidence away like that. "Its personal to you isn't it," Korra said now realizing that this woman could be the fifth red lotus member Mako had mention before.
Vix glanced at the scarf briefly and shrugged her shoulders. "In a way yes. All my creations are personal to me. I prefer to see it returned to its rightful owner it was intended to then as evidence for the police in some storage lock up," she assumed since Korra was unwilling to give it away. Vix made all her materials custom made. It was even on her pamphlets that were passed around the mall. "You're aura is getting dark Raava. Careful now," she teased with a snicker. "Look. Give me a good reason why I should give you this info and I'll let you keep the scarf with no hassel."
"If I don't get this information. Someone I love will be lost forever. I know it sounds melodramatic but... I need to set things right. In order to do that, this is the only led I have to go by," Korra explained without much detail. "If you can't help me. I understand," she said with a defeated look in her eyes. Taking the scarf off the counter, Korra tucked it back into her pocket before approaching the door.
"Wait!" Vix called out.
Korra stopped turning around seeing the woman ash out her cigarette. She came from behind the counter and walked up to Korra and sighed. "A few years ago a woman came into the store. Asked for a specific design. Something simple yet still represented what she was looking for," she said as glanced to the door and back at Korra. "She was very tall, hair in a long ass braid, couldn't miss her," she said trying her best to describe her.
"Did she have a tattoo of an eye on her forehead?" Korra asked since that was a significant way to identify P'li.
The woman shook her head no, "can't remember that far back," she admitted. "It was a stormy night so I wasn't paying attention much. Fucking leaking roofs," she said glancing up at the ceiling before laying her eyes back on Korra. "One thing I can tell you is that she had this look in her eye. Very intense. It was unsettling at first but got me hot and bothered," she recalling it waving her hand to fan herself. "Wooo.. not everyone is like that though, so I won't press on the subject. But from what I do know is that she wanted that particular lotus flower and nothing else," she said giving Korra a look. "I hope this helps," she said before walking back to her counter.
Korra nodded with a small smile. "It does thanks," she said about to walk out the door. She stopped and quickly turned around taking the scarf out of her pocket placing it down on to the counter. Vix looked at her confused until Korra spoke up. "Evidence gets lost all the time. Specially something this old," she said with another nod to Vix before leaving the place.
Vix picked up the scarf and sniffed it a bit. "Yeah it does," she said admiring her workmanship as the ringing of the bell indicated Korra's departure from her store.
Asami parked in front of Narooks noodle eatery and waited a few minutes before getting out. She took a deep breath trying to calm down knowing she's probably run into Tahno here since he came in with his fan girls from time to time. She could see Wing getting out of his car from the corner of her eye. Stopping, she raised her hand up to tell him to stay put. As he got back in the car, Asami walked inside.
"HEY!" Narook said cheerfully behind the counter. "Asami come here. Come come!" he ushered for her to do so with the wave of his hand. He took a bag from behind the counter and placed it on top. Asami came up to the front near the register seeing no sign of Tahno anywhere in the restaurant. "I heard what happen to Kai. So I got all the fortune cookies he can eat when he wakes up," he said handing the bag over to her.
Taking the bag, Asami sighed with a faint smile. "Thanks Narook."
"Any news?" He asked with a bit of hope in his voice.
Asami eyes cast down on to the floor as she shook her head. "None. Just have to wait for him to wake up on his own," she said meeting his gaze again.
"How are you holding up?" the older gentleman asked with slight concern.
Shrugging her shoulders lightly, Asami took a breath before responding. "I'm not," she said honestly before turning around to walk out of the restaurant. Her emotions were getting the best of her to finally let the truth slip out. She was trying so hard to hold it all together but her guilt wouldn't let her. Not until she confronted Tahno.
Walking out of the restaurant, Asami held the back in her hand as she walked pass her car and toward Wei. "You find that address?" she asked as Wing looked over at his brother.
Wei handed over his cellphone over to Wing who held it up for Asami to see. While she was inside, Wei hacked into Tahno social media account to find his phone which led to his address.
Memorizing it, she nodded with Wing handing Wei back his phone. "Let's do this," she said walking back to her car driving toward her next destination.
Mako could see Asami going inside of the restaurant only for his phone to start buzzing. He figured it was Korra so he answered it quickly. "Yeah," he answered hearing a males voice on the other end.
"We found out who was responsible for cutting the breaks to your car. We're picking up the suspect now," the man said on the other end of the line.
"Good. When you bring them in keep them in holding until I arrive back at the station. I want first crack at them before anyone," Mako said seeing Asami leaving the restaurant and coming up to Wing's car.
"Copy that," the man said ending the call.
Mako pressed end seeing the three vehicles driving down the road leading him to follow a few car spaces behind.
Korra stopped at a fast food joint to get something to eat on her way home. She still had a lot of information to look up. Content that her little trip to the mall wasn't a total waste of time. Confirming that the scarf indeed belonged to the Red Lotus was a start but she needed more to go on then that. Lin was right when she said it wasn't enough hard evidence to back it up. She needed something else that would even suggestion their involvement. They took forensics which didn't show any blood on the scarf or finger prints belonging to the individuals in question. It was left there at the scene. She just wasn't sure if it was intentional or not. "Maybe they have enemies we don't even know about," she concerned as she pulled up to the next window.
Seeing the food being handed to her, Korra reached for it and placed it into the passenger seat as she was handed back her card. Taking the time to place it back into her wallet, she noticed her ID was missing. "The hell?" she said with a heavy sigh. Hearing the employee at the window ask her what was wrong. Korra waved it off saying it was nothing before driving off.
Out of all the things that could go wrong these past few days, her ID had to go missing. "Fuck where did I leave it," she said as she began to head back home. She was a couple blocks from her home until she pass the bar she was at last night. Making a quick U turn, Korra parked into a spot by the fire hydrant. She knew it wasn't a good move seeing as it was a cop bar she was walking into but didn't care.
Walking inside, Korra could hear the guys in the back arguing over a game that was going on. She chuckled as she approached the bar and tapped on it to get the bartenders attention. "Hey!" the woman greeted. "You back for another round? What can I get ya?" she said as she wiped down the bar.
Korra shook her head and said, "I'm good but thanks. I was wondering if you had seen-" she started to say only to be cut off.
"Your ID. Yeah its right here," she said taking it out of her back pocket and handing it over to Korra. "I figured you'd be back for it," she said brightly. "If not, I would have given it to Mako next time I seen em," she said filling up one of the patrons mugs.
Taking her ID back, Korra smiled brightly. "Thanks Fae," she said only to turn her head as noise from the guys in the back grow louder.
"So you talk to that girl yet?" Fae asked curious.
Korra glanced back at her with a confused expression. "What girl?"
Fae leaned a bit on the bar so their conversation could be a bit more private. "You know the girl you mention last night. Sato was it?" she said in a questioning tone. "Anyway, you were going on and on about her and how badly you wanted to be with her again," she said taking out a small glass and placing it on the bar. "And how some solider boy stole her away from you. Then you started going off about how you will never find a love like that again and how love was fleeting and that you couldn't compete with a war hero. Then you said you'd go to war and be a hero. Then you said you wanted a hero sandwich," she said while pouring another drink. "After that it was mostly hard to make out anything else you said," she explained the best to her ability.
Korra was flushed with embarrassment and covered her face with her hands as her elbows rested on the bar. "Spirits that's embarrassing," she commented.
"Not as embarrassing as your partners drunken escapades," Fae said with a snicker. "Sure I can't get you anything?"
Korra chuckled and said, "for you to elaborate more on inebriated adventures of Mako sure," only to turn her head at the crowd of guys down at the end of the bar. "They're really into that game," she said with a sigh.
Fae nodded and said, "source of my entertainment at the moment unless you want another around of shots," she teased. "Here," she said handing Korra a glass of water. "For the mean time."
Korra took it in hand and raised it up taking a sip as Fae walked down to the edge of the bar refilling more drinks. Taking a deep breath, Korra scanned the area paying more attention to the pictures on the wall. One a few stools down caught her eye. Getting up, she walked down to the edge of the bar and squinted a bit seeing a familiar face. "Hey Fae," Korra said getting her attention. "Can I see that?" she asked raising her glass up to the picture on the wall.
Fae came back up and directed her gaze on to the picture Korra mention. Taking it off the wall she set it on the bar in front of the blue eyed beau. "Thanks," Korra said scanning it. It was a picture of her Captain standing next to her father. "Dad?" she uttered as she saw his bright smile with his arm around a young Lin Beifong. She had her arms folded in her usual 'take no shit' kind of manner. Korra noticed three others in the picture as well two she knew of and one she didn't. Suyin was on the other side of her father standing next to another male with glasses on. She assumed it was the Opal and the Twins father since his picture was in their garage. The male on the end was someone she didn't at all but his features looked someone familiar. "Who's this?" Korra asked once Fae came back to fill her cup up again with fresh water.
"That is Unalaq," she answered with the roll of her eyes. "Even then he seemed to have a stick up his ass."
Korra raised a brow at her comment with a quick glance to follow only to resume her attention on the picture itself. "Who is he?"
Fae shrugged her shoulders and said, "from what I was told he was your dads old partner."
"Old partner..." Korra mimicked lowly as she took another sip of water. "Thanks Fae," she said handing back the frame.
Taking it in hand, Fae put the picture back on to the wall. Korra got up and placed some yuans on the bar. "Oh no need Korra. You know its on the house," she said pushing the yuans back to her.
Korra left it on the bar and smiled. "You keep it. Think of it as payment for those juicy stories on a certain intoxicated patron you've been holding back on me," she said with a chuckle before heading toward the exit.
It took Asami about a half an hour to drive to Tahno's residence. He lived in one of those upper class neighborhoods with large black gates and Zhu Li security systems to keep intruders out. It wasn't going to stop her from confronting him. Nothing would.
Parking in front of his house, Asami got out of her car and approached his gate. Wing stood in front of his car with Bolin right beside him. She began to press the button on the intercom waiting for an answer.
"Hello?" a voice answered on the other end.
"Is this Tahno?" Asami asked wanting to be sure it was the right house.
Tahno recognized her voice and spoke up. "Sato?" he said with a hint of confusion. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Knowing it was him now, Asami pressed the button every time he spoke.
"Could you stop that!" he shouted over the intercom.
Smirking, Asami pressed the button so he could hear her loud and clear. "Come outside now. Before I come inside," she threatened before stepping back.
"I'll be out in a minute," Tahno said knowing she would make good on her word.
A few minutes later, Tahno came out zipping his jacket up half way. He walked up to the gate and looked over at Asami. He opened it up and came up to her with a unwelcoming expression. "What do you want?" he asked not expecting her to ever show up on this side of town.
Asami stood in front of him staring at him a bit frustrated as if he didn't know. "Your head," she simply replied seeing his own expression turn of confuse. Before he could respond, Asami grabbed Tahno by the collar of his jacket with both hands. Firmly gripping it and pulling him to her. Her right knee raised up driving it into his kidney with full force. Shoving him back against the gate, Asami could hear him wail out in pain. The second he looked up, she punched him twice with quick jabs to the left side of his face before her forearm came to a finally blow knocking him down. He fell hard against the concrete holding his already broken nose. "FUCK!" he cried out in pain as he felt her grip on his jacket again pulling him up.
"Get up!" she demanded shoving him back against the gate forcefully. "You." she said with a kick. "Think." with another to his midsection. "You. Can. Just. Fuck. With. My. Family," she said gripping on to the bars of the gate for support. "And. Get. Away. With. It," she said in between kicks to his torso slamming him back against the gate each time. "I don't think so," she said watching him slide down on to the ground coughing up blood. "Get the fuck up!" she shouted in his face as sirens began to blast in the distance.
Wing and Bolin saw how badly it was escalating and pulled Asami off of him. She was still kicking at him as they held her back by her arms. "Get the fuck off me!" she shouted trying to hurtle back toward Tahno.
Mako drove up quickly to the scene. He was a few miles behind them since they gave him the slip once they got on to the highway. He got out of his car quickly seeing two police vehicles pulling up closer to Asami. He held up his hands in front of them with his badge in his right. "I got it! I got it!" he said hoping they'd back off.
"Mako?!" Bolin said confused.
Mako turned and saw his brother with a look of disbelief. "Bolin?"
Asami broke lose from Bolin and Wing's grip by then and tackled Tahno to the ground as he finally got up to his feet. His back slammed hard against the concrete as she was now on top of him. She started punching him in his face causing him to him to block with his forearms.
"Get this crazy bitch off of me!" Tahno begged with blood still leaking from his nose and teeth. He shoved her off and stood up again.
Asami took the opportunity to go for a left hook when her wrist was caught by a hand. Without thinking, she turned around and yanked her arm forward pushing her knee up with all her might.
Mako grabbed a hold of Asami's wrist only to feel a swift kick to the nuts with her knee. As he bend over holding his family jewels, she sent a right hook connecting to his cheek knocking him down to the ground.
The cops in the other vehicles quickly grabbed Asami from behind and cuffed her hands behind her back. "Get off me!" she said trying to shake them off. The cuffs were on her wrist as she was being shoved toward one of the cars.
Tahno walked up and pointed at her screaming. "I wanna press charges!"
Mako gained his composer in time and waved it off. "Stop! Stop! I got her," he said walking up still favoring himself with one hand as the other was held up to get their attention. "I got her!"
Asami looked over at Tahno with a death glare. "You put my brother in the hospital you douche bag!" she shouted as Mako got a hold of her arm pulling her toward his vehicle. "And I'm gonna make sure you end up in a bed right next to him!" she threaten yet again.
"I didn't do nothing! She's fucking lying!" Tahno shouted enraged. He walked up to meet her face to face only for Mako to push him back.
"NO! NO GET BACK!" Mako pointed to the side walk. "Get back or I'll have your ass arrested too!" he said as he turned back around to open the back seat of his car. He placed his hand on Asami's head and pushed her down into the back seat. He slammed the door shut before she could try anything else again.
Tahno was even more furious at the way he was being treated. "But she assaulted me and threaten me in front of my home!" he said getting in Mako's face.
Mako quickly turned Tahno around and shoved him on to the hood of the police vehicle close by. "What are you doing!" Tahno said trying to shake him off. Mako placed his own cuffs on Tahno and pulled him up by the back of his collar and shoved him to one of the uniforms.
"You're going to take him with you when you follow me to the precinct downtown. I got her," Mako said giving them orders. With a nod, the officer placed a complaining Tahno in the back of his squad car.
Bolin stood there with Wing who was still in shock out of what happen in a matter of minutes.
Mako came up to the curb and handed Bolin Asami's keys to her car that he took from her. "Get the fuck out of here now. Take her car and your friends and go!" he said giving his brother an order.
Bolin didn't know what to say standing there looking befuddled. "Go now!" Mako pointed down the street to no particular direction.
As Bolin and Wing drove off with Opal right behind them, Mako took Asami down to the police station with the other squad cars right behind him.
When Asami had arrived at the police station, Lin placed her into the interrogation room. Questioning her for all things other than what she was arrested for. Mako took his opportunity to call Korra not before checking on the suspect in custody for cutting the wires to Wei and his car.
After leaving the holding cell, Mako made a quick call to Korra. "Hey some serious shit when down and I need you here right away."
"What happen?" Korra asked hoping the Red Lotus didn't target one of her own.
Mako took a deep breath before responding. "Its Asami. Cap's got her in the integration room now. You might want to-" he said being cut off.
"I'm on my way," she said quickly before ending the call.
In less than 20 minutes Korra arrived. Lin had took a little breather when informed by one of her officers she had a visitor. "Are you kidding me?" she asked as she stood outside the door. The man shook his head no only to walk back to the person in question. Lin opened up the door again and looked at Asami who was still holding on to her right to remain silent. "I will be back," she said as if almost in a threatening way.
Soon as Beifong walked into her office, Mako came up to the window with Korra and looked at his watch. "You've got 5 minutes," he said before glancing over at the Captain's office.
"Thanks partner," Korra said patting Mako on the shoulder twice before opening the door walking inside.
Asami's gaze was on the metal table in front of her. She figured it was Lin who came back into room to pester her some more about her ties to the Red Lotus. That was until she heard.. "Asami," Korra said to get her attention. Emerald hues shot a look up at the voice who spoke her name. Korra. It was the last person she wanted to see at this moment. Yet and still she remained quiet.
Korra came up to the seat across from Asami and sat down. She took a deep breath looking at the raven haired goddess in front of her. All her fury and anger was still glistening across her expression like a quiet storm. "I heard what happen," she started to say seeing that deadly look in Asami's eyes. "I'm gonna make sure you get out of here as soon as possible."
Asami looked away with the roll of her eyes not caring what she had to say.
"I didn't mean for all this to go as far as it did," she said trying to steady her breathing. She felt so nervous and so worried at what her reaction might be.
Shooting a look at Korra, Asami looked puzzled with a look of disgust. "You didn't mean to go-" she cut herself off before sitting up in her seat with her hands still in cuffs. She chuckled. "Your a fucking nark," she said with a serious look in her eyes. Her anger was brewing again and before she could stop herself the words came flooding out. "And I should have killed you when I had the chance." The pit of Asami's stomach twisted so badly she wanted to vomit. Instantly regretting her words but said nothing to take it back.
Korra looked at her with a sadden expression as her eyes cast downward. "But you didn't..." she said glancing back at her seconds later.
Mako was standing in front of the interrogation door when he saw Lin coming out of her office. "Shit..." he said to himself as she picked up speed approaching him. He didn't budge.
Looking at him suspiciously, Lin walked pass him and peaked through the window seeing the back of Korra's head knowing why Mako was blocking the door. She came back in front of him with her hands on her hips. "Move."
"Five more minutes," Mako said without hesitation.
"You got two," Lin said stepping aside to look through the window. Mako came up beside her and watched as Korra spoke up.
"Because you're not like them," Korra said defending Asami against her family.
Asami couldn't bare to hold her feelings back any more. No longer able to control her temper. "What the fuck do you know," she said slamming her wrist down on to the table. "You know nothing about them," she said feeling even more rage building up as she tried to calm it down. "And forget you know anything about me," she said as Lin opened up the door.
Korra turned around in her seat looking up at Beifong who was looking back and forth between the two before settling eyes on Asami. "You're free to go on your assault charge against Tahno," she said leaning up against the door frame with her arms crossed.
"How?" Asami asked with aggravation still in her tone.
Beifong huffed out of annoyance. "Your lawyer is here."
"The best one in town," a smug tone of voice said from outside. Suyin came inside the room with a bright smile. "Officer," she said looking over to Mako who was standing beside Lin. "Could you please get these cuffs off my client," she asked with Mako reaching in his pocket taking out the keys the other officer had given him. "Soon as Korra called I had to come," she said walking up to stand beside her client. "Lin here is dropping the charges since they found the real person behind your brothers accident," she said placing a comforting hand on to her shoulder. "Tahno's girlfriend."
"That bitch.." Asami said not even suspecting her in the first place.
Suyin shrugged and continued. "Seems she took it upon herself to take out each member of your crew in order for the Wolf bats to win the competition. Tahno claimed he had no knowledge of her intentions and is currently filing a restraining order against her to back it up," she explained giving Asami's shoulder a tight squeeze. "In order for him to drop the charges against you. I made him self aware of his position in all of this. An accessory to attempt murder seeing how it was his girlfriend who initially acted on his behalf."
Asami listen to Suyin explain the situation and nodded. "So I'm free to go?" she asked wanting her to confirmed.
"Not quite," Lin interjected. "You are still under arrested for assaulting a police officer," she pointed out.
Korra looked over at Mako with a pleading expression on her face hoping he can straighten it out.
"Actually," Mako spoke up with Lin directing her attention to him. "She didn't touch me. I must have written it wrong," he said clearing his throat clearly making up a lie.
Lin walked up to him and stared him down. "You written it wrong?"
Mako saw the intensity in her eyes but stuck to his word. "Won't happen again," he said knowing it would be repercussions to his actions.
Clearly infuriated, Lin left the room with her boots clicking against the ground.
Mako took a deep breath he was holding. Korra got up and stood in front of him. "Thank you," she said with a weak smile.
"Anytime," he said tapping her on the shoulder twice before leaving the room himself.
Korra watched as he walked out the door before turning her gaze on to Asami. Staring into each others eyes for a lingering moment of silence before she spoke again. "Everything that happened between us. Everything we when through together. It was real," she said leaning closer with both of her hands holding the sides of the table. "Even with my cover blown and me practically being fired as it is. I'm still going to have feelings for you," she said never taking her eyes off of her. "Because it is real," she said as Asami remained quiet. "I know you hate me right now..." Korra said with her voice cracking a bit. Her eyes began to swell up a bit fighting back tears. "And I deserve every bit of that hate but... I will always love you," she said feeling a big weight lifted off her chest.
Asami's scowl dropped in an instant at Korra's confession. Seeing a tear drop from Korra's cheek, Asami wanted so badly to brush it away and hold her in her arms but froze.
Korra tapped on the table twice with a heavy sigh. "That's all I wanted to say," she said wiping her tear away before exiting the room.
Asami was speechless at what just occurred as Suyin offered her a ride home.