Lee left work early, which meant Asami left work late. She'd drawn the blinds in her office in late afternoon and didn't realize it was dark until she looked up to see the hour hand was well past eight o'clock. Her prior commitments finally occurred to her. It had been three days since she'd seen Korra, and tonight was their date night. Or it was supposed to be their date night. The first. And she was late.

"Damn."

Asami shuffled her papers into her bag, locked her office, and waved distractedly to the night guard downstairs.

Traffic wasn't kind on the first night of the weekend in Republic City. It took her half an hour to get home. Asami was angry with herself for not calling before she left the office. She strode purposefully to the elevator and tapped her foot on the floor while the bellman tried to make idle conversation.

Her own hypocrisy was what irritated her most. She asked Korra to give her a schedule for the week ahead, and yet she was over two hours late for their date night knowing that same schedule she'd demanded.

When she unlocked her apartment door, Naga greeted her with a happy yip and a lick. "Sit," she commanded. After Naga obeyed, Asami rubbed her muzzle.

"Everything okay?"

Korra's concern increased Asami's ire at herself. "I'm so sorry, Korra. I lost track of time."

"It's okay," Korra said. She was level and easy, but Asami could tell she was disappointed. "I called your office but it sent me to the operator. I figured you would call if there was a problem. I made dinner."

"Come here."

Asami tugged Korra into a hug, and they rocked to the beat of the music coming in through the radio. Korra rocked them towards the table and gently pressed her into the seat. "Eat. Did you have lunch?"

"Yes. Lee feeds me in the middle of the day." Asami picked up her bowl and sipped the broth with a sigh. It was savory but light with tangy tomato and salty soy and egg. She smiled up at Korra when Korra set a glass of wine by her plate. Korra took Asami's empty bowl and refilled it.

"I didn't realize I was this hungry. This is really good."

"Let me warm up the main course." Korra moved around Asami's kitchen, her hips rocking in time to the beat on the radio. Asami's hunger was quenched enough that she could turn her attention to watching Korra in her kitchen. The sound of a hot frying pan and the smell of cooking opened her apartment up. Korra had turned on a few lights, enough to open the darkness that Asami usually reveled in. Naga rolled around on the floor in front of the full-pane balcony window, and her toys were scattered around her dog bed. This apartment was a home right now, and only because Korra was here. She wanted this every night, but there could be no quiet pretending by omission if that happened. She wasn't ready yet.

Asami finished her second bowl of soup when Korra set a generous helping of stir-fried oodoo noodles mixed with white-meat bird, mushrooms, leeks, and dark soy sauce. Asami nearly finished the plate.

"You're going to make me fat."

Korra leaned back in her seat with her half-empty wine glass in hand. Her smile was self-satisfied. "You were the one who said you wanted to put on weight."

"That was delicious."

"That was the hope. Maybe not as romantic as a night at Kwong's, but—"

"But your girlfriend forgot about your date, and you salvaged it beautifully. Thank you for being flexible even when you don't have to be."

"I could have been mad, but that would have ruined the night for both of us. Go change into pajamas. I'll do the dishes."

Asami knew better than to try to get Korra to do anything when there was a dirty dish in the apartment, but it gave her privacy for at least a few minutes. She'd eaten well, but she wasn't overfull. Her heart picked up when she imagined what she wanted to do next.

She shut her bedroom door and walked into her closet. In the bottom drawer of the chest on the wall, she opened a new paper parcel. Asami had never had the occasion to dress up for a lover before—not that she had ever really had one. It had been a new experience to discreetly order the lacy thing sitting in her hands. On a whole, she didn't think that Korra would ever imagine her in this sort of clothing or expect it, but Korra appreciated her clothing. The intent alone would be enough.

Asami took a steadying breath and removed her clothing. She pulled the lacy underwear on and carefully hooked each clasp at the front of the bustier. It wasn't particularly comfortable. She'd never cared for push-up bras because of how uncomfortable they were, but her breasts looked fantastic in this. Asami's robe settled easily over it all, concealing everything but the subtle change in her bust. She'd ordered a garter belt and stockings, but Asami wanted to see the surprise on Korra's face when she discovered what was under Asami's robe.

Asami took her place on the couch and sipped her wine as she watched Korra finish cleaning up the kitchen. Korra wrung out the washrag and gave one last look around the counters before she poured herself more wine and sat down beside Asami. She kissed Asami lightly.

"How was your day?"

"Not bad. I went by the university to talk to them about taking a few classes."

It was the first Asami heard of it. "Oh? What did they say?"

"I didn't know I'd have to pay to go to school."

The university was only free to Republic City residents. "I can—"

Korra cut her off. "But I can audit classes for free. I just have to ask the professor if it's okay for me to sit in. That's all I want. I'm not doing it for a degree."

"What classes are you interested in?"

"Everything. But mainly history, political science, and economics. I didn't realize they had an animal medicine department; that would be cool."

"Did you see Sung?"

Korra frowned. Asami couldn't believe it. "You need to meet with him, Korra!"

"I have a meeting next week. That will give them time to get more information. I really don't want to talk about that."

There was no pushing past that tone of voice, as much as Asami wanted to point out how much this White Lotus issue was weighing on Korra. "Okay. What else did you do?"

"I led a bending class for some White Lotus recruits."

"How did that go?" Asami kissed Korra lightly.

"Okay," Korra said against her mouth. "Some of them are really good. Others... Well, better is the aim, right?"

Asami set down her wine glass and kissed Korra more firmly. "What else did you do today?"

"I made my awesome girlfriend dinner." Korra grinned into their next hard kiss.

"And now?"

Korra finally caught on. "Am I supposed to say I'm going to do my awesome girlfriend?"

Asami laughed and drew her back in for another long kiss. She wanted to direct Korra to her robe, but if she waited… Korra pressed her down onto the couch, and their kisses escalated. She kissed down Asami's neck, and the weight of her body was a fission of energy inside Asami. She wrapped her legs around Korra's hips and increased the friction between her legs.

Finally, Korra drew back. She sat down with Asami's hips in her lap and watched herself untie Asami's robe. The moment of realization was delicious. Heat flushed Korra's neck and cheeks, and her eyes went wide as her fingertips ghosted over Asami's red bustier. "Wow."

"Do you like it?" Asami asked. She rubbed her fingertips from her breasts to her crotch, scratching her fingernails over the lace. Korra swallowed audibly.

"What do you want?" Asami prompted her.

"Everything."

Asami cupped one breast and pushed it out of the bustier. "This?"

Korra's mouth covered her breast immediately. Asami rocked her aching center against Korra's stomach and didn't mute herself in response to Korra's mouth on her breast. When Korra cradled Asami's other breast out and spent time on it too, Asami scratched at her neck. She wondered what she looked like to Korra, who sat back and watched her, her gaze hazy with desire.

"Take your clothes off." Asami wanted Korra naked.

"I want to touch you first," Korra said firmly. Asami shivered. In this position and with Korra's tone, it would be the first time Korra was firmly in control over their sex.

Asami reached between her legs and rubbed herself over her panties. She moaned both at her own touch and the thought of Korra wanting this. She coaxed, "I'll do it while you get your clothes off."

Korra was off the couch in a flash. She stripped quickly but ran down the hall. The move startled Asami even as she heard Korra come back in the room. Korra threw a towel down on the couch and sat back down on it cross-legged, tugging Asami's hips back into her lap.

Later, Asami would laugh to think of Korra's practicality.

"Keep touching yourself, please."

So polite...

Asami pushed her underwear aside and rubbed her fingertips against herself. Korra watched that avidly. She smoothed her strong hands over Asami's bustier, which blunted the feel of her hands but not the pressure of her grip or the sight of Korra's muscles moving under her skin or the shift of her breasts. Asami gasped when Korra palmed her breasts only to rub her hands back down again. This time, Korra gently pushed Asami's fingers aside. She spread Asami and used her thumbs to massage her.

"Oh, Korra." Asami's hips jerked with the firm touch, and she jerked again when Korra pressed inside her. Korra didn't thrust or rock. She massaged, all with the firm pressure of the pads of her fingers, and Asami wanted to escape as much as she wanted to push back. She didn't think she could survive the pleasure of it, and she found herself gasping for air, watching Korra pleasure her, watching the twitch of her forearms as Korra hit that place inside her over and over again.

"Breathe," Korra said firmly. The massage continued steady and firm, and Asami's body felt it would break before she could come. "Breathe; relax."

Asami couldn't answer, not from the start to the end. She was gasping, trying to whisper something back, something like, "I can't, I can't, I—"

Eventually she did. Her body twisted up hard; then all that pressure that had built over the long minutes released in a wet mess and her harsh cry. She was crying and shaking and gasping all in one when Korra pushed between her legs and lowered her mouth. Asami jerked, trying to escape the soft warm assault of Korra's mouth, but this wasn't about an orgasm. This was about Korra feasting on her. Asami wasn't sure what happened to her in the minutes that Korra was between her legs, but she thought she came again at some point. Finally, Korra gathered her close and hushed her, gently rubbing her back.

"Breathe."

Asami heard herself sob out a gasp. Her fingers were too weak to clutch at Korra's back, but she used her forearms to bring Korra's body against her.

"What did you just do to me?" she finally asked, her voice cracking. She'd never come that hard and never quite in that way. She was completely wiped out, shaky and weak, and her throat hurt like she'd been screaming the entire time.

Korra kissed her temple. "You seemed to like it when I touched you like that before."

'Seems to like it' didn't characterize what had just happened. Korra had just wrung her out, and they'd had sex maybe a dozen times total. How had she learned Asami's body so quickly?

"Was it too hard?"

Asami surprised herself when she giggled, giddy at the thought. "I just came so hard I almost passed out, but no, it wasn't too hard."

Korra drew back and smiled tenderly. She kissed Asami gently. The smell and taste of her own musk of Korra's face was wonderful. "Here, rest. I'll draw you a bath."

What had just happened? The sound of the bath running made her smile. She felt like a sheet of rubber slumped on the couch.

When Korra came back, she made as if to pick Asami up. Asami raised an eyebrow dubiously as she got up from the couch without help. Her legs were shaky, but she could make it to the bathroom. "I can walk, Korra. I for one don't find a concussion from hitting the doorframe romantic."

Korra snorted as she followed Asami. She swatted Asami's butt playfully. "What, bridal style? I only ever do the fireman's carry." She made good on her threat, hoisted Asami over her shoulder, and jogged to the bathroom as Asami shrieked, laughed, and pretended to protest. In contrast to their play, Korra set her down gently. She kissed Asami's neck and reached around to ghost her hands over Asami's clothing. "I feel metal clasps."

"Please don't metalbend my bustier. I plan to wear it again sometime."

"You're no fun," Korra grumbled. She helped Asami unhook the many tiny metal wires by hand. Korra held it in her hands and studied it like she was trying to figure out how to fold it. Asami had suddenly thought of how Korra would look in it. She'd need a much bigger cup. Delicious.

Asami stepped out of her underwear. As Korra bent down to pick it up, she said, "Leave it. Come sit on the edge of the bath."

Korra obeyed, a surprising thing for someone so obsessed with messes. When she sat at the edge of the wide bath, she opened her legs unabashedly. Asami settled into the warm bathwater and put her mouth to work; she didn't need any verbal cues. She might not have another orgasm in her, but she was sure she could give Korra at least two.

Asami's fingers brushed softly along the nape of Korra's neck. The sound of her sigh made Asami warm inside. It was late. Too late, but they didn't have obligations in the morning, and it felt so good just to hold each other.

"You want to know something funny?"

"Hm?" Korra asked, blinking her eyes open before they slid shut again.

"Back when you accused my father of being an Equalist…"

Korra became more alert, but Asami kept her voice calm.

"Part of the reason I was so angry was because I thought I'd won you over finally. You have no idea how much I wanted to be your friend. I'd been thinking about breaking up with Mako before he needed a place to stay, but I was afraid he would be mad, and I assumed you all would stick with each other."

"Wait." Korra sat up, studying Asami in curiosity. "You kept dating Mako so that you could be my friend?"

"That was before I realized you liked him," Asami said.

"You mean, before Ikki told you."

Asami winced as she remembered the awkwardness of that moment. "It wasn't like I sat down and mapped this all out, but you were my main motivation until I realized the truth about my father. Then I clung to Mako because I needed someone. And I was ashamed. How could I try to be your friend when my father was allied with a man who wanted to kill you?"

"Asami, why did you get back with him later if you didn't love him? I'm not angry. I wasn't then, honestly. I just don't understand."

"The same reason. I needed someone. I was isolated, lonely. Mako was there, and he was willing. He was also closest I ever got to having a boyfriend I was attracted to. I didn't… We just kissed and went on a date. It didn't even qualify as dating at the time."

Korra frowned. "If you knew you were a lesbian, why did you date him in the first place?"

"I've always…struggled with my sexuality. My father never approved of me wanting more with girls, and I tried to fight that. Mako came along…but so did you. With all the pressures I was under, it was a relief to pretend I was straight. One less worry."

Korra pressed her fingertips to the divot at the base of Asami's neck, tracing her trachea with a gentle touch.

"Sex with Mako wasn't bad, and back then, that was enough for me. It was stupid; I pretended I was martyring myself for my father and even for Mako. It wasn't fair to me or Mako."

"I guess I'm confused about that. If you enjoyed having sex with Mako, why are you a lesbian?"

"Romance is different than sex. I could use a dildo to achieve an enjoyable orgasm, but that doesn't make me capable of having a romantic relationship with one."

"Ouch. Poor Mako." Korra's expression tightened, and Asami realized how insulting that had been to Mako. Trust Korra to take offense on Mako's behalf. "That was an over-simplification. Mako was my friend, but he was never going to be anything but that."

"You said we would be friends that kiss and have sex."

"I didn't mean it," Asami replied bluntly, which coaxed a laugh from Korra. "My point is I'm the only person who can define my own sexuality."

"That's fair," Korra responded evenly.

Asami glanced down at Korra, her eager, natural lover, and she wondered how Mako hadn't succumbed to her even if it was just a short grope in a dark corner. She wanted to turn Korra's question about sexuality back on Korra, but she was afraid of confirmation that Korra was bisexual. It was stupid, and Asami was self-aware enough to relate her fears back on the melange of emotions that surrounded her own sexuality and self-image. It was a conversation they needed to have, but she wasn't ready to ask because she wasn't prepared for her own response. Instead, she said, "This may be weird to say, but I can't believe you and Mako never had sex."

"Just never enough time. And Tenzin. Ugh. That man can be in twelve places at once."

Asami recalled how he'd scared the lights out of her when she'd brought tea out to Korra before the Battle for Republic City. "He's so quiet."

"I know! There's nothing worse than things getting hot and heavy and looking up to see Tenzin frowning at you." She mimicked Tenzin's intonation. "'You must be responsible!'"

Asami giggled as she pictured it. She supposed she should have realized that Korra would turn the question back on her.

"So how many people have you done this with?"

"Made love to?" Asami tried to deflect. She kissed Korra's neck. "Only you."

"I meant sex, you romantic."

Asami sighed. "Do you really want to know?"

"Now you're making me worried," Korra teased.

It was a shameful thought, memories she didn't want to relive or rehash. Lying was out of the question. "Three other people. Two women and Mako."

"Women? I thought you said…"

"When I came out to my father…as a lesbian, he made me feel so awful about myself. So I did what all angry, spoiled daddy's girls do: I spent his money to do what I could to spite him. I went to a club that, well it… I paid the entry fee, and I had sex with a woman that I chose."

Korra's expression didn't change. She said the reality bluntly. "You paid to have sex."

"Yes. I didn't always view wealth the way I do now, Korra. It was an ugly thing to do, but it was also the only way I knew to get what I wanted. I didn't have any friends, and I had no idea how to ask someone if they wanted to have sex. It was simpler and despite how it sounds, discreet. There were a lot more debased things going on than a lesbian interlude."

"How did you know about that place?"

She swallowed, feeling shame burn through her. "My father kept a flier in the bottom right drawer of his home office desk. When I taught myself how to pick locks, I'd go into that drawer to sneak some of his alcohol, and I found the flier. It wasn't hard to figure out what it meant."

"Weird."

Asami sighed. "Yeah. I guess it was."

"It's not… I mean, Tenzin probably thinks prostitution is some great evil, but I met a lot of people in the Earth Kingdom. When you have no money, no identity, and no belongings, you mix with the people who'll mix with you."

Asami cocked her head, more than relieved Korra wasn't upset. "Did people think you were one?"

"They asked. Men and women. I can't say I never minded. But I met a prostitute, a very rich one, actually. She took me in for a few days after some thugs robbed me of everything I had."

"Did she ask anything in return?"

"Just a sympathetic ear. She seemed really lonely. Who was the second woman?"

"I…" Asami sighed through her teeth. "I was lonely and desperate. You'd been gone for two years, and I hadn't gotten your letter yet. I had this stupid thought that I might be able to erase you from inside me so I went to a club—a place where women go to find casual fu—flings with other women, and I picked up a woman and had sex with her in the alley behind the place. Not as discreet as the first encounter, but I doubt I was recognized."

"How did you know about that place?"

"There was a district downtown near the docks that specialized in sex clubs, and it wasn't hard to take the bus down and pick out a club called Woman to Woman. My looks helped. I just had to wait for someone to hit on me, dance, and pull her outside."

"How does that work though? How can you trust a stranger enough to let go? I don't think I could be with anyone but you. Sex… It's just so much more."

So much more… How darling, how achingly sweet that Korra could think of sex with Asami in such a way. She felt it too, the difference between this and what she's experienced before. It was hard to put into words. "That's part of it. It's purely physical. It feels good, but it only makes the loneliness worse. I didn't realize it when I lost my virginity, but with that other woman… I hated myself for doing it. I was already depressed. Maybe I did it to fulfill all those negative thoughts. When I was with Mako, at least I trusted him, which made me have a little hope I could be normal." She kissed Korra's temple. "And then there's you."

"So, you like being with me?"

Asami stroked hair from her forehead, remembering their previous session on the couch. "Korra, you have no idea. Of course it feels fantastic physically, but you make me feel safe too, and loved, and all of those wonderful feelings that make what we do physically feel so good, those things I could never find with a man. And that makes me a lesbian."

"Oh. I get it," Korra said with her eyes wide in understanding. Asami kissed her gently. She asked, "Can we talk about sex?"

"I guess." Korra looked a little wary. "If I'm doing something wrong—"

As if she could. "You aren't doing anything wrong. I'd just like to know a little bit more about what you enjoy physically." She continued stroking through Korra's hair. "Like: what's your favorite fantasy?"

"What, like world peace?"

Asami laughed. She'd thought it was a joke until she saw Korra frown at her in confusion. Asami clarified, "No, sexual fantasy."

"What do you mean?"

"What do you like to think about when we're together or when you touch yourself?"

"I think about you when we're together. And when I masturbate, I guess."

"You guess?"

"I don't do it that often. The walls are a little thin on Air Temple Island, and the windows are always open. Ikki and Meelo had a habit of coming into my room to sleep too. I complained about Tenzin, but those two are even worse. I would hate to scare them."

Asami wondered if the White Lotus had anything to do with Korra's repression. She could just imagine them telling Korra her body was a worldly thing so it was anti-spiritual to touch it. Instead of delving into a topic that would make them both angry, she pressed, "But what do you think about?"

Korra cocked her head, apparently still confused.

Somehow this woman knew what a dildo was but was too innocent to take Asami's meaning. Asami tried again. "What turns you on?"

A frown was the first answer. Then: "You do."

"Yes, but how?"

Korra took a breath and seemed to put more thought into it. "Oh. I guess...I'd like to watch you touch yourself. Like tonight, but make it last a long time and don't let me touch you. Teasing yourself, you know?"

"I can do that for you." Asami kissed her lightly, belying their conversation. Korra perked up and asked: "What about you? What turns you on?"

"I've always like the thought of you holding me down. Shoving me up against a wall and just taking me."

Korra went still, her face open in surprise. Her mouth cracked opened for a moment; then she shut it, nodding firmly. "I can do that. Can you tell me more?"

"Taking notes?" Asami teased her gently. "It would be nice after a date as we come in the door if you would just pick me up and fuck me against the door."

Determination was a good word for the expression on Korra's face. "Okay. Can you tell me next time we go out if you want to do that?"

Asami laughed. "Yes, I can tell you." She kissed Korra more deeply than she had been and leaned close to murmur in her ear. "When we have plenty of time, I'll be happy to have you watch me tease myself."

That got Korra's interest. "Maybe in the bath?"

"Certainly. Here or Air Temple Island?"

"Someone could walk in there!" Korra exclaimed with a laugh.

"Okay, so no to exhibitionism. Good to know."

"You mean some people get off on that?"

"Exactly what I mean. I don't rather not risk Jinora or Pema overseeing, but if you wanted to, we certainly could."

"No, I like your bath. And privacy."

"I love you, Korra."

"I love you too." Korra hesitated. "Are we a secret? I know you're shy about things in public, but—"

Asami sighed at that quiet question. Tonight was going to be the first time they went out for a date in public. "I didn't overwork on purpose. We can go out. It's like Fire Lord Izumi. I'd rather we aren't blatant, but I want to go out with you in public."

"That's confusing, honestly. What's the difference?"

"I get noticed in public, Korra. So do you. Maybe if I were someone like June, we could kiss in public without someone from the paper taking a picture, but I'm not. Those moments are private and personal."

"Okay. That makes sense. But… You said your board already knows. Why are you afraid of people knowing then?"

"I'm not ashamed of you, Korra, but my board knowing is… It's different. They knew and they didn't tell the public."

"What does that mean?"

"They're afraid of what the public reaction will be too. My good reputation is an important part of the company remaining in good standing. The public buys Future Industries' products, and public perception can sometimes influence if we receive funds for projects."

Korra pulled away to sit up. "Why would the public not like you being with me though?"

It took Asami a moment to realize what she meant. "No. No, Korra." She sat up to wrap an arm across Korra's shoulders. She kissed the bare skin of her shoulder. "It isn't about you; it's about the conclusions people will draw about me if they know we're together. And I need time to weigh all the details. That's who I am." She gave a harsh laugh. "I made a list about whether or not to pursue a relationship with you in the first place. We're not hiding away forever. We'll never lie about being close friends, and we won't lie to our friends."

"You're afraid of people knowing you're gay, not that we're together." Korra seemed to put two and two together. "Okay. I get it. You want to be discreet in public. We're friends in public."

"Just in public and just for now. You're always welcome here, and I want to take you out for dinner next week to make up for tonight."

Korra nodded again. "I understand. It's late though. We should sleep." Korra reached out with her metalbending to flick the lamp off. She snuggled closer, which eased Asami's worries she'd hurt her in that last exchange.

Asami awoke late enough for Korra to be awake the next morning. She was still sinfully relaxed from the previous night. Aside from the meal and the sex, it had also been wonderful to sleep next to Korra again.

Asami took a deep breath and stretched. The day seemed bright and warm behind her heavy curtains. The forecasters had been calling for an end to the odd heatwave of the winter, but it still seemed strong. Asami's robe was on the end of the bed, and she tugged it on as she walked out into the living room.

Korra was sitting mostly naked on the floor in front of the window in a sun patch. She only had her underwear on—shorts as tight as her usual shirt selection—and her breasts shifted subtly as she breathed. In the spirit world, no doubt. Not the most romantic situation: waking up to find your girlfriend in the spirit world. But Korra wasn't the most normal of girlfriends. As Wu had put it so long ago: super-human.

She was just so beautifully symmetric. Her neck and shoulders were defined and strong, and the muscles that framed her spine stood out beautifully. She had the back of a swimmer: broad shoulders and tapered waist. Even relaxed, her arms betrayed definition. Korra's fingertips twitched, lifting a cord of muscle at a time on her forearms. Her breasts were so wonderfully soft and feminine in comparison to her defined abdominals.

She wasn't one of those strange body-obsessed people that ate no fat and lived by the sharp creases between their muscles. Korra's bulk made her real and powerful. She was strength, power, and sensuality.

They needed more light the next time they made love. Asami wanted to touch every shadow on her body.

When the sight of Korra's body stopped diverting her, Asami made herself coffee and settled at the couch to read her morning paper, which Korra had set on the counter for her. (Asami had the off-handed thought of Korra opening the apartment door naked and surprising the porter.) By the time she'd made it through the sports section, a knock sounded on the door.

Asami glanced around as if she could see through the door. She retrieved a blanket off the couch and threw it over Korra's shoulders. She cracked her door. Her visitors were usually punctuated by phone calls, but a few people were on a no-call list during daylight hours.

Mako stood there with June beside him. He raised a hand, seeming surprised to see her in her current clothing, perhaps even the lack of makeup. "What brings you by, Mako?"

"I have a message for Korra. Tenzin sent me over with it. I thought we could go out for an early lunch. Sorry for not calling first."

"Korra's meditating. Come on in. Maybe she'll come out of it by the time I finish showering."

After offering them both coffee, Asami secured the blanket tighter around Korra's shoulders. A soft murmur escaped Korra's lips. Her eyes flickered under her eyelids. Korra said very clearly, "Zaheer."

She glanced at Mako, who looked back at her in confusion. Korra murmured again softly. Asami decided there wasn't much to do in this case. She showered, pondering that name stated so clearly. By the time Asami was out of the shower, Korra was changing in the bedroom.

"Good morning."

Korra glanced over her shoulder. "Raiko sent me a message about some sort of award ceremony in the park. Is there really a park named after me in the city?"

Asami nodded. "When's the ceremony?"

"Next week. He wants me to give a speech." She frowned down at her shirt. "Seems like everyone should get an award for saving the city. I was only part of the process."

"The most important part. No one else could have converted that dark energy into a spirit portal."

"I also couldn't have gotten inside that mech without you and your father. The mech would never have stopped without Suyin, Lin, Mako, and Bolin."

Asami squeezed Korra's shoulder. "Then say that when you give your speech, but don't turn it all down. You have no idea how many people look up to you for all that you've done for the city and its people, Korra."

Korra nodded as she tugged her shirt on. "I guess you're right."

She was rumpled and soft, tugging her too-tight shirt down, and Asami wrapped her up from behind to kiss her neck. She swayed them back and forth gently for a few moments, breathing in Korra's scent. "I love you."

"I love you too," Korra said. She stroked Asami's hand and sighed, relaxing back into her. A few quiet moments more and Asami patted her stomach and stepped away.

They decided on a little café within the district and hoofed it on foot. Naga followed along at Asami's suggestion that there would be enough space on the patio for her. At her request, they were seated in the covered patio, and Naga took up the area usually used by musicians in the evening. She lay with her head at Korra's feet before settling it in Asami's lap.

"Hi, Naga." She rubbed Naga's snout, earning a tail thump and a sigh.

Mako asked, "What was that letter about, Korra?"

"Raiko wants to put on a ceremony of appreciation or something." Korra shrugged. "I'll do it, but I'm going to talk about everyone who made it possible to defeat Kuvira in the end."

"Nice of the President to do that."

"Rather convenient for him politically," June pointed out. "Avatar Korra protected this city from destruction by Kuvira after he surrendered to her. He's making her his ally in this, pointing out the city was protected, and attempting to erase his surrender with her win."

"On second thought, maybe I should decline."

"Korra," Asami chided.

"It just sucks to be used for politics. Makes it almost make sense to want to get rid of it."

"What, like anarchy?" Mako said sharply. Asami was startled by the magnitude of accusation. "You've been talking to Zaheer. I heard a rumor you were up there—"

Korra exploded. It was like seeing her from three years prior. June jumped, and Asami sat still as Korra raised both hands and nearly shouted, "Yeah, I've been talking to him! I'm tired of having to defend myself! I know he's dangerous; I know what he did to me more than anyone else here. I was there when they pushed poison through my skin in case you forgot! I saw him throw my dad off a cliff! But damn it, he's helping me! Get off my back!"

"Woah!" Mako threw up his hands, looking like he'd been slapped. "Far be it for me to want you to be safe!"

"Maybe friends shouldn't criticize each other—"

"Okay!" Asami snapped. She refused to allow them to ruin her breakfast. "Mako voiced his concerns. Korra, you've made your irritation known. Everyone's coming from a good place."

Korra sank back into her seat and slowly relaxed. Mako folded his arms mulishly.

"Okay?" Asami repeated.

Korra nodded. "Sorry," she muttered. "Tenzin, my parents… Everyone has exactly the same thing to say about Zaheer. I get it. No one knows more than me what he did to me."

"I just don't want you hurt. It's one thing to go to him once, but…"

"Yeah," Korra said, stiffening up again. Mako sighed and resettled. Then he relaxed. He and Korra abruptly smirked at each other. June looked back and forth between them. She turned her look to Asami as if to ask if it was okay to talk again.

"This is usual," Asami told her.

"Old times," Korra responded, wagging her eyebrows at Mako.

Mako winced. "Could you not make that face?"

Korra added a wink to the exchange, and Mako's tight expression opened in laughter. "Stop. That's gross!"

She saluted him, which made Asami break down into laughter. Korra explained to June, "So, given our history, Mako was very uncomfortable around his ex-girlfriends in the same room. He did this whole 'I'm the police, and you're the Avatar!' thing for a few weeks."

"Including a few poorly-timed salutes."

"I think it's time for me to leave the table."

June watched him go. "I have to admit, I find it a little intimidating that he dated both of you."

"He failed pretty miserably at it. And it was a few years ago. We've all grown up since then. Except Asami. I think she was born grown-up."

"Hardly."

"And anyway," Korra announced. "I'm the least intimidating person I can think of."

June and Asami laughed and shared an understanding look.

When they were back home, they sat together on the couch and listened to the radio. Asami pulled out her portfolio and set her pencil to paper before pausing.

"Don't get angry, but… I want to know about Zaheer."

"Sorry… Guess I blew up a little, huh?" Korra leaned back in her seat and put her hand on the couch arm. "I saw him in the spirit world, and I asked him why. Then we just kept talking. I see him most of the time when I go into the spirit world, and I went to see him in person the first day we were back. That was why Tenzin and I had a fight."

"What do you talk about?"

"Everything. Me, Raava, Vaatu, Kuvira, government, economy, the role of the Avatar… He's just a great sounding board. Asami, it's crazy. What he did to me was… But he really believes in me."

"Be careful," Asami said softly. "I couldn't stand it if you got hurt again."

"I'm never careful. I've kind of given up on that. But I get it."

"Tell me when you go see him. So I know where you are and that you're okay."

"You didn't seem surprised when Mako brought it up."

"I heard you say his name this morning when you were meditating."

Korra sighed. "I guess it seems like I hid it. I guess I did, really. I didn't want to open that can of worms."

Korra seemed to put the conversation behind them, but Asami stewed on it for the next few days. It bothered her. She vowed to herself to keep up with Korra's summaries of her visits with Zaheer. There was no way that man didn't have an ulterior motive.

It was a rare day to get out for lunch with someone other than Korra. Back into her work week, Asami set out by herself to drive to Republic University, where she parked in a faculty lot and walked to a little café.

Ming, Naomi Moto's wife, waved through the café's glass window. She entered the quiet but busy little restaurant and set her bag in the corner and took a seat across from the other woman. Ming smiled. "How are you, Asami?"

"I'm doing well. How are you?"

"I'm good. Naomi said to say 'hi'. We should get together for dinner sometime."

"We should. I'd like to introduce you to Korra."

Ming raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

There was no impropriety in Ming's question, but Asami blushed anyway. "Turns out you were right."

"A pearl on a necklace." She smiled. "Are you happy?"

Asami nodded.

"Any details you wish to divulge? You don't have to, though I'm interested from a cultural perspective too." Ming asked.

Anyone else would have offended her with that question, but Ming seemed to be fishing for something other than sexual details. "She made me an igloo."

"How lovely. Did you realize what it meant?"

"I've checked out every book about Southern Water Tribe culture from the public library. I knew. It was more a symbolic question versus a proposal. It still meant so much to me."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Anything interesting going on with your life?"

"No. Second trimester is starting, Naomi is working on a new traditional sword even though the last one isn't finished, and she continues to ignore my requests to take dancing lessons together. Though I do have a proposition for you."

"Fire away."

"Would you consider volunteering to sit on the committee to put together the probending fundraiser? Given you're both a fan and have close ties to the Fire Ferrets, your presence would be helpful."

"How big is this commitment?"

"Two hours every two weeks for now. We'll have a few functions in the future to rub elbows with all the rich affluents of Republic City." Ming frowned, and her affect changed. She sounded like she had memorized her next statement. "I'm sure special consideration would be given to Future Industries to design the probending arena within the civic building if you sat on the board."

"I'd prefer we win the bid by merit of our design and relative costs."

Ming seemed surprised, then she blushed. "I wasn't sure what your take on that would be. The other members of the committee wanted me to say that."

Asami raised a shoulder in a faint shrug. She wasn't offended or surprised, but it seemed an odd thing for Ming to say. She seemed to have too much principle. Ming's embarrassment was more natural.

"To be completely honest, I'm short on the time I need to sit on the panel. I can delegate someone, but I can't go myself."

"I can't see how that would be a problem."

She put the next meeting in her planner along with a few names to go and exchanged a good-bye and the promise to meet for dinner in the near future.

Asami was prepared for another long day of meetings. She faded in late morning but reenergized after eating some of Korra's leftovers. She felt a little bounce when she told Lee, "Korra made it." After lunch spent thinking more about Korra naked than work, she was ready to get started again and looking forward to a project meeting.

This project had very little introductory information. She wasn't sure what to make of it when she received no paperwork about it prior to the start of the meeting. When a pamphlet was finally put in front of her, she flipped through the pages. The head of the project was a small man in suspenders, Wan. He was vibrating with his excitement—always a good sign—and began to speak with enthusiasm at the head of the table.

"Renewable energy. We all have that dream. We've all read the futuristic stories that talk about an energy source not from our firebenders or gas or coal… Now, thanks to the abrupt change and opening of the portals, we have that ability.

"We all saw destruction Kuvira's weapon wrought. But that energy doesn't have to be released in a weapon at all. It can be used to power our cars and planes and even our cities."

Asami flipped to the back of the project outline in her hands. There was a picture of a vine encased in glass, attached to wiring. Below it were two graphs that had mass on one axis and joules on the other. Her chest went cold then hot as her lunch soured in her belly.

"With the government's new clean energy project opening up in several months, we have a chance to make our mark in the field with an industrious, novel approach to renewal energy. What better way to do it than marry our world with the spiritual one?"

"How long have you been working on this?" she interrupted.

The project manager blinked at her owlishly, as if he didn't believe she'd spoken. "Just over two months. Already we've managed to harvest enough energy from one small vine to power an average residence for a day."

Horror and rage moved from her chest to her fingertips. Her mouth felt frozen and her voice sounded odd to her own ears. "What workshop are you using?"

"We're in the second workshop on floor sixteen, Ms. Sato."

"You've been experimenting with spirit vines in this building for two months?!" Asami rose to her feet abruptly, feeling sick with anger and fear. "Take me to it now!" The other members of the meeting remained seated. Asami looked around fiercely. "All of you come with me too. Lee, call Korra—try my apartment and then Air Temple Island. Tell her to come here now."

The little man who had headed the project straightened in shock. His delight turned to anger in a moment. "This research is harmless—"

"Did you not see what happened when the spirit vines were used before?! It tore a hole in our world!" Asami turned her eyes around the room wildly. "We are not experimenting on spiritual energy! That's final!"

Wan's volume had risen with hers. "Avatar Korra can't stop our forward progress—"

"You're fired!" Asami shouted.

His mouth twisted in anger. "Good riddance," he snapped.

Asami took her entire committee with her to the spirit vine workshop. On their way down, she told Lee—who kept his head down—"Have all of our contracts rewritten to include a clause that prohibits use of spirit vines in research. Now."

Her committee was silent as they waited within the workshop. Vines—all withered and brown—were scattered everywhere within. In one corner, they were allowed to grow up the wall—probably desperate to reach the outside air. Metal canisters were all around, presumably having been used to sap the vines of their energies. This was sickening, disappointing. She folded her arms and fell into the darkness of non-thought while she waited.

When Korra walked into the room, Asami wanted to hide the evidence. She could only say, "I didn't know."

Korra looked from the vines to Asami to the men and women clustered beside her. She smiled gently. "I figured. Thanks for calling me here."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Korra threw back at her. "I can take care of this."

From where she stood in the center of the room, Korra lifted her hands and twisted her fingers, opening up the sinks in the corner. Asami had never seen her do it before; she was metalbending to open the taps. As water flowed out of the tap, she gathered it with sweeps of her wrists. Korra's brow wrinkled with her concentration as she twined her arms together, raising the water in gentle circular sweeps around the vines, which turned gold and faded away.

Korra walked to the corner and touched the long reach of vine that crawled up the wall there. Her eyes flickered white, and the vine turned gold and disintegrated beneath her touch. She frowned and opened a nondescript door in the wall, stepping into a side-room.

Asami followed and gasped in horror. The entire room was full of shriveled vines.

"Step back," Korra said.

It took her over ten minutes to purify it all. At the end of it, Korra's shoulders drooped with exhaustion. She touched Asami's arm and smiled. "Thank you for telling me."

"It won't happen again."

"I know; I trust you. I'll see you tonight."

After Korra stepped out, Asami turned to her employees. She was stricken with her rage and shame. "Who knew about this?"

Three men raised their hands. Ikken was not among them. "I should fire you," she said quietly. "But I'm not sure if I made it as clear as I feel. We are not using spirits or spirit vines in our research. It upsets the balance of the spirit world. The energy used is what may be causing dark spirits in the first place. We can't do this. Anyone who feels they can't follow that rule needs to find employment elsewhere."

"It won't happen again, Ms. Sato," the men told her. They at least appeared contrite.

"Please let Mr. Wan know he can retain employment here if he agrees to comply with those rules. I lost my temper."

When Asami was back behind her desk, a new contract was on its surface. Highlighted in yellow was the new clause regarding the prohibition of the use of spiritual energy, spirits, and spirit vines in research. She expected all her employees to sign it by the morning. She needed to petition to have a bill introduced to the council for the same reason. Asami put her own signature on the contract, and then she rested her forehead in her palms as she fought down a panic attack.

The smell of good cooking greeted Asami only hours later. She hesitantly opened her door. The first thing she saw in her apartment was Naga eating out of a massive bowl by the window. The second thing she saw was Korra in the kitchen, reading the newspaper while leaning against the counter.

Korra looked up and smiled. "Hey."

"I'm so sorry." All the panic and fear that she'd been fighting since that afternoon came out in a burst of tears. She stood in the doorway and sobbed, overcome by the fact Korra was here, despite all odds.

Korra hastened to round the counter to draw Asami into a hug. She pulled the door shut behind Asami and held her close, hushing her quietly. "It's okay. You told me, and it's fixed."

"It's my company! How did I not know that was happening? He's been researching for two months."

Korra kissed her forehead, then her neck. "It's okay. It happens. I didn't know I was being sold to the highest bidder for most of my life. I'd say we're even."

"We're a pair, aren't we?" Asami asked after she'd calmed down. They held each other on the couch, and Korra's shirt was soaked by Asami's tears. Asami leaned her forehead against Korra's and finally managed a smile.

"You could say that. We have each other though. Come on. Let's eat and take a bath together."

"Can we skip to the bath part?"

"Hell, no." Korra pushed her down to sit at the table. "I worked hard on this."

Asami found she did have a bit of an appetite. For the first time in a week, she poured herself a gin and tonic. She drank it more quickly than she should, but she poured herself another anyway.

"So I realized something today."

"What?" Asami asked, alarmed it would be related to her work fiasco.

"I went back to officially sign up for some classes at the university, but I can't. I'm not a legal resident of Republic City. I can't even vote or work here! It's illegal for me to drive. I have to individually ask professors if I can sit in their lectures."

Asami smiled, amused more by Korra's chagrin than her statement. "That can be a bit of a hassle for paperwork purposes, but I'm sure I can help you."

"Ugh, one more thing on my plate." But Korra grinned as she said it. She had her jaw leaned against her hand, and she looked up at Asami through her lashes. Asami kissed her gently.

"Thank you."

"There's nothing to thank me for. You've done the same for me. If you want to talk about it, I'm here, okay? But you don't have to if you don't want to."

Asami made sure she wouldn't be called into work on the day of Korra's ceremony a few days later. Korra had laughed at her suggestion to dress up, not that Asami could blame her later. She only wore her more traditional wool long-sleeved shirt and parka pants despite the light snow on the ground.

She'd wavered through work, guilty and fighting it. It almost would have been easier if Korra showed even the slightest bit of blame for the spirit vine research. Now Asami went back through all the contracts of the company and considered every loophole until the words blurred together and she was sure it was air-tight.

So she did what she did best when she was avoiding some part of her life: work. Today, though, there was no respite. No amount of personal guilt could make her miss Korra's ceremony.

At least fifty thousand people found a way to be there, crowding Fifth street and filling up most of Avatar Korra Park. Korra seemed composed on the stage, even as Raiko gave a ridiculously long speech about the future of the Republic City.

He gave an abbreviated speech that highlighted Korra's own accomplishments and then invited her to stand with him. He dropped a medal around her neck, a mockery of the ceremony that had honored Kuvira many months before.

Raiko clapped for her, and the crowd swelled with its noise. Korra looked out at them all and waved with a smile. When there was quiet, she spoke calmly into the microphone.

"I don't need a medal for what I did that day, or for what I do any day. It's my job. I guess a lot of kids end up choosing what they do for a living, but my job was destined. But thank you.

"Since no one else is right now, I want to thank the people who were just as important in defending this city: Asami Sato and her father, Hiroshi Sato. Hiroshi Sato even gave his life to save this city. The airbenders—Tenzin and his family and every other airbender who put their lives in danger to protect this city. Mako, Bolin, Suyin and Lin Beifong, and even Toph made it possible. Every time you think of me, think of them too. I would be dead without them.

"More than anything, we need to work together—to find and keep peace, not just during crisis. That takes work and cooperation and compromise, and we have to do that. We have to protect our peace to protect ourselves, our children, and our future.

"We need that cooperation with each other now more than ever. When I opened the spirit portals, I opened up a strange new world. I'm still learning about the spirits and the vines so be patient and work with me. Don't abuse them and don't antagonize them. Cooperate and learn. Be kind to each other and to the spirits. Be kind to our animals and plants, our environment.

"And, I guess… All the thanks I ever needed was seeing this city bounce back and continue on, better than ever. I'm from the South, and it will always be my home, but Republic City is my home too. So thank you, Republic City."

It was disjointed, very much like Korra in style, and it was wildly popular with the locals. The United Republic Times had a nice write-up, complete with Korra posing with a cheesy smile. Classic Korra. Asami got a little jolt when she looked at that picture and realized that was her lover on the front page of the national paper. Korra, her lover. Super-human. The Avatar.