Asami's reading selection from the library included several medical texts. She hadn't been to the library in weeks, but Korra had prompted her last rushed visit. She spent her brief evening break reading through the hormone cycle associated with ovulation and human menstruation. From what she understood, contractions during menstruation were caused by a hormone released from the lining of the uterus itself. How the hell did Korra reach inside her in a heartbeat and turn that hormone off?
When Korra came to her workshop the next day to coax her to lunch, Asami went readily if only to talk about her waterbending healing. Korra tended to check in on her at work and after work, especially now that Asami was neck deep in her wind turbine project. Even if Korra never said it, she probably considered this her duty: to make sure Asami slept and ate occasionally despite the work that consumed her. Korra certainly frowned when she realized Asami had slept in her office the night before.
That afternoon they ate at a fancy enough ramen shop to allow them to get a private table. Asami put the book on the table between them.
"Progland?" Korra asked, squinting at the words on the paper.
"This says that hormone is what causes the uterus to contract and cause pain during menstruation. How did you fix that? Did you turn it off?"
"I don't know about that. I just directed some of the chi from your uterus back to other parts of your body."
Asami blushed to hear Korra say it so bluntly in public, but she had asked. This wasn't a conversation that anyone with half a brain would presume could be sexual. "And it's safe?"
"Katara did it to me all the time. She says it's the first waterbending healing technique ever practiced."
"Leaching is pretty old too."
Korra scanned the page and pointed to a section. "There. This says there're no negative health consequences from using waterbending healing to relieve menstrual pain. Don't ever accuse a waterbender healer of not knowing the female body."
"That statement could be taken a lot of ways." A new thought occurred to Asami. She lowered her voice and leaned closer. "Do you…when we…"
"What?" Korra asked, her mouth full and her brow furrowed.
"Do you use it when we have sex?"
The look of consternation on Korra's face was a relief, but the arrival of the waiter startled Asami. He smiled and refilled their waters. "Another bowl, Avatar?"
"I'd love some more, thanks."
"Are you enjoying your meal, Ms. Sato?"
"I am, thank you." She probably broke etiquette by eating so slowly.
Korra's smile turned to a frown as she turned to Asami. "No. I would definitely hurt you if I did. It takes concentration, and I'm not exactly concentrating your chi when we're in bed."
"I wasn't sure. It all seems so natural when it comes to you."
"Well, I'm glad. I thought I picked it up pretty fast." Korra winked but remained on good behavior as the waiter gave her a second steaming bowl.
"Behave," Asami reminded her.
Korra talked with her mouth full. "You brought me a book and pointed at the word 'uterus'."
"How did you know I had cramps?"
"I could feel it. Your body was tense."
"My body." She leaned closer again, startled and disturbed. "Can you feel inside of me?"
"I could say so many dirty things right now. Yes, I can. It's part of being a healer. It's not like I can lay hands on everyone and know their organ arrangement, but I know your body, your chi, and it's not hard for me to tell if something's changed. I don't know if you realize this, but I touch you a lot."
"Behave."
Korra raised her hands high, looking like she wanted to shout, but she kept her voice low as she exclaimed, "You brought up this entire conversation about your body and your uterus, and you were the person who brought up sex!"
"This was in the name of science."
Korra raised her chopsticks in a rude point. "You can be frustrating; you know that?"
"Well, it was a fruitful search. I learned that anti-inflammatories block that hormone directly. I'd avoided taking them because I didn't think it would help."
"Glad to be of service. Now eat your ramen before they ban us forever."
"It doesn't taste any different ten minutes after the golden five."
Korra, ever silly, leaned close to shush her loudly. "They'll hear!"
Asami laughed and lifted her bowl to sip the broth.
When they were on the way back, Korra said, "Tenzin told me about your legislation."
Scrapped together, aided by every ally Tenzin had, and rewritten multiple times in Yun's cramped office. Asami had a meeting with the man the following day though she'd done very little except back it financially at this moment. The councilor who accepted the task of the bill was from the labor party, one of the most socially leaning men elected this term. Even he had said there would be some concessions to get it passed, and the thought of those concessions put a cold stone in her gut.
"It's a work in progress. It could take a year. I'm hopeful there won't be much compromise."
"What all is in it?"
"Full reform. Limiting campaign time. No public official should be campaigning while he's currently in office until the last two months of said time. Being in office means running that office is your job, not begging people to fund your continued seat. Limiting advertising to debates and newspaper descriptions and at most one radio ad that has limited play time—without negative advertisements. It caps and standardizes campaign money, and caps all donations that come into the office and limits dues for political parties. By banning donations to all public officials, we will have permanent concrete criminalization for bribes. It also prevents only the rich from being able to run for office."
There would be some outcry about ignorant voters, but that was a risk of democracy.
There was more in the proposed bill. No microtargetting voters, reinstating the illegality of paying voters, and spelling out more detailed term limits were all within it. It was a packed overhaul of the current political system, and it was going to be wildly unpopular with politicians.
Korra nodded. "It's annoying. All those safeguards should have been put in place before the government reform happened. Now we have to ask people who've probably profited because of the corruption to vote to end said corruption."
"We'll publicize it," Asami explained. "If the public sees who votes against regulation, that councilor may lose his seat. We have to get the public behind it, and I honestly don't see how anyone could think it's a good thing for public servants to be beholden to a secular individual or company because of financial power. I'm all for discussing the pros and cons though. For example, I don't think it's wrong to donate to help laws get drafted—directly, as I'm doing with funding the staffers that are helping Yun draft this bill."
She just wished she could predict how Raiko would respond. He had the most to lose, but he could bring down a lot of people with him. It was a touch of dread, most of it stemming from the thought of her shame brought into the public.
"Eh. Sounds like a headache. Let me know if you need my help. Let's talk something less depressing."
That wasn't the enthusiasm Asami had hoped for, but she refused to be discouraged. "Like what?"
"Like how the Fire Ferrets are gonna spank ass at the fundraising event."
"Oh, I'm sure. You're pretty confident."
"I know the rules of probending. I can't say the same about anything else going on in my life."
"What about us?"
Korra's smile softened. "No, I'm getting a pretty good idea of how things work between us."
Asami finally had the confidence in their permanence after their last conversation about their sexuality. Asami had known even as she'd admitted being afraid of Korra's potential attraction to men that her fear had everything to do with her own lack of self-esteem rather than her belief that Korra's attraction to men would make her more likely to be unfaithful. She didn't want to put that on Korra, but she felt like truth was important. She'd wondered when she said it if she'd make Korra angry, but trust Korra to have the perfect response. She washed Asami's fears away to nothing. It had set Asami's muse off, and the essay she'd struggled with for months had suddenly snapped on the page one character at a time.
"There's a gala next month here for Future Industries. Will you go with me?"
"Yeah, sure."
Asami put car in park and reached over to take Korra's arm. Korra sat back down and faced her. "Will you go with me...as my date?"
Korra smiled. "Yes. Is your article coming out then?"
Asami nodded, her gut clenching in terror. "I've almost finished it. You can read it as soon as I do."
"Only if you're ready."
"I am. Just a little scared."
As they walked into Future Industries' workshop, Lee stood at the door and motioned impatiently to Asami. It was an odd gesture for such a polite man. He said, "Quickly."
When they stepped into the workshop, Asami was surprised to see all progress had paused. At first she thought someone had been hurt, but everyone ringed a radio in the corner of the room. Raiko's voice came through the speakers, and Korra seemed to coil herself up as she leaned on the wall to listen.
"—uption in a new government should be halted as soon as it is discovered. We are a new nation and are at our most vulnerable. We cannot afford to fail, as so many governments have failed around the world since humankind began.
"I am introducing a bill that will limit the number and amount of donations to any man or woman serving as a government official. This measure includes judges, prosecutors, councilmen, police, and even myself, the President of the United Republic. As public servants, we exist to serve and represent society. The current system encourages not the words in the oath we take when going into office but serving the interests of powerful and wealthy men and women whose views are rarely that of the public.
"I will personally announce the names of any man or woman on the council that opposes this measure so that you, the people they swore to represent and serve, know they do not serve you. If this measure does not pass, I will sign it into law as an executive order, where we will see if the courts also uphold their oath to the people they swore to serve.
"In these times, I am reminded again of the strength of character and selflessness of Avatar Korra, who told me personally that it is her vision for the United Republic to be free of corruption. This is the first step in fulfilling her selfless wish, a step that will strengthen this country and set us on our feet for the future. Avatar Korra has saved this great country many times over; it's time to save ourselves now. Thank you, and good afternoon."
The radio announcer got back on his broadcast. "That was the President, folks, in a surprise radio broadcast from the Capitol Building. Sounds like big—"
Korra walked to Asami's private office and waited for her to shut the door before she said, "That lying bastard!"
Asami sat down slowly on the stuffed couch on one wall. She'd been afraid she couldn't predict Raiko's move, and he had proven to be the dark ostrich horse of her worries. Raiko had many motivations, but apparently his office and his public figure were the strongest of his motivations. At least his greed was secondary.
"He's preempted any accusation of corruption. He can be exposed though. We always document donations we've given, including to Raiko."
Korra exhaled as she rubbed her face, a sure sign of anger and stress. Her shoulders finally slumped as she dropped her hands. "It's not worth it. You've put yourself and your company in enough danger for me. We get what we want if Raiko pushes this through, even if he wins a second term for it. I just wish he hadn't used my name."
"He's a smart man for doing it, even if it fails. But spirit vine research has been outlawed. That's something. Now I just have to win the bid on Republic City's renewable energy contract."
"Like there's any question you'll get it." Korra pushed off the wall and offered a tight smile. "Oh well."
Asami was surprised when Korra sat down beside her and pressed a soft kiss to Asami's neck. Despite the chaste kiss, she said, "You look really sexy today."
"I don't have makeup on and my clothes are wrinkled. I don't want to know what my hair looks like now." She'd put on the slacks, vest, and dress shirt the day before and had worked through the night. A few hours' sleep on this couch kept her mentally fresh, but she needed a bath and a change of clothes. Clearly Korra wanted something.
"Yeah. Really sexy and rumpled." Korra kissed her neck again. "Guess what else you look like?"
"What?"
"Exhausted. You need to go home, think about something else, and sleep."
"Korra, my meeting with the Minister of Energy is tomorrow . I can't leave now."
A knock sounded on the door. Lee poked his head in, and Korra shifted away when Lee opened the door further. He carried Asami's portfolio and jacket. "We'll courier over the finalized proposal tonight, Ms. Sato."
Asami looked from Korra to Lee and knew they weren't going to let her get any work done, not when they had plotted together. "Fine. Send everyone home after it's finished. Then two paid days off."
It was as if acquiescing to a break prepped her body to rest. Asami fell asleep in the car and jerked awake when Korra cursed and the clutch made a horrible noise. "Don't break my car!"
"Go back to sleep!" Korra snapped at her as she restarted the car. "Fucking jerkoff cut me off!"
Traffic in Republic City could corrupt anyone, apparently.
She woke up enough to shower and collapse in bed, and then Asami did sleep. She woke by evening and read the finalized preliminary proposal that had been pushed under her door. She knew every word and could predict a thousand questions that could be asked. It still didn't hurt to read it again.
Korra walked into her apartment around eight with take-out and Naga. They spread their separate work out on the coffee table and ate as they worked. When Asami finally surfaced from her concentrated study, she realized Korra wasn't reading but writing.
Apparently Korra was so focused that Naga chose Asami to pet her. Asami accepted Naga's heavy head in her lap and tugged on her soft ears as she watched Korra work.
"What are you working on?"
"What? Oh. Just recording what's been going on with the spirits." Korra set down her pen and stretched. She explained what had happened to her over the last week. Asami was dismayed she'd missed so much even as she felt a warm glow of pride that Korra readily found what could be the key to the entire mess.
"You just asked, and they answered?"
"I think I had to accept Vaatu before they would. Maybe that fear of myself would have leached into the spirits and caused imbalance. I'm not sure. But now I have Vaatu and Raava, who want two opposing things." She shook her head and offered a wry grin. "As if I didn't have enough trouble with ambivalence."
"Unalaq was able to corrupt spirits, right?" Asami remembered Naga when she nudged her to continue petting her.
"And purify, come to think of it."
"Both hurt them though."
Korra nodded. "So I have to figure out a way to do both at once. The spirits said they'd come to me again. Maybe there's a sage spirit out there that can just tell me how the hell to do this. I have a handle on purification, but I don't know how to do the opposite. It's still so convoluted. I don't know what the right mix of both is. It probably varies with every spirit."
"Well, just like me staying up reading the proposal won't help, staying up worrying about that won't either."
Korra lowered her brows. "Are you really telling me I need to go to bed?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you want to sleep on the couch—?"
Asami shrieked as Korra seized her by the waist and threw her over her shoulder in a fireman's carry, prompting Naga to bark. Asami hushed her over Korra's shoulder before Korra strode to the bedroom. They laughed when Korra tossed Asami on the bed, and they rolled around in mock play for a few moments before settling in to sleep.
Alone, Asami would stare at the wall and worry her way through the night. With Korra, she slept deep and easy.
Asami kept her meeting with Councilor Yun the following day. The man motioned for her to come into his airy office and sit on a comfortable leather couch. He blinked at her owlishly behind his thick glasses. Yun confided, "I wish I was a man that kept booze in my office."
"What happened?"
He sank in the chair adjacent to Asami with a long sigh, then set a cup of coffee by her. "Raiko called me into his office. Someone leaked a copy of our bill, and… We had a long talk about who would suffer if this bill was pushed through by the wrong party."
"I didn't think to tell you he knew. After our meeting, I'm honestly surprised by his choice, unless it's a sham."
"It's real. My guess is that President is the office that everyone will want to monitor, but they'll forget all the lesser ones. If Raiko's financial power is going to be severely limited next term, then he's going to make sure every office is limited down to the lowest court clerk."
"Loopholes?"
"He's drafting me to write the thing. I have concessions in my back pocket, but he said if I have to resort to them, he'll put his signature right here and sign it into law by executive order." Yun tapped the bill with a blunt finger. "I guess there's a chance he'll make me the fallman or he'll sabotage it, but I can't think of a way for him to gain anything by that, not with his public declaration. It's my job to make sure this will hold up in court if anyone sues that it's unconstitutional, and I'm not messing that up."
"How could it be unconstitutional?"
"I'm sure someone will try. You've cut off the legs of all lobbyist in the country with this bill, and it's about damn time. They won't go down without a fight. I know, Ms. Sato, that you don't agree with my economic policies so it means a lot that you and Tenzin chose me for this. Part of me is sorry we won't be in it for the long haul, but Raiko has given us a surer win."
"It will look better if it passes Parliament."
Yun snorted. "But if it doesn't, the public can see how we've started on the wrong foot. Maybe it'll wake them up to the corruption poisoning us every day."
"We'll see how it goes."
Yun leaned back in his seat and sipped his coffee. "How is Avatar Korra feeling about her spirit vine protection?"
"Relieved. I am too."
"It's a good start. Cabbage Corp already has a lawsuit put together to take the criminalization to the lower courts. We'll see how that holds up. I'll keep Tenzin informed." He smiled. "I met Avatar Korra, you know. Quite an honor. She's more charismatic than I imagined. And she and Tenzin have nothing but praise for you. I see why."
Asami finished her coffee and shook Yun's hand, discomfited by his statement. "Thank you, Councilor."
He held her hand after the shake ended and said, "Keep your trust in me, Ms. Sato. I'll keep fighting for it."
She smiled. "I do. I chose you because of your integrity, Mr. Yun."
He followed her to the door of his office. "Off to another meeting?"
"Yes, with the Minister of Energy."
"I'll walk you down."
The new government building was polished, with wide rooms and tall windows. It still smelled of paint. Asami privately thought that it had lost some charm without spirit vines growing through it, but she could easily guess Raiko was happier without a tree in his government office.
The Minister of Energy had a large office on the third floor. His secretary phoned back, and the man stepped out after only a minute of wait time. His name was Raku. He had a respectable old-fashioned beard that matched his old-fashioned topknot. His eyes moved from Asami to Yun. His smile came slow.
"Ms. Sato. I look forward to your proposal." He shook her hand, then reached out to shake Yun's. "Councilor Yun, how are you?"
"Feeling hopeful about the future, Minister. I'll see you in court!"
Asami glanced between the men as they laughed. After Yun left, Raku clarified, "Squash. We have to stay healthy somehow. Now, come in. Just you today? Would you like coffee? Tea?"
"Water, please." Asami opened her soft leather briefcase and withdrew the earmarked proposal from her records. She pulled out a second copy for Raku's office to keep on file. "This is a preliminary proposal. We'll host you at Future Industries for the final proposal, but I wanted to give you an idea of what we have planned today."
Minister Raku looked at the sheath of papers she set on the table and seemed to deflate. He poured himself water and took a seat. "I admit, I'm disappointed by this barebones approach. It makes sense that you aren't hosting me at the estate. Your father put on some glitzy parties there."
He would know. He'd been appointed to this office twenty years prior and survived the government transition. "We won't be doing business like that anymore, Minister."
He studied her for a long moment and nodded slowly. "Of course, Ms. Sato. There was no mention of you backing the new bill, but I guess you're behind it."
"That's a separate matter." Asami sipped her water and waited for him to attend to the proposal in front of him. "Bear in mind, this is preliminary. We'll go through a phase of tough quality control before we launch live turbines."
Raku's face tightened in grim disappointment. He dropped the corner of papers and turned towards her. "We've seen proposals for wind turbines time and time again. I know the pass is prime location given the wind; there's no difference there. What makes your proposal better than the trash we've seen so often?"
"My turbine is fitted with a component to reduce breakdown and standardize output of energy: my dynamic transmission in place of the gearbox. It won't fail, and it will only cost a fortune to install, not service, and it will generate power with wind velocity well over that of previous designs."
Raku turned back to her proposal with more interest. He studied the sketches and equations of the dynamic transmission, and then asked her a series of questions that impressed her. This man hadn't forgotten his engineering background even in office. He admitted, "I've put in orders for your snowmobile and your new car with the hope to take it apart and examine it bit by bit. This…exceeds my expectations. Will it work on this scale?"
Asami was glad for Suyin's strangely pleasant meeting with her. Baatar Junior had fallen all over himself to thank her for the opportunity. It was all a bit sleazy, but it allowed her to say, "We'll make it work. I'm partnering with Zaofu's best to get this together."
"Suyin's son?"
"Yes."
"And you're certain about the energy output per unit?"
"It's a modest number. I plan to exceed that. This is the minimum efficiency we'll consider."
"Using the Baatar boy leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but combined with your brains, Ms. Sato, this will work. And I can assume it will be huge. I want a finalized proposal in a month."
"The final deadline is in three," she reminded him politely.
"You'll need the following two to quality control and take care of the problems that will inevitably arise. I'd hoped for a tighter timeline, but if this all irons out in three, I'll assume you won't stretch out your timeline to get all the units up in the pass. We needed this energy yesterday."
That didn't sound like an impossible goal. "Yes, sir."
Raku held out his hand, and she shook it. "Your father would be proud to see what you've done for this country, schmoozing or not. I always look forward to seeing what innovation you'll think of next. In forty years, they'll call you the mother of modern engineering."
"I don't think I'll warrant a note in a textbook, but thank you, Minister, especially for keeping an open mind during this meeting."
"Of course. Good luck."
No doubt he'd have his aids tear through her proposal until that month deadline was up. She had a lot of work to do, but it would have to start tomorrow. She had a date planned that evening.
Asami parked behind Naomi Moto's car. The sun had set, and she was thankful for her sealskin gloves. Korra was comfortable in her wool long-sleeved tunic. Korra's only concession that it was cold out on this late winter evening was her fur-lined boots.
Naomi Moto opened the door for them, ushering them inside. Ming took Korra's hand after they were introduced. She shook it and smiled up at her. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Korra."
Asami felt a pang of regret. Both Naomi and Ming had followed up with her several times in the last few months, but she hadn't managed to find time to agree to an evening with them until now. Korra had moved a meeting to get here tonight, but she'd done it happily, saying, "I want to meet your friends."
Now Korra said, "Happy to meet you, too."
They each took a glass of wine and sat in the comfortable sitting room. "So, happy in love?" Ming asked.
Asami blushed, but when she snuck a peek at Korra, Korra hadn't. Korra did have a big grin. "Yeah. Right?"
"Yes," Asami affirmed.
"Still a secret?"
"No, not actively."
"We even had that guy take a photo of us last week."
"Oh!" Ming got up to shuffle through the papers on her desk. She returned with newspaper in her hands. "The Society pages, last Sunday. 'Two most eligible bachelorettes of Republic City share dinner at Kwong's. Business or Pleasure?'"
"That was totally a date. First one in ages. How am I an eligible bachelorette? I don't even have a bank account yet." Korra's brow wrinkled as she took the paper. Her eyes scanned the print. Asami had already read the article and could imagine the words that Korra would pick out. "'With no men in sight, business is more the name of the game. These ladies are too lovely to waste a night out on the town without a handsome man or two in tow. What new government corruption will they sniff out together?'" Korra continued to read silently, probably through the following paragraph that summarized the spirit vine vote. She looked up at Asami. "I really thought people would just know."
"Gay marriage is legal, but homophobia is still real. Even if reporters or fans believe you're lovers, no one would risk the insult of stating it."
"But… Why would it be an insult? I'm proud of Asami, and I'm lucky to have her."
"Korra…" Asami tried to ward off the embarrassment.
"What?" Korra demanded. "I love you for a reason. Why would anyone think I could be insulted if they insinuated you've chosen me of all people to be with?"
Asami's cheeks burned. She couldn't hold back her smile even as she wondered why Korra was so romantic in the presence of other people. That statement would have preceded physical intimacy if they were in private.
Naomi cleared her throat, apparently holding back a laugh. Ming refilled Asami's wine. "Before you explode with embarrassment," she said.
"Did I say something wrong?" Korra asked her when the other women went to the kitchen to get the food together.
"No. You said everything right. Your timing could have been a little less embarrassing."
"Isn't that what coming out would be?"
"You don't have to stand up and declare undying love, not that I don't love and return the sentiment. It's more standing together and saying, 'We're dating'."
"Oh. That makes it seem so casual."
"It won't be casual if we don't break up."
Korra kissed her lightly on the mouth. "Okay."
At least dinner was a casual affair. Ming quizzed Korra about her knowledge of past Avatars and was delighted when Korra described her Kyoshi dreams.
"How real are they?"
"Very."
Asami confirmed. "I don't appreciate being called Jhao when Korra wakes up."
"That was just once!"
It started a conversation about Kyoshi's life, which Ming had a wealth of information about. Korra said, "You seem to know a lot about this."
"It's her job," Naomi supplied. "She's read and written more about Avatar Kyoshi than anyone else alive today. She talks about Kyoshi's daughter like it's a shock, but Ming's been harping on her being Kyoshi's lover for years."
Ming swatted Naomi's shoulder. She turned to Korra. "If you wouldn't mind… It would be a good idea for progeny and perhaps for your own knowledge to keep a diary of these dreams. That way details don't slip away."
Korra nodded. "Sure. I've had dreams about Fire Lord Hazana—"
Ming gasped.
"—and Avatar Hana."
Ming practically vibrated with energy. "Please describe them to me. In detail. Or write them down, but don't let the memory of those dreams fade. They're treasures!"
"And if you happen to slip those diaries to Ming, I'm sure she'll give you a bottle of wine."
Ming swatted Naomi. Korra went on to summarize her disturbing dreams of the other two avatars, which led Ming and Korra into a long, convoluted conversation about ancient wars. When there was a lull in conversation, Asami finally changed the topic by asking Naomi, "How did you two meet?"
Naomi laughed. "Someone commissioned a traditional sword from Chin the Conqueror's time. I found a few examples in the literature, but they varied widely. So I looked up the different professors of Earth Kingdom history at Republic University to help me choose the right one."
"She came in my office without an appointment." Ming's smile suggested she hadn't minded.
"Your office hours were posted on the bulletin," Naomi teased.
"She didn't choose me because of my background in the Chin era or because of my dissertation on the evolution of the Earth Kingdom's armor through the ages."
"Why did you choose her then?" Korra asked with a grin.
"All the professors had pictures in the faculty booklet. She was by far the cutest." Naomi grinned over at her wife. "I wore a sleeveless shirt."
"You did, you idiot." Ming blushed.
"It worked. She asked me out."
"I asked if you would show me your sword when you finished," Ming clarified, pressing her glasses up her nose.
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Naomi flinched back with a laugh as Ming swatted at her.
They were all, except perhaps Korra, feeling their drinks when they retired to the sitting room again. Naomi went upstairs and returned with a sheathed sword. She drew it and set it on a cloth that she'd put over the coffee table.
"Cool." Korra's hand ghosted over the blade.
Asami leaned closer. The sword hadn't been fitted to a grip, guard, or pommel yet. The blade was beautiful without. It was symmetric, polished, and the most interesting part of it was the pattern to the metal of the fuller: swirls, like waves on a placid lake.
"How did you forge that?"
"Didn't you come in when I was working on it? The billet was in a staggered pattern, and I hammered it flat. That was after a long process of stacking, welding, and twisting, then cutting the billet to form that zigzag pattern you saw. The zigzag, so to speak, is the core."
Asami tried and failed to picture it. Korra touched a finger to the fuller. "That's complex," she said, more to herself than about Naomi's description. Naomi studied her. "Are you feeling the metal?"
"Yeah, not moving it, just…" Korra faded into a singularly focused concentration that was her bending.
"The guy who commissioned it demanded handcrafted only. No automatic anvil for me."
"She moaned about it for weeks. Poor thing needed a massage every night." It wasn't clear if Ming was being sarcastic or affectionate.
"Can I commission you to carve a pommel and guard?" Naomi asked Korra.
"Me?"
"The guy wants authentic. If I ask an artist in the city, they'll use an electric sander and shaver. I need something that looks hand-carved. The things you carved for Asami are impressive."
"You mean you want an amateur look?" Korra asked with a grin.
"No, I want an authentic, hand-crafted, professional look. If I wanted amateur, I'd do it myself and it would look terrible."
"Oh. Sure, I guess."
Naomi set a paper on the table. "Ming sketched these for me. Think you can do something similar in ivory?"
Asami studied the shaded swirls of the guard and pommel. It was a pretty pattern, though ultimately masculine. Korra touched the sketch. "Yeah, I can do that. When do you need it by?"
"Would two months be enough time? The guy doesn't need it by a certain time; he just wants it to look good."
"Sure."
Naomi returned with several lengths of ivory. "I'd like to help you treat them when you finish carving and sanding. Two thousand?"
"Two thousand what?" Korra asked.
"For your commission?"
"Oh, to pay me? You don't have to pay me. This looks like fun."
"The object of life is to get paid for the fun stuff. I was given twenty thousand to get the sword together. I wouldn't feel right to take your labor without compensating."
"Someone paid twenty thousand yuans for a sword?"
"Where there's a demand, there's money. Will you?"
Korra looked at Asami. "Would it be wrong to ask for a donation to the White Lotus instead of payment?"
"If you're worried, take the money as payment and donate it to the White Lotus instead," Asami stated. She smiled and touched Korra's arm. "But it wouldn't be wrong. This is different than what you're afraid of."
"Good point. I…" Korra turned her head and paused. Her smile faded. She stood up, and Naomi gasped the moment before a large snake-like animal materialized in the living room. It took Asami a moment to understand what she was seeing: a spirit.
His great sleek body was black, and his rust-colored hair looked soft and moved like it was underwater. He floated eye-level with Korra and faced her with his head tilted in study.
His voice was deep and melodious, as mesmerizing as his fluid movements. "Avatar Korra, we have had time to reflect on what we saw when we merged with you. We are disturbed. Humans are pitiable, living in absolute solitude for their entire lives, only connected to others by words and actions. Humans lie, conceal, and ignore others by the virtue of their tenuous connections. Yet they celebrate this isolation and give their names freely. They will never know the collective soul, never touch essences to share truths, and never understand what it is to be the part of a greater whole."
Korra spoke calmly. "We're different than you, but different doesn't mean less. There's nothing to pity."
"You are not human, Avatar Korra. You hold within you two of the oldest and most powerful spirits of our existence. Through them we share our existence."
"I don't know you unless I touch you. And I don't want it to be any other way. I am human, and I always will be human."
The eel flowed around Korra slowly, studying her. "Raava and Vaatu are so long removed from us that we fear they will never return to their rightful forms. It was a choice, one that we do not understand. Raava was free of you after Harmonic Convergence, and yet she urged you to fuse once more. Raava, why?"
Korra closed her eyes. When she opened them, they shone white. A rich, ancient being spoke through her. Korra's voice layered underneath a female and the soft echo of a deep male voice. "I will never exist apart from the humanity again. Korra is my Avatar, as her next life will be and the next. We will never be fully spirit nor fully human, and that is what is needed to truly balance the two worlds that we opened. Humans are fascinating, fragile, and worth every effort. They strive to change themselves and the world for the better. They love fiercely, war fiercely, and exist with such passion you can never know as a spirit."
"You have forsaken us, Raava. You knew you were locking Vaatu into that prison too when you fused with Avatar Korra once more."
"You see a prison, but it is our freedom."
The eel stilled and cocked his head. "Avatar Korra. We wish to pose a question to you."
As Korra exhaled, the brightness of her eyes and the startling energy of her Avatar state faded. "Okay."
"After everything that you have suffered from your fellow man—humans that gave no explanation to you for their actions—how do you love humanity as you do? For all squabbling, violence, lies, and war, for all that humans are parasites on this earth, how can you justify their existence?"
Korra faced the eel spirit without flinching, and her answer was immediate. "Because I believe that people are inherently good. You've only noticed the bad, but I see good every day. We grow and change and become better by communication: expressing what we want, need, and what we think will make the world better by arguments, discussion, and different thoughts about right and wrong. That difference leads to compromise and growth. We find the best reality we can by that.
"Even if you pity us for being singular, you'll never know what it feels like to finally find that other person who is everything to you, who connects and shares and completes you. Love is what we share. Love for a mate, love for children, love for parents, family, strangers. We spend our entire lives searching for it and trying to keep it, and every moment of suffering is worth it when we find that."
The eel spirit cocked his head again. He said, "Hold on to that feeling, Korra. My name is Pike."
Korra put her hand up, and the eel spirit pressed his beak into it, and the crackle of energy picked up again. They both shone bright, or maybe they just felt bright, but after a moment, they separated. The eel spirit's movements seemed to slow, even that of his hair. Korra looked up at him and smiled. "Hello, Pike."
"Oh," he said quietly. A tear tracked down his face and dripped onto the coffee table. "What exquisite pain you feel." He studied her more intently. "And you feel it for us, too."
"I want to help you, Pike."
"Raava and Vaatu have been separated so long, destroyed once each, that they no longer know how manipulate our energies. We must go to the oldest spirits of all."
"What spirit?"
"The lion turtles."
Korra rocked back as if surprised by that answer. Pike tilted his head. He swept around Korra, brushing her shoulders with his hair. His focus moved to Asami. His eyes tracked over her as if he were taking her in. "You inspire greatness, Asami Sato. We could love you as Avatar Korra does. Her love for you makes us understand how you exist in such horrifying isolation. The knowledge of shared joy is sweeter for the isolation you survive. Be well, Asami Sato."
He faded away, and Naomi and Ming sank onto the couch. Naomi said, "What the hell just happened?"
Asami drew Korra into her arms. "Are you okay?"
Korra stared at the hand she'd pressed against Pike's beak. "That was a lot nicer than the last time spirits decided to share with me. Sorry for interrupting dinner."
"Something tells me I'll have to get used to spirits popping in."
Out of the blue, Korra said, "I've been seeing my dark shadow again."
"Korra." Asami caught her arm to gain her attention. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I think the shadow is a dark spirit this time. I don't know if that means it was one before, but I know I'm not crazy. I think someone's still experimenting on spirit vines."
It couldn't be Future Industries. It couldn't be. She didn't know what she'd do if it was. "You need to talk to Tenzin about this."
"I did, but I haven't talked to Zaheer yet. He may have some idea about where to find a lion turtle." She rubbed her face with her hands, a sure sign that she felt overwhelmed. "I'm sorry," she told Ming and Naomi.
"I get the feeling that was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us," Ming said with a gentle smile. Naomi crouched by the coffee table and touched the tear that had dripped onto her sword.
Their little date was over at that point. Naomi shook Korra's hand as she left. "Don't forget about the pommel. Asami can give you the number for my workshop if you find time to swing by. No pressure. I understand you're doing a lot more important things right now."
"If you find the time to record your accounts, I would greatly appreciate being able to read them," Ming said.
Korra smiled as they got in Asami's car. "They're really nice people. We should do that again."
"We will."
Work once again prevailed. She had three and a half weeks to finalize a proposal for one of the most ambitious clean energy projects ever undertaken. Despite her concerns, working with Baatar Jr. was a thousand times better than working with Varrick. He listened to her, stayed on track, and actually wrote out his math.
When he looked at her current designs, he took a breath and said, "Amazing."
Suyin peered at the scale in the corner of the paper. "Rather large."
"Scale is no issue, I assure you," Baatar retorted. He ghosted his hand over the sketches. "I can make something bigger if needed."
"I suppose we can just bend it," Suyin said as she found a seat by the window. She barely looked up from her book as she spoke.
"We need a thousand tons of concrete for the base perhaps," Baatar murmured. He smiled at Asami. "I like your scope and style. You should have rotating heads, of course. For when the wind changes."
"That's part of the plan."
"Metalbending would be easiest," Baatar said.
"Automated would be easier than asking one hundred metalbenders to ride through the pass and rotate each turbine by hand."
"And how will you coordinate that?"
Against her better sense, Asami said, "Varrick has a new technology."
"Yes, his automator," Suyin said. "I'll call him in to work with you."
"No, thank you," Asami said firmly. "I just want him to supply the automator and discuss with us how it can coordinate the movement of each turbine."
"You can't expect him to give up his knowledge without learning something in exchange."
"Yes, I can. It's called fair exchange: money for technology. But he's not getting his hands on my schematics before it goes into public record."
Suyin motioned for Asami to meet her in her office. Asami smarted from the order, but she followed. Suyin said, "What have I done this time to earn your disapproval?"
"This is my office, and Baatar Jr. is here on my request. Not you. You have no part in this meeting. Send one of your boys next time to chaperone him."
Suyin actually looked insulted. "I had no idea you didn't want my input. I have experience—"
"Your husband is the architect. Your son is the engineer. You're a bureaucrat."
"You don't have a degree either—"
"And my youth was spent in these offices, doing this, not traveling with a circus."
Suyin's jaw tightened. "I'm sure this all relates back to Korra."
"No, Suyin. It doesn't. You are no part of this project." She paused, remembering the slow caress Suyin had applied to Korra's skin. Maybe she was being paranoid, but an ugly part of her declared, "But make no mistake. Korra is my lover, and no one else's."
A slow flush dusted Suyin's cheeks. "I don't know what you thought you saw, but I care for Korra as a protege."
"Good."
"What is it that you so dislike about me? Are you still holding onto Zaofu or do you have this illogical fear I can take Korra away from you?"
"It's your lack of responsibility and ownership for anything but your corner of the world. If Opal hadn't been kidnapped, would you have aided us when we were fighting Zaheer?"
"He invaded Zaofu, endangered my people, and threatened my family. Of course I would have helped. Are you angry about politics? I thought you had more sense—"
"That's no excuse for what you've done."
"Why is it that women are our own worst enemies?"
Suyin's implication irritated Asami. "Your gender is not why I dislike you."
"No? How many of your peers have said the same about you and judged you ten times more harshly than your male peers? I read a quote from that Women in the Workforce group. They said you were advancing chauvinism or some such nonsense."
Asami knew the quote verbatim, a quote taken from a woman who used her gender as defense to pull as much profit as possible from her company to pad her paycheck. "They said I was propagating sexist stereotypes and further normalizing the pay gap between men and women workers because I took a pay cut to avoid laying employees off."
"While they would have hailed a man in that position as selfless and of strong moral conscience. In my case, what would you have said if I was a man trying to protect the city I built?"
"I would have said you betrayed Korra and put her in an impossible situation. I would have gone on to say you were so self-absorbed you never acknowledged the fact you nearly got her killed."
Suyin studied her and nodded. "So I see. I'm at least glad you've been able to put that aside for professional purposes."
"Let's leave it alone, Suyin. I can respect you for what you've built, and I respect your openness to new innovations. I don't have to like or agree with you on everything for us to have an open professional relationship."
Suyin nodded again. "And I can respect that."
She was loathed to interrupt her work for anyone, but Asami couldn't leave the next prominent meet-and-greet of Future Indutries to her associates. Zali was a member of Fire Nation royalty, and she expected to be ushered in with the deference befitting her noble status. The visit had been booked months in advance, but the timing had panned out poorly in light of Minister Raku's demand for a much faster timeline for the turbine proposal.
Asami waited in the lobby of Future Industries, and she picked out the woman even without the escort that surrounded her. Ikken, still clean-faced with a new bespoke suit, motioned around the lobby, and then motioned to Asami, his charming smile firmly in place. It probably didn't hurt his enthusiasm that Zali was a beautiful young woman.
Asami ignored the advice of her PR department and held out her hand. Zali shook it with a respectable grip. Her nails were short, and the back of one hand had a burn scar. Firebender, then. She was beautiful. Full lips, bright amber eyes, strong straight nose, and thick glossy black hair all came together into a woman that Asami couldn't help but feel a strong pull of attraction towards. Zali wore a sharp suit with polished black shoes that had a white strap that mimicked spats. Asami coveted her shoes immediately.
"Welcome, Zali."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Ms. Sato."
"Would you like a tour? We can slip out for lunch after that."
"Thank you, that would be most interesting." Zali's fingers lingered on her hand, and her gaze flickered over Asami.
Asami used to give tours for her father when she was a teenager. She'd never realized how gross that possibly was. She was a pretty girl and at an age that men took notice. It felt no less sleazy with a beautiful young female doing the look-over, but Asami guessed this woman was studying her as a rival, not a potential suitor.
Her prior experience made this part of her job second nature. She explained a bit of architecture with the building—the new tubular skyscraper design that meant they weren't limited in height, something most men appreciated—and discussed the floor setups, including the floors they rented out to other companies. She explained the concrete core was reinforced by a webbed shell of steel beams that made up the exterior.
Zali nodded but wasn't distracted. When they entered the elevator, Zali asked, "May I see your workshop? I received a call about an enticing clean energy proposal from Raku."
The proposal would be public, but it still burned Asami up that her wind turbine proposal had been tossed about before it was finalized. Zali must have judged her irritation. "No secrets were divulged. I asked Raku to keep an eye out for me for clean energy. We've put our own engineers to task, but no one in the Fire Nation wants to piss off the lightningbender union, which produces the most expensive electricity in the world. A man can afford rent in Capital City, but he can't afford to light the property. Meanwhile, our risk for fire is greater than any other place in the world, including Ba Sing Se's middle ring. We've always been the most innovative city in the world—argue your Republic City all you want—but we're stuck in the preindustrial era with our energy."
That was a lot to take in. "Several components of the proposal are under patent. We're still finalizing the rough draft too."
"I won't break your patent, Ms. Sato. I just want something I can take back home to give us energy. Something to entice my aunt to put money behind when the time comes. I'm here for your automobiles, but clean energy is a sweetener."
"I'll take that into consideration," Asami said. She gave Zali a cursory tour of a few of their infrastructure offices before they left to grab a quick lunch at Kwong's. Ikken and Lee joined them, both offering the flirtation that Zali seemed to enjoy.
After lunch, Zali asked to see Asami's workshop. She couldn't find a way to politely decline. When they arrived at the workshop by the docks, Wing and Wei had taken Suyin's place as Baatar's custodian.
"Mom's helping Grandma Toph beat up Korra," Wing informed them. Wei nodded with a scowl. "We never got to fight Korra when she was blindfolded. That'd be a fair fight."
"No, it wouldn't. But we'd win that way."
"That's what I meant. That must be so much fun!"
Asami waited for their dialogue to exhaust itself. She tried to remain neutral even as she remembered the severe bruising that had marked almost every inch of Korra's skin. "She's training with Toph again?"
"Yep," Wing said. "At least Grandma won't kick us around instead. She has a mean punch."
Baatar Jr. cleared his throat loudly. He held out his hand to Zali, taking it not for a shake but in a limp grip that seemed to take Zali off-guard. "Hello. I'm Baatar."
"Yes, Kuvira's pet," she said in clear disdain as she drew her hand away. "I hear your brains are beyond compare as long as you're not thinking with other parts of your anatomy."
Baatar Jr. turned red, especially when Wing and Wei didn't hide their snorts of laughter in the corner. "It wasn't my anatomy that led my decisions."
"Of course."
Asami raised her eyebrows at Baatar Jr., which made him tighten his jaw and turn back to his work. Zali walked across the open room to study the small-scale model of Asami's dynamic transmission. Two cones rolled against each other as the rotor changed speeds, but the output to the energy grid remained constant.
"So simple," she said quietly. "It's very clean. Succinct. You thought of this?"
"While studying my martini glasses."
"How cheeky." She studied the design for another moment before offering a mischievous smile. "Shall we go visit Avatar Korra? I've always wanted to meet Toph Beifong. The woman can tell if you're lying with her earth sense."
"I'd rather like that myself," Ikken said. Lee offered no escape, and Asami knew she would have subject herself to the trip. A part of her was curious though. Fifteen minutes later, she parked by the docks. Zali commented on the fact the ferry wasn't motorized. "Makes one dependent upon waterbenders."
"I don't fail like an old Cabbage Corp motor," the waterbender in question said. He wore a clean suit with spats, and he winked as he adjusted his arm band. "Keep your hands inside the boat, please."
He let them off at the ferry docks on Air Temple Island, tipping his hat politely to Asami. "They're on the northwest platform. Follow the sounds of earthquakes."
When they crested the steps, Asami saw it wasn't the northwest platform as much as a new one created by earthbending. The resonating crack and crunch and grind of earthbending was as easy to notice as the vibrations that shook the ground below them. A plume of dust had settled over much of the central platform, and shadowed figures moved in the distance.
"What are you doing with all that silly dancing around?" came a harsh shout. "Stay on your damn feet, you idiot!"
And there was Korra, against all odds laughing as she shouted back, "If I do, you'll hit me! Oof!"
"And stop talking!"
They approached to the same distance that Jinora and Bolin sat watching. Korra slid backward on the flattened earth twenty-five yards away. When she stood up, there was a streak of blood across one arm, and she was as covered in dust as the trees behind her. She was also blindfolded. Despite the coolness of the day, Korra wasn't wearing her boots—or any shoes at all for that matter.
"What are they doing?" Zali wanted to know.
Jinora was perched delicately on a raised block of rock. Bolin leaned around her and waved before he raised another set for Asami and her associates. Jinora answered. "Korra's learning to see with earthbending. She already has it down."
"How exciting," Zali murmured.
Asami gasped in horror as a boulder the size of Korra's chest flew at her head, but Korra flattened herself to the ground and immediately rolled away when another rock punched upward from below.
"Girls, get in here!" Toph roared. Even if Asami hadn't seen her before, Toph Beifong was unmistakable.
When Lin stepped into their sparring area, she was blindfolded too. Korra turned towards her, and Lin grinned. "You really are getting it."
Suyin, also blindfolded, stepped on the opposite side, and Korra turned, moving backward, shifting them into a sparring triangle.
"Shall we?" Lin asked Suyin. Su smiled. "We shall."
Things started to get confusing as the sparring area was torn up and reset again and again through the battle of flying rocks and moving earth. Asami was sure she was missing at least half of whatever was going on, but Korra was clearly holding her own. When Suyin advanced to attack her hand-to-hand, Korra tossed her out of the arena in a flawless shoulder throw. Asami smiled at the move; she'd taught Korra that one.
Lin and Korra traded a few more attacks, and that was when Asami noticed Korra was grinning like a fool through it all. Suyin launched herself back into the fight, and the rock she used to push herself off sent her tumbling into her sister. Lin and Suyin rolled into the grass and lay entangled, probably swearing at each other.
Korra, who had apparently caused the misstep, lifted one arm and pumped it. "Whoo!"
Toph gave a harsh laugh from her seat nearby and slapped her knee. "You're pretty good, Twinkle Toes. I'll give you that."
"Pay up, Toph!"
Toph scowled at her. "Now hold on a damn-blamed minute. I said you had to beat me , not my incompetent spawn."
"You said I had to win. I beat them after you tapped out. Now come on." Korra held out her arms and wiggled her fingers. She walked slowly towards Toph, who scowled. "You're a weird one, kid."
"Come 'ere!" Korra engulfed Toph Beifong in a hug, that for all her menacing steps, was gentle. Toph even wrapped an arm around her shoulder and patted it gently. She smiled. "I suppose you did earn it." When Korra stepped back, she pointed. "Now, my first thought when I heard Aang died was to hope his next life didn't like hugging so danged much. Guess that didn't work out."
"I'm probably just gonna keep coming back loving people more, Toph." Korra reached for her blindfold and yelped when Toph sent a pebble up to catch her hand. "Ow! That was right on the wrist bone!"
"Yeah, yeah. Keep that on. Some of us don't get to choose when we regain our sight." Toph pointed towards Asami, something Korra surely couldn't see. "Tell me who those people are."
Korra stepped off the slightly raised sparring platform and raised a hand up to help Toph down. Toph thumped her sideways with the platform she raised in the dirt and settled herself on earth without issue. She approached Asami and stopped, sniffing. "Who the hell is the one that smells like he's wearing a dead fire ferret? Lay off the cologne, you coot."
Ikken turned red. Zali leaned against his shoulder to say, "I rather like it."
Toph made a rude noise. "Come here, Korra. Tell me who these people are. Don't make me ask again."
"You didn't ask either t—ow!"
"Don't talk back. I will bend you over and spank you."
Korra grinned as she rubbed her elbow. She shifted her foot in the dirt. Her brow wrinkled behind the blindfold, and then her face opened as she grinned. Her teeth seemed whiter with all the dirt collected on her skin. "Asami! When did you get here?"
"A few minutes ago. How did you know it was me?"
"I know those boots. You got those a few weeks ago, right? Ow! What was that for?" Korra turned her head to Toph as she rubbed her hand. Toph said, "I told you to identify these people, not go all moony over a girl. Hurry up."
Korra cleared her throat. "I wasn't—nevermind. There's another woman in slight heeled shoes. Two men. The one with bigger feet is wearing regular shoes with laces. The smaller one has spats on. And…" Korra turned her head. "Jinora. Your feet are a little bigger than Ikki's. Bolin, stop tapping your foot. I saw you walk up before I put on my blindfold."
"What shoes am I wearing?"
Korra's face opened in a fierce grin. "You aren't wearing shoes."
Together, they recited, "Put a sock in it!" And together they burst into laughter.
Toph stared straight ahead as she heaved a sigh. "I swear, they just keep getting dumber."
"Hey, I didn't fall for your blind joke," Korra said.
Asami realized she was here on business and cut into the conversation before it went places she didn't care for it to go. "Korra, Ikken is wearing the spats, and Lee has regular shoes. Zali is visiting because she's taken an interest in partnering with Future Industries in the Fire Nation."
Korra stepped forward to shake hands with everyone. This close, she smelled like sweat, and Asami's brain turned that into sex language. Her muscles were sharply defined by her activity, and her hair was wild. Abruptly, urgently, and inappropriately, Asami wanted her.
Zali's gaze lingered even longer on Korra's body. She offered a smile even though Korra was blindfolded. "How lovely to meet you, Avatar Korra."
"Nice to meet you too," Korra responded.
"Might I beg a few hours one afternoon while I'm here?"
"Sure. Just let me know when and where."
"May I borrow your estate, Asami?"
Jealousy bubbled up, which made Asami feel stupid. She nodded in response.
"I'll send you a message, Avatar. I look forward to our meeting."
Toph gave a harsh laugh. "Fucking hogmonkeys. Why don't you all just get it over with and fuck each other?! I don't have all day! Teach you earth sense, and this is how you repay me?" Toph stomped off.
Korra peeled off her blindfold, showing clean skin beneath it, and she grinned as she glanced at Toph's retreating form. "That was Toph. Probably better you didn't shake hands with her. She can crush a grown man's skull with those things."
"Disturbing," Asami told her. She managed to beg a few moments of privacy as Jinora and Bolin took Ikken, Lee, and Zali on a tour of Air Temple Island. "You seem less bruised."
"I told you. I got better. Are you going to stay over here tonight still?"
The commute would be a pain unless she worked the rest of her day at the workshop. Asami decided that was what she'd do, especially because it gave her the ability to say, "Yes."
She found Korra in Air Temple Island's small library that night. Korra sat with Mako and Bolin, pouring over a world map. Opal was curled up asleep in the corner, and June had her own studies on another table.
"What is it?" Asami asked.
"Trying to figure out where the hell a lion turtle would be." Korra pointed at the Fire Nation. "Aang's lion turtle was there. Except it came to him. Took him there overnight." She ran her finger to the tip of the peninsula of the United Republic.
"This feels like hunting a beardless cat," Mako muttered. "There haven't been any sightings other than Avatar Aang's story. But if that's true, they can't be in the central oceans, not with the traffic they get now." Mako opened his hand, covering the Fire Nation, both poles, and the Earth Confederation.
"So I have to search for a small possibly moving island in the West Ocean? Why can't anything be simple?! 'Hey, Avatar, you need to talk to a lion turtle, so here's his address. Better yet, he's scheduled a meeting with your secretary.'" Korra collapsed backward and groaned.
"You have a secretary?" Mako was clearly shocked.
"I know! That's what I said."
"Look on the bright side, Korra, at least Eska won't be chasing you this time." Bolin gave an exaggerated shriek when Korra put her boot on his face and pushed. Mako rolled his eyes and nodded at Asami. "Take her away, please. She's becoming delusional."
Korra blew a raspberry and she got to her feet to follow Asami to her bedroom. Bed called, and sleep came quickly.
Sometime in the night, Asami awoke when Korra sat up from under her arm. She touched Korra's back, disoriented for a moment before she realized they were on Air Temple Island.
"Bad dream?"
Korra didn't respond. She stood up, walked to the window, and stepped out of it. Asami hastened to follow, fearful as she reached out. "Korra!"
Korra kept walking, gently pulling her arm from Asami's grip. Asami followed her across the sparring ring, down the steps, and finally to the beach. Korra didn't change her steady pace. She walked into the frigid water and began to swim.
Asami looked beyond Korra and stared at the forested island that sat a few hundred yards off the beach. Her fear and confusion drained away. She turned around, walked back up to Korra's room, stepped into the window, and got back in bed. When she slept, she didn't dream, and when she woke that morning, she was the only person unconcerned about Korra's disappearance.
