Wow, is this really the fiftieth chapter of this story?
"Oh, come on, we haven't been somewhere together since the trip to the spirit world," Asami said, looking away from the road for a moment, glancing at Korra next to her.
"We went to Ba Sing Se,"
"To help Bolin. He and I were busy most of that trip anyway, we barely got to spend any time together,"
"We still went somewhere together,"
"But we're going back home for the Glacier Spirit Festival just now,"
"I know that, but you'll probably end up busy helping your parents with something. And the press with be there. Don't you want to go somewhere we can just get away?"
"Well…" Korra tilted her head back in thought.
"If you have to think about then that's answer enough,"
"No, it's not that I don't want to spend time with you, but do we really need to leave the city to do that?"
"We don't have to, but wouldn't it be nice? I was thinking I take a few days off,"
"Where would we go? Spirit world?"
"Actually I was thinking about going out to the beach house,"
"Beach house? You have a beach house? What am I asking? Of course, you have a beach house," Korra shook her head.
"Have I never mentioned it before?"
"I think I'd remember you mentioning that,"
"So?"
"So…"
"Do you think it's a good idea?"
"…. I don't know. Can we really spare the time for a trip?"
"Who are you? And what have you done with Korra?"
"What?"
"I'm supposed to be the workaholic. You're always trying to get me to skip work,"
"Not always,"
"Korra,"
"Asami,"
"What's really going on?"
"Nothing. I'm just wondering if now really is the best time to be going on a trip,"
"You're the avatar and I'm a CEO, if we look for the best time we'll never find it,"
Korra was quiet for a moment and Asami said with a sigh, "We can talk later. We're almost there,"
Sitting forward in her seat, Korra watched as they got closer to a large fenced-off plot of land. They were on the edge of the city in the foothills of the mountains. The ground had a gentle slope to it, getting flater to the top before sweeping upwards on the mountain range behind the area blocked off for construction. Asami parked along a line of vehicles that were already there, outside the fenced off area.
"So this is where it's going to be?"
"Yep,"
"It's nice,"
"I think so,"
"Okay, so explain one more time why this is thing you're doing,"
Asami gave a little chuckle, "It's ceremonial,"
"To dig up a bit of dirt?"
"The groundbreaking ceremony, yes," Asami took Korra's hand as she walked around to her. There were reporters in the area and some turned towards them, snapping photos. Korra ground her teeth. Asami ran her thumb across the back of her hand in a calming gesture.
"Come on, let's see if we can't find the boys,"
They did find them, standing in a tent with a few Future Industries employees. Bolin was walking back and forth, looking like he was muttering to himself. Mako stood by, with Pabu on his shoulder, watching him pace. There was a podium set up already, and next, to it, a section of earth had been roped off, indicating the ground that had been chosen to the very special first breaking of ground. There was also a sign that was covered by a cloth.
"Is Bolin okay?" Korra asked as they walked up.
"Oh yeah, he's going over his speech for the press,"
"Asami!" Bolin exclaimed when he saw her, "Oh great! I was hoping you'd look over my speech one more time. Make sure it's really perfect,"
"Bolin we've been over this speech three times already. It's prefect as is, and you're going to be fine. Just go up there and speak from the heart. Say to them what you said to Korra and me when you told us why you want to do this,"
Bolin grinned, "You really think it's perfect?"
Asami chuckled, "Yes, I really do,"
"Ms Sato, Bolin, sir, we're ready to go whenever you are,"
Asami nodded at the worker and looked at Bolin. He grinned and gestured for her to take to lead.
"After you,"
With a smile, Asami stepped up to the podium, "Good Morning. I'd like to thank you all for being here today. I'm extremely excited to be here this morning to announce this new endeavor Future Industries gets to be a part of. Even more than Future Industries being part of this, I'm so excited that my best friend asked me to be a part of this," She turned back to look at Bolin for a moment, she held out her hand and he stepped forward with a huge grin on his face, "When Bolin told me he wanted help with opening an orphanage, well there was no way I could say no. I could tell you more about it, but who better to tell you than the man made this all possible,"
She stepped to the side, letting Bolin take the center. The Future Industries workers standing behind them, along with Korra and Mako applauded him as he stepped up to the podium. He gave a little laugh and waved at the camera's flashing at him.
"Asami was lying when she said I was the one who made all this possible. This was my idea, yeah, but that's all it would be without her," He grinned at her, "And I don't think I'll ever be able to thank her enough. This project is close to me for a lot of reasons. I'm sure it's no secret that my brother and I were orphaned at a young age. We ended up living on the streets, and our lives could have been very different if not for my brother's tendinous drive to give me the best and get us off the streets. And also some really lucky chances. I'm grateful every day that we were able to beat the odds and are now at a place where we have a roof over our heads,
"A very nice roof I might add," He said, earning a few chuckles from those around him. "And that's what I want this orphanage to be, a roof for those kids who have an unlucky start in life. A home, a place where they can live, and not have to worry about their next meal or where they are going to sleep that night. No kid should have to worry about that. This orphanage I hope, will become a place a new beacon of hope for those underprivileged in Republic City. A beacon, not unlike the spirit portal that now graces our fine city," He gestured to the spirit portal shimmering in the distance behind them, "Which is why I've decided to name it honor of this new Republic City that co-exists with the spirits," He gestured towards the covered sign and one of the workers tugged the cloth off. It revealed the text, "Site for The Little Spirits Home for Children," There was a burst of applause again at the reveal of the name. Although the lower half of the sign was still covered by a section of cloth that had been tied in place. "I was really leaning towards the Pabu Home for Kids, but Mako vetoed that name very quickly for some reason," He said, making the audience of reporters and officials laugh again.
Asami frowned slightly when she saw the cloth secured at the lower half of the sign and pulled the worker closest to her, "Why is part of the sign still covered?"
"That was on request of Bolin,"
"Bolin?"
Mako and Korra both looked at Asami and her perplexed expression, then back to Bolin both frowning slightly themselves. He was still talking, and the speech they'd all head him practice before ended at the reveal of the name.
"He didn't talk about the education centre," Mako said, "Maybe he forgot and is looping back?"
Bolin seemed to being doing just as he continued his speech, "While I was finalizing all the plans for this place, more and more the thought occurred to me, what about those kids who have homes and families but still don't have access other kids have, where they don't go to school because supplies are too costly, or simply need extra help they can't get at school. I know I was very lucky, and I know all those kids out there probably won't get all the lucky breaks I did, so I wanted to create more opportunities for them. Which is why the Little Spirits grounds will be home to a state of the art education centre that will not only serve the orphans at the home but any child in the city," This earned the largest round of applause yet. Bolin waited for it die down a little before continuing, "And since I believe that all work and no play is no way to live at all, there will also by a Reactional centre aimed at the development of skilled outside academics, like sports and trade skills, also opened to any kid who so cares to utilize it" Bolin couldn't help the smile that grew on his face, "And about those lucky breaks I mentioned, well, two of them happen to be here now, standing right behind me," He turned gesturing at Asami and Korra, leaving them both blinking in surprise.
"I know I wouldn't be where I am right now if I hadn't met these two ladies. I'm privileged to call them my best friends, but I could also call them my saviors. And while this in no way makes up for all the things they've done for me in life, as a show of thanks to them I'll be naming the Education and Reactional Center in their honor,"
At this moment two of the workers removed the cloth from the sign to reveal words, "The Asami Sato Educational Centre' and 'The Avatar Korra Reactional Centre'.
"What?" Korra exclaimed while Asami blinked in surprise. Mako's grin grew and he clapped the loudest as there was a fresh wave of camera flashes went off.
"Now, what do you say we get this dig underway so construction can start?" Bolin hopped off the podium taking the shovel being held by one of the workers. He pushed it a few inches into the ground, pausing for a moment for the pictures, before up turning the dirt. He then stepped aside for Asami, who had her own shovel, just handed to her by one of the workers. She repeated Bolin's actions.
"Let's get one with both of you," One reporter called out.
They complied with smiles, posing together with the shovels. Then Bolin looked back saying, "Hey, get in here," to Korra and Mako.
They both shook their heads.
"This is your moment Bo," Korra said.
"You and Asami are the ones who deserve all the praise for this,"
Bolin rolled his eyes. Sticking his shovel into the ground for a moment he walked back to them and grabbed their hands forcing them forward. They tried to stutter excuses, but they all fell on deaf ears. When he had them up next to Asami he picked up his shovel, pressing it into Korra's hands. Asami offered hers to Mako. They still shook their heads.
"Do you want the press to only have pictures of you just standing there?" Bolin asked with a small smirk.
"Fine, if you're insisting we'll do it together," Mako said placing one hand on Asami's shovel, but not taking it from her. Bolin looked like he was thinking hard upon the idea, then nodded.
"Together then," He said, holding the handle of his shovel with Korra.
After a few more pictures the reporters started to call questions from Asami and Bolin. She just deferred them all to him.
"Did you know he was going to do that?" Korra asked her when she joined her and Mako on the sidelines.
"Naming the centres after us? Not a clue," She said with a laugh, and looking questioningly at Mako.
He just shook his head, "It was a surprise to me too, but I think it's a great idea,"
Korra shook her head in disbelief.
A few minutes later Bolin joined them, throwing his arm around Mako and Asami's shoulders, laughing.
"I can't believe this actually happening," He said.
"I'm proud of you little bro," Mako said, hugging him.
"You should have told us you were going to name the education and recreation centres after us," Korra said, punching his shoulder lightly.
He laughed, "But then you might have tried to talk me out of it,"
"You're right about that. This was all you if it should be named after anyone it should be you," Asami said.
He shook his head, "I really meant it when I said I wouldn't be here without you,"
"No, you would have still found a way," Korra said with a huge grin.
"Korra's right. You are one of the most driven persons I know," Mako said, grinning fondly at his little brother, "You would have made this a reality even if we never met Korra and Asami,"
"That may be true, but I'm glad this is the way it came to be. And bro, don't think I forgot about you. I couldn't decide what I wanted to name after you in time to put it on the sign, but the kitchen and mess hall will be named after you. Cause of all the amazing meals you made for me growing up,"
Asami and Korra both started laughing.
"Bo, you really didn't have to do that,"
"I really did. And we need to celebrate,"
"While I would love too, I only asked Beifong for the morning off,"
"And I should be getting back to the office," Asami said.
Bolin pouted.
"Come on, don't make that face,"
"How about we go celebrate later? I'll call and make reservations for dinner somewhere," Asami said.
This made Bolin perk up, "That sounds reasonable,"
"And hey, I can keep you company for the day," Korra said.
Bolin grinned more, "And that sounds excellent,"
Nardragon~ until the next page.
