The Sato mansion racetrack brought about looky-loos Bolin, Mako, and Tu. They had been working out and took a break to sit alongside Korra in the bleachers and watch Asami and Chai Son race.

Korra kept her eyes on the track, watching Asami and Chai Son go head to head lap after lap, occasionally stopping in the pit for their team to switch out wheels and do touch ups. It was all in preparation for the big race in Ba Sing Se coming up in a few short weeks in which Chai Son would be representing Future Industries.

Asami wouldn't be racing in the main event, but she was damned if she wasn't going to get her kicks ahead of time.

The cars were designed for maximum speed and aesthetics, so not only were they fast, they were also pretty in apple red. Testing the cars out herself, Asami could gauge whether the alignment felt off or if it wasn't getting the most out of its engine. That's when it'd be back to the dyno room, where Korra would occasionally pop in and ogle her, all sweaty and covered in engine grease. Plus, it was fun to show that she could hang with the pros, and she loved showing off for her girlfriend.

Korra, meanwhile, was on the edge of her seat.

"Go baby, go! Kick that blubber butt's butt!"

"You know she can't hear you, right?" Mako said. He was sitting on the other side of Bolin, who sat next to Korra.

"Oh Mako, it's the thought that counts! She's projecting good juju!" Bolin slapped his brother's back.

"We all know Mako is a grumpy old man inside. But we still love you!" Korra stuck her tongue out at her old flame, teasingly.

"Must be weird hearing your ex say she loves you, huh?" Tu nudged Mako's back with his knee.

"Tu!" Mako said. "Quit it!"

He almost forgot his cousin was there. Tu had been sitting quietly behind them in the bleachers watching the show.

"Speaking of love… Bo, what's going on with you and that airbending dame? You know, the one from the place not on the map?" Tu said.

"Sanyu? I don't know what you're talking about," Bolin said.

Korra chimed in: "Tu has a point. I wondered the same thing last time I went to Air Temple Island to train with Tenzin."

"What? We're just pals. She's just… my pal, who's a girl, and silly, and beautiful, and pretty to smell. That's all." Bolin's eyes glazed over but he caught himself. "Besides, I'm still getting over Opal."

"Bro, it's been almost a year. It's time you moved on," Mako said, placing a hand on Bolin's shoulder.

"I know, I know. I just… don't know. I guess I'm realizing slowly that we were never really right for each other. She was always sort of a mystery to me, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't connect with what she wanted."

"There you go, Bro."

Korra agreed. She didn't mention Kuvira in the love equation, but at the very least, Opal did the right thing by ending it… even if no one knew where Kuvira was or if they would ever see her again.

Bolin continued, "I mean, I guess I just wanted to have a family and be a dad. I was in love with the idea of love – but it just wasn't right." He slumped down.

A small figure off in distance in the form of Asami's assistant, Daisuke, made her way to the track. She was carrying a clipboard and walked with purpose. Korra noticed Mako's face light up at the sight of her, his eyes following her.

"What about you, Mako? Any love prospects?" Korra said.

Mako blushed.

"Me? Uh, no. I guess I just haven't found the right one yet."

"How can you date anyone after Asami and Korra?" Tu said.

"Tu!"

Despite his annoyance, Mako knew Tu was right for the most part. But there was something about Daisuke that piqued his interest. She was a few years older, but he liked that. And he especially liked how she more or less ignored him whenever he came around. Either way, it was just a crush. And he wasn't looking for any relationships. One-night stands maybe, but anything more terrified him at this point in his life. Besides, he was a workaholic – obsessed with the beat.

One thing that didn't sit well with him to this day was the pain of having to give up the bootlegger case he was hot to. His gut told him there was something more to it, and a clue was on the page six spread of Asami, Chai Son, and Varrick in the Republic City Herald Tribune from a year ago. He kept the paper in a file in his studio and his thoughts occasionally returned to the events of that night and how there was no name attached to the deed of the building that held the speakeasy.

The key in a lot of cases was to follow the money. But what happens when a paper trail abruptly disappears?

The sounds of the cars speeding along the track drowned out his thoughts, and everybody glued their eyes to the track for the last lap.

Asami was inches behind Chai Son with a short way to go. Finally, she cut a sharp turn that took Chai Son by surprise, and that extra second for him to react gave her the edge. The black and white checkered flag billowed under the autumn sun as Asami sped past it, less than half a car length in front of Chai Son for the win.

Korra and the boys all jumped up and hooted and hollered, causing Daisuke to look up from the ground.

Tu took off and the rest of Team Avatar descended the bleachers to meet up with Asami, who had removed her helmet and flipped her hair triumphantly.

Korra ran up and swept her girlfriend off her feet, spinning her around and kissing her in an overt display of affection in front of Chai Son.

Chai Son lumbered out of his car and took his cane to hobble toward the group. Mako took mental note of his gait as well as a shiny ring on his pinky, which rested atop the cane. The ring had some sort of peculiar symbol on it.

"A bit sore after a good race, but well worth it," Chai Son said. "And great job, Asami. Defeated by a worthy opponent. If I were wearing a hat, I'd take it off."

"I thank you," Asami gloated, adding, "But you're going to win next month. That's a fact."

"Yes, ma'am. I wouldn't have it any other way."

This banter made Korra want to puke, but she had zero words to say to Chai Son. That is, unless he provoked her. And even then, she needed to be on her best behavior after what happened between them months ago, which almost broke up Asami and Korra for a second time.

Daisuke had pulled Asami to the side to talk urgent business, and Korra stood there silently sizing up Chai Son. He didn't seem the least bit affected by her demeanor, but Bolin tried to break up tension.

"Hey, that's a cool cane!" Bolin said, thinking of something friendly to say to Chai Son.

"Thanks, it's hand crafted by the finest metalbenders in the Earth Kingdom."

"Pfft, doubt that," Korra said, rolling her eyes.

"What was that?" Chai Son replied.

"I mean, it's nice and all, but it's not made by the finest metalbenders. I know the finest metalbenders…" she turned her head and mumbled, "knew anyway."

"Oh, you mean Kuvira, the dictator? The one you were palling around with last year before she escaped?"
Korra stepped toward him with her fists curled. "Listen pal, I –"

Mako stopped her and shook his head, offering silent moral support for his friend.

"Nice ring too," he added.

"This? It's… a token," Chai Son said.

Asami and Daisuke finished their discussion and joined the group.

"Daisuke just told me I still have a long day of boring conversations with people with money, so I'm going to head out," Asami said.

"What time will you be home tonight?" Korra said.

She had officially moved out of Air Temple Island and was living in Asami's country estate for about a year now.

"I don't know, sweetie… probably late."

Korra knew this likely meant Asami would be too tired to 'make it up to her tonight' like she promised. It seemed she was so busy lately, Korra had to find creative ways to make time for them, hence visiting her office unannounced earlier that day for lunch.

Asami could read Korra's facial expressions well. It's not like she wanted to be this busy, especially when busy was the boring side of business. She caressed Korra's arm, reassuringly.

"Hi Daisuke," Mako blurted out. He rubbed the back of his neck, realizing his greeting was awkwardly timed.

Daisuke wore glasses atop a charmingly stern expression on her face, her lithe figure silhouetted in business casual attire.

"Hi Mako. Ms. Sato, we should probably get going," she said, ushering her boss to her next destination.

"That's my cue," Asami said. She leaned in to kiss her Avatar and departed.

"And that's mine," Chai Son said, abruptly following suit.

This left Korra, Bolin, and Mako on the track.

"I swear, that's guy's a phony," Korra said. "I don't know what it is, but something's off about him. For one, he's after my girl."

"Well, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Even if they hooked up in the past. She only has eyes for you," Bolin said.

"Yea," Mako confirmed. "At least you're not perpetually single and only interested in women who don't care to give you the time of day."

Korra and Bolin bumped elbows against Mako to acknowledge his swing and a miss with Daisuke.

"Here's something that'll make you feel better," Bolin said. "I was so horny one night recently, I called Ginger – you know, the mover star – to see if she wanted to play, and she said I wasn't her type. Then she said she was in some sort of sewing circle. And so I said 'ooh' can I join? And she said no to that too."

"What's this got to do with anything?" Mako said.

"She didn't want to have sex; she didn't want me to sew with her. Some girls just aren't it. And there's nothing you can do about it."

"Bolin, you do know what a sewing circle is, right?" Korra said.

"Sure! It's a circle of people knitting and making clothes and stuff. That sounds like fun!"

Korrasami knew all about sewing circles, but the Avatar left it at that.

"They sure are."

Author's Note

*A sewing circle here refers to women in the Golden Age of Hollywood thru the '50s or so who were lesbian, bi, or bi-curious and had secret relations with one another. Google it if it behooves you. It's fascinating.