Chapter 1

Two weeks and one day.

"Ms. Sato? Did you hear my question?"

Asami refocused her gaze from her office window back to her site manager. "Hmm? I'm sorry, I got lost in a train of thought."

"I asked if two weeks was ok as a timeframe."

"Yes. Two weeks is perfect. Thank you. Keep me posted on any further developments."

"Yes, ma'am."

The site manager bowed respectfully and let himself out of her office, leaving Asami alone with her thoughts. She turned back to the window and continued to stare aimlessly.

It's been two weeks and one day since Korra left.

Two weeks and one day since she had last seen her. Two weeks and one day since she had last heard her voice. Two weeks and one day since she had last…

Asami squeezed her eyes shut, trying to keep the thought at bay. Don't do this to yourself.

...Two weeks and one day since she had last touched her.

Damn.

Asami was not a healer. But she had sustained enough injuries in her life and fixed enough broken machines to know that Korra would need far more than two weeks to heal completely. She couldn't even walk when she boarded that boat.

But it didn't stop a small voice in the back of her mind from whispering words of hope. Korra was strong. Maybe strong enough to make a miraculously quick comeback. And today would have been the day that she would maybe have flown in on her glider, flicked it close with a flourish and greeted Asami with a bright "I'm back and ready to kick some butt" smile.

She hadn't returned, however. And no one had heard from her. The more logical part of Asami was not surprised by this outcome. But to have the cold logic crush that little voice of hope… it did sting a bit.

Unwilling to give into melancholy, Asami reached over to the stack of mail that had been left on her desk and began sorting through the pile. She couldn't help but laugh when she saw the latest issue of the Republic City Standard. She was featured as the cover page article. Fate, it would seem, had a cruel sense of humor.

Republic City's most eligible bachelorette! The hottest face in town is Asami Sato, the new brains behind Future Industries.

Asami flipped to the main article and saw that they had given her a two page, full color spread with a collage of pictures ranging from her leading a board meeting to posing by one of her cars wearing a pair of greasy coveralls. The article was fluffy but flattering, mostly focusing on her hobbies like race car driving rather than any important changes she had made to the company to save it from utter financial ruin.

You know. Small details.

The article concluded with a snappy line about how gentlemen should get in line now because she probably wouldn't be on the market for long.

Ugh.

She remembered the day the magazine had come to do the photoshoot. It had only been a few months ago but it may as well have been a lifetime.

Before Zaheer had taken Korra.

She remembered the feeling that she had had when posing in her coveralls by the car. The deepening friendship blossoming between her and Korra had made her giddy with excitement about her future. Standing by the car she had felt a newfound sense of confidence. She wasn't even sure if Korra returned the feelings but the thought that maybe she just might was magical. It made every moment she spent with her friend feel ripe with possibility.

All that was taken away in an instant.

Asami wasn't quite sure when the depth and intensity of her feelings had been realized. But there hadn't been a shadow of doubt in her mind that it was mere friendship that had threatened to rip her soul in half when she saw Korra laying in her father's arms, apparently dead. Rage and pain coursed through her body so acutely that she had been unable to move, unable to cry… unable to do anything by stare in shock as her brain numbly tried to process the scene.

He killed her. He killed her and I couldn't do anything but stand and watch. He killed her and she died not knowing how much I love her. How much I would have given to share a life with her.

Asami set down the magazine, closed her eyes and gently rubbed her aching temples against the raw emotions that were once again threatening to overwhelm her. Here she was, Republic City's most eligible bachelorette, with the world at her fingertips and, apparently, a line of suitors outside her door. And all she wanted was to be able to once again hold the hand of a woman whom she wasn't even sure saw her as anything but a platonic friend.

Damn.