"Come on Korra you can do it!" Asami cheered from her position under the tree near the training grounds. She'd been coming to watch and cheer on Korra for a few days now. Something Korra had suggested when she'd asked how her airbending was going. And although it had just been a spur of the moment thing seeing Korra doing her best to avoid getting hit by the multiple spinners she'd come to enjoy watching Korra try her hardest. They'd developed a bit of a routine as of late. After her training the girls would usually hang out and talk either in their room or simply under one of the trees.
As their training turned from active to meditation, she turned her attention to the slowly upcoming figure.
"Hello Mako."
"Hey Asami." He'd been just out of frame day and from what she saw it was clear he wanted to talk.
"So, do you think we could talk somewhere private?"
"Sure." They walked away from the training grounds and near the empty stable.
She leaned against a beam as he started fumbling on his words. "Asami I'm sorry, no I'm really sorry. I know I haven't been there for you. I just didn't know to do. At first, I thought you needed space, then you and Korra started fighting and I didn't want to make it worse. So, I've been thinking and then rethinking then thinking about if what I was thinking was right then…"
"Mako I get it. You want to break up but don't want to feel like you're abandoning me." She'd felt like this would be coming sooner or later. She'd seen the writing on the wall with his unfocused looks and quick and nervous responses the last couple days.
He stood there for a moment trying to find the words but after a moment just slowly nodded and looked away.
"Yeah… Its just a boyfriend should be there for the good and bad, not just the good. And I"
She moved forward and clamped her hand over his mouth. "Look let's not go down that road because I'd rather not make it any more awkward. Let's just put this behind us and walk out of here as friends alright?" She moved her hand away allowing him to speak.
"Yeah friends."
They went their separate ways and she decided to head inside and grab a quick bite. She'd just sat down when Pema came into he room.
"Oh, hello Asami, do you mind if I join you?"
"Not at all."
Asami had come to grow found of Pema. She was there to listen when Asami needed to vent.
"So Asami tell me how are you and Korra doing now that you're fighting days are over?"
"We're doing great. It's been nice to hang out with her whenever we get the chance."
Pema smiled remembering how she'd watched the girls sneak out of their room the other night to hang out on the beach.
"And tell me how are you and Mako?"
"We actually just broke up."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
"No, it's fine, we both realized that it was for the best." Surprisingly the more Asami thought about it the more she realized she liked him more as a friend the boyfriend. But there was still the part of her that missed having someone that saw her that way.
"Well I hope you two can still be friends."
"Of course. But honestly that's not the main thing on my mind right now."
"And what is Asami, you know I'm here if you want to talk."
Feeling the calm motherly nature of Pema, she pulled out the newspaper from her jacket and showed it to Pema. She took one look at the headlines and huffed.
Sato heiress uses Avatar as shield. Has the Avatar already bent to Amon?
Under the headline was a picture from the bank where Korra had stood up the jerk with her standing behind her. For the first time since Asami met her Pema looked visibly angry. And not the usual kids being frantic driving her nuts angry. This was something else.
"Those vulturerats! Always lying just to sell papers!"
"Pema its nothing really. It's not the first time the papers have printed something false or exaggerated just to get a story." But even after saying this she felt her stomach form a knot.
It's one thing to go after me but Korra should be left out of it!
"I know that dear, but it still makes me upset. Heavens know what implications this will have on the rest of the city. Half of them are afraid and the other are angry. Makes me glad I live on an island with access to flying bison's."
"Well I'm sure tomorrow they'll be printing something so outrages no one will believe it."
Asami did her best to laugh the matter away as she excused herself and went to her room before pulling out her suitcase pausing as her hand undid the lock. On the surface her suitcase held nothing more then clothes and books as well as a couple diagrams she'd stolen that showed how her father had built the equalists machines. She'd given the police the duplicates, but she'd wanted to go over these herself to find a weakness. But that wasn't all, after double checking to make sure she was alone she pulled the secret panel in her suitcase causing the equalist glove to fall out. It had been a spur of the moment thing to hide this in her jacket when the things turned chaotic. She barely remembered hiding it in her suitcase until she got to the island.
"Should have just thrown this away." But as she slid her hand into it, she couldn't help but marvel at how it worked. The sleek design, the electric current even the feel of the leather inspired her.
Damn its dad! Even your worst creations inspire me. After a moment of testing to see it still worked, she took it off and grabbed some tools setting in on a nearby desk.
"I'm only doing this so I can turn this from something he made to something I made."
That was what she told herself. But the truth was she just wanted to work on this. There was nothing she loved more then tinkering and as she worked rewiring it and adding or taking away parts, she found she was smiling and enjoying it.
In fact, she was so lost in her work she failed to notice the door opening and Korra walking in.
"That's it just a little more and…" one last spark and her new glove was finished. She'd improved the eclectic parts and changed the mental fingers from the bulky tips to a more clawed design. As she held her new device, she coudnlt' help but let out a little cheer leaning back and seeing a amused Korra standing behind her.
"So, what's with he glove?"
Asami freaked out and tried to hide it behind her back. "What glove theirs no glove!"
"Asami I've been here watching you work on it for twenty minutes now."
Knowing she was caught she pulled it out letting Korra see it. There were many things she thought Korra would say like. "Why do you have this?" or "what are you planning to do now!?"
Instead after eying it for a couple minutes she gave it back and said. "So, I take it you'll be helping me fight equalists now?"
"What? You want me to help you fight?"
"Well yeah I do. When I fought them before they got the upper hand with those gloves and wire attacks but with you and me working together, we can beat them."
She didn't know if it was just a spur of the moment or if she was caught it in Korra's excitement, but she slipped the glove on flexing her fingers and letting the electric current flow through it lighting up the room with it's electric charge.
"Well it's about time something put these things to good use."
Hearing a knock at the door Asami quickly pulled the glove off and hid it under the bed as the door opened and Tenzin stuck his head in. "Sorry to tell you this Korra but councilmen Tarlok is here and he's refusing to leave until he speaks with you."
From his tone the girls knew he was just as displeased as they were. Korra had received a few letters from him since coming here but Tenzin has warned her that he was just trying to use her. And for the first time Korra had listened and simply burned the letters not bothering to read them.
Asami took Korra's hand gently squeezing it. "Don't worry Korra I've been dealing with people like him my entire life. If you want, I'll go with him make sure he doesn't try something."
"Thanks, Aasmi."
When they followed Tenzin the found Tarlok being swarmed by the kids being asked random and slightly irritating questions which made Asami chuckle.
Good he's already agitated. The more unbalanced he is the easier it will be to trip him up. Asami had meet Tarlok a few times before and every time he reminded her of chameleon snake. Always knowing what to say to get his way but still being smart enough to slither away when before he actually lost.
As they got closer, he smiled a flashy grin and extend his hands. "Ah Avatar Korra finally we get a chance to meet face to face." His eyes shifted to Asami his smile straining. "And the lovely Asami Sato. So sorry to hear that your father has taken leave of his senses."
If his jab hurt, she didn't show it and simply shook his hand. "Yes, well let's hope your task force can stop him. After all they've had so much success as of late."
He pulled back his hand nearly balling into a fist before turning back to Korra. "Yes, my task force, you see that's exactly the reason I've come all the way here. You see I've come to realize that I need capable and courageous people working for me to ensure the safety of our beloved city. And who better to take on such a dangerous and noble task then the avatar herself."
Tenzin hearing this shot forward. "Are you insane! Yes, Korra is skilled but she has neither the experience or preparation to deal with the equalists yet. Right now, she should be focused on mastering airbending."
Tarlok simply smiled and went on with his speech. "Forgive me if I'm wrong but didn't your father deal with an entire nation bent for war while trying to master three other elements? All Korra has to do is master one while helping me deal with one terrorist."
"That's beside the point!"
"Really because all I can see is a teacher not letting their student live up to their potential. But I understand if you think she's not up to it. After all it is the airbender way to fly away from trouble."
Tenzin fumed and Korra was about to step forward and do something reckless hens Asami held her back and winked. Korra nodded as Asami put years of experience to work.
"Listen Councilmen Tarlok we all agree that the equalist threat needs to be dealt with, but we've seen no evidence that your men can handle them with your support yet alone by themselves. And throwing an unprepared Avatar into the mix could only wind up painting a bigger target on her. Now if your men could prove that their able to handle equalist on their own then Korra will lend a hand, that is if she chooses to help. Until then please leave her to her training."
His eyes narrowed at Asami, but she stared him down before he raised his hand in surrender before walking past saying. "Very well I'll leave the matter alone for now but I'm sure she'll come to see reason soon."