Chapter 13 - After Hours

Asami's mentioned her office numerous of times. Imaging her office never crossed Korra's mind. It's just an office that Asami spends half of her day at, right? What's there to really imagine?

"I see why you're blind now."

Maybe she could've commented on the floor to ceiling windows that capture a breathtaking view of Republic City's skyline set in the beginning of the sunset's glow. Maybe she could've inquired about the many awards and headlines she has on another wall. Maybe she could've teased her about the little wall garden she has close to the windows soaking in the last rays of winter warmth for the day.

No, her first impression concerns what lies on her desk.

"That's what you've chosen as your opening statement?" Asami raises a pseudo disapproving eyebrow and crosses her arms.

"We're not in court! I have all night to make my statements."

"You sure about that?" she teases, kissing her cheek and leading her further into her office. "I'm sure I could call Lin or Future Industries' lawyers here to oversee these proceedings."

"Ha, real funny, Sato. But seriously, you need a quad monitor setup and a laptop to conduct business on a daily basis?" To emphasize her point, she gestures at the fancy setup.

"Darling, this is my pride and joy," she practically purrs, gently stroking her setup like it's a beloved pet. "A dual monitor setup is no match for what I have to do business and engineering wise."

"And the extra four televisions behind your desk?"

"Stock market, presentations, and media on all things Future Industries and/or Sato related."

Korra blinks like she's grown a second head. Asami makes it sound like it's perfectly normal to have so many screens surrounding her. If this is Asami's office now, what will it look like when she's CEO?

Despite its modernness and professionalism, Asami's office has a homey feel and warmth to it. It's not suffocating. Korra's not afraid she'll disturb the ambience. Sterility and rigidness that drowns all forms of media are not welcome in Asami's professional domain.

But she has to remember this is Asami Sato. It's guaranteed that there is a calculating strategy behind every feature and the layout of her office.

"I didn't take you as a plant mom." She thumbs one of the succulents, noticing how it's vibrant color matches Asami's eyes. Both of them bring life to their respective entities. Without looking into those striking eyes, Korra's lips curl up at the possibilities then locks her eyes with Asami's. "There's so much I still don't know about you, isn't there?"

"You've learned every little detail about my life, I'm afraid. I'm a blind business and engineer extraordinaire who enjoys plants and has a sweet tooth," she answers sarcastically with a genuine laugh and a shake of her head at the ridiculous thought. She caps it off with a cheek kiss. "There's much to learn about one another still. It's one of the many things I look forward to every day with you, love."

"I thought I heard two of my favorite girls," Hiroshi greets with a knock on the door, entering the space and giving both of them tight hugs. "My other favorite girl is fussing in her office. Something about her favorite pen gone missing. If she doesn't find it, there's going to be hell to pay."

"Dad, you didn't take her pen, did you? You have the tendency to steal my pens."

"Asami," he dramatically gasps and brings a hand to his chest, "the audacity to believe I'd steal my wife's favorite pen. I'd be sentenced to the couch for all of eternity."

"But you have like a dozen guest rooms?" Korra interrupts, puzzled at his words.

"That defeats the dynamics of marriage, Korra," Hiroshi enlightens her, a twinkle in his eye as he taps her temple. "You piss off the wife, you're on the couch with a blanket even if they are of the highest quality. It's a principle of marriage that you're roped into the moment you decide to live together."

Asami snorts. "Honestly, I think both of them like it a little too much. They spend pretty much every waking moment together either here or at home. He may even piss her off on purpose to get some space to breathe."

"You have such a way with words, Asami. Is this the payout of your prestigious education before our very eyes?" Hiroshi jokes, shaking his head with a smile and shoving his hands in his pockets, rocking on his feet. "I see you're admiring my daughter's office garden. Gorgeous, isn't it? This is one of the most challenging projects she's taken on."

"What? Plant extraordinaire isn't on her resume?" Korra's eyebrows furrow, seriously contemplating the thought, but has a teasing lilt to her question. She does, however, miss the death glare Asami shoots her father, daring him to embarrass her.

He sees it as no challenge, bellowing out a hearty laugh. If any lingering staff were close by, Korra would be worried the staff would think he fell off the rocker and putting his title in jeopardy. Then again, maybe this is a daily occurrence between father and daughter even in a professional setting.

Hiroshi has to wipe a stray tear from his eye much to his daughter's chagrin and efforts to get him to be quiet.

"My daughter hasn't been truthful with you, Korra. She's killed many innocent plants in her days here at Future Industries. From forgetting to water them to being unaware that they're dying under her care. One day, an executive informed me that half of her plants were dying." Hiroshi silently challenges Asami to argue with him. "Were the wilting and crispy leaves not a red flag, sweetheart?"

Korra tries to stifle her laugh. She really does. The image of Asami killing plants is too much to bear though and joins Hiroshi in his mirth. Asami doesn't partake in it, pouting and crossing her arms instead and waiting for them to get it out of their systems.

"Great, has everyone had their fill?" Asami groans, practically throwing herself into her chair. "I just wanted to spruce my office up with some greenery and my parents treat me like I'm a serial plant killer."

"We're lucky environmentalists didn't storm company property at the massacred plants that were dumped." The second glare Asami directs at him is ignored again as he returns his attention to the plants. "We'll have to see if these survive the winter."

"Asami doesn't have a green thumb then?" Korra wraps her arms around Asami's shoulders from the side and kisses her cheek. "I've fallen for a plant killer who is practically blind. What am I to do?"

Asami tilts Korra's face to capture her lips. Lips only a hair's length apart, she says, "Keep on loving me because my crimes are minor compared to yours. You have a record, my love."

"I do not have a record!" She shoots back from Asami and frantically looks between the two Satos' iffy expressions. Damn it, Dad. You had to bring that up. Their response has her twiddling her thumbs as she mutters, "I just have a mug shot that was standard protocol which I will never live down."

"Don't worry, Korra," Hiroshi reassures, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm much more concerned with teaching you to drive and all there is to know about automobiles. I'm sure I could talk to Lin and get that minor blemish expunged from your name if you'd like."

"I'll think about it," she mumbles, looking anywhere but at the Satos. Please, change the topic.

"Dad, was there a reason you came to my office besides killing time while Mom looks for her pen?"

"Avoid being chewed out by your mother as she rips the place apart?" he responds with a shrug of his shoulders. "It's one of the perks of working and living with your family, Korra. But I suppose I should return to my darling wife." He gives Asami a pointed look on his way out. "Don't stay here too late. No joy rides around the offices either."

"Can't make any promises, Dad." Asami spins her chair around several times with a lazy smile. That is until she rams her knee into her desk, extinguishing any ambitions she has and clears the way for low howls that have Hiroshi and Korra rushing to help her.

Once Asami assures them that she's fine, that she just needs a few minutes, Hiroshi makes his exit while Korra remains on the ground kneeling.

"Is this how you act during normal business hours?" Korra teases, laying kisses on Asami's throbbing knee to reduce the pain and cheer her up. "Not so professional of you, Miss Sato."

That remark earns her a half-hearted slap to the head. Her giggles have Korra's harmonizing with her, filling Asami's office with their laughter.

Future Industries has evolved since its inception a century ago because of the long hours and blood, sweat, and tears of all its employees. It's a professional environment where the best of the best congregate to conduct business and line their pockets with money by providing marketable value to society.

Never before has Future Industries experienced such unsolicited behavior. Korra's enthusiastic slurping of her noodles and appreciative moans enchants Asami without even trying. Korra's only vaguely aware of how Asami's eyes follow her every movement as she gesticulates wildly to paint pictures of grandiose tales.

It's a breath of fresh air for Asami in this setting. She's never seen such elegant sloppiness and wouldn't want it any other way. She's certainly not complaining about the stellar show accompanying their takeout dinner. Long after the food's eaten, the show still goes on with only the lingering smell of Narook's in her office.

"Come on! You've never done it before?" Korra can't believe what Asami's saying, shaking her head in disbelief. "Sato, lay back in your fancy chair and kick your feet back on your desk! We're done eating so you can't use safe consumption habits as an excuse! Live a little!"

"Korra, it's highly unprofessional," she argues weakly, a smile cracking on her face.

"So what? You're going to be the top dog someday who can do as she pleases. If you're not going to do it, I am!"

Korra leans back and kicks her feet up like she owns the place. In doing so, Asami's stapler and work phone go crashing onto the floor. At least it wasn't that behemoth of a monitor setup. The critical expression aimed at her has Korra scrambling to find the right words as the dial tone drones on.

"Do you still love me?"

The longer Asami remains silent, the more Korra feels the heat. It doesn't cross her mind to remove her feet from the desk to appease the businesswoman. She tries smiling her best smile to get back in Asami's good graces instead.

"That depends," Asami says, tapping her chin thoughtfully. She pushes herself back and leans back in her seat. One long leg then another is mindfully elevated onto her desk, a smirk gracing her lips now. "Are you going to be a good little assistant and pick up my supplies that you knocked down?"

"Fuck, that's hot," Korra says under her breath, absolutely enthralled by the image of Asami looking so professionally casual and sexy at her desk. Why? Why did she wear pants today? Why couldn't she have worn a dress or a skirt so I could see her bare legs?

"Sweetie, I was joking." Asami titters as Korra makes to clean up her mess. "They're fine down there, but if you could put the phone back in the cradle to shut it up, that'd be great."

"That's not fair! You started it!" Korra whines, setting her feet back down on the ground.

An idea pops in Korra's head. Asami's too consumed by her mirth with her eyes closed and legs propped up on her desk. In the blink of an eye, Korra has Asami gripping the arms of her chairs, legs kicking out and flying around the office.

The world around them goes out of focus, leaving only themselves crystal clear to one another. There's not a soul in sight to witness the glorious sight it is of the two of the them squealing and rounding corners, trying their damnedest to not crash and be forced to conjure up a story for Hiroshi.

"Korra, seriously. Stop for a minute! I might puke!" Asami screams, laughing at the same time.

"Sorry!"

Korra comes around and crouches in front of Asami. Even though Korra's been doing all the work, Asami's out of breath from her joyful squealing. Add in the messed-up hair and flushed face, the pull's too intense for Korra to resist.

She starts with kissing the corner of Asami's still healing lip then the other side, finally taking Asami's bottom lip in between hers. Almost immediately, Asami sensually moans deep within her throat and rests her hands against Korra's shoulders, squeezing them.

"That was fun," Asami tells her, relaxing further back into her seat and closing her eyes. She takes a deep breath and smiles up at the ceiling. "Could you be a sweetheart and wheel me back to my office? I'd rather not explain to my father that I puked at work again even if the fun makes up for it."

How can Korra deny her that? Korra makes to wheel Asami back to her office, but finds herself completely lost, faced with endless corridors.

Asami concludes Korra's predicament fairly quickly and giggles before directing her back to her office. She's not cruel after all.

Instead of positioning her behind her desk like before, Korra wheels her over to the floor to ceiling windows overlooking Republic City. Asami remains seated, Korra behind her with her hands on Asami's shoulders.

Day has surrendered to the night. The lights of Republic City blaze on, shining spotlights on those leaving work late and other gearing up for a fun night on the town. From their vantage point, nothing distinct can be made out. Everything is dots and only the light prevails, illuminating the breathtaking skyline.

"Come on." Asami jumps from her seat and grabs Korra's hand and her bag, offering no explanation.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to mingle with the night life."

"I thought you said we were exploring Republic City's night life tomorrow?" Korra questions with a chuckle as she's pulled to the elevator. "Tonight was about getting the inside scoop of Future Industries after hours."

"We're not lost princesses stuck in Future Industries. We are going to be two kids rivetted by the city and the sights and just be. Let's see where the world takes us."

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

"Such a filthy mouth. Do you talk to your subordinates like that?"

"That has nothing to do with this!"

"But I believe it was your idea, or the world's, that we come in here and do this." Korra waves the card in a taunting manner over the dome. "Another round? I don't think you've been practicing at your estate with your personal bubble hockey table."

Just to spite her, Asami flips two middle fingers at Korra. The only appropriate response to that is a loud laugh that has others in the entertainment center staring at them. It's not my fault the world told you to come here and have a rematch.

"Don't flip the game off or me, baby!" Korra remarks, swiping the card for another round. "I play to win. Just because I love you doesn't mean I'll go easy on you."

Asami doesn't win any of their matches and that puts her in a sour mood on their walk back to Future Industries.

"Come on, Sato," Korra urges with a lightness to her tone, hip checking her a little. "Let's agree that Pai Sho's your game and bubble hockey's mine."

"Let's agree to disagree," Asami mutters, a crease forming in her forehead. "One day you'll be a Pai Sho master, and one day I'll be a pro bubble hockey player."

"Sound like a plan, baby."

Korra stops them in the middle of the sidewalk. The glares and disgruntled comments do nothing to distract her from the most gorgeous woman in the world marred by an exasperated crease. She leans up and kisses the crease away, feeling the skin level out and Asami's competitiveness leave her bones.

Her kisses make their way down and greet the ruby red lips she loves so dearly and steals her daily dose of vanilla bean with strangers as their witnesses. Only at the intensifying hollers to "get a fucking room" and catcalls do they pull apart.

"Miss Sato, your chariot awaits." Korra turns around and sits back on her haunches.

"You can't be serious?"

"Dead serious, 'Sami. You just had emergency surgery last weekend so you shouldn't be walking around this much anyway. I'm more than capable of giving you a ride to the office on my back. You spend most of our time together gawking at my muscles."

"Or we could just call for a cab or my driver?"

"That ruins the fun!" She pats her back to try to entice Asami on. "You said you wanted to mingle with night life. We can't exactly do that in a car. Just be happy one of us isn't drunk and needing fireman carried."

Asami tries to argue with Korra some more, but eventually relents and climbs on. It's a piece of cake for Korra as they begin their journey again. Of all the things that are happening around them, people have the audacity to scowl at them.

Couples that stick their tongues and middle fingers out to strangers stick together.

They get a little sidetracked with Korra getting lost and them admiring the beauty of Republic City from the ground level. Korra only gets lost because Asami seals every square inch of her body to Korra's and trails her fingers over her neck.

This is all Asami's fault. She's being all distracting and has no shame.

"Love, you're actually taking us further away from Future Industries." Asami giggles into her ear, distracting Korra beyond any redemption. She points in the opposite direction as she wraps her legs around Korra's waist. "It's that way. At this rate, my car will be ancient."

"I think you're enjoying yourself a little too much." Can't exactly disagree though. This is kind of fun.

"You're right. I won't deny it." Asami tilts Korra's face towards her, capturing her lips in her for a soft, passionate kiss. When they pull apart, she rests her hand against Korra's cheek, swiping a thumb under her eye. "City life suits you. Your eyes are bluer than I've ever seen them before."

"It's not the city," Korra says, kissing her palm. "It's all because of you, Asami."

Korra trudges on as Republic City hums on. The feel of Asami nuzzling into her neck, Asami's warmth radiating to her body is all Korra needs. Even in the winter cold, Korra feels scorching hot. That'd normally irritate her to no end. The only exception to that is heat from Asami will always be welcomed no matter the circumstances.

But then buckets of cold water are thrown on them.

"Shit!"

The abrupt storm has Korra picking up the speed and focused on getting them somewhere dry. The simpler option is to duck out in one of the nearby shops like others do.

Simple isn't in their vocabulary though.

By the time they make it to Future Industries' parking garage, they're both drenched. Korra gently drops to her knees on the concrete pavement. Asami dismounts Korra and comes around to her front, joining her on the ground with no concern about her pants.

Water dripping from their bodies, cold seeping into their bones, Asami cups Korra's face and kisses her in another scorching kiss hot enough to create a cloud of steam around them.

Korra thinks about all the times movies portray couples kissing in the rain. She never really saw the appeal to that. The real appeal to her is kissing Asami on the grubby parking garage floor, drenched from escaping a storm with their clothes clinging to their bodies. It's her girlfriend and the prior moments they've shared together that make this less-than-ideal situation special. That's where the real romance comes from.

"After hours with you is quite a thrill ride," Korra teases, pushing back some wet black hair.

"Only because you're with me."

The rain continues pouring down outside the safety of their concrete shelter. Dirt and grime mold themselves to their clothes. Contrasting to what they should represent with their associations with high society and the Sato name, they give two middle fingers to whomever dares interrupt them as they get lost in their moment.

Posted: June 25, 2022

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