One light flickered at the far-right corner of the room in the visitor area. Asami sat parallel to Hiroshi at their usual table.

Hiroshi moved the red flower tile with a rose symbol vertically to form a harmony that concluded the game.

"Game, set, and match," Hiroshi clasped his hands together, elbows propped on the table, gazing at Asami on the opposite side with a sly smirk on his face.

"You win again," Asami shook her head but was smiling, nonetheless. She leaned back on the chair while she crossed her arms. A scraping sound of a chair against the floor caught her attention. Her gaze followed the sound. One woman got up, probably in her thirties, Asami thought and the guy with the same grey clothes looked the same age. She watched as the pair side-stepped and met in the middle for a kiss. Asami didn't realize she was staring when Hiroshi cleared his throat and she snapped back out of her trance.

"You're distracted," Hiroshi said without making eye contact with her daughter. He began clearing the table, fixing the tiles back in the box. Asami reached for some of the pieces with the intention of helping her dad but Hiroshi waved his hands and continued making her lean back to her chair again. She let out a breath and shook her head.

"It's mostly stuff in the company. We're gonna have to double the working hours. I figure, with Kuvira's army rising and getting more powerful, it's best to be prepared. Raiko doesn't seem to be making any moves about it, though, so that's another issue."

"Does he even have a back-up plan?"

"He just wants to wait. He doesn't want the citizens of Republic City to panic. The board has had dozens of meeting with him already. One with me convincing him to approve the mecha tanks I've customized to at least stand guard and be used by lin's forces outside the city's border. He said it was too provocative," Asami pinched the bridge of her nose, remembering the disastrous meeting she had a week ago. A teacup was almost ready to fly in the air if not for Tin intervening and cutting the meeting short.

Asami had more metal scraps to break back in the office that night to let out some steam.

"I see, but I'm assuming you didn't listen anyway…?" Hiroshi started his sentence as a statement but ended it with a note questioning at the end. He finished putting all the tiles in the box and the board was folded neatly at the side. He leaned back to his chair and rested his arms on the table. He finally looked over at Asami, regarding her for a moment.

"The mecha tanks are ready. It's in the factory by the docks. I have all the engineers double-checked the interiors. It will take them approximately fifteen to twenty minutes to get to the borders. We've also managed to create a temporary holding place up north in case they come for that side." Asami said it gracefully and nonchalantly as if she's been practicing it prior to visiting his dad. A stranger would've been impressed by the distinct confidence and power Asami radiated, but not her father. He always knew the capabilities of his own daughter and he seemed rather pleased.

"So you have it all figured out."

"Of course," Asami raised one hand, flicking her wrist and studying her nails in the process.

"Then what's bothering you?" Hiroshi asked. Asami met his gaze, shocked by the least.

"I—" She crossed her arms again and her lips formed a thin line, "I told you—"

"Yes, but the problem you say that is distracting you, you already have a solution to it. So, there's something else." Hiroshi paused, clasping his hands once again then continued, "Is there?" A smile crept slowly in his face as he raised an eyebrow.

Asami rolled her eyes, cursing in her head as she thought of other excuses to dodge a topic she is literally having a hard time avoiding. The events never left her mind from three days ago. The unsuccessful lunch, the prince's kidnapping, and the mixed emotions she's been having with Korra. She tried to push the thoughts away, but it just kept finding its way back.

Asami let out a breath, her lower lip protruding as she let her guard down and finally let the emotions take her.

"It's someone."

"Oh?"

"It's nothing really. I just have these emotions, I think. I had all the time to ponder it and stuff happened, and now I'm just really confused. But it's okay, I'll figure it out." Asami looked down at the table. Even she wasn't convinced with herself.

Hiroshi laughed, leaning forward on the table, "Is this someone I know?"

"Yes."

"Is this about Mako again?"

Asami let out a nervous laugh as she shook her head no, "Trust me, that relationship was over before it even began. We're good friends, though. We got closer these past years after Korra—" She bit her lip, averting her gaze somewhere in the room. Anywhere but her father's eyes.

She could feel Hiroshi narrowing his eyes, still looking at her. "How is the Avatar doing? She's back?"

Asami met his eyes briefly and responded, "She's okay. She's back. We had a run-in with some of Kuvira's army the other day, but we've managed. I—we have a lot of catching up to do, but I'm glad she's back." She let out another nervous laugh. This time it came out squeaky as her heart thudded in her chest. She is becoming anxious as she felt her face becoming warmer.

Thankfully, his father didn't press further and instead offered her some advice.

"Well, if this someone is still messing with your head and these emotions are bothering you, maybe it's best to talk it out. Communicate with that person. That's what your mother always told me. 'Hiroshi, if we fight, I would never let you go to the garage until we fix whatever it is we were fighting about.'" Hiroshi let out a laugh, closing his eyes in the process, reminiscing a memory tucked deeply in his mind. "All I'm saying is if you have the chance to speak with the person right now, do it. You wouldn't want to have any regrets." Hiroshi looked at Asami with longing and sadness, and she understood.

You wouldn't want to have any regrets as I did with your mother. It was visible from his twisted philosophies that he was now trying to come back from. It was seen from his physical features from the greying hair and the bags under his eyes the unspoken words and longing he felt from all those years. Asami understood.

She opened her mouth to say something but no words came out. They sat there for a while, letting Hiroshi's words bear weight on her shoulders down to her heart.

"Thanks, dad," She managed to say.

Her travel back to the Future Industries office was short and calming. Enough to clear her head. No traffic on the road and a sunny afternoon letting the breeze hit her face as she drove downtown to her destination.

Asami met Tin by her office, following her from behind. They make their way towards a table in the corner of the room stacked with papers, blueprints, and prototypes of some sort.

"Bring me all the revisions of the—"

"Hummingbird blueprints. I have it here," Tin handed placed the blueprints at hand on the table, splaying it open as Asami put a paperweight on the edges.

"The latest one, with the lighter fabric for the wings—" Asami continued but was again cut off by her assistant.

"We have revised it and changed the canvas texture into habotai. I have sent it down the lab to test its stability and strength to withstand the wind in longer periods." Tin said it monotonously like a dialogue she's been saying the past few days, in which she probably did, but who was counting, right?

Asami narrowed her eyes at Tin, in which she could only shrug at her boss, "This is what we've been doing the past three days, Asami. And I keep telling you the 42nd revision was enough."

"It wasn't really 42—"

"Asami," Tin narrowed her eyes as well, studying her, and then waving a hand towards her, "You're trying to avoid something."

"I'm not, I—" Asami closed her eyes and took a deep, slow breath to calm herself, "I just need this to be ready just in case."

"It is ready. You won't listen to me," Tin chimed in while rolling her eyes, "You want to go see her, don't you?"

"Will you—I'm not—no," Asami groaned as Tin laughed at her being a blubbery mess.

"You are basically glued to this table the past what, three days? After the lunch you had with the Avatar and I've even had to call Mako to know what happened that day."

Asami knew Tin was right. She was hiding behind work that didn't need much effort anyway to begin with. She has been assembling and dismantling prototypes the past few days to keep herself busy. Her mind distracted. It doesn't add up to the fact that everything stops and the image of Korra appears at the end of the day when she's off to bed and she's more frustrated than before.

"I know you want to talk to her. You can just talk, Asami. Start from there, no feelings involved. You're still friends, yes?" Tin continued.

Asami rested both palms on the table with a pencil latched between her fingers. She nodded defeatedly.

"And I'm assuming she doesn't know how you feel?" She pressed and the CEO could only nod again.

"I cleared at least a few hours for you this afternoon before we meet with the owner of the Zin Jang factory for the parts of the Hummingbird suits." Tin said. That was all she needed to hear before putting down the pencil, grabbing her bag, and walking towards the door.

She stopped abruptly and looked back at Tin, who was again rolling her eyes at her but smiling, nonetheless, "Thank you, Tin."

"It's literally my job to keep you sane. Go." Tin responded, and then Asami was out the door.

0000

Korra sat at the top of the gazebo's railings with one leg folded in front of her chest, elbow resting atop, and the other leg dangling as she gazed the horizon across the sea. The sun was finally setting, and the golden light touched her skin and her eyes, making it sparkle with something mixed with sky blue and serenity.

She figured being home and close to the people she cared for was one factor to feel secure. The familiar whisp of the breeze and the old-style architecture of the buildings in Air Temple Island was something she can get used to again. To be familiar with. Just like walking. Just like breathing again.

But not meditating. Or going to the Avatar state.

One step at a time, Korra. One at a time.

Jinora and Tenzin had helped her in meditating every morning after breakfast to see what helps in the process. Jinora has been researching through old air nomad scrolls to attempt ancient techniques with the hopes of releasing the tension in Korra's body.

You are too stiff, Korra. Loosen up.

They'd try for a few minutes, enough to give her hope that she could meditate through the Spirit World, but every time it gets longer for her to try, she feels weaker every time. Like her literal life is being sucked out of her. And the image of her Avatar self was still there.

We'll figure something out, Korra. Tenzin would always reassure her, though, amidst the pat on her shoulder, there is no doubt there is a tinge of concern in his mentor's eye. Korra would never point it out though.

You've been disconnected for too long. Disconnected from the people who love and disconnected from yourself.

The past three days have been a disastrous sleepless night for Korra. Not the same during the three years, but enough to keep her up and let the unpleasant thoughts devour her. Toph has said it to her back in the swamp. She has learned to connect to the vines and, with that, connect with the ones she loved. Although Korra wondered if it did the same for her. She still hasn't talked to Asami. The suggestive glances and side remarks Pema and the airbender kids have given her was enough for her to pick up the radio and dial Asami's personal line.

But not enough to wait for an answer.

Korra would always hang up after the third ring.

She was still deep in her thought, gazing at the sunset when the clacking sound of heels grew louder as she looked back just in time to see Asami approaching her.

"Hi," Asami gave her a small smile, tea at hand, stopping on her tracks just at the middle of the gazebo. Korra almost forgot how to act when she caught herself staring with her mouth slightly open. Her body felt all the nerves all at once run down her feet, so when she stood up, she almost lost balance. Good thing she was able to hold on to the railing, smoothly smiling crookedly in Asami's way as they locked gaze.

"Asami," She greeted.

Asami's gaze lingered for a moment. Korra was sure of it as she looked down on her hands, both carefully clasping the teacup.

"I brought you some tea. I thought you might be cold out here." She took a few steps closer to where Korra was standing and she felt like Asami literally took her breath away. To say Asami was beautiful is an understatement. Hell, she might be the most gorgeous person in the whole Republic City, and Korra isn't even biased. She just knows it.

"You're so sweet, thanks." Korra reached for the cup and for the slightest moment, their hands touched, electricity jolting down her insides and she almost flinched physically at the sudden feeling.

Seeing Asami again, she can't help but feel all her emotions run amock. Asami's hair was tied back in a low ponytail with her usual pencil skirt, red sweater and cape that fit perfectly. It showed all her curves at the right angle and her makeup as perfect as a painting. She was mesmerizing.

Korra avoided Asami's gaze as it was too much. Looking out the view, she was back in her demeanor.

"Are you okay? You seem out of sorts," She asked. Asami stood beside Korra, enough space to let her breathe, which Korra was thankful for. She juggled between keeping her thoughts to herself or spilling it all out but then once look is all it took. Korra can see how genuine Asami is, the concern in her eyes noted with something, and Korra wouldn't want to keep her in the dark. Not this time. Not anymore.

"I've just been thinking about something Toph said. She told me that the world doesn't need me and it's basically pointless to try and stop Kuvira." Korra said, making Asami knit her eyebrows.

"That's ridiculous," Asami responded, but Korra shook her head.

"By that time, I thought so too. I figured she was just being her normal, cranky self. I'm beginning to think she has a point."

"No, she doesn't. The world does need you. You're the Avatar."

"But no matter what I do, the world seems to be always out of balance,"

" Korra,"

"I just—I know." Korra let out a brief laugh and continued. "I could stand here and whine all day about the things I've done wrong in the past," she looked at Asami, "and you'll probably just end up saying the right things anyway," She took a sip of the tea. Jasmine with a teaspoon of sugar. Just how she likes it. Asami would know because three years ago, she would always make Korra tea in the morning, no questions asked. She just did.

"I'm glad you know." Asami looked over the horizon, over the sunset and it was Korra's turn to glance at her. "Don't beat yourself up for the things you can't control. The world will always be out of balance, Korra. But you're trying and that's enough for m—for the people."

Korra hasn't taken her eyes off Asami as she continued to watch the scenery on the island. Asami motioned her head towards the sky, "beautiful sunset," she commented.

"It is," Korra agreed, still looking at Asami.

The wind picked up, a light breeze hitting their faces, and Korra closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, green eyes were staring back at her.

"Asami, I'm sorry—"

"Sorry about the other day—"

They said in chorus, and Asami chuckled softly. Korra smiled shyly, one hand reaching for the back of her neck as her heart swelled in the sound of Asami laughing.

Asami crossed her arms across her chest and began again, "I wanted to say sorry for how I acted. It was childish of me, really. You had something going on and I should've respected that. You wanted to be alone. You know yourself better than anyone and I know that now."

"That's—it's complicated," Korra ran a hand through her hair as she tried to organize her thoughts, briefly averting her gaze in the sea. When she looked back once more, Asami's eyes never left her and that the look she was giving was comforting. She was waiting. Just waiting for an explanation.

After all the hurt she put her through, Asami was still here, being a good friend, understanding, and just waiting the whole time. Korra's chest tightened at the thought. The least she could do now is to at least keep Asami in the loop. She deserved more, Korra thought, but she will have to start somewhere.

"My path to recovery was terrible." Asami raised an eyebrow and Korra continued, "I wasn't always the best person to be in the same room. My parents can vouch for it. And then I started to walk. I was so ecstatic that day. It felt like being born all over again. Does that make sense?"

"Mhmm," Asami mumbled, urging Korra to talk more.

Korra set down the tea on top of the railing. She gazed at the trees dancing in the air, the sun on the horizon, and the gentle waves of the water. "Then, I started to train again, using my elements. Being able to fire bend again was something I was looking forward to. But then the nightmares and my visions never left. And right then, it was mostly internal conflict. The letters you sent kept me grounded," She took a quick glance at Asami while fidgeting her fingers and looked away again. "Six months ago, I was almost at the docks, you know," Korra's voice dropped, vulnerable. "I—I realize I wasn't fully recovered, so I changed my direction. I've thought it through in my head and I lost count, but I thought maybe if I just stay away for the meantime, I won't let anyone be in trouble. That I wouldn't hurt all of you while I'm here, not fully recovered. Not fully ready. That's why you found me in the Earth Kingdom. Most times, I wonder if I was still fit to be the Avatar. I changed my appearance so nobody would recognize me," Korra took a deep breath and locked gaze with Asami again, "but you did."

A pin drop could be heard as Asami took in what Korra just said. Korra was sure Asami was ready to flee, but she finally spoke.

"A lot of times, I had to excuse myself in a meeting because the board members were painstakingly infuriating, and I go up the roof of the building to shout my frustrations away. But I come back to the room with a calm and collected face as if nothing happened," Asami began, and this time it was Korra's time to listen.

"I would always drive around to calm my nerves when I don't want to stay put. The brothers and I would have lunch dates. I told you that in one of my letters, and we'd just enjoy each other's company. There are days where I go on walks downtown and see the shops too, but you know what I'm thinking the whole time? Is that I wish you were here. All the time, Korra." Asami caught her gaze and her eyes were wide, shocked by this revelation she was hearing.

Asami continued, "If you think running away from the ones that you love so that you can protect them is just plain stupid. You have your reasons, though, but I'm just saying. No matter what happens, you're still the Avatar, Korra. And it will never change the fact that me, Mako, Bolin, the airbenders, basically everyone who cares for you will run to danger with you. For you. Because that's how it works. You choose who you want to walk beside you. Again, you don't have to do everything alone. We got your back."

"Okay. I'm sor—"

"Please stop saying sorry."

"Okay."

Korra didn't realize how the lights turned on around the whole island. The sky has turned dark and the faint glow of the stars sparkled as they watch some airbenders going up the hill to the dormitory room.

"I punched a guy," Asami said nonchalantly, eyes never straying from the moving figures.

Korra looked at her, amused, her right corner lip twitching upward, "you did?"

"He was annoying, and plus, he was saying something stupid about you. I won't let any slander of my friends slip by that easy," Asami chimed.

Korra laughed heartily and Asami did the same. The thought of Asami punching a guy was too good to be true. She was always so good at controlling her temper, but Korra guessed everyone would have their limits.

"Remind me not to anger you then,"

"Then don't leave me again," Asami said. Stern but pleading. Korra was caught off guard that her breath literally was stuck in her throat.

She hoped her eyes weren't betraying her as she held her gaze towards Asami, "I won't." Never again.

Asami could only smile and Korra was ready to yell the three words her heart has been trying to translate.

"As—"

"I should probably go." Asami cut her off. She walked a couple of steps towards her, "I have a meeting to attend to. Not the best perks of a CEO."

Korra's lips formed a thin line. Disappointed that Asami had to leave, but she didn't want to keep her to herself. She wished she could.

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow, maybe?"

"Of course," Asami responded. She kissed Korra's cheek and held her shoulders for a moment, "goodnight Korra," Asami smiled and her touch lingered as it slid down her biceps until it was gone. She watched Asami's back walking away, unaware of the smile on her lips.

"You choose who you want to walk beside you," She whispered to no one in particular. Eyes still set in the disappearing figure of the CEO walking towards the docks.