"The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."

― Albert Einstein

Chapter 2 – Musings

The ferry ride over was just what Asami needed. It gave her time to attempt to cleanse her mind. Lulling waves beat against the boat and mist spilled over the edge. Wind softly caressed her face, exemplifying that wind could be a soothing element, but she knew the deadliness of it firsthand.

The first letter had appeared when she was at a low point. She was at a breaking point for herself and for Future Industries. Everything was crumbling under her command. Future Industries was failing. Deep down in her heart, she knew it wasn't because of her management, but because of her father's ties to the Equalists. She wanted to believe she could be a savior, but the numbers were showing she wasn't strong enough.

If the creeping red in her ledgers wasn't enough, coming home to a letter with a timestamp from the police was the icing on the cake. All she could see was red, beyond furious that her father thought he had the audacity to write to her after everything he'd done not only to her, but countless of innocent civilians. But she couldn't find it in her heart to burn or shred the letter out of existence. Instead, she threw it in an empty drawer without a second thought and never to be seen again.

That was until another letter came. And another. And another. For years, this routine went on. Some heard profanities. Some heard crashes. Some were privy to angry, hot tears. But each and every one met the same fate of being shoved in a dank, dark drawer filled with words from her father. She so desperately wanted to forget him and all those words he'd written.

She stepped off the dock boat after thanking the captain, but then looked back at the boat as a few acolytes boarded to visit the main land. During her brief visits to the Southern Water Tribe, she noticed the various vehicles such as jet skis and snowmobiles. They were built to withstand the harsh conditions of snow, ice, and water. The only reason she was thinking about this was because Varrick approached her a few days ago about collaborating on a mode of transportation that could be used on land and water.

As if they had a sixth sense, the airbending kids found Asami on her way up and engulfed her in an airbender hug. Since she didn't have siblings, she saw them as her pseudo siblings over the years, watching them grow and become their own person.

"Where's Korra?" she asked, pulling away from their hug.

"Where do you think?" Ikki giggled, bouncing on her toes. "She may be the Avatar, but you wake her up before the sun rises for mediation, she'll immediately return to bed afterwards."

Over the last year, Asami became well aware that Korra was not a morning person and likely never would be. She'd witnessed it from the outside when they were friends, but seeing it in person was another experience. If she opened the curtains while the sun was rising, Korra would hiss violently and pull the covers over her head. Asami would only laugh under her breath, leaning down to pull the blanket down enough to get a parting kiss before heading off to work. The scene of her twenty-two-year old girlfriend acting like a child shouldn't have made her love her more.

Since the sun had risen over the horizon a while ago, she saw no harm in disturbing her sleep. She lightly knocked on her door and called out to her, but she didn't respond. She opened the door to find her sprawled out on the bed, tangled in the blankets which brought a smile to her face.

Asami sat on the edge of the bed and twirled a tendril of Korra's short hair. The tip of her index finger caressed her cheek back and forth and even ran along the ridge of her nose which made her nose scrunch up.

This carried on for a few more minutes until Korra's eyes finally cracked open to the wonderful sight of her girlfriend leaving feathery traces all along her face.

"Hi," she greeted softly with a sleepy smile, leaning up on her elbows, "good morning. I wasn't expecting to see you this early, but it's a very welcome sight."

"Good morning to you too." Asami caressed Korra's cheek and gave her a good morning kiss, one of her favorite morning rituals. "You should've come over after meditating."

"That's too much effort when I'm still half asleep and the sun's not up." She flopped back onto her back, but cracked an eye at her. "Unless you spontaneously planned something for us to do today?"

Asami hesitated, pulling on the strap of her purse. Korra sensed something was bothering her. Any lingering sleepiness vanished. She sat up, leaned forward with dipped eyebrows and placed a hand on her thigh. She wasn't used to using timid body cues from her.

"What's wrong?"

Biting her bottom lip and still fingering her purse strap, she answered, "Lately, I've been having dreams. Dreams about my parents."

"Your parents?" Korra asked, eyebrows raised. This was the first time she'd heard about her parents in a while. It wasn't a topic that came up in casual conversation. "How long's this been going on? Do you want to talk about it?"

She nodded her head slightly and pulled out the unopened letters from her bag. "These are the letters he sent me over the years. I gave them back to him when I initially visited him, but he must've kept them because Lin gave them to me when she cleaned out his cell."

"I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me?"

She sighed, asking herself that same question and tapping the letters with her fingers. "When he initially sent these letters, I shoved them in a draw and they only ever saw the light of day when a new one arrived because I was so mad and hurt. I think I wanted to preserve the last good interaction I had with him and not taint it with what was in between him getting arrested and him sacrificing himself. But the dreams are becoming more frequent, more vivid and based on real events I remember. Something's telling me it's time to open them for a proper closure with my dad."

Korra wrapped one arm around Asami's shoulders and leaned her forehead against hers, tenderly whispering, "I'm here for you, baby. You can count on it. Always."

While Korra showered and got dressed, Asami helped Pema in the kitchen. As she was washing a plate, a crying Rohan ran in, wailing that he'd cut his leg on a rock outside. Pema moved to help him, but Asami waved her off. It wasn't deep or big, but enough to leave a small trail of blood. Cleaning him up caused a flash of a memory of Hiroshi wrapping up her hand after she'd cut it on glass.

"Stay inside, Rohan. Korra'll be out soon, and she'll ease the pain." Asami blinked away tears remembering him caring for her. He scampered off to bug his siblings, thankfully without asking for a lock of her hair.

"It's so sweet watching you take care of them like that and hanging out with them. Neither of you have any obligation anymore, but you're still here." Pema had big smile on her face having turned to lean back against the counter.

Asami stood back up, but didn't move to return to washing dishes. "Of course, Pema. Korra and I love those little airbenders. They're not so little anymore are they though?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "No, no they're not. It really hit Tenzin and me when Jinora received her tattoos. Nowadays, they're off doing their own thing more often than hanging out with their mother." She stepped closer to Asami and placed a hand on her shoulder. A kind smile was on the mother's lips. "You should ask her."

Asami's eyebrows dipped in confusion. "Ask her what?"

"To move in with you full-time, honey. You're both welcome on the island anytime you please. We all love having you here, but I think it's time she spreads her wings. She's an adult, she's the Avatar. It's time for her to begin the next chapter of her life with you, Asami."


"You're all fixed up, little man. Now, don't go splitting your leg open or you'll be visiting the hospital and giving your mom a heart attack." Korra ruffled the hair on the top of his head. He scuffled off without a second glance at them. "What? No thank you?"

"Thanks, Korra!"

"I pray that Pema doesn't end up with another Meelo in Rohan," Korra muttered and began leading Asami to the meditation gazebo. It was the perfect temperature, not too hot and not too cold. Birds chirped and flew overhead, providing music to an otherwise silent part of the island.

The two women took a seat against the wooden railing. The lone Sato pulled one letter out, staring at the timestamp and her name and address in what she remembered as her father's penmanship.

"This is the first one he sent. They all have a timestamp and my name and address," she whispered, stating the obvious.

Korra saw the woman she loved in emotional turmoil. Asami had been blessed with the opportunity to forgive and collaborate with her father one last time and even expressed her love for him despite everything. She wasn't obligated to, but as if almost no time had passed between them, they still worked like a well-oiled machine together. Neither of them could've predicted how the events that day would've turned out and how final everything would become. The letters were some of the last things she had of her father. She wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. Korra rested her head against her shoulder, patiently waiting for her to take the first step.

Minutes later, Asami broke the seal. The sound of it breaking might as well have been a cannon going off in her ears. Her heart began racing, anxiety rushing through her about what was going to be revealed.

Asami,

These last several months have been some of the most trying of my life. Staring at these cold metal walls as time slowly ticks by has given me all the time in the world to think about my actions, what my life has become because of them. The few moments of outside time I am allowed a day, I see a new world. It's a world I wish I was lucky enough to share with you. I now see and understand that although neither you nor I a bender, it does not make us inferior to them.

I have encountered criminals from all nations and backgrounds in here. It's ultimately the individual who has the responsibility to be a dutiful citizen, a respectful person to not suppress others and help those in need. When I was younger, that was my life's goal with Future Industries, but the last decade of my life has done the exact opposite of that. I took my beliefs to the extreme to avenge your mother's death, but you were right. Your mother would be ashamed of me. I'm ashamed of myself in ways you could never imagine.

I hear Future Industries is in the red and on the brink of bankruptcy. She is bleeding, pleading for her life, wheezing and hanging on to the tiny sliver of life inside of her that is you, Asami. I've ruined the business that was meant to serve individuals in all classes, all nations, all benders and non-benders alike. I've soiled the Sato name. And most importantly, I've forced your hand with Future Industries. You will forever be known as the eighteen-year old Sato girl who inherited a corrupt business from her extremist father.

This was never my vision with Future Industries or you.

I pray you don't run yourself into the ground trying to fix my mistakes. If Future Industries is ruined, I beg of you to wipe your hands clean of her whether it is by selling or discontinuing. Do what you want to do that isn't centered around Future Industries for once in your life. You've been groomed as my successor, but I never wanted it to be under these circumstances. I know you're strong, an exceptional engineer, a fighter, but sometimes there's a point in business when you have to cut your losses and stop the bleeding.

Words cannot express how sorry I am for everything I have done that has affected you. I love you, Asami.

Love,

Dad

Out of respect for her, Korra didn't peak at its contents, although she had to restrain herself from even a sentence or two for the gist. She peaked up to discover jade eyes glassed over with tears threatening to spill over and taint her fair cheeks. The Avatar held all the power in the world, but in that moment, she was powerless. All she could do was hug her tighter, closer to promise her she'd never be alone in the world for anything.

For years, Asami pushed him away because she saw the irrational man she confronted in his secret workshop and the airfield base. She was burdened with changing the image of the weapons and vehicles he had created, constantly reminding her of the faults of her father and creating a bigger rift between them.

"He apologized," she whispered quietly, still staring at the beginning of his words. "He knew how bad it was getting for me and pleaded for me to sell to save myself from his mistakes and image."

"He wanted you to sell Future Industries?" Korra asked, shocked. She adjusted herself to have a full view of Asami's face.

Asami shook her head. She closed her eyes briefly causing a few stray tears to spill over hear cheeks. "He built it from the ground up. Future Industries is my life. He put it through hell, but I could never, especially now." She handed Korra the letter, letting her read it for herself. The second she saw 'sell,' she felt his sorrow. Future Industries was his baby, his life.

"A few months in prison and he became a changed man," Korra murmured in disbelief to herself. Hiroshi's words seemed almost unbelievable for the short amount of time he'd been in jail, but she could feel every emotion he poured into the words. Like Asami said, Future Industries was his baby and the proof that he at one point wanted Asami to sell showed how serious he was about not only his regrets, but saving Asami.

There were plenty of other letters to read, but Asami needed time to process the first one. Of all the things she could've guessed what he wrote about in the first letter, an apology would not have been one of her guesses. Maybe one of the later ones, but not the first one. It made her wonder what the others held if he apologized in the first letter.

For the next several hours, the two of them relaxed on the island. They thought about going into the city, but decided a quiet day together on the island was needed. Lately, they never had the chance to enjoy serenity of their surroundings and talk about whatever came to mind. Asami was still engrossed in the continuous project of rebuilding Republic City and Future Industries' production lines. Korra was occupied with assisting Tenzin and a handful of Earth Kingdom issues, but overall, nothing compared to the last few years.

The couple were slouching against a tree. Korra's back was against the truck, and Asami's head rested in her lap as tan fingers combed through the soft raven hair.

"You know how you have your glove? What if you developed another one but with flames instead? Then you can zap someone if they're too close or shoot fire at them?" Korra demonstrated her ideas with her own fists and sound effects, looking a lot like Varrick with the gesticulations and noises.

The engineered quirked eyebrow and curled her lips up in amusement. "I believe you're trying to make me a firebender or a human mecha suit. You know, the idea crossed my mind while I was tinkering with my glove using my dad's original diagrams to make a pair."

"Hey, if it helps us catch the bad guys quicker, I'm all for it. Plus, it's kind of hot watching you take everyone down without breaking a sweat."

"Back at you." She winked seductively and pulled her down for a tender kiss that she'd never get enough of. "I might develop an upgraded glove in the future, but right now, I'm covered. I have a meeting with Varrick this week to discuss this crazy idea of a hybrid vehicle that can be used in the water and land and neither mode deters from the other so basically a race car and a jet ski in one."

"That actually sounds really cool! I'm sure the police and other industries would be interested in that. I bet some of the hunters in the North and South would be interested too."

"Well, I've got a challenge this week that's for sure trying to draw up plans for it and dealing with Varrick. You know how he gets."

"You know who to call if he tries anything funny."

As the sun began to set, the two of them walked around the island and helped feed the bison and lemurs with the kids. Only after a delicious dinner with the airbenders did they journey back to Asami's mansion.

"Nobody's on the streets so I think it's time to resume your lessons, Korra," Asami hinted as they walked to her car. She tossed the keys to Korra. She stared at them, terrified, like she just caught a baby canyon creeper.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I can't drive!" she spoked exasperated. "If it's not an animal, I can't operate it. I almost destroyed your inventory when I was messing with your forklift." She threw her the keys back and jumped into the passenger seat without a second thought about driving.

"Forklift doesn't equal car, Korra. You seemed interested in Varrick's idea, and that'd required you to know how to operate a vehicle." She slammed the door a little harder than necessary and began cruising along the streets. "I know you have your glider, but what if someone gets injured without water nearby or the damage is too severe for you to heal yourself? Or the injury is something internal you can't heal and requires medical expertise? You've got to learn to drive, Korra. It's a life skill."

Neither was mad at the other, just frustrated they didn't see eye to eye on this. This was the one topic they had a recurring argument about from time to time. Asami thought she'd be able to break Korra, but the past year was failure after failure. She tried everything from food, relentless teasing, ridiculous wagers, but she didn't budge one inch. Somehow, she was determined to teach Korra all the fundamentals of driving.

The car ride to the mansion was quiet. Cool, night wind whipped through their hair in the darkness. They were on the outskirts of the city when an unnatural chill ran up Korra's spine. On high alert, she twisted in her seat, surveying the surroundings. Nothing was out of the ordinary. People milled about in the night, entering and exiting buildings minding their own business. A few other cars were on the road around them, obeying laws that Korra could never remember.

"What's wrong?" Asami asked as she pulled up to an intersection. Korra was bouncing in her seat which wasn't that unusual, but the way her muscles tensed was a cause for concern.

"Do you have a strange feeling in your body?" Asami shook her head. "Maybe it's just me or I ate too much at dinner. Something feels different."

"Different how?"

"Like something's about to happen."

But nothing ever came as they pulled into the estate. As they exited the car and headed inside, Korra couldn't shake the feeling creeping over her entire body. The mansion was exactly how it was supposed to be and as she remembered it. That didn't stop her from double checking every lock and investigating many of the rooms in the mansion though. If someone was in the house undetected, Korra made it her mission to give them hell for breaking in.

After deeming the house safe, Korra laid in bed and waited for Asami to emerge from the bathroom. Just after she got comfortable in bed, she realized she'd forgotten to pull the heavy curtains over the grand bay windows. She groaned. Asami could've easily done it once she emerged from the bathroom since the window was on her side of the bed, but that tiny bit of paranoid crept in again.

She grumbled the whole way to the window. Don't get her wrong, she loved the view during the day and sunsets, but it was evil when Asami welcomed the sun into the room when she was still sleeping. She swore she did that sometimes just to tease her.

A crescent shaped moon occupied the skies and caught Korra's attention. When she was growing up and couldn't sleep at night, she'd gaze upon the moon. Mind you, the southern lights hadn't returned yet so there wasn't anything else to watch in the sky besides the moon and stars. The moon's appearance and position were more obvious to Korra so she'd focus on that. It was after all how her ancestors learned waterbending. Nowadays, Korra didn't know the phase of the moon unless she happened to be waterbending and felt the power of the moon in her fingertips.

With a small smile, Korra drew the curtains shut and return to her side of the bed. She was well on her way to getting comfy and situated again when Asami exited the bathroom. Being the CEO of Future Industries required Asami to have poise and gracefulness, but instead of crawling into her side of the bed like usual, the CEO stalled at the foot of the bed with an uneasy look.

"Are you okay?" she asked concerned, disentangling herself from her spot once again, but with no thought of annoyance this time.

"I had a conversation with Pema earlier today and it got me thinking," she trailed off, rubbing one hand against her upper arm and eyes cast downward for a moment. "I know we never really talked about it and we just kind of fell into a routine day by day, but how would you feel if you moved in here full-time?"

"Really?" Her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"If you want to, there's absolutely no pressure!" she reassured and waving her hands. "I completely understand you still want to help Tenzin and see the kids, but when I wake up alone and you're not here, I miss waking up beside you to find you all sprawled out with the blankets kicked away. I love having you around, and I love you. I know loving each other and living together all the time are completely different…"

It was one of the few times Korra was privy to her girlfriend babbling. That was usually her specialty. She crawled to the end of the bed with a loving smile. Sitting up on her knees, she wrapped her arms around Asami's waist and pulled her lips to hers. If anything, watching her usually composed girlfriend get all flustered made her love her even more. Tasting her fresh, clean lips was also another perk.

"I love you too, Asami. I'd love to officially move in with you."


Posted: November 1, 2020

So...I didn't finish writing this yet. Oops...but since the world may end this week (especially the US, where I hail from), I decided to post the next chapter. Plus, it gives you all a little more insight into the story and hopefully amps you up more.

I'm serious this time, not posting anymore until I finish writing the rest which is about four chapters, but they're kind of long according to my outline. So...see you in December if we're still here maybe?

In the meantime, I'm rec-ing an amazing artist: jellolegos on TikTok and Twitter. The artist has done some amazing sketches for ATLA and LoK. Hope you're as blown away at the art as I am.