Asami had been eying the glossy magazine delivered urgently by her assistant that now laid over the desk for several minutes. Elegant fingers drummed absentmindedly over the polished surface as her mind gears deliberated her next decision.
The magnate felt drained. Wrangling with Future Industries' logistics managers and Varrick's lawyers over the new distribution agreements for the new line of industrial mechas had taken more time than she had expected. What she believed to be a simple task turned complicated when she had to personally intervene to make last-minute concessions demanded by one Innick Blackstone Varrick, extending the half-hour appointment into an hours-long battle between two titans of industry. After emerging exhausted but victorious from the negotiations, Asami looked forward to her fiance's arrival and a quick dinner before finishing their preparations for their trip to Ember Island the next day. She had been appraising the crimson two-piece swimsuit she'd purchased just for the occasion with Kuvira in mind when she received the urgent message from her public relations manager. Not fifteen minutes had passed after Asami left her office for the day when the phones began ringing off the hook, leaving an embattled lone receptionist to fend off the reporters. They were requesting her immediate reaction to an article published in the prestigious Entrepreneur Magazine. It wasn't the first time they had featured her in it so initially, she didn't understand the sudden interest until her manager mentioned the words "favoritism" and "scandal." Something clicked on her head and she didn't like where it was headed.
With a resigned sigh, Asami picked the magazine up and flipped the pages until her own smiling face looking at her made her pause. The article began with a two-page color spread featuring a recent picture of herself and her fiance posing in front of her company's new headquarters in Ba Sing Se. She remembered a similar photo from the cover of a prestigious women's magazine, one of the many she and Kuvira had emblazoned since they announced their engagement. Asami had liked the picture so much she requested a framed copy that now sat at a privileged place in her office. Kuvira and she looked every inch the epitome of professional and personal success: bright, talented, and attractive to boot. But that success triggered the envy of her competitors, and the hatchet jobs soon followed in an effort to undermine her hard work. However, Asami hadn't expected that a respectable publication would join in on the slanderous gossip she and her company had been subject to for the past months. Asami began to read, and she hadn't gone past the first couple of paragraphs when she sensed the stirrings of a tension headache spread down her scalp and neck.
"A union of love or of greed and convenience?" the headline read. "The CEO of Cabbage Corp has made shocking allegations of favoritism and blatant nepotism about the contracting practices between the United Earth Provinces government and Republic City's own Future Industries.
'It's pretty obvious how Future Industries keeps hoarding all the contracts if you know what I mean. I have nothing against Ms. Sato's engagement to the president, but it's obvious that we're no longer on a level field to compete against Future Industries. I'm afraid this development will mean the end to my company,' the executive lamented after Cabbage Corp's latest shareholders' meeting showed a steep decline in earnings for a third consecutive year after being stripped of their preferential status.
The leader of the technology company based in Republic City is the latest to publicly voice concerns shared by other competitors regarding the economic policies of President Kuvira and specifically, how they have apparently given an edge to Future Industries increasingly since CEO Asami Sato joined the stabilizing effort…."
Asami made it to the end of the article and her eyes went up. From her pursed lips a disgusted groan escaped as she furiously slammed the magazine over the desk.
"I can't believe the drivel I've just read! Cabbage Corp sure wasn't singing this tune when they blocked us from doing business with Queen Hou-Ting during her reign so they could become their exclusive suppliers. And now they're complaining about unfair practices? The gall! They can shove their complaints up their….!"
The door opened at the precise moment Asami tossed a drafting pencil in its direction. The newcomer barely avoided the projectile as she directed a questioning glance at her enraged fiance.
"Asami, what's going on?" Kuvira approached her desk with slight trepidation. This was the last thing she'd expected just hours before embarking into what they'd planned as a much-deserved break from the media circus that lately followed them after they made their relationship public. The trip was in reality a business meeting, the first major overture between Future Industries and the Fire Nation, but the location made evident that their hosts fully intended in indulging play with work. Kuvira had been disappointed she would miss out on the fun until Baatar helpfully reminded her she could always request a change of her scheduled visit so it could coincide with Asami's. Kuvira had been elated when she was informed Izumi had consented to the change and expected them both eagerly.
Asami pressed a palm against her forehead as she slid the magazine in Kuvira's direction.
"This, this is what's going on," she retorted roughly as she stabbed the page with her index finger. Kuvira scooped up the magazine. She shot a disconcerted side glance at the fuming executive and proceeded to read the outrage-inducing document.
"As if my day hadn't been difficult enough with Varrick's cutthroat lawyers and dealing with Raiko's unreasonable demands. To have Cabbage Corp suggest my company is getting preferential treatment because of our relationship is just disgusting!" Asami exclaimed with a huff as she threw her arms in the air.
After reading the article, Kuvira's mouth curved into a grimace, realizing the source of her fiance's ire. As president, she understood rather well what she was going through. In fact, she was all too familiarized with the sentiment. After long years of working tirelessly to preserve the fragile order in her country, she developed a thick skin after having every insinuation and epithet in the book thrown at by her opponents to discredit her work.
"Don't pay too much attention to this. As you said, it's just garbage," the metalbender said, tossing the magazine into a wastebasket.
Asami's brows furrowed deeply.
"Didn't you hear what I just said? They're insinuating I've been getting business from your government because I'm sleeping with you! To have the yellow press run those rumors is one thing, but coming from what I considered a respectable publication is something more damaging and it's threatening my company's reputation. It's taken me a lot of hard work to bring this company back up from the depths my father's shame sunk it into just to have these vile insinuations discredit it again."
Kuvira noticed the tension along her jawline and neck and the harsh tone of her voice, so different from her usual melodic lilt. Asami was genuinely outraged and she couldn't place the last time she had seen her that angry, if ever. Usually, it was the other way around with Kuvira cursing a storm over the incompetence of bureaucrats bent on making her job more difficult. She would bellow her dissatisfaction to Asami, her right hand contorting into flexing a small metal slab in the sharpest of shapes she could conceive. During these rage fits, Asami would witness these outbursts sitting down, an elegant leg draped over the other as she observed Kuvira in thoughtful silence. Once the rant was over, Asami turned into the voice of reason until she soothed her more impulsive partner. Kuvira owed her a debt of gratitude she felt she could never repay for her role in transforming the impetuous Zaofu captain into a composed head of state. The image of a furious Asami unsettled Kuvira in ways she couldn't understand.
"Asami, you shouldn't let this get into your head," Kuvira urged. They're just jealous of your success and obviously, they've run out of material so they're grasping at straws. Please don't tell me you're taking this seriously."
Asami let out a long sigh. "I know this is shit but they couldn't have picked a better moment," She threw her head back, rotating her neck until she heard an audible crack.
Kuvira moved to her side. "I think that was exactly the point. Everyone knows of your meeting with Firelord Izumi tomorrow. This was a premeditated attack," she affirmed as she placed her hands over Asami's shoulders. The metalbender sensed the knots tightening under her fingertips when she squeezed lightly the area where Asami's neck and shoulders connected.
"Don't you think I'm aware of that? They couldn't beat me fair and square before, so they're now trying to sabotage my success elsewhere!"
"C'mon 'Sami, it's just a negative article. It's not the end of the world…" she commented with a tired voice.
Her words had barely abandoned her mouth when she realized the mistake she had made, but it was too late. Asami spun on her heels abruptly, shooting a hard glance at Kuvira.
"I might not be the end of the world to you because it's not your company we're talking about here. It might not mean much to you, but for me, it's my heritage and livelihood and I will do whatever it takes to protect it!"
"I know that 'Sami…"
"You do? Because I'm starting to believe you don't care about anything else but your political career. In fact, I don't think you're capable of understanding what this means to me at all!"
"What?" Kuvira growled indignantly. Anger and incredulity flared up inside as her body coiled in reflex. She closed in on Asami, ready to unleash hell when suddenly, a still small voice sounded an alarm inside her mind, cutting a path of light through the red haze. Asami was watching her with narrowed eyes, cold as steel, hands rested on her hips in a challenge, lips quivering. It was as if she was taunting her, but Kuvira realized that if she gave in to the provocation, neither would possess the presence of mind to stop before they said hurtful things to each other. Ironically, it had been Asami who had instilled this awareness in her.
"You're right," Kuvira conceded as she stared at the ceiling, allowing a calming exhale to abandon her lips.
"I am?" Asami inquired, mystified.
"Yeah, but that's a subject for another moment. How about we call it a day? Tomorrow promises to be very busy and we're both drained," Kuvira proposed.
"You go ahead." Asami sat down and placed a notepad and a pen in front of her. "I have to prepare a proper response before we leave. I'll catch up with you soon."
"Don't take too long," Kuvira brushed her lips against her fiance's temple and turned around. By the time Asami finally joined her, Kuvira was already sound asleep. Asami felt the impulse of reaching out to her but decided against it. After the way she behaved, she felt she had no right to disturb her sleep, but her own conscience was about to make sleep nary impossible to her tonight.
~oOo~
"I know I've already said it, but I just wanted to reiterate how deeply honored I feel that you agreed to this meeting. I'm pretty sure you have other pressing issues than humoring droll business meetings," Asami stated as she followed her host out of the lavish office and towards the equally lavish balcony overseeing a pristine beach strip.
"Anything that can improve my citizens' way of life is a pressing issue to me and what your company offers certainly falls into that category."
"I'm sure any of your capable ministers could have handled the negotiations," the magnate replied as she appraised the Fire Nation's ruler. Asami wasn't used to having to raise her sight with other women but Izumi towered slightly over her. Her coal-black hair was carefully styled, not a hair out of place, with the shimmering headpiece exclusive of the office of the Fire Lord towering from her top knot. Amber eyes shielded by gold-rimmed glasses regarded her kindly.
"I know, but you're not just any other company executive. You're about to become the spouse of the ruler of the United Earth Provinces." Izumi issued an enigmatic smile.
"I wish that fact didn't weigh so heavily and that I could be regarded by my own merits instead of whom I'm marrying."
"Do you regret your union with the president?" Izumi appeared startled by the unexpected candor.
Asami was flustered. "Oh no, not all! I didn't mean to disparage our situation. It's just that the past few days have been jarring to me and I'm afraid my personal relationship is affecting my business in ways I didn't anticipate."
"I see. Since we're done with the work part of your visit, would you allow me to show you some of the island's best sights?"
"I really don't want to take more of your valuable time on account of my status, your royal highness."
"I insist Ms. Sato. Besides, knowing my son's inexhaustible pride for our fleet and your fiance's military inclinations, something tells me we're not going to see them until dinner." Kuvira had joined General Iroh in a routine naval exercise that showcased the Fire Nation's indisputable supremacy of the seas.
"If that's the case, again I'll be honored to enjoy the sights of Ember Island in your esteemed company."
"Perfect. My chamberlain will come to fetch you in an hour."
~oOo~
Asami picked up the last morsel of her plate and wondered how it would reflect on her tableside manners that she had left her plate virtually clean. It had been ages since she had savored a true Fire Nation dish, and to have it prepared by none other than the royal court chef enhanced her experience tenfold. The fact that she was sharing this late lunch in the company of Izumi while enjoying the breathtaking view of the beachfront in the Fire Royal's gazebo went beyond her wildest expectations.
"I believe our head chef will be very happy today," Izumi commented as she observed Asami's now empty plates that had been previously heaping with a variety of tasty dishes.
The engineer blushed profusely. "Excuse my manners, your highness. I can't recall the last time I tasted something so exquisite!"
Izumi chuckled. "Don't worry! You're not the only expatriate of Fire Nation lineage who has reacted like this. I admit I take pride in knowing that our cuisine can't be replicated outside of our national borders."
"It certainly can't and not for lack of trying. My staff always keeps my pantry always stocked with imports from Caldera City and the Shuhon Islands but I guess there are things that are impossible to replicate outside their place of origin."
"And now probably you're also getting more familiarized with Ba Sing Se and Zaofu dishes, to accommodate your fiance's national gastronomy."
Asami let out a soft smile. "I am. Kuvira likes those Zaofu vegetable wraps so much that we've become pretty good at preparing them whenever we have a chance to cook ourselves, although I did sneak in some Shuhon spices to the recipe. Hmmm, this is so good! Is this chocolate with a hint of jasmine?" Asami exclaimed as she imbued the iced frothy liquid that had been poured in front of her in a tall glass with red and gold dragon motifs.
"It is. That particular recipe is exclusive of the Royal Palace. It was quite an inspired and creative moment from Iroh himself. My dad liked it so much that he prohibited my great uncle from offering it in the Jasmine Dragon. He was actually joking but Iroh kept it as a family heirloom of sorts in honor of my dad. It was his last gift before he passed away."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Well, he didn't pass away in the traditional sense, as you are aware. The Avatar told me of their encounter at the Spirit World and he seems to be doing rather well for himself."
"I remember when Korra told us. We didn't believe her at first but after Harmonic Convergence, there wasn't anything that could sound far-fetched enough to be considered unbelievable."
A moment of companionable silence ensued as both enjoyed the last remnants of their chocolate concoction. The salty breeze felt brisk against Asami's face and a flock of seagulls indulged in aerial pirouettes over the clear, sapphire sea.
"Asami, may I ask a personal question?"
"Uhmm, sure your highness," replied Asami, suddenly straightening her back against the chair.
"Are you ready to become the consort of the most powerful person in the Earth Kingdom?"
"Come again?" Asami stammered, startled. Izumi was observing her through steepled fingers, golden eyes simultaneously gentle and inquisitive posing a question that Asami wasn't sure she had considered it herself, at least not consciously. Certainly not in the sense Izumi meant.
"I heard about the latest piece of news that's trending in the news cycle in Republic City. It must be hard to see your reputation attacked like this."
Asami was flabbergasted, unable to muster a clever answer. Her hands balled into fists under the table.
Izumi noticed the tension and offered the magnate a conciliatory smile.
"Before you answer, let me tell you a story of a naive, idealistic heir apparent, the young woman who used to own her heart, and the struggles they faced when they came to terms with the inevitable reality that their world was about to dramatically change and things would never be the same."
"Izumi, I mean, Your highness I…"
"Don't worry. This is not going to take long." Izumi's features softened; a sympathetic chuckle reflecting the fact she had overlooked Asami's etiquette breach by addressing her by her given name.
"No, I mean, I wouldn't want you to disclose information of a personal nature."
"Don't worry. Unfortunately, what I'm about to tell you was common knowledge at the time and it was copiously documented by both the Fire Nation and the United Republic press. Before I became the Fire Lord, I was the crown princess so I grew up used to have almost every detail of my life followed and documented even though my parents sought to provide me as normal a childhood as they could, given the circumstances."
Asami nodded. She was no princess, but as a daughter to a powerful and wealthy tycoon, she could relate to the sentiment. Her parents had done the same with her, providing her with countless opportunities for her to gather many experiences.
"Although my father's primary responsibility was to the Fire Nation, he still shared along with Avatar Aang and Chief Sokka oversight duties to Republic City, so Air Temple Island was as much home to me as the Royal Palace was. Me, Bumi, Tenzin, Lin, and Suyin grew up together, and they were like the blood siblings I didn't have."
Asami opened her mouth to present a question when suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle fit inside her mind. Her eyebrows arched in acknowledgment.
"Clever girl!" Izumi exclaimed when she saw her reaction. "I see you noticed I didn't mention Kya, and it's exactly for the reasons you suspect."
"So Kya was…"
"Yes, by the time I was preparing to ascend to the throne, she was my girlfriend. My father and Aang were elated of course. The prejudice against same-sex relationships in my country was a thing of the past, thanks to my father taking inspiration from Air Nomad philosophy. Katara was worried, true to her Southern Water Tribe upbringing but remained supportive. Bumi and Tenzin were the best brothers in law a woman could ask for. For a time the fact that I would no longer be the heir apparent but the Fire Lord didn't weigh on our minds. That is until both the press and ordinary people alike brought all sorts of thorny questions to the forefront, things that neither of us had considered before. Inheritance, social status, diplomacy, political stances...I'm pretty sure you two have seen yourselves in a similar situation."
"Yes, as a matter of fact, once we announced our engagement, Kuvira has been constantly pressured with a lot of questioning. Me too, from my company's Board of Directors, from President Raiko, Tenzin, even from Korra," Asami acknowledged.
Izumi took a sip of her drink before continuing with her tale. "So the day of the coronation came, and Kya and I found ourselves in the middle of a media maelstrom. I had been groomed to deal with these situations from a young age but Kya, not so much. Yes, she was Avatar Aang's and Elder Katara's daughter. An extremely talented bender and healer in her own right, but despite her family's public profile, she had succeeded in keeping hers low. Now she had been tossed into the public eye because of her relationship with me. By that time, we loved each other very much, but we hadn't reached the point in which we had seriously considered tying the knot. Kya certainly wasn't ready for that but the palace bureaucrats and the press from both countries demanded to know if there were wedding plans for the near future, so that became the issue that put an irreconcilable wedge in our relationship. The pressure was just too much for her and despite my preparation and the best of my intentions, I was still new to this entire business of ruling over a country so duty-bound like mine. So after spending one wonderful afternoon together, Kya announced she was going to leave Air Temple Island but not to permanently move to the Fire Nation Capital with me, but to travel the world unbounded by society's expectations. I was inconsolable for days on end until I realized I couldn't run a country like that. So one morning I woke up, went along with my morning routine, and vowed to channel all my energies and will into my country and my duty as Fire Lord. I kept my vow and my nation has remained stable and peaceful. Marriage to a very dutiful and supportive man from a distinguished family came years later, followed by two children, both of them fit to succeed me at any moment."
"Your highness, I'm so sorry your relationship didn't work out. I must have been so hard."
"It was, and I know the situation you're going through is hard on Kuvira too because I've been in her shoes. Listen to me Asami because I'll let you in on a little secret from a ruler to the future consort of another ruler: there are things that even if she wishes desperately to share with you, she can't because she might not even be aware she's withholding them from you. It's just the nature of her job, and I know you can relate to this as well. I'm pretty sure there are things about your job that you don't disclose to her, simply because it doesn't occur to you you can or should."
Asami gasped. Izumi's insight was way too close for comfort. She realized she had unwittingly put herself in this situation more times than she dared admit with Kuvira, especially when her company had threatened to pull the plug on some of Kuvira's most ambitious projects. Asami just didn't want to hinder Kuvira's enthusiasm with inconsequent details like inner power struggles within her company investors.
"Serving a country in a leadership position is like having a second spouse, a very demanding one. Even if we make the most conscious effort to keep our roles compartmentalized in our minds, we will inevitably always decide in favor of our nation. I know in her heart she believes you're the most important thing to her, but the other one she serves will always demand more and she will yield to that pressure because, in the end, it's her duty."
"But isn't that unfair? She deserves happiness too after all that she's sacrificed. We deserve happiness!" Asami couldn't help but blurt unwittingly.
Izumi adjusted her glasses and made a hand gesture that summoned a waiter with an aromatic cup of jasmine tea.
"Now that you know of my story and my personal experience, I ask you again: do you think you're ready to face and endure the trials of being the sentimental partner of the ruler of a nation?" Her face was the picture of serenity but her eyes observed Asami intently as if trying to pry out her innermost secrets.
Asami stared silently at the Fire Lord, a thousand thoughts colliding inside her mind and heart. She knew that at an unconscious level she had asked herself this question many times, more frequently during the past few months under the accost of the press. She loved Kuvira, there was no doubt about it. The past years they had spent together had been some of her happiest and most fulfilling. Kuvira had always been supportive of her endeavors whether they had to do with aiding her cause or not, but being the first elected president of the United Earth Provinces had proven to be a unique challenge, with everyone's expectations weighing heavily over her. Asami's mind went back to the ball that brought their destinies together. After a torrid night of passion, Kuvira had openly disclosed to Asami the full scope of her new role as appointed steward to an Earth Kingdom tethering in the brink of disaster and her desire to have Asami as part of the team that would bring stability and prosperity back to the nation. The choice Asami made back then changed her life and Kuvira's, and now she understood she was facing another milestone in her life. A confident smile curved on her lips.
"Your highness, I believe I know the answer but you must excuse me. I can't share it with you just yet."
Izumi nodded as she gracefully lifted the cup to her lips. Her eyes had a playful shimmer.
"In that case, I wish you and your fiance the best of luck."
Asami tipped her head lightly. She was deeply grateful for Izumi's well wishes but her confidence came from a source that ran deeper than luck: she had Kuvira and Kuvira had her and together they would overcome any challenge on their path. And she was determined to keep it that way.
And as she waited on Iroh's and Kuvira's return, delighting in the soft breeze and the soothing motion of the waves, a single purpose was etched on her mind:
"I'm ready to make my choice again."
To be continued...
