This time when Korra walked up to the door of Asami's mansion, she didn't hesitate. She pressed the doorbell with a little more force than necessary but she was nervous. It had been a week since Korra had The Talk with Lin and Asami and the mechanic had invited the Avatar over to spend some time with her, along with Mako and Bolin. Korra would have much rather be alone with Asami but she would take whatever the mechanic gave her. She might acknowledge the fact that the mechanic was not available but that didn't stop her heart from beating faster at the thought of Asami's smile and sparkling eyes.

Unlike last time, an older man wearing a crisply tailored suit opened the door. Korra recognized the man from being the butler when she first visited Asami's mansion. She recalled him having to call Bolin 'Master Bolin.' "Miss Sato is in the garage. Please follow me." Korra did as she was told. She was pretty sure that she would have eventually found her way on her own but she was grateful for the help.

However as Korra walked behind the butler, her mind began to wander. She spotted several other servants here and there, many of them tidying up the place. So Asami did give her servants a day off when she had Lin and Korra over. Korra wondered if she did that often to protect her relationship with Lin but the pang in her chest stopped her questioning.

In far less time than she would have liked, the butler opened the door and Korra narrowed her eyes at the sudden sunshine. Her eyes adjusted and she walked outside. The door clicked softly behind her. Korra spotted a car with a hood up and Asami inspecting the engine. The Avatar made her way over to her and saw the grease stains that littered the mechanic's hands and even her forehead where Asami had swept her bangs behind her ear. Korra didn't see Mako or Bolin and was tempted to stay quiet until the boys showed up. She knew that once Asami started to tinker with her car, the mechanic was oblivious to the world.

Despite herself, Korra's eyes lowered to take in Asami's form. The mechanic had her back to the Avatar and was bent over as she played with something. Korra gulped and shut off her mind before it could fill with images of Asami being bent over something more comfortable like a bed or desk.

Korra coughed into her closed fist and Asami looked behind her to see the Avatar standing a few feet away, a light blush on her cheeks. Asami quickly finished with the engine and shut the hood. She set down her wrench and grabbed the washcloth to clean off the grease. Soon the white fibers were stained grey as Asami strolled over to Korra.

"Hey, Asami," Korra greeted the older woman. "You okay?" When Asami was tinkering with her car it either meant that the mechanic was in a very good mood or in a sour one. The look on her face, especially the crease at the corner of lips, hinted that Asami fell into the later category.

Asami opened her mouth to say she was fine but she stopped herself. Korra knew her too well to buy the lie. "Not really," Asami admitted. She tossed the dirty washcloth near her wrench and rubbed her temples. "I got out of a meeting today. I'm getting pressured by my investors about the Fire Nation Satostation. They want me to tell my research team to cut corners in developing the carts." At the look on Korra's face, Asami explained. "I already have heat resistant metal to make the frames but it isn't as strong as the metal I use for Republic City's Satostation. I want my trains to be safe as possible which is taking time and they don't like that."

"Your investors sound like greedy assholes," Korra said with a quirked eyebrow. Asami had a lot more patience than her, she would have punched the investors instead of working on her car.

"Yeah," Asami chuckled. "But I have to make them happy. They do help the company afloat after all."

Korra and Asami heard someone shout and turned their heads to see Bolin and Mako exiting the mansion. They started to walk to the two women and Asami took a step forward to meet the brothers but Korra's hand on her arm halted her. Asami looked at Korra with a question in her eyes and the Avatar pointed at a spot on her own neck. "You might want to cover that up before they see it."

Asami looked confused for a moment and took a peek at one of the side mirrors of the car. A blush covered her face and a hand dashed up to cover the hickey. "Lin," Asami muttered. She quickly undid her ponytail and fussed with her hair until the lovebite was covered.

"If you wanted to keep your relationship a secret, you shouldn't wear hickies like a necklace." Korra couldn't help the laughter at the sight of Asami's face.

"She never used to leave hickies on my neck," Asami had gotten over the shock at the fact that Lin had left a hickey on her at a very visible place. She smiled suggestively at Korra. "Maybe she wants you to know I'm hers." Asami realized what she had said and she held her hands up. "Wai-"

Korra spoke up before Asami could apologize. "Don't worry about it," Korra chuckled. She smiled kindly at her friend. "I'm glad she makes you happy. I still don't get how you two became a thing but I'm glad."

Relief covered Asami's features. "Thank you," she whispered. "She's a bit like you in all honesty."

"How?" Korra asked. She and Lin were as different as light and day. The Chief was grouchy and as stubborn as the element she bends.

"Both of you are headstrong." Asami said. Her face sobered as she continued, "I know this is hard for you but I'm happy we're still friends."

Those words hurt Korra more than if Asami said she never wanted to see her again. She forced her lips to tilt up in a mock smile and she knew she failed by the way Asami's eyes widened and then show her concern.

Luckily for both of them, Mako and Bolin had made their way to the two. "Hey guys!" Korra said before Asami could continue their conversation. "Long time no see!" Korra pulled the brothers into a tight hug, squeezing as hard as she could. The Avatar laughed as two hands patted at her back to be released. She let go and took a moment to look over the two. "No uniforms?" Both Bolin and Mako were back in civilian clothes and the image was now strange on the two of them. Korra was used to seeing them in uniforms. "You didn't get fired, did you?"

Mako shook his head with a grin. "No, don't worry." He gestured down to his normal clothes. Even he seemed a little uncomfortable in civilian clothing. "We're not allowed to wear the uniform when we're not working. It's a new policy after we defeated Kuvira." Mako glanced away. "The Chief thought that the Police Department needed to be seen more as everyday people instead of ruthless figures of authority."

Korra and Asami shared a look and focused their attention on Bolin. The younger brother squirmed at their scrutinous eyes. "That true, Bolin?" Korra asked her friend.

The younger brother jerked his head up and down. "Yep! It was totally all Chief Beifong's idea! President Reiko had nothing to do with it!"

The Avatar didn't miss how Asami's eyes narrowed in anger at the mentioning of the president. Korra had her own misgivings with President Reiko but she suspected that Asami had to hear several of Lin's rants about the man. The mechanic probably gave the Chief a few of her own.

Mako slapped his forehead at Bolin's lack of wit. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "President Reiko was worried that the Police Department might have been viewed as more brutal if its officers wore their uniforms as everyday clothing. He wanted to make sure that the image people perceive of us is nothing like Kuvira's at all."

That explanation didn't satisfy Asami. "What if there's a crime and an off-duty officer is unable to do anything because she doesn't have her equipment?"

The brothers didn't understand why the mechanic was getting so worked up about them wearing civilian clothing but Korra picked it up right away. Asami was worried that Lin might get hurt if she tried to stop a crime in progress without her equipment. The idea was a bit ridiculous, the Chief still had her earthbending and metalbending, but Korra knew she couldn't say that now.

Bolin held up his hands like he could physically halt Asami's words. "We'll be fine. Mako and I still have our bending." Korra could have hugged him. He grinned and made a muscle with his arm. "Besides, I can still take down bad guys with just these guns!" His grin grew as a blush spread across his cheeks. "But I still miss those uniforms."

"Seriously?" It might be because Bolin only joined the Police Department a few months ago but Korra didn't think he would want to have those stiff uniforms.

Bolin nodded his head vigorously. "Yeah, Opal really likes men in uniforms, but she says that I look really handsome in the cop uniform." He had a dopey look on his face. "She says that she's always been attracted to men with authority." Bolin started babble on an on about Opal but the three ignored him.

Mako rolled his eyes at his brother's antics and looked at the two women. "He won't shut up about Opal. I really think he's in love."

"Of course I am!" Bolin said, wrapping one arm around his brother's shoulders and resting his free hand over his heart. "Opal is so perfect, how could I not be in love with her!? She's so caring and beautiful and smart and strong and-"

"You gotta help me," Mako pleaded with the two now giggling women. Bolin didn't seem to hear Mako as he kept listing how Opal was perfect. "She came to visit us and they just won't stop."

Korra and Asami were about to ask what Mako meant but the blush on the man's face made it clear what he was referring to. Korra looked at the still rambling Bolin and almost pitied the man. He was walking on lava and he probably didn't even know it. The Beifong family were nothing if not protective of their own and she didn't want to think what Lin would do if she ever found out that Bolin was messing around with her niece. Suyin might be more calm about the situation but Toph, Toph would destroy him. Korra looked at Asami and could see much of the same thoughts were occurring in her mind.

Bolin finally took a breath long enough to notice that the other three weren't paying attention to him. He looked slightly peeved at being ignored but shrugged it off. "So, what do you want to do?" he asked the group. "Swim? Spar? Have another life-changing and possibly deadly experience in which we learn something new about ourselves and strengthen our relationships with each other?"

"How about racing? Girls versus boys?" Asami suggested. She pointed her thumb at the car Korra had saw her messing with earlier. "I just finished installing a new engine I've been working on for my next line of Satomobiles. It's totally safe." She smiled at Korra. "It'll be like old times."

Korra returned the smile, this one natural instead of forced like before. "That sounds awesome." Mako and Bolin agreed eagerly. The four split up into two teams, Asami and Korra taking the car that Asami was messing with earlier and Mako and Bolin getting into a car parked in the garage. Now that she was paying attention to the vehicles and not the woman messing with them, they appeared to be upgraded versions of the race cars she and Asami first raced all those years ago. Just like before, Asami took the wheel with Korra sitting in the back. They drove leisurely to the racing track.

Both cars stopped in front of the start line. Asami reached into a glove department to grab some gloves and helmet and goggles. She handed the passenger helmet and goggles to Korra. The Avatar saw the glint in Asami's eyes and the excited smile. Korra was reminded of the look on Asami's face when the younger woman caught her with Lin. She looked over to see Mako and Bolin putting on their own safety gear.

"Ready?" Asami asked Mako who was gripping the steering wheel. Mako had a similar look on his face, if less intense, and nodded. He revved the engine once and Asami returned the favor. "Set." Asami grinned and revved the engine again. The other three might have their elements but here, Asami reigned supreme. "GO!"

Wasting no time, Asami slammed the gas pedal down. Korra yelped and held onto her seat belt for dear life. Mako and Bolin were already lagging behind, not as comfortable with the speed as Asami. Korra looked at the rear view mirror of the vehicle and couldn't help but smile on the look on Asami's face. She was so beautiful and fearless when she was racing.

"Hold on!"

Korra almost didn't hear the older woman and let out a small shriek as she was slammed to the right side of the car but once the shock dissipated, she was laughing. This was so much fun! If it was anyone else driving, she would have been petrified. But she trusted Asami and was able to enjoy her pounding heart and adrenaline rampaging in her veins. Once the car was out of the drift, Korra looked behind them. Mako and Bolin were far, far behind. There was no hope for the brothers to catch up even if Asami let up on the gas.

She turned her head to tell Asami that they had won the race but stopped at the smile on Asami's face. She saw the fire in Asami's green eyes as she took another hard turn, the finish line now in sight. It's only when the mechanic driving that her competitive nature comes out. It wasn't enough for Asami to beat their friends, she had to utterly annihilate them. It was just like when Korra fought in the pro bending tournaments. No wonder Korra fell for her. No wonder Lin likes her.

The two sped past the finish line and Asami slammed the brake pedal. The car squealed to a stop and the two jumped out to celebrate. Korra grabbed Asami by the mechanic's waist and spun her around, the air filled with their carefree laughter. Korra looked up at the mechanic and Asami was beaming down at her. The Avatar set Asami back to her feet but they didn't move away from each other. Asami and Korra's eyes met and both women didn't know what to do. A light flush crept up Asami's cheeks as Korra's heart pound but no longer from the excitement of the race.

Fuck.

It was still there.

The Unspoken Thing.

Korra let go of Asami and took a step back. She rubbed the back of her neck and looked at the car. "Sorry," she whispered.

Asami let her hand rest on Korra's shoulder for a moment like she didn't want the embrace to end before it slid down. "It's okay."

Both women were saved from the sound of an approaching car. Mako and Bolin drove past the finishing line and braked near them. The brothers got out but the loss didn't seem to deter their spirits. They were smiling when they walked over to the two. "That was great!" Bolin yelled out even though the two women were less five feet from him.

"It's about time you two showed up," Asami said, taking off her helmet and goggles. "I started to worry that I would have to go back and show you where the finish line was."

Korra watched the three talk but she couldn't hear the words. How did it end up like this? It's like with Mako all over again, except Asami was Mako and Lin was Asami. And Korra was just Korra.