Over the next month she and Asami had found a routine that worked rather well for them. Every Saturday Asami would come over to Air Temple Air Island around ten o'clock and wait for Korra to wake up around eleven. From there Korra would grab something to eat after which they would begin playing Pai Sho. Korra would almost always lose the first game as she was much too tired to properly think through all the possible moves and luring Asami into a false sense of security before coming around and thoroughly wiping the floor with her. Korra smiled at the memory of the first time she'd employed this tactic on Asami. She rather enjoyed Asami's company which was something she didn't say about many people. Which was saying something given that Korra wasn't a social person. She prefered the company of those who enjoyed peaceful silences as much as she did. She prefered to sit in silence and read or play Pai Sho then to do something that required interactions with other people. Asami was one of those people. One of those people who Korra could sit and play Pai Sho with for hours with the other two being Tenzin and Jinora. Though Korra often spent more time meditating with Jinora then she did playing Pai Sho with her. Korra figured another reason she enjoyed Asami's company so much was because of just how honest she was. Korra always prefered to surround herself with honest people. It was a personal preference born from years of being burned by liars.
Korra would be the first to admit that she was a hypocrite. She valued honesty in those around her yet was the most likely to lie straight to someone's face. She was a hypocrite but at least she was honest with herself and others that she was. She knew herself and who she was. She also knew that she was too old to start changing her ways now.
"Aha! I've got it!" Asami suddenly exclaimed shocking Korra out of her trance and focusing her attention back on the game. She watched as Asami moved her lotus tile a couple places eventually claiming Korra's own lotus tile. Asami picked them up off the board smirking triumphantly as she added them to her pile of tiles.
Korra clapped and smiled at Asami, "Nice. Do you wanna play again?" Asami looked at her watch and let out a hiss.
"I'd love to but its already three and the last ferry leaves at four." Asami swung her feet over the edge of the walkway slipping her shoes back on. Korra found herself uncharacteristically disappointed that Asami already had to leave for the day.
"I could give you a ride back." Asami looked at her raising a questioning eyebrow, "If you stay for another game or two I could give you a ride back." Asami turned to look at her with a sweet smile.
"That's sweet of you to offer but I should really get going. Same time next Saturday?" Asami slid her purse onto her shoulder as she spoke and Korra leaned back on her hands smiling back.
"Yeah. Sounds perfect." Asami gave a wave before turning and heading back toward the docks. Korra fell backward letting out a content sigh as she ran a hand through her hair. She really enjoyed Asami's company and couldn't wait for next Saturday.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" And just like that Korra's good mood was ruined. Korra looked up at Meelo who was grinning down at her with a shit eating grin that just reeked of mischief. The lemur that was perched on his shoulder didn't help his image.
"A person who is in no mood for you shit today Meelo." Korra grumbled as she glared up at the nine year old who simply continued to smile down at her like he knew something she didn't.
"Me thinks you might have a crush on Asami." Meelo cooed and Korra just continued to glare up at the small airbender. Before Korra could open her mouth to respond, Ikki appeared out of nowhere using a gust of air to cushion her landing.
"You have a crush on Asami!? Do you like like her? Is she your soulmate? Do you want her to be your-"
"I'm gonna stop you right there." Korra cut Ikki off who crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "I don't "like like" Asami. We're just friends."
"You have friends?" Ikki asked incredulously placing her hands on her hips and raising her eyebrow.
Korra sat up and glared at them, "Yes, as crazy as it may seem I do have friends outside of this family and Asami happens to be one of them."
Meelo crossed his arms over his chest leaning his head back, "I don't know if I buy that. It sounds a load of Monkey feathers to me."
Korra placed her hands on her knees and leaned forward, "Well, its not. Me and Asami are just Pai Sho buddies."
"You sound like an old lady." Ikki said a pout in her voice.
Korra pushed herself to her feet with a groan. "Well that's because I am an old lady." She turned her attention to to the young airbenders saying, "So if you don't want your cheeks pinched I'd scram."
Meelo looked up at Korra clearly unimpressed with the threat, "Fine. We'll leave but that's only because we're not getting anywhere with our current tactics." Meelo turned on his heel and began walking away.
Ikki lingered a little longer leaning forward slightly clasping her hands behind her back, "Just between you and me I think you and Asami would be really good as soulmates. I think she would be really good for you." Sometimes Ikki surprised Korra with how insightful she could be. She was often just as childish and immature as her brother but she had her moments where she showed that she was maturing into a kind and caring person that Korra knew Tenzin would be proud of. That she knew Aang would be proud of.
Korra watched as Ikki followed her and let out a sigh. She didn't want to dwell on what Ikki had said. Korra didn't exactly try to hide her feeling toward the idea of soulmates. The idea of forever had lost its appeal for Korra a long time ago and the idea that there was only one person out there who was meant for you seemed statistically impossible. The fact that people had been tricked into thinking there was only one person in the entire world who was your "perfect other half" was absurd. Korra had meet plenty of people in her life that fit into that criteria who hadn't been her soulmate and it baffled Korra how people could think that the only types of relationship that could work were those between soulmates.
Korra let out a sigh and began heading toward the main building. She planned on raiding the kitchen for a late lunch before going to bed. Korra didn't like the concept of soulmates but that didn't matter because Korra didn't have one.
Saturday couldn't have come fast enough. Asami had found a routine over the last month where she would work hard all week so that she could play hard on the weekends. Playing Pai Sho with Korra had become something that Asami looked forward to each week. Korra had opened up more in the weeks that had followed their first meeting not a lot but enough to know a little more about her. Such as the fact that she was born in the Southern Water Tribe but had lived in Republic City for about twenty years. That she owned a dojo where she taught bending and that she had very strong opinions about the art of bending and how it was dying out.
Asami stepped off the ferry onto Air Temple Island and immediately began heading toward where she usually found Korra waiting, only to find the spot empty. Asami was momentarily confused and she wondered briefly if she'd come on the wrong day before shaking her head of the thought. She began to wonder through the Island not sure where she was going but she figured that Korra was either asleep or somewhere else on the island. Asami took in the sights of of the island as she walked down the path under oak trees that were just starting to bare leaves again. As she walked she noticed someone wearing the familiar yellow and orange robes of the air nation and jogged forward calling out, "Hey, excuse me!?" The person who, if Asami's research was correct, was more than likely an acolyte turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. "Do you know where Korra might be?"
The acolyte inclined their head slightly as they spoke, "I think I saw her over by the airball court." The acolyte moved to keep walking but Asami quickly stopped him.
"And uh, where might that be?" Asami felt stupid for asking the question even though she knew it wasn't. The acolyte turned back toward the way he had been come from and pointed down the pathway.
"Just keep walking down the path until you come to a fork in it then go left. You should come to it eventually." Asami nodded and said a brief thank you before she headed on her way. She followed the instructions and eventually came to what she assumed was the airball court which didn't look like any kind of sports court she had ever seen. There were large wooden poles about as high as some of the buildings along with what looked like some kind of goal posts at either end. As Asami came to stop she noticed Korra, who she was pretty sure she could pick out of a crowd at this point, standing on a pole at the far end of the court. She stood in a loose defensive stance her hands out in front of her and her knees bent slightly. She had a look of determination on her face. The same one she got when they played Pai Sho.
Suddenly one of other players locked eyes with Asami and smirked, "Hey Korra! Asami is here!" She pointed at Asami and Korra looked at her, a smile pulling at her lips as she fell out of the defensive stance. The fact that she could make Korra smile was something that Asami was proud of as it didn't seem like she smiled for just anyone. Korra raised her hand giving Asami a wave only for a ball to collide with her stomach sending her flying off the pole. The girl cheered and Asami rushed over to where Korra had landed on a bush.
"Korra, are you okay?" Asami asked kneeling beside her and she had to actively keep herself from touching Korra as she let out a pained groan. She struggled to push herself out of the foliage and Asami hesitantly helped her up unsure if she was overstepping her boundaries. Korra had said she didn't want to be touched but perhaps that was just because she was touch adverse.
"I'm fine." She winced as she pushed herself to her feet placing a hand over her stomach, "Oh yeah. That's definitely gonna bruise." Asami stood up as well and Korra gave her a crooked smile that made Asami's heart skip a beat. "Hey I'm sorry but the air brats dragged me into a game of Airball. Give me a moment to show them who's boss and we can go play Pai Sho."
"Like you can beat us!" The youngest of the players called and Asami suddenly realized that all three of Tenzin's children were on the side of the field opposite Korra meaning that it was three on one which was nowhere near fair.
"Do you want some back up? Three on one seems a little unfair." Korra laughed at Asami's comment patting her on the shoulder.
"It's cute that you think I need help." Asami opened her mouth to respond only to watch in silence as Korra easily remounted the pole she had been thrown off of. "Can you throw me the ball?" Asami looked to where Korra pointed noticing the ball that had rolled to the side and walked over picking it up. The wooden ball was hallow which probably had something to do with the game of Airball. She walked over to the pole tossing up to Korra who smiled in thanks before turning back to her opponents.
Asami took a seat figuring that she was already here and might as just enjoy what was sure to be an interesting show. She watched as the ball began spinning in Korra's hand and Asami did a double take because Korra definitely wasn't an airbender. It took Asami longer than she would have liked to realize that she wasn't bending the air itself but the water within it. The ball spun faster and faster in Korra's hand before she sent it forward with an underhand throw that ricocheted through the poles before flying through the goal post. The shocked look on the children's face was humorous and Korra laughed. Truly a beautiful sound.
One of Tenzin's children retrieved the ball before returning to his perch. He spun the ball in his hand before shooting it through the poles and toward Korra who sent it back toward him. Asami struggled to keep up with the action going on only really knowing what was happening when someone scored a goal. Asami did her best to keep track of points finding that the game was close. With Korra having scored 10 goals and the air children having scored 11 so that they were all tied up.
Korra spun the ball in her hand, "Wanna make this a little more interesting?"
One of the children, the youngest girl, crossed her arms over her chest, "How so?" Korra smirked, throwing the ball and sending it rechoceting through the poles past the air children and through the goal post.
"Like that!" Korra cried jumping up and cheering, "Korra for the win!" The children let out a groans of despair and Korra jumped down from the pole. "Asami did you see that!" Korra called the smile on her face. "I totally kicked their butts." Asami stood up flashing a smile at Korra who continued, "Now we can play Pai Sho."
Asami checked the time on her watch, frowning, "I would love to but..." Korra frowned obviously knowing what she had been going to say.
"But you have to leave already, don't you?" Asami nodded and anger crossed Korra's features as she placed her hands on her hips, "Those damn air brats. I swear, I'm gonna make them pay for this."
Asami smiled, "Well, I enjoyed watching you today. So, I don't think it wasn't a total loss." Korra laughed and, god, was it a beautiful sound and she wanted nothing more than to hear more of it.
"Well, that's good." Korra said, her shoulders bounced with the sound. "Next Saturday I promise I won't let myself be dragged into impromptu Airball games. Pai Sho as usual."
"Sounds good. I look forward to playing you." Asami said and Korra smiled a beautiful smile.
"Good. I need to go put ice on my stomach so...see you Saturday?" Korra said and Asami nodded watching as Korra disappeared around the corner leaving Asami alone with Tenzin's children.
"Do you like Korra?" Asked the youngest girl who looked up at her curiously.
"Yes. I do." The look that crossed the girls face caused Asami to add, "I consider her a good friend."
The girl shook her head frowning, "No. I mean, do you like like her? Because you act like you have a crush on her. I think Korra might have a crush on you but she's not very-"
"Ikki stop annoying Asami." The older girl cut Ikki off and Asami watched as she pouted crossing her arms over her chest.
"Oh come on, Jinora I know you're curious about why Korra's acting so weird." Jinora, who was the oldest and from the tattoo's on her forehead was an airbending master, let out a sigh.
"Korra is her own person and we shouldn't stick our nose in her life just because we can." It was obvious that Jinora was the stereotypical responsible older sibling. Asami looked down at the two figuring it wouldn't hurt to humor them. They were only children after all.
"I don't have a crush on her. We're just really good friends." Asami said sweetly and Ikki gave her an incredulous look.
"Are you sure?" Ikki said placing her hand on her hip.
"Yes. I mean, it's not like I lay awake at night thinking about her." Asami said with a laugh and Ikki gave her a look that said she didn't buy it. Asami found she didn't either.
Later that night as Asami laid in bed, the sound of Korra's laughter and the sight of her smile played over and over in her head, "Uh-Oh."