The sound of repetitive knocking roused Korra from her sleep, she turned over, trying to ignore the sound, and fall back asleep only for the knocking to continue. "Korra?" Pema's voice carried across the room causing Korra to pry her eyes open to see Pema standing in the doorway. Korra let out a grumbled response, burying her head back into her pillows hoping she would be left alone. The feeling of the bed bending under a sudden weight let her know that that wasn't happening. Letting out a groan Korra turned her head to look at Pema who just smiled down at her. "Good morning dear."

"Says you," Korra mumbled causing Pema to let out a light laugh. A yawn escaped Korra's throat, reaching up to rub her eyes. "Do you need something?"

"I'm going into town with Rohan and Jinora," Korra quirked her brow in an asking tone. "Which means I need you to look after Meelo and Ikki." When Korra didn't move Pema added. "Which means I need you to get up and make sure they don't try and kill each other." Korra groaned, pulling her blanket over her head. "There's a sandwich in the fridge in it for you."

Korra pulled the blanket down so she could see Pema and said, her voice muffled by the thick fabric. "A bribe? Really?"

"Yes." Pema stood up, brushing her hands on her knees. "Now I'll be leaving in about ten minutes. Please be up by then." Korra listened to the floorboards creak as Pema turned toward the door pausing to say. "And you might want to tidy up a bit before Asami visits next. It's a disaster zone in here." She continued out the door leaving Korra alone.

Korra let out a heavy sigh, throwing herself forward her blanket falling forward and pooling around her waist. She took a moment to look around her room which had definitely seen better days. Flopping back, throwing her arms over her eyes before grunting as she threw herself out of bed. She shuffled through the room, kicking clothes out of the way as she made her way over to the dresser. Pulling open the top drawer, she riffled through the clothes eventually pulling out a pair of pants and a shirt. She brought them up to her nose giving them a small sniff causing her to cringe. 'I really need to do some laundry.' She shoved the clothes back in the drawer and continued sifting through the clothes until she found some that reeked a little less than all the others. After getting dressed, Korra made her way toward the kitchen, scratching her stomach as a yawn escaped her throat. The island was already abuzz with activity despite the early hour, and Korra wished she could have that kind of energy.

Stepping inside the kitchen where Pema and her children were in the middle of breakfast. "Good morning, Korra!" Ikki yelled, slamming her hand against the table waving at her excitedly.

"G'morning." Korra yawned and ruffled her hair. "You gonna behave for me today?"

Ikki looked away cheekily, glancing up at her. "Maybe…"

"Eh, good enough." Korra shrugged and moved to pull out the seat just as a plate was placed in front of her.

"Your payment is in the fridge." Korra looked up at Pema who was smiling at her with a mirthful glint in her eye. Korra grunted in response and Pema returned her attention to her children. "Ikki. Meelo. You both behave while Korra's in charge."

"Okay!" Both Ikki and Meelo chimed completely in sync as Pema left with Jinora in tow.

Leaving the trio alone, Ikki slammed her hands on the table. "I wanna do makeovers!"

"Food first. Then makeovers."

"Well, I wanna play air tag!" Meelo said, crossing his arms over his chest as he puffed it out.

"Like I said. Food first." Korra continued biting into the tofu egg sandwich. Not her go-to but food was food and Korra wasn't about to turn a meal down.

Ikki and Meelo bickered as Korra shoved the final bite into her mouth, chewing slowly as Meelo shot upright. "I don't wanna wear makeup! Makeup is for girly girls and I am a manly man!"

"Well the Kyoshi warriors wear makeup and they aren't girly girls. They're badasses!"

Meelo seemed to silently consider this as Korra swallowed her mouthful. "Well? Have we made a decision?" Korra asked as she stood up, moving to wash her plate.

"I think the choice is obvious–" Ikki started to say only to be cut off rather rudely by her brother.

"I still wanna play air tag!" Meelo slammed his hands on the table.

"Hey! Easy there!" Korra placed a hand on his back. "I get a vote, don't I?"

Meelo crossed his arms over his chest. "I guess you can vote."

"Then I vote makeovers."

"Gah! I knew I shouldn'ta given you a vote!" Meelo screamed as he crossed his arms over his chest, pouting.

"Hey. You don't have to be happy about it or even take part but don't be a debbie downer about being outnumbered." Korra spoke gently, rubbing Meelo's shoulder who let out an angry huff, chest heaving with the action. "You can't always get your way, bud."

"Why can't we do both?" He looked up, hopeful.

"That's not gonna happen. Consider this your life lesson of the day."

"Hmph!"

"Pout all you want. We're doing makeovers." In truth, Korra just really didn't want to play air tag but she got the feeling that excuse wasn't going to fly with Meelo.

"So, Ikki, should we raid your mom's makeup?"

Ikki perked up, jumping from her chair and running up to Korra. "Can we!?"

"Yeah. Sure. Why not." Korra shrugged. "I mean, we need makeup to do makeovers, don't we?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ikki jumped up and down excitedly. "I'll go and get it!"

"Okay. Okay." Korra chuckled at the over excited airbender as she darted out of the room, leaving Korra and Meelo alone in the kitchen. She let out a sigh, placing a hand on her hip. "Meelo. Please stop sulking." He pointedly ignored her, turning his head to the side. "Fine. Sulk then." Korra huffed, her shoulders rising and falling with the motion. "If you want to join us, don't be shy." She reached forward to fugle his hair but he moved his head out of the way.

Shaking her head, Korra left the kitchen stretching her arms over her head enjoying the cool morning air on her skin. Poking her head into Tenzin and Pema;s room she called out. "Ikki? You in here?" The air child poked her head out of the doorway which led to the bathroom. Korra walked over to her, leaning against the door frame. "So? Have you found what you need for out makeovers?"

"I think so! Why don't you have a seat?"

"You wanna do it here? Why don't we do it in the living room?"

Ikki quickly began gathering up the makeup she'd picked up before ushering Korra out of the room. "Move your big butt, Korra!"

"Oh no! I feel…gravity…increasing…" Korra leaned back, smirk pulling at her lips.

"Korra!" Ikki whined. "Stop it! My hands are full!"

The waterbender laughed standing upright. "Sorry. Sorry." The pair moved quickly toward the living room, Ikki humming a tune as she skipped in front of Korra.

Once they entered the room, they found that Meelo had had the same idea as he had settled on the couch, watching a show on the small family T.V. "Clear out! I'm gonna give Korra the makeover of the century!" Ikki called as she began setting out the makeup.

"Oh? Are you now?" Korra chuckled as she took a seat on the floor.

"Yup! So get ready."

"Alright. I'm ready." The feeling of Ikki's hand on her cheek as she tilted her head forward. Korra tried not to laugh as Ikki smeared lipstick across her lips. She allowed Ikki to continue to give her what was supposed to be the makeover of the century. "Almost done?"

"Almost. Just one last thing." The tickle of a brush on her cheek was the last thing Korra felt before Ikki announced. "Alright! Done!" The sound of her setting the brush down. "Now we have to do your nails."

Korra opened her eyes, ignoring the feeling of makeup caked on her cheeks. Ikki was making a grabbing motion with her hand. "You're not gonna let me see your handiwork?" The sound of Meelo snickering caused Korra to worry slightly.

"Sure! If you want too." She watched as the young airbender opened a compact holding it out for Korra to take in her appearance. The makeover wasn't the worst thing she had ever seen but the overly bright makeup clashed horribly but it could for sure be worse. "Well, do you like it?"

"It's great. Can I take a photo? Don't wanna forget my first ever patented Ikki makeover."

"Yes!" Ikki shot up. "Give me your phone and I'll take the photo!" Korra handed her phone to Ikki who smiled. "Pose for the camera!" The waterbender placed her hands under her chin, tilting her head to the side. The sound of the shutter clicking several times let her know that Ikki had taken more than enough photos. "Perfect. Here ya go." And with that she handed Korra back the phone which displayed her new paint job.

Korra sent the photo off to the only person she regularly texted with the caption, chuckling to herself as she did so.

Like my new look?

"Okay. Now give me your hand." Ikki once again held out her hand, waiting for Korra to do as she'd been instructed. The waterbender did so, placing her hand in Ikki's watching as she furrowed her brows as she inspected her hand. "Did you start aging?"

"What? No, of course not."

"Then have your nails always been this long?" Ikki asked, head tilted to the side as she held her hand further to her face.

Korra pulled her hand away, holding her fingernails up to her face, which seemed to have grown overnight but she knew, logically speaking, that wasn't possible. "No. They haven't."

Ikki perked up excitedly. "You did start aging! Who's your soulmate!? Is it Asami? It has to be Asami! We should–"

Korra shot up, slamming her hands down on the table causing several items to topple to the side. "We're done here."

"Korra!" Ikki yelled but the waterbender ignored her sprinting out of the room, panic flooding her system causing her heart to beat hard in her chest.

Korra threw the door to one of the bathrooms open, she ran inside, slamming it closed and locking it behind her. The waterbender walked up to the sink and mirror. She took the soap bar that sat on the counter. She wet it, rubbing it into a lather before attempting to wash the caked on makeup. She splashed water onto her face, wiping it off, leaving a smear across the towel. She returned her eyes to the mirror, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Instinctually she pulled from her pocket noticing the laughing emoji Asami had sent.

Looking good. But maybe let me do your makeup next time.

'Next time?' Korra thought bitterly. She looked down at her nails which were longer then they'd been in…well in a very long time. The waterbender began rummaging through the cupboard finding a small pair of scissors which she knew were used for cutting nails.
A knock at the door caused Korra to jump, nearly dropping the scissors. "Korra? Are you okay?" Ikki's voice carried through the door, quiet and low. An unsuredness caused her voice to have a tremor to it.

"Y-yeah. I'm fine." She tucked the scissors into her waistband, moving to open the door. "I just..needed to pee real bad."

"Oh. Okay." Ikki seemed unconvinced but apparently didn't want to continue pushing.

"How about we play some board games until your mom and siblings get home? That way your brother can play."

"O-okay." Ikki allowed herself to be ushered back into the living room where Meelo sat head leaning against the table which had been cleared of makeup. "I'll get the board games out." Ikki darted over to a chest which contained all the board games that had been collected over the years.

"And let's let Meelo choose since you got to do my makeup. Okay?"

"Kay!" Ikki called over her shoulder and soon they were set up to play scrabble. A game that definitely wasn't what Korra expected Meelo to pick up Korra stood by her word allowing him to place the first word on the board.

The trio played until the sound of a door opening and Pema called out. "We're home!"

Korra looked up just as Jinora wandered into the room. "Hey, Jin wanna sub in for me?" She leaned back on her hands, ignoring the way the scissors dug into her waist.

"You're losing, aren't you?" She raised an unimpressed eyebrow at her.

"What!? No!" Korra laughed. "Okay maybe a little. I have things I need to do. Please Jin. Sub in for me?"

Jinora rolled her eyes. "Fine." Korra stood up, letting the eldest of the air children take her spot. She quickly made her way through the kitchen where Pema was puttering around.

She noticed Korra as she moved. "Oh thank you again for watching Ikki and Meelo."

"No problem." Korra half-heartedly spoke, mind elsewhere at the moment. Her feet carried her out onto the open air walkways, quickly moving until she came to the area of the temple with a rock garden surrounded on four sides by the wooden walkways.

Korra sat down, removing the scissors from her waist band. "Okay. This can't be that hard…" She slipped her fingers into the and went to cut the nail that looked the longest.

Only to wince when the tip of the blade dug itself into the skin under her nail. "Ow…" Korra sucked on her finger as someone chuckled behind her.

"Would you like some help with that?" Pema asked and Korra looked up and then down at the scissors realizing she had no idea what she was doing.

Nodding Korra mumbled around her finger. "Yesh pleash."

The air matriarch laughed as she sat down next to her holding out her hand, taking the scissors, Pema gently took her hand, pulling it into the light of the porch.

Korra watched as she steadily cut her nails, the small, crescent moon-shaped clippings falling onto Pema's lap as she hummed a small tune. Korra watched her work mesmerized by just how easily she was able to clip her nails, leaving them short once more. The air matriarch released her hand reaching for her other one. The silence between them was broken when Pema spoke. "So, are you going to talk to Asami?" Another moment of silence. "It is Asami, right?"

"I don't know but more than likely."

"You don't sound very excited about this turn of events. Is something the matter?" Pema leaned forward looking up at her hand still holding hers.

"I just…" Korra looked away, trying to pull her hand away but Pema tightened her grip on it. "I don't want things to change. I like things how they are." She silently watched as Pema finished cutting her nails, letting her hand go. The air matriarch stood up, brushing the clippings from her lap.

"There. All done." She looked down at her, a small smile pulling at her lips. "Are you going to call Asami?"

Korra reached up, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'll think about it."

Pema let out a sigh, shaking her head. "You're a grown woman. Do what you want but just know that avoiding the problem and ignoring Asami isn't a long term solution."

"I know." Korra fell back, the wood of the walkway cool against her back as her shirt rode up. "Trust me I know."

"Well as long as you know." Pema said but she didn't sound very convinced. Her footsteps faded slowly as Pema walked away, leaving Korra alone. Just her and her thoughts. She threw her arm over her eyes, letting out a heavy sigh, chest heaving with the motion.

Korra's phone buzzed in her pocket, and upon fishing it out Asami's name was the one that appeared on the screen. After only a moment's thought she rejected the call.

Korra just needed a few days to sort through what she was feeling.

Just a few days.

That's all.

The sound of a clock ticking and Asami's nails as she trapped them against her desk rhythmically were the only sounds that filled her home office as she read over the potential contracts. The annoyingly small font paired with the glare of the screen which she had been staring at for hours had caused a throbbing heading to form behind her eyes.

Leaning back in her chair, Asami gently massaged the space between her eyes. "Maybe I need a break…" She pulled her hand away from her eyes noticing how loose one of her nails looked. Messing with it, it pulled up almost coming off. Bouncing forward, Asami pushed her chair back. "That's it. I'll think better after a break and I think I deserve to be pampered." She quickly moved through her apartment, grabbing her phone, making sure she had her wallet and key Asami slipped on her sandals before pressing the call button for the elevator.

The doors opened, the CEO stepping inside just as her phone buzzed causing her to pull it out of her pocket noticing Korra's name lit up the screen. Pressing the button for the basement car park, she leaned against the back wall and opened the text only to be assaulted by an image of Korra posing while absolutely caked in clashing makeup.

Like my new look?

Asami couldn't keep the laugh that erupted from her lips which she tried to stifle as the door opened. She walked out into the car park, quickly crossing to where she'd left her car parked. The cool air of the basement was welcome given how hot Asami knew Republic City could get this time of year. Asami stopped in front of her car, looking down at her still open conversation with Korra.

:LaughingCrying: Looking good. But maybe let me do your makeup next time.

Unlocking her door, Asami slid into the driver's seat, hitting the ignition, causing the car's engine to roar to life. She pulled out of her parking spot and drove through the car park knowing exactly where she was going.

No GPS necessary.

Arriving at the uptown nail salon 'Republic City Nails' which Asami would stand-by as the best nail salon in the city. Her main reason: All the employee's were aging. Whether an active choice by the owners or simply an occupational hazard Asami didn't know but it meant that she didn't have to worry about accidentally meeting her soulmate while getting her biweekly mani-pedi.

Asamu climbed out of her car, locking it as she approached the front of the building. Pushing the door open, a blast of cool air hit the CEO in the face as the bell over the door dinged.

"Hello–Oh! Miss Sato! I didn't know you had an appointment with us today?" The woman running the front desk spoke, looking at the computer brows furrowed slightly.

"I don't. I just decided to treat myself."

"Well, your normal manicurist is currently with a customer but we have other open availability." She paused. "Unless you're willing to wait?"

"I'll wait. I'm not in any rush…" Asami took a seat on one of the chairs in the waiting area, leaning back she pulled her phone from her pocket. Korra had yet to respond to her text. 'Weird.' She shook her head. 'She must be busy with something.'

Opening her email Asami began sorting through them until her name was called. "Miss Sato?"

Asami looked up to see her normal manicurist, Jin Li, waiting. "Are you ready?"

"Yes. of course." Asami stood up following her to a table where she took a seat across from Jin Li. She let her take her hands, picking up a tool which she used to begin to pry off her fake nails. The woman paused after removing the final nail. "So, who is the lucky person?" The manicurist asked, smiling up at her from where she held her hands.

"Excuse me?"

"Your soulmate. Who are they?" Asami tilted her head slightly in confusion and the woman in front of her held up her hands. "Your nails are longer than they were during your last appointment." Asami's eyes widened as she noticed that, yes, her nails were much longer than they had been during her prior visit. "So…" The woman asked, dragging out word.

"I…" Asami trailed off into silence and the manicurist seemed to get the message that this conversation wasn't going to go anywhere.

"Well, since your nails are growing, how about we just do a normal manicure. No need for fake nails anymore it seems."

"That works for me." Asami spoke, voice quiet as her mind was pulled elsewhere, to a pair of ocean blue eyes which crinkled as the person they belonged to smiled. 'It's Korra, right? It has to be.' She watched as Jin Li painted her nails a sharp red. 'I don't think I could handle it being anyone else.'

The feeling of her hands being picked up and gently slipped under the UV lamp. "Alright. While you let those dry, do you want to go ahead and pay?"

"Sure. Sounds fine." Asami finagled her card out of her wallet handing it to the manicurist who moved toward the cash register. The CEO waited, silently watching as her nails dried, the fan blowing lightly against them.

"Okay." She set the card which was wrapped in the receipt. "You're ready to go whenever."

"Thank you." Asami smiled, pulling her card toward her. She gently touched her nails, finding them just dry enough for her to not worry about messing them up. Returning her card to its home, Asami stood up pushing the chair back in before heading out.

Asami stepped out into the hot afternoon, she looked down at her phone, Korra's contact already pulled up her thumb hovering over the call button. Why was she hesitating? Nothing had changed. Nothing…had…changed…

"Nothings changed, right?" Asami looked up, closing her eyes against the bright sun ignoring the way it burned slightly. "So, why does it feel like it has?" Pressing the call button, she put the speaker against her ear listening to it ring once, twice, and then the line went dead. Looking down at her phone displaying the call time of five seconds. "Did she seriously just hang up on me?"