Asami watched through the kitchen window, gazing out into the adjacent yard. She stood with both arms crossed, leaning her weight onto one leg. Korra was barely in view, stepping through several different stances. Occasionally the young Avatar would thrust an arm in one direction and generate a blast of fire or a wisp of air. Asami sighed, watching the dance-like movements, appreciating the well-practiced forms as much as just seeing Korra enjoy herself.
The loud ding of a mechanical bell broke Asami's concentration. She turned away from the window, pacing back into the kitchen and to the counter. Lifting the boiling teapot before her, she carefully poured two small cups, one for herself and one for Korra. Afterward, she turned to flick the heating device off and then make her way outside.
Asami walked quietly along the wall, staying a safe distance from the spinning and twirling woman in the grass. She moved in a slow stroll, making her way to a nearby bench. She leaned down to rest one cup, then sat with the other, sipping from it. The warm tea helped to fight off the cold weather. From afar, she continued to watch Korra going through different bending stances, trying not to interrupt for the first minute. Eventually though, when the Avatar did notice Asami sitting nearby, she flagged her down and smiled. "I brought you some tea, in case you want to take a break."
"I wouldn't mind stopping for a little while," Korra replied. She lowered her arms and made her way to the bench. Asami couldn't help but smile widely as Korra drew closer. She felt giddy knowing that Korra was approaching her, lending her full attention and appreciation. She focused on each step and the sway of her hips, subtle as it may have been. She watched the way Korra's short hair flowed in the cool breeze. She examined the Water Tribe outfit; pants under a folded skirt, and a top that showed off the majority of her toned arms. Asami was beaming by the time Korra stopped in front of her and reached for the cup of tea. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Asami handed off the cup to the other woman, raising it with both hands. Her fingers brushed Korra's, sliding along her warm skin and catching a fleeting touch of her hands before lowering back to her lap and to her own teacup. Sitting in silence, she let Korra seat herself and enjoy the tea before resuming any conversation. "So, you still feel the need to train? You're basically a master of everything at this point."
Korra shrugged. "Well, aside from keeping my skills sharp, I think there's always room for improvement. Maybe I don't get much out of throwing fireballs at the air, but I can't think of anything else to do. I need to be ready in case anything else comes along."
Asami hummed, leaning in Korra's direction. She reached outward with a hand, resting it on the woman's bare shoulder. "I really hope your efforts to balance the world are long-lasting. You've already had to deal with Tarrlok and Amon and neutralize the Equalists, you stopped Vaatu and Unalaq and reconnected the world with the spirits, you defeated Zaheer and helped put an end to the more powerful members of the Red Lotus, and you dealt with Kuvira's attempt to take over the Earth Kingdom. That's way more than any one person, even the Avatar, should have to deal with." After a short pause, she added, "I think the universe owes you a favor. You should be allowed to retire."
Korra chuckled over her cup of tea. "Well, I don't think it works that way, but I wish it did." She turned away, glancing off into the distance. Asami sat watching her for a time. "I want to continue to better myself so that I can protect the people I know and love."
"You're already very strong, Korra, and I don't just mean physically." Asami waited for the younger woman's attention to turn back to her, enjoying the faint smile on her lips. "You've done so much to protect the world already." She turned her feet inward, pressing them together underneath the bench. "Sometimes I feel jealous. You're leaving behind such an incredible legacy. I fear that all I can leave behind is a struggling company." Her shoulders slumped and she looked to the ground.
Korra turned in place, reaching out to Asami's face. Her eyes lit up when a warm hand ran across her skin, catching her chin and lifting it. Her head turned, looking into Korra's comforting blue eyes. Her worried expression eased to enjoy the contact. She felt electricity where Korra touched her, and she held her breath to hear Korra speak. "Your company is doing great, Asami. You brought it back from almost nothing, which is saying something considering the way your father left it."
"I know," Asami whispered. She kept her eyes locked on the girl beside her, afraid to move for fear of breaking the contact they shared. "But Future Industries thrives and grows on things my father built. Our Satomobiles, the biplanes, mecha tanks, those are all his inventions. I haven't really done anything."
The warm hand against her face fell away. She wanted to frown, or to protest, but she said nothing. "That's not true. You designed the airbender wingsuits. Those are helping a lot of people."
Asami hummed at the revelation. "I guess." She sat straighter, trying to perk up and pout less. "I suppose airbenders are a growing market, after all."
Korra nodded. "You just need to be more aggressive with your marketing techniques! Maybe you can get everyone into one. Tenzin still needs one."
Asami contorted her face into a silly expression. She squinted, sticking her tongue out at Korra. "Ew, that's an image I didn't need in my head!" When she began to giggle, Korra joined her.
Once the laughing died down, Asami returned to her tea while Korra resumed speaking. "Besides, you've helped me more than you know. And I want to turn myself around and accept the support of my friends."
Asami took a slow sip of her tea while listening. She nodded her head once Korra finished. "I'm glad. I know you had the notion that you needed to save the world alone. But that was never the case. You've always had support." She lowered the cup of tea to her lap, canting her head to the woman beside her. She liked the way Korra's smile brightened her day. From the right angle, her face almost looked illuminated, as if glowing in candlelight. "Sometimes, the world does need you, Korra. But we need you too. And you need us."
"I know I do," Korra said in a kind voice. "And I'm glad you're here to help me through some of my problems. I don't think I could do it all by myself."
Asami suddenly pushed her feet out from underneath the bench, planting them solidly. She tilted her cup to drink the last bit of tea before discarding it at her side. She hopped to her feet, spinning around while Korra watched. Her hair bounced, fluttering wildly in the air. She backed away from the bench, still facing Korra, while rolling her shoulders to slide her coat off and drop it in the grass. Hands drifted behind her head, pulling on the mass of raven hair to keep it still. After producing a red band from a pocket, she tied her hair back into a ponytail. Afterward, she brought one hand forward to gesture at Korra. "Well, I know one more way I can help you out. On your feet!" she demanded, her tone now playful.
The Avatar looked confused but curious. She watched Asami get to her feet and start to hop while shifting weight from one shoe to the other. Once called to, Korra lifted her cup to drink the last of the tea. The emptied cup joined its brother on the bench when Korra stood. "Oh, what's this out of nowhere? You think you can take me?"
"You think I can't?" Asami shot back, grinning. She hopped, light on her toes, from one foot to the other. "Your hand-to-hand still needs some work. Come on, Avatar, let's see if you can knock me down. No bending."
Korra closed the distance between them, stopping only a few paces away. She came to a halt, raising both hands to clasp them together and issue a bow. Asami assumed the same stance, beginning with a respectful dip of her head. Once both girls returned to their previous positions, Asami locked on the Water Tribe girl carefully. Then, Korra pounced.
Korra rushed closer, quickly spinning with the advance. A half-twirl brought one leg around, sliding close to the ground in an attempt to take Asami off her feet. Asami did invite Korra to knock her down, but didn't expect her tactic to be so obvious. Asami quickly backpedaled, narrowly avoiding the sweep. Korra's momentum continued, bringing her back around for a second swing with her other leg. This time, Asami rocked back on one foot, raising the other into the air. The other woman was close, and now in the path of a simple leg-drop. Asami reversed direction, bringing her foot back down. It slammed, hard, into the ground, only missing Korra due to a last-second dodging roll.
Asami stood back up, turning her body and widening her stance to maintain stronger balance. She watched and waited for Korra to get back to her feet and dust off bits of grass and dirt. Asami flashed her a smile once she recovered. Korra advanced once more, keeping just enough distance to make safe jabs with both fists. Asami continued to back away while circling Korra, making sure to carefully maintain a consistent distance in order to properly judge the arc and reach of each swing. As the two moved, Asami began to preach. "Each form of bending is its own martial art style, but there are still many other styles you can learn in order to weigh the odds in your favor."
Korra slowed her movements, backing away to put more steps between them. She moved in a circular pattern around Asami, surveying her for an opening. "I learned that early on when I started pro-bending. Even if I was a master of earthbending, there are other forms of it to learn. Toph even had her own style."
"Right! But even then—" Asami leaned hard to her left, easing past a swing Korra threw at her in the middle of her sentence. She backed away, holding both arms up in front of her chest defensively. Korra moved quickly, rolling her shoulder back to transfer the energy into her other arm. Asami barely adjusted her stance in time to catch Korra's forearm with her own and direct it off its path. Korra hopped away, neither trusting the other in extremely close quarters. Asami exhaled. "Even then, there are many martial art styles not tied to any form of bending. Learning those can make you unpredictable and harder to counter."
Both women stopped for a moment, standing their ground and waiting for the other to move. Asami took a few short steps, making Korra backpedal. Now that she was forcing the Avatar into a retreat, she picked up her pace and vaulted closer. She moved into a fluid jab with her right arm, only to have Korra duck neatly underneath it. Asami quickly adjusted as soon as Korra dropped, able to sidestep the predicted swing aimed at her midsection. She managed one step back before Korra came at her again with another strike speeding toward her chest. Asami raised her left arm into the path of it, pushing it off course with her wrist. At the same time, her other hand swung around and issued a strong push to Korra's shoulder. Korra stumbled backward, but did not fall.
Asami reclaimed her stance and waited for Korra again. She knew the hot-headed woman would be first to strike, and she was proven right again. Korra moved quickly at her, leaning to one side and then the other to throw off her direction. She dove in close with a low punch toward Asami's stomach. Asami threw her weight back, head dipping forward while sliding out of range. Her eyes widened when the younger woman followed through with a kick before she could recover. She swung her head backward to avoid being struck. "Whoa—!" But Korra was already well into the next attack. Sliding a foot across the grass, Korra brought her shin upward to target the back of Asami's knee, just as Asami had done to the mugger before. Her balance broken, she teetered and fell backward.
In that short second, Asami realized she was about to be toppled by Korra. And after all that tough talk! But, as she dropped, she became conscious of her arms being unoccupied. Korra put all of her effort into taking Asami off her feet, leaving her hands free. She swiftly raised both hands over her head, touching the grass with open palms. She turned the falling momentum into a complete backflip, kicking her legs up and over her head. With a full turn, she landed back on her feet, now facing a perplexed Korra. She lunged forward with the full strength of her body. Korra did the same, and they collided in the middle, all four arms impacting between them. Unfortunately for the Avatar, Asami's angle and force was stronger, and she separated her arms outward to throw Korra's hands away from her body. Coming full circle, Asami's hands swung back toward her center. She planted both against Korra's chest, shoving hard.
With both arms thrust aside, and the sudden application of force, Korra fell back unceremoniously, crashing into the grass. She closed her eyes to groan, not from pain, but from defeat. Asami dropped both hands and followed Korra, crouching and sitting down at her side. She smiled merrily to Korra once the woman's eyes opened again. "Very close," she teased.
Korra adjusted her position. She bent her knees and raised both hands above her head, crossing her arms there to use as a pillow. "I feel like any closeness on my part was purely accidental." Korra stretched, elevating her chest and tightening her stomach before relaxing once again. "I'll need a lot more practice before I can best Sifu Sato."
Asami reached down with one hand, tapping her index finger against Korra's nose over and over. The digit bounced up and down until Korra scrunched her face. "Just Asami is fine, good pupil." Asami's eyelids lowered, gazing down at the woman laid out in the grass beside her. The image of the peacefully relaxed Korra burned itself in Asami's mind. She loved seeing the girl so laid back and happy. Her viewpoint on Korra changed so much in the last few days. She felt as though she was seeing her from a fresh perspective, with new eyes. It was intoxicating just being near her. Every single tiny detail about Korra made her heart stop and sink into her stomach. If this was what it meant to be in love with another woman, she welcomed it. She could do this every day. This was paradise.
When Korra spoke, Asami's expression slowly turned into a frown. "It's so nice having a girl friend to talk to and do stuff with. Nobody else seems to understand or care about the things I have to put up with like you do."
The hand withdrew from Korra, retreating from the repeated pokes to her nose. Her eyes lowered and avoided the Avatar's glance. She bit her lip in silence, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt. She was falling for Korra more and more, and the woman didn't even know it. Korra didn't realize how much those words stung. And Asami couldn't tell her. It wouldn't be appropriate. To Korra, she was just a friend. "I'd like to stay longer," she began with a sigh, "but I do need to go out for a while." Asami had nowhere in mind. She just suddenly felt as though she needed to get away. To clear her mind and think.
Korra kicked her legs forward, swinging all her weight in order to sit up. She tucked her legs in close, hugging her ankles. "All right. I'll stay here then. I'll probably be outside when you get back."
"You're welcome to anything in the house you like," Asami offered helpfully.
"It's okay. I like the outdoors more. Your mansion feels sort of big and empty to me."
Asami pulled her legs in closer, pushing to stand up. She ran a hand up the back of her neck to tug on the hair band constraining her ponytail. Pulling on it, she freed her bouncy hair, tossing it side to side until it settled. She turned her eyes down to the sitting Korra. "It's a lot less empty with you in it," she replied, sulking.
The grass-covered girl below her merely smiled at the comment. "You're sweet."
"Do you need me to pick up anything while I'm out?"
"I think I'll be fine. I'm going to sit here and contemplate my place in the universe for a while longer. It helps me relax."
Asami nodded in response, cracking a slim smile at the mild humor. She offered a parting flutter of fingers, turning to walk away after diverting to scoop up her coat, slinging it over her shoulder. After several steps, she glanced back over her shoulder, seeing Korra moving into a meditative position. But she was growing smaller the more distance Asami put between them, until she instead began to pay attention to where she was going.
She walked in no real hurry, approaching her motorcycle and standing beside it. She hovered, not sure where to go or what to do. She just needed a distraction. While considering her options, she reached out to check the glove compartment, confirming that someone already came by and took the weapon from the previous day. They also left a note, elaborating on the name of the officer who visited and what case number it pertained to. There was even a sentence explaining that the suspect was currently in jail.
Asami backed up, rereading the paper. She stopped on one word, staring at the symbols on the page. It gave her an idea. There was one place she might go, one person she could talk to for advice. And being just past midday, she still had plenty of time.
She flicked the box closed and reached for her helmet. Sliding it over her hair, she hopped onto the bike, making it bounce from the added weight. She started it up and revved it loudly, getting used to the enjoyable feeling of the machine growling underneath her. So much more fun than a car. Leaning forward, she twisted the handlebar and jumped onto the street, speeding down the road.
The actual trip proved short. Traffic was light, and her destination wasn't far. She followed the winding streets, pulling alongside a tall building still wrapped in spirit vines. Skidding to a halt outside, she turned the engine off and removed her helmet. She hopped free of the vehicle, landing neatly on the sidewalk, and approached.
Inside, she stopped to be checked by security just past the door. Once cleared, she answered when prompted for her name. All very boring and routine. A guard escorted her through a series of doors and into a familiar, secluded room. Mostly wooden, with featureless tables and folding metal chairs. She selected a table at random and started to set up a Pai Sho board — one of the only features of the room and more or less the only thing allowed. She sat quietly, glancing occasionally to the guard standing in the corner, until finally the nearby door opened.
A ragged-looking older man walked through the door, escorted by a second guard. He looked very tired, with white hair, round glasses, and a drab gray prison uniform. Asami sat up to address him. When his eyes fell on her, his face visibly brightened. He moved to the table, easing into the chair on the opposite side. He slumped forward with a heavy sigh. "Asami, you came to see me."
"Hi, Dad," she murmured in a gentle voice. "I'm sorry I haven't visited lately. I've had a lot on my mind for the last few weeks." She turned her eyes away, still feeling a mix of emotions regarding her father. She wanted to forgive and be open with him again, but the lingering pain of his crimes and betrayal still kept her at a cautious distance. Still, she had more or less forgiven him. Trust was harder. "I don't know how long I can stay, but I thought we could play a game or two."
"I would enjoy that," he said, his voice fatigued. He turned his attention to the playing board, raising a hand to hold his bearded chin. "Do you want to go first?"
"Sure," said Asami absentmindedly. She reached forward, picking up a piece and setting it back down in a new position. Hiroshi Sato watched and responded with his first move. She went back and forth for several moves, until her father's actions slowed. He began to consider the board more seriously, lingering on the next turn for a long time, examining her strategy.
Eventually, he lifted his head and gave Asami a concerned look. She realized just by seeing his reaction that he was close to winning the game. She'd barely been paying attention, and he knew it. "You seem distracted. You said you've had a lot on your mind. Is the company doing okay?"
Asami slumped in her chair. She wanted to come and talk to her father, the only person that came to mind when considering who she might be able to vent to. But now, faced with the conversation, she felt too nervous to have it. "The company's fine. We've been doing very well, actually. We got most of our old investors back."
"That's good to hear," he replied. He turned to look at the board, reaching out with both hands and sliding it to the side, so nothing stood between them. Afterward, his hands folded on the table. "I don't know if you want to hear my advice, but whatever problems you have, you can talk to me. I'd like to try and help you, if you let me."
Asami tightly gripped the elbow of her opposite arm, fingers squeezing just to have something to hold on to. "It's—I'm having trouble with a relationship. It's been very hard, and I don't know what to do."
"Are you still dating that—Mako?" Hiroshi's voice paused just long enough that Asami looked up at him suspiciously. She knew that he originally hated Mako, but only because he was a bender. Especially a firebender. Though he'd allegedly resolved that loathing, she still wanted to be sure.
"No, I'm not," she said quickly. "Mako and I broke up. This is someone else. This… person is a very powerful bender, though." She focused her eyes on his face, waiting to see his reaction to being told she might be dating another bender.
Hiroshi seemed unphased by the revelation. "Well, you seem concerned. What's the problem between you and this boy?"
Asami cringed, trying to hide her grinding teeth. She forced herself through the conversation. She spoke slowly, staggering every other word as she searched for what to say. "I'm not sure if it's a romantic attraction or if I have some sort of unhealthy obsession. I can't speak to… this person about it."
"Do you think he has any feelings for you?" her father asked.
"I don't know," she whimpered, tightening up on herself. She leaned forward on the table, resting both elbows and holding her head in her hands. She wanted to say no, or probably not, but she couldn't be sure. Maybe she was just being unrealistically optimistic. She couldn't say no. There had to be a small chance.
Hiroshi reached out with a hand, placing the roughness of his palm against her arm to try and lend comfort. Concern for his daughter showed all throughout his face. "Love is hard when you're young. You can't let it tear you up inside."
Asami sniffled quietly, managing to keep tears at bay. She took a deep breath, calming herself before replying. "I'm worried that I'm only chasing this person because I'm afraid of being alone. And I'm afraid of what would happen if they reject me. And I'm afraid of what others will think of me."
Hiroshi pulled back, sitting up in his chair. "Why would anyone think less of you?" Asami said nothing. She could tell from her father's surveying gaze that he knew she was hiding something. She merely fidgeted in her chair, keeping her eyes off of her father to avoid answering the question. He took it as a sign and moved on. "The only advice I can give you is that you won't be able to get through it if you don't talk about it. I think the only thing left for you to do is discuss it with him."
Asami sniveled quietly, but continued into a heavy sigh. She pushed her feet against the floor, easing the chair back, creating room to stand. "You're right. Thank you."
Hiroshi reached out once more, taking Asami's hand to squeeze it and lend whatever comfort he could. She raised her green eyes to look at him, forcing a smile. He spoke once again, in kind words. "Whatever happens, and however things work out, just remember that I'm very proud of you. I always will be."
Asami squeezed his hand for just a moment before releasing it. She stood up and looked down at her poor father on the other end of the table. Her eyes showed an innate sadness, still having no confidence of the future. "I really hope that's true, Dad," she said in a fragile voice. "I should go."
"Will I see you again soon?" he asked hopefully.
Asami sighed. "I don't know. I'll try." She stepped quietly around the table, approaching him to offer a parting hug. Once the two separated, she stood back, watching him be escorted back out of the room by a guard. She stayed behind until the door closed. Once her father disappeared, she trudged out of the building and back outside to retrieve her bike.
The ride back to the mansion felt lonely and quiet. Despite still being daylight, she felt a lingering black cloud following her through the streets and back to the Sato estate. When she pulled in to stop, she almost couldn't peel herself off the motorcycle. She forced herself down, treading heavily back up the walkway toward the side door.
As she drew closer, she caught sight of a figure seated outside. Close to the benches, posed neatly on the grass. She knew it was Korra, still in the same place, possibly meditating. She drove herself toward the woman, making her way across the grass and coming to a stop at her side. The Avatar was sitting still, her body resting in the lotus position.
Asami lowered her eyes, carefully fending off the rush of feelings. She didn't know if the conversation with her father helped. She still felt conflicted. There was no way she could keep holding everything in, but the prospect of Korra recoiling when she spoke her mind terrified her. And although she worried for her mental and emotional stability, she had to admit that outside of the turmoil twisting inside her chest, she'd experienced more contentment and pure elation in recent days than she could remember ever feeling before. She tightened her fingers together, squeezing the digits of both hands. She cleared her throat. "Korra?"
The Avatar's eyes slowly opened. She blinked a few times, then relaxed her pose. She stretched one leg outward, bending the other to rest an elbow on. She reclined enough to look up at Asami next to her. Asami hoped she was projecting herself into the spirit world, and therefore unable to be reached. No such luck. She had the woman's attention. "Hey, welcome back." Korra showed off her currently perky mood with a wide smile.
"Am I interrupting anything?" Asami asked timidly. Maybe, if she was lucky, Korra would be busy, and she'd have to postpone the conversation.
Korra shook her head. "Not really, no. Why, what's up?"
She would have to tell Korra how she felt. "Can we talk?"
