Spoilers for Legend of Korra

New Beginnings

She could afford to patronize any establishment in Republic City, but chose a dimly lit, grimy bar away from the city's shiny down town. Asami Sato pulled open the door, patted down windblown brown locks and peered into the large room. Lin Bei Fong sat alone in a corner, nursing some drink or other. One finger traced the scars on her right cheek. She glanced up when Asami approached.

"You're late," she stated brusquely.

"Traffic," the younger woman replied with a shrug. "Even my Satomobile can't defeat that."

"Humph, well, sit down." Lin indicated the chair across from her before calling over the corpulent barkeeper. "What will you have, girl?"

"Just give me what she's having," Asami told the man. She flashed a brilliant smile and the barkeeper lit up, suddenly willing to do anything for the young lady.

"I'll be right back," he chirped. "And I'll bring you a bowl of nuts too. Would you like that?"

Asami answered sweetly. "Sure, that would be great."

"You never offered me nuts," Lin complained. She shot the man a surly glare, narrow green eyes getting even narrower, and he rushed away as quickly as his thick legs would carry him.

Chuckling, the beautiful heiress shrugged out of her coat and placed her hands in her lap. "It seems strange to smile. It seems strange to feel happy. I've lost so much these past few weeks."

"Hey, this little get together was your idea, Asami. If you're not up to it…."

Lin Bei Fong had a healthy respect for the daughter of Hiroshi Sato. The founder of Future Industries had betrayed Asami's trust, lied to her for years, used his technology to help the perpetrators of violent, terrorist acts, and in the end, he had been willing to murder her too. Any person would be bowed under the weight of all that. But to her infinite credit, Asami had never whined, never given up and never stopped fighting. She faced her father head on and remained strong. That kind of behavior, those actions took guts. And if there was one thing Lin Bei Fong respected, it was that.

Her own mother, Toph, never coddled her or pampered her or kept her safe inside some mansion. She was tough and she was hard and she demanded a lot. But Toph had never lied to Lin either, preferring instead a sometimes brutal honesty. Lin had always known where she stood with her mother. And for that she was very grateful.

"I'm fine, really." Asami took her drink from the barkeeper and he placed the snacks in front of her, deliberately out of Lin's reach. The younger woman giggled. "He likes you."

Snarling, Lin shifted so that she had access to the bowl as well. "So, you asked me here for something; get on with it."

"Like I was saying, I've lost so much; my father and my boyfriend, though he never really belonged to me and I'm better off. I've lost my childhood too, all those sweet memories, because all through it, he lied. My father did nothing but lie to me. But I have so much as well. I have a company to run. And I have all this amazing technology at my disposal. Lin, I don't want to spend all my time behind a desk or attending meetings. I want to help this city rid itself of crime. You know that I'm capable." Lin nodded and ate another handful of nuts. "All I ask is that you cut me a little slack if I, you know, impede someone."

"You mean make a citizen's arrest, that sort of thing?" Lin smiled slyly at the younger woman. She knew damn well that Asami meant to do a lot more than that.

"Something like that. You're Chief of Police again. We can work together. I can stop criminals, and we both know that the city is crazy right now, and leave them for you to pick up. It's a win-win situation."

"You'll be on your own. Don't think for a minute that I'll rush out to protect you or save you." She stared unflinchingly into Asami's green eyes. "But I know that you can take care of yourself."

"Yeah, I really can. And that alone is something to celebrate." She raised her glass and nodded to Lin before taking a healthy swig.

Lin responded in kind and the two spent the remainder of the evening in easy silence.

A/N: All the credit for the idea of Asami becoming a crime fighting, tech wielding, Bat(wo)man sort of figure, going to Lin for 'permission' etc. goes to Overlord Ixmythot. If you like the idea, keep your eyes open for HIS story (no pressure, Ix).