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The lingering spots from the camera flashes faded from Asami's vision by the time she took her seat in the private box in the pro-bending arena. To her left, Bolin chatted with a very bored Ginger, who spent most of her time fiddling with the scarf around her neck than actually listening to her costar. Asami would've tried to deflect the conversation if it weren't for the man lurking just behind her chair, listening in.

Beifong's undercover officer had been charming enough in front of Varrick and the press (her new bodyguard was the story she put out), but now he was rigid as his eyes scoured the arena below. He was doing his job, but Asami hoped she'd be more involved in the process instead of sitting in her seat, waiting for Varrick to get the show started. Once the lights went down and the mover started, she supposed she'd have her chance to quietly confront him. Because Varrick wouldn't up and leave in the middle of his own premiere.

Their premiere, she corrected herself. Technically Future Industries was putting on tonight's event. If it went sour, at least she wouldn't be blamed anymore—Varrick owned her company, so he held all the risk now. And that showed in the way the press addressed her this evening.

There were a few biting remarks about her needing a bailout from Varrick, but most of the reporters were curious about what lay on the horizon now that Future Industries had joined forces with Varrick's corporation. And then of course there were the few reporters who asked if the man on her arm was her soulmate. She nearly laughed and the man politely declined.

Asami could only imagine how Korra would've answered that question. The press would explode from the news. Asami wanted to keep things under wraps for as long as possible because she really didn't want anyone to start prying into her romantic life when she and Korra just started their relationship. But she could see Korra accidentally making a spectacle, of them getting caught together at a restaurant…

Asami's daydreams fled as the lights lowered and the cop behind her leaned over the back of her seat. "Varrick's taking the stage," he said.

Varrick bragged about his successes before turning serious. If Asami weren't angry at him for stealing her company and products out from underneath her, she might've admired the way he gravely spoke about the war in the Southern Water Tribe and subtly asked Raiko for help even though he was still addressing the audience of civilians.

Then, it was over and he was in the private viewing box, walking towards her, taking the empty seat on her other side. "That was awesome, Varrick!" Bolin cheered, leaning around Asami to grin at his boss.

"Wasn't it?" Varrick kicked his feet up and Zhu Li slid an ottoman underneath his hovering heels. He folded his hands behind his head as the mover crackled to life and the rest of the lights around the arena went out. "I think tonight is going to drum up the extra support we need to fight Unalaq and those no good Northern invaders."

He didn't say a single incriminating thing. Asami clenched her jaw. As wildly garrulous as Varrick was, there was an undercurrent of carefulness to his words. Asami would have to pry to get him to fess up.

Yet her chance to talk to Varrick didn't come easily. Bolin kept leaning over just as she worked up her nerve to speak to the businessman. The earthbender shared fun filming facts about different scenes playing. Asami's smile grew forced with every passing second and she wanted nothing more than her friend to sit back and enjoy his work in silence.

But then the boy grew oddly quiet and sulked in his seat for a solid ten minutes. Asami half watched as a man in a Future Industries jumpsuit helped Nuktuk take down a pair of Unalaq's evil automatons. Asami cringed at how little it made sense, seeing as (in real life) her company built the machines posing as the automatons in the mover, but the cheering from the audience when the man from Future Industries clasped hands with Nuktuk (subtle, Varrick) gave Asami hope that people would start to see the company in a better light.

When she was certain Bolin wasn't going to interrupt her, Asami tried to catch Varrick's attention. The moment she attempted, though, Bolin sighed, picked at the cuff of his suit, and stood from his seat. He snuck out the back, the box door closing quietly behind him. This was probably the best chance Asami was going to get to speak to Varrick alone, but Bolin looked so upset...

She stood and followed Bolin, mouthing, "Bathroom," to the antsy looking cop.

Bolin hadn't gone far. He'd left the door to the balcony open down the hall, so it was easy enough for Asami to slip outside and join him. He gazed out into the bay, the outside arena lights illuminating the frown on his boyish face.

Asami drew up beside him. "What's on your mind? You look upset."

Bolin ran a hand through his hair, mussing his previously gelled do. He looked himself now. Not to say the fancy suit looked bad on him, but he looked too prim to be the Bolin she'd come to know. "I feel like we've been drifting apart. I've been making movers these last few days, you're busy being a business lady, Korra's gone off to save the world, and Mako was doing police stuff until..." He didn't finish.

Asami touched his arm lightly until he met gazes with her. She offered him her biggest smile she could. "So we're split up for a bit. We'll find our ways back to each other again. We're all friends, Bolin. This isn't the end of Team Avatar 2.0. Give it time."

He pouted. "You and Korra will. You have to. You're soulmates!" He threw his hands in the air. Asami did her best to ignore the flutter in her chest at the mention of Korra; Bolin was upset and she had to be here for him. "But Mako...he's in jail. And I've kind of started this mover career. I'm going to be filming with Varrick all over the world..."

Not if Asami got the proof she needed. She felt guilty for ruining Bolin's future plans, but Varrick got Mako thrown in jail and stole everything from her. He wasn't innocent. Bolin would forgive her in the long run. If she ever caught Varrick. "It'll be okay. Korra's going to be back soon and we'll all work on getting Mako out." Because he is innocent. We just have to prove he was framed.

"Yeah," Bolin said. He turned to look at her. They passed a few minutes in silence together. "Go back inside, finish the mover. It's getting to the best part."

As fun as the plot was, Asami highly doubted she was missing much. "What about you?" She wanted to stay but was afraid it would only turn into another failed attempt to convince him Varrick was actually terrible. Plus, with Bolin distracted, she could talk to Varrick businesswoman to businessman.

Bolin smiled tiredly and waved her away. "I'll be back in a minute. Just going to enjoy the air for a second. Thanks, Asami."

She wished there was more she could say to Bolin, but he seemed caught in his head. So she left him, resolving to come back out in five minutes if he hadn't yet returned to the box. He sounded so sad, so not himself. Asami sighed as she took her seat once more.

Nuktuk was grappling with a Northern soldier on screen. Varrick sat in his chair, smirking. It made Asami's skin crawl. Instead of watching the mover further, Asami decided to lean across the space between her and Varrick's chairs. "I think this is your best one yet," she said, loud enough to be heard by Varrick but not enough for Ginger to hear at the end of the row.

Varrick arched an eyebrow and smiled at her. "You think so?"

Asami nodded. "It's good." She took a deep breath, then said what she rehearsed all day in her head. "Like your plan to steal from my factory and buy out Future Industries." She stared straight ahead at the mover screen, but she heard Varrick turn in his seat, felt his eyes on her.

"I don't know what you mean, Miss Sato."

It was hard, regulating her voice to sound blasé instead of furious. "You can stop pretending. You got the better of me, Varrick." She hated to admit it. "I won't let it happen again. But I have to admire your cutthroat technique."

"Asami," he said, and she knew if she didn't cut him off, he would spout off his innocence once more.

"Deny all you want. I have my sources. I know it was you. Now, you can keep hiding behind your half-truths or you can team up with me for an even bigger score."

"Sounds like you have a proposition," he said, his voice low.

She finally looked at him and saw a greedy grin on his face. Asami kept her face composed, hard. She offered the smallest of smiles. "I do. I can help you gain control of Cabbage Corp."

Varrick's eyes widened. "You've piqued my interest."

So Asami laid out her fake plan and was elated at how quickly she saw Varrick falling into her trap. He nodded eagerly along with her and was about to interject something when a collective gasp from the audience broke their conversation. Asami watched as three men went sailing out of a lower seating section and onto the pro-bending platform. She was more than a little surprised to see Bolin follow mere seconds later, hurling chunks of rock.

"What's happening?"

"Well, as long as we're scheming together, I suppose I should tell you about what tonight's really all about: I've got some guys dressed like Northerners who're going to kidnap Raiko. If people think the Northern Water Tribe's got the President, then Republic City will be forced to go to war with Unalaq." Varrick smirked and played with his thin mustache. One of his men fell into the water below the arena and he winced. "So, new partner in crime, wanna help me get out of this mess?"

Asami gasped. Was he actually that crazy? Kidnapping the President? She glanced down nervously but was relieved to see Bolin had already dispatched two of Varrick's men. She wouldn't have to involve herself. Varrick's plan was unraveling fast.

Suddenly, the undercover cop stepped between them just as the last man below surrendered to Bolin and yelped about being hired by Varrick. "That's all I needed to hear. Varrick, you're under arrest."

The clink of metal handcuffs was almost music to Asami's ears. She'd done it (sort of); she helped put Varrick away. And now that he was in custody, all of his properties would revert back to the original owners' control. Which meant she was CEO of Future Industries again.

After that, everything was a blur. Beifong dragged Varrick outside, the press went wild for Bolin and President Raiko, and she was free to bask in her triumph. She looked on as Varrick was led to a police van, handcuffs glinting around his wrists. This was the justice she wanted. For once, everything had worked out in her favor.

As if the sight of Varrick shoved into the back of a police car wasn't good enough, the crowd parted, hushed whispers made her turn, and Korra—Korra!—ran forward. Behind her, Tenzin slid off Oogi's back. Asami's heart was fit to burst but she stopped from running towards her soulmate, especially when she was greeted with a tense twitch of the lips as Korra walked right past her and straight up to President Raiko.

"Sir," Korra began, "Things have changed."

It was as if the words made the temperature around them drop. Asami shivered. Raiko's brow creased. "If you've come to ask me to involve myself in the civil war, I told you—"

"No, Mr. President. I don't need you to help me stop a war, I need to help me save the world. Unalaq wants to destroy it."

Any lingering triumph over Varrick bled out of Asami. No. Korra must have failed to close the portal. And, by the grim look on her face, something far more terrible had happened.

The sea breeze whipped the loose strands of hair around Korra's face as she stood on the bow, her hands clenching the metal railing. Varrick's battleship cut through the dark water and the moon above, almost full, made Korra feel awake, energetic, itching to act. Normally, the smell of salt in the air would make her feel at ease, but with the threat of the world ending, nothing could calm her. Not even Asami's arms around her waist.

"I'm glad you convinced Varrick to give us his ship. It'll get us to the South faster than anything else right now." She leaned back into Asami's embrace. It was a little strange, being held like this. Korra knew Asami preferred being held.

"We'll get there in time, I know it." Asami assured. "Speaking of Varrick, I thought you were going to pull him through the bars of his cell."

Korra grit her teeth. Now that she knew Varrick was the source of Asami's pain while Korra was away, she couldn't help but feel a little protective. "I can't believe that slimy eel-hound stole from you! I wanted to punch him in the face."

"I'm glad you didn't." Asami's arms tightened around her and Korra's heart swooped in her chest. "He'd probably press assault charges."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there." To make you happy, to stop him from stealing everything in your warehouse. Korra was sure if she'd been there, Varrick wouldn't have gotten away with it.

"You had way more important things to do. I should've gone with you. Stopping Unalaq from destroying the world is more important than my company."

Korra didn't have the heart to tell Asami that though her presence would've been appreciated, she would've been as helpful as Tenzin when it came to meditating into the Spirit World. "I just..." Korra sighed and leaned against the railing. "I hope my parents are okay. And Jinora. If Unalaq hurts her, I'll—"

At that precise moment, the wind blew Asami's hair into Korra's face, effectively cutting her off. She spluttered as black strands swept into her mouth. Asami laughed and broke away to free Korra. "Oops."

The pealing, light laugh helped. Korra let go of the railing and spun to face her soulmate. Asami's mouth was curved into a smile. The tightness in Korra's chest eased and suddenly she thought of Iroh and what he said about light and darkness. Dwelling on all the bad that could happen was only agitating her, which wouldn't be helpful when they got to the spirit-riddled south pole. But Asami—her laugh, her kindness, her affection—all of it was so happy, so radiant. Was this what Iroh meant when he said to look for the light?

Korra wasn't sure. What she did know was that she missed this closeness, this strange pull, this encompassing sense of peace and warmth that washed over her whenever she was near Asami. "Asami?"

The girl's face smoothed into a serious expression. "Yes?" Would there ever be a time where they could just enjoy being with each other without some ominous threat lurking over them? Or was this the curse of being the Avatar's soulmate—never an ounce of rest? Korra would have to talk to Katara about it some time.

Korra reached up with her right hand hesitantly, then slowly cupped Asami's face. She brushed her thumb over her soulmate's smooth skin and swallowed dryly when Asami's eyes fluttered close and her breath hitched. "I missed you," Korra finally said.

"I missed you, too," Asami murmured, leaning into Korra's hand. Then she did something Korra wasn't expecting; she turned her head in Korra's loose hold and kissed Korra's palm, once, twice, then opened her eyes.

"Would you stay up with me tonight? I don't think I'll be able to sleep." Knowing what I know. What Unalaq plans to do.

"Of course," Asami said, reaching out and lacing their fingers together. "But can we go inside? It's cold out here and not all of us can regulate our body temperatures with bending."

"I can keep you plenty warm." When Asami cocked an eyebrow, Korra half laughed. "Okay, fine. We'll go inside." She laughed more deeply when Asami all but dragged her through the nearest door that led below deck.