This chapter goes along with ch. 23 (and to a lesser extent 21 and 22)
"You don't know bad food until you've eaten from garbage that the rats won't touch," Kai said.
"You aren't seriously having this conversation?" Jinora said.
"Kai, please. Don't talk to me about back garbage until you've hunted in dumpsters in Ba Sing Se lower ring,"
"No way could it have been worst that this mouldy bread I had once,"
"This is the lower ring we're talking about. The food they get is rubbish so imagine how bad it has to be that they threw it away, and why would you eat mouldy bread?"
"They are seriously having this conversation," Opal shook her head.
"I had to eat the bread!"
"Didn't anyone tell you? You use mouldy bread in street gruel, it really livens it up,"
"I'm not sure I should be feeling sorry for them, or horrified that they are actually this invested in the conversation," Korra said. Asami, Jinora, Opal and Ikki nodded in agreement.
"Street gruel, man that stuff goes down nice on a cold night,"
"Daddy why don't we ever have street gruel?" Meelo asked.
"Meelo, it's not something you want to have," Ikki said.
"Hey, don't knock it until you try it. It can be really good if you make it right. During the equalist take over we had some great street gruel. Remember you guys?" He looked at Korra and Asami.
"I can honestly say it was the best gruel I've ever had," Asami said. Korra chuckled.
"See," Bolin said to Ikki. The others sighed.
"Sorry I'm late for dinner," Mako entered the room, "Had a report to finish. Ikki, your requested goods," He handed her some magazines.
"Thank you she chimed."
"Lin isn't with you?" Su asked.
"She said she wants a break from the family dinners," He said a bit amused.
Su let out a small huff, "Well, I'm not surprized."
"Says she'll try to around tomorrow thought,"
"I miss anything good?" He asked sitting between Bolin and Kai.
"They were having a discussion about street gruel," Korra informed, "Any experiences you want to add?"
"You were…you know what? I don't even want to know,"
"Before I forget, can you two come by the office tomorrow evening?" Asami asked Mako and Bolin.
"Yeah, sure," Bolin said.
"I guess"
"Aren't we meeting for dinner at your office tomorrow?" Korra asked.
"Is that what you call it?" Kai smirked, "Dinner?"
Korra jabbed her chopsticks in his direction, "I will hurt you. And I won't even be sorry,"
Asami smiled slightly and put her hand over the one Korra was gesturing aggressively towards Kai with, lowering it.
"Good, I've got someone coming it to take your measurements,"
"Measurements?"
"For your new uniforms off course,"
Korra's, Mako's and Bolin's eyes lit up, "Our new uniforms?"
"So is the match set?"
"Have you gotten another team?"
Asami chuckled, "I've just put out memos about the charity match. But I'm sure the promise of the return of the Fire Ferrets is going to having teams tripping over themselves. The Mongoose Lizards have already shown some interest,"
"Did you say yes?" Korra asked.
"Not yet,"
"The Mongoose Lizards are a great team, a lot of people will be want to see them," Bolin said.
"I know, but I want to hold out a little longer to see if they say anything,"
"They?" Mako and Korra asked.
Asami smirked, "If the Fire Ferrets are coming out of retirement don't you think you should get some revenge?"
Mako, Bolin and Korra looked at each other and smirked, "Oh yeah," Korra cracked her knuckles, "Those dirty cheats, we never got them back for those stunts they pulled,"
"Who are they talking about?" Wei asked.
"The Wolf Bats," Tenzin said.
His children looked at him, surprised he knew, "What?" He shrugged, "I was at that game, remember."
"He's still keeping up the pretense that he doesn't like pro-bending?" Korra chuckled.
"With a passion," Jinora said.
"I don't," Tenzin said.
"Sure daddy." Ikki said, "Korra, there are two articles about you punching that guy,"
"Only two?" Bolin said, "You'd think the Avatar punching a drunk would get more coverage?"
"They say anything good?" Opal asked.
"Just more 'are they? Or aren't they?' about Korra and Asami,"
"Why are you still buying the magazines regularly?" Bataar asked, "Isn't the bet over?"
"It's fun. Plus I've gotten in the habit,"
"That reminds me," Bolin spoke up, "Can I turn on the radio?"
"Sure,"
He moved over to the set, turning it on and going through the stations until some voices came through clearly.
"…you there. I think we should start with what happened at the Purple Pentatus.
"The fight the Avatar got in?
"Yep. I think tonight Yumi and I will finally be able to convince you they're dating."
"I think we missed the first part,"
"Late Night Rumble?" Huan asked.
"Yeah, I started listening regularly because of the bet, but I really like the host. And it who doesn't want to hear some good ole gossip,"
"I think they're taking about the bar fight," Opal a finger to her lips so the others would be quiet.
"…As I was saying, I was at the club. I did notice the Avatar at the bar with her friends, but hey you get a lot of well-known faces in the Pentapus. Then a little while later I hear a commotion and turn to see Avatar Korra with a guy pinned to the bar. And the guy is struggling and in obvious pain. As the bouncers take him out it's clear this guy had waaay too much to drink. Now, I missed Korra giving the guy a pretty nasty right hook. Ask me the reason why she punched him."
"No way, he was at the club!" Bolin cired, "Aww man! I could have met him. Anyun has to be favorite of the trio."
"Shhh, we're listening," Ikki shushed him.
"…I wouldn't want a drunk guy near me and my friends.
"Would you punch him hard enough to break his nose and then physically restrain him?
"Probably not. But that's me."
"Do you break the guy's nose? You didn't mention that," Kai said.
"I don't think I did," Korra said, "It was bleeding, but I don't think I punched him that hard,"
"Guys! Shh!"
"Yeah, I would be a bit angrier if I was with my girlfriend instead of just friends.
"Angry enough to hit him?
"Okay I see your point.
"And I haven't even told you the really damning thing yet.
"Which is?
"Korra and Sato were super close, the entire night. After the fight I got a glimpse of them together. There wasn't much space between them.
"Like how close were they?
"[Sounds of shuffling]
"[laughter]
"This close.
"[laughing] You all can't see, but Anyun is sitting Mee's lap right now."
A few people at the table snorted with laughter.
"Were you really sitting in each other's laps?" Wei smirked.
"No," Korra blushed.
"We'll take that as a yes," Wing snorted.
The table broke into laughter. Asami wove their fingers together below the table and whispered something in Korra's ear that make her cheeks glow.
"I'm holding you to that," She said.
"But of course," Asami smiled.
"What'd she say?" Ikki asked.
"I can't tell you,"
"Why not?"
"Tenzin might kick me off the island,"
Nardragon~ until the next page.