This is the companion for chapter 35.
"Aunt Lin, please," Wei pleaded.
"You've seen us bend, you know we can do this,"
"This isn't a matter of your bending capabilities," Lin said, "I just don't think you're old enough,"
"Mom, tell her we can do this,"
"I agree with your aunt,"
"But you let Opal leave home to join the air nation. And she was only sixteen then. We've seventeen and going to be eighteen in a few months,"
Korra and Asami couldn't help but over here the conversation as they returned home, late on evening, as they passed the four outside on their way to the main hall. They turned a corner and almost crashed right into Kai, Bolin, Ikki and Meelo. They were partially piled on top of one another, trying to get as close to the corner as possible. Behind them was Opal, looking nervous, and Mako, leaning against the wall.
"What's going on?" Korra asked.
"Shh," Ikki said fiercely.
"We're listening," Bolin said.
They looked at Mako and Opal.
"Wing and Wei asked mom and Aunt Lin permission to join the mental bender cops,"
"Oh," Asami and Korra said together. Korra tried peeking around the corner again. Kai grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
"Don't let them see you,"
"This isn't fair!" Wing said.
"You were our age when you became a cop, and mom you started traveling on your own around this age too,"
Lin sighed.
"While that is true," Su said, "We also grew up before we should have. Don't you want to enjoy being kids?"
"But we're not kids anymore."
"Please. Let us stay in Republic City."
"We'll even join the academy if we have too. This is what we want to do with our lives."
"We want to carry on the Beifong legacy."
There was a pause where Lin and Su looked at each other.
"How about this, take a year, spend this time with your family. Train up some more. When you're nineteen you can apply to the force,"
"But Aunt Lin-"
"That's my only offer," Lin held up her hand, cutting Wing off.
The Twins pouted, "Fine."
"Not really like we have a choice," Wei kick a small rock, making it disappear over the roof.
"Trust us, further down the line you'll be happy to have the chance to be kids for a little longer," Su said placing a hand on her son's shoulders.
"And happy you get spend more time with your family,"
"Huan is the only one home now. And there's no way we'll miss him,"
"You say that now, but you'll be surprised how that can view can change," Lin smirked slightly, "Now go on. I'm sure you're sister and friends will cheer you up,"
Everyone ease dropping froze.
"Honestly, did you think we didn't know you were there?" Su asked out loud.
"We may not be as good with seismic sense as our mom, but we can tell when there are eight people standing thirty feet away from us," Lin chuckled.
Wing and Wei walked around the corner, looking at them, "Smooth. Real smooth," Wei said.
The others at least had the decency to look ashamed.
"We didn't mean to," Ikki started.
"Yeah, we just walking by," Bolin said, "and we over heard. We were going to leave…but-"
"It's alright," Wing said.
"We're sorry they didn't say yes," Opal said.
Wei shrugged, "They didn't say no. Just not now,"
"Which is still something," Their voices still sounded dejected.
"Hey, I know what will cheer you up," Bolin said.
They looked at him.
"Late night rumble is on tonight," He grinned. The twins returned the expression.
"It's the first one since the charity match. It's sure to be good,"
"Let's go,"
Bolin grabbed Asami's arm, and Ikki grabbed Korra.
"Whoa, hey, why do we have to go?"
"Because they will probably have something about you two," Ikki replied.
"Do you have to drag us?"
"If we don't you'll probably end up in Korra's room, kissing."
A blush appeared on Korra's cheek.
They went out to the garden, which had come to be their hang out on the island, if they won't in the dinning hall. Jinora was already there, reading by a lantern.
"Did they say yes?" She asked, looking up as they walked closer. The twins shook their heads.
"They told us in year,"
"I'm sorry,"
"It's better than a flat no,"
"Yeah, but a year is so long,"
"Well, I know what you can do to pass the time, at least for tonight," Kai said from a window. He placed a radio set on the sill and jumped through the window. He turned it on, turning the dial until he found the station they wanted.
"…this weekend. Here with me is the ever lovely Yumi…"
"Alright, they just started," Bolin said sitting on the ground.
"You really like this program," Mako said, sitting on the railing of the covered walkway.
"It's the best," Kai said. He sat next to Bolin.
"And they got us hooked on it," Wing said.
"You're welcome." Bolin and Kai said at the same time.
"They are fun to listen to," Ikki said.
"What are we going to start with?"
"So much to choose from. There's the matches. There's everything that happened during the matches. And there's everything that happened after the matches."
"I think he wants to talk about the stuff that happened after."
"But Anyun, don't you want to talk about how Ginger showed up with?"
"Oh their talking about your ex again," Ikki grinned at Bolin.
"Can we not call her my ex? She and I…I don't know what we were."
"What's wrong? You were pretty into her before,"
"Yeah, well that was a long time ago. Before Opal and I found each other," He put his arm around Opal's shoulders.
"…she came with a pro-bender."
"The new member of the Buzzard Wasp. Qiao, who replaced Tao as the team's earthbender this year."
"Don't worry buddy. One day you'll get her."
"You think?"
"No."
The group broke into laughter at Anyun's expense.
"Qiao is an earth bender, right?" Kai asked.
"Yeah," Bolin nodded.
"I guess she has a type," Kai wigged his eyebrows.
"Shut up," Bolin pushed his hand in Kai's face. The airbender pulled away, laughing. "Hey, shush, I think they mentioned Varrick," Bolin added.
"…really interesting thing is the three men who accompanied them."
"Guess we got an answer why he bought five tickets."
"Only partly. We still don't know who these men are."
"We know one. Shinjiro. He's an up and coming model from the fire nation."
"And do we know who the others are?
"I haven't found out anything. But they could be models…"
"Why did Varrick go to the match with a bunch of models?" Jinora asked.
"Who knows why Varrick does anything?" Korra said. They looked at Bolin.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"If anyone knows what Varrick's up to, you do? Right after Zhu-li," Asami said.
"I don't. Not this time. Not yet anyway,"
"What does that mean?" Mako asked.
"I got a message from him yesterday. He wants to meet for lunch the day after tomorrow."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Opal asked.
"I didn't think it was important. I figured it was just lunch."
"Are you going?"
"Yeah, no reason not to."
"You can ask him why he was with those models."
"Sure, I'll ask. It will probably involve some elaborate story, if I know Varrick,"
"All the matches were great. But I guess that's what happens when you have high caliber teams."
"Hey, Mee, remember what we saw happen over by the VIP booths?"
"Yeah. We did say we'd talk about it."
"Okay, so this isn't any big scandal or anything. But it is something pretty interesting."
"Of course this happened when I wasn't there."
"No one told you to buy such a big juice."
"Just tell them what happened."
"During the break Anyun and I saw one of the airbender kids fall from the balcony."
"They're talking about me," Meelo's eyes lit up.
"…I think it was one of Master Tenzin's sons, the older one…what's his name."
"Malco, I believe."
Everyone, except Meelo cracked up.
"I thought it was Neelo."
The laughter doubled.
"Sorry buddy," Kai wheezed through his laughter, tears running down his face.
"That's not fair. They always get your names right!" He pointed accusatory fingers at Korra, Asami, Bolin and Mako.
"It's not like we have any control over that," Korra said.
"It's not our fault being the current avatar's best friend makes you more famous than being the last avatar's grandson," Bolin chuckled.
Meelo narrowed his eyes at Bolin, "I going to make you pay,"
"We didn't do anything,"
"I'm still going to get you back. I'll figure out for what later,"
"…one thing I want to talk about more than the actual matches."
"Let me guess. The kiss?"
"The kiss."
They looked at Korra and Asami. Korra let out a small sigh. "I'm not even surprised at this point,"
"If you don't know what Mee is talking about, allow us to enlighten you. After the charity games, the Fire Ferrets went out to celebrate with their friends and family, at Narook's."
"As one does when you win two matches against championship winning teams."
"And it's rumored that Avatar Korra and Asami Sato were seen kissing in the restaurant."
"And there was a time when he didn't think they could be together."
"The evidence is convincing."
"And we may not know for sure if they kissed. But some tabloids did get pictures of them leaving the arena hand in hand. They are so cute. Favorite celebrity couple."
"Aww, you two have fans," Ikki giggled. Korra gave an amused huff. Asami smirked, leaning into Korra. She scrunched up her nose as she pressed it against Korra's cheek. Korra smiling, wrapping one hand around her waist.
"I am starting to wonder why they won't confirm their relationship. It's been months since the rumors about them started."
"They probably want their privacy. They have so little as is. The press will have a field day. They are a same sex couple. Some people are not in favor of that."
"He has a good point, how come you two haven't confirmed your relationship yet. When Korra was dating Mako the press knew in a couple weeks," Bolin said.
"Because I'm a guy," Mako said, "We didn't need to make a statement. I kissed her on the cheek once in public and everyone knew we were dating,"
"Maybe these two can be the force to change that. It's a part of society. There's nothing wrong with it, despite what some people may say."
"Anyun's got a really good point. They're both notable, respected women. Imagine the kind of advocacy they could give to the queer community. I don't know if they identify as gay, given that they dated Mako before. Probably not."
"They're probably bi, which is an even more oppressed part of the queer community. Yes, the two of them coming out would be great. But, at the same time you have to consider their own feelings. If their relationship is serious they will, eventual, have to make some sort of statement to the press. They are both too important of a figure to not do that. But they'll do so in their own time. They may be the Avatar and arguably the most intelligent person and business person in Republic City, but they are still human."
Korra and Asami shared a look while they listened to the radio.
"Are you not saying anything because of what some people might say?" Ikki asked.
"Mmm, no. We didn't want to go public right away because we wanted the time to figure our relationship without the press on our backs every second," Asami said thoughtfully. She was looking at Korra, "What do you think? Is it time? They have basically figured it out at this point,"
Korra frowned slightly, "I don't know. You know I don't like dealing with the press,"
"I'll be right beside you,"
"I know…let me think about it,"
Asami nodded, kissing her temple, "Take as long as you need."
I asked this at the end of the latest chapter in Snapshots, but I'll ask again encase you haven't read that. Do you want me to write turtle duck date night? (And if you are Korrasami shipper who somehow doesn't know what that means do yourself a favor and check out Bryan's tumblr)
Nardragon~ until the next page.