What would have happened if Mako did his job.

Reunion

"Avatar Korra," he gaped, straightening the tie within his collar, "W-welcome to Kwong's Cuisine. We are honored to have you back in Republic City." The host dipped in a bow.

Korra smiled despite the twist in her stomach and tucked her chin in return. "Thank you." Clearing her throat, she dismissed the prickles that ran up her spine. "Miss Sato-um," the name rolled from her throat in a way that caused her to choke on her words.

"Yes," the man before her turned sidelong to extend an arm, "in the lounge. She insisted on waiting there for your arrival."

Korra flexed her jaw: molars tightened against molars as she fought to move her feet. One at a time she placed them in front of the other, each unsure step taking her closer to the waiting room-to Asami. In a brief moment of anxiety she considered a trip to the bathroom first, but then found herself already in the other woman's company. Emerald irises flicked upwards through dark lashes and a smile beamed to match their gaze, stopping Korra in her tracks. "I hope you haven't been waiting long."

Asami set down the magazine she held and stood. "Only three years," her tone was elated, containing no malice and it alone was enough to draw a genuine smile from Korra's lips. She moved toward her with arms outstretched, then wrapped them around the shorter woman's neck.

The Avatar returned her embrace and nuzzled into the slope of Asami's collar.

She smelled of lilies with a faint undertone of oil. Korra made a distant mental note of how her scent and the brush of their stomachs eased the tension between her shoulders. The anxiety she had felt minutes prior melted as she curled her fingers into the fabric of the engineer's jacket.

Asami was the first to pull away, though lingered close enough to hold her shoulders. "It's so good to see you again."

"You too," Korra replied, because it was. It was more than good to see her. To be in her company again was the only thing she wanted since leaving three years ago.

"And I'm loving the hair."

Korra felt heat creep into her cheeks, "Thanks." She redirected her gaze to the side and ran a hand through said hair. Ignoring the fluttering in her chest she looked back again, "You're looking snazzy as always." The other woman smiled, all cheekbones, and hair falling in waves around her face. Korra felt the air become thin in her lungs and a knot form at the base of her throat. There was so much she wanted to say, but before she could muster anything more Asami took a hold of her hand.

"Come on." She spoke lightly, "Mako got us a table at the restaurant," and lead her toward the dining area.

After Korra had greeted Mako, and the annoyingly over friendly Prince Wu, they all took seats in their booth. "Hey," the prince spoke, leaning on his elbow toward Korra, "pop into the Avatar State for me. I want to see your eyes glow."

"What?" Korra sneered, "No." She watched as he slumped back in his seat, disappointedly sipping his cucumber-aloe water.

"So can you go into the Avatar State again?" A wrinkle of concern folded into Asami's brow as she spoke, "I was worried when you told me you couldn't."

"Wait," Mako interjected, he set his gaze on Asami, "when did she tell you she couldn't?"

Korra felt the knot in her throat from earlier reform. She looked to Asami whose expression was apologetic and borderline guilty. The line of the engineer's mouth thinned, the silence growing but for Wu's slurping.

"What's going on with you two?" Mako pressed, his eyes jumping between them.

Korra bowed her head, she couldn't bring herself to lie. Hesitantly she admitted, "I wrote to Asami while I was away. I asked her not to tell you." She lifted her gaze, "I'm sorry."

Mako frowned, "Well," his eyes flickered, angry, maybe confused, the firebender had alway been good at repressing his emotions, "why didn't you ever write to me?" Korra knew better though; he was hurt, she could hear it in his rising tone, "Or Bolin?"

Her stomach rolled and dread pulled it back down. "I don't know," Korra muttered. How could she explain that she didn't want him to worry, that he probably wouldn't have understood-that telling Asami came easier. "I guess," she started, averting his questioning gaze, "I didn't know what to say."

He scoffed, leaning back in his seat, and closed his arms across his chest. "Hello would have been nice."

"Mako," Wu began and leaned forward, "if it makes you feel any better, she didn't write me either."

"Why would she-" he dropped the anger in his tone, settling for a disgruntled sigh, "Never mind."

Korra internally kicked herself, this was exactly what she wanted to avoid. "I'm sorry I didn't stay in touch, but I'm back now." Her brow raised in a hopeful expression, "And I wanna know everything about what's been going on with you two." She looked to Asami who visibly swallowed.

"Well, I kind of have some big news." The engineer survived the level of water in her glass and continued, "I went to visit my father for the first time. He had been writing me letters and I guess I finally felt ready to try and forgive him."

Talk about big news. Korra pressed her tongue to her teeth, clenching them. Hiroshi was someone that did not need to be in Asami's ear. That man was no good and the feeling in the Avatar's gut solidified her distaste for him. "You sure you can trust him?" She felt the urge to reach for the other woman's hand. "He might just be manipulating you again."

Bright emerald clashed against dark lashes as Asami shifted her gaze. "You think I don't know what my own father is capable of?" She blinked and something sparked; something caught fire behind her irises and then they were burning.

The force in her words nearly made Korra flinch in surprise. Raising her hands, she stammered, "N-no," dread crawled up her throat again, "No, I didn't mean-"

"You don't get to disappear for three years and then act like you know what's best for me!"

There it was: the punch in the stomach Korra was hoping to avoid. "It's not like I planned to be gone for that long, I wanted to come back, but I never felt ready until now."

Clunk.

Wu move his hand from the glass he had slammed and pressed it to the table, putting his weight on it as he stood. "As much as I'm enjoying this little catch-up, my royal bladder is about to explode." He extended his arm and snapped his fingers as if calling a pet. "Mako, come on, I need you to stand guard."

The firebender groan in annoyance and slipped out from the booth, muttering, "Why do I have to hold your hand every time you have to empty your 'royal bladder?' " and trailed the prince to the restroom.

Korra watched them leave and kept her eyes locked on their path. In her peripheral, the engineer curled a hand around the glass in front of her. "Asami," she spoke, her voice delicately cutting at the silence that hung over them. She turned to her when there wasn't a response.

The other girl was swiping her thumb through droplets of condensation, leaving a cut through its film. "I know you had to stay," Asami mumbled, dropping her fingers to the stem of her glass. She rolled it between two digits as she spoke, "It just wasn't the same here without you." The flames in Asami's eyes were now embers, smoldering but glossy.

Korra placed a hand on top of the engineer's and traced a thumb over her knuckles. "I'm so sorry that I hurt you, Asami."

"No." She turned to Korra, her demeanor changed from stern to something softer. "Don't apologize for getting better. I'm sorry I yelled." Asami's voice trembled as she slipped her fingers through Korra's, "I just really missed you." As close as she was to crying she managed a laugh, a hopeless, airy shudder of a laugh. "I still miss you and you're sitting right in front of me."

Korra slid forward and cupped her free hand under the other woman's jaw. "Hey, hey," almost whispering, she smudged away a stray tear that rolled down her cheek, "I'm here. I'm right here." Asami closed her eyes and curled her free hand into the pelt at Korra's waist, holding on to her like she would disappear again. The engineer's torso shook as she struggled to control her emotions.

Korra leaned forward and placed her lips against Asami's in a delicate kiss, which seemed to calm her down a bit. "You're stuck with me from now on," she husked, their mouths grazing and foreheads touching. "I promise."

Asami wrapped both arms behind Korra's neck, nearly diving back into her. Their lips met again and pressed roughly together, fueled by the lengthy absence of each other's company.

"Guys, they took Wu! They-"

Korra swiveled her head in the space between Asami's arms to face an open mouthed Mako. His face was mainly panicked, but surprise was now emerging in the lines around his eyes. "Wow. Okay. I do not have time for this. Wu is being kidnapped. We're all gonna have a conversation about this"-he wiggled a finger back and forth at them- "later. Right now we need to move."

Asami untangled herself from the Avatar and they both climbed out from behind the table. "Let's take my car."