Eros
"...Talk your shit, bite your lip...
Ask for a car while you ride that dick..."
Korra jogged on a treadmill with music blasting from her earbuds. She counted the beat in her head, using the rhythm as a pacer for her steps.
"...You really ain't never gotta fuck him for a thang...
He already made his mind up 'fore he came..."
Her breath was labored and skin dripping with sweat but it felt so good to finally commit to a gym routine again. Especially after her call with Mako last night. She was in a grandiose mood with productive energy to burn.
"...Now get your boots and your coat...
For this wet-ass p-
The music stopped abruptly as her phone began to ring. She slowed to a stop trying to catch her breath hoping it wasn't Jinora calling to say the kids woke up early. She only had a small time slot to fit in some weightlifting and cardio before breakfast needed to be made.
She accepted the call hearing the voice come through her headphones.
"H-hello?" She panted.
The person on the other line spoke so fast she couldn't keep up.
"What?! Tahno slow down you're not making any sense."
"GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" He yelled through the receiver.
Korra reluctantly hopped down from the treadmill, her legs wobbled as the ground still felt like it was moving. She looked at her digital watch to see it was almost 7:30 am.
"It's too early for this shit!" She grabbed her towelette and dabbed the sweat from her face, neck, and chest.
Tahno continued to plead with her, saying his call was with the utmost importance.
"I'm still baby sitting..."
"I'll buy breakfast are you happy?" He sighed.
Korra groaned looking back at the treadmill screen as it blinked; begging for her to resume her run. On the other hand, a free post-workout meal was now calling her name.
"And mimosas..." she mumbled.
"Beautiful, now hurry up." Tahno dropped the call as she gathered her belongings.
Korra drove back to Tenzin's estate to shower and change. The cafe Tahno invited her to was in a pretty snooty part of town so she dressed a bit more uppity than usual. A deep v-neck top with a pair of cinched wide leg pants and boot heels.
She brushed out her damp hair and noticed it now touched her shoulders in loose curls. As she parted her locks to air dry she quite liked the length and thought she might let it grow out again.
She cut it after her and Asami split but thought it so strange how it could be such a visual metaphor for her own well-being. In the three months since, she had changed, just like her hair, slowly but surely. She looked and felt different, in a great way.
Before leaving, she stopped by Jinora's room, giving it a knock before opening her door.
"Hey, I'm gonna head out for a bit. You good?-"
"Yes!" Jinora's hand caught the door before it opened wider than a few inches.
She stood at the frame with a surprised but calm expression. "I thought you were at the gym?" She asked.
Korra smirked, noticing the oversized shirt Jinora was wearing. Definitely a few sizes too big and certainly not her pajamas.
"I was...but I had to stop home and change first. I'm going to get breakfast-"
"Okay," The teenager waved Korra away anxiously.
"I'll come back with food by the time everyone else wakes up." Korra continued. Her eyes wondered from Jinora to her bedroom curiously. Her lights were off...how convenient.
"Sounds good Korra." Jinora replied practically swinging the door closed.
"Text me what you want!" She yelled as it slammed in her face.
Korra pressed her ear to the wood and listened attentively. She couldn't hear what Jinora was saying but could tell she was talking to someone in a hushed tone. That, plus the fact that Korra's parking spot was occupied by another car when she returned gave her all the confirmation she needed.
"And tell Kai he can stay for breakfast too if he wants!"
Korra jogged down the hall hearing Jinora squeal from embarrassment. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Sure sure..." she laughed.
Jinora was a good kid, and very responsible, so Korra had no problem with her having a boyfriend. She was almost seventeen for Christ's sake. Although when it came to Tenzin he'd want his eldest daughter to be a nun if he could.
However, Korra advised Jinora her father should know about the boy she had been dating for a year, but she wasn't ready. So for the time being it was their little secret.
Although she made a mental note to have a talk with her about sneaking him into the house.
15 minutes later, Cabbage Corp. Cafe:
Korra walked into the eatery and immediately spotted Tahno waving her over like an idiot. She quickly ran up to his booth and sat down across from her friend clad in black.
"Where's the fire?!" She spoke in a hushed yell.
Her friend looked up at her deviously from the curtain of his long hair. He sipped his orange concoction of mango nectar and white wine, before replying.
"look behind you... but don't be obvious.."
Korra rolled her eyes and practically climbed up on the seat as she turned around and scanned the room for the abnormality Tahno was eluding too.
"Sit down!" He protested.
She swatted his hand away and continued to peer through the casual crowd of people. When she didn't recognize anyone she turned to the outdoor sun tables.
There! She stopped to see what looked like the back of Mako's head. That was for sure his red scarf tucked under the collar of his jacket.
Across the table, a woman sat eating breakfast with him.
Korra plopped down in the seat.
"Did you see him?" Tahno asked.
"So?" Korra replied, still wondering why her workout was interrupted.
"Who is she?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Korra switched seats and sat beside him in the booth so they could both observe through the glass wall of the cafe.
Korra studied the woman curiously, she didn't recognize her at all. She was very pretty though... Long chocolate brown hair, golden bronze skin and bright green eyes. She was short with dangerously wide hips and soft curves. Korra looked away before she admired her any further.
"Well, this isn't the first time he was with her. They were at Narook's on Wednesday afternoon."
"How do you know that?" She asked stealing a sip of his drink. The mango purée was thick and mixed smoothly with the alcohol.
"I have eyes everywhere" he said bluntly and a part of Korra didn't want to know how serious he was about that statement.
Korra looked around to see just how fancy this place really was. Everyone, even Tahno was dressed accordingly. She didn't want to assume he took her to a nice play as a date, but it could very well be that.
"Look! She's wearing a badge! She's probably just a friend from work."
Tahno scoffed, "Yeah mhm. Judging by what you do with your friends that's not saying much."
She huffed officially annoyed, "look it doesn't matter! We can still date other people!"
Tahno stole his drink from her lips, sucking the reusable straw into his mouth. "Oh, I didn't know that."
Korra looked at him like he was suffering from amnesia. "Um hello. I was practically fucking General Kuvira all of last weekend."
"But wasn't Mako in on it too?" Tahno interjected.
"Well yes..but" Korra paused, realizing the circumstances were definitely complicated.
She never hid how she felt about Kuvira, or what they did together. So should he be open with her about his situation-ships too?
"You skimped on a lot of those details." Tahno replied sounding rather offended. "After all I've done to help you and you still hide all the juicy bits..."
"Fine," Korra sighed gearing up to tell him about the whole charade. She changed to the seat across from him again, not wanting to look in Mako's direction anymore and opened the cafe menu.
He ordered several flavors of mimosas and breakfast as she began to unwind the mess they were in. Several minutes later and two drinks down she was finished sorting out all her dirty laundry.
"Wow" Tahno breathed, he leaned his elbow on the table as he spoke. "So let me get this straight.. You and Mako are friends with benefits, You and Kuvira are emotional support fuck buddies, Kuvira is divorcing Baatar Jr.-"
"They were never married!"
"Insignificant details!" Tahno scoffed, "Mako is or is not dating that cute girl over there, time will tell."
Korra somberly glanced over her shoulder at the pair as they ate and chatted away.
Just then, she remembered their phone call, when he said he didn't picture their threesome being with Kuvira. Did he mean her instead?
"Asami is fake engaged to Iroh, and is most likely not over your break up either. Bolin and Opal are blissfully unaware of this whole situation..."
"...and Prince Wu thinks Mako's cute apparently." Korra huffed. She remembered Kuvira telling her that during their latest phone call. The prince saw Mako at the airport and reportedly hasn't shut up about him since. It was working on Kuvira's last nerve, she complained.
"Oh let's not forget that." Tahno joked. He picked up a golden brown scone and spread some berry flavored jam over the top, "I feel like I'm missing someone. Oh yeah, why the hell am I the only person in this scenario not getting laid!"
"We have to unpack that mess on another day," Korra winked.
"Fuck you...Oh wait, I might have to get in line first." He snickered tearing into the scone.
"Actually it's invitation only." Korra smiled flipping him off with her manicured middle finger. "You'd be so lucky."
Tahno sat back with a toothy grin. His eyes flickered outside again to see Mako and his mystery woman having a nice laugh.
"Jeez, If I knew the political world was this kinky I would have changed careers years ago.."
Korra fanned away his sarcasm still feeling slightly frustrated. She couldn't quite pinpoint what was making her feel this way. Her upbeat morning was officially spoiled.
"Anyway...Kuvira and I have a thing going...I guess so Mako can date whoever he wants. I don't need to spy on him."
Just then Korra got a text from Jinora, -fruit salad for me and Rohan, side of granola, vegan sourdough breakfast sandwich for Ikki, extra large vegetarian breakfast burrito for Meelo-
Korra waved over a waiter and ordered their meals to go as her phone chimed again.
-thanks for not kicking out Kai by the way...he's gone now- she added.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed." Tahno replied.
Korra sighed as she tucked her phone away. She knew Tahno wasn't coming from a spiteful place and was honestly just looking out for her as the good friend that he was.
"I trust him." She declared, her hands balled into fists. "If that girl was important he would tell me."
Tahno nodded, looking as if he should apologize for doubting her communication with Mako.
She got up from the table as the waiter returned with their meals wrapped in brown recyclable packaging. "I have to get back to the kids so, I'll see you around."
Korra got in her car and sat for a moment trying to assess her emotions.
"You're my girl Korra...you always have been"
She clutched her steering wheel tightly and sucked in a deep breath. He wouldn't have said all he did if he didn't mean it. She wasn't going to let herself jump to conclusions before he told her himself.
He wasn't doing anything wrong and she was a hypocrite for feeling upset. There was no way she needed to be jealous of whatever this was, but maybe she needed a second opinion.
-O-
"There are different types of love Korra," Pema began.
Her and Tenzin returned home Friday afternoon and as a thank-you to Korra, Pema took her and the girls to a private onsen for some well needed girl talk.
The two youngest were in a separate pool, while Korra and Pema shared another on a higher platform in the same room. It was traditional to bathe naked but the heavy steam that fogged their vision created a blanket of modesty.
Korra folded her towel on a nearby bench and cautiously stepped into the steaming water. The heat seeped into her nude flesh instantly melting the chill on her skin.
She sat down and rested her head against the wall.
"Why does it feel like I am being pulled in so many directions?" Korra placed her palm on her chest, feeling the epicenter of her anxiety, "Is that even normal?"
Korra truly felt like a deviant sometimes. How was it possible to have so many ties to different people? Mako, Asami, Kuvira; that was only three but by normal dating standards excessive.
Pema laughed softly, "of course it is! There is no one definition or form of expression for love. It has many iterations...Agape; unconditional and selfless love, Philautia; self-love, Philia; Affectionate love for your friends,"
"Yeah Korra!" Ikki chimmed in, excited to be included in "adult conversations". She looked over at the two women happy to share her expertise.
"Like my love for you! You're not my blood sister but I love you like one."
Korra smiled, "Thanks Ikki, I love you too."
"That's called Storge, familiar love." Pema described.
"There is also Ludas; playful, infatuation and Manic love," said Jinora, who was sitting off to the side reading a book on the edge of the pool. "Which is obsessive, jealous, and angry..."
"Oh." Korra pouted. Was that what they were? It certainly sounded like them in the past.
"Yes, but manic isn't necessarily a good one." Pema took the towel off her head and dabbed her face. "but all of those feelings are valid ways to love someone. You just need to find out which love you have for whom."
"Yeah. Like your love for Mako.." Ikki cooed.
Korra blew a raspberry toward her playfully, "We are just friends."
"But you'll always be endgame to me..." she whimpered.
Korra turned back to Pema exhaustingly, there was no changing Ikki's mind.
Playfulness, infatuation, mania...
"I do feel multiple things for one person. How do I juggle that when they fluctuate so much?"
Pema pinched her chin, "Hmm. Close your eyes Korra."
She did as told, "Now, image a candle for every friend you have. Lay them all out in front of you."
Korra took several slow and deep breaths as she imagined a black space in front of her. Gradually, candles of the same shape and size began to appear before her. One for each meaningful connection she had in her life.
"Now notice the color of the flames, the warmth, the brightness..." Pema prompted.
"They are all about the same..." Korra whispered, sure the colors varied but the flames were all the same size and warmth.
"...Now image Mako's candle." Pema spoke. Korra's stomach jumped, she was fighting her reluctance to visualize what might be there.
She gave herself over to the feeling and gradually it appeared. The candle was warn, like it had been burning for a while and the wax was clumped around the base. But it was still tall, still warm and bright. The flame of his candle was orange like fire but the tip was a bright sapphire.
"The flame is blue..."
"Mhm I thought so." Pema smiled, "The blue part of a flame is usually hotter and you need to be careful handling it. Like Pragma.."
Korra opened her eyes, "What?"
"Pragma is enduring love, it is a love that matures and grows over time. It takes work and patience. Sometimes it's hot sometimes it's cold, but long lasting...I actually know how pragma feels personally."
Their mother stroked the water with the palm of her hand as she searched for distant memories.
"Oh you do?" Korra gasped.
"Yes, with Tenzin and I...There was also multiple people to our story,"
"Daddy was in love with someone else before you?!" Ikki exclaimed.
"Ikki..." Jinora grumbled. There was no need for her to be so blunt.
"That's right." Pema winked, softening the blow. "Chief Beifong was a childhood friend and his first love."
"Wait Tenzin and Beifong, Beifong and Tenzin! They were a couple!" Korra exclaimed. She didn't mean to seem so shocked but the two of them were such polar opposites it was hard to imagine.
Tenzin was calm, understanding and patient. Beifong was blunt, straight laced, and independent. The fact that they were once an item was intriguing.
"Yes," Pema sighed, "And I couldn't just sit by and let the love of my life end up with the wrong woman, so I stuck to my guns and when the moment was right, I confessed my love for him. The rest is history."
Korra's shoulders dropped in awe with how easy and romantic that sounded. Even if she knew Beifong probably reeked havoc when it took place. To be so sure of your love and to risk everything...
"The work and patience came when I understood that he will always hold a candle for someone he spent his adolescence with, like how you will always have love for Asami, but some flames burn brighter than others."
That made so much sense hearing it like that. Their love, whether it was platonic or romantic was always there. It did take a lot of work and is still currently under construction.
Korra was struck with the motivation to sort out just how she felt about everyone in her life. Uncross the many strings of fate binding her to them and gain more clarity.
"So pragma is enduring love but is that love familiar? Or friendly?..."
Pema laughed, Korra looked like a lost puppy as she clung to every word she said. "You're young Korra. Have your fun, take your time, there's no reason to force romance if it doesn't feel right at first"
"I see." Korra sighed.
"Oh we forgot the best and most common one, Eros," Jinora chimed in. "That's romantic, passionate, and primal. Often associated with physical love..."
Korra swallowed, primal physical love? That was the basis of all her relationships at the moment. Mako was definitely her type physically and their sex was undoubtedly passionate most times. It was the easiest to identify and navigate; it felt the most natural. It was the one that took the least amount of effort, which is probably why it felt so fleeting. Sex was rewarding, it fulfilled the human need for intimacy but it didn't last...How could she fix that?
She wiped the beads of water from her brow as she started to get worked up again.
Pema's face turned a strawberry pink, "The best? What do you know about that one?" She asked with a stern tone.
Jinora closed her book and stood up out of the water, "My pages are getting wet, I'm going inside!"
"Jinora!" Pema called as her teen darted through the double doors into their changing room.
Pema turned to glare at Korra with her brows threaded into a hard line. Her expression interrogating; if the girls were hiding something Korra most definitely knew about it. They trusted her.
Their babysitter threw her hands up innocently, "Don't look at me I don't know a thing!"
-O-
Asami bit her lip as she typed anxiously on her computer. After speaking with her only confidant, Iroh, he suggested that if her steamy dream with Korra bothered her so much, she should do some research on it.
It seemed so random of an occurrence but left a lingering impression. She was never one to believe in spiritual things like interpreting dreams but decided to try a new perspective.
What does it mean when you dream about having sex with someone...
She thought about how to finish that statement.
Who is not your significant other..
As she hit the enter key a pounding sounded at her door. It was late and she was the only person in her office building at this time.
She jumped up from her seat fully alarmed, "Who is it?!"
Her door swung open as Hiroshi stormed inside, "your father."
She rounded her desk holding her ground as he bounded toward her with several papers flailing in his hands. "And I did not approve these building plans in Ba Sing Se!"
"You're right you didn't! Because I don't need to ask your permission!" Asami retorted, not flinching in the slightest as he slapped the files down beside her.
The charts were all highlighted in red with downward spiraling projections.
"And with whose money are you spending for your little charity project?!"
She rolled her eyes, "My own! Sato Industries revenue is 30% my assets and I'll spend them accordingly."
He sucked his teeth, "So you'll go bankrupt funding projects with no profit. My company is better off stamped into the ground than be run by you."
Asami clenched her teeth, holding back the venomous words spilling on her tongue. She knew the consequences but also understood that the people in the Earth-kingdom needed help. Her company also needed to be altruistic if they wanted the public to trust them again.
"Sato Industries went bankrupt the moment you decided to sell your weapons to domestic terrorists! Did your time in jail cause you to forget?"
His secret allegiance with the occultist Amon lead to their downfall and distrust by the citizens of Republic City. The nerve of him to say that after she not only saved what they had left of company but got him out of jail. Better than his precious leader who ended up committing suicide to escape his persecution.
Asami was so blindly loyal to her father it made her sick just thinking about it. If someone abuses you it doesn't matter if they're family or not. Being loved and being valued are not the same thing.
"I see I have spoiled you rotten and every yuan you've earned was and still is because of my name.."
She leaned back against her desk, lifting her chin to him.
"My fiancé is a prince father. "Your company" cost as much as their ember island beach house. Don't worry about my fortune.."
He shook his head in arrogant defeat, "better to marry rich than wasted intelligence!" She winced as he slammed the door with a powerful gust of wind.
Asami sat back down in her plush office chair and dropped her head in her hands. Being around her father was unbearable now. He filled her with so much resentment.
After several deep breaths she looked up at the screen to see the results of her search.
The most common explanation came as a bit of a shock to her.
When you dream of sex with someone who is not your partner, granted it's not just a wet dream, can be a subconscious way of revealing that there is something that person has that you want.
Social status, wealth, relationship, career path, whatever the case...
"You want something they have..." Asami whispered.
She swiveled in her chair and looked out her windows bewildered. The heiress didn't need to search deep to find her answer.
The water-tribe girl defied her families prejudice, their archaic belief systems, and stood up for herself. She moved away from their control and made a name for herself that wasn't inherited.
In college she became the first female pro-MMA fighter on an all boys league. Hell, she was the first in her tribe to have a college degree. If someone told her she couldn't do something, it just made her want to do it more.
Asami recalled watching Korra lean across the bar and kiss Kuvira. Yes she was a bit upset by that, but it was deeper than she realized. Even in the business of the gala with hundreds of people around, she could be her authentic self.
Korra had her freedom.
That is what Asami needed, it's what she truly craved.
(Shameless Plug: One of the first LOK fics I wrote was a one-shot between Jinora and Kai titled "Republic City Limits". Pls check it out if you haven't read it :) - Kurocache)