Thank you ToasterMarketingBoard for editing this chapter!

Asami was in a meeting she could not concentrate on. Her mind was thinking back to last night with Korra, when they were behind the temple. It was different from the other times they had kissed. For the first time she felt a hunger from the Avatar. An urgency grew between them and hands began to fumble to uncharted places. When Korra's lips came in contact with her neck, the moan she had been suppressing finally escaped and then Korra stopped. At first Asami was afraid her moan had startled Korra away, but then she too heard the voices.

"Ah-saaaam-eee! Kooooorr-aaaaah!"

It was Ikki and Jinora calling out for them. With the Beifongs spending the night, Korra and herself were going to bunk with the sisters.

The Avatar climbed up into a standing position on the porch and sucked in a deep breath. "We'll meet you in your room in ten minutes!" She didn't wait for a response before hopping back down beside her girlfriend.

Asami was about to verbalize her acceptance that they should go when Korra's mouth returned to her neck. She let out a slight whimper as her eyes closed. Not long after she felt herself being lifted by Korra's strong hands and moved onto her lap. She leaned herself back a bit so she could look at her girlfriend's face. Her pale blue eyes reflected what little light there was, giving the illusion that they were glowing. It was one of those rare moments when she could almost see the other lifetimes behind those eyes.

It was hard to explain… but sometimes she just felt it… It was fascinating, looking into the eyes that were intrinsically Korra and then seeing someone, something else. During those times, there was almost a fuzziness around the edges, a deeper depth in the pupils. She could see a knowing, or a recognition she often saw in the eyes of older people.

Asami reached out both hands and toyed with a pinch of Korra's dark brown hair on either side of her head. The action stirred the lopsided grin from her girlfriend that she loved so much. "Can we stay at my place tomorrow night?"

"I think that is a fine idea, what about you Miss Sato?"

The response from the deep and male voice startled Asami of out of her day dream. She flushed when she realized all of Future Industries' board members were looking at her.

"Yes… that should be fine." She prayed she wasn't agreeing to something she was going to be asked about later.

"If that is it, then this meeting is adjourned."

Asami mentally chastised herself, remembering that she was supposed to bring up her plans to work with Suyin in today's meeting. She rose from her seat to catch the group's attention before they left.

"I have one thing I'd like to discuss." Asami glanced around the room. The board members readjusted themselves back into their seats. "Thank you, I know you're all very busy right now."

She made her way to the empty space at the head of the table. "Last night I was approached by Suyin Beifong of Zaofu, regarding a collaboration on campaigning for marriage equality both here in the United Republic and in the Earth Nation."

A few members of the board looked to each other; it was clear they were not sure what she meant. One raised his hand. Mr. Sano was a man of average build, in his late fifties. He had worked for Asami's father for quite some time. "Miss Sato, when you say marriage equality, what do you mean?"

"I mean the right for our citizens to marry, regardless of the two people's sex."

"Homosexual marriage?"

"Yes, I am going to personally get involved with this movement, and am hoping that I can also have Future Industries' backing."

Mr. Sano turned to the woman next to him. "Min, you're in PR, what's the climate like in the city regarding this issue?"

Min pushed the glasses up the bridge of her nose. They started to slide back down to the original position as she spoke. "I would say tepid, maybe even warm? It comes up every so often in the newspapers and magazines, Mr. Sano."

Mr. Sano turned back to Asami. His face was stern, but not unfriendly. "This is a personal issue for you, Miss Sato?"

"Yes, one I feel is worth fighting for. I can pursue this without any company affiliation if the board does not want Future Industries to be involved in this more political issue," Asami said to the room. She had spoken in front of them on many occasions, but for the first time in a long while, she was a bit nervous.

The youngest board member, Tran, fidgeted for a moment and then shot his hand up. Asami nodded to him to speak.

"I uh… I have an older sister and she, she is a homosexual. It would mean very much to me if the company I worked for helped drive this movement forward. The progressive thinking of Future Industries is what made me want to work here in the first place," Tran said, scratching the back of his head.

"Drive this movement forward…" Min murmured to herself and then to the room. "'Driving the industry forward'… it wouldn't be a bad bandwagon to get on for marketing."

Mr. Sano cleared his throat. "Is there anyone here today who has a strong opposition on this subject?" He looked around the room to mostly neutral faces. "I personally am not opposed to the idea of homosexual marriage. Everyone should have the right to be miserable."

A few of the older board members chuckled at the remark.

"That being said, I believe we should take a cautious approach before we start 'driving this movement forward.'" Mr. Sano made sure to make eye contact with both Min and Tran. He then turned his gaze to Asami. "We have been struggling to get Future Industries out of the mud, and I think we have finally gotten away from our negative associations. I am open to getting involved, but would like to have your involvement, Miss Sato, be a gauge for us. You can go public, but stress Future Industries is not financially supporting your efforts at this time. We can revisit this in three months and see how your personal involvement has gone. That way we as a company can make an informed decision. Can I get a show of hands for all agreeing to the proposal?"

Asami and Mr. Sano's hands went up first, and the room quickly followed.

"Very well, now this meeting is adjourned," Mr. Sano said, getting up from his spot. The other board members once again started to gather their belongings.

The room cleared out quickly and soon it was just Asami and Mr. Sano. He grabbed his briefcase and casually walked over to her. "Suyin Beifong, eh?"

"Yes, I've worked with her a few times alongside Kor-Avatar Korra."

"What's Suyin's interest in it?"

"It's a family matter for her." Asami said, closing her own briefcase.

"She's a real bulldog that one, make sure you keep your wits about you."

Asami smiled at the remark. "It's a Beifong trait I am very familiar with."

"Lucky for us they're not business types, I'd rather compete with Garbage Corp any day."

The engineer smiled at the man's pet name for Cabbage Corp. Most of the board now called them by that name more than their real one.

Mr. Sano nudged up his sleeve and took a glance at his wrist watch. "I've got a lunch date, see you at the next meeting."

When Asami exited the board room back into Future Industries' lobby, she saw little Ikki swinging her legs as she sat waiting in a chair. Her secretary, Kali, rushed over to her.

"I'm sorry Miss Sato, this young girl insisted on seeing you today-"

Asami held up a hand. "Its fine, I was expecting her. She's Master Tenzin's daughter Ikki, she'll be coming by to see me more often."

"Understood, Miss Sato."

"Ikki let's go to lunch, I've got some good news."

Even at her lunch with Ikki, Asami's mind kept drifting back to Korra. Fortunately the airbender was completely unaware as she chattered on and on.

This morning she had watched the Avatar practice with Bolin before going to the prison. Asami enjoyed watching Korra bend any element, but today she decided that earth was her favorite. Earthbending highlighted her girlfriend's raw strength. The wide and bold stances and motions made Korra's muscles tense and flex. It was quite warm that morning and combined with the all the movement, the heat caused a light coating of sweat over the Avatar's body.

Years of desire and yearning were starting to bubble over Asami's entire being. Asami dreamed about what it would feel like, to have that energy directed at her. Without time constraints or fear of being interrupted like they always were.

She'd had more fantasies about bedding the Avatar then she'd like to admit, even privately to herself right now. What did Korra need to make her feel comfortable? Asami would do it, whatever it was.

"Time…"

The engineer looked at her lunch companion. In this moment she empathized with the young girl who was also sick of waiting.

"I need time… When you're older… There really isn't much difference, is there Ikki?"

"So, do you want to marry Korra someday?"

Asami snorted. She casually propped her elbow on the table and let her chin rest in her palm. "Then we'd finally get to consummate our relationship…"

"Concentrate your relationship?"

The older girl flushed; she did not mean to say that aloud. Asami was about to open her mouth to tell Ikki her 'favorite' phrase, then paused.

The young airbender's eyes bored into her; she knew what was coming, and she was ready to protest.

Asami's eyes darted around the room before she took a bite of her food to buy enough time to think of a good answer, one that would not get her in trouble with the girl's parents. The chances of Ikki repeating any of their conversations were low, but one could never be certain.

"Consummate our relationship, it means to… In more feudal times it was used when a marriage was considered… complete? It's kinda one of those words everyone uses, but no one knows the real definition… Ikki do you know what sex is?"

The young airbender's face turned as red as a wingsuit. "Yuh-yes…"

"It's about that. When you're in a romantic relationship with someone, it is considered 'consummated' once you have sex together for the first time."

Ikki slumped down in her seat, embarrassed by the topic. Asami smirked at the girl's discomfort and flipped her hair.

"I was going to say I'd explain it to you when you're older, should I have?"

"No! It's just, you know, I've never really talked about it. My Mom talked to me about it once, when she gave me the talk about girls' cycles. And that was suuuper embarrassing!" Ikki whined, slipping farther down in her seat. "But she only told me about what boys and girls do. I don't think I can ask her about what girls do, that would be like, super, super embarrassing!"

"I will tell you, not when you're older, but when you can come to me and talk about it and not slide out of your seat embarrassed. That's how I'll know you're ready."

Ikki started to scoot herself out of her slumped position, her face still pink. "That sounds good; I think I'm okay with waiting a bit for that talk. Kissing is one thing… but s-sex is… AH!" The girl squealed and put her face in her hands.

Asami chuckled. She was relieved that she had finally found a topic Ikki was not aggressively curious about.

After lunch the girls went back to Asami's office in the Future Industries buildings. Suyin was planning on stopping by before she and her family returned to Zaofu. Ikki, who was fully invested in working on their campaign, insisted on coming to the meeting.

Asami pulled out some drafting paper, for Ikki to start working on her poster ideas while she looked over some paperwork. They hadn't been in the office long when she heard a rapping on the door. Before she could get up, President Raiko invited himself into her office.

"Miss Sato," he said, with a formal nod.

Even though she didn't need to get up, Asami decided she'd remain standing. She leaned a hand on her desk for balance. She eyed Raiko as he walked in, hands in his pockets and a folder tucked under his left arm. The President glanced over at Ikki curiously. She was sitting at the small meeting table, papers and pencils splayed across it.

"New intern?"

Asami blinked a few times at his question. Then it dawned on her Ikki was not in her wingsuit, so likely went unrecognized by Raiko as Tenzin's daughter. She didn't want to make the situation awkward by correcting him.

"She is. So, what can I do for you Raiko?"

The President walked towards her, pulling out the folder he had tucked under his arm. "Asami, I have a request for you. Can you build one of these?" he asked, passing her the file.

Asami flipped it opened and looked at the drafts inside. She eyed the drawings; it was a wooden chair with a very tall back. At the top of the back was what looked like a crown. A small note pointed to leg and hand straps suggesting leather was to be used. "Is this a torture device?"

"It's called a lightning chair. The Earth Nation wanted me to find someone to make it for Kuvira's execution."

"Execution? But her trial hasn't started."

"That's only for formalities. The decision to execute has already been made. The Earth Nation wants an example made of her."

Asami's heart squeezed in her chest. "Korra...'"

"I figured this is something you could whip up pretty quick. Then we can all be done with this," the President said, whipping off his sleeves.

The engineer took another long look at the designs. Where had they even come from? The use of lightning made her think it could be tied to the Fire Nation. Then her heart tightened again when she noticed a very familiar signature. These were her father's designs…

"Electricity… of course…"

Asami dropped her head and held the file out to Raiko.

"Please understand Future Industries cannot associate with machines of death anymore. We have been involved too many times. Death cannot be my company's legacy."

Raiko gave a slight nod. He let out a long breath before speaking. "I understand. I wanted to give you the offer first. I bet Cabbage Corp can take care of this... City Renovation meetings begin again in a week, this should be done by then. I'll have my secretary send you formal memo."

"I look forward to it," Asami said, a little more curtly than she wanted it to sound.

The President pulled the door open, and turned around before letting himself out. "I asked that since this is not the will of the United Republic, they do it off our land. Kuvira will be moved to Ba Sing Se after the trial for her execution."

Raiko left her office and only once the door sealed shut did Asami let her composure down. "Oh Ikki, this is bad…" Suddenly she felt very tired and made her way to sit back down.

"So... They're going to kill her no matter what. The trial doesn't matter. Can they do that?" Ikki said, adjusting herself so she was sitting on her feet.

"Apparently, I'm sure the jury will be bribed to vote for execution. Not that it would take much, I'm sure a lot of people want her dead."

"Jinora and Korra are over talking to Kuvira today, right?"

"Yes they are."

"What are we going to tell them?"

Asami steepled her fingers and rested her elbows on her desk. "Nothing, this conversation never happened."

"But-"

"I know and I wish you hadn't heard that. That was quite careless of him to disclose that in front of you… But the others can't know…"

"So we just let it happen?"

"I don't know what else we can do, Ikki." Asami covered her face with her hands. "Dammit, I really wish you hadn't heard that…"

There was a long moment of silence. Asami continued to hold her face while Ikki looked around the room. The airbender's eyes landed on the painting of Asami's family on the wall. It was the first time she had seen the rest of the Sato family. Asami was in front and behind her stood Mr. and Mrs. Sato.

"You look a lot like your mom. You were young when she died, right?"

Asami dragged her hands down her face and let them fall onto her desk. She leaned back into her chair and looked at the painting she knew the questions were coming from. "Yes, I was. I don't really remember much of her… Mostly what my father and other people have told me."

"And Kuvira killed your father…"

"Yes, but it wasn't intentional… Kuvira couldn't have known who was inside, if anyone... She was just fending off an attacker."

"Is that why you won't do anything to stop Kuvira from being killed?"

Asami looked into the eyes of her parents. "No, there will be no satisfaction from her being executed. It won't bring my father back; just like him fighting against benders was never going to bring my mother back."

"Then why can't we fight this, or a least tell Korra and my Dad?" Ikki banged her hands on the table for emphasis.

"Because they will fight it, there is no way they would allow a rigged trial to happen. Calling out the Earth Nation… It would throw things back into chaos and we just achieved some peace. They must continue defending Kuvira as planned… and… Kuvira will be executed… And Korra will know that she tried her best." Asami's stomach clenched at the thought of lying to her girlfriend for the rest of their lives. She wasn't one hundred percent sure if Korra even wanted to defend her in trial… Maybe…

"No… I know Korra, and she will do everything she can to spare Kuvira's life."

The engineer looked back over at her young companion. She did not deserve to be burdened with this secret. It was only a few days ago that she was praising her honest nature. What kind of role model was she being for this girl?

"But this is way more complicated than a sex talk…"

"Asami… what are we going to do?"

"Keep this to ourselves." Asami got up from her seat and went over to Ikki. She crouched down by the girl's chair to make eye contact. "Kuvira was a tyrant and she wasn't going to stop with Republic City. She would have kept going and eventually taken over the world, just like in the Hundred Year War. Kuvira hurt a lot of people and she has to face the punishment. And with this gesture, we will keep the peace we all fought so hard for. And I promise you Ikki, I will make sure an execution never happens again. It just has to happen, this one time, do you understand?"

They held eye contact for a long time. Asami desperately looked to see if the girl understood. Eventually Ikki looked away.

"I guess so…"

Once again there was a knock on the door. The two girls looked up to see Suyin entering the room. The Matriarch paused, surprised by the somber looks on their faces.

"Who died?"

To be continued...