Early Fall, 170 AG.
The Republic City Council was throwing a gala for the Spirits Friendship Festival. The kind of party where everyone pretended to care while eating food that cost more than most people's rent. Outside, people were lighting lanterns and dancing in the streets, with parades at almost every road in the city. Inside, the rich were doing it in suits.
The place looked nice though. Colorful drapes, glowing spirit lamps, a few fancy sculptures that probably had nothing to do with spirits but looked expensive enough to fit the theme.
Jinyong didn't mind these things anymore. A few years ago, he would've stood in a corner, eating the refreshments alone. Now he was right in the middle of it, talking, smiling, fitting in like he was supposed to. The heir to the Keum family.
He was surrounded by a few girls his age, all dressed like they'd stepped out of a magazine. They laughed at his jokes, leaned closer when he spoke. Jinyong smiled easily, saying just enough to keep it going. It wasn't like he was trying hard. He just knew how this worked now.
Of course, someone across the room wasn't enjoying the show.
Asami stood near the fountain with a glass of something sweet in her hand, pretending to listen to whoever was beside her. Her eyes weren't on them. They were on him.
Asami's grip on the glass tightened. She didn't say anything, just took a slow sip and kept watching.
Someone called her name. She turned, smiled politely, and said a few words. But her eyes drifted back almost right away.
Jinyong laughed at something one of the girls said. He looked comfortable. Too comfortable.
Asami exhaled through her nose and set her drink down on a passing tray. Then she walked over, calm, composed, at least on the surface.
The girls noticed her first, their chatter faltering. Jinyong turned, still smiling, but it faded a little when he saw her.
"Asami," he said. "You've arrived."
"I was here almost half an hour now," she said.
He nodded. "Well, I didn't notice. Sorry. You look good."
"So do you," she said flatly. Then her gaze flicked to the girls. "Making new friends?"
"They're just being friendly," he said.
"Right," Asami said. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Well. Don't let me interrupt."
She turned to walk away.
Jinyong sighed, excused himself, and caught up with her before she reached the doors. "You really think I was flirting?" he asked.
She didn't answer. Just kept walking.
He reached for her hand. "Asami."
She stopped, but didn't look back.
"Come on," he said quietly. "It's a gala. I was just being polite."
Now she turned. Her face softened a little. "You're too good at it," she said.
He blinked, not sure whether to take it as a compliment or not.
She let out a short breath, something between a sigh and a laugh. "Let's stand somewhere else."
He nodded. "Okay, lead the way."
They didn't go far. Just to the edge of the ballroom, near a table of refreshments. The chatter and music felt duller there, far enough that they could talk without being overheard.
Asami picked up a small glass of punch and turned it slowly in her hand.
"Busy week?" Jinyong asked, leaning against the table beside her.
Asami hummed. "A lot of meetings. Now that I'm out of school, my dad just throws me a lot of work to train me, I guess. A lot of it is with him too." She took a sip. "It's getting easier, acting. Still, when he throws some jokes that sound normal to everyone else… they don't sound that way to me. Not after what I know."
Jinyong nodded. He didn't interrupt.
She glanced at him after a moment. "You know, I heard your father's been in talks with the council."
"Yeah. Another proposal for safer product regulations. You'd think after the lead scare earlier this year, they'd move faster." He said. "Though really, it's just my father's way of cutting down competition."
Asami let out a small laugh. "Maybe they like the sound of the word 'regulations' more than the word 'strategic corporate move.'"
Jinyong chuckled. "You've been spending too much time in boardrooms."
"You say that like you haven't," she said, smiling faintly.
For a moment, their eyes met. The noise of the gala blurred around them, soft and distant.
Then Asami looked away, setting her glass down. "You really have changed, you know."
"How so?"
"You talk more. Smile more. You fit in with them now." She motioned slightly toward the crowd. "I remember when you used to just sit in the corner, devouring the food and avoiding everyone."
He looked over his shoulder at the glittering guests, then back at her. "Guess I had to. Comes with the name."
"Yeah," she said quietly. "It does."
Before Jinyong could say anything, his father's voice cut through the music.
"Jinyong!"
He turned, and there was Wonyong, weaving through the crowd, a wine glass in hand. Two men followed behind him, one in a blue coat, the other with calm posture and an air nomad clothing.
Wonyong stopped in front of them. "There you are. I've been looking for you." He gave Asami a polite nod. "Asami. Always a pleasure."
She smiled faintly. "Mr. Keum."
Then Wonyong turned to his son. "Come, I want you to meet a few people." He gestured to the men behind him. "Councilman Tarrlok, Councilman Tenzin, this is my son, Jinyong."
Tarrlok stepped forward first, wearing that perfect smile politicians always had. "Ah, the young Keum. Your father's told me much about you."
Jinyong shook his hand. His grip was stiff. "All good things, I hope."
"Only the best," Tarrlok said smoothly. "Quite impressive, really. A young man like you writing a report that made the city question its safety standards? That takes courage. The council was… surprised."
"I just wrote what was true."
Tenzin nodded. "It was necessary. The lead scare forced many companies to change their practices. I believe your father's business was one of the first to take action, after all, you are the one who wrote the paper."
"Yeah," Jinyong said. "We adapted."
Tarrlok tilted his head, still smiling. "And yet somehow, Keum Enterprise came out of it bigger than ever. Some might call that… vision."
Wonyong chuckled beside him. "We prefer the word responsibility."
Tarrlok let out a small laugh. "Of course."
Tenzin spoke again, folding his hands behind his back. "I also heard about the break-in at your estate. You handled it yourself, didn't you?"
Wonyong's proud smile widened slightly. "My son's quick on his feet. The police said the thieves were down before they could even steal anything."
"I was lucky," Jinyong said. "They weren't professionals."
Tarrlok raised an eyebrow. "Or maybe they didn't expect the young heir to know chi-blocking. You're full of surprises, young man."
Jinyong gave a small smile. "I like to stay prepared."
Asami glanced at him briefly, the corner of her mouth twitching.
Tenzin smiled gently. "Discipline and awareness are good qualities. You've done well to learn them."
Wonyong rested a hand on his son's shoulder, pride clear in his tone. "He's been helping me with proposals for safer manufacturing standards. I think it's time he gets familiar with the people who help shape the laws around here."
Tarrlok chuckled. "Then he's already ahead of most. The council always welcomes… civic-minded citizens."
His eyes darted briefly between them: Tarrlok's smooth face, Tenzin's calm expression, his father's proud stance.
Then he spoke. "It's strange, though. For a city that prides itself on unity, there's still not a single non-bender on the council."
The air stilled for a moment. Even Tarrlok's perfect smile faltered a little.
Tenzin spoke first. "That's… a complicated matter, I'm afraid."
"I'm sure it is," Jinyong said. "Still, it feels like a strange kind of unity."
Asami gave him a subtle glance, almost warning him to stop.
Tarrlok let out a small laugh, recovering his composure. "Young people always have the best questions. Change takes time, young man. But we are making progress."
"Of course," Jinyong replied. "Progress."
Wonyong cleared his throat, smiling tightly. "Well, gentlemen, it's been a pleasure. We'll let you get back to your evening."
Tenzin nodded, bowing slightly before walking away. Tarrlok lingered just a second longer, giving Jinyong a thin, amused smile before following.
Once they were gone, Wonyong sighed quietly, turning to his son. "You could try being a little more diplomatic next time."
Jinyong shrugged. "I was being diplomatic."
Asami hid a smile behind her glass.
Wonyong pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something about his son's timing, then excused himself to greet another guest.
When he was gone, Asami turned to Jinyong. "You really couldn't help yourself, huh?"
He looked at her, unbothered. "Someone had to say it."
She smiled, shaking her head. "You've changed. But not that much."
He smiled faintly back. "Good."
He looked at the clock in the distance, and hummed. "You know, I was thinking of leaving early. You want to come? Or is your dad somewhere around here waiting, still needing you to be here?"
She shrugged, glancing toward the crowd. "These days it seems he's given up on me following you around. He doesn't even call your home when I stay with you anymore, remember?"
Jinyong chuckled. "You think he hates me for that?"
"I'm sure there's resentment," she said with a small grin. "But he still likes you. Talks about you a lot."
"That's… concerning."
She giggled. "Where do you want to go?"
"Well," Jinyong said, finishing his drink and setting the glass down on a nearby table, "there's this place I haven't visited in a while. I want to go there, just for the hell of it."
"Really? It must be a nice place."
"Not really," he said, his mouth curving slightly. "A depressing place is more likely." He paused. "Still, there's a certain charm to it."
She tilted her head, curiosity sparking. "Count me in then."
He looked at her. "You sure?"
She nodded. "I'm already bored of smiling at these people."
He gave a quiet laugh, and pushed himself off the table. "Then let's get out of here before anyone notices."
After that, they slipped through the crowd, unnoticed, the sound of polite laughter and clinking glasses fading behind them.