Asami kept her promise and took Korra home as soon as the gathering at Hive's was over. It was an unexpected request, she couldn't say no, but she was grateful they could finally have a girls' night after so long, just the two of them. It would be great to spend some more time alone with the Avatar, it always was.
Korra, for her part, noticed as soon as they arrived at Asami's that the place looked exactly as she remembered. The decor was still undeniably tasteful and everything was spotless, which really showed how capable the staff was at keeping everything in perfect order. Korra imagined any of the mansion's employees would have a nervous fit if they saw the typical mess of her quarters at the Temple.
Once in the main living room, Ranuc the butler came to greet them. He looked a little surprised to see his employer hadn't returned alone, and not just with any company, it was none other than the Avatar. He greeted them with great decorum, still looking at Korra as if she were some supernatural entity risen from the ashes of oblivion.
– Miss Asami, I'm glad you've returned safely. Avatar Korra, it's a pleasure to see you again.
– Ranuc, Korra will be spending the night here with me.
– Yes, Miss. I'm glad I changed all the bedding these past few days. Everything is very clean and tidy. I'm sure the Avatar will be quite satisfied. – He turned to Korra with a smile, confident he'd done a superb job worthy of recognition even from the mediator of worlds. – But since you didn't give prior notice, Miss Asami, I haven't prepared any guest rooms. Everything is clean and in its place, but I haven't set out towels, toiletries, cleaning supplies, or extra blankets and pillows in the suites.
– Can you take care of all that now, Ranuc?
– But of course, Miss. Just give me a few minutes. Do you have a preference for which room?
– Yes, the one facing mine. And please put out everything you can think of. I want Korra to be as comfortable as possible.
– Understood. I'll arrange everything as specified—once I'm done, I'll return to let you know. Excuse me.
With that, Ranuc headed toward the staircase. He was in a hurry to get everything ready as soon as possible and finish his shift. After watching the gray-haired man disappear onto the second floor, Korra turned back to Asami.
– Wow, I'm glad to know I command so much deference in the Sato mansion. Being the Avatar does have its perks…
– I'm sure it does, but you're mistaken if you think I treat you well because you're the Avatar.
– Then why would it be?
– Because you're very important to me. – That was enough to make Korra's heart race for a moment, a sudden surge of hope and happiness blooming inside her. – After all, we're good friends. – The addition, as unintentional as it was, felt like a bucket of cold water thrown on Tonraq's daughter.
– I must really be important to you, you gave up on making me set up everything for my stay here, like you said you would at Mako's party. – She tried to mask her disappointment with a random comment.
– I was joking, Korra! I can't believe you fell for that! – Apparently, it worked. – You'll always be my guest of honor for everything in this world, from the simplest things to the most refined possible. And that means, as long as I can, I'll pamper you in every way.
– Thank you, Asami. It feels really good to hear that after everything I've been through… knowing I'm cared for makes me really happy.
– You always have been, even when you couldn't see it. And I'll be here whenever you need me, okay? Don't hesitate to come to me when you're feeling bad, sad, down… I'll always be here to help. I promise.
– You can count on me too, for whatever you need. – She smiled sincerely, even though she was still reeling from the frustration of being just a good friend to the woman she loved.
It had been a long time since Korra had taken a bubble bath, and spirits, it felt amazing. She mentally thanked the stars that the room assigned to her had one of the most wonderful tubs in the world and not just that, it also came with bath salts so good she couldn't even find the words to describe them. Not even her inexperience in preparing such a bath was enough to make it anything less than perfect.
She felt renewed, energized, rejuvenated, and relaxed. The warm water caressed her immersed skin while the aromatic steam worked on soothing her soul, completely intoxicated by good sensations. Ranuc really had done a great job setting all that up for her.
She spent what felt like hours enjoying the best bath of her life so far, but unfortunately, she had to get out at some point. She took a quick shower to rinse off the bubbles clinging to her body and stepped out into the bedroom, wrapped in an absurdly plush towel. It was incredible how Asami had the best items in the world at her disposal, from simple bath products to cutting-edge technology. Being rich must be fun.
She looked for something to wear in the closet her own clothes were sweaty after a night out, she'd just showered, and she was going to sleep soon; it wouldn't make sense to put on something dirty. There were a few pieces inside that would fit her, and she assumed they belonged to Asami. She was sure once she put them on. It was clear they were Sato's from the cut, fit, colors, and size. She amused herself walking around the room imitating the heiress of Future Industries if not for their faces, they could easily be mistaken for each other given how identical their mannerisms were, at least in Korra's opinion.
She saw an opportunity here to either annoy Asami or amuse her. Regardless of the outcome, she'd be satisfied. So, determined, she left the suite where she'd be staying and went to the owner's quarters. Without any ceremony, she opened the door and walked in.
– Asami, I already have my outfit for the costume party at the… – She stopped mid-sentence when she noticed Sato was only in her underwear, about to put on her sleepwear but frozen before she could start, interrupted by the Avatar's entrance. – Sorry… I… I… I should have knocked… That was rude of me… – Having said that, she simply walked out and closed the door behind her, completely mortified.
She went back to her own room. Unintentionally, she shut the door a little too hard after entering, then leaned against it, utterly distressed. Even though it wasn't her intention, she'd deliberately invaded her friend's space in a sudden and, depending on interpretation, disrespectful way. Her face burned with shame at having been so impolite earlier, and she was sure she was as red as the sleeves of the outfit she was wearing.
The worst part was that she'd paid attention to every detail of the absurd scene she'd caused. Sure, she'd seen Asami in swimwear before on other occasions; she knew she had a sculpted body, that she was absolutely beautiful in every way, and that that had been one of the reasons she'd rivaled with her in a past she wasn't proud of. But now it was different. Completely different. The eyes that saw her now weren't those of the young woman competing with her for the love of a dashing guy like before they were eyes completely in love with her former rival and current best friend. She was more beautiful than she remembered, more stunning than she'd ever judged her to be, she was… hot. She wasn't proud of the adjective she used to define the sight she'd had, but it would be unfair to say there was any other word that could replace it.
She couldn't tell if it was just her perception that had changed or if Asami had become even more irresistible since breaking up with Mako maybe it was a bit of both. The main issue, however, was that she felt ashamed for what she'd done (even if unintentionally) and even more so for taking advantage of the situation. She tried to push away her sinful thoughts, without success. Her mind raced a mile a minute, weaving thoughts that ranged from embarrassed to downright indecent; she wasn't proud of any of them.
A few moments later, she heard soft knocks behind her, followed by a gentle voice whose owner was the cause of all this frenzy. It said: "Korra, are you okay? Let me in so we can talk, please." Great, now she was even more mortified. Did Asami notice something more than just embarrassment over the absurd situation? Were her feelings about to be laid bare because of such a clumsy mistake? Couldn't they just pretend nothing happened? It seemed not. Korra would inevitably have to deal with this problem. Reluctantly, she stepped away and opened the door, letting Asami in.
Sato was properly dressed now, in comfortable sleepwear. She looked perfectly at ease, unlike the Avatar, who seemed extremely uncomfortable. She simply looked at the master of the four elements, who was too busy closing the room's entrance as if it were the most important thing in the world all in a vain attempt to delay the inevitable and try to regain control of a situation that had already spiraled.
– Asami, I'm sorry about that ridiculous scene. I was invasive, I admit it. I should have asked permission before coming in. – She opted to lead with an apology, thinking it was best for the moment, even though she couldn't bring herself to look at her.
– Korra, it's okay, it's not that big a deal. It was an accident and I didn't feel offended. – Korra thought that if the green-eyed woman knew the nature of the thoughts she'd had and tried to push away, maybe she would be offended. – Besides, we're friends, we're both women and around the same age. It's not that much of a secret.
– Still, it's an unnecessary and disrespectful invasion of privacy.
– But it wasn't intentional. It's all good. – She paused. – Look, I know things are still settling for you in this new phase, but please don't let something so unimportant ruin our night, okay? It's been so long since we had a "girls' night" and it's so nice, I've missed it so much… I don't want things to get weird over something silly. – She approached Korra and took her hands. – Can I count on that?
– Of course. – She replied more automatically than because she actually believed what she was saying.
The truth was that there, in that position, with her hands held by Asami's soft, gentle ones, she couldn't muster much more than that. Even though it wasn't an unusual contact, it was quite intimate, comforting, it felt good and stoked the passionate flame burning in the Avatar's chest even more. How she wished she could throw caution to the wind and kiss her right then and there, in the best way possible. The thing was, she couldn't just make a move on the other woman as she wanted to, and she held herself back from doing so. She couldn't fall into the trap of letting herself go and acting that way.
She wanted Asami's love, that was undeniable, but to get it she needed to overcome all the fears and insecurities she had about the matter. She was still aware of the obstacles involved, yet she needed to try her luck if she wanted even the slightest chance of being rewarded. As they say, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Asami was worth any effort, even if it meant facing her worst fears… even if it meant a chance of failure… even if it meant anything else possible and imaginable along the way…
In a moment of courage and clarity, she realized this was the perfect moment to take the first step. They were alone, in private, in a place that was comfortable especially for the heiress of Future Industries, in a beautiful moment that spoke of trust, concern, and intimacy. The tender gaze those green orbs directed at the Avatar was just reinforcement, an extra incentive for the brunette to say what had been stuck in her throat for so long.
Sato, for her part, had a good feeling about all this, despite Korra's unreadable expression. Not only that, she was thinking the same as the young woman standing in front of her, even without knowing it. Their level of aligned thought was enviable, almost as if they shared the same consciousness about it, maybe that was the case. It was just a shame they had no idea, because if they did, they'd understand without further trauma that their feelings were mutual and far greater than they imagined.
Asami, tired of hiding what she'd felt for years, thought about confessing right then. There was no more room for hesitation, fear, or anything like that. She needed to try if she wanted to succeed. And succeeding would bring her the greatest happiness in the world, so the effort was justified. Just as she thought about opening her mouth and letting out the torrent of emotions filling her chest and mind, she was interrupted by Korra.
– Asami, I need to tell you something… – Her indecipherable expression remained.
– Go ahead. – She encouraged her. She'd let her beloved say whatever she needed before revealing her own feelings. She needed her to be at ease before dropping a bomb of that size in her lap.
– Well, it's not that simple… it's delicate, even. – She chose her words more carefully than when mediating diplomatic talks. She took a deep breath. The air seemed to escape her lungs, as ironic as that was—after all, it was an element she had absolute control over, but which now didn't seem to obey her. – Asami, the truth is that…
A sudden noise interrupted her. Frantic knocking on the bedroom door cut through everything: her train of thought, the mood, the courage, the confidence, and the desire. The same happened to Asami; completely disoriented and unfocused, she ended up letting go of Korra's hands and stepping back a little. The next instant, both were on alert and ready to deal with whatever was happening.
– Avatar Korra! Avatar Korra! Please answer! – It was Ranuc on the other side.
– You can open the door, come in. – After the permission, he did just that.
– Sorry to interrupt, but Tenzin is on the line. He wants to speak with you and said it's urgent. – He pointed to the telephone on the nightstand. Either the line was shared or he'd redirected the call to that extension, but that didn't matter much at the moment.
– Thank you, Ranuc, I'll answer right away. – He gave a slight bow and left the room.
Korra's frustrated expression was evident as she picked up the receiver and exchanged the first words with the monk on the other end. However, her expression soon turned pale with dread and worry. She and Tenzin didn't talk for more than a minute, but that short time seemed to contain way too much information from what Asami could observe from the outside.
– What is it? – The most natural question for the moment came from the industrialist.
– We have problems and I need to get back to the Air Temple as soon as possible. – She was rushed. That wasn't a good sign. – Actually, I need to go now.
– It's okay, I'll take you. But what happened? Tell me, maybe I can help.
– Yes, of course you can. Any help will be welcome, actually. – She sighed heavily. – The situation is that a group unhappy with the succession of the Earth Kingdom throne has assembled an army, they're marching across the territory trying to subdue entire provinces and they've already had relative success. Kuvira, from Zaofu, has proclaimed herself the empress of the new Earth Empire and is causing real chaos wherever she goes. According to the reports Tenzin received, she won't stop until she has total control over the entire Earth Kingdom, which she intends to turn into the empire I mentioned; besides that, she wants Prince Wu's head to end the late queen's line of succession; not satisfied, she wants recognition from all the other nations in the world for the government she plans to impose, which is nothing more than a vicious dictatorship, without precedent or justification.
– Korra, that's terrible. – Now she understood the other's rush. – It's a global crisis. Humanitarian, diplomatic, governmental, and succession-related.
– Yes. Wu's contingent is trying to resist as best they can, but they're facing problems because they have a very well-prepared enemy, plus part of the nobility and the general population has chosen to side with Kuvira, which only complicates things further.
– Let's go, I'll take you. I just need to grab my Satomobile keys and we'll leave.
– Yeah. It's impressive how I don't get a single moment of peace! – She huffed.
– The Avatar's life can't be all glamour. – She teased, aiming to lighten the mood, which had become extremely tense after the call.
– Oh, Asami. To be honest, it's been a while since I've known what glamour is.
Another huge conflict was erupting, another conflict she'd have to mediate and maybe even fight in. She was apprehensive about the diplomatic side of things, as usual, but she felt strangely ready for a fight, no matter how catastrophic it seemed. The truth was, she missed a bit of action things had been too calm lately and, although she wasn't proud of it, she was leaning toward some unjustified, all-out brawling for a change. It had been a while since the last time. It felt good to feel alive again.
And it felt so good to feel alive again.