Rekindling an Old Flame
Asami turned in bed for the hundredth time tonight. She didn’t bother to check the clock on her nightstand. Knowing the ungodly hour would do little to alleviate her inner turmoil. Through the darkness, Asami stared at the ceiling and sighed.
“How could I let this happen?” She pondered out loud.
This morning, she had awoken to news of an attack on a cargo ship headed south. Fearing the same fate lay in store for her, she and Mako had devised a plan, hoping they could catch the perpetrator with the help of the Triple Threats. In hindsight, it was utterly foolish, and Asami had learned that the hard way.
When Asami walked into the empty warehouse, it was as if a piece of her soul had been ripped out. Future Industries was all she had left of her family. She couldn’t bring her mother back from the dead, nor could she erase her father’s sins. The one thing she thought she could do, however, was save their legacy. For the past six months, she had worked tirelessly to bring Future Industries back from the brink of bankruptcy. In the end, her efforts weren’t enough. She wasn’t good enough.
In that moment of despair, there was one person who stood beside her, who refused to give up on her even when she had: Mako. Distraught over her loss and overwhelmed by his sincerity, Asami did the one thing she could think of to keep herself from breaking down in tears.
She kissed him.
Asami pulled the sheets over her chest. Although they were only together for a short period of time, her muscle memory was strong. His physical presence still calmed her. His kiss was like a lifeline, anchoring her to shore. No one had ever had such an effect on her. Well, no one except for...
“Korra,” she whispered to herself.
Asami fought back tears upon uttering that name. She tried not to think about the guilt that had consumed her all day long. She tried not to think about how she wanted Korra beside her, wanted her to comfort her the way she had on Air Temple Island. The more Asami was unable to push these thoughts out of her mind, the more frustrated she became.
“Where in the world have you been?” Asami growled as she turned onto her side.
Steadying her breathing, Asami reflected on the promise Korra had made two days ago.
Korra hopped off Varrick’s yacht, with Asami following in tow. Although Asami contained her emotions better, she was as elated as Korra.
“Man, that Varrick really is a crazy genius! Before this meeting, I thought he was just crazy,” Korra chaffed.
Asami hummed in response. She still clutched the same folders Korra had nearly knocked over earlier.
“Hey, Korra.” The Avatar turned around, eyeing Asami curiously.
“I’m sorry if I came off as a bit brash when you bumped into me earlier,” Asami apologized, “I was just frustrated, but it had nothing to do with you.”
That was only partly-true. Asami had left the South Pole disappointed in more ways than one. The two never made it to Korra’s snowy cliff to gaze at the stars. Asami had asked her day after day, but every night was a squabble with her father or a spiritual training session with Unalaq gone-overtime.
Then, in typical Team Avatar style, they accidentally started a civil war.
Asami knew she shouldn’t complain. There were so many bigger issues at hand. Despite that, she had let her disappointment bleed over into their subsequent interactions.
“Don’t worry about it.” Korra flashed her a sympathetic smile. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now.”
“At least Varrick’s idea has some real promise, even if the idea of selling my father’s weapons doesn’t sit completely well with me…” Asami trailed off.
The Avatar took a few steps towards the CEO and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, at least it’s for a good cause this time. My home’s been invaded, and you’re helping liberate it.”
“Well, I can’t argue with that,” Asami conceded.
The younger girl smiled briefly before her expression fell into a slight frown.
“By the way, I’m sorry for dragging you into all this political nonsense. I’m glad the civil war might help save your company, but I feel bad distracting you from your work too.”
The statement touched Asami. Although Asami wouldn’t have hesitated to do it all over again, a little acknowledgement of both the personal and professional sacrifices she had made was appreciated. “Don’t worry, as long as there’s a Future Industries, it’ll always help Team Avatar.”
“Well, I was wondering...what if Team Avatar helped Future Industries out for once?”
Asami looked at Korra incredulously. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“Right now, nobody wants to buy from you because you’re associated with the Equalists, right? Well, who else to vouch that you’re not an Equalist than the Avatar?”
Asami was visibly taken aback by Korra’s suggestion.
“Korra, I can't ask you to use your Avatar status to help me make money,” Asami protested.
“It’s not about that, Asami. I wouldn’t do this for any company.” Korra gripped her shoulder. “We owe you, so let me help Future Industries get back on its feet just this once. If you mess up after that, it’s all on you!”
At the last sentence, Asami laughed. Korra’s humor always had a way of brightening her mood, no matter how dire the situation.
“It’s a deal!” Asami enthusiastically agreed.
And she already had an idea in mind.
“Tomorrow, I have appointments at noon and one with two of Future Industries’ old buyers. If you could just be in the room with me before they start, as if we were having a meeting of our own, so when they walk in and see the Avatar and I are on good terms, then maybe they’ll agree to do business.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Thank you so much!” Asami shrieked as she embraced Korra. “I can’t tell you how important this is. If this works, I might be able to save my company without selling it to Varrick.”
“I won’t let that happen. You can count on me!”
But Asami couldn’t.
Korra didn’t show up for the first meeting or the second. Asami was so distraught over Korra’s absence she had let her game slip during the two meetings. With her negotiation skills compromised, and without the Avatar vouching for her character, Asami left the office that day with nothing but unsigned papers.
Tears began streaming down her cheeks, soaking the fabric beneath her head.
How foolish was she? To think the Avatar would take a break from negotiating with world leaders to stage fake meetings with a flailing CEO? To think the Avatar would put her duties to her home and the world on hold to save a company which, in most people’s opinion, deserved the fate it was facing? To think that Korra would put Asami’s needs first, even for one afternoon?
“You’re a complete idiot, Sato,” Asami admonished herself, her voice trembling as she did.
After the second appointment had ended, Asami had dialed Air Temple Island twice that day and heard nothing back. As if that weren’t disheartening enough, Mako later informed her that Korra had left town the day before. From that, Asami concluded that the Avatar was unable to sway President Raiko or the United Forces.
Asami couldn’t fault Korra if she had to go, but how hard was it to give her a call or leave her a note? Didn’t her friend respect her enough to do that? Didn’t Korra care enough about Asami’s future to at least give Asami the chance to restrategize beforehand?
Then, she could’ve had a fighting chance. Maybe then she wouldn’t have been so dependent on that final cargo shipment that got stolen. Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t have been forced to sell a controlling number of shares to Varrick. She wouldn’t have been forced to accept what the Board of Directors had long told her: she was destined to be a failure.
Perhaps it was her anger towards Korra for putting her in this impossible position that drove her into Mako’s arms.
Was it wrong of her to kiss her friend’s ex-boyfriend only two days after they had broken up? Of course it was.
But why should she care? It wasn’t like Korra had given her the same consideration while she and Mako were first dating. It wasn’t like Korra bothered to be here to protest this. It wasn’t like Korra cared enough about Asami’s feelings when it came to saving her company. Why should Asami care about something as minor as a squabble over a boy?
Asami was perfectly within her right to pursue Mako. This was what she wanted. She was happy with him, and she had nothing to feel guilty about.
At least that’s what she tried to tell herself.
In the week that followed, life in Republic City resumed, largely unfazed by neither the political nor spiritual conflict brewing in the south. The police had reassured the public that the Cultural Center attackers had been brought to justice and the security presence in the city heightened. President Raiko remained steadfast in his neutrality. Beyond pundit banter on the morning news, people talked little of the turbulent waters beyond their bay.
Negotiating an armistice wasn’t the job of a CEO, which meant Asami could go about her business, both professionally and privately. The day after the raid on her warehouse, she sold the majority of her shares to Varrick Global Industries. Even if it wasn’t the ideal outcome, at least Future Industries would live on, albeit as a shell company, and her family’s name wouldn’t be completely tarnished. Consequently, work was scant this past week, as Varrick Industries management slowly took over what once was her’s. Having an utter lack of responsibility was disappointing in many ways, but the one upside was Asami had more time to devote to her “new” relationship.
After she handed her company over to Varrick, she had invited Mako over to her mansion. They not so much talked out all that had transpired between them so much as made out. The only semblance of an agreement they came to was that they wanted to “pick up where they left off” and “see how it goes.”
Every night, after both got off at work, they had gone on a date. They had good conversations, shared a few laughs, and engaged in public displays of affection—everything they used to do. Despite knowing she was a skilled driver, Mako had taken it upon himself to provide Asami a “police escort” home every night. After walking her to her door, she would thank him for his chivalry and kiss him goodnight.
However, as soon as the door closed, her thoughts would become consumed with one person.
And it wasn’t Mako.
As soon as the door shut, she would ask her Butler if she had missed any calls that day and more importantly, who they were from. Yet Korra never called, leaving Asami to go to bed, dejected.
Tonight was no different.
Asami lay in bed. It was a king-sized bed, embroidered with the finest, most colorful fabrics from around the world. It was too big for her alone, but she couldn’t bring herself to invite Mako’s to spend the night. As dismaying as it may have been for the firebender, Asami needed this time alone to reflect on the day that had been.
Asami was polishing the hood of her Satomobile when she heard footsteps behind her.
“Hey, babe!” Mako called out.
He wrapped his arms around her and spun her around to face him. She greeted him with a chaste kiss.
“Hey, how was work?” Asami asked.
“Threw a few Creeping Crystals in jail, filled out paperwork, got insulted by the two dingheads.” At the mention of Lu and Gang, Mako rolled his eyes. Unfortunately, Asami empathized all too well with the feeling of being condescended.
“Sounds like it’s been stressful. Good thing we’re about to take these two babies out for a spin!”
Asami hopped into her race car before Mako had a chance to respond.
“I’ve been making some adjustments, and I think we can finally make those quick tur—”
“Asami,” Mako cut in, “I don’t, uh, really feel like racing.”
His words hit her like a punch in the gut.
“Why not? Don’t you want to let off some steam?”
Mako rubbed his neck in nervousness, a bad sign. “Sure I do, but it’s just that I spend my whole day on high speed chases. I guess I just get my steam out that way.”
And what about Asami? She had been cooped up in stuffy meeting rooms all day, watching as people with an iota of the personal dedication and knowledge she had of Future Industries set its course. Didn’t she deserve her catharsis? Wasn’t the role of a romantic partner to help her to that end?
“I see.” Asami tried to hide the disappointment in her voice.
“Sorry, babe. Can’t we, I don’t know, just do something slow and relaxing today?”
His request was innocent enough, yet it took all Asami’s willpower to muster a nod of agreement and refrain from speaking her mind: Korra would’ve loved to race around the track.
Asami felt a pang in her chest at the memory. No matter how strenuous Korra’s day may have been, she had never once turned down Asami’s request in the preceding months since they started hanging out regularly. Korra had always been content to “sit back and enjoy the ride” as Asami let off steam. However, this train of thought led Asami to one, very important question.
“Why are you comparing Mako to Korra?” Asami whispered to herself.
It hadn’t started off as a conscious decision. It just so happened that whenever Asami planned their date nights, she would naturally gravitate towards the activities that she enjoyed. Many of those activities were more appealing to the wild-mannered Avatar than her stoic boyfriend.
Asami walked back to the parked car, two bags of takeout in hand. In the vehicle, Mako was busy jotting down notes in his logbook. When he finally looked up, he looked confused
“Are we eating at my place or something?” He asked as he eyed the takeout curiously.
“It’s a nice day out. I thought we could take dinner to Republic City Park and have a little picnic.” Asami hoped that he would not object, but from the uneasy look in his face, she knew it would not be so.
“I don’t like to eat in the park, especially on the ground...I’m sorry, Bolin and I spent a lot of nights there digging through the garbage cans.” Mako looked at her, his eyes pleading for forgiveness.
“I understand.” How could she not? Mako couldn’t help it if he disliked the park. However, Asami couldn’t help thinking of someone who did. Someone who didn’t care where they ate as long as the food and company were good. Someone who preferred being out in nature because it made her feel more in tune with the four elements. Someone who would’ve told jokes with a mouth full of dumplings as her polar bear dog splashed in the streams of the park.
“Stop it, already.” Asami scolded herself.
Asami rubbed her face, as if it would help bring clarity to her thoughts. She conceded she may have intentionally chosen those activities today because those were the activities she and Korra would typically do on their girls’ night out—which happened to be today.
It shouldn’t have been this hard to miss a weekly routine with a friend just once. It shouldn’t have been this hard to go several days without a call, knowing the caller’s duties to the world.
But it was.
The next day, Asami headed to the brothers’ apartment. She had been restless all night, unable to stop thinking about her new relationship with Mako and how utterly unsatisfying it had been thus far. Asami stood outside Mako’s door and took a deep breath. Make one last effort, one last time, Asami vowed to herself.
She knocked.
Moments later, the firebender opened the door, looking visibly stressed.
“Hi,” Asami said as she walked inside.
“Did you come by to tell me how paranoid I am?” Earlier in the day, Mako had explained his theory of Varrick masterminding the Cultural Center and cargoship attacks, much to her and Bolin’s disbelief.
Asami placed a hand on Mako’s shoulder. “No. I just wanted to come by to make sure you're okay. You seemed so agitated earlier.” However, at her own mention of the argument from earlier today, Bolin’s words echoed in her ears.
“Korra just left a week ago!”
Asami bit her lip. I know she did, she responded silently. Fortunately, Mako was standing behind her and could not see her troubled expression. She heard Mako mutter “I’m fine,” then forced a smile before turning to face him.
“Maybe you need a night off. Why don't we go get some dinner?” Asami suggested.
But do you even want to get dinner with him?
Of course, she did! After all, they were dating again, even if that wasn’t what they had told Bolin earlier.
Yeah, you couldn’t tell him because you know this is wrong. Asami never wanted her conscience to shut up as much as she did now.
“No, thanks. I’m a little busy.” Mako’s voice pulled her back to reality.
Just one last attempt to make this work, Asami reminded herself.
“Too busy for Kwong’s Cuisine?” Asami asked as she placed her hands on his chest. “Remember? We had our first date there.”
It could not have felt more different than how she felt now. Back then, she had been completely enamored with the dreamy firebender. She had thought he was perfect for her. Now, she was questioning what they had in common at all.
“Maybe I do need to get my mind off things,” Mako said as he pulled Asami in for a kiss.
Asami reciprocated, but mimicking a physical action was all she was doing. She met warm lips, yet they couldn’t taste more stale. Unfortunately, Mako didn’t seem to feel that way.
He pulled her in closer—deepening the kiss.
It wasn't threatening, but it was the wake-up call she desperately needed, the moment of clarity that had come far too late.
You don’t like him at all, Asami confessed to herself.
Asami had wanted to believe that despite their breakup, their flame never went out. A few embers of their romance remained, enough that they could rekindle the fire and let it grow to its full potential. Yet Asami wasn’t enveloped in fiery passion at all. All Asami had been attempting to do was to drown out everything else—her doubts, her guilt, and most of all, her confusing feelings for Korra.
Subconsciously, she knew her and Mako’s fire had long been extinguished. She didn’t kiss him that night out of desire for him. She was dating him to distract her from Korra and, as ashamed as she was to admit it, to hurt Korra in return for hurting her. In the process, she had led Mako on—the same way he had originally led her on.
You’re a horrible person, Asami reprimanded herself. Guilt washed over her, making her sick to her stomach. You can’t take back the awful things you’ve already done, but you can make things right now.
Asami began to pull away from the kiss, but before she could, someone banged on the door.
“Police!” A throaty voice yelled.
This can’t be good, Asami thought immediately.
Mako opened the door to find Lin, Lu, and Gang on the other side. From the smug grin on Lu and Gang’s face, Asami knew something was wrong. She watched in disbelief as the Chief of Police accused Mako of conspiring with the Triple Threats to steal Future Industries’ property—her property!
Just when Asami thought the story couldn’t get more convoluted, it did.
“Well, looky what I found!” Lu pulled a bag of Yuans out of a gray duffel bag from Mako’s closet. “Cash...and these.”
Lu pulled out explosives, the same ones found during the attack on the Cultural Center.
What the hell is happening?
Asami stood by, shellshocked as Gang handcuffed Mako. She glanced at Lin, hoping that she would reign in her two subordinates who had clearly gone off the rails. Only, she didn’t.
“Once a Triple Threat, always a Triple Threat,” Gang scoffed.
Bigots! Asami cursed silently. She knew Mako’s heart. He would never abandon the honest life he was living now. He would never try to ruin her company, her future, no matter the gain to him personally.
“This has to be a mistake.” Even if the physical evidence pointed to the contrary.
“Sorry to break the news to you, sweetie, but your boyfriend's just a crooked cop. That sting operation was just a way to lure you away from your warehouse.” Lu laughed. Of all reactions, he laughed as if that was some form of consolation.
“Asami, I would never do anything to hurt you. It's Varrick. This is all Varrick. He set me up!” Mako cried out, desperation evident in his tone.
Asami watched powerlessly as the police escorted one of their own off the premises.
This couldn’t be happening. Mako was going to jail because he tried to help her. He was going to jail because of her.
Asami sunk to the floor, hugged her knees to her chest, and sighed.
“How’re you going to dig yourself out of this one, Sato?”