A Second Fiction

The next morning...

Korra doesn't like you.

"Tense." Smooth caramel coloured hands moved across her flat stomach, then gripped, guiding her body through languid motions.

Korra doesn't like you.

"Breathe." Warm air descended upon her neck, making every nerve in her being shiver and tingle at the sensation.

Korra doesn't like you.

"Prepare." Her legs were spread willingly as hands moved down them, muscle protruding at the bend.

Korra doesn't like you.

"Release." The body that had once been so close to her, mere inches from forming one with her own, quickly disappeared and Asami rushed forward, sending the dummy scattering backwards along the matted floors of the training room.

Korra doesn't like you.

Asami exhaled heavily. Beads of sweat dripped freely from her body, leaving her tank top clad in certain places showing off her thin, but toned figure. Asami heaved and panted, trying desperately to lower her heart rate - which she was embarrassed to admit, was not just from the intensity of the exercise, but from the exhilarating yet equally nerve wracking feeling of having Agent Korra in such close proximity to her, especially after last nights events.

"Nice work! You're a really quick learner." Korra grinned, patting Asami awkwardly on the back.

"My father put me in self defence classes when I was younger. Though it's been years since I've had anything to do with it." She wiped the newly formed liquid off her forehead with the back of her hand.

"Smart guy. Everyone should make the effort to learn it at some point in their lives," Korra moved about the room recollecting the life-sized dummy and placing it squarely in the centre, "okay, you ready to go again?"

Asami squeezed the last of the water from her drink bottle, "Sure. Do you mind if I take this off though? It's really hot in this room." She asked, beckoning to her top. She didn't even wait for permission until it was slowly yanked off her body, leaving her now clad in just a maroon sports bra and skin tight capri's. Asami could've sworn she saw Korra visibly gulp, but she dismissed the matter, too hot, bothered and frustrated to care. There was no way she could have made Korra flustered, it didn't seem likely in her mind seeing as Korra hadn't displayed any real feelings of affection toward Asami. But if it had, some small part of her wouldn't have minded making her jealous or nervous. The mere thought of Korra squirming, breathing heavily, was enough to fluster Asami alone, but if she herself was the cause of Korra's nervousness (for good reason), well, that would be a whole other story. Using her shirt as a temporary towel to clear the sweat off of her torso, she tossed it on the ground and returned to Korra.

"Uhh... Okay. Another round it is." Asami positioned herself in the first stance, waiting expectantly for Korra to slowly coax her through the movements as she had done previously, and adjust her body to fit the correct positions. Only this time, Korra didn't. She kept her distance. Her hands tucked squarely into her body. Opting to coach Asami from afar for the remainder of the session.

Well that's odd. I don't know why she's being so evasive all of a sudden... Unless I smell? *Takes a very subtle sniff* Nope, I smell fine, so it's definitely not that.

Truthfully Asami was fighting more than a few practice dummies that morning. She was fighting to keep her heart rate down, fighting in preparation for the potentially dangerous circumstances she might end up in, fighting a minor setback from work due to a flaw in the design of her upcoming line of enhanced Satomobiles, and most of all; fighting her forbidden attraction to Korra. Asami's confession about liking Korra had leapt out of her mouth last night before her mind had time to process it. But by that point, what could she do? True, she phrased it carefully, cautiously as if something more with Korra was a fragile thing that could be shattered at any moment, even though it kinda did, but still. She couldn't take back what she said when they'd both heard it loud and clear. She couldn't pretend and not be true to herself. No, that wasn't who Asami was. Asami was confident, self-assured, not afraid to stand her ground, a little cocky at times but rightfully so because she knew she was attractive, successful, intelligent though never letting it get to her head. However when Korra had voiced the very words she wouldn't have even feared a week ago, she was baffled to say the least, at just how much it had affected her.

"I'm sorry, but I can't"

All those qualities that helped make Asami who she was, practically vanished, as if they'd never existed in the first place. She felt like a love-struck teenager all over again, experiencing her first heartbreak and vowing to never again, let herself fall only to feel the pain. Deep down however she knew that there wouldn't have been much hope for her and Korra to begin with. Korra was an agent, her life was a kept secret. There would be so many things she couldn't share. A relationship built on lies and secrets and untold truths. Asami wanted more than that. Thought she at least deserved more than that. She ached for something real. And she'd hoped, beyond hope, that somehow Korra could've provided that for her. But she was quickly proven wrong and the dream was shattered before it ever began.

Whatever - just focus, Asami.

The previous evening...

"Curses!"

Korra groaned in frustration, her arms smacking against the table as she dropped her head in defeat. Asami had long gone leaving Korra to the relative privacy of her own shrewd thoughts. Asami had blind sided her. She'd always guessed Asami was attracted to her; she had noticed it in her mannerisms, her behavior around Korra, the way she spoke, how she carried herself when Korra was around her - she never tried extremely hard to hide it, only to keep her attraction to herself, hence why it'd been so easy to read her like a book - but she never anticipated Asami would drop a bomb like that after only working with slash being around Korra for give or take a week. Korra was mildly surprised that Mako hadn't even tried talking slash warning Korra about the dangers of compromising ones self with an asset. Though she figured given her less than discreet handling of Asami lately, that she would have to expect a talk sooner or later. Great, Mako was never one for pep talks. Judging by previous ones, it would be as irritating as walking barefoot on prickled grass.

Korra was startled out of her musings and scrambled back into her seat due to the sound of approaching footsteps from the armory.

"What are you cursing about? I mean that in the literal sense seeing as I literally just heard you yell, 'curses!'" Mako stepped through the main foyer with his arms raised, attempting to impersonate Korra's rant mere moments ago. Though he wasn't entirely focused on Korra or even looking at her. He still carried a rag and silencer in hand, carrying out what looked like a third polish on the weapon.

"Nothing. Another long day I suppose, you know how it is... I'm gonna head home." Korra made her way toward the stairwell, but grimaced when Mako's voice halted her escape.

"Korra..." He said lowly.

"Yeah?" She slowly turned to face him.

"What's going on with you and Asami?" His amber eyes locked with hers now, refusing to relinquish their hold on hers until she fed him a satisfying answer, "this hasn't been the first time I've interrupted something between you two, and before you try to deny it, I'm not an idiot - I know tonight was no different. What happened?" 

Korra paused in careful consideration before answering, "nothing I'm not already handling. Goodnight Mako."

She made for the exit before he could stop her. It wasn't that she was trying to avoid his questions. She would have gladly answered telling him all that had really happened that evening including what Asami had said. But the truth was she didn't have a sufficient enough answer for him. What was going on with her and Asami? Korra had no idea. They had the potential to become a great team yet while they had amazing chemistry, there was too much of it; they'd almost kissed once, flirted with one another more than once, and have spent plenty of moments after tip toeing around each other. Now that the elephant in the room was addressed, what did that mean? What happened now? Where do they go from here? There was no handbook for this. No strict, military guide on 'How To Handle Your Extremely Gorgeous, Sexy, Intelligent Asset Who You Have The Hots For And Who By The Way, Has The Hots For You Too' readily available for Korra to dive into in Castle's non-existent self-help section. There wasn't even a guidance counsellor that could coach her through this without compromising herself first, meaning Korra would lose her spot on the team and be booted back to the academy, though Korra guessed their advice would go along the lines of: "BURY YOUR FEELINGS!" bish, bash, bosh - basically the end of discussion. Yeah, not exactly the biggest help on offer. 

I think the government didn't factor into account that an asset, while incredibly smart, could also be incredibly attractive, and attracted to you and vice versa, at the same time.

You see, most government assets, while geniuses, tended to have been plucked from self-isolating man caves in their mothers basement surrounded by video games and advanced custom built technology, only venturing out of their man caves and into the real world for what seemed like the first time ever, upon recruitment. Honestly tonnes of them barely knew how to communicate (normally) with another human being. It was not only sad and stereotypical, but for the most part, true. So when a Miss Asami Sato happened to turn the tables upside down by appearing not as she expected to be, Korra was left feeling positively confused and frustrated, that her teachings hadn't entirely prepared her for this.  

So instead she drove. Or sped, more accurately, through the brightly lit streets of Republic City. She was extremely thankful she'd opted to drive her Audi-inspired Satomobile to work this morning, rather than her Ninja H2 motorbike, because she blasted the radio so loud she could barely hear her own thoughts - that was the point. She didn't want to think. She didn't want to think, or feel, or contemplate, because no matter what subject her mind focused on first, it would always travel back to Asami in the end. And it was a topic Korra knew was off limits. She couldn't allow herself to think about the girl, because if she did feelings could develop, thoughts could become words and words into actions and actions were dangerous, especially actions acted out on feelings. Asami wasn't just any asset, she was her asset. She was her responsibility. Korra had to keep her safe. And well. And protected. And alive. So what if, during one mission, Korra compromised herself because of her feelings for Asami? What if, God forbid, something happened to Asami because of those feelings? What if someone dangerous, used those feelings to torture Korra, by hurting Asami, or worse? What if Korra couldn't get there in time to stop it? It'd be Korra's fault. She couldn't stand it - wouldn't be able to stand it if something happened to Asami because of her. Because of her feelings and because she'd acted on them.

There was a reason every spy knew and acknowledged the number one rule. One that she would have obeyed without question a week, two weeks ago, or a year ago even. It was a rule she chose to obey when it came to Kuvira and it's a rule Korra had to abide by when she told Asami that there is no possible outcome in which the two of them end up together. It was for their own good. For her own good.

So why does it feel like I'm making a mistake?

She entered her apartment. Topped up Naga's bowl with food, gave her a belly scratch cooing her to blissful sleep afterward and paced her apartment in the silence of the dark. The city, though normally rambunctious, had an air of stillness about it. Korra could hear the wall clock ticking terrifyingly loudly by the kitchen wall. It was close to midnight. Her foot tapped on the wooden floors. Hands wringed in agitation.

She yanked off her top. Ran a cold shower and stood underneath it for close to an hour letting the iciness prickle her skin with goosebumps all over. There was no steam in the bathroom, only condensation, so she swatted it away with her hand and stared at her reflection in the mirror for moments longer, focusing on nothing in particular. Thinking of nothing in particular.

In spite of how welcome her bedsheets normally felt, tonight they may as well have been covered in thorns. Sleep did not come easy. No matter how hard she tried. Tossing and turning only proved worse and counting sheep made for no remedy to coo her into blissful sleep. 

So she rolled off the bed and flopped onto the floor, catching herself on her hands before falling face first and proceeded to do set after set, after set of push ups until her arms threatened to cave beneath her. And then some. And then some more. This continued for a while. 

She hadn't realised just how long she'd laid there, her back against the floor after, gazing up at the ceiling, until the sound of birds perched outside her window stirred her. It was almost 5am. Sleep was clearly no longer on the table. 

Tugging her running shoes on instead, she attached Naga's leash and took her out for a much-needed stroll, or in this case run... Or perhaps sprint. Other than the fact the Naga could've used the exercise and fresh air, Korra had it in her mind that if she ran, perhaps it'd be possible for her to run away from her feelings. Run her thoughts of Asami completely dry. Exhaust them so that they no longer bothered her. So that they no longer existed and she could put figurative 'distance' between them. 

Korra ran. Faster. Harder. Her legs soon joined her arms in excruciating pain from the endless exercise, but Korra didn't mind. She could handle it. She came to a stop at a clearing at the foot of a cliff on the outskirts of Republic City overlooking the ocean. Panting hard, she dropped to her knees and let Naga run loose to momentarily explore the scenery.

"When all this is over..."

Her hands came up to her head, bunching in her tousled hair in irritation. "Stop it." Her erratic breathing increased and she fought to keep the words out.

"Will you be able to see someone?..." 

Her eyes clenched shut. Asami's words clouding her every thought, "Cut it out Korra!"

"Even if that someone was me?...'"

Korra screamed at the top of her lungs in hopeless frustration, sinking in a puddled heap on the cool, dew covered grass as the sun etched all the colors of the rainbow into the morning sky. Naga, after hearing her owner yell out, reappeared out of the nearby bushes to nestle up next to Korra, whimpering softly.

Later...

"Korra?"

"Korra."

"Korra!"

Korra was quite literally shaken from her thoughts by Asami. She gazed up into those emerald green eyes and was met with a look of genuine concern.

"Yeah?"

"I've been calling your name like five times already, you okay?"

"Yeah... Yeah, sorry, uh... Let's go again." Korra moved to get the discarded dummy once more. Asami stood in preparation, waiting to make her first strike, until Mako (that boy really does have impeccable timing) strolled determinedly into the practice room.

"Wait! We're gonna switch it up," he announced tugging the practice dummy away from Korra, "in real-life situations you won't be facing practice dummies. They could be men, or women or God forbid, children and they could be armed and they could be dangerous. We need to prep you for everything really, so Korra?" His attention turned onto Korra who was almost drifting back into her conscious thoughts, "jump in and spar with her."

"I'm sorry what?" 

"Spar with her. You're her mentor, you should be the one preparing her for everything. Don't get me wrong, Asami's doing really great with the practice dummies, but she needs to be tested harder. Don't worry - I won't hold it against you if you lose to her" he said smirkingly. Mako grabbed the spare role of tape, wrapping it around Korra's knuckles, prepping her to go toe to toe with Asami, who was standing there looking slightly dumbfounded at Mako's announcement. Korra was too engrossed with her own thoughts to fully notice, until Mako had strapped the gloves on her hands and was pushing Korra toward Asami. 

"Okay, well I guess we're doing this then. You ready?" She patted her gloved hands together, beckoning toward Asami who tapped hers back in return.

"Y-Yeah. Let's do this."

Asami, though newly re-introduced to the fighting scene, was extremely light on her feet and danced just that little bit faster around Korra, who in turn, didn't entirely have her head in the game or her eyes on the prize - her eyes were on some sort of prize in the form of Asami's breasts bouncing in front of her--

Stop it Korra! 

She shook her head free of guilty thoughts. But at the same time she berated herself for letting her mind stumble in the gutter. Unfortunately for her, Asami had chosen that exact moment to test Korra's reflexes by throwing a punch at her head expecting her to duck, but connected with the side of her temple in full force instead. Korra stumbled backwards clutching the side of her head. She could faintly hear Mako giggling from the doorway.

Damn it. There's something that'll never let up with him now. 

Asami moved to apologise but Korra cut her off before she could continue, suggesting they just carry on with the match. She shrugged it off and raised her arms in defence again. They threw a couple of punches here and there. Korra landed punches along Asami's midriff, while Asami snuck in a few kicks into Korra's rib cage. It wasn't until Mako, fed up with the two dancing around the other without making much physical contact to win, yelled at them (mixed in with several curse words) that they truly fought. 

Korra zeroed in, preparing to land a series of head-body-head shots to disorient Asami and slow her down so she could pin her. Until Asami however managed to slip free from her grasp and instead skillfully wrapped her legs around Korra's waist, hooking her knees together so she couldn't move and collapsed to the floor. Korra wiggled to get free but stopped when Asami (still clad in just a sports bra and skin tight capris, might I add) deliberately fell over top of her, using her weight to keep her completely pinned down.  Asami wasn't heavy. If Korra wanted to, she could've managed to find a way to flip Asami off of her and pin her instead. Even Asami knew this. However after feeling Asami's weight settle rather comfortably on top of her, and those same ethereal emerald eyes fixated on hers, all moves and tactics to win suddenly left her head. Suddenly she didn't mind staying pinned. Suddenly all she could think about was how Asami felt atop of her. How her legs perfectly straddled her body. How her hands, placed on either side of Korra's head, allowed them to be close again, how her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, slightly tickling Korra's face. They were so close. So close that they could breathe each others air, and taste their scent.

Asami's breathing, despite their current resting position, began to pick up, sending goosebumps along Korra's skin. She eyed each little prickly bump in Korra's caramel coloured skin with extreme detail, tracing them to her lips. Korra hadn't payed much attention to where Asami's gaze settled, until it landed upon her lips. Once Asami's eyes had locked on her lips, Korra's had followed suit, taking in that luscious red that coloured Asami's lips. What Korra would give to close the agonizingly short space between them and claim the lips that had been haunting her every waking thought and dissatisfying dream since they'd met. Her breath hitched and Korra's eyes caught Asami's once more. Asami's head nudged every so slightly towards Korra's who was on the verge of giving into her desires.

"Well done!" Mako bursted out loud, clapping in support of Asami. They scrambled to their feet trying to ignore what just happened. "Korra, I know I said I would take it easy on you if you lost to Asami, but shit... I didn't actually think you'd lose!"

"Shove off Mako, I'm just going easy on her that's all. She's still relatively new to this."

"Oh, okay, so you won't mind going all out with me then?" His hands were already strapped. Korra guessed this was his plan all along; prove to her that he knew something was up between them, but rather than berate her for it, help her through it by providing some sort of physical relief: offer to become her punching bag. "No holding back. And no excuses if you lose."

"Fine. No holding back." They tapped gloves and wasted no time getting started. Asami had already fetched her top, and was now standing in the doorway hugging her body, her intense gaze set on the floor in front of her.

Korra was on fire. Now that she knew how close she had become to compromising herself by displaying her feelings for Asami, she knew more than ever, that they had to be kept a secret from her. This frustrated the hell out of her. Which she (unfortunately for him) gladly took out on Mako. He gave her an opportunity to prove herself wrong by showing self restraint and she'd failed. Now it was option two - numb the pain. 

She didn't hold back. Reaching in and tossing Mako endlessly around the room. Landing forceful punch, after punch, after punch. Locking him in complex body locks that he only managed to escape by finally yielding after giving in to unbearable pain.

"Okay, you were going easy. I believe you," he coughed violently, clutching his throat cautiously after Korra's pin involved locking him in a sleeper hold, "Jeez, could've taken it easy on the throat though." As quickly as he had entered, he stumbled out of the room without another word.

Korra made a mental note to apologise to him later.

She began unwrapping the bindings on her hands, forgetting that she was still in the room with Asami. She visibly jumped when the latter spoke up, "Korra? Are you sure you're okay?"

Korra chose to fixate on the task at hand, which unfortunately for her was almost done. She'd been so frustrated with herself that she ripped the bandages off fast enough to leave her hands in a red and irritated state. "Yeah I'm fine... No I'm- I'm just tired, I didn't get much sleep last night - well none, really."

"Me neither... Can I ask why?" 

"I couldn't stop thinking about you and what you said last night."

"About me liking you?"

There it was. The very things Korra wanted Asami to feel for her ever since she first laid eyes on her. When her picture popped up on the monitor in the briefing room, and she'd been completely captivated by those piercing green eyes. Korra remembered thinking Asami's eyes carried the kind of colour you'd be lucky to come across three maybe four times in your life, tops. As for the owner of these eyes, well, once if you were ever lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. And Korra was that lucky son of a bitch. Hearing them out loud for the first time, both excited and scared her senseless. Her heart was racing a mile a minute, threatening to give away her true feelings. 

"Yeah." she breathed.

The room fell into uncomfortable silence with each girl unsure what to say to the other next, in the terrifying yet exhilarating prospect of crossing into unknown territory. Should I go for it, must've been the thought racing through each of their minds. Korra was sure she'd applaud and berate herself for this later, but she spoke up before any true thoughts were shared, "look I know it's awkward between us right now and I promise we'll talk about this later but for now, I have to go apologise to Mako for almost strangling him to death today. I'll see you later Asami." 

She hurried out of the room, never once looking back. Korra could almost feel Asami's stare burning holes into her retreating figure. It made her feel like she had miles to go until she reached the exit to the gym room, despite it only being a 20 steps to the door. She was extremely tempted to turn around, to catch her ten millionth glimpse of the girl just from today, but after realizing exactly how much sway Asami had on her already, she was not going to give into her temptations, no matter how badly they called out to her. 

Inhale.

Exhale.

After calling out to him in the main foyer of Castle, Korra proceeded to find him. She eventually did; the sound of hissing lead her to find him in the kitchen. He was propped up on open bench. An ice pack wrapped tightly around his ribs. She slowly entered the kitchen, leaning against the doorway.

You have to tell him. Especially after today. 

They were a team after all - you never keep information from your team.

"You were right." She said with her head hanging low.

"There it is! The very words Agent Korra has never, ever, ever admitted in the history of my knowing and working with her," He smirked and she rolled her eyes in retort, "may I ask what it is I'm right about?"

"Something is going on between Asami and I... We're a team, Mako. I refuse to have secrets within our team." Korra moved to sit on an open seat across from him.

"What is the something?"

"Last night in Castle we were talking about the covers, the nature of the asset-handler relationship and the entire operation in general," He nodded for her to continue, "then she asked me about personal relationships - if there was ever a chance in which she may be able to pursue one with me... When all this is over."

He paused momentarily before speaking up, "What did you say?"

"I told her no, but I didn't get much of a chance to say anything else. You stumbled into castle right after that." She paused, wondering if it was her place to ask, but given how off protocol this entire situation was, figured she may as well. "She and I, we can never have a future together though... Can we?"

She closed her eyes in anticipation, expecting Mako to flip out, raise his voice or berate her for ever letting herself into this position in the first place. What she didn't expect was his soft and appreciative tone. It was gentle, considerate and so unlike the typical brooding Mako.

"Do you want there to be one?"

"I don't know. I've only just met her, I mean, I hardly know her. There's still an entire mission at stake here. Not to mention I'm her handler. A relationship should be the last thing on my mind - but... It's Asami. I may have just met her, but I can already tell she's different. She's intoxicating and infectious and stunningly beautiful and whenever I'm around it's like... The things I've done, this person I've turned into, doesn't exist - I feel like I can be someone... Which is why I can't be with her."

She didn't have to elaborate. He already knew; they were damaged goods. Them and everyone else within the agency. There's a reason why they're recruited in the first place; they either came from broken families, had no background, and were easy to erase from history so it's as if they never existed. From the day they were born, they never had the option for a normal life. There would be no reality in which they get it all; the house, the normal job with normal hours and a normal pay and a normal life. Coming home to your partner and kids at the end of the day was simply never meant for people like them. They are there to carry out the tasks nobody else can do, to live the life nobody should have to live, in oder to protect everyone else's dreams. 

"It's too dangerous. For her and for me," she'd reached her conclusion, "spies don't fall in love."

"Love or love of country, is a decision people like us don't get to make Korra. Though I think you already knew the answer. I'm just sorry it has to be this way. I know you really like her, and she you." 

Korra just nodded. 

"Thanks Mako," she smiled in appreciation, standing and making a turn to head out the door when she chuckled in thought, "who'd ever imagine that I'd be coming to you of all people for romance advice?"

"Yeah, yeah, shut up." He playfully beckoned her out the door.

Asami didn't see Korra for the rest of the day. 

She had planned on approaching Korra the very next day at the Orange, Orange to talk away from the confines of Mako and Castle but as she stepped outside her office building that morning and began to cross the street, she was met with a "CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION" notice sign on the window of the Orange, Orange.

That immediately set Asami off into a panic. 

Had she driven Korra away? Was she being relocated? Moved onto a different assignment, with a different team, and a different asset? Was this all her fault?

All questions that occupied Asami's mind every second of every day. Work was clearly off the table for her. She couldn't focus on a single task long enough without Korra entering her mind. She'd even, in her mix of sleep deprivation and worry, accidentally signed the name 'Korra' on a document where she was meant to write hers.

If it hadn't been noted by Zhu Li, Korra would now be the proud benefactor of a children's hospital in a town on the outskirts of Republic City. Not that Asami cared about who's name was on the donation papers. She had more money than she needed and was more than willing to give it to charity and help others, no matter who's name had been signed on the paper. That wasn't what made her worry. 

What worried her was the minor teasing from Zhu Li that came next.

"Who's Korra Miss? Ooh! Is she your girlfriend? She must be if she's got you doodling her name on documents all around the place!" She giggled uncontrollably. 

"Zhu Li! No it's not like that! And hey, that was one document!"

Flustered and very much aware that Mako could hear everything they were saying with her door left slightly ajar, Asami quickly tried to dismiss the matter in hushed tones and fill in the appropriate name on a fresh document and dismissed a smirking Zhu Li.

How is Agent Korra getting to me this much? You've dealt with crushes before Asami. This one is no different - You're Asami Sato. You can have anyone else in the entire world!

Yeah, but not her. 

Mako neglected to bring up the situation in her office when they finished work and she tried asking him several times for her whereabouts back in Castle, but all he offered her in return was a disgruntled, "that's classified" and took over Korra's job of teaching Asami self defence.

Aside from the basic combat training, Asami learned two things; one, Mako's hands on her body didn't feel anywhere near as good as Korra's did. And two, Korra was definitely not here because of her.  

And this was how it went for the next few days; Asami in tatters. Mako fed up with having to deal with Asami's not-so-subtle pining for Korra. Until one morning, she began the torturous trudge up to her office and preparation for another sluggish day thinking of Korra when she noticed something she hadn't before; an "OPEN" sign clearly plastered on the window of the Orange, Orange. The building positively alit. Asami didn't think it were possibly for her smile to stretch any wider.

KORRA!  Flashed in her mind as she sprinted across the road and burst into the frozen yogurt store. 

Her heart was beating out of her chest when her eyes landed on the familiar tan skinned girl standing behind the counter doing an inventory check. Said girl lifted her head up and smiled her signature lopsided grin. She looked genuinely happy to see Asami.

Well that's promising.

"Oh, hey you" She greeted her, still sporting a grin.

"Hey yourself..." Asami said breathlessly in return. "You're back."

"I am"

"Can I ask where have you been?"

"Oh yeah, my dog, Naga, wound up biting off more than she could chew - literally - and swallowed a strangers phone after mistaking it for a toy when I was taking her for a walk in the park the other day. Crazy right? So I took her to the vets to have it removed and I've stayed home supervising her for the past few days."

"Oh... Mako said it was classified."

She burst out laughing, "He did? That idiot, he knew where I was. Probably just being a tease."

Asami nodded as the relief set in.

So I didn't drive her away.  

"Anyway, you know what's been happening with me, what about you? Anything interesting happen while I was gone?" She asked setting the clipboard on the counter.

"Umm..." Asami thought back to her past few days with Korra in absentia; Asami worrying about Korra countless times during the day, being occupied in her own thoughts when Mako was trying to teach her, Zhu Li's relentless teasing over her various Korra slip ups (yep, unfortunately that wasn't the only time it had occurred), and her usual inability to eat, sleep or drink multiplied at the thought of having driven Agent Korra away. "No, nothing interesting." A blush beginning to form on her pale cheeks.

"Okay. What about your training? Mako mentioned teaching you while I was away." Korra moved to make Asami up a fresh batch of pineapple passionfruit fro-yo trusting Asami probably wouldn't have had breakfast yet.

"Is that all he mentioned about me?"

"Yeah... Why? Was there something else he should have told me?" Korra looked at her inquisitively.

"No, no. Nothing." She shyly smiled in return. 

"Okay..." If Korra had any suspicions or doubts, she didn't show it. Striding back over to the counter, Korra handed Asami the cup of frozen yogurt, which she gladly took, smiling politely.

Phew, so as far as I know he hasn't told Korra anything about my behaviour while she's been away either. Thank God. 

"Well, now that I'm back we need to talk about your first mission." 

Asami noted Korra's serious demeanour back in tact. 

"Right. The one to do with stealing back sensitive intel right?"

"That's the one."

"Okay. When is it?"

"Tonight." Asami almost choked on her yogurt.

"Tonight?" Korra nodded.

"We'll pick you up from your apartment tonight. Make sure you're ready to go by 7 o'clock."