Modern Day
Asami sat on her usual bench, coffee steaming in the early air, sketchbook in hand. She liked the park. It helped her clear her head before the start of the workday. On the increasingly frequent days she got nowhere near the workshops this hour of peace was often the highlight of her day. And, entering the park right on time, was the cherry on the cake.
The woman had her headphones in, as usual. Despite the chill she was wearing just a pair of shorts and a sports bra. Her great white dog was keeping pace alongside her as it always did. There was poetry in the way her muscles moved as she ran that Asami struggled to capture on paper, and not for want of trying. On her third lap of the park she slowed, turning round to run backwards past Asami. She did it again on the fourth lap.
“Figured you’d want my best side!” She grinned. Asami went red. She’d assumed she’d been a little more subtle than that. The woman didn’t seem upset in the slightest though. In fact she seemed rather pleased. Asami took that as invitation to keep sketching, a series of half gestures that might one day add up to a whole.
It was easier to draw her doing sit-ups, though the view wasn’t so good. The highlight of the show however was yet to come. Korra came to a tree directly in Asami’s eyeline, jumping up to grab a thick, horizontal branch. The giant dog lay down by the trunk as its master began doing chin ups that were totally not for the benefit of the dark haired beauty across the way.
Asami’s phone beeped. She checked it.
“Still stalking the hot girl from the park? :P”
“See for yourself, Opal.”
Asami sent a picture of the woman.
“Tag your porn, woman!” came the reply. “Seriously though. Are you going to ask her out or what? Because if you don’t I just might have to start playing matchmaker.”
“Working on it, Opal.”
Asami found her resolve. She put the sketchbook away and binned the now empty coffee cup, heading for the tree. The dog tilted its head as she approached but seemed perfectly friendly.
“Hi there.”
“Hey,” The woman didn’t pause. Asami couldn’t help but look her over. “I’m cool with the sketches, don’t worry. Unless you’re making a shrine or something weird like that with them.”
“Oh no, no, nothing like that!” Asami said hurriedly. “I just uh...well...you’re very nice to draw.”
“Thanks. I think.”
“I was just wondering. Um. This might be a little bit forward but...I...maybe...wouldyouliketogetadrinksometime?” Asami blurted. The woman fell off her branch. She landed awkwardly, crumpling onto the grass. The dog sat up with a whine of concern.
“It’s ok, Naga.” The woman pushed herself up into a sitting position. She looked up at Asami. “Only took you a month to work up the courage?”
Asami blushed again. The woman smiled. “Got there before I did. I’ve been showing off more and more each time. My name’s Korra, and I’d love to get a drink with you.”
“Brilliant. Oh, right, yes, my name is Asami. Probably should have led with that.”
“I was never one for proper, Asami. Now,” Korra extended a hand. “Would you mind helping me up? I’m pretty sure I just twisted my ankle.”
As first dates go trips to A&E rarely make the top ten list. They had to drop Naga off at Korra’s friend’s house on the way, Asami apologising the whole time and Korra brushing it off. She’d pulled a hoody on over her bare shoulders but hadn’t bothered to zip it up. It was extraordinarily distracting but Asami managed to get them to hospital without further injury. She was only too happy to put an arm round Korra and help her hobble into the waiting room, getting her checked in and sat down. Then she slipped outside to make a call.
“Lu? It’s Asami. Cancel my morning meeting, and be prepared to take me off this afternoon as well.”
Her assistant barely managed to hide his surprise. “Terribly sorry but I’ve had to go to the hospital. It’s nothing serious but it might take some time.”
She came back in. Korra was sat with ice on her swollen ankle. She looked up a little anxiously.
“Do you have to go?”
“Absolutely not.” Asami sat down. “So. Korra. Come here often?”