Just a weirdo passing thru~

This particular bar, at this particular part of town, wasn’t a popular spot for hanging out.

Asami was grateful for that.

Her eyelash fluttered, threatening to close shut as she reached for her glass only to realise it was empty. She grunted – and the bartender apparently took that as a cue to give her a refill.

“Rough day?”

She looked up, still blinking the alcohol away (a bit strange – she didn’t remember having that many drinks) and was greeted with a lop-sided grin. Asami rubbed then squinted her eyes. Under the dim, flickering lights the bar’s owner never bothered to fix, it was hard to see who she was looking at.

There was something wrong with that voice, however.

“You’re not gonna make me blush if all you do is staring at me all night like that, you know? I’m very aware of my sexual appeals,” the girl (and yes, she was sure it was a girl) laughed as she continued drying and putting the cups away. Asami could almost catch a playful wink thrown her way, but that was neither here nor there.

She looked away.

“Not much of a talker, are you?”

This girl was persistent, she gave her that. “Not much in the mood for anything at the moment, more like,” she said, a small hiccup made its way through her throat.

A light chuckle. “You know what, my shift ends in about ten minutes. There’s this amazing restaurant near here that I’ve just discovered the other day. Want to come with me?”

And a shameless flirt, too.

Asami raised one eyebrow. “We’ve just met and I don’t even know your name. Why would I want to go out with a stranger?”

“Well, I suppose if you want a reason,” the girl tilted her head as she leaned over the counter with her chin in her hand – and like this, Asami could almost make out the lines on her face, “you’re cute. I’m more than cute, but everyone knows that already. Cute people hang out together, and food tastes better with cute company. Perfectly good reason, don’t you think?”

She winked, again, and Asami suddenly felt something pull at that smile.

She hesitated. This new bartender was quite attractive, she supposed. But— “I’m taken.” Not necessarily true, but this girl didn’t need to know that. She turned away.

A calloused hand touched hers and Asami stiffened slightly at the familiarity of it, of the warmth and the shape and size of each of the fingers that came into contact with her own, that she almost missed the girl’s next few words.

“I’m Korra, by the way.” The girl – Korra – brought her hand up and grazed soft lips against its back. “Nice to meet you, Asami Sato.”

She scrambled to her feet and left before her brain could wonder how this Korra knew her name.

The Avatar left another message for the city’s authorities on, guess what, the City Hall’s roof. The content was always the same, always about the oppression of benders, always about justice and “true” equality, but the methods varied.

Nursing the mug of coffee in her hands, Asami gathered her legs off the floor as the reporter’s voice – which was probably offering guesses as to what materials the Avatar had used this time for the message – sunk into the background.

It wasn’t like they could find out in time anyway. There was a storm coming, and the letters would be washed away soon enough, leaving no trace behind. Such was the Avatar’s way – flawless, calculating, and meticulous.

She scoffed, fondly – then mentally chastising herself for her reaction.

Her mind wandered off to the strange encounter at the bar the other day.

Something nagged at the back of her mind – something was wrong about the new bartender, about Korra – but she couldn’t quite put her fingers on it.

She almost dozed off to sleep when the slight clicks on her window sent her into full alert. She reached for the hidden gun under the cushion. No one broke into Sato mansion, except—

She heard the sound of gun cocking at the same time the window snapped open and a figure stepped in. She stiffened. Fifty-fifty chance, she supposed, but it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared.

The lights suddenly went out, and she fired.

Only, something had grabbed her arm and shoved, effectively pointed the gun upwards to the ceiling. “Hey, it’s me,” the voice hushed, low and familiar. “Don’t worry, it’s me.”

Asami breathed out in relief, her shoulders relaxed a little as she realised who it was.

“Don’t scare me like that!” She gritted her teeth, putting the gun away. “I thought you were them!”

“Ah, but I am one of them though, you do realise,” The Avatar flashed her a toothy grin, “and you didn’t hear me knock. The rain was brutal, you know?”

“Serves you right.” Asami huffed, but still reached for the towel she’d stashed under the table and threw it over the Avatar’s dripping wet hair. “And you know what I mean. My father’s works made them angry. One group of people after me is enough – I don’t need you to add to my paranoia.”

She started scrubbing the Avatar’s hair when the latter’s hand reached up to catch her wrist. One eye peeked out from under the towel and not for the first time, Asami wished she could find out what colour those eyes were.

“I’m— sorry.” The Avatar hesitated, but gave her a genuine smile. “Truly.”

Asami’s scowl faded away as she placed her lips on the other’s forehead. “Apologies accepted.”

The Avatar’s lips resumed its usual mischievous grin and pulled her down to a more proper, thorough kiss.

Later, when they were both spent and exhausted on her bed, Asami tentatively placed the back of her hand on the Avatar’s cheek and stroked gently, like she’d always done.

She didn’t know how long this thing – them – had going on. She didn’t even know who the other girl really was, but if her lover didn’t want her to know, she’d have to be content with the idea that they, somehow, fit well together more than any two bodies had any rights to.

Or so she wanted to believe, anyway.