#soupremacy

She padded around their room, shucking off pajamas and dressing herself in an especially smart blouse-pant combo, taking care to roll up the sleeves perfectly. If she was already this late, might as well dress like it might’ve been on purpose, right? Speaking of, she’d have to rehash her negotiation in the car…

Brushing her teeth came next in her usual routine, and she moved the toothbrush rather aggressively through her mouth, trying to finish as quickly as possible. A twenty-minute delay would mean everything gets pushed back, or she basically skips lunch, or has to postpone her observation with Ryu, again. Hm. Maybe the last one. Ryu was a good worker, after all…

The vanity drawers rolled out and in almost silently as Asami applied all her cosmetics – signature dark lipstick and a dash of eyeshadow, before standing up to spritz her hair, then her –

“You look hot.” 

Asami jumped at the sound, perfume clutched tighter in her grasp. “Spirits, Korra –” She glanced over, seeing an especially dopey smile on her girlfriend’s face. “You scared me. I thought you had fallen back asleep.” She mindlessly sprayed her neck at the spot Korra liked, brain rushing through Wang’s proposal. 

“Mm. I just remembered something,” Korra explained, voice still groggy. The Avatar stretched wide, and then tall, in their shared bed, feeling her muscles fire up through the soreness. 

“What’d you remember,” Asami prompted, almost unconsciously, as she pulled on her socks and boots before tying her hair back, out of her face. She peered in the mirror, scanning over herself before smiling and turning to grab her keys, catching Korra’s eye in the process. Her girlfriend was looking particularly mussed – her hair had a bump at the back, and her tank top was all rucked up, like she had gotten hot during the night, again. 

Korra just smiled – she was sorely tempted to rip her top off, just to tease her clearly rushing girlfriend, but she decided to be compassionate, for now. Asami looked tense, like she was itching to leave at any moment, but was still kindly and politely waiting for a response to her muttered question. That perfect brow creased even tighter due to Korra’s delay, and she couldn’t take it any longer. “Don’t worry about it, babe.”

The brow relaxed, then tensed again. “Are you sure? I can shave off a few more minutes of work, if you need something.” Asami bore into Korra’s eyes, showing genuine interest as best she could.

Korra blinked, then grinned wide almost – mischievously? “I’m sure. I promise it’s fine.” She flipped her hand, dismissing Asami. “Go be a sexy CEO.”

“Okay,” Asami sighed, kneeling on the bed again. “Stay sexy, Avatar,” she whispered, kissing Korra goodbye before heading to their garage, giving Naga a loving scritch as she walked by. The polar bear dog huffed her assent, through her nose, but was just as lazy as her owner today, and made no other motion.

**

Korra sighed to herself as Asami left, the grin still plastered on her face. “I’m a genius,” she declared to her bedroom walls, basking in the warm sunlight, before she shut her eyes, sleep claiming her again. 

______________________________________________________________

Asami would have it known (particularly to her ever-loving girlfriend) that she did not skip lunch, today. She had a full meal from Fan’s, steamed vegetables and all, over which she phoned Ryu to reschedule. For the third time. 

(“Let me guess – same time next week?” Ryu had joked, the both of them laughing.)

Her tardiness to the meeting this morning had been a nonissue, seeing as Mr. Wang had also been caught up this morning, taking care of his elementary-aged daughter. He had still been agreeable, at the meeting, and they had settled without much fanfare, but more importantly, without much drama. 

Currently, Asami was gearing up for her workshop visits, collecting her notepad and pen under her arm as she stood, stretching before a knock at her door was heard. “Come in,” she called, taking a deep breath in, and out. 

Her secretary poked her head in. “Sorry to disturb you, Ms. Sato. There’s a letter for you.” 

Asami’s eyes narrowed in unfamiliarity, and she stepped around her desk, moving to approach the door. “Okay, just put –” She cut off as she watched Heimang step closer, and held the envelope for her to take. “What…?” Her hand received the letter on reflex, and she placed her clipboard back down on the desk behind her, eyes darting between the envelope and her best secretary. 

Heimang bit her lip, before smiling, softly. “It’s directly for you. No titles, or positions…” she winked, before turning to head out. “Enjoy,” she sounded, voice teetering between encouraging and teasing. 

Asami watched her coworker depart, furrow in her brow, before looking down to assess her newest curiosity. The envelope was interesting – not for size, or material, or anything usual, but for being entirely handwritten, if Asami’s eyes were correct. She glanced at the return address – and froze. That’s…

“Korra?” Asami muttered, under her breath. It was then that she noticed the lack of a stamp in the corner, and she flipped the envelope over, turning to reach over her desk for her drawer with the letter opener, before pausing, still half-bent. “What…” The envelope wasn’t even properly sealed – just tucked in, the point of the flap holding it closed.

She straightened, and flipped the envelope to the front again, narrowing her eyes as she scanned it over. A check-in with her gut told her that it wasn’t dangerous, and she began to slide the flap open, letting out a miniature sigh as the contents revealed themselves just to be paper, written on with pen. She collected and unfolded the two pages (four full sides, it looked like) and leaned slightly back against her desk, eyes crinkling at Korra’s uncharacteristically neat, small script. She found the beginning:

Dearest, Asami,

             ^

       prettiest, sexiest, strongest, smartest, hottest, kindest, wisest, loving-est, BEloved-st, amazing-est, gorgeous-est

I love you. First and foremost, and forever.

So. A letter………kind of a thing for us, huh? I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to pay you back for all of the letters you sent me, when I was gone. But here I am, doing my best just to TRY, with this letter. To TRY to return the love you gave me, to TRY and express how thankful I am for those letters. I know, I’ve already told you thanks, over, and over again. But I’ll never stop, because I really owe you! One of the busiest women in Republic City, dedicating time each week to write and send a letter all the way to the South Pole. 

Asami – that was one of the few constants I had during that tumultuous, crazy time. If anything, I could always rely on getting another letter, another update from you. I don’t think I ever realized how much it meant to me at that time. But it means everything to me now. Every letter. And every letter within those letters! Lovingly penned by you. *sigh*. You make me feel so special. You’re the best girlfriend anyone could ask for (which they will not do because you are MINE.) >:(

Asami could feel her heart pounding, and she knew she was probably flaming in the face. Leave it to her girlfriend to make her swoon, still, after months. Wasn’t the honeymoon stage supposed to fade, at some point?

Anyway. That thing I was going to tell you about this morning? I just had a dream last night about that play we went to go see. What was it called again? Lolumi? Loleme? Anyway in

A loud, sharp laugh left Asami’s mouth. Lumeni, she remembered.

my dream we went to go see it again because it was re-showing but MAKO was the guy. Eughhhhh why does my brain torture me sometimes? And also I was significantly stressed because for some reason Meelo was in the row in front of us and I just kept thinking that he was too young to be there, and he kept turning around to ask me questions about how to take care of Naga. But then suddenly I was being invited on stage? And they wanted me to dance this funky hop-skip thing but I couldn’t catch on quick enough and then they started doing it without me and I got all 

The front page ended there, and Asami quickly flipped it over in her hands, invested.

embarrassed in front of everyone. And then you weren’t even there! Not like, you left me type thing. Like you suddenly disappeared from the scene. Which was a shame because you had looked super hot like you always do. Anyway I pushed backstage and then Varrick was there, trying to sell me on some mover deal but then Katara was there too, and then suddenly everything switched into a Southern Water Tribe party that we were having at the civic center, for some reason? And I asked Master Katara what the occasion was and she said that Jinora was having a baby. So then I freaked because Jinora is FIFTEEN but then apparently it was just Pema. But her name was Jinora. And then I had to help with the birth and it was just Rohan again. Not sure why there was all the drama about it being Jinora. Anyway since I helped with the birth everyone kept approaching me and bombarding me with stuff and then I woke up from the stress, I think. Haha. You probably didn’t want to hear all that. Sorry.

Asami scoffed, in the privacy of her own office. Korra knew damn well Asami loved hearing her dreams. They rarely ever made sense, but it was fun to peer into her partner’s brain, just for a moment. 

And you’re probably thinking, ‘duh, Korra, of course I want to listen to you because I’m the best girlfriend in the whole world’. And you would be right.

Asami tsked, again rolling her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the affectionate grin off of her face. 

But I’M just thinking about how I’m kinda wasting page space, and I haven’t even told you what I REALLY want to tell you. So I’ll hurry through and get to the point!

I checked, and Lumeni is unfortunately not playing again. Which is good, because I don’t think I’d want to see that stage again so quickly after that dream. I just physically shuddered, as I wrote that. That’s why that word looks all squiggly.

Asami checked. It was the -ng on ‘playing’.

But you know what IS playing again? ………dramatic pause for dramatic effect……(go to next page)

Korra had filled both sides of the first page to the very corners, exactly where she had left those instructions. Asami followed them, and shifted the front page gently behind the second, re-orienting it so that the folds matched. 

Suavo! That’ssss right, you heard it here first, folks. Years Apart is back in Republic City mover theater, for three nights only! And it’s a HOT one, so grab your lady, gent, or love, and get yourrrr tickets, before they sell out! 

Asami giggled, again. Korra had a knack for impersonating the radio announcer that did the pro-bending games, and the voice came through, even when written.

You heard the man! Wanna go on a date with me, to see that mover we loved so much? Together, this time? I was thinking next weekend, opening showing? We should get smoothies for dinner, like as a special sweet treat, and then the mover, and then whatever you wanna do. :)

As good as that mover will be. What I REALLY wanted to tell you in this letter is that you’re the best romantic mover, or book, or story that I’ll ever watch, read, or hear. You define what romance is to me. It’s like you give the word ‘love’ a whole new meaning, in every sense and use of the word. No one has loved me better than Asami Sato. And I will try my hardest, the rest of my life, to make sure no one loves Asami Sato better or more than me. Love. In every sense. 

You know, you’re kinda just my dictionary. All those words I wrote at the beginning? You’re what I picture for all of them. 

Asami had to physically stop reading, close her eyes, turn her head up towards the ceiling, and sigh out the giddiness. Korra was always sweet, but there were moments when her girlfriend was so overwhelmingly affectionate that Asami had to pause and process it piece by piece, lest she explode. She bit her lip, letting the slight pain serve as a grounding point, before she read the last few lines again, and those beginning words. Spirits, she loved Korra to death. 

Thank you for being kind – even from the beginning, when I wasn’t kind to you. Thank you for your kindness when I’ve been hurt, or sick, or frustrated. Thank you for your encouragement, when I’m lacking faith in myself. Thank you for your patience, when I blow over occasionally or can’t figure out the words for my feelings. Thank you for always communicating, when we have disagreements or when your feelings get hurt. I always learn a lot from you, and I want to keep learning for as long as you’ll teach me. 

And thank you for teaching me about all of your beautiful, unfathomable machines. How one brain thinks up all of that world-changing technology, I don’t think I’ll ever know, other than the fact that it’s you who does it all. Thank you for being a hero to the world, in a way no one else can. Thank you for fighting alongside me, always, in every confrontation, physical or not. Thank you for lending me your strength when I’m weak. 

Page flip.

Thank you for sharing your advice and wisdom during all of the moral, ethical questions I end up having to deal with as the Avatar. There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side.

(Ok, fun task for you: take every ‘thank you’ in those last paragraphs and replace them with ‘I love you’. Yeah, that’s how I feel.)

Asami obeyed, turning the page over in her hands as needed, and felt her heart speed up at the sweetness of it all.

Thank you for your devilishly sexy looks, as well. Arfing tiger-seals. (Arf arf!!!!) I’m fanning myself in our room, right now. Gonna have to go spar, or go on a run or something, or come whisk you away from work to take care of what’s happening downstairs. Mmmm you’re so hot ~~~~~~~

Asami brought her left leg over her right, crossing and tensing them subconsciously.

Now that we’re both riled up…you’re my favorite person to make laugh. Spirits, your laugh is the best sound in the world, I swear to Yue. Thank you for laughing at my stupid jokes, and crazy antics. You want me to stop, just stop laughing.

Asami sighed, affectionately. Impossible.

And thank you for all of our little inside jokes, as well. All of them, even way back when we were ‘just friends’. You’ve always understood me in a special way, and our eye contact, sometimes…I swear there’s some chi that flows between us, when that happens. Feels like liquid gold, to me.

And your hugs. (I just…whined? to myself?) Asami, I don’t know if you know this, but you make me feel safe. I don’t know if it’s me being smaller than you, or the way we hug tight, or what. It just…feels like I belong, every time we embrace. (Did you like the word choice there? ‘Embrace’? Haha.) Please never stop hugging me. I’d rather die in your arms than live without them ever around me again.

I know we choose each other every day, through everything, but…it really feels, sometimes, like the spirits gave you to me. So I’ll treasure, and cherish, the gift that you are. 

Your ONLY true love (grrrrr),

Korra

Asami wiped the few tears from her eyes – whether from emotion, or just joy at Korra’s ever-joking play at non-existent jealousy, she didn’t know. But the tears were due to Korra, nonetheless. She pressed the heel of her hand into her wet eye, and laughed to herself, breathing deep to calm herself again. When she opened her eyes, she noticed two other, tinily-written statements, just below her favorite name:

P.S. Please don’t throw this away. I mean, not like you’d really do that. But if anything, I want to have a record of all my great writing. Put it with my stuff if you get sick of me.

P.P.S. (Did you know about P.P.S.s? Post-post-scripts? Kinda cool!) If you don’t want the envelope, I can, uh. Use it again. If you want. Since I didn’t seal it. Obviously. But I get that it

The last words were miniscule, written in the sliver of space between the last large line Korra had filled and the absolute bottom of the page. 

might help to have envelopes in storage for organization. ok love you bye ♡♡

Asami laughed, bright and clear again, soaking in the love that she felt all across her body. She glanced down at her watch, cursing under her breath as she noted the time. I guess it’s just a late kinda day, she gathered, reaching back for her pen. “Sorry, baby,” Asami muttered to herself, as she scrawled and drew in a little heart on the front of the envelope, before carefully tucking it behind her notepad, secured to the clipboard. 

Some rummaging through her drawers also procured her handheld mirror, and she gave her face a once-over, seeing if the evidence of tears was obvious. Her eyes were a tinge redder than usual, but otherwise, she looked spick and span, her eye makeup having stayed surprisingly well through the crying, thank Raava. 

She straightened, picking herself off the corner of her desk, and resigned herself to finish out the work day as focused as she could. An Avatar-ish feat, for sure. Asami sighed, nearly rolling her eyes at herself. Everything ties back to her. She allowed herself one more lovesick smile in the privacy of her office before gathering herself and heading out the door.

____________________________________________________________

She re-read the letter another six times before coming home – during a bathroom break at the workshop, in the elevator going back up, in the three-minute reprieve she had between meeting and correspondence time, in the elevator going down, in her car before driving home, in her car after driving home.

______________________________________________________________

“I got your letter,” are the first words out of Asami’s mouth when she walks back into their apartment, said object safely in hand. She beelined for the counter, where Korra was cutting vegetables for some sort of stew cooking on the stove, and tossed the envelope further along, away from squirting juice range.

“Hm,” Korra hummed, affirming her listening as she set down the knife and turned. “Did you…” she saw Asami marching towards her, determined look on her face. “Like it?”

“Like it? Hello?” Asami took the last couple steps and grabbed Korra by the head, kissing her soundly. One of her hands migrated behind Korra’s ear, brushing softly through perfect locks as she kissed her girlfriend stronger, and deeper. She felt Korra’s warm arms wrap around her waist, hauling her millimeters closer and keeping her safe, always. 

“Mm,” Korra sighed into Asami’s mouth, squeezing her waist twice before pulling back slightly, breath hitching as Asami’s eyes opened to reveal dark, wide pupils. “You loved it.”

“You bet I did,” Asami whispered, before craning down to kiss over Korra’s jaw, and then down a little, before pulling up to her ear. “Do we have time for me to show you how much?” She resumed her kissing, nipping at the soft parts of Korra’s neck.

“Oh, uh…” Her neck was on fire. Korra’s eyes had closed, and she opened them now, remembering where she was, and what she had been doing. (The kitchen cabinet, askew in her vision, helped with that.) “Af–” She cleared her throat. “After dinner…please,” Korra insisted, eyes darting over to her boiling soup just as Asami stood tall again. “It’s gonna taste sooo good.”

Asami paused, for a second, a tiny piece of her mind raising a flag of insecurity, before she steeled herself and nodded, acquiescing, not without a gleam in her eye. “Oh I know you are,” she teased, before securing one last kiss, and backing away. “You need help?” She stepped over to their sink, turning on the faucet to wash her hands.

“Hmm,” Korra voiced, as she turned back to her task of dicing the jellynemone, before pausing. “You want to finish cutting this, and I’ll handle the lobster crabs?” 

Asami was drying her hands as she melted, soft smile overtaking her face. “Would you? It still eeks me out to crack them,” she admitted.

“Of course. Oh! And there’s squid balls in that bag, there.” Korra stepped to the side, thumbing over her shoulder towards the table. “We can throw those in or roast them separately.”

“Let’s bake them. I like when they’re crispy,” Asami suggested, taking the knife into her hands. She settled into the repetitive motions, scooping up the cubes and dumping them in the pot. “When did you find time to drop by the office? I thought you had airbender training today.” 

Korra laughed a little, to herself. “I did, that’s actually how it all worked out. Jinora and Kai were being a little too…distracted, and distracting, so, I sent them off with a task.” She snapped open the lobster crabs, carefully removing the carapace and dumping the meat into the stew. “If they took a little longer than expected for two airbenders to fly to Future Industries Tower and back – well. That’s none of my business,” Korra shrugged, with an amused smile on her face.

“Those two,” Asami agreed, laughing. “When did you write it?”

“First thing this morning,” Korra replied, simply. 

Another sweep of the knife, into the pot. “First thing?”

“First thing. Before I left the room. I stole some of your stationery paper, by the way, obviously. I knew you wouldn’t mind.”

“Korra,” Asami breathed, setting down the knife and turning to her girlfriend in disbelief, jellied hands hanging in the air. “You wrote to me before getting breakfast?”

“Yes…? Is there…something…wrong, with that?” Korra glanced up at Asami for a moment, still cracking and excavating the delicate meat.

Asami brought her elbow to hook around Korra’s neck, chasing those full lips with her own before landing a solid peck. “You really do love me,” she breathed, after pulling away. “I know you must’ve spent a lot of time on that letter, and you did it while hungry?” She kissed her again. “Mm. I love you.” She took her hand back and stepped close to the counter again, picking up the cutting board and knife. 

Korra huffed out a singular, contradictory laugh. “Love you too. I also just had to jot the dream down.” 

“Ohhh, I knew it,” Asami said, playfully, the both of them laughing while she moved to rinse off the board, and her hands. But inside, that flag was now waving, slightly, from side to side.

“Oh yeah –” Crack. “Can you make sure to reserve those tick–”

“Already done. Next week, after the visit to the city council.” Asami dried off her hands, turning to the table for the bag of squid balls. “That’s a perfect date, by the way. Smoothies, and Suavo? You’re the best girlfriend ever.” She opened the package, inspecting them before rolling them onto a baking sheet. 

Korra laughed, cleaning up her mess of shell. “Pretty sure that’s you, babe.” She moved to wash her hands, speaking over her shoulder. “Did you pick what you wanted to do after?” 

Asami sauntered back over to the counter, hip-checking Korra before turning around and leaning back on the counter. She stared at her girlfriend until Korra met her eye, and then she stared a bit longer, slowly-growing smirk etching itself onto her face.

As usual, and as adorable as ever, Korra blushed, turning her head back down to her hands in the sink. “No, I meant – we can do some– obviously we’ll get to that –”

A joyful grin overtook Asami’s smirk, and she reached to grab Korra’s forearm, running her thumb over the ever-warm, ever-firm muscle. “Sorry. You’re still so cute to tease,” she explained. “I was actually thinking we can maybe just talk?”

Hands now dry, Korra twisted to step close to Asami, her arm still captive. “Talk?” She brought her other hand up behind Asami, resting it on the small of her back. 

“Yeah,” Asami confirmed, fingers still playing over Korra’s mercury scars. “Getting the letter made me remember this morning, and I was just thinking about how we’re both so busy sometimes that we don’t ever just sit and chat. Or, we do, but it’s never for long, since we’re always running from one thing to the next. Both individually, or together.”

“I love that idea,” Korra said, reassuringly, as she leaned close to turn the gas down, behind Asami, so her soup fell to simmer.

“One of my favorite things about you, or I guess about us, is that we never run out of things to talk about. And…I just miss that, a little bit.” Asami brought her hand down to lace her fingers with Korra’s. “We’re so busy, and when we spend time together, there’s always some sort of activity going on, like,” she pointed at the pot. “Dinner, or meetings, or service-type stuff. It’d be nice to just talk. No agenda. We could even visit one of our old haunts. Or we could just sit on the beach, or something.”

Korra brought their hands up to kiss at Asami’s knuckles. “That all sounds amazing. You’re right – part of the reason I wrote that letter to you is because we are a bit lacking in shared time, right now. Just comes with the jobs, though,” she sighed, half-lamenting their responsibilities to the city, and to the world.

“Hey.” Asami yanked Korra closer, and let go of her hand to wrap her arms around Korra’s waist, drawing her close to where she was still leaned up against the counter. “Your letter was so amazing, I re-read it, like, a hundred times before coming home.”

Korra peered up at Asami, quirking her eyebrow. “Yeah?” She brought her arms to rest just over Asami’s, hands closing around toned biceps. 

“Yeah. It’s the best letter I’ve ever gotten. From anyone,” she specified, squeezing at Korra’s waist.

“Well, I’ll just have to outdo myself, I guess,” Korra said, smirking. 

“What a paradox,” Asami appeased, before turning serious again, acknowledging her mental flag. “To be frank, I didn’t even deserve all of that today. I was practically running out the door this morning,” Asami insisted.

“I don’t blame you, babe.” Korra squeezed Asami’s arms. “Our schedule was blasted yesterday – I’m surprised you even woke up as early as you did.” They had been busy counseling with President Moon (and wrangling with Varrick) about how to best deal with the city’s inland expansion, and the discussion had lasted the better part of the day, and evening. 

“Well, thank you, thank you, thank you. I was walking on clouds all day. You’re the best partner, and I promise I’ll make it up to you, if you even let me after dinner,” Asami said, narrowing her eyes down at her girlfriend.

Korra laughed, holding up her hands. “You caught me, I somehow don’t want to have sex with you tonight.” She repositioned them around Asami’s neck, fingers scratching at Asami’s hairline. Something in her girlfriend’s words was unusual, and she was going to address it. “Asami – is that even possible? Why would I not want you, whenever I could have you? Logistics allowing?” She added on, as a caveat.

Asami couldn’t help it – she stiffened, slightly, and bit her lip. “I –” She inhaled deep, and then sighed, feeling Korra characteristically bring a hand down to her back to scratch, calming. “I don’t know, I – wh– when you –” She exhaled quick, blowing off mental steam. “I was gonna pounce on you the second I got home, and then you turned me away – which,” she interjected before Korra could refute. “Was for dinner, I know. But I – I don’t know. It stung for some reason. Not your fault, it can’t be your fault,” she reasoned, both to herself and to Korra. “I –” She made a frustrated noise, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes again. 

“I’m listening,” Korra promised, still rubbing at the parts of Asami she had hold of.

“You’re just – Korra,” she re-addressed, her voice turning a teensiest bit pleading. “You’re literally the best partner ever, and you do stuff like write me insanely detailed and thorough love letters, and cook for me, and love me every second of every day.” She blinked, trying to keep her tears at bay, as she felt her throat get tight. “And I never know how to repay you fairly.” A tear seeped out, running down her left cheek. Despite her emotions, the logical part of her brain took the helm for a second, and sought the most direct route to the truth. “Do you feel loved?”

Korra huffed out a soft laugh, holding herself back from shaking her head in disbelief. “Asami, yes. Yes I do. So much.” She leaned close to Asami, reaching a hand far to grope for the letter, where it was sitting on the counter. She pulled it between them, eyes flickering between it, and Asami’s beautiful green. “Kinda wrote about it for an hour this morning.” She paused, checking for any sort of input from her girlfriend, before she forged onwards, clarifying. “Baby, I didn’t write that letter for me, for any sort of reward. You know that, right?” Korra peered into Asami’s teary eyes, painting her question with sincerity. She watched Asami sigh, eyes glancing away, before they returned, Asami nodding. “Just soak the love in. You deserve to be pampered and fluffed with love, and that’s what that was for. Don’t think about ‘repaying’, me, in any way. It’s for you. I get joy out of telling you how you make me feel, of telling you how much I love you. And that’s enough for me.” Korra paused, thinking through her next words before giving them the mental okay. “In fact, I’d tell you all that even if you didn’t want me to. Even if you put a restraining order on me. I’d make sure you know I felt that way.” 

Asami let out a watery laugh, and her smile stayed. “You’re so stupid.” She took the envelope from Korra’s hand, and flipped it over, bringing her lips to the heart she had drawn, eyes peering over the edge into Korra’s pale blues. She sighed through her nose, her breath blowing the paper back, a little, and she blinked, one singular tear dripping onto the paper. Asami smiled, soft, and pressed both her hand, and the letter, into Korra’s side. “Sorry, I don’t know what’s happening to me. Everything you said is so obvious. I’m just having an off day,” she rationalized. 

“That’s okay,” Korra soothed. “Happens to us all.” She stayed there, watching Asami calm herself. “Are you feeling better?”

Asami let out another sigh, squeezing tight at Korra, to keep her present. “Yes. I am, thank you.”

Korraf frowned. “Trick question, I know you aren’t yet.” She almost broke character at the way Asami’s eyes widened at her, brow crinkling in the beginnings of a glare. “Come here,” she stepped back, bringing her arms down for their usual hug arrangement.

Asami obliged, wrapping her arms tight around Korra’s strong, solid shoulders. She sighed again, this time in relief, as she mentally traced through all the warm places where their bodies were touching: torsos, hips, Korra’s hands on her back. Korra was right; it was only now that her flag fully sank back into the ground. “Thank you,” she mumbled, into Korra’s hair. 

“Always. You’re always there for me, so. Always.” Korra breathed in Asami’s perfume, still strong despite the late hour, and kissed once at Asami’s neck.

“I wasn’t even feeling this way until I got home, really, and – it all came all of a sudden, when you asked me. I – sorry, I have no idea what’s gotten into me.” Asami muttered, thinking out loud. “The stress of being late and delayed at work, I guess.” 

Korra hummed. “Mm. You’re also about to start your period.” 

Asami’s jaw dropped, and she straight up guffawed over Korra’s head. “Yeah, you’re right,” she spoke between laughs, bringing a hand up to wipe away some wetness from her cheek. “That’ll do it.” She sighed out her tension. “Sorry.” 

“No problem.” 

“And thank you.” Asami squeezed tight, adding emphasis to her words.

“You’re welcome.” Korra closed her eyes and nuzzled closer, feeling Asami’s breaths slow.

They stood there for another few seconds, relishing in their shared touches, and silence.

“Hey. Guess what,” Korra prompted, voice hot against Asami’s neck.

“Hm.” Asami hummed, listening.

“Dinner’s ready.”

Asami sighed, lovesick, and pulled back, meeting Korra’s eye. “How is it always perfect timing, with you?”

Korra released herself from Asami’s grip and moved past her to turn off the stove gas, shrugging with one shoulder and smirking where Asami couldn’t see. “Avatar thing. Spiritual energies and such.”

“Sure,” Asami played along, seeing right through Korra’s blatant lies. Her gaze wandered to the squid balls, lying sadly on the baking sheet. “Oh, I forgot about the squid.” 

Korra turned to their cabinets, fishing out two bowls. “You know, spiritual energy really does help me predict when your period is happening, by the way. That, and good ol’ Yue,” she joked, referencing water’s healing capacities. “And I can flame them, if you want.” 

Asami turned to watch Korra, before stepping in. “Let me dish,” Asami requested, bumping Korra out of the way. “You go cook that squid.” 

“Yes ma’am,” Korra responded, leaving the bowls on the counter to go firebend some squid balls.

Asami found their ladle and gently scooped some lobster crab soup into each bowl, more in Korra’s. The steam wafted up delectably from each, and she cradled one in each hand, walking slowly but securely to their table, placing them in their respective spots. She settled into her chair (across the way from Korra’s) and leaned back, watching Korra flamethrow each individual sphere. “Do you think being able to bend helps you cook?”

“Hm…” Korra leaned down, a smidgen further, to reach the ones on the end. “You mean, beyond pure functionality, right.”

Asami smiled. “Exactly.” 

Korra kept thinking as she finished and sat down, pulling her chair close to the table. “Maybe? But I think it’d be the same with most things… Bending takes precision, and patience, and practice, so, I think any activity that trains those merits would help.” 

“Hm.” Asami looked down at her soup. “Shit, spoons –” 

“I got it.” Korra metalbent a couple of spoons out of the drawer, sliding them to their respective spots. 

“Thank you. And thanks for cooking, baby.” She leaned over to squeeze Korra’s wrist, before picking up her spoon and digging in. “Oh, that’s a great blend,” she commented, lobster crab strong on her tongue. 

“Mm,” Korra hummed around her first mouthful. “It is.” 

They both tucked in, snacking on squid balls as they enjoyed the quiet of their shared home. Air Temple Island was always peaceful and pleasant, no matter how loud it got, but still…having time to just be still was nice, and refreshing.

“So, my period,” Asami brought up, sighing, and blowing on her spoonful of soup. “No wonder I was so leaky at the office this morning, spirits.”

“Aw, you cried at the letter?” Korra’s voice was high, adorable, and teasing, again.

At that, Asami glared, spoon poised over her bowl. “Korra, if you downplay how good you know your letter was one more time, I literally am going to punch you in the stomach.”

Korra smirked, and flipped over her spoon, licking at it. “Mm. Hot,” she teased, arms already poised under the table to catch Asami’s oncoming kick. “No fighting inside,” she called around her spoon, blinking surprisedly at how much she sounded like Pema. 

Asami tsked at Korra’s stupidly quick reflexes. “You know, one day I’m actually going to attack you due to your teasing, you know.”

“And I will relish that day,” Korra sighed, wistfully, before catching the squid ball Asami threw at her. “Thanks,” she said, popping it into her mouth. 

“You know I do that just to keep you young. Mental sparring.” Asami paused for a second. “It’s also ridiculously hot, so…”

“Yeah, I get ya, babe. Same reason I watch you play Pai Sho, even if it’s not with me.”

Asami slurped at her soup, narrowing her eyes over her spoon. “That gets you going?”

“Yeah, I – duh,” Korra spouted, “it’s you being ridiculously smart, and in control. You make moves sometimes that are just so bonkers to me, and then bam, you were right all along. Strategy, and tactics. Tell me that’s not hot.”

“Mm. Maybe express that in a letter sometime and I’ll believe you,” Asami joked, winking.

“Asami,” Korra whined, pouting.

“Okay,” Asami laughed, “okay, I’m sorry! I’m sorry baby.” She smiled sympathetically over the table, wider when she saw Korra drop the sulky facade and return to eating. “To be honest, though, I never get personal letters, so your little stint today was quite the surprise. I didn’t even realize what was happening when Heimang first walked in and handed it to me.” 

“You never get personal letters?” Korra’s brow tensed, heavily, and she frowned at the idea.

“Baby,” Asami led, softly. “Who’s gonna write me.”

“Oh.” Korra’s shoulders sagged in sadness, and her arms felt heavier, all of a sudden, now resting against the table. She looked down at her soup, which, although delicious, didn’t look as appetizing anymore. “Well,” she sighed, looking back up to meet Asami’s watching eye. “I’ll write you a million times if I have to.” 

Asami smiled, soft. “I know you will.”

“Not even the boys write you?” 

Asami shrugged, and took another bite, swallowing before she continued. “There’s not really any need to, with radio,” she explained. “Everyone that I – well, most people that I care about are close by, and we see each other often enough.” 

Korra’s eyes crinkled at Asami including her parents. “You don’t have cousins?” 

Asami shook her head, mellow. “Only child of only children. And my grandparents are all dead. The last one passed when I was a teenager,” she recounted, remembering the dreary funeral and how her dad had sobbed at his mother-in-law’s passing. A twinge of hurt, and grief twisted at Asami’s heart, and she redirected her attention back to her soup, scooping up some more.

Korra stopped eating, and crossed her arms, leaning back. “Am I a bad girlfriend for never having asked about your extended family?”

“No,” Asami immediately refuted. “I don’t have one, so it makes sense that it never would have come up,” Asami reasoned. “You never told me about Eska and Desna ‘til we were headed to the South Pole.” She paused, squinting slightly. “Do you ever write them?” 

“Uh, no,” Korra admitted, scratching her head. “We’re not super…alike. And they both have each other, so, it’s kind of a weird third-wheeling situation, whenever I’m with them.”

“I believe that,” Asami nodded, recalling her few interactions with the twins. “Do you ever get personal letters?”

“Y’know,” Korra said slowly, rubbing her chin. “Now that you say that…I don’t really think I do, no.”

“You only get Avatar stuff.” 

“Yeah,” Korra twisted her lips, staring at the ceiling under her crinkled brow. “It’s all Avatar stuff. Huh,” she pressed her lips together, nodding in understanding.

“And I only get Ms. Sato stuff,” Asami said, resting her elbows on the table and placing her chin on her folded hands, over her empty bowl. “Well, I’ll write you occassionally, that’ll be some.” She glanced down at Korra’s bowl. “The answer is obvious, but I’m asking to prompt you: are you gonna eat that?”

To Korra’s credit, she didn’t immediately dig back in. “Yeah, I’m just…thinking,” Korra responded, scooching herself close again, and picking up her spoon. “There was a letter I got once, which was addressed to Her Most Magnanimous Avatar, that actually was very personal.” She dug out a mouthful of soup, and paused, for dramatic effect. “Wu tried to ask me out again over correspondence, after we rescued him.” She took the bite, letting the strong flavor drown out the memories of the stupid past. 

Asami tsked, loud, and meaty. “He did not. Again?!”

Korra shrugged, nodding.

“Oh, my – how does Mako put up with him,” Asami tutted, rolling her eyes.

Korra, bent over her bowl, paused the spoon’s ascent to her mouth, and looked meaningfully up into Asami’s eyes. She quirked an eyebrow, before returning her attention to her food and slurping it up. 

“Wait,” Asami blinked, voice loud in disbelief. “You see it too?!”

“I see it, but I don’t think either of those idiots does. They’ve both got their heads in their asses.”

“Oh my goodness,” Asami spoke quickly, excited, and she reached out for another squid ball, needing snacks for her entertainment. “Why have we never talked about this before,” she lamented. “They’re so in a relationship, right?”

“And they have to break up before they realize that how they felt for each other was feelings,” Korra nodded, reciting her hypothesis with objective nonchalance. 

“Yes, oh – I – that’s – Korra,” Asami stood up, bending over the table to kiss Korra straight on the lips. “I love you. I love how in sync we are.” 

“I love it too, and I love you.” Korra scooped up the last bite, tilting her bowl to fill her spoon. “I say Mako’s head is in his ass because we both know how he is with his love life.” She lifted her spoon, but finished her thought before taking it in her mouth. “I say Wu’s head is in his ass because frankly, I don’t enjoy his company very much, but if we’re going to be in-laws one day, well…” She shrugged with her unburdened shoulder. “Gotta get used to it.” 

“In-laws?” Asami raised her eyebrows.

Korra swallowed her last bite, exhaling like one does after a particularly tasty meal. “Wu not only stands Mako, but he quite frankly adores him. And not in a pro-bender fangirl way. In a, he needs him desperately, and praises his strengths, and trusts him with his life, sorta way.” She looked up to meet Asami’s eye, before standing and moving to clean their dishes. “Wu’s smitten.”

“I agree, but,” Asami was caught on Korra’s previous diction. “If we’re in-laws, is Mako your brother, or m–” Asami blinked, realizing her words. “Oh –”

“Did you seriously just ask that,” Korra deadpanned, walking to the sink.

“I forgot! It’s –” 

“He’s our ex. Our ex. Our ex,” Korra repeated, emphasizing each part of that very short, and very true, statement.

Asami turned her chair to face Korra’s back. “It’s easy to forget that we dated him! Seriously,” she defended herself. “That was so long ago, we were basically just kids,” she rebutted. “You can tell how little that all meant to me, seriously. I’ve got you now.”

“How ‘bout Bolin is your brother,” Korra suggested, swiping away the germs from their bowls.

Asami ran it through her head. “Deal,” she said. “He actually acts like it, a lot. He and I have a pretty good relationship.”

Korra started getting a lid for the pot, and tin foil for the squid. “Hm. You do,” she agreed, beginning to put stuff away.

Asami stood to help her clean up, passing things as needed and starting to wipe down surfaces, and do the rest of the dishes. “How long do you think it’s gonna take for them to figure themselves out?”

Korra tsked, and sighed. “Who knows,” she said, storing the pot of soup in the icebox. “I’d give it at least another six months, unless Mako somehow gets fired.” She scoured the kitchen with her eyes, satisfied at its cleanliness, and leaned back against the counter, watching Asami wash. “Then it’s immediate.” 

“What if Wu gets hurt? Like, bad,” Asami glanced over her shoulder, placing the knife on the rack to dry.

“Ooh,” Korra started smiling, and crossed her arms. “I think either of them gets hurt, the other freaks out and then freaks out about why they’re freaking out.”

“I like it,” Asami agreed. “Not that I’d wish harm on them…but,” she left the word hanging, full of implication.

Korra giggled. “You know, I would’ve never taken you for such a drama lover,” she remarked, assessing her girlfriend’s commentary. “You were so kind to me during the whole Mako debacle.” 

Asami shrugged, drying off her hands, and turning around. “You never held a grudge for my wrongdoings either. And, it’s funner when people don’t know,” she replied. “I desperately needed to talk to someone about this because I have my theories, and I thought no one else did.”

“We should ask Opal.” Korra leaned forward, off the counter, and reached for Asami’s hand, tugging her out of the kitchen.

“Oh – we should totally ask Opal.” Asami followed, watching Korra lead her into the front room – and then further, down the hall. Oh.

Korra twisted around, and started walking backwards, hand still pulling Asami along. She clocked Asami’s darkening eyes, and she let her own gaze dart down Asami’s body, more as a token than anything. “Do you think she would keep it secret from Bolin, though? I don’t know if –” 

“She can totally keep secrets from him, are you joking?” Asami relaxed her eyes, drinking in Korra’s muscles with the way they always popped, even under her clothes.

“Duh,” Korra acknowledged, pushing the door to their bedroom open, and stilling, reaching for Asami’s other hand. “I didn’t think that through.”

Asami gently pushed her girlfriend in, and towards the bed, before turning around to lock the door. Can never be too safe. “Thank you, again, for dinner, baby,” Asami said sincerely, as she reached to start shedding clothing, beginning with her boots. “And thank you again for the letter. Legitimately the best I’ve ever received.”

Korra was taking off her sleeves, followed by her top, and then her pants. “You’re very welcome.”

“So you’re gonna be receiving, tonight.” Asami bit her lip as she unbuttoned her shirt, letting her eyes linger on all of Korra’s sweet spots. Her eyebrow raised of its own accord, seeing as all of it was what she liked.