quantumreality

Disclaimer: This work of fan-fiction is not intended for personal profit. All the characters used in this fan fic are the property of Nickelodeon and/or other designated copyright and/or trademark holders.

A/N: I've taken a little authorial licence to put a slight twist into Episode 7, "The Aftermath" in order to squeeze it into the canon episode. :) It doesn't break canon, but it does satisfy my inner slasher which is squeeing. ;-P

"That was amazing!" blurted Korra excitedly. "I didn't think we'd make it."

Asami's eyes showed her excitement after racing her Satomobile at high speed. Korra liked how confident she seemed as she replied, "Well, you can't be afraid to mix it up sometimes."

"I gotta admit, I had you pegged wrong. I thought you were kind of... prissy," admitted Korra. Quickly, she looked back up at Asami and blurted, "Eh-no offence!"

Asami laughed, then stood up and set her green eyes steadily on Korra while discussing her physical training. "It's alright, people usually assume that I'm daddy's helpless little girl, but I can handle myself. I mean, I've been in self-defence classes since I was this high. My dad made sure that I would always be able to protect myself."

Korra had to admit, she liked having things in common with Asami. Especially now that she knew Asami wasn't – prissy. Asami was confident, physical – a lot like her, Korra thought. She liked that.

"Smart guy," Korra noted. Asami's answering smile sent a slight tingle up Korra's spine as the girls put their helmets away. She remembered how Asami seemed to almost drink her in as they'd talked by the Satomobile.

After meeting back with Bolin (who seemed kind of anxious) and Mako, Asami led them back to the front doors where they waited for the servant to open the door. No sooner did he open it than Bolin sped off towards the bathroom while loudly announcing his 'emergency'.

Korra thought she might need to use one, too, and asked, "Uh, is there another bathroom I can use?"

Asami looked briefly at Mako, whispered to him and then stepped over to Korra. "Sure. Come, I'll show you the lady's powder room."

Korra looked around at the grand entry hall and mused, "It'd be easy to get lost in here, I bet."

Asami said, "Mako, I'll meet you afterwards, okay?"

Mako nodded, smiled and said, "Speaking of getting lost, I'd better go find Bolin."

Asami chattered a bit as she led the Avatar up the grand staircase. "I've lived here all my life, of course, so I know my way around." She giggled and leaned in to whisper, "The servant told me how Bolin insisted he didn't need directions the first time, so naturally he ended up going into the art gallery instead of the swimming pool."

"He's a good guy, though. He doesn't mean any harm." Korra chuckled, remembering the belching contest between her and Bolin.

Asami nodded. "He's just impetuous, my Dad would say."

They were now walking down a long hall, and Asami pointed at a door just to their right and said, "Here's the powder room."

Korra found herself unwilling to leave Asami's company. She'd grown to like the girl who turned out to love fast cars, and who'd been taught fighting techniques just like Korra had. It didn't hurt that Asami had those compelling green eyes—

"Korra?" Asami had stepped closer and put her hand on Korra's arm. "Are you okay?"

Korra found herself stammering as she hastily replied, "Oh. I was – uh, thinking about doorbending the air - sorry, I mean airbending the doors at Tenzin's place." She nodded in as convincing a manner as she could. "Yeah."

Asami said sceptically, "You're way too nervous to be worried about your airbending training. From what Mako's told me, you're coming along pretty well with Tenzin as your teacher." She took her hand off Korra's arm and said, "Look, maybe it's not my place to ask, but..."

For the first time, Asami seemed a little uncertain around Korra. Curiously, Korra said, "What d'you want to ask me? Is it about the Southern Water Tribe, or... I dunno, Naga?"

Asami licked her lips and said, "Can you come with me into the powder room for a moment, please?"

Confused, Korra followed. She wondered why Asami would lock the door, but figured she could just Firebend her way out if Asami tried to do anything. Not that the other girl was an Equalist!

Asami leaned against the wall, while gesturing at Korra to get comfortable. Korra decided to perch her butt on the ornate countertop which held a sink and some other odds and ends.

Asami hesitantly started by saying, "Have you ever – even just a bit – thought about girls like you're supposed to do about boys?"

At first scandalized, Korra blurted, "No! I... what, do you take me for some kind of... of..." She couldn't even finish the thought. She'd always grown up knowing girls married boys and had kids. The idea of two girls, or two boys, kissing and doing other things was incomprehensible.

Asami reddened. "I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have brought this up, Korra. It's just – I like guys and girls. Have since I was a teenager. I... kind of thought you might be interested in me."

Tongue-tied, Korra stared at Asami as the other girl looked away. Against all her will, Korra found herself fleetingly wondering what it would be like. Would it be like the kisses she'd shared with Mako? (Oh, Spirits, the embarrassment at finding out he just didn't like her the same way! But she still liked him and sometimes wished – even so.)

Korra haltingly said, "Just – just assuming I was interested – which is totally not saying I am, but just supposing. What would you do?"

Asami looked at Korra. "Well, kiss you, I imagine." She sighed and said, "Look, you have to understand, I found out I liked girls when I was in school and one day my friend Reiko and I were kind of playing around in the pool and the servant was gone – though we don't talk about it now."

Korra frowned. "Do people do that kind of thing, you know, publicly, in Republic City?"

Asami shook her head vehemently. "No! It's not really acceptable here in the city. I've heard in some places it's looser, though. Like, the Sandbenders in the Si Wong Desert. But they rarely come here."

"But...?" prodded Korra. She leaned forward, intrigued.

"Well, there's some quiet tea shops, places like that – you know someone who knows someone and on certain nights of the week you can show up and not care about the police."

"Have you ever gone?" asked Korra.

"Sometimes," admitted Asami. "But not lately. My dad wouldn't really like it, and I am his daughter. If word got out about Asami Sato walking into the Pink Dragon at the wrong time—"

Korra nodded and shuddered a little bit. She didn't know what might happen to a girl who liked other girls, but it couldn't be pleasant. But Korra hadn't trained to be the Avatar only to be put off by the likes of sanctimonious cops like Lin Beifong, even if what she'd be doing might get her arrested and her picture splashed all over the newspaper.

"What's the Pink Dragon, exactly?"

Asami seemed to relax as she smiled, remembering fondly. Korra wondered what her lips would feel like.

Asami replied, "Well, it's a tea house and restaurant owned by a woman named Linh. She got the idea from an old restaurant and tea house named the Jasmine Dragon in Ba Sing Se. Only since as long as I can remember, if you're like... well, me, anyway – dunno about you yet, Korra—" She winked, prompting a smirk from Korra.

"Anyway, you could go in after 'closing time' and she'd personally serve people who wanted to dine out with their boyfriend or girlfriend. When Reiko and I were still kind of together in school, we sneaked off to the Pink Dragon one time." Asami chuckled. "Two teenagers on a date. We were actually kind of scared; the only reason I even knew about it was because Dad and I went during normal hours, and when I went to go wash my hands I'd overheard the waiter say something about 'prepping for the sparrowkeets' after closing."

"Huh," remarked Korra. "Doesn't seem too bad of a term."

"Considering it's a nice play on how we're all kind of 'birds of a feather', it beats being called perverts or even worse," remarked Asami sardonically. "Anyway, we were too nervous to really even finish our tea. But Linh was so nice. She didn't even mind about who I was. Just told Reiko and me to be careful, but to enjoy ourselves. I sometimes wonder who she loved," mused Asami.

Korra got off the countertop and moved closer to Asami. Her heart slammed in her chest as she tried not to breathe too quickly. "D'you think, maybe you and I – could we go there sometime?"

Asami seemed pleased and relieved at the same time. "Of course! I don't know when, but if we're careful, we could try and sneak in. After all, you're the Avatar and I'm Dad's daughter, so we can't rush a date like that."

"Okay," Korra said uncertainly. Then she reminded herself that she was the Avatar, damn it. More firmly, she said, "Okay!"

Asami reached out for Korra's hand. Korra reached out hesitantly, then clasped the other girl's hand, which felt warm and smooth against her own somewhat rougher skin.

Asami squeezed gently and said, "So you like me?"

Korra nodded. "I think I do. Not ready for anything else just yet, but I'm willing to give it a try and see where it goes."

"Good. You mind if I—?" Asami raised Korra's hand a bit. Korra nodded.

Asami lifted Korra's hand near her mouth. She pressed her lips gently to the back of Korra's hand, and said, "I look forward to our date, Avatar Korra."

Korra smiled in return. "Okay, Miss Sato."

"Well, I should... get going. You should freshen up in here – do what you needed to do in the first place." Asami reached for the door with her free hand, and reluctantly let go of Korra's hand. She waved slightly as she retreated from the powder room, letting the door shut with a small click.

With that, Korra locked the door and turned to doing what she'd needed to do in the first place.

Thanks to ayala_atreides for betaing this!