Republic City.
Asami was absentmindedly swirling her moon peach drink, a flavor that, despite being available in many places and businesses, she hadn't tried until recently—and discovered she loved it. It wasn't as sweet as she expected, leaving a pleasant aftertaste, even a faint almost floral perfume lingering on her breath.
"Did you hear? The police department arrested twenty more people this morning," whispered one of the patrons near her table, though his tone suggested he didn't mind if others overheard. "This month has been insane!"
"Yeah, there was a lot of corruption in many businesses, and several small gangs have disbanded," agreed the gossip's companion. "I can't believe the dry cleaner I used to go to was involved in drug trafficking! No wonder the place always smelled weird and I felt so distracted…"
"Buddy, I know you went there for two reasons, and they both point to the receptionist," his shoulder nudged the other's arm, using a tone only men understood.
"Shut up!" The man smacked the gossip on the back of the neck while looking around nervously. "Do you have any idea what my wife would do if she found out?!"
"I think the real question is what she won't do… Ow!"
Asami rolled her eyes and stopped paying attention to the two of them.
It was true—the police department seemed to have taken vitamins. The number of cases solved had skyrocketed, and everyone had evidence to back up the accusations, leaving no doubt about the guilt of those arrested.
"What are the chances this was her doing?" Asami considered absentmindedly, staring at her reflection in the drink.
After all, the police chief was her family, and the timing matched.
The encounter with Jin had been… unforgettable.
Not just because he got hit by a car and came out unscathed, even with armor under his clothes—she was still trying to wrap her head around that part.
Asami had been thinking about it and had even compiled and reviewed everything known about Jin Beifong. After all, she had plenty of time before they met again. Then she added the revelation about what Avatar Aang had done, and everything fit perfectly.
As for meeting the legendary Jin Beifong and her… uh, particular way of meeting people, she hadn't told her father. She wasn't sure why—perhaps unconsciously, she thought her father would assume she was joking or dismiss it as a scam.
But her actions hadn't gone unnoticed by Hiroshi, who could only laugh amusedly at his daughter's "undercover operations."
He thought Asami was just investigating the life of a brilliant entrepreneur to learn from or be inspired by him. After all, it was a well-known fact worldwide that Jin Beifong was the first defender of equal rights for benders and non-benders alike.
Her factories were even the reference models he had used for his own company!
It was a shame she was not only a figure of the past but also an earthbender. Someone like him would have been the perfect son-in-law in his opinion.
Business talent, creativity, financial backing, clear ideas, decisive character… she had it all!
Moreover, in a way, Hiroshi was grateful to Jin Beifong. Because his daughter admired that person so much, Asami had unconsciously raised her standards for men and hadn't had a partner until today.
If she had been a non-bender, Hiroshi wouldn't have said anything; at most, he would have made sure there was no shady past—like having been a member of the Triad!
Experiencing love was something his daughter had to go through at some point, and he wouldn't deny that the idea of having grandchildren in the future excited him.
He just hoped she'd never end up with a bender!
"Is this seat taken?"
"Sorry, I'm waiting for a friend," Asami replied out of habit without looking.
So many men (and occasionally women) had tried to hit on her that she had developed the habit of giving that excuse to stay at ease. Only when her mind recognized the voice did she realize the slip and blush slightly.
Jin pretended not to notice and sat down with his own drink in hand.
"It's a bit late, so I thought maybe you had left," Jin said as he got comfortable. "I had a busy morning and thought I'd have to wait a few more days to meet up."
"Looks like you got lucky then," Asami studied him. "How was the trip?"
Somehow, he seemed less tense than the last time they'd met.
"It was… exhausting in many ways," Jin rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Setting aside all the changes in the world over these decades, it's surprising how blind some people can be," he pointed out.
Asami nodded thoughtfully. Of course, from her perspective, a lot had changed during his absence, and it was normal to feel a little overwhelmed.
"What kept you so busy this morning, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I had to catch up a bit with the bank and then went to Col Corporation to recover some money they owed me," Jin took a sip. "I assure you, you can't imagine how useful the papers my niece and little sister gave me were—they would have treated me like a madman without them."
Especially the ones from the bank. When they confirmed his identity, three receptionists fainted backward with pale expressions. Apparently, they thought he was going to withdraw the family's money from the bank…
"Wait, why would Col Corporation give you money?" Asami asked, eyes wide.
After all, it was one of her father's biggest business rivals.
"I have shares there," Jin had no reason to hide anything. "After all, in a way, I'm one of the co-founders of the business." During one of his trips, he had ended up investing in the cabbage seller and was now enjoying the benefits accumulated over decades.
"Seems like there's a lot about you they don't teach in schools…"
"It would be concerning if they told my whole life without leaving room for privacy," Jin waved it off. "But let's not just talk about me. How have you been lately?" he asked. "Has anything interesting happened around here?"
"Besides how active the police have been?" Asami realized her deductions had been correct when she saw Jin's mocking smile—he really seemed involved. "Unless you count the Avatar's arrival, I don't think anything too noteworthy has happened."
"Oh, so she's arrived?"
Just as expected, she wasn't far from the start of the plot.
"Did you know she was coming?" Asami asked, intrigued.
"Asami," Jin gestured knowingly. "Tenzin and his family are here."
"Ah, that makes sense," Asami nodded, realizing she had asked an unnecessary question. "Mastering the four elements and all that."
Where else would she learn airbending if not from the last air masters?
"Did Lin arrest the Avatar?"
Asami stared at him, perplexed.
"Did you hear rumors this morning?" she thought.
"I'll take your silence as a yes," Jin laughed, seeing that Korra hadn't changed. "Looks like the Avatar needs more contact with the world instead of living in isolation."
"In isolation?"
"That would be a long conversation, and while she was charming company, I need to see Lin soon," Jin finished his drink. "How about we save that conversation for later? I remember you owe me dinner."
"I haven't forgotten," it was Asami's turn to laugh. "I've already found the right place. They have excellent turtle duck soup and a few dishes from the Water Tribe," she tucked her hair behind her ear.
"It's one of my favorite dishes. Looks like someone's been investigating me?"
Asami's eyes widened when she heard that, panicking for a second for some unknown reason.
"Relax, I'm teasing you," Jin stood, hand on the table, a little surprised internally. He hadn't expected Asami to be so nervous—she seemed much more confident when she invited Mako in the original timeline. "How about this? Pick me up at the plaza at eight for dinner, and then we can go to the Arena to watch a Pro Control match," he suggested, remembering she also liked the sport. "I'm curious to see how they've adapted my sport nowadays."
"Sounds like a date?" Asami joked, trying to regain her composure and confidence.
Thankfully, Jin couldn't see her blush…
"Of course, it's a date," Jin saw through Asami and agreed as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "See you tonight."
Jin left the place while Asami seemed frozen in place, her eyes practically displaying a blue screen.
"What just happened?" Her mind clearly remembered every moment and word, but the result felt surreal no matter how many times she replayed it.
Did Jin Beifong just ask her out?
And he accepted?!
Even more importantly…
"Was the last thing he said one of his jokes?" Asami shook her head quickly.
Why was she thinking about that?
"I only have a few hours to get ready!"
Regarding clothes, she not only had to pick something suitable for the restaurant, but also an outfit change for when they went to the Pro Control Arena. She didn't want to stand out like a sore thumb among the spectators, especially on her first real date.
As Asami hurried off, the gossip duo who had previously been discussing police actions turned and shared the same confused look.
If their eyes weren't deceiving them, the man who had just agreed to the date was blind.
So what was the point of spending hours getting ready?
They didn't understand.
"You want to go to the Pro Control Arena tonight?"
"Sure, I heard the Fire Ferrets are playing tonight. I think they have potential."
"Not bad, but they should bench the firebender," one of them huffed. "His moves are so stiff he might as well be an earthbender! I bet on him six times, and he lost every time!"
Bets were the soul of the sport!
"I think he's the earthbender's brother on the team."
"So favoritism through connections, huh? Of course…"
"Hey, at least the waterbender is decent."
"Yeah, I guess as long as she doesn't leave the team, they'll be fine."