Finally, the weekend had arrived and everyone could go to Mako's birthday party at the trendy Hive's, a harmonious blend of bar and nightclub. It really was a place with a very different concept from anything Korra had ever seen in Republic City, the most cosmopolitan in the world. She was surprised by the size of the place, which had at least two floors dedicated just to the public. The decor featured shades of white, black, and gold, giving it a somewhat futuristic feel.
When Korra arrived, her friends were already there. They were all seated at a large, circular table on the ground floor. Still on that level, you could see a bar near the table area and also a dance floor further away. Music played at a moderate pace for a nightclub, but everything indicated that as the night went on, the music choice would change drastically to something more frenetic and loud.
Present were the birthday boy; Bolin and Opal beside him, in an absurdly romantic mood; a completely distracted Asami who seemed bored by the conversation of an unknown guy sitting with them (probably a friend of Mako's that Korra didn't know); on the other side were a furious Lin and Kya trying to calm the police chief down; also part of that peculiar group were the equally peculiar Varrick and Zhu Li.
It was strange to see Lin in an environment like that always so closed-off, hard, and sober, she didn't even match the place, her presence almost alien. Korra had a hunch she had gone there just to keep an eye on her niece and the boyfriend; as much as she wouldn't admit it, she was quite protective and would make sure Bolin always stayed in line. But her presence didn't intimidate them that much, since they couldn't care less about her inquisitive stares, while Lin herself seemed bothered by her lack of control over them. Kya noticed this and tried to distract her as best she could, but the police chief's stern expression denoted an almost futile effort on her part.
Mako and Varrick were animatedly discussing some point of common interest, probably about one of Varrick Industries' production lines. Eventually, Zhu Li, always attentive to her boss, was asked to do something take a note, fetch something, talk to someone... the list was enormous. Korra didn't understand how such a talented and promising woman accepted being subjected to that boss. Sure, Varrick was a good person, fun, funny, and a genius in his own way, but nothing justified being so insensitive to his employee, treating her like a robot instead of the extremely kind and competent person she should be. Maybe he was clueless and she was a dedicated assistant who, in the end, managed to feel affection for her boss and see him in a different way than the rest of the world. However, Korra hoped their relationship would evolve to a healthier level.
Asami, on the other hand, was stuck in a conversation with a stranger, a conversation that didn't seem at all promising judging by her face. The young man was talking about something, very animated, but the Sato heiress's expression didn't match that enthusiasm; it was probably another suitor boasting about himself trying to get a chance. Apparently, it wasn't working.
Asami was the first to see Korra arrive. Quickly her downcast posture changed and became proud, waving to her friend at the door and attracting the attention of everyone at the table. That quickly made the others wave to her too. After approaching, she greeted them and looked for a place to sit, but there wasn't one.
– Korra, don't worry, you can take my seat. – Asami stood up, offering her chair to her friend. – I'll get another one for myself.
And with no polite way to refuse, she ended up accepting. The guy was somewhat dismayed to see his "company" leave him hanging, but as soon as he realized he was facing the Avatar, his spirits were renewed to start a conversation of the same nature with Korra, and she could finally understand why Asami wanted distance from him. Korra looked at Sato, now on the other side of the table, and saw a triumphant smile on her lips, and if she could read her friend's thoughts, they'd be something like: "I got rid of that torment because of you, thanks, by the way, but now it's your problem and I have nothing to do with it."
The young man didn't understand the subtle signals showing he wasn't that interesting and that Korra wasn't impressed by anything he bragged about. Unfortunately, she was alone in this, because everyone else at the table was busy with their own heated side conversations, except Asami, and didn't care much about what was happening between the stranger and the Avatar. Things went on until for a moment he stopped, distracted by something in the hall; it was enough for Korra to see Asami with a smile on her face, probably amused by the other's embarrassment. The Avatar silently mouthed a cry for help to her friend, who understood what Korra wanted through precise lip reading. When she felt satisfied, Asami got up from her chair and went to help her.
– Korra, do you mind coming to the bar with me? I'd like to discuss some things with you.
– Okay, no problem. – She replied while the guy made a move to stand up and accompany them.
– Don't take it the wrong way, my dear, but it's a conversation we need to have in private. – Asami nipped it in the bud right away. All the young man could do was deflate in his chair at the inventor's refusal. – Shall we? – She pointed to the nearest counter.
Satisfied, Tonraq's daughter followed the heiress of Future Industries, under the saddened gaze of the stranger. Arriving at the bar, Asami ordered an iced tea and Korra a non-alcoholic cocktail, and it didn't take long for their requested drinks to arrive in unjustifiably overly sophisticated glasses.
– Thanks for saving me from that conversation. – Korra thanked before taking a sip of her cocktail. – It's been a while since I dealt with someone so annoying and presumptuous, I think I even lost my touch.
– No, you handled it pretty well.
– And you watched every second with satisfaction, didn't you?
– I was having fun, so what? Can't I?
– At my expense is just mean! – She protested, drawing a smile from the other.
– Just a little, Korra, you won't die from it. Besides, I was the one who got you out of there, so I think I have the right to have fun with it. I solved a problem I caused myself, so it's fine to take advantage of your embarrassment.
– Thank you so much for your consideration, Asami Sato. – She replied sarcastically.
– Anytime you need it. – She teased before tasting some of the iced tea she had ordered.
– What's with this tea? We're in a nightclub, not at a senior citizen convention.
– Did I disappoint you? – She asked with an air of not caring the slightest about the criticism.
– Of course! I know you're older and all, but I expected something different, more youthful. Soon you'll want to play bingo with the elders.
– Korra, if there's bingo, I'll play. With the elders, with the kids, with the young people, with anyone. If there's one cool thing, it's winning a prize in something that involves luck, so if an opportunity arises, I'm in.
– I didn't know this old lady living inside you, but it's good to know she exists. Just be careful not to get addicted to this bingo and games in general. It would be sad to see Future Industries turning into casino chips.
– Ugh, Korra! Never! I know my limits and wouldn't cross the line like that. – She turned on the stool where she was sitting, now facing the other directly. – And, for your information, I'm only drinking iced tea because I came in my own Satomobile. Driving anything under the influence is too problematic, besides dangerous, so I'm very happy and satisfied with my humble iced tea. – She took the glass from Korra's hand. – Now, what really amazes me is this non-alcoholic cocktail of yours. You could definitely put a shot in here. – Without asking, she sipped a generous amount of her friend's drink. – Or more.
– I'd love to do that, but I was in such a dark period of my life not long ago and I think getting drunk on a night out wouldn't help me. You know, Asami, I'm sure the situation is under control in my mind, but I don't know how many demons I actually defeated and how many are just gagged, waiting for the perfect opportunity to break free and finish me off for good; depriving myself of acting consciously is too dangerous a door for me to play with, at least for now.
The mood had suddenly turned heavy. The Avatar's mental health was still a delicate subject, and Sato felt she had stepped on an unnecessary sore spot, even if unintentionally. She simply limited herself to placing her hand over her friend's, which was on the countertop, in a mix of understanding caress and apology.
– Sorry for bringing that up, I didn't mean to be indelicate, but I ended up poking where I shouldn't, I admit.
– It's okay, Asami. – She held the hand that was touching hers. – It's still a dark topic, but I think it's fair to talk about it in the presence of people I trust; after all, when you share a problem, it ends up shrinking. And if there's anyone in the world who helped me with this, it was you.
– I'm glad to hear that. – She directed a tender smile at her.
That unsettled Korra in an unprecedented way. She ended up turning her face away in an attempt to regain composure and try to normalize her heartbeats, completely out of rhythm from a simple gesture like that. She hoped she hadn't given herself away so much and that Asami hadn't noticed her embarrassment. Shifting her focus to the surroundings, she ended up noticing several couples in a very romantic mood some hugging, others kissing, others talking in a very suggestive way.
– What is this? National make-out day? – She complained, attracting Sato's attention to the targets of her indignation.
– What's the problem? Are you bothered? – She took a sip of her tea. – And they say I'm the old bingo lady... – She teased.
– Maybe I'm a little jealous, I admit.
– Why don't you try your luck then? – Asami suggested, with a bit of apprehension. She would be immensely sad if she saw Korra hitting it off with someone other than her that night, but, if she was lucky, she could be the big winner of the moment. – Our annoying friend is still available. – She teased to get the obvious expected response.
– Not even by decree! I may be needy, but not desperate to that level. I still have self-respect, Asami! – The exaggerated reaction amused the inventor. – If you're so interested in helping him, why don't you offer yourself? – She suggested, but now she was the apprehensive one in the dialogue.
– No, thanks. He's not my type. – She brushed it off.
– Oh, so Asami Sato has a type... May I know what it is? – She became interested.
– I'm sorry. I can't just give you the gold like that.
– At least give me a hint. Is there someone here at Hive's who would be your type? Someone you saw tonight? – Asami ran her eyes over every place within her view from the height of the stool where she was sitting, until she looked back at Korra.
– There is. Yes, there is.
– Well, at least you've narrowed it down now, although you didn't make it much easier in practical terms, especially because it's really crowded here. – She had gotten an answer, she just hoped it would be more elaborate.
– You're so ungrateful... I'm answering and you still complain!
– If you asked me that question and I answered the way you answered me, I'm sure you wouldn't be satisfied.
– It would be a start. – Silence. Seeing that Korra wouldn't develop the subject much further, she prodded again. – But, so? Is your type really here?
– Ah, Asami, go to hell! – Her indignation was met with good humor by the other, and even Korra laughed at her own response.
The Avatar knew it wouldn't stop there; she knew her friend well enough to know how she acted when her curiosity was piqued. Precisely to avoid a possible awkward situation, she finished her cocktail and excused herself to go to the bathroom without even inviting her to come along. She didn't want to fall into the trap of allowing Asami to put her in an embarrassing situation and therefore wouldn't give her an opening.
She made her way to the bathroom alone and, to her surprise, the place wasn't crowded; only a few women were present, and given the room's spaciousness, the number didn't even bother her. Korra then chose a private stall among the many available to use the toilet. Seconds before returning to the common area of the bathroom to check herself in the mirror, there was a noise near the sinks. She was already on alert for anything strange, but she would soon find out what it was about.
– Come on, everyone out now! – A woman shouted to the others inside. Korra just shrunk back to not give away her presence, at least not yet.
– Yeah, everyone out! – Another woman joined the previous one's chorus and, probably by the noise, was acting to evacuate the bathroom as soon as possible, expelling the others.
– What is this! Have you lost your minds? – The only one apparently not involved in the strange frenzy of the other two spoke up. – Our bad reputation already follows us and now you want us to get kicked out of one of the few places that turn a blind eye to our presence? What's wrong with you? – She seemed to be their leader, judging by her posture and the authority with which she spoke; moreover, she was the only one with a shred of sense among them.
– Muna, you don't know who we saw downstairs! – After a brief silence, she added. – Asami Sato!
– Ah, so that bitch is here? – The leader changed her tone when speaking. The measured and somewhat indignant tone became resolute and presumptuous. – Now she's going to pay... It was because of that contraption she invented that they discovered my brother's involvement in that jewelry store robbery, remember? Now he's locked up with no prospect of getting out. But I'll get revenge for him.
– So what are we going to do? – One of the accomplices asked.
– We corner her on her way out.
– And then?
– Then no one will ever hear from her again. She'll regret messing with the Shadow Triad.
It was enough for Korra to feel her blood boil in her veins. Were they really thinking of harming Asami? That was too much audacity. And very bad luck on their part to have their plan discovered by just the person it was. Korra simply opened the door casually and went to one of the sinks, passing right between them. The look on the three women's faces was priceless, and quickly, they went after her, forming a kind of encirclement while she washed her hands.
– I know you're curious, so I'll clear up your doubts. Yes, I heard what you were plotting. – She turned off the tap and turned to them while drying her hands, not intimidated in the least, despite the Triad's efforts. – I just think it's really stupid and unlucky of you to let me find out about something like this.
– Oh yeah? Why? – The leader approached Korra even more to scare her. It wasn't effective.
– Because I won't allow it.
– Should I be worried about a brat like you? – She scorned. – If you try to interfere, I'll do even worse to your little friend.
That was it, they had snapped the last thread of her patience.
– Listen here... – Korra grabbed the leader by the collar, lifted her, spun her around, and pinned her against the large bathroom mirror. – If you lay a single finger on Asami, I promise I'll do a thousand times worse to you. – The other two were already positioning themselves to fight and free their companion from the unfavorable position she was in.
With her free hand, Korra made a movement that directed the water from the sink against them in great quantity, slamming them into the opposite wall. Once there, she proceeded to freeze the water around the two, trapping them completely. They struggled to get out, but had no success.
She turned back to the one who had deliberately threatened Asami. She still held her suspended by the collar, and the woman was genuinely intimidated by Korra's attitude, breathing heavily from the shock and the almost disproportionate force she felt on her neck. The hand that had thrown water at the other two was now engulfed in flames; Korra brought the flaming fist close to Muna's frightened face, close enough to almost burn her.
– Do you understand what I mean? – The Avatar's dark tone made her shudder. The woman just nodded, nervous about the risk she felt she was running. – Now you know that messing with anyone I care about is a bad idea. Asami is one of those people. Are you still going to insist on this? – She shook her head negatively, fearing for her own safety. – Great, now get out of here. And I hope I never see you again, otherwise there will be big problems. – She alternated glances between the woman in front of her and the two on the wall, who were already starting to break free. – For you, that is.
She released her grip abruptly, and Muna almost fell to the floor. It took her a fraction of a second to recover; when she did, she rushed out the door. Moments later, the other two followed the same example once they were free from the previous trap. What they said before leaving was audible: "The Avatar! Are we crazy, or what? Picking a fight with the Avatar, what is this? Let's get out of here fast!"
Korra looked at the mirror. It had cracked around the point of impact, and you could see several scratches on it, distorting the reflection. Really, she needed to get back to training more intensely; if she were at her physical peak, she would have shattered the object easily, not just cracked it.
Past the shock, she returned to where she was before, joining Asami again. Sato was already on her third glass of iced tea and had ordered some snacks to go with it.
– I thought you had fainted or gotten lost. – Asami commented. – I even considered calling for help. – She added, amused by her friend's delay. – Did something happen? – She asked, worried, upon noticing that Korra was alert and, in a way, on guard.
– No, nothing to worry about. You can relax.
– Are you sure?
– Yes.
– Okay then. – Since she saw the topic wasn't going to go much further, she decided to change the subject. – I think we should go back to the table and interact with the rest of the gang. Let's take advantage of the fact that the annoying guy already left.
– Really?
– Yeah. From what I could see from afar, an employee went up to him, and after that, he left. Probably something serious enough happened to send him away. As annoying as he is, I hope it wasn't anything too problematic or irreversible.
– Yeah, hopefully.
– Shall we? – She stood up.
– Sure. But, Asami... Can I ask you something? – She saw the other nod. – Would you give me a ride? And, if it's not too much to ask, can I sleep at your place tonight?
– A ride? No problem. Now, why do you want to sleep at my house?
– My room at the Temple has a horrible leak. Tenzin said he would fix it, but the recent rains prevented it. And it's bad. Soon it might be dangerous for me to wake up with the ceiling collapsing on my head. – She lied. The room was in perfect condition, but she wanted to go to Asami's house because she still feared for her safety. Sure, she had driven off the Shadow Triad, but she couldn't rule out the possibility of them plotting something against Sato again. And if it happened, she wanted to be there to protect her.
– Okay... Alright... – She nodded, not very convinced by what she had heard. However, she wouldn't object to the situation. It would be very fun to have her presence at her house after so long and for the rest of the night until, at least, the next morning. – But you'll have to help me get things ready so you can be well accommodated at my place.
– I can't believe the always-prepared Asami doesn't have a contingency for something like this. – She made a gesture of indignation. – I'll have to think about your case...
– Maybe you'd prefer to sleep in the leaky room, huh?
– You really don't know how to joke, do you? Buzzkill!
– No. But it's part of my charm, and I know you love it.
Asami spoke jokingly, but she was absolutely right. Korra loved that, just like everything about her.
They still had a long night ahead and were happy there was no rush for it to end. It would be fun, after all, and they could still take advantage of that unusual situation. A lot of advantage, in fact.