Korra and Asami's planned trip had ended; it was time for the couple to return to Republic City. The Avatar, however, was still very worried about the letter she had received days before and thought it would be a good idea to visit her parents before wrapping up the itinerary. Asami promptly agreed in fact, she was the one who had suggested it in the first place however, her suggestion had undergone some changes: she rerouted the entire airship path they were using, making it possible to drop Korra off safely at the Tribe while she returned alone to the city, only to come back and pick her up a few days later or, in the worst case, send someone to get her after the agreed period.
And so they did. It took a bit longer than expected due to bad weather, but they arrived. They hadn't announced the visit, as they agreed to make it a surprise, yet they were the ones surprised when they found Tonraq and Senna at the Southern Water Tribe's airship landing yard. How did they manage such a feat? Simple after Asami contacted the tower and requested landing, the operators asked for the flight plan, which was duly submitted; since it's necessary to list the airship's passengers on this document, after a standard check, the air traffic control staff informed Korra's parents of her presence; they, in turn, dropped everything they were doing to welcome their daughter.
The two young women were startled and even a little frustrated, but that quickly faded when the family reunited in a warm, longing-filled hug. It was a beautiful moment to witness, which Asami observed from a distance. She saw Senna and Tonraq facing her, embracing their daughter, while Korra reciprocated the gesture, her back to the emerald gaze watching from meters away.
The young industrialist gave a polite bow to the Tribe's leader and his wife, bidding them farewell. She turned around, already heading back to the airship. She would leave as soon as possible; she didn't want to intrude on their moment. She wouldn't even say goodbye to Korra; since their intention was to hide their relationship for at least a while longer, she thought it appropriate to act this way if she had to look into the brunette's blue eyes to say goodbye, she might be tempted to kiss her right then and there in front of everyone. She gave a weary smile at the thought of the time they would spend apart, but this wasn't the most suitable moment to be shaken by it; so she turned her back and began her walk back to the aircraft.
After a few steps, Asami felt something on her shoulder. She turned to see what it was. It was Tonraq. He had left his position and rested his right hand on Sato's collarbone. With a broad smile on his face, he asked her not to leave, for she was his and his wife's guest and they would be very happy to host her. After such cordiality, Asami felt too embarrassed to decline the invitation and ended up accepting. She didn't know how Korra judged her for this, since she should have been on her way back to Republic City by then, but she would sort it out later with her beloved; for now, she would just go with them to the family home.
Asami was under the covers. The cold she felt was absurd. She thought she had developed resistance to low temperatures after working with machinery cooling devices at Future Industries, but at that moment she realized how stupid it was to believe something like that. To make matters worse, the monsoons at that time of year were the coldest of the year, meaning it could get even colder, and if that were the case, the thick layers of blankets wouldn't be of much use.
Maybe sleeping would help ease the discomfort a bit, and she tried hard to fall asleep, but the thermal sensation wouldn't allow it. She kept wondering how animals managed to hibernate in that ice, many of them with body fat and fur thinner than the blankets enveloping her.
While pondering this useless question, Korra opened the bedroom door to check on her girlfriend and got a genuine surprise seeing her in that state.
– Asami, what's this? Are you sick? – She approached the bed and bent down to be level with the young woman.
– No, I'm just cold. – She looked at the other. – Who told me to only bring light, beachy clothes to the Arctic, right? – She joked, but it was true. Since the trip to the Tribe was a last-minute thing, she ended up going there only with the luggage she had brought from the paradise island they had come from.
– Spirits, love! Why didn't you ask for proper clothes? I can get you a whole wardrobe!
– You and your parents were busy, I didn't want to bother.
– It bothers me more to see you like this! Hold on a little longer, I'll get something better for you to wear.
She hurried out of the room. Asami couldn't even calculate how long it took for her girlfriend to return, such was the numbness the cold imposed on her. When Korra returned, she brought a bunch of coats and pants with her; the pile of garments in the brunette's arms was so large she even had trouble walking, due to the weight and the obstruction of her field of vision by the heap of fabric.
Asami watched it all, dumbfounded. It was obviously a huge exaggeration; she didn't need that many things. Even walking in short steps to prevent the clothes from falling, Korra quickly reached the bed and dumped the pile of garments beside the industrialist.
– There! Now you'll be nice and warm.
– Love, I don't even have occasion to wear all this! A pair of pants and three coats would have been enough, you didn't need so much.
– Of course I did. You were cold, I don't want my sweetheart suffering because of the weather which, by the way, deserves congratulations for trying to freeze everyone to death. I'm from here, and I'm finding the effects of the seasonal snowstorms much stronger than normal.
– I have no idea what you're talking about, but I agree with you. – She got up. – Let's see what you brought... Which one is the warmest and which looks the nicest... A middle ground might be a good choice.
– Come on! You'll look beautiful in any of these outfits. Nothing can look ugly on you, my love.
– I appreciate the compliment, but I don't think it's quite like that... – She rummaged a bit through the pile of fabric. – Where did you find so many clothes? – She was genuinely surprised; it was such a variety of options, and judging by the material, design, and Asami's reasonable sense of fashion, they seemed expensive.
– These clothes are mine. – The Avatar commented casually as she sat in the armchair in the corner of the room.
– I didn't think you cared about fashion that much.
– I don't. It's just that I get a ton of things from a ton of people. My parents spoiled me a lot, it decreased a bit after I moved out, but still, they don't miss a chance to pamper me when they can. And not just them, a bunch of people send me various items as gifts, especially clothes, as a way to please my father. You know how it is, right? We can't bribe the Southern Water Tribe leader, but let's try to soften Tonraq's heart by giving lots of gifts to his daughter—after all, parents tend to really like people who treat their children well.
– That's true. And does this manipulation strategy work?
– Not at all, my father doesn't bend to that kind of influence. But people keep trying.
– And you benefit from it.
– More or less. I don't really care much about it.
– Amazing! – She picked up a nice white coat and put it on. The piece suited Asami very well immediately, even without much preparation; imagine when the girl got ready, it would be a spectacle. Korra smiled at the thought. – Sometimes I forget you're a literal little princess.
– I'm many things, and I assure you I'm good at all of them.
– Humble...
– Always. – She teased.
The sight of Asami in that outfit, combined with not having seen her all day until then, made Korra cover the entire distance between them and kiss her beloved. Sure, they hadn't been apart for very long, but it was enough for both to give the kiss a certain tone of urgency. Probably things would have progressed further in moments, however, knocks on the door were heard, making them quickly separate, wary.
– Asami, dear. It's me, Senna. I just came to let you know the table is set for the meal.
– Okay, no problem. Thanks for letting me know, I'm coming. – She tried to hide the surprise in her voice, as well as the breathless tone.
That was really close. If Senna hadn't knocked and just entered, or if Korra had forgotten to close the door when she came in, they might have been in trouble by then. Luckily, they didn't have any major issues, though how far their luck would go was a good question.
The smell of the food was delicious. Not only that, the taste was also divine. Asami, even though she was dating a native of the Southern Water Tribe, wasn't an absolute expert on this people's culture; she didn't even know many basic things about their customs—not that she looked down on them, far from it, the issue was she never had enough contact or influence to know the details. But one thing was certain: they had many interesting things about folklore and cultural identity. Cuisine was definitely a strong point for them.
Even though they didn't have access to the range of ingredients other peoples had, inhabitants of regions much richer in fauna and flora, they didn't fall behind; it seemed they compensated for all the adversity of the place they lived with creativity and talent; in gastronomy, they didn't disappoint.
Senna brought a platter of walrus-whale pie. Involuntarily, Korra's gaze gained a dazzling glow: she would finally eat her favorite dish prepared by the greatest expert on the subject she knew, her mother. Asami would also have the opportunity to taste the delicacy and try to understand a bit more about the Avatar's favorite dish; maybe she would discover a bit more about her girlfriend's personality with this; however, she was sure she would regret it when she realized the taste of that properly made food was very different from the attempt she had made months ago.
– It's delicious, Mom!
– Korra, don't talk with your mouth full. – Senna scolded.
– Sorry, but it's just so good! – It didn't help much, because she kept talking before finishing swallowing the bite. Korra was a force of nature, unpredictable and unstoppable. All her mother could do was give a weary sigh, then smile. Her daughter hadn't changed a bit, thankfully.
– Asami, don't you want to try a piece? I know you might find the taste a bit strange, but I promise it's worth it. – Senna looked directly at the Future Industries heiress for the first time since they sat at the table. It was a look that, despite being gentle, made her freeze completely.
– Yes, of course. – She replied automatically.
The truth was, this was the first dinner she had with her in-laws, even though they hadn't been officially introduced in that way yet, and that made her nervous. She always got nervous. Every time she met the parents of her romantic interests for the first time, she felt something from the nervousness of the situation, and now it was amplified to the maximum for two reasons: perhaps their relationship wouldn't be accepted by the couple before her, and because it was the love of her life, meaning it was important to please them. Heavens, why was this so unfair? She remembered the relief she felt when Mako said he was an orphan. Why couldn't Korra be one too? The next instant, she banished that morbid, selfish thought from her head. Korra loved them, and that was more than enough for Asami to wish them longevity and prosperity.
– Could you put a slice for me, please? – She extended her plate.
– Of course. – She cut a portion and placed it for the young woman.
– She's being coy, Mom. She knows about this pie, she made one for me once...
– Why? – Senna arched an eyebrow. That's when Korra realized a possible blunder and Asami froze even more.
– Because... she wanted to learn more about the culture here... And I was the best person to help. – It didn't sound convincing. – It wasn't a gift or anything... – Asami wanted to die. – You know how it is, right? – Silence. Everyone at the table was looking at her with a strange expression. – Dad, what was the problem you mentioned in the letter? – She tried to change the subject.
– Ah, yes. – Tonraq's deep voice finally made itself present. – Well, there are some worrying things happening, and any help is welcome. Daughter, you must have noticed that the monsoons this year are much harsher than usual. We don't know the cause, but the projections we made aren't encouraging. Our forecasts estimate that, besides the colder-than-normal weather, some ocean currents will come with force here, causing tsunamis. We need as many waterbenders as possible to try to control the situation and mitigate the damage.
– When will these currents arrive? – The Avatar's posture changed completely. This was serious.
– In five days.
– Well, I think we have time to develop a contingency plan.
– Yes, Korra, it's already in process. We plan to evacuate critical areas and try to reduce impacts by redirecting the water. It's dangerous, I know, but if we allow the sea to advance as in the projections, we'll probably enter a state of calamity. – It was very delicate; maybe some would lose their lives regardless of how they chose to act, but it was necessary to minimize losses of all kinds.
– If you'll allow me... – Asami asked for permission. – I believe I can help too. – She wiped her mouth with a napkin. She had taken a bite of the pie in the meantime and, truly, it was very good. Internally, she felt ashamed of the one she had made for her girlfriend; it fell far short of the reference. – I can design some defenses to place at critical points. I just need to see what materials are abundant in the region and, based on that, develop the best model.
– How would that help? – Tonraq asked, curious.
– Well, the defenses can be on the front line of the tsunami, absorbing most of the impact; the benders stay on the second line, more protected and able to handle the situation better. I even believe that, with luck, the Tribe won't suffer major material losses. – She had attracted everyone's attention. Three pairs of eyes stared at her with a mix of admiration and hope; if this really worked, a grave situation would be resolved without major trauma.
– Can you manage something like that in such a short time, dear? – This time it was Senna who inquired.
– Five days isn't the best timeframe, indeed, but with hard work and little rest, it's possible. The bigger problem is building the defenses.
– With the project ready, leave it to me to hurry the personnel, don't worry about that. – The man said. – It amazes me that you know how to do so many things, Asami. I mean, I knew you worked with robotics, mechanics, and automation components, but civil engineering is new.
– Yes, sir. I study a bit of everything. In the end, it's all interconnected. To give you an idea, I use more mechanical concepts than construction concepts for defense projects.
– She's a genius, Dad! – Korra said, amazed by the other's extensive capacity to solve things. – She's the smartest person I know. And the best... friend I could ask for. – She almost didn't say girlfriend.
– Yes, I can imagine. To close a deal with the Fire Nation on the terms Future Industries did, I wouldn't expect less.
– Yeah, I think we got a little lucky with that. – Sato was modest.
– Lucky? – Korra interjected, indignant. – It wasn't just luck. You worked incredibly hard. I was there, I saw it. The contract was excellent, but no less deserved.
– T-thank you, Korra. – She was embarrassed by the compliment; actually, hearing her girlfriend talk about her like that in front of her in-laws was a surprise, especially since Korra herself had suggested more restrained behavior in the presence of Senna and Tonraq. – Indeed, I did my part, but the Fire Nation also relaxed some requirements; if not for that, I never could have managed.
– We know of your competence and genius, Asami. Even though Korra's testimony is extremely biased, she's right. – Senna spoke while looking at her daughter.
Korra turned her face away, feeling a blush taking over her cheeks. Only then did she realize how excessive she had been moments before; she prayed her behavior wouldn't give away anything more than it should. Her mother's gaze was inquisitive, seeming to pierce her soul, she didn't even need visual confirmation; she knew her too well to know how she was being observed at that moment, and the only thing she could do was pray Senna wouldn't notice anything amiss.
Tonraq's wife, after a long observation, smiled in a measured way and looked at her husband with tenderness, calming him. Even though it lasted only a few seconds, the previous stare had worried him. Now, with more restraint, he also smiled and commented calmly and happily.
– Well, Asami, I hope you're willing to negotiate with the Southern Water Tribe. We're also interested in some of Future Industries' products.
– Of course... We're open to negotiations. – She didn't show it, but inside she was relieved that the previous situation had passed. She pretended not to perceive a discomfort in the atmosphere and was happy when the awkwardness passed as quickly as it came: very fast.
– Yes, that's what I hope. I won't go into more details, as this isn't a business dinner; we'll talk more about it on a more suitable occasion. – He picked up his drink from the table. – I hope the terms are excellent.
– I'm sure we can reach a good agreement for both parties.
– Better than the one with the Fire Nation?
– Honestly... I think it's difficult. But I promise to make an effort to get something good.
– I know getting good returns with the Fire Lord is easier; after all, they have greater territorial extension, more population, higher revenue, a huge national treasury... Meanwhile, we have more restrictions than them in that aspect. – He was right. The Fire Nation always had more to offer investors, which is why the Tribes often lost good deals, which was a shame. Not that they were completely neglected, but they didn't have as many attractions for entrepreneurs. – But think about it carefully.
– Don't worry. I know the difficulty of producing cutting-edge technology in extreme temperatures; I also recognize the need and lack of it here. I believe Future Industries has what it takes to overcome this situation. Besides, I have a lot of sympathy for this place, so I can make it happen. – She felt it sounded a bit unprofessional at the end, so she decided to fix it with an addendum. – Without wanting to be biased, obviously.
– If it guarantees us a good deal, I don't mind if you're biased. – He joked. – In fact, you can be more. Remember who you're dealing with.
– And who am I dealing with? – She didn't understand.
– Your father-in-law. – Korra choked and Asami's eyes widened. – Sorry, I'll use your relationship to get advantages.
– Tonraq, you're so shameless. – Senna intervened. – You'll scare them. – The couple of girlfriends looked at each other completely unsure of what to do. – You should have let them tell us themselves.
– I think you're confusing things... Korra and I are just great friends... – She lied, but was cut off immediately.
– Asami, dear... We already know the truth. – Senna was calm in her approach. – We didn't say anything because we wanted you to take the initiative. But it seems Tonraq wasn't that patient. – She looked at him irritably, and he could only make an apologetic face.
– How long have you known, Mom? – She gave up hiding.
– Some rumors were already circulating here and there, but nothing worthy of absolute credibility; however, when we found out you were traveling alone, we started to suspect a bit, and when we saw you together since you arrived at the Tribe, we were sure.
– Was it that obvious?
– For those who know you like us, your parents, yes.
– I feel like such a fool! – She brought her hands to her face. – Are you mad I didn't say anything sooner?
– No, my love. – The man was quick to dispel any feeling of remorse from his daughter with a simple phrase. – We understand the reason and know it's valid, but you don't need to be afraid of us. We have no problem with you two being together. – The two let out a relieved sigh that had been trapped since the conversation began. – We're fine with all this. Right, Senna?
– Absolutely. I'm happy Korra found someone fully capable of making her happy.
– You don't know how much this relieves me... I thought you'd freak out, since you never imagined something like this, right?
– Indeed not, my daughter. The truth is, we all have expectations about everything, especially parents regarding children, but you don't need to—nor should you—fulfill everything we imagine for you, Korra. After all, the greatest joy you can give us in life is your own happiness. Regarding that, we have no objection. Especially because we're sure you made a good choice. – She looked at Asami affectionately.
– You're the best parents in the world! – The Avatar couldn't contain the happiness in her voice.
– And you were afraid of them. Honestly, Korra... – Asami teased, promptly receiving an elbow nudge from her girlfriend in response.
It was a pleasant surprise how the previously tense atmosphere had suddenly become amiable. Now the couple of girls was completely relaxed, laughing with each other, fully certain they were in a safe environment, thankfully. The dinner took on another tone. Even though it wasn't the original idea, it ended up becoming the introduction of Sato as the daughter-in-law of the Southern Water Tribe leaders, and even though it happened without any planning, it was perfect. Now they knew they didn't need to hide, and that was wonderful. It was all they needed for the moment.