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thatonebirdwrites · 7 months

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Korrasami prompt: Romance

Asami derives the idea of dating Korra after she gives Korra her first driving lesson.

"I never had a girlfriend before," Korra says after they clear the air about Mako. However, Korra strangely follows it up with a quick, 'except Naga.'

Asami is left pondering what Korra means for several days.

Is Korra saying she is in a romantic relationship with her polar bear dog? Or does she not know the full meaning of the term girlfriend?

Asami assumes the latter. The former is too strange and disturbing for her to dare let lose on her far too vivid imagination.

So Asami endeavors to teach Korra what girlfriend means. Her plan involves first approaching the subject to gather data, next she will implement her 'date Korra' strategy, and finally romance will blossom and grow into a happy ending. It is surely a fool-proof plan.

She tries approaching the subject subtlety, by asking if Korra enjoys going out on the town. (She does.) If Korra enjoys flowers (if there's food involved). What Korra is looking for in a romantic partner (someone badass who can keep up with her).

Asami hopes this gives Korra a clue she's interested.

It doesn't. Korra instead calls them delightful chats with a friend.

It's a trifle frustrating.

She decides perhaps gifting Korra something magnificent will help. Since her first airship, that she designed herself, was completed by the time airbenders started appearing, Asami decides this is the moment of truth.

Korra is elated. Then calls her the bestest friend one could have.

Asami is a trifle discouraged, but she is if anything relentless when she sets her sights on a goal.

Her next attempt involves offering Korra dinner in Omashu. Surely a candlelight dinner at a noodle restaurant will do the trick?

Korra tells the brothers, and they crash the attempted date. Her only solace is Korra sitting next to her, their legs practically touching. Asami does her best to make Mako as uncomfortable as possible. (She still hasn't forgiven him for refusing to tell Korra he broke up with her when Korra had partial amnesia. Nor for leading Asami and Korra on during that time. Plus making him squirm amuses her.)

Perhaps the right combination of flowers, noodles, and tickets to a musical in Zaofu would work as a clue?

Instead, Korra calls that a girl's night out and drags Opal and Jinora along, which Asami doesn't mind, but it defeats her plan of a romantic night that hopefully ends with a kiss.

Her next tactic involves borrowing a jeep in Zaofu to go for a picnic in the mountains.

That somehow ends with Korra challenging her to a sparring match, of which Asami wins.

Honestly, why she doesn't kiss Korra the moment she pins her to the grass leaves Asami frustrated with herself. Surely that would clue Korra into her attempts at romance? (Her nervousness at the possibility of a kiss ruining the fun she's having with Korra is what stops her.)

All of this is before Zaheer. Before the poisoning.

Before Asami fights her way to the airbenders, before she picks the locks on their chains, before Asami is tempted to zap Zaheer's head to shut him up, before Asami panics over whether Korra will live or not.

Taking care of Korra is the role Asami assigns herself. She insists on it.

Tonraq takes her aside on the airship to Zaofu. "Are you sure, Asami?" He looks concerned.

Asami nods. "I am sure. I will stay at her side as long as she has me."

Tonraq smiles at her and grasps her shoulder. "I'm glad she has you."

Asami considers this a sad victory. She has won the approval of Korra's father, even if Korra herself doesn't view her in a romantic way.

So Asami tirelessly and selflessly stays at Korra's side those few weeks in Zaofu and Air Temple Island. She helps Korra bathe and dress. Brushes and does her hair. Helps her into the wheelchair. Takes her outside to breathe fresh air at times. Reads books out loud to her to help her fall asleep. Tucks her in at night. (She is tempted to kiss Korra's temple each time. One night she gives in and does so.)

In the end, Korra decides to head South to see Katara.

Asami doesn't think twice. She offers to relocate South with Korra and aid in her recovery. She doesn't say the truth out loud to Korra -- that doing so would mean giving up everything she has in Republic City if Korra's stay in the South turns out to be more long-term, but Asami doesn't care.

Korra is what matters to her far more than anything else. That is when she realizes that she is hopelessly in love.

"No," Korra says that day at the docks, "I appreciate it, but I'll only be gone a couple of weeks. A little alone time will likely be good for me." Korra sounds dejected. Her entire frame droops forward, and she stares at her motionless feet. Asami squeezes her shoulders and accepts Korra's words.

The rejection stings, but Asami does her best to stay supportive. Korra is in pain. She's depressed. Likely doesn't know what to do with that request.

So Asami endeavors to write Korra often.

At first, she doesn't know quite what to write. Asami chews on the end of her pen and glares at the empty paper in front of her. Obviously, she can't just say, "Korra, I love you ,and I hope you feel my love across the distance, so that you know you're not alone."

That seems presumptuous and possibly too heavy.

Instead, she decides the best way to handle the situation would be to share about her day and how she feels about that.

Her first letter is written a week after Korra left for the South:

Dear Korra,

I never know how to start a letter, so I will jump into exactly how this day is going. At this moment, I sit at my desk within my office at Future Industries. Before me lies a large stack of paperwork that requires my review and signatures. I do not look forward to this. If someone had warned me that being CEO means mountains of paperwork, I might have stolen a plane and flown off into the sunset instead. But alas, I must do my duty and will do my best to survive. Wish me luck!

It is now close to lunchtime, the mountain of paperwork half done, but my break was sadly not at all interesting. I had several meetings this afternoon, except, Korra, have I mentioned how boring older men are? No hint of humor, dry blandness, and sterile suits that look like they bought new that day. Is that how they spend their salaries? What do they do with the old suits? Recycle them? Put them on display in the world's ugliest museum? I must listen and speak with authority, otherwise these egotistical and horribly uncreative duds would refuse to recognize that I am the CEO not them. So I've learned two dozen ways to politely tell them how terrifically awful their ideas for the company truly are.

Have I mentioned that they have no color sense? Who puts blue and orange together on a tie? It looked like a glaring florescent sign like those we saw in Ba Sing Se's Middle and Lower Rings.

After those meetings, I escape to the factories. There I am able to work alongside my employees. Perhaps the best part of the day. I inspect the lines, repair sections that failed to work, and assist newly hired employees with the finer details of construction. Walking and working with my employees like this makes me look more human to them. Like I'm approachable. I don't ever want to be that CEO that lives in some ivory tower and fails to offer their employees living wages and benefits to help them thrive.

Actually, one of workers on the line reminds me of you. She's from the Southern Water Tribe but a nonbender. She was so excited to meet me and had some excellent ideas about engine efficiency. I took her aside and we worked on an engine to test a few of her ideas, and I dare say, they worked! I am giving her a raise, and she's now on one of our engineering teams working to make her designs a reality. I love moments like that.

That actually gives me an idea. Since we are badly in need of sales still to break even, why not help get our name out in a good way? I'm going to set up community forums in the Dragonflats and Water Boroughs to teach engineering to anyone interested for free. Longer courses will be available at a very low price. Way cheaper than the university is my goal, maybe for the price of a noodle bowl once a month? We'll have a repair garage attached to the forums, and students can work with our engineers on repairs to see how it's done. What do you think?

I better close this up else I write you a novel!

Love, Asami

It's the word 'love' that has Asami hesitating on sending it, but in the end, she figures it can't hurt. Maybe if she's more blatant about her feelings Korra will eventually understand that Asami has been trying to date her this whole time. At the very least, the word will hopefully provide a comforting reminder that Korra is indeed loved. Asami desperately hopes Korra understands that truth.

She will gladly remind her with each salutation to her letters.

There is no reply to her initial letter, but this doesn't deter Asami. If anything, it makes her more determined. She decides on a schedule, sets time aside for updating the letter throughout the day, and a time to send it.

She determines that two times a week can suffice at first. If her schedule becomes too intensive with the rebuild Republic City project, then she will downgrade to once a week. She will not stand for less than once a week however.

Months pass, but Korra doesn't reply to her letters. At this point, it becomes a habit. She writes the letters and starts to become more free in what she says. At first, Korra's mother replies with a thank her for the letters, but that stops on month three.

By month seven, Asami wonders if something is wrong with the mail system. Maybe her letters are getting lost? Does she have the right address? She verifies with Tenzin, who offers to call Tonraq. Asami sits in on that call and learns that Korra hasn't written anyone back. In fact, she's closed in on herself.

This worries Asami.

Is there a way she can still help despite Korra's refusal to allow anyone close?

She decides to keep her schedule. It helps ease her own worry to write, and maybe the steadiness of her letters will aid Korra somehow too.

Part of this decision hinges on a conversation she had with Korra on the airship:

---

"Tenzin's schedules got no room for fun!" Korra throws her hands into the air, frustrated.

Asami leans against the balcony railing next to Korra. The wind blows her black hair backward, like a cape. "If you built the schedule, what would it look like?"

Korra looks startled. "Oh. Hmmm, maybe time for Naga, meditation, I guess we ought to do some airbending practice.... Ugh, okay, I'm terrible at them." She smiles, sheepishly. "I lose track of the time and day a lot. Easily get caught up in doing stuff, and then whoops, I failed to go to meditation or whatever."

Asami tilts her head and studies Korra. The sunlight on Korra's skin highlights the gorgeous copper undertones, and a hint of sweat glistens the hairline of Korra's chestnut-colored hair. Her wolftails dance with the touch of the wind. Asami simply cannot get enough of looking at Korra's bulging muscles, the curve of her breasts, or her deliciously muscular thighs.

This is not helpful for Korra. Asami blinks and focuses on Korra's eyes instead. "Did Tenzin start building schedules because of that then?"

Korra sighs. "Probably." Her blue eyes meets Asami's green, and for a moment, Asami's breath hitches in her throat. So unfair how utterly beautiful Korra looks all the time. "How do you manage it?"

Asami can't think the longer she looks into Korra's eyes. Her brain refuses to function. Instead she thinks only of how Korra's lips might taste. She forces herself to look at the mountains below them, while she grips the cold metal of the balcony tighter.

"Being CEO, I have to abide by a schedule, and honestly, I had one my entire life. Even as a child. So I am used to drafting one for each day. I made one for today actually."

"Really? Was our talk part of that?" Korra asks.

Asami blushes. "I always leave space on my schedule for you. I call it the spontaneity with Korra hour."

Korra grins. "Really?"

"Yes." Asami says, firmly. "It's what I call a floating hour. My schedules aren't as strict as Tenzin's. I tend to have one thing that cannot be altered, that item grounds my day, then I build up the tasks that need to be done and set them around that root. I need to be flexible since emergencies can and often do happen."

"Oh, you know, I like that. Having one thing that roots everything else, and float the other stuff around it." Korra taps her chin. "Maybe I can convince Tenzin to adapt to that."

Asami laughs. "Good luck. He seems as stubborn as you."

Korra crosses her arms over her chest. "Stubborn? I'm not stubborn. I'm...." She struggles to find a word, only to sigh and slump against the balcony's railing. "All right, you got me."

The next day, Asami makes it her goal to find a root to help anchor Korra. This becomes more urgent when she listens to Korra complain of her failed attempt to convince Tenzin. Asami takes it upon herself to soften him to the idea, until he gives in and tasks her with making the schedules. (Korra sees the newly pinned schedules as her finally convincing Tenzin, and Asami doesn't have the heart to correct this.)

---

So Asami continues to write weekly to Korra. Perhaps this root will help stabilize things for Korra? She hopes so.

A year passes with no reply. Asami is frustrated, worried, and grieving. She wonders if it was something she said or did. Maybe Korra hates her letters?

On the day of Asami's birth, one year and two months after Korra left, Asami fails to write her weekly letter.

Instead, after work, she buys several bottles of whiskey and drives to the mansion. She parks far from the entrance to avoid being seen my Mako's family. The sun sets to a glaze of red and gold, stars start to shine in the night sky, and Asami glances at it and feels only despair.

She unlocks the workshop that holds the entrances to her father's hateful underground factory, steps inside, and locks the door behind her. The room has not changed since that fateful day she turned on her father. The floor is still ripped up above the trap doors, and the shelves are still full of workshop supplies. She opens the trap doors. The darkness of the factory looms like the maw of a hideous mouth. A suitable mockery of her birthday she supposes. She sits on the steps and drinks the whiskeys, wallowing in grief.

Her company still struggles to make sales. Although the construction projects are going well, the city rarely meets its financial obligation in their contract. This makes it difficult to pay her workers, and she has decides to take only ten percent of her usual salary and bonuses in order to make sure all her workers are paid a living wage no matter what. In turn, she dips deep into her remaining savings to keep up with the taxes on her estate, the upkeep of her satomobile, and the cost of her new penthouse she'd bought three months prior.

For her friends and loved ones, their lives deviate from her own in painful ways. She receives nothing from Korra. Bolin leaves to assist Kuvira. Mako dives headfirst into investigator work, and the Air Nation works hard to help people all over the world.

Asami feels cut off and lost. She drinks an entire bottle of whiskey, and tosses the bottle down the stairs. It clatters against the wall and shatters on the bottom step. She uncaps the next bottle and raises it in a toast.

"To the eternal autumn that is the Sato name! Grief and despair seems to be our fate. May this one day be broken."

She drinks that bottle too and throws it.

It shatters on the third step.

She calls in sick to work to recover from the epic hangover. Asami decides it best to tell no one of this incident.

Two weeks after her birthday, she receives a surprise in the mail. A letter with the postmarking of the Southern Water Tribe.

Hope crashes through her, and she sprints into the residential building, staggers into the elevator, and takes it to her penthouse. She rips open the letter by the time she reaches her door and has to juggle her keys with the letter to unlock. Leaning against the door, Asami unfolds the letter.

Dear Asami,

This is Senna. First, I wanted to express heartfelt thanks for your steadiness and kindness with writing Korra. I know it may be frustrating to not hear from her.

Second, are you all right? We missed your letter this past week, which was unusual. Korra wanted to write and ask if you were okay, but she was unable to put words to paper. I offered to assist, which is why I am writing you today.

I hope this letter finds you well. If you need anything, please feel free to ask myself, Tonraq, or Tenzin. I'm sure we can provide support. Be safe, Asami.

Senna

Tucked inside the letter is a folded origami triangle, which is the start of a crane. Nothing is written on the origami, and Asami isn't sure if Korra folded it or if Senna or Tonraq did. Maybe Katara? She inspects it thoroughly, but she cannot find any clue as to why it was included. Despite this, she carries it with her to work to display on her desk in honor of Korra.

The letter, itself, is a balm to her soul. Her weekly letters did impact Korra. Enough to cause worry.

Asami hates the idea that she causes Korra worry.

She endeavors to repair this immediately and sends a reply that is not at all part of her schedule. (She decides she'll restart her schedule that week, so Korra will end up with two letters for the week.)

Dear Korra, Senna, and Tonraq,

Thank you for your concern. I apologize for causing you worry! I never meant to do so. I am sorry for that. It has been a rough week for me. My birthday was this past week, and it brought sour memories of my father. I am okay now. I suppose the grief of that hits me hard during my or my former parents' birthdays, and I admit, I am unused to seeking assistance or support. So thank you again for checking in on me.

I plan to continue my schedule. I hope it helps to anchor you all. Give you a root on which to build your own days and hopes.

Much love to you all, Asami

Within a week and a half, Asami receives a reply to her spontaneous letter.

Dear Asami,

I understand how hard birthdays can be. I too struggle with grief on the birthday of my late mother. She died when I was a teenager from a lung disease that couldn't be cured. So I understand how hard grief can hit. No need for you to apologize. That is perhaps my message for you. Never apologize for your feelings. Your feelings are valid.

Feel free to write me further if you find it helpful.

Take care, Senna

Asami is so touched by Senna's reply, that she reexamines her schedule. Perhaps writing Senna can be added to it?

She decides to continue her weekly schedule for Korra, but adds another schedule, where she writes Senna twice a month. She is a little worried this is presumptuous of her, but Senna's letters did offer this twice now. So why not?

To Asami's shock, Senna does reply to her letters. She does not mention Korra. She instead describes the landscape of the South (mostly glaciers and mountains, where trees are rare, Asami learns), some of her duties as the wife of the Chief (surprisingly she does a lot of negotiation), and asks questions about Asami's work.

One of Senna's suggestions sends Asami to the Air Nation to check on their needs. This, in turn, causes Asami to build an airbending glider suit, which she leverages Future Industries resources to build. It is a rousing success among the Air Nation, and Jinora demands Asami start visiting more often.

This is why Asami finds herself scheduling time for dinner with Jinora and her family twice a month. The connection warms her heart.

When one year and five months have passed, Asami finds herself frustrated with work. Frustrated at how sales continue to flounder. Frustrated by Raiko being a jerk about her community forums. (He calls them 'useless time wasters when those attending ought to be working.' The gall of the man! Asami decides to open up more forums and builds a few homeless shelters just to spite him.)

More than anything else, Asami finds herself frustrated by Korra's lack of reply, and frustrated with herself for not being able to handle the silence. Korra is likely struggling with so much. Why should Asami expect Korra to have energy to reply to her inane ramblings?

After a particularly hard day at work, Asami returns to the mansion's workshop, opens the trapdoor, and drinks an entire bottle of whiskey. She sings a song she vaguely remembers her mother singing to her. Her father has also sung it whenever they visited her grave, but he stopped when Asami was eleven.

So she sings it to herself as she drinks and tosses crumpled up love letters to Korra into the darkness of the factory entrance.

"Winter, spring, Summer and fall.

Winter, spring, Summer and fall

Four seasons, Four loves.

Four seasons, For love."

Part of Asami is tempted to go down and smash things. Maybe rip apart what is left of the vile factory, wreck destruction in a way she'd never done before, but she can't bring herself to do this.

Asami Sato is an engineer. She fixes things. She doesn't break things.

Instead, she drinks the bottle and tosses it down the steps. It lands far enough away that she can't hear if it shatters or not.

She does not describe this day in her letter to Korra.

By the second year, Asami is lost in depression. Keeping to her schedule has become incredibly hard. She has managed to persevere this long. Surely, she can keep going, right?

She wonders if she loves a ghost.

Will Korra ever return?

By this point, Asami's whiskey drinking on the steps of the underground factory has become a monthly activity. She makes sure she is not seen by Mako's family -- how could she explain it? -- she verifies a radio is playing somewhere, and she locks the workshop door behind her. The trapdoor pulls up easier each time.

She is unsure of how much shattered glass lies at the bottom of these steps nor how many crumpled up love letters. (She's a little afraid to check.)

On the third day of the second year, Asami goes to the workshop for her monthly drinking. She sings sadly to the looming maw of darkness, drinks far too much whiskey, and passes out on the floor of the workshop. When she wakes in the morning, she has a massive hangover. One that leaves her confused as to where she even is.

For a terrifying moment, she's convinced she's been kidnapped. Only for her to hear the sounds of Mako's family shouting nearby about breakfast. That roots her in her reality, and she realizes she fell asleep in the workshop. How embarrassing.

The sink in the workshop doesn't work, which is frustrating. Asami hasn't needed it before, nor has she included the upkeep of this workshop in the duties of her mansion's staff. (She's actually written rules that forbid them from entering this place, and keeps it locked.)

Asami sneaks out to her satomobile. When she reaches her penthouse at the residential building near Future Industries, she is feeling terrible, her head pounds, and she wishes she could be swallowed by the earth.

But she must focus on recovery since she has work the next day. It will be a big day. Several of the road projects will be completed, and she must do a press conference with that hideous Raiko. (Asami hates press conferences with Raiko. He insists on shaking her hand and putting his hand at the small of her back for a photo every time. He is lucky to not get punched after.)

Asami then discovers a surprise in her mailbox. A white and blue letter leans against the side of the box. It has a Southern Water Tribe postmark.

Except the handwriting doesn't match Senna's.

Asami is far too hungover to process the script on the letter's envelope. She thinks perhaps she is delusional.

She decides to leave it on her kitchen counter and shower instead. (Hot water is excellent for distilling thoughts into coherent ideas.)

When she returns to the kitchen, her hair wrapped in a towel, she notes how the letter continues to take up counter space. The print writing is still not Senna's handwriting. Asami doesn't know what Tonraq's handwriting is like. She decides it must be his. Though why he would write her is not something her hungover-addled brain can fathom.

She decides to make breakfast first and drink as much water as she can stomach. After she eats her oatmeal and eggs, she cleans the dishes and puts them away. Getting out a book, she tries to read in the armchair by her balcony door. Her headaches causes her to fall asleep.

By lunchtime, the letter has not moved. It is still in the same spot with that same handwriting.

Asami wonders if the letter is daring her to open it.

Is she afraid of a letter?

How ridiculous! She is Asami Sato. CEO of Future Industries, listed as one of the top philanthropists in the Republic Times (that award was just four months prior), and a local community leader. A letter does not scare her.

She takes a deep breath and snatches it off the counter. Her finger rips it open.

Inside is a folded piece of paper and again that origami triangle, except this time, it's much closer to being a full crane.

Asami unfolds the letter and promptly drops it on the counter.

Korra's name is in the salutation.

Asami has to sit down.

Korra has written her back. She truly has written her back.

Asami feels like she's soaring high, where all the spirits in the world sing the love song her parents had sung so often when she was a child.

Korra has written her back! What joy! What delight! Asami grins and swoons at the sight of Korra's meticulously written characters.

She picks up the letter again to read.

Dear Asami,

I'm sorry I haven't written to you sooner, but every time I've tried, I never know what to say. The past two years have been the hardest of my life. Even though I can get around fine now, I still can't go into the Avatar State. I keep having visions of Zaheer and what happened that day.

Katara thinks a lot of this is in my head, so I've been meditating a lot, but sometimes I worry I'll never fully recover.

Please don't tell Mako and Bolin I wrote to you and not them. I don't want to hurt their feelings, but it's easier to tell you about this stuff. I don't think they'd understand.

Yours, Korra

Asami can't stop the tears from flowing. She pulls out her handkerchief and weeps. She wishes she could hold Korra. To kiss her forehead. To remind her that she is worth everything and that she can defeat this. She can recover.

In the end, Asami decides she cannot wait for her schedule day to write. She responds right away.

Dear Korra,

I understand. Don't worry about how long it took. I will always be here to support you. And don't worry! I won't speak a word of this to Mako or Bolin. I will continue my weekly schedule, but I wanted to get this to you as soon as I could. So you knew that I hear you and I understand. Recovery is hard.

Love, Asami

Asami stares at her letter and thinks of how inane it feels. It doesn't come close to summing up how she feels. She thinks again of Korra's worry about the Avatar state, and wonders if she can help with that. She doesn't truly understand how the Avatar state works, but perhaps she can do some preliminary research? Would that help Korra through this?

When Asami sees a problem, it immediately makes her want to seek a solution, but she doesn't know if that is wise for this.

In the end, she sends the letter as is. She continues her weekly schedule, but she adds in time for brainstorming. She visits every library in the city and Air Temple Island. She reads about chi pathways, chakras, and prior Avatars. She learns about how acupuncture opens up the chakras, and how this effects bending. She ponders if this can be turned into a way for Korra to still have the Avatar state without the Avatar state.

She decides to take the glider suite design and add in an acupuncture design to the back. Between meetings and mountains of paperwork, she works on this in the workshop in front of her office. Occasionally, one of her department managers asks her about the project, and she only levels a 'don't you dare test me' glare at them. The interrupter slinks away ashamed. It takes her most of the month to complete.

When she visits Air Temple Island for her second dinner of the month, she asks Jinora to chat with her in the meditation pavilion.

"Would you like to test an idea for me?" Asami is both excited and nervous.

Jinora grins at her. "Sure!"

"Really? I haven't even explained what it is." Asami is taken aback at Jinora's blind trust.

Jinora laughs. "It's you asking. Why wouldn't I say yes? I know you'd never hurt me."

Asami hopes that is the case. "Well, I have a prototype glider suit for you. Can you wear it for three days and write down your observations for me? If you find it uncomfortable or if something goes wrong, please call me immediately. I'll drop everything for this, okay?" She reaches into her backpack and takes out the suit. She has specifically designed it for Jinora's build.

Jinora takes it and looks it over. "Why is the back so hard?" She taps her fist against the spine of the suit.

"That's the acupuncture spine. It's meant to open your chakras." Asami is very nervous now. "At least, that's what I read. We'll see what if it works."

Jinora smiles. "All right. I'll do it."

Asami leaves the island feeling like she's on cloud nine. Maybe her wacky idea might actually work.

She receives the call during one of her meetings. Her assistant, Tariq, rushes into the room. His blue eyes are wide, his brown skin flushed likely from running down several flights of stairs to the meeting room. He gasps out, "Ms. Sato, you said if Jinora called to alert you immediately."

Asami stands. "Thank you, Tariq." She turns to the engineering team. "Excuse me, I must attend this emergency. We will reschedule."

She rushes up the four flights to her office to take the call. Jinora sounds panicked, and talks far too fast for Asami to make sense of on the phone.

"I'll be right there," Asami assures her and hangs up. Grabbing her keys, she swaps out her dress shoes for her sturdier boots and sprints to the elevator. The drive takes far longer than she prefers, and finding a spot to park her precious blue satomobile also eats up minutes.

On the ferry, Asami frets over whether her idea has hurt Jinora. She wouldn't be able to bear it if it did.

When she walks up the path from the docks, she is shocked to see several fully grown trees torn up by their roots laying across the path. A large clearing now exists where that grove of trees once stood. Jinora sits on one of the trunks holding the suit, her head downcast.

"Asami!" She looks up relieved. "You came!"

"What... what happened?" Asami stares flabbergasted at the destruction. At least the trees hadn't hit the buildings?

Jinora stands and hands her the suit. "I... I wore this and tried to air bend, but I couldn't control it. It was way powerful, far more than I'd ever felt in my life." She looks sad and kicks at the ground. "I'm sorry I couldn't do the full experiment. Dad forbid me from wearing it again."

Asami looks down at the suit and comes to the conclusion that this is perhaps the worst idea she ever had.

But it would be a funny postscript for Korra. Best to not explain the why however.

She adds it to her next letter. "P.S. Jinora and I did an experiment. However, things went awry. We accidentally tore up an entire grove of fully grown trees. Tenzin was furious. However, I think our remodeling added a beautiful clearing for picnicking."

Asami doesn't expect a reply. It has been three months since Korra's last letter.

To her surprise, a letter from the Southern Water Tribe shows up in her mailbox a week later.

Dear Asami,

What the spirits was this experiment? That sounds amazing. I wish I could have seen that. I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time. I could just picture Tenzin's face red with fury. Bet there was steam coming out his ears too.

It got me thinking. Do you think I've been in the South too long? If maybe that's why I'm stuck in my healing? I haven't made any progress since my last letter, and it's been eating me up. But your letter got me thinking that maybe I do need a change of scenery. My own remodeling maybe?

What do you think?

Yours, Korra

Asami is delighted to learn she caused Korra to laugh. However, Korra's question makes Asami wonder if now is the time to reveal her truth. She so badly wants Korra to return to Republic City. She wants to take Korra out on a date still, maybe even go on an adventure in the wilds to do some experiments with chakras (Asami hasn't quite let go of ways to help Korra find her Avatar spirit again).

But part of her holds back out of fear that Korra doesn't return her feelings.

Sure, Korra signs these letters with 'yours' but Asami doesn't know if that is a friendship-y 'yours' or a romantic 'yours.' In fact, Asami hasn't ever written someone like this before, so she doesn't know how friends sign letters. Business contacts use 'sincerely,' so that isn't any help.

Asami decides to play it safe. She will admit to Korra having her heart, but that is the most she will do. Surely, that won't scare her away? She doesn't want Korra to stop writing after all.

Dear Korra,

I want to say come here to Republic City, but I also know you need to feel ready to do that. So please do not see this as me trying to convince you to come back. I want you to now that whatever you decide, I will always support you. You have my word and my heart.

Whenever I am stuck on an idea, which feels often of late especially with how difficult things are with Future Industries, I will take a day and go hiking in the mountains. There in the wilderness I find a solace that can't be captured elsewhere. Nature has such beauty and wonder hidden around every bend.

Did you know that fractals are perhaps the most common type of growth among plants and fungi? They are a perfect repeating geometric pattern that is everywhere. I bring my magnifying glass sometimes to examine leaves, mushrooms, even rocks, and all have these lovely patterns.

This excites my imagination. Then when I reach the peak, I stand at the edge and take in the breadth of the world. I can see for kilometers in all directions. Did you know that one of the tallest peaks in Republic Nation is Mount Makapu and is within a day journey by Satomobile? That one is my favorite to climb. It sits on a peninsula that overlooks Yue Bay and the ocean. I can see so far, and I can touch the clouds. (Clouds are so wet. I know scientifically they are made of water crystals condensed into fog form, but it's quite different to physically feel such a thing on my fingertips).

It reminds me of our airship adventures. Where we wandered the Earth Kingdom, sparring, laughing, and having great fun. Perhaps that is what you need?

Sometimes a journey requires more than a step. You took a big leap to go South for healing, but now you face the next step of your journey.

I have hope that no matter where that next step leads you, you will find your way. It will be hard at first. Just as climbing a mountain is hard. (Let me tell you, if you don't get the right boots, your feet will hate you forever! So make sure you have good hiking boots!) Each step up the mountain gets harder, especially at higher elevations when there is far less oxygen. This makes the journey very, very hard.

But to stand there at the top of the world? It is worth the hardship and pain.

I think you are still climbing that mountain. You have not yet reached the peak, but you will, Korra, you will. And when you are ready to climb back down, I will be here to offer you a hug and a heartfelt congratulations at such a marvelous achievement.

And if you want someone to accompany you on this next stage of your climb, you have only to ask. I will gladly take leave to walk that with you.

May this letter inspire you to new heights. And remember, you have my support always.

Love, Asami

Asami again doesn't expect a reply. She, however, continues her schedule. Writing Korra is perhaps one of the few things that gets her through her long days.

She often finds herself in Avatar Korra park (this was the first thing she built, she is proud to say) and sits by the statue to draw. Sometimes, she comes late at night to sit between Korra's legs and whisper her secrets to the stone (she hopes she is less likely to be recognized at night).

During this time, the bureaucrats in charge of the city's contract keep being very dodgy about paying the full amount owed, and she is tired of this song and dance to get them to follow through. Her company badly needs the money.

At least sales has improved somewhat thanks to her efforts with community forums. She finds that the lower income boroughs have lots of interesting engineering ideas. This delights her. For some of the more promising ones, she offers to help realize their designs with a contract. She can't afford to pay them full time, but she can at least sub contract with them part time to fund their projects. This is well received by the public, and Asami can't help but preen with pride at how helpful it has been for people.

She eagerly shares these successes with Korra in her letters. For the bureaucrats, she mocks them in what she hopes is an amusing way. She badly wants to hear Korra laugh, but this she supposes is the next best thing.

At two years and five months, Asami receives a third letter from Korra. She has had a long day at the office and construction sites dealing with emergencies. Plus, she keeps getting letters from her father (why is he writing her at all? The memory of him trying to kill her haunts her dreams far more than she'll ever admit.) All of this grief and frustrations tempts her with heading to the mansion workshop to drink it all away.

Instead, she opens her mailbox to find the letter.

She barely reaches her penthouse before she has torn it open.

Dear Asami,

I don't know what I'd do without you. Honestly, you're the best thing that's ever happened in my life.

I've thought long and hard about your letters, especially the one about mountain climbing. I think you're right. I do need to take this next step, and I think I know what to do. But I need you to do something for me. I know this will be hard, and it's not fair to you. Especially with how kind you are. With how devoted and steady you've been despite my lack of replies. I am probably being selfish, aren't I?

But I don't think I can do this without knowing you have my back. Can you stop writing me in exactly one month from the postscript of this letter? I need everyone to think I am returning at that time. Please tell no one of this letter.

I promise that I'll come back to you. I just need more time. I need to finish that metaphorical mountain climb, and when I reach the peak, I hope I will find my Avatar state there. Thank you for being here for me. I hope to see you soon.

Love, Korra

Asami stares at the letter. Her fingers hover over the word 'love.'

What is Korra planning? Asami thinks through her last few letters, and then abruptly remembers the one she'd written in reply to Korra's questions.

Korra is going on a journey somewhere. She asks Asami to not share with anyone what Asami now knows. For Korra to entrust her with this? Asami's heart swells with love.

She will honor Korra's request.

Asami continues her schedule for one month and promptly ends it. She tells no one of Korra's final letter to her.

At two years and six months, Asami must attend the train station reveal and deal with President Raiko. (She really hopes he doesn't do that touching of her back while shaking her hand. She decides she'll step hard on his foot if he does. Maybe she'll break one of his toes. It'd serve him right.)

The crowd is surprisingly large. Reporters hog the front viewing area with their large, lumbering cameras and pen and paper. Asami is anxious but relieved to learn she doesn't need to speak. (She really doesn't like public speaking.) Instead, she smiles and cuts the stupid, red ribbon with the biggest and most ungainly scissors she's ever seen.

She hopes this is all she needs to do. The mingling after the ceremony goes significantly easier. Nod, smile, pretend to care about the inane ramblings of uninteresting people. Honestly, Korra is the only person Asami could happily listen to ramble. Certainly not stiff business people in their overly tailored suits, greasy hair, and badly chosen tie colors. She's mastered the 'pretend to care' expression due to her time as CEO.

At least, it would have been easy if not for Prince Wu. He corners her to her irritation, then blatantly hits on her. This makes her want to stab his eyeballs or maybe stab her own. Then he calls himself a super human, and she can't help but roll her eyes.

No, the only superhuman is Korra.

To her relief, Mako comes to her rescue. She could hug him. (Not kiss him, that is only for Korra, and she knows Mako well enough that even a kiss on the cheek would confuse him. She is not interested in him and will never be interested in him again. That ship sailed long, long ago. Korra is the only one who has her heart.)

Mako mentions Korra's return.

Asami can't look him in the eye. She knows the truth. So she looks at the ground, and says what needs to be said, "I can't wait to see her." For that is the truth, but when she will see Korra, Asami doesn't know.

Later that day, the boat from the Southern Water Tribe pulls into Air Temple Dock. Asami sits on a bench at the top of the path and watches, knowing Korra will not be there. Naga is however, which makes Asami wonder if Korra has decided to be incognito.

The others panic at first. They talk of searching for Korra.

Asami decides to go play with Naga before she loses her temper at how ridiculous everyone is being. She is tempted to tell them all off and demand they trust Korra's intentions. But she simply cannot take that risk.

Naga is delighted to see her. Nearly knocks her over. Asami decides to incorporate visits with Naga into her schedule. She decides on three times a week. For her, Naga is a fragile connection with Korra, the person she loves most in the world. This is the least she can do for Korra.

Tonraq finds her in the clearing -- the same one Jinora had made by accident during Asami's suit experiment -- and he watches her throw the ball for Naga for awhile. Asami is nervous at first, but slowly relaxes when he doesn't try to interrogate her.

Except, his next words breaks Asami's calm. "Asami, I wanted to ask. Korra wrote you, didn't she?"

Asami doesn't want to lie to Korra's father. Not after all her work to prove herself to him. "She did."

"What did she tell you?"

Asami turns and meets his gaze. She sees the worry in his expression, the furrow in his brows. Korra has his eyes and nose, she realizes. "Tonraq, you are asking that I betray Korra's trust. I can't do that."

His lips twitch in an almost smile. "I understand. May I ask if you are worried? Of all of us, you are the most calm."

Asami is worried. She can't help it. Not knowing where Korra is, or if she is safe drives Asami to distraction. But Korra has asked for her word and her trust. Asami gives it readily to her. "I do worry, but I cannot and will not speak further on this."

Tonraq studies her for a long moment. She finds herself holding her breath and hopes she hasn't made an enemy out of Korra's father.

To her relief, he reaches out and grasps her shoulder. "Thank you, Asami, for being there for my daughter. She couldn't have a better pa-friend."

Asami smiles and bows her head in reply.

When he walks away to join the others, she looks after his tall figure and wonders if the word he meant to say was 'partner.' EDIT: Got it up on AO3 now.

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royallyprincesslilly · 11 months

Text

Title: Stake My Claim {One Shot}*

Title: Stake My Claim {One Shot}*

Lewis Hamilton x GF Reader

Warning: Mild cursing, NSFW, Mild Smut, 18+ Mature Content,

Words: 2.4k

Summary: Nope.

As always, thank you for reading. I appreciate it!

If you enjoyed this, please, LIKE, COMMENT, REBLOG!!!

****NOT Edited/Proofread****

You and Lewis had been keeping your relationship quiet. You both thought it was important to keep things as private as possible to alleviate any outside noise that comes with celebrity relationships that made them complicated. Your lives were already complicated enough neither of you needed the extra pressure. So for the entirety of your relationship, 11 months, you'd remained mum on your private lives. While it was normal for Lewis to keep quiet about anything other than F1, for you, people noticed.

Whenever you were interviewed and asked about anything private, you remained tight-lipped. You didn't want to reveal even the smallest detail because expert internet investigators could piece things together from nothing and come back with a whole theory with receipts. You being tight-lipped tipped a lot of people off that you had someone in your life. Though they suspected you were dating they still had no idea who.

You were careful not to get pictured with Lewis. Careful not to have any pictures leaked of you being at the same place at the same time. You even went as far as to use your look-alike assistant as your body double sometimes to distract the paps so you could make a discreet getaway. You and Lewis had become impressively creative over the months to keep your relationship quiet.

It was a good call because after almost a year you felt closer to him than you'd ever felt to any of your exes. You felt connected on more levels than just physical. You really enjoyed him as a person outside of being your person. You found him interesting, intelligent, funny, genuine, and incredibly kind. There was no aspect of his personality you didn't like. You were so head over heels for this man that you were beginning to freak out a little bit with how perfect things were.

"What are you thinking about so deep that you're not even giving input for dinner tonight?"

You snapped out of it and looked across from you into Lewis' soft eyes that were completely focused on you.

"Huh? What?"

He snorted then shook his head. "Am I boring you princess?"

"What? No. Not at all. I was just thinking," you said reaching for the menus between you that were the top contenders for tonight's takeaway dinner.

Lewis reached over and rested his hand on top of yours stopping you from taking any of them. "Thinking about what? Talk to me."

This was one of the many things about Lewis. He had the ability to recognize when soemthing was off with you and always chose to tackle it head on rather than pussyfooting around it like you often did.

"It's nothing bad. I was just reminiscing about our relationship."

"Uh-oh."

You snorted and softly swatted at his hand. "Stop."

"Should I be worried?"

You shrugged. "Do you think you should be?"

Lewis smirked then leaned back in his chair. "Hell no. I know I'm the man and the best you've ever had. I'm straight."

You snorted loudly. "Boy!"

His smile was like a ray of sunshine. Instantly your belly flipped.

"Tell me I'm not."

You rolled your eyes and decided to fuck with him a little bit. You released an exaggerated sigh.

"Well I don't know," you began.

It was all you got out before Lewis had darted over to you pulling you straight out the chair and flush against him. It was done so quickly, so smoothly that he took your breath away.

"You don't know what princess? Don't know if I'm the man or the best you've ever had?"

His voice was panty wetting deep, so sexy you couldn't speak cause your throat was clogged with desire.

"Hm?"

He'd now maneuvered to the wall and pressed you against it. Lewis dipped his face to your neck sniffed then placed a soft kiss to your pulse point.

"Cause I have all the evidence I need."

He dipped his lips to your breast where you nipple was painfully hard and pressing against the fabric of your shirt, begging for attention.

"Exhibit A," Lewis said before he enclosed your nipple between his teeth.

"Mm."

He moved to your other nipple but swirled the tip of his tongue around the beaded peak.

You released a breathy sigh as your eyes fluttered closed.

"Exhibit B."

The combination of his voice, the heat emulating from him and his touch was making it very hard to breathe let alone think. Lewis raised your hand, laced his fingers with yours and kissed along your arm where goosebumps decorated your flesh.

"Exhibit C," he whispered.

Your eyes met and the spark of fire you saw within his said he was as turned on as you were, but he was enjoying this. You bit your bottom lip and his eyes dipped to them like you knew they would. Lewis came closer bringing his face to yours. Instinctively you closed your eyes in anticipation of feeling his lips. However, his lips never met yours.

"Shall I continue, or do you have enough evidence?"

Your eyes snapped open and saw the amusement bubbling within them. You were completely spellbound by their beauty--his beauty. Lewis must have taken your silence for a challenge because he used his knee to push apart your thigh and keep one of your legs slightly hoisted in the air resting over his knee. It didn't register what his intentions were until you felt the brush of his fingers against your sex.

"Mmmm."

"M-hm. Exhibit D."

Lewis' fingers slowly petted against your sex in downward strokes and with each stroke you whimpered. You couldn't help but imagine those thick digits pushing inside of you over and over until you saw stars and drenched them. The thought alone was making you even wetter. Lewis moaned then lifted his hand so you both could see your wetness smeared across the back of his fingers.

"I rest my case."

You reached between your bodies then gripped the concealed weapon that was pressing into your inner thigh.

"And what about my case? I'm surprised you haven't poked a hole through those pants with this dangerous thing," you teased.

Lewis smirked then licked his thumb before his hand disappeared between you again. The second you felt his thumb swirl around your clit you gasped and nearly blasted off into the ceiling.

"Shiiit," your croaked.

Lewis didn't stop. He kept his eyes on you, changed his direction then sped his movements. Now he was rubbing from side to side and pushing you closer and closer to the edge. When you felt him circle your opening with a finger your body responded by clenching the sliver of his finger was that there.

"Fuck," Lewis whispered.

"Lewis," you plead.

"Yes princess."

"Please."

"Say it."

Rolling your eyes you decided against beating around the bush or playing hard to get.

"You're the man."

He smirked. "And?"

His appendage spasmed in your hand reminding you just what precious cargo you held in your hands. You squeezed tightly until you saw his eyes flutter closed as if they were heavy. Using your thumb you circled the tip teasing him and his sensetivity there. Lewis' jaw relaxed as a rush of breath left him. When you saw his body shake every so subtly you began pumping your hand up and down. Each time you came up your squeezed and each time you went down you twisted using your wrist.

In just a few seconds, Lewis was moaning softly and quickly getting lost in the pleasure you were giving him. When his fingers began their slow torture again you both transitioned to jerking and rubbing each other trying to make the other lose control first. Just when you were sure you had Lewis right where you wanted him, he pushed two fingers into you, sending your head back into the wall.

"Ah, Lewis!"

You were so close you knew you wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer, so you did the only logical thing--decided to pull him over the edge of debauchery with you. As Lewis fucked into you faster and faster, deeper, and deeper you stroked him as if your movements would get you to your orgasm quicker.

"Y/N. Oh princess!"

The way he stretched out the "c”, "e" and "s" in the word in his deep voice was what did it. Lewis rotated his fingers then hooked them and that was it. You screamed out and grabbed his other arm needing soemthing to hold on to you didn't explode into pieces.

"Uuuugh!"

Your hand grew warmer, then you felt wetness. Looking down between you, you smiled when you found the reason why. He'd came right in his pants.

"For fuck's sake. How do you get me in these situations?"

Your smile widened as you beamed up at him. "Because I'm the best you ever had."

Lewis smiled and pecked your lips. "Fucking right you are."

Lewis kissed your temple, "Come see me race on Friday?"

"Ok."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Friday-

When you arrived at the paddock you made sure you kept your sunglasses firmly on your face. They were big enough that if you played your cards right your appearance here would go unnoticed just like all your other appearances. As you passed influencers, content creators and fans you did your best to remain inconspicuous. For the most part it worked but you did notice a few eyes that followed you and even a few pointing you out while asking the person they were with if you looked familiar. Before any of them could get a closer look, you always changed your course.

Because of that it took you nearly twice as long to get to where Lewis was. When you got there, you saw him sitting with a few other drivers, Carlos, Yuki, Sergio, and George. They laughed together then the interviewer asked another question.

"We know your perfect cars, but I am sure the ladies want to know your perfect women. What catches your eye?"

The men took turns responding while trying not to be too embarrassed by the question. Most played it coy and gave generalized traits and features but when it came to Carlos he smiled widely.

"Perfect woman? That's easy. Y/F/N & Y/L/N."

Your eyes bugged in shock. The men laughed and he shrugged.

"Just right out with it huh?"

"I mean why not? Shoot your shot. She's gorgeous and I've always been a fan, so I've read a lot about her and seen a lot of interviews and she has such a good head on her. You can tell she's down to earth and humble, a really sweet person, who cares about those around her and is a quality person."

The more he spoke the more touched you felt. You almost let out an "aw". As Carlos continued to gush about you, your eyes slipped to Lewis who sat there with both his hands squeezing his microphone, and his face as stoic as ever. If you didn't know any better you'd almost think he wasn't fazed at all hearing another man--a technical co-worker and rival driver singing your graces and making it known that he had a huge crush on you. Almost.

You could tell. Every so often you saw his eye twitch and watched his grip become lethally tight on the mic. To further confirm his slight annoyance you noted the way he toyed with chewing inside his mouth. He was hating this.

"Yes so if she is watching," Carlos said before he held up his fingers to his ear like they were a phone.

Everyone cracked up but Lewis clenched his jaw. You giggled to yourself as you slipped to the ladies room. After touching up your make up, and a few bathroom selfies posted to your social you walked back out. When you were closer to the Mercedes port you spotted Lewis. As if he felt your presence he spun to face you. A smile spread across his lips as one did yours. You were prepared to give him a subtle wave before you turned and went to your spot to watch the race but were caught off guard when you saw him making his way to you.

With wide eyes you looked around and saw people stopping to point at Lewis, which brought eyes to you. When he did a slow jog to close the remaining feet between you, you had the attention of tens of people. When Lewis got rght in front of you, he dipped down gathered you in his arms and lifted you into the air.

"Hi baby."

He didn't wait for your response, his lips pressed to yours bringing a loud gasp from those watching. As he kissed you, you could hear the loud chatter around you. Everyone was wondering who you were and if you were his girlfriend. Your brain was still stunned into inactivity, but your body responded. You wrapped your legs around his waist and your arms around his neck and kissed him back just as fervently as he kissed you. This was no hello peck, or demure greeting. This was a full-on tease, battle for control, passionate make out session.

When you pulled back and peered down at him, Lewis was smiling.

"What're you doing? I don't remember our hello kisses being a hello make out tongue down my throat session. There are so many people watching."

"I just missed you," Lewis replied.

"Did you now? You sure it wasn't hearing another man gush about me and confess his feelings?"

Lewis smirked realizing you'd seen right through him.

"Aw, is baby jealous?"

Lewis scoffed then shook his head.

"Oh my god. You are. Baby."

He reached up and took your sunglasses off revealing your identity to whoever was watching.

"Lewis!"

"You're mine and everyone needs to know."

"Know what?"

"Know that they don't stand a chance."

You snorted then saw a few of the other drivers watching from behind Lewis.

"Then you better kiss me like I'm yours."

Lewis smiled clearly loving that your petty matched his. When he kissed you again it was filled with heat, need and possessiveness. He turned so those behind him could get a perfect view then let you slide down his body. With his arm around you, he led you back with all eyes on the two of you.

"I think I like jealous you," you teased.

"We'll see if you still like him tonight," Lewis said loud enough for the other drivers to hear as you passed by.

Lewis wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis. You rolled your eyes at his antics. This was your man, and you loved every jealous and petty inch of him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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#lewis hamilton #lewis hamilton fanfiction #lewis hamilton fanfic #lewis hamilton imagine #lewis hamilton blurb #stake my claim one shot

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