(See the end of the chapter for more notes .)

Finally, their first date! I meant the lunch part of the date to be combined with the actual music jam session from the artwork, but then it just got away from me and ended up really long. I could write dialogue forever. So it’s in two parts now!

Asami and Korra go on their first date, and get to know each other.

Chapter Text

Oh no, I’m going to be late.

Asami picked up her pace. She was usually an incredibly punctual person, but had very uncharacteristically taken an extra long time deciding what to wear. She had been on a few dates since breaking up with Mako, but hadn’t felt the pressure to impress then like she did now. Most of the dates, a mix of men and women, were pretty obviously just after her for her money. Even if they weren’t, they treated her differently once they found out who she was. That was one of the reasons she liked Mako (and Bolin); they treated her just like anybody else. As far as she could tell, Korra seemed to be the same way.

So she had tossed one red and black outfit after another on the reject pile in frustration, thinking that she should really diversify her wardrobe. Finally she had settled on a simple white cotton dress and red cardigan, with her hair tied in a loose ponytail. The deliberations had taken longer than she expected, forcing her to race out the door fifteen minutes later than she meant to. The fountain they had decided to meet at was only a short walk from her mansion, otherwise she would have taken one of her many mechanical forms of transportation.

She felt even worse when she approached the meeting spot and saw Korra already waiting, casually leaning against the fountain wall. I hope she hasn’t been waiting long. The tan girl hadn’t noticed her. She was looking down at the ground, her head lightly bobbing to the music coming out of her earbuds. Even though they had texted little things back and forth since her performance, seeing her again in person brought all of Asami’s nervousness rushing to the surface. Korra was easy-going, confident, and headstrong, all qualities Asami admired. Her athletic build, sparkling blue eyes, and trendy fashion sense didn’t hurt, either. Asami took a deep breath and walked up to the other girl.

Korra’s head remained down. She was totally absorbed in whatever she was listening to, and Asami could hear the sounds of some heavy metal song faintly playing out of the earphones. Asami often got lost in music like this as well, tuning out the world to focus solely on the song.

She finally got close enough that her shadow overlapped with Korra’s. Noticing the intrusion, Korra looked up, and her face immediately softened when she saw Asami leaning over her, smiling. She yanked the earbuds out of her ears.

“Hey!”

“Hey,” she replied as Korra stood up. “Sorry I’m late.”

“No worries,” Korra responded, shoving her headphones away in her pocket in a tangled mass. “I don’t mind waiting outside on such a nice day.” She beamed. She did seem like the type of person who enjoyed outdoor activities.

They stood like that, just smiling at each other and not talking, until Korra broke the silence.

“You, uh, look really nice.”

Asami’s heart fluttered a little bit. “Thank you. So do you.” It was true. She gave Korra’s outfit a quick once-over. The sleeveless shirt and shorts suited her, and Asami appreciated how they revealed her toned arms and legs. She coughed and quickly turned away to stop herself from staring like some hormonal teen. Korra thankfully chose not to comment on Asami’s reddened cheeks.

“So, where to?”

Asami cleared her throat. “Well, I thought we could get some lunch? If you’re hungry, that is.”

Korra gave her a pointed look. “Asami, I’m always hungry.”

The violinist chuckled. She could see how Korra and Bolin got along so well. “Perfect. I know a great place not far from here.”

“Lead the way.”

Korra looked around in awe at the swanky restaurant Asami had led them to. She awkwardly glanced down at her black tank top, jean shorts, and sneakers. She was reminded of how out of place she had felt at the Philharmonic concert, and hit with an uncomfortable wave of déjà vu. She quickly took off her snapback hat and tucked it in her back pocket.

Her family was by no means poor, but Southern Water Tribe wealth (except in the case of a business mogul like Iknik Blackstone Varrick) and Republic City wealth were entirely different things. Even though Asami didn’t boast about it at all, Korra was reminded of the fact that her companion was probably one of the richest women on the planet, and it made her a little self-conscious. Its not like Asami was especially dressed up, but she at least looked semi-appropriate for the restaurant.

But unlike at the concert hall, the host and waiters didn’t seem to mind her casual appearance. In fact, they were practically falling over themselves to welcome the two women to the restaurant, adding “It’s always a pleasure serving Miss Sato and company.” The host led them to their table, a large round one with a banquette, and they slid in on either side. Almost as soon as they sat down, a waiter appeared and wordlessly placed an expensive-looking bottle of rosé wine on their table with two glasses.

Asami shrugged. “They know me here.” She picked up the bottle and angled it towards Korra. “Would you like a glass? I hope this is okay.”

“Sure, fill ‘er up. No complaints here!” Korra responded with a grin.

Asami carefully poured the chilled pink wine into Korra’s glass, then filled her own. Korra brought the glass to her lips, but then stopped when she saw Asami holding her glass out towards her expectantly.

“Um, what should we toast to?”

Duh, manners, Korra. She was already coming off like an uncultured idiot, and the date had barely begun.

Korra thought for a moment. “How about to Mako? He is kind of the one who brought us together after all. Even though he might not be thrilled about it…”

Asami laughed. “Works for me.” They clinked their glasses together and looked each other in the eye.

“To Mako,” they said at the same time, and took hearty sips of the fruity wine.

This is really good. I don’t even want to think about how much it costs.

They both started studying their menus in silence. There were no prices next to the food items, which Korra knew from experience meant that nothing was cheap. She blanched internally, already dreading the arrival of the check at the end of the meal.

As if reading her mind, Asami looked up from her menu. “Feel free to order whatever you’d like. This is on me.”

Korra shook her head. “No, no, I’m a progressive, modern woman. I insist on splitting the bill,” she said firmly.

Asami chuckled lightly. “While I appreciate the sentiment, I asked you out, and I chose this place. I’m paying for this one,” she said with a tone of finality. Korra imagined her taking that tone in the boardroom and felt her body get a few degrees warmer. Boardroom, not bedroom. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Then, more softly, she said, “You can pay for the next one.”

Korra smiled at the implication that there would be another date in the future, but didn’t acknowledge it. “Alright, you’ve worn me down, Sato.”

Visibly more relaxed, she returned to scanning the menu. There were a lot of exotic dishes that she didn’t recognize, but a few that she did.

“Ah, they have some of my favorites here. I wonder if they’re authentic, though,” she mused aloud. “Well, only one way to find out.”

Asami looked up from her menu. “I’ve never had a bad meal here. I’m sure whatever you order will be fine.”

As if on cue, their eager waiter appeared to take their orders, which he did quickly and politely.

“Sorry I’m a bit underdressed,” Korra apologized after he had walked away. “It seems to be a theme developing with you. If I had known we’d be going somewhere so nice I would have worn something else.”

Asami waved her off. “Please, you’re fine. My family practically bankrolled this place’s last renovation with the amount of times we’ve dined here. You could have showed up naked and they’d have served us all the same.”

Korra’s eyebrows shot up and she grinned her trademark lop-sided grin. “Oh really?”

Realizing what she had said, a deep blush spread across Asami’s cheeks.

“I mean, not that I’d want you to show up naked, or that I’d thought about that at all, of course.”

Korra was loving every second of this. “Of course,” she joked with a wink.

Asami turned even redder. She took a deep gulp of wine, draining her glass, and quickly poured herself another. She cleared her throat to try and overcome her embarrassment.

“So moving on,” she said, “how did Mako take it when you told him we were going out together?”

Korra took another sip of wine and shrugged. “As well as could be expected I guess. At first when I mentioned at band practice that I’d be seeing you, he tried to invite himself and Bolin along. So I had to break it to them both that it was kind of a date.”

Korra pictured Mako’s face after she had said that. He had looked like someone had told him his deer dog puppy had died.

Bolin had overdramatically whined, “Oh man, now I have even less of a shot than before!”

Korra had joked back, “Yeah, now your shot is whatever is less than zero. A negative shot.”

“He seemed to accept it eventually,” she told Asami. “He even clapped me on the shoulder and said, in his super-serious Mako voice,” which Korra then proceeded to imitate, “‘You two are my friends above all else. I’ve got your backs, and I always will.’”

Asami laughed at Korra’s pretty spot-on impression, and looked relieved. “He texted me yesterday ‘Have a good time with Korra. I just want you to be happy.’”

“We probably don’t give him enough credit,” Korra admitted. “He’s a good guy, and he’ll make some girl really happy in the future.” Then Korra grinned. “Just not one of us.”

Asami laughed and picked up her wine glass. “I’ll drink to that.” They clinked glasses again and drank, Korra draining hers. Asami poured her another as the waiter showed up with their appetizers, meat-filled dumplings for Korra, and soup for Asami. They dug in and ate in silence for a minute, savoring their food. Asami, of course, didn’t spill a drop of soup, Korra noticed enviously.

“How did you and Mako meet, anyway?” she asked in between dumplings. “You don’t really seem to run in the same crowds.”

“Funny you’d say run,” Asami said, putting down her spoon. “I kind of ran him over with my moped.”

Korra almost choked on her food. “No way!” she exclaimed, quickly swallowing. “I can see why he wouldn’t want to spread that around.” She paused. “Wait, you drive a moped? That’s cool.”

“Just for quick errands around town. I actually prefer my motorcycle in general.”

That’s hot. An image of Asami dressed in black leather from head to foot popped into Korra’s mind, but she managed to push it down.“Wow, that’s really cool.”

“Thought this prissy rich girl wouldn’t do something as reckless as driving a motorcycle?” The question was posed in a lighthearted tone, but Korra could sense the insecurity behind her words.

“Was ‘biker chick’ the first thing that came to mind when I met you? No,” said Korra with a shrug. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t like it.” She winked, causing Asami to flush and stare down into her soup. Korra gently laid her hand over Asami’s.

“And I don’t think you’re prissy. More like elegant.”

Asami looked up at that and smiled in thanks. From her reaction, Korra imagined most people passed quick judgments on Asami based on her name and appearance. She was happy she could join the ranks of the small group of people that actually got to know her.

“I just love the feeling of freedom. Me and the machine, able to go wherever I want, hair flying in the breeze. I feel practically invincible.”

Korra could relate. Asami was describing almost exactly what it felt like when Korra rode on her polar bear dog Naga at home. She missed that while being cooped up in a small apartment in the city.

“But yeah, I was in a rush to get home that day and Mako ran out into the street with no warning,” Asami continued. Korra had forgotten that was how they had started talking about this in the first place. “I crashed into him, not too badly, fortunately, and when I went to help him up I saw he was carrying his bass case, so we started talking about music. I invited him to lunch to apologize for almost killing him, and the rest is history.”

Korra would never wish harm on anyone, especially Mako. But she couldn’t help thinking that she was glad Asami had crashed into him, because she probably wouldn’t have met the dark haired girl otherwise.

An almost empty bottle of wine stood in the center of the table, surrounded by bare plates and bowls. Korra and Asami had polished off the first bottle a while ago, while chatting about all sorts of topics. The conversation had flowed as freely as the wine, with the only pause coming when their entrees had arrived. Asami found Korra extremely easy to talk to. Hard to believe I just met her a few weeks ago. She felt inexplicably close to the other girl, like they had known each other for years.

Korra leaned back happily and interlocked her fingers, folding them over her stomach. “Ahhh, that was good,” she sighed. “Almost as good as my mom’s.”

Asami studied Korra for a moment. The wine had gone straight to her head, and she felt incredibly relaxed. Her initial nervousness at the start of the date had trickled away with the last drops of rosé. “I meant to ask, you’re not from Republic City, are you?”

Korra shook her head. “Nope! I’m Southern Water Tribe, born and bred. I only moved here about six months ago.” At this, a sheepish look came over her face and she ran a hand through her hair.

“Actually, my, uh, dad is the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe.”

Asami’s eyes widened and an incredulous grin spread across her face. “No!”

Korra shrugged and nodded. “Yup.”

Asami sat back and put her chin in her hand, studying Korra’s face, causing the other girl to shift a bit in her seat. “So you’re chief Tonraq’s daughter…I don’t mean this in a bad way, but I never would have pegged you as a princess.” She jokingly put extra emphasis on that last word, causing Korra to groan and roll her eyes.

“Ugh, don’t say that word. Believe me, I’m the furthest thing from a model politician’s daughter. My parents gave up all hope for a career in diplomacy for me after what happened a few years ago.” Asami raised her eyebrow in question, which Korra answered.

“The Southern Water Tribe council was holding a gala for some reason or another, and there were a lot of international leaders in attendance. I of course was forced to go against my will. As usual.” She rolled her eyes again, clearly showing how much she loved going to those fancy events.

“Anyway, that creep Prince Wu of the Earth Kingdom was there. I tried to put up with him for a little while, because I felt bad about what had happened to his aunt, but after a few drinks,” Korra laughed, “and I mean a few, that kid is such a lightweight, he became insufferable. He kept waving his royal brooch in my face, which between you and me looks more like a gaudy earring, and trying to get me to dance with him.” Asami grinned, easily picturing the scene in her head.

“Finally, after he stepped on my toes by mistake for the third time, I told him that if he didn’t leave me alone, I was going to take his precious fucking brooch and shove it where the sun don’t shine.”

Asami looked at Korra for a long moment and said nothing. Then the two girls burst out laughing simultaneously. They laughed until they were practically crying, ignoring the annoyed glances from nearby tables.

“I wish I could have seen his face,” Asami coughed out through her laughter.

Korra wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Oh, it was priceless. He looked like he was about to wet his pants! Which, based on his tolerance for alcohol, might not have been so far from the truth,” Korra said thoughtfully.

“I met him once before,” Asami said. “At some Corporation party. He hit on me all night, despite my obvious disinterest. If I’m being honest though…” Asami looked around to make sure no one was listening, and leaned in closer to Korra. She was close enough that she could smell the slight, sweet hint of rosé on the other girl’s breath. Korra was slightly flushed from the alcohol, and maybe (Asami hoped) from their close proximity to each other. “I have a strong hunch that his preferences tend more towards someone like…like Mako.”

Korra leaned back (to Asami’s dismay) and snorted. “What? Brooding, aloof, and too serious for his own good?

“No.” Asami smirked. Male.”

Korra sat and mulled that bombshell over for a moment. Then, with a sly smile, she said,

“Maybe that’s why he likes that earring so much.”

After trying and failing to stifle her giggles, Asami cracked up. Korra also couldn’t contain her mirth, and the two practically fell out of the banquette they were laughing so hard. After laughing for a good two minutes at the good prince’s expense, Asami took off her glasses and wiped her eyes, and Korra caught her breath.

“Seriously, that makes so much sense,” she said. “I don’t know how I didn’t see it before. He’s the perfect example of classic overcompensation.” Her face turned slightly more serious.

“Not that I’m judging, or have any issue with it.” She gestured emphatically to herself with both hands. “Obviously.”

Asami nodded in agreement. “Absolutely.”

The two sat in silence for a moment, just basking in the other’s company. Korra sighed and smiled at Asami. “This is nice.”

Asami smiled back. “Yeah, it is.”

Korra looked down at her lap. “I’ve never really had a girlfriend to hang out with and talk to before.”

At that, Asami raised one eyebrow and gave her date a very skeptical look. She could see the blush sneaking up Korra’s neck, and she looked like she desperately wished she could take back that sentence.

“I mean, I’ve had girlfriends, before, of course.”

Asami nodded and with a mocking tone echoing Korra’s from earlier in the meal, agreed. “Of course.”

Korra crossed her arms and pouted, which, on the normally tough girl’s face, was the cutest thing Asami had ever seen. “Don’t tease me.”

The violinist chuckled and held her hands up in apology. “Sorry, sorry, please continue.”

“Anyway,” Korra said loudly to Asami, who showed she was now earnestly listening, “I’ve had girlfriends, but no close friends who were girls. I had kind of a sheltered upbringing. My parents were pretty protective. I was homeschooled and tutored, and whenever I did get a chance to play with other kids, I always gravitated towards the boys.”

She smirked. “Sort of ironic, if you think about how I ended up.” That caused Asami to laugh.

“Girls in the Southern Water Tribe are just too…boring. Most of them only want to become healers and find strong husbands to have a bunch of kids with. They wouldn’t even go penguin sledding with me!” She said that last part like not wanting to race down an icy mountain at dangerous speeds on a wild animal was completely unimaginable to her.

“I got a bit more freedom as a teenager, but I still tended to befriend boys. And while guys, like Mako and Bolin, are great and all, there are some things that it’s just easier to talk to a girl about. Things they wouldn’t understand.”

Asami gently smiled at Korra. “I know what you mean. I didn’t get out too much, either. Being the child of the President of one of the planet’s largest companies tends to isolate you from other people. My father even had me accompanied by bodyguards until I was eighteen. Not that he dismissed them willingly.”

Now it was Korra’s turn to look curious.

“I was so fed up with the lack of privacy and general over-protectiveness that I decided to prove to my father I could take care of myself.” She paused and looked a little bashful. “By…knocking out all three guards at once in front of him.”

Korra stared at her in disbelief. Asami tucked her hair behind her ear, but looked up defiantly.

“What? Didn’t think this delicate flower had it in her? I’ll have you know I’ve been training in mixed martial arts since I was five. Again, the result of having an over-protective father.”

Korra just looked impressed. “Damn, you’re really full of surprises today. Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

“I don’t think you possibly could,” Asami flirted shamelessly, and she greatly enjoyed seeing how flustered it made Korra. The wine and intoxicating effect of Korra’s presence were making her bold. She grabbed Korra’s hand from where it was resting on the table and gave it a squeeze.

“And for what it’s worth, I would have gone penguin sledding with you.”

Korra squeezed Asami’s hand back. “I would have liked that. If only there had been beautiful, talented, motorcycle-riding, ass-kicking girls like you back home. I probably would have never left.”

Asami’s heart jumped a little at hearing herself described in such a flattering way. She looked into Korra’s bright blue eyes. “Well then, I’m glad there weren’t.”

They continued to stare at each other as Korra caressed the back of Asami’s hand with her thumb. They had slowly drifted closer together as they talked, and now there was only about six inches of banquette separating them. Just as Asami was beginning to think of leaning in, their waiter reappeared out of nowhere to collect their empty plates, startling them out of their reverie. They both jumped back a little bit, but their hands remained interlocked.

“Would Miss Sato and her guest be interested in dessert?” he asked, professionally ignoring their clasped hands and flushed faces.

Asami looked at Korra and they silently communicated with one another. After a second Asami turned back to the waiter.

“Thanks, but we’re both too full. The meal was excellent. Please give my compliments to the chef. You can charge the bill to my family’s account.”

The waiter nodded curtly and returned to the kitchen, expertly balancing multiple dirty dishes on each arm. Once he was out of earshot, Asami looked back at Korra. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Sounds good to me.”

They both threw back what little liquid remained in their wine glasses. Their hands separated as they got up from the table and headed towards the door. The host and other waiters bowed to them as they left, thanking them for dining with them and hoping they’d return soon. Asami answered simply with a familiar wave.

Korra shook her head once they were outside. The midday sun was beating down on them, and Korra pulled her hat out of her shorts pocket and put it back on. “I don’t think I’d ever get used to that.”

“You will.”

Korra turned to look at Asami, a question in her eyes.

“Would. Will. Whatever!” Asami exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. Maybe I shouldn’t have had that last glass.

Korra laughed. “I guess I shouldn’t have joked about Wu the lightweight,” she joked, lightly elbowing Asami in the side. But then she hiccuped. Once. Twice. Three times. Asami laughed at her as it developed into a full-blown hiccup attack.

“So remind me, who’s the lightweight?”

Korra pouted again. Asami decided it was her new favorite expression. “Stuff it- hic- Sato,” she grumped. “It’s not- hic- funny.”

“Whatever you say, princess,” Asami replied.

Korra huffed, but she couldn’t hide the smile that snuck onto her face. They walked in an easy silence, occasionally punctuated by Korra’s hiccups. Once they died down, Korra grabbed Asami’s hand and started pulling her in one direction.

“Wait, where are we going?” Asami asked.

Korra turned around to her and smirked.

“Now it’s my turn to take you somewhere.”