Chapter Text
Rays of delicate sun poked through the clouds over Republic City, shining down and giving a new light to the streets below. Leaves floated past in the gentle breeze, while spirits and children alike played peacefully in the park. Blue jays and doves settled in on lampposts, performing a harmonious song for any who were lucky enough to listen in. The chatter of passing citizens only aided this natural melody. Though the city had not known peace for quite some time, it had finally returned to a state of tranquility… For now, at least. And none could be sure of how long that might last.
Never one to let an opportunity pass her by, Avatar Korra found this to be a perfect chance to set out and truly see the city. Through the years she spent recovering in secret, many parts of it had evolved in one way or another, leaving much to be discovered. It would be a perfect chance to take some time to herself… However, on this particular day, she had brought along some atypical company. Asami was swamped with paperwork regarding Future Industries, Mako had police work to take care of (as usual), and Bolin… Well, she truthfully had no clue what he was getting up to, but he was nowhere to be found that morning. There was one guest who was fully willing to tag along, though: Pema.
The two women fully understood that there was no rush involved in their day out together. Neither had some great goal in mind, some final destination for a tour of the city; they both simply wanted to see the sights, so to speak. The new metropolitan area, one that had seen hasty development after former president Raiko’s plan to expand the city, happened to be quite a fascinating stopping point for the two of them. In particular, a small bookstore had captured Pema’s attention. Seeing no harm in a visit, Korra approached the door, holding it open for Pema and following inside shortly thereafter.
Immediately, a rather melodic voice called out to the two of them, one hidden behind a rather tall stack of books. The small bell attached to the door was a clear signal that there were new guests, prompting her to call out, “Hello and welcome! Please, make yourselves at home, and let me know if you need help finding anything.” The bookstore was in a rather interesting condition. The building itself seemed rather cozy, and while there wasn’t much in the way of furniture or decoration just yet, it still radiated an inviting aura. However, one staple seemed to be a bit lacking: books. Many of the shelves were only filled halfway, with large gaps separating books wherever anyone looked… though, considering the stack of books placed upon the checkout counter, there was likely a reason for that.
“Apologies if the titles on the shelves are a bit, ah… sparse,” the shopkeeper naturally continued, starting to load up a small cart with various books as she spoke. It seemed as though she was the only one there to take care of such a task, and while that chipper tone of hers felt awfully forced, she never did stop herself for a break. “After having to relocate, most of the focus was on the actual architecture of the store itself. Not once did I stop and think “Ayako, maybe you should put the books on the shelves before opening your doors”, but I suppose that’s just something I’ll have to live with,” she mused, only slowing her stocking process when she caught a glimpse of her guests through the empty shelf.
It was a surprise to nobody that the next thing out of Ayako’s mouth was a soft gasp. After all, nobody casually expects a mid-afternoon visit from not only the Avatar, but also the wife of someone as well-known and respected as Tenzin. “A-Avatar Korra…! I-It’s an honor to have you here… Oh my, now I’m doubly sorry that I couldn’t stock up any sooner,” she rambled, abandoning her cart for a moment to circle around and actually meet Korra face to face.
Ayako was a rather lithe woman, dressed in a red blouse and black pants with an unbuttoned maroon overcoat that reached down to her knees. Her blouse had been tucked into her pants, with the slight sparkle of a golden belt buckle only becoming visible when the light shone at the right angles. A pair of circular glasses made her face look rounder than it already was, and her black hair fell back in a single loose braid that stopped just short of her waist. Her soft smile, despite being shaken up slightly by Korra’s presence, still emanated warmth, her golden yellow eyes only aiding in that impression.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Ayako,” Korra responded, nodding her head as a sign of respect; Pema followed suit moments later.
“Oh, and you even know my name?! That’s quite a welcome surprise…!”
“You sort of said it when you were talking to yourself.”
“... O-Oh. Right... Oh! And where are my manners?! You must be Tenzin’s wife Pema. I’ve heard wonderful things about you, and it’s an honor to have you here as well.”
Korra couldn’t help but wonder if there was some greater implication behind that. While she had fully expected herself to be recognized, Pema wasn’t exactly someone with celebrity status. Perhaps Ayako was just rather well-read… which, admittedly, would make the most sense, seeing as she owned a bookstore. As such, she dismissed the idea, moving on to a topic that had briefly crossed her mind. There was something she hoped to find here, in part due to an idea that had come up earlier that day. “Ayako, you said you could help us find anything we’re looking for. Do you have any recipe books available? I’m looking for something I can hopefully make for a dinner date… but I’ve never exactly had to be the one cooking, so I might need some help.”
That seemed to be all Ayako needed to snap herself out of the “Holy Shit That’s The Avatar” trance. She quickly reverted to her customer service mode, running through a mental catalogue and trying to determine where such a book might be found. “Typically something like that would be in the 660 range of the nonfiction section, which would be right over… there,” Ayako began, pointing at a nearby bookshelf that seemed to be mostly empty. “However! I don’t know how much luck you’ll have there, so I’ll look through the backlog of books that have yet to be shelved.” She swiftly turned around, moving back to her desk without a sound and leaving Pema and Korra alone for a moment.
“Say, Korra,” Pema began, hoping to capitalize on the silence for a moment. “When you get that recipe book, would you mind if I borrowed it for a short while? Tenzin and I have our anniversary coming up in a week, and I’m hoping I can treat him to something special.”
“Oh, sure! I don’t think I’ll be in a rush to use it soon anyways. With all the work Asami is doing with Future Industries, it’s not like we can just stop everything and have a date tomorrow,” Korra responded, prompting a light chuckle from both of them.
A surprisingly short amount of time had passed before Ayako rose from behind the mountain of books once more. If the glow in her eyes and her optimistic smile were any indication, this had been a success; the books in her hand solidified that idea. Offering them both to Korra, the bookstore owner quickly explained, “The one on top is a much more diverse recipe book, having plenty of recipes from all nations; however, the one below it focuses on more high-class dishes, the sorts of things you might find in the upper ring of Ba Sing Se. I’ll leave it up to you whether you’d like to purchase just one or both, but either way, I will be applying a fifty percent Avatar Discount to your purchase.” That had been invented on the spot.
“Really? Thanks! Bit of a niche discount, but I won’t complain,” Korra answered, deciding that both books would probably be of interest to her. The first book might be helpful for improving her skills in general, with the second being more geared towards fancy occasions like date nights or anniversaries. It most likely would go straight to Pema once they returned to Air Temple Island, but with the Avatar Discount being factored in, there was no reason it shouldn’t be applied to her order.
Meanwhile, Pema was beginning to connect a few dots. Ayako had never expected to have Korra visit her bookstore, if her initial reaction to the duo had been any indication. And yet, in spite of that, she still had a discount in the case of that very situation? For someone whose shelves weren’t even fully stocked, she certainly had some interesting business practices. She said nothing for now, just chuckling at the idea of this on-the-spot discount… though her mind began to wander. If her knowledge of those books meant anything, she was most likely at least an average cook. Even if not, that kind aura, sharp wit, and apparent sense of humor from Ayako would be wonderful to have on Air Temple Island for at least a short while.
Though she was distracted for a moment by that chuckle from Pema, Ayako quickly set herself back on track, accepting the two books back temporarily from the other side of the checkout counter. Counting out their worth, then taking away half for this spontaneous discount, she happily announced, “That will be eight yuans for the two books!” While it wasn’t as much as she normally might make, business was business. Not to mention, customers could come in and purchase a book any other day; the Avatar wasn’t exactly a frequent shopper.
Korra initially moved to pay, though before she could get out the appropriate amount of yuans, Pema stepped in, setting the total down on the counter. The two shared a nonverbal exchange through their glances, one where Korra’s confusion was quickly remedied, and Pema then turned to face the shopkeeper. “I’ll be covering the cost for this. And, Ayako, if you want… How would you like to come by Air Temple Island this weekend, to help me prepare an anniversary dinner for Tenzin? I could use a bit of extra help.”
It’s shameful that nobody caught her reaction on footage, as it’s not that often that you see a firebender completely freeze. The offer had startled her quite a bit, and while part of her was screaming not to accept and to just keep working the shop through the weekend, she was truly tempted. It wasn’t often that she had reason to visit different people, what with her busy schedule mostly prohibiting her from making any friends. This opportunity would change that. “I’d love to help you with that!” Ayako happily answered, placing the yuans in her money collection bag. “I’ve yet to mention it, but I’m a firebender, so I could definitely give some assistance.” Of course, so was Korra, but as the Avatar, she was bound to be busy.
“Oh, that’s great! I’ll book a ticket on the ferry for you, for… Would two in the afternoon work for you? It should be enough time for you to reach Air Temple Island and relax a bit before we have to start on anything,” Pema offered, hoping that their time spent together could help them get to know each other to some greater extent. This brief first encounter at the bookstore worked as a nice foundation, though it would be worthless if she didn’t attempt to build upon it. Friendships couldn’t be forged in an instant; she was well aware that it might take some time. Not to mention, the children needed to be taken into account. Jinora would likely mind her own business after a simple greeting, though Meelo and Ikki might be somewhat curious about their new guest.
“That sounds perfect, Pema… Though there’s really no reason for you to book the ticket for me. I can handle that part myself,” Ayako assured her, her soft smile turning more firm for just a moment. As much as Pema’s company was a light in the dark for her, something about having such a favor done for her was cause for hesitation. She hardly had to worry about covering the cost, anyways, so she figured it might just be best to handle it during her down time. Still, though, the offer was at least very sweet.
“Oh, alright. Just thought I’d offer.” Pema lightly shrugged her shoulders, taking the two books off the counter and tucking them under one arm. She shot a sideways glance at Korra, silently asking if she was ready to leave or if she had more to look for; the Avatar shook her head lightly in response, turning back to Ayako with an affirmative smile on her face.
“Thanks again for the help, Ayako! I’ll probably see you on Air Temple Island this Saturday, but if I don’t, I’ll definitely stop by here again sometimes,” Korra informed her, figuring it would be foolish if she went without ever using that Avatar Discount a second time. Even without that taken into account, the bookstore held quite a comfortable aura to it, making it ideal for future visits. Plus, conversations with Ayako would always be a positive part of the experience now that their initial impressions had gone so smoothly.
“It would be an honor to have you back for another visit, Avatar Korra. I won’t hold you two up any longer now; I’m sure you’ve got a lot more of Republic City to see. But it’s been wonderful getting to know the both of you!” Ayako gave a slight bow out of respect, one that was soon reciprocated by Korra and Pema, and the three parted ways for the day. There was one last wave from Ayako as the two left her bookstore, accompanied by a hopeful grin; helping customers always left her overjoyed, but this stuck out more than usual. It had evolved beyond a simple transaction, now giving her the chance to make some friends.
Once the two women returned to the streets of Republic City, it became clear that their day was approaching its natural end. The sun hadn’t yet begun to set, though activity around the city had thinned out ever so slightly; people were returning home, and that meant it was a good time for them to do the same. As they drew closer to the docks, though, Korra found herself ruminating on their earlier encounter with Ayako. By all accounts, it was a normal conversation. However, something about it felt different… Pema seemed more hospitable than normal. That was hardly a problem, though it had piqued Korra’s interest, and it was worth finding an answer. “Y’know, Pema, I’m honestly a bit curious. Is there any big reason you invited Ayako to Air Temple Island? I’ve had your cooking enough to know that you don’t exactly need help,” she remarked, flashing a smile at her own joke.
Pema couldn’t help but find herself smiling at it as well. Korra did have a point there; her reasons for extending that invitation truly had nothing to do with preparing dinner. It extended past that, dipping into her ability to read a person from that first impression. The candor with which Ayako spoke, her swift and silent movements… It all added together to form a hint of an idea in Pema’s mind. “Well, I just… I can’t help but think she must get lonely, working at the bookstore without even having any other employees to help. Inviting her over to help make dinner just felt like it would be a nice excuse for her to get out and make a friend for once… Plus, it’s just nice to have more people my age. I know you and the rest of your team are adults now, but there’s still a pretty big difference.”
As they boarded their ferry back to Air Temple Island, Korra and Pema both glanced back towards Republic City with smiles plastered onto their faces. Today’s break had been a much-needed breath of fresh air for the both of them, though their return home felt just as satisfying as ever. One small detail had been different, however. While sitting aboard the ferry, Pema found herself turning back towards the city they were leaving behind, giving a subtle wave across Yue Bay in the absurd hope that Ayako might see it and return the favor.