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New York - Present day
Buying the smart fully automated coffee machine that would timely brew her favorite beverage right after she would turn on the lights in her bedroom was the best investment of a paycheck Korra ever made.
She still wasn’t used to having enough money on the bank to actually acquire such exaggerated luxuries, but the more she indulged in her growing fame as a professional lightweight boxer, the less she actually cared. She could get used to the benefits her new life brought to her.
She stretched, and grabbed her phone from her nightstand with half-lidded eyes, wandering to her kitchen to claim her prize. She had placed her favorite mug with a rainbow colored unicorn under the coffee spout the night before, which was now filled with the best coffee she ever tasted in her life.
Korra inhaled deeply. The special blend of Madagascar beans was definitely worth every coin. While she waited for the drink to cool down to a drinkable temperature, she switched on her phone and lazily scrolled through her social media apps.
Asami Sato split with her boyfriend after 6 months
And then another.
Sato’s single again
Asami Sato: Who's gonna be the next heart to break?
The damn algorithm. Why was her news feed being flooded with those stories? She clicked on some of the links, mostly yellow press, skim-reading the items and every now and then pausing to look at the largely favorable pictures of the woman.
It seemed like Asami Sato’s ex was already bitching about her in various interviews, but unlucky for him her fans had started a counter campaign pretty quickly, that resulted in a lot more bad press about him and a damaged image. Serves him right.
Korra closed the app with a sigh. She had definitely consumed too much of Asami Sato’s social media in the past. The algorithm clearly had identified the race-car driver’s online presence as one of her main interests. Only because of the cars of course. Not because of the slender and tall woman with raven black hair, gorgeous green eyes and curves that looked absolutely stunning in her red racing suit. Leaning against a dark gray matte wrapped Mustang GT.
Yep, it’s definitely the cars.
Before she could even lay down her phone, a call came in and Korra nearly dropped it in surprise. It was her agent.
“Korra, I hope you’re ready for tonight. Do you have your suit?” The guy asked.
“Yep, I got it.”
“Okay, your makeup artist will be at your place at 5 p.m., you’ll be expected at the red carpet at 7 p.m.”
“Alright.”
Her agent sighed at her lack of enthusiasm. “Meet you there.”
“See ya.”
Korra went to her wardrobe to hang out the brand new suit her agent had bought her for tonight. It would be the biggest charity event for sportspeople this year, aiming to raise funds for public sports facilities. And it would be a unique opportunity to get some attention for athletic, equestrian and motorsports
Nine hours later, Korra stepped out of the car and into flashing lights, squinting. How did other celebrities get used to this?
She walked along the red carpet dutifully, letting the press take their photos. Her suit seemed to be to their liking. It was a silky dark blue slim fit, a matching vest combined with a white button down, white tie and plain white dress shoes. Her hair was in a half bun and she had a little makeup on. At least it was supposed to look like that, after getting her face painted for an hour and a half.
Luckily, her image allowed her to keep a stern expression or a small smirk, unlike many other women around her, faking their best smiles, showing off their plain white teeth.
Just like the beauty who stepped on the red carpet only two cars after Korra.
The first thing she saw was a leg, creamy white, long and smooth. It peaked out of a long dark green velvet dress. The woman it belonged to elegantly stepped out of the car with the help of a bodyguard. The dress was floor-length with a little bit of train and a high slit to the right. Her slender shoulders were bare, the off-shoulder gown gently hugging her impressive figure. Her black hair fell in long twenties style waves down her right shoulder.
There was no doubt. Asami Sato was an outstanding beauty. And even though she was a dreadful and ruthless opponent on the NASCAR racing tracks, on the red carpet she floated like a goddess.
Korra had to use all her willpower to drag away her gaze from the other woman and walk up to the main entrance of the museum where her agent waited.
The foyer was the biggest room of the whole museum, at least in regard to the number of people that could fit in there. There might have been bigger rooms considering the sheer expanse, but due to the exhibits on display, there was less space to stand around. That’s what made the foyer the main room for the charity event.
Korra walked through the people standing around the place in smaller or larger groups. Waiters wended between the guests, carrying trays packed with a large variety of mostly undefinable small dishes which Korra had learned to call “amuse-bouche”. She grabbed the first thing that came into her range, as well as a glass of champagne, and made her way out of the foyer into one of the smaller exhibition rooms.
She strolled around until she finally felt she had escaped the masses in the room with the exhibition of Ancient Egypt. In the middle of the biggest wall was a large high resolution photograph of the Pyramids of Giza that instantly caught her eye.
Korra allowed herself to take a deep breath before she devoured her nibble in one bite, and washed it down with a big gulp of her champagne.
“Did you know those pyramids are right outside of Cairo?”
Korra turned her head into the direction of the melodic female voice only to be met with piercing light green eyes, curiously scanning her face. There she stood, no one other than the gorgeous NASCAR Cup championship winner of the last two years, faintly smiling at Korra.
Korra felt herself blush a little. She took another sip from her champagne. “Ehm, yeah, I actually saw a documentary about that. Pretty impressive, but never been there myself.”
Asami Sato’s eyes lit up and she smiled even wider. “Me neither, it has been on my bucket list for a while.” She turned her head to face the picture and so did Korra.
They looked at it for some time, not speaking a single word, only listening to the others' steady breath and the faint background noises around them.
“I… read about your break up. Sorry ‘bout that.” Korra said the only thing that came into her mind.
Asami took a deep breath. “I had a nice time, but it wasn’t meant to be. I’m not… the best at keeping long term relationships, but I can’t help myself to try it over and over again.” She chuckled a little.
“You’re a romantic, huh?” Korra’s voice was more tender than she had intended.
Asami turned her head and looked at the other woman’s profile. “I’ve always been. As long as there is someone with the same intention.”
“I see.” Korra’s neck prickled as she felt Asami’s gaze at her.
Korra turned around completely and returned the intense gaze. She couldn’t help but smirk and let her eyes travel along Asami’s face and neck, until she found her eyes again. A challenge was vibrating in the air between the two women.
Never would she have expected to find herself in this situation. Now that she stood face to face with Asami Sato she couldn’t deny she had a massive crush on her. Even though the taller woman had quite the reputation as being a heartbreaker, some may say a serial-monogamist, but Korra had never cared much about the opinion of others.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I get the feeling you are already over your ex.” Korra tilted her head.
“Well, the public might have been informed about my change in relationship status only recently, but I assure you, it was over for weeks. We simply decided to keep it private until the time was right.” Asami shrugged.
“For publicity reasons?” Korra asked, knowing very well by now how those things were being handled in these circles.
“Partly, but also for personal reasons. But it doesn’t matter much. It’s over, simple as it is.”
“He hasn’t been very kind to you in the aftermath.”
“I haven’t expected anything else, that’s the usual procedure after celebrity break-ups. I’m through with it.” Asami shook her head, moving her eyes back to the photograph of the ancient structures.
“Sorry , I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”
“No, I actually prefer it this way instead of everybody whispering behind my back. That was the main reason I fled from the party in the first place.” She smiled briefly at Korra and then looked at the almost empty champagne glass in the shorter woman’s hand. “But I must admit I really need a drink and maybe a snack.”
Korra held out her hand. “In that case, do you want to return to the foyer, grab some fresh drinks and a tray of those delicious amuse-bouche? I’m sure we can find another quiet corner in this massive building where we can hide from the crowd.”
Asami looked at her hand for a moment before she took the offer. “Are you sure about that? Being seen with me in that way…” She gestured to their connection. “... will surely give you some attention, positive and negative.”
Korra smirked and grabbed her hand even more confidently, placed a tender kiss on the back of Asami’s hand and said. “I’ve never given much about the opinion of others, nor will I miss out on spending time with you.”
An hour later they were comfortably sitting on a worn cushioned bench, this time in front of a huge stuffed giraffe that clearly had stood there for decades, the color of its fur almost faded.
When they first had sat down they’d kept some distance by placing the tray in between, but now the nibbles were forgotten, the tray discarded somewhere on the floor nearby.
Korra and Asami sat close, shoulder to shoulder, leaning into one another, their conversation a bare whisper.
“There is something I thought about this past hour…” Asami said after a pause, trailing her forefinger along the rim of her champagne flute.
Korra leaned back on the arm opposite to Asami, curiosity clear in her face. “What is it?”
“Well, we both stated we hadn’t seen the Pyramids of Giza, yet, but we would both be willing to do so one day.” Green eyes met blue.
“And? What are you suggesting?” Korra raised an eyebrow, sensing what the other woman was up to, but she wanted to hear it.
“I’m free next week for ten days in total. If you are available and willing, would you like to go on a little trip with me?”
Korra smirked. “If I get you right I would hardly consider a… what, ten to twelve hours?... flight over the Atlantic Ocean, not counting the transits of course, a little trip.” When she saw Asami’s gaze drop she quickly added. “But it seems I am free and it’s been some time since I had a vacation, so… why not?”
Asami gave her the warmest smile and it made Korra’s heart flutter in anticipation.
“Is it… okay if I organize everything? I even have some miles on my card.” The taller woman asked while absentmindedly trailing her fingertips along the seam of Korra’s sleeve.
Korra closed her eyes for a brief moment, relaxing into the touch. “I don’t mind… just send me the details and I’ll be meeting you at the airport.”
Cairo - 1 week later
The white dusty luxury SUV stopped at the main parking lot right in front of the largest structure, the Great Pyramid of Gizeh. The driver walked around the car and opened the door of the back seat. Korra instantly hopped out of the vehicle.
She wore a black short sleeved button down, tucked into cream colored linen pants. Dirty brown Vans, a white snapback and large sunglasses added to the admittedly typical tourist outfit. She held out her hand to assist Asami at stepping out of the car. The taller woman wore an almost floor-length light blue dress with colorful ornaments around the tight cut waist. To protect her fair skin from the sun she wore a large straw sun hat with sunglasses that were even larger than Korra’s. Around her shoulders she held a large transparent white silk scarf.
“Pick us up again in two hours.” Korra handed the driver a generous tip that would assure he would be there at exactly the minute they’d requested.
Asami leaned into her side, hooked their arms and they strolled into the direction of the main attraction, taking their time to let their gaze wander along the impressive ancient monuments.
The sun luckily didn’t burn that much at this time of the year, but still they tried to find some shadow every now and then.
“This is impressive! No photograph could ever come near to actually being here, seeing those wonders.” Asami was in complete awe. Korra hummed in approval, but her gaze was fixed on the taller woman instead of the monuments.
“I could get used to this, you know. To us.” Korra squeezed Asami’s hand that was entangled with hers at the moment.
“Mhm… yeah me, too.” Asami leaned her head on Korra’s shoulder.
“So what do you think? Could this… we last?” Korra asked in a playful tone, knowing very well that it was a little early in their relationship for those thoughts.
Asami stopped her steps, turning the smaller woman to face her with their joined hands. “This is always my goal, no matter what anyone says. I want it to last forever, but no one can tell if it won't go down in flames beforehand. So if you're willing to share this risk, I’m in for it.”
Korra laid her free hand on Asami’s cheek and then her neck, guiding the taller woman to meet her in the middle and gave her a gentle but affirmative kiss.
“Well, I could never not take this chance. And if this shouldn’t last, I have no doubt no matter how it all goes down, no matter how much the pain, it will have been worth it.” Korra gave her another peck on smiling lips and continued to guide her around the place, both wearing a smile.