Chapter Text
“Fuck, damn!” Korra exclaimed as she stretched her back, a symphony of cracks and pops echoing from her spine. She wiped her brow with the hem of her shirt, only to realize it was soaked with sweat. She let out a frustrated sigh, her breath forming a small cloud in the cooling evening air. The sun had finally dipped below the horizon, marking the end of her grueling twelve-hour shift at the construction site.
After exchanging goodbyes with her coworkers, Korra trudged toward their makeshift shack. She could feel the dirt and grime of the day clinging to her skin, the exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders. As she gathered her things, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. It was the weekend, and that meant she could finally see Asami. She opened her wallet and looked at Asami’s picture, her heart swelling with affection. The photo, taken during their graduation, showed Asami’s radiant smile that never failed to lift Korra’s spirits.
They had been together for five years now, their journey beginning as an unexpected friendship in college. Korra remembered the first time she saw Asami in History class, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of her confident smile and piercing green eyes. The professor behind her urged her to enter the room, and so she did, but in her haste, her clumsy feet got caught up in something and she crashed to the floor. Everybody looked at her, but Asami was the only one who helped her up. From then, their friendship blossomed.
They had spent countless hours studying together, their bond growing stronger with each shared laugh and late-night conversation and coffee. It wasn’t until graduation that Korra found the courage to confess her feelings. She had fidgeted nervously, her palms sweaty, as she asked Asami out on a date. To her immense relief, Asami had said yes, her smile brighter than ever. That was the start of their beautiful relationship, one that had blossomed into a deep, unwavering love.
Now, as Korra picked up her belongings, she thought about their upcoming wedding. It would be a simple civil ceremony, and the engagement ring she had given Asami was made from paper. Still, Asami had accepted it with a heartfelt smile and a passionate kiss. Despite the happiness, a pang of guilt lingered in Korra’s chest.
The guilt stemmed from the time when Hiroshi, Asami’s father, found out about their relationship. Korra came from a poor family, an orphan with no family wealth to boast of, and she was attending college on a scholarship. When Hiroshi found out, he disowned Asami, locking her out of everything, even her savings account, and smearing Korra’s name to ensure no company would hire her. He told them she was a criminal who had defrauded others. Now, no one would hire Korra after she graduated, and she felt guilty for stripping Asami of her birthright and her father’s fortune.
Asami had assured her that it was fine. “If Hiroshi doesn’t approve of our relationship, then fuck him,” Asami had said fiercely. “He doesn’t get to control me anymore.”
With her remaining money, Asami had set up a small mechanic shop in the heart of the city, and Korra luckily found work at a construction company. They had been saving up since. Even though Asami assured her everything would be fine and that she loved Korra even more after the fallout with her father, guilt still ate at Korra every day. She hid it from Asami, not wanting to cause her love any worry or, worse, an argument. She carried the burden alone, letting it weigh heavily on her mind while she worked.
But tonight, she pushed those thoughts aside. Tonight, she would go home to Asami, make love to her all night long and that was enough.
—
“Babe, I’m home,” Korra announced, smiling as she kicked off her boots in the tiny apartment. However, her smile faded into a frown when a familiar and unwelcome face greeted her instead. “Hiroshi.”
“Long time no see, Korra,” Asami’s father greeted, sneering with a mix of contempt and disgust.
“What are you doing here? And how did you find our home?” Korra looked around, her heart racing, the warmth of the apartment suddenly feeling stifling. “And where’s Asami?”
Hiroshi’s eyes scanned the small, cluttered living space. It was a modest studio apartment, with the bed pushed against one wall and a small kitchenette crammed into the corner. The walls were adorned with photos of Korra and Asami, smiling together. A makeshift dining table held tools and parts from Asami’s shop, evidence of their shared struggle and determination. Korra’s throat closed as she saw Hiroshi’s gaze linger on these personal touches, a sneer twisting his lips.
“This disgusting hole is what you call home? Pathetic. I always knew you’d be good for nothing for my daughter. Asami is better off without you.” His words cut deep, and Korra winced. She couldn’t help but feel the sting of truth in his words. Until now, she still didn’t understand why Asami chose to be with her. She felt the weight of her insecurities pressing down on her: the orphan with no family wealth, no impressive career, just a scholarship student who could barely make ends meet. “And don’t bother looking for Asami,” Hiroshi added, his smirk widening. “I made sure she’s kept busy at the shop. She won’t be home anytime soon.”
What did he mean by “kept busy”? What did he do? Korra swore that if Hiroshi had hurt her fiancée, she’d make his accusation of her being a criminal come true! When she didn’t respond fast enough, Hiroshi stepped forward, towering over her. Korra’s instinct was to cower, to back away, but her feet felt rooted to the spot, refusing to move.
“When I disowned Asami, I thought I was teaching her a lesson,” Hiroshi continued, his voice cold and unforgiving. “That being with you would get her nowhere. I was right. Do you know how driven she is? She loved being an engineer, being a pioneer in the industry. Future Industries is where she’s supposed to be, not a small mechanic shop that nobody even goes to.” His smirk was malevolent, his eyes glinting with a cruel satisfaction.
Korra gasped. She wanted to retort, “Yes. I know all of that! But Asami still chose to be with me! And that’s why we’re working toward a better future!” But fear struck her first. How did Hiroshi know where Asami had set up her shop? They had taken every precaution to keep their whereabouts hidden, yet now he stood in their home, his knowledge of their lives unsettlingly precise.
“But after five years, and she still hasn’t come running home, and now engaged to you...” He said the word with such disdain it felt like a physical blow. “It makes me think you have manipulated her to be with you in the first place.”
No! She did not. Korra had nothing but love for Asami. Her mind raced, flashes of her life with Asami flickering before her eyes. Asami’s laughter, their late-night talks, the gentle way Asami would hold her hand, the unwavering support she had always given. The doubt Hiroshi planted gnawed at her, but she clung to the memories, trying to find strength in them.
Hiroshi’s presence loomed larger, his sneer more pronounced. The walls of their tiny apartment seemed to close in, the air thick with tension and unspoken fears. Korra’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of anxiety and determination. She couldn’t let him see how much his words affected her, how deeply her insecurities ran. She needed to find her voice, to stand up not just for herself, but for Asami.
But before Korra could retort, before she could defend herself, Hiroshi reached for a briefcase sitting on top of the table. It looked like it was worth more than Korra’s one-year salary. He opened the latches with a soft click, the sound sharp in the tense silence. Korra gasped as he took out two bundles of money, the crisp bills neatly stacked.
“I have a proposal, Korra. One million yuans in exchange for breaking it off with Asami.”
“What?!” Korra’s eyes widened, her face paling as if the blood had drained away. Her body went rigid, a cold chill running down her spine. She felt a sickening lurch in her stomach as if the floor had dropped out from under her.
“You heard me, Korra. Or, do you want more? Two million? Three? I can give it to you.” Hiroshi’s tone was nonchalant, almost bored as if he were discussing the weather.
Korra snapped her head toward Hiroshi upon hearing his ridiculous proposal. What did he think of her? Some toy he could buy with money? Her body trembled with anger and disbelief, her fists clenching at her sides, knuckles white. “How dare you—”
“Ten million yuans,” Hiroshi interrupted smoothly, placing the whole briefcase in front of her as he looked down at her with disdain. “Break the engagement, pack up your things, never talk to my daughter ever again, and finally set up the community center you’ve always dreamed of. Imagine it, Korra: a place where underprivileged kids can find mentorship, where struggling families can get the support they need. You can finally help the people you’ve always wanted to help and not be stuck as merely a construction worker.”
Korra’s breath caught in her throat. The room seemed to close in around her, the walls pressing in. She could see the briefcase, the money, the temptation of a future where she could fulfill her dreams. Her mind raced with images of a bustling center, children laughing, families finding solace and support, her lifelong ambition realized. With that amount of money, she could build it all and more.
She looked at the money again. It was calling out to her. Her heart pounded in her chest, torn between the allure of a dream within reach and the reality of the love she had fought so hard to protect. The bile rose in her throat as she stared at Hiroshi, his smirk widening, confident in his offer.
But then, she saw Asami’s face in her mind, her radiant smile, the passion she had for innovation and engineering. Korra could envision Asami thriving without her, leading Future Industries with the brilliance and drive that had always defined her. She could picture Asami at the helm of the company, pioneering new technologies, making a mark on the industry. Asami would be free to pursue what she loved so much, unburdened by the struggles of their current life.
Hiroshi was right. Asami was better off without her, free to reclaim her rightful place and achieve the greatness she was destined for. Korra’s heart ached with the thought, but she knew it was the truth. She had to let Asami go, for her own good. Surely, Asami would understand.
With that, Korra’s heart hardened, the decision crystallizing in her mind. She clenched her fists once more, this time to steady herself, and looked Hiroshi squarely in the eye.
“We have a deal.”