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Disclaimer: This work of fan fiction is not for personal profit. All the characters used in this fan fic are the property of Nickelodeon and/or other designated copyright and/or trademark holders.
Summary: Korra’s just gotten off shift from her hotel, and she’s missed her bus. Asami’s about to head downtown, but forgot her umbrella.
[Eventual Korra/Asami femslash]
The rain pelted down, rattling Korra’s umbrella as she looked up and down the dark street. She shuffled her feet and wondered when the godforsaken bus would get there.
She looked at her watch.
6:00:35.
36.
37.
Only a minute had passed since the last time she’d impatiently checked her watch, and she’d been standing alone at the bus stop for a good twenty minutes already.
“Fuck!” Korra swore through gritted teeth. “Why’d Jenna have to be late for her shift?!”
The swish of a car passing by did little to relieve the monotony as its headlights briefly illuminated the road, then returned to darkness, leaving only the dull red taillights receding in the distance.
Korra switched the umbrella from her right hand to her left, shoving her freezing right hand into her coat pocket as she did so. She could already feel her hand warming up a bit, she thought.
The banging of the hotel door behind her drew her attention. Korra noticed a woman about her age standing under the awning, clutching her purse to herself. She was tall and had luxuriant black hair that went down past her shoulders. Under the small awning’s light, added to the light through the hotel’s windows, she could see that the woman was wearing a small black coat with purple lapels, over top of a purple suit jacket and smart-looking black pants, which ended in expensive-looking black boots.
The woman looked vaguely familiar, but Korra couldn’t quite place her; she shrugged and turned back to look up and down the road again in the vain hope that the bus would materialize.
When Korra realized she didn’t hear the sharp clicks that would have meant the woman was walking somewhere, she looked back, noticing the woman eyeing the small awning and clearly realizing that in trying to keep out of the rain, she was blocking the hotel doorway. Korra said, “Hey!”
The woman jumped, startled, and her eyes fastened on Korra. She smiled hesitantly. “Hi.”
Korra beckoned. “Need an umbrella?”
After a few seconds to nerve herself up, the purple-suited woman dashed through the rain and got under Korra’s umbrella. She gasped, “Thanks!”
Korra smiled. “No sweat. This umbrella’s big enough for two people.”
Korra looked at her watch again. It had just gone past five after six. She growled at the back of her throat, and squinted down the road, as if straining her eyes would make the bus get there any faster.
“What are you waiting for, if you don’t mind me asking? A taxi, or a bus?” the woman asked.
Korra snorted. “A taxi I’d kill for right now. My shift replacement got in like five minutes late and by the time I was done, the bus had already left. And now I’m stuck waiting for the next one which is already late by like five minutes.”
“Sorry to hear that. I called for a cab, myself. I’m hoping it gets here soon.” The woman looked up and down the road, a pensive look on her face.
“Hm.” Korra looked closely at her for a few seconds. The purple-suited woman had a rather attractive face: a strong, sharp jaw, with full lips under a classic nose, and brilliant green eyes under elegantly styled eyebrows. “What’s your name?” Korra wondered.
“Oh! I’m Asami. Asami Sato,” she replied, smiling and holding out her gloved hand.
Korra automatically took her hand out of her pocket and shook hands, saying, “And I’m Korra. Korra Tikaani.”
“I’m sorry; I should’ve taken my glove off,” said Asami as she ended the handshake.
“Don’t be. I bet my hand’s still pretty cold.” Korra frowned. “Excuse me, but… have I seen you before? I’m sorry if that seems a bit impertinent.”
“Maybe. I mean, I’m here on Future Industries business, so you might’ve seen my picture in the newspaper or something,” Asami noted.
“No, it’s… wait, are you staying at that hotel? ‘Cause I work there! I came off shift today.”
Asami snapped her fingers. “I’ve seen you, too! You were the check-in clerk! Remember? I came in this afternoon with all my suitcases, you know, for the penthouse suite.”
Korra smacked her forehead. “Of course, I remember you now! You were wearing something different, though. A blouse and skirt, right?”
Asami nodded. “The forecast said there wouldn’t be rain, so I dressed lightly.” She chuckled ruefully and gestured around them at the rain. “Goes to show how accurate that was!”
Korra grinned. “Yeah. In this city you pretty much have to have an umbrella, just in case. So why this hotel?”
“I purposely picked this hotel because it’s kind of out of the way a bit, with the large park in the back and not being in a high-density area. And I can afford taxicabs.”
“Hm. So the get-up is for whoever you’re meeting?” asked Korra.
“I just want to go downtown and maybe get something to eat, go to a bar or club – who knows?” Asami shrugged. She held her hand out, palm up. “What about you?”
“Straight home for me,” Korra said, not bothering to disguise her relief. “I don’t have another shift for two days and I’m looking forward to every minute of my R&R.”
“That’s a shame,” Asami blurted. Korra frowned, a bit taken aback. Asami made a slight “eep” noise as she ducked her head briefly. Korra thought if she could see Asami better she’d be able to see the other woman’s cheeks flushing in embarrassment.
“I’m sorry; that came out kind of… badly, I guess,” Asami said. “I was just thinking it’d be nice to have someone to say hello to tomorrow before I head out to my big investor meeting.”
Before they could continue, the noise of an engine grew louder, and a yellow taxicab rolled up to a halt at the curb near Korra and Asami. The driver lowered the passenger window and bellowed, “Which one of you is Asami Sato?”
Asami leaned over and waved. “That’s me. One second, please.”
Asami stood up and looked at Korra. She briefly touched Korra’s arm. “I honestly don’t think your bus is coming. It’s probably broken down, and you could be waiting who knows how long for the next one. This is probably forward of me, but can I offer you a ride to wherever you’re going? I promise I can afford the side trip.”
Korra bit her lip, fidgeting as she tried to spot any headlights coming her way. She let out a sigh of resignation. “I guess I’ll have to.” She went around the rear of the car, muttering, “Goddamn, but I hate this weather sometimes.”
Asami got in the rear passenger side as Korra got in on the rear driver’s side, hurriedly collapsing her umbrella and then slamming the door. As the driver accelerated back into the lane, Asami said, “Her place first. Then drop me off downtown.”
Korra gave him the address, then sat back and closed her eyes, luxuriating in the feel of the car’s warm air. After about a minute, she opened her eyes again and looked over at Asami. Curiosity finally won out and Korra said, “How old are you, by the way?”
Asami looked at her, brushing her hair away from her forehead as she did so. “Twenty-one.”
Korra sat up. “No way! And you’re the head of a huge company?”
Asami’s expression grew somber. “Actually, I’m acting on my father’s behalf. I’ve been taught for years about the company, and I’ve just recently graduated with a business admin degree. He’s been under some stress lately and his doctor told him to take some time off. So for all intents and purposes I’m the acting president.”
Korra let out a low whistle. “No pressure, then!”
Asami smiled. “Well, it’s why I came a day early, to give me a chance to let my hair down a little bit and then meet with the consortium of investors tomorrow.” Asami tapped her chin for a moment, then said, “By the way, how old are you?”
“Oh, I’m twenty-one as well. I did a hotel management diploma, but as you can see I’m still on the bottom of the totem pole.”
“Interesting.” Asami sat back and looked out the window as the taxi turned onto a street lined with apartment buildings.
Korra looked up the street and pointed. “There. Just drop me off at the curb.”
Asami looked at Korra, and this time extended a gloveless hand for a handshake. Korra reached out, took Asami’s hand in a firm grip, and shook. “It was nice meeting you, Asami,” Korra said.
She tried not to feel the slight tingle up her spine or react to the fact that Asami’s hand felt warm and smooth against her skin.
“Likewise!” Asami grinned. She let go of Korra’s hand and took out her phone. “Look, um – would it be okay if I called you while I’m in town? Just to share a coffee or a drink?”
Korra dug in her purse as the car slowed and came to a stop. She rummaged through it thoroughly, then muttered, “Shit! I left my phone in my apartment!”
“It’s okay.” Asami reached in her purse, pulled out a business card and a pen, and scribbled on the back. She handed it to Korra and said, “There. If you’d like to meet while I’m in town, just call that number.”
Korra shoved the card in her purse, then opened the door. She stuck her umbrella out and opened it so the rain wouldn’t get on her. She then got out of the taxi and leaned over, her free hand resting on the door. She waved goodbye to Asami, who waved back. Korra stood, shut the door, and watched as the cab roared off down the road.
As she walked to the front door of her apartment building, she tried not to think about how nice Asami’s hand had felt, or about what it might be like to feel her lips against hers. Asami, she knew, was way out of her league, even if she would condescend to hang out with an ordinary hotel worker on her days off.
Thanks to Skeleton-Horse for betaing this!