“So what is it?” Asami asked softly with infinite patience.
“Hm?” came her lover’s distracted reply. His silhouette in the darkness rose and fell with exertion, mirroring her own, but just by the way he just lay there… And the performance he just gave - she wasn’t struggling to catch her breath and her brain hadn’t melted, after all - betrayed his lack of focus.
She rolled onto her side to throw him an exasperated look. “Something is clearly on your mind, Xing.”
Asami could see the gears in Xing’s mind turning as he pondered for a couple of seconds, probably weighing the pros and cons of being fully honest with her.
“It’s not the semi finals, I’m guessing?” she confirmed, and he shook his head. The arena almost hosted a riot when every bit of Fire Ferret merchandise was completely sold out. The intervention of the metalbending police would’ve snuffed it out, but the subsequent jostling caused someone to drop and shatter their Fire Ferret commemorative plate set, which reignited tensions.
Hurrying Korra out to calm the crowd didn’t help; the more crazed fans started screaming at her, passionately declaring their intent to shake her hands, hug her or attempt other less…savory actions with her. Credit to the Avatar, though she wasn’t able to pacify them, she managed to deflect the rabid attention instead of further agitating them with some skill.
In the end, it was Mozi’s improvisation to have earthbenders carry out several speakers with Hitori Kuro connected on the other end that fully calmed the restless fans. And Kai earned a small bonus for quickly dragging some reporters to the scene with an easy enough pitch: The Fire Ferrets’ popularity was such that they sold out every cup, plate and sash that bore their name or likeness on them.
Since the incident was resolved without escalating into something ugly, Asami and pretty much everyone else considered the matter resolved to satisfaction, regardless of Xing’s pessimism about missed revenue. If it was still nagging at him even now, she’d be rightfully pissed.
But it wasn’t, which meant…
“Is it the Equalists?”
Asami paid careful attention to Xing’s outline, noting how he froze for a fraction of a second, how his sweat-glistening muscles tensed up, how quickly he nodded.
Well, that made more sense.
“Was there an update?”
“No, no. Nothing since the last time… I think I’ll be surprised if they did come back with anything substantial though.”
Asami hummed in agreement. Trying to identify and apprehend masked vandals who’d fled and could easily discard their disguises? Yeah, good luck with that.
Nevermind trying to find and chase the right suspects down, but with all Asami had recently learned of the backstreets of Republic City, the metalbending police would have to first enter triad-controlled territory and deal with the uncooperative people there. The people down there held more fear of the triads than they did of the police (rightfully so, one might argue), and in the eyes of many, the Equalists were a scarier gang. Unless Lin and her people employed less official methods, the heavy correlation between snitches and stitches - especially when dealing with the city’s authorities - would keep most people from providing any real information.
“So you’re worried about another attack?”
“Hm… No, it’s just…” The words trailed off, and Xing gave Asami a thoughtful look.
Without a word, they both rose up into a sitting position, and the heiress patiently met her soon-to-be fiance’s gaze.
“I still find the whole attack to be weird,” he carefully offered, as if wary of her reaction.
For her part, Asami mulled over the words and what she knew of the incident for a few seconds before shrugging. “I know what you mean. It’s the first time the Equalists showed up so openly. It surprised a lot of people, my father and his friends included.”
That he hurriedly excused himself to make a call confirmed Asami’s suspicions that her father had some contact with the underground group, just as how he had ‘liaisons’ that updated him on any significant triad activity. It was a bad sign if he didn’t receive any warning of the mob’s appearance, though he did come out of his call looking less anxious, which was maybe a good thing? Or he was acting calm for her sake…
Urgh, now Asami was starting to get as troubled as Xing was.
Presently, Xing continued to slowly reveal his thoughts. “The daytime attack would make sense as a message and change in tactics, but there was no follow up.”
“Should there be one?”
He nodded at that. “There should be rumors picking up on speeches or call-to-arms within the Equalists. Amon could’ve made an appearance to hammer home his threat.” Xing sighed his confusion out and slumped against the creaky backboard of his bed. “Instead, all we’ve been picking up over these past two days is silence.”
That was all true, with hindsight and Xing’s take on the situation. “Well, he doesn’t have a public relations specialist like yourself, does he? The attempt itself was enough to spook everyone, so maybe they were happy to settle for that. Or maybe it really is a schism within their ranks?”
And Asami knew what he was about to say the moment she finished that sentence.
“A schism involving only Water Tribe people?”
Asami shrugged, genuinely not knowing the answer to that. Some of Chief Lin’s officers had suggested that what Xing saw was not fully correct, that maybe he misidentified more tanned and swarthy Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom people. Or that coincidentally the mob’s front lines were composed mostly of Water Tribe people, causing that ‘misunderstanding’. That he had been watching from afar in the upper floors of the Future Media building cast some doubts on his testimony.
For her part, Asami believed Xing; he had been a bodyguard up until a few months ago, so he should have a knack for picking through details like this. He’s also proven his attention to detail during brief time working with her, so unless he was sorely mistaken, Asami was confident in trusting his words. It was only a shame that she couldn’t help him rationalize the reason behind what he saw.
“The next obvious thought would be that it’s the Itiros trying to be clever,” she offered with little conviction.
“It would…but why?” The brewing frustration was clear in Xing’s voice. “They have nothing to gain with that move. I can imagine that someone among the Triple Threats pulling off such a stunt to try and scare us, but they’re still too busy fighting amongst themselves, while the Agni Kai and the other gangs are too far away to profit off this.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“And even if it really was the Itiro family, there’s not enough evidence,” Asami added, sharing her boyfriend’s frustration.
Xing let out another heavy sigh. “We’re missing too much information. The attack only inflicted trivial damage, but it also put the fear of the Equalists back into everyone’s minds. Yet at the same time, Future Media only benefited from the act since we leveraged it for public sympathy. And we now have added security thanks to the police patrolling our area to prevent a repeat occurrence.”
Asami joined the contemplative silence that followed for a moment before finally coming to a conclusion. She felt the cool air prick against her naked skin as the sheets slipped off her body while she shifted to face him fully. “Well…maybe you’re giving the mastermind too much credit?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, you’re assuming it’s Amon, or some triad boss, or a wizened head of an old noble family orchestrating all this, right?”
She smirked in the dark as he shifted uneasily. Rather than wait for him to admit it though, the heiress pressed on. “What if…what if you’re dealing with far less…hm, complex people? If it’s really some Equalist breakaway, the leader might be just looking for a target to rally their people against, long-term goals be damned. Or it could be an overly ambitious captain or relative trying to make their name for themselves.”
“That…that makes sense…”
Asami nodded before resting a hand on his chest. “I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be concerned, or that you’re overthinking things, Xing, but maybe you should take a break and come back to this with fresher eyes? It helps when I’m struggling with designing or troubleshooting…”
“Yeah…yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m too focused on a few options, while overlooking other considerations…”
“You’re also working with incomplete information, like you said,” she added, her hand slowly stroking his chest. “Maybe give the police some time to find more clues? Or see how the rumors develop for Ren and Kai’s friends to pick up on?”
Xing gave a grunt of annoyance as he nodded. “You’re right, without any tangible clues to work with, I’ll have to-”
“‘I’, Xing?” Asami interjected with dry amusement. At least he had the decency to shrink a bit in embarrassment. Or maybe it’s because she dug her nails into his skin a little. “You’re not a bodyguard anymore, you know.”
She withdrew her hand, and then turned over to climb on top of him, lowering her face to just a few inches away from his. “You’re not alone anymore, Xing… You can try to rely on me a little more, you know?”
“But-”
“Ah, ah. We talked about this already. You don’t owe me as much as you think you do. And I’m not going to be some spoiled rich girl letting you do all the work. I might know some people, have the station to cut through some red tape… Tell me what I can do to help, alright?”
She leaned in further to whisper into his ear, and grinned as she felt him shudder at her words. “You’re free to…use me, Xing.”
Asami could hear him gulp as she reared back, and saw his silhouette acquiescing with a short nod. She made a mental note to thank Ping for teaching her that little move. Maybe it’s worth taking some voice acting lessons?
“I’m…sorry for overlooking you, Asami.”
“Apology accepted,” she answered cheerily. “We can brainstorm this tomorrow. In the meantime…”
And then Asami slowly slid down his body, taking more than a little pleasure in feeling the friction between her naked thighs and Xing’s skin as she moved. “I’m sure you can think of a way to make it up to me?”
She felt his hands rest on her head to offer gentle strokes even as her hands traced a path up his legs.
“I think I could.”
Asami licked her lips in anticipation, and pushed away the troubling but presently unsolvable thoughts to another time, and prepared to help Xing do the same.
*****
If it already wasn’t clear enough by now, seeing the two youths slip out of the apartment building in the dead of night, hand in hand, would surely have made the relationship between Asami Sato and Xing blatantly obvious. The girl was practically skipping out, while the boy wore a small but supremely satisfied smile on his face.
Their intimate relationship was perhaps inevitable, despite the disparity in wealth and status. They seemed to complement each other rather well, and their relationship did not seem to be as parasitic or one-sided as what some people might expect or fear. Asami Sato seemed more than happy to help Xing spread his wings after leaving his shackled position as the Avatar’s minder, and the boy seemed to make up for it by taking Future Industries to new heights.
Asami was slowly stepping out of her father’s shadow, and casting her own upon the corporate world. While Hiroshi was lauded for making Xing media director, thanks to the profitable consequences that followed, few would overlook that it was his daughter who had first brought in the out of place nobody in the first place. It was obvious where Xing’s loyalties ultimately lay, and that he was becoming Asami’s right hand in all but name.
It was almost disgusting, how smoothly the couple were progressing in their relationship.
Said couple shared a brief kiss under the flickering streetlights before Asami slipped into her car and drove off, leaving the young man alone.
Xing turned around and headed back to the door, though he stopped several paces away and looked straight into the deep shadows beside the apartment building.
“Are you having her followed?” he demanded, amber eyes flashing with anger.
“No,” Amon calmly answered as he stepped halfway out of the darkness. “I do not have any hostile intentions towards Asami Sato. Or you.”
The young man turned to face him, face set into a stony mask. “What do you want?”
“Only to talk to you. I’m sure you understand that the opportunity to meet you has been…scarce. Though after recent events, I felt like I should at least make an attempt.”
There was silence for a few seconds, as the young director no doubt was weighing his words. Finally, he spoke again. “Say what you have to say.”
Expecting the bluntness, Amon slowly, carefully spread his arms wide. “I wish to convince you that none of my people were involved in the attack on your office.”
Xing gave a grunt, though it wasn’t completely laden with skepticism. “And you’d know?”
“I would,” Amon answered with a firm nod. If he did not maintain an iron grip on his movement, then all his plans were pointless.
“But you do not have the proof,” the boy remarked. “Otherwise you’d have said this publicly.”
“In essence, yes. But as a gesture of peace, I wish to extend my assurances that we are seeking the perpetrators. Our cause holds many grievances against this city, this republic, but you and Future Media are not part of that.”
Xing’s brow furrowed to form a harsh glare. “I will not join you, nor do I need your help.”
“Not now,” Amon calmly amended. “You’ve yet to see the broken truth of the world.”
“I know it’s broken,” Xing shot back. “In so many stupid ways. But that doesn’t make you the only viable solution.”
The masked leader lowered his head. “Just because my methods are distasteful-”
“Bullshit. Your Equalist group is only a more ambitious triad, and you’re only seeking control of the United Republic. You emerged with violence and fear; that’s all I need to know about you.”
Already prepared for the reaction thanks to Hiroshi’s report, Amon lifted his head to meet the young man’s glare. “That was a…mistake on my part. I was too zealous, I’ll admit, in my methods. Is it too hard to believe that I wish to correct that, to change my ways?”
“Your followers are positioned outside my apartment’s windows, and have me surrounded right now,” he countered without hesitation, never breaking his gaze from Amon.
“It is a precaution,” came the reply, but Amon already knew that he’d failed to even cast some doubt on Xing tonight.
There was a rustle from behind him, and the masked leader gave a short nod. “I understand your skepticism… But know that you are always welcomed to the cause, when you finally understand what we’re working to achieve.”
Amon then stepped back into the shadows and retreated, all the while under Xing’s unerring gaze. His retinue only followed after he was clear of the building and the media director, and predictably enough Xing ran straight back up to his apartment to check on his sleeping adopted family.
The metalbending police’s airship floated by almost a minute later, their searchlights lazily dragging across the ground to find no trace of the meeting that had transpired.
As Amon as his handpicked guard carefully made their way back to the safehouse, they met up with another member, who had to take a long detour after being tasked with an important role.
Amon gave the skittish man a nod but didn’t break his stride. “You have it?”
The follower nodded back, and then glanced down to the bulky camera with its boxy, elongated lens.
“I think so, we’ll have to process the film to be sure… But the telescopic sight definitely caught a clear view of you and Xing.”
Amon didn’t voice any answer, though he allowed his satisfaction to show in his posture. If the photos did really capture the clandestine encounter with as much clarity as promised, then he’ll have to commend Hiroshi. And if it came down to it, if Xing continued to prove uncooperative, he now had an easier option in removing the potential obstacle.
