Authors Note
This Chapter is a little bit shorter then the last ones but I wanted to end it
where it would make sense and tried to avoid a cliffhanger.
Just so you know I never liked Raiko ;)
Next Update hopefully tomorrow but as always I can't promise you anything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
President Raiko was sitting across the table of the young couple. He seemed older than Asami remembered even though she had seen him just a week ago at the gala. They weren't in his office where he used to call Asami to discuss former business decisions. They were in a small room with just a table in it. When they got in Raiko had asked everyone to go out and let them have some privacy. The new room and the lack of any soul except hers, Korra's and Raiko's was just feeding her curiousness as to what Raiko really wanted to say to them.
"First of all thanks for coming on such short notice" Raiko began formally.
"That seems to be common these days" Aasmi said with slightly more anger in her tone than she had planned. She felt Korra's hand squeeze hers. Asami knew what the Avatar was trying to tell her. Please, let's just first hear him out.
"Yes, I guess that's true. But then again you two were gone for quite some time." Raiko said looking sternly at the couple "If someone would've asked me a week ago I would have said you should have come back sooner, now I really a few more weeks wouldn't have hurt."
Asami could feel Korra's hand squeeze hers again but this time it was different. Just a quick look over into her girlfriend's eyes showed her that now Korra was angry as well. Asami now tightened her own grip to keep the Avatar and herself under control. "And that is supposed to mean?" Korra said and Asami could tell that keeping her voice as calm as it was was difficult for her girlfriend.
"I won't lie to you two." Raiko said after a short pause "You two probably already know that my poll numbers went from going to the moon to digging with the badgermoles "My political enemies all already made a statement and I haven't even talked to the press yet about your relationship." he pronounced the last word harshly almost like an insult. "The reelection is less than a week away and I need to take a position now."
"Well then do it, already." Korra said seemingly frustrated "What do you need us for?"
"I invited you two here to talk things over before I talk to the press" President Raiko said "What I will say might not be something you want to hear and I don't want you to hear it in the news." Asami knew what was going to follow. She was thinking about how not giving the press any fuel had worked at least a little bit. The articles seemed to be more objective and the negative newspapers printed the same things every day because they seemed to be all out of insults after the second day. If Raiko now officially declares himself as unsupportive about them that would be like adding a forest of dry wood into a slowly dying wildfire.
"I talked to my advisors, to analysts and to some political partners" Raiko said now standing up and walking back and forth in the room. "And nearly all of them tell me the same. My biggest chance of getting the voters back I lost is to not support your relationship, but to officially declare that I am against it."
"You disgusting, little..." Korra began now trying to stand up as well, but Asami quickly pulled her down to the chair again. The Avatar looked surprised at her as Asami now got up "Let me handle this" Asami said.
"We will not stop you from having your own opinion" Asami said looking at Raiko concentrating to keep her voice calm. "But let me tell you this much. You had the full support of Future Industries with rebuilding Republic City. Now the next contracts might not look as friendly to you."
Asami turned around and grabbed Korra's hand. She pulled her out of the small room where they had been talking. Lin came racing towards them but Asami shook her head and gestured her away. Luckily the Chief of Police seemed to understand what she was trying to tell her.
"What are you doing Asami?" Korra asked confused "Where are we going?"
"I'm sick of hiding in my house. I'm sick of hiding our love." Asami said and she could feel the rage fill her up "Raiko says he doesn't want bad press? Then lets give him just that." They were almost at the door out of town hall, where all the reporters would be waiting when Asami stopped and turned around to Korra. "Are you with me on this?"
"I am with you on anything" Korra said and Asami could feel her girlfriend's hands on her face pulling her in for a kiss.
"But what are we going to say?" Korra asked after her lips parted. Asami had thought about that for the whole time Raiko was talking.
"Let me do the talking, sweetie." Asami said still close to Korra's face "But you do know that this could mean more press and more people trying to interview us?"
"Asami, when I said that I am with you on anything I meant that." Korra said smiling "I love you and we will get through this together like we got through many other things before."
Asami gave Korra a last kiss before she opened the door and as soon as it was open lights started flickering and reporters began shouting. Asami stood on top the stairs and looked over to Korra and without saying a word the Avatar seems to know what Asami wanted her to do. Korra rose up from the ground and a vortex of air appeared underneath her. She then started talking, her voice amplified by airbending.
"Everyone, please be quiet. Most, if not all of you have been camping in front of our house, seemingly dying to ask us questions. We are not here to answer these, but to give a quick statement. Please be quiet while we explain ourselves."
The crowd went quiet surprisingly quickly, but Asami was almost without words again. Seeing the Avatar hovering there over their heads must have been intimidating. Korra came back down to Asami and as soon her girlfriends feet touched the ground Asami grabbed her hand again. She could feel the eyes of everyone on herself just like she did at the Avatar Gala. But it felt different this time, she wasn't scared of what they might say, she wasn't searching for the right words she knew exactly what to say.
"Hello. You all have been waiting for a statement from us and from President Raiko. We were called here today, to talk what we were told would be reconstruction discussions and the sort. As you might imagine that wasn't the case." she made a quick pause "Raiko called us to talk about his position about our relationship and while I still fail to see as to why this should be a public matter; We need to talk about it now. I am in a romantic relationship with Korra. I love her and she loves me. There is nothing you can do about and nothing you can say to stop our feelings for each other. Our friends and family support us and that is all we need. But let me tell you what President Raiko just told us. He wants to publicly declare his disapproval about our relationship. We will of course not stop him from doing that, he is entitled to his opinion just like everyone else in this city is. He told us as well that he feels like this is the best way to bring up his poll numbers again. I don't want to tell you how to vote, but is this a man you are willing to rule your nation? My answer is no. I will not vote for him despite our former business and political relationship. If he succeeds in this election I will also not personally oversee his rebuilding plans." After another pause she looked around and the audience seemed shocked "That does not mean however that me or Avatar Korra will stop aiding the people here in republic City. We will still do our best to rebuild it to its former glory and beyond but we will do that without him involved."
She stopped speaking and looked over at Korra who stood next to her with her mouth open. Korra seemed to be not only surprised but she looked a little bit terrified.
"We will not answer any questions at the moment but will inform you when we will." Asami said now looking at the reporters again.
She then pulled Korra towards the street where Mako stood waiting for them. As they got closer Asami could see that he looked as surprised as Korra. They all got into the car and Mako quickly drove off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd love to hear your feedback on Asami's speech. I wanted to make her look strong and a little bit intimidating because that's a side of her I haven't really shown yet.
Also: This "new" side of her will be discussed a little bit in the next chapter-
And last but not least a Funfact: I had two rough drafts, One with Raiko being supportive and this one. As said above I don't like Raiko ;)
