Maintaining the Balance

Seeing the same girl from the poster in real life, Korra's expression and body visibly tensed.
Shifting her attention between Kahn and Korra, various thoughts went through the petite, sporty-looking woman's mind. Her glacial blue eyes formed into a catty squint as a smile that was equal parts mischievous and predatory developed across her face.
"I see what's going on..."
Surprising her three companions, the silvery-white-haired girl made her way forward until she was nearly in line with Kahn, eyes focused on Korra as she said, "I honestly can't blame you. Tanned skinned, blue eyes, and a rockin' body...I'm practically half-mast, and I'm a chick..."
Seeing the woman stand much closer to Kahn than was necessary, Korra recovered from her momentary stupor, asking, "Who are you?" as a smell reminiscent of ionization spread through the clothing store.
"Oh? The envious type, are we? How cute..."
In an attempt to try and rile Korra up, the silvery-white-haired woman moved a little closer to Kahn, her left hand gravitating towards his abs with every intent to give them a feel. Before she could, however, Kahn promptly grabbed her hand, his expression serious as he said, "You're going too far...Akua..."
Raising one of her brows, the comparably petite woman, famously known as Regina Akua, gave Kahn a once-over as she teased, "Damn...and here I was looking forward to having a bit of fun..."
Pulling her hand free from Kahn's grasp, Akua took a moment to shake it out as she stared back at Korra and explained, "Don't get your knickers in a twist, sweetheart. I'm not going to steal your baby beau away from you. If anything, you should be more concerned about yourself..."
Recovering from her secondary stupor, Korra moved forward to 'protect' Kahn, an intense, threatening glower on her face as she repeated, "Who are you? I won't ask a third time..."
Rolling her eyes, Akua slipped her hands into her fashionable, self-made jacket as she replied, "Pay attention, sweet cheeks. Kahn already said my name aloud. Don't tell me you haven't heard about me before now...?"
Directing the question towards Kahn, Akua's face formed into a slight pout when his brows faintly yet noticeably furrowed.
"Seriously? Does she at least know about your status as the Av-"
Remembering they were in a relatively public place, Akua shook her head and said, "Wait, scratch that. We'll talk about it someplace else. For now, why don't the two of you get checked out? As a gesture of friendship, I'll let the clerk know to ring up everything for free. I own most of the higher-end fashion stores in the area, so feel free to pick out as many outfits as you like. Just don't be surprised if I ask you to demo them later."
Punctuating her words with a playful wink directed at Korra, Akua made her way over to the trio Kahn recognized as Asami, Mako, and Bolin. The two boys had been staring somewhat slackjawed since the beginning of the 'altercation' while Asami had an expression that was equal parts cute and terrifying. Kahn even detected a fair amount of bloodlust radiating off of her, the majority of which was directed at him.
Noticing Asami's expression, Akua squinted her eyes as she said, "Don't be jealous, kitten. They're the two I kept telling you about. Be a good girl and try to get along, okay?"
As if Kahn had imagined it, the bloodlust exuding from Asami promptly disappeared as she adopted a naturally alluring smile, her pastel green eyes focusing on Kahn as she remarked, "Oh, I see. If that's the case, I suppose I'll need to be on my best behavior, won't I...?"
Amused by Asami's instantaneous shift to her business persona, a soft chuckle emanated from Akua's throat as she mused, "You're cute when you're jealous. For real, though, don't cause any trouble. Kahn and I will probably butt heads in the future, but he's one of the best allies anyone could have. Don't mistake our playful banter as genuine animosity, okay?"
With Akua placing her hand on her waist, Asami's smile became markedly more sincere as she lowered her head and said, "If that's what you want, I have nothing else to say..."
Surprising no one except for Korra, the comparably taller Asami planted a chaste but lasting kiss on Akua's lips. This was a pretty dangerous action for them to be performing in public, but the employees had been paid off long ago. As for the customers, most of the people capable of shopping in the Upper Ring were wealthy and affluent individuals. They were prone to gossip but understood when to keep their mouth shut.
No one in their right mind would go around spreading rumors about the two most famous and affluent heiresses in the city. Such an action would be tantamount to sociopolitical suicide.
When her kiss with Asami was finished, Akua took a moment to observe her surroundings, a mischievous smile on her face as she asked, "What's with the stupefied expressions?"
Though Korra was the only person genuinely surprised by the interaction between Akua and Asami, Mako and Bolin still had awkward expressions on their faces. The only person who didn't was Kahn, who, as usual, had a stoic, borderline deadpan expression as he turned to Korra and said, "You should get changed. We'll have to continue our date another day."
"Uh...right..."
Coming to her senses in response to Kahn's words, Korra wore a distinctly bashful expression as she retreated to the confines of the changing room. Akua's actions had left her feeling discombobulated. She knew there was such a thing as girl-on-girl relationships, but she had never seen two girls kissing in public. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, it made her heart palpitate nearly as much as when she was with Kahn...
Noticing Korra's uncharacteristic behavior, a faintly exasperated sigh escaped Kahn's throat as he turned to find Akua staring at him with a smile reminiscent of a cat.
"Are you always going to be like this...?"
Raising her brows, Akua appeared even more amused as she retorted, "I'm not the one that had my girlfriend dress up like my counterbalance. Tell me, did it make you excited to see her dressed like me...?"
Disregarding Akua's question, Kahn shifted his gaze to Mako and Bolin, repeating, "Is she always like this?"
"Uh..."
Exchanging glances with his older brother, Bolin promptly swallowed his response when he saw Mako shaking his head. Akua might trust him, but Mako got the impression Kahn was dangerous. It didn't help that he was 'secretly' in love with both Akua and Asami. The former had bullied him a lot during their childhood, but Mako couldn't help respecting her strength and everything she had done for the people, particularly the impoverished of Republic City.
Seeing through Mako's thoughts, a helpless expression developed across Akua's face as she remarked, "Choose your battles wisely, pup. Kahn isn't the type of opponent you can take on. Even if I were to go all out from the start, I doubt I would be able to eke out a victory against this asshat. You wouldn't stand a chance."
Rather than being discouraged, Mako was thoroughly provoked by Akua's words. It didn't matter that he had never come close to defeating Akua in a bout; he couldn't just going to back down when she said he didn't stand a chance against another guy.
"You said your name was Kahn, right?"
Furrowing his brows, Kahn shifted his attention from the amused glimmer in Akua's eyes as he flatly replied, "You're mistaken."
Not expecting Kahn to refute his own name, Mako found himself at a brief loss for words until the former clarified, "My name was first mentioned by Akua. I haven't said it once throughout this conversation."
Opening his mouth, Mako tried to rebut Kahn's words but found himself at another loss. It didn't help that Akua had immediately burst into laughter, her voice simultaneously pleasant yet incredibly painful to his ears.
With a faint red hue to his cheeks, Make seemed equal parts embarrassed and incensed as he shouted, "Whatever! If you're a real man, you'll have a match with me! I don't care what Akua says. Unless I see your skill-"
Interrupting Mako's challenge, Akua asked, "You don't care what I have to say? That's a pretty bold choice of words, pup..."
Blinking several times to reboot his mental faculties, Mako's voice became a stammer as he answered, "No...I...that isn't what I meant. You know that isn't what I meant."
Giving Mako a withering, upturned glower, an action made easier by the 22cm difference in their height, Akua asked, "So my hearing is shot? Is that what you're trying to say...?"
Raising both his hands and the bags contained within, Mako appeared to be surrendering as he insisted, "I would never say that!"
Realizing she might be taking things too far, Akua's pretend glower faded as she exhaled a sigh and said, "Seriously, Mako. I already told you I have very little interest in men. When you ingratiate yourself to me or try to act like a knight in shining armor, it makes me feel like we're not even friends."
"Akua..."
Feeling a mixture of pain and guilt washing over him, Mako attempted to find an excuse for his behavior, but, as was often the case when he was around his two childhood crushes, words failed him. Instead, it was Bolin who stepped in, hands raised in a similarly placating gesture as he said, "Hey, now, no need for such words. How many years have the four of us known one another? Of course we're friends."
Though her expression didn't change, Akua nodded her head in response to Bolin's words, repeating, "Right...friends. That's what we promised all those years ago, wasn't it? You remember, don't you, Mako...?"
Inhaling a deep, steadying breath, Mako's expression turned apologetic as he exhaled a sigh, lowered his head, and said, "Sorry, Akua...but you know how I feel about you. I'm not sure we can just be friends...I don't want to be 'just' friends..."
As if the present situation were somehow Kahn's fault, Akua directed an icy stare in his direction, asking, "See what happens when you take your sweet time to show up? This wouldn't have been an issue if you had made your appearance a few years ago. Now, we won't even be able to banter without it causing some kind of drama."
Without waiting for Kahn's response, Akua just shook her head, muttering, "Teens..." in an exasperated tone before walking off. Asami attempted to follow after her, but Akua stopped her by adding, "I need some space to breathe." in an icy tone that caused the surrounding temperature to drop.
Extending a hand in Akua's direction, Asami wanted to call out to her but ultimately decided against it. Instead, she waited for Akua to depart the store before turning to Mako, a fierce glower marring her beautiful face as she hissed, "This is why men are the worst! And to think, I actually used to think you were cute...!"
With Akua leaving through the entrance, Asami was forced to storm off towards the back room behind the counter. It was an area off-limits to customers, but, as the heiress of Future Industries and Akua's financial backer, there were few places Asami couldn't freely trespass. The Store Manager even rushed over to hold the door open...
...
..
.
Ignorant of the drama occurring outside, Korra was having troubles of her own within the changing booth. In her rush to get changed, she ended up accidentally tearing the extremely expensive swimsuit. It wasn't that big a deal since Akua had implied she could have whatever she wanted for free, but the notion of explaining the situation caused Korra's face and ears to burn bright red...
...
..
.

After changing into her traditional Water Tribe outfit, a sleeveless, form-fitting blue shirt, baggy blue pants, fur-lined boots, dark-blue vambraces, blue belt, and a waistcloth, Korra emerged from the changing room with an awkward smile. However, upon seeing Kahn, Mako, and Bolin silently observing each other, she quickly forgot her personal concerns, asking, "What's going on? Why does it feel like a funeral out here...?"
Adding insult to Mako's mental injuries, Kahn unhesitantly replied, "Akua got tired of our new friend's white knighting and ended up storming off on her own. Asami got upset in turn and went to the backroom to vent."
"I wasn't white knighting! I just...you wouldn't understand...!"
Raising her brows, Korra gave Mako a curious look before looking up at Kahn and asking, "What's white-knighting...?"
"Mmm...it's when a guy willfully puts himself into a position to protect a woman's honor even when it's completely unnecessary. Our little friend here is significantly weaker than Akua, yet he tried to speak for her in a misguided attempt to try and deter me."
"What...?"
Turning to give Mako a second glance, Korra asked, "Why would you do something like that? Kahn is in a relationship with me. Even if you like that Akua girl, he isn't going to try and steal her away from you. Picking a fight with him is like burning your face on a stove just to get attention..."
Despite his attempts to suppress it, a faint red hue spread across Mako's face as his body tensed. He didn't even take into consideration that Kahn was already in a relationship with Korra. He just saw Akua behaving flirtily with him and immediately took offense...
Speaking in defense of his big brother, Bolin raised his hands in a highly practiced placating gesture as he said, "Hey, come on now, it's just a bit of a misunderstanding, that's all. I know, why don't we all start over and introduce ourselves? My name's Bolin, though my friends call me Bo. I'm an Earthbender, and it's my dream to become the greatest Pro Bender in the Republic!"
Though it had little to do with his skill as an Earthbender, Bolin seized the opportunity to flex his fairly sizeable muscles. He knew he probably didn't stand a chance, but he couldn't help wanting to show off in front of Korra. When she initially emerged from the changing room in nothing but a form-fitting, dark-blue swimsuit, he had basically fallen in love at first sight.
Fortunately for Bolin, Korra found his friendly personality and antics pretty amusing. A natural smile developed across her face as she answered, "My name's Korra. I don't know if it qualifies as a nickname, but everyone calls me the Avatar."
Returning an even more enthusiastic smile, Bolin exclaimed, "I knew my ears weren't playing tricks on me! You really are the Avatar, aren't you!?"
Though Bolin had more heroes and idols than he could count, the Avatar or, in this case, Korra was near the top of the list when it came to people he wanted to meet. The only person he would like to meet even more was the Hero of Earthbenders the whole world over, the legendary 'Dragon of the East', Ragna Rokr.
Reacting like a fangirl that had just encountered their idol in the streets, Bolin performed an excited jig before rushing over to ask, "Can I shake your hand? It would be a great honor." with his head lowered and hands extended.
Instead of immediately responding to Bolin, Korra gave Kahn a curious glance, asking, "You're not going to try and stop him?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Kahn's expression remained neutral as he said, "This one doesn't have any malicious intentions towards you. That guy at the Pro-Bending Arena, Butakha, wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of you if you lowered your guard. This Bolin fellow...he's a good guy."
Hearing Kahn refer to him as a 'good guy,' Bolin's expression cramped as a pang of guilt spread through him. He had just been thinking about how amazing it would be if he were Korra's boyfriend, completely disregarding the fact her actual boyfriend was present. In his opinion, he was currently the furthest thing from a good person.
Before Bolin could even think to apologize, Korra reached out to shake his hand, a friendly smile on her face as she playfully replied, "It's pretty rare for Kahn to speak highly of others. You must be a pretty amazing guy. It's nice to meet you, Bolin."
Staring at the hand Korra had just shaken, Bolin released a low yet high-pitched sound in place of a scream. Then, with tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes, he declared, "I'll never wash this hand again...!"
Chuckling dryly in response to Bolin's remark, Korra combed back a few stray hairs as she said, "Please wash your hand. Hygiene is important for good health."
"A goddess..."
With tears streaming down his face, Bolin looked like he was moments away from falling to his knees and worshipping Korra. Fortunately, just as his brother was about to grab him by the back of his collar, Akua entered the store, asking, "What's taking so long? I've been waiting for like twenty minutes."
Hearing the voice of his own goddess, Mako's body tensed as he whipped around and answered, "Akua...we're waiting for Korra to check out and for Asami to get back. She went-"
"I'm here."
Having been waiting for Akua's return, Asami stepped out from the back room wearing freshly applied makeup. She hadn't actually shed any tears, but the moisture in her eyes had caused her mascara to run a bit.
Seeing the state Asami was in, an awkwardly apologetic smile developed across Akua's as she approached the much taller girl, embraced her, and whispered something private into her ear. Whatever it was, it dramatically improved Asami's mood as an alluring smile immediately returned to her face...
Regaining the characteristically confident look she only presented around close friends, Akua directed her gaze to Kahn and Korra, asking, "What do the two of you want to do? After thinking for a bit, I realized it wouldn't be very cool of me to crash your date. If you want, we can meet up tomorrow or a few days from now. I have a few prior commitments, but I can always make time for my estranged, transdimensional baby brother and his cutie-pie of a girlfriend."
Looking to Kahn for his opinion, Korra was unsurprised when the former said, "It's up to you. Regardless of what you choose, I'll accompany you till the end."
After rolling her eyes and bumping Kahn with her shoulder, Korra turned to meet Akua's icy blue gaze as she said, "We'll go with you. There are a few questions I want to ask. They might be able to wait till later, but I've never been known for my patience."
Nodding her head in approval, Akua said, "Good answer. Now that the two of you have arrived in Republic City, things are bound to hit the fan sooner or later. Planning and preparing contingencies in advance will let us avoid a lot of troubles down the line."
Waving down the Manager of the clothing store, Akua directed, "Add one of everything in my friend's size and have it shipped to Air Temple Island. I'll cover the cost and tip."
Offering a polite bow, the female Manager calmly replied, "Certainly, Lady Regina." before immediately setting off to prepare the order. This caused Korra to panic, but before she could convince Akua that her actions were unnecessary, the mischievous, silvery-white-haired vixen beat her to the punch, stating, "Consider it a gift for my baby brother. The whole point of you coming shopping was to pick out clothes for him, right? Now you have an entire ensemble to show off. Besides, you're the Avatar. I can't think of a more suitable candidate to represent my 'Cool Blue' brand."
Punctuating her words with a wink, Akua left no room for Korra to protest as she immediately took charge of the group, saying, "Well, let's head out. We'll pick up Naga, head to my studio, and discuss things there."
Without waiting for a response, Akua, closely followed by Asami, Mako, and Bolin, made her way to exit the store. This left Korra with her mouth agape, a thoroughly befuddled expression on her face as she turned to Kahn and said, "Your 'sister' is even more overbearing than me. Also, how does she know about Naga...?"
Extending his hand for Korra to grab, Kahn began shepherding her to the store's exit as he explained, "Akua has abilities similar to mine. Unlike me, however, she was born into this world. As for her role...she was given the position of Strategist. Her intuition and ability to process information are second only to Yao Yoko, the Avatar of Air and Perpetuity. I imagine she has spent the last decade or so planning for our arrival..."
Raising her brows in surprise, Korra was about to ask more questions, but Kahn had already led her out of the store. She didn't know what, if any, of the things Kahn was talking about were a secret. Thus, at least for the time being, she did her best to suppress her growing curiosity. After all, they would have plenty of alone time together once they returned to the island...
...
..
.
Though her mother had tried to get her into painting, Akua had managed to convince her that fashion was the wave of the future. It might not have the timeless appeal of a masterpiece, but the companies that dictated the era's trends were bound to be more profitable than any standalone artist.
To support her daughter's growing dream, Akua's mother had gifted her an expensive, three-story art studio that overlooked the scenic Republic City Park. Akua's father had initially opposed the idea of her living alone and starting an independent enterprise, but he quickly changed his tune once her companies began earning nearly as much as his more profitable subsidiaries. He didn't like how his daughter had changed from a proper young lady to a trendy fashion icon, but she was still all he talked about when entertaining guests and associates.
What Akua's father didn't know was that her studio was more than just a simple 'playhouse' for a teen seeking independence. At the very least, she wasn't seeking personal freedom or an escape from her family...
"Welcome to the public face of the Resistance. Make yourselves at home."
Though it resembled the art and fashion studio it purported to be, Akua's home away from home was also the cover for her secret identities as the White Demon and the leader of a Resistance comprised of tweens, teens, and young adults. As for what they were resisting? It changed depending on Akua's mood.
Not expecting to be led to an underground storehouse occupied by teens practicing Chi Blocking and various forms of Bending, Korra's expression revealed her inner conflict as she asked, "What is this place? It looks like you're building an army..."
"Everything in due time, kitten..."
Before answering Korra's questions, Akua directed Mako and Bolin to help spread the word of the Avatar's arrival. With the exception of a boy named Mishang, they were the oldest among the children she had recruited over the past ten years. She had even assigned them the ranks of Captain and Lieutenant, so the older children listened to them without question.
While Mako and Bolin were busy carrying out her orders, Akua guided Asami, Kahn, and Korra to a large chamber resembling a war room. There was a map of Republic City spread across a large stone table, but, while it was easily the most outstanding feature in the room, the eyes of everyone who entered were invariably drawn to the hundreds of images lining every single wall.
Preempting the question at the very tip of Korra's tongue, Akua casually explained, "These are the photos of every major criminal, crime lord, and corrupt politician within Republic City. We also have a dossier of known Equalist sympathizers, but that's a wholly separate matter. For now, why don't the two of you take a seat? Even if I give you the short of it, we're going to be here a few hours."
Setting the example, Akua took her usual seat at the head of the table. Asami quickly sat next to her, but not before staring listlessly at the rather large photo of her father...
...
..
.

After calming down and subsequently psyching herself up for the rest of her date with Kahn, Korra emerged from the bathroom with an awkward yet excited smile on her face. At least, that's the expression she had until she noticed the woman standing next to the booth she had been sharing with Kahn.
Adopting a fierce expression, Korra practically stomped her way across the restaurant until her face was less than a few centimeters away from Suya, asking, "Is there something you needed from my 'boyfriend'?"
Placing extra emphasis on the word boyfriend, Korra was fully prepared to throw down until Suya calmly asked, "You're the Avatar?"
"Yeah? And? You got a problem with that?"
Furrowing her brows, Suya briefly considered arresting Korra for walking up to and threatening an officer. Instead, she asked, "Can you prove it?"
Just as Korra was about to 'prove' her status by sending Suya flying, Kahn interrupted the catty standoff, saying, "She is Toph's granddaughter, and I'm assuming Lin Beifong's daughter. Just demonstrate for her your ability to bend fire and water so she'll leave us alone."
Blinking in surprise, Korra gave Suya a quick once-over, asking, "You're Granny Toph's grandkid? Why do you look like you have a stick up your butt?"
Squinting her eyes, Suya resisted the urge to sweep Korra's feet and force her face to the ground as she said, "Just get on with it. If you can't prove you're the Avatar, I'm going to arrest both of you for disrupting the public order."
Ignoring the fact she was the one that approached Kahn and caused a scene, Suya waited 'patiently' until Korra eventually waved her hand to pull water from a cup while simultaneously creating a tuft of flame using her left index finger.
Realizing she had just accosted the Avatar and her boyfriend, Suya's body tensed as she turned back to Kahn and muttered, "It would appear I owe you an apology..."
Waving his hand in a shooing gesture, Kahn rebutted, "I just want to eat a meal and spend time with my girlfriend. Rather than hearing your apology, I would be happier if you returned to your table or left."
"Yeah, you heard the man. Make like a piece of tempered steel and beat it."
Inhaling a deep breath, Suya looked like she was milliseconds away from bursting. Despite this, she managed to calm herself enough to say, "Sorry for inconveniencing the two of you..." through gritted teeth. Then, without another word, she stormed out of the restaurant, her feet leaving faint but visible imprints in the stone floor.
Tapping her foot against the ground, Korra thoughtfully returned the floor to its original state before sitting across from Kahn and asking, "What was that about?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Kahn speculated, "I think she's just an awkward girl. I get the impression she's eager to prove herself, so her mother must have been too strict with her. Either way, it has nothing to do with us. That is...unless you intend to get involved...?"
Noticing the faint guilt in Korra's expression, Kahn's brows furrowed as he said, "You don't have to help everyone, Korra. Especially when it concerns family and private matters..."
Adopting a wry smile, Korra replied, "I just figured that the children of the previous Avatar's friends should be our allies, you know? We also need an Earthbender to join our team, so..."
"Then we'll find one who doesn't have a prior commitment like working for the Metalbending Police Force. Besides, weren't you the one who said you didn't want another girl on the team? You're free to change your mind; just make sure you have a good reason."
Keying in on the most arbitrary part of what Kahn had said, Korra adopted an ostensibly teasing smile as she rebutted, "What? It's not like you would ever cheat on me...right?"
Rolling his eyes, Kahn wasn't doing himself any favors by remarking, "Who knows? It depends..."
Unamused by Kahn's answer, Korra squinted her eyes, asking, "Depends? On what...?"
Adopting a faint smile, Kahn leaned forward as he answered, "On whether or not you let yourself go after we get married and have kids..."
Expecting Korra to react bashfully, Kahn's body tensed when she adopted an angry expression and asked, "Oh? So you're just going to leave me and our children if I get fat? Is that what you're saying...?"
Though he opened his mouth, Kahn couldn't find the words to respond to Korra's accusation. Fortunately, she was just messing with him, her angry expression turning into an amused smile as she leaned forward and said, "You aren't the only one capable of teasing..."
Before Kahn could respond, Korra planted an uncharacteristically chaste kiss on his lips. She was normally a lot more aggressive, but, despite her relatively sheltered upbringing, she had enough sense not to make out in public. Instead, she sat back in her seat, fixing her posture as she asked, "So you're already thinking about children...?" in a genuinely curious tone.
Regaining his wits, Kahn took a moment to comb through his hair before answering, "Kind of? Though I would prefer to wait a couple of years, I'm the type that likes to think far ahead. I mean, we're already engaged, so it's only natural we'll eventually have kids..."
Understanding that Kahn was being serious, Korra's face gained a ruddy hue as she visibly shrank in her seat. She hadn't even thought about the possibility of children, but, considering how 'eager' she was to experience new things, there was a distinct possibility of her getting pregnant.
"I think I understand why you wanted to take things slow...I'm totally not ready to be a mother...at least not any time soon..."
Resisting the temptation to nod his head in affirmation, Kahn adopted a gentle smile as he reached across the table and waited for Korra to grab his hand. When she did, he said, "You'll make an amazing mother...someday..."
Though she rolled her eyes, Korra couldn't keep the smile from her face as she said, "You're such a dork..."
...
..
.
After a relatively uneventful meal, Kahn and Korra continued along their journey to explore the entirety of Little Ba Sing Se. Kahn had to fork over 200,000 Yuan just to pay for their entry, but he had plenty to spare since Tenzin had been paying him a premium rather than the median wage Kahn had originally petitioned.
On average, an in-home tutor could earn around 500,000 Yuan if they had received a teaching certification from a prestigious institution. Tenzin, or, more accurately, the White Lotus had been paying him nearly three times that amount due to Kahn's advanced knowledge of ancient, and, in many cases, completely lost cultures. Thus, rather than the 3,000,000 Yuan he normally would have earned, he had accrued just under 12,000,000 Yuan while teaching Jinora and Ikki.
While 12,000,000 Yuan wasn't considered a fortune, it was more than enough for Kahn to comfortably peruse the Upper Ring and purchase just about anything Korra set her sights on. The only times he outright refused was when she suggested purchasing things like a Satomobile. He wasn't particularly fond of gas or petroleum-based vehicles, so he had absolutely no intention of investing in one.
Fortunately, while Kahn was the one purchasing everything, the journey wasn't without benefits. He could practically see Korra naked whenever he wanted, but seeing her change into various outfits and accompanying her while she purchased lingerie was an enjoyable experience. Some of the female staff and customers gave him curious and even provocative looks, but Kahn just ignored them as he focused most of his attention on Korra.
"What do you think? The colors are a little on the nose, but I kind of like it. Blue really draws out the color of my eyes, you know?"
Though she was a little nervous to be seen by the staff and customers, Korra did her best to model a predominately blue bikini and white bikini for Kahn. It was the same pale blue as her shirt and the majority of her undergarments, but, as she pointed out, it suited her quite a bit.
"At this point, you would need to dress up in a Sky Bison costume for me not to find you attractive..."
Rewarding Kahn's comment with a weak punch to the arm, Korra said, "Be serious. Even if you're one of the only people that gets to see it, I want to pick something suitable. Something you like..."
Massaging his perpetually bruised shoulder, Kahn's expression remained unchanged as he said, "I am being serious. You would literally have to go out of your way to make yourself look unappealing for me not to find you attractive. You've put a substantial amount of effort into your physique so it shows no matter what you wear. There is a reason even the girls back at your school was infatuated with you..."
Unable to find a response to Kahn's words, Korra just adopted a gratified smile before making her way back into the changing room. She honestly would have preferred it if Kahn asked more of her, but she wasn't exactly going to complain. If he couldn't tell her what he wanted, she would just have to try on a bunch of different outfits until something stuck...
Seeing a poster of a fashionable young woman with peculiar white hair posted just outside the changing room, Korra paused to take a look at the woman's outfit. It was a navy blue one piece that highlighted her long and slender legs but also had a diamond-shaped cutout that drew attention to her modest yet well-shaped breasts. Over that, she wore a high-collared vest in the same color as Korra's current outfit, a pale shade of blue that was most commonly seen in clothes worn by the Nothern and Southern Water Tribes.
"Hmmm...she's pretty hot..."
Since the outfit the woman wore was on display next to the poster, Korra decided she would go ahead and give it a try. It was clearly intended to be worn by members of the Water Tribes, so, even though she felt like her swimsuit should be a little more revealing, Korra couldn't help wanting to compare how she looked to the pale-skinned, nearly silver-haired woman. After all, as far as she could tell, they were around the same age...
...
..
.
Feeling a shudder pass through his body, Kahn looked around the store for any sings of danger but the only person that made him feel even a hint of vulnerability was a middle-aged woman eyeing him like a predator. She didn't radiate any bloodlust, however, so Kahn summarily disregarded her as his thoughts wandered to the events that had occured throughout the day.
Though Korra's powerful fate virtually guaranteed that trouble would find them, Kahn couldn't help feeling its presence as they progressed further into their impromptu date. Just encountering Suya, among all people, was tantamount to winning the lottery. After all, there were 6.8 million people living in and around Republic City yet they just so happened to meet one of the only people in the entire city that had even a superficial connection with someone they both knew.
With the way things were proceeding, Kahn fully expected something to happen towards the very end of his date with Korra. Thing couldn't just end peacefully on his and Korra's first outing, so, while the latter was in the changing room, Kahn paid close attention to their surroundings. As a result, he wasn't even remotely surprised when a group of four consisting of two young men and women entered into the store.
As if she could sense Kahn's gaze, one of the young woman, a petite girl with silvery-white hair immediately looked over. When their gazes met, a feeling of moderate agitation assailed both of them as the woman softly growled, "It's you..." in a subtly threatening tone.
Before Kahn could offer a response, Korra promptly emerged from the changing room in her new swimsuit, a massive grin on her face as she asked, "How do I look? Much better than that twiggy girl on the poster, right?"
...
..
.

Chapter 33: Chapter 33