[center][h2][color=peru]{ [/color][color=goldenrod]Chapter One:[/color] [color=peru]Sparks Fly[/color][color=goldenrod] }[/color][/h2][/center]

The dazzling lights from the Pro-bending arena created the perfect atmosphere in Bolin's mind. The soft lantern glow reflected perfectly against Korra's dark skin tone, nearly causing Bolin to forget time's very existence. In his heart, he wanted nothing to change. To him, being by Korra's side overlooking Yue Bay was a truly perfect place to be. The view was great, the company even better. The earth bender had no complaints in his mind, though Bolin was seldom the kind of guy to complain. His resolve and optimistic humor carried him well through the hardships of living on the streets of Republic City. With his older brother by his side, Bolin felt like the tide was truly beginning to change for the better. He and Mako lived above the arena, they had met two great girls and had even made a new name for themselves as The Fire Ferrets.

For the earth bender, life was finally beginning to make sense.

Leaving Korra to enjoy the view, Bolin excused himself to go buy some flowers from a nearby vendor. So far, he and Korra had eaten noodles, enjoyed a Pro-bending game and he hoped to finish off the date with a gift, a bouquet of fresh flowers she could look at and think back to their amazing night together. Bolin pushed his way through the crowd and found the man selling different kinds of flowers. The brown haired male pouted and pondered, trying to think which flowers would delight Korra the most. To him the flowers were indeed pretty but could not compare to Korra herself. He thought about her clutching a bunch of lilies or roses but still felt unsure of what to get, what might make her smile the brightest. He decided on a variety of flowers and paid for them using the bit of coin he had left.

Though he and Mako got paid for bending, it was minimal and it usually went toward the rent they paid the owners of the arena. It was a tough life but having met Korra, it was a life more manageable. Bolin looked down at the collection of flowers wrapped in a bright red sheet of paper, everything tied together with a tight white ribbon. He bent down and smelled their light sweet scent, fining them once again, unable to compare to the blue eyed beauty waiting for him. Bolin navigated back to the railing where he and Korra stood only minutes ago. He spotted Mako only a few feet away, walking away from Korra, down the side steps of the balcony that ran around the outside of the arena that allowed guests a wonderful view of the city and the body of water. [b][color=seagreen]"Hey Korra, I got these for you!"[/color][/b] He grinned, presenting her with the handful of roses, lilies, tulips and other flowers. His mind wandered as to why Mako would be hanging around but for now, he didn't find concern to ask Korra about whether not he did see Mako and if he had, why he was walking away. 

[b][color=seagreen]"I had a really great time with you tonight. We should do this again, don't you think?"[/color][/b] He smiled to her, hoping he'd be rewarded with the same expression of mutual happiness. 

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On the other side of Republic City, nestled by the mountains, Asami Sato was currently finishing a training session with a skilled fire bender. Her father, mother, servants and instructor only knew about her skill with flames. Or lack thereof. Mr.Sato had lost his wife when she and another fire bender were in combat together. She and her husband had been walking around the city when a gang member stopped them for money. The woman refused and a fight broke out which resulted in her death. Asami had only been six at the time and had been forbidden from fire bending, as it would surely result in injury or trouble. Mr.Sato only wanted the best for his only daughter.

He ensured she could run his company should he ever step down. He ensured she could cook and clean but also drive a car and engage in hand to hand combat. Asami was a perfectly well-rounded woman who could be independent should anything happen to him. The dutiful father refused to leave Asami alone in the world but wanted to know she could still meet its challenges should the day come where he was no longer by her side. The young dark haired woman knew her father meant well but since having met Mako, a rather handsome fire bender, she decided to try fire bending. There had been a few instances when she'd produce a flame when her anger got the better of her. Still, her father would yell at her and punish her, though the fire had been purely unintentional.

For a long time Asai hated that she could fire bend, would try to ignore that side of her.

With Mako in her life, she could no longer ignore what was burning inside of her. She loved to go watch the Pro-benders, wishing she could fight alongside them. Her instructor was easing her into the art of fire bending. Since Asami had never trained before, it was a rocky process as most her age would have had a firm grasp of the movements and breathing. But Asami Sato was a quick learner and proud of the progress she was making by only her fourth lesson. As the man left the mansion, Asami went inside, knowing her father would be out late, meeting with clients or something. She couldn't be bothered to keep track of all of his appointments, even if she was trying to do more with him at Future Industries. 

Moving into the large kitchen which was off to the left of the larger foyer and grand staircase, she made herself some tea. The servants all left the house at seven and didn't return until eight the following morning, with only two permanent ones living on-site. Still, Asami enjoyed doing things herself. Though she had grown up feeling pamper, she often stayed grounded by volunteering around the city and helping wherever she could. Her heart was never misplaced it seemed. Sweeping her black wavy locks to the side, she picked up the teapot as she had used her fire bending to help it boil quicker. Pouring herself a cup of hot tea, imported, she pulled out a leftover croissant and wandered across the large gleaming foyer to the large sitting room where a roaring fire was already waiting for company.

[b][color=goldenrod]"Mmm...I wonder what Mako is up to...had I known my father would be out of the house, I would have invited him over."[/color][/b] Asami mused aloud a slight smirk curving up against her red lips, thinking a romantic dinner together sounded pretty nice. Her mind had been circling around the topic of Mako for the past hour and she couldn't understand why. In her mind, he was likely out with Bolin, enjoying the warm spring air. Pat of her envied them, that they had one another, no matter what. Being an only child was difficult when your mother died and left you alone with a workaholic father. Sitting down in the velvet red couch which was lined with polished oak wood, she sipped her earthy tea and munched on her pastry, knowing she would need something far more substantial for dinner. 

As if already knowing Miss Sato's habits, one of two permanent servants glided down the large staircase and asked Asami what she would like for dinner. With a moment to consider, Asami asked for a chicken salad with candied walnuts, craving something both savory and sweet. Asami looked back at the roaring fire and felt a rush of guilt. Against her father's wishes she was honing her fire bending skills. It was dangerous but in Asami's mind, she was almost an adult who could decide what she did and did not learn. She did not want to fear or hate fire bending. Her mother was a fire bender and Asami wanted to feel that connection with her, a connection she hadn't been able to feel for eleven years.

Dinner didn't take long to get ready and soon Asami had finished her meal and was beginning to prepare a batch of chocolate and sea salt cookies. Asami hated being so lonely in such a large house. It very rarely felt like a home. She toyed with the idea of inviting Bolin and Mako as they had plenty of room but she wasn't sure her father would like the idea of two boys staying with his young daughter. Tying to shake off the loneliness, she focused on her cookies and soon put them into the oven while she washed her hands. Glancing out at the dark sky, a sliver of the moon peeking behind the tall trees which surrounded her mansion, she felt a sense of peace. Asami was getting in touch with her fiery side and she really liked it and couldn't wait to impress Mako when the timing was right.