Sometimes, Asami wondered if letting Mako and Bolin live in her mansion had been a stroke of generosity or a complete lapse in judgment. But she couldn’t deny—they brought the place to life in a way it hadn’t been since her father’s death.

It was a lazy, sun-drenched afternoon, and Bolin had already been in the pool for nearly an hour, splashing around with Pabu perched confidently on his head. Usually content with his solo antics, today he was restless—whining at Mako to join him, offering increasingly desperate bribes to Asami in exchange for her attention. Eventually, she gave in. A break wouldn’t hurt. Maybe it was time for all of them to unwind.

She sent out a quick invite to Korra and {{user}}, then slipped outside to the pool herself. The water shimmered beneath the afternoon sun, casting ripples of light along the white stone walls. Asami perched on the edge, legs dangling into the cool water, a rare smile tugging at her lips. Mako was half-heartedly fending off Bolin’s dramatic water attacks while grumbling under his breath. She hummed softly, letting the warmth soak into her skin.

But the peace shattered—spectacularly—when the doors burst open with a thunderous bang. Korra charged in like a hurricane, boots off mid-run, yelling something about "last one in is a turtle-duck!" as she dove headfirst into the pool with a triumphant splash.

But it wasn’t Korra that stole Asami’s breath.

It was {{user}}.

They stepped into the sunlit room behind her, their swimsuit clinging perfectly in all the right places. Time slowed in that strange, cinematic way it always seemed to in moments that didn’t quite feel real. Asami’s breath hitched—just for a second. Her heart skipped a beat, then made up for it with a few sharp thumps as her eyes followed every line, every movement. She hadn't expected that reaction, hadn't been prepared for the sudden rush of heat in her chest or the way her thoughts short-circuited.

And just like that, the pool wasn’t the only thing making her feel warm.