Chapter One

"Greetings San Francisco! My name Korra, and this is Conflict Resolution, the after-hours radio show where I help callers sort out turmoil and heartache." The young woman smiled against the microphone as she readjusted it. This was always her favorite part of the show. "Today, I'd like to spend some time talking about belief in yourself, so if anyone is struggling to find courage, give me a call and we can talk about self-confidence."

Korra leaned down and scratched the head of her great pyrenees, Naga, who groaned and leaned into her hand. Her managers had been reluctant to allow the dog into the recording studio, but Naga proved to be a crowd pleaser with the audience. "As always I'm accepting calls on any subject. So pick up the phone and let's talk."

A blinking light on the switchboard indicated her first caller had been directed to the studio. The tech crew always had at least five callers waiting before the show started. Radio silence did not make for good entertainment. Korra pressed the flashing red button. "Hello! You're on Conflict Resolution. What seems to be the problem?"

"Uh, hi Korra. Hi Naga." The voice was quiet, probably from the man's own nerves than anything else.

Korra patted Naga on the head and she barked. "Naga says hi back."

The man laughed and spoke a little louder, "Um – I'm calling because I'm having a hard time convincing my wife of a business venture."

Leaning back in her chair, Korra swung the mic to travel with her. "Okay. So what is your business venture? Let's start there."

"I want to start a bakery themed after recipes involving cabbage. So many people are getting into the gluten-free, vegan lifestyle, I thought it would be a good idea. My grandfather grew and sold cabbages and has this really in-depth recipe book for baked goods involving cabbage."

"Cabbage baked goods. I can see that! I recently tried a chocolate cake made with beets." And it hadn't been the best, but Korra did not follow food trends very well. "But why do you need your wife to agree to this? Why not pursue it on your own?"

The man explained how they owned a restaurant together. Korra listened and nodded even though she knew the man could not see her. She figured it would help listeners get engaged in the show if she acted engaged in the conversation.

When the man finished talking, Korra responded. "Well, it sounds to me like your wife has some valid concerns, but you deserve to try out this idea. Have you two considered a compromise? Maybe try putting the cabbage stuff on a dessert menu. Give away free cookies. See if people like it first, you know? It might not be the best idea to immediately convert your restaurant into a bakery, but you definitely should try out new ideas. Does this help?"

"It actually does. Thanks Korra." The line went dead and Korra accepted a new caller. She loved this job, more than she thought she would when she finished school with a degree in communication. She had not really known what she would do with it, just that she would find work somewhere. The radio station had accepted her as a coffee lackey on a whim.

The hour went by quickly, and Korra had to sign off, reluctantly. "Well, I'd love to take more calls and resolve more conflicts, but you folks are going to have to wait another day for me to get back with you. Until tomorrow evening. My name is Korra, and you've been listening to Conflict Resolution."

She cut to a commercial and sighed, pushing away the mic and leaning down to pat Naga on the head. "We made it through another one, girl," she said. Her dog groaned and leaned into her hand. "Wanna get something to eat?"

Naga's ears perked up and Korra stood, stretching her back before grabbing her jacket and Naga's leash. The late-night show was her last part of her workday, allowing her to leave the studio at 11 pm. She took Naga down the stairwell and exited the building. She paused outside to inhale the salty scent of San Francisco's wharf air.

"So, did you bring about world peace yet?"

Korra glanced over and saw Asami leaning against a light-post. The young woman flipped her dark hair back and waved. "I think I'm getting close," Korra said. Naga practically pulled her over to Asami.

"Hi there girl!" She knelt down and let the dog kiss her face before she scratched her behind the ear. "I'm sure you helped, too."

"Come on Naga." Korra tugged on her leash. "You're going to mess up her hair."

Asami stood up and wiped the dog slobber off her face. "That's the least of my worries, I think." She looked around for a moment before wiping her hands on Korra's jacket.

Korra jumped back. "Ew, hey!"

Asami laughed. "She's your dog. You get to help clean me up."

"Not by letting you use me like a towel!"

"What, are you going to give me another tongue bath?"

Korra blushed and Asami laughed. Naga barked and tugged on her leash, causing Korra to start walking. "It's not what I meant," she said, turning back to her friend. Asami only grinned and followed her up the hill. "Why are you stalking me anyways?"

"I was in the office until late and knew you'd be heading home soon. I thought we could keep each other company." Korra still walked ahead of her, letting Naga lead the way home. "Because I'm nice like that."

Finally, Korra turned and glanced at her. Asami smiled and waved and Korra glanced back. "You know, I might actually think you're nice if you came to get a chili dog with me."

"At eleven at night?" Asami asked. She caught up to Korra and walked beside her.

"You wouldn't want Naga to miss out on her treat, would you?" Naga glanced up at the sound of her name, but quickly went back to sniffing along the sidewalk. "There's a nice place that's still open just down the road. And Naga likes the dog treats the owner gives her."

"You certainly have a way with people, don't you?"

"What? They give out dog treats to anyone who brings their pet in. A lot of places do it."

Asami nudged her. "Yeah, but you have a certain talent for making friends with the strangest people.

Korra laughed. "Yeah, look at you."

"You know what I mean."

Instead of agreeing, Korra shrugged and kept walking up the hill. It was a bit of a climb back into San Francisco. Both of them remained silent as they made their way along the path. Asami's words remained in her head. It was true, Korra did have an easy time approaching people and starting up a conversation. It was the thing that made her so efficient at her job on the radio.

Once they reached the top of the hill, Korra led them down a one-lane road. The diner was not far from there. "You know, there aren't a lot of people I'd actually call friends in this world," she said, picking up their old thread of conversation. "You, Mako, and Bolin are the first ones to come to mind. Even then, all I get is the cold shoulder from them nowadays. Well, mostly Mako. But still – I guess Tenzin and his family count, but other than that..."

Korra felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced over at Asami. "You're a good person, you know that?" The hand left her shoulder.

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm only good from afar," she said. They reached the diner and went inside, bringing Naga with. During the day, the owners asked Korra to leave her outside, but so few people ate there at night, and Naga had become somewhat of a local celebrity.

"Why do you say that?" They chose a booth by a window and sat down. Naga crawled under the table, bumping their feet out of the way.

"I don't know. It just feels that way after ruining two relationships in a row." They both picked up menus, though Korra knew what she would order, like always. "I mean, they obviously weren't working out, but it still hurts when we all try to hang out together."

Asami sighed and put down her menu. "I guess I can relate. We've both screwed up as far as Mako is concerned. But he was just as stupid, so don't feel too much pity."

"I know, I know! I just... wish I could meet someone and not be responsible for helping them find balance. People talk to me because they think I'm going to fix their problems. Do you know how much it sucks when you go out on a date and it turns into a confession?"

Asami laughed. "What kind of confession?"

Korra glared at her. "The kind where your date is sobbing into your shirt."

"Ouch. Guy or girl?"

"Both. You wouldn't believe how much the shock jock from the morning news show can weep."

"Korra, you're dating coworkers? What's wrong with you?"

"Well, where else am I going to meet someone? I'm not getting any younger."

Before Asami could scold her any further, a waiter showed up and took their orders. Before leaving, the man knelt down and passed a dog treat over to Naga. "Who's a good girl?" he asked, patting her on the head. "Korra, I can't tell you how much business has improved since our talk. Thank you so much."

She shrugged off the compliment and smiled. "Just doing my job, bringing balance to the world one person at a time."

The man grinned. "I'll be right back with your food."

She waved as he walked away and glanced back at Asami, who frowned at her. "What?"

"See, this is what I don't understand about you. You're so..." Asami gestured vaguely at her, "outgoing and personable when you're not worried about making a good impression."

"You mean with that guy?" Korra pointed her thumb in the direction the waiter had walked. "He's a client, not a friend. That was work. Work is different from dates."

"I know. It should be. But there isn't any reason you have to keep your social skills separate depending on if you're working or not."

"I don't do that," said Korra. The waiter returned with their food, a chili dog and fries for Korra and a chicken sandwich for Asami. Korra immediately began working on the fries.

"Please, you're the most ungraceful person I know. I wouldn't believe you had a degree in communications if I hadn't witnessed you get it myself." Asami sighed and leaned back in the chair. "But all of your slovenly manners disappear the second you're determined to help someone."

"Maybe you're just too critical," Korra said. She took a bite out of her chili dog and ended up with beans dripping all over her shirt. "That proves nothing." She grabbed a napkin and wiped away the food, ignoring Asami's laugh.

"Well, how about this. If you're so suave, why don't we go out to a club later this week? You can show me how smooth you are with whoever strikes your fancy, and if you crash and burn again, I get to help you be a better human, not just some wisdom-spouting radio personality."

Korra folded her arms and stared down at the table. This was not the first time Asami, or other people, had offered to help her get ahold of her life. Her parents had suggested counseling after her messy split with Mako, but she had turned them down. Korra was the great peace-maker of San Francisco. She did not need help. She was the one who gave it. She glanced up to see Asami grinning at her. "Sure, you're on."

Asami extended a manicured hand. "Shall we shake on it?"

For a moment, Korra held back. Then she grabbed Asami's hand in a tight grip and smiled back. "Of course, princess. But you're not gonna get a chance to school me. I'm quite skilled in the art of seduction." God, she hoped Asami didn't know she was lying through her teeth.

A/N: So I posted about this on tumblr and people went crazy over it. I had to write it. The fans needed it. Other projects will be receiving updates too, no worries. For now, enjoy this, and if you like what I write, why not read some of my original fiction? Warrior, the first solo work by me (Michelle Magly) is now available as an ebook. Paperback copies will be out soon!