The café is due to open in about an hour or so and whilst she's waiting to open up the store, Remora occupies herself with her phone, browsing through her Instagram, looking at the pictures of the night Korra's engagement part Asami posted on her page. She stops at the image of her and Mako. Mako's hands were in the pockets of his trouser whilst she stood in front of him, looking over her shoulder with a devilish but stunning smirk on her face. Remora can't help but smile at the picture. They really did look good in that picture. People would think they were a couple. She mentally shakes her head at the idea.

She still can't believe that Mako is the pretty boy she met weeks ago. From the way Asami had described him, he seemed like your typical broken man looking for a rebound so he could get over his heart break, and she couldn't help but find that pathetic...

~*~

'You want to me to hook up with Korra's ex-boyfriend?' she asked the raven haired when she stopped by the café.

'Well not really hook up as per se. It's just a matter of getting to know him better and see where it'll take you.' She explained.

'Don't you think it's odd?' Remora asked. 'I'm mean of all the people you could have chosen it just had to be my sister's ex-boyfriend. Does that go against the sister code or something?'

'I thought you said you find the idea of sister code stupid.'

'I do but I ain't taking any chances of pissing her off for going after her ex like he's some sloppy seconds and last thing she needs is me throwing my fist in her face like I used to when we were kids.'

'Whoa! That's harsh and totally unnecessary.'

'It's totally necessary when your bullshit level is at a minimum and she tends do a flawless job at doing that.'

'That's not the point.' Asami said shifting back to the main purpose of the conversation. 'You don't have to date with him. All I'm asking is to be friends with him at least. He may not admit it, but he's been having it rough ever since he and Korra split and he needs someone to get through it.'

'This is something he has to do on his own, Asami.' Remora pointed out. 'It shouldn't be my job to help him move on nor is it my place to do so. Plus, he sounds like a pathetic love lone and as you know; I'm allergic to pathetic.'

'Come on, Remora. Pretty please. You can just talk to him just for the night and if he's as pathetic as you think he is, you won't have to bother seeing or talking to him again.'

Remora looked at the table thinking about it carefully for a brief moment until she relented. 'Fine, I'll see him there, but I better not regret this.'

~*~

Turns out, Mako wasn't as pathetic as she initially thought he was. He was funny and easy to talk to. Sure, he did show that he was bummed about Korra marrying someone else – at least from her observation when they were talking – but he was doing his best to come to terms with the arrangement and that was something. She is curious as to what happened between him and her sister but that's a story for him to tell her when he feels the need to. Maybe helping him get over his heart ache isn't such a bad idea, she thinks.

'AW YEAH! Niki Omaru is in the house. I repeat, Niki is in the house!' a voice penetrates her train of thought. She looks up from her phone and see her annoying colleague and best friend enter the café with a grin so wide it could rip her face in half. 'Was that really necessary especially this early?' Remora asks not impressed with the red haired.

'Yes. It brings out the Niki in me and she's all about making grand entrances.'

Niki has always been very hyper active and bubbly from the first day Remora met her when she started working at Java. She has no idea how they became friends but it kinda just happened and to be honest. Remora had no intention of being friends with anyone even Niki knew that but that never stopped her from trying until Remora relentlessly gave in. Even though she's annoying and loud as hell, she's okay to be around. She never gave up on her and actually treats her like a normal person even after Remora told her about her past. Something that never really happened to her in a very long time.

'So how was the party?' Niki asks joining her at the counter. 'Better than I expected and you won't believe who Korra's ex-boyfriend is.' Remora tells her.

'Who?'

'That one guy who I had that bimbo boring him to death?'

'No way!'

'Yeah way!'

'No wonder why he looked so familiar when I first saw him! He's my man's partner. I've seen him a couple times around here whenever Jak comes to grab a coffee before heading to work.'

'Does your man happen to a semi-buff and lean red-haired man who sounds like he grew up in the ghetto?'

'Yeah, why?'

'That explains why I sensed your vibes on him when I first met him.'

'You met Jak?' Niki asks curiously. 'Yeah. At The Boulder during my shift. Apparently, you mans was the one who set up the pretty boy with that bimbo.' Remora shakes her head. 'So sad.'

'Maybe he was just trying to help him out. From what Jak has been telling me about him, he sounds like a who's never been out on a date or had a girlfriend in a really long time.' She says. 'I don't get why a drop-dead gorgeous specimen of a male could be single till this day.'

'Niki, you're already taken.' Remora reminds her, lidding her eyes. 'Yes, I'm taken. Not blind. Any woman – taken or single – knows a sexy man when they see one.' Niki throws a sass whilst rolling her eyes really hard. 'And I'm telling you girl, if my bae's partner was a three-course meal with an all you can eat buffet and dessert on the side, you better believe I will eat. Him. Up.'

'He's a person. Not food.'

'Bitch don't act like you've never noticed how handsome he is.'

Remora would be lying if she said that he didn't consider Mako handsome. His eyes were a mesmerising gold that shone brighter than the sun with flecks of brown which complimented the hue of his eyes. His dark brows were graceful. He had a small but soft smile across his face. His perfect lips were ripe for the kissing. His strong arms, on his knees as he stared deep into my eyes. She never forgot his deep but serious voice when he spoke to her at Korra's engagement party which made the butterflies in her stomach flutter. It's almost as if the Mother of Face had moulded him just to spoil her eyes only.

'I'll take your silence and look on your face means that you agree with me.' Niki says with a smug look, in which Remora responds by rolling her eyes. 'Whatever helps you sleep at night.' She replies waving her hand dismissively.

Suddenly, Remora's phone starts ringing. She sees that she's getting a voice call from an unknown number. She cocks an eyebrow. She doesn't remember passing out her number to anyone accept Niki, Asami and Korra ever since she started living in Republic City.

Curious to know who it is, she answers it. 'Hello?'

'Hey.'

She can't help but smile at the voice she's very familiar with. That smile doesn't go unnoticed by Niki. 'Who is it?' She mouths.

'Mako.' Remora mouths back.

'Oh, my goodness!' She exclaims loud enough for the caller to hear. Remora had to throw one of the plastic cups at her to shut her up. 'Shh!' She hisses putting her forefinger on her lips.

'Uhm...should I ask what's going on at your end?'

'That's just my annoying best friend being her annoying ass self.' She assures him. 'Hey! That's not very nice.' Niki pouts like a five-year-old who got her candy snatched by a bully. 'Sorry not sorry.' Remora says sarcastically before turning back to the call. 'How did you get my number?'

'I may or may not have asked Asami to give me your number seeing that we managed to hit it off at Korra's party. She was the one who persuade me to meet you after all.'

'And you couldn't ask me to give you my number myself?' She muses.

'If I did then it wouldn't be a surprise now will it?'

Remora laughs at his remark. 'I never took you to be the cheesy and dorky type.'

'Well consider yourself lucky. I rarely show this side of me to anyone.'

'Well I'm honoured.' She says as he chuckles.

'I was wondering if I could see you sometime today depending on what you're schedule is like. I would like to get to know you more and of course spend some time with you.'

Remora gasps feigning surprise. 'Is the guy who got set up on the worst blind date by his homeboy actually asking me?

'And if I am? Unless...you have other plans.'

'Well I have help Korra and Asami runs so errands for her wedding plans. Then I have a thing going on at the Avatar Korra park sometime around eight PM. But you can come pick me up and take me wherever you want afterwards.'

'Awesome! I'll see you there.'

'Sure thing, bye.'

She stares at the screen of her phone after she hung up the call, until Niki clears her throat breaking her out of whatever bliss mood she was in after talking to Mako. 'So...when are we expecting the wedding.' Niki asks. Remora throws another cup at Niki.

'Shut up and let's open up the store.'

~•~

'No, that's not doing it for me.' Asami says waving her hand with a look of disapproval. Korra throws her head back and whines. 'Asami, this is the twentieth dress I tried. Come on.' She complains at the raven haired.

'Korra, this is your wedding. We need to be looking for the best dress we can find.' She reasons.

'Yes, my wedding. Not yours.'

'She can always wear a traditional Water Tribe wedding dress. They're simple but very fashionable.' Remora proposes. 'Yeah, well not everyone follows tradition nowadays especially here in Republic City.' Asami says going through the dresses. 'You have a lot to learn young grasshopper.'

'Bitch, I'm twenty-nine.' Remora narrows her eyes.

'Yes, but Korra and I are older than you.' She replies smugly, pulling out a dress and hands it to Korra. 'Try this one.'

'Do I have to?' Korra whines. 'Yes, you have too.' Asami pushes her to the changing room.

'Your dedication of making her wedding day a success really amuses me. Even if it's not you who's getting married.' Remora remarks as Asami sits next to her on the couch provided in the boutique. 'I did offer to help plan the wedding since I have the money and resources.' Asami replies with a proud smile. 'Besides, Korra's my best friend and I want this wedding to be perfect.'

'I think the fact that she's marrying the man she loves and gets to share and celebrate it with the people she cares about is perfect enough.' Remora states. 'You should know by now that Korra isn't all about having something big to celebrate something small.'

'I see your point,' Asami says with eyes wondering on the ground in deep thought. 'Korra had been through a lot ever since she almost died from mercury poisons. It was a very traumatising experience for her, and it took her a real long time to open up to everyone.'

Remora frowns and looks to the ground. Remora had heard of the stories about how Korra was poisoned by the Red Lotus twelve years ago and how it affected her both physically and psychologically. 'I really envy her, you know?' Remora says. Asami looks from the ground and turns her gaze to the white haired. 'Even after all that, she still manages to live the best life the world can offer.'

'So, can you,' Asami points out. 'Why do you have to be so hard on yourself?'

'I dunno.' She shrugs. 'Maybe it's because I've dealt with so much bullshit that I gave up trying. The world is a shitty and fucked up place.'

'It's only going to get shittier and fucked up if you don't do something about it.' Asami places her hand on Remora's shoulder. 'Life is how you make it.'

'Uh...guys?' Someone catches their attention. There before them is Korra wearing a long tight white lace dress that's a bit too revealing which has sleeves that stops at her shoulders and is showing too much of her cleavage. Korra looks very much uncomfortable in that dress. Even Asami and Remora can't help but cringe at the sight of it.

'Okay...so I'll admit that wasn't the best choice.' Asami comments. 'Can you even breathe or move in that thing?' Remora asks.

'I'm trying.' Korra says trying to adjust the dress. 'Who in their right mind would wear this?'

'Yeah, you look stupid.' Remora agrees.

'I feel stupid.'

'Okay. Plan B' Asami declares. 'Wait? There's a plan B?' Remora asks, watching the raven haired stand up from the couch and walks over to the paying counter, where the cashier, reading a book. The Water Tribe sisters exchange looks as Asami is talking to the elderly woman. She closes her books and follows Asami to their direction.

'How may I assist?' She asks staring at Korra with arms behind her back. 'Which dress do you think would suit a lady of this type?' Asami asks gesturing at Korra. 'Certainly not this dress. The groom should be paying attention to the bride. Not what's inside the dress the bride is wearing.' She answers moving to the other isle of dress. 'That's for the honeymoon.'

'Okay! T.M.I.' Remora cringes along with Korra. The lady return with a dress and hands it to Korra. 'I trust you'll love this one.'

Suddenly, Korra's phone rings. 'Who is it?' Asami asks, watching the bride to be reach for her phone from the coffee table. 'It's Jae requesting a video call.' She tells them. Asami and the cashier's face turn pale. Without a second thought Asami snatches her phone from her grasp and the cashier pushes Korra to the changing room. Asami throws the phone to Remora. 'Answer it.' She hisses.

'Why do I have to?' Remora asks knitting her eyebrows together.

'JUST DO IT!'

'ALRIGHT! Jeez.' Remora answers the call. Jae appears on the screen. 'Hey, my dear soon to be brother in law.' She greets him. 'Hey there, my soon to be sister in law. Where's my soon to be wife?' He asks.

'She's still in the changing room trying on some dresses. It might take a while.' She tells him.

'Ah, I see. Well I wanted to check how she's doing. Tell her I called, okay?'

'Sure thing.'

'Later.'

And that concludes their conversation. 'The coast is clear.' She announces. 'I don't see why I had to hid in the changing room.' Korra pokes her head out of the changing. The cashier smacks her head. 'Ow! Hey!' She protests, rubbing the spot she got hit.

'It's bad luck to let the groom see the dress before the day?' the cashier scolds her. 'Why do you think brides come in last at every ceremony?'