Prompt: "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business" - The Godfather

Synopsis: Being the avatar wasn't an easy, or even clean, task. Sometimes she wished it was.

Word Count: 793

Rating: K

"Hey, where're we going? It's past curfew." a voice whispered behind her. She nearly jumped out of her skin - actually, almost sent them into a wall. "We should both be in bed."

Korra looked at him - well, as much as she could in the dark. She could make out his silhouette, and the dim reflection of the stars in his eyes. Even though he had no idea why she was sneaking, he'd just joined her. He had even changed into fatigues instead of sticking with the army's nightwear, she noticed.

"I just gotta check something out, Bo, go back to bed," she whispered, looking around. Patrol was not due back for a while, she knew, but the last thing she wanted right now was to tempt fate.

She heard him sigh, and probably shake his head. She wasn't sure. "I'm not gonna leave you alone, besides, I know the best ways out."

It was true, but right now she didn't need the best way out, she needed a certain way out. "I know what I'm doing," she whispered back to him. "Go back to bed, it won't take long." She felt bad for lying to him, but she knew she had to leave a.s.a.p.

Speak of the devil, the communicator in her ear crackled to life. "We're at the rendez-vous point. Come in, Korra." Asami. Honestly, in Korra's opinion, she would have been much better suited for this type of thing.

"Look," Korra told Bolin, touching his arm softly. "I gotta go check out something. Go back to bed Bo, I heard we got a shipment of coffee and hot cocoa, you don't want to miss it, do you?" she asked sweetly.

Asami talked to someone else on the other side of the communicator. Then, to Korra, "Is everything alright? Say 'save some for me' if yes, or 'you can have mine' for no."

Bolin looked at her. "I don't, but what about you?"

Korra smiled. "Save some for me, I might decide to sleep in a few minutes, okay?" Her hand climbed up his arm, to rest at his neck; her thumb rubbing his skin softly.

She hadn't realized how soft her voice had gotten, because even Asami didn't immediately acknowledged the response. Everything was quiet. Then, everything went back into motion all at once. Bolin's hand came up to caress her head, bringing them forehead-to-forehead. Asami, she knew, put on headphones, because through the communicator she heard the complaints of several people. Korra breathed in softly.

"You won't let me come with you, then?" he asked, obviously hurt. She could feel his breath on her skin, tickling her.

"Bo," she lamented. "You're the one friend I have here. More than a friend, you know-" she whispered that last part- "But I have to go on my own for this. Trust me."

There was a moment of silence once more, then she felt him shift forward. His lips met hers softly, in a chaste kiss that ended much too soon. Her lips felt soft with his lip balm he wore at night - beeswax - and she immediately went back to kiss the corner of his mouth.

"Always," he told her. "I just wish I could come."

"It's kind of a personal matter," she told him, breaking the embrace. He stepped back, the inches between them now feeling like miles. "Bye."

"Bye," he replied, turning back to head to the barracks, certain he would see her in the morning.

He wouldn't. Korra would not be coming back here, unless the war brought them here. She hadn't even supposed to tell him she was going anywhere - though in their time together, they had become quite popular for nightly excursions - but she knew he would be more worried than if he did know.

As soon as she was alone, Korra whispered in a shaky voice, "Intel's been acquired. On way to rendez-vous point, e.t.a. five minutes."

"Copy that," Asami replied quietly. She felt like she had intruded on a personal moment.

Korra hurried her way to the designated spot - just into the woods outside the military camp. Dodging patrols felt like a walk in the park after what she'd done. Once there, she met with another agent on a motorcycle. There were strong winds blowing tonight, and the two were far enough that it would provide cover.

"We made it," she said, taking a seat behind the driver.

"Good job, Korra," Asami replied. "With this intel we'll be able to put a stop to the war, and bring down Kuvira for good."

Yeah, she thought. Then, Sorry, Bo, I lied. This wasn't personal at all, it was all business. She fooled herself into believing that she was crying because of the wind whipping in her eyes.