Track 14- Something Stupid
(Note: Lyrics will be in the form of Korra's thoughts and will be italicized.
Theme: Korra has broken up with Mako when their romantic spark burned out, now she's after someone else but that person is afraid of getting hurt again. (Post-Cannon)
Warnings: F/F
Song: 'Something Stupid' by Robbie Williams/Nicole Kidman)
~~~~~~.:oOo:.~~~~~~
I'm going to do it! It's a year and a half since the war, six months since I broke things off with Mako and I'm tired of waiting! I'm going to ask Asami out today!
Oh…Wait…Maybe she won't have time for me… She's a busy woman now that she has to run Future Industries all by herself and she does have plenty other suitors, male suitors at that, wanting dates and business acquaintances asking for meetings… I should probably wait.
«I know I've to stand in line until you think you have the time to spend an evening with me…»
No, I'm sick and tired of waiting and being a coward. I'm asking her out and that's it! In fact she's walking out of her office now and I've been pacing this corridor far too long so it's time to face her.
"Asami…?" Spirits be damned! Why does my voice have to shake right now? This is no different than any other day we hang out, the only change is…well, it's that we'd be alone together without Bolin and Mako tagging along.
"Korra? What are you doing here?" She smiles to me and it's so bright that I'm almost blinded by her beauty for a moment. Today she's wearing that lovely red skirt I like so much over black stockings and that tight wine and black coat shows off her curves just right while her hair floats around like the perfect mass of ebony curls that it is.
"I was waiting to talk to you actually." I play with the tip of my ponytail nervously as I watch her chuckle.
"You could have just come in, you know? You're the Avatar, you don't need to wait for anything." That tittering sound of her demure laugh makes me gulp and I'm sure my dusky skin must be blushing considerably already. Geez, I feel like such a…a…a girl!
"You seemed busy…" LAME! Couldn't I have come up with a better excuse for my cowardice? I could have just told her I hadn't been waiting long!
"Oh Korra, I always have time for you." She smiles sweetly again as moves closer until I can almost feel the heat from her body even though she's standing a perfectly polite distance. "So what do you want?"
"I…hm…I wanted to ask if you'd like to hang out with me…" I rub the back of my head self-consciously and look away. This harder than I thought, I'm making too much of a big deal out of it. "Just the two of us."
"That sounds like a lot of fun." Asami seems to be considering the possibilities. "Any ideas of where we could go?"
"Where would you suggest? You still know this city better than me." I smile politely, I actually don't know the first thing about date etiquette, especially when the partner is a female so I'm scared senseless.
"Well, there's a nice little dance hall I know off. We could try it, who knows, we might even see some cute guys there." She chuckles playfully and I keep smiling but inside of me something burns and not in the good sense.
«And if we go some place to dance I know that there's a chance you won't be leaving with me…»
No, nope, no thank you, sir. I'm not taking her anywhere were hunky dudes can steal her from me, I want her undivided attention.
"Er… I'm not much of a dancer. Any other thoughts?" I try to look apologetic but I think all that comes out is an awkward grimace.
"Well…" Asami pulls out the lovely little golden watch that hangs on a chain around her neck and pops it open. "It's almost dinner time anyway so why don't we go grab a bite?"
"Sure." I nod but something stops me. "Nothing too fancy, right?" I'd be too stiff, clumsy and rude in something like Kuang's so I really hope she's not expecting me to get prissy.
"Nah, how about Narook's? Bolin says you like it." She tilts her head with gentle patience.
"And do you like cheap Water Tribe noodles?" I actually laugh, it's hard to imagine Asami anywhere short of luxurious.
"Actually, I'm learning to like everything Water Tribe lately." That cryptic smile is driving me crazy and I almost want to smear that dark maroon lip-paint with my own lips by kissing her senseless right here. Spirits, I need to control myself.
"Well then, shall we?" I offer her my arm in mock gentlemanly politeness but she titters and takes it anyway as we walk down the stairs and out of her home since her office is still located in the Sato Manor.
I love riding a satomobile when Asami drives. She's so confident behind the wheel that I enjoy rushing through town with the wind in my air and the vehicle moving with precise control almost as much as I love watching the focused but relaxed air of happiness on her face as she moves those delicate slender hands over the wheel as if it were the body of a lover…Oh, for the love of Yue! I'm getting distracted with fantasies again.
Narook's Seaweed Noodlery is located in dark little alley, it looks cheap and shabby from the outside but once we pass that green door it's like coming home after a long time away. Then again, maybe it just feels like that to me because I'm from the Southern Water Tribe and everything about this place screams South Pole- from the yellow and blue decorations to the animal pelts with our symbols, from the smell of seaweed noodles and ice-berry pop to the warm welcome of the waiters. I'm glad Bolin showed me this place, it has become my favorite and I just adore the food.
We pick a little table as far away as possible from what we dubbed 'the Tahno corner', the guy isn't here today but just his posters hanging there make me feel uncomfortable, ever since I returned his bending he's been way too flirty with me and I don't really want to think about that when I'm with Asami. Luckily, our table is in a quiet little corner and Asami seems perfectly comfortable, shrugging off her jacket and hanging it on the back of the chair before she sits with her legs casually crossed, wearing only that lovely fringed black sleeveless top and her fingers tap the tabletop silently in time with the little tune that plays from some radio in the back.
I sit in from of her a little stiffly but when the waiter approaches us I have to grin because it's Narook himself and we're old buddies by now, being Southern Water Tribers and all, plus he knows what I like since I come her often with Bolin and his jokes always make me smile.
"Avatar Korra! Good evening." Narook beams and bows at me then turns to Asami who I think he's only seen around once or twice. "And the lovely Miss Sato. How are you this fine evening?"
"Hey, Narook." I greet him with familiarity and I'm almost ready to brag about prancing around with 'lovely Miss Sato' here.
"Hello, sir." Asami is as polite as ever. "This evening we are eager to enjoy some fine Water Tribe dinning in your fancy little establishment." She jokes but we can tell she means it, she's not being sarcastic in the least, and that just makes Narook even happier.
"Came to the right place, Miss." He holds out a note pad and a pencil. "What will it be, lovely ladies?"
I order because Asami insists that I chose for her and by the time the food comes we've been talking about trivialities like Pro-Bending and Bolin's new team, Future Industries' new private airships, my spiritual training and this singer that keeps popping on the radio. It's chit-chat and I'm happy and comfortable talking to her about anything but I'm so nervous that I'm not sure I'll be able to keep my food down.
She slurps at the noodles a little clumsily but she likes it and eats with obvious delight. As for me I can barely taste my excellent food because I'm distracted watching the way she sucks the strings of green noodles into those plump red lips. I'm sure I' blushing again but I force myself to swallow and eat as tidily as I can.
I think I'm naturally predisposed to rudeness, that must be it because I can't seem to keep my mouth shut about anything and I just burped out loudly from binging on berry pop. Bolin would have laughed and burped with me but I expect Asami to be appalled at my behavior and I turn as red as a Fire Nation banner because of it but she just laughs happily.
"Sorry…" I grin apologetically.
"No problem. I love it when you're yourself, Korra. You are the most entertaining and exciting person I know." Asami sips on her straw delicately, leaving a red lip print on it but her words melt me like butter.
"Well, I AM the Avatar. Exciting is my middle name." Or maybe my last name? Water Tribers don't have last names so I guess this city colloquialism doesn't quite apply to me.
"That's not the reason. I like plain brawny Korra just as much as I like Avatar Korra." By now Asami has stolen the very last piece of my heart, those words nearly make me shed a tear, that's how touched I am; it's hard to find anyone that can see past my title.
"Thanks, 'Sami. I like free-spirited hardcore Asami just as much as I like rich fancy Miss Sato too." Actually, I like Asami's real self a lot more than I like her rich businesswoman persona but with her it's all too interconnected to make the distinction and I love every little bit of her.
That's right- love. There, I said it. I am head over heels for Miss Asami Sato and don't care what anyone else thinks anymore… except the lady herself, of course, and that's why I can't stop fidgeting nervously.
When we finish our meal I have to rush to pay the tab or she will beat me to it. I know it's just pocket change for someone like her whereas I rarely have any money at all but I asked her out so I want to do this right even if it's silly and worthless in her eyes. Still, I like the look of amusement she gives me when I stick out my tongue cheekily and do a little victory dance for having beaten her to the bill.
"What shall we do now?" I ask as we slip outside, enjoying the warm summer night breeze.
"There's a little small bar a few blocks from here that I like, it's quiet and they serve Fire Nation liquor. It's kind of bootleg but we could try that?" She suggests, already slipping behind the wheel of the satomobile.
She has wanted to teach me how to drive and I have been tempted to say yes just to spend time with her but I'd rather just watch her drive than take the wheel myself….Oh wait, but I could exchange driving lessons for riding lessons on Naga, that's the perfect excuse to spend time with her AND snuggle close to her body on my cuddly polar bear dog. I'll have to suggest that.
«Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place and have a drink or two…»
"Sure, sounds fun." My thoughts excited me but the truth is I'm terrible with booze. The few times I actually drank were for events and celebrations and that usually ends with me turning red, loud and doing something stupid but I want to indulge her and I could use a little liquid courage right now.
Chang's is really tiny cozy little corner bar and it's mostly empty tonight but we still squeeze into the most secluded little booth in the back since it's not really the best place for the Avatar and one of the richest women in town to be seen. The drinks Asami orders are crystal clear but dual toned in emerald and amber red and they come is strange little bubble glasses that look way to delicate for my untrained fingers but after the first gulp of spicy-sweet and slightly acidic drink that burns down my throat the world around me becomes me brighter and warmer and I'm pretty sure my cinnamon cheeks are turning rosy again.
"Like it?" Asami takes bold sips, looking completely unperturbed by the alcohol as she leans a little closer to me.
"Actually yeah." I giggle, it's silly girly little sound but after half a glass I can't stop even if it's embarrassing me.
Turns out my giggles are infectious and in a few minutes she's giggling with me and we make jokes about the stupidest things and even sing popular songs with funny misheard lyrics until we've drained six glasses of the strong stuff, even though only two of those were mine.
"I do wonder what happened to Masky McDouche-Face." I giggle, speaking about Amon in the only way I can to keep the anger, pity and fear away- with jokes. Asami accidentally brought up the subject and I don't even know how we stumbled on the topic because my head is spinning a little.
"Ran off with his tail between his legs after you kicked his ass." Asami sniggers and speaks with a tone of rude bold defiance that I didn't know she had but it makes me laugh. She's not drunk at all, she just seems to be happy, relaxed and going with flow.
"Damn right!" I lean to her conspiratorially and whisper in her ear. "But if you ask me he really was 'frigging hot under that mask."
Asami laughs so hard that she's holding her sides with one arm but she wraps the other around my shoulders in an awkward hug that makes me tingle wherever she touches me.
"I wish I had seen that!" She tips her head until it's leaning against mine and I can smell jasmine in her hair. "Korra, you really are the best company."
"We should do this more often." I suggest hopefully and giddily.
"We will." Asami takes another sip of the drink and I feel that I should talk to her before I lose my courage.
"Asami… There's actually a reason I asked you out." I mumbled the words into my glass as I take another sip but her arm is still around me and it feels so good that I relax through the nerves.
"Oh? And what's that, Korra?" She smiles good-humoredly and tilts her head to look at me.
"I love you." I blurt out the words before I can even control myself. STUPID BRAIN! I need to install a filter between my mind and my mouth before I say any more idiotic things…Damn it, why did I drink so much?!
«And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like 'I love you'.»
Asami's face fell all of the sudden and her arm slowly falls from my shoulder until she's staring at me with her brows just slightly pinched and her mouth flat, it's like she's trying to determine whether I'm joking or not and at the same time she looks…scared or maybe upset is the better word.
«I can see it in your eyes-
you still despise the same old lies
you heard that night before...»
I know what's eating her, I really do because I went through the same thing. It's Mako.
I like Mako, he's like family now but there was a time when things were more complicated. Mako had Asami and he told her he loved her but then he had me and our romance bloomed behind Asami's back, or actually it was right in her face, but Asami handled it like a queen and even though Mako broke her heart for me she still remained friends with us. The problem was- after Mako and I realized that out spark really was like fire in the sense that it was hot and passionate but burned out fast we drifted apart romantically and before we knew it we were just friends again and the main reason was because I had fallen in love, and I mean really in love, with Asami and he knew it.
Mako found my crush sweet and endearing but he told me not to keep my hopes up because she didn't trust love anymore, not after Mako and not after her dad lied to her for years, and she was a girl like me after all…Well, I don't really care what he says anymore.
"Korra…" Asami looks a little taken aback but sighs distantly, trying to make a joke out of it. "What does that even mean? You're drunk, little Avatar."
«And though it's just a line to you for me it's true,
it's never seemed so right before.»
I can tell what she's thinking, she thinks I'm just saying that in the spur of the moment and I am but I really do mean it and I wish she'd see that…Then again I'm terrified that if I push her she'll never want to see me again.
"Huh…I guess I am." I admit with a grimace. "Maybe we should go?"
"Sure." She seems to relax again and smiles caringly. "Want a ride back to the island or do you want to spend the night at my place?"
Oh sweet baby seals! Does she even know what she does to me when she says things like that? What am I supposed to say? 'Yes, Asami, I want to spend every darned night at YOUR place! In YOUR bed! With YOU!'?
Ah geez, I need to get a hold of myself and leave before I do any other stupid things but I just can't waste this shot, I need to stay close to her and it's the first time I've been invited to stay over with her without the airbender kids or any of the others in the way.
"I don't think Tenzin would find it funny if I showed up drunk… Can I stay at your place, please?" I think I just stumbled all over the words and my face is flaming but she just smiles and nods.
"Sure thing, Korra."
The ride back home is actually pretty quiet because Asami is focused on the road just to be sure that the drinks really aren't affecting her and I'm pretending to be way drunker than I am because I need to think before I blurt out any other stupid things. How did this happen?
«I practice every day to find some clever lines to say
to make the meaning come true…»
I've practicing exactly what to say to her for days, I'm been fantasizing and planning, trying to find just the right way to convey my feelings but then I go and ruin it all by blurting stuff out like that! And in public! Oh Spirits, I feel so embarrassed… But it's not in my nature to quit so easily, maybe I need to change tactics, maybe I just need a more private setting where we're comfortable.
«…But then I think I'll wait until the evening gets late
and I'm alone with you.»
Yes, that's the best idea I have right now- I'll wait until we're at her house, I'll wait until it's way too late so we're alone and she won't kick me out and then I'll try to find a way to…to…to what? To blurt out the words again? To kiss her like I did with Mako? I have to figure something out.
"We're here, Korra." Asami taps my shoulder, startling me out of my troubled thoughts so much that I practically fall onto the floor of the satomobile, making her giggle before she opens the door for me and leads me inside.
"Thanks for this, 'Sami." I grin as I plop on the couch of her parlor room. It's deep maroon and so fluffy that I could probably doze off her if I wasn't so damn nervous. I'm still dizzy though and I find myself tripping onto the floor again when I try to reach one of the minty chocolaty things she keeps on her coffee table by stretching acrobatically without actually getting up from the sofa.
"You're an amusing drunk, you know that Korra?" Asami titters again and sits on the couch, pulling me up by my muscled forearms.
"Well then, I guess it's worth feeling so dizzy so long as you find it amusing, Miss Sato." I beam, sounding overly girly again but I use the excuse to slip onto her when I'm back on the couch so my head is in her lap, her hands on my messy hair are a gift I couldn't have dreamt of.
"Silly Korra." She smiles and pokes my cheek with a perfectly manicured finger. It's amazing how she keeps her hands and nails so pretty when she's so often in the factory or messing around with the mechanics. "Good thing you didn't go back to the temple, though. If you can't even stay balanced on my sofa I fear what all those stairs would have done to you."
"Yeah, you're my savior, baby." I wanted it to be a joke but I think the words I mumbled into her skirt came out too flirtatious and adoring.
"Korra…" Her voice fades vaguely until all I see is black.
I wake up some time later. I don't know how long I was out but it seems like minutes and Asami's lap is still my pillow while she reads a book quietly, a soft tune plays on her radio and I can see the stars right in front of me from the window that faces us, it must be really late.
"Did I fall asleep?" I sit up gingerly, rubbing my temple. I feel more lucid but still pretty woozy.
"Just for little over an hour. I was about to wake you, actually." She puts down the book and watches me quietly. Did she really not move for a whole hour just to avoid disturbing me? I would have gone stir crazy.
"You were?" I blink away the sleep from my eyes quickly.
"Yes, the tea is getting cold." She points at two warm cups of red tea on the coffee table. "It's pretty late so the staff is gone for the night but I asked the maid to make some before she left."
"Oh, you didn't have to…" I feel a little awkward now but I accept the cup she offers me and sip it with gratitude. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. It's a special blend, it should clear up the wooziness." She winks conspiratorially and sips from her own cup.
"Nice." I smile a little skeptically but it's true that my stomach is settling and my head is clearing already plus my nerves have calmed, turns out the tea did more than the alcohol ever could.
After several long minutes of companionable silence listening to the melancholic voice of the singer on the radio I'm starting to feel restless again, my teacup is almost empty and when I glance at hers I see that it is almost drained too with a lovely red print of her lips on the edge.
"I always liked that color on you." I let my thoughts slip out as I stare at her cup. "It's sexy." She looks down too and smiles when she understands what I mean.
"Thanks, Korra." Asami moves a little closer, too close for my racing heart, and leans a little to look at my face, thinking about who knows what. "I don't think I ever saw you wear any make up, not even at the galas, but you know, I think you'd look lovely with some of the things I have upstairs."
"I'm not a very make-up inclined girl." I chuckle at the understatement, trying to quiet my drumming heart before it cracks my ribs. "You really think I'd look good?"
"Definitely." She leans even closer, until I'm swallowing a lump of anxiety in my throat but she's staring at my eyes with that hypnotic jade gaze of hers that makes my head spin more than booze. "You have such long pretty eyelashes… I have this gold eye-shadow that would look stunning on those striking blue eyes."
"R-Really?" I choke a little, not really paying much attention to her words because my cheeks are hot and she's close enough that I can taste her breath on my lips.
"Uh-uh." She nods and traces my lower lip lightly with her thumb. "And if you like this maroon lip-paint of mine, I actually think it would look good on you too."
«The time is right ,
Your perfume fills my head,
The stars get red
And, oh, the night's so blue…»
My gaze flicks down to her lips and then shyly out the window, those lips look so plump, glossy and kissable… I can smell the jasmine of her hair like it's wrapping all around me, the stars that twinkle through the window are blurring into red because all I think about is that crimson mouth…and the way she spoke about my blue eyes still echoes in my head, she hummed the words and looked into my gaze as if staring at the summer sky.
I can't take it anymore. She's driving me crazy and no moment will ever be more perfect than this one.
"Can I try it on?" I grin, Asami looks adorably clueless as to my intentions.
"The lip-paint? Sure, Korra." Asami seems a little surprised.
That's when I do it- I kiss her, softly at first but then deeper with all the love that has been bubbling up in my chest until now. She's shocked but I'm the stunned one when I feel her relax and kiss back gently; I cup her face in my hands and mold our lips together, letting my tongue slip past her lips to tease her in a little playful dance and I'm sure all that lip color is smeared on both of us by now.
At last I relent a little, breaking the breathless kiss, smirking smugly and victorious as I back away slightly and rub a little of the red from the corner of my mouth while I examine her shocked dazed expression.
"Well? Does it look good on me?" I tease with a provocative wide smile and move just enough to overwhelm her, watching slip back on the couch until I'm almost over her, looking at those pretty jade eyes in search for some sign.
"It…I…Ah…" Asami is blushing, she's flustered and stumbling on her words for the first time ever with me, I feel empowered by that reaction. "Y-yeah… It looks hot."
"We match now." I murmur, coming even closer. My nose is almost touching hers. "I kinda like that."
"I…" Asami is the one swallowing her nerves now. "I like that too." She kisses me this time, slowly, tentatively and almost by instinct.
I kiss back and before I know it she's sprawled on the couch with her hair spilling like black water around her, I'm pinning her down with my body, our curves mold perfectly together so I can feel the heat of her pale skin, the slope of her supple breasts crushing to my bouncy mounds, the way her leg bends slowly and wraps around my hip to give me more space to nestle between her thighs and I'm lacing my fingers with hers, holding her hands down as we kiss deeper and with equal passion this time.
By the time the kiss breaks, we are both gasping for air, rosy cheeked and with heavy-lidded eyes, looking lustful and tuned perfectly to each other. I'm ecstatic, her reaction is better than I ever expected and it's a dream come true, it's my happiest fantasy come to life, now all I have to do is…
«And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like 'I love you'.»
"I really do love you, Asami." Damn it! It slipped out again in the heat of passion, I'm afraid she's going to freak out now.
"Are you still drunk?" She gives me a little suspicious glance but doesn't try to push me away.
"Nope." I shake my head with a sigh, well might as well lay out the Pai Sho tiles and say it all. "I've been thinking of the right way to tell you for weeks, it's been eating me up… But I mean it, I mean every word whether you trust me or not- I love you, Asami." It's my last desperate move so I just hope she can feel my honesty.
"Korra, I always trusted you, I was just upset that you had to say that while drunk because…"
"Because?" I urge her on when she falters.
"Because I really wanted you to mean it and it would hurt if it was just a drunken joke… And I've been hurt by lies too much before." Asami avoids my gaze and looks out at the stars.
"Asami…" I let go of her hand long enough to make her tilt her head and look at me, I can see the vulnerability and sorrow in her face and wrenches my heart.
«The time is right ,
Your perfume fills my head,
The stars get red
And, oh, the night's so blue…»
She's overwhelming me again but this time the tingle of excitement that makes my heart race is welcome and the flood of warm sensations that awake every nerve of my body feel delectably right for a change- no shame, no fear, just hope, lust and love.
I kiss her so hard that we're crushed together and I'm sure ever curve of her body, the silky touch of every strand of her hair and the sweetness of her lips will be forever imprinted on my body. Her hands snake up around my back, keeping me close with passion and every touch of her fingers marks my skin like a burn, her jasmine scent drowns me and the bittersweet taste of chocolate, tea and alcohol that lingers in her mouth is the most refreshing thing ever.
«And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like 'I love you'.»
"I really do love you." I whisper adoringly into her lips, refusing to so much as look away from her, wanting everything, even to breathe the same air as her. "I mean it with all my heart."
"Korra…" The trouble look eases up and she smiles tenderly at last. I love how my name sounds on her lips, her delicate voice makes it sound exotic, foreign and utterly beautiful, arousing even. "I love you."
That's all I needed to hear. I kiss her again but this time I won't stop there, I'll do things to her that will ensure she never forgets my touch, I'll learn everything about every corner of her body, I'll touch her until she's addicted to me. I'll love her until we're one and I won't ever let her go but even as we kiss and slip off each other's clothes I can still hear her beautiful voice echoing those magical words in my head…
«I love you.
I love you.
I love you…»