Chapter 15 – Blame It on V

"I blame it all on V," she moans into her arms, head still pounding after the lengthy story time. "We drank the moonshine first. Then some fruity cocktail she made. Then Kuvira got lazy and just threw a bunch of liquids and fruit together, but it actually turned out pretty good. What did she call it? Four Nations Fusion? This is how I'm going to die, isn't it?"

"No, you're not going to die," Sato reassures and squeezes her thigh, but pulls it back quickly. "Oh, that's sticky. Please, tell me that's alcohol and/or lychee juice that nearly got me killed by a rampant bisexual."

"I can neither confirm nor deny any conclusions you make about that." It takes her a moment to process the last part of what Sato said. She uses all her might to pry her face out of the glorious dark and come face to face with Sato and sees the black and blue skin of her left eye for the first time. "What happened to your eye?" Not thinking, she begins to poke and probe the area until her hands are batted away.

"Your friend peer pressured me into sipping her toxic drink. My mouth was on fire, and I spotted the lychee juice. I took it upon myself to drink some, and the next thing I knew, I was getting clocked in the eye!"

Korra wants to defend Asami. She really, really does. But the one thing anyone who associates with Kuvira Beifong knows that if there is lychee juice within her sights, you do not drink it unless she explicitly permits you to.

Sato narrows her eyes at her, lips thinning out. "No comment, Waters?"

Korra winces at her tone. "Um…I can hit her back, but she'll just hit back harder?"

The two engage in a silent stare off. Su and Sr. are in the background watching the two girls, making silent bets. Six kids, they're used to tensions between siblings and young couples.

"Fine," she finally responds, flips her hair, and turns her face away enough so Korra can't see it.

"Oh, come on. Don't get like that, Sato. I'll punch her back when I'm not hungover. I promise." Korra is not the most experienced with a pissed off girlfriend giving the silent treatment. She's more experienced with yelling and physicality.

Asami flips her hair again, revealing her perfect face even with her black eye. "I reserve the right to punch her back when I see it fitting. No repercussions from you. Eye for an eye."

Korra's too stunned at the sexiness that is Asami Sato saying that and gulps before squeaking out, "Okay." She doesn't seem too mad…or is this another one of her plans?

"What in the ever-living fucks? Get the hell off of me!" A loud shriek and thud come from Kuvira's room.

Su groans, aggravated at her children. She and Sr. leave the room to calm them down and give them a talking to.

Half an hour passes before the Beifongs emerge from Kuvira's room. They couldn't hear any of their conversation so at least they know it wasn't a warzone in there. Kuvira and Opal look like they've seen better days though. After getting fed, they look a little better, but not much.

"I'm never drinking again," Opal moans and pushes her plate away.

Kuvira chuckles and looks to the ceiling from her seat. "You only have yourself to blame, sis. You drank the moonshine and the Four Nations Fusion as well as the rest of the alcohol just like us. At least I didn't dance on the counters with my dirty feet while singing and trying to fly."

Opal tugs on Kuvira's braid hard. Kuvira hisses and smacks her in the chest. They transition into a pathetic slapping fight. If Asami's black eye isn't evident enough, Kuvira can pack a punch. She's clearly not trying to hurt Opal or at least not too bad. As odd as it sounds, the sight makes Korra smile seeing her friends acting like actual childish siblings. As for Asami, she's usually not privy to such immature behavior from Beifongs, but it's a nice change of pace.

"Girls! Stop that!"

They murmur apologizes to their parents and grumble. Kuvira turns to look at Asami. A smug smiles creeps on her lips.

"Nice shiner there, Salami." She jerks her chin at her.

"Kuvira, we told you to stop calling Asami that!" Kuvira rolls her eyes.

"Shut your mouth if you know what's good for you, Beifong," Korra growls. If my head wasn't pounding and her parents weren't a few feet away, I'd shove her out of her seat to bruise her ass.

Sato's eyes narrow and begins leaning over in her seat closer to Kuvira. Kuvira does the same. And Korra's right in the middle of a potential bitch fight. She's about to shove them away from one another when Sato offers her hand to Kuvira who seems equally surprised with her arched brow.

"You sure know how to hit a bitch," Sato spits back with a hint of teasing. She jerks her chin at her offered hand for Kuvira to shake it. After a moment of hesitation, she does, and the grip between them looks almost painful. "Watch your back, V. They say revenge is a dish best served cold."

Kuvira ignores the threat, rolls her eyes again, and motions for one of them to come at her. "Oh, I'm so scared. Go ahead and try me, Sato. Steal my lychee juice again and we'll see who's talking!"

Korra doesn't want to see any fights break out while nursing a major hangover so she shoves Kuvira over to shut her up for the time being. However, Opal's on the other side of Kuvira and she shrieks and almost falls to the floor.

"Sorry, O. Watch your mouth in front of Asami, Kuvira, or else my fist will lodge itself in there. Three of us are hungover, and I can't see straight enough to beat your ass properly," she groans and buries her face back in her arms. "I might vomit from any sudden movements. Let's just agree to not purchase moonshine again or let V mix drinks."

Opal mumbles her agreement.

Kuvira dissents and throws her hands up. "No one was complaining last night! And it's your tribespeople who created moonshine, Waters! But no, let's blame it on V! Halle-fucking-lujah! I'm done doing nice things for people if all I get is yelled at and no thanks!"

After more bickering between the girls, Korra and Asami leave so Korra can get a shower and change and resume sleeping in her own bed. The ride is mostly silent since Korra's half-asleep against Asami's car window.

Asami almost has to lug Korra up the stairs to her apartment, but it's not quite as bad as what she had to do with Kuvira or when Korra was partially disoriented and licking up and down her neck. A shower wakes her up, and Asami sits on the edge of the bed, humming softly to lull her back to sleep.

"I didn't even ask how you're doing or anything," she murmurs and cracks open her eyes. She reaches up and traces her left cheek. "I really am sorry V punched you over lychee juice. I swear I'll yell at her and get her back somehow when I'm not so hungover and my liver's in overdrive. It's my duty as Sato's girlfriend to make sure my friends don't damage your pretty face."

Sato giggles at her slightly slurred declarations and kisses the palm against her cheek. "It's okay. When people ask about it, I'll tell them they should see the damage I did to the other person. Makes me look dangerous. It's what I get for mixing two drunk bisexuals, one sober bisexual, and one drunk straight woman. I'll be okay. Su and Sr. are lifesavers so thank Opal for drunk dialing them."

"They seem nice and the only ones who can rein Kuvira in."

Asami snorts. "They're definitely nice, professionally and personally, but I need more data to make that conclusion regarding them with Kuvira."

"'Sami?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sleepy."

"Then rest. I'd stay, but my parents are probably worried and frankly, I need to change too."

"You can wear my clothes and snuggle with me." She can feel herself drifting further and further into the unconscious. "Kiss me? Before you go and I conk out again?"

Korra sees her soft smile before their lips touch. She moans softly, getting her daily fix of vanilla bean with a hint of residual alcohol. Okay, I understand why Kuvira's so protective of her lychee juice. I'm the same way with these vanilla bean lips. Someone tries to take them away, I'll punch the sucker. I need to think of how to show Kuvira's it's not cool punching anyone, but especially Asami.

Slowly, Asami pulls away, but Korra wraps a loose hand against her back to stop her. She gently coaxes a giggling Sato down to lay beside her. Arms wrapped around Sato, she lays tender kisses against the bruised skin of her eye and murmurs apologizes with each other.

The kisses slow as heaviness overtakes her. Kisses are placed along her jaw and cheek as she tries fighting against sleep.

"Sleep, sweetie. I'm right here. I'll stay until you fall asleep," Asami whispers in her ear and kisses the shell.

Korra relaxes back into her bed with Asami's arms wrapped around her. It takes only a few seconds of being tucked underneath Asami's chin and listening to her heartbeat to fall asleep. Before she does, she feels a kiss placed against the top of her head.

She smiles and cuddles impossibly closer to the warmth.

She hears voices in the kitchen. She knows Su and Sr. informed them of where she was and how she helped her friends and she'd texted them on her way home, but her appearance is abysmal.

Her black hair is a mess, night clothes stained with alcohol and wiped away vomit, and the lovely black eye that only seems to be getting worse by the hour. Good for nothing ice in reducing the swelling and bruising. Good for nothing glasses not doing anything to hide it now.

Hiroshi and Yasuko are conversing with their chef when Asami enters the room. They could have heard a pin drop from the pause and astonishment of them taking them in.

Asami shakes her head, exhausted, and holds her hands out. "The next time you see me going somewhere in the middle of the night, yell at me to go to bed. No questions asked." She lowers her hands to her sides. "I'm going to go take a shower to cleanse myself of alcohol and vomit. I would request an ice pack be prepared for my eye. Kuvira and I had a little misunderstanding, but we're on good terms now. There's no need to go to war with the Beifongs and ruin our professional and personal relationship. Please, all I want is a quiet night in after the last thirty-six hours."

Asami nods at her parents and chef who are still frozen. Once she's out of the room, Hiroshi and Yasuko turn to one another.

"Kuvira punched her, and she says they're on goods terms? Maybe there is hope to strengthen the Sato and Beifong families further," Hiroshi casually says.

"Our daughter just waltzed in looking ragged and drained and with a nasty black eye and that's what you have to say for yourself, Hiroshi?"

"All part of doing business and life, honey. If Kuvira was a real threat, I have full confidence that she could body Kuvira in less than thirty seconds. She didn't though so I'm not worried," he explains further and sips his glass of red wine. "The future's looking brighter for the upcoming generation of Sato and Beifong."

Yasuko rolls her eyes, huffs at her husband, and chases after their daughter.

Posted: January 9, 2021