You'll Get Over It
She rolled onto her stomach sighing deeply; forehead resting on her folded forearms. The lamp beside the bed casted long shadows over their naked bodies. It was late, yet, even with both having long, exhausting days, they still managed to find one another in the silence of the night.
It had been weighing on them both. Each yearned to end the secrecy, the tacit rituals and signals, the small untruths to deceive and protect their sanctuary with each other, yet neither was quite ready to bring it all into the light. There was simply too much going on; too much to sort through; too much to be watchful of.
Korra felt a warm hand palm the tense muscles lining her right scapula, then slowly felt them shift to the center, toward the base of her neck. Her fingers weren't insistent or excessively probing, yet it was a deliberate, thoughtful action. Through many leisurely, rapt discoveries of roaming hands after the waves of their sexual exploits, Asami had found that the neck and upper back of the waterbender were the areas where her lover's stress consolidated. Asami started to tenderly rub at the knots under her skin.
After a few moments of silence, Asami asked quietly, "Did I do something wrong?"
Korra released another deep breath, "No," she said simply turning her face toward her. She never really ever got tired looking at her, even if she was angry or irritated or tired.
Asami hummed quietly in response leaning back against the headboard. The engineer took her time moving her hand from the waterbender's neck to gently cup her face. Korra leaned into her touch and closed her eyes.
"What are you thinking about?" Asami whispered as she raked her fingernails through the Avatar's scalp. She felt Korra's muscles uncoil.
"These criminals."
"You seemed so nonchalant about it this morning," Asami commented, "Even though, Lin wanted to get going."
"I know... I have been putting on a strong face, haven't I? Honestly, everything I've been told about them makes me anxious. They've been after me since I was born... What do they even want from me?"
"I don't know, Korra," the dark-haired woman sighed and her hand paused, caught in a subtle web of tension, "But I doubt it's anything good... At least the airbenders are safe now with Tenzin at the Temple. We just have to take one thing at time. We will figure it out." Though her hand resumed its ministrations, Korra could sense her continuing unease.
"There's something else?"
"I didn't mean for this... but Lin knows about us."
"She does?" the Avatar wasn't mad. She knew Lin wouldn't speak of it to anyone and it was kind of a relief that someone else knew, "Damn, the lady has only been with us for two days," Korra chuckled, "I thought we were doing good. When did she confront you?"
"Yesterday morning, after Tenzin left with the airbenders. She walked up behind me on the ramp and said: I know this is your ship, but I didn't expect you to be wondering around it so much... especially at night. Guess there is lot of around-the-clock maintenance, huh?"
Korra couldn't help but laugh, "Spirits, I can picture Lin saying that. That fucking smirk... What did you say?"
"Nothing," the engineer laughed at herself, "She caught me so off guard that I couldn't respond. If it wasn't the stammering that gave me away, then the blush reaching down my collarbone sure was."
Korra released another belly laugh, "Oh man, the unflappable Future Industries CEO rendered speechless by the old grumpy ass chief of police."
"Oh hush, the one time I break composure," Asami rolled her eyes jokingly while tilting her head back. She looked at their shadows cast against the ceiling, "Well, I guess I should've anticipated being caught by a master metalbender on a metal airship."
Korra shrugged her shoulders, "It's fine. You can't always think of everything smarty-pants... hmmm and I guess it also doesn't help I can't go long without pulling those smarty-pants off."
The engineer's laughed softly swatting Korra's head as a mock punishment for her dirty thoughts. Korra flashed her a cheeky grin and watched the playfulness slowly drain from her lover's face as she took in a deep, centering breath. Her green eyes were still and held a sudden, thought-stopping vulnerability in them, "Jokes aside, Korra, after Lin got her fill of amusement, she said that maintenance checks should continue privately and at minimum until the criminals are dealt with."
The Avatar nodded understanding.
"I know that's what neither of us want... but it's for our safety."
"It shouldn't matter, nothing will happen to you," the waterbender sat up, eyes blazing with insistent ferocity, "I won't let that happen. Ever."
Asami gripped her shoulders quelling her surge of energy, "But even if nothing does happen, enemies will always come."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I don't know," Asami turned away unable to handle the intensity in the Avatar's eyes.
"What?" Korra pressed, but much more tenderly this time, "Tell me," she leaned in close holding her hands in hers.
"I know this is new... between us... but I've never felt this way about anyone before..."
Korra laughed at her sudden bashfulness pulling the engineer's face close, "If you're about to say you love me, I've been thinking that about you for weeks now," and kissed her hard pushing her down on the bed, "and if you think the threat of future enemies is going to stop me from being with you, you're just gonna have to re-run the math again."
Asami laughed and conceded as Korra started a wet, hot trail down her abdomen.
"Well, I guess we're stuck with each other then."