AUTHORS NOTES
Sorry it took me so long. WARNING THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS BRIEF SEXUAL CONTENT
Korra trembled and let the sheet slip from between her lips. She rolled onto her back, her bare chest heaving as she panted. "Wow," Korra said softly to her empty room. Lin really knows how to use her fingers, she thought. A second later, she swallowed against the lump in her throat. She shouldn't have thought that. Not without Asami with her. Right?
The confusing guilt roiled in her stomach, banishing any lingering bliss from her intense orgasm. She could feel her own confusion being echoed back by Kuvira. Korra pulled her spiritual energy away from Kuvira's before the other woman could linger and gleam more from Korra. Korra went to the bathroom and did her best to ignore the heat and slick from her sex as she cleaned herself. "Spirits," she hissed as she accidentally brushed against her clit.
She should go see Asami.
"No," Korra growled to herself. Kuvira and Lin deserved to have some quality time together and if Korra went to Asami, she knew herself well enough that she knew she couldn't keep her hands to herself, at least not right now. Even though she kept as far away from the Soul Bond without causing discomfort to either of them, Korra could still sense the utter bliss radiating from Kuvira. She let herself drift a little closer and now she could feel the hint of strong, warm arms holding her close to Lin. Just for an instant, her teeth clenched at the idea of Kuvira cuddling with Lin. She immediately shoved the ugly emotion away and told herself that Kuvira and Lin both deserved to find comfort in one another. She shouldn't be feeling strongly one way or another about it, especially not jealous.
Korra shook her head to get rid of the last thought. She needed to do something. Asami. "No," Korra repeated to herself as she left her room.
She turned a corner and spied an airbender hurrying down a corridor. "Ryu?" Korra said aloud before following him through the temple. She glanced up at the sky and guessed that Ryu was running late to the evening meditation session. Again. Although, technically she was late too but as an Avatar, nobody would think twice about her absence. They would most likely assume she skipped out in favor of visiting Asami. Now that she had calmed down, she could see that going to Asami just to take care of her arousal was unfair to her and Kuvira and Lin. Besides, she had said she would give Asami space to think about whatever she needed space to think about.
Decided, Korra sped up her pace to the meditation hall. When she reached the room, she saw that indeed she was the last one to show up, although at least she wasn't panting like Ryu. Bumi raised a hand to get Korra's attention and gestured to the open spot next to him.
"Asami kept you?" Bumi murmured to Korra when the Avatar settled next to him.
"Yeah, something like that," Korra answered, hoping that her face hadn't blushed at remembering exactly what kept her. She knew she failed by the glint of amusement that entered Bumi's eyes.
"Ah, young love." Bumi bumped his shoulder against Korra's and fixed his posture comically straight when Tenzin raised an eyebrow at him. Tenzin continued to look disapprovingly at Bumi for a few more seconds before he closed his eyes to meditate. "Did I ever tell you about the time a young feisty firebender made me late to my own battle?" Bumi asked, his lips barely moving as he spoke.
Korra wasn't sure if she wanted to hear about Bumi's love life, especially if it was as truthful as most of his stories. "I don't think so but we shouldn't be talking," she said, just loud enough to get the attention of Opal who was sitting a foot away from the two. Opal opened an eye and Bumi grinned sheepishly at her.
"I'll tell you about it later." Bumi gave Korra a wink. "I'll even leave out some of the more juicier details."
Korra couldn't stop herself from grinning. Bumi somehow always knew how to cheer her up. "Good. If you don't, Asami might get jealous and go after you." This time, a tiny laugh escaped at the sight of Bumi's horrified face. "Thanks, Bumi. I needed that."
Bumi nodded and they began to meditate with the other airbenders. Korra could feel Kuvira's energy more clearly as her breathing slowed. She could sense the other woman's tranquility as if it were her own. The guilt of pleasuring herself to Kuvira and Lin melted away as Kuvira's happiness engulfed her. Korra found herself struggling not to lose herself to the tempting warmth of Kuvira's emotions. She shifted her foot and listened as the side of her boot scraped ever so lightly against the tiled floors.
I'm in the meditation hall on Air Temple Island, Korra thought as phantom fingers glide up her spine. She nearly leaned back into the caress that she knew wasn't meant for her. Bumi is sitting to my right and Opal to my left. Lin and Kuvira aren't here and Lin isn't touching, oh wow. The phantom fingers dug just a little deeper, massaging away a knot that Korra didn't even know she had. Kuvira's the one with the knots in her back, not me. Although I probably could use a good deep-tissue massage.
The knot now gone, Lin's hand resumed its trek up and down Kuvira's spine. Korra tapped the toe of her boot and heard the soft thud as it connected to the floor. She wasn't laying down somewhere, she was sitting amongst the airbenders in a mediation session.
After what seemed like an eternity of Korra struggling between actually meditating and melting into Lin's touches, she heard the airbenders around her beginning to stand one by one. Her eyes snapped open and she hopped up onto her feet.
"You all right, Korra?" Bumi asked as he stood much more slowly than the Avatar.
"Yeah, I could hear your foot tapping," Opal added as she joined the two. She must have saw something on Korra's face because she wore a concerned frown. "You seem a bit tense. Did something happen between you and Asami?"
You have no idea, Korra nearly said. "Normal relationship stuff." Both Bumi and Opal shared a look at Korra's lackluster answer. "I just been feeling restless lately. Its been nearly a year since the last world-ending disaster needed Team Avatar."
This time the look the two airbenders gave her was more understanding. "Ah, you missing the spice of fighting entire armies single-handed, eh?" Bumi quipped, bumping an elbow against Korra's arm. When Korra didn't laugh or even crack a smile, Bumi demored. "Seriously, you should be enjoying yourself! Who knows when the next villain will rise up and threaten us all?"
"What I think Bumi is trying to say is that we all appreciate all you and Team Avatar have done for us," Opal said after stepping on Bumi's foot to stop him from saying something else unhelpful. "It's our turn to help the world and for you and Asami to relax and focus on your relationship." She glanced to the left where she spied Jinora talking to Tenzin. "Maybe you can tell Jinora to take it easy too. She's been so exhausted lately."
"Yeah," Bumi agreed as he stroked his beard. "She almost fell asleep at dinner yesterday and the day before she did fall asleep while flying on Pepper." He put his hands on his hips and looked down at Korra as if he was still a general and her a private fresh off the ship. "Do you know anything about it? I asked Tenzin but he said it wasn't any of my concern."
Korra was too distracted by Jinora to answer right away. The circles under the young airbender's eyes seemed only to have grown darker the last time Korra saw her. Even as she watched, Jinora stifled a long yawn with the back of her hand. Tenzin's face flashed in concern. "I don't know," she answered. She instantly sensed that Opal and Bumi didn't believe her from the way they narrowed their eyes. "Maybe she's visiting the Spirit World a lot recently? She's always been so close with the spirits and we still have a tenuous friendship with them. Jinora could be trying to strengthen our relationship with them by visiting and talking with the spirits."
"That does sound like Jinora," Opal conceded, even if her tone was still a little suspicious.
"Maybe she'll bring some more of Bum-Ju's friends!" Bumi said happily, watching his spirit friend zoom in a circle above them. "Bum-Ju has been looking for a lady friend. Do you think Jinora could find one for him?"
The change in conversation was enough for Opal's attention to be thankfully pulled away from Jinora. "Can spirits even have babies?" she asked.
"Where else would spirits come from?" Bumi asked back.
"Well, yeah but maybe they just," Opal struggled to find the right words as she gestured to Bum-Ju, "start existing out of nothing?"
Bumi made a face and began to argue that nothing could exist out of nothing, not even spirits. Opal however, remained adamant that it was possible for creatures like spirits who live in a world that can change dramatically simply based on the Avatar's emotions. Korra kept out of the discussion as she followed the two back into the temple, only offering a few words here and there. She happened to agree with Opal but didn't think that it was impossible for a spirit to fall in love and have children with another. Still, if she voiced her opinion the two might turn their attentions back on her and bring up Jinora or Asami again.
Much, much later Korra flopped down on her bed, groaning in satisfaction at the soft sheets that cushioned her fall. She managed to keep herself so busy that her mind didn't have the energy to wander to Asami or Kuvira and Lin. She had spent the rest of the day helping the air acolytes with their various chores. They were used to Korra lending a hand by now, even though the newer ones still said it was an honor onto itself to serve the Avatar and the newest generation of air nomads. Although, she suspected that several of them were more than happy when Korra helped carried the hay bails from storage to the air bison stalls.
Her muscles aching wonderfully, Korra slipped under her covers and fell asleep almost instantly. She hoped that she had exhausted herself to the point that her sleep was dreamless.
However, her hopes were quickly dashed. Her dreams were filled with three beautiful women. The four of them went on another vacation in the Spirit World, exploring the gorgeous landscapes. They visited Iroh and had the most delicious tea. He didn't say anything but Korra could have sworn there was a knowing glint in his eyes when he served the beverages. When they left the shop, they happened upon the great rock spirit and the four had a wonderful time fighting him again. Korra had impressed the three women immensely by entering the Avatar State and tossing the rock spirit far away with a tornado. Korra was still basking in her remarkable victory when Asami threw her arms around Korra's shoulders and pressed their lips together. Korra's gasp of surprise was silenced as Asami slipped her tongue into her mouth. Korra almost pushed Asami away when she remembered that Kuvira and Lin were there as well when a pair of hands deftly undid her sash. She stiffened in surprise as she turned her head and saw Lin tossing away her sash. A finger on her chin turned her head back but it was Kuvira instead of Asami. Kuvira kissed her before she could ask Asami if this was okay. Her eyes flashed to the side but Asami didn't seem outraged. In fact, she had that smirk she always wore when she had Korra underneath her, naked and moaning. Asami made her attitude to the turn of events even more clear as she knelt down in the grass to tug down Korra's pants and underwear. Korra whimpered against Kuvira's mouth when Lin's hands slid underneath her shirt and up to grope her breasts.
"Wha-" Korra said groggily as she peaked open an eye. Sunlight was streaming through an open window right onto her face. "Oh, come on!" she groaned and buried her face into a pillow. Asami was just leaning forward and Lin had begun to pinch her nipples. Korra kept her head buried into the pillow as the arousal from the dream wore off to be replaced by a now familiar sense of guilt. "Shit," Korra sighed as she eventually rolled out of her bed.
Tonight she was going to see Asami for dinner. What should be excitement filling her heart was now dread. How was she going to face her girlfriend after having such a lewd dream with two other women, even if Asami was involved. Did that make it better? Or worse?
Korra was still pondering that question as she showered and ate her breakfast without tasting the food. Her guilt only grew with each passing hour, no matter how hard she tried to focus on training with the airbenders and the daily chores Air Temple Island assigned to everyone. Each time she felt Kuvira drift closer to her, Korra pushed the energy away, careful that she didn't push too hard. After the second time, Kuvira kept her distance but Korra could still sense the concern.
In the evening, she found herself at the airbison stalls, ripping apart the hay bails she helped carry the day before. Because she didn't have an airbison herself, she assisted the airbender who had the bison who needed extra attention. Which of course was Opal's Juicy.
Korra grimaced as Juicy sneezed for the hundredth time in the last hour. Opal mirrored the expression and a heartbeat later she hand-fed Juicy some hay. "I know I've asked this question a lot but are you sure there's nothing you can do for his cold?"
"Yes, Korra," Opal answered exasperated. She fed Juicy another handful, being careful that none of the strands tickled his nose. "He just needs to work it out of his system. Eventually," she added with a sigh. She gave him the last handful and patted his cheek, far away from his nose and mouth. "How are you doing on Juicy's coat?"
"As well as I can be," Korra answered as she combed through yet another mat. How in the world did an airbison get so many matts when their coats are brushed every single day? "We should just shave him down. It could help with allergies."
Opal gave Korra a dirty look. "Don't joke about that. Airbisons need their fur to stay warm when they fly." She ran her hand through the coarse coat. "If only there was a shampoo for all the dandruff."
Korra considered the suggestion, wondering if Asami or Varrick would have any ideas. She would have to remember to ask. She glanced outside the stable and swallowed a sigh of relief as she noted the position of the sun. "Sorry, Opal but I gotta leave early."
"Asami?" Opal asked, amused. She took the brush Korra offered her and tackled another matt at Juicy's middle right leg.
Korra scratched the back of her neck with a small embarrassed laugh. "Yeah. I'm going to her house for dinner."
"You know," Opal started, keeping her eyes on the matt, "with you spending so much time with Asami the two of you might want to think about moving in together."
A flush crept up Korra's neck and cheeks and she was grateful that Opal's attention was elsewhere. She couldn't deny that the idea hadn't popped into her head every once in a while. It would be wonderful to sleep in each others arms every night and wake up each morning together. Korra could learn how to cook more dishes to Asami's taste and surprise her with a delicious meal after a long day. "Well, we've never discussed it. I, I'm not sure if she'll like that."
Opal snorted to show how much she thought about Korra's worry. "Oh please, you practically live there already."
"That's not true," Korra argued even as the flush darkened. "I sleep here all the time!"
"Yeah, after you come back from spending all day with Asami." Opal waved the brush at Korra, the bristles already full of airbison hair. "Ikki and Jinora are already talking about your wedding day. Bumi and I actually have bets on who will propose first. Make sure you beat Asami to it."
Korra's cheeks were aflame. First moving in with Asami and now marriage! "I, uh, well, I should get going." She left the stall with Opal laughter following her out. She was never so grateful that Naga's stall was right next to Juicy's. She fumbled with the saddle and nearly dropped it at the sudden idea of using the polarbeardog as a ring bearer. Naga would look very handsome in a bowtie but she didn't think Asami would be all too enthused with the idea. It sounded like something she would expect at Varrick's wedding.
It didn't take long for Korra to arrive at Asami's mansion. She rode the polarbeardog hard to escape the swirling thoughts of moving into Asami's home and marriage. She fed Naga several treats as the polarbeardog flopped to the grass, panting heavily. "Good girl," Korra cooed as Naga curled up for a well-deserved nap.
Korra went to the front door and racked her knuckles against the hard wood three times. As she waited, she fussed with her clothes, brushing away strands of airbison fur that managed to stick to her clothing.
"May I help you?" a middle-aged man in a tailored suit asked, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Korra straightening her sash.
"Oh, hey!" Korra gulped and forced her hands to still. "Is Asami home?"
"Yes, she's in-"
"Great, thanks!" Korra said, slipping past the butler and hurrying through the foyer and to Asami's room. She hesitated for a heartbeat at the door before letting herself in. She scanned the vast room but didn't immediately see her girlfriend. Her eyes settled on the large canopy bed, the drapes drawn to hide possible occupants. Korra's heart skipped a beat at the thought of Asami sleeping peacefully behind those drapes. She could crawl under the covers and wake the other woman with a kiss. It was something she had read in several cliche books and it was always something she wanted to tried. Korra pulled open a drape and sighed when she saw that the bed was empty. She would have to try another time.
"Master Asami is in her workshop, master Korra."
Korra jumped back from the bed and looked sheepishly at the butler. "I thought she might be taking a quick nap before our dinner date," she explained hurriedly.
"Quite," the man said. "Your dinner is already being cooked. It will be ready in about ten minutes."
"Thanks, uh, sir," Korra said. "I'm so sorry but I don't think I ever got your name."
Just for a split second, the Avatar registered surprise in the butler's eyes. "I am Mong Moshel," he said, taking a deep bow. When he straightened, Korra could clearly see a gleam in his face that she never saw before. "I worked in Hiroshi Sato's first factory before I suffered a back injury. Master Sato was so gracious to pay for all my medical expenses and kept me on as his personal butler."
"That, I had no idea," was all Korra could manage to say.
Mong nodded and the corners of his lips threatened to lift into a remorseful grin. "I know the late Master Sato has done some terrible things when he was aligned with the Equalists, but he truly was a good man at heart. He fought along side you when Kuvira attacked this city and even gave up his life to save his daughter's." Mong's eyes glistened behind his glasses.
"It was his idea to use the plasma saws to get inside Kuvira's giant mech," Korra said and again Mong almost smiled. She still wasn't sure how she felt about Asami's father but she could acknowledge that without his help, Republic City would have fallen to the Earth Empire. "And it was his plan to swarm Kuvira's giant mech so we had a better chance to cut a hole into it."
A deep sigh escaped Mong as he nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Avatar Korra." Before Korra could say another word, Mong turned crisply and walked away. It was only now that Korra noticed that Mong had just the slightest limp.
Korra went to Asami's workshop, remembering sharply the last time she was inside the building. It was when Hiroshi was first revealed to be an Equalist and had been building weapons for Amon's army. Korra felt a shiver run up her spine but pushed her anxiety away. This was Asami's workshop now.
She pushed open the door and found Asami bent at the waist as she leaned over the engine of what Korra assumed was the latest model of the Satomobile. Asami hadn't noticed that Korra was at the door and Korra didn't make her presence known. Instead, she watched as Asami tapped a finger against the side of the car rhythmically as she chewed on her bottom lip. The mechanic grumbled something under her breath and straightened her back with a frustrated sigh.
"Everything okay?" Korra asked softly.
Asami whirled around, her hand dashing down to snatch up a heavy wrench she had been using a few minutes prior. When she saw that it was just Korra, she relaxed her grip and flashed her a sheepish grin. "Sorry, Korra. You startled me." She glanced over to a clock on the wall and her eyes widened as she read the time. "I didn't realize how late it was." She looked down at herself and grimaced as she noticed how many grease stains marked her clothes and then around where several dirty tools laid in reach. "Its a bit messy at the moment. Do you mind if I clean up before we have dinner?"
Korra decided not to mention that Asami's chefs were already making their dinner. "Let me help."
"Oh, you don't need to, Korra," Asami said at once but Korra still came over and picked up one of the random wrenches Asami had lying about. She watched nervously as Korra cleaned off the grease. Asami blinked in shock as Korra confidently put the tool right where it belonged. "You, how did you know where that wrench goes?"
"I've been looking at some tool kits," Korra admitted with an embarrassed shrug. "I thought that I could get you one as a gift but then I realized you probably have all of them already."
It touched Asami that Korra could think of something so considerate to give her. "Still, you put that wrench right where it belongs."
Korra raised an eyebrow at Asami and crossed her arms. "Just because I prefer to ride Naga, it doesn't mean that I never driven a snowmobile. And in the North Pole, if you drive a snowmobile you have to know how to take care of it, even in the middle of a blizzard."
Asami narrowed her eyes playfully. "And yet you didn't know how to drive a car?"
"A car's different!" Korra exclaimed, affronted. "A snowmobile's easy to drive. You pull the accelerator and you go forward. You let it go and it stops." Korra gestured to the car with a grimace. "There's no clutches to always play with or stupid pedals that anyone could mix up the gas and brake." "And I suppose the fact that there's nothing to crash into up north has nothing to do with it?"
"I," Korra spluttered. "It was only one lamp post and I never driven a car before. And I think I did pretty well, considering."
Asami snorted and soon Korra joined in the laughter. When the laughter subsided, they lapsed into a tranquil silence as they resumed cleaning the different tools and putting them away. Korra only had to hand off a tool to be put away twice. Both times, Asami smirked just a bit and Korra frowned at her even as her eyes were alight with amusement.
But soon enough all the tools were cleaned and put away. Both women glanced around to find an errant screw or tool that had escaped their notice. Everything was nice and orderly, however.
"Should," Korra stopped and chewed on the inside of her cheek. "Should we talk about it?"
Asami didn't need to ask what Korra meant."I think we need to." She grabbed a white washcloth and cleaned her hands with much more care than she usually would. "I know," she whispered, keeping her eyes trained on her already cleaned hands.
"You do?" Korra asked, finding it easier to watch Asami's hands than at her face. "About yesterday?" She glanced up just long enough to see the other woman nod.
"Kuvira called my place first to ask if it was a good time for you."
"Oh." Kuvira hadn't mentioned Asami at all when she called Korra. The Avatar nearly breathed out a sigh of relief. If Asami already knew then she wouldn't have to admit that part herself. Asami finally stopped re-cleaning her already pristine hands and Korra looked up and her relief grew when she noticed that Asami didn't seem outright angry at what happened yesterday. "It was her and Lin," Korra confessed.
Asami nodded again, not at all shocked. "I thought so." She handed Korra the semi-dirty washcloth to clean her own hands. When she received it back, it was thoroughly gray from the grease stains. She tossed it into a waiting hamper with an experienced flick of her wrist. She grabbed one of Korra's hands and led the Avatar to a couch that Asami sometimes used to nap when she worked very late into the night and couldn't be bothered to return to the house proper. She sat the other woman down and kept their hands clasped together. "Korra," she began and saw the flash of worry in those blue eyes she loved. "I've been thinking about," she gave one tired chuckle as she hesitated, "about everything." Korra's mouth opened and Asami shook her head. "Let me finish, please." Korra closed her mouth and nodded reluctantly. "Our deal with Kuvira. It was weird and crazy even before Lin became involved with Kuvira. Now that she is, I don't think the deal is enough."
Korra could barely hear her girlfriend over the pounding of her heart in her ears. "Asami, please," she gasped, her voice raw. "We can break it off. Fuck the deal!" She let go of Asami's hand to cup her cheeks and pull her into a desperate kiss. She could taste the love on Asami's tongue as the other woman responded to the kiss. The kiss only ended when Korra and Asami needed to breathe. Korra stared into Asami's eyes and found that they glistened with tears along with her own. "I can't lose you." She refused to acknowledge the other presence at the back of her head, emanating concern for her.
"You're not going to lose me," Asami said softly, covering Korra's hands with her own and pulling them down to hold in her lap. "There's more I have to tell you. The night after you were supposed to come back to Republic City, I was with Lin. She and I had been drinking and," she trailed off, suddenly wondering if this was a good idea after all. If she admit what Lin had said, there was no taking it back.
"What?" Korra prompted gently. Her fear began to build in her stomach again but she forced it down. Whatever Asami was trying to tell her, she had to hear it. Even if it broke her heart.
Asami closed her eyes as she remembered that night. It was still so vivid even thought it happened years ago. "Lin said she would share me if she had to."
"Share?" Korra repeated, the fear replaced with shock. Asami couldn't possibly mean.
"Share," Asami agreed. "Lin knew how I felt about you." She had to swallow a laugh as she said, "Lin even told me that she could see why. You really impressed her when you confronted her about how she treated Opal." The humor in her eyes died as Asami glanced away. "The morning after, Lin said she didn't remember much from that night and she ended things between us."
Korra let what Asami just told her sink in. She heard the hurt in Asami's voice at the end of the story but instead of jealousy, she felt sad for her girlfriend. "Why are you telling me this now?" she asked gently. "Why not before, well, everything?"
It was a long time before Asami answered. She swiped her thumb across the back of Korra's hand as she looked at Korra like it was the first time. How had she never noticed that the left side of Korra's hair was just the tiniest bit longer than her right side? "I wanted to see if what we could have was real, not just some fling." She saw the shock and hurt on Korra's face and quickly explained, "We were moving so fast and I was afraid you would get bored of me."
"Never!" Korra exclaimed. "I could never be bored with you," she said more softly. "Nobody could ever be bored of you." She was quiet for some time, seeing the love and the uncertainty in Asami's eyes. "Not Lin," she whispered. Some of the uncertainty in the green eyes was replaced by budding hope. "Or Kuvira." The words were barely a murmur but she knew Asami heard them.
"Nobody could ever be bored of you either." Asami kissed Korra lightly, their lips brushing softly against each other. When the kiss ended, the two women stayed close together. "Are we really considering this?" Asami asked, nuzzling against Korra's neck. She smelled the lotion that Korra sometimes used that reminded Asami strangely of the Spirit World meadows she and Korra visited.
"Are we?" Korra asked back, laughing a little as Asami's nose tickled the side of her neck. "I mean, in a really, really messed up way it makes a little sense. The Soul Bond makes me feel what Kuvira feels for Lin and I know Kuvira feels how much I love you. And if you and Lin got back together," Korra trailed off. In the back of her mind she thought that it would somehow make things even between herself and Asami. No matter how many deals they made, she and Kuvira would have a connection that they could never have with Asami or Lin. But if Asami and Lin began a relationship between them, it would even the score. Korra rejected the thought as soon as it occurred. Asami and Lin were not like that. A relationship wasn't some bargaining chip to them. "We could all be happy," she finished.
"You make it sound like it would be so easy," Asami murmured.
"Why not?" Korra gently pushed Asami's shoulders so she could see her face. "I mean, look at what we've already done." A blush bloomed on Korra's cheeks as she recalled how far they all took their deal during sex with their partners. "It's only going to get worse as Kuvira and Lin date."
"Probably," Asami conceded with a chuckle. "This is insane, you know that right?"
Korra answered with a nod and her signature cocky grin. "Probably, but I'm willing to try if you are."
Asami looked down to where their fingers were entwined. She imagined that their heart lines were aligned. "No matter what, we'll still be together?"
"Always." Korra gave Asami a deep kiss to show the other woman that there was no doubt in her mind that she and Asami will stay together, no matter what happens with Kuvira and Lin. "I love you," Korra breathed when the kiss ended.
"I love you too." Asami said, a little breathless after the kiss. She turned her head, her heart fluttering from the kiss and the possibilities that awaited them when they talked to Kuvira and Lin. Her eyes happened to glance at the clock on the wall and she gasped. It was so late! The chefs must have finished cooking their meal ages ago. "We should go to the house," she suggested. "The food's cold but it'll still be good."
Korra looked at the clock as well and chuckled. "Mong said dinner would be ready about, oh, thirty minutes ago." She stood and kept their hands locked together. "Think he'll be mad at me for keeping you for so long?"
"I doubt it. This isn't the first time I missed a meal."
A look of concern passed over Korra's face. "That's not good. You need to eat, Asami." She made a mental note to keep better track of the time. She couldn't make Asami eat when she wasn't there but she resolved to make sure the other woman wasn't neglecting her meals when she was around.
Asami barely managed not to roll her eyes. Korra was just like Lin. She couldn't remember how many times the older woman lectured her about accidentally skipping a meal, only to do the same thing when she was caught up with work at the Police Headquarters. "It's not like I'm starving, Korra. I snack when I get hungry."
Korra wasn't appeased. "Snacking isn't the same as having a meal." She opened the door for Asami and the two women left the workshop. "You need to take better care of yourself. What'll we do if you collapse from hunger?"
Asami rather liked the fact that Korra said 'we' instead of 'I.' It made it sound as if they were all already together. "I'm sure one of you would have enough sense to take me to a hospital."
"Not until I tell Pema what you did," Korra muttered playfully. "You'll never skip a meal then."
"Please don't," Asami said with a mock shudder. She could practically hear Pema fretting over her.
"I won't," Korra assured Asami with a laugh. "After she's done with you, she'll come after me for letting you go so long without eating." Her shudder was more genuine. Pema could be terrifying when she wanted. And if she told her own mother if Asami collapsed. The thought was too scary to consider. "We'll just have to keep you well-fed."
Asami did roll her eyes at that. "You really know how to charm a woman, Avatar Korra."
"All in a day's work," Korra said, feeling nearly lightheaded from how well her talk with Asami went. Now all she could hope was that their conversation with Kuvira and Lin went as well.
AUTHORS NOTES
I'm not gonna lie, this chapter was a pain to write and I scrapped so many versions. I'm getting close to the end-game of all four finally getting together and I even have a planned arc for them.