"I went back to the Spirit World this morning," Korra said, downcast. "That beautiful field of flowers we walked through… it's a wasteland."

"It is…? That's awful."

Asami hated seeing Korra like this. As improved as she was from her ordeal with The Red Lotus, she knew that her girlfriend's confidence was still fragile. Korra had always suffered from insecurities. She had survived and healed from the trauma but her cockiness had never returned. She now had nothing to combat her emotions when they spiraled.

Korra walked over to Asami's desk and sat on the corner, her posture slouched and defeated. "When you and I stepped through that portal, I thought my life was finally changing for the better. But now that we're back, it feels like nothing's any different." She sighed heavily. "Raiko's still impossible to deal with, the city's still a mess, and now the people are starting to turn on me again."

Unable to resist, Asami walked over and placed a comforting… almost teasing... hand on Korra's leg. "I know one thing that's definitely different."

Korra blushed and Asami's heart thudded thickly when she noticed that Korra's breathing had quickened. Asami leaned in and slid both hands higher up on her girlfriend's leg. She wanted her. Badly.

"There are always going to be problems to deal with. But as long as we stick together, we'll be able to overcome anything."

They were so close. Asami could feel Korra's breath caressing her face. She wanted to make Korra forget every bad thing that had ever happened to her and she wanted to fill the empty spaces of those memories with love. So, so much love. The words had never been exchanged between them, though every day implied.

"Asami, I…"

"Yes…?" Please. Please say the words.

The blush deepened as Korra pulled away. "I know you have a lot of work to do. I'll let you get back to it."

Asami sighed as she watched her girlfriend leave her office. Once Korra was out of sight she walked over to her desk and sat down, defeated. She rested her forehead on her desk and groaned in frustration. Despite being friends for years she knew that the romantic side of their relationship was still very new. These types of things took time to develop and she didn't want Korra to ever feel rushed. Korra was someone worth waiting for.

But it didn't change the fact that Asami was more than ready to rush forward, full steam ahead. She had already had years to reflect on her own feelings and know what she wanted. Korra had spent those same years probably focusing on her physical recovery and most likely not thinking about how desperately lonely she was for someone who wasn't there.

Spirits… if only Zaheer hadn't been able to do what he did… If I had gotten there to rescue her in time…

It was a poisonous train of thought. Asami had hardened herself against such dangerous "what if" scenarios a long time ago. They solved nothing. But they did open up the alluring fantasy of what might-have-been if Korra had not been forced into recovery. They would still have found each other, of course. The seeds had already been planted well before Zaheer. And during this office meeting they would have already been dating for months, if not years.

A long enough time that there were no longer any early relationship reservations. Nothing to hold them back from each other. Long enough that Asami could have locked the office door, no questions asked, and pull Korra into a searing kiss that left them both panting.

No. No, don't do this to yourself. You're just going to make it worse.

Asami was thrilled that Korra was back and ecstatic that the romantic possibilities of their relationship had opened up. But now that all the potential was there with no physical distance separating them, it made holding back even more difficult. The thought of being able to physically express all that she felt was a potent daydream.

She felt her core throb heavily with need and her treacherous body took control of her normally well-regulated mind. At this very moment she could have had Korra shoved against the wall. Their bodies pressing together with fervent need. Her hand could have slid down Korra's tight stomach and her palm could have been pressed hard against her girlfriend's mound, making her squirm and groan with desire that reflected Asami's own. Korra would be pushing up against her, increasing the delicious friction between them until she-

No! You have to stop.

Asami straightened herself up in her office chair, resolving to find a blueprint or some contracts-anything-to distract her from the fact that her girlfriend hadn't even touched her and just the thought of her doing so had somehow managed to completely soak her panties. She had waited for three years already. As much as she hungered to give everything she had to Korra, she could wait a little longer.

But please don't let it be too much longer.