Hey guys, I'm very sorry that I haven't kept up on my promise to get you updates more quickly, I was flown back home too spend a few weeks with my family unexpectedly so I've been doing a little camping and fishing with very little time too devote to this project. On top of that my girlfriend after becoming quite upset with me for not letting her read the first two chapters impressed upon my her mandatory service as a proof reader so, lucky you guys maybe my writing won't be as bad from now on. I will let you all know also that it doesn't appear that my summer will be allowing a whole lot of time either as there is a bunch of camping, hiking and traveling going but I promise I will do what I can for those of you following. Speaking of followers thank you all again, you've really made this something I'm excited too work on and I definitely feel the pressure every time I look at my phone and see I have another story follower, not in a bad way though! So thank you all, and to new readers if you like it let me know and as always review or leave feedback I love hearing from you. This chapter is also longer than the previous two by quite a bit (even excluding this terribly long author's note) but not as ambitious as some other authors around her but I felt I owed it to you all. Last but not least I want too leave you all with a something I've been thinking about a lot recently and that is my comfort zone and pushing it's boundaries. I have absolved too try one new thing every week and fail at it The Buddha once said that there were only two mistakes one could make on the road to truth, not going all the way, and to have never started. So I extend that challenge to all of you especially if like me you've felt in a rut or down lately try something new, and fail and remember that having failed at something you still attempted it and that is better than having done nothing at all. Anyway sorry for that wall of text /rantover enjoy the chapter.
Opal pulled the car up too the curb of the terminal where they were going to pick up Kuvira. The sky was dark outside, Light from inside the terminal splashed out onto the sidewalk where people were loading into and out of vehicles. "We are way late I hope she isn't too pissed, I'd hate for the first time you meet her to end in unnecessary casualties" Opal almost whispered while they were sitting in the car waiting. "Wait here in the car I'll go inside and see if I can find her." She said as she unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. "Keep an eye out for her while I'm inside checking" Opal called out over her shoulder as she walked through the sliding glass doors.
Korra swung open the car door and pulled herself out of the tiny excuse of a car that Opal drives around. Stretching her legs and popping the joints of her back she leans against the side of the car. "I don't get this cramped up in Asami's ca- oh fuck you brain" Korra thought too herself. It smelled damp, like the sky was only minutes away from letting loose even more rain upon the city something that she didn't mind usually, she and Asami always loved driving in the rain. Now it only served to remind her of the things she had lost. Korra hated herself for how much of her life had become dominated by feeling sorry for herself, and avoiding the things that made her happy. But the memories those things evoked hurt more than the joy brought at least right now, maybe someday soon she would get over al of it, including the raven haired girl who haunted her dreams still.
Korra shook her head to try and clear her mind and put her hands into the pockets of her blue Republic City University hoodie to fight off the nighttime cold. She started scanning the faces of people waiting around the front of the terminal and those people walking into and out of the doors when the realization hit her, Opal never told her what her sister looked like, Korra tried too recall ever having seen a picture of Opal's sister on Facebook or in a picture frame around Opal's place. "God damn it Opal, you're such a flake."
As Korra was cursing Opal's air headedness she let out a sigh much louder than she meant to causing a passing woman too look in her direction. Korra and this woman's eyes met momentarily and Korra saw what she thought was the woman's eyes quickly looking Korra up and down. "Did this chick just check me out? Korra thought to herself, "pfft as if I'm some kind of eye-candy for passing strangers". Korra realized she must of snorted too herself at her perceived clever quip when the woman's eye brow shot up and she walked towards Korra setting down her duffel bag right in front of Korra and standing before her in silence for a moment. Korra takes in the woman in front of her, she is dressed down in a green hoodie from Ba Sing Se university and green and black plaid pajama pants, her long black hair is in a loose braid and thick black rimmed glasses rested on her nose. But the feature that caught Korra's gaze the most of a mole just under the woman's right eye.
"Are you waiting on someone?" the woman asked with a husky voice a slight grin on her face.
"Uhm yes" Korra answered not quite sure why this woman was bothering her, the woman's voice seemed to be more than enough to make her a little hot under the collar with it's smooth airy tones.
"Well you're doing a fantastic job, mind if I join you for a few minutes?" said the woman setting down her backpack and duffel bag.
"No, feel free." Korra said as the woman leaned against the car next to Korra. "You look like you're ready for bed" motioning towards the pajamas the woman was wearing. Korra noticed the faded wording on the side of the pants, something starting with a Z and ending with dance.
"What can I say, I like to be comfortable when I fly, plus making the stiffs in first class uncomfortable is a bonus" the woman said while kneeling down to pull a pack of cigarettes out of her duffel bag. "Do you mind?" she asked shaking the package slightly.
"No go ahead" Korra answered.
"Want one?"
"No I don't smoke, thanks though." Korra answered again "This is getting a little strange" she thought to herself.
"Yeah you didn't seem like the type" the woman said looking Korra up and down again only there was no mistaking it this time. The woman lit her cigarette and took a drag.
"Yeah? What type do I look like then?" asked Korra.
"You looked like my type, " the woman answered blowing smoke out of the corner of her mouth away from Korra.
"Uh, I-" Korra started too fumble over her words but was interrupted by a Republic City Airport police officer.
"You can't smoke that here ma'am, you need to put it out of go across the street to the smoking area." The officer said.
The woman looked across the street too where the police officer was pointing and dropped her cigarette on the ground. "Fine, watch my bags will you?" she asked while crushing the cigarette under her heel and walking off towards the smoking area.
"Uh,sure…whatever" Korra answered to no one as she watched the woman walk away. "God damn, why is it that the crazy ones are so gorgeous.. or was it the other way around?" A few moments later walked out of the terminal and toward Korra and the car with her phone in her hand. Korra pushed herself out of her leaning position on the car and took a few steps towards Opal, not wanting o let the woman's bags out of her sight.
"I just got a text from Kuvira saying she was out here smoking have you seen her?"
"Opal you forgot to tell me what she looks like I haven't ever seen her before you dork" Said Korra jokingly as Opal went too text Kuvira.
"Shit you're right, sorry about that, uhm, whose bags are these anyway?" Opal leaned over to look at the airliner's property tags. "These bags are my sisters they have her name on them right there, You said you hadn't seen her you liar!" Opal yelled playfully at a shocked Korra.
"What? No, wait.. what are you talking about? I'm just watching those for some crazy chick who is smoking over…there…. Fuck me"
"She wasn't lying," came the husky voice from behind Korra.
"Gah!" Korra yelped out in shock from the sudden appearance of the woman behind her.
"Kuvy!" Opal squealed as embraced her sister in a hug. "I've missed you so much!"
"I missed you too squirt" Kuvira returned Opal's hug lifting her off the ground slightly. "I guess I was the one you were waiting for." Kuvira said to Korra after having returned Opal to the ground.
"Yeah I guess so, my names Korra." Replied Korra
"Nice to meet you again Korra. Well I'm tired can we head out?"
"Sure thing hop in sis" said Opal
With that they took off towards the apartment, the two sisters in the front seats catching up briefly. Korra sat quietly in the back staring out the window as the rain that had been threatening a half hour before was now unleashing its fury upon the city. "Now I have too walk home in the rain unless Opal can drop me off at my place." Korra thought. The car pulled up across the street from Opal's apartment and the girls started scrambling to get into the building and out of the rain when Korra's ruined bike came into Opal's view.
"Oh I forgot your bike got totally wrecked, well with the rain this heavy I wasn't going too and you home tonight anyway, you should stay the night over here and we can take you wherever you need tomorrow morning. Does that sound okay?" Opal asked while giving Kuvira a brief look asking for approval.
"Oh yeah I don't mind if you hang out for the night here I might just be sleeping." Kuvira answered with a shrug.
"Well as long as it's not going to bother either of you, but I might need to take a shower I didn't have time too stop for a shower between the gym and heading over here. Oh yeah sorry for m offensive stench by the way" Korra grinned while rubbing the back of her neck. The girls had reached the top of the stairs and entered Opal's apartment.
The apartment was not big by any stretch of the imagination, the living room was small and could barely accommodate the couch and coffee table that had a variety of martial arts and sports magazines piled on top of it accumulated from months of Korra and Bolin's visits. A television was mounted to the wall facing the coffee table. To the left of the couch the living room was separated from the kitchen by an island bar. Continuing left you could look down the hallway leading to two bedrooms one on the left and one of the right. The bedroom on the right hand side was larger and Opal had claimed it when she moved in originally. The left hand side of the hallway had Kuvira's appointed room with the shared bathroom just beyond that.
"You know it's not a bother for you to stay over, it wouldn't be the first time, let me get some pajamas and a towel for you." Opal said disappearing into her room.
"So, you're the Korra I've heard so much about." Kuvira said leaning against the bar with her hands in her hoodie pockets.
"I suppose I am, what have you heard?" Korra asked looking at Kuvira out of the corner of her eyes as she leaned against the wall next to the couch.
"A fair bit, I hear you're quite the athlete, judging from what's left of the bike outside and your physique what I heard was true." A little extra smoke managing to find it's way into Kuvira's voice, causing Korra to blush slightly.
Opal reappeared and chucked the towel and pajamas into the bathroom across the hall. "There, everything you need?"
"Yeah that should do it, thanks a bunch." Korra coughed out as a breath was caught in her throat.
"Would you guys be amenable to some pizza for dinner, I know it's late but I haven't eaten dinner yet today and I owe you for the help today Korra."
"Yeah that sounds good, are you ordering from Moosebear's tooth pizzeria?" Korra asked.
"Yeah of course." Opal said grinning as she grabbed the phone.
"Then order me the Sea Prune and Jalapeno and a growler of their raspberry wheat ale. Bitches love raspberry wheat." Korra groaned looking up at the ceiling.
"Alright," Opal laughed "Well we will run and get the pizza while you're in the shower."
Opal proceeded out the door and headed down the stairs with Kuvira following close behind. Before closing the door to Opal's apartment Kuvira's eyes met Korra's again for a moment.
"Bye Korra, we'll be right back."
"I'm looking forward to it." Korra returned only just realizing what that sounded like before seeing a grin on Kuvira's face before the door shut. "Urrrgh what the hell is wrong with you Korra." Korra started the water in the shower allowing it time to heat up to a near scalding temperature. Korra stared at herself in the mirror with an annoyed look, filled with self-loathing. "What am I doing" she muttered getting into the shower and letting the hot water pour over her, drowning out a few stray tears.
Opal and Kuvira had just picked up the pizza and beer from the pizzeria and were headed back to the apartment, Opal regaling her adoptive sister with story about her friends here in Republic City. "So then Bolin is all like, "I am Nuktuk hero, of the south!" and Korra is just not buying it and pushes him right into the bay" Both women howled with laughter for a moment until Opal's car came to a stoplight.
"So just so you know, Korra is the friend of mine I told you about who hasn't been doing so well lately, so take it easy on her, I noticed you flirting a little bit and well, I don't think she's ready for it." Opal said looking over at Kuvira.
"Oh that's her?...shit.. well I admit I was flirting a little bit at the airport before I knew she was there with you but other than that I haven't been." Kuvira said looking at her feet only to glance up and see Opal's deadpanned face staring at her.
"Riiiiight I totally believe you, just keep it buttoned up missy." Opal sassed.
"That's uncalled for."
The girls let themselves into the apartment and found Korra sitting on the couch looking at her phone. Korra was clearly startled and immediately put her phone down on the coffee table and stood to greet them. Her eyes more than a little puffy and red.
"Hey guys I was just wondering when you were going to get back." Korra said as she took the Pizza from Opal and set it on the coffee table. Opal Grabbed some glasses from the kitchen and set them down on the coffee table next to the pizza while taking a seat next to Korra on the couch.
"We got back as quickly as we could!" Opal groaned.
"I know I'm just teasing jeez, well what do you guys want to watch?" Korra asked
"I'm not sure I'll probably just fall asleep during honestly." Responded Kuvira.
"Well we'll just put on something for background noise then, how about something naturey?" Opal suggested.
"Chimpanzee!" Korra shouted excitedly.
"Korra enough of your Bio Anthro monkey business!" Opal shouted back
"…Chimpanzees are apes Opal,.. don't be rude" Korra responded. Kuvira looking mildly confused by this exchange as she took a seat next to Opal on the couch where she could lean against the couch arm.
"Ugh whatever we can watch it." Opal forfeited
Soon the pizza had been eaten the raspberry ale gone and the movie only half over before Kuvira was slumped over asleep on the couch arm, Opal similarly slouched leaning into Kuvira. Korra glanced over at them and decided it was time to call it a night as well.
"Hey, you two, get up and go too your own beds." Korra said while shaking Opal by the shoulder a little bit. Both women grumbled as they were roused from their sleep, they said their goodnights and headed off to their respective sleeping areas. As Korra was laying down on the couch and pulling the covers off the back of the couch she glanced down the hallway and caught Kuvira's eyes just as she was entering her room, she paused for a moment and smiled at Korra which Korra returned. Kuvira disappeared into the room and the door closed behind her as Korra was pulling the blanket over her head her mind began too wander as she drifted off to sleep, briefly thinking about the coming semester, chimpanzees and dark green eyes.
