Asami carefully soldered the wires to the circuit board. Her goggles provided just enough contrast to see past the sparks as she worked. She wanted to move fast, to get this done, but that proved difficult when constructing the brain of the suit. It was tedious work that had her constantly moving between her notes and her box of spare parts. Did she want the circuits wired in series or parallel? What kind of driver would run without frying the circuits? They were all questions that needed time and careful tests to answer, and she did not have that. Nor did she want the time. Work was an escape. Tangled wires were much easier to deal with than life's frustrating emotions.
She heard a breeze gust through her open office window, rattling the panes. She did not look up from her work, even after she heard the soft thud of footsteps. A familiar voice said, "Hey, you're still working, huh?"
After reaching a stopping point, Asami set aside her soldering gun and glanced up at Korra. "Hey you. Were the stairs overrated?"
Korra grinned and set aside her glider. "Nah, I just felt like making a better entrance. Would have been cooler if you were paying attention." She walked over to Asami's workbench and glanced down at the scrap electronics. "Is this for the flying mechs?"
Asami raised a brow at Korra. "What's gotten into you? I haven't seen you this happy in a long time." She regretted the words as soon as she said them. Korra's smile retreated and she immediately looked more downcast.
"I'm sorry," she said.
Asami quickly reached out and grabbed Korra by the shoulder. "Don't be. It was just an odd way to be greeted first thing." She waited for Korra to smile again. "Why don't you start by telling me what put you in a good mood?" She pushed aside her tools and leaned against her desk. "I'm at a good stopping point for the night anyways."
Slowly, Korra leaned against the desk, smiling again. "Well, I was able to reconnect with Rava finally. It was a relief."
"That's incredible!" Asami felt her own smile stretch into a grin. "How did you manage that? I heard you and Mako had left the city, but I..." She paused, unsure of what to say.
"We went to see Zaheer."
"You what?" Asami asked. "Korra, he tried to kill you. Do you realize what could have happened?"
"You think I don't know that?" Korra asked. She moved away. "Asami, I've had nightmares for three years. I didn't know what to do about it anymore other than face him again."
Asami looked down at her workbench. She wanted to start messing with one of the spare parts, something to distract her from these messy emotions. "I'm sorry, Korra," she said, resisting the urge to withdraw. She had been strong for three years. She couldn't cave now, not when Korra actually showed signs of recovery. "I just – I watched you almost die at his hands. It was one of the hardest things I've had to witness."
"I know." Korra took her hand. Asami stared as she intertwined their fingers, much like Asami had always done for them. "I had to face him again. Trust me, I would have found another way if I could." She cupped Asami's cheek with her other hand. It felt odd to be the object of Korra's affection suddenly. For so long, she had meticulously imagined what she would do if Korra would only allow them to do so, but now her heart beat frantically and she could hardly think of anything to say.
"Did it help?" she asked.
"Yeah." Korra let her hand drop from Asami's cheek and for a moment she was able to think again. But then she felt a warm palm sliding over her hip and her face flushed. "I was able to get into the spirit world. I found Rava, or...she found me. I finally feel complete."
Asami met Korra's gaze and felt her blush creep even higher. The avatar looked at her intently. She stepped back into her bench with a loud thunk. Asami unclasped their hands, desperate to regain some measure of self-control. "You do, now?" She placed her hands against the workbench, seeking stability.
"I felt fractured for the longest time. I was broken. All the pieces were there, but nothing fit in place like it should have." Korra moved her other hand to Asami's waist. She now held Asami steadily against the table. A pulse started in Asami's core. Her breath hitched when Korra ran a thumb over her hipbone. "I've thought a lot about this," Korra said, her voice pitched low.
"This?" Asami asked. She hated the unfamiliar waver that crept into her voice.
"Touching you...and other things." Korra's hand slipped higher up along her stomach. "I didn't want to start anything with you until I was whole again." A shudder tore through Asami as she felt Korra's hand crawl higher. "And...I know we're going to war, but I wanted to give this a chance before...before..." Korra's gaze lingered on her lips, she could tell by the almost glazed look in her eyes and the way her mouth moved silently.
"Before what?" Despite bracing herself against the table, she leaned into Korra's slight caresses.
Korra's lips touched hers before she realized what was happening. She gasped softly and tilted her head, leaning into the kiss. Korra's hand crept higher, stopping short under her breast, pressing against her pounding heart. The feeling of Korra's lips sliding against her own sent her pulse into overdrive. She inhaled sharply when Korra's tongue brushed gently against her lips, then whimpered when Korra pulled away. "I'm sorry," she murmured, inches still separating them. "Was that all right?"
Asami's hands flew forward, clutching at Korra and spinning her so that she was pinned against the workbench. "I've only waited for three years for that," she said, loving the way Korra groaned. "It was incredible." She kissed Korra again, hands finally roaming Korra's toned body in ways she had only dreamed of before. She shuddered as she felt Korra's hands on her abdomen. Her own hands traveled lower, hooking one under Korra's thigh, urging her onto the workbench as she pushed away the clutter with her other.
Korra lifted herself onto the desk and Asami spread her legs, leaning forward so she could kiss a trail down Korra's neck. "Asami," she whispered, clutching at Asami's shoulders tightly. Korra's skin was so soft against her lips, so pliable. She bit Korra's neck, eliciting a groan from her. Korra arched into her touch, hips rocking forward.
Her hands wandered under Korra's shirt, touching the overheated skin there as she moved her lips back to Korra's. They broke apart for a fraction of a second and Asami whispered, "Do you want this?" Their lips met again. Korra's tongue pressed against her own in a way that made the pulse between her legs stronger. Her hand cupped a breast, teasing Korra's taut nipple through the fabric of her bra. "Do you want me to continue?"
Korra gasped and tilted her head back. "I – I..." Asami waited for more words to come. A shadow flickered across Korra's face and she withdrew her hands and took a step back. She waited for Korra to say something, anything. Instead, she sat there, head tilted to the ceiling, paused in thought.
"We should probably wait, huh?" Asami asked.
Korra glanced at her and bit her lip. "Yeah, but that's really not what I want to do."
"Can you honestly tell me you're ready for this?" Asami crossed her arms. That was probably the safest thing she could do at this point. Her body ached to have Korra at her mercy again.
"I don't know." Korra groaned and shook her head. "I want to say yes. Would it be so bad for us to do this? I mean, who knows what's going to happen with Kuvira and her super weapon."
"Don't say things like that." It hurt enough to know that Korra would be flinging herself into danger again, that she had already done it once that day. "I don't want you to have to put yourself in harm's way if you can help it."
"Asami." Korra pushed herself off the table. "I'm going to be in danger no matter what. You have to know that."
She looked at the floor. It was safer than searching for answers in Korra's blue irises. "It doesn't make it hurt any less," she said. The pressure of tears built up in her throat. She swallowed it down, though her eyes still stung. "Perhaps we should save this for after the war is over." She tried to smile, her lips quivering with the effort. "I could stand to give you some more reasons to come back to me."
"I'm not the only one who's going to be in danger, you know." Korra took her hand, gently caressing her skin with her thumb. "That's something I love about us, you know? We work well together. We keep each other safe." Korra leaned up to place a soft kiss on Asami's cheek. She clenched her jaw and gripped Korra's hand tighter as her tears finally spilled over her cheeks. She had gone too long being Korra's unwavering rock. Now she crumbled. "I want you by my side, whatever the danger we face."
Asami looked at her only to see tears brimming in Korra's eyes. She sniffed and blinked away her own tears. "Well, I certainly ruined the mood, didn't I?"
"No." Korra leaned up to give her another small kiss. "I think Kuvira's army can take credit for that."
Asami laughed and pulled Korra into a hug. "Spirits, what are we doing?" She heard Korra chuckle in agreement and felt her press her face into Asami's neck. Korra's lips brushed over her skin. "Let's just go to bed," she said, still holding Korra tightly. "I'm feeling very exhausted suddenly."
It was the truth, she felt drained. After so many years of telling herself she would be okay with whatever Korra decided, whenever she decided it, her body was finally unwinding. Korra was here, in her arms, and she did not want to be anywhere else. To Asami, that was more than she could have ever hoped for.
A/N: Happy New Year! Here's an update for you all. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, though I really struggled on where to take it towards the end. Tell me, is there anything else we need to see before we go to post-finale? I know we brushed over some wonderful suggestions, but this has been where the story wants to go.