Asami sighed and urged Bolin's horse up beside Korra. Earlier in the day, Bolin had fallen, claiming a sprained ankle. Jinora took over the wagon team, and Asami had been talked into riding Bolin's horse. She still wasn't sure how they'd convinced her to do that. Asami glanced over her shoulder. Bolin was leaning in close to whisper something in Opal's ear. Asami glared, but he was too absorbed to notice.

"You didn't have to do this," Korra said softly.

Asami turned to Korra and raised a brow. "Do what?"

"Ride his horse." Korra finally turned to meet her gaze. "We should have just tied it to the wagon."

Asami shook her head. "Honestly, I was just trying to remember how exactly he'd talked me into this."

Korra shrugged. "I was surprised you agreed. I had always assumed you hated horseback riding."

Asami raised a brow and leaned over in the saddle. "Why?"

"Well, when you rode with me on Naga you always…" Korra's eyes widened with realization. "Ancestors, you…it was on purpose?"

Asami blushed and laughed. "Well, there'd be no point in denying it now." She smiled. "You mean to tell me you didn't do anything to try to impress me?"

Korra ran a hand through her hair and chuckled. "Well, I mean…"

"What?"

Asami could see Korra's cheeks color. "I knew you watched me practice my swordplay sometimes and, well…I'll admit that I might have showed off a bit when I knew you were there. I didn't think to question why I did it."

"Maybe you weren't as oblivious as I'd originally thought."

Korra's smile fell. "It's difficult." She was quiet for a moment before she continued. "It didn't occur to me because…I didn't think it was possible."

A sliver of panic shot through her. "To be with a woman?" It was a stupid thought, really, but it had been something Asami worried about from time to time. Korra had only been with men, and so the very real fear that Asami simply would not interest her plagued her thoughts from time to time. She held her breath as she waited for an answer.

Korra shook her head. "To be with you."

Asami wished they weren't on horseback riding through rice fields, and instead were alone. "Why would that be so impossible?"

Korra gave her a sad smile. "You always were so focused on your work. The only time I really got to see you was when you needed me for testing your inventions."

She wanted to take Korra's hand, but could not. Instead, she clutched her reins tighter. "I would have sought you out more, but I didn't know if the attention was welcomed. Now that I know it is, maybe I can find more excuses to be in the castle."

Korra smirked. "Maybe I can dent my armor more often?"

Asami glared. "You'd better not. That armor is supposed to protect you because…" Asami sighed.

"Because?"

"It's silly, but…" Asami gave a half-hearted shrug. "I can't be on the battlefield with you, but at least when I'm making your armor, I can feel like I'm protecting you."

Korra's expression softened. "I think I can understand that." She reached up to the collar of her armor and seemed to struggle a moment. Asami smiled when she recognized her favor around Korra's neck. "And before you ask, it does make me feel protected." Asami laughed and felt a weight left from her. She was glad that they'd been able to move past the strange awkward tension that had settled on them since the tournament. As the day wore on and turned to evening, Asami hoped that this was a sign of good things to come.

Korra tried not to let Opal's presence make her too grumpy. She had hoped that after spending the whole day with her, Bolin might have gotten it out of his system, but they had set up camp and Bolin was practically glued to her side. He had been throwing himself at her all night. She desperately wanted Asami to come over and talk to her, like she had during the ride, but Asami said she had to work on something and Korra hadn't seen her since they made camp. Bolin laughed loudly at something Opal said. She rolled her eyes and focused on eating her food.

"Okay, so you have how many brothers?" Bolin asked.

Opal smiled. "Four."

Bolin sighed wistfully. "That would be so cool."

"One's not enough for you?" Mako asked.

"Maybe if I had four brothers, I would have ended up with at least one that had a personality." Bolin grinned at Mako's frown.

"It's nice to have a big family, but I don't get to see my extended family very often." Opal's smile fell.

"Do they not live in Zaofu?"

"My grandma is a little…eccentric. Last I heard she was living in a swamp somewhere. I have an aunt as well, but she left to try and advance her military career. I've never actually met her."

"Ooh, anyone famous? Have we heard of her?"

"I doubt it, Beifong isn't a famous name."

Korra nearly dropped her bowl. Ancestors, she's a Beifong? As in Lin Beifong? As in Su Beifong? She shot a look at Bolin, who looked just as surprised. She cleared her throat to get his attention. "Bolin, I need to talk to you for a minute."

He glanced over at her, a tentative smile tugging at his lips. "Uh, sure Knight-Commander." He followed Korra over to the side of the campsite. Once they were out of earshot, Korra rounded on him.

He smoothed a hand through his hair. "Knight-Commander?"

She crossed her arms. "Bolin, I know that you like her, but for once I need you to keep it in your pants."

He gasped and clutched at his heart as if she had wounded him. "I'm insulted that you'd even–"

Korra narrowed her eyes. "Eska?"

Bolin lost a little of his bravado. "T-that was a misunder-"

Korra raised her eyebrows. "Ginger?"

Bolin pouted. "That's not fair."

Korra shrugged. "Maybe I should just mention to Asami what happened that summer when we were fifteen."

The color drained from his face. "You wouldn't."

"I would." She poked his shoulder. "Just remember that. I am not going to be the one to go to Su or, ancestors help me, Lin Beifong and explain to them how one of my knights had a tryst with their youngest."

Bolin sighed. "You've made your point."

Korra nodded, satisfied with the answer. They both headed back to camp.

"Everything alright?" Opal asked.

"Oh yes, Korra just gave me a brilliant idea." Something about the upbeat tone in his voice felt off. Bolin knelt at Opals side. "I've been monopolizing your time and that is unfair of me. You should spend some time talking about magic with Jinora."

Jinora looked up from a book she was reading. "What?"

"Korra mentioned how you'd be all alone in that tent of yours, I just thought it'd be great if you and Jinora were to share your tent." He smiled over at Korra but there was mischief hidden behind it.

What? Korra glanced at Bolin, confused.

"That does sound kind of fun," Jinora said. "I only ever get to hang out with my sister and she gets on my nerves."

"I've never had a sister." Opal smiled. "I'd love to."

Bolin grinned broadly and clapped his hands together. "It's settled then. Mako, Kai, and I will still share the man tent. Jinora can share Opal's tent…" he tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I guess that just leaves you and Asami." Korra's eyes widened. That little shit, I'm going to kill him. She had every intention of grabbing Bolin by the throat and shaking him until he stopped talking, but she saw movement out of the corner of her eye.

"What about me?" Asami asked. She had a large bag slung over her shoulder.

"Just going over the sleeping arrangements." Bolin gave Asami a smile.

"Have they changed?" Asami's gaze flickered to Korra's, looking for some clarification.

Korra couldn't make her mouth form words. I'm going to be sleeping next to Asami, alone.

Mako sighed and cleaned out his bowl. "Opal and Jinora are going to share a tent and have magic bonding time," he said.

"Alright then, but why would…" Asami's words faded. She looked back at Korra, this time with understanding. "Oh…"

"Well." Bolin gave an exaggerated stretch. "It's time for me to hit the hay!" He headed for the tent and motioned for Mako to follow. Mako shook his head but followed his brother. Just before Bolin entered the tent, he shot a wink at Korra. Korra closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. This isn't happening to me. My entire company is not trying to get me laid.

"Opal, you were telling me about a technique your grandmother used?" Jinora said. The two girls chatted as they headed over to their respective tent.

Kai hesitated before leaving. "Knight-Commander?"

"Yes, Kai?" Korra opened her eyes and looked at her squire.

He scratched the back of his head. "If it would make you feel better, I could find some spiders to put in Bolin's sleeping roll."

Korra smiled. "It would, thanks Kai."

Kai gave her a big grin and headed into the trees likely to look for spiders. Reluctantly, Korra met Asami's gaze. She took a deep breath. Now what?

Asami stared at the dying embers. Korra had already retreated to their tent and Asami knew she was stalling. We've been sharing a tent this whole time, this isn't any different. She knew that wasn't really true. Jinora had always taken the middle of the tent, making sure that Korra and Asami were never in close proximity. It was easy to use Jinora's presence as a reason to keep from any kind of romantic activities. Now they wouldn't really have an excuse. Asami closed her eyes and tried to calm her heart. Alright, you can do this. You're an adult and you can behave yourself.

She walked over to the tent and ducked inside. Korra knelt over her pack, looking for something. She had stripped out of her tunic, Asami forgot to breathe at the sight of Korra's naked back. Finally, she managed a gasp and quickly averted her eyes.

"Sorry…" Asami muttered. She moved to her side of the tent and faced the canvas as she took off her boots.

"I'm just trying to find a clean shirt," Korra said. There was rustling of fabric and Asami focused on taking out her hairpins. Don't think about her naked. Stop it. "You can turn around now."

Asami shifted so that she could look at Korra. She stood in a loose tunic and pants. It wasn't as if she had never seen Korra wearing just her tunic and pants, but this felt new. She wondered if it was because of the way Korra was looking at her. The tent felt stifling and her mouth was dry. She wanted to kiss Korra, but Korra had been so hesitant and she had promised to be patient. The ride this morning was the first time since the tournament that things felt normal again, she didn't want to jeopardize that just because she couldn't maintain self-control.

"So…" Asami began. "Tomorrow, are we going to kill Bolin or thank him?"

Korra's lips formed something resembling a grin. "I haven't decided yet."

"I want you to know that I don't…" Asami paused to choose her words. "I don't expect anything to happen. If you just want to roll over and go to bed, then that's fine." She shifted closer to Korra and took her hand.

Korra laced their fingers together. "Is that what you want?" Korra asked.

"I'd be lying if I said yes," Asami admitted. "But I can wait."

Korra met Asami's eyes and she was having trouble breathing again. "Then you're a stronger woman than I." The weight of Korra's words settled over her slowly. Korra's free hand moved up and cupped Asami's cheek. "I have been tormented by these lips for so long…" Her thumb brushed across Asami's lower lip. "If this isn't what you want, tell me now while I still have command over my actions." The words were soft and Asami could barely hear them over the pounding of her heart. Korra's eyes were dark but seemed to burn into her. She had thought about this moment so often, planned out what to say, what to do. Now that it was happening she was paralyzed. She licked her lips, trying to provoke them into speaking. She watched Korra's gaze dart down to the movement. She could see the rise and fall of Korra's chest, could hear each shallow breath.

She wanted to kiss Korra. She would have, but Korra looked toward the tent flap and muttered, "Someone's outside."

No, you have got to be kidding me. Asami strained to hear the faint sounds of footsteps. "It's probably Kai coming back from the woods." She wanted to go back to the moment that had just been shattered.

"It's too loud for Kai," Korra's voice dropped to a murmur. "And too soft for the boys."

"Korra," Asami squeezed Korra's hand. "What should we do."

"Run."

A/N It's late! I know, I KNOW. I'm sorry but I have very good reasons:

1) Finals are coming up for me
2) Our wedding is coming up (yes we're already married but the ceremony is going to be in May, it's complicated)
3) Michelle is finishing a manuscript
4) We've started working out to be healthy

So pick one of those things as the reason. Also: FOR FUCKS SAKE WE ARE NOT ENDING CONFLICT RESOLUTION YET. It's just taking us a lot of effort to do this one, and we're getting to Conflict when we can.
~Sy