In vino veritas, and the promise of a headache.

He stares into the bag with suspicion.

"What is this?" he asks.

"Well, Mr. Amon, sir, I believe normal people call it a bottle," quips Korra.

He pulls the large gray-green object from its brown paper casing. "This isn't a bottle, Avatar; it's a jug."

"Must you always be so picky?" grumbles Korra.

"Only when you're involved, Avatar." He brings the jug up to his ear and swirls it around. "What's inside?"

"Rat poison. Figured I'd end your reign of terror once and for all," says Korra with a smirk.

He rolls his eyes beneath the mask. "I do have some rather important letters to finish, Avatar. If you're just going to keep pulling my leg, then I suggest you leave. I'd hate to call my guards on you."

The dream from last night comes unbidden to his mind.

She lies naked and blindfolded on the table, her hands and legs bound to prevent her escape; a dozen Equalists and his faithful lieutenant watching her as he runs his gloved hand across her back…

He smiles to himself.

"Then again…"

Korra makes a face. "Ugh, I didn't know you liked it like that."

"There are a great many things you don't know about me, Avatar," he says matter-of-factly. "Now please, I have indulged your childishness long enough…"

"Okay, okay!" snaps Korra. "I brought you some wine. Apology wine. You know, for eating all your grapes."

"After…" he adds, waiting for her response.

She sighs. "You know, for eating all your grapes when I promised not to. But in my defense," she grins, "I was tired after that workout you gave me. I needed a recovery snack."

"And my stamina meant nothing to you?" he replies, trying to feign hurt.

"Oh, I think your stamina was just fine," she purrs.

He tries his damnest not to blush, even though he knows she can't see it anyways.

"Anyways…" Korra points at the bottle. "Me. Wine. Apology. They're not grapes anymore, per se, but it's close enough, right?"

I prefer rice wines to be honest. More body. More alcohol. And oddly enough it seems to aid my concentration.

But Korra looks so eager to please, so eager to make amends. He glances over at his desk, considers the unwritten missives to Equalist operatives in Ba Sing Se and the Fire Nation capital.

I have time for one drink.

"One drink, Avatar. That's it. I have work to do and don't need you here distracting me."

"Fine," says Korra. "One drink and I'm out of your hair."

Just one drink.

He stares at his fingers, flexing them in curiosity, trying to recall when he had last felt this sensation. It is so…strange. His body feels so light and airy…and as for his hand…well, the feeling bears resemblance to hitting a funny bone, except infinitely more pleasurable.

By the spirits, he realizes, I'm drunk. But I've never been drunk. I've always been careful about how much I drink.

He looks down and realizes that his tunic is undone, his chest muscles proudly on display to the world.

When did this happen?

"…and so then I walk into the house carrying this giant penguin and my mother nearly has a heart attack…Amon?" asks Korra.

His eyes snap over to her. "My apologies, Avatar, I seemed to have-" He notices that Korra is down to her smalls and chest wrappings. "When did you undress?"

"About twenty minutes ago. I lost the bet, remember?"

"Bet?" he says, perplexed. "I don't remember any bet…" He glances at his wall clock. So much for getting those letters out by tonight. I'll have to have to send them off with the noontime couriers. "It seems I've forgotten a great many things, least of all the time."

"Wow. You really are drunk," says Korra in amazement. "I didn't think you were capable."

"Neither did I," he admits. He picks the wine jug off the ground (it must be at least two-thirds empty, he judged) and sniffs it.

What the hell, he thinks with a shrug. It probably won't matter at this point.

The wine is sweet and warm on his tongue – too sweet, in fact. I recognize the grapes that went into this. Why did I not immediately stop at the first sip? He glances at Korra. But of course. Distractions. Always distractions.

He chuckles. "It seems your general lack of thoughtfulness-" (The look of indignation on Korra's face was priceless) "-extends to your wine selection, Avatar." He shakes the container. "You purchased a dessert wine, and this particular brand is not really meant for casual drinking."

"Oh really?" says Korra, giving him one of her infamous stinkeyes. "Didn't stop you from enjoying most of the bottle, now did it?"

"In my defense, I was more taken by the gift-giver than the gift itself." Korra blushes. "But-" he adds, deciding that it is worth the effort to assuage her pride, "-the wine is agreeable." His vision blurs and he covers the eyeholes of his mask until it passes. "Though perhaps next time you should purchase a smaller quantity."

"Fair enough," says Korra with a sigh. She stands up from her chair and kneels down to retrieve her pants. "I should probably get going. I've kept you long…" She stops and looks at him.

He freezes. Oh no. I recognize that look.

Korra sashays over to him and gives him a casual side-eye as she gently lifts the container from his hands. "Dessert wine, hmm?"

And before he can stop her, she pours the remaining alcohol all over him. The wine makes dark patches in his clothes, falls in little rivulets down his chest.

If Korra could've seen his face, she would have laughed at the comically flabbergasted expression on it.

"What the hell, Avatar?" he shouts as she straddles his lap.

"Just following your instructions," she says playfully as she leans in to kiss his shoulder. "I'm having-" She kisses his collarbone. "-dessert-" She kisses his neck. "-with my wine."

You evil minx, he thinks as Korra kisses her way down his chest, stopping to (gently!) pull a nipple between her teeth.

His patience quickly wears out, and after lifting the mask to expose his lips, he pulls Korra's head up and kisses her. And though earlier he'd complained about the overpowering flavor of the wine, it tastes just right on her lips.

"Delicious," he murmurs as his left hand slides downwards to hug the curve of her ass. She pulls the hood from his head and tangles her fingers in his hair.

He feels his erection straining against his trousers. Perhaps my work can wait for the time being.

He starts to remove the mask with his free hand, but Korra stops ruffling through his hair and grabs his wrist. "Leave it on for tonight," she says, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

He remembers his earlier admonition.

"There are a great many things you don't know about me, Avatar."

Ah, you stupid, stupid man.

"As you wish, Avatar," he says softly, lifting her into his arms and carrying her over to the bed.