Chapter 40

Is that a challenge?

"Asami, finals are next week. Don't you think we should be studying instead of working out?"

"Come on, Korra. Some exercise will help your muscles build up a bit from not being used after your injuries. Besides, what better way to prepare for finals than to take a break and let out some stress?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I could certainly use a break from that damn chemistry book." She looked around as the engineer finished signing in. "So what are we going to be doing? Treadmills? Lifting weights?"

"I've got something better in mind."

They entered the women's locker room and threw their bags on separate benches, a thin wall of storage units between them.

"What could be better than lifting weights? Are we hitting the bags?" The Southerner questioned as she pulled her shirt off, excitement in her voice.

Asami chuckled. "You'll see, Korra."

(-)

The pair walked side-by-side through the gym to the very last room down a small corridor. Asami retrieved a key from the pocket of her outer robe and unlocked the door.

"Do you have a key for everything, Asami?"

She shrugged and slipped into the room to flick the lights on. "I rented the space for a few hours, so they gave me the key since we are the first ones to use the room for the day."

Korra followed, wearing nothing but a white tank top and some knee-length blue shorts, which were the same shade as her sweatpants, but tighter. "There's nothing in here, Asami."

"Exactly."

The Southerner raised an eyebrow. "Are we doing floor routines?"

"Nope. Stretch up, Korra." She grinned and motioned for the exit.

"Wait, where are you going?" The Bender watched after her, dumbfounded.

Asami swung the key ring around her finger and glided through the door.

Korra blinked several times before sliding to the floor for some legs extensions.

(-)

The brunette was reaching for the ceiling to loosen her shoulders when she heard footsteps behind her. A smile crept onto her lips. "Okay, I'm stretched. Now what –" Korra turned just as a foot flew at her jaw. She jumped back to avoid the blow. "Spirits, Asami! You almost hit me in the face!"

She grinned with a playful look in her eyes. "That's what I was aiming for." The engineer took a swing at the Water Tribe girl, followed by a roundhouse.

Korra dodged the punch but couldn't avoid the kick. She backed up just enough for it to graze her instead of hit her full on. "Asami, are you insane?! You want me to fight you?"

The raven straightened and put her hands on her hips. "Not fight. Spar."

"Shouldn't we have, like, pads for that, or something?"

Asami shrugged. "I never used protective pads with my instructors. They used to tell me that I wasn't going to have pads on if I ever got attacked on the street, so I shouldn't get used to using them in training." She advanced on the Southerner and swept her legs with ease.

Korra came crashing down onto the mat and groaned.

"Come on, Korra." She offered her hand to her friend.

The brunette accepted. "So you do know I'm supposed to be taking it easy, right?"

"That was a week ago. If you could wrestle with me the other night for the last dumpling and chase after your homework that was blowing in the breeze yesterday, then you can do this just fine. Besides, you can't be afraid to mix it up sometimes."

Korra blushed and pouted. "I don't want to hurt you, Asami."

"What makes you think you're even going to hit me?"

A side-smirk crawled onto the Southerner's face. "Is that a challenge?"

Asami shifted into a fighting stance. Her body was sideways and her hands were moving in front of her face and chest. She was light on the balls of her feet. "Show me what you've got. I'll go easy on you."

"Oh, it's on, Sato."

(-)

Korra was getting frustrated. Why? Because Korra was getting her ass handed to her. More like handed to the ground. This was the fifth time Asami managed to sweep or flip her in the forty minutes they had been sparring. She panted on the floor, sweat dripping from her skin.

Asami didn't even have a glisten of perspiration on her. She offered the Bender her hand.

With an evil grin, Korra grabbed onto her wrist and flung the engineer onto her back with her legs.

She bounced and slid down the mat, only to spin herself and recover into a fighting stance within the same movement. "Is that the game you're playing now? Resorting to dirty tricks?"

Korra hopped to her feet. "I'm just getting started." She charged towards Asami and jumped into a spinning back kick.

The raven slid backwards to dodge the move and pivoted her body sideways when Korra landed. She sidestepped a punch, and another, until she was facing Korra's back. Much to her surprise, the Water Tribe girl launched a back kick from too close of a range for her to maneuver around. She expelled her breath before the blow but it wasn't enough. She flew backwards onto the mat and gasped for air.

"Good – hit." She wheezed as Korra rushed to her side.

"Asami? Are you al –"

Korra was on her back before she could even finish the question.

Asami was on her feet, though a considerable distance away, still struggling to recover from the hit to her solar plexus.

The Southerner grit her teeth. She slammed her fists into the ground and jumped up. "Come on, Sato." She crouched into a defensive position. "I'm waiting."

She raised her eyebrow and smirked, body shifting to a fighting stance. She sprinted towards Korra, but instead of punching or kicking like the brunette was expecting, she rolled right underneath Korra's arms. She was on her feet before the younger woman could even turn around. Asami grabbed Korra's wrist, extended her arm, and pushed her shoulder forward until Korra tripped over the leg she placed just in front of her ankle.

The Water Tribe girl crashed to the mat with a grunt, unable to maneuver away from her sparring partner.

Asami chuckled and rose to give Korra a chance to stand. She crossed to the other side of the room to retrieve her water flask. The Southerner lay on her stomach and watched the heiress move. Even her walking seemed more graceful than before.

But why?

She couldn't stop her jaw from dropping slightly when Asami shed her robe. Her outfit wasn't much different from Korra's: she wore a white tank and tight shorts, though hers were about half a foot above her knees. Her top was snug as well, but revealed the bottom few inches of a toned stomach. It wasn't until the engineer grew closer and called her name that Korra realized she had been laying very still.

Too still.

"Are you alright? Here, drink some water." Asami adjusted her into an upright position and handed Korra her water flask, noting just how red the younger woman's cheeks were.

Get it together. She's offering you a drink. Do something.

Korra brushed the pale fingers with her own as she took the container.

Not that. Don't do that. What is going on with you? Come on! Don't just stare at her – the container, Korra. You have a container in your hands. Drink.

She brought the spout to her face only to miss her mouth. Water spilled down her chest. She watched Asami's eyes trace the droplets and blushed even more. Her mind smacked herself.

You fool! Try again, and actually get it into your mouth this time.

Korra took a successful sip of water and hummed in satisfaction. Before she realized it, she finished the entire flask.

She's looking at you. Say something.

"Thanks, Asami. It was... delicious?"

Smack!

Ow! What was that for?

For being a fool.

"No problem. Do you – want to stop for today? You look pretty tired…"

"Not a chance!" Korra rose to her feet and wiped her mouth. Her eyes were too determined and her demeanor too stubborn to back down, despite how distracted she was by the way Asami looked in her – A sidekick to the gut snapped her right out of her trance and sprawled her out onto her back.

Come on, Korra. Get your head in the game.

It's not my fault she – I – she doesn't play fair.

She crawled up to a standing position. Korra wiped her lip with the back of her hand and grinned, eager now more than ever to show the engineer up.

"You just don't know when to quit, do you?"

"Nope."

(-)

Punch. Dodge. Kick. Dodge. Sidestep, punch. Duck, sweep. Jump.

They exchanged blows back and forth without stop. Both were dripping with sweat, eyes fierce. Every attack sent her way, Asami would parry or slip. Her counters would miss by mere centimeters. Korra's fighting had become more fluid, now that Asami wasn't just trying to floor her every opening she could get. Their sparring evolved into a more genuine fight. Neither one of them could afford a fumble.

Spirits! Asami thought as a tan fist flew by her face. She's picking this up really quickly.

She dodged another punch with a minor pivot on her feet and felt the wind of the attack across her face.

Too quickly.

While impressed with Korra's skill, the heiress was getting tired. They both were. It had been ages since either of them had trained for so long.

Alright, time to end this.

Before Asami could use Korra's next punch to bring her down, the Southerner surprised her with a full on tackle to the abdomen. The pair flew to the ground and bounced off the mat. The raven grunted to the pain in her back. She tried to register the situation, but Korra was quicker. She trapped her wrists above her head with her strong hands. Her body was crouched over hers, torsos just inches apart.

Korra knelt down until their noses almost touched. "Gotcha, Sato."

Asami lifted her head and caught Korra's eyes. They locked onto each other, a fire burning in their pupils. They were panting and sweating as they stared, hot breath bouncing off their skin. Their hearts raced. Neither of them wanted to separate from the other. Heat rushed through their bodies, and it was undeniable.

"Um, excuse me?" A voice from the entrance interrupted them.

Deep blushes formed on their cheeks. Korra released her partner and rolled away to hide her embarrassment.

"Yes?" Asami spoke for the both of them, her tone holding the same amount of frustration that they felt.

"Your reserve time for this space is up. Another group is waiting to get in here."

"Our apologies." The engineer rose and pulled the Southerner with her.

They walked in silence from the exercise room to the locker rooms, bodies close but not nearly close enough. They changed out of their clothes in separate areas and met up at the showers. The pair stood across from each other as Korra scratched the back of her head and Asami played with the tie of her robe. A faint hint of pink was still on their cheeks.

"Want to get food after this?"

"Yeah, food's good."

They stole glances at one another before heading to separate showers in the far corners of the room. Similar thoughts crossed both of their minds, and all they could think about during their bathing was the other.