Chapter 42

Just two weeks

Korra maintained her hold on Asami's hip all the way to the Dining Center. It wasn't long after they left their chemistry final that the engineer threw her arm over the Southerner's shoulders. Asami nestled closer to the brunette when they exited the building, the crisp cold air of a settling winter cusp chilling her skin. Korra tightened her grip and smiled. This felt too right, too good for either of them to consider letting go. They even travelled through the serving line in this position, balancing their trays in their free hands. They almost separated when they could only find a small table to dine at, until a booth opened up just as they walked by. It all seemed too perfect. For once, they weren't untrusting or suspicious enough to question it; their haphazard thoughts weren't going to ruin this moment.

Asami was the first to detach. She let go of the Water Tribe girl's shoulders and tossed her bag in the seat across from her.

Korra followed suit, but refused to release the raven's waist. She slid into the bench, pulling Asami with her. She ate with one hand and a grin so wide, she was sure her cheeks would hurt the next morning. She never removed her palm and, to be honest, neither of them wanted her to.

There were several times throughout their meal when their food would be forgotten, due to their poor efforts to find their way out of each other's eyes. Nothing around them mattered, nor could anything stop them from getting lost in the pools of green and blue in front of them. It wasn't until the blushes on their cheeks became too hot that they would return to their dishes, only to hide their embarrassment.

"What did you think of the exam?"

The brunette slurped a chunk of noodles and swallowed before responding. "I kept thinking that I did something wrong because I was done so early."

Asami chuckled. "So, easy then?"

"Yup." Korra crunched into a veggie roll. "But you know, Asami," she squeezed her waist and pulled her closer, "I wouldn't have done so well if it weren't for you. In most of my classes, to be honest, but especially chemistry." She used her free hand to turn the older woman's head. Their eyes met once more. "Thank-you."

The raven giggled and pressed Korra's face away.

"What?"

"You know what."

Korra grinned. "I don't think I do."

"You keep giving me that puppy dog face."

"It's not just a puppy dog face. It's a polar bear puppy dog face."

Asami shook her head with a smile and returned to her food, ignoring the brunette's tomfoolery. She stuffed a dumpling into her mouth and almost choked when Korra nuzzled the crook between her neck and shoulder with her nose. "Korra!" She exclaimed amongst laughs, coughs, and a playful push.

All the Southerner could do was chortle and slurp the rest of her noodles, a hand still firm on Asami's hip.

(-)

"So, are you excited about going back to the South for your break," Asami asked as they travelled to her Satomobile in the nearby parking garage. Finals were over, and the between-semesters vacation was on the edge of its beginning.

Korra lugged two bags as they walked together. She was beginning to wonder just how much stuff Asami really needed to bring home for just a few weeks, considering most of her things were already at the Sato Estate. She shifted her grip. "I'm, uh, actually not going home for break."

The engineer stopped in her tracks and spun to face her. "What do you mean? You've been waiting for so long to go home and see your parents and Naga and everyone else!"

Her eyes dropped. "Yeah, I know, Asami. That's what the original plan was, anyways."

She set down the smaller pieces of luggage she had been carrying and cradled the shorter woman's jaw until their pupils met. "What happened?"

Korra adjusted the carriers in her hands. "My parents were trying to see if they could get any ships from my Tribe to bring me home or even bring them up here to visit, but some nasty storms came in and destroyed a lot of their boats." She pulled away and drew circles with her foot on the ground. "We – uh – don't really have the money or resources to repair them."

"Why didn't you tell me? I'm sure my father could've helped –"

"Asami, you've already bought me enough stuff. Hell, I probably would've gone starving a long time ago if it weren't for you." Her fierce blue eyes met the concerned peridots beside her. Korra placed the bags on the ground and buried her hands into the raven's hair. "You've done so much for me." She stood there a moment longer before turning away. "Besides, I'm actually kinda glad I'm not going home." She bent down and grabbed the luggage handle again.

"But, why?"

She shrugged, clutched the second carrier, and straightened. "I don't know why. I just… I don't feel ready to go back." Korra faced the heiress. "My parents and Naga are coming up to visit me, anyhow. They managed to pick up a boat from the Fire Nation." She moved past Asami and continued on their route to the parking garage.

The engineer snatched up her bags and followed the Water Tribe girl. "How did they manage that," she asked once she caught up.

"A, um, family friend."

"A family friend?"

Korra nodded, looking for nothing more than to drop the subject. The thought of her mother and Mizu –

Asami picked up on the brunette's mood change and left the topic alone, using her better judgment. They remained silent until they reached the Satomobile. She watched with intent as Korra loaded her trunk. The Southerner shut the hatch once everything was inside and motioned to leave until Asami stopped her. She spun Korra around and locked onto her eyes.

"Do you want to come with me?"

The Bender raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Do you want to stay at my place for break? With me and my dad?"

Korra's smile and pupils were soft – soft and full of rejection. She placed her palms in Asami's and laced their fingers. "I appreciate the gesture, Asami, but it's been almost as long since you've seen your dad in a normal way, since you've gotten to sit down with him and have a meal or talk about Satomobiles or whatever it is that you Sato's like to discuss over noodles. You two deserve some time together. Besides," she released her grip and leaned against the rear of the vehicle, "my parents are already on their way, as far as I know. I don't know when they're going to get here, and I have no other means of communicating with them, so I need to stay here until they arrive."

The heiress joined her on the back of her Satomobile. They stared out over the horizon, where the sun was setting in its deep orange majesty. Both were quiet for quite some time. "I'm going to miss you." Asami choked out, her voice barely audible. She fiddled with her fingers in her lap until a tan hand stopped her.

"I'm going to miss you, too."

The pair embraced and fought back their tears.

"You'll see me soon, Asami. In just a few weeks. We'll be back to studying and tearing our hair out in no time."

Asami laughed and ended the hug. She looked into the blue eyes of the woman beside her, the Water Tribe girl that had managed to have such an impact on her in such a small amount of time.

Korra could see the sadness in her peridots. "How about this: we get together over break for lunch? Two weekends from now." Her face animated. She jumped up from the Satomobile and flailed. "It's perfect, Asami! You can meet my parents and they can meet you and we can go to that noodle place in the City and – Oh my Spirits, Asami, you can meet Naga!" She lifted the engineer in her excitement and spun her in a circle. "Let's do it, Asami!" She was almost hopping up and down when she set the heiress down.

She held Korra still by her shoulders and took in her happiness. A gentle smile crossed her face. "Sounds perfect." The raven was sure she broke a rib from how tight the brunette's following hug was.

"I can't wait!"

It's perfect. It really is perfect. That's when I'll do it. That's when I'll tell Asami. I'll finally tell her.

They morphed into a much softer embrace in the setting sunlight and remained in each other's arms when the sun was half-past the horizon.

Or wait, maybe I should tell her now, before she goes. But then we'll be apart for two weeks. Would that be okay? Should I just say something or –

"I should get going, Korra. Will you be alright by yourself?"

The pair separated enough to see each other's eyes.

Korra hesitated, for just a second, still contemplating the matter. "I'll be fine, no worries." She pulled Asami closer with a smile, deciding the right moment would be when they can spend some time together, with her trusty polar bear dog by her side for support. She sighed in relief, enjoying the comfort the woman in her arms brought her. After all these weeks, everything they've been through… "It's all over with, Asami. No more chemistry. No more Sentai. No more Kuru. We can finally move on." She tightened her grip.

"I wish I could drop you off at your dorm, but they won't let me through the gates onto campus. I can at least escort you –"

"It's alright, Asami. It's still light out and it's not that far of a walk. Besides, I can handle myself."

She gave the Southerner a sly smirk and latched onto her. She wanted to never let go, but did so out of reluctance. She took one last look into those entrancing oceans. "Be careful."

"I will." Korra beamed. They stared into each other's eyes. The Bender took in the raven one last time – the way she smelled, the way she felt, the warmth that radiated from her every time they touched, Spirits, her touch – those peridots that she would miss ever so, the pair of red lips beneath them…

Korra blushed and released the engineer before she could notice. "Have a good trip, Asami. I'll see you in just two weeks!" She shot her a crooked grin. The reciprocated smile was soft.

It was Asami's turn to linger, a hand on Korra's cheek.

Maybe I should tell her. Maybe I should just let her know…

She absorbed the Water Tribe girl before her. Brown hair in three wolf tails, though there always seemed to be some almost-loose strands in the front. Somewhat toned arms covered with small blue bands. Her hearty laugh and absolute inability to come up with a successful lie. All of her dorkiness (it was the only way Asami could think to describe it). It was everything that made Korra Korra. No one else could have those traits, in such a perfect combination. Her crooked smile, her strength and determination, the support and comfort she was able to provide, the warmth she always managed to bring her, whether they were out in the cold or snuggling together at night, bodies close…

Asami brought her mind to the present. She wasn't ready. Not yet.

Soon, though. When we meet up again. It will be perfect! It truly will be.

"I look forward to it," the raven replied, her fingers caressing Korra's skin.

Absolutely perfect.

They finally tore away from each other. Asami walked to the front of her Satomobile, already feeling a part of her missing, as much as she tried to deny it.

Korra watched her climb into her vehicle and waved with a heavy heart as she pulled away. She stared in her direction until she was out of sight, until that piece of her had sped away against her will. Small tears crawled down her cheeks.

Just two weeks. Just two weeks, and you'll get to see her again, and you'll get to finally tell her.

Asami drove with shaking hands. She eyed the waving Water Tribe girl through the rearview mirror until she was nothing more than a speck. She tried to blink her tears away, but failed. With a deep breath, she began the long drive back to the Sato Mansion. Her vehicle felt empty without Korra joking or snoring in the passenger seat.

Just two weeks, she thought to herself, just two weeks.