You Kissed Me Back
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a/n: you know, if i got to choose what element i'd like to bend, i think i'd like to be airbender, only because they are definitely the most calm and spiritual about the element they bend. but i'd probably never be able to choose if it was real, so i guess i'd end up being an earthbender or something else i'm bad at. ._.
. Insert Disclaimer .
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Vignette 4: Deep Snow
It was a large party, in an expensive hotel's ballroom, with cheery music and swishy gowns and bright colors. A mass of photographers only crowded around Tenzin and Korra as they walked together in sync down the large marble steps to meet the crowd. And intentionally unlady-like, Korra pulled on the middle of her dress to hike it up a bit. She wasn't used to exposing cleavage before.
She wasn't even sure if this is what people expected of her. Did they want an Avatar that wore blue-green dresses, held onto Tenzin's hand and carefully answered any and all questions about how she would help repair Republic City after the fall of Amon? She could do all that in her water tribe clothing.
Not that she couldn't do it this way. She could do it, no problem. It was just...
She looked up, and watched as Asami and Mako shared a laugh, clanking champagne glasses together. Instinctively, she scowled.
"Avatar Korra, here, here please," a woman called out with pretty curled blonde hair. "Do you plan to restore the bending of all those who were subjected to Amon's power, even ones considered abusive of their bending ability?"
She opened her mouth, then closed it. Of course, she wanted to say. It was a very complicated process however, one that couldn't easily be explained. Tenzin immediately swooped in and answered for her. She felt a bit embarrassed for not answering her own question, but didn't even have time to brood over it. It was all done as soon as it had begun.
And she soon found herself bent over the railing of the balcony, admiring all the pretty lights of Republic City mixed with the humbling sounds of violins and flutes. The only thing missing was the bright gleam of the Pro-Bending Arena but, as Tenzin says, patience allows for change.
She understood that she had to be patient, and not just about Amon's destruction. The world most likely wouldn't be ready for the news of Avatar Korra's relationship with a poor fire bender. Remnants of Amon's nation can't yet know that he was Korra's most important person. News traveled quickly. He'd be vulnerable. For now, they had to be careful.
Her third glass was dangling from her hand, and she was hard-pressed to stay looking the other way in the hopes the firebender would come searching for her and find her here. But after thirty minutes, there was no such luck.
Disappointed, Korra carefully walked on her sparkly heels into the ballroom and straight to the buffet table. She could hardly recognize any of the food there, but when she saw the steaming plates of giant sea crab, she thought of her home and instinctively took a few.
She sat on a single table high chair in the dining area and got a few mouthfuls of succulent crab meat in but not without a few drips of hot butter on her dress. She sighed at the wistful joy of it all.
"Amazing," came the soft tremor of voice from beside her. She didn't flinch. It was the opposite. It made her melt and feel warm. The voice she wanted to hear all night. When she turned, she was fully impressed with the smooth and clean-cut Mako standing before her. If his usual clothes were enough to make her heart skip a beat, Mako in an expensive-looking suit was liable to get her into some serious trouble.
She swallowed thickly. "Yeah, the food here's pretty good."
Mako gave a small smile, his searching eyes betraying what exactly he was admiring. "I...uh, wasn't talking about the food..."
So she blushed and grinned, slapping his arm playfully. Some teasing was long overdue. "...Oh. Well, I could say the same. You clean up pretty nice too, although—"
He stepped closer and sighed. "Korra, just shut up and dance with me." Mako didn't hesitate, stretching out his hand for her to take. The slight bow in his posture and his confident smirk made Korra's mouth go dry. What was blazing in his eyes—passion, maybe—was something she wanted to dive into. She felt so righteously selfish.
Her blush spread slowly. She pushed the plate of crustacean carcasses away from her, and wiped her hands on her napkin. "Who said you get to play Prince Charming tonight?"
"I'm certainly dressed for the occasion."
She laughed and took his hand, as he led her so carefully to the dance floor. She was nervous, dancing in heels, but he held her so tight, her face in his chest was enough to blot out what was sure to be hundreds of camera flashes going off. Tenzin would be upset, she concluded, but it would be worth it.
"Korra," Mako hummed after some time, and Korra relished in the vibrations his chest made when he said her name. She had stumbled a few times, his hands had gotten moist with sweat, but the scent of peppermint spice wafting off him made her absolutely refuse to move her face away from him.
"Mako," she whispered back.
He paused, then sighed deeply. "I love you—"
"So much," Korra finished for him, not bothering to hide the grin the spread across her face like wildfire as she looked up at him. He entwined his hands in her loosed brown hair, so that they were staring at each other, sharing the same intensity. So much.
"Don't wait, City Boy, kiss me while I'm fawning over you," she laughed.
So he did. Cameras be damned.
this was above and beyond what i was aiming for when it comes to word count. it's soooo long, ughh. anyway, did you like it? please review!
