You Kissed Me Back

a/n: like the title, i set out for this one to be somewhat tricky, but still just as nice. maybe it is a bit different than what i was originally going for, but who can say except you, the reader, right?

. Insert Disclaimer .

Vignette 2: Frostbite

"Stand up," Mako called behind her, gently nudging her by the shoulders. "Up."

She shook her head. And as in an unspoken response to his request, the wind outside whipped so hard past the sides of the house the bedroom window had burst open, letting in a flurry of snowflakes and icy wind.

"Up," he repeated.

She ground her teeth. "Mako. I'm...thinking. Don't ask me to move. Not yet."

Underneath her, lay piles of worn books and journals, secret technique scrolls and images of powerful benders in history. She had been reading and studying all day, in order to decipher some vision she claimed Aang had given her two night ago in a dream. She didn't want to hesitate this time to figure out what it meant.

But the idea to Mako was only distressing. He had begrudgingly agreed that Korra should take some time off to visit her family back in the South Pole, but below freezing temperatures and a lack of quilted blankets were not particularly a safe haven for firebenders. He had expected to be able to at least spend some quality time with Korra, away from the cameras, occupational demands, and bad guys. And even when this new urgency arrived, he had still at the very least expected her to put only a reasonable amount of time in her studies. That was 14 hours ago.

Mako sighed, and drew his mouth into a fine line. "You haven't taken a break in over four hours. Let's call it a night."

Korra spared him a glance, momentarily blinding him with the brightness of her blue eyes in pitch black darkness. Her room looked like a cavern in the middle of a winterstorm night. She had been bunched up and on the floor, taking short breaks only to eat, converse with her parents, and use the bathroom. Everyone seemed to understand the demands of Avatar work by now except for him.

"Not yet."

"But Korra—"

"Shh!" She barked suddenly, and shook her head. He sighed again and walked over to the bedside, closing the window and re-bolting the lock. The wind whipped angrily against the shutters in retaliation. He looked back at her, noticing only for a moment that she had replaced the book on water-bending with a journal of Aang's, he could tell by the way she turned the pages gently. It was a wonder that she was determined enough even to continue reading when there was no light to be seen.

She hardly even took notice when he knelt down beside her, also on his belly, and wrapped an arm around her. When she did notice, she flinched violently and opened her mouth to speak.

"Since you won't go to bed," he said quickly, cutting her off, "there's no harm if I stay. You could use the warmth; you feel like a popsicle."

She chuckled softly and leaned in, pecking him on the lips gently. "I suppose. No distractions?"

"No distractions." He nuzzled into her shoulder.

She sighed, and turned the page.


oh man! can you believe it, one more to go! i'm so happy that you all are enjoying the storyline, the fluff, and everything else. i really appreciate the support all of you have given me so far, and i hope that you all will continue to follow me after this!