Chapter 12

"Howl! Howl, wake up!" Korra begged, shaking him gingerly. Howl winced, yawning, blinking furiously. Light poured in from the row of windows that shone beside the bunk beds lining the walls. Korra's long dark hair tickled his face to the point where he wanted to sneeze, but he was tired of doing so. She smiled at him warmly, not showing any teeth. It looked strained.

The other guards had abandoned him in the barracks. The entire room looked incredibly sloppy but he'd managed to keep his bunk bed and locker rather tidy. Their late night drinking had lapped over into the morning, it seemed, with seal skinned glasses shattered on the ground and the sickly sweet scent of alcohol hanging in the air. Howl frowned in disgust at his fellow comrades but shook his head. "Howl?" Korra repeated.

Her legs were wrapped around his waist. Heat flooded his entire body before he flinched. He'd taken off his shirt before bed because it had been so incredibly hot. He wore nothing but a pair of long underwear, which thankfully was hidden by a thick blanket. "K-Korra?" He stuttered, his voice cracking from the shame.

Korra smiled. Howl's cheeks were alight with horror and she couldn't help but notice. His chest was partially hidden by a blanket he seemed to struggle to keep it up. He blinked a million per minute, his deep voice cracking. His midsection was lined with six individual abs, a few stray chest hairs springing from down his collarbone. "You sleep okay?" She questioned, crossing her arms and ignoring the fact that he seemed so uncomfortable.

Howl bit his lip. He prayed that nobody dare walk in to see this… incident. He wasn't sure he'd be able to handle the shame and horror. Korra's fingers trailed from down his collarbone, which made his gaze fly to hers. It was late. He'd taken the night watch unwillingly and slept all day. His head hurt from the lingering cold she'd given him after the blizzard. "I-uh… sure? What's going on, Korra? You never come in here unless it's important."

"Why do you say that?" She grumped, crossing her arms. "Maybe I just wanted to come see you."

He raised a brow, watching her as she uncomfortably turned her head. Howl put his arms behind his head and waited for her to answer, his cheeks starting to cool down. "You sure?" He asked, running his tongue over his chapped top lip. Now that she'd pulled back, he saw a tint of pink laced in her cheeks. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she ignored him, hiding herself. Her bottom lip poked out in a pout, her signature one.

Howl sat up slowly which caused her to slide off of his waist on to the side of him. He propped up one knee and tilted his head. "What's the problem, Korra?" He questioned.

Korra had good reason for not telling him what was wrong; she liked him but she didn't know exactly how to explain it. She couldn't just say that her heart was like a hummingbird-mouse that went scurrying in different directions when he was near, or that he drove her wild in her dreams. Because she knew that would win his heart.

She'd been studying the books that Yora had given to her for her birthday like they were a religion. She was so focused on becoming a better romancer that she'd slacked in her firebending classes. When asked what was on her mind, she'd given the simple answer about spirituality. In truth, Howl was on her mind, all the time.

The previous night, while she was reading, she stumbled across a certain section in the back of the book. It had opened a whole new… view on why men were so intent in finding a woman, and how little children were made. She had asked Katara about it in the morning when she noticed that Howl was absent (for once, she was thankful that he had night watch). The elder had withheld all information until Korra answered her one question; who was the guard that seemed to dote on her.

"What do you mean?" She had asked, swallowing to keep from blushing. It had only been that night where she had dreamt of that new section and experiencing it for the first time with him. She had woken with the biggest smile on her face only to realize how pleasantly fake it had been.

"That boy. The one whose risked his life to save you."

She hadn't been able to hide her embarrassment in front of the old woman, who smiled with as much knowing as she could emit. "You like him, don't you? That's why you've been asking all of these adult questions?"

"N-no! I was just… curious. I've never been taught this before and I w-wanted to know." Her fingers had squeezed the fabric covering her stomach as she wrapped her arms around herself. Katara had nodded and explained, but there was something in the old woman's eyes that told Korra that she knew what was up, why is was there, and what would happen. If she hadn't been so embarrassed about the topic of Howl and the newest section of the book, she might have asked to know more.

She'd spent the rest of her day reading that section over and over again, waiting for Howl to find her. She had explored her feelings while she had been sick and found that she wanted him. She really did. She wanted to feel his kisses whenever they saw each other. She wanted him to be the one she ran to for comfort not because she had to, but because she needed to. More of all, she wanted his acceptance.

She'd marched into the barracks without a care in the world and woke Howl, only to find him confused on why she had come. She had expected him to take her in his arms and—since no one was in the barracks—kiss her until her lips were numb. Her hopes seemed ruined now. Her dreams felt childish.

Howl playfully poked her in the stomach when she'd fallen silent for a minute or so and watched as she zoned back in. As soon as she caught his gaze, she turned away and the pout returned. "Hi. Will you please tell me what you aren't telling me? Because you're scaring me and I'd like to know if something is wrong."

Korra sighed and tried to push past him. "Nothing is wrong." She mumbled, crawling over him and off of the bed. His gaze narrowed softly in confusion as she shoved her hands into her pockets and started for the door. Her head was lowered as she shuffled across the room.

"Korra?" He questioned, concerned. Had he done something wrong? He tried to think back to the last time they had talked; two days prior, when she had visited him on the guard tower and asked him to read her a story once more. He'd done the usual, read her one of his romance novels called Two Souls, about the city of Omashu. She'd fallen asleep curled up on his lap, with her head tucked in between his shoulder and his throat. He had carried her routinely back to her unlocked room, patted her own the head, disappeared out the door. "Wait—"

She opened the door, slid out, and slammed it behind her. Howl knew he'd done something wrong, but racked his brain in confusion. He threw the pelts off of him and hurried to dress, pulling on his uniform and boots and sliding his helmet on to his head. He grabbed his long sword and attached it to his belt. If Korra wouldn't talk to him, he would go onto duty. But he was determined to find out he what he had screwed up with.

There was no wind and no moon rising in the sky as he raced after her. With a quick sweep of the perimeter, he ran and grabbed her arm. She ripped it from his grip, but he caught it again and pulled her into the crease between the mess hall and Korra's room, taking her to the place where they usually met when they needed to talk. By the time they reached it, Korra had managed to pry his fingers off once more. However, this time she made no try to escape. There was only one way out and Howl blocked it.

She pressed herself against the wall as Howl paced. "What's wrong? What did I do?" He questioned aloud. She wondered if he had meant to say it in his head and let it accidentally slip out. His hand flew to his helmet and he pushed it off with his hands, letting his wavy black hair slip out in tiny curls. He didn't readjust his helmet though, much to her surprise. She waited until he came to stand in front of her, his amber eyes scanning her face so carefully that she didn't know how to respond or even understand what he was trying to ask. "What is wrong?" He begged to know when she made no motion to answer his other questions.

Korra bit her lip. This could be her chance. She could just lean up and kiss him until their lips were sore and swollen, until the newly found part of her had been explored. She could run her hands through his silky curls and get lost in them. She could listen to his luscious voice until the end of time, until she had fallen victim to his sweet nothings. She could fall to her knees and beg to be loved for the rest of her years on this earth.

All she had to do was lean in and close the distance. Reach his chapped lips and claim them with her own. All she had to do was touch him and let him know that she was there for him for forever, as if the blood pact hadn't let him know that enough. She only had to wrap her arms around his and plunge into the world of newness.

But he pulled away first, his eyes reflecting the hurt. "Forget I asked." He whispered, turning around and starting towards his job. Howl shook his head in annoyance. Why didn't she answer him? Usually she complied immediately, but she had never even come close to not talking to him. He hurt. He hurt more than the time he was literally wounded. His heart and mind were arguing loud in his head. His heart was telling him that he needed to continue to pursue his love for her; his head was screaming that he should never let anyone that close to him hurt him like such. His heart wanted love; his head wanted truth.

He was halfway to his post when he heard her call out, "Why can't you realize that I like you?"

Howl froze. Millions of things ran through his head. Had she just said that? Was she lying? Was she serious? How long had she felt that supposed way? Was this a ploy to get him to come back? His mind centered on her and her beautiful face, sitting in the cave, their lips centimeters apart. He had failed to realize until then that she had been the one to start moving towards him. That it had only been him who had pulled away out of fear that she didn't feel the same way.

He felt himself face her but he was wild with emotions, wild with fear and shock and utter happiness…. He didn't understand how to express them. He was desperate to try, but confused on how to do so. He held her cyan colored eyes for seconds, trying not deny her of anything she desired, because he felt the same way. Still, he held his breath and felt the old excuse returning. "Korra… my job…"

Korra felt her feet moving but didn't understand why she was doing so. She needed him, that much she knew, and she never wanted to let him go. He was making up excuses, something she hardly heard. His words were blurry. His voice, though deep and masculine and held every little thing she wanted, was clouded. She had to hold him, had to tangle her hands in his helmet hair.

Howl's body reacted when he saw her coming. He had to stop her. He couldn't do this. He needed this job as much as he wanted her. He tried, though, he tried. But instead of stopping her and stopping himself, he opened his arms up to her and took her in his massive grip. Her hands yanked on his helmet, pulling them together. Their lips touched, hesitantly at first, before the need became too strong. One hand tangled in her soft brown locks, the other one caressing her cheek.

Their kisses grew faster and their lips were locking faster and faster. Howl's head grew light as he struggled to catch his breath. He pulled away, stopping them for just a moment so that the both of them could breath. He was more than thankful that the shadows concealed them; he wasn't as scared as he should be. As he slowly regained his oxygen and let their noses touch, Korra leaned in and kissed him again. Her hands laced themselves around his throat, trailing her hands down to his collarbone. Their lips brushed together softly, their mouths locking like puzzle pieces.

She knocked his helmet off into the snow, running her fingers through that perfect silkiness that he kept hidden from her. The slow, wet sounds of the locking mouths should have bothered her, but it only made her want to continue the sensual kisses for longer.

He touched the corner of her mouth and found himself grinning wider and wider. This was really happening. They were really kissing, and he had not a care in the world. His soft little pecks against her sweet, pleasant touches were making him ache with the want of more. His head was one more becoming lightheaded but there was nothing in the world that made him want to stop. Finally, Korra pulled away, her gasping making him feel like he'd done something write with his life for once, something that only he knew she could fulfill.

"Korra," He whispered into her ear, holding her to his chest. It was the first time he had ever been brave enough to hold her, to try with her. "Oh, Korra."

She turned up and kissed him gently. "You have work." She whispered, untangling herself very gently. He ached, upset that she would leave, but knew it was for the better. He did have work, and showing up late might cause some suspicion. He spotted her staring at his lips once more before she disappeared around the corner of the building, her loose hair waving as she ran away.

Oh yeah. He thought, the grin on his face almost too evident. I'm in love.