A/N: Hello! I wrote this all today and I am thoroughly happy. I just wanted meaningless fluff. That's all. And this whole entire week has been murder! But please read and review even though this chapter has very little significance to the plot, which is coming up very soon. I may have maybe two meaningless chapters left (including part 2 of this), so please keep reading. Also, I edited this late and it may contain mistakes. If so I apologize profusely. Thank you and review!
Previously on Events Unexpected…
A bright light flashed down on them and the sound of a zeppelin hovering above them was distinguishable. Two very familiar metal boots came into Korra's field of vision just before a very gruff, very annoyed voice greeted her. "Hello Avatar Korra. It seems we are destined to meet this way."
"Hi there Lin," Korra said in her best impression of a cheerful voice. Despite the woman's curt and authoritative words, she knew that Lin Beifong was actually happy to see her. Still, they were all escorted out of the building and into a police automobile. The soaked forms of the Raging Komodo-Rhinos were shoved into an adjacent vehicle.
Just as the doors closed, locking them into temporary darkness, Bolin turned to Korra with the biggest grin she had ever seen plastered to his face. "You kissed a girl," he remarked like a happy child.
Korra rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to unchain herself and punch him.
It was a quiet day in Republic City. The lazy water vapors hung in the air creating a thick humid blanket over the sleepy metropolis. The sun shined hazily through the density of the mists surrounding the banks of the sea and the close areas beyond. The atmosphere itself seemed to be sloping in on the residents of the Earth Kingdom's adjoining city-state. Even though it was nearing noontime, barely anyone was outside. For once, the constant stream of noises and bustling activity had given way to nothing more than a peaceful lull of silence. A stray piece of rubbish flew in a short breeze, before it was swallowed up by the heavy air permeating the city. The trash drifted down to the pavement, forgotten and discarded.
On Air Temple Island, all of the monks had been given the day off. Most of the occupants had gone to their families, who lived across the short stretch of water between the continent and the small piece of land detached from it. The tower gleamed a pale yellow, its tiles baking in the warm glow. The blades of grass in the surrounding glades stood drooping, though they kept their emerald hues. The few remaining residents of the island were strewn in the lounge on the top story. Rarely was it truly left for the family alone, and they were making sure to put it to good use. Tenzin and Pema had found two comfortable chairs around a tiny table in the center of the room. The kids were out, probably causing havoc throughout the vacant grounds but they were beyond anyone's concern for the moment. Master Katara had taken her own seat in a plush armchair by the white-washed walls that curved in a circle with the exterior of the tower. Korra and Kaji too had found their respective places. Both girls were completely exhausted and were simply basking in the light that filtered through the many open windows.
After Korra, Kaji, and Bolin's little escapade in the Pro-Bending Arena a week before, Tenzin and Katara had kept the girls swamped with work. Kaji didn't seem to mind it too much, diving into her tasks with a vigor that had Korra scratching her head. In the end, the Avatar decided to appoint the enthusiasm to an attempt at impressing Master Katara. The plan had worked somewhat; at least they had stopped their verbal sparring sessions that ended in near violence and Korra wanting to slink into the corner of the room and curl into the fetal position. Tenzin had been put in charge of her… something about 'I had to come spring you out of jail, on my knees in front of Lin, at one o'clock in the morning' or some nonsense. Korra tended to mouth off and inform him that she had never asked him to inconvenience himself so, and would have happily stayed in the prison cell- shared with Kaji much to her happiness. In the end, it was no use and she had only dug herself a larger hole, which Tenzin happily filled with piles of paperwork.
That day had been Korra's first free-day since then. The soft couch she had draped herself over was, at least as far as her addled mind could think of, the most comfortable furniture ever. The fact that Kaji had unceremoniously slumped down on top of her made the experience doubly as enjoyable. At first Tenzin, Pema, and Katara had shared raised eyebrows at Kaji's unprecedented action and Korra's seemingly complacent response, but they soon allotted it to the two girls finally having a break from their menial chores. Bolin had also come to join in on the family time, having conveniently escaped any sort of punishment by disappearing after Tenzin had sprung them. Korra and Kaji both groaned as the overly friendly earthbender threw himself between the two. The sofa had been large, but not large enough, and a certain groggy firebender found herself dumped on the floor.
"Excuse me," Kaji grumbled. Bolin shot her a slightly apologetic smile, but made no attempt to move. Korra had just been able to squirm her way out from under his beefy arm. She blew a brown lock out of her face with a huff of air.
"I'm sooooo bored guys," Bolin whined. He flipped onto his back, effectively pinning Korra underneath his other arm. The Avatar's strength had all but been expended so she made no move other than to turn her head to the side so she could breathe.
"Then go do something," Kaji stated. Her hand dragged her upper body up to lean against the plush fabric of the furniture holding her lover and new friend.
"But it's no fun to do anything alone," Bolin discarded the vague solution. Kaji rolled her eyes in such a manner that Master Katara had a mental image of a past firebender with a similar habit. She wanted to frown, yet the pure bliss that descended amongst the serenity of the afternoon refused to let her.
"Then go find someone willing to do something with you," Kaji remarked blandly. Even her sharp mind needed a day to simply dissolve into a pile of goop at the bottom of her skull.
"Hey, I've got an idea!" Bolin suddenly shot up from his position of lying on the darker girl underneath him. Both Korra and Kaji couldn't suppress the dread rolling into their guts at the boy's chipper attitude. It was simply not the day for excitement or anything requiring movement. Despite that, Bolin continued undeterred, "We should go to the beach!"
"Ugh, that requires walking Bolin," Korra said, her voice muffled by the fabric of the couch.
"Come on," Bolin prodded her with his elbow. "You guys can even keep veging on the sand if you want to. It's just so dull when we have to sit around here."
"Do you understand the meaning of 'relax' Bolin?" Kaji asked, her tone dripping with concealed venom. There wasn't anything malicious about her inquiry; she simply wanted to enjoy the laid-back trend of the day.
"Alright then. But just know, I tried to reason with you two," the earthbender said before getting up and grabbing Korra and Kaji by their waists and hoisting them onto his shoulders. Two very unprofessional squawks came from the unwitting females as they were dropped onto the stairway, which Bolin had bended into a sort of stone slide, and pushed down into the spiraling lower reaches of the Airbending Temple.
"I'm going to murder him," Kaji promised as she and Korra landed in a heap of tangled limbs and matted hair.
"I'll help," came the reply.
"Oh come on. You will thank me later," Bolin slid down casually, making sure to keep out of reach of the two very pissed off girls now picking themselves up. "Now come on, get your swimsuits and let's go!"
Korra and Kaji exchanged looks. It wasn't exactly how they had planned on spending the day, but they were already down there and it really would not be worth walking all the way back up to the tower room. Kaji shrugged her shoulders and the two started making their way to the resident rooms. Kaji had been given a room not very far from Korra's, much to their delight. At first they had devised a system of visits during the evenings, but that had fallen through as neither was able to stay up very late due to the workload of the day. Still, it was a reassuring thought to Kaji that she was not far from her beloved in the strange city.
"Hey, uh," the Fire Nation princess started, rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment. Her hair had been pulled into a hasty ponytail to keep the sweat from clinging to her neck.
"What is it?" Korra inquired. She always found her firebender to be quite adorable when nervous. The faint blush that turned her soft cheeks the slightest shade of pink and the way her golden eyes would find a sudden interest in the floorboards they stood on was endearing.
"I… I don't really… own a swimsuit," Kaji finally finished. Korra was taken aback by the confession. It wasn't really the lack of swimwear that struck her, rather why Kaji was so frazzled by it.
"That's okay, I have a few so you can have your pick of them," the young Avatar offered. Kaji's eyes lit up at not having to actually make such an awkward request.
"Thanks," Kaji mumbled.
"My pleasure," Korra reached up to cup Kaji's soft cheek. It was warm, fed by the girl's internal inferno. Taking a quick precautious look around, Korra stood on her toes and stole a quick peck. Kaji returned the kiss with fervor, not willing to let it go. It had been so long since their last show of affection, and even longer still since they had actually felt each other's bare flesh against wandering fingers and ravenous mouths.
"We're going to get caught," Korra mumbled from underneath the desperate lips of her lover. "Bolin already knows and it hasn't even been a week."
"I know," Kaji said, disappointed. She would burn the whole world to the ground if only to not have to hide her feelings for the girl next to her. Of course Korra probably wouldn't want that.
They entered Korra's room through her thin door. The only thing Kaji hated about her temporary home was the complete and utter lack of privacy. Honestly, how did they expect her to sneak in for a much needed love cession with her goddess when she could poke a hole in the fucking wall?! She sighed in chagrin.
"Here we are," Korra's voice came from behind a pile of blue clothing. Kaji couldn't help but wonder why no one ever seemed to change what they wore in Republic City. Perhaps it was fashionable in the Earth Kingdom to hold a generic wardrobe? Korra appeared with a handful of two-piece bikinis. Kaji had to practically battle the sarcasm from erupting from her mouth as she saw the familiar hues. Blue, blue, and, wait for it, more blue.
"You take first pick since they're yours," Kaji waved her hand toward where the fabric had been laid out on Korra's bed.
"Hmm, which one, which one?" Korra mused to herself. Kaji refrained from commenting that all of them looked the same. "This one's always been really comfortable. Close your eyes while I change."
"Still?" Kaji complained. "I've been deprived of you for more than a week and I can't even see you?"
"Nope," Korra answered, her cheeks stained red.
Korra grabbed one of the swimsuits with more coverage over the top half. Kaji was about to complain and suggest one that was a little more revealing, but thought better of it when she remembered that it wouldn't just be the two of them out there. Thinking of Bolin looking at Korra caused Kaji's blood to boil. She chastised her jealous nature and tried to calm her nerves by reminding herself that Korra had displayed no signs of affection past sisterly love for the boy. It only did so much to ease the green monster within her head.
"Alright, your turn," Kaji opened her eyes at Korra's voice. She knew that staring was considered impolite, but the sight before her was pulling her gaze in with the strength of gravity. Korra's outfit was quite revealing even in its modesty. Her sun kissed skin was practically radiant over her taut abs and thighs. The blue fabric was so light that it almost looked white; a perfect contrast. Strong shoulders sloped down to firm biceps and forearms before ending in relaxed fingertips. Korra brought her arms around her stomach in an attempt to shield herself form Kaji's eyes, still transfixed by every curve and contour. The only effect the gesture had was the slightly push up the girl's breasts, both partially covered by gooseflesh at being suddenly out in the open.
"You truly are the most marvelous creature I have ever seen," Kaji was able to say after a moment of regaining her self control.
"Shut up and get dressed," Korra stuttered, her self-consciousness getting to her even with the flattering compliment. "Bolin's going to start getting ideas about what we're doing here."
"Maybe he's going to be right," Kaji said as she slinked toward Korra. The predatory glint in her metallic irises had Korra's skin tingling with electricity. She was about to ask whether it was the firebender's intentional doing, but Kaji's lips beat her to it. Korra let out a breath as her prodigy began to run her fingers across the uncovered flesh of her arms, spiraling in small circles, before reaching up to run along her clavicle.
"K-Kaji," Korra moaned as she wound her own arms around her lover, digging her nails into the shirt that still, infuriatingly, covered the firebender's skin. Kaji moved down to the dip between Korra's breasts, picking up a small stream of perspiration that had settled there.
"Maybe a little later we can find a secluded spot where no one can hear us?" Kaji prompted, running her tongue over Korra's earlobe.
" Later?" Korra parroted. Her brain felt severed from the rest of her nervous system. She was on fire while also feeling the ice cold tendrils of lightening rushing through her veins.
"Yes, for now we'll just have to play innocent, now won't we?" Kaji teased. She brought her head back a bit so that she could take in Korra's face. Her long porcelain fingers caught a stray strand of hair and tucked it lovingly behind the same ear that she had tasted seconds before. The flesh was slightly darkened from the blood pumping through Korra's frame. If Kaji focused, she could feel the hammering of the younger girl's heart against her own chest.
"You're going to have to let go of me at some point love," Kaji whispered. Korra was finally able to snap out of her trance. Her hands reluctantly unclenched, letting the crumpled fabric fall back into its natural state. She pushed herself away from Kaji's warm body ever so gently, needing the space and yet hating every second she wasn't wrapped in those arms. She closed her eyes as her lover picked up a dark blue two-piece.
"Don't be ashamed to take a peek," Kaji smirked. Korra's mind reeled at the boldness of the remark. Her eyes tightened against the temptation. Her only indications of Kaji's actions were the occasional rustling of sheets and the soft, bare footsteps that were placed gently on her floor.
"Alright, ready," Kaji informed. Korra tentatively peeked past her long dark eyelashes. Where Kaji said she was marvelous, Korra saw Kaji as divine. The white skin was practically fluorescent in the pale light filtering through the curtains surrounding the glass windows. The blue pieces clung to all the right places to leave very little to the imagination. Not that I need it, Korra thought back to the night of the Fire Nation festival. The redness in her cheeks intensified and she had to shake her head in order to clear it. Kaji smiled kindly at her lover. Her shoulders shook with a small hidden chuckle before she took a hold of Korra's hand and led her out to where Bolin was no doubt waiting and thinking dirty thoughts.
"Well, don't you ladies look gorgeous today," Bolin, in dark green swim trunks, complimented when they reached the beach on the Northern side of the island. He had politely refrained from mentioning anything until they were well out of the earshot of the adults. Not that they were ones to pry, but then again, Korra was not ashamed of being a tad bit paranoid. The trek through the woods and then the climb down the cliff had been somewhat difficult to accomplish without anything to shield them from falling rocks, snagging branches, and the like. Still, having two earthbenders made everything much easier. Kaji felt a little useless, but her plan of burning the entire forest to the ground and searing a smooth path into the rock face with flames exceeding four hundred degrees was quickly vetoed by the rest of the group. So, for the rest of the trip, she had sullenly allowed the others to do the path making and such.
"Well, we're here," Korra stretched her arms over her head, basking in the embrace of the sun. Two pairs of eyes gawked at the expanse of skin that she was portraying, but the jade ones held much more innocent intentions that those of molten gold.
"Yes, we are," Kaji spoke serpent-soft.
"And we are going to have so much fun!" Bolin whooped. He took off in a direct line to the water. With a cry of wild joy, he slammed into the first wave of water. The streams of salty liquid glistened from his well sculpted body. His broad shoulders stuck above his head, bunching his prominent back muscles, Bolin dove under a particularly strong current. Coming back up, he turned and beckoned them to join him.
"Come on," Korra laughed, taking both of Kaji's hands and pulling the suddenly apprehensive firebender to the shoreline.
"Umm, I'm fine watching from the shore," Kaji started. Korra, however, was adamant about not paying any attention to her.
Korra hit the water first, squealing in the euphoria that the cool rivulets brought as they flailed around her feet. Kaji let out her own squeal, but it was hardly one of joy. Korra kept wading in until she was about waist deep. The coolness that enveloped her lower body was a welcome reprieve from the stifling humidity that clung to the atmosphere. It was only then that she turned back to see her captive. Kaji was clinging to Korra's hand with a vice grip, her eyes scanning the liquid drifting back and forth around her.
"What's wrong," Korra asked. Being a waterbender, first and foremost, she hadn't even thought that Kaji might have been uncomfortable surrounded by her opposing element.
"N-nothing, just a bit cold," Kaji gasped. Korra was completely taken off guard as the firebender's lips actually paled from their usual deep crème to a skeletal white.
"What?" Korra and Bolin, who had been eavesdropping, both exclaimed in utter disbelief. To them, the water felt barely below lukewarm.
"I-I guess I j-just got too u-used to Ember Island's b-beaches," Kaji stuttered out. Her free hand came up to her waist in a feeble attempt to conserve some body heat.
"Wimp," Korra teased. Kaji gave her a glare before letting out a huff of air.
"Sorry Korra," the Fire Princess lamented her lack of acclimatization skills, but knew she was fighting a losing battle with her epidermal cells.
"Well, I guess I can't torture you by making you stay," Korra sighed. She gave Kaji a quick hug, which got the poor girl even wetter and did not help at all with her predicament. "I'll come back to shore in a bit."
"Don't worry about it," Kaji waved as she started to retreat to the saintly granules of sand that had trapped in Agni's rays and become tiny embers. She took no time in flopping down and losing herself in the peace of their company.
Korra bemoaned the loss of her love's presence among her favorite element. Stupid firebenders and their warm climate, Korra complained to herself, how the hell did they take over half of the world again?
Still, she was keen on enjoying her day out from behind the confines of a hardwood desk and the solitary sound of pen scratching on paper. Bolin made the mistake of challenging her to a water fight, which had the inevitable ending of him being hurtled around by a giant water tentacle and not too gently deposited back into the surf with a splash. They practically stayed in the company of the marine environment for the duration of three hours, luxuriously floating about or making epic mock-battles between sand monsters-courtesy of Bolin- and sea serpents- provided by Korra's waterbending skills.
In the end though, both became somewhat bored with their activities and sought entertainment elsewhere. Korra's eyes flashed to the lone figure sprawled out on the beach. Kaji had not moved an inch from where she had fallen onto the beach since they had gotten there. Her back held an angry red hue to match her country's flags, but she felt none of it because she had fallen asleep hours ago.
Korra and Bolin shared a look, the mischievous glint in their eyes revealed that they had come up with the same idea. The sun was starting to set to the West anyway. Korra smiled wickedly at the thought of a final prank to end the perfect day.
As Bolin synthesized large rifts within the sand before the shore, Korra began to bend the water in patterns matching a minor tsunami. Her hands flowed into her body and the ocean complied, pulling in until it had practically come to her toes. She then allowed it to ebb ever so slowly. Korra was careful to not allow even a droplet to hit the unwitting girl on the shore. Bolin let out a raucous burst of poorly contained laughter as two streams of water swept past Kaji on either side. The firebender moaned and shifted into a more comfortable position. Korra shot Bolin a glare as they both held in their breath, waiting to see if the firebender would awaken. The spirits were apparently in their favor as Kaji stilled once more. Korra tug at the waves once more, gathering them in a massive wall around her, enough to overshadow Bolin and herself and hide Kaji fully from view. Bolin held up three fingers, smiling broadly. Three… two… one. Korra let go of the surge of water. The wave bore down on the shore with the speed and ferocity of the perfect tidal wave.
For a second Korra actually wondered if there was a possibility of Kaji sustaining an injury from their little gaff. That fear was quickly expelled when a scream and a burst of indigo flames came from over the immense wave. Korra and Bolin, both dying with bated laughter, peered at the spot where Kaji had been. The waves were retracting in steady intervals, left alone from Korra's influence, but there was no sign of the Royal. Bolin and Korra exchanged baffled glances. If the fire had been any indication, Kaji had repelled at least some of the onslaught.
"I would ask whose idea that was," a chill engulfed Korra and Bolin, spurred by the lilting words spoken behind them, "but I am almost certain that you both had something to do with it."
The Avatar and earthbender slowly turned to look at the dripping figure behind them. For a split second, Korra thought that she was gazing upon a demon from the deep. Kaji's hair was completely matted and had bits of seaweed clinging to it. Her face was covered by a long shadow, leaving her eyes with an ethereal shine. Her hands were loosely held up with palms facing the heavens, nails sharp as daggers ready to draw blood. Perhaps the scariest part though, was Kaji's smile. The blood thirst clearly etched into every finely sculpted, bleached bone, evident in the sharpness of the canines, was enough to soften the knees of both guilty parties. As a final touch, sapphire flames burst forth from Kaji's hands, illuminating her high cheekbones and clenched jaw in a ghostly light.
"Korra did it, don't kill me!" Bolin, three shades paler than he had been that morning, screamed as he pushed Korra toward Kaji before taking off toward the shore.
Korra gave a yelp as she careened toward the demonic firebender. She doubted Kaji would hurt her… too badly. Still, her hands instinctively reached up to protect her face. Instead of the hot impact of a fire-coated punch, Korra was surprised to feel two strong arms halt her forward inertia. Glancing up, relief washed over her as she saw Kaji's face break out into a broad grin- one without any fear-inducing elements.
"You should have seen your faces," were the only words she got out before bursting into laughter. Korra wanted to feel angry or even annoyed, but the merriment was contagious and she found herself laughing along.
"Still," Kaji came in dangerously close to Korra's face, the twinkle in her eyes rejuvenated, "I'll be wanting some compensation tonight."
Korra gulped as Kaji ran her tongue lightly over her neck, from the junction of her ear and jaw down to her clavicle. All she could get out was, "Yes Princess."
P.S. Officially over 100 pages long on my Word Doc! I have it on 11 too which is exciting because I always use twelve to make my essays for school seem longer. Why can't one of our assignments ever be write a fictional descriptive story? Rhetorical analysis is so overrated. Anyway please review and I may have part 2 up tomorrow if I am not out eating candy because, yes, it is HALLOWEEN!