"So, how'd it go?"
Korra, Asami, Mako and Bolin were sitting in the tiny living room of the brother's apartment. It had been 2 weeks since the 4 of them had had that meal, and the girls had been questioning Mako about his new admirer none stop. He had finally let slip the day before that they had a date planned for that evening. He had purposefully avoided Korra and Asami the following day, forgetting that they were supposed to be going out that night. Mako sighed heavily.
"It was fine, thank you." Mako said curtly. He stood up from his armchair and made a beeline for the kitchen, smoothing off the collar to the black shirt he was wearing. His brightly shined suit shoes clicked on the floor as he walked. Asami and Korra had claimed the sofa, Korra laying down with her head on Asami's lap. Korra had on a burgandy silk shirt, tied above her navel to make it into a crop top, along with a pair of suit trousers. Asami was wearing a short black skirt and matching fitted vest top, covered by Korra's baggy school sweater. Bolin was perched on the breakfast bar dividing the apartment's kitchen and living room, adjusting the ill fitting suit he had borrowed from his brother for the evening. He chuckled to himself, leaning back on his hands.
"C'mon, bro. You told me. They'll eventually torture you for the information. Or worse. They'll torture me for it." Bolin said. Mako breathed deeply, exhaling loudly from his nose. He turned back around to face the rest of the group assembled in his living room.
"Everything went fine. We went for dinner and a movie, she kissed me good night, and we're seeing each other again soon." Mako said, through gritted teeth.
He looked up at Asami and Korra, waiting for the onslaught of jokes and comments, only to see Korra muttering to herself as she dug a 20-yuan note from her pocket and grumpily give it to Asami, who was now looking very pleased with herself. Mako raised an eyebrow.
"What on earth are you two doing?" He asked. Asami looked up.
"Hmm? Oh, Korra and I had a bet." Asami began. "She said you would strike out with whatsherface, where as I had the utmost faith in you and bet her you would get a second date."
Mako had gone bright red, half in embarrassment, half in rage. He stormed from the room, muttering something about a cigarette. Korra chuckled to herself, while Asami began to run her fingers through Korra's hair and hum a tune. Bolin hopped off the breakfast bar and moved over to an armchair, dropping into it with an almost inaudible plop. He kicked his feet up onto the coffee table and pulled a comic from box beside him. Pabu sprinted into the room, winding his way up the armchair and Bolin, until he had found his spot on the back or the chair, next to Bolin's head. Korra was still surprised by how well Bolin had trained Pabu, and by how unflinching Bolin is around him.
"I think you should get your hair cut." Asami suddenly piped up, breaking the silence in the room. Korra looked up at her, puzzled by the sudden statement.
"But you said you like my hair long." Korra said.
"I do, it's just… I think it would look nice shorter. Maybe just down to here." Asami put a finger in Korra's neck, in line with her chin.
"I date you for 2 weeks, and you automatically think you can tell me how to dress and how to look." Korra said, playful mockery in her voice. Asami looked down at her with a coy smile.
"Who got you that shirt? The one you wear all the time and everyone says looks better than your usual grubby vests and t-shirts?" Asami said, placing a finger on Korra's chest. Korra ran her hand down the shirt, meeting Asami's hand and playing with it.
"Some-one with excellent taste, endless class, and a really hot butt." Korra said, giving her own smile. Asami leaned in and kissed Korra. In fact, they kissed for so long, Asami had to adjust her seating position to allow herself to continue.
"Please don't make out on my couch, guys, I just had it cleaned." Bolin said, not looking up from his reading. Korra and Asami broke away and looked up. Pabu was now asleep in his spot, his tail tucked under his head like a pillow. Bolin was nearing the end of his comic. Korra gave a slight cough and ran her hand through her hair, while Asami adjusted her jumper, which was now halfway up her torso thanks to Korra's busy hands. Asami then checked the time.
"What time did you say we had to be out of here?" She asked. Bolin finished his comic and dropped it on the table, now looking at the girls.
"We're meeting Opal in town at 7:30, and it's a half hour walk, so 7ish, I guess?" Bolin answered, doing the math on his fingers. Asami frowned at him slightly.
"Well, its 6:50 now." Asami said. Bolin went from calm to panicked like some-one had flipped a switch. He was suddenly rushing around the apartment, trying to find everything he needed, listing them off to himself as he went. He barreled past the girls a couple of times, and even knocked Pabu from his perch when he dove for his wallet. The fire ferret was none too pleased about being woken up mid-nap, and screeched his displeasure at his owner before running off, no doubt to finish his nap in peace. Bolin was now in the middle of the room, going through his list one last time.
"Right, wallet, money, cards, keys, phone, ID, gum… that's everything." Bolin said, tapping each pocket as he checked them off, and finishing with a smile. Korra loosened the knot on her shirt, turning it back into a normal one.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Korra asked. "About 6 foot, black hair, firebender, broods about as much as Batman?" Bolin took a moment to realize what she meant.
"Mako!" He said, making a move for the door to the roof. Korra sprinted out in front of him before he could get there.
"I'll go." She said. "The last thing we need is for you to lose something up there and we're here for another half hour. I don't think Opal would be too pleased with that, would she?" Bolin shook his head slowly, allowing himself to be lead towards the elevators down to the lobby by Asami.
"C'mon Bo. I have all of Mako's, Korra's and my things, we're gonna go down to the lobby and calm ourselves down before tonight." Asami said, in a slow, motherly tone-of-voice. She gave Korra a quick peck on the lips, before taking Bolin over to the elevator. Korra chuckled to herself as she went up the stairs to the roof. Bolin always got like this before seeing Opal. He had done for the past week. How they weren't official yet was madness, in Korra's mind, but she could hardly speak. Normal relationships don't happen instantly like hers did. Then again, she's not a normal girl. Soon enough, Korra had reached the roof, and instantly spotted Mako sitting in a deck chair, cigarette in hand. She walked over and lowered herself into the chair next to him.
"We're about to go." Korra said, leaving a pause for an answer she knew wouldn't come. She sighed slightly. "Look, I'm sorry if we made you feel awkward. We didn't mean to; we were just having fun." Mako still didn't reply, just stared into the middle distance in front of him. Korra sighed again, heavier this time. She reached across Mako and pulled a cigarette from his packet on the table by his chair. This movement disturbed him enough to snap him out of the trance he was in. Korra bent a little fire from her thumb to light it, inhaling the smoke deeply, before exhaling a large mushroom cloud of smoke. She looked at Mako, who was both puzzled and worried.
"Asami does not find out, do you hear me?" Korra said pointing at him with her cigarette. Mako raised his hands.
"Yep, loud and clear." Mako said. "I do have to ask though, why do you smoke?" He took a drag of his own cigarette as Korra exhaled again. Korra looked at the glowing embers at the end of the cigarette.
"I dunno. Guess I'm mainly a social smoker." She answered. "Dad smokes a pipe at home, and I had friends that would do it, but I never caved. I never became a smoker. Eventually, though, just standing around the second hand smoke wasn't enough. I could handle not having one if no-one around me is smoking, but as soon as I see one being smoked, I need one." Korra took another long drag, letting the flavor sit in her mouth for a few moments. She heavily exhaled, watching the smoke linger in front of her. She stubbed out the remaining embers on the floor, driving the butt into the floor with her foot. She slapped her thighs and stood up. "Right, we've gotta go. Asami and Bolin are waiting for us downstairs." Mako finished his own cigarette and followed Korra down the stairs. They made their way to the lobby in silence. They entered the elevator on the 7th floor, Korra slamming the button for the lobby. They stood in silence for a while, listening to the sound of the cogs and wires working. After a while, Mako broke the silence.
"Hey, Korra?"
Korra turned to face the firebender. She looked into his the steely, amber eyes, feeling them look into hers. Suddenly, without realizing what had happened Korra was pushed against the wall of the elevator, Mako on top of her, his lips pressing hard against hers. Korra felt lost for a moment, shocked by what was happening. Korra pushed him away with all her might. Mako was flung backwards, hitting the opposite wall with enough force to dent it. Korra spluttered, wiping her lips to get rid of the taste he had left on them. Korra stared at him in horror.
"What the hell?!" Korra screamed. "What the bloody hell was that?!" Mako stood up straight, adjusting his jacket with one hand and rubbing the back of his head with the other. He started to move closer to her, but Korra pressed herself further into the wall, raising her hands towards him in case he tried anything else.
"Korra, I…" Mako began. He was cut off by the doors opening to the lobby, presenting Korra and Mako to the congregation already there. Among them were Bolin and Asami, chatting to one another. Korra rushed out of the elevator, trying to put as much distance between herself and Mako as it was physically possible. She moved over to Asami, who had noticed her and was beaming at her. Korra grabbed Asami's hand and pulled her towards the door.
"Stall him." She muttered to Bolin on her way past. Bolin looked from Korra to Mako with a confused look before sliding his body between his brother and the two girls. Korra pulled Asami through the front door and out onto the street, pulling her into an alcove close by. Asami's smile had turned into a look of worry.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" Asami asked, rubbing Korra's arm. Korra felt awful. How could Asami be like this? So sweet and tender. If she knew what had happened. Korra took a deep breath.
"Look, I need to tell you something." Korra said. She looked down at the floor, trying to find the words she was looking for. Asami gently lifted Korra's head with a delicate hand, giving Korra a worried smile. Korra's stomach twisted.
"It'll be fine. Just tell me." Asami said in a whisper, pulling Korra closer to her. Korra could feel Asami's breath on the neck. She bit her lip slightly. I can't tell her. It'll kill her. There must be something I can think of. Korra took another deep breath.
"I'm… just stressed about my birthday in a few weeks. My parents are coming to the city and I haven't said anything about you to them." Korra said. Asami giggled slightly, and eventually was laughing out loud.
"That's it? That's what you needed to pull me outside for? Sweetie, it'll be fine. From what I've heard, your parents will be fine. Trust me." Asami said. Korra felt awful. She had just lied to her girlfriend, one of the few people who she had told everything. Well, almost everything. Korra gave Asami a weak smile. Asami planted a small kiss on Korra's head.
"C'mon. We better go and grab the boys. We're later enough, already." Asami said, taking Korra's hand and leading her back inside. As they entered, Korra spotted Mako trying his hardest to get past Bolin, who was in the most inconvenient position as it was physically possible for a human to get into. Korra began to fall behind her girlfriend slightly, putting Asami between her and the two boys. Upon their arrival, Bolin collapsed onto the floor, his legs no longer able to take the strain. He quickly straightened up.
"Hey!" he said on his way up. "We all good? Ready to go?"
"Yep!" Asami said with a smile. She pulled on Korra's arm with her free hand, pulling her round to her side. Korra was surprised by the force with which Asami yanked her round, stumbling slightly. Korra gave a small smile to the boys. Mako was looking down at his feet, while Bolin looked between the other three, confusion adorning his face.
"Oooooooookay, then…" Bolin said, slowly. "Shall we?"
"Yes, let's. Go. Out. Now." Korra said, adding force with each word. Bolin and Mako began to make their way towards the door. Bolin was whispering something to Mako, who was simply powering towards the exit, pushing his way past a few people milling around the lobby. Asami pulled back on Korra's arm as she made a move for the exit. She gently took Korra's hands, pulling her close. Korra's heart stopped for a moment. She braced herself, expecting the worst.
"Korra, look. I know something is wrong." Asami began. Korra opened her mouth to reply, but Asami pressed a finger against her lips. "Don't think about how, I just do. I'm here for you if you want to talk about it, but I understand if you don't. Just… please don't get all weird on me."
"So, I can't get weird on you at all?" Korra asked. Asami shook her head.
"At all? In any... situation?" Korra said, raising an eyebrow. Asami took a moment to think over what her girlfriend had just said. Then she realized what she meant. She broke into a fit of giggles, playfully slapping Korra's shoulder.
"Korra! That's so inappropriate!" Asami said, breaking into a smile. She looked around them, looking for anyone that could overhear them. She then pulled Korra closer, her mouth now by Korra's ear. "Maybe, if you're lucky." She kissed Korra's neck, feeling Korra's hands tighten around her own. Asami pulled back, lining her head up with Korra's. They spent a moment smiling at one another, simply enjoying each others company. Out of nowhere, a voice pierced the silence.
"Guys, we're already late! C'mon!" Bolin shouted across the lobby to them. The girls looked round at him, snapping out of their shared dreamlike state. They both gave a small giggle, before running over to him, hand in hand.
"I don't even think I want to know what's going on." Bolin said, turning round and walking back out of the door, readjusting his tie as he went.