I stare at the ceiling, eyes gritty with fatigue but my thoughts too troubled to let me sleep. Asami is curled up against me, her head warm against my shoulder. Soft, even breaths tickle my collar bone as my fingers caress her back.

Eventually she shifts, stretching deliciously against me.

"Can't sleep?" She murmurs.

I sigh out a breath. "No."

She rolls slightly and props her head on one hand as she regards me in the dim light of our cabin.

"It's not just Foster," she states.

"Not really." I pause, then amend. "Not totally anyway."

"What is it?"

I caressed the side of her face and tucked a lock of hair behind her air. "My uncle is responsible for all those deaths. He's the reason there are wounded in stasis pods we had to leave behind." My voice catches. "I—"

Asami sighs. "You know you're not responsible for that, right?"

"I know, but…"

"Korra," she tells me firmly. "You can't take that on. You can't."

I'm silent, eventually shrugging.

She cocks an eyebrow at me. "Do you blame me for what my father did? Because of him you lost half your squadron. Bolin. His brother. The Admiral's son."

I blink. "I would never blame you—" I start to reply hotly, but at her knowing look I pause, suddenly feeling sheepish. "Fine. You win. Again."

"Of course I win," she huffs quietly. "Roll over."

I obey automatically, settling onto my stomach before groaning quietly as she settles on top of me. She pushes my sleep shirt up and over my head before she drops warm hands back down to knead tense muscles. Her knees press against my ribs, the silkiness of her thighs eliciting a shiver as she massages my back, my shoulders, my neck. Under her sure touch I finally feel myself start to relax.

Eventually, however, soft lips begin trailing their way up my spine and I feel her begin a slow rock against me. My hips rise to press back against her almost of their own accord, and I hear her breath catch then release in a slow exhale.

I turn us both, pulling her tightly against me. My lips seek out hers and our kiss is deep and languid. We take our time, keeping our movements measured and soft, relishing the closeness. My hands trace patterns against her skin as I slip a thigh between her legs and I tremble at the heat I can feel from her. We move slowly, carefully, giving each other every ounce of love and compassion we can muster.

Eventually, though, our bodies' desire can longer be denied and our initially slow rhythm soon becomes frantic. The small cabin is filled with gasps, cries, and moans and I watch, fascinated, as Asami throws her head back in ecstasy, the fast beat of her pulse clearly visible in the pale curve of her throat.

"I love you," I whisper as she crests, fingers gripping desperately at my shoulders.

"Love you too," she finally gasps out, her chest still heaving. "My Avatar."

—

"Contact," Raava reports. "IDW6 Defense Mine launch detected."

"Another one?" Wei grouses. "What the hell? There's nothing out here!"

We've watched Unalaq's ship drop three more mines in the last two days, but these have been out in the middle of nowhere, not near a planet.

Kuvira suddenly sits up from where she's been slouched at the nav station and slams her hand down on the console. "Shit!"

We all stare at her.

"Something's been bugging me about the locations." She types furiously at the console then gestures at the holo of our location that pops up. A small red lines appears, weaving its way near, but not on top of, the locations of the mines.

"That," Kuvira growls. "Is the standard shipping route to Terra from the Alpha quadrant. Totally close enough for a mine's detection field to get triggered."

"That is correct, Lieutenant Colonel Kuvira." Raava confirms.

Jinora rolls her eyes. "How in hell do you know that?"

Kuvira shrugs. "It was on a test at the academy last term. There was a time Space Corps flew those routes to protect the transport ships, if you recall."

"We're not as old as you, Boss, or did you forget?"

Asami stirs, the movement heading off Kuvira's retort and the additional snark I could Jinora and Opal gearing themselves up for. "So he's attempting to sabotage a shipping route? As what? Part of our theoretical blackmail scheme?"

Opal narrows her eyes. "Maybe as a demonstration. Let everyone know he means business."

Asami shakes her head slowly and looks at Kuvira. "How many crew on a transport, Boss?"

Kuvira's jaw tightens. "They take passengers along with the cargo for longer trips. I guess it could be anywhere from three hundred to a thousand per ship. They often move multiple ships as a convoy, too."

"Shit." I mutter. "Wee, see if you can get headquarters on the horn. I need to talk to Izumi." I point at the twins. "You two go with Asami to the hangar."

Asami raises an eyebrow at me.

I return her look grimly. "I need you to figure out a way to get those mines to detonate without me getting blown up again."

"I suspect that Doctor Sato would appreciate a solution that did not involve hospitalization." Raava agrees.

"Not helping, Raava," I grouse.

Asami's grimaces, then her face grows thoughtful and she nods at me before following the twins out the door.

"I thought you liked being able to play with your doctor?" Kuvira teases.

I glare back at her. "You go, too, asshole. See what you can remember about the damn things. Even your senile memory is better than nothing." I ignore the raised middle finger she throws my way as she leaves and instead turn to the console to report in. As I wait for headquarters to respond to our hail I catch sight of Bolin leaning against the bulkhead in the corridor. He gives me a long, pointed look, then grins and turns to trot after Asami.

—

The blaring of the alarms has me on my feet before I'm fully conscious. "What the hell?"

"Korra—" Asami pushes herself off of the bunk, blinking furiously as she tries to wake up.

The pounding on the door only adds to the chaos. I slap the door release to find Opal standing in the corrirdor, face pale.

"Mad?"

Her fear is palpable, her words stilted. "Bolin's taken a fighter. He's gone."

[AN] A little short I know, but this is mostly setup for the next chapter *bounce*bounce*bounce* :)