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“You ready to go, your Highness?”
In the dark of the night, Jingnu could make out the faint outline of her girlfriend, who was leaning against the side gates. She smiled, pulling the hood of her cloak down, fire sparking from her other hand to cast a little source of light for the two.
“Did you bring a lantern? I’ll light it for us.”
They’d long since grown used to sneaking around in the night, months and months away from their first faithful meeting, and their first kiss, their first date...now they were pros, who knew when the guards were off duty and which routes were the easiest to slip in and out of. Some would think it all a hassle, but Jingnu liked to think it was just a part of the fun.
Qi Yan produced a small lantern from her beaten up travel bag, holding it up for Jingnu.
“Good that you didn’t forget this time.” She took hold of the lantern in one hand, and grasped in the dim lighting for Qi Yan’s hand with the other. Lacing their fingers together, Jingnu delighted in the cool against her warm palm, the feeling of calloused fingers tapping against her skin.
After they'd taken each other in, indulging in each other’s half lit faces, Qi Yan tugged her forward down a side path. As they walked at an easy pace, she puffed out a breathy laugh, making Jingnu crease her brows in question. “What, like you forgot to bring any money with you on our first date?”
Even without looking, Jingnu could tell her girlfriend was smirking, and if both her hands weren’t occupied she would have pushed her playfully. She settled for bumping their shoulders together. “Says you! Qi Yan, don’t forget that you didn’t bring any money either.”
“Jingnu, you’re too cruel, I hardly even had any money to bring.”
Though she knew Qi Yan was joking, her heart ached all the same. Despite Qi Yan’s refusal to accept money from her, Jingnu would never let her go hungry, gifting her things at any opportunity. Life had never been easy for her, parents killed in the throws of war and left to fend for herself, and her sister. Jingnu knew she had struggled, and now she wanted Qi Yan to live an easier life, to hold her hand and to give her the world.
“Where are we going tonight?” She glanced up at Qi Yan, who wore an easy smile.
The capital city of the fire nation was filled with ancient buildings and vendors and streets usually packed with people. Outside of the palace walls, Jingnu had hardly explored the depths of her city, whereas Qi Yan found all sorts of secret spots. As of right now, they were walking through an alleyway, narrow enough that Qi Yan’s arm had to twist behind her to keep holding Jingnu’s hand.
“There’s this old abandoned shrine I found, it’s— “ she cut herself off, hold on Jingnu’s hand suddenly tightened.
They squeezed their way out of the alleyway, and without warning Qi Yan pulled Jingnu closer to her, jostling the light of the lantern as she was drawn to the heat of a body.
“Qi Yan…” she was more than a little flustered being crowded against the wall like that, cheeks no doubt reddening as her face heated up. “Can’t you wait until—”
“I think I heard something. Footsteps.” Qi Yan’s voice lowered, one hand curled around her wrist now, while the other pressed to the wall. She stared up, as if the sound was coming from the rooftops.
Jingnu listened closely, and at first heard nothing, ready to dismiss the matter entirely, pin it down to Qi Yan’s usual protectiveness. But then, there it was, the faint sound of footsteps coming from above.
“Let’s wait,” Qi Yan whispered to her, breath hot against her ear.
Now was not the time, but Jingnu felt the sudden urge to press forward to catch Qi Yan’s lips with her own, erupting the fire in the pit of her stomach. And so Jingnu, always one for listening to her heart, did just that. Regrettably, she had to stand on the tips of her toes to reach Qi Yan, but when she did she delighted in the small sound of surprise made in the back of her throat.
It was funny how she tried to take it all in at once— the gentle press of Qi Yan’s lips against her own which grew fiercer with each passing second, and the grip of a hand at her wrist (growing tired from holding the lantern), the warmth of their bodies like a tiny flame, though not so easily put out. Qi Yan dropped her wrist, and Jingnu, convinced she was about to pull away, dropped the lantern entirely to hold Qi Yan’s face in her hands, pushing them closer and closer still, kissing her without restraint and gasping for air as she did so. Of course, her girlfriend only matched her in intensity, pushing her back to the wall and pinning her wrist, kissing her like she was starved, biting Jingnu’s bottom lip to draw out the smallest of whimpers. The clattering of the lantern on concrete, combined with distant voices was what made them pull away finally.
“Sorry,” Jingnu said, breathless and grinning, trying to focus on the potential danger and not Qi Yan’s glistening lips, wide amber eyes and flushed face. “I...couldn’t help myself.”
The voices sounded very near now, but before turning serious Qi Yan gave her an exasperated, fond glare. “You never can,” she said, pinching her cheek. Jingnu wanted to laugh— it wasn’t like Qi Yan was much better. “But now, I think we need to focus on whatever, or whoever, is above us.”
Before they had the chance to investigate the rooftops however, dark figures flew over their heads, one after the other, and Qi Yan and Jingnu were surrounded. The group all wore masks, faces obscured not only by the night, and stood in place, as if waiting for the right moment to attack. Jingnu sighed, more annoyed than especially scared because what a rude interruption. Qi Yan was more grave than her, letting her hands fall away from Jingnu to pull a pair of knives from her wide sleeves. Breathing deep, Jingnu forgot her petty irritation and shifted her feet to stand ready for attack. Smoke brewed in her stomach, conjuring flames from her hands which danced like daggers on her fingertips, hot.
“Oh they are gonna regret this so much.” Jingnu eyed up her opponents, then let the flames at her fingertips cascade to the floor, catching on the nearby bushes, lining the side street with a fiery light. Now, it was much clearer.
When Qi Yan spoke, it was quietly. Had this not been in the midst of an ambush, Jingnu thought that the ambiance of the crackling fire and her girlfriend’s feather light voice was quite nice. “Take the ones on the left?”
“Not if I get them all first for this offence.”
Qi Yan laughed, right as they were about to beat up the faceless ambushers, and Nangong Jingnu’s heart soared.