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The morning was cold—borderline freezing, even— and it was barely daybreak. Blurs of green and tints of yellow slowly bled into navy blue as Asami watched.
Asami was an observer, carefully noticing and navigating her way through life. She watched the sheet of ice slowly melt away from the large pond tucked away in her backyard. She watched the sky subtly shift from pitch black to dark blue; the leaves and grass kick up from the low breeze. She watched, just as she had almost every morning, how the leaves grew beside blooming cherry blossoms, the beating heat of sun rays, and then finally, the autumn air, dragging the leaves away by their auburn tips.
This time, the leaves were orange and brittle, bringing Asami a bit of peace.
Being an observer also came with being a listener. The dark haired woman heard everything. From the crickets to the bullfrogs and to the cranes flying overhead in preparation for migration. Even the soft tune of the morning birds was music to her ears; with that in mind, it was inevitable for the slow footsteps coming behind her to not catch her attention.
“You're up early.” Korra announced, yawning.
“Yeah, I am.” Asami confirmed. “I’ve been up for a while.”
Strong, yet tired arms wrapped around Asami's torso. Worn, but gentle hands innocently fiddled with her robe tie. Korra rested her chin on her shoulder, almost testing her pulse with her breath.
“Bad dream?” The tired woman murmured, obviously trying her best to comfort Asami if needed.
The heiress shook her untouched bed-head truthfully. “No. Just watching.”
She could feel Korra smile into the crook of her neck as the sky warmed. “Whatcha watchin’?”
Asami smiled too, wrapping and intertwining their hands and fingers into one. She pressed into the outside of Korra’s palm with her thumb, carelessly roaming around her knuckles. trying to settle for an answer. She didn't want to get too philosophical, but she did want to give a satisfactory response.
“Just life, that's all. Everything moves so quickly yet slow at the same time. I mean, it's already fall. I feel like it'll be time to visit your parents again for the glacier festival in just another week or so.”
Korra snorted. “You say that like we're getting old or something.”
Scoffing, Asami put up a melancholy half-smile. “We're not getting any younger, that's for sure.”
Part of what Asami said wasn't particularly false, or bad. Things finally seemed as if they were slowing down. Her business, while successful (per usual), didn't make her want to grow any grey hairs as of late, she and Korra had adjusted to living with one another after some months, the air nation was just as lively as it could have been, and to Asami's —and team avatar’s— surprise, there were no life endangering threats being made on the world. Everything was nearly perfect — too perfect — for Asami's liking.
The heiress knew she should have been grateful for the lack of worry or the sudden relief on her shoulders, but she couldn't help it. Asami, while a part-time observer, was also a full-time workaholic. Oftentimes, she would find herself working late in her office at Future Industries tower, scrambling to push out any sort of sketch or prototype. On other nights, she'd wake up to being carried off to bed after unknowingly passing out at her desk. Asami couldn't even remember the last time she'd taken a vacation before meeting Korra. “Relax” wasn't exactly a word in her dictionary that she was fond of.
Despite it all, she always made time. No matter how stressful or how tight of a squeeze it was, Asami would manage. She was precise and calculated with what she did with the time on her hands and not a second was wasted.
But now, there was so much time to waste; Asami wasn't sure what to do with it all. To others, like Korra, Mako, and Bolin, the solution was easy. This was time to catch up with friends or to settle down. To relax. Asami didn't have a clue as to what that meant. A large part of her was thankful for that since it kept her ideas and innovative creativity flowing.
A small, inner part of her, though, wanted to give in.
Korra hummed in an agreeable tone. “I know what you mean,” She groggily replied. “Sometimes, I'm still in disbelief.”
“About what?”
“Time.” Korra answered shortly. “I mean, look at what we've done with so little of it.”
Asami's eyes flickered up towards the pink and violent blend of sky and the translucent moon, the remaining stars disappearing one by one.
“I feel like I'm wasting it though.” She blurted out then redacted after feeling Korra’s index finger twitch. “That came out wrong.” She sighed, hanging her overthinking head. “Sorry.”
Korra hugged her tighter, her voice noticeably quieter. “No, I get what you mean. You're still in your fight-or-flight mode. That's not something you can shake off so easily. Trust me, I know..”
Asami nodded, confirming Korra's suspicion, yet not sure as to what to say in return, fearing she had twisted the conversation into more than what she was prepared for.
She felt her lover depart from her waist, leaving her vulnerable to the freezing wind for a millisecond before grabbing one of her hands and taking it into her own.
“Tell you what,” Korra offered. “If you're going to waste away your time, at least waste it away in bed with me? Maybe that'll make it more fulfilling?” She smiled.
Asami smiled at the thought, watching the warm glow of the sunrise hit Korra's cerulean eyes and the walls of their home. She squeezed the shorter woman's hand and softly nodded, silently letting Korra lead her back into the house and up to their room.
When they ascended, Asami took her time in getting rid of her robe, while Korra hastily dropped hers down to wherever she stood, wasting no time to jump into their bed.
Asami could feel a familiar pair of eyes on her back as she untied the double-knot in her robe. She smiled to an oblivious Korra, who waited patiently for the bed to become one again. When Asami turned around, Korra was holding up the blanket for her side of the bed, urging Asami to lie down. There was nothing but love behind those tired, blue eyes —not lust, pity, or sadness— but a genuine want. The heiress softened. For once, Asami didn't hang her robe up after taking it off. She took the invitation with delight, snuggling into the warmth of their dozens of silk pillows, cotton-filled blankets, and Korra, holding her lover close to her.
Korra wrapped her arms around Asami, nestling under her partner for warmth. Asami could feel her messy, chestnut colored hair tickle her neck, all the way down to her sternum. She didn't mind, of course, but she couldn't help but to smooth some of it out with her palm.
The two settled down, Asami breathing out towards the sun, and Korra breathing into Asami. Legs, fingers, and bodies interlocked into a comfortable setting, allowing time to slip by for a moment.
As the sun rose, warmth thwarted the cool morning air in the room, and Asami wondered why she hadn't ever watched the sunrise from the comfort of her own bed. There was no getting dressed, or fixing up a cup of tea, or standing out in the cold without company.
Korra’s warmth clothed her. Asami was replenished, drinking in Korra's presence. Korra was plenty of company already.
Maybe she could get used to sleeping in late more often.