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Korra takes a deep breath of cool night air as she leans over the railing on the outer deck of the airship. It was dark and calm with only the soft glow of the moon peaking through the clouds as they passed.
Meanwhile her mind is a jumbled mess. Just an hour ago she announced to her friends and family that she would be using herself as leverage to get the airbenders back from Zaheer. Of course everyone voiced their concerns. But it was Asami's reaction that she couldn't seem to shake. Mako and Bolin looked at her concerned. Asami looked like her entire world was crumbling as she choked out the words that there had to be another way.
"Hey you. I've been looking for you." Korra glanced over briefly to see Asami coming to rest against the railing a few feet away. "Yeah I couldn't sleep" Korra continued to look out at the rushing darkness. Fighting the tears burning the corners of her eyes.
"Korra I..." Asami starts.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before I told everyone else" Korra could feel the lump forming in their throat as she fidgeted with her fingers. Trying to find the best words. "I just knew what you would say and this decision was already hard enough. I know I wouldn't have been able to tell you no..." she trailed off. Stopping herself before she revealed too much.
Asami stood quiet for a moment. She knew all the things she wanted to say. She wanted to tell her to stay. That she had been slowly falling in love with her best friend for the past year. But she settled for what she knew was safe. What wouldn't jeopardize their friendship. "I'm sorry if I came off angry. I just don't know what I'd do if you got hurt. I know this wasn't an easy decision."
Korra wiped the heel of her hand over her eye to catch the tears that shes failing to keep at bay. "I'll be careful Sami. But I still have one thing I need to do before we get there" Korra stood up straight and steeling her nerves. It was now or never. Zaheer was unpredictable and desperate. Of course Korra hoped she would make it out in one piece. But she also knew what was at stake. She finally forced herself to look at those stunning green eyes that always made her heart skip a beat. I can't do this without letting her know how I feel. But how do I tell my best friend who is also a girl that Im in love with her.
"Can you just close your eyes for me?" Korra could feel her courage waning as she looked into those jade eyes. "Please" Asami nods and does as she's asked. Turning so her back is resting against the railing before closing her eyes. Korra takes a deep breath before stepping forward. Memorizing Asami's features as she stands there quietly. The way her long lashes rested on her cheeks when her eyes closed. How her full lips held that color crimson so well. She's my entire universe and she doesn't even know it.
"Korra?" Asami quietly asks snapping Korra back to the present. "I'm here" she replies quietly, reaching out and running her thumb softly across Asami's knuckles. She half expected Asami to pull away but the only response she got was goosebumps erupting over pale skin. It's now or never Korra. She sucks in a deep breath before closing the gap and pressing her lips against Asami's.
Asami's breath hitches as she feels lips pressing against hers in a soft kiss. Korras kissing me? She felt like her brain was short circuiting for a second. Is this a dream? There's no way she's kissing me. Does this mean she feels the same way I do? Then Asami was yanked back to reality when she felt the loss of those lips as the night air dried the kiss left there. Her eyes snap open to find Korra retreating, panicking and stumbling over her words. "Sami... I'm so sorry... we've gotten so close and... these feelings have been so overwhelming... Korra clamps her hand over her mouth, fighting back tears and the urge to run.
Without wasting another second. Asami closes the gap between them. Cupping the sides of Korras face before crashing their lips together in a frantic kiss. Korras head was swimming as she attempted to make sense of what was happening. One second she was panicking. Worried that she just ruined their friendship for good. Now her best friend was sliding her arms around her neck and pulling her into an earth shattering kiss. This is really happening. Why are you just standing here not moving like an idiot? This could be your only chance Korra. Get out of your head and do something! It was like a spark of electricity ignited in her brain and she could think again. Wrapping her arms around Asami's waist and pulling her closer before deepening the kiss. Putting into it everything she wants to say in the short time before they reach Laghima's Peak.
Lungs burning from lack of oxygen Korra reluctantly pulls away. "Wow" she mutters quietly, eyes still closed as she rested her forehead against her best friends. Asami chuckles and brings her hand up to trace the line of Korras jaw. "I'm sorry I didn't kiss back the first time. You kinda caught me off guard and my brain was having trouble figuring out if it was a dream on not." Korra pulls back slightly with curiosity. "Wait you've had dreams about kissing me?" Asami flushes red and nods before finally making eye contact. Asami Sato had dreams about kissing me!
Korra couldn't help the grin spreading across her face. "Would you uh... would you like to try it again? I mean you don't have to. I mean there's a lot going on right now and..." She was cut off when Asami pulls her so close she can feel their breath mingling. "Kiss me Korra" Asami whispers jade eyes blazing. Korra smiles and closes the gap. This time they took their time. Savoring every second they had until their lungs were burning again, forcing them to part. Asami leans down resting her forehead on Korras shoulder as Korra nuzzles into her neck. They stood in silence for a moment catching their breath and enjoying the intimacy they had little time for.
"You know I've been wanting to do that for like the past year now" Korra mutters against Asami's neck before placing a kiss and pulling away. Immediately Asami feels butterflies in her stomach. "Really?"
Korra nods. Blue eyes meeting green as she feels warmth flooding her chest. Theres so much she wants to tell her. But she knows not everything could be said tonight. That a certain three words would make her mission even harder to focus on and make everything so much worse if she didn't make it out of this. Suddenly the warm feeling turns cold and Korra breaks from Asami's embrace and makes her way back to the railing.
A few moments later she feels arms slip around her waist and Asami's chin resting on her shoulder. "You know you can talk to me right?" Asami asks kissing her shoulder. "I know. This is just a lot. My plan only made it to the kissing part. Not the outcome. There's just so much I want to tell you. But now isn't the time." Korra leans back into Asami, breathing in the familiar scent of vanilla she had grown to love so much without knowing it. "Everything will be okay. You'll save Tenzin and his family, along with the other airbenders. Then we will get you out. After that we will have all the time in the world to figure out what this means." Asami hoped she sounded reassuring. She was having the same feelings as Korra. Wanting to tell l her so much but not being able to.
"So how long has the Avatar had a crush on me?" Asami asks breaking the silence after a few minutes. Korra laughs lacing her fingers with Asami's over her stomach. "I think it started around the day you tried to teach me how to drive." "You mean the day you gave me whiplash?" Asami poked fun making Korra laugh again. "The day I realized it was more was when we got caught by the Earth Queens soldiers. When I woke up and saw you chained there unconscious I panicked... honestly it's kinda good I was strapped down. I don't know what I would have done. And you were out for so long. I was just praying to the spirits that you would wake up." Korra swallowed the lump forming in her throat as the memories and feelings came rushing back. "Hey I woke up didn't I? And I helped us get out of there too." Asami kissed Korras shoulder again hoping to offer comfort.
Korra smiled and leaned back against her. "When did you know?" Asami thought for a second "honestly it was when Zaheer and his crew tried to kidnap you. I was absolutely frantic. And I couldn't help at all. When I came out of my room and saw you unconscious. That was honestly one of the very few times in my life I've felt helpless." Korra squeezed her best friends hands entangled in hers.
"So yours was a little longer than mine" Korra asks bringing Asami's hand up and kissing it. "Yup. You have no idea how distracting it was to be alone with you when the guys went to check out the Misty Palms Oasis." Korra laughed, turning in Asami's arms so she was facing her. "It couldn't have been that bad." Asami smiled "Oh yeah it was. You were sitting on that rock looking all pouty and hot. Korra could feel herself flushing red despite her darker complexion and looked away.
Asami hooked her a finger under Korras chin forcing her to look at her again. "I'm really glad you told me Korra. I know that couldn't have been easy. Korra smiles softly, getting lost in those jade eyes again. "I... she stops herself from saying the three words she wants to and settles for what they could manage tonight. "I want to spend the night with you. If that's all we have then I want at least that." She swallows hard realizing she just let reality leak into their perfect little bubble. Asami nods but before she can respond Korra was leaning up and capturing her lips in another kiss.
This one was more hungry than the previous kisses they had shared. The reality of what tomorrow would bring was creeping closer and neither wanted to waste the little bit of time they had left. Korra broke the kiss first. Kissing her way along Asami's jaw making her breath hitch when Korra nipped at the soft skin just under her jaw. Causing her to dig her nails into Korras shoulders. Korra stifles a moan against Asami's neck. Pulling her flush against her and smiling before continuing her path down her best friends neck.
"I think we should go back to our room" Asami says breathlessly. Thanking the spirits that they had gotten bunked up together. Korra nods , never breaking her contact with her best friends soft skin. She grabs the back of Asami's thighs and lifts, forcing Asami to wrap her legs around the Avatars waist. Asami's eyes go wide as she attempts to pull away. "Korra someone might see" but despite her protests she wraps her arms around the Avatars neck and pulls her close as Korra continues her string of kisses. "Don't worry"...kiss... "it's super late and no one is up"... kiss... "plus our room is really close"... kiss... "and you can't tell me you're not enjoying this." Korra ends the sentence with a soft bite to the cord of muscle between Asami's neck and shoulder, earning her a moan. Asami drops her head down to Korras ear. "Get me to our room...now". She emphasized by squeezing her legs around the Avatar's waist. Korras head snaps up and she grins. "Yes ma'am" And with little effort she makes her way to the sliding doors that lead into the airship.
Thankfully their room was close but the journey there took slightly longer due to a few very distracting kisses. Korra pins Asami against their door as she begins another string of kisses and bites down Asami's neck. Asami bites her lip as she gropes behind her for the knob before turning it and swinging the door open. Korra walks them inside and lays Asami on the bed. Kissing her way across her best friends jaw until she finds her ridiculously soft lips again before squeezing her thigh. "Fuck Korra." Asami chest is heaving as she stares up at her best friend, pupils blown. "Close the door" and with a slight flick of her wrist Korra closes the door and locks it before Asami is tugging on the bottom hem of the Avatars shirt