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She opened the door gently. Slow, making as little noise as possible within the unlit home as she took a few steps inside with fur boots. Shrugging off her dark navy blue wool coat, setting it on the hanger and then taking off her shoes, she crept further inside once hearing the door behind her click close and lock.
Korra breathed a heavy sigh of relief, stretching her arms above her head as she began walking through the dark hallway.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the little light there was, but she knew this home like the back of her hand.
She was familiar with the knickknacks that stood on the tables pressed against the walls. Picture frames featuring memories she would never forget, especially the pretty face that gifted each one. Most trinkets were wintery themed, representing that of the season that’d offer cozy blankets and the smell of chocolate.
Tapestries lined the walls. They were taken from her childhood room back in the Southpole. The care of which they were placed and how they perfectly decorated the walls warmed Korra’s heart. She remembered when they were put up, her grin so wide that it made her cheeks sore.
Remembering such a moment brought a chuckle out of Korra, her tired eyes warm and soft. Her finger reached out, trailing along the walls to feel the texture of both wood and pelts beneath her fingertips.
With a soft breath, she slowed her way to the stairs. She maneuvered her way up, stepping over and on specific spots so as to not create too much noise.
By no means was the house old. It was made a year ago to be exact.
Made for you and her.
Specially requested as well.
The building was made for a couple of two, but had taken Naga’s being into consideration as well. The animal was a lovely addition for a warm pillow whenever it was decided she’d sleep inside. And with that, did the sturdy stairs become quickly worn by the constant pressure. Though they were heavily supported, the noise couldn’t be fixed.
And you liked the stairs how they looked, and if you wanted them then Korra couldn’t agree more.
Once making her ascent up the stairs she was faced with another hallway. Again, she let her feet guide her to where her mind wished to be.
Reaching the bedroom door, slightly cracked, she pushed it open. She winced at the squeak it produced, but softened at the sight of a woman beneath sheets and blankets. She couldn’t help but stare for a little longer, admiring. The moonlight through the window casted such an ethereal glow that Korra was at a loss of breath for a moment. Her fingers flexed with need.
Finally, she moved from her spot as she closed the door behind her. Nearing the bed she pulled off her shirt, then unclasped her bra with a satisfied sigh. Keeping her pants on though she slid under the sheets and scooted to your—unlabeled—side of the bed.
Her arms curled around you, pulling both you and herself together so she could spoon you. In an instant her body sagged into the mattress the moment you were in her arms. Something deep inside her surged, overpowering her tiredness.
Happiness.
It had been a week since she last had a moment like this, having to spend that time rectifying the damage done to villages nearby the earth kingdom. Both from Kuvira’s reign and even the old Earth Queen’s laws that still infected such areas.
It was grueling. Having to repeat herself over and over again to the point that the word ‘please’ burned her tongue. She was grumpy most nights, cradling a pillow to her chest to help her sleep. She had grown so used to your presence that your absence even affects her sleep.
She missed you like crazy. Her arms now tightening around you like she would with the pillow she had once held. Her face pressed against the crook of your neck, able to smell the scent you provided.
She couldn’t help the way her lips pressed firmly against your neck, sweet and gentle. Though, such a thing seemed to bring you out of your slumber. A soft intake of breath and stretch was the signal, yet Korra gave a happy groan when you seemed to stretch back into her.
“Hi,” you whispered, groggy but ever so loving.
“Hi,” she repeated, moving to rest her chin atop your shoulder so you could freely rub her cheek. She turned her head to then kiss the tips of your fingers.
“When did you get here?” You asked next, comfortable where you were just as much as Korra was.
“Few minutes ago,” she responded. “Naga’s in her hut. Thank you for changing the blankets.”
“Mhm..” you hummed back, your hand gently holding the ones pressed against your stomach. Your thumb lightly caressed the calloused knuckles of the Avatar’s hand, tracing them.
Soon you twisted around, hushing Korra who whined and told you ‘not to move’ and ‘don’t get up’—oh—and tiny ‘pleases.’
“Not leaving you big dumby,” you huffed with a small smile, settling back down now that you were facing Korra who returned to being content. She kept her arms wrapped around while yours moved to cup her cheeks. You caressed them, thumbs offering slow circles before lightly rubbing the bags beneath the Avatar’s eyes.
You stayed quiet for a moment longer, watching her with a, still, sleepy gaze.
“Rough?” You simply questioned.
A nod from the Avatar was a big enough answer. You gave a kind smile, soon shifting close to connect your lips with Korra’s. It lingered; Korra’s hand moving to cradle the back of your head to keep you where you were.
Being able to finally kiss you brought Korra to experience a variety of emotions. Happiness for being able to have this again. Eagerness to keep your lips on hers for as long as possible. And then a mixture of annoyance and guilt directed to herself for being the one to cause this distance from leaving you behind when she could have brought you with her.
She followed your lips when you pulled back, releasing a huff when you leaned back far enough to escape her. The hand against the back of your head instead began to play with your hair, a pout settled along her features.
You only chuckled at her expression, suddenly sitting up once again that Korra began to whine once more.
“I thought you said you weren’t leaving.”
“Im leaving the bed, I’m not leaving you.”
“Well, I’m in the bed, and you’re leaving it. Basically the same thing,” Korra groaned, her arms now locking around your waist to keep you from moving further.
“Well,” you copied, sass tainting your voice. “Technically speaking, still not leaving you. Not when you’re gonna be getting up with me.”
“What?”
“We’re gonna take a bath,” you hummed, moving to crawl over her, the Avatar’s arms loosening briefly as you sat on top of her. “Smelled you when we kissed. Now I can’t sleep because of it.”
Though, as you tried to move off the bed next, Korra’s arms locked up again. “Just ignore it,” she grumbled.
“Not that easy to ignore when I’m gonna be beside you all night. And now that I know you stink, it’s all I’m gonna think about,” you huffed with a lighthearted roll of your eyes. You smiled down at her as Korra narrowed her eyes at you.
“Don’t give me that look,” you chuckled, pinching the Avatar’s cheek. “You act like it’ll be a bad thing to take a bath with me.”
Now that caught Korra’s attention, intrigue in her eyes and brows raised. She pursed her lips, and groaned as she weighed two, very difficult, choices. Either sleeping now and keeping you trapped in her arms, or take a warm bath with you and have to sleep a little later.
She pressed her head back against the pillow further with a deep sigh.
“Fine,” she smiled, patting your hip in reluctance.
You chuckled, finally able to move off the bed. You were already making your way inside the connected bathroom as Korra sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her face.
She paused as she did so though, pulling her hands back to look closely at her palms. Slowly, she brought them back closer, scrunching her face at the lingering smell of dirt and grass. After another pause she decided to lift her arm to further smell herself.
A hum of acknowledgement left her, quickly setting her arm down and turning her head away to distance herself from her own stench.
Yeah. Maybe a bath was the best bet.
“Korra.”
Immediately the said Avatar stood and followed you into the bathroom as she now took notice of the water running inside the bathtub. The shower curtains were pulled back, and bubbles were starting to layer over the surface of the water.
Her eyes soon glanced over to you, taking a moment to watch you undress out of your sleepwear. A smile growing along her lips the longer she just stared. Yet, that didn’t last long as Korra registered that, no, you didn’t drop your clothes, you threw them at her which blocked her view.
Korra made a displeased noise, swatting away whatever decided to stay on her. She gave an amused huff as she saw you were already submerging yourself inside the tub. Your cheeky little grin made her heart flutter.
It didn’t take long for Korra to join you either, already prepared since she had discarded the top layer of her clothing the moment she entered the room earlier. So, when kicking off her pants and underwear, she slipped in with you.
She took the spot in front of you, leaning back into your comfortable body with a happy sigh.
Your hands began to roam her body, dipping beneath the bubbly water to begin caressing her hips before trailing up to her sides. You smiled at the small hum she made, thumbs pressing into her back while your other fingers rubbed her front.
Though, the further you went up your smile soon turned into a frown. Your lips pursed in concern as you started to feel firm bumps beneath her skin; more appearing the further you went up her back.
Korra winced and groaned a bit, but didn’t dare move away from your expert touch. It’s been a while since you’ve helped ease the stress away, and she wasn’t gonna take that for granted.
“Was it bad?”
Your question made Korra fall silent. Taking a soft breath she started with a small nod. “Yeah. A bit…”
A small snort left you, “a ‘bit.’ Mhm. Ok…”
“Maybe a lot.”
“…Maybe?”
“Okay—fine. It was agonizing.” She huffed out in amusement. “I wanted to rip more of my hair off.”
That got you to laugh, wrapping your arms around Korra to pull her impossibly closer. You tilted your head to kiss the corner of her jaw, “let’s get you to a professional hairstylist before you do anything else with your hair. Yeah?”
“What? Is it bad now?” She chuckled, bringing a hand from out of the water to touch her hair.
“No, not at all. I’m surprised you’re able to pull it off when you told me you sliced it off. Not anyone can pull off choppy hair. You’re just that pretty,” you mused, chin resting atop Korra’s shoulder.
She gave a faux annoyed groan at your cheesy compliment, pushing your face away jokingly. “Oh my spirits, be quiet.”
You met her laughter with your own, leaning back comfortably to return to massaging Korra’s knot filled back. Something deep and content escaped the Avatar the moment you did, arching her back to help your journey.
With the help of the warm bath and soothing touches, Korra’s body began to feel lighter. As your hands soon stopped and rested along her waist she began to roll her shoulders and stretch.
“Spirits,” she groaned happily. “I missed that so much.”
“I can see that,” you mused, shifting up a bit to grab the shampoo bottle and begin to lather your hand up in it.
Korra scrunched her face at you over her shoulder, but the small smile on her face made it all lighthearted. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
You grinned, using your empty hand to reach over to pull Korra back against you by her forehead. You hummed at the small grumble you heard the Avatar make, yet stayed still when pressed against your body. Once wetting her hair further, you began to smother her strands in the shampoo.
“Means someone got used to being spoiled,” you whispered, massaging her scalp.
“Can’t exactly blame me for that…” Korra sighed, melting under your expert touch.
“Guess not,” you chuckled with a small nod, knowing full well you willingly pamper your lover—even in the moments she’s being incredibly stubborn.
You continued to take care of Korra, washing her hair with gentle massages with the tips of your fingers and smiling at the satisfied noises she’d make each time. Once finished with her hair, you moved to her body.
The bathroom was quick to echo with both your fits of laughter as your fingers decided that now was the time to change your game. You knew very well how ticklish the Avatar could be, and you used that to your advantage.
Such actions caused Korra to try and escape, twisting and turning her body in ways to avoid any ticklish sensations your fingers would bring. Her smile wide against her face as she enjoyed your playful attention. Though, in the end, you had to stop once water began to splash out onto the tiled floor.
Of course, Korra sheepishly bent all the water back into the tub, so there was no true worry.
Once you both began to settle, did everything fall back into place. Gentle tranquility overtook the atmosphere once more and Korra’s body was now rid of any odor and filth from her travels.
Though Korra wished to return the favor, you declined.
“What? Why?” She pouted, dropping her hands back into the water with a splash as she was now turned to face you.
“I took one earlier,” you answered with an amused smile.
Seeing the squint of Korra’s eyes you chuckled. “I volunteered to bathe with you so you wouldn’t be lonely. Plus I wanted to take care of you,” you said with a shrug.
The Avatar simply replied with a grumble, pout remaining. She wanted to return the favor, to show her own appreciation, but the cards weren’t in her favor this time.
You noticed, tilting your head fondly with a soft smile. Raising a hand from beneath the water’s surface, you cupped her cheek.
“Next time, yeah?” You offered instead.
Korra softened to such a suggestion and nodded.
Breathing a deep sigh, you both soon retreated from the water and now wrapped in towels. The sound of the water draining filled the room as the two of you began to dry yourselves off.
As you started putting on your clothing, bent down to slip on your pants, you were knocked to your knees with a gasp. A sudden gush of air was thrown your way, directly to your head—wet strands flying a bit from the gust. Quickly, you turned to give Korra an incredulous look, glancing at her outstretched hand and her wide grin.
Though, that grin vanished when she saw you twist your once discarded towel and rear it back. Korra squealed, hopping away to push her pants up fully before booking it to the bed—narrowly missing the whip of your towel.
“I was drying your hair! I didn’t mean to do it so hard!” Korra exclaimed between fits of laughter. She settled down a bit when you emerged from the bathroom without your weapon, but kept her hands up in surrender just in case.
“Uh-huh,” you huffed sarcastically, rolling your eyes as you adjusted your shirt over your head. “You’re lucky I want cuddles rather than getting revenge.”
Korra gave a snort, lowering her hands, “oh? Knowing you, you’ll get your revenge the moment you have me in your arms.”
“Shhh. You shouldn’t know me so well,” you hushed, tapping her lips before moving to crawl into bed.
That comment earned a laugh from Korra. She happily crawled in after you, toppling over you with purpose. You grunted and then whined at the pressure, but let it happen, smushed into the mattress.
“Now you can’t do anything.”
“You shouldn’t challenge me. You should know that,” you huffed, a grin wide on your lips.
“I know,” Korra chuckled, rubbing her nose into your neck. “I just love you. And missed you..”
“I love you and missed you too. But now get off you big lug,” you groaned, nudging her with your elbow till she whined and rolled off. You rolled your eyes, turning over in order to curl up into her side with your head resting atop her shoulder.
You both sighed in content, the two of you shifting a bit to cuddle as close as possible with tangled limbs.
“Night,” you whispered, rubbing your cheek against her shoulder affectionately with an added kiss which got Korra to hum with a wide and happy smile.
“Missed your pretty voice before bed too.”
“Korra.”
“Right, right. Goodnight beautiful.”