Chapter Text
I woke up to the familiar and frustrating sound of my phone buzzing. With my eyes closed in refusal, I reached out to my nightstand, only to find nothing there—no phone, no nightstand.
Because, of course, I was not actually in my own bed.
“Your phone’s ringing...” Korra wedged in tightly behind me, pressing her bare chest to my back with her arm draped around my side.
Hearing her voice, still raspy with sleep, first thing in the morning was an unexpected rush. And feeling her warmth seep and settle across my skin was even better.
“Mmm…” I sighed and pressed my backside deeper into her lap. “I don’t hear anything…”
Korra laughed lightly at my feigned ignorance and tightened her grip around my body. Somehow her toned arms remained surprisingly soft and gentle in their hold. I knew she would be the best cuddler. Called it.
The final ring vibrated from somewhere in the room and was followed by momentarily silence.
“See?” I rolled my hips back, increasing the pressure in the bend of Korra’s body. “No one’s phone is—”
The buzzing of my phone mocked me with a sudden interruption as it began ringing for a second time.
“Yeah? You were saying?” Korra kissed down my shoulder quickly before shifting out of our cuddle. “Naga!” She sat up and called to the mound of white fur laying at the foot of the bed. Naga perked up and wagged her tail with her head cocked to the side. “Wanna find Asami’s bag?”
Korra’s tone was a little sweeter and slightly animated when she spoke to her dog. It was almost too cute for me to bear that early in the morning. And, unlike my own stubborn pet, Naga seemed eager to do the exact thing Korra requested, with no clarification. It’s not that Katara wouldn’t have understood, it’s just that she wouldn’t appreciate being told what to do. Cats, right?
Naga jumped off the big bed and ran to the corner of the room where I had set my purse down the night before. As if aware that she should be careful, she scooped up the straps gingerly and brought the bag right back to my side of the bed. Okay, not “my side”, technically, just the side I happened to be on.
“Thank you, Naga.” I scratched under her chin before she jumped back up to her spot on the bed, with an almost proud look on her face, and settled back down.
The last ring vibrated before I could reach inside. I pulled out my phone to see 2 missed calls and 3 texts from Kuvira. Oops.
“Not that I am peeking, but you should totally call her back.” Korra laughed genuinely as she eased out of the covers and walked over to her dresser. “I need to start working on that ‘amazing breakfast’ you demanded anyway.”
“Demanded? I would never…” I gasped in exaggeration.
I tried to play along although, let’s be honest, I was pretty distracted by the way her body looked in the low morning light. Not that I thought we could stay naked all day, but I was a little crestfallen that she was so quick to get dressed.
She slipped on a pair of light grey sweatpants and sheer white tank top. Okay, maybe I could live with the tease that particular outfit offered. She didn’t even seem conscious of how unbelievably hot she was… but, if I could have my way, she would certainly be made aware as often as possible.
She walked over to my side, I mean, the side of the bed and knelt down so that we were eye level. “Mhmm. Demanded.” She kissed my bottom lip softly. “But I am definitely not complaining.”
That crooked smile that had been torturing me in the best way for the last week slipped right into place before she turned and walked out the door with Naga at her heel.
I rolled around in the sheets and tried to make sense of everything that had happened over the last few days: Meeting Korra in the rain, thinking I would never see her again. Meeting Korra at the restaurant, that same night, and purposefully leaving my purse behind. Korra surprising me at my house, with said purse, and then watching her literally run away from my invitation to come inside. Stumbling into the office at Korra’s restaurant and being pressed up against the door with her lips on mine. Walking to the bar and then scratching our plans so that we could escape to her house and…be together.
Fuck. I was supposed to be calling Kuvira back, not reminiscing about my bizarre, rom-com life. I pressed my face into the pillow and let out a long sigh. God, her sheets smelled so good. That sense of unnamed nostalgia swirled around in my stomach.
Right, the phone call.
“Hi, I’m alive.” I smiled into the receiver before Kuvira could even speak.
“Uh, huh. That’s only because I haven’t gotten my hands on you.” Kuvira growled, although I could tell she was mostly relieved.
“I’m sorry if I freaked you out... You knew I was going out with Korra after the party though…” I shrugged and rolled over flat on my back.
It’s not like I always needed to check in with Kuvira. It’s true, she was an overprotective friend and that sometimes veered dangerously close to controlling. But…it was probably safer to make sure at least one friend knew of your whereabouts when going on a date with a near stranger. So, I knew she was right to worry. I guess I just got lost in the heat of the moment though. Who can blame me?
“Well, I obviously knew you were going out, Asami.” She punctuated my name like I was in trouble. “But I kind of figured I’d at least wake up to an update or you stumbling through the door at some point. I forced Katara to sleep with me in the guest room so she wouldn’t try to sneak out when you got home, ya know? She was not pleased.” Kuvira half laughed and I knew she was already softening up.
The routine of Kuvira staying the night at my house on Friday nights was probably not something that would easily translate to Korra, if we were to continue seeing each other, that is. I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with that issue, but I was kind of looking forward to having that issue if it meant future dates with Korra.
“I get it. You’re a great friend.” I laughed and sat up in the bed. “And, again, I’m sorry. But I’m definitely more than okay. Promise.”
There was a slight pause, and I could tell Kuvira was deliberately making me suffer as she held out her forgiveness.
“Well…” She took a loud sip of something. I peeked at my phone screen for the time and realized it was still early enough that she was probably working on her coffee. “How was it? Can you walk?” She teased.
“You’re impossible.” I rolled my eyes hard enough that I’m sure she could sense it through the phone. I was feeling like bragging though… “But, to answer your question, it was amazing and…I’m not sure about the second part because I haven’t tried. I’m still in her bed while she’s making breakfast.” An obnoxious grin stretched across my face and I didn’t even try to shake it.
“Oh, look at you. Moving in already!” She laughed. “Alright, Alright. I’ll let you go. Send me your new address when you get a chance.”
“Byyyyye, Kuvira.” I wasn’t going to let her bait me like usual—easier to just let her have her fun and move on.
I hung up and swung my legs over the side of the bed, realizing the only clothes I had with me didn’t exactly scream “casual morning” and I wasn’t really feeling bold enough to venture into the kitchen with nothing on.
I walked over to the door and cracked it open, meeting the most delicious maple aroma at the threshold.
“Hey…Korra?” I called down the hallway.
“Yeah? Everything okay?” She shouted back over the sizzling sounds from the kitchen.
“Can I borrow a shirt or something?” I chewed my lip and hoped she wouldn’t think that was too forward.
“Oh!” I heard her set down a utensil followed by the beat of her footsteps jogging down the hall toward her room.
I took a step back as she slipped through the door. It was one thing to be undressed by someone new in a dimly lit bedroom. But standing naked, in the middle of the morning, in front of that same person who was now fully dressed, was actually a little embarrassing. I crossed my arms over my chest and tried not to make immediate eye contact.
“H-Hi…” Korra stuttered, as if somehow surprised to find me completely naked even though that was precisely why she had needed to come to the room.
I raised my eyebrows and smiled in response, stealing a quick glance into her soft blue eyes.
She moved quickly to her dresser and grabbed a shirt and a pair of gym shorts before walking back to me with what was becoming a signature pink hue across her cheeks.
“Here ya go. I think these will work…” She seemed desperate to maintain respectful eye contact with me, although I wasn’t necessarily able to do the same. Her tank top left practically nothing to the imagination and I couldn’t. stop. looking.
“Thank you.” I held the clothing to my torso, our fingers just barely grazing in the transfer. It was hardly enough.
Korra stood perfectly still in front of me, as if frozen in place. I could see that same look of want and desire that had spilled across her face just the night before.
Her eyes finally broke from mine and darted down to mouth.
A smile tugged at my lips and I watched her expression flash in response.
She laughed once, shaking her head, as if at herself.
Before I could question her, she bridged the gap between us. Her lips pressed softly, wet and hot, against mine as she let one broad hand pull me in closer by the small of my back.
Finally.
I dropped the newly loaned clothes on the floor and held her face between my hands, deepening the kiss and letting myself have what I was too impatient to wait for.
She took a directive step forward, leading me up against the wall behind her door. Her guidance was sure and demanding and I reveled in it. Her hips pinned mine to the wall as her lips trailed down my neck. Slipping her knee between my legs, Korra pressed her thigh up hard against my middle as I ground down on it. It was obvious we were hungry for more than breakfast.
Fuck.
The breakfast.
“Uh…” I started, truly hating to interrupt the moment. “Korra?”
“Mmmm…” She moaned against my flesh and a tremor ran through my body.
Focus, remember you have a point to make, I told myself.
“The breakfast is on the stove, right?” I winced, still holding out hope that maybe she had removed everything from the burner.
“Oh, shit!” She looked up at me in shock. “Yep! Sorry! I gotta…” And with that she turned and ran out the door.
The energy between my thighs throbbed and pleaded with her absence. I leaned my head back against the wall and sighed. Back to the waiting game.
I threw on the clothes Korra had picked out for me—a well-worn old concert shirt and comfortable shorts that I had to roll twice on my hips to secure in place—and freshened up in her washroom before making my way to the kitchen.
Nothing smelled burnt, thanks to my sacrifice. In fact, everything spread out on the table looked and smelled fantastic. It was way too much food for just two people, but I wasn’t surprised that Korra had overdone it.
“Well… You’re looking snazzy.” Korra smiled and eyed me up and down as I rounded the corner. Something seemed to deeply please her about my borrowed outfit. And, honestly, I had never been more comfortable in my life, so I hoped she was fine with me never returning it.
I tried to tame my grin, but it was practically useless. Korra was such a dork and I couldn’t get enough of it.
“Snazzy, huh?” I flipped my hair over my shoulder to exaggerate the moment and laughed.
“Can I do anything to help with all of this?” I gestured to the spread.
I didn’t want to get in the way of a professional, but I also didn’t want to seem lazy, which was hardly a word in my vocabulary. Something told me Korra understood that already and was dead set on making this meal on her own anyway. From returning my purse, to helping me find Katara, to making me a home-cooked breakfast—it was pretty obvious that Korra’s language of love was acts of service. Not that we were in love. Just saying… in general.
“No, no. I’m pretty much done.” She shook away my offer quickly. “How do you like your coffee though?”
“Oh! Just exactly like that. Thanks.” I reached out for the cup when she finished pouring it, inhaling the bitter aroma eagerly.
“Really?” She fixed her own cup with extra cream and two sugars and joined me at the table. “I have a sweet tooth in the morning. If I’m eating a savory breakfast, I definitely need my coffee to be sweet.”
“I’ll make a note of that. For next time.” I was well past playing this like it was a one-night stand. What was the point? “So, what is all of this, Chef Korra?” I pulled out my chair and took a seat.
“It’s, um…” She glanced down and seemed to be looking over the ingredients as if she hadn’t even really put much thought into it until now. “There’s maple-glazed pork belly, a couple sunny side up eggs, jalapeño, carrot slaw, rice…” She smiled and sat down. “It’s kind of just what I had around but hopefully it’s good.”
“Honestly, it looks delicious. I’m not going to yell ‘fuck’ loud enough for your neighbors to hear, but I am sure I’ll want to.” I laughed, remembering Korra’s promise from the night before. “I’m just glad we don’t have to share it with the fire department.”
“What??” Korra had a mouthful of food already and struggled to choke it down. “The fire department??” She cleared her throat.
I tilted my head to the side, surprised by her pretty tense reaction which seemed to come out of nowhere. Maybe she was offended that I brought up the kitchen mishap? But it was true… “Um, yeah. You know, because you decided pinning me against the wall was more important than a hot stove?” I laughed again before diving into my own breakfast.
“Oooh. Well, I stand by that order of importance.” She laughed and her whole body seemed to relax. “I mean, I did annihilate a couple of eggs. Burnt to an absolute crisp. But no fires today! Phew.”
I looked at her a little skeptically. No fires today? Yikes.
“Do you have a sordid past full of flames and fire?” I teased.
Korra looked like she was contemplating something, the wheels turning almost visibly behind her eyes.
“Yeah, kinda.” She grimaced and took a long sip of her coffee. “Kya and I used to do pop-up kitchens before we finally opened Raava. Let's just say, she has a strict rule against blow torches in our kitchen now.” She laughed quickly but didn’t seem quite done. “I, uh... That's actually how I met my ex. He’s a firefighter. Or, I guess, the Fire Chief now, actually.” She was clearly uncomfortable sharing that information, but I appreciated her honesty. “It’s been over between us for a long time and I’m seriously only telling you this right now because… I just don’t want it to come up in the future and then it’s weird that I didn’t say something now…”
I smiled genuinely and stopped her from trying to make right something that was never wrong. “Korra. It’s okay! I really like learning about you. I’m glad you told me about that. And I'm glad you've given up blow torches. And I’m glad you want to go on a future date.” I laughed softly and watched her face change shape and ease back into a smile. “Can I ask you something else though?”
“Yeah…sure?” She seemed a little skeptical but still willing.
“Is your ex Bolin’s brother? Mako, right??” I couldn’t help but put the pieces together. How ridiculous was this whole thing? I already couldn’t believe the dance Korra and I had done all week… and now I was realizing my favorite local farmer had been trying to set me up with Korra’s ex for weeks! What are the odds?
“Wow, yep! That’s him. Bolin is still really sensitive about the breakup but he’s coming around, I can tell. I mean, Mako and I have already rebuilt a pretty decent friendship, but Bolin is super dramatic. I’m sure you know that.” She laughed and shrugged.
I did know exactly what she was talking about. In fact, I had often wondered if Bolin thought selling fresh vegetables was some form of performance art. I loved him for it, though, and always looked forward to seeing him. The thought suddenly reminded me that it was Farmer’s Market Saturday… I wondered if Korra would want to join me, but it seemed too early to ask.
The conversation flowed easily from there, and it was nice to finally fill in a few background pieces about each other. Nothing too deep yet, but still, it only further confirmed that the woman inside of that stunning body was truly just as special as I thought.
We cleaned up our plates and I admittedly moved intentionally slow through the process. If we were done eating breakfast, did that mean I should go home? I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, but I didn’t want to overstay my welcome.
Before I could start the impending “what now?” conversation, Korra jumped in.
“Hey! I just realized, we met exactly one week ago today.” She smiled and propped herself up to sit on the kitchen counter. Her shoulders and biceps flexed under her weight and I tried not to stare at the ridges of veins highlighted across her skin.
“Whoa, that’s…” I shook my head and leaned against the opposite countertop. “I don’t know! It seems like we’ve known each other longer, doesn’t it?”
Her grin grew wider. “Yeah! I… Okay. This is going to sound so weird, but I keep having the strangest feeling. It’s…um…I don’t know.” She laughed at herself and my heart felt two sizes too big for my chest. “You know when you go on a long trip and it’s great and you’re happy but then you come back and you get into bed that first night back and you kind of realize how good it feels to be home?” She was speaking in run-ons and she looked a little nervous, but I nodded emphatically, and she continued. “I… I guess I feel like that. Like… I missed you?” She swallowed thickly and fiddled with the drawstrings on her sweatpants.
My stomach buzzed and my neck felt hot all the way around. This was an absolutely ridiculous conversation to be having and yet it felt exactly right. Everything Korra said described how I had been feeling.
I moved over to where Korra sat and slipped between her spread legs. “I missed you too.” With her perched on the counter, she was just slightly taller than me and I smiled up at her.
“Oh. Thank god. I thought you were going to run out the door screaming.” Korra laughed once in relief and pressed her forehead to mine.
“Yeah, right.” I leaned back slightly to look her in the eyes. “I’ve been trying to stall all morning! The last thing I want to do is run away!” It felt like an okay time to admit that, considering Korra’s confession, and her smile in return solidified it. “But… since I do have to leave eventually, maybe you’d want to go to the Farmer’s Market with me? I go every Saturday and…”
“Definitely!” Korra answered quickly, practically beaming. “I just need to shower first…” She trailed off and I knew there was absolutely no way she was getting into that shower alone.
****
Korra’s shower was bigger than I would have expected, and I was glad for it.
We shared the stream of hot water and smiled at each other in anticipation. There was no pretense—we both knew exactly what was going to happen and it almost made me more anxious for it. Before Korra and I had slept together, the anticipation of what was to come was huge and imaginative. Now, the anticipation was just as thick but the awareness of how hard I had finished at her command far surpassed anything I fantasized about. So, needless to say, I was eager for Korra to finish what she had started in the bedroom.
My brain was having a hard time focusing on one thought, one body part, one feeling.
I watched the trails of hot water roll down the swell of her bicep, gather in the dip above her collarbone, flow over her full breasts, run along the deep cut of muscle that crossed her hips and bead across her ass where her dark caramel skin was hardly a shade lighter. The sun, the moon, the water… every which way I had seen Korra bathed tested my ability to comprehend her beauty.
Okay. There was no use playing it cool. Korra’s body was hard and soft and cut and curvy and a fucking anomaly, okay? I bit my lip and tried to wait… To keep my hands to myself. To quiet the loud pounding thud of my pulse in my ears.
We need to do actual shower stuff first, I told myself.
“So…” Korra squeezed shampoo into her hand and held the bottle out for me. “Let’s hurry up and get this part over with so I can fuck you. Deal?” A handsome smile quirked the corner of her mouth.
It felt like someone had momentarily sucked the air from my lungs, but I finally managed to nod and smile. “Deal.”
We rushed through the motions. Korra and I hurriedly lathered each other up and rinsed each other off. Her hands worked over my body is the most taunting way. Every touch lingered just long enough to hurt.
“Done?” Korra asked, guiding me up against the shower wall.
“Mhmm. Done.” I licked the shower water from my lips and waited.
But not for long.
Korra slid her hand between my legs and let her fingers tease up and down my center slowly.
“Good.” She breathed against my lips before taking them under hers in a greedy kiss.
Her firm fingers thrust into my middle filling me all the way up. Fuck, she was strong. It felt like my entire body was lifted off the shower floor and held up by her arm alone as she continued to dive in and out in rhythm.
She pressed her thumb across my clit with each hard hit of her hand, sending a surge of electricity under my skin. I gripped her shoulders and tried to hold myself in place.
“More…” I finally huffed out under a low moan.
As if she were somehow able to respond before I even finished the thought, Korra added a third finger inside of me and increased her rough pressure.
She held her teeth to my shoulder, her ragged breaths meeting my wet skin, and circled her thumb over my need. I shut my eyes into the pleasure as she instinctually worked me into complete submission.
“Ah… Fuck. There. Fuck.” I dug my fingers into her skin and held on tight. My legs threatened to give out from under me but Korra was unwavering and managed to keep me standing as the climax rolled wildly through my body.
Korra gently pressed her lips to mine while she slid her fingers out from my middle. The contrast of her tender kiss, following how roughly she had fucked me, was practically dizzying.
I closed my eyes for a moment, the desire to touch and to taste Korra overwhelming and encouraging my regained strength.
“Now you.” I smiled and kissed her wet pout, feeling her tongue just tease against the part of my lips before I pulled away.
I sank to my knees with Korra’s hands planted on the tile wall above my head, her body like a shelter from the flow of water raining over us.
Anchored between her legs, I glanced up in time to catch Korra’s eyes flash wide, the sea of blue disappearing behind her pupils.
Impatience twisted in my stomach as I kissed her left inner thigh, tasting the difference between the unfiltered shower water and her own natural slickness that had already traveled so far. I took a deep breath and kissed the right side; the same thick heat met my tongue.
“Asami.” Korra panted, adjusting her hold on the wall so that her both forearms ran flush to the tiles.
My name sounded better in her mouth than it ever had, even as it caught in her throat, the muscles swelling and contracting to push forward her plea.
I brought my full mouth to her and flattened my tongue as I licked up her center, flexing the tip when I reached the top, satisfying her throbbing clit with each forceful cross and circle of the area.
Her body swayed above me at the contact, temporarily weakened by the flood of energy to one spot. I looked up to see her jaw clenched and eyes slammed shut, clearly dedicated to maintaining her strength as she reached the precipice.
I gripped my hands behind her thighs and held her body harder to my face, as my tongue continued to work through her. Finding the spot that made her moan the loudest, made her writhe with abandon, made her thighs shake under my fingertips, ignited an even hotter flame in my abdomen. My own body ached with greed and I reached down to hold pressure between my legs and try to quiet the selfish throbbing.
Korra’s eyes were back on me and a sharp intake of air let me know that she was right there, ready to give into her satisfaction.
I pulsed my tongue in the rhythm her body demanded and listened to her groan and curse above me as she came in loud crashing waves over me.
The only thing I wanted more than to give her every ounce of pleasure she deserved was to be able to watch her enjoy it. To have been able to see the stream of water run in and out of her mouth as her lips parted with each moan, to have been able to see the muscles between her shoulder blades flex as she leaned harder into the wall… There is no world in which I would complain about going down on Korra, but is it too much to ask to be in two places at once?
Korra hummed and shut the water off as I righted myself up, feeling the exhaustion and fatigue in my thighs from the prolonged position on my knees.
“You are…” She wrapped me in arms as the steam settled around us. “…something.” She laughed at herself between ragged breaths.
I laughed and kissed down on her shoulder, my wet lips slipping on her damp flesh. “You are also… something.” I smiled against her skin.
Korra sighed and released her hold on me in order to grab our towels. I was almost too warm to need one, but it was probably best to not drip all over her floors.
“Thanks.” I smiled and realized how loaded that word really was in that moment.
Her crooked smile eased into place as if to offer an equally layered, “You're welcome.”
We dried off and started getting ready for our outing in a daze. A pleasant silence filled the room, both of us stealing glances at each other but still saying nothing. My legs felt like jello and my heart refused to settle down but somehow, I managed to throw on my borrowed outfit again. Korra suited up in what I assumed was her usual weekend style: comfortable and athletic. Even though she was dressed casually, I realized I would need to swing by my house to at least put on a pair of jeans to measure up.
“Wanna take the Sun Rail to market? The transit is dog-friendly so Naga can come with, if you’re cool with it?” Korra finally spoke as I finished weaving a loose braid into my wet hair.
I smiled and nodded, remembering that Korra didn’t have a car and we’d therefore need to take public transpo. “Of course. Wouldn’t have it any other way.” I roughed up Naga who had been enjoying a very indulgent morning nap.. “We’ll have to hop off one stop early so I can stop at my house really quick though. I just refuse to wear stilettos with loungewear to the Farmer’s Market.” I bent down and picked up my heels from the floor for emphasis. “We can walk from there.”
“I’ll admit, the fact that you will have to wear that outfit in public, even for just a little bit, will be something I never let you live down.” Korra smirked. I didn’t mind being teased, especially if that meant more time with Korra in the future. “But yeah, okay—your house, then the market. Sounds perfect.”
****
We maneuvered through the mid-city Sun Rail system easily. It was clear that Korra took that particular route regularly. And, well, I had designed it. Not that she knew that part yet.
We sat down with Naga at our feet and relaxed into the short ride.
“You know, not that I was snooping in your garage but… for someone with quite a few personal modes of transportation, you seem to know this new transit system pretty well!” Korra leaned against me, as if it were the most natural thing.
“Well…” I tried to laugh off my hesitation. “My company designed the solar tech for it and I assisted in planning the most efficient and energy conscious routes…” I shrugged.
Korra sat forward and stared at me through narrowed lids. I could tell she was scanning my face for a lie.
“You’re serious?” She finally said.
“Yep!” I smiled.
“Your company… So…you own Future Energy?” Korra’s eyebrows shot up her forehead.
“I do.” I answered simply and continued to smile.
“Okay…and now you’re riding in one of your own rail cars…wearing high heels paired with someone else’s pajamas, essentially…and your hair is still wet from having mind-blowing shower sex just before hoping aboard. And, yes, mind-blowing is a fact not an opinion.” Her grin was spreading fast as she recounted my offenses.
“Hmmm. Yes. But that is a summary that no one else will ever hear.” I laughed and squeezed her thigh roughly.
“I mean, I think you look—” Korra started.
I shoved her arm playfully. “You better not say snazzy, or else…”
Korra laughed and gripped my hand in hers. “And now the CEO of Future Energy is threatening me, a mere passenger and hardworking civilian!? Wow. You’ve really fallen from grace, Asami Sato.”
By the time the ride ended, my ribs actually hurt from laughing so hard. It wasn’t often that I felt so at ease with someone, especially not right after they found out what I did for a living. Korra didn’t seem intimidated or awkward about it all. People could get weird about money and success, no matter how hard-earned, but it didn’t feel like an issue at all with her.
We finally made it up the hill to my house—barefoot with my fingers looped through my shoes and Korra and Naga racing the whole way.
I smiled at Korra in the reflective glass of my front door as I gripped the handle. A shy smile crossed her face in return, and I wondered if she might be realizing that I had seen her checking me out the last time we stood in this exact same spot.
“There are a couple clouds moving in so I’ll just run in and change super-fast so we can try to beat the storm.” I peered back out at the grey sky, admittedly excited by a potential second rainy Saturday in a row. “You and Naga can come in though, of course.” I stepped through the threshold and motioned them inside.
Katara darted out the door the second I looked away because…well, she was probably punishing me. But rather than bolt through the yard she stopped short at Naga, stunned into stillness, and stared up at the hulking canine. It seemed like we all held our breath, afraid to startle the situation into something messier. Katara eased closer to Naga, clearly more curious than scared. Naga seemed equally interested and brought her nose down to Kat’s gently.
“Um…” Korra finally hushed out. “Do you think Kat will follow us inside if we just…act like nothing is happening?” She whispered over the interaction.
“Worth a try.” I shrugged, genuinely thrilled by their obvious kinship.
“Okay, let’s go, Naga. Inside. Now.” Korra walked casually into my house with Naga following obediently and, shockingly, Katara stayed right on their heels.
I shut the door behind them and looked over at Korra with my eyes wide. “We do not have time to discuss how fucking cute that was, but you better believe that I’m thinking it!” I shot up the stairs to change while they all continued to get acquainted in the living room.
When I returned to the group, Korra was sitting on the couch, watching the pets wrestle around the room. I stood on the bottom step and took in the scene, still in disbelief that this was my life.
“Ready?” I hated to break up the moment, but the weather wasn’t getting any better.
“Yep!” Korra jumped up and moved toward the door. “I see you decided not to change your shirt?” She raised one eyebrow and teased her half-smile at me.
“Yeah, you’re never getting it back. No use pretending.” I grabbed my raincoat from the hook by the door. “Past events tell me that you don’t want to borrow a coat? We’d be even if you wanted to keep one?” I laughed.
“Nah. I love being caught in the rain. Feels like home.” She shrugged and laced her fingers through mine.
I opened the door as the first few drops hit the cement. I had always thought that the sound of rain, even the smell of it, reminded me of something I couldn’t remember—now I knew that it was actually someone I was supposed to know.
I took a deep breath as we stepped out into the water.
“Yeah. Feels like home.”