Chapter Text
It’s five a.m. and Korra is sleeping in Asami’s arms.
Asami’s not sure how they ended up in bed, not really, not when the clock on Korra’s wall had creeped past two, three a.m. and they had still been on the couch, talking and talking, undoing the story they’d created, the situation they’d caught themselves in. Korra had told Asami her side, about how things had clicked for her and how she didn’t want to be the one to ruin anything between them, and Asami had told hers in return. How Korra’s taken her hard, steadfast rules and stomped on them, made them irrelevant because who needs to stay away from girls, from relationships when Korra’s there? When being with Korra makes Asami happier than she ever thought she could be?
She’s never had this before, and it’s scary, feeling so much for someone. But at the same time, Asami’s never felt so vibrant, so alive. There’s a vine in her chest that blooms more and more in Korra’s presence, growing when Korra smiles at her or squeezes her hand or gives her a look when she tells a joke. It’s as if Asami’s broken through the glass that’s kept her from feeling this much for someone, except no - it had been broken months ago by Korra, but Asami’s just now beginning to look past the broken pieces, appreciating the way they reflect in the light.
Nothing’s different, not really. They’re wrapped up in each other, and Asami’s watching the soft rise and fall of Korra’s chest. They’ve been in this position before. Physically, on paper, everything is the same.
But Asami also feels a difference. There’s no more bet, no more faking. No doing this for Instagram comments or likes or any free food. She’s here because she wants to be, and Korra’s here and asleep and clutching Asami’s shirt while she dreams because she wants to be here, too.
It doesn’t feel forced, or fake, not that it ever did. Now, it just feels right.
Korra begins to stir around seven, letting out a soft little sigh against Asami’s neck. Asami finds herself lost in the way Korra’s eyes blink awake, all sleepy and fluttering but looking...happy.
Korra leans into Asami’s touch as she runs her fingers through her locks, lets out a little hum with a smile growing on her face. The rays from the window make her look like sunlight itself, because she’s glowing and Asami feels her own face pull into a smile, the way Korra always makes it do so.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“You’re actually here.” Korra says it as if the idea itself is a marvel, that she still can’t quite believe it - and maybe she can’t, from the way that she’s reaching out for Asami’s waist, pulling herself closer.
“I am.” Asami’s here. She’s actually here, and not because they’re faking anything, not because they’re trying to fool their friends.
But because whatever exists between them is real.
There’s a tug in Asami’s chest, grabbing her attention for just a second, but enough that the thought holds onto her - what is it now, that they have?
It’s not their acting. It’s not just being friends, because Asami doesn’t kiss a friend like that, nor does she care for a friend in the same way that she’s beginning to care for Korra.
It’s-
Different.
Asami knows what she wants. What her heart is hoping, wishing for, what she can picture with Korra. And Korra wants it too, because Korra had also said I love you and it has to mean something, right, rather than something just said in the heat of the moment-
“Why does it look like your brain is speeding down a dirt road at a million miles an hour?”
Asami has so many things that she wants to say, things that they both need to talk about except that it feels like all of her words are gone now, with Korra curled up against her side. But she tries, opens her mouth because they do need to communicate, to not keep things back anymore.
“Are we…?”
Asami trails off, because what is she supposed to end her question with, really? She doesn’t know what they are.
Korra raises a single eyebrow and there’s a smile playing on her face, one that does wonders to calm the beating in Asami’s chest. Korra traces her fingers along Asami’s collarbone, Asami’s shoulder, before pressing a light kiss to her skin and Asami can’t help the way that it makes her blush.
“Are we what? Didn’t finish your question.” Korra’s looking like she’s enjoying Asami’s internal struggle - Asami’s glad at least one of them is.
So Asami replaces it with another question. “What are we going to do?”
“What do you want to do?” The lightness in Korra’s voice has been replaced with an edge, a nervousness, and paired with the way Korra’s eyes are flitting across Asami’s face it’s almost as if Korra is nervous for what she’s going to say.
As if Korra has anything to fear, on Asami’s end.
So Asami reaches out, tucks a lock of hair behind Korra’s ear. “I know what I want. And that happens to be you.”
Asami knows it now. She’s known it for awhile, pushed it down because they had been co-conspirators and just friends and because Asami isn’t a relationship person.
Or at least, hadn’t been a relationship person.
“But all that stuff you said…” Korra trails off, tilts her head slightly, “about not wanting to date because it all ends bad and you’re happy being by yourself - what about that?”
“Apparently, avoiding relationships because of potential pain doesn’t work.” Asami snorts, wraps an arm around Korra’s waist. “Got myself hung up over you and had my heart broken enough.”
“Sorry.” Korra blushes, buries her face in her hands and Asami’s quick to pull them back, press a kiss to her palm.
“Not your fault. Not mine, either. It just feels like even if you think you’re not meant for something, the universe will somehow find a way to make it happen. And it made me realize that this is something that I want. That I don’t want to run from it.”
And how can Asami, when Korra is here and with her and it feels so natural, so right? When so much has changed between them but Korra is still Korra, still smiling the way she always does and resting her head on Asami as if it’s the easiest thing to do?
Korra smiles, tilts her head slightly before leaning in to press a kiss to Asami’s lips.
It’s hard for Asami not to deepen the kiss, to not open herself up to Korra because she wants it, god she does, but-
-they still have things to iron out between them.
So Asami pulls back, ignores every instinct in her that wants to flip Korra over on the mattress. Korra’s looking at her with slightly dazed eyes already, albeit a bit confused.
“What?”
“What happens if we’re not on the same page again? If something happens and we misunderstand and end up fighting?” Asami bites her lip, because she doesn’t like the thought.
Asami doesn’t do this. Relationships. Compromise. Considering someone else. Before, she hadn’t wanted to. But now she wants to forge a new path with Korra, wants to discover things with her but she doesn’t know how.
It’s stupid. She’s an adult and still doesn’t know how to function in a relationship. What if she’s the one to mess everything up between them, because she doesn’t do the right things?
But then Korra’s pressing a light kiss to her lips and it cuts through the worries that run rampant through her brain, quiets them down because it’s easier to focus on the softness of Korra’s hair when it brushes against her cheek.
“A wise lady once told me that communication is key. We’re gonna talk so dang much that you’ll get tired of me-”
“I won’t get tired of you-”
“And we’re gonna talk through things as they come up. Like adults. Because we’re adults.”
Asami raises an eyebrow. “You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself of that one.”
“Shush.” Korra swats at her arm, but smiles nonetheless. “Seriously, though. I’m not good at relationships either, so it’s new to me, too. But we’re gonna get through things together by being honest and not holding back. I dunno how good I’ll be, or how good you’ll be, either. But I’m willing to try if you are.”
Korra’s eyes are tentative, and the hand Asami reaches out to smooth the crease above her brows feels natural.
Asami smiles. “I’m ready to try, too. Maybe we both have something to learn.”
Korra nods, making a face. “Oh, Sami. I’d tell you all about my past relationships, but I think that would send you running for the hills. Because hurricane Korra inevitably comes to town.”
“Oh, really?” Asami snorts. It’s somehow not hard to picture Korra easily getting into fights.
“Promise to try and talk to you instead of immediately scrapping or running.” Korra’s smile is sheepish, and it makes Asami interlace her fingers with hers.
“And I’ll try my best to talk about things and not pull away.” The words are easy to say, because Asami believes them.
There’s no guarantee for anything, ever. But it doesn’t mean that she can’t try, that the both of them can’t try together. Because it’s going to be worth it, something that Asami is finally, finally beginning to believe.
Instagram story posted by @korrawaters. Description: Asami sitting at her kitchen table, her legs crossed as she sips from her coffee mug, Apollo sitting beside her. Caption: ‘my fave morning view.’
Reply from @kuvira: NOOO WAYYYYY
Reply from @opalbeifong: did you talk to her? FINALLY! Also you owe me like 10 lunches now, get ready to pay up on monday!!
Instagram story posted by @asamisato. Description: Korra holding Cinnamon in her arms and snuggling him, a wide smile on her face. Caption: several heart emoji faces.
Reply from @Mai: WAIT I THOUGHT U BROKE UP
Reply from @Mai: OR WEREN’T ACTUALLY TOGETHER
Reply from @Mai: WHAT’S GOING ON
Reply from @Mai: answer my FaceTime call!!!
****
“Got your coffee.” Asami sets the cup down in front of Korra and sits down across from her in the plastic cafeteria chair, taking a sip of her own.
“You remembered my order.” Korra can’t help but grin as she takes a sip from the cup, because it just feels so domestic.
“I did, but so did the baristas. I started mentioning two creams, three sugars and an extra vanilla shot, and they began to write your name on the cup before even asking me who it was for.” Asami raises an eyebrow. “How do you absolutely not lose your shit with the sugar high after drinking one of these?”
“It’s called having an immunity to sugar. I’m already crazy, so it just fuels me.” Korra sniffs, a faux air of superiority in her voice and it has the intended effect of making Asami crack up.
“You’re so silly.”
“And you like it.”
“That I do.” Asami’s eyes are warm, and it makes Korra’s heart feel like it’s flipping in her chest before-
“Hey! Fry stealer!”
Korra pouts when Asami shoves a fry from Korra’s lunch into her mouth, reaching out to grab another for good measure before she winks.
“Sharing is caring.” Asami pushes her own salad bowl to the middle of their table, gestures for Korra to have a bite.
Korra wrinkles her nose, because the salad looks a bit sad. “If you think I’m eating that, you are sorely mistaken. There’s no cheese or caramelized almonds, there’s only lettuce. Where’s the dressing? Where’s the flavor?”
Asami snorts. “First of all, that's kale, not lettuce. Second, the dressing’s over here, on the side.” Asami lifts up a tiny container, holds it out for Korra to pour over the salad.
“Much better.” Korra grabs it, wastes no time in sprucing the sad looking leaves up a little bit. Not that it works much. “Though I can see why you still want to steal my fries over eating this.”
Asami doesn’t have time to defend her food choices because the squeak of a chair makes the two of them jump in their seats, turning to see Mai pulling up a seat, resting her elbows on their table with her eyes gleaming.
“You,” Mai starts, pointing at Asami with an accusatory look, “have not answered my messages. Were the two of you really that busy railing each other?”
Korra has to cover her mouth to avoid letting loose a snicker, but Asami doesn’t even miss a beat, looking as if she’s used to Mai’s words. “We’re at work. Do you think I’d be having sex with Korra at work?”
Mai clicks her tongue. “I mean, you two did almost do the deed on the Christmas party dance floor.”
“You really love to bring that up, huh?” Asami makes a face towards Mai, but winks at Korra and she can’t help herself from grinning back.
“Doesn’t matter. Tell me.” Mai leans forward on her elbows, looking between the two of them.
“Tell you what?” Korra can’t resist joining, either, because Mai is so fun to wind up.
Mai groans, dropping her face onto the table. “Are you two a couple? Are you two not a couple? Has this just been a giant social experiment to torment my brain? I need answers, you assholes.”
Asami pats Mai’s shoulder, looking over at Korra with a raised eyebrow, a wordless question on her features.
Should they tell their friends?
Korra figures that they all deserve to know, at this point, after having to weather through the drama from both her and Asami. So she gives a small nod and a smile to Asami, who taps on Mai’s shoulder, gets her to raise her face from the table and sit up straight.
“It started as a fake arrangement so that Korra could win a bet against her friends. And then we became friends-”
“- way close friends-”
“-and both liked each other, had some miscommunications-”
“-a little bit pigheaded-”
“-but we figured it out.” Asami’s smile is soft as she finishes their joint explanation.
The fact that they’re playing off of each other so easily now, able to predict what the other is going to say feels so markedly different from how they’d been just a few days ago. When Korra had no idea how Asami had felt, when she had wanted to get through to her but was just so scared.
And now? She has nothing to hide or hold back in the least, and the feeling is freeing, as if the last vines tethering the two of them to uncertainty have finally been cut.
Mai looks between the two of them, a faux pout on her face. “Jesus Christ. How disgustingly cute. But,” she pauses, her eyes taking on a gleam, “so did y’all...y’know...do the deed? Consummate this relationship and all that? Or were you already doing the dirty? Are you being the thots I know you two have the potential to be?”
“My god, Mai.” Asami rolls her eyes and Korra can’t hold back a giggle behind her hand. “You’re so lewd.”
“Answer the question.”
Asami looks over, makes eye contact with Korra and the slight raise of her eyebrow makes the memories of the previous night burn bright in her brain. The way Asami had eaten her out against the wall. The way Asami had come with her name on her lips as her back arched against the mattress, loud and not holding back and definitely heard by the neighbors because neither of them could be quiet at that point. The way the sheets on Korra’s bed had ended up on the ground, still there in the morning when the two of them had woken up tangled in each other’s arms. The way Korra's still a little bit sore, but pleasantly so, and how she’d had to use some concealer along her neck and collarbone this morning because Asami and her were like insatiable teenagers.
But Mai doesn’t need to know all of those details.
“You could say we did.” Asami takes a delicate sip of her coffee as the words leave her mouth and Korra nods with approval, because it’s just enough.
Mai whoops, letting out a cheer that makes the employees at the tables closest to them turn to look over, and Korra can’t even bother to feel embarrassed. Not when last night had been the best night she has had in weeks.
“So proud of you two. You’re both doing amazing.” Mai lets out a faux happy sigh, a hand to her heart.
“And you’re ridiculous.” Asami pats Mai’s shoulder, and Korra’s hit by how glad she is that Asami’s friends like her.
Korra’s also happy by how comfortable her own friends are with Asami. A little too comfortable, actually, by the way that they slam their lunch trays on the table, pull up chairs of their own and introduce themselves to Mai before turning accusatory glares towards her and Asami.
“How do we know you two aren’t faking this again?” Opal narrows her eyes, taking a noisy sip of her coffee, and it’s all Korra can do not to laugh.
“‘Cause we aren’t actively trying to get food from you? And cause last night Asami did this thing with her tongue that-”
“Nasty-”
“Don’t you dare complete that sentence-”
“Korra!”
Asami squeaks out the last one, giggling and shoving her shoulder and Korra can’t help but join in, winking at her. “Sorry, I promise I wasn’t going to complete that sentence?”
“You better not.” Kuvira sniffs. “My ears are scarred enough already.”
“You say that as if you weren’t trying to make me go and talk to Asami and work things out.” Korra’s glad for her friends, she really is, for how much they’re always on her side and wanting the best for her. Even if they do so while grumbling the whole time.
“Aw, you did?” Asami’s face is soft as she looks between Kuvira and Opal, her eyes wide.
“Mhm,” Opal nods, “not that she listened. Chicken.”
“That’s only ‘cause Asami beat me to it!” Korra’s protests are futile because the entire table is cracking up, and her huff and crossing of her arms don’t leave her pouting for long, not when Asami places a kiss to her head.
And it feels right. Not fake, not forced, but just how they are, and how they deserve to be. Surrounded by their friends, even as they’re laughing at her expense, Korra can’t remember a time where she’s smiled as much, feeling this content. Because everything feels like it’s falling into place.
****
Korra opens Asami’s office door as quietly as she can, because Asami’s on a conference call and even though it’s supposed to end in five minutes, she doesn’t want to disturb her. Yet.
Even though what she’s found in her own desk drawer is definitely worth disrupting a conference call over.
So she sits in the chair across from Asami and waits, her knees bouncing as she tries to keep her mouth shut and Asami’s smile when she looks over along with the tilt of her head both make Korra’s cheeks feel warm.
Asami signs off the call after what feels like hours but what the clock on the wall says is only ten minutes, and Korra lets out a whoop because, well, finally.
“Hi.” Asami’s eyes are filled with amusement, and Korra wants to hop off her chair, come around the side of Asami’s desk and climb in her lap, cover her face in kisses. Which she’d do at the drop of a hat, except for the fact that Asami’s office has windows that face the rest of the floor.
Not exactly a sight that their coworkers should see.
“Hi. Missed you. Also look what I went and found in my drawer, it’s a piece of history that needs to be saved forever, and also you need to see it because, shit.”
Korra fishes the sheet out of her blazer pocket, smoothing out the creases that have deepened on the paper with time. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since they’d come up with the contents together, back when things had been so different from how they are now.
“What is it?” Asami leans forward over the desk, turning her head to read the paper before Korra flips the paper for her, and her eyes widen in realization. “Is that…?”
“You bet it is.” Korra almost can’t contain her glee, not when Asami’s reaction is perfect, the shock on her face matching Korra’s own expression when she’d pulled the sheet of paper out while cleaning her drawer.
“Oh my god.” Asami gasps, a grin growing on her face to match Korra’s as she points to the title. “Our rules!”
Their rules. Back when they had been faking a relationship, back when the most important thing to Korra had been winning a bet and some free food. Back when a Chipotle bowl would be a worthy prize, if she could be successful in getting the blonde project manager whom she always saw in the cafeteria to give her the time of day.
And Asami has. They’ve both grown and changed so much over the last year, gone from faking it to denying their feelings to being together for the last nine months. Nine months of waking up to Asami’s kisses and seeing Asami all soft and rumpled outside of work and knowing the softer sides of her. Nine months of seeing the way Asami lights up when she shows up, nine months at Asami laughing at her stupid jokes because somehow she finds them the funniest of all.
Nine months that Korra wouldn’t trade for the world.
“Let’s see.” Asami straightens out the paper underneath her fingers, points to the first line as she clears her throat. “Number one - no dating anyone else.”
Korra grins. “Now that one wasn’t hard at all. I was only into you.”
Asami rolls her eyes, though the smile on her face tells Korra that she can’t contest it, either. “Number two - show up at events together. We did pretty well with that one back then, didn’t we? The holiday party?”
“We certainly gave all the interns a show on the dance floor.” Korra still remembers the red jumpsuit Asami had worn, how badly she had wanted to get Asami out of it. Hey, maybe she can convince Asami to wear it again sometime soon.
“Number three - light PDA only. Oops?” Asami looks up at her with a sheepish expression and Korra can’t help but crack up.
“We weren’t even together then and we were swapping spit like it was no big. No self control whatsoever.”
It’s funny to look back, now that they’ve been together for a while. How it had felt like they were walking such a fine line at the time, teetering on the edge and yet it had been so invigorating, so fun. Like they had been poking a timebomb that had been ready to explode - and explode it eventually did - but they’d done it anyway.
“Number four - interact on social media like a couple.” Asami looks up at that one, holding up her phone which is open to her Instagram profile. Korra’s in all of the pictures along the top row, two couple pictures and one shot of Korra holding Asami’s cat. “Looks like we still haven’t stopped that one.”
“And I hope we don’t, since we’re still together. Unless there’s something you wanna tell me?” Korra raises an eyebrow, and Asami’s quick to clap a hand over her mouth.
“Noooo, not what I meant, and you know that.” Asami’s pout is so cute that Korra can’t help but lean over the desk, press a kiss to her lips, even though the windows along Asami’s wall don’t have any blinds.
“I know. But it’s fun to wind you up.”
“Meanie.”
“You like it.”
Asami huffs. “Number five - no falling in love.” Even Asami cracks a smile at that one, and the way her eyes are sparkling make Korra wonder how she’d ever convinced herself that Asami hadn’t liked her in the first place.
“So we definitely didn’t follow that rule, huh?” Korra reaches her hand across the desk, intertwines her fingers in Asami’s.
“Nope. We definitely let that one slide. Overall, I’d say we’ve failed our assignment. Except for the fact that we’ve both ended up with the best prize of all.”
“And what’s that?” Korra has to hold in her laugh so that her joke lands, because she really does have a habit of ruining punchlines for herself. “Getting laid?”
“Ugh.” Asami makes a face, groaning as she drops her head into her hands, and Korra can’t help but crack up. “Remind me why I’m with you again?”
“To get laid?”
“Korra.”
Asami’s whine is even funnier because she’s in her fancy desk chair, in her fancy office, and it contrasts in the best way. It’s the Asami that Korra knows well, the Asami that Korra gets to see all the time. The Asami that she counts herself lucky to experience.
“You love me. Remember when you said it first?” Korra flashes her an angelic smile, and Asami’s nose crinkles.
“You love bringing that up, don’t you?”
“Course I do. That was so romantic. At least in the top ten moments of my life.”
“Aww.” Asami’s frown is gone from her face. “Even more than when we got the blooming onion at the fair that one time?”
“Well, when you mention that…ow! Fine, fine, yes, even above the blooming onion. Jesus.” Korra lets out a grumble when Asami kicks at her feet under the table, mumbles under her breath because fair snacks really are her favorite.
But then again, so is Asami.
Korra had always been the type to wait for someone to sweep her off of her feet, thinking that she would be ready for it to happen, that she would be practically expecting the moment. Except it hasn’t been like that with Asami, and it almost makes it better, when she looks back on things. Because, in a way, Korra has been swept off her feet - falling for someone whom she hasn’t expected to, someone she may not have even talked to at the time were it not for the bet, and realizing that her person has been around without her even expecting it.
It’s better than a fairytale, because it’s so perfectly them, and Korra never wants their story to ever end.
“Hey, Korra?”
“Yeah?” Korra leans her head on her hand, wondering if Asami is feeling as sentimental as she is after reading the list, seeing how far they’ve come, where they’ve ended up.
“You got mascara on your nose.”
Ah.
“Love you too.” Korra grumbles out, but it’s okay, really, when Asami reaches over to wipe it herself, pressing a kiss to her cheek (‘it’s liquid lipstick, there’s no lipstick mark, promise’) and squeezing her hand.
Because sometimes love is more than just declarations. It’s having someone to take care of you and catch things that you may miss, it’s someone to watch trash television with you and help you make dinner when you’re too tired to make a meal on your own. It’s familiarity and stupid jokes and memories that’ll never, ever stop being funny. It’s knowing what you want because everything else in comparison just feels dull. And sometimes, just sometimes, it’s a project manager at your firm who’s terrified of spooky movies and loves hummus way more than the average person ought to.
And Korra’s still hit sometimes with how lucky she is, the fact that she’s found her.