Maintaining the Balance

Egged on by Akua, the thirty or so people making up her Resistance forces eagerly joined in to celebrate Kahn's and Korra's engagement.
Though the United Republic had set the drinking age at 14, the law only applied to public gatherings. If it was a private party, the general rule of thumb was that it was okay to consume alcohol so long as you didn't later venture out and cause a scene. Public intoxication incurred a fine of 3,000 Yuan for adults and 5,000 Yuan for the parents of minors, so most people had enough sense not to go out when they were drinking.
For a variety of different reasons, Korra had been prohibited from drinking during her training. Now that she was publically perceived as an adult, the only thing preventing her from doing so were her individual inhibitions and sense of responsibility as the Avatar.
After consuming six frothy glasses of beer in less than an hour, Korra was red up to her ears as she systematically crushed every single member of the Resistance in a series of arm-wrestling matches. The only person who could even put up a bit of resistance against her was Bolin and a similarly muscular girl named Ming, both Earthbenders. They had learned a similar body-strengthening technique as Korra, but due to the latter's monstrous control and even greater base strength, neither endured more than seven seconds before she sent them crashing through the crate they used as a support.
To celebrate her victory, Korra picked up the peacefully drinking Kahn by his collar and kissed him in front of the entire group. Her actions caused a cheer to spread through the underground warehouse, nearly goading her into further action. Kahn anticipated this, however, so, before Korra could do something they would both regret, he overwhelmed her with a much deeper kiss before promptly picking her up and carrying her off in a bridal carry. His actions caused quite the misunderstanding, but Kahn had never really concerned himself with the perceptions of others...
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Becoming uncharacteristically meek and markedly more sober than she had been moments prior, Korra whispered, "We shouldn't..." shortly after Kahn carried her up to a loft-like area located on the ground floor of the studio.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Kahn set Korra down on a small white sofa, saying, "Stay here. I'll get you a glass of water." before walking over to a nearby sink. Korra extended her hand to try and grab the back of his trousers, but her inebriated state made it difficult for her to sit up straight, much less grasp a specific target.
Upon returning with two cups filled with water, Kahn was unsurprised to find Korra staring at him with a pouty expression on her face and a throw pillow crushed between her arms and breasts. Despite her protests, she had fully expected Kahn to do 'something' once they were alone. Getting her a glass of water wasn't among the possibilities she had in mind.
Returning a faint smile, Kahn set the two glasses on the adjacent table before plopping down on the sofa. Korra retreated to the opposite side, but it was the type of sofa meant for two people. All she accomplished with her actions was giving him a better view of her toned, well-shaped bottom.
As if he was oblivious to Korra's pouty behavior, Kahn reached out to give the bulbous mound a soft caress. The clothes of the Southern Water Tribe were traditionally fabricated using Snow Leopard Caribou hide, a material renowned for its heat-retention properties and velvety texture. Touching it was like gliding your hand across a silk sheet, an experience made all the more pleasant by Korra's warm and pliant posterior.
"..."
Though she was momentarily tempted to kick Kahn in his 'smug' face, Korra ultimately decided against it. Instead, she squeezed the pillow in her arms and closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his warm palm against her butt. Now that she was beginning to sober up, she realized she was probably in the wrong for expecting him to do something when dozens of people were nearby...
Realizing that Kahn probably wasn't even drunk, Korra exhaled a hot, alcohol-laden sigh before reversing her position, lying her head on the former's lap, and muttering, "Pet my head..." in a soft tone.
"Sure..."
Recalling how he would often caress Korra's head back when he lived in the South, Kahn gently caressed the blushing beauty's fringe, the backs of his fingers periodically grazing her cheek.
Seized by the peculiar notion that Korra had suddenly become even more attractive than usual, Kahn voiced his thoughts aloud, whispering, "You're so beautiful, Korra..."
Pulling in her legs and arms, Korra squeezed her pillow even tighter as she replied, "You're just saying that..."
Without missing a beat, Kahn gently kneaded the lobe of Korra's ear with his thumb and index finger as he casually rebutted, "Only because I was thinking it..."
"..."
Feeling her face heat up for reasons other than alcohol, Korra rolled onto her back, her hand guiding Kahn's to cup her cheek as she said, "If those are the types of things you're thinking about, I wish you would speak your thoughts more often..."
"Mmm...I'll think about it..."
Leaning down, Kahn planted a chaste kiss on Korra's lips. It was a difficult angle, but he was flexible enough to pull it off. As for the whole 'speaking his mind' thing, he would rather not. Voicing his thoughts aloud generally created more problems than it solved. Still, if that's what Korra wanted, he would at least make an effort around her...
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"So? What does my cute little kitten think about my darling baby brother?"
Though she had also consumed a fair amount of alcohol, Asami managed to keep a level head as she replied to Akua's question, saying, "He is like the complete opposite of you..."
Nodding her head in agreement, a soft titter emanated from Akua's throat as she mused, "You can blame our space daddy for that..."
Hearing Akua mention Vahn, Asami was tempted to ask more about the man known as the Sage Dragon Emperor. Whenever Akua talked about him, she always gave off the impression of a star-struck maiden. Almost as though the very thought of Vahn was enough to make her happy.
Preempting Asami's questions, Akua's expression softened as she ran her fingers through the beautiful young woman's hair. Similar to the scene of Korra and Kahn, Asami was currently lying with her head in Akua's lap. In a more private setting, they would have taken turns sitting in each other's laps, but the potentiality of someone walking in on them had made both girls significantly tamer than usual.
"We can talk about Vahn later...for now, we need to address the matter of Kahn and us. You know you make my lady boner go bonkers, but I'm not a lesbian. You know I want to experience being pushed down by a muscular man, getting fucked silly, getting pregnant, the whole shebang. Mako and Bolin might have been good alternatives if Kahn hadn't shown up, but now that he's here...well, let's just say it's a good thing I decided to wear black pants today..."
Though she was pretty good at suppressing her instincts, Akua was still fused with the Primordial Spirit of Water; a True Dragon named Kelvin. As much as she loved and enjoyed playing around with Asami, her mind and body craved a strong mate, someone that could either subdue her or, at the very least, withstand her more animalistic urges.
Exhaling a sigh, Asami curled up into a ball as she muttered, "Then you already know my answer...if it lets us stay together, I don't mind putting on an act. At least Kahn seems pretty sensible...unlike those old creeps who work for our fathers and the hormonal brats running around here."
Recalling how nearly every boy at the party had been trying to get her and Akua blackout drunk, Asami's expression morphed into a scowl. She doubted any of them had the courage to try something, but it would only take a few permissive words from Akua to turn the entire lot into a bunch of hungry wolves. After that...well, she would rather not think about it. All she knew for certain was that the Resistance would no longer exist...
Deciding not to point out that she was interested in Kahn precisely due to her hormones going haywire, Akua continued caressing Asami's hair as she said, "You're too good for me, kitten...however, if someone ever tried to take you away from me, I would freeze the very marrow in their bones."
Feeling comforted despite the severity of Akua's words, Asami nestled a bit closer to her best friend turned lover. She had been crushing on Akua even before the latter saved her mother's life. After that, Asami swore that she would never leave Akua's side. It didn't matter which path the silvery-white-haired woman took. Asami intended to follow her till the end...
"I love you, Akua..."
Adopting a tender smile, Akua's fingers gently traced the line of Asami's jaw as she whispered, "I know, kitten...that's why I can't help loving you in turn..."
Punctuating her words, Akua bent down to kiss Asami. Her six-year stint as a ballerina made her even more flexible than Kahn, so, unlike the latter, Akua could practically contort herself into a ball. If she channeled Water Elemental Chi into her body, even her bones would become flexible and elastic, a peculiar trait she intended to employ against Kahn at the earliest opportunity...
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With the glow through the windows switching from natural light to street lamps, Kahn gently pinched Korra's nose, just like he used to when they were kids. Fortunately, while time tended to change some things, others remained relatively the same. Korra still only breathed through her nose when she slept, so she awoke with a start whenever something blocked it.
"What tha-!?"
Jerking to a seated position, Korra quickly recovered from her momentary panic, a threatening smile on her face as she looked toward Kahn, popped her knuckles, and asked, "Any last words...?"
Pointing to the windows, Kahn said, "Tenzin wanted us to be back before it got dark. We also need to feed Naga, pick up your things, and get ready for our evening rendezvous. It's okay if you changed your mind, but I was kind of looking forward to it..."
Regaining her panic, Korra rose from the sofa a little too quickly, shouting, "Oh crap, Naga...!" before promptly losing her balance. Fortunately for her, Kahn had already predicted this, his body briefly crackling with electricity as he darted around to her front and caught her, whispering, "Water first."
Though she was momentarily confused by Kahn's words, his intentions became pretty obvious when he gestured toward the glasses still present on the nearby table. The water tasted a little dirty and metallic, but Korra managed to gulp down both glasses as if it was the most refreshing thing in the world. It helped that she could cool it down at will.
"Haaaaaa...that helped a lot, thanks."
While nodding his head in affirmation, Kahn began guiding Korra toward the nearest bathroom. She hadn't said anything, but he knew she had to go pretty badly. His nose was very, very sensitive.
Blushing slightly due to being seen through, Korra thanked Kahn before entering the bathroom, slamming, and locking the door behind her. She had few inhibitions, but she wasn't quite at the level of wanting Kahn to see her pee. At the very least, she had outgrown such a phase. There was a time when her unconstrained curiosity made her 'very' curious about the differences in the way boys and girls peed.
Fortunately, while Kahn tolerated just about all of Korra's inquisitiveness, he never compromised when it came to matters of a 'private' nature. This only served to stir Korra's curiosity even further, but he managed to deter her without too much trouble. Now, nearly seven years later, Korra's ears turned red just thinking about her past behavior. Akua's had reallly helped to put into perspective...
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"You're going?"
Though Kahn had been willing to leave without informing anyone of their departure, Korra felt it would be a little too rude to people they had just met. As a result, the two of them made a short detour to the underground warehouse to inform Akua of their departure.
In response to Akua's question, Korra answered, "Yeah, but we'll be back soon. Probably not tomorrow, but maybe in a day or two."
"Mmm, that's probably for the best. Having you loiter around here before we meet in an official capacity will just cause problems. I'll have my guys send over a custom radio that lets you communicate with our base, so try to avoid coming here unless it's an emergency."
Blinking in surprise, Korra asked, "What do you mean, official capacity...?"
"You're a real airhead, aren't you, kitten...?"
Furrowing her brows, Korra intended to offer a rebuttal, but Akua beat her to the punch, explaining, "I have two independent lifestyles and personas, one public and the other 'very' private. If the Avatar is seen traveling back and forth between my private studio, journalists and paparazzi are bound to start buzzing around. Once it gets into the paper, anyone who opposes you will see me as a convenient tool to leverage against you. I'm far from it, but they won't know that."
Realizing what Akua was trying to say, Korra's expression hardened as she asked, "Would people really target you just to get to me...?"
Exhaling a sigh, Akua muttered, "Kitten...you've got a lot to learn about people, especially those who pursue power and authority. Developing a nation or toppling an existing administration isn't accomplished through diplomacy. Change comes about because some asshat with more power than sense stopped caring about the means and started sacrificing the lives of innocent people to get what they wanted..."
While there were a handful of exceptions that could refute her, Akua was confident she could offer a dozen historical anecdotes for even the most minor of them. She knew Kahn could readily do the same, so while Korra was struggling to process what she had said, Akua turned to her stoic and ruggedly handsome 'little brother' and said, "Take care of her, Kahn. Korra might be more than capable of fending for herself, but she has a long way to go before she matures as an Avatar."
"Don't you dare nod your head..."
As much as she appreciated Akua's concerns, Korra hated when people implied she needed protection. It didn't matter if it was true or not. Some things just shouldn't be said aloud, at least not right in front of her.
Amused by Korra's reaction, a teasing smile developed across Akua's face as she asked, "How is it that you're even more adorable when you're mad? It's no wonder my beloved baby brother is so taken with you..."
"Huh? What are you saying...?"
Though she knew Akua was deflecting, Korra couldn't help feeling a bit of warmth spread through her cheeks. Her awareness of what they would be doing later didn't help any.
Squinting her eyes, a catty smile developed across Akua's face until Kahn stepped in, saying, "We should probably get going. I can imagine Tenzin and Pema waiting for us near the docks..."
To remove any room for discussion or argument, Kahn surprised Korra by once again picking her up in a bridal carry. Her already reddening cheeks became bright red, but she didn't attempt to squirm free as Kahn held her close and said, "See you around..." without bothering to turn and face the two girls silently observing his departure.
Waiting until the young couple had disappeared completely, Akua turned to Asami and remarked, "He's a brazen one, isn't he?"
Exhaling a sigh, Asami replied, "That's one way to put it..." before asking, "Want to come over to my place tonight? My mom would be happy to see you."
Nodding her head, Akua said, "Sure thing. Let's get washed up first. Don't want your daddy getting in a tiff if we show up smelling like alcohol."
Without waiting for Asami's response, Akua emulated Kahn's actions by suddenly picking her up. Asami was quite a bit bigger than she was, but Akua was much stronger than the average person. Her arms appeared to be bereft of muscles, but she could easily lift a hundred kilograms without straining herself. Not that Asami was even close to 100kgs.
Despite offering no resistance, Asami couldn't help asking, "What do you think you're doing?" with a deadpan expression on her face. In response, Akua adopted one of her characteristically mischievous smiles, asking, "I can't let my baby brother show me up, can I? Now, be a good girl, and let me carry you."
"..."
Instead of responding to Akua's words, Asami just tucked her head in and nestled against the former's shoulder. Akua's diminutive stature made this a little difficult, but Asami hadn't slacked in her physical conditioning over the years. If nothing else, she was 'very' flexible...
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After picking up Naga and returning to Air Temple Island, Kahn's intuition proved partially correct as Tenzin and Jinora could be seen waiting at the end of the pier. The younger Airbender looked like she wanted to fly over, but Tenzin placed his hand on her shoulder to keep her in place.
Upon emerging from the water, Korra made a pulling motion to bend the water from Naga's fur before she and Kahn headed over to where Tenzin and Jonora were waiting.
"Welcome back, Kahn, Korra. You're a bit later than I would have liked, but I suppose that's to be expected considering it was your first time touring the city. Tell me, did you have fun?"
Answering in Kahn's stead, Korra's face practically lit up as she exclaimed, "It was amazing! Republic City is unlike any place I imagined. It's so much bigger than the cities in the South Pole, and there are so many interesting things to see and do! Kahn and I-"
Interrupting Korra before she could begin blathering, an amused chuckle emanated from Tenzin's throat as he mused, "Now, now, Korra, no need to be in such a rush. We can discuss the specifics of your day once we reach the Temple. I'm certain my wife and daughters would like to hear all about it and that mountain of packages you received..."
Remembering that Akua had sent her a ton of clothes, Korra's expression became even more energetic as she asked, "Well, what are we standing around here for?" before meeting Jinora's seemingly impassive gaze and asking, "Race you to the top?"
Instead of responding verbally, Jinora bent her knees before leaping into the sky and flying towards the temple complex located at the top of a long and winding set of stairs. Korra interpreted this as Jinora accepting her challenge, so she immediately produced jets of vibrant blue flames from her feet before following after her like a rocket...
"..."
"..."
"Awuuu..."
Though neither of them was surprised by Korra's behavior, Tenzin and Kahn couldn't help feeling mildly exasperated. As for Naga, she felt like Korra had suddenly abandoned her, so she shuffled over towards Kahn and nuzzled against him with her oversized snout. Long before she had been gifted to Korra, Kahn had raised and looked after her. In her mind, he was as much her owner as Korra.
With a head nearly as large as Kahn's torso, Naga's nuzzling caused the former to slide a few centimeters as he adopted a wry smile, wrapped his arms around the loose and incredibly soft fur of her neck, and said, "Hey now, no need to pout. You're not a puppy anymore..."
"Mrwuuu..."
Seeing Kahn being 'bullied' by the massive pooch, Tenzin couldn't help caressing his beard, an amused smile on his face as he said, "Well then, I'll see you back at the Temple. Good luck."
Following his words, Tenzin performed a short hop while producing a rapidly spinning sphere of compressed air beneath him. Then, with speed nearly twice that of a Satomobile, he raced up the stairs as if they weren't even a hindrance.
Ignoring the middle-aged man's showboating, Kahn buried his face into Naga's coat and gave her a couple of firm pats before climbing onto her back and mushing her up the stairs. He anticipated that Korra would be waiting for them near the top, so he made sure Naga took her sweet time reaching it...
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"What took you so long? It's been like twenty minutes. Naga could have easily made it up those stairs in three."
Without batting an eye, Kahn dropped from Naga's saddle, explaining, "She just spent half the day running around the city and swimming across Yue Bay, twice. I figured she could use a nice, leisurely stroll."
Feeling a little guilty after hearing Kan's words, Korra made her way over to Naga, grasping the sides of the oversized puppy's head as she softly muttered, "Oh, Naga...I'm sorry, girl..."
"Mrrrrr..."
Seemingly forgetting that Korra had left her near the base of the stairs, Naga affectionately nuzzled against the apologetic Avatar before giving her a lick with her massive, meaty, and incredibly moist tongue. Most girls would have been extremely put off by this, but Korra just laughed before hugging Naga and saying, "I knew Kahn was trying to mess with me. You would never be mad at me, would you, girl~?"
Rolling his eyes, Kahn looked around and asked, "Did Tenzin and Jinora return to the Temple?"
While continuing the caress Naga, Korra answered, "Yeah. I told them not to wait up since we still needed to put Naga in her den and give her some food. As you said, she worked pretty hard today. I think the stone streets are a little rough on her paw pads, so help me check them for any cracks or bruising once we get her settled in."
"Yeah, sure thing."
Having already anticipated Korra's request, Kahn showed no indications of being inconvenienced by it. This was one of the traits that Korra loved, or, at the very least, liked about him. Even if she felt her behavior was selfish, Kahn didn't seem to mind at all. If they didn't need to return to the Temple and chat it up with Tenzin and his family, she might have been the one to pick him up and carry him off someplace private...
Resisting the temptation to do precisely that, Korra gave Naga a firm pat near the base of her neck, saying, "Okay, girl, let's get you settled in for the night."
"Mawruuu..."
Though she wanted to continue playing, Naga followed behind as Korra tugged her leash. The difference in their size and weight was immense, but Polar Bear Dogs were known for their docility. Not that it would have mattered. If Korra wanted to, she could heft Naga's entire 500kgs with a single arm. In terms of raw, physical strength, she was presently the most powerful person in the whole world. No one else even came close...
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Nearly three hours after their return to Air Temple Island, Kahn and Korra were finally alone again. The latter had snuck into his room in the middle of the night, but instead of dragging him off to go skinny dipping, Korra just curled up next to Kahn in his largely decorative bed. He hadn't slept a single night since his arrival in the Actualized World of the Avatar. Instead, he split his time between the Spirit World and competing with Rindo in his mind.
Had Korra not shown up, Kahn was planning to have tea with Iroh before continuing work on the orchard he had spent the last four years planting and growing. When she suggested sleeping together, his plans shifted to spending the evening in his mindscape. At least, that's what he intended. Instead, he found himself simply observing Korra, feeling her warmth, and listening to the sounds of her sleep as she huddled with her back against him, the little to his big spoon...
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(A/N: Stories like this wouldn't be possible without the support of my patrons. If you'd like to read this, and several other stories, please consider supporting me. I'm currently focused on a Mushoku Tensei x Genshin Impact crossover, but I'm more than happy to continue Maintaining the Balance if there is enough interest from the community. Regardless of whether you support me or not, happy holidays~!)

"Though it's a bit of an oversimplification, the purpose of our group is to prevent criminals and opportunists from destroying the legacy of Avatar Aang and everyone who worked together to shape the United Republic. Those kids outside are all people who were failed by a system that favors the wealthy and affluent over the lives of the innocent. Now, they fight to ensure those who commit heinous crimes are brought to justice..."
Without pausing to consider Akua's words, Korra's expression formed into a resolute glower as she said, "They're just kids. You can't expect them to fight against hardened criminals. That's what-"
Interrupting before Korra could finish, Akua asked, "What are you doing to prevent people from being raped, robbed, murdered, and exploited right this instant...?"
"What?"
Taken aback by Akua's question, Korra's mouth hung open as the former went on to explain, "Any system that elevates individuals and prioritizes profit over the well-being of the masses is flawed. True justice comes in the form of a closed fist, not a slap on the wrists."
Shifting her gaze to Kahn, Akua's eyes narrowed as she asked, "What do you think, fire puppy? I'm curious to know what the Avatar of Fire and Absolution, the Enforcer of our Creator's will, thinks..."
"Kahn...?"
With Korra looking toward him with a concerned expression on her face, Kahn found himself unable to suppress an exasperated sigh. Then, after considering his response for several seconds, he answered, "I honestly don't care. I can't resist helping people, but I have no intention of going out of my way to try and fix things. I just want to protect Korra, travel the world, and create new dishes..."
Though Kahn's words initially earned him a gratified smile from Korra, her expression immediately cramped when he added, "However, if it were up to me, I would execute any and all who knowingly betray the trust of the people. The same fate would await anyone who opposes legislation that would objectively benefit the populace and anyone who cuts corners for the sake of profit...civilizations that fail to care for their home planet and the creatures who inhabit it do not deserve to flourish..."
A stark contrast to the taken aback Korra and Asami, Akua began laughing in response to Kahn's words. She would never say it aloud, but she shared his views. She once chanced upon a group of thugs having their way with a mother in front of her children. In the months that followed, the thought of freezing the entire world had crossed her mind more than once...
Wiping away a tear from her eye, a vicious smile developed across Akua's face as she looked to Korra and said, "You heard him, kitten. You're pretty much the only thing preventing Kahn from giving civilization a hard reset. Better keep him on a short leash."
"Right..."
Failing to grasp the nuance within Akua's words, Korra just gave a cursory response as she stared at Kahn's profile. She had no idea he had such an 'extreme' view of the world. She wasn't upset with him, but it was a pretty jarring revelation.
Realizing Korra wasn't really paying attention to her, Akua rolled her eyes, muttering, "Anyways..." before proceeding to explain, "I'm not sure if Kahn has told you, but each Avatar of Raava has an unmatched influence on the Flow of Fate that pulls each and every one of us towards our penultimate destination. Now that you have officially set out on your journey, it is only a matter of time before the forces that stand in opposition to you begin to take action. Thank you, kitten."
Accepting the folder that Asami had given her, Akua opened it up before sliding it towards Korra and appending, "In Republic City, there are three groups you need to worry about. First and foremost are the Equalists, an Anti-Bending organization that wishes to outlaw Bending. Their leader is an opportunistic retard who has convinced the sheep that Benders are the cause of all conflicts throughout history, completely blinding them to the fact he is weaponizing them in the same fucking way. In essence, he just wants to seize power and make it easier for him to maintain control by eliminating anyone that could realistically oppose him."
Seeing the photo of a masked within the folder, Korra's brows furrowed as she asked, "And people actually listen to this guy? This Amon? Don't they know Bending is essential to sustaining the balance of the world? Without it, humans wouldn't have been able to survive till now. Dark Spirits would have wiped us out thousands of years ago."
Placing her feet against the edge of the table, Akua began teetering back on her chair, eyes focused on the ceiling as she lazily replied, "The sheep don't care about history or things like the balance of the world. They just want to live their lives in peace. If you can convince them that something jeopardizes their livelihoods, normal people become monsters capable of committing even the most heinous atrocities without even batting an eye. Hell, some will even cheer..."
"Are you always this negative...?"
Though she could understand what Akua was trying to say, Korra couldn't help feeling the former had a rather extreme view of the world.
To Korra's surprise, Aku whispered, "Not always..." before leaning forward, sitting upright, and adding, "If I didn't believe things could get any better, I wouldn't be fighting this hard to fix them. I just want you to be prepared ahead of time. Many of the people you meet during your journey will have even more extreme beliefs than myself and Kahn. It might be difficult for you to believe right now, but you'll soon come to realize that the greatest villains often have the strongest desire to protect and help people. As the Avatar, you have the duty of keeping such individuals in line..."
Before Korra could think of a response, Akua promptly changed subjects, saying, "Anyways...since you're clearly not read for this, we'll shelve this matter until you accrue some more experience. For now, you can just think of my little band of freedom fighters as information brokers. We'll focus on gathering information and leave the heavy lifting to you and your little fire puppy. However, once shit hits the fan&mdash;and trust me, it will&mdash;don't forget that you're not the only person willing to fight for what's right..."
Rising to her feet, Akua was prepared to go and give her team the news when Korra stood up, saying, "Wait! We're not finished here...!"
Raising her brows, Akua casually replied, "Calm down, kitten. It's not like I'm kicking you out or cutting ties with you. We can chat all you like once I get back. I just don't want to keep my people waiting outside for a speech that clearly isn't happening. Why don't you and your little puppy dog make out or something? I shouldn't be more than a few minutes."
Without waiting for Korra's response, Akua, followed closely by Asami, left the room. In her wake, she left a bewildered Korra staring at the door with a slack-jawed expression on her face.
Freeing Korra from her stupor, Kahn asked, "You okay?" in what he hoped to be a concerned tone. Akua's words had given him a lot to think about, so his mind wasn't as focused on the present as usual.
Exhaling a sigh, Korra plopped down in her chair, hands holding her head as she slumped forward and complained, "That woman does everything at her own pace..."
As if realizing the irony of her words, Korra suddenly looked to Kahn, a worried expression on her face as she asked, "Oh gosh...is this how you feel when I drag you around and make you do whatever I want...?"
Though he wasn't fond of lying, Kahn unhesitantly replied, "Not really. It was troublesome when we were children, but I actually missed it once we were separated. If anything, your assertive nature makes things easier for me. I just have to go with the flow and enjoy the ride..."
Turning her eyes up at Kahn, Korra regained a bit of her usual smile as she observed, "You really are like a puppy..."
Rolling his eyes, Kahn contemplated referring to Korra as a kitten when the latter caught him by surprise, softly muttering, "You're wrong about one thing, though..."
Swallowing the knot the had formed in her throat, Korra leaned toward Kahn and sensually appended, "I might drag you around, but you're the one that's going to get taken for a ride..."
"..."
Amused by Kahn's faint yet visibly dumbfounded expression, a chuckle emanated from Korra's throat as she sat back in her chair and proposed, "Since our date got sidetracked, what do you think about going out later tonight? We can sneak out and go swimming at that secret lake. I'll bring one of my new swimsuits...or we can always go skinny dipping..."
Understanding it wasn't really an option, especially after their talk about her dragging him around, Kahn adopted a smoldering grin as he retorted, "Why not both...?"
Seemingly forgetting they were in the underground war room of a growing resistance group, Korra leaned toward Kahn, whispering, "Good answer..." before closing the remaining distance to his lips. At nearly the exact same moment, the door to the room suddenly opened, propelled by Akua's foot as she smugly bellowed, "Did ya miss me, you-"
Seeing Korra pull away from Kahn and sit ramrod straight, Akua's words got caught in her throat. When she recovered, an incredulous look marred her typically relaxed countenance as she asked, "You are for real? You do realize I was joking around when I suggested you make out, right? Man, if you're this brazen in someone else's base, you must be worse than a pair of lop-eared rabbits in private..."
Unaware that the duo were still virgins, Akua sauntered over to Kahn and Korra with a catty smile on her face. She was a little disappointed by the lack of a tent in Kahn's trousers, but that didn't prevent her from looking toward Korra and asking, "So? How is he? Dragons are known to be well-endowed sex fiends. He must have messed you up pretty bad during your first time, huh?"
With a blush reaching to the tips of her ears, Korra left Akua feeling taken aback by burying her face into her hands and whimpering, "Stop it...Kahn and I haven't done anything like that..."
Though she had initially intended to tease Korra for reacting like a bashful maiden, Akua's head practically snapped towards Kahn, disbelief coloring her expression as she questioned, "Are you fucking kidding me? Just how long have the two of you been dating?"
Derailing the tirade Akua had prepared, Kahn calmly answered, "Six days." in his characteristically impassive tone.
Blinking in surprise, Akua asked, "Six days? That's it...?" before looking to Korra for verification. When the latter eventually nodded her head, Akua's complexion actually paled as she muttered, "Don't tell me today was your first date..."
Seeing Korra nod a second time, Akua suddenly stood up, hand slapping her forehead as she exasperatedly groaned, "Fucking a...". Then, as if her behavior was somehow Kahn's fault, she flared up at him, asking, "What the fuck are you still doing in this dreary ass place!? Take your girlfriend out and have some fun, you stupid dragon!"
Dragging Kahn up by his collar, Akua was prepared to do the same with Korra when she suddenly noticed the choker around the latter's neck. She also wore a choker, but the one around Korra's neck carried much greater meaning.
"Holy shitballs..."
Pushing Kahn off to the side, Akua forced Korra to stand before gripping her shoulders and leaning in to get a closer look at her pendant. Once she had confirmed her suspicions, her face practically lit up as she looked up at Korra and asked, "This fucknugget proposed to you?"
"Uh..."
Dusting himself off after Akua sent him crashing into a wall, Kahn was the one who answered, "I did. Why, do you have a problem with that?"
Making a so-so gesture with her right hand, Akua answered, "Kind of, but not for the reasons you think. I actually had this whole scheme cooked up to have you play the part of my and Asami's fiance. Though I'd still like to talk about that, we'll shelve it for a few months. For now, we celebrate...!"
Without waiting for Kahn's and Korra's response, Akua departed the room, shouting, "Break out the good stuff and fire up the grill! We're throwing a party for my baby brother and his fiancee...!"
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Chapter 36: Chapter 36