The Rebellion Within

Chapter 18: The Queen and The Pawn

A/N: I know you all hated the cliff hanger and I tried to get this chapter out sooner but I blinked and suddenly had four tests pilled up xd which was so much fuuuun.  I'm exhausted too, so I'm sorry if this chapter seems a bit lackluster. 

"At least it didn't go that bad..." Korra spoke softly after seeing Asami's troubled face and watched as she opened by moving the pawn facing her queen up two spaces.

"You're right..." Her gaze left the board to look at Asami's look of defeat and shrugged. "I think we both somewhat got what we wanted..." The captain dropped her eyes to the board and moved the black pawn in front of her queen the same way.

They were both sitting under the shade of their tree in the hospital grounds with Korra's chess board in between them. She offered to play with Asami after she saw how the conversation troubled her and went to fetch it before taking the nurse back to the hospital. Once there, Asami took a long shower to get rid of the mess she had on herself and pulled on some fresh clothes; and, after a talk with Katara, she decided to take the rest of the day free and just relax with Korra. What the captain didn't anticipate, though, was the woman's skill on the chess board. Even as distracted as she was, Asami seemed to be dominating most of their games.

Asami moved the pawn facing her left bishop up two spaces and Korra raised her eyebrow with a smirk. "You're playing the same way you spoke to Mako today, you took charge quickly." Korra took down the pawn diagonally to her right and Asami chuckled.

"You're right, I'm also playing the same as last round. May I suggest we restart?" Korra nodded with a smile and reset the pieces of the board. Asami started by moving the pawn in front of her king twice and Korra responded by moving the one in front of her right bishop twice as well. With a move from Asami's knight, they started officially playing as they spoke.

"I don't think I can apologize enough to you because of all this mess." The nurse shook her head.

"We already talked about this. I don't want apologies. I'm here for you every step of the way and I'll be here whenever you need me, Asami." Korra placed her piece forcefully down with a sigh. "Though I obviously hate some parts of the arrangement."

"Like?" Their gazes met momentarily, before Asami looked back down to analyze the board; her index and thumb resting on her chin.

"I know you expect my answer to be another one, but honestly...you losing part of your business bothers me more." Asami looked at her captain with her eyebrows dipped in confusion. "I know it doesn't affect me directly as censoring our relationship probably does, but I don't mind that. It's natural for people like us to hide in plain sight."

"Why does it bother you, though?"

"You mentioned how your father worked so hard to get where he is nowadays...I guess I don't want your family to lose part of the empire they worked so hard for because we fell in love with each other." Korra moved her piece and tilted her head at the board when Asami moved one of hers.

"You feel guilty about falling in love with me?" Blue eyes met green ones that held an emotion that Korra could read as easily. Asami was frightened at that idea. She quickly shook her head.

"Falling in love with you was the best thing I've done in this war, I don't regret it at all. I just don't like what you're sacrificing."

"You are sacrificing yourself too, Korra. Don't ever think I don't notice." Korra smiled at her nurse, earning a small tug of red lips back. "I don't think I'll ever thank you enough. I know this has been hard for the both of us." Korra shrugged.