The game is on

Chapter 6: Keeping a promise

"Hanok, catch!" Korra yelled as she threw the ball into her teammate's direction, he easily caught the ball and ran with it as fast as he could.

"And the Tiger Seals score again!" the voice blasted through the speakers and the audience went nuts. "And that's the buzzer, meaning that the match is over and The Tiger Seals have won! It was quite a game, folks, but they did it!" The roar of applause, cheering and yelling only got louder, making Korra feel like some kind of hero.

"We did it, guys! We did it!" Korra yelled and ran towards her teammates; they met in the middle of the field as they bumped into each other excitedly.

"You sure did, team! I'm proud, you played really good. Especially you, Korra, with that ankle," the coach complimented and Korra looked at the coach in surprise.

"But how—?"

"Korra, I'm your coach. That's how, so make sure you get showered and get it bandaged. That counts for everyone, team! Go grab a shower and we'll go to the canteen to celebrate after that!"

"Yes coach!" Everyone cheered and ran towards the dressing rooms, just before Korra went in, Bolin stopped her.

"Hey Bolin, what is it?" Korra asked kindly, smiling.

"Korra, I want to apologize about earlier—"

"Oh, don't worry Bo. I'm really alright, okay? Don't worry, things like that happen," Korra interrupted her teammate and threw her arm around his neck, keeping his head in a lock.

"Thanks Korra, ow—!"

"Pff, I wasn't even trying, Bolin," Korra laughed and released Bolin, allowing him to breathe normally again.

"You know I'm a sensitive guy!" he protested with a pout, Korra just stuck out her tongue at him and they laughed. "But serious business, the coach forgot, but he asked me to tell you; after you're done you should wait at the dressing room, he had something to say..." Bolin said and Korra raised an eyebrow.

"Er, okay.? Sure, I guess?" Korra replied, not sure what the coach wanted to talk about with her, without the others around.

"Trust me, nothing to worry about," Bolin said with a wink and ran inside, leaving a confused Korra behind. There'd been something about that wink, but the quarterback couldn't quite put her finger on it. Then she just shrugged and got in now too, in desperate need for a nice shower.

.

"Korra, we're going to the canteen, is that okay?"

"Yeah, sure girls, go! I'll be there in half an hour I think," Korra answered the girls who were already done and ready to leave the dressing room.

"Okay, see you there!"

"Save some for me!" Korra shouted, but the door already shut, so they probably hadn't heard it. For another ten minutes the quarterback stood in the shower space, letting the warm water fall down on her body, soaking her hair that now fell over her shoulders and back. Her brown hair looked ink black right now, just like Asami's

Korra sighed and stepped from under the shower, grabbing her towel and slowly drying herself off. Her ankle hurt, but it was bearable, nothing too bad. When Korra had put on her clean underwear she walked towards her locker and took a clean outfit from her sports bag; her favorite pair of jeans, a tank top and her football hoodie. Carefully, the quarterback put on the jeans and then, after fastening her bra, she put on her tank top and one of her sneakers. The other foot had to wait for a little while, since she still had to bandage it. Before that, she grabbed her bag, took out a roll of bandage that was always in there 'just in case', then threw all her stuff in there.

.

"Need some help with that?" Korra heard, softly. Her head jerked up and her eyes met Asami's green ones, automatically a smile appeared on the quarterback's face.

"Asami!" Korra responded, excitedly. Then she cleared her throat, trying to sound laid-back. "I mean; hey 'Sami."

"Well, it's nice to hear that you appreciate my company," Asami said with a light giggle, it rang with the sound of wind chimes to Korra. Light, calm and pleasant. "Here, let me handle that," the cheerleader said and took the bandage from Korra, rolling up the bottom of Korra's jeans leg. Korra was pleasantly surprised by the gentleness of Asami's touch, being careful not to hurt Korra. The only time the football player winced, was when Asami had to hold the foot a little more firmly to make sure the bandage would be around the ankle correctly.

"Thanks, I wasn't aware of the fact that you know how to put on a bandage. No offence! But not many people know how to correctly put one on." Korra complimented, grateful that Asami helped her. Secretly, Korra enjoyed how Asami's hands were touching her foot almost the whole time, but always very gentle and lightly. It made the skin underneath the tips of Asami's fingers tingle and feel warm, in a pleasant way.

"What, you think I've never sprained an ankle or twisted my knee or elbow? I've even almost broken my arm once, was really lucky," Asami explained, loving the fact she felt the warm tan skin underneath her hands. The skin was just as soft as she'd imagined, Asami wanted to slow down on bandaging so she'd have an excuse to touch Korra's skin more Asami's head jerked up and she shook her head, this was not the moment to think about that.

"Whoa, seriously? I thought football was dangerous"

"I guess it is. But so is cheerleading, especially when someone else catches you the wrong way, but I guess that just happens."

"But, Asami, you really aren't hurt?" Korra asked carefully, worried. Asami looked up and straight into her eyes.

"Korra, I already told you; there's nothing for you to worry about, because I'm fine."

"I just wanted to—"

"I know, Korra. And that's really sweet," Asami said as she stood up, having finished bandaging Korra's ankle. The cheerleader took Korra's hoodie and held it in her arms, sitting down where the hoodie was lying a second ago on the wooden bench. "But I'm—"

Korra had no idea what came over her, but she felt her body move on its own, having no control over it. Her index finger and thumb gently took Asami's chin, turned the cheerleader's face towards hers and leaned in; until her lips met Asami's. The room was silent, except for their breathing. Korra felt her heart race in her ribcage, going at a speed that almost scared her. Her entire body tingled and glowed, she felt as if she was going to faint, but not. It was all very strange, unfamiliar, but pleasant.

Asami felt Korra's lips on hers and froze, not sure if this was just another dream or this was actually really happening. She didn't dare to pull back, in fear that she'd wake up and it'd all be gone. Her heart was beating fast and felt as if located in her throat instead of her chest, the little flame that'd been there for so long burst out into an inferno, setting her on fire. But it didn't hurt, not at all. It made her feel amazingly good, happy, excited Almost too good to be true.

.

"I I'm so-sorry, I don't know w-what came over m-me—" Korra stuttered in a whisper, feeling her cheeks burn and knew they'd be a deep red shade by now. The quarterback was pretty shocked at herself for doing that, for kissing Asami. It came out of nowhere, which was probably the most confusing about this all. Korra peered through her eyelashes at the cheerleader who was sitting very still, looking pretty shocked as well. "Shit, what have I done—?!" Korra hissed at herself, but got interrupted.

Asami took Korra's face between her hands, gently, and pressed her lips back onto Korra's; feeling her lips tingle, her stomach tickle and her heart ache. It made her heart jump when she noticed that the girl she'd had a crush on for so long answered her kiss, shyly at first, but then she felt Korra relax and lean in more.