Water was all he could think about when Tahno looked at him.
And most people would think of water, seeing as Tahno is a water bender, but it went so much deeper than that. It was in the way he moved - cool and fluid, like it didn't matter what anyone said to or thought of him. When he spoke, it was reminiscent of a calm ocean, shoreline steady with all the mystery of what lay below. His eyes, so full of judgement and arrogance, somehow gave Bolin the feeling that an overly cool glass of water would as it trailed down your throat. Yet, at the same time he couldn't help but feel parched.
Eye contact broke. What started as a mere glance had become an unintentional moment between the rivals. Bolin had just realized that Tahno saw him staring from across the street. A half-eaten pastry making its home in his left hand had become his new object of attention. As Bolin looked at the treat, his brows furrowed and his face became straight up red with embarrassment. Maybe Tahno would just smirk it off and walk nonchalantly into the sunset.
"Well, if it isn't the baby fire ferret."
Bolin would not be that lucky. He looked up only to find Tahno standing a mere foot away. Close. Maybe a little too close for comfort. Before he knew it, Bolin found himself backing into a wall. Tahno grinned. At first sight, everything about him reaked of arrogance, but then all the wavy water imagery came rushing back.
"So," Tahno began smugly, "Didn't think I'd catch you checking me out, did you?" He inched his weasel-like face closer to Bolin, as if making him even more uncomfortable was now a game.
"I...I wasn't checking you out, Tahno." Bolin shot back as he resisted the urge to shove his adversary out of the way and run. A hand slammed against the wall right next to his head - Tahno's hand. Slowly but surely, the pro bender leaned in, his mouth right next to Bolin's ear as he whispered into it.
"Maybe...just maybe I was checking you out, too."
Tahno moved pushed his own body back, leaving his hand placed gently on the wall next to Bolin's head. He found Bolin staring again, this time in shock. Rather than reacting logically, Bolin brought his pastry back toward his mouth, about to bite into it. Right before the sugary morsel reached his lips, Tahno smacked it out of his hands. Now Bolin looked angry, surprised, and still shocked. His eyes met Tahno's again - still so intoxicating and hypnotic. Bolin gulped.
"You made me drop my snack!" Bolin's gaze intensified. "Now you're going to buy me a new one."
Tahno laughed before he replied in a soft, mocking and yet sultry tone. "Make me."
Bolin grabbed the fabric of Tahno's stupidly expensive shirt and pulled him closer. Tahno placed his other hand on the wall. Their faces were now not even an inch apart. Without even thinking about the fact that they were in the middle of Republic City in the middle of the day on the busiest street, they kissed. When they finally broke away from eachother, Bolin looked up worriedly.
"Man, you're gonna have to move out of my way. I have to pee."