"Polar opposites. That's what they called us. She's like boiling water, they said, and he's like icy snow. They can come together, they can make things hot and steamy, but they can never last. They'll just fade into a burst of hot air and lukewarm water. But they were wrong about our true nature. We are like the moon and ocean. We are like waves. We complement each other, we make each other stronger. We come together and make a beautiful synergy. And even when we crash on the rocks? Oh, even that's lovely. They know that. That's why they lie. They're jealous of how perfect we are together."
Tahno's small child began to gnaw on his finger, bored with his father's monologue.
"But I guess you already knew that. You having to deal with that perfection everyday."
The boy stopped his chewing and looked up at his father, his lower lip jutted out.
"You're absolutely vile, you know that? How do you live with yourself?" Tahno put the kid down on he ground and the boy began walking away, "Yeah, get away from me before I die from your mere existence."
Tahno crossed his legs, watched his young son toddling around the yard. He had just celebrated his first birthday a few months ago and the little boy was just learning to walk. He wasn't perfect at it yet and everyone so often he would fall. Tahno couldn't help but smile at his persistent boy. As the small child reached up to grab a lemur's dangling tail, he tumbled for the umpteenth time onto his bum. He had fallen a hundred times before and his diaper cushioned him but when he saw his father watching him, the boy burst into tears.
Tahno rolled his eyes, "Alright, alright, Tarrok. Dad's coming."
It was hard to say no to those big blue eyes. Tarrok was the spiting image of his mother. They both had the same cute nose, stubborn mouth, and copper skin. That hair though. . . Tarrok had been gifted with Tahno's silky black waves and that was all that Tahno needed. Life at on Air Temple Island was mostly perfect. The only major argument Tahno and Korra had recently had was over Korra wanting to give Tarrok a haircut.
In his father's arm, Tarrok stopped crying. "Just turn it on and off, huh?" Tahno said. Tarrok laid his head down on Tahno's shoulder, his tiny fingers laced into the hair at the nape of his father's neck, "Where is your mother?"
Korra was never in danger of being early for anything and she had never come home on time for as long Tahno had lived on Air Temple Island. Still, the sun was beginning to set. 'She can take care of herself,' he thought.
Tahno didn't need Korra right now. Tarrok was a clingy but otherwise perfect baby. Jinora and Ikki had been worshipping him all day, Pema had seen to it that he'd had his bath and nap, and Bolin had already given the boy dinner so all Tahno had to do was relax and enjoy the baby's good mood. Still, Tahno wished Korra would come home already.
Tahno sat down again and Tarrok began reaching for the plate of food that had been set aside for his mother. Tahno pulled a small piece of soft fruit from the plate and let his son gum on it. Something swooped down and Tahno saw Tenzin landing. Tahno nodded to the older man. He'd long ago realized that Tenzin wasn't someone he could screw with but the only man had only begrudgingly accepted Tahno. Even now, he waved to Tahno like someone who was brushing off a fly.
"Your Papa hates me," Tahno said to his son, "I only pretend to like him for you though. That's our secret okay?"
That was a lie. Tenzin didn't hate Tahno. It wasn't his nature to hate anyone.
He just deeply disliked Tahno. Tonraq and Senna loved Tahno and they were completely enamored with Tarrok. Somehow though, Korra's surrogate father still disapproved of everything Tahno did.
The only thing that ever made Tenzin seem even remotely happy was when Korra had begun calling him Tarrok's "Papa." Korra knew how to work a situation, if nothing else.
"I'm sorry, I made you a grandfather so young," Korra had said once.
"You're actually just the right age to have a grandchild," Bolin had blurted.
"And just look at those cheeks," Asami had said to save Bolin, "They made such a cute kid. Isn't that all that really matters?"
Tahno leaned down and began whispering all the annoying comments that Tenzin said to him, into his son's hair.
"When are you two getting married?"
Not right this second Tenzin but someday. Tahno wasn't ready yet and neither was Korra, that much they agreed on. Still, Tahno never thought about wild nights and loose women anymore. He couldn't imagine wanting anyone other than Korra and these days, he desired noting more but be home with Tarrok every night. They would marry eventually but Tenzin didn't understand that.
"I wish you could have had more time to grow into your role as the Avatar, Korra.
That one Tahno agreed on. Tarrok was unexpected. They had both grown so much for their son though. There had been many sacrifices made to balance Korra's duties with Tahno's life and Tarrok's needs. Neither were perfect but they tried their best. And baby or no baby, Korra was going to do great things. He and Korra both deserved some respect for how well they were doing.
"Have you tried walking him down the halls to make him stop crying?"
Tahno knew nothing about babies. Tenzin, however, seemed to be the grand master on the subject. Some of his advice was great, useful knowledge. If Tenzin hadn't shown them how to swaddle Tarrok, Tahno was fairly certain he and Korra would be dead by now from exhaustion. Other advice was kind but unneeded. Like the other night when Tenzin had told them to close the baby's windows so he wouldn't get cold. Tahno had been able to thank Tenzin and assure him that Tarrok slept better when the room was a little chilly. Most of the time though, Tenzin's advice was almost insulting to Tahno's competence.
"Yes, I tried comforting him first," Tahno had snapped one night as his colicky son screamed endlessly, "What do you think I am, some kind of idiot? He just wants to cry"
"You can't call him The Boy forever, he needs a name."
That memory made Tahno smile a little. Naming his son after himself had started out as a joke. So much of a joke that Tahno suggested it too many times and didn't think of any other names. In an orgasm of bad planning and procrastination, they had ended up with a son who had no name for the first three months of his life, until Korra had come home one day with the name Tarrok.
"It came to me in a dream last night. It fits with our culture and it's homage to your name, in some small way like you wanted. Do you like it?"
"I'm confused. Am I supposed to pretend it's not your name backwards with a T slapped on or . . . what?"
"Arrok is a nice name too. Should I just leave it at that or do you want to join me in sweet arrogance?"
Tahno had been an pain in the ass, for the hell of it about the name but he still agreed. The entire matter had irritated Tenzin to no end. "It's like they're playing house," Tahno had overheard Tenzin say to Pema.
"You need to rise to the occasion, Tahno."
That sole comment made Tahno more angry then he had ever felt in his entire life. He'd give up every remnant of his old life, moved from his home, and done everything he could to support his family. Tahno was the one who willingly stayed home to take care of Tarrok while Korra was off, attending to Avatar duties. Tahno's eyes furrowed, even now, just thinking of those words.
He didn't notice Tenzin upon him until the old Airbender was within footsteps of him.
"Tenzin," Tahno said, his voice a little snappy.
"Hello Tahno," Tenzin said, reaching down to stroke Tarrok's hair. The child was nearly asleep, the fruit long fallen from his mouth. "Do you need anything?"
Another one to add to the list. "That's not the proper way to change a diaper."
Tahno bit his tongue. This could easily start a fight which would not end for decades to come. 'Do it for the boy, Tahno,' he thought.
"I'm alright. I'm just waiting for Korra to come home and then I'll put him to bed," Tahno said.
"Are you sure? I'm not busy now."
Tahno nodded. The old Airbender just wanted what was best for them. It wasn't his fault really, that he was irritating as hell. "I've got it. Let me try to be as a good a father as are you."
Tenzin looked taken aback by the comment but Tahno meant it. Tenzin had four happy, loving, talented children. As naggy and irritating as he was, Tahno would be content if Tarrok was anything like Tenzin's four.
"Alright then. See you tomorrow."
"Good night Tenzin."
When the old man was gone, Tahno kissed his son's head, "Papa's coming around though, I think, maybe."
"Damn it!" Korra said, "He's asleep again?"
"I know right? I really expected that our kid would be more of a party animal but he can't even make it to midnight. What are we going to do with him?"
Korra ignored Tahno and picked up her son, stroking his hair. Tarrok nuzzled her in his sleep and sighed. "Oh, mama's here," Korra mutter, as she began walking into their suite.
"I had a great day today. Thanks for asking."
Korra didn't acknowledge him. She kissed her boy on his head before putting him in his crib. The Avatar admired her son for a moment before turning out the lights and walking to her own room.
"Come on Korra. I've been home all day with the baby. Insult me or something, PLEASE."
"You have weird hair."
"That was uncalled for."
Korra turned to him. "You know, I had a long stressful day. Now, we could either talk and stuff or," she gave him a long, soft kiss, "We can go relieve some tension."
"It's like you can read my mind," Tahno began undressing himself. Like most parents, he was keenly aware of how much free time he had and he had no intention of wasting a second, "And people thought we were incompatible."
