The Second Trial

Tahno x Reader

"Don't judge me.." you sighed as you sat awkwardly between your friends. They had come to your place very early in the morning and had let themselves in as soon as you greeted them at the door, forcing you to sit down in between them on your too-small couch in your too-small living room. You didn't particularly want to be bothered about this issue at the moment; and maybe it was just the cramps in your stomach, or the sudden craving for lots and lots of hard earned rocky road ice cream smothered in chocolate and topped off with a generous slab of whip cream on top, but you were pretty sure mother nature was going to have a fun time screwing you over this week.

Spirits, was this really happening?

"Stop going out with that guy." Zhenzhen came out and said it.

"No." You spat defiantly. "It's not over yet. I'm waiting until-"

"He breaks up with you?" Asa interrupted. You probably shouldn't have cared as much as you did, but man, this was pretty infuriating. You whistled for your pandapug to come towards you before shooting up from the couch and grabbing your key. "C'mon, Tigi. We're going to go see Tahno." Now if only you weren't too early and didn't end up looking desperate.

You arrived at the bus stop after only a few blocks, and a few wrong turns here and there.

"Well, this is it, Tigs. He ain't here. Think we came too early?"

The small black and white animal looked up at you with large eyes and gave a growl and a small bark.

"Arf!"

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the girl from before.. What was your name again? [Y/n]? Oh wait, or was it Jun..?" you turned to look at the source of the voice, and found a smug wolfbat, feigning a look of ignorance.

"This jerk.. really?" You didn't need to be here. No. You could just go home and explain everything to your friends. Then all of this would be over.

"What is.. that?" the pro-bender said, pointing down at the living thing standing next to your foot. It growled at him again, showing his teeth, and you leaned down to try to calm him down.

"His name is Itigiaq. And he is a pandapug. And one of the cutest things in the world. Way cuter than you.." You said, returning the look.

"Ih.. tee..gihl..ac?"

"Ee-tee-gee-ack."

"Whatever." He groaned, rolling his eyes. "Anyways, why'd you come so early? Afraid I'd leave you or something?" he smirked.

You let out a noise that was between a laugh and an anguished moan. "No, no, no. Don't misunderstand me. I came out early because I was kicked out of my apartment. There is nowhere to go right now that's actually open and in walking distance, so I just thought I'd wait for you here and rub it in your face how late you are." Lies.

"Tch." Tahno finally let his face settle into an expression other than his usual smirk as he walked over to the bench behind you and took a seat. "You're really unattractive, you know that?" He said bluntly, his face going back to normal as he patted the seat next to him, gesturing for you to sit down. It was almost like you had never seen that other face before. Huh. And he almost looked human that way.

"Well, you're not exactly as attractive as you think you are, bub." You retorted, taking a seat as far away from him as possible and laying Itigiaq down on your lap. You began to pet him.

You looked up from the small animal to look at Tahno who was staring at you intently. He opened his mouth to say something, but you slapped your hand over his mouth. You scooted in undesirably close to his side and leaned into him, whispering quickly, "Hold me, hold me." And he did without hesitating; he forced you even closer to him with his one arm, and from afar you two surely would have looked like a very close couple. If only it wasn't summer and you weren't wearing a long sleeve shirt and dark pants.

"So that's where you went, running off like that." You heard a familiar voice rant. "Honestly, we're going to have to walk about this some ti—" The two girls stopped walking at the site of the man holding you closely. "[Y/n]. What are you doing with him!"

You stayed silent and looked in the other direction. Maybe if you avoid eye-contact they'll go away. You waited for them to do something, when Tahno stepped in. "Hey there." He said, turning his player face on. Which your friends answered with confused faces. "What are you—!" one of the girls quickly advanced towards him, but you quickly flung your body on top of him, your chest landing on his chest in the most unpleasant manner-and poor little Tigs stuck between your stomachs.. Hey, don't you think you're laying this on a little bit too thick?

Maybe a little.

"D-don't touch him! He didn't do anything wrong, that's just how he is with everyone!" You said through gritted teeth. You slowly got off of him, keeping your face hidden from the girls. "Honey." You said, almost feeling something coming back up, "Why don't you and me go take this to somewhere more private."

He grinned wildly. You could see it in his eyes. His eyes were laughing at you, and as if Tigs was acting for you, he snarled.

"Sure thing, sweetheart." He said, pushing you off of him so he could stand. He tucked the panda-like animal under his arm and snaked an arm around you. He gave a smile to your friends before turning around and giving your hips a firm tug. "It's about time you took me up on those private lessons." You have him a blow to the gut and faked some laughter to cover up his setting Tigi down and bending over himself. "Hahaha! Funny, Tahno! You're so funny!"

"I told you not to take this the wrong way!"

"I was only playing along!" he managed a crooked smile.

"..Whatever." Call it whatever you want, that was still dirty!

Click. Click.

Tahno turned his key to what looked like it may have been his apartment and he opened the door, letting you in. You walked inside, Itigiaq following closely behind you, wondering at once why he wasn't stopping the pug to enter. You looked at him curiously as he walked inside and locked the door, setting his key down on a nearby side-table. Once he noticed you staring at him, he walked towards you, getting uncomfortably close.

"U-uhm, what are you doing..?" you asked, a hint of nervousness in your voice. But he simply smirked and took of the top layer of his shirt, reaching behind you and pushing your face into his shirt.

Wasn't he just making fun of you earlier? He was just telling you about how unattractive you were a few minutes ago. What was happening? Does this make any sense?

He seemed to hook something behind you, and then he pulled away. Oh.. he was just hanging his shirt thing.. You unconsciously let out a breath of air, and he laughed at you, his chuckles amplified by the sheer emptiness (and cleanliness) of his living space. Couldn't he have just asked you to scoot over? Why did he have to stick his chest in your face.. You walked away from him and turned to mask the blush growing on your face from overthinking.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything, you charmless girl."

"How insulting!"

"Did you want me to do something?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Then stop acting like you're trying to seducing me."

"I'm not trying to!"

"Is that right? Fine. Then make yourself at home. If you keep looking around like a scared baby rabbaroo, I might actually do something bad."

Was that a threat?

"So why don't you be a good girl and go sit on the couch."

We'll take that as a yes.

You walked over to the couch in the middle of the space and looked around. The space felt big, but it might have actually been smaller than your own apartment. It was a studio layout, no rooms, and no extra doors, except for the one leading into what may have been a bathroom, and one with a shirt hanging on the knob, which you assumed to be a closet.

You looked down to his coffee table, where a radio sat, waiting to be switched on.

"Do you mind if I..?" You said pointing to it.

"I was just about to ask you to anyways. Go for it."

You turned the thing on, and increased the volume to an audible level. Why was it on so low anyways? You'd think a guy like him would have a lot of people listening with him, right? Unless he was actually alone all this time.. The quiet that had welcomed them earlier was dulling..

And while we're on the topic of wondering about him right now, why exactly had he agreed to help you? No, why was he going to these lengths to help you? From first glance, you'd definitely think that he would have shot you right down the moment you brought up having lied to your friends about having a boyfriend.

His voice shattered your thoughts as he asked you if you wanted something to drink.

"What do you have..?"

"Eh, there's water, some ale, lemonade, lemon soda.."

"I'll just have some water then, thanks."

"Sure thing, sweetheart."

You watched him quietly as he bent some water into a cup for the both of you and sat down on the couch close to the radio. He set your cup down in front of you and began to gulp his down as he leaned in closely to the radio. It was a fire-ferret's match. It was unexpected, seeing as how he didn't seem to see them as a threat in his interviews, but I guess this was a good way of learning your opponent's weaknesses, right?

He stopped as he brought the cup to his face as he glanced at you, doing a double-take at how intently you were staring at him.

"What is it?"

"…"

"Well?"

"..."

"..Go for it."

"..We're not in public anymore, could you not call me 'sweetheart'?"

"Sure thing, honey."

Sigh.

So many things you didn't know about him.

I hope this has been an enjoyable read and I'd love to hear any kind of feedback!

Although, if you didn't like it, at least tell me why, so I can work on my flaws..