A/N: Happy 2018! Late as usual, but I don't need to repeatedly say that I'm busy because that's a given for a full-time student with a full load of 6 classes ahahaha. :))

Chapter inspiration came from Cocteau Twins, and as always enjoy!

—-

A fuzzy, white head peeked carefully from behind the threshold of the kitchen, and immediately it's adorable face brightened in excitement. The white pup ran to Korra, nearly sliding to a stop to sniff curiously at her feet.

Korra fell to the floor to pet the soft fur of the pup, letting out an involuntary squeal at how cute she was. She ruffled her head while the puppy eagerly licked at Korra's chin, laughing with mirth as vivid blues eyes cracked open and looked up to find Tarrlok leaning against the wall of the kitchen, strong arms folded across his broad chest, watching the scene unravel.

She's speechless. Never in her life had someone spoiled her to the point of feeling like a princess. By all means, she had no intention to feel like one, but the three weeks living with the man across from her appeared as though it were inevitable to be treated as such. Other than him being her guardian, Korra didn't know why he was doing this. In any case, she really did appreciate whatever he was doing, especially if it meant she could keep this cute ball of fluff squirming with enthusiasm.

"I… I don't know what to say," Korra says slowly, her eyes lock with his pale blue ones as her hand scratches at the pups fluffy scruff. The warm feeling is back and it only intensifies when she witnesses that usual smirk widen in something she can't understand. It doesn't help that his usually composed demeanor appears slightly off, similar to the way he was earlier that morning, only replacing the irritation with content.

"Well, a 'thank you' would suffice, but-" He began, but was soon interrupted by Korra's petite yet strong body roughly colliding with his with an unprepared oof. Toned arms nearly squeezed the breath out of his lungs as they wrapped around his middle. She sensed the white pup follow her and paw at her legs, begging for attention as she laid her cheek on Tarrlok's chest, the buttons on his shirt digging into her skin and the defined muscle underneath the fabric very apparent against her cheek.

"Thank you," she says softly, lucid blue eyes flickering with warmth that wasn't there thirty minutes ago.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," he says gently, wrapping his arms around her tinier form and pressing a light kiss to the top of her head. Immediately, a blush colors her cheeks at the subtle stirring in her lower abdomen. The devious thoughts returned and now that she was pressed against his front, she was acutely aware of every direct contact where their bodies met. It shouldn't affect her this much, but it does. She can't stop herself from actually liking the feel of his lips on her, or liking the way his sculpted body was pressed flushed against hers.

Attempting to distract herself, even though she knows it is fruitless, Korra looks up at him, easily meeting his eyes that swam with mischief. "You're not letting that go, are you?"

"No," he blurted, amusement laced in his smooth voice. Before it could get awkward, or she ends up staying in his arms longer than she intended to and does something she'll regret, Korra pulls away from his embrace to bend down and tend to the cute pup.

"Well, thanks anyways, asshat." She beamed, the smile evident in her voice as she deliberately hides her face from him with the curtain of her brown hair. She could feel him watching her. Whether it was in content or in irritation, she did not know. Not when the heat burned her cheeks in a healthy glow and the subtle thrumming coursed through her veins.

—-

The two of them were lounging on the soft material of the rug, playing with the white ball of fluff. The pup definitely had the personality similar to Korra's, stubborn and headstrong. Even with it's tiny body, she packed a powerful punch as she pounced back and forth from Korra to Tarrlok.

The atmosphere was lighthearted and the pup surprisingly distracted her from her inner turmoil. It was a nice feeling to be in the moment, to not feel the constant guilt about her parents, to not feel the recent confusion about Tarrlok. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. The man was lying on his side, propped on his elbow as his cheek rested in his hand, the other petting the soft fur of the animal. The faintest flickers of warmth crossed her eyes at how gentle Tarrlok was. It's a stark contrast from what she perceived with the man.

Not that he didn't have a soft side, but he always had the face that held seriousness and arrogance and duplicity that it was different to witness him so gentle towards something other than snarkiness and sarcasm.

The two must have exhausted the playful little thing out seeing as the pup laid on her side, mouth open, panting, and tongue flopping out, in between her and Tarrlok. Abruptly, it occurred to her that she doesn't have a name. Well, she wasn't aware that she did, at any rate.

Rolling on her side to face Tarrlok, she began petting the pup between them. Heat sparked under her skin when his fingers grazed hers as they both were giving the dog attention, immediately feeling the weight of his eyes flicker onto her once they made contact. "Any ideas on a name?" She feigned a yawn to mask her embarrassment, meeting his icy depths easily.

He seemed to ponder the question, gazing at the ball of white in thought. "Hmm… Akira?" Tarrlok suggested smoothly.

Korra considered it. Akira? It was a nice name for sure, but for some reason she didn't think it suited her. "She doesn't seem like an Akira," she pursed plump lips.

It was quiet for a few moments, until he let out a soft hum. "Yuka?" He offered, glancing at Korra and waiting for her answer.

"That's a bit contradicting since she's anything but gentle, don't you think?" She mentions, looking at him with a gleam of amusement in her blue eyes. Judging from the way the pup pounced back and forth, nearly head-butting Tarrlok in the lip, she was not a 'gentle flower' as the name would indicate.

He knew exactly what she was thinking about, and offered her a playful glare. "What do you think?"

Korra gazed at the pup in contemplation. "Well definitely not Yuka or Akira." What did she look like? What name would match her ferocity and excitement? None of that 'delicate flower' bullshit. She needed a badass name. Names were fleeting past one another in her mind and she promptly remembered one that she wanted to name a pet that she never had when she was a child. "I like Naga," she breathed and immediately the pup's ears perk up at the name, looking at Korra with a smile on her face.

Tarrlok chuckles, gazing at the attentive dog between them in amusement. "Naga it is," he agrees, running his hand over her soft fur.

"Hey, Naga! Welcome home, girl. You are too cute!" Korra's face scrunches up at how adorable their new pup is, scratching at her fluffy cheeks while Naga looks back and forth between her and Tarrlok in innocent enthusiasm. Korra lies back down on the rug, pressing her cheek to the soft material and glances up at Tarrlok with curiosity. "How'd you find her?"

Pale blue depths regard her, but promptly a flash of mischief crossed his lowered eyes. "In the time you were with Miss Sato, I scoured through the wilderness and found a stray pup all alone, whimpering for help. Any man would be heartless to ignore such a cry for attention." He said matter-of-factly.

Korra allows the tiniest of smirks curve her plump lips. "Hmm, and you consider yourself a man?" she bites back confidently as his smirk falls. It was a good feeling to know she could prod at his gilded self-assurance with the same venom he did to her on a regular basis. She did not want his ego to inflate too much, she doesn't think she could handle that.

But just as the thought crossed her mind, his faltering smile perked back up in some hidden joke she did not understand. "Would you like me to show you?" That smooth voice of his lowered, sending a slight shiver at the double entendre.

She could already hear the blaring bells in her mind telling her to stop this flirting with the man, to stop the sparking the flames of these conflicting emotions.

"How could you show me when there's nothing to see?" Korra challenged unintentionally.

The glare he sent her way was not lost on her. In fact, it compelled her to widen that satisfied smirk on her lips further as she watched him watching her.

"Did you kiss your mother with a mouth like that?" He snarled through gritted teeth, nearly making Korra let out an inappropriate bark of laughter. She couldn't help herself from poking fun at the man, especially if he made it so damn easy. But almost immediately the glare disappeared and replaced it with one of amusement with the unvoiced game they only recently began playing.

Just like his glare, the smirk was effectively wiped from her face when his fingers deftly tucked the stray tendrils on her face behind her ear. "Actually I did, and she found it hilarious," she swallowed anxiously, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks as he ran his long fingers through her hair, lightly scratching at her scalp.

A chill ran from her head down to her toes at the graze of his nails. Based off of how his hand stopped in favor of gently cupping her cheek, he must've noticed. "Somehow, I'm not as astonished as I thought I would be." He said softly, barely above a whisper.

"Yeah, well it doesn't make a difference now," Korra breathed slowly. The tender way he was looking at her made Korra's vision focus on only him. Spirits, he must have felt that electricity too hanging in the air judging from the way his eyes darkened the slightest bit. His thumb is rubbing circles over the heated skin of her cheeks and she swore to the spirits above that she would've melted into a puddle of mush if he wasn't watching her as closely as he was at the moment.

The devious part of her mind was slowly emerging from it's deep depths and she was never more aware of how close they were lying on the floor. Nearly a few scoots forward and her lips could catch his in what she assumed would be an exceptional kiss.

But then that infuriating smirk of his was starting to curve his lips and broke her of any spell she was under. Swallowing over the lump in her throat once more, she stuttered a, "I-I'm hungry," before quickly glancing at Naga tiredly losing herself to sleep.

"You didn't eat anything at the cafe?" He drawled, his voice lowering seductively, more than it already was, as his warm hand returned to Naga's soft fluff. She shouldn't be so affected by his stupid voice, but the way her risque thoughts revolved around the man less than a foot away from her only intensified the heat on her cheeks, shooting to her lower abdomen subtly.

"I did, but it wasn't anything to fill me up. I mean, a bagel can only do so much." Korra joked, as a way to distract herself, naturally. Abruptly, she sensed him move from his relaxed position next to her, to sitting upright with a sigh.

"Right… Fortunately for you, I have two other surprises," he stood up, already moving to his satchel dangling helplessly on one of the chairs in the dining room with a smile much more genuine than the smug smirk her wore a few moments ago.

"Tarrlok, I think this tops the cake for surprises. You really don't need to get me anything," she tries to waver him, getting up to move to his side as he shuffles through a brown paper bag. It's sweet what he's doing, to spoil her rotten than she already is, but it really wasn't necessary.

"I know, and it's not as massive of a surprise as Naga, but…" He pulls out a vinyl and hands it to her. "I know you like music…" He adds gently, watching Korra closely for her reaction. He had already purchased a handful of records and each one she loves dearly.

Gazing at the fleeting images on the cover, she doesn't know what to say. To say that she feels like a princess was an understatement. "Thanks," she says simply, locking luminous blue eyes with his pale ones easily. The subtle thrumming from a minute ago returned and as they stood there frozen, watching one another, Korra's eyes unintentionally flickered down to his lips. When she looks back into his eyes she finds a slight dilation in his pupils. Shit. He noticed.

Tarrlok cleared his throat. "Food," he blurted awkwardly. "I'll cook us something while you keep Naga company," he says hastily, quickly making his way to the kitchen to leave Korra standing there with the record still in her grasp.


Tarrlok stood in front of the stove as heat radiated from the flames. One hand held chopsticks as a way to turn the frying shrimp while the other laid limply at his side. He sported the usual frilly apron his brother bought him for his birthday before everything happened so quickly… but he shouldn't be thinking about the monstrosity that happened over a decade ago.

Instead, he focused on the loud music that was heard throughout the house as the vinyl he just recently purchased for her spun steadily on the turntable. He did not have any qualms with it. The volume of the music, that is, and he had to wonder if some of her habits were already rubbing onto him.

His gaze roved away from the sizzling tempura, over the cool marble counter, to the teenager sprawled out on the living room rug. There was a soft smile lining her lips as she cuddled with a sleeping Naga.

She intrigued him. Whether it was due to her contradicting nature or witnessing her vulnerability that she evidently held tightly behind closed doors, Tarrlok did not know. Maybe it was because he felt a kindred with her, that they both experienced pain and grief, with whatever happened with her family.

She must have felt his eyes on her in her peaceful state by the way she steadily met his with warmth in those vivid irises.

The loud music was ever present, but the song that nearly brought him back to his teenage years abruptly met his ears. Something about the way she gazed at him and the little smile the graced her plump lips, as well as the lethargic beats of the music, nearly threatened him to stride over to tilt her chin and… no, no, no. That was wildly inappropriate, in any case. Not at all what a thirty-seven year old man should do or think about doing to a teenager, and his adopted daughter no less, despite what his sex drive whispered to him.

Dragging his attention away from the young woman watching him with what he assumed was fascination, he flipped the few pieces of frying shrimp, sending tiny droplets of searing oil splattering onto the counter surface.

Tarrlok took a deep breath in. He never imagined obtaining this type of warmth and domesticity in his lifetime of tragedy and death. Clenching his jaw, Tarrlok adds the neatly sliced tofu into the soup set beside the tempura. He can't stop himself from feeling gratification at the simplicity of having a family of his own, even if the new yet familiar sparks of heat brought about a vague bout of awkwardness between the two of them.

Despite the awkwardness, he sensed she was getting comfortable with her new home. Well, he presumed so, seeing as she received everything she wanted in life as well as the light teasing they prod at each other with. It was an unspoken game between the two of them, and he had no objections in indulging in a harmless ploy. But he had to reprimand himself at the thought of their light teasing. Continuously, he claimed it was light and friendly, but in reality, somewhere in the back of his mind, Tarrlok knew there were hidden messages woven together within their words.

Taking the last of the frying shrimp out of the pan, Tarrlok sets it in a porcelain dish and tends to the miso soup. His eyes inadvertently trailed back to the young woman. Instead of looking at him, her soft gaze returned to Naga curled up in a ball. Try as he might, he couldn't tug his eyes away from her.

He had to ask himself, why her? He wasn't so oblivious to not comprehend the meaning behind their stares, or the warmth behind their eyes, or even the delicate, lingering touches when they were so close to one another. Tarrlok understood, how could he not? He's a man in his late thirties and clearly had been in the lovely company of women before.

But he knew it couldn't and wouldn't happen. Not just because of the consequences, but also because of the complications that would inevitably unravel with a taboo relationship. What in seven hells is wrong with him? Thinking about forming a relationship with her, in more than a familial manner. He already gave her a pup! What more in a few months, or even a few years, if the sparks of heat between them still resided?

Comes for pearly dewdrop's drops… buys the pearly to their souls.

Luminous blue eyes fluttered away from Naga and back onto him. Immediately, Tarrlok tensed and tore his icy depths away and onto the soup that was nearly finished. His heart rate spiked as he felt the weight of her eyes on him, simply watching while he stirred the cloudy soup. He took a deep breath in once again and tried to focus on the soup.

Turning off the stove, he hears Korra move from her spot through the boisterous beats and promptly discovers her slender hand come up from his flank. She grabs ahold of the dish filled with tempura, along with two glass cups from the cupboard to his side. Just as he was attempting to gather his jumbled wits, she had to do this to his poor soul. He clenched his jaw when he felt her hip brush his as she reached for the cups, instantly observing the way her shirt rose a few inches to expose a sliver of tan skin he'd seen before.

While he's still focused on the snippet of her midriff, she was already moving away from him, dish and glass cups in tow. Unconsciously, he abhorred the idea of her leaving his side, of her unknowingly leaving the blossoming flare of warmth on his thigh.

Abruptly, she stopped mid step in her trail to the dining table and glanced at him over her shoulder. A playful glint in her eyes promptly compelled the familiar heat to thrum through his veins in adrenaline. That is, until she uttered a breathy, you coming?, that dread nearly paled his features at her double entendre.

He was undoubtedly going to deteriorate with apprehension if this continued.


Korra was stuffed… And exhausted.

It didn't help that the day felt longer than usual, or at least too slow for her liking. She had to silently weep at the lost opportunity to take a well-deserved nap. Not only did her eyes sting with the corresponding dryness, but her stomach was filled to the brim with delicious food that all she wanted to do was pass out on the couch with Naga on her stomach.

Just as it usually is, Tarrlok's cooking continues to surprise her. Obviously in a good way, she reasons that the tempura and miso soup were prepared with perfection in mind, just like the day she moved in. Or he just naturally had an abundant skill in cooking.

When she thought about it, he seemed to have a variety of skills that were nearly mastered and perfected down to the tiniest details. Korra wondered how he had time to learn all these things with his busy schedule as a politician. Maybe he was an overachiever when he was a child? Or maybe he was a quick learner? She wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

It was a nice evening. The heat from the day before practically melted away into the perfect transition from summer to autumn.

They stood side by side as they walked past the threshold of the west gate into the public garden - Tarrlok quietly holding Naga's leash while Korra lost herself in wandering thoughts. Of course, she's still thinking about it. It was still such a new feeling that Korra knew close to nothing about the subject. Liking someone? Growing attached to someone? Her only experience she had was with Howl, and with romance novels, but that was barely anything to go off about.

Unknowingly, she walked, wandering mindlessly with him beside her. The rhythmic footsteps of theirs mingling together with Naga's soft taps. But from the corner of her eyes, Korra watched him. He seemed content, less stressed from earlier that morning or from the night before, but she could still sense the slight stiffness in his stride. She decided she'd rather not think about why he was so tense. It was better this way, in any case, when they were quiet, when they were lost in their own thoughts.

"It seems like it'll rain soon," his smooth voice breaks her thoughts. Immediately, vivid blue eyes flicker from him - who was already glancing up into the colored sky - to the dark, looming clouds slowly moving towards them. Although the sun was gradually dropping, those angry clouds did appear as though it were going to rain… most likely on them if they didn't find shelter soon.

"Yeah, it does." Korra says lamely. She mentally cursed herself at her blandness, biting her lip as her thoughts scatter to find something to fill the increasingly awkward silence.

Glancing back at the man beside her, Korra swallows nervously. The sinful idea of rain pouring down on them pops into her mind. The idea itself isn't something she should get turned on by. But, she reasons, that getting drenched by rain isn't her idea of fun, and most likely not Tarrlok's either. He would probably get into a sour mood with the way his precious locks were doused in water, or the way Naga would be stripped of her newly bathed scent in favor of the typical wet-dog smell… or the way he'd have to trudge back through the garden with his clothes clinging to him uncomfortably.

Even though his mood would dampen, in the back of her mind, she did not see the problem in it. In fact, she imagined the arousing sight, the scenario playing out before her eyes and promptly felt the slight tingling of warmth underneath her skin.

She was lost in her small daydream, eyes glazed and lids lowered, seductively roving his physique, that she had yet to notice Tarrlok watching her with an indecipherable glint in his icy irises. So absorbed in imagining the man next to her with wet, disheveled clothes was she that Tarrlok had to lightly tug her closer to his warm body in order to avoid tripping on the root of an overgrown tree.

"Korra," he says with amusement laced in his voice, a forming smirk lining his lips while his hand still lightly gripped her clothed bicep. They stopped walking down the path, but Korra did not partake in that observation. "Are you okay?"

Her thought process must have slowed to a snail's crawl because it barely registered in her mind. Korra blinked, then slowly glanced down to his firm yet gentle grip on her arm and almost instantly the heat sparked to her cheeks. That sure woke her from that arousing daydream.

Jerking away from his grasp as if she were burned, Korra cleared her throat and squeaked out a, "Never better," before continuing in their walk. She didn't have to look over her shoulder to know that he was watching her intently, watching her every move. He undoubtedly would tease her, dangle it over her head with unspoken words. With what they have been doing, the two didn't need words to understand the complexity and newly budding interest in one another.

A few moments of silence graced their ears, the constant footsteps and the occasional individual jogging past them break the muteness. Korra mumbled a soft curse to herself. Why did she have to make things so obvious? She acknowledges she doesn't hold a specialty in subtlety, that much was obvious in the past, but she had to scold herself for blatantly staring at his stupid, shockingly fit body.

"You do know you're going the wrong way, right, sweetheart?" He says sweetly, smugly.

Korra freezes in her stride, exaggeratedly glancing over her shoulder to meet his gleaming blue eyes. Unconsciously, a brow cocked. She folded strong arms across her ample chest and swiveled on her heel, sauntering over to his calm striding.

"I didn't think there's a wrong or right way through the garden, dad." She tilted her head in an unspoken challenge.

"Well, there is if you don't want to get submerged with water. That is up to you, though. I, personally, don't mind the rain." He mentioned. Once he caught up to her, she felt his free hand curl around her shoulder, bringing her closer to his side and unknowingly rubbing up and down. That deft hand, even though she barely could feel it through her clothes, warmed her upper arm and made her pause in thought.

But taking a peek at the man pressed to her side, his satisfied yet content smirk plastered on his handsome face, had her jabbing a finger into his ribs. "That is utter bullshit right there." She teased with a slight shake of her head and a roll of her eyes in clear disbelief.

"And you have an impeccable vocabulary." He scoffed in offense, all while squinting directly at her.

Korra couldn't tell whether he was actually offended or not, but the sight of the tiniest of upward quirks on his thin lips evidently gave her the answer. "Fine…" Korra conceded with feigned dread. "But I don't want to miss the sunset just finding this place."

He chuckled softly, continuing to rub her shoulder gently. "Then we should hurry," Tarrlok inexplicably hastens his pace, guiding her to follow him as Naga happily trots along the paved path with them.

—-

It was beautiful. Gorgeous. Enchanting, even.

Vibrant green trees and colorful flowers at their peak of blooming before the cold of autumn and winter come to dry them out. It was surprisingly more than she expected, more than she thought she would be interested in a garden. Yet the feeling of comfort and happiness only increased with each step she took towards the concrete shelter.

Despite the sprinkling of rain drizzling onto their hair, Korra couldn't dwell on it because the sight alone was worth the beginnings of the late summer showers. They, mainly Tarrlok, found the notorious tea house the garden was known for. This was news to Korra, but she reasons that it was hidden from wandering eyes that she jogged past it many times before.

The traditional tea house was secluded, surrounded by enormous trees and a pond. Spirits, how did she miss this? She'd been in Republic City for less than a month, jogging here for three weeks, and yet she had been completely oblivious to the beauty in the garden.

Korra was in awe, slowing her pace to a crawl and drinking in the gorgeous view as Tarrlok and Naga moved ahead, already past the small bridge and on the gravel path towards the tea house. Although the sprinkling rain grew heavier through their walk, she could care less about getting wet.

Stopping in her stride, Korra glanced over the wood railing of the bridge and into the murky water of the pond. Rain droplets rippled on the surface while a colored variety of koi swam steadily in the water. In Korra's mind, she was never more at peace with anything than she was at the moment.

Before, when it was revealed that she was adopted, she figured the city would calm her. The bustling of life was so constant that no matter where she was in the city, she would not truly be alone. That even when the sun has gone down and the moon rose high above them, the image of trains passing and the glow of the metropolis brought her tranquility. But simply watching koi swim beyond the surface of pond water and hearing the soft splashes of pouring rain made Korra freeze in wonder.

She would have been content there, just standing in the middle of the bridge and gazing at fish swimming with a childish glint that hasn't been there for years in her luminous eyes, but Tarrlok's pleasant voice breaks her from her thoughts. He calls her name, gesturing her over before she drenches herself with water and catches a cold, despite the slight warmth hanging in the air.

She can't be mad at him though. The way he was watching her with warmth and tenderness nearly has the heat on her cheeks to intensify.

Tarrlok and Naga are already making their way up the concrete steps while she runs through the strengthening rain to catch up to them. Forming puddles splash against her clothed legs and promptly she feels as though she were a ten year old once again. She imagined her parents beside her as she kicked water high into the air. They'd giggle, watch her with amusement, but that was years ago. Something she couldn't relive. She shouldn't dwell upon the past, especially now that she had Tarrlok and Naga waiting for her.

Korra gradually made her way up the concrete steps and met Tarrlok casually leaning against the railing while Naga laid on the floor next to him. He looked over his shoulder and instantly allowed a smirk to curve his mouth.

"How'd you find this place?" She breathed in awe, running a hand through her wet locks and not at all caring that he looked more like a smug bastard than he usually does.

"I've lived here for a while, Korra." He said matter-of-factly, reaching into his back pocket to pull out a pack of nearly empty cigarettes and a lighter.

"Well, no shit." Korra rolled her eyes and crossed toned arms over her chest, promptly swaggering over to his relaxed form. She watched him place the cigarette between thin lips as he glanced back at her.

"Language, sweetheart," he scolded before the switch of the lighter was heard. Instantly, the butt glowed orange as he inhaled, then the smoke that followed. Instead of watching him, she mimicked the man beside her and gazed at the garden distractedly.

It was silent again. The only sounds came from the rain showering over them and the few chirping birds hidden away in the trees. No one was in sight. It truly felt as though they were the only people alive and it only further heightened her focus on him. A damp, white button up that nearly hugged his defined body, rolled up sleeves that exposed his veiny forearms, disheveled hair that had moist droplets settle comfortably atop his head. She assumed he was lost in thought judging from his determined stare off into the pond below them, but he cleared his throat while a puff of smoke left his mouth.

"I purchased the estate precisely for this reason… It's tranquil and harmonious. Something you cannot necessarily elicit in the city. Granted, there are numerous historical museums all throughout Republic City, but when you stand here, immersed with nature, you understand. Even though you don't know what exactly you understand, you get a sense of wholeness and security." He continued, tapping the stick in slow beats.

"Yeah, I know the feeling." Korra mumbled, barely above a whisper. She bit her lip and watched the clouded sky transition from a shade if blue to orange.

"I presume you took a rather quick liking to the teahouse..?" He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, the hand not preoccupied with a lit cigarette pulls her close to him, just as he did earlier in their walk.

Although the touch is duly noted by Korra, she tries not to act fazed by it. More over, she doesn't want to be fazed by it, but yet it still does. "Duh! I mean, sure it's ancient, maybe even as old as you, and it looks like it'll crumble to pieces if we move too much in here, but like you said, it's peaceful." She says, looking at his profile for any reaction as he brings the lit cigarette up to his mouth.

But there was nothing but focus in his pale blue eyes.

It was bizarre knowing that he did not furrow a brow in annoyance or his face did not scrunch in irritation at her quip about his age. Maybe he didn't hear her? Maybe he pointedly decided to ignore the teasing? Or maybe he was getting used to their banter? Either way, she did not look too much into the subject because he takes a deep breath in, and unconsciously squeezes her upper arm with affection. "I know I say this a lot, but thanks." She breathes and promptly makes luminous blue eyes slightly widen once he glances down at her, easily meeting her eyes with warmth.

The way he regarded her, the way his jaw clenched, it made her breathing hitch and heart rate increase.

"No need to thank me, sweetheart." He says loud enough to be heard through the strengthening rain. She was about to respond, but immediately saw the subtle curve on his lips over the cigarette.

Korra broke the gaze and crossed her arms over her chest, unknowingly offering an enticing view to the man pressed to her side and bumped her hip against his playfully. "You know what I mean," the amusement evident in her voice.

"I don't think I do. Do tell what you're so thankful for," He tilted his head and quirked a brow upward. Of course, he was like this, especially now that he knows she likes what he has been doing. Leave it up to him to ruin such a nice moment with something cheesy or corny enough to make her roll her eyes to the spirits above. Korra sighed exaggeratedly and tried to pry his hand away from her arm, but it was futile. Not only did his grip slightly tighten, but it also fell to the hidden curve of her waist underneath her plain shirt.

Immediately she froze and ceased all attempts in annoying him. Rather she stood with scattered emotions and gave into the close contact, absently watching the rain fall heavily. It wasn't as though she did not like it, it was the total opposite really. But she hated the fact that his warmth got her heart rate to spike with what she tried to dissociate with the man as excitement.

Too consumed in his hand clasped around her waist, she did not hear the chuckle leave his lips. Instead, she felt it against her side, saw the quick puff of smoke escape his relaxed form as she remained stubbornly silent.

"It's considered impolite to not answer when someone is talking to you, Korra." He prompted in a feigned chide, his usual teasing laced within his smooth voice. It was supposed to be all good fun, something that was typically overlooked, but she bit her lower lip to try to stifle the smile threatening to form at the hidden gibe.

"Shut up," Korra blurts, her eyes fixated on the view before her as her focus shifts from the man to the sky. Although it wasn't a total distraction from the newfound emotions of her supposedly new father figure, it was definitely an interruption to her frenzied yet pleasant thoughts. It was quiet for a moment, that is, until he scoffed in mild disbelief.

"Sweetheart, I'm a politician, we're all about-" he started.

"Shhhhhh! Look," Korra interrupted, waving off the undoubtedly long lecture she would inevitably hear once again, and pointed towards the sky. "It's so beautiful," she breathed inaudibly, unfolding crossed arms and leaned against the railing with a wistful expression on her face.

The cloudy sky changed from an orange similar to the flame of a fire, to a pink that resembled the sugary treat of cotton candy, to a purple identical to the orchids that settled attractively on her bedside table, and ultimately to the dark abyss of a typical night. The seamless transition was too flawless to miss. Even the rain that just a few moments ago was pouring heavily above them turned to a light drizzling that nearly dusted her heated cheeks.

Korra let out a dreamy sigh.

It was just them three immersed in the dark. The scent of smoke and fresh rain intoxicated her senses as she took a deep breath in. Somehow the scent alone calmed any remaining tenseness in her body that she did not notice the pleasant silence growing between them. Instead, she focused on the few branches that obscured her view from their secluded area in the garden. Droplets beaded atop the wood, atop the green leaves gradually progressing into a bright brown.

Gleaming blue eyes followed the beads of water drip continuously into the pond below them, the constant movement of the koi swimming unperturbed to the sprinkling rain.

For once in her life, Korra feels at peace with the amount of growth and history a simple garden can possess. Spirits, if her parents were still alive, she wouldn't doubt that they would love the sheer immersion of nature. They'd probably have a family picnic once the cherry blossoms bloomed and the festivals roared in the spring. The thought brings a somber smile to her lips, unknowingly lying her cheek against Tarrlok's bicep.

What could have been done was a lot different from what can be done. She tries to reason that she's apart of a new family now, even if the family itself only consisted of her, Tarrlok, and Naga. As difficult as it was, and still is, she can already feel herself easing into happiness and content with the man beside her. Of course, the guilt and grief and numbness would never disappear, but she actually feels like living her life could be salvageable, that the constant feeling of worthlessness can finally diminish.

Closing dry eyes, Korra unconsciously snuggled into his warmth. She felt as though she were in a dream, as though she was fast asleep in the comfortable cocoon of her soft sheets. It was enough of a distraction that she was oblivious to the icy blue eyes watching her with a weakness that was unknowingly crumbling to pieces.


Despite the delicate wind rustling the leaves of trees and the short bout of rain, the night remained warm, but not overly so that the humidity made it nearly impossible to get comfortable. Once the rain stopped, Tarrlok made it a point that they should return to the estate, considering Korra laid her cheek on his bicep tiredly and he still had the two stacks of paper quietly waiting for him on his desk.

Although she seemed reluctant at the thought of leaving the garden, she acquiesced. He had to silently smile and pat himself on the back at such a good move.

As he sat on the couch - a thin piece of paper in his grasp and icy eyes hastily scanning the words typed onto the parchment - he still had to allow the slightest of smug smiles to curve his lips at a job well done. First, bringing Naga into their small family, then the vinyl and her favorite serving of tempura and miso soup, and finally the tea house he knew she had yet to witness for herself.

His eyes inadvertently trailed to her lying body beside him, her feet propped in his lap as his free hand gently massaged her ankle. From what he could gather, she was too preoccupied, too immersed with the movie playing in the background to notice his lingering gaze, or his soothing touch.

Tarrlok repeatedly scolded himself, admonished himself to pry his self-proclaimed lecherous eyes away from her and onto the papers waiting to be finished. These were important documents that needed special attention, that needed to be finished before Monday.

Yet he couldn't for the life of him do such a simple task. She laid on her side, one hand cradling her cheek, while the other leisurely ran through Naga's soft fur. He knew he shouldn't ogle, shouldn't openly stare at her with provocative thoughts clouding his mind, shouldn't unconsciously massage her ankle to get a favorable reaction out of her.

No. Just focus on the papers.

Gathering his wits, Tarrlok takes a deep breath in and weaves his hand through disheveled hair before returning his attention to his unfinished work.

Well, that is, until the doorbell chimes and Naga instantly barks with the unmistakable energy of a pup.

Who in seven hells would be at their door at this time of night?

Nearly muttering a curse under his breath, Tarrlok gets up from his comfortable spot on the couch and dreadfully strides to the front door. Not caring who their visitor was, he swings the door open and immediately pales at the man waiting at the doorstep.

"Noatak."

—-

A/N: :)