"Rough day?" Korra jumped at the question, not having heard the swamp dweller approaching. She turned her head and managed a small smile.
"Something like that," she answered, turning back to look out across Yue Bay.
"Mind telling me about it?" he asked, coming to a stop beside her. He supposed she was probably upset about the fact Katara had left the day before, claiming she needed to get back to the South Pole. She sighed.
"Tarrlok's just being his usual Jerkbender self. It's nothing new." Tahno raised a brow.
"But something he said clearly upset you." She looked up at him and then back out at the bay, avoiding his pale gaze. She didn't reply and Tahno followed her line of sight to Avatar Aang's Memorial. Ah.
"Do you think I'm a failure?" she asked almost inaudibly. Tahno looked down at the girl; not believing those words had actually come out of her mouth. Since when did she ever doubt her abilities?
"Is that what that what he told you?" he asked instead. Korra still wouldn't meet his gaze as she pulled her legs to her chest and sat her chin on her knees. That was all the answer he really needed. He'd never seen her look so…insecure.
"What makes you think he's right?" he asked, sitting down beside her.
"What gives me any reason to believe otherwise? I can't Airbend. I can't stop Amon…I just…I'm not sure if I'm really worthy of being the Avatar." Tahno tilted his head to look at her, not really believing that she could sound so defeated and accepting of this reality that Tarrlok had trapped her in. Where was the fiery girl he'd befriended? Where was the girl that would easily match wits with him? The girl that wouldn't let him get away with anything? This was not his Korra.
"Who gives a damn what he thinks?" Korra looked over at her companion curiously. "The way I see it, he's just a manipulative asshole that can't stand the fact that you're the one person who won't do what he asks." He met her curious stare with his own stern gaze. "And if you're willing to believe him, you aren't the person I thought you were, Korra."
The Waterbender didn't know how to reply to this or what shocked her more. The fact that Tahno seemed so serious about the matter or the fact that he'd actually called her by her name. She was almost beginning to think he didn't know it.
"Since when did you start making sense, Tahno?" she asked teasingly, purposly using his name as well. She smiled and Tahno could feel the air around them lighten considerably.
"Korra! You out here!" Through the bushes came the rest of 'Team Avatar'. "Oh, hey Tahno! How's it going?" the Earthbender asked with an unsure smile. No one was specifically crazy about the friendship between the two. But at least Asami and Bolin had sort of accepted it. Mako…well, he still was buying it.
Tahno nodded at the younger brother. "It's 'going' well," he replied, slight smirk on his now relaxed face. "And yourselves?" He only asked because he was trying to be civil.
"Pretty good."
Asami nodded in agreement.
Mako simply crossed his arms and gave a curt nod. "It's time to get going, Korra," he stated, looking over at the Avatar. The girl looked from Tahno to him and sighed.
"I'm coming," she replied, standing. Tahno followed suit. "I guess I'll see you later then," she said to her taller friend. Tahno's gaze went from the trio back to the Water Tribe girl and he smirked. Something was different about that smirk but Korra couldn't pin it.
"I guess you will."
**** Tahno waited a couple of days before returning to the island. Things had been getting worse with Tarrlok's new curfew for Nonbenders being enforced. The ex-Bender couldn't help but feel angry with the councilman. Where did he get the audacity to treat people this way? And why was the council letting him get away with it? Didn't they have brains of their own?
Word had traveled quickly about the Avatar's friends being taken into custody and Tahno wondered what they possibly could've done to accomplish that. Tahno also feared that Korra wouldn't be taking it well. She was probably blaming herself for getting them involved. He would've been to see her sooner but, as everyone knew, things really were getting out of hand.
Around noon on the third day, he found himself sitting on the dock, waiting for the ferry to take him across the Bay. He twirled the flower between his fingers carefully. It was a rose, dark pink in color. He thought it might cheer the Avatar up, possibly get her mind off of things, even if it was only for a moment. And…it was his way of saying thank you and that he was grateful for all she'd done for him.
She gave him a friend when he had none. She got him out of his gloom and cheered him up considerably. She was the one who had listened to all his troubles and in return he'd listened to hers. But it didn't feel like he was really showing her how thankful he was. So he decided to show her in his own way, with a rose, of course.
Soon the ferry came and took him across the Bay to Air Temple Island. Rose carefully tucked away in his jacket pocket, which had more than enough room inside. He didn't find her in the courtyard. And she wasn't on the shore. This puzzled him. Where could she be? Was she in the city?
He ran into Tenzin on his way to the Airbending practice spot. "Master Tenzin," he called, approaching the master with his hands in his pockets. The old monk turned to see the boy andTahno didn't like the look on his face. It was a mixture of worry and dread. "What's happened? Where's Korra?" The ex-Bender didn't like the feeling that was bubbling up in his gut. The man shook his head and sighed.
"We…don't know."
***** And that's how I felt at the end of episode eight! HOLY CRAP! Am I the only one in complete shock after this! I mean, Tarrlok is a freakin BLOODBENDER! Holy….I don't even know what to…GAH! Also...I think I should explain the meaning of the dark pink rose. If I'm right it means, 'appreciation, thank you, grace and admiration...I could be wrong but...yeah.
WHERE THE HELL DID HE TAKE HER?
BG out! Peace!
