After that preview clip for Turning the Tides, I had to churn this out, another reason being the stress of exams + revision. Now who can really say Korra definitely didn't have this particular dream? It could've happened off-screen! :P Though I'm still hoping that it doesn't sound too AU…

Though not wholly relevant, the songs inspiring this were:

- "Avenue" by Agnes Obel

- "I Hate This Part" by The Pussycat Dolls


(Off-screen after Episode 9)

On her bed - the home within a home - back on Air Temple Island, Korra's mind ventured to unnumbered places in her sleep. The nature of the dreams extended to opposite ends of spectrums. Amon rabidly hunting her down in the dead of night in the snowy forest. A theatre she had passed by once in the city centre that satisfied middlebrow aesthetic tastes. Chi blockers at the door of her home in the South Pole. That dock by the Pro-bending arena where she had kissed Mako. And..

How things just happen, and how one just knows and says things in dreams remained a mystery.

Korra observed how meticulously tidy the place was. Many an object lying around looked sleek, expensive or rather eccentric. Most were shiny and ebony black. In private she ran through a mental list of words…faces…objects…that linked to the quarters she was now standing in. Natural light of an overcast day poured in through the windows. She found a door that was painted midnight blue, boasting intricate but geometrical, highly customized patterns. They appeared to weave inward and outward, displaying movement. Opposite it stood a console table, carved from rosewood. Three boxes resembling protective reliquaries and housing some valuables lined the table's surface. Trophies, maybe? And was that a familiar object she'd seen hanging off one of the wooden beams above? A Wolf Bat costume?

Suddenly she knew the purpose of coming here. Her hand rested on the door's edge and pulled it. The closed blinds seemed to leave the revealed room suffocating. He was on the floor, leaning against one of his bedposts.

"Come on, you heartbender," Korra began, actually laughing. How things just happen, and how you just know and say things.

"What are you doing…here?" Tahno turned around. The two picked up the roar of rainfall. Korra peeled apart the blinds to show him a waterfall of droplets. Like some army deliberately refusing to engage directly in a fight, he could feel that wall of water make fun of him from the sidelines. But a simper formed on the face of his secret friend; her strides were graceful while she made her way around to his side of the bed.

"I'm giving you what you've been waiting for," her voice was tender. She helped him to his feet, placing her right hand right over his heart. Under her fingers, that pulse quickened. Her other hand met the back of his neck, feeling that clamminess, sensing a fear of the unknown. Detecting mixtures of uncertainty, immense anticipation and optimism in his eyes, she drew in as much air as she could handle, feeling it touch down deep in her core. By the time she exhaled she felt masses of light envelope them. What followed was a haunting and constant ringing sound, a beautiful song despite its ambiguity. Korra's eyes had been glowing, fully convincing Tahno that this was it.

The blow staggered him for the briefest moment. She parted the bangs scattered across his forehead, desiring to take in his rugged good looks. Opening his eyes, he saw the twinkling in hers, receiving that signal: to try and bend.

The gloomy weather had been replaced by immaculate golden sunshine. The Avatar led Tahno to look outside, pointing to a fountain down below in the courtyard.

"Go on, try it," she advised. "It's okay to be scared."

He was to summon a stream of water from that source. So he drew a crescent shape with one arm, begging with the spirits. Then another. In his frame of mind it was more plausible that the fountain burst into flames. But the presumption fell away with the sound of a swish -

A crystal clear torrent rose up to do his bidding. It circled the area, gaining momentum as his heart pounded harder. The body of water made long-forgotten splashing sounds, reawakening the child he once was. Forgetting to blink, he was beaming from ear to ear by the time the swirling liquid floated up to meet them.

She cherished the purity and excitement now contained in his features, compared to the pained expression she'd seen too often. "I hope this gets you totally back on track, Tahno," her hand fell onto his collarbone.

"It has already done more than that," he replied, most unexpectedly. The water he'd been bending fell to the floor in puddles. The time was ripe: he leaned forward, his lips softening and meeting hers. Korra's eyes stayed open with the raging wave of shock, but at last slid shut as she gave in.

The look in his eyes beckoned for her to stay. Tahno's senses were ensnared by wonder. "I've missed you," cracks formed beneath his words. "You really have no idea. How much I -"

He had vanished totally. The sunrays were vividly strong, for it'd already been two hours since dawn came.

She rubbed her eyes, and the first sight to greet her for the day was Naga's touch. The polar bear dog rested her powerful but concerned paw on the Avatar's lap with absolute care. "Morning, girl," Korra patted the side of her muzzle, caressing those fine whiskers. "You have no idea of the weirdness I've just experienced," she groaned, bringing a palm to her forehead. There were low murmurs beneath the floor - Pema whipping up breakfast.

She rose up and performed her morning stretches, wishing she could deny the sheer believability of that one last dream.