A/N: Because I start my second semester next week, I most likely will finish the next chapter by then at the rate I'm writing. And for those wondering, there are 40 chapters that I planned for this fic so do what you will with it, but those who are still reading this far, thank you, I really appreciate it!
Chapter inspiration came from Ecstasy by Strawberry Switchblade. As always, feedback of any kind is welcome and appreciated! Enjoy!
—-
All throughout the week before Korra's birthday, Tarrlok couldn't focus on work with the council. It was a shock considering he worked tirelessly with them, but for the life of him, all he could work on was planning Korra's birthday and investigating for Hiroshi's case.
He finally managed to find out that, indeed, his suspicions were correct in presuming the file on Tokuga was tampered. Who exactly tampered it was beyond him. But with stealth that he thought he lost long ago, he succeeded in retrieving the date, undetected, as to when the file was last opened, besides him, that is. It was peculiar. The date was exactly a year prior to the time Hiroshi had them meet up at Si Wong's, the thirty-first of October. Surely it must have been a coincidence… right?
He wasn't too confident in claiming it was, but he couldn't think of any other reason that it could be. He sifted through the files of each member once again, and again, there was nothing besides the obvious of drug dealing, except for a selected few. One had a history of burglary while two others had a history of assault on a police officer. But knowing full well the documents were manipulated, he took it with a grain of salt. For all he knew, first and second degree murder or abduction used to be on the file.
Even Noatak was having a hard time. When asked, his brother would merely grunt in vexation or shake his head as he rubbed his exhausted eyes.
Although, there was one thing… specifically that of the warehouse they visited. With the notes he managed to scrawl down hastily, it appeared that he saw a few members of the Red Dragons wandering around the area, though the specific building was just one of the many places they frequented, he discovered. Tarrlok had to let out a frustrated sigh when he heard that. They've been working on this case for the better part of the three weeks now and yet all they got was tampered files and an address that was hardly credible considering it was Tokuga that Sato was mainly after for abducting and killing his employees.
It couldn't be helped, they would only have to work harder to get the case over with and he could live in peace, and hopefully a life without Hiroshi intruding in on it.
With that in mind, the time he didn't spend in city hall or working on Sato's case, he spent with Korra. He was all too aware of the fact that she was soon to be considered of age in the United Republic. And something in him broke and felt guilty of the reality of what he was doing with a seventeen year old.
When he stepped back and thought about it, it was disgusting. He realized what Noatak said, all those weeks ago when he first found out about his infatuation with Korra, was right. He was a grown man having intimate relations with a mere teenager. That in of itself could have him locked up in jail. It was shameful, vile, yet he couldn't stop himself from being with her. It relaxed him, being with her. And just as Korra constantly reassured him, we'll be careful. He wasn't quite sure if he believed what they were doing was considered careful, but he couldn't argue with her.
The public was easily swayed as is, and he managed to quell their suspicions despite one short article that was produced with an image of he and Korra in the city, specifically one of the days the two of them wandered around the city in search for a new restaurant Korra heard about.
It was a lucky shot, there was no denying it. Korra's back was shown, covered by her long, black coat and her beautiful face that was hidden at a fortunate angle, while his profile was shown as he walked alongside her with an arm around her shoulders and the other hand that grasped at a cup of coffee. The article went on spewing one thing or the other about the 'Councilman's mysterious new flame' and even though he should have been worried, he thanked the spirits that out of all the disastrous articles that could have been published, it was that where Korra's identity was concealed.
Obviously he couldn't speak for future publishes, but he acknowledged that this one was particularly fortunate for both of them. And on top of that, the city's major concern wasn't on gossip, but rather a fire that burnt an apartment complex down. Supposedly the fire began when an elderly man forgot to turn off his stove and fell asleep. Everyone was safe in the end, except the building, that is.
But as he thought back to that day, he remembered Korra talking endlessly about this new ramen shop that opened near the temple. It was quaint, a hidden gem as it was concealed in the less dense areas of the temple with lanterns that swung with the wind. Apparently it was 'to die for' as Korra put it simply, and as much as he hated to admit it since it wasn't his own cooking, it truly was amazing. The broth was rich and smooth, the meat was absolutely divine, and the noodles were made from scratch and cooked perfectly. There was nothing but pure perfection in their bowls and he recalled letting out a rumble of laughter at seeing Korra's eyes well up in tears. He couldn't blame her, he felt the same emotion welling up in him.
And as they sat across from one another, bowls empty to the very last drop of broth, basking in the sheer delight, Korra prodded his calf with the tip of her shoe. At the time, he was reminded of what exactly she had done the last time she played an unfair game of footsie, but was relieved that she merely wanted to talk, despite her eyes that gleamed with mischief.
He entertained her as she mouthed sweet nothings or teased him in hushed tones behind a covered hand as he blushed. With what they've been doing for the better part of the time she spent in his company, he was still astounded with her profane vocabulary and her raunchy fantasies, such as her desire to be 'caught touching herself' or 'doing it in the pool in the midst of summer' despite the fact that he technically did the former already.
That's not to say he was dirty himself. Of course he was, he was a man with a sex drive, after all. Though his wasn't as blatant as hers. As she conjured up a few more of her fantasies, he reciprocated and revealed he relished the idea of lying out in a patch of grass, a blanket underneath them and fresh fruit at their side, stargazing that turned into a passionate night of lovemaking, or even in his office in city hall. That was self explanatory. Her smile widened at that and he knew she was formulating a plan for that to happen someday.
They spent the majority of their evening there and as the city began glowing with neon signs and the sun dipped behind the mountains, they made their way out into the city once more in search of his car.
She cuddled into his side as he wrapped an arm around her waist, reveling in the increase in temperature. You know, I'm almost eighteen. She reminded him with a smirk.
I'm well aware, Korra. He remembered chuckling the slightest bit that she felt the need to remind him, puffing on a cigarette as they walked the illuminated path. It was one of the few times he felt at ease since he took Hiroshi's case and he didn't know if he should be worried about that or not.
She bit her lip then, poking his side with her index finger. That means I could legally get a tattoo done without your permission. In fact, I could do a lot of things without your permission.
He wasn't quite sure where she was going with that logic, being that she still had a few more years to be a full fledged adult, but it was blatantly obvious she wanted a marking on her skin. He wasn't about to argue with her, she was her own person with her own wishes, but regardless, it was amusing that she presumed she was being subtle. I'm aware of that, too. Are you trying to intimidate me?
With a shake of her head, she glanced back onto the path ahead of them, the smile curving her perfect lips unwavering. No. Just seeing if we're on the same page now. She said smugly.
Planning her birthday seemed easy enough. She was a girl that was easily pleased and she took everything happily. With that in mind, he scrawled what he needed to do in his planner. He was certain that when Friday came he would be prepared and everything would fall into place.
And he was right.
The refrigerator was stocked, she was still sleeping peacefully underneath thick sheets, Naga was frolicking in the dewy grass, and Noatak had just returned home from his night of investigating. He glanced at the clock, five-thirty. He had enough time and with Noatak home, he could keep him company for at least an hour before his brother decided to surrender to the darkness of sleep.
Noatak took a seat at the island with hands clasped together as he told Tarrlok what had happened during his time while he whisked away at batter for cinnamon buns and intricately folded pieces of dough for croissants. It wasn't a surprise when there was nothing of importance. Although he did mention he actually saw Tokuga in the warehouse this time, so they were technically still on the right track… whatever track they were on, that is.
It was when Noatak was helping him slice pieces of fruit ranging from strawberries and kiwis to bananas and oranges, as well as flipping strips of bacon, as Tarrlok began glazing the cinnamon rolls that everything was coming together perfectly. Coffee was brewing, releasing it's delicious scent that weaved with the pastries and Naga watched intently from her curled spot near the island, her tail wagging with interest at the succulent aromas. All the food was fresh and toasty on a chilly day and nothing felt so strangely domestic. It was a life that he'd always wanted except for the fact that they returned to Sato.
His brother was just finishing up slicing the bowl of strawberries that he heard Noatak clear his throat. "Is it really ideal to spoil her like this on her birthday, brother? She might end up like an insolent child who throws a tantrum whenever they don't get what they want." He pointed out, running warm water over the knife and cutting board in the sink before beginning to wipe the counter free of stray puddles of water with a discarded towel.
Tarrlok shook his head, dusting the last two cinnamon rolls with icing before glancing at his brother over his shoulder. "It really isn't and I acknowledge that, but come on. Give the girl some slack. She has her final exams in a few weeks and I don't want her directing her anger and stress on either of us when we have so much going on right now as well." He paused, licking the last bit of icing he made from the spoon in his grasp as he fixed his gaze lovingly at the pastries. "And besides, like what you said, it's her birthday. Her first in this household and who knows if she'll be with us next year since college is right around the corner." He responded, attempting, rather poorly, to stop thinking of the inevitable.
Noatak nodded, considering his words as he placed the pan in the sink with a soft clink. "Fair enough, just don't do this constantly. She'll get used to it." He advised warily with arms folded across his chest as Tarrlok moved to pull out the fresh batch of toasted croissants from the oven.
Placing the pan on the counter, he fanned the bread with a hand, bit into a sausage that just finished cooking and regarded his brother. "Brother, she's eighteen. I only have to worry about that if she was a toddler or preschooler. You know how children mimic everything they see. They're like sponges. She's a teenager. A young adult, if you will. I'm sure she knows that she has to work hard for this type of luxury. Spirits knows I did." Tarrlok mumbled over his mouthful of food. Spirits, he really was inheriting some of Korra's bad habits. He shrugged it off, picking up one of the crescent-shaped rolls and offered it sweetly to Noatak. "Croissant?"
"Sweetheart," she heard a familiar voice call her, sleep desperately clinging to her. Cracking her eyes open to the tiniest of slivers, she discovered it was Tarrlok. "It's almost seven." He said softly, stroking his long fingers through her tangled locks.
Groaning all too loudly, she flopped over onto her back with an exaggerated huff. Was it seriously time already? It felt like she just fell asleep. His bed was so warm and outside of these oh-so-soft sheets and plush mattress were, well, cold. Why would she want to get out of this warm cocoon? And why of all mornings did she have to feel this way… her birthday of all days.
"Can I just skip today? I mean it is my birthday." Korra mumbled dolefully as she stretched her legs, back and arms, to which she not-so-accidentally shoved his cheek away from her.
"I-erm," he began, grasping her wrist to place a kiss to the back of her hand. "I don't think that would be best. Besides, I'm sure your friends are waiting for you." Tarrlok replied as he lightly massaged her wrist. Korra took a deep breath in, a frown curving her lips downward and nearly groaned once again at his insistence. "Come on, get ready and come down stairs when you're done." He breathed before releasing her hand and placing a kiss to her temple.
She watched him leave the room all too happily and immediately her puffy eyes narrowed at his back in suspicion… and because he left the door wide open. That man, he's up to something. The voice in the back of her mind piped up. Much to Korra's dismay, she had to agree with it.
There was no way he would be that happy this early in the morning. Or at least from what she had observed from him since moving into the estate. With a long, suffering sigh, she braced herself for the inevitable cold just outside of the bed. If she stayed in bed any longer she'd surely be late and Tarrlok would be nagging at her all the more. She didn't want that on her birthday even though the thought was hilariously tempting.
Flicking the sheets off her, she swung her legs over the edge of the mattress and made her way into his bathroom. She tugged at his long shirt she borrowed for the night as she waited for the water to heat up to her liking, shivering when her bare skin met the frigid temperature.
She got ready as he told her, taking her time in remaining in the scalding spray until her brown skin flushed at the heat. And when she stepped out of the shower, she hastily dressed herself lest all that heat dissipated all too fast. An off-white turtleneck tucked into black trousers that cinched above her waist with a leather belt.
Warmth. She felt right at home with the comfortable clothes and was still tempted to convince Tarrlok to let her stay home. But Tarrlok being Tarrlok, Korra knew she wouldn't win the argument. She was about to leave the room when she caught a glimpse of the clock on the bedside table on her way out. Now it was only seven? Keeping her temper from rising at the lost thirty minutes of sleep, she took an even breath in and padded her way down the marble steps and into the kitchen.
"Okay, why did you wake me up so early? It's only seven now…" Korra complained, stopping short when she saw the elaborate display of food adorning the dining table. Croissants and cinnamon rolls and scrambled eggs with bacon and sausages and an array of fruit littered the table all too intricately. Spirits. She knew Tarrlok usually went overboard with spoiling her, and this was one of those times, but she didn't know how to react.
Vivid blue eyes trailed away from the food and onto the two men. One sat in a chair with ease, already grabbing the food he wanted while the other watched her for a reaction in worry. Opening her mouth the slightest bit, she made an unintelligible sound at the back of her throat. That made Tarrlok's nervous face crack with a smile of relief before making his way to her and enveloping her in a warm embrace.
"Happy birthday, Korra." He murmured into her ear, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head.
"Well shit," she said with an excited smile on her face. She broke away from his warm embrace in favor of the food silently calling her name, leaving Tarrlok with a deadpan expression as he mumbled something under his breath. There was no way in spirits name that she'd let that dampen her mood. Besides she could repay his strenuous labor later that night if he wanted to. Taking a seat across from Noatak, she enthusiastically grabbed a plate from the edge of the table and plucked at everything Tarrlok made before shoving a whole croissant into her mouth. "What time did you wake up just to do all this?" She mumbled over her mouthful of food, a few morsels of the flaky bread spewing past her lips and onto the wooden surface.
A flash of revulsion spread across his face before endearment replaced the expression. "That doesn't matter, just eat whatever you want." He responded, taking a seat at the head of the table and petting Naga as he reached for a plate of his own. With narrowed eyes directed towards Tarrlok she had to guess that he woke up long before the sun began to rise with the first rays of warmth. It was fitting considering how much of a perfectionist and workaholic he was… and the fact that he already sported his usual suit.
It did worry her when he was like this, but she couldn't dwell on it for too long because Noatak cleared his throat from the food in his mouth. "Happy birthday, cupcake." He greeted with a small smile, picking up pieces of scrambled egg before placing it into his waiting mouth. "How does it feel to be eighteen?"
Korra chewed at her food, considering his question. "Nothing different so far." She shrugged. And honestly, it really didn't feel that much different than the rest of her birthdays except for the fact that this was her first spent in complete luxury with two grown men. She wasn't complaining. It was a lot better than spending it with stuffy, old caretakers that didn't even remember.
Picking a slice of one of the strawberries, Korra offered it to Naga, the white ball of fluff eating it gladly before nudging her thigh for pets. She giggled at the display and couldn't refuse the pup.
Noatak made a sound at the back of his throat in agreement. "It'll really hit you when you turn twenty-two and the next milestone in age is fifty." He pointed out and as Korra thought about it more, he was right. Sure there's the typical decades like thirty and forty, but it wasn't a big deal as fifty.
She must have looked thoughtful as she chewed at the sweet morsels of the cinnamon roll because Tarrlok chastised his brother before taking a sip from his coffee, "Noatak, don't dampen her mood."
With the hand that was petting Naga, Korra dismissed what he said before returning it to the pup's soft fur. "Oh, don't be a wet blanket, Tarrlok. I mean, he is right. That's why I have to make the most of the next few years… like getting a tattoo…" She hinted at again, wiggling her head back and forth with a grin as she leaned in for another bite. It may be redundant of her to do so, but subtlety and being adamant were key in getting this even though she could technically get a tattoo without his permission now. The only thing was the yuans, because her allowance was practically all used up from eating out during lunch and 'treating herself' - multiple times - after such a hard day at school.
"Didn't I just mention to you that she'd get used to your coddling?" Noatak said with narrowed eyes towards his brother. Coddling? Tarrlok was coddling her? When she thought about it, heat began creeping its way up her neck and coloring her cheeks. He was right again.
Sitting as poised as ever, Tarrlok bit at the last portion of his bacon with a crunch as though it weren't his fault. "I know I coddle her, but at any rate, this isn't my doing. She's been wanting a tattoo for a while now, or at least that's what she'd told me."
"Mhm," Korra hummed in agreement before swallowing the chunks of meat in her mouth and gulping down some of Tarrlok's coffee. Wincing at the bitterness, she checked the dark liquid and to her revulsion it was his typical black coffee he was so fond of. Chills ran up her spine at the sharp taste.
With a chuckle, Tarrlok leaned in and said, "We need to leave soon."
Korra glanced at her plate in thought, all the food only half eaten. "Hold on," she responded with a pointed finger. She shoved all the food left on her plate into her mouth, uncaring that she looked undignified judging by the looks of mortification from Tarrlok and amusement from Noatak. "Yet me get mah shtuff." Her voice muffled from the food, giving Naga one more pet to her head before standing up.
Then she noticed Noatak stood as well, downing his glass of orange juice before clearing his throat. "Ah, right. Well, I haven't received my recommended eight hours of sleep, so I'll hit the hay. Again, happy birthday, kiddo." He ruffled her hair, already making his way out of the kitchen.
"Thanks," she mumbled, fixing her hair in annoyance that it was actually drying the way that she wanted it to and he had to mess it all up.
—-
Korra knew her friends were planning something. Their group chat had suddenly gone quiet in the recent few days and it was unlike them to be so silent, especially Asami and Bolin. A part of her cringed at the thought of bringing all this unwanted attention to herself, knowing full well what people do in this high school for their friend's birthdays. But then another part of her said to relax, to enjoy the day despite the gloomy clouds that hung heavily above her.
Another indication that they were planning something, the three weren't near the stairs of the entrance this morning. She guessed they were planning to surprise her, but she knew… oh, she knew something was brewing with them. Tugging her coat tighter around her form, Korra weaved her way through the crowd in the hallway, her mind on autopilot as she made her way to Mr. Tenzin's classroom.
Just when she turned the corner and saw the room at the end of the hallway, she saw Bolin's unmistakable face light up before disappearing into the classroom. They weren't very sneaky if that's what they were trying to accomplish… but then again, she wasn't either.
She entered the classroom and immediately was bombarded with Asami, Mako and Bolin holding their gifts to her at the threshold. With widened eyes and her double chin making an appearance as she leaned back to give herself some room. Spirits, she was expecting to be bombarded at her desk, but not right at the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat. They got her, even though she guessed they were planning to surprise her.
"Happy, happy eighteenth, Korra!" Asami beamed, shoving two balloons that were shaped into a one and an eight into her hands. This was exactly what she was thinking of when people celebrated their friend's birthday in Republic City High. Her last birthday was spent at her old school and there wasn't any celebration, only a mere greeting from one of her teachers that seemed all too concerned for her. Not even her caretakers remembered, because once again, they were too busy with the babies and toddlers that needed to be adopted.
She understood why they focused their attention more on them, but it did hurt regardless.
"Guys, you really shouldn't have." Korra said sheepishly, edging towards the corner so she could reach her desk. But then they followed her. It was odd to be followed around. Usually all four of them bunched together in a collective group… not this.
Once she reached her desk, Asami sat in her respective own as the brothers perched themselves at the edge of the desks in front of her. "Oh, shut up. It's your birthday, let us live vicariously through you." Asami dismissed with a wide smile, gesturing vaguely with her hand.
Confused, Korra asked, "Wait what?"
And it seemed to get to Asami because she thought over her words and ultimately didn't think it was a topic to dwell on. "I don't know just accept the damn gifts." She said, taking the balloons from her hands to tie them around the strap of her bag and replacing it with an intricately wrapped box, another box perching itself on her desk as well as a cup of what Korra assumed was her favorite coffee from the cafe they frequented.
"The cake is from me and Bolin. And we'll treat you at lunch today." Mako piped up when he saw her overwhelmed yet bewildered face. She hasn't had this much attention on her since she was twelve and younger. Or at least that's what she thought since people were always all over babies and kids and whatnot. Her parents used to give her the best birthday parties, and usually it was just the three of them, maybe with a few of her friends added in, though Korra couldn't remember past the cakes and toys they bought her.
This cake was small, just enough for the four of them. It was green as well, powdered at the top with green tea as a chocolate label was placed at a slant with white chocolate writing, saying, Happy eighteenth, Korra!
Giggling, Asami eyed the wrapped box in her hands, a grin plastered on her beautiful features. "Yeah and you know, this is from me."
That only confused Korra even further. "Why're you smiling like that?" She asked her friend, leaning back in feigned disgust at Asami's all too eager face.
"You'll see why." She waved Korra off with a flick of her wrist.
There were only two reasons as to why Asami would be smiling that way. One, that it was an extremely accurate gift and it was exactly what she wanted, whatever that may be, or two, it was something extremely dirty. At that point, Korra couldn't decide which one she was leaning towards.
Cautiously, Korra began picking at the edges of the wrapping paper, ripping it downward and opening the box as Asami sat restless in her seat. She was right. It was extremely dirty. Heat welled up inside her as she sifted hastily through the small container. A neatly folded set of white, lacy lingerie and a light blue rod of sorts that had a bulbous tip and switches for… increased intensity…? But then it dawned on her. To the spirits above, she was speechless. What did she do to deserve this? Korra nearly busted out laughing.
"Asami!" Korra flushed, scanning the area around her to make sure no one besides Asami could see what was in the box. Fortunately for her, the cover of the box shielded the contents perfectly from Mako and Bolin, even though they did lean forward to catch a peek.
When Mako deliberately went out of his way to look inside the box, Korra slammed the cover down and out of his reach, giggling to herself as Asami flicked her hair over her shoulder in pride. "What is it?" Mako asked, curiosity piqued at their reactions.
Asami crossed her leg and folded her arms across her chest. "A vibrator and lingerie. Nothing but the best for the best friend." She mumbled happily before grabbing Korra close into a tight side hug.
That evidently made the brothers freeze, startled. A heated blush colored both of their cheeks that caused Asami to giggle behind a modest hand while Korra hid her amusement by reaching for her coffee and taking a sip at the sweet liquid. "Okay! Well, I need to get to class, bye guys." Bolin blurted to no one in particular, grasping the strap of his backpack before making a beeline out the classroom. Korra swore she saw a cloud of dust follow the younger brother with how fast he left.
Mako scratched nervously at the back of his neck, the flush furiously deepening in color the longer he awkwardly sat there. "Yeah, and I uh, don't want to hear this." He mimicked his brother, albeit a little more calmly than Bolin, and sat at his designated seat in the adjacent corner of the room.
They watched Mako from afar and she nearly let out a bark of laughter at the shock in the boy's expression. It was just a sex toy and some lacy lingerie. Maybe they were merely prudes. But Korra didn't know if he was just acting or if it really was him actually being shocked. Either way she was surprised that he was acting this way considering he knew Asami long before she did. But maybe this was the first time Asami had another girl friend in their particular group? She didn't necessarily talk about any other best friend besides the brothers and her.
Turning to her friend, Korra crumpled the wrapping paper into a hefty ball, asking, "You were waiting for my reaction, huh?"
Her viridian eyed friend let out a breathy chuckle. "Well, duh. And you know, I was seriously contemplating whether I should get you a dildo or that, but then I realized… oh wait… you don't need one." She answered as a matter of factly with brows raised and a knowing smile curving her red tinted lips.
Korra had to laugh at that. "And I don't even need this either." She said, opening the box once more to point at the vibrator. There was no way in seven hells that she could get away with using that without getting caught. Tarrlok seemed to have bionic ears the first and last time she decided to pleasure herself in the estate. This wouldn't make any difference. A part of her relished the idea of getting caught once again since she did mention it during their time at that ramen shop, but she wasn't completely confident in using it around Tarrlok.
Somehow Asami's grin widened even more and her brows practically lifted from her face. "Wow, that good in bed, huh?" She asked, giving Korra a playful nudge to her shoulder.
"Asami!" She giggled, nearly pawing at her cheeks at the feeling of heat welling up underneath her skin all over again. She wasn't wrong, but Korra wasn't about to admit anything.
Yet that only produced a nonchalant shrug from the girl beside her. "What? He looks like he'd be good in bed and that only confirmed it." She said smugly before sassily taking a sip out of her own cup of coffee.
"What did?" Korra asked, confused.
"That blush of yours, missy. Mhm, that right there." Asami cackled, poking an index finger at Korra's reddened cheeks. She playfully swatted away at her friend's intruding finger with slightly narrowed eyes. And opening her mouth, she was about to defend herself, but Asami stretched her legs out and added, "I'm actually kind of jealous."
"Why's that?" She questioned cautiously, only because Asami had a certain look on her face that said something was coming up.
"You get dicked whenever you want and I'm stuck here waiting for Iroh to get back to Republic City." She pouted, glancing at her for any reaction.
Korra couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes skyward before closing them and covering her face with her hands at the pain of having to hear that. She heard a muffled, "You know you love me," as she tried to hide from being anywhere near Asami, though Korra knew that was futile with the way she clung to her side, her face rubbing endearingly at her bicep.
Spirits, if this was how her morning was going already, Korra didn't know what to expect for the rest of the day.
—-
Korra couldn't help but think it certainly was an interesting day. As promised, Mako and Bolin treated her for lunch, Bolin choking on a piece of bread as Asami told a funny story about Mako not knowing how to swim yet dove straight into her pool when they were fourteen. It was a nice hour spent with them, and surprisingly Mako was talking a lot more than usual.
They spent a little more time than intended at a pizza restaurant that they ended up returning to school a few minutes late, though Korra had to shrug it off. It couldn't be help. It wasn't as if they did this regularly anyhow.
And when she returned home, just as she was thinking her interesting day came to a close, she was proven wrong. Korra practically scoffed at the gall of the man. The house smelt of cinnamon and nutmeg and looked as though he didn't move a thing since they ate breakfast. "You got to stay home and I couldn't?" She pouted exaggeratedly as he dropped his keys in a dish beside the door.
Unceremoniously kicking her shoes off into the corner, she crossed her arms while he shrugged off his coat before offering his hands to do the same to her. As much as he was being sweet, this was completely unfair. It surely wasn't his birthday, she reasoned. But then she felt a twinge of guilt. Okay, maybe she was being dramatic and selfish, the poor man has been busy as of late.
"I had to do some errands, but just wait, I have something for you." He said, casting a speedy glance towards Noatak's room before kicking off his own shoes in similar fashion.
Korra's brows raised at that. He certainly was being… not his usual self. And just as the thought conjured in her mind, Tarrlok covered her eyes with his hands. "I-okay…" She stuttered in feigned exhaustion. He guided her forward as he pressed a peck to the top of her head. "This is really unnecessary, you know that right?" Korra replied with a smile. Even as she said it, she knew she relished the idea of being surprised this way.
Was it another present? Oh, oh! Was it something kinky like what Asami gave her earlier that morning? It was plausible with the way he gave Noatak's room a hasty glance. Spirits, where they going to do it in the kitchen?! No, on the table? Or counters? Damn. He really wasn't his usual self today, though Korra wasn't complaining. She liked throwing caution to the wind, knowing full well that Noatak could emerge from his room at any moment.
"I do acknowledge that, but just bear with me. I won't bite." He whispered huskily into her ear. A shiver shot down her spine at the sound of his voice as he turned her the slightest bit to the right. She was right. She knew she was. He was just drawing this out for dramatic affect.
A snort left her, her smile widening in mischief. "I know for a fact that that's a lie." She pointed out with an accusing finger, feeling a cold, wet snout curiously sniff at her other hand at her side. Wiggling her fingers, Korra blindly tried to pet Naga though Tarrlok still guided her forward.
Tarrlok stubbornly remained quite and stopped her in front of… something. When he removed his hands, she cracked open her eyes and took in the display once more. "Happy birthday, sweetheart." He greeted rubbing his hands up and down her arms and pressing a kiss to her cheek. She guessed wrong, but disappointment certainly did not flow through her.
Once again she was rendered speechless. A chocolate cake covered in bits of brownies, a few strawberries placed delicately into a pattern with white chocolate drizzled on top, and two candles shaped together into the number eighteen. Then behind that was a vase intricately put together with pink orchids mixed with white peonies and white lilies, and beside that was a tray of all the delicacies from the stall they visited from the ropeway and a box wrapped in white and black. Taking her silence in what she assumed was a bad sigh, he cleared his throat and began explaining himself. "I know, it's a lot. But we-"
Korra stopped him, turning in his arms and pressing a kiss to his lips before deepening it with a tilt of her head. She ran her hands up his chest and circled them around his neck as she relaxed against his front.
"Thank you," she murmured against his lips when she pulled back. He pressed another light kiss to her lips in response before she turned towards the cake. "Man, everyone is trying to fatten me up today."
He gathered her hair to place it delicately over one shoulder. "What do you mean?" He asked, his voice muffled as he pressed lingering kisses to the side of her neck. With the way he said it, she knew he wasn't truly listening, paying more attention to riling her up, which didn't take much of an effort on either of their parts.
With a tilt of her head, she thought of her day as her hand ruffled Naga's fur. "Well, let's see…" she drawled, a sigh escaping her when his hands came to rest at the swell of her hips and pulled her the tiniest bit closer to his body. "This morning with the breakfast feast, Asami spoiled me with coffee, Mako and Bolin treated me at lunch at this pizza place and bought me a cake that we shared, then you baked me this cake and brought home practically the whole stall from the place we visited a few weeks ago." Korra listed off with each finger.
"Are you complaining?" He questioned, pulling back just as she was leaning into his touch. The bastard. He always toyed with her like this now that they moved past her relentless teasing before their first time together.
"No." She said simply, a content smile curving her lips.
"I thought so." He murmured against her skin, pressing one last kiss to her cheek.
They spent the next few hours in each other's company. She opened the neatly wrapped box and discovered it was a new set of volleyball apparel that was tailored just for her. The fabric felt luxurious, as though it were meant for professionals as it was colored a pale blue, white and black.
After she squeezed the life out of him in a hug they relaxed onto the sofa, eating the sweets Tarrlok brought home and a slice of cake for the both of them, as he worked on a considerably less sizable stack of papers. Noatak came and went, hastily grabbing a few snacks from the cabinets before slinking out of the estate to who knows where his job was.
Of course she was curious, but she didn't care enough to ask as to what his new job entailed. So, she remained blissfully ignorant, putting her attention to watching a new show in complete interest. Halloween had passed, but that didn't stop her from watching the popular series' new season that came out at the cusp of the spooky month. Regret flowed through her veins at only coming to watch it now, but it couldn't be helped.
Korra had to admit, it was certainly good. A tad bit scattered and not necessarily scary or creepy, but good. From witches and warlocks to the… antichrist?... she couldn't be bothered to break her gaze from the television. Even Tarrlok paused in his work to watch the series before taking a bite out of the cake and resuming his revisions and whatnot.
It was nearly eight, four episodes into the show, when she stood from her spot beside Tarrlok, just as he was finishing the last paragraph that needed to be revised. He must have known what she was about to do - change into comfortable clothes, that is - and almost instantly stopped her.
She froze in her step, eyes wide as she waited for him to meet her. And when he did, Korra could practically feel the thrill dripping from him. "Before you change, I have one last surprise for you." He said with a pointed finger, moving past her and into the foyer to slip on his shoes and shrug on his coat.
"Tarrlok, you really don't have to do anything. I think you spoiled me enough." Korra protested sheepishly. He already spent most of his day making food for her and picking flowers from the garden at the ropeway and surprising her that she was getting a bit too overwhelmed. "Where are you going?" She asked in amusement when Tarrlok paced back and forth to find… something he was looking for, Naga hot on his heels and trotting excitedly, while she calmly tied her shoes and draped her coat over her shoulders.
It was when he emerged from the kitchen, tucking his wallet in his back pocket that he held her hand with a smile curving his determined lips. "Come," he responded, guiding her out of the house and into the cold city after pressing a kiss to Naga's head.
With how odd and mysterious he was acting, Korra wasn't sure how to feel getting her 'last surprise' as he put it. Of course she was curious, and it nearly ate at her when she practically saw that smug aura of his shoot to a point of no return.
All throughout their drive to who-knows-where she sweetly prodded at him, attempting to get anything from the stubborn man, but he was callous. Nothing. She resigned herself to merely look out the window and think of all the places he could be taking her, yet with Republic City anything was possible. There were too many places within the city that they haven't visited yet and she doubted he would take her somewhere she'd been before if it was a surprise.
Releasing a long, suffering sigh, Korra watched the twinkling lights pass as they drove along. She had to reflect, now that it was around the end of the year. When she spent this time of year with her family it was filled with nothing but joy and excitement, but as time went on and she spent the recent years in the orphanage, the gloomy days usually exacerbated her depression. And as much as it was a morbid thought, especially now that it was her birthday, she couldn't help herself from feeling miles away from her old self even though it had only been a handful of months.
The depression hasn't left, it wasn't that easy, but she was more or less accepting it, as though she were a new version of herself. A better version.
She didn't stray on the morose yet optimistic thought, not wanting to delve into that rabbit hole, and resolutely took a deep breath in, glancing at Tarrlok's profile as he locked his gaze onto the illuminated road ahead of them.
"You're really not going to give me a hint?" Korra asked, genuinely surprised that he was unusually stubborn today.
He cackled at that. "It's called a surprise for a reason, Korra." He answered, tilting his head to the side as she puffed out her lower lip in a pout, folding her arms across her chest with a huff, and narrowed her gaze suspiciously towards the man beside her.
Another fifteen minutes passed and they wandered aimlessly around the city. Korra was beginning to think he was doing this all to draw out the suspense, just as he had with covering her eyes. She never got an answer as to whether she was right or wrong about guessing that because they finally arrived in front of a shop that flashed red neon lights that said, tattoo.
Korra glanced at him with a smile. "A tattoo parlor?"
"Mhm," He hummed in response, evidently amused at her child-like beam, before getting out of the car and opening her door. "You made it abundantly clear." He added with a smirk, guiding her towards the entrance of the shop with his hand at the small of her back.
"Sorry," she apologized sheepishly, offering him with a tight smile that looked as though she were in desperate search for a restroom.
Chuckling, Tarrlok shook his head to accept her apology. "No need for apologizing. And I know that you don't need me here to get one now, but I decided to get one with you." He said as a matter of factly.
It was strange, mainly because she couldn't see him getting a tattoo. But then she realized something. He claimed he'd been with plenty of women in the past, yet none of them compelled him to do something daring such as this. It wasn't necessarily daring, but she considered it was since the ink was permanent and pain was associated with the process. A surge of pride hit her at the thought that she managed to break the oh-so-composed Tarrlok.
Korra cooed as he grasped the cold, metal knob. "Tarrlok, your charming side is showing."
When he opened the door for her once again, she saw him offer her a confused yet teasing expression, the red and warm lights playing on his handsome features all too nicely. "Am I not charming all the time?" He questioned with a smirk.
Of course out of all times in the day, it had to be now that he looked exceptionally attractive. Don't get her wrong, she found him all too handsome, but spirits those stupid lights were doing something to her that she couldn't, moreso shouldn't, think about in public. "Shut up," she blurted, shoving him lightly.
Rock music was playing in the background and everything felt rustic, maybe even a little vintage with the given decor. A tattoo artist - out of the three in the establishment - sat at the front desk, tracing a design for a client who waited anxiously at the back table, and looked up from his work at the sound of a bell ringing, signaling a new customer.
Korra waved awkwardly to the man while Tarrlok stood beside her eying the multiple folders splayed on the counter with designs tucked into the plastic sleeves. The man behind the desk asked for any particular design they had in mind, to which Korra shook her head and Tarrlok nodded. To say she was taken aback by his response was an understatement. Out of all people, she never would have guessed Tarrlok as a man who would mar his precious body with ink. Hmm. She must have pegged him the wrong way. And to say he already thought of a design, she had to raise her brows and widen her eyes at that.
The man paused at his work, advising Korra to look through the folders if she found anything she liked while Tarrlok consulted with another tattoo artist in the back, playing a game on his phone.
She sifted through four folders, looking at the designs with interest and strayed on a few, only to repeatedly return to one that caught her eye. It wasn't until Tarrlok sat beside her, finished and satisfied with what the artist conjured up on a piece of paper, that he curiously watched her flip through the plastic.
Knowing full well that he was observing her in what she assumed was content, she pointed at the design she liked. It was lineart of a snake, simple and cute. "I like this one. It would look awesome around here." She motioned towards the curve underneath her breast.
Tarrlok flushed at that and she couldn't stop the chuckle that left her. He certainly relished the idea if that pink tint on his cheeks were of any indication. "I-um…" He stuttered, looking away and coughed into his hand before composing himself and asking, "Does it mean anything?"
Smirking, she shook her head. "No, it just looks cool." Pausing, she glanced back at the design, thinking of his question before adding, "And you know not every tattoo has to have a meaning behind it." She pointed out, watching him from the corner of her eye as he draped an arm around the back of the sofa and crossed his legs.
"You make a valid point." He agreed with nod, one of the only times she knew he admitted being wrong without outwardly saying it. It was also one of the only times she felt him actually relax against her in public with the tattoo artist at the desk directly in front of them consistently looking up at them as he stretched his neck, as well as the patron in the back and the two other artists behind a wall. She had to wonder though, did he offer them a hefty tip to keep their mouths shut? She wasn't exactly sure, but she decided to keep herself in the dark this time. Wanting to relieve herself from stress and worry about their relationship and school and everything else that could possibly happen.
But then it occurred to her, curiosity piqued, as to what his design was.
"What about you?" She asked, looking at him with curious eyes.
He shrugged, as though it were nothing of importance. "I was thinking the roman numerals of four and twenty-five on my shoulder blade." Tarrlok answered. And when Korra didn't respond, still watching him but this time in slight confusion. "The day my mother died." He said, feeling the need to explain himself.
The mood abruptly turned more serious despite the rock music playing and the laughter they heard in the back. Without saying another word, and before they lapsed into a tense silence, Korra playfully punched him on the shoulder before muttering a, "You're such a sap, come on." She tugged at his hand as she pointed at the design to the tattoo artist.
The whole process took a little over an hour and even though she felt warm air circulating through the shop, it did nothing to quell the shivers coursing through her body when she lifted her shirt and felt the cold mix with the sharp pokes of the needles. It wasn't as bad as she heard it was, but she did have to wonder how Tarrlok was handling the pain. She knew he was a baby when it came to these things, and even when she lightly punched his shoulder, he'd flinch and rub at the site as though she stabbed him.
Music filtered through her and the tattoo artist occasionally asked her questions to fill the silence, but it wasn't until she was nearly done that she saw Tarrlok's head poke out from the small wall that divided them to watch her as he buttoned his shirt. Her heart raced, for reasons beyond her, that she had to look away from him and onto the ink the tattoo artist was wiping away with one final sweep of his gloved hand.
He rubbed the tender area with some sort of gel before wrapping it in plastic. And while Tarrlok paid for the tattoos and received instructions on how to care for the ink for the next few weeks or so, Korra gazed lovingly at the ink in the mirror that hung on a door. Giddiness ran through her veins and a smile plastered itself on her face. There was no denying it was beautiful. It was placed on her ribs, the snake curling and twisting along the curve of her right bust.
And when they finally exited the parlor, the brisk breeze striking their warm cheeks, Korra couldn't contain herself. She wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight embrace, his body went taut at the sudden movement before relaxing and circling his own arms around her waist.
"I love it." She breathed softly, the smile still plastered on her face as she looked at him with glittering eyes.
He pressed a featherlight kiss to her forehead. "Good," Tarrlok said simply, regarding her the same way she was to him. Her heart fluttered. There was no denying that she was floating on cloud nine at that moment. All she felt was his warmth, his body innocently pressed against hers, and her unconsciously chewing at her lower lip. It was perfect. The moment couldn't get any more perfect.
The three words were right at the tip of her tongue, but she suppressed the temptation. She'd only look like a fool for saying it, and opted for something more rational. "I know I said this a lot today, but thanks."
"No problem, sweetheart. I just want you to be happy." He murmured, the softest of smiles curving his lips, the most she ever seen that endearing smile on the man in one day since moving to the city.
"I am." Korra proclaimed, hoping to the spirits above that he couldn't feel her heart pounding against her chest. And it only intensified when she saw Tarrlok open his mouth as though he wanted to say something more.
Instead, he let out a soft sigh, his breath coming out in warm clouds and breathed a, "Let's head home."