Path Towards Absolution

by Midnight Hour Blue

From scrutiny to heartbreaking losses after his fall from grace, Tahno contemplates ending it all 6 months after the fact. A motorcycle-bound cop thwarts his efforts when he attempts to jump into the waters of one of Republic City's river channels. An officer he's familiar with—an ex-rival from a former life. Full description inside.

37. Putting the Puzzle Back Together

Korra could tell Naga felt invigorated after getting in a good, long run. She got the sense her canine companion had been cooped up lately, and the run was something she'd long needed. They'd both needed it, Korra acknowledged, as she instructed Naga to ease into a slower canter. The Avatar also acknowledged the fact that Asami seemed to need it as well as she reined the polar bear dog in to aim her towards a specific direction, and told Naga to pick up the pace again.

"Might as well get the confrontation with Tahno over with!" Korra shouted over the wind.

"Okay!" Asami shouted back.

Naga reached the region near Kanani's abode in no time it seemed. They almost scared Kanani witless along the way. Korra brought Naga to an abrupt halt when she caught sight of the woman.

"Avatar Korra," Kanani calmed her breathing. "What brings you around here?"

"We were actually gonna stop by and see if your son was in," Korra helped Asami dismount before jumping off Naga's back. "Heard from a source he came back with you, and that he's got info I need to know. Is he around?"

"He's either home or out practicing his bending forms, as he's been struggling with them lately." Kanani replied, calming down her nerves while eying Naga. "I can show you in, see if he's there. If not, would you mind waiting—or is there something more pressing you need to address elsewhere?"

"Nope—got the whole evening free, so if we have to, we can wait," Korra replied.

Kanani smiled. "Will...your canine companion cause any trouble if she were to wait outside?"

Korra shook her head, noticing the woman's nervousness around Naga and suspecting that might be a familial trait. "Naga won't be any trouble. She's pretty tame—unless you threaten me anyways."

"I wouldn't think to do something of that nature," Kanani told her. While she was busy unlocking the door, Korra gave Naga a small bit of verbal comfort and then followed Asami and Kanani through the entryway. "He must be in, since there's a fire burning in the pit, and his jacket's right beside it," Kanani noted, "And he must have a guest here with him."

Muffled noises emerged from the next room over. The two young women jerked their heads in that direction, picking up a certain distinction in the quality of the noise. They in unison uttered, "Guest?"

"Maybe he finally went out and met a nice water tribe girl, or boy—whichever he prefers." Kanani said, smiling contentedly just before she directed her attention towards the kitchen area. Meanwhile, Asami and Korra were plagued by curiosity. Even considering his flirtatious nature in the past, could Tahno really have moved on that quickly—?

"If he's really—this might make confronting him for the information more complicated," Asami uttered.

Korra frowned. "What I can't believe is how quickly he'd go back to his old ways—especially after everything he's been through," she remarked. "After all the shit he and Mako put me through—ugh." She balled her fists, stamping towards the door that stood between the two spaces. She reached for the doorknob and hastily twisted it, pulling the door forward with almost enough force to stray it from its hinges. "I'm going to give him a piece of my mind about—" As Asami cautiously approached, she noticed the shocked gasps emerging from beyond the doorway—and Korra's shoulders stiffening.

"So, who is—" The words froze on Asami's lips as she joined the Avatar in the doorway. Korra began cursing under her breath and backing away from the doorframe to head back towards the fire pit while Asami stood there staring straight ahead, immobilized by shock. "How—?" Asami redirected her eyes. She reached into her coat, retrieving a length of red fabric that was safely stored in the inner lining pocket and held it up. "I just wanted you to know—I found your scarf in my wardrobe and I...wanted to return it to you...when you're ready, that is—Mako."

Asami backed away from the door, grabbing a hold of the handle and bringing it shut while keeping her eyes averted at the same time. Korra was still cursing when Asami came to sit beside her by the fire pit.

"That—I wasn't expecting that," Asami uttered as she sat down.

Korra stopped cursing and looked her way. "That sure did make confronting him more complicated. I wasn't expecting Mako to be here." She shook her head to clear away the awkward spell. She aimed her attention towards the next room. "You better get dressed and get your ass out here quickly, pretty boy—cause you and I need to talk!"

XoXoX

"Mako?"

"Hm?"

"When we're—" thrust—"Finished here, there's something—" Another. "I need to tell—"

Creak. The door shot open with force; a figure filled the doorway—a very shocked and unexpected presence. What followed was the rush to pull out while scrambling for some composure, cover and an explanation—all while the eyes of the Avatar were glued on the chaotic scene her intrusion had created. Asami's sudden appearance only made it worse—

After Asami closed the door, the two young men settled down a bit. Tahno had hastily thrown on a robe while Mako was hurriedly cleaning up before shoving each limb into the holes of his boxers, pulling them up, and repeating the process with his trousers.

While Mako threw his shirt onto his shoulders, Tahno took a seat on the end of his bed. "Damn—I wasn't expecting that kind of intrusion." He heard Korra shouting from the other room. "What does she mean she and I need to talk? Was she planning to chastise me for something—is that why she stormed in here?!"

Mako shrugged his shoulders after he buttoned up his shirt. "She hasn't spoken much to me lately, so I couldn't tell you."

"Ugh," Tahno shook his head irritably. "Better make this quick I guess—see what they want. There's something I wanted to tell you—which I'll get to once they're gone."

"Wonder how they figured out where you were?" Mako said.

"My guess—Jinora," Tahno shrugged. "Let's get this over with."

When the two were composed enough to join the two young women by the fire pit, they noticed the number of guests had risen since the Avatar's arrival. Bolin was awkwardly staring at his brother as Mako took a seat next to Tahno across the way from him. Korra's critical eyes were on Tahno meanwhile, while Asami had her eyes closed, hand to her face. Eska sat there looking completely clueless.

"So—you wanted to speak to me?" Tahno addressed the Avatar.

Korra nodded. "Tarrlok said there's something vital you need to tell me—something the Face Stealer told you. What I wanna know is—what is it, and why did you bother keeping it from us if it's important?"

Koh, the Face Stealer—every cell in Tahno's body froze up upon mention of the Face Stealer. He stared at Korra with bewildered icy blues.

She crooked an eyebrow, her frown receiving extra definition. "C'mon—what is it? Spill pretty boy—we haven't got all day, and I'm not exactly feeling patient right now." Tahno's tongue felt leaden, and Korra's sharp ocean shallows glare was getting at his nerves.

Asami broke the tension, once more holding up the precious scarf that belonged to Mako and stretching to hand it over to him. "I—I thought you might like to have this back," her voice was shaky, embarrassed. "I—know it's important to you." Mako took it gratefully from her.

"So, Tahno—what'd you learn? What'd the Face Stealer say that's freezing up your tongue?" Korra drew the attention back to her one on one with the waterbender. "Feel guilty because it has something to do with how Mako can get his bending back—and you're ashamed of the fact that you bolted before you could tell him about it?"

That helped free Tahno's tongue up. He got to his feet. "Yeah—maybe I do know a way for him to get his bending back. Maybe Koh did tell me about a solution." His icy blues shot in Korra's direction, becoming sharp and intensely glacial. "But it's not as simple as you might think."

"You know—?" Mako stared at him incredulously.

Korra hastily rose to her feet. "What do you know—and why are you holding back?" She got up in his face, taking the opposite position of their confrontation at Narook's—she being the intimidator while he became the challenged. She grabbed him firmly by the shoulders, staring him hard in the eye. "After what I just witnessed in the other room a few minutes ago—" She was trembling with anger. "Do you have the gall to tell me you care about Mako at the same time that you're denying him the opportunity to get his firebending back? Are you trying to get back at him for doing the same thing to you?"

"No—it isn't anything like that!" Tahno protested in response. "It's because I care about him too much that I have hesitated to tell him about it!"

Korra narrowed her eyes. "Explain. This better be good."

"Koh wants Mako to be able to commit in a relationship," Tahno shot back at her. "Wonder why I bolted? I thought I'd get in the way of you guys rebuilding what he—I damaged. Thought if I wasn't there—you guys would be able to resolve the faults my influence created." He sunk to his knees. "Koh said it was me or you—and I'd already chosen to back off and let you have him. I thought...keeping quiet until things blew over was the best option."

"That's what Koh wants?" Korra voice lost its demanding tone.

"It's because of the mess between you, him and Asami," Tahno explained. "Koh thinks Mako's too indecisive with his relationships, and he doesn't like how it's impacted you—or your choices as the Avatar. It's either Mako learns from those mistakes and does something about it that satisfies the Face Stealer, or Mako faces whatever consequences that Koh has for failing to do so." He looked to Mako. "He's giving you till the next solstice to get your act together before he makes the choice whether you get your bending back or not. Said he has it in his possession, and it'll be his decision either way. I—just didn't want to make matters worse."

Korra backed off. "I guess...that makes sense. Why you hesitated so long to say anything—I mean." She managed to grab Tahno's gaze. "But—if you'd stuck around a little longer, you wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble."

"Yeah—Mako told me you broke it off with him the day I left," Tahno muttered.

"That why you were questioning me constantly during our talk earlier when I first got here?" Mako brought Tahno's attention towards him. "Because of what Koh told you?"

Tahno slowly nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, if that's the case—" Mako got to his feet, approached the waterbender, knelt down on his knees, grabbed Tahno by the shoulders, and kissed him right there in front of everybody. After they parted, he added, "—I guess I'll just have to commit."

"Would anyone be up to staying for dinner?" Kanani spoke up, a large pot in her hand. "It has yet to be cooked, but when it's done, there should be enough for everyone."

"I guess we'll stick around that long. Then I'd like to head out," Korra said.

While Asami, Mako, Eska and Bolin got to their feet to help with dinner preparations—with Bolin keeping Pabu from getting underfoot and causing trouble—Korra pulled Tahno off to the side.

"I have a few things I need to say—and I want you to listen," Korra said, voice hushed.

"Yeah?" Tahno cocked an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"First off—Ming wanted me to tell you he'd always be hanging around you when you're in the city when we met up on Air Temple Island before I left," Korra said. "Second, if you do anything to Mako—hurt him, go back to your old ways and cheat on him, or anything like that...you'll be hearing about it from me."

The Avatar softened up her expression then, something of somber concession.

"With his bending gone at the moment—you understand him better right now than I do. I've lost my bending before too, but I wasn't forced to reflect on it in the same way you had to," Korra continued. "I just—can't relate to what he's going through right now, and it makes it extra awkward to be with—around him for me. Also—this whole thing has made me reflect on a few things I hadn't before." She looked down. "Y-yeah...take care of him, of...yourself, and—remember what I just said."

The icy-eyed waterbender stared at her without the ability to formulate words in response—which the young Avatar didn't give him the chance to then anyways as she walked off and joined the rest in dinner preparations. Instead he continued to stand there speechlessly and without the ability to move for several seconds as he watched his unexpected group of friends help his mother in dinner preparations.

After he was dispelled from his mental stupor and while everyone else was preoccupied, Tahno quietly slipped into his room, changing out of his robe and dressing in something more appropriate.

XoXoX

When dinner was finished the party headed outdoors. Korra reintroduced Tahno to Naga—as a sort of initiation for becoming a part of the Krew. His reaction wasn't near as flurried as the one prior, although he was still nervous around the large polar bear dog. The reaction was enough to warrant a few stifled grins. Korra assured him that Naga would be friendly with him—as long as Naga didn't perceive him as a threat. Tahno kept on his best behavior around Naga for the remainder of the Avatar's stay to prevent any kind of confrontation with he and the polar bear dog that he wasn't comfortable dealing with.

Bolin parted with Eska, but not without saying a round of goodnights before leaving with what was looking to be his blossoming new romance. Korra and Asami lingered a little while longer, hashing out a few details with the guys before departing. After Mako and Tahno headed back in, Korra got Asami resituated on Naga's back, and they took off.

"Korra—are you really going to be alright with those two being together?" Asami asked over the flooded rush of wind. "I saw you pull Tahno off to the side to speak with him before dinner, and you didn't look happy with him or this whole arrangement."

"Yeah, I'll be fine with it once I get used to it," Korra assured her. "I've managed to get past my issues with those two—and get over Mako...for the most part." She tightened her grip on Asami's waist unexpectedly. "This whole ordeal has forced me to reflect on a few things—including a few important things I hadn't believed were important before. Made me realize that sometimes...things happen for a reason."

"Where do we head to now?" Asami asked her.

"I was thinking my parents place, but first—would you care to take a midnight stroll with me?" Korra asked her. "If you thought the Northern Water Tribe was beautiful under the moonlight—you're in for a treat with some really awesome scenery right here in the south pole."

"Okay," Asami replied. "If you think it's worth seeing—I wouldn't mind seeing it."

"Good." Korra said, navigating Naga onto a specific path before sending her into a full on lope in that direction. Naga picked up speed until they reached their destination, a cliff side overlooking the ocean. "This is the spot where I first spoke to Aang," she informed Asami as she helped her off Naga's back. "The place where I'd been at my lowest—and where I regained hope." Korra walked up to the edge, taking Asami's hand and leading her there. "Did I ever tell you I was thinking of jumping off this cliff after I lost my bending, that—I wanted to end myself right here before Aang intervened?"

"N-no." Asami looked at her, horrified. "I hope you're not thinking of doing that now—especially with me as a witness."

"No, of course not," Korra looked back at her, smiling reassuringly. "This spot became sacred to me after Aang's visit. I'm here because of that—not because I'm down."

Asami sighed in relief. She looked around. "It is a beautiful scene."

"Yeah, it is," Korra agreed. Both stared out at the moonlit ripples on the ocean far below, the surface acting as numerous ever-shifting mirrors for the moon's ivory beams. The sky was lit with a multitude of stars against its inky blue-black canvas—a picturesque view worthy of a postcard.

While Asami was taking in the scenery, Korra shot quick glances in the beautiful raven-haired woman's direction, putting extra mental emphasis on the word beautiful in addition to Asami's phrased scene in her mind with each of those instant glances. She felt the warm glow of rouge spreading across her cheeks as she pondered those thoughts and took those glimpses.

After a point Korra felt the need to compose her nerves, gathering her eyes towards her twiddling fingers and forcing the heated flush from her features.

After a long pause of taking in the sights, Korra finally cleared her throat. "Asami, this whole thing with Tahno...it made me reevaluate my relationship with Mako—and other people I'm close to—especially...you." She grabbed Asami's full attention. "At first I thought of you as a rival when you and he bumped into each other and you guys became an item. Seeing you two being all lovey-dovey—it got under my skin, I'll admit. I thought it was because of me being jealous of you—of you being with him, but—as I've had time to think over everything...including our past rivalry..." she trailed a moment. "I realized that wasn't it...exactly. Yeah—I was jealous, but...not because Mako was with you, but...because you were with Mako."

She looked out to sea, a pause falling before she continued. "This whole mess...it's made me realize I've got feelings for you. That—it might've been part of the reason why I so badly wanted to help you rebuild your rep and Future Industries, and—reconcile after everything me and Mako put you through."

"If that's true—what did you confront Tahno about earlier?" Asami asked her.

"I gave him a warning about making sure he doesn't screw this thing up between him and Mako by going back to his old ways and the like. We might not be together romantically anymore, but I still love Mako, and I don't want to see him get hurt unless he brings it onto himself," Korra told her. "Me and pretty boy—Tahno—will probably never be really close, but—now that he's with Mako...I've gotta compromise and try to get along with him. Doesn't mean I've gotta be enthusiastic about it."

Asami said, "I see."

Korra looked to the sky, where Princess Yue as the Moon Spirit shown brilliantly above, thankful that she was free of her Avatar duties and dealing with spirits for the time being. If it were for one night, Korra wanted to act like any other young adult. She looked to the young woman beside her with a smile, her heart picking up its pace as she continued to do so in silence. It did flip-flops when Asami turned her gaze towards her suddenly.

"Um...I know that you're not as adjusted to the cold weather here as I am, so—" Korra began to say, but Asami shut her up midway into it. Asami's arms were wrapping around the Avatar's shoulders as her sweet tasting lips connected with Korra's. Whatever Korra was saying about the cold became irrelevant as Asami drew herself flush against the Avatar's frame, exploring Korra's oral orifice deeper than she dared to before.

Korra's arms clutched Asami around the waist once the situation registered into her consciousness. She fought to gain some advantage in their oral wrestling, her tongue duking it out with the other. Her hands were trailing up Asami's back until the paler woman pulled herself slightly from the embrace.

"I love the scenery, I really do, but—I was getting a little chilly," Asami admitted. "Do you think—we can head back? It's getting late, and—"

"Yeah—we can warm up back at my parents place," Korra smiled. "It's been a long night, and—we've got a lot to catch each other up on. I—haven't had the chance to tell you all about my journey around the Earth Kingdom, and—I have to wonder...after what we witnessed earlier at Kanani's with the guys...have you ever slept with another girl before?" The last part was emphasized by redness rapidly shooting across the Avatar's face, spreading from cheek to cheek like wildfire.

Asami flushed rouge just as quickly, and just as bright. "N-no, I haven't, but—" She shed some of the sheepishness with a slightly mischievous grin. "—that doesn't mean I'm not willing to try it out and learn a few things in the process."

"Let's head back then," Korra suggested, leading the way back to where Naga was waiting. She helped Asami up onto Naga's back once more, perching right behind her before giving the polar bear dog the signal to head back home.

XoXoX

After parting company with his brother, her cousin and the rest of their friends, Bolin and Eska decided to take a stroll under the illumination of Yue's moonlight before turning in for the evening. Eska had insisted, and—especially after the move she first initiated following Pabu's introduction—Bolin couldn't think of a reason not to. Actually, because of that—he anticipated it more than anything else.

Pabu rode on Eska's shoulder as they strolled under the moon in some aimless direction hand in hand. Eventually they came upon the cliff side overlooking the ocean—its vast reflective surface stretching as far as the horizon line. They stood there, entranced by the moonlit beauty for a long pause; Eska felt at home in the moon's ivory embrace—and with the young earthbender with his arm draped around her.

"Are you really going to be comfortable with your brother hooking up with that waterbending guy—Tahno—like that?" Eska's question ended the peaceful quiet. Bolin pivoted his head to meet his emerald gaze with powder blues.

"It's gonna be awkward for me—I have to admit—but...if Korra's gonna be okay with letting him go, I guess…I'll be okay with letting my bro be with Tahno," Bolin replied. "I mean—if that's what Mako really wants…I'm not gonna object. After everything that's happened—"

"He deserves some happiness?" Eska finished his thought for him. He nodded, smiling.

"Yeah." Bolin brought his hand up to the side of her face then. "We all do." As he leaned in closer to claim the tribal princess's lips, his fire ferret companion chose that moment to switch from riding on the water tribe princess's shoulders to the broader ones of the young earthbender. Pabu nestled in the space between the earthbender's neck and jacket hood as the two connected.

Unconsciously, Eska managed to avoid unseating the fire ferret by placing her hands comfortingly on the young earthbender's shoulders, while Bolin took the opportunity to rest one of his on her shoulder—the other bringing her closer with a palm pressing against the small of her back. Neither bothered to be disturbed by their otherworldly observer overhead, sinking into the tender yet growing passionate exchange without interruption.

It was upon the chill finally getting to Bolin did they bother to part, call it a night, and head back to Korra's parents place for the night.

XoXoX

It was past midnight by the time Korra and Asami got Naga situated in her den for the night and wished the polar bear dog sweet dreams before heading for Korra's parents abode. They were several feet away from the decently lit entryway when the hand gripping Korra's forced her to a halt. The Avatar turned to stand face to face with Miss Sato, a questioning eyebrow shooting up in response to the other woman's actions.

"Asami—I thought you wanted to head in to warm up," Korra stated. "Why'd you wanna stop here?"

Asami bit her lip nervously as her gaze met the Avatar's. "Korra, I—" She hesitated, her nerves momentarily getting to her. She then blurt it out all at once, "Are your parents going to be okay with—us?"

Korra stared back at the beautiful young woman confoundedly, mentally digesting her insistent inquiry carefully. As she thought it over, she acknowledged that Asami made a valid point—one she hadn't bothered to ponder previously. "I—haven't thought about it," she admitted it. "I've been so busy with my Avatar duties lately that I—"

"Korra—" Asami looked troubled as she held onto the Avatar's gaze. "After the ordeal with my father—I don't know if I could handle your parents possibly rejecting me—or blaming me for swaying you away from Mako towards—"

"Asami," Korra brought her hand up reassuringly to the side of the other woman's face. "My parents are pretty laidback about things like this—I think. It might take them some time to adjust to the situation, but—I don't think they'll reject or ridicule you—or us for this." She rested her other hand on Asami's waist as she drew her face closer to the paler woman's. "Relax. I know that my parents like you already." The young Avatar didn't hesitate in that moment to bring her face in closer to Asami's until her lips were clasping onto the other young woman's.

Asami let her nervous tension slip as she comfortably grasped onto the Avatar's shoulders and sunk further into the electrifying kiss. She would've even remained oblivious to the intrusion of their privacy if it weren't for the startled voice that would cut through to their consciousnesses ever so abruptly.

The startled tone in Senna's voice broke the two girls apart from each other in an instant, shame brought to both their features as they averted their eyes towards the icy ground. Both remained quiet as they waited for some kind of verbal reprimanding, but looked up in astonishment when nothing came.

When the two managed to meet Korra's mother's gaze, they noticed her eyes were as wide as saucepans, her miniaturized irises darting bewilderingly back and forth between the two girls. They realized then that Senna had been rendered speechless.

About a minute or so later Senna managed to regain use of her voice. "Tonraq, honey—I think our daughter has something she needs to tell us."

XoXoX

Once the rest of the Krew went their separate ways, the two young men figured it was well past time to head indoors. Mako couldn't take the evening chill for much longer, and Tahno figured it was time to head in and warm up—and resume where they left off before the Avatar's rude interruption. But first—the waterbender figured they'd get in some time warming up by the fire pit and visit with his mother for a few before they resumed their earlier activities; on their way back in Mako insisted that they explain a few things to her so they wouldn't incur an interruption on Kanani's part from unabated inquisitiveness.

Kanani was putting away the last of the dinner utensils while the two took a seat by the still roaring fire. She looked upon them with a smile as she joined them there, sitting across the way and watching the firelight dance off their faces during a brief pause of silence.

"Well…I'm guessing that you've noticed a few things by now—" Tahno began speaking up.

Kanani interrupted him. "It turned out that you two were going to be more than just friends after all." Her teal irises wandered from her son to the ex-firebender by his side, lingering for an extra amount of time on their clasped hands. "Which, I believe—from the way you talked about Mako when you first mentioned him to me—was that you wanted your friendship with him to become more romantically involved."

Mako looked down at his fidgety fingers as the waterbender gripped that hand more firmly before aiming auburn orbs in Kanani's direction, eyes meeting with teal orbs awkwardly. "You—really won't mind?"

Kanani kept his gaze, an assuring smile evident at the depth of her eyes. "No."

"Mom—why have you always been more accepting of my…relationship choices when dad was always getting on my case about it back in the day?" Tahno questioned her, giving the ex-firebender's hand a squeeze unconsciously with his. "I know we got along pretty good while I was growing up, but—I thought it'd irk you at least a little bit that I'm not gonna settle down and have a family like pops had insisted I do." The waterbender saw something spark in his mother's eyes for an instant when they met up with his icy blues.

Kanani looked to Mako then. "Did Tahno ever mention that my side of the family's from the Foggy Swamp?"

Mako nodded. "Yeah—he's mentioned it."

"Unlike customs in Republic City—the people of the Foggy Swamp Tribe are more open and accepting of things like this," Kanani began to explain, frosty nostalgia overtaking her teal eyes and bringing an indicative smile to her lips. "Customs are much more casual and tight-knit in the community I grew up in; everyone looked out for each other, and—I was particularly close with your grandparents and uncle. Because the culture was always more closely linked to nature and to each other…there just was no need for the prejudices of more civilized societies—I guess you could say."

"If the place was so great for you then—why'd you even bother to leave?" Tahno broke his mother from her reminiscing. "Not that I'm saying I would've wanted to be raised there or anything, considering you forced me to spend some time there every year until my teens—"

"I never told you this, but—your father and I…we actually met out there. We—actually had planned to bring you up there, but—you were ill when you were born due to complications I had while in labor, and—the healers of the Swamp didn't have the specialized treatments you needed that Republic City had. Those complications I had…were also the reason why you never had siblings—why I…tried my hardest to be close with you even as you and your father dealt with…complications," Kanani told him. "Once we settled in the city afterwards, we just—couldn't change our minds and return."

"So—that's what you meant when you told me it was too uncivilized for you out there," Tahno stated.

"Yes." Kanani told him. She looked to the ex-firebender then. "Besides the nature of my upbringing—I also am appreciative of all that you have done for Tahno that's saved his life—and the fact that you managed to break him from his recent patterns of frustration and seclusion. It makes me happy whenever I see that he's happy." She got to her feet then and approached her son, taking a seat beside him as she said, "While I was running some errands in town earlier I ran into Kya. I'll be heading out to her place shortly. She wanted to accompany me when I go to port to wait for Unrak's return—as well as chat about a few things."

"So I guess you'll be heading out then?" Tahno asked. She nodded. "For a few hours—or are you pulling an all-nighter at Kya's? I think you told me the hubby's coming in tomorrow morning—"

"Kya insisted I spend the night. It's getting late as it is, and—I guess she figured you two would need some privacy for the evening," Kanani responded, a smile coming to her in acknowledging that fact. She looked quickly at Mako, "She mentioned that you, the Avatar, and the rest of your friends came with her when she arrived." She brought her hand up to the side of her son's head with a warm smile then, running her fingers through the soft, dark locks he'd inherited from her. "If you're planning to grow your hair out—you should speak with Unrak about tribal custom styles. I recall you being more conscious of it's styling—and it'd be such a shame for it to remain unruly if you intend to keep growing it out."

"I'm gonna get it cleaned up once I get back to the city. It's about time I started putting an effort back into it a bit again," Tahno informed her. "Whenever that is—I guess I…intended to return with Mako and the rest when they headed back there."

"Okay—I…presumed that might be what you intended to do—return to Republic City, that is," Kanani withdrew her hand from her son's face and got to her feet. "Were you planning to stay the night, Mako?"

Mako nodded. "Yeah."

Kanani nodded in response. "I'll—leave you to your privacy so you two can—reconnect after your long absence from each other." She left to grab something from her bedroom. When she returned she had her jacket on and a bag in hand.

"Hey, when the hubby comes into port, tell him hi for me, and that—maybe I'll consider going on one of those expeditions with him when I come down to visit sometime," Tahno spoke as his mother reached for the doorknob. She turned to face him and the ex-firebender then.

"I'm sure Unrak would look forward to that—and would have no problems if Mako decided to join in as well," Kanani responded, smiling. "Speaking of bonding with family—I know its not exactly the kind of environment you're particularly fond of spending time in, but—I'd like to encourage you, when you get a chance, to visit with your grandparents and the rest of my family. Even while I've been here I've kept in contact with them, and I know…they'd love having you—even if for just a few days." She worked on raveling her long tresses in a loose bun before covering her head with her hood as she spoke.

"I'll—think about it, mom," Tahno replied.

Kanani smiled at him as she reached for the door handle. "I'll see you both in the morning. Keep warm."

Mako turned his attention towards the waterbender as the lock of the door clicked behind her. "So—are you thinking about getting this all hacked off, or—" He ran his own fingers through those dark locks then. "—were you thinking about returning to that style you sported back during your probending days?"

"Don't think I could go short like you, Fireboy," Tahno replied with a grin. "I'm not going back to the exact style from the glory days either though. I'm thinking…something that's maintainable, looks good—whether I choose to use my bending to manipulate it or not. Probably a more casual—and slightly shorter—version of the glory days 'do."

"Go with whatever works for you," Mako responded, adding with a hint of mischief. "Glad you're not getting it all chopped off though; you wouldn't leave me with much for my fingers to run through if you did."

"Speaking of that—want to pick up where we left off before Korra and Asami showed up?" Tahno asked as he got to his feet. "They didn't really give me a chance to show you my better moves." Mako hesitated a moment, eyes connecting with icy blues.

The ex-firebender then stood up, smiling. "Yeah—I'd like that."

Tahno didn't say anything more, only grinning as he led the ex-firebender by the hand towards his room.

XoXoX

Tonraq had looked at his wife and the two shamefaced girls standing at the door quizzically when he joined Senna's side. Senna didn't bother to explain—instead insisting that the two young women head indoors while she pulled her husband off to the side to speak softly with him about something. While her parents quietly discussed matters between themselves, Korra and Asami assembled near the fire pit at the center of their abode and nervously waited. After an eternity-extending period the Avatar's parents joined them. More silence seemed to linger on in that increasingly tense space—

Korra couldn't take the tension any longer. "So—are you going to criticize me for what mom saw, or are we gonna manage to get through this ordeal peacefully?"

Tonraq looked at his daughter, somewhat awkwardly. "Korra—we're clueless what to make of this situation. Considering the fact that before you went off to speak with that spirit in the Spirit World that you and Mako were dating—"

Korra nervously looked down at her hands when she interjected, "Well, you see—dad, mom…something about that recently changed, and um—Mako and I aren't exactly—"

"Hey, did I hear somebody mention my bro's name?" In an instant, unexpected interruption—the party's current conversation came to a halt when they heard the door slam and take note of Bolin and Eska's arrival. The earthbender caught the tension awkwardly hanging in the air as he looked from face to face. "Um—Mako's not in any trouble…is he?"

Tonraq spoke up after a brief pause. "Mako's not in any trouble—yet."

Senna further explained. "I caught Korra and Asami kissing near the entryway, and Korra was just about to explain the current situation between she and Mako."

Both Bolin and Eska shot a baffled glance in Korra and Asami's direction before the earthbender caught the Avatar's parents' gaze. "Uh, hm...yeah—that sitch's a little complicated to explain. Um…Korra and bro had some issues come up between them lately. While she was stuck in the Spirit World, Mako and that other guy friend of ours, Tahno, ended up taking a romantic interest in each other, and…bro and Korra had a falling out with each other after the fact." He looked over to Asami and Korra then, awkwardly adding, "Didn't know that Korra and Asami had hooked up though."

Korra shot to her feet, bringing all their attention her direction then. "Look—mom, dad…Mako and I broke up after the Hiroshi incident, and—after…dealing with Mako falling for another guy—behind my back—it got me to thinking about a lot of things. Things I hadn't even previously realized. It made me aware of feelings I hadn't understood before." She side glanced Asami's direction. "I ended up realizing that I like Asami as more than a friend—in a romantic kinda way. I'm always gonna love Mako…but things between us are over now, and—I want to be with Asami, and—you're just gonna have to learn to deal with it!"

"Korra—" Senna paused, looking to her husband helplessly then.

"You're the Avatar, Korra—and the Avatar's role is to act as the bridge between the two realms and also act as a role model for the people while keeping peace amongst the nations," Tonraq spoke in his wife's stead.

"Me being the Avatar makes this especially important to me!" Korra responded sharply. "Maybe when people are made aware of the fact that their Avatar is bisexual, they'll acknowledge that people with similar orientations aren't monsters or abominations—but instead are humans not too different from them, except when it comes to who they end up falling for romantically. Maybe I can be the one to change peoples' perspectives on the matter by living by example!"

"Are you sure this is what you really want?" Senna spoke up in a soft voice.

"Yes, mom—dad…it is." Korra looked back and forth between them. "Are you gonna continue to argue with me—say I'm wrong about this—"

"Korra—we're not saying that you're wrong to come to this decision," Senna interrupted.

"Neither your mother or I have any objections to you wanting to have a romantic relationship with Miss Sato," Tonraq added. "We just want to make sure you to understand the weight of responsibility in your decision."

Korra stared at her parents, flabbergasted for a moment, and then relaxed her nerves before smiling appreciatively. "Yeah—I understand the weight of it. And mom, dad—" she approached them and dragged both in for an unexpected hug. "Thanks."

"Aunt Senna, Uncle Tonraq—its getting late, and I'd like to get set up for the evening—if you don't mind," Eska broke the family embrace with her inquiry.

"Yes—it's well past midnight," Tonraq noted. He looked to his wife. "Why don't you help get Eska settled in for the night while I get arrangements for the others set up?" Senna nodded, showing Eska out of the room while Tonraq headed a separate direction. While Korra's parents were busy getting their guests' accommodations prepared, Bolin pulled Korra and Asami off to the side.

"Korra—is that why you got over the whole sitch with bro and Tahno so easily—because you and Asami developed a thing for each other?" Bolin questioned her.

Korra hesitated a moment before smiling and responding. "Yeah, actually—it kinda is."

"Huh," Bolin shrugged his shoulders then. "You gonna tell Mako about this you guys?"

"U-um—" Asami stammered.

"I—think I'd like to keep this between us for now," Korra spoke up. "I'll tell Mako—and Tahno, I guess—about it when I feel like getting around to it."

"Well—I'll let you guys handle it," Bolin replied with a hint of awkwardness. "So…see you guys in the morning."

"Good night, Bo," Asami called after him as the earthbender left the two alone. Just as the two girls were about to take advantage of their privacy—

"Is Mako coming back here this evening?" Tonraq's voice brought the two to a halt, both turning to face Korra's father sheepishly.

"Nah—don't expect him to be staying here," Korra responded. "I get the feeling he's gonna remain at his new bf's mom's place while we're here."

"Will you be wanting your own space, or will you be staying with Korra tonight?" Tonraq looked to Asami.

"I—I think we'd planned to bunk together," Asami replied, exchanging a quick glance with the young Avatar. She nodded. "If-if that's okay, anyways."

"Korra had Mako staying with her before she left for the Spirit World, so—can't say I can rightfully object," Tonraq replied. "And at least I don't have to worry about my daughter getting pregnant when she's not exactly—ready for it," he added somewhat humorously, although he eyed his daughter rather particularly. He relaxed, and Korra un-tensed. "Just don't make too much noise in there, and get to sleep eventually." He turned to leave. "Goodnight, you two."

When it was just the two of them again Korra got in a quick exchange with Asami before separating from her and taking the other young woman's hand. The Avatar pushed open the door to her room and showed Asami in.

XoXoX

"So—will you be fine without an extra change of clothes for tonight?" Tahno asked the ex-firebender as they took a seat on his bed together. "I mean—when we ran into each other earlier I didn't see a bag on you—so I figured you left it at Kya's or whoever's before you headed this way." He reached out and gingerly unraveled the precious red fabric around Mako's neck before setting it gently aside on the nearby nightstand. "We're similar enough in size that you could probably wear something of mine if you get desperate enough—"

"Don't worry about it, Tahno—I wasn't thinking about wearing anything else tonight," Mako assured him. "I've got all I need right here." He helped the waterbender unbutton his jacket before his fingers were working on the buttons lining the front of the waterbender's shirt. He paused long enough to allow the waterbender to strip his jacket off him. "I've got a bag back at Katara's place—but I don't wanna bother going back for it tonight."

"Fine with me," Tahno worked the ex-firebender's shirt off him before tossing it aside. "Now, Mako—be quiet so we can get back to our lesson." Not giving the ex-firebender a chance to respond, he landed his lips over Mako's mouth, beginning their lesson with a bit of tongue wrestling.

Tahno eventually broke that connection to move down the ex-firebender's neck. The waterbender buried his lips in the crook of Mako's neck, lingering there for a while as he switched between light caresses of his lips and fast lappings of his semi-moist tongue, causing the ex-firebender to close his eyes and release soft moans in pleasure. As the waterbender pressed further in his journey, Mako was blindly working the other man's shirt loose, only managing to get it free once Tahno broke from his downward descent. From there they didn't dawdle with removing their remaining garments—making fast work of what was left before recommencing their previous activities.

Tahno entertained Mako with lively acts of foreplay until the ex-firebender was practically pleading for him to move beyond that point; his body was practically on fire awaiting the moment where they would reach that stage of extreme physical unity with one another. Tahno made one more playful grab on the ex-firebender's lips before he pressed Mako onto his back against the mattress.

Tahno chose to start out with a familiar position to initiate their first connection as he pressed inwardly, using his bending to facilitate the insertion to reduce any possible pain he might inflict upon his partner in the process. As Mako grew accustomed to his partner's length embedded inside him, and the thrusting motions that increased as the two eased into their union, Tahno figured his lover was ready to experiment with new—and possibly exotic—positions.

Tahno ran the ex-firebender through several varying positions—enhancing each experience as much as possible with both physical interactions and the use of his bending. The waterbender found the enticing melody created by the rhythmic slapping of skin against skin mingling with the ex-firebender's exultant responding grunts and moans harmonious to his ears.

Tahno chose to have the last position be their most intimate. He placed Mako in his lap to keep the ex-firebender face to face with him, with Mako's hands grasping the waterbender's shoulders and his legs draped on each side and bent at the knees to give him extra leverage as he created his own thrusting actions on the waterbender's still erect extension. The waterbender aided the ex-firebender in his efforts with his hands prompting his movements while gripping him at the waist. Throughout the process the two lovers continued their passionate mouth-to-mouth exchanges and caresses—severing that connection only when they reached that final climax together.

After reaching that ultimate culmination, the two weary lovers separated from one another to recuperate—spreading out across the waterbender's bed in sweat-coated bliss. When Tahno managed to build up enough energy, he eliminated the excess moisture from their skin and the sheets—redirecting the collection into a nearby container by the bedside before lying down next to the ex-firebender once again.

XoXoX

Korra's room was dark and had an air of desertion upon entering the premises. It had been a while since Korra spent any time in there, she admitted to herself—and she knew without a doubt that she needed to search for a few things to remedy that fact.

Asami set aside her bag before she cautiously approached the bed at the center of the room while Korra searched for the proper instruments. While the young Avatar was busy with her search, she kept Asami occupied by making conversation with her in the process; she told her details about her trip through the Earth Kingdom that she hadn't gotten around to mentioning yet—

"We came across this little town in the middle of the woods where Kya told me Hiroshi recaptured you after you managed to get away," Korra was saying as she was on hands and knees digging through some storage bins kept underneath the bed for some candles. "She told me about how you chose to be recaptured in order to protect Bo from Hiroshi's wrath. Gotta say—considering how many nightmares that creep of a father put you through…that was pretty brave."

"I wasn't about to let my father do to Bo what he did to Mako," Asami replied.

Korra looked up at her then, smiling. "I'm sure Bo's grateful you did that." She did a little more digging—"And at least now we have a way to remedy that situation for Mako. At least—as long as things go good between he and Tahno—enough to satisfy the Face Stealer anyways."

"Here's hoping they can manage to do that—for both their sakes, I guess," Asami stated. Korra let a short bout of laughter before standing then with two candles in hand.

"Don't think that'll be a problem," Korra said as she kept up her candle search. "Hate to admit it, but—those two seem to have this connection with each other that Mako and I never seemed to have. The way he reacted every time Tahno was critically injured, or those moments they tried to sneak with each other when they thought nobody was paying attention, or whenever Tahno'd disappear—how out of sorts Mako'd get over the whole thing…" She set the candles she'd found on the bed beside Asami before continuing her search.

"Tahno's deceased bf Ming filled me in on how Mako'd been acting on the island since he got back—how Mako seemed to be moping around most of the time, hanging around Tahno's room…" She looked up at Asami then, ceasing her search of a moment. "I don't know everything about their interactions with each other while I was stuck in the Spirit World, but—I do know it was enough for them to develop something between them."

"Back on that little village in the woods Kya told me about—" While Korra continued her quest for more candles, she told Asami further details about the experience—and about her ventures through other parts of the countryside, and a more in-depth description of her lessons with her uncle. By the time she finished half of what she had to say, she'd uncovered five candles, four holders, and an incense holder. She reached for the incense sticks sitting on the bedside table, lighting the candles first and arranging them before setting the sticks to a slow, pungent burn.

"Do you have any idea how we should go about doing this, Korra?" Asami asked as the Avatar took a seat beside her. Korra looked at her candlelit face, shrugging.

"I guess—improvise," Korra replied, bring her right hand slowly up to the other woman's face then. "It might not work exactly like the conventional guy-girl thing—but we can figure out a way to make it work. I mean—those two guys did, so…I think we can figure out something." She combed her fingers through the other woman's long, wavy locks, mesmerized by each strand's feathery softness. The Avatar's chance brushings against Asami's face sent blissful tremors through her with each caress.

Without a thought Asami reached for the Avatar's other hand and drew it up to her face unconsciously. From there she began running Korra's deft fingers along a trail leading from the side profile of her face, to the tip of her chin, meandering underneath it and down her neck—leaving in those fingers' wake an almost electric, tingling sensation.

With an abruptness that seemed almost automatic—Asami brought Korra's hand down to cup her left breast through the fabric of the garment. She applied pressure on the Avatar's hand, gently forcing her fingers to take a firmer grip on that region. Asami then released her hand from the Avatar's, taking in a sharp breath when Korra voluntarily continued the motion the other woman had initiated. All the while her emerald irises were transfixed with ocean shallows.

In a breathy voice with a slight tremor to it, Asami spoke. "Maybe…we start here."

Korra applied added pressure, noticing the expressed pleasure the other woman exuded in the process. Subconsciously she released her grip from the raven-haired beauty's clothed breast and brought her hands up to make quick work of the buttons on the young woman's blouse.

While Korra was occupied with trying to free those enticing mounds of flesh from their confines, Asami reached up and liberated the Avatar's hair from her tribal adornments, allowing her dark chocolate tresses to flow freely around the frame of her face. During her preoccupation with the Avatar's hair she'd become unaware of Korra's progression, making a sharp yelp when she realized the young Avatar was now cupping bare flesh. Korra's touch sent an intense wave of heat through Asami's entire chest. She heaved a heady breath.

Korra drew Asami's arms down to her sides, and then slid the upper part of her ensemble off her shoulders and free of her upper half. The paler young woman's bra slid away as well, the clasp once holding it in place now undone. In nearly one swift motion, Korra left the other young woman before her half exposed.

While Miss Sato was evidently panting the Avatar brought her face down to chest-level of the other young woman, taking the nipple of one of Asami's exposed breasts gently in her teeth. She half nibbled, half suckled the sensitive flesh, causing the paler woman to arch her head back and breathe even heavier as the pleasurable gesture was further pursued. It grew more intense as Korra switched from one nipple to the other. The sensation was heightened as the Avatar's hair tickled the flesh of Asami's navel. When a desperate mewling escaped from Miss Sato's lips, Korra took that as a cue that the other young woman was nearly over-stimulated.

The Avatar pulled back from her actions, bringing her face level with Asami's before she took the young woman by the shoulders and pressed her against the mattress of her bed. She lay on top of Asami, leaning in to take grasp of Miss Sato's lips while taking hold of her breasts to keep her balance. While Korra massaged the other woman's lips with hers, her fingers were busy massaging the mounds of flesh they encompassed. The Avatar's hands left heated imprints upon that barren flesh, bringing Asami to release a cry between breaks in their oral connection.

Once the Avatar released her from her grip, Asami was forcing her up into a sitting position and swiftly making work of removal of the Avatar's top. With rapid moving, nimble fingers she broke Korra free of it, rapidly exposing Korra's upper half. Asami repeated the initial gesture on the Avatar that she had Korra first initiate on her, but instead took both fleshy extensions in her hands and not just one.

"Looks like there are ways to make this work," Korra spoke huskily as she attempted to slip the rest of the other young woman's lower garments off her hips and down her thighs. Once she got Asami free of her dress, leggings and remaining undergarments she pressed the young woman against her mattress again, bringing her in for a fervent oral exchange while she ground up against the now barren region at the apex between the paler young woman's thighs. Asami emitted intense squeaks during each brief break in their lip-lock.

After a point Asami forced the Avatar to sit up again. "Please—if you're going to continue to do that...I demand that you take off your pants as well. The fabric's creating uncomfortable friction."

"Okay." Korra immediately granted that request—providing no protest in the matter. She undid the fasteners holding that last garment in place, slipping it off and chucking it to the side. Asami got one chance to take one full glimpse of the Avatar's exquisite nudity before Korra was pressing her against the mattress and resuming where they left off.

Korra entertained motion on Asami's lips with her own for a time, all the while creating heated friction to their lower extremities as she ground up against the other young woman beneath her. The Avatar eventually broke free from the oral connection to trail her lips down a line starting at Asami's chin, along skin underneath leading to her neck, and then to the valley created by her breasts. While the Avatar hungrily tasted the flesh of that valley for a time, she massaged the fleshy mounds on either side, increasing her motions as she half licked, half suckled the other woman's sweet-tasting skin.

The Avatar was enjoying the exalted moans her increased actions were creating. To enhance the experience, she added some heat to her palms as she continued to massage the flesh underhand, eventually causing the young woman beneath her to involuntarily arch her back slightly. Korra took that as a signal for her to continue her pursuit even lower.

Asami meanwhile was taking pleasure with each feathery caress of the Avatar's lips as she traveled across the paler woman's navel. Each contact felt like electrified sparks against her skin, and Asami could feel herself trembling with delight. Electric impulses shot throughout her entire body when the Avatar's tongue reached the verge of the young woman's body at the sweet, moist center of her thighs.

That tongue slid inside the slit at that base, submerging beneath the flaps of skin and digging deep within it. The tip struck at the core of the young woman's pleasure center, creating intense tremors that wracked her entire body. Korra happily sensed that she'd hit the right spot, and continued to pursue the maneuver, all the while sending Miss Sato into an involuntary trembling fit of bliss.

The Avatar continued to sloppily kiss the moist opening, using a technique Katara once told her about to stir the pale young woman further towards the verge of ecstasy with motions of her fingers hovering over the region she was currently occupying with her mouth. She eventually removed her lips from the region, using her fingers to replace the actions her tongue was previously tending to.

Korra continued to use her bending to enhance the experience her fingers were giving the other young woman. They dipped deep into that crevice—one, two, or three at a time. All the while Asami was harmoniously moaning pleasurably as the Avatar continued to intensify her venture down under—eventually reaching the point where she could take it no longer. She quickly sat up, her legs still spread due to the Avatar's ongoing actions, and drew Korra's face up till their lips met. Korra continued to dig as she pressed Miss Sato downward again, their lips tackling each other's with fervor.

Korra quit her endeavor when the two briefly split from one another. Her ocean shallows hovered mere centimeters from emerald orbs, her breath tickling the other woman's face. "I think I could get used to this."

Asami was breathing heavily, chest heaving up and down quickly. "I think it's my turn now." Without giving the Avatar any warning, she switched their positions—and pursued the path Korra had just taken on her.

XoXoX

"Feeling warmed up enough now, Fireboy?" Tahno asked with a playful grin, turning his icy blues in the ex-firebender's direction.

"Much better," Mako said. He turned onto his side to look at the waterbender. "Hey—did you and Ming ever trade roles, or were you always topping him?"

"We did switch from time to time," Tahno replied.

"Would you ever consider switching during the next round?" Mako asked him.

There was a pause before Tahno replied with, "I'll think about it."

"I know that incident with the ex-rival traumatized you pretty bad."

"Give it some time. I went through a long period where I wasn't even comfortable with this kind of contact. I'll come around eventually, Mako—don't worry. I'm not always gonna make you bottom," Tahno assured him.

"I'll hold you to that," Mako replied. They lay there in silence for a while before Mako spoke up again. "Do you remember when you first revived me, and I was asking about how much our energy transference connected us up?"

Tahno turned his head. "Yeah, you were asking about dreams and conscious connections and all that."

"Were you gonna mention something about dreams in particular?" Mako asked him.

"Um, yeah—actually...I had been." Tahno sat up. "The reason I knew about you being comatose before the damn spirits informed me about it—I'd been having sex dreams about you that started out great, and that got too chilly for my liking as they progressed. Your touch went from pleasurable to being too death-like for my tastes." He looked at Mako particularly. "Why—you have similar dreams?"

"Yeah—I did. Dreams just like you described, minus the death chill, and something else." Mako sat up as well. "I've been wondering if these were just dreams or something else, but—I saw you talking with my father in a pinkish-purple haze along with a couple others."

"That one happened," Tahno told him. "I was in limbo after I took that beam for Korra at the demonstration."

"There was another one," Mako looked at the waterbender, unusually solemn. "I think it involved your...alleyway assault."

"I...dealt with that while in limbo too," Tahno replied. "Damn—you really witnessed that, and you're still willing to stick with me? You could end up a victim of that sorta thing if people find out about us, you know."

"Promise to teach me Asami's self defense moves, and I'll have a fighting chance of preventing that from happening," Mako insisted.

Tahno laughed in response. "Yeah, okay Fireboy—I'll do that for ya when we get back to Republic City."

"When we get back there, you're gonna have to get in contact with your friend Shaozu," Mako informed him, laying back down. "You left before he could break it to you; he proposed to Mei Lin, and he wanted you involved in the ceremony or something."

"Damn—I had no idea he was so stuck on that girl," Tahno looked over at Mako as he absently stroked a finger across the other man's navel. "Yeah—I'll have to do that."

"Guess Hiroshi's abduction was a life-altering experience for him," Mako surmised.

"Wasn't it for us all," Tahno quipped. "Speaking of returning to Republic City—" He shifted a bit. "We've got a lot to talk about when we get back there—our plans and those sorts of things. If we're gonna make this work—I have some guidelines I expect you to follow with me. But enough talk about all this stuff—" He shifted some more, trailing his finger away from Mako's navel and down the pubic line running downwards from there before bringing his palm aloft mere inches above the other man's nether region. "I gotta admit—Kya might've been right about the mental conflict shit. I was struggling with anything but the basics before you arrived, but—" He smiled as his fingers twitched in a particular fashion and achieved some satisfying results. "—now it looks like my bending troubles might've come to a conclusion."

"Damn—you should've given me a warning before you did that!" Mako protested. "I'm still exhausted from the last round, and now you've got me horny for another!"

Tahno gave him a look of mock innocence. "But it's fun to give you an erection when you're not already turned on." He grinned mischievously. "How about we go for one more round before we call it a night and get some shuteye?" He crawled until he was looming over the other man.

Mako looked at him critically, and then sighed. "Okay—one more. But that's it. Then we call it a night. I'm freaking exhausted; I spent the entire day riding on the back of a skybison for crying out loud."

"And now it's your turn to get ridden," Tahno stated with a twisted grin. "So—which way do ya wanna try this time? Up, down, face-to-face, sitting, standing, lying back—the polar bear dog style? Or do you have something exotic in mind that I don't know about that you'd care to suggest?"

"Surprise me."

XoXoXoXoXoX

This section (the last two chapters) used to be more 'bare bones'. The Korrasami bits hadn't been written in the original. I'd intended to include them, but had been pretty occupied when I first tackled this. After a pause and a chance to review it all again, I managed to get written what I'd intended. Hopefully it was an enjoyable addition :-D

After this point I think there's five more chapters (?). There's still some post-Hiroshi conflict that Republic City faces, and there's also the little detail about Mako's bending. So...all in good time. I'll probably get this wrapped up before my spring semester starts up again during the week of January 19th, but I'm not sure exactly when the next chapter will be posted. Directly after the holiday, next week? Hopefully sometime directly after that point.

I'll leave this with Merry Holiday wishes and all that.

Till next time ^_^