A/N: Sorry for the delay! I needed a little break for myself and I've been busy with a few commissions and suddenly got really inspired to make some art related business crap lol.
Anyways, feedback of any kind is welcomed and appreciated! Enjoy!
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Update: Hi, yes, I did edit this and delete the last chapter :)
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Since that evening in the cave, Korra was sure she'd go mad from the constant monitoring from Tenzin and the White Lotus guards. Let alone the suspicious and curious eyes that strayed on her a little too long whenever she mentioned leaving the Island in favor of the mainland. It was one thing that they watched her at Air Temple Island, but it was another when Tenzin proposed for them to follow her around the city as if she needed protecting.
As if her muscles and title alone didn't intimidate anyone brave enough to test her abilities.
She didn't allow that to happen and immediately quashed that idea with a horrid scowl curling her lips. Vehemently, she refused to be followed around as if they were lost puppies and she were a mother figure. Dear Koh, just the thought made her recoil and shiver in revulsion. However, even Pema had to step in, mindlessly stroking her swollen belly and worriedly uttering, don't you think you're going a bit too far, honey?
Korra was grateful for her, because in the span of a few seconds, Tenzin's grey eyes flickered between his wife and her in a rapidly crumbling resolve. He slouched in defeat, huffing, curtly dismissing her with a flick of his wrist and leaving the matter alone. She didn't waste a second more and opted to take the opportunity to slip past the sliding doors and out into the city as he mumbled something she couldn't catch behind her.
Nevertheless, knowing what lied ahead of her tingled her nerves.
Heat lanced down her spine now and then, and a morbid arousal came and went. Strangely, it never bothered her - more so never got to the point of that she really did become frustrated - until she realized late one night how often it was occurring, when it occurred… and specifically who was usually in her company when she duly noted that familiar sensation. The incident in the cave certainly didn't help alleviate any of that vague aching in her lower abdomen. If anything, it intensified the heat pooling within her and causing her to feel restless that her thighs subconsciously rubbed together on a few occasions.
She tried to occupy her mind with other pressing matters - Amon, airbending, her spiritual block - but that flame of interest was flickering steadily on the back burner, heightening the slightest bit every so often she caught a glimpse of those distinctive three ponytails and caught the scent of spiced vanilla and sandalwood drifting past her.
However, one small detail never ceased to confuse her. Not mentally - she knew where they more or less stood in regards to each other, especially after their talk on the shore the handful of days prior - but more so her body could never decide whether she relished or loathed the sight of it.
That all-knowing, shit-eating smirk plastered on his damn face.
It wasn't that smug smirk he usually wore, though that never left. No. It was as if he knew a bit of information that she didn't, even about herself. It always changed when he regarded someone else, but immediately after, it'd return in spades. When he briefed the Task Force on the new equipment a few of his detectives discovered and he casually strayed his hooded gaze on her. When she stayed with Tenzin in his office for no more than ten minutes, and he slipped in to settle a few documents for her mentor to sign.
When she saw him walk out of City Hall for his lunch break just as she was walking in - which he stopped her for a moment with a soft grip on her arm that barely grazed the side of her breast to inform her on their next raid before leaving, brimming with pride - to meet with Lin and Tenzin.
Then again, after repeatedly replaying their lesson in the cave before she drifted off to sleep a few nights prior, she realized she never did answer that suspicion of his. Maybe that's why he was acting so coy, let alone a little bold, even for Tarrlok.
Regardless, she tried not to dwell too much on it when in no more than four hours, she'd be hidden in the relative darkness of his office. Completely alone with no one to interrupt them. She contemplated what their lesson was about this time, especially now that he acknowledged he was turned on by her… and her to him, but that wasn't necessarily anything in part of his lectures in seduction, right?
Chewing at her lower lip in anticipation, Korra sat cross-legged on the floor. As did the rest of them.
Boiling broth bubbled right at the center on the table. Mushrooms and meat and vegetables and noodles steaming within the soup, that the scents wafting around them filled her senses all too deliciously. Chatter between them was loud and boisterous, as it usually was, though that didn't include the excited squeaks from Pabu who bounced around Asami and curled around her neck as she stirred the soup.
Everything around her vaguely registered in her mind, though she knew she was still too preoccupied with musings of the Councilman, much less the raid in little more than a few hours, to truly understand their conversation.
However, Korra was pulled out of her reverie once Bolin asked, right, Korra? She nodded in reply, though why she nodded was beyond her comprehension. Absentmindedly, she grasped the stray ladle and her chopsticks, carefully cradling the soup and pouring it into her bowl, before sipping the sweltering broth and testing the taste.
Spirits, it was delicious.
Flavors of fresh vegetables, bits of lobster crabs and slices of seal meat danced across her taste buds. Korra groaned, content. If she could die at that moment without a qualm in the world, she would've already ascended into the spirit world.
Comfortable silence suddenly lapsed over them as the four of them sipped and chewed at their soup, completely sated. "You know guys, we really need to do this more." Korra blurted, blowing cool air onto the steaming noodles pinched between her chopsticks.
"What, eat hot pot?" Mako snorted sarcastically.
Korra's brow twitched and her noodles plopped lamely into the broth. "No!" She grimaced, before tossing the stray noodle hanging down her chopsticks at the firebender sitting at her front. When all it did was leave a wet trail on his cheek and ultimately sink down on the table, Mako offered her a weary glance. "I meant just to hang out. Talk. Do anything other than what we always do. I mean, it's always about probending or practicing for the championship, or you know…"
"Amon and the Equalists?" Mako added a little too seriously that caused the atmosphere to shift from playful to something dismal.
Pinching noodles and some mushrooms between her chopsticks once more, Korra muttered a, "...Yeah," before placing the savory morsels in her mouth.
She hated thinking too much about it, knowing full well that this was her responsibility she had to bear, even when she didn't want any of this. Nevertheless, she didn't know how to go about it when she wanted to appease both sides. It was difficult to ask for help because of so many years - her whole life, really - she'd been mastering three of the four elements that nothing truly was a responsibility for the exception of the literal definition of being the Avatar.
Tenzin, even Pema, repeatedly mentioned that it was okay to ask for help, to allow others to guide her, but it was a struggle to accept that when doubt constantly came and went in her brain. Not simply because of Amon and his Equalists, but the totality of her responsibilities crushing down on her.
Because after dealing with Amon, who was next? What was next?
It wasn't merely needing help, but the insinuation that she wasn't as great of an Avatar as her previous lives, let alone society's expectations for her that she didn't know she could ever meet.
Placing her glass of water back onto the table's surface, Asami settled a light hand upon Korra's, bringing her out of her morose musings. "Korra, we're not going anywhere. If you need to talk you could go to any of us." She reassured gently.
Cerulean glanced into viridian orbs beside her, thankful for the distraction. "I know, but it's different when we're all together." Korra shrugged before sipping the steaming broth.
Asami nodded, her eyes lingering on Korra for just a second more than necessary, opening her mouth, but thinking better of it and turning back to her food. The air around them was growing increasingly forlorn, and Korra nearly cursed underneath her breath for unintentionally making it so.
However, Bolin cleared his throat behind a clenched fist. "How about we go to that cafe after we finish this and treat ourselves to milk tea?" He suggested with bright emerald eyes.
"Flameo Tea?" Korra added with a tilt of her head, voice muffled as she chewed on pieces of seal meat.
Bolin shrugged and smiled over slurping his noodles. "Yeah, why not. We have the time." Emerald glanced at each of them for a reaction, probably expecting to up and leave right that second with how much he persistently brought the cafe up. Instead, Mako kept quiet in thought while Asami pursed her crimson painted lips before stretching it into a smile.
"I can treat you guys. I mean, you guys have been doing pretty great with practice." Asami piped in, nodding excitedly.
Some form of regret and guilt ate at her nerves because she knew she couldn't. At least not today, and she didn't have the heart to abandon her plans with Tarrlok when that was one of the things she'd been strangely looking forward to continuing since the incident in the cave.
"I can't tonight." She said with a slight wince as she childishly played with her noodles.
"Why not?" Bolin pouted, shoveling another mouthful of mushrooms past his lips.
Korra sighed exaggeratedly. "Task Force raid," she uttered unenthusiastically, even though deep within her she was excited for what this lesson entailed. But they didn't need to know that lest they thought she was insane for even thinking of feeding into that not-so-complete-rumor that was now practically nonexistent in the city.
"What about after?" Bolin asked with a shrug.
"Yeah, they don't close until late I heard." Mako added as he suspiciously eyed her.
"I'd rather not, I usually get super tired after raids, and I have to plan some things with Tarrlok about upcoming meetings afterwards, anyway." Korra feigned disappointment, wilting in her spot on the cushion beneath her as she pushed and pinched increasingly soggy vegetables within her bowl. She tried not to show that it was completely an act, that for some odd reason, she was more enticed at the idea of spending her night alone with the Councilman than out in a crowded cafe with Team Avatar.
But now that she thought about it, it did sound strange, even in the privacy of her mind.
Spirits, who was she becoming? Genuinely wanting to be in Tarrlok's company? Attempting to feign emotions, and spew blatant lies that really weren't complete fabrications to her friends. The more she thought about it, the more she knew that if someone were to tell her that she was consciously deciding to spend her time with the old fart, rather than her friends, let alone Mako, before she even conjured the idea of learning seduction, she'd throw her head back in laughter. That was completely ridiculous.
Yet she couldn't deny that she felt terrible about lying to them. But it wasn't as though she incessantly saw the Councilman unlike Team Avatar, right? Korra tried to justify it, though she knew it was nothing more than her fascination and strange lust for the priss.
"Speaking of Tarrlok, you've been spending a lot of time with him recently." Mako said nonchalantly. Why he decided to bring this up now was beyond Korra, but she held her tongue and opted to narrow her eyes in response.
"Well, I'm on his Task Force, and I'm first in command after him, so I have to spend a lot of time with him." She explained slowly.
"Right," he uttered.
Plopping the chopsticks in her bowl, she folded her arms underneath her bust and cocked her head to the side, offended. "What's that supposed to mean?" She prodded, irked.
"Nothing."
All Korra could do was watch him incredulously as Asami and Bolin warily ate their soup, while Mako tried to ignore her blatant glowering. Did he know about this? Did he know what was going on between her and Tarrlok? Surely, not, right?
But then it made sense. None of this would've compelled them to notice her spending time with Tarrlok if it weren't for that headline gracing the front page of the newspapers. Relaxing the slightest bit, she unraveled her arms and reached for her chopsticks once more. "Are you thinking about the headlines again? Because if so, I told you guys already that it's just some dipshit reporter that's just trying to stir the pot." She said with a roll of her eyes.
Mako shrugged with his hands pulled up in surrender, golden depths meeting her cerulean across the table. "I'm just saying that it's a coincidence that you two are spending a lot of time together outside of Task Force stuff."
Korra scoffed before stuffing her face full of noodles and lobster crab meat. "It's not outside Task Force stuff, Mako. I told you before that everyone on the Task Force left the speakeasy before we did. We were the last two and we were clearly drunk out of our asses to really realize that until I even saw headlines. Other than briefings and raids for the Task Force, I rarely - if ever - see him." She explained hastily, voice muffled.
Before Mako could respond, Asami was batting away at nothing in particular. "Enough of that Councilman. You guys fought over this too much already." She interrupted, her soft voice betraying the annoyance her friend felt, though as she turned to her it seemed to melt away instantly. "Korra, we could just go tomorrow, or maybe Friday night. It'll be fun."
Nodding, Korra shoved the issues - more so suspicions - of Mako to the back of her mind and smiled at Asami. "Yeah, that's fine with me."
"We could go after practice, right, Mako?" Bolin perked up, nudging his brother with his elbow.
"Yeah, sure." Mako uttered dismissively.
Excitedly, and deliberately ignoring whatever weird air Mako was carrying around himself, Bolin swallowed the savory morsels in his mouth before leaning forward. "So, what're you guys gonna get? I've been thinking about branching out from my usual honey milk tea."
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Most, if not all, the members of the Task Force were dressed in their regular garb by now, some trickling out of City Hall and returning to their homes, while others lingered, talking amongst each other. She'd do the same - the Liang twins had asked for her to come over once they were done changing and hang out at a local watertribe bar - however, before she had the chance to leave the Councilman's side from the back of the Satomobile, Tarrlok piped in and requested her attendance in his office, once she's ready.
Elation outweighed the trepidation, but it was still lingering in her veins as she agreed nonetheless.
As her and the twins were slipping into their normal wardrobe, Korra tried to ignore the blatant cackles and wiggling brows - especially from Ayla, the taller twin, if only by a centimeter - but even she had to bite her lower lip to stifle the chuckle from spilling out of her throat.
Zipping the tab along her duffle bag, Korra threw the strap over her shoulder and bade her goodbyes to the two who watched her leave the women's changing room in nothing short of a failed attempt of stifled amusement. She knew what they were thinking, their thoughts and actions never seemed to stop feeding into that grave she and Tarrlok unintentionally made for themselves since that headline was released.
Korra doubted they'd stop anytime soon, because the two were relentless in trying to get her and Tarrlok alone together, and she never did anything more than threaten bodily harm and punch them in the arm for their heavy insinuations. It didn't help knowing they kept teasing her for being his replacement if there was ever a time he were to be missed.
Let alone knowing that she was his first in command.
Rolling her eyes skyward, Korra passed the two women who offered a teasingly flourished wave and made her way along the familiar path to the Councilman's office, up the stone stairs, down the eerily deserted hallway of City Hall, and met the now too-familiar double doors.
What used to fill her with apprehension now melted away in anticipation. After weeks of spending time with him, Korra had to admit, nothing short of stifled thrills coursed down her nerves for what awaited her. It seemed to have been steadily intensifying, but the meaning behind those feelings were something she didn't want to interpret. She knew it bordered on the feelings she had - has, she corrected adamantly - for Mako, but she tried to deny it every chance she got.
Especially after their last lesson, she was anxious for all different reasons as to how this lecture would pan out.
They weren't exactly blase about it when Tenzin arrived with the guards hot on his heels as if they were nothing more than pups. Spirits, if she were her airbending mentor, she would've caught on to the heavy tension in the air surrounding her and the Councilman. However, maybe he was just too furious that Tarrlok was there to read the unspoken words.
At that time, it was practically palpable with how much it spiked in a matter of seconds. Her heart pounded against her chest, threatening to jump in her throat, and her cheeks burned a fiery crimson when she caught a glimpse of Tenzin hurriedly striding past the cave's dark walls. Quietly, she was thankful for the darkness of their surroundings. She considered herself lucky that she had enough functioning brain cells in her clouded mind to push Tarrlok away, because if she waited a fraction of a second more, she was sure the Councilman would've been airbent halfway to the spirit world, or maybe down, buried into the ocean floor.
But that wasn't the case, fortunately.
Curling her hand over the cold knob, she opened the door as quietly as she could muster, peeking over the edge and vaguely recalling their first lesson where she did anything but that.
The lesson that started all of this.
It felt like a lifetime ago, especially knowing how close they've unintentionally gotten to each other, let alone her feelings for him. But considering the man himself was no more than a few steps ahead of her, she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind.
Unconsciously, Korra smiled as she witnessed Tarrlok's back turned towards her as she silently padded her way into his office, making sure the door was completely closed. He was gathering a stack of papers, tapping them against the hard surface of his desk with short, sharp sounds, to straighten them. For once, he had decided to forgo his usual pale blue coat as it was haphazardly slung over the back of his chair.
Though that was probably due to him changing from his frustratedly form-fitting uniform to the somewhat formal garb he usually adorned.
Korra stopped a step behind him, eyeing the clothed muscles of his back in fascination with each movement he made, though immediately caught herself, before she grasped the strap of her duffle bag and unceremoniously plopped it down onto the tiles.
With a flinch, Tarrlok swiveled on his feet, and met her amused gaze. How he didn't notice her presence was beyond her. However, with a devilish chuckle in the deep confines of her mind, she was sure it was due to the incident that happened not even an hour prior.
Clutching his chest for a moment, before wilting and relaxing, Tarrlok cleared his throat and tugged at his collar, returning to his papers. "Ah, Avatar Korra, you didn't take the chance to run with the twins, I see." He uttered as he pushed the neat stack to the corner of his desk.
"Run? I wouldn't miss meeting with you for the world, Tarrlok." She cooed sarcastically and flopped down into the chair she was accustomed with at this point. Much to her chagrin, Korra realized her words, pausing a moment. If she said that weeks prior she would've died from mortification and hid it with thick sarcasm and a faltering voice, and no doubt would he respond with a smug smile, venomous words laced within a compliment. But now, it wasn't entirely a lie when she was intrigued with continuing where they left off, and much more enraptured by the Councilman himself.
What could she say, the man was an enigma with all these different signals she read from him.
A hum was heard at the back of his throat in response. "Already in character?" He teased, offering her a sidelong glance as he gathered his belongings and cleaned the mess on his usually immaculate desk.
Smirking, Korra propped her booted feet at the corner of aged wood and crossed them at her ankles - a movement that caused Tarrlok to falter in his tidying and wearily glance at her, utterly disgusted yet somewhat transfixed. Ignoring that he was a complete priss, she tilted her chin up. "Well, I gotta take all these opportunities if I want to improve, right?"
"Good job." He eyed her in quelled satisfaction. Whether it was due to her answer or the fact that she was in some weird way trying to prove to him that she could seduce someone, it was beyond her. Tarrlok took a deep breath in, pulling her out of her musings. "Since the last lesson ended so… abruptly, I have to applaud you for your improvised lie." He smiled proudly.
"What lie?"
"'Plans for Task Force crap' as I recall." He replied, shifting his weight from one foot to the other and looking at her fully.
Korra exaggeratedly dropped her feet to the floor and pushed herself out of her seat, mirroring his stance by crossing her arms underneath her bust. "Well, did you want me to tell Tenzin what you've been teaching me? That you're helping get acquainted with the art of seduction through hands-on lessons? Because outside the two of us knowing why I'm here, what other reason would a girl like me be doing in a man's office such as yours?" Mischief dripped from her voice as she leisurely sauntered her way to his increasingly taut form, though with one glance, Korra knew he was trying to stifle it behind that unfazed political veneer and a quickly wavering smirk.
"Discussing politics considering you're the Avatar?" He answered with a small pout.
Deliberately ignoring that quip, she shrugged as she emphasized the sway of her hips. "Besides, I didn't think Tenzin would like to know what exactly we'd been going over. So, in a sense, I was saving your ass… again." She smiled in silent challenge.
Tarrlok warily eyed her, something indecipherable glinting in pale blue. "Yes, thank you for that, Avatar." He said as she wedged between him and the sharp edge of his desk, all while keeping a few inches of distance between them.
With half-lidded eyes and a slow smirk, Korra cocked her head to the side and braced herself by blindly gripping the edge of aged wood. "Tell me. How does it feel getting rushed by three Equalists that the greatest Avatar had to come help the damsel in distress?" She teased, voice hushed as if someone were to hear them in this relatively empty building for the exception of a few.
The raid wasn't completely terrible if she excluded that small commotion. It began just as it typically did - the briefing, the drive over, the stealth, the raid, the ultimate success, the blinding flash of cameras and yet another boost to the man's ego. She guessed their stroke of bad luck began when the Satomobile ran over a rather large pothole that had her colliding against Tarrlok's side, and of course, the three watched her every move with mocking eyes. She discreetly flipped her middle finger off to them and righted herself, but that only resulted in them cackling and Korra fuming all the more.
This raid, the warehouse had been wedged on the outskirts of the city, and apparently, had withheld a few of Amon's top chiblockers.
How that knowledge slipped past Tarrlok, she wasn't sure, but the result had her completely taken aback, or failing to stifle her entertainment, or a weird combination of both. After covering the main room, they had separated to cover more ground, checking each nook and cranny of the warehouse for any new information or straggling Equalist. Nothing was found on her end and she decided to make her way to Tarrlok's.
Fortunately, she did.
Just as she arrived, kicking the door down with such force that it rattled the walls, she discovered Tarrlok cornered by three Equalists. Two were swinging bolas above their heads as the other aimed a hefty punch towards Tarrlok's jaw. Lucky for him, the Equalist didn't adorn that distinctive electrified glove, because that more than likely would've caused a broken jaw.
In the heat of the moment, she bent a large wave of water toward the three and froze them with a clench of her fists. She helped him hastily detain them, nudging her elbow against his own with a joke at the tip of her tongue, as he rubbed his jaw almost childishly and scowled at her.
At the time, she didn't hide her amusement, and now, she didn't either considering there was some discoloration and swelling on the surface even in the dim lighting.
Snorting, Tarrlok quirked a brow. "I'm no damsel, Korra. But if you must know, as frustrating as it was, I do admit it felt nice knowing you care for me… in your strangely assertive way, of course."
Korra hummed in response, pleased. "Well, I can't have you keeling over early on my watch." She smiled as his pout pulled further on his irritatingly handsome features. "Really, though, how's your jaw?" She asked, nodding and eyeing the almost bruised skin. It wasn't nearly as red as it was an hour ago, but it still made her cringe. Especially when she recalled the sound the punch made.
In all honesty, she was surprised his jaw didn't break from the sheer force behind it. Even she held some mercy for him when they sparred - it was tough not to let her fists do the talking if she had to admit - but she guessed it was inevitable when they were the opponents… and that Tarrlok had a rather punchable face.
Tarrlok shrugged nonchalantly. "Still aches, but nothing a little analgesic and ice can't handle." He dismissed sitting himself in his chair with a slight creak.
Tilting her head to the side, Korra studied him. Of course, he was trying to hide his pain. His wounded ego was powerful enough that admitting to something as being bested by the enemy would've dented his pride. Sighing, she mused over an idea that popped in her brain and perked. "I can heal it for you. It's faster than pills." She smiled sweetly, the tone in her voice roguish.
Instead of an answer, silence met her ears, the numbing sound of water falling behind him calming her the slightest bit. Pale blue blatantly eyed her in skepticism as she leaned back and slid her palms against the cool, smooth surface of his desk. It was reminiscent of the last lesson they had in his office, even vaguely, and despite it all, Korra licked her lips as she waited for his answer.
"You were instructed by Katara, correct?" He questioned with narrowed eyes.
Rolling cerulean towards the ceiling, she chuckled. "Duh! Only the best teach me."
His brow cocked at that and that wary expression was replaced with quelled defiance as a smirk lined his lips and a hand was placed above his heart. "And I'm included on that list? I'm flattered, Avatar."
Korra snorted, kicking his shin light enough that there wasn't the usual grimace crossing his features. "Don't let it get to your head. So?" In response, Tarrlok acquiesced. He tilted his head away from her, pale blue gazing out the windows and onto the glowing city, and silently offered his bruised jaw. Shaking her head at the amount of pride the man held, Korra smiled and pushed herself off the desk, bending some water from the waterfall that it enveloped her hands. It was cold against her skin, and judging from the tiniest flinch from Tarrlok, she assumed it was for him as well… or maybe that was just the tenderness of an injury. Regardless, the water gleamed a bluish white halo as she focused her attention on the inflamed area.
Fortunately, the punch wasn't aimed at his nose, or directly at his face because if so, Korra knew she wouldn't hear the end of it. He'd probably mutter a string of curses underneath his breath or complain the whole ride back to City Hall as he cradled his wound, though she'd be compelled to punch him just to shut him up as well.
A few moments of silence passed between them once more as she eased his pain levels and suppressed the amount of swelling at the site of the strike.
Suddenly, unconsciously, cerulean roved over the sharp edge of his jawline. There was the slightest hint of stubble from what she could see, and as she trailed lower down the column of his neck, she duly noted the tiniest pulsing of the artery at his side. It was hypnotizing, the constant thumping.
She strayed long enough on that thudding artery that her heart began pumping blood in accordance to his.
In a strange way, it also made her mull over the fact that they were nothing more than bodies of meat, blood, and bones. That the now familiar sensation of arousal was biological, normal. That she shouldn't feel guilty for this unintentional lust, despite everything in her body telling her that this was completely wrong.
But why was it wrong?
The difference in their ages? Their status? Their personalities? The mere implication it would send if they truly were discovered? Much less who'd be after his ass and who'd be lecturing her to death? Yet, in spite of everything, Korra couldn't bring herself to regret this. If anything, she felt emboldened by him. By his closeness, by the heat of their bodies, by the dim glow of the waterfall and city playing across his strikingly aristocratic features.
Odd was it that she felt this sense of confidence around him that wasn't there when she was fawning over Mako. Maybe it was the sense of familiarity in their banter that helped her release some tension and in turn helped her practice? Or maybe it was just because there was always that nagging thought that knew he was with Asami and this tiptoed around what was right and wrong.
But then again, how was doing this with Tarrlok any different? Because in a sense, she was edging on wanting a lot more out of him that it felt almost familiar to her feelings with Mako.
Just as her vision was tunneling, her heart rate was accelerating, and her thoughts were lingering into dangerous territory, Korra caught herself before the water slipped from her grasp and tore her eyes away from his neck. There was an almost dazed glaze in his eyes, as though he were miles away, yet his muscles were taut enough that if she didn't know any better, she would've guessed he was about to flee, or at least, was too distracted with other matters that were beyond her comprehension.
"Are you okay?" She asked slowly.
Pulled out of his reverie, piercing blue met her own curiously as he hummed in response. "What makes you think I'm not?" She felt more than heard the rumble of his voice.
"Well, for one, you're spacing out on me. And two, you're really tense." Korra said, nodding toward one of his hands that was balled into a tight fist.
Tarrlok followed her line of sight and immediately unclenched that hand. "Just exhaustion and subsiding pain, is all. No need to fret about me, Korra." He smiled.
Korra scoffed. "I think that's a sign from the spirits that you need to take a day off." She suggested with a sweet smile.
Tarrlok shook his head and closed his eyes as one of her hands moved in lethargic circles over his marred skin, while the other fed his body the healing factors of water slowly being pushed in and out of the painful area. "Not happening. There's too much work that needs to be done that it leaves no room for me to take a break. If I wanted to, I wouldn't be an adequate Councilman." He mumbled, almost lulled.
An offhand comment threatened to spill from her lips, yet she bit the inside of her cheek to refrain. "You're such a workaholic." She settled with, shaking of her head in disbelief. When he didn't add some quick-witted remark or insult in regards to her in favor of keeping the silence relatively comfortable, Korra followed suit and focused her care on the wound. Minutes ticked by and as she ran slim fingers over the edge of his jawline, Korra honed in on the sensation of his skin, the slightest scrape, against hers.
He was warm despite the cool water grazing his skin. However, that could be chalked up to their close proximity, let alone the irritation of the hit. Regardless, the sensation didn't leave her revolted.
If anything, it intensified the subtle pooling of heat at the pit of her stomach that had been subtly pulsing throughout the week, that she was beginning to grow restless.
Catching her thoughts once more, Korra swallowed over the lump in her throat and finished healing him with a hardened gaze, before it melted away at the sight of him utterly relaxed. "Alright, big wuss, you're good." She said, bending the water back into the falling stream and moving away from him.
"Thank you." He muttered, stretching his limbs with a few delicious pops here and there.
Korra waved her hand dismissively, as nonchalantly as she could muster even though it was anything but. She tried to ignore the thrumming excitement and minute nervousness in her veins because of what the impending unknown entailed.
Especially when she was already feeling these stirring emotions welling up in her overheated body.
Chewing at her lower lip, she reassumed her position against the harsh edge of his desk digging into the skin and attempted to gather the confidence, the sultry, exaggerated side of her that was hidden and was oddly becoming easier and easier to channel. "So, what's this lesson about? More flirting? Interpreting body language?" She suggested playfully. Tarrlok opened his mouth and ultimately closed it when she quickly interrupted with a pensive finger touching her chin. "Wait no… more teasing without touching." She guessed mockingly.
Tarrlok pursed his lips with weary eyes. When she didn't say anything more and allowed a smirk to tug at the corners of her lips, Tarrlok heaved in some oxygen. As if that would reel in some of his rapidly thinning patience.
"Actually, quite the opposite. Kissing." He said stiffly.
Korra wanted to laugh - out of sheer apprehension or delight she didn't know - and the tiniest bit did slip past her lips despite everything. Although, when she caught sight of him gazing at her a little too seriously that she was sure he'd walk away in some form of shame and uneasiness, Korra mimicked him and swallowed over the growing lump in her throat.
"You're serious?" She asked, attempting to sound dismissive, even though it sounded jarring and nervous.
Tarrlok hummed in confirmation, straightening his spine and stretching his limbs underneath the desk. "Now, this lesson - and succeeding lessons - we don't have to act out. I was contemplating how you could learn this without practicing on me, and I came to the conclusion that we could discuss the acts itself and whatever questions you have, I'll answer them to my ability. I also thought that you could use books as a form of homework, if you will. I purchased these for you-" He reached over to the other end of his desk and handed her two books. Korra grasped them from his hand, her fingers brushing his as she inspected the covers. One had blossoming flowers right at the center, while the other had a few sliced fruit and juices seeping out in the middle. "I admit, it was a rather embarrassing experience at the bookstore, but to preserve our professional and personal relationship as we agreed upon last lesson, I think this route is the best alternative."
Korra nodded, mulling over his words and vaguely registering the fact that he actually went out of his way to research a few books for the sake of her knowledge. But that didn't hold a candle to what exactly their lesson was about. Mindlessly flipping through the pages of the book, Korra felt her cheeks burn all the more intensely as she faltered a fraction and caught a glimpse of a drawn image of a woman's most intimate parts with labels around it.
The labia majora, labia minora, clitoris.
Absentmindedly, Korra chewed her lower lip, reality setting heavily in her nerves that they truly were reaching a part of these lessons that she needed to seriously consider. It wasn't necessarily a game that she could dismiss anymore. It was something she allowed to happen with him, despite her reservations when the idea first conjured practically two months prior.
She always knew it'd get to this point, especially when she delved deep into her subconscious if she really wanted to ask Tarrlok to teach her. But she assumed she'd have to pretend she was actually kissing Mako. Short hair between her fingers and golden eyes gazing at her feverishly.
Instead, she'd graze long - more than likely silky - hair and a piercing blue that never failed to confuse her on whether he was simply watching her or silently picking her apart.
Knowing the man, though, it was probably the latter.
However, she didn't feel guilty about it. In fact, it thrilled her for reasons beyond her comprehension.
Abruptly, something devious trickled into her brain. It caused her heartbeat to thump against her chest all the more ardently as cerulean strayed on the drawn image, before calmly meeting his gaze and snapping the book closed.
"Thanks for these, but I want to practice." She smiled smugly, placing the books beside her.
His brows furrowed in obvious tension, taken aback. "I beg your pardon?"
A terse exhale of amusement left her nose as she regarded him wickedly. "Well, knowing how to seduce someone is supposed to be about skill. I don't think I could achieve that without some practice. I mean, sure, I could read those and get the gist of it, but theoretical skill is different from practical. Like my airbending, I know what I need to do, the motions, the forms, but it doesn't make me actually airbending any less easy. In this case, I could get some random stranger off the street and ask if they want to practice kissing, but I don't think they'd be polite about it." She explained, trying to stop the mischief from seeping into her tone, because one way or another, he should've known, or at least discovered some blatant hint that she was adamant about these lessons, especially after their sparring session. Kissing and anything more wasn't an exception. "Besides, you're already teaching me about seduction… so it makes sense that I practice on you." She shrugged.
"Are you sure?" He asked, his baritone bordering on scheming with a hint of wariness.
Korra hummed in response.
Tarrlok nodded slowly, before standing from his seat and oddly straightening the books beside her. "Kissing… What do you know about it?" He prompted almost sinfully.
Korra pursed her lips and thought as he shifted to stand just a foot in front of her. What did she know about kissing?
Not much since the extent of her knowledge was from the confines of a few stories she heard on the radio late at night, and the sight of Mako and Asami locking lips, as well as a few older couples she saw in the South pole. Including her parents. She recalled the love and happiness, and genuine smiles strewn on their faces.
But in regards to her predicament with Tarrlok, let alone seduction and sultriness, well, she wasn't sure what that would look like. She could guess it was less on the love aspect and more out of strange desires, just as she was feeling for him.
"It's supposed to feel nice, especially when it's someone you have physical or emotional feelings for… or both. You know, lips and tongue and from what I've heard, other places on the body, too." She answered, her eyes searching his face. "I haven't kissed anyone, so that's what I assume."
Tarrlok nodded once more and mused over her words with narrowed eyes. "And you want me to be your first?" He asked. His voice, as much as it was a genuine question, something laced in his words told her he was even mildly elated.
It was Korra's turn to nod, mulling over their predicament with how abrupt the obvious change in his lesson plans were. "How about I show you what I know and you can give me advice?" She suggested coyly, her voice a sliver more than a whisper.
Shockingly, she succeeded. Especially when she caught sight of the tentative haze of lust swimming in pale blue. As though he were willing his desires to dissipate, Korra noted the sparkle of something devious in his pale fire.
"Your wish is my command, Avatar Korra." He said slyly, bowing his head the slightest bit with a hand perched over his heart, as if he were flattered.
Of course he was, the bastard, Korra thought wickedly.
Straightening her spine, Korra felt her heart racing wildly against her chest, threatening to escape the confines of her ribcage, and her cheeks burning fiercely the more she relished the idea of taking this further. However, all coherency ceased to exist when his hooded gaze looked at her fully. Hesitant yet utterly expectant. She inched forward as she stood at the tips of her toes and he bent his head for a better angle to meet her halfway. Moving on instinct, her eyes slowly closed and her trembling hands reached out to touch the warm expanse of his chest to steady herself.
Without waiting another second, her lips were pressed against his.
It wasn't nearly the fireworks she was expecting like the stories she heard about, but it definitely wasn't unpleasant. The complete opposite, really. It was chaste, an almost too gentle touch of their lips that it could be passed off as little more than the graze in the cave days prior. But when she reluctantly pulled away, even for a mere few centimeters of distance separating them, she cracked open cerulean and immediately met half-lidded pale blue.
A shaky breath left her parted lips.
The hands against his chest felt his racing heartbeat that mirrored her own, the slightest hitch of his breath as he gazed upon her with suppressed lust and blatant hesitancy. As though he were reluctant to move on his own without her approval. A part of her didn't know how to feel considering her brain was filled with anything but coherent thoughts, yet everything in her body was screaming for her to keep going.
No more than a second ticked by before Korra smiled and her hands trailed up his chest to loop around his neck, abruptly pulling him down for more.
She applied unsure pressure against his lips, and in response, Tarrlok slanted his head to better the angle. Heat flickered at the subtle movement, at his reciprocation. The kiss felt nice. In all honesty, she never truly thought about it, but the idea of kissing him was enjoyable, despite the fact that if Tenzin found out, or rather anyone she had come to know, it'd be a much different story.
It dawned on her that as his words and his actions didn't coincide - the flagrant confidence he flaunted on the regular, but the odd decency to keep it at her pace in private - Korra found it a little endearing. If not, maybe, disappointing that he wasn't grasping at her like she imagined he would, given their recent lessons of wanting, longing for that physical intimacy. Regardless, she noted his hands were splayed upon the desk's surface behind her, deliberately keeping his distance despite her only wanting more.
As she pulled him into another chaste kiss, she felt his tongue slide against her bottom lip in an unspoken request. Korra faltered for a mere second before relaxing into it. With her limited knowledge, her body moved on instinct, following his cues despite knowing that they had just begun. Parting her lips a fraction at the feel of him repeating the slow, almost tasting motion of his tongue, the slick muscle moved into her mouth and tentatively met her own.
It certainly wasn't what she was expecting. But at this point, she didn't know what her expectations were in the first place.
Vaguely, it registered in her mind that this was actually happening. That Tarrlok was kissing her and it wasn't just a peck. It was much more and her pulse pounded all the more fervently.
His tongue tangled with her own, carefully swiping and flicking hers in some innocent, lazy dance that she was sure she could be lulled to sleep by these kisses. But with a slant of her head, Korra unintentionally deepened the kiss.
It was fortunate that she did, because she pulled herself closer to him and felt her blood shuddering with elation. Heat crawled up her neck as she was caged in his arms. With each idle tangle of her tongue with his, with each meager tug away from him in favor of a sip of oxygen, Korra could practically feel the friction between them slowly rising.
Her thoughts were dulled and effectively skewed with the one thing, the one sensation she desperately wanted to stoke with him. But just as she was falling into the depths of lust with each steadily hastening kiss, their lesson shoved to the back of her mind, nearly forgotten, she felt an almost tingling sensation at her sides.
Belatedly, she realized it was his hands.
They caressed her hips, the tips of his fingers playing with the fabric that made his desires all the more clear. It was obvious he was itching to touch her. And she desperately wanted him to. Utterly heedless, Korra loosened one of her arms around his neck and grasped one of his wrists, silently placing his hand on the swell of her hip, and inadvertently, pulled her body closer against his. Seemingly encouraged by her ministrations, large warm hands left the desk in favor of firmly gripping the harsh curve of her waist.
Korra felt his kisses shift from tentative to emboldened. Her breath caught in her throat in delight. It wasn't the kisses she'd seen her parents, or even Mako and Asami exchange. No. These were kisses she knew were meant to be hidden away from prying eyes.
Teasingly, Tarrlok's teeth tugged at her lower lip as she pulled away. However, the simple contact, the simple graze and pinch of skin fanned the flames within her that made a subtle throb begin to ache. A moan threatened to escape her throat, bubbling quietly in the pit of her chest that instead, she was left with longing for that same attention to other enticing places on her body.
Korra mirrored his motions, though she wasn't so teasing about it as he was. Instead, a devilish idea came trickling into the back of her mind and she bit down on his lip rather harshly. Immediately, Tarrlok pulled away, lightly touching his wound before his middle finger returned with a drop of crimson.
Offering an almost predatory smile at the change in pace, Tarrlok didn't wait a second longer, though before his lips hastily captured her kiss-swollen ones once again, Korra halfheartedly noted the arousal crossing his enticed face before she melted in his embrace.
While she wove long fingers in his soft hair, Tarrlok tugged her closer to him until she was nearly pressed flush against his front. Things moved quickly soon after. She didn't know what it was or how it happened, but she liked it, she was almost drowning in it. It was bold and salacious, with her rapidly falling into the depths of spiced vanilla and sandalwood, Korra was suddenly perched on his desk.
Her thighs cradled his hips and that sweltering heat between his legs seemed to harden even a fraction under their ministrations. Delight singed her nerves when he took it further, leaning further and holding her with obvious tension.
Strange was it that she was feeling these things for him. That for reasons beyond her, it didn't feel wrong. Much less daunting to be kissing an unscrupulous Councilman that more than likely had some hidden agenda for this. But maybe she was just thinking of him as such because of her first impressions, of his persistence that seemed to waver at times.
Impatience radiated from her as she clutched at him, nearly painful considering the mild grimace, yet he seemed to match her all the more ardently, willingly. If Korra didn't know any better, she might've chalked all this passion up to the fact that he was hiding something. From the public. From her.
Was he?
Deft hands slipped underneath her shirt, traveling up the warm, smooth skin of her sides, relishing the feel of curves and intimidating muscle underneath his palms, rather than the sensation of her turtleneck. It was obvious by his movements that he'd done this before. Maybe in the same spot as they were now, or maybe just the familiarity of the act itself, Korra couldn't bring herself to feel anything but thrilled.
His lips deviated from her own, suckling at the soft surface of her neck, honing in on the enticing pulsations of her artery against his lips, just as she imagined as she healed him, before biting down. His hips had just pressed oh-so-delightfully at the right spot at the apex of her thighs, his blood evidently rushing south, her legs wrapped around his own and inadvertently pulling him closer to her heat.
Yet, just as she was falling into the alluring clutches of lust, of impending ecstasy, a sharp knock was heard at the door.
Maybe if they ignored it, the person would take the hint and leave. It seemed Tarrlok had the same idea, because he stole yet another kiss from her. But of course, the spirits couldn't allow them this small mercy. A set of three knocks were heard against the wood to his right.
Nearly growling in frustration, Tarrlok pulled away from her kiss while Korra could barely form a coherent thought as to what exactly was happening. Hazy cerulean strayed on his lips before searching his face. Arousal and lust settled heavily on his features. "What?" He snapped, patience nonexistent.
"Councilman, Task Force member Tseng is here requesting to discuss his absence in upcoming meetings, sir." His page said in a rush.
Suddenly, Korra's palms pushed him away at his chest. Quickly, she slid off the desk to tuck her shirt into her sweats while he righted his vest and seemed to grasp onto that diplomatic composure in a matter of seconds. Korra eyed him warily. How was he so unaffected by this?
"Bring him in." He uttered once Korra offered a nod. A flush still colored her cheeks, the heat an irritating detail that she wanted to paw away at, but she pushed it aside and opted to stretch her back and make her way towards the doors that swung open as nonchalantly as she could muster.
No more than a second later, Tseng came waltzing into the office, practically oblivious to the fact that it was little more than hot in the room compared to the cool change of airflow from the hallway. Pale blue eyed her as she caught his gaze crossing the threshold. "Oh, Korra. You don't need to leave, this will only take a moment." Tseng muttered, the faintest hint of devilry in his baritone, though Korra knew he didn't have an inkling of what truly happened moments prior.
Batting his concerns away, she shook her head. "No, no. It's fine, I was actually already on my way out." She lied. When Tseng offered nothing but a harrumph in response, Korra took that as an opportunity to creep away.
Another step past the threshold, Tarrlok called her name. Heart thumping and her turning to face him, Tarrlok smiled, completely, utterly smug. "We can continue this another time. Perhaps this weekend?"
All Korra could do before she left was offer him a heated glance and a nod, his insinuation not lost on her.
—-
A/N: :)