"How's she doing?" Tahno asked the girl sitting across the dining room table from him. It had been a couple days since his last visit to the island and he was curious to know how Korra was fairing. Upon arrival, he'd been told that she was resting.

"Fine. She's almost completely back to normal," Asami answered absently. Tahno tilted his head as he studied her. She seemed distracted. And had a feeling he knew why.

"That's good to hear." He took a sip of his drink, thinking about the best way to approach the subject. Asking a woman what was wrong had never been his forte. So, he decided he'd try the direct approach. "So, how is your relationship with the fire rat going?" It was blunt and quick and Asami certainly wasn't expecting it.

She stiffened, a frown etching its way onto her face. His tone had implied that he'd known about the situation for some time. Had she really been the only one out of the loop? "How long have you known?" she asked.

"Since the quarter-finals. Pro-Bending is as much an intellectual game as it is a physical one. You need to read your opponents to determine any weaknesses and who's more compatible." Asami nodded slowly. "The way they played together…there was a lot of tension."

"I see." The heiress sighed before turning her attention back to the ex-Bender, watching as he casually took another swig. "And it doesn't bother you that Mako likes Korra?"

Tahno blinked at the question. "Should it? He's not my boyfriend." Asami studied the other Nonbender for a moment. Were all boys this obtuse?

"Do you think the feelings mutual?" she asked instead.

Tahno paused. Did Korra still return Mako's feelings? He wasn't sure. She'd never mentioned it. And the only time she ever did talk about the eldest Ferret was when she was pissed off at him.

So in reply, Tahno shrugged. "Look, if you really want my opinion about this whole ordeal, Princess, you shouldn't torture yourself. You have two options. You can continue on and pretend you don't notice the looks Lover Boy gives the Avatar, or you can do something about it. It's that simple."

Asami sighed. If only it really were that simple.

*** The idea of Korra liking Mako had never really entered Tahno's thoughts. He had noticed the fleeting looks and the way they acted around each other. Normally he wouldn't have pondered the question seeing as he despised the Firebender. But Asami's question still plagued his mind.

Was the feeling mutual? The thought caused an ache in his stomach. Korra could do so much better than that. The guy couldn't even decide between her and the heiress. Tahno already knew which one he'd pick if it came right down to it.

He didn't approve of the way Mako was leading them on. Though, he supposed he couldn't really cast the first stone. He'd been no better when he had been the captain of the Wolf-Bats. He wasn't proud of that…not anymore.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Tahno snapped out of his thoughts and his eyes focused on the object of his contemplation kneeling in front of him. "How long you been out here?" she asked.

"Couple hours."

Korra raised a brow. "And you went all that time without even talking to me? How did you manage to survive?" She grinned.

Tahno rolled his eyes. "It was a very painful experience." He sighed as if he had been suffering. "I didn't think I'd make it."

Korra laughed. "You poor thing," she replied with mock sympathy. Tahno couldn't help but notice how much better she looked. All her cuts and bruises had disappeared. "So what'cha been up to?" she asked as she took a seat next to him on the courtyard steps.

"Not a lot. I've been trying to see if there are any rumors spreading about the Equalist's next move but so far I haven't heard anything realistic. Things are about to change. And I fear for the worst."

"Great," Korra muttered. Tahno noticed how some of her energy just seemed to seep from her. She looked tired. He didn't blame her. He wondered how she could carry such a huge weight on her shoulders and still seem so full of energy when everybody was watching. He surmised that she did it so people wouldn't worry. Or perhaps she did it because of pride.

Whatever the case, she wasn't doing a very good job of hiding it now.

"Hey," he said, causing her to look at him. "You'll get him. And the people of this city will be so grateful that they'll tell their kids stories about you. They'll call it…" He paused, a grin spreading across his face as he spread his arms out, picturing a banner. "The Legend of Korra: The Best Damn Avatar the World Has Ever Known!"

Said Avatar rolled her eyes at his antics and pushed him away half-heartedly. "Right and Lieutenant will shave his stupid mustache." Tahno chuckled.

"Hey, it cheered you up didn't it?" he pointed out.

Korra smiled at him. "I believe it did," she replied. "Thanks Tahno. I appreciate it."

The boy shrugged. "You did the same for me. I am simply returning the favor."

"Fine then. We're even."

"I suppose that means I can stop acting so nice."

"Oh yeah, because I like you so much better when you're a jerk."

"Are you saying you like me?" he asked with a suggestive smirk.

Korra shook her head but her grin didn't leave. "Great, I think I might have just made your ego bigger," she teased. Tahno shook his head but didn't say anything else. Korra stretched her arms above her head while letting out a yawn.

"You're not going to fall asleep on me again, are you?" he asked, crooked grin still in place. Korra sent a glare at the Nonbender.

"I'm not that tired," she defended. "And you're not that comfortable of a pillow anyway," she muttered. Several comments came to mind when he heard this. One of them being, 'Some girls would disagree with that statement'. But he didn't think that would go over well with the girl sitting next to him and he knew he'd regret it as soon as it left his mouth.

"Whatever keeps your pride intact, Avatar," he answered instead, looking smug.

Korra sighed. "You're still impossible."

"Would you really have me any other way?"

Korra pretended to think the question over. "I guess not," she replied. Tahno couldn't help but smile at this. He stood and held out his hand.

"In that case, I think we should get something to eat. My treat." Korra raised a brow, taking his hand. Tahno shook his head. "I heard your stomach growling. Hard to miss."

Korra rolled her eyes. "Fine. Narook's?"

"If that's where you want to go," he replied with a shrug. Korra nodded her head and with that they were off.

The rest of the night was spent merely chatting. The thought of asking her about her feelings for the Firebender crossed his mind but decided against asking. Why should he care if she did? They were friends. Just friends. But still…the mere thought made him feel nauseous and he almost couldn't eat his food. He was literally making himself sick. He also thought of asking about why she had initially approached him in the first place. Again, he decided against it.

After all, what reason did he have for ruining her good mood with his insecurities? After being kidnapped by an insane Bloodbender and with everything else in the city going wrong, she needed this moment of idle conversation.

And he was going to let her have it.

***** The first part is mainly me thinking that Asami could use a friend right now. After all this bull Mako has been putting her through...UGH! I want someone to slap him.

Yeah...I love Tahno...and he still hasnt made an appearence...Im sad.

BG OUT PEACE!