"Have you told him yet?"

Korra sighed, hitting her head against the table. "No."

Asami frowned. "You need to tell him."

"I know," the Waterbender muttered against the wooden top. She felt like a coward.

"It's not fair to him, keeping it quiet."

"I know."

"He deserves to know."

"Dammit, Asami!" Korra's fist connected with the tabletop, causing the item to shake violently. "You don't think I know that? I just..." The Avatar took a deep breath, exhaling heavily.

The Sato heiress smiled reassuringly at the younger girl, reaching across the table to grasp Korra's hand in her own. "You'll feel better when you tell him. He'll understand. He's not the same arrogant, hard headed, stubborn, egotistical, pompous-"

"Do you even have a point?" Korra interrupted with a wry smirk. "Because I would appreciate you getting to it this century."

"My point is," the raven haired beauty replied. "You need to tell him."

The Waterbender leaned back in her chair, arms crossed and brow scrunched together pensively. Her gut was twisting uncomfortably and she really didnt want to tell Tahno. But of course Asami was right.

"I will."

*** "Has the Avatar seemed to be a bit...off to you?" Tahno asked the Earthbender standing across from him in the ready position.

Bolin didn't answer immediately as he sent a chunk of earth at his sparring partner. The two had grown an...acquaintanceship, and would often spar with each other when Tahno wasn't hanging out with Korra. Plus the Earthbender secretly liked the excuse to hurl rocks at his ex-rival. Old habits die hard.

"Not really," he answered as he dodged a water whip.

Tahno made a noncommittal hum before trying to grab the Earthbender's leg again but Bolin saw it coming. With a smirk he made the earth beneath the older boy's feet rise, causing the lean Swamp dweller to lose his concentration and fall on his ass.

Bolin tried not to chuckle.

"Smooth," he teased. Tahno simply grumbled in response. The shorter boy grinned before walking over and helping the taller boy up. "Anyway, why did you ask?"

Tahno grabbed a towel off the boulder and wiped the sweat out of his eyes. "I don't know. I just feel like there's something she's not telling me. "

"You've been back a week. And she hasn't mentioned anything?"

Tahno shook his head.

"Have you tried asking her?"

"Yes. And every time she dodges the question. Has she told you anything?"

Bolin looked away at this, pretending to busy himself with something. He'd promised Asami he would let Korra tell him. "Nope, not a thing."

Tahno narrowed his eyes suspiciously and was about to continue when he heard someone clear their throat. He looked over his shoulder to see the person they were discussing.

She smiled slightly at him, looking nervous. "Hey."

"Hello, Avatar."

Bolin rubbed the back of his neck before rambling out an excuse so that he could leave the couple alone. Once he was gone, Tahno walked over to the brunette.

"What brings you to this part of the island?"

"Besides you?" Tahno smirked at the comment. "But in all seriousness, I did come to talk to you."

The taller Waterbender nodded. "Do go on."

"I know I've been acting a little...odd lately," she began. "I've just been trying to find the right time to tell you."

"Tell me what?" He raised a quizzical brow, confusion clear in his grey eyes. He could think of a million different ways this conversation could end and none of them were particularly pleasant.

Korra sighed, preparing herself. "About three days after you left, the White Lotus elders came to the island. They came to see me."

"Why?"

"They said they had some things to discuss with me now that I'm a fully realized Avatar. I didn't particularly want to talk to them but Tenzin pressured me into it." She shook her head at this. "Anyway, the elders went into this big speech, it was more of a rant really, about the responsibilities that my title came with. They told me how Avatar Aang had to go on this long journey for 'enlightenment'." She sighed. "And they told me how it's my turn now."

Tahno's mouth formed a thin line at this. He knew what this meant. "When do you leave?"

"They want me to leave in a week."

Tahno cursed inwardly. "And how long will you be gone?"

Korra dug her hands into her pockets and turned her gaze into the bay, not having the heart to look at the man in front of her. "They said it could be anywhere from one to three years. Enlightenment takes time. Especially for someone so spiritually inept as myself."

"And you can't bring anyone with you, can you?" He already knew the answer. No.

"Just Naga."

Tahno clenched his jaw. He wanted to be mad at her. He was mad at the White Lotus. But he couldn't bring himself to be mad at her. He looked at her and knew she didn't want to go. It was just the cards she'd been dealt.

He strode toward till he was standing only centimeters apart from the girl. He tilted her chin up and searched her cyan eyes. Then he gently placed a kiss on her forehead, silently letting her know it was okay.

"I wanted to tell you sooner."

"I know."

"I'm sorry."

He pulled her to him and wrapped his lanky arms around her smaller frame, setting his chin on top of her head.

"I don't expect you to wait for me to come back."

The words made him stiffen and he pulled her closer, his embrace tightening. "And why wouldn't I?"

Korra didn't state her thoughts. She didnt say that she knew him, and that though he had changed, she couldn't expect him to wait for someone he might not even see for three years. She had heard from many sources that long distance relationships hardly ever worked. She loved him, or at least really really liked him, but she wouldn't put him through that.

But instead she said, in the faintest whisper, "I'm just saying." And left it at that.

******* there you go, mystery over. Sorry for the long wait. Hope you guys aren't mad. Hope you enjoyed!

Im out! Peace!