Thanks to my sister, Shiks and Amon for reviewing. Especially Amon.
"Where am I?" Tahno cracked one eye open, his gaze swimming. A white ceiling, cross-hatched with shadows, could be anywhere. He sat up and realized that he was sprawled on a sleeping pallet in a barren room. It looked like someone's bedchambers, though it was pretty sparse for a personal residence. It wouldn't be the first time that the former pro-bender had passed out drunk and awoken in a strange house. He hoped that this wasn't the residence of one of his rabid fans. Of course, he didn't have many fans anymore. No one wanted the bragging rights associated with nailing the city's top pro-bender.
The previous night's events flooded back in a bitter wave, and Tahno flopped backward, burying his face in the thin pillow. He vividly remembered standing on the edge of a bridge, staring down at the water that he had once controlled, wanting nothing more than to die. And Korra, the damned Avatar, gripping his jacket and trying to talk him down.
"Tahno?"
He jerked upright at the sound of Korra's voice, as he realized that this must be her bedroom. He held back a sneer. How kind of her. The Avatar hovered above him, then took a seat on the edge of the pallet.
"How are you feeling?" She asked, and there was such concern in her voice that Tahno's face burned in shame.
"Like I fell off a bridge," he joked, but it came out sounding humorless and flat. Korra narrowed her eyes.
"It isn't funny, Tahno. You could have died last night."
He stared at her for a moment, then decided that this conversation was going in a decidedly mushy direction. Besides, he was deeply ashamed of his irrational actions, and he didn't want her to keep reminding him.
"Well, it was nice of you to let me sleep in your bedroom, uh-vatar. Although I doubt that your handler would approve…"
Korra glared at him, and he felt comfortable in their old rivalry.
"Tenzin's not my handler, pretty boy. And you were passed out snoring all night, which isn't very arousing for anyone."
"You watched me sleep?" Tahno squawked. Korra smirked, but something had softened within her gaze.
"You're cute when you sleep," she replied lightly. "Your face isn't so...scrunchy."
She fished around in her pocket as Tahno dwelled on this statement, producing a roll of bread and a star fruit.
"Here, I smuggled you some food."
Tahno accepted the meager rations uncertainly.
"I'll just eat when I get home," he informed her. Korra stood and brushed off her skirt.
"You're not going home, pretty boy. Not until I know that you're not going to be throwing yourself off bridges anymore."
Tahno stared at her in disbelief.
"You can't keep me here!"
A devious smirk slid onto the Avatar's lips.
"Watch me."
I'm sorry for the short chapter. Please review anyway. :)