Arrogance

Pairing:
A Tahnorrlok Fanfiction, with side Borra and Masami

Rating: K+

Summary: Tahno's been registered for the Task Force, Korra is not amused. Tarrlok does not let her see the light of day, no time for probending, no time for goofing off. Why is she constantly entertained by two arrogant men? - Episode 4 AU.

A/N: Tahnorra fans have to hold out a little, this chapter is building up to something bigger. I originally had in mind for a little scene at the end, but the Korrlok moment dragged a bit, something that was intented to be roughly 2,000 words dragged out to almost 5,000 words...I'm sorry, next chapter will make up for it I promise!

Chapter 3

"The feel of the blood in my control," Korra speaks, her fingers curl to the remembrance of the heart gripping and tensing feel of bloodbending. The sun warms her cold fingers, creating a tingling sensation; she closes her hands defensively and turns her body to acknowledge Tarrlok who had amongst the silence seemed to have faded. She is avoiding eye contact with the older man, "it wasn't what I expected-I've been feeling rattled over the thought. But I can't come to say it. Because if I do, then the words will be permanent, there will be no way to take it back and pretend I didn't say it."

"Then don't," Tarrlok halts, his head lops to the right out of concern, "If you know you are going to regret it, then do not allow it to consume you. Prevention is better than cure." His fingers dig into his legs nervously, "Trust me."

Korra is watching the ocean waves recoil below her, the sand crumbling, deep in thought, an oddly high wave hits the back of her knee, setting her off balance, "Wo – Woah! – " Her feet are painfully caught in the depths of the sand, her hands are waving, attempting to regain balance, but gravity wins one over Korra as she has now belly flopped on the sand.

Tarrlok initially shows concern halting midway in an attempt to help her up but chuckles instead. A good, triumphant, heart-filled laugh hurts his lungs, his laughter sets off Korra's nerves. She comically flips on to her back and lies in the sand like a star fish, feet and arms stretched as far as possible, her pouting face cuts Tarrlok's awkward laughter short. "Shut up."

He is left to stand there with difficulty, afraid any word will set her anger off, so he tightens his lip and waits for her to sigh. He thinks Korra is absurd, if she was in swim wear he may have shrugged the notion off, but Korra was in tight casual wear, soaking attire, her usual blue tank top and furs darkened and body gripping, the only exception was her boots, she had been smart enough to remove them before setting foot in the sand.

"I did not envision such thoughts could cause such distress," Tarrlok comments after he believes her embarrassment has dissolved and she is ready to communicate on a humanely level, his body leaning forward hesitantly.

Korra's eyes spontaneously flip on to him. He draws back wearily.

"Sorry, just had a mental lapse," she offers a sheepish grin, her mood switching too dangerously close for comfort; "all my clothes are wet now too." Tarrlok laughs nervously. He stares and wonders whether she will be getting up any time soon – her face shows otherwise. Her head is drowning in the sand, eyes are closed and he watches the calming rise and fall of her chest. Honestly, was she only doing this to rattle his nerves further?

"The ocean magically draws away any anger," Korra smiles feeling a warm glow in her chest.

"Erm – I guess so." Tarrlok withdraws into a neutral stand. His shoulders ease by his side, "It is the reason I come out here in the mornings." He wants to add a comment about her – whether she was considering – getting up or not, but stops when he embraces her amusing innocence.

Korra cannot help but remain lying in the cool sand, no matter how funny she looks, feeling the waves move around her, it was refreshing and drawing. She feels the waves whisper to her what she needs to say, the way the water wraps around her, assures her that Tarrlok will listen and understand her problems, from one waterbender to another waterbender, the water is a mediator. "About the bloodbending, the feeling I felt was not what I expected."

"Care to elaborate," she notices Tarrlok from the corner of her eyes take a seat on the shore willingly, soiling his clothes – Tarrlok of all people! Mr. Pretentious – she liked to nickname him, this was the man that wiped his hands after any contact with another human. Primarily, she laughed at the thought but then considered, perhaps, he was truly being honest with her. That it was worth a short to tell him. If he decided to harass or blackmail her afterwards with the coming confession she could always, easily, go back to fighting and disliking him.

"When we found out the bodies couldn't be saved initially, I was quick to lose hope, but Tahno's words, the way he said I could save their lives, blinded me, I was overjoyed by finally being able to help…" Korra says nonchalantly, her hands folding behind her head. Tarrlok takes on the role of listener and nods in acknowledgement; he has now become an attentive friend rather than a pompous Councilman, "I – I wasn't fully aware of what I was signing up to," the Avatar's face turns grim, "The very idea of bloodbending is hated by everyone. I hated it – Hated the word. I knew there would be a guilty and ill natured feeling to it – But I still did it."

"You did it with the intention of saving a life Avatar Korra," Tarrlok reminds her. Her eyes fade to black for a bit as she recounts the nauseating feeling, "There's nothing to worry about," he speaks calling her back to reality.

"You have to understand, that's not what I'm stressing about. I've promised to never bloodbend again because of how I felt doing it, not the after-effects, or the nerves building up towards it, but because of the scary feeling doing it," Korra confesses, breathing deeply, Tarrlok rises an eyebrow curiously as if to say 'carry on', "I didn't expect that in the few short seconds of bloodbending, I – I would feel so power- hungry and malicious. It was like I had become someone different."

"You become the puppeteer," Tarrlok purses, his lips drawing into a fine line of misery, eyebrows knitting to match.

"I felt so evil that I thought of crushing the person's heart. I knew I easily could."

"But you didn't, you stopped when you felt pressured," Tarrlok says keeping her in check, his hand running down the side of his pants frustratingly recalling his bitter childhood. His eyes bare a horrid past that Korra considers asking what his life outside politics is like but avoids it, for personal reasons. He rolls his head in attempt to release his vented nerves, it feels better so he questions, "Did you ever consider it may have been the moon's effect on you?"

Her hands instinctively wrap around her as she sits up, ignoring the sticking sensation of drying and cracking sand on her arms and back she reveals, "I considered it, but inside I couldn't solely blame it on the moon." Korra feels twisted inside and her hands are crawling up the sides of her arms anxiously, "The moon had to have something to pull off, and I thought maybe I – I subconsciously felt, I wanted to try it," in one grieving breath she crumbles under imaginary pressure, "Bloodbending."

Anxiety, panic and guilt were rapidly returning after the feelings had haunted her during her deep slumber, these nauseating feelings, had she been wrong to confess?

"I wanted to try bloodbending. I wanted to try it," she painfully declares, her hands digging through her hair grievingly, "I'm sick!"

Tarrlok pushes silence for a little longer to see how she holds out. He finds it painful to watch, but only allows her to continue for the sole purpose of allowing her to sort out her confusions. A sadistic smile crosses Korra's face, "I'm sick for even thinking like that. But I can't help it. I can't help but admit it. When my thoughts come to settle on it, I feel better for a bit and then I remember how Master Katara despised bloodbending and feel like crap all over again."

This was not what he had expected when Korra wanted to talk with him, Tarrlok repels in motion by her oncoming, he was one to offer comfort in dire need, but to have Korra confide in him, the young girl who had stepped and invaded his territory profoundly, confess her worries, he was beyond surprised.

He had listened like the politician he was, but was unsure how to respond. He was a bloodbender – although she was unaware and best stay that way, he had been forced into the practice as a child, he despised it and here such a young girl was confessing how she felt power through it, how was he meant to respond? Yes he had felt powerful as a child, but that feeling was easily overwhelmed by the chaos bloodbending brought with it, his loving father.

Korra had a choice to use bloodbending, and was motivated by good intention, but was lured by arrogance, she was torn over something so insignificant compared to his childhood. He did not know how to respond.

"Bloodbending is a forbidden art," he forces the words out ignoring his entire childhood, "Society will never approve of such an inhumane technique," his eyes move from Korra to the ocean, staring at it with a blatant demise.

"I'm aware enough not to try it again," Korra responds dejectedly. Her head turning to face Tarrlok, "It's just – "

"You needed someone to talk to," Tarrlok understands, to an extent, his eyes crinkle subtlety. He leans back on his arms and registers the sun's warmth, registers how his morning is dragging longer than expected, but is not bothered by it, he wonders if he had had someone back then, in his childhood, to be the brother that never ran away, the friend to help him through the hardest of times and know all his secrets, how different of a man he would be today – Not very, he arrogantly concludes, but admits if someone else had understood his hardships, that life may have been that tiny bit more enjoyable.

"I'm happy you decided to trust me Korra," he earnestly says, but then is hit by Tenzin's impassive words after yesterday's council meeting. The meeting had run long already, but Tenzin had called Tarrlok afterwards to stay behind to address an important matter that involved Korra and the Task Force.

He was strongly against wasting any more time behind council doors, but Tenzin's concerned face had had him peak interest. So they waited behind thirty minutes to discuss Tenzin's worries, Tarrlok had assured Tenzin, that everything was fine within the Task Force and that Korra would not be pressured into anything from now on in relation to the bloodbending. Tenzin would only let him go if he promised to apologise to Korra.

And so - "I am deeply sorry for forcing you into this. The Task Force, if not, you would have not been forced into bloodbending, and not forced to have these negative feelings," Tarrlok careens his head in Korra's direction, his blue eyes glistening in the sun's reflection, "For that, I am truly sorry Avatar Korra."

He wants to extend the apology to include the embarrassing sparring incident, but withdraws knowing bringing it up would only make things awkward, no use bringing up the past – right? Instead Tarrlok registers Tenzin's final words of the night, words specified to him and a need for control. His face briefly scrunches at the directness in Tenzin's speech, unable to mask the innuendo.

'Tarrlok, before we leave. I'd like to bring forth the issue of you and Korra's relationship.'

'It is nothing more than a stand-off team partnership, no need to fret Tenzin.'

'While in Republic City, I am Korra's guardian, anything I notice becomes my worry. Tarrlok, the eyes of an experienced man can read body language from a mile away. I know how you are whenever Korra is in your presence.'

'I – I'm afraid you are not experienced enough Councilman Tenzin. And that any mixed signals you have picked up on are the beginning fuses of an aging mind, because I can assure you there is nothing going on.'

'I have a family Councilman Tarrlok, fifteen years of marriage, I know things. Do not pressure Korra – into things she is not ready for.'

'In respect to the bloodbending…'

'That and other things you are implying you are unaware of.'

'Mmhmm…'

'I've warned you Tarrlok, either be professional about work and have control, or fall and crumble. That is after you apologise sincerely to Korra. Goodnight Councilman.'

During his relapse, Korra is slumped with confusion. She is leaning against her knees, chin prodded on her folded arms, gloomily gazing at the ocean current, time has passed by rather quickly she notices. What were these mixed feelings, when would they leave, and why did they keep returning?

"Tarrlok," Korra calls anxiously sighing, he turns his head earnestly, peaked by the soft tone of desperation, "I'm sorry for taking up your time."

"Nonsense," Tarrlok shrugs, hopping to his feet, he decides he needs to cheer up the girl, and waterbending was just the thing, "Now – "

"What are you doing?" She asks panicked being pulled by the hands and forced to stand, she treads on her feet and falls nervously on Tarrlok. He catches her in the moment and is quick to restore her balance, setting a good two metres of distance between each other. Korra hides the embarrassment on her face and repeats, "What are you doing?"

"Patience Korra," Tarrlok insists, rolling his shoulders and loosening the rest of his joints from top to bottom. Korra thinks he sounds like Tenzin, she rises an eyebrow curiously when Tarrlok is now in a standard waterbending position.

"We're not going to spar again are we?" Korra inquires nervously, "Because after last time-"

"No we are not," He is quick to cut in, a forced grin covers his face, voice sounding on-edge, "Nothing like that will ever happen again."

"Then what," Korra prods her hands on her sides and sways to emphasis curiousity and impatience.

"We are going to meditate to restore balance, calm our nerves and think good about ourselves," Tarrlok begins rationally, addressing Korra in a way that made her his equal. He had noticed she did not enjoy being left out or lowered in position when spoken to, so pointing out his faults on level with her was more appropriate. The results were evidential when Korra imitated his neutral pose. Legs apart on a slight slant, knees bent, back straight and arms by the side awaiting command, he moves a hand momentarily to further illustrate, "I usually come out here in the mornings to keep cool within meetings. I lose my temper rather easily, causing me to be blinded by my wants. The water acts as a cleanser and removes those negative feelings for me. You might not believe I'm the type to relax, but after years in office, you realise it becomes crucial to force time for yourself, to simply relax and meditate."

"Do you think this might help me?" Korra questions in parallel with Tarrlok.

"I noticed you were not feeling the best, so I thought bending in your natural element could restore that charisma and arrogance you carry," Tarrlok comments, poking fun at her while keeping a serious face. Korra pokes her tongue at him, but it goes unnoticed as she is staring at his back.

"Thank you, aren't you a sweetie," she sarcastically comments.

Tarrlok pouts for a split second before ordering commands, "We're going to take everything slow. Not racing through things is the key to removing all our anger and worries." Tarrlok leans back to his right and pulls the ocean current in his direction, "Like we were doing earlier, pushing and pulling the tide, we will do that." He notices Korra groan at the repeating action, but she lightens up when he continues, "Only this time, a little more difficulty and focus is needed. We are going to keep an orb of water afloat in the air. I will pull and you will push. Simple enough?" He smiles cheekily at Korra, she is briefly mesmerised by his charisma but shrugs it off as an illusion of the sun's rays –Tarrlok was Tarrlok, old and pretentious.

"You sound like Tenzin you know," Korra mentions noticing his shoulders drop significantly. She laughs and he grouches, "Oh you get insulted right away."

"I'm only trying to help," Tarrlok persists, "You're making this more difficult than it has to be."

"Back to this are we? Complaining over every line," Korra sighs, "Can we just get to the exercise, ignoring all the talk. It worked well before."

"Tch, alright then," Tarrlok concludes and instructs his hands in a swerving motion. A stream of water is summoned; the water continues streaming until it forms a moderately sized orb before their heads, "Remember to push."

Tarrlok is keeping it in motion with a haul as Korra briefly watches; showing signs of confusion, but temptation to conquer it as she slowly begins to mimic, "Like this," Korra muses, a smile gracing her face. She is caught in her own rhythm, pulling rather than pushing as Tarrlok prescribed. The befuddled Councilman feels his control is slipping, he notices the orb is rotating at an incredible speed, due to Korra's lack of concentration, it is curdling and swishing in odd movements, rather than the perfect sphere he had going on his own.

"You're doing it wrong," he comments petulantly, "You need to push on the water, not pull."

Korra discourages, her arm muscles tensing, and eyes furrowing, a loss of focus and an intake of anger causes the orb of water to suddenly drop. She has no control, "You're doing something wrong Tarrlok."

He leaves her be, she needs to release her anger before continuing, "Anything else you would like to blame me for," he insists nonchalantly. Tarrlok notices how she contemplates on responding but holds it back to retain her dignity, both of them knowing blaming others for their faults was a coward's way of not owning up to the truth. Tarrlok dawdles on the thought for a bit, he may have blamed his father for a lot of his misery as a child, but stashes the apathetic guilt away; he was not going to feel guilty for hating his father – perhaps feel pity.

Korra initiates the orb and due to aggression correctively pushes on the current; Tarrlok follows and carries a smooth counter by pulling. The two move in harmony for a good few seconds, before Korra becomes too immersed and is moving at a faster speed than Tarrlok, he snorts attempting to keep up, but finds her speed is not allowing relaxation, and so he lowers his arms by his side. Thus causing Korra to push too hard, almost trip and send the water splashing vigorously back into the ocean.

"Grr – Why is this not working?" Korra growls, "Why can't it work like before?" she is frustrated and snaps her fists by her sides in a tantrum. Tarrlok shakes his head unfavourably, but remains patient and keen to achieve inner peace, no matter how corny it sounds in retrospect, he personally wants the best for Korra – For Tenzin to leave him alone, was a bonus.

"You just need to take it slow, you have mastered waterbending, but never succeed in teamwork," he hears a grunt of dissent, "You are not only relying on your strengths, but others. If our partnership in the Taskforce is to prevail, we need to be able to read each other's minds."

She cannot figure Tarrlok out, one moment he is the eager boy awaiting praise, the next he is the good friend who listens and now is the master who is criticising her qualities, she listens like a student should, but does not completely understand the advice on being a good partner, the way he goes on about it, it was as if – they were some old married couple – No! Thinking too far ahead – Korra snaps her head and becomes determined to accomplish this mission by being independent yet open minded.

"Ready to try again?" Tarrlok inquires, his tone is slightly irritated, but she shrugs it off and waits till he floats on orb of water before joining it. She waits for the right moment to intercept, and spontaneously decides to stream a line of water of her own, she carries it slowly, reminiscing about her early days of waterbending practice, until it hovers right next to the orb, she inhales – attempting this new method, it would be the breakeven point. She would either angrily give up trying the activity with Tarrlok, or be extremely excited about mastering it, when Tarrlok praised her, she felt good, and because she knew it was only earned through hard work or wit.

"I'm ready," she says and exhales, the stream of water merges with the orb, slowly expanding, but fitting right in. As the water is controlled, Korra is focusing on the push factor, pushing against the pull, she needs to be independent but naturally trust those close to her. Korra understands the ideology of the exercise and is able to put it in practice; she conjures an imaginary rhythm of beats within the water, interpreting when Tarrlok's control eases for her to take over, and vice versa. "I think I understand now."

Tarrlok sighs happily, watching the orb last in the air for more than a good thirty seconds; he believes Korra has displayed some improvement. As predictable as her determination, Tarrlok is proud, "Nice work, Avatar Korra. Although it took a few tries to grasp the exercise, I can tell you now have a solid experience to fall back on."

He smiles graciously, there was a brief moment in history he remembers, when he had scrounged the Northern Water Tribe at the age of fifteen for a true waterbending teacher, he had been scorned for learning so late, and disciplined numerously for his slow attitude to learning, but after determination and never giving up, he could remember the rewarded faces his bending master offered when an accomplishment was made. He was growing older he concluded, and remembered, Korra was younger, much younger, Tenzin had warned him, but he could not help whatever sparked when Korra and him ever argued, or fought, or even…sparred.

"I can be pretty awesome when I choose to be," Korra grins lopsidedly, she is tempted to challenge herself further, in terms of partner mind-reading, she wanted to test if Tarrlok could keep up with her. She commands the orb to slowly weave and float up, carefully, the orb looks like it's almost about to split in two, before Tarrlok picks up on her challenge and follows her lead.

He smirks at her attempt to foil him, Korra pouts from the corner of his eye, "Same here," he teases.

Korra's head props back up immediately when she addresses a forgotten issue, "You know when you mentioned how easily impatient you got, is most of that due to me?"

"If I said no I would be lying," Tarrlok comically notifies, keeping his mind focused on the orb.

"That's for being honest," she responds jerkily, her nose scrunches, and focus wobbles. She does not regain control right away, her head feels light for a moment, and she sways absentmindedly, rocking on her knees, the water around her ankles sends her pummeling to her knees.

When Tarrlok notices the absence in the push of the orb, his head swings in worry and notices Korra attempting to get back up, the water returns to the ocean, he is quickly by her side, "Are you alright Korra?"

He hears her groaning out of confusion, she has a hand placed on her forehead applying pressure to the pulsing headache, the pain had to return now she complains, her vision blurring in and out, slowly with Tarrlok's help Korra is back on her feet. He ushers her out of the water and on to dry sand, Korra's vision returns thankfully, and she can concentrate if she remains still. Tarrlok is careful in keeping her upright, if she returns home knocked out, there would be some interrogating.

"Korra, you deserve a break," Tarrlok persists, bending down to her level. She is staring at the still sand, avoiding movement to prevent the ill feeling of nausea to return. She can comfortably hear and focus on Tarrlok's words, but she cannot tilt her head even in the slightest bit of acknowledgment.

"You don't say," Korra groans, but halts when Tarrlok shakes his head disagreeing.

"I mean a break from everything, you have only recently come to Republic City, and already your days are flooded with doing nothing but selfless deeds and vigorous training," Tarrlok registers, pausing when required, pausing when he felt Korra was feeling too overwhelmed to focus at all, when she pays attention, he continues, "You require time off to attend to your social needs, despite being an Avatar, you are still a teenager. Being deprived of the basics will only adhere to your progress and immaculate talents."

"So what are you implying?" Korra slurs, "No funny business Tarrlok."

"No no," he shrugs, "After all you have been forced to on my behalf, the Task Force, the bloodbending, cutting back on probending, even having to put up with Tahno, I want you to have a week off Task Force duties. Thus, no training or raids for an entire week, would you be happy with that?"

Korra was baffled, looking struck on impending excitement and attempting to be humble. She is literally speechless. Her head has slightly lifted, as much as she is fighting the nausea, her face displays the pain clearly.

"Is that silence code for yes?" Tarrlok pouts, not aware his words would have her looking like a goldfish, "It is only a week, nothing to worry about, Tenzin would know, you could spend time practicing for your upcoming premiership or even finally getting to sleep in."

"Tenzin would probably complain," Korra nods graciously, "But I'm not", the pulse in her headache has disappeared. A silly grin covers her face, within the excitement she hugs Tarrlok and retreats, feeling stupid, in pain and shy, "I mean – thank you…"

"It's my pleasure," he responds warmly playing with the edge of his coat.

"So in terms of today," Korra begins, "I want to say thank you for listening. It really helped with things."

"Anytime Korra, next time you are out for a morning walk, find me," Tarrlok insists smiling delightfully down at the young adult. An awkward moment of silence feels the void before Korra sticks a hand out. Tarrlok is mentally surprised, but returns the favour and shakes her hand firmly, returning a solid grasp that screamed Northern Tribe hospitality between men of brotherhood – or maturing adults.

"I think I'll take you up on that offer." She says without hindrance.

Korra walks away feeling slightly light-headed, but feels this morning has achieved a level of tolerance she has needed to establish. She believes her co-operation with Tarrlok within the Task Force, after her week break will be easier.

Although personal interrelationships are improving for Korra, societal reputation is degrading, impervious journalists setting their daily gossip on a new target.