Day 1: Smug
Korra was re-learning her bending a lot faster than Tarrlok was. It wasn't really something that either of them could control. As soon as Korra had gotten hers back she'd set out to look for something. She hadn't known what. She hadn't even known why. It was just her and Naga, and the boat she'd chartered.
She'd had to learn pretty quickly that her bending wasn't just going to come back. Although it wasn't really like it was gone, everything was weak. Moves that had once created tidal waves now created gentle lapping waves that tickled people's feet. Most of the metal-bending police had struggled even to put their uniforms on at first.
But while the rest of the city had been out re-learning and re-building. She'd set out by herself in the boat. When she'd first found him, she'd been confused and distraught. He was badly burned, his hair was half gone, and she'd thought he was dead. Bringing him back, along with the body of her former enemy, had been hard. Fighting for him to stay out of prison had been harder.
Slowly they'd grown together. She'd waited until he was healthy to begin her training, arguing that with Amon gone, with Noatok rotting half-dead in a jail cell, the city didn't need the avatar to bend. They just needed her. So she'd waited. And when he was ready, they went out on the shore together. Of course, he accused her of cheating a lot.
It wasn't Korra's fault that she was a faster learner. When she'd finally given him back his bending, he'd promised to kick her butt. Instead, most days she completely outperformed him, often leaving him drenched. This day was no different.
"Korra, very good!" Master Kya never hesitated to give praise. Korra smirked, sending a lone tendril of water to smack a frustrated Tarrlok when the older woman wasn't looking.
"Thank you." Korra smiled innocently, as Tarrlok turned to glare at her. She stuck her tongue out at him.
"How am I doing?" Tarrlok grumbled. Korra had gotten used to his attitude. He wanted to be better than her, and she knew it had to be killing him that he wasn't.
"You're doing well Tarrlok, relax!" The man let out an irritated sigh.
"How can I relax, have you seen my training partner?" As Korra had been in the process of splashing Tarrlok yet again, she couldn't exactly look innocent. She let the water drop with a shifty smile, before turning back to him.
"It's funny. I have to re-learn three elements, learn an entire fourth element I've only just mastered, and still be a symbol in the city. You'd think such an experienced bender would do much better than little old me." Korra made a ridiculous show of batter her eyelashes at him.
"Master I think we're done for today." Korra's easy grin faltered. She'd never heard quite that tone from Tarrlok before. She turned to look at Master Kya, begging her to stop whatever was happening, but the woman shrugged.
"If you believe it's best. I trust your wisdom Tarrlok." Korra could hear a warning in the older woman's voice, but she could also tell the woman was holding back a laugh.
When Korra looked back at Tarrlok, he was staring at her. She knew she recognized the look in his eyes, but it seemed out of place. He started walking closer to her, but Korra faltered. She knew she should probably walk away, but part of her was insanely curious.
"You know, when I was on the brink of death, I thought of bending. I thought of how it had let me do so much. I dreamed of getting it back, maybe in my final moments. Instead, you brought me back here. You gave me my bending back. I would hate to think that you did that just to rub it in my face that you think you're better than me." His voice was low. Korra knew what was happening, but she didn't want to admit it.
"I am a better bender." She hated that her voice sounded breathy. It was meant to be a serious retort.
"Oh really? You don't think I could overpower you?" He was entirely too close. Korra wished she had backed up. He sounded playful, but he also didn't.
"Now, no." Korra had always been blunt. She saw him smirk and she felt her blood simmer, just a bit.
"Really, you don't think I could get the better of you at all?" She didn't know why he looked so happy. She proved on a daily basis that she was the better bender.
"No, I" She didn't get a chance to finish. Suddenly, she was in his arms and his mouth was on hers. It took her less than a second to register the intrusion. But, she realized with an odd mix of pleasure and horror, she liked it. She really liked it. She kissed him back, giving as good as she got. Without realizing it she pulled him closer, desperate for the kiss.
Abruptly he wasn't there any more. She literally fell forward, almost smashing face first into his chest. She caught herself instead. However, when she righted herself she realized he was smirking. In fact, he looked like he was trying not to laugh. Korra sputtered. She wanted to be angry, she also wanted to kiss him again. Still, he'd clearly gotten the better of her, and he was clearly gloating.
"You don't have to be so, so"
"Smug?"