Day 2: Noodles

"Do you want to get something to eat?" Korra had been practicing that speech all day. It was supposed to be simple. She would casually stroll into the Councilman's office and strike up a chat about the task force. She'd wait until he got heated, until he was less likely to think rationally. Then, she'd just kind of slip it in.

Korra knew she was in way over her head. Tarrlok was many things, least of all over a decade older than her. She knew she should be going on with what she'd told Ikki and Jinora, saying that she was in love with Mako. She'd tried to be in love with Mako, tried to bring back those feelings, but her brain wasn't having it. So, she'd decided she was going to put her plan into action. Except, he wasn't in his office.

Sitting on his desk, Korra stared out his window. He really did have a magnificent view. The water looked beautiful from his window. Staring, she didn't hear the door creak open, or notice Tarrlok much at all until he slid in beside her, bumping into her.

"Is there something I can help you with, avatar?" Korra startled, jumping to her feet in surprise.

"Oh, uhm" Korra squared her shoulders.

"I want to talk about our responsibilities to Republic City."

"At this hour?" Korra really wasn't in the mood for Tarrlok to condescend to her. It was one of the things she liked the least about him. Of course, since her mind never knew what it wanted, his arrogance was also oddly attractive.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize the task force closed after dark." She raised an eyebrow, but she was unprepared for his grin.

"Very well then, is this going to be a long conversation?" Korra shrugged. She hoped it would, but she didn't want to jinx herself.

"Am I keeping you from something?" She tried to say it offhand, but she really was a bit worried. It hadn't occurred to her till then that perhaps Tarrlok had just been keeping his private life private.

"Of course not. I do normally eat dinner at some point but I'm sure this is more important than that." Korra almost didn't catch his sarcasm. He had just presented her with the perfect opportunity. Trying to channel Asami, she sort of leaned onto his desk, tilting her head.

"Do you want to get something to eat?" She hoped her voice didn't actually betray her nerves. She hoped it had come off as casual as she'd practiced it. There was an awkward silence. Tarrlok had stopped looking at her, and instead looked out the window. Korra wondered if maybe she had sounded nervous, or maybe he really didn't see her that way. Maybe he was trying to find a polite way to say no.

"I just, since you didn't, I don't want to starve you." Korra felt her face growing a bit warm, and was glad he wasn't looking at her.

"Shh! I'm thinking. I know a place. How do you feel about noodles?"

"Noodles?" Korra was a bit confused. He was looking at her now, staring really. She broke eye contact.

"Yes, noodles. I know they're old, and sort of traditional. A lot of people nowadays prefer some newer establishments. Places that serve young, hip foods. But I know that some, some people like older foods. Foods with some years under their belt, tried and true favorites that might not be as new as they once were but are still good. Noodles."Korra was used to missing the joke. But this time, this time she thought she knew what Tarrlok was saying. She stepped closer to him. If she even leaned forward they'd be touching.

"You know something? I've tried some of those new, hip places. Not a lot of them. But there's something really good about Noodles. I really like Noodles." Korra hadn't expected him to reach for her like that. She'd expected him to pretend he didn't know what they were talking about. She'd expected him to take her to some little noodle place where they would talk about the task force and then maybe, slowly, they'd start a relationship. Instead, he pulled her flush up against him.

"Are you sure?" The eye contact was nearly unbearable. For the first time, Korra could see the longing in his eyes, a longing she was sure she must have missed. Nobody could want someone else that badly and keep it inside them. Korra hadn't, and apparently neither had he.

"Absolutely." She breathed. It wasn't the kiss Korra had expected. She was beginning to learn that Tarrlok could never be counted on to do what she expected. Instead of a passionate kiss, claiming her as his, this was soft. He leaned in gently, his arms resting lightly across her back. Because he was sitting, she had to prop herself up against his desk. His mouth was soft and surprisingly sweet. She didn't expect it when his tongue gently swept across her mouth, asking for entry. She let him in, letting him pull her closer. They didn't fight. She let his tongue explore her mouth, let him set the pace, because his pace was perfect.

When he pulled back, she didn't give him room for regret. She wrapped her arms just as softly around him, resting her head on his shoulder. It felt exactly as good, exactly as gratifying as she'd thought it would be.

Later, when Korra floated back into the air temple island, she was greeted by a hyper Ikki and a curious Jinora.

"Where were you? I thought you didn't have task force things today?" Jinora asked.

"Oh, no I didn't." Korra smiled at the two girls. They'd come to be almost like siblings, both poking their noses into her business all the time. Normally she found it just the slightest bit annoying, but she was too happy to care.

"Then what were you doing? Were you with Mako?" Korra almost laughed at how suggestive Ikki sounded, especially since the younger girl couldn't know what she was suggesting.

"No, I was with councilman Tarrlok." Korra sighed. The two airbenders exchanged a look.

"Mr. Ponytail Man is boring."

"What were you doing with Tarrlok?" The two spoke at the same time, both conveying their disdain.

"Noodles. We uh, we had noodles."