I was going to rant about the finale, but I kind of did that in my spur of the moment Noatok-drabble last night ("Shadows and Wakes," if you're interested). In other news, we've hit over 10K hits and 150+ story alerts for Secrets. I never dreamed of this story becoming so popular and well, thank you. I know I say it a lot, but I'm really touched that out of all the stories you could have chosen to click on, you've chosen mine. :)
A bit of Jealous!Korra this chapter. Next chapter is the doozy. Afterwards, I'm not too sure what will happen. As you read this, I'll still be trying to shake my writer's block away as I write chapter 11. Here's to hoping that I get over it soon!
Chapter 9: Errands
"Bolin, you gotta keep up!"
Looking up from the vendor's cart, the earthbender quickly ran to where his friend was waiting at the street corner.
"Sorry Korra, but you should've seen it! They had toucan-puffins for sale and they started doing tricks. One was rolling on a ball, and there were these two other ones that were singing a duet, and then another one—"
"I get it, Bo. You got excited by the toucan-puffins," Korra interrupted with a slight shake of her head, "but we're on a schedule. Pema said if we get distracted during grocery shopping again, she won't give us any of the egg tarts she's making for dessert tonight! Besides, wouldn't Pabu be jealous if you got a toucan-puffin?"
"Don't worry. Pabu knows he's the only one for me," Bolin replied dismissively, grinning as his furry friend curled around his shoulders with a purr.
"So what's next on the list?" he asked as he shouldered his half of the groceries.
Reaching into her pocket, Korra passed him the sheet of paper Pema handed them that morning. "Tofu," Korra answered as she stood on the tips of her toes to search for the tofu cart. Though there were a variety of tofu vendors in Republic City, Korra had found a particularly good supplier who unfortunately shared a rather persnickety relationship with the young Avatar.
'I crash into his cart one time and suddenly, it's the end of the world. I said I was sorry already!' she thought with a roll of her eyes.
Hand shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun, Korra scanned the streets for the tofu cart when she spotted a familiar wave of hair. Tahno, she told herself. Only he would dare style his hair in so tacky a fashion, and she raised her arm to wave at him when she saw him turn slightly and lean down, and she realized he wasn't alone.
The crowd thinned for a second, allowing a better view of the former-Wolfbat. At his side was a girl. Her hair was brown and cut into a stylish bob covering her ears; she wore a pale light green shirt—a dress maybe?—partially-obscured by a fur-trimmed jacket. With her delicate features girlishly painted, she couldn't have been much older than her. She looked like a doll.
'She's gorgeous,' Korra thought to herself, feeling the familiar pangs of envy in chest before she caught herself and shook them away.
'This is stupid.'
She had no reason to be jealous. Tahno was a free man; who he chose to flirt with was of no concern to Korra. She had more important things to deal with, anyway, like finding that tofu vendor and grabbing Bolin by the shirt collar, she dragged him down another street far from Tahno and his "date."