Tahorra - Alone

It had been a week since the incident and they hadn't made a move in any direction. The arena was still a place of destruction and fear and the city was still in a state of mass confusion and hysteria. The only thing that hid their feelings was their desire to prove Amon wrong. But even this only went so far. Riots broke out quite frequently. Rarely were they stopped. The city was losing all hope.
Not even Bolin and Mako were their usual selves. Or maybe they were but she just wasn't used to the them outside of probending. Their home had been destroyed so they were living with her and she saw them practically every moment of the day. It was almost more than she could handle. That's why she was where she was right now – approaching the probending arena.
It made her kind of sad to see it in such a state, but still she went. She needed a place where no one else would be, she needed to escape from the harshness that seemed to surround her everywhere else. This was the perfect place. Not even Bolin and Mako would be here now. It made her smile faintly.
Then she saw something. The closer she got, the clearer the form became. It appeared to be a person. She cocked her head and squinted her eyes to try and make out the face. Who on earth would be here now? It certainly wasn't a police officer. So who?
Finally realization dawned on her. The darkly clad figure could be no other than Tahno. She scowled faintly at the truth. Him of all people. She came here to relax and perhaps reminisce, not duke it out with pretty boy. For a moment she even considered turning and escaping before he noticed her. But then she swore she heard something.
Tahno sat on a bench out in front of the arena. It was turned sideways and he was looking straight ahead so he did not see Korra. Even if he had been facing her it is unlikely he would have noticed her. He was consumed with himself. His eyes were full of bitter sadness and welling tears yet at the same time they seemed to be empty, as if he were in another world entirely. His hands trembled before him as he stared blankly ahead and soft hiccups passed his lips.
That was the noise Korra was hearing. Was he…crying? She couldn't help but feel uneasy. It was as if she just walked into a private moment, only it was an open area. Tahno should have known better than to sulk here. Then again, she'd thought it would be empty here too, so honestly his logic was no different than hers. She made a face. What a creepy thought – them sharing the same thoughts. Ew…
Korra must have made a verbal sound because in the next instant Tahno jerked his head up and toward her. His eyes were wide and almost wild as they landed on her. He wanted to scream at her invading his space or at the very least demand to know what she was doing here, but nothing came out. All he could do was look at her with fear and tear filled eyes.
Korra shrank under his intense gaze. She'd never seen his eyes that way. They were always so calm, cool, and conceited. It caught her off guard even more than the time right after Amon had fled from the arena. Still she didn't leave. She actually walked closer. Whether it was with the intent of talking with him or just because she wished to be near this place she was not sure. Although she'd certainly deny it being the former.
Tahno watched her carefully for a moment. Shortly after that he halfway recovered himself and jerked his body completely opposite of her so she couldn't see his face. It also gave him the opportunity to furtively wipe at his eyes. No one would see him cry. No one!
Korra kept on walking. His blatant dislike for her presence made no difference. This was a public place after all. She had just as much of a right to be here as anyone else. If he wanted to truly be alone he should have stayed home.
Tahno grew stiffer by the second. Every footstep she took made a soft sound that sent a shiver up his spine. Surely she knew he didn't want her or anyone else her. She had to have seen it in his eyes. So why was she doing this? Why was she deliberately coming closer? If she just wanted to be here then she could go to the opposite side. Why here? Why him?
Korra saw how his body went rigid and she realized more than ever that she was not wanted. But she couldn't stop. Her mind barely controlled her body, she was just being carried by her legs. It was as if they wanted something different than she did. Yet…she knew deep down she too wanted this. She simply refused to admit it. It was easier to pretend she was being controlled.
As she came up right behind him, he finally spoke. "Go away." His voice was weak and strained. He hated himself for this too. He wished he didn't have to open his mouth. He wished she wasn't so dumb. Then he could have at least kept his image. Now even that was lost to her.
Korra frowned deeply and did not acknowledge his words. She plopped down right next to him, looking with intensity at the fourth of his face visible. "You know, coming here isn't going to bring your bending back." She murmured absently. It just sort of came to her. She felt that this was the only explanation for his presence.
Tahno started, gasping softly. That's what she thought? She truly believed he'd come here for that? How ridiculous! That had nothing to do with it! His brows pressed down deeply onto his eyes and his mouth twitched faintly in aggravation.
Korra sighed. "Ignoring me won't bring them back either." She added a bit cruelly. She knew him ignoring her had nothing to do with it. He ignored her because of who she was. He hated her. Still, she said it. She was just in one of her moods. Perhaps she thought joking would help. But this wasn't Bolin. Tahno was different, much different.
Tahno's eyes caught fire instantly. "Don't be stupid!" He snarled, still refraining from turning and looking at her. "That has nothing to do with it!" His figure trembled faintly. He was getting worked up again. He needed to calm down. He breathed deeply. Calm…calm.
Korra was slightly surprised by his outburst. One moment he'd seemed rather tranquil in his despair, the next he was on her. He hadn't actually touched her though, thankfully. At least it was only verbal attacks as of now. "Why else would you come here? It's destroyed. You can't go in. They won't let anyone in." There was a twinge of sadness in her words. She missed being in there, even if the tournament was over and playing actual games would not occur. Something about the place…it soothed her.
Tahno growled deep in his throat. "It's none of your business." He said brusquely. His fists clenched despite his efforts and they trembled much like his body. He was going to break. He could feel it. One more question from her and everything would be over for him. Not only would he no longer have bending, but he'd lose his image. Surely she'd rat about his fragile state just to be cruel. She totally had it in her. He didn't doubt it a bit.
Korra stared sadly at him. She truly wondered. She could not think of anything else that a person like him would want from a deserted place like this. "What? You miss the fans?" It seemed like a shallow desire, but he wasn't exactly a deep kind of person from what she'd seen.
Tahno finally lost it. He rounded on her on the bench and lashed his hand out to grip her collar with ferocity. "I. Said. It's. Not. Your. Business." He snarled through clenched teeth as he shook her. Then a strange sadness swept over him and his lip trembled and fresh tears tried to surface. "Do you really think I'm that shallow?" He voice was weak again, like a child who had been told they weren't loved.
Korra's eyes were wide with shock not only from his reaction but the way his voice changed so drastically. She'd never heard him or anyone else sound so defeated and pitiful. This was mostly due to her sheltered life. However she still was able to recognize all emotions, even if she had never seen them. But she was unable to react properly. She just stared.
Tahno stared right back at her, his eyes saddening further with every moment that she did not respond. She did. She thought he was some vain douche that cared only about himself. His grip tightened at the thought and his body shook harder. In a way she was right, but it wasn't exactly as simple as it sounded. His life was a mess.
Korra knew he was desperate for an answer, but she didn't know what to give him. The truth would only upset him more. So her lips remained tightly pressed together. Maybe he'd just get angry with her silence. Then she could fight back. Then he might become something like what he used to be.
Tahno's grip tightened further for a split second, but then it went completely slack. He bowed his head and choked sobs escaped from his throat. He tried to force them back, but they came anyway. And in the shadow of his face tears slowly started to slip from his eyes.
At first Korra didn't notice the tears, too stunned by the intense sobs. But once they slipped past the shadow of his bowed face, around the bottom of his nose, it was impossible to miss. The light pronounced them and the sight even made something catch in her throat. "Tahno…" She breathed.
"I'm not shallow…" He insisted, shaking his head back and forth. His voice was as pitiful as ever. While his words were not a question, he needed assertion. "I'm not…" He moaned.
Korra swallowed hard. She shouldn't make a move. She should honestly just leave him there. This was a personal thing, meant for people close to him. She wasn't that. Yet she felt glued to the spot. Worst of all she felt compelled to help. And the next thing she knew, she was.
Tahno sucked in a sharp breath as he felt their skin meet. Her smooth finger gently ran over his pale skin and wiped away the tears. He was shocked speechless for more than one reason. Mostly he was amazed that she would do this for him, but also it was a shock to know that someone like her – rough, tough, and unforgiving – could have such a soft touch.
Korra did both sides of his face. She went through the movements almost zombie-like. However she did know what she was doing. She was not possessed or mindless. She willingly brushed her fingers across his skin, his chilling, pale skin. But it really wasn't so bad. For him to be Tahno, it was nothing like she imagined.
As she removed her finger a soft whine passed his lips. He lifted his face and the shadow was removed, revealing his full shattered face. Traces of tears still remained and they were built up high in his eyes, he looked as if he hadn't slept in ages, and he was just an overall wreck. As much as he wanted to hide all this, he couldn't bear it any longer. "It makes me happy." He quivered.
Korra started. "What?" She hadn't been expecting him to speak.
"You…wanted to know." His voice shook uncontrollably, but he no longer cared. "I came b-because…it is the only pl-place I was e-ever…happy." He squeezed the last word out with much difficulty, more tears rolling down his face.
Korra stared with confusion into his tortured eyes. What? What about those girls? Or his teammates? Didn't they make him happy? Or his family! Certainly he had family to be with. But…he sounded so sincere in his misery. "Tahno…I…" She didn't know. She didn't know how to fix this, to fix him.
Tahno buried his face in his hands and sobbed harder. His whole body shook with intensity, wracked by the ever increasing sobs. He didn't know what he wanted anymore. Mostly he supposed he wanted to be able to have someone who he could call a friend, who he could trust to be there for him and not condemn him even in his worst moments – like this moment. But Korra…he didn't know. He was so confused.
Korra breathed outward heavily. She couldn't take it any longer. Watching him made her want to cry too, even as much as she hated him. So she took one more breath, this time inward, and moved closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his shaking figure and pulled him to her. She then rested her head against his. She remained silent though. Words would only hurt.
Tahno was caught off guard by her strange action, but it didn't take long for him to melt into her. He threw his arms around her and clung on tightly, his body shaking as powerfully as ever. He then lowered his head into the crook of her neck and nuzzled the area gently, seeking the comfort he remembered getting from his mother so long ago. It was one of the few good things she'd done for him in his life. After that…it had turned to hell.
Korra rubbed his back with care. Her mother used to soothe her this way, so she figured it was worth a shot. If it didn't work though, she wasn't sure what she could do. She was never good with comforting people, she was much better at getting under their skin or pissing them off. Comforting…just took a gentler person. It was something she had never been.
Tahno breathed shakily through his sobs. But he was actually getting better. The sobs ebbed ever so slowly and his streaming tears trickled slower. They all still happened, but he was no longer a completely devastated individual. Korra's simple action was helping. And she wasn't showing the slightest sign of disgust or hate. She was really helping him…he could scarcely believe it. Dare he say it even made him…happy?
Korra didn't notice at first, but her cheeks were wet too. Traces of tears had formed and slipped from her eyes. She didn't know why, but they were definitely there. Perhaps she really felt for him, maybe even personally. Could it be…was he not such a horrible person after all? Did something make him this way, make him die to hide it? She held him tighter. How awful.
Tahno responded to her by burying his face deeper. He face was pressed so far into her neck that now he swore he could smell her. She had a distinct scent of berries mingled with sweat. She must have been practicing before this. It was a nice smell. It made him breathe easier.
Korra had calmed him greatly, but she felt she could do better. So she tentatively brought one of her hands up to the back of his head. She ran her fingers gently through his hair, completely missing how sensual this was. At this point Tahno was not some cocky pervert, he was just a boy who needed help. This was her help.
Tahno shuddered at her touch. Even when it wasn't against his skin, it still had him reeling. Again, she surprised him. She really wasn't just the Avatar. She was a person, just like anyone else. She had the ability to heal and hurt, to comfort and torment. And she was using this now to help him when she could easily, and probably wanted to, hurt him. This realization made him smile faintly.
Korra felt his body untense greatly. His grip around her also loosened. He was nearly himself again. The only thing remaining of his breakdown were faint sobs and the remnants of tears staining his face. For some reason she found herself smiling at this.  It felt good to help someone, even Tahno.
After a few more minutes, Tahno pulled back. He released her and faced her fully, not half as ashamed at his tear stained face. She was the closest thing to a friend he had now. She was the one that he would allow to see him, all of him. He wouldn't ever tell her this, but he figured she knew it anyway. She was smart.
Korra offered a soft but still sad smile. She could find no words to break the silence. Nothing fit. The perfect filler was simply their stares passing to the other. That, and her next action. She raised and hand and laid it on his shoulder reassuringly. You'll be alright. She said with her touch.
Tahno tentatively lifted his hand and laid it on top of hers. Thanks… He silently replied, squeezing her hand gently.
They stayed like that for a moment, but Korra soon pulled away. She stood up slowly and turned away with a similar speed. She figured he'd be alright now. At least he wasn't crying anymore. Leaving would not leave her guilt ridden. But after taking a few steps she stopped again. She looked back at him and opened her mouth, "You know…" She hesitated, but then said it anyway, "You don't have to be alone. You could always visit Air Temple Island."
Tahno started ever so slightly. At this point it was harder to be truly surprised by her. He smiled slightly and thoughtlessly wiped away his tears in front of her. "Yeah…" He murmured. Really he didn't think so, not with the bending losers staying there now. She might have pity for him and maybe even a little bit of something more, but they still loathed him. To show his face around there would most certainly mean death, especially without his bending. Still, it was her thought that counted.
Korra smiled with sincerity back at him. She knew what he was thinking, but she still hoped. She hoped that he might wander there despite himself. Besides, he didn't need to worry about Bolin and Mako. She'd stand up for him. Yes, as insane as it sounded, she would. After all, he wasn't so bad. He just had bad things happen to him. With that, she left. Her thoughts never really left Tahno and somehow she knew his thoughts didn't leave her for a while either.
This scared them both. What was happening to them…?