Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or Legend of Korra.

(Off-screen in Episode 7)

"Look who's still lounging around. Uh-vatar having the day off?" Tahno's head perked up, noticing the girl in her coat still seated where she was half an hour ago.

"Not a day off from being probed like you, pretty boy," answered Korra, who crossed her arms.

Tenzin and Lin were accompanying Tahno in their usual routine, exchanging awkward but brief glances. The airbender then lifted a hand, "Your turn, Korra. I'm afraid there's a lot to take in."

The Avatar had been pondering the now-empty look in her Probending opponent's eyes. It was very nearly haunting her, because it reminded her of her. Korra's fiery pride didn't tolerate this kind of thing too well. She very well knew what it was like drowning in fear of Amon; something in her had jumped along with her surprise at hearing Tahno greet her earlier on. She queried, "Tahno, how 'bout we go get a drink later, say at noon? I hear there's great tea down at a place called The Soldier Boy."

Tahno's sickly expression lit up slowly but dramatically. "Actually, I'd like that very much."

"Catch ya later. Be there or else," Korra elbowed him in the shoulder. And she was gone. A sort of quiet remained, save for the electric motor whirring somewhere in the huge main hall of the police station. Tahno randomly found a mirror in a corner and stared. Should he just stay hollowed out like this, lacking that glamour and oozing confidence? That shell in his reflection which apparently had the same name his parents gave him: it seemed too unreal. He couldn't bear staring for more than ten tics, for the emotion was cutting too deep.

Plus he couldn't believe the Avatar had just invited him for a sit-down in a tea house downtown. What was her game? He'd be finding out within the next hour…

"Your hair's awful," Korra made herself clear once a waiter had showed them to their table.

Tahno simply shrugged, "I…well…just haven't had the time…ya know, coz of all this effort in trying to restore my bending…Which has been pointless, by the way." At least she was downright honest about his haggard appearance.

"Haven't had the time or haven't had the motivation?" she muttered next. He pretended it was a rhetorical question.

Korra toned it down, "Look, Tahno. It must be horrifying to be in your shoes right now, thinking of what people now think of you."

"My reputation does kinda precede me…," he forced a smile, which she found pretty sweet. However, his eyes appeared to lose some of their silver gleam momentarily.

Her hand landed flat on the table's wooden surface, "Well, then away with that old reputation! And put bluntly, seize this chance to finally prove yourself." She cheekily added, "Those eyebags: awful too, by the way."

Her smirk seemed refreshing to him. "You're alright, aren't you Korra? Maybe we should do this again real soon…" All of a sudden, her bawling laughter rang throughout the restaurant. Other customers were curious but decided to mind their own business.

"What?" a pout formed on Tahno's face.

"I don't wanna offend you in any way, but even though you can't waterbend, you still have the power to hairbend that annoying fringe back to life!"

"Ha ha…."

She avoided direct eye contact, looking down at the thumbs she was twiddling, "Not to mention 'heartbending'. I've been thinking about what you said this morning." Their eyes met for a moment, his mind slowly taking in that word. Heartbending. No one had ever said that to him before. Quickly she added, "I was gonna say "tearbending" but that would've been nasty."

Then she cleared her throat. "Anyways, remember how Avatar Aang could take Fire Lord Ozai's bending away for good with a power called energybending?"

"Sure do. I think everyone knows the story..," he twirled his tea with a finger, beckoning for the liquid to move under his command in the way it should have.

"Well, basically Tenzin and Chief Beifong were getting around to possibilities of how Amon has somehow mastered this technique too. Though the interrogation was mainly the boring-er stuff, I thought that if I somehow learnt to reverse that form of energybending -," she leaned forward a little, "I could give you back your bending." He detected her gaze, blue oceanic eyes filled with meaning and spirit.

A thought occurred to Tahno, "It'd be the perfect payback for that little tiebreaker fistfight…"

She interjected, "Boy was that fun! Hope that surprise uppercut stung enough for it to be memorable."

Ignoring her teasing, he said, "I got a couple of questions…what was it like training under Master Katara?"

"A dream! Isn't it pure luck that she's also from the Southern Tribe? She's not just a master of kicking butt: she started me on the art of healing when I was seven."

"Funny. I envy you for that. I haven't a clue on how to do all that glowy healing stuff…"

"Ya know, if you'd like to know how a real Waterbender heals, I could give you some private lessons," she angled her face in a way that reflected his old self.

"Real sharp, Uh-vatar. Real sharp. Nice memory there," he let out a little chuckle. It was only then that he remembered uttering a similar verse when cornering her and Bolin not a fortnight before. It happened in some other teahouse much like this one.

"So who taught you Waterbending?" was her following question.

"Master by the name of Lakyo. Never likes soft spots. He lives up in White Falls, in the northern outskirts of the city. Word on the playground is he's a direct descendant of the great Master Pakku."

The Avatar crossed her fingers together under the weight of her chin, "And which one of your parents is a Waterbender, if I may ask?"

"My mother," his voice warmed up. "She was from the Northern Tribe. Moved here years before I was born where she met my father. She's a teacher wanted by popular demand, and he's an Earthbender high up in the ranks of the cops."

"I think I now see where you get the funding for your signature hairdo. Which has yet to make its comeback, by the way."

He laughed again; this time it sounded brighter. "Sweet of you to say that, Korra. I must admit, I'm enjoying this. My second question: isn't there some pressure having to live up to all those great heroes before you?"

"You mean Yangchen, Kuruk, Kyoshi, Roku and Aang? Trust me, you get used to it. It's dead cool, not to mention comfy when everyone knows who you are," she answered quickly and vividly.

Tahno let out a sigh, and Korra could see how he was retreating back to that darker place of the mind and heart. In a dull manner he uttered, "Think I'm gonna need to borrow some of that bravery right now. Food to my soul, Uh-vatar."

"You'd better gulp down some real food after this, or I think you're gonna disappear!" she was glancing at his cheekbones, oddly. They were a little more hollowed that they used to be. Briefly she glanced out the window on to the busy street. "Oh, I'm needed back at Air Temple Island very soon to resume training. Can Naga and I give you a lift?"

"Would be nice ferrying me to Central Station," he tried grinning once more.

The two got up to leave, with Korra thanking the waiter for his service and trudging outside with her usual heavy, commanding footsteps. Tahno was sort of slinking behind, his stride far less confident. The trauma of losing the bending abilities he was born with still lingered. And strangely enough, he had in him a conviction that this girl - his, perhaps, former arch nemesis in the Probending Arena - was the best confidant he could find for now. Just sitting down for tea with her, gave him a sense of familiarity, even belonging. Besides, he couldn't see himself crawling to any non-bending friends to whimper. He couldn't even remember if he had any.

"Naga, come!" the Avatar called for her lifelong companion. The polar bear dog, larger than Tahno could recall, trotted over to meet them, eager to please. Korra jokingly warned as she mounted Naga, "If you don't say please and thanks, my polar bear dog may still feel like eating you."

He cautiously approached the beast, who surprisingly didn't let out a growl. Naga only sniffed him for two seconds, before responding to Korra who was scratching the back of her neck in her favourite spot. Tahno enquired, "Don't you think Polar Bear Dogs would've been a better name than Fire Ferrets?"

"Wasn't up to me to decide. It was Bolin's idea.."

"Which reminds me, tell your team players I send my apologies. For you know, cheating."

She nodded instantly, "Will do."

He slowly mounted Naga and they galloped down to the station, about ten minutes away. The afternoon traffic was building up fast and Satomobiles began their chorus of honking.

Arriving by the statue of Fire Lord Zuko, they came to a halt. Korra jumped off and was searching for any backpacks or belongings Tahno may've brought. There was nothing. Sure hope he doesn't end up really being a hobo, she thought to herself. And she put a hand on Tahno's shoulder, "You know what? Come and visit the Island anytime if you feel like chatting. Get rid of those eyebags and shine up your hair, pretty boy!"

He looked at least a little, if at all, moved by her gesture. "Thanks for today. It's just what I needed. I owe you, Korra. Never quite expected this kindness to come outta you."

"Catch up soon," was all she said before whirling around to continue down the road.

And he went about his way into the building, smile and glow lost from his face but more content than he would've been.