Maintaining the Balance

Seated in a luxurious office located adjacent to the Pro-Bending Arena's VIP boxes was a bald man with a large nose, thick brows, beady brown eyes, and a fu manchu mustache.
The man, known simply Butakha, was the sole owner of Republic City's Pro-Bending Arena, the proprietor of various teams, and the Director of the Pro-Bending League as a whole. He was one of the wealthiest people in Republic City. However, due to the aspirations he had inherited from his late father, he had no intention of settling down until he had become the wealthiest man in the entire United Republic.
Just as Butakha was thinking of ways to increase the profitability of Pro-Bending, one of his many young and beautiful Secretaries knocked on his door, revealing, "Director Butakha, a duo claiming to be the Avatar and her 'boyfriend' have requested a private meeting. Would you like me to bring them up?"
Forgetting the woman's name, Butakha briefly paused before asking, "Is the girl from the Southern Water Tribe?"
Though Korra had yet to make her public debut, information about her had spread throughout the Four Nations. As someone who frequently bumped elbows with the wealthy and affluent, several of which were affiliated with the White Lotus, Butakha was at least aware of Korra's country of origin.
Nodding her head, the bespectacled woman, named Sulengxi, held up a clipboard and answered, "Yes. Her name is Korra, and, according to the information she provided, she recently turned fourteen years old. As for her companion-"
Not caring in the slightest about Korra's 'tagalong', Butakha interrupted Sulengxi's explanation, saying, "Reschedule my afternoon meetings and have someone prepare whatever tea is most popular in the South. I will meet her in VIP Conference Room 1."
With Sulengxi quickly departing, Butakha stood up from his disk before approaching a standing mirror. He wasn't what most people would call conventionally handsome, but he was still one of the most sought-after 'bachelors' in the city.
Money and charisma went a very, very long way in capitalistic societies.
Finding no faults with his outfit, Butakha popped his collar, adopted a sly smile, and muttered, "Now then, let's see what this generation's Avatar is like. If it turns out she's just some brat from the backwaters of the South Pole...hehe..."
Though he wasn't foolish enough to overtly take advantage of someone like the Avatar, Butakha was confident he could play a young girl from the South like a fiddle. He might not be able to touch her, but he could benefit from her status to propel Pro Bending even further into the mainstream...
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"Is it just me, or is everything in this place covered in gold...?"
After being escorted to one of the most luxurious rooms she had ever seen, Korra couldn't help gawking at the ridiculously expensive items decorating the interior. She had no idea how much they were worth, but they were certainly shiny.
While Korra was distracted by the room's decorations, Kahn was silently taking note of every vent, door, and painting adorning the walls. He didn't think they would be attacked so soon after their first excursion, but there was no harm in being cautious.
Expecting a response to her previous question, Korra turned back to find Kahn standing silently and vigilantly near one of the corners of the room. His strange behavior caused her to become alert, water condensing from her surroundings to form fists of ice as she inquired, "What is it? Did you notice something?"
Blinking in surprise, Kahn alternated his gaze between Korra's face and fists as he answered, "No. I'm just alert by nature, and I'm distrustful of anyone who makes a living pitting people against one another for profit."
Dissipating the ice around her fists, Korra's expression became slightly remorseful as she asked, "Does that mean you don't want to join the Pro Bending League with me? Though I was looking forward to it, we don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable..."
Surprised by Korra's uncharacteristically sympathetic response, Kahn found himself at a momentary loss for words. Immediately afterward, however, he waved his hands from side to side, an awkward expression on his face as he said, "No, no. It's nothing like that. I'm happy just being able to spend time together? It's difficult to put into words..."
Equally surprised by Kahn's behavior, Korra's expression blanked before she spontaneously burst into a fit of stifled laughter. She was so used to Kahn being calm and confident that she couldn't help finding his current behavior both cute and hilarious.
"..."
Unamused by Korra's laughter, a flawless deadpan developed across Kahn's face as he briefly considered getting 'even' with her. Instead, he inhaled a deep breath before saying, "Pro Bending Teams require at least three players and a substitute. The organizers will most likely limit you to either Earth or Water Bending. Whichever you end up choosing, we'll need a third Bender to cover the remaining Element."
Shrugging her shoulders, Korra answered, "I didn't know that. Maybe we can find someone among the other teams' substitute players? So long as they aren't a girl, it doesn't really matter to me. I can't imagine the two of us losing to any ordinary Benders."
Resisting the urge to point at that Pros were anything but ordinary, Kahn emulated Korra's shrug, his gaze shifting to the door as he said, "I guess we'll find out soon."
Immediately following Kahn's words, a tall, muscular, and slightly rotund man with a shady expression and a bald head strolled into the room with a massive smile on his face as he said, "You must be Avatar Korra! My, my, you're even more radiant than my Secretary said. They really know how to grow them in the South, don't they? Hahahahahaha-"
Though he was about to walk forward and shake the bewildered Korra's hand, Butakha's body tensed when a vice-like hand clasped around his shoulder, followed by an unamused voice stating, "You'll go no further..." in a tone that left no room for argument.
Turning his head and looking down, Butakha's envy immediately reached a critical threshold as he locked gazes with the unreasonably handsome young man gripping his shoulder. Though he was still growing, Kahn had the kind of appearance most men could only imagine themselves to have. He had sharp eyes, heroic features, and a lean body with no visible signs of fat. It didn't help that he was wearing a skin-tight black shirt that left very little to the imagination.
"You've quite the grip there, young man...however..."
Jerking his shoulder free, Butakha took a moment to fix his coat as he said, "You shouldn't be so quick to antagonize others. You may be the 'companion' of the Avatar, but that is even more of a reason to act with restraint. The next time you lay a hand on me, don't be surprised when I press charges against you for assault..."
"Hey! Who the hell do you think you are, threatening Kahn like that? I'll have you know-"
Before Korra could potentially disclose his status as the Avatar of Fire and Absolution, Kahn gestured for her to calm down as he stared into the very depths of Butakha's beady brown eyes.
Feeling as though a massive beast was suddenly staring at him, a shiver passed through Butakha's body as he instinctually averted his eyes and said, "Well, let's just leave it at that. For now, how about we all introduce ourselves? My name is Butakha. I'm the man in charge of this whole Pro-Bending shebang. I heard the new Avatar wanted to meet with me, so I cleared my schedule and came running. Though we seem to have got off on the wrong foot, it's a pleasure to make the acquaintance of the Avatar and her friend."
Extending his hand for a handshake, Butakha promptly retracted it when he realized Kahn had no intention of returning the gesture. Fortunately, as frightening as Kahn's presence was, Korra's was like a refreshing southern breeze as she adopted a friendly smile and replied, "Wow, so you must be the man to talk to about forming a new team, right? I just recently arrived in Republic City and figured Pro Bending would be a fun way to set off my career as the new Avatar. What do you think?"
Though he was still cautious of Kahn, Butakha adopted his best business smile as he enthusiastically replied, "What a marvelous idea! A true stroke of genius that only the Avatar herself could have come up with!"
Demonstrating that she was still a little naive, Korra's expression lit up in response to Butakha's words. She was still a little annoyed by his attempt to threaten Kahn, but she also felt the latter was partially responsible for suddenly grabbing him by the shoulder. If he hadn't creeped her out with his remark about girls from the South, Korra would have thought Butakha was a pretty nice guy.
Affected by Butakha's friendly demeanor and smile, Korra responded with an enthusiastic, "So, where do we sign up? We don't have a third member just yet, but I'm sure we can find one in the next couple of days."
Pouring water upon Korra's good mood, Butakha adopted an ostensibly apologetic expression as he shook his head and reluctantly replied, "I'm afraid it isn't that easy. We're currently in the middle of the season. While I want nothing more than to help you form a new team, the brackets and matchups have already been decided. Your only options at this point are to join an existing team or wait until the start of a new season. If you want my advice, I would encourage you to wait, find a sponsor, and scout out a few additional teammates. Any team would be lucky to have the Avatar on their roster, but creating your own would benefit you the most in the long run."
Though he wanted nothing more than to have Korra join one of his teams, Butakha got the impression neither she nor Kahn would accept being split up and forced to join separate teams. Thus, instead of trying to trick them using his usual methods, he gave them legitimate advice with the intent to establish some positive rapport with the new Team Avatar. His instincts as a businessman and someone who meddled with the underground told him Kahn wasn't someone he wanted to anger.
Furrowing her brows into a pout, Korra wanted to complain but ultimately decided against it. She reasoned it would be pretty selfish of them if she and Kahn joined a team and promptly replaced two existing players. Thus, while she was eager to join the Pro Bending Circuit, Korra demonstrated a rare moment of clarity as she said, "Then we'll be back around the end of the season. Sorry for troubling you with such a selfish request."
Dismissively waving his hand, Butakha maintained a friendly smile as he said, "It's not a bother whatsoever. In fact, it was my honor to meet the Avatar and her companion. If there is anything I can help you with during your stay in Republic City, don't hesitate to ask. The same goes for you, young man. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but I believe we could be good friends if you gave me a chance."
Once again extending his hand to Kahn, Butakha waited until the former grasped it before adopting an even bigger smile as he added, "You really do have quite the grip..."
Though he had been tempted to try and crush Kahn's hand in his grip, it only took a brief moment of contact for Butakha to realize the futility of such an action. The texture of Kahn's hand was remarkably soft, but its firmness was comparable to steel. Kahn might be much smaller than him, but Butakha got the impression he would be the one at a disadvantage in a contest of strength...
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After a quick tour of the Pro-Bending Arena's interior, Kahn and Korra headed outside to where the latter had moored Naga. A rather sizeable crowd had gathered around to gawk at the enormous creature, but they quickly dispersed upon the duo's arrival.
"Well, what now?"
Raising his brows, Kahn asked, "You're asking me? I'm just going with the flow. You're the one that wanted to explore."
Clicking her tongue, Korra pretended to ignore Kahn as she turned to ask, "What about you, girl? I'll bet you're pretty hungry after that swim, huh...?"
With Naga responding with a massive tongue lick, Korra chuckled before pushing away the giant, puppy-like creature and saying, "Then that's our next stop. Time to see what the food of Republic City is like."
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At Korra's behest, the group quickly found themselves outside a cozy, Ma and Pa-style restaurant specializing in hot and cold noodles. They were a couple hailing from the Northern Water Tribe and Fire Nation, so they had blended the cultures to create a unique series of dishes resembling curry and naengmyeon.
Though she wasn't particularly good with spicy foods, Korra went out of her way to order the spiciest thing on the menu. As for Kahn, he ordered something he knew Korra would like, fully anticipating a meal swap once the food turned out to be too spicy for her.
Unsurprisingly, Korra only got a few bites into her deceptively sweet curry before beads of sweat began to form on her brow. Shortly after that, as if it had been her intention from the start, she started proferring her food to Kahn, claiming it was something all couples did.
Though it earned them a considerable amount of attention, specifically from the old couple running the tiny restaurant, Kahn played along with Korra's antics. He actually enjoyed spicy food, and the 20% discount they received from the owners was a pleasant surprise; doubly so when they extended it to the food provided to Naga.
"Now what...?"
Raising his brows, Kahn was tempted to repeat his previous response but ultimately decided against it. He realized Korra was basically treating their outing as a date, so, after a moment of consideration, he suggested, "How about the park? Though I doubt it'll be as scenic as Air Temple Island, Republic City Park is supposed to be one of the most beautiful places in the entire city. Other than that, the only places that come to mind are the Harmony Tower and Little Ba Sing Se. The former provides people with a panoramic view of the city while the latter promotes itself as the largest shopping center in the entire world."
Hearing the word shopping, Korra immediately grabbed Kahn's arm and shouted, "We're going shopping~!" in an excited tone. She had heard a lot of good things about shopping from the girls back at the academy, so she was really looking forward to giving it a try. At the very least, she wanted Kahn to help her pick out a swimsuit...
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After a quick stop at the Republic City's International Bank and Currency Exchange, Kahn and Korra arrived at a massive shopping center modeled after the walled city of Ba Sing Se.
Similar to the actual Ba Sing Se, the rings of Little Ba Sing Se catered to people of a specific social or economic class. The outer and middle rings were accessible to everyone, but only affluent individuals could afford to shop in the latter. As for the centermost district, an extravagant complex resembling the Earth Kingdom's Royal Palace, only those with members' cards or those willing to fork over a 100,000 Yuan holding fee could enter.
Fortunately for Kahn, not that he couldn't afford it, Korra didn't insist they immediately check out the Upper Ring. Instead, she dragged him through various stores in the Lower/Outer Ring, a district predominantly utilized by restaurants, small boutiques, and crafts shops.
"Hey, Kahn, check this out! This place sells jewelry from the Northern and Southern Water Tribes!"
Ignoring the stares he was receiving, both as a result of his looks and the ever-growing number of bags in his hands, Kahn joined Korra outside the window of a small jeweler. They had a number of beautiful necklaces and wristlets on display, but, unlike the genuine article resting snuggly around Korra's neck, most of the items were rather apparent knock-offs.
Not wanting to waste money on fraudulent goods, Kahn elicited a bashful smile from Korra as he said, "I'll make you something better later. For now, we should drop these bags off at a courier service before making our way into the Middle Ring. It's pretty expensive, but they should be able to ship everything back to the island before the end of the day."
Directing her gaze to the thirteen bags straining in Kahn's fingers, Korra's blush became marginally more prominent as she replied, "Yeah, sure, let's do that. In hindsight, I'm not sure how they would have fit on Naga, so it's probably for the best."
Having eyed every courier during their three-hour tour of the Outer Ring, Kahn immediately beelined towards the nearest one. Korra, feeling a little guilty, offered to help him out, but he promptly refused. She might be able to carry exponentially more than him, but there were certain things 'men' simply couldn't compromise over.
Fortunately, at least for Kahn's wallet, the service to ship things to Air Temple Island was cheaper than anywhere else in the city. Since it was the home of a Councilman and the only Air Bending Family in the entire world, at least for the time being, the island enjoyed a number of unique privileges. The discounted courier service was simply the most pertinent to the present situation.
With his hands freed up, Kahn and Korra were able to walk hand-in-hand through the noticeably more luxurious Middle Ring. Korra's desire to shop had momentarily waned, so the young couple simply meandered through a large portion of the second ring before stopping at a relatively high-end restaurant located just outside the entrance to the Upper Ring.
While waiting for their food, Korra, still feeling guilty about making Kahn carry her bags, slumped her head and shoulders as she muttered, "Sorry about before. The girls back at the academy told me it's the 'duty' of the boyfriend to carry his girlfriend's bags. I just got a little carried away..."
Leaning forward onto the knuckles of his right hand, elbow atop the table, Kahn adopted a faint smile as he said, "You're cute when you're trying to act conscientiously..."
Though a faint red hue spread through her cheeks, Korra's face formed into an 'angry' pout as she said, "I'm trying to be serious here..."
Without losing his faint smile, Kahn simply replied, "When am I not being serious?"
"..."
Feeling a ticklish sensation in her chest and abdomen, Korra promptly rose to her feet, hands lightly slamming the table as she said, "I need to go to the bathroom!" in a voice that carried much, much further than she intended. Thus, with the tips of her ears turning red, Korra stomped off to the bathroom, more so to cool her head than relieve herself.
Following Korra's departure with his eyes, Kahn's expression softened into a far more sincere smile as he mused, "I could get used to this..." in a soft, nearly inaudible tone.
When they first started dating, Kahn figured that Korra would simply drag him around before ultimately getting tired of his no-nonsense attitude. In his opinion, they were better suited to be friends or allies than something as complex as lovers. It was one of the reasons he refused to cross that final line with her, not because he wasn't curious about sex, but because he didn't want to rob Korra of something she could have given to the man or woman she actually loved.
After nearly a week of dating, Kahn's views regarding Korra had changed quite a bit. She was as headstrong as a Three-Toed Ox Lion, but she was also very considerate. When she realized she had done something wrong, she was quick to apologize, and, unlike most people, she truly meant it.
Envisioning the end to their first date, Kahn's smile became progressively more prominent. For one of the first times in his life, he altogether ceased paying attention to his surroundings. As a result, he didn't notice the many hungry gazes directed at him by many of the restaurant's female staff and occupants. He already garnered a lot of attention due to his cool features and visibly toned body, but his appeal was on a completely different level when he smiled.
Fortunately, more so for themselves than Kahn, most of the girls within the restaurant felt he was way out of their league. The singular exception was a young woman wearing the characteristic black and gold armor of Republic City's Metalbending Police Force.
Unlike the rest of the restaurant's female patrons, the woman in question, an unconventional, ponytailed beauty with stoic features, grey-blue eyes, and brown hair neatly framing her face, was practically glaring in Kahn's direction. She couldn't understand the reason why, but she felt a degree of familiarity towards him. Since the only people she associated with were her fellow officers and criminals, she couldn't help associating Kahn with the latter. He certainly wasn't one of her colleagues.
With Korra taking her time returning from the bathroom, Kahn eventually noticed the odd-eyed woman staring at him. His face also formed into a frown, not because the woman was glaring at him but because he had a pretty good idea who she was.
"Troublesome..."
Spurred by Kahn's reciprocative glare, the dark-haired Metalbender rose to her feet, confidently strolling over until she was essentially staring him down before coldly inquiring, "Have I arrested you before?"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Kahn caught the proud-looking woman off guard by saying, "No, you're just confused because my aura is similar to your grandfather's. Either that or one of his direct descendants? I can't be certain without knowing how old you are."
Squinting her eyes, the as of yet to introduce herself, Metalbender briefly considered arresting Kahn on suspicions of being a member of the Triple Threat Triad. Even if he wasn't, she was confident she could convince the Chief to pin charges of indecent exposure on him. He might be eye candy to most, but that didn't give him a license to walk around in clothing that would invariably disrupt the public order.
Noticing the woman's eyes shift to his abs, Kahn's expression soured as he asked, "Are all of Toph's grandchildren like this...?"
Tensing at the casual mention of her grandmother's name, the previously arrogant-looking Metalbender became borderline hostile as she inquired, "How do you know my grandmother? You're clearly not an Earth or Metal Bender. And what did you mean when you said you had the same aura as my grandfather? My grandfather died long before I was born."
Earning no favors from the hairpin woman, Kahn replied with a lazy, "I'm one of the former mentors and current boyfriend of the Avatar. I lived with your grandmother during her stay in the South Pole. If you don't believe me, ask my girlfriend to bend two different elements when she gets back from the bathroom. Regardless of what you decide, I would advise you to stop tensing the metal cables in your armguards. I'm not fond of being on the receiving end of threats, even unspoken ones..."
Though he couldn't help wondering if fate had conspired to have him meet one of Toph's granddaughters when he and Korra were in the middle of searching for an Earthbending team member, Kahn wouldn't hesitate to teach the ostensibly hotheaded officer a lesson. He would probably have to apologize to her mother, but he wasn't going to sit idly if she suddenly tried to arrest him.
Fortunately for the young Metalbender, she only hesitated for a brief moment before retracing the cables threatening to erupt from the hidden compartments of her armguards. Other than a dubious indecent exposure charge, she didn't have anything substantive to pin on Kahn. Thus, for the time being, she decided to wait and confirm his identity. If he was who he claimed to be, trying to arrest him might actually get her suspended from the force. She was already toeing the line of suspension due to her efforts to capture the White Demon, so she couldn't afford the hassle of arresting the Avatar's ally, much less her boyfriend...
Realizing she may have overstepped her bounds, the considerably calmer Metalbender declared, "My name's Suya. Suya Beifong. Identify yourself."
Though he wasn't particularly fond of being told what to do, Kahn didn't feel like making unnecessary trouble for himself. Thus, after a moderately exasperated sigh, he met Suya's steely gaze and answered, "Kahn. Aldr Kahn."

"You seriously never even tried to leave the island? Not even to take a look around?"
Despite the rules of the island prohibiting it, Korra was currently sitting in Kahn's room, shamelessly straddling his lap with her arms linked around his neck and shoulders. Tenzin had chastised her for it, but now that she and Kahn were in a relationship, Korra felt the room was as much hers as it was his.
While doing his best to 'ignore' Korra's aroma and the disquietingly soft sensations pressing against his chest and lower body, Kahn explained, "A man is only as good as his word. I promised I would wait for you, so that's what I did..."
With the pupils of her blue eyes briefly contracting before subsequently dilating to their full size, Korra tightened her hold around Kahn's neck and shoulders as she leaned in to whisper, "I don't know if I should feel guilty about keeping you waiting or happy because you're so loyal..."
Though he was tempted to explain that his actions had nothing to do with loyalty, Kahn just smiled as Korra leaned forward to press her lips against his. When her tongue invaded his mouth, he promptly retaliated, his hands naturally gravitating to her waist, not to hold her close but to prevent her from moving around...
Understanding what Kahn was doing, Korra loosened her grip after a few minutes, a thread of saliva connecting their lips until she promptly licked it away, adopted a pouty expression, and said, "Come on, Kahn...it's not like we're having sex...didn't you say it would be okay if we did other stuff...?"
Without loosening his hold on Korra's waist, Kahn flatly explained, "We're currently experiencing hormonal changes that make our bodies sexually charged. If we just went with the flow and allowed our bodies to dictate things, it wouldn't be long before something as innocuous as hugging and kissing turned into something much more..."
Exhaling a heated sigh, Korra sat back on Kahn's lap, a far more sincere pout on her face as she grumbled, "That's one of the things I both hate and love about you. You're always so calm and collected...it's honestly a little annoying..."
Returning a wry smile, Kahn shifted his eyes from Korra's brilliant blues to the perky, reddish-brown mammilla below. She had developed the habit of wearing nothing but a pair of pants when they were alone together, so he could freely peruse her rapidly developing breasts and the captivating sight of her faint yet visible muscles...
Though her cheeks felt like they were on fire, Korra made no attempt to conceal her body from view. Instead, she leaned back with her hands on Kahn's knees, further accenting her breasts as she inquired, "Want to try sucking them...?"
Despite shaking his head, Kahn promptly leaned forward to press his face between Korra's warm, soft, and exceptionally smooth breasts. Korra was initially a little disappointed by his refusal. However, upon realizing what he was doing, a helpless smile developed across her face as she wrapped her arms around Kahn's body and cradled his head.
"You like being held, don't you? Or maybe you just like my breasts...?"
Instead of responding to Korra's question, Kahn took a deep breath as his hands crawled up the curvature of her smooth yet muscular back. Korra's body wasn't as defined as his, but that was primarily the result of sexual dimorphism. Her muscles were still well-defined, and while that might be a turnoff to others, Kahn genuinely appreciated the amount of effort she had put into her body...
"You're so beautiful..."
Feeling goosebumps spread across her body, Korra's grip on Kahn's head briefly tightened. She had the distinct impression he was trying to distract her from their previous conversation, but she didn't care. Even she wasn't sure why she got so frustrated at times. Kahn was just looking out for her well-being, so, if anything, she should be thanking him rather than getting angry all the time...
While it wasn't quite an apology, Korra whispered a steamy, "I love you..." before planting a kiss atop Kahn's head. Then, for the better part of half an hour, she just enjoyed Kahn's silent exploration of her body...
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"You want to visit the city? So soon...?"
Though he wasn't too surprised by Korra's request, Tenzin couldn't help feeling it was too soon for her to visit Republic City. She was already an undisputed Master of the Four Elements. However, he would prefer it if she spent a few years familiarizing herself with the culture and traditions of the Air Nomads and more traditional techniques before venturing into the world abroad.
Having already prepared her counterargument, Korra stated, "Aang was even younger than I was when he ended the Hundred-Year War. Katara and Toph were only twelve, so I see no reason for me to stay put when I've already mastered the four elements. It's time for me to get out and spread my wings."
"Hmmm..."
Shifting his attention to Kahn, Tenzin asked, "Did you help her come up with this?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Kahn replied, "They're valid points. Besides, history has shown that it's never a good idea to try and keep an Avatar confined. It was Aang's attempt to escape the burdens thrust upon him by the Southern Air Temple that set in motion the Hundred-Year War. If Korra believes she is ready, only the world can prove otherwise. It is by overcoming challenges and experiencing setbacks that an Avatar grows into their position."
Unable to refute either of the arguments presented, Tenzin exhaled an exasperated sigh, his hand caressing his bald head as he looked toward Korra and said, "Very well. Just remember, the law may be on your side, but it's public opinion that sustains that privilege. Try to avoid damaging property, and make sure to cooperate with the authorities if your paths intersect."
Though she was a little annoyed by Tenzin's long-winded advice, Korra managed a smile as she replied, "Right. Just leave it to me."
Nodding his head in approval, Tenzin was about to tell Kahn to make sure Korra didn't get into any trouble, but he elected not to when he found the latter shaking his head with a warning look in his eyes.
Understanding the meaning behind Kahn's actions, Tenzin caressed his beard and pretended not to see the anger forming in Korra's expression as he said, "Well, you two have fun. Just be back before dark, okay?"
As she had expected Tenzin to tell Kahn to look after her, Korra's face brightened when he simply told them to have fun. She quickly gave him a back-popping hug before grabbing Kahn's hand and practically dragging him over to Naga. It was the latter's arrival that aroused Korra's desire to visit the city, so with Kahn holding her waist from behind, the over-excited Avatar prompted the now-massive Polar Bear Dog to race down the stairs of the Temple and leap directly into Yue Bay...
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Noticing the direction they were headed, Kahn broke the pleasant silence of the trip by remarking, "Why am I not surprised..."
Instead of getting annoyed by Kan's words, Korra issued a soft chuckle as she leaned against him, a happy smile on her face as she said, "I did a lot of thinking after Tenzin revealed I would need to fund 'our' travels. I'm not sure how much you have saved up, but I don't want you spending all your money to fund my selfishness. With that in mind, I thought, "Hey, why not give Professional Bending a try?". It seemed like a pretty straightforward way to increase my reputation and make some money. Feel free to praise me."
With Korra turning her face toward him, Kahn planted a chaste kiss on her lips before raising his hands to rub her belly. The former brought a smile to her face while the latter elicited a ticklish giggle that resulted in Korra attempting to bump him off Naga's back.
Strengthening his hold on the mischievous Avatar's waist, Kahn rested his forehead against Korra's until Naga promptly ruined the mood with a gruff snort. She had been swimming in circles due to Korra's sloppy hold on her reins, so she was starting to get a little annoyed.
Shifting her attention from Kahn, Korra leaned forward to give Nana a firm pat on her neck, saying, "Sorry, girl." in a sincerely apologetic tone. When she sat back up, however, she went out of her way to sit on Kahn's lap, a playful smile on her face as she sent him an equally playful wink.
Exhaling a soft chuckle, Kahn placed one of his hands a bit lower on Korra's abdomen as he pressed his face into the nape of her neck. He knew he should advise her against public displays of affection, but he also didn't really care what others thought. So long as they didn't cross the line, Kahn had no qualms about showering the loveable brunette with affection...
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Located at the end of a long causeway extending into Yue Bay, the Pro-Bending Arena was one of Republic City's most prominent landmarks. It had a massive dome that resembled a gemstone from afar and had been painted with vibrant red and gold paint that gave it the appearance of a golden palace. With Pro Bending's emergence as the most popular sport in the entire world, it was something of a 'holy land' for those seeking to ascend the social ladder and secure a place for themselves amongst the Upper-Class and Republic City's celebrity elite.
"Wow, I didn't expect it to be so..so massive! Just how many people can this place hold...?"
Though he had never visited the city, Kahn had researched it quite a bit in preparation for his visit. The Pro-Bending Arena, in particular, was a place he assumed Korra would want to visit, so he readily supplied, "At capacity, it can hold 50,000 spectators. However, for safety reasons, the organizers limit crowd sizes to 10,000 during the season and 25,000 during the Final Series. Gathering 50,000 people atop a suspended platform at the end of a single causeway is just asking for a tragedy to occur..."
Having seen the massive pillars supporting the Pro-Bending Arena during their approach, Korra immediately understood the meaning behind Kahn's words. Just as quickly, her face formed into a frown as she asked, "What kind of person would target a place that makes so many people happy...?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Kahn answered, "The kind that prioritizes their agenda and creed over the lives of countless others..."
Moving away from Kahn, Korra's expression soured even further as she threw a few air jabs and said, "Well, they better watch out. The moment I get my hands on them, I'll beat them up so badly not even their mothers would recognize them!"
Ignoring the people gawking at Korra's 'strange' behavior, Kahn walked over to give her a pat on the shoulder, saying, "I don't doubt that in the slightest..." before removing his hand and walking past her.
After a short pause where she wasn't sure if she should be annoyed or gratified by Kahn's words, Korra gestured for Naga to follow along before running to catch up with him. She had noticed the stares of the people crossing the causeway, so she decided not to make a scene. She hadn't even been in Republic City for more than ten minutes, so she didn't want to ruin people's image of her before they even knew she was the Avatar...
It never even crossed Korra's mind that people might be more concerned about the massive Polar Bear Dog following behind her than either her or Kahn...
...
..
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Chapter 30: Chapter 30