Legend of Korra: Reimagined

Chapter 16: A Shocking Confession (Tarrlok)

"Why did you call me Babe-lok?"

Lin blushed heavily and said in a soft voice, "Tarrlok...I've noticed you've been trying to kill my daughter, Shyla."

Tarrlok nodded. "I have." Then he glared at her. "This better not be a trick, or I'll throw you into my heating pipe and blast the heat so high you won't be able to breathe!"

Lin's face darkened. Tarrlok could see that he hurt her feelings. "Sorry, Lin," he said. "I've just not been in a good mood lately. My girlfriend and I broke up."

Lin's expression changed. She had a funny look on her face.

"You okay?" asked Tarrlok. Lin nodded. "I'm fine."

"Well, you don't seem fine," Tarrlok pressed. "Everything okay?"

Lin sighed hesitantly, and then said, "Your girlfriend...is dead."

Tarrlok looked confused, then startled. "Seisha?" he whispered.

Lin nodded gravely. "My daughter..."

Tarrlok felt a surge of pain in his stomach. Sorrow. "You mean, she's...dead?"

Lin nodded again. "She's gone, Tarrlok."

"But how did she die?" demanded Tarrlok. "She couldn't have just dropped dead. What happened to her?!"

"Well...she was at KillHard..." Lin began. "And then she just never came back. I went to check on her, and she was just laying there dead!"

Tarrlok heard a little cry escape Lin, and he was surprised when he put an arm around her. "Aw, don't you cry, I'm here," he said. Lin hugged him back, and they stood there like that for a long time.

Finally, Tarrlok decided to let go, because after all, Lin was the enemy. Or was she? He looked at the sorrowed face in front of him, and was surprised when he felt a pang of pity for her. Didn't he hate her? He then realized that he only felt this way because Lin was the mother of Seisha. His Seisha.

He hugged Lin again, and then felt a sudden overwhelming sadness. Then hot tears stung his eyes, and soon he was bolting away from Lin, towards the Air Temple. Pretty soon, he had flopped onto his bed and was sobbing his heart out. At the same time, he was worried that the shades might not be down. People would never again take Tarrlok seriously if they saw the evil man crying.

*********

When Tarrlok had consoled himself, he calmly got out of bed, walked over to the window and slid it open. Then he screamed, "MY SEISHA'S NOT DEAD!" as loud as he could.

He didn't stop to see if heads turned; instead, he turned to walk out of his bedroom and go outside. He wanted Lin to see what a strong, brave man he was. She'd think he was a wimp if he didn't. Or maybe she'd like it that he was crying in his room alone. It would prove that he had a big heart.

He was about to go through the front door when he paused in his tracks.

Why did he care what Lin thought?

As he made his way out the door, the people of Capital City stopped to stare at him. But he didn't care. All he wanted to do was find Lin, who probably needed a friend to comfort her.

When he finally found Lin, he ran and wrapped his arms around her, sobbing as hard as he ever had before.

What was strange to him was why Lin wasn't crying as well. After all, she couldn't have gotten over it that quickly. She was Seisha's mother; Tarrlok was only Seisha's ex-boyfriend. He hadn't known her nearly as long as Lin had.

"Tarrlok, honey, you didn't have to scream out the window," Lin whispered.

Honey?

Tarrlok blushed through his tears. He felt his cheeks getting hot. But why? he wondered. He didn't think Lin would ever have such a crush on him. She had a crush on him!

"Lin," he managed to choke out through his tears. "Do you ever mourn the loss of your husband? My brother?"

Lin looked up at him. "No. I never do."

That surprised Tarrlok. "Never?"

Lin shook her head. "Never."

"Do you know for sure what happened to him?" Tarrlok asked.

"Didn't you kill him?" Lin asked.

Tarrlok gasped. "You...you know?"

"Shyla told me," Lin said softly.

Tarrlok recoiled at that thought. So Shyla had told Lin that he murdered Kyo!

But wait-Lin didn't seem to care.

"Lin, do you hate me at all for murdering your husband?" Tarrlok asked, still holding Lin.

"No!" Lin suddenly shrieked, jumping back. "No! Not at all! You had a right to murder him! I love-" She stopped midsentence.

Tarrlok's ears perked up. "What's that, Lin?"

Lin shook her head vigorously, refusing to look Tarrlok in the eye. But Tarrlok gently lifted her chin with his hand and asked again, "What were you saying, Lin?" He smiled at her.

That's when Lin finally confessed what she had been about to say. "I...I love you."

Tarrlok blushed, then closed his eyes and began moving toward Lin. He was doing it! His lips finally touched hers, and he began kissing her.

Much to his delight, Lin kissed him back. Tarrlok fell in love right then and there, with Lin Bei Fong, a woman he had never thought he'd love, a woman who had been his enemy for years.

And here he was, kissing her in Capital City.

********

A little while later, Lin and Tarrlok sat side by side on Tarrlok's bed, the fire crackling in the fireplace.

"So, you replaced Kyo's painkiller with snake poison?" Lin asked, chuckling a little.

Tarrlok nodded proudly, like a child. Lin moved towards him. Tarrlok prepared for the kiss that he was about to receive.

As soon as Lin's lips fell on his, he realized how lucky he was. Here he was, sitting on his bed with a woman whom he loved, someone who could relate to his sorrow. Lin could feel his sorrow about losing Seisha. Seisha....

He shook his head to clear the thought from his mind. Seisha was gone-it was useless to think about her now. It was time to move on and think about Lin. His new love.

As they kissed, Tarrlok's mind swirled. So many thoughts rushed through his mind.

Why am I in love with Lin? Why is Lin in love with me? Why don't I hate her anymore? Am I crazy? Have I gone mad? Why am I kissing Lin?

And how did my Seisha die?