[ She loves him. Yet Hei always expects there to be a But. Each time she says I love you, he waits for that unsaid word, the qualifier. There is always one; he's been raised on this home truth, seen it in the faces of his parents when they'd let those strangers take away Xing. Seen it in the strained lines of resignation across Tahara's face, as he'd tried to stick a knife into Mai's back, while brokenly professing he'd always love her. Hei's always believed love is the cruelest false advertisement in life. ]
[ (Not that it's stopped him from falling in love. Pai always said he was none-too-bright.) ]
[ Korra's look is so flummoxed. Moxful of flumminess. He blows a gently exasperated sigh from his lips. Of course she wouldn't consider a nanny. She's from a tribe that practices communal child-rearing. When she'd left the South Pole, it was only to reside in a simulacrum of that system, at Air Temple Island. She doesn't realize that baby in a two-person household is different. She's been looking forward to the day-to-day minutiae of childcare, as evidenced by her cheerful prattling and plans. But at the same time she's not really contemplating the second-to-second endless aspect of it. ]
[ Reaching out, he covers her free hand with his, thumb skimming the knuckles. ]
You should. Being a mother is a full-time job. But so is being the Avatar. Juggle both, and you'll burn out fast.
[ He doesn't mention how much he will or will not be contributing to the childcare. But then, he comes from a world where the most any dads still do with the baby is dandle it on their knee for five minutes, maybe change one or two dirty diapers when the mother is preoccupied, or drop it off to school in the mornings. Everything else is still considered 'women's work.' ]
no subject
[ (Not that it's stopped him from falling in love. Pai always said he was none-too-bright.) ]
[ Korra's look is so flummoxed. Moxful of flumminess. He blows a gently exasperated sigh from his lips. Of course she wouldn't consider a nanny. She's from a tribe that practices communal child-rearing. When she'd left the South Pole, it was only to reside in a simulacrum of that system, at Air Temple Island. She doesn't realize that baby in a two-person household is different. She's been looking forward to the day-to-day minutiae of childcare, as evidenced by her cheerful prattling and plans. But at the same time she's not really contemplating the second-to-second endless aspect of it. ]
[ Reaching out, he covers her free hand with his, thumb skimming the knuckles. ]
You should. Being a mother is a full-time job. But so is being the Avatar. Juggle both, and you'll burn out fast.
[ He doesn't mention how much he will or will not be contributing to the childcare. But then, he comes from a world where the most any dads still do with the baby is dandle it on their knee for five minutes, maybe change one or two dirty diapers when the mother is preoccupied, or drop it off to school in the mornings. Everything else is still considered 'women's work.' ]