#lok tonraq

Can you imagine Tonraq (and/or Senna) holding her for the first time and holding her for the last time?

@princeasimdiya12 thank you so much for the commission! He was a ton of fun to draw, and for your generous donation to:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-wessam-family-to-evacuate-gaza-and-scape-war-to-safety

“I put you away once Zaheer, and I’ll do it again.”

The writers really used the little time they had with Tonraq to let him shine as a father, and I love it. At first it seems like a random choice to focus on him. He’s not the most notable figure, his bending isn’t really a match for Zaheer’s.

But then you realize.

Oh. This is personal— a father’s rage. This bastard went after his little girl.

And that is where, while Korra is allowed to subvert gender stereotypes (especially in comparison to Aang), Tonraq’s traditional masculinity this season is beautiful. Men like that should still be seen, and further…

Tonraq’s masculinity in these fights is a response to his render, all- encompassing love for his daughter. And is that not just the embodiment of true fatherly masculinity?

He’s a broad shouldered, deep voiced manly- man, and his motivations in his most aggressive moments lie in love and parental instinct. That is beautiful. The writers managed to give him this level of complexity and utilize the little screen time with him they had to affectively emphasize this part of his character, and recognized the opportunity to do it in this conflict that is remarkably personal for him.

Korra was four years old when she was attacked. Not long after the visit we see in the opening. And Tonraq’ll be damned if he’s going to let this man get close to his daughter again, this time fighting by her side.

A/n: Less learned...also Korra calling ready mommy soon!

The council chamber was warm...too warm, Tonraq thought, though he knew it wasn’t the temperature. It was the way the air tightened with politics, with stiff-backed elders and long-winded speeches that seemed to go nowhere. He stood tall, arms loosely folded behind his back, nodding at appropriate intervals as one particularly passionate councilman droned on about trade routes and harbor expansions.

“Yes, Chief Tonraq, you must understand—”

“I do,” Tonraq said evenly, his voice calm, steady… controlled.

Because if he looked anywhere but directly at the man in front of him, he was going to lose that control entirely.

Behind the councilman, just over his shoulder—stood you.

And next to you…

Little Korra.

Tonraq kept his expression neutral. Completely neutral. Not a flicker. Not a twitch.

Because you were not behaving.At first, it had been harmless.

A tiny flame danced between your fingers, no bigger than a candle’s glow, flickering as Korra watched with wide, delighted eyes. You wiggled your fingers, making it twist and spiral, small designs that made Korra let out a soft giggle, as she clapped her little hands.

Tonraq’s jaw tightened.

The councilman continued speaking. “And if we allocate resources to—”

The flame grew, just a little....Then a little more.

You smiled proudly, clearly showing off now, shaping it into a tiny spinning ring that hovered above your palm. Korra gasped in awe.

Tonraq stared straight ahead, he did not look.He absolutely did not....and then the flame sparked.

Then a tiny, traitorous flick.Right onto the councilman’s very tall, very decorative, very flammable hat.

Tonraq’s soul left his body.

“…and that is why I believe—” and the man kept talking.He did not notice that the top of his hat, however, was now on fire.

Tonraq inhaled slowly through his nose.

Do not react.

Do not react.

Behind the man, you froze.

Your eyes widened.Your mouth dropped open in silent horror.You looked at the flame… then at Korra… then back at the flame, which was now growing.You waved your hands at it thinking it might snuff out the flame.

Bad choice.

The fire whooshed slightly bigger.

Tonraq pressed his lips together so hard they nearly disappeared.

The councilman kept going. “And furthermore—”

You silently screamed.

Actually screamed, just without sound, your entire face scrunching in panic as you looked around wildly for a solution. Your hands fluttered uselessly for a moment before you grabbed at the air again, trying to fan it out.

It got worse.

Much worse.

The hat was now fully aflame.

Korra clapped again. “Oh pretty!”

Tonraq’s shoulders tensed.

You looked like you were about to cry.Then—suddenly your eyes locked onto something across the room.

A bucket of water, a bucket of hope.

You lunged.

Tonraq saw it happen in slow motion.

You grabbed the bucket with both hands, nearly tripping over your own feet, then rushed back and

SPLASH.

You dumped the entire thing over the councilman’s head.

The fire went out instantly and the whole room went silent.

Water dripped from the man’s soaked robes… his ruined hat now slumped pathetically on his head, smoke curling up into the air.

Tonraq closed his eyes briefly, as if accepting his fate.

Behind the man, you stood there, frozen… bucket still in your hands… staring like a deer caught in headlights and then you pointed.

Sharp. Accusing.

“HE DID IT!”

Your finger shot toward a completely innocent guard holding a torch across the room.

The guard blinked, horrified. “What—?!”

But you were already moving.

In one swift motion, you grabbed Korra, hoisted her under your arm like a sack of flour, and bolted.

Korra squealed in delight. “We’re flying!”

You were not flying.

You were running for your life.

The chamber doors slammed open as you disappeared down the hall then slowly creaked back to close.

Silence lingered for exactly three seconds.

Then all eyes slowly turned to Tonraq.

Water continued dripping.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Tonraq exhaled slowly, straightened, and finally looked at the utterly soaked councilman in front of him, a moment of silence stretched on then with a completely serious, completely composed, Tonraq said,

“…You should wear less flammable hats.”