Title: Cascade

Fandom: Legend of Korra

Rating: K+

Ships/Characters: very small korrasami/ Korra, Asami, Mako, Bolin

Wordcount: 2,331

Summary: Amon has been in hiding for too long, but all of his preparations lead to tonight. He and the Equalists will make themselves known

A/N: This was originally written after episode 8...and redone a couple of times due to previews to episode 9.

Part 1/5

Cascade Part 1: [Music: soundcloud dot com /ckoitz3/cascade-part-1 (it's where i got most of the inspiration from. Music is to help with pacing and mood.) ]

"It's a decent evening, you boys should go out!" Tenzin came into the room where the brothers were staying. "Korra is experiencing the town and for once not getting into trouble. You both should be out with her."

"As much as we would love to, Tenzin, sir, we're all bushed. What with being attacked by Equalists and all," Bolin exhaustedly let out. With that his head crashed down over the arm of the couch he was laying on, letting gravity take full effect.

Tezin sighed "They're getting more and more reckless every day…I think it's –"

"They need to be stopped!" Mako abruptly exclaimed. He was standing at the adjacent wall, staring out the window.

"That's extremely rash thinking. If you all go off now you will most likely be captured. We have to plan strategically and be calm about this. What's going on is horrible, but we need to be level headed and come up with a plan. An assault will not do us any good. I understand your frustrations, but Lin and I are trying to get things in order. Speaking of which, I must get going to see her; she should be here any moment now. Take this time and relax. You all deserve it."

"Yes sir." Mako reluctantly replied head and shoulders drooped. Tenzin left the room leaving both in a down mood.

"Hey bro," began Bolin, only slightly turning his head in the general direction of where Mako was standing "you know what's awesome in all this?"

"What?" Mako replied, still staring at the ground.

"The Equalists got Tarrlok! They'd actually did something useful for a change! And, he lost his bending to boot!" Bolin let out an open smile and turned fully to face Mako, who couldn't help but to chuckle. He liked the fact that those two colliding and Tarrlok lost. After what Tarrlok did to Korra, he couldn't forgive him. He wanted Tarrlok to be thrown into jail for a very long time.

"Hey, wanna do something productive?" He finally stopped looking at the floor and went over to his brother with his thumb pointing out the door.

"Better than what we're doing now." Bolin forced himself up right. Mako stretched out his hand and picked up his brother from the couch. "What do you got in mind?"

"Put on your gear and meet me outside."

Bolin started to doubt his brother's motive and gave him a questioning look. "You're not planning on burning me are you? I know you're upset but—"

"No no no. It's nothing like that." He chuckled. "When was the last time we had some friendly practice?"

Bolin had to think for a minute, pressing his lips together with a perplexing look on his face. Mako laughed aloud. "It's ok Bolin, don't strain yourself. Meet me outside." He patted his brother's shoulder and walked out.

...

Bolin walked to the main courtyard to see his brother doing some warm up stretches. The courtyard's floor was a circular brick pattern, forming what could be called a target. The size could easily be about the same size of the Pro-bending ring, if it were perfectly circular. There were a couple stacks of earth disks on the edge. Mako turned around to face his brother, "You ready Bolin?" he shouted across the courtyard. Bolin gave a small cocky grin as he jumped into position and punched the first disk in a curved ark towards his brother. Mako quickly destroyed the disk with a swing of his left arm, returning the grin with a full cocky smile of his own.

Light on his feet, Bolin threw a one-two combo with a quick snap-kick, hurtling 3 discs in different paths. Mako waited till they all got a little too close and with a double-handed horizontal swing of his arms, destroyed all 3 disks with ease. Mako continued on to return the favor and did a quick double-punch with an upper-cut to finish the combo. Bolin kicked up two disks; one to hover above his face and another skyward, retaliated with a third low kick and a final jump round house kick. Mako defended himself with a delayed high kick, destroying both on his foot's ascension. A wall of fire was summoned on his foot's descent; Bolin's only choice was to dodge it.

They didn't realize it immediately, but they had gained an audience from some of the White Lotus members, including Tenzin. He stood there watching the two brothers and was content they too were relaxing…in their own way. Both felt alive and well, focusing on their attacks and practically immediate defense. It was only natural for them to get caught in the moment, and to truly have fun. "You ready?" Bolin yelled across to Mako in excitement. He didn't have much time to give a proper response. All he could muster up was a, "Huh?" before a fleet of disks were hurtled towards him. One by one, Bolin punched and kicked disks towards his busied brother. The only thing Mako could do was try to destroy most of them and dodge the others, shooting a barrage of fire blasts in front and above him and dodges the ones that came from the sides. Bolin forces Mako to move to his left, sending a few more above and towards him and another to move Mako one more time, right where he wanted him. He swept low to kick a disk directly at Mako's undefended side but… there were no more disks! He had used them all up! Bolin gave a shocked face and instinctively yells "Oh crap!" Catching himself, he quickly looked back at to where Mako was, but he was no longer there. He was nowhere in sight. With a tired and defeated sigh, he looked to his left and up. Mako stood there smiling, not showing any fatigue.

"Looks like you ran out of disks." He said matter-of-factly before both of them began laughing with spirits high. The audience cheered and whistled, excited to have witnessed a great match between two talented benders. The brothers faced their crowd and waved towards them. "Hey!" yelled Mako, "Do you have any more disks?"

...

At an unknown location in Republic City the Masked Man prepared his soldiers. Amon looked out to his sea of Chi Blockers.

"It's almost time, my brothers and sisters," he began. "The time we make our stand against the benders' oppression. The Avatar's oppression. Soon, we will make ourselves known! Tonight, we will be heard from. They won't be able to suppress us any longer! First we will make our stand here in Republic City, then the message will be seen across the globe. Benders alike will know their place!" With those final words he thrust his arm into the air. "Now go, bravo team! Make the first strike!"

With the push of a button, Amon raised an entire platform of Chi Blockers. The platform raised higher and higher. The platform entered a shaft with no light entering into it; all you could see was a sea of dual green soulless, emotionless eyes. The platform finally reached the ceiling and it opened up, they're now on the streets of Republic City.

They attack anyone they see, quickly striking their chi points before knocking them out and tying them up. The first several people were attacked without any noise, but the farther the platoon got down the street the louder the screams got. Before long and without much effort, they successfully captured everyone on the streets and then stormed into buildings. They barged into peoples' rooms and used their stun sticks to persuade the occupants to head for the roof.

Amon's plan didn't stop with one platoon. Many were sent across the city, all with the same instructions. By the time the fifth platoon attacked, the city streets were flooded by screams and cries for help. The prisoners ended up on the roof tops and the Chi Blockers made sure they didn't move an inch.

...

A Police Blimp was flying overhead caught most of the assault. The lieutenant on the blimp had ordered the captain to fly directly for Air Temple Island to find Lin. On the flight over, he saw many more buildings with captives on the roofs. He closed his eyes and with his face contorted in anguish and rage slammed his fist onto the wall of the room. The thick thud echoed throughout the blimp, leaving most speechless.

Though they made good time, the arrival to the island was not quite as expedient as the lieutenant had hoped for. The blimp hovered above the island and the officers quickly found their former chief, Lin Bei Fong, as she was the only one wearing armor on top of a hill near the center courtyard, talking to Tenzin. The metal benders easily and safely descend on their cables.

"Sir!" The lieutenant called out. He Saluted upon landing.

"At ease, I'm no longer Chief. Relax." She waved her hand to dismiss her former right-hand man. "That said, why are you here?" She lowered her brow.

"Sir, there's been an attack…an invasion of Chi-Blockers have attacked and are holding everyone in Republic City hostage. From what I saw, there are at least 20 roofs full of captives, and I think there may be more out there. The streets are full of movement from what we saw."

Lin closed her eyes in anger and disgust. "Alright, here's what we do," Lin started, giving up on not being involved with the law, "Lieutenant, I want you to go to where the attacks first started. Rescue everyone there and move down the line." The more she spoke, the more quickly she resumed being Chief Bei Fong. "They'll feel more confident and relaxed there. Bring me a blimp with my platoon and I'll take care of the other side. We'll meet in the middle."

"We'll go too." Mako interrupted, walking towards them all from the courtyard with a stern face, with his brother trailing behind him.

"No you won't. This is police busi—" Lin put her hands behind her back. She stopped and pondered for a second. "On second thought, they're probably only suspecting metal benders. You two!" She quickly pointed at the two brothers, "Go with the lieutenant. The element of surprise will definitely help us. With your sparring earlier, I'm sure you both are ready."

"Actually Lin," began Tenzin, stroking his beard. "I think I can add onto your surprise attack."

Lin smiled a bit. "I think I know where you're going with that. Lieutenant!" She turned her head to face him "Take these two boys with you; they'll be of great use for you. And get a second blimp to start from the other side." she commanded.

His jaw dropped from his confusion. "What about—"

"Don't worry about me. Just save those people!"

...

"It sure is a nice night out." Korra stated while looking up at the night time sky. The stars were out and she made out the few familiar constellations. She and Asami were walking through the shopping district of Republic City, spending the day together to help Korra relax. "So what else do you have planned?" She looked back down and to her right to face Asami. She bent slightly forward and was beaming; she hasn't had a relaxing time since her arrival; this was the first time for her and was actually being treated. She needed this.

"I have a couple more places in mind that you might like." Asami answered, almost as if she had something planned all along. Korra SENT a confused look back at her and Asami answered back with just a smile. Korra returned full upright and faced forward, walking slightly behind her friend.

"You gonna tell me or do I have to wait…again?" she asked, head tilted to the right, half smiled and raised an eyebrow as if Asami had eyes in the back of her head. Asami chuckled a bit.

"I'm sorry Avatar, but you're going to have to learn some patience." Korra gave her a look, even though she knew she wasn't visible. "Actually, let's go down here for a moment." Asami pointed down a small alleyway. They walked down a bit and Asami placed the bags that she was carrying on the ground and then started to massage her wrists.

"You should let me carry them." Korra tried to insist, afterall, they were mostly her items, so she felt guilty.

"No, it's perfectly fine." Asami turned to face Korra fully and walked towards her. She then placed her hands in Korras, grabbing the fingers. "It's been quite fun actually. Have you been having a good time today?" Asami asked Korra, looking directly into her cerulean eyes.

. "Yeah!" She responded with energy and a full grin. "Thank you so much, today has bee—"

Korra was interrupted by Asami's lips. At first she was shocked; her eyes wide open, overflowed with confusion. But all of her feelings melted away when Asami's hands were now cradling her face softly. Overpowered with emotions, she instinctively kissed her back. Korra's eyes were closed now and now leaning onto Asami. The embrace felt like it lasted for hours before Asami broke away.

"A-Asami…." That was all Korra could muster up. Her eyes fully captured by the emeralds she saw looking deep into her. Korra felt all of Asami's fingers as she lowered them down to her waist. They both stood there for a good moment, Korra's mind gone into overdrive, she had to say something, but she could only think of one thing.

"Why?" she asked softly and honestly. Asami eyes narrowed slightly placed her hand on Korra's shoulder.

"Because. Because you're a very beautiful person. Your heart is gold, and you're so selfless. It's now your turn to be happy." Before Korra could object, their lips met once again. Korra felt right. A strong sense of warmth overcame her.