Ambush

*Tarrlok's Task Force raids the Equalist Chi Blocker training facility. They think they have the upper hand. But when it comes to Amon, the only one who ever has the upper hand is him.*

Korra tossed the two smoke bombs frozen in a ball of ice aside. She called out to Tarrlok.

"I'm going after those two!"

She kicked in the door and took off after the two chi blockers. She turned the corner and started into a full sprint, determined to catch up. Too late, she noticed the trip wire set up at ankle height. She tripped and hit the ground hard. Mentally cursing herself, she righted herself and looked up. A chi blocker fell from the ceiling right on top of her. Fear invaded her mind. Acting purely on instinct, she flipped backward dodging the chi blockers attack and kicked out, sending a large bolder into the chi blocker's stomach. Losing her balance, Korra fell back. Feeling something behind her, and turned to see another chi blocker preparing to strike. Before she could bend, before she could move, before she could scream, a jet of water flew over her head, slammed the chi blocker against the wall and froze him there instantly. She turned back to see Tarrlok standing there.

"Nice timing." Her voice was steady but her heart was hammering.

"Thanks Tarrlok."

Tarrlok straightened up and smiled.

"We make a good team, Avatar."

Feeling relieved that it was over, Korra managed a small smile of her own.

"Yeah. We do."

She saw Tarrlok's body jerk slightly and the smile slowly faded from his face. Korra immediately felt something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Tarrlok? TARRLOK!"

She rushed toward the council member as he fell to his knees and collapsed to the ground. She stopped dead in her tracks. Behind Tarrlok's unmoving form were chi blockers. Lots of chi blockers. Korra flung flames at the group and turned to run…Only to find her path blocked by more chi blockers. Panicked, She unleashed a torrent of fire and earth at her attackers, but it was in vain. She was quickly overwhelmed. Arms and legs bound, mouth gagged, the Avatar could only watch in terror as the chi blockers parted to reveal Amon. He leered down at her, his eyes shinning.

"Pleasure to finally meet you…Avatar."

His hand snapped foreword, and she knew only darkness.

He didn't like it at all. Mako paced back and forth around his room. Korra visited him before she left to go on Tarrlok's task force's first mission. He told her not to go, that it was dangerous. She told him she could handle herself. He told her that the only reason she was joined the task force is because she wouldn't admit that she was scared of Amon. She didn't like that. She stormed out after shouting at him for a full minute. He could have sworn there were tears in her eyes.

"AARGH! She can be so stubborn!"

Mako stopped pacing and ran his hands through his hair, then winced. His jaw still hurt from where Korra hit him.

"GAH! What do I DO?"

Bolin stopped washing Pabu and looked over at his stressing brother.

"Calm down bro! You've been pacing for like, five minutes. You're stressed out. Korra's stressed out. You're stressing ME out. Hell, you're even stressing Pabu out!"

The fire ferret poked his furry head out of the water and squeaked.

"Korra's gonna be fine. She's with that dude from the council. Tarrot, or whatever his name is. And, oh, I don't know, am I missing something? Oh yeah, that's right I am: SHE'S THE AVATAR. You know how she fights. She'll be fine."

He returned to washing Pabu, who was trying to escape his soapy fate.

"You're worrying about nothing bro."

Mako heard his brother's words and knew them to be true, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that Korra was in danger. He grabbed his coat and started for the stairs leading to the door.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where are YOU headed?"

Heading down the stairs, Mako called back to his brother.

"Out. I'm going to get some air."

Bolin yelled after him.

"Ooo! Bring me back those dumplings I like!"

He heard the door close as Mako left. He started to dry off Pabu.

"Hear that Pabu? Mako's bringin' us dumplings!"

With his favorite dumplings on his mind, the younger bending brother finished washing his pet, whistling a tune.

Mako shivered and drew his coat closer to himself. It was colder than he thought. He put his hand on the railing under the gazeebo outside the Pro-Bending Arena and looked out over the water. The city glistened in the distance like the rising of a second sun. He felt a pang in his heart when he remembered the last time he stood in this spot. He closed his eyes as he tried to clear his head…

Looking around, Mako spotted her standing under the gazebo, leaning against one of the pillars. He walked up to her.

"We need to talk. Look, sometimes you can be so infuriating, but I-"

Korra cut him off, absentmindedly waving a hand at him.

"Save your breath. You already made it clear about how you feel about me."

She sounded so dejected and depressed…It made Mako's heart ache. It took him quite a bit of willpower to not pull her into a warm embrace.

"No…I haven't…"

Mako took a deep breath to steel his resolve.

"What I'm trying to say is, as much as you drive me crazy…"

He looked at her silky hair tied up in her usual ponytail, swaying gently in the breeze. He averted his gaze.

"I also think you're pretty amazing."

She turned to him. Her eyes filled with hope and disbelief.

"So…You do like me?"

"Yes." He sighed. She was so beautiful. But she needed to know the whole truth.

"But I like Asami too. I don't know…"

Her eyes bore into him, her gaze so intense. He looked downward just so he could finish what he was saying.

"Things are complicated. I've been feeling really confused-"

He looked up to find her face centimeters from his own, her eyes closed. His eyes widened as their lips met in a gentle kiss. Mako was shocked and became even more so when he felt himself return the kiss. His eyes closed as he lost himself in her. They broke apart. He stared at her, dumbstruck. She looked up at him with a shy smile on her lips. A soft blush painted her cheeks as her cerulean eyes sparkled in the moonlight…

Mako shook himself out of his reverie.

"What the hell am I thinking? I'm with Asami. I love Asami."

Yet all he could think about is what he would do if Korra got captured…Or worse.

"I love Asami."

He sees Korra, chained up in a dark prison.

"I love Asami"

He hears her scream as she's tortured by Amon's henchmen.

"I love Asami."

Tears stream down her face.

"I love Asami."

She whispers his name, wishing she could see him one last time…

Mako slammed a flame-covered fist into the railing and screamed at the sky.

"DAMNIT!"

He clenched his fists, panting slightly.

"I love…"

"Korra."

Mako looked across the water at the city and decided what he would do. He turned and ran off to find a taxi.

"Hang on Korra…I'm coming."

End of Part 1

Part two in progress.

Please leave a review to tell me what you think.