It shouldn't be possible for one person to be so... smug, Korra thought to herself, examining Tarrlok's profile in the low light. They were crammed in the back of a truck with a dozen police officers, parked outside a nondescript warehouse.
I am joining the S.S. Amorra and I regret nothing.
Also, I wanted to write a story about Capgras Delusion, gaslighting, mutual masturbation and BDSM and this is the result.
Please note-I have no particular episode in which this is supposed to be set, and, indeed, some of the allusions that I make to events from the show occur in a different order in this story. All you need to know is, Korra is still on Tarrlok's task force, and she already faced Amon on Avatar Aang Memorial island.
Tarrlok was looking out a small hole in the metal side of the truck, smirking slightly. As he turned to Korra, his smile widened, as he had caught her watching him. Conceited dick probably thinks I was checking him out. Tui and La in a bowl of sea prune stew, put me out of my misery if that ever happens.
"I hope you're not nervous, Avatar Korra," he said, looking upon her fondly, as if she were a small child. It made her want to claw his eyes out when he looked at her like that.
"I wish you were more nervous," she replied, keeping her voice low. "I just think your intel on this one is a little fishy. Maybe what would benefit us the most right now is if you would take a moment to humble yourself, and be prepared to take anything that Amon throws at us."
There was something that flashed in Tarrlok's eyes at that moment that made Korra shift uneasily. She didn't like Tarrlok, didn't think he was trustworthy in the slightest, hated his overblown sense of self confidence, but this... this was a strange surety that she wasn't sure she entirely comprehended and she sure as hell didn't like it.
"How unlike your usual attitude, Avatar Korra. What happened to 'punch first, ask questions later'? I hope you're not backing down from this opportunity."
"Believe me, Tarrlok," Korra growled, "there is no one here who would like more than to punch that mask right off Amon's face than I would. And I wouldn't back down from a fight if my life depended on it, but even I can recognize a pattern. This is a trap."
"Amon is just a human, you know. Like you, or me. And I believe we have the element of surprise on this one," Tarrlok said confidently, and turned back to look outside the truck once more.
Tarrlok raised his hand, and the officers in the truck with them all tensed, ready to move on his command.
"Let's do this," Tarrlok said, smiling haughtily, and the officers streamed from the car, Korra and Tarrlok following close behind.
Inside the building, it was chaos. The sound of metal coils snapping and the smell of electricity and burning flesh saturated the air as metalbenders and chi-blockers clashed. Korra circled around the edge of the fray, keeping her eye out for Amon. Unlike Tarrlok, she was ready for the other shoe to drop.
There was no sign of the Equalist leader, however and by the time Korra had finished searching the entire building for any sign of him, the commotion had ground to a halt.
A little wary, Korra approached the center of the warehouse, where Tarrlok stood, clapping. For the most part, all of the metalbenders were still standing, and the chi-blockers were being loaded onto one of the trucks to be taken to prison.
"Excellent work, everyone! I had a good feeling about this one from the start. Drinks on me tonight!" Tarrlok exclaimed. He smiled at Korra. "You're a little young to be drinking, I know, but I wouldn't say no if you wanted to come celebrate our victory tonight," he said to her more quietly.
"...No," Korra declined. "I have kind of an early morning tomorrow. I'll see myself home."
"As you wish, Avatar Korra," Tarrlok said pleasantly. "Have a good evening." He didn't watch her leave, too preoccupied with his own victory, Korra presumed.
Korra paused outside the warehouse and took a moment to look around. She suppressed a shiver, but only because the night was a little cold. Usually after a clash with the Equalists, she could never shake off the feeling of eyes on her, but tonight she felt utterly alone. Still, her sense of unease refused to stay silent within her, following her even into a restless sleep.
That night, Korra dreamt of Amon, as usual. In the dream, her misgivings had drawn her back to the warehouse. Entering it, the shadowed foyer of City Hall greeted her. She walked forward quietly, drawn to the Council room. She paused outside the door, swaying dizzily for a moment. She could smell black powder, its sulfurous odor making her nose itch.
She didn't know how she knew, but Amon was beyond the door. Korra began backing away, her heart beating erratically.
"Avatar."
Korra felt frozen, though there was a blistering heat beating against her back. When nothing happened, she gasped for breath, turning. She was in the Council room, where Amon stood comfortably, leaning against the center table, entirely unperturbed. Banners with his face emblazoned on them covered the emblem of the United Republic of Nations.
In a fluid motion, more graceful than any human was capable of in the waking world, Amon pushed off the desk and strode toward her. Korra felt as though she had already been jabbed by the chi-blockers, being entirely frozen in place. It was only when Amon lifted his hand to her face, his touch oddly delicate, could she move again, and it was only because he was inexorably pushing her down to her knees.
"This city is mine now, Avatar. I told you I would save you for last and here you are, the only one left with an impurity. But don't worry, I will set you free."
Korra woke up screaming. Realizing she was safe on Air Temple Island, instead of in City Hall, stripped of her bending, Korra fell back to her bed and sobbed into her pillow.
That morning at breakfast, Korra was nearly silent. The radio was on and despite the good news of not only the successful raid for which she had been in attendance, but two others on opposite ends of the city, Korra couldn't help but remember her dream.
"Korra, is something wrong? It seems everything went well, last night," Tenzin said, looking at her with concern.
"I don't wanna look a gift ostrich horse in the mouth," Korra began, "but I can't help but feel it went too well." She picked unhappily at the food on her plate. "All this time, Amon has been two steps ahead of us, and now he's let us raid three chi-blocker training facilities and arrest at least four dozen of his chi-blockers? Something just feels... wrong. He's planning something, I know it. And I can't feel at ease until I know what it is."
"Korra," Tenzin said gently, "Amon is just a man." Korra snorted. That's what Tarrlok had said.
Tenzin continued, "The Equalist movement is bigger than we had realized previously and I'm sure Amon has his hands full. Mysterious powers or no, he can't be in more than one place at once. Though I don't want you to think I don't agree with you. We all need to be on our guard. After all the things that Tarrlok has done, I'm sure Amon's retaliation will be swift and brutal. But what will come, will come. We'll continue training, and we'll make sure you're ready for him, when the time is right."
Korra leaned back and sighed. "You're right, I know. But the things he's done... I can't help but feel this is just the beginning. I don't want to see his retaliation. I don't want to see anyone else get hurt, or lose their bending. I hate waiting like this. Tui and La, it ihurts/i. It physically hurts me to think of the people I'm supposed to be protecting suffering at Amon's hands, when I can't do anything to stop him."
Korra stood up, staring down at the table without really seeing it. "I need to go out. I'm sorry, I just can't stay cooped up in here all day; I feel like I'm going crazy."
Though Tenzin didn't say anything she could feel his gaze like a palpable weight on her back as she left.
Walking through the city, Korra found her feet taking her to City Hall. Despite her dream, and as much as she really didn't want to see Tarrlok, Korra figured that out of anyone, he probably would know the most about any movement among the Equalists since the night prior. To her chagrin, the front steps were mobbed by reporters, with Tarrlok at their center.
As the first reporter caught sight of her, however, the attention of the entire crowd shifted, like one giant, unstoppable wave of humans and recording equipment. She saw Tarrlok's look of aggravation as he lost the limelight, but didn't have time to feel smug about it before the first question was lobbed at her.
"Avatar Korra! You were with one of the teams last night that took down the chi-blockers! Sources say you didn't join the fight at all! Were you so confident in Tarrlok's task force that you felt it was unnecessary, or were you afraid?"
"I was NOT afraid," Korra snarled angrily. "That doesn't mean I'll ever underestimate Amon. He is a dangerous man, and..." Shit. Don't let Tarrlok put you in a position where you have to eat your words again. "And... you're right! I did have enough confidence in the metal benders to hold off the chi-blockers. But if Amon had been there, I needed to be ready for him, not distracted in battle. Now please, excuse me. I'm here on official task force business and you're keeping me from it."
Korra angrily pushed through the crowd and grabbed Tarrlok's arm (a bit more savagely than she had intended, but she did relish the wince it earned her) as she stormed up the steps.
"Never let anyone tell you that you don't know how to make an impressive entrance, Avatar Korra," Tarrlok chortled.
"Shut up," Korra snapped as soon as they were inside Tarrlok's office and out of earshot of any pesky onlookers. She released his arm like a hot coal. "I need to know of anything that's happened since last night."
Tarrlok tilted his head at her and smiled fondly. "Can I get you anything, Avatar Korra, before we begin? Tea? Something to eat?"
"Cut the bullshit, Tarrlok. You and I both know that Amon isn't going to take this one sitting down. I need to know if you've heard anything."
"If you must know, there hasn't been so much as a peep. Are you sure I can't get you anything?"
"And that doesn't scare the shit out of you!?" Korra bellowed. "Tui and La, you are more of an idiot than I thought!"
Tarrlok's face twisted into an ugly expression. "I'd hold your tongue if I were you. Avatar or no, you do not know everything. I got this position by virtue of hard work and experience, something a spoiled child like you could never understand."
"Oh, so that's the card you're gonna play? The spoiled child? At least I'm seventeen, what's your excuse? I've never met anyone so full of undeserved confidence in my life!"
Tarrlok looked for a moment as if he was about to snarl something vicious right back, but in an instant, his face was as smooth and friendly as if they had never began arguing in the first place.
Korra followed Tarrlok's gaze and turned, seeing the council page at the door. She crossed her arms defensively over her chest and glared at the page.
"Sir," the page began, "the other council members wanted to discuss with you the new laws you drafted for proposal earlier this week."
"Ah yes, of course. Avatar Korra, if you would excuse me, I have adult matters to attend to now. Perhaps we can continue our discussion later. Allow me to escort you out."
Tarrlok reached for Korra's elbow, but she pulled it away with a look of disgust. "I think I can find my own way out, thanks," she said sarcastically. She stormed out the door and quickly stepped behind a pillar before Tarrlok or the page could notice that she wasn't actually leaving. She had no intention of finding out what these new proposed laws were going to be after they were enacted; knowing Tarrlok, she needed to find out sooner, rather than later.
"Tarrlok, this is going too far," Korra heard once she had gotten a little bit closer to the Council room door. It sounded like Tenzin, and he sounded displeased. Korra narrowed her eyes, wondering what Tarrlok was up to this time, and hid behind another pillar so as not to be found out by any passersby.
"Councilman Tenzin, you underestimate Amon's reach. Non-benders need to realize the consequences of joining the Equalists. I find it as repulsive as you do, but in order to stop this terrorist threat, we need to act swiftly, and mercilessly," Tarrlok replied fluidly.
"But what you're proposing! A curfew for all non-benders? You're only helping Amon with this one."
"Let's put it to a vote, then, shall we?" Tarrlok asked, and Korra could practically hear the smirk on his face.
But that was the last Korra heard, before a deafening crack echoed through the air, and the building shuddered. Acrid smelling smoke blew through the hallway. Ears ringing, Korra assumed a fighting position. Moments later she was joined in the hall by the Council members.
"Avatar Korra!" Tarrlok snarled. "What are you still doing here?"
Speaking over him, Tenzin asked, "Did you see anything?"
"No, just the smoke, so far," Korra replied, entirely ignoring Tarrlok. "But I'm positive Amon's here."
"A woman's intuition, is that it, Avatar Korra?" Tarrlok mocked. He didn't back down even at the withering looks both Korra and Tenzin leveled at him. Korra noticed he had that look from the night before in his eye, like he had already won.
Drawing his attention away from the smirking Councilman, Tenzin cleared the smoke in the hall with one swift movement, revealing the crumbled remains of City Hall's entrance and the dozen or so chi-blockers swarming up the front steps.
"Well," Tarrlok said with a grin sharp enough to cut through metal, "and here I was thinking today was going to be boring."
"What the hell does that guy think he's doing?" Korra asked no one in particular as Tarrlok ran down the hall to meet the chi-blockers head on. Shaking her head, Korra ran after him. Even if she didn't like him, she liked the idea of the chi-blockers getting into the building and hurting more people even less.
Heading into the fray with Tenzin at her side, Korra tried to quickly survey the area. As much as she was loathe to admit it, Tarrlok was a skilled waterbender, and was holding his own against several chi-blockers. The guards also seemed to be doing well against their opponents. Throwing a few fireballs, Korra tried not to get overly involved with fighting the chi-blockers, figuring them to be more of the distraction as opposed to the main event.
And-there. Walking up the steps as calmly as ever was Amon. He seemed to be paying little attention to the skirmish going on around him. His chi-blockers were clever enough to deflect any attack that may have been heading towards him. Korra felt her insides turn to ice, but she readied herself, every sense focused on the masked man getting ever closer to her.
Even though he was still yards away, Korra could feel the burn of his gaze. Once he was at the top of the steps, he paused, and they regarded each other for a long moment. Without warning, Amon was rushing towards her. Korra smiled. A head on attack? This, she could deal with.
Grinning like a wild thing, Korra prepared herself to earthbend. Amon wasn't even going to know what hit him. Before she could make her move, however, Tarrlok had leapt in front of her and took Amon's first several chi-blocking jabs to his left arm. Amon jumped back, but not before Tarrlok landed a hit with a blade of water guided by his good arm.
Around them, the chi-blockers were falling back. Amon was on one knee and seemed to be surveying the situation for a moment before the air was once again filled with thick, foul smelling smoke. When Tenzen had cleared it again, Amon and the remaining chi-blockers had vanished.
Tarrlok swept a stray hair back into place and came to stand next to Korra, his left arm still hanging limply by his side. "Are you alright, Avatar Korra? No need to thank me, really. I know what you mean as a symbol to this city. I hope you know that I will do everything in my power to keep you protected."
Still a little shell shocked, Korra stared up into Tarrlok's smiling face .
"I have to go," she said abruptly, brushing past the Councilman.
Later, at the Arena, she recounted the story to Mako and Bolin.
"Well, that's good, right?" Bolin asked, smiling.
"Yeah," Mako agreed. "I'm glad to hear the good guys finally made him falter."
"But it's so out of character!" Korra exclaimed exasperatedly. Did no one else see that? "Every time we make a move, it's like we're playing right into his hands. But lately..."
Korra sat down heavily and put her head in her hands.
"Lately it's like he's an entirely different person. He's gotten... sloppy."
"Hey, I'm sure running a terrorist organization is a tiresome gig," Bolin said reassuringly, patting Korra's knee. "It's good news for us that he's slipping up."
"I think it's more than that, though," Korra admitted. "I know... I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like the man I saw today wasn't Amon, but just someone wearing the mask. Everything about him was just wrong."
Korra pressed the heels of her palms against her eyes and exhaled slowly. "I think I'm losing my mind."
"Just make sure you're getting plently of rest," Mako said. "We don't want you ending up tired and sloppy like Amon just because you've missed a couple hours of beauty sleep," he joked.
"Yeah," Korra said, feigning a chuckle. "You're right. I just need to focus on my training."