Chapter One Part One: Fade to Black
Today, Korra was dressed entirely in black.
Her usual blue tank top, with the white trim, that she regularly wore, was tucked away in her closet that day. Instead she was wearing a long-sleeved shirt that covered her wrists. Loose black pants replaced the usual blue pair that contrasted with her tank. Her normally brown boots, too, were replaced by a pair exactly the same but in black.
The only thing that was not black about Korra that day were her brilliant turquoise eyes, her chocolate brown hair and her mocha coloured skin. Even her mood had taken on a dark gloom.
She was now making her way to Republic City Hall, where again she would be briefed on the current situation in the Earth Kingdom that she and the other members of the Republic City Council had been discussing for weeks now. She took a deep breath as she walked down the street towards the looming doors, smiling steadily as she walked along the street towards the ornately sculptured building, waving to people she knew, greeting them brightly, however each and every person stared at her attire, though none could find a polite way of commenting about it. Korra did not mind, in fact it was better for her if they did not ask—she did not want to have to explain to anyone why she was wearing black, it was just too painful to think about.
Despite the smiles and cheerful waves she gave people as she went, the dark feeling of gloom still rested on her shoulders. She had a good reason for wearing black that day, for it was almost exactly—
"Korra!" came an exuberant exclamation from behind her. A small smile appeared on her lips as Korra shook her head from side to side. Perhaps a dose of Bolin would be enough to keep her mind off of her sadness.
Turning her head back down the path that she had just come from, Korra saw Bolin sprinting towards her, waving energetically. A broad grin was on his kind face. He skidded to a stop in front of her and almost crashed into some people who were walking by, much to Korra's alarm. Bolin on the other hand seemed undaunted, or he simply did not notice, and looked at Korra happily.
"Hey, Kor!" he grinned.
"Hey, Bolin," she did her best to smile at him, "Why are you in such a hurry at this time of morning?"
"Oh, well…not really in a hurry," Bolin scratched the back of his head thoughtfully, "It's just that I promised Jinora, Kai, Ikki, Meelo and of course Rohan that I'd treat them to Narook's today. Asami's coming along too and I was just wondering if you wanted to come along, Kor, because you seem awfully…I don't know, distant lately."
Korra began to think on Bolin's observation of her recent behavior. Had she really been that aloof that even Bolin had noticed? She grimaced slightly before replying, "You sure you want to treat all of them to Narook's? You know how much Meelo eats…"
"Yeah, you do have a point there… But that's okay. I feel I should treat them every now and then, seeing as I am still living on Air Temple Island and all. So, you going to come along?"
"Sorry, Bo," she apologised, "I have a lot of work to get through with the Council, and I don't think I'll make it out of there before midnight. You know how dragged out those meetings can be..." Not to mention that she would feel out of place; She hadn't been to visit Air Temple Island in a long time, and not seen any of the Air Benders in an even longer expanse of time. Additionally, she would rather be alone that day.
"Aw, come on Kor!" Bolin begged, "It'll be lots of fun!"
"Thanks for the offer Bolin," she shook her head a little more firmly, knowing that if she gave him an inch, he would never give up begging, "but perhaps another time. I'm just too busy. I'm really sorry that I can't come, as much as I'd like too."
"Couldn't you just skip out on one meeting, Kor?"
"Definitely not, you should know that Lin would skin me alive if I even dare to pull a stunt like that again." she said firmly, "People are depending on me, Bo. And besides, I'm sure you don't need my company. Jinora, Kai and the other kids, you being one of them, can have a wonderful time without me."
"Korra," Bolin spoke up, "They do say, the more the merrier."
"Well, they also say that less is more," Korra laughed lightly in return, "We sure contradict ourselves, don't we? Anyway, I'm going to be late if I don't hurry. Thank you for the offer, but I'll come along next time if I'm able. See you around!"
Bolin sulked. Korra smiled a little sadly and waved before turning and walking briskly down the remainder of the street. She had wasted too much time as it was. Lin Beifong in particular was very strict when it came to being on time. I don't care if you're the Avatar or not, I'll not put up with a lack in punctuality. You'd do well to remember that, Korra' she had emphasized. Korra remembered feeling, for the time since having met the Chief of Police, a sense of fear towards her. Lin Beifong sure was intimidating.
Pushing open the doors to the meeting room, Korra greeted the faces of the other members of the council, asides from Tenzin, with the usual twitch. How she hated having to be here. And to be here almost every day was not how Korra wished to be spending her time. She shook her head firmly, not wanting to waste any more time by dwelling on the current situation regarding her daily schedule, and made her way to her allocated seat at the large desk before her.
"Good morning, Korra," one of the members, whose name currently escaped Korra, greeted her, smiling, "Lin would like to see you privately before we begin the meeting for today. You'll find her on the fourth floor, third door on the right."
"Thanks." Korra replied, instead of sitting down she made her way to the elevator. Checking the clock that was a standard installment in all elevators, she sighed in annoyance, she had only three minutes to get up to the fourth floor. The elevator seemed to be taking forever and she mashed the button on the wall impatiently. After what seemed to be an eternity, the door opened and Korra dashed inside, pushing the button for the fourth floor. She breathed a sigh as the elevator began to move upwards. Looked like it was going to be a long day.
It was damp—always damp. He hated the damp. Being a fire bender, damp always irked him, for reasons unknown even to him. It was not like it was anything new to him, it had always been dank in the underground that was the Equalist's base, and one would think that after a year of being held captive in various underground bases, he would have grown used to it. But even after that extended period of time, Mako still hated the musty smell, among other things.
Perhaps it was because of the tinge of apprehension he felt that day that the smell and the feeling in the air bothered him more than ever. Amon himself had summoned him, said that he needed to speak with him over a small matter. Mako scoffed quietly to himself, he was not stupid, and Amon knew not to take Mako lightly nor that he was not fooled, and therefore had placed the room heavily under guard. Not that he couldn't deal with the guards—it was just the inconvenience of causing a ruckus, thereby bringing more Equalist lackeys after him after his attempt at escape.
Mako slammed his fist down hard onto the concrete wall next to his bed, so hard that it cracked and crumbled slightly from the force. This was not how he was going to meet his end. Mako had met with his current situation after Amon had captured him just over a year ago during one of his and Korra's infiltrations of an Equalist rally in Republic City. Mako, while scared beyond what he'd be willing to admit, had been relieved when Korra had escaped the same fate as he currently found himself being a victim of.
Mako had had it all planned out: by this time, a year from when he had been taken by Amon and the Equalists he would have escaped and used whatever remaining strength and power of his own to eventually surpass the overthrow Amon, and kill him. When all that was said and done, he'd return to Republic City and, in whatever way he could, go back to his life that was surely awaiting him.
But of course his plans of escape and a coup had naturally been ruined when today Mako was called forth to 'talk' with Amon over a small matter. The small matter in question, of course, was the matter of Mako's defiance against Amon, and the consequences were unquestionably Mako would have his bending taken from him; something that he had planned to keep from happening. But he realized that at his current state, he had no chance in overthrowing Amon let alone the entirety of the Equalist faction; he could perhaps put up a decent fight, and injure Amon critically, but Mako knew that he would most likely be dead before Amon. And that of course was unacceptable.
Mako held his head in his hands, his fingers tangled in his dark locks; his jaw was clenched and a scowl was visible. It was almost time… Amon would undoubtedly have him escorted to have their little 'chat', and then Mako knew his own body and bending would be out of his control; Amon still being very much the incredible blood bender he had been the night of Mako's capture.
Standing up abruptly, Mako began to pace around the room in an irritated manner. There had to be some way out of this. He knew the only other possible matter that Amon could possibly wish to discuss with him was that he would force Mako to use his bending in order to capture the Avatar. He knew this was still very much a possiblity, he had known from the very day he'd been captured that he could be used as bait, to lure Korra into the Equalist's grasp, but of course he would do, and had done, everything in what little power he had to prevent this from happening. If there was one thing that bothered Mako more than anything else, it was being used against those he loved. He had to think of a way to get out of this situation without getting killed or having Korra captured. He refused to allow either to happen.
'Think!' he reprimanded himself, his fists clenching and unclenching behind his back as he paced back and forth. There must be some way of preventing either situations; there must be a way out—a way that would save Korra.
He paused and looked at his hands, flexing them slightly. There had to be a way… He closed his eyes, going over in his head why exactly Amon had kept him alive this long and what he needed him for. There were only a couple things, come to think of it. Amon wanted him because of his connection to the Avatar…aside from his fire bending skills, there was no real point in keeping him alive.
Slowly sinking to his knees on the concrete floor, he closed his eyes and sighed. The only thing he could think of allowing, was unthinkable. If he did, there was a good chance he would never be able to be forgiven. He could probably break his own bones if he needed, but that would only prevent Amon from temporarily baiting Korra with him. Mako grumbled to himself, pacing again, trying to think of alternative ways of escaping, but only drew up blanks.
He thought again to his first choice of action… it was so risky. To live, free of Amon and the Equalists but never be forgiven by Korra or his brother, or to be used as bargaining chip against Korra, only to have Amon take away her bending, or kill her. Either way was a no-win situation. He thought about it some more, his mind growing ever anxious as the weight of the situation crushed him. He had to make his decision, quickly.
He turned over his only other option in his head… There was always a slim possibility that he could live a fulfilling life as a non-bender…but he could see no way of ever being completely 'whole' again. He knew that if he were to do it, it had to be in a way so damaging that not even Katara could fix it. Amon could certainly help him with that.
No sooner had Mako made decision he heard it, faintly at first, but unmistakable—there were footsteps in the hall, and they were coming this way. He glanced sharply over his shoulder, then down at his hands. His heart began pounding in his chest, his brow and hands breaking into a sweat; he bit into his lip fiercely, tasting blood. His hands burst into small, contained flames, the footsteps getting louder still. He stared at the flames that were his own in his hands, as if to etch the look and feel of them into his deepest memory, his hands shaking all the while.
The footsteps were outside his door now and had stopped. He heard the voice of one of Amon's multitude of Equalist lackeys ordering the guards to open the door. There was a clinking of keys. The doorknob turning, and then he heard the slight creak of the door being opened.
With a determined resolve, Mako diminished the flames in his hands, perhaps for the last time, and allowed himself to be led to Amon. Upon arrival to the room where Amon awaited him, Mako was pinched in the side of his neck, effectively rendering him unconscious. The last thing Mako was aware of before losing consciousness was the slight sensation of pain racking his body as Amon stood before him, his hand placed on Mako's forehead. Shortly after, everything faded to black.
Well, that's the first chapter done. Let me know what you think of this new, much more morbid, fanfic!
