AMS
AMON X KORRA
Senna was running around the village, handing invitations to Korra's sixteenth birthday party that was coming up in a week. Nearly every single man in the village jumped for joy when they saw it, for the sexy, alluring, powerful Korra was finally of marrying age; no doubt all the single, older men would be trying to ask her out. Tonraq was in the hut with his face in his hands. He was not looking forward to the fact that his little girl will soon be able to choose someone to be her boyfriend.
"Korra, you're going to be sixteen. Do you know what that means?" Senna asked Korra later that night during dinner.
Korra had poor mannerisms as she would stuff as much food as she could in her mouth at once, burp loudly and without covering her mouth, and picking her teeth and then her feet at the table. Tonraq hoped she did all those things at her party to weird out the men. Senna inwardly frowned at them both as if she could read her husband's mind.
"Not really other than I'll be a year older, and I still need to pass my firebending test," answered Korra with her cheeks stuffed like a squirrels, causing some chewed food to fly out from her mouth.
Senna frowned slightly, swallowed her food, wiped her mouth, and then sat her hands in her lap.
"You will be of marrying age, Korra. You need to start acting like a proper lady if you want to get a nice, young man to ask you out. I know you know how to act like a lady. The White Lotus and I have spent many years preparing you," replied Senna, reaching for her glass of red wine.
Korra huffed and groaned.
"Marriage? Mom, I'm the Avatar. I don't have time for marriage," grumbled Korra.
"Oh? But Avatar Aang had time to get married to Master Katara and ended up having three children with her. True, she was the one who had the most time for the children. But that is why whoever you choose to be with forever will be the one to take care of the kids most of the time. Besides, we want grandchildren one day. You can still be the Avatar and have a love life," smiled Senna patiently.
"I don't really want to get married yet. I mean yeah, I've had fantasies of meeting a nice looking, good natured man. But right now? I'm still in training, and I have yet to even tap into my spiritual side. I need to focus on my Avatar duties right now more than men. Men will come later, after I bring peace and balance to the world," Korra said, raising a foot to the table.
Before her finger could reach her toe, Senna reached over the table and harshly glared at Korra.
"I've even sent invitations to everyone in the North. So many people will be there, including the Chief. Starting now, you are to act and dress like a lady to practice for the party. No ifs, ands, or butts," ordered Senna.
Tonraq stayed quiet. When Senna got like this, there was no stopping her. Many people thought Korra got her attitude from Tonraq, but he laughed at them and shook his head. Senna. The one who everyone looked up to and highly respected, secretly had this attitude. It came in handy when dealing with Korra though, since Senna rarely gets like this and it always takes Korra by surprise.
In the North, Noatak was peacefully eating his dinner in his one-man hut. He smiled as he read the newspaper which had his younger brother, Councilman Tarrlok, in it. Then, he heard his mailbox being opened and shut, which made him set the paper and his spoon down.
"Mail? But it isn't normal mail hours. I wonder what it is," Noatak thought as he stood up. The chair against the floor made a sound, making Noatak slightly wince as he always does when he isn't prepared for the obnoxious sound.
He opened the door to his hut and looked around, then saw the mail man going around delivering mail. Striding over to his mailbox, Noatak lifted the lid and grabbed the letter that was inside, and went back into his hut. He shuddered and closed the door, bending the snow off the ground and turning it into water, then putting the water in his kitchen sink. Then he strode over to his seat at the table, picked up the chair and sat down in it, then picked it up to move back in to the table without making that awful sound.
"A letter or something. Hmm, let's see."
Noatak undid the seal and opened the letter.
Dear Water Tribeman or woman,
Avatar Korra's sixteenth birthday will be here in one week from today, starting at ten in the morning until six in the afternoon. Any and all single males sixteen to forty are welcome to the party, and are welcome to try and ask the beautiful Avatar out on a date. Refreshments, food, entertainment, and of course, the Avatar will be provided.
The Avatar's mother,
Senna.
Noatak's eyes widened and he nearly choked on his dinner. The Avatar was turning marrying age already? Up to forty years old? Was she crazy? He's old enough to be her father! But he isn't her father, Tonraq is, and if Tonraq is older than forty, even by a little bit, then he is not old enough to be her father. These were the rationalizations Noatak told himself. He would feel much better if his brother or someone went with him so he didn't feel alone and out of place and at least had someone to hang out with if things got awkward with him and the Avatar. Across the street loud music began playing and Noatak winced as the sounds of young men hooted and hollered for the next hour. Noatak frowned.
"Well at least I'd be much more suitable for the young Avatar since I'm much more poised and mature than those bumbling idiots," Noatak grumbled.
That settled it for him. If anyone deserved the Avatar, it was going to be him. No one else had his waterbending power, his rugged good looks, his body, or his mature mind. He grabbed the phone and dialed his brother's number. A tired voice answered the phone.
"Hello? This is Councilman Tarrlok."
"Tarrlok, it's me," responded Noatak.
Tarrlok sat up straight in his bed, his head and voice clearer.
"Brother. What's the matter?" asked Tarrlok.
"Nothing's wrong. But, the Avatar has finally come of age, and I don't want to go alone to her party. Will you come with me?" asked Noatak, feeling heat rise up to his cheeks as his younger brother was silent on the other side.
D-did I just hear you ask me to attend a sixteen year old girl's birthday party, because you're basically too nervous to go alone and will feel out of place?" asked Tarrlok, rubbing his face.
"Hey! It's not like I'm going to be the only thirty nine year old there. There will be plenty of older men there. But who else would be better to court the Avatar than me? Besides, so many young, stupid, immature young men will be there as well, trying to ask her out. I can't let any of them win," replied Noatak.
Noatak heard Tarrlok sigh on the line.
"When is it?" he asked.
"A week from today, starts at ten in the morning," responded Noatak coolly.
"Hmm. My calendar says I am free that day. Fine. I'll meet you at the Avatar's birthday party. Pretty sure we're gonna be the only geezers there besides her father," Tarrlok said, muttering the last sentence.
Noatak's lip twitched.
"Thanks. Night bro."
Noatak hung up the phone, then his heart started to race and he started to sweat. What if they really are the only ones past their thirties who will arrive at the Avatar's party? What if her parents are disgusted with him and they try to find out where he lives based on his face? Pacing around his hut, his eyes caught sight of one of the masks he had hanging on his wall, and everything seemed so clear to him. He grabbed the mask off the wall, dashed over to a mirror, and put the mask on.
"With this on, no one will be able to tell right away who I am. But, what about my name? I can't use Noatak. Not at first anyway. I will, if she chooses me and all goes well. This is so much pressure! I'm just a man," sweated Noatak.
The last two words played out in his head over and over, becoming increasingly fast until they blurred together.
"Amon! That will be my stage name. Amon. I will pose as a non bender, just to really throw her parents off if they seek to destroy me for considering their daughter," Noatak said to himself, nodding and his smile growing wider and wider.
The morning of the party...
"Hold still! It's hard to tie this corset with you squirming a lot," exasperatedly said Senna.
"Gack! But mom! I need my stomach and chest to not be squeezed to death! I don't know airbending yet," complained Korra.
Senna rolled her eyes as Korra continued to make discomforting sounds.
Noatak, er, Amon put on his new outfit he hand made himself, and slipped the promise necklace he carved for Korra in his pocket.
Tarrlok had just gotten out of the shower and strode over to the outfit he picked out that was laying on his neatly made water bed. He remembers when his brother called him, telling him how he didn't have to come anymore if he didn't want to since he was going to go as a non bender named Amon. Tarrlok scoffed at his older brother. Since when was he going to back down from a challenge? Maybe he secretly wanted to marry the Avatar too. It would definitely help him in his goal to become Republic City's savior. All he would have to do is continuously impregnate Korra so she could barely have time to jump in and take over.
"There. The corset is on. Now, go on downstairs and eat breakfast," said Senna, swiping her forehead with the back of her hand, her other hand on her hip.
"Mom. I can barely breathe. What makes you think I'll be able to eat with this death trap on?" asked Korra, her expression unamused.
Senna chuckled.
"In my day, I had to wear corsets all the time! You'll figure out a way to breathe in that soon enough. You are the Avatar after all, right? A piece of clothing can't defeat you, right?" taunted Senna.
Korra, playing right into Senna's hand, furrowed her brows together.
"N-no! I piece of clothing isn't enough to get the mighty Avatar down! I shall now go, mother, and eat my breakfast with the delicateness of a lady," said Korra in a british accent.
Senna smiled and watched her daughter breathe irregularly as she waddled out of the room. She wasn't too worried about Korra's walking in her outfit since throughout the party Korra was to sit down, eat and watch people and animals entertain her and talk to the men.
Amon finished his outfit, grabbed his boat ticket, and headed out the hut and towards the boat. Several people looked at him with weird looks on their faces, unsure of what to think about the masked man.
"Who are you, sir?" asked a man.
Amon recognized him as one of the waterbending master's students. He was twenty seven years old. But still not thirty. Or even close to forty. Amon cleared his throat, and wrung his hands nervously behind his back.
"My name is Amon. I am a non bender born and raised in the North," said Amon.
The man raised a brow.
"Really? Then how come I never seen you around before?" asked the man.
Amon shrugged and turned back to look out at the sea.
"Say, why are you wearing that mask?" asked the man as he pointed at it.
Amon's eyes widened. Shoot! He hadn't thought of a reason why he would be wearing the mask. He only thought of its purpose: to hide his face. He never would have guessed to think about the why. Then, the one thing that popped into his mind made him cringe, but he couldn't think of anything else.
"My face was scarred. By a firebender. I normally don't leave the house as I've always had someone else take care of me and bring me things I need. Then I got the invite, and my friend told me I should go. That maybe, the Avatar will like me for my personality," lied Amon.
The man made a sympathetic face. Don't do that. I lied to you.
"Sorry man. I didn't know. I'm Takkut, Master Yoro's top student," introduced the man.
Amon, not wanting to say another word out of guilt for lying, nodded his head.
"Yeah. My master told me I'm the best waterbender he's ever seen. So I'm pretty confident the Avatar will want me since I can pretty much match her at waterbending," smiled Takkut.
Amon felt the jealousy in his chest, and he almost spilled the beans about who he really was and what he could do, but he stayed silent. What can I say that will top that? Well, I did teach myself how to block someone's chi permanently with bloodbending, but I can't say that. Hmm. Well, the Avatar is someone spiritual, and they speak with spirits all the time. Spirits, with power, who can perhaps grant powers? That's it!
"Really? I'm hoping she will like me for my personality, as well as my special gift," Amon stated coolly, causing Takkut to look at him curiously.
"Gift? But, aren't you a non bender?" asked Takkut.
"Yes. But shortly after I was burned, a spirit came to me, and gave me the power to take people's bending away. The spirit had given me this gift so that I can protect myself and others from corrupt benders," lied Amon.
Takkut's mouth gaped open.
"You can do what Avatar Aang did to Ozai?" he gasped.
"Ozai?" asked Amon.
He only knows Aang took away his father's bending, and that's what drove him to find a way to take away bending permanently with his bloodbending to carry on Aang's legacy until the next Avatar could do it.
"It was how he ended the Hundred Year War. Being raised by the monks, Aang didn't want to kill him, so he set out to find a way to peacefully end the war. A lion turtle showed up and gave Aang the power to take away bending, and that's how Aang ended it all," said Takkut.
"Ah. I only knew about Aang taking away Yakone's bending. But, thanks for telling me how he ended the war," said Amon.
"Yeah, no problem. If she doesn't choose me, I'll definitely recommend you since you have a connection with the spirits," smiled Takkut. "Oh! We're here!"
Amon looked in front of him and saw that they were fast approaching the Southern Pole which was boucning and festive.
"I wonder what she looks like," Amon wondered aloud.
"I don't know. But a sixteen year old girl who is also the Avatar? At this point, I don't care if she's butt ugly. She's the freaking Avatar! I want to marry her so we can make powerful babies. It's all about the genes, Amon," smirked Takkut, making Amon clench his hands into fists at his sides for only a split second.
There's no way Korra would pick this imbecile over him, right? RIGHT?! Aw, freak it. Amon stepped backwards into the crowd of people on the boat, and used his psychic bloodbending to keep Takkut still in place, and kept his mouth shut forcefully. When people started to move to get off the boat, Amon dragged him backwards through the crowd silently and slowly without drawing attention, and brought him to a broom closet on the boat where he locked him in there.
"Amon?! You're a bloodbender!" shouted Takkut.
Amon winced, using his psychic bloodbending to silence Takkut before making his way off the boat. He walked through the village, admiring all the festivities. He quickly noticed that there were many older men around his age that showed up. A hand placed itself on Amon's shoulder, making him freeze and turn around.
"You look ridiculous, Amon," smirked Tarrlok.
Amon sighed.
"Don't scare me like that. Anyway, I thought you didn't want to come to this party?" asked Amon.
Tarrlok curled his lips upward.
"I'm here as emotional support, brother. I know it took a lot of courage for you to call and ask me to come, I just don't want that to go to waste," coolly lied Tarrlok.
Tarrlok knows how crazy Noatak can be when he sees a woman he wants to have, but Tarrlok has ways of stealing women from his brother without Noatak knowing it was him. Because of this, Tarrlok indirectly killed many other unsuspecting men who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, and would always go lend his brother a supportive hug and advice, casually hinting at things until Noatak told Tarrlok to be with the woman in his place. Smiling smugly to himself, he figured this would be no different from those other times. A woman who looked to be in her mid forties came rushing around, yelling for everyone to go sit down at the tables to meet Avatar Korra, see some entertainment, and eat lunch.
"It's time to meet the Avatar," thought Amon, smiling sweetly.
"It's time to meet the Avatar," thought Tarrlok, smirking.
The two brothers made their way with the rest of the crowd to go sit down. Korra was a little disappointed at how many men showed up versus how many women.
"Yikes, my parents really are trying to find someone for me," gulped Korra.
Her eyes scanned around everyone. Old men, young men, some graying, some balding, others black hair, some brown hair, some long and loose, some long and tied back, and some short haired. Then her eyes fell on the masked man, and her interest was piqued. He was the only one wearing such a getup, and it made her curious as to what was under the mask. Was he gorgeous, and he wanted to surprise her? Or was he hideous, and was hiding his face from her, hoping she will latch onto his personality? Or did he think you were supposed to wear a mask?
"Mom, did you put in the letter that it's okay for them to wear masks if they want to?" Korra whispered to her mom.
Senna was confused until she looked over at the man Korra was looking at, and raised her eyebrows.
"No honey, I did not say that in the letter. But this will be interesting. A mystery man," giggled Senna.
Amon wanted to know what the two ladies across from him at the long square table were talking and giggling about. Senna then stood up, and tapped her fork against her glass to get everyone's attention.
"Everyone, thank you all for coming out to celebrate my daughter, Avatar Korra's sixteenth birthday. It means a lot," started Senna.
A lot of the men clapped and some said "yeah", making Senna smile more and making Korra want to shrink in her seat, but she couldn't because of the corset.
"I'm sure my daughter would like to say a few words herself. Korra if you will," said Senna, turning to her daughter and sitting down.
Korra's cheeks reddened. She had never spoken in front of a group of water tribe men. She had spoken in front of a group of White Lotus members to practice talking to a large group, but it wasn't the same since the White Lotus was like her family. She timidly rose to her feet, fighting the urge to glare at the men who whistled at her.
"Hello. My name is Korra, your new Avatar," started Korra but was interrupted by shouts and cheers. She didn't mind though. The praise made her embarrassment leave and she felt herself smile down at her silverware.
"Heh. Thank you. Anyway, as you all know and are here for, I turn sixteen today. I am now of marrying age in the water tribe customs. Love is something I have thought and dreamed about for as long as I can remember. But the one thing that I always fantasized about more than anything, was the kind of love you form with someone who you consider to be your best friend. Nothing is more beautiful than two people starting off as acquaintances, working their way up to become friends, best friends, and then they fall in love with each other. Love isn't something you can force, but it's something you can fall into. So, whoever I choose tonight, we will first and foremost be acquaintances first, friends second, best friends third, and hopefully lovers last. Anyone who feels they cannot wait, you can forget about asking me out," stated Korra.
Some of the men chuckled at her forward and bold attitude while Amon and his brother were silent. Amon was silently listening to her, agreeing with her, and wanting nothing more than to hear her say yes to him when he asks her out. Tarrlok's smile wavered. He had to wait to get what he wanted? Forming friendships takes years, and who knows how much Korra already has mastered! A nineteen year old boy raised his hand. Amon raised a brow behind his mask as he was curious as to what this man wanted to say.
"Uh, yes?" asked Korra, gesturing to the boy.
"Um, I don't mean to be nosy, but how many elements have you mastered?" asked the boy, blushing from embarrassment of all the eyes on him.
"I have mastered water, earth, and am currently in the process of mastering fire," answered Korra with a smile.
"Wow. You're so awesome," gushed the boy.
Korra's smile brightened more and her face seemed to glow, making Amon fall for her even more.
"That's very sweet of you."
Amon felt like asking a question himself now.
"Excuse me, young Avatar," said Amon.
Korra's smile dropped and she turned to face the masked man. His deep voice caught her off guard.
"His voice is kinda hot...No! Stop it, Korra! You don't know the man. Don't think he's hot when you haven't even seen his face or gotten to know him yet!" Korra inwardly scolded herself.
"Um, yes sir?" she asked.
"Would you mind showing us all a demonstration of your bending prowess?" he asked, wringing his hands behind his back nervously.
"Wow. He stands tall and looks like a natural leader," Korra thought.
"Uhm, well, I would. But this corset I'm wearing kinda restricts my movement," pouted Korra, glaring at her mother who smiled and shrugged like she was innocent.
"I see. Well, maybe some other time then. Carry on," said Amon as he sat back down.
"Korra, I want to know something, as your Chief and Uncle," spoke up Unalaq, eliciting gasps from every single person at the table except for the twins, Korra, Senna, and Tonraq.
"Did you really have to announce that you're my uncle, uncle?" Korra asked, resisting the urge to face palm since it would not only be unladylike, but it would also ruin the makeup her mother spent a long time on, and she did not want her mother to scold her in front of all these people.
"What? It's not like it was going to stay a secret forever. Anyway, I'd say a demonstration is in place instead of whatever entertainment in scheduled for before lunch. As your uncle and as a spiritual man, I want to see how far you have come along as the Avatar. Also, I want to know. Have you ever made a spiritual breakthrough yet? Have you talked to one of your past lives, namely Aang?" asked Unalaq.
All the men that were looking at Unalaq now looked at Korra, then at Senna as she stood up.
"I spent a long time getting Korra into the corset and dress. She will not be demonstrating anything!" cried out Senna.
"Mom, I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm the Avatar. And, the Chief just requested I demonstrated, so I think I should. Everyone, I'll be back after I get out of this dress and into my training clothes," smiled Korra, her blue eyes shining with excitement.
She would have to thank her Uncle later. As she waddled off, her mother sat down and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at Unalaq who just smiled and sipped his tea, the twins sipping their teas at the same time as their father. Tonraq was smiling too. He wanted to see for himself how far Korra has gotten. Plus, this will be a great way to weed out anyone who decides they can't handle being with a powerful woman. Soon Korra came running back, wearing her normal everyday water tribe clothing with her three ponytails.
"I thought you were putting on your training clothes," asked Desna and Eska.
"Well, I was looking for them, but I couldn't find them. So I put on the next best thing," explained Korra.
Amon was glad he was wearing his mask since he was blushing even more now. The clothes Korra chose to wear made her breasts more pronounced than her gown had. Her pants were baggy, but that shirt sure was tight on her. He glanced beside him at Tarrlok who was looking down at his hands, a slight blush on his cheeks. Amon smiled. He knew he could count on his younger brother to have a good head on his shoulders and not be a perverted old man. Korra hopped to the middle of the large square table where her feet met the ground in the middle of everyone.
"Eska, spar with the Avatar. Korra, use all the elements. My daughter is a master. You're going to need all the elements you know," ordered Unalaq.
Takkut scoffed in his chair.
"I bet I'm more of a master than she is," he thought to himself as he sipped on his beverage.
Korra got in her fighting stance as Eska just stood there. Eska swiftly moved her arms, making icicles fly at Korra. Korra countered by making an ice wall appear from the ground and sent it flying towards Eska who shattered the ice and brought another ice wall up from behind Korra and knocked Korra off balance. Korra fell to the ground but quickly recovered with a somersault and started blasting fire at Eska. Eska dodged the fire jabs but brought water up from the ground to shield her from the bigger blast of fire. Korra knocked Eska off balance by shaking the ground with a stomp of her foot. Eska was a little upset now since she felt slightly humiliated, especially with Korra grinning like an idiot at her.
Takkut was nodding his head, impressed with Korra's strength and abilities. Some of the other men were staring stupidly, open mouthed while Amon was smiling behind his mask at how well she fought against a master waterbender.
"Once she masters the Avatar State, not even I will be able to hold a candle to her," thought Amon proudly.
The sparring ended with Korra encasing Eska in earth. When she let Eska out, she walked over and raised Eska's arm up.
"My wonderful, waterbending master cousin everyone! Wasn't she great?" shouted Korra enthusiastically.
Everyone clapped and cheered for Eska's end of the fight. Eska turned to look at Korra.
"I forgive you now," dully stated Eska before returning to her seat.
Korra laughed and headed back to her seat next to her fuming mother and her proud father.
"No airbending?" Unalaq asked.
Korra blushed. She felt the embarrassment from earlier again. Now she was not going to thank her uncle later.
"No. Not yet. See, I'm not the most spiritual Avatar. In fact, I'm kind of a spiritual failure. But that's okay, because once I master fire, Master Tenzin will come to teach me everything he knows. He's mister spiritual," replied Korra, her tone turning hopeful at the mention of Tenzin.
A lot of the men murmured around the table. Amon narrowed his eyes.
"So, she's great at the physical side of being the Avatar, but lacks in the spiritual side. I wonder why that is," thought Amon.
"Seriously, Korra. Ever since you were a little girl, you've excelled at the physical side of bending, but completely ignored the spiritual side. The Avatar must master both," spoke up a White Lotus member.
"I haven't ignored it! It just doesn't come as easy to me. But that's why I need to train with Tenzin immediately," shot back Korra.
"Hmm, I don't know. Do you think she's ready, Master Katara?" the White Lotus man turned to an elderly woman dressed in blue, her gray hair pulled back in loopies.
"Yes. If anyone can teach her what she needs to know, it's Tenzin," answered Katara.
Across the table, Unalaq grumbled.
"Very well, Korra. After your final firebending test, you can start training with Tenzin," said the man.
Korra jumped from her seat excitedly and twirled around.
"Yes! Finally!" she shouted before glancing at the eyes around her before she remembered she had to try and act like a lady.
Amon was deeply amused with her antics though. He liked seeing Korra be herself. Korra cleared her throat and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you all for believing in me," said Korra soberly before sitting back down.
Lunch was then served, otter-penguins came out dancing with a man blowing his whistle to instruct them, and Amon quietly observed Korra from a distance. He smiled when she smiled. He frowned when she frowned. He chuckled quietly when she laughed boisterously. He felt connected to her in a way he has never felt with any other woman in his life. Tarrlok, beside him, was also observing Korra, but not for the same reasons as his older brother. He was observing her, trying to find other weaknesses to use against her other than the fact she said she's a spiritual failure. With that info, he devised he could most likely kidnap her with his unique bloodbending and keep her hidden away until he becomes the city's savior, and all the while knocking her up to bring forth more of his unique bloodline. The very thought made his lips curl upward. If Amon could only hear his younger brother's thoughts, then he would have thrown up his meal and pummeled his brother. But alas, Amon cannot read minds.
"Okay everyone, line up from youngest to oldest! Talk amongst each other to find out your ages," instructed Senna once four o clock hit.
Whoever Korra picked, she would spend the rest of her birthday with and sit next to him during dinner time. Whoever the lucky man may be, Korra would get to spend time with him during the days she wasn't training, further forming their bond and growing closer until the day he asks for her hand in marriage, and she says yes. The youngest, a seventeen year old boy with short brown hair, walked up to Korra. He is as tall as her, but has a bit more muscle.
"Hello, Avatar Korra," he bowed.
Korra smiled and bowed back to be respectful. She knew it was part of her duty as the Avatar to treat everyone with open kindness unless they are threats to peace and balance.
"My name is Kutrem, and this is why I think you should pick me," he began.
"I am nineteen, my name is Truken, and this is why you should pick me."
"My name is Strem, I am twenty two, and this is why you should pick me."
"Hey there, Avatar! My name is Takkut. I'm twenty seven, and this is why you should pick me, the best waterbender in the North Pole, besides my old master," Takkut said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Korra kept her smile plastered on her face even though she sweat dropped and backed away from him.
"I'm thirty and this is why you should pick me."
"I'm 31."
"34."
"35."
"My name is Tarrlok. I only came to support a friend of mine, though I won't say who. That's all."
Korra made the weirdest face at him as he walked off. Taking a deep breath, she told herself this was almost over and that soon, everything would go back to normal. Oh how wrong she was.
The man in the very back of the line, the masked man, nervously stepped forward. He was taller than all the other men that showed up, and he was more mysterious as well. As he towered over her, she stared into the slits of his mask, trying to see his eyes. But the mask obscured his eyes as well, making it hard for her to see them. She almost pouted but instead crossed her arms over her huge chest. Amon extended a hand. She didn't take it.
"You don't shake hands?" he asked.
"I'll shake your hand, if you take off that mask," wagered Korra.
Amon couldn't let her make him take off his mask. Not now. Unless. He looked around. All the other men had wandered off to talk to each other and such. Her parents were looking at him. Not with hatred, not with threats in their faces, but with genuine concern and wonderment. Amon sighed as he brought the hood down, and undid the straps to his mask behind his head. Korra was holding her breath, as were her parents. What was seconds to Amon was hours for them. He took off the mask, smiling sheepishly at Korra and her parents. Korra's eyes shone with awe at seeing his face. Her father, on the other hand, was shocked.
"You're so handsome. Were you trying to surprise me with how gorgeous you are?" asked Korra as she reached up to stroke his cheek.
He sighed at the physical contact before grabbing her hand and shaking it with his. He looked her in the eyes and smiled warmly.
"My name is Noatak. I'm 39. Korra, you deserve the best of the best, and when I look at all these other men, I can't help but feel they are all wrong for you. I am much older, yes, but I see myself as someone who can provide for you and teach you many things about the world. No doubt you can take care of yourself, but I promise I will be there for you should anything happen to you. I can see you are a strong, independent woman, and this was not your idea of spending your sixteenth birthday. But, I would love nothing more than for us to get to know each other better, over time like you want," said Noatak, taking in deep breaths and letting them out silently through his nose.
His heart was pounding in his chest nervously. Senna was holding a hand over her heart and was near tears. She looked like she was watching a cheesy soap opera. She probably was with how cheesy he was being right now, to this young sixteen year old girl with immense power. Tonraq had his arms crossed over his chest still, but his face softened. Tonraq had a cold face the entire time the other guys were talking to her, and a bewildered but relieved face when Tarrlok said what he said and walked away. But Noatak was the only one who softened his heart and face. He looked back down at Korra who was seriously thinking it over.
"I think I want to get to know you more too, acquaintance," Korra finally said, smiling.
Noatak wanted to pick her up, spin her around, plant kisses on her cheek while thanking her but decided against it since it would most likely scare her away and into her parents' arms. So he simply nodded his head and smiled back at her before extending his hand out again. This time, Korra took his hand firmly and shook it.
"I look forward to getting to know you, Avatar Korra."