Hey, now we're getting somewhere! Still sad to say Mako won't make an appearance for about a couple more chapters, but he's NOT evil! I literally just switched him and Asami. Deal with it!
...
A medicine ball soared through the air, being easily caught by two caramel hands. Their owner groaned loudly, her eyes half-lidded from exhaustion.
"What's the big deal with making me train this early in the morning?" Korra asked, dismayed. She lowered her voice to a whisper and said, "The morning is evil."
"We're the rookies." Bolin said, catching the ball when Korra tossed it to him. "So we get the worst time slot in the gym." He threw the ball to Asami.
"That's how things are, unfortunately." Asami said, her expression sympathetic as she smiled. "You just gotta deal with it."
Korra caught the ball and sighed heavily as the gym doors opened, revealing a tall man in a hat and a heavy blue coat. Korra set the ball down and glanced over her shoulder at the guy, eyebrow raised.
"There are my little hardworking street urchins!" he said, grinning as he approached. He looked at Korra and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Avatar."
"And you are?" Korra said, already growing annoyed.
The guy took off his hat and bowed toward her. "Butakha." he said. "I run this whole pro-bending shebang." Korra rolled her eyes and walked away as Asami approached him. Butakha reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash, placing it in Asami's outstretched hand. "Here's your winnings from the last match."
"Thank you, sir." Asami said, smiling as she started to put the money away.
"Ah, ah, ah." Butakha said, making her stop and look at him. "Not so fast." He took some of the cash from her. "First, you owe me for the Avatar's new gear," He took some more. "gym and equipment rentals from last month," Asami looked down at the remaining money in her hand and again went to put it away, when Butakha took more. "rent on your apartment," He took the last of the money. "and a personal loan for groceries."
"Groceries?" Asami said, looking at Bolin, who had Pabu perched on his shoulders.
Bolin opened his arms innocently. "What?" he said, then rubbed his stomach. "I'm a growing boy!"
"Oh, and one more small item of business." Butakha said, catching their attention. "The Fire Ferrets need to ante up thirty thousand yuans for the championship pot."
Bolin's mouth hung open, his eyes wide. "Thirty thousand yuans?!"
Butakha put a hand on Asami's shoulder. "Sorry, kids. You've got 'til the end of the week to come up with the dough, or else you're out of the tournament."
Bolin feebly reached out for Butakha as he left, then hunched over, saddened. Korra approached the siblings, who glanced at her when she stopped. Bolin spoke first.
"You wouldn't happen to have a secret Avatar back account overflowing with gold, would you?" he asked her.
Korra pulled out her pockets, which were empty. "I got nothing. I've never really needed money." She smiled softly, tilting her head slightly. "I've always had people taking care of me."
"Then I wouldn't say you had nothing..." Asami said, trying to make it sound like a joke.
"Sorry, I didn't mean-" Korra began apologetically, but Bolin stopped her.
"No, it's alright." Bolin said. "It's just...ever since we lost our parents, we've been on our own."
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know." Korra said.
"Anyway," Asami interrupted, zipping up a bag with two training balls in them. She slung the bag over her shoulder and turned back to them. "how are we gonna come up with the money?"
Silence passed for a few seconds, and Bolin grinned broadly. "Oh, oh, I got it!" he exclaimed. He squatted down and picked up Pabu. "I got it! I've been teaching Pabu how to do circus tricks! Now people would pay good money to see that!"
Asami and Korra looked at each other before looking at Bolin, both raising their eyebrows.
"Come on, Bolin." Asami said softly. "We need serious ideas."
Bolin's expression fell and he pulled Pabu close to his chest. "I was serious..."
Asami started to walk away, sighing. "Don't worry about it. I'll figure something out." She paused for second. "I always do..."
~Nighttime~
Jinora and Ikki sent a gust of wind through the Spinning Gates, Korra waiting on the other side. When she saw an opening she leapt effortlessly into the training tool, her feet moving swiftly as she elegantly twisted and turned at a moment's notice.
"That's it! Light on your feet!" Jinora said encouragingly.
Korra emerged from the gates, landing in front of the sisters and resting her hand on her knees to catch her breath. Jinora and Ikki smiled at her before leaning to the left, looking past her.
"Ooh, she's pretty!" Jinora said, making Korra raise an eyebrow in confusion. "Korra, is that the beautiful firebender girl that drives you crazy?"
Korra's eyes widened in realization, looking back and spotting Asami approaching in the distance. Her heart picked up in her chest and she looked back at the girls, panicked.
"Does she drive you crazy in a bad way?" Ikki piped up. "Or does she drive you crazy like you like her?"
Korra gritted her teeth and stomped the ground hurriedly, raising the ground beneath the two girls and catapulting them into the air. Then she whirled around and rested her hands on her hips, clearing her throat when Asami reached her.
"Oh, hey, Asami." she said casually.
"Hey, Korra," Asami greeted. "Have you seen Bolin?"
Korra ignored Ikki and Jinora giggling in the background and shook her head. "No, I haven't seen him since practice. Do you think something's wrong?"
"I don't know." Asami said, clearly worried as she shook her head then looked off to the side. "Bolin has a knack for getting himself into stupid situations." She sighed and looked back at Korra, a small smile on her face. "Thank you, though. I'll see you later."
Korra looked down briefly as Asami started to walk away, but came to her senses and walked after her. "Wait!" she called, making Asami stop and look over her shoulder. "I could, uh...help you look for him."
"I couldn't ask you to do that-" Asami began, but Korra cut her off when she grabbed her arm gently.
"Hey, let me help you." she said, blushing slightly and retracting her hand. She perked up almost instantly, though, smiling. "We can take Naga."
"Who's Naga?" Asami asked.
Korra pointed to herself. "My best friend, and a great tracker."
Not too much later, Korra and Asami were mounted atop Naga, patrolling the streets. Asami looked down at Naga, then up at Korra, a teasing smile on her face. "So, your best friend's a polar bear dog?" she said. "Somehow, that makes perfect sense."
"I'll take that as a compliment, city girl." Korra said, smiling back at her.
They pulled up beside a statue of Fire Lord Zuko and looked around.
"Well, this is his usual hangout." Asami said, looking at a group of kids talking and playing on the square. She slid off Naga's back and approached them, putting a hand on her hip. "You guys seen my brother around here today?"
One of the boys looked up at her, thinking. "Perhaps. My memory's a little 'foggy.'" he said. He leaned forward, rubbing his nose. "Maybe you could help me 'clear it up.'" He held out his hand, a silent request.
Asami laughed as Korra came up beside her on Naga. "You're good, Skoochy." she said. "A real pro."
She dug into her pocket and pulled out a yuan bill, handing it to Skoochy who tucked it away in a pocket on the inside of his jacket. Korra raised an eyebrow, disapproving, but didn't say anything.
"Yeah, I seen him." Skoochy said.
"When?" Asami asked.
"About noon."
"What was he doing?"
"H-he was performing some sort of monkey rat circus." Skoochy said. "And then..." He held out his hand.
Asami rolled her eyes, going to her pocket for another bill, when Korra got off of Naga and placed a hand on her shoulder. Asami looked at her and Korra shook her head. Asami took her hand out of her pocket, empty. Korra hid a smile as she approached Skoochy. She reached down and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket, lifting him off the ground.
"Hey, what are you-?! Skoochy began, squirming, but Korra didn't let him finish.
"Listen here, you little weasel-snake," Korra growled, baring her teeth. "You better tell us what you know. Her brother could be anywhere, so we don't have the time to bribe you every five minutes because you wanna be a thief!" She lowered her face to his, grinning menacingly. "So tell us, because I have a right mind to earthbend you into next week!"
Asami covered her mouth, trying not to laugh out loud, as Korra dropped Skoochy to the ground.
"Alright, alright!" Skoochy said, holding up his hands. "Shady Shin showed up and flashed some serious cash. Bo took off with him in his hot rod." He looked around. "The Triple Threats? The Red Monsoons? The Agni Kais? All the triads are muscling up for something real big. Now that's all you're getting outta me!"
He turned around and ran, the other kids that he was with following after him. Korra looked at Asami, a concerned frown on her face. "What's he talking about?"
"Sounds like a turf war is brewing." Asami said, her hand closing in a fist. "And Bolin's about to get caught right in the middle of it."
"So where are we headed?" Korra asked as she climbed up onto Naga, then reached down to take Asami's hand and pull her up. She ignored the sparks that flew down her spine at the contact.
"The Triple Threat Triad's headquarters." Asami said as Naga started a leisurely run. "Hopefully Bolin's there and nothing's gone down yet."
"The Triple Threat Triad?" Korra asked, looking back at Asami. "I beat up some of those yahoos when I first got to town. Why would Bolin get tangled up with-"
Her sentence was cut off by Naga breaking out into a run, chasing a small rodent in front of her. She took a sharp right turn, in hot pursuit of the animal.
"Woah, Naga!" Korra said, pulling back on the reins to try and stop her but to no avail.
Naga turned another corner where the creature had been waiting. It ran the second it saw Naga. It scurried up a street light just before Naga could reach it, perched at the top of the light.
"That's Pabu!" Asami said, recognizing the fire ferret.
Korra pulled on the reins again, ceasing Naga's advance. "Naga, stop. Pabu's a friend, not a snack."
Naga calmed down and started panting. Pabu ran down the pole of the light and up to Naga, pressing his nose to hers before jumping on her head and running down her back and up around Asami's shoulders. She smiled briefly at him then looked at Korra, serious again.
"We gotta hurry." she said.
Korra nodded and snapped Naga's reins, urging her forward.
...
They arrived at the Triad's headquarters not too much later. By that point, the sky was cloudy and the moon was hidden behind them. Asami and Korra got off of Naga and approached the building.
"Something's not right..." Asami muttered, looking around when she reached the door. "There are usually thugs posted out front. We better be cautious."
She moved up to the door, peeking in through the small window. She stepped aside then and raised her hand, signaling Korra that the coast was clear. Korra almost laughed as she casually walked up to the door and kicked it down without a moment's hesitation. They entered the room, scoping out their surroundings. The room was empty, save for some broken furniture.
"Bolin, you in here?" Asami asked.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of an engine roaring to life coming from out back. They looked at each other and promptly ran outside, crashing through the back door in time to see a truck pulling away from the building. The back doors swung open and inside sat Bolin and Shady Shin, tied and gagged, Bolin meeting Asami's shocked eyes. A masked figure pulled the doors shut.
"Bolin!" Asami yelled , she and Korra running after the truck.
As Asamiand Korra ran after the vehicle, two masked figures on motorcycles appeared out of nowhere, pulling out smoke grenades and tossing them at the incoming duo. Asami and Korra faltered in their run as the grenades exploded with a bright flash and produced thick, heavy, green smoke, effectively halting their pursuit for some seconds. The masked figures took notice of the grenades effect and drove off with screeching tires. Asami and Korra coughed heavily amidst the smoke, covering their mouths.
"Naga, come!" Korra called, starting after the escaping criminals.
Naga came running, appearing at Korra's side as Asami came up behind them. Korra jumped onto her back and reached down. Asami grabbed her forearm and Korra hoisted her up into the saddle. They d
ashed out of the smoke-filled alley and turning abruptly down the alley that the motorcycles had gone down. In the distance they spotted the truck, the motorcyclists in tow. Asami lit her hand up with fire and sent the blast at the masked motorcyclists, who swerved to avoid it. Korra brought her arms up, raising cracks in the earth that strung forward towards the captors. One of the motorcyclists avoided the first big crack, before being catapulted into the air by an earth ramp created by Korra. To their dismay, the rider landed safely and continued to follow the rest of the escaping party. They ran out in a swarm into an open square. Two of the motorcyclists fell back, one swerving to the left and the other bringing her motor to a spinning halt while throwing a bola at Naga. the bola caught Naga's feet and she crashes to the ground, sending her riders flying through the air and onto the ground as well.
Korra got up on her knees while Asami slides on her back to a halt near her with a groan. They looked up and the two masked motorcyclists, who elegantly twist in the air to land at opposite sides of Asami and Korra to fight them. The duo got to their feet hurriedly, reading readying themselves. The female rider wasted no time and ran for Korra, who ignited her right fist and sent a large fire blast at the incoming attacker. The female jumped over it, twisting several times in the air, and continued her run for the Avatar. She engaged in a hand-to-hand combat with Korra. The chi blocker aimed for Korra's head, but she averted the course with her left hand. She retaliated with a second fire blast, which her opponent ducked under. The chi blocker locked arms with Korra and she gritted her teeth, frustrated. The Avatar threw another fire punch with her left hand, but the chi blocker leaned back to dodge it, knocking Korra's hand to the side. Korra used her sideways moment to spin around in a full moon fire kick, though the masked fighter evaded the blast by moving to her left. Korra geared up for a high fire kick at the chi blocker's head, who reciprocated that move and curled her leg around the Avatar's and pulled it down, creating an unguarded opening to Korra's right side. She delivered four punches to the Avatar's side and arm and backed away. Korra staggered with a grunt, her entire right arm going numb. She grabbed hold of her right arm with her left one, her eye big in wonder about what just happened to her.
Korra's look changed to one of determination and she charged at the masked female with her left hand ablaze. The masked woman avoided the blast, flipping over a low-aimed fire arc, and jumped to avoid a fire blast aimed at her feet. The two women run toward each other. Korra aimed two more fire blasts at her attacker, but to no avail as she dodged.
Asami, on the other hand, turned swiftly on her feet, grunting in pain as she found her right arm immobilized. She briefly clutched it, but quickly focused again on her male attacker, who was coming at her again. Asami aimed a wide fire-fueled swing at her opponent, who easily ducked under it, twirled behind Asami's back, and quickly delivered several punches to her unguarded left side. Korra's received the same quick punches to her left side. Korra's attacker jumped up and kicked the staggering Avatar back with two feet to the chest and causing her to fall backward. Asami was also flung backward. She landed roughly on the ground with a heavy thud and a groan; Korra landed right before her with a similar grunt of pain.
Naga was growling at the scene that haddeveloped before her, and she started to tug at her restraints with her teeth. The female rider was approaching Korra and Asami, twirling her bola around her menacingly with her male counterpart performing the same action. As one of the masked figures prepared to throw the bola, their concentration was broken by a loud growl and they looked to their right. Naga jumped up through the air, teeth bared and growling, successful in driving off the attackers from her owner and friend. Pabu jumped off her back and ran before her, following Naga's example and squeaking at the attackers. Both riders eyed each other before jumping up, hurling more smoke grenades to cover their exit. They could hear the sound of screeching tires as the assailants peeled away into the night.
Korra and Asami slowly pushed themselves up. Pabu crawled up Asami's leg and onto her shoulder while Korra draped her arm around Naga's head and allowed her pet to pull her to her feet. Korra as she curiously eyed her hands and raised her arms, punching out in an attempt to bend.
"I can't bend!" she cried, panicked. She shot her fist out again before glaring at her hand. "I can't bend!"
"It's alright, it'll wear off." Asami said. She pulled her glove tighter onto her hand. "Those guys were chi-blockers. They're Amon's henchmen."
"Amon?" Korra asked, looking at Asami. "That anti-bending guy with the mask?"
"Yeah, he's the leader of the Equalists." Asami said.
"What do they want with the Triple Threats?" Korra said.
"Whatever it is," Asami said, looking in the direction that the Equalists had retreated in. "it can't be good." Asami groaned and put her hand to her forehead. "I can't believe Bolin got himself into this mess!"
"Hey," Korra said, her voice soothing as she placed her hand on Asami's shoulder. Asami looked at her and Korra gave a small reassuring smile. "We're going to find your brother, I promise you that."
...
A couple hours had passed. Korra and Asami were still patrolling the streets. They walked through a cloud of fog, looking dejected as they came to a stop.
"We've been out all night." Korra stated, disappointed. "No sign of him."
"We've got to keep looking!" Asami said, Pabu asleep around her shoulders. "But where?"
As the duo circled another Korra, their eyes closed in sadness, Korra suddenly straightened up and looked at Asami, her eyes aglow with determination. "I have an idea!"
She pulled on Naga's reins to get her moving again, wheeling her around in the opposite direction. They ran until they reached Republic City Park, Naga slowing to a walk. They walked up to the fountain, Naga and Pabu leaning down to drink as Korra and Asami got down and rested in front of it.
"The first day I got into town, I ran into an Equalist protester over there." Korra said, pointing towards the opposite side of the sidewalk before them.
"And you think they'll know where Bolin is?" Asami asked.
"It's our only lead right now." Korra said, looking down.
More time passed in silence, and the friends were eventually resting against a slumbering Naga under the trees, Pabu also sleeping in the saddle. Asami had her eyes closed and her arms crossed, Korra looking around and slightly uncomfortable. When she'd decided that the silence was growing eerily deafening, she spoke up.
"I know this is none of my business," she began, unsure of herself. "but why is Bolin running around with a Triple Threat Triad anyway?"
Asami bit her lip, her eyes opening a slit. "Well...we used to do some work for them back in the day." she admitted evasively.
"What?" Korra said, immediately becoming suspicious. "You're not some kind of criminal are you?!"
"No, it was nothing like that." Asami answered. "We just ran numbers for them and stuff. We were orphans out on the street. I did what I had to do to survive and protect my little brother."
Korra regretted her outburst, her suspicion melting into sympathy. She looked down. "I'm sorry... It must've been really hard..." She looked at Asami from the corner of her eye. "Can I... Can I ask what happened to your parents?"
Asami closed her eyes again. "They were mugged by a firebender. He cut them down right in front of me. I was eight, Bolin was six."
"Asami..." Korra said consolingly.
"Bolin is the only family I have left." Asami said. "If anything happened to him..."
She trailed off, but Korra didn't need her to finish. She knew it was for the best that she dropped the subject and turned her attention to the sky, staring up at what few stars she could see through the clouds.
...
And we're done! Now I got some bad news, guys. I've recently dug myself a grave with personal family issues, resulting in drastic measures (no, I didn't kill anyone and I'm not dying or whatever. Nothing serious like that, I'm just a troublemaker.), so there is no way of telling when my stories will be updated. I'll be trying my best to get chapters out!
Thanks for reading!
