Title: need some prompting behind the mask
story: i renounce it all
Summary/Prompt: A series of prompts on that masked revolutionary leader, Amon. story four: In front of a large rally of people, Korra renounces bending and allows Amon to take it from her.
A/N: Finally remembered the succint name for hero-villain shipping: Foe Yay! Yeah, Korra/Amon is my Foe Yay ship in AtLOK. Original prompt and fic posting at the ficbending livejournal community. So far I'm gonna try to post the stories in this collection in original posting order done for the ficbending community.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Legend of Korra.
"Your resolve is weakening, Avatar."
"Pfft, mine? Have you looked in the mirror lately? Never mind, that's why you wear the mask, right?"
The challenge was set.
###
Their conflict would reach its third year soon. Korra and Amon had become familiar in that time. They'd softened and hardened each other simultaneously. Even wore each other down, bit by bit over the years. She had wanted to overcome her fear of the revolutionary leader-she did, and picked up the nasty perception of Amon-the-Person. They'd gotten into the habit of sparring verbally while they fought; Amon's mind and adrenaline was stimulated, he even took some pleasure to see Korra's debate skills grow. There was the occasional truce or team-up when a common enemy became too great, such as during the Triple Threat Triad civil war in year two of Korra's stay in Republic City. Reconciliation a teasing possibility that would reveal itself, only to jump back when the two clashed again. Still, know thy enemy, and all that.
Even sleeping with the enemy. Literally.
###
Amon had been apprehensive in the months since the Incident.
Korra was, overall, calculating since that Time.
Their explosive encounters had steadily grown sporadic. Republic City wondered if they'd made another truce or agreement. If they'd made any headway toward reconciliation.
Amon was not thoroughly ignorant, both due to his own perceptiveness and Korra's forthrightness in only so many words. But he made no progress in deciding what to do, and she offered him nothing more than the news.
The Avatar left him to hide his virtual scramble in the dark, while she maintained her composure and gained control. Amon appreciated the reversal. He was even impressed with her, to some degree.
Things finally came to a head at the rally.
###
Amon raised an arm to calm the people as Naga's howled pierced the air.
The revolutionary leader turned, and found that after the polarbeardog had heralded her entrance, the creature continued to bear the Avatar forward, the crowds parting before her imperious march.
The people's fear and anger were overcome by curiosity; those close enough stared and whispered to their neighbor, and soon the observation spread through the farthest reaches of the crowd. But no one was certain of what they saw.
Amon stared too, his eyes meeting Korra's, her blue eyes putting on a show: full of exhaustion, but behind them light; her mouth a frown, with the barest tilt at the corner to make it a smirk for his eyes only. Korra knew only Amon would watch so closely.
Naga brought Korra to the stage, gently lowering her down, whining keenly. The young woman stepped down, rubbing the fur between her beast's ears. As Korra walked toward Amon, it became all too clear: her stomach extended beneath the clothes, tailored to fit the change.
A hush fell on the crowd at the clear visual confirmation.
Amon was reminded of the Mask's ability as a crutch-it effectively hid the conflicting emotions on his face. His body was impossibly tense, but he had a reputation of being statuesque, no one would notice. Korra knelt before him, her slight smirk widening, clearly reveling in his growing anxiety.
"I renounce it," she declared lowly, mournfully, while Amon only saw the challenge in her eyes beneath that furrowed brow. "I renounce it all. My legacy as the Avatar, bending-all of it."
Korra played her master stroke, her strong arms covering her stomach as she bent over it, protective. "I ask that you take it away."
The Technique had been refined enough that seventy five percent of adults now survived having their bending removed. Amon had not attempted to purge children of their bending, let alone pregnant benders.
Korra knew all that.
Amon felt the moment freeze forever as she looked up at him, beseeching; the challenge deep in her blue eyes remained.
In that moment, Amon thought her the most beautiful, enchanting creature in the world.
So she wanted him to lose face in front of the people and the rest of his Equalists. She wanted to think he would not risk the life of his own unborn child. Thought that the months before were enough to build up his indecision.
Korra always was a gambler full of sheer nerve; an admirable quality.
"As you wish," Amon quietly said, stretching his arm out for her forehead. She offered it, arms tightening imperceptibly around her stomach. The breath she exhaled hid nothing; it was genuine acceptance.
Korra had grown better at knowing her odds, and taking acceptable risks, and accepting their consequences, especially when they went south.
Smoothing the hair away from her forehead, Amon performed the Technique, filled with determination and the desperate hope that no one would die.
Korra looked at him peacefully, until she no longer could.
###
"Nothing," Korra said as she sat up in bed, giving Amon's entry a glance before looking out the window again. She'd woken up yesterday, loudly demanding food for two. Amon silently nestled the tray overflowing with food at her side. "You outdid yourself this time, Amon."
Korra stretched, snatching away a steamed bun and regarding Amon with another challenge in her eyes. He stood before her, back straight and hands folded behind his back.
"Of course we'll finally see if this ends the Avatar Cycle, or if it just goes on, as if I died." Korra tore at the bun with one hand, the other curling around her stirring stomach. "And there's no guarantee this little guy won't have bending, just because mine's gone-we'll have to wait and see. And if it does-?"
Korra swallowed and shot him a rakish grin. "What will you do? What if it's a prodigy bender? Doing the water whip in its cradle? Will you cure it then? Or wait until it's older? Wait until it's grown?"
Amon had to respond. He could not be rendered speechless. "As you said, wait and see."
Korra smirked, stretching up and standing up from bed. She slipped her arms around the waist of an unnomoving Amon. Made sure to press her stomach against his. She grinned obnoxiously when it gave a strong kick.
"This time, I'll persuade you," Korra promised Amon.
Challenge accepted.