Title: The Trophy Wife
Rating: M
Words: 2862
Fandom: The Legend of Korra
Characters/Pairings: Everyone; Amorra, unrequited Makorra, Masami
Author's Note: This is one of those weird days where I update here and Tumblr on the same day - except I'm uploading chapter 8 to Tumblr. Until I'm caught up to where I am on Tumblr, I will be posting every other day here - so expect the next update on Wednesday. At any rate, I'm rather fond of this chapter, if only because I got to write everyone else for a little bit. This fic starts off in a bottle, where you really only see four people, and only two of them on anything resembling a regular basis. Summary of this chapter goes a little like this:

Korra is dubious about the Equalists' method of exiting airships and Team Avatar takes the news of the impending nuptials about as well as can be expected.

For the record I have officially started on chapter 21, which I'm hoping to finish today. And I know some of you have asked if I could just post every single chapter I have completed, but I'm afraid that I won't be doing that. I am rather notorious for starting things I don't finish, or hitting a serious dry spell, and rather than subject you all to long periods of waiting for the next chapter (and harassing PMs and reviews), I'm giving myself a cushion and trying to spare you guys long waits. A weekly update should do nicely, right?


Amon had led her back to her room and locked her in, promising to be back in the morning. She noted that her clothes has been picked up from the floor, and after tossing the room, found that they were completely gone, and only her mukluks remained. She inadvertently breathed fire in frustration before throwing herself onto the bed to pout.

Eventually she fell asleep, tossing and turning most of the night as she dreamed of all the different ways that her friends would react to the news that she would be marrying Amon, their most hated enemy. Her intentions were noble, or so she thought, but what if they didn't see it that way?

Several hours later the door creaked open and light flooded into the room from the hall. "Good morning, Avatar, I trust you slept well?"

Korra groaned as she pulled the blanket over her head.

"I had your clothing washed and mended," Amon said as he walked over to the bed. He placed her laundry at the foot and headed towards the door. "I'll be waiting outside."

Once the door closed, she carefully poked her head out from under the covers. She prodded at the clothing with her toe and then shrugged, figuring that the worst that they could have done would be embroider the Equalist logo on it. However she was pleasantly surprised to find that all of the rips and tears had been mended and no additions had been made. Once she was dressed and feeling like herself again, she opened the door and found Amon leaning against the opposite wall.

"Follow me," he instructed and she obeyed. She made a mental note that once they established their marriage…partnership…whatever…she would make it clear that she would not always be following his commands and that every once in a while he'd have to listen to her. The thought of Amon following her commands made her smile, a wicked sort of grin that caused the Equalists they saw in the halls to nervously edge away from her.

Once again she found herself in his private rooms, pleased to find a small tray with breakfast sitting on the table. She flopped gracelessly onto the couch and eyed the bowl of noodles longingly. "Eat," Amon commanded as he sat down at his desk.

Korra didn't need to be told twice. She tucked into her food with gusto, taking just enough time to taste it before swallowing. From where he sat at the desk, Amon realized that Korra hadn't had breakfast, lunch, or dinner the day before. And come to think of it, when was the last time she ate? Had Tarrlok bothered to give her anything in the time he held her captive?

When the dishes were clear and the tray sat empty, Amon rose from his desk. "Better?"

"Much," she sighed in satisfaction.

"Then we can go. No doubt that you'll make quite an impact today," he said as he motioned for her to stand and follow him. "I don't think anyone will see this coming."

She snorted, but stayed quiet. She wasn't going to rise to his bait. Obviously her little stay in the mountains had done something for her. They walked in silence to a hanger where they boarded an airship. Its design wasn't much different from the ones the police used, but it was different enough that Korra stayed on Amon's heels until they reached the cockpit. Amon gave instructions to the pilot while Korra looked out over the city as they rose into the sky. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine what the reaction at the temple would be. A knot began to form in the pit of her stomach.

The Order would no doubt tell Tenzin that an Equalist airship was approaching. Pema and the kids would then be shuffled to a more secure location along with the acolytes, while the Order took up defensive positions. She imagined that Lin, Mako, Bolin and Asami would be right in the thick of things, despite Tenzin telling them to stay away and let the Order handle it. Well, whatever doubts and fears they had about her safety were about to either be confirmed or assuaged.

The knot in her stomach got tighter as they approached Air Temple Island. She was vaguely aware of Amon speaking to the pilot and his lieutenant, but she wasn't paying attention to what was being said. Just as she had imagined, she could see the blue and white uniforms of the Order assembling at the defensive positions.

"Avatar!"

Startled, Korra jumped and turned to see Amon and the lieutenant looking at her. She could see the obvious frown on the lieutenant's face, but as usual she couldn't read Amon at all. His posture was rigid as always, conveying absolutely nothing about him. "What?" she snapped and mentally she kicked herself. She wasn't doing herself any favors by always being rude to them.

"I said that we're ready and come with me," Amon repeated and she could hear the faintest trace of irritation in his voice.

She followed him towards the back of the airship, which had opened. The unloading bay had a small cannon in it, launching an anchor and wire when Amon nodded at the operator. Korra swallowed. Oh hell no.

The lieutenant clipped on a harness and slid down the wire, landing on the ground. Korra slowly edged back but stopped when she ran into something, or rather someone, solid. "Going somewhere, Avatar?"

"If you think I'm doing," she jerked her head to indicate to the zipline, "that, forget it. Knowing my luck I'll end up flatter than pancake on the cobblestones." What she didn't say was that she was sure they'd "accidentally" give her faulty equipment and she'd conveniently fall to her death.

"That is the way you're getting down, whether you like it or not," Amon informed her as he hooked himself into his own harness.

"No. Absolutely not. No way, no how."

With a sigh, Amon reached out and hooked his arm around her waist. She let out a squeak of surprise as she was pulled against him. "I suggest you hold on tight." He then launched himself from the cargo bay.

Korra wrapped her body around his, her legs wound tightly around his waist and her arms locked around his neck. Her face settled against his shoulder, a high pitched keening issuing from her throat in pure terror. Amon fought the urge to laugh at her antics, that the big, tough Avatar was terrified of heights. Instead he focused on making sure that they both landed safely on the ground.

His landing wasn't nearly as graceful as it should have been, given that he had a terrified seventeen-year-old girl wrapped around his torso. With a sigh, he straightened himself out. "Are you quite finished making a scene, Avatar?"

She pulled back and looked around, noting that they were safely on the ground. She then noticed that she was still wrapped around him. Untangling herself from him, she landed gracelessly on her butt, blinked, and then flopped back, rolling around and giggling madly. "Land!" she cried. "Sweet, sweet land!"

"I can't believe this girl is the Avatar," the lieutenant grumbled as Amon was thankful for the mask that concealed his smile at her antics.

"Korra!" someone yelled, causing her to stop.

She jumped to her feet and nearly burst into tears when she saw that Tenzin and Mako were running for her, Lin, Asami, and Bolin hot on their heels. "Tenzin! Mako! Everyone!" she cried as she ran towards them. She didn't even bother to think about the action having a potential backlash, nor did she care.

"What on earth is going on?" Tenzin asked as he pulled her into a tight hug.

"We thought Tarrlok had you," Mako said as he hovered off to the side. "We heard that you got into a huge fight at City Hall and he bloodbent you."

"It's…complicated," Korra answered.

Tenzin looked up, noting that Amon and his second hadn't moved at all. In fact they stood as if they were awaiting an invitation to tea. "What's going on, Korra?"

"I've managed to reach a deal with Amon," she answered slowly. "But, um, maybe we should go inside to talk."

"You can't be serious," Mako cried, looking between the Equalist leader and Korra.

"I assure you, she's quite serious," Amon said, stepping forward. Not that they could see it, but his lips twitched at the way the firebender glared at him. So, the boy had feelings for the Avatar. This was going to get interesting.

Tenzin looked between Korra and Amon before sighing. "Come, we'll go talk in the temple." His displeasure was obvious, and Korra could feel the tension rolling off of him in waves. Mako looked dubious, and wrapped his arm around Korra's shoulders, shepherding her to the temple. Her friends quickly surrounded her, while Lin inclined her chin at Amon and the lieutenant.

"I don't know what's going on here, but I don't like it," she said darkly. "Any funny business and I will end you."

"If you say so," Amon replied as the lieutenant stifled a chuckle. They followed the former chief of police into the temple to a sitting room, where Korra was wedged between the brothers. Asami sat a little off to the side, a small frown on her face. Pema, once apprised of the situation, had quickly prepared food for Korra and was currently putting it down in front of her. Amon and the lieutenant settled where there was free space, on the other side of the table from where Korra was sitting.

"So, start at the beginning, Korra. What happened at City Hall?" Tenzin asked after Korra had taken some time to sit and eat. Clearly going nearly three days without food had taken its toll on the girl.

She took a deep breath and launched into her story. She explained how she had gone to confront Tarrlok about his increasingly dangerous policies, about how he had no right to arrest her friends and that he was behaving like a child. This eventually morphed into an all out fight which ended when Tarrlok used bloodbending to subdue her.

She looked serious for a moment, her wide, blue eyes filled with sadness. "Tarrlok isn't just a bloodbender, he's Yakone's son."

Tenzin and Lin paled, while her friends looked confused.

"Who the heck is this Yakone dude and why does he even matter?" Bolin asked.

"He was once a triad leader and notorious bloodbender. His bending was taken by Avatar Aang, and he was imprisoned," Tenzin explained as he stroked his beard.

"Was imprisoned?" Mako said, picking up on past tense

"He managed to escape somehow. Obviously, Tarrlok was born after this happened," Tenzin said with a frown. "It does explain how he managed to bloodbend us in broad daylight. Yakone's abilities were notable because he could bloodbend not only without the full moon, but with his mind."

"That's terrifying," Asami said quietly.

"He must have instructed Tarrlok in the technique," Lin mused. "And if he had any other children…he must have instructed them, too."

"I'm officially creeped out," Bolin announced.

"What happened next, Korra?" Lin prompted.

Korra sighed but continued with her story, explaining how she'd been locked in a box in the basement of a house in the mountains. Since she couldn't metalbend her way out, she'd resorted to meditating. She explained connecting with Aang and seeing him take down Yakone, and shortly after she confronted Tarrlok about his heritage. After that, the Equalists arrived and despite Korra's best efforts to get away, she had still ended up captured.

"And what happened to Tarrlok?" Tenzin asked, though he had an idea.

"He's been equalized," Amon answered. He saw no point in staying silent for the whole meeting.

"I can't help but feel that for once you might have actually done something right," Lin grumbled, to which Tenzin gave a slight cough.

"So now we're all caught up?" Mako asked.

"Correct," Amon replied.

"So what's going on, then?" Tenzin asked. "What is this deal that you've struck?"

"Avatar, perhaps you should explain," Amon said as he leaned on the table, lacing his fingers together.

Korra gulped and then took a breath. "The fact of the matter is the Equalists have a point. Tarrlok's extreme measures against the non-benders the night everyone got arrested in Dragon Flats is proof enough that some benders, even ones in trusted public positions, are abusing their powers. I'm the Avatar, I don't just serve the benders, I serve the non-benders as well. Even if I don't approve of their methods, I can't ignore the fact that they're annoyingly right."

"So you proposed some sort of alliance with Amon?" Lin asked.

"Proposed…is one way of putting it," Korra answered with a nervous chuckle. "I think it'll be good for everyone to see that benders and non-benders can work and live together, peacefully."

"Korra, you didn't," Tenzin said quietly, realizing what exactly was around her neck. He hadn't paid it much mind right after she arrived, simply being relieved that she was still in one piece and that she still had her bending. However, now that he had time to study her, he saw the betrothal necklace and recognized the significance of it.

"Korra, what did you do?" Mako asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

"I do believe we're preparing for a wedding," Amon chuckled darkly, rather enjoying the hurt that washed over the room. He had been looking for a way to break this group, and in the end the Avatar had been the one to strike the fatal blow.

"But why?" Bolin asked, suddenly standing up. "He's bad news!"

"I know that!" Korra snapped. "But maybe, by working with him, by showing him that not all of us benders are bad people, we can make the changes that Republic City so desperately needs! People will see us working and living together and maybe they'll think that they can live and work together in peace, too!"

"It's a bit extreme, don't you think?" Mako asked.

"Maybe so, but maybe extreme is what we need," Korra answered desperately. "So far everyone who's had their bending taken has pretty much deserved it. Well, except for maybe the Wolf-bats. Even though they cheated, they didn't deserve to have their bending taken. Banned from pro-bending yes, having their bending taken, no."

"Korra, this is crazy," Asami blurted. "The Equalists are crazy!"

"The Equalists are extreme, but at the end of the day they're people, too," Korra said as she closed her eyes. "They live in fear that benders are going to waltz in and take everything they have because they can't fight back." She gave rather pointed looks to Mako and Bolin. "And in the end, sometimes even benders aren't safe from other benders."

Mako looked away while Bolin walked to the window and stared morosely out it.

"I know it's extreme, but history is filled with marriages that are based solely on political advantages. This is a problem that could very well one day outgrow Republic City, to affect the rest of the world. As the Avatar, it's my duty to stop this. Now."

"I fail to see how marrying this…this…this…person is going fix any of this," Tenzin said tightly. "What's to keep him from taking your bending anyway?"

"Absolutely nothing," Korra answered. "It's a risk I'm willing to take."

"It's an idiotic risk," Lin snorted.

"I'm still the Avatar. For him to take me out now, after I've offered a means of cooperation, would be idiotic. The whole world won't stand for that. Do you really think the Equalists can take on the whole world out to avenge the loss of their Avatar?" Korra asked quietly. "Benders and non-benders would unite against them."

"You've had a lot of time to think about this, haven't you?" Tenzin asked. He didn't like this one bit, but sadly Korra's argument was slowly starting to make sense. He could imagine that staying ahead of Republic City's forces was one thing, but trying to fend off the wrath of the entire world was another.

Korra nodded. "I know this isn't the solution we wanted, but it's the best one we have."

"I don't like it at all," Mako mumbled.

"Well, this has been informative, but I do have things to accomplish today," Amon said as he stood with the lieutenant. "I'll return later this evening for the Avatar."

"What?" Lin growled.

"You don't honestly expect me to leave her here, where you might be tempted to spirit her away in the dead of night?" Amon asked. "Oh no, she'll stay with me until the wedding."

"And what about her honor?" Tenzin asked sharply.

"I assure you her honor will remain," Amon said. "Don't think me so base as to be unable to control myself."

"Fine," Tenzin said tightly. "We'll make sure she's packed by nightfall."

"Excellent. Come, Lieutenant, we have work to do," Amon said as he headed for the door.

After his exit, the room fell silent, everyone wondering what would happen next.