This is going to be a long chapter, but I've been dying to get to the Tarrlok and Noatok scene that's in here. XD
Disclaimer: I do not own LoK or the characters.
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Chapter Nine: Counsel
Korra and Amon sat, side by side, beside the Koi Pond where she previously revived Tarrlok. Behind them, two guards and Tarrlok sat, watchign the two. The koi in the pond swam round each other, as the Korra and Amon concentrated. Korra felt her muscles want to twitch, felt the need to move, to not sit still. She wanted to find a solution and sitting beside a koi pond felt far from the solution.
"Calm yourself, Korra." Amon's voice stilled her fidgeting.
She felt a flush tease across her cheeks. Korra suddenly felt like a sorry excuse for an Avatar; she couldn't even concentrate on meditation. She cracked her eye and peeked at Amon, wondering if she could glean experience from the man. His face was at ease, his body relaxed, his breathing deep and even. Korra closed her eyes again and listened to the barely audible sound of Amon's breathing.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
She matched it, slowing her rhythm, breathing deep, exhaling. Soon, an almost unnerving calm filled her veins.
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The koi fish pond suddenly flashed brightly, the light playing over Amon's and Korra's faces. The Avatar's eyes snapped open, eyes wide as she found, above the pool of water, a slender woman in flowing white robes and with long white hair, floated. Amon opened his eyes, much slower, and took in the scene, eyebrows rising a smidgen of a centimeter.
The water rippled and small water turrets rose and fell in the pond. The spirit's blue eyes, though kind, glinted with distaste as she stared at the two that sat beside the koi pond.
"Yue?" Korra instantly stood, eyes wide.
"Yes, Avatar Korra." Soft and gentle, the Moon Spirit's voice resonated in Korra's bones. Still, that frown didn't leave her lips.
The Avatar stood and looked around. They weren't in the real world's Spirit Oasis anymore, they were in the Spirit World. There was only a small circle of land, on which Amon and Korra sat; the rest was dark water. Every so often, Korra caught the shadows of huge fish gliding beneath the water's surface.
It was unlike the memory Aang shared with her, but Korra presumed it was due to the years passing. Slowly, the young woman turned her gaze to Yue, "Moon Spirit, I seek a reason to a man's illness."
"I am the cause. I have watched how those two have abused the Moon's power for decades." Her gentle voice took on the edge of anger as her eyes flickered to Amon.
"But they bloodbend without a full moon."
"Unlike the sun, the moon never truly sets. Sadly, as attune as their family is to the moon, they use their powers for ill."
Korra was silent, her eyes flicking to Amon, who now stood as well. Besides his raised eyebrows, the man's expression was stoic and impassive. It boggled Korra how he was left unimpressed by the beautiful Spirit before them.
"Tarrlok is ill in spirit and-" Korra turned her face back to Yue, a sudden flare of determination warming her chest.
"His tresspasses against his very kind and his vile use of the Moon's power are unforgiveable!" Yue's voice cracked, the water under her rippling wildly.
"Wait, are you keeping him from getting well?" Korra's tone took on an angry edge of its own as she pieced together Tarrlok's illness in her head. She took a step toward the koi pool, fists clenched.
"In his weakened state, I have severed his tie to the Moon," Yue held her head high, her gown fluttering around her form, "I refuse to be associated to his ways."
"That's wrong!" Korra's heart felt for Tarrlok in that moment. She could never imagine being severed from her heritage's spirit. Even non-benders felt attune to their home nation's guardian spirits, "He's of the Water Tribe. Cutting him off from you is signing his spirit's death certificate!"
Again, the water roiled angrily under Yue as she snapped, "Then he shouldn't have misused his powers."
"Bu-" Amon's hand suddenly grasped her shoulder. Korra jolted and turned, facing the man. She fell silent as Amon took a couple steps closer to Yue, his hand slipping from Korra's body. Yue almost recoiled from the man's approach, but steadied herself quickly.
"Moon Spirit, everything has two sides. You know this, I'm sure. Even bloodbending is dual in nature."
"I know what you speak of. Your ability to re-start the walrus-whale's heart," Yue sniffed, obviously unimpressed. She was firmly set in her way and the spirit wasn't expecting this man to change her opinion, "Noble of you, but if it was meant to die then you upset the natural balance."
"Yet, you revoke your natural tie to my brother." Amon shot back, an inkling of anger in his tone. His fingers curled into a fist, and he clenched it tightly, letting his nails bite into his palm. He stilled his voice, "Did you choose what nationality he was born into?"
Yue nearly sputtered at the question, taken aback. The water beneath her instantly stilled from her sheer shock. Obviously, no. She had no power over where or when souls were born. Swallowing, the Moon Spirit set her jaw and glared, "No, I didn't."
"Then how can you proclaim bloodbending upsets the balance," Amon's voice hardened, demanding an answer from the spirit his people worshipped, "When you commit such a violation to save yourself from guilt?"
The Moon Spirit fell silent, lips pressed tightly together as she surveyed Amon. His point had sunk in; it had sunk in before he even finished speaking. Duality was one of the many quirks attributed to the moon and, thus, to the people she watched over. Yue couldn't argue. Neither could she argue against removing her tie to Tarrlok out of guilt.
"You are correct, Noatok," murmured Yue, a soft smile playing across her lips as she closed her eyes, "And the best examples of our people's duality - of the yin and yang of the world - stand before me."
Korra raised an eyebrow at that phrase. Her eyes flickered to Noatok, catching his eyes also on her. For a brief second, they both wondered the same thing and, in that beat, a thought struck both of them. Neither had time to linger on the idea.
"I will restore my tie," Yue spoke, opening her eyes, gaining the Avatar's and Amon's attention, "But should he, or Noatok, ever misuse the power the Moon bestows upon them, I will sever all ties with them." The Moon narrowed her eyes, "I will accept their blood on my hands if it saves an untold number of others."
"Thank you, Yue." Relief flooded through Korra. That had been easier than she though; or maybe it was thanks to Noatok handling it. She moved to stand next to Noatok, bowing to the Moon Spirit. Following her example, Noatok bowed as well. As the two straightened, they both were greeted with a rather large, rather fond, smile on Yue's face.
Drifting close to them, the Moon Spirit pressed a palm to each of their foreheads. Her hands were cool and calming against their skin. As she spoke, they felt the vibration in her hands, "No Avatar is like their predecessors and, often, their quirks are rooted in home."
Before anymore questions could be asked, the Spirit World wavered and rippled, like the water beneath Yue. The landscape drained away as the Moon faded and, for a second, only Noatok and Korra remained, caught between they physical and the spiritual.
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"Korra! Amon!" Kya drifted into focus between the two. Korra groaned, stretching her arms over her head as her muscles stretched and bones popped. She found she was still sitting cross-legged beside the koi pond. Amon had already climbed to his feet, forcing the sleep from his legs.
Amon approached the former councilman, intent on finding if their confrontation had reaped fruits.
Korra warched as Tarrlok popped the top from a flask and gently coaxed a small stream of water from the container. Korra got to her feet, feeling full to bursting with excitement and happiness. She flashed a huge smile at the chief when Kya threw her a curious look, "Yue reinstated her connection to Tarrlok. He will get better, now."
The woman's gaze flicked back to the guards, who watched Tarrlok warily, as he exercised through moves with the small stream of water. Amon watched, his body relaxed and relieved that his brother was finally whole, once more.
Korra trotted up to the two, all smiles, "So, do you feel better now, Tarrlok?"
"Much better. Thank you, Avatar." The man returned the water to his flask and fell into a formal, traditioanl bow. Korra felt her face flush and opened her mouth to dismiss his gratefulness.
"Yes. Thank you, Korra." Amon's deep voice sent a jolt of excitement through Korra. The Avatar's eyes darted to the man, finding his eyes pinned to her face as he copied Tarrlok's bow. She couldn't stop the flush that burned across her face. Though she tried to open her mouth, to reaffirm that it was just her duty, Korra couldn't seem to find her voice.
Instead, she simply smiled happily as the two bloodbending brothers straightened to stand.
xxx
Days passed, after the intial - mild - celebration of Tarrlok's returned health. Though, he was nowhere near one-hundred percent. As they had decided, the brothers still planned to return to Republic City to face trial. On the morning before their departure, Amon entered his brother's room. His younger brother barely threw him a glance as he entered. Amon had nowhere else to turn to. Increasingly, over the nights and the days, his body felt as if it was being strung tighter and tighter. His skin had ghost tingles and he could barely eat; not from nausea, but from some slight excitement.
"Brother," Amon ventured further into the room without a welcome. He stood in front of his brother, who sat on the floor, at a low table, reading a Republic City newspaper. Once Tarrlok finally brought his eyes to Amon, Amon continued, "I need your counsel."
"And, on what, pray tell, do you need my counsel, Amon?" Tarrlok had refused, upon recovery, to use his brother's birth name. Amon was both relieved and stricken by the fact.
"I fear I am growing fond of the Avatar." Amon forced the words out, trying to keep them from sticking in his throat. He needed help and beating around the bush wasn't going to bring him a solution any quicker.
"I believe that's natural," Tarrlok folded his paper and rested his elbow on the table, cupping in chin in his hand, "She has a good heart, despite your belief that benders are the root of evil in our world. Korra is..." Tarrlok paused, searching for the word, "She is particularly endearing."
Amon closed his eyes and pressed his lips together. This was going to be more difficult than he thought. Inhaling deeply, the man tried to steady himself, but he still stumbled over his words, "Certainly. She has many...admirable qualities, but, what I mean to say, is that, I believe, I've..." He trailed off and opened his eyes. Amon couldn't find the words, he was lost, and he hoped his brother could find him without explicitly being told.
His brother's eyes narrowed and Amon shifted uneasily on his feet, uable to hold his brother's gaze. Suddenly, he felt as if he were thirty years in the past. Just an awkward boy uncertain of how to handle a problematic situation. But, even then, he couldn't recollect when he ever acted so frazzled, especially in front of his younger brother.
"You've fallen for Korra, haven't you?" Tarrlok instantly sat up straight, eyes wide. Amon felt a mortified flush bite across his face and his eyes dropped to his feet. His stomach clenched and, now, he felt nauseous. Meanwhile, a slow grin stretched over Tarrlok's lips as he relaxed his posture, "Well, well, aren't you an old lech."
"I am not."
"Well, of course not. I can't see Korra accepting your little crush." Tarrlok savored using that word on his older brother. A scowl carved its way over Amon's lips, but Tarrlok continued, "She and the firebender boy are together."
"I know."
"Then why do you need counsel? It will never happen, not to mention we will probably be executed after our trial."
"I know. But these feelings are consuming me," The man sighed, running a hand through his hair. The Avatar had continued to spend time with Amon and his brother, to keep an eye on Tarrlok's health and - possibly - to assure herself neither would runaway. Regardless, Amon looked forward to her arrival and tried to keep her enrapt in conversation long enough to put off her departure. His stomach roiled as he tried to explain the unsettling reactions to his brother, "My hea- My chest clenches whenever around her and where she touches me, even the most unintended of brushes, my skin tingles. And my dreams..." Amon's eyes darted to Tarrlok as he trailed off. He didn't wish to go into detail and Tarrlok's expression said it was a mutual feeling.
"You sound like a lovesick puppy-cat, Amon." Tarrlok sighed and picked his paper back up, with all intentions to continue reading of his beloved city, "What are you going to do next? Write her sappy poetry and send her fish-shaped chocolates?"
"Because that worked so well for you in the past. What was that girl's name again?" Amon narrowed his eyes, mentally flipping through the dusty memories.
Tarrlok had fallen silent, lips pressed tightly together while he attempted to read his paper. In a second, Amon realized why. The girl, the girl that his little brother attempted to woo with poetry and chocolates - Amon still wasn't sure how his younger brother procurred them - and other silly shows of affection, "Kya. The Avatar had been visiting; father was away to sell goods and you had become smitten with her."
Amon had forgotten, but there had been little reason to remember much of his past. Tarrlok's lips mimicked Amon's earlier scowl as a flush raced over his cheeks. Amon couldn't help the grin that curled over his lips as he crossed his arms, "You were ten and she was seventeen. How awkward for her."
"Better than having wet dreams of robbing the Avatar's cradle." Tarrlok snapped, "Tell me, aren't you over twice her age, Noa? Could you even keep it up for her without herbal assistance?"
"You little shit!" Noatok snarled, a soft spot struck, He started for his little brother. His cool finally broke; his feelings were ridiculous, his brother wasn't helping, and Noatok just wanted to take his frustrations out on something. Tarrlok was quicker than his brother, though. He dodged Noatok's tackle and hurdled through the open window. His older brother was right on his tail, though, "I'm going to destroy you, Tarrlok! Get back here!"
"I just got better from the last time you hurt me! GAH!" Tarrlok narrowly missed being slammed by a stream of water that Noatok had sent his way. The younger man whipped his arm out and a jet of water splattered on the ground behind him, instantly coaxed into ice. Noatok kept charging forward, presuming he remembered how to run on ice. Less than graceful, and more than a little rusty, he slipped and slid over the ice, amazingly keeping his balance.
"This time you won't get better!" Noatok sent another blast of water after his brother, narrowly missing the younger man.
Soon, the brothers had weaved their way through Northern City and ended in a sparring field outside of the bulk of the city. Once there, Tarrlok stopped running and faced his brother. Both men panted, sweat beading down their temples as they faced each other, sharing a determined expression.
Tarrlok moved first, making the snow under Noatok's feet slam upward. Noatok dodged and sent a barrage of sharpened icicles Tarrlok's way. The former councilman blocked it with a snow-wall, the icicles shattering against the thick shield.
The two brothers continued their fight, ocassionally landing a strike but, more often than not, entirely missing or being blocked. As their tiff continued, a crowd drew to the overhanging terraces. It wasn't until the chatter from the group was picked up by the wind did either brother realize they were being watched. It didn't matter, though. Both of them were too amused with their exercise to stop.
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"What in the name of Avatar Aang is going on?" Kya and Korra emerged from the city hall; a meeting had just adjourned and the chief stepped into a crowd of observers. The hall overlooked the sparring grounds, where two figures were caught in the throes of combat.
"Amon's gonna kill Torrlok!" Bolin weaved his way through the crowd, eyes glittering in excitement.
Korra's eyebrows furrowed and her eyes flicked to the sparring grounds, "What?"
"Well, I mean, they were running through the city, shouting at each other and fighting." Bolin babbled on, rubbing the back of his neck, "But they didn't really hurt anyone or destroy anything and it really doesn't look like they're being serious. Kinda looks like they're having fun!"
"What are those blubber-heads doing then?" A sour look puckered Kya's expression. Grown men, acting like boys. That would figure. Especially after the hospitality the city had shown both of them, whether they deserved it or not!
"Don't worry, Kya, I'll handle this." Without another word, Korra took a running leap off the terrace before Kya could stop her. Slowing her landing with airbending, Korra gently touched down, instantly bending earth around the two waterbenders' feet, locking them in place, "What do you two think you're doing!"
Tarrlok and Noatok froze, dropped their bending, and exchanged a look. The younger man had to bite back a grin as Noatak glared lividly at him, before the younger man met Korra's eyes, "I'm sorry, Avatar Korra, we were testing our abilities. It's been a long time since my brother and I have sparred."
"And running through the city?"
"It was an impromptu session." Noatok supplied as Tarrlok nodded, smiling congenially at the Avatar.
From the steps, Kya came running, an angry look on her face. Tarrlok's flush deepened as he remember what words, in particular, started the fight with his brother. He cautioned a look at Noatok. The man hadn't the heart to meet Korra's gaze again, so he kept his blue eyes averted to the distance.
"Next time you both wish to fight, at least give us a warning," Kya snapped, hands on her hips as she gave both brothers a full-fledged glare, "You both have a questionable history and if any of my citizens get hurt in your antics, I will castrate both of you."
Tarrlok felt his flush deepen further. Being treated like a child, of all things! Noatok was going to get hell for this; not only was Tarrlok talking for both of them, now he had to endure the humiliation of being scolded. The indignity.
With Kya and Korra side by side, however, Tarrlok saw a resemblance he hadn't before. The young Avatar must have learned a thing or two from Kya, since both stood with their hands on their hips and similar, pursed-lip expressions. Kya had rubbed off on Korra and, perhaps, that's what attracted him - ever so slightly - to the younger woman. Those feelings were topical. While fond of Korra, romantic intentions were null.
Noatok probably missed the similar stances and expressions that Kya and Korra shared, but he was the fool unable to look Korra in the eye.
"Chief Kya, not to excuse their actions, but," Tarrlok was surprised to hear the words from Korra as the younger woman turned to the leader of the city, "You and Bumi bond by fighting, right? Maybe this is the same for them. Think we can leave it at a warning?"
Kya narrowed her eyes, running her gaze up and down both brothers. Tarrlok felt his stomach shudder, as if the woman were looking right through himself and Noatok. Vaguely, he wondered if Kya could sense the attraction his brother felt for Korra.
"Fine," Kya relented, "I cannot punish brothers for acting like siblings."
"Thank you, Chief Kya." Korra bowed to the Kya as the older woman turned, waving her hands to disperse the half-disappointed, half-satisfied crowd on the terrace. As the chief was storming off, Korra vaguely heard her snarl something about incompetent guards. When the Avatar straightened, her eyes landed right on Noatok. He warily glanced up to her.
Korra marched up to him, dropping the earthbending so both brothers could move their feet. As the girl came to stand before Noatok, he instantly felt twice as ridiculous. He was grown man; she was just a sprout of a woman! Yet, here she was, hands on her hips, glaring up at him, obviously unimpressed with the excuse she had just fed Kya, holding some sort of power over him. It was infuriating. Tarrlok made it all the worse with the amusement he exuded, even from a distance.
" Seriously, though, don't you think you and your brother could bond less violently?"
"No."
"This must be a brother thing," Korra sighed and rolled her eyes, "Mako and Bolin are the same way."
"Did you simply wish to further humiliate me," Noatok growled, bitter and frustrated and wishing to run away, to be by himself with all the conflicting emotions that fought in his head, "Or is there a point to this prolonged conversation?"
"Hey! It's not my fault you two have a bad rap," Korra prodded Noatok in the chest and Tarrlok winced. Korra was doing the equivalent of pulling a sabre-tooth moose-tiger's tail. Then again, his older brother had just become unnecessarily snippy at her. Noatok remained perfectly still as the young woman continued, his blue eyes pinned to her, "If you two suddenly take off, causing havoc through the city, people are gonna worry. Non-benders and benders alike can't do much against a couple of bloodbenders."
The Avatar glared up at Noatok. The pressure between them must have been suffocating. Vaguely, Tarrlok wondered if someone wandered between them, if they would explode from the sheer heat. The former councilman slowly approached his brother and Korra, letting his sleazy politician smile curl at his lips, "Now, now, let's not fight. I've certainly had my fill of that for the day."
"Fighting? Who's fighting? I'm just stating facts." Korra crossed her arms, her lips pressed into a frown.
"Facts can be distorted by sheer lunacy, young Avatar." Amon nearly purred and Tarrlok cocked an eyebrow at him, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have house arrest to serve."
As Noatok turned and marched off, soon intercepted by frazzled looking guards, he returned to his provided-lodgings. Korra was silent, watching the man leave, before her eyes flicked to Tarrlok. The man shifted and put his hands on his hips, sighing. He brought his eyes to the Avatar and, for a second, he debated discussing Noatok's problem.
But, his brother was forty-flipping-years old and it wasn't the former councilman's place to act as a messenger between his older brother and the Avatar. No. Either Noatok manned up and figured out what he wanted to do or he left it alone.
"Is everything OK with Noa-er...Amon? Or you?" Tarrlok was almost taken aback by the worry in Korra's eyes.
"Ah, my brother has quite a lot on his mind at the moment." Tarrlok paused, seeing a flicker of a grin spread across Korra's lips, "What?"
"You called him your brother. Again." She seemed pleased and Tarrlok wasn't sure if he should be unsettled or not, "That's twice. I guess that fight did help you guys, huh?"
The man's eyes turned to where Noatok had departed. It did feel as if a weight had been lifted from his heart, though part of that was probably the Moon Spirit's doing. Yet, Tarrlok couldn't deny that the pains of the past, the sad story that would consume him in some way, felt as if it had, for the most part, come to a close. There were still squirms of distaste and problems to settle, but Tarrlok didn't feel as if he or his brother should die for their transgressions. Atone, yes. Die? That was a bit extreme, considering that there was a genuinely good pro to bloodbending.
"I believe he and I are on our way to reconciling," Tarrlock returned his gaze to the young woman, allowing a sincere smile to cross his lips, "And for that, I feel I must thank you, yet again."
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Because of the length of this chapter, the next one may take a little day or two to come out. I'm getting to a steamy bit in Redemption, as well, and I have to try to even out the naughty with...uh...less naughty. XD So I may struggle with that.
I was just really looking forward to uploading this chapter...because, I mean, c'mon, sibling bonding.
