Title: The Trophy Wife
Rating: M
Words: 3806
Fandom: The Legend of Korra
Characters/Pairings: Everyone; Amorra, Masami
Author's Note: First of all, a big round of applause to my beta Relic, who was kind enough to step up to the plate again and beta'ing yet another fic for a pairing she really knows nothing about. She's been my go to girl for a long while now, and I really appreciate everything she's done. Secondly, the posting of this chapter means that here and Tumblr are now synched, and updates will now be every Monday. I know I've spoiled you all rotten by updating every other day as I tried to get caught up to the Tumblr postings. Now all of my readers are suffering together. This chapter goes as follows:
There's a wedding, a breakdown, apologies and forgiveness, the truth, and Korra learns that her husband is a chivalrous pervert. And that he's actually pretty good looking underneath that mask.
Cue the "Oh no, he's hot!" jokes. Ahem. Anyway, this is a long one. Almost 4000 words. So hunker down, check your feels, and away we go!
Korra went through the wedding ceremony in a bit of a daze. She knew she didn't mess up, but she couldn't remember what she had said. She seemed to recall exchanging vows and then Tenzin reading a passage from an ancient airbending text about the wonders of love and marriage, but the only time she was truly focused on the ceremony was during the handfasting. As her hand was bound to Amon's, a strange thrill went through her body. Tenzin said a blessing as he wrapped four silken cords around their hands, each a different color representing the four nations and elements.
She didn't trust herself to look at Amon as it happened. Instead she watched their hands, the way his much larger hand tenderly held her smaller one. His skin was much softer than she had thought, and he affectionately rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. Apparently the wedding was wreaking havoc on his sensibilities as well.
When the ceremony ended, they answered questions from the press, Korra once again explained that she hoped that they would lead by example that benders and non-benders could live together peacefully. Ultimately she ended up answering all the questions, though Amon would chime in when he felt it was prudent to do so. After they finished they were whisked back into City Hall and away from intrusive questions that had absolutely nothing to do with the union or its intended purpose.
"So now what?" Korra asked, unconsciously gripping Amon's hand tighter than strictly necessary. He didn't seem to mind, though, squeezing her hand back in response.
"We'll wait until the crowds clear up, though that could be hours," Tenzin explained. "Once everything has cleared up and calmed down, you'll be free to go."
"And so I ask again, now what? Do we all just stand here awkwardly until someone starts a conversation about how nice the weather has been?" Korra asked. Next to her, Amon suppressed a chuckle.
"Perhaps I should give you a proper tour of City Hall," Tenzin mused. "We've been in discussions about getting Amon set up in an office here."
"You can't be serious," Lin gasped. "Why would you do that?"
"We need non-bender representation on the city council, Lin. Besides, if they're working alongside us, perhaps they'll be less inclined to commit felonies like breaking and entering and kidnapping," Tenzin argued back.
Lin looked like she wanted to make some sort of rebuttal, but stopped when she realized that it would be pointless. "Fine. Lead on, Councilman."
Tenzin was a model tour guide, even stopping to answer questions when Amon brought them up. The highlight of the tour was what had once been Tarrlok's office. Korra hadn't realized just how much damage she had done until she saw it in the light of day. They had cleared up the damage done to the meeting hall shortly before Tarrlok's true nature had been revealed, but his office had remained untouched. No one wanted to go near it.
"Whoa, did a bomb go off in here or something?" Bolin asked, surveying the damage.
"Uh, actually this was me. And some of Tarrlok. But mostly me," Korra admitted sheepishly before rambling on. "It was when I came to talk to him about letting you out of prison, but he said that I'd have to rejoin the task force first. I didn't like that he was using you guys as bargaining tools and I was still kind of mad about him calling me a half-baked avatar and I really wanted to do nothing more than punch that stupid, smug smile off of his stupid, smug face…" She sighed. "I sort of ended up throwing him through a wall and then over the balcony."
"Korra!" Tenzin gasped. "I know you were upset, but this…this is too much!"
"I know that!" she snapped back. "I was out for blood that night, okay? He made me so mad I just…I just snapped. The fact of the matter is I probably would have killed him if he hadn't stopped me using bloodbending." Her shoulders slumped as she dropped her gaze to the floor. "I get it, all right? I know I went too far that night, but so did he. He was purposefully stirring up trouble in Dragon Flats, he was trying to use me, and I was sick of it. I had to assert myself and I know that I went too far, but damn it, Tenzin, I'm not a tool!"
She sniffled and tried to blink back her tears, but a few escaped anyway. Without a second thought Amon pulled her against his chest, resting his chin on her head. Their still bound hands were tucked between them while his free hand rubbed soothing circles on her back. She took a deep, shuddering breath before she started sobbing.
Everyone watched in awe. It certainly wasn't the reaction they were expecting. They expected Amon to tell her to suck it up and get on with her life, not cuddle her protectively against his chest.
"Well, this is so saccharine I think my teeth are rotting," Lin snarked after several minutes.
Korra pulled away, sniffling softly as Amon gently wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too," Tenzin answered. "I don't think I realized how much pressure you were under. You were in no way prepared for what we were demanding of you, and it wasn't fair of us to be angry at you when you couldn't live up to the impossibly high standards. You are the Avatar, Korra, but you're still a girl. While you've always accepted your roll as the Avatar, perhaps we should have done more to help you bear the burden."
"Hey, Team Avatar is still standing," Mako said. "We meant what we said back on Air Temple Island, Korra. Team Avatar will always stand by you to help you do whatever it is that you have to do. And yeah, it was a crap move by Tarrlok to arrest us like he did, but even then you weren't really alone."
"We've got your back, Korra," Asami agreed. "We're not going to abandon you. Things have changed, but that doesn't mean that Team Avatar is over."
"Oh yeah, Team Avatar forever!" Bolin cheered.
Fresh tears started, but this time Korra was laughing through them. "Thanks guys, it means a lot." She moved to wipe her tears away, but stopped when she accidentally yanked Amon's hand. Looking at him in shock, she flushed in embarrassment. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry."
"It's fine," he said. "Since we're talking, we might as well determine when you'll be doing your airbending training."
Tenzin sputtered in shock. "You're going to let her keep her bending?"
"A bendingless Avatar is useless to me. It's far more prudent for her to continue her training and getting her past this…block…so that she may utilize her energybending abilities," he intoned. "I hope that isn't going to be a problem for you?"
"No, no of course not," Tenzin answered. "Korra can catch a ferry to Air Temple Island in the morning and we'll be done by the afternoon. Hopefully she can get to the docks easily?"
"It'll be arranged," Amon said. "Now, shall we continue with the tour?"
Tenzin fell into step next to Amon while Bolin, Mako, and Asami jockeyed for position next to Korra. The teens talked quietly amongst themselves while Tenzin pointed out the sights and answered all of his questions. Though he didn't trust Amon, he had felt some of his misgivings ease at how the man handled Korra's earlier breakdown.
By the time the tour finally ended and the wedding party found their way back to the foyer, several hours had passed. Tenzin declared that it was safe for Korra and the others to leave without having to worry about being hounded by the press. After wishing her friends well and promising to see them at Air Temple Island at the start of the next week when she would arrive for airbending training, Korra climbed into the back of the truck with help from Amon.
The drive back to the Equalist headquarters was silent, but there was a look in Sato's eye that unsettled her. She supposed he was wondering what their wedding night would be like. Korra's mind drifted back to Pema's speech earlier in the day, and that by all accounts she would have to simply lie back and let Amon do whatever it was he was planning on doing to her. The very idea made her angry, just lying back and letting him do whatever he pleased with her body without her permission. But Pema's warning was still in her head, and she really had to try and be more patient, so she decided that whatever happened between her and Amon she would go along with. No point in starting off their marriage by fighting him.
The headquarters was empty, allowing Korra and Amon to move throughout the halls without any awkward stares or questions. This would be the first time she would be in their rooms, though she suspected that they would still feel like his rooms and she was just a guest. An interloper to be dismissed the moment he grew tired of her.
Admittedly, navigating the headquarters with their hands still bound was proving to be harder than originally anticipated. Once they got into the office, Korra yanked on his arm, stopping him dead in his tracks. "Okay, I think we can untie ourselves."
He cocked his head. "You don't enjoy being bound to me?"
With a sigh, she rolled her eyes. "The marriage part is what I agreed to, but having our hands joined for all of eternity was not part of the agreement." She fixed him with a glare. "Besides, isn't it a little more difficult for us to function like this?"
"A valid point," he agreed. He reached towards the four cords – red, blue, green and yellow to represent the four elements – and picked at the knot until it came loose. "There, now we're untied. You may now move about at your convenience."
"What are you going to do with the ropes?"
He looked at them for a moment before looking at her. He was glad that the smirk was hidden his mask, as he knew she'd probably burn him to a crisp for it. "I suppose we can find other uses for them." There was something in his tone that made her blush, a hint of something more nefarious and infinitely more intimate, causing her skin to tingle and a familiar sensation to creep into her belly.
"It looks like they left us dinner," Amon observed, noting the two trays on the coffee table.
"You know, I didn't even know I was hungry," Korra said as she sat down. "I've been a nervous wreck for most of the day; I could barely eat two bites of the lunch Pema brought for me."
He hummed in agreement, though he had simply fasted.
They ate in silence, which made Korra wonder if all of their meals were going to be like that. Talking was something that came at the strangest times between them, and it was always once sided.
"It's been a long day, we should probably get some sleep," he said when they were done eating. "Do you want to wash up before bed?"
She looked up at him and hoped he couldn't see how nervous she was. "I think I'll just go to bed."
"Fine," he said as he rose. He headed towards the water closet and shut the door behind him, leaving Korra lone in the bedroom.
She moved to remove her dress when she remembered the state of Tarrlok's office. Another wave of guilt washed over her, and she stopped. Taking a deep breath, she decided that she needed to talk to the former councilman and apologize for her actions the night he bloodbent her. When Amon emerged twenty minutes later, she stood to meet him. "I want to talk to Tarrlok."
She could see his eyes narrow through the slits in the mask. "Why?"
"I need to talk to him about what happened that night in his office," she said softly. "I need to apologize for what I did."
"And do you think that he'll apologize for what he did?" Amon questioned.
"Maybe, maybe not. If he doesn't, I won't blame him," she shrugged. "But please, I need to do this."
"Fine," he said gruffly. "Follow me."
The halls were dark, but he knew where he was going, like he'd walked this route a thousand times. Tarrlok had been moved, as Korra remembered the dank cell they had shared when they had been first captured. He was now housed in something much nicer, though just as locked down. He sat on the bed, knees drawn to his chest, his head resting against the wall. He looked tired and older than his thirty-seven years, but otherwise in good health.
He watched them carefully as they entered the room. "To what do I owe the pleasure of hosting Republic City's most famous newlyweds?"
"She wants to talk to you," Amon answered gruffly. He moved off to the side and stared out the window.
"I'm flattered," Tarrlok said dryly. "What is it that you want to talk to me about, Avatar Korra?"
"I want to apologize."
The former councilman started. "I beg your pardon? Whatever for?"
"For almost killing you…you know, that night that you, uh, showed me your strongest bending," she said, twiddling her thumbs. "I was just really mad about you using my friends and using me and…I'm sorry, okay?"
He sighed as he ran a hand through his messy hair. "I'm sorry, too. The bloodbending isn't something I'm particularly proud of, nor is it a skill that I would have ever learned if given the choice. I should congratulate you, though. For the first time ever I was genuinely afraid for my life."
She winced. "I know. And that's why I'm apologizing. If I hadn't gone too far, you wouldn't have had to bloodbend me. So…are we okay?"
Tarrlok chuckled. "As okay as we'll ever be, I suppose."
It felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. It was then that she noticed just how nice his accommodations were. Korra whistled. "Okay, I've got to know, why are your digs so nice?"
Tarrlok glanced at Amon, who had turned at Korra's question. The masked man shrugged and then looked out the window once more. Tarrlok frowned and then sighed. So, his brother was shifting the task of telling Korra about their past to him. "Because, I'm Amon's brother."
Korra blinked and then let out a hysterical chuckle. "I'm sorry, I thought you just said that you're Amon's brother."
"I did," Tarrlok answered calmly.
"What…how…wait, I'm confused."
"It's only natural," Tarrlok said in a rather offhand manner. "You see, as you already know, my father was arrested and had his bending taken by Avatar Aang."
"Yeah, I saw it, lived it, whatever," Korra said.
Tarrlok proceeded to tell her everything that had happened after his father's escape from prison. She listened, her heart beating fast as dread pooled in her stomach. How anyone could do that to their children, turn them into weapons for revenge, was beyond her. It made her thankful that her parents had always been so loving and supportive of her. When the story ended, Korra only had one question left.
"How did you know it was him?"
"After he took my bending, I realized that I recognized the sensation as his bloodbending grip. He remained behind to talk to me after he accepted your proposal and confirmed my suspicions."
"So we're in-laws now. You're, like, my brother, right?"
Tarrlok chuckled. "That's correct."
Korra then turned her attention to her husband, still standing by the window. "You must have always known."
"I did. It's hard to ignore the fact that your brother is all over the newspapers," Amon answered. He lowered the cowl on his tunic and then removed his mask. "Especially when you see his face every time you look in the mirror."
She didn't know what to expect when he turned around, but she was surprised to see that there was no scar. He looked a little older than his brother, but they had the same eyes and noses and she had a sneaking suspicion that if her husband smiled, it would be that same crooked smile that Tarrlok flashed whenever he was pleased about something. "You…look…" Korra's voice trailed off as she tried to find an adequate description for his looks. "Normal."
"I usually put on make-up so that should someone ask to see the scar, it's there," he admitted with a shrug. "But I washed it off; I assumed we'd be going to bed, not coming to talk to my brother."
"So no matter what, I was going to learn that you did not lose your face to a firebender," Korra noted sardonically. "Was I also going to learn that you were not only a waterbender but a bloodbender tonight, too?"
He grimaced. "You're upset."
She glared at him. "We'll discuss this back in our room."
Amon shrugged. "As you wish."
"Okay then," she agreed. Turning to Tarrlok, who had been watching the whole exchange with thinly veiled interest, she smiled. "Well, I suppose I'll see you at some point in the future."
"I'm sure you will," Tarrlok said with a dismissive wave. "Good night."
"Good night," Korra said as Amon replaced his mask and pulled his cowl back up.
"Come along, Korra," he said softly. She followed after him, her thoughts in a jumble. Everything she thought she knew about her husband was wrong. She held her tongue until they were in the bedroom, where she stopped and put her hands on her hips.
"Have you ever told me the truth?"
Amon (no, his name is Noatak) paused for a moment, before he started to undress. "I've actually been far more truthful with you than I've been with anyone else."
"Meaning?"
"I really did come to Republic City at fifteen. I really did work in a fish market for a few months after getting into the city, before I got a job at a Water Tribe restaurant. Shortly after my sixteenth birthday, the owners of the restaurant were killed by one of the triads for being unable to pay the protection fee. And anywhere I went in the city after that, I saw more of the same. More men like my father, who used their bending to justify their cruel actions, that it somehow made them better than everyone else." Stripped down to nothing more than his drawers, he turned to face her. "I really believe that bending is a disease that destroys and corrupts."
"Ironic, seeing as you're a bender, and that you've been using that bending to take other people's bending." Korra paused as she mentally reviewed what she said. When she was satisfied that she hadn't completely made of a fool of herself, she gave a confident nod. And then she noticed his state of undress. For being forty, he was in pretty good shape. She was pretty sure that he had minimal body fat, and aside from a few wrinkles on his face, he really didn't look like he was forty. All in all, he was ridiculously good looking.
Huh. Who knew?
She tentatively walked towards him, relieved when he didn't step away from her. She stood in front of him, examining him the low lamplight. Slowly she reached up to cup his cheek, feeling the scratch of stubble against her palm. He stood still as she explored his face with her fingers, never flinching from her touch. When she pulled her hand back, he couldn't help but smirk. "Are you done?"
"For now."
He cocked an eyebrow at her. "For now?"
It was her turn to smirk. "Yes, for now. Eventually I want to know every inch of you."
"I like the sound of that," he murmured as he watched her start to peel her dress off. Once she was down to her bindings, her delightfully traditional bindings, she looked back at him questioningly. It took every ounce of self-control to not pin her to the bed and have his way with her right then.
"Do you have a preference?"
He blinked at her. "What?"
"A side of the bed, do you have a preference?"
"Ah, I've been sleeping alone long enough that I tend to sleep in the middle. You?"
"Same," she answered. "Um, I'll sleep on the right side, if you don't mind?"
"Make yourself comfortable." He smiled at her and her stomach fluttered a little.
"Okay," she said as she made her way to the side she claimed. Pulling back the covers she slid in and snuggled down between the blankets. "Wow, this bed is really comfortable."
"Well, what's the point of being the leader of a powerful organization if you can't have a few perks?"
"Like the bath?"
"Yes, like the bath."
She actually giggled at him as he climbed into bed next to her. "So…" her voice trailed off and she sounded nervous, "now what?"
"Now we sleep. It's been a long day."
"Oh."
Was it his imagination or did she sound a little disappointed. "Is something wrong?"
A lot of things are wrong, her inner voice screamed. Wasn't he going to insist that she perform her wifely duties? What the hell was she supposed to call him? Would he really start working at City Hall? A million other questions flew through her mind, but she settled with the least obtrusive of them all.
"What do I call you?"
"I…what?"
"Well, I know you as Amon, but you were given the name Noatak by your parents. Do you have a preference?"
He frowned as he reached to turn off the lamp on the bedside table. "I guess I really don't. To be honest, it's been a long time since anyone has called me Noatak. Tarrlok uses it when I go to talk with him, but he's the only one."
"So I'll call you Noatak then. But just when it's the two of us. Or the two of us and Tarrlok."
It was an oddly touching gesture by her, promising that she wouldn't blow his secret. Honestly, she now held some of his most closely guarded secrets and while he had wondered if she would keep them, he never expected her to keep them as preciously as she would her own. "Thank you."
She yawned as she burrowed into her pillow. "Not a problem. G'night, Noatak."
He rolled over so he could plant a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Good night, Korra."
