Tales of Four Nations

Semi-Finals of the Pro-Bending Circuit: TV Tropes

I present to you: the Superhero/Vigilante AU no one asked for...

Prompts:

- rescue romance
- we need a distraction
- sexier alter ego
- absurd phobia
- opening monologue

Word count: 1228 words

The Secret In Those Eyes
(Behind The Mask And The Disguise)

Part 1

Katara gets it, okay? What they're doing- it's almost necessary.

Sure, the world may be a better place ever since General Iroh overthrew his brother to become Fire Lord ten years ago, and proclaimed the start of a new era of peace. Republic City was founded, a place where people from all nations can live in harmony.

But just because they can doesn't mean they do. Some of Fire Nation locals are unhappy, wistfully thinking of the days when their homeland was a powerhouse. Others from the Earth Kingdom want complete independence from a nation they deem to be tyrannical.

Just because it's better doesn't mean it's perfect.

Riots erupt, despite- or maybe because of- Crown Prince Zuko's place as head of the police department. Petty crime rates keep climbing. Little old ladies are being threatened on the streets by thugs with sharp, pointy objects.

The four of them- Suki, Toph, Aang and her- decide to take the easier, day-to-day matters into their own capable hands. With masks, of course.

So yeah, she gets it. Sometimes the world needs vigilantes.

But, dammit. Do their methods of distraction always have to include her getting her flirt on? Especially with someone as sleazy as the Freedom Fighter?

He's lurking at the corner of the street opposite the store. Dark eyes gleam from behind a black cloth and a strand of grass hangs from the corner of his lips. There's no missing the two sharp grappling hooks dangling from his belt, glinting in the moonlight. "Ah, the Painted Lady. A sight for sore eyes, as always," he purrs. Purrs.

A shudder runs through her body, but Katara is nothing but a consummate professional. And she can't deny that there's something about putting on her disguise that makes her feel attractive, beautiful. Sexy. "Right back at you, handsome." She slinks closer, taking full advantage of the way her dress and cloak billow behind her, accentuating the air of mystery that comes with her costume. She knows the red paint on her face make her blue eyes stand out even more.

He's about to rob a jewelry store in one of the classier areas of Republic City. Katara's all for the sharing of riches and fighting against inequality, but this guy hurts people- innocent people- and she can't stand for that. She won't turn her back on people who need her- no matter their social status or where they work.

The plan is for her to distract him with her 'feminine wiles', as Toph puts it, and for the rest of the team to sneak into the store to warn the staff and customers. Simple, concise, direct. In and out, no one gets hurt.

But he just had to start getting handsy, didn't he?

That's how Suki, Aang and Toph find him frozen to the wall ten minutes later, a piece of cloth torn from her veil tied around his mouth. Katara is standing close, a water whip in hand and a furious glare twisting her make-up.

"Huh, couldn't help himself, could he?" Toph quips, readjusting the black band that covers her milky green eyes.

Suki shakes her head sagely. "It's the dress, Bandit. It's always the dress." Dry, cheeky expression hidden behind the thick layer of her Kyoshi Warrior face paint, she sends Katara a wink. The waterbender snorts.

As the girls turn to leave, Aang looks over at the thief with a worried expression. "Is he going to be alright there, frozen like that?"

Katara waves dismissively. "He's going to be fine, Arrows. It'll melt before he can catch a cold. Besides, I dropped an anonymous call to the police, they should be over here in minutes. We should get out of here before they see us."

Aang shrugs, jogging to catch up with them. He brushes past Katara and Suki to slip his hand through Toph's. Suki falls in step with Katara, tucking her fan into her belt. With her full warrior regalia and heavy make-up, there's little doubt that the woman dressed up as a mythical Kyoshi Warrior is the leader of their little band of vigilantes. The teasing sparkle in her eyes as she glances at Katara, however, makes her look like a teenager.

"He seemed kind of cute. With the mask, anyway," she says with a false sense of airiness. "Pity he was such an ass."

Katara rolls her eyes at her friend's conversational tone. She knows a hidden agenda when she sees it. "Just because I'm over Haru doesn't mean I want to jump in another relationship, Suki." Especially not with someone like the Freedom Fighter. Ew. "Besides, we can't all have what they have," she gestures towards Toph and Aang, "or what you and my brother have. I'm cool with that."

Suki cocks her head to the side. "Yeah, huh. Who'd have thought Toph's weird fear of dancing would have brought them that much closer? But if you think about it," she giggles, "only Aang could have handled having his feet stepped on so many times."

"And who would have thought you'd be such a cliché, falling for your saviour?" Katara teases.

"Hey! He got me out of prison, okay? Cut a girl some slack." Suddenly, the good humour slips from her face. "He hates it, that I keep doing this. If he knew I dragged his sister and her friends into it as well, he'd-"

"He doesn't need to know." Katara cuts her off, a fierce expression etched into her dark features. "You didn't drag us, Suki. We practically begged you. I'm an adult now, I don't need his permission. Things have to change around here."

After a second, her friend straightens her shoulders and nods. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Katara jerks her chin towards the couple before them. "Go ahead, I'll join you guys later. I'll make sure the police come."

Once the rest of the group is out of sight, Katara focuses her attention on the man she glued to the wall, keeping her eyes and ears peeled for a police siren. Indeed, the black car appears minutes later. Sokka steps out of the vehicle, his face a picture of frustration.

"Where the hell are you, Zuko?" She manages to catch his irritated grumble before he hauls off the thief into the car.

Right. She forgets, sometimes, that her brother is partners with the Chief of the police department. Who also happens to be the Crown Prince. Who also seems to be a useless shit- no matter how much Sokka appears to like him. The city's in shambles and he's doing nothing about it.

A thud behind her catches her attention, and as she turns, she spots something- someone- crumple to the ground before her. She feels a scream rise in her chest but the sound is muffled by a gloved hand that clamps over her mouth. Another dark figure comes into view, brandishing a knife. With a twist, her captor's free arm knocks out the second assailant with the handle of his dao sword.

She's still reeling from the unexpected attack when she finds herself tugged into a narrow cul-de-sac by her captor, who promptly releases her only to push her against the wall. Katara blinks, before her blue eyes widen comically.

"You!" She hisses.

Black painted eyes stare back at her from a menacing blue mask.