So, I pretty much am happy with the story up until the end of this chapter. I'm struggling with the next chapter (just, you know, letting you know there's more, guys, so don't freak out!)
Disclaimer: I do not own TLOK or its characters.
xxx
Chapter Eleven: Dancing
The rest of the day went by in a blur. Once they landed in Republic City, a flock of reporters landed on them and started to spew baited questions. Tenzin redirected and acted as well of a mediator as he could, but Korra was thankful once they broke free of the press's piranhas.
Once they escaped the reporters, they were instantly delivered into the clutches of the courtroom. Not wishing to waste any time, or risk the bloodbending brothers escaping, the council had decided it was best to put the men to trial as soon as they arrived. It wasn't as if anyone could argue for the men; at the very least, they had bloodbent and that was a high crime. Add blackmail, extortion, and terrorism to the list and...well...the trial was simply a theatrical performance for the media, especially since it was blasting on by.
She couldn't even disagree with whatever was chosen. It would bring closure to their victims and would be what they reaped. Still, Korra couldn't tear the feeling of dread and upset from her body.
The Avatar hadn't been able to edge any closer to the charged men, but they hadn't looked up from the table they sat at. Both men held tense, grim expressions and, when they had taken their turns to be questioned, they were brief.
She, Tenzin, and her friends sat on the plaintiff's side, more thanks to reserved seating than anything else. On the other side, where - traditionally - the defendents' supporters or family were to sit, various ranking officials and reporters filled the stands. Korra wondered if Noatok felt anything at the fact that no Equalist came to watch. Then again, maybe he took that as a good sign. She could barely turn her eyes to the judge when the woman re-entered, along with the jury, the courtroom after a remarkably quick deliberation.
Korra knew that it didn't take much deciding, though. They had already chosen the bloodbending brothers' fate as soon as they heard the men were alive. The Avatar clenched her fists tightly, body tense as she chewed on the inside of her cheek and waited for the jury to give their verdict.
"Has the jury come to a decision?" Intoned the judge and Korra nearly snorted at how rehearsed the line sounded.
"We have," The man acting as the spokesperson of the jury stood, holding a piece of paper in his hands. Korra faintly wondered if it had his lines written on it, but quickly shook the bitter thought from her head. No, they were delivering justice! Korra still couldn't shake the feeling that the whole thing was a debacle, though. "We find former councilman Tarrlok guilty of three separate charges of first-degree blackmail; of first-degree kidnapping; of-"
Out of the corner of her eye, Korra saw Tarrlok's head bow - respectively - the decision. He knew it was coming, of course, but the Avatar couldn't help but feel sick. It all felt askew, off-kilter. But how? The men were criminals! They had done horrible things; they threatened, abused their power, and even abused their genetic pre-disposition for blood-bending.
Korra's eyes flickered to both men, now, a frown curving across her lips. Tarrlok had good intentions; Korra had no doubt he sincerely wanted to save the city from Amon, but when she found out his secret, he had to grapple with his secret being let out. That level of fear could make anyone crazed from trying to regain control.
"In the case of Noatok, also known as Amon the leader of the terrorist cell of the Equalist movement, we find him guilty of..."
Yet, if it hadn't been for Amon, non-benders wouldn't have the chance to learn chi-blocking, wouldn't have the option to let their children learn it in school, wouldn't feel safe to walk the sidewalks.
Tenzin's hand on hers brought Korra from her reverie. The airbender's expression was strained, trying hard to comfort her when he felt little pity for the men. Her blue eyes met Tenzin's for a second and she realized tears bit at her gaze. She hadn't even noticed; she was too busy trying to decipher why the ordeal sounded wrong.
"In accordance with the severity of the charges," The old judge's voice rang out through the court after the jury finished their obligatory ramble, "The court sees it fit to sentence the defendants to death by hanging at sundown."
Korra's eyes widened, mouth dropping slightly agape. Her gaze jumped to Tarrlok and Noatok, and suddenly their punishment became all too real. Up until that moment, their 'sentence' and their 'punishment' had seemed almost harmless innoculous. They would be in prison forever, but they would live, they would carry on. Now, Korra was hit with the fact they were going to be killed, in the name of justice. The Avatar felt something stir in her head, a wisp of Spirits, light voices carrying across her mind.
Tenzin's hand tightened on hers and the Avatar realized she was about to stand, about to yell and cause a scene in the courtroom. Korra forced herself to relax, but her body kept fidgeting throughout the rest of the superflous trial.
xxx
There was little time between the end of the trial until sundown. Everyone was in an uproar. A noose stage was being set up in a square, politicians were making statements, the jury and judge were being interviewed. During the busy hustle and bustle, Korra took the chance to visit Noatok and Tarrlok.
The silence in the cell was suffocating. Then again, Korra wasn't sure what she had been expecting. What did you say before your sentenced time to die? What was there to say?
Both prisoners looked up when the door was opened, but Noatok was the one who stood. The Avatar quickly found herself pressed against the man's chest, her arms wrapping around him before he could even grunt from the force of her sudden embrace. Korra pressed her face against him, trying to find the words. She felt foolish, she knew this was going to happen, but she got attached. Extremely attached. That made Korra feel all the more foolish.
"The sentence wasn't that shocking, Korra." Noatok sighed, wrapping his arms around the young woman. He rubbed a thumb against her spine, willing her to calm down. In truth, he felt just as stricken. Every second that ticked by was one less second until he'd find a noose around his neck. He and his brother had made peace with the fact, though it was a morbid peace; Noatok still wished to remain, especially now that he had Korra in his arms.
"I know," Korra's tone was thickened with emotion and her voice was muffled against his chest, "I know. I just didn't... It's not right."
The Avatar finally moved, looking up at Noatok with a pitiful gleam in her eyes. His stomach flipped unhappily, seeing that look on her face. There was nothing he could realistically do to cease the pain, or lessen it. Korra knew that. Inhaling deeply, he stilled his shaking fingers and raised a hand to her cheek. Korra leaned into his palm, shivering as his thumb brushed over her lips.
He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. Korra's eyes fluttered shut, arms looping around his neck, trying to forget that he would soon be gone, soon be out of her reach. Noatok's arms pressed Korra into him, holding her closer, nearly crushing her body against his. Heat and warmth filled their bodies and their thoughts as they tried to burn away the thoughts of the very immediate future. The young woman nipped at his lower lip, sending electricity right to his groin; his fingers dug into her back, massaging, making her writhe against him.
Tarrlok's cough interrupted their kiss. Both parted from their kiss, sparing the former councilman a mutually annoyed look "My apologies, but I felt it pertinent to remind you I am still here."
"Not for long, c'mon, Tarrlok." The door opened again and, this time, Kya stood by it. Hands on her hips and a knowing grin quirked at her lips as she regarded Korra and Noaok's embrace. Turning her gaze to Tarrlok, the woman motioned for him to come to her, "I'm here to save you and give the love bunny-birds some privacy."
"Thank the Moon Spirit." Tarrlok stood up quickly and strode across the cell, relieved.
Kya laughed, wrapping an arm around Tarrlok's shoulders; a little difficult, since he was taller than her. As the chief led Tarrlok down the hall, continuously watched by the guards stationed beside the door, "See if you feel that way after we talk, my sweet moon-fish."
Noatok didn't even bother to hide his smirk. When Korra turned her eyes to him, an eyebrow quirked inquiringly, the man answered, "He wrote her poetry when he was ten."
"Oh." Korra glanced at the door again, hiding her own grin, before returning her gaze to him. Her lips curled into a different sort of smile and Noatok felt a swarm of warm hormones slide down his spine. The young woman grabbed his collar and pulled him into another, quickly intimate kiss.
Noatok grunted, thoughts of later completely drained away as he grabbed Korra by her bottom and hauled her up against him, holding her tightly as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
There was little time left and quite a lot left to do.
xxx
The sun was just beginning to set along the bay when the bloodbending brothers were lead to the platform. The men stood side by side as rope was fashioned about their necks and tightened. A crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle. Silence drowned out any sounds; anticipation lay heavy in the air. The twilight was warm and humid, almost suffocating.
Noatok looked out over the crowd, picking out a few familiar faces, but not finding Korra's. It was for the better, he knew, for her to not watch his neck snap. She was young and didn't need to see the life fade from him. Though, the man wished there was some kindness present in the blood-thirsty crowd. He glanced at his brother, grim lines pulled across Tarrlok's features as well. Neither had said much upon returning to their cell, briefly, as Kya and Korra left.
They had their last "meal", so to speak. Now they had to do the dead man's jig in the air.
"You're in for a real treat tonight, folks." An announcer had been placed beside the platform, to ensure all the gruesome details were magnified over the distance. No one should miss out on the details of a hanging, "It's been three years, since we've hung a criminal and this evening, we've got two to string up! Amon the Terrorist and Tarrlok the Two-Faced!"
Noatok rolled his eyes as the announcer went on to describe why the brothers were being put to death, "The Terrorist and the Two-Faced. Grand."
"Both terms would fit you to a tee, brother." Replied Tarrlok, under his breath.
"Even with one foot in the grave, Tarrlok, you remain snide," Noatok spared his brother a bored glance, playing up normalcy and ignoring the upset in his mind. Neither had been very good with coping with problems, "You have my admiration, little brother."
"And you have mine. Bagging the young Avatar at your age." Tarrlok grinned broadly as he felt Noa's bored look flare with agitation. He was happy his brother had some misgiving, something of a soft spot. It seemed a little silly that Noatok would fret about his age - or the difference between himself and Korra - but Tarrlok would take it.
Noa pressed his lips tightly together, narrowing his eyes at the crowd as he muttered, "How did your poetry reading go with Kya?"
Tarrlok hissed, mimicking Noatok's displeased look as his eyes, too, glanced out over the crowd. Noatok knew why, his younger brother also sought Kya, where he himself sought Korra. The man hoped neither would come, neither should witness anything pertaining to this hanging.
Noatok closed his eyes and swallowed heavily as a executioner came up behind him, flung a circle of rope around his neck and tightened it. Beside him, another executioner also prepared Tarrlok. Terror gripped at Noatok's heart, his body wishing to scrabble for freedom, to save himself and his brother, to see Korra again. Who cared if they were punished for their wrong-doings? He just wanted to live and breathe and see the next day. Noatok's hands fisted and he strained against the ropes around his wrists. The restraints bit at his skin, giving Noatok something to concentrate on other than hopelessness and survival instincts.
"Now, who's ready to see these men do a little dance?" The announcer's voice came across as chipper and threatening at the same time, "Let's count down! Three..."
Noatok swallowed, opening his eyes briefly to catch Tarrlok's gaze on him. Memories rushed through the man's mind, recognizing Tarrlok's expression. It was a silent plea for help, a glance of worry, a look that sought to hear that everything would be alright.
"Two..." The crowd crooned.
It wouldn't be alright, though.
"One!"
Hoarsely, Noatok muttered loud enough for only Tarrlok to hear, "I'm sorry, brother."
The executioners' levers were pulled, gears clicked, the trapdoors beneath the brothers' feet fell open.
Noatok and Tarrlok fell.
xxx
THERE IS MORE. SINCERELY. THERE IS ONE MORE CHAPTER!