Chapter 20
Monster

Amon glanced from the man claiming to be his father, back to the screen which Korra and Tarrlok were on, back to his father, then back to the screen, not moving again. His father, he expected a man as foul as him to hurt him, but seeing Korra with Tarrlok, that didn't just hurt, it burned. It burned so badly it disintegrated his very soul in the process. He wanted to cry even, but his ability to do so stopped long ago, instead he gazed at the screen watching Korra so enthralled, screaming out a name that was not his own, and knowing it was his own fault.
He pushed her to this, he was hiding and hurting her without intending to and it drove her to Tarrlok. He should have told her the truth from the start, surly she would understand, he would tell her the truth when he saw her next… But Tarrlok… Tarrlok whom he was just beginning to want back in his life, Tarrlok would have to suffer and Korra would need to know he was suffering because of her actions so that it would never happen again. He would punish them both, but first…
"What have you come here for, Yakone?"
"Oh, my son, you have done well here, I have only come with an offer… And to ask a favor." Yakone replied with the harsh jagged grin Amon knew too well from his childhood. That smile he prayed as he left home as a teenager, he would never know again, was back staring him in the face.

Korra awoke to an unfamiliar room and a headache. "Ugh." Korra moaned, sitting up and looking around. A naked Tarrlok lay next to her, arm around her waist as he slept peacefully next to her. Korra felt her face get hot as she remembered the night before, she wasn't so sure how to handle this now that she was sober.
As if feeling her burning glare on him, Tarrlok woke up and flashed her a groggy smile, "Morning." he grinned happily.
"Morning." she replied, forcing a smile hoping her wouldn't see how uncomfortable she felt. He did though. He knew immediately, she didn't know what to make of all this, just as he worried she would once she sobered up.
With a sigh, Tarrlok reached out and stroked her cheek affectionately, noticing how she jumped a bit as he did so.
"Korra," he started, knowing he wished she didn't have to say this, "You're young and all of this is probably confusing. I won't hold you to anything, I won't ask you to choose me over Amon or even to cheat. If it's what you want, you can write it off as a mistake, I won't hold it against you." he murmured softly, before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Korra stared at him shocked, he was being really selfless right now, it made Korra feel even worse about her torn emotions. "I don't know." she murmured, pulling the blanket closer to her bare chest.
Tarrlok was shocked, he expected her to immediately thank him and hurry off to Amon, but she didn't, not yet at least.
"I didn't expect you to stay, so don't feel bad, Korra." he started, but she threw him a confused look that cut him off.
"W-what happened last night wasn't just because I was drunk… I think… I think I like you, but I l know love Amon… I don't know what to do…"
Sensing a once in a lifetime opportunity, Tarrlok took a deep breath before saying; "Well what if you grew to love me?" the question clearly threw Korra off as she shred up at him in confusion.
"What?" she asked sitting up now.
"Hear me out!" Tarrlok stared, worried she would leave if he messed this up, "I-I think you at least have the right to know… Do you remember when I told you about my brother and how he hurt me, and how I said he was long gone now?" he watched as Korra slowly nodded wondering where this was going, "My brother is not dead, I simply lost him to the man he felt he had to be in order to fix this city, I lost him the same way I lost myself." Tarrlok explained, grabbing Korra by her bare shoulders, "We both saw a glimpse of who we could be for the same reason; you."
"I never met your brother." Korra snorted, pushing Tarrlok's hands off, she was pretty sure he was crazy. She barely did anything for him, and she never met his brother, she's pretty sure she would have remembered meeting someone that sounded as insane and selfish as Tarrlok's brother.
"That's the thing!" Tarrlok insisted, "When my brother moved here, he was attacked and bullied regularly, for looking different, for moving here alone and young." Korra's eyes snapped up to meet Tarrlok's, his brother was sounding a lot like how Amon described first coming to this city, "My brother came here as Noatak, but shortly after his shack he lived in was burned down by bullies, he changed his name to Amon."
With a gasp, Korra's jaw dropped, that was Amon's story of moving here, he told her earlier that year about it! T-they were really brothers!
"I have to go," Korra stammered fumbling to grab her clothes from around the sofa.
"Korra!" Tarrlok barked grabbing her by hher bare shoulders again, "My brother is caught up in some bad business, I promised him I wouldn't tell you just how bad it is, but if you ever see him sneaking around at night, it's to handle his second life that he hides from you. He will hurt you, Korra."
"He would never-!"
"He would never intend to hurt you! He never intends to hurt anyone, not my family, not me, and he won't intend to hurt you, but he will! Please Korra, you've got to get out while you still have a chance!" taking what he thought would be his last chance, Tarrlok pulled her into a tight hug and held her close.
"I-I understand." Korra replied still stunned by what she had just found out, "I understand, I'll be careful, but I have to go back to the house, it's my home." Korra smiled weakly.
Tarrlok stiffened, he knew Korra was a sharp girl and she was really going to look for Amon's mask, she may have caught on that Amon was the masked man and gone snooping. It was too dangerous, but he couldn't tell her no, it would be even more suspicious, but he had to try.
"Korra, I told you, he's very dangerous right now! Please, just stay here.. We can leave this place and go somewhere safe until this all blows over."
With a sigh, Korra pushed him away, "I told you" she started, looking him deep in the eyes, "I like you, I like you a lot, but I love Amon… I can't just leave him like that."
Tarrlok felt his heart drop, though he knew he shouldn't have been surprised, he was always second best to his wretched brother, Tarrlok had always come to accept that. But not this time. This time it wash;t just the two of them they threatened to tear apart in their selfish ways, this time there was Korra. For Korra's sake, Tarrlok wouldn't let Amon just do as he wishes as he had before, he wouldn't just roll over and play dead. This time, he would take Korra and make Amon see that there were consequences to his actions, and this time the consequence would be losing Korra to him, never to see her again.
"Korra, you may go, but please consider moving here. I promise you, bad things are going to start happening in that house if Amon continues his ways and I don't want you to get hurt. Amon won't let you go, because he loves you, but his love will kill you if you don't get the nerve to end this. Keep that in mind." Tarrlok said, and with that he left and went upstairs, leaving Korra alone in the living room to get dressed, while she was all the while panicking on the inside.

An hour later Korra was bursting through the front door of Amon's mansion, desperate to find him. Something in her gut was telling her something was wrong. The nights Amon would sneak out, Korra knew all along that they were the same nights the rallies took place, but she told herself, he would never be someone that detestable, she figured he was just attending, but now, now she wasn't so sure after what Tarrlok told her. She had no time to waste and stormed past the other maids, Nina included as she dashed to Amon's room. He would be at work by now, she would look for the mask and clean up if nothing was there. If the mask was indeed in his room, she would urge Nina to leave no matter what and she too would leave that same day, never to return. She'd go with Tarrlok and try her best to forget about the man she loved, who hid something so dangerous from her.
Imagine the shock on her face when she exploded into the room to find Amon standing calmly behind his desk. "Hello Korra." he smiled, but in his tone alone, she knew something was wrong.
"Hi." She replied trying not to let her nerves get the better of her. She could feel her heart pounding as he crossed the room and held her chin between his thumb and forefinger before pulling her into a rough kiss, dominating her, almost trying to get something out of her. She groaned in pain and he immediately let go, only to pull at her high collar on her shirt and close his eyes in dismay. Korra scrambled to hide her neck.
Amon wanted to scream, he wasn't sure what he expected t find. He'd seen Korra and Tarrlok with his own two eyes, but he didn't really believe it until he saw the purple and red marks on her throat and chest.
"It's not what you think!" Korra burst out, though she wasn't sure what else it could be than what he thought… "I-I was drunk and I-I'm sorry." she cried. She felt sorrow for the hurt that she saw cross his face, but she also felt fear, by the way that sorrow suddenly turned to laughter.
"This is all my fault!" Amon laughed, a half crazed laugh. Perhaps it was full crazed, he was feeling a little crazy actually. He just wanted Korra and if he had to get rid of her new love interest; fine, if she wanted to know what it was he was so busy with; so be it, but he was not going to lose the woman he loved, whether she liked it or not.
Amon dashed to his closet and pulled out his coat and mask, tossing them onto his bed. "Is this what you wanted to know about?" he smiled grimly as he watched the look of horror creep onto Korra's face.
"Y-you!" She yelled in wide eyed horror. For a moment, her heart froze in her chest, and she knew she needed to get out of here. With a deep breath, Korra turned and ran for the door.
"NO YOU DON'T!" Amon boomed, leaping over the bed, grabbing her and slamming the door shut just as her finger tips touched the door handle.
"Let me go!" Korra cried out, slamming her firsts against his unyielding chest, right before being tossed onto the bed along with the mask and the jacket.
"Korra, I love you." Amon said suddenly gentle, tears leaking from his blue eyes as he pinned her to the bed, "I love you and know it's my secrets that pushed you away, that drove you to do it… but with Tarrlok? My own brother?" He sobbed.
Korra gasped, Tarrlok had been telling the truth about everything… even that she would have been safer staying with him rather than coming back here. Now she wished she had listened. How did Amon even know it was Tarrlok though?
The doorbell rang repeatedly, but Amon almost didn't seem to hear it as he looked at her with sorrow filled eyes. "Until I'm done with this world, until it's the way I envisioned it to be, until everyone is equal, we can live in peace, together.
A this point, Korra realized he'd hit his breaking point. Perhaps the man she'd fallen for, the man she'd loved, the gentle, kind, secretly loving man she loved was somewhere deep inside this monster, crying.
The doorbell went on ringing in the background and in a sudden fit of rage, Amon slammed his fists onto the bed on either side of Korra's head, cursing under his breath. "That little brat from Tenzin's gym has been coming here for days now asking for you." Amon hissed, suspicion now entering his eyes, "Did you sleep with him too?" he asked with a grim smirk.
-Smack- Without thinking, Korra slapped him across the cheek in anger, "I am not like that!" she yelled.
"Oh aren't you?!" Amon demanded, yanking her from the bed, to her feet and pulling her to his chest, looking down at her, "Then tell me how could you, with my brother! How could you?!"
"You act as if I knew he was your brother!" she yelled, shoving him away, "I'm only 17, I've never experienced love! Until now I've never really experienced kindness and it's confusing to me! I don't know what to do!" She screamed now, backing away from him.
For a moment, the rage cleared from Amon's features, he was a fool to be angry with her, she was still young after all, unexperienced with love, how could she know what to do with two men being so kind, so gentle, so caring to her, both pining for her affections? She couldn't have known what else to do. The fury in Amon's heart cooled as he realized what he had to do.
"Korra, I get it now, and I am so sorry for being upset with you, I now see what must be done." he smiled walking towards her with open arms.
"W-what might that be?" Korra asked cautiously.
"I have an island, a private island, while I take care of things here, why don't you just stay there, I'll visit you as often as I can, I can even send Nina to be with you so you won't get lonely, how does that sound?" he asked, gently smiling.
"Sounds like you want to lock me away." Korra seethed. Amon's smile turned to a scowl.
"So that you won't be confused again, you can live somewhere were there is no one to confuse you." he yelled, snatching her by the wrist and pulling her to him again, "I don't want to lose you Korra, and if having other men around is confusing to you, than you can either go live where there are no men, or stay here, and I'll eliminate the competition. I can't lose you Korra, I love you, and don't want to see you go away, or get hurt, just let me take care of you." he pleaded. Korra stared at him on horror. That was it, that was the breaking point, the man she knew and loved was gone, and a selfish monster remained. It may have come from a good place, but his methods were wrong. Korra glanced down to the death grip he had on her arm and sighed, it was just as Tarrlok warned her; he'd never mean to hurt her, but he would destroy her.
Just then, Nina came bursting into the room, "There's a man named Yakone here, I don't know how he got in, he was just sitting in the living room drinking tea and that boy from before is here too an-" Nina paused as the situation she walked into hit her. Korra was crying and Amon looked crazy, holding her close as she tried to back away. "What's going on here?" She asked, glancing briefly at the mask on the bed. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought back to what Tarrlok told her at the hospital, Amon always hurt the ones he loved without meaning to.
"I've business with Yakone, leave him, I'll deal with him shortly. As for that annoying brat Tahno, have Lue tell him that Korra went on a trip for awhile." Amon glanced at Korra with eyes full of affection and a soft smile playing on his features. She was scared, she wanted to puke.
"Where is Korra going?" Nina asked, putting her hands on her hips. Whether Amon was her boss or not, she was not about to have the girl she regarded as her own child be taken away. She wasn't up for losing a second daughter.
"Well she's going with you of course!" Amn sang, pulling Nina in under his other arm, and hugging her and Korra.
"What?" Nina exclaimed, pushing was sure he'd lost it, she could see it in his eyes… in his strange actions.
Amon laughed heartily as he squeezed Korra's cheeks together with his hand, turning her face towards Nina, "Korra here got drunk and f*cked my brother." he chuckled ," Several times last night actually!"
Nina glande at Korra in horror, "what?"
"It was a mistake!" Korra yelled pushing Amon's hands from her face, "I didn't know what I was doing."
"Korra, that house was bugged." Amon sighed tiredly, walking over to his desk and slumping down into his chair, "I saw everything. I heard you say you liked him."
"Then you heard me tell him how bad I felt and how much I loved you and couldn't do this to you!" Korra exploded slamming her hands on his desk, "You saw me leave and tell him this was my home, this place with you and Nina! That's why I left, because I loved you!"
For a moment Amon felt his sanity returning, he felt himself wondering how he could be acting so irrationally, and then he realized she said, loved. "Loved?" Amon asked cautiously, looking up at her like a dear in headlights.
"You are acting insane! I understand you being angry, I understand if you don't trust me, but to lock me away? To even hint at getting rid of anyone who may look my way…. How could I love someone like that?" Korra asked, tears streaming down her face. "I'm leaving." she declared straightening herself up and trying to regain her composure, "Goodbye, love." she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek and turned to leave.
Nina stood in shock as she took everything in. Just what madness was going on here?
"NO!" Amon snarled, jumping over his desk and grabbing Korra's arm forcefully, "You aren't leaving me! You can't!" He felt himself losing control, he could see the terror on Korra's face, the fear and disappointment in Nina's eyes, but he couldn't live without Korra. Seeing Korra looking at him terrified of him, even if he didn't like it, was better than never seeing her again, and he didn't care how anyone shred at him because of it.
"HELP!" Nina was suddenly screaming into the hallway." this was not her friend, this man was insane, to get her friend back, he dear old friend, she was going to have to hurt him a bit, "Amon's gone- mmph!" she was cut off by Amon clamping his hand over her mouth.
"Shut up, Nina." he hissed, eyes bulging, "I'm going to call in Lue and he as well as a few other associates are going to take you to the island, where you are going to stay, and like it!" he nearly yelled.
A few minutes later, Korra and Nina were both handcuffed in the corner with duct tape over their mouths as Amon rang for Lue.
Korra and Nina glanced at each other both of them wondering how the hell they were going to get out of this as Lue entered the room.
"Sounded as of you needed help, sir." Lue smirked, looking down at Korra and Nina both of whom Amon was still restraining. Lue never liked Nina, she was too well respected by the other workers and they always went to her for instruction, despite the fact that he was intact head of the staff. Knowing that both Korra and Nina would be gone was like killing two birds with one stone.
"Take Korra and Nina to the island, cut all lines of communication. I'll be to the island later to deal with this more appropriately." despite herself, Korra felt fear run through her from the way Amon glanced at her as he said that.
"Most definitely sir." Lue smiled, snatching them both up.
Minutes passed and Amon sat behind his desk still staring at the mask on his bed. This was for the best right? Korra would forgive him, she'd come to understand eventually right? Ugh, he didn't know anymore and all the thinking was giving him a headache. At least that door ringing brat seemed to have left, Amon couldn't handle that blasted noise on top of everything else.

Tarrlok sat in the office in his home with his head on his desk like a school child. He couldn't get Korra out of his head. Even though he was drunk last night, he couldn't forget it. Her soft curves and even softer brown skin, her little gasps she let out as they made love, her soft lips, her touch. More than that he laughed aloud now remembering her laughter at his stupid jokes that night, the red glow from the fire playing on her features… or how nice it felt to hold her close. With a sigh he sat up, where was she? It had been hours. Perhaps she'd reunited with Amon and she'd forgotten about him…. Or she was in trouble. No, no, she knew what she was doing she was probably fine… Tarrlok's eyes landed on his car keys…. just to make sure… he'd just go pop in to see his big brother for a minute.

Tarrlok was a block away from Amon's house when he felt a pang of guilt. He was really about to go try and walk into his brother's home and act as if he hadn't done it with Korra? He paused at the stop sign lost in though when bang bang bang!
The noise shocked Tarrlok out of his daze and he looked up to his passenger side window to see a icey blue eyed kid with a long swirly side bang frantically banging on the window.
"Uhh, sorry I was a little lost in thought." Tarrlok laughed, lowering the window a bit, "I'll move no-"
"Forget about that!" The boy yelled, "You're Tarrlok right? You care about the people's right's right?!" The boy was demanding.
"Well if you want my autograph you can just as-"
"I don't want your freakin' autograph, I just came from Amon's estate, my girlfriend was living there as a maid he wouldn't let me see her the last few days, so I snuck around back to see if I could get in and I saw a man dragging her and another lady out of the house all tied up and throwing them into a car! You have to help my friend!" He demanded.
Tarrlok felt his mouth go dry. This couldn't be happening, "W-what was your friend's name?" Tarrlok asked hesitantly.
"Her name's Korra!" The boy yelled, frantically.

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Authors note:
This is the third to last chapter I have planned. Maybe fourth to last. Depends. I'm going to do the spinoff thingy since it was requested ^_^
Don't be confused as to why Tahno called her his girlfriend, it'll be explained next chapter. Please review if you don't mind. The reviews are much appreciated and all really help me shape the story and motivate me to write… heheh, thanks for reading.