Thursday, March 19th
"I'm just saying," Korra shrugged, laying back and folding her arms behind her head, "Raiko just needs a good scare. You find a triad member or two, they make some threats-."
"Beifong said no threats." Mako scowled at her, "That's how you get arrested, Korra."
"I think she's right," Kuvira offered, "If he thinks he's in danger, he's going to let Chief Beifong do her job properly."
"You're both crazy!" Mako's eyebrows shot up, "Asami, are you hearing this? They're insane."
"Am not," Korra sat back up and crossed her arms.
"Only on the weekend," Kuvira elbowed Mako with a smirk.
"It's Thursday!"
"Haven't you heard of a four day weekend, Mako?" Asami spoke up, raising her eyebrow without looking up from her book, grinning when Korra and Kuvira started cackling.
"You're encouraging this?" Mako motioned at Korra and Kuvira wildly as he looked at Asami, "They're going to get arrested! Kuvira, you're technically a police officer!"
"In Zaofu, yeah," Kuvira snorted, "We're not going to get arrested."
"Kuvira would never suggest we do this to Suyin," Korra grinned, "And we're not stupid, we're not going to threaten Raiko ourselves. Just have to find someone else to do it."
"Korra! You can't have a thug threaten the President!"
"Ugh." Korra huffed, laying back in the floor again, "Ok mom."
"Kuvira you can't either."
Asami glanced up from her book when Kuvira snorted, and Mako was looking at her like she was insane.
"You're not her boss," Korra grinned, winking at Asami as she did so.
"Then I'm going to call Suyin," Mako grumbled, pulling himself to his feet, "You've both completely lost it."
"I don't think they ever fully had it," Asami shot a playful smirk at both Korra and Kuvira.
"Sunshine that hurts," Korra pouted, grinning despite herself.
"I can't believe this," Mako shook his head, "I'm going to go call Bolin. They should have been back by now."
Kuvira ran her tongue over her bottom lip as she watched Mako leave, both eyebrows raised, looking over when Korra stretched.
"So what's the plan?" Asami closed her book with an eyebrow raised.
"Well," Korra scratched her head, "We're going to scare Shady Shin into doing the job. Whatever he needs to do to scare Raiko enough."
"You're going to scare Shady Shin?"
"If I can," Korra nodded, "If not…"
She trailed off, motioning with both hands at Kuvira.
"Scary metalbending angel of death." Korra finished, grinning.
"I'm not going to kill him," Kuvira looked at her with a frown.
"He doesn't know that. Hell, I don't even want to hurt him. But he's going to do exactly what I want him to do."
"And if Lin finds out?" Asami stood up and yawned.
"I can see the news now," Kuvira snorted, "Avatar killed by Chief of Police."
"That sounds about right," Korra nodded, letting Asami pull her off the floor.
"Korra!" Mako shoved the door open, face turning red, phone clutched tightly in his hand, "They've hurt Toza."
"What?" Korra's eyebrows shot up, "Who?"
"Triple Threats. Bolin's at the hospital with Toza. Viper had them try to beat money out of him. Rent, Bolin called it."
Asami could practically see the steam coming out of Korra's ears. Korra's head snapped around to Kuvira instantly, her eyes narrowed.
"Go to the hospital." Korra instructed, waiting until Kuvira nodded to look at Asami, "Opal is probably there too. Will you drive, Asami?"
"Yeah. Be careful."
"Always," Korra nodded, kissing Asami's forehead before she took a step back, her jaw clenched tightly.
"Where are you going?" Mako asked her angrily.
"We," Korra motioned from herself to Mako with a glare, "Are going to go pay Viper a visit. We need to have a 'chat'."
"I guess you're with me?" Kuvira asked, looking at Asami.
"Yeah, let me grab my car keys."
"Are you serious?" Mako looked at the door in front of them and crossed his arms, "You really want to do this? At what point is breaking into the Triple Threat's headquarters a good idea?"
"You're pissed about what they did to Toza, right?" Korra's blood was boiling, "I'm not letting Viper get away with that. Plus I've already fucked up the two guys they had outside, I'm committed to this."
"Yeah I'm pissed, but I think there are better ways to fucking do this." Mako huffed, reaching forward and turning the handle, "Look it's fucking locked. I don't know what you expected. The hinges are platinum."
Korra rolled her eyes and walked to the corner of the building, looking down the narrow alleyway before running her gaze over the building itself.
"You see that window?"
"Korra, we really should-."
"I'm going through it. Come on."
Mako sighed, but followed as Korra looked around and slinked down the alleyway. He stopped a few feet away from her once she was under the window, and he crossed his arms again.
"Mako," Korra stopped, cutting off anything he could try to say, "What happens if Toza dies? All he did for you and Bolin, and you're telling me you don't want to punch Viper in the face at least once?"
"Fine," Mako rolled his eyes, "But what happens if Viper isn't even here?"
"I can wait."
"At least we have Lin on speed dial," Mako shook his head as Korra used a gust of wind to lift herself to the window.
Kuvira stretched out in the front seat of Asami's car and crossed her arms once she hung up and put her phone away.
"Bolin was blubbering in the background," Kuvira huffed, "And Opal says Toza is in bad shape."
"Toza is really important to him," Asami nodded, "I hope Toza will be ok."
"I do too, for Viper's sake. Korra is going to wreck him. I'd pay to see it."
"Well I'm sure she'll give you a play by play," Asami chuckled, stopping at the red light.
Kuvira propped her chin in her hand and looked out the window, frowning as she did so.
"Is that Shady Shin?" Kuvira narrowed her eyes, prompting Asami to look in the direction she was gazing.
"Looks like it. That's his car."
"Hmm." Kuvira grunted, unbuckling her seatbelt and climbing out of the car.
"Kuvira, I'm not going to park in the middle of the-." Asami began to object, but Kuvira had shut the door behind her before she could finish.
Kuvira could picture the scowl on Asami's face as she heard the car moving behind her. The light must have turned green. She knew Asami would find somewhere to park, but her focus was on Shady Shin, who was still waiting for his own light to turn.
He saw her as she got closer, his eyes growing wide. Kuvira wondered if he'd try to drive away, and he did, but before he could fully leave the intersection, she bent a section of the road apart, trapping the wheels of his car in the process. He wasted no time shoving the car door open and scrambling out, trying to run away from her.
"Come here, shit stain," Kuvira called after him.
Kuvira could hear Asami call her name somewhere behind her, and she shook her head as Shady Shin got further away. She shot a thread of metal cable after him, grabbing him around the wrist. She walked measured steps closer to him, tightening the cable as she went. When she was within ten feet of him, he tried to free himself with a dagger of ice, bent from water he'd had in a skin under his coat. It shattered on the corded metal, and Kuvira all but yanked him toward her a moment later.
"Kuvira!" Asami repeated, closer this time.
"Relax, Asami," Kuvira soothed, grinning at Shady Shin who tried to take a swing at her, "We're just going to talk. Remember?"
She heard Asami huff, and Shady Shin had stopped fighting. He had moved his gaze from Kuvira to where she knew Asami was probably standing. Maybe he was calmed by Asami's presence, but Kuvira wasn't worried about it. She was sure Shady Shin trusted Asami more than Asami trusted him. Kuvira grabbed him by the collar of his coat, dragging him down the nearest alley. She lifted him off his feet and shoved him against the outer wall of the nearest building and looked at him with one eyebrow raised.
"I need a favor."
"From me?" He looked absolutely petrified.
"Yep. You help me, I'll help you. Now let's be clear, I'm not going to hurt you. Yet."
He glanced over Kuvira's shoulder again, and Kuvira turned her head to where Asami was standing behind her.
"Asami?"
"Yes, Kuvira?" Asami crossed her arms.
"You have your glove?"
"Yes."
"Ok," Kuvira shrugged, looking back at Shady Shin, "Here's how it's going to go. We're going to make our arrangements. And if I hurt you, Asami will stop me. As long as you're willing to talk. Is that sometime we can agree on?"
"Fine." Shady Shin nodded once, "What do you want?"
Korra's fist was the first thing that connected with Viper. The sound of the crack that followed was the most satisfying sound she'd heard in weeks. Before she could hit him again, he'd managed to bend a stream of water up between them, grabbing her arm and twisting her backwards. He threw her across the room, and she rolled back to her feet as soon as she could, firing several blasts of fire at him in the process.
"Someone get your ass up here and help me!" Viper bellowed, narrowly dodging a shot of fire Korra had kicked toward his head.
Shouting could be heard through the doorway almost immediately, and Mako turned his gaze to the door.
"Korra. We need to go."
"Kind of busy, Mako." Korra growled, bending the water off the floor and slinging shards of ice at Viper.
Mako huffed and shoved Viper's chair in front of the door before he went to help Korra. Korra forced a gust of air towards Viper, pushing him against the wall. She moved toward him but he managed to grab ahold of her, twisting around and slamming her into the floor hard.
"Mako, zap him," Korra grunted, trying to get her hands around him to throw him off of her.
Viper growled, trying to fend Mako off with a wave of water as he attempted to keep Korra pinned. Korra took as deep a breath as she could manage, feeling her energy flow through her chest as she smirked at Viper and opened her mouth. He barely managed to roll away before the breath of fire left her throat, and she could see a thin thread of smoke rising from his hat when she leapt to her feet. Someone was trying to shoulder through the door as Viper backed away from her, and gunshots could be heard on the other side, piercing the door as they rang out.
"Korra," Mako repeated, "We need to go. NOW."
Korra's fist connected with Viper's face again, and she grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, glancing over to the window she had gotten in through.
"Korra," Mako's voice was a warning as the gunshots rang out again.
"This is for Toza you piece of shit," Korra growled, shoving Viper out the window.
She landed after him a moment later, watching as he dragged himself to his feet. He was out of breath, his panting heavy, but he still swung at her. As she jerked her head to one side to avoid his punch, he brought his knee up into her gut as hard as he could. She doubled over, cursing herself for letting him land the hit, hearing Mako hit the ground behind her. Viper pulled her face up and slammed his fist into her face before she could move again. She could feel the heat of the blood that began pouring out of her nose, her ears filled with the sound of shouting above them. Viper immediately took off, leaving her to try and catch her breath enough to chase him. She glared at Viper as he tried to sprint away, in time to see Mako tackle him and both men go tumbling to the ground.
There was no point in using bending against Viper. The alley was dry. There was no water. Having both Korra and Mako using their bending, Viper would be burnt to a crisp. Still, Korra enjoyed seeing Mako sock Viper through the face.
"They've got Viper!" Someone shouted above them.
A gunshot followed, and Korra was with Mako and Viper a second later, dragging Viper out of the window's line of sight. She could hear police sirens and smirked when she did so. They'd drawn plenty of attention with the gunshots.
"What the fuck is going on?" it was Lin who stormed into view from the siren's direction, flanked closely by Saikhan.
"This…son of a bitch…" Mako panted, his hand bunched up in Viper's collar, "The Triple Threats attacked Toza."
"I heard about that," Lin crossed her arms, jerking her head to Saikhan to check out the shouting that was still echoing in the hallway, "You didn't have to deal with him."
"Oh yes I did," Korra growled, ignoring the ache in her knuckles, "Been waiting on that."
"Fine," Lin shrugged, "Cuff him. I was coming for him anyway. You two are coming with me too."
"Are you arresting us?" Mako's eyebrow shot up.
"No," Lin snorted, "Relax, kid."
Bolin didn't even look up when Korra and Mako came into the waiting room. Opal was sitting next to him, rubbing his shoulders. His eyes were red and puffy, but he was out of tears. Asami and Kuvira were seated nearby, the latter scrolling absently through her phone. Asami looked up when the pair walked in together, taking in the disheveled look of both and raising her eyebrow. Korra understood it as an 'Are you two ok?'
"How's Toza?" Mako asked, moving over to his brother.
"Not good," Opal sighed, squeezing Bolin's shoulder, "The healers can't do anything for the internal damage he's got going on, so he's got a lot of recovering to do."
Mako stared at Opal for a long time, and Korra understood the look in Opal's eyes. Toza was worse than she was willing to admit in front of Bolin, Korra could see that. Korra sat down next to Asami with a sigh, glancing over as Asami noticed the shape Korra's knuckles were in. She lifted Korra's hand slowly and tenderly ghosted a kiss across her knuckles, smiling a little when Korra squeezed her hand.
"So how was your talk with Viper?" Opal asked, which caused Bolin to lift his head.
"It went well," Korra nodded, "I'm pleased with the results."
"She threw him out a window," Mako added, rolling his eyes, "Beifong arrested him."
"You threw him out the window?" Bolin's voice was hoarse as he looked over at Korra.
"Yep."
Bolin smiled a little, nodding.
"For Toza?"
"You got it, Bo," Korra grinned.
"You smell like blood," Kuvira raised one eyebrow, a seat away from Korra without looking up from her phone.
"Well I had some on my face," Korra shrugged, "He busted my nose. I've dealt with it."
"How long do you think he'll stay in jail?" Asami asked.
"If Beifong has anything to do with it-." Korra began.
"—A long time." Mako finished.
"Good," Opal glared, "What do you think the triad's going to do?"
"Dunno," Mako shrugged, "I guess we're going to find out."
Friday, March 20th
Korra couldn't sleep. She had been laying in the bed at Air Temple Island for two hours, staring at the clock on the nightstand. The green numbers glowed into her eyes, and she'd been watching the minutes tick by. She had attempted to lay as still for as long as she could because of Asami sleeping next to her, but in the last thirty minutes, she had taken several opportunities to toss and turn on the thin mattress. She turned over one last time and huffed, only to feel Asami turn over next to her.
"Mmm Korra stop moving," Asami grumbled, pulling the blanket up around her shoulders.
"Sorry," Korra sighed, "I can't sleep."
"Are you ok?" Asami yawned, sitting up groggily.
"Yeah. Go back to sleep, I'm going to go outside for a while."
Korra got up with another sigh, closing the door slowly behind her as she went out into the hallway. She went outside, sitting on the steps outside, facing the courtyard. She wasn't alone long before she was joined by Bolin. He hadn't even bothered changing into pajamas, and he sat wordlessly beside her on the steps.
"You up too?" Bolin grunted after they'd been sitting for several minutes.
"Yeah. You worried about Toza?"
"Yeah," Bolin sighed, "He's the closest thing we had to family for a long time. And probending won't be the same without him."
"He's tough as nails," Korra smiled, nudging Bolin gently, "He'll be alright." She said it to comfort him, but she wasn't sure she believed it. Korra hoped he wouldn't notice.
"I hope so," Bolin nodded, "Viper wanted the money we'd raised. Said Toza owed them for using the nightclub even though Shady Shin had told us it was free."
"Were you there?"
"No. This is what the cop said. That they wanted the money but Toza didn't have it so the triads beat him. He'd already given it away."
Korra hummed and crossed her arms.
"I'm worried about Shady Shin." Bolin admitted, rubbing his neck.
"Why?" Korra raised one eyebrow.
"I just am. Viper's going to kill him if he gets out. He's a dick, but it's hard to remember that I'm not ten anymore, and he's not as nice as he pretended to be when I was younger."
"I know, that's really shitty."
"He's scared shitless of you and Kuvira, least I think so. Kuvira ran into him earlier. I heard her and Asami talking about it with Opal, I don't know if they told you."
"They did," Korra nodded.
"He'd be good if he wanted to be, I think."
"I dunno, Bo."
"He's scared of Viper. Maybe now that Viper's in jail, he has a chance."
"I guess we'll see." Korra shrugged, patting Bolin's shoulder, "I know you hope so."
"I should go to bed. I'm really tired, but I can't shut off. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah," Korra sighed, "I know."
Bolin sighed and wrapped his arms around his knees.
"And I'm hungry."
"Well," Korra chuckled, "We have a whole kitchen to our disposal."
"I'm gonna cook us breakfast!" Bolin lit up excitedly.
"I don't know if that's a risk I'm willing to take."
"Please?" Bolin pouted.
"Fine, Bo," Korra laughed, standing up as she did so, "Just try not to make it too lethal."
"Best four in the morning breakfast you've ever had, Korra," Bolin promised, puffing out his chest.
Shady Shin got out of his car for the fourth time that morning, walking to the end of the dock and staring at Air Temple Island. Again. Every time he came to the end of the dock, he stood there until he was almost ready to go to the island, then he went back to his car and sat again.
The ferry came in for the first time that morning, and Shady Shin kicked at the back of his shoe, his hands stuffed in his pockets.
"When you going back to the island?" He asked, looking at the acolyte on the ferry when they came up next to the dock.
"I can take the boat back now if you need to see someone," The acolyte explained.
"I do," Shady Shin nodded, "Avatar Korra."
"Ok," He didn't like the way the acolyte smiled. It was too warm, "Come on board the ferry then."
It was his last chance to turn around. He knew that. He could bend himself back to shore if he wanted, but if he got on that ferry, he was going to commit to it.
"Are you coming, sir?" The acolyte asked, startling him. He didn't know how long he stood there without answering.
Finally, he took a deep breath and nodded, stepping off the dock and onto the boat. He fumbled around with his coat pockets, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and patting himself down for his lighter. They were halfway to the island before he could get one cigarette lit. It didn't help his nerves like he thought it would, and by the time they docked again he had tossed the majority of it into the water. It wasn't going to help him.
"Will you wait here?" The acolyte asked, motioning at the dock when he stepped off the ferry, "I'll go fetch avatar Korra for you, mister…"
"Shin," He grunted, "Shady Shin."
The acolyte nodded and walked briskly away from him, and Shady Shin turned to look back at the city. He could get on the boat and take himself back. He didn't have to stay. Why was he so nervous?
"The fuck is wrong with me?" He let out a slow breath, bending some of the water under the dock just to feel it move under his control.
He heard a set of footsteps coming down behind him, but they were too soft to have been Korra's. Still, he tensed, not knowing if he could muster the courage to turn around. He didn't care who it was. As long as it wasn't Korra. He didn't want to get his ass kicked this early in the morning.
"Shady Shin? What're you doing here?" Shady Shin jerked his head around immediately at the sound of Asami's voice.
"Came to talk to the avatar, doll," He shrugged, his hands back in his pockets.
He kicked at the dock absentmindedly, looking at his feet. Asami didn't leave. He could see her cross her arms out of the corner of his eye.
"You heard from Toza?" He muttered.
"Not this early, no." He thought he heard her sigh a little, "Bolin is going to call the hospital when he wakes up."
"Bo's a good kid. I wanted to see Toza today, but…"
He trailed off, shrugging again. It didn't matter. He wasn't going to go see Toza, he knew. Then again, he'd said the same thing about coming to Air Temple Island.
"What could you possibly want this early in the morning?" He heard Korra's voice, laced with irritation, come from somewhere behind Asami.
The urge to run hit him suddenly, Korra looked to be in a particularly foul mood. But his feet stayed planted on the dock. He'd told himself he was going to commit to this one.
"Talked to your friend yesterday," He grunted at her, "The metalbender."
"Her name is Kuvira," Korra crossed her arms, standing next to Asami, "And she's already told me."
"You really throw Viper out the window?" Shady Shin let the words tumble out of his mouth rapidly, he felt the need to ask.
"Yep. What's that to you?"
He chuckled and shook his head. He was fucked.
"I'll do it." He told her, "The thing with Raiko. If Viper's stuck in jail, that means I'm in charge of the Triple Threats. So I'll do it."
"Why?" Korra scowled at him, "You're just going to do it? Just like that?"
"You and that…Kuvira…think it'll help, right?"
"Scaring him? Yeah." Korra nodded, "He'll want the police to do more, hopefully. That's what we want."
"Then I'm doing it for you," Shady Shin shrugged, before motioning at Asami too, "And for her. For Bo. Toza. You ain't so bad, Korra. Better than I'm used to. So if you think this will help, I'll do it."
Korra stared at him for a long time, and he knew she was checking him for cracks, seeing if he was lying. But he was so happy to finally have a weight lifted off his chest, he didn't care if she believed him. He stared at her for as long as she watched him, recoiling instinctively when she shoved her hand toward him.
"You get this done," She nodded at him when he shook her hand, "I'll have to owe you one."
"That'll be the day, avatar," Shady Shin let himself grin at her.
