Jinora
I woke up late again. The welling feeling of shame was something I quickly put aside. I swiftly slipped out from my bed and, forgoing any stretches, quickly threw on a bathrobe over my bed clothes to ward off the chill in the air before I slipped out into the hall. I took a deep breath and straightened my back while fighting back a yawn, then knocked on the hardwood door frame of Ikki's room. I waited for a few seconds like she always did before sliding the door open and slipping inside as Ikki began to blink awake.
"Good morning Ikki." I stepped forward and suppressed a groan of frustration because I forgot the glass of water she always brought.
"Mornin, Jinora." Ikki said without much passion as she climbed out of bed and rubbed her eyes.
"Sorry." I said reflexively, glancing around. "Uh, we have to wake up Meelo."
"Right, mister grumpy pants." Ikki's comment was made with an attempt at energy, but there was no doubt that her schedule was just as tattered as mine.
"Daddy is still working over on the mainland." I said.
"So, he gets to see Tenya."
"Ikki!"
"What, it's true! I'm not apologising." She glared at me for a moment before marching past me towards Meelo's room. "I'll wake him up. You can go check on mum."
I felt a lump form in my throat, but I forced it back just like Tenya would. I had no right to be wallowing in pointless feelings when there was work to do. I stood up straight, turned on my heel just like she would, and marched out of the room.
I paused as I reached the doors at the end of the hall. Korra was on the right, Tenya on the left.
Korra's door was open. Ever since that night she had been training constantly. Not just airbending, but everything.
Tenya was out there stopping the bad guys while Korra was finally doing her job.
I pushed away that ugly thought but could not stop myself from walking to the left, opening the door with a smooth movement. It felt wrong to be so quiet, like I was sneaking, as if I was doing something wrong.
There was a click as the door closed itself behind me, like it was in on my little conspiracy.
There was so much work, it was so hard trying to be her. I always knew it wasn't easy, that sometimes when she thought no one was looking she would look so sad. I allowed my feet to carry me to her bed, neatly made with her bed-clothes laid out ready for her.
I was intruding, but I had already been here before so many times. I slipped onto the bed and laid there for a moment, willing the phantom feeling of her comb running through my hair. I rolled over onto my front and tried so hard to keep my breathing even, to find my centre.
I just wanted to be the little sister again.
She always told me to never be like her. That I never wanted to be like her.
Tenya always told me the truth.
I couldn't even wake up on time.
Hiroshi Sato
It must have been like a game to them. They had all the pieces on the board from the very beginning. Every heart, every mind, every yuan. It was a fight for every scrap while they sat high and mighty upon the backs of non-benders. Even the term was disgraceful. As if anyone was lesser for not carrying that disease.
Even now the scions of an unequal system were eagerly adopting the position of tyrant. Claiming to be arbiters of peace and being above the petty worldly concerns while keeping an eye for any non bender that would dare to stand as an equal to them.
Tenya Beifong, the princess of Republic city who could come and go as she liked and was often seen in the high street and relaxing at the most exclusive luxury spa in the world. A petty indignant part of me wanted to disregard her as a spoiled product of nepotism but I could not allow myself to be blinded. She was clever and dangerous to the cause and had overt suspicion as to my involvement.
When I had brought up my concerns with Amon, he had dismissed them and said It was reasonable to be concerned and paranoid but that he did not consider Tenya a threat, that her fate was to be stripped of her bending with her family and left in peace. It is not a terrible thing that our leader genuinely tries to see the good in everyone but an underestimation of the most important tools for bender supremacy on the board was foolish.
With the debacle at the rally Amon was ordering a cease to covert operations and focusing resources on activism to 'win back the public' It was frustrating, it was clear what the public wanted! No sane non-bender would ever be content with a life of being at best a second-class citizen. It would require force to rip away the lie of contentment or support the bender regime had established.
"You have your orders, we need her watched, keep a rotation and record every movement." I had no choice but to stay true to the cause. Tenya challenging me was an offer. I could distance myself from the cause and live as a gilded slave while my impoverished brothers and sisters suffered under the benders or I would be at the centre of her investigation. I had to act even if it was without Amon's approval.
I was thrown out of my contemplations by a knock at the door. My stormy mood finding its rainbow. "Dad, are you in there?"
"Come in." I placed the phone down onto the receiver without another word to my Equalist contact. Asami entered the room with a shy smile I had not seen in years. Confidence suited her better and this was rather unusual.
"How are you feeling?" Not the reason why she would want to see me at this time of day. What could possibly be on my little girl's mind?
"Better. The medicine helps a lot with the pain." I still rubbed the small of my back to ease the knot of dulled sensation. Age combined with sitting behind a desk can strike terrible blows. Nothing a healthy dose of opium could not combat.
"Good." There was a pause as she looked around the office.
"Asami. What's on your mind?"
"I'm going on a date today. I wanted to tell you…" She hesitated as my smile flickered.
"That's nice dear." I resisted the instinctive protective urge rather well I would say.
"And it's with a woman." Ah, I shifted my expression into one that was more serious and lent back in my chair as I settled into it.
"Asami… don't think this means I don't get grandchildren to spoil."
"Dad!" My little girl blushed and I knew I was striking true as a parent.
"I don't mind how, adoption, whatever. If I can't spo-"
"It's a date I am not marrying her!"
"Why not?!" I demanded in mock outrage. "When I met your mother."
"Not again."
"Love at first sight… well on my part anyway." I let out a chuckle and watched Asami huff in annoyance before a smile touched her face in turn.
"Thanks for being cool dad."
"Darling. It's republic city, not some Ozai backwater!" Something more Fire Nationals could do with understanding. I got to my feet and wrapped my arms around the young woman. "Do you like her?"
"She is funny and clever and… cute."
"She sounds wonderful, when do I get to meet her?" And scare her off if she is not good enough for you.
"I don't know, I just wanted to tell you, I don't know how serious it is."
"You don't know if she is serious about it?"
"I don't mean it like that, I just want to see what happens." I gave her a smile.
"Don't be afraid to be a little serious. You are still young, even if this is not love at first sight it could still be a good experience."
"Now I know you are trying to marry me off."
"Keeps you out of trouble." She snuck out of my hug with a laugh and glanced over at the clock set on my desk.
"Thanks dad, I knew but… it's nice to hear it out loud."
"I love you Asami."
"Love you too."
"Have a nice date." She smiled and all the stress and pain melted away. She was so strong. I had no doubt she would choose someone worth her time. As she left, I turned back to the cause with my resolve redoubled.
If Tenya, the bender establishment, wanted a war I am forced to oblige. Anything else would be a betrayal of everything I want for Asami, a world where she is not a non-bender, but a brilliant young woman with so much to offer the world. What better thing was there but to fight for the people you love?
Tenya
"To expand upon the new proposal, no positive language is to be used when addressing the Equalists in newspapers or radio reports. Calling them revolutionaries is, if not an example of positive language, something that carries with it the implication of progress and change. Calling them terrorists or radicals will help cultivate the desired distance between them and the average citizen. We want to give the impression that they are the cause of all disruption and chaos while also being unreasonable and absurd." I paused to take a sip of the offered tea.
"This paired with the new Emergency Communications Act should give us an edge in the propaganda war Amon has declared." Tarrlok glanced up from the report I had created, and set it aside with a nod. "I will read it in full later and see what parts of the Communications Act should be expanded upon. You know, the biggest voice against any of this is that of your dear father."
"That is unusually direct of you." I pointed out.
"Don't get me wrong, I think we make a great team, you and I. You are much more suited to all this than your father, and it's clearly having an impact on his capabilities as a leader of Republic City."
"So, you are worried about hurting his feelings now?" I asked. "I do think your heart might have thawed after all, Tarrlok."
"Evasive." Tarrlok teased. "But I do care for Republic City and its leadership, Tenya, I truly do. Why, just last night, I was contacted by the editor of a newspaper with some juicy gossip."
"I never took you for a gossip."
"You know me so poorly Tenya I am insulted! Anyway, there was a lovely photograph of two very important young women enjoying each other's company over a candle lit dinner." My amusement faded with impressive swiftness.
"I hope it's not one of your rags."
"Ouch, but yes, and don't worry. I think it's in rather poor taste for the plebs to chatter about the life of a member of the council. The article and the evidence were destroyed. Still, you were not exactly private, it will be the talk of the town soon."
"There are much better things to talk about."
"Nothing quite like this however. Asami Sato." He chuckled.
"What's wrong with Asami?" I said, not defensively at all.
"The daughter of your father's biggest opposition to his economic and environmental reforms. The embodiment materialism's meteoric rise and spiritualisms fall. It's delightfully rebellious of you." I felt a great deal of strength left me as Tarrlok enjoyed himself at my expense.
"It's got nothing to do with any rebellion."
"Are you sure? The leather jacket an-."
"It's not real leather." I exclaimed to his redoubled amusement, my face falling into my palms.
"Rather convincing. Honestly Tenya I don't think you could be making bigger impressions of standing against your father if you tried."
"It's not like that." I let out a sigh and settled into the chair, downing the rest of my now lukewarm tea and standing up.
"Rather eager for your date tonight."
"I don't see a pretty face hanging off your arm." I said pointedly at the confirmed bachelor.
He laughed. "Oh goodness no, the nightlife in Republic city is always a pleasure but something so wholesome and public. Well let's just say that I have a theocracy in the north to impress."
I snorted at that. "I thought Unalaq was rather progressive? Well for a theocrat anyway."
"Oh, he is… comparatively, but would he bother to protect me when I could be replaced by one of his clique?"
"I see." I gave him a sympathetic nod as I produced my timepiece.
"Enjoy yourself Tenya, I will keep the parasitic rags off your back but your father will find out."
"See you later Tarrlok." He picked up my report again as I turned to leave.
Republic city shone in the twilight and the public square I was loitering in was overwhelmingly lively. Street performers played for the delight of the rich and poor alike, cheers, laughter and excited conversations threatened to overwhelm anyone who did not cast the crowd out of their own mind. This was the fruit of civilization, the honey of enlightenment in all its imperfection. This was the very thing that Being X's selfish gambit was trying ever so hard to destroy.
I felt a fluttering in my chest as a smug smile found a home on my face. Twice now he had attempted to send me to worlds of fantasy and magic but both had been bastions of reason and peace should Being X not have extended his repulsive influence. It was manifestly evident that bereft of the toxifying presence of whatever Being X actually was that Humanity trended to prosperity and progress despite all its flaws.
With the might of the council and Lin's police force arrayed against the Equalists I had every confidence that I would come out on top. The so-called 'God' had likely not anticipated how much influence I had to combat him. More evidence against his divinity. With my prodding the detectives had made a lot of progress in identifying revenue streams different Equalist groups used.
With the rather worrying powers the police had, freezing these assets and making arrests was going well even if Lin's force did have trouble with the optics of how it was done a lot of the time. Unnecessary brutality was becoming a common sentiment in some of the more radical papers in the city.
"Tenya!" A walking fridge thundered towards me, invaded my personal space with an annoyingly familiar confidence and did its best to shatter my spine with a hug that took me off my feet. Not the water tribe fridge who I was still reasonably upset with but the earthbending fridge.
"Bolin." I grunted and with that I was released by the now sheepish looking young man.
"Sorry sorry, I just. I did not expect to just run into you like this! I wanted to talk to you but with Korra and Mako are still upset with you-"
"Upset with me? I was right." I gave an indigent huff. Of course I predicted that the pair of them would be stubbornly ignoring what I said but it was still aggravating to hear it said.
"Uh, I mean I understand what you did and why you said that stuff to Korra but." His face settled into a serious expression. "If Korra and Mako never went after me, I don't think I would be a bender right now."
"Bolin, people di-."
"I know, I know! And that is terrible and everything but, they never meant for that to happen." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I know it's selfish but I feel like they did the right thing, but I also think there is definitely room for improvement, if everyone was talking to each other again then the next time."
"Next time? Korra wants to cause more trouble now?!"
"NO! No, not more trouble at all, pffft, heh, yeah no plans for doing... anything, she is totally NOT do-."
"Tenya? Who's this?" It was remarkable how quickly my growing anger was soothed by Asami's voice. I turned towards her with a smile as Bolin stared gormlessly at the approaching beauty.
"Just an acquaintance of mine."
"Tenya." Bolin admonished me before turning to Asami. "Hello, I'm Tenya's friend Bolin, nice to meet you." He offered a hand and a friendly smile while ignoring my pointed look with his usual cheer.
"Asami." She took his hand before frowning. "Sorry, do I know you?" Oh no.
"Oh, well you might have heard of the Fire Ferrets." Her eyes lit up in recognition and excitement and I felt some rather childish anger flare up inside of me.
"Of course! Bolin, yes I recognise you now. I love your team! You've had a great season, I always try to catch your games."
"It's always great to meet a fan." Bolin said before glancing back at me and actually getting a good look at my expression. "B-but we should have a friendly chat some other time, you wanted to meet up with Tenya?"
"How do you two know each other?" Asami asked. I had no idea to what degree she sensed my desire to shuffle Bolin neatly out of the conversation but if she did she was not exactly playing to my tune.
"Oh, Tenya beats us up and calls it training sometimes, she is a good friend." I felt my face flush as Asami let out a pearl of genuine laughter. I blame the fantasies I was currently indulging myself with involving actually beating Bolin up on hormones that my rational mind struggled to suppress. "We should meet up some time together, the whole team so you can meet them."
"I would love to." I opened my mouth to speak only to find Asami's cool fingers intertwining with my own as she stepped closer to me. "It would be great to meet all your friends, Tenya." Bolin blinked at the close contact for a moment before seemingly having an epiphany.
"Oh, that explains a few thin- Oh, Tenya!"
"What?" I had no idea why he was suddenly frowning at me.
"Right after one argument?" He looked at Asami and his smile returned. "I should let you both go, have a lovely night."
"Thank you, I will." She said with a smile and a possessive hand on my hip that sent my stomach into a tumble.
"Bye Tanya, Asami, speak to you later!" And then he was gone, I was standing somewhat unsteadily as Asami held me from behind.
"Let's go." She whispered in my ear and I nodded rather thankful that she did not want to dig into what exactly Bolin was talking about. I wanted to distance myself from... that tonight.
"I am surprised you know about that. Sadly we moved on from the project."
"Oh?"
"Well the problem is the infrastructure required by the buyers. Quite frankly, the upfront cost of laying down landing strips and the buildings required to hold and maintain the planes just don't make it a worthwhile investment." I nodded and swirled my glass of wine as I considered that. I knew how successful planes were in my first and second life and it was hard to accept that they had been largely left behind as unviable in this one.
So shortly after presenting a well developed flying machine too. I was shocked to find out that Asami had done a great deal of work in the design of the plane only for her father to nix the entire project on the grounds that they would never sell any.
I would blame my slow musings on the distant years from the studies of my first life or perhaps the wine because it took me so long to remember the lessons of a history this world did not have the advantage of having.
Planes took off because war had forced countries to construct a large number of airfields that were then put to commercial use. Without that state actors and companies were presented with footing the bill for early airstrips without the demands of armed conflict to pressure them into it.
"What about water?" I said, earning an amused eyebrow raised by the pretty girl across from me. "I mean, landing on water, surely designing planes that can make use of bodies of water would be a more attractive product for clients that don't want to foot the bill for expensive infrastructure products." At least I somewhat remember seaplanes being popular during the interwar period and I had made use of a number of them in my second life.
"You know, that's not a bad idea." Asami said, I hoped she was not simply humouring me, I turned to finish my drink as it became rather clear that someone as smart as Asami likely thought of using seaplanes a long time ago and if she was not pursuing them then it was for good reason. I felt my face flush at the shame of trying to tell an expert in her field exactly what she should do with a not insignificant amount of delectable wine in my belly.
Hopefully she will forgive me. I turned my mind away from shame at my faux pas and considered where Asami had taken me. As far as high class restaurants go, Quang's had a rather 'down to earth' atmosphere and a tendency to fill out a table. You were not expected to clear your plates and waiters were quick to take away food that had cooled and replace it with smaller and smaller dishes. Glasses too were kept filled and I took the opportunity to indulge as I struggled to get Asami to talk more about herself and hopefully forget my embarrassing comments.
My relative ignorance of the incredible work required to design and produce prototype machines coupled by how effortlessly she explained the troubles of finding markets for what the world saw as newfangled heavier than air flying machines was something I could experience forever. Her face flushing when I gave her genuine compliments and the surprise when I listened to the troubles of constructing engines that had never before been conceived.
I thought I was doing rather well the entire time and hours passed in moments as we had our fill of the food and drink and atmosphere of the restaurant but I was never satisfied with the smiles, laughter and eagerly shared conversation. I blinked slowly as Asami got up and then noticed the man who had approached the table and asked for her attention.
I failed to identify how the information was presented to me but I understood that this was Asami's driver. It must have been late, I got to my feet only to find I lacked all control of my body and before I knew it I was held in the arms of a woman who had thought about how much she should drink as a responsible adult should.
I lent on her as we walked through the upper class establishment, no doubt I was making a fool out of not only myself but Asami for spending her time with someone with such poor impulse control.
She smelled nice.
I was led to a car and crawled inside, followed by Asami and after a moment for the driver to get inside I steadied myself in her arms. Lights streaming past as I struggled to answer what must have been rather simple questions.
I was mortified, and suffering from what was undoubtedly a hangover induced headache. Many people would claim a lack of recollection of events after they had indulged in a large amount of drink. If they were honest then I was merely an outlier in the troubling fact that I could remember everything. The slurred responses, the questions I could not answer because of my childish decision to imbibe far more than my slight form could handle.
The woman who practically carried me to bed where I was taken from the conscious world the moment my head hit the mattress. Somehow she was not so ashamed to be around me as I could feel her arms around me like a comforting blanket but perhaps that could be explained with this being her bed, of course she should find herself sleeping here, she was merely too kind to put an irresponsible drunk such as myself on a chair or couch or on the floor where I would perhaps learn a well deserved lesson.
"Good morning." She whispered in my ear sending shivers across my body.
"You are awake?" I asked, feeling her grasp of my form loosen with some regret. My throat hoarse and my mouth full of cotton.
"I got you some water." She again whispered, no doubt for my benefit. Concern as to a headache that I would no doubt suffer from my stupidity. The low tones however delighted parts of myself that I had no right to entertain until I made it up to Asami at least.
"Thank you." I slipped out of bed noting that I was in my underclothes with mixed feelings and grasped the pitcher of water and a glass from the expansive bedside table. Asami sitting up behind me and slipping out of bed.
The water touched my lips and with it I calmed the energies within myself. In moments the slight pain from the headache was gone, rather undeserved but cultivating talent in manipulating chi had manifold rewards. I glanced over at Asami as she moved to an adjoining room and did my best to not spit out the water I was drinking. It was perfectly normal, I rationalised, to forgo bedclothes for some people.
"How are you feeling?" Her voice called out from what I assumed was an ensuite.
"Fine now. Sorry I drank so much last night, I don't know what came over me."
"Don't worry about it, I had a lovely night." There was the sound of a flush and a sink running as I got to my feet and began to clear my chi with my normal morning routine. A few moments later a now thankfully fluffy robed clad Asami left the bathroom and regarded me with wide eyes.
"Wow, full of energy? Is that some Airbending stuff?" I smiled and shook my head.
"Something to help balance my Chi, not bending."
"And it just turns off hangovers? Can I do stuff like that?" She took a glass from her bedside table and took a drink of water herself.
"Of course." I replied, finishing up with only a quick exercise before making my way to the bathroom. "Anyone can learn." I called out as I found myself almost lost in the sheer size of the adjoining private bathroom. It was practically the same size as her bedroom!
Once I was finished with my bathroom duties having borrowed some of Asami's stock of hygienic supplies I joined the woman I had spent the night in bed with in getting dressed. I fended off her offers to call some of her house staff to provide me with clean clothes with the justification that I would be heading to my shared apartment to change into a clean set before heading to the station.
With her attempts to be a good host deflected she offered me instead a good breakfast. One I was eager to accept before I beheld the clock in her room earning some giggles from Asami at my shock at the time. My evasions were confounded as she abandoned her strategy of keeping me in her wonderful presence and rather dictated the next time we were to meet, conditions I eagerly accepted before she attacked and claimed my lips with a satisfied glint in her gemlike eyes.
We struggled to push through her door practically hanging off each other at her eager insistence at walking me to the entrance of her home and seeing me off. I am sure we would have taken our time actually getting to the front doors if we were alone in the hallway. Asami blushed as she noticed her father staring dumbfounded at us, in slippers and with a newspaper under one arm. I settled my face and stood upright, bowing my head in respect to the head of the household.
"Good morning Mr. Sato. Sir." The man in question looked utterly dumbfounded as Asami and I quickly parted from each other. The weight of the fresh lipstick on my face was overwhelming.
"Morning dad, you remember Tenya? Uh, she's my date." He looked between us silently for a moment.
"Oh, that's nice." He said with clear strain in his voice. I felt a great deal of sympathy for the man, this was a terrible way to meet a romantic partner of your children.
"You have raised a wonderful daughter, Mr. Sato." I bowed and noticed him stiffen. Of course, he must be thinking about how he knew how wonderful his daughter was and deciding if I was worthy of her. I would have to make it up to him.
"Tenya was just leaving, unfortunately she can't stay for brunch." I let out a soft laugh.
"I do apologise, I would love to spend more time here but I need to get to the station." I clarified.
"Yes, of course, fighting against the Equalists is a full time job after all." Mister Sato said quickly. It was impressive how quickly he was able to deduce my purpose for working with the Metal Bending Police. He was not considered a genius for nothing.
"As you say." I agreed.
"Well, please excuse me." He said quickly and hurried off. Retreating from the awkward encounter he had found himself in.
Yes, I was going to have to make it up to him and Asami.
"Sorry." I said quietly to the woman in question earning a soft laugh.
"Don't be." She squeezed my hand. "I will introduce you to him properly and we can laugh about this later."
I strode out into the quiet streets, the air fresh and bracing after the cool night, the sun shone down starkly as if to celebrate the cloudless sky. I was alone in the city as I made my way down the well-kept streets. It was a rest day after all, for the city at least if not for me.
I was in unusually high spirits as I basked in the odd feelings within me that made my Chi flow in some chakra and stagnate in others, unbalanced in a giddy sort of way. I would be a liar if I said what compelled me to engage with Asami in the middle of Being X's Equalist plot was rational. Asami was uniquely charming and I was awash with impulses and hormones that I could scapegoat.
In my first life I was tall and handsome and that had offered me chances to pursue some romantic encounters. I had chosen, sensibly, to restrict the effort I placed on such interpersonal relationships in favour of cultivating a career that would aid in my eventual retirement. I had been on dates in the past and had engaged in intercourse but such relationships would inevitably fail with complaints that I was cold, uncaring or distant. I would have to work out what exactly caused such sentiments in previous relationships and adapt my approach this time.
Honestly I had no idea why some of my romantic encounters were successful and others weren't, preferring not to think too hard about the complex web of courtship, when I could put it off until I was successfully entrenched in a reputable company. Of course, all my previous experience was useless when it came to Asami. There was the obvious cultural difference, the fact that I was a woman now, and the odd position I seemed to inhabit in the relationship.
Asami had, if I was understanding the events of the last few days correctly, both courted and seduced me. The confusing rush of questions and feelings that revelation was at least novel, but also deeply worrying. I had no way of understanding her motives, and I had no experience or easy means to educate myself in order to understand this battlefield I had stumbled into.
Asami was the wealthy daughter of a successful industrialist, who was by all measures a genius, and was just as intelligent as her father. To compound that, she had spent time developing her understanding of womanhood and had a wide range of social interactions that I seemed to have neglected. I was outmatched with no way to understand her motivations nor could I predict what exactly would come of the relationship.
I was considering the uncharacteristic smile that had graced my face while I also mulled over the woman. I felt my face heat up at the pleasant recollection of our time together just as a nondescript car mounted the curb in front of me.
I had enough time to jump forward into a roll and avoid going under the heavy automobile but I could do little beyond that as I was sent first into the bonnet of the car and then into the front window with my back shattering the window as I curled up from shock. Being struck by a fast-moving car in this manner would have shattered my spine if I had not cultivated my Chi my entire life but I could tell that something inside of me broke. The driver hit the brakes well after I was struck and I was sent rolling off the front of the car in a daze, somehow landing on my feet and staggering a few paces away.
I looked down at my white shirt as blood started to run over it and down my sleeves. While I could shrug off a truly unreasonable amount of blunt force trauma there was little a strong sequence of Chakra could do against abrasion or cutting. My new jacket Asami had insisted on buying for me was shredded but it had protected me from the worst of the windshield glass. I looked at the car as three people got out looking rather surprised that I was still standing.
"Of course you would pull something like this, just when I was enjoying myself!" Being X seemed to disapprove of my lovely night with Asami. I spat and was thankful that it was indeed more spit than blood. The three assassins looked at each other comically before pulling on half face masks only after I had gotten a good look at their faces.
I staggered back as one of them darted forward with a short knife and sent an unfocused blast of air to give myself some space. The absurdity of the situation struck me as I planted the heel of my ruined office shoe into the knee of the second attacker and forced a painful laugh from my belly.
It was blatant, what possible reason did a group of Assassins have to go after me like this? How would they even know I was walking down this street? I was not dressed in my normal robes so there was no way this was an opportunistic attack. No Being X had likely fed some 'divine inspiration' to these attackers.
I managed to focus myself enough to fall into a sloppy airbending stance and ducked under a flurry of rapid stabs and slices before grabbing the wrist of the first attacker and planting my elbow into his face. Before I could follow up on the attack I had to dance back as the other two assailants darted forward to cut at me.
"You think this is enough to deal with me?!" I shouted out to Being X who was no doubt watching things with glee. "You've sent worse than this before!" I reminded him as I kept myself moving as more of my blood slowly leaked from my body. Bleeding to death was a concern that had been somewhat mitigated by the jacket, but not entirely.
One of the attackers threw himself too far forward in an effort to slash at me and gave me the chance I needed to dart forward, grabbing his wrist and slamming my shoulder into his chest and using the momentum to stagger the assassins behind him. I wasted no time in rushing forward towards the car and swiping my arm in a wide arc, sending a gust of air to collect the shards of glass that covered the front of the car and sending them into the tangled trio as they cried out in pain and tried to shield their eyes.
I darted past them only for one of the blinded assassins to swing wildly, raking his knife across my back and electing a shout of agony from my lips. Pain I had not experienced in a lifetime, the cold grip on my arms and legs as warm crimson fell away from me.
I threw myself forward struggling to force air into my limbs rather than waste it on laughing at the comedy Being X had once again forced upon me. Without my staff I was unable to take to the air and fell back upon one of my father's techniques. I gave a short hop and felt only slight resistance in the cool morning air as I created a vertical cyclone centred on my body, the whirling air dense enough to carry me and send me hurtling down the street at a worrying pace.
The Air Scooter was unstable at the best of times and Tenzin's Air wheel was not made in an effort to offer the user more control or stability. But I needed speed if I was going to arrive at a hospital in time to avoid bleeding to death.
The streets shifted about me as my mind thundered, I knew this city and had looked down upon it a thousand times. Each street and every building on the way to my salvation burned into my mind. My control failed me.
I attempted to stumble but was sent into a sprawl. The shredded remains of my jacket as well as my blood spread across an open street as I fell in a tangle of limbs. Fractures and bones broken by the car hitting me caught up as my body felt liquid, limp in places it should not be but somehow, I found my feet and staggered onwards.
It must have been a horrific sight as I forced myself forward, staggering though the street and towards the tall pale red building that dominated this part of the city. The doors were open and I stepped though, my eyes squinting to force away the darkness at the edge of my vision.
"I require medical attention." I said to the bewildered, or horrified, man that was standing at the front desk of the place before slumping over said desk in an effort to stay upright. I glanced up at him as he stuttered though some questions I struggled to understand.
Why was there blood on his face? Ah, I must have spat on him by mistake. I would have to apologise if I survived. I felt his hands grasp me as he shouted something but I had lost too much blood to remain conscious.
If I woke up sucking on another tit I was going to murder Being X.
AN: It has been far too long, I wanted to get this done sooner but life, writer's block and a failed hard drive slowed me down somewhat but the biggest blame goes to me not dedicating enough time to sit down and get the writing done. Well, it's out and I can move onto the next chapter, I hope you all enjoy this one!
Editors: Hav0k