Published July 11, 2015

"Simple"

It is thrilling—dangerously contagious—to be in the presence of mania, if one does not quite recognize what mania is. ~ Joyce Carol Oates, A Widow's Story

The Equalists move gradually into the public light. They appear in plainclothes to hold signs bearing Amon's image at at nonbender protests, and help other participants get away when police come to break up the rabble. Volunteers pass out fliers in the park and at the metro station. Graffiti starts to appear in alleyways, painted by either Equalists or their sympathizers imitators. That is not something Amon ordered, but it is encouraging nevertheless.

The more progress they make, the more he wants to share his work with Korra. He always hoped that she would join the cause, but now he feels a bit of personal pride. He would rather share the experience with her than have her watch it from a distance. In fact, with his workload increasing, Noatak has to spend less and less time with Korra, and unfortunately that gives her more time to get into trouble.

She cannot stay quiet when she sees bullies intimidating people, and more than once she is a target of these juvenile but nevertheless ruthless attacks. But unlike most nonbenders, she does not cower, run, or talk her way out: she is ready and willing to use the self-defense skills she has spent years perfecting.

Noatak only becomes aware of this when he finds Korra hiding bruises and burns under her sleeves. When he sees them, he is torn between pride and protectiveness. She is fierce and fearless and defiant—the kind of person he wants and needs on his side. But Korra is also reckless, and perfectly willing to go against orders. While he is glad for her willingness to bend or break rules as far as government is concerned, he needs obedience if she is to work under his direction.

He tells her to fill up her time with odd jobs—they need the money, now that he has cut back so much on his library hours to devote himself to Equalist activities. There are recruits to train, blueprints to review, plans to make. He carefully schedules the phases of the revolution itself, from its beginning to its end.

Korra tries to find a job, but the advertisements she sees in the paper irritate her. The power plant wants firebenders who can produce lightning. Construction companies want earthbenders, particularly metalbenders. The hospital wants waterbenders who can heal. Even lifeguard positions go to waterbenders first, nonbenders as a last resort. Bending makes for better cooks, better laborers, better trainers.

Finally Noatak quits his job at the library, and she takes his place there. It is tedious work, but she knows how the system is organized, and she gets to see a lot of different people come in. Sometimes people she recognizes from the soup kitchens come in seeking shelter; it is her unfortunate job to ask them to leave, but she gives them food to make up for it. Sometimes Gommu, an itinerant United Forces veteran, even checks out a book or two.

Sometimes really unusual people come in. An Air Acolyte, a nonbender convert to the Air Nomad culture, regularly comes requesting books for Master Tenzin's family. Apparently he, too, home-schools his children, and one of them has a reading level far above what is typical of her young age. Most of the books the Acolyte takes are about culture and history.

A couple guys who come to the library try flirting with Korra, which sometimes amuses her and sometimes annoys her, depending on their attitude and her mood. She and Noatak have never discussed boys or dating—even the thought of having such a conversation makes her cringe—and she doesn't really know how to talk to boys. She embarrasses herself on the few occasions she tries to flirt back, so after that she tries to shut down such conversations.

In the afternoons, she shops for groceries and does her chores at home—laundry, caring for the rooftop garden, keeping the apartment clean. In the evenings, when Noatak is out at meetings, she reads or listens to the radio. She likes feeling independent, almost like she is taking care of herself, but it bothers her that Noatak has left so much of the breadwinning and housekeeping on her shoulders, and hardly has time to spend with her. Her wages cover their groceries and clothes, and his mysterious job income covers their rent and bills, but there is almost no money to spare for fun.

Korra's first run-in with the law is so innocent it makes Noatak laugh once he hangs up the phone. According to a security guard, Korra snuck into the zoo because she had no money to pay the admission.

"Did you have any particular reason for going to the zoo?" he inquires casually.

Her response is little more than a mutter. "I wanted to see Naga."

He remembers. The polar-bear dog is still Korra's favorite animal. He has actually wondered whether their connection might be stronger than she realizes. Both of them are strong, fierce yet lovable females. Both are contained and seem fairly tame, but carry a threat of untapped power.

Her second legal transgression is unexpected but rather pleasing: she goes to a protest outside the police headquarters, decrying the police for their brutality to nonbenders and compliance with the triads and other criminals. When the police come to break it up, she defies orders to halt, and then tries to fight the metalbenders, who threaten, and then proceed, to arrest her and a few dozen other protestors.

She calls their landlord, who notifies Noatak when he returns home after helping the Equalists in the aftermath of the protest. Finally, late in the evening, he goes in plainclothes to the police station to pick Korra up. She is behind bars with a dozen other women and girls. When her father enters, Korra looks up briefly, then looks down at the floor, avoiding his impassive gaze.

Chief Lin Beifong glares at the two of them as they pass through. "She had some pretty colorful things to say about my officers," she informs him.

He looks at Korra with raised eyebrows. "Did she?" This time Korra looks him in the eye, defiant but wary; when he cracks a smile, she knows he is on her side. Still, he keeps his tone respectful and compliant as he says, "Rest assured, Chief, we're going to have a long talk about this."

"Just get her out of my sight."

Korra glances back at Beifong as she follows Noatak to the door. The gray-haired woman points to her own eyes and then at Korra, indicating, I'm watching you. Korra then surprises her by making the same gesture. Noatak has to bite back a smile when he sees the chief's bewilderment followed by incredulity.

Once they exit the building he suggests, "Why don't we walk home? I think we have a lot to talk about."

She shrugs, indifferent but assenting, and falls into step beside him. He used to hold her hand when they walked in the city, careful to keep his charge close, but now he keeps his hands in his pockets. Korra has her arms folded and shoulders hunched. Noatak cannot tell if she is sulking or ashamed. Probably the former.

She keeps glancing at him, as though expecting him to explode. "You're not mad?"

"Not at you. You know I detest that corrupt establishment. On the other hand, multiple offenses will build a poor reputation, and could make it more difficult to find employment in the future, so I do not recommend doing that again."

"You want me to give up?"

"On the contrary. I just want you to go about it in a different way."

"How?"

The silence stretches so long that she thinks he has no answer. But then he makes a strange suggestion. "Would you like to break some more laws?"

She looks at him, one of those moments when she is not certain whether he is joking or serious.

"I'm talking about Equalism. You've heard about it, haven't you?"

"Sure. I've seen protesters handing out fliers at the park."

"Did you ever read the fliers?"

"Um, I skimmed one. Once."

"Equalism is not just a philosophy. It's a movement. And I think you're old enough to learn what it involves." He has always evaded her questions about his work, but now he thinks she can keep the secret.

"I thought it was about changing legislation or helping the needy."

"The legislators won't listen to us. And charity is like treating a patient's symptoms, instead of the disease that causes them. It helps in the short term, but the problem continues in the long term."

"So, basically, you're saying that everything we've ever done to help people has been pointless."

"Not exactly. What we're trying to do is end the disease itself. We have it in our power to end the classism in our city, and eventually the whole world."

She smirks slightly, and nods as if he has proven her point. "There it is—that's the idealism I'm used to hearing from you."

"It's not just an ideal anymore, Korra. It's a reality."

She stares at him, her interest fully captured. "When we get home, I'll show you something, and explain what I mean."

At the apartment, he puts on water for tea, and draws the curtains before addressing Korra. "What I'm about to tell you cannot leave this apartment. Do you understand?" She nods. "Do I have your word you won't tell anyone about this?" Her frown deepens, but she agrees.

"Yes. I swear it."

He goes to his bedroom closet, and returns with a mask, which he sets down on the table. Korra comes over with the teacups, and picks up the item curiously. "The guy on the fliers wears a mask like this."

"I am that guy on the fliers."

She looks up sharply at him, and her stare becomes incredulous. Noatak merely smiles. "I am Amon. That's what I call myself when I'm working."

"So you … you're the leader? This is what you do when you're out working?"

"That is right. I take my income from our funds—we have some very wealthy benefactors among us."

Korra holds the mask carefully, studying it. Her brow is furrowed, and he cannot guess whether she is curious or critical. Perhaps both. "I can't decide if I like it or not," she says finally.

"What's not to like?"

The line that is meant to look like a mouth looks like a frown from some angles, and a smile from others. Either way, it seems to her … not emotionless, exactly, but cold, condescending. "I don't know. It's not … you."

"That's the idea, Korra. It's someone else entirely. No one will guess who I am."

"But what's the point?"

"Remember that urban legend from the Hundred Year War? The one about the Blue Spirit?"

"Yeah, I remember." It was an anecdote in one of the history books she studied years ago.

"Whoever he was, he wasn't really a spirit. He was a well-trained ninja with unknown motives, hiding his identity with a mask. It was the idea that he could be a spirit that made people fear and respect him."

"You want people to think you're a spirit?"

"No, but people have a tendency to fear what they do not know." When she still looks skeptical he explains, "All the Equalists wear masks, so that the police and benders won't recognize them. Many never see each other's faces, so if they are caught they cannot identify each other to the police. But I need to be distinguished so my followers recognize me as their leader."

"I guess that makes sense."

The teapot whistles on the stove, and he goes over to add the leaves. He returns with the pot and pours a cup for each of them. "Eventually, we will turn the tables in this city. But to get to that point, we will need to break the laws put in place by the tyrants who run our government. That is what we are preparing to do."

"How?"

"We're planning a revolution. We now have the numbers, the skills, and the resources to carry it out."

"You're serious?"

He gives her a somewhat withering look before confirming, "I have never been more serious about anything in my life."

Korra's skepticism finally passes, leaving her awed and excited. She has heard him criticize the government for years, but now he is openly talking about overthrowing the government. There is something enticing about something so illicit happening right in their apartment.

"When will it happen?"

"In another year, or two at most. And, if you want, you can be a part of it."

She stares at him again. "You'd let me do that?"

"Yes. But I want us to have an understanding, Korra. If you become an Equalist, it will not be because I asked you or made you. I do not want you to feel forced or obligated to follow in my footsteps. I only want you to do it if it is what you want."

"What will I have to do?"

"First, train with other new initiates in chi-blocking and basic espionage. It shouldn't be difficult; you're already proficient in self-defense. Then, when the revolution begins, you can help carry out the political coup and military assault."

These are the kinds of words she has heard in her lessons on history and sociology and political science. She does not know what they actually look like. "This isn't something to take lightly," he warns. "If we are caught—and it is more than possible that some of us will be caught along the way—we'll be subject to the police. Being an Equalist requires complete commitment, and a willingness to work hard, take risks, and follow orders."

"Your orders?"

He smiles again. "Yes, Korra, they do as I say, without question. In fact, you're the only one who has ever gotten away with disobeying me—but then, I was not Amon at those times. Now, if you do join, I'll have to treat you like any other recruit. No one will know we are related. As far as you need to know, Noatak and Amon are two different people. No one can know that the Equalists' leader has a family that benders could target and use as leverage."

Korra understands. For him to be a effective leader, he has to be (or at least appear) unattached.

"Whether you join us or not, it's up to you."

Of course she wants to help; of course she wants to fight injustice. She looks him in the eyes, light blue meeting dark blue, and says with certainty, "I want to do it."

He looks more pleased than she has seen him in a long time. He offers her his hand, and after a moment's hesitation she shakes it, suddenly aware of a new formality between them.

"Welcome to the underground."

Korra has to attend a few meetings for new initiates, to learn about the Equalist network's operation and goals. It feels strange seeing her father as a leader. She is amazed by how much the Equalists respect him, taking his orders without question. Her own respect for him increases as she realizes how complex and efficient his network of followers is.

She is awed and thrilled by the chi-blocking lessons, which are literally underground, held in the basements of old buildings. The trainees wear scarves over the lower halves of their faces, but they do not get full-body suits and masks until they work their way up higher in the militia.

A few of the recruits were in Korra's martial arts classes years ago. Back then, they learned how to defend themselves. Now, they learn to attack, to neutralize threats and cut off disproportionate power. When they were little, they practiced blocking attacks, but the ones playing attacker never meant to hurt their partners, and so did not use much force. Now, they do not hold back, and so Korra learns not to hold back (as her father and teachers always told her to in the past). Korra quickly excels, passing one level after another so quickly that Noatak has to urge her to slow down, to perfect the skills she accumulates instead of trying to gain as many as possible.

After learning the full gamut of chi-blocking, and demonstrating it in a ceremony before a full-uniformed Amon, she is allowed to begin espionage training. The full uniform that she is now required to wear feels like a bug costume. Still, the classes are exciting, and she looks forward to being able to go on actual assignments once her training is complete.

Around the same time, the seventeenth anniversary of Avatar Aang's death becomes a major talking point for radio personalities, news reporters, and most of Republic City's citizens. Traditionally, the new Avatar's identity is kept secret from everyone—including said Avatar—until his or her sixteenth birthday. At that point, his or her country's spiritual leaders would formally announce it to the public. Now enough time has passed to account for the Avatar's mother's pregnancy and sixteen subsequent birthdays. Yet the new Avatar has still not been announced. At this point, people begin to suspect that the Avatar has not even been found.

Some non-benders see this as a reason to join the Equalists. Those who were holding out for a new hope to emerge and end the city's injustices realize that Amon, not the Avatar, is that hope. They also feel better taking action for themselves than waiting for some mythical figure to rise.

Now, as she passes by neighbors and strangers on the street, Korra has the feeling of keeping a secret, of needing to keep a straight face. It is only when she has a scarf or mask on her face that she can let down her casual expression—a façade of normality. Ironically, the mask makes her feel free. When she wears it, she can be herself, not bothering to stifle her emotions and expressions. She is hidden, safe, and free. This makes her feel powerful, in a way different from the power her fighting abilities give her. It feels good to be part of something big, something active and effective.

She is surprised, though pleased, to learn that Hiroshi Sato is part of this underground network. Of course he has the wealth, resources, and technology that any militia would need. She wonders if she might see Asami again, and whether they would recognize each other if they were both in uniform.

When she does hear from Asami, it is under normal circumstances, over the phone. "Korra? It's Asami."

"Asami?" It has been several months—actually, a couple of years—since they last spoke. Thinking back, Korra realizes that she stopped seeing her friend regularly around the time that she joined the Equalists. But the call is as casual as if it has only been days since they saw each other.

"How are you?"

"Oh … keeping busy. And you?"

"I'm great. Actually, I was wondering if you would want to get together—"

"Sure."

"—and meet some friends of mine."

That is different. Most of Asami's school friends live a fair distance away, and as far as Korra knows she does not have many friends in the city. "Who?"

"It's two brothers. Their names are Mako and Bolin." Asami pauses. "Do you know who they are?"

"Um … should I?"

"They play for the Fire Ferrets! Well, maybe you haven't heard about them because they're so new. They only formed a team this year. They were lined up to enter the pro-bending championship, but then their teammate ditched them and they had to forfeit."

"Wait—they're benders?"

Asami does not register the tone of surprise. "Yeah, Mako's a firebender, and Bolin is an earthbender."

"You're friends with these guys?"

"Well, actually, Mako and I just recently started dating."

"You're kidding!"

"I swear it's true!"

Korra feels thoroughly confused. How, and why, did Asami put herself in this situation? Why is Asami reacting this way to her questions, as though dating a firebender is a good thing? Korra heard many stories of domestic abuse during her years of volunteering, and the worst cases were always between benders and non-benders. The power imbalance is too obvious to ignore: benders can most easily threaten and hurt their nonbending spouses or children. Korra's (admittedly inexperienced) understanding is that dating is supposed to be the precursor of marriage. Surely Hiroshi will not let Asami seriously consider marrying a bender—especially not a firebender, after what happened to her mother. Why would Asami want to do that? Hasn't losing her mother hurt her just as much as Hiroshi?

While all this is going through her mind, Asami stops laughing and starts talking again. "Here's the thing: Mako feels bad about going out while his brother is alone. But Bolin doesn't want to be a third wheel with us. So I thought maybe we could go out as a group … or a double date, if you want to look at it that way."

"Waaaiiiiit. Are you trying to be some kind of matchmaker?" The ridiculousness of the two ideas—Asami setting her up, and Asami seriously considering a bender for a boyfriend—makes Korra laugh. But at the same time, there is a slight sensation in her chest and stomach, something like excitement, or the glow of flattery. She has never been on a date before; Noatak certainly never talked to her about it. He has probably held on to hope that she would never take any interest in the opposite sex. But she would like to start at some point …

"It wouldn't be anything formal, just the four of us hanging out. We could get some food and pretend to be tourists."

That does sound fun. Why not? Of course she cannot seriously consider dating a bender. But she has not seen Asami for quite a while, and this could be interesting.

"Okay, sure."

"Great! We were thinking of going out tomorrow night. I'll pick you up at seven."

It is not until after Korra has hung up that she considers how to tell Noatak, and realizes that she ought to have gotten his approval first. But he never would have given it.

Something Asami used to say, when they were young and trying something reckless, surfaces in her memory: "It's better to ask forgiveness than permission."

She decides that with so much going on, her father doesn't really need to know the details of all her activities. If things turn ugly, she is more than capable of protecting Asami and herself.

Asami picks her up on time. The simonized Satomobile―probably the latest model―looks ostentatious in this neighborhood of apartment buildings and small businesses.

Korra jumps over the door, instead of opening it, and plops into the passenger seat. "Hey."

Asami grins. "Hey yourself." She looks even more beautiful than Korra remembered: her hair is the longest she has ever seen it, and she has makeup on, but applied so flawlessly that it is not clearly visible. "It's good to see you again."

"You too." Korra fastens her seatbelt as Asami starts driving. "So where are we going?"

"Narook's Seaweed Noodlery. It's Bolin's favorite place to eat. They'll meet us there at eight."

"Won't we be kind of early?"

"I thought we could have some time to talk first."

Korra nods. "I'm sorry it's been a while," she apologizes."

"Oh, that's okay. I know what it's like—we're older, we're busier, all that."

"How have you been? School going alright?"

"I actually graduated, this past spring."

"What? Wow—congratulations!"

"Thanks. So, are you still doing the home-schooling?"

"Kind of. Lately I've had to work more than study." Korra cannot go into detail, not only because she is unsure how much Asami knows about the Equalists, but a;sp because their situations are so different. When they were children, Korra only felt it regarding their homes and recreation. Hanging out at Asami's mansion meant having access to a pool, a racetrack, and any kind of food imaginable. Hanging out at Korra's apartment meant playing on the rooftop and doing whatever they could do in the small indoor space. Now, as teenagers, the difference in wealth shapes their free time: Korra has to work in order to eat, while Asami is free to pursue whatever jobs or leisure activities interest her.

Narook's joint is in the Little Water Tribe, the section of Republic City where many Water Tribe immigrants live. The girls claim a booth and order drinks while they chat and wait for the boys.

"I think you'll like these guys," Asami says. "Bolin's really funny, kind of happy-go-lucky."

"What's Mako like?" Korra is curious what it is about this firebender that makes Asami like him.

"He's really mature and responsible—I think that's why he and I get along so well."

"But, what's his personality?"

"It's hard to say. I'm still just getting to know him."

"You knew that Bolin is funny and happy-go-lucky."

"Well, that's kind of hard to miss. Mako's more … reserved, I guess. With some people, you have to dig a little to get to know them. But he responds when I reach out."

"And how does he respond?"

Asami shrugs, but she is smiling. "Polite, pleasant. We have a little banter by now." Suddenly her eyes light up. "There they are!" She waves toward the entrance, and Korra sits up to look.

The boys both have black hair, though the taller one has it spiked up in the front; the other has a cowlick on his forehead, and the rest of his hair sticks up in the back. There is something about the sight of the two black-haired boys that seems familiar to her.

The taller one in red and gray smiles and starts toward them, but the shorter one in green holds out an arm to stop him. He turns his back to them, facing his brother and slicking his hair back. He says something that makes his elder shrug and nod; finally he turns around, striding forward confidently while his brother rolls his eyes.

Asami giggles at their exchange, while Korra feels clueless. "What was that about?"

"Bolin already likes you." That is all Asami has time to say before the boys reach them. She gets up and gives the taller boy a kiss on the cheek, before telling the other one, "I'm glad you could come." She looks at Korra and gestures to each of the boys in turn, indicating who is who. "Mako, Bolin, this is my friend Korra."

"Hi," Mako says, holding up a gloved hand in greeting.

"Nice to meet you!" Bolin shakes Korra's hand, smiling enthusiastically.

"You too," Korra answers automatically, smiling to be polite, hoping she looks and sounds genuine. He seems truly excited to be here. She feels momentarily sorry that she is bound to disappoint him.

"Shall we?" Asami gestures to the booth, and they slide in, the girls on one side, the boys on the other. Asami and Mako are directly across from each other, leaving Korra facing Bolin.

Bolin keeps looking at her, as though studying her. She feels a little self-conscious, an unusal feeling for her. "What? Did my ponytails come out?"

"No, you—you look great. I just—I feel like I've seen you before."

She almost misses the compliment, because she is more perplexed by the fact that he finds her familiar as well. "I was actually thinking the same thing about you two."

Mako shrugs. "Probably in the news, 'cause of our team."

"I don't think so. I don't really follow pro-bending."

"Oh."

"Really?" Bolin blurts out. "Why not?"

Korra shrugs, leaning back in her seat. "Just never got into it, I guess." She remembers the magazines Asami gave her as a birthday present. She may have once felt some regret at not being allowed to see matches, or even hear them on the radio. She thought she would enjoy it as much as she would enjoy seeing non-benders duke it out, with or without weapons. But the industry built around the sport embodies everything that she is now fighting against: the glorification of benders, the feeding of oversized egos and moneybags.

"You look like an athlete, though," Bolin says. "You work out?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Cool." When she does not say any more he presses, "You do any sports?"

"Swimming, running, parkour when I can find or make a good course. Plus some … mixed martial arts kind of things."

"Whoa, neat! Hey, maybe we could spar sometime, trade some tricks."

She makes a noncommittal noise, but Asami says, "You don't know what an offer that is, Korra. They're really good."

"They couldn't teach us bending."

"Still—I'd like to see it."

Narook comes over and asks what they would like. Not that there are many selections: all he sells are noodles. The only variables are the size and flavor of individual dishes. When he leaves, Korra glances between Mako and Asami. "So, how did you two meet?"

"Asami ran into Mako on her moped," Bolin says helpfully.

Korra blinks, surprised and instinctively concerned. "What? Seriously?" She looks over at Mako, who seems healthy and uninjured.

"Yeah." Asami smiles in embarrassment. "I offered to take him out to dinner to make it up to him."

"It was partly my fault," Mako confesses, avoiding both girls' eyes. "I was trying to catch the streetcar, so I ran out into the street without looking."

"Well … I know it sounds weird to say this, but I'm really glad I hit you with my moped."

He looks up at her and chuckles a little. "Ah, me too."

Korra has the feeling she gets sometimes when she sees people making out in a public place. She has had to shoo out teenagers who try to do so in the library. It is a combination of discomfort and annoyance.

"So, how long have you two known each other?" Mako asks.

"Oh, we go way back," Asami says. "About a decade now. Can you believe that?"

Korra realizes she is right. "Yeah, we were seven or eight when we met." Strange, she still feels as though their friendship is something new, something that needs to be proven and strengthened.

"We were in the same self-defense class. We were usually assigned as partners, and we just kind of clicked from there."

Suddenly Bolin snaps his fingers and points at Korra, a triumphant look on his face. "I know where I've seen you before! At a food pantry, when we were little! You were one of the volunteers, and you brought us second helpings—no one had ever done that for us before!"

Korra remembers, then: two little boys, one of them wearing a scarf.

The same scarf currently wrapped around Mako's shoulders.

Korra gapes at them, and Mako looks equally startled, peering at her as though seeing her clearly for the first time. It has been so many years since she thought of them, and here they are in front of her. She tries to remember the details of that encounter, but when she does, she feels more confused, not less. "Your parents—you said a firebender—killed them."

"Yeah."

"I'm so sorry. I remembered that—though, I haven't thought about it in years. Were you guys … homeless?"

Mako answers reluctantly. "Uh, yeah."

"For how long?"

"I don't know … six, maybe seven years?"

Korra feels flabbergasted. When Asami said these boys were pro-benders, she imagined them as rich, stuck-up celebrities, not orphans who grew up in poverty. They know as much as she does—actually, probably more than she does—about how harsh the streets of Republic City can be. She feels humbled, even more than she did when she met them years ago.

"This must be fate, or something," Bolin marvels. "I mean, what are the chances of us meeting again after so long?"

"Maybe higher than you'd think," Mako counters, "if we've all lived in the city all this time."

"But the city's huge, you can live a lifetime here and not cross paths …" They start arguing about hypothetical probability, but Korra is only half listening, still processing the paradox. To her, there have only been benders and people hurt by benders. But these boys are both. She is amazed, because she never realized it was possible.

She refocuses when Bolin asks her a question. "So, have you always lived in the city?"

"Since I was four."

"And before that?"

"I don't know. My dad adopted me then, and we've lived here ever since. I don't know where my biological parents were from, or where I lived before that." She almost said real, but she learned long ago that the definition of a real parent is subject to debate. She considers Noatak her real father because he chose her, raised her, and loves her.

"What happened to them?"

"I don't know. They're probably dead." She thinks that sounds less pathetic than saying they may have simply not wanted her, or may have been unable to take care of her. That would mean they gave up by choice. Death is more honorable, a legitimate form of defeat.

"I'm sorry," Mako says somberly.

"Me too," Bolin says.

"Thanks." She glances at Asami, wondering if the boys know about her friend's loss.

Apparently they do not, because Asami says quietly, "I lost my mother when I was very young."

Mako reaches across the table and grasps her hand. She looks up at him, and Korra feels the same discomfort as before—but also something else, something she cannot identify as she sees the two of them looking into each other's eyes.

"We should make a club," Bolin says, looking around the table, "the Family of Two Club."

Mako draws his hand back. "Sounds like a support group," he says, sounding half skeptical and half amused.

"Well, that's what friends do, right?" Asami says. "They support each other."

Korra thinks of the way Amon addresses the Equalists as "brothers and sisters," so much that even some of the lower-level leaders have picked up that familial language. They support each other more than any friends Korra knows of. And aren't families the ones who are supposed to support each other? Unless you do not have a family, in which case you would have to appeal to strangers for any kind of help.

Narook brings their order, and for a while their conversation is stilted, and what they do say is mostly to comment on the food. They wonder whether it is authentic Water Tribe cuisine, and this leads to Asami describing the places she has visited on vacations, and those she has yet to see. All three of Korra's peers have relatives or had ancestors in both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation.

After talking about her parents, Korra wonders, not for the first time, about the possibility of looking for them; but as usual she brushes it aside, asking herself, What would be the point? She has a family already, and a home, and a purpose she is working toward. She knows where she is and where she is going, so she has no need to know where she came from. Besides, showing an interest in her biological parents might hurt Noatak's feelings, and that is the last thing she wants to do. As for herself, she does not know what might cause more pain: finding out that her parents are dead, or finding out that they are alive, and subsequently having to choose whether or not to meet them.

Bolin lets out a belch, then claps his hand to his mouth, embarrassed. Mako gives him a withering look while Asami politely pretends not to notice. But Korra decides to ease his discomfort, by letting out a louder burp.

Mako and Asami have almost identical looks of surprise, but Bolin's eyes light up. He burps again, this time deliberately, trying to outdo Korra, who counters with the loudest and longest burp yet. Then both of them burst out laughing, and their laughter doubles when they see the disgusted expressions of the people at the next table.

"You guys are real mature," Mako says sarcastically.

"Hey, I was told this wasn't gonna be formal," Korra says, feeling more playful now. Asami giggles while Mako rolls his eyes, but his mouth curls as though he is fighting a smile.

Until now, Korra has never hung out with a group of friends this way. Childhood playdates were always one-on-one time with a friend. This is a different dynamic, but pleasantly so, their energies and personalities ricocheting in unpredictable directions rather than bouncing back and forth. Korra decides she likes it.

"Since you finished school," she says to Asami, "are you thinking about going to a university or something?"

"I did think about going to a trade school," Asami admits. "But honestly, I think I'll learn more by working with my dad. I learned everything I know about vehicles from him. All I need to learn now is the business side."

"I think it's great that you two bond over his work." Korra has only recently experienced that kind of connection herself.

"Does your dad still work at the library?"

"No, he quit a couple years ago. I actually work there now."

"Do you like it?"

"It's alright." It is positively boring, especially compared to her real work, but she knows it is much better than many other nonbenders' jobs.

"So what's your dad been up to?"

Korra tries to think fast, making casual hemming noises. "Oh … well … he's had a few different jobs. Not that he wasn't good at keeping any, he's just had trouble finding … something he loved to do. At least until a few years ago."

"So what does he do now?"

"It's hard to explain … he basically organizes programs to help people, especially when the government won't." That is technically the truth. "His heart is wherever he can help people."

"That's really admirable." Asami's tone is sincere.

Korra cannot help thinking that Asami would make a perfect Equalist: she already has a generous spirit, and she is just as good at martial arts as Korra (if not better—they could never determine which of them was more skilled).

She tries to reach out to the boys as well. "So, what do you guys like to do? When you're not pro-bending, I mean."

"Sometimes I work at the power plant," Mako says. "I can make lightning, and that's in pretty high demand."

"Huh." Somehow, in the course of their meal and conversation, Korra almost forgot he is a firebender. She imagines him shooting fire or lightning out of his hands, and is reminded to stay more alert. She watches his gloved hands as he uses his chopsticks, and wonders if Asami has held them in her own hands, which are so deft when working with machines. Are his hands gentle like hers, or can they hurt people? Maybe that question is unfair; Asami could hurt someone with her hands, if she wanted to. It is not a matter of ability, but of will.

Bolin answers the question for himself. "I take care of Pabu—he's our fire ferret—and I like hanging out with the kids at Central City Station. Oh, and we have to help out at the gym—the Arena, that is. That's part of our deal for living there."

"You live there?"

"Yeah. A few years ago, we met Toza—he was the earthbender for the Boarcupines—and he fixed us up with an apartment in the attic. He gave us the chance to form our own team."

"Yeah. That was nice, while it lasted," Mako says, sounding wistful.

"It was really fun," Bolin agrees.

"Throwing rocks and fire at people is fun?" Korra gripes without thinking. A somewhat awkward silence follows.

"Would you enjoy watching two people try to hit each other?" Asami asks.

"I—" She has done that, both in classes and in public places, like at the park. "Okay, point taken."

"We could go to a game sometime," Bolin suggests. "You'll see how cool it is."

"I don't know …"

"Trust me, you won't be disappointed." He sounds so earnest and enthusiastic.

"I think that's a great idea," Asami agrees. They both look to Korra for an answer.

"I'll have to ask my dad." That is a safe non-answer.

After finishing their meal, they leave the restaurant and drive around in Asami's car. Mako sits in the passenger seat, leaving Korra and Bolin together in the back. Without the windshield's protection, their hair is blown back when the car moves. Bolin kind of lounges in his seat, his arm resting on the side, and smiles whenever Korra glances at him. She smiles back the first few times, but then she avoids his gaze, looking out at the street instead. Seeing him look at her so hopefully, though flattering, makes her feel a little disheartened. She does not want to give hope where there is (or should be) none.

Still, she enjoys the rest of the evening. They get dessert at a soda fountain, and then go to the top of Harmony Tower, one of Republic City's most famous landmarks. The view is amazing on every side.

Finally Asami drops the boys off at the Arena, which looks stunning lit up at night. "Remember to ask about the match," Bolin says as he gets out of the car. "Or just visiting. Or going out."

"I will," Korra promises, because part of her wants to do those things too.

Mako kisses Asami goodnight and nods to Korra. "Nice meeting you—or, er, seeing you again."

"You too," she says. She gets into the passenger seat for the ride home.

Asami keeps giving her sidelong smiles as she drives. "What?" Korra asks.

"Well, what do you think?"

"I don't know. They seem nice."

"Can I ask you something? Was this your first date?"

"Does this count as a date?"

"Well, a double date, but yeah, it was a date."

"Then yeah, this would be my first. And it wasn't a bad one." When they pull up next to the apartment building Korra says, "I didn't expect to have fun tonight, but I did. Thanks for that."

"You're welcome. And I mean that literally: any time you want to hang out, you're welcome with us."

"I might take you up on that!" She waves from the doorstep as Asami drives away. It feels good to know that they can connect after so long apart.

Korra tries to go quietly up the stairs to their floor. She is much better at moving swiftly and silently, thanks to her espionage training. It occurs to her that she could check on Noatak if he is already in bed, as he always does on nights when he is out late—but she finds him sitting at the table, reading a newspaper, drinking stimulating tea to keep himself awake. He stayed up to make sure she made it home.

"How was your evening?" he asks.

"It was nice." She kicks off her boots and hangs up her coat near the door, and approaches him cautiously. "Dad? Does Asami know that her dad is an Equalist?"

He pauses, his expression blank. Korra waits patiently until he answers, "I should hope so, at this point. Why do you ask?"

"She's making friends with bending athletes. In fact, she's dating one."

"What?" He lowers his newspaper and sits up straight. "Are you referring to the people you were with tonight?"

"Yeah. Unless she's trying to lure them into a trap or something—which I can't see her doing, she's so darn nice—she seems pretty keen on them."

"What was your impression of them?"

"They seem nice."

He folds up his newspaper and indicates the other chair. "Tell me everything. That's an order from your leader."

Korra raises her eyebrows at him, surprised that he is choosing to play that card; but she sits down anyway, describes the boys, and recounts the evening. She ends by saying, "They invited me to see a pro-bending match with them."

"Oh? And did you accept?"

She suspects that he is testing her. "I said I would have to ask you first," she says honestly.

"But you led them to believe there was a chance that you could?"

"Well … isn't there?"

"You want to go?"

"Well, I'd like to see Asami more. And," she says, as an idea comes to her, "I'd like to keep an eye on her to make sure things don't go badly with them." Yes, that is a legitimate reason to see them again, to make sure they do not hurt Asami. Only, it is hard to picture them doing that. At least, she cannot imagine Bolin doing that—he seemed so innocent—unless that was a front, which is perfectly possible. Mako was more difficult to read, but that aloof attitude could hide a real threat.

"Asami's safety is her father's concern, not yours."

"He can't chaperone every date she goes on!" Actually, he almost certainly could, but Asami would be furious if he did. "But I can go and make it a group thing. There's safety in numbers. Please, Dad?"

Noatak chews on his lower lip, deliberating.

"You always say us nonbenders have to look out for each other," Korra wheedles. "Like brothers and sisters. That's what I want to do for Asami."

Finally he relents. "All right. But it will have to wait until after the event I'm planning. It's going to mark the beginning of the revolution, at least in the eyes of the public. I need you to help us prepare for that."

"Oh. Okay. I'll let Asami know tomorrow."

As she gets ready for bed, she turns Asami's words about friendship over in her mind. "That's what friends do, right? They support each other." For some reason the words bother her, make her wonder. Asami had lots of friends at her boarding school, girls she shared living space with and probably knows as well as she knows herself. But for Korra, "friends" has always meant people with whom she could spend time and have fun.

She realizes, for the first time, that she has never had a very deep friendship with anyone, to the point where she had to support one in any significant way. She has never received support from anyone, except perhaps her father, and even he has not always been accessible to her. Asami has been her friend for a long time, but they never talk about problems in their lives or in society. Maybe that is why Asami is ignorant of Equalism—should they have talked about that?

What of the fact that those boys are victims of their own kind? That undermines much of her perception of the power imbalance between benders and nonbenders. But even if there are more than two clean-cut sides to the conflict, that does not change her belief in Amon's principles.

Maybe she was wrong about all benders being bad in nature; but the boys' fate also proves just how brutal benders can be, inflicting pain on benders as well as nonbenders. Knowing what happened to Mako and Bolin's parents only gives her more reason to work among the Equalists.

Korra knows she cannot date Bolin. Even if she got used to being around benders, her father will never approve of her marrying one, so he will not likely let her date any. But she would like to be friends with the boys, and strengthen her friendship with Asami if she can.

She smiles, gives up searching for excuses, and lets herself look forward to their next meeting.

Artwork: "behind this mask is you" by colorfusionable on DeviantArt

Music: "Simple" by Angie Miller. It describes Korra's situation in this story, as well as Amon's life in both this story and the canon.