A/N: Well it's been awhile. It was my new year's resolution to update more frequently but I think I failed since it's already 18 days into the new year. I'm going to make two weeks my deadline for updating though and I really, really hope that works out. I also didn't update because my laptop was stolen (along with all my work) from a recent break-in in my house, so a drug addict probably pawned it somewhere. I'm going to dedicate this chapter to Bellaluna88 because she sent me a nice wake up call to update this story. Please review (because this stuff actually takes a lot of time to write) and thank you all for your continued support of this story. Now I got to go and pick up my sister.

PS. This chapter is just a warm-up. More is definitely in store.

A Terrible Synergy

Chapter 13

The children were already asleep when she walked in. Pema was kind enough to warm up her dinner before she want to bed and left it on the empty dining room table for her. She felt bad for making her stay up so late since she was so far into her pregnancy, but nothing could stop that woman from preforming any act of kindness no matter how small. She only hoped that she could repay her for all her benevolence that she had shown her the past few months because she wasn't obligated at all to take care of her. Korra wondered if all mothers were like that. She could faintly recollect her own attending a boiling pot in the kitchen, always making sure that she was fed. The food had cooled off quite a bit when the Avatar finally made it to the table. Her numb fingers wrapped around the chopsticks in a stiff manner pulling the lukewarm noodles to her mouth. Tenzin and Mako sat beside her in relatively calm silence. Periodically, they would strike up a conversation about trivialities, but small talk couldn't hide or protect her from the actual danger. The two chatted as if nothing were wrong, as if the battles being won and lost every day now didn't exist. It was almost a comforting sentiment that they would put on this act for her own sake knowing well that the two were dying to figure out what had happened to her and what meant for the future of the city. All the battles seemed to run closer and closer together now, and everyone understood the gravity of the situation and what was laying at hand, but no one had the audacity to cut the bullshit, not even she. Though she had the power to set things right and in a few sentences everything would be over and done with: Tarrlok is blackmailing me… he is blackmailing Saikhan too, we need to stop provoking war… Amon could our friend if we let him… he can be our friend…

He could be our friend…more than a friend…

What the hell are you doing anymore? Do something.

Her rapid thoughts slowed when a firm knock thundered through the room. The Airbender raised from his sitting position perplexed by the unexpected guest, "I wonder who this could be at this hour," he stated out loud while delicately stretching out his back. She hadn't noticed how tired her teacher looked; her hand lost track of her chopsticks as his deep voice followed his teacher's. It was his voice. Her body's muscles contracted as a wave of anxiety washed over her. The firebender noted her abrupt change in mood, "Korra, are you alright?"

Her eyes went small as they traveled up and down the length of the table in search of something tangible to hold onto, but it was useless like forcing yourself to believe that something doesn't exist when it does. Her mouth opened to reply but no words came. The sound of his leather boots grew louder and louder as they clapped against the hard wood applauding her with perverse acclaim. The waterbender hadn't even felt Mako's hand on her shoulder; she shut her eyes pinching her eyebrows together, "I'm fine. I'm fine," she insisted releasing a shaky breath when they entered.

"Korra, this man claims that he's a friend of yours."

She turned her head, "Yes, he is."

He looked at her with his normal, indifferent expression but his eyes showed her that he was there, that he was invested. He nodded his head, "Avatar Korra."

"Noatak," she acknowledged with an earnest tone contrasting vastly to how she would actually greet a friend.

He stood slightly behind the Airbender, who he was just as tall as. Anyone could see that he took great care at choosing his words, "It's a pleasure to see that you're alright," his usual sharpness softened when she looked at him. The Avatar had no idea what he was doing. There was nothing for him to gain at revealing his real face to a councilman. She was secretly contented that he hadn't left but she couldn't understand what he was trying to prove. At the same time, her teacher was standing next to the man that he was fighting so adamantly to bring down, and had lead him into his own home without even knowing it; his kind-heartedness had betrayed him.

"Thank you," she didn't know what else to say. An extremely long pause followed while the two just stared at each other. Tenzin glanced at them both in confusion and then at Mako, who was sitting there quietly with a tense, unreadable expression written across his face.

"I should go," Noatak finally spoke. Korra didn't respond. She returned her focus toward her food swiveling her head around. She flexed her fingers against the grain of the wooden table. Her mentor watched as her knuckles grew pale from the pressure.

The firebender gently withdrew his comforting hand from Korra's shoulder; in one swift, powerful motion he rose, "I agree with you. I think you should go," Mako locked his eyes on him speaking threats through his scowl, "I mean haven't you already seen her today?"

Tenzin narrowed his eyes, "What are you talking about, Mako? She was here the entire day."

The darkly cloaked man's focus floated from the probender to Korra, who was holding her head within her palms now; he didn't want to bring more stress upon her but he needed so desperately to show that he would put his own safety on the line in order for her trust him again. Noatak's expression remained neutral as more glances were passed around, "I heard voices as I was running to assist Korra, who at that time was shouting for my help. When I finally reached her, she was alone and on the ground, but there was a footprint left in the snow. She told me that she had slipped because a wolf-bat flew past her face, but that was an obvious lie. It was made by you. It's the only explanation. The only question that's left unanswered is why you would show up now."

The airbender turned his head towards the mysterious man whose expression remained largely unaffected, "Is this true? You met her today? Did you hurt Korra?"

"Yes, I met with her tonight. I brought no harm to her," he replied evenly.

Tenzin's eyes wrinkled in suspicion, "Why were you on this island in secret?"

She swallowed building up her courage, "Because, Tenzin, he didn't feel comfortable visiting me public because he knew that Mako didn't like him," the Avatar finally interjected. It was a weak claim, but one that moved the attention away from the cryptic man to her, a source that the two trusted more. Noatak remained standing outside of the room looking in. He would always be an outsider and nothing could change that. Not even how he spoke or dressed could alter what he was. It was strange to him to be in a house like that, so warm and inviting. If he closed his eyes maybe he could pretend that he was one of them. Even Tarrlok believed he was of one them, that he was human. It was almost funny really. The both of them caught in this game of make-believe because they thought they could have what everyone else had. The sad truth was that they couldn't. The world could never understand or accept them for who they truly were. They were marked by blood and friended only by death and destruction. They were exactly what his father bred, but he didn't want to be that person anymore. The floorboards creaked under his feet as he shifted. He could feel her eyes on him and chills instantly ran down the sides of his face because he couldn't hide from himself how much he wanted her; she made him feel alive, she made him feel human.

Mako's distrust shifted in the air like the smoke ballooning out factory chimneys, while Korra's comment brought some ease to her teacher, "That's bullshit! Don't use me as your excuse," the boy spat looking down at the waterbender,"that's a lie and you know it, Korra! You have been lying to me this whole time and all I have been trying to do for you is to protect and help you!"

"I didn't ask for your help or protection, Mako."

Her teacher paced toward the outraged probender, "Calm yourself, son," the boy groaned indignantly at the older man's plea but obeyed it as released a short breath. He stepped away while pulling at his scarf as if to physically stop himself from saying anymore; he didn't care if she didn't wanted his help. All he was doing was what he thought was right. He was the one that left her in that underground factory; he was the one that failed her and because of his inability to save her she was thrown to the mouths of the equalist dogs again! If he couldn't look after her now, when could he protect her at all?

"Korra, you should watch what you say," her master scolded just as harshly. Without warning, the firebender regained his proximity with the waterbender shoving his face directly in front of hers. Tenzin, trying to avoid a fist fight breaking out between the teens, grabbed him on the shoulder but the boy easily swatted the man's tattooed hand away out of sheer anger. Eye to eye with the Avatar, the boy spit out, "You could understand were I'm coming from once in a while instead of going off on your own accord acting as if it doesn't hurt the people around you. You know what he really is Korra. I know you see it." The heated confrontation ended as quickly as it started. He finished and turned away pacing to the other side of the room.

There was a longer silence now. Tenzin returned his attention back to the stranger, "Noatak, how long have you been on this island?"

He appeared calm but he wasn't. He wanted to knock the daylights out of the firebender. He couldn't lie, the teen was quite perceptive, but his emotions would be the end of him. Unlike him, he very adept at masking and controlling his. The suited man sighed and placed his hands in his pockets, "I was here for quite a time," he replied honestly, "I wanted to know if she was alright because I read in the papers that she was released from Amon's custody yesterday," he paused, his eyes were clear and firm, "I didn't come to put your evening in ruins and if that is the case, I am truly sorry, but can assure you that I did not inflict any evil upon Korra or any resident of this island. I simply wanted to talk to her and I would like to speak with her in private once more, if that's alright."

"No, it isn't," the airbender answered. Mako's outburst had put him on the edge. He didn't know what this man had done to make the teen so upset.

The Avatar hadn't spoken in a while and her back stayed facing all of the men in the room throughout most of the conversation. She didn't have faith in her ability to conceal her feelings and she knew that her face would betray her. Her bending master as well as her friend were not convinced by the shadowy man's story or her unusual quietness. She needed to say something, to save him like he had saved her. Tenzin continued to interrogate him and he answered with poise giving them what they wanted to hear.

Her heart was pounding from adrenaline and hurt, "Tenzin, stop. You can trust him."

Her teacher froze. All his answers were viable. His boat was hidden in one of the inlets on the North side of the island. He had left the moment he discovered her release, which explains why he was here all day, but what was left uncertain was the question of why he had traveled here in such secrecy.

Mako couldn't wait on the sidelines any longer, "Then tell me, Korra, why keep his visit from us? Why keep him from us?"

She found her feet and stood up in the strongest stance she could manage. Her left leg was shaking but it was too subtle to see unless one was looking for it, "Because, Mako, we were romantically involved. I it kept from you, Tenzin, and everybody else because I didn't want anybody to know, okay. I didn't think you would accept me having a relationship with an older man," her words were soft. Her eyes fell to the floor and she could hear Noatak's weight shift again on the old floorboards.

"Are you still?" The boy's words were surprisingly level, but Korra could catch the intense disappointment in them.

"It's complicated."

"It's not complicated. It's either you are or you're not."

"Stop harassing her," Noatak finally entered the room freeing his hands from his pockets. His tone spoke silent threats.

"Shut up," the firebener shouted pointing his index finger menacingly at him, "I won't hesitate in cutting you down where you stand."

"I'm sure you won't," Noatak smirked instinctively; he wasn't trying to get to him. The boy was falling victim to his unchecked temper.

The waterbender grabbed his arm, "Mako, please, clam down."

"You're going to wake the children up," Tenzin added, "You should go back and check on your own brother. Korra will be fine with me."

His burnt eyes connected with the Avatar's and she understood how much this wounded him, but he had no right in claiming her, he had no right at all. He shook her grip off, "He's using you, Korra. You and everyone else knows that." She watched his tall, youthful frame pass through the doorway, which was shadowed by the sound of the slam of the front door and its squeaking hinges. He was going to check on his brother in the male dormitory like her master had suggested. The earthbender was most likely in the middle of a deep sleep; his brother he had watched the Avatar the whole night the night before to make sure that she was breathing. Bolin took the blame just as hard as he did.

Korra watched him leave. Overall, she hadn't been the person she wanted to be because she was too caught up with the mysterious man standing in front of her. She didn't know if she was acting selfishly. She didn't know if her desire for Noatak was the right thing, but what she did know, was how her body and soul craved it. It didn't benefit her in denying the fact of how much she wanted him because she wanted him. She could do nothing about it, and her friends were just doing what they were willingly compelled to do: to help and support her, but they would never approve of the man that she had fallen for. The man who had practically ripped Asami's life apart, the man who still subsided in Bolin's frequent night terrors, the man who had inflicted so much evil upon the city that's only trying to keep its neck above the tide of war. Why did it have to him?

"You can talk to her until I return with the white lotus sentries that will escort you back to Republic City. Then you must leave," the bald man articulated very clearly, "I don't want you on this island unless I know about it and if I find you snooping around here again there will be consequences."

Noatak nodded; he found it amusing to be reprimanded by him as if he were one of his children, but he would respect his wishes because Korra respected him. It wasn't like he was going to catch him anyway. His bright red and yellow robes disappeared through the kitchen leaving them alone. They stood three feet away facing each other.

"Why would you do that? Expose yourself?"

He shook his head, "I suppose I thought this would have convinced you to trust me…" he hadn't really thought it through, "I wish we had more time to talk because I have a lot more to tell you than a moment will allow."

She folded her arms, "I have to meet Tarrlok tonight in his office. He wants me to tell him everything that happened, everything that I know about you."

"Tarrlok is a bad man. He will hurt you if you go and I can't let that happen."

"I'll be fine. I'm sure I could handle him if things go south."

"Don't you understand? He's the one orchestrating everything. He wants you gone and he'll just frame me for it."

"There's something that you're holding off on. You won't tell me will you?" How was it that he was so transparent to her now? She leaned in closer to him, staring intensely into his eyes, "He knew you, didn't he?"

His eyes lowered, "Why'd you shout my name?"

"Because I was trying to break through to the right person. You're not that monster you think you are even if you believe he is a vital part of you."

He sighed and swallowed hard, keeping his eyes to the floor, "He knows the name Noatak like the prayers he said every morning to the ocean and moon… because I was there beside him reciting them too," his dark blue eyes connected with hers, "He knows that name because he was my brother."