"Asami! Where've you been?" an excited voiced greeted her.
Exhausted couldn't cover how Asami has been feeling for the last several days so when a heavy body wrapped her in a bear hug, she had put up no resistance. Despite her initial reluctance, she couldn't help but melt into the boy's embrace. "It's nice to see you too, Bolin," she replied with a smile.
"Yeah, where have you been?" Mako scooted over to make room for his girlfriend on the couch. Once Bolin met his hug quota for the day, he released Asami and made his way back to Korra's side.
Mako warmly welcomed his girlfriend and wrapped his arm around her shoulders to pull her into a kiss. The familiar routine put Asami in an odd sense of relaxation and she let out a calm breath against his still smiling lips. Korra and Bolin on the other hand stuck out their tongue in disgust at their overly public display of affection. Asami would've normally dismissed it with a laugh, but she couldn't quite muster energy.
"Sorry," Asami closed her eyes and rest her head to Mako's chest. "I've been running around doing stuff for my dad. What'd I miss?"
Silence befell the group and they all looked at each other awkwardly.
"You haven't heard?" asked Mako as he scratched the back of his neck.
"Heard what?"
"Amon's threatened the stadium." Korra informed. "He wants the Council to cancel the finals. With the help of Beifong–" Korra faintly heard Mako whisper 'Chief Beifong' "–the finals are still on for tomorrow but the Metalbending Police Force is going to be there for added security. She said that she guarantees the stadium's protection."
"Don't worry, I'm sure everyone will be fine," Mako said reassuringly, mistaking her look of concern as for that of the team. He gave a strong smile.
"Yeah, I mean, we're basically champions already," Bolin boasted with his chest out. He gave it a sturdy pound to accentuate his point. "Well, almost. Right after we show those Wolfbats who's boss. If anyone can take on those Equalists, it's us!"
"I know you guys can take care of yourselves," Asami dismissed.
And, she did. Asami wasn't dumb. She knew if anyone were to get in their way, the Fire Ferrets would give them the biggest run for their money. The Krew had, on more than one occasion, first hand experience with the rebellion. Fearless and highly skilled, they knew exactly how to handle themselves.
The team's safety wasn't one of concerns. She had to worry about make adjustments to the new obstacle. Her mind worked in overdrive. Planning out a schedule and crunching numbers, she carefully concluded what needed to be done. The placement and number of gloves that she'd need to equip needed to taken care of before anyone entered the stadium. There never seemed to be enough hours in a day for the Equalist.
Asami pulled herself away with a groan and the cool air hit her like a truck. She instantly missed the warmth.
"Where are you going?" Mako asked. A thin brow rose at the accusatory tone in his voice. "You just got here."
"Yeah, hang out for a bit! It's our last night as normal benders. After this, we'll be celebrities!" Bolin exclaimed. "Can't you just see it now?" he pulled Korra to his side and let out a dreamy sigh. "Our names in lights as we make public appearances. Girls just falling to our feet, begging us for autographs."
Korra gave an awkward smile and took a quick glance at the other girl. Asami's unamused face added to her unease and suddenly found the training weights absolutely enthralling.
Asami took a second before speaking. She tossed her hair over her shoulders and offered an obscenely large smile. "Alright, normal benders, you guys go and celebrate. This non-bender is has some non-bending business to take care of before bed."
The smaller girl cringed at her words and the excitement from Bolin's speech died. His smile was wiped clean off of his face. "No, that's not what I meant. I mean, you're part of the team. You should be celebrating with us!"
"Not tonight, boys. I'm tired," she buffered the invite. The bitterness was dropped from her voice. A small huff fell from her lips and let her shoulders sink a few inches. She was too tired to be defensive. "I'm going to head to bed after I run a few more errands."
"At least stay for dinner?" Korra asked hopefully. Sharp greens softened when they locked with the unusually shy baby blues. She almost felt bad for saying no.
"I can't tonight. A celebration dinner tomorrow?" Asami offered an empty promise. Korra couldn't help but mimic her soft smile.
"I'll see you tonight?" Mako called out as Asami started to take her leave.
"I don't know. I wouldn't want to keep you from getting a good night's sleep," she replied with a roll of her eyes.
"OOOOOH." Korra and Bolin howled in unison. Unfazed by their interjection Asami kept on walking. "Looks like there's trouble in paradise!" Korra's full laugh was nearly drowned out by Bolin's as he slapped his knee.
The duo made no efforts to coddle Mako. He was a firebender; he should've been used to getting burned.
Standing in the middle of the arena, Asami looked up to the stands. The usually booming crowd was nothing but empty seats. Piece by piece her mind filled in the blanks.
Bright lights filled the stadium, bringing it to life. Streamers flowed through the air freely and food was being tossed left and right in excitement. She could hear the crowd howling and whistling, growing louder with each passing second. There was an explosion of voices as the two final teams teams made their way into the ring for the season's last show down.
"And the team we've all been secretly rooting for," Shiro Shinobi's voice called out over the crowd. The room darkened as three spotlights fell on each of the team members. "The newbies, the underdogs, and our absolute favorites, the Future Industries Fire Ferrets!"
Asami made her way to the center, dressed in the team uniform complete with a red sash around her waist. She heard her name being chanted and she waved politely. She looked to her right and saw Korra smirk and just beyond her Bolin wiggled his eyebrows. She took a firm stance as she heard the countdown start. With an even breath, she let out a small wisp of smoke and grinned at the terrified looks on their opponents' faces.
"Let's do this," she heard Korra call out. With a quick jab, all three threw their elements.
Asami's closed fist followed the motion yet nothing came. No flame bursting from her hand, no warmth from the assault, not even a spark from trying. Nothing.
When she was little, Asami would occasionally dream about being a bender. She longed for the idea of no longer be teased. She wanted to be as good as the others. Just hearing of Avatar Aang and his friends' adventures made her want to go out on her own adventures. She would stay up all night imagining what it would be like to be a hero, someone as powerful and graceful as Avatar Kyoshi.
She would use her bending for good. She dreamed of using it to help people, maybe even join the Republic City Police Department. Years went by and her mother's murder went unsolved. With the increase in crime, it was to no one's surprise that death threats to the Sato family were frequent. As the city grew cold, so did she. Hope and innocence ebbed away, leaving only bitterness and animosity in its wake. She was clearly not going to change the world by sitting idly, hoping to be a bender. When Amon came in, she knew it was exactly what she was looking for.
Asami scoffed and reminiscing of her naive fantasies had put her in a sour mood. She was no longer that guileless child and did not want to look back. With a renewed sense of determination, she left the ring. The next time she'd be standing there, it would be revolutionary.
By the time Asami was able to stock the stadium with enough gloves to cover the heightened security, it was well past midnight. The gloves had tripled in numbers and since they needed to be dispersed in large numbers and quickly, they had been moved from the locker room to the concession stands at every entrance.
"I knew I was making the right decision when I chose you." The low and eerie voice never failed to send an unpleasant chill down her spine. True to his nature, he appeared out of nowhere and always when she least expected it.
"Amon," she said, monotone. Amon watched wordlessly as Asami pushed the last box into its place. "The Fire Ferrets have informed me that Lin Beifong and her team will be joining us tomorrow, all thanks to your little broadcast."
"Very nice, Ms. Sato. Things look like they'll be running smoothly." The leader didn't sound too pleased with her snippy remark but he let it slide. Asami was invaluable to the team. Amon picked up a nearby glove and slipped his hand inside. Bringing it to his masked face, he took a closer look. "Why, may I ask, isn't the newest model being used?"
"Do you really trust a bunch of imbeciles with gloves that could kill?" Asami asked without missing a beat. She never wanted to see those weapons again, let alone hand them out like candy to a bunch of laymen. She aimed for a revolution, not a slaughterhouse. "Drunk with power, there's no telling what people would do. These will be more than sufficient to take out the security detail."
Skeptically, eyes narrowed under a mask and even with her back turned Asami could feel them boring holes into her. Throwing the glove back into a vat of stale popcorn, Amon deemed her excuse reasonable. "We have a lot riding on this. We will not allow even the slightest error. I trust you needn't be reminded of how we take care of failures."
"No. I understand. Satos do not make mistakes."
The threat didn't sit well with Asami. She would've been irked if she weren't so anxious. The girl nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a strong grip on her shoulder. She grimaced as his grip increased.
"I do hope your team will make it to the finals. I'm sure the avatar would love the surprise I have in store for her."
"Where have you been?" Mako asks incredulously. Asami didn't even get the chance to say hi. "The match starts in ten minutes and we haven't seen you since last night!"
Instead of responding, Asami counted to three.
One.
Her temper was teetering on the edge. Sharp shark brows furrowed, undoubtedly waiting for an explanation. Asami crossed her arms in defiance.
Two.
The team's constant presence was almost welcomed but when she had better things to do than check in with them like a child, it became more of a chore. Mako started to rant about how he shouldn't have to worry about his girlfriend and what she was doing, the importance of the game, their lives, something along the lines of being responsible. She wouldn't be able to tell you, she was too busy trying to distract herself.
Three.
The team manager did her best to keep her cool with the constant chastisement but wasn't going to stand around anymore. Just as she was about to snap, Bolin stepped in. "Come on, Mako, give her a break. She's here now and with plenty of time."
Lucky for you, Asami thought dryly. A sudden hand on her shoulder made her wince. She was not expecting to be greeted by Korra's goofy grin.
"I know, I know." He took a calming breath and his expressions warmed. The rowdy crowd's cheering could be heard even through the thick locker room doors. Ember eyes shone with sincerity. "I just– I wanted my girlfriend to be here for this. It's not every day that we win the championship, you know? We miss you. I miss you. And you've just seemed so distracted lately. We were worried."
Asami dared to glance at the others and her peeved look softened when realization dawned on her. Their sympathetic looks told her that the firebender wasn't the only one that felt that way. Her boyfriend wasn't being a possessive jerk; he was concerned. He missed her, so did Bolin as well as Korra. The team wanted her around them.
Growing up alone and wealthy, Asami was not accustomed to people wanting her company, not unless somebody wanted something from her. These foolish kids wanted share their happiness and their success. She was included in their little group and their team. She was a part of something and people genuinely enjoyed her presence. It was something she hadn't felt in earnest since she had lost her mother.
She loathed how she wanted to be around them too.
It wasn't just their company that had affected the Equalist. Her constant surveillance has made her see more than she ever wanted to. The power and stability it takes to control the earth, the agility and precision in each burst of flame, the grace and flexibility it takes to move with water. Each had carefully plotted out moves which took years of training to master. Asami could not deny that it was an art form in its own. All her life she had known bending to be nothing more than a weapon. It was merely a suppressant, something that the powerful used to control the weak.
Asami knew that Amon's teachings weren't completely in the wrong. Bending continued to prove to be all those things on a daily basis. But, she learned that it could be so much more than that too. It was beautiful. It could be used without malice. The way the brothers used their talents in sibling rivalry, not unlike how two non-benders would arm-wrestle. Korra used it for pranks and games. It could be was lighthearted and, dare she think it, fun. It was also useful to the community. It was impossible to deny that the lightning power plants and healing have improved their lives in a way they could never achieve without them.
The non-bender had never seen the other side of the coin until she met the three. The unease that sat in the pit of her stomach all morning finally calmed. Seeing her friends, she knew that she had made the right decision.
Hopeful eyes wore down her barriers and her shoulders slumped in resignation. "I'm sorry, I know. I've just been a bit busy with work and other things," she fabricated as she leaned in for a hug. "I'll try to be around more."
Tension lifted as if it was never there and Mako wrapped his arms around her. Before she could register any of it, the air was squeezed out of their lungs when another pair of strong arms encompassed them.
"Bo, let go," Mako wheezed as he tried to catch his breath.
"It's just so beautiful," Bolin sniffled with tears forming in his eyes. "My beautiful baby brother and one of my best friends."
"I'm not your baby brother, Bo." Mako grumbled and squirmed. He gave up with a sigh and let him hug it out. There was clearly no way out.
Asami laughed quietly to herself. She could barely move but honestly didn't put much effort into it. She gave Korra a weak smile and bright green eyes shone as she silently beckoned the girl over. The waterbender laughed and leaned against the lockers.
"No, thank you," she politely declined.
"I know you want in," Asami mumbled in Mako's uniform. She would've extended her arm out in welcome but it was it was stuck between the boys.
"I'm good, really." Korra insisted with a hand up. The sight alone was more than enough to warm the girl's heart and didn't want Bolin to break her ribs minutes before the biggest game of her life.
"Nuh uh, you're not getting away that easily," Bolin called out. He grabbed the collar of her uniform and tugged it harshly. The strong body came tumbling straight into the three and they all let out a simultaneous 'ooph' when she collided with them. Within no time, Bolin wrapped her up in Ferret burrito. Korra shook her head at Asami's grin, knowing that she was wearing that smug smirk because she had got what she wanted.
"I love my family," Bolin said with a dreamy sigh, clearly having no intention of letting go.
"We're not exactly the most conventional family," Korra replied with a laugh. She tried to turn to look at the youngest boy but failed miserably.
"That's fine, it's not like we need conventions."
Laughter filled the room but Asami just smiled quietly. Mako's strong heartbeat pounded against her ear as they all shook with Bolin's enthusiasm. Asami freed her hand and shy fingers blindly fumbled around in search for the other girl's wrist. The two shared a private smile when Asami found her pulse.
Asami had never felt so alive.
The roar of the crowd flooded over the team the moment they stepped out of the locker room. Loud hurrahs put a smile on all of their faces. Seeing the packed stands, it was impossible to deny everyone's happiness. Smaller children sat upon their parent's shoulders as the older fans were reinvigorated with energy. She spotted several of the diehard fans matching them in their uniforms and even went so far as setting their hair to match. Korra may not have been the crowd's favorite as the Avatar but at least she got the public's vote in something.
Gears started turning and the platform is extended to the field. While Bolin was busy basking in the glory and giving a show of his muscles, both Korra and Mako instantly search out one familiar face. Siting in her usual spot, Asami waved before blowing a kiss.
Korra felt the world stand still and she couldn't tear her gaze away. Her heart was pounding and she had no response. Should she send a kiss back? Should she pretend she never saw it? Why would she do that? What did it mean? Thoughts whizzed through her mind faster than you could say 'flying fishopotamus' but screeched to a halt when she caught Mako returning the gesture.
Of course, she thought as she rolled her eyes. It wasn't as if she expected Asami to do something like that when she had no reason to. That would've been curious even if she had known they were childhood best friends which, even after all of their adventures, Asami had given no inclination to.
Not after tonight, Korra promised herself. She stretched once she got into position and put on her game face.
Even though Korra had wanted to see if Asami would ever remember on her own, she had enough of waiting. It wasn't even that big of a deal. Knowing each other for a couple of weeks more than 10 years ago wasn't a very significant amount of time. She even didn't even know if Asami would remember even after she told her, let alone want to be reminded that time of her life. But she had decided. If they won the tournament, she'd tell Asami, and if not, she'd let it go.
"Whoa!" Korra cried out loud.
Tahno's jab came inches from her face. The match had started and she wasn't ready for the cheap shot. Before she could even get her footing, she was knocked back a zone by a whip of water. The opposing trio was a significantly more experienced than their past opponents and it showed within seconds. Their synchronization alone was something to envy. The Fire Ferrets couldn't get a single hit in, too busy taking blows and holding their ground.
Bolin and Mako worked in tandem to knock the Wolfbat's firebender off to the side, finally managing a slight upper hand. The move didn't sit well with the others though and they decided to pick it up a notch. Clearly exceeding the water limit, Tahno sent a jet of water straight at Bolin's chest, pushing him across the floor and over the edge. Unfair but not unexpected, the referees turned a blind eye and continued to ignore foul after foul.
Winning the match was going to be much more difficult than she had initially thought but that only heightened her determination.
The Fire Ferrets had barely managed to scrape through to round two, finally earning a few seconds to breathe and regroup. Their offense would have to be faster and stronger if they wanted to keep up without resorting to dirty little tricks. It turned into more of a survival match to hold out until the time was up. Managing to survive freezing water, excess disk usage, and headshots, they managed to tie round two.
"Bring it on, pretty boy," Korra taunted as the two stepped on the platform for the round tie breaker. She cracked her knuckles and stretched her neck. The tiebreaker was a contest between water and she knew she had it in the bag. Korra had dealt with Tahno enough over the course of the tournament and this was the perfect opportunity to take him down a notch. As the chime still echoing in their ears, she hit him with a good ol' one-two. He didn't have to speed to keep up with the avatar and his ever-present smug smile was washed clean off his face.
Waving to the crowd, Korra not-so-humbly accepted all the cheers of praise and took bows of recognition. Eyes desperately turned to one spot in the stands, hoping that she had impressed their team manager. Her smile drained when she realized neither she nor the team's sponsor were anywhere to be found. Disappointed that Asami had missed her shining moment hit her hard but at least she was one step closer to winning the championship, one step closer to their reunion.
The bell rang and round three started, pushing all other thoughts out of Korra's mind. It was no surprise that the Wolfbats stepped up their game and it was evident that Tahno had no intention of letting the Fire Ferrets steal their win. Every single player threw the best they had out into the ring. Every shot fired was avoided. Bodies were bending over backwards, flipping out of the way, contorting into impossible positions. If someone couldn't move out of the way in time, they took the hits.
Although she'd hate to admit it, the Wolfbats would be admirable players, if they had only learned to play fair.
Korra held their place in zone one as the bending brothers offered support from zone three. So far the round had been clean which lead to Korra letting her guard down. It was the biggest mistake in her short pro-bending career. Crushed earthen disks in a high-speed stream of water took each of the Fire Ferrets down in a single move. It wasn't just being hit in the face that got Korra though, it was flying two zones back, straight into the icy water threw her body into a shock. She didn't have time to process the knockout, as she was too busy trying force her body to move.
Once her body overcame the initial shock, she struggled to breath. Her lungs burned when they filled with chlorinated water as she pushed her way to the surface. She was only got a few breaths in when she noticed the stands lighting up in bright blue light. The sound of the electricity popping in the air instantly told her that the security team had failed to hold up their of the deal. They were undoubtedly under an Equalist attack.
The Fire Ferret's attention was pulled back to the ring when a figure appeared in front of them. At the base, a single Equalist stood at the edge with a large electrified pole in tow. The most terrifying thing about the Equalists' mask wasn't the pipes that jutted from the side or the eerie green glow of their goggles, it the lack of facial expression. A chill ran down Korra's spine as eyes met and before she could react, the curved end was dipped into the water, sending a shock through the otherwise still water. The whole team was knocked out in one strike. The screams of her teammates were the last thing Korra heard.
Rope chafed her wrists as the avatar struggled to no avail. Tied to the base of the stadium, she could hear Amon's words that burned through her. He spoke of the start of a new era, a turning point in history, and they were all a part of it. It was the talk of a revolution that she was supposed to be preventing.
"Some avatar," Korra grunted as she threw her weight around. She heard Bolin's clicking and did her best to ignore it. A large explosion rang from above their heads and the three benders looked at each other in worry. They knew that it only be a few moments before they were crushed beneath the ring.
Struggling was pointless. Nothing was working. The chaos scrambling around them wasn't helping their situation either. Korra took a calming breath, making sure to keep a level head. Nothing good would come from her losing her cool. She closed her eyes and counted to five, making sure to keep her temper under control.
Their patience paid off when Pabu had proved his worth. With no time for 'thank you's, Korra rushed out onto the water to assess the situation. Amon was making his exit with more than a half a dozen Equalists. Korra knew that it was a fool's errand to go after all of them by herself but there was no question about what needed to be done. The rebellion would throw the city into chaos and she needed to nip it in the bud.
Since airbending was out of the question, the only way she could think of catching up to him was with a rush of water. The air whizzing by was deafening as she closed in on the Equalists and just when she thought that she could feel them in her grasp, they were slipping away. Her altitude was dropping quickly when she lost momentum. Before she knew it, missing her window was no longer her biggest problem; falling to her death had bumped its way to the top.
Korra let out a pained grunt when thin wire wrapped around tightly her waist and was being propelled back into the air. Lin Beifong had saved her and gave her that extra boost to make it to the top. Whipping around one of the rising platforms, she knocked a pair of Equalist back onto the roof but missed Amon by an inch. She didn't have much time to dwell on her loss when they decided to carry on with their assault.
Six Equalists versus the avatar would've been a tough fight regardless but standing on the glass roof left her at an even greater disadvantage. Over two hundred feet above ground, there was no access to earth or water, that, partnered with her lack of ability to bend air, she was limited to solely bending fire. The Chief of Police at her side had tipped the scale in their favor but that wasn't enough. Defeating the lackeys wouldn't stop the revolution. They needed to get to Amon.
Diving down from the retreating platforms came a familiar enemy. Armed with her naginata, the same Equalist from the ring readied herself for a fight. Calm and collected, she gripped her weapon. Seeing the sparks jumping from the tip sent a tingle down her spine as her body recalled its effect from moments ago.
"I would've boarded the ship if I were you," Korra taunted as she dashed toward her opponent.
Korra threw a flame from her heel as she jumped over the taller woman, but nearly lost her balance when the tip of pole swiped at her landing spot.
She's fast, Korra grimaced when the weapon made its way back around and nearly landed a blow to the side of her face. The only way she seemed to be able to dodge the attacks was to keep out of range. Try as she might, she couldn't get within five feet of the woman with her constant onslaught.
Burst after bust of fire was avoided with ease as the Equalist seemingly danced around her. The two women found themselves at a stalemate when neither of them could get a hit in. Either they had to wait until one of them got lucky or run the other down until they ran out of stamina.
Tired of the standstill, Korra took initiative and rushed forward at full speed. She the distance between her and her opponent was shortened but as she got closer, she could hear another set of footsteps trailing behind her. Her attention was divided between the two. Just as she was about to give up the attack, the extra footfalls were silenced when Lin Beifong caught them in her wire. Without the distraction, she could stay focused on her new nemesis.
"You take care of this, I'm going after Amon," Beifong yelled. Quickly throwing a metal whip to catch the platform, the Chief of Police hitched a ride to the blimp.
"Just you and me now," Korra stated, her words breathy. She was worn and slowing down but she was glad that she wasn't the only one. The bout was taking a visible toll on the Equalist as well. Her stance was now slouched as her shoulders bobbed with each heaved breath. "Don't tell me you're tired already."
With a grin, Korra charged. She threw a few puffs of fire as a distraction, only to burst through the flames with a perfectly aimed kick. Only, things didn't go as she had planned. The Equalist had seen through her tactic and had taken the burn in order to keep a firm stance. Dropping her weapon, she took to grabbing Korra's incoming ankle and swung her around, throwing her straight into the ground.
Korra landed on her side with a loud thud. Her body cried in pain and she could barely move as the glass cracked beneath her. The only trade off was that the non-bender's uniform had burnt through to her skin, leaving her with a nasty burn. That arm would be useless and she was finally disarmed. The both were at new disadvantages.
Bright blue eyes stared into the glowing goggles, desperate to find a soul within. Her body screamed with the even the slightest of movements so she remained hunched on the ground. A moment passed between them when they had agreed to a silent truce, taking a minute to catch their breaths. Their minds scrambled, grabbing at straws for an idea to finally end the brawl once and for all.
Korra struggled to her feet when she saw the other girl reaching for her pole but the second she stood, the weapon was being thrown straight at her. She wanted to let out a loud "HA!" when the weapon had flown right past her but the cracking of the glass got louder and faster. Seconds felt like minutes and before she could register what was going on, Korra found herself falling backward back into the stadium. Arms flailed about as the tried to grasp on to anything but they always came up empty. Just mere yards before she would've met her end, she was offered a literal lifeline. Beifong had given up on her pursuit of Amon to save Korra and now the two were watching from below as the rebels made their escape.
Battered Equalists filed into the room, falling onto pristine white beds. The clinical center smelled of astringent and the bright lights were blinding. Moans and groans were heard from all corners of the room as best doctors that money could buy treated the wounded.
Taking all things into consideration, the Equalists had gotten out more or less unscathed. Those sitting amongst the stands blended back into the chaos without recognition, insuring that no one was captured. But, those that had accompanied Amon on his mission had suffered bit more injuries. Several of the soldiers had cracked ribs and every single one of their bodies was littered with black and blue. The standard form-fitting uniform was designed for speed and flexibility, but greatly lacked padding. Asami knew how to design uniforms and put many things in consideration. The material meant to be flame-retardant, allowing them to fight without fear of getting burned, but there was clearly a limit. Asami had experienced it first hand.
Asami slumped down on a chair and rest her eyes. Her extreme exhaustion had taken its toll on her out in the field. With ten years under her belt, the avatar should've gone down much more quickly than it had actually taken. Not to mention, she didn't get away unscathed. What she wouldn't have given for a healer at the moment.
"You did well, Lieutenant," Amon complimented. Asami gritted her teeth at her new title. Amon was well aware of its affects and gladly continued to call her so. "You know, it was a shame that the Fire Ferrets hadn't won the championship. It would've only made tonight's message that much stronger."
"Tonight was quite the success, regardless." Asami hissed out as she ripped the remaining of her left sleeve off to expose the scorched skin. The smell of burning flesh curled her stomach. Her usually fair skin was red and blistering, the worst of it already threatening to pop. Twisting her arm, she experimented with how far she could stretch it, finding that her movements would be limited for at least the next week.
"I want you to find out who paid those judges off," Amon ordered. "A friend of our enemy is no friend of ours."
"I'll get on it as soon as possible," Asami agreed with a sigh. She busied herself to get out from under Amon's scrutiny, staying focused on her wound. As soon as she was prescribed a salve to treat her skin, she left before she could receive any more orders.
Asami somehow managed to make her way back to the stadium. The bulk of the police force had cleared out for the night leaving just a few to keep out trespassers. The Equalist knew that she was in no condition to get into another battle and took extra precautions to slip in unnoticed. The glow of her goggles was the only light in the darkened corridors.
A burst of flame aimed at her head missed her by an inch and Asami switched to fight or flight. There wasn't much of a choice when another lit up the room.
And of course, Asami thought bitterly to herself. Korra stood at the center of the room, holding a glove that she had found in buried beneath dirty laundry. Asami was too late. She was to dispose of the weapons before anyone could lay their hands on them, but the avatar seemed to be one step ahead of her tonight.
Kicking up a nearby broom, Asami snapped off the brush for a makeshift weapon. The pointed ended trained at Korra as they circled each other. The bender instantly realized whom she was facing.
"How's your arm?" Korra asked complacently. She knew that it had to be a little more than tender from their last encounter.
Asami would have loved to snipe back about how it was her who had won their little scuff, but she knew her voice would give her away instantly. She settled for throwing her broom like a javelin instead.
Though Korra was more than an able fighter, she was not used to dealing with weapons. The pointed end was aimed at her stomach and all she could do was panic. She jumped out of the way and while she was catching her footing, she felt a few harsh jabs. The first came hit her in her inner elbow, followed by another on the opposite shoulder.
The chi-blocking hits leveled the fighting ground. Both were exhausted in every sense of the word with no weapons or bending. It was not to Asami's surprise when Korra leaped head first in an assault. Her punches were a lot more controlled when she had last fought Korra in uniform and was starting to regret all their sparring practices.
As always, Korra threw a mean southpaw and Asami was expecting it. If anything, she was counting on it and ducked under it. With a tight grip on her wrist, she used the weight and momentum from the punch to throw the smaller girl over her shoulder. Korra blinked in confusion. She was stunned and took a moment to get back to her feet. Deep blue eyes scrutinized the Equalist, waiting for her next move. Something about the way she fought ate at her.
The two faced each other, neither moving from their spot. Asami waited for Korra to make a move but none came. It was unlike the avatar to not take the offense. She would've taken more time to analyze the situation but her adrenaline was waning.
"Naga!" Korra called. Heavy feet thumped through the empty hall. With each pound, Asami recalled the swipe she suffered from before. She was going to get torn apart if she couldn't get out of there quickly.
Asami leapt forward, to take the girl down to the ground before her backup arrived. Unprepared for the hit, Korra fell with a loud thud. Her head was spinning but she knew it was her chance. Once the Equalist was in arms reach, her hands darted out to grab on to the mask. Fingers brushed against the rough fabric of the scarf but opportunity slipped out of reach once Asami had realized what she was doing.
Naga quickly made her way to Korra's side but just watched as the two wrestled on the ground. "Naga, get her!"
The polar bear dog's tail curled between her legs, wondering what she should do. Walking in circles, she resigned, placing her head on the ground as she watched her master spar with the other girl.
"Naga, now!" Korra cried. Ears perked up and she got back to her feet. Refusing to attack, she whined in her spot. Sensing Korra's urgency, she positioned herself between the two combatants and stared the Equalist down but nothing more. Ears folded to her head as she heard Korra's commands. The most she could do was nudge the Equalist with her muzzle, causing her to fall over.
The three were stupefied. Asami knew that she could not take on the pair and was shocked when she wouldn't take action. Clearly, she wasn't the only one. Korra was near speechless. Calling and ordering her loyal companion had no effect and Naga made no motion to move.
Taking the opportunity, Asami reached into her pocket and pulled out two small pellets. She aimed in directly in front of Korra, knowing that as long as she could get away from her, Naga wouldn't be a problem. A smoke screen filled the room and she quickly made her escape.
Her racing heart didn't still even hours after making it back to the manor. Naga recognized her. Naga knew that she, Amon's new right hand man, was someone close to Korra. If Korra and Naga had that weird master-pet relationship that had always crept her out, she would be exposed in no time. The whole operation would be exposed and Amon would make sure there would be no loose ends. She needed to think of a way to shift suspicion.
A/N: Soooo... I also think I need a beta. And by "think" I mean "know." Sorry if things felt repetitive. I also wanted to add Asami figuring out who Korra was this chapter but it got long and messy so I had to cut it. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!