Configuring a method that would work best to Korra's advantage, she and Mako decided twenty minutes prior that Mako would wear entirely different clothing just like he had at one of the Equalist rallies they had infiltrated months ago. Or had it been almost a year already? Time really did fly by.
Setting up, Mako ordered himself a tea in a booth just behind the one Korra had chose to occupy for her and Tarlokk once he arrived. And so he did, just on time like the two of them agreed upon. He did not wear the same clothes he had yesterday. Instead, he wore a black coat with a green sash and cuffs and white slacks. His hair remained the same which came as no surprise; slicked back and divided into three ponytails. The elegance of his attire never came off as surprising. He was always a man of fine taste in clothing, accessories, and smells. A very popular bachelor in his younger years, she could only guess.
Taking a seat across from her, Tarlokk adjusted his collar and positioned himself until comfortable without the coat tugging underneath him if he leaned forward - which is exactly what he did, meeting his previously fisted hands into intertwined fingers just below his nose in contemplation.
"Korra," he greeted.
"Tarlokk." The feeling was mutual.
He let on a forced smile, taking a brief glance at the menu to act natural while he spoke so he wouldn't draw any unwanted attention to himself from onlookers. That was the last thing either of them wanted. Best to be brief and subtle. "Where shall I begin?"
"How you're alive would probably be the best place to start. Unless you prefer to start somewhere else."
"No, that is just fine."
One of the waitresses came by with a tray of two waters, handing one off to each of them on the table. They both gave a courteous nod in thanks before the woman took her leave.
"If I recall, the news gave little to no information on us. Only that our boat exploded and we were confirmed dead, correct?"
Korra nodded. "Yes."
The topic seemed to strain the older male. Recalling the events was not hard, it was the remembrance that pained him. The knowledge of what he had attempted. It was his fault the situation escalated. If only the circumstances were different. If only Noatak were as heartless as he had hoped. His calculations were off. What happened could not have been expected.
Tarlokk took a sip of his water then returned back to his posture before but instead turned his head to look to his side. "After you had exposed my brother, he asked me to flee with him. Just as the news said, it is true our boat exploded. In fact, that was my fault. I intended to kill the both of us, end our tainted bloodline. I didn't trust either of us. Not after what events had happened. Powers like ours shouldn't continue, not out of revenge or to harm. It's human nature to use ones power when cornered like an animal. It's unknown if we would have ever used our abilities again after we escaped. It needed to end. In the spur of the moment, I electrocuted the boat. I think he knew what was coming. Surely he had heard the movement once I grabbed the glove behind him while he steered. He didn't stop me. What he did I did not expect though."
"He used waterbending to shield me from the head on explosion. Of course, I payed some price. My arm was not as lucky." Tarlokk unlocked his fingers and tugged down the sleeve of his right arm, revealing a nasty third degree burn that looked like it was still not fully healed. Korra couldn't help but cringe at the sigh of it. It was real as could be - not that she doubted Tarlokk in faking it.
The sudden silence had Mako worried just around the corner. Not once did he choose to move from his spot in spite of curiosity to peek. The topic must have been heavier on the water tribe man than he let on in his tone. It was guaranteed for sure that it was Tarlokk, no doubt. Even without seeing his face, it was a believable story that the politician was alive given the current info.
"If you're wondering if my brother is still alive like I am, than I'll have to be the burden of bad news and inform you that he is. Not here though. You don't have to worry about that."
Mako already knew this situation was beginning to take a sour turn, expecting the fireworks of Korra's anger start up soon. Any knowledge of Amon still alive was not something to be happy about, even if they pitied him.
"He's not in Republic city, is he? Do you know where he is?"
Tarlokk hesitated. Before he could reply the same waitress from before had shown up again to ask about their orders. Feeling a bit embarrassed with not having even glanced at the menu, Korra ordered the same as Tarlokk; a bowl of Tokyo Ramen. Once the waitress took their menu's, Korra untangled her crossed arms. "Well, I suppose it's one thing if he's alive and another if he's trying to raise the Equalists again. The majority of them have been decreased but there's always going to be a follower or two somewhere, with or without the original leader there to guide them. People don't change their beliefs that quickly."
"No…I suppose they don't."
The place was too crowded but the lack of people was starting to become annoying to say the least. It gave them too much awkward silence and Korra was notoriously known for being around crowds. Aside from her more solitude life growing up in the South Pole.
"The last I heard from him he was in the Fire Nation. He had returned back home to the North originally once we made our separate ways, but no doubt that your arrival there a couple months back must have caused him to migrate elsewhere until you departed. He sends letters every now and then. It's likely he may have gone back home by now. I can't imagine him wanting to stay in the Fire Nation very long. Fire Nation people don't necessarily hate waterbenders, but they don't take too kindly to them either. They're known to be…arrogant people."
Mako didn't take too kindly to the insult to firebenders. He took a swig of his tea and shook his head to keep himself focused. No doubt did he want to blow a punch to that pompous assholes face. He felt sorry for the water bender in the past over the not-so-happy story of the bloodbending brothers, but then he reminds himself he's still that same old snobby politician who goes to extremes to get what he wants and tends to speak his mind. Granted he deserve sympathy, it didn't change his genetics. It didn't change that he abused his illegal powers.
"Do you think he will try to rise to power again?"
"There's no knowing. In his letters he keeps things very brief, like how he's doing, what he's doing to keep himself healthy, just small things. He's very conservative. I half blame that on our separation as kids. I don't know what kind of life he lived once he left home when we were children, but I can guess he lived a life of solitude. He continued that when he made that mask. He hid. Just like he is now. I believe he realized his cause was futile when we made our escape. But now that he's out of Republic City there's no knowing if he'll work from the ground back up again."
"Would he still use Amon as an icon?"
"Unlikely. He would go with a new alias. Using the same cause, I'm not sure. Perhaps he'll take a new direct in perceiving bending as the source of all evil. We may think alike but we're not the same people. There's no way for me to know what he's thinking now."
Korra rubbed her chin and contemplated the odds. There was no sure to know if Noatak learned his lesson or not, if he'd move past his prior goals or if he'd try to take a new direction. This wasn't something that could easily be pushed aside either. If it was going to be problematic then she needed to take care of it before it became big, just like the Equalist. Another political and violent battle that split people apart was not something the world needed. Once their food arrived, they both ate their noodles. Tarlokk seemed to have gotten out most of what he wanted to say when it came to the events that occurred and his personal opinion. It was clear to see he still felt love for his brother but not in the same way he use to. They grew up in different environments that warped them into the people they are today. While they may have similar ideals and characteristics, that didn't mean they both fought for the same things. Finally breaking the ice, Tarlokk heaved a sigh.
"I'm sorry for what he did to Republic City. I realize my apology doesn't mean much but I hope you understand that it was my intentions to stop him too. Before of course you started to get in my way. While yes we both believed the Avatar cannot be the source of all power, I wanted to perceive that not everything can be relied on the Avatar alone. If I had been the savior of the city instead of you like I had planned, it would give people hope to rise against the odds. I worked all my life to get into power, only to be crushed by you. You can only understand why I resented you. You forced out my hand, I had no other choice but to attack."
In retrospect it was easy to see he meant well, truly. His intentions may have been for the best but his methods didn't necessarily rise to their true purpose. Now she realizes if they hadn't been thwarted, perhaps this mishap may have never happened.
"I tried to reason, tried to get you on my side. You rebelled, thought you could take on the world on your own. Perhaps in the end justice was brought, but was it an end you wanted? Are you satisfied with the outcome?"
Korra wasn't sure how to answer. Everything he said held truth in them. He didn't lie once. While her thoughts told her he deserved sympathy, she couldn't help but feel angry over the fact he was belittling her. Not just belittling, but acting as though this was her fault. She had caused unneeded chaos just to bring peace. There could have been stability if she just hadn't fought. If she hadn't been so arrogant. It unnerved her to the core. Every point he made, every statement he spoke, it was just so annoying. Maybe he was right in the past. She was a half-baked Avatar. Still is, maybe. This wasn't the outcome she wanted. It was her fault that helped push this man to wanting to bring his own demise. He hated his life so much he wanted to kill himself. He couldn't even fully end it either in the end. Noatak saved them. The goal to stop a monster failed. Not even in near death could he be a victor. Korra was distraught between feeling bad for him and self-pity. "This wasn't what I wanted…I don't know what I wanted…" She shook her head and groaned. "But there's second chances. There always is. If what you say is true, then we can make the ending we've always needed. Bringing him to justice." She finished her bowl and pushed it to the side, leaning forward to improvise her serious tone. "Let's take him down, together. We'll go there and force his hand. We don't have to kill him, just at least turn him over to the authorities. Give him a sentence he deserves."
"I don't know if I can do that…Not to my brother. I've already tried, Korra. It was in the spur of the moment, I was in a setting where I was broken. These months I've had, I've been recovering. I don't know if I'd be able to face him again. Amon, maybe. But not my own brother…" Tarlokk shook his head and placed a hand over his face. "Given my circumstances, there's no telling how it would play out. I don't have my bending anymore. You could fight him if it came down to it. All I have is words. I don't think he'll listen to reason."
"Then make him."
Tarlokk went silent.
"…Fine…But we do this my way. Agreed?"
"Terms and conditions, old man." Korra smirked.
