"Is your brothers company really all that bad?" Korra asked, frowning. For the past five minutes the two of them remained in the bedroom stuck in conversation, Noatak no doubt trying to change the subject or find some way to get her to drop it. "I traveled with him here; he's not all that bad–"
"No, it's not that," Noatak muttered, hands at his side. "It's much more isolated here than elsewhere. I would stick out like a sore thumb in another nation being a waterbender."
"You've been to the Fire Nation once in hiding Tarlokk told me?" Korra pointed out with skepticism.
"As a last resort only – and not for very long either. The most time consuming was traveling there then back again." He commented dryly.
"And what about your waterbending? I thought you didn't like bending in general…"
"I don't. But my skin tone would give it away," then he added, "and I have no mask this time to cover my face. As Amon, I was an icon; an embodiment of purpose, if you will. The mask is what separated me from being seen as a human."
Korra lightly chuckled. "More like your bloodbending. Not that they knew that's what it was…"
Noatak agreed silently by the nod of his head. The girl was pressing him for answers and bombarding him with questions. This entire day seemed to act as one giant roller coaster ride of emotions. Almost shocking that the property had not yet been damaged or someone baring an injury.
The revolutionist was in no better a condition than the other two but was still baffled by the prospect of occurring events and those that have already happened. It was odd how evolved they had become. Prior enemies and now what? Friends? It couldn't quite be acquaintances particularly. Frankly, he didn't know what to make of it. And then there was this whole murder scenario going on in Republic City which stirred the Avatar more, backfiring against Tarlokk and himself. Seeing her like this, so full of pent up emotions and determination to take down the enemies, made Noatak see how she had managed to overcome her fears against Amon and expose him for the fraud he was.
"Yes well, it is not something I am very proud of," he muttered. "There are not many things I have to be proud of, in fact. My whole life has just been running endlessly, always going and going, never stopping. This is the first time in quite some time I have just stopped and relaxed. I'm sure my brother feels the same too. We wish to live out the remainder of time in solitude where there is no politics, war, or fighting. The Avatar revolves around all of that to bring peace to the world. You are the source of what all of that represents – you can only see why I stand where I do on the matter.
"Furthermore," Noatak said, the moment Korra tried opening her mouth to speak and throw in a word, "I like it here, and home is where the heart is. Mine just so happens to be cold and desolate, so it suits me living here."
Korra gave him a bitter look. "You can't possibly like living here. The same place your father lived? Tarlokk told me the story…I'm aware neither of you were particularly fond of him."
"While yes, that is true, it is fitting that I stay here. Whether that be in this house or another. It just so happens that the home had not been occupied by another family and everything remained in tact. I may as well honor what is left of this place."
Korra eyed him for a long moment, brooding over what to make of it, and then relented. "Fine, I'll stop asking you for now, but I want to believe you may change your mind."
"Hardly."
Suggestively, she said, "Can't you just think about it rather than saying no?"
Noatak pinched the bridge of his nose. This girl was relentless when it came to pestering, that's for sure. "There is nothing to think about. We are both bloodbenders, illegal, might I point out. Our prowess would not be of use to you. Tarlokk is hardly helpful without his bending and chi-blocking will only go so far."
"You're both talented benders! I could give Tarlokk back his bending – if he would accept that…"
Noatak gave her a thoughtful look but then put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from pursuing the idea any further. "I can't answer for my brother, but I can imagine he stands firm on the same ideals as I. Our bloodbending is a monstrosity. While I have my waterbending, it will not aid you nearly as well in a fight against whatever you are destined to face."
Korra reached for Noatak's hand on her shoulder and pried it off, letting out a sigh she didn't realize she was holding in before. Tarlokk would be even harder to get through thanks to his politician side, always having to have some type of retaliation in order to decline a law or opinion of the other council members. Flustered, she decided to give up for the evening. Looking up at him, she tried to give a smile despite how she felt inwardly. "You may have given up on yourselves, but I haven't."
With that, she left and went downstairs.
The next morning Korra was filled with both confidence and doubt. Confidence because she would be leaving back to the Republic City to go after the murders, and doubt in her ability to succeed in such a feat. Facing Amon she had her friends all there – Bolin, Asami, Tenzin, and Mako…But she had to remind herself that if she failed, severe consequences could be had. Her friend may not make it through, despite how she told herself he would not give up so easily. But everyone has their limit. This she knew.
While Mako had been her boyfriend at one point, it did not waver her feelings for him. Perhaps the brothers were right after all. But that did not mean she thought of him in the boyfriend sense. Her panic for his safety is what was driving her to this madness of insistence to leave as soon as possible. She was not thinking rationally of a plan even if she spoke of doing so before. Words were just words – she had no clue what to do and she was meant to leave today. The ship ride could provide time to think up an idea but she was just one person. Her friends were not there to consult with her. Improvising may be the best option right about now.
The conversation waging on inside her head eventually turned over to the rational side, which in turn continuously told her to come up with a plan of action, of course failing miserably in the process, until she finally commented dreadfully, "Forget this," and drowned in self preservation, clamping onto what slim chance of success she figured she had. It was futile to continue dreading over what sources she did not have, but make use of what she did have. The four elements. It would have to suit her now, just like it had in the past. There was no time for returning to the Earth Kingdom in hopes of completing her training with Lin Beifong, whom she now worried over and how the woman was holding up over the knowledge of her slaughtered men. Condolences sent mentally, Korra would not dwell on what has already been done. There was no returning all those men.
Extensively, the problem seemed heavier than the Equalist revolution or when she fought Chief Unalaq fused with Vatuu.
What made any of this different from then? The first time was terrifying, mentally and physically. It was a stretch, being inexperienced and thwarted out into the open to fight a war. The latter was almost as bad, considering it was a family member no less. But those were plausible. Attainable goals that she was confident in succeeding in because she had her past lives, she had her friends there. Here – here she was alone, and not even her companions currently seemed to be on her side, as friends or as traveling partners. It dawned on her that perhaps they truly loathed her and were only being kind in hopes of not starting up unwanted trouble. The thought was possible, even if it did bother her like no other, if it be true. She wanted to be accepted as Korra, not feared as the Avatar like some child who thinks they have complete authority.
Giving up, she made her way downstairs to try one last time at any form of hope.
"No."
"Why not?!" Korra was on the verge of bickering if this man wasn't going to relent.
"I'm not meant to be alive, Korra. If I was to be recognized things would escalate very quickly."
"That's basically what your brother said too." She shot a glance to the man who stood just in the corner of the room leaning against the wall with his arms crossed listening into the conversation at hand just like a bystander.
"Furthermore, even if Noatak and I were not recognized by anyone – though it's more likely we would be than not – I am inclined to add on that neither of us would be of much use to you. I'm a much more capable bender than a hands on fighting kind of man, and even then I no longer have my bending. Due to…incidents," The reminder of his fight with Korra leading to his downfall weighed on his shoulders even still. "I do not feel it appropriate to use bending even if I was to be given it back. I will not fight alongside you against these killers."
Korra nearly bared her teeth at him in annoyance, her shoulders rising like the hackles of a bristling cat on edge if that was what it would take to make the man change his mind. "Fine! If you're both going to be stubborn than I'll just go find someone who is willing to help!" Straightening and turning to stride towards the doors, she heard Noatak chuckling just behind her in amusement from her lack of control. The last thing she heard before shutting the door was the older brother addressing his brother by saying, "I think you rile her more up than when she fought me as Amon."
Mako quickly ran down the stairs, curving just along the wall to descend to the next flight of steps before making it to the exit in which he strode out onto the main deck of the ship where he knew Kama was. They were soon to dock. They needed to time this exactly right or Korra and Tarlokk may have already been on their way to leaving the town. According to Vinioz, she had stated that this was the only docking ferry in the afternoon and she would be sending him and Kama out to scope while she kept her attention on the boat for any sight of them boarding.
The moment Kama had been called up to leave the ship; he grabbed the weapon just to the left of his bunk and sheathed it to his back until it was comfortably snug. Often times it would dig into his back if he leaned backwards, causing him to have pains if they walked for too long. It wasn't often he preferred to use the piece of metal, but it wasn't often he felt an opponent was worthy enough to use it on.
"We're here. Did Vinioz update you about the plan?" Mako asked, adjusting his long coat and thick gloves to fit properly around his fingers.
"Yeah," Kama said in an odd sort of voice, glancing over at the scarf wrapped around the firebenders neck. "You're going to stick out wearing red you know. We don't want to draw attention."
"If he's already seen me what does it matter?" he pointed out, tugging at his scarf only to tighten it more around his neck in a form of protection and warmth. Kama gave a brief huff and nodded, discarding his claim. "But Vinioz – she'd stick out too…"
Standing up, the waterbender adjusted the collars on his coat sleeves and pulled the deep blood hood over his messy black hair. "More so than you, which is exactly why she isn't coming. If what you said earlier is true, then he is aware that you know he's here. He'll think you just came to see the Avatar and check up on her and that's all. If we're lucky, the last time Vinioz and I saw him he didn't have any bending. Being with the Avatar…I can't be certain now."
"I don't think she would give it back to him. She knows what he's capable of…"
"Let's hope." Kama sighed, heading towards the upper deck. They found Vinioz on the main deck where she was overlooking the small town in the distance. Already having docked, people were boarding and getting off the ship one by one. Once they caught her attention, she turned and whispered something into the man's ear too faint for Mako to overhear. The last thing he saw before they departed the ship was Vinioz looking confident and determined, just like an animal who has found its prey. Gulping nervously, Mako could only hope to the spirits that no more blood would be shed. Unbeknownst to him, that would be the understatement of the year.
AN:
Song is Bones Exposed by Of Mice and Men
I have artwork drawn out of Vinioz, Kama, and Shoichi, so if anyone would like to see them just message me since the url doesn't seem to want to work when I post them on my account.
