Korra sat up in her bed groaning at the pounding migraine ringing in her ears. She looked over to see Naga sprawled out on the ground as she was every morning. The large dog shaking her head lightly and padding toward her and rubbed her head against Korra's arm.
"Morning Naga..." Korra mumbled, she clutched her head, her mind pulsing from the day before, not only was she physically exhausted from healing Amon all day, but mentally and emotionally after witnessing the equalists be slaughtered like cattle by Tarrlok. Every time she saw Amon's wounds she thought of the lives stolen by the man she thought she could trust.
She could hear the rev of an engine from the ferry outside. Korra threw her window open and looked out to see Asami, Mako, and Bolin climbing out off of the ferry. Bolin saw her from the ground and began to wave madly.
"Korrrrra! Come on! We're going to the arena to watch the Tiger-dillos and Moose-dragons fight!" Bolin yelled, jumping into the air jovially. Korra squinted to see them, the sunlight making her eyes hurt.
"Hold on! I'll be right down!" Korra yelled before turning back to Naga with a tired expression. She grabbed her coat and trudged downstairs. Glancing at the spot which led to the box she kept thought of checking on him passed her by, but she passed the spot by without another thought.
She quickly put a bright smile on her face and raced out the door to trap Mako in a crushing embrace. "Okay! Let's go!" Korra yelled, acting excited.
The group filed out of the stadium, caught in the crowd and moving toward the exit. They finally made it away from the huge crowd and continued to walk toward Narooks Noodles.
"Man that was great! Those Moose-Dragons are just great! I can't wait until we face them!" Bolin yelled, jumping in excitement. Latching his arms on Mako and Asami's shoulders. Leaving Korra with that "third wheel" feeling. The four of them walked through the street and entered the noodle shop, taking the largest table in the corner of the restaurant.
Korra ordered a bowl of sea prunes, and a large bowl of noodles. Korra remained out of the conversation, feeling a pit in her stomach and unable to stayed focused on her friends or the food in front of her. Korra had finally gotten to eating her noodles, and she looked up from the bowl and saw something that made her blood run cold.
'Tarrlok!' Korra dropped her chopsticks and they clanged onto the floor. The noodles slipping from her mouth and falling unceremoniously into the broth. She held back a scream, fearful of the man. Tarrlok quickly noticed the sound and turned to look at Korra, he smirked at her, unknowingly scaring the life out of her. He swaggered toward them, he motioned for Korra to move to make room for him, and he took a seat beside her.
"Good evening kids, how have things been for you all? Now that there's no pro bending going on." Tarrlok asked, making small-talk. 'He's planning something, I know it.' Korra thought, watching him intently, her stomach in knots.
"Things have been okay, Tenzin and everyone has been very hospitable." Asami answered quietly. Still hurt at the events involving her father, and stressed from the undercover equalist investigations they had been up to.
"I see, and you Avatar Korra? I suppose you still refuse to assist the task force again? How has your airbending been going?" Tarrlok asked, half-curious, even though he knew she made no breakthrough in air-bending.
Korra paused. Nearly shaking, in fear, anger, and the sheer gall he still walked freely when people lost their lives because of him. "Airbending is fine, I'm getting better, and no, I will never join your task force again." Korra said, nearly emotionless, though there was a bit of a bite at the mention of the task force.
Tarrlok smirked, finding the opening he was looking for. "Then why do you continue to pursue the equalists? The council decided that it would be the task force's duty to deal with them appropriately. If you continue to do so, I will have no choice but to arrest you all.
"Korra froze, feeling sick. 'Deal with them? Appropriately?' Bolin cut in, sensing the tension that was formed. "Don't worry councilman Tarrlok sir, we'll stay out of trouble no problem!" He answered enthusiastically.
"Good, I fear that the equalists are plotting something dangerous, they have been quiet, and the city hasn't heard anything from or about Amon for days." Tarrlok said, Korra just couldn't take anymore. She abruptly stood, resisting the overwhelming need to knock Tarrlok around and make him pay.
"Korra what's wrong?" Mako asked worriedly. She looked at him desperately. "I just-" She choked. "-I don't feel very well." Korra then pushed Tarrlok aside and dashed out the restaurant in a hurry. She took to the back alleys and every shortcut she could think of to get to the island faster. After stumbling and running for a good half-hour, she reached the docks near the arena. Jumping onto the ferry and instructing the driver to hurry.
She stumbled off of the boat and raced to her bedroom. She ignored any of the greetings she received from the acolytes. She plopped onto her bed and clutched her stomach and head. She lay there for what seemed like hours. Her stomach settled and she considered sleeping.
Right as she closed her eyes, her mind whiplashed. 'Amon!' She shot out of bed, and bolted down the stairs, nearly falling over, she quickly bent the earth and the tunnel was revealed, she stepped inside, trying to calm down. She sealed the path once again. It was a short, brisk walk to reach the box that Amon was kept in.
The wall came down, to reveal Amon is a small pool of blood, sprawled across the floor. "Amon!" She rushed forward, gently scooping the man into her lap. Her heart racing, smelling the copper on him. She dragged him onto to the cot, and sat beside him. She opened the tunic to gain access to his bloodied chest.
He was heaving and struggling to breath, she pulled him to lie in her lap and drew water from the air, and tried to ease the pain. Her mind was racing, the horrible guilt seeping in. She sealed the wounds and dulled the pain the best she could.
"C'mon Amon, don't be dead, don't die on me." She begged, she knew he couldn't hear her, but begged nonetheless. "Don't let Tarrlok win, he deserves this more than you do!" She yelled, her anger and hate seeping through, she was losing her sense. She held Amon tightly, pleading for him to stay alive.
She begged and pleaded for hours, but he never awoke, eventually she fell asleep, the man still lying in her arms. Her face stained with tears and mind exhausted from the break down. She slept for hours, long into the morning. Eventually, Amon regained consciousness, though his limb were heavy and breathing short. He noticed he was laying against something much more comfortable than to floor he fell onto late last night. He craned his neck to see Avatar Korra sound asleep, her arms lazily strewn around his shoulders.
To say the least he was surprised. The sack that usually covered his face lay discarded in a bloody heap. Amon attempted to slip away from her loose hold, but his body clearly had other plans. He quickly gave up and tried his hand at waking her.
"Avatar, wake up." He commanded loudly. To no surprise she didn't budge. He thought for a few minutes and new approaches to take. He came to one. All he could do was hope he wouldn't be murdered for it. He pushed his head back into her chest as far as he could, and shook violently, She shook awake as well and he ceased quickly. "Avatar?" He asked, he was worried of what would come to him now, whatever state she had found him is it obviously affected her greatly.
Korra recovered from her sleepiness, and looked at Amon from her position. He felt much heavier that the night before. "What's up?" She asked tiredly, her voice still cracking from the night before. Amon shifted uncomfortably a bit disturbed by her behavior. "Have you not noticed our current position? I would rather not be so close to you."
Korra's brows furrowed slightly, she shifted and squirmed until she successfully worked her way out from under him. She swung her feet over the side of the cot, reminded of last night. Her face painted the look of guilt and sadness, as well as the anger she got from seeing Tarrlok.
Amon sighed, feeling as if he was obligated to do something for her. He looked at the side of her head, and finally asked a question. "Avatar, what's wrong? Something must be troubling you."
Korra began to shake, silent tears streaking down her face. For the second time in a matter of days, Korra cried openly in front of her greatest foe. "I...I'm a useless Avatar. I can't air-bend, I can't connect with my past lives, I can't protect the people who need me, and to top it all off I've hurt more people than I've helped in this city...Maybe I should just die and have the cycle restart early..." Korra sobbed, her voice heaving and cracking along the way, her head feel into her hands and she wept for a few minutes.
Amon softened, and looked at her with sympathy of sorts. He placed his hand on her back. "Avatar, very little of that is true. Some, is because you are still a child, not ready for such responsibilities, others simply because all Avatars have that difficulty, and as well as something as simple as the fact that you keep balance, but you are not all powerful."
Korra turned to look at him, she couldn't find a trace of mocking, or sarcasm. Just sympathy, and a slight...very small trace of concern. She smiled, grinned even. She hopped up off the bed, filled with a new feeling of happiness, she didn't understand why his words made her so happy.
She tugged the man up, so he would be sitting up. She flung her arms around him quickly, and pecking him lightly on the cheek. Before standing fully, a stupid grin on her face. She turned and waltzed out of the room, her arms happily resting behind her head. She turned to face Amon again.
"You know, you're actually a nice guy when you aren't trying to destroy me." She chuckled happily. "Thanks a lot. I promise I'll come by with some grub later on okay?"