DISCLAIMER: THESE CHARACTERS, THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, ARE NOT MINE.
CHAPTER TWO: THE ESCORT
Korra walked on the sidewalk, not exactly sure where she was going. She did this pretty often nowadays, but she wasn't sure why.
She turned around. There it was again—that creepy feeling, as if someone was watching her. But just like before, there was no one looking at her.
She sighed thankfully. Ever since she had defeated Unalaq, she had been treated like a celebrity, or a war hero—which she realized she sort of was.
Mako breathed heavily behind a parked car. That was close—too close. He could have sworn he had seen Korra glimpse him, but nevertheless, she miraculously hadn't. Despite what Bolin had said, he still was nervous. Why count mind-reading out from her list of superhuman abilities?
He sneaked another peek. He saw Asami's car turn the corner. No, he thought. Turn around!
It was too late: Korra had seen it, too. She crumpled to the ground, shaking. A crowd gathered around her.
"Get out of the way!" Mako shouted, as loud as he could. He had seen Bolin get tossed aside—Korra wouldn't hesitate to harm the civilians.
He shoved through the crowd and pinned Korra's arms to the wall. Her eyes, like before, were a bright white.
Alright, he thought. I can do this.
Naturally, that's when things went horribly wrong.
Korra puffed air from her nostrils, making Mako stagger and relinquish his grip. She raised her arm, and chunk of the sidewalk was lifted from the ground, flinging Mako through the air like a rag doll.
Asami saw Mako flying over the road. There was nothing she could do. With a sickening THUD, the car hurtled into him, sending him skidding across the asphalt, limbs flailing wildly.
Asami pulled over. She spotted Korra turn to her direction. Flames engulfed the Avatar's hand.
She quickly kicked open the passenger door and flung herself onto the asphalt. Just in time, too—a wave of fire crashed over the car, hitting the engine right in the middle.
A massive explosion ensued. It was pure chaos—people were screaming, running the other direction. Asami tried not to look at Mako. It would be too painful. She held onto the small glimmer of hope that, somehow, he had survived.
A foot slammed into Asami's back. She turned her head around, and saw Korra's shoe on it.
Korra raised her fist, and a whip of fire appeared in her hands. Asami looked into her glowing eyes and saw no mercy. She knew this was the end.
At least I'll be with Mako, she thought. A faint smile tugged at her lips.
Korra leaned backwards, about to strike—
Metal coils lashed around her wrist, making her stumble and the whip disintegrate into nothingness. A chunk of rock hit her smack-dab in the face, and she collapsed.
Behind her, Asami saw Chief Lin Beifong, her lips pursed.
"Go get the injured one," she ordered another cop. "Make sure they're not dead."
She grimaced at Korra's limp form. "Fame's gotten to her head, this one," she said. Then she looked at Asami. "Come with us," she said bluntly. "Tell us exactly what happened."
That night, Tenzin went to the deck of his house, staring at Republic City's bright lights. He turned his radio on.
"…only one was injured, and the Avatar has been sent to Republic City's jail after a quick and one-sided trial. This is Chief Lin Beifong with more info."
Tenzin stared, wide-eyed, at the radio.
"Thank you." Beifong's voice sounded from the speakers. "There's not really too much else to say. She was caught attacking a woman who wishes to remain anonymous. The only thing I found curious is that the Avatar said she didn't remember anything instead of simply denying it. Humph. It was probably just an act."
Tenzin hurriedly turned it off. He put his face in his hands.
The plan had failed.