Ch.6: Why not to steal from a badgermole
In a room with a single dim light bulb hanging from the ceiling. A circle of chairs was crammed into the suffocating space. There were no windows and a single metal door. The chairs were more empty than full. And the prisoners made sure to keep at least one or two spaces between each other. Some were lifers. Others were lucky to be out in ten to thirty with good behavior. But all shared a common denominator. No relation by blood. Nor by the crimes they had committed.
Each inmate shifted unsure of how to start. "Well." One of the guys piped up. A bruiser with a scar on his cheek which extended his smile; sustained in a bar fight but not the reason he found himself in jail. "I guess if you wimps aren't gon'a start this off I will." The man said puffing his chest. As dim as the light bulb overtop their heads. The man was the first to start something whether that kind of trait be taken as bad or good. But it was the reason he was there.
Yet before he could continue the door creaked. In popped a man dressed not in similar black and white attire of the other inmates. His long furred robe couldn't contain the ego inside it. The pencil mustache twitched comically with his mouth. Contorting in multiple variations of a simple smile. Big. Small. Super duper happy. Etc.
"Hey boy's. Am I to late?" He asked with maximum cheer when confronted with the gloomy gray room.
"Varrick? I thought you were still on the run." One of the inmates asked.
"Ha, I wish. Got pinched by the Avatar last month. They just released me from solitary confinement." Behind him walked his stoic and graceful assistant, Zhu Li. Holding a tray with a couple of glasses, elegant and not standard prison issue, surrounding a tea pot that had been freshly boiled. "And trust me I know what those looks are saying." He smirked. "Zhu Li isn't much of a conversationalist." The women nods. As her boss hoops over a chair that had been buffering two other prisoners. "So boy's. What are we talking about. Stocks? Bonds? Nefarious plots. I love those. Come on what do we got going on." Looping his arms around two of the inmates he pulls them uncomfortably close. Shifting his gaze between them.
The inmates peel his arms off. And scoot their seats away. The scrapping metal causing everyone except Varrick to wince in pain.
The whiskers drooped from his face. But he's quick to recover with a snap of his fingers. "Zhu Li, Tea." The man commands. And eerily with no hesitation the tray was lowered with one hand. While the other grabbed the handle of the tea pot and poured it steadily into one of the cups. Not a drop spilt. Then hands it to her boss. Who takes it in one motion to his mouth and sips with glee. The whiskers under his nose rising again. "Imported right from the capital of the earth kingdom. Who wants some? I got plenty for everyone. And don't be afraid to ask for seconds. I got a steady supply coming in from the outside. So don't be afraid to ask your buddy Varrick to get you some to take back to your cell."
A hand raised. "I was born in Ba Sing Se." The prisoner says to the stares that threatened him.
When presented with his own steaming cup he thanks Zhu Li with a head bow. The women says not a word but honors the bow with one of her own. The same man then asks the question which no one else really thought of, nor wanted to hear the answer to anyway.
Already the group was annoyed with the tycoons shenanigans. Flaunting his wealth and power even when incarcerated.
"Funny Story. Turns out the law never found my whole stash of what I stole from future industries. I didn't even know I had the stuff. So I thought I could turn them into some quick cash. Buy myself a 'bigger' yacht and live out on the sea. Maybe find a nice uninhabited island to lay down low till the heat dies down in twenty years. Then Bam...Varrick makes a comeback baby. I figure no one would care about what I did by then. It'll all be soap on a rope. Hey that sounds like a good idea. Remember that Zhu Li." He raised his arms in triumph. Even in jail he could come up with wiz banging good ideas.
The other prisoners were quiet. Just staring at the mad fool.
"But you're in here now." One of the men said.
While another said."And for a lot longer than twenty years. Didn't you start a war."
"An itsy bitsy setback. And no I did not start a war. I merely helped get support for my home land of the south. Everyone's to narrow mindedly focused on the fact that I maaaaaay of blown up a building. But heck; no one got hurt." He waved the guy off. Still keeping a grin. As if he had it all figured out. When in reality there wasn't much going on in that head of his besides more self worship. "So, enough about me. What did you guys do to get pinched by the avatar?"
One of the inmates a man with a terrible bright green Mohawk spoke up. "The avatar restored my bending."
"Is that a crime now?" Someone asked in jest.
"Well no. But I sort of robbed someone. Literally, I just turned around and did it. But it's not my fault." He lamented. "There was a lady with a really high end purse hanging off her arm. Probably had a huge wad of yuan's in there too. I couldn't help myself...one day at a time though. One day at a time." The other inmates grumbled and nod their heads. Someone close to him even gave him a pat on the shoulder. While he mumbled the mantra too.
"Are you serious. Man your stupid." An inmate who had been silent for the whole talk said. He was sweating in the agonizingly tight space. But unlike the others who were in short sleeves; he kept on a long sleeve shirt stretching to his knuckles. A size to big with the collar popped
"So what'd you do to get pinched by the avatar?"
The guy visibly shook. He grew unfocused. Snapped out of it then said. "I think I'll have some of that tea now." Zhu Li made him a cup. Everyone recoiled as his shirt was drawn up when he stretched to take the tea. Taking a deep chug of the drink as if it were cactus juice. Then asked for another. The man remained quiet. While another cup is prepared. He took it and even offers a thanks. Zhu Li bowed her head a fraction. Then returned to Varrick's side. The prisoner held the tea cup on his thigh. Looks to the men in the room. His face droopy. Weary; aging years in seconds as he said. "The Avatar saved my life-even after what I did to her."
The men don't speak even though they want to shout for an answer.
"I stole her kid."
The group was quiet. Mouths hanging open. Attempting to blink some smidgen of sense of the statement into their brains. Even the chipper Varrick had faltered.
"You got her friend thrown in here." The man accused when he saw the look of utter disbelief on the water tribe man.
"Hey, he was safe in prison."
"He was a cop in prison."
"Still safer than what you did."
The prisoners still a gasp. Began to mutter to each other.
"Wow man."
"That's pretty bad."
"What were you thinking?"
"I don't know. I thought if I had the kid then I could control her; and her woman. With those two under my thumb Ida had the keys to the world."
"You know Beifong isn't the chief anymore?" One of them mentioned.
"How was I supposed to know that. It's not like I read the newspaper. Besides I heard she hadn't been out of the big seat for that long when I did it."
Varrick joined in. "Even I knew that she stepped down and I was hiding half way between here and the south pole."
"Shut it, Varrick." The man snapped. Raising his hand as if to strike but lowers it when he catches the glare of the assistant. Body tense and eager to jump in should the need arise. "The way I see it you all got off scot free."
"We-are-in-pri-son. How is that free? Huh? Can you bend through walls because tha'd be a nice trick that I think the rest of us would appreciate you telling us."
The others leaned in.
"Stop it you idiots. I can't do that." The men deflated. "But-has the Avatar ever hurt one of you?"
One of the prisoners raised his arm. "I got this nasty cut on my knee dodging a boulder she threw at me." If the others had anything less lethal besides the chairs they were sitting on they would of thrown it. Otherwise, they would of found themselves in solitary for a month's stretch. So they settled for a collective boo.
"He's right. I've never gotten nothing more than a scratch from her."
The guys collectively chat amongst each other. Trying to disprove the man's claim. Yet couldn't come up with anything.
"He's right. But did she actually hurt you. Doesn't seem like something the Avatar would do. She's supposed to be about peace and stuff."
"I said she saved my life didn't I. How is she going to save me if she's the one hurting me you moron. No. She wasn't the one who did this to me." He rolled up his sleeves revealing a permanent purple ringlet. Then pulled down his shirt collar an revealed the two similar rings criss-crossing around his neck. "It was that crazy women of hers."
"Beifong?"
The men share a collective gasp like school yard girls.
"No way man. Beifong's straight as an arrow. A ruler bends more than she does. She'd rough you up but she'd never deliberately try to off someone."
"Say that to some of my men who are still in the hospital wing of this place." The man began to tremble. Sinking into his chair and drawing his legs up to his chest like a child. "She'd a kill'd me I tell ya..."
Slam.
In came the clanking of keys on metal. The guards were there to ruin the fun. "All right ladies. Time to break up this tea party." Three guards circle around the group.
"I wish she had; better than being in here."The man muttered while he got to his feet.
One of the guards reached for the man with the long sleeves. "Hey Qui Lang; ready to go back to your cell?" Gripping his arm tightly. Enough to match the bruises that were already there. They know they couldn't get away with it. Not in this prison. But no one would say anything if a criminal were handled a little ruff. The cuffs were tighter on him than the others. Qui Lang could feel the reopening of the wounds on his wrists.
They exited the room. The other two guards lead the group of men back to their cells. While the other two go the other way. To solitary. Qui Lang's ratty shoes tap on the stone floor. While the guards armor clinks to his movements. "You should count yourself lucky Qui Lang."
"Really, why's that?" He didn't feel so lucky.
He was shoved in a wall. Smashing his nose. It's bleeding; possibly broken. The man used his sleeves to hold the blood in. Not bothering to give the guard a glare. "Lucky that's all we can do to you in here. Even if you're a criminal we can't do anything about it. The chief would of done you a favor. Now you're in here with us. And you better trust me on this Qui Lang; we gotta lot of people working in here who are fans of the chief."
The guy sucks in a breath spits blood on the guards shoe. "Didn't you hear...she's not the chief anymore. Everyone knows that; even Varrick." He was pushed over. The flesh of his palms slapping cold stone ground. A heavy foot connected with Qui Lang's back. The man muffled his pain. He wouldn't give the guard that satisfaction even if they killed him.
"Lets get you back to your cell."
Qui Lang was left to stew in his cell in the silent darkness of lights out. After having reset his nose. And cleaning up. He laid on his bed. Still surprised to find one every time he came back. His sleep was dreamless, and none to restful.
The next day he was dragged out for a special visit. Who it could be he didn't have the faintest of clues. Not like he had any family who wanted to associate with a known criminal. Especially, one who had gotten on both the Avatar and former chief's bad sides. Maybe it was Beifong. Back to finish the job.
There was no one in the room. Nothing but a couple of chairs and a table. If the guards were going to off him; now would be the best time. They could probably just pass it off as some sort of accident or he tried to attack them. Not like anyone would bat an eyelash for a prisoners death. Unfortunately, he was too much of a coward to do it himself.
The last person he would of ever believed came walking through the door. Still always wearing her trademarked furs. The Avatar in all her glory and slouching posture closed the door behind her. Pulled back a chair and sat down.
She gestures to the other.
Qui Lang took a seat. Leaning back enough to the point where the front legs weren't even resting on the ground.
"So...Um, hello-again." Korra wrings out one of her braids.
The man replied "Yes. Hello Mrs. Avatar. What brings you around hmm?" Maybe he was wrong about her. Maybe the avatar had only save him to just finish him later.
"Oh-Uh. Well, I just, uh, well wanted to check up on you. You know after the whole...you know incident. Um-I'm sorry about that. For what Lin did to you." She looked to the man's concealed neck and arms.
He pulls back the collar. Korra doesn't react as he tries to goad her. "S'okay. Go on. See what your women did me." He sneer's. Angry. Spitting. Leaning over the table. "Go on have a good look. Here to get your kicks eh. See what a strong women you got."
"Does it still hurt." She's looking at it under an invisible microscope. Inspecting the rash without touching it. Leaning close.
"Like hell. Doesn't help with it getting irritated all the time." Concealing the bruise with his collar once more. Qui Lang crosses his arms and rolls his shoulders as he sits back down. "Your women's guard dogs see to that."
Korra gets up and comes around the table. Qui Lang leaned back into his chair as she leans in close. She pulls on his shirt revealing the bruise again. Then grabs him by the wrists. Not to gently either.
"Ouch, Damn. Watch where your grabbing."
Korra apologizes. While rolling up his sleeves. The dark ringlets are raw. His cuffs have fresh blood on them. She gasps a little at the open wounds on the backs of his wrists. There is a brown pouch attached to her hip that she reaches for. Unraveling the dried leather. Which smelled of sea prunes. Revealing crystalline vile. Filled with a glowing blue liquid.
"This is special water given to me by my master, Katara."
"I heard of her." Qui Lang responds gruffly. What person hasn't.
"Yeah-well, it has special healing properties; more than average that is. Can I..." She motions to 'them.'
Qui Lang thrusts out his arms. Turning his head away with a grumble. "Go ahead. Do what you want. I'm at your mercy."
So Korra went to work. Bending the water from the vile. Surrounding her hands in it. She then laid them careful on the wounds. And gritted her teeth as she tried to focus. The water then glowed even brighter and the marks began to fade.
But not the feelings that came with them.
"This suppose to make you feel good about yourself. By showing your enemy some compassion Mrs. Avatar. Maybe they'd print this into a nice little article on the front page of the paper. Nice fluff piece this'd make. Go home into the arms of that women of yours." He'd left out the kid intentionally.
"She doesn't know I'm here." Korra finished with his wrists then went for his neck.
Qui Lang flinched away.
Korra looks at him. Pleads with him by just a flutter of her lash's.
Qui Lang heaved a heavy sigh and leaned forward.
Without even laying a hand on him. Just hovering them over his neck and letting the cool healing flow touch the wound. "I'm sorry for what Lin did to you...Lin is too."
"We both know that ain't true Mrs. Avatar."
Korra's head sagged. Her braids dangle in front of her face. The flow of water disrupted for just a second. "I know. But I'm sorry for what she did."
"You shouldn't be."
"I have to be. I'm the Avatar. This is what I'm supposed to do." The healing was complete. It's as if the incident had never happened. At least on the outside. So Korra bended the water back into the vile and fixed it back to her hip. Later she'd toss it into the bay on the boat ride to air temple island.
"I get it." Qui Lang said holding up a hand to silence her good guy speech. "Doesn't mean you guys don't have a bad streak every now and again. Look...can I-can I just go back to my cell."
Korra nods and goes to knock on the door and whispers to the guard. The man nods his head. Korra then motions at Qui Lang that he is free to leave. The guard grabs him by the arm. Not hard. Almost gently like he were made of glass.
"Hey, why'd ya heal me anyway. Why not just leave it? Make it a nice reminder whenever I look in the mirror."
"I'm the avatar; It's what I'm all about." She repeated again. "That's what Lin tells me anyway. So...here I am. The Avatar is supposed to set the example for everyone. What Lin did wasn't right. But I can't blame her for what she did either. So please don't hold it against her. And I don't think you would of hurt a child to get what you wanted. Because, Yee-Li didn't have a scratch on her."
"Think whatever you want Mrs. Avatar. But I'm just a power hungry man the same as anyone else in this place." He waved her off as he was escorted out the door.
Korra watched them going down the hall. "I'll be back." She shouted as they were about to turn down the hall leading back to Qui Lang's cell.
Qui Lang jerks the guard holding him to turn around and look at the women staring back at him. Such an honest smile. He felt ashamed to of had directed at him.
"To make sure that your wounds are healed. And that no other one's pop up." Making a watching gesture-not at Qui Lang, but at the guard. Who sunk back into his armor like a turtle.
Qui Lang huffed. "Do whatever you want Mrs. Avatar." But he rushed himself and the guard who tripped trying to keep up with him as they rounded the corner and out of sight.
But he still heard what she had to say. "That's Korra...Korra Beifong. At least call me by my name if we're going to see each other more."
Qui Lang kept his head buried in his popped collar. So no one could see. The Avatar was an idiot for showing him such kindness.
Yet after that incident the guards had become more restrained in making Qui Lang's life miserable. They hadn't stopped completely; but it lessened. Especially close to visiting days.