Chapter 4
Korra was practicing her air bending moves. The avatar still could not bend air, but her technique improved slightly. "Hello Avatar Korra, these are from Councilman Tarrlok," spoke Tarrlok's assistant as Korra raised an eyebrow. She saw a large bag full of various gifts.
"Don't want it," spoke Korra as she left to get a snack.
Later, Korra noticed that a large Satomobile appeared on the island. "I did not know you wanted to get a Satomobile," spoke Asami as she visited her friend.
"I didn't. I mean, I don't even know how to drive one well," spoke Korra
"Korra, look I am driving this Satomobile," spoke Ikki as she jumped on the front seat of the vehicle, but was unable to move it.
"Beep. Beep," shouted Meelo as he also enjoyed the new gift Korra received.
"These gifts are getting more and more extravagant," spoke Tenzin as he arrived to give Korra another lesson, "Hello Miss Sato, I hope you are doing well,"
"Thank you Councilman Tenzin. I came to visit Korra, but if Korra is busy, I can see her another time," spoke Asami
"Can Asami stay? My exercises get less boring when Asami is here," spoke Korra as she looked at her teacher.
"Very well. It does seem that your friend has a positive influence on you," spoke Tenzin as he showed another technique to Korra, who tried to repeat it.
"Avatar Korra," spoke Tarrlok's assistant as she approached the Avatar again.
"What is it? I think I made it clear I am not interested in whatever Tarrlok asked me to do," spoke Korra
"Avatar Korra, Councilman Tarrlok asked whether you would attend the gala tomorrow night. All the influential people of the Republic City would be there," began the Councilman's aid.
"Fine, you can tell him I will be there. But that does not mean I will join his Task Force," spoke Korra as the aid left.
Asami looked at Korra. "What?"
"You know Tarrlok is setting a trap for you?" asked Asami
Korra laughed, "Don't be ridiculous. This is just a gala, it wont hurt for me to get out and leave this island for a night in the city," spoke Korra as she disregarded her friend's advice. Asami shook her head.
"I guess I will see you at the gala. Later, Korra," spoke Asami as she left. While the two young women talked, Tenzin observed the conversation.
"You are lucky to have such a nice friend as young Miss Sato. The young woman thinks a lot about you," spoke Tenzin
"It's nice to have a girlfriend, since when I lived in the South Pole, I did not have any girlfriend before, well, except for Naga," spoke Korra as Tenzin rose a brow.
"Ikki, Meelo, come, you need to go to bed," spoke Tenzin as led his two youngest children towards their rooms. Korra took a deep breath.
"Crap, did I really say that out loud?" thought Korra, "I should not worry, girls call each other girlfriends all time. I am sure of it,"
Korra tried to reassure herself that she did not say anything she should not have said. "O, hey Naga,"
"Woof,"
Korra laughed, "Come girl, lets play ball," spoke Korra as she took a ball and threw it in a distance. The polar bear dog was all too happy to play fetch.
Next evening Korra arrived to the gala fully dressed in a dark blue gown, that had some white lines. "Korra! You made it," smiled Asami as she approached her friend. Korra noticed that Asami wore a red dress that in some places had dark red shades.
"Avatar Korra, you look nice as usual," spoke Tarrlok as he approached Korra.
"Go away Tarrlok," Asami glared at him
Korra looked at her friend in surprise. "My, my, I did not know that young Heiress had such a temper," spoke Tarrlok.
"I don't. But you are testing my patience. You are influencing the majority of the Council to keep passing pro bender and anti non bender laws, and then you wonder just why the Equalists even began to form," spoke Asami
"If I did not know any better, Miss Sato, I would think that you just defended the Equalists, and their horrible leader Amon. Are you by chance an Equalist? That would explain much," spoke Tarrlok.
"Back off Tarrlok. Just because Asami is a non bender and cares about non-bender rights, does not mean she is a criminal revolutionary bent on destroying this city," spoke Korra as fire appeared around her fists.
A few members of the press saw an escalating conflict between three influential people in the Republic City, and made a few photos, before focusing their cameras on the three people.
"You know what Tarrlok? Yes, Amon is a criminal, and yes, what he does is wrong, and yes, his methods are extreme, but he does have a point. There are five members on the Council, each one representing a different nation, and yet all of them are benders, and only one of them cares about the rights of non benders,"
"And you Miss Sato are walking on a very thin line between concern for the non benders and being an Equalist sympathizer, whom I could arrest for treason," spoke Tarrlok. "Even if you don't believe everything Amon says right now, you might later. After all, all people dealing with extremes start somewhere, and they all at first have noble goals, which often lead them on a dark path,"
Asami glared at him. "Oh, and for your information Miss Sato, I will be watching you closely. I don't want someone with your intellect, skills, and resources to join and support a maniac,"
"I have nothing to fear from you. I do find your statements ironic, since you could have as well just also described yourself. You do seem to be getting quite extreme with your growing dislike of non benders, such as myself, especially of those who actually want the system to have reforms," spoke Asami
Even Korra by then sensed tension. "Okay, lets enjoy the gala, shall we," spoke Korra as she grabbed Asami's hand and led the non-bender away from Tarrlok. The press did make a few more photos; they also wrote the brief conversation between Asami and Tarrlok, before the press continued with their work.
"Asami, what in the world?" asked Korra, "I did not know you of all people could get this angry,"
"I am sorry Korra, but Tarrlok is my least liked person in the City. He has so much power, and yet he does not care about the rights of non-benders. But that's half of the problem. He does not just not care; he also tried to make draconian laws that in practice oppress non-benders more and more with each new law. For instance, do you know that many non benders live in a poor district where Triad activity is high, and where the Council occasionally does not send enough electricity to power the homes of all these people?" asked Asami
"I did not know, I am sorry, although I did recognize that Tarrlok is a jerk,"
An hour later Tarrlok decided to talk to Korra, "I take it you don't want to accept my offer, do you?" asked the man
"How perceptive of you," replied Korra
"It is your decision after all, which I fully accept. I do wish, however, for you to speak to the press, as they wish to know how the Avatar is doing,"
Tarrlok led Korra to the press, which began asking the Avatar various questions. "Are you afraid of Amon?" asked one reporter. Tarrlok grinned, he knew that sooner or later someone would ask the Avatar this question, and knowing her character, she would courageously say no, and they promptly join his Task force.
"Excuse me Avatar Korra, there has been a slight problem," spoke Asami as she approached Korra, took her arm, and led her friend away from the reporters before Korra could say anything.
"Thanks for the save," spoke Korra quietly as she smiled. Meanwhile, Asami turned and grinned at Tarrlok, who was fuming, especially after he saw a middle finger.
The two friends entered a balcony. "Thanks again. I realize that I almost played in Tarrlok's hands since I almost replied to the reporter that I am not afraid of Amon and would join the Task Force," spoke Korra
"Come, I see you feel exhausted. I think a semi formal training session with the Fire Ferrets would make you feel better," smiled Asami as the two went to find Mako and Bolin.
A/N: I know that Asami might have felt a little OOC here, but I think she would have a strong dislike towards Tarrlok for the reasons she provided, and if she were to talk to him, would voice strong opinions about his policy. I also wanted to add some twists to the story. At this point I think both Korra and Asami are only starting to realize their feelings towards each other. They are, however, best friends already, and they do support each other, as seen in this chapter.