Ch 5 forcing the hand
One morning, Kya walked into the kitchen to the sounds of something burning. To her surprise, she saw Locus cooking breakfast.
"Wow. Locus, the badass soldier making breakfast." Kya teased.
"In the field, you learn to adapt. That was pounded in training over and over. Adapt, or die. And being able to cook, is part of it." Locus said, as he flipped the pancakes over and put them on a nearby plate.
"Of course." Kya said, knowing that her boyfriend was like that. When he spoke, it was curt and to the point. Always practical.
Kya sat next to Locus and bite into one of the pancakes.
"These are good, Locus." Kya said.
"Thanks. It's been a while since I cooked like this. I spent most of the past few months on the run." Locus said.
Kya put her fork down and looked at Locus, who's eyes were scanning the room. Locus grabbed a table knife and put it in his pocket. Kya was now starting to understand just how paranoid Locus was, and how deadly he may be.
Locus finished his breakfast, cleaned his dishes, and left the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" Kya asked.
"I'm heading out for a walk." Locus said, putting his shotgun on his back.
Tenzin walked into the kitchen, calling Kya.
"Kya, we need to talk."
Kya followed Tenzin into his study, where he closed the door.
"You have to convince Locus to help us." Tenzin said.
"That's a death sentence. He'll kill me, and anyone else I talked to." Kya said.
"You don't know that. You're friends with him." Pema said.
"Let me tell you something he told me." Kya said.
3 days ago, the park
Kya and Locus were sitting underneath a tree, enjoying each other's company, as much as can be enjoyed by a sociopathic post traumatic vet.
"You have any friends?" Kya asked.
"No. They're all dead, and the bastard known as Felix…" Locus growled, clenching his hand tightly.
"Look, I want to try a normal life, but I will not fight this war against these equalists. I've been manipulated by Felix to fight a war that I know is unjust. There was no reason to fight on Chorus, and I won't start shedding blood right now." Locus said.
"He won't join up. Not unless something forces his hand." Kya said.
Locus walked down the streets of Republic City, getting the layout for himself. He walked up the mountains and overlooked the vast city. For the longest time in a while, he found himself in peace.
Put that peace would not last. That night, Kya and Locus went for a stroll, Locus bringing his shotgun with him. He had good reason to be paranoid at night.
"The rebels usually attack during the night. They were good at it, I'll admit." Locus said.
"Chorus?" Kya asked.
"Yeah." Locus wearily said.
"Locus, don't worry about it. This is a chance to start fresh." Kya said.
Locus quickly turned to face Kya and looked in her eyes. Kya saw Locus's eyes, and saw the face of a man who was bordering desperation.
"What if I can't find closure? Sure I'm at peace now, but how long will that last?" Locus asked.
"Locus, I'm your closest friend. You said you didn't have friends, you have one. Me. I'll be with you every step on the way." Kya said, before pulling Locus into a kiss. Locus pulled Kya closer, deeply kissing her.
Locus heard something and broke away from the kiss, pointing his shotgun down the dark streets with one hand.
"Locus?" Kya asked.
"Get back to the temple." Locus said, properly holding the shotgun and walking towards the dark.
"Locus, I can handle myself." Kya said.
"I've heard many say that before, and they're dead. Get going." Locus said.
Kya left Locus and started heading back when he was attacked. 5 equalists came out of nowhere and surrounded him. They approached him, their bolas twirling in their hands.
"Are you fucking serious?" Locus muttered, and pulled out the table knife he put in his pocket earlier.
Locus let the equalist charge first, only for Locus to bury the blade deep in the attacker's head. Locus turned to his left and blocked the chi blockers attack with his left arm, and grabbed the chi blocker's throat and squeezed until the neck snapped, killing him.
The remaining three chi blockers quickly punch Locus, but they have no effect. The Spartan super soldier simply turns around and looks at the chi blockers, then bringing his shotgun to bear.
"Son of a bitch." One of the equalist says, before Locus shoots him in the face, killing him.
"Oh my god!" the second chi blocker says, looking at the dismembered chi blocker, his head simply removed, and the remains of blood and gore were staining the concrete street. The two equalists attempted to run, only for Locus to brutally gun them down.
"Locus!" Kya shouted, catching the merc's attention.
"Kya." Locus muttered, and ran at full Spartan strength. It didn't take long for him to find Kya, and saw as she was loaded into a truck.
Locus ran after the truck as they drove away, quickly catching up to it. Locus leaped and grabbed the driver's door and ripped it off it's hinges, then the drive followed suit. Locus crashed the truck, and the equalists attempted to run. Locus shot as many as he could, but stopped the killing when he heard Kya.
"Locus, you mind cutting these ropes?" Kya asked.
Locus put the shotgun on his back and cut Kya free with a fallen knife.
"Thanks." Kya said.
"Don't mention it." Locus said.
Kya then pulled Locus into a hug, and cried.
"Locus, I'm terrified!" Kya said.
"Kya, it's over. They're dead." Locus said.
"You don't understand. They blocked my bending. I couldn't fight them." Kya said.
"I'm sorry." Locus said.
"I've heard from Korra. What Amon did to benders who were captured." Kya said.
"What did Amon do?" Locus asked.
"He took away their bending. Permanently." Kya said.
Then it hit Locus. Kya was only hours away from being de-bended. While he wasn't a bender, he clearly saw that Kya was terrified. Locus lifted Kya in his arms and jogged back to the air temple.
One questions was on his mind. Should he get involved in the equalist problem?