Chapter Four:

Tarrlok! Why was this man standing before them? Wasn't he taken by Amon? Wasn't he a prisoner. Before they could ask anything the room in which they were being held was electrocuted. It wasn't enough to knock them out, but it did bring them to their knees and make it so they couldn't fight back when men in rubber suits came in from a hidden door and dragged them off. They were moved to a stage where Amon stood. Before them, huddling around the stage, was a large mass of nonbenders. They were here for an equalization. Korra's heart stopped for a beat before it started to pound against her chest. In the time it took for them to drag them from that metal room they had clasped electrified handcuffs on them so they couldn't fight back. And now they were just waiting. Waiting for the end to come.

Amon's speech seemed to go on for hours before he came to wait seemed like the end. "And now my fellow nonbenders. They best part of the show. The Avatar and her friend!" He pointed to her and then motioned for someone off stage to come up and move her. Her head snapped in the direction he motioned too to stare wide eyed at someone she thought was her friend. "Asami please bring the boy first."

The elegant teen moved to grab Mako's arms and twist them in a way the shackles didn't allow, forcing a grunt of pain to leave his lips. "But why?" She didn't answer him just pushed him to stand before the demon Amon. She dealt a sharp kick to the crook of his knees, causing a yelp of pain and for the firebender to fall to his knees. She then took a few steps back. He was facing the crowd of people yelling and cursing him. When the man stepped behind him he knew. He could feel the darkness loaming. He felt helpless until he noticed the shackles were somehow looser than before. Loose enough for his hands to slip free. So Asami was still on their side.

He took a deep breath and waited for the perfect time. When Amon's thumb was set on his forehead Mako grabbed the man's legs and sent lightening flowing throw his body, sending the man flying. Mako jumped to his feet and slipped the cuffs off before turning to see Asami pulling Korra to her feet and uncuffing her.

An uproar had started in the crowd. Both armed equalists and out raged follows began to circle the group. Each of the group took a fighting stance and readied themselves as Amon got back to his feet and stumbled forward. They were outnumbered. Even with their skills there was no way to defend themselves from the mass coming at them.

As both Mako's and Korra's mind started working as to figure out their next move the ground started to shake. Large cracks formed between them and the mass and A wall of stone jutted out around Amon, trapping him where he stood. On the other side of the stage was Bolin, waving them forward and demanding them to be quick. The group hurried before the mass could get over the gaping holes and made their way to where Naga awaited.

As the polar bear-dog took off Korra caught sight of Tarrlok coming to Amon's aid. He had begun to chip away at the rock encasing the man. That night when they were safe at Tenzin's hide away she couldn't stop herself from thinking about this. The man had his bending taken from Amon and had hated his guts. So why was he there helping him? Even if he hated her, she just couldn't why he would have a change of heart towards that monster.

"Korra?" Mako sat down beside her on the back porch area of the hut. His brows were pulled together in worry and his lips were pulled together in a tight line. "Are you hurting?"

He was worried about that? She had gotten less of the trauma thanks to him. Her eyes snapped to the spider wed burns on his neck and wrists. Golden orbs followed her gaze and pale fingers cover the burns on the wrist. "Don't worry about them. I'm fine."

"You're not and you know it." She bit her lip before continuing. "He almost got you today! If Asami wasn't there we would be sitting in his prisons without our bending. I couldn't do anything to stop him." Tears had begun stinging her eyes and she wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms and be reassured. But Asami was his girlfriend and she had no right to do so. Instead she sucked in a deep breath and fought back the tears. I've got to get stronger if I plan on winning this war."

He said nothing just watched her with unnerved eyes. She wasn't going to ask him for help. She wasn't going to ask anyone for help, just like that day on Air Temple Island. If they hadn't caught her she would have left them behind. When this thought caught his mind he stiffened. "You're going to do it again."

"What?" Her voice was defensive and her sea blue eyes were guarded. "You're going to try leaving us all behind again."

Her lips parted to protest but he stopped her. "Korra are you insane?" His voice was angered. Nimble trembling fingers wrapped around her forearms and held her in place. "You can't stop him on your own. And I'm not going to let you try! If you really want to run away fine, but I'll follow every step you take. And if I have to I'll drag you back each time you've reached your limit. Just because you're the avatar doesn't mean you are expected to take care of everything on your own!"

"Worry about your girlfriend!" She snapped. "I didn't need you when Tarrlok took me and I don't need you now." She stood and stormed to the room her and Asami shared with Jinora. Leaving Mako there with those stinging words floating in his head. He wanted to chase after her. Wanted to tell her that he loved her and that's why he worried, but if he did so than there would be nothing left to protect him if she ever left him. Holding her at arm's length could still protect him from the extreme of pains if he ever lost her again. He wouldn't allow himself to get any closer. It would only hurt more.

"Bro, you're not handling this right." Bolin was standing in the doorway now. He had a forced smile on his lips and was trying his best to seem light and air headed like normal. "Korra is going to do things her way, she always has, and pushing yourself on her like that will just force her to run. Instead of telling her that she's stuck with you, why not just kindly let her know if she ever needs you you'll be there."

Mako's head lowered. He never thought he'd be needing Bo's advice on something like girls. He thought he'd always be the one being leaned on.

"As for Asami, you need to talk to her. She's hurting and it's painful to watch the two of you struggle on in something you both know is over."

With that Bo turned and walked back into the house. Mako stood, looking after his brother in awe. It was in that moment he realized just how much his baby brother had grown. He was no longer the little boy who use to cling to him during thunder storms or who would beg him to tell him stories. Instead he was more grown up than himself.

Author's Note: Sorry it's a poor chapter and was majorly delayed. Between losing my notebook, my computer with this chapter saved on it dying, and work running me wild I decided to only focus on my other LoK fic Baby Mine. But everything's back to normal (other than my other computer being dead) and so I will be getting things up and going again. So here's a question. Who should be featured in one of the next two chapters: Lin or Meelo?