Thank BG-13!

Howl's POV

I had overheard Councilman Tarrlok talking on to his personal page about his plan to pressure Korra into joining his Task Force. Right away I had gone to tell her and I couldn't help but notice that her mother was no longer fond of me and I didn't blame her. Every time I would go talk to the young Avatar, she would always walk away from whoever she was talking to, leaving as if they didn't matter. She was good at putting up a front but I knew better. I could see in her eyes that it killed her to that.

"What is it?" she asked sounding a bit tired.

It wasn't physical tiredness, it was emotional. I could tell that her parents were chewing her out.

"Tarrlok plans to force you into joining his Task Force by using the press," I informed her.

She nodded thoughtfully. "That's all?"

I blinked. "Uh, yeah?" I replied. Then it hit me. "You knew, didn't you?"

A small smirk appeared on the Water Tribe girl's face. She gave me a nod.

"Of course I did,' she answered. "Typical Tarrlok."

"What do you plan on doing?"

She smiled again. "Just watch," Korra answered going upstairs to his office.

Tarrlok's POV

When I had proposed to that brat to let her have a part in my Task Force I was actually surprised when she'd said no. I couldn't believe she had thrown an opportunity like that away, as if it didn't mean anything. That was the only chance she was going to get at trying to make up for all the crap she pulled when she was a teenager. But of course I was a persistent man. Very persistent.

I had a backup plan in case, by chance, she did refuse to join my Task Force. I would hold a Gala in her honor and pressure her into joining me. As a teenager she was very gullible and infuriated easily. And I could see at least that much hadn't changed.

I was in my office preparing myself when I heard a knock in the door. "Come in," I said. I raised a brow when I saw none other than the half baked Avatar herself. "Avatar Korra, I was just going to go and get you."

"And ask me again in front of hundreds of people if I wanted to join your vanity project," she said, sitting down in front of me.

I forced myself to smile. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Korra chuckled at this and leaned forward. "You know politicians are known for their lies and I could see right through yours," she continued. "You wanted the press to pressure me into joining the Task Force since you couldn't do it. That's why you held this Gala. It wasn't in my honor; it was in yours."

I clenched my jaw before letting out a small scoff. "When you arrived, people said you were different, that you had changed," I began. "I like this change. You aren't the little brat you were five years ago."

"I'm not," she admitted with a shrug. "I'm a lot smarter and it's going to take a lot for you to fool me."

I actually let out a chuckle at this. "You and I are not very different," I began. "It's something I always admired about you."

Her eyes narrowed at this. "We are very different, Councilman Tarrlok." Oh. I'd hit a nerve.

"Are we?" I asked, raising a brow. "Ive always admired your willingness to go to extremes to get what you want. A quality we both share."

"You and I are nothing alike," the Water Tribe girl managed to say though her teeth.

"If it makes you feel better," I answered with a shrug. I had to admit, I enjoyed toying with her.

"At least I don't pull government funds and spend them on fancy cars, houses and Gala's," she said. I froze. There was no way…How did she... "You have very expensive taste. I wonder how the other council members would feel about this, but more importantly the Benders of Republic City who see you as their savior?"

She was mocking me. I knew it. "What do you want?" I asked, my tone clipped.

"I'll join your Task Force," the girl replied. "And I'll let you have the victory for it. You know, letting everyone believe you pressured me into it and whatnot. But I have a few conditions."

"I'm listening."

"The fraud stops now," she continued. "I want a salary and I want to know every single move before it is made."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked curiously. Why the sudden change of heart?

"To protect what you called 'my kind'," Korra answered. "I won't let you bully innocent people."

"I assure you, Avatar Korra, I only go after the Equalists."

She nodded before standing. "Let's hope it stays that way."

I actually smirked at that. Was that a threat? "And if I don't?" I asked.

"I don't think you want to find out," she answered.

I growled at this. I had never been bested at my own game. The girl was better than I had given her credit for but this wasn't over. I had more tricks up my sleeve. This was far from over.

Tenzin's POV

It wasn't until we arrived at the ball that I noticed that Korra was already there. Senna and my mother went off to the side to talk while Pema and I watched the kids. I noticed that Korra was spending a lot of time with an old friend of hers, Oliver Queen. As teenagers both of them had gotten in a lot of trouble and I was afraid that when he reentered her life, there might be a repeat.

Tarrlok came to greet me and I had politely greeted him back. I knew he was up to something. He was not the type of man that would throw a Gala for the Avatar without wanting something back in return.

I intended to go to speak to Korra about this, to warn her not to let herself be pressured into anything. Just as I was going to go over to her, Hiroshi Sato stopped me saying how, despite Korra's history, he still expected great things from her. I gave him a nod. I did too, and I was only strict with her to make sure that didn't stray from the right path again.

"Tenzin!" I heard a familiar voice say. I winced a little.

"Chief Bei Fong," I answered turning around to greet her.

"Why is Tarrlok holding a Gala in that girl's honor?" she asked clearly infuriated. "She hasn't done anything to deserve this!"

"I don't know, Lin," I answered patiently. "But I'm sure Tarrlok is up to something."

"What is he up to now?" she asked clearly annoyed. The Chief of police knew about my suspicions about the councilman. "And why would he want to use her?"

"I don't know, and let's hope I'm wrong."

Tarrlok and Korra were talking up in the balcony for a moment before they came down a set of stairs. He raised a hand and all the reporters started to close in on them. I narrowed my eyes. He had planned this.

"I hope you don't mind, they just have a couple of questions," the Waterbender said with a sly smirk pushing Korra forward. I could see the nervousness in her eyes.

"Avatar Korra you witnessed Amon, taking away people's bending and you yourself had your taken away," a reporter said. "How much of a threat does he pose to the innocent citizens of Republic City?"

She shifted uncomfortably on her feet. "I think he's represents a serious problem."

"Then why have you refused to join Tarrlok's Task Force? As the Avatar shouldn't you be going after Amon?" another reporter asked.

"Well-"

"Why are you backing away from this fight?"

Korra clenched her jaw at the insinuation. I made a move to go forward and try to get her out of the situation but there were too many reports.

"What?" the ex-bender answered.

"You are supposed to serve this city. Have you forgotten your Avatar duties?"

"How do you think Avatar Aang would have handled this?"

"Are you afraid of Amon?"

I stopped struggling to get through. I knew that question was going to make her snap.

"I'm not afraid of anybody," Korra answered hints of anger in her voice. "If that's what the city wants then…I'll join his Task Force."

"There's your headline folks!" Tarrlok said proudly.

Korra left his side shortly after and I followed her. I needed her to know that she didn't have to join his Task Force if she didn't want to. I knew he had been up to something.

"Korra, wait," I called after her.

She turned around to look at me just as Oliver Queen was by her side. I sent him a small glare. I wasn't very fond of the young billionaire.

"You don't have to do this," I told her gently.

"I wasn't pressured into anything if that's what you're implying, Tenzin," she answered.

"I saw the whole thing Korra," I replied. "I can get you out of this mess. The city doesn't need its Avatar to join a band of bullies who are going after nonbenders."

"Tenzin, I appreciate the concern but my decision is final," Korra said. "Now if you will excuse me, I have date with Oliver."

I sighed heavily. This was not going to end well. I knew it.