Senior Year

Two weeks passed by, and I swear it was a scary two weeks.  Arlin’s task force, with Korra’s help, had managed to quell some of the Equalist attacks, but more non-benders were joining the cause each day.  It was getting to the point where the influence was hitting RCHS; more non-bending students were fighting with students who could bend.  Mako and Bolin had been pulled into a few of those fights, but I had been able to help break the fights up with Opal.  I could deal with breaking up the fights, with having to ignore the insults they threw at Opal and I.  What I couldn’t deal with was when a group of them decided to kidnap Zolt, his crew, and Bolin.

Bolin was at the wrong place at the wrong time when Equalist sympathizers at the school ambushed them.  Mako had been at work, I in the workshop behind my house working on the bending-resistant shield.  The first step in creating the shield was to make it out of platinum, the purest of metals that couldn’t be bent by metalbending it.  The form was starting to take shape, but it was going to take several sessions to get it to the weight I wanted it to be for my Satomobile.  That was when my phone rang.

I had my ringtone on high just in case Dad had called.  When I heard the first notes, I turned off the plasma torch, setting it on the bench before taking my gloves off.  I took my mask off and wiped my face with my towel with one hand, picking up my phone with the other.

“Hello?” I asked after hitting the send button.

“Asami, it’s Mako.  Bolin’s in trouble,” he said.  He sounds out of breath.

I set my towel down. “What happened?”

I could hear Mako pacing in the background. “He had a tutoring session today after school and was supposed to be back around 6.  When he didn’t get in around 6:30, I called the guy he had been tutoring, Reain.  Reain said that he had left straight after the tutoring session and hadn’t mentioned anything special happening.” A pause followed as I heard Mako switch ears. “I got to the school, and Chief Beifong was there.  Bolin, Zolt, and Zolt’s friends got picked up by some of the Equalist sympathizers.”

I covered my mouth.  Not Bolin. “Did you call Opal?” I asked, quickly leaving the workshop.

“No.  I’m…I’m scared and worried, Asami.  If they take them back to Amon, he’ll-“ Mako started to say before I interrupted him.

“They are NOT going to take his bending away, Mako.  We won’t let them ok?  Where are you?” I asked, heading inside the house and quickly up the stairs to my room.

“The police station,” he replied.

I put him on speaker phone as I changed out of my clothes. “Ok.  I’m going to call Korra, and we’ll meet you down at the station.  We’ll find Bolin, ok?” I asked, pulling on my favorite jacket that had the Future Industries logo on the shoulders.

“Ok.  Please hurry,” he said, almost pleadingly as he hung up.

I turned the speaker phone off and called Korra as I left my room.  It took three rings before she answered. “Hello?” she asked.

“Korra, it’s Asami.  We have a problem.  Bolin, Zolt, and Zolt’s crew were kidnapped earlier today,” I said as I looked around for my wallet.  Just one more thing.  Where were they?

I heard a chair squeak back over the phone.  She must be home. “Do the police have an idea of who’s behind the kidnapping?” she asked, but I had a feeling she already knew who the culprits were.

“The Equalists,” I confirmed.  I went into the hallway.  There they are.

I heard Korra hiss over the phone. “I’ll call Arlin, see if he can get the task force to help.”

“Ok.  I’ll be over to your house in a few minutes.  We’re going to meet Mako at the police station,” I said as I left the house through the side door.

“Ok, I’ll see you-wait a minute.  How are you getting here?” she asked, causing me to smile. 

When Darvy, Dad’s lead mechanic, had arrived at the beginning of the week, all he could do was shake his head. “You’re your father’s daughter, you know that?” he asked with a smile on his face.

A few minutes after ending my call with Korra, I kept my promise and pulled my new customized Satomobile up in front of her house.  She was currently staying with one of the council members, Tenzin Brieze, his family, and the Air Nomads on Air Temple Island.  White Lotus sentries looked at me funny but allowed me to pass through.  I had caught a ferry large enough to hold my Satomobile, no way in hell was I going to allow it too far out of my sight, and trudged my way up the stairs to the main part of the island.  It was here that I was met by Tenzin’s three children. 

“Korra’s inside talking with Dad,” Jinora, the oldest, said as they walked with me.  She pointed over to the building, indicating where Korra was.  I nodded my thanks and picked up my pace.

When we walked into the building, which led into a dining room area, Korra and Tenzin were by the windows, clearly arguing.  As I walked into the room, Korra turned her head towards the children and I, her face lighting up at the sight of me.  She’s…she’s that happy to see me?  Not even Mako smiles like that to me when he sees me.  I smiled as we met halfway through the room in a hug.

I leaned back slightly. “Ready?  We still have to go get Mako, and hopefully they’ll have more information about the kidnapping.”

Korra nodded, Naga coming up beside her. “I hope you don’t mind, but I thought Naga would be a great help because of her tracking skills,” she said, a slight blush on her cheeks.

I smiled. “Any help is appreciated, Korra.  Even from Naga.” Naga barked in agreement.

As we were about to leave, Tenzin finally spoke up. “Korra, remember what I said,” he said as we stopped at the door.

Korra nodded at him. “I will, Tenzin.”

It was a quiet, focused walked back to the ferry.  The children elected to stay back as we left, so it just left Korra, Naga, and I.  Naga, excited for a trip off the island, jumped around as she circled us during the walk.  I snuck a quick look over to Korra and was surprised to see her this focused already.  I smiled to myself.  I can tell just by looking at her face for a quick instant what her friends mean to her. 

“What’s got you happy?” Korra asked.

I stuttered.  Shit, she caught me.  Again.  Shit.  “Oh…uh…sorry, I was uh…thinking about my surprise for you,” I said, quickly reminding myself about my Satomobile.

She raised her eyebrow. “Oh?”

I smiled, and as we got closer, Korra realized what the surprise.  She ran ahead of me over to my Satombolie and walked around it.  Her eyes were full in admiration.  Naga too stared wide-eyed at the vehicle, her tail wagging fiercely back and forth.  As I climbed onto the ferry, Korra whistled.

“Wow.  She’s a goddamn beauty.  You designed her yourself?” she asked, turning her attention to me.

I nodded then looked at the captain of the ferry, giving him the thumbs up to leave. “It took a couple months and a lot of extra time from my dad’s lead mechanic, but it was well worth it.  I assume you like it?”

“I love it.  It’s so…so you,” she said as she ran her hand across the hood.  She looked up at me, smiling that smile, my face started to feel very warm.

I smiled back, opening up the driver’s side door.  Naga took advantage of my slow reaction time, courtesy of that oh so cute smile…shit…again, and leapt inside to the back seat.  She smiled her doggy smile at us as if to say she had claimed her seat.  We looked at her then at each other before laughing.

“She’s as goofy as you are,” I told Korra as I climbed into the car.

She smiled, with what looked like a slight blush on top of it, as she climbed in on the passenger side. “I swear I don’t know who she gets it from.”

I rolled my eyes. “Uh huh.  Right.”

The ferry came to a slow stop to the docks as a grabbed my goggles.  Korra looked at me as I put them on, resting them on the top of my head.  I shrugged as the ramp to the ferry lowered. “Never know,” I said as I started the car, slowly moving it down the ramp.

Going through the docks, I had to be careful so as to not hit anyone, but once I hit the road, there was no need to be slow.  In the old bug, I would’ve made questioned how fast to take her, which turns she would be able to handle taking tightly.  In my new girl, that wasn’t the case.  I knew how well she could take the turns, how fast I could handle her.  I’m such a god damn genius.  We were rocketing down the streets, avoiding most of the evening traffic.  My baby handled like a dream with tight turns, and Korra was enjoying the adrenaline that came with every turn.  I smiled.  She’s such a better passenger than Mako is; he probably will shit himself if I drive like this with him in the car.  But it’s so god damn fun with her…shit.  WHY CAN’T I JUST STOP THINKING THIS WAY FOR ONCE?!  I shook my head at the internal monologue as I pulled up to the police station.

“Everything ok?” Korra asked, leaning against the door as she looked at me.

I nodded, getting out of my car. “Yeah, just worried.”

Korra followed, holding up her hand to Naga. “Stay,” she said to her before turning her attention to me. “We’ll find him, Asami.  Go grab Bolin; I’m going to see if Arlin’s in the task room.”

I nodded, and we walked inside the police station, separating at the intersection.  I went left towards the Chief of Police’s office; Korra went to the right towards the task force’s room.  The Chief’s office was at the end of the hall, and I saw Mako sitting in one of the chairs, his head was in his hands.  Spirits, I hate seeing him like this. “Mako!” I called out to him.

He looked up, his eyes red.  He stood up as I ran to him, his arms reaching out to me.  I ran into them, hugging him tightly.  Spirits, I HATE seeing him like this.  We stood there for what felt like an eternity before finally pulling back.  He wiped his tearless eyes. “Sorry,” he said softly.

“Don’t be.  We’ll find him, Mako,” I said, leaning up and kissing him softly.

He returned the kiss, nodding as we hugged again.  He looked around. “Where’s Korra?  I thought you said you were going to go get her,” he asked as he released me from the hug.

“She’s went to see Arlin, maybe to get help from the task force,” I said, taking his hand and leading him back down the hall towards the task room.

Mako nodded, squeezing my hand as we picked up our pace.  We got closer to the intersection where Korra and I had split off when we saw Korra sprinting towards us.  The anger radiating off her already told us what Arlin’s “help” was going to do.  To see Korra this upset made me pissed off at Arlin for her.  And where was this task force when it was needed the most?  Useless. 

“They’re not going to help us?” Mako asked, the disappointment by the turn of the events hanging heavy on his voice.

Korra shook her head. “’Not enough info to go on.’  That doesn’t mean I’m going to give up, Mako.  We’re going to find Bolin and the others.  I swear to you as the Avatar that we will find them and rescue them.”

As Korra and Mako started to talk about places that they could search, my mind started to drift off in my own thoughts of possibilities.  Then it hit me.  Of course!  I smiled, grabbing Mako and Korra’s hands as I began to drag them to my Satomobile.

“Asami!  What are you doing?” Korra asked, changing her pace to catch up with me.

I smiled at them as we got to the car. “I think I have an idea of someone who could help us.”

We stood by my car, watching Equalist supporters walking to an old factory guarded by a rather large man.  He stopped them, smiling after they held up one of the Amon flyers before letting them inside the factory. 

“Glad we grabbed a few of them then,” Mako said softly as he finished putting on his disguise.

The factory was an old run down building that used to develop machines for different companies, one of which was Future Industries.  When the contractor who owned the building went missing, the company never recovered, though this was years ago.  The entire block had been a part of the company, so there were several other empty buildings that were nearby.  Perfect for hiding a small army.  I pulled the maroon scarf up over my mouth with Korra doing the same with Mako’s scarf.

My eyes narrowed as I watched the interaction between Mako and Korra as they continued to finish putting their disguises together.  The way that they looked at each other, a smile in their eyes.  I mentally shook my head.  Their just friends.  Nothing more.  Plus, she’s dating that Leu guy.  I’m just…being stupid for no reason.  There’s nothing there.  They’re just friends.  I was still talking to myself mentally when they walked over to me.

“Alright, let’s move,” Korra said.

We began to walk towards the large man that stood guard in front of the factory.  After picking up Mako, I had driven us to the park downtown where a scrawny man had made his display.  An Equalist supporter, the man had spent hours at the park yelling through a megaphone about how bending was an evil to the world and how Amon was there to help us make a better world.  When I saw the evil glares both Korra and Mako were shooting, I decided it was best for me to go alone to the guy.  With a little fake flirtation, I was able to get both the four flyers that made the location of the factor on the back.

“Everything’s going on there tonight,” the guy had said, a smile on his face as he continued to look me up and down.

When I returned to Korra and Mako, flyers in hand, they were busy chasing Naga around my car, trying to stop her from chasing a red ferret.  I covered my mouth, an amused smile and small laugh escaping as I watched them.  Even when we're worried sick and someone's missing, they never cease to surprise me with their antics.  The ferret, Pabu, belonged to Bolin, and Mako was relieved to find him unharmed.  After taking a few minutes to explain, as best she could, to Naga that Pabu was NOT a snack, I explained to the two of them about the upcoming rally that was being planned, a public demonstration of how Amon was going to help bring equality to Republic City.

Now here we were, about to walk into an environment where my boyfriend and one of my closest friends were severely not welcomed.  The large man looked us over, a scowl on his face. ”Password?” he asked, crossing his arms across his chest.  Shit.  Shit.  SHIT.

We stood there, dumbfounded, before Mako pulled out one of the flyers. “This?” he asked.

The large man took the paper, looking at it, before smiling and stepping to the side. “Welcome, brother and sisters.”

We smiled a little in thanks, a little in fear, before entering the factory.  There were so many people here, so many supporters.  By the whisper of amazement that emanated from Mako, I could tell I wasn’t the only one surprised.  We slowly made our way forward, mingling our way in with the crowd.  There was a large stage in front of the crowd, but there was no sign of Bolin or Zolt.  I began to reach blindly for Mako’s hand, finding it.  But after I wrapped my hand around the hand I had just grabbed, I realized that it wasn’t Mako’s, yet it felt comforting.

I turned to see whose hand I had grabbed, finding myself face-to-face with Korra.  I felt my cheeks run warm.  We looked at our hands before looking up at each other, our eyes meeting.  It was hard to miss the sparkle in her eyes.  That look of hope, just hiding in the distance.  And honestly…I felt like I could just stand here with her, lost in our thoughts for forever, and feel…content.  But the universe wasn’t having any of that.

“No,” I heard Mako whisper behind me.  I whipped around, quickly letting go of Korra’s hand, thinking I had been caught.

Then I saw what Mako was really looking at.  Up on the stage was a masked man, Amon.  His introduction began, with some back story somewhere in the conversation, but my eyes were more focused on the people currently kneeling in front of the chi blockers.  Zolt.  His crew.  Bolin was the last one on the far right.  At least he doesn’t look like they’ve hurt him.  Then my ears finally began to tune in what Amon was saying.

“Brothers and sisters, the Avatar is supposed to stand for equality, yet look at us now.  I am here to ease your pain as the Spirits have chosen me to lead you in our fight for equality.  They have given me an ability to help see our campaign succeed:  the ability to take away someone’s bending.  Permanently,” he announced, cheers erupting through everyone but Korra, Mako, and I.

I stared at the man before us on the stage, a mask covering his face.  This was…madness.  I felt my hands start to unconsciously clench into fists.  Anger began to run through my body at the thought of this man, Amon, hurting my friends.  Hurting Korra.  To hell would you touch a god damn hair on any one of my friends.  To hell would I let you within an inch of Korra.