Camp Amon

Kuvira had a lot of things to be grateful for in life. Suyin had discovered how horrible her real parents had been treating her when she was fifteen. Right after her stay at Camp Amon. Su gave her more than she could have ever asked for. A family. A real family— a mom and a dad and so many wonderful siblings. Her Aunt Lin, reluctantly, allowed her to join the RCPD after a few years on the Zaofu Force. Shao. Her beautiful, fantastic wife. A woman she would love eternally. Not a day had passed this summer where Kuvira didn’t sit down on a log and wishfully dream of her— of their wedding and how they fell in love. Of how she would never spend another day more than one-hundred miles away from Shao ever again. Even now… when there was some inevitable outcome involving violence and pain… even now she dreamed of her soulmate. In a dark, damp cell filled with six other people.

But what Kuvira was most grateful for right now… was Bolin’s ability to sustain group morale. They all humored him— no one wanted to face the reality of a kidnapping at the hands of drug lords, and in some cases… kin.

So, they played cards, grudgingly slipped to them by Mongo after Wu and Korra whined for three hours (Kuvira sincerely hoped that they would go into acting— they deserved Golden Globes for this summer… maybe she could get an Emmy for getting them to think she was a straight homophobe).

Who knew what time it was. Mongo had switched shifts with another guard— a ghastly looking woman with the urge to stare at nothing but the wall in front of her all day. Hey, Kuvira didn’t judge. Whatever floats your boat, man.

“Lunch time for the prisoners,” some other lackey said, bringing a box of food up to the cell. The girl, we’ll call her Bob for now, opened the cell door and he tossed the food in.

“There’s not an ounce of balanced nutrition here,” Bolin grumbled.

There was a family-sized bag of potato chips and some of those fun-sized Oreo snack-packs. Two bottles of water. For seven people. If someone didn’t pay their ransom or break them out— Kuvira was worried that they might die of dehydration.

Obviously, kids got a larger portion than the adults. Kuvira had gone through worse in Zaofu— under her old parents’ roof. Bolin had been on the streets. Zhu Li… well… if she was tough enough to not break from torture— she could handle going a little thirsty. The kids took priority.

Prisoners, the word echoed throughout Kuvira’s head, bouncing around and driving her up the wall. They were fucking prisoners.

A few more hours passed and Kuvira kept herself distracted with a game of tic tac toe against Korra.

“Hey! I was going to fucking take that square!”

“It’s a strategy game! It’s the simplest game in the world.”

“I dunno, I’ve heard of this one game called Scream and Run,” Wu said, looking up.

“What do you do?” Asami asked.

“You scream and you run.”

“Astonishing.”

Footsteps could be heard coming closer. The inhabitants of the cell straightened up (figuratively) and gave their attention to the door.

“Good afternoon to you all,” Tarrlok nodded.

“Oh we’re on civilized terms? Wouldn’t have thought that considering we’re locked in a fucking dungeon!” Wu hissed.

“You know, complaining isn’t going to get you anywhere.”

“As opposed to what? Watching you goad the United Republic for every cent they have?” Korra shot back.

“Actually, you’ll be pleased to hear your mother and father are offering us quite a sum of money, girl,” Tarrlok glared. “Apparently the South scrounged up every dollar they had in that pathetic excuse for a city.”

Korra frowned and looked away as tears began to form in her eyes. Asami laid a hand on her arm to comfort her. Kuvira recalled the Southern Water girl mentioning that her family didn’t have a lot of money.

“Just tell us what you want and go away, worm,” Mako grumbled.

“Flattery, Mr. Mako? Doesn’t seem your style. Very well, then. I came to tell you that we’ll be moving you to a new location tomorrow. We don’t want to risk an all-out war with United Republic forces now that they know where you disappeared at. We’d move you sooner, but it’s not like they know there’s a full-scale operation down here. That gives us some breathing room.”

“What about my father?”

“Ah yes… wait just one moment.”

Asami’s eyes widened as Tarrlok disappeared into the shadows. Another few moments passed and he reappeared with a man Kuvira slightly recognized from newspapers.

“Dad!?”

“Hello, Asami. I’m sorry that we have to meet in these conditions, but in order for the UR to pay for your ransom, we have to have a ‘public’ exchange of the prisoners.”

“Fuck you.”

“Asami! I am doing this for Future Industries— and therefore by default for you!”

“Holding me in some cell— letting me rot so that you can earn a few extra bucks? We don’t need money!”

“It’s not about the money, Asami! We’re making connections and establishing an immortal life for our business! Your mother’s legacy!”

“Don’t you dare! Don’t you fucking dare bring my mother into this! She would never have approved of you sending me to a Raava-foresaken homophobic camp, let alone let you poison the company with illegal deals and heists! You dare suggest she would be proud of you!?”

“Asami, my beautiful daughter… please—“

“ENOUGH!!”

Korra, as quick as a flash of lightening, jumped up and threw the deck of cards at Hiroshi. She tried to punch him through the slots of the cell door, managing to bloody his nose with a quick jab.

“ARGGH!”

The CEO fell back against the wall opposite the cell, clutching his face. Kuvira smirked when she saw blood gushing through his hands.

“You’re going to regret that, brat,” Tarrlok said in a low, cold voice. He opened the cell and swiftly marched in, pinning Korra to the wall and pulling a gun to her head. Immediately, the group stood up and started yelling.

“TARRLOK, STOP!”

“SHE DIDN’T MEAN IT!!”

“KORRA!”

“SILENCE!!” the Camp Director roared.

The others, afraid that he might try something if they attempted to jump him, slinked to the corners of the cell. He was nose to nose with the girl, who stared him down into his icy eyes. It was blue versus blue.

Something had clearly snapped in Tarrlok. His hair was disheveled, strands sticking out here and there. There was a layer of grime on his face and the dark-colored bags under his eyes told Kuvira he hadn’t been sleeping since he’d caught the group a few days ago. He was off the deep end.

Raava… if you’re there… help…

“You think you’re so fucking special!! That you could just waltz around like you owned the place? Listen up, you half-baked bitch! I OWN THE WORLD!! I could kill you right now, and who would miss you? Mommy and Daddy? Who were too poor to take you in? Auntie Kya and her nan? How about the air-brats?”

Korra’s eyes widened, but she remained stoic.

Oh, yeah… I read your fucking journal. I know who you call family. I could make damn-fucking-sure that they never see you again. Right here, right now. And then maybe I’ll pay them a visit, too.”

“Leave my family out of this, you son of a—“

“Tarrlok, don’t damage the merchandise,” a calm, venomous voice rang out from the cell door.

Noatak was patiently leaning against the doorway frame— as if he was waiting for his brother to get dressed for school. One of his eyebrows was raised in a questioning expression, perhaps even he thought Tarrlok was going too far.

I never thought I’d be happy to see that asshole.

Sure enough, the words of his brother seemed to work a wonder on Tarrlok’s temper. He slowly lowered the gun back into a holster at his waist. And then he spat in Korra’s face.

“I hope you’re worth the fucking trouble, dyke.”

He pushed her against the wall hard enough to slam her head against the metal frame. She let out a grunt and slid down when he let go of her hoodie— barely conscious, and in a lot of pain.

“I’ll be back, Asami. This isn’t over,” Hiroshi said with a muffled mouth. Kuvira hoped he would have a nice bruise from the hit.

“You don’t feel love for Mom anymore. You’re just full of greed.”

Ouch. Little Sato has some serious balls.

The criminals sulked away as Asami rushed over to her girlfriend. She kissed Korra’s forehead as the girl passed out and whispered something along the lines of “I love you.”

Kuvira felt like throwing up. She was going to cut up her police badge herself if they got out.

When. When we get out, she corrected herself.

“Well…” Wu said, leaning back against the wall, “That could have gone worse.”