Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It's time. Time to get ready. I, with a few Equalists assigned to me, need to get to Avatar Aang Memorial Island and we need to get there before the new Avatar - Korra - so she doesn't even think of ambushing us. Korra may be stubborn and if she wants a one-on-one, she'll come alone - at least that's my guess - but that doesn't mean Tenzin or Tarlokk won't get the idea to plan something.
We arrive on the island without much difficulty, and Korra doesn't seem to be there yet either. So it was worth setting off early. So we hide in the monument and wait for the Avatar to arrive. As she has called us here at midnight, but it's still just under two hours away, I tell the chi blockers the exact plan so that there are no inconsistencies should things get tough. Besides, all they know so far is that we're here for Avatar Korra's challenge. They shouldn't know what the desired outcome is yet. At least not from me.
"Our goal is not to capture the Avatar." I hear the displeasure of some Equalists and I totally understand it. "Orders from Amon. There's nothing we can do about it. We're just supposed to scare her off. And we don't want her to think we're too cowardly and won't accept her invitation." I sit down on the floor. Firstly, it's more comfortable and secondly, we don't have to act yet. "Have a seat. You don't have to stand here for several hours. Who knows how long it will take." Even if it wasn't an order, they sit down. "Sooner or later, Avatar Korra will walk past this entrance and we'll strike. You pull her in and then stand back. I'll take care of her and as soon as her chi is temporarily blocked, you tie her up and hold her down so she can't escape. Did everyone understand that?" With a nod or a brief verbal agreement, everything is clear.
It's not like I don't trust them to take care of Korra as well, they can, some of them have proven that already, but they had the element of surprise on their side back then, since Korra and her companion Mako have never fought chi blockers before. I just want to make sure that everything goes according to plan. That's why I'd rather take care of the Avatar myself.

Korra still hasn't turned up until long after midnight. Surely she hasn't chickened out herself? But to be honest, that's not how I think of her. She's not someone to chicken out because she wants to prove herself. But suddenly I hear approaching footsteps, jump up and give my comrades a non-verbal signal to get ready, which is carried out without argument.
With the help of a bola, the avatar's legs are bound, causing her to lose her balance completely, and she is pulled into the dark monument. As soon as the traction fades, she bends fire so she can see something and jumps back to her feet, ready to fight. She tries in vain to defeat us with fire and earth bending, but she doesn't know that I'm already behind her. With targeted punches to the necessary nerve pressure points, blocking her chi, I incapacitate the Avatar, causing her to lose consciousness. This wasn't planned, but it makes things a lot easier.
My Equalist comrades tie up her arms, as I had previously ordered, and after a few seconds Korra regains consciousness. She seems to be shocked for a moment, but her facial expressions normalize quite quickly. I guess she thought I was Amon. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty." I squat down in front of her so that I'm at eye level with her. "Amon received your invitation, but he has more important things to do, so he sent me. We could take you to Amon right now, but he wants to let you play the hero for a while longer." I stand up again, turn my back to her, knowing she can't hurt me, and take two steps in that direction. "Don't worry. You'll get your duel with Amon, assuming you get strong enough for him to think you're worthy of his personal attention. You're far too weak now. You can't even stand up against me and a few chi blockers. And then you seriously wanted a one on one against Amon?" I turn around again to underline my following words. "You would have perished, Avatar."
Her eyes literally scream fear, so my words have not failed to have an effect. There is nothing more to say or do. So, it's time to leave and report back to Amon. Once again, I knock out the Avatar and we leave without leaving a trace.
But maybe you're wondering how Amon sent me to take care of the Avatar in the first place, why he would entrust me with something so important. Well, how can I put it? I'm Taro, Amon's son. And besides, this isn't the first time I've met Avatar Korra, so I already knew how she fights and how best to deal with her. But maybe I should start from the beginning.

~~~~~~~~~~

I hate it when my father sends me on errands. Why do I have to run them? Why doesn't he just send one of the chi blockers or another equalist who can't fight. We have a few of those. After all, they want to contribute if they can't fight.
If it were at least an important errand, I'd understand, but it's not. I'm just supposed to pick up something from an Equalist and give instructions from Amon. Nothing more. This is really pissing me off. As if I had nothing better to do. The only good thing about it is: I have all the time in the world and can wander through one of the short shopping streets on my way. But something catches my attention. A vehicle I know well approaches. If I'm not mistaken, it's the Triple Threat Triad. Right now, of all times, when I can't do anything about them, because otherwise I would out myself as an equalist. Because in this age, you're immediately considered an equalist if you can chi-block. I mean, it's understandable as we're slowly becoming a serious threat, but it's counterproductive in a situation like this.
And it seems I was right. All the merchants immediately disappear into their buildings to avoid falling victim to them, but they seem to be targeting one particular store. I stop at a safe distance and see what happens. If the vendor's life is threatened, I act. Then I just have to get away quickly before the police arrives.
I don't understand what they're saying, but I assume they want to collect money. The trio's firebender destroys the old shopkeeper's gramophone and a young woman in water tribe clothes draws attention to herself. Does she want to fight the trio? Is she a waterbender? At least according to her physique, she seems to have experience in fighting. But even if she is a waterbender, she can't do anything because she doesn't seem to have any water with her.
Without attracting too much attention, I take a few steps closer to hear what they're saying, but it's already too late for that. Viper, the waterbender is already attacking, but the girl reacts with the speed of lightning, sends the attack back to the sender and knocks it out with an icing. So she really is a waterbender.
But then again, she has no more water. The best she could do is use the shattered ice, but that will hardly be enough to hold her own against an earth and firebender. That is, if they attack together, which would make the most sense for them. But they don't, because the earthbender runs towards her alone. Well, what do you expect from a triad. They're not the smartest.
The earthbender doesn't even manage to get close to the girl before he flies into the air. What has she done to him? I couldn't tell. But the two fruit sellers next to me ask each other "Did she just earthbend?" But that couldn't be the case. After all, I could clearly see that she was a waterbender. Or could it be that she's the new avatar? After all, she seems to come from the water tribe. It would fit. But what is the Avatar doing in Republic City? Wasn’t Tenzin supposed to be her airbending master? We were never told of an absence long enough fort he avatar’s lessons. Were we given wrong information? I don’t think she was supposed to leave the Water Tribe before mastering all four elements.
She also defeats quickly the last of the triad with fire bending. So, it really is her. I can't waste any more time dawdling. I let the Avatar take care of the Triad. It seems she is doing pretty well, although she's destroying the belongings of the other vendors with the way she fights. But that doesn't have to bother me. I quickly rush over to the gramophone seller, kneel down in front of him as he's still on his knees on the floor, and ask: "Is everything okay with you?"
"Yes, thanks to the girl. But thank you for asking." I nod and then I hear the sirens of a police airship. I quickly get up again and set off. Not that they want another witness statement from me. I don't have time for that. Not now.

~~~~~~~~~~

I've done my errand, changed into my Equalist clothes and just arrived at the current headquarters, knowing my father will be here. So I instantly enter his room, where it seems he's in conversation with the lieutenant. As they are the only two people in the room, I take my mask off again. Mask for security reasons. It could be that we have a spy here and then information about my true identity could get out. Then I wouldn't be able to go anywhere without being arrested. Nobody wants that. The lieutenant is trustworthy enough though. He's been part of our movement from the very beginning. I was just a little kid back then and we hadn't thought about it yet. The only person who also knows which face is behind my mask is Hiroshi Sato, although he wasn't supposed to find out.
"You have special rights, Taro, but you can still knock before you come in. That's the proper thing to do. It's called manners, in case you've forgotten." Asshole. I know for sure that he's smirking behind his mask. I clearly can hear that.
I usually do, too, and he knows it. "It's all your education," I can't help but comment anyway. "Besides, you know I usually knock. But there's important information." I pause to tease him about his comment just now. "The Avatar arrived in Republic City."
I can't detect any reaction behind his mask. But I can see the lieutenant tense up for a moment. "How reliable is this information? Where did you hear that?" His voice is surprisingly calm, if not indifferent. I don't know what I was expecting, but not that.
"Nowhere. I took a detour through one of the malls on my way to the Equalist. That's where the Triple Threat triad arrived and a woman was fighting them. But, correct me if I'm wrong, there certainly aren't many people who can bend water, earth and fire all at once, or are there?"
"She shouldn't be here yet, but since she is and will probably stay once she's here, we'll probably have to execute our plan a little faster."

"Taro?" My father pulls me out of my thoughts and I look up at him. "I'm going to entrust you with a long-term task. I don't know how yet, but we'll think of something when we know more about Avatar Korra." I just look at him questioningly. He should speak plainly. "You'll befriend the Avatar. That way we can get reliable information about her and what they're planning next."
I put my hands on the back of my neck and can't help but grin. Not because he said something funny, but because I'm pleased that he's entrusting me with an obviously very important task. "Understood. Thank you. I'll manage to get in touch with her somehow."
"Let’s bide our time. A good opportunity will come soon. You mustn't make it too conspicuous. Otherwise, we won't be able to get to her. We have our spy within the White Lotus, but they don't have that much contact with Korra either. That's why we need you in their circle of friends."
I sigh softly and put my hands down again. " Yeah, yeah. Understood. But if I run into her by chance and there's an opportunity, I won't let it pass. Is that clear?" Not that I'll end up looking like I'm stalking her. As a 'non-bender', I'm bound to be suspicious to some parts of society anyway. And since, according to our information, Korra was practically locked up at the southern water tribe for security reasons, they're certainly not going to stop keeping an eye on her just because she's in Republic City now.

~~~~~~~~~~

Once everything had been clarified, I was sent away again - or rather released. I'm off until the evening, then I'm supposed to attend one of the chi blocker training sessions, supervise that everything happens the way Amon wants it to and give tips if necessary. I wonder if he at least told the instructor this time. He didn't last time. Intentionally or not, I don't know. He didn't tell me.
However, this is nothing new for me. If there's nothing else to do, he likes to send me to chi blocker training. But only after I complained once that there wasn't much for me to do, which was kind of logical. After all, we had been operating under the radar for a long time and my father wanted to keep me out of it as long as possible. Until he was really sure that I could defend myself even without bending skills. So, I was allowed to learn from the great master himself. Even if he doesn't have to use it that often himself, as he has his subordinates for that, he's pretty good at it.
I mean, it's not the most exciting task, but at least it's better than doing nothing and just sitting at home. Besides, it's a pretty responsible duty, because the abilities of the future chi blockers will decide how successful we'll be when it comes to fighting the benders.
But if I have to spend time with the Avatar soon, then I'll have hardly any or no time at all for this. So, this might be the last time I'll be supervising a training session. Well then, I'm going to buy something to eat for todays trainings session. But first I'm going to make myself something for dinner. And take a shower. It's been far too sweaty day today and I can smell it. I'll grab something to eat on the way and then head home.

~~~~~~~~~~

On the way to the secret training room, I make a quick stop at a supermarket to buy some sausages, bread rolls, sauces and drinks. In a side alley, I pull my hood over my head and put on my mask. I walk the rest of the way over the rooftops to the secret hiding place, climb down the escape stairs and disappear inside the building.
They immediately recognize who I am from my appearance and the person guarding the entrance lets me through without hesitation. My presence doesn't remain hidden for long either, because very quickly almost everyone's eyes are on me. Tomo, one of the instructors I know, comes up to me straight away. "Hey, Tadashi. I didn't even know you were here today."
I roll my eyes, which is difficult for him to see, if he has seen it at all. "You weren't told again?" He just shakes his head. "I knew my old man would miss it again."
With Tomo beside me, I continue into the room and put my bag down on one of the tables standing at the side so that we have more space to train. "Still, I'm glad you're here. What have you got with you?"
He tries to take a look inside the bag, but I just hit the top with the flat of my hand so he can't see inside. "Something for everyone for the break. You'll have to be patient. You don't have any special rights here." Tomo crosses his arms in a huff, but I don't care. "How far are they?" With a nod, I point to the future chi blockers and he follows my gaze.
"Complete rookies. I've only taught them the theory so far. We wanted to start with the first exercises straight away." I nod to show that I've understood. "Would you like to introduce yourself to them? They seem a bit confused about who you are."
Without saying anything, I walk to the place where Tomo was standing before I arrived and he follows me there too, which I can hear from his footsteps behind me. "Good evening, Equalists and aspiring Chi-Blockers. I can tell by your faces that you don't know who I am, and that you're confused about why I look almost exactly like the Amon you probably already know from the posters. The answer is easy. My name is Tadashi and I'm Amon's son, his right-hand man, next to the lieutenant you've probably heard of. If not, it doesn't matter. You'll learn more and more the longer you're around. So that will come with time." I walk up and down in front of the group. "As for why I'm here... I'm just here to supervise you and the training, then report back on how you're doing. The success of our movement depends on you. Without our followers, we would never have made it this far. You should be aware of that. We are grateful for every Equalist. For everyone who helps us take action against the benders of this city and the planet." Oh dear. All I really wanted to do was introduce myself and then I give such a weird speech. Apparently, Dad has a bigger influence on me than I thought. But it's not that bad. When you start a movement against something, you have to motivate your people. And I think I've done that. Maybe. I haven't really done that very often.
A young girl from the group raises her hand, presumably to ask something or make a comment. With a short hand gesture, I indicate that she is allowed to speak. "We've never blocked chi before. How can we have any relevance to the big picture?"
"Today is your first practical training session. I said what I said beeing fully aware of this fact. During your training, it’s natural to doubt yourself or to be afraid of going up against real benders. I can understand that. We won’t force you to become chi blockers, and you can stop at any time if you want. You’d continue to live yout life as you have done so far. But don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to support the cause. For example, by recruiting new members or by collecting information and passing it on to us. Anyone can help if they want to. I'm handing command back to you, Tomo." With these words, I speak to my friend, if you can call him that. After all, he doesn't even know my face.
The person I'm talking to comes to my side and stands next to me. "Today is your first practice session, as I announced yesterday. Today we are going to start showing you where the nerve endings are that need to be hit during chi blocking. We'll start with the ones on the arms. Tadashi, do you want to be my demonstrator?"
I can't help but grin, but no one can see it anyway. "I'd rather swap roles. After all, I have my pads on my arms. You won't get through them."
"Pff. Shirker." He can't even think of a good counter-argument.
I take half a step back and take Tomo's hand, raising his arm to a 90 degree angle to his body and pulling his sleeve up to expose his forearm. Without letting go of his hand so that he can't pull his arm away out of reflex, I show the rookies where some of the most important nerve points on the forearm are by pressing them. Tomo tries not to flinch or make a sound, but he definitely doesn't succeed.
"The good thing about chi blocking is that you don't need much strength to temporarily paralyze your opponent. So you don't have to do any strength training or anything like that." Without warning, I hit the nerve points on his forearm and upper arm lightly but quickly, causing his arm to lose all strength instantly and hang there like a noodle. "And that's what it looks like when you've done it right."
"Surely none of this is real. Just because you're supposedly Amon's son doesn't mean you have to put on an act here," I hear a male voice say that arrogantly. And it doesn't take me long to figure out who said it, because some people look at him in shock, others look at me to see how I'm reacting.
I approach him without haste, not losing sight of him, while all the newbies make space for me. "You think you're so good that you can talk to me like that? Then show me what you can do. I can't wait to see what you've got." Let's see if he's still grinning so stupidly and confidently when I'm done with him.
"With pleasure." It doesn't take a second before he storms towards me and throws a punch, but he doesn't hit me because I just dodge under it. He tries to hit me with more punches and kicks, but I dance around him with my hands clasped behind my back. "Well, are you too scared? Or why are you just dodging?" Then he swings a punch, which I block by hitting his arm, aiming for one of his nerve points, of course. A gasp escapes his mouth, which he immediately tries to suppress.
I know I haven't missed his pressure point because his arm, whose punch I've just blocked, starts to tremble. "Proof enough that I know what I'm talking about, or do you want to continue?" Without answering verbally, he attacks me again, which only makes me sigh. I thought I could save my time and energy. "As you wish. I warned you." I position myself behind him and hit some nerve points on his arms and legs, but not hard enough to paralyze him for half an eternity. After all, he's here to learn chi blocking, not to laze around.
As he doesn't seem to have any strength left in his legs and is in danger of falling to the floor, I grab his top to prevent that from happening. "You now have time to calm down a bit before you can move properly again. You can watch until then." I put him on the edge of one of the chairs and then go back to Tomo. The young man had strength, and this certainly wasn't his first fight, if you can call it that, but he just attacked without rhyme or reason. That was his problem.
"Tadashi has shown you where to find the nerve points. Now form teams of two and try to find and hit the points on your opponent. Once you've done that, move around. If you have any questions, draw attention to yourselves and one of us will come and help you."
With that, the group forms teams of two and I move away from the others with Tomo, as I can see from the look on his face he has something to tell me. "Did you have to do that?", he asks me with a smile on his face.
"Yes," I answered him curtly. After a short pause, however, I couldn't help but explain myself: "Should I have just ignored it? You should know that I can't do that."
Tomo starts to poke me in the side, which is why I just give him my best death stare, which doesn't seem to bother him at all. "That scratches your ego, doesn't it?" Instead of answering, I simply turn 180 degrees and walk to one of the tables at the side and take a seat on it, watching the rookies practice. He's right. It does scratch my ego. But at the same time, I couldn't let him talk to me like that. Not with my rank. It doesn't take long before Tomo follows me and takes a seat next to me. "I'm only joking. I totally understand you. I probably wouldn't have reacted any differently. Well, I probably wouldn't have started a fight, but I would have taught him a lesson."
Even before he explained himself, I could tell he wasn't serious. After all, it's not the first time we've met. But I don't say anything else about it and just watch the newbies' attempts to hit each other's nerve points.
And so, we linger quietly next to each other for a while until someone beckons Tomo over. The loudmouth can now move again and has started training, and I can see that he occasionally glances at me.
After Tomo has given his answer and shown once again where the pressure points are to be found, he comes back to me. "You know what? I'm kind of glad you're here again. It makes me feel less alone."
I wonder what he means. I know from previous conversations that he has a sister and both parents with whom he has a good relationship. That's why I'm surprised that he feels alone. Or does he only mean here? "What do you mean?" I decide to seek out the conversation after all.
"Here with the Equalists. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be here, but apart from a few missions, I'm hardly ever with anyone I get on well with. After all, I have to keep a certain distance between myself and my trainees so as not to lose my reputation. And once they have completed their training, I don't see most of them ever again. And that's a bit of a contrast to the fact that I actually quite like my job as a trainer. It's cool to have responsibility." I don't say it, but I can understand very well what he means. It's the same for me.
I keep silent for a few seconds and just look down at my dangling feet. I don't know if I can say what I most want to say. But I think I can trust him. And if I make a mistake now, I'll have to live with the consequences. "It could be - no. It's going to be that I won't be sent to chi blocker training sessions after today. I probably won't be able to come by for a while."
I'm a coward. I don't even dare look up. "Why is that? Are you getting a big assignment or what?" He pokes his elbow into my side in a friendly manner. He tries to hide it, but I can clearly hear that he's anything but happy about my revelation.
"You could say that. Amon needs me." I sigh. "Can I trust you not to tell anyone what I'm about to tell you?" I look up at him and look at him seriously. He returns my gaze and nods firmly. "I mean, it's not such secret information, since the whole city will probably know soon, but the Avatar arrived in Republic City recently, probably just today."
"Oh. I see. Well then, have fun and good luck on your future missions." I can see that Tomo is more than forcing himself to put a smile on his face. I can't look at that for long, though, which is why I let my gaze wander back to my feet.
"Yes, thank you." I can't get anything else out because I just don't know what I should say. I'd really like to suggest that we could meet up like this. But there's hardly going to be time for that. I'll be busy most of the day and he's always training the future chi blockers in the evening and late into the night.
But I can't think about it much longer, because a group is already calling for Tomo, who immediately goes to them, and shortly afterwards a second group raises its hand, which I join, as Tomo is still busy. It's the group with the girl who seemed so insecure earlier.
They ask for tricks on how to find the pressure points more easily, but there aren't really any. "The only thing I can think of is that you can mark the spots. At least for the beginning, until you get a sense of where to find them and how best to hit them. After all, you won't be able to mark the body of the benders with dots or anything like that later on. Sooner or later you'll have to learn how to do it. Outside of training, you can also touch them on yourself if you're not sure of their exact position. Just like I showed at your instructor earlier for demonstration purposes."
"We also have a question," a slim young man approaches me and I go to his partner. Behind me, I can still hear gushing and giggling. I sigh mentally. They should concentrate on their training. If they were naturals, it would be different.
I suddenly realize that I'm glad I don't have to train people. I think I would be far too impatient for that. Perhaps I'd rather leave it to those who know more about training people. Maybe it's just a question of habit, but I would probably despair if I had to repeat everything all the time. "I'd love to rip that stupid grinning mask off his face. He's probably only wearing it because he's too ugly and doesn't want to show it." I recognize the loudmouth's voice. He probably hasn't learned his lesson yet.
"What do you have against him? He seems pretty okay. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to mess with Amon's son. At least not if you want to stay with the Equalists. I'm sure he can dismiss you pretty easily too." At least his friend, group partner, whatever, has a little more brain.
"They need every man. They can't kick me out." You have no idea, friend. We can even lock you up. "Are you going to help me or not? If we attack from behind, he won't see us coming." I don't hear a verbal response from the other one. Either he's talking too quietly or he's simply not answering. At the same time, I feel Tomo's eyes on me and look at him. He seems to have caught on to it too, but I just shake my head slightly as a sign that he shouldn't interfere. "Then don't, coward. I'll do it on my own then."
I pretend not to have noticed and simply stand with my back to him. He's not exactly light on his feet, which is why I hear his footsteps more and more clearly the closer he gets. If I were as good as my father, I would certainly be able to feel him, or rather the water inside him. But the full moon is only a few days away and I've never been able to bloodbend in the middle of a lunar cycle. Only ever on the full moon or a few days before or after. I'm just not as talented as he is. But to be fair, we haven't had much opportunity to practise bloodbending either. I also had to learn how to defend myself without bending, which was more important for now. But back to the loudmouth.
Without thinking twice, I grab his arm and throw him down on the floor, not very gently. "Haven't you had enough yet? Or are you just not exhausted enough?" He tries to wriggle out of my grip, but I don't give him a chance. I turn him onto his stomach, put one knee on him, shift half my weight onto it and twist his arm until he cries out. "Either you behave yourself now, buddy, or you're out. You're right, we need more people, but not people like you, who are only rebellious towards higher-ups but can't do shit. So, think carefully about whether you want to stick around and make a difference or whether you'd rather rot in a cell."
I let go of him entirely and get out of the basement and outside into the fresh air. I need that now to calm down. I climb up the same ladder I climbed down before, push up my mask and sit on the edge of the roof. I don't know exactly why, but I've liked sitting on roofs for a long time. Probably because you can watch the hustle and bustle of the city from up here without being in the middle of it yourself.
Or simply because you have a good view of the starry sky from up here. Then I recklessly drop onto my back and watch the stars. If it were still night now, there wouldn't be so much noise coming from the streets. But I have to deal with that now. It's enough for me.

~~~~~~~~~~

After I had spent some time on the roof, Tomo came up to me to ask if I wanted to come back in - of course I had put my mask back on when I heard that someone was coming up. At first, I was surprised that he would leave his apprentices alone, but he quickly explained that he had sent them on their break. During the time we were both upstairs, we chatted about totally trivial things and when it was time for the rest of the lesson, I went back downstairs and inside. Today's training session continued and finished without further interruption. Maybe the guy had finally had enough defeats and humiliations.
In the meantime, I've arrived home and enter the apartment, where, surprisingly, the light is already on because Dad is home, which I really hadn't expected. And to be honest, I was hoping he wouldn't be home yet. Not because I didn't want to see him, but simply because I don't feel like talking to him right now. I just want to go to bed. I'm kind of exhausted. But I still have to report to him.
I go find him in the living room, but stop in the doorway. "I'm back," I state the obvious. He must have heard my arrival.
Dad turns his head towards me and points to the couch. "Would you like to sit here for a minute? I'll be ready in a moment." I didn't really feel like it, but I‘ll do him the favor. It's better than waiting on the doorstep the whole time until he takes the time to listen to my report. So, I take a seat next to him on the couch and wait until he's finished working on some documents or whatever. If it was something important, he would tell me of his own accord, so I don't ask any more questions and don't pay any attention to it. As soon as he's finished, he puts the sheets on the couch table and looks at me. "Was there anything worth mentioning?"
I shake my head. "Not really. It was just the first practical lesson for the squad. Apart from one wanker who thought he had to fight me twice, there was nothing. Training went smoothly and they achieved the average targets in the appropriate time."
"Good, thank you." He pauses to speak, but I don't really look at him, but I can see from his hand movements that he wants to say something. But I remain silent. "Has anything else happened? You're in a bad mood."
"No, nothing. I'm just pretty exhausted. That's why I'd take a quick shower and then go to bed if there's nothing else. Who knows when I'll have to get up again." Yes, I'm going to take another shower. Simply because I can. And I need it.
I hear him sigh softly, so he suspects something. Fortunately, he doesn't go into it any further. "Yes, of course. Good night to you." Without wasting any more time, I get up and make my way to the bathroom. "Taro," he stops me verbally again and I pause. "You know you can talk to me if anything happens. Always and about everything. Even if sometimes it doesn't seem like I have the time or interest. I'll take the time to listen to you."
"Thank you." It's nothing more than an unwanted whisper, but he heard it anyway, because he smiles at me. I return it lightly and then disappear out of the living room towards the bathroom, after making a stopover in my bedroom and grabbing my sleeping clothes.
I stand in the shower a little longer than usual and let the warm water run over me. It just relaxes me. After showering, I quickly brush my teeth and disappear into my room and under my blanket in bed. It's nice and cozy here.
It doesn't take long before there's a knock on my bedroom door. Just as I've closed my eyes. Can I just say nothing and then he leaves? But I was wrong, Dad opens the door quietly, enters my room and pulls it almost shut again, but doesn't close it. Just as quietly as he entered my room, he comes to my bed, where he sees that I'm not asleep yet, but doesn't comment on it. He simply sits on the edge of my bed, looks at me and then strokes a few strands of my hair out of my face. Just like he and Mom used to do when I was a little boy. "Actually, I wanted to wait until you came to me yourself, but then I changed my mind. What else has happened? You weren't that unhappy before you left. If you really don't want to talk to me about it, then I'll leave you alone, but sometimes it helps to have someone to talk to."
I don't start talking straight away, but think about whether I should bring it up and if so, how. Apparently Dad misunderstands my silence, though, because he's about to get up and I start with what came to my mind in a flash. "Do you think if it hadn't happened with Mom, we would have had a normal life?"
I look up at him and he is also searching for the right words, just like I was before. It shows on his face. "I think so. I'm sorry. It's all my fault." I was about to protest that he didn't kill her, but I don't get a chance. "If I hadn't messed with the Triads back then, they would never have targeted her. And not you either. We could have led an easy life, but I had to risk the whole thing. Risk your life. We could have just carried on as normal after her death. There wouldn't be an equalist movement now, but you could have had a semi-normal life."
"Don't blame yourself for everything. After all, I wanted to be there to help you. I wanted to get stronger so that it wouldn't happen again." I turn onto my back and look at the ceiling. "Besides, we're doing something good. We're standing up for others and making sure this doesn't happen in other families. At least that's what I always tell myself."
"I understand, I guess," he says, his voice lost in thought. "But how did you come to worry about it?"
"I just realized that my life is anything but normal. I can't even have friends." He looks at me questioningly. "Well, how can I put it?" I allow myself a few seconds to think. "I have something like a friend. Like a buddy friend. Not thinking the wrong way," I quickly clarify, which only makes him smile. "Whatever. His name is Tomo in any case. He's the trainer from the group you sent me to today. We've had dealings with each other before because of that. We got on relatively well from the beginning, but today I was wondering whether I can even call him a friend if he doesn't know my face or my real name. I know it's all just to be on the safe side and I understand that. I have no desire to be killed on the street either. But it's still weird. It's like our friendship is based on a lie. That being said, I don't have anyone I would call a 'friend'. I've never really warmed to anyone else my age. And then there's also the fact that I probably won't be seeing him for a long time now, precisely because I have other and more important things to do. Because of the avatar thing, I mean. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad that you trust me to do something like this and I really want to go through with it, but I won't have time for anything else."
I tell him everything that's on my mind, but I try not to repeat myself, which is quite difficult for me. "I'm sorry. I never knew it would be so emotional and difficult for you. I mean, I could have guessed, after all, you're still almost a child, but I never thought about how it might affect you. I hope you're not angry with me for that."
"No. Of course I'm not. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. But that's why I never mentioned anything. So you wouldn't worry too much about it." Sometimes it's really weird for me to see him like this. Simply because I've gotten used to the Revolutionary Amon by now. But somehow it reassures me to see that he still cares about me and is somehow still the same as before, even if I want to come across as an adult. Sometimes you need parental care, no matter how old you are.
"What was the name of your 'buddy friend'?" He puts a weird pronunciation on it. Asshole. "Tomo?" I nod slightly. "I could move him to the inner circle. Then you could see each other more often, if you're sure he's trustworthy."
"No. I mean, yes. I think he would be, but he likes his job as an educator. He mentioned that earlier, at least in between. Besides, I don't know if he even sees me as a friend. Well, I'm sure we'll bump into each other from time to time."
"All right, then. Just a suggestion."
I talked to my father for a few more minutes until sudden tiredness overcame me and I actually fell asleep while he was talking.

Chapter Text

When I wake up, it feels way too early. I'm still tired and stay in bed for a while, barely able to keep my eyes open. And it's not like I went to bed particularly late.
The sun streaming through the window is already fairly high in the sky. To keep myself from dozing off again and wasting a few more hours, I force myself to get up and shuffle into the kitchen.
Dad is usually gone by this time, but he often makes sure there’s something ready for me to eat in the morning. Sure, I could make something myself, but honestly, I’m glad he takes care of it—it saves time, and he eats breakfast anyway. He often doesn’t get much time to eat during the day, so breakfast is his most important meal.
I switch on the coffee machine, grab a plate and a knife from the cupboard, and set them at my spot. While the machine hums to life, I open the fridge and make a quick decision about what I’m in the mood for. A few moments later, the table’s set, I grab my coffee, and sit down to enjoy a quiet breakfast.
Just as I’m clearing the table, I spot a note by the sink.
Morning. Once you’re up and ready, come to HQ.
Great. So much for a quiet day. But I guess yesterday was pretty laid-back. I’d slept in almost till noon after that late-night training session. Sometimes, you just need to slow down—physically and mentally.
I’m just about to head into my room to get changed when there’s a knock at the door. Who wants something from us this early?
I walk down the hallway, open the door—and find a man with a long mustache standing there. "Can I help you?" Then it clicks. "Oh..." The Lieutenant. I didn’t recognize him at first—without his half-mask, he actually looks... civilian. He grins, clearly amused.
"Come in." I step aside, and he enters the apartment. "What are you doing here?"
Without waiting for an answer, I close the door behind him and start heading toward my room. "Amon sent me. He just wanted me to wake you up, in case you weren’t already."
I stop at my door, hand on the handle. "Was it so important he had to send you personally?"
"Yeah. But don’t ask me—he’ll tell you himself. I don’t like being the bearer of bad news."
Bad news, huh? What happened? I don’t ask. There’s no point. He’d just brush me off and say I’d find out soon enough. So I’ll have to be patient.
"Whatever." I head into my room. "I need a few minutes. If you want, make yourself some coffee. Or just take a seat. And if you're leaving—close the door, please."
I hear his footsteps heading toward the kitchen, then the familiar hum of the coffee machine.
While he’s making his coffee, I get dressed and fix my hair in the bathroom—they look like an exploded mop. This takes longer than anything else. It doesn’t have to look perfect. Just... like it usually does.
Once I’m ready, I head into the kitchen. The Lieutenant’s just finishing the last sip of his coffee. He downs that stuff in ten minutes—I need at least twenty.
No idea how some people can drink their coffee while it’s still practically boiling without burning their tongues—or better yet, their entire mouths, throat included.
I take the empty cup from his hand and put it in the sink. A little hospitality doesn’t hurt. Sometimes. “We can go. I’m ready.”
“Good.” He gets up right away and leaves the kitchen. I follow.
I have no idea why he has to come with me to HQ. Maybe to make sure I don’t take the long way again, like I do when I assume there’s nothing urgent.
I put on a jacket—not because I’m cold, but so people don’t spot me as an Equalist from ten kilometers away. The pants and boots still give it away, but most people don’t notice.
We head out together and barely exchange a word. The silence is a little awkward, but nothing new. We’ve never had much to talk about. It’s kind of like that one uncle you see sometimes—except he’s not really my uncle.
I’ve known him for a long time. Since the day after the incident. Back when our apartment burned down.
The Lieutenant was there. He saw the Triple Threat guys. Saw my dad coming home—if you could still call it that way. I barely remember any of it. But that’s how it was told to me.

After they murdered Noatak’s wife—Taro’s mother—they left the house. But before they disappeared, the highest-ranked firebender of the Triple Threats set the apartment and stairwell ablaze. Their goal had been achieved—at least partially.
To avoid arrest, they fled in a hurry. But they weren’t unseen. Smoke was already pouring from the windows.
The one who saw it was the man who would later become known as the Lieutenant. Back then, he wasn’t anything but a witness filled with hate. He didn’t need to know exactly what had happened—if a member of a local triad fled from a burning home, it could only mean someone had suffered at their hands.
He himself had lost his wife to one of Republic City’s triads, and since then, he had lived with a quiet hunger for revenge.
From a distance, Noatak saw the smoke. On the way, he scanned the street desperately— But neither his wife nor his son was anywhere in sight. He called their names. No answer. From either of them. Assuming the worst—that they were still inside—he didn’t hesitate. He ran into the burning building, ignoring the firefighters who had just arrived.
No time to waste.
Without any waterbending supply on hand, he struggled just to get through the door. But he didn’t care that he could get burned or be seriously injured. It wouldn’t have been the first time he’d ended up with a burn scar.
He searched the apartment, found his wife—already dead—lying on the living room floor, and beside her, their unconscious six-year-old son, overcome by smoke.
He hoisted her body over his shoulder and carried Taro in his arms out of the fire. Far more careful on the way out than he had been coming in, he walked through the heat—feeling it, but not the pain.
Outside, the Lieutenant approached him right away, offering help.
Noatak, though mistrustful, accepted it. Since he doesn't know him, Noatak watches him out of the corner of his eye the whole time as he takes care of Taro, while he himself takes care of his wife, whom he can no longer save.
Noatak refused to accept that. Not at first. It wasn’t until the firefighters began putting out the flames and paramedics arrived - only to confirm her death - then the full reality settled in. Only then did he truly grasp what had happened.
And what he had lost that night.

That was the beginning of Noatak’s path toward the man the world would later know only as Amon.

I push the images of that night aside. Not because I’ve forgotten them—but because there’s no room for them right now. Besides, we’ve just arrived at headquarters.
Time to focus.
This is where we part ways for now. The Lieutenant apparently has something else to take care of. I continue on alone toward my father’s office.
I knock. He calls me in, and I step into the room. "You wanted to see me?" I ask, making sure no one else is around before closing the door behind me.
He stands with his back to me, staring at the large map of Republic City - as if he could control the whole city with sheer will. "I gave you an assignment concerning the Avatar. It seems there may be an opportunity for you to get close to her." Only now does he turn to face me, sizing me up. "It appears Avatar Korra has shown interest in pro-bending."
I give him a confused look. "And? What’s that supposed to mean?" Would’ve been the first time if he’d just said things plainly. As it is, I have no idea what to do with that information.
"We believe the Avatar will show up at the arena sooner or later. That’s why I submitted an application for you—you’ve got an interview there later."
A… WHAT?!
So I’m supposed to work there now? Was that the bad news the Lieutenant mentioned? If so, he wasn’t wrong.
"You’ve got to be kidding me. You want me to get a job, be a spy, and still do Equalist work on top of that? Are you trying to burn me out or what?"
Through his mask, I can see his eyes narrow slightly at my pushback. Not something he hears often. But I have that privilege - I can speak to him however I want.
But can anyone blame me?
Even if this is the best lead we have - hoping Korra just happens to show up at the arena while I’m there - it still feels like a long shot. And even if I do run into her… how am I supposed to make friends with her?
"It’s only a part-time job," he says, his voice carrying that annoyed edge.
"Oh great. Part-time. Well, that changes everything", I reply with obvious sarcasm, arms crossed.
"Part-time spy, part-time job—guess all I’m missing now is a part-time life."
But fine. He’s my father. And my boss. Either way, I don’t really have a choice. "When do I go?"
"You change into casual clothes and head to the pro-bending arena right away."
I wait. Nothing more from him. So I turn around and leave - like always, without another word.

I’d love to curse or vent to someone. But I know it’s pointless. Not even with Dad. So, I just swallow it down and play along.
I let out a quiet sigh. I’m just hoping it’s not something too exhausting. Not because I don’t want to work, but because I can’t overexert myself when I’ve got other things to do. Cleaning or tidying up would be fine. Well, I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what it is.
When I get to the arena, I walk up to the counter where they usually sell tickets for the games. At least, that’s what it looks like. I’ve never been inside before actually. I’ve only ever listened to the games occasionally when I was bored. And I can’t just walk through without being stopped if no one knows me. "Hello, my name is Taro, and I have an interview with someone."
I realize now that maybe I should’ve figured that out the name beforehand. To imagine Dad didn’t even think to mention something like that to me.
"Then you must be here for me." I hear a deep voice say behind me, and I turn around. "My name is Butakha, and I own the arena." The voice belongs to a broad-shouldered guy with a sharp gaze. Probably someone who likes to show who’s in charge.
Now the question is whether he heard me introduce myself already or not. Better safe than sorry. "Taro."
He shakes my hand, gripping a little tighter than necessary. Despite the brief pain, I don’t flinch. "Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure’s all mine." I’m not a fan of fake politeness. But sometimes, it’s the best option you have. After all, I need the job, and I can’t exactly walk into this conversation with a “don’t care” attitude.
"Alright then, come with me, kid. We’ll talk in private, and if everything checks out, I’ll show you around the arena." He leads me into his office.
Then, the conversation begins.

I don’t know much about job interviews - this was my first one - but I do know he only asked the standard questions. And coming up with answers - half-truths, half-lies - wasn’t all that hard. Luckily. Wouldn’t have looked great if I’d stammered my way through every single question.

We leave the room we used for the interview. "Come on. I’ll show you where you can change and shower, if you want to after your shifts. Then I’ll show you the most important rooms you should know. The rest you’ll pick up over time."
Already on our way to the room earlier, I’d completely lost my sense of direction. I’ll probably need quite a while to figure out where all the usual rooms are. But I noticed emergency exit maps on the walls every few meters - those will definitely help with orientation.
I follow him through the arena, past training halls where fighters are practicing their moves. The air is filled with the thud of punches, the hiss of fire blasts, and the rhythmic stomping of earthbenders. I try to take it all in, but it’s not easy.
Just as I round a corner, I suddenly feel a strong bump against my shoulder. Before I can even react, I lose my balance and stumble backward, just barely managing not to fall.
“Whoa! Crap, sorry, that wasn’t on purpose!” I blink in surprise and see a wide, apologetic grin.
The guy in front of me is a bit shorter than me, has green eyes, and is wearing a training uniform that has clearly seen better days. Looking at him, I can see why he knocked me off balance so easily. He’s probably around my age but a lot more muscular and broader, which doesn’t really match his boyish and young face. “Hey, you okay? I guess I was moving a little too fast. I didn’t see you there.”
"Then maybe open your eyes next time." I cross my arms like a grumpy kid, mostly to underline my point and suppress an annoyed groan.
"I will, no worries. You have my word." I roll my eyes inwardly. Please, dear nonexistent gods, spare me. "Name’s Bolin, by the way. And you are?"
"Taro," I reply shortly. Didn’t my new boss say he doesn’t have much time and we need to keep this arena tour short? Why isn’t he stepping in? We’re wasting his precious time here. But I don’t want to say anything myself - I don’t exactly want to come off as rude in front of my boss.
"Cool name. You’re new here, huh? Never seen you before." Unfortunately, you’ll probably be seeing me a lot more now. "You working here?"
I respond with a brief nod. Maybe that’ll signal I’m not in the mood to chat. Wrong guess. "So, do I work for you now, or do you work for me?" He jokes, grinning wide.
"Judging by your uniform, I’d say neither. But I think we should keep moving, right?" I direct the last part at Butakha, who’s just been silently listening the whole time. I really hope this wasn’t some kind of test.
He nods and moves on without a word after saying goodbye to Bolin. I follow him.
Oh no. Is this a bad sign, that he suddenly went so quiet? I just signed the contract. If I say I didn’t get the job after all, Dad’s going to lose it. Okay, it's maybe not that dramatic. But he’d definitely be pissed - this is the only lead we have so far on Avatar Korra.
Out of the corner of my eye, I try to read Butakha’s expression, hoping it’s not obvious that I’m studying him. But as far as I can tell, nothing’s changed. So... we’re good? Hopefully.
Aside from him going silent, there’s nothing to suggest he’s disappointed. Then again, he didn’t talk much before either, apart from explaining stuff and showing me around.
"Nice meeting you! And sorry again!" I hear Bolin call after us.
I sigh quietly.
Well, not quietly enough—Butakha hears it. "That’s just how he is. Don’t let it throw you off. He and his brother Mako live here at the arena. So don’t be surprised if you see them hanging around even when it’s closed."
I nod. "Got it." More or less. At least now I know Bolin. But I haven’t met this Mako guy yet. If I do, I really hope he’s not like his brother.
Butakha finishes the tour, showing me the most important rooms - plus the fighting ring, which I’m apparently not supposed to have anything to do with. At least, I think that’s the plan.
Not long after that, he had to head off, but he gave me the rest of the day off. My first shift is in the evening. I’m supposed to be in the training hall by 5 p.m. to help Toza clean up. At 6, the pro-bending matches start up again, and after that, the next people won’t show up until training resumes the next day.
Once Butakha’s gone, I take some time to wander around the arena on my own, trying to memorize the layout so I can avoid useless detours later.
Well, guess it’s time to report back to Dad. Or maybe I’ll grab something to eat for lunch first. I’ll decide on the fly.
Lost in thought, I only notice at the last moment that three young men are blocking my path. I look up and find myself staring into the eyes of three pro-benders, which is obvious from their training uniforms.
The one standing in the middle, wearing the widest—and most arrogant—grin, I recognize as Tahno. So these must be the Wolfbats. You don't need to be a fan of pro-bending to know who they are. At least not if you listen to the radio and read the papers sometimes. Tahno’s face was just on the front page recently.
His gaze falls on my staff ID, which I had quickly hung around my neck with a lanyard when I got it. But he must have seen it from afar - otherwise, they probably wouldn’t have blocked my path.
“Well, well,” he starts, his tone dripping with arrogance, “You must be new here. I haven’t seen you around before.”
“Maybe you should open your eyes more often and stop acting like you're above everyone else. Try looking at people for once.” You don’t have to know him to see that he thinks he’s better than everyone else. That photo in the paper screamed it already. “Just because you’ve got a bit of fame, you think you’re untouchable. Without pro-bending, you’d be nothing.”
Only afterward do I realize I might have gone a bit too far. Sure, he looks down on me and everyone else, but all he did was ask if I was new. I might need to get a better handle on my temper.
“We’ve achieved more than you ever will.”
He has no idea how wrong he is. I clench my fists subconsciously. I’d love to punch that smug look off his face and bring him back to reality - but I can’t just start a fight with a pro-bender on my first day. They bring in Butakha’s money. No team, no match, no revenue.
“Why don’t you show us what you can do?”
I’d love to. But - “Not interested.” With that being said, I try to push past a gap between them, but they immediately close ranks to block me again.
By now, people have started to gather at a distance—either fans or just curious onlookers. But I can’t count on any of them to step in or de-escalate. Either they worship these guys, or they’re too scared of them.
“Oh, you're one of those”, Tahno sneers. “They must’ve really lowered the hiring standards. Is Butakah that desperate? Or is he just trying to raise the non-bender quota to avoid a scandal?”
He’s clearly taking a jab at me being a non-bender. If only he knew. I’d love to slap him across the face with a water whip.
Wait—that’s already the second violent thought. I really need to keep it together. Only now do I notice how tightly I’ve been clenching my fists - so much that my knuckles are white. I force myself to relax. Don’t snap. That’s exactly what they want.
“Pretty bold of you, taking a job surrounded by benders. Aren’t you afraid something might happen to you?” Not in the slightest. But I stay silent. No point provoking him further. That would only backfire.
“Look at him, Tahno. You scared him so bad he won’t even speak.”
The earthbender - so unremarkable I don’t even know his name - turns directly to me.
“Cat got your tongue, kid?”, he grins, trying - and failing - to mimic Tahno’s arrogance. I just stare at them blankly, indifferent. And it works. They lose interest. Or maybe they think they’ve already won. Either way, I’m fine with it.
“Let’s go, guys. Before he pisses himself any more.” They finally leave me alone.
That’s my cue to leave too and get the hell out of this sweat-reeking complex and back to what I actually came here to do.
Moments like this remind me why our cause matters. Why it’s so important to draw attention to the oppression and discrimination of non-benders.
I leave the arena, but my thoughts stay with Tahno and his team. The smug grin, the disdainful looks - as if I were nothing but a joke. It would’ve been easy to put Tahno in his place, but that would’ve blown my cover. So I stayed silent.
Now I remember why the Equalists exist.
Before I reach the hideout, I go into a quiet alley. Hidden between old warehouses lies an access point. I put on my Equalist uniform, pull the mask over my face - and with it, I shed my other identity. No longer the new arena staff, no longer the 'helpless' non-bender. Here, I’m a fighter. Part of something bigger. Tadashi, son of the infamous Amon.
When I enter the hideout, the place is bustling with activity. Men and women in masks are going about their tasks, plans are being discussed. I walk forward with purpose until I reach the room where Amon is. His office.
Dad isn’t alone - two of his men are hunched over maps, deep in a seemingly important discussion. I stand quietly, waiting until Amon gives me a brief hand gesture. That’s the signal that I’m allowed to speak, though I’m never entirely sure how freely I really can. I tend to err on the side of caution.
“I’ve entered the arena and accepted the job. I’m scheduled to start my first shift tonight. Butakha didn’t say anything suspicious”, I report concisely.
Amon listens, but his attention isn’t fully on me. After a brief pause, he nods. Firmly, but with a tone that confirms he’s not truly focused on my report, he gives me a short word of praise. “Good. Keep it up.” His eyes drift back to the documents laid out on the table in front of him.
That’s it. I wait a moment. He used to take more time. Back then, Dad would’ve said something more - maybe told me my work mattered, or at least looked at me directly. But now, he’s already turning back to the maps and the men beside him.
Taro, he’s busy. You’re expecting too much.
I force myself to nod curtly. “Understood.” Then I turn and leave the room, ignoring the quiet gnawing feeling inside me.
A few minutes later, I enter our apartment through a hidden underground passage. The familiar silence greets me. No radio, no quiet hum of machinery - just the faint murmur of the city through the closed windows.
I hang my jacket on the hook, pull off my boots, and let my gaze drift briefly through the small living space. Nothing’s changed. Of course not.
Amon is still at the hideout - I know that. I was just there. He sent me off with a brief nod “Keep it up” and immediately buried himself again in maps or lists. His praise used to make me proud. Now, it feels more like an order I’m expected to follow.
In the kitchen, I put water on the stove, take miso paste, tofu, a jar of pickled seaweed, and a few scallions from the shelf. The motions come easily, almost automatically. I’ve cooked this often - not just for myself.
He used to like it, I think as I dice the tofu. If I make it the way I used to, with a hint of ginger and that stronger broth they use up north, maybe he’ll eat some of it this time.
The smell rises as I stir the soup. Salty, warm, a little like the sea. It smells a bit like what he once called home.
I taste it with a small spoon and pause. Too much ginger? Oh well. Can’t undo it now. It doesn’t bother me. And Dad... He probably won’t eat it anyway. He’ll come home late again. Say he’s not hungry.
I serve myself a bowl, sit down at the small kitchen table, and take the first spoonful.
As I eat, my thoughts drift. Tonight’s my first shift. I should relax, maybe get some rest. But instead, I sit here wondering what’s coming. I’ll be just another face in the crowd. An arena employee. Invisible. Unremarkable. Exactly as planned. And yet... This feeling in my gut—it’s not just hunger. It’s a quiet pull. A mix of anticipation and unease.Maybe because I know tonight is more than just a job.
It’s the beginning of whatever this is going to become.

The soup has long been eaten, the bowl already washed and put back into the cupboard. I had more than enough time and nothing better to do, so I did it right away.
I spent the afternoon sitting in my room, half-dozing, half-lost in thought, wondering what might be waiting for me tonight. Probably not much. How likely is it that Avatar Korra will show up at the arena today, of all days?

Then, my inner clock gives a nudge. It’s about time to get ready and head out. I stretch reluctantly, my back popping in protest. That’s what happens when you barely move, you start to rust, even if it’s just for a few hours.
My first stop is the bathroom, where I glance at myself in the mirror. My hair’s a bit messy. I run my hands through it, pressing the front strands into place and smoothing out the rest of my medium-length hair. It doesn’t have to look perfect. After all, I’m not trying to stand out.
Next stop: the kitchen. I grab a quick snack, which disappears into my stomach almost immediately. I don’t know how long my shift will be, so I’d rather not end up starving halfway through.
I grab my jacket, pull it on, step into my ankle-high shoes, and head out.
The walk to the arena is uneventful - until I arrive.
Even from a distance, I already could see the crowds. Hordes of pro-bending fans are packed in front of the entrance, laughing, talking over each other, waving flags, or holding takeout boxes up to their faces. I hunch my shoulders, lower my head, and try to slip through as inconspicuously as possible.
Of course, that doesn’t work. There are just too many people pressed together. It’s impossible not to bump into someone by accident.
“Hey, watch it, buddy!”
“Wait like everyone else, or you think you’re special?”
I don’t say anything. Instead, I pull out my employee pass as soon as I reach the doors and hold it up to the security guy. He glances at it, gives me a nod, and lets me through.
The difference is immediate. Inside, it’s pleasantly warm and noticeably quieter. They must’ve just started letting in the audience. A few staff members are sweeping the halls or checking supplies at the snack stands. I exhale involuntarily. No more jostling.
In the main hall, I look around for any familiar faces—or more specifically, for Butakha. He only told me I was starting tonight, not where or what I’d be doing.
I must look like a lost badgermole, because an older, rather short man approaches me and speaks directly. “You the new guy? What was the name again? Taro?” His voice sounds a bit raspy. A smoker? I hope not. And if he is, hopefully not around me. I can’t stand that. But I don’t say anything. I don’t want to make a bad impression on my first shift.
I nod at his question. “That’s me.”
“Come on then, newbie. Butakha told me to show you the ropes in the training hall.”
I nod again. He hasn’t introduced himself, but I don’t really feel like asking. Maybe he’s always like this. He seems annoyed. I’ll probably catch his name sooner or later.
I follow him down the long corridors, the noise from the waiting audience slowly fading behind us, past a few open doors that let me glimpse into different rooms. Curiosity killed the cat, sure - but that’s just how I am. And I’m supposed to find my way around here eventually, so it’s good to memorize as much as I can.

We finally arrive at the training room. Despite the chaos outside, the space feels almost sealed off - cool, empty, and a little dusty. What hits me immediately, and what I hope will improve once the doors are left open, is the strong smell of sweat.
My boss for the evening shows me, with gestures and a few curt words, what to do and what to keep an eye on: check the mats for damage, pick up stray bandages, store the equipment properly, refill the water containers, stack the earth discs.
Mr. Unknown leaves me on my own after a brief explanation, muttering something about needing to be somewhere else. Honestly, I’m grateful. It means no one’s watching over my shoulder, and I don’t have to force small talk that neither of us wants.
First thing I do is head out into the hallway and open one of the windows outside the training room. From here, I can see Air Temple Island in the distance. I wonder what it looks like up close.
I shake the thought off. I’m here to work, not to stare at the skyline and daydream about airbenders.
Back in the training room, I start checking the foam mats for damage, stacking each one neatly once I’m done.
Will I have to see Tahno and his oh-so-great gang again today? I really hope not. Once was more than enough. That arrogance, that smug, condescending grin—I can still see it clearly. Are all pro-benders that full of themselves? Or did I just manage to run into the worst of the bunch?
Well, Bolin seemed alright at least. Pretty friendly, even. I just hope the Wolfbats don’t have a match tonight. One run-in with them was already more than enough.

By the time I’m stacking the last mat, my thoughts drift to Amon. I wonder if he’s had even a single quiet moment today. He seemed completely swamped earlier - so much so that he barely acknowledged me.
I’ll have to get used to that, I guess. The revolution is gaining momentum, and his responsibilities are growing by the day.

Then there’s Tomo.
If I told him how I’m feeling, he’d probably just say, “Stop overthinking. Even if it gets to you, it’s out of your hands.”
I can almost hear his voice now - calm, firm, no-nonsense. And he’d be right.
With how little time I have lately, I can’t even help Dad the way I’d like to. I can’t even give him a break so he has time for himself. For us.

A wave of sadness hits me, and I pause for a second. Aside from Dad and Tomo, there’s no one I’m really close to. Tomo’s the only person I could honestly call a friend. But I’m not even sure if he sees me that way. We get along, sure—but does he feel the same?
I let out a quiet sigh and get back to work.

Time drags on more slowly than I expected. I work my way through the room step by step—wiping down benches, organizing the mats, tossing out old bandages. Every now and then, I glance toward the entrance, but apart from the occasional sound from the hallway, things stay quiet.
During some of the calmer moments, I can even hear the ocean through the open window.
Toza - that’s his name, I found out while grabbing a drink when the vendor mentioned him - dropped by twice to check if I was actually doing my job and not just slacking off. Apparently, he was satisfied. He pointed out a few things here and there, but nothing major. Nothing I couldn’t handle.
After a while, I’ve gone through most of the checklist. The room looks noticeably cleaner. I stretch my back and set the cleaning supplies aside. My shoulders are sore, but the peace down here is nice - a welcome break from the noise out in the halls.
I sit down at the edge of the training room, leaning my back against the cool wall. The floor is spotless, my hands still smell faintly of cleaning fluid.
I take a long drink from my water bottle - free, apparently, because I’m staff now - and let my gaze wander through the space. Everything looks the way it should.
The hall is quiet until footsteps suddenly echo through the corridor and sneak in through the door. Not heavy, but not exactly stealthy either. Not one of the guards. Not Toza. I look up.
A girl about my age stands in the middle of the room, glancing around with curiosity. She hasn’t noticed me yet. Dark hair, water tribe clothes, confident posture.
One look at her face confirms what I suspected. Of course. Avatar Korra just had to wander into my assigned training room. On my first day, no less.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” I say, making her jump. She definitely hadn’t seen me. Reluctantly - because I was kind of enjoying the break - I get to my feet and walk a few steps toward her. “You’re the Avatar, right? Saw you beat up a bunch of triads in the shopping district two days ago.”
The slightly panicked, guilty look on her face from being caught snooping quickly turns into a grin. “You’re right. I’m the Avatar. Impressed?”
I shake my head. “Not really.” Her confidence dims—just a little—but I notice. It’s in the way she moves, the shift in her expression. “I’d be more impressed if you’d managed not to destroy half the market. Or, you know, helped clean up after.”
She crosses her arms. “I’m the Avatar. Not some janitor.” She really is very self-assured. Maybe a little arrogant even. But not nearly as bad as Tahno. Yeah, he’s still stuck in my head.
“Sounds like you’ve got something against janitors.” Now I cross my arms too, straightening up a bit to seem more intimidating. Not that I’d actually do anything.
“W-what? No!”, she stammers. Ha. Got her. “It’s just that—” She stops. Doesn’t even know what to say.

I can’t help but grin. So that’s all it takes to throw her off balance. “Don’t freak out. I’m just messing with you. Still, you shouldn’t be snooping around here. If the person in charge shows up, we’re both in trouble.”
Too late. I hear more footsteps and glance toward the door - another familiar face. Bolin. Took me a second to recognize him, since he’s wearing a different uniform now - white and red instead of brown.
“Didn’t think I’d see you again so soon", he says as he steps inside. “Looks like you’re officially working here? Then I guess we’ll be seeing more of each other. And you’ve already got a girl visiting you?” He smirks.
“Wouldn’t call it that,” I say with a teasing tone. “She probably got lost. Or snuck in without a ticket. Technically, I should call security.”
“Please don’t!”
“Relax,” Bolin says with a grin. “Taro, right? I’ll take her with me and take full responsibility.”
I wave him off. “Do whatever you two lovebirds want. Just don’t get me in trouble. I don’t want to lose this job on my first day. I need the money.” And the Avatar. Can’t afford to get on her bad side by actually calling security.
“You won’t", Bolin promises. “You have my official Bolin guarantee.” He flashes me a wide grin, and the two of them leave with a quick thank-you.
Did that count as a successful first encounter with the Avatar? Guess I’ll find out. But honestly, I hope this won’t be her last visit. Otherwise, all of this would’ve been for nothing.

The next few minutes drag on. My last task is to sweep the floor and give it a quick wipe - not the most exciting work, but it keeps me busy. From the outside, muffled sounds filter in: excited shouts, loud clapping, scattered cheers. The match must be in full swing.
Part of me wonders what it would be like to see it live. Just once. To feel what it’s like when thousands of people scream all at once, when fireballs fly through the air and waves of water crash across the arena floor.
I quickly shake the thought off. I’m here to work, not to have fun. One wrong move could cost me this job - and that’s not something I can afford.
Just as the noise outside starts to die down and I’m still mopping the floor, the door opens quietly. Toza pokes his head in, surveys the hall, and gives a small nod. “Good work. You’re done for the day once you finish that.” His short words are enough. I nod back, and he disappears just as fast as he came.
Once I’m finished, I give the training hall one last look-over and grab my things. I should be heading out, but only now do I notice again how loud it’s gotten in the hallways. The thought of pushing my way through the crowd out there makes me hesitate. So I decide to wait a few more minutes. It won't kill me
I lean against the wall for a moment, listening to the rising chorus of voices echoing through the halls. Just as I’m about to finally peel myself away, I hear footsteps. And then they enter the room: Bolin, grinning as always, followed closely by Avatar Korra - and a guy I’ve never seen before. A teen maybe, or already a young man. I can’t really tell.
“Oh, hey. You’re still here,” Bolin says cheerfully. Guess the match went well. “Toza’s not even here this late.”
“I know. I was just about to head out. Didn’t feel like squeezing through the crowd, so I waited a bit.”
Bolin nods in understanding. “Yeah, I get that. It’s insane here after a match.” He takes a few steps into the room, then pauses and turns halfway back toward me. “Hey… since you’re still here - wanna watch? I’m showing Korra a few earthbending moves.”
I blink, surprised. Just like that? No questions, no conditions. Just… watch?
My gaze shifts to the girl behind him - Korra. She stands with her head tilted slightly, arms casually crossed, eyeing me openly, curious, maybe even a little defiant. There’s a spark of energy in her eyes that I already noticed back on the street.
Next to her stands a lean, serious-looking guy with his arms crossed and a slight furrow in his brow. His gaze is cautious and lingers on me a bit longer than I’d like.
Three different energies all at once: Bolin’s open enthusiasm, the cool watchfulness of the other guy, and Korra’s restless intensity.
I shove my water bottle into my bag and straighten up. “Got nothing better to do.” And besides… I’m kind of curious. Maybe I’ll even pick up something new about earthbending.
Bolin lights up. “Great! Come on, then.” He waves me over and walks back to the other two. “This is Korra", he says almost proudly, like he’s the one who discovered her. “But you’ve seen her before. And this is Mako, my brother and the Fire Ferrets’ firebender.”
Mako gives me a short nod - polite, but distant. I return the gesture just as briefly.
“And this is Taro”, Bolin adds, introducing me. “He started working here today.”
I shove my hands into my pockets, quietly watching as Bolin strides to the center of the hall and gets ready to show Korra a few moves. She looks excited, almost like she can’t wait to get started. Mako, on the other hand, stays back near the wall. No smile, no comment. Just a quick, assessing glance in my direction before he focuses entirely on his brother and the Avatar.
Bolin claps his hands. “Alright, Korra! Earthbending isn’t just about power. It’s about stance, timing, and… well, a little showmanship doesn’t hurt either.”
He grins and stomps his foot — one of the stone disks pops up from the floor and lands neatly in his hand.
Korra laughs, clearly impressed. “Sounds easy enough.” She shifts into a fighting stance - a little rough around the edges, but brimming with energy.
I cross my arms and lean back, watching as Bolin does his best to walk her through the basics. But Korra is impatient and wants to try everything right away.
On her first attempt, the disk goes flying completly in the wrong direction, crashes to the ground, and shatters into a thousand pieces - not far away from Mako, who watches with a resigned sigh.
“Oops.” Korra scratches the back of her head, laughing sheepishly.
“No big deal! Happens to everyone,” Bolin calls out cheerfully and adjusts her stance by repositioning her feet.
“Hey, watch it,” I snap, more annoyed than I meant to sound - though, truth be told, I am annoyed. I just spent the last few hours cleaning this place, and now it’s already getting messed up again.
“Don’t worry. We’ll clean up when we’re done,” Bolin assures me. Well, at least there’s that.
She’s definitely got talent. Patience though… yeah, not so much.
As Bolin shows her more tricks and Korra chases after them with growing determination, I let my gaze wander across the hall. It’s peaceful in here — completely different from the chaos outside, which seems to be gradually quieting down.
After a while, I feel like I should finally head out. I push myself away from the wall. “I’m gonna take off,” I say into the room.
Fatigue is starting to set in. Bolin glances up and waves. “See you around, Taro!”
Mako gives me another brief nod. Does he have a problem with me I don’t know about? I’ve only just met him, but he doesn’t seem too fond of me.
And Korra - she gives me a small smile. Like she’s about to say something but changes her mind. I return the smile, then turn and head out.
As I leave the hall, I think: Maybe this is going to be more interesting than I thought.
The cool night air sharpens my senses again, and with every step I take toward home, the fatigue fades a little more. My first day is over. And yet it feels like something bigger has just begun.
A moment that wasn’t planned — and maybe that’s exactly why it might end up mattering more than anything I had planned.
Would Dad be proud of me? I don’t know. But for the first time in a long while, I feel like something’s shifting.
And I’m right in the middle of it.