Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Late Summer, 169 AG

She met her visage on the cloudy surface. The girl in the reflection had an expression of pure detachment. Her velvety taupe irises looked lifeless and gray under the harsh lights, giving an alarming prominence to the shadows beneath her eyes. With a sigh, she assessed the rest of her features: A sleek swipe of black accentuated her lashes, a subtle amount of rouge blossomed across her cheeks, and her lips were painted a deep maroon. Overall, she was pleased with how she looked, but her disconcertment was still imparting a rather dour image. Remembering the copious amounts of liquor being served upstairs, she planned to remedy this issue as soon as possible.

Countenance aside, the rest of her was up to standard. The girls had been informed that they would be hosting a special group of guests tonight. They were instructed to be on their best behavior and to dress accordingly—in black lace. Most of the girls had their own collections, paid for out of pocket. The set she wore belonged to one of the older girls, Ami, who was much taller and slimmer than she was. The bottoms were still high-cut and flattering, but they were riding between her cheeks in a rather uncomfortable manner. Her backside was far more exposed than she normally liked.

Something told her that this night, as a whole, would be far from normal.

“Rei!”

The sound of her name pulled her from her anxious thoughts, and she turned to the person calling her.

“Baby Rei!” Her coworker waved at her. “Get over here—you look like you could use something to take the edge off.”

She saw the joint that Akasha had rolled between her fingers, lifting it to her ruby-painted lips.

With a nod, Rei peeled herself away from the mirror, grabbing her duster from the table beside her and shrugging into it as she made her way across the dressing room.

The sun had set, and the guests upstairs were making their presence known. The sound of whooping and hollering echoed down the stairwell, the clinking of whisky tumblers punctuating every shout. The energy might be described as jovial if it didn’t also bring with it an air of such foreboding.

She made it to where Akasha was perched, one bare leg hugging her torso while the other was extended outward. The woman took a long drag with her eyes closed and held her breath as she rolled her head back onto her shoulders. Rei watched her relish the effects of the herb before exhaling a heady puff of smoke. Pinching the spliff from Akasha’s fingers, Rei brought it up to her own lips and took a harsh pull. The effects hit her almost instantly, making her aware of just how much tension she’d been holding.

But the relief provided by the herb was only ever physical.

Her mind still reeled.

Akasha’s eyes roamed her face as she retook the joint from Rei’s outstretched hand. “You look awful.”

Rei huffed. “Thanks.” 

“No.” Akasha shook her head. “Obviously, you’re hot. Those idiots are gonna lose their minds fighting over whose lap you get to sit on.”

Rei rolled her eyes at the thought.

Akasha went on to clarify: “What I mean is that you look like you’re gonna be sick. I can’t remember the last time I saw you like this.”

Rei shrugged, not having an answer.

“Don’t get all moody and quiet right before we go out,” Akasha chided. “You’ll lose tips. What’s goin’ on?”

Rei sighed. “‘Kasha, these guys are triads—”

The woman balked. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid?”

“I’m not afraid,” Rei defended. “I’m just… nervous. These guys aren’t normal, ‘Kasha. Enzo’s security might not be enough to… k-keep them in line.”

Understanding dawned upon the woman’s face.

“Listen, babe,” she said slowly. “All triads are just a bunch of limp-biscuit beta-male losers. They specialize in petty crimes and turf disputes. All bark, no bite. Now, that’s not to say that they won’t be disgusting,” she rolled her eyes, “—but we already know how to handle that. Those idiots,” Akasha pointed at the ceiling, “—just want a pretty girl to sit in their laps and make them feel tough so they can go home and have a wank-off before returning to their sad, meaningless lives.”

At this, Rei finally cracked a smile. Her friend always had a blunt way of putting things into perspective.

Akasha was a source of calm energy and sage wisdom to all the girls. Nothing was ever sugarcoated with her, which only made whatever she said all the more poignant. Being ten years older than herself and far more streetwise, she was the mother figure that Rei had so desperately needed.

Rei had been just fourteen years old when her mother, Haruka, had died. At the time, the non-bender nurses at the tiny Dragon Flats Care Facility were stumped by her symptoms. It started as a constant ringing in her ears, which quickly progressed into chronic migraines that no number of pills seemed to quell. Two bed-ridden weeks in the care facility revealed no answers to her mother’s ailment, and the pain only worsened as the days passed. The sole thing that kept her mother going was a never-ending dilaudid drip. With the facility’s scant funds and scarce supplies, her mother was sent to the Republic City Medical Center for more “adequate” treatment.

Upon admission, her mother was subject to all kinds of tests—blood tests, heart tests, and even pregnancy tests. Everything came back negative. Stumped, the doctors enlisted the hospital’s most skilled healers to assess Haruka from head to toe. That day, Rei watched as her mother’s body was submerged in an ethereal pool of illuminated water. The healers, seated across from each other, began to move their arms back and forth, eliciting a glowing current. They started at her mother’s feet and worked their way up. Rei watched, silent, unsure of what she was witnessing. She’d never understood how bending worked; up until that point in her life, she’d never been so close to it in action, a reality that was unsurprising for someone born into her station.

Eventually, the water healers found something.

“Do you feel that?” the male healer asked.

“Yes. Small, but definitely an abnormality,” the female replied.

She bent a stream of water out of the pool, bringing a pair of hands encased in glowing fluid flush against her mother’s temples. The healer closed her eyes, and the water began to glow infinitely brighter. A silent moment had passed before the water was abruptly dropped, sliding back into the pool.

The healer began scribbling into the nearby file.

“We need to get these findings back to Doctor Hiro as soon as possible,” she said. “He’ll know what to make of this.”

The male healer nodded in agreement. They both left in haste then, leaving a bewildered Rei by herself.

From her place in the corner, Rei noticed her mother stirring from her narcotic-induced stupor. She rose to her feet to approach the pool at the center of the room.

“Momma…?” she whispered.  

Haruka’s eyelids twitched.

“Momma, it’s me…,” Rei pushed, hopeful.

It’d been almost a fortnight since her mother was last lucid enough to speak. Haruka’s eyes slowly shifted toward the sound of her daughter’s voice.

When they landed on Rei’s face, her mouth pulled into a weak smile.

“Reina…,” she greeted meekly. “M-my sweet baby…”

“Yes, momma, I’m here.”

Rei smiled, reaching into the water for her mother’s limp hand and holding it gently at the edge of the pool.

“H-how are you?” Haruka croaked with great effort.

“Better than you are,” Rei joked halfheartedly.

“Y-yes…,” Haruka quipped back, a feeble chuckle. “It… it would seem so…” 

The minuscule movement jostled her head, causing her to wince in pain.

Rei watched helplessly.

“Momma?” she asked. “Do you think these people can fix you?”

With a dry swallow, Haruka replied, “Y-yes…”

Rei was unconvinced. “How?”

Haruka’s brows smoothed back into a neutral position as she locked eyes with her daughter, a look of pure determination overcoming her.

“I don’t have all the answers," she coughed, “—b-but I do have you. You are my reason, Reina… to be strong.”

She closed her eyes, taking shallow breaths. A long silence passed before she continued.

“When the time comes, and you have a child of your own, you’ll understand. You will do… w-whatever it takes… to be what they need.”

Tears were streaming down Rei’s cheeks when she replied. “I understand, momma, b-but—”

A sob burst from her chest before she could stifle it.

“But I’m scared! W-what if they can’t fix you, and I’m all alone?!”

She hung her head to continue to sob, vaguely aware that her mother’s hand had left her own.

Cold fingertips landed softly on her cheek, wiping away the tears.

“Baby-doll…,” Haruka hushed her. “Don’t waste your precious thoughts on things that have yet to happen. I’m still here, and I don’t plan on leaving.”

The healers had found a growth. A tumor, the doctor had said.

It was small but malignant. In less than two months, it’d grown. Water healing could do nothing to excise it from deep within her tissue. Surgery was an alternative but highly risky. Intravenous treatments only seemed to suck the life out of her. Haruka lost her appetite, her hair, and her willpower. Before long, her body gave out. With Rei being a minor and Haruka having no legal next-of-kin, her body was sent to the morgue to be cremated.

Burials were reserved for those who could afford a plot.

Rei could not.

She could have asked to receive her mother’s ashes from the hospital.

She did not.

She could have stayed at the non-bending girls’ home that she was sent to.

She did not.

Her fifteenth birthday passed while she was living alone on the streets of the Borough. Months came and went, and the harsh cold of winter was soon upon her. After a particularly unsuccessful week of begging for scraps, Rei was resigned to digging through the trash. She was bent over a waste bin one evening, sifting through its contents, when she heard a door creek open in the alleyway behind her. Completely desperate in her starved state, she ignored the noise and kept digging toward her target: the discarded remains of a half-eaten chicken leg.

“Digging for treasure, are we?” a velvety voice lilted behind her.

Rei halted. Regardless of who this person was, direct attention from strangers was exceedingly rare during these times. The homeless were universally ignored, except for when they needed to be shooed from places of loitering. Wrenching herself out of the trash can, she turned to examine the person who’d just spoken to her.

She was met with the sight of the most stunning woman she’d ever seen.

Long raven locks tumbled past a shapely waist. Her smooth skin was as pale as the fallen snow, and she had striking hazel eyes—the color of warm ochre. Clad in a fur-trim coat and stiletto pumps, she held a cigarette between her fingers. Rei noticed that her nails were polished in a decadent red.

The woman struck the tip of her smoke, taking a long drag before meeting Rei’s gaze.

“What’s your name, love?” she asked.

Taken aback, Rei was only able to stare at the woman in shock. A stagnant silence washed over them until she finally pulled herself together.

Clearing her throat, she spoke for the first time in many days.

“R-Rei…,” she croaked. “My name’s Rei.”

The woman puffed her cigarette again before responding. “Where’s your parents, Rei?”

Rei was frozen once more at the woman’s words. The question nearly knocked the wind from her lungs.

Rei had never known her father. As far as she knew, he was a damned coward who’d fled Republic City days after learning of his impending fatherhood. Her mother had been left pregnant and devastated, abandoned to raise a child on her own.

And her mother… Well, her mother was—

“Gone,” Rei spat resentfully.

The woman regarded her then with understanding as opposed to the usual pity.

“You’re all by yourself, then?” she surmised.

Rei nodded.

“And how old are you?” the woman inquired.

On the rare occasions that she was asked this question, Rei would lie. A fifteen-year-old living on the streets would undoubtedly be sent to a girls’ home, willing or not. But something about this woman disarmed her, so she took a chance and spoke truthfully.

“I turned fifteen—this autumn.”

The woman took one last puff of her cigarette before casting it aside. She then proceeded to stuff her hands into her pockets and shrug her shoulders.

“Well, Miss Rei, My name’s Akasha. I live in the apartment right here.” She pointed at the building behind her. “If you want, I can offer you a place for the night. I don’t get off work ‘til four in the morning, but you’re welcome to hang around. My boss Enzo—he’s a real nice guy.”

Rei was startled by the onslaught. Her knees felt like they might give out from under her.

“I… I-I would appreciate that very much.”

As was promised, Enzo was indeed a very nice guy. For the next three years, he employed Rei as a runner for his nightclub—buying supplies, sweeping floors, and cleaning toilets. All the while, she slept on a spare cot in Akasha’s apartment.

As time progressed, Rei became more and more interested in Akasha’s work—more so in the money that she brought home every night. Sometimes, there would be upwards of a thousand yuans sprawled across the apartment floor. But Enzo had several rules for his entertainment, the most resolute of which regarded underage talent. Other clubs were more permissive, often concealing the truth to get past legal codes and entice more… nefarious customers.

The less stringent the morals, the more money was to be made.

But Enzo had said, quote:

“I refuse to steep to that level of degeneracy for the sake of profit.”

And Rei infinitely respected him for it. She’d waited dutifully to turn eighteen and, in the six months leading up to her birthday, had approached Akasha for advice on the matter.

The woman was nothing but supportive. She had no shame in her work, and she was damned good at it. On her nights off, she would shack up with Rei in her tiny apartment and teach her how to sway her hips, arch her back, and move seductively. The one night each week that the club was closed, she would take Rei on stage and teach her how to work the poles. When it came to lap dancing, she would pour Rei a glass of sake to loosen her nerves before demonstrating the moves that always garnered the most tips. Then, they’d switched positions, and she’d have Rei reenact them on her. And instead of feeling awkward—as she might have expected—Rei found that she was enamored. Akasha had given it the most generous explanation one evening.

“You’re not selling your body. They’re paying to look at you and touch you, but they can’t be with you, and they love it. You’re selling them a fantasy. They’re paying for the high—the excitement of being teased.”

On the day of her eighteenth birthday, Rei walked straight up to Enzo and asked for his approval. He didn't deny her, but like the others before her, she’d have to audition. She’d finished her impromptu performance and approached him off-stage, only to see him fanning away tears.

“Our sweet baby, all grown up…,” he pseudo-sobbed. “Spirits, where did the time go? You’re a dream, darling.” He embraced her in what she could only imagine was a fatherly hug, then pulled away, looking as if he were really about to start crying. “It makes me realize how old I’ve gotten!”

A stage name was given to her by her coworkers—a form of initiation. All the girls had one. Her long-standing endearment earned her the nickname Baby, and from that moment on, she was one of Enzo’s Ladies. And, like her teacher before her, she was damned good. Just as she’d hoped, she began making excellent money each night. She had no problem keeping up with the other girls, and the customers soon became fascinated with the fresh-faced addition. The months passed quickly while she acquainted herself with her new lifestyle, and for the first time in a long time, she found herself happy.

She had a job, a home, and for all intents and purposes, a family to call her own.

“Ladies!” Enzo’s voice beckoned them from beyond the dressing room. “I hope you’re decent!”

The old mahogany door creaked open, revealing him in all his slender glory. He donned a purple satin button-up and white slacks, hair slicked back into a perfect coif, ready to play his role of ponce.

“You all look stunning!” He surveyed his dancers with a look of satisfaction. “Let’s make tonight a good one! These gentlemen are liquored up and ready to be milked for all they’ve got!”

With a wave of his arm, he beckoned them upstairs. The roster of nearly a dozen women began to follow him. Akasha fell into stride beside Rei, the two of them bringing up the rear. Her hand found Rei’s, grasping it with a reassuring squeeze. At the top of the steps, they heard Enzo’s announcement over the stage.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen, may I have your attention!”

The crowd quieted.

“Tonight, it is my honor to introduce the seductive, the alluring, the captivating… Enzo’s Ladies!”

Chapter Text

The crowd of men broke into a riotous cheer, ready for the evening’s entertainment to begin. Gripping Akasha’s hand in her own, Rei forced herself to move, following the footsteps of the scantily clad women in front of her. They shuffled up the stairs, spilling out onto the center stage. When they reached the curtain at the top of the stairwell, she released Akasha’s hand. Enzo had assigned them all to various platforms in different parts of the lounge, so she was well aware that she’d be separated from her friend for most of the night.

The dancers made their way across the stage in a pony show display, the men below howling and whistling in approval. Akasha met her gaze with a saucy wink before sauntering off to her designated corner. The rest of the women dispersed in the same fashion. Remembering herself, Rei rearranged her features into a more inspiring expression. Alcohol would be delivered to the tables soon, and she would make do in accepting each inevitable offering.

Rhythmic music began playing as she descended into the lounge, and the glare from the overhead lights faded. The leering faces of the triads came into view. A few of them turned towards her as she made her descent, scanning her body but never meeting her eyes. She made her way over to the solitary platform in the middle of the lounge where she’d been assigned, a handful of triads already gathering around her.

As she began to step up, a firm hand grabbed ahold of her wrist.

“Hey, gorgeous…,” a gruff voice came from her side. 

She turned to face the owner of the unwelcome hand and was greeted by the sight of a scrappy-looking beard. Beneath the dim lighting, some of the hairs appeared to be singed. He was nearly a foot taller than her, forcing her to look up to meet his gaze. His eyes were so yellow that the color seemed to seep into the surrounding whites, giving him an almost jaundiced look. His grin was crooked, and his breath smelt of liquor and sewage.

She stifled the urge to recoil.

“H-hey…,” she offered sweetly, forcing a smile.

“Lemme help ya, honey,” he slurred.

Needlessly, he proceeded to guide her onto the platform.

Reluctantly, she held his sweaty palm, accepting his assistance.

Once she’d landed atop her perch, she could feel him ogling her ass—well above eye level in her new position. Although the staring that came with her line of work was a thing that she’d long been desensitized to, something about the stares of the current guests made the back of her neck prickle.

Before these worries could sweep her away again, she refocused on the music. She fell easily into her routine, gripping the pole behind her and beginning a slow orbit atop the platform. Keeping in time with the rhythm, she gyrated her hips. She slipped her skimpy lace duster off of her shoulders and was met with whistles of approval. A few more men gathered around as she continued her sequence. She wrapped one of her legs around the pole, anchoring herself as she arched her back and swung into a choreographed swing. She let her head fall back, swaying her hair in front of her audience.

The music continued, and the men surrounding her platform began to tip, holding up bills for her to take and offering sips from their drinks.

When the middle of the night arrived, she was comfortably drunk. Her anxious thoughts had all but disappeared. There was a crumpled pile of yuans at the base of her dance pole. At various points throughout the night, she’d glanced down to see it steadily growing in size. If she had to guess, there were over a thousand yuans, and her shift was nearly finished.

It was well into the new day now, but still long before sunrise. A few of the triads were passed out on the floor. Others still had gone outside to purge the contents of their stomachs before collapsing in the street. With half of the guests—quite literally—incapacitated, the energy had died down. The music had now morphed into something slower, inspiring requests for lap dances. Those who were still lucid had plenty of money left to spend.

Rei concluded her hours-long performance and saw that many of the other dancers were finishing up too. She took the liberty of seating herself at the edge of the platform, kicking her stilettos from her sore feet. She desired a few moments to rest before one of the men inevitably obliged her for some late-night company. While she sat, she busied herself with the yuans scattered around her. She tied her duster into a makeshift pouch, tucking the bills into it haphazardly. The sheer weight of it had her eager to count it.

Growing up poor, she always knew that she would start out on one of the lower rungs of employment when it came to finding work. Never in a million years did she imagine ending up at a club. Maybe as a bartender or waitress, but never as the entertainment. Like many people, she used to look down on women who made a living serving the appetites of men—dancers, strippers, prostitutes, hookers, escorts—they were always the same in her mind. Only when she’d found herself immersed in Akasha’s world did she learn how wrong she was.

It was a path to freedom.

By its nature, it was a profession that attracted many destitute women. Those who were fortunate enough to inherit money or receive a proper education found more respectable employment, and those born with the ability to bend were preferred for every vocation, regardless of social class. There were very few opportunities for the unskilled, and for that reason alone, every single woman that Enzo employed was a nonbender. A few, like Rei, had lost their parents at a young age and had nowhere else to go. Akasha was one of them; dancing since she was sixteen, she’d been forced to work at some very unprincipled places before finding Enzo’s establishment. Other women had fallen into this job after tragedy had struck: Unforeseen circumstances had cost them their husbands, their families, their homes… Sometimes, all three. Whatever the reason, they still had their looks, so they found refuge in the unsavory underbelly of the city’s nightlife.

But it was a profitable trade. Dancers made enough to live comfortably. Most were able to retire before they reached the ripe age of thirty. Barely nineteen herself, Rei had plenty of time left for a lucrative career. She was young and had always thought herself to be pretty. Her mother certainly told her so—and, apart from Akasha, her mother was the most beautiful woman she’d ever known. Not striking, but delicately pretty: Slender, with dainty features, dark chocolate-colored tresses, and sage-green eyes. Rei suspected long ago that she’d received her own, mousier coloring from her father. Perhaps her athletic ability as well, since she wasn’t quite as slight as Haruka had been. Whatever the exact traits were that she shared with her father, her mother had never revealed them to her, and Rei had never inquired.

While massaging the sole of her foot, Rei was startled when a pair of dirty boots suddenly planted themselves in front of her.

A gravelly voice roused her attention.

“Lookin’ for some company?”

She glanced up, locking her gaze with that of the amber-eyed triad before her, and let the buzz of the liquor respond.

“O-only if you are…,” she breathed.

He grinned. “My friends were watching you dance,” the firebender cocked his head to a corner booth, “—n’ liked what they saw. Care to join us?”

She batted her lashes. “What’s in it for me?”

“Why don’t you come find out?” he teased, revealing the stack of yuans in his hand.

Rei searched his face before answering.

He was attractive, per se, but nothing special. His eyes were striking—similar to Akasha’s, though more orange—and he had a chin full of scruff and a bottom row of crooked teeth. His build was average, and he appeared to only be a few inches taller than herself. Overall, he didn’t seem very intimidating. She took a glimpse across the lounge to the two men sharing the booth with him. They each caught her glance, one of them returning it with a pleasant nod, and the other, with a raised glass.

“Well…,” she offered coyly, “—sounds promising.”

“Oh, it will be,” he assured, extending his hand.

Rei obliged.

His grip was firm as he pulled her off the edge of the platform, dragging her across the lounge to where his friends were located. They both perked up as their companion approached with his catch.

“Well, well, well,” one of them started.

“Glad you could join us!” the other supplied.

“Hi there…,” Rei greeted sweetly.

The one gripping her hand ducked into the booth and took a seat on the empty bench across from the others. He guided her down next to him, slinging a heavy arm over her shoulders. The overbearing smell of sweat and smoke wafted up from his shirt.

The one holding the liquor had his eyes glued to her chest. “Aren’t you a pretty thing…”

“Th-thank you,” Rei rushed out.

Her own liquor was wearing off, making her excruciatingly aware of their stares.

The other triad had the good graces to address her face instead of her cleavage. “What’s yer name, sweetheart?” 

“Y-you can call me Baby…,” she offered.

“Baby…,” he repeated, tasting the word. “Cute name for a cute girl.”

Rei turned to the man who’d originally propositioned her.

He hadn’t spoken a word since they’d sat down.

“I don’t remember your name…” She fluttered her lashes and leaned into him.

His eyes dropped to her chest and stayed there while he spoke. “Kyro,” he offered simply.

“I’m Shau,” the man with the liquor drew her attention, then pointed to his bench partner, “—and this is Ling.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Rei answered sweetly.

“Pleasure’s all ours…”

Shau took another sip from the glass in his hand, still leering at her.

Rei searched for more conversation. “S-so… you guys have the whole lounge for the night! What’s the occasion? “

“Oh, we been meanin’ to hit up this joint for a while now,” Ling explained. “Had a new member join our ranks recently. Thought we might show him a good time.”

“Oh?” Rei feigned in surprise. “Who would that be?”

A gravelly voice came from her side. “Me.”

The back of her neck prickled, and she turned to face the man next to her.

He was staring at her now with sinister intensity.

“W—w-wow…,” Rei sputtered, certain now that he could sense how nervous she was. “H-how exciting!”

The corner of his mouth pulled up, and the arm he had slung over her shoulders dropped down to her waist. His fingers began tracing circles against the skin at her hip.

He looked far too happy with her shaky response.

Rei tried her best to play into his advances.

“H-how did you end up with the Agni Kai’s?” she asked him.

Before Kyro could answer, one of the others spoke up.

“Well, if that ain’t the story of the century!” Shau barked, clearly eager to share the anecdote. “We was patrollin’ our turf after dark, everything was going like normal… Then outta nowhere, we heard some shoutin’ and scufflin’, like a fight was happenin’. So me an’ ol’ Ling right here,” he clapped his partner’s shoulder, “—decide to see what’s goin’ on. Whatever happens on Agni Kai turf, stays on Agni Kai turf, ya know? We was getting’ ready to settle the problem, but we turn the corner an’ seen this guy,” Shau pointed incredulously at the man across from him, “—whoopin’ ass! We seen him roast the shit outta that poor sucker, had ‘im on tha ground beggin’ for mercy, an’ everything… an’ this savage man just hits ‘im with the mos’ insane blast I ever seen in my ‘hole life!” A look of awe was clouding his eyes at the mere remembrance of it. “Jus’ cut ‘im down in front of us, no fucks given! I had tell ‘im we could use that kinda muscle. Mos’ guys ain’t got enough of that killer instinct. Gives us an edge over the competition,” Shau finished magnanimously.

Rei’s heart rate had doubled in the minute that it took for him to tell his story. She schooled her expression and committed to the shy and innocent act that she’d previously established. If she feigned ignorance and played into their egos, she’d be able to coast through the rest of the night and hopefully never see them again.

“S-spirits, that sounds… s-so scary…”

“Maybe for you, lil’ lady, but not for us,” Ling commented. “We’re used to seein’ that kinda stuff. Seen plenty a’ killin’s in my day.”

“Me too,” Shau nodded, his gaze far off. He seemed to re-focus on her as a mischievous look overtook his features. “But ne’er mind all ‘at. S’not good for ya female sensitivities… Or whatever they call ‘em. Wattya say we see some a’ that sexy dancing you was doin’ earlier?”

Before she could respond, she felt a hot breath in her ear.

“Yeah… What d’ya say?” 

She steeled herself with as much confidence as she could muster and reached for the half-filled whisky glass in Shau’s hand.

“M-may I?” she asked.

Cocking a haggard brow at her, he took his last sip before handing it over. She graciously accepted the liquor and shot it back in one swift motion. She could feel Kyro’s eyes on her as she swallowed.

His silence told her everything she needed to know: If she was going to impress anyone tonight, it needed to be him.

She set down the emptied glass and got up on unsteady legs, hoping that her shakiness looked more like intoxication than anything else. Slowly, she turned to him and began rotating her hips to the rhythm of the music. Her backside was at eye level with the two men behind her.

“Mmm, sweetheart…,” one of them hummed in approval, “—you got a great ass.” 

“Bes’ one here, far as I saw,” the other agreed.

Rei fought the urge to roll her eyes. She threw a counterfeit smile over her shoulder, not to appear rude. Neither of the men caught it, however, as they weren’t even looking at her face. She returned her attention to Kyro, who was sitting quietly, watching her. His arms were slung over the back of his seat, his legs spread wide as he slouched with indifference. His eyes, however, held a look of dark desire. He had the appearance of a man starved, willing to kill to satisfy his hunger.

“C’mere…,” he growled.

Rei bristled, stepping forward into the spot between his legs. He tugged her down into his lap, eliciting a gasp.

“Hey,” one of the others interjected, “—don’t hog ‘er all to yourself, man! We’re payin’ customers, too!”

“Shau, he’s the man of the hour,” the other admonished. “It’s only right that he should get first dibs. ‘Sides… I wanna see what she’s got in store for us.”

Again, Rei bristled.

Sitting atop Kyro’s lap, she began rolling her hips. The fabric of his trousers was scratchy and warm against her skin. His fingers skimmed over her waist, traveling up her back as she carried out her maneuvers. Up, up, and up they went, tracing the length of her spine. The surprisingly delicate action made her shiver.

She’d been at the service of many men, from run-of-the-mill cheating husbands to self-proclaimed bank robbers—but she’d never danced for a lauded murderer. His fingers paused at the base of her neck before curving back down, following the path of her spine once more. He stopped just below her shoulders, and the band of her brazier tightened slightly before snapping away from her back. She panicked, clutching her chest to keep herself covered.

Did he just—?

She whipped around. “What’re you doing?!”

“Your job… pretty sure.” He winked at her.

Rei stared back at him incredulously. “We… we take our own clothes off…,” she warned.

He shrugged. “Seemed like you could use some encouragement.” 

“I don’t strip,” she informed, “—I just… dance.”

A challenging grin appeared on his face. “Not even for the right price?”

She watched as he pulled half a stack of yuans from his pocket, reaching over to the empty whisky glass and shoving them inside.

“How does that work?” he baited.

Rei blinked.

She’d witnessed some of the other girls strip before but had never done it herself. She’d seen Akasha do it from time to time with some of the regulars that she favored. On those nights, she would take home double her normal amount.

No, what gave Rei pause was not her lack of confidence; she wasn’t afraid to show off her body. It was the man that she was dancing for—and the fact that she didn’t feel safe with him.

Still, she was being offered an insane sum of money for an exceedingly simple task. She could guess there were nearly five hundred yuans there.

Five hundred yuans—in exchange for one piece of clothing.

She waited a moment before nodding.

“‘Atta girl…,” Kyro growled.

The firebender reached for the straps at her shoulders, dragging them down. Her hands remained glued to her chest, holding everything in its place. Dissatisfied, Kyro slowly pried her arms away from her body. Rei sat frozen, too afraid to acknowledge what she’d just agreed to. He hooked his fingers beneath the fabric of the cups and tugged. The garment fell to her lap, and he smiled. The sudden exposure had her nipples tightening, and he wasted no time gathering her flesh in his palms. He slid from one to the other, savoring the feel of them in his calloused hands.

“Don’t stop on my account,” he grumbled. “You’re gettin’ paid, remember?”

Alas, she did, and began moving her hips again.

He continued to fondle her possessively.

“Why don’ ya turn back ‘round this way, s’we can get a better look?” Shau sneered from the opposite booth.

Again, she did as she was told. Kyro had no qualms about his friend’s request as he easily relinquished his hold, opting instead to explore the rest of her body. She continued her performance, arching her back and dragging herself against his lap.

Suddenly, she felt him harden beneath her.

His hands grabbed her waist, gripping it with fervor. He held her down, raking her against his erection. Rei gasped. His hands snaked down to her hips, where one of them slid between her thighs, carving a rough path over the sensitive skin. Suddenly, a sandpaper-like finger jabbed itself beneath her panties.

She lurched forward and attempted to stand. Before she could make it to her feet, however, a hand had clamped around her neck, yanking her back down.

“Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?” he growled in her ear.

Rei clawed at the hand crushing her throat and tried to wriggle free, but he responded by gripping her even tighter.

“P-please…,” she sputtered, “—j-just let me go. You can keep the money…”

Pinned against his chest, she felt his chuckle before she heard it.

“Sorry…,” he whispered, flicking his tongue against her neck. “I don’t do refunds.”

Adrenaline flooded her veins, and she began flailing, attempting to injure any part of him that she could. He gripped her painfully tighter.

“I’d suggest you stop,” he warned. “This won’t end well if you struggle.” 

She kept struggling.

“Help!” she screeched beneath his clutches. “S—someone, please, help!”

She was thrown to the ground with abrupt force, landing on her knees.

“Dumb whore!” he bellowed. “You’ll shut your mouth if you know what’s good for you!”

She glared up at him beneath tousled hair. “I-I… am not… a whore!” she spat venomously.

“Really? Then what did I just buy you for?”

“B-buy—?”

“You thought I gave you a half stack of Yuans just so I could see your tits?” Kyro laughed, both of the men behind her snickering at her ignorance. “I have to say, I didn’t peg you for a stubborn dolt when I first saw you,” he raised an open palm into the air above her, “—but now I realize that money might not be the proper motivation, for a bitch like you.”

A white-hot flame sparked to life in his hand. Terrified, she began to scramble out of the booth. One of the men behind her grabbed her by her hair, catching her before she could leave. She was yanked backward onto her haunches, sandwiched between a pair of unknown legs.

“Yer not goin’ anywhere ‘til we get what we paid for,” a deep voice grumbled in her ear.

Just as Kyro was descending upon her, a figure appeared in her periphery, casting a large shadow over the booth.

“Oi!” a gruff voice shouted, and Rei recognized it as one of Enzo’s bouncers. “What’s the meanin’ of this?!”

Kyro shot a look at the earthbender. “Nothin’ that involves the likes of you,” he dismissed.

The bouncer spoke to him in stern order. “Release the lady.”

Kyro turned his flame toward the hired muscle. “Look, man,” he derided, “—I don’t think you wanna find out what happens when you mess with Agni Kai’s.”

The earthbender responded in kind: He stomped the stone floor and brought a chunk of rock the size of Kyro’s head hovering above the booth. A moment of stillness washed over them.

“Or…,” Kyro’s smile grew wide with bloodlust, “—perhaps you do.”

Still caught in their clutches, Rei felt the men behind her stand. She was facing the earthbender now, watching as the scene played out in front of her. With his friends at his flank, Kyro barked instructions at them.

“Shau, Ling… Watch her for me. Make sure she stays put while I scorch this idiot.”

“Sure thing,” Ling agreed easily.

Kyro clenched his fists and moved forward, his flame becoming impossibly brighter.

The earthbender stepped back, still holding the rock.

Kyro chuckled. “I love a good fight,” he said. He paused for a moment before adding more thoughtfully, “You ever had a woman right after a fight? It’s the adrenaline, I tell ya. Makes everything more thrilling. There’s nothing like a good fuck after a fight.”

“You need to leave,” the earthbender ordered, deepening his stance.

Other triads in the lounge had stopped to watch the scene that was unfolding.

Many of those who were previously incapacitated had now roused in response to the disturbance.

“Well,” Kyro sighed, lowering his flame, “—since you asked nicely.” He looked towards the exit. “I guess we got no choice but to—”

His fist reignited, sending a fireball hurtling toward the earthbender’s chest. The bouncer was launched backward across the lounge, and his boulder dropped, pummeling back into the ground. His body crashed against one of the far benches, wood splitting upon impact and catching fire almost immediately.

“That’s our cue, boys!” Shau exclaimed, swooping into action.

The rest of them shot up, hollering with excitement. Ling still held fast to the back of Rei’s hair.

The other bouncers joined in on defense. Fire and earth began colliding in microcosmic explosions. The air filled with smoke and dust. From every angle, Rei could hear the frightened screams of the women that she knew. Beneath the forming clouds, she saw that some of the girls were being trampled. Others were caught half-naked in the crossfire, having no time to find shelter amidst the sudden calamity.

Rei quickly noticed another earthbender approaching, his gaze was intent on the man behind her as he heaved a chunk of stone from the ground. She heard a loud thud followed by a hard grunt as Ling was pinned against the wall with excruciating force. Rei toppled backward with him but was met with a sudden sense of relief as he released his grip. She gathered her wits and scrambled to her feet, ducking out of the booth as quickly as possible. She bolted from the scene behind her, her eyes wide with fear and her heart hammering in her chest. Her bare feet pounded against the floor as she sprinted through the chaos.

As awareness came back to her, she slowed, whipping around. Clusters of fire that had caught on the wooden furnishings throughout the club were now blazing steadily. The temperature was rising, and the smoke was becoming so thick that she could barely see in front of her. Orange light diffused through the fumes.

Although her eyesight was failing her, her ears were alight with sounds: Men sparring, women screeching, and music still playing somewhere in the background. To her left, she could make out the wainscoting that plastered the main stage. As she worked to navigate her position, she was startled by a jolt of fiery heat zooming past her face. Through the orange smoke, she could see shadows of men running around her—though she couldn’t make out which were triads and which were Enzo’s security. All that she could discern was the sound of screams, slurs, and insults being hurled.

Sitting still was not a safe option.

Panicked, she made a run for the entrance that she’d plotted in her mind. She didn’t make it very far before tripping over something large. She landed on her knees, scraping her skin as she collided with the ground. She jerked her head up to see what exactly had caught her foot, disturbed by how warm and pliant it felt against her skin.

Her eyes shuddered as they fell upon the treacherous object.

It was a body—a human body.

Unmoving.

Dead.

The beads of sweat dripping from her face became cold. She’d only ever seen one dead body in her life, and it belonged to her mother. She steered her gaze along the individual’s physique, recognizing it as male. If she were more coherent, she might have recognized the clothing too. Only when her eyes landed on the charred face did she realize its identity, a wail of sorrow escaping her.

It wasn’t a triad, nor was it one of the bouncers.

It was Enzo.

Chapter Text

Realization hit her in the chest like a battering ram. The wave of emotional despair, coupled with the heat of the surrounding flames, melted her body in place. It was only seconds that passed, but it felt like a punishing eternity.

A lilting voice came from behind her, interrupting her grievance.

“He’s not worth the tears, sweetheart… ”

She whipped around to see a man suddenly approaching her, hands alit with wisps of flame. She didn’t recognize him, an awareness that simultaneously pacified and petrified her. She met his gaze, still vulnerable in her position on the floor. He took in her appearance, eyes falling to her chest. Rei covered herself and tucked into a crouching position, gathering the strength to flee. The firebender chuckled as he took another step, a smile creeping into his expression.

In the next moment, he lunged at her.

She dodged his attempt easily, disappearing into the smoke. She took off in a frantic sprint, traveling in the opposite direction of the exit she’d been seeking. Her feet were taking a beating now against the detritus floors. A stinging sensation filled her cuts as they were met with dirt and soot. Her lungs were burning with the inhalation of smoke. She wouldn’t last much longer in this condition, nor could she afford a run-in with another triad.

She made for the area of the bar, narrowly missing another rogue fire-blast that shot past her head. She scanned the ground with every step this time, not wanting to trip over another body—and there were many. She recognized most as either dancers or bouncers—but what struck her was the presence of a few triads amongst those on the floor, too. Either the bouncers put up a very good fight, or the triads had succumbed to friendly fire.

She halted her train of thought as soon as she came into contact with the bar. She ran into it with full force, catching the sharp edge across her ribcage. She clung to it like a lifeline, using it to guide her movement. Her hand soon skimmed over a metal object, and instantly, she realized that she’d found a knife. It was almost as long as her forearm, with a decent width to it: One of those that the bartender used to chop citrus fruits for drinks. She plucked it from the countertop and held it firmly at her side, hoping she wouldn’t have to use it.

Rei had never been prone to violence, nor had she ever killed anyone, but she’d be damned if she was going down without a fight. If—or when—she came face to face with another triad, she would at least have a weapon to barter with. It was only a small reassurance against a bending aggressor, but it would be something, nonetheless.

Deciding it would be best to hide until things died down, she ducked under the bar and curled her body into one of the storage hutches. It would give her coverage to ride out the rest of the attack until she felt confident enough to make another run for the main entrance. Smoke was still swirling in the air but had not yet settled. She took the precious moment to fill her lungs with fresh oxygen, dissolving into the confines of the cabinet. She closed her eyes, resting the knife against her chest as she tried to catch her breath.

It was a fleeting moment.

Mere seconds after closing her eyes, the image of Enzo’s body flashed behind them. She jolted at the remembrance of his marred, expressionless face, finally reckoning with the reality that others she knew had likely suffered the same fate. Visions of the women that she worked with flooded her mind, countless depictions of them burned, mangled, and lifeless in the same manner as Enzo. She’d long since regarded them as family, and her soul shattered with the thought of each of their names.

Mena, Ami, Haya, Yumiko…

All of the women she’d tucked away in her heart over the years.

All of the women who had taken care of her when no one else would.

All the women like Akasha.

She panicked but tried to reassure herself.

Akasha wasn’t a fighter, but she had a fierce spirit and a silver tongue. She was smart, and could easily talk her way out of any situation. Wherever she was, Rei only hoped that she’d used that same charm and charisma to escape the wrath of the triads. If she wasn’t already somewhere safe, then she would have been smart enough to tuck away and hide—as Rei had.

While she sat and waited, Rei could vaguely make out the sound of fire blasts still whooshing through the lounge. But she could no longer discern any of the tell-tale rumblings that came from earthbending, nor could she hear the crackling of stones being hurled across the room. She assumed by now that all of the bouncers must have been cut down by Agni Kai’s… Yet for some reason, it sounded as if the triads were still engaged in conflict?

Perhaps another group of triads had heard the commotion and came to assert their dominance, but nothing Rei could hear supported that theory. Of course, she knew that it couldn’t be the police; law enforcement rarely ever showed up to this side of the city. The times that the police did manage to show up, they were always delayed by hours. Laughably, Rei pondered that some other third party might have stepped in to stop the assault—an absurd theory, to say the least.

As the whooshing and shouting gradually lulled, Rei wasn’t sure if she should feel relieved or worried. Given the circumstances, she chose to accept the opportunity that was presented to her. Crawling out of the cabinet hutch, she crouched on the floor and snuck around the length of the bar. She held the knife ready at her side. Peering around the far end, she kept her head beneath the still-swirling smoke. From her vantage, she could make out the frenzy of a few feet still caught in the fray. Opposed to the mismatched footwear of the triads, however, there were several uniformed black boots. The presence of uniforms brought her mind back to the possibility of police, but something told her that this still wasn’t the case. The way they moved was unlike anything she’d seen before, their footsteps so lithe and quick—almost like a whisper.

She was jarred when one of the dark figures suddenly darted past her, directly in front of her face. The individual sped out of sight before she could get a good look, long gone by the time she’d registered what’d happened. She strained her ears then to get a better scope of her surroundings, but there were only stifled sounds of a struggle far off in the smoke.

The immediate vicinity was vacant.

Rei took one last deep breath before rising from her position and tiptoeing out into the fray. She was exposed in more ways than one, but she made up for the vulnerability by embracing a hyper-alert state. She gripped the knife in both hands, holding it in front of her chest. As much as it stung them to be in renewed contact with the smoke, she kept her eyes peeled for any movement. Her ears were still compensating for the lack of visibility. Her lungs were starting to burn quite a bit. She remembered that the club had always been deceivingly large and that it might take her a while to cross the expanse of the lounge. She felt compelled then to call out Akasha’s name, though she wanted nothing less than to bring attention to herself. Realistically, Rei knew that finding a hidden Akasha amidst the smoke would be near impossible. Instead, she thought it was best to simply make sure that she wasn’t lying in the company of dead bodies.

It was a matter of seconds before she found one, but she could tell by the physique that it was male.

She moved on to the next in her path.

Rei stepped closer to peer at the woman’s face. It was blank and motionless, her skin bubbled as a result of the heat. The injuries marred her features so much that Rei couldn’t discern her identity, but she was able to discern one thing: This wasn’t Akasha. Both relieved and disheartened, Rei carried on.

Another body—male.

Another—female, but still, not Akasha.

Another, then another, and another—yet none of them the one that she was searching for.

Her nose was beginning to prickle with the scent of it—death. It was so strong that it managed to penetrate through the smoke.

The next body was a horrifying landmark, easily recognizable. A memory of him arose in her mind, standing in the dressing room only hours before, resplendent in his purple satiny top and white trousers. Enzo’s body, though a painful reminder of the danger that she was in, did establish her position. His body meant that she was moving in the right direction. So, she carried onward, tentatively stepping over him. She averted her eyes this time, not wanting to see his soulless expression again.

She progressed another dozen feet, and thankfully, no more bodies crossed her path—living or otherwise. She no longer felt the need to conceal her presence, so sure of her escape; the door was slowly materializing through the smoke. She’d almost reached the promise of safety and fresh air when something familiar caught her eye.

It was a shoe.

Not just any shoe, but a red-bottomed stiletto. One of the high-end designer brands that Akasha adored, and the same pair that she’d donned earlier that night. The other one was missing, which unnerved Rei: Even under duress, Akasha was unlikely to leave behind something so treasured. It might seem flippant, but the woman had her vices.

Rei’s panic returned—a sense of dread now overshadowing her fear. Abandoning the path to freedom, she followed the trail left by the shoe. It invited her to another section of the lounge where the smoke thinned out, making it easier to see again. She panned her gaze across the floor, and it didn’t take long to find the other shoe.

Her gaze tethered to the object, slowly making its way up the length of a long, slender leg. A familiar-looking garment rested at the apex of the woman’s thighs. Her torso was covered in soot and ash, and there were scrapes and gashes along her ribcage, indicating places where she’d been struck. Rei’s eyes skimmed over the woman’s breasts—graciously, still covered—before trailing up her neck to settle upon her devastatingly beautiful face.

Even in death, Akasha was exquisite.

Strangely, Rei was not overcome with tears. Indeed, there was an immense sadness in her chest, but something else was overpowering her grief—an emotion that she hadn’t felt in a long time, wrenching its way up from the place in her heart where she had buried it many years ago. The same quiet rage that possessed her when her mother had passed: A sort of simmering, self-destructive anger.

Her friend was dead.

Dead.

Everything had fallen into silence. The only sound that she could hear was the steady, agitated beating of her heart, thrumming through her ears. She felt strangely numb. There were cuts and scrapes on her limbs, but she couldn’t feel them. Her eyes and lungs, having once been burning from the smoke, no longer hurt. She stood, frozen, staring down at the body on the ground. The exit was still a mere twenty paces away, but the proximity did nothing to motivate her. She was suspended in her agony, with no desire to escape.

She considered curling up on the floor next to Akasha and succumbing to the smoke. She could gaze into the eyes of the person she loved most and let the fumes slowly suffocate her into oblivion.

But she made no move in either direction.

She just stood there, staring.

What eventually roused her was the feeling that she was being watched. She shifted her gaze, squinting into a nearby corner still shrouded in smoke. If she wasn’t hallucinating, she could swear that there was a dark figure somewhere in the shadows. It was unmoving, yet distinctly animate like it might lunge at her the moment she looked away.

A shuffling in her periphery suddenly drew her attention, and she whipped around to see what—or rather who—was behind her.

To her immeasurable dismay, it was someone with whom she’d already become acquainted.

“Well, well… What do we have here?”

Rei met his gaze, remembering the knife at her side. She tucked it behind her back, gripping it with white knuckles.

“I was wondering where you ran off to,” Kyro rasped. “I have to admit… I’m rather impressed you’re still alive.”

The sentiment was mutual.

“But then again…,” he continued, “—you do seem like the stubborn type.”

He took a predacious step forward, and Rei steeled herself.

Not only was she armed now, but she had nothing left to lose: Her once suicidal ideation was quickly morphing into a homicidal itch.

How he’d managed to evade defeat thus far was a mystery to her. Rei had yet to come in contact with any of the newcomers, but she knew they were out there. She could still hear them, flitting about unseen.

Kyro clicked his tongue. “What’s the matter, sweetheart? Cat-owl got your tongue?” He tilted his head and took another step forward. “I don’t remember you being so quiet… Though, I must say, I like you better this way. Less hassle.”

He was within arm’s reach of her now, but which of them planned to strike first remained uncertain. If she allowed him to make the first move, she might not live.

But she didn’t care; she was raring to slice his guts open. Images of him bleeding out floated readily into her mind, and she pictured herself standing over his body, watching as the light faded from his eyes.

She’d never killed before, but for the first time in her life, she was being tempted.

Tonight was a tipping point: She’d been docile for far too long. If only she’d been more proactive this evening, she could have done something to save Akasha. She should have listened to her intuition and come up with some sort of ruse… Perhaps even convinced Enzo to cancel the show.

Perhaps…

—no.

It was too late for wishful thinking.

There was only one person who deserved responsibility for the night’s tragedies, and he was standing right in front of her.

Kyro was a good-for-nothing criminal. He didn’t deserve to be alive.

Akasha deserved to be alive. And since his existence had ended up snuffing hers out, it was only poetic that he should die as well. Justice, in its purest form.

She should kill him… She wanted to kill him.

She was going to kill him.

Rei lunged.

His leering expression morphed into one of utter disbelief. He was so caught off guard by her attack that he hadn’t moved in time to avoid her blow. She struck him just as he sprung to the side, slicing across his lower obliques. He keeled over, crying out. She looked at the knife in her hand and saw that it was covered in blood, then looked back up to find a stumbling Kyro, hunched over with his back to her. His arms were drawn up to cradle his stomach. He turned to her slowly, and Rei could see blood seeping through his fingers.

He peeled his hand away, shocked at what she’d just done. “You… bitch,” he snarled. A flame sparked to life at his side.

Rei ducked on instinct, rolling across the floor and dodging his attack. He’d launched an unavailing fireball into the smoke, hitting nothing but air. Kyro spun back around to find her crouching opposite him. He mirrored her stance, and they began circling each other.

Having landed a blow with nothing more than a modest employment of her agility, Rei was buzzing with adrenaline. Her emotions were a mix of manic rage and euphoria.

She was going to kill or be killed.

As much as Kyro tried to hide it, his injury was affecting him. He was bleeding a considerable amount, his steps becoming clumsy and uncoordinated. Tripping over his feet, he tried his best to keep up with her. His expression was warring between anger and uncertainty, and it gave Rei all the encouragement she needed to initiate her next strike.

She launched at him, aiming for his middle.

He was ready this time, sliding out of the way before she could get close. He sent another fireball at her head, and she just narrowly missed it. She rolled around his wide stance, and it took him a moment to realize where she’d gone. It was then that she discovered her best tactic: If she could stay behind him, she could stay out of his line of fire.

The moment passed and he registered her position, attempting to face her once more. She moved with him, maintaining her orientation at his back.

“Fucking cunt!” he hissed.

He began swinging madly. His movements were all the more desperate as he tried to meet her face-to-face. At every rotation, he was punching the air with angry blasts of fire. She kept herself aligned with his spine, hinging around him like an axel. His footsteps became lumbering while hers remained feather-light.

She continued like this, hoping he would tire himself out. His exertion, coupled with the loss of his blood, would eventually dampen his strength. All that she needed to do was maintain her bearings, and soon, she would be able to overpower him.

Just as she predicted, his spins started to become slower; his energy began to wane, his fire less hot. Knife in hand, she planned her next attack. She needed to hit him where it mattered: Indiscriminate blows were not going to end this promptly. She could impale an organ, something that would incapacitate him… Maybe his heart, or perhaps one of his lungs. Either could work.

Just as she was gearing up to thrust the knife into his back, however, she faltered.

What if she missed?

She reasoned then that she should hit one of his main arteries instead. His wrist or his thigh—both of those would have him drained in a matter of minutes. He was only a few inches taller than her, and she could easily reach his neck.

An artery was doable.

She pulled the knife back, still swaying with Kyro’s movements. She could see his pulse thrumming beneath the slick of his jawline. She needed to time this just right—grab him by his shoulder to get a proper angle. While she waited, he continued to thrash—rather feebly now. Giving just one last wholehearted swing, he stopped to cough, causing him to clutch his injured side. Rei leaped, throwing her knife hand over his shoulder. She grabbed ahold of his hair, yanking him back. He drew a ragged gasp but made no move to shake her off. He just clawed at her with sluggish annoyance.

She brought the knife to his neck, pressing the edge of the blade against his skin.

He went stiff as a board.

She heard him whimper.

“P—p-please—”

She slid the blade across his skin, melting his words into pitiful garbles. Her hand became slick with blood as it soaked down his front. He sputtered a few times before slackening beneath her. His weight became deadened, and he slumped to his knees with no amount of grace. He toppled forward, colliding into the ground with a wet smack.

He lay in a pool of his own blood, twitching.

The sight was not nearly as gratifying as she’d imagined. The metallic scent of blood overtook her senses, inspiring her to gag. She swallowed, covering her mouth.

Nearly a minute passed before Kyro was completely still. She stood over him, her gaze falling in and out of focus. She could hardly make out the shape of his body anymore. She became acutely aware of the blood covering her hands: It was drying uncomfortably now, pulling her skin taught.

The sights, the sounds, the smells—it was all too much.

Bile began rising in her throat.

She inhaled through her mouth to get past the stench of the air, but the toxic smoke burned her lungs. Her head was splitting now with the beginnings of a brutal headache. She knew that she should move—run to the door to get out of the smoke—but her hopelessness had returned to rob her of her agency.

Again, she found herself locked in her mental prison.

As she stood there reeling, a prickling sensation had begun to ghost across her skin. Once more, she was struck with the awareness that she was being watched. It was the same hovering presence as before, only closer now.

Much, much closer.

“Impressive…,” a smooth baritone drawled in her vicinity.

Her head snapped up, and she was met with the sight of the dark figure. His shape, having previously been obscured by the phosphorescent smoke, was becoming visible as he slowly approached. His footsteps were unbelievably silent—as if he wasn’t even touching the ground. He drifted closer until the smoke shrouding him faded, and she watched him come to a ceremonious halt directly above Kyro’s body. A billowing hood shielded his face while he appraised the damage.

Finally, he lifted his chin to meet her gaze.

Despite the heat of the surrounding flames, she was struck with chills.

His irises were sharp and pale, unobscured even under the shadows of his mask. The ivory visage bore a peaceful expression, with eyelets carved into elegant downward slits. There was a large, unyielding orb painted above its brow.

His frigid stare left her face, and a rush of trepidation seized her chest: Where the other men had leered, he seemed to be critically scrutinizing. She’d never felt insecure, but his attention gave her a strange sense of inadequacy. Shaking now, she raised the knife out in front of her—a warning against whatever he might do.

Chapter Text

The man did not react to her meek threat, nor did he acknowledge the knife pointed at his chest. He merely stepped over the corpse with a deliberate movement.

“S-stay back!” Rei warned.

“Attacking now would be ill-advised,” he said, stopping only a few inches short of her weapon. He was nearly a foot taller than she was, towering over her. “You have no reason to fear me,” he supplied.

His voice was calm, but his appearance was disquieting.

“F—f-forgive me if I have a hard time… believing you…,” she snarked.

His eyes flickered once more down her body, a movement so quick that it was almost imperceptible. His gaze then swept across their surroundings. “I would not blame you for questioning my intentions,” he said, snapping his attention back to her. “However, you can rest assured that I mean you no harm. Perhaps it is not yet obvious, but we are here on your behalf.”

Rei held the knife steadfast in front of her, refusing to relinquish what little control she still had. “H-how many of you are there?” she questioned, ignoring his words.

“You can estimate that our numbers are more than enough and leave it at that,” he deflected.

She faltered slightly, struck down by his derisiveness. “Who… are… you people?”

“We," he began venerably, "—are a voice for the voiceless. Protectors of the powerless. Champions of the downtrodden. A movement known as the Equalists.”

“W-why are you here? Rei rushed. “W-why did you stop the triads?”

“Because that is our purpose,” he offered simply. “We are an elite group of fighters, formed to protect our nonbending brothers and sisters against the afflictions of this… hierarchal society.”

“S-so you’re… v-vigilantes?” Rei surmised.

“Not quite…,” he informed. “There are other things that supersede these missions. Our long-term goals are aimed at drastically altering the fabric of society.”

The more he offered, the more confused she became.

Every one of his answers sparked a thousand more questions.

“M-missions?” she choked. “I… don’t understand what you mean—”

“This is neither the time nor place to sift through the details,” he interjected. “If you so choose, everything can be revealed later.”

Rei blinked. “If I choose… w-what… exactly?”

For a silent moment, he seemed to be reassessing whatever conception he had of her. “How old are you?” he asked, ignoring her concerns.

While she had no real reason to withhold this information, she did not feel comfortable divulging the facts of her identity to a perfect stranger. However, she had a sinking suspicion that a lie would not be tolerated. Pinned under his stare, she relented easily.

“E-eighteen…,” she answered.

He briefly considered her again before continuing. “Quite young to be working at such an establishment.”

“You’d be surprised,” she quipped. “A-and why should you care, anyway?”

“I’m not so much worried as I am curious. You are of age, but only just.” He paused. “Have you no parents?”

“I take care of myself,” she snarled.

He seemed to know exactly how to outwit her. “So you have a home, then?”

She reconsidered, remembering the apartment above and how it would not survive the night. “N-no…,” she conceded, “—not anymore.”

“Then, you’ll need a place to stay,” he surmised.

Rei was taken aback. “What? No, I… I don’t need your help!”

Truth be told, she was aching for comfort. She needed a warm bath, a decent meal, and a good cry… But something inside her desperately wanted to keep him from knowing this.

He must have seen right through her.

“As of this moment, you have no job, no family, no home—,” his gaze flicked down her body again, lingering at her chest before rising back up to her bewildered expression, “—no clothes, and no humility. You mean for me to believe that you would rather sleep on the streets before accepting the kindness of a stranger?”

Her resolve withered under his stare.

No family. No home.

Again.

She answered him with the smallest amount of concession her injured pride would allow. “I… don’t even know your name…,” she muttered, lowering the knife.

“Amon,” he offered, pleased with her compliance. “Leader of the Equalists.”

Dizzily, Rei blinked.

“What’s your name, child?” he questioned at her silence.

Though trepidation seized her once more, this man already seemed to know more about her than she knew about herself.

She capitulated.

“R-Reina…,” she managed.

He took a slow step forward, reaching out to take the knife from her hand. Despite her better senses, she let him.

“Have you any clothes, Reina?” he asked.

“Uhm, y-yes…” She remembered her undress and moved to cover what little dignity she had left. “B-but most of my belongings are… u-upstairs—”

“Lieutenant!” He raised his voice abruptly.

There was movement in the smoke behind her, and another figure appeared, skirting past her to stand before the masked man.

“Sir,” the newcomer spoke.

Removing his eyes from Rei’s face, Amon turned to address his officer. “Accompany the young woman upstairs so that she may gather her belongings.” He nodded in Rei’s direction. “Return her directly to me when she’s finished. She will be joining us at the base this morning.”

The lieutenant turned to look at the young woman in question.

Much like his commander, he too wore a gray tunic, though his uniform was lighter in color and noticeably less embellished. His armor was simple, consisting of only a breastplate covering his shoulders and neck. Similar to the others, he had a tactical belt, though there were a pair of stick-like weapons strapped across his back, differentiating him from the rest. His bright eyes were visible beneath jade goggles, his mask only partially covering his face. His thin mouth and wispy mustache were exposed, leaving his facial expressions open for interpretation.

He was currently appraising her with either confusion or disgust.

Perhaps both.

“Forgive me, sir,” he began cautiously, “—but… why are we doing this?”

“She is a victim and is in need of refuge,” Amon answered simply.

“Are we running a charity shelter now?” the lieutenant griped.

Amon’s eyes narrowed behind his mask. “Do not question my orders,” he commanded, with a voice so cold that it sent a chill down Rei’s spine. “You have ten minutes to get her back to me. Make haste.”

She barely had time to blink before he disappeared into the shadows from whence he came. She was so stunned that she almost didn’t hear the sound of the lieutenant clearing his throat.

She turned to meet his indignant expression.

“You heard the man,” he spoke gruffly.

Reluctantly, she started to move… But then, something stopped her.

Struck with the same grief from earlier, she couldn’t fathom leaving her friend.

“Don’t even think about it,” Rei heard the ire of the man next to her.

Affronted, she snapped back. “Leaving with you is my prerogative—”

“Maybe when he was here, but not on my watch,” he spoke over her. “If you run off, your desertion will be my failure.”

She crossed her arms, defiant. “Your boss must not like you very much.”

“Watch it, little girl…,” he snarled, whipping one of the batons out from behind his back and ushering her with it. “Move. Now.”

Deciding it would be unwise to push her luck, she began to walk, carrying herself toward the door of the club. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to stay with her friend, but she reminded herself that there was no point… The fire had yet to consume everything, but it was well on its way. The building was slowly starting to warp under the heat of the flames.

The whole thing would be rubble before sunrise.

When they finally reached the entrance, she looked over her shoulder and saw the lieutenant still following her. She leaned into the mahogany door, struggling to open it in her weakened state. The lieutenant, of course, did nothing to help. Eventually, the hinge slackened, and the door swung open so violently that she stumbled to the ground, landing on her hands and knees.

Her lungs were assaulted by the fresh air. She’d become so desensitized by the smoke that her body was in shock at the sudden presence of oxygen. Her chest seized, and she stayed on all fours while struggling to breathe.

When the burning had finally abated, she glanced up at the lieutenant.

He was glaring down at her with disinterest.

“Get up,” he ordered. “We don’t have all night.”

She pulled herself up onto shaky legs and began a slow walk around the side of the building, using the bricks to support herself. She found the old staircase in the alleyway and started to climb, all the while the lieutenant followed behind. It was a dizzying ascent, but after two flights, they finally reached their destination. Atop the landing, Rei bent down toward the potted lily, plucking the brass key from the ceramic dish underneath. Akasha’s actual key remained in her purse, which was currently awaiting incineration in the basement below.

She stuck the key in the hole and twisted, the bolt clicking in an instant. She swung open the door, and a small amount of smoke billowed out as she stepped through. The temperature in the apartment was a few degrees below sweltering, but so far, nothing had been damaged. The heat was rising fast from the inferno, though, and it was only a matter of time before the floor would be too treacherous to walk on. She moved quickly then, pushing straight through the kitchen and living areas toward her designated corner of the apartment.

Clothes were the first order of business. She wrenched open her tiny dresser and plucked some fresh undergarments from the top, donning them with urgency. She then rifled through her meager selection of clothes and grabbed the only pair of trousers that she owned, along with an unassuming tunic. She finished dressing herself and returned her attention to the drawers, where at the very bottom, she found her old rucksack from her time on the streets. It was just as small as she remembered. A single pair of clothes would have to suffice because she needed room for her other necessities.

She made a list in her head: Shoes, socks, toothbrush, comb, money…

Would she need money where she was going?

She decided it was better safe than sorry.

Beneath the old mattress was a drawstring pouch filled with large-faced bills. She’d been setting these aside for a while now, hoping to one day have enough money to move out. For better or worse, it seemed as though today was going to be that day. She shoved the pouch into her rucksack and then slipped into a sensible pair of shoes. She scanned the dresser once more for anything else that she might need.

Her eyes fell upon the top of the dresser, where she was met with her mother’s serene expression. She grabbed the picture frame and shoved it into her bag as well. 

Within the tiny en-suite washroom, she began collecting more of her belongings. Remembering the blood still plaguing her skin, she went to the sink to rinse her hands. On the counter, she noticed an ornate bottle of Akasha’s perfume. She hesitated a moment before scooping that up, too.

Outside the washroom, she found the lieutenant standing in the doorway, watching her.

“Took you long enough,” he griped as she approached. He turned and led them back out onto the scaffold landing. “We’ll have to hurry now.”

Rei had only a moment to glare at him before he vaulted over the scaffold and dropped noiselessly into the alley below. Stunned, she rushed forward to peer over the edge. He’d just jumped from a two-storey height, yet—somehow—had landed gracefully on his feet?

He sneered up at her from below. “What don’t you understand about hurry?”

She brushed aside her shock, scurrying down the stairs to catch up with him.

“W-where to… now?” she huffed.

“You’ll need to stay close.” He looked at her derisively. “Can you manage that?”

She resisted the urge to flick him between the eyes.

“Yeah,” she replied. “Don’t worry—”

He took off.

Unprepared for the sudden chase, she lagged after him. It took everything in her to just keep him in her sights. He scampered through the maze of back alleys, leading her through parts of the borough that she never knew existed. Despite having lived here her whole life, she was disoriented by his maneuvering; it didn’t help that she was still so lightheaded. On the contrary, he maintained a solid pace with minimal effort and moved with such uncanny feline stealth that it was almost mesmerizing.

Suddenly, and without so much as a warning, he came to a halt.

She slammed unceremoniously into his back. 

“S—sorry…,” she huffed, peeling herself away with dampened dignity.

He was unmoved by the impact, simply turning his head to cast her a look of irritation. Ignoring her words, he peered around the corner. After a moment, he moved forward out of the shadows. She followed him into the glow of a nearby streetlamp, where he paused again, motioning for her to stop. An unknown figure stepped forward into the light, but his familiar mask soon emerged into view. Still shrouded by his hood, the ivory plaque was only partially illuminated. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she could feel his gaze as it briefly landed upon her.

The lieutenant addressed his superior. “Are we ready to move out?”

Amon acknowledged him with only a nod before slinking back into the shadows. The lieutenant trailed behind him, and Rei followed. Her eyes readjusted to the dim light of the alleyway, where she soon noticed a fleet of motorbikes parked alongside the building.

She was struck with amazement. Never, in one place, had she seen such a collection of vehicles. There were nearly a dozen of them, each mounted by an Equalist officer.

When one of them turned his head to her, she nearly jumped at the sight. Having been unable to see them clearly within the smoke, she could now thoroughly appraise their appearance.

Their goggles glowed an unsettling shade of green. A bright red orb adorned their masks, matching that of their leader. Brass tubes came from either side of their mouth, connected to a small bulb at the back of their heads. Rei assumed that this was some sort of breathing apparatus, but that was merely an educated guess. She held each of their gazes as she passed. Amon and his lieutenant were already at the front of the formation, where two unoccupied motorbikes remained reserved for them.

“Sir—,” the lieutenant addressed him again as they came upon the vehicles.

Amon turned but did not speak.

“Who will the—lady—be traveling with?” the lieutenant asked, struggling to find an appropriate word for her.

Amon’s gaze flicked between them. “She will ride with you.”

She watched as he mounted his motorbike with practiced poise, waiting for the lieutenant to follow. The lieutenant took a seat atop his own.

Rei stood, watching them both.

“Do you not know how to listen?” he snapped.

Despite her vexation, she moved to join him on the back of the bike. She found her seat, fidgeting, unsure of where to place her hands.

He huffed as he turned the ignition. “You should hold on if you want to remain upright.”

The sound of his engine starting permitted the others to do the same. The motorbikes roared to life, settling into a rhythmic hum. The smell of exhaust filled the air, and Rei apologized to her lungs for all of the abuse they were being subjected to. She leaned in then, folding her arms around the waist of the man in front of her. A second later, the engine revved, and the motorbike shot forward. One by one, they rolled out of the alleyway onto the little cobblestone street. Amon, she saw, turned left, while his lieutenant turned right. The band of officers behind them spilled out in alternate directions, separating into small groups of two or three.

Rei took a departing look as they drove off. She recognized places she regularly visited with both her mother and Akasha, memories of outings and late-night meals filling her heart with bittersweet warmth. The cool air wicked away her tears before they could spill onto her cheeks. She noticed, absently, that she’d begun to squeeze the lieutenant tighter—desperate for the comfort of another’s touch. She loosened her grip, hoping he hadn’t noticed, but the awkward stiffening of his back informed her that it was too late.

She took in a breath of fresh air, allowing the scent of the city’s nightlife to pacify her. Before long, they were out of Dragon Flats Borough, with only a solitary stretch of road before them as they traveled across Yue Bay. Rei looked out over the expanse of water, relishing the shimmer of the city’s reflection. She watched the towering skyscrapers draw nearer and nearer until they exited the bridge and veered off the road. Careening down smaller side streets, she noticed that they were headed for downtown.

Finally, Rei began to wonder where they were going. They passed a few commercial storefronts before it became clear to Rei that Central Station was where they were heading.

Just as she predicted, the squad of bikes cleared a nearby alleyway, and the looming statue of Firelord Zuko—hand alit with everlasting flame—towered over them. She peered up at its magnanimity as they zoomed past, swerving off down another alley into the shadows of an overhang. The ground canted downward, leading them into a weather drain.

The lieutenant pumped the brakes and slowed. The others behind him did the same, approaching the iron bars at the opening of the drain. When they were all gathered at the entrance, the lieutenant came to a halt, dropping one foot to the ground. He glanced over his shoulder to survey the group, making sure that they were all accounted for before hitting a button on the dash of his bike. The iron bars suddenly croaked, rising into the recess of the concrete. Pushing off with his foot, he revved the engine and launched the bike back into motion down the dark passage. The rest of the group followed. When they were all promptly within the tunnel, Rei heard the resounding echo of the gate slamming back to the ground.

A staccato of flashing lights hypnotized her as they drove deeper into the tunnel. Eventually, the lieutenant flicked another switch, and a section of the tunnel’s wall flipped open into a secret corridor.

She was awed by the level of ingenuity.

They appeared to be in some sort of underground train station, decades old and out of use. She couldn’t fathom a time when Republic City had ever needed a place like this; it was like some long-forgotten relic of the early days of the city’s industry. Her suspicions were confirmed when the tunnel suddenly opened up into an enormous warehouse. She was shocked at the sheer amount of equipment present—trucks, trams, and motorbikes, aplenty—all parked in uniform lines. It filled the place with the distinct scent of oil and metallic tang. Wooden crates were piled high along the walls, making her curious as to what other wonders were being hidden down here.

The lieutenant eased into an open area under a large cement pillar where he pulled to a complete stop and shut off his engine. The others did the same. He placed his feet down and waited before clearing his throat with obvious irritation. Remembering herself, Rei released his torso and clambered off of the bike.

Only when she was far removed from his person did he finally dismount. He seemed eternally grateful to have his personal space back.

“Follow me,” he said. “He’ll expect us to report to him before you’re given a place to sleep.”

Having only addressed her, the rest of the Equalists dispersed without a word.

Remembering exactly who he was, Rei ducked her chin and followed. They crossed over the expanse of the warehouse, headed for the shadows of one of the many offshoot tunnels. They carried down the dimly lit passage, bypassing room after empty room until they came upon a lone steel door. Nothing about it was particularly notable, apart from the fact that it looked like it belonged in the hull of a ship.

The lieutenant halted.

“Only speak if you are spoken to.” He turned to glare at her critically. “Do you understand?”

Rei fought the urge to roll her eyes but nodded. The lieutenant raised his fist to rap the door three times, and silence descended upon them. There was no movement behind the door, nor did anyone verbally respond. The lieutenant simply waited and waited—and waited some more. All the while, Rei stood there, confused.

Finally, after what had surely been many minutes, Amon appeared. He opened the door, clasping both hands behind his back.

He said nothing, waiting for his subordinate to speak.

“As you instructed, I’ve arrived with the… refugee,” he announced, once more struggling with an appropriate word for her. “Where will you be sending her?”

“To the barracks.”

At this, the lieutenant seemed apprehensive. “Where the… mercenaries and personnel stay?”

Rei was also apprehensive, but more so at the thought of sleeping in the presence of these men that she didn’t know.

“Twice tonight you have questioned my orders…,” Amon reproached. “Should it happen again, you will be reprimanded.”

“Of… course, sir…,” the lieutenant apologized before attempting to explain himself. “I meant no disrespect, I was merely... confused.”

“So, it would seem…,” Amon derided, looking down at Rei. “But I’ll have you know, she is no longer a refugee. She is a recruit.”

It was clear that he was gauging her reaction, but Rei didn’t have one to give.

She had nowhere else to go even if she wanted to. If he wished to lock her up in this giant dank cellar for all eternity, so be it; at least she would have a place to sleep for the foreseeable future.

“I expect you to treat her as such,” Amon continued, returning his attention to his lieutenant.

“As you wish… sir,” the lieutenant conceded.

Amon looked back down at Rei, though much less pointedly than before. “Tomorrow, you will be allowed a single day to rest. If you find yourself in need of provisions, the lieutenant will show you to the refectory before directing you to your bunk.”

Rei could only manage a silent nod.

“She will begin her training with you the following morning,” Amon continued, instructing his lieutenant. “I expect you to fulfill this task dutifully—without objection.”

“Yes… sir,” he begrudgingly accepted.

With that, Amon slipped back into the room, shutting the door with a graceful snap. The lieutenant remained in place, brooding over the exchange.

Suddenly, he snapped at her. “He seems to have taken a liking to you—”

Rei blinked, taken aback.

“—don ’t get used to it.”

Before she could defend herself, he was trudging off down the hallway. He wasted no time waiting for her, forcing her to jog to catch up with him. He stalked through the tunnel, all the way back to the warehouse and into another corridor. When he finally stopped again, he addressed the room behind him unceremoniously, refusing to look at her.

“The mess hall…,” he dictated flatly. “Basic supplies are on the shelves. Take whatever you need.”

The promise of food caused her stomach to groan. She stepped into the empty hall, locating the aforementioned supply shelves to her right. She grabbed two packaged grain bars and a carton of water. Stuffing the supplies into her now overcrowded rucksack, she returned to the corridor to find the lieutenant staring off into the distance. He continued ignoring her as he took off down the passage again. Once more, she struggled to keep up with him.

He directed her farther into the passageway, stretching on for an absurd distance. Eventually, they came upon a concrete wall, where the lieutenant pushed open the panel of a swinging door. He held it for her, waiting for her to pass. She carefully ducked through the opening, expecting him to follow, but did not hear him moving behind her. Anxiously, she turned back—and stopped him just as the door was swinging shut.

“Wait!” she croaked.

He paused, catching the door and turning to her with disinterest. “What?”

“W—where are you going…?” she begged.

“These are the women’s barracks,” he informed. “Just… pick a bunk and settle in.”

Then, he was gone, leaving the door swaying in his absence. Rei stood and stared after him until it stopped. In the deafening silence, she turned to face the narrow corridor now in front of her. She found herself surrounded on either side by many tiny, dark, cabin-like rooms—most of which were empty.

Further down was a large, tiled chamber. A washroom, she suspected.

She decided to take a closer look.

Yes, upon closer inspection, it was a washroom. But that was the extent of her exploration.

Halfway down the hall, she slipped into one of the vacant cabins. A light switch dangled beside her in the dark, so she reached up, illuminating the room. Inside, she was greeted with some exceptionally modest furnishings. For a bed, there was only a solitary bench welded to the floor, with a thin mat situated across the top. A muslin blanket sat folded beside a pillow. A measly metal table was strewn in the corner, and a single bulb hung from the ceiling.

It was unwelcoming and clinical, but it was far better than sleeping in a dumpster, she decided. She went to the bed and set her things down, then made it a point to grab the little table, pulling it next to her.

Finally, she took a seat.

The mat was firm, but… not necessarily uncomfortable. She reached into her rucksack for the essentials, foremost of which were her snacks and water. She rifled around for Akasha’s perfume, placing it gingerly on the table, then dove back in for her mother’s portrait.

She was still for a moment, observing the objects in their new surroundings.

Then the groaning of her stomach called to her.

She turned her attention toward her meager provisions. She nearly choked on the first few sips of water, the cool liquid coating her sore throat. She then took to opening the bars, consuming each in under a minute. The starch swelled in her stomach, placating her hunger. Now that she was satiated, her fatigue was beginning to bear down on her.

She sunk into the mat, taking the skimpy bedding out from under her and tossing it over her legs. She curled her body onto the mattress without so much as removing her shoes, then lay there silently, back against the cold wall. For a long while, she didn’t close her eyes—for fear that if she did so, her mind would be bombarded with garish images of the night’s ordeal.

Aching for comfort—and anything to get rid of the stench of smoke—she reached for Akasha’s perfume. She propped herself up and removed the cap, spraying the musty bedding beneath her. She let the mixture of soft florals and heady orientals waft over her before plopping back down onto the mat. It might have been a bad idea to envelop the space in the essence of her dead friend, but she couldn’t help herself.

She rolled over then to stare at her mother’s peaceful expression. The picture had been taken right before Haruka fell ill. Her face was soft, her cheeks still healthy and pink. Her eyes had light in them, and her hair was still lustrous and beautiful. It was a stark contrast to her final days. The woman in the picture looked nothing like the one on her mother’s deathbed.

Rei closed her eyes and let the regret pull her under.

Tragedy was the unfortunate reality of being a nonbender in this world. Every day was a fight for survival. Now that all she’d loved had been taken from her once more, she was faced with two options: She could either roll over and succumb to her situation again… Or she could stand and fight.

She didn’t know if she had the strength to do what would be required of her, but she was determined to try.

She had the overwhelming feeling that she’d been preparing for this her whole life.

Chapter Text

Rei found herself awoken by a splitting migraine. She propped herself up on the mat with astounding difficulty. All the muscles in her body seemed to be railing against any type of movement, but she couldn’t sit still any longer; the pounding in her head wouldn’t allow it.

Wincing, she took a glance at her surroundings. A few moments passed before she processed where she was. It wasn’t long before the memories of the previous night flooded her mind. She’d been numb to it, but the restoration of sleep brought the images of her deceased friends back to the forefront. Tears welled in her eyes as an uncontrolled hiccough escaped her chest.

She collapsed back into the mat, wrapping her arms around her knees and tucking them into her chest. In this position, she began to hyperventilate—the room spinning in much the same fashion as her life. There was no concept of time, the walls of the bunker void of any sort of natural light. There were no clocks on the walls. She lay there for what could have been hours, eventually succumbing to renewed fatigue, where her dreams contrasted with her dark reality.

They consisted of only the happiest memories of those she loved most.

She was awoken once more by pain. This time, it was in her stomach.

She lay still as the rest of her body roused, and her eyes snapped open at the sound of her stomach growling. She was quite shocked by the noise it was making. Blinking at the wall in front of her, she listened to the ravenous groan taper off into a pitiful croak.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so hungry.

Amon had instructed that she would begin her training after a day of rest. Since the lieutenant had yet to visit, she reasoned that it couldn’t have been more than twenty-four hours since she’d arrived. She decided it would be prudent to get up and take care of herself. Her body was sore, sooty, and sticky—and the call of a hot shower was singing to her.

She sat up, and the first thing she was reminded of was her headache. It was still lingering, insofar as she could feel twinges of pain when she moved, but it was manageable. She grabbed the open water from the bedside table and chugged what was left. She stood then, and her legs felt strangely gelatinous and taut—weak and stiff at the same time. She bent over to rummage through her sack for what she needed. She pulled her toothbrush out and made for the cabin door, cautiously poking her head into the dark hall. There was no movement or noise, so she figured that the women with whom she now shared quarters must either be asleep or away. Silently, she scampered toward the washroom.

As she got closer, she counted that only three of the cabin doors were closed, confounded by the amount of extra space. She wondered if the men’s barracks were just as vacant, but assumed not, simply due to the sheer number of mercenaries present at the club.

When she made it to the washroom, she felt for the light and was promptly affronted by the sight of her reflection. The last time she’d seen herself in the mirror was before going on stage the previous night. The makeup that she’d so skillfully applied was now running down her face in messy streaks. There was a haze of liner around her eyes, giving her a sunken appearance. Her lipstick was smeared, and her face, neck, and chest were spotted with soot. She noticed a few scabby marks along her chin and cheeks, too. Her face was still puffy from crying, a shameful reminder of her mental breakdown.

Disgusted by the sight of herself, she turned in search of the showers. Along the far wall, there was a door; behind it, the exact thing that she sought. The stalls were separated by panels, though not completely sequestered from each other. On the opposite side was a similar set-up that housed a row of toilets. It was a modest amount of privacy, but no way to fully seal oneself away from the prying eyes of any company.

Luckily, she was alone.

Rei began stripping out of her clothes. Her feet were still raw from all the running she’d done the night before. She pulled her trousers down and noticed that she was sporting large scrapes on both of her legs. The rest of her was relatively unmarred, save for a smattering of soot. She divested her tunic and decided that all things considered, she could be a lot worse for wear. Most of the pain was internal—headaches, hunger, soreness, and the like. Hot water would remedy most of these ailments. She eagerly slipped into the nearest shower and cranked the valve to the highest setting, screeching when the sheet of ice-cold water pierced her skin.

She stepped aside, waiting for the water to reach the perfect degree of scalding before returning to the downpour. She sighed with relief at the rush of heat, rolling her neck against her shoulders and allowing the tension to uncoil from her muscles. A bar of soap had been graciously supplied at the ledge of the stall, so she scooped it up and ran it all over her body, ignoring the sting that piqued her wounds. The mild scent filled her nose.

When the water began to run clear, she moved on to her hair. She was genuinely enjoying herself in that moment, massaging her head and soaking in the warmth. She remained there for a while longer, if only to indulge in the heat. Before long, though, the water had begun to cool, and she was forced to step out.

Bereft, she realized that she had nothing to dry off with. She pushed back into the vanity area to find open shelving, stacked high with fresh towels. She grabbed two for herself before returning to the stalls to collect her soiled clothes. In front of the mirrors again, she assessed her much-improved reflection. She was pleased to see that her face was completely clean, apart from a few scratches. She moved on to brushing her teeth.

The feeling of being clean began to calm her. All that she needed now was a good meal, and she was certain she could pull herself together and pretend like nothing traumatic had happened in the last twenty-four hours.

On her way back into the corridor, she was caught by a thin figure standing in the doorway.

“Hi!”

Rei jumped, clinging to her belongings.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” the woman apologized. “I scared you, didn’t I? I gotta remember that not everyone is a morning person…,” she trailed off.

A bit neurotic, Rei thought—but responded to the woman in kind. “It… it’s fine,” she stammered. “I just—I wasn’t expecting anyone to be up. I hope I didn’t wake you… I was trying to be quiet.”

“Oh, no!” the woman assured. “I’m always up this early. I gotta get ready before everyone else so I can cook!”

Rei was confused. “You… cook… for the…?”

“Yeah, that’s me!” she responded cheerfully. “You must be new! I’m Mera!” She held out her hand for Rei, who reluctantly obliged. “I’m sorta-kinda the live-in maid here.”

 Rei addressed the woman with apprehension. “A-and you… enjoy… that?”

“Well, of course, I’d like to fight—but I don’t really have the stamina for it,” she explained, motioning towards her frail body. “I just want to help the cause, and this is the best way I know how!”

She was insufferably exuberant, but Rei had to admit: It was starting to rub off on her.

“C-cooking, you said?” Rei decided to probe for details. “What time is it?”

“Four in the morning!” the woman supplied, again, with much excitement. “I have breakfast ready by six every day besides Sunday. That’s my day off. The menu usually rotates between porridge and pancakes—but sometimes, the budget allows for eggs!”

Rei was astounded. “H-how many people are you feeding?”

She knew the Equalists had numbers, but Mera made it seem like she was cooking for an army.

“Well, not everyone stays here at the base. I would say… maybe a few hundred? More? The number’s always growing…”

“H-how do you… fit… all those people down here?” Rei wondered, amazed.

“Well, you can’t really tell ‘cause it’s the women’s barracks,” she said. “Not many girls down here… But the men? Ugh—it’s a madhouse! Filled to the brim! I heard they had to repurpose an entire tunnel for the amount of overflow! I swear, the sheer number of crusty socks makes you wonder where their mothers were! Who raised them like that, you know—?”

Rei couldn’t help but giggle.

The girl was a bit hair-brained, sure… But she was also adorable.

“I’m sorry,” Mera apologized. “I tend to ramble on. W-what was your name again?”

“Rei.”

“Oh, what a pretty name!” Her tone was sweet. “I assume you’re a new cadet, right?”

“Um…,” Rei was unsure. “I—I was told my training would begin… today? I think. I’m still waiting for the lieutenant, so—”

The woman’s eyes grew wide. “The lieutenant?”

“Yes…?” was all Rei supplied.

“Oh,” Mera grinned knowingly, “—you must have done something real impressive… Most recruits just get basic training from their captains. If the lieutenant’s training you… Well, it’s because our Glorious Leader wants you to learn from the best!”

G—glorious… leader…?

“I’ll… keep that in mind…,” Rei acknowledged. The amount of information this girl was providing was almost overwhelming.

She reasoned that there must be some other explanation for why Amon had assigned the lieutenant to her. Training the new girl could very well be the designated punishment for questioning direct orders.

“Oh, dear…,” Mera lamented. “I can see I’ve upset you, I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable—”

“N-no!” Rei exclaimed, not wanting to upset the girl who was very much upsetting her. “I’ve just had, um… a-a rough night is all. It’s a lot to—”

She was cut off by the sound of her stomach grumbling.

“Well…,” Mera chuckled, “—if that’s any indication, you certainly have had a rough night!” She raised her watch to gather the time. “Goodness! I’ve lost ten minutes already!” She glanced back at Rei. “Get dressed and meet me at the mess hall,” she instructed, scampering off. “I’ll get you a plate before the crowd comes!”

Rei stood dumbfounded as the woman disappeared down the hall.

When she returned to her bunk, she dressed promptly in a fresh pair of clothes. Following the sound of her stomach, she took to the tunnels, remembering her way to the refectory. Having been completely dark when she’d last visited, it was much larger than she’d realized. Huge industrial lights suspended by steel scaffolding illuminated the room, revealing it to be occupied by rows and rows of benches, entirely vacant in the early morning hours.

Amon must have impressive connections, because this…

Suffice it to say, the Equalists seemed to be extremely well-funded.

Rei heard a commotion from across the room. In the far back, behind a stainless countertop, Mera was bustling about—all alone in an industrial-sized kitchen. She was alternating between stacking plates and tending to a griddle, currently sizzling with a mix of vegetables. A large bowl of batter sat on the counter’s edge.

Pancake day.

Her mouth began watering. She made her way over the the counter and cleared her throat.

Mera jumped, nearly dropping the plate in her hands.

“Oh, Spirits, it’s you!” she squawked. “Goodness, you scared the daylights outta me!”

“S-sorry…,” Rei offered. “Am I too early?”

“Nonsense! You’re right on time!” Mera went to grab something from behind the griddle. She walked back over, and Rei saw a stainless-steel tray piled high with steaming pancakes. “Here,” Mera instructed, “take this and find a spot on the bench.” She shoved the tray into Rei’s hands. “I’ll be over shortly with more fixin’s. Whatcha want to drink? We got water, tea, coffee—”

“Coffee,” Rei blurted, then tried not to sound greedy. “C-coffee sounds amazing right now…”

Mera smiled. “You know what? I think I’d like a cup, myself, too!”

Rei returned the smile, then went and found a seat on the nearest bench. She wasted no time slicing into the pancakes, shoveling a large bite into her mouth.

Pure ecstasy.

Soft, buttery, and sweet, the taste was made all the more satisfying by the ravenous hunger that had been building up for days. The last hot food she’d consumed was a cup of noodles from Akasha’s pantry, hardly an hour before—

Rei stopped the train of thought.

She couldn’t keep thinking of her dead friend.

She just couldn’t.

“Seems like someone’s enjoying their breakfast,” Mera’s peachy voice came from behind.

With her mouth full, Rei could only respond with a grunt of satisfaction.

“Slow down!” Mera chuckled. “We can’t have you chokin’, now, can we?!”

Her hands, Rei saw, were full of promised goods: A heaping plate of vegetable hash and a steaming cup of coffee.

“Here,” she said, setting the items down, “—they’re hot, so be careful.”

“‘F’ank you,” Rei managed with her mouthful of food.

She finished what was left of her pancakes and quickly moved on to the hash. The onions were caramelized, the peppers were tender, and the potatoes were crispy—all seasoned to absolute perfection. A few more bites and she abandoned her plate for her coffee. It burned on the way down, but it was divine. It’d been days since her last cup, and the taste invigorated her like nothing else. The smell alone brought her senses to life.

Finishing her meal, Rei stacked her dishes and returned to the counter. Mera had her back turned, cooking away at the rest of the batter.

“Thank you…,” Rei gently announced, not wanting to startle her again. “That was… delicious.”

“Ah, of course!” Mera turned to smile, somehow still tending to the stovetop. “I’m glad you enjoyed!”

Rei grinned. How on earth was this woman so happy?

“W-where do you want these?” she asked, raising her dirty dishes.

“Just leave ‘em there. I’ll throw ‘em in the sink when I finish up.”

Rei nodded, placing them down in front of her. “I… guess I’ll see you around, then?”

“Oh, you won’t see much of me when I’m working… But if you need anything, my bunk is only a few doors down from yours. You’re always welcome to stop by after hours!”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Rei smiled again. “Thanks. Seriously.”

Mera nodded politely over her shoulder.

Rei turned to leave, thanking her lucky stars that she’d stumbled across such a warm person on her first day. When she made her way back to her bunk, she took a seat atop her mat and leaned against the wall. Whatever the rest of this day had in store for her, she knew it would be anything but pleasant… But she was certain that she could handle the lieutenant’s attitude.

If she was right, and her training was some sort of punishment being placed upon him… Well, she’d make sure he got what he deserved.

She could be spiteful when she wanted to.

And boy—did she want to.

Another hour had passed before there was a knock.

She walked over to the door, pausing briefly before swinging it open. Just as she expected, the lieutenant was waiting for her. He was sans headgear today, revealing a messy shock of jet-black hair.

His steel-gray eyes bore into her. She stared back, waiting for him to speak.

The standoff dragged on for much longer than was necessary before he finally cracked.

“Your—training… will begin today…,” he spoke gruffly.

“Oh?” Rei taunted. “I’m glad you remembered.”

He ignored her, taking up a stride down the corridor. She fell into a quick pace at his heels.

Numerous Equalists had since awoken, now shuffling about the tunnels. Some wore their face coverings and others didn’t, but all of them appeared occupied with work. Very few of them looked in her direction, but the ones who did seemed to linger more on the lieutenant than herself.

They were back in the warehouse before she spoke up again.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

He ignored her and continued marching onward.

Sheesh. Someone’s grumpy.

She remained silent the rest of the way, more so out of indignation than any sort of respect.

He led her into another tunnel at the far side of the warehouse: From what she could see, the enormous silo served as the epicenter of the base. She counted a dozen different passageways, all leading off in different directions.

There was one lined with tram tracks, which served as an entrance and exit point for vehicles.

There was another that housed the barracks and the mess hall, which she’d become familiar with.

There also was one, she knew, which led to Amon’s chambers. She found it difficult to keep her eyes off of that one, in particular.

They continued farther into the tunnel, and Rei took notice of all the goings-on. They passed numerous openings, revealing a plethora of… training rooms? Some were small and padded, occupied by a singular pair of sparring Equalists; others were expansive, lined with mirrors and dummies for use in demonstrations. Again, she felt nothing short of awe at the sheer sophistication of it all. The more she discovered, the more she felt like she was dreaming.

The place was surreal.

They landed in front of the only room with a closed door, where the lieutenant pulled a key from his belt. He twisted it into the lock with one fluid motion and opened the door, directing her into the space. Upon entry, she noticed that the room was quite small, though it seemed dedicated to multiple uses. The walls were padded and the floor was covered with a thin rubber mat. In the far corner, a practice dummy dangled from the hook end of a pole. She felt the urge to crack a joke, but she figured that the lieutenant wouldn’t be receptive to it.

Opposite the dummy were a pair of wooden chairs and a small, beat-up table. It was almost jarring to see furniture down here that wasn’t made of metal.

The lieutenant closed the door behind her and pushed past, heading for the setup. From beneath the table, he procured a pile of very tattered-looking scrolls. He lined each of them up before taking his seat.

Rei stood in the center of the room, watching him.

He threw her a harsh glare.

“Can you sit? Or must I instruct you to do everything?”

It took her a second to find a witty comeback.

“Can you ask nicely? Or must I inform your boss of how insufferable you are?”

He cocked a grin at her. “Oh, he knows.” 

With that, Rei was disarmed.

“Amon trusts me because I have the balls to challenge him,” he informed, eyeing her coolly. “Don’t assume to understand our relationship based on what you saw the other night. You don’t know a thing, little girl.”

Rei scowled. She shuffled over to the table and took a seat opposite him. He began sifting through the scrolls, addressing her sternly.

“Your training will take place over the next twelve weeks,” he said. “The first two will be focused on the scrolls. The next ten will be dedicated to applying that knowledge to the real world.”

Rei took a moment to process everything. His fingers wrapped around the largest scroll of the bunch, plucking it up before scooping the rest out of the way.

“Would I be correct to assume that you know how to read?”

Rei glared at him.

She really—really—wanted to flick him between the eyes.

“Yes…,” she drawled, injecting the word with as much venom as her sore throat would allow.

“Perfect,” he grinned, rolling the scroll out in front of her to reveal a labeled diagram of the human body.

His next words baffled her.

“Now… What do you know about chi-blocking?”

Chapter Text

A furrow materialized between her brows. “You said… what—blocking?”

The lieutenant shot her a derisive look. “So, nothing, then.” He heaved an impatient sigh, slumping back into his chair. “It was foolish of me to hope this would be easy…”

She defended her intellect against his disdain. “Hey! You’d be surprised how quickly I can learn—”

“Oh, I’m sure I would,” he quipped.

Rei held her tongue.

The lieutenant straightened his posture, eyeing her sternly. “Amon won’t tolerate any failure on my part. It’s imperative that you grasp this information… Understood?”

Rei folded her arms and nodded.

The lieutenant took to the scroll before them.

“Chi blocking,” he began, “—is a form of martial art. It’s a technique that’s been practiced for centuries, all over the world. Earth kingdom culture knows it as Dim Mak. The ancient air nomads knew it as Varma Kalai. Traditional fire nation medicine calls it Qigong.” He glanced up to see that she was following along. “The word chi roughly translates to life force. Blocking a person’s chi can render their muscles useless, but more importantly, it disables their bending—”

“Wait, what—?!”

He flinched. “Which part did you not understand?”

She was too distracted to be fazed by his condescension. “D—disabled bending…? How’s that possible?

“Chi blocking stops chi flow,” he iterated. “It disables a person’s bending—temporarily. Typically for a few minutes, sometimes longer.”

Rei found herself entirely caught up in the notion of a supposed essence that held the key to bending.

“W—what’s… chee?” she asked.

“Chi,” he corrected her pronunciation, “—refers to the energy that inhabits the human body. Enlightened individuals believe it to be the underlying link that connects us to our surroundings. And the universe, as a whole.”

“Uh… okay,” she accepted, still trying to wrap her head around the strange metaphysical concept. “What—what’s that have to do with bending?”

“Everything,” he informed. “Chi manipulation is the original form of bending. Elemental bending is merely its extension… And ancient spirits, for whatever reason, allowed mankind to wield it.”

Rei sat in silence. She’d never once contemplated the source of bending, nor if there was ever a time when it didn’t exist. She was inclined to believe what the lieutenant was saying.

“So… if everything in existence contains chi…,” she reiterated, struggling to piece it together, “—why is it that some people can bend… while others can’t?”

“It’s presumed that eons ago, whenever mankind inherited the elements, the skill was not given to every individual,” the lieutenant stated. “Those who received the gift were able to pass it on, and those who did not…” He shook his head. “Well, you get the gist.”

Rei blinked. “That’s… Why would the Spirits do that?”

“Many believe that those who didn’t receive the gift were denied as a form of punishment for… moral wrongs,” he answered, sneering. “They view nonbenders as the lineage of that same ancestry.”

Rei was appalled. “There’s… n-no proof that that’s true, right?”

He cast her a look of exasperation. “The notion that nonbenders are being punished by the Spirits is merely a justification for bender supremacy. Only the truly vile of their ilk believe it.”

This did nothing to comfort her.

From her own experience, benders viewed nonbenders as second-class citizens—and had no problem treating them as such. But to learn that such a hateful ideology sat at the core of it all…

It was horrifying.

The lieutenant allowed her to stew for a moment before resuming his lecture.

“Now,” he leaned forward, “—while all benders are born with this advantage, it is also their innate disadvantage.” He smirked. “They forget that it’s a skill that can be learned by anyone.”

“W-what do you mean?” she objected. “You just said that only benders—”

“With knowledge of the body’s chi paths,” he interrupted, “—anyone can manipulate chi. Chi blocking endows a person with the ability to incapacitate their opponent, bender or not. It is the great equalizer.”

Suddenly, it occurred to Rei how Amon and his mercenaries had been able to take down the triads without so much as a scuffle.

“H-how do you do it?” she rushed.

Her eagerness must have amused him because he gave a raspy chuckle. “You’ll need a thorough knowledge of the human body and an impeccable memory of chi pathways… Otherwise, you’ll be poking and prodding indiscriminately.”

Rei straightened, matching his posture. She leaned over the scroll in front of them.

“Is—is this it?” she asked. “Is this how you do it?”

The image was an outline of a male body, labeled front and back. There were colored lines—red, yellow, blue, green—all of which she presumed were illustrations of the aforementioned pathways.

“No.” The lieutenant clapped a hand down over the paper, drawing her attention back to his face. “This is merely a picture. The other scrolls contain in-depth textual information regarding the predominant chi pathways. Those are what you’ll need to memorize over the next two weeks.” He paused, addressing her with foreboding. “When the time comes, you’ll be tested with a series of questions. If you fail to answer them all correctly, you won’t be able to move on to the next portion of training.”

Rei was stricken.

She hadn’t been in school for the better part of five years. The concept of academics was entirely foreign to her.

“U-understood…,” she feigned, looking down at the scroll. She attempted to decipher the words on the page, carefully sounding them out. “Ru-z-zho-hong… J-uh-hook—”

“Chi points,” the lieutenant supplied.

Rei bobbed her head.

She saw that many more points remained unlabeled.

“What about those…?” she asked, pointing to a row.

“Pressure points,” he explained. “Locations with nerve endings, but little impact on chi flow. Striking them can impart weakness or numbness that will restrict a person’s movement. Striking actual chi points can inhibit both movement and bending. There is even a way to strike chi points so that a person can still move, but not bend.”

Again, Rei sat in stunned silence.

Looking at the diagrams, she was reminded of the glowing pool that her mother had once been submerged in back at the hospital.

“This… This must be what waterbenders use to heal,” she thought aloud.

“Astute observation,” the lieutenant affirmed, mildly impressed.

“D—does this mean that a waterbender could heal themselves if they were chi-blocked?” she asked.

“It’s been attempted,” he shrugged, “but as far as we know, blocking chi places someone beyond the help of a healer. Water healing itself relies on the navigation of chi pathways, so a blockage cannot be remedied through traditional manipulation. The body must return to equilibrium on its own.”

She was at a loss. “That’s… just… wow…”

“Impressive?” he offered.

Yes, she thought. It astounded her that something so amazing—so life-changing—had existed right under her nose. She only wished that she could have learned about it sooner.

“Very,” Rei concurred.

“A useful tool,” the lieutenant agreed, “—but not infallible. Chi-blocking is most effective when it’s used against an unsuspecting opponent. A bender who’s knowledgeable can anticipate the technique and avoid being struck. They’ll opt for long-range attacks to keep their chi points out of reach. Alternatively, strong armor is an effective deterrent to chi blocking. Republic City Police have long since incorporated metal into their uniform.”

At the mention of police, she was reminded of a prior conundrum.

“You speak as if the police are unaware of this… little operation…,” she surmised.

“Of course not.” He smirked. “And you can rest assured that there is nothing little about this operation. The Equalist movement is years in the making. Those at the helm have dedicated their lives to it.”

“And that includes you?” she prompted.

“Yes.”

“And Amon?”

“Him more than anyone.” The lieutenant gestured around the room. “He is the reason behind everything.”

“Everything?” Rei pushed. “He built this all himself?”

Just as the lieutenant was about to answer, he shut his mouth. He leaned in toward her, scrutinizing. “I fail to see how this could be of any significance to you.”

“Am I not allowed to be curious…?” she asked. It was a genuine question.

“No,” he answered dryly.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Fine. I won’t ask any more questions as long as you promise to answer me one more.”

He didn’t say anything.

Rei chewed her lip diffidently.

“I met the housekeeper this morning,” she began. “She mentioned that there was some… special reason that Amon assigned you to train me.”

He stared at her cryptically, and Rei realized that she’d yet to ask her question.

“You… wouldn’t happen to know what that’s about, would you?”

He closed his eyes, sighing as if displeased to mention it. “Amon entrusts me with the training of his captains. It’s safe to say that that’s what he wants you to become… And if that’s the case, you’ll be trained to take over as the head of a unit.”

“B—but-b—,” she sputtered. “I have no experience fighting! I certainly have no experience leading! W-why would he put so much confidence in someone so—”

“Naïve? Juvenile? Inept?” the lieutenant supplied in quick succession.

She snapped her mouth shut, finding the sense to be offended.

He shook his head. “Believe me… I’d also like to know what he sees in you. I have to trust that he witnessed some sort of initiative on your part, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”

She blinked, and Kyro’s lifeless body flashed behind her eyes.

A fluke—what Amon had witnessed was a fluke. If his expectations were based solely upon what he’d seen that night… Then he was sure to be disappointed.

“Why was all of this decided for me?” she implored. “C-can’t I just refuse—”

“Ha!” the lieutenant barked, causing her to flinch. “I’d like to see you attempt to refuse him! As if you could possibly turn down a single proposition from that man.”

Rei took wary notice of his vexation. “You sound… r-resentful… when you say that…”

“Yes, well…” He fixed his expression. “I’ve been with Amon for over a decade. I know better than anyone that he doesn’t take no for an answer.”

The mention of time piqued her curiosity, but she stayed with the more pressing topic. “So, what you’re saying is… I can’t leave?” 

“You can try,” he offered, “but mutiny will have you hunted and silenced. If you go to him directly, as few others have… You’ll only find yourself with renewed resolve for the movement.”

Rei was chilled. “Y-you mean, like… brainwashing?!”

“No,” he chuckled. “Amon has a way about him, I’m sure you’ve noticed. He just… knows how to persuade people.”

Once more, she was reminded of that night at the club; how easily Amon had convinced her to follow him, abandoning her entire life in a matter of minutes.

“H-he’s… manipulative,” Rei decided.

“That’s one way to put it.” The lieutenant shrugged. “But, at the end of the day, both parties get what they want. I hardly think that’s a bad thing.”

Rei sat, reeling.

There was a sinking pit in her stomach now.

“No more questions, then, little girl?”

She glanced at him. “I thought we agreed that was going to be the last one,” she reminded.

“Yes… But your spirit of inquiry is so strong, I just assumed there’d be more,” he teased.

“You can stop calling me little girl,” she griped. “And my name’s Rei. I’d like to know yours, if you don’t mind.”

She stuck out her hand for him to shake.

He raised a brow, slowly reaching out to meet her gesture.

“Liu,” he offered.

“It’s nice to meet you, Liu.” She let go and leaned in over the table. “What else is there to know about chi-blocking?”

After a few hours of scroll study, she was mentally exhausted. The morning had passed, and she and Liu were preparing to part ways. 

“So…,” she started, “—when do I get a uniform?”

He paused. “You can get some from that housekeeper you mentioned… The one who can never shut up.”

She looked at him quizzically. “Mera?”

“Yeah, that’s her,” he confirmed. “Always forget her name… Just ask the next time you see her. She’s in charge of all the wash.”

Rei nodded. “When’ll I see you next?”

“Training follows a tight schedule,” he informed. “Every morning, I expect you here at six o’clock—sharp. There’ll be no days off.”

“H-how am I supposed to keep track?!” she asked. “There aren’t any clocks down here!”

He seemed amused at her panic.

“Of course there are…,” he said, reaching into his pocket. “You just gotta know where to look.”

He pulled something out—a chain, dangling from his fist. He offered it to her, dropping it into her hand. She immediately felt the weight of it recognizing it as a pocket watch. The satisfying outer shell was made entirely of brass—solid and smooth, fitting perfectly within her palm. She clicked the knob at the top, and the façade popped open to reveal the inner workings. Etched onto a steel rim were twelve notches that marked the hours. Between each were four smaller notches, denoting the minutes. In the area beneath, the gears ticked, hands firmly affixed to the centermost cog. She watched, mesmerized by their mechanics.

“Keep it,” Liu said, pulling her from her fixation. “I want no excuse for tardiness.”

Rei closed the watch and flipped it over in her hand, assessing the back. It was barren apart from the manufacturer’s name.

“Future Industries…?” she asked. “Aren’t these expensive?”

“For some people.”

She strolled into the mess hall, following the smell of meat. Remembering how delicious Mera’s breakfast had been, Rei was excited by the promise of more food. Upon entering, however, she was struck by the sight that greeted her.

The place was thrumming with Equalists. Every vacant table was now filled edge-to-edge with personnel.

It was lunchtime. She shouldn’t be surprised that so much of the base had shown up to eat. Almost all of them had removed their masks, revealing their faces. She peered around the room, and a handful of people stopped what they were doing to stare back at her.

In her plain pants and tunic, she stuck out like a sore thumb. Acutely aware of her otherness, she fought the urge to turn around and scamper back to her room. Remembering her last bout of hunger, though, she decided that food was a top priority. She ignored the stares, moving briskly toward the kitchen area. Mera stood behind the counter, completely in her element while handing out food. Rei assumed her spot in line, thankful that it was moving quickly. Her turn for a plate arrived, and she knew that she’d caught Mera’s eye.

“Hey!” the woman greeted her.

“H-hi…,” Rei answered shyly. “The food smells amazing, Mera.”

“Oh, shucks,” she bashed, scooping a ball of rice onto the plate. “I do my best!”

“That’s an understatement.” Rei smiled, accepting the steaming portion of rice and meat from Mera’s hands. All of a sudden, she was reminded of her clothing dilemma. “I—I was wondering if you had an extra uniform by any chance…? The lieutenant said that you were the woman to ask, so—”

“Certainly, ma’am!” She smiled brightly. “How many ya need?”

“Th-three…? Maybe.” Rei wasn’t entirely sure.

“No problem!” Mera chimed. “I’ll drop them off at your bunk after dinner tonight.”

Rei held her plate up and bobbed her head in gratitude. “Thank you…”

Mera smiled, helping the next person in line.

It was still early in the afternoon, but sleep was calling her. After her meal, Rei decided to head back to her bunk.

She ducked out of the tunnel and into the sweet serenity of the vacant barrack corridor. No lights were on, signaling her solitude. She found her designated cabin and slipped inside, swinging the door closed shut. She kicked off her shoes, tossing them into the corner. Though she expected to hear them clunk against the metal, they each made a low thud.

Weird.

Itching to get out of her pants, Rei yanked them off and flung them in the same corner with her shoes. Her tunic, she decided to leave on: The room was cool enough as is, and with just half her body covered, the temperature was perfect. She raised her arms over her head, pulling her body taught with a croaky, contented moan.

The promise of sleep had already taken its toll. She felt like she was going to pass out the second she lay down.

She bent over, lifting a leg onto the edge of the mat.

Just as she was preparing to climb into bed, the light came on. The shock of the brightness distracted her from the vague awareness that someone else was in the room.

“My apologies…,” a deep voice reverberated behind her.

She gasped, whirling.

In the corner stood none other than Amon himself.

“It seems I’ve taken you by surprise,” he said, entirely unbothered by the state she was in.

She covered her legs with the blanket from behind her. Her heart pounded in her chest while a blush swept across her cheeks.

“W-what are you doing here?!” she demanded, forgetting her tone of voice.

“I needed to speak with you,” he said simply.

For a moment, she just stared at him, baffled. “A—about… what?”

“The lieutenant was to report to me after your first lesson,” he explained. “He noted that you seemed… enthusiastic.”

She didn’t know how to respond. “I, uh… Yes, I… I-I guess you could say that—”

“Was that not a fair assessment on his part?”

“N-no,” she exclaimed, not wanting to sound rude. “I was—am—eager to learn. I-I asked him a lot of questions—”

“Yes, he mentioned that.” Amon stepped forward, brushing her clothes aside. “He noted that you possess a keen sense of curiosity.”

“Uhm… y-yeah…,” she laughed nervously, “—b-but I think he referred to it as… s-spirit of inquiry…”

Amon glossed over the comment. “He informed me that you were questioning him for specific details—”

Rei stiffened.

“—about this place—”

Her smile fell.

“—and about myself.”

She cast her gaze down, his own scrutinizing her from above.

“There are many things that the lieutenant is not qualified to disclose, and that you are not qualified to know,” he admonished. “Sensitive information that, if found in the wrong hands, could destroy this movement and everyone involved. The next time your spirit of inquiry calls, I expect you to ignore it… What is hidden from you is done so for your own benefit. Is that understood?”

She nodded reverently.

“Use your words, child,” he chided. “That is not how you will address a superior.”

“Y-yes…,” she managed.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes, sir,” she corrected, still too scared to meet his gaze.

A short silence washed over them.

She assumed he was making to leave then, but he came closer. Having never been this close to him, she found herself noticing the way he smelled: Warm, musky jasmine with a hint of cedar and spice. The aroma shot directly into her bloodstream, muddling her thoughts. She stared ahead, blinking at his chest.

“Look at me…,” he ordered.

She did.

His pale eyes were visible beneath the mask, ice cold but melting right through her.

“You’re adjusting well, I take it?”

She fought the urge to nod. “Y-yes, sir…”

He took a moment to appraise her face. “Do you find yourself in need of anything?”

Caught off guard by the question, she had to think for a moment.

In terms of commodities, she had everything that she could possibly need. What she really wanted was immaterial—the answer to a burning question—but she suspected that he would shut her down.

She cleared her throat. “Th-the lieutenant m-mentioned…”

She fought to reign in her stuttering.

It was proving to be impossible in front of him.

“—th-the lieutenant mentioned that you had… p-plans… for me. That you… s-saw… something in me. I was wondering… what that… m-meant?”

His silence was contemplative.

“I have no plans, at the current moment…,” he began. “I do, however, expect you to complete your training. Whether you satisfy or exceed this expectation will influence any plans I have for you in the future… Does that answer your question?”

She felt shaky under the weight of his words: Satisfy or exceed. It was clear that failure was not an option.

Tears were blurring the edge of her vision. “Y-yes… s-sir…,” she managed.

“Do you feel as though you cannot fulfill this expectation?” he asked as if already disappointed.

She couldn’t look at him anymore. “I—I-I don’t know… what exactly… you saw that night… b-but I… I would never…,” she fought back a sob, “—I had never… k-killed anyone… I—I only did what I did to survive…”

A single tear escaped the web of her lashes, sliding down her cheek. She was too ashamed to wipe it away—as if acknowledging its existence would legitimize her crime.

She was startled then to feel his fingers against her skin.

“I am aware…,” he whispered.

With one simple motion, he swept the tear and grasped her chin, guiding her to look up at him.

“You will never be ordered to kill anyone if that’s what you fear. What I witnessed that night was not a murderer… But the makings of a warrior.” His eyes bored into her own. “Whether you realize it or not, you possess the instincts of a fighter—tenacity, bravery, resourcefulness—qualities which I hope to see flourish within you over the coming weeks.”

She was so tethered to his gaze that the floor could have given out from under her, and she wouldn’t have even noticed. His gentle attention was dizzying, causing a strange swirling sensation low in her stomach. She felt somehow relaxed and exhilarated at the same time.

As if he, too, could sense this shift, he released her chin and stepped back. “As of now, there is not much at stake… I’m merely instructing you to follow through with your training. Given the proper guidance, these new skills will come naturally to you.”

His words went largely unheard as she stood aching at the loss of contact.

Only the silence that followed is what compelled her to speak.

“Y-yes, sir…”

“Is there something else you wish to ask?”

“N-no, sir…”

“Very well, then…,” he appraised. “We’re finished here.” He stepped back and swung her door open, pausing at the threshold. “Sleep well,” he bid, flicking off the light.

The door closed, returning her to darkness. Dazed, she simply stood there for a moment before moving back to her bed. She laid down, pulling the scratchy blanket up against her chest and tucking it under her chin. Although she was warm now, she had the overwhelming urge to cover herself.

In the wake of his visit, she was left feeling torturously exposed. She closed her eyes, willing her fatigue to return, but it never did.

For some reason, she was no longer tired.

Chapter Text

Two Weeks Later

She was dancing, just as she would any other night… But she could sense something. A presence—foreign and familiar.

She halted her movements.

The lounge was empty… Quiet.

Her skin prickled, drawing her gaze to a booth in the corner. She approached, gently grasping the curtain to reveal who was inside.

He sat still, watching her with cold, pale eyes.

She was not scared.

She stepped into the booth, taking her place in his lap. She began moving her hips with graceful ease, feeling his hands at her waist—strong and deft, leaving trails of heat in their wake.

She arched her back, eagerly pressing into him. He met her enthusiasm, digging his fingers into her exposed flesh.

His touch sent heat swirling between her legs.

She ground into his lap. His fingers trailed down, down, down—to the hem of her panties, tracing the edge with delicate movement.

She waited in anticipation.

When his tormenting hand finally dipped beneath the fabric, panic flooded her system.

She tried to stand, but he gripped her hair and pulled her back. Roughly, his hand plunged between her thighs.

A pitiful whine escaped her.

She felt hot. Shaky.

He stroked her again and again and again—torturing her with repeated motions. She rolled her head and arched into him. His movements roughened, and the tensity began to coil.

It was unbearable. She screwed her eyes shut.

He gripped her by the hair, turning her cheek against his porcelain lips.

Finally, he spoke.

“Do you feel as though you cannot fulfill this expectation?”

Her eyes shot open, and the cold steel of her bunk greeted her. Instead of the club, she found herself exactly where she should be—resting atop her bed, and certainly not on Amon’s lap.

There were only two congruent factors between the dream and her reality: The heat coursing through her body, and the wetness between her legs.

She’d been plagued by the strange dreams almost every night since Amon had graced her with his presence. She struggled to make sense of them… But she thought that if she could just reach that release that her body so clearly yearned for, they might finally abate. So, she brought her hand down to her waistband, wriggling it beneath her panties. She slipped a tentative finger between her folds, embarrassed by the amount of moisture already present. She moved her fingers, sighing at the promising sensation, focusing on the tension that began to build.

She moved in short, quick motions—the same way Amon had done to her in her dream. She could almost imagine that he was the one touching her.

But he isn’t…, she reminded herself.

The sublime tension began to fade.

Another minute of unfruitful stimulation, and she gave up. She’d be in bed all day if she kept trying.

Rei found herself waiting awkwardly outside the training room. Liu usually beat her to their rendezvous, but today, she was the one waiting. She pulled her watch from her belt and checked the time.

Something must be holding him up.

Not only was she worried about his whereabouts, but she was also nervous for herself. Yesterday was the last day of scroll study, which meant that today, she would begin her real training—if she passed the evaluation, that is. She’d learned a great deal about chi-blocking over the past couple of weeks, but her head had felt like it might explode at times.

She glanced back down at her watch. The longer she eyed it, the more nervous she became.

Eventually, the sound of nearing footsteps alerted her to Liu’s presence.

“And just where were you?” she interrogated.

He pulled the key from his belt. “Do I need a reason?”

Rei crossed her arms. “You’re late.”

He smirked, twisting the lock. “How sweet of you to worry.”

She rolled her eyes, following him into the room. She watched as his reflection moved in the mirror. “Seriously,” she said, “—where were you?”

He shrugged. “Boss wanted to talk.”

“Talk…? About what?”

He chuckled. “There you go again with those damned questions…”

Rei turned to scowl at him.

“It’s fine,” he assured, “—most of it was usual business, touching base and all that. The topic that kept us over was you, actually.”

“M—me?” she squawked.

“Only an update,” Liu supplied. “He wanted my opinion on your… development.”

She stared at him expectantly. “And…?” 

“I told him things were progressing well enough…”

Rei panicked. “W—what’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you’re doing good.” He shot her a sly grin. “But… we still have a test before we can move on.”

She swallowed. “R-right…”

“I don’t plan to waste much time on this,” he warned. “You ready?”

Rei nodded. “Y-yes, sir.”

She’d gotten much better at addressing her superiors.

“Good,” he assessed. “Here’s how it’s gonna go… I name a point, and you tell me its meridian, location, and function. Got it?”

“Got it.”

A pause.

“Tianfu,” he stated.

“L—lung meridian,” she supplied. “Located on the medial aspect of the upper arm, radial side of the bicep. Three cun below the axillary fossa. Blocks chi flow to the arm and inhibits shoulder movement.”

He did not indicate whether or not she was correct.

“Qingling,” he challenged next.

“Heart meridian,” Rei answered. “Medial aspect of the upper arm, three cun above the transverse cubital crease. Inhibits… supination.”

“Kufang.”

Too easy.

“Stomach meridian, located on the chest. First intercostal space, four cun lateral to the anterior medial line. Inhibits lung capacity, causing shortness of breath.”

“Lingdao.”

“Heart Meridian, located on the palmar aspect of the forearm. Radial side of the flexor carpi tendon, one and a half cun above the transverse crease of the wrist. Inhibits flexion.”

“Renying.”

“Stomach meridian, located on the neck. Lateral to the chin on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid, w-where the…,” she paused, reminded of Kyro, “—common carotid artery pulsates. It… doesn’t affect chi, but can cause extreme pain… o-or even death.”

Liu smirked ever so slightly. “Yunmen.”

“Lung meridian, located on the upper lateral chest in the depression below the clavicle. Six cun from the midline of the body. Blocks chi to either side of the body and impacts the victim’s consciousness.”

“Yinshi.”

“Stomach meridian, located on the anterior aspect of the thigh. Three cun above the patella. Blocks chi to the leg and inhibits the ability to stand and walk.”

“Tianyou.”

“Th-that belongs to the…,” she had to think for a moment, “—S-San Jiao meridian. Directly inferior to the posterior aspect of the mastoid process… Same angle as the mandible. It does not affect chi, but will cause dizziness and confusion.”

“Dingchuan.”

“That’s…”

She faltered.

“—th-that’s an extraordinary point because it… h-has… no relative meridian.” His prompts were becoming more and more specific. “I-it’s located on the back, one half cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process on the…,” she chewed her lip, “—s-seventh… cervical vertebra?” She wasn’t sure. “It blocks chi throughout the entire body and… c-causes… instant… paralysis…?”

He waited a moment before continuing.

“Yintang.”

Rei began to sweat.

“Uhm, that’s… that’s another extraordinary point…,” she decided. “Located on the forehead at the midpoint of the brow. The function is… u-uh…”

Finally, she was stumped.

“—I-I’m sorry,” she fumbled. “I… Honestly, I can’t remember anything about that one.”

His face donned a rather serious expression. “As expected…”

Rei’s stomach dropped.

“—you passed.”

She blinked.

“Wait, what—?” She couldn’t tell if he was being serious. “R-really…?”

“Yes, really,” he teased. “With flying colors, I might add.”

“I… got everything right?” she asked, still in disbelief. “B-but what about the last one?”

“Trick question.”

He went to the corner, placing his kali sticks on the table.

Rei stared after him, dumbfounded.

“Did anyone ever tell you, you wear all your emotions on your face?” he asked, and she could hear the smirk in his voice. “Makes it too easy to mess with you.”

Rei scowled, folding her arms. “What now?” she asked.

“Now…,” he turned to her with a glint in his eye, “—we practice.”

Rei was unsure. “You mean, like…,” she gestured to the dummy in the corner of the room, “—on… that?”

He laughed. “No.”

She couldn’t understand what was so funny. “Why not…?”

“Not realistic.”

“So… what’re you gonna do?” she asked. “Throw a bunch of us newbies together in a room and just… let us have at it?”

He laughed again. “Hilarious as that would be to watch, no… It would also not be very realistic.”

“Well… what else?”

His mouth lifted into a devious smirk. He clasped his hands together, showcasing himself. 

Rei balked. “You mean to tell me… I-I’m supposed to fight you?”

Liu nodded.

He seemed to take her incredulity as a compliment.

“H-how’s that fair?!” she demanded.

“It isn’t,” he agreed. “Your task will be to make it fair.”

Without warning, he darted towards her.

“W—wait!” she screeched.

He halted. “You’re kidding, right?”

Rei shook her head, frantic. “I—I don’t have the slightest clue what to do!”

Liu was silent for a moment. He folded his arms, something akin to affinity crossing his face. “He told me about you, you know.”

“W-what?” she croaked, confused.

“Amon,” he clarified. “He told me about what you did that night… with the triads.”

Rei stiffened.

She didn’t dare speak, too afraid to confirm whatever he might know.

“Or…,” he continued, “—should I say… the triad.”

Her face must have told him everything.

“You’re ashamed,” he noticed. “Why?”

Rei swallowed. “Sh-shouldn’t I be…?”

Liu narrowed his eyes. “Was he innocent?”

Rei shook her head.

“Was he defenseless?”

Rei shook her head.

“Was he threatening you?”

Rei couldn’t bring herself to nod.

“Th-there was…,” she struggled, “—there were other options. I could have run away, or found a place to hide, or—”

“Or what?” he derided. “End up like your friend?”

Her eyes shot up to his.

“At least, I presume she was your friend…,” he continued. “I was informed just how distraught you became when you saw her.”

Fuck—Amon must’ve seen everything.

She cast her eyes away.

In the silence that followed, he seemed to soften slightly.

“Look…,” he sighed, “—if it makes you feel better, you’re not the only one who’s done something like that.”

Rei blinked. “W-what?” she sputtered, looking back up at him. “Who?”

“Guess,” he prompted.

The realization hit her.

“Y—you?!”

He nodded, and a brow shot up. “Who else, d’ya think?”

Rei didn’t have to.

“Amon.”

Liu nodded again, though she hardly found the information comforting.

“Why are you telling me this…?”

“‘Cause,” he began, moving closer, “—that night, when Amon took you in… I had no idea what could be so special about you.” He grimaced at the remembrance. “I honestly thought he just enjoyed the sight of your tits.”

Rei blushed, folding her arms over her chest.

“But I saw the body on the ground,” he continued, “—and never connected the dots. At the time, you just looked like a scared kid.” He paused to smirk. “Albeit… a stubborn one who didn’t know when to shut up.”

This got her to smile.

“And that was my assumption of you, until the start of these lessons. Over these past few weeks, you’ve shattered all my expectations. I’ve trained countless soldiers, but you… You’re the only one who’s passed my evaluation on the first try. If the way you handled those scrolls is any indication, you should handle the rest of your training, no problem.”

She was almost on the verge of tears. “L-Liu, I—”

He cut her off.

“And, if the way you handled that firebender is any indication…,” he brought his hand up, wiggling it suggestively, “—you’ll enjoy learning how to take down a grown man with only two fingers.”

He began stalking her.

Instead of floundering in panic, Rei recalled her dance with Kyro, molding her posture to reflect her opponent’s.

When Liu came too close for comfort, she took a few steps back.

“What’re you doing?” he demanded.

“Th-this is how I handled the firebender…,” she explained.

Liu rolled his eyes.

“That firebender—,” he spat the word like it had a bad taste, “—was a hot-headed thug. The only reason you beat him is because he had no tact. You’re going to encounter adversaries who are far more advanced in their technique.”

He began stalking again.

Rei stayed her ground, lifting her arms in preparation for whatever he might do.

“Who made the first move that night?” he pressed. “Him, or you?”

“M-me…,” she admitted.

“Good,” he appraised, relaxing his arms and opening his torso for her to strike. “Now, make the first move.”

She flicked her gaze down, contemplating what to try first.

She settled for a spot just above his first rib. It might not disable a limb, but at the very least, she could have him doubled over in pain.

Her eyes lifted back to his face, where he was watching her with impatience.

Rei lunged forward, aiming two fingers at his middle. Just as she got within an inch of him, he skirted out of the way. At the same moment, she felt something strike her shoulder, the force sending her tumbling. She tried to catch her fall, but when she attempted to engage her muscles, prickling zaps of electricity shot down her arm.

She yelped as she collided face-first into the ground.

“Fuck!” she hissed.

She looked up and saw Liu smiling at her.

“Get up,” he ordered, barely concealing his delight.

Rei huffed, using momentum to rock herself back up onto her feet.

“W-what was that for?” she demanded, cradling her incapacitated limb.

“Your opponents aren’t going to coddle you in the field,” he said, before adding, “Your arm should still work.”

She wriggled her fingers and found that they still moved, so long as she could push past the pain.

“Barely…,” she muttered.

“I hardly even touched you,” he rebutted.

She glared at him, but he ignored her.

“Again.”

Rei sighed, releasing her arm. She rolled her shoulder a few times for good measure. Her nerves settled, and she felt almost normal again. She widened her stance, locking eyes with Liu once more. He stood casually, appearing unfazed by the imminence of another strike. She brought her good arm out in front of her and searched for another point on his body. It would be smarter now to strike him in a less obvious place. There was one point, just above the kneecap, that could have him crippled in a matter of seconds. She refrained from lingering her gaze for too long so as not to reveal her intention.

Liu dodged the attack with more ease than the first. He simply stepped aside—but not before striking her in the ribcage.

She keeled over, clutching her burning abdomen. Behind her, she could hear the sound of his laughter.

She glared up at him.

The sight must have been hilarious because he shook his head and laughed even harder.

“S-sorry…,” he chuckled. “I wasn’t expecting it to be this much fun—”

Rei wrenched herself upright, swallowing the fire in her lungs as she slammed into him with full force.

Chapter Text

Ten Weeks Later

They were both crouched, fully prepared for what the other might do.

“Again.”

Rei heeded the order without a wasted second. She darted forward, aiming for his chest—but, as she anticipated, he dodged it. She spun with him, refusing to give him any advantage.

They were circling each other again when she lurched a second time. He dodged it, and they both regained their bearings.

Liu took the liberty of initiating the next attack. He flitted forward, a movement so fluid that she nearly faltered.

She ducked and rolled, then sprung at his open side.

It was clear that he’d been expecting this. She abandoned her objective just before his arm came hurtling past her head.

She landed squarely at his back, trying to predict his next movements. He turned to her, performing the same calculations.

He charged, and she decided not to avoid him this time; their customary dances could go on for hours without either of them landing a hit.

She needed this to be over.

She wanted to win.

She brought her arms up, blocking the hit with an upward motion. She moved in for a strike, but he was too quick; before she could jab him in the ribs, he thwacked her wrist out of the way.

She tried for a second attempt.

He blocked it, of course, but she simply tried again with the other hand.

She was advancing on him with every hit. Soon, she had him walking into the mirror. He bumped into his reflection, and she shot her hand out, aiming for his clavicle. He must not have been distracted enough, because he caught her by the wrist—hard. She hissed, attempting to wrench herself free.

But he was too strong. She was compromised now, and he was gearing up for his final play. She needed to think fast if she wanted to get herself out. On a whim, she picked up her booted foot and stomped on his toes with all the force that she could muster. He groaned and fell to his knee… But the vice on her wrist remained impossibly tight.

Come on Reina, think, she chided herself.

Before he could regain his wits, she lifted her foot again, hoisting herself atop the cap of his knee.

“What the fuck are you—ah!”

His gripe melted into a yelp of pain.

She’d placed her other foot atop his shoulder, shoving him back into the mirror with excessive force. The rebound helped to launch her into a flip, enabling her to wrench her hand free. She landed in a crouch and resumed her stance.

He stayed kneeling, massaging his shoulder and glaring at her.

“Sorry ‘bout that,” she giggled. 

He grumbled, steadying himself against the mirror. “You think that’s funny, huh?”

This only made her giggle more.

He was able to muster a few short steps in her direction. His confidence didn’t faze her, however; she knew that she’d gotten the upper hand—or foot, rather. The attack was sloppy, and she tucked and whirled, rising to land three perfect blows along his side. His lungs seized and he doubled over.

Rei stood victorious over him, waiting for him to try again.

She became nervous when he didn’t get back up.

“L-Liu…?” she leaned in toward him tentatively. “Are… you okay?”

Slowly, he rose, ignoring her question as he hobbled over to the table. He kicked a chair out with his uninjured foot, collapsing into it.

“D-draw…,” he huffed.

Her concern was forgotten.

“Is not!” she rebuked. “I won, fair and square!”

He cracked a weak grin at her. “F-fine…,” he wheezed. “You win.”

She skipped over to the table, taking a seat across from him.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” she repeated. He did—genuinely—seem to be in pain. “I can go fetch Mera for some pain-relief tonic?”

He shook his head. “I’ll… I’ll be fine…,” he panted. “Just… b-been a while… since I’ve done this…”

Her curiosity chimed in. “I thought you trained with recruits regularly?”

“It’s been… a few years since… Amon… recruited a captain…,” he huffed. “I’ve been busy with… other things…”

She could tell by his tone that they were heading down a forbidden path, so she stopped with the questions.

Liu shifted, wincing in discomfort.

“Sorry,” Rei apologized—sincerely, this time.

She was starting to feel guilty.

“It’s okay…,” he assured. “I’ve just… gotten so used to benders that I… f-forgot what it’s like to fight an actual chi-blocker.”

Her eyes lit up.

He answered her thoughts.

“You’ve come a long way,” he acknowledged. “I think it’s safe to say… You’re ready to move on.”

“Really?!” she asked, and he nodded. “W-what’s next?”

Rei was practically bouncing in her seat.

“Group evaluations,” he informed. “Amon’ll be appraising your performance.”

Rei’s brows shot up. “D-does that mean he’ll be there?”

Liu shrugged. “He might, he might not… If he’s busy, he’ll delegate the evaluations to me.”

The uncertainty made her nervous.

She hadn’t once seen the man since he’d appeared in her quarters all those weeks ago. She was mortified at the thought of being in the same room with him again. Even in her dreams, the pressure was just too much.

She stood abruptly, her chair screeching with the harsh movement. “Let’s go again,” she demanded.

Liu looked affronted at the suggestion.

“I think, the fuck, not,” he spat, still caressing his toes through the upper of his boot. “I’ve taken enough of a beating for one day. There’s things I still need to be able to do, outside of this room.”

“Then—then what would you have me do?” she asked, desperate.

His face had gone from pained, to irritated, to completely confused.

“Do…?” he echoed. “For what?”

“To prepare!”

He rolled his eyes. “Believe me… You’re more than prepared.”

At this, Rei didn’t know what to think.

She certainly didn’t feel prepared.

He hit her with an unexpected question then. “When was the last time you went to the surface?”

She blinked.

The surface…?

“Outside,” he stated. “Ya know. Open air, sunlight, the city above us—”

“I know what you mean,” she spoke over his condescension. “You’re… you’re saying that we’re allowed to leave?”

“Did you think this was some sort of prison, woman?” he shot crossly.

Rei blinked, shocked at what she’d just learned.

Liu didn’t let her think for long.

“You can come and go as you please, so long as it doesn’t interfere with your duties,” he informed. He got up then, clearing his throat. “As your superior,” he said sternly, “I’m ordering you to take the rest of the day and spend it above ground.”

“Why are we doing this…?” she asked again.

He was leading her down a tunnel that she didn’t explicitly recognize, though something felt familiar about it.

He stopped and turned. “Do you—or do you not—want to go?”

“I—I-I do…,” she sputtered, “—but… I don’t get why it has to happen now.”

“Look, kid…,” he said. “I know first-hand just how bad it can get down here. There’s no sunlight, and it’s hard-pressed seeing a face with these damned masks.” He sighed. “Health is more than just the body. The mind can get sick, too.”

At that moment, Rei realized how much she liked Liu: He had the same sort of brash-yet-caring attitude that reminded her of Akasha. She’d grown to appreciate it ever since they’d started training together.

They shared a quiet moment before he started walking again.

As they went deeper into the tunnel, they passed a familiar landmark that made her all too aware of their location. Liu remained unperturbed, but Rei had trouble keeping her eyes off the door to Amon’s office as they passed. When they came upon a large vault at the end of the tunnel, he turned to address her with a parting tone.

“Need any money?”

Rei snorted; he sounded like a father. She shook her head and patted the drawstring pouch at her waist.

“Alright, then,” he dismissed. “There’s a pattern you’ll need to remember. Works the same on both sides.”

She watched him spin the wheel: Left three times, right four times, left two times. The door clunked and succumbed to a forceful tug. It swung open, and the first thing that she noticed was the smell.

Then, the temperature.

The season had changed.

She turned, disoriented, to Liu. “What… month… is it?”

He seemed perturbed by the ask. “November…,” he answered. “Why?”

“C-can you tell me what the date is?”

“The… eleventh?” he supplied.

She tucked the information into the back of her mind.

“Th-thank you…,” she rushed, not wanting to hold him up any longer as she stepped into the damp corridor.

A moment later, she heard the door close behind her.

Rei took a deep breath, inhaling the cool autumn air. She followed the light to the top of the stairwell and the sounds of the city became more pronounced, the bustle of satomobiles and the clamor of passersby echoing off the walls. She breached the top of the steps, wincing as the light penetrated her eyes.

Despite the overcast, it’d been weeks since she’d been outside, and everything was unbearably bright.

Blearily, she looked around. The stairwell had led into a small alley, not far from the street. She walked along the building’s edge and poked her head around the corner, finding herself sandwiched between a small deli and a noodle shop.

The combined smell had her salivating.

Almost without thinking, she went for the restaurant’s door. The attached bell jangled as she slipped inside. The steamy scent of broth greeted her nose, and she was overcome with joy.

Today was going to be a good day.

She left the restaurant with a full stomach and high spirits. She didn’t know her exact whereabouts, but she could tell by the storefronts that it was somewhere downtown. Towering skyscrapers sprawled all around, and if she kept straight, she’d eventually end up at Yue Bay.

Rei began to plot her plans for the day. A visit to Republic City Park was at the top of the list, as well as a trip to the boardwalk for something deep-fried and coated in sugar. She began her trek but halted when she caught sight of herself in a nearby window. Her reflection looked positively haggard.

She was pale—paler than she’d ever been in her life—and the dark circles beneath her eyes were screaming. Her hair was unkempt, and the daylight exposed just how dull and lifeless it had become.

Then there were her clothes. Of the two pairs she’d brought with her, the ones she was wearing were tattered and flimsy—remnants from her time on the streets. During her previous employment, her practical clothing hardly saw the light of day. The last few weeks were the most covered she’d been in years.

A visit to a clothing store would be in order.

It was still early in the afternoon, so she decided to hold off on leisure for the time being. She made a checklist of what she needed to buy: Socks, undergarments, shirts, pants—

A harsh gust of wind whipped around the building and blew through the thin fabric of her shirt.

—and definitely a coat.

Rei settled for a nearby boutique. Too bougie for her liking, she wasn’t familiar with the shops in this part of town, but she managed to find one that looked promising. Small and lush, the walls of the place were lined with velour and adorned with ornate mirrors. Three small chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm light throughout. She looked out over the sea of garments and saw that they were organized by category.

“Do you need help finding anything?” a voice asked.

Rei turned to find a saleswoman watching her expectantly. She was dressed in an impeccable skirt suit and jacket. Her hair was streaked with gray, and her face was creased with soft wrinkles. She carried a look of polite hospitality.

“N-no thanks…,” Rei declined. “I’m just looking, for now.”

“Sure,” the saleswoman bobbed her head. “I’ll be at the register if you need anything.”

She turned, leaving Rei to her own devices.

She decided to peruse the outerwear first. Grabbing the nearest jacket, she held it out, assessing it on its hanger.

Everything about it was too much.

The next was sleeker, but it was still something that Rei couldn’t picture herself wearing. Maybe someone more sophisticated, like Akasha—

No.

She’d done well not to think of her friend these past few weeks, so she wouldn’t be starting now.

Today was supposed to be a good day.

She owed it to herself.

She continued down the aisle, increasingly saddened by just how much shopping reminded her of her friend. Almost every item had Akasha’s name written all over it.

Rei was very nearly prepared to leave when something finally caught her eye. She reached into the rack, pulling it out. It was more practical than the others, knee-length and double-breasted, with a thick lapel and deep pockets. Simple and modest—and, most importantly, warm.

The fresh find gave her ambition.

She kept shopping, moving through aisle after aisle.

She wasn’t too picky, selecting a few pairs of pants for the coming winter as well as a few tunics to replace the ones she’d brought with her. She grabbed some knitted garments as well, deciding that they would make good insulation beneath her uniform. She then went to the undergarments, grabbing a few of each of the basics. Her arms were nearly full when she approached the check-out counter.

“Oh, my!” the saleswoman had a tone of pleasant surprise. “I take it, you found everything you needed?”

Rei smiled. “Yeah… You’ve got quite a selection here.”

“Well, glad we could help!” the saleswoman chirped, flipping through the tags as she began typing into the register.

Rei’s eyes began to wander to the front of the store, where she’d seen a dress on display. It was a rather pretty garment, dusty mauve and draped in delicate layers of chiffon…

Akasha would have loved it.

The saleswoman noticed her staring. “You like it?”

Rei blinked, looking back at her. “Oh, uh—yeah. It’s beautiful.”

“One of a kind,” the woman informed, giving Rei a knowing look. “Would you like to try it on?”

Rei paused. She looked back at the window, debating.

The dress was stunning, compellingly so.

“Sure…,” she decided, figuring that she had nothing to lose.

It’s not like she had a use for the thing… It wouldn’t hurt to just see what it looked like on.

The woman eyed Rei’s waist. “It’s a four, is that okay?”

Rei blinked. “Yeah, that’s… exactly my size.”

“Perfect!” The woman perked up. “Head back to the fitting area, dear. I’ll be there shortly.”

At the back of the boutique was a folded privacy screen, behind which sat a full-length mirror and a velvet-upholstered loveseat. The saleswoman’s voice rang out excitedly as she approached.

“Here it is!” She pushed past Rei to drape it across the couch. “I’ll go round up some accessories for you!”

“Oh, no, please—,” Rei started, but the woman was gone before she could finish.

She sighed and began undressing. Before putting it on, she picked up the garment for a better look.

The shoulders sloped down into a steep neckline, where an opalescent-ivory gemstone fastened at the bust. The ornament served as an anchor for the ruching of the bodice, which flared out over the waist into tiers of flouncy chiffon.

Raising her arms, Rei slid it down her body. When it was situated properly, she turned.

What she saw in the mirror almost made her gasp.

“Dressed?” the saleswoman’s voice came from behind the screen.

Rei blinked. “Uh… y-yeah.”

The woman poked her head around the corner. “Oh, wow—”

“Does it look good…?” Rei asked, turning to face her. She needed a second opinion to validate her own.

“Spirits—yes!” the woman exclaimed. “But at your age, darling, anything looks good.” She swatted her hands flippantly. “Now, I’d like to show you some more things, if you don’t mind.” She carried a velvet jewelry box and a pair of strappy heels as she came near, assessing Rei’s appearance. “Oh, you shouldn’t wear a bra with this,” she admonished, pointing Rei back to the mirror so that she could see. “Otherwise, it’ll be visible.”

Rei turned, and her bra was indeed visible.

“May I?” the woman asked, hovering her fingers over the clasp.

Rei nodded, and the band loosened. She slipped the bra out from under the top with practiced ease, tossing it onto the couch with the rest of her clothes.

The woman grasped Rei’s shoulders, turning her back around. She went to open the box, revealing a beautiful pearl necklace before plucking it from its satin bed. Rei swept aside her hair, allowing the woman to fasten it around her neck. The cool beads warmed slightly as they came in contact with her skin.

“Put these on,” the saleswoman said next, holding out the shoes.

Rei took them and moved over to the couch. She bent down, fastening the straps across her ankles. She was unsteady in them at first, as it’d been weeks since she’d worn a pair, but the woman offered her hand. Rei was guided back in front of the mirror, where she was able to assess her full appearance again, details and all.

Spirits—

“Do you wanna see the finishing touch?” the woman asked.

“There’s… more?” Rei asked, incredulous.

Smiling, the woman moved to undo Rei’s braids. She combed through the hair with her fingers, and the delicate sensation caused Rei’s skin to tingle. She then gathered the loose waves, drawing them up into a low bun at the back of her head.

“You should wear your hair like this,” she instructed, “to accentuate your neck and—other things.” She flashed Rei a coy smile.

Rei smirked with understanding, appraising her reflection in the mirror again. The whole ensemble had her feeling rather beautiful until she remembered that she couldn’t afford it.

The woman noticed her shift in mood. “What’s wrong, dear?”

Rei locked eyes with her in the mirror. “How much is it?”

Recognition shone on the woman’s face. She took one look up and down the length of Rei’s reflection, contemplating.

“For the dress… six hundred yuans,” she said, though she wasn't done. “The shoes retail for two hundred, and the necklace for three.” The saleswoman could see her heart sinking in the mirror. “But… since they’re both last season,” she donned a devious smirk, “I don’t see why I can’t mark them half off.”

“What? No!" Rei gawked. "I-I don’t want you to—”

“Oh, shush,” the woman chided. “It's no trouble. What d’ya say?”

Rei struggled for words. She had to look in the mirror one more time before responding with certainty.

“Deal.”

She’d been sitting in the cozy little tea shop for almost an hour now, watching the sky darken. When the streetlights came on, she decided it was time to head back to the base. She plucked some bills from her pouch and laid them out on the table, more than enough to cover her three and a half cups of tea. She grabbed her new coat and slung it over her shoulders, stooping to gather her bags from beneath the table.

After the boutique, she’d gone to the boardwalk for a stroll and a snack of candied pecans, something she used to do all the time with her mother. Back when she was still alive, that was.

Rei had only lasted ten minutes there before the nostalgia got the better of her. She ended up tossing the pecans into the ocean and vacating the boardwalk altogether before her tears could gather. Her next stop, then, would have been the park… But she abandoned that too, for the very same reason as the boardwalk.

Too many memories, and no one left to share them with…

She’d resigned to spending the rest of her day window shopping, stopping at a few places to grab some unnecessary comfort items. She’d picked up shampoo and conditioner to restore her dull hair—since the bar soap that she’d been using had seemingly ravaged her locks—as well as a blanket and a small bottle of scented lotion, just because she could.

Now, as she made her way back to the alley, she caught a whiff of something that made her stop again.

There was a bakery ahead with its door open, allowing a draft of warm butter and sweet saccharine to waft out into the street. Rei followed the smell up to the front counter. The display housed an array of decadent treats—croissants, muffins, scones, tarts, and cookies. They all looked mouthwateringly perfect, but none more so than the little yellow cupcake with buttercream frosting. Adorned with pink sprinkles and confetti-colored wax paper, it looked like edible happiness.

She licked her lips, vaguely aware that someone had approached from behind the counter.

“See something you like?”

Rei swallowed her saliva.

“That one, please.” She pointed to the pastry in question.

He grabbed a tissue, plucking the cupcake from its tray. Rei followed him to the register, handing him the money and thanking him on her way out. The sky was completely dark now, so she resumed her walk at a brisk pace. She reached the alley of the noodle shop and ducked between the buildings. As she descended into the stairwell, the illumination from the street began to disappear. Eventually, she was in pitch black, having to use her hands to guide her to the vault door. She spun the wheel, recalling the pattern that Liu had shown her, and was promptly rewarded with the clunk of the deadbolt. She pushed through into the tunnel.

On the way back, Amon’s office called to her again. An annoying prickling sensation ghosted her skin, forcing her to quicken her pace. She made it into the warehouse and veered straight for the barrack tunnel, starkly aware of just how quiet everything was now. She was never awake this late, her bedtime having morphed from early mornings to early evenings for the sake of her new schedule.

As she rounded the corner, a tall figure appeared, nearly causing her to drop her things.

“Well, well… What do we have here?” he asked amusedly.

Rei sighed, blowing a disheveled strand of hair from her face. “Don’t start,” she warned.

Liu chuckled, nodding to the bags in her hands. “I take it, you enjoyed your little visit to the outside world?”

Rei flushed. “I just… n-needed… some things.”

“Apparently,” he teased, stepping aside.

Rei brushed past him, rolling her eyes.

When she reached her bunk, she dropped all of the bags onto the floor and began sifting through them to find the one item she desired most. She pulled it from the bag and tossed it atop her bed.

The large blanket swallowed the mat whole.

It was perfect.

She sat down, unpacking the rest of her belongings. Her new clothes were sorted by category and placed beneath the bench of her tiny bed to create a chest, of sorts. When it came to the dress, she decided not to open it. She left it in the bag and pushed it aside.

The only bag left was the little brown one from the bakery that held the cupcake. She reached in and placed it on her table. There it sat in all its sugarcoated glory, and she remained frozen for a while, just… staring at it.

“Rei?”

The sound of her name caused her to look up.

Mera was standing in the doorway now with an amused expression. “Whatcha got there…?”

“A—a cupcake,” Rei replied.

“I-I can see that…,” Mera giggled, not yet discerning the tone of her friend’s voice. “What’s the occasion?”

“It’s…,” Rei attempted, but her throat was tight. She swallowed the lump and croaked out an answer. “T-tomorrow’s my birthday…”

At this, Mera finally seemed to recognize that something was wrong. “Isn’t that a good thing…?” she asked. “Why’re you upset?”

Rei was silent for a moment. “E-everyone I love is… is dead—”

A sob finally burst from her chest.

“Oh, goodness—”

Mera came rushing forward, wrapping her slender arms over Rei’s shoulders. Rei turned her head to lean against Mera’s chest. Eventually, her sobs grew faint, and she removed her face from Mera’s shirt.

“S-sorry…,” she muttered, apologizing for the wet stain she’d created.

Mera gave her a soft smile. “It’s alright, hun…,” she assured. “Do you need anything? I can grab you some tissues, or a cup of tea—”

Rei shook her head. She didn’t want Mera to leave.

She turned her puffy gaze down to the cupcake, picking it up and peeling the confetti-colored paper from its bottom. She held it in her hand, looking at Mera.

“D-do you wanna split it with me…?” she asked, pleading.

Mera’s concern faltered slightly, allowing a giggle to escape. “I—I would love to…”

Chapter Text

Rei started her day like any other: She woke, showered, brushed her teeth, and dressed. It was still early in the morning when she made her way to the refectory, finishing her breakfast right as the crowd began to pour in—always her cue to leave. She waited alone in her bunk until it was time to meet up with Liu.

Only, it wasn’t just Liu that she’d be meeting with today; it was a dozen other recruits. Men she didn’t know and had never fought before.

She was going to have to spar with them.

The realization had long since dawned upon her, but her anxiety grew as the minutes ticked closer and closer to the designated hour.

She had no idea how these up-and-coming cadets would perform. According to Liu, they’d all received a less intense version of her training: A six-week curriculum designed to prime malleable youths into adequate soldiers. Rei already knew that a large portion of her brothers-in-arms were to be comprised of deviants and juveniles. Much like herself, they’d been spared from the wrath of benders by Amon and his forces.

That morning, as she was making her way to the training tunnel, she saw him. It was a rare occurrence, and she tried not to stare. Recently, though, she’d acquired a mask to conceal her identity, so if she wanted to…

—no, she denied herself. Absolutely not.

Do it, her devious thoughts goaded.

She tried to ignore them, but they echoed.

Finally, she looked.

He was talking to Liu. Whatever they were discussing, it seemed important. His eyes remained locked on Amon’s, something that Rei could never imagine having the courage to do. She felt a tinge of jealousy for the competence and ease with which he did things; it only served to highlight her shortcomings.

Liu, who seemed to notice that he was being watched, unlocked his gaze to peer past Amon’s shoulder. He squinted ever-so-slightly in her direction, and Amon, subsequently, turned to see what he was looking at.

Fuck-fuck-fuck-fuck-fuck—

She increased her speed, moving briskly into the training tunnel. Her heart was racing, and her cheeks were growing uncomfortably hot. She couldn’t feel anything besides shame at what she’d just done, scampering away from Amon like a frightened animal. Both the sheer mortification and the near-jog that she’d taken up had her panting when she reached the training room.

It was triple the size of the one that she and Liu had been using, accommodating fifteen fully uniformed recruits. Rei swallowed her nerves, heading for the farthest corner. A few of them perked up at her presence before the energy in the room suddenly shifted.

Liu had walked in after her.

Her chest seized, but alas, no one followed. It seemed that Amon wouldn’t be coming today.

She didn’t know why that had her disappointed.

“Attention, recruits!” The boom of Liu’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. “You all know why we’re here today.”

Shuffling resounded as they each made to stand.

“There will be no coddling or hand-holding,” Liu announced. “Should you be injured, you must choose to either continue or forfeit. Just know that forfeiture will immediately bar you from passing.”

The room was silent.

“Understood?!”

Everyone else either nodded or hummed in approval, but Rei responded on instinct.

“Yes sir!”

“Great…,” Liu grimaced, then snapped his fingers. “Two single-file lines. Right here.”

He pointed to a spot on the ground, and everyone shuffled into position. Rei fell into line behind the others.

“You’ll be splitting off into pairs,” he informed. “The person beside you will be your first sparring partner. You’ll compete in turns, and the winner of each round will go on to compete in the next.” Liu smiled deviously. “If we manage to find a single winner by the end of the day, that person will have the honor of facing off against me.”

While everyone else looked disconcertedly at their partners, Rei suppressed the urge to laugh.

“You two are up first…,” he ordered the first pair in line.

The rest of them vacated the sparring area to ensure there was plenty of room for the match to take place, and Rei took notice of her sparring partner.

He was of average build, but nothing remarkable. She was certain that she could take him down with minimal effort. By the slight tilt of his head, she could guess that he was sizing her up as well.

The swagger in his stride told her all that she needed to know about his assumptions.

When they were all slumped against the wall, facing the recruits in the center of the room, Liu initiated the match.

“Begin.”

Rei watched them circle each other for a moment, much like she and Liu would do. It wasn’t long before one of them lunged, but the other dodged it, nearly tripping over his own feet to stay upright. There were a few more exchanges until one of them finally landed a hit. His opponent’s left leg was numb, rendering him unfit to continue.

“Next!” Liu barked, ushering a new group.

The contestant with the lame limb grumbled under his breath and hobbled to the sideline. His partner returned to the lineup, preparing for the next round. A new duo shuffled out into the sparring area to assume their stances.

Their match was over and done with in much the same manner as the first.

Then came the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth… Until it was finally Rei’s turn.

“Next!” Liu called.

Rei and her partner shuffled out into the center of the room, turning to each other.

“Don’t worry, hun…,” he patronized. “I’ll go easy on you.”

If it wasn’t against the rules, she’d have kicked him in the crotch right then and there.

She shot an irritated look at Liu.

He shot back with an all-too-knowing smirk.

“Begin.”

Her partner had left his right side completely open, so with one quick jab, he was on the ground. A few of the recruits watching groaned in vicarious discomfort.

Rei bent down over his limp body.

“Thanks—hun,” she whispered.

She straightened and returned to the perimeter, reassuming her spot in line. Her partner had to crawl back to his spot.

“Victors…,” Liu addressed. “For this next round, you’re allowed to pick your partners.” He gave them all a look of warning. “Choose carefully.”

The winner of the first match stepped out to assess the lineup. He pointed unscrupulously to one of the individuals still standing along the wall.

The second round began.

It took longer than the first, now that the weakest of the bunch were weeded out. When it was Rei’s turn to spar again, her new partner appeared to take her more seriously.

“Begin,” Liu commenced.

She took her opponent down with a speedy jab to the shoulder. The entire side of his body gave out, sending him to the ground with a thud.

With half of the contestants out of the game, Rei’s next turn arrived rather quickly. Her partner succumbed to a well-placed blow between the ribs.

The fourth and final round arrived, and she was up against the only other survivor. He was shorter and stockier than the rest but had an excellent defensive stance. She found herself debating where to start; there were no immediate weak points, meaning she would have to make some.

She lunged forward, aiming for nothing in particular. He dodged the advancement but faltered slightly. She lunged a few more times, forcing him to shift his stance to steady himself. She seized the opening and struck him across his chest.

The force of the blow knocked him back. Rei stared down at the man, curled protectively in on himself as he started coughing.

She was filled with remorse at the sight. As much as she enjoyed taking down her opponents, these were not the people she wanted to hurt.

“S-sorry.” She bent down to grasp his shoulders. “Here, let me help you—”

He flinched at her touch.

Rei’s gentle remorse morphed into vicious guilt.

“We have a winner, folks!” Liu’s voice ripped her attention away from the exchange. “Now, I know I said that the winner gets to face off against yours truly…,” he gestured to himself, “—but, for some reason, I find myself bored by that prospect.” He looked dubiously at Rei. “We should offer a more exciting accolade for our winner, don’t ya think?”

What in the Spirits’ name are you doing, Liu—?

“I can only imagine that some of you are a bit upset over the fact that you were beaten by a girl.”

His words might have seemed genuine to the others, but for Rei, it was all too easy to hear the taunt in them.

“I propose a rematch!” he announced, thrusting a finger in Rei’s direction. “All those who’d like another try at besting our lovely winner, have my expressed permission to do so!”

What—?!

“And, by all means…,” Liu smirked, “—feel free to make it a group effort.”

Rei shot him a look of utter contempt, oblivious to the fact that it was hidden beneath her mask. She whipped around to see that almost a dozen recruits had risen to the challenge. Those along the wall had moved forward, and the rest were hoisting themselves from the ground.

Shit.

The nearest of them was striding towards her with zeal. She recognized him as her first opponent: The one who’d underestimated her.

He was flanked on either side by two others.

Her mind was racing, but her senses remained sharp. She steadied herself and tallied her opponents.

Twelve bodies…

She scanned their forms.

Manifold exposed pressure points…

She looked into their shrouded faces. Even behind their masks, Rei could tell that they were all too preoccupied with predicting her first move to worry about their own.

Idiots. All of them.

She lowered her stance and gritted her teeth. The first arrogant recruit began the assault, aiming for her neck. His lunge left a wide gap between his legs, so she ducked and rolled beneath them. She rose at his side and struck a point low in his back.

His body sunk to the floor.

Rei twirled and blocked an incoming attempt at her ribcage. She swung her leg and caught her attacker with a swift kick to the gut, sending him down.

To her left, a rather lanky recruit loomed over her. He hurled a spindly arm in her direction, but she caught it and yanked him forward. She pummeled his shoulder with a tight jab, and he yelped, sinking to the ground.

Both sides of her periphery swirled with motion. She ducked, and the two recruits who had seemingly attempted to tag-team her merely ended up striking each other.

Rei took a moment to steady herself. Her heart was beating wonderfully fast, every nerve ending on high alert.

For the first time in a long time, she felt weightless.

Electric.

Alive.

Another recruit took a swing and she dodged it easily. She took him down with a jab to the shoulder.

The next came at her with full force, so she decided to use his momentum against him. She dipped down as soon as he got close, his arm hurtling right over her. She landed two quick jabs along his exposed ribcage.

He keeled over in pain.

The next, she saw, was moving with admirable deft. He attempted a few jabs but landed none; however, she found it difficult to land a blow on him as well. A few of the remaining recruits noticed the change in pace and joined in to help.

When one of them got dangerously close to her neck, she decided it was time to finish things. Fixating on the two recruits that were nearest to her, she landed a blow to each of their backs. They went down at the same time.

She set her sights on the last group.

The three of them had halted, stunned by the maneuver she’d just pulled.

Rei lunged forward, striking the middle of them right in the center of his chest. He hissed and stumbled back.

The next one launched himself at her, but she ducked and whirled, pinching two of his vertebrae with her knuckles and sending him to the floor.

Then, she turned.

The final recruit was frozen, holding his defensive stance but refusing to move.

She took a step toward him.

He took a step back.

She took another step.

He took two more steps back.

Rei huffed. In two brisk strides, she caught up with the recruit, seizing his wrist. Finding his pulse beneath the fabric of his sleeve, she slid her thumb down over the palpating vein and pressed down with sharp force.

“Ah!” he yelped, the impaction sending pain up and down his arm. His knees buckled, and he folded. “Ah—fuck! I yield! I yield!”

Rei released his arm. He gave a pathetic whimper, then staggered off to the nearest wall.

The sound of solitary applause called her attention. She turned to see that Liu was clapping.

“Now that—,” he gestured at Rei, “—is what I call a winner.”

No one said a word.

Liu positioned himself in the center of the room, clasping his hands behind his back in a very Amon-like manner.

“This has been one of the most pitiful performances that I’ve witnessed in a long time,” he admonished. “I can safely say that only a handful of you have passed.”

He pointed at one of the recruits along the wall.

“You—”

He pointed to another.

“—you—”

And another.

“—you…”

He dropped the gesture, nodding in Rei’s direction.

“—and you are cleared for the field. The rest of you will need to complete two more weeks of training before you can be evaluated again.” They all groaned in contempt, but Liu ignored them. “If any of you were paying attention, this assessment will have shown you what you need to work on. Most of you simply need to build confidence, but there are a few of you who seem to have not learned a damned thing. Your captains will be informed as to which of you need to continue your training.” He strode calmly to the doorway, addressing them all with a tone of finality. “Dismissed.”

Rei waited for the disgruntled bunch to drag themselves up and out of the room. She purposefully stayed behind so that she’d be the last one out. She expected to pass Liu without a word.

“Well done, captain…,” he congratulated under his breath.

She looked up and saw the tiniest smirk on his lips.

Beneath her mask, she smiled back.

Republic City was beautiful in the fall. The smell of baking spice permeated every cafe, and the foliage transformed itself into glorious shades of red and orange.

The sky, which was almost always gray and overcast this time of year, had managed to part its clouds for a few gracious hours. Rei spent most of her afternoon absorbing the precious sunlight with greed. Liu had given her no instruction after the evaluation, so she’d decided to celebrate by revisiting the surface. Last time, her day had been spoiled by birthday sentiments and bothersome lists; today, she simply wanted to experience the city. The triumph of the morning had quashed her anxiety, and her head was finally in the right place to enjoy some alone time.

She was still reeling with the reality of her new title. She had no idea how these things worked, but she figured that if Amon trusted Liu’s judgment, then it was legitimate: She was a captain.

It was early in the evening when she returned to her bunk, and like clockwork, Rei was preparing for sleep. She stripped down to her usual sleepwear and fell into bed, closing her eyes and eagerly envisioning what the coming days might look like.

Would she be assigned to lead a unit, or were there other qualifications that she needed to acquire before that would happen?

As she lay hypothesizing, sleep began to wash over her. Just as she was falling into unconsciousness, a firm knock at her door suddenly wrenched open her eyes. She remained still in the darkness, wondering if she’d imagined the noise.

Another knock came to confirm her sanity.

Rei huffed and got up.

It was a weird time for Mera to be visiting her, but perhaps she’d finished cooking early and wanted to blabber about her day. When she opened the door, however, the face that greeted her was not Mera’s.

A long, wispy mustache dangled in front of her eyes.

“L-Liu?” She moved to hide her undress behind the door. “W-what’re you doing here?!”

His eyes flicked into the darkness behind her.

“I think the better question is… What’re you doing?” He looked down at her, scrutinizing. “Are you sleeping? It’s barely even sundown!”

Rei rolled her eyes. “What is it you want?”

Liu scoffed, shaking his head. “You have five minutes to get dressed. Meet me in the warehouse.”

Rei blinked. “Excuse me?”

“That’s an order,” he dictated, ignoring the tired rebellion in her eyes.

He turned and walked away. Rei stuck her head out into the corridor and called after him.

“B—but… why?!”

It sounded more pitiful than she’d have liked. Liu simply threw his response over his shoulder.

“You have duties to fulfill, captain.”

Rei stood, watching as he disappeared. Finally, she shrunk back into the room, grumbling as she snatched her uniform from the floor.

He had her in front of a motorbike, dangling the keys in her face.

“I—I can’t drive…,” she said weakly.

“It’s not like you’re performing surgery…,” he teased. “Have you ever ridden a bicycle before?”

Rei nodded.

A very long time ago.

“Well, it’s the same thing,” he said. “Except this bike does the peddling for you.”

Rei sighed, grabbing the keys from where they were still dangling in front of her.

The machine felt large and awkward between her legs: Her feet barely touched the ground from where she was perched.

With Liu’s instruction, she was able to find the ignition.

“Nothing’s—h-happening…,” she gruffed, cranking the key into the slot.

“That’s because you’re turning it the wrong way.”

Oh.

Embarrassed, Rei twisted it sharply in the opposite direction. The motorbike roared to life before settling into a low hum, sending vibrations throughout her body. She went to grasp the handle, but Liu had already placed his hand over it before she could.

“Don’t forget the kickstand,” he said, pointing to the ground.

She glanced down, and there was a thick metal rod jutting out of the bike. She swung her leg back, shoving it aside.

“Now what?” she asked.

He let go of the handle.

“Go ahead…,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Rei grabbed the handle and twisted. The bike lurched forward, and she yelped.

She snatched her hand back, tossing a fretful glance at those around her. The three other Equalists were watching her, amusedly, from their bikes.

Liu, himself, was cackling.

“I—I don’t th-think I can do this…,” she sputtered, trembling.

She didn’t even care that they were making fun of her; she just wanted to get off the giant metal deathtrap.

“Of course you can,” he encouraged, stifling his laughter. “Just—don’t crank it so hard.”

He wrapped his fingers over hers and pressed down softly. Rei flinched, but to her surprise, the bike rolled forward at a slow pace.

Liu removed his hand. “Got it?”

She nodded, remembering something very important. “H-how do I stop?”

He pointed to the opposite handle. “There’s a lever. Just squeeze it to engage the brakes.”

Rei saw that there was, indeed, a small lever sticking out behind the other handle. She felt less afraid now, but still unsure.

“W-where are we going…?” she wondered aloud.

His smile faded.

“Somewhere… familiar,” he informed, and it was all he offered before whisking away to his motorbike. When he started the ignition, the others behind him did the same. He pulled up beside her and spoke loudly over the engines. “You’ll need to stay close to me!”

She nodded, crawling forward on her own bike.

Liu coasted past her, heading toward the tram tunnel.

She reached for her throttle and twisted it gently, just as Liu had shown. This time, the bike moved slowly. She twisted it more, pushing off with her feet. The machine wobbled momentarily beneath her, but she managed to find her balance.

Moving along at a comfortable speed, she caught up with Liu and the other Equalists. They each picked up their pace, revving their engines and shooting off into the tunnel.

Rei cranked her throttle the keep up with them. The speedometer doubled, tripled, quadrupled… And before she knew it, she was flying.

The passage ended, and Liu signaled for the group to slow. A large section of the tunnel’s wall flipped open, and they spilled out into the city’s storm drain.

The iron gate was soon before them.

“The sun is down, but civilians are still out,” Liu informed. “We’ll need to split up.” He looked directly at Rei. “You stay behind me, alright?”

She gave an affirmative nod, and he skirted forward.

The others, she saw, headed out in various directions.

She and Liu took off down a well-lit street, traveling east—away from downtown. As they moved through the sparse traffic, it quickly became apparent where they were headed.

She’d have never assumed that Dragon Flats Borough was the somewhere familiar that Liu had been talking about.

Rei gritted her teeth and hunkered down on her bike. It was clear to her that whatever duties she was expected to perform tonight, it would be in pursuit of triads. Amon’s exact words rang in her mind:

“An elite group of fighters, formed to protect our nonbending brothers and sisters against the afflictions of this… hierarchal society.”

She’d trained for this; she was now a part of that elite group.

She could protect herself. More importantly, she could protect others.

At that moment, she felt as though she finally knew what it meant to be an Equalist.

Their bikes were parked in the alleyway behind them.

She recognized this part of the borough as being very near to her and Akasha’s old apartment.

Liu looked at his watch. “We’ve been tracking Agni Kai activity in this area for the better part of a year. Every so often, we receive intel that they plan to gather here.”

“Why here…?” she asked.

“To make a show of force. Claim their territory,” he explained. 

“Sh-shouldn’t a place like this be inconsequential? Why do they care to claim such a small area?”

Liu looked at her with pity. “To the triads, no corner of the city is off limits. Just so happens that the inhabitants of this place are exactly what makes it low-hanging fruit.”

He didn’t have to say the word; Rei knew what he meant.

Nonbenders. They were easy targets.

Easy to intimidate, easy to overpower… Easy to control.

She didn’t consider herself to be a hateful person, but as of late, she was finding more and more reasons to hate benders.

Where were the police in all of this?

Where was the nonbender representation on the council?

Why were nonbenders being quietly forced to live as second-class citizens?

She prodded for more information. “I take it, you know what these Agni Kai’s are up to tonight…?”

Liu nodded. “Civilian informants told us that they’ve evicted the owners of the inn next door. They’re using it as a new base of operations.”

Rei felt a pang in her chest. “Do you… k-know… what happened? T-to the innkeepers?”

Liu shook his head, but it wasn’t in denial; it was regret.

The silence was all she needed to confirm what she already knew.

The rest of the motorbikes came roaring down the alley just then, letting them know that the other Equalists had arrived. They parked and dismounted.

“Everyone’s accounted for, sir,” one of them addressed Liu. “What’s our orders?”

“Intel predicts there’ll be twenty triads inside, which gives us a ratio of nearly four to one.” He looked discriminately at Rei. “Will you be able to handle that?”

She swallowed. “Of course, sir.”

Liu eyed her for a moment, then turned back toward the rest of his captains.

“Alright,” he said. “The back stairway leads up into some rafters. We’ll disperse, drop down, then take them by surprise. I trust you’ll use your better judgment with where you position yourselves.” Once more, he cast a stern look in Rei’s direction. “Try not to bite off more than you can chew.”

“Yes, sir,” she affirmed, injecting a bit of grit into her voice.

As they strode for the door, she felt a sudden prickling at the back of her neck. She snapped her gaze to the top of a nearby building but saw nothing.

She shook the strange feeling from her mind and refocused.

Liu reached the door and turned to his captains, lifting a solitary finger to usher their silence. He yanked the handle, and the panel creaked open. He stepped aside, allowing the others to pass. One by one, they crept in, and Liu shut the door behind them.

The pub was dimly lit, reeking of stale smoke and seedy liquor. She couldn’t see past the stairs, but she could hear the commotion below. The steady hum of chatter and laughter filled the air, along with the swirling of smoke and incandescence. The scene was so familiar that she nearly panicked.

That’s over now, she reminded herself as she kept climbing. You’re stronger.

She reached the rafters, diverging from the rest. Teetering across the beams, she settled into a spot over the bar. She had a full view of the men laughing and drinking below, oblivious as to what was about to happen.

You don’t have to be afraid anymore.

She spotted Liu, who was flickering his eyes across the rafters in a final assessment of his team. Slowly, he raised a fist into the air, signaling his mark.

On the count of three, she was falling.

She landed atop the bar, pulling herself into a defensive stance. The rest of her teammates had already started their attacks.

The triad before her seemed to have spilled whatever drink he was holding onto his shirt.

“What the—?!” He sprang up, flicking the wet fabric from his chest. “Who the fuck are you?”

Rei responded with a roundhouse kick to the head, sending him on his ass. Seconds later, a bright orange flame came hurtling past her face, and she ducked just in time to miss it.

The one that she’d kicked was back on his feet. He had his arm raised, a tail of yellow flame trailing behind. Rei launched herself from the edge of the counter, narrowly missing the blast. She managed to grab ahold of his shoulder, pinching him in the process.

The flame in his hand died out instantly.

From the corner of her eye, she saw another triad coming her way. His fist was already alight with flame.

With no time to duck, she was forced to block the blow against her forearm. She winced on impact, but the intended blast sputtered out. She landed three blows to his open side, then whisked around and landed another three blows to his back.

He toppled to the floor.

The first triad was upon her again, so she skirted around to his flank, digging her knuckles into his side and sending him to the ground. She whirled in preparation for another, but there weren’t any; the rest of the triads were already engaged in combat with other Equalists.

She darted her gaze, searching for Liu.

She saw him in a far-off corner, preoccupied with what looked to be the last of his adversaries.

As she contemplated whether or not she should help, the sound of scuffling came from behind her. She turned to see a lone captain fending off a group of three, so she sprang to his aid instead. She ran up against the back of one of the triads and struck him between the shoulders, his yelp followed by a thud as he collapsed onto the floor. The commotion drew the attention of his friends, who both turned, tossing a curious glance at each other before one of them nodded.

He strode forward, hurling fiery blasts in her direction. She ducked and rolled, sweeping past his legs, and caught him by the ankle.

He tripped, landing atop her.

Pinned beneath him, Rei launched an angry elbow into his face. The bridge of his nose cracked, and he yelped.

She shot up, glaring at him.

“You fucking cunt,” he snarled, a gush of bright red blood spilling from his nostrils, staining his teeth.

Rei blinked once—twice—but the illusion did not vanish.

Kyro’s face sneered up at her, and she was overcome with rage. She lifted her foot from the ground, bludgeoning him squarely between the eyes. The blow knocked him unconscious, and his body went limp.

It wasn’t enough.

Her fist clenched, and she could feel the knife that she’d once held. She leaned over his body, gripping his shirt and wrenching his torso off the ground.

Just as she was cocking her fist back, someone grabbed her wrist.

“That’s enough, captain!”

She was met with the sight of Liu’s taught expression. His face was covered in a sheen of sweat, his eyes concealing a subtle look of concern.

His presence instantly calmed her, and she shuddered, releasing her grip on the triad.

“S-sorry…,” she stammered.

Liu was all too understanding.

“Don’t be…,” he assured, letting go of her wrist. “I couldn’t care less. Just don’t have time to deal with a body, is all.”

Rei glanced at the others and saw that the fighting seemed to be over.

“W-what now?”

He answered candidly. “We bind their arms and legs and drop them off at Police Headquarters.”

Rei blinked, dumbfounded. “How—in the Spirit’s names—do you transport twenty incapacitated triads all the way downtown?”

Liu smirked. “A carrier vehicle, out back. Should be rolling up any minute now.” He reached into his belt, pulling something out for her to take. “Get to work, captain,” he dismissed, handing her the bundle of rope as he walked off.

Rei simply stood, staring after him.

“Thanks for jumping in back there…,” a small voice announced.

She turned and saw that it was the captain whom she’d previously helped.

“Oh, yeah…,” she nodded. “A-anytime.”

He gave her a nod before turning to follow Liu.

Rei looked down at the bloodied face of the triad beneath her. She knelt, grimacing, and began gathering his arms at his front. Just as she was finishing with the rope, the prickling sensation from before returned to the back of her neck. She stopped what she was doing and looked up again.

It didn’t take long to spot him.

He stood stark still, perched in the farthest corner of the building’s beams. His gaze was locked on her, observing her with unwavering interest.

She blinked and shook her head in disbelief, but the Amon she’d seen was now gone.

Rei glanced at her watch.

It was late.

They’d made it back to the base after nearly four hours. She had no plans to celebrate aside from returning to her bunk and falling into a deep and immediate sleep. She bypassed Liu, tossing him the keys.

“Not so fast, captain…,” he called to her.

She ripped the mask from her head so that he could see her exasperation. “What—?”

“You’re not dismissed. He wants to see us.”

She closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. Liu merely chuckled, waving a hand for her to follow.

When they reached Amon’s office, he turned to her. “Remember when I told you, only speak if you’re spoken to?”

Rei nodded.

“That rule hasn’t changed.”

She rolled her eyes.

Liu cleared his throat, bringing his fist up to the door. He rapped it three times.

A moment of silence passed before it swung open.

“As you asked, sir,” he nodded in Rei’s direction. 

Amon stepped aside.

Liu entered first; Rei, not a moment after. For a few short seconds, she was mere inches away from him.

The closest they’d been in months.

His office was sparsely furnished and entirely unwelcoming. There was a desk and some chairs, but apart from that, it was empty. At various spots all along the walls, there were detailed maps showcasing different parts of the city. There was also a lone bookshelf, chockfull of tomes and scrolls.

She couldn’t say that she was surprised by what she was seeing. If anything, it fit him exactly.

Amon strode past.

“Please, sit,” he instructed.

She and Liu slid into their respective seats.

Amon assumed his behind his desk.

“Let me begin by saying that it was an excellent performance from you both this evening.”

“Thank you, sir,” Liu responded.

Rei was silent, kneading the fabric of her mask in her lap.

“I’ve called this meeting to communicate some new plans. I request that you both share your thoughts on what I put forth, so that I may take them into account as I make my final decision.”

“Of course,” Liu answered.

Rei didn’t speak.

A beat of silence passed before she felt two pairs of eyes on her.

“Captain…”

His stern voice forced her to look up.

The chill of his gaze sliced through her.

“—is that clear?”

Rei blinked once—twice—then swallowed.

“Y-yes sir.” She sounded more scared than anything.

“Good,” he decreed. “As I said, a superb performance. Quick, concise, well-coordinated. Together, you two make an exceptional team.” He cast his gaze toward Liu. “I must commend you on your training, lieutenant. It’s been some time since I asked you to prime a new captain for the field, yet your skills show no devaluation. What you’ve accomplished with her in these past few weeks is… truly impressive.”

Rei shivered.

“Thank you, sir…,” Liu graciously accepted, “—but my skills only go so far. What you saw today was simply the product of her own hard work and tenacity. She’s a natural at this sort of thing. Unlike any other I’ve trained.”

His words brought a rush of heat to her face. She looked at him, but he wasn’t looking back; contrary to herself, he’d had the better sense not to divert his attention away from his superior.

She returned her gaze to Amon, struck by the intensity with which he was now watching her.

“Indeed…,” he agreed. “She’s proven to be worth far more than her salt.”

Rei shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“Which is why I’ve decided upon an arrangement for the two of you.” He turned his attention back toward Liu. “She’ll maintain the title, for which she earned… But she will not yet be given the duties of a captain.”

Rei panicked, mourning the last three months of hard work before Amon finished.

“Instead, what you are to me, she will be to you,” he addressed Liu. “Should you need support for specialized missions, she will be the first person you enlist. I want her to take on the personnel duties that you would otherwise oversee, including training. Henceforth, she will act as your assistant.”

It was a moment before Liu cleared his throat.

“I’m—esteemed… by your proposal, sir,” he said carefully. “But… Why do I need an assistant?”

“This movement has grown,” Amon explained. “And you, yourself, have grown with it. I have plans for future development, which I intend to discuss with you, privately.” He shot a glance at Rei. “As the one tasked with instilling her readiness, do you believe that she is prepared to take on this role?”

She ripped her eyes away to stare pointedly at Liu. He hesitated before responding.

“She… is a paragon of excellence…”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“—I can think of no one else who I’d trust with this position,” he said, straightening. “She’ll be perfect for the job.”

Rei couldn’t fight the smile that tugged at her lips.

Then Amon’s voice sliced through the air.

“And you, captain?”

She jolted.

“S-sir…?”

“Are you ready to accept this role?”

Rei faltered.

While she was certainly eager, she didn’t think that she was quite as ready as Liu believed her to be.

“You should be aware of what this entails…,” Amon warned her. “Beyond your auxiliary duties, your new position will be third-in-command.”

Altogether, her breathing had ceased.

“In the coming months, I intend to prime you for the position…,” Amon leveled her with a stare, “—so that, should anything happen to myself or the lieutenant that causes us to be removed from the line of duty, you will be prepared to lead. Is that understood?”

She nearly choked on her words.

“Of… c-course… sir—”

“Then, it’s decided.” Amon rose from the desk. “Your auxiliary duties begin tomorrow. As of now, you are dismissed.”

He strode to the door and held it open for her.

She took her cue to leave. The walk back to her bunk was a blur as she struggled to process what had just happened.

She flopped onto her mat, too tired to undress.

The subtle scent of her shampoo lingered in the fabric, and the smell of it instantly pulled her under.

Chapter Text

New Year’s Eve, 169 AG

"It all comes down to repetition," Rei said. "Match the name to its given location and function, and keep checking 'til you get it right.”

"Here I was, just… reading the scrolls over and over again to drill the information into my head!”

Rei suppressed a giggle. "W-well, when the time comes for your evaluation, you'll need to be able to locate chi points at the drop of a hat. This should help.”

“Got it.” Her trainee nodded with determination. “I won’t let you down, ma’am!”

Rei was caught off guard by the honorific.

It'd been well over a month, but it still felt strange for people to address her as their superior.

“D-don't worry about me…,” she dismissed. “The only people you need to impress are yourself and Amon.”

She could see that he was nervous at the mention of the name, so she reached out to give him a reassuring squeeze.

"Oh, shoot," she cursed, checking the time. "S-sorry, that’s gonna be it for today’s lesson!”

It was unfortunate that she was a creature of habit.

Ever since she’d been assigned her new role, none of her days followed the same schedule. Nightly now, she was following Liu to random locations at random times, subjugating triads, and surrendering them to the vacant lot behind the police headquarters. She'd even been allowed to lead a mission on her own, though it was easily the most exhausting ordeal she'd undertaken in her whole life.

She wondered how any of the other Equalist captains had ever been able to keep up.

Something told her that they were just as afraid of disappointing Amon as she was.

Likewise, she’d been given her first training assignment. The recruit that she was working with was set to become a captain, himself, by the start of spring. According to Liu, Amon had found him in an alleyway downtown, fending off a group of Red Monsoons all on his own. She could already tell he was going to be a great fit. Much like herself, he was enamored with the art of chi-blocking.

“There she is…!” Liu’s voice greeted her as she walked down the tunnel. He strode up alongside her. "I’ve been looking for you."

“Oh…?” Rei prompted.

“What're your plans for the night?” he asked.

She paused.

“You do realize that unless you or Amon say otherwise… I have no plans.” She lifted a brow. “Ever.”

Liu laughed. "Well, how 'bout an escape, then?”

She gave him a skeptical stare. “An… escape?”

"Yes," he affirmed. "I was thinking, maybe you’d like to join me up on the surface?"

Rei turned to him fully now. “What, like… on a mission?”

“No." He shook his head. "This'll just be a fun little outing between coworkers.”

“Oh, an outing…,” she teased. “You mean, like a date?”

“Spirits, no,” he scoffed. “You’re cute, but you’re not my type. I'd just like some company, is all.”

"Company?" Rei feigned in offense. “Is that all I am to you?”

He rolled his eyes. “Is it a yes, or a no?”

Rei shrugged, returning to her stroll. “Wha'd'ya have in mind?”

"It’s New Year’s, sweetheart…,” he supplied. “The only acceptable activity is drinking.” Before she could protest, he strode past her. "We leave at sundown. Should give us plenty of time to get ready. I’ll come get you when I’m done.”

"W-wait—," she sputtered, but he was already far ahead of her.

"And I don’t care what you wear," he called over his shoulder, "—so long as it’s something other than that damned uniform!”

Rei had enlisted Mera’s help as soon as she'd returned from the mess hall. Miraculously, the woman had a small stash of cosmetic items which Rei was able to borrow for the night.

She knelt on the floor of Mera's room that evening while the woman sat behind her, fastening her hair into a bun.

“This is so exciting!” Mera chimed. “Where're y'all going?”

"Oh, uh…," Rei faltered. "L-Liu didn't say."

Her friend failed to notice her trepidation.

“Oooh, fun! A surprise!"

Mera’s hands left the back of her head.

Rei turned to look up at her.

“H-how do I look?”

Mera clutched her chest. “Like a dream…”

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?" Rei offered. "I could convince Liu to—”

“No," Mera cut in. "I already told you. I’d be a third wheel.”

Though she hadn’t outrightly said it, Rei felt the need to clarify.

“L-Liu and I are just… friends.”

Mera was unfazed. “Yes, well… Let’s get you dressed now, shall we?”

Rei led the woman back to her own bunk. When she opened the door, Mera gasped.

“Spirits—where did that come from?!”

“O-oh, uhm… it was a birthday gift… t-to myself.”

“Ah! It’s stunning!” Mera squealed.

Rei blushed, searching for the bag with her necklace. She turned, holding it up for the other woman.

"W-would you help me put this on…?”

Mera grabbed the pearls without hesitation.

“When'll y'all be leaving?” she asked, fastening the clasp at the back of Rei's neck.

Rei peered over at her watch that she’d left on the bed.

“Hm… anytime now, I think. Liu said sundown, so—”

She was jostled by the sudden impact of Mera’s body slamming into her own.

“I hope you have a great time!"

Rei leaned tentatively into the embrace. “Th-thanks, I… I hope so, too.”

They bid each other farewell, Mera returning to her bunk. Rei finished dressing, fastening her heels, and donning her jacket. She found her stash of money and pulled out a couple of hundred yuans, enough to buy a few hours worth of drinks. She tucked it into her pocket along with her watch.

As if on cue, a knock arrived at her door.

Her jaw fell open when she saw him.

Clad in a pair of pinstriped trousers, Liu stood gallantly in the doorway. A matching suit coat was slung over his shoulder, his usually messy mop slicked back into the perfect coif. His shirt, a stark white button-down, was left open to reveal some of his chest. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his forearms as well.

Rei scoffed, hardly able to find the words with which to greet him.

“Liu… You look—”

“Good? I know.” He winked, giving her a once-over. “Not so bad yourself.”

Rei smiled. "Th-thanks."

As they started into the tunnels, she became acutely aware of just how quiet everything was.

“W-where is everyone…?”

“Out,” Liu stated simply.

"Are there no missions tonight?” she asked. 

“The festivities taking place tonight make the likelihood of civilian interference far too high." He threw a glance over his shoulder. "So, to answer your question, no."

When they reached the door, Rei braced herself for the cold. The bitterness of winter was now upon them, making its presence irrefutably known. Up on the sidewalk, Liu finally put his jacket on. He stuck his thumb out for a cab, and when one pulled up, opened the door to let her in first.

"Very gentlemanly…," Rei teased, and he rolled his eyes.

Once they were situated, the driver addressed Liu in the rearview.

“Where to?”

“The Annex,” Liu instructed, and Rei perked up; she recalled mention of this place from a few of her fellow dancers.

As they merged into traffic, Liu reached into his jacket. He pulled out a cigarette and held it up between his fingers.

“Can I smoke in here?”

The driver shrugged. “Sure, need a light?”

Liu shook his head and placed the spliff between his lips, procuring his own. Rei watched him spark the flint, bringing the flame to the tip. He puffed it a few times before taking a long drag.

Rei teased him again. “You know, those things are horrible for your health…”

Liu cast her a glare. “Shut up."

Amidst the evening traffic, it was a slow ride downtown. Liu had gone through three whole cigarettes before they pulled up to the venue.

He paid the driver handsomely, holding the door open for Rei once more.

The place was crawling with patronage. She locked eyes on a group of men smoking out front, a few of them returning her stare. Others, she noticed, had their attention focused on Liu.

Inside, it was dim. A small stage in the corner propped up a live band, a buoyant mix of strings and percussion filling the place with dynamic sound. A vast majority of the interior was dedicated to the dance floor, but there were cozy little lounges spaces along the perimeter. In the back was a bar that spanned almost the entirety of a single wall.

The liquor appeared to be copious.

Her favorite type.

Before they were able to move past the entryway, a bouncer blocked their path, demanding identification. Rei panicked before Liu flashed his own, placing a hand on the small of her back to inform the bouncer that she was with him.

Needless to say, she was mildly impressed.

Over at the bar, Liu divested himself of his jacket before helping her out of her own. She turned to grab the garment from him but found that he'd stopped to stare.

Rei looked down at herself, then back up at him with a sheepish grin.

“It’s a… long story,” she explained, stealing back her coat.

Liu merely shook his head. As they assumed their seats, a bartender appeared before them.

“Whisky, on the rocks,” Liu dictated without so much as an introduction.

The bartender looked toward Rei. “And for the lady…?”

Liu took it upon himself to order for her.

“She’ll have a water.”

“I will not!” she objected. “Two whiskies, please.”

The bartender nodded, slinking off to fill their glasses.

“What was that about?” Rei griped. “Am I not allowed to enjoy myself?”

Liu grimaced. “Just don’t wanna end up babysitting you, is all…”

Rei narrowed her eyes. “I’ll have you know, sir—,” she spat the word sardonically, “—that I am perfectly capable of holding my liquor.”

Liu shrugged. “If you say so…”

Rei rolled her eyes.

When the bartender returned, she'd barely lifted the glass to her lips before the sound of a cup smacking against the counter resounded next to her.

Liu had downed his drink in a single gulp.

“Weren’t you lecturing me about alcohol, like… two seconds ago?” Rei asked, incredulous.

“Much like you," he held the empty glass over his head to signal for another, "—I plan on enjoying myself this evening.”

The bartender returned with a fresh pour, and Liu brought the glass to his lips for another—albeit, slower—swig.

“You know, you don’t have to get hammered to have fun," Rei suggested.

His brows shot up. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

His eyes, she saw, began scanning the length of the bar. What exactly he was looking for, she didn't know, nor she didn't care to know. Instead, she took another sip of her own drink, glancing longingly at the dance floor behind her.

Tonight, she too wanted to let go and forget about her troublesome life, if only for a few hours.

Something curious struck her, and she turned back to Liu.

"So… how many drinks does it take to get you out on the dance floor?”

He shook his head.

Rei balked. “What? You don’t dance?!”

"No," Liu answered, before sneering a bit cruelly. "Not like you, anyway.”

Rei was mindful enough to pick up on the insult.

“You know what—?” She stood, affronted. “Screw you.”

Shooting back the rest of her whiskey, she slammed the glass down. She reached into her pocket and tossed a few bills onto the counter. Liu's amused gaze followed her as she marched off to the dance floor.

With the heat of the whiskey now coursing through her, she began to move with the music.

She fell into a seamless rhythm, disappearing amidst the crowd.

A few hours later, midnight was fast approaching.

She'd danced by her lonesome for most of the night, relishing the scarce bit of freedom that presented itself. At some point, she’d lost sight of Liu, having found her coat and money carelessly unattended. While others in the club were starting to couple up in preparation for their New Year’s kisses, Rei returned to the bar for a drink; she'd already settled upon a shot of liquor as her midnight lover. She took the tiny glass from the bartender's hand, placing it on the counter. She pulled out her watch and stared as the second hand ticked. There was only a minute left until the new day, and everything had slowed to a standstill; the band had stopped playing, and the clamor had quieted. One of the bartenders had hoisted himself onto the counter, holding his watch in the air as he began the countdown.

“Ten, nine, eight,” he called, and the rest joined in, “seven, six, five, four—”

Rei raised the glass to her lips.

“—three, two—”

Her eyes closed as she tipped it back.

“—one! HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

While everyone else broke out into cheers, her throat seared with pain. An image flashed behind her eyes—there and gone before she could grasp it. All that she recognized was the cold stare, shrouded in ivory. She shot up and turned around, searching for the owner of the haunting gaze, but all that she saw was the sight of couples kissing.

Suddenly, she felt very overwhelmed; everything was too loud—too close. She needed to get out, find Liu, and head back to the base. She looked around once more, this time searching for her friend—but she couldn't find him anywhere. She remembered the group of men out front, thinking that perhaps he’d gone outside to smoke. Maybe he'd gotten caught up in conversation and forgot the time.

Rei paid for her drinks and left.

Out on the damp sidewalk, she was dismayed to find only two men—neither of whom was Liu. She contemplated going back in and waiting for him to show up, but doubted that she could get back inside without him. Nevertheless, her better judgment told her that he was still outside; he'd probably just taken a walk or slipped away somewhere to smoke in peace. Rei followed her intuition along the side of the building and down a slender alleyway. She squinted, but couldn’t see anyone loitering in the dark.

"Liu…?" she called, and there was no answer.

So, she continued onward, nearing the rear of the building—but just as she was about to round the corner, a strange noise stopped her in her tracks. She was almost certain that she'd imagined it, until she heard it again, more clearly.

Was someone… moaning?

Perplexed, she leaned just far enough to peer her head around the corner. Much to her surprise, she found Liu; he was not even ten feet away, leaning against the side of the building.

He wasn’t alone; there was another man, kneeling in front of him. His head rocked back and forth as Liu’s hand clutched at his hair. Liu’s head was thrown back rapturously against the wall, his brow furrowed in concentration. Dubiously, Rei could not bring herself to look away. She became aware of another noise echoing against the walls, subtler than the first—a soft, wet suckling noise that caused her skin to tingle the moment she realized what it was. It was soon drowned out by another moan, and the sound of Liu’s voice drew her attention back to his face.

“Fuck,” he hissed through his teeth, looking down at the man before him, “—I’m close.”

Her hands came up to stifle a gasp as she ducked behind the corner, hoping with every fiber of her being that neither of the men had heard. She scampered back down the alley and out onto the street, collapsing on a nearby stoop. She sat there for what felt like hours, drunkenly reeling at what she'd just seen. She was so dazed that she didn't even notice when he returned.

He cleared his throat, snapping her out of her stupor. “And you're on the ground… because?”

She looked up to find him staring down at her quizzically. His shirt was untucked, and his suspenders hung from his waist.

She struggled to come up with a safe explanation. “I, uh… c-came out here to cool off, and, uh… f-figured I'd just… catch you on your way out.”

He extended his arm to help her up, and she accepted it. “D'ya not enjoy yourself?” he asked.

“N-no, I…," Rei struggled to speak as she came to her feet, "—I think I just got overheated." It wasn’t a lie. “Do you, um… f-feel better?” she asked, trying to sound innocuous.

Liu’s brow shot up. “Better…?”

“Yeah, you were, in uh… a bit of a mood earlier,” she pointed out.

He didn't answer, but his mouth quirked into a smile.

Liu instructed the cab driver to drop them off at midtown. At first, Rei didn’t recognize their location, but as she took a closer look, she realized that they were only a few blocks away from the secret alleyway that led to the base. She walked with Liu, fully expecting him to take them there—but they wound up in front of a liquor store instead.

“Wait here,” he said.

Rei did nothing but stand and watch as he slipped into the shop; if Liu wanted to keep drinking, she couldn’t bring herself to muster any sort of resistance.

She was simply too buzzed to care.

He reappeared no more than five minutes later with a small brown bag clutched in his fist. “Let’s go.” He gestured down the sidewalk.

Rei followed, staying close as he ducked behind an unfamiliar building. It dawned on her then that most of her free time was now spent within the city’s crevices, and she absently wondered what that might suggest of her character.

As they came upon an old, rusty door, Liu stopped, finding a brick that was sticking haphazardly out of the wall and wriggling it free from its setting. From within the hollow cavity, he produced a key.

“What is this place…?” Rei wondered aloud as he replaced the brick.

He turned the key in the door and yanked the thing open stubbornly. “Old production plant,” he supplied, holding it open for her.

Rei stepped inside, peering up through the center of the stairwell. She counted more than a dozen flights. “How come we're here?” she asked.

“I used to work here as a teenager,” he stated, “—but it’s been abandoned for more than a decade now.”

Rei furrowed her brows. "That… still doesn't explain why we're—"

“You’ll see in a minute.” He strode past her up the staircase.

So, she followed. It was a long way up, and the alcohol in her system was not helping; she was dizzy before they even reached the top.

Liu grasped the handle of the door that presented itself upon their landing. “Ready?” he asked.

Rei could only huff and nod as Liu pushed it open. She moved through, promptly greeted by nothing more than cold darkness; in front of her were only the dim lights of the suburbs and the faint outline of Earth Kingdom mountains in the distance. Liu stepped past, directing her in the opposite direction. The moment they cleared the bulkhead, she was blown away by what she saw. She'd always enjoyed the view of the city at night, but nothing could compare to her current vantage; they were situated just far enough away from downtown that all of the skyscrapers fell perfectly into frame, and the whole city radiated with nightlife, twinkling under the soft glow of the moon.

It was gorgeous.

Liu must have been watching her, because his words echoed what she was thinking. “Nice, huh?”

Rei tore her eyes away to look at him. “Stunning,” she breathed.

He moved toward the edge of the building. “I like to come up here once in a while to clear my head," he said, taking a seat atop the domed lid of one of the old metal turbines and removing the liquor from its bag.

Rei followed him over and plopped down next to him. Liu had already ripped the foil from the spout, exposing the cork. He gripped it with his teeth and yanked it out. He immediately spat the cork, launching it over the edge of the building.

“Why’d you do that for?” Rei asked, watching it fall.

He grinned, dangling the bottle in the air. “We're gonna finish this tonight.”

She was no connoisseur, but she knew high-end liquor when she saw it: a flat pint of hundred-proof whiskey.

She sat in disbelief as Liu brought the bottle to his lips and took a swig, wincing as he swallowed before extending it out to her. Begrudgingly, she accepted the thing and brought it up to her nose. It smelled of crisp oak and a slight fruity aroma—different from the usual bite of whiskey. Not wanting to appear ungrateful, she took a swig. Instantly, she was met with a spark of sweetness: vanilla, honey, and jasmine, all blossoming across her tongue. She savored it for a moment before gulping it down.

It was a slow burn. The warmth crept over her body, forming a thin layer of sheen across her skin.

“You gonna make it?” Liu asked, amused by her discomfort.

Unable to pull words out of her still-searing throat, she simply nodded and handed the bottle back to him. Liu accepted it and took another swig. Graciously, he didn't force her to take a second shot, setting the bottle down between his legs instead. He pulled another cigarette from his coat, striking it up and puffing it as he looked out over the city. As they sat there, slowly settling into a comfortable numbness, Rei was hit with a sudden desire for more details.

They were friends now, and friends should know things about each other.

“How did you meet Amon?” she blurted.

Liu was caught off guard. “E-excuse me?” he coughed through his smoke. “Where did that come from?”

Rei shrugged, too anesthetized for tact. “I’m curious to know how a teenage day laborer becomes second-in-command to Republic City’s best-kept secret.”

Liu blinked at her. He puffed his cigarette a few more times before leaning in with a heavy, smoke-filled sigh. “I was nineteen years old,” he started, “—first recruit.”

Rei's mind reeled, but she stayed silent; she wanted nothing more than for Liu to finish.

"One night, I was getting jumped behind a club downtown. A group of triple threats ran up on me while I was…," he faltered, seeming to catch himself, "—w-while I had my back turned. I put up a good fight, but it wasn't enough. They had me outnumbered, and I was on the ground in no time. I don’t know how many hits I took before it finally stopped. I thought they’d just gotten bored or something… but when I opened my eyes, I realized that someone had come to my aid. He’d subdued them in less than a minute. I got back to my feet and asked him how he’d done it… he told me, the only way I could find out was by joining him… that he could teach me everything he knew.”

“Amon taught you how to chi block?” she asked, astounded.

“Yes,” he said, “—a lot has happened between then and now, but… that’s the gist of it.”

Rei blinked a few times, curious about something else. “Has he always worn the mask?”

Liu bobbed his head. “Ever since I’ve known him. Probably before that, too.”

“Why…?” Rei pressed.

“He says it’s to cover a scar.” Liu shrugged. “I haven’t seen it, but I imagine it's gotta be bad for him to keep it hidden all the time.” He puffed his cigarette. “Now, though, I can’t imagine him without it… it’s how people recognize him—his persona.”

Funny; Rei had always felt that Amon’s eyes were his most recognizable feature, not his mask.

The liquor had her attention waning, so she stuck out her arm, demanding Liu hand her the bottle for another sip. He obliged, and she noticed that it burned a lot less the second time around.

“Tell me about the person you killed,” she prompted.

Liu wrenched himself up, looking at her with offense.

“I think that’s enough for you,” he snatched the bottle from her hand, “—I wouldn’t have given you top-shelf whiskey if I’d known it was gonna turn you into a psychopath.”

Rei frowned, impetuous. “Weren’t you the one who told me not to be ashamed of it?”

Liu narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m not ashamed, but I don’t revel in it either. It wasn’t my finest hour… as I’m sure you understand." He flicked the remainder of his cigarette over the edge of the building and immediately lit up another. She held an open hand out toward him, and Liu propped the cigarette between his lips, staring at her with a raised brow. “You smoke?” 

“Sometimes,” Rei answered, “—usually not tobacco, though.”

He shook his head, incredulous, but plucked another cigarette from his almost empty box and gave it to her. He lent her his lighter too after he was done sparking his own. She recalled what Akasha taught her about lighting spliffs, sucking on it softly to make sure that it caught evenly. She inhaled a long, steady drag before handing the lighter back to Liu. They sat in silence for another few minutes before speaking again.

“If you’re so eager to discuss killing, why don’t we talk about yours?” he asked.

The liquor had her thoroughly numb. She met his gaze, unwavering. “Wha'd'ya wanna know?”

Liu contemplated her for a second. “Why’d'ya do it?”

She grabbed the liquor again, putting forth an easy answer once it was in her hands. “Self-defense."

“Bullshit,” Liu smirked, “—I remember the look in your eyes that night… you wanted revenge.”

Rei’s chest twisted into an uncomfortable knot.

Her coat suddenly felt like it was smothering her, so she juggled the cigarette and bottle between her hands, pulling her arms from the sleeves. She crossed her legs, steadying herself with another puff of her cigarette before forcing a response. “I… thought he was gonna rape me.” She was surprised by the sense of clarity that came with this admission; it was the first time that she’d ever acknowledged it. Liu had yet to respond, prompting her to search his expression. It was mostly blank, but behind the blue-gray shield of his eyes, she saw pity. It wasn’t to belittle her, no—he was simply showing his concern in the only way he knew how. He was never one to coddle, and she was grateful for it; his straightforward demeanor is exactly what compelled her to go on. "My… resistance…," she grimaced, "—was what caused the fight in the first place, I'm pretty sure. Sometimes I think, if I’d just let him have his way, no one would have—”

“Not true,” Liu said, instantly snapping her out of her trance. “If you'd let that happen… someone still would have died.”

“W-who…?” she asked wearily.

He fixed her with a look. “You."

Rei swallowed.

“You might think that being reduced to an object for a few hours is a cheap price to pay," he said, "—but you’d never be the same. Your ability to trust—to love… all of it would've been ruined for you indefinitely.”

For this, Rei had no words. She just took another stiff swig from the bottle and handed it back. She watched him take a swig of his own while her mind lingered on what he’d left her with.

Trust.

Love.

“Hey, why didn’t you tell me you were gay?” she blurted.

The liquor in his mouth was sprayed into the air. “W—w-what?” he sputtered, trying not to choke. His cigarette fell to the ground while he fought to regain his breath. “What makes you ask that?”

Rei grinned sheepishly. “I was looking for you when I stepped outside earlier, and, uh…,” she faltered, unsure of how to explain herself, “—heard… some… things…”

Liu just stared at her with incredulity before his mouth split into a crooked grin. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?” He shook his head. “A little booze and then bam, your humility flies out the window!” His laughter died off with another shake of his head. “What can I say?” He shrugged. "You caught me…”

Rei furrowed her brow. “Caught? Were you trying to hide it?”

He moved to take another swig, finishing the one from earlier that she’d interrupted, and handed the bottle back to her. “I don’t like people knowing… they tend to treat me differently once they’re aware.”

She felt the need to clarify. “M-my opinion of you hasn’t changed…"

He smiled. “I know."

They shared another moment of silence until her impulses came back to ruin it. “Does Amon know?”

His long uptake of breath let her know that this was a touchy subject. He leaned back, looking out towards the city. “He's aware."

The change in his demeanor had her speculating. “Have you and him ever…,” she trailed off, unsure how to convey the message.

“No,” Liu snorted, “—that man is completely, categorically, tragically straight.”

Another question began to rise in her throat, but she flicked the long-forgotten cigarette over the edge of the building and brought the whiskey up to chug, forcibly washing it down.

“Spirits woman, slow down!” Liu scolded. The bottle was nearly drained by the time he'd coaxed it out of her hands. He held the meager amount of remaining liquid up in the air, aghast. “I bought this for both of us, you know…"

Rei couldn’t stop the laughter that erupted from her still-burning throat. She coughed through the pain. “So… w-what’s his name…?”

Liu quirked his brow, tipping the bottle to siphon the last dregs of alcohol. “Who?”

“Your lover.” She put a scandalous emphasis on the word.

Liu finished the bottle, sliding it over the nearest corner of the rooftop. He waited for the glass to shatter before eyeing her playfully. “Oh? You mean that sweet little earthbender who was on his knees for me?”

She faked a gasp, playing along. “An earthbender! Dubious choice, lieutenant… some might even call it treachery.”

“What can I say…,” he shrugged lazily, “—there’s just something so satisfying about seeing a dumb, arrogant bender on the ground… begging me to shove my cock in his mouth.” Rei’s jaw fell open in actual shock before her head fell back in laughter as Liu continued. “I’m ashamed to say that it’s more than just earthbenders too, captain… benders of every nation have swallowed my seed. Please, tell the troops that I'm sorry for my treachery—”

For the next few minutes, he had her in complete hysterics.

Rei didn’t know what time it was, nor did she care.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so drunk.

She’d only come to this awareness after falling down an entire flight of stairs on their descent from the rooftop. Liu had taken it upon himself to point and laugh for a whole minute before he finally came to her aid. If only a bit bruised, Rei too thought the whole ordeal to be hilarious and laughed right along with him. She couldn't stop giggling the entire way back to the base. She was so inebriated that Liu was forced to hold her upright. She leaned into him heavily, all the while tripping over her feet. It was such a sorry sight that Liu had to keep checking over his shoulder for passersby; even in her state, Rei knew that carrying a drunken woman into an alley never boded well for a man, regardless of his intentions. When they reached the vault door, he practically had to pick her up and carry her—due to the unfortunate circumstance that the stairwell would not stop spinning.

He slumped her against the cold cement wall as he tended to the lock, escorting her through the opening once his hands were free again. She vaguely registered the sound of him kicking the door closed as they entered the tunnel. The walls rocked back and forth as they walked.

“Gues'what, Liu?!” she loudly prompted.

“Shhhh…,” he hushed, “—we need to stay quiet.”

“Oh,” she mouthed, starting over, “—gues'what?”

He sighed, humoring her. “What?”

“I know the real reas'n Amon gave you 'n assistant…,” she slurred.

He raised an amused brow. “Oh?”

“Mhm…,” she hiccoughed, “—s'cause he knew that you needed a friend.” He looked down at her with exasperation, and Rei giggled. With her drunken stumbling, it was a snail's pace down the tunnel, and they only made it halfway before her coat slipped onto the floor. “Whoopsies!” she exclaimed, turning as it fell. She left Liu’s side to grab it, but upon bending over, immediately lost her balance and tumbled face-first into the ground. She felt no pain as she collided with the floor—a recognition which had her giggling deliriously.

“Shhhh!” he hushed, picking up the coat and helping her to her feet. “I told you to stay quiet!”

“Oops! Sorry…,” Rei hissed, remembering to whisper.

They fell back into a discombobulated stroll—but didn't make it very far before a familiar presence announced itself. “Lieutenant.”

Amon’s voice brought them to a standstill.

Rei looked up at her companion with shameless, drunken surprise; she was still unable to control her giggles.

“What's this?” Amon pressed, his tone heavy with dissatisfaction.

Liu sighed, turning them around. “What's what, sir?” he asked, much less respectfully than normal.

Amon’s eyes narrowed. He stepped closer, folding his hands behind his back. “You’re intoxicated…,” his cold eyes landed on Rei, “—both of you.”

The same liquor that had her so careless was also affecting Liu, as he replied spitefully, “Given the circumstances, I fail to see the issue with that, sir.”

If it were possible, she could swear that Amon’s eyes narrowed some more. “The issue is that this behavior is unbecoming of my two highest subordinates. To have the both of you incapacitated presents a serious vulnerability—”

“I’m not even close to being incapacitated,” Liu interjected.

Amon glared at him for a long moment before flicking his eyes toward the woman propped at his side. “What can you say for her?”

Liu shrugged. “She told me she could hold her liquor.”

Amon stalked forward. “You are her direct superior,” he hissed, sending shivers down Rei’s spine, "—you know better than to encourage this sort of behavior. Take her back to the barracks and report to me first thing in the morning.”

Before Amon could turn away, Liu straightened. “No.”

Fixing his lieutenant with a cold stare, Amon grated: “You dare to refuse my orders?”

Liu was unfazed. “You don't care that she’s drunk. You’re upset that someone else is having fun with your brand-new prized possession.”

Rei could hardly retain any of what she was hearing; now that they'd stopped moving, she was having a hard time staying awake.

“You know what?” Liu prompted, jostling her and dragging her to the nearest wall. Her legs instantly gave out and she slid to the ground. “She’s all yours.”

That was the last she heard of Liu’s voice before the blur of his feet faded off into the distance. Her eyes began to droop.

She was tired… so, so tired.

She couldn’t remember where she was, or what was happening. Her body was like a lead anvil, rooted to the ground—but then suddenly, something had snaked beneath her knees and behind her back, and she was weightless. Her face was pressed against a warm surface, and she could hear a low, steady thumping. Comforted, she nestled her head and heaved a deep sigh.

The smell was divine.

She thought that she might be dreaming, but it was hard to tell; everything felt so vivid—so lucid—yet somehow, impossibly serene. The only thing that she could think of was how safe and warm she felt in this new place.

Eventually, the floating stopped. Barely able to open her heavy lids, Rei noticed that she was back in her bunk. She also noticed that she was propped against someone’s chest, so she peered up to see who it was.

Her eyes landed on his neck first, fixating on the exposed swath of dusky skin. Her gaze trailed upwards, where she was met with the smooth ivory planes of his mask. Intrigued, she reached up, placing a finger on the dot above his brow and trailing down the sharp ridge of his nose. She passed the tip, jogging down to the firm porcelain lips and stroking them gently. Her eyes crawled back up, searching for the stare that haunted her darkest dreams. There, she saw that he was looking at her with considerable interest—but when his eyes met hers, he seemed to snap out of it. He shifted suddenly, unhooking the arm beneath her knees.

The loss of contact made her stomach drop.

Her hand shot out to catch his wrist, halting his movements. She pulled him closer, relishing the warmth of his skin. Curiously, she brought his fingers to her lips, and opened her mouth, pushing them inside. Completely enveloping him with her tongue, she closed her mouth and let them rest there, savoring the taste of him with a small hum of enjoyment. She cradled his palm with both hands, leisurely pulling them from her mouth as she sucked evenly. She took lewd pleasure in the noises it created.

She held his fingers up in the air then, appreciating how they glistened under the dim light. Spurred by the sight, she slipped her dress over her knees, exposing her thighs. She guided him by the wrist, directing him towards her aching core. He did not speak, moving with her with steady compliance. His fingers grazed the inside of her thigh, and she shivered with anticipation. She brought his hand to rest atop her panties, knowing that the fabric was already wet.

The soft pressure was agony; she craved some kind of friction.

Anything… please.

She pushed down, encouraging him to move, but he remained utterly—infuriatingly—still. She started moving for him, guiding his fingers into small circles—enough to give her some of the satisfaction that she so desperately desired. She continued, and the tension between her legs grew steadily tighter. She buried her face into his chest, moaning with pleasure.

Everything felt so real.

The promise of her release was more tangible than ever.

Just as she was reaching the edge, everything vanished; the heat at her side was stripped away, and the arm at her back was removed. She whined, frantically searching for him. She craned her neck to find that he was standing above her, looking down at her with cold indifference.

“Sleep… child…,” he grated, turning his back and taking one long stride toward the door.

No—he was not going to dictate her dreams like this.

She wrenched up, propping herself on the bed and staring at him with indignation. “I am not a child,” she declared.

He halted under the doorframe, looking back at her. Oblivious to the fact that her dress was still drawn up, Rei held his gaze; for a moment it shot down to the area between her thighs before moving back up to her face.

With only the dim backlighting of the hallway, she saw something flicker in his eyes. “Perhaps…,” he conceded, then closed the door, engulfing her in darkness.

Chapter Text

New Year’s Day, 170 AG

Rei awoke to a pounding in her head. Her eyelids felt like sandpaper as she opened them.

Her tongue tasted like cotton, and her throat was raw. All that she could discern was thirst. She needed to swallow, but her mouth refused to produce the necessary saliva. She pushed up—an action that immediately proved to be a mistake. She wasn't even vertical when the room suddenly shifted, and her stomach lurched. The moisture she’d been missing only moments ago was now flooding the back of her tongue.

Oh no—she clamped a hand over her mouth and scanned her bunk for the nearest receptacle, but there was nothing in the immediate vicinity. She shot up from her bed, yanking her door open violently. The movement twisted her stomach into painful knots, and it was all that she could do to suppress the churning contents. She darted down the corridor toward the washroom, barreling past the sinks to the toilets. She didn’t check to see if she was alone before skirting into the nearest stall and falling to her knees.

She braced herself, and for a handful of seconds, was convinced that maybe her jog had somehow abated her nausea. She let go of her breath, however, and the movement jostled her stomach. A slick heat crawled up the back of her neck, and she slumped forward, whining in discomfort before the abrasive liquid reached her throat. She screwed her eyes shut, each retch leaving her body with a slow recoil.

When her heaving finally began to slow, she became aware of the presence of slender fingers at the back of her neck. Too ill to be startled, she looked to the side and recognized Mera’s skinny hands. The woman had appeared from seemingly nowhere to collect the stray locks that were hanging over the toilet. The gentle attention sent shivers down Rei's back, causing her stomach to distend. Another nauseating cramp hit her, and she moaned with defiance.

“Shhh…,” Mera hushed, “—the sooner you let it pass, the sooner it’ll be over.”

Rei reluctantly released the tension, allowing her body to be wracked with another bout of retching. It continued until all of the contents of her stomach were gone, and all that she could produce were dry heaves. She caught her breath, steadying herself. With eyes closed, she fell back to her haunches, collapsing against the cool metal of the stall. The toilet must have been flushed then because Rei heard the sounds of water churning next to her head.

It was obnoxiously loud.

She kept her eyes shut, afraid that if she moved she would start retching again. It may have been minutes or hours that she sat there, completely immobile. Eventually, she was roused by crinkling noises and opened one of her eyes to see what was causing them.

Mera had knelt before her with a glass of water and a sleeve of crackers, attempting to open them. The brightness of the room caused Rei to wince and melt even further into the ground. Eventually, the noises stopped, and Rei was almost certain that she’d slipped back into unconsciousness when she felt something brittle poking at her lips. She flinched, tucking her chin to her shoulder and grumbling in dissatisfaction.

“Come on,” Mera chided, “—you need to eat.”

Rei was nauseated by the thought. She kept her face to the side, grimacing.

Mera pressed the cracker to her lips once more. “It tastes like nothing, I promise.”

Begrudgingly, Rei parted her lips and allowed the cracker to slide between her teeth. She took a tiny nibble, coaxing the crumbs to the back of her throat; the porous texture absorbed the lingering taste of vomit. She swallowed, and something else was suddenly being pressed to her lips. She perked up, tilting the glass into her mouth so that she could gulp the precious liquid.

Then, all too soon, it was stolen from her.

She opened her eyes to find that Mera had set the glass down. “You should slow down if you don’t wanna end up back over the toilet.”

Rei had no choice but to heed her friend’s advice as another cracker was brought to her lips. She opened her mouth and allowed herself to be fed, chewing each bite and washing them down with staggered sips of water. When they made it through half of the sleeve, Rei reached out and took it from Mera’s hands. Her lucidity was returning, and the awareness of being hand-fed was making her woefully embarrassed.

As she nibbled, Rei wracked her brain, realizing with some anxiety that there was much about the previous night that she couldn't recall. The last clear memory that she had was of her and Liu on the rooftop. She remembered everything from the club—and behind the club—as well as the very beginnings of their drunken escapades.

After that, her mind was coming up blank. Somehow, she’d made it back to her bunk, and the only logical conclusion she could come up with was that Liu must have dropped her off.

Rei smiled at the thought, unaware that Mera was still watching her. “I take it you had a good time?”

The question pulled Rei from her rumination. She cleared her throat, shrugging her shoulders. “Um… yeah. From what I can remember.”

“I figured that you'd sleep through breakfast, but lunch too…,” Mera shook her head, smiling, “—judging by how I found you, I’m not surprised you blacked out.”

“What?" Rei froze, processing what her friend had just said. "What time is it?”

“Oh…," Mera lazily checked her watch, "—about… two o’clock."

Rei’s chest seized. The half-eaten sleeve of crackers slipped from her clammy hands, smacking against the floor. “I—I-I have to go," she croaked as she sought to scramble onto her legs, "—now!” 

“Ohhh no you don't!” Mera admonished, grabbing her by the arm. “You’re not going anywhere until you’ve had a meal and a change of clothes.”

Huh—?

Rei looked down at the pink frock that she was still wearing. Her eyes then fell even further to her maroon pumps, still strapped to her feet, and she sighed. The moment she found Liu, she needed to thank him; she could not have been easy to deal with last night.

The sound of running water drew her attention, and she saw that Mera had turned on a shower head for her. “Let’s get you cleaned up before you get back to duty,” she suggested, although it was a bit more than a suggestion.

“Mera,” Rei pleaded, “—this is all very sweet, but I don’t have the time—”

“Oh relax, will you?” her friend snapped, kneeling fussily to unbuckle the straps of Rei’s shoes. “The lieutenant told me to inform you that he’s taken care of everything. All that he said was to make sure you're reasonably functioning before supper. You’re to report to him for a mission.” She yanked Rei’s shoes off and set them aside, then stood up and held out her hands.

“And… y-you're sure?” Rei sputtered.

Mera simply regarded her with exasperation. “Do you think I would lie to you?” Rei shook her head, accepting her friend's assistance. “Exactly,” Mera retorted, “—now, lift your arms.”

Rei did as she was told, and felt the brush of Mera’s fingers as her dress came over her head. Cold air graced her skin as her body was divested of everything except her underwear. She held her arms against her chest as Mera folded the crumpled garment in her hands, assessing it forlornly.

“I’ll see what I can do to get this clean…,” she looked back up to Rei, “—get washed up, and I’ll have some tea and rice waiting for you in your bunk when you’re finished.”

Rei nodded, watching her friend exit the room. Mera had left behind the glass of water, and whether it was intentional or not, Rei found herself grateful. She picked it up and finished it greedily. She slipped out of her underwear then and scampered for the shower, where the stall was now enveloped in plumes of comforting steam. As the heat of the downpour wrapped around her, she relished the sensation.

Rei spent the rest of the day lazing around in her bunk. Mera had indeed delivered some food—simple things that would soothe her stomach. She'd also delivered a vial of pain relief tonic, which Rei shot back in a single gulp. Her headache subsided, and over the afternoon, she nibbled away at her food, gently diluting the remaining hangover from her system. She kept an eye on the clock to ensure that she’d arrive early for supper, and after consuming a full meal, went straight back to her bunk. She planned to nap for a few more hours before she needed to meet up with Liu. When that time finally arrived, she rolled out of bed and dragged herself to the warehouse. Liu was easy to spot with his gray garb.

She approached him sheepishly, unsure of what to say.

He beat her to the punch. “Aha… so she is alive.”

Rei grimaced. “Barely…”

Liu grinned, prompting her with a tone of sarcasm. “I’m curious to know how your morning went. You were noticeably absent from your training duties…”

Rei rolled her eyes; she was not in the mood for cheeky banter. “Thank you…,” she grumbled, though her gratitude was sincere.

“No problem," Liu gruffed, "—besides, standing in for you this morning allowed me to avoid some penalties.”

"Penalties?" Rei furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

“Amon was disappointed in my—well…,” Liu paused to deliberate, “—our behavior.”

Her mouth went dry, and she was hardly able to repeat herself. “What do you mean?”

“Are you saying that you don’t remember?” Liu asked, incredulous.

“Remember?" Rei panicked. "Remember what?”

Liu grinned, looking far too amused by this. “Oh, boy… let’s just say you were a little…,” he teetered his hand, searching for the right word, “—incapacitated.” He reached into his pocket, continuing at her silence, “Needless to say, he wasn't happy when he found us. I was ordered to report to him this morning, but when I told him you weren't awake yet, he sent me to cover for you.” Liu checked the time as his tone became serious. “He wants us both to report to him after our mission.”

He handed her the key to a motorbike, but she was too frightened to move.

“H-he… f-found us… like that…?” she sputtered.

Unbothered, Liu waved the key in front of her face.

Rei finally reached up to grasp it, but the impact of his words nearly knocked her over. “Who do you think took you back to your bunk?”

The mission was complete, but he couldn’t care less.

She was terrified.

Too afraid to press Liu any further, she’d simply gone through the motions, carrying out her duties. She wracked her brain for the missing memories, but they wouldn't come; she’d been trying, and failing, to reimagine the events of the previous night.

All she could grasp were flashes of information.

A smell.

A touch.

A taste.

Her body was alight with reminiscence, but her mind was empty. All she knew was that Amon had something to do with it, and that fact alone had her mortified. She wanted nothing more than to run back to the barracks and vomit all over again.

Unfortunately, her presence was required elsewhere.

She and Liu were now en route to speak with Amon. With each passing second, Rei’s stomach twisted tighter. She remained silent the entire way, and when they arrived at Amon's door, she kept herself shielded behind Liu's back. She was still holding her breath when Amon finally opened the door.

“Sir.”

A single word from Liu was the only acknowledgment, and Amon stepped aside to allow his subordinate to pass.

Rei made to follow but was stopped by the sound of Amon’s voice. “You will wait here until I am finished with the lieutenant,” he spoke sternly, “—I will be speaking to you separately.”

The chill of his stare was the last thing that she saw before the door closed in her face.

Fuck. He was mad… really, really mad.

Months of hard work flashed before her eyes; she blinked and watched it all fade into the cold metal in front of her. She collapsed against the door then, sinking into a puddle of self-pity. Tears plucked at her eyes, but she dared not blink for fear that she wouldn’t be able to stop them once they started. She remained like that for some time until the sound was yanked open, startled her upright. Above her, she found Liu, who was gazing down at her with pity. She unfolded her legs and stood, looking at him expectantly.

“Good luck…,” he muttered, stepping aside as he held the door for her.

She nodded, dragging herself across the threshold. The door shut behind her, and she was met with deafening silence. She peered across the dimly lit room and saw Amon standing behind his desk. His back was turned as he contemplated one of the many maps plastered along the walls. He didn’t speak, nor did he even acknowledge her. A disconcerting amount of silence passed while she remained rooted near the door, waiting for his order, when it struck her that he might be testing her bravery.

Once again, she forced herself to move.

She was within a few feet of his desk when he suddenly spoke, causing her to flinch. “You have severely disappointed me, captain.” He turned, and the chill of his gaze strangled the air from her lungs. “What I witnessed last night was nothing short of disgraceful.”

She tucked her chin to her chest, ashamed. “I—I-I’m sorry…,” she whispered, hating how weak she sounded; she hated even more not knowing what she’d done. “W-whatever I did, I’m sorry! I… don’t remember, I—”

“Enough!” he barked, causing her to flinch again. “I'm not interested in your excuses. Quit hiding and show your face, child.”

A chill ran down her spine.

Child…

For some reason, the word enraged her. She brought her hand up, and without pause, ripped the mask from her head. She clenched her jaw, forcibly meeting his stare. She knew that he could see the fear in her eyes, but she didn’t care; she had a point to prove.

He gazed at her longer than she thought was necessary, but he seemed satisfied with her courage. “If you wish to remain in your position, you will make a promise to abstain from alcohol."

Rei blinked.

What?

Was… that it?

“Is that clear, captain?” he asked, calling her attention back to him.

“Y-yes sir,” she replied.

“I need to hear you say it,” he ordered.

“I—I promise to abstain from alcohol,” she rushed.

She waited for him to dismiss her, but he didn’t; he simply maintained his stare for a while longer before stepping out from behind the desk. She held her breath as he neared.

“Alcohol has a unique effect on the mind…,” he began, circling her, “—care to explain what that is?”

She blinked a few times at the space in front of her.

Was this some sort of test?

“Uhm… i-it makes people… stupid?” She cringed at the lack of conviction.

“Not quite…," he was still behind her, "—while most substances can alter one's sense of reality, alcohol is… unique. Those who are drunk will take far more risks than usual, but not because they are delusional. If you were to ask them to define the risk they are engaging in, they would be able to do so quite clearly.” She caught sight of him in her periphery. “What alcohol does is stop them from caring about the risk. A drunk person is not stupid, they are uninhibited." He came to a halt in front of her, but she couldn't bring herself to look him in the eye. “Another, less unique aspect is its ability to impair memory… once it reaches a certain concentration in the bloodstream, it will inhibit the retention of information. Would it be safe to assume that this is the case regarding your recollection of last night?”

Rei nodded before remembering her words. “Y-yes sir…”

“Would you like for me to fill in the blanks?” he prompted.

She realized that was the first time he'd ever asked her for permission regarding anything, and it confused her; if he was going to punish her, why didn't he just cut to the chase? Why was he treading around this subject so carefully?

“You can say no,” he continued at her silence, "—if you so wish, I will not deny you the solace of your ignorance. Forthwith, you will be dismissed, and any mention of last night will be forgotten.” His voice dropped. "However, if you say yes, there will be no forgetting. You will have chosen to confront your actions, and regardless of your embarrassment or shame, you will not be allowed to leave until I am finished. Do you understand?”

She swallowed dryly, maintaining her gaze at the ground.

As much as it scared her, she needed to know the truth. “P-please, just… tell me, sir…,” she begged.

He stared at her for another moment before obliging. “What's the last thing you remember of your return?”

Rei assumed that he was likely trying to discern how many ‘blanks’ there were to fill. “I… don’t even know how I got back to the base, sir…,” she admitted.

“I would assume in much the same manner as I found you…,” he supplied, “—slumped against the lieutenant and dragging your feet along the floor.”

Oh.

“I would not have discovered you if you hadn’t been larking about so loudly…," he continued with irritation, "—when I went to see who it was, I happened upon the unfortunate sight of my two most trusted subordinates completely indisposed to their positions. Between the two of you, you were the furthest inebriated, which led me to direct my ire towards the lieutenant. When I explained to him that he shouldn't have allowed you to get to such a state, he became upset at the reminder of his responsibilities. He spoke rather presumptuously and stormed off—but not before dumping your lifeless body at my feet.”

Since Liu had already told her that Amon was the one who had carried her back to her bunk, she’d come to accept that embarrassing fact of reality. Now, with her timeline expounded to its logical conclusion, she wondered what part of it warranted the ultimatum that he’d given her; the situation certainly wasn’t ideal, but she could move past it.

Again, she waited for him to dismiss her, but she was quickly made aware that the conversation was not finished.

“I had no inclination of leaving you there while I pursued him, so I resolved to take you to the barracks myself. As I lifted you from the ground, you buried your face into my chest and moaned with pleasure.”

A smell…

“Initially, I paid no mind to this. However, when I placed you onto your bed, you took the liberty of stroking my mask and examining it with extraordinary interest.”

A touch…

“Again, I did not think much of this. I chalked it up to brash curiosity and was prepared to leave it at that… until you grabbed my hand and began sucking my fingers.”

A taste…

“At that point, it became terribly difficult to ignore you… I’m reluctant to admit that I could not withhold my interest as you arduously sought to use my fingers to bring yourself to climax.”

At any moment, she expected the ground to open up beneath her feet and swallow her whole. Frightened tears spilled out onto her cheeks, and she glanced toward the door, contemplating how quickly she'd be able to vacate the room.

She took a step back, wrapping her arms around herself to placate her embarrassment. “I—I-I’m s-sorry, I… I don’t know… I… I should—”

With desperate urgency, she attempted to make a run for it.

His hand shot out, gripping her wrist and trapping her at his side. “I told you that you would not be allowed to leave until I was finished,” he growled, dragging her back in front of him.

Enchained by the vice of his grip, she looked up at him, pleading with her eyes.

Please let me go… please…

His next words were spoken with surprising tenderness. “I should inform you that, while you are not the first to attempt to seduce me, you are certainly the most… compelling.” His grip loosened, and his gaze traveled down the length of her neck. He released his hold, reaching up to fondle one of her braids. “But that does not surprise me. You are, after all, a woman trained in the art of seduction.”

Rei shook her head slowly, not wanting to upset him. “N-no sir… I… I was only trained to dance…"

His fingers reached the end of her braid, letting it fall back to her shoulder. He stared at her with puzzlement. “Certainly you've… given pleasure to a man…,” he suggested.

Rei cast her eyes to the floor and shook her head again.

“Have you ever… received pleasure from a man?” he pressed, with an incredulity in his voice that she'd never heard before. Again, Rei shook her head, and his fingers were suddenly wrapped around her chin, forcing her to look up. "You are untouched?”

Well… that was certainly one way to put it.

She bobbed her head in affirmation, pliant under his gaze. The look in his eyes shifted from shock to disbelief, to deliberation. He sighed, and couldn’t tell if it was with satisfaction or dismay. He maintained his hold on her, and his thumb began to drift upwards. She felt it reach the corner of her mouth, gently tracing her lower lip.

“How…?” he muttered, and she knew that the question wasn't meant for her.

Regardless, she parted her lips—but the rough pad of his thumb slipped into her mouth, effectively silencing her. The edge of her teeth grazed his skin as he pushed further inside. He pressed against her tongue, watching her with heated interest. His eyes were steady and expectant, so on a whim, she closed her lips, sucking firmly down the length and relishing the familiar taste that greeted her. Ever so gently, she bit down, and something flashed in his eyes. He pulled out, maintaining his gaze as his thumb slipped back down to her chin.

He cleared his throat. “Be that as it may… I have a proposition for you.” He dropped his hand, returning to his previous stride. “You have elicited something within me, something that I have not allowed myself to indulge in for quite some time… it’s been many years since I’ve dabbled in the realm of pleasure. I'd long resolved to place the importance of this movement above my own desires, but… here you are…"

He rounded her shoulder.

"—intelligent…”

He was at her side now.

“—capable…”

He lifted his hand, grazing her cheek with his knuckles.

“—obedient…”

She felt her heart beating in her throat.

“—and so… very… alluring.” He stepped back, returning to her front. “Am I to assume that you are also willing?”

Rei bit her cheek. No matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn’t bring herself to say yes.

“As I stated before," he derided, "—your intoxication did not cause you to act against your will. You simply did as you pleased with no regard for the consequences, which leads me to believe that you've desired my attention for some time now.”

He wasn’t assuming; he already knew the answer. He just wanted to hear her say it.

Unfortunately, she still couldn’t bring herself to do so.

“I need you to speak to me captain…,” he ordered.

Her mouth ran dry. She met his eyes, shaking with apprehension. “Y-yes, I… I am, sir…”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she winced.

Reina, you stupid idiot—

“Then it’s decided.” In the split second she'd closed her eyes, he'd returned to his desk. She saw him open one of the drawers and pluck something out, striding back to her with a small metal tin in. “In two weeks' time, you will meet me again in this office. I expect you to arrive no later than nine o’clock. If I am not here, wait for me. I will likely be finishing other obligations.”

She blinked, struggling to absorb all that he’d said. “How… h-how will I get in…?” she sputtered stupidly.

“The door will be unlocked." He held out the tin for her to take. “It's imperative that you remain discreet.”

“Of… c-course… sir…" She nodded slowly, accepting the item and turning it over in her hands.

Before she even had a chance to ask what it was, he was giving her more instructions. “You'll ingest a small amount every morning with something to drink. It will be effective once you’ve taken it for fourteen consecutive days—afterward, you must continue that regimen in order for it to remain effective. Is that understood?”

She furrowed a brow, assessing the container with some peculiarity. “Um… w-what is it?”

“Contraception," he stated, "—a  supply of which should last you for many months.”

At that moment, her cheeks turned bright red; when he mentioned intimacy, she only imagined what she was familiar with—touching and being touched. Never once had she contemplated intercourse.

The sound of his voice startled her from her shock. "If we are going to engage in this sort of thing, you will need to be diligent to ensure that there are no unfortunate circumstances for us to deal with later." He took a step closer. "You will also do well to refrain from romanticizing whatever takes place between us. The nature of this arrangement will be strictly transactional.” He paused as if to draw attention to this particular point. “Does that present an issue for you?”

Rei swallowed. “N-no, sir…”

“Are you in full compliance with everything I've just discussed?”

“Yes, sir…”

Silence fell over them, lasting a few excruciating seconds.

“Then you're dismissed,” he decreed, gesturing toward the door.

She took it upon herself to tuck the herbs into her belt. Though the container was unlabeled, she didn't want anyone to discover it in her possession. She moved slowly, feeling his eyes on her as she exited back into the tunnel. When the door suddenly closed behind her, she glanced over her shoulder at the sterile, lifeless panel of metal and sighed. The tunnels were empty at this time of night, and she was grateful for the solitude as she returned to her bunk.

Rei awoke in a daze. She was almost certain it was all a dream until she rolled over and saw the little metal tin sitting on her bedside table, exactly where she’d left it. She sat upright then, staring at the thing.

Now that she was away from Amon’s gaze and far more lucid, she couldn’t ignore the feeling that she had no idea what she was doing. She’d never thought much about how she wanted to lose her virginity, but of all the scenarios that she might have imagined, this was not one of them. Perhaps, though, it was best that she didn’t prop up her first time as if it were meant to be special; it was just sex.

Sex… with him.

She shot up, forgoing any shower before she dressed. Her stomach was fluttering as she made her way to the refectory, allowing her mind to indulge in daydreams like never before. As she finished her plate, she brought her drink to the edge of the table and pulled out the tin, cautious to keep it hidden. She cracked open the lid, peering inside.

The contents consisted of a finely ground loose powder. Amon had instructed to take a small amount, but she wasn’t entirely sure what that meant; she figured that if there was no specific measurement, a pinch would suffice. She dipped her fingers into the powder, glancing around to make sure that no one was watching. Bringing her hand above the table, she sprinkled the herbs into her coffee. The particles floated at the top of the liquid, too large to dissolve. It was going to be gritty—but she didn’t care.

She gulped it down.

She took them with coffee again on the second day.

She took it the same way on the third day.

With tea on the fourth day.

Again, on the fifth day.

She went back to coffee on the sixth day.

On the seventh day, she woke up to a slight headache. For the past few days, physical exertion had been eliciting some annoying dizziness. She was also starting to encounter a constant, faint tenderness in her breasts, though she wasn’t so naïve that she couldn’t discern what was happening. She’d heard stories from her coworkers at the club.

It was the effects of the herb.

Despite her discomfort, she wasn't dissuaded; a few minor symptoms could do nothing to shake her resolve. She knew that they would fade soon—and this way, at least, she could tell that they were working.

She was sprinkling it into her cup that morning when a familiar voice chimed over her shoulder. “Aha! I was wondering what you were putting in your drink yesterday!”

Rei nearly dropped the container onto the floor. She raced to catch it before it fell from her lap.

“M-Mera!” She clamped the lid and shoved the tin into her pocket. “W-what are you doing here?”

“I work here, silly…,” she needlessly informed, peering over Rei’s shoulder and into her cup of coffee. “So…,” she prompted, “—who’s the lucky man?”

Rei almost choked on her spit. “W-what?! I—I don’t know what you’re talking about—”

“Oh please…,” Mera chided, “—you’re gonna have to do better if you wanna fool me. There’s only one reason a girl would be sprinkling thistle root in her morning tea.” Rei couldn't form a response, and Mera rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she conceded, folding her arms, “—if you don’t wanna share the details, whatever… I was just coming to let you know that your dress is clean and back in your bunk. I meant to get it to you sooner, but you’ve been… unreasonably difficult to track down lately…”

Rei chewed her lip. “Yeah, uh… I-I’ve been busy.”

Mera raised her brow. “I see that…”

Rei flushed. 'It’s not what you think,’ she wanted to say.

Truly, it wasn’t; on top of the nightly missions that she was expected to attend, she'd begun the next portion of training with her pupil, which meant that her free time was quite limited.

Her apprehension must have been noticeable because Mera’s next words were spoken with much more sympathy. “Well, whoever it is…,” she placed a hand on Rei’s shoulder, “—I hope he treats you right. You deserve to be happy.”

Rei took to stashing water in her bunk.

While she was appreciative of Mera’s passive acceptance, she did not want anyone else prying into what she was doing. It was nerve-wracking enough to maintain a façade in front of Liu. He may have noticed the shift in her behavior, but he certainly didn’t pry for any details. He probably reasoned that she was still upset over her meeting with Amon, which wasn’t far from the truth.

Nevertheless, on the morning of the eighth day—before leaving for the refectory—Rei sprinkled the herbs into her mouth and washed them down with a swig of water.

She did the same on the ninth day.

And on the tenth day.

And on the eleventh day.

Again, on the twelfth day.

She hurried to complete her duties that afternoon to carve out some time for a trip to the surface; she hadn’t shaved a single square inch of her body in almost five months and was in dire need of some grooming products.

On the thirteenth day, time moved impossibly slow.

She took her dose and spent the rest of her day in quiet anticipation.

The next morning, Rei awoke in an agitated stupor. Her nerves prevented her from achieving any sort of meaningful rest, so she'd spent most of the night tossing and turning. She took the long-awaited fourteenth dose before dressing and heading to the refectory, then went about the motions of her day, dispassionately fulfilling whatever was required of her. She held off on her usual shower until the afternoon; she had an extensive bathing ritual planned that involved exfoliation, deep conditioning, and full-body moisturizing—not to mention, dragging a razor across every inch of her skin. She spent nearly two hours under the stream of the shower, meticulously grooming herself. When she was finished, she went to assess her naked body in the mirror.

She typically regarded her rear as the most appealing of her physical features. Per her experience from the club, most men had a preference. Just as she began to wonder what Amon’s preference might be, she grimaced, wrapping the towel back around herself.

Not once since the night of his proposition had she seen him—not even in passing. If not for the fact that everything else was carrying on as normal, she'd have assumed him to be dead.

Too nervous to eat, she decided to skip dinner. She spent the rest of the evening in her bunk, compulsively running her fingers through her hair. As the hour neared, she dressed herself in fresh, plain undergarments and a new uniform, exiting into the tunnels. It was the time of night when personnel were either leaving for a mission or returning from one, and while the base was nowhere near empty, everyone was too preoccupied with their own duties to notice her. When she came upon Amon’s door, she glanced over her shoulder to ensure that she wasn’t being watched before slipping inside.

The office was silent apart from her heartbeat, letting her know that she was alone.

Dubious curiosity overcame her, and she snuck around his desk. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that his chair had wheels—so she took a seat and plopped down. She used her feet to push against the floor, launching herself into a dizzying spin. As the room twirled around her, a giggle erupted. As the momentum died out, she saw that she was now facing a wall, with a large map of Republic City plastered in front of her. While the fluid between her ears returned to equilibrium, she gazed up at it, pondering what Amon might think about whenever he sat here. Still antsy, she decided to close her eyes and steady herself with some breathing, but she managed hardly a minute before giving up and twirling back around.

What little composure she had completely vanished; Amon was standing in front of the desk, staring down at her.

She shot up from the chair—forgetting that it had wheels—and sent it ricocheting off of the wall behind her. It rebounded into the desk with a loud thud. She guided it back, gripping it with white knuckles. "S-sorry…," she mumbled.

He ignored her. “You've taken the contraceptives as instructed?”

Rei swallowed. “Y-yes sir…”

For many moments, all he did was stare. “I believe you're on the wrong side of the desk, captain," he finally said. 

She flushed with embarrassment. “Oh, uhm, y-yes… sorry, sir…,” she choked.

She removed herself, shuffling anxiously round the desk. She kept her eyes down as she came in front of him, but saw him move in her periphery. His hands settled atop her own, softly unfolding them from her chest. She relented at his touch, feeling compelled to look up.

There was a surprising gentleness in his eyes today; when he spoke, his voice was calm. “I do not intend to touch you against your will.” He toyed with the fabric around her neck. “If at any point you find yourself reluctant to continue, you need only say so.”

Dizzily, she nodded. Her view of him was momentarily blocked as he pulled the cowl over her head. She then felt his hand drop below her stomach to her belt, where he began nimbly unfastening her buckle; her insides twirled in response to his touches. The band of her belt loosened from her hips, grazing her backside as it was removed from her body. He set it atop the desk with the rest of her items before bringing his hands back to her body. As his fingers settled just below her collarbone, she realized that he was unbuttoning her uniform, and her heart began to race.

She felt the first button release—then the second and the third. The front panel unfolded, and his hand went to her shoulder, pushing the fabric aside. The same was done to the other side, and the garment slid down her arms. It caught at her hips, where he hooked a finger, tugging softly. The rest of it dropped, pooling at her feet. He stepped back then, putting just enough distance between them so that he could view her fully. His eyes roamed the length of her body, igniting a pleasant warmth between her thighs.

He startled her when he spoke. “From now on, when you arrive here before me… this is how I expect to find you.”

Rei flushed. “Y-yes sir…”

He took another step back. “Come.”

She slipped her feet out of her boots, leaving the entirety of her uniform behind her, and stepping toward him in nothing more than her underwear.

He moved around her, tracing his fingers along the strap at her shoulder. “Would you be comfortable if I removed this?” he asked, with a surprising tone of consideration.

Rei was trembling, and the only answer she could give was a soft, yearning nod. His hand skimmed her back, and she barely felt it as he unclasped her bra. The band loosened as he pulled, casting the garment aside.

She shivered at the cold air.

One of his hands was on her waist then, slowly trailing up to the underside of her breast. He cupped her with his palm, dragging his thumb across the rounded flesh and skimming directly over her hardened nipple. A startled gasp escaped, and he paused. Just as she was fearing that her elicit reaction might have displeased him, he dragged his thumb back over her—harder. A whimper left her this time, and before she could compose herself, he was kneading firmly.

Her legs nearly buckled.

The hand on her breast suddenly fell, skirting down to her panties. He dipped a finger beneath the edge and traced along her hip, sending her underwear to the floor. Dazedly, Rei recognized that she was now completely naked. The hand at her side came to splay across her stomach again as she felt the other at her backside, forming a tight grip on the flesh there. The action spread her apart, and Rei gasped at the sudden openness. She arched back, clutching his arm to steady herself. He released his grip, grabbing her by the waist and pushing her against the desk. Her hips were slammed into the edge as he pressed into her with abrupt force. Her skin pinched, and she whined—but he merely responded with a forceful shove.

“S—s-sir!” she stammered.

He pinned her down and spoke coldly. “I suggest you refrain from moving if you want this to be over quickly.” Immediately, she ceased her struggle—and if she wasn’t so afraid, she might have noticed the feel of his arousal against her backside before he stepped away. “I've been contemplating what sort of punishment would most befit your misconduct, captain.” The exposure between her legs was unbearable with both the cold of the room and the chill of his stare upon her. She shifted against the desk. “Now that I have you here… like this…,” she felt him stroke her skin, “—I see that there is only one suitable option.”

She strained her ears, listening for what he might say next, but the only sound that greeted her was a loud slap. For a second, she wondered what had happened… then the searing pain arrived to answer her question. She cried out, recoiling as much as her position would allow. She clung to the desk, bringing her feet up to shield her backside.

He pushed them down.

A hand was between her legs then, tracing deft circles at the apex of her thighs. He drew several ragged breaths from her, positioning his fingers near the cusp of her entrance. He teased her with penetration for a moment before plunging inside, and she whined at the intrusion. This was the first time that anything—anyone—had been inside of her, and there was a strange, rugged pressure against her walls. It wasn’t painful, but it certainly wasn't comfortable either. She bit her lip to keep from whining again as he began to pump into her with slow, deliberate movements. She gripped the desk harder and buried her face against the surface.

It was agonizing, but she didn't want him to stop; something familiar was stirring up beneath all the unpleasantness—the same sort of tension that would rouse her from her dreams. She began to writhe beneath him, sensing there might be a place inside of her that he could touch—just once—and it would send her over the edge.

Her concentration was lost, however, when she felt a jab of pain.

He'd inserted another finger, and the once-enjoyable sensation was renewed with gritty abrasion. Now, it felt like he was stretching her open. She struggled and whined, but he ignored her. Her muscles clamped down, begging him to stop, but he continued; when he finally withdrew his fingers, the sudden loss caused her to convulse. She felt his pants graze the back of her legs and flinched when something firm and warm was pressed against her.

His hands slid up to her waist, holding her in place. “This will not be pleasant for you…”

Rei knew it was a warning—her last chance to say no.

Despite herself, she gave him a small, deliberate nod.

The gasp that she released was sudden and sharp, not unlike the pain between her legs. He'd pressed into her, and it felt like she was being ripped in half. Her arousal did nothing to mitigate the sting; whatever she was feeling could only be described as pure, bitter agony—a knife, tearing through flesh. He thrust forward, bottoming out inside of her, and a hoarse cry was ripped from her throat. Her mouth was still open when he pulled back and drove into her again. He did not wait before increasing his speed, as he began fucking her in earnest, rocking her body against the desk. Her vision blurred as silent tears began streaming down her cheeks. She closed her eyes, too agonized to wipe them away. She began to feel a terrible gnawing sensation—a dull ache now spreading throughout her core. 

His previous words rang through her mind. 'If at any point you find yourself reluctant to continue, you need only say so.'

She could tell him to stop, and he would.

She tried saying the word, but it was caught in her throat.

She couldn't speak.

Her entire body was frozen.

There was still a tinge of pleasure with every thrust; whatever she’d wanted him to reach with his fingers, he was certainly hitting now—but the pain was thoroughly foiling any hope of enjoyment. Soon, his tempo became staggered, and his grip on her waist tightened. With one arduous thrust, he sheathed himself completely inside of her and stopped moving. There was a sudden exhale of breath as warmth flooded within her. The hand at her waist trailed across her skin, tracing the circumference of her backside as he gently spread her apart. As he began to pull out, she whimpered at the resurgence of pain.

When it was done, he released his grip and stepped back, leaving her entirely bereft of all contact.

The room fell silent.

Slowly, Rei pushed up from the desk, trembling with weakness. She looked down, horrified to see both blood and semen dripping from her thighs. She didn't know what to do, so she turned, burying her face into his chest and sobbing uncontrollably. One of his arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her from the ground, and she winced as her aching core came into contact with the hard surface of the desk again. He peeled her off of him then, gripping her by the legs and spreading her open.

“Blood is… common… the first time…,” he assured, bringing a rag to her skin and gently wiping the mess. He rubbed the length of each thigh before pressing the unsoiled portion against her entrance. “So is pain…,” he added at her flinch. He stepped back, and his voice was stern once more. “You are dismissed, captain."

Wearily, she attempted to move, but her insides screamed. His arm was around her in an instant, hoisting her from the desk and placing her on the ground. He went to collect her things for her, and she wearily accepted them, careful to not engage her core muscles as she put them on. Fastening her buttons, she turned to him again.

“I expect you back here in a week’s time,” he ordered. “You should be healed by then.”

No! she wanted to yell at him, but couldn’t.

“Y-yes sir…,” was all she managed.

Chapter Text

One Week Later

She was in his office. Again.

This time, she made it a point to sit in the appropriate place—though she debated even sitting at all since she wasn’t planning on staying for long.

That was until an hour had passed, and Amon had yet to arrive. She bounced her knee atop her chair and chewed nervously at the fabric of her glove.

It took hours for the bleeding to stop. She’d gone to the bathroom multiple times after their meeting, and each time she found faint smears on her panties.

Anything that she came into contact with hurt; it was days before bathing—or even urination—felt comfortable again. She'd been frantically close to hunting down Mera and asking if her condition was normal, but she simply couldn’t fathom detailing her horrendous first time to her friend.

While the rest of her symptoms subsided, it took longer for the aching to go away. Her trainee was quite understanding, but making excuses for her limited mobility was humiliating. She told him that she’d just gotten injured on a mission, and he’d accepted it all too easily.

She hated lying. She hated keeping secrets.

She hated having no one to talk to about this besides Amon.

She needed advice, preferably from a woman.

A confidant.

A friend.

She needed her mom.

The newfound uncertainty of sex made her realize just how much wisdom she’d taken for granted. Years ago, when her mother had explained the anatomy of the male body, Rei had learned about the process of intercourse—but she was far too embarrassed to ask any questions. Later on, Akasha divulged a bit of her knowledge—though most of it was just about pleasing the opposite sex, and Rei had simply feigned interest, having no idea what to make of any of it.

Now, she had so many questions, and not a soul to answer them.

Was it always so painful?

Amon said that it was common the first time but failed to mention whether or not it would continue. The ambiguity of what they’d done—or rather, what he'd done to her—had her juggling emotions that she couldn’t reconcile.

Shame. Dread.

Lust.

She hated how badly she still wanted him. She couldn't fathom a single reason for her body to be so excited about the possibility of going through that again—but here it was, buzzing. The betrayal was infuriating; she knew deep down that this was not what she wanted. She’d come to the conclusion the moment he'd entered her, but it took almost an entire week before she could admit it to herself.

In preparing to voice her decision, she reasoned that a simple explanation would suffice; she had an unfortunate habit of tripping over her words, so the less for her to say, the better.

'Sir, I can’t help but feel that this is terribly unprofessional… don’t you agree?'

No—she needed to be more direct.

'I’m sorry sir… I’m just not as interested in this as I thought.'

No—still too weak.

'Sir, I no longer wish to continue with this arrangement.'

Yes—simple, resolute, and to the point. She didn’t need to convince him; he’d made it clear that their agreement was contingent upon her consent.

As she staunchly settled upon her script, however, more words bubbled up into her mind.

Not her words, but Liu’s: ‘I’d like to see you attempt to refuse him!’

The long-forgotten warning sent chills down her spine.

Relax, she told herself, that was a completely different context—

‘I know better than anyone that he doesn’t take no for an answer,’ Liu's voice echoed again, overriding her reason.

She shifted in her seat, seeking to distract herself by busying her hands. She plucked her watch from her belt and checked the time.

Last week, he’d appeared only minutes after she’d arrived—but now it was over an hour and he'd still yet to show. She briefly contemplated whether or not she should just leave—then tucked her watch back into her belt, deciding that she’d much rather be sleeping. As she stood, however, a tiny sliver of light appeared through the door. It opened fully, and in stepped the only person who was never required to knock.

His eyes immediately fell upon her. She sucked in a breath, backing away in time with his steps.

Noticing her reaction, he paused. “I thought I made it perfectly clear how I expect you to wait for me,” he said. “The process of undressing is something that you should take care of beforehand. Waiting for me is a waste of time.”

Rei fought the urge to scoff.

Waste of time? Had he not just made her wait for… well, however long?

“S-sir… I, uhm…,” she closed her eyes, centering herself, “—I no longer wish to continue with this arrangement."

A long, unsettling moment passed. Eventually, he brought his hands together behind his back, resuming a slow pace toward her.

She fought valiantly to maintain her distance.

“I’m disappointed to hear you say that captain…,” he began. “I’m interested to know what exactly caused you to come to this decision." He stopped only an arm’s length from her. “From what I remember, you were perfectly willing the last time we met… what changed?”

A lump formed in her throat, forcing her to choke out a shaky response. “It’s just… n-not what I was expecting, sir…”

All of her prior convictions had vanished.

She hated how pathetic she sounded.

His response sounded strangely resigned. “As much as I'd hoped otherwise… I suspected this might be the case.”

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them with ease. With what little power she had left, Rei stumbled back—although, seemingly by design, into the desk. Her backside met the edge of it, forcing her to a halt.

He planted himself in front of her, looming over her oppressively. “If you are so resolute in your decision… then surely you’ve stopped taking your contraception?”

Rei flushed. “N-no, sir… I haven’t…”

“And… why is that?” he questioned her unscrupulously. 

When she didn’t answer, his hands began unfastening the buckle of her belt.

Strangely, she did not panic with the sudden awareness of what he was doing. She heard the dull thud as it fell to the floor, and then his hands were at the cowl of her neck, wrenching it over her head and tossing it unceremoniously to the ground. He reached for the collar of her uniform next, ripping it open in one swift movement. The force caused her to sway, and the moisture clinging to her lashes finally spilled onto her cheeks.

He moved quickly, sending her uniform to pool at her feet. She became aware that her underwear had been taken with it. His fingers were against her spine then, and he found the clasp of her bra with little effort, peeling the garment from her body. He grabbed her waist, lifting her atop the desk as he removed the last of her stubborn clothing.

He had her stripped bare in under a minute.

She sat naked, practically paralyzed as he settled himself between her thighs.

The proximity had taken its toll. The heat of his hands, the roughness of his fingers, the warmth of his scent—all of it was causing her body to react profoundly. Perhaps, most infuriatingly, was the tense heat within her core that ignited at the forceful way in which he was handling her. Her anguish was interrupted when he suddenly tilted her teary-eyed face up to his. She gazed at him openly, hoping to convey the unbearable disconsolation that she felt without having to utter a word.

His pale eyes were unusually warm as he gazed back at her, but his voice held no clemency when he spoke. “I did inform you that it had been quite some time since I've partaken in the realm of pleasure… forgive me if I fail to remember the delicate sensibilities of the fairer sex.” She flinched as he moved his hand, grazing her cheek and gently wiping the tears there. “Perhaps… I have been a bit…,” he trailed down her neck, splaying his fingers at the base of her throat, “—tactless.”

He grazed her chest but did not linger. He slid down to her waist, rounding her hip and coasting the inside of her thigh. Before she could succumb to his actions any further, she gripped the fabric of his forearm, stopping him directly above her knee. She looked up, pleading with fresh tears in her eyes.

“S-sir…,” she begged, “—please, I… I don’t want to do this…”

He stared at her reverently. For a moment, she truly believed that he might respect her wishes.

But then the hand above her knee suddenly wrenched free, hoisting her leg upwards. She gasped as she was spread out before him—but he only pushed her further until the heel of her foot reached the desk, propping it on the edge.

His next words did nothing to placate her distress. “It would be against my better judgment to allow you to leave while you still hold such an… objectionable opinion.”

His hand began trailing down her thigh.

She bit her lip, wishing with all her might that this wasn’t reality. As wonderful as it felt to be touched by him, she knew how it would end. When his fingers reached her sex, she jumped; he grazed the delicate bud, sending jolts of electricity through her body. She whined, gripping the desk with one hand and clinging to the fabric of his shirt with the other.

“You can say you don’t want this…,” he whispered, teasing her with circles, “—but, here you are… dripping for me.”

He slipped inside, and she exhaled a harsh breath.

Just like the last time, there was a strange pressure.

Unlike the last time, it wasn’t the least bit uncomfortable.

She vaguely registered his voice overhead. “Let me show you how good it can be…”

He brought his thumb down to caress her as he began pumping into her.

Fuck…

She sighed, relenting to his control.

It wasn’t long when a second finger joined, and he curled them inside her. The moan that left her was shameless.

As the tension began to coil, her mind disconnected from all rational thought; it was unlike anything else—stronger than ever and absolutely maddening. She buried her face against his chest, pleading with the universe to let her have this one moment of bliss—but as the minutes passed and his movements remained steady, it still would not come. The tension had grown so unbearable that she felt as if she might snap in half. She heaved a sigh of frustration.

Suddenly, his movement stopped.

She lifted her head to meet his gaze, and he was looking at her with puzzled discernment. “You’ve never had an orgasm…,” he discerned.

It wasn’t a question—though, even if it was, the flushed mortification that flooded her cheeks would have answered it. She remained silent while his eyes searched her face.

Whatever he was looking for, he found it. “You’re afraid.”

She lost the little capacity for thought she had left when he suddenly started moving his fingers again. She dropped her head to his chest once more as lewd noises fell from her mouth. He moved nimbly, pumping into her with an agonizing rhythm. The tension became impossibly tighter, and she whined, gripping his shirt with both hands and begging him to stop. Unfortunately, his stroking continued, and it was all that she could do not to cry out in despair.

As if he could read her mind, he spoke. “You’re resisting.”

“N—n-no, I… I’m not…,” she whimpered, shaking her head.

He administered a few more unfruitful strokes. “Let go…,” he commanded.

“I… I can’t—,” she cried in torment.

A hand was on the back of her neck then, gripping her scalp with startling force. She was yanked away from his chest, and her face was wrenched upward. His eyes bored into her own, and she melted under the intensity. The fingers within her curled, pressing into her with blinding pressure.

“Submit.”

She had only a moment to register what was happening before the coil finally snapped, and the dam broke inside of her. She cried out, arching backward as the powerful sensation washed over her. Tingling warmth flooded her body as wave after wave of pleasure hit.

Then, she fell. The cool surface of the desk came into contact with the bare skin of her back, and she lay in a dazed stupor, hardly cognizant as her legs were drawn up. When something familiar and unsettling came to nestle against her entrance, her eyes shot open. She tried to wriggle free, but she could do nothing to stop it; his hands gripped her thighs, holding her in place as he sunk into her. A harsh thrust stretched her open with unyielding force, causing her to wince. Further, he pushed, until he bottomed out inside. A strange sensation tugged between her hips, and a soft moan fell from her lips.

They were each still for a moment as he gazed down at her.

She looked away, embarrassed.

Slowly, he pulled out, lingering on the cusp before thrusting back in. Her flesh bounced at the sudden force, and she released a startled cry. Much to her surprise, however, it wasn’t pain that she felt, but something else.

Something powerful.

She could feel every inch of him inside of her, and the fullness was wonderfully satisfying. There was discomfort, yes—and it still felt as though she were being forcibly stretched—but not nearly as much as last time. The pain was overpowered by a slew of startling new sensations. With every thrust, he hit that elusive spot inside of her.

The coil was tightening again.

As he fell into a steady rhythm, the tension became unbearable. She whined, thrashing her head and squirming beneath his grip, but his steady pounding only became harder as she fought. Naively, she opened her eyes and saw that he was watching her. She was only able to hold his gaze for a short moment before becoming entirely too conscious of herself, bringing an arm up to cover her face.

“Don't hide from me, Reina.”

Spirits, how she melted when he said her name.

She kept her arm where it was, until he abruptly slammed into her backside, burying himself deep.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

She hated how easily she capitulated.

Lowered her arm, she cautiously looked back up at him. His eyes glinted as his fingers dug into her skin.

He slammed into her again, and she cried out, unable to withstand the torturous pleasure. He resumed his pace, rocking her against the desk and drawing all sorts of shameful noises from her mouth. She dared not look away, for fear that the torment would only further escalate. Eventually, it was he who broke the gaze, raking his eyes over her exposed body. His pale irises were on fire, marking her skin with heat wherever they went. She could hear his breathing beneath his mask—stronger than normal, but still thoroughly restrained. Even in the throes of pleasure, he remained in complete control: over himself, over her, over everything.

She followed his eyes to where they had landed. The realization that he could see this part of her—that he was watching himself inside of her—had her flushing with embarrassment. She nearly jumped out of her skin when one of his hands slid down, gently stroking her in time with his thrusts. She keened at his touch.

Her body was teetering over the edge, and she fought to keep herself from falling. “S-s-sir…,” she whined—but he said nothing.

Instead, his gaze landed back on her face, and it was the final blow that knocked her over. She fell headfirst into the abyss, allowing it to swallow her whole.

Her vision blurred.

Her toes curled and her lungs seized.

Her back arched as her fingers clawed against the desk.

She could feel nothing but numbing euphoria. Deep waves of pleasure rolled through her, emanating from her core. He kept thrusting, and the wet sounds of their union only became louder. She relished in the sensation for what felt like an eternity, but eventually, the height of her climax passed. As her muscles slowly released, she opened her eyes, looking dazedly up at the man above her.

She’d been too caught up in her own pleasure to realize just how staggered his movements had become. She watched him with wonderment, her eyes glazing over as they saw the heat flicker in his. She could stay like this forever, at the mercy of his whims—so long as he never stopped looking at her like that. Finally, his staggered pounding stopped, and he slammed into her with one last thrust. His fingers dug painfully into her skin, and his chest rose and fell with a harsh exhale as liquid heat spilled into her core. His eyes closed as he took his pleasure inside of her.

What she wouldn’t give to see his face—to witness him come undone for her.

The thought alone caused her to convulse, and his eyes shot open.

Once full of heat, they'd returned to their usual cold detachment. He watched her for only a moment before sliding his hands down and roughly shirking her legs from his chest. He brought them together, blocking her view as he bent her at the knees. He pressed down, folding her in half and holding her limbs with one hand; only then did he pull out. Rei released a sigh at the sudden loss of pressure—then, gasped, as barely a second later, he inserted a finger. Whatever he was doing, it wasn’t for her pleasure. She felt him press firmly, slowly dragging it out of her. What followed was easily the most humiliating thing she’d ever experienced.

Hot semen oozed out of her. She could feel it running, pooling in a puddle beneath her—and he was watching it happen. Her face, which was thankfully hidden, turned a furious shade of red. It was a painfully long moment before he released her legs.

Embarrassed, she lurched forward over the edge of the desk. Refusing to look at him, she righted herself, taking extra care to move around the puddle. Although startled by the sight of it, she was relieved to see that there was no blood. The sound of jostling quickly drew her attention, and she turned to witness him pulling a small rag from his desk drawer. He came back round to where she stood but stopped a safe distance away. She was sincerely expecting him to clean her off as he’d done last time, but he simply handed her the rag instead—clearly instructing her to take care of the mess herself. As she did so, she was happy to discover that there was no lingering pain. She then placed the rag beside the mess on the desk, preparing to wipe it away.

“I’ll take care of that…,” he announced, interrupting her.

She looked up to find him watching her with calm amusement. She blushed and nodded, leaving the rag atop the desk.

Rei decided it was best to get dressed without instruction this time. She pulled her clothes on quickly, still conscious of the fact that he was watching her. When she finished, she turned, awkwardly awaiting his dismissal.

What he said was highly confusing.

“Before you are dismissed…,” he took a slow step toward her, “—I need to know if you are in any pain.”

She bit her lip. “N-no sir…”

There was a pause. “Did you enjoy yourself?” he asked.

The question caused her skin to burn. “Uh-uhm… y-yes…,” she admitted.

“Then I expect you back here in two days,” he instructed, nodding toward the door.“You are dismissed."

The thought of being with him again caused her stomach to flip. “Th-thank you…,” she peeped, bowing her head and turning on her heel.

Denying herself a tempting glance in his direction, she scurried to the door and exited into the tunnel, sighing deeply as she resumed a casual pace back to the barracks. When she finally laid down to sleep that night, Liu’s voice was still ringing in her mind.

‘At the end of the day, both parties get what they want…’

Chapter Text

Two Days Later

It started the very next morning; now, she was nearly a full day into her cycle—and bleeding heavily.

She was also minutes away from seeing Amon.

Ugh—she groaned as another cramp rolled through her abdomen. The tonic from Mera was taking the edge off but still failed to fully alleviate her symptoms. Akasha always had an amazing tea blend that worked wonders, but Rei never thought to ask where she’d gotten it; for the last few months now, she was making do with what she had—especially as of late, when finding the time for a trip to the surface was surprisingly difficult.

She glanced at her watch.

It was time to get going.

She sighed and stood, not even bothering to check her appearance; as soon as she saw Amon she planned to inform him of her condition. It would be embarrassing, but far less so than watching him discover the mess between her legs. She strode quickly, not caring to see if anyone was looking when she slipped in. She’d long since realized that none of her fellow Equalists paid much attention to the ins and outs of Amon’s office. She reckoned that most of them didn’t even know that he had an office, much less ever been called to a meeting with him. Very few had the pleasure of finding themselves in such close quarters with their commander.

As usual, she was alone.

However long it was going to take for Amon to arrive, she only hoped that it wouldn’t be as long as last time. She sighed, resigning to her seat in front of his desk. As soon as she sat down, another cramp roiled beneath her stomach. She wrapped her arms around herself and stifled a groan. When it passed, she relaxed, leaning back in her chair.

She was not looking forward to telling him no.

Liu had been frightfully correct about how Amon handled rejection: with a silver tongue and an iron fist. This time, though, it wasn’t a rejection, but merely a request—a request for them to hold off for a few days, and with good reason. In Rei's experience, most men had visceral reactions towards the topic of menstruation. She would likely just need to say the word for him to dismiss her immediately. She checked her watch again, expecting that it might be another twenty or thirty minutes before he'd arrive. Startlingly, though, as soon as she replaced her watch in her pocket, she saw the door open. Only half of him had crossed the threshold when she shot up out of her chair. Just like last time, his eyes immediately fell upon her.

She stood still for a moment, bewildered at the fact that he was there so soon; his inconsistency was giving her whiplash. Before she could remember herself, she caught sight of one of his fists clenching at his side.

Oh no.

“S-sir…," she struggled to find her words, "—there's, uh… th-there’s something you need to know—”

“Perhaps the message was not clear…,” he growled, striding towards her, “—I won't tolerate defiance.”

It was only a moment before his hand was gripping her elbow, and she was flung to the side, slamming harshly into the desk. She didn’t have time to right herself before his fingers clamped around her shoulder, flipping her over to face him. He leaned into her, trapping her under his weight.

She immediately felt his hands on her belt. “Sir, p—please!” She clawed at him but it did nothing to slow him down. “I—I need to tell you something—”

A crushing vice was suddenly around her neck, stifling her words.

“I have been exceptionally patient with you thus far…,” he iterated, gripping her throat tighter, “—as a result, you have learned nothing.” The vice remained while the other hand finished removing her belt. “Pain is a remarkable teacher…,” he drawled, “—you will do well to learn from it.”

His grip loosened only slightly, allowing her to gulp in a short, panicked breath. She felt his other hand curling beneath the front of her uniform, preparing to rip it open.

“I—I’m bleeding!” she croaked.

He halted.

She lifted her gaze to meet his and found him staring at her with slight concern. If she could guess, he was probably confused as to what she’d just said. “I’m… o-on my period,” she informed, lifting her hands to assuage his grasp. 

The hand on her uniform was removed, and the one on her throat loosened completely. She was almost relieved until she felt it sliding around to the back of her neck, tangling in her hair. Her face was slowly wrenched upward, denying her any chance to shield her emotions. She pleaded willfully with her eyes, but his stern gaze did not waver in the slightest.

“I am not disturbed by the sight of blood…,” he stated, pressing his arousal into her stomach.

Her eyes widened in shock; she couldn’t tell if he was a deviant, or simply the most determined man on earth. Probably both, she thought—but she had no idea how to respond to his words, so she just tripped over her own. “I… I-I'm, uh—”

“But clearly you are…," he decreed, not allowing her to finish. He released his hold and leaned back just enough to dampen the tension between them. “How long, then?” Rei was dumbfounded as to what he was asking, so he leaned in and reiterated slowly, “How many days do you need?”

She flushed. “O-oh, uhm… m-maybe… three…?”

His eyes narrowed behind his mask. “Maybe?”

Astoundingly, he seemed to doubt her authority on this topic.

“I… c-can’t give you an exact answer,” she explained, “—it sort of… varies.”

“Fine,” he huffed, putting more distance between the two of them, “—you will have three days to tend to your… personal needs.” She held her breath while his hooded figure ducked down. He rose to tower over her again, handing her the belt he'd previously removed. She went to take it from him, but he maintained his grip. “Next time, I expect you to be readily prepared,” he stated, “—otherwise, there will be severe consequences. Is that clear?”

Rei swallowed thickly. “Y-yes sir…,” she affirmed.

Finally, he released the belt. “You are dismissed,” he grated, and she flinched at the sting of his voice.

Frantically, she strung the belt around her hips, fastening it with clumsy, nervous fingers. Once it was secured, she tucked her chin and swiveled, scurrying towards the door and promptly evacuating his office.

Today, she was going to prove herself.

She was going to be perfect for him.

She’d disappointed him too many times now, and she was running out of chances to make up for it.

It had been a long day, but after returning from a short mission, she took a shower to prepare herself. She didn’t spend much time picking over the details of her appearance, simply making sure that she was clean and shaven. Her hair was still damp as she made her way to his office. When she arrived, she wasted no time staging herself for his arrival.

She kicked her boots off and set them aside. She removed her belt and cowl, slinging them both over the back of his chair. She unbuttoned her uniform, folding it across the seat. Clad in only her undergarments then, she turned contemplatively toward his desk; how would he want her when he arrived? Remembering the way he'd positioned her the last time, she hoisted herself up, twirling herself around. She glanced down, seeing her legs dangle over the edge, and felt like a child. Images of models plastered across men’s magazines floated into her mind—propped up against luscious backgrounds, draped over an abundance of silk. She felt that, if she tried, she could emulate some of that aesthetic—so she lifted her legs and shifted, tucking one foot beneath her. She pushed her other leg out and leaned back. Her free arm rested across her torso, draping over her waist. With a glance down, she decided that she was pleased with the seductive pose; hopefully, Amon would be too.

As the minutes passed, she became fidgety. She took to chewing the skin around her nails while she waited. Her muscles became stiff from holding her position, and she was just about ready to collapse when the door suddenly creaked open. The light from the tunnel spilled across the floor, and her attention followed it toward the tall figure walking through the door. As her eyes connected with his, she couldn’t discern what emotion they held—but it was something dark. Her stomach flipped at the thought that she’d upset him again, and her anxious mind ran through numerous possibilities as he walked toward her. When he reached the desk, he was still for a moment, holding her in suspense—but then his fingers were against her skin, gently grazing one of her ankles.

The tenderness was jarring.

“S-sir…?”

His gaze, which had been raking along her body, suddenly shot back to her face.

It was then that she finally recognized the look in his eyes.

Lust.

The hand on her ankle clamped down, yanking her forward. Her arm gave out, and she slid along the desk. She came to a halt in front of him, looking up in fear.

Meanwhile, his eyes were elsewhere; between her legs, his fingers began skimming the edge of her panties. She felt him hook beneath the fabric, tugging it down in one swift motion. With her lower half bare, his hands returned to her waist, maneuvering her so that she was facing the opposite direction. She lay against the desk while he hiked her leg up, spreading her open from behind. She didn’t have time to think before he was thrusting into her.

She cried out, gripping the edge of the desk.

Slick with arousal, his abrupt intrusion didn't hurt—once again, it was more uncomfortable than painful. He gave a single languid pump before increasing his speed, slamming into her with a steady rhythm. His strokes were fast and deep, hitting that wonderful, ambiguous place inside of her. Before long, he had her on the cusp of release, and she clung desperately to her sanity before succumbing to the pleasure. She clamped down, shuddering at every wave that rolled through her. Her muscles pulled taught, and her mouth fell open in silent euphoria.

When it was over, her awareness slowly returned. She could hear the sound of him slamming into her from behind, and she lay there, reveling in the sensation of being used—so deliciously, wonderfully used by him. His thrusts became staggered until he eventually buried himself, taking his pleasure inside her. She keened at the satisfying rush of warmth; she would never get tired of that. When he was finished, she mentally prepared herself for the awkward sensation of him pulling out—but he did no such thing.

“I find it amusing…,” he began, trailing his hand down her back, “—that the only time you can be quiet is when you come for me…”

Rei felt herself flush briefly before his fingers were suddenly gripping her hair, wrenching her upright. She was brought flush against his chest, and his cold mask loomed over her shoulder.

“However, you do need to work on lowering your volume,” his hand came down over her mouth, “—so, allow me to assist.”

He slammed into her again, knocking her into the desk. Her hips were angled painfully against the edge, and the discomfort had her releasing a strangled moan into his palm. He continued with a steady barrage of thrusts, eventually bringing her to climax again, all the while smothering any of the noises that tried to escape her.

Late March, 170 AG

She sat undressed atop the desk, waiting patiently for him to arrive.

It was a little over two months now since the start of their arrangement, and they’d settled into something of a routine. At the end of every meeting, he would always tell her when she should be there next.

There was never an instance where he arrived before her. He would simply walk in, position her how he wanted, and take her whichever way he pleased. He never asked for her input, nor did she think he cared for it. She was just content to be the object of his desire.

Rei walked away from every meeting feeling strangely light. She still couldn't unravel the anomaly; he was never gentle, and the last time he’d paid any direct attention to her needs was the first time he'd made her come. Since then, her pleasure was simply a byproduct of him seeking his own. She realized that she didn’t mind it, though—she preferred it like this, knowing that she wasn’t required to perform. It allowed her to surrender herself completely, and it was strangely therapeutic. He'd simply descend upon her, without any pause or preamble, and she'd lose herself to pure bodily sensation.

She saw the door opening in her periphery and turned to find him walking into the room.

He no longer took the time to assess her readiness; she was always ready. He came to a stand between her legs, ghosting his hands along her body. There was a slight tug at her back as her bra was removed. He cast it aside, bringing his hands back to cup her breasts. Once he'd had his fill, he splayed his palm against her collarbone, pushing her down against the desk. She lay still as he began removing her underwear—but just before he could start to pull, a knock came to the door.

Chapter Text

Rei blinked up at him, but his gaze was intent on the door. He remained impossibly still.

An awkwardly long silence passed before more knocking rapped against the steel, and his eyes finally returned to hers. Strangely enough, he gave no orders; he simply stared at her with his usual calculated demeanor.

“S-sir…?” she whispered.

His hand shot up. “Don't speak,” he ordered in a low voice.

Rei stifled herself. He dropped his hand, facing upwards; he seemed to be holding it out for her, and her heart fluttered dizzyingly as she went to grasp it. She had only a moment to appreciate its warmth before being hauled off the desk. The sudden movement had her landing on her feet, his arm around her waist as he held her against his chest.

His voice was a low whisper overhead. “Collect your belongings and follow me,” he said, taking a step away from her.

She did as she was told, tiptoeing and following him across the room. There was a slim metal panel on the far side, which Rei vaguely recalled from her first visit to his office many months ago. As of late, she hadn't paid much mind to it—or any of her surroundings, for that matter. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was handleless; there was only a single, small keyhole. She watched as Amon slipped a finger beneath the leather of his cuff to procure a shiny, silver-colored key. He inserted it into the door, opening it for her.

It was a room.

A bedroom.

“You'll remain here until I am finished,” he said. “Keep quiet, and don't touch anything.”

He emphasized the last part as if to insinuate that there would be consequences. She nodded, acknowledging him as she stepped over the threshold. She heard the door shut and glanced over her shoulder to see that she was alone—in his room.

Amon’s bedroom.

She looked around. It was much less modest than her bunk in the barracks—nearly triple that of a normal cabin, and the bed was an actual mattress. Two plump pillows and a luxurious quilt adorned the top of it, and a nightstand and a lamp sat beside it. Opposite was a desk, much smaller than the one she’d become acquainted with; a few random objects beneath a large, hinged mirror, and two small pocket drawers nestled around a simple wooden stool.

She lowered her brow, moving over to the end of the bed and setting her belongings down beside it. She wrapped her arms protectively over her chest, feeling quite cold now that she was by herself. Uncertain of where to sit—if she could sit—she decided to pace around for a bit. She took notice of a small washroom in the far corner, complete with an enclosed shower head.

Rei sighed.

This man had an entire suite to himself while the rest of his troops were sleeping in boxes. She was briefly struck with the unfairness of it all before reasoning to herself that it made sense for him to get the best accommodations; out of everyone here, he was the one who sacrificed the most. She couldn’t imagine being in his position—with all the stress and demands of the cause—and still sleeping on a mat. She couldn’t blame him for wanting to be comfortable.

She wondered if Liu had something similar; certainly, his dwellings must be more substantial than the standard.

Her thoughts of Liu had her traipsing to the door, pressing her ear against the panel, and listening for voices. She held her breath, struggling to discern the muffled sounds through the metal. Two people were talking, yes—but apart from Amon, she couldn’t tell who. She also couldn’t hear what it was that they were talking about.

Rei sighed, leaning against the door. She stood there for what felt like hours before she started eyeing the bed enviously. Tentative, she approached, and walked along the edge, trailing her fingertips over the surface.

Yet again, she sighed.

The cover was crisp and weighty. It'd been months since she’d laid her head on a real pillow, and years since she’d laid on an actual bed. She decided that it wouldn’t hurt to just sit on it; she could simply watch the door and remove herself the moment he returned. The height of the bed came to the top of her thighs, and her backside easily found its place. Instinctively, she ran her hands over the surface again, reveling in the substantial feel of it. The movement caused the air to stir around her, and she caught a whiff of the single most intoxicating scent that she’d ever smelled. She closed her eyes and inhaled, allowing it to muddle her senses.

She wasn’t stupid; she knew exactly what it was. This was the place where he slept every night—of course, it was going to smell like him. She glanced at the pillow and licked her lips.

She fell right into it, inhaling deeply. Her eyes closed and her arms snaked around it, pressing it harder into her face.

It was divine.

She lay there in bliss, allowing the gravity of his scent to draw her in and completely forgetting about the door.

The longer she remained submerged in his scent, the more aroused she became. Her body was having potent sensory hallucinations without her so much as having to fantasize. It wasn’t long until the pressure had built inside of her, and she fisted her hands beneath the pillow, moaning softly as fell over the edge of her climax. The dream-like sensation felt impossibly real, almost as if she were truly lucid.

As she came down, her eyes slowly opened. At some point, she must have fallen asleep, because she now faced the center of his bed, gazing at the dimly lit wall. In the calm silence, her heavy lids almost dropped again—but then she felt a strange sensation between her legs.

Two wonderfully strong fingers had alerted her to their presence—along with a chilling voice.

“How charming…”

She wrenched up, whipping around.

Amon stood over her.

“—even as you sleep,” he drew his fingers up, coated in her wetness, “—your body reacts so profoundly.”

Her face flushed as he brought them close to her face. She dared not move but held his gaze.

His eyes were brimming with desire.

Before she could register his intentions, his fingers were in her mouth. The shock of this intrusion made her recoil, but he didn't relent; he pushed further, sliding across her tongue and forcing her to taste her essence. Only once she'd closed her lips and swallowed did he finally begin to remove himself. He did so deliberately, dragging his fingers across her tongue and tracing the outline of her lips. He tucked his hands behind his back, staring down at her with unwavering intensity.

His voice was dark. “On your knees."

She pushed herself upright, trying to explain. “S-sir, I was just—”

“Now,” he ordered.

She moved to settle on her hands and knees, but before she could finish, a hand was suddenly between her shoulders, forcing her down. Her breath caught as her face was pressed into the mattress. He plucked her panties from her hips, sending them to her knees, then roughly spread her apart, positioning himself between her legs. She could feel him hovering behind her. For a few excruciating moments, he did not move, and she wondered what he was planning to do. Never before had he placed her in such a vulnerable position.

She carefully raised her head. “S-sir?”

His only response was an unceremonious thrust into her. She winced, curling upwards to absorb the shock, but he immediately pushed her back down. In this position, he sank deep into her, pinning her with an unforgiving force. It was almost painful.

Almost.

He set an unrelenting rhythm, drawing ragged breaths from her lungs. Before long, she could feel herself at the cusp of another climax.

Then he abruptly halted, and his voice was almost teasing. “Do you wish to finish?”

Rei had no words. She whined and wriggled beneath him, begging him to continue, but was struck by the sudden shock of him slamming into her again.

“Answer me,” he ordered.

“Y-yes… sir,” she whimpered.

The hands at her hips fell away. “Do it yourself,” he said.

Rei panicked. She had no idea how to do what he was telling her to do.

He was silent a moment before he bent forward, pressing his torso flush against her back. His hand clasped around her wrist, guiding her toward the place where they were joined. She could sense his mask hovering just above her head as he spoke.

“Touch yourself,” he instructed.

Warily, Rei did as she was told. Satisfied with her compliance, he rose, watching her.

The sensation was nice, but it was nothing compared to what he could do. She rolled her fingers and hit something warm and thick—something that was inside of her—and jerked them back. She never imagined what it might be like to touch him, but she found herself intrigued by just how smooth—yet firm—it had felt against her fingertips.

He could tell that she was distracted now. “You’ll have to try harder than that.”

She wanted to glare at him but heaved a sigh into the quilted mattress instead. “How?” she implored, not caring how bitter it sounded.

“You’re an intelligent woman,” he goaded, “—you can figure that out on your own.”

Surely, he was bent on torturing her. She huffed indignantly and gritted her teeth, moving forward a modest amount before rocking herself back. It was only a subtle echo of what he could do, but it worked; the renewed pressure felt wonderful. She rose onto her elbows, allowing her to increase the force with which she moved. When he hit deep within her, she shuddered.

“Very good, captain…,” he praised.

She felt his hands groping her ass, spreading her open for a better view.

Lost in the pursuit of her pleasure, the exertion was exhausting. Soon, her moans were merely punctuating her pants, and she felt a sweat breaking across her forehead. Tired and weary, she hung her head and whimpered. She’d done her best now, and she only hoped that he would see that.

“Still stubborn, I see…,” he grazed her backside, "—perhaps a little encouragement, then.”

He pressed down, pushing his finger into a part of her that had never been entered before.

She gasped; the foreign sensation caused her entire body to tense. She stopped moving and gripped the sheets, but his other hand was at her hip, holding her in place.

“Relax,” he ordered.

Reluctantly, she dissolved into his grip and felt him slip deeper inside. She decided that she didn’t dislike the sensation—it was just weird. The pressure only added to that which was already existent.

“Continue,” he instructed.

With a shiver, she did—but the strange new sensation made it difficult for her to focus, and her rhythm was now sloppy. She no longer cared whether she was performing well for him; she just needed it to be over. She bounced, slamming into his hips with reckless abandon. The pressure became unbearable as it began to consume her whole body. Her arms collapsed, and her forehead fell against the mattress. Her hand shot out, desperately clawing at the blanket for something to hold on to.

That’s when she finally broke; the surge of pleasure crashed into her, and she gulped a strained breath before her lungs could freeze.

The orgasm was unlike any other she’d experienced; whatever he'd done to her, it had increased her sensitivity tenfold. The rush of euphoria lasted for much longer than usual, and when she finally started to come down, she could feel her muscles spasming with the remnants of pleasure.

Apart from that, she’d stopped moving; it was he who was moving now.

Finally.

He drove into her relentlessly, both of his hands gripping her waist. With a few short thrusts, he found his release. The wonderfully familiar warmth had her spine tingling with satisfaction. She hummed, tightening herself around him as he finished. It wasn’t something she normally did, and she was shocked to hear him respond with a soft groan.

She froze, and so did he.

She remained in her position, propped up at the edge of the bed as he slowly started to pull out of her. He was silent, and she found herself wondering if he’d gone to grab a rag for the mess—until a sudden and loud smack resounded, and she yelped, collapsing into the mattress. Wincing, she carefully raised her head, glancing over her shoulder.

“S-sir…?” she asked, not trying to anger him any further.

“I told you not to touch anything,” he said, approaching the mattress.

“Sorry…,” she offered lamely, darting her eyes away.

She jumped when he tossed the rag at her, landing below the furious red mark he'd left on her ass—roughly the shape of his hand. She glanced back at him, and he was staring at her with his usual frigidness.

“Get dressed,” he ordered.

She left his office in a daze, intent on nothing more than returning to her bed. As she yawned as she rounded the corner, something latched itself onto her back, yanking her from the tunnel. She gasped as she was flung across the ground, skidding over the cold metal. She rolled a few times before landing in a breathless heap, righting herself into a defensive crouch. The room was dark, and she had no idea where she was. She heard the clank of the door then, and the overhead bulb illuminated, allowing her eyes to adjust.

She was shocked to discover the identity of her assailant.

“L—Liu?!” she sputtered, squinting at him.

He'd pulled her into what appeared to be nothing more than an empty storage space.

“Get up,” he gruffed.

The awareness that she was with familiar company reassured her, yet she eyed him carefully as she rose; she could tell that there was something off with his demeanor.

They stared at each other for many moments until she attempted to punctuate the silence with an accusation. “Liu, what the fuck—”

“Where were you?” Liu’s face set in a stern scowl as he stalked forward. She backed away in time with his steps but wasn’t able to get far; soon, she was against the wall, and he was mere inches from her. “I’ve known for weeks that something was going on with you two. I noticed that he’d become very particular about which days he wanted to see me. Discussions that used to be nightly were condensed to only a few days a week. I didn’t think much of it at first, but one night I saw you walk into his office—on a day he’d specifically ordered me not to bother him…,” he paused, eyeing her critically, “—without knocking.” When Rei didn't answer, he continued. “Naturally, I became curious… so I followed you. On another night, I saw you sneak into his office again. When I pressed my ear to the door, I was hoping to learn what the two of you were talking about behind my back, but you already know that what I heard wasn't words.” She flushed, but he kept going. "That was some time ago. It took me weeks to find a reason to pay him an impromptu visit. On my way in, I was hoping to catch you on the way out, but I quickly saw that you were nowhere to be found.” He leaned forward and brought his face menacingly close to hers. “There’s only one place you could have gone.” He seemed to be waiting for her to fess up, but she couldn’t. His hands were suddenly in the collar of her uniform, wrenching her up against the wall behind her. “You’re fucking him, aren’t you!”

It was clear that he already knew the answer; he just wanted to hear her admit it.

Wincing, she finally choked out a response. “Y-yes…”

He released her, and she landed clumsily on her feet. Liu stepped away, running his fingers through his messy hair.

Guilt and shame ripped through her.

“L-Liu…,” she started, but he spoke over her.

“I should've known this would happen!” he yelled. “From the very beginning, he paid far too much attention to you… then he gave you that damned promotion—”

His words fell off as if he suddenly realized what he was doing. His eyes glazed over and he turned from her. She heard him heave a weary sigh.

When he spoke, all of the anger in his voice was gone. “You remind me so much of myself…,” he said, “—so eager… so willing to do whatever it takes to please him…”

Rei was taken aback; the realization hit her like a train. “You’re… you’re in love with him…” 

Liu tensed. He cast her a seething look over his shoulder but didn't deny her premise. “So what if I am? What does that make you?”

Her breathing hitched.

No—absolutely not. She was not in love with…

As if he could read the denial on her face, he scoffed. “You’re an idiot if you think that this could possibly end well for you. You won’t be able to walk away until he allows it, and when that happens, you’ll be thrown aside like trash. All that you are now is a warm place for him to stuff his cock.” Rei grimaced at the choice of words. “Amon is a great man—an unparalleled fighter, and a strong leader—but he has one flaw." He took a step forward. “He does not feel affection,” another step, “—for anything.”

Rei steeled herself. He was making all sorts of accusations and hardly allowing her to speak. “I won’t allow myself to get attached like that—”

“Bullshit!” Liu shouted.

“Is not!” she shouted back. “You and I are not the same!”

He laughed. “You’re right… we're not the same. Amon is my commander, and nothing more… but you…," he shook his head darkly, “—what you have is a master.” He spat the word as if he were disgusted by the sight of her, then made to leave.

“Liu…,” she whispered, but he was already at the door.

“For the longest time,” he spoke, “—I believed that I'd taken the wrong impression of you. Now I realize that I was right all along.” He threw a final glance at her over his shoulder, and the resentment in his eyes was like a knife to her chest. “You’re nothing but a whore.”

With that, he wrenched the handle and left. She stared forlornly at the spot where he stood, streams of tears rolling silently down her cheeks. It took every ounce of willpower that she could muster to push herself off the wall. She cracked open the door and peered out. Feeling the imminence of a breakdown, she made a run for it. She skirted down the corridor toward her bunk, gracelessly slamming the door shut and collapsing to her knees. Unrestrained sobs began to pour out of her, and she stayed like that for hours, curled into a ball on the cold ground. She eventually fell asleep there, too despondent to get up and move to her bed.

In her last waking moments, all that she could think of were Liu’s parting words: what if he was right?

Chapter Text

After two days of scornful, guilt-raddled contemplation, Rei decided that Liu was correct; she was, in the simplest of terms, a whore. She also just so happened to be fucking the most powerful man in the city—perhaps the world, for all she knew. So, yes, she was a whore—but who’s to say that was a bad thing?

Certainly not Liu. As if he could ever understand, what with his judgment so clouded by jealousy.

If she were bolder, she might have come up with this plan sooner. Unfortunately, she’d fallen into a bad habit of underestimating her abilities.

She’d finally decided that enough was enough; she was going to dive into it headfirst. Liu’s ambush was meant as a warning, but it had only bolstered her resolve. She was determined now to commit herself to the role that she’d stumbled into.

If she was going to be Amon’s whore, then she would be the best damn whore he’d ever seen.

With the chill of winter still thawing out, the streets of Republic City were slick with melt. Clumpy puddles splashed in the streets as a steady staccato of satomobiles drove by. Rei made sure to walk close to the storefronts to avoid getting hit by the waves of cold sludge. It didn’t take long for her to find her destination; it’d been almost six months, but she still remembered the location quite well. Shivering, she wrapped her coat tighter and pushed through the door.

The little boutique looked exactly as it had last fall, which only juxtaposed how much her circumstances had changed since then. Apart from the window displaying spring garments in preparation for the change of season, everything within the store was just as she remembered. With a glance around, she quickly discerned only a small handful of patrons in the store. Her eyes shot to a specific aisle, and she was relieved to see that it was vacant. She bit her lip and made her way over. Nestled between the narrow racks, she began her search.

She had no idea what he might prefer.

Red?

No—the color was too loud. It certainly evoked passion, but that wasn't what he wanted.

She knew that she was not going to wear her usual pink or any other variation of a subdued color in front of him.

She wanted to look grown. Mature.

Mostly, she wanted to be taken seriously. This left her with few options in the way of color. She sighed audibly as her gaze landed on a lacy, inky-colored set. She felt sacrilegious as she plucked it off the rack, but she’d already made up her mind.

It was perfect.

She swung her leg over the back of the bike, dismounting after another successful mission. It was their first co-op since Liu’s confrontation, and while it didn’t seem to affect the quality of their work, Rei could still feel the frigid tension between them. Liu hadn't spoken directly to her the entire time, much less looked her in the eye. They both just went about their business and tried not to get in each other’s way.

Now, she could sense his cold presence directly behind her as he dismounted his own bike only a few feet away.

They were back-to-back when she spoke—the first words she’d said to him in days.

She knew she was being petty.

“So,” she began derisively, “—have you confronted him about it yet?”

Liu’s reply was instantaneous. “Now why would I do that? He wouldn’t even care to deny it. He’d only find fault with the fact that I'd spied on him.”

Rei agreed but still felt the need to be spiteful.

“So, you’re just going to direct all your anger at me, then?” she quipped over her shoulder. “How’s that fair?”

Liu slowly turned around. Rei mirrored him, turning and obstinately lifting her chin.

The expression each of them wore was the same—that of profound irritation.

“I don’t have to wonder for a second why he’s doing this…,” Liu said, flicking his gaze down her body with a look of disgust, “—and I’m in no position to question him on how he chooses to get his dick wet. I am, however, in the exact position to question you about your choices. I would've sincerely hoped that you’d be smart enough to realize how fucked up this is. You're way out of your league, little girl.”

Rei’s jaw fell open in indignation; Liu knew exactly how to get under her skin.

Over his shoulder, the rest of their fellow Equalists were still dismounting their bikes; relax, she thought, now is not the time for you to lose your temper…

Her eyes shot back to Liu’s face, who was looking entirely too pleased with himself. She crossed her arms in defiance. “I didn’t ask for this, okay?” she bit out. “I didn’t choose anything.”

Liu’s face was completely flat as he raised a single disbelieving brow. "You didn’t refuse anything, though, did you?”

“You were the one who said it was impossible to refuse him!” she hissed through her teeth. “And guess what? You were right!”

“Trust me…,” he began with a grimace, “—this is one thing I'm sure that you could have dissuaded him on.”

Rei swallowed dryly.

By now, there were so many layers to this predicament that she couldn’t possibly explain how she’d ended up in it without making herself sound like a fool. She did attempt refusal, but by then it was too late; she’d already crossed the point of no return.

Her silence must have been enough of an answer because Liu abruptly ended their conversation.

“That’s what I thought,” he scoffed, promptly walking away before she could respond.

Rei was left to glare at the back of his head.

She could not believe him: after all that he knew about the situation, he was still making her out to be the bad guy.

Why did he even care?

“How did I do?” a gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.

She turned to find her trainee standing right where Liu had been.

Well, ex-trainee—he’d passed his evaluations a week prior, and this mission was his first in the field. His face was bright and expectant, anticipating her usual words of praise, but his demeanor was so opposed to her own that she reacted with animosity.

“Fine,” she spat, with every ounce of residual rage left from her interaction with Liu.

His face fell, and he looked like he’d just been kicked in the gut.

“Did… did I do something wrong?” he asked, obviously put out.

The look on his face was enough to snap her out of her temper.

She immediately backpedaled.

“Oh no! No no no! I’m so sorry Benji, I… you always do great…,” she stumbled over her apology.

“Are you sure?" He looked skeptical. "You seemed kind of… mad?”

“Don’t worry…,” she sighed, shaking her head in exasperation, “—it’s not you I’m angry with.”

There was a beat of silence before Benji’s eyes flickered off in the direction of the nearest tunnel.

“Is it the lieutenant?” he asked.

Rei blinked at him in surprise; the boy was perceptive. He was absolutely correct in his assumption, and she didn’t know how to respond.

Mera knew about the contraception; Liu knew way too much about the reason for the contraception. She really didn’t want any more of her dirty laundry getting out. If she could help it, she would prefer not to discuss anything even remotely related to her arrangement with Amon.

Especially not with someone as sweet as Benji, who was far too pure for such a topic.

As if he could see her struggling to stay afloat, he dived in to save her. “He’s kind of a hard-ass, don’t ya think?”

For a single moment, she just stared at him in stunned silence. Then a bubble of laughter escaped her chest, and she was doubled over, clutching her stomach. Raucous chuckles poured out of her as she reveled in the profound simplicity of what he’d just said.

Yes, she thought to herself, yes, he is a hard-ass.

A completely miserable, insufferable hard-ass.

She straightened, looking up at Benji’s sweet, self-satisfied face. “Yeah…,” she sighed, “—he really is.” She dabbed cheerful tears from the corners of her eyes. “Thank you for that.”

“No problem,” he smirked, “—you looked like you could use a reminder.”

She spent the entirety of the next evening preparing for her plan. She put some extra effort into styling her hair, attempting to recreate something that resembled the tousled waves she used to wear on stage. She still had Mera’s tube of lipstick that was loaned to her on New Year’s Eve, which she’d yet to give back. Luckily, Mera seemed to have completely forgotten about it. A few quick dabs across her lips and atop her cheeks gave her a flushed appearance. It wasn’t much, but it was the best that she could do with what she had.

She finished primping and returned to her bunk to put on the rest of her ensemble. On her way out of the shop, she'd convinced herself to buy a matching set of stockings and a garter belt. It was now quite… racy.

Good, she thought, this is exactly what I need to get his attention.

She donned her uniform, tucking her loose hair into her collar and covering her make-up face beneath her mask. She looked perfectly nondescript; no one would possibly be able to guess what she was wearing underneath.

Least of all, him.

She grinned, exiting her bunk as she made her way to his office.

He was late.

Very late.

It didn’t happen often, but on rare occasions, it would take him much longer than usual to show up. Now, nearly an hour of waiting had her mind spiraling with anxiety. The imaginary Amon that used to plague her dreams had always been receptive to this sort of thing, but she couldn’t rely on her fantasies as a predictor of his behavior. Real-life Amon was much more severe, and his emotions completely eluded her.

Perhaps he’d be unsure of it at first, but what man would ever refuse something like this?

Just as she was coming to her conclusion, the light from the tunnel spilled into the room, and she looked up to see him striding through the door. The heavy metal clanked behind him, and his gaze fell upon the vacant desk before shifting to where she was sitting. She stared at him for a moment before remembering how poorly he’d responded the last time he'd found her in an unprepared state of dress.

“Sir, I—,” she started, but he spoke over her.

“Your cycle won’t start for another two weeks,” he said matter-of-factly.

Rei blinked in astonishment; he was correct, but how?

Ever since the first horrific ordeal, there hadn’t been a single other time when she had to explain to him that she was on her period. For months now, she’d chalked it up to good timing, but it was as if he'd—

Oh no—had he memorized it?

Spirits—he had, hadn't he?

Her cheeks burned with crimson mortification. He took up a calm stride in her direction, and she collected herself with a steadying breath. “N-no,” she replied, “—it’s not that, I…,” she rose to her feet, wringing her mask between her hands, “—I was hoping that we could try something different.”

He halted in front of her, causing her to crane her neck to hold his gaze. “And… what might that be?” he lilted, sounding almost amused.

She noticed that his eyes were focused on her faintly stained lips. At that moment, she regretted putting any sort of makeup on at all; he was far too perceptive, and now she was self-conscious.

She cleared her throat. “I… n-need you to sit down…,” she swallowed dryly, “—s-so I can show you…”

She didn’t get a response, but he slowly went to the chair beside her and began to sit down. He settled with his knees spread apart and his hands resting atop his thighs.

“As you wish…,” he conceded.

Rei chewed her lip and glanced at the desk.

She'd never actually contemplated getting this far.

She stood and traipsed over to the desk. She removed her belt and tossed it on the floor, not willing to chance a look in his direction. Anything that she could glean from his eyes would only have her second-guessing herself, and she was determined not to let that happen. Her gaze instead landed on the lamp on the corner of the desk, and the small dial radio that sat beneath it. She flicked the power switch, flinching at the harsh static of jumbled police broadcasts that began blasting into the room. She scrambled to find the volume knob and frantically twisted it until the noise went down to a low hum.

“S-sorry…,” she muttered, peeking over at him.

He remained still, watching her with a fixed gaze. She swallowed her nerves and returned to the radio, toying with the buffer knob in search of an appropriate station. She managed to find one that was playing smooth jazz; the tempo was familiar, and it was something that she could easily work with.

She let out a low sigh and brought her hands up to her chest, beginning unbuttoning her uniform. She peeled open the front and slipped one of her arms out.

You can do this.

Then the other.

You can do this.

She began pulling it down her back, focusing on the feel of it as it dragged across her skin.

You can—

“I told you not to romanticize this.”

She jumped, glancing over her shoulder. He was watching her with a severity that made her skin burn.

“I-I know…,” she said quietly, “—I’m not.” She dragged the rest of her uniform down to her waist, sending it to the floor. “I’m performing.”

To that, he said nothing.

His eyes grazed the curve of her back, landing squarely on her rear. They lingered there before dropping even lower, trailing along her gartered thighs and stockinged legs. She stepped out of her boots, pushing the rest of her uniform aside. She turned away then, hoisting herself atop the desk. Perched on all fours, she went to adjust the volume of the music, allowing it to fill the quiet space between them. She leaned back, positioning her body and propping herself up on her knees. She swept her hair to the side, exposing the length of her neck.

Her nerves were simmering below the surface, but she’d come too far now just to quit.

She took a long breath and began moving her hips.

She fell into an easy rhythm, rolling in time with the music. She hadn’t danced in many months but found it still came naturally—just like chi blocking, it was a skill that she’d never allow herself to lose.

Soon, she decided to switch things up; the music had shifted, so she slowly began lowering herself over the desk. Her head rested against the surface, providing stability while she dragged one of her hands along her body. Starting at the apex of her thighs, she grazed her fingers along her abdomen and between her breasts, trailing over her décolletage. Engaging her core, she slowly brought herself back up on her haunches, then swung her legs back out from under her.

in doing so, she caught sight of him staring.

The awareness of it caused her to falter, and she darted her eyes away; she couldn’t hold his gaze and maintain her confidence at the same time.

She leaned back and brought her knees up to her chest, rolling her head back and allowing her hair to dangle behind her. She pointed her toes in that dainty way that always seemed to drive men crazy and slowly parted her thighs, spreading herself open for him. She didn’t even have to look to know where his eyes were focused.

Deciding to be a bit of a tease, she snapped her thighs shut and pulled herself back up, slipping off the edge of the desk. She still refused to hold his gaze and set her eyes on the broad expanse of his chest instead. The rhythm of the music guided her as she sauntered over between his legs, where fully expected him to reach out and touch her.

He didn't.

She hid her panic by twirling around. She swayed her hips and lowered herself, using his thighs for leverage—a maneuver she'd always used to employ for lap dances at the club.

Nevertheless, this was not the club.

This was Amon.

She snatched her hands away, hoping her forwardness didn't offend him; he gave no indication as to whether or not it had. She carried on, rising to stand again. She pulled a trick from his own book, prowling around the back of him as she unfastened her bra. He hadn’t turned his head in the slightest to follow her, so she traced a single finger across the back of his shoulders.

He did not move.

So, she held the bra over his lap, dangling it in front of his face—but still, he did not move.

Indignation flared within her. She dropped the garment, sending it to his feet. She rounded his front and returned to the space between his legs. Turning to sit, she was woefully disappointed to not feel any sort of arousal. She pressed herself flush against him and began grinding, desperately trying to elicit any sort of response. She looked up, hoping that his eyes would be full of desire.

Instead, they were filled with amusement.

Swallowed by shame, she shot out of his lap, folding her arms over her chest and stepping a safe distance away from him. She wanted nothing more than to escape at that moment, but she knew that she couldn’t; she was trapped until he dismissed her.

She bit her lip to keep from crying and shuffled back to the desk, silencing the radio that was now mocking her

This whole wretched idea had proved to be a spectacular failure.

“S-sorry…,” she choked out, “—I-I didn’t mean to overstep. I just…,” her breath faltered, “—I just thought that you would’ve liked this.”

An uneasy silence settled over them, and she continued to berate herself.

Reina, you dumbass, she thought, this is the single most idiotic thing you've ever—

“Come here.”

The utterance was so clear—so sharp—that it cut straight through her. Her lip quivered, and she did as she was told. The second she was within arm’s reach, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lap.

“You're concerned that I'm not enjoying myself?” he questioned coldly.

One of his hands held her against him with punishing force while the other found her wrist. Fearfully unsure of what he was doing, she winced, but he guided her hand between his hips, pressing it down against him; thick and firm, she felt his arousal, tucked beneath the band of his trousers. She looked down to where he was holding her against him and licking her lips with wonder. She felt him pulse with excitement.

Her gaze flicked back up to his own. “C-can I…?” she asked.

He didn’t speak, but a flash of heat shone in his eyes.

He released his grip. Without further instruction, she flipped the front panel of his tunic and began tending to the fly of his trousers. Her hands shook as she worked, but she didn’t falter; once finished, she was promptly greeted with the thin layer of his underwear. An open slit provided easy access, and she pulled at it, guiding it down his impressive length until he sprang readily from his pants.

She kept her eyes away from his but could still feel him watching her face.

Gently, she took hold of him. Her hand wrapped around the base, where she discovered that he was almost twice the length of her fist. Guided by intuition, she drew her hand upward; near the tip, a small bead of milky wetness appeared. She dabbed it curiously with her finger and found that it had a surprising texture—thin, but slippery. She began to spread it around, reveling in the slickness of it.

A sharp intake of breath came from beside her, and she halted her movements. Her mind reeled as the heat of the moment brought forth a dubious thought. She began to rise from his lap, but not before pausing to peer up at him. When he gave no indication for her to stop, she removed herself and sank to her knees. Eye-level now, she was able to see everything in much greater detail; base to tip, the length of him went all the way from her chin to her brow. There was a thick, pulsating vein along the side, which she followed until it disappeared into the gentle mess of curls peeking out from his trousers. She gripped the base of him again, bringing him toward her lips.

She had no clue what she was doing, but she figured there was no real way to mess it up.

She opened her mouth, tentatively lowering him against the flat of her tongue. She wrapped her lips around the tip and sucked gently, allowing her saliva to coat his skin—then she pulled back, releasing him with a soft breath.

In her periphery, she saw one of his hands curl into a tight fist.

Emboldened now, she went in for another mouthful; she dragged her tongue along the length of him, tracing the delicate vein that she had seen earlier. When she reached the top, she wrapped her lips around him and sucked once more. She did it a bit longer this time, delivering a soft, swirling pressure with her tongue. She pulled back to admire the slick of her saliva on his skin. Determinedly, she brought him to her mouth again. This time, she tried to take as much of him as possible—but only managed half. She pressed down as far as she could go, but as soon as she felt him against the back of her throat, she nearly gagged. She pulled back up for a quick breath before steeling herself once more; she held him in place and repeated her motions, eventually finding a slow but easy rhythm. She bobbed her head, taking him as far as she could go each time.

She soon felt his hands on either side of her head, tangling in her hair and brushing it from her face. The attention sent her heart fluttering; this was the very response she'd so desperately been wanting. She tilted her chin, peering up at him as she continued.

Suddenly, one of his hands rounded the back of her head, gripping her scalp with punishing force. Her face was roughly thrust down over his length, forcing him into the back of her throat. She gagged, but he was unrelenting; he continued to hold her down, forcing her to take nearly all of him into her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes as her senses railed against the violent intrusion. He held her in place for so long that her lungs began to burn. She desperately tried to pull away, but not so much as a muffled cry could escape. In a moment of panic, she began clawing at him what little autonomy she had left.

The vice on her scalp released and she jerked her back, gulping in precious oxygen. Her throat was on fire, and she coughed with every available inhale. She opened her eyes to see a thick string of spit dangling between them.

Before she could regain her bearings, his punishing grip returned to claim her chin. She recoiled, attempting to push away, but her resistance was only met with more force. His hand slid around to the back of her head, clutching her scalp again to hold her in place. A single panicked glance informed her that he was positioning himself in front of her mouth again. She froze, watching as he took himself in his own hand and lowered it to rest atop her lips.

“Open your mouth…,” he calmly ordered.

Rei remained still, absolutely terrified of the situation that she’d put herself in.

“Do as I say,” he commanded, fisting her hair to remind her who was in charge.

She quivered but did as she was told, opening her mouth to him. He pushed inside, ignoring her as she whined. He barely advanced just past her lips, however, and she looked down to find him stroking himself.

She remained still, watching his hand glide firmly up and down his length. His breaths became shallower with each successive pump.

“Look at me.”

Dark and commanding, the words sent chills down her spine. She lifted her gaze without hesitation, peering up at him through wet, watery lashes. Even from her vantage, she could tell that his pupils were blown wide; his once chilling irises had all but disappeared, and his eyes were now completely black.

His rhythm had started to accelerate before he abruptly stopped. She winced when something warm shot into her mouth, hitting her palate and collecting at the back of her throat; she knew he was finished when she heard his harsh exhale of breath. He gave himself one last stroke, depositing the remainder of his seed at the edge of her lips. Soon enough, it inspired her gag reflex, and she tried to spit it out—but that only spread the taste across her tongue, so she closed her lips and did the only other thing that she could.

She swallowed.

It was warm and thick as it traveled down her throat. She swallowed again, desperate to rid her mouth of the taste. She felt his thumb sweep over the small amount below her lip and push it into her mouth; a fresh dose of bitter tang was introduced, and she was forced to swallow once more. Her chin was back in his vice, and he was pulling her face upward as he leaned in. She brought both of her hands to his wrist, hoping it would relax his unrelenting grip.

It didn't.

“You… are…,” he spoke softly, considering her for a moment, “—exquisite.”

The grip on her chin suddenly vanished, and she blinked, falling back on her haunches.

“Get up,” he ordered, straightening in his chair. The hand that was just on her chin came to settle over his exposed length, which she noticed was still covered in her saliva.

“Y-yes sir…,” she hoarsely whispered, pushing up from the floor.

Her legs were shaking, and she wasn’t even all the way up before he grabbed her and yanked her forward. She nearly toppled, gasping and catching his shoulders. The hand on her leg slipped beneath the strap of her garter.

“As much as I enjoyed your little performance, captain…,” he began, trailing his fingers along her skin until they met the edge of her panties. He dipped below the fabric at her hip, gliding towards her core. “I do not appreciate surprises.” He ripped the swathe from between her legs, and she flinched, biting her lip to refrain from yelping at the sharp burn it left across her skin. “Against the desk,” he ordered.

Rei swallowed her fear and turned, taking the necessary strides to get to the desk. She positioned herself at the edge and bent over, waiting for him obediently. She almost jumped when his hand touched the back of her leg. His fingers hooked beneath the strap of her stocking, trailing over the curve of her rear before pulling and snapping it against her skin.

“Did you buy this for me?” he calmly questioned.

She froze, knowing exactly how he would react if she said yes. “N-no, sir…,” she whispered.

A fist was in her hair, wrenching her upright; she cried out, clutching his hand at the back of her head.

“You know better than to lie,” he growled, thrusting into her.

Chapter Text

Early Summer, 170 AG

Rei was sitting alone in the refectory, absently pushing around the rice on her tray when a gentle gust of air grazed her skin. She looked up to see that Benji had taken a seat across from her.

“Hey,” he greeted, leaning his elbows over the tabletop.

“Hey…?” she replied tentatively.

“How are things?”

Rei cleared her throat. “They’re uh… peachy.”

She was hoping he would pick up on her unenthusiasm. She had no idea why he kept attempting mealtime conversations with her. Whenever Rei was eating, she preferred to be left alone. She preferred to be left alone most of the time, as of late; people were exhausting.

Unfortunately, Benji had latched onto her like a lost puppy and taken to following at her heels for months now. It was both annoying and endearing. Of course, she tried to be nice to him—Spirits knew that his sweet nature warranted it—but she really couldn’t muster the energy to be his friend. After her fallout with Liu, she'd started distancing herself from pretty much everyone. She still entertained casual conversations with Mera here and there, but even those were starting to taper off in frequency. Surprisingly, the only person she felt close to now was Amon.

She didn’t know anything about him, not even his face. She only knew the desire that would alight in his eyes—the traces of heat that he would leave on her skin. There was hardly ever an exchange of words between them, but more of an exchange of energy—pure, exhilarating energy—and it was enough.

Things were just easier this way.

“So, would you be down for that?” Benji was looking at her expectantly, awaiting a response.

Rei blinked, remembering his presence. “I’m sorry, I… didn’t quite catch that…,” she replied, not caring to hide the fact that she hadn’t been paying attention.

“I asked…,” Benji’s eyes darted away bashfully, “—if you’d like to spend the afternoon with me.” A gentle blush crept up his neck.

Oh no…

“Look, Benji…,” she started, “—I don’t wanna hurt your feelings, but I’m not interested in… that sort of relationship.”

“What sort of relationship?” His cheerful expression remained unchanged.

“A romantic relationship,” she stipulated, hoping he would get the point.

Benji’s response was immediate. “Oh, that’s… not what I meant.”

Rei gave him a skeptical stare.

“Sorry if it came across that way,” he continued, apologizing with sincerity. “I was hoping we could hang out, you know… as friends?"

Rei tongued her cheek thoughtfully.

Usually, she had work-related obligations to get her out of such invitations, however rarely they would arise. Unfortunately, as the seasons changed, Equalist activity had died down; there weren’t many missions or training duties that required her presence. The docile weather seemed to have a sedating effect on the entire city, even those who lived underground.

“Benji, I…,” she paused, struggling, “—I don’t think it would be a good idea.”

“Why not?” he begged.

Rei gave a sigh. “Why do you even want to spend time with me? I’m not particularly nice to you, ya know.”

“I think you’re nice,” he objected, “—and you’re really the only person here who I get along with.”

Rei shook her head exasperatedly. “We barely even know each other!”

“Exactly!” he exclaimed, matching her energy. “We should get to know each other!”

Rei rubbed her brow, shaking her head. “No,” she decreed.

“Yes,” Benji rebutted.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No!” she hissed.

Benji propped his chin atop his fist and proceeded to pout in the most charming way a grown man possibly could. “Please?” He batted his eyelashes at her.

Rei had to look away to keep from laughing. “Fine,” she relented, pinching the bridge of her nose, “—you win.”

“Yes!” Benji shot up from the table. “Meet me at the corner of 57^th and Kyoshi in an hour.”

Rei’s lips parted in dissent, but before she could complain about the locale or the time constraints, Benji was already gone.

Clad in a trusty pair of trousers and a plain top, it suddenly dawned on her just how long it had been since she’d worn anything other than her uniform. Perhaps Benji’s insufferableness was a blessing; she could use an excuse to get out into the sunlight.

On her way through the warehouse, she caught sight of Liu standing beside one of the trams.

He caught sight of her too.

She held his stare as she walked, watching his eyes as they registered her civilian clothing. Before she could read any further into the burgeoning grimace on his face, he turned a cold shoulder. Long ago, he was the one who advised her on the importance of finding time away from this place; he should have been happy to see her getting out, but now he just looked annoyed having to see her at all.

She kept walking, eventually finding her way to the vault door. She gripped the iron wheel and spun it, stepping over the threshold and shuffling up the stairwell. She made her way out to the street, squinting in the early afternoon sunlight.

She recalled the location Benji had given her: 57^th and Kyoshi.

It wasn’t very far—only a few blocks away.

She made it in less than five minutes. Glancing around, she searched for Benji’s familiar mop of charcoal-brown hair.

Soon enough, she heard her name being called from behind. “Rei!”

She turned to see Benji jogging toward her with his hand in the air. “Took you long enough!” she called back, teasing.

"Y-yeah…,” he slowed in front of her, “—s-sorry about that.”

“No excuse?” she prodded.

“Just, uh…," he scratched his head, "—lost track of time. You’re not mad, are you?”

“No, Benji…,” she drolled, “—the closest to mad I’ve ever been with you is annoyed.”

“Cool,” he breathed, a grin immediately appearing on his face.

“What do you wanna do today?”

Just as Rei was about to speak, she caught a whiff of something. She leaned forward, taking in a shallow breath through her nose.

Benji was wearing cologne.

“I, uh…," she raised a weary brow, deciding to feign ignorance, "—I'm not sure. You’re the one who invited me out, so… why don’t you decide—”

His hand was around her wrist in an instant. “Follow me!” he exclaimed, dragging her behind him as he started down the street.

He’d taken her to a bookstore, of sorts. Manga, he’d called it. She’d spent nearly two hours floating around with him while he perused the shelves, babbling constantly about his favorite selections. He was like a ray of light, piercing through the clouded darkness of her mind. For the first time in months, she felt unburdened.

When late afternoon arrived, the outside temperature had dropped from slightly sweltering to comfortably warm.

“Alright…,” Benji began, smiling down at her, “—now that I’ve sufficiently bored you…”

She giggled.

“—is there any place that you’d like to go?”

Rei rubbed the back of her neck contemplatively. “I wouldn’t mind a trip to the boardwalk… the weather’s nice, and I think it’d be a shame for us not to enjoy it.”

He bobbed his head. “Boardwalk it is.”

They took the train across town to get to their destination. Before her feet were even planted on the sun-bleached boardwalk, the aroma of candied pecans wafted into her nose. She jogged to the nearest stand to purchase a fresh bag and was about to give her money to the vendor when a long arm shot out over her shoulder.

“Thank you, sir,” the vendor said, accepting the folded notes from Benji’s hand.

Rei glared at him. “I can pay for myself.”

“I know…,” he said, smiling down at her. He accepted the bag from the vendor and strode off, leaving her without her afternoon snack.

“Hey!” she called, running after him. “Those are mine!”

“Oh really?” He slowed his pace for her. “Pretty sure I’m the one who bought ‘em.”

“Stole them would be the word.”

She attempted to snatch the bag from his hands, but he jerked to the side, sheltering the pecans out of her reach.

“Alright, sheesh...,” he giggled, “—relax, psycho. I bought them for us to share.” Benji dumped half the contents into his palm before offering the remainder to her.

“Thanks…”

“No problem—”

“—for returning my nuts to their rightful owner,” she cut him off, snatching the bag.

“Your nuts?” He raised a brow.

Rei flashed him a pair of the sugar-coated pecans, knocking them back into her mouth.

Benji barked in laughter. “Makes sense…,” he grinned, leaning into the innuendo. “You could give most of the guys I know a run for their money.”

“Not most, Benji…," she corrected, "—all.” 

“Hm…,” he hummed thoughtfully, “—won’t believe it till I see it.”

“Hey,” she rebuffed, “—I distinctly remember whooping your ass all throughout your training!”

Benji smirked. “And you just so happened to forget all of the times that I whooped your ass?”

She responded with a shove of his arm.

“Hey!” he giggled. “What was that for?”

Rei cocked her brow at him. “Looking for a rematch, comrade?”

“Nah…," he shook his head, smirking, "—I don’t fight women."

“Oh? Only when they're in uniform, right?” she teased.

“Yes ma’am,” he nodded, “—orders are orders.”

Under the light of the sun, his dark brown eyes held captivating shimmers of gilded mahogany.

She found herself drawn to the warmth of them.

“Well,” she darted her own eyes away, pulling herself from his gaze, “—aren’t you ever the upstanding soldier.”

“Actually…,” he countered, “—I was just raised to refrain from violence. My dad always told me not to start anything, and only fight back if I had to.” He contemplated a moment. "And to never hit a girl."

“Why?!” she barked, still riled. “You think a woman can’t fight back?”

Benji’s brows furrowed, clearly confused by her offense. “That’s… not what I meant,” he explained. “Women are just precious. They give life, for Spirit's sake.”

Rei blinked in surprise.

“It's not that they can’t defend themselves,” Benji continued, "—it's just that… they shouldn't have to." He searched her eyes for comprehension—but when she didn't respond, he cleared his throat nervously. “I-I can assure you that men are… much more expendable… not nearly as important as women.”

The resoluteness of this statement is what finally pulled a reply out of her. “I think you’re a little biased there,” she started. “I mean… men are important, in some ways.” She paused, still gathering her point. “I grew up without a father, you see… so I can tell you first-hand, not having one set me up for a lot of uncertainty in life. Not to mention what it did to my mother. She was amazing, but she was only half the equation… always stretched too thin, trying to be a mom and a dad at the same time."

There was a beat of silence as she finished.

“Fair enough,” Benji nodded. “I see what you mean… though, I can’t really relate. I’ve never lost a parent, so—”

“Hey, I didn’t lose my father,” Rei interjected, refusing to afford the man in question even a shred of sympathy. “You can’t lose what you never had.”

Benji didn't appear taken aback, but there was another beat of silence as he formulated his next words. “About your mom…,” he spoke gently, “—when you say that she was…”

Rei was instantly reminded of just how intuitive Benji was.

He’d already inferred all of the information she’d just divulged about her father without her so much as having to clarify a single thing; his comment about loss was in reference to her mother.

Rei cleared her throat. “She… died…," she forced out. Hoping to quell any further questioning on the topic, she recalled the doctor’s diagnosis from all those years ago. “Rapidly metastasized brain tumor. I was fourteen.”

Benji sighed. “I’m sorry…”

Rei appreciated the sentiment but decided to deflect. “What about your family?”

He perked up. “What do you wanna know?”

“Well, for starters," she began, somewhat facetiously, "—what’s it like having parents?”

“I-it’s, uh…,” he released a breathy chuckle, “—chaotic.”

It wasn’t the answer she’d expected. “What do you mean?”

“My dad works all hours of the week while my mom takes care of seven kids.”

Rei nearly choked on her pecan. “S-seven?”

Benji nodded. “Yeah… five boys, plus me, and a girl." His eyes glazed over as he leaned over the guardrail and looked out at Yue Bay. "I’ve been helping my parents with the bills ever since I can remember. They came here from Ba Sing Se when my Mom was pregnant with me, hoping to give me a chance at a better life…,” he huffed bitterly, “—you can see how well that worked out."

Rei was shocked; this was the first time she’d ever seen him remotely ticked off.

“W-well…,” she began, unsure of how to respond, “—what we’re doing now means that they won’t have to live in fear anymore… one less thing for them to worry about.”

Benji pushed himself off the rail and turned to her with a teasing smile. “Rei,” he addressed her with a tone of incredulity, “—what do you think we’re doing here?”

She stared at him plainly; hadn’t she just explained this?

“Protecting nonbenders from triads,” she said, consolidating her words.

“Way more than that…," Benji shook his head, turning back around, "—you work closely with Amon, right?”

Rei was confused. “Yes…?”

“Does strike you as the sort of person who does anything half-assed?” Benji prompted.

She pondered this for a moment, watching his eyes squint against the sun’s bright reflections. “No…,” she finally conceded.

“Can’t you see?” He glanced back at her, and she swore that the same light reflecting off of the water glimmered in his eyes. “We’re gonna change the world.”

The next few hours were spent traipsing the boardwalk, sharing stories of their lives before either of them had joined the Equalists. For Benji, the tales mostly consisted of sibling rivalries—anecdotes about hilarious pranks and pointless fights—along with a handful of less-than-savory experiences from his time as a busboy. For Rei, hers consisted of fond memories of her mother or Akasha. A few tales about silly shenanigans with her coworkers from the club made it into the mix as well, but she made sure to leave out just enough detail so as not to let on what sort of profession she used to hold.

Leave it to Benji to find a way right through her defenses.

“You know…,” he began as they crossed back onto the paved street, “—you never mentioned what you did before joining the Equalists. You didn’t have a job, did you? Or were you going to school or something?” Of course, he was looking at her with all of the bright-eyed innocence of a puppy.

Rei grimaced. “I did have a job…,” she conceded, “—but I’m afraid you’d never look at me the same if you knew what it was.”

“Oh, well, if that’s the case, I have to know!" Benji grinned mischievously. "What? A spy? A cop? An assassin?” Her only response was a shake of the head, which he took as a cue to humble the parameters of his guesses. “A garbage collector? A pooper-scooper at the zoo?”

Rei giggled.

“Come on…,” he pleaded, “—you can tell me. I won’t judge.”

Her smile faded; he probably would judge her, but she'd rather him learn it from her than from one of the soldiers who'd been present the night of the fire.

Or worse, Liu.

“Fine…,” she gave in, “—I was a stripper.”

The excitement in Benji’s face faltered only slightly. “Ha!” he barked. “Good one, Rei!” She turned a stern brow toward him, and his mirth quickly dissolved into shock. “Oh…,”  a flush of heat crawled up his neck, “—s-sorry.” He adjusted the collar of his shirt, darting his eyes away. “I-I didn’t mean to make fun of you, it's just… I-I mean, y-you could understand why it would be hard to believe—not that you’re ugly! Y-you’re totally hot—I mean, attractive, uh…,” he cleared his throat, “—a-attractive enough to be a… s-stripper.” His cheeks, along with the tips of his ears, had grown a startling red.

She reached out to grasp his arm, and he nearly jumped at her touch. “Benji, relax…,” she assured him, “—I’m not offended.” She dropped her hand down to his and tenderly laced their fingers together. “Actually… your response is the most respectful I’ve ever gotten, so thank you.”

His eyes left her face to settle where their hands were intertwined. His furious blush from earlier was starting to fade, but Rei could see a delicate sheen of sweat ghosting across his forehead.

“R-right...,” he breathed, giving her a soft squeeze.

After finding a place for tea, they’d somehow ended up at Republic City Park. The sun was just beginning to set, and Benji suggested that they find a good spot to watch it happen.

Rei was enjoying her time with Benji, but as the day progressed, she couldn’t help but notice the tension that was building between them. It wasn’t the sort of heavy, terrifying tension that she felt with Amon, but something lighter. Warmer. Sweeter.

Instead of weighing her down, it put butterflies in her stomach. The moment she’d grabbed Benji’s hand at the boardwalk, it sparked something between them. He was now opening doors for her and guiding her through them by the small of her back. Earlier, he’d tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as they prepared to cross the street, taking her hand in his own again when they did.

Throughout the afternoon, she’d caught multiple of his stares; they were neither salacious nor cold but filled with warmth and affection. She could only hold onto them for a moment or two before she would have to look away. It continued like this as they walked through the park, chatting idly about who-knows-what. Eventually, they found a quiet area on a wooded hillside, and Benji led her off into the grass. He plopped down in front of a thick stretch of shrubbery, and Rei did the same, tucking her feet sideways as she sat beside him.

The location provided a perfect view of the skyline—the expanse of which had started to fade into a soft, golden orange. The ambiance cast a warm glow over everything, including Benji’s molten eyes—which, she noticed from her peripheral view, were currently gazing at the side of her face. She didn’t dare glance in his direction again, for fear that her stomach might do another somersault. She remained silent, watching the horizon with all the focus she could muster. Many minutes passed and neither one of them said a word; it seemed that their hours-long conversation had finally died.

Rei was desperate to find an escape from the silence, so she settled for the most mundane topic that she could come up with.

“It’s a beautiful view,” she casually offered.

Benji didn’t respond—not immediately, at least. He waited a moment before bringing his hand to her cheek and brushing another wayward strand from her face. Rei felt her skin warm, and she turned to look at him.

He smiled softly at her. “You are…"

The logical part of her brain wanted to correct him—to let him know that he was talking about the wrong thing. Then, she registered the intent behind words. She closed her eyes.

Their noses touched before anything else.

Benji didn't draw away, nor did he meet her advance; he remained still, waiting for her to initiate. A single waft of his breath was all it took for her to do so. She tilted her chin and pressed her lips to his. They were soft and warm—so wonderfully warm. She pulled away slightly before going back for more. This time, he took hold of her bottom lip in his. She felt him suck gently, and it made her stomach flip. She realized then that she’d never been kissed, and it almost caused her to laugh; somehow, she’d done everything else, but not this.

He was swift, moving into another kiss with ease. He didn't seem to notice that she had no idea what she was doing. He simply took the lead, opening her mouth and drawing her in. She nearly swooned before the sudden presence of his tongue caused her to squeal.

He pulled back, breathless. “W—w-what’s wrong…?” he panted.

Rei didn’t bother answering; she grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him back in for another kiss. From there, it devolved into a heated frenzy.

Her lips crashed into his. His hand fisted in her hair.

Soon, he was guiding her to lie down. She followed his movements, allowing herself to fall back against the cool grass. He propped himself up overtop her, hovering so closely that she could feel the heat radiating off of him. He continued to kiss her, exploring her with his tongue and making her dizzy. It was so much—and at the same time, not enough.

Whatever this was, she wanted more of it.

She brought her hands up, threading her fingers into his hair, and was rewarded with a moan. They stayed like that for a while longer, reveling in the taste and feel of each other. She was so enraptured that she hardly took notice of his hand moving across her abdomen. When his fingertips grazed the underside of her breast, she faltered.

He noticed her apprehension and pulled away. “Is… this okay?” he asked.

Rei had to think for a moment; it’s not like Amon had ever forbidden this sort of thing, right?

With a lazy grin, she grabbed him by the chin and pulled him back down. “Come here.”

They resumed their kissing, and Benji wasted no time cupping her fully with his hand. His fingers were warm even through the fabric of her shirt. She felt him graze her nipple with his thumb, causing her to jerk slightly at the sensation. A soft moan left her, and the noise seemed to excite them both. He pulled away, monitoring her expression as he trailed his fingers down to her waistband.

“W-would…,” he began feverishly, “—would this be okay?” He slipped one of his fingers beneath the fabric, slowly tracing along the edge.

Oh…

Rei hadn't thought that far ahead, but quickly found herself excited by the proposition. She nodded, and a lustful grin appeared on his face. He wriggled his fingers beneath her waistband but kept them respectfully outside of her underwear. He began rolling against her with gentle, circular motions, and she sighed, eyelids fluttering closed.

Spirits…

From her interactions with Amon, Rei had always presumed that aggression was needed to get her off—but the tenderness with which Benji handled her was making her insides burn. The tension below her stomach was tightening with anticipation. With her eyes still closed, she could feel his nose brushing along the side of her neck. His teeth were suddenly grazing the skin there, nipping at the sensitive area. Eventually, he began sucking, eliciting a feverish moan. Her hands soon found their way back into his hair.

If she wasn’t wet before, she most certainly was now. He took the initiative to slip a single finger beneath the fabric. A breathless keen was all she could manage when another finger joined the first, and Benji found her swollen bud with surprising dexterity. His tongue continued to lave across her throat, and Rei bit her lip to keep from crying out. She felt her climax approaching—and as if he could sense it too, he pressed into her.

Her breath caught, and she froze.

Suddenly it was the wrong hands on her body and the wrong fingers between her legs—the wrong person inside of her.

She didn’t want this. She couldn’t want this.

Benji seemed to interpret the hitch in her breathing as a sign of pleasure, however, and pressed into her even further.

Rei tried to shove him away.

“Shhh…,” he hushed, “—relax, no one can see us—ah!”

With a firm knuckle, she jabbed him in the chest—a point which she knew would inflict a fair bit of pain. The moment his hand slipped from her pants, he rolled off of her, and she scrambled onto her knees to crawl away. The world spun around her as she caught her breath, and she fisted her hands in the grass to steady herself.

It was fear that had flooded her system, and she knew it—a result of her conditioning.

Liu was right; Amon was her master. Her head fell into her hands and her fingers twisted into her hair. Mournful sobs wracked through her chest. She completely forgot about the other person sitting in the grass—the poor, innocent man she’d just tortured to no end.

“Rei…,” his voice came near, immediately halting her sobbing, “—did… did I hurt you?”

Her eyes shot open, and she was met with a look of abject horror on Benji’s sweet face.

“N-no, Benji, I…,” her throat was tight, making it difficult to speak, “—you didn't, it's… it’s nothing like that, I… I just… I can’t…," she fumbled. "I’m sorry… I can’t—”

“Woah, Rei," Benji swooped in to save her, "—you don’t have to apologize to me." He reached out to console her but immediately halted when he saw her flinch. “You don’t have to explain anything. I’m not gonna touch you if you don’t want me to.”

Those simple words nearly shattered her into a million pieces.

She did—she did want him to touch her—but her body belonged to someone else.

His arms were still outstretched towards her, so before he could witness her face twisting in grief, she lunged forward. He caught hold of her with surprising deftness, pulling her close as she began to sob again.

“I’m s-sorry…,” she blubbered against his shoulder, “—I d-didn’t mean to t-tease you!”

“Shhh…,” he hushed her a second time, “—don't apologize. There isn’t anything to be sorry for.”

Rei disagreed, but she stopped nonetheless. He stayed with her like that until her tears finally stopped, which ended up being well after dark.

Of course, he’d insisted on buying her food. Begrudgingly, she'd agreed—though only after taking note of just how late it had gotten. Once they were seated inside the restaurant, however, Rei noticed that the waitress kept eyeing her neck as she took their orders. Benji seemed to take notice as well, but instead of calling the woman out for her weird behavior, he simply cleared his throat and gestured for Rei to pull her hair down.

Rei failed to pick up on the cue and waited for the waitress to walk away before she griped at him. “What?”

He cleared his throat again. “There’s a… w-well you might have some, uh…,” he scratched his own neck self-consciously, “—I-I might have given you a hickey… or two…,” he trailed off.

Rei felt the color drain from her face. Her hand shot up, immediately wrapping around the part of her neck that Benji had been sucking on.

Fuck.

“I’m sorry… I suppose I shouldn’t have done that," he started with an apology, "—but, it’s not like you won’t be able to hide it, right? Our uniforms cover our necks.”

Rei almost responded with a laugh.

Sure, she could hide it beneath her uniform—until tomorrow night, when a certain someone was going to force her to take it off. She sighed, mentally resigning to make an emergency trip back to the surface in the morning to purchase some makeup. She only hoped that there would be no last-minute obligations to get in the way of this.

Not wanting to stress Benji any further, she gave him a false but reassuring smile.

“You’re right,” she nodded, “—thanks.”

The rest of their meal passed in tense silence, and Benji had the good graces to keep his mouth shut; only when they were on their way back to the base did he finally say something to her. “We’re… still friends, right?” he asked.

The uncertainty in his voice stirred her guilt; she couldn't stay mad at him. “Yes, Benji,” she sighed, folding her hand into the open one by his side, “—we’re still friends.”

“Cool,” he breathed.

She could tell that he was still unsure, so he gave him a gentle squeeze.

When they were back in the tunnels, he insisted on walking her to her room. Rei tried to dissuade him, but he would not relent. Similarly, outside the corridor, he refused to relinquish her hand—holding her captive for a moment longer.

“I enjoyed spending time with you today…,” he started, gazing at her with the same smoldering heat as before, “—I realize that you just want to be friends, and I respect that… but if you ever want something more, just let me know.”

Rei felt a lump rising in her throat. “Benji, I…”

The sight of him pressing a soft kiss to the back of her hand stole the words from her lips.

“Goodnight, Rei,” he said, returning her hand.

She felt a blush staining her cheeks. “Goodnight, Benji…,” she whispered.

He dipped his head and turned on his heel. She stared after him, watching as he walked back to his bunk; only when she saw him disappear around the corner was she finally able to swallow the lump in her throat.

It had been a long day—too long.

She needed some rest.

When she entered her bunk, she became starkly aware of the overwhelming scent that was clinging to her clothes. She caught a whiff of her hair as well and realized; it was grass. She knew that her future self would thank her in the morning if she just took the shower now, so she gathered her belongings and made her way to the washroom.

As usual, it was empty.

Thankful for the solitude, she went to turn on the nearest shower head. She stripped down, folding her clothes and setting them aside on the bench. By the time she returned, the water was warm enough to step under. She started with her shampoo, of course, and had only just rid the lather from her eyes when the water’s stream suddenly ceased. Oblivious to her surroundings, she checked the diverter valve to see that it was in the correct position.

“Did you enjoy your date, captain?” a deep voice lilted over her shoulder.

She gasped and turned, jamming herself into the corner and instinctively covering herself with her arms.

“S-sir!” she stammered. “W-what are you doing here?!”

He stepped forward, corralling her even further.

“Answer my question,” he ordered, his voice deathly calm.

Despite the urge to hurl accusations at him, she knew that it wasn't a good idea.

“It… w-wasn’t a date…,” she said, attempting to sound firm.

His eyes fell to her neck. He raised two fingers, gently pushing aside the hair that clung to the wet skin just below her ear. She remembered the marks that Benji left there, and her breathing stopped.

“This would be much easier if you weren’t so fond of lying, Reina…,” he drolled, and his eyes snapped back to hers.

Normally, the sound of her name on his tongue would cause her insides to burn. Now, it made her blood run cold.

His fingers left her neck to stroke her cheek. “While I cannot blame other men for taking such interest in you…,” he said, tracing the corner of her mouth with his thumb, “—you should understand, I do not share.”

His hand wrapped around her neck like a vice, wrenching her up from her position. She whined and wriggled, but was merely slammed back into the tile. She felt both of his hands on her legs then, spreading her thighs open with brute force as he settled himself between them. There was no warning when he thrust into her, and her cry was strangled by the cover of his hand.

He spoke to her in stern order. “You'll remain silent if you wish for this to be your only punishment.”

Quivering, she nodded. She closed her eyes, burying her face into the fabric at his shoulder. There, moisture from her hair camouflaged the stains from her tears. He began a brutal and unrelenting rhythm, and it was clear to her that there was no pleasure in his actions—this was a cold, hard possession. Frightened as she was, he still managed to bring her over the edge, violently ripping an orgasm from her body and reminding her who she belonged to. She bit down on her lip, noticing the taste of blood as she writhed between him and the stall.

His climax soon followed, and she relished the warmth as it spilled inside of her.

When he was done, he released her, and she fell unceremoniously to the floor. Barely registering the sight of him kneeling before her, he took hold of her chin, forcing her to pay attention.

“I look forward to our meeting tomorrow, captain…,” he reminded.

“Y-yes sir…,” she croaked—if only for him to let go. As he left, she found it much harder than usual to ignore the utter desecration that he left in his wake.

Chapter Text

September, 170 AG

One year.

She could still smell the char of the smoke and the metallic scent of blood with perfect clarity. The trauma did nothing to dull her recollection; her consciousness clung to the details with excruciating force. Time was said to heal all wounds, but this one had only festered. The hurt was like fuel to her, bolstering her resolve—a painful but necessary lesson.

Now, on the anniversary of that night, Rei found herself filled with gratitude.

Summer was nearly over, and triad activity was skyrocketing again; whatever anomalous lull that had taken place at the beginning of the season did not stick around. Republic City’s bending criminals were now back to their old ways, and in response to the increasingly disruptive presence of the Equalists, growing their numbers at an exponential rate. By necessity, the size of the force had nearly doubled. Dozens upon dozens had been conscripted into the ranks over the summer; no longer were they merely a rumored group of vigilantes, but a force to be reckoned with. Any bender who dared to harass their fellow nonbending citizen was aware of the formidable opposition lurking in the shadows—though triads and law enforcement alike were out of luck if they ever wanted to confront any of them on their own terms.

Rei had been assigned to train not just one, but three new captains. Needless to say, her days were grueling. From the moment she woke until she laid down at night, she was sparring. Very rarely would she be tasked with joining Liu on a mission. For the most part, now, her duties remained below ground. It was jarring to think that she could count the number of times that she’d seen the sun in the past year on just one hand. The only moments that ever presented themselves for personal indulgence anymore were those she spent with Amon—but even he had become less of a luxury and more of a duty.

That day, she’d returned to the barracks to use the restroom after a hasty and unsatisfying lunch. She’d decided to make a pitstop in her bunk to freshen up before yet another hours-long session of sparring with the second of her trainees. Just as she finished re-braiding her hair, the door of her tiny cabin was violently wrenched open.

She relaxed the instant she saw Liu.

“Come with me,” he gruffed.

Rei dropped her arms, smacking them against her thighs. “Would it kill you to say please?”

“Yes,” Liu answered dryly. “I’m calling an emergency meeting with Amon, and there’s no time to waste. Let’s go.”

With that, he turned and marched out of the door frame.

Exasperated, Rei stomped out to glare at the back of his head. “I don’t know if you realize this, lieutenant, but I have other things that require my presence!” She didn’t care that she was being loud; if anyone else was in the women’s barracks and could hear her words, she only hoped that they were entertained. Liu halted and turned to face her, and she was thrilled to see the seething irritation in his expression. “Whatever you need to discuss with Amon, you can do so without me. It’s not like you wouldn’t prefer it that way anyway—”

He'd already stalked his way back to her in a few short strides, so quickly that she had no time to react; he was practically on top of her before she had a chance to defend herself. He grabbed the fabric around her neck, flinging her against the wall. The wind was knocked from her lungs, and she was painting as she looked up at the seething man in front of her.

Liu stood oppressively close, looming over her.

“You’re right, captain…,” he hissed, “—you’re lucky that I even came to collect you at all. Your little ‘third-in-command’ position means absolute shit to me. The only role you play is taking care of my bitch work, so your presence at this meeting is a courtesy.” He took a step back. “Now, quit being an insufferable smartass and show some fucking gratitude.” With that, he drew away completely and resumed his previous march down the corridor, not even checking to see if she would follow.

Her lungs had recovered from his assault, but his words still left her breathless. She blinked away the prickling of tears behind her eyes and stood up, glancing around to make sure that no one else had been able to witness what just happened. Sheepishly, she darted after Liu. She caught up to him in the hall and followed silently the rest of the way. As they were headed to see Amon, she thought it best to put her mask back on—though she did it more so out of embarrassment than anything else.

They reached his office rather quickly. Hard and loud, Liu rapped against the door. It took only a moment for Amon to appear.

“Sir,” Liu began, not waiting for his superior to address him first, “—intel caught wind of a serious development. There’s something that you need to be informed of immediately.”

Amon was silent for a moment before responding. “Very well.”

He let both of them pass, closing the door after them. Instead of assuming his usual place behind his desk, however, he walked along to the adjacent wall and turned his back to them, focusing his attention on one of the large maps there—likely returning to whatever task he was invested in before being interrupted.

A jarring spark of static permeated the room, drawing her gaze back to Liu. She was confused to see him fumbling with the small radio atop the desk.

Well, Rei thought—whatever this ‘emergency’ was, it didn't seem very urgent; neither Amon nor his lieutenant were paying attention to each other.

Her eyes left the radio and shifted to the chair behind the desk. While Liu was still fumbling around, Rei took the necessary strides to cross the room. She pulled Amon’s chair out and sat down—a noiseless movement that only Liu would be able to take notice of.

As expected, he froze. The radio was momentarily left on a random, scratchy police scanner frequency while he peered up at her. He said no words, but Rei could see the annoyance in his eyes. She was thankful for her mask at that moment because it concealed the wide-mouthed grin plastered across her face.

Spirits, she loved pissing him off.

She leaned forward, propping her elbows atop the desk and folding her hands beneath her chin, taunting him. Liu held his vexatious stare for a moment longer before returning to the radio. She watched merrily as he continued to fuss with the knob—much less dexterous now. He scrubbed past another four or so stations, but eventually found the one that he’d been searching for. He stood and adjusted the volume, and the audio began blasting into the room. It sounded like just another mess of static, but as curiosity homed her attention, she realized that it was not actually static that they were listening to.

It was the clamor of a group of people. Quite a large one, if she could guess. The sound of the crowd coupled with the incessant clicking of cameras was all too familiar; she wasn't much for tuning in to any of the council’s press conferences, but that didn’t mean that she couldn't recognize one when she heard it. However, she couldn’t recall a time in recent years when it had sounded quite this busy.

Something big must be happening.

“H-hello…”

The sound of someone clearing their throat was picked up by the microphones, and they screeched in response.

The voice that came through was sweet and feminine.

“—I’m Korra, your new Avatar…”

Ravenous reporters began hurling a succession of questions that overtook the mic feed.

“Does this mean you’ve moved to Republic City?”

“Were you trying to send a message to the triads yesterday?”

“Will you be fighting crime or the anti-bending revolution, or both?”

“Will you be working with Chief Beifong and the police?”

A break in the reporters’ barrage offered the woman another chance to speak. “Uh—yes, I am definitely here to stay… but honestly I-I don’t exactly have a plan… yet—see, I’m still in training—but—look…," she fumbled through a shaky response before her voice took on a more assured tone, “—all I know is, Avatar Aang meant for this city to be the center of peace and balance in the world, and… I believe we can make his dream a reality. I look forward to serving you! I’m so happy to be here! Thank you, Republic City!”

As the woman finished her speech, another voice came through the microphone; Rei recognized it as belonging to a member of the council. “All right, that’s all the questions the A—”

She sat bewildered as Liu shut off the radio, turning to address their commander. “Amon,” he said in an urgent tone, forgoing the usual honorific, “—how do you want to handle this?”

Amon's response was chillingly calm. “So, the Avatar has arrived early.” With his next words, he finally turned to face them, and Rei nearly forgot to vacate his chair in time. “It looks like we’ll have to accelerate our plans.”

Their meeting went on for hours, throughout which Amon divulged what the forthcoming ‘plans’ were going to entail.

A rally—the exact purpose for which was being withheld from her because the reasoning that Amon provided was far too vague; he'd said recruitment, which made almost no sense. What good would a rally do for recruitment? How could they vet skills if there wouldn’t be any combat taking place?

Rei noticed that Liu didn’t seem to be the least bit curious about what was happening; he wasn’t completely silent, but he didn’t ask any questions either—which was extremely unlike him. The observation is what led Rei to believe that he must already know what this was about. Amon had dismissed her to continue the discussion between the two of them, and she left his office feeling entirely miffed; Liu dared to be jealous of her while maintaining the sort of relationship with Amon that she could only dream of.

When she finally dragged her tired feet past the threshold of the training room, she was greeted by the sight of her trainee fast asleep against the wall. He’d seemingly accepted her truancy as a free pass to nod off. She couldn’t blame him, though; she was exhausted as well. She decided to afford him some extra minutes of rest and settled down in the opposite corner, decompressing from all the stress.

The Avatar being in Republic City was difficult to comprehend. Of course, she knew about the legend of Avatar Aang and how he’d ended the Hundred-Year War, but such legends were just that—legends. Avatar Aang died when she was barely a toddler, and for the better part of two decades, the world had gotten on just fine without him. The new Avatar’s arrival meant that things were going to change; if this movement was really the sort of world-changing revolution that Benji had hoped for, then perhaps the presence of a bending celebrity would make for a good political tool.

The fact that Rei had been able to figure this much on her own had her wondering why Amon wouldn’t tell her the rest of it.

When the time finally came to wake her trainee, she sheepishly apologized and dismissed him from their non-session. He graciously left, seeming entirely unbothered by her absence. Her next trainee arrived not long after, and the rest of the day went off without a hitch. Only when she went to visit Amon for their scheduled late-night meeting did things suddenly go awry. She came upon the office door, and made to let herself in—but she couldn’t.

Because it was… locked?

She shook the handle, confirming her suspicions, and her breathing hitched. She gave a few frantic taps with her knuckles, then waited—and waited—and waited. Almost a minute had passed when she tried again, louder. It took much longer than necessary for her to realize that no one would be coming to answer it.

Was he… ignoring her?

No—this time of night, he was always busy with something else; she'd be the one waiting for him, not the other way around.

But still, the door was locked.

It was never locked.

Why was this happening?

On the very rare occasion that a mishap necessitated rescheduling, he was always there to inform her. Never once had he just blatantly stood her up—and never once had he locked the door on her.

Having been standing there for much longer than what was socially acceptable, she tucked her chin and set a brisk pace down the tunnel. It was clear to her that their meeting would not be happening tonight.

As she went, her mind reeled. Was this a punishment? Had she done something to upset him?

No—he was just busy. He had to be; it was the only thing that made sense. She returned to her bunk, hoping the rationale might quell her anxiety.

Nevertheless, sleep eluded her for the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

One Week Later

Finally.

It was her first mission in nearly a month, and she was beyond relieved to have a reason to get out of the tunnels.

There was a total of seven bodies in her unit this evening—though two of them were stuck manning the carrier vehicle. Only those on motorbikes would be partaking in the raid, which included Rei, another captain, and a handful of seasoned cadets.

Call it cabin fever, but she was craving a good fight.

They were en route to what she hoped would be a big bust.

Located just west of the train station, disguised as a mere restaurant, was the not-so-secret headquarters of the Triple Threat Triad. Liu had discovered it years back, but Amon had elected to sit on the information until it could be of better use. According to him, an unwarranted attack on Republic City’s largest and longest-standing gang would only stoke cause for its relocation—but with tomorrow’s rally looming ahead, the time was supposedly ripe. The event had a name—the Revelation, she’d been told—taking place in an empty plant on the city’s north side. There, Amon would be making his first public appearance.

Not just anyone would be allowed in; it would be by invitation only. Liu mentioned something about civilian supporters distributing fliers with coded directions so that only the people who truly wanted to attend would make it there. Again, Rei took issue with this—recruiting in such a sloppy manner—but she was in no position to question anything.

Amon’s intel confirmed that only a handful of Triple Threats would be inside their headquarters tonight, and that one very important member was guaranteed to be present: Lightning Bolt Zolt, the triad’s leader. Liu would have been the first choice for such a high-stakes mission, but he was currently shadowing Amon in preparation for tomorrow’s rally. Rei was thus put in charge of the critical task, and she’d been more than eager to oblige.

She was growing restless. He’d locked the door on her exactly a week ago and had yet to request her presence since. She realized, after the first few days, that Amon wasn't so busy that he couldn't spare an hour for her.

He was ignoring her, but not for the reason that she'd feared; he’d lost interest.

The only way to win back his attention was by impressing him, which is exactly what she planned to do tonight.

She disengaged the engine of her motorbike, parking far enough from the door so that the noise wouldn’t be noticed by those inside. The rest of her crew did the same. As the alleyway fell silent, she turned to face her comrades.

“Okay team,” she began, “—here’s the run-down. Intel confirms that there'll be four triads inside. I know that sounds promising, but I want all of us to stay on our toes. Zolt is here, along with his best henchmen. We should be able to overpower them as long as we maintain the element of surprise. Keep your distance by using your weapons, and only use hand-to-hand as a last resort. If it comes down to it, aim for chi points with maximum damage. Once they’re tied up, get 'em in the van and move out as quickly as possible.” She glanced between each of the goggled heads staring back at her. “Understood?”

"Yes ma'am," they all replied.

Rei was brimming with excitement.

“Alright. San and I will go first,” she nodded to her co-captain, and he nodded back, “—and the rest of you will follow behind us. Got it?”

Again, they replied in unison. “Yes ma’am.”

“Great,” she twirled, motioning with her arm, “—let’s go.”

Moving like a well-oiled machine, the unit stealthily made their way to the back entrance. Rei pulled out a pair of bolas—nifty little tools that had been added to the Equalist's arsenal in recent months—and began swirling them above her head. They made a gentle whirring noise as they cut through the air. With a silent nod, she gave her co-captain the go-ahead to kick open the door. A dull pop echoed off the metal, and the panel was flung open into the building.

Moving in, Rei quickly absorbed her surroundings; three of the four expected triads were seated at a small wooden table in the corner. Her eyes locked on Zolt, who was the only one facing her direction. He instantly recognized the ambush, shooting up out of his chair and flinging the table in front of him. She ducked, noticing that the two henchmen that had been seated with him had no time to dodge it themselves. They wound up on the floor, blinking frantically in an attempt to make sense of the sudden outburst.

Now that Zolt had just cleared the only obstacle between him and herself, Rei took her aim. He brought his hands together and bright zaps of electricity began sparking from the tips of his fingers. Beating him to the punch, she released the cord in her hand, sending her bolas flying across the room. Almost as quickly as he'd raised his hands, his wrists were caught in the rope. The electricity sparking above him sputtered and died out, and the force of the impact yanked him back. His two henchmen—another firebender and a waterbender—were on their feet now and charging.

But they too became ensnared in bolas.

As they fell to the floor, the rest of her team moved around her. She didn’t even have to lift a finger as the eager cadets raced forward, swarming the pair and incapacitating them with a few quick jabs. She went to help her co-captain with Zolt instead.

Before she could make it, the door of the restaurant swung open, and two more henchmen burst in.

Shit; Rei had forgotten about the fourth triad.

Now, apparently, there were five of them.

She didn't allow the distraction to give her pause. While the two latecomers processed the sight of their friends’ limp bodies, Rei bounced into action. She vaulted toward the more imposing of the two, hoping to pull his attention away from her teammates as they finished carrying out the mission—but as his attention shifted to her, she couldn't get close enough to land a blow; he’d already pulled a chunk of rock from the ground and hurled it at her head. She managed to dodge it, but then another much larger chunk of rock was hurtling towards her. She came up from her haunches, nearly dizzy with shock, and sought to close the remaining distance between them. Just before she came within an arm’s reach, a wall of earth shot up out of the ground.

Thankfully, Rei was well acquainted with the technique; having fought many earthbenders before, she knew exactly how to respond. She launched herself over the top of the rock, using the height to her advantage. In the millisecond it took for him to gawk at her mid-air assault, she'd already brought him to his knees. She closed in on his front and hit a point just below his sternum, stifling his breath and paralyzing his body. He yelped and fell to the ground, and she turned to face the other of the two. He didn’t try launching another rock at her head or blocking her path with an obstacle like his friend; instead, he stomped the ground and sent a rolling wave through the floor. Rei lost her footing before her next stride and toppled straight backward. She tried to get up, but the earthbender was already closing in.

Damn, this guy was good.

Just as she was preparing to get pummeled, the dull thwack of flesh resounded overhead. The earthbender stopped and swayed for a moment. Rei blinked up at him in surprise before watching him fall to the ground. She looked up again to see her co-captain standing above the young triad’s now-incapacitated form. He was still poised in the stance that he’d used to inflict the blow. He relaxed and turned to Rei, offering his hand to help her up.

“Thanks,” she huffed as she was hauled to her feet

He nodded with acknowledgment, then turned his attention to his tactical belt. He pulled out two black cords—one for Rei and one for himself. Wordlessly, they began binding the hands of the two triads they'd each taken out. As she worked on the older one, she noticed him stirring slightly and decided it would be a good idea to jab him once more to ensure his compliance. He grunted from the force, and his whole body went slack. Her co-captain had finished with the younger and was already dragging him to the back door. Rei followed with her own at her heels. It did not take long to get the rest of the triads loaded into the vehicle.

Overall, it was a success; they had the four targets they’d originally come for, plus one additional.

Amon would be pleased.

She and the rest of her team began re-mounting their motorbikes. Accounting for the two in the van, she gave them her signal. The van's engine roared to life and they began to roll out.

Just as the rest of the team began to take off, the back door of the restaurant burst open again. The sudden noise drew Rei's attention, along with her co-captain. Rei and her partner took a moment to assess the two individuals who had just emerged from the restaurant—one tall and lean, and the other smaller and shapely. While the man himself looked rather nondescript, the woman beside him was very apparently foreign, as if she were fresh off the boat. Rei didn't think much else of either of them until they began running forward.

One glance at her co-captain, and she knew that he was on the same page. They both reached into their belts to retrieve a smoke grenade.

Just as they were preparing to bomb the assailants, Rei heard one of them shouting. “Bolin!”

Rei was confused but did not allow herself to wonder; she simply tossed the grenade at his feet. As soon as the thick green smoke began to fill the street, she and her co-captain revved their engines, taking off after the rest of their team.

Or, so they thought. Mere moments after rounding the corner, a blast of flame wooshed past her face. What she expected when she glanced over her shoulder was to see another firebender in hot pursuit. Surprisingly, it revealed something much stranger.

A large white bear was after them. Seated atop it were the two assailants from just before.

Rei could not recall any details from either Amon or Liu that hinted at triads possibly keeping bears as pets—and she was certain that there wasn’t any circus in town—so just who exactly were these people?

Despite her puzzlement, she sought to move her vehicle to thwart the firebender's aim. From her periphery, she could see her co-captain was employing the same tactic, and they began to swerve past each other as they drove.

Suddenly, Rei's handlebar started to wobble. She looked down and saw that the road below was beginning to crumble. She panicked, fishtailing—and then the road abruptly lifted, launching her into the air. It was so sudden and violent that she didn’t have time to process what was happening; adrenaline guided her actions, and instinct kicked in. She gripped her handlebar with white knuckles, straightening the front end of her bike and holding on for dear life as the force of gravity began to pull her back down. The following collision between her bike and the ground radiated through her bones.

Somehow—miraculously—she'd landed. With no time to be impressed, she simply righted herself and cranked the throttle, returning to the convoy just as they were entering the empty cement courtyard beside the train station. She glanced over her shoulder to see that the assailants were still chasing them.

Shit.

At this rate, they would lead them back to the base. She was uncomfortable with the idea of being separated from her group, but she had no time to debate; she looked to her co-captain to convey what she was thinking.

He nodded, and she nodded back. He picked up on the message right away, veering off to afford her a clean shot. She slammed on the brakes, yanking the handles to swivel the bike around. She stomped her foot down to halt the momentum and she ripped her bolas from the back of her belt and tossed them out in front of her. Without a proper wind-up, they did not fly smoothly.

They did, however, hit exactly where she intended; the cord coiled around the beast’s legs, tripping it and flinging the passengers from its saddle. The two assailants landed in a staggered heap a few yards away. Rei eyed the beast before disengaging her motorbike to ensure that it wouldn’t get back up. She glanced back at her co-captain, and the two of them sprang into action. They each vaulted off of their bikes, aligning themselves with the assailants—who were just now getting back to their feet. Rei focused her attention on the foreign woman while her co-captain was left to face off against the firebender.

Based on the woman's clothing, Rei was expecting to face off against a waterbender. She was shocked, however, when she charged at her opponent and was greeted with a blast of fiery flames. Nonetheless, she dodged the attack. Rei made an attempt at the woman’s jugular, but she managed to block it, immediately retaliating with another blast of fire. Rei dodged that one as well and took advantage of the woman’s open side. She tried to jab at the woman’s shoulder—but again to no avail. She continued to dodge the woman’s blasts but soon ran out of space to bob and weave. Instead, she was forced to rebuke the woman’s blows with blocks from her forearms. Rei thrust them harshly, hoping to push the woman away and put some more distance between them. All the woman did, however, was spin and launch herself into a kick, and a wall of fire came down right over Rei’s head, narrowly missing her.

It was clear then that this woman was no random triad freak, but a highly experienced bender. As she geared up for another attack, Rei mirrored her stance, catching the woman’s leg with her own. The gathering flame died out, and Rei clamped down with the crook of her knee, twisting the woman around. While she was momentarily captured, Rei was able to land four quick blows to her side. The woman yelped in pain, and Rei released her, taking a step back to assess the damage.

The woman was now cradling her limp arm. She locked eyes with Rei, charging another fiery blast in her direction. First, a punch—then a kick. Rei dodged both of them easily. Another punch, this time from mid-air, which gain, Rei dodged easily. Now. the woman’s stamina was faltering, and her attacks were becoming sloppy. Rei managed to slide around to the woman’s back, landing another four blows to the other side of her body. She moved back around to her front and kicked the woman in the chest, sending her back on her ass. She landed in a heap next to her friend.

Neither of them was able to bend anymore.

Rei reconvened with her co-captain, descending upon the pair of defenseless saps on the ground. She took out her bolas again, preparing to unleash them at the slightest movement—but before she could, a chilling roar echoed overhead. She had barely any time to get out of the way before the giant white bear came down on top of her. Rei and her partner jumped back, both of them flinching as it unleashed another bellowing roar in their faces. The creature, having loosened itself from its bindings, had come to defend its owner.

Rei glanced over at her co-captain, who once again seemed to have the same idea as her; this fight was no longer worth it. Without bending, the assailants had no other leverage with which to chase after them. It was best now to just catch up with the rest of their team.

As they moved back toward their bikes, Rei was already reaching for the other smoke bomb. She pulled it from her belt and flung it indiscriminately at the ground behind her. All she needed was to cover their path as they left.

When they returned to the warehouse, it was disappointingly empty; the carrier vehicle was nowhere in sight, the rest of her team having already dispersed.

Great.

Whoever had been there to receive her team could only be a person of authority: either Amon or Liu. She parked her bike in the corner of the silo and disengaged her engine, looking over her shoulder for one of the two. Much to her chagrin, the only one in sight was the tall lanky one with the worm-like mustache.

She knew that he was meaning to speak with her. He wouldn’t be paying attention to her otherwise.

She sighed, pulling the key from its ignition and tucking it into her belt. Then, very slowly, she meandered over to where he was standing—hoping to piss him off with her snail-like pace.

“Tired, captain?” he asked, plastering his face with a saccharine smile as she came near.

“Not at all,” she quipped back, lacing her voice with as much insincerity as his own.

His smile dropped and his voice returned to its usual dry demeanor. “Amon’s waiting for us,” he said, turning his back to her and walking off.

Rei’s heart fluttered.

Amon's waiting…

—for her.

Liu was already halfway across the warehouse when she finally moved. Buzzing, she followed him to one of the far-off tram tunnels. She was perplexed when he stepped upon one of the apparatus' and placed his hand on the lever.

Rei raised a brow, pointing over her shoulder. “You do know that his office is that way, right?”

“He’s not there,” Liu flashed her a mischievous grin, “—besides… you wanna make sure that your prisoners are being treated fairly, right?”

Rei’s brows shot up behind her mask.

Prisoners?

She hopped onto the tram beside him, eager to get to wherever they were going. “Floor it,” she replied.

Liu’s response was an amused—albeit reluctant—chuckle. He seemed to catch himself before his lips could split into an all-out laugh.

Rei tried to ignore the slight warmth that she felt in her chest.

He yanked the lever, and the tram began coasting off down its track. As they moved further down the tunnel, the incandescent glow from the warehouse was replaced with the dingy cast of floodlights. When they finally came upon another opening in the tunnel, Liu cranked the lever back to its original position, skidding the tram to a halt. Together, they meandered up a single flight of stairs into a narrow and winding corridor. It was lined on all sides with metal bars, which Rei quickly realized were the makings of holding cells. As they walked along the aisle, she noticed that most were empty—save for a few at the end. She hardly noticed the inhabitants, because someone else was standing before them.

“Sir,” Liu called out above her shoulder, “—she’s back.”

Her breath caught.

Amon offered them a curt glance as they approached, but quickly returned his attention to the triads within the cell. She and Liu came to a halt behind him, waiting in silence for many moments.

Rei tilted her head to peer around Amon’s looming form.

Inside the cell were the four henchmen that she and her team had collected on their mission. Zolt was noticeably absent, but a glance to her right revealed that he was being held in his own cell, away from the others. While the rest of his crew were merely bound at the hands and feet, Zolt lay across the floor with a gag in his mouth and a blindfold over his eyes. Rei presumed that this was done to prevent the leader of the pack from hatching any sort of escape plan.

As if noticing her interest, Amon also looked over at the Triple Threat kingpin lying helplessly on the floor.

It was then that he finally spoke. “I must commend you on a job well done, captain.”

Rei swallowed. “Th-thank you, sir."

“It's my understanding that you experienced something of a mishap on your return.”

“Yes,” she confirmed, “—a couple of assailants ambushed us out of nowhere and attempted to pursue our convoy back to the base. San and I had to separate from the group to take care of them.”

There was a moment before he nodded in the direction of the youngest triad. “I'm pleased to see that you’ve brought back one more than we were expecting, but why were you unable to collect these so-called assailants in the same manner?”

He did not look at her but chose to stare down at the increasingly frightened-looking triad in the back of the cell.

Rei spoke quickly. “Well, we were able to defeat them quite easily, but they had some kind of… giant bear with them?" She shook her head, still baffled by the whole ordeal. "It was impossible to subdue the animal with the equipment we had on hand, but I assure you that we weren’t followed. The smoke bomb covered our path." She rested her case.

“Very well,” Amon accepted. She stopped breathing as he finally turned—but again, his eyes never landed on her. He spoke to Liu instead as he offered his parting words. “I'll leave it to the lieutenant now to inform you of tomorrow’s plans.”

He stalked forward, skirting past them as he left.

“So,” she sighed, turning to Liu, “—what’s the deal with tomorrow?”

Liu's stance had noticeably relaxed now that their commander was out of the vicinity. He leaned against the cell rails, exhaling deeply.

“Tomorrow’s rally is more than just a debut,” he informed. “Amon plans to give his supporters something of a demonstration.”

“What do you mean?” Rei furrowed her brows. “He’s… not going to kill them, is he?”

A quiet whimper echoed against the walls, and Rei looked at the captives. One of them was shivering slightly, and it was the youngest of the triads who appeared to have been the source of the sound.

Liu barked, amused.

“Well,” he shook his head, “—let’s just say it won’t be a physical death… more like a spiritual one."

There was a strange giddiness in his words; she was more confused now than ever. “You know what Amon is planning, don’t you?" she asked, too tired to sift through all his murky bullshit.

Liu nodded.

“But you can’t tell me?” she continued.

Liu nodded again.

“Why not?” she pushed, indignant.

He contemplated her for a moment, searching for a response.

“Because…,” he relented, “—if this particular information were to get out at the wrong time, its impact could be dampened. What Amon has planned is going to elevate our cause to the political stratosphere. Tomorrow, when the world finds out what he’s truly capable of, it’s going to change everything.”

He said this with a striking tone of finality, letting her know that it would be useless to press him further on the topic.

“Alright,” she accepted, “—then… what’s my role in tomorrow’s plans?”

His response was immediate. “He wants his best captains to stand behind him and ensure that no one tries to run off.”

“Run off?” she asked. “From what?”

“The stage,” he said, exasperated. “I told you that this was gonna be a demonstration. There’ll be a crowd. Probably a few hundred.”

Rei blinked in shock. “A… few… hundred?”

“That’s the estimate,” Liu confirmed. “We plan to fill up the entire venue. It’s quite large.” Rei could feel her stomach in her throat, but he continued. “I’ll come get you a few hours ahead of time. We’ll be taking a single van and transporting the captives along with us, got it?”

She gave a silent, weary nod as he began to lead them back to the tram.

She poked her head around the corner of the stage.

The crowd was massive. Never in her wildest dreams would she have envisioned something of this magnitude. She knew that the movement had garnered a lot of support, but this—this was incredible.

Liu had just finished checking on the triads as he came to approach her and the other captains.

“Show's starting…,” he informed, “—time to get in position.” They followed him over to the small hutch-door just below the stage. As he opened the panel, he pointed to the three captains on Rei’s right. “You three, line up on the left.” He nodded to Rei and the others. “You two, beside me.”

“Yes sir,” they replied in unison.

Liu went first, followed by Rei and the other captains. As she ducked into the small cut-out area below the stage, she found herself in the presence of Amon. He was standing in the middle of the space atop a metal platform.

“Sir,” Liu barked at the back of his commander’s head, “—all's set. We’re ready.”

“Thank you, lieutenant,” Amon replied. He nodded to a scrawny, business-clad man in the corner, whom Rei didn't recognize; he was clutching a small microphone and stood before a control box. “Now, if you will,” Amon addressed him.

“O-of course, sir...,” the man said with a quiet voice. So quiet, in fact, that when he next spoke, Rei wasn’t sure if it was the same person. “Please welcome—,” he brought the microphone up to his lips, flipping a switch on the control box and parting the stage overhead,“—your hero, your savior—," beams of light fell from the rafters, illuminating the platform upon which they all stood, "—Amon!”

He drew out the last syllable with a long ballyhoo, then flipped another switch, sending the stage upward. The crowd boomed.

Rei's eyes were still adjusting when the platform finally came to a halt. The lights were so bright that she could hardly see past the edge of the stage. She squinted, watching as Amon walked forward to the solitary microphone at the front of the rostrum. He stood still for a moment, waiting for the crowd to die down.

He raised his hand in a practiced gesture, calling their attention, then lowered his fist to his side. “My quest for equality began many years ago.”  Rei had never heard him speak like this—like a wise and benevolent king addressing his subjects. “When I was a boy, my family and I lived on a small farm.” He picked up the microphone, and a small screech resounded. “We weren’t rich, and none of us were benders. This made us very easy targets for the firebender who extorted my father.” He took up a slow pace around the stage. “One day, my father confronted this man, but when he did, that firebender took my family from me.” There was a pause as he allowed his words to settle over the audience. “Then…,” another pause, “—he took my face.”

The crowd gasped, and Rei would have too if it weren’t for the fact that she was holding her breath.

There was very little that she knew of Amon's past—yet here he was, spilling it all to the public.

How underserving, they were, to be able to know him like this.

He spoke quietly, drawing the attention back to himself. “I’ve been forced to hide behind a mask ever since.” Another stagnant pause allowed his words to settle over the crowd once more.

Rei's chest tightened with a familiar sort of sadness. She tried to push it away, but subconsciously, she knew; it was the sort of sadness she felt when those she loved were in pain.

Amon was still speaking, and she was able to distract herself from the awful recognition. “As you know, the Avatar has recently arrived in Republic City—”

The crowd booed loudly, interrupting him. Rei was somewhat shocked; as much as she disliked benders, she couldn’t think of a specific reason for the public to hate the Avatar. All her life, benders and nonbenders alike had ever only spoken highly of the Avatar—or, at least, the last Avatar.

Was this one supposed to be different?

“—and if she were here…," Amon continued, unfazed, "—she would tell you that bending brings balance to the world… but she is wrong. The only thing bending has brought to the world is suffering.”

So, the Avatar was a manifestation of tyranny. Got it.

Amon pointed to the crowd now. “It has been the cause of every war in every era… but that is about to change.” He centered his position, replacing the microphone in its stand. “I know you've been wondering; what is the Revelation?”

Yes, Rei thought. Yes, I have.

“You are about to get your answer…”

If she were sitting, she would’ve been on the edge of her seat.

“Since the beginning of time, the Spirits have acted as guardians of our world… and they have spoken to me…”

Rei raised a brow; did he want the public to think he was insane?

“They say the Avatar has failed humanity… that is why the Spirits have chosen me to usher in a new era of balance!” Wary, Rei watched her commander gesture toward himself. “They have granted me a power that will make equality a reality…”

Huh—?

“—the power to take a person’s bending away, permanently!”

Impossible…

“Now, for a demonstration.” He turned to usher someone forward, and Rei looked to see the triads being led single-file on stage. “Please welcome Lighting Bolt Zolt… leader of the Triple-Threat Triad and one of the most notorious criminals in Republic City.”

The crowd booed as Zolt was brought to stand before Amon.

Zolt, bless his heart, found the audacity to be offended; “Ah, ‘boo’ yourself!” he spat towards the crowd.

Amon simply continued with his exposition. “Zolt has amassed a fortune by extorting and abusing nonbenders, but his reign of terror is about to come to an end.” Rei tensed as she watched Liu untie the binds of Zolt’s wrists and shove him toward the microphone. “Now, in the interest of fairness,” Amon turned to face the triad leader, “—I will give Zolt the chance to fight to keep his bending.”

She didn’t even have time to process what was happening; all that she registered were the slurred words that fell out of Zolt’s crooked mouth. “You’re gonna regret doin’ that, pal!”

She blinked, and a blast of fire was launched across the stage—then another, and another, and another, and another; a total of five had flashed before her eyes when she finally locked onto Amon, who had just dodged every single one. The tell-tale zap of electricity sounded in her periphery, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She looked to Zolt; cyan-blue light spilled from his fingers, illuminating the stage in a ghastly teal glow. He was charging up a massive bolt, and no one was trying to stop him. Rei chanced a glance at Liu to convey her concern but found a small smirk gracing his lips. Baffled, she looked back just in time to see Zolt lining up his aim.

Her chest seized; of all the ways she’d imagined losing Amon, this was not one of them.

Before she could think of what to do, Zolt had already unleashed his assault. A flickering stream of neon poured over the stage, and she watched in silent terror as Amon sliced his way through the attack. Her shock-turned-horror quickly morphed into amazement as she witnessed him in action.

Liu's long-forgotten words bubbled up into her mind: ‘An unparalleled fighter…’

She hadn't given it much thought back then, but it was true; he was god-like.

In the split-second that it took for this to register, Amon had already grabbed ahold of Zolt’s arm. It was still shooting off a steady stream of lightning, but Amon was able to twist his opponent around and redirect the attack away from himself. It zapped down to the floor then up to the rafters. A few of the overhead spotlights exploded with the excess voltage.

Mere seconds had passed since the start of the duel, and Amon already had his opponent on his knees. Much in vain, Zolt continued to shoot his lightning—unable to hit anything but the ceiling. His determination faltered when Amon gripped him by the back of the neck, holding him in place.

The masked man raised his hand high above the triad’s head, calling the audience’s attention to what he was about to do. He then, very intentionally, lowered his thumb to his opponent’s forehead, placing it right between the eyebrows. Zolt was now moaning in discomfort, but Rei couldn’t care less; she watched the point of contact, waiting rapturously to see what Amon would do.

But nothing happened. He stood there for a long moment as he continued to hold the now-drooling Zolt beneath his thumb.

Then, all of a sudden, the cold teal within the room shifted to a blinding orange. She winced again and looked up to see that Zolt’s stream of lightning had morphed into a reckless blast of fire. Smaller and smaller it became until all that was left of the once-powerful lightning was a tiny wisp of flame.

Then there was nothing.

Amon released his hold on the man's neck, sending his limp body to fall forward on the stage. He stepped back, replacing his hands behind his back. The defeated man attempted to scramble to his knees and throw another fiery blast at his opponent but to no avail; no flames came from his fist, and his weak body collapsed with the momentum. The audience murmured in awe.

Rei too was in awe. There was no way this could be real, right?

Zolt hoisted himself up, gazing pitifully at the man above. “W-what did ya do to me?” he asked.

Amon glared down at him, stoic and unforgiving.

Rei knew exactly how it felt to be pinned under that gaze.

“Your firebending is gone," he said, "—forever.”

He spoke loud enough for the microphone to catch his words, and the audience gasped in response. Rei found herself gasping with them.

This man was not just god-like; he was a god—an actual, physical god, in the flesh.

Murmurous waves spread throughout the crowd.

“The era of bending is over!” he announced, facing them with conviction. “A new era of equality has begun!”

He raised his fist into the air, and Rei followed it with her eyes. A swell of adoration expanded within her chest, matching that of the crowd as they began to cheer. She glanced at Liu again and saw a satisfied grin on his face.

He knew, she realized; this whole time, he'd known what Amon was going to do, and exactly what he was capable of.

Somehow, Rei couldn’t find it within herself to be jealous of him. She was too busy reeling with excitement.

A commotion drew her attention, and she turned to see the next triad—the lone waterbender of the bunch—being untied. “H-hey… h-huh, n-no…,” he blubbered as he was kicked into the center of the stage, “—ugh!”

The fights did not last long; Amon quickly overpowered each triad.

Every time he took their bending away, the crowd cheered.

Rei cheered too, in her own way. Here was the man she’d given herself to, performing feats of wonder and proving to the world just how powerful he was.

She was in awe.

As the second-to-last of the triads was tossed out onto the stage floor, he didn't even put up a fight; he simply tried to make a run for it. He didn’t get very far, of course. The final captive—the youngest of the triads—was brought forth; one of the earthbenders, if Rei remembered correctly. His eyes were now wide with fear, the green in them practically competing with the glow of the Equalist goggles under the flood lights. Amon turned to him as the last triad’s body was dragged off-stage.

He brought his hands up, twiddling his fingers as he attempted to bargain. “Uh… h-hello, Amon, sir, I… I think there’s been a big misunderstanding…”

An interesting tactic, Rei thought—but Amon ignored him.

She watched with glee as their glorious leader began to stalk toward the mouthy, arrogant bender.

After only a few steps, however, a loud explosion rattled the stage; a thick burst of steam erupted from the far side of the building, smothering the audience and eliciting a raucous scream. The cloud spread quickly, flooding the room and marring Rei’s vision. She lost sight of both Amon and Liu, as well as all of her fellow captains. She twirled around fretfully, but her eyes were of no use; the only sense she could rely on now was her hearing.

A few befuddling moments passed as the sound of shrieking continued. Faint gusts of air moved around her, revealing the presence of others in the fray. She remained still, however, and listened. The sound of a yelp to her left finally called her to action, but the air was still too thick for her to see through. She pulled into a crouch and listened for more sounds.

For a long moment, there was nothing, then faintly: “Yes! Mako—I love you!”

Her brow furrowed. Someone else was on stage now—someone who most certainly shouldn't be there. She skirted in the direction of the voices until she felt her toes at the edge of the stage. She kept her ears honed, however, hoping to glean the source of the strange dialogue, but nothing else came through the fog. Little more than a minute passed when a group of distinctly-looking Equalist figures flashed through the air around her. She debated following them until another group darted past.

Fuck it.

She took off in the direction of her comrades, running blindly through the fog. She eventually caught sight of a glowing yellow rectangle in the distance—a door. It became clearer and more distinct as she closed in on it, and she could see flashes of darkly clad figures darting through the opening.

Perhaps her fellow captains had found something. She doubled her speed on her way through the door, nearly slamming into another masked individual as she did so. They exited the building in tandem and spilled out onto an exterior platform where, following the lead of others, they vaulted over the edge of the railing into an alley below. It took her a solid moment to regain her bearings, but when she did, she was met with the sight of the giant white bear, mounted by the very same assailants from the night before.

The gruff of Liu’s voice called her attention, and she was startled to find him on the ground.

“The Avatar—that’s her!” he shouted, pointing towards the assailants.

No way. No fucking way.

It could not have been the Avatar that she’d sparred with yesterday.

Despite Rei's stupefaction, the rest of her comrades were already on the move, so she started after them. She didn’t get far, though, before Amon’s voice was suddenly booming behind her.

“Let her go—!”

Rei skidded to a halt, her gaze rising toward the platform that she’d just vaulted over. She held her position, waiting breathlessly for Amon's orders.

His words were baffling. “She’s the perfect messenger to tell the city of my power.”

What? He wanted them to do nothing?!

Rei tore her eyes away from him to stare scornfully at the far-off distance where the Avatar and her friends had just disappeared. While the rest of the Equalists began to fall back, she made her way over to where Liu was hunched against the side of the building, rubbing his back.

“Are you alright…?” she asked, maintaining a respectable distance.

He glanced up at her. He seemed to pick up on the genuine concern in her voice and heaved a reluctant sigh.

“I’ll live,” he griped. “The bitch just snuck up on me, is all.”

Rei bobbed her head; she didn’t know what else to say, and apparently, neither did Liu. He huffed a ragged breath and pushed himself up, shuffling off after the others and leaving Rei by herself. A familiar feeling came over her then, and the back of her neck broke out in goosebumps. She raised her chin to find Amon staring down at her.

It'd been so long since she’d had his direct attention that she almost felt dizzy. She held it unwaveringly for a while, watching him beneath her mask. Whether he knew it was her or not, he suddenly tore his eyes away—an action so abrupt that it was almost violent. A tinge of pain struck her in the chest; last night, she'd convinced herself that his apathy wasn't intentional… but now she wasn’t so sure.

Chapter Text

Another Week Later

Well, it worked; the Avatar told all the right people—at least those of whom she was closest to—about the rally, the most important of which included the United Republic Council. There was not a single soul within the city’s parameters now that wasn't talking of Amon’s power. Longstanding tensions between benders and nonbenders were polarizing exponentially after being swept under the rug for so many years.

Rei could feel it: the calm before the storm. Whatever Amon planned to do next, it was going to be big.

When she'd first joined the Equalists, it was primarily out of desperation. As time went on, however, it became something more akin to redress: helping those who couldn’t help themselves. Now, her purpose was solely that of vengeance. In the few times that she’d witnessed Amon take a person’s bending, she never failed to notice how the light would fade from their eyes, as if bending was their only reason for existing—as if simply being a nonbender was the worst possible thing that could happen to them. It was disgusting.

Amon would teach them, though—show them the truth. His divine gift was proof of his righteousness. The Spirits had blessed him, and their message was clear; where the Avatar had failed, he would now be the one to guide the world toward peace.

Amon leaned in, speaking calmly into the microphone. “Good evening, my fellow Equalists…”

The hijacked station crackled with some feedback, but his words traveled clearly. Rei and Liu remained silent beside him, listening to their commander address what was likely half the population of Republic City.

“—this is your leader, Amon. As you've heard, the Republic Council has voted to make me public enemy number one, proving once again that the bending oppressors of this city will stop at nothing to quash our revolution… but we cannot be stopped.”

Earlier that day, they’d received news that the council had voted almost unanimously to green-light a task force for the sole purpose of opposing the so-called ‘Equalist threat.’

Amon thought it best to inform the council of just how foolish they were.

“Our numbers grow stronger by the day. You no longer have to live in fear.” Before releasing the feed button, he offered his parting words. “The time has come for benders to experience fear.”

Whether it was from the sound of his voice or the promise of his words, Rei shivered.

It took a mere two days for the Avatar to join the council’s task force and only one more for said force to make its first strike. Headed by the city’s Northern Water Tribe representative, the attack was directed at a small training site located in the more well-kept area of Dragon Flats Borough. These sites—tucked away in the far corners of the city—weren’t so much for training as they were for education. Before the Revelation, Amon had decided that his supporters needed a way to channel their fervor, so a handful of empty spaces had been commissioned into secret facilities. Although Rei had been privy to their existence, she hadn’t paid them much mind until now; she'd always assumed that they were just hide-outs where civilian supporters could gather in peace.

The Revelation had changed her understanding of just about everything.

Civilians were now showing up at these sites in droves, completely wet behind the ears. This was to be expected, as most hadn’t fought a day in their lives. Few of them had what it took to become a true Equalist—but for what they lacked in skill they made up for with conviction. They were no doubt enthusiastic, which according to Amon, was enough.

When the task force ambushed the Dragon Flats Borough site, all they’d done was interrupt a sparring session. Unfortunately, they did manage to capture four Equalist captains who were overseeing the operation. Now a handful of Rei’s brothers-in-arms were locked up—and seeing as the attack happened on what she considered to be home turf, she took the offense quite personally.

It was the following morning now, and the Avatar and her buddy-buddy councilman were preparing to give a victory speech. As with all of the Council announcements as of late, Rei and Liu had gathered themselves in Amon’s office. The three of them had made a habit of convening for the daily broadcasts. This did little to impact her duties, though, seeing as the recruits she’d been working with had their curriculums cut short for the sake of convenience. Amon had decided that she would be of more use by his side, and while she was grateful to be seeing him more regularly, she found the arrangement to be much less satisfying than the last.

Firstly, Liu was there. Always.

Secondly—and this point was predicated on the first—there was no sex. None.

And lastly, Amon still refused to look at her. He would talk in her general direction, but only so far as to deliver orders. His tone would always be clipped, and his back would always be turned. For days now, she’d resigned to staring at him from afar—watching as he paced the walls of his office, hands clasped behind his back, slowly and methodically mulling over whatever plans lay before him.

He was doing it now.

She leaned back in one of the chairs, watching him. In her periphery, Liu was leaning over the desk and fumbling with the radio while Amon stood rearranging some of the red-tipped pins sticking out of the map. She found herself oddly enchanted by the act.

The hum of the radio came to life, drawing her attention back to Liu. She turned, listening to what sounded like the tail-end of a crowd's applause. A few moments passed before a voice came through the speaker.

It belonged to a man—distinct, but one she’d never heard before—and full of pride.

“Avatar Korra has bravely answered the call to action. With the two of us leading the charge, Republic City has nothing to fear from Amon and the Equalists.”

Rei smirked; the councilman's arrogance was almost comical.

“Question for the Avatar!” a woman interjected. “Amon remains at large, why have you failed to locate him?”

“You wanna know why?!" a heated voice swooped in to snatch up the microphone. "Because Amon is hiding in the shadows like a coward!” The radio screeched with the feedback, and Rei’s brows shot up. “Amon, I challenge you to a duel! No task force, no chi-blockers—just the two of us, tonight, at midnight, on Avatar Aang Memorial Island. Let’s cut to the chase and settle this thing…”

Worriedly, Rei looked over at Amon.

“—if you’re man enough to face me!”

There was a short beat before the microphone screeched and the clamor of reporters overtook the audio once more. Her jaw nearly fell open, but then a small, dark chuckle, hidden under the tumult of the radio stifled her shock. The source of the noise finally turned to his subordinates, moving toward the desk. Both she and Liu watched him intently as he came up to the radio, silencing the broadcast with a single flick.

His eyes remained on the dial as he spoke. “It seems we have somewhere to be this evening.”

The island itself was much larger than Rei imagined, having only ever seen it from afar. Hundreds of feet above the surface of the water, the looming statue of Avatar Aang stood atop a grand temple.

Amon enlisted nearly two dozen of his highest-performing captains to join him, ordering them to forsake whatever plans they had. She was unsurprised to have found herself amongst them. She was now seated inside one of the high-speed motorboats, barreling toward their destination. The boat itself was quite impressive—a marvel of engineering added to the checklist of Amon's ever-growing armory. Rather roomy for their size, only two of the vehicles were required to transport the entire group. Liu sat in the driver’s seat, manning the boat, while Rei sat at the back—maintaining as much distance from him as she could. Amon was riding separately, shuttling the other half of the team across the water on his own.

Before disembarking, they’d traveled out of the city to a small estuary at the base of the northern mountains. There, a private dock sat hidden amongst the brush. The plan was to approach the island from the back, so as not to draw any attention from the shoreline. Rei wondered why Amon had brought so many people with him—especially since the Avatar expected this to be a one-on-one confrontation—but thankfully, Liu asked this question for her.

Amon’s reasoning was exactly the sort of thing she'd expected.

He said that while he didn’t have any qualms against fighting her alone, he had no intention of abiding by her request; she wanted to ‘cut to the chase,’ as she’d so eloquently put it—but Amon was only planning to deliver a message. He explained that the Avatar’s boldness was an attempt at compensating for her fear—and fear, he’d said, was the greatest weapon they had at their disposal. A few seconds with the Avatar was all he needed, but they had to play it smart if they were going to outwit her council allies. They arrived at the location before sunset, anchoring to the northern side of the island. There, the boats would be hidden amongst the jagged rocks. Liu was instructed to remain with them to make sure that they weren't discovered, while Amon and the rest of the group went up into the temple.

The next few hours were then spent waiting for the Avatar’s arrival.

As night settled in, it came a with sense of serenity. The moon shone brightly above the water, illuminating the plumes of mist that ghosted over the surface. For some time now the temple had fallen pleasantly quiet, with the only sound being the shuffling of Equalists as they moved about the temple.

Then, a distinct whirring sounded in the distance.

Rei pulled out her watch to check the time.

So, the Avatar was punctual, at least.

The whirring stopped with a faint scraping of wood against stone. Footsteps could be heard approaching the temple.

“Sir, the Avatar is here," one of the captains whispered, calling every pair of eyes in the room to himself. "What would you have us do?”

“Wait… she'll come to us.” Amon addressed him with a casual tone. He was silent for a moment, leaving them all to hang on his words. "Someone will need to catch her when she walks by.”

Rei denied anyone else a chance to speak. “I’ll do it.”

They were all eyeing her, but Amon hardly tilted his head in her direction. “Very well.”

The deafening bell tone resounded overhead as the clock struck midnight. Startled, she tried to find him again but he'd already walked away, disappearing into the shadows. She huffed a quiet sigh and went to stand at the end of one of the halls for the better part of the night, waiting. It was nearing the early morning when the Avatar finally moved. At the sound of footsteps approaching, Rei tossed a glance at the rest of her comrades. All of them seemed to be alerted to the noise as well. Rei quickly scanned the room for Amon, but unsurprisingly, he was nowhere to be seen.

She returned her attention to the Avatar, reaching into her belt for a pair of specially-equipped bolas. As the footsteps drew near, Rei began winding them up. The cord sliced through the air, humming beside her head. She counted only ten paces before the Avatar appeared in her line of sight, and she released the bolas, sending them flying at the Avatar’s legs. The cord struck her shins, and the momentum swept her feet out from under her. She let out a startled gasp as she fell to the ground.

Rei moved quickly, gripped the end of the long cord, and began to pull. She propelled herself at full speed into the pitch-blackness, dragging the Avatar along with her. She made it well into the center of the room before the dead weight at the end of the cord vanished, and the interior of the temple glowed bright orange. She turned just in time to witness the lingering wisps of flames dissipating overhead. She heard the Avatar's panicked gasp as the room went dark again. Another blast of flame illuminated the room, and while the Avatar’s arms were carelessly exposed, two more bolas flew in her direction. Her wrists were captured, and she grunted as they were pulled taught. Another grunt resounded a powerful burst of flames shot from her foot, forcing those in front of her to jump out of the way. A wall of earth then lurched from the ground, knocking a few of them back. One last grunt resounded before the Avatar’s attacks abruptly ceased, and the room went dark again as she fell to her knees.

For a moment, everything was still. Then, someone took the cue to ignite the gas lamp, and the temple’s interior was illuminated once more. Rei stalked forward, pushing past her fellow Equalists to assert herself within the growing circle surrounding the Avatar.

There, unconscious on the floor, lay the most powerful bender in the world.

Rei found herself unimpressed.

Amon’s voice cut through the air. “Hold her up,” he ordered. “Keep her in place.”

Rei moved to fulfill the command. Another captain across from her did the same.

As the Avatar was lying on her side, Rei took hold of her elbow to hoist her from the ground. The motion caused the woman to stir, and Rei maintained a tight grip over multiple chi points, in case she attempted anything bold. As she was forced upright, she quickly became lucid. Rei felt the woman’s muscles go rigid as she realized what was happening.

Amon emerged from the shadows, and the Avatar stared up at him, her bright eyes shining with terror.

Rei watched him as he moved forward, coming to a halt just before the woman. “I received your invitation, young Avatar…,” he drolled, reaching down towards the woman’s face. She grimaced and flinched away.

Rei was overcome with jealousy as Amon kneeled to wrap his fingers around the Avatar's chin.

“—our showdown…,” he continued, yanking the woman's face back toward his own, “—while inevitable, is premature… although it would be the simplest thing for me to take away your bending right now, I won’t. You’d only become a martyr.” The fear in the Avatar’s eyes was momentarily replaced by anger. “Benders of every nation would rally behind your untimely demise…,” he injected the words with foreboding and released her chin, “—but I assure you, I have a plan… and I’m saving you for last. Then, you’ll get your duel, and I will destroy you.” He stood, delivering a sharp jab to the Avatar’s neck, who grunted in pain before falling completely limp. We’re finished here,” he announced, brusquely storming off.

Rei let go with more force than necessary, dropping her back to the ground. As everyone else began to follow Amon, Rei remained in place, staring distastefully at the woman. She raked her eyes down her body, and the longer she stared, the stronger her indignation grew. She swallowed thickly, pulling her gaze back up to the woman’s face.

The Avatar, she realized, was quite an exotic beauty. Rei was utterly forgettable next to her.

She pushed down the lump in her throat and skulked after the rest of the group. Everyone else was seated by the time she reached the boat. Amon had already departed, leaving Liu and the others to wait for her. He eyed her as she stumbled gracelessly over the edge of the vehicle.

“You alright?” he asked.

“Terrific,” she griped, not even attempting to hide her spite.

She slumped into her seat at the back of the boat, ignoring the stares she got from everyone else. She crossed her arms over her chest and heaved a discontented sigh, glaring out over the water’s surface. Liu was unfazed, disregarding her as he turned over the engine. It sputtered to life and fell into a low drone, and Liu began a cheerful whistle as he drove them back to the dock.

Rei fought the urge to strangle him the entire way.

Chapter Text

Early November, 170 AG

“Good morning, citizens of Republic City. This is Amon.”

Rei sat back, listening to him speak over the hijacked broadcast.

“I hope you all enjoyed last night’s pro-bending match, because it will be the last. It’s time for this city to stop worshiping bending athletes as if they were heroes. I am calling on the council to shut down the bending arena and cancel the finals, or else there will be severe consequences.”

As soon as it had begun, the announcement was over.

Canceling the pro-bending finals was about more than just persecuting the Council. It was about challenging the status quo. If the Equalist message was going to really sink in, it would have to strike at the heart of the city’s social hierarchy. Bending celebrities needed to be made an example of; what better example than the universally worshiped bending athlete?

There was a small possibility that the council might acquiesce to Amon’s demands, but it was more likely that they wouldn’t—for which the ramifications would be swift and certain. Nearly a month had passed since the Avatar’s impromptu challenge, and the Equalist presence had been laying low.

At least, that was how it was meant to appear.

In reality, the past four weeks had been the busiest of Rei’s life. Amon was gearing up for militant action, and whether the citizens of Republic City knew it or not, the forces of destiny were upon them. After years of careful and quiet preparation, the time was finally nigh. Just as Liu had promised and Benji had hoped, the movement was ready to launch into an all-out revolution. Everyone had been assigned new roles—including herself.

She was still Liu’s auxiliary, but now she had her own unit to look after—two of them, actually. Day in and day out, fifty eager souls were looking to her for command. She instructed them on practically everything apart from where to eat, sleep, and piss. All hours of the day were spent looking after her people—ensuring that their orders got completed, their skills stayed honed, and their focus remained intact—all hours except one, that was. Her morning routine now consisted of a daily debriefing in Amon’s office, and it was the only time she got to see him anymore.

She wasn’t sure if he saw her, though. Even as they sat in the same room together, he pretended as if she barely existed. Most of his attention would be directed at Liu, who was forced to monopolize the conversation on her behalf. She felt sort of ornamental—only there to fill a space. She was there, but just physically.

Her mind was trying desperately to be somewhere else.

Early that morning, the council announced that it would not be closing the arena.

Republic City was about to get its first taste of the Revolution.

Before the police could swarm the arena, Equalist forces had already settled in. While the sun was still high, they arrived in small droves—an unassuming succession of unmarked vehicles having delivered them to the back of the building. Amon, Liu, and herself remained on the ground while the rest were directed upward to the ledge of the ceiling. Those above were delegated with the simple task of agitprop; a dozen large banners needed to be unveiled at the appropriate time.

This event was to mimic the Revelation on a much larger scale. The message would be the same, but much louder.

The pro-bending finals were always a highly publicized affair, with play-by-play transmissions reaching radio stations as far away as Ba Sing Se. For this reason alone, those awaiting orders outside of the arena were instructed to tune in to the match. When the attack within the arena commenced, so too would the troops outside begin theirs. A single airship was docked at a private hangar just outside the city, and when the police force was sufficiently distracted by the mayhem inside, the ship would swoop in to take out the patrol fleet, providing an easy escape for Amon and his team.

Rei was excited; she’d never flown in an airship before.

Nearly fifty civilian operatives would be joining them as well. Those who had shown up to the training facilities and displayed the most promise were enlisted to infiltrate the arena and pose as audience members. Tickets had been purchased for them, and they’d all received standard face coverings. Their orders were simple: disperse strategically and wait until the winners were announced, then raise their disguises and move throughout the stands, taking out any persons of authority they could find. Policemen, council members, arena staff—all were fair game. Lack of skill would not be an issue.

Similar to Liu’s Kali sticks, each operative was given their own electro-shock devices to wield—gloves equipped with electricity, supplying them with all of the chi-blocking potential they'd need. No studying, no memorizing, no training—a single touch, and any opponent would be brought to their knees. The shock would render a person unconscious while also scrambling their chi paths and effectively weakening their ability to bend.

The invention was rather impressive—game-changing, actually. If she weren’t already a soldier, Rei might've been interested in owning one of the devices for herself.

But she was a soldier—a great one, at that—and while impressed with the technology, she was slightly put off by it. She took pride in her skill, and the idea of anyone being able to bypass the hard work that it took to get there cheapened her self-image. The gloves didn’t compensate for everything, though; shock attacks were brutish and sloppy. They were nothing compared to the effect of a real chi-blocker. As Liu once said, a master blocker was able to control the damage they inflicted. To Rei, that was the best part—leaving a bender fully conscious, watching the fear flash in their eyes as they realized the extent of their helplessness. It was one of the best feelings she’d ever known.

Tonight, the entirety of the match would be allowed to take place for the sake of theatre. The players, the police force, the audience—all of them would have forgotten about Amon’s threat by the time the match was over. In the afterglow of the competition, with adrenaline and spirits still high, the Equalists would begin their attack. This way, they were guaranteed to capture everyone’s attention. Upon arrival, Amon and his group made their way into an enclosed area below the stage. The space was cramped and musty, with endless stacks of earthen discs and rows of water drums. As they settled in for the long wait, Rei decided that it smelled like mud.

Dutifully, Liu approached her to help with a task. He'd presented her with the small sack that he’d been carrying and pulled out a dozen separate bundles. Each contained seven red tubes and a rudimentary clock gauge, bound together with electrical tape and connected by a mess of wires. It only occurred to her to ask what they were when he shoved three of them into her unsuspecting arms. She brought one close to her face to inspect.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Explosives.”

She flinched and let slip the one in her hand.

Liu sucked in a short breath and lurched to catch it, grabbing it just before it hit the ground. He rose from his position to stare at her vexedly. “Don’t. Fucking. Drop them.” He bit the words out with a quiet menace, handing it back to her.

“S-sorry,” she whispered, accepting it with wary fingers. “What're they for?”

“The arena is a symbol of bender supremacy,” he answered. “It needs to be destroyed.”

Rei nodded, still wary but in total agreement with what he’d just said. Before she could ask any further questions, though, Liu was giving her another item; this time, she recognized what it was.

Tape.

He nodded toward the circular lift in the center of the arena. “Put three on either side of the main platform.”

Rei responded with a nod of her own.

Thankfully, the height of the room was low enough for her to stand on her toes and reach the top. She and Liu worked in tandem to plaster the explosives below the middle ring of the stage. When they were done, they both reconvened to assess their handiwork. Satisfied, Liu turned away, but before he could get anywhere, Rei caught him to ask another question.

“How do they…,” she trailed off, unsure of her words.

“Explode?” He offered, casting her a sly grin.

“Yeah,” she affirmed.

He reached into his belt and pulled out a small object, holding it up for her. She noticed that it was equipped with a short antenna. “Remote detonator…,” he said, pointing to a singular button on the face of the control, “—one click, and boom!”

Her breath shuddered when he suddenly tossed the remote up into the air, catching it with one hand. Her body instinctively lurched forward, much like Liu had done with her fumble only moments before. “Can you please not do that!” she hissed.

“Relax…,” he drolled, tucking the remote back into his belt and raising a hand to gesture at himself. “I’m a professional.”

He stalked off, chuckling. Rei glared after him.

As the air left her lungs with a tense sigh, a familiar feeling crept up the back of her neck. She whipped around, searching desperately for the gaze that she knew would be there.

Amon wasn’t even facing her direction, however; he was busy peering out of the screened opening at the far end of the room. She rolled her neck back and shuffled away from both of her superiors, wanting to put as much distance between herself and them as possible. She took a seat on the floor, hunkering down beside a drum of water. It was still early in the afternoon, and the police had only just arrived; it would be some time before things got underway.

Less than five minutes before the start of the match, a dapper-suited man came down through the center platform. He walked directly up to Amon, who promptly ordered Liu to hand him two thick wads of cash. Rei failed to catch any of the words that were exchanged, but they all ended the conversation with a nod of agreement. The man made his way back to the center platform, tucking the money inside his jacket and grabbing the microphone that lay in the holster overhead. He stood in the middle of the circle and assumed a flamboyant pose as he was lifted back onto the stage. Spotlights flashed through the narrowing opening as the roar of the crowd filled the arena.

“Introducing the challengers! The Future Industries Fire-Ferrets!”

The audience erupted into another round of cheers.

“And their opponents! The three-time defending champions, the White Falls Wolf-Bats!”

A third and much rowdier applause erupted over the arena, immediately followed by… howling?

Before Rei could roll her eyes at how obnoxiously literal the animal noises were, a succession of loud pops echoed all around.

Fireworks, she realized.

Reigning champs or not, these so-called 'Wolf-Bats' were a pompous bunch of fools. She listened as multiple pairs of footsteps rapped against the floor overhead, moving closer to the center of the ring.

It was then that another, more commercially recognizable voice asserted itself over the speakers. “The champs and the challengers face off at the center line! And here we go!”

With the clang of a bell, the match began.

A whoosh of water was siphoned from a nearby drum, which momentarily startled Rei.

The startlement was replaced by outright shock when she heard the commentator’s next words. “Tahno tries to clean the Avatar’s clock with some dirty water-boxing!”

The Avatar—?

Beyond her capture of Amon's attention, it was the woman's persistent and plaguing presence that Rei found most offensive; Rei likely wouldn’t even have an opinion on the Avatar if it weren’t for the numerous times that they’d been forced to cross paths.

The commentator continued blabbering as swooshes of flame and slabs of earth were hurled overhead. The stage vibrated with each successive attack, and when a heavy rumble shook the apparatus, the crowd responded with a cheer.

A buzzer went off, and more play-by-play came through the speakers. “The waterbenders slug it out, looking evenly matched. Tahno gets a little too worked up and unleashes a deluge on Bolin that will most certainly elicit a foul!”

Another buzzer, followed by advancing footsteps.

“Or, apparently not!”

Faint booing emanated from the audience, and angry shouting could be heard overhead. “What’s the big idea ref? That was a hosing foul!”

No response came from the referee, so the commentator continued. “And the Wolf-Bats advance despite Tahno exceeding the waterbending time limit! A questionable call by the officials!”

More vibrations.

“Ming trips up Mako with another dirty trick!”

Another buzzer, and more booing.

“The Ferret Brothers are backed up to zone three, and the Wolf-Bats smell blood!”

There was a distant yelp, and Rei witnessed a body fly past the screen at the far end of the stage.

“Looks like Tahno snuck in an illegal icing move, but once again, there’s no call… I don’t know what match the refs are watching, but it’s obviously not this one!”

Rei wasn’t sure as to the rules of pro-bending—having never actually given a shit about it herself—but she could tell someone was cheating. She remembered the stacks of money that the stage announcer previously came to collect, as well as the short conversation between him, Liu, and Amon.

Clearly, the referee had been bribed—and clearly, Amon had arranged the bribing.

Her curiosity was sustained for only a moment before the obvious reason came to her mind; if the winners were going to lose their bending, the Avatar couldn’t be allowed to win. It would ruin whatever plans Amon had for her.

She shot him a fixed stare from over her shoulder before the buzzer sounded overhead, indicating an advancement.

“Ooh! A splash-and-crash sends the Avatar to zone three as well!”

Flames and earth collided overhead, and three bells chimed. Calamitous shouting broke out within the audience.

“It’s a knockout!”

Rei hardly noticed the uproar; her eyes were glued to the dangling figures at the end of the stage. Only one person's head was visible through the screen, but someone else appeared to be holding onto him by the collar of his shirt.

His teammate, the Avatar, must have caught him before he could fall off the edge of the ring.

“The Wolf-Bats win the championship for the fourth year in—hold on a second, folks! Scratch that! The Ferrets are still alive, but just barely!”

Amon stood in front of the panel, watching stoically as the Avatar began to sway back and forth. Rei heard her grunt with great effort as she swung her teammate back and forth, tossing him back up into the ring. As soon as she released his collar, she let go of the edge, sacrificing herself to the water below. There was a loud thump overhead that sounded uncannily like a body knocked into a hard surface.

“What an unbelievable move! These Ferrets aren’t just bending the elements, they’re bending my mind!”

Rei rolled her eyes.

“The underdogs survive to see round two!”

A short intermission passed as each of the teams prepared for the next fight.

When the time came, the flamboyant announcer from before was back on the mic. “Round two!”

The bell rang out, and another barrage of assaults commenced.

“The opening salvo is a brutal brawl as both sides give it their all! But once again, Tahno sneaks in a little ice to get the upper hand!”

More collisions resounded.

“Wowza! Those look like illegal headshots to me!”

Headshots…?

Rei salaciously envisioned the Avatar and her friends having to dodge the slew of attacks, and her opinion of the Wolf-Bats improved slightly.

The match bell rang out again, and the announcer made his call. “Round two will be decided with a tiebreaker!”

Footsteps convened at the center of the stage, and there was a moment of silence.

“The Fire-Ferrets win the coin toss! Which element do you choose?”

The Avatar readily spoke up. “Let’s go! You and me, pretty boy!”

The woman seemed to take pride in being a menace.

Rei was all the more irritated with her existence.

More footsteps shuffled and the center platform rose even further up. Barely ten seconds had passed before Rei heard a soft grunt and a loud thud. The match bell rang, and the crowd cheered.

“Round two goes to the Fire-Ferrets!”

Rei was unimpressed. She pulled out her watch to check the time.

It was thirty minutes past the hour, and the final round was beginning to commence.

“One round apiece! Who wants it more?”

The bell rang. More monotonous collisions resounded, and Rei found herself bored with it all.

Her listening became apathetic as the commentator prattled on. “The Wolf-Bats fly out of the gate, swinging with bad intentions. The challengers are showing a lot of heart, but the champs are really starting to find their rhythm now. Can the Ferrets hang in there with the best, especially when the best are frankly getting a little help from the refs? It’s all down to this final round! Mako is leaving it all in the ring, but it looks like Tahno and Ming are up to more shenanigans!”

Three loud thwacks and the buzzer went off as each member of the Avatar’s team flew off the end of the stage.

“Oh, this has gone too far! That water had rocks in it!”

Ha! Okay, maybe it was a bit entertaining.

The referee called the match as the final bell rang. “Knockout—!”

“Well folks, it’s a controversial call, but the Wolf-Bats notch a nasty knockout to win the match! For the fourth year in a row, they’ll be crowned tournament champions!”

A smarmy voice began shouting on stage. “Anybody else wanna scrap with the champs?!”

She cast her eyes on Amon, who was standing in front of the screen and staring out over the arena. He didn’t appear to have moved an inch for the entire duration of the match. Rei looked around and saw that she wasn’t the only one watching him; the rest of her comrades had turned their attention to him, including Liu, who stood patiently awaiting orders.

They had their sacrificial lambs, so what were they waiting for?

The reason for the wait became apparent as flashes of light began flickering in the audience, and she recognized the tell-tale glow of electricity. When the number and frequency of the flashes increased, Amon finally gave a nod in Liu’s direction. Liu seemed to know exactly what to do next as he made his way to the corner of the room. He wrenched open the hatch door and forwent the laddering, simply opting to jump down through the opening.

Wherever he was going, she didn’t have time to ponder, as the match’s commentator had begun speaking again. “Folks, there is some sort of… electrical disturbance in the stands… metalbender cops are dropping like bumble-flies!”

Rei could hear panicked shrieks coming from the crowd.

“There appear to be masked members of the audience wielding strange devices on their hands!”

Ah—so, the Equalists outside the arena were now getting a play-by-play of the start of the attack.

“One of them is in the booth with me right now, folks… he is leveling one of those glove devices at me now, and I believe he is about to electrocute me… I am currently wetting my pants!”

This man deserves a raise…, Rei thought.

It was just then that the mechanical lift whirred to life. Amon turned and strode toward the platform, and she was forced to step out of the way as he passed by. A wordless glance over his shoulder was all it took for the rest of his troops to fall in line behind him. Things were still for a moment before the platform whirred again and began rising back up to the arena stage. It clunked to a halt as it came flush with the surrounding surface.

Ignoring her urge to peer out over the stands, Rei locked her eyes on the targets in front of her. At the far end of the stage stood the three pro-bending champions, currently gawking at the unexpected company.

One of them began to back away. “What’s goin’ on here, ref…?” the rat-faced boy shouted up to the sidelines.

The referee offered a weak reply. “I don’t know!”

Amon began to stalk forward. Rei moved with him, and the rest of the Equalist captains followed suit. It took only a few strides for the pro-bending players to run out of room for their retreat.

“Alright…,” the rat-face shrugged, pulling his lips into a sneer, “—you want a piece of the Wolf-Bats?”

Rei raised her eyebrows. Oh, goody.

“Here it comes!”

The player twirled his arms, pulling a water whip from the grates and lashing it directly at Amon, who casually sidestepped the attack. The other two benders joined in. She and her comrades instinctively pulled out their bolas and began dodging strikes. Amon darted forward, spinning past another two lashes of water and coming to a halt beside the firebender. There was a moment’s pause before the firebender attempted to launch a headshot. Once again, Amon dipped out of the way, simultaneously grabbing ahold of the firebender’s arm and swinging him around to impede any further attacks.

Having witnessed his teammate’s takedown, the rat-faced waterbender was preparing to launch an assault in his defense—but just before he could unleash a whip upon Amon, Rei sent her bolas flying toward his outstretched hands. The cord caught him by the wrists and yanked his body back with stern force. As he struggled to regain his footing, Rei launched another pair of bolas at his legs. He toppled over, and his earthbending companion followed soon after. It took approximately ten seconds to subdue all three of the so-called pro-bending "champions."

Rei strode over to the waterbender lying on his side and inflicted two quick jabs at the top of his spine, effectively paralyzing him. A fellow Equalist came up from behind her and did the same to the earthbender. She set her eyes on the firebender but saw that Amon had already taken care of the task. He was now positioned in the middle of the stage, surveying the three fallen athletes that lay before him.

“Which one first, sir?” one of the captains called out.

Amon nodded wordlessly toward the waterbender at Rei’s feet. Almost giddy, she knelt to unravel the cords from the bender’s limbs. There was no more threat now that his chi was blocked; he was so limp that he would need to be propped up on his knees for Amon to properly perform his cleansing. As soon as the waterbender was detangled, she and another captain hoisted him up by the elbows. He came to as his torso was raised from the ground, and Rei watched with amusement as he desperately attempted to regain some leverage. She felt his muscles tense when he finally realized the direness of his situation, but he was still too numb to mobilize his body. He continued to twitch as they dragged him forward, bringing him directly before Amon. He hung helplessly from unforgiving hands, sagging as he gazed fearfully at the masked man above. The bender’s once haughty voice was reduced to blubbering as he began to beg for mercy.

“W-wait, please don’t do this! I’ll give you the championship pot!”

Amon raised a hand above the waterbender’s panic-stricken expression. One of his eyes started to twitch, and visible beads of sweat dripped down his face. He looked like he was either about to shit himself or already in the process of doing so.

“I—I’ll give you everything!” he cried. “Just, please don’t take my bending!”

Rei was enraged at the sight of his despair—how terrified he was of becoming one of them. Amon was indifferent, slowly lowering a hand over the waterbender’s forehead and pressing his thumb between the brows. The waterbender froze upon contact; she felt him go rigid beneath her fingers while his jaw locked in silent terror. The arena fell silent as she glanced around to see that the previously swarming audience was now completely still, watching with rapt attention as Amon demonstrated his skill right before them. She smirked and returned her attention to the waterbender, whose face remained contorted while the light faded from his eyes.

The rest of the pro-bending team soon followed. Each player was brought forth in rapid succession, and Amon made quick work of removing their bending. Once they were finished, Rei and the other captains dragged the defeated champions to the edge of the ring, pushing them off into the water below. The splash of their bodies resounded, and right on cue, the banners dropped; a dozen giant Equalist flags unfurled along the perimeter of the glass ceiling. Rei raised her chin, craning her neck to take in the sight of it all.

Amon retrieved the microphone from the edge of the stage and repositioned himself at the center. The rest of his team gathered around, and Rei came to a halt behind him just as he began to speak. “I believe I have your attention… benders of Republic City.” His words boomed out over the arena, permeating the large space with a commanding echo. “So, once again,” he raised his hand in a casual gesture, “—the Wolf-Bats are your pro-bending champions. It seems fitting that you celebrate three bullies who cheated their way to victory,” he turned to face the other half of the audience, pointing accusatorially, “—because every day you threaten and abuse your fellow nonbending citizens, just like the Wolf-Bats did to their opponents tonight.”

Rei heard a slight tapping of footsteps behind her and found Liu returning from wherever he’d been.

“Those men,” Amon continued, pointing, “—were supposedly the best in the bending world… and yet it only took a few moments for me to cleanse them of their impurity. Let this be a warning to all of you benders out there…,” his voice dropped even lower, “—if any of you stand in my way, you will meet the same fate.”

A low gasp spread throughout the crowd.

“Now, to my followers…,” Amon continued with a softer tone, “—for years, the Equalists have been forced to hide in the shadows…,” he raised a zealous fist, “—but now, we have the numbers and the strength to create a new Republic City. I’m happy to tell you that the time for change has finally come. Very soon, the current tyrannical bending regime will be replaced by a fair-minded Equalist government. You and your children will no longer have to walk the streets afraid. It’s time to take back our city.”

Rei was captivated. Standing at his side, listening to him speak like this… it felt surreal. Her life as it was now, compared to little more than a year ago, was practically a fever dream. All that she was—all that she could be—was owed to him.

“For centuries, benders have possessed an unnatural advantage over ordinary people… but thankfully, modern technology has provided us with a way to even out the playing field. Now, anyone can hold the power of a chi-blocker in their hand.”

Rei peered out into the audience, squinting into the stands to see the civilian operatives still holding the overstrung crowd at bay.

“My followers and I will not rest until the entire city achieves equality,” Amon raised his voice, “—and once that goal is achieved, we will equalize the rest of the world!” Her gaze followed his fist into the air as he finished his speech. “The revolution has begun!”

There was no audible reaction from the crowd—just pure, stunned silence. If Rei could guess, each of their faces was frozen in shock.

She was a bit shocked herself; she'd never heard such passion from Amon.

While she was still reveling in it all, a strange movement called her attention. Her eyes shot up to the giant, unmistakable Equalist symbol floating overhead. A small explosion shattered the glass, causing her to flinch, and before the smoke cleared, rescue cables were already being cast down to the stage.

The airship…

This was their escape.

As the cables came within reach, Amon and his team moved quickly. Rei took hers, and a tiny collapsible platform sprang forth to provide a precarious place upon which to perch. Having no time to question the safety of such contraptions, Rei hopped on; only when she was a good twenty feet above the surface of the stage did she realize that she was gripping the cable with white knuckles. She considered herself to be a brave individual but could safely say that she’d never dangled from an airship before—a unique circumstance that revealed to her that she had one massive phobia: heights. It was more than the familiar queasiness that would arouse whenever she got too close to a window in a high-rise; her stomach felt like it had dropped out of her ass.

Sweat drenched the back of her neck, and her breath came in fast and shallow. Dubious curiosity inspired her to look out over the arena, and she could see tiny figures moving in the stands. Most of them were bustling in place, but a few of them were scurrying toward the building’s exits.

She swayed slightly as her stomach flipped, and pulled the cable flush against her torso, wrapping her arms around it and practically trying to absorb the thing into her body. As she attempted to constrain her view to only that which was above her, she lifted her chin and found Liu dangling from his own cable only a few feet away. She was irritated by just how comfortable he looked, leaning casually atop his platform and leveraging himself with only one hand. When she finally met his gaze, she saw that he was eyeing her with amusement. If it weren’t for the fact that she was holding on for dear life, she most certainly would have unclenched a hand from the cable to flip him off. 

But perhaps she was mistaken about the amusement on his face. She watched as he reached into his belt and pulled out the detonator that he’d previously shown her. Just as they were passing through the shattered glass of the ceiling, he aligned his thumb over the remote’s button. Gulping, Rei glanced back down at the stage below.

The blast was so bright that she had to flinch away before she could witness the full thing. The noise alone was powerful enough to convey the impact of the explosion. A shockwave ricocheted throughout the arena, traveling through the air and vibrating the cable upon which she clung. She glanced down once more, swaying back and forth as plumes of smoke began rising from the now-desecrated arena. The audience clamored with panic again, but the noise faded as soon as they cleared the top of the building. Rei unconsciously peered out over the bay, and the image she saw stole what little breath she had left.

It was a scene of utter chaos; each of the police airships lay burning or partially submerged, with dozens of patrol boats having fared no better. Reflections of the many scattered fires danced in the water while hazy plumes rose to the sky.

It was oddly beautiful.

She was startled then when something shot past her peripheral vision. She whipped her head and was bewildered to find that the Avatar had suddenly appeared. Rei glanced around, searching for Amon but also realizing that Liu was nowhere to be seen. She had but a moment to be confused before her cable finally finished its ascent into the belly of the airship, obscuring her view. She wasted no time planting her shaky legs on the solid metal. Still clenching the wire, she turned to peer over the opening on the floor. Her eyes found Liu first, lying on the roof of the arena’s glass ceiling. A handful of other Equalists were with him, all having seemingly fallen from their cables.

What happened?

She caught sight of a police officer and quickly realized how the Avatar had managed to get to them; metalbending cops had cables of their own. Looking down soon proved to be too much for Rei’s nerves, and her stomach lurched as the ship swayed, forcing her to step back from the edge. It was just then that Amon’s cable was pulled into the airship—and with Liu and the others engaged in combat, Rei prepared to ask for orders.

That was, until a powerful blast of flames burst through the opening in the ship’s floor, and everyone in the vicinity was sent flying. Rei was slammed into the side of the hull’s interior, and the wind was knocked from her lungs. She struggled to collect her breath as more shots of fire came up through the opening, wafting intense heat into the space that lingered in the air.

Without the need for a prompt, Amon was already dictating orders. His eyes remained trained on the Avatar as he spoke. “Both of you,” he gestured at a pair of Equalists across from him, “—assist the lieutenant. Another vehicle will be sent to retrieve you when you’re finished.”

They did as they were told, sliding back down the cables toward the building's roof. Amon just as soon spun on his heel, striding toward the front of the ship.

Rei scrambled to her feet, leaning heavily on the wall for support as she shouted at his back. “Sir, what are your orders for the rest of us?”

His gait faltered, making it apparent that he’d heard her. Still, all that she got was a terse glance over his shoulder as he walked away. She gawked after him, watching him disappear into the cockpit. She stewed in her indignation for a moment before she remembered that she was not alone; other Equalists were in the vicinity, and they’d been witness to the interaction—or lack thereof.

She folded her arms over her chest and slumped backward, heaving a sigh as she slid to the floor.

Fine, Rei thought, two can play at that game.

Chapter Text

Late November, 170 AG

It took much longer than it should have for her to finally make up her mind. Realistically, she should have done this months ago, but Rei was nothing if not stubborn—or, perhaps, hopeful was a better word.

Yes, hopeful; for what, she had no idea. She didn't know what she wanted, only that it was something more. Her life, as it were, was rigorous and fun and exciting, but it just wasn’t enough. Perhaps, had she never tasted the burn of desire, she wouldn’t have felt so empty—but it was too late; that bastard of a man had already ruined her. She was beginning to reckon that he wasn't even a man. He was more of an idea than an actual person—a great idea, but just that.

No weaknesses.

No attachments.

No emotions.

Desires, maybe, but not emotions. He knew exactly how to convey anger or disappointment or magnanimity whenever it suited his objectives. Looking back on the many fleeting moments of affection that she felt for him, Rei found herself questioning if he ever felt anything for her at all. It was painful to finally accept that she felt far more for him than he ever had for her, but it was a welcome pain. It gripped her from her unchecked fantasies and brought her spiraling back down into reality. She’d been so afraid of losing him that she’d willingly lost herself.

She certainly attempted to make the most of it, trying to fool herself into believing that she enjoyed being used—but she hated it. All of it.

Amon had every part of her, and in turn, she had none of him. Even now, her convictions weren’t strong enough to withstand him; if he were to just say the words, she would give in to him without hesitation.

But he had no words for her—no thoughts for her, anymore, it seemed.

He likely wouldn’t notice if she was gone.

She ate alone that evening.

Well, not alone, alone—she was in the refectory after all, which was bustling with its normal amount of Equalists given the hour. She did, however, strategically place herself in the far corner of the room.

She watched him from her shadowy perch.

He kept himself surrounded by a large group of acquaintances, eating and laughing jovially. She should have expected this, as it was very much in his personality to enjoy socializing, but Rei had seemingly lost all foresight in recent months. They both had duties to fulfill that evening—her own being a reconnaissance mission that she had absolutely no interest in—but she needed to talk to him privately. She was running out of time to make that happen. Her food had gone cold in the better part of the hour that it took for her to finally decide upon a course of action.

She stood up with her tray, pushing the barely eaten leftovers into a nearby trashcan. She set her items down as calmly as possible before starting in his direction. He noticed her rather quickly—his expression falling as soon as they locked eyes. Distracted by her sudden approach, he’d stopped conversing with his friends. The group of young men surrounding him also quieted, turning their collective attention toward her. When she came to a stand in front of them, an awkward moment passed as they all stared up at her.

She tried her best to ignore them. He was seated at the end of the table, which made things easier. Without further hesitation, she shuffled over to him, leaning in close to his ear. Her braids dangled above his shoulder, skimming the fabric of his uniform.

From what little she could hear, he’d stopped breathing.

“Meet me outside the women’s barracks at midnight…,” she whispered, injecting a bit of ardor into her voice.

She rose back up, locking her eyes with him again and searching for a response. She started to panic when all she got was a blank stare, but he finally darted his eyes away and gave a small nod of confirmation. She quickly registered that his cheeks had flushed, and she smiled amusedly for a moment before remembering herself. Glancing again at the other occupants of the table, she saw that they were all casting assumptive looks between the two of them. She turned on her heel, skirting away from the table as fast as her feet could carry her without breaking into an all-out sprint.

She’d just reached the tunnel when she heard the telltale teasing of whoops.

It had just passed the hour when Rei exited her bunk. She tossed her hair—still damp from a recent shower—over her shoulder and tightened the waist of her sleeping tunic. She looked both ways down the hall, waiting for any signs that someone might be awake.

As she expected, the entire barrack was silent. Still wanting to maintain cover, she tiptoed noiselessly to the end of the hall and pushed open the door a smidge to peer out into the tunnel.

She found him immediately.

There Benji stood, tall and undeniably charming, with his back turned to her. His feet were shoulder-width apart.

One hand rested below his hip while the other scratched awkwardly at his neck.

He truly couldn’t look more conspicuous if he tried.

Rei stifled a giggle and reached out to grab ahold of his elbow. He gasped as he was yanked into the safety of the corridor. The swinging panel swayed behind him as he regained his footing, focusing his wary eyes on her face. Startled, he blinked twice before glancing down the empty corridor.

“R-Rei,” he blundered, “—I really don’t think I’m supposed to be—”

“Shhh…,” she hushed, bringing a finger to her lips and watching his eyes follow its path.

Her hand slipped down to his wrist, where she could feel his pulse racing beneath his sleeve before she laced her fingers with his. At the same time, she saw his eyes graze the length of her body, registering her bare legs and thinly veiled torso. She knew that her nipples were visible beneath the fabric of her shirt; she’d purposefully gone without a bra.

“Don’t worry…,” she drew his attention back to her face, and saw that his expression had gone from confused, to anxious, to entirely blank within the span of a few seconds, “—come with me.”

She tugged on his hand, needlessly coaxing him forward. She glanced at him over her shoulder, grinning ear to ear as she guided him back to her bunk.

Silent as they were, however, the sudden creaking of metal let them know that someone else was there. Barely ten paces from her room, the light from a cabin spilled into the corridor.

Mera, of all people, appeared in the hall.

Rei held her breath, gripping Benji’s fingers with her own. The dim overhead of the passage did precisely nothing to conceal their presence. Visibly bleary-eyed, Mera seemed to register only Rei’s form at first before taking notice of the tall, broad-shouldered figure in the background. She gazed at them both in contemplative silence before her brows shot up in silent remark. She looked back at Rei, drawing a zipped gesture over her lips and offering them both a sly smirk before she shuffled off to the washroom.

Rei released her breath and glanced back at Benji, who was now completely pale.

She giggled and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

“C’mon,” she goaded, jerking him into motion and practically dragging him the rest of the way.

Once inside, she let go of him to close the door. They each let out a sigh of relief.

She turned to find him standing awkwardly behind her. He was unable to maintain eye contact for any prolonged amount of time and chose to abandon her gaze to look around the room instead.

“Wow…,” he muttered, taking in the view of her space, “—you know, in the men’s barracks they make us share.” He pointed nonchalantly to the bed. “The bunks are stacked two high. We’re packed like sardines.”

When Rei didn't respond, he continued exploring, looking at anything besides her.

He was so awkward.

So easy to understand.

She stepped forward, reaching out for him once more. Unaware of her approach, he continued with his monologue.

“The privacy must be nice. Can’t imagine what it’s like—”

Her touch startled him, drawing his attention back to her. She smiled softly, guiding him toward her mattress.

“Relax…,” she assured, sensing his tensity.

He swallowed thickly but followed her direction. He sat down gingerly atop the mat, visibly wary of his presence in her private space.

Rei supposed that she should start by explaining herself, but found that words didn’t feel right at that moment. Instead, she stepped forward, positioning herself directly between Benji’s knees. He was forced to lift his chin to meet her gaze. His brows furrowed as she wrapped both of her fingers beneath his jaw, cradling his head in her hands.

“Rei, what are you—?"

She closed her eyes, answering his question with a kiss.

It was gentle at first—nothing but soft pressure and skin against skin. They lingered there for a few moments before pulling apart, where the air between them was now comfortably warm. She inhaled, savoring the sweet scent of his breath before swooping back down for more.

Benji matched her fervor, parting his mouth and allowing her to pull his bottom lip between hers. She gave a gentle suck, eliciting a shaky exhale from his nose. One of his hands found her waist as the other rose to the side of her face, and the tender sensation made her shiver.

Her reaction must have stirred something in him because he was suddenly gripping her with both hands and pulling her down into his lap. She mindlessly allowed it, lifting her knees over his thighs and sliding herself down against his hips. She slotted into place atop him and felt the unmistakable bulge between his legs.

Rei unlocked her lips from Benji’s and sighed into his mouth, grinding atop his lap. She was instantly rewarded with a groan, and their once-tentative kissing quickly descended into a heated frenzy.

His arms snaked around her waist, pulling her flush with him. Her own arms wound around his shoulders, providing the necessary leverage to withstand the assault; he moved against her mouth with such urgency that it required her to push back with equal force just to remain upright. It wasn’t long before they were both short of breath, and the frenzy was over just as soon as it had begun.

In the quiet lull, Benji’s hands began to roam her body. Rei found the action to be more comforting than arousing.

She pulled back, intending to speak, but Benji beat her to it.

“Rei…,” he begged huskily, “—will you please tell me what’s going on?”

She looked up at him, combing her thoughts for the script she’d once had prepared.

His kisses had since wiped her mind blank, and she no longer recalled the words she had planned for this moment. Instead, she just gazed at him. Swimming through the warm depths of his eyes, she found all the explanation that she could need.

“Remember what you said…,” she began in a tentative voice, “—that if I ever wanted… something more, I should just let you know?”

Benji appeared dumbfounded for a moment before recognition shone in his expression. Rei slowly brought her hands to her waist and began fiddling with the tie of her tunic.

It didn’t take much effort to undo the knot. She gripped the fabric at the edge, parting it open and sliding it down her shoulders.

“Th-this is me… letting you know…,” she whispered.

His eyes trailed down to her exposed chest. He was still for a moment before finally slipping his hands up to her waist. He grazed her skin, tracing his way up to the underside of her breasts, where he held them softly. She knew that they weren’t exceptionally impressive, but graciously, Benji still seemed to be enamored with them. He gave each of them a gentle squeeze, forming the flesh into more prominent mounds before lowering his head. She released a startled gasp when she felt his tongue lave across her skin, pulling her nipple into his mouth. He sucked softly at first, ripping a shaky sigh from her before catching her with his teeth. The shock of the sensation shot through her entire body, and what started as a desperate whimper morphed into a shameless moan. Rei’s hands began raking through his hair, holding him in place as she ground into his lap.

The lips suckling her chest detached at the sound of Benji's groan. The bulge between his legs grew more prominent, and even through the fabric of his clothes, she could feel him pulsing with desire.

She was unaware of how much she missed this—being able to affect someone in such a way. She’d gone months without being touched, and there was so much pent-up desire beneath the surface that she had no idea what to do with it. Her body felt like it could ignite at any moment.

Benji’s head arose, and his eyes found hers. The heat in them was only comparable to that which she felt coursing through her veins. They gazed at each other, each reading the desire in the other’s eyes until, like magnets, their lips were drawn together once more. It was a deep kiss—a tangle of desperate breaths and fervent tongues—and then it wasn’t; Benji’s lips left hers, and Rei felt herself falling to the side. She was roughly flopped onto the bed and found that he was now kneeling over her—one leg perched between her thighs while the other braced against the floor. It had never been more obvious to her than in that moment that the Equalist bunks were very much intended for only one person.

As she looked up into his flushed face, she saw that his eyes were now engaged in a thorough exploration of her body. All that she had on were a pair of panties, and when Benji finally laid eyes on them, he sucked in a deep breath.

“Fuck,” he hissed.

He began scrambling to undress himself.

Rei couldn’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm; he quite literally ripped open his uniform. He fumbled momentarily with the belt below his waist before successfully removing it and tossing it to the floor. He slipped his arms out from their constraining sleeves and peeled the fabric from his body, shirking it down to his knees. His build, she saw, was far more athletic than she’d ever given him credit for; he was of average size, but unexpectedly lean.

It was a pleasant surprise that had her buzzing with excitement.

He began to lower himself over her, and she eagerly spread her legs to make room for him. When he finally settled his hips between hers, his arousal was startlingly warm. Even through their respective undergarments, it felt searing. She absently wondered if her arousal was just as noticeable to him; Spirits knew it was seeping through at this point.

She sighed and brought her hands up to tangle in his hair again, pulling him in for yet another bout of kissing. While he met her lips with equal fervor, the rest of him remained frustratingly still, as if he were afraid to move; Rei remembered the outcome of their last tryst and felt a pang of guilt. Motivated to prove a point, she rolled her hips beneath his, grinding herself against his length.

They each broke the kiss with a gasp. Benji dropped his face against her shoulder and began rolling into her. His heavy breathing filled her ear as he fell into a staggered rhythm, and her mind reeled with awareness.

Sex with Benji was a lovely idea, but it wasn’t exactly what she’d planned by bringing him here; what she really wanted to do was to talk. Whether it was his inherent charm or her own desperation, she’d gotten carried away. Before things could get too far, she needed to say her piece.

It would be cruel to tell him after the fact.

“Benji,” she whispered, trying to get his attention.

“Rei…,” he hummed against her skin. He continued rolling his hips, running his hands all over her body.

She dropped her hands from the back of his head down to his shoulders, bringing one of them to rest against his chest. “Benji,” she started again, speaking directly into his ear, “—I’m leaving.”

A silence descended upon them as his movements came to a slow halt. He raised his head to look at her, hazy and flushed. “W-what?” he croaked.

“I’m leaving…,” she repeated, “—i-in the morning, I’m… I'm taking the first train to Ba Sing Se and…,” she fumbled over her words as she attempted to string them together, “—a-and I want you to come.”

Benji stared at her blankly.

Rei panicked.

“I-I want you to come with me, Benji,” she clarified, grasping his face, “—because I want us to be together. I want to be with you.”

He surprised her then by leaning down to place a kiss against her lips, parting them with his tongue and taking her mouth with renewed passion. It wasn’t exactly the response she was hoping for, but it was a good response, she figured; whatever she'd said must have made an impact.

“We… we can start a new life together…,” she muttered against his lips, “—get married…,” she felt herself being carried away, "—h-have a family…”

At once, Benji stopped moving. He pulled back, peeling himself away from her. “Rei, what are you—?” His words fell off as he registered her expression; she was gazing at him pleadingly. Glossy adoration almost returned to his eyes before he shook his head and pushed himself away. “Rei…,” he restarted, sitting himself at the end of her bed, “—I… already have a family…”

She could feel her heart breaking in real time.

“—m-my mom and dad… my siblings… I can’t just leave them.”

Rei had nothing to say to that since she couldn’t relate. An oppressive silence settled over them, stifling the air, until she unraveled her legs from his and sat up, matching his position. She kept rigid beside him as hazy tears began to fill her eyes, marring the image of the floor beneath her feet.

“B-besides,” Benji continued, “—my parents… they left Ba Sing Se to give me a better life. I can't go back, now. Not when that dream is finally becoming a reality.”

Rei knew exactly where this was going, and she didn’t have the stomach for it. She wrapped her arms over her chest and slumped away from him, hiding her face behind a curtain of her hair.

“The revolution’s gonna change everything,” he continued at her silence. "Don’t you want to be here when Amon takes control of the city?”

A bitter sob burst from her chest.

No, she thought, I don’t want to be anywhere near that man.

Benji’s fingers grazed her thigh, and she flinched away from his touch. “Rei…”

She could hear the conflict in his voice.

“—Rei, please… it’s not like I don’t want to be with you, it’s just… why do we have to leave?”

The only response Benji got was the shuddering of her shoulders as she withheld another sob.

“I… I-I have duties to fulfill…,” he supplied, “—I can’t abandon my position.”

This assertion is what finally caused her anger to flare. She turned to him, flinging her words accusatorially. “Can’t, or won’t?”

She could see the betrayal on her face reflected in his eyes. “Rei… please,” he begged, “—don’t… don’t do this.”

She was unmoved. “So you won’t, then?”

Benji gazed at her somberly before shaking his head.

She turned from him, inhaling deeply; the rush of oxygen went straight into her veins, invigorating her body as she made to stand. She could feel his eyes on her as she collected her clothes, covering her indecency as she moved to the door. Gripping the handle furiously, she turned to address the unfortunate state of her company. “If that’s the case, there’s no reason for you to be here.”

He gazed at her again, this time with disbelief. A pitiful chuckle escaped him as he dropped his chin in defeat. “Alright…,” he said, making to stand. More silence fell over them until he hissed pulling his uniform over his still-visible erection. “You know…,” he scoffed, forcefully tucking himself behind an extra layer of fabric, “—you’re really good at blue-balling me.”

Rei remained silent, ignoring the remark. When he was finally covered, she wrenched open the door, wordlessly instructing him to leave. Dutifully, he walked forward, but just before crossing the threshold, he paused to address her.

When he spoke, all of his prior indignation was replaced with concern. “Will I ever see you again…?”

Rei met his eyes for what would probably be the last time and found herself attempting to burn the image of them into her mind. Angry as she was, she couldn’t blame him for his convictions—just like he couldn’t blame her for hers.

She would miss him.

“Probably not,” she grated, maintaining a stoic expression. “Goodbye, Benji.”

He cast his eyes down, resuming his exit. “Goodbye, Rei.”

It was before dawn when she awoke the next morning. While she’d certainly had more restful slumbers in her lifetime, she still managed to get a decent amount of sleep.

She planned to slip out during the peak hour of breakfast—this way, she could avoid running into anyone important. Both Amon and Liu would be busy with their daily preparations.

She wouldn’t be able to bring much with her, since she simply couldn’t carry it all. Instead, what she packed were the bare necessities: a change of clothes, some toiletries, the picture of her mother, and some money.

Not very much money, she realized, after counting it. She mentally cursed herself for spending so recklessly on her trips to the surface. It never occurred to her that she might need some funds for another emergency—if her current situation could be called such. At the very least, she could afford a train ticket to her destination, a meal when she arrived, and a first night’s stay somewhere cheap—not much else after that, though.

She sighed and stood, shoving the disconcertingly empty pouch into her coat pocket. She tried not to worry too much, resigning herself to find employment as soon as she arrived in Ba Sing Se. She collected her rucksack along with its bursting contents and made her way out into the corridor. She took one last glimpse of the small space that she’d come to call home, and her eyes fell upon the mat where she and Benji had been tangled up only hours prior. Images of him flickered through her mind, and she tore her eyes away, not wanting to deal with the hurt. She wouldn't just be leaving physical things here, but memories too—again, she couldn’t carry it all.

Just as she was closing the door, the first mishap of her day greeted her.

Mera’s shining voice cut through the air. “Hey, Rei!”

She didn’t turn to face her friend—who by all accounts should still be working in the refectory at this time. Fear gripped her as she envisioned being pulled into a chatty discussion about last night’s shenanigans.

“H-hey, Mera…,” she offered weakly, taking up a brisk pace toward the tunnels.

“Are you making a trip to the surface?”

The question stopped her in her tracks.

“I, uh… y-yes,” Rei replied, unwilling to provide a real explanation for her casual attire.

Before she'd finished speaking, she could already make out the delicate sound of Mera’s footsteps. Not wanting to appear rude, she finally turned to face the woman.

“Do you mind…,” Mera began, plucking a small amount of bills from her back pocket and offering them to Rei, “—picking up a few things for me? I just need some toothpaste and deodorant, really.”

Rei was dumbfounded; how could she even respond?

‘Sorry Mera, but I’m actually in the process of running away.’

‘Sorry, Mera, but I’m not coming back.’

‘Sorry, Mera, but you’ll never see me again.’

'Sorry, Mera—'

She stepped forward, ignoring the money in Mera’s hand, and wrapped her arms around the woman's slight shoulders.

“Rei…?” Mera asked, audibly confused.

She still didn’t respond; her throat was too tight to speak now, anyway. She eventually unlocked herself and stepped away from the bewildered woman, but couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact. She simply turned to reembark down the tunnels.

“Rei…?” Mera called again, this time with more concern.

But Rei was already out of the corridor when she heard it.

“What do you mean sold out?” she asked, belligerent.

“I mean exactly what I said,” the woman reiterated. “They’re sold out.”

“How can they be sold out?!” Rei protested, pointing to the trains. “There’s like, a million seats on those things!”

“Ma’am, I’m gonna need you to calm down." The woman’s face settled into a grimace. "Security can be called if you refuse to exit the line.”

Rei appealed with a gentler tone. “I don’t think you understand, I need to leave Republic City today.” She stabbed the countertop with her finger to invoke her point. “Surely there’s something you can offer?”

The woman’s face remained unchanged. “Surely there isn’t,” she upheld. “Look, lady, you’re not the only one with the bright idea to leave the city. With the way things are heading, I don’t blame you—but that means you can’t always expect a same-day ticket. If you wanna purchase a seat for tomorrow’s departure, I’d be more than happy to sell it to you.”

Rei eyed the woman caustically, far too incensed to come up with anything civil.

The woman simply stared back, unbothered. “I’d make up my mind real fast if I were you,” she added. “It won’t be long before tomorrow’s are sold out, too.”

Rei bit her tongue to keep from yelling. “What time tomorrow…?”

“Noon,” the woman replied.

“Noon?!” Rei protested.

“Noon," she confirmed. "Tomorrow.”

Rei grated her teeth. “Fine,” she huffed, slamming her yuans down onto the counter.

With a ticket now in pocket, Rei spent the rest of her day meandering the city.

There wasn’t much else for her to do.

Although unseasonably warm, it was still cold enough to nip, so as the sun began to set, she justified stepping into a tea shop for a few hours to warm up. Eventually, the shop had to close, and when that time came, she found herself wandering the streets again. It was late, and she was wracking her brain for a place to sleep. She could've returned to the base for another night in her bunk—but seeing as she’d gone missing the whole day and completely shirked her duties, that was no longer an option. She could purchase a room at an inn, but then she wouldn’t have any money when she got to Ba Sing Se.

This dilemma left her with very few options in the way of shelter. She harkened back to her homeless days and thought about setting up camp behind a dumpster—then she thought about finding an actual homeless camp. There were plenty of them in the sewers beneath the city’s industrial park, and she was certain that the inhabitants would be more than willing to show her some hospitality; she was also certain that she’d wake up to half of her belongings missing.

So, at first, she settled upon a dumpster.

Then, thinking about dumpsters got her thinking about alleyways.

Thinking about alleyways got her thinking about stairwells, and thinking about stairwells got her thinking about buildings. Thinking about buildings got her thinking about rooftops—which got her thinking about one rooftop in particular.

Nearly freezing now, she broke into a sprint. She couldn’t recall the exact location, but she remembered that it was somewhere near the vault door. Even with her fuzzy memory of that night, she still had a good idea of where it was, and she made it pretty far before something else caught her eye: a liquor store—the very same that Liu had once patronized, which meant that she was close. She was about to bypass the landmark before a dubious thought came to mind.

She really, really shouldn’t—especially since she didn’t have any money to waste—but it was her last night in the city, and she was being forced to slum it. Amon would hate it, she thought—and that reason alone was all she needed to double back and buy the cheapest bottle of whiskey they had to offer. She left the shop with a bag in her hand and a skip in her step and returned to her previous quest, recalling that the store was only a few blocks away from the entrance to the rooftop. She followed her intuition and stumbled upon her destination a mere minute later, having only walked about thirty yards. She practically bolted down the alleyway, skidding in front of the rusty old door. She began tapping on the bricks beside it, listening for the telltale scrape of loose concrete. Eventually, she found the brick that she was looking for and plucked the key from the wall.

She returned the brick to its slot before moving to unlock the door. The mechanism relented easily, but the door itself croaked in defiance as she tried to pull it. When she finally opened it far enough, she slipped inside, and the great slab of metal slammed closed behind her. The sudden silence that followed was almost jarring; there, inside the giant concrete vestibule, she was entirely cut off from the noise of the city. The thick insulation dampened more than just sound—it braced against temperature too. It wasn’t substantially warmer inside the stairwell, but a few degrees made a big difference when it came to the cold. More importantly, though, she was completely sheltered from the wind—which never failed to make the air feel chillier than it was. She made her way up the stairs, panting as she reached the uppermost landing. She stood there a moment, catching her breath and surveying the landing’s surface.

It was much cleaner than the ground outside. She decided then that if she was going to sleep anywhere tonight, it would have to be there; the space was just peaceful enough to invoke slumber, and she couldn’t have found a better spot if she'd asked.

Satisfied, she went over to the roof’s door; she wasn’t yet tired enough to sleep and had already made plans to enjoy her drink atop the roof. She never got a chance to say goodbye to Liu and thought that a little nostalgia might provide some closure. In a way, she would be drinking in his honor. Whether or not he deserved it didn’t matter—he might be an asshole, but he was an asshole that she loved.

Damn him and his stupid mustache.

She opened the door—arguably lighter than the one below—and pushed outside. She was met with hazy darkness, where the ambiance of the city diffused through the fog of the surrounding mountains; a beautiful sight on its own, but not the one that she was interested in. She skirted around the outside of the bulkhead to find what she was after.

The image that greeted her was just as she remembered—at least, from what little she could remember of that night. She stood still for a few moments, taking it all in.

Then she tore her eyes away and made her way to the roof's edge. She would have all night to stare if she wanted, but now more than anything, she wanted to be drunk. She took a seat atop one of the old metal turbines and set her rucksack down beside it. She stripped the bottle of its paper jacket, crumpling it up and tossing it over her shoulder. Curious, she paused to glance in the direction of her throw; in the near corner of the roof, Liu’s pile of trash remained in place. Funnily enough, she spotted the empty bottle they’d once shared all those months ago—in the very same place Liu had abandoned it, completely untouched.

She huffed in disbelief and returned her attention to the bottle at hand. The cheap metal cap gave a bit of resistance before relenting under the force of her fist. She finished the job by flicking it over the edge of the building, watching it vibrate with the air resistance until it disappeared into the street below. She raised the bottle and inhaled deeply, relishing the long-forgotten scent that tickled her nose.

It'd been far too long.

She’d made well on her promise to abstain from any recreational substances over the past year, but her diligence was in vain. Winning Amon’s approval turned out to be a meaningless endeavor. She’d done everything he’d asked—been everything he could have wanted—but it still wasn’t enough. She should've known from the beginning that it would never be enough—she would never be enough.

Not for him, at least.

With that passing thought, the unwelcome emotions were already starting to grip her, so she decided to drown them in only way she knew how. She gripped the bottle and knocked it back, gulping with hard swallows—the first of which went down surprisingly easily. Only by the second did the burn hit her. She tapped out on the third, unable to withstand the heat. She ripped the thing from her lips, allowing the cold air to soothe the ache in the back of her throat. She reeled until the discomfort passed, reluctantly admitting that perhaps chugging wasn’t the best way to break her fast from alcohol.

When the sensation of the liquor finally reached her stomach, it was a different burn than the one in her throat—less of a scorch and more of a smolder. She felt the heat slowly permeate throughout the rest of her body and reveled in the sudden warmth, finding it much easier now to ignore the chill of the wind. She straightened her back and let the bottle rest between her thighs, looking out over the city. She recalled the last time she’d seen this view and registered that she was currently seated in what was once Liu’s position. The thought inspired her to look over at the empty turbine that had once been host to her own presence, envisioning herself in the throes of laughter as Liu delivered joke after filthy joke—most of which had been forgotten.

Back then, it'd been the first time in many months that she’d felt any sort of real joy. Come to think of it, she couldn’t recall a time since then that she’d felt even remotely similar. Neither her outings with Benji nor her chats with Mera ever brought about the same sort of bond she felt with Liu on that night. A bond that she would likely never feel again. She imagined him then, in his dapper trousers and suit coat, puffing a cigarette and retelling stories of his past.

What she wouldn’t give for one of those cigarettes right now.

She heaved a sigh and brought the bottle back to her lips, gulping a few more mouthfuls. When she pulled away, she was shocked to see that nearly a fourth of the pint was gone. The pleasant numbness of intoxication was already upon her, and she was losing touch with her surroundings. She let the bottle rest between her thighs again and returned her attention to the city.

It was a beautiful night; the winter sky was clear, allowing the stillness of the moon to shine peacefully over the city. The stars were faint but visible, speckling the inky blackness and shimmering in the far-off expanse. The image inspired a profound, yet heartbreaking realization.

Republic City was her home—the only one that she’d ever known. She was born here. She grew up here. In her twenty short years, she’d experienced so much—and it had all happened right here in this city. Precious memories were formed here, and all of the people she’d ever come to care about were inhabitants of this place. It was bittersweet; this city had given her many things but had taken just as much. It had broken her heart in ways that she never thought possible.

When the city arose from the ashes of the hundred-year war, no one could have predicted how it would manifest. People from all over the world bought into it, giving up their old lives to become a part of something new and exciting. Little did they know that what they would get was a microcosm of social injustice. The separation between the haves and the have-nots, seen universally throughout the rest of the world, was only exacerbated here. Preferential selection for employment and opportunities favored those with power—specifically, those with ability. Of course, other factors played a role, but bending always provided an unwavering leg-up. At least elsewhere in the world, nonbenders could find more dignified living within their own pocketed communities, without having to compete against their bending counterparts. Rei was still sad to be leaving, though; for all its shortcomings—and there were many—Republic City would always have her heart. It was part of who she was, having shaped much of her identity. It had left its marks on her, and she would be fleeing before getting a chance to return the favor.

Latently, she realized, she would invariably miss the Revolution coming to fruition. Perhaps unwisely, she raised the bottle for another sip and allowed herself to envision more of what she’d miss.

The first thing that came to mind was Amon’s triumph over the bending elite. She’d no doubt hear about it in the news, but wouldn’t be able to witness it up close. She'd miss his subsequent—and undoubtedly inspiring—victory speech. It would be broadcast over the radio, she reckoned—but again, she wouldn’t be able to experience it in person. She'd miss standing beside him as he addressed his followers, offering them congratulations and rewarding them for their loyalty. She would miss his…

Spirits…

She would miss him.

All of a sudden, tears were in her eyes.

The only saving grace of the entire situation was that she so desperately wanted her sense of self back. The thought of losing someone, even someone like him, paled in comparison to losing herself. Difficult as it might be, a fresh start was the only remedy that she could conceive. She might be lonely and destitute in Ba Sing Se, but at least she wouldn't have anyone else to worry about: no one else to toy with her emotions or pull her mind in a million different directions; no one else to lie, manipulate, gaslight, or disappoint her.

No one else but… herself.

She closed her eyes, attempting to find solace in that prospect. Frustratingly, the only image that came to her mind was him.

“Care to explain yourself, captain?”

She sat up, questioning whether or not she was losing her sanity. She looked back down at her drink and debated calling it quits before quickly disregarding the thought; she didn’t feel drunk enough for sleep yet, and considering that she had no intention of allowing herself to dream whilst doing so. Numb to her inhibitions, she decided to keep going and raised the bottle for yet another swig.

“Captain…”

She jolted, nearly spitting out her drink.

While she may have seen some questionable things in her lifetime, Rei had certainly never experienced any sort of auditory hallucination before. She supposed that there was a first time for—

“Captain.”

Well… at least her subconscious had the good graces to replicate his voice accurately. If her mind was going to play tricks on her, they might as well be believable. She supposed she should be more concerned, but she couldn’t help but find it amusing; she had her own little version of him hidden away in her mind, and with just a modest amount of booze, could get it to talk to her. She shook her head dizzyingly and raised the bottle for another swig.

Amazingly, she heard him again as soon as the liquor hit her tongue.

“Reina.”

She froze; unless her deluded mind somehow possessed the ability to adjust for proximity, the voice she’d once believed to be in her imagination had seemingly gotten closer—much, much closer. She swallowed what was left in her mouth and lowered the bottle.

There was no way; it was impossible.

She reckoned that her absence would only have been noticed once she neglected to show up with Liu in his office that morning—so how could anyone catch up to her, much less track her location at this point? Petrified of what she would see if she turned around, she moved stiffly, slowly turning until her frame of view shifted.

He stood little more than a meter away, watching her with stern disapproval.

“W—w-uh…,” her first attempt at words failed, so she tried again, propelled entirely by liquid courage, “—w-what are you doing here?”

He narrowed his eyes as if she’d somehow offended him. “You’ve lost the privilege to ask questions,” he bit out. “Explain yourself.”

Oh—he was angry.

Rei turned away, gnawing at her lip. She stewed in her panic for many moments until it dawned on her that she was no longer obligated to follow his orders. “N-no…,” she resolved; her voice, although unsteady, was loud enough for him to hear.

The rush of adrenaline that came with denying him was absolutely thrilling. She’d tried it once before and it didn’t work; now, she had more control.

“Stand up and explain yourself or—”

“Or what?!” she yelled, fury unleashing into her bloodstream. “You’re gonna punish me?” She was on her feet now, swaying with intoxication; weeks of repressed rage were boiling over within her. “You know, you don’t own me!”

She didn’t fully believe that, but she needed to say it anyway.

He eyed her for a moment, assessing her inebriated state. She held his gaze and raised the bottle again, swallowing even more of the liquor in an attempt to defy him. He gave no response and waited patiently for her to finish.

She was wiping the alcohol from her chin when he finally spoke.

“Tell me, Reina…”

She winced, hating how easily he could use her own name against her.

“—are your duties so intolerable that you have no other choice but to run away?” The unnervingly polite tone that his voice had taken on was undermining her courage. “If you don’t mind… what exactly do you hope to find in Ba Sing Se?”

With that, she nearly collapsed.

How did he know where she was going?

Who had told—?

Oh… Benji.

That fucking snitch. If she ever saw him again, she was going to kick him so hard that blue balls would be the least of his worries—no balls would be more like it.

Refusing to give Amon the upper hand, she attempted to come up with a quick response—but he beat her to it.

“And if you’re so certain about leaving,” he nodded to the bottle, “—then why do you feel the need to numb yourself to the decision?”

As with all others, her reaction to this question was delayed.

Eventually, though, it manifested as a giggle.

“You wanna know why…?” She brought the bottle up to her face, smiling like an advert. “Because I knew it’d piss you off.” She grinned, throwing the bottle back for another swig; more alcohol dribbled down her chin, and she wiped it lazily with the sleeve of her coat. His response was simply a cold stare, so she took the opportunity to get more words in. “I passed the liquor store and just couldn’t help myself. I saw the bottle ‘n thought, hmmm… Amon would hate this. And I was right!” She threw her arms up. “Look at you, mister grumpy-pants!” Again, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Amon remained faithfully silent, waiting until she'd regained some composure before continuing. “So, this is about me, then?”

His words struck her with a sobering force, and her mood instantly dissolved.

No shit, she wanted to say—but she couldn’t.

She couldn’t say anything at all. She looked away, casting her eyes from him just as he was taking a step towards her.

Her heart rate spiked.

“Your company…,” he said, startling her with a hand on her chin, “—while pleasant, is a distraction that I can no longer afford.”

Her knees had gone weak at his touch, and she nearly collapsed as he guided her to look at him.

“There is… so much at stake here, Reina…”

She’d never hated the sound of her name more than in that moment.

“—much that you cannot understand. Things that not even the lieutenant could understand." He seemed careful as he contemplated what to say next. “I won’t… deny… that our arrangement was an unforeseen development. You’ve come to affect me in ways that I never expected…”

Her heart stopped.

“—but some things simply cannot be had. Not without sacrifice.”

He was somehow saying too much and not enough at the same time. She clung to every word like an addict on a drip of morphine.

“Do you want to know why I make the sacrifices I do?”

Too hesitant to know the answer, she failed to respond immediately. Eventually, she offered a slight nod, and the momentum was just enough to send a loose teardrop spilling down her cheek.

“I have a vision for the future,” he said, “—a vision where people like yourself no longer have to live in fear. A world where you won’t have to fight to survive.”

The tears became heavier, and she turned away, desperately trying to swallow the lump in her throat.

He let go.

“I want you to have what I never could. The safety and security of a normal life.” There was a strained quality to his voice that was causing her heart to ache. “Remain in this city, and you won’t have to fear losing those you care about at the hands of benders anymore. You can settle down, start a family—”

A sob burst through her chest, which slowly disintegrated into a chuckle as she turned to him again, drawing all of her rage into her chest and spewing her innermost thoughts.

“As if any other man could compare to you.”

She was unable to stop herself before realizing the gravity of her words.

Amon held her gaze but offered no solace. She saw something flash in his eyes, but fresh tears were beginning to cloud her vision, and she could no longer discern what it was. Unable to withstand his scrutiny, she turned from him again. Her panic continued to mount, and each lungful of air became less fulfilling than the last. It occurred to her then that she still had half a bottle of liquor in her hand, so she hoisted it and threw it back into her mouth, forgoing any sensibility as she started to chug. She ignored the pain, forcibly downing it all as quickly as possible.

She’d taken only three swallows before the thing was suddenly ripped from her hand; it disappeared so fast that she barely managed to catch sight of where it’d gone, hurtling over the edge of the building and into the street below. She looked down, watching it crash onto the sidewalk. A familiar hand lingered in her periphery—no matter that he was the only other person there. Briefly suspended, the rage from before came crashing back down, drowning out what little rationale she had left.

“You… fucking…,” the words slipped through her teeth as she spun around, raising a fist to strike his chest with all of the strength that she could muster, “—ass-ah!”

He remained completely unmoved; her own body absorbed the shock and rocked backward. She swayed with her intoxication, and the surface beneath her feet slipped away as the world around her began to tilt.

She was falling.

A strange sense of clarity came with the awareness.

Her heart was racing, but she was calm.

It was all happening so fast—and then it wasn’t; something had halted her momentum, nearly knocking the wind out of her. She opened her eyes to find a fist buried in the front of her coat, holding her firmly in place and preventing her from falling over the side of the building.

Amon had one leg braced atop the ledge, allowing him to lean over her body. Doubly dizzy now from the liquor and the adrenaline, she was somehow able to focus on his eyes; they held a mixture of anger, sadness, and disappointment—none of which were directed at her.

He seemed to be staring through her.

Contemplating.

Deliberating.

It broke her then to know that even in such a dire moment as this, she still couldn’t get him to care. She realized that there was only one way out—and that she was dangling right above it.

She lifted her hands to his wrist. “Please…,” she whispered, curling her fingers beneath his own and attempting to pry them from her coat, “—just… let me go.”

His eyes—which had remained far off as she spoke—suddenly snapped back into focus.

Shock was the first thing that she saw, followed quickly by rage. The fist in her coat tightened furiously, pulling her forward with violent momentum. She skidded across the rooftop, landing in a heap a safe distance from the ledge. A crushing vice then gripped her by the arm, hoisting her from the ground. Her feet were planted for less than a second before she was hauled into the air. She found herself upside down—and then she was moving.

Or rather, he was moving.

Disorientation almost distracted her from the staunch violation of her autonomy. She began flailing, attempting to strike whatever she could. He remained unaffected, carrying her like a toddler amid a tantrum.

“Let go of me!” she yelled, writhing against him. “You can’t do this! I’m not a child!”

His response effectively drained all of the fight from her. “You can't claim to not be a child yet proceed to act like one.”

Instantly, her writhing stopped. She noticed her surroundings darken as they entered the stairwell, swaying as he began to descend the steps. By the third flight of stairs, her breathless panting had morphed into sobs, and it wasn’t long before she was bawling; if her intuition was right, he was heading back to the base.

After all of the trouble she’d gone through that day, she would've simply preferred to die.

Why couldn’t he just let her fall?

Why did he have to… why…?

Her thoughts went blank as blood began to pool in her head. Her chest grew heavy, and her tongue suddenly felt too big for her mouth; it became a struggle just to breathe. It could have been seconds or minutes that passed, but eventually, her world was turned upside down again—or, was it right-side up? She felt herself sliding down his front into an upright position. His arms hooked beneath her legs, and she leaned against his chest while her blood pressure slowly re-stabilized.

W-why… why was she here?

The tears seemed to arrive before the answer. She buried her face into his chest, using the fabric of his shirt to soak up tears. She hardly noticed that they were outside again.

Amon moved quickly. The only sound she could discern was the faint echo of her muffled cries through the alleyway. Eventually, he stopped, and his words came in a low order. “You’ll need to be quiet now.”

She stifled her sobs and peered up. The light was dim, with only the residual ambiance of the street illuminating the tiny stairwell that they were in; she knew exactly where they were.

She nearly began crying again but remembered his words. She bit her lip, casting her eyes down in shame as she nodded. He waited, gauging her composure before finally opening the door. In the next moment, a familiar orange light flooded her vision. They were back in the tunnels, and the vault door was slowly becoming smaller and smaller. She gazed at it forlornly over his shoulder, wondering when—if—she would ever get another chance to leave.

More sobs threatened the silence, but she managed to keep them down. She tore her eyes away from the door and curled into him, burying her face into the crook of his neck. She inhaled deeply, focusing on the smell of him. It was heavenly and all around her, filling up her senses and numbing so much of her pain. She realized then that it was the only comforting thing about him; one tiny, insignificant thing—the only part of him that was free to take.

She brought her arms up and hung them over his shoulders, anchoring herself as she drowned in his scent. She was so engrossed that she paid hardly any mind to where they were going; all that she knew was that the tunnels were silent, which meant that it was late. She felt him open another door and reasoned that they must be in the barracks, but she was too despondent to lift her head and look. When he shifted again, she was practically certain that she was back in her bunk. Her suspicions were almost confirmed when he went to bend over, and she felt herself being lowered onto a mattress—not a mat.

She opened her eyes, but all that she saw was pitch blackness.

This was his room, though, she was certain of it. The lights were off, but she knew.

She was aware of his movements then, gently grasping her wrists as he pried her hands from his shoulders. She coiled herself around him tighter, digging her heels into the back of his legs and refusing to let go; he couldn’t do this to her, not after so many weeks of being denied his touch. He employed more of his strength, wrenching her hands from his shirt—but the instant they were free was the same instant they found their way back, clawing at every available inch of fabric. The charade continued until his patience wore thin.

“Reina,” he said her name for the millionth time that night, “—stop this.”

She was sick of him telling her what to do. “No,” she griped.

He sighed and continued trying to detach her, but she continued to cling right back. “You’re drunk,” he was scolding her again. “You need to sleep.”

Instantly, her struggling ceased. She didn't need sleep; she needed him more than she needed air to breathe. How could he not see that?

He took her stillness as an opportunity to reestablish control, and both of her hands were seconds away from being pinned against the bed when she finally snapped back to reality. She began struggling harder, wriggling from his grip and clinging to him with even more desperation. She was almost surprised at how easy it was to thwart each of his attempts at separation until it suddenly clicked as to why; he was being gentle. By now, he could have incapacitated her if he’d wanted to. She knew at least a dozen pressure points that would render a person unconscious and was certain that he knew far more. That aside, he was much stronger than she was, and if he really wanted, he could simply have her ripped off of him with his own brute strength. None of that had happened yet, which drew her to only one logical conclusion; he didn’t want her off of him. Not entirely, at least.

A large part of him probably did—the logical, rational, and controlled part; the part that she’d been so certain was the only part of him until just a few moments ago. A different part of him was slipping through the cracks, and whether it was a delusion of her intoxicated mind, she didn't care. Amid their struggle, she unclenched her fists and slipped them under his hood. Even in the void of the dark, she was able to find his mask. Before he had a chance to capture her arms again, she raised her face to his, and with a delicate pressure, lifted her chin to press a soft kiss against the porcelain.

At that moment, everything stopped—her breathing, his moving—perhaps, even time itself.

Much like him, the surface of his mask was hard and unforgiving. She let herself linger there for a while before pulling away. He remained frozen atop her, as if shocked by what she’d just done. Her own stillness came from a sense of clarity—a dangerous realization; behind the mask was a face—a real face with real lips—mere inches from her own.

Her actions then were guided by instinct as opposed to conscious thought. She trailed her fingers down to the edge of his mask and began to push it up. She moved slowly, not wanting to startle him. He seemed aware of what she was doing but made no effort to stop her. It was clear to her at that moment that he was giving her a sort of silent permission, allowing her to do as she pleased whilst he was caught up in his own conflicted reverie. She let go of the mask, having lifted it just enough to expose everything below his nose. She brought her fingers to trace his jawline, pleasantly surprised to feel the stubble there. She marveled at it for a few moments, running her fingers along either side of his chin until they came together at the center. She moved her fingers to his mouth and paused, hesitating before allowing them to settle atop his lips.

They were soft—not particularly full, but not thin either. She traced over them and discovered that they were slightly parted. A gentle puff of air wafted over her fingers, and she was immediately met with the scent of his breath. Intoxicating didn’t even begin to describe it; no liquor in the world could compare to what it felt like drinking him in—damp sweetness with a tang of spice.

It was exhilarating.

Her fingers fell from his lips, and her hand landed limp beside her head. She raised her chin again, yearning for him. “Kiss me…,” she whispered. Her own breath spilled into the air, stirring it with the scent of whisky. “Kiss me,” she begged, more fervently.

He didn’t move; not toward her, not away from her. She used one arm to hoist herself up and close the space between them.

The first touch was tentative, barely grazing his skin. His mouth was set in a stern line, unyielding. She pressed against him harder, ensuring that their lips were fully together, but he still would not move. She pulled back slightly, trying again—this time catching ahold of his bottom lip with her own. It took a bit of prying, but she eventually was able to draw him into her mouth.

She whimpered at the taste. The rush it sent to her brain was overwhelming, and she fell back, collapsing back into the mattress. He continued to hover over her, propped up on either side of her head. She was vaguely aware that he was moving but was far too dazed to pay much attention. She closed her eyes, reeling with drunken giddiness.

A kiss… it wasn’t much, but it was—

His lips were suddenly on hers again, crashing into her with abrupt force. She had no time to react before his tongue was in her mouth, establishing greedy dominance over her own. The impact of the kiss was not what shocked her; it was the fact that something else was touching her now.

A nose.

His nose.

Bare and maskless.

Her hands were on his face then, touching everything that she could find and memorizing what little there was to discern.

He didn’t seem to mind.

Full lashes, heavy brows, high cheekbones…

Her hands moved to his hair, wrapping around his neck to weave into the thick locks at the back of his head—all the while his vehement assault on her mouth never stopped. For both of them, it was less of a kiss and more of an exploration. There was so much sensory information, but no light to see—which only served to enhance the feel of everything else.

He finally broke the kiss, pulling away to down her jawline. He latched on to a spot just below her ear, nipping at the skin with his teeth before sucking on it hard. The moan that escaped her was lewd and loud and entirely embarrassing—and she would’ve had the better sense to feel some sort of humiliation if it weren’t for the fact that he’d just growled. It was low and faint, but she was sure of it, having been so close to her ear.

He was pushing off of her then, and she panicked—thinking that he’d only kissed her as a distraction—until he spoke. “This,” he tugged at the hem of her shirt, “—off. Now.”

His voice was still low and commanding, but uncharacteristically soft. She remained still for a moment, grappling with astonishment before scurrying to take off her clothes. She worked quickly, stripping her coat first then moving to peel off her shirt. It was barely over her head when she felt him vacate the bed. She started to panic again, but he gripped her by the ankles, pulling her forward with an elicit gasp. At the edge of the bed, he began removing her shoes for her. She finished undressing her torso and fell back on her elbows, breathless. He found his way to her hips and gripped the waist of her pants, roughly shirking them down her legs. He returned to remove her underwear in the same fashion, and the feel of his fingers sent ticklish heat to pool the area below her belly button.

Thoroughly bare now, she expected him to settle overtop her again—or maybe take her from his position at the edge of the bed—but his hands left her body and did not return.

Not for many torturous moments.

She waited, straining her ears to discern his position in the dark. All that she could make out were faint hints of scuffling fabric. She almost assumed him to have collected her belongings and walked off, but she was a little too drunk to produce a rational thought.

Then, through the darkness, she felt his hands on her again. He gripped her legs, aligning her on the bed so that her head lay atop the pillows. It was then that the mattress finally dipped down, and he settled between her thighs. He came over her agonizingly slowly, as if reluctant against his actions. Desperately, she raised her hands in search of his face. Her fingertips grazed his lips before latching onto his chin. He wasn’t close enough to kiss, and she whined at the distance.

He gave in, lowering himself to a level that she could reach. She cradled his face and pulled him down until she was able to close the space between their lips. She channeled all of the frantic energy from before, but he responded with far more control. Her lips felt clumsy against his as he caught her, gently guiding her into a deep kiss.

Her whole body went slack.

Slow and sensual, he moved her, rolling their tongues together in a passionate dance. The heat radiating between them was now all-consuming. 

She had no idea what she'd been expecting, but this—this was so much more than she could’ve ever imagined.

More than she ever thought possible.

Just… more.

It was the something more that she’d been searching for. The something more that she’d hoped to find by running away. The something more that she sought to achieve by ridding herself of him.

How foolish she’d been to think that she could find it anywhere else.

She melted under him. Her hands migrated from his face into his hair, lingering briefly before swooping down his neck and over his shoulders. She was startled by the warmth of his skin.

His skin.

She broke the kiss with a gasp, disregarding his lips entirely. The strained whine that resounded was a mixture of disbelief and gratification. She began frantically exploring the uncharted territory of his body, finding herself mesmerized by the feel of him.

Broad and muscular. Exceptionally well-trained.

Her hands skimmed across his chest, and she took notice of a smattering of hair there. Yet another strained noise escaped her, running her fingers over him it second time. She began to follow the trail down his front, both hands working together as she navigated the length of his body. She reached the hard plane of his abdomen and reveled at the sensation of it tightening in response to her touch. His breath hitched when she finally reached the area between his hips.

Mindless exploration brought her this far, but she knew exactly what she needed to do.

Her hands slipped even lower, finding the waistband of his pants with ease. The first button unfastened rather quickly, as well as the two after that. She parted the seam of his fly and reached down to grasp him gently through the fabric of his briefs.

He was hard, the length of him wonderfully warm and heavy in her hand. She caressed him slowly, appreciating the feel of his desire. Her palm grazed over the tip, and she felt him twitch. This time, he released a sharp exhale. With her head slightly turned, she could feel his breath ghosting across her cheek. The warmth of it tickled her skin, stirring chills down her neck.

He remained still, allowing her to experiment. She broke away, returning her hands over the exposed skin of his chest and abdomen, before going down to the covered bulge between his hips and back again. Typically, he would never afford her this much control—but perhaps her emotions had gotten the better of him.

She decided to make the most of it.

She may never get a chance to do something like this again, and she wanted to enjoy it.

She wanted him to enjoy it, too.

She brought her hands back down to his waist, where instead of tentatively caressing him through the fabric, she finally dipped her hands beneath it. She found the tip of him first—smooth and hot and firm all at once—and followed it down, taking the fabric with her as she went. When he was fully exposed, she pulled the waistband over his hips. He sprang forward, grazing the skin of her lower abdomen. She took hold of him and began with a slow, languorous pump.

The noise it drew from him was almost unreal—a gentle moan in her ear.

Not a growl nor a groan nor a gasp—but a moan. A breathy, desperate sound that dripped like honey from his lips. She stroked him again, desperate to hear it once more. A similar noise resounded, but tamer than the last—a mere echo of what she’d wanted, but beautiful, nonetheless. She carried on, pressing her lips up to his to catch any more of the strangled sounds that dared to fall from his mouth. They were hot and greedy against hers as if he’d been waiting in agony for them to return. His tongue, though no longer as restrained as last time, was still just as dexterous. She struggled to keep up while maintaining a steady rhythm with her hand. Eventually, she gave up and opted instead to guide it between her hips, dragging the tip of him through her slickness.

It was his turn now to break the kiss.

He pulled away—his body tensing over her—and like a heedless idiot, she dragged him against her again. It was a teasingly slow swipe—perhaps, a bit too teasingly, because as he aligned with her opening, his hips snapped forward, and he forcefully thrust inside.

The pain arrived instantly. Too startled to cry out, all she could manage was a breathless keen followed by an echo of pitiful whimpers. It’d been months since their last coupling, and her body felt as though it'd forgotten what it was like to be filled by him. There was a sharp resurgence of pain not unlike her first time—the feeling of being stretched far beyond what was physically possible.

But hidden beneath the sting of penetration was the euphoric sense of fullness. Her whimpers quieted, and her hands braced against his chest as she steadied herself. He remained perfectly still, aware that he'd hurt her. His body hovered over her own while his breathing became increasingly strained. She spread her thighs to accommodate him, hitching her knees above his hips. He sank impossibly deeper, and they both exhaled at the sensation.

Her hands rose to his neck, then up to his face, where she cradled him gently with her hands. “It’s… it's okay…,” she whispered.

He was silent for a moment before suddenly pressing his lips to her forehead, ghosting his kiss across her skin. “I’m sorry.”

The words came out so quietly that she was certain that she felt them more than she heard them. Something in the way he did this told her that he was apologizing for more than just one thing; be it yet another drunken delusion, she got the feeling that he was offering her a sincere apology for all of the pain he’d caused her before this moment—and all of the pain he would cause thereafter. Bittersweet tears welled in her eyes, running off to dampen the hair at her temples.

As he returned from her forehead, she grasped him firmly, pulling his lips back to hers and whispering against them. “It's okay—”

He cut her off with a harsh thrust and began to pump into her, settling into a slow rhythm between her legs. His thrusts were ruthlessly deep, sinking into her farther than she’d ever thought possible. Every movement dragged against her, striking deep within her core and sending shockwaves out from the place between her hips. She clawed at his neck and shoulders, attempting to maintain some sort of groundedness. Cries of pleasure echoed in the small room, and for once he did not admonish her volume. Instead, he dropped his head to hers, seeming to revel in the obscene noises she was making.

With each thrust, he brought her closer to the edge—a precipice that she hadn’t visited in quite some time. Everything she’d been holding back came rushing over her, emanating from the place where they were joined. Months of repressed desire and longing were released in a single moment.

Her nails dug into his shoulders as she arched up, pressing her body against his. Her legs wound around him, clinging for stability as she was wracked with pleasure. Whilst she was caught in the throes, he’d wound an arm around her waist and brought them both to rise, seating them at the edge of the bed with her in his lap. As she came to, Rei realized that this was a position they’d never tried before. She hoped that he would remember her inexperience and perhaps guide her, but he remained frustratingly still.

Leveraging herself with her knees, she moved as far as possible without losing contact before gently dropping herself back down. Another repetition was all it took for her to quickly realize that she was not enjoying this. She increased her pace, hoping to achieve the same blissful sensation from before, but all she got was discomfort. She opened her mouth to suggest that they lay back down, but was unable to form a coherent sentence; all that left her was a pitiful whine.

At the very least, she was able to convey her displeasure; he seemed to get the message, dropping his hands to her hips to halt her erratic bouncing. He took the initiative to guide her movement, steering her into a slow grind atop his lap.

Oh, she knew how to do this… she knew how to do this very well.

She began rolling into him with smooth, practiced motions, allowing him to knead her with exquisite pressure. Both of their breathing caught at the same time, and she felt his head drop down to her shoulder. His arms wrapped around her waist while hers remained pressed against his chest. His lips found her neck, and he began sucking, lavishing each side with a similar amount of attention. He soon moved down to her breasts, seeming determined to taste every inch of her skin. She arched into him and threw her head back, giving him unhindered access.

It became increasingly difficult to maintain a steady pace.

Soon, she was breathless again. A heady combination of intoxication and exertion had her feeling dangerously weak. She knew that another powerful orgasm was just out of reach, but she no longer had the stamina to pursue it. Her head fell limp against him, and she felt herself leaning haphazardly in his arms. Without the ability to see her surroundings, all she could sense was that the room was spinning.

Or, maybe it was herself.

Yes, it was definitely herself.

She was horizontal again—somehow still atop him. His chest was against her cheek, and she could hear his heart beating rapidly beneath her ear. Lucidity slowly returned, and she became aware of the presence of his hands on her hips. He was gripping her firmly, holding her in place as he frantically thrust into her. Somewhere overhead, his breathing had become erratic. She gathered all the strength that she had to push herself up, searching for his lips. It wasn’t a kiss that she was after, but more so a desperate desire to taste him again. Her mouth hovered over his own, siphoning air and drowning in the sweet essence of his breath. Like a narcotic, it went directly to her brain, flooding her veins and melting her mind.

With what little autonomy she could manage, she locked her legs around his hips, matching the energy of his thrusts. The resulting penetration was so deep that her eyes rolled back. Another orgasm rocked through her. Heavy and exhausted, she straddled him, riding out the full force of it to completion. She was about to collapse again when something happened.

Gripping her backside, he thrust into her and buried himself to the hilt. She felt the heat of him spilling inside, blossoming in the space between her hips. The sound that came from him was strained and breathless—every single one of her senses was attuned to it. A rush of chills came over her, listening to him moan while his body writhed beneath her.

It was pure ecstasy, and unbeknownst to her, an elated sob escaped.

His hand was in her hair then, forcefully dragging her back down to him. He crashed into her lips with terrifying intensity, plundering her mouth with his tongue and stealing her breath away with yet another frantic kiss. She melted into him, suspended in a daze of pure intoxication.

Nothing felt real anymore; the only thing tethering her to existence was him.

His kisses slowly ceased, and he pulled away. She felt herself being shifted across his chest to a spot beside him on the bed. Tucked against his side, she was vaguely aware of the covers being drawn over her body. She relished in the heat radiating from his skin, permeating every square inch of their contact. Fully cocooned in his warmth, she felt that she was protected from anything and everything that might try to hurt her. Not once in her life had she felt so secure.

“Why is it that no matter what I do, you always end up in tears?”

His voice startled her from the edge of consciousness; she’d been so close to slumber that she was entirely unaware of the moisture streaming down her cheeks, smearing his skin with wetness. She wanted to answer him, but words were proving hard to find. His question was entirely forgotten, and all she could come up with was a meek utterance of something completely unrelated. “I'm… s-so tired…”

The last thing her waking mind registered was a deep sigh within his chest.

“As am I…”

She awoke with a start. Cold sweat gripped the back of her neck.

She was immediately greeted by a pounding headache, followed by a painful dryness in her throat when an agonized groan attempted to squeeze its way from her lungs. She tried to blink, but all that she could see was blackness. In the still of the dark, blurry memories arose in her mind—memories of reckless passion, skin against skin. Whatever pain she felt was forcefully forgotten. She shot up, skimming her hands over the bed in search of him.

She was met with nothing but cool fabric and empty sheets.

He was nowhere to be found—not in the bed, at least.

Was it a dream? A mere delusion of intoxication?

No, she decided; it can’t be.

The memories were too evocative to be fake. If that weren’t enough, the dull ache between her legs confirmed everything she needed to know.

It had been real—every wonderful moment of it. A smile began to spread across her lips before instantly falling.

He’s not here…

The sting of abandonment marred the beautiful memories like a fresh wound upon porcelain skin. A reminder that, although last night was real—insofar as having happened—it was, in no way, reality.

She sat in the middle of the bed, stewing in her disappointment. Eventually, the discomfort of her hangover compelled her to move, and he flopped around, searching blindly in the dark for the nearby table. When she finally found it, she felt her way up the adjacent lamp and pulled the switch at the top. She winced as the light exploded in front of her eyes. It took a painful minute for them to adjust before she could reopen them to look around.

Just as she expected, the room was vacant. A small part of her had sincerely hoped that the light would reveal him to be there, perhaps seated in a dark corner somewhere waiting for her to wake.

A very small, stupid part of her.

She sighed, and the movement brought was stark reminder of the hangover that she was currently nursing. She squinted and looked down at the nightstand, only to find a small glass of water had been set out—presumedly for her. It wasn’t much of a gesture, but it was nice. She brought the thing to her lips and began gulping it with slow, steady swallows. Despite the pounding in her head, her stomach wasn’t in nearly as much pain. The thought of food was off-putting, but she had no overwhelming urge to vomit—a blessing in and of itself. After the fool she’d undoubtedly made of herself last night, the last thing she needed was for Amon to walk in and find her puking on his floor.

She returned the glass to its spot on the nightstand and moved to uncover herself, forcing her stiff limbs over the side of the bed. Her toes grazed the floor, and she shivered at the cold against her skin. With a groggy moan, she stood up and went to collect her things. She dressed slowly, not wanting to disturb the precarious condition of her hangover. One wrong move and she was certain that the consequences of last night’s actions would be swift and certain upon her.

She finished dressing and stood befuddled in the center of his room.

Now what?

Was she supposed to wait for him? If that was the case, when was he planning to return?

A few minutes? A few hours?

She wasn’t going to wait that long, especially not when he’d abandoned her again with such ease. She strode to the door and shoved it open with her shoulder, but as soon as her feet crossed the threshold, she was greeted by a startling sight.

Amon was in his office, but he had company.

A portly, well-dressed man—whom Rei vaguely recognized—stood beside him, pointing to a blueprint sheet sprawled across the desk. Her entrance made enough noise to draw both of their attention, and she stared back at them in awkward silence.

Amon’s eyes fell upon her instantly.

His guest took longer to register her presence, but once he did, she caught sight of him scanning her disheveled appearance.

“Ha!” the man exclaimed beside Amon. “I was wondering what you did for fun, my boy!”

Rei was shocked to witness this person clap Amon over the shoulder in an almost amicable gesture. Amon, completely unfazed, remained still, channeling a chilling glare at her from across the room.

He didn’t need to speak for her to get the message: she’d fucked up.

The portly man, having grown bored with her almost as quickly as he’d noticed her, returned his attention to the document on the desk. Amon slowly backed away from their point of convalescence, striding toward the door. He yanked the handle rather roughly and turned to face her with yet another cold stare. He held it open, instructing her to leave without so much as uttering a word.

Rei forced herself to move, swallowing her mortification as she began a meek shuffle in his direction. While she attempted to hold his gaze, she found it far too difficult to maintain her composure under his castigation. She lowered her eyes as she walked past, exiting into the tunnel. The moment she was clear of the door, it slammed behind her. The loud noise zapped her nerves, sending her into a state of shock.

Vaguely aware that there were other people in the tunnel, she couldn’t find the capacity to move. Eventually, someone cleared their throat, and much to her never-ending dismay, she was met with the sight of the last person that she wanted to see.

Liu peered down at her with a raised brow, openly concerned at the state she was in.

“Are you alright…?” he asked.

The question was an awkward attempt at compassion. Gentle but to the point. Her answer would have been a resounding no—if only she was able to verbalize it. She stammered for a few seconds before a dry sob slipped out.

Then, she was running. All she knew was that it wasn't yet noon and that she still had a train ticket for Ba Sing Se in her rucksack.

She scrambled to the vault door, springing into the alleyway and starting a desperate sprint toward the exact building that she'd been carried out of only hours before. The door had been left unlocked, so she hurtled up the steps, panting in ragged breaths by the time she reached the top. She skirted around the bulkhead and found her rucksack near the building’s edge—exactly where she’d left it the night prior. She hurried to grab it, but as she bent over, her stomach suddenly lurched. Angry bile forced its way up, prompting her to lean over the edge to release it. A single mouthful of pure liquid was expelled, followed by multiple dry heaves. When it finally passed, she pushed herself up and began a skulk back in the direction that she'd come, nursing a resurgence of pain in her head.

She’d been so distracted that she hadn’t even noticed him.

He pulled the spliff from his mouth and spoke first.

“You know, I don’t wanna say I told you so—”

“Then don’t,” she cut him off, still raspy from her retching.

He simply eyed her as she shuffled over to the bulkhead.

Her world was spinning now. She closed her eyes and slumped against the brick, collapsing into a pathetic heap on the floor. She remained like that for many moments until she heard him again, this time right beside her.

“So… I take it he’s good in the sack?”

Rei turned to see that Liu had plopped down next to her against the wall. He was being was sarcastic, and she was too fatigued to match his wit.

“Is there anything he’s not good at?” she asked bitterly.

He puffed his cigarette thoughtfully before replying. “Feelings.”

Rei looked away, fighting back more tears.

“Hurts, doesn’t it?” he continued.

His questions were starting to irritate her, but she found herself strangely comforted by his presence. “W-what does…?” she sputtered.

“Being in love with him.”

As if she wasn’t distraught enough, sobs started to wrack her chest.

“I guess I should count myself lucky that I never had to go through all that…,” Liu exhaled, puffing thoughtfully again on his cigarette, “—but even though it’s your own dumbass fault, I can’t blame you… I would have done the same thing.”

His words surprised her enough to pause her sobs. She turned to him warily. “I… th-thought you… h-hated me…”

“Irritated with you, for sure,” he said, flicking his cigarette, “—but not hate. I tried to warn you, but you were just… so damn cocky, and I didn’t have the patience to deal with it.” He shrugged and puffed his cigarette again. “You weren’t gonna fuckin’ listen, anyways.”

She was taken aback; never once did she think that he might have taken pity on her.

A hand appeared in her periphery, distracting her from her turmoil. She saw that Liu was offering her a freshly lit cigarette of her own, so she nodded, accepting it from him with gratitude. They sat wordlessly for many moments, puffing away in silence.

“I gotta hand it to you…,” Liu restarted, drawing her attention again, “—that stunt you pulled yesterday was… something else.”

“W-what…?” she fumbled.

“Last night,” he clarified, “—the number of people he interrogated, trying to get an idea of where you'd gone… I mean, others have mutinied before, but… I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so desperate to find someone…”

Oh.

She tucked that information away inside her mind.

“—must have a golden snatch to get him riled up like that.” He commented, and she turned to gawk at him just as he was tossing her a suggestive smirk. “Color me impressed.”

He managed to pull a small giggle from her. She fiddled with the remaining half of the cigarette, absently wondering what sort of precious metal he might attribute to Amon’s genitals.

“So,” he began, nodding to her rucksack, “—you really wanna leave?”

"I…"

No.

"—don’t know…”

He saw right through her. “If it weren’t for him, what would it be?”

“N-no…,” she admitted, tucking her chin to her chest ashamedly.

“Then stay,” he supplied as if it were the obvious solution.

She remained silent, puffing what was left of her cigarette.

“There’s… nothing left for me here…,” she finally said, smashing the cigarette into the ground next to her.

“You can’t honestly believe that…,” he flicked his cigarette over the rooftop and turned her with a flash of irritation, “—why else would you be here? If not for him, what else?”

She refused to answer, but he refused to let up.

“What about the people you’ve lost?" he pressed. "Your family?”

In the beginning, yes, but not anymore; all that mattered was him.

When she still didn’t respond, he asked, “What about yourself?”

The word cut through her with a sudden sharpness.

Liu was right; running away wasn't going to solve any of her problems. No amount of distance between herself and Amon would be enough. The only way she could combat the issue was to face it head-on. She was going to have to learn to get over it—him—the hard way. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t so lost after all. If Liu could still see her worth, then perhaps it was possible to find that version of herself—the one who existed before Amon, whom she so desperately wanted to be again.

She cast her eyes down and took an ugly, blubbering breath through her nose. “F-fine…,” she huffed, “—you win.”

He didn’t say anything back but dusted his hands together and stood, offering an outstretched arm to her. She accepted it, allowing herself to be hauled from the ground. She rose unsteadily, but Liu held her by the shoulders until she stopped swaying.

“You know, you’re too young to be like this,” he chided, brushing the dust from her sleeves. “At least wait until you’re my age before you start getting to be so jaded.”

A snort of laughter expelled from her nose.

Pleased with himself, he moved to collect her rucksack for her and began walking toward the stairwell.

Not knowing if she'd ever get another chance to talk to him like this, she called after him. “Liu—”

He halted and turned, heeding the trepidation in her voice.

It was a struggle, but she managed to find her words. “When I… w-when I was alone last night…,” she began, “—I couldn't help but think about you… you were the only one that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to, so I… I just want you to know that I… I love you.”

His initial reaction was a slight raise of his brow—then a confused furrow, then another raise.

He cast his eyes away and shuffled awkwardly. “Fine,” he gruffed, "—but don’t expect me to say it back.”

She smirked, happy with his acceptance. She sprang forward, taking him by surprise as she threw her arms around his neck and embraced him in a hug. He staggered at the impact but maintained his footing. It took a moment for him to warm up to her affection, but he eventually wrapped one of his arms around her too. When she pulled away, she saw a sly, warm-hearted grin on his face.

Then he noticed her looking, and it was gone. “You look like shit,” he said flatly.

She laughed, swatting the stale tears from her cheeks. “Thanks.” 

Chapter Text

A sudden blaring of alarms shattered through the mid-morning lull. However dull it might be through the metal of the cabin, it was loud enough to be startling. The repetition continued as she left her bunk and became increasingly louder as she made her way down the corridor. She peered through the doorway to find the orange lights of the tunnels flashing in time with the alarm. The tunnel itself was practically vacant apart from a few personnel. They stood in place, casting wary glances at each other.

Having spent most of the morning cooped up in a daze of boredom, she was now on high alert. The alarm was urging her into action, but she had no idea what to make of it—and apparently, neither did anyone else. She never knew the base to have an alarm system and thus had no idea how to respond. Neither Liu nor Amon had ever mentioned it, which likely meant that it was a detail of considerable negligence. There were two options: either attempt to investigate the cause on her own or stay in place and await orders.

The latter presented itself as the better choice, considering that she was already on thin ice with Amon.

Ever since her failed attempt at mutiny, she’d been relegated to what was essentially solitary confinement. Liu had been the one to inform her of her punishment, letting her know that she’d been stripped of all duties. He came to check on her every day if only to inform her of tactical mobilizations and developments in the city’s political sphere. Whether his visits were at the behest of Amon was unknown; Liu failed to mention him. The cadets that she used to command were divvied up and given to other captains, the arrangements for which were made overnight.

It was clear to Rei that this was meant to demean her. He was treating her like a child.

For all intents and purposes, she was in a "timeout."

Under different circumstances, she wouldn’t take it so personally. After all, she wasn't explicitly confined to her bunk, and without orders, there was nothing required of her. She might make her way to the surface and spend her days above ground if she so pleased. If she so dared, she might have made a dozen more escape attempts by now. However, in her own experience, Amon’s punishment always came as a test. Whether out of fear or respect, those under his examination were compelled to live up to his expectations—and he was waiting to see what she would do.

Indignant as she was, the only thing that kept her strung up was the fact that he was keeping a close eye on her. Even if only by Liu’s proxy, she finally had what she wanted—his unwavering attention. The threat of her absence was all it took for him to cave, and Spirits if it wasn’t the most exciting thing she’d ever felt in her life. The sheer possibility of what that could mean exhilarated her.

Last night, he’d gone far beyond what was necessary to the detriment of himself, and this led her to a single conclusion; on some level, Amon cared for her. It wasn’t just loyalty or obedience that he wanted, but her affection.

The more time she spent alone in her bunk, the more certain she felt of this.

The tunnels eventually returned to their usual humdrum, and Rei spent the rest of the day stewing in silence. It was near evening when the door to her bunk suddenly burst open. The overhead bulb flooded her eyes with blinding light, and she winced, latently registering the presence of Liu in the doorway.

“Wake up, princess,” he gruffed.

She squinted at him, rubbing the heels of her palms into her eye sockets.

“Liu…?” she slurred, remembering the strange alarm from earlier. “W-wha’s going on…? What happened?”

“I’ll tell you later,” he tersely replied. “You got sixty seconds to get ready to go.”

“G-go…?" Her palms fell open. "Where?”

“A mission.”

The door of her cabin slammed shut, leaving her alone in a state of confusion. It took her a long moment to understand the meaning of his words before scurrying into action. She sprang from the mat, grabbed the nearest uniform in the vicinity, and stripped and dressed in record time. The poor door of her cabin was subjected to its third beating of the day as she burst through it with unnecessary force. She held her mask between her teeth as she jogged down the corridor, still braiding her hair.

Out in the tunnel, Liu was waiting. He gave her a wordless nod before starting a brisk pace in the opposite direction. Rei jogged after him.

“S-so…,” she panted, “—what’s going on?”

Liu spoke to her from over his shoulder. “There was a break-in earlier—”

Oh.

“—which I’m sure you heard by the alarm.” Just as she wondered who the culprit was, he was already answering her thoughts. “It appears that the Avatar’s friends were looking for her. Reports claimed of an Equalist attack on city hall last night, alleging that we captured her—”

“Wait, we captured the Avatar?!” she half-yelled.

He came to a sudden halt and faced her with irritation. “Don’t you think I would’ve told that?”

“S-sorry…,” she mumbled, humbled by his annoyance.

Liu simply returned to his brisk pace.

“Anyways, while they were down here, they managed to break free all of the officers that we’d been holding.”

“Since when have we been holding police officers?” she asked, voicing herself carefully so as not to irritate him.

“Long story," he said curtly.

Rei couldn’t find the acuity to care about being left out; they were very nearly at the warehouse now, so she decided to cut to the chase. “If we don’t have the Avatar, then who does?”

"The only other person who was at city hall last night…," he sounded almost amused, "—councilman Tarrlok.”

With that, their conversation was cut short; they'd entered the warehouse. Her breathing stopped as she laid eyes upon Amon. His back was turned, so he couldn't see her. He stood beside an open carrier vehicle with two other Equalist captains.

“Sir,” Liu addressed as they approached.

As Amon turned to face them, it was clear that he’d been waiting for Liu.

It was also clear that he was not expecting Rei.

His eyes fell upon her for only a moment before quickly—and very vexedly—shifting toward Liu. She wasn’t the one receiving the stare, but she could still feel its sting.

An awkward silence passed before he spoke. “A word, lieutenant.” He was behind the truck before his subordinate could say anything.

“Figured…,” Liu muttered under his breath. He went after Amon, stopping Rei from following him with a raise of his hand. “You wait here."

“But, I—you said…,” she was beside herself, “—he doesn’t even want me here!"

“Relax,” he drawled in a hushed tone. “Just let me go make my case—”

She hissed again: “If you’re gonna talk about me, I deserve to be there!”

He threw a dismissive look over his shoulder. “Right. I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.”

He rounded the back of the truck to where Amon was waiting, leaving Rei to stew in her agitation. Paying no mind to the other captains who were undoubtedly watching, she tiptoed her way alongside the vehicle, inching as close as possible to the back of the hull. She pressed herself against it, listening for any snippets of conversation that she could pick up.

The first thing that she heard caused her heart to sink. “…not worth the trouble…”

Liu’s voice came louder, allowing her to make out a single sentence. “She’s the only one who’s bested the Avatar, one-on-one…”

Before she could get caught eavesdropping, she tiptoed back along the vehicle, far enough away that when the two of them reemerged her position didn't raise any questions. Liu approached but spoke to the other two captains behind her instead.

“You two,” he commanded, pointing in the direction he’d just come from, “—in the back with Amon.” They moved, and he finally directed his attention toward Rei.

“So?” she demanded.

“Never…,” he doubled over into a bow, “—underestimate my powers of persuasion.”

“I’m on, then?” she begged, ignoring his antics.

Liu arose, displeased by her lack of impression. “Yes, you idiot. Now get in the truck. You’re riding up front with me.”

She yanked the passenger door of the cab and hoisted herself up as Liu rounded the vehicle and joined her from the other side, taking his position behind the wheel. He removed the key from his pocket and inserted it into the ignition. With two shifts of the gear, the vehicle began to move.

They were almost out of the tunnels when he spoke. “I suppose now's the time to debrief you on the specifics.”

“Yeah…,” she blurted, realizing that she'd forgotten this as well, “—where to?”

“Up in the mountains,” Liu said, “—there’s an abandoned cabin that belongs to the councilman. We believe it’s where the Avatar’s being held.”

“How did you figure that out?” she asked.

“When the false reports broke this morning,” he explained, “—we knew that foul play was involved. Civilian informants were positioned around city hall to keep an eye on developments. One of them managed to get wind of what actually happened.” He turned the wheel as they headed out of the storm drain and into the streets. “It's presumed that the Avatar went to confront the councilman after her friends were arrested trying to undermine his anti-Equalist measures.”

Ah, yes—the nonbender curfew. Little did the council know, it would work in favor of the revolution; the more draconian their measures became, the more nonbenders would be drawn to the cause—a marketing move so brilliant that not even Amon had thought it up.

That aside, she was shocked to hear that the Avatar was supposedly in disagreement with the council's decision. “Why would the Avatar be opposed to the council’s decision?” she asked. “Those policies are in the best interest of the bending elite.”

Liu’s answer was automatic. “You can rest assured that her bleeding heart is nothing but an act. Her friends being arrested probably wasn’t a part of the plan, but showing up in defense of nonbenders was just for publicity.”

“If her and the council’s interests are so aligned…," Rei theorized, "—then why is some councilman holding her hostage up in the mountains?”

“Mutuality is irrelevant,” Liu stated, “—apparently, the Avatar has some sort of…,” he paused to select the word, “—dirt on the councilman.”

“And what might that be?” she asked, urging him to go on.

“Amon is adamant about it…,” he shook his head, “—but… I’m not so sure.”

She was desperate now to know what it was. “What do you mean?” she begged. “Tax evasion? Money laundering?”

Liu sighed. "Bloodbending."

Rei blinked.“What… bending?”

“Bloodbending,” he reiterated, “—a type of bending that allows the manipulation of a person’s body.”

Rei was appalled; never in her life had she heard such a thing. She was wary as to whether or not Liu was messing with her. “Is… is that even real?”

“As real as any other type of bending,” he affirmed. “Just like some earthbenders can bend metal and some firebenders can make lightning, some waterbenders can manipulate flesh.” His tone let her know that he was entirely serious.

She didn't know whether to be terrified or relieved. “I…,” she restarted, “—I-I thought healing was the specialized form of waterbending.”

Liu shrugged. “There are many specialized forms for any element. Some are just so rare that people forget they exist.”

Rei swallowed. “When you say… m-manipulate flesh… what exactly do you mean?”

He gripped the steering wheel tighter, staring straight ahead. “Absolute physical control over another being.”

Her stomach lurched; what Liu was describing was quite literally the stuff of nightmares, and to know that it was real was all the more horrifying.

She hoped to quell her fear with another question. “This supposed bloodbender…," she began about the councilman, "—is he going to be there?”

“Amon is betting on it…,” Liu answered simply, “—and if he truly possesses the ability to bloodbend, he’ll need to be Equalized as soon as possible. Right now, he’s a much bigger threat than the Avatar and her friends.”

That’s when it clicked for Rei: “This mission isn’t about capturing her, is it?”

“If she’s there…,” he began, avoiding a direct answer, “—then the councilman will already have her subdued. All we’ll need to do is collect her.”

So they would just have to face off against the bloodbender, then… how reassuring.

"How did you even find his cabin?” she continued, ignoring the disconcertment of Liu's words.

“The councilman was our first suspect. We began following him as soon as we heard the reports. He’s traveled in and out of the city multiple times today.”

At that, Rei gave up. She had more questions to ask, but all that she could think of was the horror that soon awaited them. She slumped into the passenger’s seat and curled in on herself, suddenly yearning for the boredom and safety of her bunk; at least there, her nightmares were strictly confined to her dreams. She remained quiet for the rest of the drive, gazing out at the passing cityscape and watching it slowly morph into the snowy mountainside.

It was well into the night when they arrived. The weather had become increasingly inclement the farther they got from the city, and by the time they were at their destination, it was an all-out blizzard. Upon first glance, the place appeared to be vacant; no light shone through the windows, which was a promising sign.

Then, she saw a vehicle parked out front, and her gut sank. The only thing that kept her calm was Liu’s composure—his confidence bolstering her own. He calmly parked the truck, pulling it along the tree line and maneuvering it so that the hull was facing the cabin; it would be easier to load bodies that way. He disengaged the engine but left the keys in the ignition—again, preparing for a quick escape.

Wordlessly, he exited the vehicle, and Rei did the same. Her feet hit the ground, and the frigid chill of the wind was already thrashing through her uniform. She stood shivering while the back of the truck could be heard opening and closing. Amon said nothing as he walked past, and Liu was silent as well, keeping close to his side. She saw the other captains emerge from the back and took her cue to fall in line. They gathered into a V-formation, with Amon and Liu positioned at the head of the charge. The snow crunched beneath their feet, but their footsteps were covered by the howling of the wind. As they neared the entrance, Amon gave a signal for them to halt.

Rei watched him lean forward, listening for signs of movement. When the coast was deemed clear, he dropped his signal and slid open the door. The panel itself was just a thin paper screen, making hardly any noise as it moved. Amon entered first, leaving Liu to hold the door as the rest followed.

As soon as she was inside, Rei began to scan her surroundings. The interior was no more than a single dark room—dilapidated, and very clearly abandoned. The building was without an upper level, so the only place that anyone else could be was below. She kept her eyes peeled for some sort of cellar and quickly discerned an ominous stairwell in the corner of the room.

Amon was already there. He stood under the ambiance of the window, staring down into the dark corridor. Rei moved closer to his position, drawn by the light; only when she was near enough did she take notice of the muffled voices coming from below. The words were hard to make out, but one of the voices was clearer in pitch while the other was lower and more menacing.

Rei tensed as a succession of metallic bangs reverberated up the stairwell, along with a far-off cry of despair. “You’ll never get away with this!”

A face suddenly appeared in the shadows, confirming the presence of the councilman. Upon his emergence, his eyes grew wide with fear. “Amon!” he exclaimed, falling into a sloppy stance.

His eyes remained solely on the masked man while Rei and the others began winding up their bolas in anticipation of his strike.

Cold and dark, Amon addressed him. “It is time for you to be Equalized.”

The councilman’s expression remained frightened for a second before spreading into a slimy grin. Rei watched him cautiously as he raised his arms into a more confident pose. “You fool.” He chuckled. “You’ve never faced bending like mine.”

Liu took the first step, and Rei followed—but then a sharp pain surged through her.

She cried out, but no sound came; it was impossible to move.

Her body was frozen at no will of her own. Every muscle felt as if it were being squeezed and ripped apart at the same time. She knew what was happening, but the excruciating pain overpowered her conscience. She began to collapse as she was slowly pressed downward. The unnatural popping of joints could be heard, but she couldn’t tell who they were coming from. Her eyes were wrenched shut in agony.

Her knees buckled, and she folded in half. Her back slammed into the floor. The pressure remained for a torturously long moment, but eventually, it began to let up—and she was almost able to expand her lungs before it resurged with a vengeance. Her nerves were torn apart again, and once more, she was helpless to cry out. All that she could manage was a pitiful croak with what little air was left in her throat. She remained trapped under the excruciating force for what felt like an eternity until—much to her immeasurable relief—it slowly began to abate again.

Then, all at once, it was gone. Her eyes fluttered open, and lucidity returned alongside the sound of a strangled scream. A harsh thud rattled through the floor, vibrating against the back of her head. Disoriented, she pushed herself up. Liu was groaning in front of her, hauling himself onto his feet. Begrudgingly, she did the same.

With the body of the incapacitated councilman slung over his shoulders, Amon eyed his subordinates as they each came to stand. Rei was still finding her footing when he spoke. “I’ll take care of him. You four retrieve the Avatar.” He directed his attention toward Liu. “Do not underestimate her. Electrocute the box to knock her out before you open it.”

Liu didn't so much as hesitate. “My pleasure.”

Amon vacated the doorway, allowing them to move into the stairwell. Liu descended first, followed by Rei and the others. The cellar itself was nothing more than an empty room—one large, hollow concrete block with a single light fixture. Directly beneath the light fixture was a metal box, the very same which Amon had spoken of.

Liu paused at the base of the steps while they finished their descent, waiting for them to disperse throughout the space before he began his approach. He pulled his sticks enthusiastically from his back, slicing the air as he did so.

She heard him whisper menacingly. “It’s payback time…”

Electricity sparked against the metal, illuminating the cellar. Strangled cries could be heard from within the confines of the box, and although the screaming only lasted for a few seconds, Liu did not relent. The static from the overflow quickly struck the overhead bulb, causing it to shatter; then, and only then, did he pull away.

“Open the box,” he said, stepping back and pointing with one of his sticks.

Rei was the one to respond, reaching for the door and pulling it open. Lo and behold, the Avatar lay unconscious at the bottom.

“Tie her up,” Liu ordered.

She was just about to reach for a spare cord when she saw the movement from the corner of her eye; a blast of fire shot out, thrusting a stifling heat into her lungs and sending her backward. She landed in a breathless heap a few feet away, and before she could get back up, a wave of earth rolled beneath her and sent her back again—this time into a wall. She was helpless to watch as the Avatar made a run for it, barrelling up the stairs and disappearing at the top.

Rei stood wearily, clinging to the wall for support.

Amon was going to be furious.

Liu shot past, and she forced herself to go after him. He made it to the top before her, and they skirted out of the cabin one after the other. She followed him to the peak’s edge, where Amon himself had just come to a halt.

From his vantage, the Avatar could be seen sliding down the mountainside. Soon, though, she was completely out of view.

Amon wasted no time with his admonishment. “I thought I told you not to underestimate her.”

Liu, who’d previously been gazing at the Avatar’s disappearance with an angry scowl, now cast it upon his superior. Cooley, Amon didn’t acknowledge either of them as he turned and walked back to the truck.

It was a long and silent drive back to the city.

Chapter Text

The attack on Republic City began the very next day; it was the only move that the Equalists had left to play.

The councilman's disappearance was supposed to remain a mystery, but the Avatar’s unforeseen escape meant that the council was now aware of what had happened in the cabin. Even though a rogue bloodbender had been lifted from their shoulders, they would be frantic that Amon had so boldly attempted to lay a hand on their own. More laws would be implemented before the sun could begin to set on the following day, and conditions for nonbenders would only get worse; something had to give.

It was in the early hours of the morning when they returned to the base, and every soldier within the confines was promptly awoken for duty. Although Amon never addressed the matter, it seemed that Liu was still permitted to keep her as his auxiliary—so she helped carry out his orders for mobilization. Little more than an hour later, the base was bustling with activity. Every vehicle within the armory was lined up and ready to go, being refueled alongside a fleet of new, anthropomorphic contraptions.

Mecha tanks, Liu had called them; terrifying and totally impressive, they were large mechanized suits made out of platinum, impervious to metalbending, and loaded with every type of weapon imaginable—grappling hooks, electro-shock cords, and various projectiles—all designed to be operated like a run-of-the-mill forklift. Apparently, the CEO of Future Industries had been secretly funding the Equalist operation for over a decade—not so secretly now, since the police had discovered his involvement, but it explained a lot.

The bikes, trucks, tanks, gloves, and the entire base itself, had all been built and supplied by none other than Hiroshi Sato, the wealthiest man in the city and a very high-profile nonbender. This came as little surprise to Rei, as she remembered the news of his wife's death from when she was a child. It'd been plastered all over the papers for weeks, for Spirits' sake: 'murdered during an Agni Kai break-in,' if she recalled it correctly. Knowing Amon, it was very much in his character to make these sorts of calculated decisions—and Hiroshi, after all, was a businessman, so it only made sense to her that the two of them formed a mutually beneficial relationship. The development brought with it a strange awareness, though; it meant that there was someone else to whom Amon answered.

But there was no time to entertain her curiosity; sunrise was on its way now, and plans were being put into motion.

A few small teams were sent out to strategically place bombs throughout the city. Rei took issue with this, but Liu assured her that the explosives would serve as mere warning signals for people to stay in their homes. They'd be detonated while the streets were still empty, and before the citizens of Republic City could start their day. When the light finally broke, she and Liu parted ways; she was ordered to lead a unit on the ground, while he was assigned to head the charge against the rest of the council members—all of whom he planned to have captured before midday. Wherever Amon was to be in all this, he neglected to say.

It was late in the morning when her unit was ready to mobilize. Six tanks and three carrier vehicles, all of which were manned by just over a dozen soldiers. Their destination was a site that she’d visited many times over the past year—police headquarters.

When the bombs had detonated earlier that morning, the city descended into a strange state of silence, almost as if in shock. Police forces could be seen skirmishing with Equalist units in small pockets all throughout the city. Rei watched from the passenger seat of her vehicle as the spectacle unfolded around her.

The entire fleet of Equalist airships loomed overhead. An echo of sirens blared from every direction, and dark plumes of smoke rose from all around.

It was an impressive sight, to say the least, but she couldn’t help having a sense of remorse; what should’ve felt like a righteous day was staging itself into an unsettling vision. Everything that she’d done so far as an Equalist had felt good—except this. She couldn’t quite place it, but something was off.

She swallowed the bad taste in her mouth as they closed in on their destination. The squad of vehicles pulled into a lineup in front of the main entrance to the headquarters—the mecha tanks at the center with the trucks parked at either end. The goal was to lure the remaining city officials out of the building and capture them in an ambush. Nonbenders would simply be subdued, but bending personnel would be taken to the loading docks near the bay. There, Amon had a cargo ship waiting to collect them, which he'd fashioned into something of a prison.

Rei leaned forward to make eye contact with the other captains in her unit. She brought up her hand to signal them. They each nodded back, exiting their vehicles and making their way out in front of the building. They moved in tandem, starting at the center and slowly rounding the perimeter. A succession of gas bombs was tossed into the external vents, and noxious fumes would soon infiltrate the air ducts and force those inside into evacuation.

It didn’t take long; a group of evacuees came out under a swirling plume of smoke. As the air cleared, they were visibly shocked to discover the presence awaiting them. Rei leaned back in her seat, watching from the safety of the vehicle as the mecha tanks went into action. Those piloting them raised the magnetic attachments, and a trio of police officers were instantly plucked from the group and plastered to the plates, completely immobilized. Rei was impressed; she never believed that this feature would be strong enough to lift the full weight of an armored body. Her appreciation was short-lived however when she noticed that one of the officers was still hovering in midair—rather, he appeared to be receiving some sort of assistance.

Recognition came quickly. She knew exactly what was happening.

Airbending.

If the man’s tattoos weren’t indication enough, the vortex of wind that seemed to counter the pull of the magnets was; they’d stumbled upon a member of the council.

Rei wasn’t exactly sure how to handle this, since Liu was supposed to have captured them all by now. Nervously, she watched the tanks move in on the councilman. He put up a good fight—but as more tanks mobilized, and the odds became six-to-one, he was done for. Unable to dodge every strike, a grappling hook caught him by the middle and slammed him back into the building, knocking him unconscious. 

All that was left of the evacuees appeared to be frightened administrative staff. At last, Rei exited the vehicle and signaled for the others to do the same. There wasn’t much work to be done, as those in her unit had already begun to tie everyone else up. The remaining captives were docile, so she left her team to collect any captives that could be found within the building.

She was barely past the threshold when an explosion sounded from outside. She darted out to see that two of the seemingly indestructible mecha tanks had toppled over into a pile of twisted metal. She had but a moment to gawk before more movement caught her eye. She squinted, trying to discern what was happening.

To her dismay, she was able to recognize one of the newcomers. The huff of frustration that expelled from her lungs was almost a growl. She cast a hateful glare at the sky, because somewhere up there, Amon and Liu were out gallivanting around while she was left to deal with this crap. She returned her attention to the ensuing assault just as another tank fell to the ground; her once-flawless mission was now about to be thwarted.

“Don’t engage!” Rei shouted.

Those on foot turned to face her. Some of them looked confused.

“Don’t engage!” she repeated. “Leave the Avatar for Amon! We need to get these captives outta here!” As they began to heed her orders, another mecha tank fell to the ground. “Quickly!” she urged, pointing to the far side of the steps. “The councilman!”

Another mecha tank fell.

Her team worked frantically to load the staff and the councilman into the back of the vehicle. Rei scrambled about to help, keeping a constant eye on what was going on behind her. Over her shoulder, she saw the last of the tanks was now facing off against the Avatar and her friends.

“Aagh!”

She whipped around to find one of her soldiers lying on the ground. Another was currently being electrocuted, and the culprit stood directly between them—a slender, raven-haired woman, who was wielding a familiar weapon.

How this individual had gotten ahold of an electro-shock glove was a mystery, but Rei was forced to abandon her confusion as yet another of her team was brought down. She sprang into action, aiming straight for the woman's head. The woman, seeming to sense the incoming assault, twirled out of the way just in time to dodge the blow—and Rei was just as soon met with a knee to the ribs. She doubled over, clutching her side as she gasped for air. She turned to witness yet another of her team get electrocuted.

It’d been a long time since she fought someone of equal yoke, so she imagined herself back in the training room with Liu and recalled one of her old tactics. She straightened up and darted forward, not aiming for any pressure points in particular but looking to distract her opponent with movement. After a few dodges, the woman took the initiative to strike back—which is exactly what Rei had been hoping for. She grabbed ahold of her outstretched arm and forcefully twisted it behind her back, eliciting a yelp of pain. Now, all Rei had to do was simply grab the other arm, tie the woman up, and toss her in the back with the rest of the captives.

Unfortunately, that did not work.

The woman spun herself around, twisting herself from Rei’s grip. They were facing each other again, and neither of them made a move as they sized the other up.

Looking at the woman’s face, Rei was suddenly struck.

Akasha—?

This woman looked just like her. The only thing that was missing was the eyes.

Jarred by the likeness, Rei went into her next attack without thinking—a roundhouse kick that was easily dodged. Realizing that her foot hit nothing, she twirled around to attempt a punch, but the woman blocked her with the brunt of her forearm. There was a split second of awareness of the pressure against her chest before a bright light flashed between them.

Pain coursed through her body, and everything went dark.

A pounding in her head is what welcomed her back into consciousness. She raised her hands to cradle her face, groaning as she opened her eyes.

All that she was met with was black.

Slowly, she raised herself to sit. She attempted to feel her surroundings instead. Beneath her was a thin mat, and behind her, a cold wall.

Was she in her bunk?

The bloodbender, the mecha tanks, the strange woman—had it all been a dream?

Rei decided to search for answers. Weakly, she pulled herself up and took a few wobbly steps, searching for her cabin door.

Her hands found nothing.

Huh—?

She tried again, but still nothing. No matter where she searched, all that she found was smooth, cold metal—no door.

Fretfully, she began skimming over as much of the surface as she possibly could. She was disturbed to find that the parameters of the room were quite different from that of her bunk—double the size and with what seemed to be a… a toilet?

Eventually, her search did bring her to something that she recognized as a door, but all it was was a rectangular panel bolted into the wall. Try as she might, there was still no handle to be found. After a while, she simply began to bang on it.

“H—Hello?!” she cried. “Is anyone there?!”

She quieted herself to listen for any kind of response, but all that she heard was silence.

Panicking, she banged louder.

“Help! Somebody! Please, help!”

Her cries were finally heard; another bang resounded from the opposite side of the door, startling her backward. A moment of silence passed before she plucked up the courage to speak.

“Hello…?” she meekly addressed.

No answer.

“W-where am I?” she tried again, louder this time.

Finally, there was a response. A flash of blinding light shone through the bottom of the door, and something was slipped through to her. Her eyes did not adjust in time to discern what it was.

A man’s gruff voice followed, delivering a single, devastating word. “Jail.”

Rice; that’s what had been slipped under the door—a meager bowl of rice, and a cup of water.

The delivery was repeated three more times. Rei quickly learned that she was being supplied with rations—one meal for each day that she spent captured.

While gathering captives, Rei had become one herself. She knew exactly how she’d ended up here; it was that woman, the nonbender friend of the Avatar who'd used the Equalist’s own weapons against them—the one who looked like Akasha.

In a moment of stupidity, Rei had let her guard down. While she was unconscious, the police must have regained control of the headquarters and put her in there. The noxious effect of the gas bombs would have only lasted for so long—perhaps an hour, if not less. It would have been a prime opportunity for them to take enemy hostages, which is exactly what Rei knew she now was.

Herself and the rest of her team, wherever they were, were all hostages—leverage to be wielded against Amon. Rei wondered how exactly the police were planning to use said leverage, since the last she remembered, they were spread pretty thin. Surely, Amon could have this situation sorted in less than a day.

But… hadn't it already been more than a day?

It certainly felt like it, though she was trapped in pitch darkness with no way to tell the time apart from the sporadic meals that were visited upon her. She spent much of her time sleeping—or perhaps dozing would be more accurate, as genuine sleep was hard to find since she was too distracted with her racing thoughts to achieve any real rest.

Every so often, if she listened closely enough, the dull sound of explosions could be heard through the exterior of the building. It left her yearning for answers.

What was happening out there? Had Amon taken control of the city?

Why was he allowing his people to remain hostage?

Finding answers was proving to be impossible. There was only so much speculation that she could come up with before she ran into even more questions. All that she could assume—hope—was that Amon was busy: very, very busy.

As soon as things calmed down outside, he would come to rescue them.

He had to.

She was nearly catatonic when the loud bang startled her awake. There was no time for her to gather her wits before hands were on her, yanking her up from the ground and binding her arms behind her back. Cold metal wrapped around her skin, causing her to recoil. She tried to wrench her arms away, but it became clear to her that fighting wasn’t going to help.

The harder she struggled, the tighter the cuffs became.

Her eyes were assaulted by blinding light as she was dragged out of the cell. Slowly, as they began to adjust, she became aware of the two officers who were now guiding her down the hallway.

Rei remained compliant, but more so out of weakness than anything else. Apart from her sleep deprivation, days of eating only rice and water had thoroughly drained her of her energy. She felt like she was floating as she moved through the hall; her surroundings were a blur as they passed. Eventually, she found herself in a tiled enclosure, not unlike the washroom back at the base. She was struck by the similarity, barely noticing that the cuffs behind her were coming loose.

She was shoved forward then, turning to see that the two guards who'd dragged her there were leaving.

Their presence was soon replaced by the surly countenance of another. He approached her with a scowl and thrust a single, scratchy towel into her unsuspecting arms.

“Strip,” he demanded.

Rei stood frozen in bewilderment.

“W-what?” she stammered.

Her voice was embarrassingly husky after not being used in so many days.

“Your clothes,” he said, casting a glance down her disheveled uniform, “—off.”

Terrified, yet exhausted, Rei swallowed her pride and did as she was told. First her cowl and boots, then the rest of her uniform. She handed each item to the officer and was left standing in only her underwear. She waited for further instruction, but the man simply looked down at her with dissatisfaction.

“All of them,” he clarified.

Rei eyed him wearily.

She could tell that he wasn’t deriving any sort of joy from this, so she capitulated. She spread out the towel around herself, covering as much of her dignity as possible before slipping out of her undergarments. When she gave them to the officer, he discarded them directly into the trash. Her uniform, on the other hand, was placed into a sealed bag and sent out of the room. He returned to her with a new set of clothes, shoving a folded pile of gray-blue scrubs and new white undergarments into her arms.

It was another uniform.

“Wash and dress yourself,” he brusquely instructed. “You have five minutes of water. Soap is in the stall.”

He strode away to assume a watchful position along the wall. In a daze of disbelief, Rei turned and made her way to the nearest stall.

The partitions offered the bare minimum of privacy, coming up just below the shoulder. She hung her new belongings over the edge and turned to the shower head, where she was confused to find a button instead of a lever. Curiously, she pressed down on it and gasped as she was greeted by a rush of cold water. She moved reflexively, wrapping her arms around her body and stepping out of the stream.

Someone cleared their throat. From the corner of the room, the officer was still watching her—looking very displeased.

She turned back to the water. It had been days since she’d last bathed—almost a week; it was either this, or continue to live in her own filth for Spirits knew how long.

She braced for the cold, forcing herself back under the stream. A wave of chills broke out over her skin, and her muscles tensed in retaliation; the pains in both her head and stomach were joined by aches from everywhere else. There she stood, shivering, wasting precious minutes as her body acclimated to the temperature. When she finally found the will to move, she grabbed the bar of soap from the nearby ledge and began scrubbing her body with vigor. She quickly lathered the suds and ran them through her hair, narrowly managing to rinse in time before the water shut off.

With no regard to the officer watching her, she dried herself with the provided towel and began dressing. Embarrassing as it was, she just wanted to be warm again. When she was done, she skulked over to where the officer was standing, waiting for her with a pair of handcuffs dangling from his hand.

“Turn around,” he instructed.

With no fight left, she did just that. The feel of the cuffs was less startling this time—not nearly as cold as the water she’d just been subjected to.

She was led out of the room and into the custody of two new officers. Firm hands gripped both of her arms, directing her to yet another room. There, she found herself in the presence of other hostages.

Inmates, her brain corrected, but she recoiled at the thought.

A lineup of mostly men, but a few women, were all dressed in the same drab clothing and chained together against a wall. Rei took a quick moment to assess the faces of those that she was about to be attached to—some of whom she recognized and others she didn’t. Guilt tugged at her chest as she realized that her team had ended up in here with her.

More and more hostages were being added to the lineup. There were nearly thirty of them when the officers finally stopped bringing them in. Eventually, one of the officers took a stand at the head of the line and cleared his throat to address them.

“Alright, before I read you your rights, I must inform you that you’ve all been placed under arrest! Each of you is being brought under the same charges! One count of affiliation with an illegal organization and one count of accessory to terrorism!”

He'd barely yelled the words loud enough to hear, but Rei’s ears rang in shock as if a bomb had exploded right in front of her.

Arrest?

Terrorism?!

Where the fuck was Amon?

The officer made his way down the line, announcing even more terrifying words.

“You have the right to remain silent! Anything you say can and will be used against you in court! You have the right to an attorney! If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you!”

Everything began to spin.

“As you come to the front of the line, your fingerprints and photographs will be taken! Afterward, you'll be assigned to a holding cell to await your legal counsel! Any questions?!”

The rest of the line was silent; they all seemed to understand.

Rei did not. She didn’t understand at all—but she couldn't bring herself to speak. As the line began to move, she moved with it, completely numb to her reality. When it was her turn to be processed, the officers detached her from the chain and uncuffed her wrists. She was roughly dragged to a nearby table, where each of her fingers was forcefully pressed from a wet pad onto a document. When all ten digits were complete, she was brought to stand before a marked wall. A small rectangular plaque was shoved into her hands, and the person who’d given it to her backed away to survey the shot.

Rei only noticed the camera around his neck as he reached for it.

“Well, aren’t you a looker!” he exclaimed, speaking as if it were a casual conversation. “Don’t forget to hold it up, darlin’,” he said, instructing her to lift the plaque to be visible in front of her chest. When she didn’t respond, he moved forward to position it himself. He stepped back and raised his lens to her again. “Smile for me now!”

Blank-faced, Rei stared at him—or rather, through him. The flash of the camera went off, and her whole world was set ablaze.

Chapter Text

Late December, 170 AG

Rei stopped counting the days when it became abundantly clear to her that Amon was not coming.

The revolution had failed, and something had gone horribly wrong.

What exactly happened, Rei did not know; apart from her team, she had no idea just how many Equalists had been imprisoned with her. Even more upsetting, she had no idea what happened to Amon. With each passing day, she began to entertain the possibility that he was mere meters away, locked up on some other floor within the premises. It was the best explanation to account for her lack of rescue. Not that Rei assumed Amon to be so dedicated to her, but to the cause; knowing his motives, he would never let his people rot away in captivity if he could retrieve them. If he no longer had that ability, it could only mean one of two things: either a large enough number of Equalists had been captured that he lacked the adequate manpower to carry out such a mission, or he, himself, had been captured.

However, she knew full well that Amon was wholly capable of handling a prison break with the company of a dozen soldiers or less. There was simply no way that many Equalists had been captured, so her gut told her that he must be in here with her. With all of the chaos that he was responsible for, he’d likely be in here for the rest of his life. Just thinking of it made her stomach twist with dread.

It was nearly a month later now, and Rei had been assigned to a new cell in another part of the prison. There was a slotted window that allowed a sliver of sunlight to shine through, though sadly, the natural light was of little reconciliation against her cellmate. She was a burly woman, probably in her late forties if Rei could guess. She could tell that the woman had been there for quite some time, seeming perfectly at home within the four dingy walls. As unappealing as the food was, the woman openly relished it—a bit too enthusiastically, Rei decided. Despite the monotonous rotation of pungent yet tasteless mush, her cellmate eagerly inhaled whatever came through the door.

This day in particular, it was a gourmet spread of lukewarm eggs, stale toast, and bruised fruit for breakfast. Per usual, her cellmate was the first to collect her tray. Rei skulked after, grabbing the other without so much as the slightest sense of urgency. She returned to the edge of her bunk and sat, picking uninspired at her food. The few bites that she did manage were practically intolerable, so she left the tray on the floor and opted to curl into a ball instead.

Unfortunately, her quietude was soon interrupted.

“You gonna finish that?”

Rei’s eyes opened. She saw that her cellmate had hunkered down in front of her, hovering over the discarded food. Wishing to be left alone, she addressed the woman with a flat tone. “Have at it.”

“Thanks…” 

Hot air wafted over Rei’s face, and the smell of damp, eggy breath invaded her nostrils. She recoiled in disgust as bile began to crawl up her throat. She shot out of bed, straightening herself in a desperate attempt to keep whatever was trying to escape from doing so. She took a deep breath, hoping to push the smell out of her nostrils—but remnants of the woman’s stench lingered in the air. She knew that she had mere seconds remaining, so she ran across the cell, darting to the toilet. She made it just as the meager contents of her breakfast forced their way out of her stomach and into the water below. As she finished retching, her cellmate's hollering drew her attention back to her surroundings.

“Are ya fuckin’ kidding me?! Gross!” Rei turned to glare at the woman, whose hand was now covering her nose in a dramatic display of revulsion. “Ugh, that smell!”

You’re one to talk…, Rei thought.

“Officers!” the woman yelled, banging on the metal. “Officers, I demand to be moved! I ain't gonna share no cell with a sick person! Officers!”

The raucous banging and hollering caused Rei’s head to throb. She sagged defeatedly into the toilet, resting her chin on the rim with no regard to its sanitation. She soon heard a murmur of voices and peeked out from under her lashes to see that an officer had indeed appealed to her cellmate’s complaints. He spoke through the grated opening in the door, and although Rei couldn’t hear what they were saying, they seemed to be discussing the context of her condition.

Soon, the back-and-forth began to escalate.

“It reeks, and I don’t wanna catch what she’s got! It could be contagious!”

Rei heard a sigh come from the other side of the door.

“Fine,” the officer relented, “—up against the wall, hands behind your back.”

The woman did as she was told.

The door opened, and she was cuffed and led out of the cell. Another officer came in, and Rei was hoisted from the ground.

“W-where are you taking me…?” she mumbled, struggling to remain upright.

“The infirmary,” the officer replied.

It took the better part of the afternoon before someone was able to tend to her, and while she waited, she spent the entire time cuffed to a clinically bare hospital bed. A chorus of pained groans and phlegmy coughs echoed throughout the space. Privacy curtains made it impossible to tell just how many patients there were, but by the sounds of it, Rei was faring better than most.

She was convinced that there was nothing wrong with her at all, actually.

She certainly didn’t feel ill—not anymore, at least. Having been removed from the cell, Rei was now fully recovered. She no longer had the urge to vomit, nor the slightest bit of dizziness. Whatever overcame her was a one-off instance, clearly triggered only by the suffocating stench of that vile woman. She was prepared to make a point about being relocated to a new cell, just as her cellmate had done herself. The redundant complaints might increase the likelihood of their separation.

When one of the nurses finally stepped through the curtains, she began to make her case. “I’m not sick,” she stated, “—and not contagious. I only threw up because someone blew their nasty morning breath in my face.”

The nurse glanced at her but didn’t respond. Instead, she grabbed a clipboard from the side of the bed and began flipping through the papers. Having spent a fair amount of time in a hospital before, Rei knew that this was her patient profile.

While the nurse perused it silently, she continued.

“The other woman in my cell is the diseased one. Her breath is seriously disgusting. What’s that called? I know there’s a name for it…”

The nurse flipped the papers back down. “Halitosis,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Yeah,” Rei confirmed, “—that’s it. It's a sign of health problems, isn't it? You should really be examining her, not me.”

“Is she the one who vomited?”

“Well, no, but—”

“Then we’re not here to discuss her,” the nurse decided.

Rei shut her mouth as silent irritation seeped into her veins.

The woman took a seat on the provided stool and pulled out a pen, clicking it as she lowered it to the board in her lap. “I’d like to get some basic information from you before I conduct a physical examination,” she began. "Let’s start with your name, age, and date of birth.”

Rei didn’t respond; as far as the police were concerned, her name merely was the six digits that denoted the order of her arrest. They already had her fingerprints and mugshot, and that was all the personal information that they were going to get out of her.

The nurse sighed before addressing her more sternly. “This is a courtesy,” she informed, “—if you don’t talk, I have the authority to sedate you and conduct whatever examination I deem necessary.”

Rei gritted her teeth. “Eleven. Twelve. One-fifty,” she forced out, listing the month, date, and year of her birth.

“Eleven, twelve, one-fifty,” the nurse reiterated, scribbling the information down on the sheet, “—that puts you at… twenty years of age, correct?”

Rei offered a low hum of affirmation.

“Right…,” the nurse continued, unbothered by her attitude, “—and your name?”

Rei shook her head, resolutely maintaining the one piece of information that she refused to give up.

“Okay…,” the nurse sighed again, “—I suppose it’s not necessary. Your identification number should suffice.” Rei watched from the corner of her eye as the digits were written down in place of her name. “Any other symptoms besides vomiting?" the nurse suggested. "Sore throat, achiness, coughing, dizziness?”

“No, no, no, and—yes?” she rattled off, unsure of the last one.

As the woman finished jotting down Rei’s responses, she set the clipboard on the small bedside table and began shuffling through its drawer. She pulled out a thermometer, assembling a sanitary cover over the probe. The utensil was then brought to Rei’s face.

“Open…,” the woman instructed.

Begrudgingly, Rei parted her lips. The thermometer was slipped under her tongue and left there to calibrate her body’s temperature. When roughly a minute had passed, it was plucked from her mouth. The nurse held it up, humming in contemplation as she assessed the reading.

“What is it?” Rei asked, suddenly concerned.

“A little warm," the nurse decided, "—though not enough to qualify as a fever. Do you normally run high?”

"Uh…," Rei thought stupidly, "—I can't tell you what normal is. I don't remember the last time I had my temperature taken.”

Now that she was thinking about it, perhaps she was feeling a bit under the weather lately—the symptoms were just so minute that she hadn't paid them much mind.

“No worries,” the nurse said calmly. She went back to the papers, clearly searching for something in particular. "When was the start of your last cycle?”

Rei opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

She couldn't recall exactly when she’d gotten her last period. Typically, it arrived the first week of the month, which most recently, would have been around the time of the Equalist’s attack. Try as she might, however, she couldn’t place it in her memory; at no point during or after her admission had she been provided—nor asked for—any feminine products. Never in her life had she skipped a month, so this particular conundrum was the most oddly inexplicable lapse in memory that she’d ever had.

“I… don’t… know?” she answered, confused.

The nurse clicked her pen, preparing to write down this information. “And is your cycle typically irregular?” she asked.

“No,” Rei said curtly; she was almost offended by the woman’s lack of concern.

It was obvious that there was something wrong with her brain. Perhaps she’d sustained a concussion after falling unconscious, or maybe the electricity itself had caused some sort of brain injury; she’d never known the voltage of the gloves to be so strong, but it was possible that the rogue woman who’d been wielding the weapon may have engineered some sort of modification. At this point, she was willing to accept any possibility.

“Is there any chance that you could be pregnant?”

The question was so absurd that she couldn't process it. “Excuse me?”

“Is there a chance that you could be pregnant…?” the nurse repeated, slower this time.

No, her brain answered—no, no, no, no, no!

“I… don’t… think so…?” she lamely supplied.

“Well, are you sexually active?” the nurse added.

Once more, Rei struggled to comprehend.

Had she had sex before? Yes.

Was she having sex currently? Absolutely not.

“Uhm… w-what would qualify as… active?” she asked timidly.

The nurse sighed. “Anytime within the last six weeks.”

Oh…

“W-well, uhm…,” Rei cleared her throat, “—yes.”

A deafening silence fell over them as the nurse finished scribbling on the clipboard. “We’ll have to run some blood tests to confirm,” she said. “Which arm works best?”

Instead of answering the nurse's question, Rei asked her own. “B-blood tests?!” she exclaimed. “For what?!” She knew what the tests were for, but hoped that the nurse was planning to surprise her with something else.

“To confirm that you’re pregnant,” the woman informed.

Her heart rate spiked; the nausea from before had returned ten-fold, spurred by a wave of sickening anxiety. “No,” Rei said, shaking her head in abject denial, “—no way. There’s no way, I-I was taking—!” Her voice fell off as the word was about to leave her mouth.

At the start of their arrangement, Amon had given her a small tin of the herbs—always making sure to provide her with a new one before the last would run out—but then, he'd stopped seeing her. She emptied the most recent container without ever receiving any more.

And then they…

“Contraceptives can fail,” the nurse's voice shattered her epiphany, “—and once is more than enough to get pregnant.” Rei could feel the world falling apart around her, but the nurse continued. “Have you noticed any fatigue or headaches? Maybe some cramping or tenderness? Those are some commonly overlooked symptoms that can often be signs of pregnancy.”

Rei shrunk down, folding her shoulders over her chest. She was horrified to perceive a subtle sensation of soreness; what had once been only a mild nuisance now felt like a matter of life and death. She stared off as her mind grappled with the overwhelming fear of it all.

“—left?”

The question drew her back into reality, where saw that the nurse was now holding up a wad of gauze. “S-sorry…?” she stammered, pitifully unable to grasp the context of the situation.

“Right or left?” the nurse reiterated.

Rei glimpsed that she was also equipped with a cannula and a pair of small, empty vials. “Uh-m…,” she faltered, “—l-left.”

The nurse juggled the items in her hands as she prepped the tender skin of Rei’s arm with the alcohol-soaked gauze. A tourniquet was fastened above her elbow, and she watched the little vial fill with crimson as it was siphoned from her veins.

Chapter Text

As it would turn out, the vomiting was not a one-off incident; it became a regular occurrence in the days following the trip to the infirmary. Her nausea steadily increased until she was practically bedridden by the end of the week. Worried about her well-being, the nurses advocated for her to remain in their care, placing her on an intravenous drip to combat the effects of her symptoms.

It was as if the strange thing inside of her, displeased by her ignorance, was now employing every effort possible to make its presence known.

Food was impossible to choke down. The only thing that helped was an unknown blend of herbal tea, which, sadly, only came to her once a day. She was forced to subside upon whichever meal it was served with, and it was the only time that she actually ate—the rest, she felt like she was wasting away. Despite her discomfort, she could find solace in the fact that she no longer had to share her space with her cellmate. There wasn’t much solitude in the infirmary, but the people there were far less bothersome.

Nevertheless, the accommodations were short-lived. It wasn’t long before her presence was required elsewhere. As was practice, two officers came to collect her, and the nurses rushed to discharge her before allowing her to leave. At first, she assumed that she was being delivered to another holding cell—but it soon became apparent that she was headed to a different part of the building.

She found herself guided down a long hallway, the walls of which were filled with floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the glossy marble floors with bright sunshine. She nearly tripped over her feet as she walked, viewing her first glimpse of the outside world since her arrest. She was stunned to see that nothing of note had changed; the city appeared unaffected by the calamitous event that had occurred only weeks prior.

Anger flared within her, following her into a metal room at the end of the hall. Inside, there was a small table and two chairs. As she was guided to sit, her wrists were uncuffed from behind her and re-cuffed in front of her. Two short chains kept her attached to the surface of the table, allowing her arms to move slightly.

Just as the officers were exiting the room, one of them spoke. “Your legal counsel will be in shortly.” The metal wall slammed closed behind him.

Oh—that was something she’d forgotten about.

She wasn’t sure how any counsel would help her predicament; it was clear that she’d be spending a fair amount of time in this place, and she wasn’t excited to find out just how much time that would be—especially not with the newfound awareness of her condition. The sudden reminder had her reeling.

Would she be forced to give birth in prison…?

What would happen if that was the case? Certainly, she wouldn’t be allowed to keep it, right?

She’d never put her skills to the test, but she knew that she had not a single motherly bone in her body. This child would undoubtedly be better off in someone else’s care.

This child—her child. A sudden possessiveness overcame her when she imagined its sweet, ambiguous face, and then that same face being ripped from her arms.

When her counsel finally barged in, Rei was expecting to see a lawyer in a suit, but the woman who entered was dressed no differently than the two men who’d just previously left; sans helmet, she looked like an ordinary officer.

Was this the sort of legal counsel that the city provided—their own damned officers?

If so, Rei was wholly and thoroughly fucked.

The woman—a metalbender by the way she’d just closed the door behind her—came to sit across from Rei at the table. A clipboard was placed on the surface, and she flipped through its pages. Without so much as an introduction, she began to read. “Arrested during the attack on Republic City, in full Equalist uniform…,” she emphasized these words as if to insinuate that Rei had committed some grave sin, “—for the assault and attempted capture of a Republic City councilman and various other administrative employees…,” she paused to contemplate what else was on the page before her, “—also apparently dumb enough to get knocked up.” She slammed the clipboard over and leaned back, glaring at Rei from across the table.

Everything about her was severe—from the stern glint in her eyes to the menacing scar across her cheek. Judging by the way she set her mouth, Rei wondered if the woman ever smiled.

She also wondered why her supposed legal counsel was scolding her. Weren't these people supposed to help—or, at the very least, remain apathetic? Why did she seem so pissed?

Rei glared back, maintaining a leveled stare into the officer’s eyes and refusing to speak.

“There’s no point in holding your tongue,” the woman griped. “The others have already identified you as a ranking Equalist officer.”

Others…?

“They’ve agreed to plead guilty,” she continued, “—and forfeit their trials by offering information in exchange for lesser sentences. I strongly suggest you do the same.”

There was no way this woman could be a lawyer; if she was, she was a damned shitty one.

“What sort of attorney advises their client to forfeit?” Rei asked acerbically.

The woman leaned over the table, looking Rei straight in the eye. “As the chief of police…,” she slowly iterated, “—my only clients are the law-abiding citizens of this city. Not its filthy, rotten criminals or its cult of anti-bending terrorists.”

She wasn’t a lawyer; she was the fucking chief of police.

Rei sealed her lips again, refusing to utter another word until an actual attorney appeared.

“I’ll give you one chance to answer my questions." The woman leaned back, addressing Rei with a monotonous tone. "How you choose to do so will determine what sort of deal I’m willing to allow. If you refuse to talk, you’ll be leaving your fate to the court to decide—understood?”

Rei blinked in response.

“What was your title and position within the Equalist forces?” the woman asked.

An easy question to answer, but Rei remained silent.

“No…?” the woman goaded, obviously miffed by her noncompliance. “The others folded more quickly. Makes me wonder what you’re trying to hide…,” she pondered Rei for a second, “—or who.”

At this, Rei’s heart rate spiked; just as her mind filled with thoughts of Amon, his name was spoken aloud.

“Do you have any information on Amon's whereabouts?”

Whereabouts?

Does that mean…?

“He’s not here?” she blurted in disbelief.

The woman was silent for a second. “No,” she confirmed. “He and his lieutenant are missing." She folded her arms and leaned back in her seat. "Most of his higher-ups have managed to evade arrest. Besides you, it seems.”

Along with the unexpected discovery of Liu’s freedom, she was ecstatic to learn that Amon was still at large. Overcome with sudden giddiness, Rei couldn’t contain the giggles that began to spill out of her.

This only served to irritate the woman further.

“What’s so funny…?” she gritted from across the table.

“Y-you…," Rei fought against her laughter, “—you won’t be able to stop him. The city will be under attack again in no time—”

“Oh, I’m not worried about that,” the woman sneered. “He did a bang-up job undermining any support for his cause with that little display in front of the pro-bending arena.”

Rei was lost. “What display?” she mocked, still recovering from her giggles.

At this, the woman’s expression split into a cocky grin.

“Oh, you poor thing…,” she taunted, “—you don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?” Rei prompted, unfazed.

“Your precious Amon,” she spat with derision, “—is a bloodbender.”

It took Rei a moment to process the absolute nonsense of that statement, but when she did, she curled over into another fit of laughter.

How desperate must the police be to try and spin this during an interrogation? The man who so loathed bending that he’d been granted the power to eradicate it was, in fact, a bender himself—and not just any bender, but the worst kind!

She glanced up to find the woman glaring at her, unamused.

“I-I’m sorry…,” Rei took a moment to catch her breath, “—but did you actually expect me to believe that?”

“No, I suppose not…,” the woman grimaced, “—but I’m not here to argue. Whatever you choose to believe, maintaining loyalty to Amon will only dig you a deeper hole than you're already in.”

Rei was preparing to snark back, but the clang of metal resounded to her left, drawing her attention away from the woman. Another officer spoke through the opening in the wall. “Chief, the prisoner’s counsel is here.”

The woman sighed and snatched the clipboard off the table. “Let him in.”

The panel showcasing the officer’s face slid open more, and a tall, bespectacled man stepped in. He approached the table just as the chief was making to stand.

“Chief Beifong,” he addressed reverently, “—it’s an honor to finally meet you.” The man held out an enthusiastic hand, but the gesture was ignored. He cleared his throat. “Katsu Kamura,” he added. “Kamura and Sons Legal Services.”

“I’ve heard about your family’s practice," the woman sneered at him. "I can’t say the feeling’s mutual.” She threw a parting taunt at Rei. “Enjoy rotting away in prison.”

With that, she stalked from the room, leaving Rei alone in the company of her new counsel.

Now, this one looks like a lawyer, she thought, assessing the man’s appearance as he sat down.

“Well…,” he settled into his chair, “—isn’t she delightful.”

A smile tugged at Rei’s lips.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to find her interrogating you…,” he continued, exasperated. “You do understand your rights, correct? You don’t have to talk.”

“Don’t worry,” Rei snorted, “—she wasted her time.”

Her attorney didn’t appear nearly as amused. He hoisted his briefcase onto the table and began rustling through the documents. “What did she say?” he asked. “Did she threaten you? Offer up some sort of bargain?”

“She tried to get me to agree to a plea deal,” Rei snorted again, remembering the woman’s preposterous statement, “—with probably one of the worst lies I’ve ever heard.”

“Oh?” he prompted. “And what might that be?”

Once more, Rei fought to contain her giggles. “Sh-she told me Amon is a bloodbender.” 

This time, she was not met with a stare of vexation but instead a raised brow and a profound look of concern. Slowly, her attorney moved his briefcase aside, pulling out documents from within. He ran his finger along the first page, stopping at an empty spot where a name probably should have been. “Forgive me… miss—?” 

“Rei,” she offered. “My name’s Rei.” While she wasn’t happy to reveal this information, she figured that she should at least trust her attorney.

“Rei…,” he repeated, scribbling it down with a pen. He used the ballpoint to tap against the adjacent lines of print. “It states here that you were arrested on the sixth, is that correct?”

“No, before that…,” Rei shook her head, “—the first day of the attack.”

“The first day of the attack was nearly a week prior,” he stated. “Is there a reason for the discrepancy?”

She shrugged. “I spent… days… waiting to be processed?” Once again, Rei wondered how long the attack had lasted; clearly, much longer than she’d assumed.

“Hmm…,” her attorney contemplated, crossing out the date and replacing it with the correct number, “—that might explain it.”

She began to feel lost again. “Explain what?”

He sighed and set down the pen, adjusting his glasses to address her seriously. “I don’t mean to upset you, Miss Rei, but what the chief told you is no lie.”

With each repetition, the joke became less amusing.

“Whose side are you even on?” She flung the words at him accusatorially. “I thought you were here to help me!”

“I am helping you—”

“Bullshit!” she exclaimed. “If I’m not paying you, then the police are! You’re working for them!”

He didn’t seem to be taken aback by her outburst; he calmly shuffled through his briefcase, pulling out a business card and presenting it to her. “I work for a private practice,” he said. “My father’s firm has specialized in criminal defense for over fifty years. Depending on the circumstances, we take on a handful of pro-bono cases each year. Yours just so happens to fit our criteria.”

Rei leaned forward, inspecting the card. It displayed the name and address of a law firm and some contact information; indeed, his surname matched the one embossed across the top. Certainly, there was no reason not to trust him—except that she didn’t want to since doing so might give credence to what he was saying.

“Criteria?” She sought to maintain her distrust by further scrutinizing his motives. “What criteria?”

“Well, your situation is unique, isn’t it?” he prompted with a raise of his brow. “Few pregnant women have ever seen the inside of a Republic City jail cell, and those who have were only ever charged with petty theft or domestic assault. For a first-time offense—especially for someone expecting—probation is always the obvious choice. Your case, however, isn't so simple. You’re pregnant, but the charges being brought against you are quite serious.” He scoured the pages in front of him and began to read off her charges. “Affiliation with an illegal organization, accessory to terrorism, multiple counts of assault and attempted kidnapping…," he looked back up at her, "—these things could easily get you imprisoned for several years, but your pregnancy will affect that outcome. The welfare of your baby must be taken into account before your sentencing, so there’s a chance that you could be walking out of here before your due date.”

She took a second to process everything he’d said. Despite the auspiciousness of his words, she was still highly skeptical.

“You’re… handling… my case… because I’m pregnant?”

“More or less,” he affirmed, “—if I win this case in your favor, it’ll build the firm’s reputation and attract new clients.”

She appreciated the transparency but still didn't trust him.

“That… doesn’t prove that you’re not lying to me,” she remarked.

He furrowed his brow.

“No… no, I suppose it doesn’t…,” she watched him chew his lip in contemplation before epiphany overcame his expression, “—but this might.” He reached back into his briefcase to rifle through his belongings, procuring a dense stack of paper and smacking it atop his business card. “From last week. I was holding on to it because of the details included in the article.”

A folded newspaper landed in front of her.

Although accurate, the date was not what struck her, but the headline:

FALLOUT OF THE REVOLUTION

Her jaw clenched as she began to read:

Republic City reels in the wake of the Equalist attack as authorities continue to uncover a slew of evidence against the disgraced leader Amon. Having exposed himself as a waterbender to his followers amid a battle with the Avatar, the support for his revolution vanished along with him. However, during a recent trial, ex-councilman Tarrlok has come forward with much to say about the former Equalist leader. According to him, Amon is more than a simple con artist; he is a prodigious bloodbender and son of the escaped crime boss Yakone, a testimony corroborated by the Avatar herself—

Rei flinched, disgusted. “This doesn’t prove anything…,” she gritted through her teeth.

“You believe I would print a fake newspaper just to fool you?” he asked incredulously.

It was a stretch, but she had no idea just how far the police were willing to go to promulgate a lie.

Besides, their sources were bogus.

“You’re asking me to believe the words of the Avatar,” she hissed, “—and a vapid, narcissistic politician. Even if the paper’s real, it doesn’t prove anything. They don’t know Amon—not personally.”

Not like me, she thought.

“Quite the contrary…,” he rebutted, “—if you go on to read the rest, it states that the ex-councilman has identified Amon as his brother. He’s given a rather tragic retelling of their childhood under the tutelage of their father, which has managed to hold up to scrutiny in court. Both circumstantial and testimonial evidence have supported his claims. At this point, it would be more difficult to prove that he was lying, as opposed to not.”

Rei became enraged.

“Bullshit!” she yelled again. “The councilman’s the damned bloodbender, not Amon! He wants the blame taken off of himself, and the Avatar—!”

Her words cut off; she could hear herself attempting to rationalize the impossible, and it was like a slap in the face.

Of course, the Avatar and the councilman wouldn’t be working together—not after what he’d done to her. It made little sense, but it was more than the alternative.

Amon couldn’t be a bloodbender.

He just couldn’t.

“I know that this is hard for you to accept,” her attorney interrupted her treacherous thoughts, “—but the sooner you move past it, the sooner we can get to your case. We only have a few days to pull together a defense.”

“No…,” she whispered, maintaining her defiance.

“Miss Rei,” he spoke firmly, “—I am here on my own time and free will. Why would I be lying to you?”

She didn’t respond. Instead, she looked back down to the paper, staring at it blankly.

Nothing felt real anymore.

Her attorney seemed to perceive her sudden silence as acceptance because he took the opportunity to move on to another subject. “Now,” he sighed, “—I understand you’ve been here a few weeks. It appears that you haven’t requested any phone calls. Would you like me to contact anyone?”

Rei remained silent. At any moment now, she would awake from this fever dream to find herself back at the base, safe and sound inside her bunk.

There was no other explanation for what was happening; she was dreaming.

“Miss Rei,” he called to her again, “—is there anyone you’d like me to contact? Perhaps a family member to inform them of your whereabouts?”

Rei was irked by this question; if this was happening in her subconscious, wouldn’t she know not to ask herself such a thing?

“I… don’t have a family,” she said bitterly.

At this, he finally seemed taken aback. “Oh… o-okay.” He re-assessed his approach. “Well, how about the father? Would you like me to contact him?”

The father…

She glanced again at the article, skimming through the wretched lines of text.

‘… exposed himself as a waterbender… a prodigious bloodbender…’

It dawned on her that this wasn’t a dream, but a nightmare. She tried to cover her face but was instantly thwarted by the restraints. With no other option, she slumped forward and buried herself into the table, where she began to cry in earnest.

Her attorney was startled by her reaction. “I, um… I-I’m sorry…,” he stammered, “—did something happen to him?”

Rei shook her head against the table, more in a display of abject denial than any response.

“Alright…,” he spoke carefully, “—is he here with you, then?”

She shook her head again, more vigorously this time. Fresh rage was beginning to brew amongst the fear.

Her attorney was quiet for a while, allowing her to cry. When she arose, she was met with the sight of the newspaper again; the headline and the treacherous words beneath it were now stained with her tears.

“It’s him…,” she whispered, gazing listlessly at the print.

“Sorry…?” he asked.

“It’s him,” she tried again, putting more emphasis on the word.

Her attorney took a moment, clearly struggling to understand. “Who’s… he?”

Rei couldn’t bring herself to say his name aloud; she snatched the uppermost layer of the paper and crumpled it beneath her fingers, channeling all of her rage into the action. “The father,” she gritted, “—it’s him.”

Her attorney took even longer to respond this time, but when he did, his voice was laden with astonishment. “Do… you mean to tell me that Amon is the father of your child?”

She managed a pitiful nod before slumping back down, succumbing to her emotions.

It was many moments then before her attorney spoke again. “I… don’t understand…,” he muttered, “—how did this happen?”

The dam holding back her anger burst open, and unbridled rage spilled between them. “How the fuck do you think it happened?!” Embarrassment soon came to swallow her at the implication of what she’d said. “Just… just kill me now…,” she begged, hanging her head in shame.

He’d gone silent once more, allowing her to sob. He no longer seemed concerned by her emotional outbursts—or at least, he understood why they were happening. “Miss Rei…,” he called her name, but she failed to notice amid her sobbing. “Miss Rei,” he tried again, gently grasping one of her shackled arms; this got her attention, and she managed to calm herself enough to hear him speak. “Do you want this child?”

Rei was stunned by the question. “I… I-I don’t—”

Know, she was going to say, but he'd spoken over her.

“There’s a procedure that can be done, to terminate the pregnancy. I can arrange for it to happen before the end of the day. The process won’t take long. It’s still early enough that the fetus isn't very large."

Rei blinked at him stupidly.

“I know this is sudden," he continued, "—but like I said, we only have a few days to work on your case. If you choose to go through with this, it must be done urgently. Do you understand?”

She gathered her wits, barely producing a coherent sentence. “Y-yes… I—”

His hand remained in place, warm and comforting; it was the only sensation that she could focus on as her mind grappled with the options before her.

When a disconcerting amount of silence had passed, her attorney spoke again. “Miss Rei,” he prompted, “—what is your decision?”

She swallowed thickly and looked him in the eye.

An odd sense of calmness washed over her as she made her choice.

“O-okay…,” she said, “—I’ll do it.”

Mere hours later, she found herself in a private room at the Republic City Medical Center. She’d been transported in a police vehicle alongside her attorney and two officers. She now sat atop the exam table, shivering. Clad in only a dressing gown and socks, the hospital air felt exceptionally cold.

“W-where are you going?” she blurted as he made his way out of the room.

Her attorney had come in to check on her after she’d been settled, but now she didn’t want him to leave. “The doctor will be in soon,” he explained, opening the door. “I’ll just be outside with the officers—”

“Wait!” she exclaimed, halting his advance. “C-can’t you stay with me?”

He turned to her with a raised brow. “You… want me to stay?”

“Yes.” She nodded pitifully. "Please."

He cleared his throat. “I… thought you’d want some privacy—”

“I don’t," she started, "—I-I don't want to be alone."

He gazed at her uncertainly for a moment before resigning with a sigh. “Of course…”

He reached the exam table, taking his place beside her head. He tossed her a polite smile as if to assure her that he didn’t mind obliging her request, but Rei knew better.

The interaction lasted for less than a second before the door to the room suddenly opened. Two hospital employees entered—one in a white coat and the other pushing a small cart. Atop the cart was an unsettling amalgamation of medical equipment: a disconcertingly large syringe beside a shallow stainless-steel bowl, which Rei presumed was meant for medical waste, as well as a strange claw contraption and a series of metal rods.

“Hello,” the doctor greeted as he approached.

Rei swallowed nervously. “H-hi.”

Her attorney remained silent but nodded at the man in acknowledgment.

A nurse pulled beside her with the cart, rifling through the lower shelves. She arose, offering a surgical drape to Rei, who accepted it readily.

“Alright,” the doctor addressed, taking a seat on the stool at the end of the exam table, “—the procedure I’ll be performing today is called vacuum aspiration. The process is virtually painless and will only take a few minutes.”

Rei didn’t care for the specifics; she just wanted it to be over with. “Okay…,” she quietly accepted.

“Go ahead and lay down,” the doctor instructed.

Rei did as she was told, leaning back on the exam table.

“I’ll need you to place your heels in these stirrups for me.” The table shook as the apparatus unfolded from either side. She cringed when she felt the man grab ahold of her ankles. “Raise your legs,” he ordered.

Reluctantly, she did so, allowing him to guide her into position.

Graciously, the drape still covered her modesty.

She flinched as something cold touched the back of her hand; the nurse stood beside her with a tuft of gauze and a fresh needle. “W-what’s that?” Rei asked, panicking. “I-I don’t want to be unconscious—”

“Don’t worry,” the nurse assured, “—it’s just medication to ease the discomfort.”

Rei watched the tip of the cannula slide beneath her skin. A tube was then attached, and clear fluid began to move through the passage. Seconds later, the aches that had been plaguing her since the morning began to fade.

The relief was short-lived; the drape was suddenly shucked up to her knees, exposing her bare sex to the stranger at the end of the table.

“I’m going to start the dilation now,” the doctor informed from behind the drape, and she jolted when something cold and hard was abruptly shoved into her. “My apologies,” came his muffled voice. “It’ll warm up shortly.”

She couldn’t care less about the temperature; all that she could focus on was the vile sensation of being pried open, compounded by the dry chill of the hospital air and the abhorrent awareness that someone was peering into her. She whimpered, and a gentle hand wrapped around her arm. Another instrument soon joined the one lodged within her, and she cringed as it was forced even deeper. The pressure was excruciating—hollow and heavy all at once—but the pain wasn’t what she felt; it was an unbearable discomfort, the kind that only came from being coldly and clinically violated.

The penetration was repeated multiple times, and for many harrowing moments, Rei was left with nothing but her thoughts to distract her. It struck her then that she was now in a situation very similar to that which her mother had once been. As the doctor worked between her legs, she began to contemplate what Haruka would have done in this position; termination must have been an option for her, too, right? Perhaps her mother would still be alive today if she chose to do so, because if it weren’t for her desperation as a single parent, she never would have had to work in that toxic production plant—which was the very thing that Rei speculated had given her cancer.

Yes—if her mother had made a different choice, she might still be there.

But Rei, most certainly, would not.

Would that be a good thing? Or would her mother have come to regret her decision?

Worse yet—would Rei come to regret hers?

“… sufficiently dilated.”

The words jarred her from her thoughts.

“W-what…?” Rei muttered, barely aware of what was happening.

“We’re ready to perform the aspiration now,” the doctor clarified.

Rei stared up at the ceiling, frozen. Somewhere else in the room, the medical instruments clanged against the tray. Her breathing hitched as she felt a narrow tube slide inside of her.

“Stop—!”

She shot up from the table, wrenching her heels out of the stirrups and almost kicking the doctor in the face. The contraption prying her open began to pinch.

“G-get it out! Get it out!” she cried.

The doctor sprang to his feet, dropping the equipment in his hands.

“Get it out!” she yelled again, thrashing her limbs in panic.

The doctor must have heeded her cries because the metal between her legs was yanked out of her. As soon as she was free, she curled into a ball, wrapping the drape over her body like a cocoon. There, on top of the exam table, she began to cry again.

“What’s the meaning of this?!” the doctor shouted. “I’m here as a favor to your father, boy!”

“I… I-I understand…,” her attorney stuttered. “Just let me—”

“Get her under control before I have the officers come in and do it for you!”

“That won’t be necessary,” he pleaded. “Just give me a few minutes alone with her to sort this out—please.”

A moment of tense silence filled the room, punctuated by her sobbing.

“Five minutes,” the man gruffed.

His footsteps shuffled out of the room, and the door slammed behind him.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. “Rei…”

Her name was being called; she did her best to ignore it.

“Rei, what's wrong?” he asked softly.

“I c-can’t…”

“You can’t what?”

She struggled to speak through her tears and regretted attempting to do it in the first place. “I… I d-don’t w-want to… k-kill it…,” she finally whimpered.

Her attorney offered a heavy sigh. She continued to shake under the paper as breathless sobs wracked through her.

Eventually, he spoke again. “Could you sit up for me?”

Slowly, she peeled back the surgical drape and began to push herself up. Before she could get very far, a hand came to offer her assistance. She accepted it, allowing herself to be hoisted up. Her attorney strode around the table, bringing them face-to-face. He waited for her sobs to calm down.

“Look at me,” he said.

A chill ran down her spine at the remembrance of what were once Amon’s words. She lifted her chin, locking eyes with him.

Instead of the cold that used to greet her, she was met with warmth.

“Do you want this baby?” he asked.

It was the same question as before, only now she didn’t hesitate to reply. “Yes…,” she answered, turning away as more tears began to spill over, “—b-but I’m scared.”

He took her by the hand again, drawing her attention. “If that's what you want, then I'll do everything in my power to make it happen…”

She allowed herself to be comforted by his words, using their stability to reign in her emotions.

“—but I’m going to need your help.”

She hiccoughed, looking back up at him. “W-with what?”

“I need to know everything,” he said.

She questioned him warily. “E-everything?”

“Yes,” he affirmed. “Everything.”

Chapter Text

“Tell me how you joined the Equalists.”

They were in the interrogation room again.

“Uhm…,” she cleared her throat, “—where do you want me to start?”

He grinned. “Preferably at the beginning.”

“Well… it was the summer before last, and I was…”

She was not in the mood for this.

“—I was working,” she began, as vaguely as possible. “It was late. A group of triads came by looking for trouble.” She watched him scribble the words onto his notepad.

“Which group?” he asked. “Do you remember?”

Oh yes—she remembered. “Agni Kai,” she supplied.

He jotted it down. “Looking for trouble?” he repeated. “Does that mean that you don’t know why they were there?”

“It was summer,” she evaded. “Triad activity always picks up around then. I just… assumed they were bored.”

He went back to writing. “What happened next?”

“A fight broke out.”

His brow shot up. “A fight?”

“Triads throw tantrums,” she explained. “They’re like... adult-sized toddlers.”

He ignored her. “Do you recall what started this fight?”

“One of them, uh…,” she took a moment to formulate a response, “—o-one of them got upset… that he… couldn’t have something.”

Instead of writing this down, her attorney began tapping his pen against the notepad; clearly, this information was of no use to him. “Rei,” he addressed her sternly, “—I can tell that you’re being intentionally vague. You’re going to testify in front of the council in three days and believe me when I say that they’ll be able to notice as well.”

She cast her eyes down, embarrassed.

“My judgment is not what you need to worry about," he continued, "—it’s theirs. The more you say now, the less you’ll have to say in front of them, where I can do most of the talking for you. If you want a good defense, you’ll need to be completely transparent with me.”

The silence that followed is what compelled her to speak. “He wanted sex,” she hissed, glaring at him. “I refused.” He still wasn’t writing this down, so she laughed. “What?” she mocked. “Not transparent enough?” Another sardonic chuckle escaped, along with the rest of her humiliation. “I was a stripper,” she blurted. “The only reason he wanted to fuck is because I was giving him a lap dance.” It would seem that a few hours of fretful sleep were all that she needed to replenish her energy for theatrics because she was practically yelling now. “I suppose I should’ve just let him, right? Because if I had, he wouldn’t have scorched the place to the ground and killed half my friends in the process! And then, I wouldn’t have met Amon, and I wouldn’t be stuck in this d-damned shit—"

“What do you mean you wouldn’t have met him?”

Sudden and pointed as it was, the question halted her distraught. “I-I mean…,” she started shakily, “—th-that night… the Equalists showed up to stop the attack. Amon was there, and he…,” she blinked back the tears, and Kyro’s lifeless body flashed behind her eyes, “—s-saw me.”

She glanced up and found that her attorney was too distracted now to perceive the shift in her mood; he was focused more on documenting her words than anything else. “What next?” he prompted. “What else after Amon saw you?”

Startled by his intrigue, she began to recall her meeting with the man in question. “I-I thought I was alone, at first,” she stated. “I was hiding during the fight, so when it calmed down I tried to make a run for it, but… one of the triads was still in the building and he found me and… I had to defend myself.” She trod lightly around the subject, but her attorney failed to notice. “A-after fending him off,” she continued, “—that’s when Amon showed up. He’d seen me fighting.”

“And that’s when he asked you to join him, correct?” he extrapolated.

“N-no…,” she shook her head, “—he asked me to come with him, but only for a place to stay.”

At this, her attorney stopped writing. “Why would Amon only offer you a place to stay?”

The words were phrased as if to insinuate that the man in question was so utterly evil that any ounce of human kindness would be out of character. It became strikingly obvious to her then that, like everyone else, her attorney held a much different view of Amon than she did.

“He found out I was homeless…,” she said.

“How?”

“He… guessed…,” she answered, “—and I confirmed.”

The response didn’t appear to satisfy the question. “But… what made him guess?”

Rei darted her eyes away again; she was not happy to be rehashing this particular exchange. “Uh, I was working, so, I was pretty much…," she swallowed nervously, "—n-naked, and he… asked if I had any clothes… or, like… a place to go.” She glanced back to discover that he was—thankfully—still preoccupied with writing, so she continued with her exposition. “I was living in the loft upstairs, but the whole place was burning, so I didn’t have much in the way of options. I got some of my things and left with them that night.”

She paused to let him catch up.

As he did, he did not immediately address her; he took a moment to comb through the entirety of her statement. “Forgive me…,” he said, “—but this doesn’t explain how you joined the Equalists. Your meeting Amon is important, but I need to know the details of your initiation.”

“W-well,” she began, “the place he’d offered me to stay was the base itself—the tunnels below the city… only after I arrived did he inform me that I was a recruit.”

Her attorney raised his brow. “So… at which point did you agree to join him?”

Rei had to think for a second; she couldn’t recall a time when she ever gave Amon explicit consent. “I guess I never did…,” she admitted, “—b-but I wouldn’t say I refused him, either.”

“Right,” he agreed, “—because he never gave you a choice.” His words struck her in the chest, but before she could speak out against this accusation, he was already moving on to the next topic. “How long after your initiation did you become active within the ranks?”

Rei had to dig through her memories again to recall the exact timeline. “My training took place over three months,” she supplied. “I think I went on my first mission… sometime in late autumn?”

“Mm… what was that like?” he asked absently.

“M-my training…?” she questioned. “Or the mission?”

“Both, if you don’t mind,” he offered.

“Well, my training was… difficult… but rewarding," she decided. "During the first few weeks, I only read through medical texts… learning my way around the body. The rest of the time I spent sparring…,” she reflected fondly on her memories of Liu. “I was pretty good at it, actually.”

“And the mission?” he continued, ignoring her sentimentality.

To Rei, the most important detail of that night was the way that she’d felt. “It was thrilling,” she said, almost in a whisper. “I’d never felt so powerful. I could defend myself. I didn’t have to worry about being helpless at the hands of a bender.”

Caught up in her reverie, she failed to notice the way her attorney was looking at her: concerned.

“That’s… nice…,” he drawled, “—but… I was hoping you could spare some details about the actual events?”

“Oh, uh-m, y-yeah…,” she fumbled, “—i-it wasn’t anything special, really… I passed my assessment and was sent to join some other captains in Dragon Flats Borough. The Agni Kai’s had been claiming that part of town as their own and were taking up residence at one of the inns.” She paused for a moment, allowing him to write. “We ambushed them while they were occupying the pub next door,” she continued. “There were about twenty of them, but we had them on their knees in minutes. We tied them up and delivered them to police headquarters.” Rei swelled with pride as she recounted this; gloating about how much better the Equalists were at their jobs than the police never failed to make her happy. However, as she thought about that night, one very important detail came to mind. “It was a test,” she blurted.

In the midst of writing, her attorney paused to look at her. “I thought you stated that you’d already passed your assessment?”

“I did,” she confirmed, “—but all recruits have to pass a test to show that they were ready for the field. I’d been told that Amon had other plans for me… he followed us that night to watch me.” At the time, Rei was confused as to why Amon had appeared from seemingly nowhere to gaze down at her from atop the trusses; only after the discussion in his office did she start to speculate his intentions. “I think he wanted to know how I would perform under pressure,” she explained. “It was my first mission—in my old home and against my worst enemy—so I can only imagine it was done on purpose.”

Her attorney seemed to contemplate this before writing it down.

To Rei, the purpose was of little significance—at least in comparison to what followed. “Afterward, he informed me of my official placement within the ranks.”

“Mm… what was that?” her attorney questioned, still writing.

Rei couldn’t help but grin. “Third-in-command.”

She was disappointed to see that he wasn’t impressed; truly, it was the one accomplishment that she was most proud of in her life, and his apathy was offensive. “And what were your duties as his third-in-command?” he continued.

Rei sighed. “I was auxiliary to his lieutenant,” she said. “I took over training for onboarding captains and led missions by myself.”

His questions soon began to flow in rapid succession. “How many captains did you train for Amon?”

“Three, maybe four,” she guessed; after a point, their faces had started to blend together—besides Benji’s, of course.

“How many missions would you partake in every week?”

“Three, maybe four,” she repeated.

“And the objectives of these missions?”

“Disrupt triad activity and protect nonbender civilians.”

“Only prior to the Avatar’s arrival, correct?”

An oddly accurate assumption. “Yes…”

“What about after?”

“It…,” she faltered, “—i-it became less about the triads and more about disrupting the bending establishment as a whole.” There had been far more to it than just that, but this was the simplest way that she could come up with to summarize the Equalist agenda.

“How involved were you in planning the Equalist's attacks?”

It wasn’t worded like a question; it was an accusation. “Not at all,” she blurted, defensive, “—I just followed orders. Any that I gave came directly from Amon or his lieutenant.” As her attorney jotted this down, a smirk began to tug at his lips. The glibness of it annoyed her. “What?” she griped. “Why are you smiling?”