Prompt Post 2.0
With the season finale behind us I figure we'll have an explosion of prompts soon. So, new prompt post. Please post any new prompts in this post. But you can always find fic or fill more prompts in the original prompt post.
Rules!1) One prompt per post, please! If you have multiple prompts, no worries, just make separate posts for each. Please ( Read more... )
Rules!1) One prompt per post, please! If you have multiple prompts, no worries, just make separate posts for each. Please ( Read more... )
Supplied with the newspaper, Tarrlok was able to confirm Tenzin’s story. There, in black-and-white, he was a tragic hero who sacrificed everything to take on his villainous brother alone. The article included his official portrait, along with a blurred photograph of the masked Amon, taken the night he'd attacked the pro-bending arena.
A reporter visited him for an interview and the next day, a page two story informed Tarrlok that he was frightfully scarred, but still the very essence of bravery in the face of adversity. After that, he stopped reading the paper.
He recovered enough to leave the hospital later that week. His first act was to dismiss the sole guard provided to him. Many Equalists had escaped arrest before the Avatar had been able to restore the metalbending police force. But they were disorganized now, and had reportedly split into factions. Anonymous leaflets circulated which advocated peaceful action in rejection of their false leader's violent philosophy.
There were still chi-blocker attacks in the night however, and graffiti renditions of Amon’s mask. What inspired Tenzin's concern had been a badly mimeographed sheet with portraits of the Council members and the Avatar, underneath the words DESTROY THE ENEMIES OF EQUALITY. Hardly worth worrying over, though Tarrlok found it amusing that it had taken a city-wide revolt to finally make Tenzin consider the Equalists a threat.
Returning to the Council was a different matter. Spending time at City Hall was difficult. Repairs were ongoing and the damaged balcony, crushed benches and cracked walls were painful reminders of his breakdown. His old assistant had thankfully been reassigned to another department entirely. Chief Bei Fong was decidedly cool when they met-she was evidently one of the few who declined to accept the official story. Tarrlok avoided her whenever possible.
He attended meetings nonetheless and worked every day late into the night reviewing budgets for reconstruction, drafts of new security procedures, proposals for a United Forces base in the city. He declined all requests for interviews, though he occasionally gave bland statements regarding Council actions. Undaunted, journalists wove his activities into an inspiring narrative of recovery.
Invitations to galas and re-openings flooded in. Republic City seemed to let loose with celebrations and displays of gaiety, as if to show the world that a mere revolution could never bring it down; and the hero of the hour was in high demand. Unfortunately, he was far too busy to attend any of them and always sent his regrets. Disappointment quickly turned to rhapsodizing over how dedicated the Councilman was to his duties.
The Avatar was equally in demand, but she still managed to find time to corner Tarrlok one evening, on the stairs outside City Hall.
“I’ve been trying to catch you for two weeks,” she told him, jumping right in. “When are you going to let me restore your bending?”
It wasn’t generally known that Tarrlok was still technically a non-bender.
"Read the newspapers Avatar,” he said dismissively. “You'll find that I'm a little busy with the minor job of reunifying and rebuilding this city. I don’t have time for any more waterbending fights with you."
Korra did not look convinced, or even bothered by his flip reply. Tarrlok was starting to wish that she'd never found his cell on Air Temple Island. He'd been at his lowest there, and she'd been treating him with something uncomfortably close to pity ever since. He thought wistfully of the teenager who'd been so easy to fluster with a few choice words and looks.
“It only takes a few seconds,” she said earnestly, her hands already rising toward him. Tarrlok deftly avoided her and started back down the stairs. “Some other time Avatar,” he called behind him.
His usual car had not arrived yet, and Tarrlok chose to walk home rather than wait. It was growing dark and winter still chilled the air, but his coat was warm enough. And like most Water Tribe citizens, he was partial to cold weather anyway.
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