Chapter Text
“Ladies and Gentlemen of Republic City, it is time for the main event of the evening!” A man holding a microphone in his hand announces. The crowd quiets down as the smoke-filled underground darkens. “First, the challenger. An upstart in the underground league, Onyx the earthbender!” The crowd erupts into boos as the young man steps into the caged ring.
“Get out of here bender!” Someone shouts.
“You types abuse us enough, you don’t get to take this from us!” Another yells.
“And now, the champion. The heart and soul of Republic City, a young man who has shown you don’t need to be a bender to be the best. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you The Lotsu!”
A young man with brown hair and blue eyes is slowly walking to the ring, dressed in his tan sleeveless top and brown pants. His face is hidden behind a mask with the lotus symbol on it. He stops for a moment and takes in the crowd’s cheers. His younger sister is not far behind him, her hair tied back and the massive pink hat on her head. The crowd cheers for the voice of the Lotus Lady Mitsuko.
Onyx laughs aloud, “Hiding behind a child? I didn’t know you were that scared Lotsu!”
“You think you are the first one to say that? Lotus has run through more people with that attitude than you can count to!” Mitsuko shouts from outside the caged ring.
Onyx marches towards the cage wall and glares down at the young lady, “Are you calling me dumb?” He jams his finger through the cage wall and strikes Mitsuko’s forehead.
Without warning Lotsu grabs Onyx and spins him around, swiftly hooks his right leg with his, and locks his arm around his neck slamming Onyx to the ground. Taking control fully Lotsu was on top of the prone fighter and began to elbow his face over and over again.
“Yeah! Teach that bender he won’t get away with laying his hand on Lady Mitsuko!” The crowd cheers louder with each strike.
Lotus places Onyx in an arm triangle choke and within seconds he began to tap, breaking the hold the crowd began to celebrate. Onyx was quick to get out of the caged ring and become lost in the crowds as the Announcer returns to the ring. “It is my pleasure to announce the winner and still champion Lotsu!” He takes Lotsu’s hand and raises it.
—
Katsu sighs as he sits alone outside the local grocery, Mitsuko made a big deal about wanting to cook a surprise dinner and forbids him from seeing what she was buying. The sun was being to set as a whistle caught his attention.
“Running will only make things worse!”
Rounding the corner a young man with a briefcase in hand was running down the street, behind him a Republic City police officer. Her long white hair flows from the wind, her eyes as green as a forest, and dressed in the uniform of a metalbender officer. With just the movement of her hand, a metal wire shot forward. It missed the man’s wrist but wrapped around the handle of the briefcase pulling it free. Katsu stood up, with his left hand he grabs the man’s wrist, and his right hand gripped his shoulder. Using the man’s own’s momentum he slams him to the street pinning him down.
“Getting sloppy Tenma, imagine if I wasn’t here to do your job.” Katsu teased his friend as she marches up to them.
She laughs aloud as she secures the man, “I would have gotten him, besides this is more important.” She lifts the briefcase before throwing the man over her shoulder. “But thanks Katsu.” The pair smile, “Are you and Mitsuko going tonight?”
Katsu nods his head, “Mitsuko would kill me if we missed one of Bolin’s matches.”
Tenma laughs again as she begins to walk away, “Mitsuko will always be his number one fan.”
—
Tenma’s shift was just about over as she sat the man down to be processed, “You.” She turns to see an overweight man smiling. “I was told you captured the thief and retrieved my device.” He grasps her hand and begins to shake it. “Thank you so much!”
“Of course sir, I was just in the area.” Tenma answers.
“Officer Shalang.” The room goes silent as the Chief speaks up as she steps into Police Headquarters. “You did well.” With that, she was gone as quickly as she showed up.
“So what is this thing Mr. Takahashi, if I can ask?” Tenma questions.
“Of course dear, I’m someone who helps people.” He sets down the briefcase, opening it to reveal a metal cylinder. “You see this is a prototype I made to help my step-daughter.” He closes the briefcase as he walks outside waiting outside Police Headquarters was a parked Satomobile. Sitting inside were two people, one was clearly a driver someone who worked for Mr. Takahashi. In the back however was a girl dressed in traditional Water Tribe garb, stunning brown eyes, braided black hair, and a beautiful water tribe necklace around her neck. She closes her book and opens the door.
“Who is this?” She asks pointing to Tenma
“This is Officer Tenma Shalang, she is the one who recovered the piece from that thief.” Mr. Takahashi answers as he places a hand on the girl's shoulder. “Officer this is my step-daughter Sarre.”
Tears escaped her eyes, “You mean…I will be able to walk?”
The man nods, “Of course, we will start slow, you will need to get us to it all.”
She reaches out of the car and takes Tenma’s hand, “Thank you so much Tenma.”
Tenma smiles and shakes Sarre’s hand, “I was just doing my job.”
“Now let’s get back to my workshop, it’s time Sarre.” Mr. Takahashi announces as he walks to the other side of the Satomobile. “Thank you again Officer Shalang.”
The Satomobile drove off, Tenma watches for a moment before heading inside to change out of her uniform.
—
Tenma was walking down the narrow path towards the Pro-bending arena, she had wondered if one day she would play for one of the teams. She stops and looks at the golden building as it lights up the now-dark sky.
“Quit your slacking Tenma! Bolin needs me!” The young Mitsuko came running passed her. Katsu was walking by as he turns back waving me to follow.
The three of them enter the Pro-bending arena, it didn't take them long to make their way to the back. Where they caught Bolin walking with a woman. “Bolin!” Mitsuko runs at him and begins to hug his leg.
“Hey, it’s my number one fan.” the earthbender laughs as he lifts her in the air. “I’m glad you all made it, this is Korra. Korra, these are two of my oldest friends and of course my number one fan. First is Katsu Izumi, a great guy, who does a lot of odd jobs for people around the area, and he is an amazing fighter. I’ve seen him give other benders a run for their money.”
Korra shakes Katsu’s hand, “It’s nice to meet you Katsu.”
“Next is Tenma Shalang she…”
Korra steps forward and looks Tenma over, “You are familiar, I can’t place it but have we met before.”
Tenma laughs quietly to herself, “Police Headquarters, my father brought you in.”
The gears clicked in Korra’s head, “The scary-looking guy with the scar on his face. He is your dad?”
“Yup, that would be my father Gole.” She smiles.
Bolin cleared his throat, “Let’s not forget I saved the best for last. Katsu’s younger sister Mitsuko, a smile that could warm a frozen heart, and most importantly my number one fan.”
Mitsuko released her grip on Bolin and with a friendly smile took Korra’s hand. “I’m Mitsuko Izumi.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mitsuko.”
With that, the group slowly made their way toward the benders’ box, inside sat the other teams of Bolin’s Mako and Hasook. Hasook seemed to just look away not caring as Mako gave Katsu and Tenma a nod. He stopped on Korra and rolled his eyes, "Bolin why would you have one of your crazy fangirls in here before our match again?"
Korra shook her head, “Not a fangirl, I did hear your last match on the radio.”
Mako seemingly ignores her as Bolin jumps forward. "You'll have to excuse him when it comes to the matches...even when he isn't in them he likes to focus," he explains. "Alright, I got to go, wish me luck! Not that I need." he laughed as he walked to the arena.
“You all enjoy the match here, don’t want to crowd the box,” Katsu said as he closes the door behind him.
Mitsuko was staring into the arena never taking her eyes off of Bolin, Tenma looks over to Korra. “I have to know, what did you do to get the Elite force called on you?”
Korra folds her arms over her chest, “I was stopping the Triple Threat Triad.”
“That makes sense, I suppose you caused some damage yourself and that is why you got brought in. Just a word of advice, that Triad is a sensitive subject to Katsu.” Tenma turns back to the arena.
“Why what happened?”
“Mr. Jaozo,” Mitsuko speaks up in almost a whisper.
—
Katsu was leaning on a hand railing as he watches the opening round, Hasook was thrown off the platform not even ten seconds into the match. He felt a tug on his sleeve he looks over to s young man with glasses, “You are Katsu Izumi correct?”
“Yes, what can I do for you.”
The man opens a small bag and holds out a letter, “No one seems to know how to contact the Lotus outside your sister, Shen Wang wants this letter given to her so she can give it to him.”
“...Yeah…I’ll get it to her,” Katsu answers as he looks the letter over front and back. The seal on it surprised him as the symbol of the Equalist. Looking up the man was gone, placing the letter in his pocket he entered a quiet corner all alone and opened the letter.
You do not know me, but I know you Lotus. I know you are the second man to take that mantle. I know that you like us are a non-bender who is sick of benders keeping you down. I know that your Master was taken from you by a bender. All I ask is you meet with us and see our Revelation.
- A Friend
Katsu stares at the letter before he rips it apart, “The Triple Threat is my enemies not benders as a whole.” he grumbles to himself as he heads back to the rail.
"It's one-to-one as we enter the final round." The Announcer speaks into his mic.
The alarm sounded as Mako leaped back, he watched as water flew towards Hasook hitting him in the leg as he was in the air causing him to fly into Bolin crashing into both of them. Mako jumped forward and manage to grab Bolin's leg as an earth disk impacted Hasook causing him to fly off the edge of the arena into the water below. The force of the blow had pushed both Bolin and Mako into the second zone allowing the Tigerdilos to advance into their first zone. Mako focused on dodging the incoming earth disks and water, bobbing and weaving as he leaps over one last earth disk he sees Bolin strike first, hitting the Tigerdilos' waterbender in the chest and knocking him back into their own zone. Mako quickly leaps in the air striking both of his hands forward as a quick strike of fire hits the earth bender into the fire bender allowing Bolin and Mako to advance into Tigerdilos' zone one.
"Bolin go for it!" Mako went all out as he struck out his fire hit all around the Tigerdilos, causing smoke to cover the field. Bolin leaped up sending two disks forward knocking their water and fire bender off the platform and into the water.
"Oh Yeah!" Bolin cheered as he was struck by a disk sending him tumbling off of the edge.
Mako quickly ran to his left as he slides under the disk that was sent flying at him. As he skids across the ground he punched with his right hand the small ball of fire struck the man in the chest knocking the last Tigerdilos' bender off the edge.
"And the Fire Ferrets have won!"
—
Bolin cheered as the three of them got back into the box, "Yes! One more win and we are in the tournament!"
"Bolin you need to focus when you are out there!" Mako ordered.
Mitsuko leaps from her chair, “There is nothing my Bolin can’t do.”
“It was a real nail bitter but you three pulled it out in the end.” Tenma claps softly for them.
Bolin never lost his smile as he closes his eyes and waved away the comments, “This is too much you guys, but hey Bolin got’s some moves right? What did you think Korra?”
Korra gripped him by the shoulders, "What did I think?! That was amazing!" she cheered pushing him back.
Mako pulled Hasook aside. "What was that?! You almost caused us the match!"
"We won, didn't we?! Get off my case!" he growled storming out and bumping past Katsu as he leaves.
“Did something happen?” He asks entering the box.
“Hasook nearly cost us the match,” Mako answers as he sits down slowly removing his gear.
“You guys got this.” Katsu gives him a nod before walking towards his sister, he begins to pry her from Bolin. “Time to head home, it would be rude to keep Iniru waiting up for us.”
Mitsuko released Bolin, “Right right, Bye Bolin. It was nice to meet you Korra.” She waves as she walks alongside Katsu.
“I should get going as well, can’t keep law and order if I fall asleep on patrol,” Tenma said and then cleared her throat. “Be safe citizens.”
—
Mitsuko looks at her reflection in the water as the three walk down the waterfront street. “Hey Tenma, how come you are just a normal officer? Shouldn’t you be with your dad?”
Tenma looks down a little, “My dad doesn’t think I’m ready, it’s his final call who makes his unit.”
Mitsuko stops for a moment and watches Tenma, she walks over and hugs her. “Well then your dad is wrong, you are the best one.” She looks up to see Tenma smiling. She then places her hand on Mitsuko’s head.
“Thank you, Mitsuko, at least I have you and Katsu on my side.” As she speaks she sees Katsu staring off in the distance. “Everything okay Katsu? You seem distracted.”
He turns at the mention, “Yeah I’m okay, I’ve just been thinking. What do you know about the Equalists?”
Tenma freezes up for a moment, “We can’t do anything because they haven’t done anything violent, but from the sounds of it to me they want to revolt. Why?”
“Just been hearing about them more and more, some people have asked if I was going to attend a rally. I told them no, I’ve never met a bender who has kept me down.” Katsu smiles as he places his hand on Tenma’s shoulder to reassure her.
“Well isn’t this cute?” A mocking voice laughs as three well-dressed men walk out from the shadows. “Now how about we make things easy, yuan on the ground, and you get to see the sunrise.”
“Oh, I needed this.” Katsu laughs as he cracks his knuckles. “Saved me the trouble of going and flushing you triple rats myself.”
Tenma pulls back her sleeve to reveal a small metal spool on a metallic wristband, “Let’s see, attempted assault on two civilians and an officer of the law, and attempted theft.”
The lead smirks, “So what, the odds are not in your favor officer unless you want the child to fight as well.”
Mitsuko folds her arms, “Like I’m scared of you.”
“Oh she has a mouth on her, I guess we will need to fix that.” The man stomps down as part of the pavement and flies at her.
Katsu wraps his sister in his arms to take the blow but a large wall of earth rises, he looks up to Korra standing behind Mitsuko. "You should fight fair if you are going to fight!"
Tenma took the distraction as the spool spun and the metal wire shot forward wrapping around the ankle of one of them. She pulls back as he is on the ground, “Not a chance you are getting away.”
Katsu leaps over the earth wall ducking under two more shots from the triad earthbender, he tackles the lead as he begins to rapidly throw elbows. “Triad scum!”
Korra with only a wave of her arms pulled water from the harbor as it struck the third man and slammed him against the wall. Mitsuko stares at her in amazement. Tenma secured the first man before replacing his wire spool with an extra in her pocket, Katsu gets up from the unconscious triad member and Korra drags the third one over and tosses him on top of the other. Mitsuko was pointing at Korra as she walks up, “Katsu! She’s the Avatar!”
Katsu and Tenma both look towards Korra who pridefully smiles, “I am.”
“That explains why Tenzin came to get you out,” Tenma announces as the gears finally clicked.
“Are you guys coming out tomorrow for their next match?” Korra asks as Tenma finishes securing the other two triad members.
“Mitsuko would kill me if I knowingly stopped her from seeing Bolin.” Katsu laughs.
“No, I wouldn’t!” Mitsuko yells as her face turns beet red.
“I might be there, not sure yet.” Tenma answers.
“What are you gonna do with them?” Korra asks.
“Well, someone will need to head back to the arena. There should be at least two officers outside it.” Tenma answers her focus now fully on the triad members.
“Leave that to me.” Korra smiles. “Wait here for me?”
“Yeah just tell them Officer Shalang is requesting the assistance so they know you aren’t just messing with them.”
Korra nods her head as she turns and runs back to the arena, Katsu watches her quietly. “She is cute.” As he spoke Tenma punches his arm. “What was that for?” Tenma does answer, Katsu looks down at his sister. “What was that about?” Mitsuko simply shrugs.