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[ Hasn't liked anything since their meeting? Unsurprising. Back home, his aliases -- Hei, BK201, The Black Reaper -- bred vendettas, terror and mistrust in their wake. Why should it be different here? He's long since accepted that he's cursed. That anyone he comes into contact with is ultimately smeared with the same filth as him. It's why he'd tried to keep Korra at an arm's length. ]
[ Now she's in over her head. And must be dealt with. ]
You'll make it so I won't have to. Won't you?
[ Hard-edged, dead-eyed, his expression says it all. She has something to lose. He doesn't. That stacks the odds in his favor. He knows what'll hurt her most. ]
[ Now she's in over her head. And must be dealt with. ]
You'll make it so I won't have to. Won't you?
[ Hard-edged, dead-eyed, his expression says it all. She has something to lose. He doesn't. That stacks the odds in his favor. He knows what'll hurt her most. ]
No. You won't.
[ He'll see to it that she says nothing at all. His right hand lifts. Palm pressing to the back of her head. Better to render her unconscious, than risk the possibility of her coming after him. ]
This meeting never happened.
[ It should go without saying. ]
[ He'll see to it that she says nothing at all. His right hand lifts. Palm pressing to the back of her head. Better to render her unconscious, than risk the possibility of her coming after him. ]
This meeting never happened.
[ It should go without saying. ]
[It may go without saying, but that doesn't mean Korra will forget.
Her limbs have had some time to recover while they've talked. It's not much, but when his weight shifts, she kicks up her legs. Most airbending is done with the hands, but there are many firebending techniques that utilize the feet, and she quickly adapts one of them to hurl a blast of air at him. If it succeeds at upsetting his balance, she plans to roll onto her feet and get out of his immediate reach. She's not going to try and attack him -- she's not dumb -- but this encounter will end on her terms, even if it kills her.
Again.]
Her limbs have had some time to recover while they've talked. It's not much, but when his weight shifts, she kicks up her legs. Most airbending is done with the hands, but there are many firebending techniques that utilize the feet, and she quickly adapts one of them to hurl a blast of air at him. If it succeeds at upsetting his balance, she plans to roll onto her feet and get out of his immediate reach. She's not going to try and attack him -- she's not dumb -- but this encounter will end on her terms, even if it kills her.
Again.]
[ Pinning her in the dark, hyperware, Hei feels her kick out. The air-blast takes him by surprise. He chooses to avoid being hit, throwing himself to one side, avoiding the whoosh of wind. But he doesn't stop. Because if there's one thing Korra needs to learn, it's when to accept a deadlock. Even before she's moved to rise, he strikes out, lightning-fast and without holding back. One hand shoots out to grab her throat, slamming her down before she can get up, legs twisting to trap hers. ]
[ An anaconda's stranglehold. ]
[ An anaconda's stranglehold. ]
[Chekov knocks on the door to Korra's apartment sometime on the twenty-eighth of December. He looks pleased with himself and the small box he has with him.
So it's not Christmas, but he couldn't wait until New Year's when he would normally hand out presents.]
So it's not Christmas, but he couldn't wait until New Year's when he would normally hand out presents.]
[Korra's just gotten home from work and is not in a great mood. All she wants to do is take a shower and wash the filth of the Underground from her skin.
A knock on the door derails her. Neither Tohru or Jinora are around to answer it. Grumbling, she stomps over to open it.]
What?
A knock on the door derails her. Neither Tohru or Jinora are around to answer it. Grumbling, she stomps over to open it.]
What?
You sound unexcited.
[Which is disappointing, but he won't pry (now) if she isn't inclined to talk about it (now).]
I wasn't expecting anything. If you like, think of this as an apology.
[When Korra opens the box, she'll find a white-gold circular pendant shaped like a koi. There's a moonstone nestled inside of the circle of its body.]
[Which is disappointing, but he won't pry (now) if she isn't inclined to talk about it (now).]
I wasn't expecting anything. If you like, think of this as an apology.
[When Korra opens the box, she'll find a white-gold circular pendant shaped like a koi. There's a moonstone nestled inside of the circle of its body.]
[She almost asks "An apology for what?" but is distracted by what she finds in the box.
Her voice is breathless.]
It's beautiful.
[Two koi, circling each other forever, just like Tui and La. A moonstone, just like Yue. The necklace is beautiful, but it's the fact that Chekov had remembered the story and how much it meant to her that really touches her.]
Her voice is breathless.]
It's beautiful.
[Two koi, circling each other forever, just like Tui and La. A moonstone, just like Yue. The necklace is beautiful, but it's the fact that Chekov had remembered the story and how much it meant to her that really touches her.]
[He's visibly relieved. It took some work to have it made and, truth be told, Chekov was worried that it wouldn't be a decent way to apologize for his complete inability to comprehend the importance of the story that Korra told him.]
Enchanted, also, to be unbreakable... or so I was ensured.
[Chekov rocks back on his heels nervously.]
Acceptable?
Enchanted, also, to be unbreakable... or so I was ensured.
[Chekov rocks back on his heels nervously.]
Acceptable?
[It's bone-crushing in the best of ways, and at least it means that she's pleased. A happy Korra is Chekov's very favorite Korra.
He hugs her back with much less crushing, but no less affection.]
Good! I'm glad that you think so. I think you are the best friend I have had, Korra, and I want you to know that.
He hugs her back with much less crushing, but no less affection.]
Good! I'm glad that you think so. I think you are the best friend I have had, Korra, and I want you to know that.
[She doesn't let go immediately; her head is buried in his shoulder and she's trying stupidly not to cry. She wants to say that he's her best friend too, but it feels so weak in comparison.
She takes a deep breath and pulls back.]
I just wish I had something for you.
She takes a deep breath and pulls back.]
I just wish I had something for you.
[ The stench of death. ]
[ They throw that phrase around in newspapers, books and stupid Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, but few people are intimate with the actual scent. If they inhaled it, even once, Hei knows they'd never forget it. (Sulfur dioxide, methane, benzene derivatives and long chain hydrocarbons -- a detached part of his mind rattles the terms off, but they can't begin to describe the aroma in the air). He's taken to patrolling the check-points he's marked City-wide, trying to determine if the zombies have nests. Sometimes, coming into the outskirts of the Underground, he catches them. Holed up in a poured-concrete box of a warehouse. In a row of boarded-up storefronts. Or in a derelict walk-up or lot. Monsters. In groups or pairs, filling the air with their disgusting reek. ]
[ If he's feeling feisty, if the timing is right, he pauses to take them out. Except they're stubborn fuckers. They just refuse to die. (Maybe there really is no such thing as Twice-killed.) ]
[ Still, it's a good workout -- flashing blades, splattering muck, dismembered limbs. In the center of the melee, like the eye of a storm, he can forget how the stench makes his flesh crawl. Forget the snapshots of carcasses and blowflies popping in his mind, invading his dreams. Right now he's simply an extension of his blades. Engaged in a whirlwind dance with walking punch-bags. Live therapy. ]
[ They throw that phrase around in newspapers, books and stupid Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, but few people are intimate with the actual scent. If they inhaled it, even once, Hei knows they'd never forget it. (Sulfur dioxide, methane, benzene derivatives and long chain hydrocarbons -- a detached part of his mind rattles the terms off, but they can't begin to describe the aroma in the air). He's taken to patrolling the check-points he's marked City-wide, trying to determine if the zombies have nests. Sometimes, coming into the outskirts of the Underground, he catches them. Holed up in a poured-concrete box of a warehouse. In a row of boarded-up storefronts. Or in a derelict walk-up or lot. Monsters. In groups or pairs, filling the air with their disgusting reek. ]
[ If he's feeling feisty, if the timing is right, he pauses to take them out. Except they're stubborn fuckers. They just refuse to die. (Maybe there really is no such thing as Twice-killed.) ]
[ Still, it's a good workout -- flashing blades, splattering muck, dismembered limbs. In the center of the melee, like the eye of a storm, he can forget how the stench makes his flesh crawl. Forget the snapshots of carcasses and blowflies popping in his mind, invading his dreams. Right now he's simply an extension of his blades. Engaged in a whirlwind dance with walking punch-bags. Live therapy. ]
[Korra's plan to lure them into the mountain is out the window. She's been running as fast as she can, stopping only to fight when one of them (usually Bolin, no surprise) gets distracted and goes after an easier victim. Running and fighting, fighting and running, have led her to the Underground rather than the outskirts of town.
Hei might feel the earth grumble beneath his feet as Bolin remembers he's an earthbender. If he's close enough, he'll see a column of earth throw Korra into the air. She uses the momentum to do a flip and blast him with a gust of wind. (She'd learned quickly to minimize the airbending -- Tenzin is still the airbending master. She had tried earlier to carry them all in a tornado of air, and Tenzin had nearly killed her with his counter attack. But as long as she doesn't use it, he seems to forget he can too.)
She hits the ground and has to duck quickly to ignore a fireball Mako sends her way; elbows Asami when the other girl grabs her with that damned gloved hand, managing to break contact before she can zap. They'll forget they have powers soon enough, revert to the grabbing and biting that has left little rips and tears on Korra's thick winter jacket. (Protect every inch of skin you can, Arthur had told her, and he'd been right.)
She straightens, ready to run, but they've got her surrounded. They close in on her -- Asami, Mako, Bolin, Tenzin -- and she almost chokes on the stench. This won't be pretty.]
Hei might feel the earth grumble beneath his feet as Bolin remembers he's an earthbender. If he's close enough, he'll see a column of earth throw Korra into the air. She uses the momentum to do a flip and blast him with a gust of wind. (She'd learned quickly to minimize the airbending -- Tenzin is still the airbending master. She had tried earlier to carry them all in a tornado of air, and Tenzin had nearly killed her with his counter attack. But as long as she doesn't use it, he seems to forget he can too.)
She hits the ground and has to duck quickly to ignore a fireball Mako sends her way; elbows Asami when the other girl grabs her with that damned gloved hand, managing to break contact before she can zap. They'll forget they have powers soon enough, revert to the grabbing and biting that has left little rips and tears on Korra's thick winter jacket. (Protect every inch of skin you can, Arthur had told her, and he'd been right.)
She straightens, ready to run, but they've got her surrounded. They close in on her -- Asami, Mako, Bolin, Tenzin -- and she almost chokes on the stench. This won't be pretty.]
[ Over the din, zombies groaning like they're singing a John Lee Hooker song, Hei feels the ground quake. He whirls with a palm-heel strike to a slavering opponent, the force dislocating its jaw with a pop (it'll slow the bastard down, but not stop him), in time to spot Korra. And three very familiar zombies. ]
[ Fuck. ]
[ Dodging and weaving between teeth and claws, he sees them face off. The entire scene is controlled pandemonium. Same way he feels inside. Tick-tick-tick-ing a countdown to absolute kill-mode. He can forget, often, that Korra is more than spitfire temper and sassy teenygirl remarks. She can also be incredibly resourceful, and breathtakingly fast. Unfortunately it's not fast enough. When she's cornered, he tells himself she can handle it. The bloodshed and risks of another don't concern him -- only the placement and trajectory of his well-being does. But -- ]
[ But. ]
[ I can't leave her alone here. ]
[ Swiping his blade through a wall of rotted flesh, he creates an opening for himself. Breaks to maneuver until Korra's Gruesome Foursome are in his crosshairs. He lets a wire fly, knife embedding with a messy thwack in Tenzin's skull. Releases a catastrophic bzzzzzt of electricity, so the target crumples briefly. Giving Korra a diversion to knock the others back -- put some distance between her enemy and reconnoiter. ]
[ Fuck. ]
[ Dodging and weaving between teeth and claws, he sees them face off. The entire scene is controlled pandemonium. Same way he feels inside. Tick-tick-tick-ing a countdown to absolute kill-mode. He can forget, often, that Korra is more than spitfire temper and sassy teenygirl remarks. She can also be incredibly resourceful, and breathtakingly fast. Unfortunately it's not fast enough. When she's cornered, he tells himself she can handle it. The bloodshed and risks of another don't concern him -- only the placement and trajectory of his well-being does. But -- ]
[ But. ]
[ I can't leave her alone here. ]
[ Swiping his blade through a wall of rotted flesh, he creates an opening for himself. Breaks to maneuver until Korra's Gruesome Foursome are in his crosshairs. He lets a wire fly, knife embedding with a messy thwack in Tenzin's skull. Releases a catastrophic bzzzzzt of electricity, so the target crumples briefly. Giving Korra a diversion to knock the others back -- put some distance between her enemy and reconnoiter. ]
[There's a moment when Korra can't breathe. She watches blood spatter, watches Tenzin convulse like he had in the Arena. But she doesn't have time to indulge in the luxury of horror. She ducks as Mako takes an awkward swing at her and kicks his legs out from under him. Drops to the ground and rolls to avoid Bolin and Asami, who collide together. She manages to get some distance between them before rolling to her feet.
With Tenzin down (she can't think of him as dead, will break if she thinks of him as dead), she can finally use her airbending.
Light on her feet, like a probending earthbender, she creates a tornado. It captures the four ghouls and spins them high into the air. If she can knock them unconscious, she can tie them up and wait until midnight passes. She just needs to make it until midnight.
When they're two stories high, she kills the tornado, sending her friends down to the ground in a sickening crunch.]
With Tenzin down (she can't think of him as dead, will break if she thinks of him as dead), she can finally use her airbending.
Light on her feet, like a probending earthbender, she creates a tornado. It captures the four ghouls and spins them high into the air. If she can knock them unconscious, she can tie them up and wait until midnight passes. She just needs to make it until midnight.
When they're two stories high, she kills the tornado, sending her friends down to the ground in a sickening crunch.]
[ Hei watches Korra summon a tornado for a pick-and-drop. As gravity yanks her opponents down, making them splatter at odd angles like broken toys, he re-focuses on his own slamfest. The first zombie and then another are decapitated -- a lash of wires and the razor-edge of his blades enough to sever brittle cartilage and muscle. They won't stay dead, but it's enough to create a window. He takes the advantage to use the chainlink fence he's backed against as a fulcrum to kick up and out. Another zombie goes down under his crashtackle, right before he launches himself knife-first at a big one. ]
[ He has no idea what Korra plans to do with her own (currently-debilitated) zombies. But he suspects this curse is wider-reaching than those that end by midnight. ]
[ High on adrenaline, a dark part of him singing from violence and nonstop motion, he slashes and strangles, leaving a twitching carpet of bodies in his wake. Approaches Korra, gore-splattered but alert, his eyes narrowed behind his mask. He's prepared to fall back, to lure his prey into a venue with overhanging wires. Fry them all so they're out-of-commission much longer than a few hours. ]
[ What's her agenda for the night? ]
[ He has no idea what Korra plans to do with her own (currently-debilitated) zombies. But he suspects this curse is wider-reaching than those that end by midnight. ]
[ High on adrenaline, a dark part of him singing from violence and nonstop motion, he slashes and strangles, leaving a twitching carpet of bodies in his wake. Approaches Korra, gore-splattered but alert, his eyes narrowed behind his mask. He's prepared to fall back, to lure his prey into a venue with overhanging wires. Fry them all so they're out-of-commission much longer than a few hours. ]
[ What's her agenda for the night? ]
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