1 Hero

Good and evil; two concepts that are probably as old as life. Good encompasses all positivity; it preaches virtue, benevolence, charity, peace, and order. Evil embraces all negativity; it preaches degeneracy, malevolence, greed, destruction, and chaos.

I'm not sure where I am in that spectrum specifically. Most likely, I'm somewhere at the center but leaning further towards evil. In other words, the imperfect middle ground that many individuals presently inhabit happens to be my native home. It, in my opinion, is the perfect place to be as a person.

You can kill killers without much guilt as it benefits society no matter the righteous words others use to enhance their image. You can rob the corrupt while boosting your wealth. You can lie for the bigger picture. You can achieve vengeance for the fantastic feeling of elation and true justice. You can freely manipulate others, knowing that you are helping indirectly.

There is much you can do by being in the middle, although it has negatives too. Trust given and received are harder to collect. Meaningful relationships are non-existent. Lastly, you are on your own.

Of course, I am barely affected by this. I never trusted anyone. Outside of my mother, I never made connections with anyone else. From the bottom of my heart, I positively believe that I am not capable of forming relationships. Not to mention, I may have worked with people, but they never kept me around long. It was because I was similar to a mercenary; you know, doing something solely for the money and whatnot.

And that's cool with me. My childhood environment made sure of that.

See, my single mother raised me with one motto; only you matter. Everyone else is either disposable or beneficial; nothing more, nothing less.

That's why I think I'm more neutral evil.

I love playing the common-faced background character in a story. My face mask helps significantly for that task. I'm no one important, and I don't have to go out of my way to do the right thing as most main characters do.

Here's the issue though, there is a point where good and bad don't matter. There is a point where you disregard your precious morals or beliefs for a single purpose. There is a point where you become a hypocrite to prevent change or loss of benefits.

Everyone goes through this moment in their life at least once, and I am going through it today.

An hour ago, the Avatar challenged the Equalist leader to finish this once and for all. I couldn't quite understand why anyone might have faith in the enemy to show up alone. What the Avatar did was tell her opponent to set up a trap and subdue her. I mean, how stupid can one be?

For entertainment purposes, I followed the girl. I snuck onto the island, where I watched the surprisingly hot Avatar patiently wait.

When I saw her get ambushed, I saw my future crumble. I saw my powers being taken. I saw my future wealth and freedom being stolen. If the Avatar fell here, everything I've worked for would be ruined.

And that's why I played hero.

[Korra POV]

"I've received your invitation, young Avatar," Amon stated, his deep voice slightly echoing in the somewhat empty surroundings. His full form was revealed through the lamp, and the silence got quieter.

I couldn't breathe properly. Breathing was one of the first exercises I had to master, and I was disappointing my teachers. He wasn't intimidating before, not at all. Now, every inch he was closer made my blood pump faster. It was scorching hot on this chilly night.

There was no Chi movement in me. I couldn't bend, and I felt weak.

I couldn't think properly either, but I understood one thing. I don't want to lose my bending. I don't want to lose the one thing that gave me an identity. I don't want to lose something that gave me worth. I don't want to lose something that I spent my entire life on.

However, as his fingers approached and its shadows crawled up my face, my dreams and hopes escaped me. For the first time in my life, I wanted to die. A life without bending wasn't a life at all. Without bending, I was just...Korra, and I don't want that.

"Personal bubble, pal," said a person from somewhere.

BANG!

There was a flash of light followed by a loud sound. I blinked out of surprise, and the previously conscious equalists, even the ones holding me, were on the floor, twitching madly. A disgusting stench broke my stupor, and I scowled at the yellow fluids coming near me. As I jumped back to avoid the nasty stuff, I warily eyed Amon who was more interested in whatever was on my right.

Turning my head, I spotted another person a few meters away, but he, I think it's a he, was wearing a dark cloak in the shadows. The only reason I even saw him was due to the lightning that jumped around his fingers. It was mesmerizing. Normally, lightning flows before being shot at high speeds. This person...he had it circle his hand as if the element was alive.

That was a difference between his and other fire bender's lightning. The sheer amount of control to only bend lightning one-handed but to do it without any form was stunning. I was the Avatar, but I could never boast about my control in front of him. I have much to learn.

Then, I remembered how many goons Amon brought and how they were surrounding me. To strike precisely enough to avoid hitting me was a sign of a master. I was looking at someone more powerful than a White Lotus-level fire-bender.

If this was his lightning, what about his fire?

"And who are you?" Was it my imagination or did he sound angry?

"Your new father." As awful as this whole situation was, the guy was winning a lot of points. "Either leave or be punished. Daddy doesn't feel like giving out any more electrifying spankings today even if the child is being very unruly."

Amon didn't reply. He probably knew he was outmatched, and my bending just came back. The rush of the battle hadn't left me yet, and I was ready for round two as I took a stance.

"Fine," he finally replied. I felt lighter, but he was still here, increasing my stress just by his presence. Amon turned to me, and I immediately tensed. "Looks like you found yourself a guardian angel." Walking away, I released the breath I was holding.

Shaking my head, I was going to talk to my savior to thank him, but he wasn't there anymore. He vanished.

I sighed and blinked.

And like that, everything crashed. I was tired both physically and emotionally. On my knees, I swore I was heard Tenzin, and I was right. He rushed to me, and the only thing I felt at the moment was his arms and a clothed chest that I cried onto.

Maybe I should appreciate Tenzin more.

[Shade POV]

That happened.

Also, guardian angel my donkey! The hell do you mean guardian angel? If I beat you, the Avatar babe won't grow, and I'll have to step in every time. This way, she'll have another opportunity, and she'll be able to ward off all the threats as she develops, leaving me to rack in money and find a career.

Ooh! It pissed me the hell off because she didn't sneak attack him. I mean, seriously! He was open!

Spirits! This is why he hated good people. So stupid with their honor and bullcrap.

Also, how dare Amon assume that I'll guard someone without payment?

Ridiculous!

—

"Chief, Councilman Tenzin is here."

Without looking up, she said, "Send him in."

"Understood."

A few minutes later, Tenzin entered. "Lin."

"That's Chief to you, Councilman," she responded, still finishing her paperwork. "What do you want?"

"Tonight—"

"The Avatar made a dumb move. Not surprised. Get to the point. I'm busy."

Tenzin inhaled deeply. "She was saved."

"By you, I'm guessing?"

"No. She was rescued by a man, possibly a teenager like her, who bent lightning." Lin stopped for a second before continuing. Tenzin noticed the pause. "According to Korra, he's a prodigy and has achieved—"

"Mastery and beyond normal fire bending," she finished for him, meeting his eyes for the first time today.

He was confused. "You know him?"

Lin smirked. "The most annoying and cocky little brat I have encountered in this life. Still, I care for that little bundle of headaches."

"Can I meet him? Korra also requested it."

"Probably not. He hates authority."

"Then—"

"Look" —she narrowed her eyes at him—"drop it. He won't meet you."

"...fine." He turned to leave.

"Prepare compensation," she commanded, stopping him at the door. "That brat doesn't do anything for free which means I'll have to do something for him. Compensate me when I ask you later."

Lin ignored Tenzin's incredulous expression as she worked on defeating her mortal enemy; paperwork.