Needless to say, Korra's team had lost. Akashi, who was in the spectator seats, laughed his heart out when he saw Mako getting hit by a jet of water and then getting knocked out by an earth disk hitting him on the chest, sending him flying.
He had just won six times his money. After all, the odds were in the Avatar's team after a winning streak. Not to mention that everyone knew she was the Avatar, so most people gambled on her. That, and the Red Ferrets team were a known team before.
"Man. I love sports." Akashi counted the money in his head.
It must be nice to be a gambler… Ahem, a high-risk investor.
Although he felt bad for Korra being in a bad mood, he didn't feel that he had ruined Mako's mood.
He, after all, was a guy who had the worst dating record in history. Get a loyal girlfriend, cheat on her, cheat on who cheats on her, and then cheat on her again when the ex loses her memory. Even in the original timeline, Korra, who had a crush on him, broke up with him and told him that it's not going to work. Any girl that dated him would end up hating men and eating pussy.
Maybe he had done Asami a favor by exposing Mako's past to him.
'Well, for him to say that I was a member of a triad, he can only blame himself.'
Akashi thought as he got the receipt for the bank transfer. The money he had won, 3 million… well, 2.5 million to be exact, had been transferred to his bank account. That would be a nice capital to start a new business with—just as soon as he got done with his enemies.
As soon as the euphoria from the massive win wore down, Akashi looked at Korra, clenching her jaw as she walked back to the lobby. More like she swam since whoever got knocked out would fall into the water, which was linked to the sea.
He felt quite guilty for manipulating Mako's mindset. Well, he didn't feel exactly guilty for that asshole, since he deserved it, but he felt sorry for Korra to have to put up with him. And now, she was cranky.
'Well, just a sad teenager. Doubt that would be hard to fix,' Akashi sighed as he left the seats and walked out.
Out there, he met Korra, who had changed her clothes.
"You're not going to hang out with your teammates?" he asked.
"Not in the mood," she replied as she walked along with him.
"I think that you should relax," he said.
"Yeah, how would I? I tried my best, and that Mako is now blaming me for bringing you and ruining the mood, as if it's all my fault, while all I did was trying to be nice!" Korra snapped, yelling out loud.
She surely had the potential to be a soundbender.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scream," she sighed.
It seems that the airbender's mindset affirmations are working on her, slowly.
Akashi patted her on the shoulder. "It's not your fault. In case you haven't noticed, that man tried to embarrass you the moment I entered."
"What? I didn't take him to be—" Korra replied, giving Akashi a naive expression that made him smile.
Right, someone who has been raised surrounded by protection wouldn't know what an asshole is.
"Let me ask you. What did you feel when he tried to hint that I was a criminal working for the triad, and how it felt that he was scolding you in front of me?" Akashi asked.
"I was in a bad mood to begin with," Korra sighed, tears welling up in her eyes. "and I felt that I should dig a hole and hide myself."
Akashi swept her eye. "And the only reason he's blaming you for bringing me is because I exposed his embarrassing past in front of his girl. And when he lost, he blamed it on you. If he's not aware it's his fault to begin with, either he's a big idiot, or someone who never accepts being wrong."
"That's right, a big idiot. I should have screamed back at him." Korra clenched her fist.
"Well, remember this." Akashi wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "If not for you, his team wouldn't have been winners. Most of their previous team members left for a good reason."
"Are you telling me to leave?" Korra asked, but there was just curiosity in her tone.
"I'm not telling you anything." Akashi shook his head. "I don't like seeing you sad."
"Well, just a night of sleep would fix it," she replied.
"Anyways," Akashi looked at his wristwatch, "We still have time. Do you want to get back to the temple, or hang out more?"
She pondered for a second and said, "I don't feel like getting back."
Since he had built a considerable wealth thanks to her, he didn't mind spending a few thousand yuans back on her.
Matter of fact, he didn't feel like gambling anymore as he had made enough to escape.
After all, when you gamble and keep winning, if you don't stop, the only eventual winner would be the house.
After that, Akashi took Korra to some restaurant to eat.
And man, seeing her muching on the meat, eggs, and sweets, made him remember his days in the temple. But unlike her, he hadn't stayed for long.
After that, he took her for a little walk, and then, took her to his bar.
As the bartender was sick, he had to work instead of him.
And he did something that Tenzin would never forgive him for.
He let Korra have some drinks.
Well, she was about legal age… Just not in the USA.
After her first cup, she extended her tongue and said, "Ugh… So this is what you people usually drink. Don't see why you like it."
"That's my first reaction to cigarettes as well," Akashi replied. "Come on, drink. You'll come to love it in no time."
She poured herself another drink and got it in one gulp. "Why are all the boys I have my eyes on taken?"
Akashi got back from serving a client. He didn't know how to answer. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel(ꜰ)ire.net
"Maybe another girl has an answer." He replied.
"Everyone gets a girlfriend from nowhere. Mako got hit by a car…"
"You have that chief who screams a lot, and she's your girlfriend, right."
"What then, your wife?" Korra laughed, "You're not secretly 60?"
"It's complicated." Akashi shook his head.
"How's it is complicated. She called me a whore and a man thief to see me near you." Korra complained.
"Well, how do I put it? She's insecure about her age to get me committed to her. Yet, she's jealous and possessive." Akashi sighed, pouring himself a drink and drinking as well.
To be fair, he had initiated a lot with the chief. But she's still had her mind on fuck buddies thing. And he was tired from trying to be the one who gets pushed. So he had decided to be one with the flow. He's not going to be the one who did all of the effort, whether he likes her or she loves him or not.
"So, in a relationship, act like committed, but not committed. How's that possible?" Korra asked, clearly the alcohol doing its charm.
"Well… it's called dating in denial. Stop focusing on me." He said, not wanting her to learn words like fuck buddies, for Tenzin would blame him if Korra used such words.
"Can we date in denial? I mean, friendship isn't exclusive?" Korra asked.
"Hahaha… that would be me taking advantage of you." Akashi patted her on the head. He was honest. She's weak, first time getting drunk, and was emotionally weak. Taking advantage of her wasn't something he'd do.
He may be a monster, but he wasn't a creep.
He looked at the roof.
'Even I started to think that I'm a monster. Well, I rather be a monster than a Diddy.'
"I mean, I'm at least happy for now." She said, blushing. But Akashi doubted that she was just getting drunk. "So, you don't want to be uncommitted committed with the Avatar."
"Not sure about the Avatar part, but we can talk about that later." Akashi patted her head and went to a table. Someone just spilled a drink.
And just in a moment of silence, Akashi started noticing something weird.
Most of the regulars weren't there. And by regulars, he meant cops. More likely random people.
Some light hand had just swept by him, placing something in his inner pocket.
Had it been anyone else, they wouldn't notice it, but Akashi could feel the air being disturbed.
This note was meant to find him later.
"So, Amon sent you guys."
Akashi said, looking backward.
Korra was surrounded by people who seemed to be proficient in martial arts. Chi blockers, that should be their name.
And she had her head on the table, clearly dizzy.
They just had the Avatar on a silver platter.
And they were ready to fight, in his bar, out of all of the places.
Do you know how hard it is to get such a place into a good shape that appeals to the clients, how expensive and time-consuming it is?
Akashi put the towel on his shoulder and said, "I'm telling you guys, if you break anything, be prepared to get tortured in my interrogation room."