The base of the equalists has been raided by the police task force—aka, the metalbenders. Those who had been knocked out and defeated were taken away by the police, not remembering how they had gotten into that situation in the first place.
The only thing they remembered was losing oxygen and suffering from short-term memory loss. Though, Hiroshi had managed to take a bunch with him before it got too late.
He also managed to burn through the designs of the mecha suits, so that no one else could take them, and removed any evidence that linked his company to it. As for the airplanes, they were set to self-destruct. The same went for other legendary weapons he had made.
Talking about legendary, Akashi had been getting looks from everyone who walked past him in the airship. Even then, he sat with Korra, who held his hand and looked at his face with a gaze full of emotions.
As for Lin, she had been busy with the equalists she had arrested.
"So, what will happen now?" Korra asked.
Akashi put his leg above another and said, "I don't know."
He had a vague prediction for the future. The Earth Queen would demand to take Noatak and Tarrlok to her kingdom for trial. And since the Earth Kingdom was larger and more powerful than Republic City, they would comply and give them to her. She'd likely peg them.
And if, by some miraculous accident, they managed to escape, Amon and Tarrlok would lead a coup d'etat against the Earth Queen. Amon was someone who hated oppression. Now that his false vendetta against all benders was over, he'd begin a new one, but he wouldn't abandon his vice and would target the Earth Queen instead. Read full story at novel•fire.net
With Amon's charisma, that would be possible. It was a better way to take down a ruler than what was shown by the canon. Instead of killing the head, unite the people and have them under a new rule.
Other than that, Akashi would have to deal with his own troubles. And there were plenty waiting ahead of him. Luckily, he had enough stamina and vitality to face what's ahead.
"I was talking about the airbending training," Korra said, slowly holding his hand.
It seemed that she was progressing faster than expected for a girl who had her first dating experience. Akashi shrugged and held her tighter.
"You're proficient in all of the elements now. You mastered the Avatar's state, and you're the most powerful being in the world, for now," he stated.
"For now?" She tilted her head.
"You may be strong, but you're not invincible," Akashi said.
"So, you're saying you can beat me," she said, getting her face closer to him. He had to consider for a moment if she was flirting or challenging.
"Why don't we wrestle later and see?" She asked, lifting her eyebrow.
The naive girl may have said that, not knowing what it might lead to. A small smirk appeared on the corner of Akashi's lip.
'This reminds me. I still have my strength stats lagging behind. Though, I think that I can get that one point to 10 easily. Not to mention, it's not that necessary to have strength for an airbender.'
"I'll hold you accountable," Akashi said, holding Korra by the chin, drawing a goofy smile on her face.
To be fair, she looked hot, and she was submissive to him now that he felt like taking off his shirt.
But a man needed to calm himself.
Lin approached with storming steps, looking angry.
But instead of talking to Korra and yelling at her, she looked at Akashi.
He knew then that something was happening.
"Akashi," she said, "I need to talk to you alone."
He followed after her to the corner, away from everyone's ears.
Korra just stared at them with suspicious eyes that said she didn't like what was going on.
"There is good news and there is bad news. What do you want to hear?" she said, her eyes tightening.
Akashi crossed his arms. "That's a trap question. What is it?"
"We've been summoned to a hearing by the council, by the president," she said, clenching her jaw. "Someone in the task force seemed so excited to snitch, even making me look like a whore, in front of the city's president."
Right. In this world, the president is the mayor.
"Can't blame them though… seems like a good chance to stab you in the back and get hold of the police force. Would have done the same if I were given a chance," Akashi said.
"You'd do that to me?" she asked.
"No, Lin." Akashi patted her on the shoulder. "To catch a criminal, you need to think like one."
He stared at her with pity.
To her, the police, or the justice system, was her whole life.
She had been a police officer ever since she was young, fought her family members because of some slight corruption, and slowly she got the police under her.
To have her career going away, just like that, because she argued with the Avatar over who screws him didn't feel, or sound right. Especially since he was the one who was getting screwed.
Akashi knew the law. Lin was boning a man younger than her. And they weren't even married.
And the law clearly prohibited a higher-up from getting into relationships with their followers outside of marriage.
"Fuck them anyway," she said. "I still have you, after all."
"You said that there would be some good news, no? What were you planning to use to make me feel better?" he said.
"They are discussing your promotion for the secret operation that you pulled off," she said. "The fact that you caught someone who could potentially take the rule of the city from them made them appreciate you more."
So, they were planning for restructuring the police force power dynamics. And he would be the key.
He patted her on the shoulder and said, "Do you trust me?"
"Yes… obviously." She nodded with eyes that he found adorable.
"Ease your worry. I'll take care of it." Akashi gave her a pat on the shoulder, having already thought about a way to counter it.