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Amoral, Chapter 1

Tenzin had called a council meeting bright and early that morning, the airbender already present and more than a little agitated, if Tarrlok were any judge. The remaining council members were in their appropriate chairs, some hunched over the desk with dazed expressions while one was outright snoring in his chair. "Good morning, Tenzin. I assume you have something of utmost importance to share for waking us all so early this morning," Tarrlok's voice caught Tenzin's attention, his eyes narrowing at the waterbender as though the statement were a veiled complaint. Tarrlok answered the gaze with his prize-winning smile, his hand straightening out the back of his shirt before he gracefully took his seat at the council's table.

"Avatar Korra was at an Equalist rally last evening, and she claims that Amon has the power to take away someone's bending – permanently," Tenzin pressed a hand to the table before leaning forward, his serious expression meeting Tarrlok's unflinchingly. "It was said that only the avatar was capable of such a thing, but it would be prudent not to underestimate Amon," Tenzin did not flinch at the name, though some of the other council members did.

"I see," Tarrlok murmured, hands clasping and eyes diverting to the table. The room was deadly silent for a while, Tarrlok for once not inclined to question the legitimacy of the avatar's claim. Regardless of whether or not Amon possessed this power, Tarrlok would be able to sway public opinion in his direction. Standing, Tarrlok found Tenzin's gaze before looking to the other members of the council; "What we need to do now is show the public that we can defeat Amon and his lawless Equalists." The council's ears seemed to perk at the mention of defeating Amon, and Tarrlok continued after a moment's pause. "I propose we form a task force, one charged with the sole purpose of weeding out these Equalists. Republic City needs to see that Amon and his fear tactics will not be tolerated." Tarrlok's arm made a sweeping gesture as he finished, the fire nation councilwoman and the earth kingdom councilman exchanging glances.

"If we do form this task force of yours, Tarrlok, it will only widen the schism between benders and nonbenders," Tenzin argued, Tarrlok's lips pursing.

"Better to widen the schism than to allow the lawless to roam freely through our streets at night, able to sap a man of his bending capriciously," Tarrlok rebuffed Tenzin's criticism, the waterbender looking to the other council members who he knew were already in his corner. "All those in favor?" Tarrlok then asked, all hands raising save for Tenzin's. The airbender heaved an irritated sigh, Tarrlok's lips tweaking into a small smile.

"And just who will lead this task force?" Tenzin finally asked, his lips frowning though his face betrayed an otherwise neutral expression.

Tarrlok's smile only widened with the question; "Why, I will, of course. What better way to provide an example for the people of Republic City than with leading this task force myself? The people need leaders who are willing to make the difficult choices, and who aren't afraid to get their hands a little dirty, Tenzin," Tarrlok's tone was benign on the surface, but was replete with implications underneath. "Unless you have more news, Tenzin, I believe that will conclude the meeting, will it not?" Tarrlok waited for Tenzin to object yet again, though was pleasantly surprised to see that while he doubtlessly wanted to argue the point, he couldn't think of a stable platform from which to do so. "With that, I declare this council meeting adjourned," Tarrlok grasped the gavel before tapping it against the table and then letting it fall from his grip. "If you'll excuse me, I have work that needs done," Tarrlok could hear the murmurings of the other council members as he strode away, though did not pay them any heed; he had a little extracurricular reading to do before dropping in at Air Temple Island that evening for a little chat with Tenzin's newest house guest: Avatar Korra.

–

"Here are all that I found, Sir," Tarrlok's personal assistant plodded into his office, the skinny man's arms full of newspapers from every reputable, and some not-so-reputable, sources within Republic City.

"Ah, thank you. Just set them over here," Tarrlok motioned to a purposefully-cleaned area of his desk, the councilman currently leaning in his chair as his eyes scanned what had to be the hundredth article concerning Avatar Korra and her arrival in Republic City. As his assistant wobbled out of the room quietly, Tarrlok had to wonder what the mouse of a man thought of his eccentric request; he had asked without preamble or explanation for every piece of information he could find regarding Korra. The reason was less offensive and gossip-worthy than it appeared, though; he wanted every edge, every bit of knowledge about the avatar as he could gather so he could not only better understand her, but also how her thinking processes worked.

He would be inviting her to join his task force; he doubted even his assistant was even so blind as not to see that. And while he didn't think she would decline the offer, he needed to have contingency plans in case she did decide to play the demure maiden who refused to dirty her hands with affairs of the city. The thought brought a wry and sardonic grin to Tarrlok's lips; here for perhaps a week and Korra had already infiltrated an Equalist rally. She wasn't just dirtying her hands: she was diving head-first into the corruption and dirt Republic City boasted.

Deciding he had deliberated enough, Tarrlok instead focused his energies on reading, his eyes rolling exasperatedly when he realized just how large the stack of papers was the assistant had brought in. I'd better get to it, Tarrlok thought with a grimace, a hand reaching for the topmost paper.

–

Tarrlok was jarred from his impromptu sleep when he heard the shutter of one of his office windows clatter against its brother, the councilman swallowing back his initial onset of nervousness and combing back a few stray hairs from in front of his eyes. Looking down at his desk, Tarrlok noticed the dwindling pile of newspapers, one of them directly in front of him (presumably from his fallen fingertips as he'd lost consciousness). Stifling a yawn, Tarrlok's eyes were drawn to the window, the waterbender standing and striding slowly towards it.

He certainly couldn't remember leaving it open; was the wind so strong? Internally shrugging at the question, Tarrlok latched the window closed and then paused; the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, his fingers twitching as he looked over his shoulder and promptly froze. Amon stood tall and proud in the center of his office, his hands clutched firmly behind his back. Panic began to creep up in the back of Tarrlok's mind, his hands beginning to move of their own accord into a waterbending stance. "Why are you here?" Tarrlok finally managed to croak, his entire body rigid and on-edge as Amon took two, three steps closer in ominous silence. "I'm warning you...," Tarrlok's voice trailed off, water from the memorial behind his desk beginning to slither forwards towards its slippery master. Before Tarrlok could direct it towards Amon, however, the leader of the Equalists was a mere few inches in front of him, Tarrlok's wrist clasped firmly in his hand.

"I don't think so, Councilman," Amon's deep voice echoed across the walls in Tarrlok's office, the waterbender trying and failing to contain his terror as Amon's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "I have not come to take your bending." Amon finally released Tarrlok's wrist, the councilman rubbing the area unconsciously, his eyes locked on where Amon's face would have been behind the mask.

"Then why are you here?" Tarrlok's voice was low, still gaining lost strength from his fear and intimidation. A tiny, insignificant smile pulled at Amon's lips behind the mask, but he did not allow it to manifest onto his otherwise hidden features.

"I come with a proposition; I know of your intention to implement a task force against me," Amon remarked in a too-casual tone: as though he weren't afraid and Tarrlok was merely a child in the grand scheme of things. "I can offer you information regarding the location of Equalist training facilities," Amon then paused, his eyes staring deep into Tarrlok's whose jaw had clenched and whose eyes were wide.

"And why would you betray your own people?" Tarrlok asked in a belligerent tone, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he tried inconspicuously to bend the water that had fallen to the ground when Amon had taken hold of his wrist.

"You misunderstand, Councilman. I will give you this information, and in return you will do whatever I ask." Amon's statement was outrageous, and Tarrlok silently began to wonder if this was all part of an elaborate scheme designed to make him appear as if he worked with Amon and then oust him from the Council. Before Tarrlok could reply, Amon then added quietly, "Would you deny even your own flesh and blood?"

Tarrlok's blood froze in his veins at the murmured query, the waterbender taking a step back in shock as Amon slowly and deliberately pushed back his hood and reached to untie the knot holding his mask in place. Tarrlok opened his mouth to protest, but the mask was pulled away from Amon's face before he could utter any sound. "N-noatak," Tarrlok stuttered, eyes blinking as his brain attempted to reconcile this new piece of bizarre information.

"You don't sound pleased to see me, brother," Noatak's eyes narrowed at Tarrlok, the younger shaking his head furiously and bringing up his hands in a placating gesture.

"You have to understand that this is a shock to me," Tarrlok then paused, Noatak giving him a moment to regain himself. "I never thought I'd see you again," his tone was wispy, as elusive as the wind. Noatak's eyes then softened, his lips forming a thin line. A million questions presented themselves to Tarrlok, but the councilman was understandably nervous to ask any of them; Amon may have been his brother, but would even he hesitate to take Tarrlok's bending due to an unsavory question or conversation topic?

"I need your answer, Tarrlok," Noatak then secured his mask back into place, his brotherly demeanor instantly disappearing behind the cold and ruthless facade known only as Amon.

"What exactly did you have in mind?" Tarrlok ventured to ask. He hated Amon, truly he did; every fiber of his being despised what the leader of the Equalists stood for, but could he truly despise Noatak, the brother who had more than once saved him from their father's wrath and disapproval? The longer he pondered this question, the more his head began to ache.

Amon was gone in a flash, Tarrlok slowly taking a seat at his desk before his head fell into his hands. Guilt threatened to overwhelm him, but Tarrlok managed to keep it at bay somehow; he had let his brother down when they were young, and now Republic City would pay the price he couldn't afford at the time. He knew helping Noatak was wrong, and it disgusted him how easily he had agreed to his brother's terms concerning their new alliance. He wanted to toss Amon out on his ass, blood-bend him within an inch of his life, but once the mask was gone and Noatak's blue eyes found his, Tarrlok's resolve withered. He wondered how long it would be possible both to hate and love his brother, and both to live a lie and despise himself every moment of every day.