✗; There is an unease that finally seizes him, a sense of disquiet that drapes itself over his otherwise confident demeanor. This has been a mistake—— he knows it the moment that a jagged, forced smile curls at the ‘kind’ waterbender’s mouth, and in return, the bridge of his nose wrinkles as his own lips morph into a volatile, defensive snarl. Amon knows what it is to be looked upon as a challenge, to be evaluated as an opponent, and keen senses TRACE every move, every SKIP of her heart.
But he remains relaxed, expression quickly fading to that of lifeless boredom. As if he has not just given up the most guarded, important secret that he has ever harbored. This was a mistake.
❝ Then I hope you are familiar with the fact that I am not my father. Raised and trained, yes, but that is where our similarities end. ❞ LIAR.
He notices as soon as she begins. The telltale pull of blood against its natural course, the way that muscle twitches, imperceptibly, and skin c r a w l s . It’s difficult, keeping the MALEVOLENT glow from a frigid, probing stare, and a sneer of contempt pulls at the bloodbender’s mouth once more, far more hidden. Optics carve a crooked path to Katara’s shifting digits, and, abruptly, they cease. He does not need to move fingers to tap into another’s systems.
The blood—-it is sluggish in her extremities, not painful, but enough to get the POINT across.
Not here.
❝ I am hardly the judge of my own skill. But he was not… kind nor lenient with his methods. I learned quickly. ❞ Amon’s tone is gruff, clipped, guarded. But the surprise that there is another similar to he and his brother——it is enough to have him scanning, on his toes, surprised. He is not fond of surprises. He is not fond of those who are potentially more powerful than he is.
❝ ——-no. From what I remember, he didn’t know. I did not know until now, either. But if you wish to turn me in, injure me, kill me, I assure you, I will FIGHT to drag you down with me. ❞ A warning, more than a threat.
{ ●•۰•☯•۰•● }
The man’s lips curl in a way that makes her stomach twist, causes her blood to curdle (it could, at his hand, she thinks – but she’s strong enough to put up a good fight. a fight is becoming a very real possibility as they glare at each other– two gazes of similar stature, of similar pasts). She keeps her poise, shoulders thrown back and tongue running over her bottom lip every few moments as if to remind him she’s still there, still alert. She doesn’t even have to move to show him exactly how attentive she is, exactly how observant she can be. Icy eyes size him up one last time, ( inhale, exhale ) and she smiles when he speaks.
Now that she’s paying attention it’s becoming more and more clear that he’s been stringing her along all this time, lying with practiced ease. He’s not the only one who’s been pretending, though – Katara’s a liar too, and now that she knows his secret ( and he, in turn, knows hers ) she’s able to play this game too, a game they’ve both been playing all along.
“ You’re not, hm ? ” she’s fully aware of the bond between a master and an apprentice – she wasn’t Hama either, but there was a certain pull that, when the right moves were performed, she felt herself becoming the older woman, becoming intoxicated with the power. It was addicting and terrifying all at once, but sometimes, only sometimes, it was worth the risk. She lifts her brows, but suddenly, that tug of control is turned on her. It’s been a long time since she’s felt this, she controls her breathing, ( this is not the time to panic, Katara ) tightens her grasp on her arms. To know there is another like her ( young, smart, —- daring, even ) is equally as pleasing as it is scary. She swallows, eyelids falling halfway shut as she loosens her grasp on his blood and begins a sort of defensive maneuver, taking control of her own blood and showing him he won’t control her.
Lips turn townwards as the other quickly becomes hostile – but she listens to his words, steady, short, and honest. She decides from now on that’s what she’ll be: honest. There’s no use in lying now that he can see right through her. Eyes widen just slightly when he challenges her, and she almost gives out a laugh ( of fear? of amusement? she doesn’t know for sure ). Shoulders hunch just slightly, skin prickling as she casts out her power to grasp his full attention. The waterbender is about to give him an earful about questioning her authority here – Master Katara, friend of the Avatar, one of the elite who helped to save the world – how dare he –
…she stops, relaxing her body, her power. She hears the Avatar breathing in her ear, calling her to give up the power she’s desired to use for so long, the power she was born to master. She lifts her chin, watching him. He could have been her brother, cousin, uncle – he could have been a stranger unrelated to her tribe altogether– it would not make a difference. She nods slowly, just once, and casts out her senses again, looking for others nearby. What she’s about to say will not be heard by unknown pairs of ears.
“ The Avatar knows about me, ” she says slowly, letting her arms fall to her sides, taking a step to the side, walking in a circle around the man ( to get the blood flowing, one might say, but the phrase is too serious to use now ), “ as does my family, and the Fire Lord, and all the most powerful people in the world, ” she chooses her words carefully, “ including you, now. ” Pause, head lifted high, eyes sharp. She stops walking, body very still. “ Up until now I have not had to worry about being turned in, because bloodbending was mine, and mine alone, and I’m trusted – and you are not.” she breathes, licking her lips nervously.
“ That said… ” she softens, but her guard is up as quickly as it fell, “I don’t want to hurt you, ”eyes narrow once again,“ but use this power, this gift we’ve been blessed with– and I will not hesitate to end your life, ” she turns her back, mouth open, as if she’s baring her teeth, “ and this, will be mine once again. ” and to be brutally honest, she prefers it that way.
