The Equalist movement, with its deception exposed, its spiritual leader disgraced, its funding cut off, and a wave of arrests decimating its ranks, had become a ghost slowly fading from the city—much to Tarrlok's frustration.
Not only because he now had to figure out how to get his brother out without anyone connecting them—spending days coming up with plans—but also because his main source of political merit and recognition for the upcoming weeks had completely collapsed, ruining several of his carefully laid ambitions.
But the one responsible for that had far more immediate concerns than the feelings of a corrupt bloodbending politician.
"I gave my father-in-law a heart attack?!"
Jin was speechless when Asami told him what had happened.
Apparently, the combination of losing everything he had invested so much time and money into, finding out that Asami was a waterbender, and realizing that his daughter's boyfriend was Jin Beifong—the real one, and the cause of the Equalists' downfall—had simply been too much for his heart to handle all at once.
We're talking about a man who, even after serving four years in prison, hadn't changed his ideals about benders. He understood that what he had done was illegal, but his only regret was that his quest for revenge had cost him the one thing he had left: his daughter.
"Don't worry, the doctors say he's out of danger for now," said Asami, endlessly grateful to Korra for making emergency healing one of her first waterbending lessons. "But he'll have to stay in the hospital for a while under medication, and I'll need to take over Future Industries."
It wasn't how they had expected things to turn out, nor how they had planned them—but it wasn't the worst outcome either. Who knows? Maybe Hiroshi would decide to retire because of this.
Although earning her father's approval was going to be… difficult.
Right now, the couple was sitting in a park, taking advantage of a quiet moment together after all the chaos. Jin's public reappearance, along with the fact that he could fly despite being an earthbender, had journalists chasing him like hyenas.
"At the risk of sounding pessimistic, you should prepare the company for the blow," Jin warned, making sure no one else was around. "Lin and her people have been requisitioning way more equipment than they did during the Equalist mess, trying to stamp out the last embers. And some have noticed that part of it looks like Future Industries tech."
It was inevitable, really. Hiroshi hadn't exactly been subtle about his designs, and the police weren't stupid—especially after Lin cleaned out all the useless officers and the ones who took bribes under the table.
Finally, some good use for her lie-detection skills!
And as Chief of Police, she didn't need proof to fire someone—she had the final word!
Sure, the staff had been reduced, but it was mostly nonbenders and admin workers—easy to replace. At worst, Lin would be busy for a few days doing job interviews.
"Don't worry, I already have a plan," said Asami, resting her head on Jin's shoulder. "Inkasha and Kyoshi helped me track down the engineers who assisted my father. If the police come knocking on Future Industries' door, I've got a list and enough evidence to hand them over, proving it was their private work and not the company's responsibility."
A smart move—cut off a corner to save the rest—but…
"They'll talk once they realize they've been sold out."
"Let them talk; it's their word against mine," Asami shrugged. "I can frame them as Equalists who stole expensive materials and patented company tech. They'd be facing twenty to fifty years in prison instead of five if they kept quiet." She smiled slyly. "Of course, there'll still be suspicions—but when it 'accidentally' leaks who my boyfriend is, the man who brought down Amon, those suspicions will melt away faster than an ice cube in the sun."
Jin was speechless. He had not seen that move coming.
"You're going to use me as a smokescreen?!"
"Yes. Does it bother you?" Asami laughed, flashing him a teasing smile.
"I should kiss you right now."
"Do it."
….
Preventing Col Corporation from being incriminated kept its income steady, but Jin couldn't stop thinking about how to deal with Tarrlok. He wasn't going to leave Noatak in prison—whether that meant breaking him out himself or contacting the city gangs to silence him. The relationship between those brothers was… complicated.
Besides, without his powers, Noatak wasn't much of a threat. Nobody even knew how he'd lost them.
After the "accidents" suffered by two of the four Council members during the Equalist crisis, Tenzin was now the only one maintaining some balance in the government—but it wouldn't last. He was too honest to play politics.
The Council would either be dissolved to make way for a new system, or new members would have to be elected—but the first option seemed more likely.
"You could do what you did with Ozai," suggested Kyoshi once Jin returned home, now considering the need for more staff before he left for Zaofu. "He's a bloodbender and rarely alone. You won't have the same advantage you did with Noatak. He could take hostages too easily."
She was right—Kyoshi had been the only one to witness how he had ended the Hundred Year War by taking down Ozai in a rather anticlimactic but undeniably effective way.
"That could actually work," Jin nodded, not the least bit offended by the suggestion. "Ah! I need to prepare a gift for Pema—she must have given birth by now!"
What was the baby's name again?
He only remembered it was a boy, like Meelo—and another airbender.
Hmm…
"Jin!" Kyoshi called. "Are you even listening to me?"
"What?"
Was he spacing out again?
"Stop daydreaming, someone's at the door," said Kyoshi, floating and circling him. "You're not going to believe who it is."
Curious, Jin went to open it—and she was right.
"Hello," greeted a visibly uncomfortable man, as if he wasn't sure coming here was a good idea.
What was Noatak's lieutenant doing here?!
Shouldn't he be behind bars?
"I don't suppose my niece just let you walk free, did she?" Jin asked.
"Uh… may I come in first?" The man didn't seem to know where to look.
Jin sighed.
"Fine, come in."
He quickly scanned him from head to toe—no weapons, not even a toothpick—just some bills in his pocket.
They sat down in the dining room, and Jin floated over a metal tray with drinks on it—a little trick for surprise guests… and because he didn't have servants yet.
It was simply convenient; he even had three more trays like that waiting in the kitchen, prepped for whenever he felt like having a drink without standing up.
"I'm all ears. But first, I'm curious—how did Lin let you go?"
"I gave her the location of some key warehouses and named a few politicians who supported the cause," the man with the Fu Manchu mustache replied. "When Amon—no, when I learned the truth about Noatak, I realized the cause I believed in was nothing but a lie. I don't regret helping to expose it."
Jin kept calm, but he could tell the man wasn't lying.
"What's your name?"
It had never been revealed in the show or comics—he'd always just been the lieutenant.
"My name is Retsu. Retsu Han."
Han? Having a family name was still rare in this era. There was clearly a backstory there—but perhaps for another time.
"Alright then, what brings you here?" Jin asked directly, not hiding his curiosity. "You don't seem to be here for revenge."
Kyoshi stood beside him, arms crossed, but equally intrigued.
"No!" Retsu quickly denied. "When I found out who you were, I…," he trailed off mid-sentence, visibly frustrated with himself. Taking a deep breath, he finally said, "I'd like to work for you. Please."
Jin: ???
"The reason?" he asked, setting his drink down. "And tell me the truth. If you know enough about me, you should know there's no point lying."
Retsu hesitated, then spoke:
"My grandparents worked for you—in the Mechanist's workshop," he confessed. "I grew up hearing how amazing you were. But after a bandit raid, we had to move here. My mother was killed by a waterbender mugger, and my father worked himself to death trying to support me and my grandparents." He rubbed his face, clearly uncomfortable with the memory. "Later, my grandparents died because of a firebender. Amon found me when I was drowning in grief, told me about his mission, and remembering what my grandparents said about you, I thought…"
"So working for me is kind of a childhood dream?" Jin asked, surprised, while Kyoshi covered her mouth, trying not to burst out laughing.
"It's embarrassing to admit, but yes," Retsu said honestly.
Again—the truth.
Kyoshi, stop laughing so hard! She wasn't even trying to hold it in anymore…
"What skills or abilities do you have?" Jin asked, suddenly very interested. "Besides electrocuting people, I mean."
"Given my recent experience, I'd say I'm quite capable in personnel and resource management," Retsu said nervously, scratching his hand. "Task assignment, supply purchases, time planning…"
Jin nodded, his expression gradually changing.
Was this guy really the Equalists' second-in-command?
Setting aside the combat and chi-blocking, Retsu was basically describing the skillset of a highly competent head butler.
No wonder Noatak had valued him so much!
And his timing couldn't be better.
"Aren't you worried you'll bring me trouble?"
If Jin suddenly hired the Equalists' lieutenant right after taking down their leader, people would definitely talk.
"Apart from Noatak, no one knows my real face," Retsu shook his head.
He had only shown it once—during a raid on a councilwoman while disguised as a pest exterminator—and the person who had accompanied him on that mission had recently died from an unfortunate fall.
Jin sensed the truth in his words. It made sense; the man had always worn a mask covering the upper half of his face…
He asked a few more probing questions to check for ulterior motives, but Retsu seemed sincere about wanting to work for him.
That would do.
"Alright, here's what we'll do," Jin said, interlacing his fingers as he made his offer. "You're honest, so I'll give you a chance. You'll work for me over the next few months. Do a good job, and you'll have a permanent position."
"Thank you for the opportunity," Retsu said, standing and bowing.
"Not so fast. There's one condition."
"A… condition?"
What kind of condition could it be?
Did Jin want him to personally take out Noatak? If so, he'd gladly—
"Shave," Jin said, pointing at Retsu's face. "Maybe no one saw your face, but that mustache of yours is pretty distinctive. If you're going to work for me, I won't tell you how to dress or style yourself—but you have to look presentable."
"Alright…" Retsu agreed reluctantly. Giving up his beloved 'sage mustache' hurt, but it was a small price to pay to move on with his life.
"Good," Jin said, satisfied that he didn't object. "Now then, here's your first task…"
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Happy New Year to all!