Lin rolled her eyes, adjusting her hat and sunglasses. Akashi, on the other hand, wore a hat to cover his head.
After kidnapping one person, Tarrlok didn't stop. He went on a tour around the city, entering the houses of some of the most influential people. Some had guards and servants, so it seemed he asked for private meetings with them—in his car.
And it was obvious they got knocked out in his car by the use of bloodbending.
Akashi had been there.
The Police Chief was with him—someone who held all the power in Republic City and could open an investigation without needing anyone's permission. Of course, if the majority of the council agreed to lay her off or the mayor decided to replace her, that would be a different story. But if she decided to arrest someone for investigation, not even a judge's permission was needed.
"That son of a bitch… to be a bloodbender this whole time," she muttered under her breath as she took off her coat, seeming to get hot with anger. "He's already kidnapped two. Do you think he'll stop here?"
"I think he'll fill up the last seat in his car," Akashi replied, letting out a scoffing smirk. "That fucker makes it seem like they're willingly following him."
Akashi followed him, and Lin kept stealing glances his way. The Police Chief had some questions to ask.
"There's something you need to clear up for me," she said, crossing her arms.
Suspecting she might ask how he knew Tarrlok would do such a thing, he decided to change the subject.
"You're on your day off. I don't take orders," he teased, sticking out his tongue.
"Very well, just remember tomorrow isn't," she sneered evilly. She was indirectly telling him she could make his life a living hell—both at work and outside of it.
"Trust me, tomorrow you'll be kissing my ass because of how big the case I'm presenting to you is," Akashi laughed.
The truth was, with Tarrlok exposed, Akashi knew Lin would forget about him as soon as they started chasing Tarrlok.
'Well, she's very calm…' Akashi looked at his hand. 'I touched the boobs of the police chief. That's a story every one of my sons and great-grandsons would hear.'
Akashi was driving more excitedly than usual, following Tarrlok's trail as he loaded the men he'd kidnapped into his car.
Akashi had taken pictures of everything—recording proof.
On a personal level, Akashi had nothing on Tarrlok.
Yet Tarrlok was the key to the Earth Queen's influence in this city. That, and the fact that Tarrlok was behind some triads operating here, with influence both inside and outside the mayor's building.
Cutting him off would mean the Earth Queen lost her grip.
The triads would lose power. And the real estate market might finally stop being manipulated. Maybe not—the real estate market would probably still suffer after Korra's actions.
No wonder people hated her—even in her world, people and spirits hated the next generation of Avatars because of her.
Next to him, Lin Beifong looked pissed off. Her skin was shivering, muscles twitching.
Akashi gave her a look. Those muscles were seriously toned.
He glanced down at his own arms—skinny, with only a trace of muscle, no bulk. Then back at hers.
'Maybe I should ask her for pointers later,' Akashi thought as his eyes drifted to her shoulder. 'But if her arms are this toned and she's a woman, I wonder about her glutes or quads… Mmm… 'Her thighs are large and well-shaped enough…'
'My gym bro's instinct.'
"What are you staring at?" she asked, eyes wide open, following his gaze.
You know, when you stare at someone's forehead, they might mistakenly think you're making eye contact.
But when you look at a woman's shoulder or arm from the side—you can tell.
"The mirror. The rearview mirror." Akashi stopped following Tarrlok once the latter left the city.
She tightened her gaze and said, "Keep following him."
Akashi coughed.
If the nurse he visited for workout purposes thought he had a crush on her just because he accidentally stared once at her butt, what would the police chief think?
As Tarrlok drove, Akashi followed from a distance. Surrounding Republic City were snowy mountains.
On one of them stood a two-story residence. Tarrlok parked and made the men in his car float inside.
Akashi snapped another picture.
"Absolute cinema," he muttered from a distance.
Lin stepped out of her car, saying, "I'm going to arrest him right here and now."
Akashi quickly opened his door and chased after her.
"Wait, Chief. Don't do that!" he said.
"What's your concern?" she said, ready for action. As expected from the woman who changed an island because Tenzin broke up with her.
Akashi grabbed her arm, trying to stop her.
"You're…" he was about to say stupid. "You're not making the smart choice."
She walked forward, dragging him along.
"All that'll happen is you'll get bloodbent," he reasoned, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her. "Then both of us will end up in his cabin."
"Fine. Just put me down," she scoffed, elbowed Akashi to put her down, walked back to the car, and harrumphed.
Akashi got in the driver's seat and drove.
"This is your second warning for harassment. The third will be your last," she said.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Akashi denied. What harassment? Lifting her from behind, staring at her physique like a gym bro?
"The nurse in your department would have something to say otherwise," Lin deadpanned.
"Oh… Wait… wait. I can explain," Akashi said.
She sighed. "Forget it; I have bigger troubles to deal with."
"That's right. Tarrlok, a bloodbender, could kick the asses of an entire unit and maybe escape," Akashi said, honestly. "If we issue a warrant now, he'll just lead the city's underworld. And with the Avatar out of the picture, no one can stop him."
"Okay. If you were in my place, what would you do?" she asked.
"First of all, we know his hideout," Akashi said. "The men he kidnapped are influential. He wouldn't kill them; people have seen them leaving with him. Tarrlok is a politician. To him, votes and position are the most important things. He'd threaten them or use them as leverage."
"So, we have time. The moment he goes to the council, we can prepare a trap," Akashi said. "Even if a hundred men can't defeat one person, that person's still in the zoo for a reason."
"If I were you, knowing where he is, I'd get some lightning benders from the electricity station. Better yet, limit his escape routes and ambush him. Since he's a bloodbender, it'd be best if we stayed out of his range and attacked from afar."
Akashi had more plans but couldn't share everything.
The Police Chief suddenly turned to him and smirked. "You sly bastard. You planned all this from the moment you honked at me, didn't you? You knew what was going to happen."
"That's a lie," he shook his head.
"You even somehow found the truth about Tarrlok and managed to predict every move he'd make—if not made him do what he did to catch evidence," she said.
"You have a wild imagination, Chief," Akashi laughed. "I was just lucky."
"Stop pretending to be dumb; that might work on others, but not me. Spill the beans."
"Hey, remember when I told you he was behind my arrest and you refused to act? That's when I knew what was going to happen. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," Akashi said. "You've got no right to be angry."
That was the only reason he'd told her—so it seemed like he was investigating Tarrlok intensely, not manipulating him into a blunder.
"I'm not angry. I'm genuinely impressed," she raised her eyebrows. "Not all Airbenders are idiots."
"Anyways, I still have a request," Akashi demanded.
"What is it?" she asked.