This morning had started out so promising. Bolin was training with his brother and girlfriend in the gym, having some quality time together. But then the owner of the area, and their landlord, came in to give them their earnings for last nights match, only to immediately take it all back to pay for rent, Korra's new gear, gym rentals from last month and of course groceries. If that wasn't bad enough it turns out they needed to ante up 30000 yuans for the championship pot and if they didn't come up with the cash by the end of the week they were out of the tournament.
So with that in mind Bolin came up with the idea to have Pabu preform some of the circus tricks he had been teaching him, but neither Mako or Korra really had faith in that idea. But Mako reassured them that he would think of something, he always did. And Korra promised that she would do all she could to help, but she needed to head back home to resume her Airbending training, so after giving him a parting kiss on the cheek she raced back to Air Temple Island.
But despite what either of them have said Bolin went forward with his idea, confident that people would be blow away by Pabu's talents and reward said talents with lots of money. Only to have that confidence shattered as all he had to show for all his hours of work being one measly yuan coin in a cup.
"One yuan down, 29999 to go." he said while dejectedly staring at the coin. But just then a highly customized Satomobile drove up in front of him. The driver revealed himself to be a shady looking Water Tribe man appropriately named Shady Shen.
"Bolin, is that you?" the gangster asked casually.
"Oh, hey Shady Shen." Bolin responded halfheartedly.
"Heard your a big time Pro-Bender now, not bad." said the crooked man with slightly a condescending tone as he approached the young man.
"Thanks." Bolin said sarcastically quickly getting sick of talking to this guy. "Cut to the chase Shen, what do you want?"
"Oh ho! Look who's grown some backbone since we last met! " Shen said a little impressed "Alright so here's the deal, Lightning Bolt Zolt is looking for some extra muscle. And I thought that you would be up for it, you know for old times sake."
"Nuh uh. No way. I am done with The Triple Threats, go bother some other poor schmuck with your sales pitch cause I ain't buying." Bolin said while turning his nose up at Shen.
"Aw, but your the only poor schmuck we need for this job. It's just a little security work, nothing crooked." Shen obviously lied. But to sweeten the deal he reached into his outer jacket and pulled out a wad of cash that he tossed into Bolin's cup. Bolin was honestly surprised by the amount of money he was just given, it looked to be 10000 yuans easily. "You game?" he asked with a self-satisfied smirk, confident he sealed the deal.
Bolin was honestly tempted to accept, but he knew that he would never forgive himself if he allowed himself to break his word to cut all ties with The Triple Threats. And that's nothing to say about what would happen if Mako and Korra found out if he did accept, he refused to disappoint either of them.
He picked up the wad of bills and tossed them back at Shen who caught it with stunned look on his face. "My answer is still no." he said steadfastly. "Come on Pabu." He picked all his stuff and began to walk away with his furry friend in tow, but the shady man still had an ace up his sleeve.
"Well look at little Bolin all grown up." he said with faux pride as he pulled out a small photo from his pocket "Has it really been 2 years since we last saw each other? My how time flies.." he trailed off as if he was actually reliving fond memories.
Curious as to what he was talking about Bolin turned his head to get a better look at the photo, only to feel a wave of horror wash over him. It was a picture of him and Mako sharing a small cake from his 14th birthday, with Lightning Bolt Zolt in the background with what looked like a proud smile on his face.
"Everyone knows that The Fire Ferrets used to be street urchins, little kids who came from nothing. But through hard work and grit were able to make something of themselves. A truly heartwarming underdog story, but we both know that's only half the story. Right Bo?" Shen said with that damn smirk. And he was right, neither he or Mako told any Pro-Bending officials about their time with The Triple Threats because no self respecting sports business would want to be associated with anyone who had ties to such a well know and powerful crime boss.
Bolin clenched his hand into fist so tight his knuckles cracked and he was about to bury the smug prick, but Shen just raised his hand in a stopping motion.
"Uh uh uh. We don't want to be making a scene now do we?" he asked rhetorically while gesturing to the people around them, some of who were watching the scene curiously. "Now you have two choices Bolin, you can either stick to your guns and walk away. Which might be the right thing to do, but also the dumb thing as I would have no choice but to do the right thing as well and let the Pro-Bending big shots know that they have a Triple Threat in their ranks." he said while tauntingly waving the picture. "Or you can do the smart thing and take the job. And as long as you play ball with us, this little photo and all the others we have of you and Mako, will never see the light of day. So champ, what's it gonna be?"
Shen had him by the balls, because their entire future was at stake. With how popular Pro-Bending was word would get out fast about this whole scandal. And after they were kicked out to save face every other business would want nothing to do with them in order to protect their own reputations. And that's nothing to say of what will happen to Korra's reputation if it got out that she was dating a criminal. He was given two choices, but he knew he only had one.
"*Sigh* Fine." Bolin said resignedly.
"I knew you would come around." Shen said smugly as he turned back to get in his car.
With Shen's back turned Bolin took the opportunity to give Pabu some instructions "Pabu, go find Mako!" he whispered quickly. The ferret understanding the order scurried off to do just that.
As Bolin joined Shen in the car, a question came to him that he just had to have answered. "Shen, why does Zolt really need extra muscle? And why me specifically?"
Shen pondered for a minute on whether or not he should answer before deciding it couldn't hurt to tell him a bit. "Well to make a long story short, something big is brewing in this city. And all the players are getting ready for whatever it is. And as for why you, well with all your big wins in the ring lately your one of the most popular picks on the market right now. Zolt wanted me to make sure we got you first. Believe me, you're lucky I did. A lot of the other guys in the game are not as..civil as me." he explained as he started the car.
Bolin shuddered a little because he knew Shen wasn't kidding, he remembered some of the "business deals" he witnessed while with The Triple Threats. Some of them got really..messy. And he always had to help clean up, he still had nightmares about those time to this day. It was one of the many reasons he and Mako tried to break free of that life, but now he was being roped back into it.
[And today started so promising.] he thought dejectedly to himself. [Well, it could be worse.]
(Later that night)
[It just got worse!] Bolin thought with terror running through his body as he was bound and gaged in the back of a truck with other Triple Threats. He had a faint glimmer of hope when he saw that Korra and Mako were trying to rescue him, but that hope was quickly snuffed out as he felt the truck stop and one the Equalists tell them that Amon was waiting for them.
Bolin had heard many stories about Amon, but a lot of them painted Amon so many different lights. Many said that Amon was an Anti-Bending Revolutionary. Others said Amon was a hero defending the weak from the criminal element of the city. And some said that Amon didn't even exsist. Hell in a lot of times in these stories most couldn't even agree on if Amon was a man, a woman or even human.
But what all these stories had in common was in telling that Amon was dangerous and if you happened to be their enemy, you're screwed. And Bolin hoped to any high power listening that he would be spared Amon wrath.
The truck doors opened, Equalists grabbed them and threw them on to the floor of a warehouse where the silhouette of Amon was waiting for them. With steps quiet as a shadow the sihouette approached them to reveal..
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