ADH- So, after a violent prologue like that, how do PipTook and me follow that up? Well, just read on and find out. Oh and be sure to leave reviews too!
She had seen many grotesque sights in her life. The Triads were fairly horrible with their fighting. Amon taking her bending away gave her nightmares. The sight of Korra falling to the ground after the poison was consuming her; those were horrible, but the sight before her... She just could not find words for it. There was a neck stabbing. The split skull was gut wrenching and one of her officers had to leave due to finding a rat pigeon already consuming one of the member's chest cavity. Not to mention Mako... the firebender was emptying his stomach of the morning's meal.
"Get it together gentlemen. It's just another murder scene." She said feeling sick herself but she could at least keep it in.
"No offense, but this isn't just some murder scene, Chief," one of the officers spoke up, "Shit. This was a massacre, in the name of the spirits, we even got a guy split in two at the frickin' waist!" he pointed out at said corpse.
Chief Bei Fong let out a long sigh of frustration before walking over to Mako. He was now standing up straight, recovering.
"I want a basic report by the end of today."
"Yes Chief." He said, trying to look as professional as he possibly could.
The sounds of another cop vomiting reminded Lin as to why she was leaving now.
Now that he was in charge of the crime scene, Mako began taking photographs of each body. He had to take a break from his work often just to recover from being sick again. He made a mental note to check his files on the Triple Threat Triads as he was beginning to think that this was possibly a gang related turf-war fight. No, not a fight. This looked like an ambush, but by which Triad? He kneeled by another body. His brow lifted as he looked at the man's neck.
"I guess that taught you to watch your back." Mako commented as he stared at the man. The man's neck was twisted unnaturally but then he noticed a bruise on the cheek of the guy, like he was punched hard... and it was in direction of how the neck snapped.
"Detective, we've found a live one."
That snapped the detective out of it as he quickly rushed over. The cop moved revealing a young woman. Her eyes were still wide as she sat behind dumpsters.
"Let's get her to the hospital. I will be over there soon to question her."
He took his time getting to the hospital. A part of him was still reeling over the crime scene and another just wanted some tea and food to fill his stomach again. The second time tasting breakfast left a foul taste in his mouth. He stopped by his apartment making sure to brush his teeth before doing anything else. It was almost to quiet though. He swore that Korra would be awake by now.
After setting the teapot on the stove, he knocked on her bedroom door. When no one answered, he opened it. Sure enough, Korra was still sleeping. Mako walked in and pulled the blankets off of her.
"Get up Korra. It's almost midday."
"Go away." She mumbled. As one of her arms began to search for her blanket, Mako couldn't help but give a small smile.
"You are the laziest Avatar ever."
"Am not and you know it..." she slowly sat up rubbing her face, "There's just nothing that needs the Avatar's powers right now."
"Alright. I'm about to go back to work soon. Hopefully I am home tonight. Can you at least get up for the day?"
Korra threw a thumbs up at him causing Mako to chuckle as he left the room. He headed back to the kitchen for his cup of tea and snack. He quickly ate in silence before Korra walked out in her sleeveless shirt and pajamas.
"The water is still hot if you would like any." He said standing up, "I have to go though. I'm working on a strange murder case and it's already made me sick."
Korra stretched and yawned, "Sounds wonderful. I'm going to just drink tea and listen to radio shows today. These soap operas are getting addictive."
Mako rolled his eyes before giving her a pat on the back, "Just don't burn anything in boredom... Or paint anything."
This roommate mocked him with a fake salute, "Yes sir, Detective. This block will still be standing when you get home."
The detective grunted in a humored way as he walked out of the apartment. He put his helmet on and got onto his motorcycle.
When he was finally allowed into the woman's room, he saw that she was still shaken up but was talking. One of the officers had started to tell jokes attempting to lighten the mood. His latest one was interrupted when Mako cleared his throat.
"Miss," he started calmly, "I am Detective Mako. I'm here to ask you what happened last night. Can I get your name and can you start at what you were doing?"
"My name is Song. I was walking with a Mover Theater owner. I think he said his name was Piadu."
"Why were you with him?"
"I was... He saw me at the local bar Kan's and we started talking."
"Kan's? You don't look legal to drink. How old are you?"
Song looked down, but proceeded to talk. "... sixteen... but I didn't drink. I didn't get the chance."
"And you were walking with him before it happened; why?" He asked before realizing why as she blushed and turned away. "Oh... Well, can you continue about what happened?"
She continued to retell the story often having to stop. Tears had been gathering in her eyes the entire time and her voice choked up often. It was getting to the point where Mako had to repeat the story just to make sure that he understood her.
"Let me get this straight... again," Mako sighed, fighting the urge to pinch his nose, "Piadu started talking to you in Kan's Bar. He knew you were underage. Then the Triple Threats come because he owed them money so they kill him. Then out of nowhere this man shows up with a sword, kills the men in various brutal ways and then disappears?"
Song nodded before adding, "He told me to go home, like I was supposed to forget what I saw."
Mako nodded, "Thank you Miss Song. I hope you feel better. The officers and nurses here will make sure you are taken care of."
With that, he left the room. He would head back to the police station to file his report. On his desk, he was given an older report from one of the other cops about a former Equalist whose face had been sliced off. It was a very similar style to the one Triad member whose head was sliced in two, but there were no witnesses to confirm anything. When he brought his report to Chief Bei Fong, she gave him the same reaction. She pinched her nose, mumbling some choice words that the press would have a field day with.
The hallway to his apartment looked marvelous as he left the stairwell. He was looking forward to flopping onto the couch and catching the latest game show on the radio. Mako really needed something brainless, yet funny... and then he walked into his apartment. The fresh scent of paint filled his nose. His once white and green walls were now crimson and gold. Korra was bored again. At least she remembered to cover the furniture with cloth... and she was singing along with the radio like a fool.
"Korra? What is this?" Mako held his arms out.
The Avatar was wearing a pair of messy coveralls. Her short hair was pulled back and she had some paint on her nose.
"The room felt like it needed a change." she then sighed, "I'm bored Mako. I haven't had an attempt on my life or someone wanting to destroy the world in the last two years. President Raiko barely lets me come to some of his meetings."
"Sounds like someone needs to try and take over the world again to get you going." Mako snickered, "Maybe I can pull some strings and have Kuvira released."
"No, I don't think she would even think it funny. I'm almost tempted to don both a cap and mask and then become a vigilante in the city. Asami already has me taking a small vacation from her place. Oh, maybe I should talk to Bolin about getting a part in one of his movers."
"Why are you not staying at Asami's again?"
Korra breathed in deeply frowning slightly, "She wanted help with a room. It had this old wallpaper so I brought some random paint colors and decided to use airbending to paint the room. Well, let's just say that some of her antique furniture became pink and orange."
"Korra, you need a new hobby. Painting valuables is not a way to make your girlfriend happy... Trust me, I know."
"I know you know, Mr. Cool-under-fire." She then pointed her paint brush towards the kitchen, "I made dinner this time and I managed to not burn it! I am becoming the perfect roommate during this down time."
"That only took you five years to learn." Mako stated before heading to the kitchen, "Tastes good too. I thought not doing your Avatar duties was a nice change?"
"It was the first year and then I decided to become a painter. We all know that I don't paint well. No one lets me paint their rooms! I don't even charge them anything!"
Mako laughed, "I know but this time it looks good. I wonder how long it will take until the landlord decides that he doesn't?"
Korra shrugged, "I'll work my Avatar ways and change his mind."
Mako shook his head. "That man is too stubborn. Not even ten Avatars in Avatar States would change his mind."
The Avatar's shoulders fell forward, "Fine, I'll repaint the walls... again."
"Good idea. It will keep you busy tomorrow."
Korra put her brush away and began to set the table allowing Mako to change out of his uniform.
Minutes later, they were both lounging on the couch. The radio was playing a comedy show that Bolin was lending his voice to for a small part as a vendor. Mako had his head lying back on a pillow, his eyes closed as he was listening closely to the radio. They were simply enjoying the rare night of Mako being off work and enjoyed each others company. He eventually rolled to his side and laid next to Korra allowing her to knead his shoulders.
"You weren't lying when you said you had a rough day."
Mako let out a happy grunt. Rough did not explain it enough.
Across the city, a single man walked to his apartment by the pier, minding his own business as he just finished his work shift, sun slowly coming down. Clad in a simple factory worker's uniform, he was in his early forties with short black hair and a lantern chin.
He passed by various kids bending up some water and using it for a water fight. He grunted at the sight. Then he almost bumped into the local homeless guy, an old man with wild bushy white hair and beard. "Oh, sorry Liu." the man said.
"Ah, it be alrighty Dae-Su, could be worse. The ol' monkey dragons be watching out for me as I be the Magic Mushroom king wouldn't let me get hurt- LOOK, A ROCK!" The clearly insane hobo said running over to not a rock but a trash can, tripping into it. "OW! Not a rock!"
"... huh." The man known as Dae-Su said before resuming on his way and passing by another homeless man near the shadows. He seemed to be sitting and resting. Never saw that one before, but he didn't care, some people end up homeless. It happens.
He unlocked his door to his apartment and entered it. He soon turned on the lights and could hear a couple seemingly... having one of their private moments. "It's gonna be a long night..." He said to himself taking out some veggies about to prepare a meal.
Then some argument was heard catching his attention as it was coming from the halls. He opened the door and seen some unruly looking teens looking to be in the middle of a dispute, something about how fast they can run through the halls and hit against a wall, something that made Dae-Su groan internally. He closed the door and locked it.
Suddenly, a noise was heard like a slither. Dae-Su turned around seeing nothing out of place. Well, some dirty clothes were on the ground, but that was normal. "Huh..." He said, "Must be an animal in the walls. Super needs to do something about it." He resumed cutting up some food.
But the sound rang through again, this time louder causing Dae-Su to jump in surprise. When he turned around, there was nothing. Now this was getting weird.
So taking the knife he was using to cut his food, Dae-Su slowly began to walk around the apartment looking around just for anything off. As he did, he swore something was around. It certainly made a loud enough sound.
But alas, he didn't find anything. Nothing that could be deemed messed up or just overall creepy.
CRASH!
That scared Dae-Su and he turned to his door. Something banged against it. Slowly approaching it as silently as he could, he got to it looking in the peephole ready for whatever was behind it.
But all he saw were two punks walking in the hallway looking to be bragging about their stupid stunt, rubbing their sore areas of their bodies. That made the older man just shake his head.
"Fucking idiots..."
Then the lights went out making the man groan. "Oh, I will have a word with the Super about this..."
So, he turned to put his knife away but suddenly tripped into something, dropping his knife and falling on the ground. "AH!" Dae-Su said grunting in pain as he looked at his leg... but then realized what he tripped on.
It was... some sort of dark tentacle that slithered, surprising him. He then heard the knife behind him as it was picked up. Looking back, he saw the tentacle slither back to its source, a dark looking man.
"Spirits..." Dae-Su said, horrified at what he saw, looking into the man's lone eye. "Please, no, ha-" He said before the man raised his hand making a tentacle burst from the shadows around his neck and threw him across the counter against the wall.
"AH!" Dae-Su yelled in pain trying to get up using the counter to help him. Suddenly the lone man grabbed his hand by the wrist, holding it down before striking the knife down and severing three of Dae-Su's finger's off to his shock.
"Ah, ah, AAHHH!" He screamed trying to stop the blood squirting out of his wound as he ran to the window. He tried to knock on the windows to get those Liu's attention but the crazed homeless man didn't seem to notice him as he was focused on eating out of the garbage. Then the man grabbed him by his shoulders and back of the head with his hands.
"No you fucking don't!" The man said slamming Dae-Su face first into the window, cracking it and busting his forehead open in the process before being thrown on the ground.
In bloody pain, Dae-Su tried crawling away before the man stepped down on his back with all of his weight making him scream as he was picked up by his back and slammed into the ceiling before falling belly first back on the ground.
Next thing Dae-Su knew, he was being thrown through his door, smashing through it against the hallway wall. He looked up as blood was messing up his vision but he didn't see the man. He knew he had to get out so he rushed to his neighbor's door, knocking frantically on it.
"Let me in! LET ME IN! HELP! ME!" Dae-Su screamed, but it seemed they didn't want to be involved. Then he stopped as he heard the slither, turning to see the man behind him with his katana in hand. "Please, have mercy!"
"Sorry... All out of that." The man said before suddenly slicing sideways at Dae-Su's head before he could make another sound, slicing his head in half at the jawline and watching the top half hit the ground as the body just stood there, blood shooting up and hitting the ceiling and walls as if frozen in place.
The man then walked silently back into Dae-Su's apartment, looking around for something before seeing it. It was a newspaper and one certain article caught his attention. A small wicked smile formed on his face as he heard the neighbor's open their door, seeing Dae-Su's corpse and screaming in horror.
That was his cue to leave, taking the newspaper with him as he simply walked into the shadowy corner of one room. When the neighbors looked in there, no one was there, not even in the shadows.