Story: Missing

Chapter: 2

A/N- Thanks for the faves, follows, and reviews! On another note, I did not mention Asami's equalizer glove because I felt it wouldn't fit in with the story. So, let me just remind you she has combat skills. Anyway, enjoy the story!

She woke up in the back of a van trying to recall the events of last night. Fear, something she hadn't felt since Amon took her bending, struck her right in her heart. Her blue eyes scanned the tiny space she was trapped in and for a moment she thought she was dreaming. No, Korra began to think, it's real.

And she couldn't do anything.

Her hands were rope tied, her mouth gagged by a piece of fabric. Ming-Hua and P'Li were seated in the back with her. A conversation was taking place, over what she couldn't tell. It frightened her, the idea that she was a helpless human being in a scenario that wouldn't play out well. She hoped her friends were searching for her though a part of her wasn't going to rely on fate. Instead, Korra was going to be logical about the issue and not dive head first into a mass of problems. Zaheer and his gang wanted her for a reason. For what she didn't know. She didn't need to be curious about it.

She didn't want to be.

I don't believe your shit for even a minute.

"No."

"What?"

"You heard me."

Tension filled the car when the three teens went to locate Korra. Mako got into the backseat of the jeep, mumbling incompetent words Asami assumed was directed at her. She wasn't going to say anything. Bolin looked back and forth between the two, a confused gaze on his face. He wanted to ask why his brother and Asami weren't behaving like their usual selves, but he knew it'd be best to stay out of it. What went on between them wasn't his business.

Mako kept sending heated glares in Asami's direction as she looked at the rear view mirror. She smirked, clearly enjoying his anger then she frowned. This was supposed to be a rescue mission and here she was becoming distracted from the task at hand. She'd make amends with Mako eventually. Although, she thought bitterly, he might not accept my apology given the fact that he's the one who has to apologize to me.

Bolin was the only person with an exuberant attitude during the mission. He was always willing to take risks for his friends, but no one really questioned his actual motives. Mako was someone he admired though what he really wanted was to be himself. Mako managed to be successful at an important part of his own life and so did Bolin. Not that that mattered much because his older brother never gave him a glance once he became a police officer. Boin loved his brother, he really did, but sometimes he didn't want to be remembered as Mako's younger brother all the time.

Asami took the keys out of the engine. "Well, why don't look around for a bit? Maybe Zaheer and his gang passed through this town." The car was parked behind a huge boulder and it seemed that the road they drove the car on was nothing but sand as evident by the tire tracks left on the ground.

Mako got out of the car and immediately ran towards the nearest building. Asami and Bolin followed him and both made the conclusion that it was a bar.

Mako stood near the entrance and his amber eyes browsed the place in speculation. Men with swords and other weapons talked quietly among themselves as if the presence of a teenager in their space was normal. Flyers taped on the wall is what captured his interest. Bolin stood next to him and thought he had a pretty good idea why all four members of Team Avatar had posters and, like always, Mako corrected him.

"We aren't all celebrities Bolin. These are wanted posters signed by the Earth Queen. She wants us for," he read the language inscribed on the flyers,"taking conscripted airbenders and we have committed crimes against her."

Asami stood behind the brothers and lightly tapped Mako's shoulder. He turned around and found her facing the front of the bar. She stared at the men casually sitting down and giving her suspicious looks. She was terrified and that's when Mako's parental instincts kicked in.

"Let's go guys." He grabbed Bolin by his arm and gently grabbed Asami's. She stayed frozen in her spot until Mako pulled her outside. Mako didn't yell at her either. She was in shock because if they were to start a fight with a bunch of strangers, she wouldn't have an object to fight back with. He remembered the empty trunk of the car and wondered how she would protect herself when him and Bolin weren't with her. That's also what made Mako realize just how vulnerable Asami was most of the time and who she could count on to defend her.

Korra.

It occurred to him right then and there that even if Asami was to rely on her combat skills during a battle it wouldn't be enough if she was against benders. After all, she was the odd one out in the group for this exact reason. Korra made her feel empowered and gave her confidence to continue on despite how impossible it seemed. Now that the Avatar was gone, Asami must have lost her hope and it explains why she would want back down from any fighting all in fear that she would be fatally harmed.

I'm a jerk for not realizing this sooner, Mako thought silently to himself.

He watched as the others spoke with citizens and from the way things were going they hadn't gotten much information. Bolin wore a saddened expression while Asami didn't have nothing but a blank face. They weren't having much luck with the investigation.

The team was falling apart at the seams.

What used to be companionship and understanding was pure hatred and confusion since they had all lost their ways. Together, they were searching for Korra but individually they had inner thoughts that divided them as a whole. If Korra was here, they'd be working like they knew each other for years and now, with them all choosing to fail on this mission, division was imminent.