Trigger Warning: Angst, Suicidal thoughts

Grave

Mako was supposed to be in the headquarters tonight.

He was supposed to be preparing for the turf war against the Agni Kais and Red Monsoons.

Zolt had sent some of his henchmen to spy on members of rival triads. They have found out the location of the headquarters of both triads. Red Monsoons headquarters was located in Kisu Heights, disguised as a hotel. The Agni Kai triad headquarters was located right in front of the Sato Mansion in Dragon Flats District, disguised as a shoe store. According to spies, the Red Monsoons plan to ambush the Triple Threats right in their headquarters. The Agni Kais will attack the Triple Threat Triad when they come to collect "protection fees" from businessmen, so that the residents and businessmen will see them as heroes who protected them from the Triple Threats.

The Triple Threats are currently on defensive mode and will turn into offensive mode once the ambush is over, if they will be ambushed, that is. Mako had developed strategies to defend the headquarters against other triads and destroy the headquarters of the rival triads when their guards are down.

Shady Shin had recruited some extra security just in case. Not all members of the Triple Threat are in the headquarters. Some are hiding in establishments near the headquarters so that if the rivals managed to get in, they will surround the rivals so that they will have no escape.

Mako was supposed to be in the headquarters with Lightning Bolt Zolt.

But there he is, on a quiet street, walking to a low-key cemetery, holding flowers, incense and candles with one hand, and a pack of Narook's Seaweed Noodles with the other hand.

He had not asked Zolt for permission to go to the cemetery.

Today is Bolin's 3rd death anniversary.

Mako knew that if he asked for permission to visit his younger brother's grave on this sacred day, he would be denied flatly. Zolt only cared about how to get dirty instant money and manipulating nonbenders, nothing more. The Triple Threats never seem to have even a concept of family.

He was obliged to be loyal to the Triple Threats only because Zolt made a deal with him: he will pay for Bolin's burial, but he must work for him and be his successor as the leader of the Triple Threat Triad. Since his meager income back then was not enough to pay for food, let alone a proper burial for the only family he has left, he had no choice but to enter that deal.

Mako's life may have revolved on the Triple Threats, but Bolin has always, and will always matter more to him than the Triple Threats.

He had finally arrived in the cemetery and walked straight to Bolin's grave. Grass had already grown on it three years since his little brother was buried in it. The tombstone, which was made of concrete, had the inscription, "Here lies Bolin, a cheerful and loving little brother."

Mako stooped down, cleaned the grave of dry leaves and burned it with firebending, which he inherited from his father. He knelt down, set up the candles and incense in front of the tombstone, and lit them with firebending. He took out the seaweed noodles and placed it in front of the candles. He stuck the chopsticks upright on the noodles.

As if Bolin could eat the food he brought.

It is Mako's greatest regret that he managed earned enough money to buy decent food but his brother did not live long enough to even taste it.

Mako sat on his own heels while kneeling and took a deep breath.

He had worked hard to feed, clothe and shelter Bolin for the seven years that they lived on the streets together. Bolin may not be as productive as him, but at least, his mere presence gave Mako hope and joy in the midst of the cruelty that is life. Bolin gave Mako reason to keep looking for ways of improving their lives, even if it meant doing shady schemes and going into shady deals with shady people. Sometimes, he would give his entire share to his little brother, the sight of him eating to his heart's content drowning out all the protests of his hungry stomach. Bolin was Mako's fire that keeps him going, a small glow of light that gives him vision and comfort in the darkest of nights.

And now that Bolin is gone forever, all Mako knew was cold, darkness and despair.

Mako realized that life is the survival of the fittest and the elimination of the weak. Unfortunately, according to that yardstick of life, Mako was "fit" but his little brother was "weak". He had hoped otherwise.

As the candles were melting and the incenses were burning themselves to oblivion like cigarettes, Mako wondered what it's like to vanish into smoke. That moment, he longed to lie cold in the ground like Bolin did. Surely there is enough room for both of them.

He had gone astray, treading paths that his dad and mom would staunchly disapprove. He had shunned morality that his parents had been trying to teach them, because their good morals did not save them from the firebender mugger that cut them right in front of him when he was just eight. He had lost his way, but did it matter? All paths lead straight to the grave, to where his parents are, to where Bolin is.

He never forgets that someday he will join them, too.

And when that happens, their family will be whole and complete again.

"Hi Bo," Mako muttered, touching the ground, "I miss you so much. There is never a day that I'm not thinking about you, and every time I remember you, my heart aches.

"There's gonna be a turf war against the Red Monsoons and the Agni Kais tonight. I'm supposed to be with Lightning Bolt Zolt to prepare for that. But I snuck out to see you, because I really love you more than I am loyal to the Triple Threats.

"And by the way, the new avatar has arrived in Republic City: a buff girl from the Southern Water Tribe. I haven't seen her in person. But does that matter? She cannot bring you back to life," Mako wept bitterly.

After what seemed to be forever, Mako wiped his tears, "I'll visit you again, little bro. I love you and you will always be in my mind and in my heart."

Mako noticed something strange as he was walking near the headquarters.

There were no thugs posted up front.

Why would there be no thugs to guard the headquarters for the turf war? Mako thought.

He stealthily snooped to the door and peeked. There was no one inside. And the tables seemed to be… flipped.

Mako cautiously and slowly opened the door.

The headquarters was in shambles. Tables were indeed flipped, chairs were scattered, and some light bulbs and window panes were broken. The floor was scattered with debris, chunks of earth and shards of ice, which were now melting. There were some spots on the walls, floor, and equipment that were clearly scorched by firebending. Curtains were slashed and some cabinets were sliced. The walls had gaping holes and earth chunks jutted out of the floor. A smell of fresh firebending is in the air.

The triads have successfully ambushed the Triple Threats, Mako assumed. It's a shame.

But then Mako noticed that the cash drawer was untouched.

It's strange, Mako thought. If the other triads ambushed the Triple Threats, why didn't they loot even the cash drawer, which was located under the table as in legitimate stores? Wouldn't any triad member see that?

He heard the sound of trucks from the back door.

When he slammed the back door open and went out, Mako saw two trucks. One of them was still open in the back. Before a man in jumpsuit and head cover closed the doors, Mako caught a glimpse of Lightning Bolt Zolt, Shady Shin and other Triple Threats inside the truck. They were all tied up.

Mako gasped in surprise as he saw around half a dozen men in jumpsuits and head covers in motorbikes; he realized what they were.

Chi blockers. Henchmen of Amon, the masked madman behind the antibending revolution.