"Asami!"
Mako called out, stepping forward to embrace his girlfriend's open arms. She fell into him, his body completely holding all of her weight. Her lips met his, glinting his with playful aggression. He spun her in his arms, eyes closed; savoring the feeling. It'd been so long since she kissed him like this, not since they arrived to the island.
Or was that Korra?
Mako flinched as she suddenly broke the embrace, pulling her body back a reasonable distance to fully cup his face with gloved hands.
Can she read my mind?
Shivers ran down is spine as one glove began caressing the side of his face, resting right by his ear now. Mako thought for a moment whether or not to take the gloves off of her hands, suddenly longing for the warmth of her skin more than ever. He looked down into the eyes that were searching his soul.
"Are you alright?" he asked, suddenly aware of his environment.
"I'm fine" she said, giggling a bit at the question. "It's so good to see you"
Mako felt himself growing red in the cheeks. Asami's voice had always had a strange calming effect on him, even now with all that was going on. Mako parted his lips to reply, when suddenly Chief Bei Fong cut him off.
"Hate to break up your lover's reunion, but Korra's in trouble. Amon captured her."
Mako heard his girlfriend gasp beside him as what The Chief said slowly registered in his mind.
No. How could she get…caught? She's the Avatar for spirits sake! She shouldn't make such stupid mistakes! I don't…
"No" he said looking down, not meeting the chief's eyes. "No, she can't be gone"
"Come on" the chief said, grief and uncertainty stricken in her voice.
"We have an Avatar to rescue"
Mako rushed forward after her, leaving the cell and his girlfriend behind him.
"Do you have any leads?" Mako asked the older airbender, voice cracking with stress. His eyes followed Tenzin as he got up from his small desk and strode around toward the group, arms gestured widely; looking completely frazzled.
"I've been on the phone all morning, but…nothing yet"
Why isn't anyone doing anything? He's on the council; can't he get the police force to cooperate or something?
"We need Naga, she can track Korra"
Yes, Naga's her very best friend. She could find her. Someone has to find her. I can't lose her too…
Tenzin bowed his head after hearing these words, as if to expel even more despair upon him.
"I'm afraid her polar bear dog is missing as well"
"Then where do we start?" Bolin asked inquisitively, causing Mako to turn and notice his brother's presence.
"My guess is the Equalist are hiding underground, in the maze of tunnels beneath the city" The Chief chimed, standing tall with hands on either side of her hips.
Scoff
Mako turned toward Asami, surprised at her reaction. She was standing further away from the group, arms crossed as she stared at the wooden floor beneath them.
What's gotten into her? She's acting like Bo was a few hours ago.
"Underground" she began, stretching the word out longer than necessary.
"Just like my father's secret factory. Figures."
The room settled into a stifled silence. Mako was silently trying to decide whether or not to reach out to her. He pivoted his right foot ever so slightly, angling his body closer toward her. Tenzin cleared his throat, stroking the thicket of fine dark hairs on his chin. He decided to make a move toward Asami, shuffling his outward foot toward her. Mako then suddenly stopped, gaze on his little brother. He watched as Bolin stepped toward Asami, placing a hand on her shoulder and smiling.
"Yeah, yeah that makes sense" the boy in green said in a throaty but energized voice. He brought an arm up to his chin, allowing a hand to overtake it before dropping it down. "When those chi blockers had me in their truck, it sounded like we drove into a tunnel-"
A tunnel…? Wait, a tunnel! I know where that place is! It's where I met that jerk not too long ago…
"I know where to start looking! Come on" Mako said to the group before running ahead and out toward the main grounds.
"It's down this alley" Mako said, pointing to a narrow road paved with snow. He descended toward the enclave of run down buildings, listening for the feet of the others behind him. In the distance he spotted an open window to one of the apartments on his left. While running past he looked up to see a woman in its frame. She was a beautiful younger woman whose gaze was peering off toward the distance. He turned his head for a moment to fit the line of her sight, curiosity taking over.
Oh. You could probably see Yue Bay from this part of town.
The sound of a babies cry could then be heard and the woman quickly hurried out of sight. Mako watched as her raven hair caught the last rays of the sun, then floated away. He turned his attention back toward the road ahead, running even faster.
The end of the street broke into a sort of a fork. There were three paths that could be taken, but suddenly Mako didn't remember the way. He slowed his running to a complete stop, standing at the intersection.
"Which way?" Asami's called to him, voice out of breath.
Mako's mind wandered for a moment at the sound of it before quickly regaining composure and gave a sullen shrug.
"Hmmm this way kind of…smells familiar" Bolin remarked as he smelled the air.
Ugh I don't need his antics right now!
Mako turned toward the path to his left, jumping a bit as Asami assembled her self next to him.
"Don't worry, we'll find her" she said, turning to him and smiling.
I hope so. I don't know what I'll do without her.
"Y-yeah" he stuttered, with more uncertainty than needed in his voice. Asami moved closer to him, grabbing his arm. Mako watched as she linked their arms, resting her head on his left shoulder.
Why do I feel so…uncomfortable?
Mako buried his nose deep into his scarf, inhaling the fibers along with the chilly city air. His heart skipped a beat as the weight on his shoulder lifted. Mako looked down at Asami and-
Crackk Zerp
"There's a tunnel near by, let's go"
Asami slowly backed away from her boyfriend as he outstretched a hand. Mako turned to watch as she took three backward steps facing him, and then turned to catch up with The Chief.
Shit.
It's so dark in here.
Flruuushh
Mako brought some illumination into the dismal cavern that stood before them. He looked around at the many entrances that branched off to spaces unknown.
Another fork. Great. This is exactly what I need right now.
He turned his head to the left. Mako caught the faintest glimmer of light within the abyssal darkness of the tunnel.
"Let's try this way" he said with confidence, beginning to stride forward.
An arm locked hard around his, forcing him to look back toward Asami.
"And what if Korra's not down there?
He felt his throat grow hot.
This is no time for stupid questions, they had to find Korra. That was the group's top priority.
"Then we pick another tunnel until we find her" he heard himself yell, temper getting the best of him.
He continued to move forward into the darkness of the tunnels, fire in his palm leading the way.
Maybe that was a bit too much. He stopped in his tracks. I should probably apologize.
Mako turned his head slightly, looking for his girlfriend's position. The flame in his hand flared up suddenly as Mako's heart skipped a beat. Bolin was walking with Asami, smiling slyly.
"Get a hold of yourself, son" a commanding voice coming from his side ordered.
"What Lin means, Mako, is that we'll find her" Tenzin said with an exuberant sigh.
Mako looked to both of them quickly, embarrassment welling up inside. He gave one stern nod as the two made their way past him. He gave one fleeting look at his brother and girlfriend before looking forward.
What's gotten into both of them?
"I'll ask you one more time, where is she?" Mako snarled, drawing fire into one palm-Equalist hoisted in another.
"We don't have the Avatar" the unmasked man protested "and the Equalist didn't attack city hall"
"You're lying!" Mako shouted, bringing the fire closer toward the mans throat.
"T-Tarrlok's lying! We haven't done anything" the man said, gasping for breath.
"Mako stop it, your hurting him!"
"Asami stay out of this!"
There was silence in the room as Mako stared into the mans dark brown eyes. He looked like he was in is mid thirties.
Little too old to be an Equalist. I'll fix that.
Mako pushed the fire even closer, heat beginning to singe one of the hairs of his stout mustache.
"I'm telling you, we don't have her" the man protested, tears now forming in his eyes.
Mako released him, and with a loud thump the Equalist dropped to the ground.
Footsteps echoed in the hollow cavern. Mako looked to an entrance as The Chief and her men arrived.
"I scanned the entire prison. Korra's not here" she said briskly, a frown forming around the edges of her lips.
"Why would Tarrlok make up a story about getting attacked?" Mako asked Lin, furious.
"Of course! Why hadn't I seen it before?" Tenzin said loudly, making eye contact with the entire group. "That Tarrlok, he has Korra! He fooled us all!"
"Don't make this worse for yourself, tell us where you have Korra"
Tenzin and Lin changed their stances, ready to fire at Tarrlok. Mako gathered flames into his palm, watching the old bloodbender with calculated eyes. There was a sudden change in his posture. Lin and Tenzin fired, only to have their limbs twisted beyond recognition. Tarrlok caught Mako's eyes. He suddenly felt himself being forced down to the ground, his limbs violently thrusting about. He didn't even have the strength to look him in the eye one last time. Everything was beginning to go black. He felt his head spinning; he was so dizzy. It felt better when he closed his eyes.
"Korra"
Mako is left unconscious from Tarrlok's bloodbending. He's had a pretty rough day, destroyed by his constant worrying of Korra- Torn about his obligation toward Asami. While unconscious, he begins to have a strange dream-or a flashback rather. Of Tahno. On to chapter 8?
