Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've last updated. I'm currently writing out the Convention scenes and it's turning out to be several chapters long. This is the last chapter until the start of the Convention. Please feel free to leave a review, as I always enjoy hearing back from you. I am currently working on getting this story published on the website Archive of Our Own (AO3), so this is all very exciting and new for me! As always I hope you enjoy this next installment of the this story. Enjoy! Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra (But I wish I did :P ).
Closer To You
Republic City Police Department: 11:42 pm.
The soft click of the door closing seemed deafening to the young detective as he turned to face the steady gaze of his commanding officer. Her eyes were cold as they bore into his own.
"Sit down, Mako." Lin Beifong's voice was as gruff as ever as she gestured to the open wooden seat across from her desk.
Mako grudgingly sat down stiffly as requested and waited for the Chief of Police to address him. He had arrived back into Republic City only hours before and yet he was already summoned into the Chief's office at such a late hour. Clearly this was more than a simple debriefing and case report. The firebender tried not to shift in his seat, knowing what was to come.
The metal of her armored uniform clinked together as Lin crossed her arms across her chest. A deep frown crossed her face before addressing her younger officer.
"Mako, you know why you are here, don't you?"
Amber eyes met pale green never wavering from their hold. Slowly, Mako nodded.
Lin growled in annoyance before continuing. "I just got a report wired over from the Police Department in the Fire Nation City of Nishi. They wanted to emphasis the violent nature of your apprehension and arrest of an assault suspect named Nariko. The suspect was found in the middle of the night tied to a lamp post sporting a minor concussion. There is also a need to mention the warrant for his arrest was found stabbed into his leg…"
The Chief of Police paused long enough to watch Mako take a deep, yet steady breath as he listened to the police report.
"What the Hell were you thinking Mako?!"
Chief Beifong yelled as she slammed a metal clad fist into her desk. Judging by the heavily dimpled surface of the work space, it was clear to the young detective that the object in question often suffered from the Chief's wrath.
It was a credit to the young officer's bravery that he did not flinch from this powerful display of anger. That or maybe he had already accepted his fate before coming back from overseas.
He clenched and unclenched his fist repeatedly that was resting on his legs as a million thoughts came to mind to excuse his actions: that after weeks of no results he had finally tracked down a lead to the Red Lotus, how he had finally found Nariko, that it was all for Jinora, and how through his actions true justice had been served.
And yet, Mako knew it would make no difference in the end. Mako tried to hold his gaze with the Chief, but he had to look away in shame. He knew there was no excuse for his actions. He had acted rashly, ruthlessly and without thought. If he did not uphold the law to the standards expected of him, how was he any different from the other cut throats and criminals such as the Agni Kais or the Red Monsoon gangs?
Shady Shin's voice echoed in the back of his mind. "Once a Triad, always a Triad."
He gritted his teeth in defiance. No, he would not let that happen again.
Mako tried to steady his breathing before answering the Chief. "I… I lost control. It won't happen again."
The seconds of silence that greeted his words seemed to last for hours as he waited for the esteemed Chief of Police to reprimand him. Though his actions seemed justified at the time, he knew now that they had probably cost him his badge. It would be painful to give up something so precious to him, but it had been for her. Someone who had become like a sister to him, and he knew he would do it again in a heartbeat.
Lin narrowed her eyes as she stared him down. Mako shifted in his seat while he waited for Lin's response. Her voice was authoritative and concise. "See that it doesn't."
"Yes, Chief." Mako tried not to sigh in relief.
"That being said, until further notice, I am taking you off investigation detail."
"What?! But Chief –"
Lin cut him off with a quick hand gesture.
"I am reassigning you to personal security detail for the diplomat from the Earth Kingdom for the Convention."
Mako's amber eyes flashed with anger. "So I am to be a glorified body guard?"
Lin pursed her lips in distain. "It was either that or take your badge until you face a disciplinary hearing."
Mako couldn't contain his anger anymore. "But Chief! I should be out in the field hunting down the Red Lotus! This is the closest we have had to a lead since Jinora's attack. Please, you can't make me stay in the City!"
Lin's nostrils flared in a sudden burst of anger. "I can and I will. Listen to me, Mako. You violently attacked a man during his arrest. Police brutality will not be tolerated and must be handled accordingly. I should take your badge, but I need you for the Convention. You will follow your new orders of security detail until I see fit. Is that understood?"
Mako lowered his eyes. "Yes, Chief."
Lin nodded. "Good, that is all," Her face relaxed and her tone softened. "Go home and get some rest. With all these World Leaders gathering in the city, the Red Lotus will probably try to strike again. In the weeks to come keep on the alert, but for now, get some sleep. It looks like you need it."
Mako stood up and brushed off the coat of his jacket. With a quick salute to the Chief he left the office, the door shutting with a soft click.
Lin let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She would never tell him, but she held the young detective in the highest regards. He was becoming her protégé and Lin was both fiercely proud and protective of the young officer. She knew why he had taken such extreme measures when faced with Jinora's attacker, but as head of the Police Department, she couldn't condone his actions without consequences.
'Mako is going to hate being on security. But at least he's back in the city with the Red Lotus lurking in the shadows.'
Pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration, Lin growled to herself at the thought of the danger that loomed before them. She would never admit it out loud, but she actually missed the Avatar. At least with her back in the city, the Force would know they wouldn't be alone while protecting the delegates. Unease was spreading through the department like wildfire.
Looking out of her window which had a clear view of the main floor of the police station, she watched in apprehension while her officers frantically ran around the room completing last minutes jobs and paperwork for the Convention. The atmosphere of the room was filled with tension as the days slipped closer to the big event. The Chief sighed deeply and rubbed a hand on the back of her neck.
'This Convention is going to be a nightmare.'
[-][-][-]
Downtown Republic City: 11:46 pm.
Asami sipped her tea as she watched the other patrons walking in between the surrounding shops and restaurants. The sound of their laughter calmed the engineer as she traced her finger around the rim of her tea cup. A quick glance at her watch elicited a sigh from the engineer; he was late.
Well truth be told, it was only one minute passed the time they had agreed to meet up, but in Asami's case it had been over a month since she had last seen her friend. Glancing up from her tea a large grin broke out over her face as she recognized the spiky black hair among the sea of faces.
"Mako!" Asami waved over at the tall man who approached her. She embraced the detective in a warm hug, feeling reassured when the firebender returned the embrace fiercely. They may have had a strained history, but they were still close friends.
"Asami, it's so good to see you." Mako's smile was so infectious that Asami couldn't help but smile back at him.
"It's good to see you too, Mako." She gestured for the detective to join her at the small wooden table she was sitting at previously. Mako sat down and joined her, sighing slightly as he relaxed visibly in the chair.
Asami popped a perfectly shaped eyebrow over at her companion while pouring him a cup of tea. "Rough day?"
Mako groaned while nodding his thanks as he accepted a steaming cup from Asami. Blowing on the hot surface he took a small sip of the revitalizing liquid before replying.
"It's the Chief. She took me off the Red Lotus case. I've been assigned as personal security for an Earth Kingdom delegate for the Convention."
"She – she what?! Why?" Asami choked on her tea. "You're the best person for the job. You caught that Red Lotus Bastard!"
Mako awkwardly shifted in his seat. "Well, the thing is, I'm kinda in trouble for that."
Asami cocked her head to the side. "I – I don't understand. Mako, what did you do?"
"Well you see, I lost control. I… I might have stabbed him in the leg with a knife."
The firebender clasped his hands together and looked at them to avoid the emerald eyes in front of him. A few seconds of silence greeted this proclamation while the engineer tried to process what he said.
"Oh Mako…"
Mako glanced up sharply. He had expected to see shock, anger, or even disgust, but the engineer's eyes were full of only concern for her friend.
"I'm ok now, I just lost it," He sighed and stared out at the other patrons wandering through the streets. Two small brothers caught his attention while they ran around laughing while in pursuit of each other. Mako's eyes narrowed as he watched this interplay. "It will never happen again."
Asami nodded in understanding, not wanting to press her friend.
"So did he tell you anything about the Red Lotus or what their plans are?"
"Yes and no." Mako pinched his nose in frustration. "Turns out Nariko had no direct involvement in the organization. They just needed some hired help for the hit. According to Nariko, it's this Hibiki we should be worried about. He's the real deal."
The detective paused to sip his tea before continuing. "I assume their plan is to try and take out Master Tenzin, since we believe that he was the intended target. Though even Nariko seemed unsure what the Red Lotus' true intentions were. I don't think they will only try to go after him. Honestly, something seems really off about this whole thing."
"What do you mean by that?" Asami lowered her now empty tea cup.
"Doesn't this feel off to you?" Mako leaned in closer, interlocking his fingers together in concentration. "Think about it, the Red Lotus that attacked us at the Northern Air Temple and Zaofu were methodical, concise, secretive, and knew when to strike and when to lie in wait. The group that attacked Jinora hired more people in for the job, something Zaheer's group never would have done. These assassins almost seemed desperate in their attempt to take out Jinora. They knew they were facing a bending Master and yet they were not up to the task."
Mako crossed his arms. "I just don't like it. It doesn't make sense."
Asami tilted her head as she thought through what her companion had said. It did seem a bit rash to trust in others outside their society and to attempt an attack that was so doomed to fail.
"Mako… what if Tenzin isn't the focus here. What if the attack is a diversion to something bigger."
Mako's head shot up in surprise. "A diversion? Well, that could explain some things. It has been quite the distraction for the police while the Convention preparations are underway. Jinora's attack would be the perfect smoke screen from something bigger."
"But what? If this is true what are they planning?" Asami sat straight back in her chair in fear.
"I don't know." Mako looked away in anger at his incompetence.
Asami clenched her hands as her brain kicked into over drive. What they needed was information, something only one person might have any insight to. But at what cost? Asami shook away her worried thoughts before addressing her friend.
"But we do know someone who could help us. What we need is someone who knows the interworking of the Red Lotus. Someone who can look at the details from Jinora's attack and can compare it to the tactics and patterns of the old organization." Asami took a deep breath. "We need to speak with Zaheer."
Mako shot out of his chair and slammed his fist down on the table.
"No! I refuse to talk to that – that monster!" Mako growled.
The movement startled the engineer, but she stared at the detective with a firm resolve.
"What he did to Korra is unspeakable and beyond horrible, I know. But he might be our only chance at discovering their plan before the chaos from the Convention hits. If something big is about to happen, we have to know what it is now." Asami paused to allow herself to calm down before finishing. "Besides, you know that Korra would do anything to stop them, why can't we?"
Mako sat down and aware that he was shaking in anger. But what his friend said made sense. They needed information and they needed it now.
Mako pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Fine. I'll go to see him, but you need to stay here."
Now it was Asami's turn to jump out of her chair in anger. "What?! I'm coming with you!"
"No, you're not." Mako's eyes narrowed as he met the gaze of the angered engineer. "As a member of the Republic City Police Department, I can get access to Zaheer's prison via permission from the Chief. As it is vital to our investigation, I should be granted access if I leave before the Convention starts. If I see the Chief tonight I can get the documentation I need and then I will be able to leave by first light. It's only a day's travel from here."
Asami lowered her eyes in defeat. "Hmmm… Fine. But I want to know what happens."
Mako straightened up and saluted her, receiving a laugh for his efforts. Relaxing, he leaned back against his chair and smiled. Picking up his tea cup he glanced over at his friend.
"Besides what would Korra say to me if something happened to you?" Mako smirked with a knowing smile.
Asami, who had been fidgeting with her bag, became frozen from the suggestion as she felt a warmth flood her cheeks.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Mako."
"Oh really?" Mako took a small sip from his tea, his eyes never leaving the engineer. "Come on Asami, it's not exactly a secret how close you two became after Harmonic Convergence or the countless nights you spent tending to Korra after she was poisoned. Not to mention your offer to stay with her at the South Pole leaving your company and life behind." Mako took another sip of his tea. "Clearly your intentions were all completely platonic, I am sure…"
The CEO concentrated on organizing the contents of her bag so as to not look at the detective. "I assure you I have only the best intentions for our dear friend." And yet Asami couldn't help but feel her blush deepened as a smile escaped her stiff composure. "Have you heard from her at all?"
Mako's smirk faded as he shook his head abruptly. "No, but that's not at all unusual, is it?"
Asami nodded in agreement. "What about Bolin?"
Mako set down his tea and crossed his arms. "Yeah, I've heard from him, but not for awhile. Last I heard he was somewhere in the far North of the Earth Kingdom while serving under Kuvira's forces."
"Kuvira? Isn't that the Captain from Zaofu?" Asami's eyebrow rose in question.
Mako nodded in response.
Asami continued. "Well then, that doesn't sound too bad. All he wanted to do was help others, this gives him the chance."
Mako shook his head, a frown shadowing his face. "I'm not too sure about that."
The CEO's eye narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"
"We've had some disturbing reports about Kuveria's re-education camps." Mako crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. "However, we aren't allowed to investigate even if they are true because of jurisdiction issues."
Asami nodded. "Well, that sure is a problem. Have you tried asking Bolin about it?"
Mako sighed. "Yeah, he insists that they're helping people. But you know how he is. Unless something happens right in front of his eyes, he will continue to only see the good in things. Not a bad trait to have, but his naivety is difficult sometimes."
Asami crossed her arms in turn. "I get you there, but there is nothing you can do. You've got to trust him to understand what's best for him. Like it or not, Mako, your brother's growing up."
A small smile lit up the detective's face. "As always Asami, you're right."
Asami flicked back her hair over one shoulder before smirking at the firebender. "I do try."
[-][-][-]
Prison in the mountain: 12:53 am.
Mako held his cloak around him closer as the wind blew around him fiercely. Though conditions tonight were better than his time tracking down Nariko in the Fire Nation, it didn't stop the firebender from gritting his teeth against the wind. The trip to Zaheer's new prison had been, thankfully, uneventful. Yet that did not help calm the unease Mako felt as he neared the entrance of the Red Lotus leader's prison.
As Mako neared the entrance he was challenged by two White Lotus guards stationed outside the vast doors to the elevator that lead into the heart of the mountain.
"Halt! Who's there?" The guard on the right had earth bent a small boulder in challenge as the detective's hooded form approached in the darkness. The other guard held a bright flame in his hand to illuminate the potential threat.
Mako lowered his hood and held out his visitation documents and his badge. The cool metal gleamed in the light cast from the guard's flame.
"Republic City Police Department. I need to speak with Zaheer."
The firebending guard tentatively reached for Mako's documents and scrutinized the writing in the darkness.
"You will find my documents are in order." Mako assured them.
The White Lotus guard nodded at the document and grunted in satisfaction before waving him on. "Let him through."
Placing the documents and badge back inside his cloak, Mako waited for the guards to open the platinum doors to the elevator shaft. Stepping inside the elevator, Mako tried not to let fear envelope him as the doors closed behind him and he sank into the heart of the mountain.
His breathing became ragged as his heart rate sped up. Be calm. Be unmovable. He can't hurt you. Shaking his head in frustration Mako slowed his breathing until he felt his adrenaline rush die. He needed to be calm and focused when he faced the airbender.
With a loud screech of metal the elevator slowed to a halt and the doors slid open. Straightening his posture, the detective slowly stepped into the dim prison cell. A calm voice greeted him from within the cool cave.
"I expected a vast number of people to see me like this. None of them you."
Mako stared at the ragged man before him, the once great leader of the Red Lotus, dressed in rags while floating cross-legged in midair.
"It matters not who I am. I need to speak with you."
"I assumed as such, since I do not often get visitors." Mako narrowed his eyes at the airbender's wit. "Why are you here?"
"An airbender was ambushed while in the Fire Nation. Her attackers identified themselves as members of the Red Lotus."
"So my brothers still live." Zaheer muttered.
Mako continued as though not interrupted. "So it would seem. I think you would be interested to know that they left a calling card - a Pai Sho tile."
Zaheer's frowned at this. Mako noted the monk's change before continuing.
"What's more is the attack was poorly planned. The Red Lotus members used hired help for the job, they ambushed the wrong person, stabbed her and left her for dead, and there was no clear objective behind the assassination attempt. I wanted to know why the sudden change in tactics? Who are we dealing with?"
Mako's eyes never wavered from the airbender as he floated in his lotus position. Zaheer frowned as he took in this information.
When he spoke his voice echoed around the cold cell. "Guru Laghima once said, 'New growth cannot exist without first the destruction of the old.' I believe this is the case with those behind the attack. Brothers of the Red Lotus they might be, but without my companions there to guide them on their righteous path, they have chosen their own path. A branch taken from the same tree, determined to grow."
Mako ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "So we've got nothing on them."
"Quite the contrary. You said it yourself, they act rashly without concern of the consequences. While my companions used any means necessary to gain our objective, we never mistook our target. Nor were we so arrogant as to sacrifice our secrecy for glory."
The detective crossed his arms while he considered the prisoner's words. "Does the name Hibiki mean anything to you?"
Zaheer nodded sternly. "A man of cunning and determination. He was not in our inner circle, but he could have been. I should warn you, while you might think me insane, Hibiki is truly psychotic. If you are his target, there is no hope for you to live. If your friends are targeted, they will die."
Mako straightened in resolve. "I won't let that happen."
Zaheer's calm demeanor shattered as he growled. "And how will you do that? Trusting in your instincts? Your intuition as an officer? A word of warning, 'instinct is a lie, told by a fearful body, hoping to be wrong'. Hibiki will make you second guess yourselves, even turn on each other. To him, chaos and death are just a game. Normally he will strike from the shadows; the fact that you saw him at all should be fair warning that he is planning something."
"Thank you for the warning." Mako turned away from the airbender. He knew not to take the monk's warning lightly, but he also knew that Zaheer had nothing more to tell him. As he walked away, Zaheer's voice called out to him.
"The Avatar's spirit has not been in the Spirit World for years. And yet the spirits whisper that the cycle has not restarted. Tell me this, young officer, is the Avatar dead?"
Mako halted, but refused to face the prisoner, his voice cold. "No, Korra is alive."
"Perhaps not physically, but spiritually, I believe the Avatar as you knew her to be is dead." Zaheer observed.
Slamming the elevator's door shut, Mako accelerated into the darkness away from the dim prison. Zaheer smiled to himself as the elevator shaft become quiet. His whisper echoed around the cold cell.
"Then perhaps we did not fail after all."
[-][-][-]
Future Industries' Main Factory: 1:18 am.
Asami yawned and stretched as she entered her dimly lit office. It had been a long day of planning logistics and various meetings with the heads of each engineering department. Ever since Future Industries had landed the contract with President Raiko in redesigning the central transportation terminal and railway system, the company had become alive with activity to meet their ever approaching deadline. So much so that the CEO had lost track of time yet again.
Walking up to her desk she switched on a small desk lamp. Asami groaned as she saw the stack of documents that had accumulated on her desk in her absence. The CEO wearily riffled through a few documents. Everything from work orders, blueprints, and signature requests littered the work space.
Brushing aside a few official looking documents stamped with both the Republic City and Future Industries' seals, she noticed a small envelope placed off to the side. Asami recognized the sharp handwriting of her assistant on a note attached to the envelope.
Miss Sato,
This arrived for you earlier this morning. I figured you would want to open this on your own time.
Sakura
Flipping the envelope over Asami read the return address: it was from the South Pole. With shaking hands the engineer hastily ripped it open and pulled out the letter within. She drank in the words as her emerald eyes devoured the letter.
Dear Asami,
I'm sorry I haven't written to you sooner, but every time I've tried, I never know what to say. The past two years have been the hardest of my life. Even though I can get around fine now, I still can't go into the Avatar State. I keep having visions of Zaheer and what happened that day. Katara thinks a lot of this is in my head, so I've been meditating a lot, but sometimes I worry I'll never fully recover. Please don't tell Mako and Bolin I wrote to you and not them. I don't want to hurt their feelings, but it's easier to tell you about this stuff. I don't think they'd understand. But I know that you will. You always have.
That being said, you have every right to be upset with me. I've been a crappy friend to you and you didn't deserve that. There were many days where I just expected for your letters to stop arriving. I feared you would get tired or bored with me. When the time between letters lengthened I always became more depressed, more detached from my surroundings. And then I would see your letter in the mail and it was like the sun was truly shining for the first time. They brought me happiness, but more importantly, they brought me closer to you. For two years you have poured your heart and soul out to me and with each word they brought me life. You healed a broken woman's soul, something no one, not even Katara could do.
I will admit to you that I am not ok. I'm not, well, me anymore. It's hard to explain, but I fear I need more time to heal completely. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever truly recover or that I'll never be good enough to come back to you and the others. I've wanted to give up on myself many times, in some ways I still do. But you have always pushed me to do better - be better. Something I will never forget. Thank you, Asami, for not giving up on me. I'll try writing to you again soon.
With Love,
Korra
Asami slid down onto the floor of her office. It was there clutching the letter to her chest that the heiress let her silent tears fall. Not out of pain, but of joy.
