Chapter 11

Family

When Bolin walked into the station he spotted a very guilty looking Vee talking to a few of the other rookies. He jumped when Bolin tapped him on the shoulder.

"Bolin! Hey! Uh…how are you? How's your brother? I mean I'm sure he's ok. Why wouldn't he be? He's on vacation."

Bolin sighed and pointed to a quiet corner of the room. "I think we should talk."

Vee gulped and nodded. While both men were rookies from the same class, Bolin by virtue of who he was and to whom he was related to, was afforded more respect than the other rookies. Once they got to the corner Bolin leaned against a filing cabinet and looked at Vee who started to blabber.

"Look, I'm so sorry I was trying to stop a shoplifter…I didn't. I know I screwed up just please don't rat me out to the Chief before I can explain."

Bolin put his hand up and Vee fell quiet. "Look, really don't care about that…well, I care that my brother is injured, not that you failed at your one job. Look I just want to know the real reason he was being followed because I know if Lin was worried about the mob angle she would have told Mako. So spill, why did Mako have a tail?"

Vee bit his lip, "You're not going to like the reason."

"My brother was secretly followed I already don't like it."

"Fair." Vee nodded. "So the truth is the Chief didn't tell me to follow Mako, President Raiko did."

"Why?"

Vee sighed, "Because the guy is paranoid, he heard the Mako and Iroh were seen at a swanky restaurant having dinner alone and he was worried they were plotting against him." Vee scratched the back of his head. "Then he heard a rumor they were there on a date and got even more agitated. He told me that if I didn't follow him and prove the rumors were false I would lose my job and so would Detective Mako. I couldn't tell anyone about it, I shouldn't even be telling you. Please, I love being a cop it's all I ever wanted. I don't think your brother's a fag or conspiring against the President, honest. I told Raiko that last night and he seemed to agree." Vee hung his head. "I tried to get your brother to go doctor but he refused. He's ok right?"

Bolin sighed, "Yeah he'll be ok. After you left he called Korra and she came over and patched him right up." Bolin frowned in annoyance; "She also finished off the last of the coffee this morning."

"Oh. So She spent the night with him? I guess he wasn't as injured as I thought. Glad to hear those two are still very close if you know what I mean." Vee scratched the back of his head. "So do you have any other questions for me?"

Bolin shook his head. "No, I just wanted to know why you were following him. Thanks for telling me the truth."

"Of course, just please don't tell your brother, President Raiko, though he might be a faggot. You're brother's scary and I doubt saying something like to his face would end very well for the guy saying it." Vee laughed nervously, "Not that anyone would say that to his face unless they wanted to have it rearranged."

Bolin nodded. "Probably not the best idea in the world."

"Exactly." Vee's eyes darted around. "So can I go now? Please."

"Oh yeah, sorry if I freaked you out."

Vee nodded and walked back to the group of other rookies. Bolin frowned and after a quiet debate with himself walked up to Lin's office and knocked.

"Come in," Lin yelled from the other side.

"What the hell!" Bolin yelled after closing the door. "Did you know Raiko is using your officers as his own private detective agency? Last I looked we were the RCPD, not the fucking Pinkertons!"

"Uh no…" Lin looked up from her papers. "Why do you think he is? And language, officer."

"Because Vee just told me Raiko ordered him to go out and follow Mako to make sure he wasn't conspiring against him or gay! Not only that but he was completely useless when Mako was assaulted last night!" Bolin fumed. "Why does the president even care about my brother's sex life? That's not troubling at all."

Lin blinked. "Can you repeat all of that but in manageable chunks? Raiko ordered who to do what?"

"He ordered Officer Vee, to follow Mako to make sure he wasn't gay or plotting against him." Bolin sighed, "and he failed to be any help at all when Mako was attacked last night by some mob enforcer. Do you know about any of this?"

Lin pinched her nose. "I know that Mako was probably pissing some powerful people off in the mob but I did not that he was in danger or that Raiko was ordering my men around and diving into my officer's private life." She put her hand down. "I will have to talk to him about that later. So is Mako ok? Is he here reporting the incident?"

"He's fine. Korra patched him up last night and no Mako doesn't have the time or the desire to report it right now."

"But it's a crime, a violent crime." Lin frowned. "He should report it."

"I know that but he doesn't want to. He's afraid if he does he'll be stuck in Republic City for a good chunk of his vacation. I tried to talk him into reporting it but, " Bolin shook his head, "Then Korra and Asami got in on the argument and I lost the fight."

"He's really set on this vacation isn't he?"

Bolin nodded, "Mako's been really stressed out lately, I think learning about Asami and Korra hit him harder than he's letting on and other stuff going on in his life." Bolin bit his lip thinking of how Mako got so worked up he threw up. "Also he kind of felt watched the past week which didn't help."

"Well, maybe he can find a nice Fire Nation girl and Bumi can get off my back about the RCPD's code of conduct. He's becoming impossible." She massaged her temples. "Thank you for telling me about this. I will talk to Raiko about his abuse of power."

"While you're at it you can tell him that he even if he gets a warrant he cannot tap phones on Fire Nation soil." Said a woman as she slipped into the room and closed the door behind her. She was wearing dark green slacks and a brown puffed sleeved shirt with gold coin accents. Her eyes were a deep blue but she was clearly Fire Nation.

Lin sighed. "Do you ever knock princess?"

"No, never," She smirked. "Much to my twin's dismay." She chuckled, "Oh the heart attacks I've given Iroh and his lovers over the years. Good times."

Lin shook her head. "So aside from telling Raiko to stop tapping the Embassy's phones what else do you want him to know, Lafey?"

"My Brother's townhouse also counts as Fire Nation soil and so does the cabin outside the city limits so let him know anything his spies might have gleaned from those taps is illegal and if he tries anything like that again I'll shove my boot so far up his ass even my brother would cringe. Got it?"

Lin nodded, "I will pass the information along unless you would like to tell him yourself?"

"Can't I have an I fight to catch. Big family gathering happening later this week." She waved dismissively as she exited. "Bye bye Aunt Lin!"

Lin continued to massage her temples. "Bye, give my love to your family."

"Oh, I will!" She yelled before slamming the door.

Lin looked up at Bolin, "As you probably guessed, that was Princess Lafey Agidar, Iroh's twin sister."

Bolin nodded, "Yeah, figured that out. She seemed…passionate."

"Very, never cross that woman Bolin unless you want to die."

"Or be able to sit down for a while." Bolin joked briefly wondering if Mako had ever met the fiery princess.

.o.

Asami pulled up to the curb of the airport and jumped out to pull Mako's bag from the trunk while Korra helped Mako out of the car. Mako had stubbornly tried to take a cab to the airport and not inconvenience his friends while Korra and Asami had stubbornly fought back and insisted that they take him to the airport and help him with his bags. They won the argument.

"See?" Asami said pulling the bag to him. "If you had gotten a cab you might have had to do this yourself or give a larger tip. We work for free."

Mako smiled. "Thanks, Asami." He looked over at Korra who handed him his shoulder bag, ticket, visa, and passport. "And Korra, thank you so much I don't know what I'd do without you?"

"Expire in your front hall?" Korra said smirking.

Mako sighed, "You're not going to let me live last night down are you?"

"Well, you survived it so yeah, not going to happen." Korra winked. "Now go have a fun vacation, try to relax." She snorted, "and remember most accidents happen in the bedroom."

Mako snorted and felt his abused ribs twinge, "I don't think you quite understand what that phrase actually means."

"Oh, I know exactly what it means." Korra wiggled her eyebrows. "Just take it easy and baby those ribs for a few days ok?"

Mako nodded. "Ok, I'll be gentle."

"You know who better be gentle too or I will cause an international incident."

Mako blushed, "Ok, ok. I need to get going before I miss my flight."

"Go, have fun, and say hi to Fire Lord Zuko for me if you see him that is."

Mako smiled and started to make his way to the gate. "I will pass on your message if I get the chance."

.o.

Iroh handed his ticket to a smiling flight attendant who showed him to his first-class seat, which was next to one occupied by a bag Iroh did not recognize. Iroh looked around confused and spotted Mako snoozing on the other side of the airship next to a pretty woman reading a book and not in the window seat next to him. Had Mako changed his spot without telling him? Iroh frowned.

The flight attendant tilted her head. "Is something wrong General Iroh?"

"Uh, no. I just thought…" He moved to point at Mako then spotted her walked towards him.

"Don't think Roh, it's not your strongest suit," Lafey said walking past him and flopping down into the seat Mako was supposed to occupy. She smiled and pointed to the seat next to hers. "Is this your seat? Oh, how wonderful! We'll get to spend some real quality sibling time. It's so rare we get to hang out just the two of us."

Iroh sat down next to her and frowned. "Don't call me Roh. I hate it when people call me that."

Lafey rolled her eyes. "Well aren't you General Grumpy?"

Iroh crossed his arms. "What are you doing on this flight? And why did you switch seats with Mako?"

"I wanted some quality twin time." Lafey looked at her nails. "Mama wants me home; big family dinner coming up after all."

Iroh raised an eyebrow. "Big family dinner? What big family dinner?"

"Um yeah, don't look at me like that; you're the one who called for it." Lafey's usual impish smile dropped a little "Right?"

Iroh shook his head. "No, I told Mama I thought a quiet family style meal would be nice to have some time this week. I wanted Mako to see the more laid back side of the family."

"Ohhh, that's not what Mama heard. She heard: I'm bringing a man home and I want the whole family to meet him…Agidar style."

He shook his head. "No, that's not what I wanted, not at all." Iroh started to feel numb. "Wait when you say family does you just mean the parents, our little sister and Grand Father or the whole Family?"

"The whole family, apparently even Admiral Roku is taking some vacations days to come to spend time with the family. It's become a bit of a reunion. All our extended family is slated to show up. "

"All of them?" Iroh's voice became a bit pitchy.

"Yes, all of them." Lafey nodded. "Is that a problem?"

"Fey, that whole side of the family still thinks I'm straight. I got a letter from Uncle Koda a month ago asking why I hadn't found a wife yet. I don't even want to talk about what happened when Roku and I met up in Port Untina a few weeks ago. He tried to set me up with the waitress." Iroh hissed. "This is going to be a bloody disaster." He slumped in his seat.

Lafey shook her head. "I think you're overreacting."

"I am not overreacting," Iroh growled. "I love my family, I love our cousins, but they are a lot of crazy all at once and I don't think Mako's ready to deal with any of it. I don't' think I'm ready to deal with it."

Lafey picked up her book. "You're still bitter they're all taller than you and they mocked your voice that one time aren't you?"

"I already live with a voice that sounds like a teenager I don't need to be constantly reminded it's as smooth and deep as a rock candy in a shallow puddle, thank you very much."

"Aww, poor Iroh crown prince of the Fire Nation, he's the youngest general in history, has a loving family, and a stable relationship, but his cousins are taller and have nicer voices so his life is awful. Truly, you are to be pitied."

Iroh sighed, "I get it, I'm being a prat about this. I should be happy with the family I have in all its quirky glory."

"Exactly, embrace it. Your family loves you." She leaned back and pulled an eye mask over her eyes. "Now I'm going to take a nap, wake me in a few hours and I'll switch seats with Mako so you can have a little alone time before we're ear deep in the family. Just no joining the mile high club ok?"

Iroh rolled his eyes. "Please, I have more class than that…and Mako is way too injured for a stunt like that."

"Oh yeah, I heard about that and might have had one of my girls see to it the Morisissy family never tries a stunt like that again by feeding some of them they're own teeth. How's he doing?"

"Uh…ok. You did what?"

"Oh please Iroh you know I never repeat myself. Just rest assured no one is going to be stupid enough to go after a cop with a club for quite a while." She smiled. "No one messes with my brother's boyfriend. No one."

Iroh frowned. "You know you're scary sometimes right?"

"I know its part of my appeal." She yawned. "Now please let me nap, last night was a bit of a bitch as you can imagine and I don't want Mama or Papa to think I usually stay up all night systematically tracking down and terrorizing crime families."

"Oh yeah, that's definitely something they shouldn't know about," Iroh said sarcastically.

"Exactly, now hush."

.o.

All of Mako ached as he stood up and gave Lafey back her seat. "Were you able to discuss what you needed to with Iroh?"

Lafey nodded, "Yup, thanks for understanding." She picked Mako's glasses off the floor and handed them to him. "You probably want to avoid losing these."

Mako nodded and slipped them back on. "Yeah, thanks."

Slowly, painfully, Mako limped over to his original seat and flopped down biting his lip to avoid making any sound of discomfort as every part of his body told him he had made a grave mistake. His injuries were no longer life-threatening but they still hurt like hell. Of all of them, his arm and hand definitely hurt the worst but his knee was a close second. Mako guessed the agony in his arm was due to the combination of nerve damage and abuse but that did not make the pulsing pain less. Mako looked over at Iroh who was reading a mystery book Mako had recommended to him a few months ago.

"Hey," Mako said softly trying his best not to sound pained.

"Hey." Iroh looked over at him. "How are you feeling?"

"I've hurt worse." Mako shrugged. "How's the book?"

"It's good. Not sure what I was expecting with the title of Ten Little Soldier Boys but it's a really compelling story."

Mako nodded, "Yeah, I couldn't put it down when I read it. Glad you're enjoying it." He sighed, "How much longer is the flight? I dosed a little and lost track of time."

Iroh checked his watch, "A few more hours I suspect."

Mako groaned. "Wonderful."

Iroh put his book down. "What hurts most?"

"Arm but not by much. I don't think these seats are doing anything for my knee, shoulder, ribcage, and back." He shifted. "Too strict an angle I think."

Iroh nodded, "Yeah, let me get the flight attendant. First class should have some bunks for longer flights. I'll find out if you can use one." Iroh stood up and walked towards the front of the airship.

Mako nodded and winced a little as he tried to readjust himself. A few minutes later, Iroh returned with the smiling flight attendant.

"Detective Mako, please come this way, I have the bunk all made up and some hot tea to help you feel better."

Mako looked over at Iroh confused. Iroh smiled. "Miss Fya ascribes to my namesake's point of view that tea can improve any ailment."

"Oh," Mako nodded, "tea doesn't sound all that bad."

"It will help warm the soul," Fya said leading him to a different compartment with four sets of bunks, one of which had been made up and had a tea set sitting on a pulled out table. "If you need anything please let me know, I can even try to find a doctor if your injuries worse." She looked at Iroh. "There are pull out chairs if you would like to keep watch over your friend."

"Thank you Miss Fya." Iroh smiled as she left the room to see to others. "Need some help?"

Mako nodded, "Yes please." After getting settled Iroh handed him a cup of tea. "Thanks."

"Welcome, I hope you don't mind but I told her you were mugged last night and still a bit sore." Iroh pulled out a chair and poured himself a cup.

"No, it's ok. Saying I was mugged is probably better than beaten by a mob enforcer." Mako took a sip of tea before setting it down and stretching out. "People tend to get nervous when the mobs involved while muggings are nice and random. Either way, I'm going to be a bit…delicate for a few days."

"Delicate, you?" Iroh raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Fragile, I guess. I haven't hurt like this since I was a Pro-bender." Mako flinched, "At least I'm not starving too."

Iroh nodded, "Yeah, at least you aren't hungry." He frowned. "Uh Mako I think I should warn you, my mother may have misinterpreted something I said."

Mako looked up. "She doesn't think we're engaged does she?"

"Not that I'm aware." Iroh shook his head. "No, I told her I wanted to have a family style dinner while we're there and she heard: I want a family dinner so you can meet the whole entire family so get everybody."

"Including those cousins, you both love and want to avoid?" Mako asked.

Iroh nodded, "Yup, they'll all be there. It's going to be great..."

Mako could hear the sarcasm in Iroh's voice. "What is it that makes you so…conflicted about them?"

Iroh took Mako's hand and gently stroked his fingers with his thumb. "I always felt like I was in competition with them and I lost every time. All of them are exceptionally tall; I'm average. They've all got these deep masculine voices…I sound like this."

"I love your voice." Mako offered.

"I know you do babe, but I still wish it was a little deeper. Anyway, they have those voices, the height, are heroes in their chosen professions, and they're smooth ladies men who found the loves of their lives before turning twenty. I mean I've seen Roku charm every woman he's spoken to."

Mako painfully shifted to look at Iroh. "Um, darling not sure how to break it to you but you're gay. You don't need to charm women. What would you do with them?"

"I don't know, I just…I feel like I just fall short compared to them and now I'm going to have to deal with all of them this week and that's not what I wanted at all."

"I know, but we don't always get what we want." Mako shrugged, "And you are very charming."

Iroh chuckled, "You're just trying to butter me up so I forget about you not telling me about your life-threatening injuries."

Mako smiled. "Is it working?"

Iroh kissed Mako's hand. "Not really but I appreciate the effort. Are you feeling better now?"

Mako nodded, "Little bit more comfortable." He stretched feeling the muscles in his torso and legs protest just a bit. "I mean I know I'm going to be in pain but it's bearable now."

Iroh frowned. "I am definitely having the royal doctor look you over when we get to the palace."

Mako took a deep breath. "That might be a good idea." He yawned, "This bunk is really comfy."

Iroh smiled. "Good, you rest and I'll be here if you need anything."

"But shouldn't you go back to your seat? It's probably more comfortable then that seat."

"I'm fine right here." Iroh squeezed Mako's hand. "Just rest."

.o.

"Well I had nicely folded clothing and then the Fire Nation customs agent attacked," Mako said putting the last sock back in his bag and closed it up.

Iroh cringed, "Yeah, not really sure what that was about."

"Maybe its just karma for all those petty traffic tickets I write."

"Yeah, well you write a lot of those." Iroh crossed his arms. "Mostly to give to me."

"Speed limits within the city are there for safety reasons, Iroh." Mako pulled his bag off the table with his good arm and put in on to the cart Iroh was pushing. "Just because you think you can stop on a dime or perfectly swerve out of danger doesn't mean you actually can."

Iroh rolled his eyes. "Not with you in the passenger seat. One good thing about you playing bodyguard, you had no ticket book to abuse."

"And pure chaos reigned. Coincidence? I think not." Mako looked around. "So exactly how do we get out of customs? And where are we supposed to go once we're out?"

"Exit's that way and either someone's waiting for us or I can get us a cab." Iroh shrugged pulling Mako's carry on bag onto his shoulder, "Either way, don't worry you don't have limp all the way to the palace. Also, we'll probably grab dinner while we're in the city. The palace is still a good distance away from the terminal"

"Oh thank the spirits," Mako said limping towards the exit. "I'm starving."

"I bet you are. Airship food is, not exactly filling."

"You don't travel by air for the food," Lafey said walking up to the two. "So what kind of food are you thinking Iroh? I mean you want to put our home's best foot forward."

"I was just going to take him to a nice stake place…you're coming with us aren't you?"

"Well, I'm hungry too so why not?" She crossed her arms. "I mean it would be rude to exclude your twin sister right?"

Iroh sighed, "Fine but you have absolutely no say in what kind of food we get."

"Ok, but you're paying and I'm choosing the appetizer." She looked over at Mako. "Don't worry I have much better taste in food than my brother."

"Ok, at this point I'll eat anything." Mako shrugged.

"Well let's get going before you decide Iroh's on the menu." She said shepherding them forward into the rest of the terminal.

The Grand Fire Nation Air Ship Port always reminded Iroh of the Republic City train station. The last of the sun's rays cast hues of gold around the large almost empty room. Most of the people there seemed to be employees going about the business and much to Iroh's relief none of them looked like they were related to him.

"Well, I guess I'll go find us a cab-"

"Halt in the name of the law!" A man yelled from behind them.

Iroh slumped, "Or not." He turned to see his middle cousin Bato walking towards the group.

Iroh's middle cousin was dressed in his full Police Lieutenant's uniform and looked a bit like a tan wall with gold eyes. He was a good two inches taller than Mako and twice as wide as Iroh. His black hair was pulled back in a braid and he looked down at the twins with a severed face.

Bato then chuckled and slapped Iroh on the back. "Haha, almost got you, Lil Roh!" He then hugged Lafey, "Lafey! Darling, it's been too long!"

Lafey smiled, "I know! So did Mother send you?"

"Yeah, Aunt Izumi suggested that someone come get you guys and since I'm arguably the best driver in the bunch since I'm a cop and all." Bato smiled. "So Iroh where's your special lady? The reason for the little family shindig?"

Iroh pointed to Mako, "Uh Bato meet Detective Mako-"

"Detective Mako? Oh, I've seen articles about you! Great job helping the Avatar stop Kuvira and very impressive reaching detective so young. You know I made detective young too." Bato smiled and held out a hand then switched hands. "Lieutenant Bato, of the North Chung-Ling Police Department Homicide Unit."

"Uh Detective Mako RCPD, Organized Crime Unit. Nice to meet you." Mako shook Bato's hand and Iroh could see Bato trying to test Mako's grip strength. Mako did not appear to be playing along.

"Same, always good to meet another brother in blue." Bato titled his head. "Huh, a rather weak grip for a cop."

"It's been a very trying twenty-four hours." Mako put his hand down.

"I can only imagine. I've heard about the crime problems your city's had since the Kuvira incident."

Mako nodded. "It's a citywide turf war and Raiko's an idiot trying to micromanage everything." He sighed. "It's a class four cluster fuck."

"Oh for the great love of Yue a class four? You need a drink, my friend." He squinted at Mako, "You are old enough to drink right?"

Mako nodded, "Yes."

"Good! I know a place with the best drinks in the city! Come on let's burn rubber." He pointed to the doors and led the party out to the parking pushing the bag cart.

"Do you think he knows?" Lafey whispered to Iroh and Mako both of whom shook their heads.

"Not a clue," Iroh answered shortly.

"I'm pretty sure I'm just Iroh's very overworked friend who needed a vacation and a beer to him." Mako sighed. "Who's going to tell him?"

Iroh sighed, "I will just let's get a few drinks in him first."

"Or we could just get you two drunk and when you inevitably start making out we'll see if he catches on or blames the liquor." Lafey offered smiling.

"Uh we'll keep thinking but that's a good plan B," Iroh whispered as the trio followed Bato out into the Fire Nation sunset.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading I'll see you later! If you feel so compelled leave a comment or a question~C.C.