Please really listen to the tags of this story. I'm not going to put trigger warning on each chapter. This story is violent in plenty of chapters. If you've seen Chicago PD or SVU, you know that there's rape and other types of violence. This is the nature of this story. So, read at your own risk. This isn't really a story that you can skip chapters.

Chapter Twenty One

Iroh drives around for about thirty minutes deciding if he's going to see Mako or not. What's too much space? What's just caring about your partner? The lines are blurred now and he doesn't know which ones he can cross. They need to talk- he knows that, but is now really the right time? Can he just go over there and not talk?

It's frustrating. He's not used to being reduced to this… mess. He wants to reach for the pills he keeps in his glove compartment, but instead, he does the mature thing. He reaches for his phone.

A quiet, sleepy voice answers on the other end after about six rings. He was just getting ready to hang up.

"Opal, can you talk?"

#

"Asami, what are you doing?" Hiroshi assesses his daughter as he sits cross-legged on the couch.

She hates that look and she's even more uncomfortable because she still needs to shower. She wants to wash away all the grime of today- all the fear she felt.

"I'm sitting here waiting for you to say what's you're going to say so I can shower."

Hiroshi sighs. "Why are you still trying to rebel against me?"

"Really, dad? Some things really aren't about you. You know why I wanted to become a police officer."

"So you can stop people like the one that hurt your mom."

"Yes, that's part of the reason."

"Your mom wouldn't want you putting yourself in danger…"

"Oh, please. Don't try to guilt me. You should be proud of me. I'm following my own path."

"But, you were meant to invent, to build the future with your hands. You are a genius and that mind should be cultivated in the right environment."

"I still invent, dad. I still go to the factory and work on my ideas. I can be both."

"No, you can't."

"Why are you so negative all the time?"

"I'm just honest, Asami. I want to tell you now before you realize it too late. You really need to think about resigning and coming to Future Industries full time. I'm sure that girlfriend of yours will understand… It will mean more expensive dates for her anyway."

"Korra isn't like that. Don't say disrespectful things like that about her. She pushed me out of the way of a car that was trying to run me down, dad. She could have died, but she did it anyway. She's kind and thoughtful and she doesn't give a damn about how much money I have."

"So, you fell for her because she was your hero?"

Asami shoots him a glare that would freeze hell.

Hiroshi huffs and straightens his shirt. "I apologize. Just, be careful. You are all I have left and if I have to play dirty to keep you safe, I will."

Asami rolls her eyes. "I love you, dad. Have a good night."

He looks toward the bathroom where Korra is showering. "You too, Sami."

#

"I'm telling you, Kya, those feds are hiding something and I intend to find out exactly what. I can't even get a location on officer Rhodes. They swooped in and spirited him away." Lin paces in the bedroom, still riled up from the phone call with Tenzin. He hadn't had any luck getting any info from the traitor either.

"So, what? You think this is a set up?" Kya asks patiently.

"I don't know what it is, but I don't like it. My people's asses were on the line. The least we deserve is some information."

"Well, you're not going to solve anything from here. You have so much on your plate right now. You really need to relax, Lin. Think about your health."

She sighs loudly. "You're right. I'll let you go, for now."

"That's all I ask, Linny Poo. Now come here and get these cuddles," Kya says with her arms outstretched.

Lin tries to keep a straight face, but Kya wiggles her eyebrows at her.

"Ugh, fine," she says with a half smile.

"That's my girl."

#

Opal comes outside wrapped in her robe and slides in Iroh's car. His hands are gripping the steering wheel tightly. His jaw is tight as he bites down on his teeth. She notices a bit of sweat on his brow.

"Roh, what's wrong?"

"It's just so hard. I want to get high so bad. It makes everything so much easier."

"Everything like what?"

"Pain. Stress. Fear. All of it. When I can just make myself disappear for a bit, it just feels to good."

"How long have you been fighting this?"

"A while. When I was in the military, I hurt my back pretty bad in a raid. I was on some heavy painkillers and I got addicted. I thought I kicked the habit all on my own about two years ago. But, I was wrong. Six months ago, I started using again. I don't know how to quit. I'm not blaming Mako for this, but when I think about how fucked up our relationship is, it makes me stressed and makes me want to get high." He's still gripping the steering wheel and she places a hand on his.

"You need help, Iroh. Professionally. Our job is high stress. There are too many triggers there for you to ignore. Do you have any pills on you?"

He nods. "That's why I'm talking to you-for help."

"Give them to me. I can only do so much. You know I'll support you. I'm glad you called me instead of using, but Iroh, that isn't enough."

He hangs his head down in shame. "I know. Spirits, I'm such a screw up."

"Don't say that. You're human. This could have happened to anyone. I know what you did in the military. You're a hero. You've seen so much. It's not your fault."

"I should be stronger, Ope," he says, beginning to cry.

"We all have our crosses to bear. You're plenty strong if you ask me."

Iroh thinks about the bomb that went off and how he rushed into the house to rescue his fellow soldiers, one by one. He thinks about the enemy closing in on their location and the little girl caught in the crossfire- the look in her eyes. He thinks about how they captured him when he used himself as a decoy so that his unit could get away and get help for the injured. He thinks about the beating he took. He can barely remember the rescue. He remembers wanting to die…

"Iroh?"

He shakes the fogginess away. "You're right, I can't do this alone. I can't do this with just you, either. I'll get professional help," he resolves.

"And when you need someone to listen, I can be that too. I need you to know that none of us will judge you. If it's not me, let it be Bo, or Jinora, or Kuvira, or Korra, whoever. We're your family, Iroh and we want to make sure that you're okay."

"I don't know if I'm ready for all of them to know. I know you don't have secrets between you and Bolin, so tell him what you need to know about me, but not Mako. And please make sure he keeps his mouth shut."

She's still stuck on the comment about no secrets. If only he knew that Bolin, goofy Bolin was the one holding back.

"I will," she promises. "Now, you go straight home and get some rest. We all deserved it."

He turns and pulls her into a hug. "You don't know how much this means."

"It's okay. I can guess. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Ope."

#

"You remember when we were about sixteen and you punched that boy that tried to scare me by pretending to run me down with the car because I asked you to the school dance first?" Baatar asks with a chuckle.

Kuvira raises an eyebrow. "Where the hell did that come from?"

"Do you remember, Kuv?"

"Of course I remember. I was so terrified when I found saw that car coming for you. I wanted to kill him."

"Well, that's how I felt today. When I found out about what happened to you, I was so damn scared. Every time you leave for work, I have that same pit in my stomach. And, I hate it."

"Jr-,"

"But, it's who you are. You're damn good at your job. You were meant to lead and protect people. When we have kids, I just don't want you to take any more stupid risks. You're going to do what you have to, but I just want you to think about us too. Think about our future."

"Life isn't that simple. I could die walking down the street."

"I know, love. I'm not trying to change your mind about anything, even though it seems like I am. I just wanted you to know my thoughts. I can't protect you when you're out there."

"Baby, you do protect me. The thought of you waiting for me is why I come home every night. I fight to get back to you. I always will."

He pulls her into a fierce kiss.

Then, she pulls away with a laugh.

"What?"

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking about how they made Korra stay in the hospital after her concussion, but they released me right away."

"That's because you're much scarier than her. They wouldn't dare."

She chuckles and pulls him back into a kiss.

"Are you afraid of me?" Kuvira asks him.

"Never."

"Well, you should be."

"Why?"

"Because, when this dizziness goes away…" she whispers something quietly in his ear and his eyes go wide.

#

"Hiroshi. You didn't answer my first three calls," a quiet voice says on the line.

"I was busy with my daughter. What is it that you want?"

"They took my father tonight. We need help paying off the guards to help him escape."

"Do you know that my daughter was on that run? She could have died."

"But she didn't."

Hiroshi growls. "Don't fuck with me."

"Rumor has it that she put a bullet through one of my men, so the way I see it, we're even."

"I already had those people posing as the feds grab Rhodes. What else do you think you're going to get from me? The weapons have been moved. The money has been exchanged. Those triad dogs are dead. Now, I'm done. Your father is not my concern. Our business was concluded the minute my daughter was put in danger." He squeezes the phone tightly.

"Hiroshi, Hiroshi, Hiroshi, you fat, naïve bastard. You're not out until I decide that you're out."

Hiroshi laughs until he can hardly breathe. "Oh, you think you're in charge. How cute. Since you're running things, tell me, Amon, how many guards do you think it'd take to pay off? How many men can you spare? Your organization is failing because you don't know how to run it without daddy's help. Pathetic. Now, you're crawling to me to feed you more money because all you have on your table is scraps. You know why? Because you're vermin."

He pulls out his other cell phone and sends a message to his number two while he's talking to Amon. Send a message to our Equalist friend. Make it slow.

Thirty seconds tick by. Copy.

Hiroshi puts the phone back in his pocket.

"Hiroshi, you really don't want to get on my bad side. I'll let you think about this over night. You must've had a long day."

"Listen, well. Our partnership has come to an end. Don't contact me again."

"Oh, Hiroshi Sato. You've just made a big mistake. I'm going to-,"

Hiroshi hangs up and grabs a cigar from his desk drawer.

#

Kai's breath is labored as he tries to match Jinora's pace. He's close, but he's trying his best to hold out for her. It isn't working too well as his voice echoes through the room as Jinora chants his name. He squeezes her thighs tighter and she rolls her hips even faster. His eyes roll back and he releases a low moan. He slows his pace and Jinora rolls off of him.

"We're not done yet," Jinora tells him.

"What's gotten into you?" he asks when he finally catches his breath.

"Nothing. I just want to make love to my boyfriend. Is that okay?" she says sharply.

"No, it's very okay, but you're only this, rough, when you're upset about something."

"You are not about to analyze me before I even get my orgasm. You're not crazy, are you?"

"I'm sorry. I just thought that you'd want to talk."

"I always talk, Kai. But, that's not what I need right now. I need for you to fuck me and worry about talking about my feelings later. Can you do that?"

He opens his mouth and then closes it. Then, he nods.

"Good. Now, let's get him back up," she tells him as she tries to forget about the email that she was just sent about Professor Jin Hatake.