Disclaimer: I do not own the existing characters that we know and love from The Legend of Korra, although I do take ownership over the new characters that appear
A/N: Reliving the series and couldn't resist writing a new story 😊
Chapter 01
No Avatars have been reported since the passing of Avatar Korra, not long after Kuvira was defeated, and much had changed across the lands. The divide between bending and non-bending populations had grown wider than ever before, creating a split in Ba Sing Se. To the western regions of the city, the benders lived and to the east, the non-benders resided. Each one with its own council and government that refused to cooperate with the other.
The imposed bending registration did allow those in charge to monitor the benders and exactly where they live. Keeping intrusive tabs on them under the guise of protecting everyone. All to make sure that people were staying out of trouble and not associating with unsavoury groups.
Old friends of the Avatar went into hiding, awaiting the arrival of the next Avatar, living in the dark of never knowing if there would ever be another one. Some of them joined a group of rebels that called themselves White Tigers with the hopes of restoring the balance and creating harmony between benders and their normal counterparts.
The leader of the White Tigers used to be a young lady with a bright heart, determination beyond words and a good head on her shoulders. She made the ultimate sacrifice of embedding herself deep within the enemy lair, leaving control of the White Tigers to Bolin. This young lady, Mina, hid so many secrets in the run up to bringing down the government that suppressed them. And that started with infiltrating the home of Lord Yukito, going against the protestations of Bolin and his brother Mako for varying reasons.
For Mako, he was entangled in a deep web of lies. He loved Mina and willingly followed her into the lion's den, being a protective presence in the background as Yukito's head of security. Forced to watch from afar as Mina and Yukito married, Mako continued to be devoted to Mina.
Even when the lady welcomed a healthy baby girl with huge sea green eyes and unruly dark brown hair so dark, it was almost black. Named Akari, the baby was besotted by Mina and Yukito who offered her everything that she could have ever wanted or needed.
Mina cradled her daughter day and night, on occasion spending twenty four hours in the baby's presence. She knew that the child would be at great risk within Yukito's estate if he ever found out the truth. That she was really in love with his head of security. A man he had put a good deal of trust in. She feared Yukito suspected there was more to Mako's desire to work near constantly on keeping Mina safe.
"It will all be okay, Kari. We'll work something out," she whispered to the sleeping baby, lowering her into the bassinet. "Until then, just know that I love with you every fibre of my being."
Mina's hand brushed her daughter's rosy cheeks with two fingers before drawing the covers up over the sleeping baby's legs. She smiled at the little red booties that Mako had gifted Akari. A secret symbol from afar of his own love for both of them.
The door behind her opened, making Mina whip around to see who it was. Her heart pumped faster when she saw Mako slip into the nursery. Though she wanted him to be there, she suspected the risk of them being caught by Yukito or one of his guards was increasing higher and higher.
"Mako- you can't be here," Mina exclaimed sharply, striding across the room towards him, meeting in the middle of the room. She tried to push the tall man back towards the door, unable to move him. "You have to leave before somebody sees you."
"But Mina. You're not safe here. Neither of you are-"
She held up a finger to stop him, feeling her legs becoming like jelly with fear. "We agreed that this was over, Mako. You promised you would leave your post and return back to the city. If Yukito were to ever find out what we are doing, then he would have your head for it. The one person who's not safe here is you. The risks are too high and I need to think about everyone who is concerned in this whole charade."
Mako wanted to stop Mina pushing him away both mentally and physically. His amber eyes were drawn to the bassinet in the corner, partially concealed by a thin veil of a sheer material. Knowing in these current circumstances that the truth could never come out was tearing him up inside.
"What about Kari?" he asked bluntly, looking down at Mina with a look of concern etched across his face. "What will become of her if they find out?" Mako paused for effect, so that Mina could think about the answer to his question. "That's exactly why you and I have to leave with her now. I have everything planned. All you need to do is just trust me."
"It's not that simple, Mako. And A-kari will be fine. I can protect her myself. You, on the other hand, will not be if you stay here any longer and get caught."
Mina went towards the door, about to open it when a stern knock slammed into the wood three times. Her pale eyes widened. She wasn't expecting any visitors and hadn't requested anyone to join her either. Keeping calm in the stressful situation, Mina pointed at the space behind the door for Mako to hide himself in for the moment.
"Not one word…" she mouthed at him, pressing a finger to his lips.
Opening the door, Mina came face to face with one of the men that served Yukito. He was stony faced and emanating a chilling gaze from two black coloured eyes. Standing up stiff and straight, he frowned at Mina.
"Yes?" Mina said, blinking calmly and gripping the doorknob at her hip. "Is everything alright?"
"Lord Yukito requests your presence. I am her to escort you to him," he replied coldly, clasping his hands behind his back. When she didn't followed, he raised one of his thick brows. "Do you need a minute?"
Mina felt Mako's fingers grazing hers to show his support in secret, to tell her he was there for her. "I- uh. I would just like to settle Akari. Would you go and fetch one of the nurses to watch her? I'd rather not leave my baby on her own."
The guard didn't hide his rolling eyes and exasperated reaction to the request coming from the wife of his master. "As you wish," he mumbled quietly, storming off down the corridor. The heels of his leather boots echoed on the hard floor, diminishing as he went around the corner.
Mina closed the door gently, swallowing dryly as she walked over to the bassinet. Her mind ran amok at the thoughts of running away. She pondered Mako's offer to smuggle her and Akari out of the city. Over her shoulder, Mina could sense Mako hovering, keeping close by.
"No one can know the truth, Mako," she whispered harshly, trying to ignore the lump in her throat that asked her to let the tears flow. "Promise me you won't tell anyone. Not even Bolin. You have to know that I will do whatever I can to help, but for now, I have to put Akari's needs first. Akari can never know the truth either. Akari will always be Yukito's daughter until my people and yours can live in harmony together. Only then, would I ever consider telling her the truth."
"You can't protect her forever, Mina."
"Then I will protect her for as long as I live…" She looked up at Mako and faltered with her words, seeing only the face of the man of her dreams that was also the man she couldn't have. Her chin quivered and her eyes welled up in seconds. "Please go, Mako. Resign and return back to the city to support Bolin. He needs you more than I do. This is for Akari's future. Her protection and safety is my only priority."
The firebender cupped the lady's face in his hand, leaning forwards to plant one final, loving kiss on her soft lips. He closed his eyes in the hopes that he could remain locked in this moment. Inhaling slowly, he wished that Mina would agree to run away with him so they could be together.
"Mako…" Mina whispered between his kisses, pressing her hands against his strong chest to push him away. "Go. Out the window. No one can see you."
Mako tried to stop her, wanting to say more. All the memories he shared with her were darting through his mind. He felt regret that they had hidden their relationship from everyone, including Bolin. None of this would have happened otherwise.
Reluctantly, Mako opened the window close to the bassinet and climbed out into the shadows of the night. From outside, he watched Mina take one last look at their daughter, wiping the tears from her eyes. She straightened out the purple dress that she was wearing, adjusting the sash around her waist, making sure it was sitting flat. The knock at the door came again, summoning Mina to the door. No one entered. Only Mina left the room.
Waiting a few minutes of agony, Mako stood on the stone ledge of the window. For a moment, the thought crossed his mind to steal Akari now that she had been left alone. The only con to the idea was the betrayal that Mina would feel towards him.
As he purposefully hadn't shut the window, he slipped back into the nursery and approached the bassinet cautiously. Though the baby wasn't a newborn anymore, Mako had never had a moment to hold her. Instead, he had only been able to fondly look upon her from a distance or over Mina's shoulder as he escorted her about the estate and city.
The baby inside the bassinet stirred, wrinkling her tiny button nose and kicking the blanket off her. Her eyes focused on the man leaning over her bed. Mako couldn't take his eyes off of the child, seeing Mina's beauty in the girl's face. Baby Akari kicked her legs repeatedly It was like she was trying to show him the booties he had given her. 'Thanks for these' would have left her mouth if she could speak. Puny little fists flexed at the man, asking to be picked up.
There was no way that he could say no. He obliged and gently lifted the create that could be his into his arms. He felt the baby's cold skin on his hands, and he felt a love and pain in his heart that had never been ignited before. Mako took a long, drawn-off moment to cradle Akari close to his chest. The baby settled, content with resting on the man, normally fussy with people other than Mina and Yukito.
"I will never leave you, Kari. I will always be here, even if you don't see me…" he whispered to the baby, rubbing her back slowly. Mako kissed Akari's head, feeling the fluffy softness of her hair. It felt like how Bolin's felt when he was born and that made Mako stifle a cheery grunt.
In the moment of bliss, Mako didn't realise another's presence in the room until a dark voice spoke up from the shadows. "I was wondering when you might slip up and confirm the truth for me. Admittedly, I didn't expect you to be so open about your betrayal. Do you have no honour?"
Mako turned to see his boss emerging from the dark corner of the room, questioning how long they had been there. He was sure that no one had been there earlier. His gaze was drawn to the ruler of the non-bending side of Ba Sing Se. A man he considered a tyrant set on controlling the whole of Ba Sing Se.
Lord Yukito stood tall, matching Mako's height, but surpassing him with age. Yukito wasn't old and frail, he was simply older than Mako. His maroon hair had been slick back off his face and trailed past broad shoulders. Yukito smiled at Mako with a level of darkness and evil thoughts that sent shivers down the firebender's spine.
It dawned on Mako that this had been a rouse. A set up to corner him like a mouse. He worried about whether Mina had any say or position in what was happening now. Clutching baby Akari to his chest with one arm, he felt her squirm against his hold. Mako raised his free hand to imply that he would fight Yukito.
In that moment, he repeated a silent promise to protect Akari. By any means necessary.
Yukito smirked at Mako, slowly stepping into the dim glow of the lights overhead. "I see you showing a great deal of devotion to the baby. It is most admirable of you, considering that she is not yours to begin with. Whatever you may think, you're mistaken," Yukito continued, opening and closing one fist, flexing the fingers of that hand. "Perhaps the only way to get you out of my wife and daughter's lives is to take your life…" He pulled back his long hair into a tight ponytail and gestured at Mako to come forwards. "Now is the time for you to really prove where your loyalties lie. Are you with me, Mako?"
Mako remained quiet, refusing to utter a word.
"Because if you aren't with me, then you are surely against me…"
The firebender felt Akari raise a hand, scratching at the red scarf concealed beneath the uniform he wore. Mako tried to focus and work out the best course of action that would ensure everyone remained unharmed. He knew that Yukito, whilst strangely confident, wouldn't willingly harm 'his' daughter, but if that was the case then why was he not more concerned about the life of the child.
"Your silence tells me that you are not ready to give up just yet. That merely indicates that I must take matters into my own hands to make sure that you never come near me, my wife or my family ever again."
Pulling up the sleeve of his purple robe, Yukito revealed a strange, scientific glove with a thick silver band around the wrist. It appeared to have a stone embedded into the palm that began to glow with a red light from within.
"You see," Yukito said smugly, clicking his gloved fingers to summon a flame to his hand that took the firebender by surprise. "I've been perfecting a little something of my own. I guess you of all people must be familiar with the Avatar and their ability to master the various types of bending. The world was terrified that they would never see another Avatar come to light after the terrible fate that befell dear Avatar Korra. In time, I will be their Avatar.
Mako stepped back in shock, uncertain what to do with Akari still in his arms. "That's impossible- you're… Mina told me you aren't a bender. How are you doing that?" He couldn't take his eyes of the fire in Yukito's hand.
Yukito snapped his hand shut, extinguishing the flame. "Science and technology, Mako!" he exclaimed gleefully, sounding like an excited child. "Isn't it amazing? My team finally managed to perfect firebending thanks to a little prisoner who's been helping us. "Would you like to see it in action?"
Without warning, Yukito launched a stream of fire at Mako, who just about manged to duck and evade the attack. He could sense the heat still in the air, and he heard Akari begin to cry at the heat. Swinging his arm in a long arc, Mako retaliated with his own fireball, trying not to hurt Akari.
A barrage of flames flew back and forth between the two men, setting fire to the veil around the crib. Backing away from Yukito's position, Mako knocked the bassinet over. In looking to see what happened, he didn't notice the fire coming at him until it hit, sending him flying. Sparks and cinders flew all around, catching the skin of Akari's forehead.
The wails that protruded from the tiny baby's lungs had to have been heard at the other end of the house.
Yukito extinguished the flame immediately and grunted angrily at the sound of the crying baby, suddenly becoming protective of the baby. "I will give you one more chance to walk away, Mako. Leave my home and never return. Whilst you still can…"
The firebenders eyes darted to the bookcase at one side of the wall and decided that he could burn a hole that way and escape. Mako didn't wait and tore a hole in the books, climbing quickly through into the next room. He ignored Yukito calling out to him and broke out into a run, opening the door at the other end of the room.
Mako shook Akari, trying to comfort the screeching baby. Thankfully, his knowledge of the house and its grounds allowed her to successfully navigate his way to safety. If he could get to the courtyard and then through the gardens, his escape route would be waiting.
He sprinted along the corridors, hearing Yukito summoning his guards to chase after Mako. Boots stamped the floor behind Mako, armed with electrified weapons to fire at him if he gives them an opportunity. It wouldn't be long before they caught up to him, so he was determined to go as fast as he could.
There was a door at the end of the corridor that Mako passed, turning right, but something inside told him to stop. He listened for a moment, hearing the doorknob rattling repeatedly. Doubling back on himself, Mako darted back when he saw the door jolting back and forth in its frame.
"Let me out!"
"Mina?" Mako shouted, alert to her presence on the other side of the door. "Is that you?"
"Mako! What are you doing here?" Mina's voice replied. "Is that Akari? What are you doing?"
Knowing there was no time to explain, Mako snapped for her to get away from the door. He kicked it in, needing to do so a couple of time. He could have done it in one if Akari wasn't in his arms.
Mina squeaked as Mako flew into the room, pulling her out onto the corridor. She barely managed to keep up with his elongated strides. "What's going on, Mako?"
"Yukito- firebending glove… Need to leave…" Mako panted heavily, leading her down the stairs towards the courtyard. "Follow me."
"What happened to Akari?" she asked, trying to get him to stop so she could hold her baby he had in his arms. "Mako- what did you do?" Her eyes widened in shock, believing that the firebender had burnt the baby, which made her snatch the child from him, bouncing Akari up and down.
They paused at the top of the stairs, just before the courtyard. Both of them saw Yukito standing alone in the middle of stone area of the estate. He didn't say anything. All he did was watch Mako and Mina. Waiting to see what either one of them would do.
"Well, well, well…" Yukito said, breaking the silence. "Isn't this just the charming little family reunion? My wife, her child and the man I thought was my ally. Two people I initially thought would never betray me." He held up his gloved hand, watching as Mako stood protectively in front of Mina and Akari. "Mina- you stand behind him, yet he is the one that caused harm to your daughter. Come here."
Mina shivered, quivering behind Mako. "Yukito, it's over. I'm leaving you. I'm leaving this place and everything behind," she said shakily, gripping Akari tightly. Bravely, she plucked up the courage to walk towards Yukito. "You wouldn't hurt us, would you? Not after everything we've been through together."
Mako matched her steps, prepared to react at a moment's notice. He wanted to tell her to be careful, but she had a typical stubbornness when people tried to tell her what to do when she had already decided what to do.
"Give her to me," Yukito said bluntly, whipping up a hand to block her way. "You can leave. You're not taking my daughter with you."
"And I can't let you take her from me…" Mina whispered defiantly, only to receive a sharp, backhanded slap to the face. She hit the ground hard, choosing to protect Akari over putting her hand out to catch herself. A pained squeal passed her lips and she dragged herself quickly away.
Mako reacted angrily, throwing flame after flame at Yukito. His desire to protect Mina and Akari fuelled his movements. Fires burnt the vines and bushes growing around the edge of the courtyard, bringing about a dangerous heat to the fight. Mako manipulated the flames, pulling them off the vines and catching Yukito's robes.
The non-bender slapped his hands against the flame on his sleeve, too engrossed in getting rid of the flame so that he didn't see Mako launching himself through the air, tackling Yukito and taking him down. The pair tussled with one another, sharing kicks and punches with a great deal of strength behind them.
Mako grunted when a strong boot ploughed into his side, knocking him back. He got back up to his feet, dodging the false firebending and letting out a battlecry as he swing his fist through the air, slamming it directly into Yukito's jaw.
Dazed, Yukito stumbled to one side, clutching his jaw and rolling it around in circles. "Mako!" he screamed aggressively, turning back towards the firebender dropping to his knees beside Mina trying to get up. "You won't take her from me!"
Mina's face was drained of colour as she saw a ball of fire hurtling towards Mako. In a matter of seconds, she bundled Akari into his arms and shoved the man out of the path of the fire. Her body jerked suddenly as she took on the full force of the false firebending. The impact sent her sliding back along the floor of the courtyard, rasping for air as the fire burnt up her chest and stomach.
"Mina!" Mako bellowed, stumbling over to her and hitting his knees hard on the stone floor. "Mina, Mina… It's okay. It's okay. We'll get you out of here and to a healer…" He tried to support her to lift her up, but she cried out in agonising pain. "Tell me what to do," he whispered, clasping her hand tightly in his. "I'm so sorry, this is all my fault. Why didn't I listen to you?"
Her pale eyes fluttered for a moment as she buried the pain down inside of her. "Protect Akari. Make sure she's okay, and that she is happy. She's destined for greatness. And Mako?" she rasped weakly, with tears falling off her face.
"Don't talk," Mako said pleadingly, knowing that he wasn't going to be able to save her, but unable to accept it. "Save your energy…"
Mina shook her head, silently saying no and that she had something else to say. "I love you and Akari so much and-"
The sentence didn't get finished. Mako watched the light fade from her eyes and he shook her body as if it would make her come back to life. He screwed his eyes shut, stroking Akari's hair gently.
He found himself unable to think straight and only about to think about the memories he shared with Mina, including the one that told him he knew he loved her and always would. It wasn't long after Korra died, and Mako got into a fight that caused his dad's scarf to rip. Mina helped Mako get home after taking a beating, claiming that she didn't want him to get more hurt than he already was. Whilst he rested upstairs, Mina worked to knit the split of the scarf so that it looked brand new, or as brand new as an old scarf can be.
Breaking free of his distracted stand, Mako could feel Yukito's presence behind him. "You're not the Avatar's friend anymore. You aren't welcome here." Yukito took Akari from Mako. "My guards are poised to take you out if you try anything."
No mercy was given to Mako before guards approached and restrained him roughly as he screamed abuse at Yukito. The non-bender ruler looked down at Mina's body and shook his head.
"I loved you Mina… and this is your own doing. There is no one to blame but yourself." He looked down at the crying baby, eager to pass her off on someone else. "Now Akari. Your mother must have thought I was an idiot. I know a bender child when I see one. That's right. I know all about the betrayal before me."
Yukito proceeded to walk up the stairs away from the courtyard. "And I also now that one day, you are going to grow up to be a firebender. Sadly, you are never going to realise that. I've been perfecting a little restrictor band like my glove. Solely for you. Call it a little present from your old dad."
Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = So coming clean, this is a rewrite of the first chapter, but I feel much happier with this version. Don't forget to review and let me know your thoughts