~Chapter 13~

~Better than you'll ever know~

The lights flickered overhead as Varrick examined the remains of bomb that had blasted half the police department in to rubble. He groaned and looked over at a female shadow. "Zhu Li! Is there nothing we can do about the lighting?"

"Not your assistant toy master." Kayther said walking out of the shadows holding a flashlight. "And unfortunately all I can do is this." She clicked the light on and shined it on to the piece he was working on.

"Well that's really all I need right now." Varrick turned back to his work. "Would you mind just standing there for a few hours like that?"
"Yes, I would." Kayther used a metal cable to loop around an exposed pipe in the ceiling before tying the flashlight to it, effectively suspending the gadget in the perfect position. She rolled her eyes. "I forgot how badly lit the old HQ was." She looked at the wallpaper pealing off the wall. "And how poorly decorated."
Varrick shrugged. "Well it's not a crime scene and structurally unstable like the other place so I can't complain too much. It's kind of neat to see this place. I had no idea HQ1 was a mansion in the middle of the woods."

"No one did which is why it worked so well until the agency expanded." She looked over the pieces. "So what are you working on?"

"This is the bomb from the police station. I'm trying to figure out who built it and if it matches the equalist technology we have on file. And before you ask, Director Sozza told me too."

"Oh, why are you working on this one and not the one that we got hit by?"

"Because there's more of this one left, they have the same maker I know that so find who made this one-"

"Find who made all of them." Kayther smiled.
Varrick 's eye twitched. "Yes, you know Zhu Li doesn't interrupt me, unlike you."
"Well I'm not Zhu Li, speaking of which were is your girlfriend?"
"She's my assistant! Not my girlfriend!" Varrick took a breath. "And I would suspect if she isn't here she's at home healing up. That blast dislocated her shoulder and left her pretty sore."

"That could be said for the whole department. The Director has been more fiery than normal. I mean I know we've lost a lot of things but she doesn't have to take it out on us."

"Cut her some slack agent 009, her sons were both caught in the blast at the police station. One got his hands cut off just below the wrists by one of the police cables this little guy broke loose." He paused at Kayther's face of shock. "They were able to put the hands back on but the Director is still pissed. Add to it agent 007 is no where to be found and you're going to have an irate Director Agidar."

"Well we definitely have that." Kayther crossed her arms. "Oh! I just remember why I came down here!" She pulled a file from under her arm. "I wanted to know if the electric gloves you made for Iroh could cause the electrical burns seen on these corpses." She showed him the picture of the dead United Forces officers found in Iroh's destroyed office.

"Yes, that looks like the charge power I put into the gauntlets."

Kayther raised an eyebrow. "Varrick that killed these men, don't you think that's a little over powered?"

"Nope. Director's orders, she wanted them deadly. 007 might not be a wet work spy like you but that doesn't mean he only needs to stun someone like equalists do." He gestured to an equalist power glove on another table.

"Ah. So how is the reconstruction coming? Learn anything interesting?"

Varrick shrugged. "Possibly, you see these bombs weren't build by the same person whose been creating all the eqalist's tec. Either Amon hired someone else to build the bombs or…"
"Someone else planted the bombs hoping we'd blame Amon." Kayther tapped her chin. "What do you think happen?"

Varrick wiped his brow. "I think we have a new player with these bombs. All of what Amon's done has left people alive and he only goes after benders. These attacks, they were places were both benders and non-benders work and the casualties were a mix. I really don't think Amon was behind this."

"Yeah, he doesn't fit the profile of mass murdering bomber." Kayther walked out to the room. "I've dated a few of those…. They're always so prompt. Missing a few finger though."

Varrick shook his head watching her leave the room. "Wet works spies." He rolled his eyes and got back to work.

.o.

"How you feeling bro?" Bolin put a half a wake Pabu on Mako's chest. "I know a little guy who really wants to know."

Mako looked at the fire ferret. "Uh, I'm doing ok…. I guess, a little better."

Asami walked over and kissed Mako's cheek. "That's good to hear. Also nice for you to actually be awake during visiting hours for once."

Bolin smiled. "Yeah, we get to talk to you instead of trying to figure out what to write on your casts."

"I kept them from writing anything too bad." Lin patted Mako's shoulder and yawned. "Sozza's here right?" She looked at Bolin. "She did manage to pull herself away from the investigation for a few hours."

Bolin nodded. "Yeah, she's talking to the doctors outside. She said she'll stay with Mako over night and you can go home and get some well-deserved rest and a shower. She also said that she won't leave Mako's side so you can rest without worries."

Lin chuckled. "I don't think that's going to happen but I appreciate the sentiment." She leaned over at kissed Mako's forehead. "Be good baby boy. I'll be back tomorrow." She turned to Bolin. "And you, please be nice to your brother and no teasing. I don't want this to be the tonsils incident all over again."

Bolin nodded. "Don't worry mom. I'll be good and besides Mako can't punch me so there's no way it will be like before. Now go home and rest."

Lin gave a weary glance back at Mako and left the room.

Mako looked at two people left in the room. "I thought Korra and Sota were going to be here." He tried not to look too disappointed; after all, his girlfriend was here.

"They're coming. Sota was talking to someone he knew in the lobby and Korra's trying to loose her shadows."

Mako raised and eyebrow. "Her shadows?"

"Yeah, remember that guy we met at the police station before the bombing?"
"Lu ten?"

"Yeah, him. Well apparently they haven't found Iroh and because they believe Korra can't take care of herself, I don't get it either, he's been fallowing her every where pretending to be Iroh."

Mako grimaced. "That can't be fun, though if I had a choice I'd rather be fallowed by Iroh's less attractive doppelganger than be here." He let out a sigh as Pabu licked his nose.

Asami giggled and petted the Mako's hair. "I know it's got to be so boring here. I think I'd go mad just having to sit there day in and day out."

Bolin chuckled. "Yeah, but you've got hand it to my brother. He knows how to be boring when it counts."

Mako frowned and was about to say something when the door opened and Sota burst in to the room knocking over some flowers. He grabbed the vase before it could hit the ground and set the right with a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that!"

Mako shrugged. "Eh I have too many flowers already."

Sota looked around. "I can see that. Well glad I didn't bring you more. You going to start a flower shop soon?"

Mako smirked. "One more bouquet and I think I might."

Sota looked over at Bolin and Asami. "Hey Bolin, hi…Asami right?"
"Right." Asami nodded. "Nice to see you again." She did not sound happy.

Sota shrugged. "Yeah, I guess." He rummaged through his bag and produced a rather large box of chocolates and a book before looking back at Mako. "I got these for you, um, the chocolates are your favorite and this is the new book in the one series out really liked about detective in the floating city."

Mako gave Sota a forced smiled. "Thanks, Sota, uh chocolates are good. Not sure what I'm going to do with a book." He nodded to one of his arms. "I can't really pick anything up right now."

"Oh! Right!" Sota bit his lip and scratched the back of his head. "Well I kind of planned on maybe visiting you everyday to read you some…not that I think about it. That's dumb, one of your moms can or you know your girlfriend can read you it. She looks uh very literate."

Asami nodded crossing her arms. "That might be best."

Sota sighed. "Mako look, I just wanted to try to patch up our friendship. Get us back to where we were before that whole mess." He set the items down on a near by table. "Guess I got overzealous and ended up in the creepy zone."

Asami crossed her arms. "Yeah, you kind of did there."

Sota nodded, "Yeah, I'll just leave, now. Feel better Mako." He slipped out the door before Mako could say anything.

Mako let out a groan. "Bolin, could you go an get Sota back here?"

"Sure I'll lend you a hand." Bolin smiled as he walked out of the room to go retrieve Sota.

Mako gave Asami a disapproving look. "What was that about Asami? Sota's my best friend; you can't just go alienating him like that. Is this because of the police station incident?"

Asami put her hands on her hips. "No, and that wasn't an incident. Sota just rubs me the wrong way and I'm pretty sure he works at it too. He doesn't like me, at all."

"He doesn't have to Asmai, but he's my friend and right now I don't want you two arguing."

"But what if he keeps up his bad attitude?"

"Than suck it up or visit at different times." Mako gave Asami a dirty look.

"So you're putting your friend before me?"

"No! I just want to be able to hang out with the people I like to hang out with and right now I don't want to have to pick between you and Sota. Ok?"

Asami put her hands on her hips. "Fine. You know you kind of sound like a selfish kid right now."

"A CABLE SLICED OFF MY HANDS AND ALMOST SLIT MY THROAT! I THINK I'M ALOUD TO BE A LITTLE SELFISH RIGHT NOW!"

Asami backed away. "Ok, ok, no need to yell." She rubbed his shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."

Mako sighed. "I know but please try to get along with Sota, at least until I'm better, ok?"

"I'll try. Just tell him to play nice too"

"If Bolin's able to drag him back I'll see what I can do."

.o.

Korra was about to punch Lu Ten as she walked to Mako's hospital room. She gave Lu Ten a dark look as she reached the door. "Stay out here and don't smoke. Ok?"

Lu Ten nodded, "Yes ma'am."

Satisfied with Lu Ten's answer, Korra entered the room. She was kind of surprised to see that Mako wasn't the one who looked the most miserable, neither was Sozza for that matter. Asami sat a little ways off talking to Bolin while Mako spoke to a young man Korra had never seen before. Korra walked over to Mako and gave him a smile.

"Hey, how are you doing captain?" She petted the small fire ferret sleeping on his chest. "Pabu keeping you company?"

Mako nodded. "Yeah, he's doing a pretty good job. Korra have you met my friend Sota?"

Korra shook her head and held out her hand to Sota. "Haven't had the pleasure Avatar Korra. It's nice to meet you." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Asami roll her eyes.

"Sota Fallconi, same." He shook her hand.

Korra turned her attention to Mako. "So I've been kind of kept in the dark about you. What's the final damage? And what can I do to help?"

Mako shrugged. "Not sure what you can do. Most of the damage is to my hands and them being reattached. The other big injury is the cut across shoulders and chest from where the cable cut me a second time."

"Well, let's see what I can do to help it just a little." Korra left the room for a moment to grab some water and returned. "After all Doctors are good at their jobs but Katara taught me how to heal and she's the best there is." She set the bowl down. "So what hurts most?"

Mako looked unsure. "Are you sure you should be doing this? Won't that upset Dr. Ming?"

Korra shook her head. "I spoke to her before I came in and I've got the ok to do this." She raised her hand with water to heal Mako's chest. She could see a Mako relax just a little. "Feel better?"

Mako nodded. "Yeah, it does."

"Good, that should have healed the muscle and I've also given some much needed relief to your shoulders since you have to keep your arms up above your heart. Now for something less fun, sorry Mako but this is going to hurt." She grabbed some fresh water and started to work on Mako's left arm pulling the water through the cast.

"Why is it going to-Argh! What the hell Korra!?"

"Told you it would hurt."

"Yeah, I got that but why?"

"I'm healing the nerves that were severed when, well, your hands were severed. This should minimize the damage, won't be prefect but it will be better."

Mako flinched. "I get that but does it have to hurt so much?"

Korra looked up at him. "Do you want to be able to feel with your fingertips again?" Mako nodded. "Than yes, it does."

.o.

Tarlok waited in his office for the latest report on the Equalists. He glanced down at the paper trumpeting him as a hero and smiled. All he had to do was say his task force would start sanctioning Amon's forces and he was the hero of the day. The bombings had really caused more chaos than he could have ever guessed. After the smoke cleared he expected that Director Sozza and Chief Beifong would be ticked off and more dedicated to stopping Amon than before. He didn't know that the two were actually friends and had more then just a professional relationship. The fact that one of their kids had been injured in the blast was icing on the preverbal cake.

His moment of revelry was cut short, however, when one of his men stumbled in to the room holding his bandaged arm. "Sir! We have a problem!"

"What?" Tarlok ground his teeth. "Report!"

"We've found General Iroh."

"Well, get the body to the morgue, I'll go tell his wife the bad news." Tarlok turned away. "For a moment you had me worried."
"He's not dead sir, Sgt. Redburn is dead."

"Sgt. Redbrun was always a loose cannon. What happened?"

"General Iroh killed him and shot the rest of us up when we raided the Equalist hide out."

"What?! Why the hell would he do that? Bring him in here now!"

"I can't sir."
"Why not?!" Tarlok wanted to throw something.

"Sir. General Iroh's joined the equalists, he's Amon's right hand man."

.o.

Iroh sat in a thrown with his burns to the back of the chair and his injured leg resting on one of the chairs arms. He was cleaning his gun while equalists packed up around him. He glanced over at the body bags where some of Amon's people lay waiting to be trucked off and their families notified.

Amon walked in and leaned against the chair. "Well done. Well done indeed. See this is why I needed you Iroh. This is why the cause needs you. You have that dark edge to do the things we need done but the restraint I lack. You could have killed more, they killed thirteen of our people you only kill one."

Iroh nodded. "I killed the one who killed Saveen, she had already surrendered and he shot her anyway. If and when the truth comes out about your side, you'll be sitting pretty. You're the bad guy now Amon, but if you ever want people to see you as a good guy, you must be careful who you kill. Taking a parson's bending away is one thing." Iroh looked back at the body bags. "Taking their life is another."

"And that's why I'm so glad I recruited you." Amon helped Iroh stand up and keep the weight off Iroh's broken ankle. "I wish I could have a picture of their faces when you blasted that one guy away. They never saw it coming."

Iroh smiled. "Well that's my job."

"And you're good at it."

Iroh smiled. Better than you'll ever know, Noatak, better than you'll ever know.

A/N: Thanks for reading and as always comment if you feel so compelled!