I FINALLY UPDATED AFTER SO LONG! I honestly can't believe that you guys stuck around this long. You guys probably think I'm a crappy person for doing this to you. I have been so busy with drama and these mysterious medical issues that I haven't had time to write. But now that these issues are resolved, for the most part, I have finally been able to focus on writing. Okay, I'll shut up now. Here's Part 4 for Babysitting. SURPRISE, there is going to be a Part 5 :) (I'm working on it right now so you don't have to worry about a long wait.) Again, I'm sorry for the huge delay and I hope you enjoy :)
Mako leads Akari back over across the bridge to a sympathetic Bolin and a confused Min. "This is Akari," he introduces to Bolin and Akari.
Bolin smiles at this new stranger, and right away he knows that she is homeless; just like he was. He knew what she was probably going through, "Hey Akari, nice to meet you, you can call me Bo." He outstretches his hand for a hand shake but all the girl does is take a glance of it and look back up at him, "Or not, that's fine too," he says with a smile still on his face.
Mako watches Min, not knowing what she will do with this new stranger. He didn't want his daughter to treat Akari any different than for what she was, human. He saw how other's acted around the homeless in the City and he was disgusted by it. Just because they were unable to afford the luxuries of the city, didn't mean that they were a nuisance.
Mako wanted Min to understand that there were people less fortunate than them and that it was nothing to be ashamed of or something to be judged for. He waits patiently for his daughter to react to Akari, who was probably a few years older than her. But still, she does nothing but stare up at her. Mako gestures to Min, "This is my daughter, Min. She's shy, and usually doesn't like to talk much or let alone interact with anyone else other than family. In fact, you're the first stranger she's really met." He pauses but when he is about to continue his sentence, he sees Min go after a ball near a tree, not too far from them. When she comes rushing back over, she takes her place in front of Akari, and holds out the ball for her to take. Mako smiles at the sight. "I think she wants to play with you, Akari."
Akari smirks down to Min. "Thanks Min." She looks back up to Mako and asks politely, "May I please play with her? I promise it won't be for long!"
"Take all the time you want, just be careful with her." Mako says, giving her permission. And once he finishes his sentence, Akari and Min run off to the middle of the park and gently kick the ball to one another. Mako smiles wider and takes a last glance before walking over to an empty bench with Bolin.
They watch the girls continue playing with each other in silence. Seeing how happy Min was now, Mako thought about having another child. He could see her playing with her younger brother or sister and being just as happy as she was now. She wouldn't be alone whenever he or Korra had to work, she would actually have someone close to her age to play and bond with. He knew how important and meaningful it was to have a younger sibling, and his brother was one of the most important people in his life. Sure, Bolin got on his nerves sometimes, but despite that, he wouldn't change his brother and the time that they spent together.
Of course, he would have to run all of this by Korra first and knowing her, she would probably not be for it. He guessed this based on how Korra's pregnancy with Min was painful and in her words, 'something she didn't want to experience again'. Korra was in labor for 8 hours and the whole time she was yelling at Mako, saying that it was his fault and that she would kill him after she gave birth. Mako assumed she wouldn't want to go through that pain, and he didn't blame her. But on the other hand, when Min was finally born and Korra held her for the first time, her anger went away and Mako's life was spared. Korra loved Min more than anything; Mako thought maybe she wouldn't mind having another child to love. So in conclusion, Mako didn't know what to expect from Korra, ever. But he guessed that's what attracted him to her.
After the long silence, Bolin wonders aloud, "So, what's her story?"
Mako shrugs, "I don't know exactly. All I know is that she lives in an alley and that her mom is really sick and they're both starving." He sighs, "I figured when the girls are done, I would go with Akari to find her mom and bring them to the hospital."
"That's a good idea." He pauses. "But you're going to leave me with Min aren't you?"
Mako nods his head, still watching Min play.
"But… Mako." Bolin says warily. "What if Min starts acting up again? I can't handle her on my own."
"Don't worry Bo, you'll be fine. I promise. All you need to do is play with her until I get back, she'll get distracted enough here." He smiles at his brother, assuring him it was okay. "Plus it will be a way for her to like you more, since you're so worried about that."
Bolin is clearly still worried but his excitement to spend time with his niece canceled that out. But still, Bolin tells Mako to hurry, just in case something were to happen. Mako agrees to this just before he gets up from the bench and walks over to Min and Akari. Once he's feet away from Min, he runs over towards her and picks her up quickly, spinning around with her in his hands. To his surprise, she begins laughing, making him laugh too. Mako holds her to his chest and tickles her belly to make her laugh even more; the sound was music to his ears. Once Min began laughing hysterically, he stopped and put her on his shoulders. "Hold on tight," Mako warns her before he gestures to Akari to follow him.
"Thanks for letting me play with Min. I had so much fun!" Akari grins up at him.
He smiles back, glad to see that Akari was happier than she first was when he found her. "You're welcome. I'm glad that Min made a friend today." Mako removes Min from his shoulders and puts her down in front of Bolin. "I'll see you later, princess." He kisses the top of her head. "Bolin, be careful with Min. I will be back soon."
"Where are you going?" Akari asks, looking up curiously.
"We're going to go find your mother." Mako says softly.
The girl doesn't say anything at first, clearly confused. After a minute of silence from her, she finally asks. "Why do you want to see my mother?"
"I would like to talk to her, if that's alright with you."
"Yes, that's fine with me Mr. Mako." She smiles warmly up at him and just as they are about to walk away, Min comes running up to Akari and tugs on her shirt. Akari turns around and smiles, "Bye Min, I'll miss you." Min reaches the ball out to her for her to take. Akari looks down at it, not knowing what to do. She looks up to Mako for approval and when he nods his head, she reaches down and takes it. "Thanks Min. Maybe we can play again soon." She flashes a smile over to Mako, "Would that be alright?"
"Of course Akari." Mako turns to Min. "Say goodbye, Min," he says encouragingly. He just wanted her to say something; he hadn't heard her talk in so long. Instead of speaking, Min goes up to Akari, and wraps her arms around her tiny waist, at least tries to, and squeezes gently. The embrace only lasts a few seconds, but still, Mako knew he wouldn't forget this moment; the moment Min had made her first friend.
Mako smiles to himself before lifting Min into his arms, and kisses her cheek before handing her over to Bolin. "See you two later," Mako says and waves once to his brother before he begins walking towards the park exit, with Akari not far ahead of him, leading the way.
After what seemed like hours of roaming the city streets, Akari leads Mako into a very dark and very narrow alleyway. As Mako looks around the more, he can see that the conditions were worse than he thought. The walls seemed to ooze a strange substance while rats scurried along the damaged pavement that was below his feet. The mere gloom of the alley would scare anyone away, but not Mako. The deeper he went into the never ending alley, the darker it became and, soon, he wasn't able to see anything at all. He holds out his hand, palm up, and uses his fire bending as a light source as they continue down.
'How does Akari know where she's going if it's this dark all the time?' Mako thinks to himself. Before he's able to ask the question aloud, Akari announces, "She's up ahead, near the dumpster." Akari runs over to her mother, looking relieved to see her.
It isn't until Mako is closer that he sees how badly Akari's mother's condition really is: he can see that she was pale, sweating, and could hear her shaky breathing. He couldn't help but feel bad for Akari, for all he knew, her mother was dying right in front of her.
Mako takes in a deep breath, ignoring the smell of the alley, before kneeling down beside Akari's mother. Akari is the one to introduce Mako to her mother. "Mom, this is Mako. Mako, this is my mom," she says proudly.
Akari's mother looks up at Mako with glassy eyes, "It's nice to meet you, Mako." She coughs, "You can call me Jia." She begins a coughing fit and after a minute, she stops.
Mako smiles. "It's nice to meet you too, Jia. If you don't mind, I would like to talk to you about something."
Jia nods. "Akari, could you please collect more water while I talk with Mako?" Her smile is so gentle and warming that it almost looks as if she wasn't sick, for a moment.
Akari doesn't protest, instead, she grabs a pale and skips out of the light radiating from Mako's hand. The only sound in the alley was the sound of Akari's feet hitting the concrete in a pattern, and soon, it was complete silence.
"How long have you been like this?" Mako asks with concern in his voice.
"Too long," she replies quietly. "I know I don't have much time left but I have to be strong for Akari, she has no one else."
Mako eyes begin to sadden for Jia and Akari, "Does she have any idea? Have you talked to her about this?"
Jia shakes her head, "I haven't had the heart to tell her." Tears well up in her eyes before beginning another coughing fit. That was it. Mako had to get her out of this place. He and Bolin didn't have their parents anymore; there was nothing Mako could do about that. But if he was able to help this woman and prevent Akari from being parentless, Mako knew he would help in any way he could.
He waits until her coughs stop to tell her, "I'm taking you to a healer." Jia shakes her head but begins coughing before she can tell him no.
Akari's footsteps come running toward Mako and Jia with her pale in hand but with each step she takes, the water splashes out. "Mommy! Mommy! Those men are back!"
Mako's eyebrows furrow in confusion. "What men, Akari?"
"They're a part of the Triple Triads and they have been coming around a lot since my daddy died. They threaten us if we don't have money for them." Mako sees the fear and sadness in Akari's eyes and it makes him angry. How dare they harass a mother and child that are hardly holding together or surviving.
The Triple Triad's numbers had declined ever since Mako became chief, he made it his priority to make the crime rate in Republic City plummet. It worked but the Triple Triad gang was still active because of the mere size of it. But Mako wasn't going to let them gain control any longer, he would be dead before that happened.
Just as Akari was going to tell Mako something else, the sound of heavy footsteps echo in the alley way prevents her from speaking. That sound was heading their way, and Mako knew that he was about to face a tough challenge.