Three: Wild Times

Little Ba Sing Se wasn't the most glamorous neighborhood in Republic City, but it certainly tried to be. For several blocks, the district was a faithful representation of the real-life city to the east, complete with tea and soup vendor stalls owned by earthbender immigrants, Old Kingdom fashion outlets, and a thousand little shops full of mementos and souvenirs imported from across the continent. Everywhere you walked, you saw very few people who weren't wearing the green and gold garments of the newly-minted Earth Federation.

After spending almost an entire year at King Wu's court, Mako was glad to be back in Republic City. Still, he found it increasingly ironic that, on his first day off from his detective duties, Bolin and Opal dragged him along for a shopping day in Little Ba Sing Se. But all it took was their combined set of pleading polar bear-puppy eyes to convince him to come along.

Mako had to admit that his brother had changed a lot in the last year. He'd taken a page from Suyin Beifong and focused on the one thing that truly mattered to him: a family. So Mako allowed himself a little vicarious joy watching Bolin and Opal walk hand-in-hand ahead of him, pointing and getting excited over the various trinkets from Zaofu and Yu Dao at one of the massive tourist shops on the corner. Bolin was still as energetic as ever, but Mako couldn't help but notice the casual way he kept pace with Opal and how their hands always met whenever they proceeded to the next shop down the road.

"…But I'm telling you," Opal was saying, "that Zaofu Model City Kit just isn't authentic! I've seen the real building shape! And come to think of it, so have you!"

Bolin flapped his arms with all the dignity of a wild hog monkey. "Oh, I know, but just look at it! And it only costs twenty-two yuans!"

"I bet I could find you a real Zaofu souvenir for half the price." Opal's smile grew wide.

Of course, her smile couldn't compare to Bolin's cheeky grin. "Sweetheart, I'll take that bet."

From his vantage point behind them, Mako smiled and shook his head. After everything that he'd been through with Asami and Korra, he knew better than to pull one over on a perceptive girlfriend. Not that he was going to do anything about it, either. As an older brother, he had a duty to let Bolin learn from his mistakes.

Mako had learned to do the same. He'd been glad to find his calling as a detective with the Metalbending Police Force, even if it meant being reassigned to guard obnoxious VIPs like Wu or check the perimeter during another of President Raiko's press conferences. That little nod he got from the likes of Chief Beifong and the other officers was worth all the tedium and annoyance that each day could bring.

And to think, he had Korra to look up to for guidance. She shared Mako's temperament, which had proven to be an issue when they were dating, but worked out when they stayed friends. If she could handle the weight of her duties as the Avatar, then he could put up with a few gripes as an on-the-beat cop.

While Opal was examining another vendor's wares, Mako felt his stomach tighten. He leaned over and waved, catching Bolin's attention right away.

"Hey, if you two are gonna keep at this, I'm going to grab some noodles," he called out.

"Wow, way to upstage me, bro." Leaning over to Opal, Bolin snaked his arm around her waist. "Milady, I must insist on treating you to lunch." He shot a wink at Mako before adding, "And just so you know, my big brother turns into a cranky little fire ferret if he doesn't eat on time."

"I heard that!" Mako called back.

"See? What'd I tell ya?" Bolin pointed an accusing finger as he pulled Opal along. "Cranky!"

Opal laughed, and Mako had another retort ready to fire back. However, he couldn't finish his thought when he saw a metalbending police officer sailing through the air over their heads.

He wasn't the least bit surprised when the officer in question landed on the street in front of him. Turning around, Mako saw it was Lieutenant Zhen, one of the older men on the force. He gave Mako a salute, which he returned after some hesitation.

"Mako, so glad I caught up with you," Zhen announced. He glanced to the side as if realizing that they weren't alone. Then he offered a hasty salute to Bolin and Opal. "Oh, um, pardon me for the intrusion."

"Everything all right?" asked Mako. He crossed his arms, already anticipating his reply.

And it had been such a peaceful day, too.

"I know it's your day off, but the Chief just made a change to the city's Most Wanted List." Zhen reached into one of the pouches on his belt and unfurled a rolled-up sheet of paper. He handed it over to Mako, who looked down at the fresh ink portrait of a nasty-looking thug in a suit.

Underneath the portrait was a block-text caption:

Kaigo the Killer

Wanted for Armed Robbery, Fraud, Assault, and Murder

A Former Associate of the Agni Kai Triad

Known Aliases: Tian Tan, Feral Fen

"Kaigo…" Mako jogged his memory for any encounter with the criminal, but he'd never come across that face before, neither in Republic City nor anywhere in the Earth Kingdom. "What's his deal, then?"

Zhen shrugged. "Dunno, but the Chief says he's back in town when he was originally thought to be dead." Then, he stepped close and added in a conspiratorial whisper, "But between you and me, word's going around the precinct that he's got something to do with that Sato estate job a few years back."

Mako's blood ran cold. "You mean, he was there? On the night Asami's mother…?"

He couldn't quite say it. Thinking about that reminded him of the night he'd lost his parents. Another firebender gone wild in Republic City, leaving him and Bolin orphaned and destitute. It almost made him lose his appetite.

I can't let this get to me, he reminded himself. As a detective, Mako had to stay strong. Not just for Asami, but for all the people under his protection.

He looked Zhen in the eye and nodded. "Listen, when you get back to HQ, tell the Chief I'll be right over."

"Hey, it's your day off, not mine." Zhen shook his hand and then tipped his hat to Bolin and Opal. "Take care now."

"You, too," said Mako, but the lieutenant was already launching his metal cables and swinging in a long arc toward the downtown area.

Bolin came up and clasped his hand on Mako's shoulder. "Uh, what was that about?"

"Police business," Mako answered. He didn't feel comfortable saying anything more. Not when Bolin and Opal seemed so happy together. Turning to Opal, he offered an apologetic smile. "Look, I don't want to interrupt your day, but I should get going. The Chief will need me on this case. But it was great to see you again."

Touching his arm, Opal returned his smile with one of her own. "Stay safe out there, okay? I don't want Bolin to worry."

"Why would I worry?" Bolin chuckled. "We're talking about Mako! It's not like he attracts danger wherever he goes."

"Right." Mako followed up by poking him with his elbow. "That's usually your department, big guy."

Bolin's grin was insufferable. "You know it!"

"Anyway, I'll see you two later." Mako turned and headed back up the street, already plotting the quickest route out of Little Ba Sing Se and back toward MPF Headquarters.

He didn't get half a block before Bolin called out, "Hey! What about lunch?"

"I'll grab it on the way!" Mako replied. And then he took off running, all while adding a detour to a noodle vendor's stall on his way out of the shopping center.

After all, there was no point handling detective work on an empty stomach.

Riding along the last air current downtown, Korra achieved a ten-point landing in the middle of the small park outside the main building of Future Industries. She waited as Asami removed herself from the tandem harness that Korra kept secured to her airbender's staff, making sure she was completely free before sliding her glider back into staff form. While Asami took care in dusting her jacket off, Korra found it easy to ignore the looks they got from the various workers milling around the park.

Catching Asami's gaze, Korra offered a quizzical frown. "You're sure you'll be all right?"

"I told you, I'm fine." Asami brushed both hands through her hair, shaking away the debris and grit that collected there during her glider flight from the police station. "If anything, I'm more worried about you."

Korra snapped her staff over her shoulder, enjoying the comfortable weight it left there. "After years of mercury poisoning and fighting the Red Lotus, I think I can handle one lone firebender." Her hand came to rest on Asami's arm, giving it an affectionate rub. "I promise I'll come by the estate later tonight."

"I've already told Shenshi to double-check our security—"

"It's not that." Korra's voice trailed off as she stepped closer to her girlfriend. "I don't want to make a big deal out of it, but I don't think I can sleep well without knowing you're okay." She looked up with her best pair of pleading, watery eyes. As a waterbender, she could summon tears at a moment's notice if necessary. "Please?"

Asami bit back whatever response she was planning to give. Instead, she patted Korra's hand and smiled. "Okay. Though you're not doing much for your reputation as the Avatar right now…"

Korra laughed, already leaning over to take in the awkward gazes of the couple-dozen Future Industries staffers near the front gate. And since she had an audience already, she figured she'd give them a show. Asami had no time to stop her as Korra pulled her close and planted a firm kiss on her cheek. Hearing her tiny gasp of protest was worth every second.

"You're incorrigible," Asami hissed back, even while she wore a dazzling smile.

"I don't even know the meaning of the word," Korra replied. "But I'm sure Tenzin does."

"Mm-hmm. Let him and Pema I'm doing fine."

"Will do." Korra turned to Asami's other cheek and gave her another kiss. "See you tonight."

The heat of her girlfriend's face lingered on her lips as Korra snapped her glider back out. She took a running leap into the air and channeled a long gust of wind to propel her high above the factories and office buildings of Future Industries. Then she let herself glide over to the nearest stream of warm air and rode it back toward Air Temple Island.

Everything was quiet and still inside the well-lit interior of Tenzin's study. Korra had spent so many months here, poring over ancient texts from the Air Nation and a thousand historical books at her teacher's insistence. Of course, her memories of those days were long and awkward; it had taken a trip to the South Pole and a failed set of lessons with her late uncle Unalaq to make her realize how beneficial Tenzin's teaching style truly was. But even now, seeing him sitting across an antique tea table from her in his wingsuit, Korra had to admit that her old master had come a long way himself, now both a wise scholar and a man of action.

"Do you believe Kaigo was up to something when you first saw him during your travels?" asked Tenzin, giving his beard a thoughtful stroke. "Perhaps recruiting accomplices for a job?"

"I don't know." Korra knelt on the other side of the table, her hands resting in her lap. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was simply out enjoying a night on the town."

"And you're sure it wasn't just that?"

Korra tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Tenzin shrugged. "Sometimes, we read too much into what we remember. From what you learned in the police archives, it sounds as though Kaigo wasn't pulling more heists or committing more acts of murder in the Earth Kingdom. Don't you think it's possible that he only left Republic City and tried to enjoy his life under a new identity?"

Resentment flared up in Korra's heart, but she smoldered it with a sharp reminder to herself that she came to Tenzin for counsel. She took a deep breath and looked down at her hands.

"I suppose," she said, "you might be right. But how else can we know unless we look for him?"

Tenzin held up a calming hand. "I'm sorry, Korra. I didn't mean to suggest that he's not a threat or that we can't apprehend him. He is a fugitive, of course." He gave the Avatar a gentle smile. "But I can appreciate the urgency you feel in wanting him brought to justice. I, too, was young once. And I know what it means to feel desperate to keep someone I love safe."

Korra felt herself blush and looked away. "Is it that obvious?"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of." Tenzin paused to cradle a steaming cup of jasmine tea in both hands and take a sip. "Asami is a wonderful person, and it's clear that you've both made each other very happy. If this were something that affected Pema or any of my children, I'd be no less anxious to see this matter resolved."

"But I'm the Avatar," Korra insisted. She reached down for her cup of tea. Feeling it had grown cold, she held her palm underneath the cup and summoned a tiny flame to get it hot again. "I thought I was supposed to be bigger than personal concerns."

"Heh!" A gruff, older voice rang out from the entrance to the study. Korra and Tenzin turned around to see Bumi stumble into the study. Like his younger brother, he was wearing an airbender's wingsuit, but with a golden sash across his chest. "If that were true, Avatar, then Tenzin, Kya, and I wouldn't be here today, would we?"

"Bumi…" Tenzin's hand was already reaching up to rub at his forehead. "So… good to see you. Don't you have some airbenders to whip into shape?"

"Already done!" Bumi planted his foot on one side of the tea table, causing it to shake under his weight as he leaned over and poked a thumb at his chest. "I've had them flying laps since a little after dawn. And now they're meditating, which means I've got a few minutes to slip away and see how my little brother's handling things."

"I was doing fine until you showed up."

"Drinking tea and pondering life's great mysteries, eh?" Bumi slapped at his knee, making the table shudder again. "Classic Tenzin."

Korra reached down with her airbending, catching the teapot and cups before they went skidding off the side of the table. She gave Bumi a sheepish grin to match his own, then added, "Have you heard about this Kaigo the Killer?"

"Kaigo…" Bumi's face fell. He lost his trademark buoyancy and dropped down into a cross-legged position next to Korra. "Oh, I know about him all right. Used to be one of the top-rated marksmen in the Second Fire Nation Battalion."

"Really?" Korra swallowed. This brute never seemed to be short of surprises in his past. "How'd he wind up in the Triads?"

Bumi shrugged. "Never heard for sure, but rumor was Kaigo got himself drummed out for insubordination. Something about a misfire during a training exercise. Left a few burns on his commanding officer's face." His eyes lit up, and his lips curved into a ghost of a smile. "Which puts me in mind of this one time during my Basic Training days. See, me and the boys got into the kitchens and, well—"

"All very fascinating, I'm sure," Tenzin interrupted. He gave Korra a worried frown. "As it stands, I'll put out the word to the other airbenders traveling the Earth Kingdom. Yung and Kai left only yesterday to begin a new patrol, so they should be able to come up with any leads."

Korra pressed her hands together. "Thank you, Tenzin. That means a lot to me—"

"Ah, begging your pardons, masters!" Everyone looked up to see an Air Acolyte rushing in, his red-and-orange robes swirling around him as he gave a hasty bow at the waist. "There's a news report coming in about a fire in Republic City. I think you'll want to hear it…"

Korra looked over at Tenzin, and then at Bumi, feeling as perplexed as they both looked.

"Something tells me," she said to Tenzin, "that you may want to call off that search."

Smoke curled up from his palms as Indri strode into the lobby of the Two Dragons Hotel. He allowed himself a moment to admire the red and gold patterns that lined every wall, leading him to gaze out a nearby window at the bustling pedestrian crowd that flowed in and out of Central City Station across the street. This hotel belonged to a major hub of urban activity, a waypoint for travelers and tourists from the new Earth Federation.

And criminals like Kaigo.

Wearing this human's body was a delight for the spirit. He found it so much easier to maneuver than the aging Chen Li and far more versatile. Years of traveling the Earth Kingdom had left Kaigo the Killer as agile and strong as ever. Indri was practically drooling over the thought of all the tricks he could play with such a body.

The only complaint he had so far was the squirming presence that floated at the back of his mind. Kaigo's essence was a mere worm chewing away at rotten wood—a nuisance, but one that Indri could ignore when he pleased. Chen Li's presence had been so much easier to extinguish once he'd crossed over from the Spirit World. The old man had no resistance to speak of against spirits, but Kaigo had an impressive ounce of willpower by comparison.

One day, when Indri no longer had any need of the firebender, he would take great pleasure in stamping out the gangster's mind and leaving his body to rot in the Spirit Wilds.

In an instant, Kaigo's desperate squealing fell silent. Indri smiled to himself and continued to walk through the lobby.

Turning the corner, he found himself stepping through a curtain of beads and coming to stand in front of a young woman with jet-black hair pulled into a sharp bun. She wore the traditional red robes of a Fire Nation immigrant and bowed when Indri entered the antechamber.

"Good evening, master," she purred, tucking her hands into the sleeves of her robe. "What pleasure can I offer you this evening?"

"The Agni Kai Triad," Indri replied, using Kaigo's voice in a cold, pointed manner. "I need to speak with whoever's in charge."

"I'm… sorry?" The woman looked up in confusion. "There's no Triad here—"

She never got another word out. Using the human's raw strength, Indri grabbed her by the throat and pushed her up against the wall. He took such delight in watching her wriggle and kick in his grip, in seeing the terror of her bulging eyes.

"Listen, honey," he continued, "do you know this face? Because you really oughta. Go and tell your boss that Kaigo the Killer is back in town and wants a little chat."

"G-g-good, m-master!" the Fire Nation girl wheezed.

Letting her have one last kick at the air, Indri dropped her to the floor and waited as she caught her breath. She scrambled to the side like a crab across the ocean floor, disappearing behind one of the painted dividing walls and unlocking a secret door behind it.

Indri let his senses unfurl, chasing after the terrified maiden and across the whole ground floor of the hotel. He could taste a lovely bouquet of emotions, from one gambler's bitterness at losing a game of back-alley Pai Sho to a woman's fear of being caught upstairs with her lover. And now, coming toward him through the same secret door, were two men with grim determination written across their faces.

Indri savored as well the rising note of dread from Kaigo's tiny thoughts in the back of his skull. He hushed the little human with a wave of satisfaction, reminding him to keep his place.

"Spirits save me," a low voice declared from the other side of the painted screens. Out stepped a man with the same stocky build as Kaigo, but a touch more gray along his temples. He also bore an impressive scar down the left side of his face, possibly from a knife or sword attack. Indri could only imagine how that battle must've gone for the gentleman's opponent.

"Kaigo the Killer, as I live and breathe," the man continued. Indri probed through Kaigo's memories for his name. Wen Mu—that was it. "The old man told us you'd be back again, but I never thought I'd see you in this lifetime."

"Same here, Wen," Indri replied, letting some of Kaigo's genuine affection for the man seep into his voice. He let himself suffer the indignity of Wen Mu's embrace and held himself back at arm's length when he saw the other thug standing behind him. "And who's this fine fellow?"

Wen Mu laughed. "Hey, don't worry about it. Thought I'd bring some extra muscle when you sent one of my girls running back here with a bruised throat." His good-natured smile turned into a severe frown as some thought crossed his mind. "Speaking of which, what are you thinking? Coming in here, busting up my dames like you're some pro-bender? That's not good for business."

"Sorry, old reflexes." Indri shrugged and gave Kaigo's friend a playful smack on the arm. "You know what kind of trash I've had to take out in Ba Sing Se?"

"I can only imagine."

Indri felt a hint of suspicion from the well-dressed thug standing behind Wen Mu. That suited him just fine.

He wanted this to hurt.

"Now, if you'd be so good as to let me into the back room," he said out loud, "I've got some business to finish up."

Wen Mu frowned. "What are you on about? The only business we've got is figuring out what happened to Chen Li."

"Say what?"

"Yeah, the old man never showed up today. Me an' the boys are worried he got into some kind of trouble. Possibly with the Terra Triad."

Indri laughed. "Hey, don't worry about a thing. I know exactly what happened to him."

Wen Mu's eyes went wide. "Y-you do?"

"Sure." Indri's palms grew hot. He relished the flames flickering at the tips of his fingers, and how they danced in the reflection of Wen Mu's eyes.

"I killed him myself, you mortal scum."

With a briefcase full of yuans tucked under his arm, Indri made his way calmly through the lobby of the Two Dragons Hotel. He smiled at the screaming patrons who ran for the nearest exit, trying with all their might to escape the fires he'd set on every floor. Everywhere he looked, he saw terror and anguish, the likes of which he'd not seen since the days of the last Harmonic Convergence, more than ten thousand years ago.

Whistling to himself, Indri reached into his suit coat and patted at the stack of papers he'd stuffed inside. As they were burning to death, the late members of the Agni Kai Triad had been very kind to let him into their back room and take all their records without asking.

Why? Kaigo's voice was a pitiful gasp, echoing like it came from the bottom of a well. Why are you doing this to me?

"This isn't about you," Indri said, not caring who heard him as he shot another jet of fire through the air. A window to the side burst out in a shower of glass, and he leapt through to land on the street outside. When he heard the rising wail of sirens coming up the avenue, Indri grinned and sped through an alley to the left, losing himself among piles of human garbage.

"It's about sending a message," he added, nourishing himself on the way Kaigo flinched. "The Spirit World could never live in peace with your tiny realm. And I'm going to make sure it stays that way."