San, who had seemed immobilized by fear moments before, sprung into action when he heard the roar of flames from behind him. Captain Murphy's hands erupted into flames again and he made a move to attack Naoki. San tackled the firebender and screamed as his skin was scorched by the flaming hands. "Call for backup!" He screamed to Officer Pike as he blew San back with a devastating blast of flame. San flew over Mako and crashed into the wall shattering several family photos. He fell to the ground unmoving. Naoki screamed and shot a blot of lightning at the captain. He writhed in pain and grasped his chest. Naoki didn't let up even though it was clear that the man was already dead.
Mako ran after Officer Pike, leaving his family in his mother's hands. He didn't want to think about what was going to come next. He just let his feet move him forward. Pike was already at the front door when Mako reached the top of the stairs. Mako punched two balls of fire at Pike forcing him away from the door. Mako jumped all of the stairs and used his firebending to soften his landing, placing himself firmly between the door and the officer. Pike moved quickly and threw his knives in succession at the boy standing in his way. Mako handn't realized they were meant for throwing and was caught off guard. The blade of the first knife grazed his cheek, but he wasn't able to move fast enough to dodge the second and it lodged into his left shoulder. The force of the impact planted Mako flat on his back. Pike vaulted over the boy and opened the door, clearly still more focused on calling for backup than doing more harm to Mako. Mako got to his feet quickly, the adrenaline coursing though his veins numbing the pain of his wounds.
Mako ran out the front door to give chase. Pike was sitting in the front of seat of his Satomobile already on the radio. It was too late to stop him, but in his rage Mako ran forward and aimed a fire kick at the engine of the vehicle. The force of the fire coming from his body sent him flying backward into a pile of snow. The car exploded and burst into flames. Mako stood up from the snow and looked at his handy work. Officer Pike's body had been ejected from the vehicle and was lying face up in the snow, which was growing redder my the second. Mako took a step back, tears streamed down his cheeks. He was horrified by what he'd done. The death mask of Officer Pike wouldn't leave his mind, even when he turned away from the scene.
"Mako!" He looked up and saw his mother standing in the smoldering doorway holding Bolin in her arms. Mako tried to move, tried to speaking, but nothing but sobs came out. Naoki had already put coats on herself and Bolin. She grabbed San's scarf and jacket and jogged out of the house giving them to Mako. He understood what he had to do. He put on the jacket and scarf, they were much too large for his tiny body, but they would keep him warm. He didn't think they would slow him down too much. "Let's go sweetie," she said grabbing him by his hand.
"What about Dad?" He was able to ask through his sobs. Naoki looked away from him and was silent for a moment. Mako saw what she was looking at, people were coming out of their homes to get a better look at what was happening. A crowd was starting to form.
"We'll talk about that soon, sweetie, but for now, we need to get out of here," she pulled him by the hand and Mako let her lead him, "come on!" Mako grit his teeth. Her lack of an answer was answer enough. He had seen what had happened to his dad before he had run after Officer Pike. His father was dead.
They walked away quickly. Mako understood why his mother wasn't running. They needed to keep a low profile. His mother had gotten out of the encounter unscathed and Mako's injuries were covered by his father's jacket and scarf. The pain of the dagger in his shoulder was starting to get to him now, though. He dried his tears with the jacket sleeve and tried his best to keep a calm and normal look on his face. He looked up and saw his mother was doing the same. Poor Bolin was too sick to even register what had just happened. Mako was not looking forward to his reaction when he was finally feeling better again.
Mako had no idea where his mother was leading them, but he was guessing it had something to the resistance movement his mother had been talking about just minutes before. Everything happened so fast and Mako couldn't process it all. The best he could do now was follow his mother quickly and silently. Sirens blared around them, but somehow Naoki managed to guide them safely away from their home and down toward the slums. Every time a siren came close, she'd pull them into the shadows and continue after the sound faded into the distance.
This process of walking and hiding continued for two hours, until they reached the slums. She pulled them into a dark alleyway and visibly relaxed. The police didn't have nearly as much influence in this part of the city. It would take them a long time track them here. She had been silent the entire walk, but now she kneeled down next to Mako. She released his hand and created a small flame with her now free hand.
"Mako, you're hurt." She said eyeing his bleeding cheek. "Show my your other injuries." Mako pulled the jacket back to reveal the knife in his shoulder. Naoki frowned. "I'm so sorry sweetie, can you turn around so I can get a look at the back?" Mako did as his mother bade him. "It went clean through..." She sighed. "Don't worry," she said pulling him into a gentle hug, as to not aggravate his injuries further. Mako rested his head on her shoulder and wrapped his one good arm around her and Bolin. "Mako, I need you to stay here and protect your bother. I need to find a radio and let the resistance know our location."
"But, Mom, I can't fight now." He whispered back at her, fear radiating out of his childish voice.
"Don't worry, sweetie," she stood and ruffled his hair. "I have some friends here. I wont be gone long. Now just sit over here." She took his hand again and lead him over to the darkest corner in the alley next to some garbage cans. Mako sat down and Naoki placed Bolin in his arms.
"I love you, Mom." Mako said holding back his tears.
"Now that's my strong firebender," she said pinching his unharmed cheek, "I love you, too." She turned her back and Mako watched her go. She broke into a run as she rounded the corner and back onto the main street. Mako hoped that she'd be back soon like she had said, but they were all fugitives now, and that scared him. His teachers, his school friends, no one would think of him as the boy he had been before. A rogue bender is all he would be to them. An enemy to be hunted down and killed for the sake of equality. Their fear of benders make more sense to him now, though. After seeing his mothers amazing use of lightning and after even him, an eight year old child, could blow up a car and kill an adult much bigger and stronger than him. The power of bending was frightening to him now, too.
He turned his attention to Bolin. Just holding him in his arms was making him sweat. They needed to find this resistance quickly for Bolin. His injuries could wait. All he wanted now was to see his brother return to his happy self. Bolin sniffled a bit and looked up at his big brother. "Mako?"
"Yeah, Bo?"
Bolin looked around. His eyes were glazed with exhaustion and sickness, but his confusion was clear from his features. "Where are we?"
"Don't worry about that, just go back to sleep. You need rest."
He reached up and touched Mako's face, "what happened?" His voice a low whisper caused by his sickness.
"This," Mako said pulling his sensitive cheek away from Bolin's touch, "fell down."
"Oh," he said snuggling closer to his brother, "be more careful." He yawned and closed his eyes. Mako felt his breathing slow as he drifted off to sleep again. Mako hoped it would be a peaceful rest. He worried it might be the last one any of them would get for a while. He grasped his father's red scarf. His red scarf now, he reasoned, with a frown. He smelled it. It still had the musky sent of his father's cologne and a lump in his throat formed again. He didn't make any noise, but with Bolin sleeping silently in his arms he let his tears flow freely. Losing his father was the main catalyst of his tears, but knowing his life was never going to be the same from this point forward, that also tore him up inside.
It wasn't long after that that Mako heard several people approaching the alley. He pulled Bolin as close to him as he could and wedged both of them behind the trash can, so he could get a good look at these people before reviling himself.
"She said they'd be here," a tall gray haired woman with a scar on her left cheek said breathlessly. The group of people had clearly been running.
"Chief," said one of the woman's companions, "we can't stay out in the open for this long."
"I know that," she hissed back at him. "Mako, Bolin," she said as loudly as she dared, "your mother sent us. Come out." Mako held his breath. He didn't know who to trust. He peaked out from behind the trash can and saw the woman called "Chief" had her hand on the ground with her eyes closed. Just then Bolin turned in his sleep and let out a huge sneeze. As expected the ground shook beneath them. The woman's eyes snapped over to him. He held on tightly to Bolin and came out from behind the trash can.
"Who are you?" Mako asked.
"No time to talk, kid," said the woman, "we've got to get you out of here."
"Where's my Mom?" Mako said taking a step back. As if on cue, Naoki ran back around the corner.
"You guys made it here fast! Thank goodness." She walked up to Mako and took Bolin from his arms. She looked back at the woman, "Lin, my son is injured, can you carry him?"
"All right," she said hauling Mako over her shoulder. Mako winced in pain. "Sorry, kid. Okay, everyone, let's move out." Lin took the lead as they headed back onto the main street of the slums. Every step Lin took made Mako cringe in pain. He wanted this dagger out now.
Suddenly sirens filled the air. They kept running, Mako wondered if they could outrun a bunch of Satomobiles.
"Shit," said one of the men toward the back. "It's Amon."
"Amon?" Asked Naoki in step with Lin.
"An incredibly powerful waterbender who works for Sato. This means-" She was cut off as a wall of jagged ice swept in front of them.
"Take him," Naoki said handing Bolin to one of Lin's men. "I'll hold him off, just get my boys out of here." Lin and Naoki locked eyes.
"No!" yelled Mako trying to squirm out of Lin's grip.
Noaki kissed Mako and Bolin on their foreheads and turned back to the waterbender. "Go now!" She yelled as she charged at him. The metal benders tore through the ice and the group was quickly on their way. Mako screamed and pleaded for them to go back to her. He could see the water and flames flying in the air from their battle. A lightning blot flashed through the air. That was the last Mako ever saw of his mother.
...
Bending Resistance HQ, Tunnels Outside Republic City
165 AG (5AB)
Mako woke with a start. He was covered in sweat and his breathing was rapid. He sat up and ran his hand through his black locks trying to calm himself down. No matter how many years went by, Mako knew he would never rid his mind of this nightmare. He felt the hot tears on his face and sighed. He knew he would get them back someday, especially Amon. The man who killed his father was already dead. His mother had made sure of that, but she needed justice, too. He was determined to kill Amon someday. He looked over at his left shoulder at the scar he received that day, his cheek had fully healed as it had been a light wound, but no matter how many waterbending treatments he got his shoulder scar never went away. He was glad it was still there. It served as his reminder. On days when he felt like he couldn't go on, one look at that scar was all it took to spur him onward.
Mako knew he wouldn't be able to fall back to sleep tonight, so he decided to go for a walk. The dark hallways of the tunnel weren't the best scenery, but the solid earth made him feel safer. He climbed down from his top bunk and immediately saw that Bolin was awake as well, though he looked as if he was about to doze off any second. But, when he saw Mako coming down the ladder he perked up. "Can't sleep?"
"Nah, I thought I'd go for a walk."
"Wan't some company?" Bolin asked throwing his covers off as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
"Sure," said Mako. He went to his locker and changed into some clothes that were more appropriate. Bolin did the same and in no time at all they were out the door of the sleeping quarters and wandering the complex tunnel system that was the Bending Resistance HQ. Mako had no real destination and he walked aimlessly with his hands tucked into his pockets, his stereotypical scowl plastered on his face. Bolin keep pace with his brother, sauntering alone, his arms hung loosely at his side. Mako looked back at his brother and saw a frown playing on his lips. "You alright, bro?"
"Yeah," Bolin sighed, "it's just, your mission. You're leaving tomorrow. I don't know when I'll see you again." He looked away from Mako trying to hide his quivering lips, but Mako could hear it in his voice. That rasping sound of fighting tears. Mako looked down. He felt guilty for leaving his brother behind, but he knew this was what he had to do.
"Don't worry. I've been training five years for this. I'm ready."
"So many benders who have tried to infiltrate the RCY Corps haven't made it..." Bolin's voice trailed off.
Mako stopped suddenly and Bolin bumped into him. Mako turned around and grabbed his brother by the shoulders, "I'm not going to die! I'll come back to you. You're the only family I've got, I wont abandon you!" The brothers stared intensely into each others eyes. Bolin pulled Mako into a tight hug.
"I know that." He leaned his forehead on Mako's chest. Now he was crying, try as he might he wasn't able to hold back his tears. Mako held him until he composed himself. They separated and Bolin wiped away his tears with the backs of his hands. "Sorry. I'm just really scared."
"Don't apologize. I'm scared, too."
"So then," Bolin said in a sudden surge of excitement that Mako figured was very forced, "let's practice your cover story."
"Ugh," Mako groaned, turning back toward their sleeping quarters, "let's not. I've practiced it hundreds of times already. I'm a non-bender from the Fire Nation. I ran away from home because I felt I was being treated unfairly because I couldn't bend fire. Now all I want is to rid benders from the world, blah, blah, blah..." Mako knew his cover like the back of his hand, more practicing now would just make him nervous. He needed to trust his training and preparation, now was the time for action, not more practice.
"Aww," Bolin said with an exaggerated frown, "you need to put more emotion into it! More hate. The Equalists will like that."
"I'll put more hate into it when the time is right." Mako said determinedly. He clenched his fists in his pockets. Hate was not going to be a problem, but controlling it when he was around all those Equalists might be. They walked in silence back to their bunks. Bolin jumped back into his bed fully clothed and with his shoes still on.
"Night, Mako."
"Night, Bolin," he said while climbing back up the ladder to his bunk. He laid their with his hands behind his head staring at the ceiling. Eventually, he heard the sound of Bolin's snoring. Mako closed his eyes. He wished he could sleep as soundly as his brother, but he was happy that Bolin wasn't plagued by nightmares like him.
Tomorrow was the start of his new life, for better or for worse, he was going to avenge his mother and make the world safe for benders again.
Author's Note: Hello Everyone! My first big time skip woo! Though it was only for a small bit of this chapter. I still want to flesh out Mako and Asami's lives in Republic City before moving onto Korra so it might still be a few chapters before I get to her. But fear not, we're getting closer to all of the members of Team Avatar meeting. Also, if you are enjoying this story and want to read more of my writing, I've started a new LoK AU called "The Republic City Miracle." It'll be much less serious than this story, so if you are looking for something fluffier and with more of an emphasis on romance, check it out! Please read and review. :)