Chapter 2 : Quenched Flame
Mako never was one for parties. He hated the forced atmosphere - something he had in common with Lin Beifong, given the way she had secluded herself earlier, standing by herself, nibbling on some food. Still, parts of a good party appealed to him - pretty girls, good food, a chance to talk to people he normally wouldn't see, and above all lately, a relief from that insufferable Prince Wu. No, formerly Prince Wu - the world just didn't know it yet. And Mako imagined the world would be very happy to find out - although, if the Prince really did step down, he'd likely become a singer…
Ignoring the prospect of Wu's voice being blared over radios everywhere, Mako muttered to himself as he watched Korra walk off, "Maybe that boy has some sense in him after all. Let's just hope he doesn't - ugh - sing too much…" Seeing Korra almost gone, a stray thought went through his mind: "Always good to know when a change is needed…" Mako felt a slight pang as Korra vanished, but he knew they just didn't mesh, and that what he had thought about change applied to himself as well as… Wu? What was his first name, anyways? No matter. Just Wu.
He began scanning the wedding attendees, to see if he could see Lin Beifong, not finding her where she had been standing nearby, wishing she hadn't moved - Mako figured finding someone to stand around looking grumpy with was better than nothing at all. She was very hard to spot without her distinctive armor - he had once wondered if she slept in it. He did manage to spot another Beifong, however - Opal. Dancing with his brother…
He felt the pang he suffered when seeing Korra walk away again, but this time much stronger, with an undercurrent of jealousy. He took a forceful breath in, and out, and pushed such thoughts out of his mind. Even though he hadn't intended to breathe fire in the middle of a party, Mako could have sworn he saw a tiny flame come out.
All of a sudden, he noticed Opal had been looking at him. Opal brought the dance to a close, surprising Bolin with a dance move augmented with airbending. Seeing them take an interest in him, he muttered, "Given Opal's reaction, I guess I did shoot some flame," to himself. He saw both his brother -who had come back for him inside that abomination of Kuvira's, even though he had told the loveable lunkhead to not come back for him - being lightly dragged by Opal as she advanced towards him.
Opal asked, "Hey, Mako. You feeling okay? I saw that bit of firebreathing, and it didn't seem festive at all," as his brother brought up the rear, pausing to gawk at the band. Bolin exclaimed, "Hey! That must be Tahno on the horn! I wish we could get a fair rematch with those cheaters, but at least he can bend again," pointing exaggeratedly at Tahno, as he always pointed. Everything his brother did was exaggerated - and Mako wouldn't have it any other way, even if it did get almost as annoying as dealing with Wu at time. Opal shot Bolin a sour glance, and blew slightly in his face, admonishing, "We're not here to gawk at Tahno, we're here because I saw your brother do something odd." Bolin laughed awkwardly, then said, "Oh, sorry. What's up, bro? Is your arm hurting you?" Bolin asked, cradling Mako's sling, saying with confidence, "I bet Katara or Korra could help fix it up!"
Mako blushed at the mention of Korra's name, saying, "Actually, I think it's something we might be better served talking about in the city. Opal, can you call your airbison? Juicy, right Bolin?" Bolin hesitated for just long enough for Opal to say, "Oof, that beast. I don't know where he is, and I can't imagine people at the party would be happy staring at airbison snot. Let's go somewhere else and I'll try calling him." She paused, whipping up an air scooter, saying, "I know you two can get to the shore without me pretty quickly. Bolin, with your earthwalk, and Mako, with your hand-" She stopped short, blushing, saying "Oh, sorry, Mako. I forgot for a second there, about your arm. I suppose trying to jet with just your feet would be awkward as well…" She dismounted her air ball, dismissing it to the wind, saying "I guess we should get started walking. Let's talk as we walk." All three started moving shortly after, still without much speed.
Mako started to say something to Opal, then paused, turning to Bolin, asking, "Bro, what's this 'earthwalk' Opal is talking about?" Bolin's eyes lit up like green flames, saying, "During my time accompanying Toph as I tried and succeeded to win back the lovely Opal's hand, I asked her about more than my commitment to Opal and me's relationship." The feeling burned very briefly within Mako again, snapping, "Don't talk all fancy garbage with me!" Bolin whimpered, Mako getting a slightly approving look from Opal as Bolin said, like a normal person, "I also asked her about advanced earthbending. She told me she couldn't teach someone how to metalbend on bisonback, but she did tell me about a move she used to move rapidly during the 100 Year's War, and I think I have the basics down. I just haven't tried it yet."
Ever the skeptic, Mako simply raised an eyebrow.
Bolin dropped his normally jovial attitude momentarily, stating, "Look, bro, I know that until I discovered I could lavabend I was a little bit of a talent 'third wheel' in the team. Lately I have been wanting to better myself as a bender and warrior, and I think learning how to move like that is a good start." As they approached the shore, the trio stopped as Bolin finished, "I'm even thinking of improving my physical combat skills as well, and have been reading about the Kyoshi Warriors on and off. I figure a sword at my side couldn't hurt, to go with my Ghazan shuriken, if I ever need it." Bolin paused, looking at Opal, saying strongly, "And no, I don't want a fan."
Opal simply gave him a quizzical look, and blew hard on her whistle, muttering something about Juicy afterwards. A short time later, Juicy appeared. Seeing the beast in front of him, Mako exclaimed, "Ugh! No wonder you didn't want this bison at the party, Opal! I thought airbison were supposed to be majestic." Juicy sneezed, leaving a bit of green on the sand, dispelling any "majesty" the beast had. Mako just swept his good arm out, and said "Not this." Opal laughed, saying, "The bison chooses you, and not the other way around. You can't really give back your bison." Looking at his brother, she teased, blowing a puff of air at Bolin's face, "Sort of how I decided to forgive Bolin for helping Kuvira, in fact." Bolin momentarily fussed, then looked around, saying, "Opal, it looks like we're alone, so if you're JUST giving me a hard time to keep up appearances, you can stop now," groaning deeply when Opal replied, "Nope. Not 'gonna' stop. You're so cute when you're annoyed! Plus, I need to get back at you for that picnic basket and Pabu note trick." Sighing deeply, Bolin said, "I already said I'm sorry! Mako, stay single - you might live longer than I do," dodging an air blast as he said, "I don't see anyone here, bro. What is it that's so sensitive you can't say it here?"
Mako blushed, and just angrily insisted, "It's an issue, okay? Are we getting on this dumpy thing or not!" Opal and Bolin didn't look like they were in the mood to argue with someone in a sling, so they climbed on Juicy, making sure to not step in his nasal leavings. Opal let Mako decide where to go, and they touched down near a ruined building in the heart of the city. All three slid to the ground, and laid on Juicy's side, facing the Spirit Portal… and crater, Mako thought bitterly. Even all this time after the portal had been created, the Republic City official damage report wasn't done yet, and Mako did not relish the idea of trying to police looters when he re-joined the police force, thinking, "Just what else could go wrong? It should be back to normal soon."
Thinking of normal, Mako said, "Okay, so you want to know why I brought you all the way out here? Quite honestly, Bolin, I am jealous of you right now. I have nobody else in my life, while you do. Korra hasn't show real interest in me since my little white lie to her." Since Opal looked confused, he explained what happened with Korra's memory wipe two weeks before Harmonic Convergence, and how he had caved to social pressure and told Korra nothing was wrong. Opal's face became more twisted in anger as he went on. Shaking his head slightly, Mako thought "Not a good sign," to himself.
When he was done, Opal immediately blasted him with a spurt of air to his face, saying, "How could you do that?! That wasn't being nice at all, no matter how many disapproving eyes were on you! And I thought blindly working for the worst world leader in decades was bad." Glancing at Bolin, she said, "I guess I should be grateful for what I have," following up with a peck on the cheek. Mako felt furious again, but knew expressing his anger on Opal wouldn't help, so he simply did his breathing exercise again, this time releasing a larger flame, saying as the fire faded rapidly, "I've never lived that down - it was probably the reason Korra never even gave me a second thought as a love interest… She's looked at Asami with more desire lately." Mako scoffed at the ridiculousness of his implication. Bolin merely smirked, and Opal did not seem amused at all, saying, "My mother brought in plenty of odd characters to Zaofu. I wouldn't be so dismissive of that. Remember the letter she sent Asami, and no one else?"
Mako finding himself rather not thinking about that letter, he crossed his arms, saying nothing aside from, "Doesn't trust us…" Bolin shook his head, saying, "That's in the past, man. Forget about it. Besides that - I don't really see where this conversation is going. I know you better than this, bro, and there's something more to it. What, do you honestly think there's no one out there for you?" Bolin smiled, and then began laughing hysterically, holding out a pink piece of paper with writing on it, saying, "This here paper's proof that anything is possible. Mako, if that goofball and part time smug genius Varrick can find true love with Zhu Li, his former assistant, you will find someone - no problem. I think you may have had something once, with Korra, but just because she slipped through your fingers doesn't mean you won't find someone else to hold hands with." Bolin shifted closer to Opal, stating with a shrug, "Plus, maybe you two weren't meant for each other."
Mako wasn't exactly used to Bolin giving the sound advice in the family. He stood up, and scanned the sky around the new Spirit Portal. He spotted a large serpentine spirit heading into the column of light, and pointed it out to Bolin and Opal, saying, "I wonder what that big spirit is up to. He seems to be moving with a purpose. Whatever, I leave that stuff for Korra." He stopped talking briefly, looking at the strange moss covering parts of the damaged buildings. "Let's just walk around town to see what survived the blast, and see if we spot any new spirit vines. With the Swamp damaged by Kuvira, it could be a good thing to find some." Opal nodded in agreement as his brother briefly yawned beside her, Bolin saying, "Honestly, if we never found another spirit vine, I'd be happy - those things almost blew me up once!"
Mako wasn't really that curious about the spirit vines - he just wanted to give the three of them something to do that would take all their attention. He thought, "Gotta figure time will help me make sense of all this," to himself. They had not found anything of note after 15 minutes, but an unbidden thought crossed Mako's mind: "What if Opal's right? What if Korra and Asami were really together?" His internal answer was surprisingly quick: "Well, I'd just try to find someone else, as if that's the case, both are incompatible with me." Finding himself surprised at how easy that answer was, he wondered why he hadn't thought of it before sending himself, Bolin and Opal on a wild goosechase.
He was ripped from his thoughts when Bolin spotted something in the distance, and his brother manipulated the ground to bring it closer. At first, it looked like a Republic City cicada-wasp's husk, but upon closer inspection it looked too… humanoid. Bolin pushed forward into the air to land next to what Mako now recognized as one of Kuvira's disabled mechasuits, yelling, "You dolt, what are you doing? We don't know if those things are unstable or not! They could have absorbed some of the Spirit Portal's energy!" Mako chided, "Not to mention there might be a dead guy inside for all we know," barely able to hide his own curiosity.
Bolin dismissed any concerns, saying, "Don't worry, there's no way this shell absorbed anything - Varrick totally fried it with the electromagnetic wave earlier, whatever that is. Just like he did when me and him escaped Kuvira." Bolin turned away from Mako and Opal, facing the suit, saying, "I just wanted to get a closer look at one again, after my first failed escape attempt from Kuvira." Bolin furrowed his brows, and bent a piece of earth behind it to make it stand semi-properly again.
Smiling as he tapped on the metal form, Mako noticing it was metallic in color, a Private's, from what Bolin had told him about markings of the Earth Empire, Bolin said, "Even though Kuvira used these as a weapon of war, they might be good for reconstruction of the city. They have a lot of raw power, and could make nonbenders more useful in reconstruction away from the blast site." Accidentally triggering the lightning generator, Bolin lept back, saying, "NOT what I wanted to do! Though, that gives me an idea… Keep a few weapons on them, in case any of Kuvira's stragglers want to give us problems, and to deal with any unruly spirits," Bolin finished, slipping in to a slight frown. Putting up his dukes like he was Nuktuk, making both Mako and Opal groan, Bolin said, "Plus, given the world never truly stops fighting, I have the feeling the United Forces may need some for strictly military purposes. I bet Varrick will have fun tweaking the design - they were his to begin with! Maybe make a Nuktuk one - for old time's sake!" Bolin was smiling, and Mako found the idea of a mechasuit with skin tones so ludicrous, the laughter began in of itself.
Opal nodded in agreement, quickly making a dismissive gesture afterwards, saying, "I hope you were joking, and that better be the last I hear of Nuktuk. Speaking of military… That goody two-shoes Tenzin might insist on all airbenders being peaceful as possible, but my mother raised no fools." She paused, and added with a mixture of sadness and anger, "Well, except for my bigger brother." Opal turned to more directly face his brother, stating, "Kuvira may have not had much appeal with the peasants of the Earth kingdom aside from fear, but I'll bet you a thousand yuans there will be some major issues getting any significant part of the middle and upper class to go along with any disarmament or demilitarization. Not after the chaos they witnessed when the Earth Queen, Hou-Ting, was assassinated. All that looting…"
Mako saw a distinctly nonpeaceful gleam in her eye - it would have looked more at home on her mother's face, the impression only solidifying when Opal said, "If we ever face a major political threat that can be defused with the death of one individual, I'll be sure to… make use of a technique Zaheer pioneered." Both he and his brother gave Opal a vaguely horrified look, and shifted uncomfortably towards one another. She regarded them both with a skeptical eye, asking, "What? If one death can prevent the deaths, or even just suffering, of millions, I do not understand how it is morally reprehensible to take action." She was lost in thought for a moment before continuing, "Tenzin may not have wanted me to know about her, but there was an airbender nomad Avatar - a female, no less - who was willing to kill in the name of peace. I learned about her by sneaking books away from Tenzin's watchful eye." Mako saw a single, lone tear cascade down Opal's cheek, and was pretty sure his brother saw it too.
Opal sniffed ever so slightly, saying, "More importantly, after seeing what Kuvira put my family through, if there was an opportunity to prevent or stop a war covertly, only a fool would refuse to take it," pretending that neither had seen the lone tear. "My family was very well off - a lot of folks in the Earth Kingdom lost everything, their lives, or worse - either to the chaos before Kuvira crashed her steel gauntlet down, or beneath that same fist." Opal seemed to be holding back another salty orb, as she simply implored "Come on, let's keep looking for any vines."
It was about 45 minutes later when he actually saw an odd plant growing in an ornamental garden. He could tell there was no way it was like that before the Spirit Portal's creation, given how it looked healthy, and the plants around it looked wilted. Even though it didn't really look like a vine, Mako said, "I think we found our spirit vine. Let me see that pink paper, Bolin," Mako said, snatching it out of Bolin's pocket, asking, "Anyone got a pencil?"
As Opal went back to Juicy to get her pack, Mako noticed the vine beginning to glow white. He didn't like this one bit, as he remembered the power of the vines all too well, and what electricity generated by one had done to his arm. He pushed Bolin away from the vine, asking him "Bolin, is that thing going to explode?!" with an embarrassing amount of fear, continuing, "You worked with Kuvira on that weapon; did the vines ever glow white?" Bolin earthbent himself a chair to better see the vine, seemingly without a care in the world, Mako growling in frustration. Bolin nonchalantly grunted, "Quit your growling! Naah. Nothing to worry about. I never saw anything glow white in those tests, or when Varrick blew up the railcar. They always glowed purple-pink, like the beam of Kuvira's weapon but darker." As soon as it had begun, the plant stopped glowing, Bolin saying, "See? Nothing to worry about."
Opal overheard their conversation and ran back to them, just as the last white faded from its bizarre leaves. "Guys, what was that thing doing while I was gone? It was glowing… white, if I overheard correctly?" Bolin answered at the same time Mako did, producing a synchronous "Yup" of indifference. Opal did not share their sentiment, demanding, "What do you mean, 'yup'?" making a very good bored male voice. Slightly scowling, she continued, "Don't you guys know that white is associated with the Avatar State, and by extension, Korra?" The color drained from her face, saying, "I don't think anyone has seen her or Asami lately. Maybe we should go ask Tenzin-"
Suddenly, the plant began turning white, and then it began to physically writhe as it flashed a rainbow of colors.
Still staring at the plant's lightshow, Mako said, "What's going on?" Pointing at the plant, Opal said, "I don't think that's a good sign, guys. Let me mark this plant's location really quickly, then I think…" She stopped, as if someone had whispered in her ear, continuing, "I think Korra maybe be in trouble. You two, go to the rim of the crater while I mark this down." Bolin hopped to his feet, and grabbed Mako's good arm, saying with a shrug, "I guess now is as good a time as ever to try that earthwalking technique - not as if anyone will care about me wrecking already destroyed buildings." Before Mako could object, not wanting to be a test subject, Bolin began moving his legs in a perplexing manner, seemingly trying to walk without moving. Mako only managed to ask, "Bolin, are you sure this will wooo-" before he had the wind knocked out of him by a sudden acceleration.
Bolin curtly stated, "Thanks for your vote of confidence! I guess it will work after all. Guess Toph wasn't completely crazy after all," concentrating his effort on this bizarre earthbending. Bolin navigated through the shattered streets, avoiding fallen buildings and inconveniently placed signs along the way. Shortly before reaching the crater, Mako heard a heavy breathing, and Bolin let out a surprised shout, and the earthbending mass below them crumbled, sending Mako and Bolin tumbling into the side of a ruined Satomobile. As Mako lay dazed on the ground, he could hear a girl giggling, and as he stood up it abruptly stopped.
"Sorry Bolin, didn't mean to knock you off your… stride there," a voice Mako identified as Opal's purred, Opal saying in a stronger tone, "Now quit messing around, and let's see if we can find Korra. If there were events happening in the Spirit World, it's easy to assume that's where she and Asami are. Hop on Juicy and we'll patrol the beam."
After what was really five minutes but seemed like an eternity, two humanoid figures stumbled out of the beam. "Korra!" Mako yelled. And again, "Korra! Are you alright? Is that Asami with you?" The blue clad figure came into closer focus, and he could see that it was indeed Korra. She was holding Asami tenderly, as if she were unsure whether Asami was injured, but Asami was walking under her own power. Shortly after what seemed to be a flush appearing on her face, Korra said, "We're all right! We just had a little trouble with a cranky spirit, is all." Mako could tell she was hiding something. Korra's next request only heightened his suspicions: "Can you take me and Asami to see Katara on Air Temple Island, please?"
"Yes, we will!" Bolin shouted, taking another breath as Mako figured he would. Before Mako could tell him to be quiet, his brother said, "And just what were you two doing in there?" in what must have been a mix of curiosity and innocence. Mako extended his good hand over Bolin's mouth and found it colliding with Opal's, Mako quipping to Opal, "Guess we're more alike than I thought we were… Anyone who can put up with Bolin for long periods has to share something with someone else who can," Opal laughing as Bolin grumbled something crude.
Mako whispered into his brother's ear, ignoring the surprised look on his face, saying, "Now's not the time to ask prying questions, brother, or for cussing. Let's just get Korra and Asami where they need to go." As the two girls crawled onto Juicy's back, Asami shot Mako a nervous glance that she then changed to a smile, Asami looking slightly woozy as she said, "Thank you for picking us up, Mako, Bolin and Opal. I feel … strange. Maybe Katara can help us."
Seeing how Korra was holding Asami in much the same way he had once held Korra, after Tarrlok abducted Korra, Mako thought, "Guess that thought I had earlier was true, and they are together. I'm cool with it," while smiling back at Asami. Mako saw Bolin ooch closer to Asami, Asami saying quickly, "Sorry, no company, I don't want to explain." Bolin slouched back and accidentally landed near Juicy's nose. Bolin quickly scrambled away from the beasts' nose, yelling, "AUGH! Can't a guy catch a break?!" frenetically trying to get the bison fur and snot off of him. Mako saw Opal smiling out of the corner of his eye, and found himself doing the same.
As they finalized their approach to Air Temple Island, Mako thought inwardly, "I DID tell Korra I would follow her into battle, no matter how crazy things get, and my exes being into one another is pretty crazy, after all." He snuck up to both Korra and Asami, hugging them both - as friends, not potential lovers. He could see that somehow both Korra and Asami knew his intent, and most importantly, that he was fine with their relationship.
Mako felt some kind of angry, bitter fire die out in him.
Korra whispered absentmindedly to herself, "I guess that's one person I can trust." As Korra made a show of pushing Mako away so as to not make Bolin or Opal suspicious, though Mako knew that Opal would be more than okay, Mako couldn't help but wonder why they would need to hide. Korra had just defeated Kuvira and restored some semblance of balance - who could fault her for her preferences? "Maybe I should ask Asami some time," he mused quietly.
Asami turned around and met her own eyes with his, and gave him a small subdued nod.