Mako

Election days in Republic City were always contentious, and it always seemed to manifest itself in increased crime rates in the lead up to votes.

Mako had already had to deal with six fights, two full-blown riots and a slanderous poster campaign about a candidate's dress sense- and that was just in the week leading up to the election. Today's job was much nicer though. He was to guard the international contingent who had come to Republic City to make sure the election was free and fair.

"But remember, you're not there to socialise," Lin had told him sternly. Mako had nodded.

He sighed and leaned discreetly against the wall, watching the assembled dignitaries milling about. Not everyone had arrived yet, which was odd considering the polling had closed already and the votes were being counted across the city.

"You look bored," a voice said from right next to him. Mako yelped and jumped about a foot in the air, only to turn and see Asami.

"Asami! Don't do that!"

She only laughed at him. "Why not? I was only saying hello."

Mako folded his arms.

"... and it is quite funny."

"Ha. Ha."

"Tough crowd, I see," Asami murmured, before turning to look out at the assembled throng. "How are you, anyway?"

"Working, mostly," Mako replied. "You?"

"Same," Asami told him. "I've been working with the government."

"Oh have you now? What on?"

"That would be telling, and hopefully you'll never need to know."

"Then why would you tell me at all?" Mako asked.

"To torture you," Asami laughed again. "Besides, you did ask."

After a moment though, the smile dropped from her face. "They should be here too."

"Hey, Bolin should be here, I don't know what's taking them so long-"

"Not just him," Asami interrupted him. "Korra too."

Mako sighed. "Nobody has seen her for a year."

"I miss her."

"I miss her too."

Asami turned back to him with determination in her eyes. "We should go looking for her."

"What do you think I've been doing?" Mako replied. "I've been investigating alongside my job for months and got nowhere."

"Then go looking for her full-time, and I'll help."

"I can't abandon my job!"

"Why not? We would have the full backing of my company."

They were interrupted when the door burst open and a cry of "Hellooo Republic Cit-Tay!" Reverberated around the room.

"Hi Bolin!" Mako immediately greeted him. His brother waved happily to him but then looked past him and froze, fear on his face. Mako turned around to find Eska and Desna glaring at him. They greeted Bolin in their monotone voices and moved to start a conversation with him, as the rest of the Earth Kingdom group arrived.

"I didn't expect Kuvira to come," Mako murmured. Sure enough, she stepped into the room and fixed it with an imperious gaze, the metal of her armour glinting.

Mako had heard that people called her the Great Uniter, and he could see why.

Asami tapped him on the shoulder to regain his attention.

"Like I said, we should look for Korra."

"What if she doesn't want to be found?"

"No, I refuse to believe that. She wouldn't just leave me like that."

Mako shook his head. "No," he agreed, "she wouldn't. But this is a big decision, and it would involve me quitting my job. Can I at least think about it?"

Asami nodded, but she clearly wasn't happy about it.

"So, you're the Avatar's companions?" A new voice intruded on the conversation. They both turned around to find Kuvira stood there expectantly.

"Come on Kuvira," Asami pointed out, "we've met before, remember?"

"Clearly," Kuvira replied. "Although that was a long time ago. Your brother speaks highly of you, Mako."

Mako nodded, not quite knowing how to respond to that.

Kuvira leaned in closer, and dropped her voice conspiratorially, as if she was sharing some kind of in-joke with him.

"You know," she said, "I am always in need of loyal men, and if you are anything like your brother you'll do nicely."

Mako's absolute bafflement must have shown on his face, for she laughed. "I'm offering you a job!"

"What job?"

"Just a short placement, guarding the King," replied Kuvira.

Asami immediately began shaking her head vehemently, but quickly stopped as the Great Uniter turned to look at her too.

"And you would be enormously helpful too," she told her.

"Don't you already have a chief scientist?" Asami pointed out.

"You can never have too many scientists," Kuvira replied. "And you would find I am very generous to those who assist me."

Asami bowed her head politely. "Thank you, Kuvira, but I'm afraid I must decline. I have certain... personal obligations."

"A shame, but the offer does still stand. Same goes for you," Kuvira told Mako. "I suppose I'll have to go and socialise now."

And with that, she left. The two of them watched as she walked away, still a bit befuddled by what had just happened.

"Well-"

"Are you going to take that job?" Asami demanded.

Mako shook his head. "No, my home is here. I was not a fan of Ba Sing Se."

Asami visibly relaxed, and just then Bolin walked over.

"Hey guys! How are you?"

"Well enough," Mako told him. "How about you?"

"Oh, fine, helping glue the Earth Kingdom back together tends to take up most of my attention, you know how it is," Bolin boasted.

"Speaking of which, your boss just offered us jobs."

"Did she? You should definitely do it! We would be a team again! I do miss you guys."

"Actually, I turned it down and he's about to."

"Oh." Bolin's disappointment was clear on his face. "Why?"

"We're going to look for Korra."

I never agreed to that, Mako thought, but Bolin didn't give him the chance to say it. "I hope you find her," he told them solemnly. "Who knows, maybe I'll be able to help."

"Maybe you will. Or maybe you can join us..?"

"I would love to, but duty calls."

The three of them stayed there for another fifteen minutes, shooting the breeze about their adventures in the last few months since they had seen each other, before Bolin and Asami were chased off by Lin, who sternly reminded Mako that he wasn't there on a social visit.

"Yes, chief," Mako replied obediently. But no sooner had Lin turned and walked away than someone else was coming over.

"You must be the most popular policeman in town tonight."

The newcomer had the most piercing amber eyes Mako had ever seen, framed by jet black hair that hung down either side of her face. She wore a bright red and gold dress and a golden hairpiece held her hair up into a topknot.

"Attention just has a way of finding me," he shrugged.

"And why would that be?"

Mako thought about saying "because I'm so good looking," but decided against it.

"Why has it found me now?"

The woman shrugged. "Curiosity. You've had the Great Uniter and a wealthy industrialist approach you on this door already. Besides, you didn't answer my question."

"Job offers, mainly."

"I imagine a friend of Avatar Korra must have no shortage of those."

"So you do know who I am."

"And what about you? Do you know who I am?" She challenged him, an edge of playfulness to her voice.

"Well, judging by the dress and the hairstyle, you're a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family."

"Nothing gets past you, does it? Perhaps you would be more familiar with my brother, or my mother for that matter."

"Would I?"

"Of course. Unless you've been living under a rock, I would have thought everyone knows who the Firelord is."

"Princess Hotaru?"

"The very same," the Princess gave him an extravagant fake bow, "but don't tell anyone I did that. My attendants are sticklers for protocol."

"I know the feeling," Mako replied.

"You have attendants?"

"I have a boss, and she's... strict."

"She's a Beifong, what do you expect?"

"That's true, but she gets the job done."

"Are you just saying that in case she hears us?"

"No! Well, a bit, but it's true!"

Hotaru laughed again. "Oh, I don't doubt it."

There was the faint sound of a telephone ringing in the distance.

"So, which job offer are you going to take up?" Hotaru asked him.

"Kuvira's or Asami's?"

She nodded.

Mako sighed. "Probably Asami. She wants to find Korra, and so do I."

Hotaru nodded. "If there's anything the Fire Nation can do to help find her, just let me know."

"Yes, because your family know all about hunting the Avatar, don't they?"

Hotaru shook her head with light-hearted reproach.

"Low blow."

Mako decided to change the subject.

"Enough about me, what are you up to? Apart from socialising with security guards."

Hotaru raised one thin eyebrow. "Are you complaining? Because I can go if you want..."

"You know I didn't mean it like that."

They were interrupted by a voice from the stage. An elderly man with a white beard was stood in front of a microphone, flanked by Lin and President Raiko.

"Ladies and gentlemen, and assembled dignitaries," the man began, "Republic City has made its choice!"

Across the room, a man with a dull voice began talking into a camera, adding to what the speaker was saying.

"The election for President was contested between three individuals! Their votes are as follows. Shao..."

"The Silly Party,"

Has recieved 5% of the vote."

Mako watched a man in yellow robes and the silliest hat he had ever seen run over and wave gaily over the reporter's shoulder into the camera. He had never been a threat to the other two, even if 5% of the vote was much higher than had been expected for him.

The incumbent, Raiko..."

"The Non-Benders' Union Party,"

"... has received 48% of the vote, which means Sun..."

"The Industrial Party,"

"Has recieved 47% of the vote. President Raiko will remain at his post for another term!"

Mako scowled. He did not like Raiko, and he was pretty sure the man did not like him. He certainly wasn't Korra's biggest fan.

However, then the old man was speaking again.

"However, that was not the only matter put to the public today! A referendum was held, on the subject of future close relations with the Earth Kingdom!"

Mako saw Kuvira lean forward slightly from her place in the crowd. Now this could be interesting.

"The vote was carried by 80%... for the no side!"

Raiko and Lin visibly relaxed on stage, and he saw Asami lean back again too.

Kuvira's reaction was far less happy. In an instant, the woman's eyes turned to stone and her face to thunder as she turned and stormed out of the door, straight past where Mako and Hotaru were standing, barely acknowledging them at all.

Her retinue trailed behind her, including Bolin, who seemed sad to be leaving. The two brothers exchanged waves as he walked past.

"Somehow I don't think Kuvira liked that." Hotaru murmured, looking at their receding backs.

"What gave you that idea?"