•Fire of the Heart• (Mako x Reader)

Chapter 17

(Y/N)'S POV:

Three masked-figures approach us. We immediately get up to our fighting stances. I shoot two fire balls towards my attacker, who quickly evades it. I try use a nearby puddle to try to make them fall, but to my frustration they avoid it too. It then turns into close combat. I try to fire kick them, but the masked-figure grabs my leg and flips me. I attempt to punch them with a fist of fire, but then I feel pressure points getting pressed. My left arm went numb.

'double shit.'

I remember hearing stories about one of Aunt Azula's friends being able to preform this technique in battle, but I've never experienced it until now. These guys were Chi-Blockers. The more I kept fighting back, the more the Chi-Blocker was hitting the points. I tried to jump and fire kick them, but of course it was evaded. It wasn't long before my body was completely numb. All three of us were on the same boat as we're kicked into the middle.

The three attackers approach us, swinging their bolas around menacingly. We stared wide-eyed. All three of us were completely helpless. As I close my eyes and accept our fate, I hear two growls.

Naga and (P/N) run towards them, While Pabu lets out one as well. The Chi-Blockers throw smoke bombs and then drive away. I let out a big sigh of relief as I pet (P/N). "Good girl!" I say with a smile. My heart then drops. I try to shoot out fire, but of course that's not gonna work.

"Ugh, I can't Bend." Korra says and tries to shoot out fire again. "I can't bend!" She panics. "Calm down, it'll wear off. Those guys are Chi-Blockers. They're Amon's henchmen." Mako explains. "Amon? That anti-bending guy with a mask?" Korra tilts her head. "Yeah, he's the leader of the Equalists." Mako adjusts his glove as he turns back to Korra.

"What do they want with the Triple Threats?" I ask, questioning Amon's motives. "Whatever it is, it can't be good. I can't believe Bolin got himself into this mess!" Mako puts his hand on his forehead as he groans in frustration. I walk over to him and put my hand on his shoulder, comforting him. "Mako, we are going to save Bolin. I promise you that me and Korra will do whatever it takes to bring him home." I give him a reassuring smile. Korra nods her head at him.

"Thank you, really." He puts a hand over my hand and returns the smile. I could feel red rush up my cheeks. "O-of course." I turn away and remove my hand, trying to hide my blush.

We ride on our respective animals, Mako with me, for hours. The search consisted of looking throughout every nook and cranny of the empty city streets. I kept looking back at Mako, saddened by his defeat look once dusk was emerging from the sky. The early morning fog engulfed the once busy streets of Republic City.

"We've been out all night. No sign of him." I pull (P/N) closer to Naga to be able to hear Korra more clearly. "We've got to keep looking. But where?" Mako looks to the side, deep in thought. Suddenly, me and Korra gasp, startling Mako. "I have an idea!" I grab Mako's hand and drag him onto (P/N) as Korra follows with Naga.

We arrive at Republic City Park. Naga and (P/N) drink some well deserved water from water fountain in the center of the park. All three of us sit on the water fountain, finally resting after a long night of searching for the lost brother. I sit next to Mako, our shoulders slightly brushing each other. "The first day me and Korra got into town, we ran into an Equalist protestor over there." I point over to where the man was that spewed insults at me and Korra. "You think they'll know where Bolin is?" He cocked an eyebrow. "It's our only lead, its better than nothing." I shrug. Mako nods. I rub my eyes, turning away to hide my exhaustion. "You're exhausted. come on, lets rest for a bit." He takes my hand and leads me to (P/N), whose resting by a tree.

I lean onto (P/N), and rest my eyes. I quickly fall asleep. Korra leans on Naga on a tree nearby, observing us. Korra smirks as she watches me slowly lean to the side, landing onto Mako's shoulder. He doesn't move, he rests his head on mine and shuts his eyes. Korra giggles to herself. after a short while, I flutter my eyes open. I turn red once I realize my actions.I quickly get up and turn to the side. "S-sorry." I cover my face to hide my embarrassment of my actions. "There's nothing to be sorry for. besides that, did you get enough rest?" He gives me a small smile. I could swear that he had a hint of red on his cheeks. I shrug the thought off and return the smile, nodding at him. My smile drops as I prepare to ask a hard question.

"So...why is Bolin rubbing shoulders with the triple-triad?" I tilt my head. "Well, we... we used to do some work for them back in the day." My eyes widen as Korra perks our head in our direction. "What!? Are you some kind of criminal?" Korra walks over, sitting down in front of us. "No! You don't know what you're talking about. I just ran numbers for them and stuff. We were orphans out on the street; I did what I had to do to survive and protect my little brother."

I look at him apologetically. Growing up as a Princess, I never had to struggle in the money aspect. Mako and Bolin have gone through things I would never even begin to understand. I made a silent promise that once I figure my situation out, I would help them in anyway I can to make sure that they never have to struggle like that again. I put my hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. It must have been really hard. Can I ask what happened to your parents?" Korra cautiously asks after her little outburst. I rub Mako's shoulder with my thumb, knowing that her question might upset him. He sighs as he puts his hand on mine, similar to what he did earlier after our Chi-Blocker incident. He lets out a big sigh before he starts his story.

"They were mugged, by a firebender. He cut them down right in front of me. I was eight." He squeezes my hand tighter, as if he's reliving the memory. "Mako..." Korra looks at him with saddened eyes. "Bolin's the only family I have left. If anything happened to him..." He lifts up his scarf, covering his face.

After the long talk, we decide to rest. This time, I intentionally lay on Mako's shoulder, and he welcomes it. he wraps an arm around me, like he craved comfort after the previous conversation, and the loss of his brother. I happily oblige. I realized that I would do anything for him, as long as he can live a happy long life. If he was happy, I was happy. I felt my heart beat faster as he pulled my in closer in his sleep. What is this feeling?

After a few hours, we were all woken up abruptly.

"Equality now! Equality now! We want equality now!"