𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐜

two. revelation.

[ book 1 , episode 3 ]

〜

"Why are you making me train this early in the morning? The morning is evil." Korra sighs. Her, Mako, and Bolin stand in a circle in the training room, tossing a weighted ball back and forth. Asahi sits off to the side, reading a book.

"We're the rookies, so we get the worst time slot in the gym." Bolin says as he catches the ball from Korra, then throwing it to Mako.

"And you're the rookiest of us all, so we have to catch you up to speed if we're gonna survive the tournament. So deal with it." Mako throws the ball back to Korra, who stumbles back a bit.

"You deal with it!" Korra throws the weight back at Mako, who flies and lands on his back as he catches it. Korra smiles at him.

"There are my hard-working street urchins!"

"Oh, here we go." Asahi groans and puts her book down, moving to stand next to Bolin, Pabu squeeking as the man walks towards them. Though the man is her and the boys' main source of money, Asahi can't stand him.

"It's an honor to meet you, Avatar." The man says, putting his hand on Korras shoulder.

"And you are?" Korra puts her hands on her hips.

"Butakha!" The man says, taking his hat off his head, nodding. "I run this whole pro bending shebang." He places his hat back on his bald head.

"Here's your winnings from the last match." Butakha pulls a stack of bills out of his pocket and hands it to a grinning Mako. Before Mako can get the money into his pocket, Butakha starts speaking again.

"Not so fast. First, you owe me for the avatars' new gear," Butakha takes a few dollars off the stack, and Mako frowns. "Gym and equipment rentals for the last month," He takes a few more. Mako goes to put the money into his pocket again, but is stopped for a second time.

"Rent on your apartment," more bills off the now small stack. "And personal loan for groceries." Butakha takes the rest of the money and puts it into its pocket.

Both Mako and Asahi glare at Bolin.

"What? I'm a growing boy!" He counters.

"Well, your growing just cost us money." Asahi groans and walks back to her book.

"Oh, and one more small item of business. The fire ferrets need to ante up 30,000 yuans for the championship pot."

"30,000 YUANS?" Bolin exclaims.

Apon hearing this, Asahi puts her head in her arms. How are Mako and Bolin supposed to get 30,000 yuans?

"Sorry, kids. You have until the end of the week to come up with the money, or you're out of the tournament." Butakha said, Asahi staring bullets into his head as he leaves.

"You wouldn't happen to have a secret avatar bank account filled with gold, would you?" Bolin asks over his shoulder as Korra reappears beside him.

Korra turns her empty pockets inside out. "I've got nothing. I've never really needed money, I've always had people taking care of me."

"I wouldn't say you had nothing." Mako picks up the weighted ball that was discarded on the ground a while ago and storms away.

"Sorry, I didn't mean--"

"No, it's okay, it's just... ever since we lost our parents, we've been on our own. Asahi, too." Bolin spoke. Asahi grabbed her book and tucked it under her arm, not wanting anything to do with the conversation.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know." Korra apologized.

"Anyway, how are we going to come up with the money?" Mako threw his duffle back over his shoulder. Asahi rejoined the group.

"I've been training Pabu to do circus tricks!" Bolin held up Pabu. "People would pay good money to see that."

"Come on, Bolin. We need serious ideas." Mako dismissed Bolins circus idea.

"I was serious."

"Don't worry, I'll figure something out. I always do." Mako said as he walked out of the room.

〜

"Come one, come all! See Pabu, the fantastic fire ferret, as he crosses the ladder of peril!" Bolin gasps. "Upside down!"

"I agree with Mako, this is a dumb idea." Asahi stands next to him with her arms crossed, rolling her eyes. Pabu doesn't move, he only sits and licks his paw.

"Shh, just watch! Psst, psst!" Finally, Pabu begins to walk on his hands across the mini ladder. "Big finish, buddy!" Bolin cheers. Pabu sticks the landing, and Bolin cheers louder.

Asahi picks up the cup Bolin put out for people to put money in.

"One yuan down, 29,999 to go." She sighs. "I'm going home. Good luck, Bolin." Asahi walks away just as a car pulls up.

〜

"I'm back!" Mako calls as he walks up the stairs. "Bo, I picked up your favorite dumplings." Mako sighs as he plops down on the sofa next to Asahi.

"He isn't here. I was with him in town, but I just got back." Asahi grabbed a dumpling out of the bag and put it in her mouth and speaks around it, "Who knows what he's up to."

"I found some work at the power plant, it's some decent money." Mako reached into the bag and grabbed himself a dumpling.

"That's good." Asahi said, her mouth full and her face in a book not paying much attention to Mako.

"Are you sure Bolin isn't here?" Mako asked. Asahi nodded her head.

Mako turned to the window, looking toward Air Temple Island. "I bet the love bird is making a house call."

"Good luck." Asahi waved as Mako left.

〜

"Come on, Asahi, Bolin is missing, and we're going looking for him." Mako said from the ladder, Korra behind him. Asahi was still in the same place on the sofa as she was earlier, still reading, but the dumpling was gone.

"Missing?"

"Yes, just come on." Mako called, beginning to climb back down the ladder. Asahi sat her book down and followed.

After giving Naga a bit of love, Asahi climbed on her back, and the three began looking for Bolin.

〜

"This is the place Bolin was having Pabu do circus tricks earlier." Asahi said, pointing to the statue.

"Yeah, this is his usual hang out." Mako said, hopping off Naga.

"You guys see my brother around here lately?" Mako asked the group of kids playing near the statue.

"Perhaps. My memory is a little foggy. Maybe you can help clear it up." One of the kids said, holding out his hand.

"You're a real pro, Skoochy." Mako took a few bills from his pocket and handed them to the boy.

"Yeah, I seen him." Skoochy said.

"When?" Asked Asahi.

"About noon."

"That was about the time I was here with Bolin." Asahi added.

"Yeah, and then you left. After that..." Skoochy held his hand out again, and Mako gave him more money.

"And then what? Why'd he leave?"

"Shady Shin showed up and gave him some serious cash." Skoochy whispered. "Bo left with him in his hot rod."

Asahi groaned.

"The Triple Threats, the Red Monsoons, the Agni Kais... All the triads are getting ready for something big. That's all you're getting outta me." Skoochy took off.

"What's he talking about?" Korra asked.

"Sounds like theirs a turf war brewing," Mako spoke.

"And Bolins is about to get caught in the middle of it." Asahi finished his sentence.