Officer Mako x Reader

Chapter 20: In The Dirt

(I feel like I wasn't slacking that bad on this one, as long as I post within the same month of my last chapter, I feel like l abandoned y'all wayyyy less than I could've. Now, my Zuko one, My LOK one I wrote when I was like 20 and dumb????? yeah, I've been slackinggggg. Either way, I'm tryna figure out a way to make this fanfic JUICY for y'all. I've been mulling over a plot twist for quite some time now. So I apologize if this chapter feels shorter.

P.S. saying y'all sounds so country to me. I am from the Burgh, we say yinz lmao. Regardless, I love yinz so much 🖤💛 Enjoyyyyyyy. Yes, I have been sipping on a gin and peach tea cocktail but I can still bust out chapters😭 anyways, ilysm) -A

[Republic City Docks] Shin's apartment

"Well, are you taking me or not?" Shah questioned sharply, waiting with as much patience as he could scrimp together while Shin paced the floor. He knew the second he told Shin about his plan that he would be met with some resistance, but given what he knew of Shin's past, he hadn't expected it would take him this long to come to a decision,
"That's...not particularly an easy question to answer Shah," Shin breathed deeply, "Y-You're asking me to be an accessory to a murder,"
"Not an accessory. A getaway driver–
"Do you not pay attention to anything when you're in front of a judge?" Shin scoffed, "A-And why do you even need to kill him? H-How did you even come to this decision? Who wakes up one day a-and gambles their father's fate. T-The man who gave you life,"
"Hmph. A man who woke up one day with the ability to fly and who intends to keep it. By any means necessary," Shah answered flatly, completely unfazed by Shin's disbelief as he rummaged through his hall closet and zipped himself into a thick leather jacket, "And trust me. This isn't a gamble,"

[Airship]

The tension steeped into the air was somehow thicker than the fog near the volcano. You had finally soared to calmer waters but you were anything but that, anything but composed or confident in the abilities of the two officers and two master benders that sat across from you at the table. You knew Mako would go to lengths to protect you, hell maybe Tenzin, Jay, and Kuvira would too, but this was madness. Your own brother's madness sure, but somehow ten times worse than his usual methods of self-destruction,

"H-How do we know he's not already there!?" you panicked as you sprung to your feet. You had been doing that a lot the past hour, cutting everyone off and exploding with rage while they had no choice but to listen to all the worries that spilled out of your head. Mako had been pretty good at talking you down every few minutes, but after a while, he signaled for everyone to just stop interrupting until you were done, "Sorry," you finally sighed before sitting back down again, "Shah and I have this...thing with our dad,"
"Thing?" Jay questioned gently,
"We...w-we hate him, but that doesn't mean I want Shah to kill him. T-That's insane,"
"Well, as a felon, I don't think he has access to an airship or a pilot," Tenzin nodded,
"And though he can fly, it doesn't seem like he can do it very well or for very long," Mako reminded you, his arms crossed while he sat in deep thought, "Leaving his only mode of transportation to be by car. Even if he left twelve hours ago, it would still take him another day or two to get there,"

They were right, the math and the maps checked out but you still weren't convinced,
"Why aren't you saying anything?" you asked Kuvira curiously, "You nearly killed that gray hippie to tell us what he knew,"
"Hmph. I'm not saying anything, because I'm thinking about what's gonna happen if we run into that flying bastard," Kuvira huffed in between sips of her tea, "Taking you to Ba Sing Se only strengthens his chances of killing you and your father. And if both of Shah's earthly tethers are in the dirt, we might as well be stopping an indestructible lunatic," she breathed sharply, "And for your information, that gray hippie and I have unfinished business, he's lucky choking him senseless was all I did,"
"So, what are you suggesting?" Mako asked, "Because if we take her back to Republic City, Viper is bound to be lurking around every corner waiting for another opportunity to strike,"
"Why would he be involved?" Tenzin questioned,
"Well, upon Shah's arrest a few days ago, it was rumored that he may or may not be connected to the Triple Threats," Jay sighed, "All of our evidence on them was collected after a few eyewitnesses identified him,"
"And since Viper's after Shah. He's also after her," Mako confessed bitterly,
"Geez. You really are little Miss Popular," Kuvira scoffed as she rolled her eyes, "So what's the plan now?"
"Hmm. We hide you inside the Earth Kingdom. I'm thinking the Middle Ring," Mako suggested as he pointed to the map on the table, "If your dad's village is on the outskirts here, then Shah has no need to travel inside the capital. That's where Kuvira will keep you safe,"
"Me!?"
"Yeah, why her!?" you asked, praying Mako could see the apprehensive dread painted across your already worried face,
"Because I have a feeling Shah will be expecting me to be by your side," Mako admitted a tad defeated, "And...I don't want to repeat last time,"
"That's smart," Jay added, "With our headstart, he won't see us coming, even if it is just me, Mako, and Tenzin getting your dad to safety,"
"I'd hate to admit it, but that is smart," Kuvira huffed, "Even if it is coming from them,"
"You really think this will work?" you asked Mako with what little hope you had left,
"It has to,"

[Republic City Docks] Shin's apartment

"So? Are you in or out? Regardless, this is happening," Shah breathed impatiently,
"And you're sure about this?" Shin asked gently,
"I wouldn't be risking another bullet in my arm from Viper if I was unsure,"
"Alright," Shin finally nodded, "Just–get in the car. I gotta make a phone call,"
"Fine," Shah nodded before marching out the door. Shin waited until he heard Shah's footsteps disappear down the stairs and out onto the gravel driveway before pulling out his phone. For a while, he had debated on who he should call. Viper, or the man he knew could get Shah to Ba Sing Se without any questions asked. With Viper, there was a chance that they both could get a bullet in the arm, but calling his contact meant covering for Shah for three days with Viper breathing down his neck and ultimately blaming him for Shah's disappearance. Either way, both options led to trouble, "Damn it," Shin snapped as he dialed quickly and waited for the other line to pick up, "Hey, we got a problem,"

[Airship] - Mako's Room

"Would you stop pacing? You're going to put a rut in the floor," Mako teased while he read over a few evidence files,
"I think better this way," you blurted quickly,
"Think better? Or panic better?" he smirked to himself,
"You're not funny. A-And...how in the hell are you so calm about this!?"
"Because I know this plan will work," Mako sighed as he dropped his folder and gently snatched your wrist to pull you close, "I know Kuvira will protect you...because...she's stronger than me and...I don't know how many times I have to tell you this, but I'm a detective," he huffed before quickly kissing your lips to bring a slight grin to your face, "Criminals always slip up. It's part of the power trip,"
"How do you know she's going to protect me? I-I can't even get a read on her. It's like she hates me,"
"She hates me," Mako reassured you, "Who do you think was a witness at her trial before she got a triple life sentence?"
"What!? T-Then why are you leaving me with her!?" you snapped at him, "S-She could just kill me for the hell of it,"
"I'm leaving you with her...because...because Kuvira also hates herself. More than she hates me or anyone else who put her away that day," Mako admitted softly while he held your face, "I've realized, the whole point of her joining this case, was so she could have a shot at a bit of redemption," he sighed deeply, "If Shah or anyone else manages to find you inside the capital. She can stop them. I know she can,"
"But then that still leaves you," you added softly, "What if something happens a-and Shah's there a-and–
"You forget I'll have Jay and a master airbender at my side,"
"Yeah, but–
"Everything will be fine," Mako reassured you with another quick kiss to your pouty lips, "We'll get your dad and stash him somewhere safe. I promise,"

[Downtown, Republic City]

"We've been driving for over an hour," Shah seethed, "And we're still in this goddamn city!"
"Hey, not my fault you decided this in the middle of rush hour," Shin snapped back at him,
"Besides get used to it, we won't be in Dragon Flats District for another 40 minutes or so,"
"Dragon Flats!?" Shah repeated in disbelief, "Why are we going to that foul rundown side of town?"
"One, it's not foul,"
"It floods every year and fills the streets with dead fish. It's foul,"
"So, it has a slight odor–
"Slight!?"
"Okay, so it has a permanent odor" Shin eventually sighed, "But it has character, and it also has someone who can get you to Ba Sing Se faster than I can drive you there,"
"You sure this isn't your way of getting out of being an accessory?" Shah air quoted,
"It is. But taking you to Ketu is much better for my conscious and my record,"
"Hmph. Fair enough,"