Officer Mako x Reader

Chapter 58: Same Old Vices

(Idk where my head is at these days, but I'm trucking along. I passed my religion class, omfg. Got an A+!! Now, I'm taking a pirate history course for the rest of the summer and three courses in the Fall. At this point, I have no wants, no needs other than keeping my body snatched, graduating (early if I can), and getting promoted so I can collect a fat paycheck and disappear across the country.)

Can't believe we've made it this far but onto Chapter 58 😮‍💨🖤

-A

It rained the second Shah laid eyes on the city. Poured even harder when he and 93 managed to drag Tenzin onto the ferry– Kuvira's orders forever stuck on loop in the back of his mind:

Find your sister. Help Mako. Then get your ass back here.

"Hmph. Seems simple enough," Shah smirked to himself while he stood out the storm, his arms resting on the port railing while he stared out onto the scattered waves, "I only have to take down a gang in my spare time. Who knows, I may be able to avoid the chore altogeth–
"Are you thinking out here or trying to catch a cold!?" 93 shouted when he slid the ferry door open, the rain already hammering at his dry shoes,
"Please," Shah chuckled as he turned and joined 93 inside, "If he couldn't catch me," he pointed toward Tenzin, still unconscious, still sedated since the start of their journey, "There's no way in hell a cold can," he sighed before taking a seat, "I just needed some air,"
"In the pouring rain?" 93 asked,
"Hmph. Freshest air there is,"
"If you say so. You know he should be up soon," 93 nodded toward Tenzin,
"How soon?"
"Two hours give or take,"
"Hmph. Let him," Shah scoffed, rolling his eyes in annoyance, "We'll be at Air Temple Island in less than half that time, and gone before he can even flutter an eyelash,"
"And what happens then?" 93 questioned curiously, "Captain Kuvira assured me the airbender wouldn't follow–
"He won't," Shah answered quickly, standing to his feet and marching to the window,
"You know that for sure?"
"Hmph. I sense a little doubt there, Lieutenant,"
"Not doubt," 93 corrected, "Just weighing all of our options–all of our potential enemies,"
"Hmph. Well, save your breath," Shah smirked again, his eyes tracing every inch of the city's skyline just mere miles ahead, "Because anyone who's dumb enough to follow me? Is getting two bullets to the knees,"

Mako's apartment

"Okay," Mako breathed, filling his gun with more bullets as he came down the stairs, "She slept. She's eating. She'll most likely sleep again–
"Considering the fact that you drugged her?" Jay teased,
"Ignoring you," Mako sighed while he slipped into his shoes, "Either way. None of you are permitted to leave this apartment. I will be back,"
"At?"
"At sunset," Mako sighed even deeper, his palm already clasped around the doorknob,
"Good. I want hour-by-hour updates,"
"Yeah. Yeah. Whatever," Mako mumbled with a slam to the front door,
"You really think he's coming back if he finds Viper out there?" Mudo asked curiously from behind the morning paper,
"No. Which is why I'm holding my breath for this stint and this stint only," Jay scoffed, "Any others and I'm telling her,"
"You know that will only make her a nervous wreck," Mudo answered without taking his eyes from the traffic report, "And if Mako's not here to manage that, guess who she'll turn to?" he chuckled,
"Oh. God, you're right," Jay groaned, "She cried in my arms yesterday. I was not a fan,"

Mako's squad car - unmarked

"9:15," Mako whispered flatly, plopping into the driver's seat with the same amount of dread that usually washes over him before a long shift, "Twenty bucks says Viper's at his penthouse downtown," he thought out loud, pulling out onto the somewhat busy street, "Two cigars. A shot of bourbon. Black coffee. The morning news low on the TV and a folded newspaper next to a plate of three over easy eggs and plain toast," he pictured it clearly, "Same old breakfast. Same old vices. Same old routine," Mako sighed to himself, "That's the thing about Viper—you always know what he's gonna do. Right up until the second you don't,"

[Downtown, Republic City] - Haccis Row

Every morning started the same. The only thing that changed was the weather–

"Speak," Viper ordered when his phone rang, taking his breakfast to the couch when a familiar face flashed across his TV,
"Yezi got pinched," Shin hissed into the phone, out of breath, damn near out of words,
"I heard,"
"Yeah? You think you want to warn me next time!?" Shin hissed again, "We were on our way to the safe. If I get caught with this amount of cash and two guns on me, I–
"It's all over the news," Viper said flatly, turning up the volume and waving toward his butler for him to light his first cigar,
"What!? Already!?"
"Yezi's getting shoved into a cop car as we speak,"
"Damn it. He's gotta be talking. This place is crawling with cops," Shin panicked, ducking into his car after sprinting across four alleyways,
"Good. It means there'll be even less of them at Ramirro's trial later," Viper replied unamused,
"About that. Why are we going to this again?" Shin asked as he fumbled with the key and sped away in the slick rain, finally taking a deep breath when the red and blue lights shrank in the rearview, "Ramirro was drunk and disorderly. He didn't resist arrest; at best, the judge will give him a fine. If it's Loni's cousin again, he'll probably give him a slap on the wrist,"
"Hmph. That's what I'm counting on," Viper smirked slyly, "An early lunch,"

[Air Temple Island]

Shah had never been to the shoreline, let alone the front door. Even the gulls weren't squawking about here, which only made him believe so much more that no outsider had ever stepped foot on the island. At least, that's what he was told when he first moved here. No guests. Only airbenders–

"Umm. People...live here?" 93 asked curiously, his voice barely a whisper above the wind,
"Not everybody lives underground, y'know," Shah sighed, knocking loudly against the hardwood,
"I get that, but it's so...quiet. So...empty,"
"Because only airbenders live here," Shah nodded, knocking again, "Hey, open up! We got a...delivery!" he shouted before turning toward 93, "They're practically silent. Their feet barely touch the ground–
"Drop your weapons and nobody gets hurt!" a bald child shouted from the mail slot in the door,
"Is that a kid?" 93 questioned,
"I said, drop your weapons! Or I'll blast you into the sea!" the kid threatened,
"Let's not do that," 93 pleaded, "Umm. Is there a...parent here we can speak with?"
"No parents. Only pirates!" the kid laughed maniacally,
"Ugh. Great. We've interrupted his game," Shah smirked with his arms crossed, "Listen. Kid. What kind of pirate are you?"

It was silent for only a second before the door thudded open. Then appeared a kid, lower than Shah's knees, with an eyepatch and a blanket wrapped around his shoulders like a cape,

"Well, I'm Captain Meelo, of course," the kid stood proudly,
"Well, Captain Meelo. Is your mom home? I got a...little delivery," Shah nodded toward Tenzin strapped to the back of his shirshu,
"Dad?" Meelo called, saddened,
"Hey, he's fine," Shah reassured him, "He's resting. Now, Captain Meelo. Any pirate captain who's going to stand a chance in the sea needs his riches," Shah grinned as he fished into his duffle bag and tossed Meelo a wad of yuans, "So. Take that. Go inside. Go upstairs. Get your mommy, so she can put daddy to bed, okay?"
"Aye, aye, intruder,"

"Hmph. Since when are you good with children?" 93 asked as they stepped inside,
"I don't know...they're kinda growing on me–
"Meelo, how many times have I told you not to invite strangers into the house when your father isn't here!?" Pema shouted from the top of the stairs, her belly plump like a summer melon,
"But, Dad is here, Mom! The intruder said he's resting,"
"Ugh. That kid," Pema breathed heavily, "I'm sorry when he's playing pirates, he's...all over the place,"
"No worries, ma'am," 93 bowed,
"Well, umm. What can I do for you two gentlemen?" Pema asked curiously,
"Umm. Well uhh. Maybe it's best if we–
"Miss. Your husband was attacked in Ba Sing Se trying to recapture a Republic City prisoner," Shah took over, his voice as cool as rain-chilled breeze,
"Oh my god!–
"Easy. Easy," Shah calmed her, taking Pema's hands and leading her outside to his shirshu, "He's okay. We brought him home. He just needs plenty of rest, is all,"
"Oh, honey," Pema sniffled, "What uh...uhh what happened?" she asked a lot less panicked,
"Gunshot wound to the leg. Hit an artery, so he bled a lot more than usual gunshot wounds. But, our guys patched him up and gave him some sedatives for the trip to make it easy on him," Shah grinned lightly,
"Oh. My goodness. Ba Sing Se?" Pema questioned, wiping her tears as quickly as they formed, "That–That must've been a long trip. Please, both of you. S-Stay for lunch,"
"We uhh–
"Please. I insist. I mean," Pema smiled, "You brought him home, it's the least I can do,"

[Crystal Catacombs] - 1.3 miles below the surface

Shah is gone, and your training is now. Shah is gone, and your training is now. Shah is...gone.

Just the thought of him fueled Kuvira with a rage she had never felt. Her mind roared with fury. Fuck this training! He owes me an explanation!

In seconds, Kuvira dropped the lava beneath her with her bending. She used the walls around her like stairs, stacking them upward toward the surface. Rohai and his men followed quietly, uninterfering. Kuvira ignored them. Ignored the lava. Ignored this. Her mind was only on Shah and what building she was going to drop him from if he didn't get on his knees and explain why he chickened out.

"Earthly tether?" Kuvira gasped, her nostrils flared in boiling hatred as she blinked back her tears and stormed ahead. She was sweating from head to toe, so it didn't matter. Nothing did. Just as long as she got all of them out of there.

Liar! You lied to me, Shah! I–

"Enough," Rohai ordered softly, when Kuvira had already reached the crystals,

You tell me you love me, and then you–

"Kuvira!" Rohai shouted over her thoughts, his voice slapping her back to reality, "You went past the mark. We're...We're on the surface," he said gently, hoping she could feel the cool breeze on her face as she stood above a half ton of rock and broken rubble,
"Sorry," Kuvira breathed, bowing her head in remorse,
"Don't be," Rohai urged her, "You did fabulous. In fact, you've earned breakfast,"