Officer Mako x Reader

Chapter 66: Suicide For Olives

[Ancient Osmium Library] — 1:58 seconds left

"Ugh. Tenth floor my ass!" Kuvira snapped out of breath, already doubled over from the stitch of her own panic, "Glass?" she panted, spotting the book, clear as day behind a thick paneled window, "No. It can't be just glass—glass is easy," she shook her head in disbelief, pressing her palm on the cool green pane, "Rohai wouldn't make it this easy he—fuck! It's more than one pane,"


Kuvira struck with all her might, barely making a dent in this first pane,


"Damn it. How god damn thick is this!?" She struck again, the first layer finally shattering at her feet, "I'll never get to it and the journal in time," she panted even heavier, striking each pane with a harder blow than before, "Nine...ten...eleven—Damn it, Rohai!"


After six more crumbled at her ankles, Kuvira was sure she could grab the book by now, but she was surely mistaken,


"How many goddamn more—Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! He's slowing me down,"


0:32 seconds left

"I—I-I—

She struck harder and harder, finally reaching the book by pane thirty; the desert sun shining on her face when she tucked the last book in her arm,

"I only have time for this one," Kuvira finally whispered, eventually launching herself through the window into the hot sand, the library itself eaten by it in a matter of seconds. In an instant, she was surrounded by Rohai's men,

"Leave her be," Rohai ordered, his hand out to stop them all, "She's not broken or bleeding,"
"Thirty panes!?" Kuvira hissed at Rohai, tossing the books she managed to retrieve in his arms, "You slowed me down!"
"And yet you got the essentials," Rohai smirked, flipping through each one, "Except your blank journal,"
"Damn the journal. You wanna document me, have one of your lackeys follow me with a pen and a damn pad," Kuvira barked at him, "Now get me back to fucking civilization. All of you get in the damn car," she ordered, marching away and slipping in the backseat with a stomp and a slam,
"Uhh. Captain?" one of the agents questioned,
"Hmph. You heard her," Rohai grinned proudly, "All of you in the damn car,"

[Republic City] — Viper's Restaurant

"Boss, you've been sitting in here five hours nursing that shot," Shin sighed when he slipped into Viper's office, finding him with his least favorite bourbon, the cool glass pressed against his temple to soothe his headache, "Come down and join the game. Pemba's good and toasted and dropping chips, so you know it's an easy win,"
"Is this...karma Shin?" Viper seethes quietly, taking the shot and pouring himself another, "After all the good I've done?"
"Boss, I've known you more than half my life, and not once have you ever believed in karma," Shin chuckled lightly, plopping in the seat across from Viper's desk, "This is just a tightass judge tryna rattle you. My question is...why are you letting him?" Shin asked, propping his feet on the corner of Viper's desk, "So he's tough. We've dealt with tough judges before,"
"No. He's more than that. He's fixated," Viper corrected, downing another shot and pouring himself a double,
"Fixated or not, we got too many pieces on the board," Shin reminded him as he sat up, "Expanding to the East Side. Mako flat on our heels. Your...damsel is who knows where with him, and who knows if Shah's coming back—
"Shah," Viper breathed, "I'll make Shah do it," he beamed lightly,
"Do—Take out Steel?" Shin blinked,
"Steel. Shit-for-brains Mako. And any other bastard that wants to get in the rearview of my business,"

[Upper Ring] — 26 miles from the Outer Walls

"You. Driver," Kuvira called calmly, flipping through Kyoshi's history, her eyes lingering page by page,
"Yes, C-Captain," the driver nodded,
"You got a pen?"
"I—
"Hand it here,"
"Uhh—Rohai,"
"What are you calling him for? I asked you a question. And gave you a command,"
"Apologies...Captain, it's just—Avatar Kyoshi's books are—sacred,"
"More sacred than your life?" Kuvira smiled, but only for half a second,
"I—well—
"Because one could test that theory by stopping the car right now,"
"We don't have—
"Good. Because for a second or two I would've thought that seven-foot riddle-raddler was dead and buried. Pen, please," Kuvira grinned, holding out her open palm,
"A-As you wish. Captain,"

[Republic City] — Viper's Restaurant

"Fine. If Shah resurfaces, I'll set him on Steel's trail," Shin sighed deeply as he stood, "Now would you come down and join the damn ga—
"You doubt Shah will escape the Dai Li?" Viper questioned, lighting his cigar quickly before propping his feet on his own desk,
"I mean, for god's sake, they're the Dai Li," Shin breathed, "Breaking out of Feng's walls, I can see. Some of his guards are dumber than a bag of hammers, but the Dai Li...they're a machine waiting for a cog to split,"
"And split he will," Viper nodded with a grin, "He may not be able to break out, but they'll let him go,"
"What makes you sure?" Shin asked curiously,
"Please, I've been strangling that kid since he set foot in this city. He's a wildcard for sure and mostly useful, but—annoying as hell,"



[Bay View] — Mako's apartment

"You really should think about moving," Shah taunted Mako as they trudged up the stairs, "My sister hates heights,"
"We are moving in together," Mako scoffed, "Plus, I don't exactly need you to tell me what she's afraid of,"
"Oh. So she got over the whole I love you thing, I see," Shah nodded, only a tad impressed,
"I love you thing?" Mako questioned,
"Hey, I thought you didn't need me," Shah raised his hands in surrender,
"I don't," Mako breathed when he caught up with 93 and Tenzin, "Now all of you, let's keep the fighting and arguing to a minimum," he ordered, fishing his keys from his right pocket, "She's been asleep most of the day, and I'd like to keep it that way, so if you all could just—
"Who the hell are you talking to out here?" Jay asked, swinging the door open, only to find Shah's innocent grin staring back at him,
"Don't freak out, Jay," Mako warned gently, placing his hands on Jay's shoulders,
"F-Freak out? W-Why would I—oh, for god sake, why the hell is he here!?" Jay snapped, his left hand already on his gun,
"I'd drop that if I were you," Shah chuckled, making his way to the living room, "Oh, well, look who we have here," he grinned when he laid eyes on Mudo,
"Hey kid, I see you're still kicking," Mudo winked,
"And I see you're still conning,"
"Later," Mudo nodded in between big sips of whiskey, "My show is on," he nodded toward Mako and Jay in the kitchen,
"You've lost it, Mako," Jay panicked as he paced back and forth, "I'm calling it now, you've completely lost it!"
"Hey, keep your voice down," Mako hissed back at him, pouring himself and Jay a drink to calm their nerves, "Now you can freak out as much as you want as long as you don't wake her. And as far as losing anything goes, the only thing I have lost is ground,"
"Tenzin, talk some sense into him," Jay pleaded,
"Who the hell do you think I found him with?" Mako scoffed,
"Y-You too?" Jay stuttered, eyeing Tenzin with bewilderment, "You trust this lunatic?"
"Hey, the lunatic has ears," Shah smirked, sprawling out on the whole couch,
"A-And you let him in your house!?" Jay lectured Mako, ignoring Shah entirely,
"Only because he has a plan to take down Viper," Mako argued before downing both his and Jay's shots while Jay paced even quicker,
"Half a plan," Tenzin corrected, placing Mako's tea kettle on the stove, "Or rather no plan at all,"
"Thanks Tenzin," Mako sighed,
"I don't know why you sissies are panicking," Shah yawned, "It'll be a full plan, just give it a day,"
"Alright, one day, and if he doesn't have one, I'm shooting him in the leg,"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Mako replied sheepishly,
"Oh, and why not?"
"Because his bodyguard will kill you," Mako nodded to 93, already scanning and studying his apartment,
"B-Bodyguard,"
"Oh, where are my manners?" Shah smirked, "Dipshit, Training Wheels, Con man, meet 93. Dai Li lieutenant,"
"L-Lieutenant?" Jay blinked in disbelief,
"93?" Mako questioned,
"Yes, names breed familiarity, that's why the Dai Li go by none. At least, the agents don't,"
"You know this man is a criminal," Jay pointed to Shah on the couch,
"Oh, very much so," 93 nodded, "But my Captain respects his input and his...many layers of expertise—
"Yeah she does," Shah smirked to himself as he flipped through the morning paper,
"And above all, his physical condition is to remain unharmed," 93 explained quickly, "By any means necessary,"
"Great. Well, this is just great," Jay sighed deep into his soul, drinking away his nerves just as Mako was,
"Isn't it, though?" Shah grinned, joining the men in the kitchen, "I mean, a week ago I would've killed all of you, my sister included, but life has a funny way of working itself out,"
"And you're telling me you're not going to choke him?" Jay asked Mako tiredly,
"Not with 93 here," Mako breathed, switching to a cold beer mid-sip,
"This is insane. I-I mean first you're out tailing Viper a-and then you come back with—with this mental patient,"
"Tailing?" Shah repeated curiously, "And what, oh what, did we find out?"
"Later," Mako breathed, "I need about four more drinks in my system to swap intel with you,"
"Hmph. Fair enough," Shah chuckled,
"Jay, order three pizzas, would ya?" Mako asked tiredly, "I need a long shower,"
"Oh, sure, yeah. I'll order three pizzas. Now, did we want pepperoni on half, and this is suicide on the other?"
"Hm. Sub the suicide for olives and veggies and add a side of we have no choice here, and you're golden," Mako answered flatly as he made his way to the bathroom, "I'll be out in a sec,"