Chapter Text
Stop and wait a sec
when you look at me like that, my darling,
what did you expect?
I’d probably still adore you
with your hands around my neck
or I did last time I checked
Not shy of a spark
The knife twists at the thought
that I should fall short of the mark
Frightened by the bite though it’s no harsher than the bark
The middle of adventure,
such a perfect place to start
< >
A warm spring sun is shining down on Mako as he stands beside Bolin, Asami, Korra and Suyin Beifong. An hour ago, Mako didn’t even know about the existence of Lin’s sister, and now he is looking at her children play some kind of life-size pinball game as Lin stands behind them, arms crossed, signature frown on her face.
They are in Zaofu, the city of the metal clan. Almost the entire city is made of metal, including it’s foundation, which is a giant lotus-looking construction that apparently closes into a dome at night. One of the lotuses belongs solely to the Beifong family, who Mako learned are the founders of the city, Suyin being the matriarch. She is currently taking them on a tour of their home grounds.
‘those are my two youngest, Wing and Wei.’ Suyin says. Two boys a bit younger than Bolin are standing on opposite sides of a lowered field, a metal disk flying from side to side as it hits metal poles positioned in the middle of it. Suyin explains the game and Mako feels a pang of longing in his chest. It wasn’t exactly ideal to make his money with nothing but pro-bending, but he loved the sport and he hasn’t done it in ages.
One of the boys scores, and Suyin cheers for her son. Bolin throws Mako a smile, and he realises his brother must think of the same thing. Their pro-bending days were tough, but it was fun underneath it all, and Mako decides that they will practice it again sometime when they get back to Republic City.
‘I’m so proud of those two.’ Suyin says as she continues on, the group following her, Naga in tail with Pabu balancing on her back. As they walk on, Mako throws a look over his shoulder to see Lin still sulking. He doesn’t know exactly what the deal is, and he knows Lin has never particularly been the life of the party. But Mako has worked alongside her for a while now, and although he knows she is not a warm person, she is fair. He developed a deep sense of respect for her and he can’t help but feel for her as she clearly looks annoyed and uncomfortable. Who’s to say Suyin hasn’t done something awful to her? She seems nice, but Mako has known this woman for roughly an hour. He has worked with Lin for months.
They approach something that looks like a scrap metal graveyard. Bolin walks beside Mako, a confused frown on his face as he cranes his neck to look around. They walk into the middle of the space, large metal sculptures surrounding them. In the centre of it, a boy is circling a particular sculpture. Mako catches a flash of his concentrated face as he moves one side flap of the statue down carefully, another side up. The firebender notices how gracefully and gently the boy moves his arms as he performs his bending. He turns his back to them then, long black hair reaching down to his waist as he studies the statue. Mako puts his hand on his side as he tries to make sense of what’s in front of him.
‘Huan! I want you to meet the avatar and her friends. And your aunt Lin.’ Suyin says, her voice kind and cheerful.
‘nice to meet you.’ Korra says.
‘hey.’ Huan responds without turning around. His voice is soft and slightly hoarse, but it demands Mako’s attention either way.
A silence falls, and Bolin’s need to fill any second of quiet with something kicks in.
‘wow! That’s a really nice… banana?’ he tries, scratching the back of his head. ‘Yes, very… very lifelike.’
Huan sighs deeply. He jerks his head around and the first thing Mako notices is his jade green eyes. Then, the side of his head being shaved and the golden piercing twinkling in his eyebrow. He has a slender, angular face with a pointy chin and a sharp jawline. He reminds him a little of Desna, but older and with more pronounced features. A strand of hair falls over Huan’s face and Mako notices that he’s wearing a thin line of eyeliner. He looks equal parts annoyed and pissed off and Mako has never seen someone like him. He is a strange, intense kind of beautiful, silver jewellery blinking from where it’s hanging off his neck.
‘it’s not a banana.’ He snaps. Then he turns his head back at the sculpture, his voice urgent and deeper this time. ‘it was inspired by harmonic convergence. It represents the dawning of a new age. Obviously.’
Bolin looks lost and Mako can’t help but chuckle at his brother’s discomfort. He stumbles over his words trying to make sure he didn’t insult Huan as Suyin smiles brightly, unaffected by her son’s attitude, and motions for the group to follow along. Mako tracks after them but finds himself looking over his shoulder back at Huan, who has a deep frown on his face as he looks at the statue. As if he feels Mako’s eyes on him, the boy whips his head in his direction and pulls up one eyebrow, as if to say, what do you want?
Mako just frowns back at him, annoyed now that Huan’s hostility is directed at him. What did Mako even do?
They follow Suyin into a tranquil garden area. A girl with short black hair is deeply invested into the book on her lap, but she looks up as they approach. Suyin introduces her daughter Opal and Mako can immediately see his brother’s body language change. He always tends to flex his arms when he is confronted with a girl he think is attractive and it humours Mako to no end. He stomps his brother’s arm and Bolin grins cheekily at him.
Korra, Suyin and Lin end up talking about them staying in Zaofu, but Mako is hardly listening. In the distance, he can still see the sculpture yard. He watches as Huan moves in circles around his sculpture, the metal of it following the gracious movements of the boy’s arms. Mako has never seen anything like it. He has never seen bending being used for anything other than sport and fighting, and especially not in an artistic way.
‘now I will see you all at dinner. And come hungry, my chef will blow the tastebuds right out of your mouth!’ Suyin exclaims before walking off. The mention of food drags Mako’s attention back to the conversation, and he feels his stomach grumbling. It’s been a while since he’s eaten and the promise of a meal by a chef makes him excited.
~
Mako and Bolin were shown to their bedroom for the next few days. The guesthouse is a large wing attached to the absolute mansion that the Beifong family inhibits. It’s all high ceilings, green plush carpets and art hanging on the walls. The bedroom features two comfortable beds and a dresser with a large mirror above it. Large windows give them a view of the courtyard encircled by a metal pathway. The sun has almost set as Mako and Bolin watch the lotus close from their room, enormous metal petals clinging together as they form a dome over the grounds. It is dark for a few seconds, but then metal lampposts flicker on everywhere.
Mako fixes up his hair in the mirror quickly before they are called down for dinner. He follows Bolin through the maze of hallways into a dining room where a large u-shaped table is set with plates and cups. Mako takes a seat next to Asami, Bolin sitting to his other side. Mako watches as the twins storm in, pushing and chatting. Huan follows behind them and Mako’s eyes trace the boy as he finds his seat directly opposite from him, the metalbender’s face calm and slightly uninterested.
Opal is next to walk through the doors, and she blushes slightly as he sits down next to Bolin. Mako loses his brother’s interest immediately as he starts chatting with her, but the firebender doesn’t mind. It would be good for Bolin to go for a seemingly normal girl after his failed romances with the avatar, a stuck-up mover star and the clinically insane daughter of the northern water tribe chief.
Dinner with the Beifong family ends up being the most eventful meal Mako has ever sat through. The food, served by a heavily tattooed ex-pirate, is the most delicious thing he’s ever eaten. Mako is confronted with the man that got him thrown in jail and Lin starts an argument with Suyin that ends with her storming out the room, slamming the door behind her. The whole time, Mako is peeking at Huan, who is sitting quietly as he eats, uninterested and unimpressed, his handsome sharp face cast up sometimes to regard the situation but never engage.
When it’s over, Mako is happy to trace Bolin back to the guest house. They find a bathroom a few doors down from their bedroom, and they stand in front of the sinks together, Mako trying to fix is hair as Bolin brushes his teeth. They talk about Opal for a bit, before Bolin convinces him to explore the grounds further. Mako isn’t sure if it’s a good idea, but staying in their room seems boring, so before he knows they are outside in the backyard of the mansion.
Mako follows Bolin down a gravel walkway, metal statues and pedestals with meteorites on them line the path. It’s not too late, but the dome covering the grounds makes it look like the middle of the night, some lamppost lighting their way as they walk to the garden they found Opal in earlier. They spot her there now too, firing off blows of air as she practices in a small metal gazebo. Bolin catches Mako’s eyes and grins, leaving Mako to go talk to her.
From where he is standing, Mako can just about see the tallest metal statues in Huan’s workplace. Curious, he leaves his brother and Opal alone, taking a left and following the path down there. When he comes closer, walking down a metal staircase build into a small hill, he spots the boy. It causes a tingle in his chest and he realised, somewhat confused, that he was hoping to find him there. Huan’s long hair flows over his back and he is working on a statue much taller than the harmonic convergence banana he was shaping earlier.
He looks concentrated, ethereally beautiful and in his element. He is wearing just a simple dark green t-shirt and baggy black pants, no more jewellery safe for a few gold rings on his fingers, as if he came here on a sudden burst of inspiration he wasn’t expecting. There are lights circling the workplace, brighter than in the garden, and Mako realises they must be there so he can work after the lotus closes.
When Huan sees Mako coming, he stops what he’s doing, arching one pierced eyebrow and lowering his slender arms.
‘hi.’ Mako says, a little uncomfortable, giving Huan a small wave. He’s not sure what he is doing here anymore. He didn’t think about what he would say to the metalbender if he did find him here.
‘hello.’ Huan says, the look on his face exuding the same kind of confusion. He turns back to his sculpture and Mako watches as he moves, slow and precise, the metal moving with him as if they are one and the same.
‘that looks… nice.’ Mako has to fish for the compliment, stepping closer to the statue. It towers over him and he has to bend his neck back to see all of it. He doesn’t understand what it’s supposed to be, but he bets it’s another vague concept. Something Mako would never guess. Huan sighs, annoyed.
‘not the point.’ He says.
‘what?’
‘it’s not meant to look nice.’ He says, the patronising undertone in his voice making Mako frown. ‘it’s meant to make you feel something.’
‘what am I supposed to feel then?’ Mako asks, sceptically.
‘if I told you that, it would defeat the point, wouldn’t it?’
‘sorry, but that makes no sense.’ Mako says, scoffing, naturally annoyed by things that don’t immediately make sense to him.
‘it’s art. I didn’t think you’d understand.’ Huan says smugly.
It agitates Mako, who crosses his arms over his chest. ‘you really are insufferable, huh?’ He mumbles, frowning.
‘you really are uptight, huh?’ Huan counters as he stops what he is doing, turning to face Mako. His pierced eyebrow is raised in that perpetually annoyed expression of his.
‘whatever.’ Mako grumbles. ‘I’m not uptight.’
‘you’re an uptight, bad-tempered caveman who needs to fight to feel something.’ Huan bites. Mako is taken aback by his sudden viciousness and he feels anger spike up in his chest.
‘yeah well you’re a dramatic, apathetic loner who thinks he’s too good for everybody!’ Mako yells back, feeling agitated and defensive. He takes a step towards the metalbender and he watches Huan’s eyes flash with nervous fear, taking a cautious step back from Mako. ‘you don’t know shit about me!’
‘well you don’t know me either!’ Huan yells back. ‘you just march in here, thinking you can just mess with my family because you are some important cityboy?!’
‘What are you even talking about?!’ Mako shouts ‘We are doing important work!’
‘you’re hightailing the avatar, that’s what you are doing.’ Huan spits at him.
‘what the fuck is your problem!?’ Mako takes another step towards Huan, who’s eyes widen, backing up quickly. Mako doesn’t even notice the flame in his hand flaring up until he feels the heat of it crawl up his forearm. He half expects Huan to pull up a piece of metal himself, but the boy just has his hands in front of him, raised in sudden surrender, and Mako feels a pang of guilt in his chest as he catches Huan’s worried jade eyes.
Then, out of nowhere, his brother appears in his vision.
‘hey, wow, calm down guys. This is unnecessary.’ Bolin says as he steps in-between them, a hand on Mako’s chest to keep him back. Immediately, Mako makes the flame disappear. Bolin directs his attention to his brother, emerald eyes demanding Mako’s attention. ‘what the hell are you up to? We are guests here.’ He hisses angrily.
‘he started it.’ Mako grumbles. ‘he called me a caveman.’
‘well you’re acting like one right now.’ Bolin says, frowning. ‘do you want Suyin to kick us out because you assaulted her son? Over him calling you a caveman of all things? Korra will kill you if she hears about this. Apologise. Now.’
‘since when do you get to tell me what to do?’ Mako protests, looking over Bolin’s shoulder at Huan who has his arms crossed and is frowning at the ground. Opal is standing next to him now, mirroring Bolin’s irritable expression as she talks to him in a hushed voice.
‘just kiss and make up, seriously.’ Bolin says in an annoyed tone, shoving Mako towards Huan. The firebender almost trips but catches himself, ending up right in front of Huan. His jade eyes are fixed on Mako and he is not frowning anymore, just regarding him almost curiously. It makes Mako a little nervous; the boy is undeniably beautiful when he takes that sulky expression off his face for two seconds. Mako has a few inches on him, but in that moment he feels small.
‘sorry.’ He mumbles. Opal jams her elbow into Huan’s side, making the metalbender groan in annoyance.
‘I’m sorry too.’ Huan says quietly.
‘see, that wasn’t so hard!’ Bolin calls over his shoulder, an arm reaching out to Opal. She giggles and walks over to him, and the earthbender throws his arm over her shoulder as they make their way back to the garden.
‘he better stay away from my sister.’ Huan mumbles and Mako rolls his eyes.
‘are you always this grumpy?’ he responds.
‘don’t start with me again.’ Huan warns and Mako raises his hands in surrender.
‘fine, whatever.’ He says. Huan turns back to his statue, slowly regarding it top to bottom. He narrows his eyes and Mako follows his line of sight, tries to see what he sees.
‘I can’t concentrate like this.’ Huan says, huffing out a breath.
‘I don’t… I just don’t get this.’ Mako mumbles. Huan side-eyes him, the boys standing shoulder-to-shoulder watching the sculpture.
‘what don’t you get?’ his tone is still a bit irritated, albeit less frosted than before.
‘art, I guess. Making this with your feelings or whatever.’
Huan is quiet for a moment before he says, softly, ‘well, I don’t get what you do either.’
‘huh?’
‘I read about your pro-bending matches in the papers. I don’t understand the need for fighting.’ He says, voice slightly judgemental, and Mako decides to ignore it.
‘it’s not fighting, it’s a sport.’ Mako says.
‘an aggressive one.’ Huan points out.
‘I guess.’ Mako mumbles. ‘do you ever… uhm,’
‘I don’t use my bending for anything but art.’ Huan answers before Mako can finish his sentence. ‘I have never trained and I don’t feel the need to.’
‘oh.’ Mako has never met someone with the ability to bends who didn’t have at least some kind of combat training or ability. Regarding Huan’s slender frame, Mako can’t imagine it either. He looks gentle, tender if anything. Mako feels shame wash over him as he realises he pulled a flame fist on a boy who couldn’t even have defended himself if he tried.
‘I’m not a cavemen.’ He says then, quietly.
‘I said I was sorry.’ Huan mumbles.
‘no, I know, I just mean that… I didn’t do pro-bending because I am aggressive. It’s just a sport to me. I wouldn’t hurt you and I am sorry I gave you the idea that I would. You just… what you said was kind of unfair.’
Huan turns his head then, fully looking at Mako. Mako gives him a careful smile which turns into a surprised grin when he sees Huan’s cheeks colour red, the metalbender quickly looking away.
‘you’re the kind of guy that would bully me in high school.’ He mumbles then. Mako frowns again.
‘that’s the kind of unfair statement I was talking about.’ He says, shoving his hands in his pockets. ‘I have never bullied anyone in my life. Or gone to school, for that matter.’
Haun huffs out a surprised laugh at that, and Mako can’t help but smile at the sweet sound. He is overcome with the need to hear it again, racking his brain for another funny thing to say.
‘really?’
‘really. So I had no choice but to become a caveman pro-bender.’ Mako says, playfully jabbing Huan’s side with his elbow. ‘look at us, getting to know each other.’
Mako watches Huan suppress a smile and shake his head, as if he’s decided on something.
‘I am cold. I’m going inside.’ Huan announces then, and without saying another word to Mako, the boy walks away from him, not once looking over his shoulder. Mako stays behind in the workplace, looking at the large statue in front of him, trying to feel what he is supposed to feel, but it doesn’t come. A few moments later the lights shut off and he’s left in the dark.