Oh. That is nice. [ He hadn't even considered that there might be other royalty here. Fire Lord Izumi was never really the talkative type. ] I've met a few people, out in the town. And I read up a lot on it. The things that Shiro and Peter and Chloe wrote. And about Maine! Do you know that Maine is part of a democracy? The United States! That's a pretty great idea. Although, I don't think the Earth Kingdom should be completely united. The parts are so different, like the desert, or Zaofu! Zaofu would never want to be part of a larger government.
[ He's rambling, he's rambling and he knows it. He laughs and looks back at Mako, but it quickly turns into another frown. ] You really don't look so good. What'd you catch?
Really nice, actually, and Mako doesn't quite know why. Familiarity, maybe: he got used to listening to Wu over those two-odd years, got used to the constant chatter about things Mako couldn't possibly care about. Mako's always been the quieter one, has lived his whole life with Bolin's voice in his ear.
And now, at least, Wu is rambling about things that actually matter. Democracy, and his ideas for government. It's a far cry from walking Mako step-by-step through some ridiculous, over-the-top spa routine.
It makes Mako smile to himself, glancing away from Wu to aim it at the snow and the stars overhead. ]
You're right. I can't see Suyin being anything other than independent, especially after Kuvira. Must be a Beifong thing.
[ And to do all that reading so fast—Mako's kind of impressed. Kind of really impressed, actually. ] They're good summaries, but it's nothing like living through it. I've been here for three months, Bolin for two. He was here during—it's called October, here. It was... bad.
[ If he just. Ignores Wu's question about how he is, Wu will forget about it, right? That's what he's hoping: that Wu will get distracted by everything else, by the stars or the snow or Naga. ] This month's been pretty quiet so far, but you can't get too comfortable.
Three whole months? [ Wu breathes, watching Mako's face.
Naga is still walking along. They're getting close, Wu can see the familiar large houses. ] That's a while. I, I read about October. It sounded horrible. It all sounds horrible! Could you really not sleep for a whole month? I can't even imagine. [ He shudders. ] That's torture. Literal, honest torture!
I... I'll figure something out. To stay safe. [ He's thought about it, come up with nothing, and then put it away to think about it later. ] You can still bend, right? I read that not everyone keeps their powers. [ Not that that is a problem for Wu.
We were lucky. Korra got something to help us sleep in her basket, and I raided a pharmacy for some other stuff. We used those a few nights, so it wasn't a whole month.
[ Just most of a month. Mako isn't even going to touch on any of the monster parts of it: Wu doesn't need to know about his lack of control, about the fact that he was apparently weak enough to give in and let out some part of himself he didn't want to think he had.
Firebenders are dangerous, though. Everyone knows that.
Normally Mako would answer his question with a little palm full of fire, a tiny light just to prove he can, and because he kind of likes showing off, especially to Wu, who is very easily impressed.
But even with the gem heavy and warm around his throat, while he's sick his bending is unsteady, and he doesn't want to risk burning Wu or Naga. Instead, he nods, his head brushing against Wu's. ] I can still bend. So can Bo. Korra—before she left, she found this spiritual place in the mountains. If you go there, meditate for a while, your powers stabilize.
We should keep going with those lessons, though. You're going to need to know how to defend yourself.
Oh. Well. That's good. [ Wu's still frowning to himself about that. It doesn't sound good. It barely sounds possible. He's pretty sure people die if they're awake for more than five days. ]
So you have all your bending back? Good, good. I suppose this is one of those times where being a bender would come in very handy. Too bad my family never once could bend.
[ He sighs, leaning back into Mako as Naga takes them up Princess Drive. ] I don't know, Mako. You seem too sick and, honestly, I don't think you're a very good teacher.
[ Rude, Mako's a great teacher. He makes an offended little noise against Wu's shoulder, holding tighter as Naga skirts around a few cars. His stomach lurches. ] Explain Bolin, then. Maybe you're not a great student.
[ Should he be politer? Probably, but Mako's entire body hurts and he's tired and the filter between his head and his mouth is a lot thinner than it really should be.
He does wince a second later, though, as his words hit him. ]
Anyway, I didn't mean now. I think if you actually tried, you could pull it off. Fighting. Self-defense, at least.
Maybe your methods work better for him. [ Wu says lightly. Mako's words don't offend him. If anything, he smiles a little glancing back at Mako ]
Maybe. Maybe I should get a mecha suit or something. That would rate!
[ Naga pauses on the street, looking back at the pair of them. ] Oh! We're here. That one's mine. [ Wu points to a big house with a fancy Satomobile out front. ]
You can't just get a mecha suit, nobody makes them here. There's no Future Industries in Deerington.
[ Mako says that before he realizes where they are. He bites down on a little smile, nudging Naga with his knee toward the one Wu pointed to. ] You're right next door. We're in that one.
[ He points to... another equally large house, without a fancy Satomobile out front but with many animal tracks in the snow. ]
[ Mako sighs quietly, staring at the large dark facade of the house. Kristoff and Anna's house—he hasn't started thinking of it as his, yet—is all lit up, casting golden light out over the snowy yard. Wu's, by contrast—Mako can't believe he didn't notice the Satomobile, the familiar straight lines from home—is a dark, hulking thing. ]
The worst should be over in a few days, apparently, and then I'll be fine.
[ He hesitates. He really does feel like crap, and if Wu's going to be here—right next door, instead of all the way in Ba Sing Se—he should probably meet everybody, even though they're probably out.
Later. Mako isn't quite ready for that yet. ]
Let's go light that fire. Your house doesn't have real heating, right?
Uh huh. [ Wu doesn't quite believe him, but he knows Mako well enough to know not to argue. He nudges Naga toward his dark, lonely house. ] I don't think so. There are fireplaces and stuff. I couldn't really figure it out. [ He grimaces ] I think there's a lot of stuff I need to learn, if I'm gonna live alone.
Oh! But there is a sauna! Which... I also don't know how to turn on. [ He sighs heavily ]
[ If it were his house, Mako would just say, stay. It is a massive house, and he's not sure Wu has ever been on his own. While he probably doesn't need a bodyguard here—the threats are for everyone, not just royalty—Mako doesn't like the idea of him in that giant house all alone, with everything that can happen here.
But it's Kristoff and Anna's house, and he doesn't think he's allowed to just invite strangers to live with them. He can't impose on them any more than he and Bolin already are.
So he bites down on the urge to offer and says instead, a little teasing: ] I hear the first time you live alone without butlers and cooks is tough. You'll figure it out.
[ As soon as Naga slows, Mako releases Wu and slides down, a little clumsy, onto the ground. He braces himself against Naga and holds a hand up for Wu. ]
It is tough. [ Wu agrees. He takes Mako's hand and slips down Naga's side. Maybe he sways a little too close, but it feels nice, like he's drawn to Mako.
He gives Mako a smile. ] Thanks. For coming to get me. When I heard you were here-- that made it a little less scary.
[ Mako offers him a small, hazy sort of smile back, something warm curling through him. The contact, maybe. It keeps happening: he touches someone like this, and doesn't want to stop.
That's probably why he doesn't let go of Wu's hand as he tugs him toward the massive front door. ] I'm not glad you're stuck here, but. It helps. To have people you know.
Yeah, it does. [ Wu says softly, trailing after him. He turns back to Naga and gives her a wave before trying to find his keys. They're somewhere in his pocket.
He manages to find them and pulls them out with a little "ha!" He nudges open the door into a dark, cold foyer ] Home sweet home. I guess. It's no Palace, but it's something.
Guess it was the next-closest thing to a palace. That's probably why Kristoff and Anna ended up here.
[ Mako has to search for a moment to flick on the lights—there's a whole pad of switches, just like in the other house.
Wow. There's an actual chandelier in here. That's... something. Mako blinks up at the lights, swaying a bit as Naga pokes her head into the door behind them. ] You weren't kidding. This is ridiculous.
A little bit. [ Wu laughs, unbuttoning his coat and shaking the snow off his hair. ] It's a lot. The Palace is pretty bad right now. A lot of it was destroyed or looted. At least I have a nice room there.
You can come in, Naga.
[ She makes a low noise and steps into the foyer before shaking out her fur, hitting them both with cold wet doggy water. ] Naga!
[ Mako makes a truly embarrassing little yelp as the water hits him and... promptly steams up off of him into nothing.
Mako blinks, and covertly reaches up to touch his own forehead.
He's burning up. No wonder he's having so much trouble focusing on anything. Every time he moves, his skin hurts. This is awful.
But he pushes it down, makes himself stand up a little straighter. It doesn't quite work, and Mako ends up leaning half on the wall, staring at the staircase in front of them.
Right. Wu said something. He needs to talk. Mako shakes his head, refocuses on Wu. ] She has bad manners. Bo keeps having to bend mud out of the house. Let's, uh. Get your fireplace lit.
I told you, I'm fine— [ It's an entirely pointless protest and Mako knows it, which is the only reason he lets himself be herded out the door. He doesn't feel like arguing with Wu right now.
It is nice having both him and Naga to lean on. ] Can't wait until this is over. I hate being sick. Can't do anything.
[ And he's tired of talking about it, tired of being sick and everyone looking at him like he's useless, like they did after the mech. There's only so much lying around in bed Mako can take.
The door closing, and the shock of the cold, make him shiver. He leans very slightly into Wu's side. ] Have you eaten yet?
You came and got me. That's something! [ That Mako probably shouldn't have done, but Wu is grateful anyways. It's very likely he would have gotten lost in his way here.
He puts an arm around Mako, letting Mako lean his weight on him. It's strange, this reversal of their usual roles, but it's also nice to be able to help Mako for once. ] I ate earlier. I got what they call "cereal"? It was really tasty! And sweet. Really sweet. I got turned away at one of the restaurants because I don't have any money.
[ He sighs, shaking his head ] How am I supposed to get money!
[ That will obviously not do. Mako's already thinking about what's in the kitchen—Eda's right, people really do bring you a lot of soup when you're sick—as their boots crunch in the iced-over snow. Wu's front walk hasn't been shoveled like Kristoff's. Would've been nothing for Korra, but.
Their combined breath, and Naga's, mists up into the air in front of Mako. It's deceptively easy to get between the houses: both their front yards are needlessly large. ]
If you want any food you don't have to cook yourself, you're going to need a job.
Uh... I got a sandwich too. [ Wu grimaces. It really wasn't a lot of food, but he's not used to having to make his own food. It's a lot harder than he thought it would be. ] A job. What could I even do for a job? Do you have a job? Aren't all the police, um, cats?
[ That's one of the weirder things in Deerington, but he did see a lot of cats around town, and assumed they must be the Authority. ] I'll eat with you! That sounds much better.
I have a job. [ Mako says that sort of distantly, stepping off the driveway into the snow-covered grass between the houses. He sways a bit, wincing at yet another wave of dizziness. ] I bartend. At Hair of the Dog, most nights.
[ He pauses, glancing down at Wu with something like a smile forming. ] You'll have to go through all your skills, see what you're qualified for. Nobody's gonna pay you to be a king. But I'm not going to let you starve, don't worry.
Oh. Bartending? That's, are you qualified for that? [ It sort of fits, but as far as he knows Mako has only had two jobs: the police and pro-bending. ]
Thanks. Yeah, I... don't know what I can do. I can sing? And I guess I an govern, but I don't know if anybody's gonna elect me to do that here. [ He leads Mako up the drive to the other house. ] Do you have keys?
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[ He's rambling, he's rambling and he knows it. He laughs and looks back at Mako, but it quickly turns into another frown. ] You really don't look so good. What'd you catch?
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Really nice, actually, and Mako doesn't quite know why. Familiarity, maybe: he got used to listening to Wu over those two-odd years, got used to the constant chatter about things Mako couldn't possibly care about. Mako's always been the quieter one, has lived his whole life with Bolin's voice in his ear.
And now, at least, Wu is rambling about things that actually matter. Democracy, and his ideas for government. It's a far cry from walking Mako step-by-step through some ridiculous, over-the-top spa routine.
It makes Mako smile to himself, glancing away from Wu to aim it at the snow and the stars overhead. ]
You're right. I can't see Suyin being anything other than independent, especially after Kuvira. Must be a Beifong thing.
[ And to do all that reading so fast—Mako's kind of impressed. Kind of really impressed, actually. ] They're good summaries, but it's nothing like living through it. I've been here for three months, Bolin for two. He was here during—it's called October, here. It was... bad.
[ If he just. Ignores Wu's question about how he is, Wu will forget about it, right? That's what he's hoping: that Wu will get distracted by everything else, by the stars or the snow or Naga. ] This month's been pretty quiet so far, but you can't get too comfortable.
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Naga is still walking along. They're getting close, Wu can see the familiar large houses. ] That's a while. I, I read about October. It sounded horrible. It all sounds horrible! Could you really not sleep for a whole month? I can't even imagine. [ He shudders. ] That's torture. Literal, honest torture!
I... I'll figure something out. To stay safe. [ He's thought about it, come up with nothing, and then put it away to think about it later. ] You can still bend, right? I read that not everyone keeps their powers. [ Not that that is a problem for Wu.
And he is distracted, at least for now. ]
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[ Just most of a month. Mako isn't even going to touch on any of the monster parts of it: Wu doesn't need to know about his lack of control, about the fact that he was apparently weak enough to give in and let out some part of himself he didn't want to think he had.
Firebenders are dangerous, though. Everyone knows that.
Normally Mako would answer his question with a little palm full of fire, a tiny light just to prove he can, and because he kind of likes showing off, especially to Wu, who is very easily impressed.
But even with the gem heavy and warm around his throat, while he's sick his bending is unsteady, and he doesn't want to risk burning Wu or Naga. Instead, he nods, his head brushing against Wu's. ] I can still bend. So can Bo. Korra—before she left, she found this spiritual place in the mountains. If you go there, meditate for a while, your powers stabilize.
We should keep going with those lessons, though. You're going to need to know how to defend yourself.
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So you have all your bending back? Good, good. I suppose this is one of those times where being a bender would come in very handy. Too bad my family never once could bend.
[ He sighs, leaning back into Mako as Naga takes them up Princess Drive. ] I don't know, Mako. You seem too sick and, honestly, I don't think you're a very good teacher.
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[ Should he be politer? Probably, but Mako's entire body hurts and he's tired and the filter between his head and his mouth is a lot thinner than it really should be.
He does wince a second later, though, as his words hit him. ]
Anyway, I didn't mean now. I think if you actually tried, you could pull it off. Fighting. Self-defense, at least.
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Maybe. Maybe I should get a mecha suit or something. That would rate!
[ Naga pauses on the street, looking back at the pair of them. ] Oh! We're here. That one's mine. [ Wu points to a big house with a fancy Satomobile out front. ]
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[ Mako says that before he realizes where they are. He bites down on a little smile, nudging Naga with his knee toward the one Wu pointed to. ] You're right next door. We're in that one.
[ He points to... another equally large house, without a fancy Satomobile out front but with many animal tracks in the snow. ]
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He looks back at Mako again, biting his lip ] Are you gonna be okay? You really don't look great, buddy.
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The worst should be over in a few days, apparently, and then I'll be fine.
[ He hesitates. He really does feel like crap, and if Wu's going to be here—right next door, instead of all the way in Ba Sing Se—he should probably meet everybody, even though they're probably out.
Later. Mako isn't quite ready for that yet. ]
Let's go light that fire. Your house doesn't have real heating, right?
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Oh! But there is a sauna! Which... I also don't know how to turn on. [ He sighs heavily ]
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But it's Kristoff and Anna's house, and he doesn't think he's allowed to just invite strangers to live with them. He can't impose on them any more than he and Bolin already are.
So he bites down on the urge to offer and says instead, a little teasing: ] I hear the first time you live alone without butlers and cooks is tough. You'll figure it out.
[ As soon as Naga slows, Mako releases Wu and slides down, a little clumsy, onto the ground. He braces himself against Naga and holds a hand up for Wu. ]
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He gives Mako a smile. ] Thanks. For coming to get me. When I heard you were here-- that made it a little less scary.
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That's probably why he doesn't let go of Wu's hand as he tugs him toward the massive front door. ] I'm not glad you're stuck here, but. It helps. To have people you know.
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He manages to find them and pulls them out with a little "ha!" He nudges open the door into a dark, cold foyer ] Home sweet home. I guess. It's no Palace, but it's something.
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[ Mako has to search for a moment to flick on the lights—there's a whole pad of switches, just like in the other house.
Wow. There's an actual chandelier in here. That's... something. Mako blinks up at the lights, swaying a bit as Naga pokes her head into the door behind them. ] You weren't kidding. This is ridiculous.
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You can come in, Naga.
[ She makes a low noise and steps into the foyer before shaking out her fur, hitting them both with cold wet doggy water. ] Naga!
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Mako blinks, and covertly reaches up to touch his own forehead.
He's burning up. No wonder he's having so much trouble focusing on anything. Every time he moves, his skin hurts. This is awful.
But he pushes it down, makes himself stand up a little straighter. It doesn't quite work, and Mako ends up leaning half on the wall, staring at the staircase in front of them.
Right. Wu said something. He needs to talk. Mako shakes his head, refocuses on Wu. ] She has bad manners. Bo keeps having to bend mud out of the house. Let's, uh. Get your fireplace lit.
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[ Wu grasps Mako's wrists, pulling him off the wall. ] Naga, help me get him to the other house.
[ She grumbles her assent, padding back toward the door. ]
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It is nice having both him and Naga to lean on. ] Can't wait until this is over. I hate being sick. Can't do anything.
[ And he's tired of talking about it, tired of being sick and everyone looking at him like he's useless, like they did after the mech. There's only so much lying around in bed Mako can take.
The door closing, and the shock of the cold, make him shiver. He leans very slightly into Wu's side. ] Have you eaten yet?
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He puts an arm around Mako, letting Mako lean his weight on him. It's strange, this reversal of their usual roles, but it's also nice to be able to help Mako for once. ] I ate earlier. I got what they call "cereal"? It was really tasty! And sweet. Really sweet. I got turned away at one of the restaurants because I don't have any money.
[ He sighs, shaking his head ] How am I supposed to get money!
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[ That will obviously not do. Mako's already thinking about what's in the kitchen—Eda's right, people really do bring you a lot of soup when you're sick—as their boots crunch in the iced-over snow. Wu's front walk hasn't been shoveled like Kristoff's. Would've been nothing for Korra, but.
Their combined breath, and Naga's, mists up into the air in front of Mako. It's deceptively easy to get between the houses: both their front yards are needlessly large. ]
If you want any food you don't have to cook yourself, you're going to need a job.
Or you can eat with us. We have a lot.
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[ That's one of the weirder things in Deerington, but he did see a lot of cats around town, and assumed they must be the Authority. ] I'll eat with you! That sounds much better.
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[ He pauses, glancing down at Wu with something like a smile forming. ] You'll have to go through all your skills, see what you're qualified for. Nobody's gonna pay you to be a king. But I'm not going to let you starve, don't worry.
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Thanks. Yeah, I... don't know what I can do. I can sing? And I guess I an govern, but I don't know if anybody's gonna elect me to do that here. [ He leads Mako up the drive to the other house. ] Do you have keys?
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