MakoxReader - Find Yourself (3)

(Mako's POV)

Mako let out a deep breath as he gripped the door handle into the Triple Threat's headquarters. Asami stood beside him, gripping her hands to try and cover the slight shaking, but he noticed.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" The uncertainty about the plan was evident in her voice.

"No, but it's out last resort." With a steadying breath Mako lifted his hand hand knocked on the door.

A slit in the door slid open with a clank, revealing two beady eyes staring back at them.

"Hey Mako." The oily voice seemed to slither out to greet them. "Whatever you think we did, we didn't do it."

"I'm not here on police business. I'm running an off the books operation, and I thought the Triple Threats might want a piece of the action."

The eyes narrowed. "How big a piece?"

"Big enough that Viper going to wonder why you didn't let us in sooner." With a huff the slit slammed shut, and the door opened.

"You better hope you're right about that, kid. Viper don't like to be interrupted for nothing." He gave them a gruff once over before striding off down the dark corridor. "Follow me." 

At the end of the hallway was another door, clearly built to prevent anyone uninvited from getting in easily. With a series of short knocks from the guard the door swung open with an eerie creak, revealing the 'throne room'. Various members of the Triple Threat were playing cards, smoking, drinking, and milling about the room. None of them seemed to pay any attention to Mako and Asami, but he could feel their attention shift and focus on them, ready to make a move if they posed any threat.

Viper was sitting at the head of the room on his 'throne' with a drink in his hand. A girl was seated on his lap with her back to them, lazily running a hand through his hair as she spoke into his ear. His free hand rested on her waist as he listened to her with an amused glint in his eye. The amusement slipped away when he looked up and saw them standing there.

"Looks like it's back to business." His face remained smiling but his eyes were cold and calculating.

A single motion cleared the room of extraneous people and his core guards lined up behind him. His other hand patted the girl's waist twice.

"You too darling. Go ahead and wait in my room.”

The pout was obvious in her voice when she replied. "Don't take too long.”

Mako's ear perked up at the voice, but he couldn't quite place it. Viper just chuckled.

She stood and untangled herself from him in a fluid and graceful movement. It seemed all eyes were on her as she turned to walk out, including Mako.

But the moment he saw her face he felt the air knocked out of him.

(First).

Her eyes widened imperceptibly at the sight of Mako but she never faltered in her act. She spared him and Asami no more than a cursory glance and continued to walk out of the room with the confidence and swagger of a crime boss's girlfriend.

She blew a kiss back to Viper just before she left and Mako swore he saw a blush burn on her cheeks before she disappeared.

Remembering why she hadn't acknowledged him Mako quickly corrected his shock, trying to mold it into mere interest. But Viper noticed even this and leaned forward in his chair with a smirk.

"She's a pretty thing isn't she? And we have more where that came from." A murmur of approval rippled through the remaining members. "Don't you wish you were still here? Although your friend here ain't too hard on the eyes either.”

He turned his cold eyes to Asami. "You could go wait with her if you like."

With that Mako stepped forward and snapped back to business as Viper grinned.



----
(Your POV)


You heard later about the cause of Mako's visit, and what had happened as a result. Viper loved to take you on joy rides in his new cars from the double cross.

You hadn't seen Mako in over a year and you knew you wouldn't be able to see him for a long time to go. The information you had access to was invaluable to Beifong, and you had barely scratched the surface.

Sitting alone at your table you stared at the plate of turnip noodles before you. You rarely came back to your flat, tending to stay at your lavish rooms in the headquarters. That's where Viper preferred you to be. But the strain was overwhelming sometimes. You felt like you were dancing on a wire that could break at any moment. It made it hard to breath sometimes, and when that happened you needed to escape. You made your excuses and fled to your flat for an afternoon of napping and simply unwinding.

The plate of food before you reminded you of the first time you and Mako had hung out. When you had really become friends. Of all the times sitting on his desk and laughing at each others' stories. 

Sitting alone at the table in your dusty apartment just highlighted how far away from those moments you felt. You had started alone, and here you were. Alone again.

The first tear fought its way free regardless of how hard you were trying to keep it in. And once the first one was released there was no stopping them. So you cried and cried and cried until your eyes were as raw as your heart felt.



----



You didn't cry again for a long time. After that afternoon you put those feelings away, bottled up the self pity, and thrown yourself into your work.

The world was even more chaotic than before with the Earth queen's death and chaos in the earth kingdom. The world had changed so much since you started.

For years you had been doing this. You felt tired and old. You snorted at yourself. Old at 20, can you imagine that.

Shaking your head you drummed your fingers against the brick wall you were leaning on. Per usual your handler was late. You frowned. He was getting more careless, more comfortable with the routine. You would have to talk to him about it. Or maybe request a new handler.

"You're thinking about replacing me again, aren't you?"

You glanced towards the shadows that hid him from view and rolled your eyes.

"I'm always thinking about replacing you Kran."

Kran pouted, stepping into the light. "Well that just ain't fair. I've been so good to you."

"You're late. Again." You rubbed a hand across your tired eyes. "And you've been sloppy the last few times. I can't afford your mistakes."

An actual frown settled on his face.

"I've never made any mistakes and you know it. Don't get all high and mighty with me. You may feel like you have power, all cozy with the big boss, but remember everything you have is a lie. Wouldn't take much for it to all crumble away." He growled at you. You stared him dead in the eye, too tired for the fight he wanted. He snorted at your lack of response.

"Let's just get this over with so you can go back to your boyfriend, hmm?" You ignored his gibe and agreed.

The meet was almost over when a can fell off the trash heap at the end of the alley. Every nerve in your body screamed caution, muscles tensing and eyes searching.

"What are yo-" You cut him off with a flick of your wrist. Melting into the shadows you went to check out the sound, Kran a step behind you. There were no signs of people by the trash, the can sat where it had fallen on the stones. Crouching to pick it up you startled a spider rat, sending it scuttling away.

"See, nothing. You're too tense." Kran snorted, but something felt off. You couldn't shake the feeling that someone had seen something they weren't supposed to.

You stood, keeping a wary eye on your surroundings. "We're done here." And with a curt nod to Kran you slunk away.



----



You staggered a bit as you tried to balance the groceries you carried. The hidden steps to your flat were difficult without arms. You silently cursed your stomach for needing so much food, but a good meal always made you feel better. And after today's meet you needed to feel better.

As you reached your door a single glance told you someone had been here. The piles of dirt around your door that blended in with the dingy surroundings were actually carefully placed. And they had all been disturbed by feet.

Your heart thumped against your chest louder and louder as you took in the scene around you. Minimal scratching around the keyhole: professional caliber, that was a tough lock to pick. Impossible to tell how many pairs of feet, could've been one or twenty. But what really scared you was there was no sign of exiting: whoever came here was still inside.

With a deep breath you decided to act casual and to try not to startle or threaten them.

It could just be a robber. No big deal. They may not even know I live here, just a mistake. A coincidence.

With a bump from your hip the door swung open. Stepping into your flat you puttered around like normal, dropping off groceries, lighting the lamp, and grabbing the dented pot from the sink, all the while keeping ever fiber of your being ready for anything.

When you turned to find Viper sitting at your table you didn't have to fake the startle reflex and the little gasp you made.

"Oh my gosh, Viper you scared me!" You gushed, trying to act like this was a great surprise. Your hands fluttered around you, smoothing your hair and patting your clothes to make yourself presentable. He sat silently, watching your every movement with a small smirk.

You glanced around your house to check for damage or disturbances, acting as though you were ashamed of the state of things.

"If I had known you were coming I would have cleaned." You gave him an apologetic smile, but he still said nothing.

"I do have fresh groceries though!" You smiled brightly at the thought. "Would you like some food? Oh, I only have turnip noodles though."

He smiled and finally broke his silence. "They are your favorite after all."

You didn't have to fake the blush that covered your cheeks then. Of course he knew things about you. You had been 'dating' him for over three years, and you couldn't make up every detail about yourself. But that didn't stop you from feeling funny that he knew intimate details about you.

Against all your instincts you turned your back on him to start boiling the pot and chopping some fresh vegetables. For awhile the only sound in the room was the steady thump of your knife. When you heard him stand it took every ounce of your willpower to not turn. Instead you just kept chopping.

He came up behind you, wrapping one arm around your waist while sliding the other down your arm holding the knife. With gentle pressure he made you drop the knife before spinning you in his grasp to face him.

You were pressed back against the counter, your palms on his biceps and his arms holding your waist. Your entire body felt tense as he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on your lips. He pulled back a hair's breadth to look in your eyes.

"Darling, why so tense?" His voice was low, a hint of humor.

You force a deep breath and a sigh, releasing the tension in your body. You smiled and gave him a sweet peck.

"Sorry, I'm just tired and hungry and I wasn't expecting any visitors." With another peck you started to pull out of his grasp with a light smack to his shoulder. "Now are you going to stop distracting me and let me finish cooking?”

“But who knows what mischief you might get up to if I let you go?” His grip on your waist tightened as he stood behind you.

You giggled as he kissed your neck but you couldn’t ignore his words. What if someone had seen you earlier? What if that sound wasn’t a coincidence? You tried to steady the shaking in your hands as you chopped.

Viper noted this despite your best efforts. “You’re so nervous today (First). You haven’t been this way since our first date.”

You just hummed and giggled as he kissed your neck again. “Food’s ready. I hope you’re hungry!”

“Starving.” He growled as he nipped your neck.

“Oh stop it!” You squealed in mock delight as you pushed him away. “I meant real food you animal! Go wash up!”

You took deep breaths as Viper watched you set the table, washing his hands in the little sink.

“By the way (First), there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you?”

You froze in your work and glanced up at him, a sickeningly sweet smile plastered to your face. “What’s that?”

You barely had time to duck before the first shards of ice flew at you.

“Was it worth it?"