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storypaint ([personal profile] storypaint) wrote2015-02-12 09:10 pm

[Legend of Korra] the missionaries of crime (Mako gen)

Title: the missionaries of crime
Fandom: Legend of Korra
Length: 569 words
Prompt: comment_fic: Any Crime Fandom, Any, the cops are the criminals
Pairing: Mako and Toph gen
Other: AU as per prompt.

Excerpt: "So," Toph said. She didn't look at him, and she didn't say anything else. Her expression was hidden by her messy bangs.

Mako coughed. "I want to, to join up with you guys," he said.


Mako knew this was a bad idea the moment he wanted into the dim little room and saw the women. The boss was seated and he was surprised at how small she seemed to be, her dark hair neatly fastened into a bun, her feet up on the desk. She was flanked by her daughters, two tall, thin women in metal armor. Mako heard that the police had tried to replicate their technique, but the elder daughter had bent someone's armor enough to snap his spine, so they'd given up.

Mako took a shaky breath. He was doing this for Bolin, he had to remember. They had to eat somehow and they would have joined up with a gang eventually; there was no neutrality when you lived on the streets. The Bei Fongs were no worse than most.

"So," Toph said. She didn't look at him, and she didn't say anything else. Her expression was hidden by her messy bangs.

Mako coughed. "I want to, to join up with you guys," he said.

Toph laughed loudly and slammed her hand down on her desk. The desk had absolutely no paperwork on it (to be honest, Mako couldn't think of what kind of paperwork a gang boss would have to do). Perhaps she kept it for effect.

"And what do I get for letting a baby tag along with me?" she asked. "What do you bring to the table?"

Mako had been prepared for that question. "I can firebend. And-- lightning-bend too. A little."

One of the daughters grunted; Mako couldn't tell which one.

"I don't have any firebenders," Toph said. Mako knew that. She'd buried the last one in a public park a couple of months ago. It had been all over the newspapers. The police were still investigating.

"His brother is an earthbender," the younger daughter said, and it felt like Mako's blood had frozen in his veins. He tried not to show it in his face, but Toph laughed again and pulled her legs off the desk. She came around it and stood in front of Mako. She still wasn't looking at him. He wasn't sure if she wanted a bow or a handshake or what else. Was he supposed to kiss her hand, or was that only in those cheap pulp novels Bolin liked?

"Relax, kid, I'm not going to kidnap your brother. If someone doesn't want to work for me, I'm not going to force them. Severance package is a bitch, though." She laughed that terrifying laugh again and clapped a hand on his shoulder. Mako was pretty sure the bones were grinding together. He chanced a glance at her face and saw the strange film on her eyes. He'd known she went by the Blind Bandit sometimes, but he hadn't thought it was a literal title.

"You can start by running my errands," she told him. "If you don't suck at that we'll see. Go get me some lunch."

She released him and he practically flew at the door. The older daughter made a snorting noise when he fumbled with the knob, but then he was out. He shut the door very quietly behind him.

They needed to eat. They needed protection. Mako was going to take care of his brother, no matter what. He was not going to think about dead people.

He ran to get the takeout, as fast as he could.