Officer Mako x Reader

Chapter 1 : Bail or No Bail

All your life you wondered how many times something bad had to happen before it became a coincidence. A fluke, a mere...happenstance of fate. Then how long before that same coincidence becomes a poor decision? Or the sweetest of temptations? Then a choice. A deliberate one. Soon to trickle into a heedless habit stitched alongside every mistake you've ever made. Every regret you've dared to keep close at hand, ready to ramble off when you'd finally meet your match and stand above the grave you dug so deep for yourself. But nobody warns you when the person holding the shovel is family. When the worst parts of yourself are mirrored back to you in a bond you can't break. Why else would you be sitting here, stuck in another courtroom, staring at the man who shared a more intimidating version of your face,

"Your Honor–
"Sit. Down," the judge hissed at your brother, "One more interruption, and I will have you removed,"

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up! you shouted in your head. Why does he always do this?

Everything was a game to him; pointedly whimsical until he lost his temper. Then everyone had to pay. Even you. At the end of the day, Shah never played favorites and he never played it safe. Aside from the fact that it wasn't your wrists in cuffs this time, the courthouse always felt the same: exposed and bleak. Not far off from the aftermath of a forest fire, or a poorly attended funeral for a bitter old man. You were definitely dressed for both occasions. All black with a hint of angst in your chest. At least funerals had acceptance. Have...remorse, and forgiveness. A whole hell of a lot more than you would have for your brother, this time around.

Just how damn stupid can he be?

"If you would just let me finish–
"I mean it, Mr. Uri! Just sit there and hush!" the judge ordered,

This had been going on all morning. If there was one thing your brother was good at, getting under someone's skin was a skill he perfected. Every witness so far had left the stand with the willful urge to sucker-punch him, and by now, the jury was well on their way to joining the club. The incriminating evidence, including the cop whose arm he had broken, was already enough for a lengthy sentence, but Shah always had to overdo it. Six counts of fraud, racketeering, bribery, money laundering, assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest. Each member of the jury sat with their jaws clenched tight in agreement. Shah was guilty. Again– and based on the smug look on his face, he was more than proud of it. His chance at freedom grew slimmer by the second, yet that never stopped him from running his mouth,

"What's the matter, Your Honor? Somebody skip breakfast today?" your brother teased as he leaned forward, "Don't worry, I'm sure these pigs saved you a few donuts. Or did your mirror crack this morning when it got a good look at you and that bald spo–
"Get him out of here!" the judge shouted, banging his gavel loudly as three cops swarmed your brother and hauled him out into the hallway, "We'll reconvene in three weeks. Until then, Mr. Shah Uri will remain in custody. Court dismissed,"

You were the first one out amongst the chatty crowd. The only family left that hadn't completely shunned your brother for good. Every time he got caught again you couldn't help but remember what your dad had said before you left your hometown,

6 years ago

"You're making a mistake," your father snapped when he barged into your bedroom. He had been hot on your heels the second Shah's truck showed up in the driveway. It had only been a matter of time. Shah had only needed to finally buy the damn thing and sooner or later, he would skip town and take you along with him, just like he promised.
"He's my brother," you reminded your father sharply as you packed,
"Yes, but he's also my son. This gives me far more time, clearance, and guilt to admit that he's lost it. Hating the world will get you nowhere,"
"He doesn't hate the world," you corrected your father flatly before marching into the hallway with your suitcase in hand, "He hates you,"
"Hey! He's not supposed to like me y'know!?" your father shouted as he followed you to the door, "T-That isn't h-how it works. I'm his father and he's a criminal. A washed-up angry drunk with nothing going for him!"
"Takes one to know one dad," Shah chuckled slyly when he stepped through the front door and met your gaze, "You ready to go?" he asked as he took your bag,
"Yeah. I'll be in the car,"
Any other time a disagreement like this would've ended in a fistfight between the two of them, but amongst you and your brother, there were no more bridges left to burn,
"Fine. Go," your father hissed at the both of you, "But don't come running back here when he collapses in on himself like a dying star and leaves you out in the cold. Just remember, I warned you,"

Okay, maybe your dad did forewarn you. The years between today and that argument had aged you both, but nothing in the world would ever make you admit that your father was right. Still, that didn't mean you ever got used to seeing Shah handcuffed and babysat by an officer,

"You were late," he pointed out when you approached him.
"No talking to the suspect–
"Hey! She's family!" Shah barked as he stood, "I'm already going to jail. Are you sure you wanna take me there with two black eyes?" he threatened, staring the officer down until he scoffed and gave you two some privacy from across the hall,
"I-I got caught up," you fibbed quietly with your arms crossed,
"Doing what? Peeling yourself from the bar again?"
"Don't start with me. You're lucky I'm even here–
"Am I? Because my bail money should've been paid when I called you four days ago," Shah hissed angrily,
"I...I-I didn't have enough,"
"Didn't have enough!? I seem to remember a certain sister of mine having a little side hobby when money was tight,"
"You know I don't do that anymore," you reminded him sharply,
"Oh yeah, I forgot. You're just a drunk now,"
"Watch it Shah—
"No, you watch it. You know what happens when Viper starts looking for me. He always finds you first," he nodded,
"I paid my debt. Every cent!–
"You really think that matters!? You don't stop working for the Triple Threats until he says so. Don't forget who's been keeping him off your back all this ti–
"Alright, that's enough," the officer called as he tried to pull you by the arm,
"Get your hands off my sister!" Shah shouted as he tackled the man, the force of their bodies knocking you backward until a pair of arms caught you before you hit the floor,
"Stand him up and get him to the car!" an officer shouted. It took four men to get your brother off of him and two more to tighten his cuffs, "Doesn't matter," Shah smirked with blood in his teeth, "Bail or no bail. I'll still get out,"

You knew he meant it. It didn't matter how many cops took him away or what prison they sent him to. Shah always came back; wilder and more determined than before, that about him had never changed, even when you were kids. If you had to choose between any of his redeeming qualities, keeping good on his word was something you could count on. Which is why you stood frozen in fear, completely oblivious to the pair of hands still gently holding you back,

"You okay?" the young man asked softly. You read his badge before you met his gaze. Four simple letters, forever burned into your memory,
"Ugh, I'm fine," you scoffed, peeling your arm from Mako's grip, "You don't have to act like you're here to actually help anybody," you mumbled before you marched outside. It wasn't sunny anymore. Just to your luck, the last glimmer of light you could see had dipped behind the clouds and left you feeling hollow. The only thing that made matters worse, was the fact that you were beginning to get used to this emptiness. If only Shah's threat had been that way too. He was many things but a liar wasn't one of them. If anything, his attempt to scare you into helping him again probably did more good than harm. If Viper truly was looking for you, then at least you had a day's head start–
"Hey!" Mako called as he caught up to you and snatched your wrist, "Hold up. What did you say? I-I'm not here to help anybody?" he repeated in disbelief,
"If you knew what I said, then why'd you follow me out here huh?" you snapped back at him,
"Because d-did I not just help you when that lunatic nearly tackled y–
"That lunatic is my older brother. So choose your next words carefully," you hissed with your fist clenched,
"Oh? So I guess anger issues run in the family then!–

You don't know why you swung at him, but you did. Throwing all of your frustration into one hard punch to his abdomen,
"F-Fuck," Mako wheezed as he doubled over and dropped to one knee. All you could do was stand there in shock. One for being able to cripple him with a simple strike and two for punching an officer a block away from the same courthouse that just sentenced your brother,

Shit! A-Am I fucking crazy!?–

"I'll...t-take that as a yes," Mako coughed while he gripped your ankle, eventually pulling himself to his feet when he could finally control his breathing, "Good shot. R-Right in the lung," he winced softly as he rolled and stretched his shoulder, "Your brother teach you that?"
"Uhh yeah? H-How'd you know?" you questioned while you studied him closely,
"Because that's what I taught mine," he nodded after he cleared his throat, "Listen, y-you need a ride somewhere?" he asked curiously while he eyed your figure,
"Ugh, not from you," you huffed as you walked away and quickly crossed the street. You half expected him to follow you. To force you to elaborate further, or to say something to piss you off and make you turn back, but Mako stood there stunned. Completely floored by the fact that you had the absolute nerve to hit him while he was clearly in uniform, and then walk away as if nothing had happened. It was almost laughable. He nearly couldn't wipe the smirk off his face when he walked back to his squad car and plopped in the front seat.