[IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: This book is changing to 3rd person POV and to past tense. It will still be through Luna's eyes – just not narrated directly by her.]
Mako's eyes were undeniably sad – a somber shadow overpowering the subtle glow that usually adorned them. Between his two fingers was a picture of his most recent relationship which ended, quite literally, about twenty minutes ago.
Luna, unknowing what to say or how to comfort her friend, decided to wait outside the room. A deep creese decorated her forehead as she kept her eye focused on the door, ready for the exact moment Asami would walk through. Her brain was racking with the events that just happened: Korra attempting to get Iroh to go to the South Pole behind the president's back, Korra assuming Luna was the one ratted her out, Korra finding out it was Mako, and Mako breaking up with Korra after she confronted him. She had no idea where Korra had stormed off to, the potential dangers of the Avatar being alone in an angered state pressing in the back of her mind. No matter how mad she was, she would always worry.
As selfish as it was, Luna really wanted Asami to get here as soon as possible because she did not want to be alone with Mako – not after witnessing how he and Korra broke up.
Asami was informed of the bad news over the phone, and she was on her way. Luna was somewhat grateful for the sudden robbery in a way, as it gave Mako something to distract himself. With his hands busy on this case, he wouldn't have time to feel the pain of a breakup. Luna was over her initial attraction to Mako, but she still cared deeply for him no matter how many times he'd hurt her in the past – she couldn't help it. It was just the kind of person she was.
Everything was a mess. All of her friends were going through some kind of crisis, and she had no idea what to do to help them. The only thing that made sense to her in her life right now was Iroh. It took everything in her not to drop everything and run to his arms. During her time in jail, she was sure that Iroh wouldn't want to be with someone like her anymore, but she was wrong. He constantly proved her wrong - making it evident to Luna that he was truly precious to her. He cherished her and she cherished him.
"Luna!"
Her thoughts were dispersed by Asami's voice. She looked up to meet bright green eyes overpowered with worry. As Asami threw herself into Luna's arms, Luna immediately felt a wave of guilt settle into her stomach. How could she dare feel grateful for Asami's hardships? Even if they somehow benefitted Mako, they brought pain to her dear friend.
In that moment, Luna decided she'd do everything in her power to help Asami get her entire shipment back.
"Come on," Luna cooed as she put her hand in the small of Asami's back, guiding her towards the room. "Mako's inside."
The sound of the door startled they amber-eyed boy as he scurried to put the picture inside his jacket. He turned to face the girls – Asami was walking towards him whilst Luna stayed underneath the door frame, leaning on it.
"Is it true?"
He flinched a little at the sound of her desperate tone, then he nodded. "I'm so sorry. Your entire shipment was stolen."
"Without that sale, I don't know how much longer I can keep my company going." Asami admitted to her friend, an embarrassed crimson blush rising on her cheeks. "What am I going to do?"
"Don't worry," Mako replied, taking a step closer. "I'm gonna find whoever's responsible."
"We are." Luna corrected, crossing her hands over her chest. As Mako's eyes met the girl's deep blue, he nodded at her – an understanding happening between the two of them.
The boy turned towards the glass that showed the interrogation that was about to occur. "Chief Beifong is about to question the captain of the ship."
Beifong pointed out how this was the third attack that happened in a short timespan in Republic City's jurisdiction – an undeniable irritation in her tone. The accompanying detectives immediately assumed that it had to be a Northern Tribe attack, who's aim would have to be to stop supplies from reaching the South, to which the Chief promptly agreed.
"Anything unusual about the attack?" Beifong questioned, hoping to wrap up the interrogation.
The man nodded. "There is one thing. The bombs exploded in a way I've never seen before. They didn't have fuses. It was like they were detonated remotely."
A gasp left Luna's mouth as Mako turned to make eye contact with her – they were both thinking the same thing. "Like the bombs at the cultural center!" The firebender exclaimed.
Without bothering to reply, Luna ran out of the room. Mako followed suit, both of them knowing they had to inform Chief Beifong as soon as possible with sufficient proof to get things done. "Wait!" Asami called. "Where are you going?"
"To get some evidence!" Mako bellowed back.
Luna was already scrambling through his desk, hoping the remote was there. Mako, who actually worked in the police station, chuckled at Luna as he rushed to the room where all evidence is kept – fumbling with the keys to open the door. As soon as the braided waterbender noticed where his friend was going she stopped going through his things, waiting for him to come out, feeling a bit embarrassed of her precipitation. A few mere seconds later, Mako rushed out with a velvet-lined tray in his hand. Luna spotted the remote and ran behind her friend towards the interrogation room.
Her heart was pounding as Mako pushed the door open. Her eyes landed on Beifong's, feeling uneasy at the sight of the Chief of Police's creased forehead – clearly unhappy with the duo's interruption.
"Chief! I think there's a link between this attack and the attack at the cultural center." Mako explained, walking towards Beifong.
"What do you think you're doing?" The Chief asked with a bitter tone.
The firebender halted in front of the man being interrogated, showing him the tray. "Did any of the people who attacked you have one of these in their hand?"
"We think it's a remote detonator." Luna explained from behind, earning a nasty look from the Chief. She gulped, but remained at her friend's side.
"It was too dark to see anything." The man replied calmly.
"Mako!" Beifong scolded.
"Chief, I don't think the people who attacked were Northern Water Tribe." He justified.
The detective with a brown trench coat scoffed. "Of course they were Northern Water Tribe. They were waterbending!"
Luna rolled her eyes at the comment, but Mako kept pushing. He gestured towards a picture in the velvet-lined tray. "Was this one of the guys who attacked?"
"No, I don't recognize him." The man said while shaking his head.
"Oh," The short detective mocked. "that's embarrassing."
"No one's talking to you, shortie." Luna snapped, leering her eyes at the man.
"You wanna fight, little girl?" The detective threatened, putting himself in an attacking pose.
The Chief positioned herself between the two. "Mako, Luna, leave. Now!"
"Great work, everybody!" Varrick exclaimed, suddenly entering the room alongside Asami. "Another open-and-shut case for the dynamic mustachioed duo!"
"Wait. I think Mako and Luna might be onto something." Asami rationalized, placing her hand on Luna's shoulder.
Mako nodded, turning towards his boss. "Chief, I know it's a long shot, but I have an idea how we can catch these guys."
"Yeah, let's all listen to the rookie." The tall detective mocked.
"He's doing a better job than you!" Asami replied angrily, frustrated at the pair's laid-back nature.
Varrick took a step forward. "Who's hungry?"
"Enough!" Beifong bellowed, making everyone go silent and turn to face her. "I don't want to hear your lamebrained rookie ideas. You're a beat cop, not a detective. Now hti the street and do your job! And Luna, you don't even work here! Go splash around or something!"
Luna scoffed while the two detectives laughed. It really took everything in her not to beat them up. Mako and Asami but noticed the expression on the waterbender's face and shared a look. They proceeded to each grab one of her arms and drag her out of the room before she got herself arrested for attacking two Republic City detectives.
They only let go of her friend until they were outside the police station. Luna brushed herself off and looked at the pair. "Well that was just unnecessary."
Mako ignored the waterbender's complaint. "Lu and Gang are idiots! I hate them and their stupid mustaches!"
Luna nodded with a pondering look on her face, realizing that their mustaches did look quite stupid. Asami rolled her eyes. "Forget them. What's this idea of yours?"
"A sting operation. I was thinking we'd set up a bait ship, take it out into the open ocean, and capture whoever attacks it." Mako explained.
Asami's green eyes lit up. "Let's do it!"
"It's not that easy." The firebender protested. "For the plan to work, we need the police, and Beifong already said no."
"We can make it work, just the three of us." Asami pleaded, sounding desperate.
Mako pressed his lips together. "I don't know, I don't want to go behind Beifong's back. If she finds out, I could get kicked off the force."
"Yeah, but if we don't do anything Asami could lose her company." Luna rebutted, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Yeah, Mako. I need your help. My mom is gone. My dad is in jail. Future Industries is all I have left of my family."
"I'm not saying I don't want to help but this is more than a three-person job." Mako argued. "First of all, we'd need a ship."
"You need a ship? I got a ship!" Varrick suddenly exclaimed, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, and therefore startling the trio. "I want in on whatever you're talking about. I love being in on plans!"
"The less you know, the better." Asami replied simply, placing her hands on her hips. Luna rubbed her own chest, trying to calm her heart down from the fright, silently cursing out Varrick.
"Perfect!" Varrick exclaimed excitedly. "I love not knowing things."
"All right, I'm in." Mako said. "Let's get these guys."
☾︎✧*。☾︎
Asami, Mako, and Luna had spent the entire day preparing for the sting operation. Deciding that they needed extra manpower before executing it, the trio went on their separate ways: Mako went to ask Bolin for help and Asami was preparing the final touches for the dummy crates for the operation. Luna, who found herself with nothing to do before nightfall, decided to pay a visit to her boyfriend.
"So, how are you doing with this whole Korra situation?" Iroh queried, looking at her girlfriend's deep blue eyes, searching for any signs of her not being okay.
Luna blew a bit of air out, tucking her knees beneath her chin, looping her arms around her ankles. The pair were sitting at the deck of the ship, simply talking. It did take Iroh by surprise to see Luna back after her appearance earlier in the day when she fought with the Avatar, but he wasn't complaining. He loved it when she came to visit him – especially after how much he missed her when he had to leave the South Pole.
She pondered his question, how was she doing? Was she happy with the situation? No. She and Korra had gotten into plenty of arguments during their time growing up together, it was only natural. Nonetheless, none of their arguments had ever gotten this out of hand or lasted this long. Luna was concerned that nothing would ever be the same between them again. Whether she wanted it to or not, Korra was her world. No one knew her as well, or made her laugh as much, or loved her as dearly.
But, no one had ever hurt her as deeply either. Not even the fire that was ever-marked on her neck.
She turned her eyes towards the vast, blue sea at her side. With a stretched arm, she bent some water to play with, looping it through each of her fingers – utilizing the salty water almost as a fidget toy. Iroh noticed a certain dimness overcast his girlfriend as she pondered – answering his question without even intending to. She was hurt, it was clear to see.
"I guess I'm fine." Luna mumbled.
The firebender scooched closer to her, putting his arm around her waist, and pulling her closer. Luna's eyes skipped a beat as she couldn't help but feel a rush at her boyfriend's sudden closeness.
"You don't have to pretend to be strong, you know." He commented, looking up towards the sea. Luna turned to look at him, admired his chiseled structure. "At least not with me."
"It's not fair of me to dump all my burdens on you either, though." Luna challenged, leaning her head on his chest.
Iroh laughed ironically. "I'm literally the person you can tell those things to, you dummy." He teased with a smirk. "I'm your boyfriend."
Luna rolled her eyes playfully. "I know that, wise guy." She rebutted. "I don't just want you think that you're just that to me."
"I don't think that." Iroh denied. "I actually think sometimes you carry too many burdens by yourself."
"Are you kidding me?" Luna asked with a laugh, shifting her position to face Iroh. "I literally ranted about how mad I was at my friends for days when you came to visit me."
The General laughed too, his deep chuckles making Luna's heart flutter. "You got me there."
Luna noticed the gleam in his eyes and couldn't help but smile – realizing how much her boyfriend resembled a big teddy bear. Innocent, caring, and warm. She decided to sit on his lap, loop her arms around Iroh's waist, and bury her face in his neck. This undeniably took Iroh by surprise, whose face turned instantly red at her girlfriend's sudden move. After recovering from the shock, he hugged her back, pulling her closer.
Luna inhaled his woody scent, closing her eyes, deciding to push back all of her current worries and focus on the feeling of undeniable safety she felt in the firebender's arms.
❀❀❀❀
word count: 2404
status: unedited
[a/n: not me updating after a literal year...
anywaysss lmao if u're still here and still reading tysm ur a real one 😭😭
alsooo - i hope y'all don't mind the shift in pov!! it's been a year since i've updated and i definitely feel that my writing style has matured! also i apologize for any mistakes and for my disappearance it's been a ~rough~ year but i'm finally feeling like myself again!
i will be uploading more frequently again but i can't promise a fix scheduled
that's it omg sorry for the rant BYE
-a]