Cadence Chapter Eighteen: Revelation

Korra was now quite confident that she was beyond shocked and was rather in some kind of emotional realm never before charted by human beings. Despite that, she knew whatever confusion she felt couldn't hold a candle to what Mako was feeling.

Zolt, his father, had murdered his parents...on orders?

"There was a problem in Republic City...a problem that stretches back to the day it was founded," Shin narrated. "Zolt was used to 'correct' that problem."

"What proof do we have that you're telling the truth?" Korra asked, unable to help herself from pointing out the obvious.

Though the dark lighting prevented her from seeing Shin's expression, Korra could practically feel a chill creep down her spine. Apparently he didn't like being interrupted.

Mako shifted minutely, muscles coiling, readying for action. Ready to fly at Shin if he made any move towards Korra. He glared at Shin, trying to communicate that he had been completely serious when he threatened him earlier. He didn't care how exhausted he was or what information this man promised; if Shin harmed Korra, he was a dead man.

Shin seemed to realise this, because he resumed speaking without making any sort of move towards the medic.

"I have no proof," he admitted. "It's your decision to believe me or not. But just hear me out. That's all I ask."

Korra didn't say a word. Sure, she was curious, but this decision was entirely in Mako's hands; she didn't have the right to make it for him. There was a moment of silence before she felt Mako nod slowly against her.

"Alright, tell us."

His voice sounded firm, but Korra couldn't help but notice that one of his arms had disengaged from the blanket to slip around her waist, holding onto her as a child might clutch a stuffed toy for comfort.

Whatever indifference he might pretend, she could tell Mako was truly scared of what he was about to hear.

Mako knew that, under normal circumstances, he would probably be rather embarrassed by the way he was clinging to Korra.

But these weren't normal circumstances. He felt as though he was teetering on the edge of some sort of breakdown and were he to crumble, he didn't know what would happen. Holding onto Korra like he was, made him feel calmer somehow, more in control of himself.

He listened to Shin tell them about the time when Bending was specific to individual clans and villages. While each Bending type was regarded as strong in it's own right, there were two that were proclaimed as the strongest; Fire and Earth. Even among the other benders, those who possessed the ability to either Earth or Fire bend were considered to be unusually powerful. Add into the equation that some managed to unlock bending sub-types, and all hell began to break lose.

Shin claimed that Earth and Fire Benders were rivals, each the only one who could match the other's skill. And as they clashed time and time again, numbers of each type began to dwindle.

"What does this have to do with the murder of my parents?" Mako's voice was deceptively calm.

"Hm. Despite Republic City advertising safety for all, Benders and Non-Benders alike, those in power feared the possibility for history to repeat itself," Shin clarified. "The more powerful the Earth and Fire benders grew, the more out of control the city would fall. Could you imagine what were to happen if two of the strongest bending types were to be combined?"

Mako swallowed, knowing full well what Shin was getting at. A child born of both the Earth and Bending types would be, were they to obtain full control of their abilities, potentially unstoppable.

Apparently, those in power within Republic City had clued onto this information and were trying to eradicate the possibility of this from happening, in any way they could. Users of both the Earth and Fire bending abilities were being barred entry into Republic City, marital screenings were taking place and citizens were being evicted from their homes simply for possessing the ability to bend either of these two elements. Republic City, despite it's harsh treatment of Benders and some of it's citizens, managed to prevent an all out war between the two rival bending types. Without the warring rival clans, the fighting lessened, and eventually, peace descended.

Still though, there were those of the Earth and Fire bending types that managed to slip through the cracks.

"Three guesses as to who managed to find their way into Republic City, undetected." Shin mused.

"My parents." Mako stated, answering Shin's rhetorical question.

But the Republic City Council now suspected that the two clans had set their sights on overthrowing the council. Following on from the 'almost civil war', both Fire and Earth benders were closely monitored and segregated to one corner of the United Republic.

"The clans mistrust and suspicion birthed ill-will," Shin went on. "And eventually, suspicion became reality, and the two began plotting to over throw the Council. So the Council planted a spy within the Fire clan...and that spy was your father, Zolt."

Korra stiffened, and she felt Mako do the same.

"Though you possess the Fire bending ability, you were too young to be involved in something of that magnitude," Shin shrugged. "So your parents never made you aware of the situation at hand."

He told them that Zolt had been the ringleader, and that he had agreed to the council's orders, to act as a spy for the Council, on the condition that Mako was kept safe and in doing so, became a double agent, having kept tabs on the Fire benders.

"Why?" Mako asked dully. He had the feeling he should be having more of a reaction to this, but he felt strangely detached from all he was hearing, as though it wasn't quite real.

Korra's hand brushed over his scalp again, and he closed his eyes.

Korra listened as Shin told them that Zolt had lived through part of the Hundred Year War when he was barely four years old, and seeing many of his family die at that young age had made him the kind of man who hated conflict. He cared about the stability of the United Republic – about peace – more than he cared about his own clan's ambitions.

And when he was given the task of annihilating his entire clan, he made his choice. If the Fire Bending clan had started a civil war, it would have torn The United Republic apart...and the other countries certainly wouldn't have wasted such an opportunity to invade. They would have struck, and it would have triggered another war.

Millions would have died...all in the name of the Fire bending clan's self-interest.

So Zolt was left with a difficult choice.

"At the time, I was bitter both towards the Council, who had cast me out, and the Fire benders, who had refused to support me," Shin went on. "Zolt was the only who realised I was still alive, and he sought me out to make me an offer. In return for allowing me to get revenge on the Fire benders, he asked me not to harm the rest of The United Republic. I agreed, and Zolt carried out his orders."

Mako seemed to flinch, and Korra couldn't help but worry about his mental state. It couldn't be good for him to be hearing this so soon after he'd killed Zolt.

But Shin wasn't finished. "Killing fellow fire benders, leaving The United Republic...it was all part of his duty. And he fulfilled it, except for one mistake."

Korra had a feeling she knew where this was going.

"He was unable to kill his son."

Korra winced.

Shin told them that Zolt had pleaded with the Council to protect Mako. Then he left The United Republic, but not before threatening the Council that if any harm came to Mako, he would leak everything he knew about the Council to enemy countries. He gave Mako revenge as his goal and had he begged the Council not to tell Mako the truth, wanting him to believe that the Fire bending clan was a clan to be proud of.

Since the day he left The United Republic, Zolt had planned to fight Mako...and then die by his hand.

Korra wondered if death had come as something of a relief to Zolt.

"Lying..." Mako mumbled, sounding almost incoherent again. "You're lying...you have to be lying..."

He took a deep breath and straightened, peeling himself away from Korra, though one arm stayed securely around her waist. Korra chose not to mention that his grip was getting a little tight.

"I was almost killed, more than once," he said, his voice sounding markedly steadier.

"It was all part of his plan," Shin countered. "He had to drive you into a corner to free you from the grips of the Council."

"You're lying!" Mako snapped.

"Am I?" Shin said blandly. "I told you; he was afraid you'd find out the truth. He lied so you wouldn't trust me. Everything about that battle was scripted...after all, he didn't rape Korra, did he?"

Mako froze, as did Korra.

"Zolt made you believe that he'd raped her, on the off-chance that you would be so furious at what he'd done to her, you would simply kill him without bothering to ask your questions. He wanted to make you angry, and he probably decided she was his best chance at doing so."

Mako couldn't help but think that was certainly true. If Zolt had raped Ming Hua, for example, he would have been sickened, disgusted...

But it would never have come close to the anguish that had ripped through him when he thought Zolt had forced himself on Korra.

Mako shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. "No! Zolt was evil! He was a criminal-"

"He formed the Triple Threat Triad in order to keep watch on the Council from underground. He knew he could never return to Republic City, but when he got wind of you, he did so anyway. The old Council had sworn to protect you, so his appearance was to warn the reformed Council that he was still alive, and there would be grave consequences if you were harmed."

"Liar!" Mako snarled, but it was weaker now. He was remembering Zolt's seemingly random comments on the nature of truth before they had truly joined battle.

They seemed disjointed and nonsensical at the time...but when set beside Shin's story, everything began to make a horrible sort of sense.

Korra was remembering the same thing...but she couldn't help but wonder what Shin's motive was in telling them this.

"Zolt ensured that his death would give you a new power, and that in defeating him, you could be hailed as a hero in Republic City. Everything he did, was only for your sake."

Korra grimaced. Her head was spinning. Zolt had killed many, not just Mako's parents, yes, and in doing so, had prevented a civil war. He'd joined and become head of the Triple Threat Triad, yes, but he'd also done his best to save Mako's life. He loved Mako, but he'd practically made his life a living hell...

And if it was screwing with her mind to this extent, she could only imagine what it was doing to Mako.

At least, assuming Shin had told the truth. She was hesitant to believe something as unsubstantiated as this, but her gut told her that his story was true; the part about Zolt, at least. She still didn't think Shin's motivations were really as good and noble as he'd made out.

"But I've said what I came to say, so now I'll show you the way out," Shin commented.

That only served to increase Korra's suspicions. He just told them the story and now he was letting them go? She didn't buy it; he had to have some ulterior motive. Shin didn't strike her as the type who did something like this just for the hell of it.

"Come on, Mako, we should get out of here," she murmured, tugging on Mako's shoulders so he stood with her.

He seemed calm and composed, but Korra knew this wasn't the calm of someone at peace. This was the composure of someone who was minutes, maybe seconds away from a breakdown.

His arm was clamped so tightly around her waist she was certain it was bruising. She slowly, gently, peeled the limb away and draped it over her shoulder instead, where it clung just as tightly. She slid her own arm around his waist, to hold him up in case he collapsed.

Physically, he was reasonably healthy, of course, but mentally was quite another story. Korra had seen enough breakdowns to know that mental and emotional strain could be a thousand times more debilitating than physical exhaustion.

If Mako collapsed, she wanted to be ready for it.

Shin led them out into the sunlight, and Korra was startled to realise they were on a beach. They must have been in one of those seaside caves shaped by the tide.

Shin watched Mako and Korra emerge from the cave, clinging tightly to each other, and felt the first stirring of disquiet.

He had thought that, after telling Mako the truth about Zolt, it would be easy to persuade him to join the Triad against Republic City. To be honest, he hadn't imagined much persuading taking place; he'd believed that Mako would simply take the initiative and begin his crusade against the upper echelon in Republic City on his own. Yes, Korra was the Avatar, and thus protector of Republic City, but he hadn't thought she would be capable of dissuading him.

He had brought her along in an effort to determine her effect on Mako, though he hadn't anticipated her influence being very high. He had assumed Mako had taken her with him to use her medical skills, with perhaps a vague sense of nostalgia for his former life...

But the way Mako was holding her now, his reaction when he'd believed her threatened, their interaction in the cave; it was all telling Shin that he had severely underestimated this woman's importance to Mako.

Perhaps he should make a roundabout suggestion?

Mako blinked as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight, wondering what all this meant. What did he do now? He'd just learned that he hadn't slain a monster, he'd murdered a loving father...

He felt his throat grow tight at the thought. There was no one now. He was alone, alone...

"Mako, that's a bit too tight," Korra muttered from beside him.

Mako relaxed the tight grip his hand had taken on her shoulder, sucking in a breath when he realised that it wasn't true; he wasn't alone.

He wasn't alone, Korra was with him. Still. Even though he'd set her free, even though she could have made a run for it during his battle with Zolt, even though she could have left him in the cave...

She was still with him.

"Mako." Shin's voice broke in on his thoughts, and Mako instantly resented it. He didn't need any more revelations dropped on him. He just wanted to be left alone.

Or rather, he wanted to be left alone with Korra.

"Leave us!" The imperious tone of Mako's voice made Shin grind his teeth, but he knew a dead end when he saw one. If he pushed, Mako would have nothing of it. If he left the boy to stew then maybe everything would turn out as it was meant to.

And if it didn't, Shin thought he knew who would be responsible. Korra's presence wasn't merely an annoyance, her presence was a danger to his plans.

Shin mused on eliminating her right then and there, but then dismissed the impulse as far too hasty. She was, after all, the Avatar. If Korra were killed, Shin would have to make sure it couldn't be linked to the Triad in any way. Something told him that if Mako had even the faintest suspicion that he was involved in her demise, the younger fire bender would devote his life to destroying him.

So he walked away, leaving the pair alone on the shore.

Korra huffed a soft sigh of relief when the Triad acquiesced to Mako's request and left them alone.

For what seemed like an eternity, Mako didn't move, staring out at the waves. Korra stayed silent, knowing he was trying to work everything out in his head, and didn't envy him the task. It was mind-boggling enough for her; she hated to think what it would be like for him.

"He loved me..." Mako said distantly. "He loved me...all along..."

Korra could practically hear an emergency siren wailing in her head; complete mental meltdown imminent!

She turned, and was left stunned as she saw the tears trickling from Mako's amber eyes.

She had never seen Mako cry before. Ever.

His shoulders began to shake with sobs and that was when Korra lost it. She twisted in his grasp and clung onto him like a limpet, wrapping her arms around his chest and pulling herself to him, holding him as though she could somehow encompass all of his sorrow and make it better.

When she felt tears begin to sting her own eyes, she didn't fight them.

Mako couldn't remember the last time he'd cried. Even as he watched his tears fall to cling to Korra's hair in tiny droplets of salt water, the fact that he was crying didn't seem real. He could feel the weight of sorrow on his chest like a physical pressure, crushing his heart and lungs and everything around, making his breath seem too sharp and his heart beat too hard.

It still didn't seem real.

He could feel Korra's arms around him, holding him so tightly that the side of her face was pressed against his bare chest as though it had been glued there. He could feel her hair blanketed against his skin, and the dampness of her own tears on his flesh. She was crying for him...why didn't that surprise him?

It still didn't seem real.

He could feel her ragged, uneven breaths puffing against his tear-damp skin, and felt it when she took a deep breath to speak. For a moment, he wondered what she'd say, if she'd try to mouth platitudes in an attempt to calm him down. What could she say?

"I'm here," Korra whispered. She wasn't about to say 'it's okay' or 'it'll be alright' because she didn't know if it would ever be okay or alright, and she knew it would do no good to lie to him.

"I'm here."

But she could say that.

"I'm here."

And Mako realised it was the truth. She was here with him. She was crying for him. For some reason he would never understand, she cared about him.

Mako moved. His arms reached down and closed around her, pressing her against him as though seeking to pull her straight through his skin.

Korra squeaked softly when Mako clutched at her, with such strength in his grip that he actually lifted her off the ground. She didn't protest. On the contrary, she just held him tighter. His face was pressed into her lengthy, chocolate hair. She could feel his tears wetting the top of her head and sliding down her own face until she didn't know which tears on her cheeks were hers and which were his.

Some part of Mako was still utterly bewildered by his actions. He'd never been a very physical sort of person. Prolonged contact like this usually made him edgy, eager to end it...not desperate for more.

Mako wondered if the events he had just lived through had changed something within him. But strangely, he didn't care if they had. He didn't care about anything except the burning sorrow in his chest and the woman in his arms.

"I'm here," she whispered again. "I'm here..."

"Thank you."

Korra was unable to help herself from tensing at the memory of the last time he'd said those two words to her. One of her hands on his back curved until her fingertips were resting against his spine.

"You try to knock me out, I'll hit this nerve cluster and I swear you won't be walking for a week," she mumbled wetly, just to be cautious.

Mako was struck with the sudden, bizarre urge to laugh. He huffed an amused breath that sounded more like a sob.

Korra chuckled softly through her tears and Mako realised that the sorrow that had crushed his chest wasn't quite as sharp anymore. It was still there, but...lighter somehow.

He slowly lowered Korra to the sand, not really knowing what had happened, but aware that their relationship had changed. Or perhaps changed was the wrong word. It had shifted, in the same way that turning a gem in the light revealed different facets of it.

Something told him that this shift had been building for a long, long time. Had been happening for a long, long time, and he was only now aware of it.

She met his eyes, and he realised she could feel it too.

"So, uh..." Korra rubbed at her eyes, wiping the last of the tears from her cheeks. "What now?"

Mako considered it. If he had killed Zolt, and never learned the truth, he might have been able to return to Republic City. But now that he knew what those council members had done...no, he couldn't go back. He had to honour his parents and Zolt's memory. He had to eradicate the cause of so much destruction...

"I will destroy Republic City," he said softly.

Korra's eyes widened, and she looked startled. But couldn't she see that it had to be done? The Republic City council was corrupt. It had to be destroyed. He couldn't allow them to get away with what they'd done...

Korra had heard the story herself, surely she understood?

Apparently not, because she was just staring at him as though she couldn't believe what had just come out of his mouth.

Mako sighed and turned away. "Come on; we need to get back to the others-"

"YOU STUPID, SELFISH, ARROGANT, THICK-HEADED PRICK!"

Mako turned around just in time to see Korra's fist flying towards his face.

I'm back after a very long hiatus. Long story short; I've been living and travelling between Australia and Japan for the last year, with not a lot of time to sit down and churn out some much needed chapter updates on this story and my other stories. In the last week and a half I returned to Australia to recommence my studies, so hopefully in my down time, I'll have some time to keep up with my fanfiction. This chapter was quite difficult to write and I do apologise if it doesn't make a lot of sense. Anyway! On to the next chapter...

Bonami27.