Chapter Text
Opal frowned to herself as she left Huan alone in his studio.
She didn’t really know Mako that well, and had spent little time with him one-on-one. However, she’d gotten the impression he was a decent, likeable guy, mostly because of Bolin’s reverence for him.
And here Mako was, blowing off Huan as a friend completely just because Huan was showing interest. Maybe Mako was just really insecure and couldn’t handle it, but it struck Opal that Mako was coming across as mean, and her image of Mako had been shaken. Perhaps she should try to get him alone again.
Truth was, she’d felt awkward about the whole confrontation. She hadn’t really known how to approach it, but she’d wanted to avoid embarrassing Mako and Huan by involving anyone else. Anything to avoid heartbreak for her brother.
Opal wondered if she’d made things worse. She didn’t want there to be frostiness between Mako and Huan. But she didn’t want the relationship that they had built to lead to worse avenues.
Opal sighed, and she went to Mako’s room later that morning, but he wasn’t there. He must have gone out, again, but at least his rucksack was still there, so he had likely gone on a walk by himself.
She sighed. This would blow over in a few days.
That afternoon, she and Bolin had went to the library. Bolin had been teaching the twins earth bending moves, the ones he used for probending and larger scale moves he had picked up in his years of fighting.
Their house’s library had lots of books, and Opal knew she had so many for Bolin to try. Reading with Bolin was one of her favourite hobbies— Bolin had never had much chance to read novels, and he’d just needed a chance to show that it was all boring, and it wasn’t all extremely.
“This is a great book to read,” Opal said. “It was my favourite when I was kid. And there’s pictures. It follows a young adult as they seek to collect five rings in space, to help save the world. It’s an adventure story. No pictures but I think you’d like it.”
Bolin nodded and took the book, smiling widely. “Looks good. You’re good at picking out books for me, Opal,” Bolin said. Opal continued to rifle through the shelves, feeling the pages and smelling the paper the books had. This had been her favourite room in the house. She used to spend hours in the library, sometimes with Huan, getting lost in other worlds and imagining adventure she never thought would come to her. Oh, how wrong she was. She had been so much younger then.
She wandered around the shelves before noticing two taller magazines, noticeable by their height above the other books in the library. Frowning, she pulled the magazines out.
She gasped when she saw it. “Wei is hiding his porn magazines in the library?” Opal asked aloud, as Bolin popped his head out in curiosity. He took one of the magazines and then flipped through it. She thought about it. Wei probably didn’t hide them. Wing likely did. Knowing them, Wei had probably hid Wing’s lady ones as well somewhere else, as a game of endless cat and mouse they’d done since they were kids. At least back then it was toy airship models and not… porn magazines.
“Oh wow,” Bolin said, flipping the pages, peering at the images of nude men. “That is a lot.” Bolin frowned at one picture. “Look at the size of it! Can you get surgery for that?”
Opal flushed and she closed the magazine quickly in Bolin’s hands. “Those two are always hiding each other’s belongings. Mom will want a sit down chat with them if she finds these the library,” she said, wincing. That would embarrassing for everyone involved. “Might be best if we dispose of them. Not sure how.”
“I could just take them away in my bag. Or I could give them to Mako. That’s a better idea.”
Opal looked at him curiously. “Why is that a better idea?”
“Because he’d get some use out of them. But I don’t really want to give these to my brother, it’s a bit weird. So you’re going to have to give them.”
“You want me to give your brother... male pornographic magazines?” Opal asked.
“Why not?”
This conversation was really weird, and not one that Opal expected to have when she stepped into the library. “He’s not gay.”
“Well, actually Opal, these can be enjoyed by anyone who likes men like that, so Mako is included.”
Opal stilled. “What?”
“What?”
“Mako likes men?”
Bolin looked at her surprised. “Yeah, he’s bi.”
Opal furrowed her brow. “Really?”
“I never said?”
“No?”
“Guess it didn’t come up. It’s not important, really.”
“It isn’t important, but I still thought…” Opal said, her mind scrambled into a million pieces. “You said he’d had one-night stands with girls.” Bolin had mentioned that sometimes Mako didn’t come home, on occasion, as he was out with a girl.
“Yeah, I don’t think Mako meets men who like men much, but he’s deffo been with some. He actually came out via letter when I was with Kuvira. Guess I didn’t say,” Bolin said. He placed his hand on his cheek, cupping his mouth to the side as he looked at Opal. “Don’t tell anyone, I’m sure he wants it on the down low, but I asked him if he and Prince Wu did the you know what, and Mako didn’t deny it! Didn’t confirm, but didn’t deny, either,” Bolin said, a cheeky grin wide on his face.
“What.”
“I know, right? Mako likes them rich.”
“No, I don’t care about Wu, I was just so sure he was straight,” Opal said, flummoxed. “He just seemed…” she trailed off.
“Hm, now Opal, that is very….” Bolin paused, and tapped his chin rhythmically. “That’s very ‘heteronormative’ of you,” he finished, looking proud of himself when he used that term. He then tutted at her. Tutted.
“I wasn’t trying to be!” She protested. “I’m such a moron.”
“These dirty magazines are the perfect way to show him that you accept him,” he said, flapping the magazine in the air.
“Bolin! Stop thinking about the magazines!” She said, snatching the magazines from him and putting them back on the shelf, and then put her hands on her hips. “I was just so sure. I asked him about Huan…”
“Him and Huan?” Bolin said, and then he lit up, and put his hands together. “Do they like like each other!?” He asked, looking giddy.
“I mean, I don’t think Mako likes Huan back,” Opal said. “I spoke to Mako about it and he backed off.”
“Why?”
“Well… I thought Mako was straight and accidentally led Huan on.”
“But he isn’t straight.”
“I know, but Mako backed off anyway.”
“So, wait, did you ask him if he liked Huan or not?”
“Well…” Opal said, thinking back to the conversation. She’d been so sure she’d been clear. But looking back, she wasn’t sure she’d been as clear at all. Actually, thinking back, that entire conversation had been a mess.
If Mako hadn’t corrected her about not being straight, what had he thought Opal was talking about? When she was asking about his previous history, what did he think she was talking about other than Korra and Asami and dating women?
Unless he knew she was talking about Korra and Asami, but their history.
“Oh no,” Opal said, horror dawning on her. “I think I might have hurt your brother’s feelings.”
Bolin stared at her, rubbing his head. “This is so confusing, it’s hurting my head,” Bolin said, then frowned. “Tell me why and how… and you’re gonna have to fix it.” He said, crossing his arms with a frown adorned on his face. Now she’d pissed off Bolin, and that was a rare act on her part.
Opal buried her face into her hands, shame consuming her being. “Okay, first, let me explain…”
Mako had returned from a short walk around the nearest city ring to his room. It had been nice, but it hadn’t got his mind off last nights or this morning’s events as much as he’d hoped.
Walking back through the estate, he’d seen Huan step outside the studio where he was working.
They’d caught each other in their periphery, and Mako had seen Huan look up to him.
Huan ducked back into his studio, and Mako had quickly skittered away; nevertheless, it was clear to Mako they’d both seen each other.
Mako was clearly bringing the mood down at the estate. Huan was now avoiding him, and Opal had made it clear where she stood.
It didn’t matter if Mako was leaving in just a few days, Mako could see when he wasn’t wanted.
He hurried back to his room and pulled out a pen and paper, needing to write a note to Bolin to explain his absence.
Best end his vacation now.
“Makooooo,” Bolin said, and knocked on Mako’s guest room. There was no response, so Bolin pushed it open.
Mako’s bag was gone. The sheets were neatly folded, and there was no sign of anyone currently residing in the room.
He left a note for Bolin, in his normal scrawl. Bolin picked it up. “Says he has work and he’s gone back home to Republic City. He’s lying for sure, Lin told him he deserved the time off.”
“Fuck,” Opal said. “I’m such an idiot.” She really wanted to invent a time machine, go back in time, and then slap herself and tell her she was a fool for getting involved in the first place.
“He might not have left yet,” Bolin said. “Can we send a message to the pilot people to stop going?”
“It’s worth a shot,” Opal said, and they hurried through the corridors.
Huan exited his studio to walk back to his room.
He’d painted his feelings out onto the canvas the entire day, but inspiration was lacking after a few hours. It was now the late afternoon and he was exhausted, and perhaps things were best to just leave everything today.
He’d spotted Mako earlier, and they’d been avoiding each other. Later, he's seen Mako leave his room, with his rucksack in hand.
Huan guessed that Mako was leaving. Leaving because he didn’t want to be around Huan at all. Great. That didn’t hurt deeply at all.
He’d stopped by the kitchen to fetch himself a cup of tea, exiting as Opal and Bolin careered round the corner, bumping into Huan. He raised his cup of tea in the air, steadying himself and the liquid.
“Ugh, Opal,” Huan said, as he looked around at his sister. “Watch were where you’re going.”
“Huan! We have to find Mako,” she blurted out to him. Her state could only be called a panic.
Huan shuffled his feet. “What about him? I saw him leave like, twenty minutes ago.” He said, crossing his arms and looking away.
Opal looked unusually flustered. “He’s gone,” Opal said. “I think I scared him away. Away from Zaofu, and away from you.”
Huan looked at her. “I don’t understand.”
“I told him to stop leading you on because he was straight, but he’s not straight and I think he thinks I hate him. Or don’t want him to date you on principle.”
Huan groaned, as he realised what had occurred. Mako had only backed off because Opal had got involved. “Why — why not just let me deal with it! Why was it any of your concern!?”
“I’m sorry. I guess I wanted to save you from heartbreak,” Opal said, brushing her arm sheepishly.
“I was upset over this anyway!” Huan said, voice raised. He knew that this was uncharacteristic for him, but this was about the most ridiculous thing he’d ever been witness to. “Just let me be next time,” Huan said, brushing the hair out of his face. “I’ve been fine in Zaofu when you went away. I already have Mom, I don’t need you worrying over me as well!” he snapped.
“I’m an idiot, Huan,” Opal said. “I guess I thought I was saving everyone from embarrassment. But I didn’t. It’s just that, you’re my favourite brother, but don’t tell the others.”
Huan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, Opal’s apologetic charm working. “Well. Let’s go find Mako.”
Opal nodded. “If he left twenty minutes ago, we probably still have time. We either run to the pilot, or try to contact them by phone.”
“Better chance if we go to the phone,” Huan commented.
The three of them nodded at each other as they ran through the corridors to the entrance hall, where there laid a telephone station in a small side room, where a servant sat.
“Wire us to the docking bay,” Opal asked Riku, the servant.
The servant put a wire in a switch as Opal picked up the receiver. “Hi! This is Opal Beifong, daughter of Suyin,” she said, wincing at using her title like that. “You need to stop the airships from launching.”
“Which ones, madam? The one leaving now, or the one leaving at twenty past?”
“Which one is going to Republic City?” Opal asked quickly.
“The one leaving now.”
Opal’s eyes widened. “Please stop the airship!”
“We might give you five minutes, but we can’t hold the ship for any longer. Why?”
“Put a tannoy announcement and ask if Mako can get off the ship because Opal is an idiot, and she needs to talk to him.”
There was a pause. “Those exact words?”
“Yep,” Opal said. It made Huan smile, at least.
“Sure, ma’am. Five minutes.”
Opal smiled at them. “We go, now.”
They ran out of the estate, the journey a blur as they took the metal transporter to the docking area for the airship. Huan’s heart thudded in his chest, partly because of the nerves, and partly because Huan was not a runner.
The journey was in silence as they had little to say to each other, so Bolin started to hum. Really loud. He hummed so loud that he started to dance to his own humming.
How Bolin and Mako were related, Huan wasn’t sure.
They got to the bay, Huan pushing through the crowd as they watched an airship leave the docking area into the sky, getting smaller with every second. They looked around the bay. Mako wasn’t around the docking bay or in the waiting room.
One of the tannoy announcers shrugged when Opal inquired. “No-one got off.”
Opal looked at Bolin and Huan. Huan sighed.
Huan guessed that was it. They’d missed Mako, and the chance to get this whole thing straightened out now.
But despite the hurt this day had caused, it left Huan feeling hopeful. It hadn’t been Mako’s plan to back off from their relationship; it had been Opal’s fundamental misunderstanding. Which meant that the time that Mako and Huan had spent together was not something so easily thrown aside as Huan had feared.
It meant something to Huan, and it appeared it could still mean something to Mako. Being coy and courting through a drawing wasn’t going to get Huan any further. Time to be direct.
They sulked back home, and Opal felt so low as the three of them trudged back to the estate.
“I’m really sorry, Huan,” she said, for what felt like the millionth time as they exited the metal train car.
Huan tsked. “Just apologise to Mako,” he said first, and Opal nodded profusely. “I’ll talk to him when I get to Republic City.”
“I thought you were going to Ba Sing Se?”
“I wanted to go to Republic City. But I thought I might bump into Mako.”
“Republic City is a big place, Huan. Bigger than our estate.”
Huan paused, then grew pink. “Right. But he is famous.”
“Mako’s not like, Korra-famous though. Or even me famous. I was in these movers, called Nuktuk, hero of the South—” Bolin said.
Opal cleared her throat to quieten Bolin, as she could see Huan’s quiet mood, not wanting him to tell them what they already knew.
They walked back through the estate, the sun lowing in the sky and bathe the surrounding area in warm, orange light. As they entered the estate, they passed the wide open courtyard near the front of white marble and metal.
Opal waved to her mother who she saw sitting in one of the wicker chairs at the top, but she didn’t see him. She was busy talking away to a taller figure in the other chair.
Her eyes widened with recognition.
It was Mako.
He was still here. Somehow.
They were drinking tea and seemingly having a conversation, though as they grew closer it appeared it was one-sided on Suyin’s part. The three of them half walked, half ran to get nearer to the front of the house. As they grew closer up, the pair finally noticed them. Suyin smiled, but Mako grimaced, and he looked very sheepish and as if he didn’t want to be there, he actually sunk further back into the chair when he saw her and Huan.
“Look who I sensed sneaking away from the house,” Suyin said. “But I caught him just in time before he boarded.” Mako said nothing in response. Opal caught his eye, and he looked away. “Oh, Lin works him far too hard. I’m going to have to have a word with her,” Su tittered on, and Opal wondered if Mom was really just oblivious to the atmosphere between all of them. It also meant that Opal had called herself an idiot over a tannoy to an airship full of people for no reason, since Su had already caught him.
Guess that was another punishment for meddling.
“Su, you really don’t…” Mako protested.
Suyin shook her head. “No, no, I will call her. Everyone needs time off,” Suyin brushed off his protests. “I’ve heard that Huan tapped into your creative side, which is a fantastic way to relax,” she said, smiling approvingly at Huan..
Huan and Mako looked very uncomfortable then. “Mom,” Huan said. “Can we speak to Mako?”
Suyin nodded. She sat her cup on the table and folded her hands in front of her.
“Mom,” Opal protested. “Alone.”
“Right, right,” Su said and stood up, brushing herself off. “I need to speak to the twins anyway about some magazines I found in the library and your father’s study today.”
Opal flushed red. Well, she forgot about those and saving at least Wei from trouble. But their trouble, not her fault for forgetting.
Su left them in the courtyard, and a silence was between them.
Mako looked at all three of them, confused. “Right, yeah, so, uh—“
“Mako, I’m sorry, I thought you were straight.”
Mako looked up at her. “Straight,” he said, then looked to Bolin, then to her. “But Bolin can’t keep a secret.”
“Hey,” Bolin protested. There was a pause. “It wasn’t even a secret.”
“It wasn’t! So I thought Opal would know.”
“Guess it never came up. Not a big deal,” Bolin said, then did a wave with his hands, brushing it off metaphorically.
Bolin was right. Mako being bi wasn’t a big deal. But it was a big mess.
“So, uh, when you came to my room, you weren’t talking about Korra and Asami…”
“No! I don’t care! That happened before I even met you!” She exclaimed. “Mako, really, I have nothing but respect for you. I love that you looked after Bolin,” she said, and Mako looked down at his saucer as he placed it down.
“Oh, right,” Mako said.
“I,” Opal said, “we should hang out. Get tea. Just the two of us, in Republic City.”
Mako nodded, and Opal smiled.
“Well, no harm done,” he said.
“Yes harm done!” Bolin interjected.
“I’ll make sure I get a second opinion before I even think about meddling,” Opal asserted to everyone sheepishly. This entire event was so embarrassing, so shameful, that Opal wanted to crawl into a dark hole for a year until everyone forgot about it. She wanted to do that, but she knew she couldn’t. She had to face the mess.
Mako nodded, and Opal sighed in relief. She finally fixed the mess she made.
Almost.
Huan coughed next to her.
“Right,” Opal said. “Think it’s best if me and Bolin go get some tea ourselves.”
“Aw, okay,” Bolin said. “See you guys.”
Opal led Bolin out of the room.
Today was a learning exercise. She would never be such an idiot ever again, as this embarrassment was not worth it.
But she smiled to herself as she looked back to see Mako and Huan offer a smile to the other.
Opal knew they were going to be just okay.
Mako watched Opal and Bolin depart the courtyard. He felt on edge at this point, and it was nice that Opal didn’t despise him for the Korra and Asami thing, but now the whole situation was super embarrassing, and Huan was there looking at him, and Mako could only offer a small, tentative smile back before he shut it down.
It wasn’t the first time Mako had wanted to dig a hole and bury himself in it for a few weeks.
“Huan, I—“
“I’m sorry about Opal. She takes after Mom even if she pretends otherwise.” Huan said.
“I can see that,” Mako said, though Su was more belligerent than Opal.
Suyin had caught him just as he was reaching the docking bay. He'd been confused how she'd got here so quick, beating the train, but she had been wearing her belt with metal cables, which meant that Su had basically flew through the sky to catch up with him. She had steered him back towards the metal train, ignoring his protests that he was needed in Republic City. Suyin had said that she couldn’t let a guest leave unsatisfied, she’d talk with Lin and Mako’s family now.
The last part shocked Mako so much he was basically putty in Su’s arms as she dragged him to the courtyard to drink tea and talk with him about… work and life balances. Well, she talked at him and Mako sat and received the lecture, mostly stunned.
And now Lin was going to get a phone call about Mako not being given enough time off even though Lin had given him the time off. This was going to get complicated, and he was going to have to apologise to Lin.
“Sorry, that, uh, Opal outed you to me.”
“No, it wasn’t a secret. I thought Bolin would just… tell everyone. It didn’t cross my mind that she wouldn’t know.” Really. He’d told Korra and Asami privately, then expected Bolin would just… let anyone else know if it came up. Bolin was talkative like that.
Now was the time that Bolin was tight-lipped, when Mako's sexuality had become a non-issue long ago. Mako sighed to himself. He shouldn’t have assumed Bolin would say something to Opal.
Huan shrugged. “You could have explained to me why we couldn’t talk anymore. We could have worked out the misunderstanding.”
Mako nodded. “Yeah, I can see that now. I didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable,” Mako said. “Just remove myself from the problem. If no-one wants me, just go.”
“I want you around,” Huan said.
And Mako gathered that. Opal’s explanation and apology; Huan; even Suyin, dragging him back to Zaofu (even if he was sure if it was because of Su’s pride in trying to be an excellent host) made Mako feel like he was wanted.
“Yeah, I think I’ve got to remember that,” he said, thinking to himself.
Huan smiled, then breathed in. “I’m going to move to Republic City.”
Mako looked over at Huan, feeling himself grow warm inside. “Really?”
“Yeah, the art scene is way better. It was also because of what you said. I need to get away from my Mom,” Huan said. “I still need to tell her, but I’m hoping I can go during this month or so. But when I’m in Republic City, would you like to… see each other?”
“I’d like that,” Mako said, quickly. Everything had got Mako all worked up. He felt embarrassed, flustered, like he was a teenager again. But the reason was welcome.
Huan smiled again, shy, and Mako was brave and sidle up closer to Huan. The sky was getting darker, and Mako enjoyed the sense of peace that had came over them.
“I know we only have just met, properly. But I did… really like us hanging out together.”
Sometimes, being honest was just the best bet. That lesson might land one day for him.
Huan looked at Mako before letting out a small, restrained laugh. He looked up at Mako, and cupped his cheek. He leant in to kiss Mako, and Mako kissed back.
Huan’s lips were very soft, and the kiss didn’t last long but it was sweet, and Mako could get used to more.
“I hope that was okay.” Huan said.
“I,” Mako said, and words failed them both, so Mako took Huan’s hand. “Yeah.”
There was squealing behind the door, and Mako glanced at the entrance of the building.
Mako scowled at the door as he heard a quick shushing sound. Great. Bolin and Opal had seen the whole thing. Hopefully Su had gone to talk to Wei and Wing about magazines or whatever.
“You said about a walk this morning. Do you want to hang out this evening?”
“Yep. We could go on the roof again,” Huan said. “The sunset is really nice before the domes close.”
Mako nodded and smiled as he and Huan left the courtyard. The past twenty-four hours had been intense, and Mako needed some time to process everything. His brain felt a little fried. He had thought he had a chance, then thought he wasn’t wanted, and was now just realising that this was a whole misunderstanding.
Huan touched Mako’s hand, and Mako smiled. They interlaced their fingers together, and Mako made sure that the two of them were going to make the best of rest of the time Mako had here— and await a potential future in Republic City.