#idonthaveabackstory

[inazumashiko-archived]

Everything

because all of this is only possible thanks to @idonthaveabackstory, it is a gift for his wonderful author, the lovely Kara.

Shiko had been several hours well into dull paperwork, drowsing trade agreements from the provinces she had to go over before the meeting at the end of the week, and just the usual onceover of the palace advisors on the things that needed revising, when the door to her office opened. She didn’t look up from the sheet of paper currently between her fingers, though, expecting Niko or any of the advisors to interrupt her if it was something urgent, or wait if it wasn’t.

Silence filled the room as she finished the reading. A hand moved on it’s own towards her cup, taking a sip only to find the coffee much too cold. She heated it up automatically, as her other hand marked just a few changes that needed to get done, and placed the paper on a neat pile to her side. When she looked up, her lips stretched into a smile over the brim of the now steaming porcelain. One like only her children managed to pull from her.

Everything on her desk was instantly pushed from her mind, as she took in the look of her youngest, Hikori. Hands neatly folded on his lap, the boy was perfectly sitting on one of the chairs across from hers; all the way on the backrest, his feet were on the air, their movement the only note of his impatience. Her chest warmed at her baby’s calm demeanour, so much like his father, like her brother even.

Her children knew they could come to the office whenever they needed of her, and were nothing if not polite with not abusing of it, or waiting for Shiko to finish her work before addressing their concerns, but there were varying levels for it of course. Had it been Raeden on the chair, well- there had been sparks flying around the room in the past.

Shiko made her way around the desk, kneeling in front of his chair, hands taking Hikori’s little ones in hers. He was always so cool, she took a hand to his chubby cheek, thumb caressing over the messy brow that was clearly from his dad’s side. “What are you doing here, baby?”

“We’re having a tea party, and I’m bait.” He announced, proudly, and so very innocently, Shiko laughed. Gold splattered, green eyes, tightened with his grin, when he joined her.

“Is that so?” She shook her head, standing and picking him up to fix at her hip. “I’m not sure you were meant to say that part, sweety, but I’m glad you did. Come, let’s go find that party.” Hikori leaned his head on her shoulder, a hand finding a lock of hair behind her neck, keeping it safely between his fingers.

It would seem his siblings thought he’d get the job done, get her out of the office to play, and they weren’t wrong, work was definitely forgotten for the day. Being the little one, he often got away with a lot more than the other two rascals, that had already found ways to try and exploit their prince and princess condition.

Shiko found Niko waiting out the door, and asked her to put the office in order, giving word not to be disturbed on what remained of the day, unless it was urgent.

It didn’t take long for Shiko to find the spot, if it wasn’t for the lovely blend scent of the tea, for the poorly hushed voices of her kids. Hikori squirmed in her grasp, and she let him down on the floor to run the rest of the way out to the little decked garden. A surprise it was then, good thing she needn’t feign happiness with anything that involved her babies. And yet, she found herself genuinely gasping, a soft, happy sound, when she got to the door.

“Mako.” Shiko’s heart flipped in her chest at the sight of her husband, which was silly, considering she’d seen him less than twelve hours ago. But he had that effect on her still, even after all these years, a wedding, three kids, and waking up to him every single day.

But for one, she thought he’d be out until dinner time, and then- how could she not lose her breath when he was like this; red all around him in the form of his stunning regalia, and their three kids, clinging to him with nothing but love and adoration in their eyes. She’d never tire of this sight.

“Fire Lord, so nice of you to join us.” He greeted her. The kids scrambling to their feet to hug at her middle, Shiko locked eyes with her husband; hers, warm with emotion, his, a dangerous mix of love and fire, and she had to shake her head to clear it from the thoughts that incited. Terrible, terrible man. She’d deal with him later.

“Hello, my darlings.” Shiko stooped to greet each of the kids, a shower of kisses and tickles, until they surrendered, before moving to brush a soft kiss on Mako’s lips, kneeling on the other side of the squat table.

Tea was a lovely and fun affair, as it usually was. Mako served it, the kids filled the air with stories and anecdotes, and their mouths with pastries, and Shiko watched everything unfold around her in a blissful state.

Raeden, already in her last year of primary school, sat cross legged to Shiko’s right, between Mako and her. She was the spark; fire, and lightning, free and confident, and so charming already. Her tutors said she’d get everything she wanted in life, now if she could only manage to sit still for the whole of a lesson… She talked about her training, the last letter she’d received from her uncles, and added a couple of well placed comments and eye rolls at her brother’s stories, so reminiscent of Azula, Shiko could hardly scold her for it.

To her left, Tatsuya sat properly on his knees, his back straight, and his words much more hand picked than his sister’s, albeit less elaborate, given the five years she had on him. He was the equanimity; focus and thought, poise and traditions, and had his father’s quality to enchant a room full of the most venomous ministers. He was excited about school, about learning more, and having homework, and he was actually excited about his royal lessons.

On her lap, Hikori made active use of his toddler’s half tongue, talking about all and everything, and trying out the words he heard that caught his attention. Every once in a while, he’d get stuck on one of them, repeating it until it lost all meaning, and got them all laughing at his excitement. He was calmness; balance and breathing, freshness and strength. He was their little earth baby, already showing signs of his element being that of his uncle, having little pebbles react to his tantrums.

Soon enough, the tea turned into dinner, and then it was time to go to bed. Mako dismissed the governess for the night, and they prepared the kids for bed themselves, Tatsuya’s room the place to take the party to next.

Raeden and Tatsuya tucked in the middle of the massive bed, little Hikori snuggled to Mako’s chest on one side, and Shiko started to read the story for the night on the other. It was one of spirits and adventures, and every so often Raeden made fire figures in the air to represent the characters. Hikori would squeal each time, Tatsuya scoff something along the lines of ‘show off’, and Shiko would catch Mako’s warm eyes over the cover of the book. Their family, her smile told him, this was their wonderful family.

Somewhere along the way, the day caught up with her, and she fell asleep. She was woken up by her husband’s rich voice, reading the end of the story to her two eldest, Hikori snoring softly between Mako’s arms.

A kiss on each forehead, Shiko stood, Mako doing the same, putting the book back into its place on the shelf. She stayed by the end of the bed, warm arms wrapping around her middle, she smiled and leaned back into Mako’s chest. He rested his chin on the top of her head.

“Can you believe we made them?” She often asked that question, especially when the three were together, and calm. Their faces relaxed, chests rising and falling slowly, a mess of hair, and little limbs all over the bed.

“It is pretty amazing.” Mako’s answer was soft, almost reverential, as if to say he really couldn’t. Soon they’d be too big for this, Raeden would be at least, and yet, it seemed only yesterday, when each had been put in her arms for the first time. It was ridiculous, the amount of love she could fit within herself for her babies.

With a soft kiss to her cheek, Mako laced their hands together, and led her out of the room, to their own, on the other end of the wing. Shiko leaned into his shoulder, her free hand toying with the golden trim at the hem of his robe.

“Wait, don’t-” She stopped his motions when they reached the suite, Mako’s fingers halting midwork of unfastening his robe. The way the right corner of his lips curled up told on her.

“Yes, my Lord?” He teased, a thumb brushing over her cheek, that burned all the way to the depths of her belly. And suddenly Shiko was not the Fire Lord anymore, but a much too shy princess again. Her eyes dropped to the floor, and her skin was aflame, blushed all over most likely than not. “Anything I can do for you?”

“Just- don’t take it off just yet.” Shiko liked to believe her voice sounded confident, even when it’d been but a whisper. He just rendered useless.

Her eyes took him in, the fine silks hugging his body perfectly, the darkened tangerine of his eyes, and the tiny lines at the sides of his eyes. Her fingers moved to trace them, and then up, to tangle in his hair, where some graying strands where slowly showing. He let her examine him, smiling with a confidence she had out to the public, but not in a private setting, not with him. Not when a single press of his hand on the small of her back had her gasping.

“Found anything you like, Shiko?” Mako asked, but didn’t let her answer, fingers closing around her chin, pulling her up for a kiss that left her breathless, and alight.

When she gathered her thoughts again, she was in bed with him, warm and contented between his arms, tracing lazy patterns on his abdomen.

“Everything, Mako.” She breathed softly to the skin of his chest, and slowly drifted to sleep.

[royalbrooch-blog]

i am enjoying @idonthaveabackstory ‘s and i’s thread.

[force-formed-archived-blog]

Struck down

For as long as she could remember, they’d been after him, the leader of the Triple Threat Triad.

When Lin was a kid, she’d heard her mother talk about him, curse at his person, while she smashed a thing or the other out of frustration. Then, once in the Force, Lin herself had been tasked endlessly with raids to catch him, that always came out empty handed. And her own frustrations, later as Chief, had only grown after Lightning Bolt Zolt was found dead.

She didn’t smash things in her failure, rather retorted to amber liquid in a glass, a Detective or two to accompany her in her bitching about it, and if she was lucky, no hangover the next day.

And now they had him. And he was but a kid. And she truly felt like smashing things now.

It had all come down far too quickly, and a part of her couldn’t escape the feeling that there had to be a catch to it. That she’d been tricked into buying lies. But she’d interrogated the snitch herself- after the team of pulse readers had had their shot at him- she’d even gone back to the rat right now. To verify, to find a single nick in his telling, to make sure they hadn’t got just a random firebender.

But he’d been as honest as before, the raid had gone exactly as planned- minus several injured that were truly unavoidable- and the leader of the bigger Triad in the city was now sitting on a cell in her Police Department. Her men were happy, some celebrating even. She was cautious.

In the wake of a toast by one of her Detectives, her feet took her down to the cell, waving the officers posted at the end of the hallway away. He had nothing to burn down here, and was surrounded by her every element. Much as the thought didn’t particularly please her, have him try something, and she’d enlighten him on how he was in her house now.

And still- the fact remained that he was just a kid. Lin watched him through the bars, back supporting her against the opposite wall of the hall. Aside from the evident distress, that oozed from him in awfully disquieting waves, he looked every bit the part though.

The clothes, layered in the form of what was surely a silk shirt, vest, coat, were fine enough to put him at least second in command. That he was in fact a firebender, that they had confirmation by the snitch, and that none of the rest of the incarcerated men were speaking, that put him as the undoubtable leader. The scarf looked tattered though, it didn’t match the rest of the look, which probably meant there was value to it. She kept that information safe for future use.

His muscles were tense, he was dirty, and battered, and when he looked up, his eyes were a swirling tangerine of emotions, it was startling. She held her face impassive though, mind working out every detail she could of him, and trying to come to terms with the fact that he had to be in his twenties at the most.

“Your men are pretty loyal, you should probably be thankful for that.” She shifted, squared her shoulders, and took just a step forward. “Not that we need their confessions really. Evidence of the Triad’s activity is well plastered all over the city, and that’s more than I need to keep you all here, for more years than you’d care for.

“But how about this- You speak to me now, you tell me every detail of the places you run, and the people I didn’t manage to catch, and I see what I can do for you?” It was a speech she’d said many times now, and it was good at making people talk, although she wasn’t sure with this one. He looked messy, frantic even. “Let’s start with something easy, name and age, kid.”

| closed starter - @idonthaveabackstory |

[twinchief]

@idonthaveabackstory said to twinchief:

“I’m in my own hell.”

        “You say that as if we aren’t miserable being here too.” Eska remarked. There was irritation in her voice but it wasn’t very different from the voice she normally spoke in. “Either get over it or leave.”

[thelovelymissparkinson]

City Streets

@idonthaveabackstory

On a hard wooden bench in the 14th district police department building, Pansy sat shivering in her barely there outfit, clutching her faux leather satchel to her chest. She’d been picked up for solicitation, which was incredibly ironic because for the first time since she’d fled to the Muggle world, she’d done her damndest to put an end to that particularly smarmy part of her personal history. 

Several months ago, she’d managed to secretly Portkey out of Europe and landed herself in America’s west coast, in a city called, San Francisco. It was the right amount of eccentric to retain her anonymity. Her accent fell in easily with those of the tourists who frequented the wharf and downtown shopping areas. Who knew Europeans especially liked the popup apothecaries that dotted a small alleyway between the Financial District and Chinatown. 

Within the first week of arriving, Pansy’s smarts about fashion and potion making helped her land a job in a bohemian shoppe that reminded her of Prof. Trelawney's classroom. In it were swathes of richly colored fabric, glass vials and exotic scents, crystal balls and Pansy’s favorite part of the mystical shoppe was the back room reserved for the fashion conscious mystic.

She’d been on her way to her second job on Broadway St, near the Tenderloin where she was an exotic dancer. Pansy had unexpectedly met with some territorial prostitutes on a corner near the wharf who thought she was invading their assigned streets. A brawl ensued... and that was how she’d landed herself in the district’s police office glaring at the detective behind the glass wall who refused to acknowledge her existence for the better part of two hours. 

Pansy silently cursed him in her head, knowing that this little stay would cost her a well-paying moonlighting job, the very one that kept her in the black and paying rent on time.

[wildmanbumi]

Continued with @idonthaveabackstory

“Thank you, lad, it’s certainly good to see you too.” Bumi squeezed Mako’s shoulder and slipped back into his booth. 

“Oh, those things, yeah, you know-” The neck of his beer quick between his fingers, he took a swig of the bottle, before pointing to the boy. “Whoever thought Tenzin should design outfits, was severely mistaken.” He shook his head, Spirits those were some interesting uniforms if he’d ever worn some.

Bumi leaned back into the seat, an arm tossed over the back, eyes travelling over the crowd, before resting on Mako. “So tell me Mako, how’s everything going?” He let a knowing grin stretch on his lips. “Met any lovely girls lately?”

[zaofumatriarch]

idonthaveabackstory

 (I don't know if you got this kinda ask but what...

Would also sell soul for a Bolin

[ you heard it here folks we have two souls on the market for the low low price of one single Bolin Legend Of Korra blog ]

[inazumashiko-archived]

Do I wanna know?

If Shiko pressed her fingers deeper into her eyes, she’d go blind. She felt the awkward prickling of tears at the corner of her eyes, stress getting the best of her yet again. They didn’t fall though, she didn’t let them, rather they evaporated on her skin, never managing to ruin her makeup. Her fingers were doing a good job of that on their own.

Another paper was pushed on the desk between her elbows. She glanced down, eyes blinking back into focus, and fished a pen to sign it. Niko fished it, and put another one in its place. 

They were well into a week of meetings at Republic City already, and it seemed as if they weren’t going to end any time soon, and with them, her arguments with her husband. Today, they had stretched beyond usual, and the tension within the room- amidst the whole of the Fire Nation party- could be cutted with a knife. It was her fault, she knew it, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Or to stop it.

“Shiko.” Her husband’s voice was heavy through the silence. She felt her shoulders tense further.

“What do you want me to tell you, Jiro?” Her voice betrayed her of course, it wavered, and told everyone in the room just how she was not keeping it together.

“All I’m saying is that the Northern Chief’s proposal is worth revisiting, Shiko.” The room was suddenly too silent. She didn’t have to look up to know Niko had stopped moving, and the two ministers accompanying them had probably stopped breathing as well.

Her gaze moved up to find him, standing by the tall hotel window. How she wished she could see something other than his lips pressed into a scowl she was far too familiar with already. That she could look beyond his choice in robes; heavy, and adorned beyond reason for their meetings of the day. Shiko wished she could tell the difference between her husband and the other two men in the room.

“My Lord-” Niko’s voice was low by her ear, a hesitant inquiry to leave them alone, but no. She raised a hand to stop anyone from moving, anyone but her.

She’d been almost out of the room, when Jiro’s hand closed around her wrist. “Shiko-” She looked up at him. His voice sounded worried, but his eyes were hard, the same as her jaw. He let go, and she left.

Distinctive clothes, crown and makeup discarded back at her suite, Shiko took to the streets of the bay city. She wasn’t too familiar with them, but had a pretty good idea of where she’d turned, to be able to return. Somewhere at the back of her mind, she was aware that people were probably looking for her, Niko at least was going to be worried. Something sat uncomfortably at her stomach; she wasn’t sure if it was guilt of worrying her friend and assistant, or sadness of knowing she’d be the only one to care. She pushed it away regardless.

Shiko didn’t know how long she’d been walking, when the smell of coffee made her stop, and sit at a table at the back of the small shop. It looked cozy, and the girl behind the counter smiled politely at her. No one knew her here, and that was so relieving, she almost breaks down right on the spot. 

It was okay, she’d rest for a moment, breathe, order something maybe, did she even have money on her? She wasn’t sure. With her hair shielding her from the world, she finally let frustrated tears fall.

| closed starter - @idonthaveabackstory |

[royalbrooch-blog]

whispers: ang$t

mako, you stop your ang$ting right now! no need to ang$t about money when your “best buddy” wu is incredibly rich :)

[royalbrooch-blog]

i forgot to post this; fanart of @idonthaveabackstory ‘s the deep end au

[royalbrooch-blog]

“I can’t believe you talked me into this.”

Wu beamed. He was so excited, he felt like wiggling in place. He didn’t, of course. He was a King. He had to be dignified. He had been so busy in the Earth Kingdom, he hadn’t been to Republic City in months. He probably shouldn’t even be taking the time out to do this, between meetings with the President and dignitaries and all the other things he was supposed to be doing, but it was Mako. After all Mako had done for Wu, Mako deserved Wu’s time more than anyone. Hopefully, despite his usual grousing, Mako actually wanted Wu’s time. Wu would make it the best dinner he possibly could.

“You won’t regret it, Mako!” he chirped. “If I’m in Republic City, I have to take my best buddy out to the swankiest place in town. You can’t subsist on cop-chow alone, or whatever it is you eat. Maybe protein bars? That’s my guess.” Wu reached out a skinny arm and put his hand on Mako’s flat, toned stomach. “You are practically skin and bone under all that muscle, probably!”

He took his hand away just as quickly. He tipped up his chin and smiled at the sight of the upper-class Republic City street spread out before them. “I missed this place,” Wu said. “Ba Sing Se is, well, home, I guess. But I like Republic City. All my favorite things are here. Like this restaurant! It’s gonna make Kwong’s Cuisine seem like a total hole in the wall.”

Wu kept his eyes on the street, but it was hard, with Mako walking next to him. He kept sneaking looks, somewhat nervously. Wu had missed Mako. Sure, Wu had other bodyguards now, but none of them could hold a candle to someone like Mako. Wu caught another glimpse of him, feeling himself blush just a bit. Despite Wu’s comments about his diet, had Mako’s shoulders gotten broader since the last time Wu had seen him? His eyes a deeper orange? His statuesque face even more grumpy?

Wu was pretty sure he thought that every single time he saw Mako. He forced the thoughts away and tried to focus. Dinner. Republic City. What was he talking about? “You should try the smoked sea slug. You’ll like it. It’s a Fire Nation dish, I think. I mean, not that all firebenders like smoked sea slug. But you probably will.”

[inazumashiko-archived]

"How are you feeling? The two of you."

“Mako!” Shiko crossed the office in a second, and launched herself to his arms. “You dumb, stupid, man, I’ve missed you!” She pulled away to look at his eyes, and down at her ever growing belly. “We’ve missed you. You came back early.”

[inazumashiko-archived]

Time off

Continued with @idonthaveabackstory

Her lips stretched to a massive grin, and she had to bite them not to screech of joy. For one, because well- she supposed she tried to behave when she was out with him. And also, because she had the helmet on, so she’d leave herself deaf, and would be the only one to blame for it.

“We have to-” She started talking before remembering the helmet once more, and pulled it off with a chuckle. “We absolutely have to do something, Mako! I can’t believe you have a whole week off!” Shiko hugged his neck, pressing her lips to... they fell near enough Mako’s own to call it a kiss.

“What do you say we go with my brother’s on their boat somewhere?” She asked to his skin, nose pressed to his cheekbone. She pecked him once more, and pulled away, excitement making it hard for her to stay still on the bike.

[inazumashiko-archived]

❝Thanks for trusting me.❞

"You don't have to thank me, trust is something one earns, and you did." She reached to place a hand over his, a smile on her lips.

[inazumashiko-archived]

sms: Sorry it's taking me so long. Start without me if you want to.

sms: It’s okay, I can wait. Bumi on the other hand… well, he might bite your brother. 

sms: Or Bolin might bite Bumi. It’s unclear. 

sms: Iroh and I are making bets. Want in?

[inazumashiko-archived]

Chasing unicorns

Somehow, whenever she was at a party with her friends- a party for one of her friends in this case- Shiko ended up alone. Jie would “take just a moment to mingle”, and disappear all night, draping herself to the arm of the richest boy in the room, until the next one came along, and Wen- she just, had a thing for Chefs. Shiko wouldn’t doubt for a second that the girl was now at Jie’s kitchens, playing coy to whoever was wearing the top, white hat; asking questions about the dishes, what type of olive oil was best, and which garnish was their favourite.

Shiko sighed, and her eyes moved around the room, but she was not really looking. She knew people here, of course she did, but had next to no interest in playing the part today, being polite. She’d had little interest when she arrived- her week had been a disastrous one- and she had even less now, after her run in with an idiot she knew from a college party, that had gotten touchy.

She moved around the room, watching the people, playing with her mobile, stopping for a moment on the gifts table, letting her fingers caress the shimmery wrapping papers, and trying to guess what each of them could hide; a new gold iphone- or three, several designer bags, small boxes that surely had diamonds or some other jewelry, a couple of bigger boxes that were likely to hold dresses worth what a small apartment did. She let out a sigh, eyes moving over the obscene car in the middle of the room, and landing- rather unfortunately- on the guy from earlier.

Turning on her heels, Shiko traced back her steps, looking for an out, the guy- evidently drunk by now- following her. It just had to be her luck, to meet this imbecile here, the douchebag to be 'interested', completely wasted, and have no respect whatsoever.

The party was already a mess, the dancefloor impossible to maneuver through, and most of the wings closed off by security. For a moment Shiko considered going to the kitchens, Wen would be there, and she was sure her friend would not let the idiot get away with one word, of the colorful array he had to say to her. God, she hated being useless like this.

Shiko reached the end of the only corridor she found unguarded, and turned right, she frowned, looking around. She was not familiar with this side of the manor, she figured it had to be Jie’s parents’ wing, but it had probably been redone. Suddenly a tipsy couple was ushered away from one of the rooms, and her shoulders dropped, she knew it futile to try and get past the guard. If there was one condition for this insanity of a party, was that the private wings of the manor remained untouched.

But as Shiko began to retrace her steps once more, the guy caught up with her, his lips twisting to a lewd grin that made her shiver, and she turned back to the guard, eyes pleading that he helped her.

| starter - @idonthaveabackstory |