"Hey Chief, I uh….."

Mako stopped mid-sentence, mouth hung open at what he saw. He'd entered Chief Bei Fong's office with the intention of delivering a verbal report about recent activity from the Triple Threat Triad. However, it was kind of hard to focus once he laid eyes on the Chief sitting on the edge of her desk, vigorously kissing Commander Bumi.

The two broke apart at the noise and slowly looked over at Mako. Bumi looked slightly concerned, but was unable to hide his amusement at the current situation and managed a sheepish grin.

"Hey there, Detective," he said with a little wave.

A blush spread across Mako's cheeks and he nervously gripped the back of his neck, eyes focused on Chief Bei Fong. The metalbender's face was turning red, not with embarrassment, but with anger. The fingers which had been running through the Commander's thick brown mane were now balled into tight little fists, and her mint green eyes glared daggers at her subordinate.

"Mako…"

"Yeah, so, um, I just wanted to let you know that, uh, the Triad created some minimal, uh, damage, in th-the-"

"Get. Out." Lin spoke with a calm voice, but at this point even Bumi felt the need to give her space and backed up behind the desk.

"Oh! Sure, no problem, I'll just come back later… D-do you think you'd be done in like, uh, five minutes or so? Because this report is kind of-

"GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!"

"Yes Chief!" the firebender cried as he fumbled for the doorknob.

"AND KNOCK NEXT TIME!" She added as the detective finally slammed the door shut behind him.

"Nice to see ya!" Bumi called after him. Lin turned her glare on him next. "What? He's a good kid!"

A frustrated groan escaped Lin's gritted teeth. She walked over to her desk still seething, and took out a hand mirror to start fixing herself up. "This is your fault," she muttered.

"Aw, come on Hun, I can't help that I'm irresistible."

"Can it!"

Outside Lin's office, Mako walked to his desk and sat down. He blinked a few times, hard. "Nope," he muttered to himself. "Never gonna be able to get rid of that one."

"What's that Mako?" the detective at the next desk asked.

"Oh, uh, nothing Li."

"Sounded like you said something. Heard the Chief yell at you. I hate it when she gets that way."

"Yeah. Me too."

"Yep. But, let's be honest, you shouldn't interrupt her when she's busy."

"Busy. Yeah."

"Though it makes a guy wonder what could be important when she's just talking to old Bumi."

"Bumi. Yep, that's Bumi in there."

As if on cue, the Commander strolled leisurely out of the Chief's office. On his way to the door he stopped at Mako's desk. "She asked to see you, kid."

"Okay," Mako said, trying to avoid eye contact with the Commander. As he got up, Bumi rested a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "Good luck." Mako watched as he left and made the slow walk to Bei Fong's office. He was about to enter when he stopped himself and knocked.

"Come in."

He did so. Once in Lin gestured for him to sit down.

"I see you're finally learning to knock."

Mako looked away. "Yes ma'am."

"Good. Now listen carefully," she said, standing and leaning across the desk. "You will tell no one about what you just saw. Not your brother or Korra, not Tenzin or his family, and especially not anyone on the force. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Alright." She sat down again and sighed heavily. The Chief looked over at him and, just a tad bit sheepishly said, "For what it's worth, I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Um, no problem. I mean, it happens, you know?"

"Yes, it does."

The two sat there awkwardly for a moment.

"You wanna give that report now?"

"Yes!"

He gave his report and stood to go afterwards. But, despite the need to get out of there, a question nagged him.

"So," he said when he was close to the door, "are you too, I mean, dating?"

Lin's eye twitched. "You could call it that. Technically we are, but… Well, it's just complicated."

"Apparently."

"Yes. Now if you'd please, we both have work to do."

"Right. I'll get out of your hair."

Mako left and Lin leaned back in her chair. Tired, she muttered, "Bumi, only you could get me in a situation like this."

She glanced over at the desk and remembered the face Mako had made when he walked in. And, in spite of herself, she laughed.