A/N: I'm not even sure if this counts.
Disclaimer: I don't own.
Korra put down her book when she heard the knock. She stood and smoothed her new blue silk nightgown as she prepared to open the door. She hoped whatever makeup she'd put on earlier was still fresh looking. She quickly brushed the hair out of her eyes (she hated it down but needed it that way) and opened the door.
There stood Mako, leaning against the doorframe, fedora in his hands as he ran his fingers around the broad brim. "You didn't have to dress up for me, doll," he said in way of greeting.
"I always sleep like this," Korra replied in what she hoped was a sultry voice. He smirked.
"I found your polar beardog."
"Why thank you so much," she slid up to him, pressing herself against his chest. "How can I ever repay you?"
He grabbed her arms and pushed her back. His grip tightened as she struggled to free herself. "Let go of me!"
"Not until you tell me what's really going on, doll," he told her.
"I lost my pet, you're the best detective in the City and I needed the best. She's very special to me."
"Your pet knew exactly where you live and, from what I can tell, has been coming home every night."
She stopped moving. "You've been spying on me?" She accused.
"Of course I am. I know who you really are," he whispered.
She looked around the hallway and then back at him. "Come inside, we should get to know each other better." He walked past her as she closed the door. He turned and she immediately sent water around his wrists and froze them together in front of him.
He sighed and she watched as he melted the ice away with the heat of his hands. "You should really make sure you never do that to a firebender."
"You don't advertise your abilities," she accused as she took a defensive stance.
"And you don't advertise you're the Avatar but we all have our faults." She opened her mouth to deny it but he held up a hand. "Spare me, sweetheart. If you're going to do things in public at least change your name. Now are you going to tell me why you sent me on a wild goose chase?"
She knew there was no point in lying. "You're investigating Zolt."
"And how did you know that?"
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Did you know he says he's partnered with Amon?"
"Ha," Mako said bitterly. "If he's in league with him then I'm the prince of the Fire Nation."
"He had Equalists come and kidnap me!" Korra exclaimed.
Mako plopped himself down on the couch and patted the seat next to him. Korra stood her ground. "Suit yourself. He doesn't have Equalists. He's trained some of his henchmen in chi blocking and killed to get those uniforms. He's been manipulating everyone around him to take control of all the Triads. Amon, as far as I can tell, is sitting back and letting them destroy each other before striking. Now, why do you think he would need the all might Avatar on his side?"
"Mockery will get you no where."
He held his hands up. "I'm just wondering what a pretty girl like you is doing with a creep like that."
Korra looked away. "He said he'd get Amon to take my parents bending if I didn't do what he wanted," she said softly.
Mako's face softens. "I'm sorry." He stood and embraced her. She didn't relax. "You were doing what you thought you could to protect them."
"I tried to warn him but he has minions at the switch board and they're supposed to block my calls. I can't even telegram without him knowing."
"As far as we know neither Zolt nor Amon have spies in the Southern Water Tribe." He stroked her back. She wasn't sure how to react, she'd only ever been held like this by her mother. She wasn't going to cry, that was just silly. "Is there anything else Zolt made you promise to do?"
She hesitated. This was the one thing Zolt really wanted, the one guarantee he needed. "He made me promise to never take his bending."
Mako pushed her back. "You know how to do that?"
"Of course not," she scoffed. "But Aang did and it is possible for the Avatar to do it. I just don't know how. There's no manual that comes with this." She bit her lip. "Now he's going to find out I told you and we're both going to be in trouble."
"Not necessarily."
"What do you mean? Of course he is because he's going to know we were meeting!"
"We've been trailing him and routinely cutting off his connections."
"We've?" She narrowed her eyes. "You're in Beifong's pocket, aren't you?"
He shrugged. "What can I say? I'm either with her, the Triads, or the Equalists and frankly she scares me the most. That and she's bailed out my brother enough for me to owe her."
"You have a brother?"
"Bolin."
"Wait, Bolin who competes in every Earth Rumble? The Bolin who finally won this year?"
Mako beamed. "That's my baby brother. He's done some idiotic things but he's really turned himself around."
"That's great and all but how is any of this going to make it so Zolt doesn't try to manipulate me anymore than he is since he knows you're here?"
"We're going to give him a show."
"What's that supposed to mean!" She exclaimed as he dragged her over to her window. Still stunned he kissed her. His lips were hard on hers; there was nothing remotely romantic about it. She pushed him away and slapped him. "What in Spirits name was that for?"
Mako pulled her close again. "I'm trying to let him think we're dating. Unless you want to come up with a better reason as to why I'm going to be coming to your apartment every night to check on you," he whispered into her ear.
"I'm beginning to hate you."
"You're just bad that I have the upper hand. Now kiss me like you mean it and I'll consider taking you out to dinner tomorrow night sweetheart."
"You'll have to take me dancing too."
"Of course, the Avatar sets fire to the floors every other night."
"Stop following me."
"Stop talking and kiss me."
"Fine." She kissed him with as much force as he had kissed her. He was ready though and he angled his head slightly and began to slightly suck on her lower lip. Korra hated to admit it felt good. He pulled her closer and she tried very hard not to moan as he nipped her lip. Finally she pulled back.
"I could get used to this assignment." Mako smirked.
"And I could break your kneecaps."
"Only if we're on a date. I think I'm going to like this assignment."
Korra hit him. She wasn't going to like being babysat but at least she knew her parents were safe. Now she had to clean up the mess she helped make.
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