A/N: Hi guys. I'm so sorry for the incredibly long break between updates. I had to make it through the last few weeks of school. Finals have been all wrapped up and I have the summer ahead of me. I hope to update rather frequently! Thank you to everyone who has hung in there and waited for this most recent addition to the story. You guys are great! Ps. I do not own LOK. As if!

Chapter 10: The Unvarnished Truth

Korra awoke unceremoniously with her face pressed against Mako's stomach. She lifted herself off the ground slowly, careful not to jostle her companion. Birds chirped from the trees above them and sunlight filtered through the leaves. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Korra ran a hesitant hand through her hair, stifling a groan when she felt the knotted mess it had become. God, she missed those ponytails. Her hair pieces had gotten lost in the explosion, and she'd had to make do without them every day since. With a resigned sigh she set to untangling the catastrophe of her hair and forcing it into a semi orderly braid, taking in her surroundings as she worked. Republic city's skyline rose up about a mile away from the small cluster of trees that they had taken shelter in at dawn. And judging by the sun, she guessed it was close to midday. Mako snored very lightly beside her, his back pressed against the tree and his face turned up. She'd been fuzzy on the events before she fell asleep, but Korra vaguely remembered Mako saying something about keeping watch. She fought a grin as she took in his sleeping form. He looked, peaceful. Scooting towards him, she pressed both hands against his shoulders and kissed him softly. Mako's eyes shot open in surprise, closing again as he kissed her back. A minute later Korra pulled away, breathing heavily and leaning against Mako's chest. The firebender chuckled, pressing his lips to her forehead and murmuring into her hair, "I could get used to waking up like that."

"Hmph." Korra snorted. "You're going to have to become a better lookout if you expect to keep getting kissed awake."

Mako laughed aloud. "You're right. I kind of botched that one didn't I?" With a wicked grin he slid into a low bow, sweeping his arm in front of him in mock seriousness. "I promise great Avatar, that I will do better next time."

The corners of Korra's mouth twitched.

"Can your Greatness ever forgive me?" Mako peeked his head up from the bow, attempting a pleading expression that came out more as a smirk.

Korra fought doubly hard to frown. "Firebender, you have brought great dishonor upon yourself. I simply don't know that I can ever—

"Gah!" Korra exhaled with a thump as Mako charged, grabbing her around the stomach and lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his midsection and they both dissolved into giggles.

"Okay," Korra breathed. "You're forgiven."

Blue eyes met golden and for a second the teenagers forgot the problems of the world resting on their shoulders. For a moment, they were just Korra and Mako; and they were in love.

Mako broke away first this time, lowering his girlfriend to the ground. With a sigh he glanced toward Republic City. "Shall we?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Korra pecked him one last time on the cheek and accepted his upturned palm.

"We shall."

The streets of Republic City were eerily silent as they made their way through the small clusters of shops and stalls. Korra kept her hood pulled low to hide her face, grateful that the day was cool and her outfit was not especially suspicious. Mako followed a hairs breath behind her. Each time their bodies brushed she could feel the tension of his muscles. He was on guard and on edge, in full on protective mode. She chanced a glance at the tight set of his jaw. He looked like very much like the boy who had grown up fighting his way through the streets. In short, someone you didn't want to mess with.

Korra's spirits sank. How was she going to convince people to talk to her when she had a body guard who looked like he wanted to smash their faces in?

She led the way to a secluded corner of the market, turning to face Mako as she paused. "I vote we divide and conquer" she whispered. You find Skootchy and see what he can tell you. I'll see what I can pick up from the vendors here." She eyed his face hopefully.

"Not a chance, Korra. I'm not leaving you." The young firebender said stubbornly, crossing his arms across his chest.

Korra made a noise of exasperation. "Fine." She said, mimicking his gesture and crossing her arms. "But then you have to stop looking like Mr. Tough Guy over here. No one is going to talk to us when you're acting like a hired guard."

Mako blinked in surprise, his mouth twisting into a frown. He sighed slowly, attempting to control his temper. "Fine." He agreed. "I can do that."

Korra raised one eyebrow doubtfully, but turned on her heal and marched back towards the stalls with Mako following close behind.

"Um yea, sure. I'll take a cabbage." Korra glanced at Mako hopefully. He rolled his eyes and pulled several yuans from his pocket, handing them to her.

Korra approached the vendor who had hailed them over. "Just one please."

The man nodded and began packaging the cabbage for them. "So," Korra said, causally, as if she were just striking up idle conversation. "Have you worked here long?" The cabbage vendor glanced at her.

"Young lady, I have worked this booth selling cabbages since I was twelve years old." He said seriously.

"Oh. Um, that's nice." Korra scratched her head nervously.

"So there's been a lot of talk lately about Equalists. Have you heard anything?"

The cabbage seller paused in his task, eyeing her suspiciously. "Who's asking?"

Korra fumbled, searching for something to tell him that would set the man at ease.

"You know, I'm a non bender and my family is worried. I just wondered if you had heard anything that might cause problems." She paused thoughtfully. "We're thinking about leaving the city soon." She added, hoping this last bit would convince the man of her genuine worry.

The vendor nodded slowly before responding, the suspicion leaving his eyes. "A lot of talk like that going on. Course for me'self, I won't leave. My family has lived here for nine generations-long before it was Republic City.

"Oh." Korra responded smartly.

"You know," the vendor continued. "The funny thing is, I haven't heard anything about the Equalists this time around. Last time there was somebody knockin on my door every day of the week trying ta' get me to join the cause. This time, nothin'."

He nodded again, mumbling to himself. "Yes. Mighty strange."

Korra thanked him quickly and left with her cabbage, exiting the market down the first alleyway she found.

When she was satisfied that they were alone, she stopped. She leaned against the rough brick across from Mako, puzzling over all they had found. The cabbage man was the fourth vendor they had talked to, and he had hit upon something that had been bothering Korra as well.

"He's right." She said at last, breaking the silence between them. "It doesn't add up."

Mako waited patiently for her to finish her thoughts.

"Last time there were all those fliers, and speakers in the park, and secret rallies…this time-nothing. Mako," she said slowly. "Do you think someone could be using the Equalists as a front?"

He sighed, rubbing his brow. Honestly, he'd been wondering the same thing. "I don't know Korr, but you're right. It seems off somehow."

They were both silent for another moment.

"Everything seems…normal now." She said at last. "The other vendors said the disappearances have stopped." She glanced up sharply from the piece of ground she had been studying. "What do you think it means, that only children were taken? And Skootchy…" she trailed off, eyeing the pain in Mako's expression.

They had searched for the boy for almost an hour. Finally they found some of the kids he usually ran around with, and for a few yuans they told them that Skootchy had been missing for over a week. Mako wouldn't talk about it, but she suspected it cut him deeply. He and Bolin had grown up in the same life as Skootchy. He obviously felt some connection and responsibility for the little boy.

Korra pushed off the wall, crossing the distance between them and laying a hand on Mako's shoulder. "Hey." She said softly. "I'm sure he's going to be okay."

Mako nodded, pulling her into a swift hug. "It's getting dark. Ready to head back to the bunker?"

Korra nodded. "Let's go."

They made their way back through the dim alleyway, emerging on the opposite side of the market. Korra shivered in the brisk night air, pulling her hood around her with a sense of unease.

She'd felt vaguely as if they were being watched all day. But she'd seen nothing to support her intuition, and Mako didn't seem to share the feeling. The pair moved stealthily through the streets, headed towards the outskirts of the city. They were passing by a slew of abandoned warehouses when she noticed Mako tense up. He moved closer to her, stepping in sync with her walk.

"What's wrong?" she asked, not daring to break her gait.

"Triad territory." Mako muttered, his eyes scanning the buildings around them.

He was looking to the right when attackers rose from the shadows to their left.

"Aggh!" Korra let out a yelp of pain as a kick collided with her ribs. She flipped backwards, right into Mako, and the two of them stumbled and collapsed to the ground in a heap. Their assailants moved in quickly, with a stealth and fighting style Korra had never seen before. Mako regained his feet first, leaping in front of Korra and bending jets of fire at the dark shrouded figures. His punches met with empty air. The attackers moved fluidly, so much so that Korra couldn't get her eyes to truly focus on them. She fought with her back pressed against Mako, taking more hits than she delivered. She could feel Mako's body shudder against hers with each brutal attack. Korra tried each element after the next, bending at her attackers until sweat drenched her shirt and pain wracked her body. Wind proved the most effective, and with each gust she bent the assailants appeared to shimmer in the air, almost like…Spirits.

It was the last thought she had before she fell to the street, unconscious.

Mako felt Korra fall behind him. With a last desperate jolt of adrenaline he tried to pull her from the ground and make a run for it. Only then did he realize how many more attackers there were than he had thought. They had all been focused on fighting Korra. He was clutching the limp form of the girl he loved when a well-placed kick collided with his head. Mako slumped, and he too, saw his world dissolve into darkness.

Annnd the cliff hangers make a resurgence! Thank you for reading. Also, as I am sure everyone already knows, more reviews=more updates. Go for it!

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