A/N: I blinked a couple of times and suddenly, it was 2017 already. I can't express how sorry I am, but life gets very busy. I had forgotten how much fun it was to write this story.

I hope you enjoy it!

Ahead

adv. further forward in space; in the line of one's forward motion. in the lead.

"She was not there," his calm exterior was, unknown to the people around him, accompanied by the fidgeting of his hands behind his back.

The gang members, along with their leader, Lightning Bolt Zolt, observed him quietly as they studied him. Mako understood why they were skeptical, as he had disappeared for a couple of days after the incident. However, he knew they would not question his honesty, but it was evident that something did happen.

Rubbing his chin, the gray-haired leader commanded, "Walk us through the business."

If someone had paid enough attention, they would have noticed that he was not as cool at the moment as he portrayed himself to be. There were clear signs of nervousness and he was completely aware of it. Nonetheless, the more he tried to control it, the more obvious it would become to the others. He could not give a single piece of information away. The repercussions would be catastrophic.

But not for him.

So why was he willing to go through all of that trouble, when those consequences would not affect him negatively? He was carrying a burden that did not belong to him. He was taking the blow for someone who did not even know his name. There was no one important enough for him to put his life, and especially his brother's, at risk. And he scolded himself for unconsciously believing that she could be any different.

He told himself that he was doing this because he owed her. After all, she had saved his life even when she knew what he and his group intended to do at the City Hall. The Avatar had spared him, regardless of his intentions, his origins and his actions. Without asking for mercy, not that he would have ever done that, she had granted it to him.

He was not sure whether that had been unbelievably noble or extremely stupid.

Now, he did not underestimate her for a second. The true objective behind her aid remained a secret still, as he had learned throughout his life that people did not go out of their ways to help someone else out of the goodness of their hearts. Yet, his own was telling him that perhaps that was the reason she was more than enough.

But those dangerous thoughts about the Avatar would stay buried in the very back of his head, and he would pretend that they had never met again. Because that was exactly what he was going to tell the Triple Threats: absolutely nothing. As far as he was concerned, Korra had not been in the City Hall the day of their attack.

So he filled them with a tale full of lies, knowing that meant an immediate treachery. What he was hiding from them was the only thing they wanted, and if they were to find out he was, it was certain that someone would pay. He only hoped that if the truth were to come out, that they would go for him and not his brother.

"–and after the sentries injured me, I barely managed to knock them out and escape," his voice did not rise or drop, it was as indifferent as he needed it to be, "I was outnumbered, but the gas weakened them."

He did not add too many details, as he did not want to sound suspicious. But too many eyes were on him, the smallest hint that he was not telling the truth and he would be in a lot of trouble.

"If you got out, then why did you not report?" Viper, a Waterbender he despised, asked with squinted eyes. They had never trusted each other, so naturally he was the one to raise accusations.

That peaked the other gangsters' interest, but the Firebender quickly replied with annoyance, "Well, I can gladly break your skull open and see if you're heading to work right after."

Before a fight between the two of them could start, the Triad leader intervened, "Enough, Viper. His brother already corroborated that Mako was at home," he then turned to the young Firebender, "You may go, my boy."

With a bow, he exited the office. There was no doubt that Zolt would believe him. He had never given the old leader any reasons to distrust him. But he could never be too careful, since he never knew what vipers were hissing in the boss' ears.

Just outside of the room, there was a spacious lounge were the mobsters met on a daily basis. Tonight was, however, a busy night, so the place was not as full as usual. High or low on the ranks, there was work to be done, particularly after the happenings during that week. The mess would not clean itself and the gangster would not get out of jail by themselves. With the Republic City Police on alert, that mess was bigger than ever.

As he was about to leave the premises and search for his brother, who was surely in the bar downstairs, he felt eyes on him. He turned around, his golden eyes landing on a pair of light green ones that were observing him across the room.

She looked as beautiful and regal as always, with her shiny black hair that reach her waist. Surely, she could captivate any man that laid eyes on her. Nevertheless, he was not one of those men anymore. At some point, he had been enchanted by everything she was, but those days were long gone.

Still, he was interested in her. Not romantically, not physically. He paid close attention to her visits to the Triads, as they were becoming more and more frequent. Undoubtedly it had something to do with business and that is what he wanted to find out. What was the daughter of a former equalist doing involved with the Triple Threats?

If he knew Asami, and he liked to think that he did, she was up to something. When they were together, she had privately voiced her hate towards the gangs, even after knowing that he was part of one. But despite the hate, if she needed power or money, the Triads were known to have both.

They locked eyes for a few seconds, as she was engaged in conversation with other mobsters, but after he heard noise from outside of the door, he broke their connection.

Opening and closing the door behind him, he encountered a view that caused his blood to boil.

A woman was pinned against the wall not too far away from him. Her arms were bent behind her back, as a man hovered behind her. It did not matter who the girl was, he would have been just as disgusted. But when he realized her identity, he became furious.

His fists clenched as he made his presence known, "What is it that you think you're doing, Shin?"

"None of your business, Mako," the Earthbender spat as he looked at the younger Triad member.

Before the golden-eyed man could beat the spirits out of the other gang member, the girl had broken free. In a matter of seconds and a single move of her hand, her assaulter was already collapsing to the floor.

"You little bi–" the man on the ground began but Kya shoved her wrist bindings into his mouth. Now, he was unable to move and speak.

Mako opened his mouth, with his eyes open wide in surprise, "You're a chi-blocker," Call him impressed.

Nodding, she moved towards him, "A lot of people are."

"Are you okay?" As he pointed at the immobile Shady Shin, he asked softly. After what had just happened, it was normal for her to be upset and for him to be concerned.

"Don't worry about me," she shrugged her shoulders with a smile, "If I were you, I would be worried about him. I'm not a damsel in distress."

"I know you're not," he could not prevent the grin that invaded his face as he heard her confidence.

Looking into her bright blue eyes that showed no fear, he knew just how screwed he was. She was definitely something that he had never seen before. It was her fire, her courage, her strength. Everything about her drew him towards her, against his several attempts to stay away. He just couldn't.

The closer she was, the more he was able to memorize her features. And he enjoyed that more than he thought he would. Her brown hair, which was growing fast, curled slightly at the tips.

Only a few centimeters, and he would finally find out what it would be like to kiss her. Her lips looked soft, her blue eyes–

Her eyes!

There was something familiar about her eyes. Every second he looked at them, it became more evident. He had seen those eyes before.

But where?

Had the door not opened, they would have probably closed the gap. He did not know whether he was relieved or disappointed that they moved away from each other as if nothing had occurred.

The black-haired intruder crossed her arms over her chest with a taunting grin that caused his cheeks to redden. He could only imagine what was going through the Sato Heiress' mind and he had a feeling he would not like to know more.

"This is kind of an unfortunate interruption," the business woman spoke when none of them did. Granted, the two benders could not even look at each other. "But I've been dying to talk to you."

A grunt of exasperation left his lips before asking, "What do you want now, Asami?"

It had not been his intention to sound as irritated as he did. The two of them had history, but they still had a friendship. If he were completely honest with himself, he would have admitted he was annoyed because the previous moment was interrupted. And yes, he would blame Asami for that.

"Not you," as the nonbender pointed at the short-haired woman, she corrected "Her."

Kya blinked repeatedly, apparently taken aback by what she had just heard. A million thoughts ran through his head as he tried to figure out what his ex-girlfriend would want from the Earthbender. He was not even sure they knew each other, and by the look on the blue-eyed girl's face, his assumption was spot on.

He moved in front of Asami, his eyebrows furrowing as he quietly asked, "What do you want with her?"

"I think it's a mutual interest," answered confidently the green-eyed woman.

"Don't drag her into this," he threatened, still merely loud enough for her to hear.

"You know," her mouth opened and closed, as if not knowing what to say, before finally telling him, "After the City Hall incident, I was worried so went to check up on you at your place. You were not there," she looked at him intensely and placed a kiss on his cheek. She murmured close to his ear, "Be careful."

His mind traveled to his recent conversation with the Triple Threats, as he had assured them that he had been at home after the raid. It was a secret that he had to guard at all costs, one that he had to pull Bolin into as well. But his brother only knew enough for their stories to coincide and the fake alibi to work. The less he knew, the better.

Only two people knew about the true events of that day.

Now it seemed like he had a complication, again. He was certain that Asami would not disclose that information to anyone. Even if they were not as close anymore, they cared for one another. She was as loyal to their friendship as he was. The issue laid on who else knew what his friend had so easily figured out. There could be more people who could put two and two together, and this time, maybe it would not be a friend.

He had to watch his back if he did not want a knife finding its way to it.

"Shall we?" the black-haired woman motioned for the brunette to follow, and to his surprise, she did.

Beyond his understanding, the blue-eyed Earthbender obliged to Asami's invitation. He was puzzled, but knew better than to intervene. They were both grown women. And if there was something he was sure of, especially after tonight, was the fact that neither of them needed his or anyone's protecting.

Asami started the engine of her tinted-windowed Satomobile, before placing her right hand on the gear. The other woman on the passenger seat waited quietly for the machine to start moving.

"I don't think we know each other," the driver began with a gentle tone, before chuckling, "At least not personally."

Korra still had to be careful. Once more, she was doing something ridiculously idiotic that could get her in more trouble that she could manage to get out of. She was in a ride that could literally end in her death. No, she did not believe the other girl could fatally strike her. But if the stories she had heard about the Future Industries Chief were true, then she would at least escape with a couple of scars.

Saying nothing, she simply focused on the road, looking at Asami out of the corner of her eye every so often. She was curious about the reasons behind the driver's sudden interest in her, if it was sudden at all. Nevertheless, the Avatar was interested as well.

Beifong herself had, after all, suggested the Sato girl as their inside man. The brunette merely wanted to know why she was so special. She would have definitely never been her first choice. Daughter of a former equalist, whom Korra had sent to jail, involved with the Thriads– It did not scream loyalty to the Avatar.

While she was undercover, she had the element of surprise. That meant she was one step ahead of the green-eyed woman, and she was going to take that to her advantage.

"I know close to nothing about you," the one on the wheel continued after a few minutes with the one-sided conversation, "But I have the feeling that you know plenty about me."

The brunette shrugged her shoulders, "I've heard a few things."

She heard the chuckle again, "Yet, you agreed to follow me."

"Well, Satomobile murder does not sound like your modus operandi," the two laughed at her joke, as the Avatar's eyebrows began to knit, "Where are we going, by the way?"

"Nowhere dangerous, I promise," the other girl said with what Korra thought was sincerity.

Although she had more than enough motives to distrust the black-haired woman, she found herself willing to do the exact opposite. The trust was not well founded, since she could not detect anything on a moving Satomobile, but call it a hunch. Her instincts were telling her that Asami was not an enemy.

"So why am I here?" she addressed the elephant in the room.

"Isn't it obvious?"

Whether or not it had been the driver's intention to test her patience, she was starting to do so, "I'd rather not have you answering questions with more questions."

A side-smile appeared on Asami's face, "Fair enough," she said in defeat, "You can put quite a show. At the Fighting Pits, I mean."

"What is your point?"

"The way you fight– It's impressive," the green-eyed woman complimented with raised eyebrows, "I had never seen something like that. But I'm not the only one that has noticed. The Triads have noticed, too. And trust me, you want to stay out of their radar."

"Am I supposed to believe all of this–" she motioned the two of them, representing their conversation, "Is because you wanted to look out for me?"

The Future Industries Chief shook her head, "The talent that you have. They will want to use it."

"Don't you want to use it, too?" the blue-eyed girl voiced her accusation, "I'm assuming that is the reason I'm here."

"You can't remain neutral forever. I tried," Asami told her, releasing a long sigh, "At some point, you will have to choose a side before you don't have the luxury of choosing anymore. Why not pick the right one?"

Korra snorted, not showing that the previous statement had indeed shaken her slightly on the inside, "So, you're saying your side is the right one."

"No. But I'm sure we can benefit from one another."

Immediately, the cerulean-eyed woman crossed her arms above her chest, "I don't work for anyone."

The one behind the wheel corrected her, "I don't want you to work for me, but with me."

The Avatar engaged in thought for a moment. Perhaps this was the opportunity she had been waiting for. With Asami's help, she could easily infiltrate the Triads without putting herself at risk. The woman had contacts, and subsequently, information. That was something that the brunette needed.

If she wanted someone on the inside, well, now it was on a silver platter.

Her only worry was that it would be a give and take relationship. She knew what she wanted to take, but at what cost? What was it that Asami wanted her to give?

The Satomobile came to a halt and the business woman held out her hand for the other to shake. Her blue eyes darted from Asami's hand to her face, as she contemplated her decision. She was certain that there was a price to pay, but she had a lot to win from their two-end deal.

"Will this stay between us?" she asked, thinking mostly of a certain pair of brothers.

The green-eyed woman flashed her a genuine smile, before answering, "For as long as you want it to be."

Just then, Korra extended her arm and shook the other's hand.

"We will meet soon," Asami promised, as the brunette stepped out of the vehicle. As she drove away, the Avatar's mouth hung open when she looked into the distance. She could feel the color leave her skin as her heart beat accelerated.

Not too far in front of her was the Sato Mansion.

It seemed that Asami had been two steps ahead of her all along.

A/N: From this point on, the (many) questions will be answered. I have a lot of exciting plans for this story. As for The Light Within, I need to pick up where I left off, it's a lot of chapters that I have to re-read. Notes:

1. This story will not turn into a love triangle. Mako and Asami are friends. As for Asami and Korra, they will have an interesting relationship, but not romantically.

2. So Mako is finally figuring out the Kya/Korra resemblance. At least a bit, but not quite yet.

I would love to hear your thoughts, theories and opinions regarding this chapter. What do you think Asami wants, or what the triads want from Korra?

Thank you for reading and don't forget to leave a review!