Toza scratched at his scruffy chin, studying the papers in his hand. It looked official, like proper paperwork of adoptions he certainly didn't fill out. He didn't even know there was paperwork to fill out to get a kid. Although putting actual thought into it, showing up and just picking out a kid to take home seems … well, fucked up. But Toza didn't know, never intended to ever find out. So how he came to acquire these papers were so perplexing he was at a loss the moment they were presented.

Someone called the cops with "concerns" about the kids squatting at the Probending arena. That people were "worried" about the young boys. Toza would have laughed had he any less sense. As if anyone in this city actually gave a shit about those boys. Toza didn't have a chance to properly respond before Mako was there, Bolin by his side. The eldest handed him the paper and the youngest spun a tale of their tragic past.

All three just stood and listened while Bolin teared up as he told how their father, a badger-mole trainer, was tragically mauled by his own badger-moles. Dramatically pausing with emotion before telling the officer how their mother braved the winter cold to hunt for the rare truffles of mountains just north of Republic City and never came back. And finished up his tale with talking up their dear, kind uncle Toza, on his father's side, selflessly took them in.

This story was ridiculous and entirely unbelievable to the point where it was almost believable. It had the man walking away unsure if he should be annoyed and saddened by the boy. If Probending doesn't work out for these boys then Bolin certainly had a good chance in theater. And Mako? Kid apparently had a knack for being a criminal, at least that'd be something familiar. "These look real." Toza said, flapping the papers, after the cop had left.

"That's the point." Toza was pretty sure Mako though he was an idiot by the tone he'd often use. Teenagers.

"Where'd you get them?" Squinting at the paper, noting some of the finer detail he held the papers back to Mako.

"Don't worry about it." Mako shrugged one shoulder, relaxed and apathetic. A near perfect mimic of the men Toza would see during his deals with the Triple Threats. Toza gestured to the orphanage printed.

"This a real place?"

"Mhm."

"You boys actually go here?"

"Nope."

"And if they check in on that?" This drew a breathy laugh from Mako and Bolin, whose attention had been on his little rat-weasle, had perked up and answered in his brother's stead.

"They never check."Toza paused to look at Bolin and back to Mako who was suddenly more stiff. The difference between how Bolin and Mako approach talking about their lives was apparent from the beginning. It had become quite easy to tell when something had involved the Triple Threats. Bolin is perhaps too open to talk about Shady Shithead sending the boys on their runs or about being in a room of drunk, drugged and gambling men and how they'd drag them to the table. Mako was closed off and was more likely to snap at you for proading.

"You boys do this before?" Toza had his fair share of burns and wasn't going to be afraid of a few more. Bolin shifted, eyes suddenly going to Mako, probably only just realized he said something he maybe shouldn't have. Mako was quiet and Toza wasn't going to push. He didn't expect Mako to speak up and was surprised when he did.

"Cops will snag anyone they can in a raid, or even people they even suspect of being triad." Mako snorted and rolled his eyes. "Think they can get information outta the kids easier 'cause we're stupid." Toza wasn't surprised by that in the least. Mako paused before crossing his arms and leaned against the wall, still not looking at Toza. "Lets just say uncle Ping was a regular down at the station."

"He was a firebender." Bolin supplied.

"And he had the paperwork." Looking at the paperwork he had, Mako sighed. "They never check." Mako gave another humorless, breathy chuckle. "No one cares about a couple of street kids anyways and the ones who do, can't do anything because the papers are all proper enough to pass."

"Do the Threats have any of those idiots on their payroll." Finally Mako looked over to Toza and he instantly held up his hand in a placating manner. Mako looked at him like he was an idiot and for a moment Toza felt like it. Damn kid was good at that … teenagers. They all stood quietly, Bolin's attention on his pet again as Mako gently tucked the papers away into his shirt. Briefly Toza wondered who he talked to, what kind of exchange happened to get them but he knew it'd be pointless to ask.

"So you boys intend to keep up the shifty work and expect your dear old uncle to bust you then?" Toza brazenly asked instead. Again with the look before Mako shook his head.

"Bolin has a knack for trouble."

"Hey! It's not my fault things just happen!"

"You go in as his guardian then I'll double my work for a month."

"That's a shit lot of work, kid." And Toza was willing to bet he'd work every second of his life if it was for his little brother. "I'd get tired just by lookin' at ya. So when your trouble makin' brother get in trouble-"

"If, if I get in trouble!"

"You promise to double your work for a week and we have a deal." Mako stared at Toza in the way he was becoming all too familiar with. Not in the way that told him when Mako thought he was being an idiot but when he wasn't sure what to make of Toza. Usually receiving these looks when Toza was handing out his special brand of kindness. Which he figure was loads more than the boys are used to seeing and that always made the older boy suspicious. Toza ignored how that made his chest tighten slightly.

"Deal" Mako agreed with a nod.

"You can see me, right buddy." Bolin said plopping on the flood, his little living noodle held to his face. "I didn't suddenly become a spirit." Toza watched a smile break through Mako's scowl as he rolled his eyes. Pushing off the wall he ruffled Bolin's hair, little brother squawking offendedly, before making his exit.

"Where are you goin?" Bolin grumbled as he fixed his hair.

"Work."

"Thought you boys were done for the day." Toza asked a bit confused, sure he had marked their work off himself.

"Not here."

"Do … you need help?" Bolin asked with a little nervousness breaking through his voice.

"Just some debt work Bo, it's nothing shifty." He said without breaking pace or turning as he waved when Bolin shouted his goodbye still clearly unhappy about it. Thinking about the paperwork once again Toza tried not to worry about what kind of connections a fifteen year old, former, criminal has. Or whatever "debt work" could possibly mean. And Toza definitely didn't bother worrying about Mako's definition of shifty.

"Well-" Toza looked down as Bolin looked up "-might as well get some good practice in. Up and give me ten laps around the gym." Bolin's face grew excited at the sound of practice only to immediate fall at the sound of laps. "And bend two disks around you while you're at it."

"I was better off then they couldn't see me, Pabu."