Author's note. When you see the wealthy insult Mako you should know NONE of them are firebenders in my HC the majority of people in Republic city and the United Republic in general are non benders or earthbenders.

The flashes of the cameras no longer phased Korra as the Avatar she was one if not the most famous person in the world so she would always be in the media spotlight, throw in the factor of being a very beautiful young woman who was a quote machine and she was media darling.

With a quick smile for them she entered the large building hoping luck would allow her to have missed the speeches.

Luck was on her side on though at least on that front but she still had to meet with the more influential members of Republic City. They were polite and formal to her of course but Korra wasn't really interested in them.

"Avatar Korra" A water tribe man in his mid 40s wearing formal wear approached her, she recognized him as the ambassador from the Northern Water tribe. She disliked him instantly.

"Ambassador Kuruk what Can I do for you?

"I just wish to give you the congregations of the entire Northern Tribe and your uncle especially for becoming a fully realized avatar. You have made us all proud".Korra struggled not to roll her eyes she had heard this speech too many times to count at this point.

"I still have a lot to learn Kuruk" Of Course you do but you have made an impressive start by defeating Amon and his band of terrorists."

"I had help" As big as ego Korra might have had she knew when to give credit to others. Ah yes Master Tenzin,Asami Sato and the earthbender Bolin is his name if my memory is correct."

"You are forgetting someone" Korra added with an annoyed tone. "Oh you mean you boyfriend the firebender" Kuruk said,he said the word firebender as if it was poison.

"Yes him" Korra said angrily knowing exactly what the ambassador was saying about Mako "and if you will excuse me I have to be off."She left not letting the ambassador replay.

Unfortunately that was not the end of the formal business for the avatar through the night various rich citizens who wished for to speak with with often for a mere photo op, some women wanted her to bless their children or give their daughters some for of advice. " As a girl to a fellow girl" they would say to her. Korra would replay " Sorry I don't have a thing to give" She wasn't lying as far As Korra knew she didn't have any special ability to bless people and if she did the spirits,her past lives, the universe or whatever wasn't telling her. There was only one person here given his past she felt deserved such a thing.

Truthfully she was done with all them all she wanted was to spend the rest of the night with here boyfriend and she knew he was here,the crowd wasn't blind especially the women they knew she was looking for.

She could feel the hateful things they were thinking about him''.

"Street rat"

"Hanyou"

"Half Breed"

She ignored the glares and the whispers since they don't have guts to say anything to her face. She finally found him leaning against a pillar his arms folded in a focus and cool way that was natural to him. He was focused on the attendances making sure all was peaceful and non violent. she couldn't help but notice how handsome he was in his police uniform and how it showed off his broad shoulders better than his usual jacket.

Their eyes met at that moment and he began to move towards her"Hey Korra' "Hey Yourself Officer looking good".

"Avatar Korra"

Oh great the only person she could not ignore had found them. "Yes Tenzin" turning to face her airbending master with a forced grin hoping he would get the hint.

"It's alright" he whispered to her "I'm due for relief soon we can meet on the back patio there is no press there.

She gave a heavy sigh. "Alright duty calls."

"That's my girl" He before given her a kiss on the cheek and with that she went to Tenzin.

"I Can't believe the nerve of that girl" An older matron said to the Ambassador from the Northern Water Tribe. "To simply blow us because she can't control her urges sure he's a very handsome lad but he's a street rat, filth in human form how can the avatar lower herself to have such a boyfriend."

"Oh come now Lily" A younger but no less haughty Matron replayed "Hiroshi Sato was a street rat at one point and he become the wealthiest man in the city before his fall, look at his daughter a perfect proper lady. You would never guess her father was once a street urchin if you did not know so while it is rare and it would take years to wash of the stench of garbage it is possible to rise above such a status. The Avatar's boyfriend's issue is that he's a firebender." "

"Yes Lily" Kuruk said "Ai is correct it is not the boy's poverty that is the issue as disgusting as that is a man of strong spirit can overcome that it is his status as a half breed that is the real scandal".

"A firebender half breed at that".Lily added.

"Yes" Ai added "Kuruk I am surprised that she is with that hanyou I thought you waterbenders were very umm controlled about the type of relationships your people have.

"In the North yes it is taboo to marry outside of your race and there are subtle laws to prevent it but alas our southern brothers and sisters have looser morals. I can say for certain if the girl's uncle had raised her she would not have such loose morals".

"Well let us hope that she will outgrown this youthful indigestion after he is a very handsome young man so it is no surprise she would be infatuated with him". Ai added "After it would be hypocritical of us to completely condemn her after all in the United Republic many of us have mixed ancestors.

"Yes but those matches were between men and women of quality such as a noble and a governor like my grandmother and grandfather not a filthy street with only fleas on his back." No matter how attractive nothing will change what he is at his core half breed street urchin below the avatar in every way''.

"Except in the looks department" Ai said suppressing a giggle "A boyfriend of the avatar should look like that".

"Beauty is only skin deep"Lily finished with before talking a sip of her brandy

"Does it bother you?" Korra ask Mako the two had finally gotten a moment to themselves on a balcony away from the celebration. Korra had used the I have to go to the bathroom excuse while Mako was given a 10 minute relief by Xian. "Spirits bless than man he thought".

"Does what bother me?

"What those respectable high class citizens call you? You know what I mean." Her voice had traces of righteous anger on his behalf. It was just a testament cruelty of this world that he had his parents murdered and was forced to raise his younger on the streets. It was a reminder that for all the power she has as the avatar she was helpless to change his past or fix the many ills that exist in the world today.

"Like street rat? He replied. She nodded her head wordless asking him to continue knowing he had more to say.

"Honestly it used to back when I had to steal from shopkeepers for food when the triads had no jobs for me and Bolin but over time it just became one of the numerous things I was called on the streets. It just became a fact of life for me so I stopped getting bothered by it."

And the other things I've heard you called? Unclean, Scoundrel and Riff raft her voiced again angry. Mako was touched by this display but he was getting tired of this conversation. There were so many other pleasant things they could talk about.

"Why are you getting so angry about this?"

"Because I love you and I don't like how you are being treated and being insulted."

"Treated like what?" He asked "I have been treated like street scum most of my life this is normal for me so there is no need for you to get so mad at this."

So none of it bothers you?" She somewhat amazed if he was truly not affected by the constant insult, it seemed inhuman or at least a level of detachment that an master airbender might have and Mako was no airbender.

"There is one that does" he said.

"Halfbreed" Korra knowingly She could not image a worst insult because it said your very existance was a disgrace. You could rise above being a so called street rat like Asami's father did but you can never erase your heritage.

Mako nodded "That word cuts the deepest because it says the love my mom and dad had was wrong that the very existance of my brother is wrong and" He stopped as a sad smile appeared on his face.

"You Don't have to go on I get it' Korra said hoping to stop the sad memories from returning to her love. He nodded his thanks to her but he had to ask her something.

"This might be sound stupid to you Korra But I have to ask it. Why did you choose me? I mean You're the Avatar in addiction to be being a tribal princess,Me I had almost no money to my name when we met hell I don't have much now. I'm a mixed heritage street urchin I have nothing I can g- He was silenced by her lips. As she gave him he deep kiss he immediately responded.

When the kiss ended because of their lungs damnable need for air she looked deeply into his amber eyes and asked "Do I look like I regret choosing you city boy?"

"No"

"Good because I don't, you said you didn't care if I was the Avatar or not well i don't care about how rich you are or if you are so called half breed like i said just minutes ago i love you.

"I love you too Korra.'' he said before giving her another kiss. "Guess we need to head back"

"Na I'm done with them if I hear another insult towards you there will be a throw down let's head back to you place.''

"I can't remember I only have a 10 minute relief." Oh boo to Bei Fong If she gets mad at you blame me she said turning to leave but not before she turned her head with a wink and with her hips swaying she left him alone outside but he knew where she was going.

"You know to hell with it Xian can cover for me I'll pay him back later." Mako said to himself and began following his Girlfriend all the way back to his place. As he left the building he saw Xian give him a knowing wink.