Late, but this was chapter hard for me. Plots are hard, so is keeping up with so many people. Appoliges for sloppy an OOC stuff.


Tarlok gave the four of them his most dazzling smile when Mako pinched his nose bridge.

"What do you mean, he might be the least of our problems," Mako said

"I can't tell you, and you arrested me. See, I don't have the fullest idea, and since you won't work with me, I don't have to work with you" Tarlok still smiled despite his insolence

"Well, since you put it that way. I guess I will have to hold you for blood bending and attacking city officials and police officers, among other things." Lin stared him down confidently. Tarrloks smile fell.

"Yeah, and we can set you up with a nice cozy cell with your favorite people," Mako added, looking at Korra then Tarlok

"Is that a threat" Tarlok glared at Mako

"Oh, It's a promise of you don't cough up what you know." Lin asserted hostility lining her voice.

"Only if you let me speak with you privately. It's urgent" Tarlok sounded desperate. Lin narrowed her eyes at him.

"Nope, I make the rules here. You do it on my terms. You don't tell me diddly squat about what you will only give me ultimatum crap." She barked, getting fed up with this crap.

Tarlok stared, and Lin was unchanged after four years. He laughed, Saikan glared

"Nice to see you're the same as you were." Tarlok leaned over

"It is your choice, and I'll be happy to put you away," Lin muttered, not happy at the sound of his laugh.

"My brother, he is trying to get back with the Equalist remnants hiding out in the city. That guy in the photo is with him, but he has plans of his own." Tarlok said flatly

"Right, what's their game plan," Korra said, feeling they were moving in the right direction

"I can't say" Tarlok looked at a fully realized avatar, how she had changed and carried herself.

"Whatever happened to put an end to the sad story, huh," Korra said to him

"Yeah, ever happened to stop Amon from getting the city back on track." Mako chimed in.

"I have been trying to explain for the longest. I can't have too many ears on this, but since you insist, I will tell you but not a word can leave this room." Tarlok said finally.

"We will hear what you have to say," Lin said, crossing her arms.

Tarlok looked at their faces before sighing.

" I went to the stupid gala. I wanted to speak to Lin to work with you. I haven't fully earned his trust, and I don't know his name. My brother has changed his identity to move with ease, and this guy unsettled me. Please allow me to work with you. I want to end this." Tarlok confessed, " I made sure the attack at Yue bay was not as strong as it could have been, trying to sabotage where I can. I want to make it right."

"Did you enter the spirit world ?"Mako asked

"No, but my brother mentioned it. If I don't return, he will notice something is up."

After another long pause, Lin took in the information.

"Hm, excuse me, one second." Lin motions for Korra and mako to step out with her.

The door bursts open when they close the door to the interrogation room, Raiko barges in passionately, and Lin glares at him. Mako and Korra decide to stand in front of the window, obscuring Raiko's view, not that he even voiced or cared he had to speak his mind about the Gala. He didn't even notice the other two. His view was so tunneled

"I'm in the middle of something. Talk to someone else or wait in my office." Lin scowled, not in the mood for whatever he wanted to say.

"You said you were going to dance with Bumi to get the scent off us. But you left with him behind my back." He seemed. Mako and Korra shot each other nervous looks. That was not what they expected in a million years.

"You don't know what's going on, so I would shut my mouth if I were you." Lin crossed her arms. Her face was emotionless. Her voice had a dangerous edge to it.

Raiko breathed in rough. He felt crushed when she made that scene. Presumably went to the men's room with Bumi. Now he felt enraged at her attitude.

"No, I want to know why did you leave with Bumi. You realize what a mess I'm putting to put myself in for you, and you do that to me." He glared at Lin, not backing down.

"I'm not doing this. I have to keep the city safe, and I'm doing my job. You need to leave, Now." Lin's voice lowered; she sounded vicious.

Raiko throws down a box of metals angrily. Nobody noticed he was even carrying a package; he was being so impulsive. He gives her a wrecked glimpse as he leaves. Lin sighs heavily and crosses her arms again.

" Anyway, What is your call on this, Korra. I don't trust him." Lin's eyes were still on the door. There was Apart of Lin that wanted to talk to him. Korra awkwardly coughed, deciding not to mention the elephant-rhino in the room, and said, "Uh, well. I think we could. Watch him if we can get information."

"It's risky." That was all Mako said, but who knew when they might get another piece of information. It could take too long and put millions of at-risk encamped people in even more danger.

"But what other choice do we have?" Korra said, feeling guilt over what she felt was a preventable situation in republic city when it came to Kuvira.

"Maybe, we should have Lin talk to him. to see if he knows more," Mako said, curious what He would tell her.

Lin groans, she didn't trust Tarrlok, but they had to be sure before they planned to watch him. Before either spoke, she sighed. Heading in and having Saikan step out to observe.

"Okay, we're alone. I sent the others away. What was it you wanted to say to me?" lin lied. She had an idea, but at this point, she was in a corner. she had to be sure he wasn't plotting.

"I'm sorry, first and foremost." Lin rolls her eyes, really, "I never wanted to blood bend you. I was a pig, and I know you don't trust me anymore. I think my brother is joining forces with former enemies of the avatars." He paused, looking at her eyes again, remembering when he first met her. "since you refuse to leave your job, knowing the streets will never be cleaned, you won't quit. I have to try and keep you safe. However, I can." Tarlok said genuinely. Saikan looked over at his subordinate.

"So that's why he wants to keep it hushed up. That's why he wanted Lin to lose her job." Saikan shook his head. He was looking back in the mirror. Mako couldn't believe it.

"Like blood bending me did," Lin said neatly. "Like messing with discharge papers did." She accused.

"No, you would leave anyway. To stick your neck out for people that don't care about you. I refuse to lose you to this city. You almost lost your life one too many times." Tarlok growled.

"I have a job, and it's none of your business who I help. Not anymore, and I don't need you to babysit or protect me. I've kept myself safe, done, so my whole life," Lin finally said.

"I don't have any more information besides that my brother is working with the guy in the picture and also that my brother, he changed his face to look more like me," Tarrlok said.

Lin stared him down, letting her feet hear his heart. It was truthful.

"I never told you before, and I know you are still upset bu-"

"Please, don't say it." Lin interrupted with her hand up.

"I love you, Lin." It wasn't how he had pictured saying it, but he felt he had to.

"You idiot," Lin could die right there. "I'm-"

"You know it's safe to admit it, and you kept the gifts even if you let that woman wear my tuxedo, and I hated that. I'm touched you kept it." It was Tarrloks turn to cut her off. He smiled. It was the softest he had ever looked.

Lin stared at him.

"I only came along because no matter what, I'm going to make it up to you. I don't care anymore. I only went to the gala because I knew you would recognize me, and I had to tell you they will attack the city with people from the avatar's past."

Korra decides to barge in "how do we tell if your lying, Tarrlok" Korra was glad to kill the softer mood. She didn't want to see Tarrlok as a human.

Tarlok looks at Lin, "you lied."

Lin admits her feet told her he wasn't lying, but Korra was right

"We can't be sure he isn't lying. He is a politician." Lin spat.

"You guys can feel free to monitor me however you like. I will be giving my address and where I work, everything you need to follow me. I will make this up to republic city, and you have no lead without me." Tarlok bartered

Mako didn't like this idea, but Tarrlok had shown remorse, and his motive, as strange as it was to picture, made sense to him. He walked in, "any funny business, and you will be hunted like an animal." Mako said aggressively. Tarrlok realized they all watched, and he wondered about the secrecy she made them keep. He looked grim when Lin excused herself.

Lin was tired, walking into her office in hopes of some space. Where instead, Raiko sat. She groaned

"What is it? I'm having a bad night." Her emotions were swimming under her cold exterior.

"So am I," Raiko said

"Look, I was doing my job. We saw a suspect that looked like the sketch we had to get him away from the party." Lin's voice was hollow.

"You okay? How are you feeling." Raiko noticed a look in her eyes. He couldn't have observed it before.

"I don't know. I need space. Please go. I'll come to see you later on tonight when I'm done with work, same place." Raiko pressed his lips on hers. She allowed it, Lin locking the door swiftly with her bending. She didn't enjoy it as it felt so wrong to have so many emotions because of Tarrlok. She felt divided now, and now Korra, Mako, and Saikan know about Tarrlok. Korra and Mako also knew about Raiko.

She messed up.

The next thing she remembers is being in a room with everyone again. The conflict is back in the air. She noticed more keen eyes on her for some reason. She has to focus on keeping herself in the room at the task at hand.

"When were you going to enlighten us on your past situation with Tarrlok" A voice accused her missed who.

Lin watched the faces around the room. It felt like school again, so naturally, she hated it.

"I don't trust him and don't like this idea." Lin didn't answer the question. It was none of his business.

" I feel it's the best way, besides his intentions seem sweet" Korra threw a teasing look at Lin, who crossed her arms angrily.

" I trust Korra's judgment," Tenzin said, trying not to feel annoyed Lin involved herself with his enemy.

"Don't complain to me when this blows up in your faces," Lin muttered.

"But he wants to make up for hurting you," Bolin sang

"I don't care if he doesn't get the information. I'm locking him." Lin slapped metal over Bolin's mouth,

"Ouch," Asami said

"I can't believe I'm wearing his suit," Kya said, feeling weird. Mako worries about seeing his boss be quieter than usual. It was getting to her. She seemed to be stuck in a memory of how her stress showed even more.

"And you involved with Raiko? It's been a busy night for you, huh."Su teased, hugging her sister. The jokes about Lin's super busy love life made her feel more like a harlot.

"So you decided to do it then," Lin deflected. "So, I'll have the paperwork ready by morning." Lin stood up. She would crank out that task and then head to where she and Raiko met up.

"Before you head out to do that, Lin, a word," Tenzin said

"Walk with me then," Lin mumbled, exhausted

"It's private." Lin was tired of private conversation.

Korra snickers with Asami as Tenzin follows Lin into another room.

"It will be quick," Lin looked at Tenzin's eyes. She noticed they were red but so had everyone when she came in. she decided she didn't wanted to get this over with feeling really sleepy for once. Tenzin pulls in aside

"Are you okay, you look shaky" Tenzin noticed the lack of color on her face

"I'm fine, what do you want." Lin sighed.

"This year I was hoping to go visit his grave together." Tenzin stuttered a few times, he felt anxiety,

Lin's face whitened even more, she couldn't do this didn't notice a few moments passed.

"Lin," Tenzin called.

"I'm, fine. I'll get back to you." She felt like giving up

"I think your lying Lin. It's okay if you're overwhelmed by it all, you're not alone anymore."

"I'm not overwhelmed," She hissed

"Lin, please. You will get sick if you don't deal with whatever is bothering you," Tenzin begged. He thought of Bumi and his concern.

"I'll meet you there, on that day. I always take that day off." Lin said finally, and with that, Lin walked to her office to do all the paperwork and assign the people to the task. The room is spinning. She had no liquor to ease her up.

When she was done, she met with Raiko. He got her what she needed and spent the night.