Tarlok sat across from the Avatar. He was early. He wanted to show them, show her. He was serious about it. Korra had naturally been there just on time

"Tar-

" it's, Talroq, now Avatar Korra."

" what an unappealing name. Good job, it suits you." Mako said as he and Asami sat next to Korra

" So you're supposed to be meeting with your brother and the other guy tonight."

"Yes, and I gave you guys the location and time you can have undercover watch us. If you were less recognizable, I would take one of you."

Bolin came in drinking a coffee. He decided to be funny, "maybe we can get Beifong to go with you."

Mako shot him a look, and Tarlok realized they all knew now. He didn't have to hide.

" I wouldn't mind, but I'm sure she's too identifiable." He shook his head. He knew she wouldn't go.

" how do you going to make it up to Lin? Get out of the polar bear dog house, I suggest-"

"There goes Bolin making pals with the bad guys." Korra made a clicking noise at Bolin

Tarlok thought about it deeply all of a sudden. He had four years, but he knew her; she wasn't going to be able to win over. so he wanted to make peace and do right. Whatever happened would happen. Tarlok would respond, but Mako spoke first, not liking this.

"Enough, Bolin."

Tarlok tells them where they will meet up with a third guy. He works in a nightclub. He knows the man Amon was working with. He hoped it would give him some worthy information, or at least some names. He looks up. He fights a small smile. Lin was standing in the corner listening to him. Tarlok decided not to push. She didn't look well to him. The others didn't notice. Lin watched as Mako explained the plan how after he got away would be meeting at this place. Asami picked called Ziaja under the guise of another job to give them details.

Lin decided to do ordinary parts of her job until it was time to meet at Ziaja with Mako. It had been a long 18-hour day. She noticed when it was close to time. Mako had knocked, informing her that Tarrlok had been keeping up his given schedule, and eyes were on him at the first location. He handed her a box. It contained a dress for Ziaja. Asami, of course, picked a luxurious place.

She looked at it and sighed. Mako was already in his clothes.

"I know. It never ends." Mako said, putting the monocle over his eye.

"Whatever happened to meet undercover people in dimly lit bars." Lin wondered out loud.

Mako didn't reply. Not sure how to feel about it he wasn't a bar guy.

Lin held up the clothes, " at least it's not as bad as when I had to go undercover when I was your age." It was a maroon dress

"I would like to hear stories about that one day," Mako admitted.

"Maybe one day, kid," Lin said with a tired sigh.

Mako felt a bit of pride. She liked him enough to say maybe not something she did for anyone else.

Lin went to the then stalls to change after she showered. It was in the middle of shifts changing, so there weren't many people when she stepped out. Besides, she had a wig and some rosy shades. She headed to her office to get some things and headed out with Mako.

When they got, their Korra was seated. She wore a more modern dress. It was a creamy yellow color. It was heavier on the bottom to give her an illusion of a fuller hip that balanced her shape. She was with Asami, who wore an elaborate blue dress with lighter makeup to match. They had an ongoing conversation in a secluded section when Mako approached his ex-girlfriends. He decided to take Korra's beverage because she didn't handle it well last time, and Asami laughed.

"Bolin had to go to the boy's room, something about a mover role. You should get him." Asami said while Korra gruffed about being able to drink. Mako sighed, thinking of the smell he would have to deal with due to Bolin's new diet.

"Everyone may be here any second," Asami said. Korra laughed and wished Mako luck. Mako sighed, taking the beverage with him, causing Korra to pout. Lin awkwardly sat with the two of them, ignoring them be young kids in love. She ordered a drink puffing out a cloud of smoke. The waiter gave her a look but said nothing as she took another inhale from a cigarette.

"But mako, I have to practice for my role."

"Not right now, bro. I don't know why you decided to do this now." Mako said, holding an empty glass and releasing his nose now that it was safe. Mako was exasperated. Lin didn't judge because Opal loved this dope.

Korra looked over a Tenzin who approached awkwardly in a tuxedo and a top hat, a short wig in place to hide his arrow. Lin kept a straight face for a second. She wanted to laugh. The kids began teasing him, and Lin decided she got off easy

"Why a walking stick Asami." Tenzin groveled

"Because you're an old man," Lin looked up at him.

"Why does she get to look nice!" Tenzin now huffed.

"Women's fashion is just easier. Besides, we had to disguise you guys. I'm sure you wouldn't want to wear a wig and furs." Asami said, hushed.

"You know, when you said a bar, I imagined something more interesting," Lin said as the waiter returned with a bottle and a glass. He poured the drink, and Lin downed it slower than she would like.

"You ordered a bottle?"

"It will be a long night looking at that ugly mug," gesturing to Tenzin and Tarlok, who approached apprehensively. He had not been to this place in so long, but he was glad it managed not to be destroyed by Kuvira. When they all turned to witness his slow limping approach, Lin downed her first drink and poured a second. Tarlok was pale and nervous. Like he just noticed something awful.

"Talroq, good evening," Bolin said friendly remembering his new name

Tarlok nodded. He looked at everyone's disguises. They had done a decent job. He decided to take a jab at Tenzin for looking like a ringmaster in a circus or a funeral director. Tenzin glared at him with contempt.

"It's more like the character for that new game, with the monocle." Everyone decided to look at Tenzin, and Tarlock laughed

"Good one," He looked over at Lin, who casually drank. He felt his mouth dry.

" Anyways, sir, how was work today?" Bolin asked

" Awful,"

" Good, now spill before I make it worst for you." Lin took another puff from her cigarette

"Shouldn't we be ordering?"

" Nope, you're here for business. Not a meal." Lin said harshly. She noticed a familiar face in the background, Zolt. She hated that her heart used to skip a beat when remembering him in the past. He didn't recognize them, but he took an interest. Lim focused on Asami, saying, "well, I'm ordering. We can do both."

"Phmp, fine." Lin soured. Everyone began looking over the menu, and Lin asked him about the night's events, not wanting to open the menu.

" My day was awful because I shuffle around doing low-wage gigs."

"Oh, you poor thing," Lin mocked aggressively. If Tarrlok had listened to her about caring about the people and not the rich pockets, he wouldn't have to be struggling; crime would go down only the awful would have a reason to bother.

"Good to see you understand how your anti-bender, anti-poor policies still affect the city." Tenzin looked over at Lin. He was surprised.

Tarlok sighed. Getting on her good side was next to impossible. He felt envy when the waiter brought out a fruit tart on a tray and the most excellent fire whisky shot, the card was handed to Lin, and she rolled her eyes, closing it and putting it away. Lin drank the shot, wondering if he pulled the same crap with every same, or was she made. If she was made, it was nice to know he remembered her favorite.

"You kids can have the dessert," Lin muttered. Pushing it to the under thirty group.

"So, what did the note say."

" It said stuff it."

"They're going to attempt to break out a former terrorist locked away deep in the city's mountains. Asami looked surprised,

"Zaheer," Lin said

I don't know. He said something about some red, something. One man is Yuu. The other is Suruk. You guys have the photo of Suruk. He and my brother are running the show. I haven't made out Yuu.

Korra remembers something "They communicate through the spirit world."

Bolin looks nervous tossing a salad, " so the two scariest groups are joining each other to bring chaos and equality."

" essentially."Asami sighed

Tenzin pushed some food toward Lin, deciding she might drink too much. Tarlok had also been putting foods she would like on a plate. He was worried. It was spring. She had a hard time around this time of year. Lin finished the bottle. Everyone ate in silence, making her strategy of lying or impersonating impossible.

Mako pondered the dark avatar part, "Are they taking people bending?"

" To my knowledge, only my brother; the other is still a question mark. The third gives me the air of a tyrant."

" Their target," Korra said

"People in gangs, for now, something about doing the police's jobs better." Mako frowned, the police are spread thin, but police has been harsh on people who didn't have housing despite the recent Kuvira debacle.

"Their planning something big, I imagine, since Yue bay was no pro-bending ring attack," Lin chimed in

"They have their eyes on the president," Tarrlok said

Lin took a sharp inhale, not Raiko.

"We need more eyes on this," Asami said. She felt bad for the chief. She seemed to like Raiko.

"Their working in night clubs places where the vulnerable are there, even in the encampments," Tarlok said

" So that dark avatar and or turtle theory is probably Yuu, swamp bender. I take it." Lin sighed

" Wow, good guess." Tarlok was genuine.

Lin decided not to say anything back. He was giving good information.

" Oh, oh, maybe we can ask toph if she knows him!" Bolin was too eager to see Lin's mother. Chief didn't like that.

" That actually is a good idea. She could have the wisdom to help us."

"I'm staying here," Lin asserted

"Don't like camping?"

" We need to watch the city," Lin hissed.

"We need you to come with us. Saikan and Mako can handle the city and Tar-"

Lin flagged down the waiter, unsure whether she would pay or order another strong shot.

" We need you to go,"

Lin growled. This was too hasty. Unplanned.

"It will only be a day or two." Tenzin tried to reason

" I'll think about it". She ordered what Zolt was having.


I don't have a clue where we're going but we're out here. Thanks for reading and the support.