When morning came Korra couldn't complain. Sleeping in a bed allowed her to be versatile opposed to the couch where she couldn't spread out as much. As she woke and stretched, it took her a moment to compose herself properly. She had been snuggled up closely in the warm blankets filled with the scent of fresh fallen snow and faint pepper and herbs. Yes, the smell was hypnotic and reminded her of her days as a child, her first time bending ice in the snow of the Southern Water Tribe. It vaguely reminded her of her uncle Chief Unulaq too. The smell was not exact but held some of the same ingredients to concoct such an aroma. It then dawned on her just who this scent belonged to that she was relishing over. Now it came back that this was his room and his bed. Amon's. Or Noatak, she corrected. Korra had been so tired last night that she made it to the bed in the dark and proceeded to crash into a slumber. Now that it was morning she could see the details that proved to her this was not her room back home in the South, nor the one at Air Temple Island or in the Earth Kingdom.

Before Korra had a chance to fully examine the room and all its spectacles, a knock came from the already cracked open door.

"Noatak?" Tarlokk was not who she was expecting and was not who she wanted to see coming into the room dismissing a lack of response given. She figured Noatak wouldn't have cared for his own brother to barge in his room, but seeing as she was not him, this was against her privacy.

"Korra?" His eyes held shock in them and it was then that she noticed why his face turned a bright streak of red. Not only was she in his brothers room, but her hair had been pulled out of her bands causing her dark brown waves to fall over her shoulders. Her eyes were hazy and half-lidded from just waking up, and to him she just looked so vulnerable.

"This is not what you think," Korra began to protest, struggling for dignity while her stomach launched a newly tumbling routine of embarrassment. Low and behold this must have been the most awkward moment she has had since her mockery at that Equalist rally when exposing Noatak to his followers only to not be believed. "Tarlokk..." She tried reaching out to some part of him that would rationalize and understand that this is just a misunderstanding he walked in on. That flushed face of his was not helping in the slightest.

"I don't even want to know." Before she could say anything more he was quick to retreat the room and close the door behind him. Tarlokk could only stand on the other side of the door flustered trying to make sense of what he just saw. His face was still streaked with heat and he needed to recompose himself. Once shoving the incident to the back of his mind, he went to go find his brother.

Downstairs Korra could hear the two brothers submerged in conversation, fragments she caught was the topic of hunting down wild boar-cougars and how stealthy they could be when hunted at night. It was helpful to know Tarlokk was conversing in a subject with his brother on something else instead of asking why Korra was in Noatak's bedroom sleeping. The situation itself was not in the least bit awkward, it was the insinuation behind it that made it all the worse.

Once dressed, Korra peered down the stairs to see both mens fee standing in the kitchen. Figuring it was appropriate to come down without interrupting, she saw the two sitting in the same chairs as yesterday and talking over cups of tea. Noatak was first to hear her presence and turned his head to see her bundled up coat and all.

"Good morning, Korra." He was quick to say her name before his habit of calling her the Avatar surfaced first. For once they were on good terms and getting along. Pissing her off with a small error would not be a good direction to go first thing in the morning, even if he had pride in his abilities to be capable of handling that flare of hers. "Are you heading out?" Noatak gestured at the boots she was already pulling up onto her feet.

After both shoes were on, she stood with her hands on either hip as if to brace herself proudly against the cold tundra she was about to expose herself to. "Tarlokk and I agreed we'd take care of our food expenses so I'm going out to go get breakfast."

Tarlokk once again for the second time this morning felt flustered for not remembering the agreement. Downing the drink that his brother poured him, he awkwardly set it down and now felt rude for accepting something of his brothers when he told him he would handle the weight of his stomach. He took note to remember to pay Noatak back for the beverage later on.

"If you go outside you are likely to attract attention from the villagers. And if one of us goes with you it will draw attention to us as well but you need guidance of how to get around."

Korra merely shrugged her shoulders not really caring to be detected in all honesty. "It's not a big deal. I'll keep my hood on and even if I do, we won't be here for very long so they don't have much of a reason to spread the word."

"I think you're misinterpreting what my brother means," Noatak stood. "If you attract attention the villagers are going to question why you are here and why you are not dealing with the situation in Republic City. It will cause a scene that none of us want."

"Well if that happens I'll tell them the truth. Besides, it's not like I can just hop on the ferry and leave if they wanted. They have to wait just like I do."

Just before Tarlokk could throw in his two cents Korra was already out the door and walking towards town.

The sun hung high in the sky which was clear aside from the falling snow. The land was froth with empty landscape aside from the speck of the village in the distance. Judging from last nights walk it should take her about twenty minutes to get there. The rumbling of her stomach spoke against her better judgement and urged her to quicken the pace though, so Korra propelled herself forward waterbending the snow until she was just outside the town now bustling with more people compared to the empty atmosphere of last nights trek. Just as in the South, people casually walked around with no need of real transportation unless leaving in which they would use a snow mobile. The streets lined with homes and buildings, some selling merchandise in booths.

Walking nonchalantly Korra observed each building trying to find something that sounded appetizing to her tastes. It was then that she saw caught something in the corner of her eye while looking through a window. Sitting at a booth was a man muttering to himself with ink to his side and a pen in his hand, writing in a book that contained pictures and notes below them. Once he finished writing he lifted his drink and took a sip from it. This scene would have not bothered nor caught her attention in the slightest if it had not been what that book contained. It was the picture in the book closest to the window that she could faintly make out the words if squinting. The words read as follows:

'Cloaked figure firebends man alive, eating his insides. Estimate 5'3, 103lbs

Suspcion linked to Vinioz. 1/5 - Potential murderer of Ryuni Family.

Address probable further investigation'

Intrigued as she was, Korra was still hungry. It was convenient this man was eating in a restaurant otherwise she would have had to put her interests aside and get food first, only to potentially come back and see that he was gone. This was her chance to get a lead on the violence happening in Republic City. Casually the Avatar walked into the place, careful to keep her hood low enough that her face was unseen. It wasn't unnatural either. With so much snow raining down, most people kept some type of cover for their head to keep it warm.

Once she received her plate of food, she made her way around the tables until spotting the man and trying to put on her best attitude to woe him into spilling the beans.

"Hey there. I saw you sitting alone here and thought you might like some company. May I sit?"

The man rose his head at the sound of her voice, deep blue eyes peering up at her through the waves of his black hair that tousled around his face. At first his eyes narrow in fear it may be someone trying to mess with him as a joke, but then his hard exterior lessons to a smile and he gestures at the seat across from him. When he smiles it is clear to see he has dimples which compliments his complexion. "Yes, by all means have a seat."

His voice is calming but deep, similar to Noatak's but not quite the same pitch. It reminded her of an old sentry who was assigned to her years ago. He sounds proper for an older man and he seems to fit his age well with manors and composure. The man is not burly nor is he scrawny, just average fit. Korra could only wonder how old he was based on the whiskers on his jaw from shaving and not only that, but his attitude briefly reminded her of a type of mentor, much like Tenzin; warm and calm demeanor.

The raven haired man stood and offered out his hand to shake. "A pleasure to meet you...?"

Oh, right. For a moment she forgot she was still laying low. Should she make her presence known? What harm could it do besides pissing off Tarlokk anyways. It was common courtesy and if she was going to be asking this man any questions about that book of his then he may be more persuaded to show it to the Avatar.

"My name is Korra, nice to meet you." Taking his hand and shaking it Korra noted he had a very firm grip and calloused hands. He must have either have been a working man.

"Avatar Korra?" His brows rose in surprise and smiled again.

She nodded. Surprised as he was, this was pleasing information.

"The Avatar herself approaches me of her own free will. I must be an appeasing man to have caught your attention." He chuckled sheepishly. Unlike other people, he did not make a big deal over her title and it was nice for once to be known but not overly appreciated.

"And you?"

"Me?" He held a hand to his chest almost baffled by her words which caught her in a smile to see him so boisterous. "My name is Shoichi. Just a measly Water Tribe man. So," Shoichi leaned in and crossed his arms over the table in front of him. "What can I do for you ma'am? Just conversation or did I catch your eye for a reason?"

"Oh, yeah. Well, I couldn't help but notice you when I was passing by. Are you an Officer by chance?"

That wasn't a question Shoichi was expecting. Of all things, that was not something he guessed someone would ever ask him. The Avatar truly was a peculiar girl with the mind of a child yearning for fresh knowledge. It was an aspect he respected in people.

"Do I look like one?" Adjusting the red headband on his forehead Shoichi scratched his forehead underneath and Korra wondered in that moment why he wore such a color if he was Water Tribe. Most men born in either poles would wear either blue, white or black. Perhaps it was symbolic of something. "I may have the wit of one I suppose but I'm sorry to disappoint. Were you looking for one?"

"Oh! I just thought from your book-"

He looked down at it and realized how Korra had jumped to such conclusions. Now it made much more sense and he couldn't help but be amused by her assumptions.

"Oh, this thing." Picking it up, Shoichi's fingers skimmed the tail. "I'm not a cop, no, but I do like to keep notes. I guess I'm just a curious man who likes to solve puzzles."

Korra took a bit of her food eyeing the item curiously. This place wasn't crowded which was nice. But it did remind her of having outings with her friends back home after their pro-bending matches. She was suddenly being hit with a wave of reminiscing and she wondered how everyone was holding up. Damn, how she missed them.

Shoichi could see the distinct look of deep thought and wondered if he said the wrong thing or mentioned a trigger word. Not once had he ever come across Avatar Korra, he wondered if he ought to be careful with what he says.

"Was there something in here you were interested in?" He asked and waded it in front of her to snap her back into reality.

"That...picture," Korra took the offered book, setting it down and finding the location only to point at the picture she saw in the window. "I heard news about those two attacks on Republic City. It looks like you have more info on the person than the news is releasing. But you're here, not there. And you couldn't have traveled here in two days."

"Ah yes, that." Shoichi was much more intrigued to talk than before, talking as though he was an expect lawyer giving a speech to persuade the judge and jury. "While I may not be a cop, I've had my run ins with criminals before and I get inside sources from different places. I like to keep tabs on them for personal reasons. Why does this one specifically interest you?"

He was digging into her head and she knew it all too well. It was the same thing Beifong used to do to her to pry out information and she was reluctant to answer to get the interrogation over with. Best to be truthful about it just like back then.

"I guess it's because I know little about the situation and anything on them will help. If I plan to take action, I need to be prepared for whatever they throw at me."

This wasn't like Korra at all. She was brash and headstrong. Since when did she calculate and plan? Maybe being around Tarlokk began to rub off on her from that political side of his.

"Wise decision." Shoichi smiles. "To be honest, if my hunches are right, then that person is not real person. You've heard about the cannibalism in the papers, yes?"

"Yes."

"A long time ago I was once acquainted with one though this was before they turned into what they are today. In that day and age she was a mere child. Her name was Vinioz. Growing up she was a very secluded child, filled with lots of hate and revenge for those who made her into what she is. The cannibalism aspect is not her choice, or it didn't use to be. Now, I can't be certain."

"You said before that 'that person is no real person.' Then what is she exactly?"

Before Shoichi can answer, they are interrupted by a cough that draws their attention. 'Why the hell is he here?'

"Korra, I wondered where you ran off to." Tarlokk looked to Shoichi and furrowed his brow unintentionally. It was only because he was irritated with Korra but his displeasure was shown. "Making friends I see?"

"Oh hey Wako." She extended the name just in to tick him off. It was her way of getting revenge since he rudely interrupted them when it was something she found important. It was obvious Tarlokk wasn't very thrilled with the nickname even still.

"Suwako, if you'd please. That little nickname of yours is getting old."

"Suwako? Nice to meet you." Shoichi stood to shake Tarlokk's hand whom was hesitant to return at first but then caved in figuring manors would get him farther and not cause any suspicion. "The Avatar and I were just chatting. Feel free to join us if you would like."

"That won't be necessary, but thank you anyway." Tarlokk declined the offer with as much kindness as his voice could muster despite how he was feeling. He should have known better than to have let Korra run off alone and here she was already talking to strangers. Not everyone in the Northern Watertribe were as kind as they made themselves out to be, much like Yakone. Soon word may spread that she was in town and people may question where she was staying. Best to cut their conversation short while he could. "Korra, if you'd be so kind as to come with me, we have things to do."

It dawned on Korra how long Tarlokk had been here or if he was even listening in in on their conversation. Looking down at the book there was a possibility the bloodbending brothers may be in it too, if Shoichi hadn't already met the two. Maybe they'd be lucky enough to escape any recognition. If Shoichi read the papers it may have meant he saw Tarlokk in it at some point back when he was still a councilman representing the Northern Water Tribe or his kidnapping of her, or even the exposed illegal bloodbending. Staying here for too long could be dangerous.

Not very happy about it but still obliging to his request, Korra stood and picked up her now empty plate, the other closing and handing the book back over careful not to drop it. "Sorry to have to cut this short but it seems I'm needed. Hopefully we can talk again sometime?" Her voice held hope, if she was going to be here a couple days it would be nice to talk to someone who didn't piss her off or make her feel awkward. It's not that she hated the brothers but they didn't necessarily have anything in common to talk about. Tarlokk was all about politics and Noatak...well...there just wasn't much to talk about with him either. She was surprised they even managed to hold a civilized conversation last night to begin with considering their past. He was a lot more accepting her of being around than she would have thought.

"Yes of course. It was a pleasure making your acquaintance. Perhaps another time then."

For some reason Shoichi had a feeling this would not be the last time they would meet, and next time the circumstances would be on his terms.


AN:

I got nothing for a song so I went with Twist by Korn. I don't even know.