Story: The Truths We Fake

Genre: Drama/Romance/Mystery

Chapter 5: Knowledge (Part 1)

Mako knew something was up the moment he entered the police department that morning.

He grabbed the key to his office from his trench coat and stuck it in the lock. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when he checked his office. The papers he left on his desk the other day sat there, the same silver picture frame was still there too; right beside his stack of binders. Come to think of it, everything was neat and orderly.

That small fact bothered him.

It's the neatness, which he almost always associates with himself, and how too neat it was. He wouldn't ever in a million years clean his office this perfectly.

While taking off his coat and red scarf, Mako noticed a pink sticky note on the rim of his desk. He read the scribble written on it aloud.

"Had everyone's office cleaned - Kuvira."

He read the name again because that didn't seem right. Kuvira wasn't coming until next week, but she's here a week early? He got the feeling that Lin gave in to her sister's demands...

But, then again, it really wasn't any of his business.

'''

He watched as Lin stood beside Kuvira during the meeting. He tried finding her this morning, though she was nowhere to be found, not even in her office. So seeing her standing there (nervous, he adds) worries him. He sensed the tension throughout the whole room and the silence only furthered his original suspicions. None of them expected Kuvira to be here, lead alone declare herself as the new chief.

Kuvira was about to begin her speech when someone busted through the doors. Mako shut his eyes tightly.

Korra.

He hoped that Kuvira wouldn't overreact to her lateness.

The sound of Korra's heels (why did she choose today to dress presentable?) was like a constant ringing in his ears.

"So sorry I'm late, Lin." Korra says.

Please know Kuvira, please know Kuvira...Wait we never told her, did we?

"You must be Korra, right? Lin has told me so much about you."

He could imagine the glare Korra was giving Lin. "Really? She didn't mention anything about you to me."

Everything is going great, fantastical, amazingly great—

"That's a real shame she didn't mention me, Korra. Otherwise, you probably would understand why I have the obligation of firing you."

Mako doesn't know if the hushed whispers he's hearing are from his imagination or if the people he actually works with give a damn that somebody got fired enough for them to whisper about it.

He opens his eyes and wishes that he kept them shut.

It's been a very long time since he's seen her angry. She was obviously trying not to get too upset, but her rage was seething through. He should defend her, and he wants to, though he can't lose his job. Kuvira could fire him as quickly as she was firing Korra. With a single snap of her fingers, he'd be another victim of her harsh treatment.

"You can't fire me!" Korra shouted while he flinched. He really didn't want her agitated.

"I can and I will." Kuvira says nonchalantly. "Lin has explained the reason for why you're working here, though I find your presence unnecessary."

She's going to say something sarcastic, isn't she?

"Yes, because working on a case that I'm involved in is completely unnecessary."

Crap.

"I've done lots of work," she continued, though Mako wished she would stop. "You getting rid of me isn't going to do you any favors."

Please don't argue any further.

"I'm glad you got the information we needed. You did what you were told and stuck with it. Unfortunately, your service isn't needed anymore." Kuvira's expression darkens. "Besides, you're a suspect in this case. I won't hesitate to arrest you for this offense."

He half expected her to continue the argument, but she sighed dejectedly, knowing that she had already lost the argument.

She exited the room seconds later while Kuvira smirked.

'''

Mako found her sitting on the bottom of the steps outside the police station.

"You hate me now, don't you?" he says, sitting next to her.

"I should, Mako, but honestly," she leans her head on his shoulders. "I don't care."

"That's great," he mentions. "I wouldn't want you upset."

She laughs, burying her face into his shoulder. "Great, huh?"

He misses her sweet laughter every now and then, so to hear it again makes him feel like an emotional teenage girl. He doesn't cry, though.

"Mako," she lifts her head, blue eyes staring fiercely into his. "I am not giving up on this case."

The pleasant mood shifted and both suddenly became aware of it. They don't talk much about his job anymore, only because it's a sore spot for the both of them. Korra knew what she was getting herself into when she started working alongside him. She also knew it was temporary, but the anxiety never faded. There was always a small part of her that thought he wouldn't come back—and last time that almost happened.

"It was too dangerous for you anyway." Mako said. After thinking once more about the situation, he adds, "Too risky."

"So you just want me to sit by and do nothing?"

"Korra," he's careful with his words this time. "I'm only trying to keep you safe."

"Yeah? Well, I'm trying to do the same for you." Korra said. She asks the question he'd been hoping to avoid. "Why didn't you defend me back there?"

Mako pinches the brink of his nose. He goes for the honest answer. "Because I couldn't lose my job, Korra. Y ou know that already."

"No," she remarks. "I don't. You should of told me about Kuvira beforehand."

"I didn't think she'd show up a week early!"

"That's not the issue here," she counters, glaring at him. "so stop acting like it is. Now, I'm going to ask you again and I want an answer." She waits for confirmation from Mako before she continues. He nods.

"Why didn't you tell me about Kuvira?"

Mako sighs heavily, clamping his hands together. "It wasn't the right time. Besides," he lifted his shoulder,"I don't know much about her."

Korra leans forward, putting her elbows on her knees. "Except...?" She was used to this type of thing from him. It was getting on her nerves.

"Look," he says, and it's only now that she hears his serious tone. "I get that you're mad at me, but that doesn't erase the fact that I did what I did for a reason. Want to know something about Kuvira? Go find out yourself."

He stands up, leaving Korra outside by herself, as he heads back inside.

Korra considers his statement, biting her lip in concentration. He had every right to be angry with her, but she had every right to be angry at him. He was keeping information from her that she needed to know.

She sat up straighter, the harsh reality weighing down on her shoulders.

The sudden thought irked her. She still hadn't mentioned Asami to him. Maybe that's why he wouldn't tell her anything—because he knew she was hiding a secret from him. Korra listed the reasons in her head, but it was pointless. Asami was one problem. Solving a murder case on her own was another.

And she tries convincing herself that it doesn't make her a bad person.

'''

'''

She skips Asami's place in favor of drowning her sorrows in the bottom of bottle that afternoon.

A/N- I rewrote Korra's scene with Mako five times and I'm kind of satisfied with the result. I don't like this chapter, but I'm hoping the next part will be way better. Special thanks to mick3y92 and queenofthezone for their reviews. You're amazing! Also, Happy New Year!

Until next time,

~nerd