Oh wow, hi! Sorry for not updating this for so long. I had forgotten about this fanfic, and happened to stumble upon it again just recently. I have a lot of ideas for which way this story can go, so I wrote more! I promise I'll try and do my best to keep this updated on a regular basis.

This chapter, and the rest of this story, will be split between Korra and Mako's 3rd person POV's. This is a Makorra fic after all!

Hope you all like it!

~Mako~

Knock knock knock.

"Just a second," a scratchy voice replied from behind the closed door. A bolt clicked and shifted, and the door opened to reveal a small, timid old man. His eyes widened when he noticed his visitor.

"M-Mako…" the man yelped, stepping back a bit to allow the young firebender entrance. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"Neither was I, Mr. Chung," Mako sighed, walking into the small apartment. Mr. Chung quickly locked the door behind the young Triad.

"Why don't you come to the kitchen?" Mr. Chung asked quietly, gesturing toward the back. "I can make you a cup of tea…"

"That won't be necessary," Mako replied tightly. "You know why I'm here Mr. Chung. Your payment is due."

The older man's eyes widened with fear at the statement. "I-I…"

"You still don't have the money?" Mako guessed, his voice considerably kinder. He took a seat on the dusty couch against the wall, trying to appear smaller in order to not intimidate the old phonograph vendor.

No," Mr. Chung choked out, taking a heavy seat as well. "Business has been terribly slow. With the gang in this area and now that Amon fellow… well… no one has bothered to come here for any casual shopping." He sighed, head in his hands. "I don't know what to do."

Mako looked at the man with bright concern in his otherwise cold amber eyes. "Mr. Chung, you've been very kind to me these past few years and I'll never be able to repay you…" He hesitated slightly, guilt settling deep in his stomach. "I wish I could do something for you now, but we're at the end of the line. I've delayed the payment three times already. The boss isn't happy."

Mr. Chung whimpered, burying his head deeper into his hands.

"He's sending over some other guys to collect the payment. If they figure out that you don't have the money…"

"I get it," Mr. Chung cried. "My protection will end. I understand what they will do."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."

"Nonsense, my boy. I understand your predicament."

Silence enveloped the pair.

"I heard his team is doing quite well this season," Mr. Chung blurted out, his voice quite shaky.

Mako grunted, looking up. "Is he, now? I haven't had time to check the standings."

"Oh yes. They've got a winning record; they'll be tough contenders in the tournament."

Mako merely nodded, memories of his little brother flashing through his mind. Bolin had experienced a shot to stardom as the captain of the Fire Ferrets, the breakout probending team that was expected to have a chance at the championships.

"Have you seen him lately?" Mr. Chung asked curiously, studying the firebender's furrowed brow.

"Only in the newspapers," Mako said. He abruptly stood up, having had enough of the conversation concerning his little brother. "Look, Mr. Chung, I've got to go. I'm supposed to meet the others outside your apartment."

Mr. Chung whimpered once again.

"I'll do whatever I can to make sure they don't do anything harsh, but I… can't guarantee your safety. I hope you understand that."

The old man nodded slowly. "I can't say I'm thrilled, but I understand."

Mako sighed, and Mr. Chung unlocked the door for the young firebender so he could walk out.

"I'll try my best," Mako reminded him. Mr. Chung nodded and bolted the door.

~Korra~

"Pfth, wha-! Ow, Naga!" Korra spluttered, spitting loose fur out of her mouth.

The giant polar bear dog that was resting behind Korra looked away innocently, as if she hadn't just smacked her owner in the face with her tail.

"Bad girl," Korra scolded, pointing an accusing finger into the beast's chest. "Look, I know that you're hungry – I am too – but I'm all out of options." She sighed dramatically as Naga's stomach growled behind her.

They were currently seated on the side of a quiet road, away from the hustle and bustle of the main parts of the city. Korra had her back resting against Naga, who in turn was leaning against the side of a brick building.

"I can't believe it's illegal to eat the fish in the park," Korra groaned, patting her empty stomach. "Whose stupid idea was that? It's not illegal to go fishing in the South Pole! And that protester... who did he think he was? Bending is the greatest thing ever, right Naga?"

Korra was answered with another growl from Naga's stomach.

Korra pouted. "We should have brought money with us before we left, huh girl? My bad."

Korra ducked, avoiding another potential tail to the face.

"Okay, okay, you've made your point," Korra sighed, standing up and stretching her tired limbs. "Let's try and get to Air Temple Island. I'm not really excited to see how Tenzin will react when he finds out we snuck out of the compound, but I'm sure Pema will feel bad and give us some food."

Naga slowly rose, and Korra was just about to hop onto the saddle when a Satomobile came speeding down the road. Korra yelped and flung herself against the wall of the building behind her, nearly getting run over.

"Jerks!" Korra yelled angrily, watching as the vehicle turned a sharp left. She jumped onto Naga's saddle and patted her friend's side. "Let's go, girl."

Naga bounded off down the road, and Korra steered her to take the same left that the Satomobile had taken. She wasn't entirely sure where she was going, but she hoped that it led to Yue Bay eventually.

Korra's thoughts about Air Temple Island were cut short when she noticed the scene unfolding further down the road. The Satomobile that had almost hit her was stopped in the middle of the road, and three men were stepping out.

Korra patted Naga's side and the beast came to a stop. Curiosity beat the young teenager out, and she jumped off Naga's back in order to get closer and hear what the men were up to. She situated herself behind an abandoned fruit stall. Where the owner had ran off too… she wasn't sure.

"Well, if it isn't Mako," one of the men, dressed distinctly in blue, called out. Korra squinted as a fourth man clad in a red scarf, presumably named Mako, stepped away from a wall and joined the group.

"Always a pleasure, Viper," Mako said sarcastically, causing the other man to frown. There was definitely some rotten history between the two.

"Is the old man in there?" Viper asked impatiently. Mako nodded, and the three men that had arrived via Satomobile grinned. Korra shivered, sensing that something was off.

"Knock knock!" The man in green yelled, stomping his foot down. A portion of earth slid up at an alarming rate and blew the door to the apartment right off its hinges. Korra gasped, covering her mouth in shock, as the man went in and roughly pulled out a struggling elder.

The old man was thrown to the ground in front of the group. He was shaking and looking up with terrified eyes.

"Where's your pay, Chung?" Viper asked, arms crossed.

"I-I…"

"Speak up," one of the men hissed, his hand bursting into flames. The old man squeaked and coward away, inching closer to the man with the red scarf – Mako.

"Put the fire away, Two-Toed Ping," Mako said roughly. "He hasn't even answered yet."

Ping distinguished the flames with a sigh. "You're no fun, boy."

"Enough," Viper snapped at the pair. He looked back down at the elder. "Pay up."

"I… I don't have the money," he cried. "Please, give me more time. My business is not in a good state right now. I can offer you a top of the line phonograph instead. What do you say?"

Viper considered it for a moment, and then laughed harshly. "Not interested." He raised his arm in the air and a nearby barrel of water a few apartments over exploded. The liquid rushed toward the old man, and he only had enough time to lift his hands in defense when –

"Stop!"

The water froze into solid ice and dropped to the ground a foot away from the old man. The group looked over, shocked, as Korra emerged from behind the fruit stall, having stopped Viper's attack.

"Leave this innocent man alone. He's done nothing wrong!"

"Who the hell is this chick?" Ping asked, looking Korra up and down. "Look at that Water Tribe getup… She's pretty cute, don't ya think, boys?"

Korra's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Hey little lady," Ping continued, "why don't we get outta here and go somewhere with a bit more… privacy?"

Korra gasped, not used to such crude behavior from men, and stomped her foot into the ground. A piece of earth sprung from the ground and hit Ping right in the stomach, sending him backwards and crashing into an unmanned stall behind him.

The remaining men blinked, utterly baffled. Even the old man on the ground had his jaw wide open.

"Did she just…" the earthbender trailed off.

Korra didn't give them a chance to speculate further. She had already launched herself at the earthbender, her fist flaming. He yelped and hastily raised a wall of earth in front of him for protection. Smirking, Korra knocked through the wall with ease and blasted a stream of fire which knocked the man off his feet.

She turned her sights on the remaining men – Viper and Mako. Viper, who had regained his bearings, bended a torrent of water at the young teenager which she was just able to barely dodge. Once upright, she redirected the water and aimed it back at its owner; it swiped under Viper's feet and froze solid, leaving him stuck.

Before he could unfreeze the water, Korra was upon him, fist flaming once again. A burst of fire hit her in the side before she could land the blow on Viper. Turning, Korra glared at the firebender in the red scarf. For a moment, she thought that he looked troubled, almost sorry for hitting her. But that demeanor had vanished as soon as he aimed another blast at Korra.

She flipped out of the way and found herself pinned against the wall of the apartment. Viper had finally gotten his feet unfrozen and joined Mako, cornering her.

"Feeling scared, little girl?" Viper sneered. Korra was just about to reply with a fist full of fire when Viper yelped, knocked aside by a huge white paw. He hit the wall beside Korra, falling unconscious.

"Naga!" Korra grinned.

"N-Naga?" Mako questioned, glancing up at the lumbering beast. He avoided another swipe of her paw, fists up in defense.

"You're the only one left," Korra said cockily, hands up as well.

"And I assume that you're Avatar Korra," Mako remarked, backing up as she advanced on him.

"How'd you know?" She replied sarcastically, aiming a kick of fire his way. He brushed it aside with ease.

"How could anyone cultured not know?" He punched a fire blast, and she also dodged it easily. They were simply toying with each other at this point.

"I don't consider you cultured," Korra snapped. "Cultured people don't try to mug old men."

Mako's eyes flashed dangerously at this. It seemed like something was on the tip of his tongue, but he shook his head quickly and replied, "No one stiffs the Triple Threat Triads. It was his time to pay, and he didn't have the money. He deserved to be punished."

"You're sick," Korra spat.

"And you, Avatar Korra, obviously know nothing about the way this city works." He smirked. "I guess growing up in some compound without a care in the world will make a person ignorant."

Enraged, Korra lunged at Mako, taking him by surprise and tackling him to the ground.

"What the – get off me!" Mako yelled, pushing at her as Korra tried to punch him furiously.

"I'm not ignorant!" She yelled back, grunting as Mako pushed her harshly to the side. She was about to jump at him again when she stopped short, hearing loud wails in the distance. They were growing louder at an alarming rate.

Mako's eyes widened and he jumped up, frantic. "Shit, how did they –"

"What's going on?" Korra questioned, sitting dumbfounded on the ground. She yelped when Mako sprinted away, trying to make a break for it. "Hey!" She screamed, rolling to her feet and bending a stream of water after him. He turned, cutting it in half with a burst of fire, and disappeared around a corner.

Korra was ready to chase after the Triad, but gasped when she felt something wrap around her waist and yank her back down to the ground. Bewildered, she tugged on the restraint, realizing that it was a cord of metal.

"You're under arrest," a man clad in a metal uniform announced, as more similar men jumped out of the trucks behind him.

Under arrest?" Korra voiced in disbelief. "Wait, you don't understand," She grunted, looking back at the mess behind her. Ping, Viper, and the earthbender were all unconscious and the old man was huddled in the middle of the road, apparently still in shock. "I saved this guy from getting mugged, I –"

The cord around her waist suddenly lurched, and Korra was pulled painfully to the metalbender's side. Before she knew what was happening metal cuffs were slapped down around her wrists.

"Woah, woah hold up!" Korra yelled, trying to kick at the man. She noticed that more of the metalbenders had managed to restrain Naga as well. "You gotta listen to me, I'm the Avatar!"

"Save it for the Chief," the man grunted, leading Korra to the back of the truck. It was shut forcefully in her face, and Korra continued to yell, slamming her body against the door. She peered out the metal bars and watched with bewilderment as Naga was also loaded into a similar truck along with the three unconscious Triads.

"Avatar Korra," someone whispered quietly. Startled, Korra looked down to find the old man staring up at her from the ground. "Whatever they question you on, please do not mention the lad with the red scarf, I beg you."

"What…?"

"He is not what he seems," the old man stressed. The engine roared to life and the truck started to drive away.

"Please!" The man called out, desperation in his eyes. And then the truck turned the corner, and Korra was left with thoughts about the Triad, Mako, stirring around in her mind.

Next chapter will feature Mako and his life as a Triad more heavily. We'll also get to see some interactions between Korra and Lin Beifong - that should be fun!

Reviews are appreciated! Thanks guys! :)

Alice-pyon