Author's note: For anyone who opted to skip the previous chapter (totally fine), Amon finally tells Korra his real name, so henceforth she will refer to him as such (depending as the author wills).

Guess who's coming to dinner?

She races up the stairs; her legs are aching and she's lost her hair tie, but this is an emergency and there's no time to waste.

She fumbles with the key and spends what seems like an eternity fighting with the lock before the door opens and she tumbles across the threshold.

Noatak is lying on the bed, engrossed in the Republic City Times.

"Oh, thank the spirits you're here," she pants. "I was worried I'd have to run halfway across the city to one of the underground entraces."

"Korra, what's wrong?" he asks, his voice filled with concern.

"Tenzin knows," she says breathlessly.

Noa's skin goes even paler than it's normal shade.

"What?!" he shouts. "How did he even-"

"Because it's one thing for me to be home late, and another thing to not come home entirely. I told Tenzin that Asami offered me a place to hang if I was ever out late in the city, and that I've just been using it more and more. Obviously he didn't trust my story."

"So how did-"

"He had me followed! Tenzin actually had me followed! And it was one of the White Lotus guards too!"

"You've always said that your guards are incompetent."

"Incompetent at keeping me inside my prison walls. I never bothered worrying about them once I was out." She angrily blows a few strands of hair from her eyes. "Besides, the incompetence remark was about the guards in general. A guard is much more dangerous." She scratches her head. "Bastard saw us meet at the zoo and caught us stealing a kiss. Tenzin was raving about tongue action or some nonsense-"

Noa is suddenly in front of her, his hands digging into her upper arms. "Korra, how much did this person see? Did he see everything?"

"I'm pretty sure he would've told Tenzin that we sneaked into the penguin trainers' supply room and fucked like jackalopes if he'd known about it."

"…I meant did he see my face."

"…oh. That. No, I don't think so." He gives a relieved gasp. "I asked Tenzin what this 'mystery boyfriend' of mine looked like and he didn't have a good answer."

"Thank the spirits. That's…oddly fortuitous, actually. Still, one mustn't question the universe when it grants you small favors."

"Don't thank the universe just yet." She takes a deep and nerve-wracking breath.

"Tenzin wants to meet you. And...and I think we should do it."

Words seem to have failed Noatak. All he can do gape at her like a dead fish at market.

"I know. It's a monumentally stupid idea," she says exasperatedly. "But if we don't throw him a bone or something then he's going to send more guards to follow us around, and I can't have them discovering the apartment or even worse, finding out who you really ar-"

And then she hears a weird sound and she realizes – he's actually laughing.

He laughs so hard that the force of it causes him to double over and his eyes start to water.

What the fuck is he thinking?

Finally, Noa stops laughing and wipes his eyes. "Oh, this is far too good an opportunity to waste." There's a mischievous glint in his eyes (though it might just be the tears). "Tell the councilman I humbly accept his most gracious invitation. Two days hence. Eight o'clock or half-past, if possible."

"I can't believe we're actually going to do this," she mumbles, turning away from him in disbelief.

"Sneak into your enemy's home once, shame on me. Get personally invited the second time-"

But she doesn't think this is funny at all, so she pounces on him and they wrestle until they end up on their backs next to each other.

"It's really not funny," she says, turning to face him. "We're playing with fire here." She sits up. "How do you think Tenzin would feel if he finds out I'm in love with the man who's trying to destroy his father's legacy? Oh, don't give me that look; it hurts, but it's the truth. Yeah, Tenzin can be stuffy and rigid, but he's got a good heart and he's been a decent mentor towards me. I'm never gonna be the perfect Avatar – nor do I want to be – but I do want to make him proud, if only for Aang's sake."

"You're right." Noatak grabs her hand and brings it to his lips. "This isn't just about us and this isn't something to be done lightly." He kisses her hand again. "But I do want to meet him. 'Know thy enemy' and all."

"You know what? I honestly don't care why you come as long as you're there. But you'll behave. No equalizing."

She sniffs under her arms and makes a face. "Ugh, I smell disgusting."

"Did you run all the way from Air Temple Island?"

"Don't remind me." She sniffs again. "It's a shame you can only waterbend the sweat and not the stink out of clothes. Well, you can't." He wrinkles his nose. "You know what I mean."

She gets up from the bed and heads for the bathroom, stripping away her musty clothes en route. "I'll be out in five or so."

"Five minutes usually means fifteen with you." He grabs the hem of his shirt and lifts it up over his head, revealing his pale but well-toned abs. "I'd better come and keep you company. You'll be in there forever without someone to help you keep the time."

"Jerk," she mutters, but as they step into the shower together she has a big grin on her face.

After a thorough scrubbing, a soothing head massage and toe-curling, hit-it-from-behind wall sex with her boyfriend, she exits bathroom.

Thirty minutes later.

The night arrives.

And he's late.

Noatak set the time and the date for dinner and he's late.

Forget about what Tenzin might do; she is going to kill the bastard herself.

At 40 minutes past the hour a nondescript looking satomobile parks just in front of the docks, and out steps Noatak, stunningly dressed in a black and red dinner suit (which fits very well on him, she notes).

But he's done something to his face – one of his eyes looks glassy, and there are two scars on his right cheek.

"Where. The fuck. Have you been?" she hisses.

"Traffic," he says irritably. "Some earthbender thought he'd amuse himself by making the main road his personal race track – complete with obstacles. It took ages to properly clear the roads and make it through the resulting backup." He doesn't bother hiding the disdain in his voice.

"And what's with all this shit?" she adds, pointing to his disguise.

"The eye is just a fake lens, the scars well done makeup, as you know. It's designed, ironically, to make me distinctive. People will remember the deformities but not the face beneath them." He pauses at her labored expression. "You…find my preparations excessive?"

She takes a deep breath and tries to calm down. "I'm sorry love, it's just…I wish you could dress like that more often. When you're out with me. Just me."

He kisses her forehead. "Maybe one day soon."

"Now, now," she chuckles sadly, "you know I hate it when you lie to me."

She pats her back.

"Come on. I told Tenzin I'd bring you over."

"You want me to ride on your back. All the way to the island. You have got to be joking."

"Think of it as payback for all the times I've ridden you."

"I don't recall ever complaining about those rides."

"On," she demands. "Or would you rather I carry you in my arms the entire way?"

"Oh please," he sniffs. "You're athletic, but not that athletic. Besides, it would not fit the dignified air I hope to cultivate with the councilman."

"Oh, good," she says, summoning her most maniacal grin. "Carry it is, then."

And as she scoops him up in her arms and zooms out onto the water, the yelling starts and doesn't stop until they're on the rocky shores of Air Temple Island.

"Welcome to my home," says Tenzin, giving Noatak a stiff bow. "I am honored to play host to such an important guest."

His expression and tone show that he is anything but.

The four White Lotus guards on either side of him don't scream "welcome" either.

Oh, if you only knew, she thinks silently.

"I am honored to be here, Councilman," responds Noa as he gives a respectful bow. "You are most gracious to extend to me the hospitality of this island."

"I heard some commotion as you approached…I trust that everything is alright?" Tenzin's eyes narrow.

"Korra – sorry, sir – the Avatar and I disagreed on the manner in which I was to be transported here."

"I carried him in my arms," she interjects. "He thought I couldn't do it, and then complained about how it 'wasn't manly' the whole way over."

Tenzin raises a disapproving eyebrow.

Well this is going well, she thinks sourly.

"Councilman, the Avatar has told me much about this place and the work you have been doing in your father's name," says Noatak, smoothly and effortlessly regaining control of the situation. "I am curious to see the fruits thereof. Could you – would you, I mean – if I am not overstepping my bounds, sir-"

Tenzin's expression softens, and her danger instincts kick in.

"I don't know that that's a good idea," she says warily. "We're already running so late-"

"It's alright, Korra," says Tenzin, cracking a smile for the first time. "I always welcome the opportunity to educate others about the traditions we are trying to preserve here. If you'll follow me, please." He beckons for Noatak to follow him.

She shares a knowing look with the Equalist leader, and catches a familiar twitch at the corner of his mouth; it's the closest he gets to grinning in situations where grinning is inappropriate.

Tenzin gives Noatak a surprisingly detailed tour: the dormitories (Tenzin's voice upticks when mentioning that men and women have separate quarters), the gardens, the training grounds, the meditation pavilion, the main house and all its facilities. Noatak is the consummate tourist, always respectful of the objects around him, making well-received observations and posing engaging questions.

If she wasn't sure that he was simply filing all that information away in case he had to storm the island (what do you mean, "in case?"), she would've been proud of him.

They reach the doors to Tenzin's private quarters, and the airbender dismisses the four White Lotus guards. Obviously he thinks they've done their job – intimidation, she reasons. The only problem is that I've told Noa too many stories. He knows what little they're actually capable of.

Still, she's grateful that the guards won't be there in the dining room.

Things will be awkward enough without their presence.

They arrange themselves around the table, where a modest meal and clay tea set has been laid out.

"A blend of the white lotus," says Tenzin, grabbing the tea pot and pouring all three of them a cup. "The flower is native to the mountains the Air Nomads once lived on. Avatar Aang worked extremely hard to cultivate them here in the city."

Noatak raises his beverage with both hands and gives a little nod towards Tenzin before bringing the drinking vessel to his lips.

She looks awkwardly at her own cup and then sips her tea; the hot liquid burns her tongue, but it tastes wonderful.

"Where's Pema?" she asks as she carefully takes another sip.

"In trying to put Rohan to bed, Pema inadvertently fell asleep herself," explains Tenzin. "Since I would probably wake both of them if I tried to get her up, I decided to let her sleep. I hope you don't mind, Korra."

Of course I mind, she thinks desperately. I was counting on her to run interference, keep you distracted. At least I convinced Asami to take Bolin and Mako into town for the night without telling her why. Dealing with those two would've been a nightmare.

"And the kids?"

"I told them that daddy had an important meeting and that he was not to be disturbed." He adjusts his robes. "In fact, I told very few people the exact nature of your…guest's visit. The more people who know, the greater chance this becomes public knowledge, and neither you nor I wants to deal with the extra scrutiny and invasion of privacy that comes when an Avatar is romantically involved. I can't have photographers and journalists sneaking onto the island and disrupting everyone's lives."

"I appreciate your discretion Tenzin, I really do, but – why are you being such a hardass?" He frowns at her. "I mean, the big show with the guards, you acting all surly-faced…I mean, surlier than you normally are…"

Tenzin purses his lips. "After what happened with Tarrlok, you'll understand if I'm feeling overly cautious. I'm fairly sure that he wasn't just interested in your political attributes."

"I know what I'm doing, Tenzin," she says, taking another sip of her tea.

He snorts derisively. "Korra, you may feel that being the Avatar makes you invincible, but you are young and have lived a relatively sheltered life. There are plenty of men in the world who would want to take advantage of your youth and inexperience."

"Is that what Pema's parents said when she brought you to meet them?"

Tenzin's mouth goes wide and he tries to sputter a response, his face growing redder and redder by the second.

Yeah that's right, she says silently, allowing herself a small smile. Take your self-righteous attitude and shove it.

Noatak coughs and she suspects he's disguising some rather inopportune laughter.

"Councilman, if I may, says Noatak, taking another sip of his tea, "I couldn't help but notice that you have yet to ask for my name."

"And I noticed, sir, that you have failed to give it," counters Tenzin.

So he can't win either way. Real nice move, Tenzin.

"So I have," says Noatak with a smile. "My name is Konaat."

She smiles behind her teacup. Clever alias.

"My father was from the Earth Kingdom, my mother from the Northern Water Tribe. They met when business took him to the North Pole. They took a liking to one another. Soon after, they were married, and moved to Ba Sing Se, where I was born and raised."

"Any brothers or sisters?"

"No," Noatak says sadly. "Not anymore."

She lowers her head and pretends to drink in order to hide the look of surprise on her face.

While Noatak was a fantastic actor, the emotion in his voice was in no way faked at all.

Noatak had siblings and he didn't tell me.

"How did-" begins Tenzin.

"I would rather not discuss it. It was a very painful episode in our family's history."

"Fair enough," says Tenzin. "What is your profession?"

"I am a simple laborer – I work on the docks mostly, helping to load and unload cargo to and from the ships. My schedule is somewhat sporadic, but I usually work nights – I find myself most alert during the moonlight hours." Noatak points to the "injuries" on his face. "Though I've discovered that my alertness can only help so much."

"So how does someone like you run into the Avatar?"

"We enjoy many of the same places. I happened to drop in at an opportune moment, and there she was. Things were rocky at first – we quickly formed opinions about one another, and not very favorable opinions at that – but we both sensed a meaningful undercurrent in our conversations, so we continued to meet. Our romantic entanglement developed naturally from that."

"That's a rather vague answer," says Tenzin pointedly.

"I'm sure the Avatar will be more than happy to provide you with all the details you require."

Aaaaand this is veering into dangerous territory.

"Whoa, slow down Tenzin," she interrupts, trying to defuse the growing tension. "Look, I get that you want to make sure this guy is not a creep – an idiot, yes, he can be-" She ignores the look Noatak throws at her "-but he is not required to share every single little detail of his life with you."

"It's not out of order for me to try and ensure your well-being! Look Korra, I'm only trying to-"

But suddenly there are two yelps from outside, and the door slides open to reveal a disheveled and annoyed-looking Pema holding Jinora and Ikki by the ears.

"Pema, when did you wake up?" asks Tenzin.

"Just now." She turns and gives her husband a glare. "You need to get your ears checked. A deaf man could hear these two breathing from behind the door."

"Jinora, Ikki!" says Tenzin, raising his voice just enough to let his anger show. "What are you doing here? I told you that daddy-"

"Pfsh. You had the 'big secrets' look you always get. Of course we were going to spy on you guys," says Ikki.

"Where is your brother?"

"Probably practicing his farts or something. He would've been too loud anyways," says Jinora dismissively.

"And how much did you two hear?" he asks sternly.

"Oh, pretty much everything," says Ikki, wriggling out of her mother's grip and airbending over the length of the table in order to stand next to Noa.

She leans down over him, and starts bombarding him with questions.

"What's your favorite color? Your smell weird. Is that perfume? I bet it is. Do you like big ships or small ships better? Your eye is really funny-looking."

Noatak nearly chokes on his mouthful of tea. Ikki's questions continue with no sign of ever ceasing.

"Have you eaten yet? You guys should probably eat soon. Do you ever get to go sailing on the ships? Can you b-"

"Ikki!" say Tenzin and Pema in unison.

"Hmph." Ikki airbends back over the table to her mother.

"Can we at least stay and talk to him?" asks Jinora.

"Absolutely no-"

"Tenzin," says Pema exasperatedly.

"Oh, fine," he says, giving up. "Jinora, you can stay. Ikki, go to your room!"

"But-"

"That's final! And you are not to discuss anything you've heard with anyone other than myself, your mother, your sister or Korra. I mean it."

"No fair," she says dejectedly.

Pema nods her head towards the door. Go on, now.

Ikki disappears behind the screen.

Whew. That was close.

Then Ikki pops her head back around the door.

"Are you and Tarrlok long-lost brothers?" she asks Noatak.

His eyes bulge and he sprays his mouthful of tea out across the table.

"Ikki!" shout her parents.

"What?" she says innocently. "He smells funny and he has long hair and he has that weird face that both of them have-"

But Pema unceremoniously shoves her youngest daughter through the door. "Out."

"Aww," says Ikki, and she stomps away pouting as the door closes.

Silence reigns over the room.

"I apologize for the mess," says Noatak uneasily, trying to mop up tea and spittle with his jacket and failing miserably. "The question was…startling, to say the least."

"Don't worry about it," says Jinora with an eye roll. "Ikki has always been annoying like that."

"I take it Councilman Tarrlok has dined here before?"

"More like he dropped in uninvited," mutters Pema.

"As much of a headache as Ikki can be, I'll admit, she does have a point," adds Jinora.

"Jinora…" says Pema warningly.

"I mean, you both have the whole old, sturdy, dark and mysterious vibe. Well, maybe not dark in your case." She gives Noatak an apologetic look. "But-" She gives a sly smile. "-I can see why Korra liiiiikes you. You're cute."

Tenzin gives his eldest a horrified look and turns to his wife for aid; Pema merely shrugs as if to say "What? The girl's telling the truth."

Spirits, kill me now.

"Hey, uh, I don't know about everyone else," she offers, "but I'm kinda hungry."

The rest of the evening goes much smoother (relatively speaking) by comparison. The meal is a mostly vegetarian affair, but Pema had taken the liberty of preparing some meat-based dishes for which she and Noatak are immensely grateful.

Jinora's questions are much more intellectual and less invasive than Ikki's. Noatak offers his opinions on classic romance novels, advice on how to handle younger siblings, whispering suggestions for catching a young lover's heart.

Tenzin asks increasingly obtuse questions about Noatak's background and intentions, and at one point broaches the subject of the Equalist movement, as if sensing that Noatak is some kind of undercover agent (which he technically was); at this query, however, Pema merely smiles and says "not at the table, dear," her eyes conveying the implied threat of bodily harm she would inflict on her husband should he not heed her words.

The question is quickly dropped.

Dinner finally comes to its painful conclusion: plates are cleared, full bellies patted; Jinora clears the dishes, and Tenzin stifles a yawn.

"Well," he begins, "it seems we must bid each other goodnight. Korra, I trust that Konaat can see himself home?"

"With the way the city is at night?" she says with forced concern. "And the Equalists stepping things up? I couldn't possibly send him home alone. He should spend the night. I'd be happy to keep him in my room," she finishes, giving Tenzin a satisfied smile.

Tenzin immediately tries to protest, but Pema, seemingly satisfied with Noatak's character and confident in her belief that he only means well, quickly covers her husband's mouth. "I think that's perfectly fine Korra. You know where the spare linens are if you need them. I trust that you'll be the consummate gentlemen, Mr. Konaat?"

"As you say madam," says Noatak with a small smile.

"Good. Come along dear," she says, pulling Tenzin to his feet and dragging him away. "You'll be watching the baby tonight."

"But Pema-" Tenzin's voice fades into the distance.

Jinora stares at them for a moment, a goofy grin and a deep blush spreading across her face before she disappears to her own bedroom.

"Well, it's safe to say that everyone knows we're not planning to get any sleep tonight," says Noatak dryly as they head towards Korra's room. Then his face contorts to a weird expression. "Tenzin…would he-"

"-post someone outside to make sure we weren't doing it? Not if Pema has anything to say about it."

"Ah, good."

"Still, we should probably keep things quiet."

"Agreed."

"Do you think he's was satisfied with you answers?"

"No," he scoffs. "He'll send someone to the docks or discreetly make inquiries himself. But we have contingencies for this sort of thing, authorities prying into the backstories of our operatives. I may have to appear down there for a few days, but it'll be worth it to throw him off."

Naga is waiting inside the room, and barks happily upon seeing the two of them.

"I know, I've been gone a lot," she says, ruffling her pet's head.

"Hello Naga," says Noatak softly. The dog nuzzles his hand in response.

"Alright girl. Go on. Out," she says fondly, and the Naga leaves, her tail joyfully wagging behind her.

Alone at last.

The two of them look around the room.

"You know, I've dreamed about having you in here," she confesses.

"Having me, or having me?"

"Both," she says with a smile. "Granted, your first appearance wasn't at the best of times," she jokes. "And then…well, you know what happened afterwards. Still – it's nice when a girl gets what she wants."

"I would hate to disappoint, then."

Noatak moves behind her, places his hands across her abdomen.

"Let me make your dreams come true," he murmurs as he leans forward.

He kisses her on the neck repeatedly until she tilts her head back and gives him easier access. His knee slides in between her legs, and his hand follows shortly thereafter, his fingers diving beneath the waistband of her pants, gently pulling on the soft blanket of her mound before sinking deep into her; she is wet, she is wet and she is wanting and spirits help me, he is really going to fuck me in my bedroom. In my bed.

"Nnnnhguahh!" she cries out as her muscles clench around him, pleasure rippling through her body.

"Now, now," he whispers, covering her mouth with his other hand and slipping two fingers between her lips. "No more noise."

And while she usually would normally be happy to argue the point, this time, she follows his order without question.

Author's note: This was another chapter that seemed straightforward in theory but was actually rather difficult in the writing. I would elaborate more on the second half of dinner, but I feel like more questions from Tenzin would be belaboring the point. If anyone DOESN'T think that more would be excessive, then I can always do a re-edit.

SPEAKING OF WHICH…

I have edited almost all of the preceding chapters: most of the edits were to the author's notes, but at least three chapters I edited to make the verb tenses correspond with the remainder of the series (and once the fic is finished, if not sooner, I will edit this note too). So if the urge to reread strikes you, and you think something has changed, it probably has.

The dinner conversation originally involved Asami, Mako and Bolin as well, but I was pretty sure that I'd have to break from third-person limited in order to accurately keep track of all the characters (there'd be at least four "she's" in the room), to say nothing of the fact that it contradicted Tenzin's desire for secrecy.