Chapter Four

"So how does it even work?" Bolin asked with his fingers laced behind the back of his head. The brother decided to sit together in the balcony. They had the perfect view of the fireworks for the new year. A thunderous crash filled the air until fireworks burst. He didn't have to do guard duty anymore since he was a detective now. No more grunt work for him. He reached for his bottle of water to sip from. Between them was a small table folded out to hold their moon cakes.

"What do you mean?" He replied. He had thought about asking Tola to come over, but the castle was packed.

Bolin looked to him with an incredulous look. "Seriously? You are dating Lumia. And might I remind you that if it weren't for me, you wouldn't even know who she is!"

"...So," Mako muttered, looking away.

Bolin sighed and tutted with sympathy. "Mako, Mako, Mako." He took a sip of his water before continuing. "She is a stripper, and a popular hostess in the V.I.P. room. Does it even bother you that she still takes off her clothes in public? That she might be... 'servicing' other guys while you're out here, working, or doing whatever it is you do nowadays."

"It's not like I can tell her to quit!" Mako snapped, but he looked troubled. Bolin had succeeded in planting that seed of doubt. "And..." He added quickly, "we are two people who just happen to like each other. We're not... official."

Bolin rolled his eyes. "Please, spare me that bullshit, Mako. I can tell that you really like her already. So what's her real name?"

"Tola."

"And what did she do before she decided on that grand idea of becoming a stripper in Republic City?"

Mako opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came to mind. What did she do before? He realized he still didn't know, regardless of the amount of time they'd been spending together. Whenever he brought up her past, she politely declined or silenced him with a kiss. "Let's focus on the present, okay?" He could only nod at that sentiment. He felt the same about his own history; he'd rather keep it behind him and look forward.

"Right," Bolin said smugly. "You knowing nothing about her, Mako."

Mako shook his head, "she's... special, Bolin. Different."

"I bet she's not as special or different as Korra. How can she even compare to the Avatar?"

That hit him square in the chest. His furious look wiped the smugness from Bolin's boyish face. He held up his hands in surrender, "hey, bro, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it."

"Yes, you did." He said through gritted teeth. "I think I'm going to ask you to leave."

"Noooo, please Mako, don't do this. I'm sorry, I take it back. I don't know her either, so I shouldn't judge."

Mako's eyebrow quirked. "That was one of the smartest things you've ever said."

Bolin grinned sheepishly. "Thanks."

"But I still think you should leave. I have an early morning."

He pouted, but Mako didn't budge. He wasn't in the mood to deal with any more of Bolin's words of wisdom.

Her moans spurned him to continue his oral ministrations. He flicked his tongue against her swollen pearl, while gently thrusting his two fingers in and out of her. Her back arched, legs spreading wider to open her up even more. He tilted his head and grazed his teeth over her sensitive clit. Her hips bucked and she cried out. When her nectar's flow thickened, he pulled away to lick along her inner thighs, leaving her trembling with contained release. Her breast rose and fell as she peered down at him. She had shown up at his front door in the late night, when the streets were empty of the new year celebration.

They didn't save time for any niceties. They just went straight to his bed. The very sight of her, dyed blond hair wavy and long with streaks of pink and white mussed up from a long night at the castle. She had on a trench coat and high heels, which he'd promptly discarded and tossed unfastened her coat to find that she was only in pink lacy undergarments. His hunger intensified, and he'd done away with her thong first so that he could taste her.

While he left her still panting and catching her breast from coming close to her release, he pressed his lips gently to the red fireball tattoos that resembled paw prints on each hip. He licked the spot gingerly, running his tongue over the soft ridges from having her skin pierced by needle and ink. Her head fell back, opal eyes holding his lustful stare. Completely nude, he crawled over her and paused so that he could marvel at the sight of her body. Her breasts were naturally rounded and large for someone so petite. Usually, he'd take his time lavishing them with attention, but he wanted to kiss her. So he did.

Her hands slid up his shoulders before sliding further so that her arms wrapped around his neck, and pulled him down. His rigid length brushed against her hip, and she gasped softly. Her tongue swirled in his mouth and made him shiver.

Before they could get further, Bolin's words crashed down on him at the worst time.

"Right," Bolin said smugly, "you know nothing about her, Mako."

He pulled away from her lips, and she blinked up at him, startled by his abruptness. "Is everything okay?" She was always so patient, which was what he really liked about her. She hadn't been critical, nor condescending. Even when he found himself ranting about his day, or some part of his past, she took everything in stride with an open ear. That was the thing he really appreciated about Tola - was that she actually listened. And she was always concerned about his well-being.

"It's nothing." He replied quickly. When he leaned down to kiss her again, she turned away to look at him closely. Her dark brows were furled together.

"Something's bothering you."

He inwardly groaned. He had learned how perceptive she really was. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't lie to her because she was so quick to figure it out. Though, she'd often let it go. Tonight, however, she was persistent. How long had they been seeing each other, he mused. It'd been almost a month, and he honestly felt that this was the best month he ever had.

He sighed and fell onto the bed beside her. She turned onto her side with her elbow propped, chin in her palm as she glanced down at him. He looked up with his hands clasped across his chest, now flaccid since they weren't going to do it. What he also liked about Tola was that... even though they were naked, she wasn't at all miffed about him stopping in the middle of their intimacy when something bothered him.

"Tell me, please."

Her request was what made him cave in, and soft plea in her voice.

He shifted his gaze away, "it's just that my brother visited earlier."

She smiled. She was obviously very fond of Bolin, but that didn't make him jealous. He knew that she saw his brother as a friend and only that. "Bolin? That's sweet."

Mako smiled too, "I guess. Didn't want me to be alone for the new year."

Her smile faltered, "I'm sorry. I wish I could have been here."

He shook his head, "no, no, it isn't like that. It's just..." He turned on his side then and gently traced one of her tattoos. "I want to get to know you. I've practically spilled everything about my life... but I feel like I still don't know you - I mean, really know you."

She bit her bottom lip, before pulling herself closer to curl up against him. Startled, he moved his hand to wrap his arm around her body instead. "I'm sorry, Mako." She whispered. "I know it's not fair to you."

"No, no... it's okay. I just want to get to know you better," Mako murmured, immediately feeling guilty for her sudden vulnerability. He held her close, "I'm very patient, Tola... unless your past is going to creep on us unexpectedly, I'd like to know beforehand, thanks." He teased lightly, and he saw the serious look on her face when she looked up at him. His grin faltered. "Tola?"

She shook her head, and leaned up to kiss him gently. "Soon, I will tell you everything." She held his face when she pulled away.

He smiled, "I'd like that."

"Now make love to me." She demanded and he chuckled before pulling her on top of him.

"You take the reigns with this one, Lumia." She reached down and found that he was already rigid and waiting. She laughed and guided him. A soft, sensual sigh parted her lips when he slid in to the hilt. He groaned, eyes nearly rolling to the back of his head from how good she felt around him.

At work, an invitation was sitting on his desk from none other than "Nuktuk," the action star his younger brother was known for. It was an invitation to the screening of the film's next installment and an after party at Verrick's mansion. The invitation was formal and printed in cursive, but a note was scrawled at the bottom that he recognized as Bolin's sloppy handwriting.

Bring "Lumia," I mean, Tola.

-Bolin

Mako reread the note once, twice, and then sat back in his chair with a complex impression. Was this his brother seeing "Lumia" as more than just an exotic dancer? He absently toyed with the end of his red scarf. Bolin was the most accepting and positive person he knew. It was almost as if no darkness could prevent him from seeing the good and light of day. Ever since their childhood, and growing up on the streets as scam artists, he still retained his positive attitude. They both had gotten a lot further than they thought they ever would. Mako was now a detective, and his brother was a big time actor.

Bolin had been nothing but supportive and always trying to get Mako to see the lighter side of things. Plus, he hadn't gotten to sit in at his brother's last screening since he'd been arrested for a crime he didn't commit.

He looked at the phone sitting on his desk while tapping the note card against his palm. "You can do this, Makoto." He whispered to himself and reached for the phone. He dialed the number for Heaven's Castle. When he reached the automatic voice recording, he pressed the number that would instantly take him to Lumia's end. She answered after the first ring with a purring, "hello?"

A grin slid across his lips at the sound of her voice, and he held the phone closer to his ear. "Hey." He crooned.

"Mako?" Her voice lowered but he could hear her enthusiasm.

"What are you doing tonight?"

She chuckled huskily, "I don't know yet. What do you have in mind?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go to my brother's movie premiere." He glanced down to the invitation again, "he specifically made a note for you to come."

She laughed, "If you put it that way, I can't say no... but yes, I'd love to."

His heart fluttered and he resisted the urge to bump his fist in the air. "Then I'll see you tonight. Should I pick you up?" He had been to her apartment once. She lived near the river, in a fairly nice residential district. As long as she didn't live in the red light district, he wouldn't be any more worried.

"No, I'll meet you at your place."

They said their goodbyes and hung up. He looked at the phone in wonder. Shouldn't this mean they were an official couple? He hated to assume things, but it felt right to be with her, to see her, and it didn't matter what her job was on the side. He wasn't one to throw stones considering his less than noble past.