Chapter Five

The movie premiere was located at the arena, where he, his brother, and Korra once competed as the Fire Ferrets. The memories danced like leaves across his mind, falling and fading like autumn before winter. He got out of the car Bolin had sent as their escort, and held up his hand to stop their driver from opening the door for his date. He was dressed in a black two-piece suite with a red collared dress shirt underneath, buttoned all the way up to his throat. His red scarf was wrapped snugly around his shoulders and streamed down his back in the usual style. His hair was left alone, lifted in the front in a gravity defying manner. His amber eyes watched, pleased at the sight of Tola as she emerged from the vehicle. Her hand reached out to take his and he gently led her down the step and to the red carpet. Lights flashed around them from cameras since he was already well known on the papers. Tola's opal eyes revealed her anxiety, but he squeezed her hand as she fell in step beside him.

She was stunning, her petite form swathed in a crimson dress that hugged her frame, and flared out from her hips. It was strapless and complimented her curves and ample bosom. A black shawl was wrapped around her shoulders to add some modesty, and her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail with a little pompadour to keep her hair from falling over her face. She was unique and exotic all at once, her make-up done in a manner to make her eyes stand out. She matched him in black and red, black pumps falling in step beside him as she avoided looking into cameras. She clutched his hand tightly, her gaze lowered.

Worriedly, he gazed down.

"I'm okay," she murmured, sensing his look. She rested her cheek against his shoulder. Once they were in the lobby, a voice he hadn't heard in a while called out his name. He turned and froze.

"A-Asami." He stuttered.

Asami smiled. She was stunning, tall, dark-haired, and beautiful. She had fair skin and stood as a dark contrast to the petite woman next to him. "It's been a while," she said, "I thought about calling you, but I was very busy with work." She was looking into his eyes, not yet noticing his date. Tola stayed still and watched Asami curiously. Some women would assess a potential threat with hostility, but Tola's face remained serene, her expression calm. He had told her about dating Asami and Korra. Both women were well-known figures among Republic City. Asami, especially since her recent renovation of the satomobile.

"It has."

"How have you been?" She didn't once look away.

"Um, good, but I'd like you meet someone."

She blinked slowly first, and then shifted her gaze from Mako to Tola. The petite blond smiled at her, opal eyes gleaming with warm welcome.

"Hello, I'm Tola."

Asami stared at the smaller woman, as if reality finally settled. Her stare lingered, but Tola wasn't fazed. She kept her smile and held out her hand.

"It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard nothing but good things from Mako."

Her jade eyes glanced down to the slender hand offered to her. Mako could see her cheek cave in slightly to know that she was biting the inside.

"I...I can't do this, I'm sorry." She turned away from the both of them and walked away.

Tola looked genuinely worried. She lifted her opal gaze to Mako, and he shook his head. "Don't worry, Tola. You've said nothing wrong." He smiled and leaned down to kiss her quickly on the lips. "Let's find our seats." She nodded and nuzzled her nose along the line of his. The tender gesture was warmly receive. He pressed his forehead against hers. "You make me happy, Tola."

Her smile turned shy, "you make me happy too, Mako." She murmured. "I'm... going to stop offering V.I.P. services. But I'll still be dancing, is that okay?"

He blinked, surprised by her sudden statement. He leaned away with wonder. "You'll what?" His mind was reeling with both shock and relief. He had done his best to not judge her, because she'd been working at the castle before he'd come into her life. "You don't have to do that." He knew that she made the most money with V.I.P. clients. He had been one of them until their dating grew more exclusive.

"I want to, Mako. For us. It isn't right that I still service other men when I'm with you."

He looked into her eyes as the crowd starting moving toward the doors leading into the arena. He forgot for a moment why they were here, but he was elated beyond belief. He grabbed her hips and lifted her. She laughed and embraced him with her arms around his shoulders. He held her against him, "and I'm going to dye my hair, back to its regular color."

"Which would be...?" He trailed off teasingly, and she playfully rapped his arm with her knuckles.

"Let's go watch the movie." She said and he set her down. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the door. He frowned when he senses someone looking their way. He turned his head and barely missed a cloak figure turning away and vanishing around a corner.

Weird, he thought to himself and returned to enjoying his time with Tola.

The film ended with a standing ovation from the audience. Tola and Mako stood from their private balcony, smiling as Bolin took center stage and bowed with the rest of the cast and crew. While the announcer made the last speech about exiting carefully, Bolin stole the microphone to shout, "hey for anyone interested, there's going to be a party at Verrick's place!" Ever since the former producer's disappearance, Bolin had been staying at the mansion. He dropped the microphone as the audience cheered and departed from the arena.

At the lobby, Mako noticed the cloaked figure again. His brows furled together and he leaned to whisper in Tola's ear that he needed to use the restroom really quick. She nodded, "I'll wait by the concession stand." He smiled and kissed her cheek.

The cloaked figure, upon noticing Mako heading his way, tensed in panic and turned around hurriedly. Mako picked up his steps in a brisk pace. When he turned the corner, Mako summoned aflame into the shape of a blade and quickly pushed the figure into the wall, makeshift weapon burning at whomever's throat. A high pitched squeal escaped from beneath the hood that fell away to reveal an older gentleman. He had a monocle and grayed sideburns. Mako blinked as the man trembled in fear. Then his features hardened because he'd dealt with too many unexpected threats in his line of work.

"Who are you." The burning knife didn't fade as he held it close to the man's neck, akin to holding a blow torch burning at the hottest temperature.

"I c-c-can't tell you."

"I won't ask you again, old man." Mako growled. "Or I will have you arrested for stalking. Prison sounds like a nice place of retirement, doesn't it?" Mako was bluffing. The old man couldn't get sentenced for just creeping, but he could get thrown into a holding cell as a lesson learned. The man gulped and shook his head rapidly.

"N-no, I don't want that, please. I'll tell you, I will!"

Well that didn't take long. He absorbed the flames back into his hand, "now talk."

Mako returned to the lobby. He found Tola standing where she said she would, chatting amiably with Bolin.

"There you are, Mako!" Bolin said when he noticed Tola looking at the fire bender. His enthusiasm dropped when he saw the look on Mako's face. He knew that look anywhere. "Uh oh, what's eating you?"

"Mako?" Tola's voice was soft and hesitant. She watched him like an animal trainer would a polar dog or a tiger seal, wary of unpredictable instincts.

"We need to talk." He said, eyes fixed on the petite woman. Bolin lifted his hands in surrender, "ooookay, I'll see you guys later."

Once Bolin left to lead the way to the party, Tola and Mako took a different route. He quietly stalked ahead, having been here many times in the past for training and competitions. He held open the door for her that led into the locker room, and closed it behind them. He turned the lock and sat on the bench as Tola watched him nervously.

"...Makoto?" She said his full name hesitantly, fear now creeping on the edge of her voice.

He huffed out a sigh, his elbows resting on his knees. Then he looked up to hold his arms out for her to come close. She moved into the circle of his arms and let him rest his forehead against her navel. He stayed that way as he held her in a vulnerable position, arms wrapped around her hips. He exhaled slowly when he felt her fingers running through his hair.

"Who is Nakago?" He blurted out, voice muffled from pressing his face against her navel. She tensed, fingers still pushed into his hair. "And why has he sent someone to look for you?" Her hand fell away from his hair and he moved his head back to look up at her. She looked so sad and defeated. Tears streamed down her cheeks as he held her. "Tola?" He whispered.

"Nakago is my stepfather."

A part of him was relieved. He almost thought something else. But his curiosity was still burning. "So, why is your stepfather sending someone to find you?"

"Because he is sick." Tola replied flatly. Tears were still flowing despite the lack of emotion in her voice. The confusion must've shown on his face because she sighed. "I ran away from home when I was sixteen. I couldn't be there anymore, so I left and started a new life here, in Republic City."

"Where is home?" He asked as he gently rubbed the back of her thighs.

"Capital City."

He froze, "does that mean you're...?" She smiled and turned to sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she snugged her back against him, and then held her hand up. He could feel the heat rising from her skin until a ball of fire burst into the space above her palm. "Why didn't you tell me?" He whispered as he held her tighter against him. She leaned her head into the crook of his neck and closed her hand, willing the flames to disappear.

"I told you that I wanted to start a new life. I wanted to keep a low profile, and I intended to."

"Is that why you changed your hair?"

"Yes, and I never used my fire bending in public once. I was afraid that he'd already sent people."

He reached up to lace their fingers together. He felt the heat tingling along her skin and he relished it. "Does he want to come back home?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to?"

She shook her head, and turned her face in to kiss the side of his neck, where his pulse thumped with life.

"You don't have to, if you don't want to, Tola. We'll just tell him to bug off."

She smiled, "bug off?"

"Yeah. Send the old guy home packing. I think I scared him a little."

Tola laughed, "Really?"

"Poor guy practically had a heart attack when I caught up to him."

"Aww," she cooed as she stayed snug on his lap.

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"Not here, and not yet." She looked up at him sorrowfully, "it was already hard enough opening up about my stepfather." He looked into her eyes, seeing her need for a little more time. He nodded.

"All right. Just remember that you're not alone." Mako said.

She tearfully closed her eyes and leaned in for a passionate kiss. Their lips sealed for an eternity, expressing everything that was growing too fast within them, too fast for words to catch up.

"I know," she whispered, "thank you."