Note: Part two! Are you ready? Can you feel the love? I have lots of love for everyone that reads this fic. I can't contain it. Anyway, I just saw something about how Iluq=Eska, but I am not about to change a damn thing to this fic- it's already AU as is, and I think Iluq is a cooler name than Eska.

Noatak didn't wear the mask Korra gave him. He thought it was rather inauspicious of him to wear it. Instead, he took a wide burgundy colored ribbon and cut two slits. He tied the ribbon around his shaggy hair. He still wore the costume- a black cape, cream doublet, burgundy jerkin and tight dark gray trousers. He wondered what Korra was thinking when she decided on this costume. More mysterious than that, he wondered why Korra wanted him to wear the most uncomfortably tight pants in the world. He shook his head as he buttoned the pants.

Noatak took off the ribbon and walked out of his apartment. He took a rail car to the upper district, holding tightly onto the invitation he was given. Noatak knew one of two things: he looked utterly ridiculous in this costume, and he looked even sillier arriving to a fancy party on a rail car. Because of this, Noatak decided to arrive late for the party. He didn't want to explain himself to the other people like who he was or why he had an invitation. So he decided to pick up Korra's betrothal necklace on his way to the party and walk to the palace from there.

As Noatak opened the door to Kanosak's shop, he felt his blood rush to his face. Kanosak's son was already standing at the counter eyeing Noatak and his get-up.

"You certainly clean up," Kanosak's son said.

"It's a costume for a party," Noatak said.

"You're going to the Avatar's birthday party?"

"I'm a little late but yes."

"Who would have known? I've had quite a few people in here already to get gifts for the Avatar."

"Ah. Well, your father has something waiting for me."

Kanosak's son nodded and went into the back. Noatak waited at the counter for a few minutes before Kanosak arrived with a thin black velvet box. Kanosak looked at Noatak and smirked.

"You're certainly bold to propose to her," Kanosak said.

"Am I too obvious?" Noatak said.

"Quite the opposite. I've only just put two and two together. The pendant is the only thing that makes it obvious now that I think of it."

"I trust I have your discretion about this."

"I'm too old to care. Besides, it's none of my business."

"Thank you. May I open it?"

Kanosak handed the box to Noatak. He carefully opened the box and stared at the betrothal necklace.

"I made lots of settings for betrothal necklaces. I think all of them are beautiful. However, the necklce is only as beautiful as the pendant itself. If the pendant doesn't represent the true love of a union, then it means nothinga. This is a beautiful betrothal necklace," Kanosak said.

"Thank you for everything," Noatak said.

"It is always my pleasure to have a customer like yourself. I know nothing of the relationship, but I feel assured that she will say yes- and not because of the necklace," Kanosak said.

Noatak smiled and placed the box in his doublet. He said good-bye to Kanosak and made his way to the palace. The palace lit up brightly over the city. He held his invitation in front of him and the palace in front of him. He tied the ribbon he had tied on his hand around his eyes. Noatak felt his stomach pit as he walked closer to the palace. The guards stared at him as he walked closer to the palace doors. No one to announce his arrival, he walked straight to the two guards in front of the doors. He handed the invitation to them and stared at the ground.

"Your name?" one of the guards asked.

"Please don't announce me. I'd rather not," Noatak said.

"Still, your name," the guard said.

"…Nanuq," Noatak said.

"You may enter," the guard said.

The two guards opened the doors and waved Noatak on. Part of Noatak wanted to run back as fast as he could before he went on any further, but his curiosity and desire got the best of him as he continued to walk. He had been to a few parties like this in the past when Hiroshi Sato invited him to the private galas. They were masquerades like this- meant to hide the identities of prominent Republic City figures that wanted to make discreet donations to the Equalist movement. He never thought much of the opulence of it all. Part of it actually disgusted Noatak. He assumed this was partially due to his brother's love for this lifestyle and what he assumed his father probably liked as well.

When he entered the grand hall, Noatak stood back. People were laughing and drinking. He noticed the long line of men crowding at the center of the room. He knew that was where Korra probably was. The people near him were whispering about how gorgeous she looked and whether or not she was interested in any of them. Out of all of the men, General Iroh got the most talk. He smirked at this. Korra told him about Iroh before. She thought he was a good friend- nothing more.

Noatak shuffled a bit, careful not to draw any attention. Occasionally a woman would walk up to him and attempt to start an intelligent conversation with him. Noatak would shrug and ignore them. He wasn't interested in their vapid conversations. He stood like this until the oddest two people dressed up in matching costumes approached him. The only thing stranger than their presence was how one of them wore a mask incredibly similar to the one he used to wear. The girl wore a white mask adorned in black feathers and rubies.

"Excuse me?" Noatak said.

The girl pointed to him.

"You," she said.

'Yes?" Noatak said.

"You have a past," the other one said.

Hearing the young man's voice, Noatak recognized who this pair was- Korra's cousins. He briefly heard about them when Korra spoke about her family here. She talked about how strange they were. Noatak could only understand. He felt the odd presence about them- only to be overwhelmed by the other feeling. A feeling he was very familiar with.

"I do. You're very perceptive, but a prince and princess probably shouldn't be talking with a person like me," Noatak said.

"You… and Korra," the young woman said.

"Ah… Nothing goes past you two. Am I correct?"

The two nodded. Noatak smirked.

"Well, Princess Iluq, I hope your brother doesn't mind, but I would like a dance with you," Noatak said.

Noatak took Iluq's hand and led her closer to the dance floor- far enough away from her brother. He made sure he and Iluq faced away from Desna and obstructed Desna's view with other dancing couples. Iluq felt tiny in his arm despite the fact he wasn't even that huge and muscle bound like her father. Everything about this girl felt diminutive.

"Tell me princess, how long has this been happening?" Noatak asked.

Iluq stayed quiet as they continued in their waltz.

"He isn't here to say anything," Noatak said.

Iluq blinked and looked away from Noatak.

"That's fine if you don't wish to speak. It doesn't change the fact that I know."

Noatak let his lips near Iluq's ear.

"I'm just curious. How does the prince know how to bloodbend?" Noatak said.

Noatak felt Iluq's head shift away from his.

"The books…" Iluq said.

Her little whisper almost didn't catch Noatak's ear. It was faint like a breath. Noatak understood what was happening.

"He's been doing this for quite some time. Hasn't he?" Noatak said.

Noatak held Iluq's hand out and pressed her wrist with his thumb.

"Your veins are very small… and your blood barely moves. I'm sure the prince knows about this," Noatak said.

"Only recently," Iluq said.

"I suppose I'm the only one who knows then."

Iluq nodded slowly.

"I won't say anything to anyone… but try to seek Korra out on your own. Understood?" Noatak said.

Iluq nodded again.

"I suppose I should let you go. There's a young man who looks quite anxious to dance with you," Noatak said.

"Chu," Iluq said.

"He looks quite enamored," Noatak said.

"He's… nice."

Noatak let Iluq go and bowed to her.

"Thank you Princess Iluq," Noatak said.

Noatak nodded to the boy that eagerly took Princess Iluq's hand. He saw the slight smile on her face. He swore it probably was the first time she smiled in years. Noatak glanced once more to see where Korra was. Again, a crowd of men hid Korra. Noatak shrugged and conceded that he probably wouldn't get to dance with Korra at all this night. He decided to walk back to where he stood before until a tap on the shoulder stopped him. Noatak turned around. A slim man with long fingers wearing a light blue traditional Water Tribe robe and long braids stopped him. His air was faintly familiar to Noatak.

"The princess is rather young for a man like you," the man said.

"Ah… I'm not interested in the princess. It just felt like she should probably be around someone who isn't her brother tonight. Besides, I think the young man who is dancing with is actually the object of her affections," Noatak said.

"That's my son, Chu. He's quite the commander in the navy. I'm sure you've heard of him," the man said.

"I'm not all too familiar with him, but he seems like a good man to me," Noatak said.

The man tilted his head as he looked at Noatak.

"Well… if I might say so, you seem familiar to me. Have we met?" the man said.

"Possibly… I don't know anyone I would remind you of though," Noatak said.

"Well… if you know someone in the council, then perhaps you do," the man said.

Noatak smiled. He knew why this man's aura felt so recognizable. He knew Tarrlok probably was friends with a person like this. Noatak was familiar with these kinds of politicians. He assumed the man probably ran for Tarrlok's seat many times before but lost every time. This man was desperate for more power outside of his current station. Noatak no longer felt surprised by how the man pimped out his son for the princess.

"I'm afraid I don't. Councilman?" Noatak said.

"Councilman Hahn. And you?" Councilman Hahn said.

"Nanuq," Noatak said.

"Well… pleasure to meet you Nanuq," Councilman Hahn said.

Councilman Hahn walked away from Noatak to talk with other Northern Water Tribe politicians. Yet, as Noatak stood here, he saw Councilman Hahn's eyes wander his way. He looked away to see Iluq standing in front of him. He froze and jumped a little. Iluq placed a finger on Noatak's chest.

"East wing. Third door." Iluq said.

"What?" Noatak said.

"Korra's room."

"Ah… thank you princess."

Noatak took Iluq's hand and kissed it lightly. He turned away from her and decided to walk to Korra's room. He was surprised at the lack of guards on his way there. They all seemed to be stationed near grand hall. So Noatak was able to walk to Korra's room with no interruptions. He opened the door to her room and entered. She wasn't there yet. Noatak didn't bother with the lights in the room. He just walked to the small balcony and listened to the music he heard from the grand hall.

"Who's there?"

Noatak spun around quickly to see Korra ready to spring an attack on him. He put his hands up in the air.

"Korra! It's me!" Noatak said.

"Noatak?" Korra said.

She ran to the balcony and threw her arms around Noatak. He kissed her slowly, letting himself linger at Korra's lower lip.

"Happy birthday love."

"I guess birthday wishes do come true."

Note: There's more birthday love to come- like betrothal necklaces and birthday sex (because duh).