Day 4: Dreams

Ok so this is another AU with Mako actually having the POV/Narration just go with it. The story is still about Korra and Iroh and just like I try to do with all my stories it's not the normal thing. Think old time detective, Sam Spade, Jonny Dollar, Boston Blacky those guys. Enjoy!

City of Dreams

This city…this city was built on dreams and fantasies. A beautiful gleaming beacon for the rest of the world to look at in awe, but their were monsters in those dreams and they too came to the city and made it their home. I know all the monsters by name: greed, lust, wrath, etcetera, etcetera. I know them all intimately; I'm a private detective it's my profession to. There is no bond, person or relationship that can't be corrupted in this rotten world and especially not this city that's my creed and in my thirty-five years of life I have never met the exception until she darkened my office door asking for help.

She sauntered in like one of those fem fatal dames in the movers. She was stacked like brick wall and her red dress was like a good servant. It went in and out at all the right places. Her fur coat and diamond earring told me she was in the money and her tear stained face told me she was in trouble. Honestly if she wasn't in troubled she most certainly wouldn't be in this roach motel of an office. She sat down at my desk, which was littered with the bills I needed to pay once I got a client, and gave a little sniff.

She looked up at me. "I wasn't sure who I should turn to but I met your brother a few years back and he spoke very highly of you so Detective Mako? Can you help me?"

I lean back in my chair. "Depends beautiful what is ailing you?"

She gives me a cold look before pulling out a picture of a black haired man in a leather coat in front of a sandy background. There's always another man isn't there? "My husband's a history professor at Republic City University" that's professor? Yean I wasn't born yesterday sister. "He's from a good family back at the Fire Nation but he didn't come home two days ago and I'm worried about him."

"Lady have you tried the police? They tend to do better at finding people."

"I did and they told me not to worry but yesterday I got this in the mail."

She hands me another picture with a letter before bursting out into tears again. The pictures of the same guy this time he's got his hand around the waist of some topless dame while being surrounded by other similarly dressed ladies and he's laughing. I look at the letter it reads like every other private investigator's 'hate to break it to yah' letters explaining that her dear devoted husband has found someone new, they plan on skipping town, can't do nothing to stop them, same old same old. "So what do you want me to do? Find this bum so he can signs some papers? What?"

She gulped. "I want you to find him and bring him home. This…" She pointed the second picture. "This isn't my Iroh, it's not in his nature to do this to me or the children. He-he loves me." She bursts into a fresh batch of tears.

I sigh and hand her my handkerchief. "There-There lady, pull yourself together, pretty dames like you shouldn't cry. Look, I'll track down your bum of a husband and bring him home for my usual fee but I have to tell you, you're living in a dream if you think he's not stepping out on you." I looked at her cleavage. "Though honestly with you to come home to I don't get it."

She nods and writes me a check and slides it across my desk. "Will this cover the upfront costs?"

I check the number, not only will it cover I'll be debt free for the next three months on this alone! "It will do. By the way I need your name and number to contact you and I need to know your husband's name." I push a pad and pen to her. "Please."

She nodded and started to write down the information. "My name's Dr. Korra Jones, here's my private number please don't abuse it and my husband is Dr. Iroh Jones, Professor of history and archeology at RPU." She slid the pad back. "And if you can, keep this as quiet as possible, I don't want this getting back to his family in the Fire Nation and embarrassing them. They are very big on public image."

I take the pad and hold out my hand. "Don't worry beautiful, I'll have your bum of a husband back home in no time with out a big seen."

She shakes my hand. "Thank you Mr. Mako, you don't know how much better I'll sleep at night knowing you're on the case." Her whole demeanor seems to have changed as she slinks out of my office, leaving just the faintest ghost of her perfume.

They don't make woman like her all too often. I looked at the picture of him laughing it up with the ladies. What a creep, had that to go home to and still ends up with topless hookers. Well that's explains men doesn't it? I look at the picture and smile. I might not remember all the faces I've ever seen but I would know that particular rack anywhere. Like I said I know all the monsters personally and my favorite one has always been lust.

.o.O.o.

Ginger O'Hare, once upon a time she was an actress rising to the top but just didn't make it once they added sound to the movers. Apparently, audiences didn't like her voice. Go fig. So now she works at a lovely embellishment run by a guy named Varrick, a real charmer that one. He had an eye for money and a mind of depravity. We were friends. So when I sat down at his bar he's quick to walk over.

"Mako! My favorite private I., what brings you to the club tonight? You and the lovely hairs on the rocks again?

I sigh. "Sadly, we are but I'm not here to drowned my sorrows, instead I need to talk to Ginger about a photo I have of her." I flash him the picture. "Unless you've seen this guy?"

Varrick looks at the photo for maybe a second. "Yeah, he was here a few nights ago high-class type, slumming it for the fun. A real piece of work there, but he had the cash to finance his vices. What's the case? This guy end up dead somewhere and you're looking for an ID?"

"He's not dead yet, gone missing though. Which is why I want to talk to Ginger, rumor has it this guy was going to leave his wife for her and they were going to runaway together. "

Varrick laughed. "Yeah…sure. I'll eat your fedora the day Ginger runs off with a man."

"Yeah, I know which is why when I saw it was her I had to take a closer look. So if you remember him what can you tell me more about him?"

"Well he was going by the name of professor Iroh Jones but I call bull, academic types party a little differently and I met the real Dr. Jones a few years back at one of my more reputable clubs."

"Wait this isn't the real Iroh?"

"No, this guy looks close, don't get me wrong especially in this particular picture, but the real professor is a bit younger and surprisingly a bit more roguish and you see here with the sleeve rolled up on his left arm? The real guy has quite the large dragon tattoo on that arm. This guy is close but not the real deal."

I feel like I've been hit with a sledgehammer. "So if you saw this picture and you were say a distraught wife would it be possible you mistake this as your husband?"

Varrick leaned back and shrugged. "I'm not a woman and I don't know about all that emotional stuff. Why don't you go ask your girl Asami? Dealing with you, she knows what heart ache feels like."

I glair at him as I start to leave but pause to ask one last question. "The real Professor, does he have a wife named Korra who's a complete knock out?"

Varrick smirked. "Oh yes he does and Korra's got a voice like an angel too, she could have had quite the career as songstress if she hadn't taken her particular career path. Rumor has the professor swooped her up the second he laid eyes on her."

"And they're marriage would you call it happy?"

"Last I heard yes, but they stopped coming to the club a few weeks, I guess they went on another one of his explorations. He's a bit of a archeologist."

I nod, thank Varrick for his time and head out into the night to see Asami because like the man had said she knew heart ache.

.o.O.o.

My cheek hurts after seeing Asami, apparently I had been away too long and to ask with help for a case and not apologies for our last argument. She helped anyway. I look down at the pictures Korra gave me. It was obvious now they were of two different men and Asami had confirmed that even in distress woman would make sure that it was really her man. So now I was left with three big questions, who was this joker? Where was the real Iroh? And why had Korra lied and said this was her husband? I start with the question I could answer easy. Getting back to my apartment I dial the number she left me. The phone rings a few times and then her voice comes over the line.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Hello Korra? This is Mako I'm calling in regards to job you gave me."
"Yes? Any luck?"

"Not really, I was looking at the pictures you gave me and I have some questions for you. This picture with the girls, that's not your husband so why'd you say he was?"

"Mr. Mako, I never said he was, the letter did. I know what my husband looks like."

This dame, I couldn't figure her angle. "Ok then, is your husband even missing?"

"Yes, he is."

"Really? Really missing? You're not giving me the run around for nothing."

"Mr. Mako I don't like that tone, I wouldn't have paid you with such a large retainer if it wasn't important."

"Fine, so do you know who this joker is in picture number 2?"

"No…I don't, I'm sorry." I don't buy that.

"Ok well I'll do my best to dig up some leads but right now I've got nothing to go on but your husband's nameless double and your word that he's missing. Tell me what was your husband doing the day he went AWOL?"

"Well he left for work as usual and never came home."

"Did he take a car of use public transit?"

She laughed. "He took his car."

"Is that missing to?"

"I really don't know. I never thought inquire about the car. It's just been so stressful since…since he disappeared I can't think straight."

She's lying, there's more going on but she won't or can't tell me and if she's lying over the phone it means someone else it there. Someone I really want to meet if I want to get paid passed the retainer.

"I understand can you give me a description of his car?"

"Oh yes. It's a dark blue convertible Sato-mobile with a tan interior. Practically brand new, we just got it a month ago."

"Of course. Well thank you madam, I'll call you if I learn anything more."

"Call or drop by detective, my address is in the phone book."

I hang up the phone shaking my head. One minute she's worried about her husband the next she's saying things that make you wonder about her own intentions. May be I should drop by her place tomorrow after I track down the Iroh's car. Shouldn't be too hard, a fancy car like that.

.o.O.o.

It's always the good paying jobs that are the hardest aren't they? I found the general's car in his space at the college so dead. I did learn from his secretary, however, that on the day of his disappearance he gone to lunch but never came back even though he did have a 2 o'clock class. When I asked if she knew whom he went to lunch with she shrugged. So with little to offer I made my way to the palace Korra would probably refer to as a house. Clearly someone in the family came from money because professor's salaries where not this generous.

I ring the doorbell and much to my surprise laughing boy from the picture answers the door. He glares at me. "Who are you and what do you want?" friendly fellow ain't he?

"Name's Mako, I'm here to see Korra. Is she in?"
"She is but she's not taking visitors at the moment." He made to close the door in my face but Korra came to my rescue.

"Mako? Is that you?" Her tone of voice would have been better dictated to an old friend not to a guy she had just met a few days ago. "Zechi let the man in he's an old friend." Laughing boy lets me in but gives me a warning look while doing it. Korra waves him off before taking my arm and leading me to a library filled with more books then one person could ever need. "Sorry about him, he's been here since Iroh went missing, for…moral support." She walked up to a bar. "Drink?"

"No thanks, not while on the job, rain check?" She shrugged and poured herself one. "So who is this Zechi?" I don't tell her he's the guy from the photo, she looks smart enough to figure that out.

"He's Iroh's oldest brother. Usually lives in the Fire Nation but he was in town and called me a few hours after we met."

"Ah, nice of him to drop by and keep his sister-in-law company while his little brother is in the wind."

Korra's eye darkened as she took a sip of her drink. "Yeah, Zechi's a real nice guy. If he's not making sure I'm ok, he's watching over my three kids."

I nod, as the picture becomes clearer. Korra has an idea who took her husband but is afraid for her children too. I think for a moment, the name Zechi rings a bell I just can't remember which bell that is. I'm about to ask if he's famous when Zechi walks in holding a telephone in his hand. "Korra it's your father on the phone he wants to talk."

Korra nodded and took the phone from Zechi. "Thank you, and Mako thank you for stopping by. Your support is really helpful."

I tip my hat to the lady. "Of course anytime." I look up at laughing boy. "I can find my own way out thank you."
Zechi glairs and points to the door. "Then do it."

"Gladly." Tipping my hat one more time I walk out of the library and immediately duck into the first room I see with a telephone. I pick up the receiver and listened in.

"It's good to hear your voice again my love." Came a male voice I hadn't heard before and I guessed wasn't Korra's father.

"You too… are you ok? Where are you?"
"I'm fine for the moment but I can't tell you where I am. But what ever they tell you don't argh!"

"Don't go tipping your hand there, professor." A new male voice said over the line. "Now doll face you have confirmation that he's alive now get the artifact and give it to Zechi and we will give him back no fuss."
"But I don't know where it is." Korra's voice was breaking. "I don't know."

"That's a real shame." The sound of Iroh grunting in the background came over the line. "Because my boys will just keep beating your egg head of a husband until you do know."
"Stop! Stop! I don't know! I really do-don't."

I could hear someone snap and the sound of the beatings stop. "You know what. I believe you. Hand the phone to Zechi, do it! Or ill mail you back his wedding ring finger included."

Oh what had I just been dragged into? "Yes, sir what do you want?" Zechi asked.

"Rough her up and drag her down here in an hour so the professor can see what happens when I don't get what I want."
"Any preference as how I complete you request?"

"Keep her breathing…that's all." I hear the line go dead with Iroh yelling for who ever that was to leave Korra out of it. He'd tell him just spare Korra but the line is dead. I put my receiver down and rush back to the library where loving brother in-law is beating the living daylight out of her. I hadn't realized till know how much of a big lung this guy is.

I take the butt of my pistol and knock him out. He keels over and crumbles to the floor. I nudge him with the toe of my shoe to make sure he's really out before checking on Korra. Nothing looks broken but she's got a few bad bruises and a black eye. She's shaky but she gets to her feet.

"Would you like a drink?" I ask not really sure what to say next.

She shakes her head. "No, just put some ice in a glass and I can put it against my head." She looked down at Zechi's body. "We need to tie him up before he come's to."
I hand her some ice wrapped in my handkerchief before pulling laughing boy in to a chair and tying him down. I turn to Korra. "Before we wake this guy up, what was the artifact that other guy wanted? Who was that other guy?"

"I'm tempted to say the guy on the other line was Baatar."
"Kuvera's second in command?"

She nodded. "It sounded like his voice. A few months ago he and Kuvera approached us wanting to get their hands on The Avatar's Glider, we out right rejected her and she left."

"What's so special about this artifact? And why would a dictator want it?"

"The Avatar's Glider was the last known possession of the last Avatar and Air Bender, Aang. The glider is almost two hundred years old and rumored to grant the poser with the power to bend the elements to their will just like in olden times before the art of bending was lost with the final avatar."

I can't help but snort. "You don't really believe all that crap do you?"

She smirked and made the ice in her hand float. "What do you think?" I have to admit I'm both impressed and scared. "The staff can grant a person powers but such a tool in the hands of a dictator and well you can see why that can't happen."

"I see. No giving ultra powerful stick to mad woman." I turn to the still sleeping Zechi. "So do you think he'll crack and tell us where his boss is?"

"Zechi's a coward at heart." She cracked her knuckles. "He'll crack."

.o.O.o.

We got the information of where they were holding Iroh and I learned that Korra had a mean right hook. Zechi was sporting a dislocated jaw when the Chief Beifong escorted him to jail. I told her not to give him his one phone call until I called her with the all clear. She smiled and informed me that she intended to take the long way back to the station. I can't help but shake my head. Like I said before there wasn't' anything in this city that wasn't at least a little corrupted, well, I looked over at Korra who was shaking worried for her husband and the world, maybe there is one thing. We had dropped Korra's children off at Asami's place. She wasn't happy but I promised to take her to dinner and actually call and that seemed to pacify her. I realize I'm horrible husband but what can I say? People aren't perfect.

"So do you think Iroh will tell them where the glider is?"
"He would rather die first but he'll do anything to protect me so he might."

"Great." I turn the car into the wear house district. "Why is it always this aria the bad guys favor?"

She shrugged. "Why are all the forgotten temples with golden idol's in the Fire Nation? It's just the way of the world." She opened her car door. "Come on, Zechi told us where they're keeping Iroh. Let's go get him back and stop Baatar's plans." She checked her revolver. "Permanently."

I look at her in surprise. "By permanently you mean put him in jail, right?"

"Yeah, sure. If he surrenders, I guess we can drag him off to jail."

This was a professor's wife? "What did you do before you married Iroh and become a mom?"

"I was and Archeologist, specializing in Bender artifacts."

I looked up at the sky in amazement. "Is archeology some fantastical adventure job like in the Omashu Lu movers?"

She flashes me a smile. "Who do you think those movers are based off of?"

I want a drink and the ability to wake up from this dream. "So if Iroh's the real life version of Omashu Lu who are you?"

"I think my character's name what Elsa…I think?"

"But she was a villain!"

Korra pouted. "What villain's can't be redeemed?"

"You died in the movie!" I shake my head; I really want that drink now. "Let's just go get your husband before Baatar realizes Zechi is late."

.o.O.o.

It was easy to find the warehouse Iroh was being kept in; it was the only one with lights on. I had already sent Korra to call the police with our location while I, after climbing some really convenient boxes, looked in to the building. Iroh was standing up his arms chained above his head while his legs were incased in to cement up to his knees. His face was swollen and bruised and the rest of him wasn't much better either with his shirt soaked in mud, blood and sweat. He was missing his left sleeve where a red dragon snaked down his shoulder to his wrist. This was a college professor? He was glairing at a man I had seen in the papers lately. Baatar Jr. the right hand man of Kuveria and her rumored lover. Looking at Iroh it was obvious he was just a deranged and cruel as his boss.

Iroh chanced to look up and spots me, his eye widen for just a second before looking back at Baatar. The other man notices and glances up just as I ducked out of sight.

"What where you looking at?"

"Nothing just a lemur. Hey I hate to bug you but my right ankle is itching something awful mind chiseling me out and giving it a good scratch?"

Baatar scoffed. "Do you think I'm that stupid?"

"You hired my brother so…yeah, I do. Actually I'm curious how did you hire him? He's not the most complex creature I'll admit but he's got enough money to support even his lavish lifestyle until his kicks the bucket so what did you promise him?"

Baatar smirked. "Two things, the first being your death. Apparently out of all his siblings he hated you the most and really wants you out of his life forever."
Iroh shrugged. "Not surprising we never did get along as kids so tell me what else did you promise him? I'm dying to know."

Baatar looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'm not sure I should tell you. It might upset you."

Iroh tilted his head. "Upset me? What could possibly up set me? I'm just chained in a warehouse in today's latest cement shoes with the shit already beat out of me. What could possibly upset me more?"

Baatar stepped closely to Iroh. "A few rounds with your wife you know before she joins you in the spirit world of course. I can't blame him." Baatar looked at the clock. "He's late. Must still be with her, hmm if she's that good I might have to try a taste."

Iroh looked like he wanted to kick Baatar if he could move his legs. "You're scum Baatar and when I get out of here you better hope you're already in jail because if your not I will beat the ever living day lights out of you!"

Baatar patted Iroh on the shoulder. "Keep living in that dream of your Dr. Jones but when all is said and done you'll be at the bottom of Yue bay and Kuvira will have the artifact and all it's power."

Iroh chuckled. "Do you honestly believe a two hundred year old stick will give you the power to bend the one of the four elements? A stick?"

"I'm guessing you're not a believer Dr. Jones? I was under the impression that you had seen the artifact in action. As long as you hold the staff you have the powers of the avatar. Are you telling me those powers aren't real?!"

Iroh took a deep breath like he was about to start a long winded lecture on the history of the artifact and bending in general but instead breathed a stream of fire on to Baatar, which understandably was quite a shock for the other man. I too was surprised by the action. "Don't believe everything you see in movers, you don't need to hold the stick once it grants you bending."

I watched Baatar run around the room trying to put himself out for a good few seconds before realizing the opportunity I had just been handed. I jumped through the glass of the window (unnecessary as there was a wide open window right next to it) and pulled my gun on the now extinguished Baatar who pulled out two guns and pointed one at me and one at Iroh.

"I don't know who you are but you move even an inch an I'll put a bullet in both of you! I'm not kidding I'm a good shot and I won't miss!" He smirked. "Now my man should be here any minute and so if you don't want to get pumped with lead the moment then walk in here I'd put your weapon down slowly." There was a sound of an iron door opening. "That will be him now."

I know how these instances end and I'm not about to die playing a hero so I lower my weapon and jump as a shot rings out into the night. I look down at my self then over at Iroh to see if one of us is bleeding. I looked back at Baatar whose face is in shock before he collapses on the ground were his blood pools under him. Korra lowers her revolver looking down at the dead man in disgust. "He's not coming."

I now believe that she was the inspiration for Elsa. How the man currently chained up to my right converted her I will never know. Seeing her husband alive and relatively well, Korra rushes to him wrapping her arms around him and kissing him. About an hour and a broken up make out session later and the two are sitting hand in hand while the slowest man in the world chisels Iroh's legs out.

"So who shot Kuvira's main squeeze?" A police officer asks me.

"Does it really matter?" I ask back.

He shrugged. "Not really, he was here illegally and according to the lovely gentlemen you had us bring in earlier master minded the kidnap and planned murder of the good professor over there."

"Well then why don't we just keep that a mystery in the report shall we?"

"It was the broad wasn't it?"
"I'm not saying it was, I'm not saying it wasn't. But what I am saying is that I do not ever want to have either of them as an enemy." I watch as the two hold each other close and to the distress of the guy in with the chisel start kissing again. I don't think I'll ever see two people as in love as those two, or as crazy, but still they clearly loved each other. I bite my lip thinking of my own love.

.o.O.o.

Thinking of Asami I send the love birds ahead to pick up their children while I in my infinite wisdom of the city pick up a bouquet of roses and a bottle of wine for my sweet lady love at the only 24 hour liqueur and flower shop in town. I swear the guy that stared this place is a genius.

I show up at Asami's door and at first all she does is give me the death glair but it softens after I apologies and give her the flowers. She lets me in and we finished the wine and now as I lay in bed my lady love's head resting against my chest I can't help but wonder if this whole job was a dream. Because let's face it water-levitating women and fire-breathing men do not come around everyday! Aw well it pays the bills. I just hope I never have to run into those two again! The pay ain't worth the weird!

Fin

Iroh looked up at the text above concerned. "You know Korra for a Korroh story there wasn't much of us in it…nor did I really tackle the dream prompt other then just using it as a key word every now and then."

"Don't question the author's intent just let her write what she's wants."

"But still…don't you feel kind of bad for the reader who wants to know about us and get's a story in Mako's point of view?"

-sighes-"Maybe, hey here's a deal, you stop worrying about it and you get laid to night. Keep this conversation going and you can sleep on the sofa with Naga."

"Stories great! Don't change a thing!"

A/N Ok so another day down and yes I intend to write a prequel to this story focusing more on Korra and Iroh and their relationship. And yes I have lost my mind and this universe's Korra and Iroh are a bit self aware but what can you do?