Thank BG-13! :)

Mako's POV

Bei Fong and Asami doing their research at my apartment every night was driving me insane. I would come home, expecting for them to have left already only to either find them on the phone or doing some 'tracking' of the places 'Bolin' was spotted. I couldn't believe that they actually thought he was alive. Korra wouldn't lie to me about him being dead; I would see the pain and guilt in her eyes every time I mentioned his name. She wouldn't lie to me.

After a few days I'd had enough and started doing my own research. I asked Zuko for help, who proved to be very helpful, but I suspected it was only because I was still doing his White Lotus sentry training. It was only a day or two before I finally got the results I had expected this whole time. I hoped Bolin was alive…I really did, but I didn't want to get my hopes up, which was when the report came in, I wasn't as disappointed as I should have been, I guess.

"You wanted to see me?" Bei Fong asked as she came out of her office.

"He called you too?" Asami asked as she walked over to us.

I let out a long sigh as I looked around the police station, noticing how much more crowded it had gotten since Amon had gotten more embolden. The Metalbender crossed her arms and began to tap her foot, a sign she was getting impatient so I looked up at them both, putting my hands in my pockets before speaking.

"I wanted to do some research on my own about the evidence you gathered on Bolin," I began. "So, I called the Earth Kingdom embassy…" I stopped there to take another breath. "The boy in the photo…I found him."

Asami and Lin both blinked a few times before a small smile started to appear. They opened their mouth to speak when a voice cut them off.

"I'm sorry," the young man began. "But I'm sort of supposed to be meeting someone soon. Can I borrow the station phone to tell them I might be late?"

"Hey Ben," I greeted. "Sorry this won't take much longer, I want you to meet Chief Bei Fong and my girlfriend, Asami Sato."

"Nice to meet you," he replied with a smile.

"I just talked to Ben about this picture that popped up in a case we have been working on," I said showing him the picture.

"That's you, in that photo?" Bei Fong asked.

"Yes, I spent a few months in the Earth Kingdom, by Ba Sing Se, in a small village," Ben said. "That's my-"

"Pro Bending cap," the Chief said cutting him off. He nodded. "I'm sorry I have work to do, you'll have to excuse me."

With that the Metalbender turned around and went back into her office, leaving the three of us alone. I thanked Ben for coming from the Earth Kingdom and informed me he would be staying for a few days in the city. He was an oddly cheerful Earthbender and in many ways he reminded me of Bolin…and he even looked a little like him. Same button nose, but a large beard on him.

I talked to Asami for a bit before she also left, saying she had to go and make sure everything was running smoothly in the club before it opened in just a few hours. I stayed at the station for a few minutes before going to see Zuko again.

When I got out of work I went to my apartment, expecting to finally find it empty only to see Bei Fong and Asami there, taking down everything they had put up in the kitchen wall. I sighed before heading over to them. They must be feeling bad because they genuinely thought it was Bolin in that picture, and I didn't blame them.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I came inside.

"Taking everything down," Asami replied. "But it doesn't mean the search is over."

"What?"

"I'm sorry I involved you both," Bei Fong said as she took down the map. "But you don't have to worry about it; I'll take over from now on."

I clenched my jaw at this. She just didn't get it, did she? "You know that I would cross through hell and back, to bring Bolin home but I can't!" I finally yelled. "Cause he's gone, Chief!"

"Maybe he's right, Lin," Asami added. "Maybe it's time we stopped searching for someone who might not be alive anymore."

"I can't drop this," the Metalbender answered. "You don't know my reasons, but I can't."

I pinched the bridge of my nose before realization hit me. This whole investigation was not only based on a picture, but a specific thing in the picture. I picked up the photograph and looked at my former boss.

"How did you know Bolin had his hat on when he left with Korra?" I asked.

The Chief of Police stopped what she was doing, freezing in place. She knew I was putting the pieces together. She shook her head and organized all the paperwork before taking down the missing pictures.

"You were so sure the boy in the picture was Bolin, not because he looked like him, but because of the hat," I continued. "The Pro Bending hat that I bought him for when we won the championship." I stepped closer. "Chief, how did you know he had it on when he and Korra went to that rally?"

She took in a deep breath before turning towards me, her gaze not meeting mine. "I saw him," Bei Fong quietly admitted.

"What do you mean?" Asami asked.

"I got out of work early that day," she began. "I had finished all the cases in my desk and figured I'd take a walk. That's when I saw him, saw Bolin. He was wearing that hat and talking to Korra."

"You know he was going with her?" I asked.

The Chief gave me a sharp nod. "I knew that Avatar was up to no good and I thought about having a word with them," Bei Fong stopped there, letting a bitter smirk appear. "I did actually. I asked where they were going and I knew they were lying to me, I could see it in your brother's face but I let the hate I had for the arrogant girl get the best of me."

I could feel my eyes water at this and Asami placed a hand over her mouth, holding back a sob. She had seen my little brother leave with Korra…she had seen him!

"So I let them go," Lin finished. "I practically killed your brother. I'm so sorry Mako," she added grabbing her stuff.

I stood in place as I let everything I had heard sink in. She had let him go…but she hadn't killed him. Bei Fong couldn't have held them anyway…Korra wouldn't allow it, and I didn't need her to feel the guilt I knew was consuming the Water Tribe girl.

"Bei Fong?" I called after her. She stopped and looked over her shoulder. "Thank you for looking for him."

The Chief of police turned to look at me, a puzzling look on her face. I was upset, there was no denying that. But...it hadn't been her fault, or Korra's. They didn't kill Bolin. Bei Fong shook her head after a moment before turning away.

Lieutenants POV

I was in the bathroom of the theater, getting ready for the attack. For the past few weeks we had been targeting places with large crowds and getting even with the Benders of this city. Once the place was raided, we would take our prisoners, strip them of their Bending before torture or kill them.

That was our justice.

For too long Nonbenders had been tormented by their breed that no longer had a place in our world. They were the cause of humanity's problems, and they needed to be exterminated…for good. I'd had my share of suffering when I was but a boy. My mother and sister had been taken from my home and were later found buried with bruises covering every inch of their body. And thus, my hate for Benders.

I was out of uniform, leaving my face uncovered as I finished charging up my kali sticks. I heard the door open and quickly turned around to find a boy, no more than five years of age. He was dark skinned but had amber eyed. As I looked at him, I felt like I had seen him before…that's when it hit me. That boy was the Avatar's son! The one she had adopted a few months ago!

My eyes narrowed at this and I pulled out my kali sticks and started towards the boy who seemed frozen in place. When he noticed this he stepped back and threw a powerful flame towards me which caused me to fall on the floor in order to duck. I growled as I watched the door close.

That boy had seen my face.

No one saw my face and lived to tell the tale. That's a promise.

Asami's POV

Mako and I had offered to take Jason out for the night to give Korra a small break from having to work at the club, though I already knew how she was probably going to spend it. There was someone on that list that she'd be visiting that night and it bugged me. But of course, Mako didn't know this so it had been him who insisted on letting us take the little tyke out to see a movie. I could see the hesitation in her eyes but she finally agreed, at the smaller Firebender's insistence.

We picked him up around five and I took him clothes shopping since he was quickly outgrowing the clothes Korra and I had gotten him a few months ago. I knew she was trying her best to give him everything he needed, but she was also trying to help out the kids at the shelter and then with that side job of hers. It got a little complicated I guess. Once I had a few new outfits for him, and an action figure that Mako had bought him, we went to the theater.

Mako bought the both of us a few sweets, popcorn and some soda to watch the film with. Halfway through the movie, however, Jason asked if he could go to the bathroom. I turned to my boyfriend to go with him, but the child insisted he could go on his own. The elder Firebender still got up to wait for him at the door and a few moments later I saw the boy rush over to me, Mako following.

"Jason, what's wrong?" I whispered when I saw how visibly shaken he was.

"He-he," the boy began but stopped when the lights turned on and the film stopped.

The audience obviously didn't like this and started to 'boo' and snap at whoever was in charge to put the movie back on. I reached out and pulled the boy close to me. Something was wrong. No sooner had the thought appeared that a band of Equalists came inside, causing havoc and electrocuting every person they could get their hands on.

I lifted the boy up in my arms, asking him to cover his eyes as Mako stood in front of us protectively. A masked henchman ran up to us but the Firebender knocked him aside before leading us through the emergency exit. Once we were outside, he melted the door handle so that no one would follow us and made our way out of the alley only to be cut off by a very familiar figure. Lieutenant, Amon's right hand man.

"I saw his face," Jason whimpered into my shoulder.

"Shh," I soothed, rubbing his back as I stepped back.

"Give me the boy and I'll let you live," he said, approaching us with kali sticks in hand.

"No," Mako growled protectively. "Now get out of our way."

"You're the brother of that Earthbender, aren't you?" Lieutenant taunted. "You would have been so proud, he didn't say a word when Amon sunk the blade into him."

I could see Mako's jaw clench before he threw a fire kick forward as I backed farther away from them. Jason was crying now, asking for his mom. I watched as the Nonbender expertly avoided the Firebender's attacks but wouldn't allow him get closer to us. Mako sent a punch forward and Lieutenant sunk a kali stick into him, making him grunt in pain as the current ran through him.

"Stop! Leave Mako alone!" the boy in my arms cried.

I turned him away from the scene when I saw Mako sink to his knees and the Lieutenant came forward. Gently, I placed him on the ground, asking him to stay there before I readied myself. He drove both kali sticks towards me but I quickly dodged and sent a kick at his face, knocking him against the wall and hitting the back of his neck, causing his body to go limp. I turned to look for Jason only to see him next to Mako, who was holding him tightly, telling him he was alright as the boy continued to cry.

"We need to take him somewhere safe," Mako said as he got up, lifting the boy up as well. I saw him wince at the pain and I placed a hand on his shoulder, silently asking if he was okay. "I'm fine," he assured.

"We have to go to Korra's house," I said.

"Korra's house?" the Firebender asked.

"Jason wants his mom, and right now her house is the safest place in this city." I replied. He opened his mouth but I cut him off. "Trust me," I added.

The Firebender sighed and nodded before heading over to my car. Korra's house was the safest, not because of the White Lotus sentries that surrounded the island, but because it was the house of the most wanted vigilante in the city. Not to mention it was her son they were after. No one would lay a finger on Jason. Of that I was sure.