Disclosure

"Are you sure this is allowed?" Korra asked as he sped past the streets of downtown. The amber headlights whipped past them giving Korra a sense of uneasiness, like they were doing something they shouldn't inconspicuously under the cover of night.

"It's not illegal to interrogate thefts, we just can't collaborate with them..." Mako replied.

Korra swayed her head side to side, knowing he was stretching the truth a tad bit in order to plea his innocence. You have to take people in with a legal cause in order to interrogate them, otherwise they don't have to answer any of your questions or comply. Their recounts aren't usually liable either.

"Okay, I trust you." She replied simply.

"Good," Mako looked over at her briefly, "I said I would solve this case for you and I'm not stopping till we get to the bottom of it."

Korra reached over and placed a soft hand on his lower thigh, "Just don't get too carried away... I was freaking out before, but I know we'll find them.."

Mako swallowed, looking down at her hand and Korra quickly moved it away. She looked out the window, gathering her hair awkwardly behind her ear as he continued to drive.

There wasn't any snow currently falling but a blanket of white covered the roofs and sidewalks of the sleeping city. Further down town the Christmas decorations became much more prevalent. Korra felt a small jolt of excitement as they passed the plot of land where the winter carnival was going to take place. There were already several booths set up along with string lights and empty food stations. In a few days this area will be bustling with people and Korra secretly hoped they'd be finished in time. That way Mako wouldn't be too distracted to enjoy himself.

"How was shopping today?" Mako asked, breaking their silence.

"It was good-" Korra froze, instantly transported back to the dressing room with Kuvira. "It was good...Um Bolin got a few gifts, Prince Wu practically turned my house into Santa's Workshop."

Mako laughed.

"And Kuvira came, that's saying much since she's not really festive..." Korra took a long breath, her eyes drifting around. "She was getting kinda handsy though..." She muttered under her breath.

Mako's brow perked as he hummed with content. "Did you tell her to stop?"

"Not...Really..."

Mako looked at Korra from the corner of his eye as he drove down the rode. They sat in silence for a few painstakingly long minutes as she didn't say further than that. The detective could tell by the droop in Korra's shoulders that she was expecting him to give her some flack for that.

He huffed and relaxed deeper into the drivers seat. His expression shifted from different subtle emotions till he landed on one that seemed relaxed. He hit his break at a stop sign and threw Korra a sly glance, "It's Kuvira...She can be wildly persuasive.." He teased.

Korra smirked as he mocked her with the same words she had used on him when he was tangled up in the closet with Kuvira that drunken night.

The princess cupped her hands together and gazed at him, "You're really not mad?" Her eyes were large and blue, doe-like when seeking his approval.

Mako cocked his head to the side, he didn't want to insult her by saying he was surprised she even managed to last this long in the first place. "I told you initially you didn't have to stop for me.."

"We could make it even." Korra suggested.

"No," he quickly replied. "You're not a damn tally machine..."

That suggestion seemed to bother him more than finding out she had broken her no sex policy. "You don't have to worry about...my needs.." Mako added.

They made it to their first destination and Mako drove toward a secluded alleyway and reversed his car back into the dark space. He hugged the back of Korra's seat with his arm and looked over his right shoulder. Korra stiffened as she could smell his faint cologne coming off the collar of his shirt. Her eyes watched his left hand glide across the steering wheel. The protruding veins in his hands oddly attractive as he easily turned the wheel from left to right, smoothly backing his car into the tight space.

They settled for a moment before hopping out. Mako's usual precaution as he wanted to assess their surroundings first. The air was still and quiet. Town square was mostly vacant of people apart from a few stragglers.

"I know that's what you said but how do you feel?" Korra replied.

Mako shrugged, "Honestly I'm over it...really. I'm not jealous or anything like that." The detective inwardly laughed as he felt very calm to admit that. Kuvira's antics genuinely didn't bother him anymore, maybe that threesome worked.

Korra must of had those same thoughts which prompted her next question.

"That's good...I've been meaning to ask...What did you think of it? I mean, was it okay?" She plucked at the fibers on her pants nervously. "I thought it was good! but-"

Mako looked away and ran his hand over his face as if to smother his visible frustration. He wanted to talk about it but also felt a bit vulnerable doing so. "Korra..This isn't really an appropriate conversation right now-" His eyes scanned the empty streets like they were suddenly going to get caught.

The princess drew in a breath of protest but decided to let it pass. There was no need to push him if he didn't want to open up. "Okay..sorry, you're right." Korra sighed. She looked out the window and watched a random passerby walk aimlessly around the large water fountain in the center of the square.

The detective sucked in his cheek, realizing he was unintentionally shutting her out. "I um, I thought it was fine..." he breathed.

Korra turned, "Really?" She leaned a little closer to him, resting her elbow on the center arm rest. "be honest."

Mako was fiercely blushing now, "Yeah, I liked it."

"That's good! I mean..I don't know, I know you're not the most-" She didn't know how to word it without it coming off condescending, "sexually open with other people."

"I think it just depends on the right people.." Mako added.

It was Korra's turn to blush this time, "Oh? Well I'm glad I could be one of them." She bit her lip as her eyes trailed across his jaw before breaking away. "Thank you for trying.."

The detective quirked his brow comically, she was thanking him for sex? "Well, thank you for being there with me. I don't think I'd try any of this without you, but I don't regret it.." It was strangely liberating in a sense.

Korra hummed and let her eyes trail down to the stick shift of his car. There was another pause of awkward silence before Mako unlocked their doors, "Ready?"

"Yes." Korra said confidently as they headed out.

As she walked to the usual spot most of the young mischiefs and their cohorts coveted, Mako herded her in another direction. "Happy to say most of those kids have been displaced.."

"Where to?" Korra asked, taking his lead.

They made a sharp right past the fountain and came upon a small apartment building among the line of local shops. "Sato Industries renovated this building to get most of these kids off the street. The grand opening isn't till a later date but they are already settled in..."

Korra looked up at the building impressed. It was a modern style town home that definitely stuck out amongst the "Mom-n-Pop" older buildings that surrounded it. "Wow, that's nice of Hiroshi.." Korra replied almost robotically.

Mako shook his head, "No Asami is running the charity, until recently Sato Industries wasn't doing much at all to help this city."

"Oh," Korra nodded, "Good for her..."

As they approached the front entrance Korra watched skeptically as Mako didn't knock on the door. It was understandably really late but it didn't make them look any less suspicious. She reached for the knocker and he abruptly caught her wrist.

"Hey," Korra said in a hushed tone. "We're just standing here."

Mako was texting in his left hand, "mm hmm."

Suddenly they both turned at the sound of rustling nearby. The fence connected to the side of the house opened and a tall, lanky teenage boy appeared wearing pajama pants and two differently colored socks.

"Mako." He called. He waved his phone at them and Korra realized that's who the detective was texting.

They quickly walked over to him, checking their surroundings as they went. "Thanks for getting up kid." Mako smirked as they exchanged a quick hug.

"Yeah yeah, well I'm freezing my ass off, what do you want officer."

Mako showed him the picture of the two lotus guards on his phone, "You seen these two around Skoochy?"

He took the phone and really studied the two figures for a second, "Naw, they don't hang around here as far as I know."

"Well what do you know?" Mako retorted, already very familar with how their exchanges usually went. He always withheld the juicy details at first, mainly looking for compensation.

"I know I'm cold and sleepy that's what I know!" Skoochy scoffed.

Mako chuckled, "The sooner you answer my questions the sooner you can get back to bed." The bed Mako generously provided for him least he forget.

The teen looked at the images again, "..They look water tribe."

"They are." Korra protested, sounding a little too annoyed.

Skoochy leaned a bit closer to them, his eyes wandering the streets as he talked. "Well, you didn't hear it from me but I saw some big hot-shot Watertribe guy move through the turfs recently.."

"How recent?" Mako whispered.

"Like in the past week or so..?"

"What did he look like?" Korra asked. Her uncle had an alibi but maybe it was someone else she knew.

"I don't know. He had security on em' tough. All I saw was his fancy garb and brown hair."

"Hmm.." Mako didn't seem satisfied with that. "what was he doing?"

"From what I could see..making himself acquainted..If you know what I mean.."

Mako nodded. Most likely looking to hire or showing off their dominance. Most street gangs flock to the leaders with the most to offer and if this guy seemed as big and bad as Skoochy was hinting, he was making sure the turfs knew that as well.

"I would try the Triple Threats...or what's left of em'." Skoochy shrugged.

Mako patted his shoulder, "Thanks..See you around okay?"

"Yeah, good looking out." Skoochy closed the fence and hurried back inside before anyone noticed he was gone.

As they walked back to his car, Mako jotted down little details on his phone so they wouldn't forget what he told him.

"He looked familiar." Korra commented.

"Yeah, he was one of Republic City's street rats just like the rest of us. But when I graduated the academy I really wanted to make a difference for those kids. Do something better then what Bolin and I had. Luckily we finally came around to some housing and foster care thanks to Asami. He's in high school now and not too affiliated with gang violence so that's better than nothing..."

"Yeah it is, that's really noble of you Mako..." Korra hugged her arms as the wind began to pick up.

"Well, there should be more to a police officers job than arresting people..."

Back at the fountain Mako turned toward the underpass of the central bridge that lead cargo in and out of the city. "Triple Threat hide out isn't too far from here. Are you down to walk?"

"Sure," Korra shivered. Even though she had a jacket on the wind was still pretty chilly. She tried not to seem bothered though, "Okay, let's go."

"Hold on," Mako carefully unwrapped his red scarf from his neck and draped it around Korra's shoulders. He tucked the tail ends into her jacket and created a little pocket to go over her nose that was icy red from the frost.

"Mako.." Korra sighed. Her eyes were glossy and she tried to blame it on the cold air but it was a direct result of her heart being pulled on like guitar strings. "..You don't have to-"

"I want to." He replied sweetly.

"Thank you.." She sighed, instantly feeling much warmer.

They began walking side by side toward the more shadier part of town. Korra noticed the closer they got the more people were still awake at this late of an hour. Most were just standing around, smoking a cigarette, huddled amongst each other, and eyeing the two of them heavily as they approached.

One man stepped out from the group, "You lost?" He asked, his voice sounding like he had been gargling nails.

Korra slipped her hand around Mako's arm and stood close to him. She squeezed him nervously but he remained calm and collected.

"Not at all." He replied. "I'm looking for someone..."

"Whose asking?" The man responded, they weren't just going to rat out one of their own for some random guy on the street.

Korra looked her friend with an expression that suggested they should leave. A few more men decided to stand and accompany the one who was asking the questions. They definitely wouldn't respond positivity to learning he was a cop.

"I'm-"

"Hey hey hey!" A voice interrupted, followed by a lanky man parting the group of men with confident, uneven steps. "You're intimidatin' my friend here.. That's not needed!"

Mako cringed as man with a thin mustache on his upper lip and aged scar over his eye swung his arm over his shoulder. "Moxxy Mako!"

"Two Toed Ping.." He replied as the other men quickly disperesed and went back to their own business.

Korra tilted her head wondering if she should even ask why he was called Two Toed Ping.

"What brings someone of you're fine esteem to this part of town?" Ping asked. He looked over at Korra and smiled. "And who are you?" He reached out to her but Mako stepped between them and pushed Ping back. He then carefully wrapped a protective arm around Korra's waist and it was then she realized she had stolen the attention of a few other men who avoided her gaze once they saw she was looking their way.

"We're not here about her. I have a few questions." Mako replied sternly.

"sure sure sure..Let's just go for a walk huh? I don't need these guys gettin' all up in our business yeah?" Ping looked over his shoulder and began walking toward town. The last thing he needed was anyone else finding out the type of relationship he had with detective Mako.

"Have you seen anyone new come through town?" Mako asked as they were now a few feet away. He let go of Korra but she stayed close to his side regardless if they were in any immediate danger.

"there's always new yahoo's runnin' through here, you gotta description?" Ping asked.

"Big money water-tribe guy." Mako replied.

Ping went slightly pale, "Nope. not-ta one sorry!"

Mako stepped forward in an aggressive stride, "Ping what are you hiding. I have plenty of reasons to put you in cuffs but I'm letting you slide."

Ping clapped his hands together like he was praying. "And boy do I appreciate an ol' friend like you Mako but-there are men out there much scarier than you..."

Korra tilted her head, "You do know him."

"I know my place." Ping huffed. "Look the Triple Threats aren't what they use to be. I'm just tryin' to get by."

Mako clicked his teeth, "You're about to get by behind bars."

"Mako." Korra pulled him back by his arm. Her eyes were wide and silently telling him not to push so hard. "Is there anything you can tell us? We are trying to find these two.."

She took Mako's phone and showed him the picture of the two White Louts guards. Ping looked at the screen, "Ahh I heard. Someone won it big with that FireNation crown ah. These the guys?"

"They might be." Korra answered.

Ping zoomed in on the phone and then it hit him. "You know I think I have seen them!"

"Where!" Both Mako and Korra replied.

Ping began to laugh, "Y'know..we did a lotta things back in the day Mako but I don't think it's anything compared to this.."

"What do you mean?" Mako asked.

He handed him his phone and tugged on the collar of his shirt. "..There's a little hole in the wall of this city where some pretty colorful characters like to hang out." Ping winked.

Korra blushed, her gaze tracing the cracks on the floor as she began to realize what Ping was hinting about.

"I don't frequent there myself, but I know a friend of a friend with the funds to help a guy get in from time to time. I was there this past Sunday..."

"That's the night the crown was stolen." Korra spoke.

"I believe that's the night I saw them..." Ping finished.

"You're not making any sense" Mako interjected. "Saw them where?"

Ping laughed again, eyeing Korra with a playful grin. They were back in town now, only a few blocks from the center of city hall. "You're either in the know. Or you're not.."

Ping winked at Korra with a wide, crooked grin. He could tell by the expression on her face she had been there. "She knows...heh eh...I'll see ya around officer.."

Mako turned to Korra waiting for an explanation as Ping walked away, he hated being out-of-the-loop.

The princess began trotting back to his car, "Let's go I'll explain on the way okay.."

-O-

Mako was very annoyed to see that he was once again in the driveway of Tahno's house. He looked at Korra in silence as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Come on, we need his help." She sighed.

Korra jogged up to his door and knocked several times in between blasting his doorbell. The porch light turned on and Tahno swung his door open in frustration. He was shirtless in a pair of boxer briefs that left very little to the imagination. His hair was sporadically curled around his face and he looked cutely disheveled after having thrown himself out of bed.

"This better not be some late night booty call-" He stopped at the sight of Mako standing behind Korra. Unfazed by the officers threatening glare. "My statement still stands."

"No it's not," Korra scoffed, she stepped inside and wrapped her arms around his chest in a quick hug. Tahno's eyes never left Mako's face as he squeezed Korra tightly. He continued to glare at him from the opposite side of the doorway in a look of utter inconvenience. The man looked like he wanted to fight him, but Tahno decided to ignore the obvious tension.

They separated from their hug but remained with locked arms, "Whats wrong?" Tahno asked, finally looking down at his friend. They didn't seem to care that he was only in his underwear, but Mako was rather irritated by it.

"We need your help."

"Nice to see you by the way, it's been like a week. I heard about the crown and everything so I wasn't too upset not hearing from you but-" he dragged his thumb along her cheek, "I missed you..."

"I'm sorry, things have been hectic. We have to catch up I know...I miss you too." Mako coughed loud enough to interrupt their conversation and remind Korra why they were there in the first place.

"We are looking for the suspects who might have nabbed the crown and there's reason to believe they were at.." Korra pulled him away out of ear shot of Mako, "At..You-know-where."

"The tunnel?" Tahno whispered.

Korra nodded, "yes."

She waved Mako inside and the officer stepped past the threshold and closed the door behind him. "I need you to take us there."

"Princess." Tahno groaned, he nervously combed his hair out of his face. There were several reasons why he didn't want to do that. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" Korra frowned. "I'm only asking because I don't have a membership and you do."

Tahno titled his head toward Mako, "I can't bring a cop down there..."

"I saw plenty of them there-"

"Yes but they are members of the club who only go in when they are off duty."

"Mako's off duty."

"Mako's a scrub.."

"I can hear you." The detective chimed in.

"Then don't." Tahno harshly replied. He looked back at Korra and lowered his voice a little more. "How do you know they will be there?"

"I don't" Korra shrugged, "But we could ask around or look for clues, maybe they're hiding in there. They are no where else in the city!"

"I think I would know if they were..." Tahno replied. Not much gets passed him considering he owned the place.

Korra huffed in exhaustion, "This is the only lead we have...please."

"I can't bring an investigation into the den. That goes against literally everything about that place." Tahno shook his head, trying to ignore her large googly eyes.. He would be risking a lot, too much. Especially with prissy boy Mako with them, he would never let any of that shit go without running his mouth once they left.

"Look we don't have time for this. Are you going to help us are not?" Mako complained.

Tahno didn't understand what Mako's problem was, but he was quickly putting together the dots. Korra must have told him, everything that had gone on between the two of them last weekend. He wasn't going to let Mako intimidate him though, Korra enjoyed herself and he sure as Hell enjoyed her company.

Tahno squared his shoulders at the slightly taller male, "I'd love to help Korra, with anything..she knows that. For you on the other hand, I'd rather chew my own balls off."

"That's funny. I didn't know you had any." Mako grunted.

Tahno snarled, his eyes narrowing as he forced a smile, .."Oh I do and they are certainly a mouth full.."

Mako's gaze bounced from Korra to Tahno as the pestering feeling of rage and jealously twisted in the center of his chest. That sentence elicited a few images Mako did not want to think about.

"Look you-"

Korra jumped between the two of them as they strode toward each other. "Enough! Neither of you are making this any easier!" She looked down at Tahno's crotch and groaned, "Go put some pants on please..."

Her friend reluctantly turned around and fled upstairs to his room. Korra sighed and looked at Mako, "What's your deal?"

"Nothing." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. "I'm tired, it's just been a long day."

The princess saw right through that excuse. "I thought you were okay with this..." Korra said.

"I was okay with Kuvira,"

"Why is Tahno different?"

"Because he's different to you."

Korra swallowed with her gaze heavy, "I told you its not as serious as it looks.."

"..You're just doing what feels good," Mako recited, "I get it."

Korra wanted to continue but Tahno had returned dressed in a pair of black straight legged pants and a loose button up shirt with sleeves rolled up to the middle of his arm.

"What goes down in there...Stays in there." Tahno announced. "Find who you're looking for then get lost."

"Does that mean you'll help!" Korra exclaimed.

"Yes, under one condition." Tahno looked at detective Mako wearily, "No one recognizes him."

Mako looked shocked, still unsure of what was happening considering Korra was very vague on what she told him on the drive over. An exclusive and very secretive club for wealthy and political figures that Tahno apparently owned, even though that was hard to believe.

"That's fair," Korra agreed.

"You do what I say and you ask no questions."

"That's more than one condition." Mako retorted.

"Mako," Korra huffed.

Tahno ignored him, "Under no circumstances can people know why you are there. So get creative when you ask your questions..."

"Sounds good." Korra hummed.

"That doesn't sound good to me. This all sounds shady as hell."

Tahno walked up to Mako, "It is shady officer, all of it! It's all one big den of sin. You're in for a huge wake up call."

Mako looked at Korra, "I don't think we should do this..."

"Trust me Mako, it doesn't make sense now but it will." Korra stood amongst the two boys and stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. "Can I add one condition?" She put her right hand on Mako's shoulder and her left hand on Tahno's shoulder, "can we play nice? Just till all of this is over?"

It was already stressful enough and she needed them both on the same team. Mako held Korra's gaze for a few seconds before looking over at Tahno.

"Yeah. I can do that Korra."

Tahno lifted Korra's hand and brought her knuckles to his lips, "Of course." He kissed her skin then looked over at the detective with a slick expression. "I can kiss your hand too if it'll make you feel better."

Korra giggled as Mako rolled his eyes. "Let's get this over with,"

"Right!" Korra pivoted to Mako and curved her fingers under the hem of his shirt. She ripped it open, popping a few buttons as she revealed his smooth, toned chest.

"Hey! What the hell! My shirt!"

"You're too put together, you need to look more lax." Korra stated. She took the beanie off his head and roughed up his hair, finger combing it forward to create a small cover of bangs. She stood back a few paces, trying to think of what else they could do to change his appearance.

"Eyeliner." Tahno spoke.

Korra sat Mako down on the couch as Tahno ventured into his bathroom before retuning with a small makeup bag. He pulled out a long charoal pencil and clutched Mako's jaw. "Don't move so much kay?"

He leaned close to him and carefully lined the top and bottom lid of his eyes. After he took the pad of his ring finger and buffed out the edges, making Mako's hazel eyes look darker and smoldering behind a black smokey eyed look.

"This should be enough, it'll be too dark and most people will be too drunk to really notice..."

As Tahno pulled away Korra shook her head with approval, "You look hot, okay let's go!"

"we're taking my car." Tahno protested as he watched Korra tie up her shirt to resemble a crop top. Mako stood from the couch with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

-O-

After what felt like a ten minute drive they seemed to be at their destination judging by all the whispering coming from Tahno and Korra. Mako wouldn't know however, since Korra had wrapped his scarf over his eyes per Tahno's request. He didn't want him knowing how to get to this place or its precise location. If they wanted to gain Mako's confidence, treating him like a captor wasn't the way to do it. It only made him feel more paranoid.

"We're here. Let's go." Korra breathed. They hopped out Tahno's car and into the crisp night air. Mako instinctively shivered as Korra took his hand and began to guide him toward what smelled like fancy food and aged wine.

"No, this way, we aren't going through the front this time.." Tahno spoke.

"Oh, okay," Korra tugged Mako along what felt like a cobblestone walk way. He couldn't hear anyone else around, everything was strangely quiet. Suddenly his scarf was removed from his face and they were entering a darkened stairwell.

"Hurry up!" Tahno ordered.

They quickly began to descend a long winding flight of steps with deep red lights swinging over head. Mako could hear him locking the door behind them but wasn't slowing down his pace. Tahno seemed to be heavily covering their tracks and Mako kept a note of suspicion although didn't think it necessary to call attention to it yet.

He was trying not to verbally ask the million and one questions running through his mind. The inquisitive part of himself felt uneasy being lead into the unknown. He tightened his grip on Korra's hand and she looked back at him encouragingly.

"It'll be fine I promise.." She whispered.

After each flight of stairs they were met by a locked door and Tahno typed in a different key-code to unlock each one. Mako realized this place was unjustifiably fortified, which made him ponder what exactly they were trying to protect.

They finally made it to the bottom floor and that's when Mako noticed, "Is that music?"

Tahno moved to the front and opened the keypad on the side of the door. He made sure to block Mako's view as he typed in the final code. He cracked the door open and they were engulfed by smoke and flickering lights. Tahno quickly ushered them inside, "quickly!"

Korra pushed Mako through the door, then stepped inside herself. She turned on her heel when she noticed Tahno wasn't following. "You're not coming!" She exclaimed.

Tahno shook his head, "I can't come in with you princess.."

"Wait!" He closed the door, not having the time to explain. Korra hoped this was all apart of his plan and he wasn't abandoning them. Knowing Tahno, he would never do that to her so she ignored those worrisome thoughts. They were inside now, that's all that mattered.

Mako stepped back with wide eyes and found himself suffering from sensory overload. The music was deafening, the lights were blinding, and the people were...He looked around in utter shock and disbelief at what transpired in front of his very eyes.

A sea of half-naked people surrounded them, body types of all kinds dripped in sweat and bejeweled costumes. They were swaying heavily to the music, groping each others flesh and tasting one another's skin. Blue and purple light illuminated their forms as they gyrated against each other in a tantric performance.

Oh, this was definitely the last thing he ever imagined they would be hiding.

No one seemed to have noticed when they slipped inside and Mako quickly made a habit to find where they could exit. He reached over for Korra's hand again and squeezed her palm.

"Korra..." He mumbled, "Where..the hell..are we?"