Tarrlok gave the four of them his most dazzling smile when Mako pinched his nose bridge. "What do you mean, he might be the least of our problems?" Mako asked.
"I can't tell you, and you arrested me. See, I don't have the fullest idea, and since you won't work with me, I don't have to work with you." Tarrlok continued to smile, despite his insolence.
"Well, since you put it that way. I guess I will have to hold you for blood bending and attacking City officials and police officers, among other things." Lin stared him down. Her confidence caused Tarrlok's smile to fall.
"Yeah, and we can set you up with a nice cozy cell with your favorite people." Mako added, glancing at Korra and then back to Tarrlok.
Tarrlok glared at Mako. "Is that a threat?"
"Oh, It's a promise if you don't cough up what you know." Lin asserted, hostility lining her voice.
"Only if you let me speak with you privately. It's urgent." Tarrlok said, sounding desperate.
Lin narrowed her eyes at him. "Nope, I make the rules here. You do it on my terms. You don't tell me diddly squat about what you will do or give me that ultimatum crap." She barked, getting fed up with this.
Tarrlok stared at Lin, she was unchanged after four years. He laughed, ignoring Saikhan's glare. "Nice to see you're the same as you were." Tarrlok leaned over.
"It is your choice, and I'll be happy to put you away," Lin muttered, not happy at the sound of his laughter.
"My brother is trying to get back with the Equalist remnants hiding in the City. That guy in the photo is with him, but he has plans of his own." Tarrlok finally responded, flatly.
"Right, what's their game plan?" Korra asked, feeling as if they were moving in the right direction.
"I can't say." Tarrlok looked at a fully realized Avatar, noticing how she had changed and carried herself since he last saw her.
"Whatever happened to putting an end to the sad story, huh?" Korra asked him.
"Yeah, what happened to stopping Amon? To wanting to get the City back on track?" Mako chimed in.
"I have been trying to explain for the longest time. I can't; there are too many ears on this, but since you insist, I will tell you - but not a word can leave this room." Tarrlok answered finally.
"We will hear what you have to say," Lin said, crossing her arms.
Tarrlok looked at their faces before sighing.
"I went to the stupid Gala. I wanted to speak to Lin to work with you. I haven't fully earned his trust, and I don't know his name. My brother has changed his identity to move with ease, and this guy unsettled me. Please allow me to work with you. I want to end this." Tarrlok confessed. "I made sure that the attack at Yue bay was not as strong as it could have been; I'm trying to sabotage where I can. I want to make it right."
"Did you enter the spirit world?" Mako asked.
"No, but my brother mentioned it. If I don't return, he will notice something is up."
After another long pause, Lin took in the information and thought about how best to proceed. "Hm, excuse me, one second." Lin motioned for Korra and Mako to step out with her.
The outer door burst open just as they closed the door to the interrogation room. Raiko barged in passionately, and Lin glared at him. Mako and Korra moved to stand in front of the window into the room holding Tarrlok, obscuring Raiko's view, not that he had even noticed or cared. He had to speak his mind about the Gala. He didn't even notice the other two; his view was so tunneled.
"I'm in the middle of something. Talk to someone else or wait in my office." Lin scowled, not in the mood for whatever he wanted to say.
"You said you were going to dance with Bumi to get the scent off us. But you left with him, behind my back." Raiko yelled in jealousy.
Mako and Korra shot each other nervous looks. That was not what they expected in a million years. They had assumed Asami was just being a bit gossipy when she had suggested that Raiko liked Lin, not that the President of City was dating the older Chief of Police.
"You don't know what's going on, so I would shut my mouth if I were you." Lin crossed her arms. Her face was emotionless while her voice had a dangerous edge to it.
Raiko breathed in roughly. He felt crushed when she made that scene. He presumed that she then went to the men's room with Bumi. He felt enraged at her attitude, and lack of response to his words.
"No, I want to know why you left with Bumi. You realize what a mess I'm putting to put myself in for you, and you do that to me? And that scumbag Hibiki - don't tell me you're involved with him too. What about us?" He glared at Lin, not backing down.
"I'm not doing this. I have to keep the City safe and do my job. You need to leave, now." Lin's voice lowered; she sounded vicious.
Raiko threw down a box of medals angrily. Nobody noticed he was even carrying a package. He gave her a wrecked glance as he left.
Lin sighed heavily and crossed her arms again. "Anyway, what is your call on this, Korra? I don't trust him." Lin's eyes were still on the door, despite her question to Korra. There was a part of Lin that wanted to talk to Tarrlok.
Korra awkwardly coughed, deciding not to mention the elephant-rhino in the room, and said, "uh, well. I think we could. Watch him if we can get information."
"It's risky." That was all Mako said, but who knew when they might get another piece of information. It could take too long and put millions of at-risk encamped people in even more danger.
"But what other choice do we have?" Korra asked, still feeling guilt over what she felt was a preventable situation in the City when it came to Kuvira.
"Maybe, we should have Lin talk to him. To see if he knows more." Mako said, curious what he would tell her.
Lin groaned, she didn't trust Tarrlok, but they had to be sure if they could trust him before they planned to watch him. Before either spoke, she sighed and headed in, having Saikhan step out to observe.
"Okay, we're alone. I sent the others away. What was it you wanted to say to me?" Lin lied. She had an idea, but at this point, she was in a corner. She had to be sure he wasn't plotting anything.
"I'm sorry, first and foremost." Lin rolled her eyes, "I never wanted to blood bend you. I was a pig, and I know you don't trust me anymore. I think my brother is joining forces with former enemies of the Avatar's." He paused, looking at her eyes again, remembering when he first met her. "Since you refused to leave your job, despite knowing that the streets will never be cleaned, you still wouldn't quit. I had to try and keep you safe; however, I could." Tarrlok said genuinely.
Outside the room, Saikhan looked over at his subordinate. "So that's why he wants to keep it hushed up. That's why he wanted Lin to lose her job." Saikhan shook his head, and then looked back through the two-way mirror.
Mako couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Like blood bending me did?" Lin asked neatly. "Like messing with discharge papers did?" She asked accusingly.
"No, you would have left anyway. To stick your neck out for people that don't care about you. I refused to lose you to this City. You've almost lost your life one too many times." Tarrlok growled.
"I have a job, and it's none of your business who I help. Not anymore, and I don't need you to babysit or protect me. I've kept myself safe, and have done so my whole life." Lin finally responded.
"I don't have any more information, besides that my brother is working with the guy in the picture and that my brother changed his face to look more like me," Tarrlok said.
Lin stared him down, letting her feet hear his heart. He was truthful.
"I never told you before, and I know you are still upset bu-"
"Please, don't say it." Lin interrupted with her hand up.
"I love you, Lin." It wasn't how he had pictured saying it, but he felt he had to.
"You idiot," Lin could die right there. "I'm-"
"You know it's safe to admit it, and you kept the gifts even if you let that woman wear my tuxedo, and I hated that. I'm touched that you kept it." It was Tarrlok's turn to cut her off. He smiled; It was the softest he had ever looked.
Lin glared in his direction.
"I only came along because I want to make it up to you no matter what. I don't care anymore. I only went to the Gala because I knew you would recognize me, and I had to tell you that they would attack the City with people from the Avatar's past."
Korra decided to barge in at that moment. "How do we tell if you're not lying, Tarrlok?" Korra was glad to kill the softer mood. She didn't want to see Tarrlok as a human.
Tarrlok looked at Lin, "you can tell if I lied."
Lin admitted that her feet told her he wasn't lying, but Korra was right. "We still can't be sure he isn't lying. He is a politician." Lin spat.
"You guys can feel free to monitor me however you like. I will be giving my address and where I work, everything you need to follow me. I will make it up to the City, and you have no lead without me." Tarrlok bartered.
Mako didn't like this idea, but Tarrlok had shown remorse, and his motive, as strange as it was to picture, made sense to him. He walked in giving Tarrlok a pointed look, "any funny business, and you will be hunted like an animal." Mako said aggressively. Tarrlok realized then that they all had been watching, and he wondered about the secrecy she made them keep. He looked grim when Lin excused herself.
Lin was tired, as she walked into her office in hopes of some space. She groaned as instead she found Raiko.
"What is it? I'm having a bad night." Her emotions were swimming under her cold exterior, and she was desperate to keep them under control.
She felt a blow to her face. It was hard. She was so dizzy from not eating, but she had to get it together quickly. She swiftly punched Raiko back in the gut, pushing him to a wall.
"So am I," Raiko spat.
"Look, I was doing my job. We saw a suspect that looked like the sketch, so we had to get him away from the party." Lin's voice was hollow.
"You okay? How are you feeling?" Raiko noticed a look in her eyes. He hadn't had time to observe it before, but he was now suddenly feeling like he was out of control for hitting her like that. He sometimes wished he could get a grip on his emotions.
"I don't know. I need space. Please go. I'll come to see you later tonight when I'm done with work, same place." Raiko pressed his lips on hers. She allowed it.
As soon as he left, Lin locked the door swiftly with her bending. She slumped into her chair, her thoughts and emotions swirling; it felt so wrong to be so easily caught up in the drama with Tarrlok, but her heart and brain were at war. She felt divided now, especially with Korra, Mako, and Saikhan now knowing about Tarrlok. Not to mention that Korra and Mako also knew about Raiko too.
She messed up.
The next thing Lin remembered was being in a room with everyone again. She could feel the conflict return to the air. She noticed more keen eyes on her for some reason, but she knew that she must focus on keeping herself in the room at the task.
"When were you going to enlighten us on your past situation with Tarrlok?" A voice accused her, but she missed who said it, feeling like she was still in a fog.
Lin glanced at the blurry faces around the room. It felt like school again, so naturally, she hated it.
"I don't trust him and don't like this idea." Lin avoided the question; it was not anyone's business.
"I feel it's the best way, besides his intentions seem sweet." Korra threw a teasing look at Lin, who crossed her arms angrily.
"I trust Korra's judgment," Tenzin added, trying not to feel annoyed that Lin had involved herself with his enemy. He hated Tarrlok.
"Don't complain to me when this blows up in your faces." Lin muttered.
"But he wants to make up for hurting you," Bolin sang.
"I don't care if he doesn't get the information. I'm locking him up." Lin slapped metal over Bolin's mouth,
"Ouch," Asami said, with a wince.
"I can't believe I'm wearing his suit," Kya said, feeling weird.
Mako worried at seeing his boss being quieter than usual. He could tell that it was getting to her. She seemed stuck in a memory and her stress showed even more.
"And you are involved with Raiko, and Hibiki? It's been a busy night for you, huh." Su teased. She tried not to think of how much Lin had suffered these past years.
Bolin looked over to Mako. He so desperately wanted to tell him what had happened with Tenzin. Mako had noted the weary eyes, and how nobody wanted to be near Tenzin.
The jokes about Lin's super busy love life made her feel like a harlot.
"So you decided to do it then," Lin deflected. "I'll have the paperwork ready for you by morning." Lin stood up. She would crank out that task and head to where she and Raiko would meet later.
"Before you head out to do that, Lin, a word," Tenzin requested.
"Walk with me then," Lin mumbled, exhausted.
He shook his head, "It's private." Lin was tired of private conversations.
Su snickered as Tenzin followed Lin into another room.
"It will be quick."
Lin could feel Tenzin's eyes on her, and the weariness in his tone. She was done caring about his feelings, she just wanted to get this over with. Her own exhaustion over the events sinking in.
Tenzin pulled her aside once in the other room. "Are you okay? You look shaky?" Tenzin noticed the lack of color on her face.
"I'm fine. What do you want?" Lin asked with a sigh.
"This year, I was hoping to visit his grave together." Tenzin stuttered a few times. He felt anxiety fill his chest.
Lin's face whitened even more with distress; this was the last thing she wanted to discuss tonight of all nights. She got lost in her spiral of thoughts, and didn't notice that a few moments had passed.
"Lin," Tenzin called, finally getting her attention.
"I'm fine. I'll get back to you." She deflected. She secretly felt like giving up; she had already quietly developed a plan to end it all, and it was ringing louder in her head more and more these days.
"I think you're lying Lin. It's okay if you're overwhelmed by it all. You're not alone anymore." Tenzin said softly. He felt like he had failed his oldest friend, never noticing what a mess she has been in for decades.
"I'm not overwhelmed," She hissed.
"Lin, please. You will get sick if you don't deal with whatever is bothering you," Tenzin begged. He thought of Bumi and his concern that Lin would do something.
"I'll meet you there on that day. I always take that day off." Lin said finally, giving in; with that, Lin walked to her office to do all the paperwork and assign the people to the task. Once behind the closed door of her office, she took a moment to breathe. The room was spinning, and she had no liquor to ease her up.
When she was done, she left to go meet up with Raiko. He would give her what she needed and she would spend the night.
