Basically this is a re-write of my original story Second Step, but the first chapter will be the same except for the ending. After watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith, I was kind of re-inspired to re -write the whole thing again…yes, I'm bipolar that way. Okay, for now, since I don't have a lot of time, I probably won't do daily updates and it may take like a whole month for the next updates, but think of it as a shojo manga…if you know what that is. Okay, here goes and it was also based on this image : / / . # / j

Ba Sing Se 178 ASC

A young man of 26 gave out a sigh as he put his bag down and basically collapsed on the couch in his hotel room. It was a long travel, to get from Omashu to Ba Sing Se and quite frankly, he was tired. The radio was playing out statistics from the current ongoing pro-bending match between the Ba Sing Se Badgermoles and the Tigerdillos. Of course, this was all taking place in Republic City, his old home, in which he hasn't been in for the last three years. Groaning, he got up and turned off the radio, only wanting for a peaceful and quiet atmosphere right now. He went to the bathroom and looked at his reflection in the mirror, he hasn't shaved in days and it was starting to give him a grungy look. His eyes gave a hard look, like it's always been and his hair still had that same look.

Taking out a razor and some cream, he started shaving except for the goatee that he grew and decided to keep; sideburns threatened to grow as part of the beard, but he always made sure that it's trimmed just enough to prevent his goatee from becoming a beard.

Are you trying to be like Tenzin?

There it was again, that annoying voice that has always been bothering him. It's been quite a while, but remnants of that memory comes back every once in a while, but like always(and somewhat unwillingly), the memories are pushed aside. It was already twilight and he knew he should be heading out soon, after all, he did pay for the nightly tour and it wasn't cheap.

The air was somewhat polluted as the streets were congested at this time of the day and week. He manages to grab his tour trolley in time and it started. He had his hood up and rested in his seat next to an elderly woman. Like with all other tours he's been in, his mind starts drifting off elsewhere.

His decision to start travelling the world happened when he was 22, but made no actions until a year later. His brother would often call him and see how he was doing, but even he could tell that Bolin was missing him dearly. Everyone was very supportive of his decision to start travelling, everyone, but they all started wondering if he would ever come back to Republic City. His Pro-Bending days were over, even if he did retire quite young. The Fire Ferrets had quite a large amount of fans, which is why he was staying in the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se with a hood. He put up his scarf to hide his mouth, just in case anyone was a keen observer. Speaking of, he hasn't thought of his parents since the Revolution Ended during his teens. Even after finally letting go of their memories, he still kept the scarf just to honor his father and keep the images of his parents strong and clear in his mind. It's been almost 20 years since their deaths and he could still remember the chaos that was ensuing all around him and his brother.

"Excuse me sir, this is the last stop of the tour and we're closing up soon," said the tour guide and all he would do is just nod his head and get off the trolley.

He was still within the Middle Ring area, but he decided to look for an isolated bar somewhere. He needed a drink, maybe some Sake ought to help rid him of his brooding thoughts.

Finally arriving at the bar, he looked around and there weren't many people, it was quiet too, so he put his hood down but kept the scarf close to his face. He sat down and ordered some Sake which had 5% cactus juice in it, perfect for clearing his mind. A lot of things happened since then, the Revolution ended rather…bittersweet. Amon turned out to be a bender himself, a water-bender specifically but also a blood-bender; at the last moment to save himself, he accidentally created a water sprout revealing his true identity and escaped. Later on, a fishing boat caught two charred and un-recognizable bodies…it was Amon and Tarrlok, the only proof were their clothing, or what remained of it. His thoughts were cut short when a woman appeared next to him.

"So what's a handsome young man like you doing around here in this shab of a bar?" The woman sat down next to him, looking very flirty. He glanced at her and noted that her shirt neck was a little too low and the side of her skirt were a little cut so as to reveal her legs.

"Oh you know, drinking my problems away, like everyone else in the room," he sarcastically replied, but it wasn't harsh.

"Problems? Well, I don't seem like it, but you can tell me, my lips are sealed," she giggled, but there was a seductive tone in it. He only smirked, even in his near drunk state, there was no way she was getting what she wanted.

"Nah, I wouldn't want to you trouble you with my sad life," he joked and a flash of irritation crossed the woman's face, but said nothing.

"Well, the name's Ziao Jie, but you can call me Jie for short," she now introduced, but he stayed silent which further irritated her. For a few minutes, while he was drinking she observed his facial features and realized who he was.

"You're Mako! Mako from the Fire Ferrets! How could I have not realized that before?" the woman exclaimed and the people who were in the room turned their heads. They all stared at the two of them, but mostly him.

He sighed heavily, clearly annoyed. "Yes, I am, now I tried to be subtle, but I'll be clear, please go away."

The woman didn't budge; instead she bore an evil seductive grin on her face. "Oh come on, don't be that way, a famous guy like you should, ahem, loosen up some."

Her finger was tracing from his arm to his face, but just as she was about to touch his face, he suddenly grabbed her hand. There was, without a doubt, a ring on his finger, on his left hand.

"I see, so you're taken," Jie pointed out at the ring in his finger, "She doesn't have to know."

"Forget it, I'm not going anywhere tonight," He was really drunk at this point, of course he was going back to his hotel room, but he couldn't really process how he was going back, much less think straight.

"Who said you were going somewhere tonight, I live right upstairs, but if you want to be that way, fine. At least tell me who she is, is it that Sato girl? I heard you two were quite the couple back in the days," she stated, not giving up.

"I'm not saying no nothin'," his voice slurred, he was surprised that his brain could still process what this Jie girl was saying.

"Not even a hint? You're such a jerk," she smirked.

A woman laughed from across the counter table, she was sitting in the dark part where they couldn't see her face clearly. But Mako froze mid-air as he was about to take another swish of his sake and he sighed, setting it down. Jie was confused.

"Is something funny, miss?" Jie questioned, a little annoyed that someone was messing with her plan.

"Oh nothing, nothing, it's just…he's always been a jerk, especially at first meetings, but don't worry, he'll warm up to you." The unknown lady explained, still stifling a laugh.

"And you've met him how exactly?" Jie kept questioning, now getting even more edgy and a little jealous.

"That, my friend, is a secret, but the name's Korra," she finally came out and took a seat next to the very drunk Mako who groaned. Jie's eyes widened and even shot up from her seat, a hint of fear in her eyes. Korra's style changed slightly over the years, her parka jacket had a little more fur, her shirt had more designs in them and she let her hair down, but she still had her signature two pony tails in the front, and a small bun behind her head. She looked exactly her age, 25 and still kicking. "Although, it won't be a secret too long judging by the look on your face."

"K-K-K-Korra? As in THE Avatar Korra?" Jie stuttered, backing away just a little and Korra just laughed.

"Relax, I'm not going to hurt you, I'm supposed to be a peace keeper," Korra explained, taking her shot of sake from Mako's hand.

"Hey!" Mako protested, but he was way too drunk as his head hit the table.

"And he's always been a bad drunk whenever he starts drinking," she chuckled.

"I-I-I see, I heard the stories of how you and him worked together to take down Amon those years ago. You were part of the Fire Ferrets, weren't you?" Jie wondered, now abandoning thoughts of getting to Mako.

"Yes I was, and can you please keep it down? The only reason I come here is so I don't get crowded, apparently Mr. Cactus Juice here had the same idea," Korra pointed at the sleeping drunk.

"My apologies, Avatar Korra," she apologized, blushing a little.

"Please, just Korra, anyways, I have to get going, it was nice to meet you," Korra placed a hand on Jie's shoulder.

And like Mako, she noticed there was a ring on Korra's finger and her eyes widened yet again. Korra leaned her head in toward Jie's ear and whispered, "If I catch you trying to sleep with my husband again, my role as Avatar will be…temporarily forgotten."

Korra had a sweet smile as she leaned back, but Jie could see the dark aura through the words and quickly ran out of the Bar. Sighing, Korra turned back towards Mako, who was still dozing.

"Come on Cool Guy, you're sleeping in my room tonight," Korra rolled her eyes as she slung Mako's arm around her shoulders and dragged him out.

Mako regained consciousness only 5 minutes after he was dragged out by his wife, but he was still drunk.

"I don't need yer help, missy, my hotel is only on the obber zide of tooowwn," he groaned.

"Yes Mako and that's about half an hour away from here, I am not going to put up with your vomiting…again," she emphasized that last word.

"Lazt sime, I did," he retorted. "With yer bomiting, I meen."

"Well, I'm not a guy, I don't have time to put up with vomit and other gross stuff," she grunted back as they were now entering through the hotel lobby. Luckily, no one was around at the hour and the check-in guy was asleep, snoring.

"You're just lasy."

When they arrived at Korra's room, he immediately threw up in the toilet. Korra was trying hard not to listen as her husband wretch all of his contents out. She grabbed a glass of water and mouthwash, handing it to him as he came out. He took it gladly and the taste went away, he wasn't completely sober, but at least his mind was somewhat framed at the current situation. They were quite for some time and the arising tension between them didn't help.

"I didn't expect you to be here," Mako finally broke the silence.

"Ha, we always meet at the most unexpected places and one of us is usually drunk," Korra scoffed.

"Seems like it, why break the tradition now?" Mako got up and walked towards his wife, who stared at his face the whole time. As much as she wanted to give in, she couldn't, so she turned her head away.

"Mako, is it always going to be like this? Sometimes, I forget we're even married in the first place," she brought up a rather sore subject for the both of them.

"I don't like it either, but with your duties, how could we ever play the roles of husband and wife?" he sternly questioned and Korra snapped her head right back him, anger showing.

"So being married is suddenly a duty? A role playing thing? Well excuse me if I'm not like every other woman in the world, I didn't ask to get married, you did!" she was standing now, poking her husband hard on the chest, but his facial expression didn't change. Every word stung and it was true, why couldn't they just be together instead of this estranged marriage they had?

"Yes, I did. And I did it because I loved you, and I still do, but from time to time, I began to question whether you loved me back," he sneered at his angry wife's face who became impassive.

"Mako, you're really drunk, I don't think you even know what you're saying," she turned her back on him, but Mako had other plans and he spun her around, leaning his face close to hers.

"I may be drunk, but I know perfectly what I'm saying, I still question whether you love me or not, but you know what, I do know the answer to that," he huskily said as he leaned in for a kiss.

The kiss started sweet and pure, but suddenly, it became passionate as they crashed into the wall, their tongues dominating over the other. They stumbled into the bed and both of their jackets were off at this point.

"Really, so what's the answer then?" Korra asked, playing around a little as they continued with their sloppy yet meaningful kisses.

Mako just chuckled, "Don't even ask that." And his lips came crashing back down to Korra's as they began undressing one another.

The light shined on through the window and landed on Mako's face…..unfortunately. He groaned as he slowly opened his eyes and got up, his vision was slightly blurred and he shook his head to clear it out. That was a mistake on his part as an immediate sharp pain overcame his mind.

"Ugh, I should never drink that much again," he moaned as he fell right back into the pillows just wanting to sleep.

Wait, this isn't my room, he thought. He reluctantly came back up and took a good look around, and by coincidence, his wife just came out of the bathroom wearing simple blue silk PJs. She had a serious look on her face and Mako was surprised she was even here at all.

"Either I must be really suffering through a severe hangover or you're actually about to kill me," he grumbled. She was unmoved by those words and she sat down at the edge of the bed, facing away from him.

"We need to talk."