My thoughts are that raising the flop does nothing positive. CO is pot committed already, and the only thing a raise accomplishes is isolation. Do you really care about isolating here? I would make a crying call on flop hoping to get a crying call from the likes of AQ from MP.

Only draw here is a gutshot/set draw. I want the MP money in the pot too, but then again I'm just greedy

Anyway top two pair AK just bet enough to get calls on flop, and get it in easy on turn. Or bet small 3 streets, and really sucker them in.