A/N: I never thought I'd be writing a full-on Howrra fic, but I got convinced to and so here it is and- I really don't know how this will go over so I'm really nervous about it... so yeah... I really hope you like it ^_^;;

"You ok?"

"Fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"You seem kinda, I dunno, out of-"

"I'm fine!"

Korra stood from the bed and over to the window across the room. The morning light flooded in from the open slats of the shutters. A small headache pounded through her head. A cool breeze wafted in between the cracks of the window carrying the scent of the white lotus blossoms into the room. Korra's stomach lurched; instinctively a hand slammed the shutters closed, the other clasped against her mouth.

Howl stepped out of the bed and crossed over to her. He wrapped a strong muscular arm around her middle, "You're quivering." He said softly placing a kiss on her cheek, "And you're warm." Howl pushed the few strands of hair that had fallen around Korra's face. She turned to face him, her cheeks flushed.

"I'm not sick." Korra denied, "The Avatar doesn't get sick." She pouted a lip up at him.

Howl smirked at her; he hooked a finger under her chin lifting it slightly. "Whether the Avatar likes it or not she's still human, and humans get sick now and then." Korra lifted a finger to the corners of his mouth, poking the small dimples in his cheeks. Howl leaned over her and placed another soft kiss on Korra's warm forehead.

"Now back to bed with you, you need sleep." Howl commanded with false authority.

Korra pushed him away making her way over to the wardrobe, where she began to dress. "Can't, I have practice with Tenzin soon and then I have a briefing in the city with the chief for some undercover operation they want me to help with."

Howl crossed his arms as he watched her change, "Another mission with Mako, right?" He grumbled.

Korra sighed as she paused to put her hair up, "Are you still going on about that? Howl, it's my job, what do you want from me?"

"Not to work with him, at least." Howl huffed bowing his head.

Korra crossed back over to the grump and placed a hand on his bare chest, "I promise you there's nothing to worry about." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and gazed into his lowered eyes, "I love you." Her words made him smirk again.

"Have a good day at work. I'll be home later tonight." She headed for the door.

"You're not going to eat?"

"No time. I'll see you later!" And with that she was gone.

Howl hesitated and raised a hand to his cheek where Korra had kissed him goodbye. He had noticed how warm she was, and even though she had put on a strong front, he could tell that Korra was really covering up how she really felt. Howl only hoped that she would be alright.

Tenzin winked an eye open from his meditative state as he heard the young Avatar's boots echo down the small pier that jutted out from Airbender Island. He snapped his shut before she could notice that he was watching her instead of meditating as he was supposed to. He heard her sit quietly down on the wooden floor.

Tenzin took a casual breath in, "You're late." He said before letting the breath out slowly.

He could practically hear Korra flinch, "I had a late start this morning, I'm sorry." She responded taking in a deep breath and letting it out preparing her mind for the session.

The scent of the lotus blossoms was distant now, but still strong enough to churn her stomach. Korra squirmed trying to force her body to settle. She could feel her body's temperature slowly rising, as it worked harder than usual. A drop of sweat ran down her cheek and Korra shook violently with a sudden chill.

"Trouble focusing?" Tenzin asked smoothly winking open an eye at her.

Korra huffed out a sigh, hunching over in the cross-legged position in defeat, "Yes." She admitted breathlessly.

"Something on your mind, Korra? You're so restless this morning." Tenzin observed stroking his beard quizzically.

Korra rubbed the sweat from her forehead, "Not really, I'm just having an off day." She explained completely avoiding the fact that she may be becoming ill.

Tenzin stood with a grunt, "Well there's no use meditating if your mind won't clear." He heaved a sigh, "I suppose we can skip the meditation and go right to your training." Tenzin was reluctant to let Korra skip a session knowing how much she needing it, but he was feeling generous that day.

Korra jumped to her feet in excitement, "Alri-" Korra's vision blurred as she stood too quickly. But instead of her sight returning, the world continued to spin and twist. Korra staggered backward catching the railing which she gripped for support.

"Korra? What is it? What's the matter?" Tenzin voice cracked with worry as he watched the uncharacteristic behavior from Korra.

"I'm fine, I just-" Korra's knees shook, she could feel them begin to buckle from underneath her. Her stomach knotted more painfully than before and she twisted herself over the railing bending as far over as she could. Tenzin flinched at the gruesome sounds that she had made, only able to rub her back in hopes to soothe her.

Hot tears streamed down Korra's face as her stomach finished its convulses; she spat into the water below trying desperately to get the ugly taste out of her mouth. "Better?" Tenzin chuckled weakly. Korra sunk to the ground; her legs gave out and she was exhausted, completely drained of energy in such a short amount of time.

"Perfect." Korra breathed, barely able to form words.

"Maybe we should just skip training altogether for today. You could use the rest." Tenzin knelt down next to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Korra nodded, "Sure, and then I can get to my meeting with the chief early too."

Tenzin was taken aback, "You're going into the city? Korra, please, you're clearly not in any shape to-"

The young Avatar brushed up her mentor's hand and stood shakily taking a moment to find her balance again, "It's just a bug," she retorted, "I'm sure it'll pass soon, if it hasn't already washed away into the sea." She nodded towards the ocean.

The Airbending teacher crossed his arms, "Korra I really don't think that you're making the right decision. You just hurled over the side of the pier, and you still think you're fine?" The disapproval in his voice was all too obvious.

Korra cringed knowing she was upsetting her teacher, "Tenzin I promise I'm fine. Really." Tenzin's expression just sank into deeper disapproval.

He sighed, "Do what you must, but don't come crying to me when you- and she's gone." When Tenzin had looked up Korra was already dashing away. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and groaned, "I swear the girl gives me the worst headaches."

Mako rifled through the folder, brow furrowed in his concentration. He was hunched over his desk; there were papers strewn across it, an unopened package used as a crude paper weight in one corner, a lamp with a crooked shade spreading harsh light over the work space, and penholder that was missing one of its pens.

When Mako found the paper he was looking for he pulled it out and slapped it on the desk hurriedly. "The Chief and her team his ready for you whenever, Mako." Came a voice from the door.

"Yes, thank you Lieutenant, tell them I'll be there in a moment." He called back clearly in a rush as he scribbled down his signature at the bottom of the page and stuffing it back in the folder. Mako slung his bag across his shoulder as he rushed to the door.

A swish of blue in the sea of black uniforms and yellow architecture made him freeze. Surely in the stress of his work he had been dealing with he was just seeing things. Mako blinked and shook his head and continued to the conference room with an uneasy sigh. He was too young to be feeling this old.

The conference room was quiet even though it was full. As Mako shut the door the sound from the outside was instantly muffled, making the already silent room seem even more silent. The young officer was all too familiar with the serious and tense atmosphere of these operation briefings. The other officers chatted softly in hushed whispers as they waited for the briefing to begin. Mako, the diligent officer of his rank that he was, made his way to the front of the room where Chief Beifong scribbled on the chalkboard.

"Ahem, Chief, I have the approval papers from the commissioner all signed and ready to go." Mako passed over the brown folder.

Lin turned, her scars glistening in the harsh lighting of the room, only emphasizing her usual hard expression. "You're getting this to me a little last minute aren't you Mako?" She said opening the folders and skimming over the first couple pages.

Mako grimaced becoming embarrassed, "I had forgotten to sign them and only remembered this morning." He flinched as Lin moved over to the podium set off to the side of the room. She wasn't paying attention to him anymore. Mako huffed a breath of relief before he took his seat in the front row.

Lin took her place at the podium and clapped her hands, the whispers ceased immediately and every head turned to the Chief of Police. "Alright, most of you already know the rumors that have been running around the city about this new 'patho-toxin' one of the triads wants to use to claim territory within the city." Lin started. She turned to the chalkboard where she had started drawing out the operation. "We don't know the origin of the toxin, and we don't know the contents of the toxin. What we do know is that it has been tested in districts four and seven." She pointed to specific parts on the map that had been hung up on the corner of the board. "These are known territories headed by the gang leader Currox, known waterbender and wanted for the several murders that had recently taken place due to the patho-toxin in these districts. Had it not been for the threat of the toxin we would have already infiltrated Currox's suspected hideout, but our healers and doctors still aren't sure what the toxin is. Without that information we don't stand a chance in any sort of fight against him and his men." Lin turned back around to face the small crowd, "Which is why I've included you, Mako, in this operation. I need you to put together a small team of three to four to covertly gain access to the warehouse and find out anything you can about the toxin. I don't want this to drag out, get in, get the information, and get out. I don't want to take any unnecessary risks."

Lin's glare lingered on Mako for a moment. Mako nodded silently and the chief continued on with the briefing session touching on how the engineers and scientists needed extra guarding as they were working on a new device that would help them in a head-on assault. Any advancement in other investigations would be put on hold as this was top priority. In addition, patrolling in districts four and seven as well as surrounding districts would be increased.

After the brief questions and answers period Lin ended with her usual, "Ok, good, now don't be stupid." Which roughly translated to 'be safe' in Lin-speak. As Mako, stood Lin waved him over to the podium where she gathered her things.

"In your team I have one person that you will include in your team." She said leaving no room for objection.

"Of course, chief, who is it?"

Lin smirked knowingly, "The Avatar." She nodded over to the one person left in the seats.

Mako's jaw dropped as Korra stood from her seat with a sly grin glued to her face. Mako looked back and forth between the two women babbling incoherently in shock.

"Well don't look excited to see me." Korra said giving him a playful punch on the shoulder.

"Wh- why?" Mako was able to sputter out.

Lin chuckled, "Korra said she wanted to be more involved, express herself with her Avatar authority or whatever. I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to prove that authority." She explained.

"B-but even you said that this was a dangerous operation!" Mako protested.

"Oh sure, with the amounts of times that you two have snuck in and out of headquarters to gain confidential information on some of my personal investigations, only to find the perpetrator behind bars the next morning because you two idiots went after them in the night while I slept, I think I can trust you two on an official operation together. If not believe that it would go smoother than if I put some rookies on board." Lin stormed off in a huff leaving the two alone.

"C'mon Mako, lighten up. It shouldn't be too hard if we're working together. What could go wrong?" She said confidently.

Mako grumbled, "You not keeping your cool? You getting too excited and dropping in on Currox and getting caught in between all his goons. I dunno, getting yourself killed?"

Korra stood with wide eyes, shocked at his words. Her lips lowered, her bottom lip sticking out into a childish pout. "You've gotten so mean since you became a cop." Korra bowed her head with a frown. "I thought you'd like to work with me, you know, for old time's sake."

Mako groaned, "Don't do that." Korra turned her head, "Korra, come on." She sniffed. "Ugh, fine you can work with me." He said finally giving in. She looked up, grinning and giggling coyly; the Avatar turned on her heel walking away in triumph.

"Korra." Mako growled following after her.

She laughed her giant grin spread wide across her face, "You said, Mako!" The officer shook his head unable to help the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile at her goofy, childish, all too familiar behavior.

"Have you had lunch yet?" Mako asked as he caught up with her at the door. Korra shook her head. "Good, I'll treat you. Just don't get used to it."