A/N: Hi, everyone! GangstaSummoner here with my very first Legend of Korra fanfic. I apologize ahead of time for it being so short, but this is only a starter chapter for me. I haven't written anything in almost six months. My life has been full of all kind of activities and whatnot. But I'm going to try to continue this story, but that is only if you guys like it. So make sure to leave a review once you finish reading. Friendly critiques are welcome. Anyway, on with the story! :)

Cold Nights In Republic City

Chapter 1

There she stands, short with bright blue eyes, short hair and a welcoming smile on her face. "It's good to see you again, Bolin," she says. I stare at her in amazement, not even thinking to move away from the doorway to welcome her in. She seems a bit nervous, different somehow. We've grown a lot over these past two years. I can see it her face. She still looks the same, but a bit older somehow.

"Are you going to let me in?" she asks while pulling something closer to her chest. "It's pretty cold out here."

A gust of cool, wintery wind blows in through the door and without me inviting her in, she brushes past me quickly. "Ssh, it's okay. There, there now, be quiet." I can hear low whimpers coming from her. It sounds more like a baby's cry.

I close the door. "Korra?" I call her name which causes her shoulders to slump as if she has been caught in the act of doing something wrong. "Is...Is that a baby?"

She doesn't say a word. She just stands there looking down quietly. The baby coos against her thick water tribe garb.

"Is it your baby?"

She sighs softly. "I-I don't have my bending anymore."

"Answer the question, Korra. Is that your baby? Is it my brother's baby?"

She turns around quickly, the long strands of hair framing her face moves around fiercely and her eyes wide with shock. "No! Why? How can you say such a thing? How dare you accuse me of something like this?"

As she moves, the blanket she has wrapped around the tiny infant pulls back a bit, revealing it. I quickly catch a glimpse of the baby's face and once she realizes it she covers it again. I see my brother's face. A part of me wants to yell at her for fucking my brother, another part of me wants to comfort her. Before Amon took over the city, I had only one date with Korra, but I knew there was something special about her. I wanted to know more about her, but the thing is, she had a crush on my brother and Mako liked her too. For a while, I sat back and watched everything play out and it resulted in Korra leaving for good. Mako ended up breaking it off with Asami through a letter and followed Korra to god knows where.

"It is Mako's baby," I say softly. "You can't deny it."

"Her name is Hima."

"Hima, that's a nice name. Does Mako know?"

She holds her head down. "I should be going," she says and rushes toward the door, but I grab her shoulder, pulling her back. "Stay. It's too cold for you and Hima to be out there."

"Bolin, I...I can't."

"You can. I can sleep on the couch and you two can crash in the bedroom. It's fine. We're family."

She turns around and for the second time tonight she smiles. "Thank you, Bolin. You have always been so kind to me."

I smile and point toward the bedroom. "The bedroom is that way and the bathroom is right next to it."

She nods. "Thanks again." With that she walks toward the bedroom with Hima in her arms and disappears.

I sigh deeply and plop down on the couch, tilting my head back as I stare at the tan ceiling. Mako. I have a niece and it's by the girl I once I had a crush on. Next thing I know she is going to tell me she is married or engaged. I didn't see a betrothal necklace, so she could be single. Why did she come here? Why did she cut all her hair off? Where the hell is my brother? These are the questions I need an answer to.

I always knew Korra would return, but not like this. Not with a baby and bender-less. How can Amon do such a thing? She's the Avatar for crying out loud!

I look up when I hear the bedroom door close and Korra enters the room, her heavy winter coat no longer covering her body. She folds her arms across her chest as she approaches me and I sit up to make room on the couch. She doesn't hesitate to sit down beside me, still guarding herself with her arms. Korra crosses one leg over the other and stares across the small living room, silently as if she is waiting on me to say something.

"Is Hima asleep?" I finally ask, trying to break the awkward silence between us.

"Yes," she whispers. "She sleeps a lot."

"How old is she?"

"Two months."

"Two months!" She looks at me as if I had offended her. "I'm sorry. It's just that...Korra where have you been?" I blurt out. "For two years I've been worried about you and my brother. Neither of you sent me a message or anything. I had to hear it from Asami that you two had left together. Where have you been for two years?"

She sighs lightly, her brow wrinkles and a sadness seems to come over her. "After Amon took my bending away, I passed out. I really don't remember the details, but when I came to, Mako and I were on a boat to the Southern Water Tribe. After that things happened and a few months before Hima was born Mako said he was going to the Fire Nation. I wanted to go with him, but he insisted I stay behind. So, now I'm here. I thought maybe he had visited you."

"I haven't seen him." The awkward silence takes over the room again and I ask, "How are you going to get your bending back? You chose the wrong city to return to. Amon's henchmen are still searching for you. He wants you dead."

"I know, but I have good reasons why I returned. I am going to regain my bending abilities and then I am going to overthrow Amon's rule. And somehow, I am going to restore everyone's bending." She smiles a little and turns to face me. "Bolin, will you be my earthbending teacher?"

I am a bit shock as I stare back at the girl who is supposed to save us all. The girl who is the bridge between the spirit world and our own. The only person who can master all four elements, the Avatar and she wants me to be her teacher. What can I possibly teach her? I know I am not the greatest earthbender in the world, but I can't teach her much.

"I don't think that is a good idea. Couldn't Lin teach you? She is the daughter of the greatest earthbender there ever was."

"Amon took her bending away too."

"Lin! How?"

"She sacrificed her bending in order to save Tenzin and his family."

"I can't-"

She cuts me off. "Bolin, please! You're all I have left. If people knew that I lost my bending, it would be devastating. I'll lie low if you're worried people will get suspicious and if gets rough, I can always leave. Please?"

I know I can't turn Korra down even if I wanted to. She is someone very special to me and if I am the only who can help her regain bending ability, I will do my best. "Okay. I'll do it."

"Thank you, Bolin!" she excitedly yells as she flings her body against and wraps her arms around my neck. "Thank you."

I inhale deeply, taking in her aroma. My grip around her waist grows a little tighter and I pull her closer to me. Her body tenses and she instantly pulls back. She smiles nervously and stands up. "I'm going to go to bed," she says. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," I say as I watch her walk away. It feels good to have Korra back in my life again.