Korra sucked in her gut and collapsed on the floor, head still reeling from the pain. Anyone else would have collapsed but the rebellious teen spit the blood from her mouth and said something threatening, fire still white-hot in her eyes.

"Look, I know that you have to do your "Avatar thing" but enough is enough," said Bolin, wiping a fake tear.

She looked at him and gritted her teeth, sickened beyond understanding. A few droplets of sweat formed on the side of her sooty cheeks.

Bolin paced across the room. "Okay, okay, I know that look. Your thinking that a lot has changed since Team Avatar, am I right? Of course I am" he said with a wick of a smile. "Well we can still be good pals again, fighting crime and drinking smoothies," he paused and watched her from the corner of his fire-glazed eye.

She was still in what seemed like a mix between a trance and frenzy. He shrugged and Korra's eyes almost drifted shut but she was snapped back to reality by the feeling of cold fingers on her chin. She yanked away and glared at the remnants of her once cozy room. Her vanity mirror was in shambles and the burning aroma smelt her nostrils making it hard to think.

"Personal space issues huh? Well I guess even the Avatar feels vulnerable once in a while" Bolin said.

If looks could kill, this battle would have been over a long time ago. Finally Korra gathered the breath to speak.

"I- could scream" she said, "and people would come running. Beifong's troops, and . . . - "

"I'm well aware of the whole security thing," Bolin interrupted, rubbing his nose. "Wanna know something hilarious?" he said, grabbing his knees, "You can end this whole thing right now! I won't even run, just, whenever you're ready"

She suffused her lungs with air but something stopped her from echoing her voice. Her forehead felt warm, she bit her lip hoping that she hadn't been so transparent.

"I knew it! I know a bluff when I see one," said Bolin. "Anyway, on with business, I need you to help me with a project. Well, more of a baby project but that doesn't mean it doesn't have potential!"

She didn't want anything to do with him. And felt her time would be better spent with arms of water around his throat. Yet his words were intriguing and it wasn't something she could just pretend she didn't hear.

"I'll see what you have in mind," she growled, at this point not sure whether she was honest or just looking for a chance to ambush him.

"So it's a date then! But not now, meet me behind the Pro-bending building tomorrow night at 7:00, and Korra . . ." he said, glancing over his shoulder. "Come alone".

The moment his head was turned she gathered the water she had concealed within the floorboards and lashed it forward with all her strength. She sliced only mist however, and the figure was already a skewed apparition hiding in the darkness.

The next sound she heard was of footsteps, about twenty people strong, including Tenzin and Beifong. They immediately began wracking her with questions.

"Korra, thank goodness you're safe."

"My metal-benders were ready. Why on earth didn't you call us?"

She just smiled and flicked her ponytail back. "Relax guys, it's nothing."

Tenzin examined the boulder sized hole in the wall, his eyes wide. "I've seen worse," Beifong concluded, rolling her own.

It became very hard to breathe. Something unsettling was occurring inside of Korra and it wasn't something she could do battle against.

As she strolled down the brick-laden exit, she pressed two fingers against her temple almost as if by magic.

"Is there something you'd like to tell me?" inquired Tenzen, intrigued.

"Yeah," she said, not looking back. "Goodbye."

AN: This takes place at around Book 4 although I exercised a little creative license. Tell me what you guys think, I might continue it