Tuesday, December 16th

Asami turned over in the bed and groaned when half her body cracked and popped in protest. The bed was comfortable, but her body still ached. She yawned and stretched her legs briefly before sitting up in the bed. She realized she was in Korra's room. Korra seemed to refuse to let her sleep on the futon any more than necessary, but Asami was grateful that she at least woke up somewhere nice. She glanced at the window, trying to determine what time of day it was from the light coming through the closed blinds. It looked to still be morning. She yawned again and gave up, looking around for her cellphone.

Korra heard the floorboards creak in her bedroom, and figured Asami was finally awake. The bedroom door opened soon after, and Asami shuffled into the living room, squinting, with wild hair covering most of her face.

"Morning, sunshine," Korra smiled, looking up from her laptop.

Asami grunted and sat on the futon beside her.

"How long was I asleep for?" Asami yawned finally, combing her hair out with her fingers.

"Few hours," Korra shrugged, "I've been up for about thirty minutes. Opal went to breakfast with Bolin. Supposed to be going to Zaofu Friday."

"Mmm," Asami nodded, "When are you going home?"

"I'm not," Korra shrugged, "My parents will be coming to visit toward the end of the month anyway. I'll be going to the South Pole for spring break though."

"How is it down there?" Asami asked, "I've never been."

"Cold," Korra laughed, "But it's home. You should go sometime."

Asami nodded and closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the back of the futon. Korra glanced at her, before looking back down at her laptop. The silence was comfortable. Asami could almost fall asleep again. It was only interrupted when Naga jumped up on Korra, wanting to be taken outside.

"Alright, Naga," Korra laughed, trying to fend off the dog's slobber, "Alright."

Korra put her laptop on the coffee table, stood up and stretched.

"Want to join us?" Korra asked, looking down at Asami.

"Sure," Asami opened her eyes and smiled.

The pair of them walked with Naga across the street and onto the college campus. The quad was their destination, a place open enough for Korra to get a good game of fetch going with Naga. It hadn't snowed again since Sunday, but there was still a thin later packed onto the ground in some places. What was left was marred by the tracks of people who had tried to sled across it. Though the students were home for winter break, the quad was still open, and there was no doubt looking at it that people had taken advantage of that fact. Korra had Naga's full attention as she tossed the rubber ball into the air, and Naga was impatiently trying to coerce Korra into throwing it down the field by pouncing around her and barking.

"Ready, Naga?" Korra grinned, acting like she hadn't noticed the whole display.

With one swift motion of her arm, Korra sent the rubber ball rocketing down the quad, as Naga barked and tore after it. Asami couldn't help but laugh at how she had nearly knocked Korra over once the ball started flying.

"Do this often?" Asami chuckled as Naga began sprinting back toward Korra, her fur completely saturated with mud.

"Try to," Korra grunted, launching the rubber ball again, "It gives her some exercise. Plus she loves fetch."

"I see that," Asami smiled, watching Naga race down the field again.

Naga eventually stopped returning the ball. She carried it around happily in her mouth, tail wagging lazily, but refused to bring it back to Korra.

"She's probably tired of chasing it," Asami laughed, as Korra tried her best to coerce Naga into coming back, "I don't blame her."

Korra stood with a sigh, her face suddenly solemn.

"What's wrong?" Asami asked, putting one hand on Korra's arm.

"Did you mean what you said the other night?" Korra avoided looking at her, "how our apartment feels more like home?"

Asami tried to keep herself from becoming rigid, instead focusing on her fingers, pressed into Korra's coat.

"I did," Asami finally replied, "it's hard to make a home out of an empty house. I'm only there to sleep. If I see dad, it's at work."

Korra's face contorted into a frown, and Asami continued.

"I do most of my work at Future Industries. But there's always someone there hounding me to do more. Sleeping has its own difficulties. I can't turn my mind off most nights. Being at your apartment, with you and Opal, it takes all the stress out."

Korra glanced at Asami then, but didn't meet her eyes. Instead, she was focused on Asami's bottom lip, still swollen into a slight pout from the car accident.

"What about your dad?", Korra's eyebrow went up a minuscule amount.

"He's constantly working," Asami shrugged, "We see each other at work, sometimes we go out to dinner. He calls me when he knows he's going to be home at night."

"That sucks," Korra admitted, rubbing her neck, "But if it helps, you can stay with me and Opal whenever you want."

"Thanks," Asami eventually smiled, "Want to go get some food?"

"Yeah," Korra replied, grinning, "Opal has some eggs in the fridge still. My scrambled eggs are to die for."

"Hard to mess eggs up," Asami teased, elbowing Korra playfully.


Bolin and Opal were on the futon watching television when Korra and Asami got back. Opal was leaned over, her hands on her knees, staring at the screen. She held her hand up when Korra opened the door, and whispered a quick "shh" in their direction, before motioning for them to sit.

Opal scooted over when Asami came over, making room for her on the remaining sliver of the futon. Korra sat in the armchair looking at Opal worriedly.

"What's going on?" Asami whispered, looking at the television.

"Equalists killed some benders," Opal was barely breathing, "shhh."

"…A brawl erupted in the streets today…" Korra hung onto every word that poured from the TV announcer's mouth, "…Witnesses say guns were drawn by those who appear to be associated with the Equalist movement. None of the Equalists have been arrested at this time. However, four alleged members of the Agni Kai Triad were shot during the altercation a few streets away from Central City Station this morning leaving three dead and several injured—including a member of the probending team the Bau Ling Buzzard Wasps—"

Opal gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, and Korra reached over and picked the remote of the coffee table and muted the television.

"What the fuck…", Bolin muttered, running his fingers through his hair.

Korra stared silently at the television, her fists clenched as she watched the banner update on the screen.

"What the fuck is this is?" Korra asked angrily, motioning at the television, "Not only did they fucking shoot them, some of them were electrocuted—"

"Where's Mako?" Bolin asked, his voice shaky, "The Agni Kai Triad is all firebenders. They've already killed one probender we need to find Mako."

Korra already had her phone out. Aspami was sitting next to Opal, all the color drained out of her face.

Asami's cellphone started ringing as Korra waited for Mako to pick up, and Asami had to lean over to avoid elbowing Opal in order to pull her phone out. Her dad was calling her.

She excused herself momentarily, and walked into Korra's bedroom, closing the door behind her.

"Hi, dad," She answered, putting the phone up to her ear.

"Where are you?" Hiroshi's voice was cold, but concerned.

"I'm with Korra, dad," Asami explained.

"Have you seen the news?"

"Yes, we were just talking about—"

"Come home, Asami. Now." Hiroshi's voice was firm.

"Dad—"

"Asami. Come home." He hung up.

Asami sighed and put her phone in her pocket as she made her way back into the living room. Korra was still on the phone with Mako, Bolin and Opal's eyes affixed to the television, though nothing new was being said.

"I have to go home, guys," Asami told them, picking her purse up off the table.

Opal turned her head to Asami, her eyes full of sorrow.

"We'll see you later, 'Sami," Opal tried to smile.

It almost broke Asami's heart, how scared they seemed. Asami wasn't scared, but she was mad. She motioned to Korra that she would text her later, and headed out the door.


Mako had been at the probending arena, collecting the team's winnings when Korra called him. He made his way straight to Korra and Opal's apartment, hailing the first cab he could see on the street.

When he got there, Bolin practically tackled him in the doorway.

"Bolin," Mako grunted, patting his brother's shoulder, "Let me go."

"We were worried they'd go after you too," Bolin mumbled into Mako's shoulder, "Cuz that was four firebenders they shot today."

"Only if we mess with the Equalists first," Mako shrugged when Bolin let him go, "I'm not too worried about it. I picked up the tournament winnings."

Korra sensed Mako was trying to distract Bolin, and went with it.

"How much did we get?" Korra asked, looking over at Mako.

"150,000 yuans each, after we repay Future Industries," Mako replied, pulling an envelope out of his coat, "But Korra still owes me."

Korra rolled her eyes and smirked.

"I'm going to buy a motorcycle," Korra chuckled.

"Korra," Opal raised her eyebrow, "You can't even drive a car. Why would you get a motorcycle?"

"Can't be as hard as a car," Korra shrugged, "faster than running too."

Opal rolled her eyes and cut the television off.

"I'm not going to be the one to scrape you off the pavement," Opal huffed, shaking her head at Korra.

Korra just smiled.


Thursday, December 18th

Asami laid her forehead on her desk and sighed. There had been another shooting in Republic City. Some Red Monsoon members had crossed some Equalists on Wednesday, as the news said, and the Equalists had responded swiftly with gunshots and electricity. Three more people died, including another probender. Asami was beginning to sense a pattern, and it was keeping her from sleeping.

She heard a knocking on her office door and raised her head slowly, brushing her hair out of her face.

"Yes?" Asami called, pushing her chair away from the desk.

"Ms. Sato," the voice replied slightly muffled, "Someone named Korra is here to see you. She's waiting downstairs."

Asami picked her coat up off the back of her seat and made her way out of the office, thanking the worker that told her before half jogging to the elevator.

She pulled out her phone halfway down, thinking about texting her dad, but thought better of it.

"He doesn't need to know my every move." Asami told herself.

She walked briskly to the entrance of the building, but did not see Korra. Frowning, she turned to the secretary seated at the nearby desk.

"Have you seen my friend?" Asami asked politely.

"The Water Tribe girl?" The secretary motioned with a pen, "She's waiting for you outside."

Asami raised her eyebrow and walked outside the building, expecting to find Korra standing on the sidewalk waiting for her. Instead, she found Korra parked in one of the spaces out front, sitting on top of a motorcycle.

"What is this?" Asami laughed, walking over to Korra.

"I told Mako, Bolin, and Opal that I would buy a motorcycle" Korra shrugged, "They didn't believe me. Mako had to give me a crash course in how to drive the thing yesterday. But I drive it a lot better than I do a car!"

Asami looked the motorcycle over, recognizing it as one of Future Industries models.

"I could have given you a discount,' Asami smiled, seeing how proud of herself Korra was.

"Nah," Korra waved her off, "I would rather pay full price."

"What are you doing here?" Asami asked her, rolling her eyes.

"We," Korra motioned from herself to Asami, "Are going to Narook's. Bolin, Opal, and Mako are waiting on us. They wanted to go before they left for Zaofu."

"I could just drive," Asami shrugged, "My car is here."

"Nope." Korra shook her head, "I even brought you a helmet."

"Korra," Asami began, trying to convince Korra to take the car.

"Nope," Korra repeated, grinning, "Get on."

Asami sighed and smiled, climbing onto the motorcycle behind Korra.

"You win, avatar," Asami grumbled.


The Wolf Bats were at Narook's when Korra and the others arrived. They ate in peace until the Wolf Bats got up to leave. They passed by, barely casting a glance at the table Korra was sitting at, and made their way outside.

"Well the newest model of Satomobile is the fastest one on the line," Asami was explaining, "That excludes the race cars we make."

"What about Korra's motorcycle?" Bolin asked, propping his elbows on the table.

"Well," Asami replied, "It's one of the newer-."

She was interrupted by shouting coming from outside. Korra and Mako were instantly on their feet, and Asami could see the Wolf Bats on the sidewalk, being addressed by several men in olive green uniforms.

"Oh no," Opal breathed, getting up and following Bolin, as Korra and Mako ran outside.

Asami came outside just as one of the uniformed men extended a gloved hand toward the Wolf Bats' earthbender Ming. A flash followed by an arc of electricity travelled from his hand to Ming, causing the earthbender to crumple to the ground. The firebender, Shaozu, erupted with several blasts of flames at the assailant. Tahno joined in, bending water out of the drain in the street. The uniformed men surrounded them, chi-blocking Tahno seconds before he too was electrocuted by the first man.

Korra burst out of the restaurant with a roar, a stream of fire pouring out of her mouth. Mako was at her heels, followed closely by Bolin. The sudden attack scattered the chi-blockers enough for Shaozu to retreat a safe distance, but Mako and Korra continued to attack, driving the uniformed men back enough that they moved between them and the crumpled Wolf Bats.

Bolin ripped a rock out of the ground and shot it toward them, causing them to scatter slightly. The one that wielded the glove dodged around Korra, moving swiftly behind her. Before Korra could turn, there was a static that briefly filled the air as he pressed the glove to Korra's back. Her body began to spasm before she dropped to the ground beside Tahno. Opal blew him away from Korra with a large blast of air, slamming him against one of the nearby buildings.

Shaozu used the distraction to try to drive them back again with several short blasts of flame, as Korra pushed herself up with her arms, trying to catch her breath. One of the chi blockers ran toward Korra, hoping to stun her again, but was met by a swift kick to the chest from Asami.

The gloved man extended his arm toward Asami, the glove crackling. Before the arc could leave the gauntlet, he was slammed into the wall once more by Opal, knocking the glove from his hand in the same motion.

One of the chi-blockers landed a kick to Asami's still bruised ribs, causing her to double over and cry out in pain. Korra dragged herself to her feet, and Mako seemed to be generating a charge of lightning. But the entire ordeal was brought to a standstill by the cocking of a pistol. They all froze, eyeing the men in uniforms before them.

The gunman was standing close to Asami, and she was the intended target as he stared down at her, gun pointed between her eyes. If Asami was afraid, she didn't show it, setting her jaw and staring into the green lifeless goggles before her. Korra stepped between the pair of them slowly, looking at the chi-blocker with a snarl as she stepped in front of Asami.

"Even better, avatar," the gunman growled, gun still raised, "We'll kill you in the street just as we have all these other benders."

"Shoot me then," Korra growled, "I'll bend that bullet straight into your fucking skull."

He didn't move.

"We came for the Wolf Bats." He replied coldly, "It's no business of yours. But you've messed with the Equalists now."

"Good." Korra hissed through gritted teeth, "Enough people have died at the hands of the Equalists."

The rest of the Equalists had surrounded them again, and Opal and Bolin eyed them warily. Korra held her ground, her eyes locked on the man before her. She would stay between him and Asami, no matter how many times he shot her.

They were saved by the sound of police sirens from overhead as one of the police airships flew above them. The Equalists dispersed into the shadows before the spotlights came on, leaving Korra standing in the street with her friends. The only Equalist that didn't escape was the one who had electrocuted Korra and Tahno, He was leaning against the storefront, and remained motionless as the police officers came down from the airship.

Lin was the first one to touch the ground. She took in the scene before her, one eyebrow raised.

"What happened?" Lin asked, glancing around at the crumpled benders in the street.

Bolin began to explain excitedly in detail what had occurred, as Korra helped Tahno off the street, supporting him with one shoulder.

"The Equalist's attacked the Wolf Bats in the street and we came out here to help them and there was this guy-," Bolin motioned animatedly toward the man as he said this, "And he had this glove that shot lightning-."

Bolin went to point to where the glove had been lying on the ground beside him, but the glove was gone. Mako and Opal exchanged a glance, and immediately went to help Bolin search for it. But Korra noticed two things as she supported Tahno. First: the glove was gone, just as Bolin said. Second: so was Asami.


The cellphone rang twice before it was answered.

"Well? Did you get the Wolf Bats?"

"No, sir. They got away."

"What?! What happened?" The voice was furious, demanding.

"The avatar and her friends arrived. They interfered."

"I can't believe you could be so incompetent—."

"There's one more thing, sir."

"What?", impatience filled the voice on the line, "What could you have possibly done wrong now?"

"A non-bender was involved in the altercation. Asami Sato. We have reason to believe she was hurt."

"Her car was parked at Future Industries all evening."

"We are sure it was her, sir. One of our men even pulled a gun on her. There was no mistaking her."

"You had the nerve to attack Asami," The voice was a gravelly, hollow sound now, "consider yourselves dead."

The line went silent.


Korra had stayed with Shaozu until the paramedics arrived to take Tahno and Ming. Lin had taken Mako, Opal, and Bolin home, Korra assumed as she rode her motorcycle back toward her apartment. Her mind wandered to Asami, wondering where she could have disappeared to. Korra frowned, remembering she had called Asami three different times to try to check on her, but had received no answer each time.

When she finally entered her apartment building, she wondered briefly if Opal and Bolin were still awake. She would love to have the company, but knew they had probably already fallen asleep, still planning on taking the train to Zaofu in the morning. When she reached her floor, Korra could see no light shining under the door to her apartment, but she tried the doorknob anyway. Opal always left the door unlocked when she was awake. It opened, but every light in the apartment was off. The only light that entered was from behind Korra, casting her shadow across the small patch of floor that had been illuminated.

Korra flicked the light switch on, only to find a startled Asami staring at her from the kitchen table. Korra almost screamed. Asami looked exhausted, dark circles under her eyes as she stared across the table at Korra.

"What happened?" Korra asked, pulling off her coat and sitting down, "Where did you go?"

"I came in after Opal and Bolin," Asami sighed, pushing her hair out of her face, "They don't know I'm here. I…I didn't expect you to try and take a bullet for me, Korra."

"I would do it again," Korra shrugged, meaning it, "Hell, I'd take one for Tahno."

The corner of Asami's mouth twitched, and she sighed again.

"I know you would," Asami whispered, "I have something you should know."

Korra frowned and watched Asami intently. Asami reached down into the floor and produced the Equalist's electric glove, placing it on the table in front of Korra.

"You took this?" Korra asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," Asami muttered, "And I'm going to keep it. Korra, I think my dad made this glove. I know he made that gun."

Korra's eyes went wide, but she didn't say anything, waiting for Asami to continue. She didn't.

"Do you think he's an Equalist?" Korra finally asked her gently.

"I don't know," Asami shook her head, "But I know I'm going to find out. It would explain a lot. It doesn't explain why people have been getting killed."

Asami started crying. Korra was briefly startled by it, but when Asami buried her face in her palms, Korra stood silently and moved to Asami's side, embracing her. They stayed that way for several minutes, until Korra pulled Asami out of the chair and walked with her into her bedroom. Asami laid down, her face dark and tired, and wrapped her arms around Korra's pillow. Korra sat patiently on the edge of the bed, rubbing Asami's shoulder softly, letting her cry herself out into the pillow.

Eventually, Asami cried herself to sleep, and Korra stayed where she was, waiting. After what felt like hours, Korra stood, dragging herself to the kitchen, to retrieve the gauntlet Asami had left on the table. She held it as reverently as she could, knowing it's power, and carried it into her bedroom, where she left it on the dresser for Asami to find when she woke up. Before stepping out of the room to go sleep on the futon, Korra took one last look at Asami, whose face had smoothed out in her sleep. Korra had seen plenty of people cry before, but she knew if she ever saw Asami do it again, it would kill her.