40. Whispered

"He whispered goodbye, touched my hand and... that's the last thing I remember. I woke up and he was gone."

"Doesn't make sense," Korra muttered, pacing the small room's length, not looking at the girl curled up on the couch, Asami quietly comforting her, "Why would Bolin just up and leave like that?"

"He probably just got bored of me," She hissed bitterly, "I wasn't good enough."

"No way," Asami said fiercely, tightening her grip, "Bolin loves you! He wouldn't just leave you like this."

"Not unless he had good reason..." Korra mused; standing by the window, oblivious to the girl's shock at finding out Bolin was in love with her. Asami raised her head to look at the Avatar, a frown appearing on her face.

"Korra, when was the last time you heard from Mako?" The heiress watched as the Avatar cocked her head to the side, thinking before her shoulders locked in surprise and she turned slowly, her face a mask of fury.

"Oh, they wouldn't," She muttered, pacing to the door, "They thought they could play hero; I swear, once I go and rescue their stupid butts from what is probably certain death, I'm gonna kill 'em myself."

"Korra..." Asami said in a warning tone and the Avatar turned, daring Asami to stop her, "I was only going to say wait for us."

"Yeah," The girl said, standing upright with a determined frown, "He is not getting away with being a romantic hero with me." Korra grinned and slung an arm around her shoulders.

"I like this one."

41. Penguin Sledding

"Penguin sledding is for kids," Korra groaned, flopping back onto the furs, "I'm not twelve years old anymore."

"Aw, please Korra," Ikki pleaded, crawling up beside her and staring into the Avatar's half-lidded eyes, "Dad says I can't go out alone."

"Take a Guard then," The teenager mumbled, trying to burrow into the furs and ignore the little girl prodding her arm, "Leave me alone, I'm tired."

"Korra, please, come on, you like penguin sledding; Gran-Gran told me so!"

"Yeah, when I was like eight; Ikki, please I'm exhausted, give me a break!" Korra grumbled as the little girl jumped on her back and used the Avatar as a penguin. Katara walked in to see her granddaughter abusing a near-sleeping Avatar and sighed.

"Ikki, dear, I don't think Korra is quite up to playing today, why don't you see if your father will go penguin sledding with you instead." The girl's face lit up and she whirled out of the room, and Korra raised her head slowly, raising her eyebrow at her Waterbending master.

"You know Tenzin is less likely than I am to go penguin sledding," Korra said, "But thanks for the save, Master Katara."

"Well, he enjoyed it when he was young, maybe he'll reconnect with his youth once again," The elder shrugged as her pupil snorted and once again buried herself into the furs, "Sleep well, Korra."

"Night, Master Katara."

42. Violent

"Man, you get violent when you're stressed." A crash followed the statement and a very harassed Avatar turned on him.

"You think?" She spat, throwing the shards of the vase out the window with a gust of air, "It's bad enough I have to try and master the Avatar State, but I now have to take etiquette lessons? Add to that the uprising in the South and the expectations of the White Lotus and it's a miracle I haven't destroyed the world, instead of saving it!" Bolin watched her pant and nearly spit in the centre of the apartment, slowly slumping onto the sofa beside him.

"Finished?" He asked and she nodded gratefully with an exhausted smile as Mako entered the room.

"And feeling better I presume?" He continued, throwing his coat and scarf onto the nearby hanger; Korra blushed at his look, "I could hear you from outside; I also got showered with a vase, so I figured you were here."

"Ah, whoops; sorry, but I am feeling much better, thanks."

"Good to know the violence paid off," The Firebender replied dryly, collapsing next to the pair with a quiet groan.

"Hard day at work?" Korra asked and Mako shrugged, wincing as he did so and Korra rolled her eyes as she went to grab a bowl of water, setting the water to work on his aching muscles.

"See?" She murmured as she did so, a soft smile on her face as the glow of the water danced across all their faces, "I'm not completely violent."

"Being able to turn the violence into peace and healing," Mako murmured with a smirk, "There's hope for you yet."