-Respite—

He sipped his hot tea on the porch. An extra ingredient was added to this cup to ease his anxiety. Tenzin rarely drank, but he made an exception after he heard the news from Lin about the Clasma.

Korra sneaked up the hill. Once again, he expected her. "There is no need to be stealthy, Korra," he yelled. She stopped and walked up to him.

"Is there anyone here?"

"No. Just some of the Acolytes, but they are all in their dormitories."

"Where is your family?"

Tenzin sighed. "I sent them away a few days ago. To their Uncle's out west. Pema, too. Republic City is no safe place for my family. The crime is unacceptable, and being this close…I couldn't risk it."

"I can't believe things have gotten this bad. The things that happened today…"

"Lin told me everything," Tenzin said. "I don't know how this substance came to be in existence. I don't even know how anyone found out about it."

"It's a real mess out there, Tenzin. The people who use it lose their sanity and just rampage. I shouldn't even be here I need to find these fiends before they massacre everyone in the city…" Korra started to cry a little. "But I didn't know where to turn, Tenzin. This is all too much for me to handle. And the police aren't doing anything. I can't find all these people but they are out there."

"Korra, what has happened today?"

Korra started crying a little more. "I found where Sabo was hiding, the leader of the Agni Kais. I thought he was the guy in charge of everything. I thought stopping him would stop the crime, stop the Spirits, but he was just being used. He didn't know anything. Something bigger is going on and I don't know what it is. Tenzin, I don't know what to do." She was really crying now.

Tenzin put his arm around Korra to calm her down. "Korra, you aren't expected to solve everything, you have to understand that."

"But if I don't, no one else will!"

"What makes you think this is much bigger?"

"Tenzin, these men have been after me. When I busted a Clasma trade last night, and just today when I spoke with Sabo. These men in all black attacked me. They had these weapons, one of them exploded and blinded me. And when I was at Sabo's, they threw something that blew up his entire house. They actually meant to kill me. I think they took Sabo away and did something to him. They weren't his men. I think they are involved in this whole Clasma thing."

"Okay, we can figure this out, Korra. Did Sabo tell you anything?"

Korra sniffed a little and wiped her tears away. She caught her breath. "He said, that, he wasn't in charge. That someone specifically told him about the Clasma, and the fiends were proof that it could give someone the power to bend. This guy, Steel, learned to firebend. And now he is on the loose."

Tenzin sighed. "Korra, Lin told me some disturbing news as well. There was a man she interrogated who told her why no one ever knew about this Clasma's abilities before: they were told not to say anything."

"By their gang's leaders?"

"I think it was our own police force that told them to keep their mouths shut," Tenzin admitted.

"Do you really believe that?"

"It is plausible. Think about it: they want the support of Republic City. If everyone finds out that there is this devastating drug going around, they might turn their backs on the police force. On the council. On Graft."

Graft was an interesting person in all this. Surely he had to have known what this Clasma could do.

"Korra, can you describe the men you saw to me again?"

"They wore all black and were extremely fast. They were on Clasma. Their bending was artificial I know it."

"What kind of weapons did they use?"

"They threw something that just exploded. The first time it was loud bang and a flash that almost blinded me. The second time it exploded into fire. They also had these sharp objects. Not knives they were more jagged like rocks. I was nearly stabbed with one."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I was taken care of by someone." Korra thought about Asami and felt strange.

"Well that is good. I'm not sure what this all means, but I also don't know how much longer I can stay with the council. They tell me nothing, and nothing is getting done. I don't know who to trust anymore or what is actually going on. I can honestly say I have had enough of them. Their red tape makes it impossible to get anything done, and I am no longer using my time productively there at the court room. Tomorrow, I plan to resign."

"What will you do after?"

"I want to leave and join my family, but I don't think that is right. There are too many problems here, so I feel compelled to stay. I might try and contact Lin. She, too, is frustrated with all this. She has already gone outside the law to get the job done. What is so curious to me is that these weapons your attackers used seem so advanced. They are unlike anything I've heard of before. And Graft has apparently been priding himself in his weapons development."

"There is some connection, Tenzin. Sabo spoke of the new era regarding this Clasma, and that is what the government keeps promising. Maybe I should look into this man, Graft. Is there some way I can find out more about him?"

"Well, I don't know much more about him than you do. He shows his face every so often but I never want anything to do with him. His grapple on the city's businesses is tightening. Everything isn't even the government, it's just Graft. Everything goes to him. I don't know more than that, but I think there should be some file on him at the police station. Might not be much information but it could help. Maybe they have it in case something goes wrong and they need some evidence against Graft. So that our government is not turned on by the people."

"So, then, even Graft is at the mercy of the government?"

"His project is big, but I think it is risky too. If he fails, it wouldn't surprise me if Chief Qu had some dirt on Graft to use against him so that Qu could get off clean. If you can get your hands on this file, Korra, that might help."

"What are you thinking, Tenzin? I mean, about Graft?"

"I'm not sure. The thing that bothers me, though, is that I think he had something to do with those explosive weapons your attackers used."

Korra was scared. This definitely was bigger and much more complicated than simple gang warfare. "The Spirits were right. Everything has gone to shit."

"Korra! This isn't something we can't solve."

"You don't understand. The Spirits are upset. Upset with me because I have failed. They've told me, and they are tired of it. I can see why now." Tenzin hugged Korra.

"Don't talk like that. Whatever the Spirits are upset over, we can fix. We have before. This isn't nearly as bad as the Great War, and we overcame that didn't we?"

This wasn't the same. Korra knew they were tapping into a higher power. The Spirits wanted to end the human race because of it. "Tenzin, do you know the name Solomon?"

Tenzin thought for a moment. "It doesn't sound familiar to me." Korra was sad and dismissed the topic. Tenzin noticed Korra's mood and didn't want to send her back into the city just yet. If he could, he would have taken her and brought her with him out west to his family where she would be safe. Letting Korra return to the city was like watching her descend into an underworld where everyone wanted her dead. He couldn't make her leave, but he could at least make her feel better while she had to stay here. "Korra, why don't I make you some tea."

She sat and drank her tea, delaying her return to the dark city. Tenzin didn't want to talk about Clasma or Graft anymore. Korra was too bothered by everything right now. "So other than all this, how has living in the city been? Have you met anyone?"

Korra found this hard to answer. Everything she had done since her arrival was for her mission to find the source of the Spirits' aggression. She did have that one conversation with Asami. "Tenzin, I'm a little confused about something. I think I've developed weird feelings for someone."

"Mm, that is a confusing thing."

"Yeah this one is particularly confusing. I'm not sure I should be feeling this way for this person. I can't tell if it is normal or not…or if it is right."

"Why do you say that?"

"Just the way this person is I guess."

"Well, there is no clear answer to questions like that, Korra. If it is important to you it doesn't really matter if it is normal to others, does it?"

Tenzin and Korra continued talking for a while. She needed to get away from the overwhelming duty Korra had given herself. The city loomed. She soon stood to return to the task at hand. It was a nice break with her friend and former mentor. He was one of the wisest men she knew. It was definitely a necessary respite. The next night, she decided she would follow his advice and find Graft's file.

Korra was worried she wouldn't find an answer, that she was looking at sources that did not depend on each other. Somehow, everything—Sabo, Graft, Steel, Clasma, Daya—it all needed to be connected. Otherwise, she might never find the answer to this problem, and the Spirits would have their vengeance.

l-l

Bolin parked his car outside his apartment building. He had hot food and new clothes for his new friend, Shiva. She didn't speak the rest of the way back, just looked out the window.

"We are here?" she asked.

"Yep, it's all safe." She got out and put her hood up. She quickly walked into the building and followed Bolin to his room. It was a small room with a bed and a couch. Pabu lied on his back on the couch, fat and asleep.

"So," Bolin said, "I'll just take the couch with my ferret. You can have the bed there. Shower is to your right. I'll just plop on the couch. I'll be asleep pretty quickly I've had a long day."

"I think I'll shower really quick if you don't mind. Maybe the water will help me remember something."

"Oh, go ahead. Don't mind at all. Take your time, I can't imagine what you must be going through. If you need anything I'll be right here. I'll try and stay awake until you are going to sleep in case you want something."

Bolin sat on the couch and fought his tiredness. He was beat. The shower ran. He never had been in a situation like this—keeping someone in his house to protect them. This would be fun, actually. Having a roommate could be cool, who knows? He could use the company. Over the past few months he hadn't really had someone to talk to about what he was going through other than Pabu. Mako had his own issues and didn't have much time for Bolin, and Lin was a brick wall.

Bolin suddenly thought about Korra. Korra had been gone for so long. The city could probably use her, but they seemed to be getting by so far. Maybe he would send her a message asking her to come back. She was never the same after she lost her bending. She stopped talking to everyone and none of them ever heard from her again.

Bolin missed Korra. She would have listened to him. Bolin wanted to unload his woes at this moment. His overbearing police work. He was in over his head, dealing with cosmic energy manipulation. People making themselves benders. Could they take it from other people as well?

Bolin felt he wasn't able to handle this work. He always just wanted a position where he could see the difference he made. A job with the police, he didn't know of a better way than to help make people safe. But since he started, he hadn't really done anything for anyone, and everyone was in more danger as the days went on. Psychos running through the streets. Bolin wasn't the one to be out there finding these guys. He called the metalbenders earlier. They could probably find them. At least he didn't hear anything on the radio of people being killed by a man who could bend two elements.

The shower stopped and Shiva exited the bathroom in her pajamas. "Everything all good?" Bolin asked, then turned around. His eyes widened when he saw Shiva, all cleaned up and sparkling. He was speechless, he didn't even hear her answer.

Shiva was absolutely gorgeous to Bolin. Her strange, dark blue hair fell in front of her radiant blue eyes. Her bleeding cuts had been reduced to tiny red slivers on her face. Her beautiful face. Bolin's heart pounded. She must have been as old as he was, if not only slightly older. She noticed his gaze and smiled. She let her hair down out of its ponytail and walked to the bed. Bolin never took his eyes off of her.

He had hoped to talk to her and learn more about her, but he was scared he wouldn't be able to find any words to say at all. His tongue would be tied. Was this a good thing, or was this going to make living with her extremely hard? He was glad he hadn't noticed her stunning beauty beforehand so he could easily tell her his name.

"Bolin, everything okay? You look like you just forgot something."

"Uhh, yeah, yeah. I'm…it's all good. Just uh gonna head to bed. You need anything?"

"No, I'm just excited for a real bed. I'm sorry I've just sort of barged in on your life like this. I really hope you don't mind me being here."

"No, no. It's completely fine I am happy to help out. I hope you can recover some of your memories soon. I'm interested to know what happened to you."

Shiva looked down. "Yeah, I hope so. I'll…see what I can remember in the morning. I'll tell you everything I know."

"Yeah, well…I'm sorry. I mean, that isn't all I care about, you know…I also want to learn more just about you, so, I hope you remember for that reason just as much. More so…more so actually."

Shiva smiled and walked over to Bolin and hugged him. "Thank you so much, Bolin. You hardly know me and you've been so good to me. I promise I won't cause you any trouble." Bolin detected her sincerity. He was happy he was doing this. In this city filled with lunatics and murderers and unsolvable problems, he was happy just to be able to help someone. He was also happy that this girl was extremely pretty.

"No problem, Shiva. Good night." She broke her embrace. Bolin felt himself about to kiss her but stopped himself before she seemed to notice. She got up and slowly got into his bed.

"And thanks for the bed, too. It was very kind of you. I hope you sleep well."

Bolin thought he would have no trouble sleeping, but his heart was beating too fast because of the girl who was only feet from him. In his bed. He didn't mind this. Sometimes he would just sleep on the couch for the heck of it. Maybe helping this girl would solve his problems. Maybe they would fall for each other and make some nice life somewhere peaceful.

Bolin knew he couldn't leave behind his responsibilities in Republic City. He didn't want to stop being a cop, but he did want his current case to end. He would repeatedly find himself following a lead, hoping to solve some mystery, only to get beaten up and more confused about what was going on and he was getting tired of this pattern. Tomorrow he concluded he would go to Lin's and learn what new dangerous mission she was going to have him do. He didn't want to go anywhere. He just wanted to continue this respite, and spend it with Shiva. He doubted Lin would have him go after Steel again. Something made him think his next investigation would be very different.

l-l

This was the last straw. She had been strangled. It was unfair. Nothing was. Nothing had ever been fair in Asami's life. She had managed to get through it all, somehow she held it together.

Today she was losing it. Graft had eliminated her. Wiped her off of his radar. Future Industries was no more after today. She had gone into the office the previous day to see an empty building. Her employees had abandoned her. Her machines were repossessed. How could they do this? How could they come in and take everything she and her father had worked hard to get.

They just could. They could do anything now. The Chief and Graft. They ruled. They dictated what was right and what was wrong. They controlled the law now, and they deemed it right to shut her down. She was powerless. They called it fair competition, she called it tyranny. Future Industries would have thrived in the free market. She could have brought it back. She could have undone its disgrace. It was too late now. The factory, the cars, her office, it was all no longer hers. She even felt apologetic to her father for failing.

Asami never felt more like a failure than she had that day. Just the previous day Future Industries had been obliterated. She had not slept since then. Her house was trashed. Asami's punching bag in her workout room was torn apart. Pictures of her and her father were broken and laying on the floor. Throwing knives were sticking in the walls. Documents were burnt to a crisp Asami sat on the floor in the main hall of her house with her Equalist glove next to her.

"I give up." Asami felt abandoned. Her mother had died. Her father attempted to kill her. She had been turned on, lied to, and used. Graft was laughing at her. Her plight to save Future Industries was hopeless. He knew it from the beginning, and she kind of did as well. She was humiliated.

She pulled at her hair and screamed. No one would hear her. No one would ever hear her anymore. Everyone had left her.

She needed someone. This corrupted world had broken everyone down, and all that was left was the desire of another person. To know that there is still some hope for a meaningful life. A true respite from this misery.