Morning arrived and the sun streamed through the office's blinds onto Korra's face. She looked over at Asami's desk and saw that she'd already woken up, changed, and neatly folded her sleeping wear on a table to the side. "How are you always up before me?" Korra said, sitting up and trying to brush her drowsiness away.

"Unlike some people, I'm not a heavy enough sleeper to sleep through anything short of an earthquake hitting my bed," Asami said with a grin.

"Hey, Naga wakes me up all the time when I'm sleeping on Air Temple Island."

"My point exactly." Asami stood up from her desk and walked over to where Korra was sitting, grabbing a plate along the way. "I got us some Kam Wah buns to eat and I already poured a cup of tea for you," she said and gestured with an elbow to a cup on the table next to Korra. "I figured we could have a leisurely breakfast before we needed to go anywhere."

Korra stretched her arms over her head as Asami sat down beside her and let a yawn escape her mouth. "That sounds great!"

Asami chuckled. "That is, if you don't go back to bed on me the moment my back is turned."

Korra couldn't help but yawn once more, reaching her arms out wide. Asami darted in and started to tickle Korra's side. Korra's yawn devolved into laughter. "Hey, that's no fair, you caught me while I was defenceless."

Asami grabbed one of the buns on the plate and leaned back, supporting her weight on one hand. "Don't blame me if you leave yourself open."

Korra rolled her eyes but added a smile as she grabbed another bun off the plate. They sat in companionable silence as they ate the buns. "What do you think we should do today?"

"I don't know. I wouldn't mind going for a walk down by the waterfront and maybe dropping in on some of our friends. I saw Bolin briefly at the trial and it seemed to be taking a real toll on him. I'm sure seeing his friends would be good for him too."

"Definitely," Korra finished off her bun, even as Asami still held half of hers in her hand, "I know Bolin was really down the day they asked him to testify."

"At least he still has his teaching job with the earthbender kids he was telling us about," Asami added.

Korra grimaced. "Apparently there's trouble there too," she said and saw concern bloom on Asami's face, "he still loves teaching the kids and from all I've heard, the kids love him too. But with the trouble in the Earth Kingdom and the losses from Kuvira's attack, the police academy wants him to teach lavabending to the officers, and probably even the army, so they can use it in case Republic City is attacked again. We both know Bolin's a great fighter, but I could tell he cared much more about being a good teacher to these kids, even if he hadn't actually taught them any lavabending." Asami was quiet for a moment. Korra looked at her, watching thoughts flit across her face. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm not sure yet, but the least we can do is go and cheer him up a bit," she said, then looked up and smiled, "Bolin's never been one to hang onto gloom for very long. I'm sure he'll have some wild scheme cooked up before we know it."

Just then, the shortwave radio crackled to life across the room. "Asami, are you there? Asami, come in." Mako's voice sounded strained and tinny on the line.

Both girls leapt to their feet and hurried across the room. Asami jabbed a button with her finger. "Asami here, Mako, what's the matter?"

"Is Korra there with you?"

"Yes, she's sitting right beside me, why?"

"You both need to get down to the courthouse right away, it's urgent, the chief will explain everything once you're there."

"Right now?" Korra recoiled in shock. "But the sentencing isn't until tonight," She glanced at Asami, "I don't–" As she was speaking, Asami pushed the button once more cutting off transmission, "think I can come until later." She stared at the radio for a moment, not believing what her eyes were telling her. She glanced at Asami, whose eyes met her own and Asami shook her head gently. In the background she could hear Mako asking what had happened, thinking the transmission had dropped, but his voice sounded far away and Asami was right here.

Asami looked back at the radio and pushed the button. "We'll be down as soon as we can. Asami out." She pushed two buttons, cutting the transmission, and silencing the radio.

"Asami, why?" Korra managed two words, eyes searching Asami's.

"Korra, it means so much to me that you'd be willing to put this off so that we could spend time together," Asami said and took Korra's hands in hers, "but I know this is what dating the Avatar means. You have responsibilities to everyone in Republic City, everyone in the world, to keep them safe. And that was Mako, we both know him well enough that he wouldn't call like that unless he really needed us there."

Korra glanced down and squeezed Asami's hand. "I know you're right. I just wanted today to be a day for the two of us and make up for the past few weeks."

"You know I don't want this any more than you do. If I wanted to date someone who'd be there every single day, then I wouldn't date the Avatar." Korra's brow furrowed, so Asami continued, "But then I wouldn't be dating someone as amazing as you. I love you Korra, and the Korra who runs herself into the ground just to help her friends is the person I want to be in this relationship with. I want us to grow together Korra, but I don't want to change who you are."

Korra felt the hint of tears at the corners of her eyes. "I love you too Asami." They leaned forward and shared a warm kiss, Korra's hand tangling in Asami's hair and Asami placing an arm around Korra.

Asami pulled back first and brought her hand up to Korra's shoulder. "Alright, now let's go kick some butt and we'll have the world put together by noon."

Korra smiled, even as a tear leaked down her cheek. "You and me, Asami."

"What am I going to do?" Bolin wailed into his rock noodle soup. "Everything is a disaster." He slumped down in his chair, letting his face settle on the table.

Opal patted the top of his head. "There, there. Surely there's something that isn't a disaster." He looked up despondent. "Tell me again, from the beginning." She sat down across from him and picked up a spoon, "And don't let your soup get cold."

He picked up his spoon and dutifully shoveled some noodles into his mouth. They didn't taste like much to him right now but were still pleasantly filling once they landed in his stomach. "I had just finished teaching the kids about neutral jing when that trainer came in. He said he had good news for me, so I thought they'd come up with something to help the kids. But instead he told me that I didn't have to teach them at all anymore!"

"Okay, and what did you say in response?" she asked, her voice calm.

"I was so shocked, I'm not sure I said anything right away. Even once I pulled myself together I could only ask why."

"And that was?"

"He said that with everything falling apart in the Earth Kingdom, that we'd need trained lavabenders to keep the peace. We might even need to send lavabenders across the border if things got too out of hand. He said there's no more time for playing around. But I said playing around is the best, I learned everything I know from playing around. Well, that and having fireballs, and rocks, and lava, and explosions thrown at me, but also from playing around!"

A sly grin crossed Opal's face. "Bolin, did the trainer ever specifically say that you were no longer allowed to teach the earthbender kids? Or just that you were no longer required to teach them?"

He looked back at her, puzzled. "I'm not sure, but I know that's what he meant."

"Think back carefully."

Bolin leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. His lips moved silently as he walked himself through the conversation, word by word. "No, I don't think he ever specifically said that, but why does it matter?"

"Mom always taught me, if there's a rule to be obeyed, make sure you know exactly what the rule says you can and can't do," she said, grinning.

Bolin's face lit up as the meaning sunk in. "So as long as nobody ever gets around to specifically telling me I can't teach the earthbender kids, then I can keep teaching them without breaking the rules! Opal, you're a genius!"

She reached over and patted Bolin's hand. "So you've told me. But I'm glad you think it's a good idea."

The nearby radio buzzed and Asami's voice came through. "Bolin, Opal, are you there? Can you hear me?"

Opal hurried over and picked up the speaker. "Opal here, Bolin's here too. What's up?"

"We just got word from Mako to come down to the courthouse. Sounds like there could be some trouble. Be careful out there. Asami out." The line died to static.

Bolin and Opal glanced at each other, then back to the radio. "The kids!" Bolin jumped out of his chair. Seeing a puzzled look on Opal's face, he continued, "If there's trouble at the courthouse, they're probably calling every available officer."

"But that means there's nobody left at the metalbending academy who can protect the kids!" Opal finished for him. "I'll call Juicy, we can fly there, come on!" She grabbed her bison whistle and ran to the door. She glanced back at Bolin, "No way I'm letting you go alone. If there really is trouble, you'll need all the help you can get."

Bolin flashed a confident grin, but also rushed to the door. "I'm ready if you are!"

Opal was already opening the door, bringing the whistle to her mouth with her free hand. Although Bolin heard nothing from the whistle, the sky bison's answering roar was very audible. Bolin followed Opal to the door and within seconds he could see Juicy swooping down from above. He gestured towards the bison saddle, sitting inside, but Opal shook her head, "No time for that, besides it's only the two of us."

Bolin felt sweat beading on his forehead and took a few quick breaths to try and centre himself.

"Don't worry, Juicy won't let you fall," she said, leaping into the air and bending the air to settle her gently on the bison's back. She reached a hand down to help Bolin up.

"It's not the fall I'm worried about, so much as the sudden stop at the end," he said, but then took one last deep breath and launched himself off the ground, the tiles flexing to boost him higher. He landed somewhat ungainly, but quickly righted himself and gripped tightly onto the bison's fur, head buried in Juicy's neck. "Alright, I'm ready," he said, voice muffled by the fur in his mouth.

"It's really not that bad when you get used to it," Opal said with a small chuckle. "Okay Juicy, yip yip!"

"I'm an earthbender, we're not meant to – gah!" Bolin lifted his head just as the bison leapt into the air. Bolin quickly grabbed on even more tightly. "Traveling on a saddle is one thing, but I much prefer an airship."

Opal rubbed Bolin's back. "Don't say that too loud, you'll hurt Juicy's feelings." As if on cue, the bison answered with a gurgling roar, before lapsing into sniffles.

Even from a few streets away, Korra and Asami could see that the streets had filled with police Satomobiles and civilians were nowhere to be seen. The tires screeched as Asami took the turns hard, swerving around parked vehicles and police barricades. "Sorry, coming through, Avatar business," Korra shouted as they raced by stunned officers.

"Ramp," Asami shouted as they approached a barrier blocking the entire street.

Korra stood up tall in her seat, letting the officers at the barrier see who was coming. They scattered left and right, clearing the way for Korra to bend a ramp out of the earth in front of the barricade. As the car shot upwards, Korra was thrown back into her seat, and Asami threw out an arm without looking to pin Korra to the seat. The jarring impact barely slowed Asami's driving as they raced onwards to the courthouse. With four tires firmly on the ground once more, Asami let her arm drop from Korra's chest and instead took her hand in her own, flashing Korra a confident smile. "Now you're just showing off," Korra said, smiling back.

"Maybe a little," Asami said, turning the last corner to the courthouse plaza.

As they pulled up, they saw Tenzin and Suyin talking with President Raiko, while Lin directed police officers to fan out across the square. Asami slammed on the brakes as Korra leapt over the side, running to join the three conferring by the stairs. "Korra, good, you're here, just the person I was hoping to see," Suyin said, putting a hand on her shoulder as she came over.

"I heard there might be trouble. What's happening?"

Raiko turned to Korra and unusually, he also seemed relieved to see Korra, "A breakaway faction of Kuvira's army is marching on Republic City, led by the officers who disappeared during the attack on the negotiations." He paused and shook his head. "They probably planned the whole thing from the beginning. It doesn't matter now. They've demanded that we hand over Kuvira or they're pledging to take her by force."

"Damn it!" Suyin said, her fingers digging into Korra's shoulder. "We should have dealt with Kuvira when we had the chance."

"No," Korra said, causing Suyin's head to swing around in surprise, "if we'd taken the law into our own hands, we would have made everything ten times worse. I'm sorry Su, I know how you feel about Kuvira and what she did to you and your family, but you're just not thinking straight."

"Korra!" Suyin's voice was surprised and a bit angry.

"Look, Su, I know how you feel. But now's not the time."

Suyin held her gaze for a few seconds, then nodded. "Fine, let's deal with the problem in front of us." She waved Lin over. "My Zaofu guards can help to protect the courthouse. It should free up some of your officers to go to the front lines."

"Good, they can join up with the United Republic forces under General Iroh. Spirits know we'll need all the help we can get; the last attack killed a lot of our best men and women," Raiko said. "Chief Beifong, you have my permission to split your officers as you see fit. I've already ordered a general evacuation for this sector of the city, so there shouldn't be too many civilians left in the way."

"I'll go and gather the airbenders. If there's anyone left in the city, we can escort them out," Tenzin added. He turned to go, then looked back at Korra, "Stay safe Korra."

Korra nodded and turned to Raiko. "I'll join General Iroh on the front lines. We've worked together before and I know he'll know where I can help the most."

"Good, I'll stay here with Suyin. No doubt they have another negotiator on the way to hear our response." He paused, an awkward look crossing his face, then added hesitantly, "Avatar Korra, good luck out there."

She nodded in acknowledgement, then looked over at Lin. "I'll be with you in just a moment. But there's something I need to do first." She took a deep breath and set off towards the courthouse.