A.N. Thanks to the Guest Reviewers for your feedback! As for Naga appearing in this story, it isn't very likely, the story will mostly follow Akira and her relationship with Asami and Mako; since Korra isn't very present I don't feel it necessary to add her. Sorry if that's a disappointment! To the other Guest reviewer thank you for your kind words!

Part I Revolution

Chapter Five

Akira

Two Weeks Later…

It was Akira's first day off and while excited for a day away from the work, she wasn't exactly sure how to spend it. Asami and Korra were planning a day together and Akira didn't want to intrude (especially with her and Asami's very new friendship).In fact, Akira was content with spending her day reading and eating a very unhealthy dinner. But as she returned to her building after her morning run, a large part of her wanted to go down the hall and knock on that door. But she refused to do that, and the fact that that made her sad irritated her to no end.

She didn't want to admit it, but she missed Mako. She missed having him around, she even missed hearing his terrible attempts at jokes every morning. Or the painful awkwardness he had at most moments of the day. She missed seeing him trying to remain stoic when she'd see him on the job and the inevitable smile that would grace his face when she teased him. But none of that mattered, he refused to meet her eye when she'd seen him down the hall. And no matter how hard she'd try to strike a conversation with him it was like she wasn't there. So, she stopped trying, and it left an uncomfortable feeling in her chest.

Not that she admit it…

After taking a quick shower, Akira made her way out of the building her goal was to head to the market, but instead, she found herself outside of his door. Akira sighed looking at the shiny gold numbers of his apartment. Akira sighed before turning away from the door, and just as she did it swung open; Akira froze unsure of what to now that she had been caught. She tried hard to think of an excuse that could have led her outside of Mako's door when she heard a voice.

"Hey Akira!" Akira relaxed when she heard Bolin's voice, she turned around a sheepish grin on her face. Meanwhile, beneath her exterior, she was trying desperately to hide how mortified she was at being caught at Mako's door. Thankfully Bolin didn't notice this, "Are you looking for Mako?"

Akira tried to get out a no, but her body betrayed her, and she began stuttering out the answer "N-No." Akira winced at the reply, but Bolin smiled closing the door behind him. "C'mon we don't really get to hang out that often." And while this wasn't what Akira planned, she went along anyway. Bolin took Akira along for his errands, and she found herself enjoying his company.

Bolin was a beckon of joy, while awfully large and muscular it was combatted by his gentle nature. He would make himself smaller around children and stop to have serious conversations with them if they wanted, he reminded Akira a lot of her grandfather in that way. He was a tall man and rather muscular even in his old age, but he always would stop and help someone no matter how small it was.

They returned to their building later that day, and Akira hadn't realized how much of the day had passed. Bolin juggled his groceries as he opened the door to the apartment, he walked in while Akira waited outside still holding the other bags. "I'll just leave the bags right here," Akira said trying hard not to raise her voice. Bolin turned back to the door a smile on his face, he took the bags from Akira and beckoned her in. When she still didn't move Bolin stopped with a sigh.

"Mako is working late." Akira smiled sheepishly and entered the apartment closing the door behind her. The two friends ended up eating dinner together, making the most of their day off with one another. Bolin went into detail about his life and told Akira just about any and all the information one could possibly know about him. He then went on to talk about his girlfriend Opal, currently she was on a mission at the Northern Air Temple as they were still refurbishing from the Red Lotus attack. He expressed how much he missed her but that he was really proud of the work she was doing.

Bolin was like an open book nothing was off-limits for him, and he shared without reservations. Which may have led to some unnecessary information, but Akira listened intently appreciating the companionship. That was until Bolin directed the conversation towards her." So how have you been lately?" Akira squirmed at having the focus on her, which was ironic since she used to perform regularly.

Perhaps it was because she was used to the safety of the stage, the separation between her and the audience. It was why she danced instead of acted, she didn't have to display her vulnerability in words she could do it with her body instead. She could make the audience understand the tragedy of a story through her body alone, and she'd much rather do that than try to put her feelings into words.

"I've been okay…I do wish your brother would talk to me." Akira said her voice barely above a whisper, the confidence that Bolin had seen so often was stripped away. He watched as she busied herself with her bags from the market searching through them until she found a box of chocolates. It was then that Bolin realized that while she displayed such strength in her work it wasn't the same when it came to relationships.

"I know my brother can be…rigid at times. But Mako has always been like that, I think he always found comfort in order because it kept us out trouble when we were young. Then there was me and well…I definitely didn't help him maintain that." Bolin let out a chuckle as he continued, "I think the reason he's upset has more to do with himself than with you. I think he admires your certainty, even if it seems outlandish and bordering senseless."

Akira scowled at him, causing a sheepish blush to appear on Bolin's cheeks. "What I mean is, you act before you think, he thinks before he acts and that may be why he is so frustrated. Or he's just broody." Bolin said good-naturedly, stealing a piece of chocolate form Akira's pile. "Plus, I'm sure he's processing your giant crush on him."

Akira threw one of the chocolates a Bolin, but he caught it easily before eating it. "I do not have a crush on Mako." But neither were convinced, and Akira really wanted to believe it, but she couldn't. It was, unfortunately, true, she found herself recalling wanting to let herself like him, but she was afraid. "What's so bad about that?" Bolin asked, and Akira wasn't sure why she began telling Bolin how she felt.

She wanted to blame it on how tired she was from a day of errands, or that the run she had this morning was more taxing than usual. But that would be just as untruthful as how she felt, she was so used to suppressing how she felt, her anger, her frustrations, and her loneliness. So, this time she indulged in the feelings just for a moment, to have at least a semblance of peace.

I've never been chosen by someone; my whole life has just made me feel like there is a time limit to caring for me. Of course, I've had people who have proven me wrong, but there is a time limit even to love. My grandparents' time ended with their deaths, and my mother's ended six months after I was born." Akira paused, while all this was true there was a hurt that she still carried with her one she rarely spoke of.

But she felt that now was finally the time to let it be known and to accept that it had happened; she continued. "But I was hurt by someone, he knew that I felt isolated and I was fragile after my grandfather's death. He came into my life and made me feel like I could do anything, but his affection ended too… From then on, I promised myself I'd never let myself fall for that again."

Bolin nodded just listening to her vent, and it was because he didn't respond that made her feel inclined to continue. "The problem is…I can see myself falling for someone like Mako. He's sturdy…. I mean that's probably because he's the most stubborn person I know." She said laughing lightly, "It's because of that, that I feel safe. I feel like he might be someone who would actually stick around. I just don't think I can handle losing someone else, so it's safer that we're just friends. I think I can only handle being friends with him." And Bolin humored her and said that that was a good idea, but they both knew that she wasn't exactly telling the truth. Because each time Mako was closer to her, it made it even harder for her to keep that promise.

Because it is much easier to say one thing if it felt right, but an entirely different thing once they're in the room with you.

Unbeknownst to Bolin and Akira, Mako had come home from work. He saw the mess Bolin had made in the kitchen and was ready to chastise his brother for the mess. But instead, he heard Akira's voice, and while he was still upset with her, he had to admit that he missed the sound in the past two weeks

And although he was still upset with her, wheneber he saw her face fall he had to drag his feet away from her. And it wasn't because of their fight about the protestors, it was because of the power she had over him. The fact that Mako wanted to please her, he felt like his brain was being fogged by the essence that was just uniquely Akira's.

In a few short weeks she consumed him, and he was terrified, he had never felt so strongly for someone before. He had thought he felt something like this before, but it was more than an attraction. There was the something powerful between them, and he wanted so badly to indulge in it. He wanted to forgo his fears and dive in, completely at her will; but it meant nothing if she didn't feel the same…

Mako shook his thoughts away and leaned against the wall his ears perked as he heard his name; "The problem is…I can see myself falling for someone like Mako." Mako's heart raced as he listened to her explanation, and suddenly all of her reservations made sense.

Mako crept silently to his room, but he laid awake most of the night lost in his own thoughts. Because he knew he wasn't angry anymore, but he valued being able to make logical decisions. And when Akira was involved, he lost all sense, he was stupid with infatuation; and while he tried hard to justify how dangerous it can be to want a light like that. He was truly struggling to see the harm in it because he wanted her, he wanted that beckon of light she seemed to bring about.

The light that seemed to save him from the darkness he didn't even know he had succumbed to; she brought a warmth into his heart and he just wanted her to know that, and to experience it with him. But what truly kept him awake that night was the knowledge that not too far down she wanted him just as badly.

And for the first time in a while, he smiled as he drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile…

Republic City – A Hideout

Gian never felt this way before, but he changed that. He was open-minded, intelligent, patient, yet unrestrained. She was consumed by him, he made her feel a security she had never felt before. For the majority of her short life, Gian's life was determined by the Triple Threat Triad, and since Li has become the unspoken leader in their streets, he has demolished the Triad. They no longer made her feel helpless, she no longer felt like she had to do everything and anything for them to stay safe. Even the Creeping Crystals have joined ranks and stopped harassing one another.

It was hard not to feel indebted to him, and yet he had chosen her. Gian wasn't sure why he did, but she was thankful for it, and she would follow him anywhere. And as she looked at his vulnerable sleeping face, she knew she would do anything for him.

Maybe she wasn't so far off from where she was before…