Focus

Bolin breathed the crisp air in deeply. It was almost invigorating. If not for the cloud that hung over him. His brother was gone and he'd not stand for it. Not again. As he leaned forward against the harbor railing he looked out to Air Temple Island and the great statue of Aang. He lived in a beautiful place, but right now it was all so hollow and dull. In all honesty the best way to describe how he felt was numb…

"How're you holding up?" Asami asked, approaching from behind.

"I'm fine, I just have to find Mako. That's all that matters…"

"You know I've never seen you like this before. Ever. I mean, you're so calm, you're very collected, and you're just so… focused." Asami said as she leaned forward and crossed her arms against the railing. "It's almost unnerving really. I mean, you're usually so light hearted. I know this is serious but I thought you'd show a little more emotion. Heck, the way you picked apart the crime scene-"

"I know, stupid old Bolin-"

"No, that's not what I meant! It was amazing, it was impressive."

"Exactly, two things you wouldn't expect from me." Bolin said almost distracted. His earlier thoughts and feelings hadn't left him, they'd just been pushed to the back of his mind. Now they were coming back and stinging him a little as Asami went on.

"Bolin, I didn't mean it like that…"

"No, it's okay. I know me better than anyone else," Bolin went on with a far off stare, he was speaking almost wistfully. "I know who I am and what I've been to the team before. But this is family, Asami. This is the only family I have. My parents are gone. I won't lose Mako too. He's too important to me and Korra and the rest of this world. He's going to do something great. I'm going to save him. If my only contribution to the world is to ensure Mako makes it then I'll be more than happy."

"Bolin, please…" Asami pleaded.

"I said it's fine, really," Bolin said with a sad smile, turning to look at Asami for the first time. "Once we get Mako back I'll excuse myself from the team. I'll be out of everyone's hair, but right now, right now I need to get my brother back, and that means I need to kick in some doors. Go to some old hideouts and meeting places. I'll let you know if I find anything." When Bolin finished he pushed himself from the railing and stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked away.

Asami straightened and turned to watch him leave. After he was out of sight she leaned back suddenly against the railing. Her eyes began to water. She had no idea Bolin felt that way. It broke her heart to think that he thought so little of himself and that he hadn't confided in his friends before. He had helped during the great Equalist attack and he had plenty to offer the team. He was their heart, she thought so anyway. To see him so distraught hurt. Bolin was a good person, if not the best. He should know as much and feel good about himself. But right now… he was so detached and focused at the same time. He wasn't like himself at all and it worried her…

. . .

A harsh slap to the face woke Mako up. The room was dark and he was seeing bright spots from the impact. Or was it from something else…whatever put him out…he couldn't remember. Everything was foggy. The more he tried to concentrate the more it hurt.

"He's waking up," a too familiar voice said.

"Lieutenant," Mako slurred the words as he looked up. He was chained to a chair and a single light bulb illuminated the room, Poorly he thought as his mind began to clear. He flexed his hands in their cuffs. Fire bending would not help him out of this situation.

"Oh, he is sharp. Even through the gas," a less familiar voice said from the shadows.

"What d'you want…from me," Mako managed to get out.

"Oh you? You're a message my friend. You're the strongest of the Avatar's allies. Without you she has a girl with a weak body and a boy with a weak mind. While you, you are her support system. Not only the strongest but you hold her heart. If one wants to tear down one's enemy the heart is the weakest target. Now that I've taken you she knows I can do almost whatever I want. Now that I've taken you she'll become irrational," the voice from the shadows stated.

"You're wrong, you're dead wrong about my brother. He's stronger than any of us. You'll see." Mako spoke stronger now, his internal flame burning off the remnants of the gas's effects. His anger fueled that fire. The man's words about his brother, about Asami, his threatening overture at Korra. "Asami? If you think she's weak you've never tried to get to second base with her. And Korra? She'll level you. She took down this outfit before she'll do it again."

"Did she, Mako? Did she?" The man attached to the voice stepped into the light released by the bulb slowly. Mako's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped when he saw the man before him.

. . .

Asami worked the heavy bag over roughly. Sweat glistened on her brow as her blows came faster and harder. She hadn't lied before. Her father really did have her trained by the best fighters in the world. She could certainly take care of herself. Her strength externally matched the strength within. She had grown up without her mother, her father had put her through rigorous training, and then? Then he betrayed her and her friends. She had survived it all.

Though it was hard for her to get past. Her father didn't see it as a betrayal of her, but she most certainly did. He raised her to believe that benders and non-benders alike were to be respected but behind closed doors he was a xenophobe? How did he really think she was going to react? These ideals he had found himself enveloped in were abhorrent to her. True the death of her mother at the hands of fire benders is what sent her father over the edge, which is how he tried to convince her to join him. He hadn't always been this way.

But he raised her to be a good woman. That is what made what happened so much worse, when he revealed himself as an Equalist. Arming the Equalists she thought bitterly, with a company I've helped to build. It made her sick to think about. But she could handle it. She was strong. Even now she worked tirelessly to bring Future Industries back to the forefront of the market. They had taken a hit politically and economically from what her father had done. She wouldn't let this company fail though.

Sure it would have been easy to let it slip away. Part of her had wanted to let it go after she found out about her father. The company seemed tainted, it was dirty somehow. However there were thousands of people who relied on her for jobs. The economy of Republic City could not absorb the loss of Future Industries, not while still reeling from the Equalist attack and the subsequent rebuilding that was taking place.

So I fight, she thought. I always fight.

She threw another jab with her left hand and brought her right leg around for a swift, powerful low kick. The heavy bag jumped under her assault and she stepped back and took on a ready stance. Her fists raised up in front of her and her right foot forward she panted. Today would be no different from yesterday would be no different from tomorrow would be no different from a year from now. The company would survive, it would be cleansed, and it would help undo the evil her father had perpetrated against Republic City. It was simple. Everything else was just details.

Like Bolin? She thought to herself. He seems really shaken up. She was worried about him. She walked over to a bench in her private gym and picked up a towel, dabbing her forehead. She leaned down and took a glass of water in her left hand and drank it thirstily while she flung the towel over her right shoulder. What has gotten into him? He was like this before Mako went missing. Doesn't he realize what he means to us?

Of course he didn't. If he did he wouldn't feel the way he did. Besides that she did have to admire his single minded determination to find Mako. It was impressive and almost scary how focused he was. She'd never seen anything like it in him. One thing was for sure she'd have to go discuss the situation with Korra. She could help bring him to his senses about his place among them and she was vital to finding Mako.

There was a twinge of pain when she put Mako and Korra in the same thought. It still hurt and she certainly still held a bit of anger, but ultimately she wanted them to be happy. That was what mattered. She'd set it in her mind that they were together and she didn't allow for any other thoughts. There was that inner strength again. Wanting what was best for all and foregoing her own feelings.

"Although I've been so busy lately I don't have time for anyone else anyway," she mused to herself aloud.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Korra said from the doorway.

"Korra!" Asami jumped, startled. She had thought she was alone and certainly didn't expect Korra.

"Whoa, easy. I didn't mean to scare you," Korra said leaning on the door frame.

"No, it's fine. I just…didn't expect anyone. But you're always welcome here, Korra." Asami said with a smile.

Korra smiled back, "Thanks. You don't know what it means to hear that. You know they kept me hemmed up at the South Pole so long training, I'm not used to having friends. Even after all these months."

"Well things are different now."

"Kind of. Tenzin still has me locked on Air Temple Island most days, training to master air bending," Korra said with a slight look of distain on her face.

"It must be a terrible burden, being the Avatar," Asami said, a little sad.

"It isn't all that bad," Korra said pushing herself from the door frame and she began to cross the room towards Asami. "For all the sappy thanks, that isn't why I'm here."