It couldn't be. But she was here.
By herself.
Momentary relief filled her bones until it was replaced with wariness.
What was Asami doing here?
"What are you doing here?" She said a bit too harshly but she didn't care.
If Asami was here, it must mean something.
"I came to talk to you." Asami said, looking at her seriously. She looked a little worried.
"I don't have anything to talk about and I really should get back to work." Aylin said hotly as she turned around to go back in. Her foot was raised to walk when Asami spoke again.
"It's about Bolin."
Her heart stopped and her body locked in frozen horror.
Oh, spirits what had happened? Was he okay? Was he hurt? Was he...
No.
She had no right to inquire about Bolin's well being. She had lost that right when she had bloodbent him.
But spirits she missed him. She missed him so much. She was in a world full of darkness where only Bolin could light it up like the sun.
But she couldn't have him. Not now. Not after what she had done.
Slowly, she lowered her feet but did not turn around. She couldn't afford to. She would lose it if she turned around.
Forcing her emotions into control again, she spoke in an almost bored tone. "What about him?"
She couldn't ignore the crack at the end of her question.
"Something happened between you two." It was not a question.
Aylin began to wonder if Bolin had said anything. She'd be surprised if he didn't.
"He said something about a fight but didn't say anything more. He's been crying, mopey and staying out late at night. I want to know what you did to him."
She winced. It hurt. The truth hurt. She couldn't blame Asami for asking what Aylin had done to hurt Bolin. Bolin was the good one. The sweet, innocent, naive one. He could never harm anyone on purpose.
But Aylin...
She was a whole different criteria. Because she had hurt him and she had regretted it ever since. She closed her eyes to stop the tears that were threatening to spill.
She took in a shaky breath. "I didn't mean to hurt him but..."
What could she tell Asami? That she didn't mean to bloodbend him? That she didn't mean to be possessed by the moon spirit? She couldn't.
"But what?" Asami said, surprising Aylin when she heard no judgement in her voice.
She sighed again, not turning around, her back stiff and rigid. "It doesn't matter. It's over." Her voice cracked again and she berated herself for being so weak when it came to Bolin.
"I don't think so." Asami said, placing her hand on Aylin's shoulder. Aylin shook it off and took a few steps away from Asami, turning around.
She couldn't afford to be weak. Not now, not when she was so close to losing it.
"It is. We're over."
Before it ever started.
"Bolin doesn't think so. He wants to see you."
Shocked, she whipped her head towards Asami. Her mind was reeling from what Asami had just said. Bolin wanted to see her? This has to be a joke.
Asami was looking at her steadily. "He misses you."
She turned her head around, unable to hide her tears anymore. Bolin missed her. He missed her! But as usual the memory of his shocked and horror filled face filled her mind and it filled her with painful determination.
"I don't." Oh spirits, how it hurt to say those words. She missed him so much.
"I think you do."
"Who are you to tell me what I know or not?" She said angrily now. How dare Asami tell her anything? She knew nothing about what had happened.
"You're defensive now."
"I am not!" She said, raising her voice higher which it always did when she was lying.
"Okay, but he misses you and I don't know what else to do. He's depressed. I think you need to talk to him." Asami said, turning around to leave.
"I have to go." Aylin said, turning around to head back to work. She was confused and nothing made sense anymore.
"I know you like him, Aylin. You should give him a chance." Asami said before she left.
Aylin sighed, defeated and exhausted. "I wish I could."
REVIEW PLEASE!