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Korra's POV

After the party was over, I grabbed my stuff and snuck out through one of the windows. I put on my Blue Spirit costume and headed over to the poorest part of town. I stopped on the way over there when I saw a small light under the bridge. Quietly, I moved closer to see who was there. I felt my breathing quickened at the sight.

There was a small boy, about six years old. He was wearing a stained green shirt, a pair of pants and some old shoes with more holes in them than Swiss cheese. He was huddled by an older boy, a Firebender, who looked a year or two older than he was. I stepped on a stick and both boys turned to look over in my direction. I swear my heart stopped. The younger boy looked so much like Bolin; the same green eyes, same round face, and the same button nose.

I got up from my hiding spot and the older boy was suddenly in front of who I assumed was his younger brother. I reached into my bag and pulled out a decent amount of money, handing it to them. The boy looked at my hand and then back at the mask I was wearing.

"Who are you?" he asked cautiously.

"The Blue Spirit," I replied. "But you mustn't say I was the one who gave you this. Keep it safe and use it wisely."

The boy nodded, a silent understanding passing between us, like criminals with a code. "I'll get my brother and I some new clothes and something to eat. Thank you."

I gave them a sharp nod before continuing my mission. I went to the houses of the workers that Tarrlok had ripped off and left them all an equal amount of money, and a note that said not to mention this to anyone. When I was finished I finally went home. I took off the mask and placed it in the empty bag, and placing the bag on my back before diving off into the bay. It was a long swim, and I was tired, but I made it.

When I arrived I took off the wet clothes and put them in place to dry. I snuck back into my bedroom and hid the bag in a secret compartment under my bed. I lay there looking up at the ceiling, remembering Bolin. The guilt inside me was slowly eating me. I made a promise after he died that I would bring his murderer to justice. Whether it was my justice or the city's was up to me.

Howl's POV

"You were placed in this position to protect Korra," Tenzin began.

We were in the living room, discussing how Avatar Korra had…escaped my grasp more than once the last two weeks. I said nothing as the Airbender scolded to me. I'd had it with this spoiled brat of an Avatar I was supposed to protect. At this point, I didn't care if I did get fired. It would be a relief.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Tonraq added. "But the point is for you to stay next to my daughter at all times."

"With all due respect, I've never met anyone who didn't want to be protected as much as her," I replied.

"Where do you think Korra goes?" Senna asked.

"Ma'm, I truly don't know."

"And he truly doesn't," a very familiar voice replied. We all turned to see the little she-devil standing by the door, looking at all of us blankly.

"Then will you like to share with us where it is you run off to?" the Avatar's mother asked.

"Mom, Dad, I've been pretty much alone for five years," she replied.

"We know that-"

"Mom," Korra interrupted. "Alone."

Both parents nodded their heads in understanding at this. I clenched my jaw. I could tell she was lying.

"I see," Tonraq replied, sitting on the couch.

"I don't want anyone to know yet, I mean, I don't want the press to know everything. I promise to introduce him when things get a little more serious." While she spoke, though I knew she was lying, I couldn't help but wonder who in their right mind would go out with this lunatic.

"We would rather you promise to let Howl go with you," the Airbender replied. "You've already have gotten kidnapped once, we can't risk the safety of the-"

"Avatar," Korra finished sourly. I could tell she had heard this before. I almost felt some form of pity. Almost.

"Please, sweetie," Senna replied. "We lost you once; we can't go through that again."

Korra reluctantly nodded and muttered a 'fine'. And with that all three adults left, leaving us alone in the living room. She sighed heavily and leaned against the door frame.

"You ditch me one more time," I began, walking over to her. "And no one will have to fire me." She didn't look the least bit bothered by this.

Korra's POV

I was in my room when Tenzin came in, saying he and my parents wanted to talk to me. I nodded my head and told him I'd be there in a bit. When I came out, they were waiting for me in the living room. I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall, feeling a bit uncomfortable. To be honest, I suspected I knew what this was about, judging by what Tenzin had said yesterday.

"Come, sweetie," my mother began. "Sit down; we have something we want to discuss with you."

"Mom, it makes me nervous when you ask me to sit." And it did, because it always implied a long discussion that I wouldn't like.

She nodded her head, not in understanding but acceptance. "As Master Tenzin probably already told you, we would like for you to be reinstated and take a seat on the council."

"No," I replied. I didn't hesitate. I wanted nothing to do with the surface justice, where nothing ever got done about the real criminals of this city.

"It's time you lead the city in the right direction," my father added. "Tenzin mentioned how you stood up for Nonbenders at the last council meeting. You are what Republic City needs."

"I don't want to lead anything," I said. "Besides, Tenzin is doing a good job there." Though, that part was sort of a lie.

"My father, Avatar Aang, took part in council meetings as much as possible," the Airbender replied. "You said you wanted to be a different person, and you are the current Avatar."

"I don't need to be reminded of that," I answered stiffly. I hated being reminded of that, and how could I ever forget whose legacy I had to constantly live up to?

"Everyone understands that this transition is difficult for you," Tenzin added.

I nodded my head as my hands turned into fists. "Which part though?" I asked, anger evident in my voice. "The part where everyone thinks that I must have taken classes on politics at the Boiling Rock or that I am still nothing like Avatar Aang?"

Everyone in the room was quiet at that and I didn't wait for a reply before I stormed off. I went outside and found Howl already waiting for me, Naga ready to go. I hopped on her and he did the same. I didn't even bother hiding the roll of my eyes as he did. We headed to the edge of the island and jumped off into the water. I could tell this took him by surprise but he didn't say a word.

"I spent seventeen years of my life in the Fire Nation and the next five training to be a sentry at the South Pole," Howl began. "You want to know what I learned?"

"There's no place like home?" I muttered sarcastically.

"No, just the opposite," he replied. "Home is a battlefield. Back home everyone is trying to get to you, get you to open up, to be the person you're not sure you are anymore."

I was quiet as he spoke, not knowing what to say and also not wanting to say anything. I heard him chuckle behind me and I looked over my shoulder. "Or maybe I'm wrong and you're not as messed up in the head as you have the right to be," he added. I didn't respond. This had to be the most civil conversation we'd ever had, and I wasn't sure what I thought about it.