Thank BG-13!

Lin's POV

Mako was good at his job; too good if you asked me and I was starting to see that. Lightning Bolt Zolt's hearing had been held today right after that…girl's legal revival. He had somehow been acquitted and was going home a free man. I saw the glare he sent my Assistant Chief and I knew he wouldn't stop until he saw him dead. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

"You called me Chief?" Mako asked as he came inside the office.

I nodded and gestured for him to take a seat. I waited a moment before speaking up, careful to what I was going to say.

"Lightning Bolt Zolt was released, you're probably the number one hit on his list," I began.

He nodded. "I understand that."

"No, you don't," I countered. "Because your life is at stake, I will be putting you in protective custody, until I find another good reason to throw his a** in jail."

"What?" he cried standing up. "I can take care of myself!"

"I don't doubt that," I answered standing up as well. "It is only a precaution for the time being. You will be escorted to your home where you will stay put until further notice."

"But-"

"That's an order."

The Firebender's jaw clenched at this and he turned around heading towards the door, steam coming off him. He shut the door with more force than necessary, making it rattle. I sighed and sat down. He was one of my best men, and I wouldn't risk his safety, even if it meant him hating me. Not that I cared to begin with what he thought of me.

Mako's POV

I was at home, studying some cases after Chief Be Fong had practically placed me under house arrest following Lightning Bolt Zolt's hearing when I heard a knock on the door. I made a flame appear in my hand and slowly headed over. I peeked out through the hole in the door and held back a growl before putting the fire out. I opened the door and narrowed my eyes at the figure.

"Hi," Korra greeted. "Are you ok? Cause I had to go through a security check by two Metalbenders in the front of the building."

"How am I supposed to stay away from you if you won't stay away from me?" I asked hints of anger in my voice. She opened her mouth to say something but I cut her off. "What are you doing here, Korra?"

She rubbed the back of her neck before speaking. "My mom, she-uh-she pointed out to me that I've-um, been distant since I got back and that…it would probably be a-uh, good idea if I'd let somebody in," she mumbled.

I shook my head. "And you thought you'd start with the first person you pushed away?" I asked sarcastically.

Korra lowered her gaze at that and shook her head. "I did that to protect you," she said. "And then I saw you yesterday and I realized I'd hurt you."

I looked at her and surprisingly found sincerity. I took a deep breath, not believing what I was about to do before stepping back. "Thank you," was all she said before coming inside. I shut the door and watched as she looked around.

"This place hasn't changed at all in five years," I heard her say with a small smile.

After she pulled her little stunt with Tahno, Bolin and I were evicted from our home in the arena and we moved in here. It had been hard times but somehow we managed to keep this place. When he died, I didn't have the heart to change anything.

"I haven't had time to redecorate," I replied curtly.

"I'm a jerk," she admitted. "Before the prison I was a jerk and now…I'm a damaged jerk."

"What's in the bag?" I asked looking at what she was holding.

Korra looked down at it and raised it before slightly smiling. "I thought about many things when I was in that prison. But there was one thing I thought about almost every day, and I actually dreamed about it at some point," she said coming closer to me and looking inside. "And I promised myself if I ever had the chance to do it again, I'd do it with you," she added before opening the bag and letting me see what was inside. "Eat dumplings."

I smiled and shook my head before going to get some plates. I asked her to sit in the couch but she preferred the floor so I sat next to her. We ate in silence for a while and I stole a glance at her, chuckling at how much she was enjoying the dumplings. She laughed a little, shaking her head before putting the plate down on the floor next to her.

"My parents and Tenzin want me to reinstate myself as the Avatar," she admitted quietly. I made a face and she smiled before nodding. "Yep, take my rightful place in the long line of Avatars."

"I can't exactly picture you as master of the universe," I replied jokingly.

Korra didn't laugh and she looked away from me. I frowned and waited patiently for her to speak. After a moment she did.

"You know, after five years, I have plans," she began. "I have things that I have to do. I can't do that if I'm…I don't know, attending council meetings, and all of that other stuff."

"Korra," I said getting her attention. "You're an adult now. You can say 'no'."

"Oh, I tried," she told me, sounding exasperated. "They're not having it."

"Well then, don't tell them. Show them," I suggested. "Be the person, you want them to see you as."

She looked down and I knew why she was upset. She had mentioned a few days ago how my little brother had seen the best of her. As much as I was angry about what had happened, I wasn't exactly mad at her. I needed her to know that. I could see the guilt eating her, and not even I wished that upon her.

"I blame myself more than I blame you," I began quietly. She lifted her head to look at me. "Maybe if I would have gone with you two, not been so…stubborn I guess, I could have saved him."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You apologized already," I answered looking away.

"It will never be enough," Korra said her voice slightly cracking. Her blue eyes met mine and for the first time I could see the pain she held inside her. I could almost catch a glimpse of what she had been through in that prison. And I felt sorry for her.