Korra's POV

I'd heard all I needed to. I ran and jumped off the roof of the police HQ, using my Airbending to give me a lift to the next rooftop. When I was far enough away I stopped to catch my breath, though I really didn't need it. I wasn't tired. But I felt out of breath just the same.

'Empty.'

That was the word he'd used. According to him I'd had no remorse for what I'd done. I have plenty of regrets. There were people that didn't deserve to die that did, and I regret that I wasn't able to save them. But I had no qualm with taking care of what needed to be done. If a few thugs and no good crooks had to be taken down along the way, so be it.

But...why did it bother me so much?

I didn't go home until the next day. I slept at the training grounds, using Naga as a pillow. Well, to be honest, I didn't sleep at all. Too much on my mind for that. When I arrived home; however, I was very surprised to find a certain Firebender in my room.

"Where were you?" he asked.

I stared at him blankly before replying. "What are you doing here?"

"Your parents called me about an hour ago," he answered. "You didn't come home last night when we had the jail break and they wanted me to look for you, but I figured you'd come home after partying like you usually do."

"They called you?" I asked. Really, I shouldn't have been surprised.

"Yes," he replied. "They were terrified because they didn't know if you'd gotten hurt last night." I looked away and walked over to the window. "Korra, are you so self centered that you think the people who care about you aren't going to wonder where you were while the city was in chaos?"

"You're right," I simply answered. I wasn't going to argue with him. I didn't have the energy for it today.

"I made peace with your selfishness a long time ago," Mako said, grabbing my arm so I would look at him. I looked down at his hand and he slowly let go. "But Senna, Tonraq, Katara and Tenzin, they don't deserve that. They deserve better. Someone who doesn't only care about herself," he finished as he started heading for the door. He was right.

I sighed. "Mako?" I called. He stopped at the door to look at me. "Thank you for coming." Hey, you couldn't say I wasn't civil...even if I seemed 'empty.'

"I care about the lives of other people, Korra," he said. "Maybe you should try it some time."

Howl's POV

I was in the living room of the main house looking out the window. I had thought about everything Korra and Carly had said and I had made up my mind. I knew I would probably be in trouble for neglecting my duties and I'd been right. However, the Avatar's parents informed me that although their daughter had 'given me the day off' I should have consulted with them before hand. I absently shook my head at that. Looks like the girl didn't want me to get fired after all.

"Are you going to quit?" a familiar voice asked. I turned around to find the girl looking at me with a blank expression, but as always her eyes revealed more than she realized.

"No, I'm not," I replied. "But I want to talk to you about the other position." I saw the corners of her mouth twitch, almost forming a smile. Almost. She held out her hand and I walked over to her. "Just to be clear, I'm not just going to be some sidekick. But you're right. Something needs to be done and you're going to do this with or without me anyway." It wasn't a question. She'd had this planned before I came into the picture, my absence wouldn't stop her.

"Yeah," she replied.

"But with me," I continued. "There will be fewer casualties." My tone held a finality. It wasn't up for negotiation.

Her eyes slightly narrowed at that and she lowered her hand. "Howl, I'm not looking for anyone to save me." I knew that.

I shrugged at that. "Maybe not," I answered, stepping closer. "But you need someone. You're fighting in a war, Avatar Korra, except you have no idea what war does to you. How it scrapes off little pieces of your soul till there's nothing left. You need someone out there with you who can remind you who you are...that you're not this monster you've allowed yourself to become."

She didn't say a word. We stood in silence for a while before she held out her hand once again. I looked down at it before grabbing and shaking it. "Oh, and one more thing."

My other fist connected solidly with her jaw, making her head jerk to the side. She never lost her balance, didn't even take a step back. She rubbed the spot I'd hit, turning her gaze back on me. I had to admit, I felt better.

"I suppose I deserved that," she said, no trace of anger in her voice. She actually sounded slightly impressed. But only slightly.

Korra's POV

Howl and I had just shaken hands when the doors to the main house opened and a squad of Metalbenders came in. The sentry stood in front of me but he was easily knocked aside. I went after the officer only to be knocked against the wall with metal cables. I ground my teeth and looked up to see none other than the Chief of Police coming toward me.

"What is this?" my father asked, coming into the living room along with all the other adults. They must've heard the commotion. "You can't just barge in here like this!"

"I have a badge that says I can," Bei Fong shot back.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked, struggling against my restraints. I could easily get out of them but that probably wouldn't look good, given the circumstances.

"Avatar Korra," she began. "You are being placed under arrest due to suspicion of obstruction of justice, aggravated assault-"

"Tenzin, stop them," my mother pleaded. I shook my head, hearing the Earthbender continue with her list. There was nothing Tenzin could do for charges this severe.

"-Trespassing, acting as a vigilante-"

"Are you out of your mind?" I asked, infuriated by the older woman. Though, the charges were spot on.

"And murder," she finished, her tone as hard as the cables wrapped around my torso. She picked me up and briskly dragged me outside, leading me by the chords.

As I was been dragged away I couldn't help but remember the one and only time I had talked about killing someone. The memory came into mind, as vivid as the day it happened.

"I've never killed anyone before," I whispered as I continued to draw a fire symbol in the dirt in front of me. I was still feeling weak from the blood loss. My arm was in an improvised sling and I was feeling better with each day.

Howl stomped on the drawing, making my hand recoil. I looked up at him, slightly frightened. He kicked dirt until the picture was gone and then crouched to my level. "If you want to survive, that won't be the only person you have to kill," he said. My eyes widened at this. "And forget about that Firebender. You keep thinking about him and you won't survive the next week."

I said nothing in return. There was nothing I could say. I'd learned quickly there was no point arguing with this man. "Part of being the Avatar is letting go of earthly attachments, right?"

I nodded. The White Lotus had told me this. Of course, I'd ignored them. I wasn't about to give up anything.

Howl's eyes pierced mine. "Then you need to let him go." It wasn't a suggestion, it was an order, an order I'd failed to obey.