Thank BG-13

Mako's POV

Bei Fong had been wrong. Korra couldn't Bend at all. I watched as the girl ran off into the woods, a pit forming in my stomach. To be honest for a moment I'd believed that she would Airbend and she would in fact be the Blue Spirit; the masked vigilante who had been carrying out illegal justice in the city. Truth to be told, it still felt like justice.

Two Metalbenders walked over to the Chief to help her but she shrugged them off, claiming to be fine. But by the limp she had I knew that was far from the truth. Tenzin, Korra's parents, Katara and Howl walked over to where we were at.

"I hope you're happy now, Lin," the Airbender said, clearly infuriated by the turn of events. "That was the most degrading thing you could have done to Korra."

"I've said it once and I'll say it again," Lin shot back. "She's guilty, whether you can see it or not!"

"My daughter just showed you she can't Bend! What more do you want from her?" Senna yelled.

"A confession would be nice."

"Enough," I said firmly before the argument would escalate to another fight. "Korra can't Bend. Chief, I think you owe the Avatar and her family an apology."

Lin gave me an incredulous look before shaking her head. "I'm the one who gives orders around here," she answered. "And I will do no such thing!"

"Very well," I replied before turning to look at Korra's parents. "On behalf of the Police Department of Republic City I offer an apology for wrongfully accusing your daughter. I hope this never happens again."

The pair nodded and whispered a thank you.

"Officer Mako," Bei Fong barked.

I straightened and turned to look at her. "Yes Chief?"

"You are relived of your duties," she simply stated. "Turn in your badge."

"With pleasure," I replied handing it to her and walking away from her. Once again Korra had messed up something for me. I knew it wasn't exactly her fault but I just needed someone to blame. She made an easy scapegoat.

"Mako!" I heard a voice call. I turned and found Korra's mother looking at me, her eyes pleading. "I know it's probably not the best time but I have to ask you for a favor. Please bring my daughter home."

I looked down to the floor. I sighed and nodded. She let out a relieved sigh. I grabbed my motor bike and took off to look for the Avatar.

The tracks were already fading with the rain and I could already tell this was going to be a long search. It must have been an hour or so after I had left to look for her that thunder began to rumble and lightning made an appearance. During the lightning I saw the outline of someone in the trees. I looked up and found none other than the Avatar, up in the tree, knees to the chest, staring off in the distance while trembling.

"Will you get down from there?" I asked. Korra looked down at me, her expression emotionless before looking away. I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Please? Your mom and dad are worried."

"Go away," she shot at me.

"Come on, Korra," I said. "Don't be like this. Please come down."

"I said go away!" the Avatar shouted. "What is it with you people and not giving me any personal space?"

"What is with you and being so damn stubborn!" I shot back.

She stood up in the branch and went to another tree. My mouth dropped slightly at this. She wasn't serious, right? After another moment I took off after her, watching how she expertly maneuvered her way through the branches.

"Korra, please!" I practically begged. "It's raining; you're going to catch a cold!"

"I don't care!" Korra replied. "Just leave me alone!" she added before throwing small branches at me. I ground my teeth in frustration as I dodged her attacks. She was acting like a child. She stopped on a nearby branch, clearly out of breath but still glaring at me. Thunder roared in the sky again and she took a step back.

The girl must have forgotten she was up in the tree because when she took the step back she fell right off the tree with a loud thud. "Korra!" I yelled, running over to her. Surprisingly she was already getting up as if nothing had happened and was trying to climb back up the tree. I wasn't having any of that.

I grabbed her by the waist but she used her legs to push off the tree, making me lose my balance and fall to the ground. She elbowed my sides and I let go of her before standing up. This girl was starting to really p*ssed me off.

"Korra, just let me take you home," I said hoping to reason with her. "

"Make me," she replied, getting into a stance.

"This girl is crazy," I muttered, doing the same. Seriously, she was. Apparently she wanted another round two of Bender vs Nonbender.

I had to make sure I ended this quick so I threw fast and sharp punches, always careful not to leave too much damage. She ground her teeth in frustration as her moves slowed, clearly due to her exhaustion but she wouldn't quit. Finally a swift blow to the gut made her fall. I took in deep breaths before I walked over to her.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"What do you care?" she shot at me. "Just leave me alone. I don't want to go back. Haven't you already humiliated me enough today? Oh, no. Wait. Let me guess. You want to tell everyone that you beat the poor excuse of an Avatar." She chuckled slightly, a sad sound with no humor, no conviction.

My expression softened at this and I knelt down next to her. "That was never my intention, Korra," I said softly. "I offered an apology to your parents. Now, I want to offer one to you." She didn't say a word, just stared at me blankly. "I'm sorry for letting you go through all of that. How can I make it up to you?"

She looked away as she sat down, the rain still falling, making her hair and clothes cling to her. She didn't seem to notice. "Don't make me go home," Korra whispered.

I sighed. It looked like she really didn't want to go home. I could take a guess why. I remember when I lost my parents, when I lost Bolin, people would give me that look. It was that look full of sympathy, false understanding and pity. Oh, how I hated pity. Now, Korra wanted to avoid those same looks.

"Crash over at my place again," I offered. "But you're taking the bed. I'm still drying the stuff you got soaked last time," I added jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

Korra looked at the ground again before slowly nodding. I helped her up and we walked back to the motorbike before heading back towards the city. I could already tell this was going to be a long night.