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Mako's POV

Korra had wanted to hold a Birthday party for Jason. I thought it was a great idea, though the boy's birthday was close to Bolin's. I actually felt a knot in my throat at the reminder but shrugged it off so I wouldn't make her uncomfortable.

The boy had been changing her, if only slightly. Though she showed her 'happy self' to him more than she did any of the rest of us.

She'd asked me to bring Asami and I had complied. When she spotted us the ex-Bender smiled and went over giving my date a hug.

"Hey Korra," Asami said, giving her a tight hug. Korra simply chuckled at this and moved onto me, giving me a semi awkward hug. "So how long do you think it will be before this isn't weird anymore?" the Sato heiress asked.

My ex-teammate frowned and tilted her head at the side, momentarily not understanding what her friend meant. It occurred to me that she had probably little to no interest in the love triangle since Jason had arrived in her life.

"It's not weird at all," Korra finally said when she got the hint.

We all awkwardly laughed at this.

"Asami, do you mind if I talk to Korra for a minute?" I asked.

She slightly frowned but nodded. "I'll go get us a couple of drinks," Asami said before leaving.

I gently pulled Korra aside, trying to figure out how to word what I was going to say correctly.

"I know it's probably not easy to see Asami and I together," I began.

Korra laughed a little. "The invitation said you can bring anyone, not 'with the exception of Asami'."

I smiled at this a little. "I've been wanting to move forward with her but…something has been holding me back," I admitted. Korra nodded thoughtfully at this. "I keep making up these excuses: it's the kids, it's my job, when really…it's you."

My ex teammate's face remained blank through I saw a flicker of something in her eyes.

"For five years I was off emotionally…off because…you had died," I continued. Korra seemed a little surprised at the revelation but didn't say a word. "And the last person I thought would make me feel again, has."

Korra gave me a small smile and went on her tip toes to give me a kiss on the cheek. I blinked a few times, trying to figure out whether or not that had just happened.

Just as I was about to say something else when Jason came running in and Korra bent down to pick him up, showering him with kisses. The boy giggled at this and hugged her tightly around the neck before doing the same. I chuckled. "I'm happy for you. The both of you," she finally said to me.

"Thank you," I replied before shifting my attention to the smaller Firebender. "Hey there."

"Hi Mako," he greeted.

"How do you like it here?"

He smiled and looked over at Korra. "I like it a lot."

Korra and I both chuckled at this and I messed up his hair before handing him his gift. I saw the way she looked at the boy, with so much adoration. He was her reason for wanting to have a normal life, not the isolated one she had chosen before and I was happy for her.

I realized that she had probably assumed Asami had brought that spark back into me, but she was wrong. It had been her. Though she was off emotionally, that made my feelings resurface, but I couldn't tell her. We couldn't be together. Not that she wanted to either way. She had Jason now, and to her, he was all that mattered.

Korra's POV

Tarrlok had assembled all of his deputies for a last minute raid on a home in the Dragon Flats. Tension had been growing among Benders and Nonbenders since the incident at the fair and the councilman was beginning to harass more and more of those who didn't posses the gift to Bend an element.

The sky was just starting to darken when I received his call and I immediately suited up, letting Jason and my parents know I would be back later. I hopped on Naga and made my way to city, meeting Tarrlok at the location he had provided only to notice that there was a battalion already assembled. There were all kinds of Benders but mostly just the police force.

I frowned at this .Where was Bei Fong? I knew she wouldn't have allowed this very easily, especially considering it was being put on by Tarrlok. I found her captain, Saikhan, and walked over to him. I needed to know what was going on here and where the chief was.

"Where's Bei Fong?" I asked.

"She's out of town," the man answered, barely paying any attention to me as he commanded the forces. "I'm in charge meanwhile."

"Out of town?" I asked.

He nodded. "Councilman Tarrlok wanted her to investigate a finding in the outskirts," the Captain answered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

I nodded at this and began to look for the politician and found him with the rest of the force. I went over to him, expecting him to fill me in but he acted as if I wasn't even there. My eyes narrowed. What did he think he was doing?

"Tarrlok."

"I'm busy, Avatar Korra," he responded, still talking to his informant.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"There's an Equalist hiding in this part of the city and I intend to snuff him out," he answered.

"Why are the lights off?" I asked.

"Don't you know?" he inquired, and his tone implied sarcasm. "After that lunatic's attack I decided to implement a curfew for Nonbenders and that means lights out at eight every night. But seeing as they won't give up the riot I might have to cut more than just their electricity."

"These people have rights," I countered. "You can't do this to them."

He was about to answer when another deputy ran up to him. "Councilman Tarrlok!" he cried. "We found him!"

"Follow me," Tarrlok commanded as we followed the informant.

Soon enough we reached a small house. It was nothing fancy, just a normal looking house on the block. The Metalbending officers were holding the crowd back as we passed while another stood outside the home, guarding it. I looked over at the people and they looked completely infuriated, and I could understand them. Just because they couldn't Bend, didn't make them any less citizens than the rest of us.

We entered the home and found a woman holding a toddler and a little girl by the hand. Both children looked terrified as they watched us come in. The woman, on the other, hand had a mixture of anguish and anger in her eyes. I looked inside to find the alleged man, tied up with Metalbending cables and kneeling on the ground. The whole scene felt incredibly wrong.

"Please," he said the minute we came in. "I'm innocent."

"Silence!" Tarrlok commanded. "You are nothing but a filthy Chi Blocker who wants to get rid of us Benders! Because of this, I'm placing you under arrest and taking everything you own, including this house for your treason."

"Wait," I interjected. "Do you have any proof that this is the man you're looking for?"

"Avatar Korra, I would appreciate it if you stayed out of this prosecution," the councilman answered. "But to put your mind at ease, I have no doubt this is the man who participated in the bombing a few days ago."

"This man has the right to due process," I continued. "If you have nothing to prove that he is indeed that man, then I demand you release him. You have no right to treat him or the people outside like criminals."

"He is an Equalist!" Tarrlok said. "He isn't innocent and those people outside are the enemy!" He turned to look at Saikhan. "Arrest this man and anyone else who tries to intervene!" he added.

"Please, help us," the woman pleaded, running over to me. "You're our Avatar too."

I looked at her. She was begging me to help and then something snapped in me. I realized that I had followed Tarrlok's orders long enough. No more.

I ran outside, attacking the Metalbending officers and yelling at the people to run so that they wouldn't get arrested. These people were innocent.

More and more officers began to surround me, but I took them down expertly, none of them having a real chance. It wasn't until Tarrlok wrapped a water whip around my body that I was forced to halt my assault on the Metalbenders.

"That's enough!" he shouted. "You are working under my authority and you will do as I say!"

My jaw clenched at this, and I struggled against his grip in vain. I stopped struggling, slowly nodding my head and he released me. I walked over to him, looking as if I were ready to follow orders when my fist made contact with his jaw, causing him to fall to the ground.

"That's for all the injustice you did tonight," I growled as two more officers held me back. "I'm going to tell Tenzin, and he's going to set things right."

"You're a fool if you think that he has any power at all in the council," he answered, rubbing his jaw. "Take her away."

I struggled against the officers' hold as they dragged me away. "Tarrlok!" I yelled. He turned to face me, anger and frustration in his eyes. "Don't forget what I know about you," I reminded him.

The councilman walked over to me, his eyes narrowed. "Consider me not sending you to jail settling my debt," he answered. "Or perhaps the fact that I'm the only reason you get to keep that brat. They salary I give you is the only thing that allows you to keep and support him."

My jaw clench and I threw myself at him, having gotten out of the Metalbenders' hold, beating him up with every ounce of strength I had. He would not get away with that little comment. Saikhan wrapped metal cords around me, pulling me off Tarrlok and I ground my teeth in frustration.

"Take her away!" he growled, holding his nose to try and stop the bleeding. His eye was already swelling up and I could tell I'd busted his lip. I felt some satisfaction at seeing my handiwork. "Get her back to the island!"

"If you ever insult Jason again, I'll kill you!" I yelled as they dragged me away. "You hear me? I'll kill you!"