Varrick took a step back. She couldn't have heard him, but Zhu Li sought Varrick right away. She smiled slightly and gave a half nod. Varrick's breathing quickened as he backed away further. Bolin followed him.

"Varrick…Varrick!"

"I have stuff to do, kid. See you later." Varrick snapped. His voice cracked.

Bolin started after Varrick, but Korra grabbed his hand.

"No. You can find him later. I suspected it was her, I think we all did. Maybe even him. But just let him be for a bit."

Bolin let Korra's hand remain in his for a moment and turned to her. "Ok." She smiled, squeezed his hand, and dropped it.

They followed the group to greet Zhu Li at the bottom of the gangway. She was handing over a large rucksack to Tenzin with scrolls and books weighing it down.

"I had to take some originals, I couldn't copy it all. He's going to find out soon," She was saying. She smiled around. "Thank you for getting me."

"You risked so much, Zhu Li," Tenzin said. "I don't know how we can ever repay you."

"It's a shame I couldn't stay longer…"

Korra interrupted her. "No. No risks."

"There's one thing we need to know, though," Mako said as they all made their way to the main hall. "Who made the bomb?"

The smile left Zhu Li's face as they walked inside. Bolin was surprised to see Varrick in the far corner, looking into the fire place with a cup of something in his hand. That was another issue. Air Temple Island was dry. The only alcohol to be found was used for medicinal purposes. Bolin was certain Varrick was sneaking it back when he was on the mainland. It came to the point where some days Bolin could smell it on him. No one approached him about it.

"Hm?" Zhu Li replied.

"Who made the bomb?" Mako repeated.

Zhu Li looked at Mako, quizzically. "Baatar did. Who else would?"

The group exchanged looks. "Well," Tenzin started. "We were lead to believe that Baatar didn't have enough knowledge in the matter…"

"No," Zhu Li frowned. "Lead by who?"

Tenzin glanced in Varrick's direction. Zhu Li narrowed her eyes.

"I didn't build it. I was tasked as his assistant….a task I seem destined to fill. But he needed little help. He has a good memory." She glared in Varrick's direction. Varrick avoided her eyes and took another swig of the drink.

"I just didn't do enough," Zhu Li said solemnly. "I had a suspicion for a while that Kuvira wanted to deploy it quickly, but I didn't know the target. I tried to stall…wrong materials, side tracking Baatar, sneaking in at night to change numbers in his calculations….but Baatar became frustrated and Kuvira impatient." Zhu Li moved her hair and for the first time Bolin noticed bruises along the side of her neck that disappeared below her clothes. Some were the reddish brown of fresh hits, some were the purple green of old ones fading.

"Kuvira might have guessed what I was doing, but she was satisfied with restrictions and withholding my meals. Baatar wanted a more physical consequence."

Varrick slammed his mug down on the table with a loud bang that made the others jump. Zhu Li ignored it and said, "It was a little more hands on than I was used to, but abuse isn't a stranger to me."

Silence followed Zhu Li's remark. Bolin looked over to Varrick, who was leaning forward onto the table, head in hands. Korra stepped forward.

"Do you mind if I look at that?" She asked gently. "I can at least do something for the fresh ones."

Zhu Li smiled again. Her eyes were tired. "I would appreciate that." Korra, Asami, and the other women lead Zhu Li to the female barracks. They walked by Varrick as they exited the room. Varrick peaked at Zhu Li on her way out, but she didn't glance at him and listened intently to Ikki.

The other's dispersed, going with Tenzin to review the documents Zhu Li brought. Bolin made his way to Varrick, who downed quickly the last of his drink. Bolin could smell the harsh bitter odor of homebrewed drink, and he gagged slightly thinking how much Varrick had in his system right now.

"Well…at least it wasn't her…" Bolin said, rubbing his neck. Varrick glared in his direction.

"Yeah…everyone party," Varrick spat sarcastically as he shoved Bolin out of the way towards a cabinet in the corner Bolin hadn't noticed before. He pulled out a corked bottle, considered his cup, then took another long drink straight from the bottle. Bolin grunted, then walked over and pulled the bottle away from Varrick's lips, spilling the liquid down Varrick's tunic.

"Kid? What are you doing?" Varrick snapped. Bolin didn't respond, but walked to the window and dumped the remains outside, and smashed the bottle on the ground.

"There," he said. "Now that that's out of the way, you can start acting like a grown man!"

Varrick laughed bitterly and sneered. "Uh, grown men are allowed vices, aren't they kid?"

"Yes, but not when they act like children," Bolin crossed his arms. "And stop calling me kid. I know you do it to make a point. Admit it, I'm the mature one here."

Varrick waived him away. "It doesn't matter." He walked to the window and looked down at the wasted drink. "You're right. She's back. She didn't build it. She did what I tried to do. She failed as well. But….she's the hero. She at least brought something useful back."

Bolin shook his head. "That's not true. And we don't know how useful it is yet. Who knows, you and I gave a lot of stuff too. Maybe it's the same."

Varrick looked sideways to Bolin. "That's supposed to be better?"

Bolin looked down. "Ok, no. It's not." He looked up again. "I heard what she said to you. Don't you think she said those things to throw Kuvira off?"

Varrick shook his head slowly. "No. Zhu Li doesn't lie."

"She lied to Kuvira."

Varrick smirked and gave a sad smile to Bolin. "Sure."

The men looked out at the moon over Republic City. Bolin couldn't help but let his mind wander to the sadness of it all again. Not a day went by where he had to stop at least once as he was overcome with emotion. If this was how he felt, Bolin reflected, he couldn't begin to understand the burden Varrick still carried. Bolin didn't know how else to reach out to his friend. Bolin felt the sorrow of that helplessness. He and Mako would always be brothers, and Bolin couldn't ever imagine life without his brother nearby, but Varrick had grown into a best friend. Bolin missed the old Varrick.

He also reflected on Korra. It wasn't until later that Bolin realized that along with all he knew and loved of Republic City, the new spirit wilds that were growing there were destroyed. Korra told Bolin in confidence that she had felt the moment they were vaporized. Bolin approached Varrick with the thought about how strange it was that the sprit vines were destroyed by spirit energy. Varrick didn't acknowledge it and Bolin let it drop.

Korra however was still affected by their destruction, and often she would come into Bolin's room at night, crying. Korra hated to cry, and Bolin hated to see her do it. She told the story once of spirits taking over Avatar Aang's body to establish some sort of communication. They both agreed the spirits were reaching out to the Avatar to express their grief on the quick destruction of a new home. Despite this knowledge, Korra cried. Bolin could do nothing but hold her.

Bolin was thinking about holding Korra, his cheeks red with emotion, when Varrick broke the silence. Bolin didn't catch what his friend said.

"What?"

Varrick pushed himself away from the window and started walking towards the door where Zhu Li exited. "I'm ending this, Bolin. I made the biggest mistake of my life with that invention. I'm not doing it again." Varrick wobbled slightly as he walked across the room. Bolin ran to catch up, spun himself around in front of Varrick, and put up his hands to stop him.

"Whoa, whoa…I don't think that's a good idea right now, do you? I mean, you're drunk, Varrick. You'll probably say something you don't mean…"

"No," Varrick pushed Bolin out of the way. "I'm obviously beyond caring."

Bolin grabbed Varrick's arm, but Varrick shoved back hard, surprising Bolin into releasing his grip. "I'm Varrick, kid. I get what I want." He said bitterly.

Bolin knew he should stop Varrick, but he could do nothing but jog behind, following Varrick to Korra's room.

Varrick opened the door to find Korra standing over Zhu Li who was in a light shift. Korra had her healing water hovering Zhu Li's right shoulder and neck, and Zhu Li had her eyes closed. She peaked out to Varrick and Bolin who entered the room.

Korra frowned. "I'm trying to heal her. Can't this wait?"

Bolin shrugged apologetically as Varrick smiled grimly. "No, it can't."

Korra put down her healing water and looked to Bolin. Bolin just shook his head. Just let the idiot get this over with…

But all the spit and hell fire Varrick had displayed earlier seemed to dissipate. He stood looking at the small figure of Zhu Li sitting in the chair. She boldly looked back, something Bolin had never seen her do before. Bolin could hear Varrick's heavy breathing.

"You had something to say, sir?" Zhu Li said brazenly.

"I never beat you," Varrick whispered hoarsely.

Zhu Li's face remained passive. "No, sir. You did not."

Varrick grimaced and closed his eyes. "I…you did good work for me…." He stumbled over his words.

"Your words are kind, sir."

"Stop calling me that!" Varrick bellowed.

"Why?" Zhu Li asked. The stoicism in her face faltered, and Bolin saw a flicker of anger and hurt flash through her eyes. She raised her chin in a defiant manner. Bolin looked to Korra again, who had moved to sit on the bed in her room. Her eyes were slightly wide in curiosity of the situation, but her body was turned in embarrassment. Bolin was embarrassed too to have to witness this. He made a slight head movement to Korra, indicating they should slip out before things progressed. She stood to leave, but Zhu Li stood as well.

"No," she said. "My neck still hurts." She crossed her arms and looked at Varrick. "Say it quick, sir."

Varrick's eyes misted, and his voice cracked. "You left me. You said those terrible, awful things," he raised his hands to his head. "And they were all true."

Zhu Li didn't move, but her eyes narrowed. Varrick took a ragged breath and continued.

"I took you for granted. I didn't recognize all you ever did for me. You were there. You listened. And you're right. I am not a great mind." He dropped his hands and made a sweeping motion of Republic City Harbor, visible from the window. "Look at what I did!" He yelled. Tears trailed down his face. "What great mind does this? Destroys lives and families and innovation? I should have been smarter than this, Zhu Li. And I wasn't!"

Korra had moved over and stood by Bolin by the door. She slipped slightly behind him, and rested her hand in his. Glancing back, he saw Korra's cheeks were wet with tears as well. He grabbed her hand and held it firm, pulling her into him. This is it, Bolin thought about Varrick as he held Korra for comfort. The outcome of this confrontation would determine Varrick's future grasp on life. What scared Bolin more was he didn't know which outcome was better.

Zhu Li dropped her hands. "Oh Varrick," she muttered, frustration dripping in her voice. Varrick looked at her, hope in his face at the sound of his name on her voice.

"Varrick," she started again. "It's always about you, isn't it? So ego centric. Such tunnel vision." Her voice deepened with emotion.

"You tried to stop it, Varrick," she said. "You did what you could, and everyone knows that. So why do you keep hanging onto that? Why do you let it eat you up? Because you're a selfish prick, that's why." She turned her back. "No one cares. This is your own demon. And this has nothing to do with me. So leave."

Bolin pulled Korra back towards the door, meaning to take Zhu Li seriously when Varrick reached out and touched Zhu Li's arm.

"I love you."

Korra pulled back on Bolin to stop him. She was too engrossed now.

Zhu Li's back stiffened at Varrick's words. She didn't turn around. Varrick took another step forward and tried again.

"You're right. It is my own demon. Once I accept my decisions, everyone else will fall behind me. But this is our struggle. Right now. I should have said that a long time ago. You're brilliant. My enterprises…my life….would not be here if it weren't for you. You always knew the thing. No one else can do that but you. Believe me, I tried to replace you. Bolin is my best friend….but he's not my Zhu Li."

Zhu Li remained still and didn't turn around. Bolin could hear the soft hum of cicadas outside and the water lazily lapping at the shores of the island in the moonlight. He was touched by Varrick calling him his best friend. What they had gone through no one could replace and he was glad his feelings of comradery were reciprocated. But his heart ached for Varrick. The longer they stood in silence, the more a feeling of dread crept through him. Zhu Li was going to destroy Varrick.

"Korra," Zhu Li said kindly without turning around. "Can we continue?"

Bolin looked at Korra. She nodded. "Of course," and moved past Bolin and Varrick to her bowl of healing water again. Bolin stepped forward and put a hand on Varrick's shoulder.

"C'mon," he mumbled softly. "I'll buy you another bottle. Let's go."

Varrick slumped and allowed Bolin to steer him for the door. As Bolin turned to close it, he saw Zhu Li sit down again, tears flowing silently.