AN : Hello readers! This is my first fan fiction published in this site or any websites for that matter. If you have anything you would like to address about the story feel free to send me a message. I would also appreciate critics about my work. I know I still have a lot of work to do. I am not a literature writer so please bear with me. I will do my best to not get OOC on the characters. I decided that I will update the additional major characters as they come. This is an AU with characters based on the last season of LoK.

This AU story is bound to get darker so if you are looking for a feel good fluffy Korrasami fic this isn't for you. To anyone who likes dark stories with a mix of romance or readers who are about to try and explore the genre I hope you enjoy!

Edit: I updated the chapter to also introduce the second major character. I mean it should've been that way the first time, since you know. *coughkorrasamicough*
Edit 2: Thank you so much for leaving reviews and reading! :D

Chapter 1: Soft hands

A cold wind blows through an almost empty street except for a few cats rummaging the trash in one corner of an old house. The crackling pages of old newspapers along with the cold whistling sound of the wind fills the night's chilly air. Korra clutches the handle of her duffle bag as the chilly wind makes her shiver. She's just glad she chose a dark blue turtle neck over her favorite sleeveless to go with a dark grey combat trousers or she would probably catch a cold. Not that she isn't used to cold weather but after 3 years of living in south-east Asia her body has adapted to the tropics. She remembers these nights outside to be warmer few years ago and a lot livelier too.

What happened here while I was gone? She continues to walk towards the end of the street remembering the night before her departure. Nostalgia is almost getting to her when she feels a cold stare coming from behind. She quickly looks back but there's no one except for a black cat greeting her with a soft meow.

"You almost scared me, sneaky kitty" She mumbles playfully and bends down to pet the cat that's still looking up to her but then avoids her hand.

She follows the cat with her eyes as it walks past her. She bends back up and turns toward the darkening part of the street and towards where she is heading. She can see the cat slowly disappearing to the dark end of the street, away from the light of the lamp post. That's strange… I thought it wanted to be friends. She shrugs and continues to walk closer to her house. After a few minutes of walking she arrives at her door step and reaches for the keys in her pocket.

She is tired and jet lagged, all she could think about is her bed, sleep, and her friend. Her body is slowly failing her, she couldn't get the right key to open the door. She was ready to break it open but she stops herself. Only after five more attempts until the door finally swings open caused by her leaning against it. She almost falls on her face but her reflexes saves her from kissing her dusty wooden floor.

God fraking damn it!

She sighs closing her front door and leaving her bag there as she walks up the stairs and to her room. Like a plane in auto-pilot, her body moves through the house with familiarity until she reaches her bed forgetting to close the door of her room. She falls onto the bed on her stomach.

Please leave me alone tonight.

She mumbles right before she falls asleep.

Korra is shivering with cold sweats. The images in her head continues to fill her dreams. The death of her comrade playing out again. His hands tied separately. He is on his knees gasping for air. He can't barely breathe anymore. She can tell by the sound of his breathing. She can hear a man's voice behind her. The man is going to kill us both. You should've ran Mako. You should've left me behind. Her tears stream down her cheeks as her nightmare continues to hunt her. But wait… she can feel soft hands caressing her cheeks, wiping her tears away. She starts feeling warmth from someone's hand. I'm not alone, but who's there? Korra tries to open her eyes but it wouldn't budge. It stays closed despite her willingness to open them. She starts to panic. What is happening?! Her body tenses up. She was far from calming down. The panic is spreading all over her body, she can't move. It's as if time had stopped but only her body. The hand moved away from her face. She starts feeling an ache on her chest. She can't understand anything that's going on anymore. It's as if she is drawn into this person without seeing them. A few seconds later she could feel a pair of soft but toned arms wrapping around her. The next thing she knew her body starts to relax, and she could hear a woman's voice lulling her. "It's going to be okay Korra. You're safe now…" So gentle… so soft…

Korra wakes up abruptly making her head spin. "Who are y—?" she questions but there's no one there. She presses her left palm against her forehead as the headache spreads. She looks up and turns her head towards the window. The sun shines brightly through the blinds. Oh, it's morning already. That was some weird dream. She grunts and forces herself to get out of bed and get breakfast.

After quickly changing and picking her favorite sleeveless blue shirt she makes her way to the one and only cafe in town, the Joe's. It was only 7 a.m in the morning and as she walks closer a few town folks are gathering inside the cafe. A police car is parked opposite the street and a lady cop walking towards it with a cup of coffee on her right hand and a bagel on the left. Korra can't really identify who the cop is because her face was mostly hidden by the dark glasses and police hat. The angle from where Korra is isn't helping either. A grumbling noise from her stomach distracts Korra from trying to figure out who that cop was. She has to start creating the network that she needs. She looks back up but the police car is now moving away and towards the center of the town.

I'll ask around later. First. Food.

As she enters the cafe a few people greets her, probably knowing or remembering her even after being gone for 3 years. Not everyone is happy to see her though. A group of young men looks at her with disgust and resentment, as if she is some kind of criminal. She knows why and she can't blame them. It was her fault. She's the reason why her friend is dead. If only... Her self loathing was interrupted when she hears someone softly clearing their throat.

"Excuse me, miss, are you okay?"

Korra looks up meeting the most gorgeous emerald eyes she has ever seen. The pair of emerald eyes stared back at her. Korra could feel herself being unconsciously drawn to the woman. This feels familiar. The beautiful lady blinks first and just like that Korra snaps out of it and returns to reality.

"Yes..."

The taller lady's expression doesn't look convinced and Korra notices a slight hint of worry that suddenly fades into a more casual expression. She hasn't realised she is in the way until a few other people were peeking over behind the taller lady in front of her and starts fussing about the delay. "I-I'm so sorry" She slowly moves to the side keeping the door open for the party to pass.

"Thank you" The lady smiles and nods at her.

Korra smiles back with a slight blush in her cheeks that's barely noticeable and just now noticing the beautiful red lips of the lady. "Come back again, Miss Sato!" One of the baristas calls out to the woman on her way out. Sato huh... where did I hear that name before? She tries to remember where or when but nothing comes to mind. "Maybe a well-known family" she shrugs.

She gets her coffee along with a banana muffin then decides to sit at a corner where she could avoid meeting or greeting any more people and enjoy her breakfast in peace. She gets reminded of her nightmare that night and that unusual dream after. It felt real, she felt real.