Again, I do not own Legend of Korra.

The Complete Story
Ch. 2

The Overwhelming Darkness

In that split second, Bolin saw the enraged look in his brother's eyes. He had just enough time to grab Pema up off the steps and earth bend a wall between everyone and his brother before a wave of fire engulfed everything within a 20 ft radius. He had seen that look in those amber eyes only once before… when his parents were killed in front of them…

It was the only time Mako had ever lost complete control of himself, before now. The front of the building was on fire. His face livid, Tenzin quickly airbended enough wind to put it out. Bolin only hoped no one else had been near enough to be hurt by the blast. He heard his brother cry out in fury.

"Stay here!" he urged everyone. He barely was able to miss a burst of flame as he dodged around the wall. He knew Mako would never mean to hurt him, but his brother was in another place at the moment. A place so dark and painful that only Bolin could bring him back to reason.

He went swiftly to his brother's side as his anger was being taken out on the nearest tree, burning it's branches to cinders. Bolin grabbed the fire bender's wrists. He jerked back in pain as the flesh on his hands begin to whelp and swell. He set his jaw and grabbed his brother's shoulders instead, determined to force Mako to face him.

The feeling of lose, the wild look on his brother's face would haunt Bolin for the rest of his life. His brother's eyes were unrecognizable behind a glaze of pain & anger, his mouth contorted in a snarl, teeth bared. He tried to break free of Bolin's grasp, but the earth bender's grip was stronger. "MAKO!" Bolin yelled his name several times before slapping him in the face. The clouded look left Mako and he blinked in recognition of his younger brother. He tried to talk, but his eyes rolled back and he blacked out.

It didn't take long for Mako to come to. He was laying on the ground, looking up at his brother and the starry sky. He could smell smoke. He felt his brother's tension. He was immediately ashamed of himself for losing control. Then he remembered the cause and wished he was still unconsious. He put his hands over his face.

"You ok?" Bolin whispered. Mako nodded. He sat up and looked at his brothers hands. When he began to apologize, Bolin waved him off, "Don't worry about it, I'll have that healer lady fix them in a moment. Her assistant was actually pretty cute," His attempt at a light-hearted smile was smothered by his brother's glare, "Sorry. Truth is, the pain is actually a good distraction," Bolin's eyes flickered to those of the group who were still standing. Mako became aware of a conversation in the background. He heard Asami's trembling voice.

"Is Korra awake? Has she told you anything?"

"She hasn't woke yet. She has been through a traumatizing experience. She might not wake for days." Tenzin answered, "I hate to make her recall anything that has happened in this mess, but we need to know how to find Tarrlok as soon as possible. There may still be a chance we can get to him."

Mako shot to his feet. "I want to be the one to get Tarrlok!" He partly shouted, not meaning to.

Tenzin's reply was cold as ice, "Not if I find him first."

Pema's was shocked. As an monk, Tenzin had lived by an oath, to never take a life. She knew he loved Korra like a daughter, and nothing else in the world could have made him go back on that oath. Given time the rationalization would come back to Tenzin, Pema had faith in her husband. But Mako… no matter when Tarrlok was to ever show his face again, if Mako ever saw it, it would be the blood benders final moments. She had to do something to keep Mako's heart from turning black with vengeance.

"Korra needs someone to stay with her," she said suddenly, "She doesn't need to be left alone. I can't stay, I have the kids to tend to. Tenzin has the council to deal with, and we still don't know how long it will take for her to wake. Maybe Mako?"

Asami's face was full of hurt, which Pema would have to deal with that guilt later, but right now she was concerned for Mako.

"I'll stay with her," Mako said in a hushed voice, "But only until we know where Tarrlok is,"

"I'll stay with her too!" Bolin peeped in.

"No Bolin, there only needs to be one," Pema voiced a little too quickly. "It would be harder for her to retell everything with a crowd of people in the room." Bolin tried to hide his disappointment. For the second time in only a few moments she had hurt another of Korra friends. But all Pema could think about was Korra's well being and Mako's spirit. The expression on Tenzin's face said he was about to object to relying on the disturbed fire bender, but Pema's gentle hand on his shoulder silenced him immediately. She would have to explain Mako's risky struggle to her husband later. Perhaps if they went through the recovery together, both could find a way to live with what has happened.

Mako's stomach turned to ice. He had a ephemeral thought of what being there for her meant, then his mind went blank. As if he was in a dream, or a nightmare, his mind didn't completely register pushing past everyone and entering the still smoking building or walking into her room. He only began to register his actions when he saw that she was alone in the room, unconscious on her bed. Seeing her alone, helpless, made his mind snap fully back to reality. He pulled up a seat and stared at her unmoving form. He would never leave her side again.

The darkness inside him threatened to consume him once again.

Korra woke around mid-day, vaguely aware she was laying in a soft bed. Her last thought was of herself hanging desperately to Naga as they bounded back into Republic City. All at once the last 48 hours came rushing back into her memory. She had been captured by Tarrlok. Beaten, caged… desecrated . She jerked straight up, cringed and cried out as the memories threatened to drown her. She was aware of someone to her side moving swiftly toward her. She tried to back away quickly and tumbled over the side of the bed onto the floor.

"Korra! Korra its ok! Your safe. It's me,"

"Mako?" she whispered. Her throat was dry and her voice hoarse. She looked up into his eyes… and she knew that he knew. She turned her face from him and buried it in her blankets, taking deep breaths. She wished he wouldn't look her, she wished she never had to be in the same room with him ever again. She jumped when she felt his hand gently stroke her back but she was hopeless to push it away. He'll never want me now…She had a fleeting thought that she should be crying, but all she could do was focus on her breathing.

He let her have a few seconds to compose herself, then gently gathered her up in his arms and placed her back into her bed. He returned to his seat and waited. Even if it took all day, he would let her confide in him at her own pace.

She knew he was waiting, she felt his eyes on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him. Her voice refused to work and every now and then her body would begin to involuntarily shake. She chided herself for being so weak.
A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts.

Mako hurried over to the door. Korra heard Tenzin ask what was going on. Mako angrily told him she was awake but to let her alone. He was protecting her she realized. Her mind felt sluggish. Why… why when he knows… he pities me!
She hated pity. Especially when it was directed at her. Especially when she had so much of it for herself now. She listened as Tenzin stressed how important it was to know where Tarrlok was.
Suddenly, she was numb. Mako growled at Tenzin to back off and slammed the door. He stomped back over toward Korra.

"Tenzin wants to know what happened…" she stated.

"He can wait,"

"There isn't any need to wait." And with shocking calmness, she began to relate everything that happened to her.