A/N: This one was excruciatingly painful to write and it ballooned to hideous proportions. I'm not completely happy with this, but I had to get it over with before I stabbed myself in the eye. Bleh. Please forgive me.

Love Is Watching Someone Die

Asami's fourteen when she watches her grandmother die. She affectionately calls her grandmother Nana; an endearment left over from a more innocent time, back when she was just a little girl who couldn't possibly conceive of the ache of loss.

Nana's death happens gradually, as the malignancy in her body slowly spreads through her lungs and eventually robs her of her last breath. During those final months, Asami spends many of her afternoons with Nana in the hospital, playing Pai Sho and reading trashy romance novels together (a guilty pleasure they both share).

She remembers shyly telling Nana of her first real crush and she remembers sobbing into Nana's hospital gown the day she learns that he doesn't like her back. Asami can still hear Nana's whispered words of comfort, assuring her that one day the right boy would come along.

Nana regales Asami with stories of her mom's rebellious teenage years. She recounts how Asami's mother was even more precocious than Asami at the same age. And she makes sure to remind Asami just how lucky her father is that she's more restrained than her mother ever was. Most of all, she tells Asami how much her kind heart is just like her mother's.

Asami recalls her grandmother's bright laugh and easy smile, even after they stick her body full of tubes and needles. Towards the end, Asami cries to Nana, saying how unfair it is that the spirits are taking her away just when Asami's starting to truly get to know her. When Nana wraps her arms around Asami and wipes away her tears despite her failing body, Asami begins to understand what it means to bear suffering with grace.

The day her grandmother slips away, the doctors say it's a miracle she lasted as long as she did. Her dad tells Asami that he believes her visits gave Nana the will to live longer, just so that she could see her granddaughter begin to blossom into a wonderful young woman. Asami bawls uncontrollably at his statement, and her dad can do nothing but hold her tight in his arms.

A few days later Asami finds herself in front of Nana's empty hospital bed, all traces of her beloved grandmother washed away by antiseptic and newly laundered sheets. She looks around and understands that some of the other patients in the surrounding beds will make it through while others, like Nana, will not. And she also realizes that unlike Nana, many of these patients have no one with which to share their pain or the little time that they have left. Asami can't stomach the thought of someone like Nana dying alone and unloved. She volunteers at the hospital the next day.

From that day on, Asami takes at least one shift per week volunteering at the hospital's convalescence wing. She endears herself to the staff and patients alike, and quickly becomes a fixture of warmth for this little broken community. She takes her volunteer commitment seriously and never, ever arrives late. So when Asami comes rushing in two minutes after her shift starts, it takes a few seconds for Umi, the shift manager on duty, to fully comprehend what she's seeing.

"This is a first," Umi wonders in disbelief. "You're never late."

"I'm so, so, sorry." Asami apologizes profusely, her clothes slightly rumpled, beads of sweat forming on her brow.

"Did something happen? Are you okay, dear?"

"I'm fine," Asami assures her with a half-hearted smile, "I just ran into a situation at lunch."

A "situtation" is one way of putting it. Getting into a brawl with a couple of Triads while defending her favorite dumpling shop is another way of stating things. Oh, and don't forget chewing out and punching a certain waterbender-who-shall-not-be-named in the face. The mere thought of him ruffles her inside and she forces herself to take a deep breath. She draws on her meditation training to re-center herself before diving into the task at hand.

After a couple of minutes trying to alleviate Umi's concern for her well-being, Asami succeeds in convincing her to let Asami begin her shift.

Umi sighs in resignation and hands Asami her new patient's chart.

"You've been assigned the patient in bed number 2. Her name's Ahnah. She just transferred last week from our branch across town."

Asami thanks Umi and looks over Ahnah's medical information. She's surprised by the fact that Ahnah's only forty-eight years old, the same age her mother would have been if she were still alive. But her eyes widen even further when she reads that Ahnah's suffering from the same lung disease that took her grandmother. And she's absolutely startled by just how long this woman has lived with her condition. Four years? Asami's never even heard of a patient lasting more than a year after being diagnosed with this particular disease. Her grandmother, despite the most advanced treatments purchased by Asami's father, didn't even last nine months due to her advanced age. Asami reads more closely and sees that Ahnah's had nearly twenty of the same procedures that her grandmother underwent. Her eyes glaze over because she knows that number of procedures costs a small fortune. Someone must want Ahnah to live very badly and has the money to try. Perhaps she's related to one of her father's associates?

Asami quickly looks up and scans the room for her patient. She sees Ahnah lying down on her bed, looking out the window. Much like Asami and her mother, Ahnah has pale porcelain skin and jet black hair, but Ahnah's hair is rod-straight in contrast to Asami' wavy mane. Even from a distance Asami can tell by looking at the delicate lines of Ahnah's profile that she was, and still is, an elegantly beautiful woman.

Asami weaves her way around the other obstacles in the room until she finds herself standing beside Ahnah's bed. Her patient continues to stare out the window, her musings keeping her mind far away from her immediate surroundings.

Asami puts on the most welcoming smile she can muster before clearing her throat.

"Hello, are you Ahnah?"

Ahnah suddenly looks up at Asami with her steel gray eyes. Her features momentarily fill with the surprise of someone startled out of a daydream, but they quickly give way to a warm smile.

"Yes, that's me."

Asami can't help but reciprocate her smile. She holds out her hand in greeting.

"I'm Asami, and I'll be helping you this afternoon."

""It's nice to meet you, Asami," Ahnah replies as she shakes Asami's hand.

"Is there anything I can get you?" Asami offers. "A pillow or maybe a drink?"

Ahnah motions conspirationally for Asami to come closer like she's about to tell her a secret. Asami grins and decides to play along, leaning in.

"Actually," she whispers, "I do have one request."

"What is it?"

"I need your hair care regimen. How do you keep your hair so full and shiny? It's magnificent!"

Asami bursts out laughing. It's the last thing she expected to hear from this woman. She surprised by how full of life Ahnah is, despite her condition. With just a handful of words the older woman makes Asami feel at ease, helping her let go of an inner tension she didn't realize she was still holding on to. She looks at Ahnah and sees the mirth in her eyes. She thinks her grandmother would have liked this woman.

"Believe me," Asami finally responds, "it takes almost more effort than it's worth."

"But look at the results," smirks Ahnah. "I bet all of the boys must trip over themselves trying to talk to you."

Asami swears there's something familiar about the grin on Ahnah's face, but she can't quite pinpoint what it is.

"Actually," she replies, "my experience with guys hasn't been all that great lately."

"Oh my, it sounds like boy trouble."

"I wouldn't exactly call it boy trouble. . . " Asami trails off, and she wonders whether it's appropriate for her to keep spilling her guts like this to a patient.

"Oh, please continue," Ahnah says with an encouraging grin. "With only me and my son, I'm starved for girl talk. Though with the amount of hair product he uses, you'd think there were three girls living in our house."

Asami laughs at the thought of Ahnah's bathroom being overrun by her son's hair supplies. But the thought of hair products unexpectedly dredges up some memories she would rather not think about.

Asami slams the empty glass on top of the bar, a victorious smirk on her face. Tahno can only look on in mild disbelief.

"Alright Tahno, you better spill."

"I can't believe you just downed that Lion-Turtle Diver. You know how much alcohol is in that thing?"

"Yes I do," she says while whipping an accusing finger at him, "and don't try to change the subject. Tell me the secret to that floppy one-sided bang thing you have going on with your hair."

"First off," he responds indignantly, "it's called a fringe. And second, you need a lot of hair gel."

"Define 'a lot' of hair gel."

"About half a bottle."

"Every morning?"

"Yeah."

She lets out an impressed whistle.

"That really is a lot of hair gel. Ever thought of doing an endorsement deal?"

"I've been approached," he says in all seriousness.

"You should do it. And ask for a lifetime supply of product while you're at it. Especially since you're single-handedly keeping them in business anyway. You sure you're not a gel-bender?"

"How about you," he retorts, "what should your endorsement deal be? Hair extensions?"

Her jaw drops at the sheer gall of this man. How dare he insinuate that her hair is anything less than one hundred percent genuine?

"Oh, you did not just go there."

"Oh, but I did," he grins wickedly.

"I'll have you know," she huffs indignantly, "this is all my own hair."

"I can't tell for sure just by looking at it," he says doubtfully.

"Here, touch it," she says, offering a handful of her locks to him.

Tahno takes the mass of long, lustrous strands from her hand and marvels at how silky they feel in his fingers. He inhales the light scent of jasmine drifting from her hair. Then he gently tucks the strands back behind her left ear, his fingertips briefly caressing her jaw as he retracts his hand. She sucks in a surprised breath and she feels her cheeks flush warmly. He shoots her a triumphant grin of his own.

"Hmm, I guess you were telling the truth."

Looking at his smug expression, Asami realizes too late that he planned on getting his grubby hands on her locks this whole time. And she can't believe she just handed them to him on a silver platter.

Begrudgingly, she acknowledges his clever use of misdirection.

"I see what you did there," she sourly concedes.

His smirk grows even wider.

"So," Ahnah says, interrupting her reverie, "you want to tell me what's on your mind?"

Asami wonders if Ahnah has some kind of sixth sense for whenever her thoughts drift towards her currently least favorite waterbender. And she can't help but wonder whether this is what it would be like if her mother were still alive. Would her mom want to listen to her complain about her life the same way Ahnah does? She'd like to think so.

Ahnah gives her an expectant yet patient look. What harm could there be in opening up a bit? She decides to humor the older woman.

"Are all guys such total idiots?"

Ahnah chuckles as she responds like the answer is the most obvious thing in the world.

"As a general rule, they're developmentally delayed as a species."

Asami can't help but join in her patient's laughter.

"Even my son," Ahnah continues, "as much as I love him, has his moments."

The younger woman notes the affection in Ahnah's voice at the mention of her son.

"You sound like you're very proud of him."

"I am." smiles Ahnah in return. "Did you know that after I was diagnosed, my son was so insistent that I get the best treatment that he moved us from the Northern Water Tribe to Republic City? He even found a job that could pay for my therapy."

Asami's impressed. She can't even imagine the sacrifice Ahnah' son must have gone through to make such a momentous move solely for the sake of his mother.

"He must love you very much."

"I didn't want him to uproot his life for me, but he's impossible to stop once he sets his mind on something."

"It seems like he's a very determined person."

"Stubborn is more like it," Ahnah grins. "But he's good at adapting to things. Far more so than his mother."

"Does he enjoy living in the city?"

The question brings a far-off, pensive look to Ahnah's face.

"I think so. But his job keeps him very busy for long stretches."

"What does he do?"

"He a pro bender," Ahnah proudly smiles.

Asami pauses for a moment. Her obsession with pro bending means she has a near-encyclopedic knowledge of every aspect of the sport, including player salaries. Something here doesn't add up. Although the top pro benders make pretty good money, she knows it's not quite enough to pay for the type of medical treatment Ahnah requires. She decides to probe a little deeper.

"I'm actually big fan of pro bending," Asami explains. "I assume your son's a waterbender?"

"That's right. You must be familiar with him then."

"What team does he play for?"

"The White Falls Wolfbats."

Asami's face grows slack. You've gotta be kidding me.

Growing up, Tahno has no memories of his father. He only knows that his father died shortly after he was born, swallowed by the cold northern sea. Despite this, his mother Ahnah makes sure he never lacks for warmth and love in the frozen city they call home.

When he's six years old, the school bully calls his mother a whore. Tahno goes into a rage and uses his waterbending to encase the brat in a block of ice. The school principal gives Tahno a stern lecture when his mother picks him up from school that day, but not before noting that Tahno's the most naturally talented waterbender he's seen in over a decade. When they leave the principal's office, Ahnah tells him that although she doesn't approve of his use of violence, she's touched that he defended her honor. She gives him her warmest smile and he swears quietly to himself that he'll never let anything happen to her.

When Tahno turns fifteen, his world comes crashing down. The doctors tell him that his mother has a terminal lung disease for which there is no cure, and that the Northern Water Tribe's best waterbending treatment can only prolong her life for one more year. He refuses to accept their prognosis and searches for a second opinion. A visiting doctor tells him of a revolutionary new treatment in Republic City that can further slow his mother's disease. Although it isn't a cure, Tahno hopes the new treatment can buy his mother enough time until one is found.

Ahnah protests when Tahno begs her to move to Republic City for her treatment. She doesn't want him to leave his friends and his promising future in the Northern Water Tribe's bending academy for her sake. He tells her that it's too late and that he's already made the necessary arrangements. His mother sees the determination in his eyes and knows he'll only cause havoc until he gets his way. She can't blame him because she knows she would have done the exact same thing if their positions were reversed. She wonders quietly to herself when her little boy became a man without her noticing.

When they arrive in Republic City, they find out that their savings can only afford Ahnah two months of treatment. Tahno refuses to let this setback defeat him. While his mother fights for her life in her hospital bed, he scours the city looking for a job that can earn him the money he needs to keep her alive.

There's no way he's going to give up on his mother after coming so far, but the city offers few opportunities for a partially-educated fifteen-year-old boy. Unless that boy happens to be an exceptional bender. He stalks the halls of the pro bending arena, begging every team who will listen for a tryout.

After all the teams tell Tahno they have no open spots, someone called Shady Shin approaches him. Shin lets him know that the Triple Threat Triads are aware of his mother's condition and his peculiar financial situation, as well as his talents as a waterbender. The Triads offer Tahno a spot on the newest facet of their sports gambling operations, the White Falls Wolfbats, as well as a loan to cover his mother's excess medical expenses. In return, Tahno's required to do whatever it takes, legal or otherwise, to make certain that the Wolbats win in a way to ensure that the Triads' bookies make a profit. In addition, the Triads also expect him to serve as extra "muscle" on certain jobs. Realizing that this is his best chance to save his mother, Tahno accepts.

When he visits Ahnah at the hospital the next day, he tells her that he's secured a spot on a pro bending team and that their prayers are answered. When she hugs him tightly and cries tears of gratitude and love on his shoulder, he doesn't have the heart to tell her that he's just made a deal with the devil.

Tahno adapts quickly to the seedy underbelly of Republic City. Thrown into the shark tank, he learns to think fast on his feet and learns to cut people with his wit in addition to his bending. He learns to never show weakness and he swiftly puts those that question his strength in their place. As a pro bender, he plays with a cunning and ruthlessness that earns both the adoration and the ire of the fans. Tahno's new life makes him feel dangerous and important. And he actually kind of enjoys it. He tells himself he does it all for his mother's sake, but he wonders if it's now just part of who he really is.

Sometimes, when he's spending time with his mother, he regrets the fact that he has to keep so much of his life a secret from the person he loves the most. But he knows that Ahnah would never approve of his choices. And he doesn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes if she finds out. Inevitably, Tahno can't help the distance his double-life creates between him and his mother. He mourns the fact that their relationship can never be the same as long as he's fighting to keep her alive. So he drowns himself in a haze of parties, women, and booze. Despite all of his hangers-on, he feels more alone than ever. He doubts that he'll ever meet someone who just gets him.

Then one night he meets Asami. Despite the fact that she's everything he isn't, there's just something about her he finds irresistible. Perhaps it's because she's the first woman he's met in this god-forsaken city that can keep him on his toes. Maybe it's because despite his sardonic persona, there are moments when she sees right through him. The thought makes him uncomfortable. That's why he pushes her away that day in the alley. She gets too close. She sees the side of him that he's been trying so hard to hide from his mother. And he sees the disappointment in her eyes reflecting the very same disappointment he feels in his soul. Tahno decides he can't deal with this crap anymore. He doesn't need another person to let down. He spends the next few days trying to get her crestfallen face out of his mind.

Tahno busies himself with training for his next match with the Wolfbats. Practicing waterbending by himself at the arena training facility is the only thing he does in his life that feels pure anymore. Tonight, it's just him and his element. Waterbending makes him feel alive in a way nothing else does and allows him to leave his troubles behind. He flows with the water and elegantly manipulates it to his will. The frustration and anger seep out of his body and he feels like he's cleansed by the crystalline liquid surrounding him. He gathers the water around him and sends it in an enormous wave across the room, pushing his troubles away.

The sound of clapping echoes off the walls and he realizes he's no longer alone in the practice room. He finds the source of the intrusion walking through the entrance towards him. He recognizes those emerald eyes and dark cascade of hair instantly.

"Nice move," Asami calls out, "too bad it isn't legal for actual matches."

"What do you want?" he responds less than charitably. "You here to sit on your high horse again?"

She ignores his jibe and strides confidently closer.

"No, I'm not."

"Then why are you here?"

Asami stops couple of feet in front of him and meets his eyes with an unwavering look.

"I'm here to say I'm sorry."

For a moment he's speechless. The shock of her actually approaching him to apologize temporarily scrambles his neurons.

"For what?" is the best response his addled brain can muster.

"For not giving you a chance to explain yourself and . . . for punching you in the face."

He grins at her apology and he starts thinking of something witty to say when she cuts him off. Damn her for always doing that.

"But I'm not sorry for helping Mrs. Hahn and kicking in those Triads," she asserts. "And my apology doesn't mean you're not still a condescending jerk for some of the things you said."

"Oh," he remarks sarcastically, "I'm all teary-eyed from your heart-felt act of contrition."

"Be glad you got any kind of apology at all, you floppy-haired bully of old ladies," she says in a flippant tone.

"Glad to see you can still be a vindictive bitch when you want to be."

"Only for you," Asami replies with a sickly sweet smile, her eyes twinkling with derision.

Tahno grins back, amused. Despite himself, he's glad to see a hint of their old rapport seeping back into their conversation. But he's curious as to why she even bothered to seek him out.

"So," he inquires, "why the change of heart all of a sudden?"

Asami takes in a deep breath before responding.

"I got a new patient assigned to me in the hospital this week."

'What does that have to do with anything?"

"She's your mom."

Tahno just stares at her with a dumbfounded look. Her statement does not compute.

"What?"

"Your mom, Ahnah," she repeats slowly, as if talking to a small child, "is my patient. And I take care of her at the hospital during my volunteer shifts."

When the words finally register, he shoots her an exasperated look. Out of all the people in the world, how did this one girl end up being responsible for taking care of his mom?

"You gotta be kidding me."

"That's what I said when I found out."

"You guys talk?" he asks, not quite keeping the trepidation out of his voice.

"We actually talk a lot," she confirms with a smile, "and I think she's really great. You know she keeps your baby pictures by her bed?"

She's buddies with his mom now? And Asami's seen his baby pictures? What alternate dimension of spirit world hell has he walked into? He rubs the bridge of his nose between his eyes, flabbergasted.

"This is unbelievable."

"Tell me about it."

He turns his cool grey eyes back to her. What's her angle with all this?

"So you think you know something about me now?"

"A little bit," she immediately answers. "My grandmother had the same disease as your mom. I took care of her until she died."

His gaze instantly turns from one of suspicion to one of understanding. For the first time, he's faced with someone who actually knows what it feels like to watch a loved one suffer through this disease.

"Sorry for your loss," he sympathetically offers.

Asami nods her thanks and sends him a sincere smile.

"I can understand some of what you're going through, Tahno. It's not easy. And I know that the money you earn as a pro bender can't possibly cover your mother's treatments. Isn't that why you're doing stuff on the side with the Triads?"

For a second, Tahno thinks of denying the whole thing. But he realizes that Asami's way too smart to be fooled entirely.

"In a matter of speaking," he admits cryptically.

"And I know your mother doesn't have a clue that you're working with those gangsters."

Tahno's eyes narrow and he lashes out reflexively at her allusion to his double life.

"Are you gonna hold this over me now? You threatening to rat me out if I piss you off?"

"What? Of course not!" she splutters out, affronted. Her eyes shimmer indignantly. "Do you actually think I'd do something like that?"

The truth is he doesn't. She's too much of a goody two-shoes to use family to blackmail someone.

He shakes his head, retracting his statement. Appeased, she relaxes.

"Look," she continues, "I'm not going to tell you what to do. But I want you to know that there's a way to take care of your mother's future treatment without getting yourself involved even deeper with the Triads."

He looks at her incredulously.

"How's that possible?"

"I talked my father into letting Future Industries create a new charitable foundation. It'll provide grants to people who can't afford treatment for life-threatening illnesses, like your mother. You should think about it."

Tahno thinks her offer sounds almost too good to be true.

"What's the catch here? I'm already in for it with the Triads. I don't need to be under another person's thumb, too."

Asami lets out a sigh and crosses her arms over her chest.

"There is no catch. You'll be free and clear. Your mother gets her procedures paid for while Future Industries benefits from the tax breaks and the good press. Everybody wins and you don't owe anyone anything. Believe me, a lot of other people will be taking advantage of the program aside from your mother."

If this thing is as legit as Asami says it is, he'd be stupid not to take advantage. But he needs to make sure of something first. He needs to know why she's doing this.

"It's awfully convenient to be able to wave your daddy's pocketbook around to solve other people's problems."

This time, she seems totally unfazed by his jab at her status.

"Hey," she says lightly, "I have to balance the karma in the cosmos somehow. If we have the means, why not give back to the needy?"

She smiles at him like she means every word she says, a hopeful innocence in her eyes. He thinks she has incredibly idealistic pie-in-the-sky dreams for someone normally so street savvy.

"Are you like the Painted Lady in disguise or something?"

Asami giggles at his question and answers with an impish grin.

"No, I'm just a rich girl who likes annoying waterbenders."

Tahno involuntary returns her grin at the thought of her popping up more often just to "annoy" him. But he doesn't let the idea sidetrack him from his questioning.

"So why are you doing this? Why do you even care?"

"I care because good people like your mom deserve a fighting chance. And I don't want bottom feeders like those Triads preying on people who can't afford to take care of their loved ones."

"What's your deal with the Triads anyway? Did they kick your cat or something?"

Her expression quickly hardens at his statement, her fists clenching tightly. Just like the time she decked him in that alley a few days ago.

"They hurt someone I cared about," she grinds out, "and I won't just stand by when I can keep them from hurting others."

His eyes widen in understanding. Now it makes sense why she lost it on him at that dumpling shop before completely thrashing his Triad companions. When he recalls that day, he can't help but think that she looked like some beautiful avenging angel as she took out Guo, all fiery green eyes and raven hair billowing as she flew through the air. But he's worried she could get herself hurt if she goes after the Triads with some kind of personal vendetta.

"Is this a revenge thing? 'Cause those don't normally turn out well, especially where the Triads are involved."

"No, this isn't about revenge," she reassures him. "This is about doing what's right. I'm no vigilante. I'm just helping people that need protection."

Their eyes meet in understanding. She's no hothead and she knows how things work. He's relieved.

"Fair enough."

She gives him a thankful smile.

"So," she continues, "are you going to think about what I said? About your mother's care?"

"I'll look into it." He sends her a playful smirk tinged with gratitude. "As much as I hate to admit it, I really do appreciate what you're trying to do."

Asami returns his acceptance with an honest smile. She offers him her hand, much like she did on the night they first met. Except that this time it means something else entirely. It's an acknowledgment. That they're no longer just acquaintances. He knows deep down that if he accepts her offer of friendship, their paths will always be tied together in some way. He finds that he doesn't mind the prospect so much.

He reaches out to her. Their handshake seals it. His gaze lingers on hers. It takes them a moment longer than it should to let go of each other's hands.

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