At last It is Here! Sorry about the EXTENDED wait!.

(/")/ Dark Soul Slayer \("\) - I don't own The Legend Of Korra...

The dawn came grey, the seas reflected the mood of the island yet the wind remained adamantly still and unyielding to the environment around it. Inside the infirmary on the island a body lay on a cooling block of ice slowly breathing in and out matching the rhythm of the sea a red muffler scattered haphazardly across his chest.

On the chair adjacent to the block, a young earthbender rested, his head drooped in a silent prayer while his hand gripped his brother with a fierceness that dared fate to separate them. Tears steamed silently down his face, the night before had been a total fiasco, one confession after the next, one more truth neither of them were ready to bear. He felt despair last night when he saw the flash of light, having lost so much at a young age to lose his only remaining family member proved to be too much for his feeble constitution. He tightened his grip on the hand, without daring to look upward, he had done so much in anger to hurt the one who had hurt him. The betrayal of his brother was hard to deal with and his reflexive response was to shut him out, and indirectly return the hurt. He stifled a sob. He couldn't afford to lose face here.

The others had already left once his brother's condition became stable, but he had refused to leave. He stated categorically using his childlike mannerisms that he would not leave here until he awoke. Whether it was out of a sense of duty or the shared sense of guilt they all shared, they did not question his decision. That was some 8 hours before, and other than the check up every few hours by the healer they were left alone.


The sudden squeeze on his hand sent a jolt through his body, as though realigning some scattered and damaged gears into working order. His thoughts once in a muddled haze came back into focus. He remembered recombining the energy into the lightning bolt that would have ended his life, and the sapphire blue, and emerald green eyes that cried tears as he lay on the ground soaking in a pool of his blood.

The honey gold eyes snapped opened abruptly, quickly scanning the sides searching for the source of his slight discomfort. His eyes beheld the form of his dishevelled brother quietly crying silent tears, he knew he caused. He gripped back his brother's hand, and put on a painful smile, as emerald glistening behind the few teardrops met his own golden orbs. Before he could even speak he was caught up in a tight embrace, squeezing his upper torso and in doing so agitating his injuries from the night before.

He quickly let out a painful groan, and his brother loosened his grip but managing to maintain eye contact as he returned to the seat by the side of the block. As he watched his brother recede he finally noticed the structure he was lain on, a bed size block of ice, large enough that if needed a waterbender could submerge his entire body to do a full body heal without moving his body unnecessarily.

Mako smiled warily at Bolin, unsure of how to handle the situation. He was a coward the night before unable to share his true feelings and opted instead to kill himself to ease all their pain. A selfish, and not selfless choice. He knew for a fact Bolin was temperamental, that right now Bolin wanted answers and truth and especially after all that had happened he deserved every single ounce of it.

He slowly tried to sit up when Bolin's hand rested on his shoulder. He looked at his brother and saw a mixture of fear and concern smeared across his face, while his hand pointed towards a small puncture wound on his side that had begun to reopen. With a sigh of understanding he returned to his original position. He looked at his brother as Bolin eyed the wound suspiciously, contemplating whether to get the resident healer, who Mako assumed to be Korra or whether to play it off as something minute.

Mako was quick on the uptake and decided to move things along, he did not want to see Korra and the others, just not yet.

"Bo, it's alright nothing too big to run and get help," He finally said, the effort causing him slight pain.

Bolin looked at his brother, he could obviously see and hear the discomfort from him, but given that he made a statement like the one before, it's obviously a plea for a few minutes before external intervention. He nodded in response unsure of how to verbalize a response.

Mako continued, while shifting into a more comfortable position on the ice, the cold surface easing the lingering pain.

"I'm sorry, no scratch that I'm an idiot. I just can't do anything right, I have one good thing going for me with Korra then I mess that up, I jump right back to Asami no questioned asked on the minutes later and then I mess that up as well. I've got no right to be your brother, as a matter of fact I doubt I qualify as anyone's friend at this point. I'm sorry, out of all this the one who I hurt most was you and instead of owning up and confronting my feelings last night I took the cowardly route and tried to run and I did the unforgivable, I'm… I'm"

His emotional rant became a stutter, his emotions running fiercely throughout the epistle, for the first time in a long time he poured out his heart and soul to the only person he could trust, Bolin.

Bolin stood there silently, he had expected that particular string of words from his brother, what he had not expected was the depth of emotion, expression, the level of vulnerability in his words. He silently listened as his brother went on, not blaming anyone but himself for his actions, but what surprised him most was his inability to say the words 'I'm Sorry' that in itself was just a mere indicator of the level of emotion relayed from Mako.

Bolin carefully constructed his words, trying his best to keep regain his composure and maintain a hardened exterior, so as not to be played by any theatrics his brother may have planned.

"You're right Mako, you have no right to be called a brother or a friend at this point. You betrayed me in one of the greatest ways I've ever known, and when I came to you over and over again expecting some sort of truth, some form of communication between us you constantly locked me out, you continued to lie to me and in the end you pull a stunt like this, don't even bother with your apology. Someone like you doesn't deserve to be forgiven."

Mako had realized the tension in his brother's stature before he spoke, and became even more dumbfounded from the harsh words he received. His golden eyes paled under the intensity of the emerald green which now emanated a cold emptiness similar to that of steel.

He sighed, "You're right, and I know it's a stretch for me to be forgiven at this point but at least let me tell you the truth, at least allow me to make the first step to rebuilding the bond I carelessly destroyed, I didn't want to hurt you I only thought about protecting you for a time then I became blinded by my ego. I lost myself. When Korra approached me first I thought nothing of her, then when she went out with you I'll admit I became jealous, that kiss that broke your heart was not only her fault but mine. Then there was Asami, I was unsure about Korra then, so I started going out with her, then events made me realize my true feelings for Korra so I eventually dumped her and returned to Korra after the Amon fiasco. You kinda know the rest from there, that thing with Asami the other morning was nothing more than rekindled emotion and my own ego, if I had known about you two, no I should not have let it go so far. Then she tried again and this time I almost went all the way but stopped because I remembered how much this was upsetting you and Korra. Last night it all escalated too fast and my heart and head were a mess, I couldn't answer anything, I couldn't be truthful to anyone, so I did what I thought was best and tried to kill myself without thinking about pain it would cause you guys, and you of all people."

Mako finished taking a small breath as a tear ran down his cheek. He had come to the realization speaking out loud with his brother how foolish and childish he had been acting since the incident how selfish he had been in handling the situation.

Bolin looked on, in his mind he had appreciated the fact that his brother had become open with him, he had appreciated the fact that his brother for the moment had learned his lesson. He reflected on the words spoken by Mako, it was evident that given the story that Mako was confused about love, and began to sympathize with him. He exhaled deeply looking directly into his brother's eyes permitting a shade of his usual warmth to return to his eyes.

"I only have one question Mako and be honest with me, I swear I won't tell a word to Korra and Asami, strictly between us two. Who would you have chosen last night?"

Mako sighed deeply, he knew he would have to answer this eventually, and given what he heard last night from both Korra and Bolin the answer would only displease him. He looked into Bolin's eyes trying to muster up the needed courage to say what he needed to say, the truth. He conceptualized a hundred methods of revealing the information but decided on the simplest way, the name.

"Korra."

Bolin was not surprised at the revelation, but this did not imply that he was not hurt. He did love Korra, but he knew now, especially since the night before that was nothing more than a passing dream. He steeled himself to give a solid reply.

"I understand," he said his voice trying to mask a myriad of emotions. He smiled at his brother and gripped his hand, as much as they were virtually enemies he was still family.


Asami stood at the edge of the dock watching republic city, a few days before the police had released her father's assets into her custody and the company was officially transferred into her name. She had intended to return home hopefully with Mako in tow and rebuild Sato industries into the great company it once was. She had an inkling feeling that based on last night's events her dreams of Mako were distant and for the time being virtually non-existent. She spent the remainder of the night gathering her things and with the help of a few air acolytes he would be returning home later that day.

Unknown to her, a set of golden eyes beheld her curvaceous figure as she stared intently at her city. He had waited so long to see her, and based on the conversation he had shared with her after Mako's incident he knew nothing would ever become of it.

"'I hope he dies," Iroh said spitefully as he watched Asami's shaken figure which was currently using the wall for support to stand.

She had heard his statement and did not appreciate his bitterness, it was a combination of all their actions that resulted in this. She stood up, her form still feeble from the shock and looked him fiercely in the eyes. She began to berate him, forcing every single emotion she could muster into words to throw at him, forcing him to just stand and accept it all. After her rant subsided after a couple of minutes she looked him firmly in the eye, with her voice wroth with the thickest of venom and said to him, "You are the lowest of scum, for a soldier you lack honour, taste and decorum, this we so want so admirably will Never happen."…'

The words struck him deeply, he became even more resolute in his determination, and had already sent forward the paperwork to transfer him to the Republic City Division as the commanding officer. Maybe in time he would have his dear princess.

….

(/")/ Dark Soul Slayer \("\)

Sorry guys for the incredibly long wait, I've finally decided to finish the story. Well actually the chapter finally clicked after year and a half (literally just sat down for the last hour writing all of this). The next chapter or so will conclude twisted rose. I'm currently working on some concepts of a Boleska fanfic (I've come to love them) and a Bleach fanfic as well as a cross over somewhere along the way. So Here's to hoping I finish before June!

As usual Read and Review, PM me for any queries and continue to be the best fans you can be!