Okaaaaay… I've finally fallen. I admit, I have stooped to drawing Amorra fan art. For my own story. Wait… is it still called fan art then? Idk. Anywho, I've posted my most recent sketch as the new cover image for this story. I hope you all enjoy it! And please… tell me what you think! : )

Whew. Fifteen episodes of Walking Dead later… Haha, sorry! I've been getting some awful writer's block lately. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. : ) As always, please review.

…. …. …. …. … …..

Korra mopped her brow, exhausted after two grueling full days of bloodbending training. She hated every minute of it, but Amon pushed her and pushed her until she was nearly able to block every one of his attacks, even putting in some offensive damage from time to time.

Finally, just as the sun's setting rays trickled out across the bay, both Amon and Korra lay sprawled over the grass beside the courtyard, too exhausted to budge. The smell of Pema's cooking wafted out over the square, but neither had the strength to lift themselves up to join the others in the dining hall.

"I'm still not going to be good enough," Korra panted, flat on her back with her arms splayed out to either side, staring up at the rosy evening sky. "Sakura's still way better than me."

"But now we have an advantage over her." Spirits, Korra thought, even breathless the man's deep voice could send shivers through her. "The element of surprise on our side. Sakura's not expecting you to possess any tools with which to fight her back."

"Fight for like, a couple of seconds." Korra groaned, tipping over onto her side to stare across the space of grass to where he lay. "There's no way I'm going to beat her, just being able to twitch a couple fingers and maybe an elbow or two if she comes at me. I'll never be able to send her flying, not like Tarrlok did to me. And even if I can resist her bloodbending, what if those zombie things come up and attack me while I'm concentrating on her? So many things could go wrong."

"Which is why you're not going to be alone," Amon replied, shifting closer to her. He stared very seriously into her eyes. "You listen to me. No matter what kind of threats Sakura can throw our way—no matter how much she frightens you—we're not letting you go out alone on this one. You'll have us behind you."

Korra frowned, not liking the sound of this. "Who's 'us'?"

"Tenzin, Mako, and I. And the earthbender and the police force will be a shout away the whole time."

"No!" Korra reacted before she could think. "I'm not having anyone else risk their life for me. Enough people have died already. I won't let you guys do this."

"Korra," he snapped, his voice carrying that deep, cold note of anger that had once haunted her dreams. He reached across the space between them, grasping her chin in one firm hand. For a split second, Korra went cold. The last time he'd done that, it had been in between the looming stone pillars of Avatar Aang Memorial Island. Somehow, even now, Korra found it no less frightening. She glared at him and tried to pull away, but it was like trying to wiggle out of an iron trap. He held her fast, drawing nearer until his golden eyes were only inches from hers.

"You have risked your life for the people of this city countless times." His voice was low with intensity. "If you think I'm about to let you go throwing yourself into danger without anyone to protect you, think again. I almost lost you once, and I'm sure as Koh not going through that again. What would we do if we lost you—the Avatar? The world would fall out of balance. Sakura would win."

"But it's my job to risk my life to save others. The Spirits didn't ask you to risk yours for mine."

"To hell with the Spirits!" he exploded. "I'm not letting you die on some sick twist of destiny. I've failed before. I won't let it happen again. Last time I wasn't there to protect someone I l—"

He broke off, his breath catching. Korra stared at him, unable to breathe at the intensity in his eyes.

"Someone you love," she whispered.

He swallowed. His grip tightened on her jaw. "Yes." His voice was barely above a whisper. "I won't lose you. I can't."

Korra stared into those golden eyes. Then she slammed her fingers against his mask, ripping it off, yanked him forward, and kissed him. He made a small sound in his throat, as if surprised at her sudden fire. Then his arms curled around her, one hand moving to the back of her neck, tipping her head back to deepen the kiss. Korra could feel—through her new ability—both of their hearts racing, pounding as one. The depth of the burning within her took her off guard. This kiss was different. Stronger… deeper, somehow. She rolled over so that she was on top of him, and his hands slid up her waist.

For several blissful moments, Korra lost herself. Time stood still, and for that point in time, it was only the two of them. Her lips parted for him, and a burst of sensations awoke in her stomach when she felt the warmth of his breath across her tongue. Her hair came loose, tumbling down over the both of them in a silken cascade.

After she'd nearly succumbed to the fire pooling in her belly, Amon broke the kiss. He held her with gentle hands, staring up with wide eyes into hers.

"I think…" she whispered, her voice catching in her chest. "I love you too."

He tugged her down again, their lips engaging in a smooth, easy dance. When they pulled apart again, Korra was breathless.

"This is so weird," she gasped.

He looked hurt. "What?"

"This. Me, you. We're enemies. I mean, we were. It's just…" she shook her head. "I don't know. Not allowed?"

A smile tipped his mouth. "If you say so."

He kissed her again. Korra forgot all about the strangeness of the situation, melting down into him. The world faded around her, and all she could think about was the feel of his lips on hers.

"Ahem."

The both jerked upright, Korra slipping awkwardly down across Amon's lap. Her face flushed beet red when she saw Pema standing there, a look of utmost amusement on her face.

"Now I'm glad I had the foresight not to send Ikki or Meelo to come fetch you for dinner."

"Uhhh." Korra sat up, brushing her hair out of her face, and blushed harder than ever. Amon just chuckled under his breath, reaching across the grass to collect his mask. Pema and Asami were the only ones from the group who'd ever seen him without it. Korra swallowed, stuttering. "Well, I —ah —we, uh…"

Pema just laughed, a hearty, buoyant sound. "It's okay. Come on and join us for dinner." She turned, then looked back at them, an ungodly twinkle in her gray eyes. "In case you find things—ah, difficult—I've placed you two on opposite ends of the table."

Korra didn't think it was possible for her face to get any redder, but it did. While she blustered and hem-hawwed, Amon reached down and slipped his hands under her arms, lifting her to her feet. Then the two of them followed Pema across the lawn to the dining hall.

They were the last to seat themselves. Korra hoped her face wasn't as warm as it felt when she settled down between Meelo and Jinora. She could feel the two girls' eyes on her face as she reached for the bowl of rice. For a minute, the only sound around the table was the clink of silverware against china.

Then Ikki, sitting across the table, just beside Amon, craned back her neck to look at the tall figure.

"How do you eat with the mask on?"

The tension around the table thickened. Though no one care to admit it, most everybody who resided in the Air Temple still harbored a great degree of fear toward Amon. Mako and Bolin still crossed to the opposite side of the hallway whenever they happened to be passing by at the same time. Tenzin wouldn't let the airbender children in the same room with him by themselves, and Meelo even tried to spy on him from time to time, even when the man was simply going about boring, everyday business.

Amon glanced down at Ikki, and from the gleam in his golden eyes Korra knew he was arcing an eyebrow behind that mask.

"Carefully," he replied, not a hint of amusement in his voice.

But Ikki was not deterred. "Show me."

Amon eyed her for a moment. Then he simply reached up, undid the base of his mask and slid it up just a fraction. He placed a spoonful of rice in his mouth, then slid it back down. He glanced back down at Ikki.

"Satisfied?"

Ikki wrinkled up her nose. "That's cheating. I wanted to see it get all over your face."

"Sorry to disappoint. But I've had a lot of practice."

Ikki giggled. "I'm sure. Do you have to slide that mask up every time you kiss Korra?"

Mako choked on his tea. Tenzin coughed. Meelo burst out laughing, and Jinora's face became pinched. Pema covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes going a little too bright. Amon's mask hid his expression, but his whole back had gone rigid.

"Ikki," Tenzin snapped. "That is hardly appropriate conversation for the dinner table."

"But Daddy, it's truuueee, Jinora said she saw them."

Korra hid her face in both her fists, wishing she could disappear. Bolin sniggered from across the table. Tenzin cleared his throat again, much louder this time.

"Ikki, when I said that's enough, I mean it."

Ikki pouted. Meelo elbowed Korra in the ribs and shot her a toothy grin. Korra shrank further into her makeshift shield.

"Well, then," Asami said, with a delicate cough. "Mako, didn't you have something to show everyone? You were saying it couldn't wait."

"Oh." Mako cleared his throat, his face an unusual shade of red. "Oh, yeah. Here." He reached beneath the table and pulled out a folded newspaper, dog-eared to a specific article. Korra peeked through her fingers to read the headline, feeling her stomach twist as she did so. It read: "No Link to Mysterious Homicides."

"It looks like Sakura's on the move again," Mako said. He smoothed the newspaper and began to read aloud. "'Last night body number four was found in an abandoned parking lot just two blocks from the pro-bending arena. He was later identified by coroners as Gommu, one of the vagabond residents of the greater Central Park area."

Korra gasped. Tears jumped to her eyes. That friendly homeless man who'd befriended her and Naga the first day they'd arrived in Republic City? How could Sakura have known about her connection to this man? But her heart sank even more when she heard the next lines.

"'The fourth riddle was found beside the body: 'Don't you love where the moon meets the shore? Far too bad for this number four.' As if this didn't startle police enough, a fifth body was discovered in the waste room behind the Avatar's pro-bending training gym. Shock coursed through the entire force when the body was identified as renowned pro-bending announcer Shiro Shinobi. Saikhan and his metalbenders have launched a full scale investigation into these horrific killings. The sixth note found alongside the body is rumored to hold a host of clues as to where to find this serial murderer. 'When the moon hits its quarter that's where you'll find me. Don't be late for number three.' As before, no marks were found on any of the bodies, only a unanimous expression of fear…"

"Mako, that's enough," Pema whispered. Korra looked up to see that Ikki's lower lip was trembling, and Jinora's face had gone stark white. Even Meelo looked still as a statue.

"Kids," Tenzin said. "Why don't you go bring Oogi his supper. He hasn't eaten yet, and I'm sure he's hungry."

"Yes, Daddy," Jinora murmured, sliding back from the table without taking her plates. Meelo and Ikki got up in silence and followed her out of the dining hall toward the sky bison stables.

For a long moment after their soft footsteps faded, silence hung around the little table. Then Amon cleared his throat.

"It appears Sakura is nearing her endgame."

"We'd nab her a lot faster if Saikhan actually knew what he was doing," Lin growled. "I should be the one handling the investigation."

"You're no longer Chief of Police, Lin," Tenzin replied. "The best we can do is help them along in any way we can."

Lin grunted, her eyebrows knitted together. Asami spoke up,

"Is it just me, or does there seem to be a pattern in all of these riddles?"

"Well, duh," said Bolin. "It's a countdown. It goes eight, seven, six, five…"

"Not that," Asami sighed. "I mean—where the moon meets the shore? When the moon hits its quarter that's where you'll find me? Doesn't it seem like she's setting up a meeting place?"

Mako frowned. "Yes. She uses the moon a lot in those riddles. And we all know that's what makes her power so strong."

Korra straightened, something unnerving tingling down along her spine. "Wait. What if where the moon meets the shore—that's here. That's Air Temple Island. From Republic City, when the moon is full, it looks like it's nestled right up against our beach. Maybe that's the location? Maybe she wants us to meet her there."

Tenzin's brow furrowed. "The moon will be at its third quarter tomorrow night," he mused. "It sounds like that's the time she wants you to meet her."

"'Don't be late'," Bolin quoted. "Sure sounds like a meet-up to me."

"I don't like it," Lin snapped. "It sounds like she wants some kind of showdown. I don't want Korra going alone into this."

"She won't be," Amon replied. "We'll post your metalbenders around the Island to serve as backup in case anything goes wrong. And this does give us an advantage. Sakura can't bring her dead puppets across such a huge body of water. She'll never be able to sneak them onto a boat; they'll look too conspicuous."

"So we'll just be facing her, alone," Korra realized. Somehow, her unease didn't lift. Sakura alone was just as much a threat as Sakura with a horde of zombie-men behind her. Her heart thudded.

Asami reached across the table and placed her hand over hers. "It'll be all right, Korra," she murmured. "We're all going into this with you."

Korra swallowed, though the pressure of Asami's hand on hers helped take away the edge of the fear. "That's what I'm worried about."

"Well, don't be," Bolin piped. "We're with you for better or worse. We've got your back. Team Avatar's going nowhere."

Korra couldn't help but give them a timid smile. "Thanks, guys."