Thank BG-13! :)


Korra's POV

My leg was bouncing up and down obsessively as I waited outside the court room. Noatak would be tried today after twenty years. Finally, he would face justice and I was both happy and nervous. I would be going up as a witness to testify about what had happened. Mako sat next to me and draped an arm over me, pulling me close to him. I grabbed tightly onto his shirt and closed my eyes, trying to remain calm.

"Are you sure you want to testify?" he asked. I nodded. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of sharing the hell I had lived in but I knew it was necessary. "Everything is going to be alright."

I sighed and nodded again before Chief Bei Fong approached me. "It's time," she said. I bit my lip and got up, holding tightly to my husband's hand as we walked into court.

The judge ordered everyone to be silent before the trial began. I never let go of Mako's hand, tightening my grip whenever my gaze landed on that monster. He kissed my temple, whispering soothing words to me until I was called onto the stand.

"Ms. Korra," the attorney began. "Would you care to share with us what happened while you were under the so called 'custody' of Mr. Noatak?"

I bit my lip and nodded, wringing my hands together and looking down to my lap. I didn't know how to begin, or where to begin for that matter.

"Ever since I can remember, Noatak, he-he beat me, threatened, and sometimes tortured me," I replied.

"Will you tell us one of these incidents?"

I shifted uncomfortably in the chair. I didn't want to go into detail. I took in a deep breath. "My mom filed a report and the police came but didn't arrest him," I began. "I had to go back home and he-he..." I closed my eyes, imagining the scene, remembering each hit vividly. I felt my lungs tighten and the sweat on the back of my neck. I couldn't do this.

But then I thought about Aaron. Taking a deep breath, I stiffened my resolve. "He beat me as punishment for telling the authorities. I had a broken collarbone and a couple of fractured ribs as a result. I actually died from the beating but…my mom brought me back," I finished, feeling a tear slide down my cheek. I wiped it away.


Noatak's POV

I couldn't help but smirk the entire time the little tramp was up on the stand. I was betting she thought that I'd go down easily. She couldn't be further from the truth. I took satisfaction in how her voice shook, how she broke down when she remembered the beating I had given her after she had gone and told on me to the authorities. It'd been a shame that Senna had revived her. My revenge would have been complete with her death.

"Does the defense want to cross examine?" the judge asked.

My smirk grew wider at this. The attorney I had hired already knew what to do. If I would go to jail, I wouldn't go without leaving the little bastard scarred for the rest of her life.

"Yes," he replied before standing up. "So Ms. Korra, you claim that my client, Noatak, beat you and even managed to 'kill' you?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"I've looked over your medical file, and it says you have two cuts on your wrist," he pointed out. "I'm sure this fine jury, myself included, would love to know how you got those?"

"He made me do it," the girl answered.

"Made you?" the lawyer scoffed before grabbing a bag and pulling out the pocket knife I had. I could see fear flicker through her yes. I smiled even wider. So she did remember. Good. "Mind cutting yourself again then?"

She froze. I could see that my attorney had hit a nerve. Struck it, may have been the more proper term. After a moment she recovered and shook her head furiously, refusing the request.

"You're refusing right now, but when my client 'supposedly' asked you to, you weren't hesitant?"

"I object your honor," her lawyer said standing up. "The defense is harassing my client."

"Over ruled," the judge replied.

"You don't understand," she replied. "He-he…I…" She was fumbling. To be honest, I had expected a better fight. This case would be over with quicker than I thought.

"You're wrong, Ms. Korra," the lawyer answered, his tone clipped. "I do understand, and you know what I think? I think that my client might have used force in self defense."

"What?" The shock was written all over her face.

"My client has substantial damage done to his body," he answered. "Scars very much like the ones you have and I believe you had a hand in that."

"He doesn't have anything!" she snapped, standing up from her seat, her teeth clenched and eyes burning. Temper, temper, I thought.

The attorney looked over at me and I nodded before standing up. I stood in front of the judge and slowly unbuttoned my suit and showed my chest to him and the jury and then to the little brat. It was needless to say she was surprised. I had to force myself not to smile. This wasn't over yet.


Korra's POV

I couldn't believe this. I couldn't believe this was happening. First this…monster's lawyer had pretty much mocked what had happened the day I got the scars on my wrist and now this. I'd never seen those scars in my life. I'd never even knew they existed. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but think he had planned all of this. He'd already planned what he would say if he ever got caught.

"Are you going to deny, Ms. Korra, that you did any of this to my client?" the lawyer asked.

"Yes!" I replied. "Because I didn't do any of that!"

"Are you sure?" he asked. "Are you sure you're not just trying to blame my client for something you wanted?"

"...What are you talking about?" I asked hesitantly, part of me not wanting to know and part of me already knowing. The knots in my stomach started to twist more violently and I felt a little sick.

"Mr. Tenzin showed me some reports from your therapy sessions. One of which you said that you wanted to die," he answered. "Is this true?"

I shook my head, not believing where this was going. "I did say that, but it was only because-"

"Is it also true that you were the cause of the car flipping over when my client came and retrieved you? That you punched him and that is the reason he lost control?"

"Yes, but-"

"So then, you do have a death wish?"

"No!" I answered firmly, some anger and frustration tainting my voice. I was struggling to keep calm. "I did that because there wasn't any other way I was going to get him to stop the car. I have a son for crying out loud! Why would I want to end my own life?"

"You didn't seem to have a problem with it a few years ago."

I clenched my jaw at this, noticing how my parents and Mako stiffened at this. They were throwing everything at me, shoving every little mistake I'd ever made in my face. I could tell we'd all forgotten that we were here, not just for the abuse, but for my kidnapping twenty years ago as well. I didn't like the direction this was going. And I could tell this is exactly where Noatak had wanted it to go. I held my tongue.

"Going back to your last comment," he continued. "You said you have a son?"

"Yes."

"And you would do anything to protect him?"

"Yes."

"So then there's the possibility that you would have inflicted physical damage to my client in order to protect him?"

"He's my son!" I answered.

"You haven't answered my question."

Why that son of a bitch. I wasn't sure if that was really directed at the lawyer or Noatak, but either way I really hated this guy. No, despised was more accurate.

I looked over at Mako. I could tell he didn't really want me to answer that question, given the circumstances. I didn't want to either. But I was up on the stand and I wasn't about to leave anything but the truth out.