Author's Note: I want to thank everyone for being so understanding. I am trying to update as frequently as I can though I'm sorry to say that it isn't that often.
Silence. The air was thick with oppressing silence, weighing down on her shoulders, crushing her chest. And she was afraid.
Terrified. Fear rising like a bile in the back of her throat. Her heart pounded against her ribcage and she could taste it. Fear.
And she hated it. Being afraid. Fear was a weakness, like any other emotion and she was rooted to the spot.
His hands trailed over her body and all she could hear was the silence. His mouth moved, eyes bright and happy but she couldn't hear Him.
Had she wanted this? She couldn't remember, why wasn't she stopping Him? That must mean she wanted it, right? And why couldn't she move, why was she frozen in place, why couldn't she hear anything, why did she feel empty like her body was here but her mind was not?
She was scared and confused and she was afraid. She was always afraid. And He wouldn't stop. She was afraid.
Kuvira awoke suddenly, her heart beat rapidly in her chest, the taste of fear rising in the back of her throat.
She leapt back at the feeling of a hand against her shoulder. She looked up to see Korra standing in front of her, biting her lip and quickly withdrawing her hand.
"Are you okay, Kuvira?" she asked softly, blue eyes full of worry. Kuvira brushed her concern aside, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and stepping out of the car.
She shivered as a gust of cold air blew passed. Korra clenched her fists to stop herself from reaching out to hold the other woman. She wanted nothing more than to gather her up in her arms and protect her from the wind, the cold and the demons that the other woman constantly seemed to battling.
Kuvira seemed so fragile with her shoulders hunched in her submissive posture and her hair down around her shoulders. She looked delicate even though Korra knew that was far from the truth. Asami stepped out of the car, handing Kuvira her crutches which the shorter woman quickly thanked her for.
Korra could feel her heart breaking again as she noticed the way Kuvira trembled, a light sheen of sweat on her brow and the vacant look in her eyes.
Whatever she had dreamt of had disturbed her and Korra was worried for her.
Unlocking the door, she opened it for Kuvira, stepping back to allow her to hobble into her warm apartment. She stood awkwardly aside for a moment before Korra led her to the small kitchen.
"Tea?" Asami offered as she busied herself with the kettle. Kuvira nodded in reply as she sank down hesitantly into one of the chairs at their table. Korra sat across from her, giving her a warm smile which Kuvira missed, busy staring at her fingers as she picked at the cuticle of her thumb.
Korra watched her with a sad smile on her face before she turned to glance at the clock above the kitchen door, groaning when she realised that it was well after midnight.
Asami placed mugs of tea on the table, Kuvira muttering a quick word of thanks as she cradled the mug in her cold hands. Asami smiled in reply before leaving for her bedroom, wanting to change into something more comfortable.
"Are you okay?" Korra asked the woman across from her softly. Kuvira nodded slowly though she was still trembling slightly.
Korra bit her lip, directing her gaze to the mug of tea cradled in her hands. She was at a loss of what to say, the air hung heavy with silent awkwardness as they both waited for the other to speak.
"Do your arms hurt? I...I have some painkillers if you need them" Korra offered, swallowing heavily as the image of Kuvira with blood covering her pale arms flashed through her mind.
Kuvira shook her head slowly and silence settled over them again. Korra cleared her throat, shifting in her chair. "Look...if you ever want to talk about anything, I'm here" she told Kuvira softly.
"Everyone says that but nobody wants to listen" Kuvira answered, running her fingers through her hair. "I'll listen" Korra promised.
Asami walked back into the room at that moment, now in a tshirt and sweat pants. She sat down beside Korra, stifling a yawn.
"I think I'm going to go to bed" she told them. "Its a been an eventful day". Korra stood up. "I'll go too, Kuvira you can borrow a pair of my pyjamas tonight, we can get your stuff in the morning" she announced, setting her half-finished mug of tea in the sink.
Kuvira followed suit, standing awkwardly with her crutches as she watched Korra prepare the couch for her.
She thanked her gratefully as she was handed a pair of pyjamas and shown to a bathroom where she could change. She stripped slowly staring at the red lines marring her skin.
She ran her fingers over them softly, feeling the raised skin under her fingertips. She swallowed, a sudden lump in her throat as she recalled the horror on Korras face as she had opened the door to the other woman.
Shaking the image from her head she quickly pulled on Korra's pyjamas. The smell of Korra comforted her and before she could think too much about why, she opened the door and stepped out of the room.
Korra stood behind the couch, clad in blue cotton pyjamas. She smiled at Kuvira, her eyes wrinkling slightly.
"Goodnight Kuvira, if you need anything during the night feel free to call me. My room is there" she informed her, gesturing towards the wooden door at the end of the corridor.
Kuvira nodded her head in thanks. "Goodnight Korra, and thank you...for everything" she murmured. Korra just smiled again before she turned, walking to her room.
Kuvira sighed as she sat down on her make-shift bed, casting a glance around the dark room. She lay down, closing her eyes.
For the first time in years she felt safe, Korras scent filling her nose as she curled up beneath the covers. Her mind was at ease for once and soon she was asleep.
Korra lay in her bed, staring up at her ceiling in the dark. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of Kuvira. She couldn't shake the image of her from her mind, blood dripping down her arm, her eyes, dark and numb.
She had been terrified, her heart hammering wildly in her chest her breath catching as her mind struggled to comprehend the scene in front of her.
Korra rolled over, closing her eyes only to open them again as the same scene filled her mind. She sighed in exasperation, running her fingers through her short hair.
She wanted to help the woman who was currently residing on her couch, more than anything. She hated seeing her look so...broken.
She knew that Kuvira wasnt something to be fixed, but she wanted to help her. She wanted to chase away the numbness that always clouded her eyes.
Korra was determined to help her in any possible way that she could.