Chapter XV: Memories

Saltrall walked into the arena after his friends, but they were already off getting ready so he just went up to bleachers and waited for match to begin. He claps when they win the tiebreaker round but he's frowning, knowing something was off today. Quickly, he gets up and heads downstairs to the locker room.

He got there just as they started to leave. He opened his mouth to say something but decided against it when he saw the looks on Korra and Mako's faces. Instead, he grabbed Bolin by his arm and pulled him aside.

"Do you know what's going on with those two?" Saltrall asked him as Bolin looked at him, but he just got a shrug in return.

"I don't know, but I know where I'm going, I'm getting a little something special for Korra to cheer her up!" He exclaimed before hurrying off.

"Um, I'd maybe... Wait..." Saltrall tried to tell Bolin but it was too late, he was already running off. Saltrall sighed, "Ooh boy, I don't like the look of this."

He waited around for Bolin to come back with some flowers, he tried to get his attention but Bolin was too focused, so Saltrall just followed him.

When they got up to the balcony they both saw something that made them stop in their tracks.

"Whoa, didn't see that one coming," Saltrall said as he and Bolin watched as Korra kissed Mako.

Korra saw them first and looked down ashamed, but Mako turned around when he heard Saltrall. Bolin immediately started crying, dropped the flowers and ran off.

"Bolin, this isn't what you think!" Mako shouted after his brother before groaning and turning to Korra, "Great, look at what you did!"

Korra looked insulted, "You're blaming me?" She asked, astonished

"You kissed me!" Mako shot angrily.

"You kissed me back!" Korra shot back. Mako just balled his fists and groaned in anger before running past Saltrall after his brother.

Korra muttered something to herself as Saltrall walked up to her.

"Korra?" He asked cautiously, but she just pushed past him, "Korra?!" He yelled after her, causing her to start running away. "Korra!" Saltrall shouted as he chased after her, only to see her mount Naga and run off.

Saltrall stood there panting for a second before running off in pursuit. He was about to give up when he heard Naga whimpering and looked towards the sound, where he found Korra holding her tightly and crying.

"Korra..?" Saltrall asked nervously, slowly approaching, only to stop when Naga snarled at him.

"Easy girl, it's just me," Saltrall whispered, holding out his hand, "You know me," he softly touched her head, and she begrudgingly laid her head down, still glaring but allowing Saltrall to crouch next to Korra.

"Korra, what happened back there?" He asked, but all he got in a response was more tears and Korra hugging him tightly.

He let out a soft "oof" but hugged her back softly, letting her cry into his shoulder.

"Shhh, it's okay, it's okay," He whispered, trying to calm her down. She kept crying and she grabbed the back his sweatshirt in her fists. Saltrall kept whispering and trying to calm her down. After about fifteen minutes she calmed down enough to talk.

"I- I don't know what happened," She said, sniffling, "I just... let my emotions take over."

Saltrall nodded empathetically. She wiped her eyes, not looking at Saltrall's face until he gently lifted her chin, when she saw him smiling softly with sympathy in his eyes.

"We all do things like that sometimes," Saltrall replied.

"I've never done anything like that, though," Korra said, "One second we're arguing the next second we're kissing, then you and Bolin showed up out of nowhere."

Saltrall didn't say anything, he just rubbed her back until she pulled away and sighed. She blushed when she saw the large stains her tears had left on Saltrall's sweatshirt.

"Um, sorry about your sweatshirt," She said, with a hint of embarrassment.

Saltrall looked down and chuckled, "Don't worry about it," he replied, "a few tears never hurt me."

He regretted saying those words, those, because he immediately remembered a painful memory from his past and lost his smile.

"What is it?" Korra asked, seeing his expression change. Her comment brought him back to reality.

"What? Oh, sorry, it's nothing I'm fine," He lied, standing and helping her up.

"Thanks for calming me down, I'll try not to let tonight affect my play tomorrow," Korra said, getting on Naga, "Come on, I'll drop you off at your TARDIS."

Saltrall smiled and got on and they rode back to where he parked his TARDIS.

"Giorgio!" Saltrall shouted as he ran into the room where his best friend was being restrained, only to quickly be grabbed by the throat by a Cyberman. He let out a choke and stared into the lifeless eyes of his adversary.

"All Time Lords must be deleted." The Cyberman said, aiming his arm at Giorgio, who was trying to break free from his bonds.

Saltrall was trying desperately to grab his Sonic weapon but he was thrown against the wall and dazed by the Cyberman.

He shook his head just in time to see the Cyberman shoot his best friend once in the chest.

"NOOOO!" Saltrall shouted as his friend began to glow, starting the regeneration process.

The Cyberman fired again before he could finish and Giorgio slumped lifelessly in the chair he was tied to.

Saltrall was trying to stand when the Cyberman pressed his hand against his chest.

"You must be deleted." He said as he fired.

"NO!" Saltrall shouted as he shot up in his bed, sweating hard and panting. He looked around and realized it was just a nightmare.

"Every damn time. I was so close." He said putting his head in his hands. He tossed his blankets off of him and put on a pair of pants and a shirt before exiting the TARDIS, now safely back on Air Temple Island, and looked around. He saw the usual sentries and so he walked to a cliff overlooking the ocean and sat down.

He let out a long sigh and waited for his heart to slow down. He didn't even remember how long he'd been having that nightmare, all he knew was that he'd never stop reliving that day. The only reason he was still alive was because another Time Lord distracted the Cyberman long enough for it to be destroyed as he used his third regeneration, turning into his current form.

He ran a hand through his hair and stared up at the moon.

"I'm so sorry Giorgio," He whispered as he let his tears flow down his cheeks.

He stayed there like that for at least a half hour before standing and wiping his eyes and cheeks and walking slowly back to his TARDIS with his head down, not wanting anyone to see him in such a weak and vulnerable position. When he got back to his TARDIS he closed the door and sat down on the couch before laying down, falling into a state of restless sleep.