A.N. Sorry I haven't updated in awhile I have have been super busy. I've had exams to study for and a musical to perform. This one is longer so I hope that makes up for it. :) Trigger warning for rape in this chapter. Nothing explicit but it is implied. I would like to dedicate this chapter to Atsirk Enoh your review really made my day!

Chapter 6

I sat on the cliff for some time just watching the city and all the people. It was fascinating to watch the harbor and all the different things that would happen as the day progressed. I kept going over what happened in my mind. Everything that had happened since I arrived here less than a week ago. I was on a different planet with people who could bend the elements and I had been accepted as a person not the monster that I really was. I still did not understand Tenzin's decision. Of course I was extremely grateful for his kindness, but it just didn't make sense. He knew what I was now, he knew that I am a cold blooded killer, and yet he just held me in his arms and told me that I was going to be okay. In all honesty I was expecting him to throw me off the island and tell me to never come back. That's what I would have done in his place. I don't understand his kindness and why he would give it to me of all people. I heard soft footsteps behind me, it was Korra. I smiled at her when she sat down beside me. "Hey."

"Hey, you okay?" Korra asked. "Well I doubt you're okay, but… I guess how are you?" She gave a little laugh. "I really suck at this whole feelings thing." I smiled at her completely understanding.

"I'm okay I guess. Shocked, but okay." She gave me a look, encouraging me to go on. I turned back to the sea before responding."I'm surprised that Tenzin didn't throw me off the island. That is exactly what I would have done if someone told me that they were a killer. I just don't understand how he can let me stay here with his family, when he knows what I am. How can he not see that I'm a monster?"

"You are not a monster, Brooklyn. You are a victim of extreme circumstances. You did not choose to become what you are, you had no choice but to become what you are. As for Tenzin, he sees beyond the surface, beyond the past mistakes. He sees what you could be and he knows that you need a second chance to become that person." Korra looked me directly in the eyes. It felt like she was looking at my soul, it was very unnerving. "I believe that you can become that person Brooklyn, and I give you my word as the Avatar to help you get there anyway possible. I will fight for you against anyone, including yourself." She would fight for me? Nobody has ever thought I was worth fighting for.

"I-I… Thank you Korra, I cannot tell you how much that means to me." I absentmindedly traced patterns in the dirt while I was talking to Korra. We probably spent the next hour and a half talking about random things. She told me what it was like to be the Avatar and her family in the South Pole. She told me of Amon and the Equalists and the revolution they started. She told me the crazy tale of Rava and Vatu and how her uncle became an dark Avatar. I listened with rapt attention. This world was magical. Freaking terrifying, but magical. I heard the bell for lunch off in the distance and Korra got up in an instant. I swear she is always hungry. I started to stand up, but just as I was getting up a strong gust of wind hit me. I lost my balance and fell over the edge of the cliff. "AHH!" I screamed as I toppled over the edge. Time seemed to slow down as I flung my arms out trying to grab something anything cutting my hands on the jagged rocks. I flung my arm out and I slammed into a flat surface knocking the wind from my lungs. What the hell?

"Brooklyn! Are you okay?" Korra yelled from above me. I struggled to inflate my lungs gaping some what like a fish. I was finally able to force air into my lungs and sat up rubbing my back. I was sitting on a slab of rock that was jutting out of the side of the cliff. How the hell did this get here?

"I'm fine. Sore, but I'll be fine." I wiped my face smearing blood all over it. Smooth Brooke. My hands were all cut up. Perfect. "Korra, did you earth bend this here?" I gestured to the earth slab. Korra jumped over the edge of the cliff and used her airbending to slow her descent. "I'll never get used to that." I grumbled at her. "You nearly gave me a heart attack jumping over like that." Korra grinned sheepishly at me.

"Sorry. And I didn't earthbend this here."

"Then how the heck did it get here?" I asked Korra more than slightly confused. Korra grabbed me around the waist and used her airbending to get us back on top of the cliff. We walked several steps away before she spoke.

"I really don't know Brooklyn… Unless. Try this okay?" She did a basic earthbending move moving a rock that was off to the side. I gave her a look. "Humor me, okay?" I groaned and did what she did. I was completely shocked when it moved. I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Did… Did I do that?" I asked completely bewildered. Korra was smiling so hard I thought it was going to break her face.

"You're an earthbender!" She ran over and scooped me up into the biggest bear hug I'd ever had.

"Korra." I wheezed out. "Can't. Breath." She dropped me immediately.

"Sorry."

"Christ, woman you're buff."

"Christ?"

"Never mind." I shook my head. I'm an earthbender! Ha! Take that circumstances!

"Come on!" Korra tugged on my hand causing me to wince and pulled me towards the house. "We've got to tell everyone!" Korra didn't let go of my hand as she took off at a sprint. I ran after her laughing at her enthusiasm. We ran right for the house and as soon as Korra was in the door she shouted. "BROOKLYN'S AN EARTHBENDER!"

"Really Korra shout a little louder I don't think they heard you." I told her dryly. She flashed a grin in my direction and pulled me deeper into the house. I sighed.

"Korra what on earth ar-." Tenzin started to say but took one look at me and yelled. "What happened! Why is there blood all over your face?!" I looked at him slightly confused then I remembered. I held up my hands showing him my cuts.

"I may or may not have fallen off of a cliff and cut my hands trying to stop my fall only to find out that I'm an earthbender. Surprise." I got a stern glare at that one. "Obviously, I rubbed my hands on my face." Another glare. I grinned sheepishly.

"You... What?" I was about to repeat myself when he held his hand up. "Never mind." He grabbed my arm and led me into the kitchen. "Sit." He ordered. I sat obediently. "Korra would you please heal her hands?"

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that." She blushed in embarrassment at that. "Sorry." I shrugged. She bent some of the water out of the sink and it started to glow around her hands.

"Wicked." I whispered. She smiled at me and put her hands on my hands. A warm feeling started where our hands met and it went up my arm to my elbows. Korra and I remained like that for several seconds; when she removed her hand the cuts were gone. "Double wicked." I looked up at her and gave her the biggest smile I could manage. "Thanks." I was over at the sink washing my face when I heard Tenzin speak.

"What was that I heard about her being an earthbender?" I looked over to him and smiled.

"I'm an earthbender." I said proudly. "When I was falling off the cliff I guess it just happened… Nothing like a life and death experiance to find out about your new abilities, huh?" Tenzin gave a small smile.

"Humm it would seem so. I am very happy for you Brooklyn."

"Thank you Tenzin!" I stood up and gave him a hug. I've become very needy for these. I thought to myself.

"Now let's go eat." Korra gave a little squeal at the thought of food and dashed off to the dining room. Tenzin and I both laughed at this. By the time we made it to the dining room Korra had told everyone that I was an earthbender. As soon as I entered the room I was engulfed by small little bodies.

"Brooklyn! You're an earthbender!" Ikkie squealed. "I'm so happy for you." Meelo and Jinora both smiled up at me. I ruffled their hair.

"Thank you." I smiled down at their innocent faces. What I wouldn't have given to had a childhood like theirs. Free from pain and killing. I shook my head. Grow up Brooklyn. Wishing is not going to make it so, and you should not envy their life. The deserve it.

"Congratulations Brooklyn." Pema said from her seat. I nodded my thanks while removing myself from three little airbenders. "Kids let her sit down." They grumbled but did as told. I flashed her a thankful smile. I walked over to what I had claimed as my seat and joined them at the table. Tenzin said the usual prayer and we all began to eat. Pema's cooking was really wonderful it definitely beat some of the things I'd eaten before. Conversation flowed naturally among everyone. It felt weird to be part of a family. Well I hope I was apart of the family… Maybe I was just more of a guest. I gave a little sigh.

"Hey you okay?" Korra asked concern showing on her face.

"What?" I turned to her. "Oh, I'm fine. Just thinking." I gave her a small smile.

"It's a dangerous hobby." Korra gave me one of her lopsided grins.

"Ha, ha very funny Korra."

"Seriously though, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I will be. I'm just kind of shocked at the whole I'm an earthbender. I was not really expecting that to happen." She nodded in understanding. "Do you think you could show me some stuff after lunch?"

"Yes! Of course of!" Korra smiled.

"Perfect! Thanks Korra." Conversation returned to normal after that. Meelo told us of his latest adventure with Pookie. Ikki was as talkative as usual spouting random facts about anything and everything. Jinora just sat there and listened intently, not missing anything. As soon as we were done I grabbed Korra's hand and all but dragged her out to the training pit. "Come oooon Korra." Korra laughed at me causing me to stop. I raised an eyebrow at her. "And just what are you laughing about?" That only caused Korra to laugh harder doubling over. I shot her a scowl.

"You're adorable." She wheezed. "And you're just so cute." She reached her hand up to ruffle my short hair, but stopped when she saw the look I was giving her. "No need to go crazy on me." My scowl darkened. "Okay," She stood up straight and paced around the pit. "Earthbending is the element of power. It requires a good connection with the earth. Take your shoes off so you can feel the earth." Korra took her own shoes off as well. I removed the shoes I had been given and set them to the side. Korra looked at my feet and paled a little bit. "What happened to your feet?" She asked softly. I looked down and looked at the matching scars on the tops of my feet.

"Umm you probably don't want to know." I whispered back.

"Please, when you tell me these things I get a better picture of what your life was like and how I can make it better." I heaved a small sigh.

"I had knives stabbed through them." I quickly turned away from her, reliving that day.

*Flashback*

"Faster!" My master yelled from behind me. I ran faster even though my lungs and legs were burning. I flew through the trees like wind; my feet barely touching the ground. My lungs. They're going to burst. I heard a sound coming from right behind me. I ducked and heard the knife implant itself in the tree. Too close. Gotta keep going. I kept running, I hadn't been told I could stop yet. "You're too slow." I heard a voice right behind me. I almost screamed but managed to swallow it. I saw a lower hanging branch just ahead I jumped and grabbed the branch pulling myself up onto it breathing heavily. "Clever girl, but not clever enough." A hand grabbed my ankle and pulled me down to the ground. I swung my other leg around trying to kick him but he just grabbed that foot too and slammed my body to the ground. What little air was in my lungs was forcibly removed. "What have I told you about using things above you as an escape?" My master said as he sat on my hips.

"Make… sure they… are far enough… behind." I said through gasps.

"And did you do that?"

"No, master." I knew what was coming. He looked down at me with disappointment. He gave a small sigh. Quicker than I could follow he flipped me over and grabbed one of his knives and stabbed it right through my left hand. I winced but managed not to scream. He grabbed another one and did the same with my right hand. I closed my eyes willing the pain away. It's just pain. You can handle pain, you are it's master. A hand slapped the back of my head leaving what would be a spectacular bruise.

"Don't ever close your eyes on your enemy." I nodded. My hands were on fire. Poison?! He used poison on me! I grit my teeth together. I would not cry or make a sound. That was weakness and I was not weak. I could feel the poison traveling up my arms leaving fire in its wake. My master got off of my hips and moved to my feet. He removed my shoes and set them aside before stabbing knives through the soles of my feet. I mentally screamed at the pain. "Now what have we learned?"

"Never close your eyes and never escape from above when the enemy is too close." I was proud that my voice didn't waver it was as strong as ever.

"Good. Now what are you going to do?" I was puzzled at this. Usually he would tell me when I could get up after he punished me.

"Whatever you wish, Master." I went for the safe answer. He sat once again on my hips; his hands trailed up my body. He leaned down and whispered in my ear. "Good girl." I wasn't able to stop the shudder that ran down my body. His breath was hot on my ear and his hands were starting to wander. I hate it when they do this. I kept my eyes open as instructed but I turned my mind to other things. Trying to forget. To not feel.

*End Flashback*

"Earth to Brooklyn." Korra grabbed my arm and faced me. "You looked kind of far away."

"What? Oh sorry." I smiled at her the memory receding back to the nothingness that it came from. "Shall we begin."

"Yup!" She spent the next while going over the basics of earthbending, it was extremely similar to Hung Ga a martial art that I had mastered. "Any questions Brooklyn?"

"Nope." I figured that I could just do the martial art and just throw rocks around with it. I took a stance and went through one of my harder skill sets and added earthbending where it felt right. It took about five minutes to complete. When I finished I saw that Tenzin had joined Korra and they were both staring at me with open mouths. "What?" I asked.

"What?! What! That was amazing! How did you do that?!" Korra shouted looking very shocked.

"I had already learned the martial art that is very similar to earthbending so I just added earthbending in the moves. I'm assuming that it looked alright?"

"All right?! You went from a beginner to a master in two seconds!" Korra shouted once again her arms flailing about in her exasperation.

"That was very impressive Brooklyn." Tenzin told me. "I have never seen anything like that before. You moved the grace of an airbender, but you had the power of an earthbender." I blushed at the compliment.

"I… it was nothing." Korra looked like she was going to faint.

"Nothing! That was BRILLIANT!" Korra walked over grabbed my shoulders and shook me around. "Why are you doubting that!" I laughed at her. She stopped shaking me and scowled.

"You're adorable when you do that." I told her. Her scowl remained. I only laughed at her harder. "You really are cute when you pout." She muttered something under her breath I only heard 'fierce' and 'powerful Avatar'. She looked at me with contempt. Which was adorable, but I wasn't going to tell her that.

"Um Tenzin?" I turned to face him gathering my courage.

"Yes, Brooklyn?"

"Umm I was wondering if maybe I could go see Lin tomorrow." He looked confused. "I wanted to apologize to Lin again. I really was horrible to her and I wanted to make sure that she knew that I was sorry." I rushed out. He smiled at me.

"That would be okay." I beamed at him.

"Thank you! Korra would you come with me I don't know the city whatsoever." She nodded. "Thank you Korra. Really I mean it." She just grinned at me.

"Alright you two girls go in and get cleaned up for dinner." Tenzin told us in his no nonsense voice.

"Dinner?" I looked up at the sky and saw that it was already getting dark. "Geeze this afternoon has flown by."

"Hey Brooklyn a few of my friends are coming over for dinner tonight I hope you don't mind." Korra said.

"Why would I mind? This is your home I'm the intruder here." I told her as we started walking for the bath house.

"Intruder? Whatever Brooklyn. You're basically family now." She opened the doors to the bath house and the warm air enveloped us. I really missed my shower. Baths were nice, but they didn't leave you feeling squeaky clean and it was kind of a Roman style bath house. Just one big bathtub for the girls and one for the boys. As comfortable as I was getting around Korra I really didn't feel like getting naked infront of her. A family? I grinned at the thought of actually having a family.

"Um Korra, I'm just going to wait outside. Until you're done." She nodded understanding that I wasn't comfortable with this yet. A cool breeze welcomed me once I was outside. Goose flesh erupted on my skin I shivered slightly but found it refreshing. I sat down and leaned against the wall and thought about what I could possibly tell Lin tomorrow to make her forgive me. Heck, that may not even be possible I really was horrible to her. Ugh, I really sucked at people. The only people I'd had any interaction with for the first seventeen years of my life told me what to do and I'd never had to worry about feelings. It seemed all of the feelings I'd been ignoring for seventeen years had all come back at once, and I really did not know how to deal with them. I got so wrapped up in my thoughts that I didn't even hear Korra come out of the bathroom it wasn't until she put her hand on my shoulder that I was even aware that she was there. My instincts kicked in and I grabbed the hand on my shoulder and flipped the body over me and onto the ground where I quickly pinned them to the ground.

"Korra! Oh, my gosh I'm so sorry!" I said getting off of her. "I didn't even realize what I was doing! Ugh, I'm so sorry." I took several steps back looking at her in horror. I'd attacked her without even thinking about it. What if I'd actually hurt her? I'd never be able to forgive myself. "I'm so sorry." I murmured again. Korra picked herself off of the ground and looked at me.

"Hey no worries. You have killer reflexes though." Even she sees me as a killer. I could feel tears beginning to form in my eyes but I willed them back. "I'm going up to the house I'll see you in a few." I nodded. Korra turned and walked up to the house. I sighed and walked into the bath house. I grabbed a towel and stripped from my clothing and submerged myself in the bath. The hot water felt amazing on my body. Many of the injuries I'd received still had lingering effects and hot water always soothed them. I put my head under the water and just stayed there. The water filling up every one of my senses. I held my breath for as long as I could, content just to stay under the water. I broke the surface and inhaled, oxygen filling my lungs. I washed quickly and got dressed in the spare change of clothing I'd brought with me.

I quickly made my way up to the house for dinner. Just as I was about to open the door I stopped. Korra was having friends over I doubted she would want me around to spoil the mood. She knows what you are why would she want you around her real friends and family? You're nothing. The small voice said. I instead opted to climb up the side of the house to my room and just go to sleep. I layed in bed for several minutes when someone knocked on the door. I got up to answer it. It was Pema. "Hi." I said softly. "How can I help you?" She gave me one of her glares I'd only see her used on Meelo.

"You can help me by getting downstairs and eating something. We are all waiting for you." I went to protest, but she just held up her hand. "No. You're coming." She grabbed my hand trying to pull me down stairs. I held my ground not moving an inch.

"Pema, I really don't think that's a good idea." I told her pulling back gently. She only pulled harder. "Please Pema." She stopped pulling and just stared at me.

"And why not?"

"Because I... " I turned away from her and walked to the window bracing myself on the window frame. "Because I don't belong there."

"What does that mean?" I heard her soft voice right behind me.

"Has Tenzin told you what I am?" I felt her stiffen. I'll take that as a yes. "I don't deserve to be down there with all of you. I am a killer. I don't deserve kindness or forgiveness or to be around good people, I deserve to be driven out like the monster I am." By the end of my little rant I was snarling. Pema took a step back, she looked frightened. "I am a monster Pema. A monster." I felt small arms circle around my waist as Pema hugged me. What is she playing at!? WHY are they doing this?! I don't deserve any of it! I screamed at myself as my body began to shake with sobs. I fought against it, but I couldn't fight seventeen years of repressed emotions. I cried silently as Pema held me.

"Brooklyn I will not say that what you've done isn't horrible, but if you were a monster you would not be crying in remorse at what you'd done. You do deserve this. You deserve a second chance." She mumbled against my back. I turned and looked down at her, her expression was genuine and she really looked like she meant what she was saying. I do not deserve these people. "Please come down and have dinner with us. Please?" She pleaded. I nodded. Pema grabbed my hand and led me down the stairs.

TBC

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