AN: holy shit, this was an extremely long chapter to write! And I believe it to be the longest I wrote so far! O.o

Took me around 3 days to get it done so I hope you're all gonna enjoy it :)

Ah, you might also notice that I put small pieces in here that are from Korra's POV, just so you all know and don't get confused :)

Please leave a review! I worked hard on this chapter and really would love to know what you're all thinking of it so far!

Love you all! Oh and, if someone happens to know or be friendly with a kind artist... I'd love to see some art from my fanfics :)

(just, you know, leaving the suggestion here... open to all of you... all the people that I love... :P )

Alright! Enough ass kidding! Reading time!

Chapter 3

I slowly drifted back to consciousness and I remember that everything was hurting. I was laying on my back on something soft. I swallowed hard and even that was painful. My throat felt raw and seemed to be as dry as the Si Wong desert. I couldn't even open my eyes, not because I didn't want to but I simply couldn't. Even that took to much of my energy. I started to panic and tried to move my trembling hands over my own body. My muscles burned and I let out a chocked cry. I flinched when I heard someone speak and move around.

"Asami? Are you awake?"

It was Korra and I tried to say something but if opening my eyes was to hard, forming words and say them out loud was impossible. So I groaned instead.

"I'll take that as a yes... thank Raava..." I heard her sigh in relief and I smiled.

I was so thirsty and even though it was painful, I tried to say something. "w... w... a..."

"Water? You're thirsty?"

I groaned again and I heard her shuffle around. "I should've known, you were out for over a week..."

A week?! What?! I panicked again and started to hyperventilate.

"No, no no no. Stop, Asami." She sat next me within a second, her warm hand pressed on my chest in an attempt to calm me down. "Please, calm down. You're going to be alright..." she took one of my hands in her own and slowly, I calmed down. She removed both her hands and placed one behind my head and I guess she used one to hold the glass that she held, against my lips.

I drank voraciously and she needed to refill more then twice before I finally clenched my thirst. The cold water had done a good job and after I cleared my throat, I was finally able to form words again. Although it did cost me a lot of effort to do so.

"W-where... where... am... I..."

"You're back in my room." She said simply and without a warning, used something to wipe my forehead and the rest of my face.

I finally managed to open my eyes and blinked a few times. I saw her worried face and looked down slightly to see that she held one of my hands in both of hers. "H-how..."

"How did you get here?" I nodded slowly.

"I came back from the City and went looking for you. First I checked your room and when I didn't find you there, I went to the Library." She took a deep breath and I could see that the memory of what happened troubled her. "I found you there... you were bleeding... and... and..." I gently squeezed her hand to snap her out of it. She looked at me, her beautiful eyes full of worry and concern.

"You were more dead than alive when I found you... I tried to use my healing to stop your bleeding but healing was never my strongest skill..." she took a deep breath before she continued again. "I did manage to stop the bleeding... but you had lost a lot of blood... healers and doctors worked on you and they managed to save your life. The loss of blood still had a big effect on your body and you were in a coma, until today..."

She scooted a bit closer and cupped one of my cheeks with one of her hands. The other still held onto my hand. "I'm so sorry about what happened..." the thumb of her hand tenderly rubbed the skin of my cheek and I found myself to lean against her hand.

"Don't... not... y-your... fault..." I swallowed again and took a shuddering breath.

"Once you feel well enough... you need to point out the people who did this..."

I opened my eyes and saw a look of determination in hers. "What... what will you... do to... them?" I asked but I had my suspicious.

She lowered her gaze and took another deep breath before she answered me. "I will execute them..."

I shook my head to the best of my possibility. "N-no... Korra... d-don't become... like them... don't b-be a... a monster."

She had a sad smile on her face. "I already am Asami... I've done things... I killed people... bad people, but still."

I smiled weakly at her. "Not... not the Korra I... know..." I groaned softly when I tried to move. The pain in my back was far worse than the pain in my abdomen.

"Where does it hurt most?" she asked and slowly got up.

"M-my back... it hurts... s-so much..."

"Wait, stop moving... I'll take care of it..." she moved onto the bed and while she was avoiding my wounds, she took a gentle hold onto me, sat with her back against the mountain of pillows and placed me on her lap. My legs and arms around her waist. She opened the shirt I wore and slowly removed it. I was bare underneath and leaned against her heavily for support. My head rested on her shoulder and I nuzzled against her neck. My eyes closed and my arms were back around her waist.

"I'll remove the bandage, I'll apply new ones once I'm done. Alright?"

I just nodded, I didn't care what she did. As long as I could sit like this, I was fine with whatever. I felt her hands move over my back and one of them stopped near, if not on top, of the wound I had on my back. I prepared for the worst pain that would be humanly possible but instead, a familiar and soothing feeling made the pain subside completely. She's using her bending again... I sighed and couldn't suppress a soft, content moan that accidently escaped me.

She turned her head, pressed her face against my neck and I felt her smile against my skin. "Like that...?" she asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

I felt my cheeks burn with a blush and I was glad she couldn't see my face, so I just nodded. I moved my hands, which rested on the small of her back, so I felt her skin under her shirt. I felt her shiver slightly when I moved my finger tips over the muscles of her lower back. "You... like that... t-too?" I asked her teasingly.

She chuckled softly and nodded. "Feels nice..."

We remained silent for a while. The time ticked by as she continued to use her bending to sooth the pain that the wound on my back caused. My fingers continued to gently stroke and scratch her back but it was me who broke the silence first. "I meant it... what I said. You... you're not a m-monster Korra."

She shifted her position before she answered. "I tried to murder your father Asami" she said, her voice soft. "And I would have. Had you not come in between..."

"But you d-didn't... you could have i-ignored me. You could have killed him. And me. And my mother. That's w-what a... monster would have done..." I rubbed my cheek against hers and sighed softly, almost longingly when I felt how soft her skin was. How good it felt against my own.

"Mhn... Korra..." I mumbled her name unintentionally, my face still buried in her long, chestnut hair.

"Yes...?"

I was about to say something but instead, I yawned very unlady like. Mouth open wide and I was glad she couldn't see me. "Uh... I'm... s-sorry..." I uttered.

She just laughed and rubbed my back with her free hand and I felt the warm glow on my back slowly subside. "I guess you could use some sleep yeah." She said with a soft snicker and I felt my cheeks heat up again.

"t-that would be g-great yes..." I wanted to pull back so she could lay me down like we had done some weeks ago, but she wrapped her arms around me, slid down further, enough so she was laying on her back on the mattress and I laid on top of her.

"You uh... n-need to stay as still as possible... this way, I can keep you from moving..." she swallowed hard and I looked at her in disbelief. "Really, the people who treated you told me!" she said defensively. I smiled after I placed my head back on her shoulder and smile grew wider when she pulled the pelts to cover us up.

"Of course..." I replied and let out a content sigh. One of my arms was still settled around Korra's body, the hand of my other arm rested on her chest and played with the her long hair. "Goodnight Korra..." I mumbled, my eyes slowly closing.

"Sleep well Asami..." her voice lulled me to sleep, as did her peaceful breathing and gentle heart beat.

I woke up abruptly, in the middle of the night. Not sure what had caused it. I blinked a few times, confused until I felt the person on top of me move. I thought she was awake but when I looked down, Asami's eyes were closed. Her body was shaking gently and I heard her sniffle every other second. She's crying... I felt my heart clench in my chest when I heard her barely audible sobs.

I shifted my position slightly but I was forced to cancel my actions due to Asami who held onto my clothes for dear life. Her body trembled on top of mine. She whimpered in her sleep and I heard her mumble soft words as while she slept.

"Mom... dad..." it was followed by another choked sob and I felt like the biggest asshole in the world. She's missing her parents... I thought and face palmed myself internally. I rubbed her back gently with one hand and wrapped my other arm protectively around her in an attempt to calm her down. It seemed to work and she eventually stopped crying. Asami continued to sleep peacefully on top of me. I was just laying there, awake and unable to go back to the world of dreams. Alone with my thoughts until I finally, fell back asleep.

When I woke up the next morning, I immediately noticed a change in my surroundings. Even before I had opened my eyes. How I knew? Well, I was missing a certain person, the person I fell asleep on last night. I slowly opened one of my eyes and nearly had a heart attack from what, or more like, who I saw. My mother was here and my father was sitting right next her.

My mother had puffy and red eyes, an indication she'd been crying. Before I was able to even utter a word, her arms were tightly wrapped around me. I let out a choked cry when she held me in her arms. Both from happiness, shock and unfortunately my mother had accidently touched one of my wounds. She quickly pulled back slightly to look at me. "W-we heard what happened... the Avatar send word to us and told us to come by..." she cupped my face with both her hands and kissed my cheeks first and than my forehead.

I couldn't stop the tears even if I wanted to so I let it all go. I had missed my parents, more then I wanted to admit and now they were here. Thanks to Korra... its then when I realized that she wasn't there. I pulled back a bit, wiped the tears from my eyes and face so I looked slightly less like a mess. "Where... where is Ko... the Avatar?"

My father had a deep frown that showed on his forehead the moment I mentioned the Avatar. He scoffed before he finally gave me my answer. "I send her away. She had no business here. If it hadn't been for here, you wouldn't even be here! It's all her fault!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My eyes open wide in disbelief. I bit back a whimper when I slowly sat up straight, my back against the pile of soft pillows. "It... it wasn't her fault. She wasn't even here when... I got attacked."

"Exactly! You are her responsibility! That was the deal she and I made!" he continued and stood up from his seat. "My only daughter! Surrounded by those benders! Attacked from behind, an attack fitting a coward!"

"She's not a coward! She saved my l-life! She was the one who found me!" I groaned and wrapped my arms around my abdomen. "She w-was... g-gone that day... b-because she h-had to deal w-with some gangs in t-the city..." I managed to utter between fast and shallow breaths. I felt more tears burn in my eyes but this time they weren't from happiness. The wound above my left hip was hurting and the tears that I felt burning in my eyes before, now started to stream down my cheeks. "S-she's... not... she's not... the monster... you a-always made me t-to believe...!" I said and was dead set on defending her.

"If... i-if a-anyone's to blame... f-for what... what happened to me..." I cried harder, the pain from my abdomen became unbearable. "I-It's you d-dad..."

He looked at me in shock and for a moment I thought he would hit me. "How dare you!?" he roared.

I bit the inside of my cheek and took a shuddering breath before I was finally able to continue. "S-she... she faces... d-danger... head on..." I swallowed hard and needed a moment to get it together before I continued again. "S-she... doesn't h-hide behind... a mask. O-or let others... do her dirty work!" I collapsed to the side on the bed, arms around my abdomen and pulled my knees up to my chest.

"Spirits... she's bleeding...!" I heard my mother say the words but it didn't sink in at first until I saw the big red stain on my sleeping dress. I looked up at her in panic. "Help! Someone! Help her!" her voice cracked from emotion and a Red Lotus guard entered. My mother explained what happened, I had never heard her speak so fast in my entire life. The guard disappeared, my mothers hands pushed down on my bleeding wound. It wasn't long before help arrived in the form of the Avatar.

My father immediately blocked the exit and stood before Korra to prevent her to come in. "You're not getting any near her! You've done enough damage as it is!"

I looked at Korra and heard my mother yell at my father. I didn't care, all I saw were her ocean blue eyes that looked directly into mine. Her face was calm but when I saw her eyes move and lock onto my father. Her features changed drastically. "Get out of my way Hiroshi. Or do you want to add your daughters death on your list of victims that died because of you."

It happened before anyone was able to register it. Before anyone was able to do anything about it. All that we heard was the sound of flesh on flesh. My father, Hiroshi Sato, CEO of Future Industries and former member of the Equalists had just slapped the Avatar across the face. The next thing that happened was, my father had been pinned to the wall by Korra. Her hands held onto his collar while she slowly strangled him. She growled like an animal and bared her teeth while seconds ticked by.

My mother trembled in fear and watched in pure terror how the scene before played out. Nothing stopped her from killing him right there and then. Take his life in exchange for so many others. The guards knew she would listen to any form of reason by now and even stepped back. They probably had witnessed it before. But I'd be damned if I didn't at least try to stop her.

"Korra... K-Korra... please..." my voice was weak but it reached her nonetheless. Within seconds, she let go of my father and he fell to the floor. He gasped for air and rubbed his neck. I sighed in relief and for some reason, I felt calmer already. Korra was having trouble on her own. Breathing heavy and her gaze still fixed on the man at her feet. "Get. Out..." she said on a dangerous tone.

He coughed a few times before he was stupid enough to utter an answer. "you... 'cough' you c-can't tell me... 'cough' what to d-do!"

"GET! OUT! NOW!" she roared, steam came from her nose in an attempt to keep her temper under control. My father was finally dragged outside, stunned into silence by Korra's outburst. She had her eyes closed and took a few very deep breaths before she turned her attention to me and my mother. Her features changed immediately and became softer. I tried to smile at her but failed and groaned pathetically instead.

"So... what happened here..." she said, her tone so much softer now. She sat down next me. My mother had already stepped back and watched curiously what was about to happen. "Please lay on your back and remove your hands." She helped me roll onto my back but I couldn't help the cry of agony that escaped me.

"It... h-hurts... too much..." I uttered and felt that she took a gentle hold onto my wrists. Slowly, she pulled my own hands away from my abdomen.

"Nothing that can't be fixed. I'm sure of it." She said reassuringly and smiled warmly at me. Her hands moved to the hem of my sleeping dress and she slowly lifted the fabric up. I looked down and saw that the bandages were soaked in blood. I felt panic rise up in my chest but before it got worse, her tanned hand placed gently on my chest and I looked up at her again. "Calm down... no need to panic Asami... I'm here... I'll take care of you. Don't worry." Her voice was soothing and her calm demeanour had an amazing effect on me.

She used a small knife to cut away my bandages and tossed them aside. I heard a soft 'plop' and recognized immediately what it was. It was her pouch of healing water that she always carried with her. Korra turned her attention to my mother and smiled gently at her. "Could you tell the guard to fetch a healer... seems miss Sato here pulled some of her stitches..." she said with a soft chuckle.

My mother nodded and quickly disappeared out of the room. Only me and Korra were left. I swallowed hard and let out a longing sigh when her hand, that was covered in glowing healing water, touched the area around my wound. We sat there, in silence. The hand that had rested on my chest, now held onto one of my own. She squeezed every once in a while in reassurance and even though I tried my best to squeeze back, I bet she hardly felt anything.

She continued to sooth my pain and even continued to do so when a doctor walked in to help me. Together, Korra and the doctor stitched me back together. the man left some pills behind for me, so I could deal with the pain, that was caused by my wounds, easier. When the doctor left, Korra asked my mother to clean me up a bit so she could get a new sleeping dress for me. My mother nodded and Korra left. My mother and I didn't say a word while she cleaned me, but she had a playful smile on her lips and caused my cheeks to heat up in embarrassment.

Finally, after what seemed forever, Korra returned and my mother thought that was her queue to take her leave. She kissed my forehead like only a mother could and we exchanged some small words and moved tot the Avatar. She smiled friendly at the Korra and gave her a polite bow, which Korra returned and then, she was gone.

The Avatar chuckled softly, then made her way over to me and sat down on the bed's edge. She wrapped fresh bandages around my abdomen and helped me slip into the new nightgown she had brought for me. After I was settled back under the covers, she asked me if I was hungry.

I had my eyes closed to relish in the warmth of the pelts that covered me and smiled dreamily. I opened my eyes again and smiled at the Avatar. "I'm starving... actually..."

Needless to say, there was food in the room within thirty minutes. I took some of my pills and swallowed them with some juice. They tasted incredibly vile and I nearly threw up. Korra laughed at me and I made a mental note in the back of my head to get her back for it.

After several days of being cared of by the Avatar, I was able to sit up on my own. Although I wasn't pain free just yet, Korra made sure it became bearable to a certain point. She helped me bathe, cleaned my wounds, used her bending on them if they would hurt too much, she brought me food. Or, well, no. She didn't bring the food herself. She called for a Red Lotus member and demanded that they'd bring the food to us. After she had given them a list of what she wanted. For me and herself.

She refused to leave my side unless there was no other option left. The two weeks that followed after I woke up, it happened only twice. Each time she left her personal pet behind. An enormous polar bear dog called Naga. The first time we met, she sniffed me once and before I knew what happened, she had licked my face. It was covered with a big amount of salvia and Korra rolled on the floor, laughing and clutched her stomach with both her arms while she did.

It took her a good ten minutes before she finally stopped laughing and helped me change and wash off her pet's drool. She had apologized on Naga's behalf and explained that she only did that to people she liked. Lucky me... I thought but smiled genuinely to the animal who was wagging her tail.

We continued to spend the nights together. I slept comfortably on my own personal Avatar mattress. Slowly but surely, my energy and strength returned. I could walk short distances and going to the bathroom on my own became the biggest achievement in my life. It was two and a half weeks after I woke up and I found myself on Naga's back. The gigantic animal and me rode to the Library. Korra had to leave again and me and Naga were left behind to find something to entertain ourselves with.

Naga settled close to one of the fire places and laid on the wooden floor. After I had gotten all the books that I wanted to read, so many more than I could actually read in a short period of time, I settled with my back against Naga's enormous body. When Korra had found me in the Library Almost four weeks ago, she made sure that she took all my belongings with her as well. She knew how much they meant to me.

Before today, I kept myself busy with drawing. Once I was able to hold a pencil again. I started drawing Korra and was extremely proud of the drawing I made of her while she slept. The way she had cuddled her pillow. Her messy hair. I looked at that same drawing while I sat on the floor of the Library. Surrounded by books and a polar bear dog as a pillow. It wasn't the same as my Avatar mattress, but still. Comfortable, warm and amazingly soft.

I flipped a page and ocean blue orbs stared right at me. My fingers moved slowly over the paper and I smiled. I loved the details I put in these drawings. I loved her eyes the most out of everything. Her lips were a close second. They looked so kissable and my thoughts drifted of to my dream I head. My cheeks burned as the memory rose to the surface of my memory pool.

I quickly grabbed one of the books about mechanics and browsed through the pages in an attempt to find the last page I read and hopefully it would distract me enough from the memories of my erotic dream. I started to take notes but eventually decided to draw. I drew Korra in a stance where she used her water bending. Her eyes and the element she was bending were the only parts of the drawing that I used colour on.

It took me a few hours but I was glad with the result. I loved the look of determination that I was able to draw and it matched her perfectly. My fingertips moved over the paper and I felt the heat spread across my cheeks again when my fingers touched the drawn Korra. I couldn't help it. I genuinely loved being around her. She made me feel like I mattered. She wasn't the horrible person that people said she was. At least not towards me. She had a kind and gentle heart, buried underneath a layer of violence and tough talk.

I covered my mouth with a hand as I yawned and I decided to put my note block aside. I saw Naga look at me and she let out a content grunt just before she put her big head back on the wooden floor. I giggled softly and turned my body slightly to cuddle up against Naga. Surrounded by books, notes and a giant animal, I feel asleep.

It was late in the afternoon when I returned to the Red Lotus compound but quickly moved to my private bath to clean up and have a change of clothes. I quickly went out to Asami's room to see if she was there, even though my gut said I shouldn't have bothered.

I found her room to be empty and walked through the halls towards the Library. When I entered, I heard the familiar sound of Naga's snores and grinned. I tried to be as silent as possible but Naga heard me anyway. I heard her growl, she hadn't seen me yet and thought I might've been someone with bad intentions. Good girl... I thought and the moment I came into view, she stopped growling and happily wagged her tail. I put my index finger against my lips and let out a soft 'shhhhh' to prevent her to wake Asami.

I crouched down next to my pet and guest and drank in Asami's beautiful features. She laid cuddled up against Naga's side. Her face nuzzled into the soft white fur and so was one of her hands. She looked so adorable and I wished I had one of those devices with me they call a camera, to record this moment and have a small picture of it to look at. It's when I noticed her note block and pencil, that I decided to draw her like this. I carefully took the note block in my hands to prevent myself from making to much noise.

When I opened it, first thing I saw were notes of engineering stuff. I never understood any of it and quickly flipped page after page to find one that was still blank. I eventually stumbled upon my own, sleeping, face and my eyes grew wide in shock. No, not shock, I was more impressed than shocked at her skill to draw. I chuckled softly as I flipped through the pages and gasped softly when I saw the last one.

It was beautiful and so incredibly detailed I couldn't believe it. I gazed at the drawing a little longer before I flipped it and had a blank page before me. The pencil in my hand moved over the paper without any hesitation or doubt, hours later, I checked the result and was pleased with myself. It looked quite amazing and I thought it matched Asami perfectly.

I closed the note block and when I looked out the window, it was already dark outside. I didn't want to risk waking her up so I decided to cuddle up behind her. She let out a content sigh as I wrapped my arms carefully around her waist. I spooned her perfectly and nestled my head against Naga while sleep slowly overwhelmed me.

Time slowly passed and it was in the middle of the night when I woke up. I was surprisingly comfortable and when I looked down at my waist, I was two familiar hands, entangled with one another, that rested on my stomach. I bit my lower lip anxiously and really wanted to turn around and face her. I don't think I ever turned around so slowly, ever, in my entire life. Inch by inch I turned my body, her arms still around me and prayed that she would sleep though it all. After what seemed like forever, I finally faced her and my heart skipped a beat or two.

Korra was sleeping so peacefully and I couldn't help it, I brought my hand up and lovingly cupped one side of her face. I let my fingers slide ever so gently over her facial features and started at her cheekbone. I moved my fingers just below her eye and felt the faint, very subtle change of skin. A scar from a fight, who knows how long ago. It was small and thin. I didn't linger to long and my fingers moved and followed her jaw line, all the way to her chin.

I let my index finger rest on her strong chin and my eyes lingered on her lips. How I wanted to move forward and put my lips on her own. To finally be able to know, what her lips would taste like. How they would feel against my own. I was in the middle of fantasizing about Korra's lips, when she moved and shifted her position. Out of the blue, she suddenly moved forward and her lips touched mine. Her eyes still closed.

My heart was pounding in my throat and ears. I was in a state of complete shock and couldn't grasp the concept of what just happened. Her lips were still on mine and she laid completely still. My brain had crashed and needed to reboot on what just took place. Finally, when my brains started to work normally again I slowly pulled back and Korra cuddled closer. Buried her face in the crook of my neck while her embrace around me tightened. She pulled me flush against her form. I swallowed hard and my breathing became unsteady.

She purred softly and even though I found it utterly adorable, it didn't help my case to calm myself down. I took a shuddering breath and wrapped my arms around Korra, my head resting against her neck. I buried my nose in her hair and figured that she had taken a bath earlier since her hair was still slightly damp. The smell of musk and earth reached my nostrils and I tried to take in her scent as deep as possible. I felt the skin of her neck against my cheek and turned my face a bit. Enough that my lips touched Korra's warm flesh. She purred again and my heart thundered in my chest.

I needed to accept it. Had to face the fact that I had fallen in love with the person who had nearly executed my father. Who kept me here in exchange to keep my father in check. Who threatened to kill me if my father wouldn't do as told. I didn't believe that she would hurt me, not anymore. Ever since my stay here, she had never even shown any aggression towards me. Or a sign that she wanted to hurt me. Sure, there was the first day I was here, but that was mostly because she didn't knew any better.

I closed my eyes and placed soft kisses on the skin of Korra's warm neck. The irony finally hit me and I smiled sadly against her skin. My father was responsible for the deaths of so many benders all over the world. Me, a none bender and daughter of a bender hating terrorist, fell in love with the greatest bender of all. It wasn't the Avatar that I fell for, it was Korra and Korra happened to be, the Avatar.