A/N: Wow. I am flying through these chapters. I am going to have this as a long chapter. Very happy with this story. I did however, notice that she was bending despite her hands bound. She can bend very basic things with her hands restrained, but nothing major. Sorry, my fault. Any questions, comments, concerns let me know. Well enjoy.

Chapter Four: A crack in the armor.

I snuggled down deeper into the soft quilts, ignoring the noises keeping me from sleep. I turn, with only a dull ache on my stomach. Wait! What? As the previous events come flooding back, I jerk up, eyes open wide. I am in a small room, with a dresser and desk. Sunlight streams in from a large skylight and talking can be heard outside my door. I stand, expecting a sharp pain, but only a small ache. I lift my dark blue hoodie showing my left side of the stomach in bandages. Peeling back the dressings I see a burn that was once bigger than my hand, the skin shiny and red, is now as big as my palm and less aggravated.

I swallow hard and hear a large growl, I am still hungry. I remember the fight, then the burn and waking up here. I must be at Air Temple Island. I hear the door open and a creek and whirl around. Korra and Asami stood there, food and bandages in hand.

"Oh, good, you're awake." Asami said, setting down the food tray.

"How did…" I say.

"Get healed? You can thank Korra for that." Asami replied, gesturing to the avatar.

"But, why?" I say confused, and from their faces I can see I'm not the only one. "Why did you help me? I'm… a criminal, and I attacked you and your friends. Why would you heal me?" I say.

"Because you were hurt, and it looked really painful. Plus, I'm the avatar, helping people is kinda my job." Korra said shrugging. In a rush of gratitude I reply.

"Thank you Avatar Korra." I say formally and truthfully. Startled Korra shares a glance with Asami before saying.

"Of course."

I glance at the food hungrily. Asami catches my glance, and says, "It is for you. Go ahead and eat." I nod my thanks and chow down. Less than a minute later, it's gone.

"Wow. You ate it that fast?" Korra said.

"Anymore?" I ask, still hungry.

"I'll be right back." Asami says, walking out of the room.

"Am I on the island?" I wonder aloud.

"Yep, Tenzin flew you and me over so I could heal you." Korra states.

"Was it really that bad?" I wince.

"Yes. I don't know how you could stand much less fight us and the goonies. How did you get the burn and why didn't you heal it yourself." Korra replies. Ah, more questions.

"About a year ago, I got involved in messing with the Triad gangs. I just hate what they do, terrorizing non-benders, so I bother them whenever I can. That's when I learned chi blocking," I say with a sideways glance at Korra, but she doesn't even blink, "Since then they gotten really mad at me and was always looking for ways of revenge. Like messing with my supplies, stealing my stuff, making a real problem for me. Well I ruined a big money collecting trip on a shop, roughed up the guys and got them arrested. Well someone snuck up on me and tried to kill me, but only got off with the burn. That's why I tried to take Mako's scarf, I had all my supplies stolen and it was getting worse. And all of my bending is self-taught because of my parents-" I finish abruptly, fearing I gave too much away.

"Who were those people you helped?" She asked.

"A wonderful family who saved my life. I got really sick one winter and they took me in and healed me. Guess the gang found out." I sigh.

"Kida, why didn't you tell us that they needed help, we could have helped." Korra said, almost gently.

I jump, startled, "Well, you might not have believed me and not gotten there in time. Plus, they might go after everyone too." I say simply, Korra starts to say more when Asami returns with food and guests.

"I'm so sorry, I tried to tell them you were healing, but they wouldn't listen." Asami says as three airbenders climb all over me.

"Who are you strange person!" Yelled the youngest, a boy, and promptly blowing wind in my face.

"Is it true that you can-" Starts one girl but is interrupted by the other.

"Why is your hair red? Does your burn hurt? Did you know you're under arrest? Are you in big trouble? Do you have any secrets? Will you tell me?" She piped jumping up and down.

I took a deep breath before I spoke, "My name is Kida. I can bend two elements, my hair is red because I dyed it. My burn hurts but not nearly as much as before. I am under house arrest here because I stole; don't ever do that though it's bad. I hope I'm not in big trouble and my secrets are secrets for a reason."

"Wow, you handled that well." Asami commented as she ushers the kids out of the room.

"Hey they are kids." I say, shrugging. I roll my eyes, but stop when the door opens. In walks Tenzin and The Chief. Oh. More questions.

"Kida, you are looking well." Tenzin says, while Chief rolls her eyes.

"What do you want?" I say, putting on my icy exterior.

"You need to start answering our questions Kida." Tenzin says.

I open my mouth and what comes out is different from my normal hostility, "Fine, nothing too personal and I want everyone here. I'm only going to say this once."

I wait and eat until everyone arrives, besides the kids and the mom, I haven't met her yet.

"What do you want to know?" I sigh.

"How can you bend two elements?" Korra asks.

"Honestly, I don't know, everything I can do is self-taught." I say, hoping it won't lead to parentage.

"How did you learn to chi block." The Chief asks.

"Through watching, I would watch where they would punch and try to hit the same place in a fight. After lots a failures, I was able to do it, as a last resort." I say humbly.

"Why steal? Where are your parents?" Asami wondered.

"I steal because I have to, no money equals no food, no parents equals no money. It is my last resort."

"I want to know the locations of where there is chi blocking lessons and triad headquarters." Chief orders.

"Ready?" I ask at her nod I continue, rattling off a large list of places, when I finish, she nods and rises to leave.

"Wait! Are you going to free me?" I ask.

The Chief hardly blinks as she answers, "You answered most of our questions and all of them truthfully, but until I find out what you're hiding and if you're a threat. You're going to stay here."
I leap to my feet, angry. "It's because of him isn't?" I spit, pointing at Mako. "He thinks I'm an Equalist and despite everything I've done I'm still a prisoner?"

Korra and Asami also rise to my defense, much to my surprise. "What? Tenzin this is a bad idea." Korra states.

"Korra, do you trust her?" Chief Beifong asks.

"I do." Korra replies, ignoring Mako's outraged look.

"And so do I." Asami adds.

"Very well then, Kida you are still under arrest, but not as severely. You may not leave Air Temple Island, but can walk around free until this mess is clean up."

"Still a prisoner but with a larger cage." I say bitterly.

"You can take it or leave it." Tenzin replies.

"Do I have a choice?" I say coldly.

"You always have a choice." Chief Beifong said as they left.

I glare at their backs, but then sigh and flop back down on the bed.

"Don't worry, I don't like it too." Came a sullen voice. Surprise, surprise, Mako.

I stand up angry, "You know what, I don't know what I did for you hate me. I tried apologizing, answering all your questions, but I still look like a Equalist to you!" I say to Mako. Shaking my head in disgust I march out of the room to explore the island. I find the training grounds and think this might be a good way to burn off some anger, literally.

I take a deep breath, and start to practice. My style of bending is unique because I invented it. It combines the two elements of fire and water, allowing more flexibility to fire and power to water during my for dodges and attacks. I start with fire, then water, but to finish I always end bending both at the same time, which requires a lot of practice and concentration. As soon as I end I hear clapping. Leaning there against the wall is Mako.

"What do you want?" I say coldly.

"Just watching the enemy at work." He replies. I strive to keep a cool head, relax he is just trying to bait you.

"Sorry, am I all finished now."

"How about showing me a few moves, you know so when I have to face a bending Equalist."
"How about you leave me alone."

"Sorry. Poor Kida's feelings hurt. Can't take the heat?" Mako taunts.

"What did I do to you? All I did was steal some stupid scarf and…" And with a growl he attacks. I doge the first wave of fire and the second but block the third. But he is to close for bending unless I want to hurt him or block his chi, but I know if I do that he will find an excuse to lock me up forever. But suddenly there is a wall of earth between us. I turn to see Korra, Asami and Bolin glaring. But not at me.

"Bro! What is wrong with you?" Bolin shouts.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? She is a Equalist and you all are falling for her lies! Do you remember what they did, and here is one in front of me and you are defending her!"

"Mako, if she was lying don't you think Chief Beifong would have detected it. You know earth bending." Asami says.

"Unless she is really skilled." Mako counters.

"Dude relax and give her a chance." Bolin replies, but Mako just sighs in disgust and starts to walk away, but I don't let him.

"What? You think you can try and kill me and then everything would be fine? What can I do so you will trust me?" I shout after him.

"You want to know? I want you to tell me about your parents." Mako turns around glaring and thinking he has me there.

"You want to know about my past? All the little dark secrets? About my parents and everything? Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Huh, huh, what did you think? Pretty good right. I know Mako is over reacting but I reasoned that he is so worried that his friends might get hurt {Korra} He's not thinking straight. So yeah tell me what you think. Sorry but please review.