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Korra's POV

I'd had enough. I couldn't and wouldn't stand for Tarrlok's bullying of innocent Nonbenders anymore. He wasn't just going after Equalists, he was after all people who, unlike him, couldn't Bend.

I had seen the boy's tear stained face when we went in. I think that's what finally made me snap. I'd remembered the day Jason had cried when I gave him to Howl. Mako had told me that's how they'd found him: crying and sobbing while his parents lay on the floor. I had actually fought the Task Force and Tarrlok, trying to protect the family before they were able to hold me back, restrain me.

It was lucky for Tarrlok. I would have killed him if not for the Metalbenders.

The cops had "escorted" me back to Air Temple Island. I could feel my anger and regret bubbling in my veins, simmering. Once they dropped me off I went straight to the house, knowing my parents and Jason would probably be with Pema and the Airbending kids. I arrived and threw the door open, taking off my uniform and tossing it on the ground.

As I went through the house I started to throw anything I could get my hands on. I felt my muscles tense as I threw the table against the wall, hitting, breaking, tossing everything in sight. I was useless. I couldn't save the inmates in that God-forsaken prison. I couldn't save that family from being arrested. I was completely useless!

I yelled as I continued to break things around the house, finally causing attention to be drawn from the main house. I could hear people shouting, my mother crying, begging me to stop but I couldn't. I didn't want to. I wanted to let out all my anger and this was the only way I was able to. I knew in the back of my mind I was losing control I could almost feel that familiar power creeping in me. It was only a matter of time before I would enter the Avatar State and I didn't want to stop it.

"Korra! Please!" my mother's voice cried. "Sweetie, stop! You're hurting yourself!"

It wasn't until that moment that I realized my knuckles were bleeding but I didn't care. I was useless, disposable. I would do everyone a favor if I died, then the next Avatar would be born. They would be able to fix the mess I caused.

I stole another glance at my blood stained hands; the hands that were drenched in the blood of innocents. I was a failure. I shut my eyes tightly, closing my hands into fists.

"Jason! Don't!" My father's voice.

My body began to shake and I knew what was coming, what I couldn't control, what I didn't want to control. But as quickly as the shaking came it stopped when small hands wrapped themselves around my arm.

"Korra," a tiny voice whispered. "I'm here."

My eyes tightened more as I recognized the voice and I felt myself slowly relax. My breathing finally evened out and I crumbled to my knees, covering my face as I tried holding back the sobs. What had I done?

Small hands lowered mine until familiar amber eyes looked at me. I looked away but he placed his little palm against my cheek. "Korra," Jason called. I flinched at my name, forcing myself to look at him. When I did he wrapped his arms around my neck and I returned the embrace, holding him tightly against me. My Jason.

My parents came in along with Tenzin. He looked beyond shocked. "Korra!" he said. "What did you-"

"Not now, Tenzin," Katara said sharply.

I met my old master's gaze, then slowly moved on to Tenzin and then finally my parents. They all looked disturbed...wary...disappointed. I didn't blame them. When I finally saw all the damage I'd done I looked down at the ground, shame and self loathing building inside me. I was a monster...a failure...a burden.

"I..." I trailed off, knowing nothing could fix this. They were probably going take Jason from me, and I couldn't stop them. I couldn't even blame them for doing that. But the idea of losing him made my chest tighten and I had to fight back the tears. I hugged the boy to me like he was the only thing keeping me sane.

"Korra?" It was Jason again.

"I'm so sorry you had to see that," I whispered, my voice watery and low. "I'm so sorry."

Howl's POV

The silence that had enveloped the room had been almost deafening. We had all just stood there after Korra's meltdown, not knowing what to say. I had never seen the Avatar so...vulnerable.

I didn't know what had caused her to snap but I had a hunch Tarrlok had something to do with it. She had been fine before she left. Whatever the councilman had done must've been...severe.

Korra had simply sat there on the floor holding Jason to her afterwards. She was on the verge of tears and I couldn't help but notice how small she looked.

I watched as the girl stood, the boy still in her arms, and started toward the door. She wouldn't meet anybody's gaze and I couldn't blame her. We were all in shock. Except for Tenzin. He seemed furious.

It seemed the Airbender finally had his evidence that Korra was unfit to care for Speedy. After all he'd been against it from the beginning.

He could take Jason away. And Korra couldn't do anything to stop it.

Korra's POV

After my little…tantrum my parents and Katara had ordered me to my room with Jason. We sat on the bed and I pulled him into my lap, holding him close to me. I could feel the tears forming in my eyes as I realized that they were going to take him away. They were going to take the only person that I loved more than my own life.

Jason nuzzled his face against my neck and held on tightly to me as well. While everyone had looked at me with horror and shock, he was the only one who seemed to understand. He didn't look at all the negative aspects of my actions as everyone else did. He was the only person besides Mako that saw something of worth in me, something that even I couldn't see.

And couldn't help but wonder how he could when even I didn't have that ability. I didn't have that kind of faith in anything...but it seemed Jason had faith in me.

"She's dangerous!" I heard Tenzin say. "Look at what she did to your house! Imagine what she could do to the boy or to any of you!"

"Korra wouldn't hurt Jason, of that I am sure," Katara countered. "She cares about him more than anything."

"Look at what she did!"

"Everyone has their moments," my father's voice reasoned. "She reached her limit. But the boy has changed her."

"Korra doesn't have enough control!" the Airbender continued, not willing to drop this so easily it seemed. "If she enters the Avatar State…she won't be able to control herself. It won't be about who she cares about. It will be about who's standing too close."

"My daughter is not a monster!" my mother growled. "She wouldn't!"

"Are you so sure?" Tenzin objected. "The boy is in danger as long as long as he is in her custody; he should be removed from her care immediately."

I tightened my hold on Jason at this. They were going to take him and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. The little Firebender held on tighter to me. I wanted to run away with him, leave Republic City and head somewhere where no one would hurt us, where no one knew us.

But…that would only make things worse.

"We should take a vote," Katara stated after a while, some hesitance in her voice. "That's how we'll decide the boy's fate."

I closed my eyes tightly, rocking Jason in my arms while pressing gentle kisses to his forehead. He looked up at me with sad honey colored eyes. He knew what was going to happen. I had to prove that I was in control…that I could care for him. But…I would have to leave. I had to.

"Korra?" he said, his voice quiet.

"Hmmm?"

"You're going to go away, aren't you?" Jason noted sadly.

I looked into his amber eyes and watched as they began to water. I bit my lip and nodded. I had to leave, I had to leave and make sure I'd have control. It was the only way.

"I need to be able to control myself," I told him, my voice trembling. "I can hurt you if I'm not careful. And I don't want that."

"You wouldn't hurt me," he countered with innocent certainty, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I know you wouldn't. Please Korra, don't leave me."

I didn't want to. I hope he knew that there wasnt anything I wanted more than to stay with him.

His little arms wrapped themselves around my neck and I let out a sob I had been holding back at this. I didn't want to leave him. I really didn't. But this wasn't about what I wanted or what he wanted. It was about what needed to happen. What was best.

"I'm so sorry," I told him, holding him close to me. "I wish I didn't have to but…I don't have a choice. Please understand."

"Mommy, Mommy please don't go."

That was my undoing. I couldn't stop the tears that began to fall. His tiny body shook with his pitiful sounding sniffles. This had turned out to be harder than Id thought it would. Gently I began to pull away and I wiped away his tears with my thumb and he did the same to me. I gave him a small smile. What a pair we made.

"I'm going to come back," I told him with as much conviction as I could muster.

"How long are you going to be away?" he asked quietly. There was understanding...but there was also a sorrow that I imagined only someone three times his age could have. My resolve was wavering.

"I don't know," I answered sincerely. "But once I have the control that I need, I'll be back. I promise."

"Cross your heart?"

I managed a smile and drew an x with my finger over my chest. "Cross my heart."

He lowered his gaze but I raised his chin so he could look at me. I gave him another smile and he wrapped his arms around my neck, giving my cheek a kiss. I hugged him tightly before kissing his temple and opening the window.

"I'll be back."

Jason bit his lip and nodded, waving his little hand. I climbed out the window and he peered out after me. Even in the dark of the night I could see his tear stained face.

"Bye, Mommy," he whispered.

I forced myself not to look back and searched for Howl. Once I found him I told him that we had to leave and he packed a few supplies before we headed over to where the Sky Bison slept. I was grateful that he don't ask questions. I knew Id change my mind if he did.

Naga trotted over to me when we passed the stables and I hugged her tightly around her neck before shaking my head at her.

"Not this time, girl," I told her. She whined but sat down, letting me know she wouldn't follow. I was going to miss her too.

We saddled up Gama and shortly after we were in the air. I looked back at Air Temple Island. I could swear that I could still see Jason looking out the window.

"Goodbye…my son," I whispered.

A/N: The reason I introduced Jason/Speedy is because of the relationship Ollie has with his sister, Thea in the show. I wanted Korra to have a similar relationship.