If I Never Knew You

I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong
All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night
But still my heart is singing
We were right

Guilty.

That was the verdict after the former Councilman's trial.

"Former Councilman Tarrlok, for crimes against Republic City and for kidnapping the Avatar, you are hereby sentence to serve a life sentence in the Boiling Rock at the Fire Nation. May the Spirits have mercy on you."

Amon, now known as the former Councilman's brother, Noatak perished at Yue Bay thanks to Tarrlok's hands. It was a miracle that the politician survived at all. A life sentence was merciful after all the things Tarrlok did. He was close to receiving the death sentence.

Thanks to Avatar Korra, she was the one who spared his life.

Tomorrow was the day he would be shipped off to the Fire Nation to live out the rest of his life at the Boiling Rock. All that time, trying to do good, trying to be the hero Republic City need, and here he was. Being sent away from the city he loved like the criminal his father was.

The door opened, the only slither of light coming into the cell. Turning to see who it was, it was Avatar Korra herself.

"Avatar Korra…" Out of all the people to see him, this was definitely a surprise.

"Tarrlok…"

"I'm about to be sent off to the Boiling Rock tomorrow, so I'm sure there's nothing more you can say to me, seeing as you brought me here."

"You're lucky that I didn't push the council to put you on the death sentence, after all you've done, but seeing how as I almost killed you the night I came into your office, I suppose I'm not the innocent one either."

It was the night he finally bloodbended after so many years of repressing that cursed art form.

"But after you told me how your brother, Noatak became Amon, and that Yakone was your father, I began to see that… that you were someone who tried to do good, but couldn't avoid the shadow of his father."

Korra reached into the cell, and their hands intertwined. "If only I could release you from here so you can live out the rest of your life in peace… I would have already done it."

Their foreheads brushed past each other, he could see the white hair of the Avatar's polar bear dog on her coat shaw. He placed a hand on her face, and soon, their lips met.

He didn't know if it was out of desperation that she was the only woman that he'll ever see or if it was the spur of the moment, but he knew he wanted to do that the first moment he saw her on Air Temple Island.

Fear and hate was strong, especially amongst the benders and the non-bending Equalists. But with Korra, he knew that there could be a world without strife.

She gave him peace in a lifetime of pain.

And if I never knew you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Empty as the sky
Never knowing why
Lost forever

If I never knew you…

Song inspiration: If I Never Knew You - from Disney's Pocahontas