Ch 3:

Warning: This chapter is rated M for much violence and gore, in graphic detail. For any of you who have weaker constitutions for this sort of thing, I've included an asterisk (***) bar to indicate where the violence begins and ends.

It was particularly hot that day, at the academy. Tahno had done an exceptionally average performance for his physical training; Mako had performed the phenominally-as usual. Korra hadn't been there to attend her training. She was there for the morning briefing and her things were in her locker, but Korra was nowhere she should be. Tahno had a rather horrid feeling in the pit of his stomach, and it felt as if a chill had swept across his heart. He shivered, and he looked up at the building where the classes were held. Tahno looked back at the rest of his class who was heading back to learn disarming techniques, his conscience getting the better of him.

Tahno combed his shorter hair back over his head, wringing some water and sweat out of his undershirt, before he jogged off towards the buildings without worrying about being seen. He wasn't one to stand out in a crowd back in those days. As Tahno entered the building, he could already feel a sense of foreshadowing disaster looming overhead. He glanced around, noticing a broom set to the side, as if someone had set it there with the intention to return to it shortly. A pile of debris lay on the floor beside it as well as a dustpan. Tahno narrowed his eyes as he faintly remembered the choreboard for their class listing Korra under sweeping-duty today. She must've went to tend to her chores before training, but she had been interrupted by something. "Curious and curiouser..." Tahno muttered to himself. He stepped cautiously down the hallway, his nose picking up the faintest smell of a bitter, sour copper. He froze dead in his tracks, recognizing the smell as blood. It definitely wasn't lacking in iron, either. He crept quickly down the hall, soon hearing the sounds of a distant scuffle.

*********START*********

Tahno gasped and he grabbed the broom, snapping the broom handle off of the bristled end, taking off down the hallway. He saw two figures in the introductory firearms classroom, and he silently opened the door a crack, sliding inside. He saw Korra, and their firearms instructor-Tarrlok-duking it out. Korra had blood splatters across her face and on her clothes, as well as some sore marks on her wrists and a passionate hatred burning in her eyes. Tahno stood in horror as Tarrlok, who wasn't stain-free either, fought against his own student. His most prized student, at that. Korra excelled in all of her classes without a hassle, which naturally made her a favorite among the teachers. Tahno jumped and gasped as Korra tossed Tarrlok across a desk, knocking it over with a loud crash.

"Y-YOU... Y-YOU SICK BASTARD!" Korra shrieked, wringing Tarrlok's neck as he curled his larger fingers around her's, tightening his grip.

"D... gh...gk! D-DON'T ACT SO INNOCENT, KORRA!" Tarrlok roared like a beast. Tahno gasped, snapping out of his trance. He couldn't try to attack with the two of them rolling around and moving like that-he could accidentally hit Korra. Not to mention Tarrlok was a mighty force to try to take down. He was often referred to by the students as a demon.

Tahno could only watch in horror, without being of help to the woman he had admired from afar for so long, as that woman gave the beating as good as she got it.

Suddenly, Tarrlok had wrenched himself from Korra's grasp, tossing her at a window. Tarrlok scoffed at Korra, who fell limp among the broken pieces of glass. He turned around, pausing for a moment as he saw Tahno. "Ah, Tahno... w-what a surprise~ Uh..." Tarrlok began walking towards Tahno, and all Tahno could do was watch his instructor step closer and closer to him, pulling something out from his back pocket.

Suddenly, before Tahno could even register what had happened, a slender, toned arm was wrapped around Tarrlok's shoulder, holding a large piece of glass at his throat. "This... will only be too good for me..." Korra hissed as she cut a deep slice across Tarrlok's throat. She avoided his arteries, and she avoided everything major-she just wanted his voice. And in a flash... it was hers.

Tahno gasped in horror as the woman he loved turned into some feral beast, pushing Tarrlok onto the ground, stepping on his arms, just above his elbow joints. She then reached down, grabbing his wrists with her iron-like grip. "You did say you wanted me to show you what these hands of mine can do, remember...?" Korra said, unable to restrain that prideful grin from slipping across her lips. And with that, and a bit of prying, a series of loud, agonizing cracks were heard. All Tarrlok could do was let out whisper-pitched cries and screams of the pure agony he was feeling. Korra stood up, panting softly, cracking her neck a little.

*********END*********

Only after the threat had been eliminated, did she see Tahno. She froze in her tracks, her gaze holding his, not daring to blink or even breathe.

For what felt like hours, the two students stood there, motionless, staring at each other. Tahno didn't know how long he had been holding his breath for, nor did he really care.

As Korra opened her mouth to speak, Tahno interjected immediately. "Korra... I... I-I'll take the blame." he spoke firmly, absolute certainty in his face. "He was advancing on you, and I stopped him from assaulting you." He spoke with strength. Korra was so flabberghasted, she didn't even know how to respond. It was all too much. Tahno ran over to where Tarrlok lay, and he curled his fingers around the muscular neck to get his DNA smeared over Korra's as well as blood on his hands. "Go," he spoke without even facing Korra. He couldn't look at her.

"B-But I-"

"I SAID GO." Tahno snapped, his voice wavering a little. Ohh, he was so petrified. He had no idea what would have happened to him.

Jolting from the surprising outburst, Korra bit her lip nervously before turning to run away.

Tahno would never forget that day. The stench of blood... the noises of frightened and angered people surrounding him, followed by sirens... but Korra's face as she turned to leave, that... that was worth remembering. While she wore blood smears across her cheeks and nose, fear upon her trembling lips, she wore relief on her eyes. That relief was Tahno's gift to Korra, and he was only too happy to be able to give it to her.

Anything to keep her safe.