Takes place when Kuvira and Baatar are in their mid thirties.

XXXX

It gnawed and clawed at her the guilt, the guilt of what she had done a week ago. She had hurt him again. The shame and guilt rose and grew in her each passing day. She had two options, not to tell him and live out their lives like they were supposed to do. Or tell him and face the consequences of her action.

She went with the latter it didn't sit right with her to keep this to herself, to lie to him any longer than she already had. Kuvira couldn't live with herself if she continued on as if nothing had happened. Secrets had a way of coming out one way or another and she preferred that he hear it from her than from someone else.

Kuvira lazily drew circles on Baatar's broad chest. She sat on his lap, legs dangling over the side of the chair. He had pulled an all nigther again. His work spread out on the table blueprints and straight edges littered one half. His eyes were closed but he wasn't asleep, he was just giving his eyes a quick rest.

She pressed a soft kiss to his lips and to his jaw.

"I'm awake, I'm not asleep." Baatar tiredly said opening his eyes.

"I love you Baatar," She mumbled against his neck.

"I love you too Kuvira." Baatar said. Kuvira pulled back taking his hand into hers. Playing with his engagement ring, they were going to get married for real this time.

"I'm sorry, "She buried her face into his shoulder.

"Sorry for what?" he was getting a little worried now. He pushed her back looking into her eyes. She wore a visibly upset expression. "What's wrong Kuvira?" He asked softly.

"I love you," She wanted him to remember that. How much she loved him, how he was the only person she truly ever loved. How much she loved him before she was going to shatter his heart. "I…. cheated on you." She said slowly.

Baatar's face darkened and his mouth contorted into a frown. He stood pushing her away from him. "Are you fucking kidding me Kuvira? With who?" He demanded to know who she had fucked with. He knew she wasn't lying, Kuvira wasn't one to.

"Korra," She confessed.

"Korra?! As in Avatar Korra. As in my boss's wife?" He exploded. She could only nod. "Why the fucking hell would you do that? When did this happen?" He needed answers.

"A week ago Korra dragged me to a bar. We got drunk and it just spiraled out of control." Unfortunately Kuvira remembered that one night. It happened in a bathroom stall. It didn't last long and it wasn't even enjoyable. Korra was rough and wanted to dominate but, so did she. They had ended up mostly fighting each other for dominance. After it was over Korra drunkenly left her. Kuvira stayed in the stall feeling awful. She felt like the dirty bathroom she was in, disgusting, fifthly and remorseful. She had just hurt Baatar after promising she would never again. "Baatar I'm so sorry I made a mistake, I was drunk and-"

"Obviously not drunk enough to forget." He cut in, hurt, betrayal and fury burned in his eyes. "How could you do this to me? To us? After everything that we have been through? Your stupid cow."

"I'm so sorry, Baatar."

"That's not good enough you dumb bitch." He snarled, "How you could you just throw us up in flames?" He had waited for her during her incarceration and mandatory work for the Earth Kingdom supervised by Avatar Korra. After the spirit weapon he had visited many times. It started out with fighting, yelling and tears. Baatar was so hurt then, the empire had meant more to her then he did.

But slowly he was able to come to terms and forgive her. They reconciled and rebuilt their relationship. Anytime their paths would cross out in the field, they would meet up. Either to talk, cuddle or make passionate love all night. It had always left them filled with promises and joy of seeing the other again. They had made it so far that he proposed again and she easily said yes.

"You know how long I have been patient with you? Since we were sixteen, I waited for you, was patient enough will all of your high maintenance. And what do you do? You just throw all that away like I mean nothing to you. It's always been about you, you decided everything. When we dated, kissed, held hands, got engaged, fucked and now ruined us. It's always just been you, you, you, you selfish greedy bitch. I guess what people say about me is true then I'm just some whipped man. You never loved me, you just used me. So fuck you." Baatar huffed.

"No, that's not true, I love you, I have always loved you I have never pretended that you were not the one I wanted to be with. You're the one and only person I want to be with, Baatar. I made a mistake, I instantly regretted it. Please give me another chance, I promise I will never betray you again." She pleaded.

"After you blasted me with the spirit ray I built for you, I didn't think that I had it in me to forgive but I did. But now you cheated on me and you're asking for another chance? I don't think so." He turned to leave.

"Baatar, please I'm sorry." She repeated.

"Sorry? You're not sorry, you're just sorry that you had to tell me." He whirled around stomping up her and shoved her against the wall. She let out a gasp as her back came in contact with the wall. He so badly wanted to hit her make her bleed. Make her hurt as bad as he was feeling. "And what about the next time huh? Are you going to go fuck a random strange and get knocked up and hope I forgive you?"

"NO, no Baatar-"

"You know for a person all about loyalty, you sure do know how to turn people against you." Baatar moved away from her going to the front door. Kuvira desperately tugged on his arm to stop him from leaving. She couldn't lose him, he was the only person she had now or ever for that fact.

Baatar angrily jerked out of her grip. He furiously pushed her away and off of him. It was forceful enough that she stumbled back, losing her balance falling on her back. "I said no Kuvira. Why don't you go marry Korra, I don't give a shit anymore." He snapped. Baatar grabbed his coat and slammed the door closed.

Kuvira moved into a sitting position her hand going to the back of her head. She sat with her eyes closed for a minute. Her life had just blown up in her face again. The glint of a shining object caught her eyes. Crawling over to it, she saw it was his engagement ring. Kuvira slipped it over her thumb. Tears prickled at her eyes but she held them back. She wouldn't allow her pity tears of fall she didn't deserve it.

She had just self sabotaged her one meaningful relationship again.

XXXX

Baatar swiped furiously under his eyes. His mind felt like it was going too exploded, he couldn't comprehend why she would to that to them. He did not have destination in mind, he just couldn't bear to look at her any longer. He avoided Avatar Korra Park it only made him more made seeing her giant statue. He hated them both stupid whores they would go fuck themselves for all he cared.

Baatar walked and walked the city sounds fell on his deaf ears. He stopped spotting a bench with a lone person on it. He moved to sit next to Asami Sato. They sat overlooking the pond with the white swans swimming around.

"So I guess you know now huh?" Asami said, "As this is one of the few parks where you can't see her statue."

"Yeah, how long have you known?" Here was the only other person that knew what he was going through that wouldn't judge him to hard.

"Korra told me two days after it happened. How did you handle the news?"

"I stormed out on her and called her degrading names." He stated.

"Then you did better than me." Baatar looked at his boss. Her raven hair had lost some of its bouncy curls and her under eyes were dark. "I punched her, called her names and then I electrocuted her with the Equalist glove. After that I stormed out on her leaving her on the floor." Asami took a deep breath closing her green eyes. "Should we sleep together to get back at them?"

"That would be the cherry on top wouldn't it? Baatar thought it over it seemed fair enough they had cheated on them so why not? Why not take their revenge and sleep together? "But no it wouldn't be the right thing to do." No matter how much they were hurting, they wouldn't stoop to that level. Asami and Baatar sat on the bench under the sun aimlessly staring out to the water.

"If you want you can have the day off tomorrow." Asami said standing.

"No I'll be in." Baatar stated as his boss left. He sat for hours and hours, not willing to return to their home and deal with her. Or even figure out what they were going to next. She was a complicated person, they shared a really screwed up past.

Maybe there was one person that could help him. He stood from the bench stretching out his stiffened muscles. Baatar started the long trek to his Aunt's house. He knew that she wouldn't be home for some time so he sat at her table waiting.

The click of the door and toss of keys signified that his Aunt was home. Her metal boots clunked against the floor. "What are you doing here kid?" Lin asked bluntly.

"Kuvira cheated," He mumbled quietly.

"What, you have to speak up I'm ears aren't what they used to be."

Baatar sighed, "I said Kuvira cheated." And the dam broke again his removed his glasses wiping away the tears. Lin awkwardly put a hand on his shoulder, she wasn't a touchy feely person.

"That's rough buddy." She moved over to her cabinet taking down a rectangular bottle and two glasses. She poured only a few inches in both.

"Here drink this," She slid him a glass.

"What is it?" He asked examined the dark liquor inside.

"Just drink," She ordered. Baatar brought the cup to his lips and tilted his head back swallowing the liquid in one gulp. He started to sputter and cough, "What was that it's so strong and it burns." He squeaked out in a high pitched voice.

Lin didn't answer but poured him another glass. Draining her glass without so much as a flinch.

"Kuvira cheated, I hate her, why would she do that?" he blubbered out. "Fucking bitch," He drained his glass again and coughed.

Lin sat at there what was she supposed to say, "Do you want me to call your mom?"

"Spirits no, she's just going to tell me how right she was and how dumb I was to take Kuvira back in the first place. Junior what did I say she was just end up breaking your heart again and look I was right." Baatar mimicked Suyin. "I hate her, she can go burn for all I care."

"I know you do but listen there is two things you can do. One cut your losses and leave her break away clean or you can go and try to work things out." Lin stated she knew Su strongly disapproved of Junior getting back together with Kuvira after the spirit death ray.

Her oldest nephew sat there crying, he certainly had no shame in letting it all out. She rolled her eyes, she saw she was going to have to share a personal story. "I'll tell you something kid, when Tenzin broke up with me I was pretty pissed off."

"But he didn't cheat on you." Baatar wiped his nose pushing his glass towards Lin.

"Well no but it sure felt like it," She poured him one more glass. "Pema was sixteen years younger she was only a baby the first time Tenzin and I kissed and made love. I was so furious at him I destroyed much of Air Temple. There's a reason why it is called Air Temple Island you know. For the longest time I stewed in my own anger and self pity. I even tried arresting Pema on a small charge."

"So are you saying I should blow up our house?"

"No, what I'm trying to say is your either going to man up and break up or try to move on from this. Don't stew in your own fury for thirty years kid."

"I don't know if I can she already tried killing me and cheated on me. What's next is she going to have another man's child? When we were fighting I wanted to hit her so bad, choke watch as he face went red….I wanted to kill her." Baatar said in a trance like state. "But I couldn't so I left instead. Everything we had was all a lie."

"It hurts so much being it was real. You wouldn't be feeling like complete shit if what you had with her was fake. You loved her enough to get over the spirit ray and I'm sure that you're strong enough to get over this little bump."

"And if I can't?"

"Then cut your losses and get over it and find someone new." Lin said in her usual gruff voice. "And if you want I will arrest her for suspected criminal activity."

Baatar gave a slight smile at her last words. She was always so straightforward and painfully honest. Baatar sat in his Aunt's kitchen the ray of sun shifted across the table indicating the passage of time. In the early evening he left his Aunt's house.

He wasn't quite ready to return to Kuvira so he stopped for an early dinner at a noodle restaurant. Baatar sat in a secluded spot away from the passing eyes of pedestrians. He slurped his up his spicy noodles with chopsticks. He mind briefly wandered to Kuvira, he wondered what she was doing.

Was she as miserable as him or was she off fucking someone else? Baatar spotted a newspaper on a nearby table. He snatched the paper up to prolong his time. He read the entire paper cover to cover, nothing was happening in the world it was all boring news.

Digging in his pocket Baatar tossed some money on the table and stepped back out onto the street. He stopped at a convenience store and bought sleeping pills and the strongest alcohol they had.

He dragged his feet to the path that led back home. Baatar paused in front of the door, should he just accept that they were meant to be and leave? He could go to Lin's and beg her to let him crash there until he found a new home. Or he could go in and work things out with Kuvira. But was it worth it to repeat this viscous cycle of love and abuse? Did he really want to try to pick up the pieces of their relationship…yet again? He could go home and cry to his mom admit defeat that she was right, that she was right about everything about Kuvira. He pushed open the door.

The only light that filled the darkening room was from the sun, Kuvira sat on the couch she looked up her eyes red rimmed and puffy. So at least she wasn't off with someone else he thought bitterly. Their eyes met, he kept his booze and pills deep in his coat pocket.

With purposeful strides he took the stairs to the roof top. She followed him up hurrying after him. His long legs gave him an advantage he was able to walk faster taking longer strides. Pushing the door to the roof open he made his way to the ledge. He stepped onto it looking down at the ground far below.

The metal door creaked open, Kuvira stood frozen as Baatar stood on the ledge.

"I could be dead in seconds." He said, "Everything is so fragile….didn't you realize that?"

"Don't Baatar," Her voice cracked, she knew what she did was awful but it wasn't worth him committing suicide over her, she wasn't worth it. He was so much for valuable then she was, he had a family that still loved him. A brilliant mind that could help the world with his new innovations. She had nothing and no one besides the man that was seriously considering jumping. Just to end all the pain in his heart. The pain that she had caused.

"You ruined it, you wrecked us again, and I don't know why."

"I'm sorry I made a terrible mistake, please don't jump come back down." Her voice quivered and a tear spilled down her cheek.

His eyes locked onto the horizon, the golden rays of the sun bled down into the water and up to the clouds. It melted the sky into an eerie golden hue. He closed his eyes and took a step….back. His feet hit the concrete he turned walking back inside. He roughed shoved her shoulder with his as he passed her. "You're sleeping in the guest room." He said emotionless going for the metal door.

His footfalls thudded down the stairs going for their….his room. Closing the door Baatar shrugged out of his coat tossing on the bed. Flopping on the bed Baatar pulled out his bottle of alcohol. He was never a big drinker but he figure that this situation warranted for it.

He guzzled as much as he could, the aftertaste was bitter and disgusting. Rolling onto his side, Baatar watched the hands of the clock tick by. The red hand ticked and ticked in a mesmerized trance Baatar just watched.

For a long time Kuvira just stared at the closed door of their room. He had come back so maybe that was a good sign. All of her stuff was in there but, she couldn't just go in to get it. Sliding down the wall, Kuvira hugged her knees to her chest. She wanted to talk to Baatar to explain….Explain what though?

Why she had even permitted Korra to take her to a bar. She and the avatar weren't even close friends or friends at all. They were more of acquaintances and as soon as her work in the Earth Nation was over, they hardly crossed paths again. She had just made another big mistake of her life. More than anything, she wished she could take it back. Baatar was kind, caring and patient he was way more than she ever deserved.

He had given her a second change to be with him. And she totally blew it, it was all her fault that they were in this situation. His heart was big enough to try again but, a third time? Desperately Kuvira hoped that he could find it in him to give her one last chance. She would prove how much she loved him and was loyal to him and him alone.

The shaft of sun moved from the wall to the floor. Fading away as the sun said goodbye and the moon rose. In the darkened room and hall way the two very devastated people sat. They were broken did they really have a chance to fix things yet again?

Hearing movement from inside the room, Kuvira hurriedly left she was positive that Baatar wouldn't be pleased to see her face at the moment. Closing the door to the guest room Kuvira pressed her ear against the door. Listening as Baatar's footsteps walked past and to the laundry room.

She never heard him come back down the hall. Kuvira quietly crept to the laundry room. The yellow light spilled through the crack of the door. Baatar lay with his legs dangling off the side of the dryer. Kuvira wanted to go in there and wake him. The position he was in would leave him sore in the morning. But she had lost her right to; she would do anything to earn it back.

Stealthy she moved back to their room. Hastily grabbing whatever clothes she could find along with her toothbrush and hairbrush.

XXXX

Baatar reached for his pills. He took twice the recommended amount on the box, washing it down with the rest of his liquor. He was well aware of the dangers of mixing sleeping pills with alcohol but really he couldn't care less at the moment.

The bed smelled too much like her perfume. So he angrily stripped the bed bare. Bunching the green sheets he walked to the laundry room chucking the load into the washer. His vision blurred he was going down. He felt as his brain cells were dying. Setting the time for one hour Baatar hopped up on the dryer.

The warmth and rumbling made him settle down. Closing his eyes he listened to the melody of the washer and dryer. He had a dreamless sleep.

At 3:30 he jerked awake his head pounding in his skull. It was so quiet and still not a sound was heard from within the walls of the house. Baatar stumbled out to the kitchen table. His work was still where he had left it this morning. Straightening out his glass he set to work.

Kuvira lay wide awake, she had gotten accustomed to the luxury of Baatar. His chest pressed firmly against her back and arm draped around her waist kept the demons down. Without him she had insomnia. It was what made life in the wooden cell so hard.

Tossing and turning the metalbender just couldn't settle. This room and bed was cold and unfamiliar. It was bare and dull as they never used this room. She remembered Baatar suggesting that they turn it into a nursery if they (she) wanted to have a child one day.

The sun hadn't even broken the horizon yet when Kuvira got out of the bed. There was no use in staying there any longer. Dressing Kuvira made her way out to the kitchen where Baatar sat working. She wondered how long he had been there. He didn't look up or acknowledge her presence.

Day one began, they ate breakfast in silence on opposite ends of the table. No talking or looking at one another.

Baatar was the first to leave, there was no goodbye or kiss or I'll see you later. He gathered his stuff and left. Kuvira left shortly after him.

The mask of everything is all right slipped over their faces they were so good a pretending everyone was alright with life at home.

Their days were filled with going through the motions of their jobs and life at home.

It was Kuvira that made it back home first. Flicking on the lights she started dinner. It was the one thing that she could do for him. After all he was the one that usually made dinner, a hot meal always greeted her.

It was cold by the time Baatar stepped in their home. He ghosted past her like she wasn't even there. Tossing his bag on the adjacent chair to the bed, he went for the laundry room.

Everything was wrinkled from sitting in a confined space all day. Baatar felt around, the sheets and pillow cases were dry that's all that mattered. And the no longer smelled of her, but of fresh linen.

With his arms full, Baatar made his way down to his room. He was startled when he ran into Kuvira.

"Dinner's on the table if you're hungry." She said in small but confident voice.

"Ate," was the only thing he said before rudely brushing pass. Kuvira could smell the smoke and alcohol on his breath. Frowning, Kuvira headed back out to the kitchen. Pulling out containers for the left overs. She wrapped his plate up, maybe he would want it later. Day one was over.

For the next two weeks this was all they did. She would come home first and get dinner going, but he would always say he already ate or he wasn't hungry.

It was on this one night that Kuvira sat alone eating her dinner. She heard a choking sound coming from Baatar's office. Panicked Kuvira jumped up and dashed to his study. She tossed the door open and it banged against the wall. Baatar was on all fours violently hacking.

His face was turning red, he was chocking. Kuvira spotted the bag of mints, he had recently taken to those. It was all that she saw him eat anymore. Kneeling next to him, she tried to help him but he pushed her away.

With two of his fingers he shoved them in the back of his mouth to induce vomiting. He gagged and felt the bile rising up. His stomach clenched when the contents of his stomach came up, the mint in his throat dislodged.

Sitting back Baatar wiped his fingers down his shirt. He panted catching his breath. Reaching behind him, he went for another mint. Kuvira quickly snatched the bag out of his reach.

"No," She said firmly, "No more until you have had a decent meal. You haven't had anything nutritious in a week."

"Give them back and leave me alone."

"Not until you have dinner." She pushed the bag behind her back.

"Kuvira!" He said sharply standing, "Give them here and leave."

"No," She stood her ground.

Baatar growled angrily, he stormed over to where she was. Lifting her over his shoulder and took her to the room where she was starting to take up permanent residence.

Kuvira was tossed on the bed and for one horrible second she thought that Baatar was going to take her by force. As he stood menacingly over her for a minute. He turned and slammed the door shut as if she was a misbehaving child.

She sat on the bed the bag of mints still in her hand. She didn't know why she thought that Baatar would hurt her. Even when he slammed her against the wall he never raised a hand to strike her.

Moving off of the bed, Kuvira pressed her ear against the door. Listening to what he could be doing. Silence, it was quiet, so she waited until the lights had turned off before leaving the room.

Going out to the kitchen she saw that he had cleaned up her mess. And even ate the plate she had set out for him. Inwardly she smiled she had won this time. Heading back to her room, she grabbed the bag of mints and snuck into his office. He had kept up his end and so would she.

If she was good and didn't get in his way too much then maybe there was a chance to hope that Baatar could come around and give her one final chance. She prayed to whomever that he had in his heart to forgive.

The war on the city and her cheating was the only things she had done to him. Though they were big and possibly unforgiveable she would prove and work to earn his trust and love back.

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