Sorry this chapter has been slow going. I've been all sick and sniffly, so despite wanting to type this out faster, all I wanted was to sleep.
Chapter 7 Escapee
Despite Varrick, Bolin, and Zhu Li's attempt to escape, they had been captured. Zhu Li swore allegiance to Kuvira, and said she had been following the wrong person all along. Kuvira stood facing her. Zhu Li looked back, no expression or emotion showing.
"If you want to prove your loyalty to me, you can start tonight."
"I would do anything," Zhu Li said softly.
"Good," Kuvira said, narrowing her eyes. She did not trust Zhu Li, but maybe she could use her, and get rid of her at the same time. "Su will not take this sitting down. If I know her, she's planning something. I want all my bases covered."
It was later that night when Baatar came up to Himiko. She turned from the window as she heard him approach and asked, "Where's Suyin?"
He gestured outside. "She, Wing, and Wei are going to do what they can."
"I hope it works," Himiko murmured.
"Why aren't you in bed?" She had stayed quietly by either his side or by Huan's for the rest of the day. She had not said much as Avatar Korra, along with the three oldest children of Tenzin and Pema, had arrived at Zaofu. She had barely eaten when they sat down for dinner. She and Huan had been whispering to each other as each airbending child went off to their guest rooms in turn, yawning. She should have been in bed herself.
Instead, she just offered him a shrug. "It's kind of hard to sleep with an entire army just outside, don't you think?"
"That is a good point," Baatar replied.
"I suppose you hadn't thought of it that way, had you?" Himiko asked.
Baatar managed a weak chuckle. "No, I had not."
They two of them stood together at the window, despite the fact that neither really knew what was going on outside. Perhaps it just seemed to be the right thing to do.
Toph Beifong scowled at everything and nothing as she saw everything through the vines in the Foggy Swamp. "Leave it to Su to get herself in trouble," she muttered. "I shouldn't even bother to save her."
But save her, and her troublesome set of twins, was what she had to do. Who else would do it? Not Lin, not even if she knew what happened.
As she set off towards Zaofu, she came across two young swampbenders. "I've got business to take care of," she told the two young men. "But I need you to see to something for me?"
"What?" one asked apprehensively. He had already been on several receiving ends of a Toph Beifong beatdown, even though she said she would take it easy on him.
"Keep an eye on the swamp. Make sure you let everyone know that."
The young swampbenders nodded and muttered, "Ye - yeah we can do that." The one that had sparred with Toph breathed a sigh of relief as she passed him. She smirked and punched him painfully on the arm.
"See that you do," she told them.
"What are we going to do?" Himiko whispered to Huan as they watched Ikki and Meelo paint. It was Huan's idea to let the younger airbending children take their aggression out with paint after the announcement from Kuvira that Suyin, Wing, and Wei had been captured. Korra had told them to stay with Huan and Baatar, while she, Opal, and Jinora tried to talk to Kuvira.
Both of them knew that would be hopeless, but there was no point in saying that to Korra.
Huan grabbed her hand, squeezed it, and said, "You're going to Republic City."
"What?" Himiko demanded, sure she had misunderstood. "You can't mean that!"
Huan cupped her face in his hands and said, "Yes, I can. You're not getting tangled up with Kuvira, especially not after what you told me Varrick said. You'll be safer in Republic City." Himiko started to protest but Huan cut her off with a kiss. "I mean it," he said after he pulled away.
"Aww!"
The cooing from Ikki startled them. She glanced up at them, starry eyed, holding a brush in one hand, oblivious to the fact that paint was dripping to the floor.
"That's so romantic! Are you going to kiss her again?"
Huan and Himiko exchanged a look, then a laugh. Neither of them were that thrilled to have an audience, but at that point in time, they found it funny. "Go see what you think of her painting," Himiko told Huan, her cheeks a bright pink. She waved Huan away with one hand, then turned to find Baatar as Huan started to compliment Ikki on her painting.
He listened to Himiko as she explained that Huan had intended to send her to Republic City, come what may. When she was finished, he nodded. "I have to agree, Himiko. You would never work for Kuvira, especially not now that she's misusing the vines for a weapon. You'll just get yourself in trouble, or worse."
Himiko hung her head. It was true, of course. She was furious with Kuvira for using spirit vines, and she would be more than happy to take a shot at Kuvira given the chance.
But she knew there would be no chance. She was too well guarded, and too good a bender.
"Huan's looking out for you. Su would say the same thing."
"I know. I would just rather be here."
The sound of Meelo shouting and knocking over his easel caught their attention. Looking behind them, they caught Meelo quickly dashing past them and Huan briefly speaking to Ikki as he bent to pick up the fallen easel. He looked up and nodded to Himiko. Ikki raced up to her, grabbed her hand, and said, "Come on, we've got to hurry!"
Himiko let out a squeak as the excitable young girl part led, part dragged her out of the door. Huan walked over to his father and asked, "Do you think she'll be OK?"
Baatar smiled at his son and said, "Well, I'm starting to wonder if Kuvira might have been the better choice."
