Kuvira's Redemption

Chapter 8


Suyin laid out next to the pool, in one of the many outside spa and garden areas of the palace. The hot fire nation sun-rays soaking deep into her exposed skin.

"Would you care for another daiquiri, Mrs. Beifong?" A handsome male servant asked politely, carrying a silver tray with an assorted variety of iced drinks.

"I'll take a margarita this time, and please, call me Suyin." She handed her empty glass in trade for a full one, taking a couple large gulps shortly after. "Ahhhh. There is just something about tequila that makes me wanna take my clothes off." Suyin laughed lightly, the alcohol buzz really kicking in.

"You're welcome to take your clothes off, I can tell the servants to stay out of the courtyard until further notice." Izumi purred. "Not that you have all that much on anyway."

Suyin let out a light laugh, standing up from her beach chair. She wore a dark red bikini top and bottom, the colors courtesy of the fire nation. Suyin walked a few paces over to where firelord Izumi sat, in a similar bikini, close to the pools edge.

"Red really isn't my color anyway." Suyin whispered in the other woman's ear, pulling away only to undo the back of her top, letting it fall to the ground. Izumi's eyes trailed across Suyin's beautiful curves, admiring how nicely she had aged.

"Let me help you with the rest?" The firelord teased, sliding her hands up Suyin's thighs. They stopped at her bikini bottoms, slowly slipping them downward, leaving everything exposed and nothing to the imagination. "Mmmm Suyin… How long has it been…"

The metal clan woman bent forward, sealing a kiss on Izumi's lips. "To long. But i'm here now, come for a swim with me? Like we used to?"

"I'll meet you in there, let me grab myself another drink, go ahead and get in." Izumi gave Suyin's ass a playful squeeze, before standing up and walking to the sliding door, that led into the palace hallways, her bright red beach robe flowing behind her.

Suyin lowered herself into the pool slowly, walking down the steps until the water rested just above her chest. 'I could stay here forever.' She thought to herself, tilting her face towards the high and bright sun.

Izumi carried a white iced drink in one had, and rolled scroll in another. "Su, you received a letter. Do you want me to open it?"

"A letter? Who is it from?" Su took a couple more sips of her mixed drink.

"Its from someone named Teo? Who is Teo?" Firelord Izumi handed the paper down to Suyin, who started to open it.

"Its just someone from work.. Shouldn't be anything really…" Suyin read it quickly, "Fuck."

"What's wrong? What is it?" A worried look painted the firelord's expression.

"I have to leave first thing tomorrow. Kuvira is in Zaofu with the avatar."

"What does that mean.. Exactly?" Izumi took the letter from Suyin, reading it over herself.

"It means I have to leave, soon. I can't risk my family finding out." She rubbed her forehead.

"Hey, i'll make sure you get an airship first thing in the morning, but for now, try not to stress." Izumi set down her drink, and burned the letter in her hand. The ashes fell to the ground slowly, along with her firelord was only a few years older than Su, but her body didn't show it. She stepped down into the pool, making her way towards Suyin. "Shall we swim?"

Su couldn't help but give her a passionate kiss, wrapping her arms behind the older woman's neck, "That sounds perfect, but first, let's get you out of this swimming suit."


The first stretch of traveling was painfully quiet. Everyone seemed to be on edge with each other. Teo had it out with Manchu over something involving the police department in Republic City, and Korra kept to herself, avoiding Kuvira completely. The first night after leaving Zaofu made that pretty apparent. When they finally landed in a small city, Korra was quick to send Kuvira with Manchu and Teo, staying in a seperate room for herself.

'What the fuck did Suyin say to her?' Kuvira couldn't imagine that the awkwardness came from anything else. 'Unless.. It was me. Maybe I shouldn't of kissed her.' That thought brought her down, keeping her up almost all through the nights.

"Do you mind if we stop for a bit in the upcoming valley?" Manchu asked Korra, "I'm getting a little stir crazy back here."

Korra nodded, lowering Kiyi softly to the ground. "Why don't we take an hour, I could use some time to meditate." After dismounting, she walked casually into an area of secluded trees. The valley was beautiful, a small lake to the north, surrounded by trees to the west and open area of grass and earth stretching out to the east.

"How did I get stuck on this stupid trip." Teo complained, bouncing a small fireball back and forth between his hands. "I don't want to go to the Southern Water tribe. It's going to be.. cold."

"That's why you're complaining? Because it's gonna be cold. Last I checked you're one of the few people here who can change that." With a quick flick Manchu sent a small drop of water into Teos dancing fire, putting it out completely. "Mr. fire fingers."

"Whatever, i'm going to use the head… the head means the restroom, in case you didn't know that either, Manchu." Teo rolled his eyes, slicking back his long black hair that he occasionally wore down when they weren't flying.

"You should shave while you're at it." Manchu looked over at Kuvira, who stood there awkwardly, giving her a wink.

"I told you I forgot my razor!" Teo yelled back, not bothering to turn around.

"I knew he was gonna get pissed if I said that." Manchu took a drink of water, passing it to Kuvira, "Do you want some? You haven't been drinking, or eating much lately."

"I'm alright, thanks."

"Is it Teo?" Manchu's tone became cold. "Did he say or do something? Because I swear to.."

"No Manchu, it's not Teo. It's nothing." Kuvira almost wished it was Teo rather than Korra. She would have no problem putting him in his place, especially after all the bullshit he said to her when she was behind bars, even if it got her in trouble. He wasn't nearly as tough acting now that there was nothing separating the two of them.

"Can you show me how you temporarily blind people with metal?"

"Wait.. What?" Kuvira thought she misheard him.

"I know it's not something that would translate to water bending, I just want to see you do it. I've heard alot about you. Both rumors and truths." Manchu looked genuinely interested. "Blinding someone with metal, well, that's quite an impressive trick."

"It's not a trick. Its using my resources to my advantage. Even if I wanted to show you, I don't have any metal.. And even if I had metal i'm not supposed to use my bending.. Per my 'agreement'." Kuvira sighed. It had been a few days since she worked on the domes in Zaofu, that was the last time she used her bending.

"I won't say anything if you don't." Manchu reached into his uniform pocket, pulling out something wrapped in a small tan cloth. Kuvira didn't need him to unwrap it to know what it was, she could feel it.

"Where did you get that?" Kuvira looked at the tree line, making sure Teo or Korra weren't going to walk up on them anytime soon.

"I bought it, at a gift shop downtown." He extended his hand towards her, nodding his head in reassurance. "I promise it's not a trick, go on, take it."

Kuvira took the solid object in her right hand, discarding the cloth with her other. It was a small metallic colored piece of rock, most commonly known as 'space earth'. Its bending properties were unique.

"I bought it as a souvenir. This is the most i've ever traveled. I was born and raised in Republic City, which hasn't been a bad life at all, but getting to see more of the world is pretty incredible." Manchu smiled. "But what could I possibly do with a rock? Nothing. Sure it's pretty sweet, but i'd rather see it put to use than sit on a shelf in a room someday."

Kuvira expanded it out, stretching it flat like metal, only to condense it into a perfectly round sphere.

"Is it to big to conceal?"

"Uhh is that a trick question?" Kuvira bent and shaped the rock into many forms with ease.

"No, no.. I just. I think you should hold onto it. I know you're not suppose to use your bending, and especially not carry any kind of metal or earth on you.. But I can't always be the one on shift. Teo, he's kind of a loose cannon."

"I can handle myself, thanks anyway." Kuvira handed the sphere back to Manchu. "I can't risk getting in trouble, or breaking the rules. Avatar Korra has put to much on the line for me already, I can't disappoint her."

Manchu was quiet for a moment. "What about yourself?"

"What do you mean, what about me?" Kuvira snapped.

"If you focus on not letting yourself down, not disappointing yourself, then you'll never end up disappointing the people who actually care about you."

Kuvira wanted to be angry towards Manchu, but the softness in his voice made it impossible. It wasn't much longer that Teo and Korra came back, and the four of them were on their way once more. Kuvira spent most of her time pondering what Manchu had said, for the next few days of traveling. She watched the terrain slowly begin the change, until finally the earth was replaced with nothing but water.

"Great, that means we'll reach the South Pole soon enough." Teo sighed.

"Not quite," Korra called back, her short brown hair whipping in the wind. "There is one more Earth Empire Island on the way. We will stop there tonight, reaching the Southern Water Tribe no later than tomorrow."

Kuvira caught Korra's eye for a second, before she turned away. The thought of what Suyin could have possibly said to cause such distance between them since Zaofu still caused Kuvira grief. There was nothing Kuvira could say or do to find out either. Traveling didn't offer them any alone time or a chance to talk without Manchu or Teo being close by.

Within a few hours, they were flying above land once more. There was a small village along the most southern part of the island, near the beach. Houses and docks were spread along the shore line. After touching down, the four of them made their way into the city. The scent of grilled fish and baked bread flooded Kuvira's senses, reminding her just how hungry she was.

"Let's make sure they have rooms before we get something to eat." Korra directed, obviously aware of the group slowly steering in the direction of the closest restaurants. "Excuse me? Is there a hotel in this city that we could get a couple rooms to stay in for the night?"

"'Fraid we don't have any hotels, but a block thata way there's a woman who rents out small lil' huts on the beach. Best we got." The man Korra asked pointed down the street. Kuvira followed behind Teo as they made there way in the direction.

"Hi yes we are looking for a couple huts to rent for tonight?" Korra asked an older lady behind a short desk, in a hut with a sign out front that said vacancy.

"We only have one." The older woman looked between Kuvira and Korra. "Only one of you ladies will be able to stay here with your boyfriend, the other couple will have to find somewhere else. I'm sure there is a, a few hammocks open in one of the pubs."

"No no, we're not here with our boyfriends, you see, i'm the avatar and.."

"Being the avatar doesn't change the availability of the huts sweety. Do you want the one or not."

"They will take it," Manchu stepped forward and placed some silver coins on the desk, "Teo and I will find something down the way i'm sure."

"Handsome and charming, if you ladies arn't trying to date this fella then I will." The gray haired woman collected the coins and gave Manchu a wink. "My bed will be available for you anytime young man. I'm right next door, stop by anytime you want. Here's a key to your room girls. Enjoy your stay."

"Wow we have to sleep in hammocks, I am dying to sleep in a real bed." Teo scoffed.

"We'll be fine. We'll be down at the pub. You guys get settled in. It's been a long couple days. If you need anything Korra, we won't be far."

Kuvira felt like she was gonna be sick. After all the tension between them, now they were going to sleep in the same room. She found herself hoping that the room had two beds. But of course, it didn't. The hut door opened out onto the beach, facing the water. The interior was simple, but nice. One queen sized bed was against the farthest wall.

After dropping their stuff off, the two women walked back into town, stopping somewhere to get some food. They ate in silence.

'Just say something, please, ANYTHING.'

Kuvira thought about saying something on the walk back, but every time she went to speak up, the words became frozen in her throat. Finally when Korra climbed into bed, she got the courage.

"If you want I can sleep on the floor."

A flash of pain brushed over Korra's face. "No, that won't be necessary. Come, lay down." She situated herself to make more than enough room for Kuvira. After Kuvira pulled back the covers of her side, Korra continued. "I'm sorry, that I've been distant. Since.. the last day in Zaofu."

"Is it because I…"

"No!. I mean no, it's not." Korra turned out the lamp next to her, settling back into bed on her back. Kuvira finished tucking herself into the sheets, laying on her side so she could face the water tribe woman. "I just, I want to do the right thing, but now i'm not sure what the right thing is or isn't. Sometimes it's hard to tell…"

They laid in silence, the ocean's waves crashing into the sandy shores drifted through the windows.

"...That's kinda why we're going to the Southern Water tribe, I want to figure this out." Korra continued. "Don't overthink it, to much, okay?" Turning to face her, the avatar reached towards Kuvira, placing her left hand on her shoulder. Slowly it trailed down Kuvira's arm, until it stopped on her hand. Kuvira turned her palm gently, until their fingers began to intertwine naturally. Korra fell asleep long before Kuvira, but she didn't mind one bit.


I HAVE A PLAN.. I THINK. haha. (it only changes like every time I write a new chapter. SMH.)

Thanks for reading as always,

M4RDZ