Hey y'all! Per usual, you are all magnificent reviewers and I cannot thank you enough. Also, I want to reiterate that y'all need to be nicer to Junior! I mean c'mon, he's being about as nice as he can be...I think not yelling at bae is great progress. I apologize for typos.. this was written in one sitting and I'm too lazy to edit. Finally, two things: 1. I've written a cute honeymoon oneshot as a palate cleanser entitled "Advantageous Promises," so check it out if the lack of Baavira is starting to get to you. 2. (say it with me) Onward!


"Remember," Baatar said, voice low as he scanned the crowd of newly arrived passengers for his family, "the twins are Wei and Wing. Wei parts his hair on the right, and Wing parts his on the left.. if you mix them up, they'll never let you know which one you're speaking to again."

The lawyer nodded, his fingers interlaced behind his back. "Got it. Thanks for the heads up. And the artist is Huan?"

"Yes," Baatar said. "Apparently he's painting a mural on the wall of my lab back at home."

"That's thoughtful of him."

"Hardly," Baatar snorted. "He converted my bedroom into an art studio during my time away."

"You know," Keisai said, glancing at him with amusement, "when I was in the naval academy, I would come home to find my sister's crap in my room. At first I would threaten to set fire to her belongings, but later I came to realize that she spent so much time in my room when I was away because she missed me." His voice became curiously serious. "Maybe he missed you."

Baatar was silent, and pretended to be absorbed in looking for his family until the full meaning of Keisai's words hit him. "You have a sister?"

"Ah, I see twins!" the lawyer replied, the moment apparently over. "Wei on the left, Wing on the right?"

"No, Wei's parting is on the right, Wing's is on the left-"

"I know that, is that them?" Baatar followed the direction Keisai was pointing with his eyes, and sure enough, he could see the twins shouldering their way through the crowd. His parents were behind them, and he thought he detected a bit of Huan's distinct green hair dye.

"Yes, it is," he said, smiling. "Opal! They're here," he called, and she ran over from her spot on a nearby bench to join him in greeting their parents.

"Wave," she insisted, grabbing his hand by the wrist and hoisting it up. "Come on, how are they supposed to see you otherwise? Wei! Wing! Over here!" she called, her excitement evident in her voice.

Baatar rolled his eyes at her endearing enthusiasm, observing her fondly as she fairly bounced in place. Before he realized it, he was waving excitedly, and it wasn't long before they attracted the attention of their family. Keisai stood a little ways away, giving the siblings space, a little smile on his face as he observed the reunion.

"Hey, Opal's here too!" Wei dashed over, dragging Wing with him, colliding with his siblings and giving them both a tight hug. "Happy birthday, Opal!" They pulled back, regarding Keisai curiously. "Who's the dude?"

"Wei, Wing, this is Keisai," Baatar said formally, feeling a bit self-conscious as he gestured to the lawyer. "He's my attorney-"

"Delighted to meet you both," Keisai said, his arms crossed as he shook hands with both the boys simultaneously. "I'm the man who's responsible for any hearing issues you both might be having."

Wing smirked. "Oh, he's cool. Baatar, you didn't say your lawyer wasn't a stiff."

"So you specialize in international military law?" Wei asked interestedly. "Have you ever represented a war criminal?"

"Your brother and Kuvira are among the first that I've represented," Keisai said, his old twinkle of mischief back in his eye. "None of my other clients have given me such a labor-intensive run for my paycheck, you can bet on that."

"Baatar's not a real war criminal," Wing said dismissively. "What about someone crazy?"

"Baatar built a mecha-suit with a death ray," Wei argued. "That's pretty much supervillain stuff-"

"-even if it was for Kuvira," Wing conceded, finishing for him. "Yeah, I see your point."

Keisai looked at Baatar, smiling in delight. "Do they always do that?"

"Yes," the twins said in tandem.

"It loses its appeal rather quickly," Baatar said with a pinched expression.

"You lost your appeal rather quickly," Wing fired back. "Opal, we brought you something."

"Save it for the party," she said, smiling. "I love surprises."

Wei exchanged looks with Wing. "A proper surprise..."

"...would be to tell her what it is now."

"That's enough," Baatar said firmly. "Huan, good to see you again."

"I missed your face," he said simply. "I moved out a few of the paintings, too."

"That's... great?" Baatar frowned. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

"They're getting the baggage," Wei said. "They'll be here soon."

Keisai frowned. "But all the baggage is here." Baatar winced, but his concern proved wholly unnecessary as the twins and Opal laughed, and even Huan cracked a smile. Keisai winked at Baatar, and for a moment Baatar wondered if he had been harsh in his assessment of the man in more ways than one.

"So Baatar said you were in the navy," Wing was saying, but the lawyer suddenly waved his question away, pointing.

"Baatar, I think I see your parents," he said. "Wave them over." Sure enough, Baatar could see his parents scanning the crowd for their children, who had already congregated a small ways away from the port.

"How did you know?" he asked as his siblings waved and called energetically. "You've never seen my parents in your life... unless you read Elements of Style?"

"You look just like your dad, man," Keisai said softly, patting Baatar on the shoulder. "Now go say hi. It's been five months, hasn't it?"

Their parents drew nearer, and Opal threw herself into their arms. "I've missed you guys so much!" she exclaimed. "We've already got your rooms put together in the compound- I'm so happy you all could make it. Bolin wanted to be here to greet you, but he's helping Tenzin and Korra get everything ready."

"We missed you too, sweetie," Su said warmly. "Happy birthday. Glad to hear Bolin is doing well."

Baatar Sr. looked up from his daughter and smiled. "Hello, son. How've you been?"

Keisai nudged Baatar between the shoulder blades. "Go on, stop acting like a five-year-old," he muttered. "Why did I end up working with the spoilsport in the family?"

"Hello, Dad," Baatar said awkwardly, allowing his father to clasp his hand. "Hello, Mother. How's everyone been?"

"Everything's been going well," his father said, glancing from his wife to Baatar when she remained silent. "I've been working on a design that would cut the energy input in half for the trains. I actually brought it along, in case you would be interested. The engineer we commissioned can't seem to make it come together, but I'm sure you can handle it."

Baatar raised an eyebrow. "I'm not working on your projects anymore." There was a pregnant pause as his father's hopeful expression drooped slightly, and in the corners of his eyes Baatar could see Keisai opening his mouth, a finger raised. "But I'd love to take a look at it," he said, allowing a smile to spread over his face. His siblings relaxed, and his father's eyes softened as he realized he had been joking. "Mother," he began awkwardly, "how have you been?"

"Well," Su replied. "Lin has kept me posted on the trial's progress, since you only seem to discuss it with your father."

Baatar Sr. put an arm around his wife's waist, wincing as if her pointed tone was directed at him. "Let's not start this now, dear. Junior told me he would brief you in person. Isn't that right, son?" he asked sharply.

"Of course," Baatar said, forcing a smile. "That reminds me, though- Keisai, this is my mother, Suyin Beifong."

"What an honor it is," the lawyer said, taking her hand. "It is truly a pleasure to meet the woman behind the disembodied voice and the countless wires at odd hours."

"Her photograph has been in plenty of tabloids," Baatar said flatly. "You already could have known what she looks like, which now that I think of it explains so much..."

"I wish I could say the same," Su said with a tight smile. "I hired you for my son, and you've landed yourself an additional client." Baatar and his father exchanged looks.

"Honey, why don't we discuss this somewhere else?" he entreated.

"No, allow me to explain," Keisai said seriously. "Suyin- may I call you Suyin?" Su nodded, and Keisai smiled, thrusting his hands into his pockets, the very image of contrition. "As you know, you hired me because you felt that I'd be able to give your son a fighting chance, but I don't think you understand that taking on Kuvira's case makes it easier for me to help Baatar."

"I'm listening," she said curtly.

"I'm stuck going after evidence strictly limited to Baatar's case without Kuvira," Keisai said. "But their cases are so closely intertwined that they're practically inseparable. As the attorney for the both of them, I can get evidence for Baatar that wouldn't otherwise be possible to obtain. Believe me, I'm all too aware of what Kuvira is capable of," he said, leaning in conspiratorially. "We've discussed what I think of her at length. In all honesty, the woman is a bit too much of a delight to work with... it's easy to see how she amassed a following. It explains a great deal, if I may be frank." His eyes flickered over to Baatar and back to Su, and Baatar's gaze narrowed. The movement was a bit too deliberate for him to think it a thoughtless passing gesture.

The hard look in Su's eyes dimmed, and for the first time since her arrival she smiled, tilting her face toward her husband and relaxing against him. "But you've found working on her case to be helpful to his?" she said. "I suppose I can understand the logic. Still, that was a very underhanded thing to do-"

"As if I would do anything deceptive with your lovely sister keeping a close eye on me," Keisai said. "Has she mentioned me, by the way?"

Su's eyebrows shot up, and she traded smiles with Baatar Sr. "Oh, she's mentioned you," her husband said at last. "In very... colorful terms."

"I can see now that looks are hereditary," Keisai said, bringing Su's hand to his lips. "You have a lovely family, sir. I hope I'm not out of line when I say that you have exquisite taste."

Baatar snorted as his father raised his eyebrows at the younger man. "Well, I wouldn't say exquisite. But I wouldn't have proposed to anyone else."

Su patted his cheek. "I wouldn't have gone back to save anyone else from Kuvira's clutches, even if you did ruin our chances of a tidy escape." Baatar contained another snort of derision as his father reddened, chuckling despite his embarrassment.

"I assume Keisai has heard about that from Junior by this point," his father said. "But we can discuss that at length later, I'm sure Opal wants us to get settled at Air Temple Island."

"Actually, I haven't," Keisai said, his eyes bright. "I would love to hear the whole story... I'll need the testimony later on, anyway."

Su waved the rest of her children over. "Well, once we're all settled in for our visit, we'll be celebrating my daughter's birthday. Perhaps you could join us- my sister will be there, naturally." She glanced at her husband, a smile teasing at the corner of her mouth.

"It would be my pleasure," Keisai said, elbowing Baatar as he tried to get a word in. "I'll see you all this evening, then."

"The cab is ready to take you to the ferry," Baatar said, giving Keisai a filthy look. "Here, let me help with the bags."

Once his family was packed off and en route to the island, he turned to the lawyer. "What are you playing at?"

"You wanted to know how I pacified your mother?" Keisai snapped. "I could tell on the phone that the woman is convinced that she's right and takes any implication of a different, more nuanced reality as a personal insult. I told her what she needed to hear to get her off my case and to get you some peace."

"What did you tell her?" Baatar hissed, plastering a smile on his face as he waved to the twins in the cab. "And why didn't you tell me this until now?"

"Because you were too busy pining over Kuvira, working yourself to death, and pattering around the city completely oblivious to members of a secret loyalist party that are starting to change their minds about you!" Keisai retorted. Baatar was silent, the mention of Kuvira putting a bitter taste in his mouth. "Listen," Keisai continued, "I didn't think you were ready to deal with anything more than your own case, but there's a lot of crap that you've been blissfully ignorant about. And after your sister's party, I'm going to brief you. I've been working overtime for your ungrateful ass, and I haven't included the fees in my invoices to your parents. The least you can do is trust me."

Baatar sighed. "Fine, I'm sorry."

"It's okay." They walked to the car, and Keisai swung into the passenger seat, remaining silent a while longer as Baatar started to drive. "You know, your mom's pretty hot."

Baatar's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"I said, your mom's an attractive older woman," Keisai said, crossing his arms behind his head and leaning back. "Your dad is a lucky guy.. she easily makes it into the top three of my Hot Moms list."

"I can't believe I'm listening to this," Baatar growled, forcing himself to keep his eyes on the road. "She's happily married. You are the most unprofessional-you have a list-?"

"You're just like your father," Keisai observed, regarding Baatar with a new interest as they drove. "Looks like you Beifong men have a type."

"What is that supposed to mean?" he snapped.

The lawyer merely smiled the odd smile that Baatar had become used to. "Oh, I think you know."

o0o

Air Temple Island had been transformed through a combination of airbender and avatar efforts. Streamers of red and gold crepe decorated the arches, and a banner was stretched between two trees with "Happy 21st Birthday" written across it in gold characters. Korra had, under Huan's instruction, created an ice sculpture of the birthday girl, a modernist behemoth that stood six feet tall and looked nothing like her. "It captures her essence," Huan explained as the guests regarded it with confusion and curiosity. "Why sculpt her physical body when we could show the raw emotive power of her uniquely Opal soul?"

The tables were spread out in the courtyard, with a larger solitary table beneath the birthday banner. A pyramid of sweet buns, custard fruit pies, and decidely out-of-place dragonberry crepe wraps stood at its center, surrounded by a colorful arrangement of Opal's favorite flowers and a fair amount of glitter. Helium balloons added to the ambience with a coat of luminous paint.

"So, Nuktuk will be here," Keisai said, voice low as he observed the ongoing festivities. A constant stream of swing music gave the courtyard a cheery ambience that was only amplified by the strings of paper lanterns overhead.

"His name is Bolin, not Nuktuk," Baatar replied. "And yes, he's over there with Opal."

"Excellent," Keisai said. "I'm going to look for an opening. Say hello to the chief for me, will you? I think I'm going to be... working tonight." He slipped his hand into his pocket and Baatar smirked, seeing an unfamiliar outline along with the usual notepad and pen through the fabric of the lawyer's trousers.

"Whatever happened to taking it easy?" Baatar called after him. He observed Lin a while later talking to his parents at a nearby table, and made his way over, dodging Huan as he danced with one of the airbending children, an aggrieved expression on his face. As he neared his parents, he could see that they were once again at ease and happy in one another's company. Su still tilted her head coquettishly to the side when she spoke to her husband, and Baatar could almost hear her trying to extract a favor from him in her light tone reserved for such entreaties. His father's aggrieved expression didn't reach his eyes; they remained warm as he regarded his wife with a unique affection reserved just for her. Keisai's words from the drive played in his ears unbidden as he watched his parents. Memories of all the times he had looked at Kuvira in exasperation with love in his eyes, her head tilted back and her voice at once commanding and sweet, suddenly rushed to the forefront of his mind.

"Hey kid, come over here," Lin called, jolting him from his reverie. "Why the long face?"

"I..." Baatar trailed off, searching for a believable topic. "Actually, I wanted to apologize to Mom."

Lin raised her eyebrows. "You do? About time. This should be good," she said to Baatar Sr.

"Perhaps my genetics are finally making an appearance," his father said drily. "Su isn't fond of apologies. Isn't that right, dear?"

"Oh hush," Su said, turning to Baatar with a hopeful expression. "What is it, Junior?"

"Well.." He paused, remembering his last conversation with Kuvira. "I've been thinking... and I suppose I've come to terms with the fact that what I did to our family -to you- three years ago was about the most ungrateful thing I could have done." He stopped, glancing at her face and looking for a sign to continue. "You've always done as much as you could for me... for all of us. Keisai is a terrific lawyer-"

Lin snorted. "Don't get carried away."

"-and I never would have had the opportunity of working with him if not for you finding him for me in the first place," he said, ignoring his aunt's outburst. "I've been so ungrateful for everything, from bailing me out to expediting my trial to bothering to trust me again, as early as the day of the colossus. I understand why you want me back in Zaofu, and I'm sorry I've been so rude to you every time you've brought it up." He looked at Su, holding her gaze. "I won't ask you for forgiveness, since I don't deserve it," he said at last, the words sounding oddly familiar to his own ears. "But I do want you to know that I'm sorry, and I'm sorry if it isn't enough to fix the damage I've done."

Su wordlessly grabbed him, pulling him to her in a tight hug. Baatar was startled, but wrapped his arms around her in turn, feeling vaguely content despite the awkwardness of the situation. "Of course I forgive you, sweetie," she said, her voice cracked as she controlled her tears. "Your father and I are just so happy to have you back with us, and back in the family. We thought we'd lost you."

He felt his father's hand at his back, and Baatar turned to him as he let go of Su. "I suppose a phase of rebelliousness and estrangement from the family is a Beifong tradition," his father said, smiling. "I hope you're the only one of my kids that pulls these sorts of shenanigans, Junior... I can only imagine how Toph put up with it."

"Not by having the patience of a saint, you can count on that," Lin said, her arms crossed. "But I don't blame her. Su and I didn't make it any easier on her, did we?"

"No," Su agreed. "Oh, Lin! Look, there's Keisai over there with Korra and Tenzin. Should I call him over?" Baatar followed his mother's gaze to behold Keisai showing Korra a few dance steps while Tenzin watched in disapproval. Korra was laughing, and Mako stood a short distance behind her with Asami Sato. Both of them appeared bemused.

"Absolutely not," Lin said with finality. "I can barely stand him in a professional setting... besides, he looks quite happy talking the avatar's ear off, and I certainly don't need him to redirect his focus to me."

"But Lin, I think he may have a bit of a schoolboy crush on you," Su said conspiratorially. "Don't you think so, dear?"

"I'm staying out of this," her husband said.

"Looks like you're out of luck, Aunt Lin," Baatar said with amusement. "He's headed our way."

Lin swore as the lawyer walked over, a bounce in his step, leaning his elbow on her shoulder. "Chief Beifong, our paths cross again," he said, grinning as she turned away and her expression curdled.

"Don't you have something to do?" she snapped. "Shouldn't you be setting up an audience with Bolin or schmoozing with new potential witnesses?"

"Ah, that reminds me," Keisai said easily. "Suyin, Baatar- you and your sons were imprisoned when you refused to bend the knee after Kuvira's annexation of Zaofu. Care to give me a bit of your time for an interview, during your stay? I know it's a lot to ask, but I hate the idea of doing it over the phone..."

"It's no trouble," Baatar Sr. said. "I'm sure the children will be fine with a deposition to help out their brother."

"Outstanding," Keisai said brightly. "Chief, did you ever get around to opening that envelope?" Baatar snapped to attention, trying to ignore his mother's wide smile and his father's amusement.

"I did," Lin said through gritted teeth.

"Good. Try and take it easy," he said, patting her on the back and sauntering off in the direction of Bolin, joining him in a fierce dance-off as Huan, Opal, and Tenzin's children formed a circle around them, clapping excitedly.

"Hey chief," Mako said, having suddenly made his way to their little group, "What was that all about?"

"Yes," Baatar said, frowning. "What was in the envelope?"

"Two tickets to the evening matinee of Love Amongst the Dragons and a handwritten note," Lin said. "Quite thoughtful, really."

"And you're going?" Baatar said in disbelief, his eyes bugging out. The detective had mirrored his expression, and now was pinching the bridge of his nose, completely disgusted. "Don't encourage him, for the love of all things holy-"

"Not for him and me," Lin snorted. "Don't make me laugh. He got them as a gift for you."

Baatar quirked a brow. "What? Then why not just give them to me?"

"Because every time he attempts to get into your good books, you shut him down," Lin said flatly, "and your birthday is around the date of the performance. He thought I'd be able to boost your spirits with some aunt-nephew bonding time or some rubbish."

Su cooed in delight. "How thoughtful," she said, turning to her husband. "I knew he was a good choice, didn't I tell you-?"

"You always know after the fact, Su," Baatar Sr. said dismissively. He smiled, his eyes crinkling as Su made a face and tweaked his nose.

"Well, now I feel like a horrible person," Baatar said glumly. "Just when I was starting to feel a bit less like a pretentious scum, too..."

"Not an inaccurate assessment," Mako said with a shrug. "Don't worry, you'll build character in good time working with Chief Beifong," he said, smiling at her. "I know I did."

Lin smirked, affectionately punching Mako in the arm. "If I were you, Junior, I'd go thank him. But that's going to have to wait, I think it's time for Opal to open her gifts." They convened around the large table, and Baatar's eyes softened as he beheld his little sister delightedly opening her presents. His was a metal miniature of their family home, soldered during the late hours and sketched during breakfast, something he had been working on since she had confided that she had been feeling homesick during one of their dinners together. Opal met his eyes, mouthing "thank you" to him as Bolin upset the pyramid of desserts, causing the rest of the evening to devolve into a joyous chaos that he suspected Keisai enjoyed more than he let on.

The twins had taken to Keisai right away, and he entertained them with his navy stories that were likely embellished more than the lawyer let on. He arm wrestled Korra (Baatar suspected that he allowed her to win after a valiant struggle), obtained an autograph from Bolin, danced with Asami Sato, and politely discussed the downfall of the impressionist movement in the Fire Nation with Huan. He was never in his seat and his feet were never still, either dancing or bouncing in place with a relaxed set to his shoulders, despite a sobriety that Baatar had not expected to see at a party. Baatar observed the man with grudging respect and mounting guilt as he made a point of socializing with every person on the dance floor, even presenting Opal with a glossy envelope before he signaled Baatar that he was ready to depart. "It was a delight to meet all of you," Keisai said. "I hope we get a good outcome at the end of all this; that would be the icing on the cake."

"Thank you for everything that you've done," Su said, shaking his hand warmly. "I know Lin can be a bit prickly, but she's told me that Junior is in the most capable of hands."

"Did she, now?" Keisai said, grinning. "I'll have to thank her. I'm truly honored to have been invited to your daughter's birthday celebration... and to have finally met the woman who graced the cover of Elements of Style's 'Hottest Heads of State' issue." Baatar buried his head in his hands, cringing as his mother laughed.

"Watch yourself," his father said, smiling despite his firm tone and shaking hands with the lawyer. "We'll see you soon for the deposition. Good to meet you, Keisai."

"Likewise, sir." Keisai turned to Baatar. "Ready to go? We need to take care of something."

"Sure," Baatar said. He said his farewells to his family feeling much lighter, hugging Opal goodbye the longest. "Happiest of birthdays, little sister," he said, ruffling her hair.

"It'll be better next year, when you've been acquitted," she said softly, pulling back. "Thank you for the model of home, Baatar."

"This is touching and all, but we really need to go," Keisai said. "Best wishes, everyone-" and with that, he had seized Baatar by the arm and fairly dragged him off for their ride back to the heart of Republic City.

o0o

"What was that for?" Baatar said. "Why the rush to leave? You had gotten your audience with Nuktuk, you were dancing with the avatar with her boyfriend right there..."

"Okay first of all, Mako isn't her boyfriend," Keisai said, "and second of all, we needed to go. I hired a guy to watch your apartment-"

"Why do you never tell me any of this until after the fact?" Baatar fumed.

"-and he radioed me during the party twice," Keisai said anxiously. "I couldn't get proper intel on the situation, since I can never get away for long in a social setting... but I'm worried. He saw two men enter the apartment complex, one of whom fits the description of the man that assaulted you on the bus."

"Assault is a bit hyperbolic," Baatar muttered. "I had the situation more than under control."

"I'm almost certain that you're being watched," Keisai said, ignoring the interruption, "and your aunt, Mako, and I are trying to get to the bottom of it."

"Where are we going?" Baatar said. "We missed the turn-"

"We're not going to your place," Keisai said grimly. "You're staying with me for the night. My contact said they never left, and if they're metalbenders.. either way your apartment isn't safe right now, man. You didn't leave anything important lying around, did you?"

"No," Baatar said, frowning. "I mean, I don't bring work home with me in the literal sense, but there's a fair amount of my own side projects on the desk.."

"Great," Keisai said grimly. "I think we'll stop by and pay Kuvira a visit... Chief Beifong said she'd pull some strings for me."

"When was that?"

"When I got the news about a potential assailant in your living space, of course," the lawyer snapped. "You don't think I only saw her when I reminded her about the envelope, do you? She's concerned about your safety and since you're so blasé about it, she's asked for my help."

Baatar leaned back against the seat, his mind racing. "If they don't leave... Wait," he said suddenly. "Then why remind her about the envelop at all? I also owe you my thanks and an apology for that..."

"We may have our work cut out for us tomorrow morning," Keisai agreed. "And apology accepted, man. I just needed the chief to say what I had done in front of your mother. I can't rely on shameless flirting to get me through every sticky situation I encounter... she needs to stay out of our business. For now though," he added, parking close to the jail entrance, "let's pay your lovely fiancée a visit, I need to brief her for the week. What did she say to you these last couple times, anyway?"

"Why do you ask?" Baatar said, narrowing his eyes as he followed the man up the stairs, two at a time. "When did you have a briefcase...?

"Because," Keisai said, waiting at Kuvira's door, "you've been nicer to me and you've been a lot less of a doubter. I know it wasn't your aunt or your sister, so that leaves her."

Baatar was silent, but he could hear her words in his head as if she had just voiced them. 'Be nice to him. He knows what he's doing,' she had said, and as he entered the room and beheld her curled up on the cot he realized with a start that he had taken her advice in more ways than one.

"Baatar?" she said, suddenly sitting up, and he realized with a pang that she had been asleep, dreaming.

"I'm here," he said softly, drawing a chair up to the cot without thinking, and the look of delight that momentarily transformed her face made his chest hurt. "Keisai seems to think we have an emergency."

"He told me that he was planning on having your apartment watched," she said, adjusting her top as she sat up a bit straighter, crossing one leg over the other and raking a hand through her hair. "I take it it's not safe for him to go back?" she asked the lawyer, arching a brow.

"I'm not risking it," Keisai said. "My guy said that our suspect went in, and never came out. We made sure the back exits have been covered too... someone's still in there, and I won't be surprised if Baatar and I will be filing a police report tomorrow morning. He's staying at my place tonight."

"What do they want with him?" Kuvira said, looking from Baatar to Keisai anxiously. "The empire died with our arrest."

"I have a hunch," Keisai said, "but I won't jump the gun. We're here to brief you, and quickly." Baatar watched as Keisai began briefing Kuvira on his interview with one of their corporals from the prison camps, his scheduled interview with Bolin, and the recent news regarding Prince Wu's assault. "He's unharmed," Keisai was saying, "but he's coming back to Republic City soon. You've got quite the batch of loyalists, sweetheart."

Baatar observed the two as they talked, their voices low and conspiratorial. Kuvira's eyes strayed his way more than once, but she listened attentively, her left hand slipping under her tank top as she idly felt the scar tissue from her healed injury. He tried to listen, but instead found himself tuning in and out of their conversation as he watched her, from the way she narrowed her eyes to the thoughtless movements of her hands. It reminded him of their late nights in the train or in camp, working on lap desks while dressed for bed, with paper stacks on the night stand and ink stains on their sheets.

"Baatar!" Keisai snapped. "I can tell you aren't listening. Kuvira, I'll call tomorrow as soon as we're able. I won't be visiting since I have interviews to conduct, but I'll let you know once we're safely at his place. Come on, man," he said to Baatar, standing.

"I'll... be by eventually," Baatar said awkwardly. "I talked to my mom, by the way-"

"Don't tell me now," Kuvira said authoritatively, though her eyes betrayed her worry. "Tell me after tomorrow."

He nodded and left abruptly, with Keisai right behind him. They drove in silence for most of the way. "You've got it bad," Keisai said at last, sympathetically. "I thought I was in love once, but this..." He shook his head as he led the way to his apartment. "I don't know why you keep doing this to yourself, man."

"Stay out of my personal life," Baatar said tiredly. "It's not like I mean to keep inviting you in."

Keisai grabbed a spare pillow and blanket from the closet. "Luckily for you my room is habitable at the moment," he said. "I'll take the couch. Get some sleep- I need you to wake us up early for tomorrow. I hope you're as good with a cane as Kuvira said..."


A/N: UGH GUYS. I WROTE THIS IN ONE STRETCH KILL MEEEEE.

This chapter is LOADED with stuff and I had to delay the interview with Bolin AGAIN. So. Pissed. Anyway, after this shit gets real, and then it's gonna hit the fan. Also the Su apology was supposed to be deja vu so if you missed it, re-read the baavira scene in chapter 4. Lemme hear it in the reviews! Today's song is "You Got it Bad" by Usher. Sorry for the shitty authors note but I'm SO OVER THIS CHAPTER KBAI.