"Did you know?" Kuvira vaguely hears Baatar ask as she tries to pull her arm out of his grip.

"That she was the Avatar? Yes, Baatar, I knew Korra was the Avatar, and that the Red Lotus was after her." She turns to look at the eldest Beifong child, pulling at her arm, "Please, let me go, Baatar, I'll be back I just- I need to talk to her."

He let's go of her wrist, "Go." He nods to the door.

It doesn't take more than that for Kuvira to bolt out of there. She hopes she's right when she runs back to the estate, running to the bedrooms, past both the twin's rooms to Korra's room, she knocks before opening it, sure enough Korra's in the room pacing back and forth, "Korra." She sighs stepping into the room and closing the door.

"I'm sorry, 'Vira." Korra sighs wiping at her eyes, her face is bloody and she has tear tracks down her cheeks.

"Hey," Kuvira sighs, taking a step towards the Avatar, "Take a deep breath, let's get you cleaned up."

"I have to go, Kuvira. I have to, please." Her lips stained red with her own blood mutter repeatedly.

"You're covered in blood, we're getting you cleaned up. Then we'll figure out what to do next, okay?" Kuvira gives her no other option as she leads her to the bathroom. "You know this may sting, let me know if it starts hurting too bad." She takes a wet towel, carefully cleaning a deep cut about her right eye, "Hold this to stop the bleeding." She hands it to the Avatar, using another towel for her cheek, she tisks, "That ice was sharp." She frowns.

"I thought I had blocked most of them." The Avatar shrugs, the nonchalant attitude broken with a wince as Kuvira runs the rag over the cut again

"I'd say you did pretty good." Kuvira smiles encouragingly before it slowly turns to a frown, "Sorry I didn't help."

"I- you… they wanted me, 'Vira. You didn't need to help."

"I still should've, you're my friend. You would've helped me."

"You aren't at fault, Kuvira, it's thought Red Lotus thugs that should be apologizing." Korra spits out.

Kuvira gently grabs Korra's hand, cleaning the four deep cuts from the man's nails with her right. Even after the Avatar's arm is wrapped up, she doesn't let go of Korra's hand, she bends the metal glove off Korra's other hand, turning it back to an arm band, handing it back to Korra, the younger girl doesn't take it, "I don't suppose I can convince you that you can stay?"

"Please, Vira, don't try and stop me, cause if you do…" I may just listen, "I have to go, I can't… I can't go back to that compound, Kuvira."

"Su won't send you back." Kuvira shakes her head, "She won't send you back if you don't want to." she bites her lip debating telling Korra what she's been keeping for four months

"Kuvira-"

"She already knew!" Kuvira exclaims, running her hand through her hair, watching as Korra's eyes widen before dropping to look at their joined hands, Kuvira follows suit, "She's known at least four months, at least since when the Red Lotus guys first escaped and you got sick. That's why she heightened security so much when they escaped."

Korra pulls away, "You told her." she frowns quickly standing and taking a couple steps away from Kuvira, her eyes widening in betrayal.

"No." Kuvira jumps to a standing position, "I would never, and if I had, I would've given you a heads up. I wouldn't… I promised you." Her hand flies from above her chest flinging it to her side in denial, as she tries to explain. "I didn't tell her." I only once thought of telling her, and it was when I thought you were in danger, like you were tonight, "I wouldn't have done that."

"You- you're right." Korra sighs, running her hand through her hair, "I'm sorry, 'Vira." She murmurs closing her eyes and resting her head against the cool metal of the wall.

"It's fine." Kuvira nods, leaning against the counter opposite of Korra, "What're you thinking, Korra." She asks after several minutes.

The Avatar pushes herself off the wall before she continues walking towards the door, "Even if she's known since day one, if I just did that in front of just Su or Baatar or Opal or the twins, Raava, even the guards, that'd be one thing. But everyone there saw me water and metalbend, there's no other way to take that but that I'm the Avatar, the White Lotus will be here within the week if they're having a busy week. And the Red Lotus or whoever those people were, they knew I would be here, and if they can, others… others can too and they may not be so direct, you or one of the others could get hurt just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. You could get hurt by just being near me and then I would never forgive myself."

"Korra, what if those weren't the Red Lotus, do you expect me to just sit here and let you go out where you could be killed-" The elder girl demands, stepping in front of the Avatar, using her arm to block her path.

"They got into Zaofu." Kuvira sees a small flash of that night with Aiwei, the metalbender soghs, Korra's right, "They could get me anywhere. I was planning on leaving in a couple months anyway, now I know I have to. Please, I have to go, 'Vira. Stop trying to stop me. I can't go back, and I can't stay. Don't stop me." She gently pushes her friend's arm down and walks past her.

Kuvira sighs again but nods, following the Avatar to her room, "Do you know where you're heading?" She asks leaning against the door as Korra looks around the room for a few other things.

"Tonight I need to get out of Zaofu, tomorrow, I'll figure out the rest."

"That makes me feel better." Kuvira quips.

"If I don't do this now, I'll never leave." Korra responds looking around the room.

"I'll go with you." She offers

"Kuvira…"

"Aang traveled with his friends, Master Katara, Firelord Zuko, Toph, they all went with him and helped him, I could go with you." She takes a step into the room with a hopeful smile.

"Kuvira…" Korra repeats, closing her eyes and shaking her head, "No."

"Korra. I could. I-" she looks into the Avatar's eyes, green desperately begging blue to let her.

"Need to stay here in Zaofu, 'Vira." Korra takes a step towards the older girl who's arms are crossed tightly across her body eyes now looking determinedly at the floor, Korra gently places her uninjured hand on the older girl's shoulder, using her bandaged hand to tilt Kuvira's chin up, "You need to stay and become Captain of the Guard, or whatever you set your mind to, and I need to go become the Avatar the world needs, deserves.

Kuvira nods hesitantly, "Careful, you're sounding awfully Avatar-y for only being through two elements." She teases with a faint smile.

"Hey, two going on three before I'm thirteen, I think I'm doing okay." Korra laughs, causing Kuvira to let out a small one too.

"Stay here." Kuvira orders as she steps away from the Avatar.

"'Vira…"

"No not Zaofu, this room, just give me a minute, please."

"Five minutes." Korra agrees, "I really should leave before the others get…"

"Su and Baatar Sr. will be doing damage control probably, you'll be out of here quick." Kuvira nods, pushing back the feeling that moves from the pit of her stomach up to the back of her throat as she runs to her room next door.

Looking around quickly and grabbing the mostly packed bag from under her desk, before grabbing the other few items she had for it and throwing them in, not everything she had wanted in there but more than what Korra wanted to leave with before bending it closed. Throwing it over one shoulder she returns to the other room. "If you're leaving, take this, it should tie fine to Naga's harness." She hands the Avatar her old gym bag, "And it can only be opened and closed through metalbending, so shouldn't open on Naga, or when you don't want it to."

"What's it in, 'Vira?" Korra asks lifting the bag onto the bed behind her.

"Maps, clothes, some money, water, food, few other things, won't last you long, but it'll get you where you need to." Kuvira explains, as Korra opens it, "I had been planning to put a few more things in but…"

"I can't take this, Kuvi-"

"You can and you will or I will not let you leave." Kuvira responds.

"You won't let me?" Korra questions.

"You don't think I can fight you long enough for the others to get here?" The older girl questions.

"Kuvira…" she sighs.

"And take this." She gives Korra the armband back, then slips off her own, "Metalbending is getting more common, but it's still fairly uncommon, use that to your advantage. If someone attacks you, het creative, and keep practicing, you're good, but I know you can be great." She brushes a few stray hairs out of her eyes, "I don't need to tell you to play firebender, Fire Nation or Republic City, which ever one you go to, please try and blend in."

Korra nods before smiling, "You're such a softy, 'Vira."

"What, me? Don't use such slander, Avatar." Kuvira smiles, pulling her friend into a hug, "If and when possible let me know you're safe." She murmurs into Korra's hair.

"I will, and after I master Fire, I'll have to come out as the Avatar, then if I can, I'll come visit." Korra promises. Before stepping back and bowing, "Thank you, Stifu Kuvira."

"Good luck, Avatar Korra." Kuvira bows back.

Korra throws her water tribe armbands and a few other things into the bag before slinging it over her shoulder, "You should go back to the celebration, I'll be gone before you guys get back." Korra says almost silently as they get to the main door before calling for Naga.

Kuvira doesn't respond until after the great polar bear dog gets there, "Hey girl," she murmurs as Korra ties the bag to the back of her spirit guide, "Take care of her, kay?" She asks fighting back tears, giving Naga a pet, only to get licked in response. Taking that as an agreement, she nods, thinking of all she could say to the Avatar, but instead, lifts her heavy feet and walks back to the Zaofu civic center.

•••••

"Hey," she hears Baatar Jr. asks as she reenters the hall, almost everyone looks like it did before they were interrupted by the attack, "Are you- is everything… are you okay, Kuv?" He asks resting his hand on her upper arm.

"Don't know, ask me again later." She responds.

"Come on." The fifteen year old murmurs motioning to a mostly abandoned corner, "What happened?"

"She's leaving." Cause that's what the last ninety minutes boiled down to, despite all the going around in circles, Korra was leaving, and Kuvira was losing the one person who isn't her friend out of pity, who doesn't care about her past. She knows damn well she's being selfish, the world needs it's Avatar, but what about those who just need Korra.

"I'm sorry, Kuv." Baatar murmurs, pulling her into a hug.

"She'll be gone by the time this is all over." Kuvira murmurs into his chest.

"Mother's gonna go talk to her, maybe…"

"Su won't be able to do anything, she's set on this."

Baatar just hummed in response not letting go of the metalbender, and Kuvira is content to just stay there, allowing him to hold her together for just a little longer.

•••••

Korra waits for Kuvira to be well out of sight to start mounting Naga, she hears footsteps behind her, she drops to the ground, earthbendingoe a couple boulders towards the noise as she turns on her heal. Looking towards the noise she sees a figure, "Who's there?" She demands, wiping at her cheeks to get rid of the tears that had fallen before creating a small flame on her hand.

"It's just me, Korra." A voice says softly before Su is visible in the fire's light ring.

"Su," Korra mumbles unconsciously taking a small step closer to Naga, "I-I'm sorry, I should've told you… I shouldn't have done that tonight."

"Korra, it's fine." The metal clan matriarch attempts to calm the young Avatar taking another step towards her before looking behind the Avatar, seeing the Avatar's spirit guide packed, "You don't have to leave, Korra." She murmurs softly.

"I- I the White Lotus, I can't go back to that compound."

"Compound?" Su questions before shaking her head, "Korra, we won't send you back to the White Lotus if you don't think you should go."

"There were two hundred people there, there's no way that they won't find out."

"Korra, come on, Honey, trust me, I'll make sure they don't tell the White Lotus."

"You already lied to them, and I'm the reason those people came and put everyone in danger. I don't want to cause you anymore trouble." Korra shakes her head, grabbing Naga's harness to pull herself up.

Su places a gental hand on her shoulder "Korra, I knew you were the Avatar since you came here, I don't think you're trouble."

"What if someone was hurt tonight cause I didn't just go with them. I need to keep going. I don't want people to be hurt because I can't do enough." Korra doesn't know when the tears started cascading down her face but she can't make them stop falling or her hands from shaking, "I really messed up." Running away 10 months ago, the fight tonight, running away now, I'm the worst Avatar ever.

"Honey," Su sighs pulling the Avatar into a hug, which the young Avatar leans into for a moment, murmuring apologies into the metalbender's dress robes before shaking her head and pulling back.

"I- I have to go." Korra repeats, "I have to go so I can be the Avatar."

Su frowns but nods, "If you ever need help, Avatar Korra, the Metal Clan and Zaofu will always be willing to help you." She looks at Korra in the Zaofu streetlights, brushing the Avatar's bangs away from her blue eyes, "I'm sure you will be an amazing Avatar, and will make us all proud." She smiles softly.

"I'll certainly do my best." The Avatar nods before pulling herself onto Naga with a sad smile.

"I'll have the guards open the Southern Gate for you, you should be able to get to Heibai's forest before it gets too late, it should be on the map Kuvira gave you. I'm sure you can get where you need to after that."

"How did you-?"

"I make it my business to know what's going on in my city, do you really think she can keep a secret in my own home?" Su laughs, "Now go, we'll try and give you as long as possible before the White Lotus come looking for you."

"Thank you so much for everything, Su. Tell the others I'm sorry and goodbye." The Avatar gives a soft smile, "Let's go, Naga." She asks pulling her reigns towards the South, where to after that, she doesn't know.