Asami yawned, glancing to the clock on the wall of the cockpit. One in the morning, still plenty of time before they arrived in Ba Sing Se. Plenty of time to walk around for a bit .With a deep stretch of her arms, she slinked out of the pilot's chair she'd been sitting in ever since leaving Republic City and engaged the autopilot. Stifling another yawn, she left the cockpit.

The atrium was empty this late at night, everyone having retired to their cabins ages ago. Made for some nice peace and quiet, but it didn't help the lack of company. Piloting an airship in the middle of the night did get lonely when you were the only one awake. Asami loitered around the atrium a while, walking along the large window wall to get a view of the landscape below. Mountains loomed far in the distance, gleaming beneath a wash of silver moonlight. A valley spread before them, with a winding river carving towards a lake at its center. The scene was calming, peaceful.

Asami heaved a stuffy breath, as she tugged at the collar of her jacket in attempt to cool off. Even with central air blowing through the atrium, a stifling heat had begun to fill the airship. Not terrible, but it wasn't the same as an actual breeze against her face. Right, time for some fresh air. With one last look out the window, she made her way to the elevator at the back of the ship and took it all the way up to the viewing deck.

A pleasant breeze brushed over her when she stepped out onto the roof of the airship. She took a deep breath and smiled, arms stretched out, enjoying the chill spreading through her. The night was crisp, clear, not a cloud in the sky. An ocean of stars spread above her, twinkling and gleaming against the backdrop of a clear silver moon. Spirits, what a beautiful night.

Lowering her gaze from the sky, she noticed a figure sitting at the opposite end of the deck. A familiar figure, dressed in green robes and metal armor. She froze. Of all the people to be caught alone with, Kuvira would be at the bottom of her list. The woman who had killed her father. Instinct told her to move, to turn around and take the elevator right back down into the airship. Kuvira's back was turned, and there was a fair bit of distance between them. She'd be gone before Kuvira even realized she'd been there.

Her jaw tightened, breath catching in her throat. No. She'd never be able to move on if she kept running away from this. She had already faced Kuvira once before, so many years ago. Perhaps it was time she confronted her again. Breath returned to her. Her hands clenched into fists for a fleeting moment, before swiftly relaxing again. Another breath, and she marched towards the far side of the viewing deck.

Asami paused a few steps away. Kuvira sat with her knees tucked up to her chin, face buried between them. Shuddering too, as though an intense chill were piercing through her heavy robes. "Are you cold?"

"Huh?" Kuvira's attention snapped up from between her knees. She immediately sniffled, and rubbed the backs of her hands against her eyes. "Oh, no, no I'm fine. I was just—never mind. Shouldn't you be flying the airship?"

"The autopilot is engaged right now." Asami eased a quiet breath, watching Kuvira continue to wipe at her eyes. Not a chill at all, then. "Were you crying?"

Kuvira stiffened, and turned her face away. "No, of course not."

Asami hummed, averting her own gaze away from the other woman. After a long pause, she lowered herself to sit next to her. "It's okay, I get it. You were thinking about Suyin?"

Kuvira stared straight ahead, chin resting against her knees. "You don't need to pretend you care, Asami."

"I do care," she insisted, with an earnest look. "Su was my friend, and what happened to her was a tragedy. More than that, I know what she meant to you." Asami uttered a deep sigh, letting her own gaze linger on the valley below them. "I know what it feels like to lose someone you love. But you knew that."

"Yes, I know." Kuvira bowed her face back between her knees, arms hugging tight around her legs. "I'm sorry. I know that doesn't help, but I am."

Asami stared ahead in silence, a cold knot twisting at the center of her chest. The knot tightened, squeezed, and then retracted. Softened. How strange. How was it that instead of the anger she'd been expecting, it was empathy washing through her now? Towards Kuvira, of all people? "It gets easier. Eventually. You never forget, but after a while it doesn't hurt as much."

"Well right now it hurts worse than anything I've ever felt," Kuvira said, with shuddering wheeze. "I could have helped her, if I'd just been there. If I'd never left Zaofu. If I hadn't been in prison, I would have been there. I wouldn't have been too late."

Asami's first instinct was to agree with Kuvira. She was right, after all. It was her own fault she'd ended up in prison. Her own choices, her own mistakes. But that wouldn't have helped anything. That would have been mean, and spiteful. Asami was neither of those things. She wouldn't let herself be.

"It must satisfy you," Kuvira muttered, staring down at the metal floor beneath her feet, "seeing me like this."

"You'd think it would, but no, it doesn't. Just the opposite, actually." Asami managed to turn fully towards Kuvira. If anything should have sparked anger in her, it was seeing her. Looking at her, not more than a foot away. Still, there was nothing. Her gaze further softened, any hate and anger buried too deep to surface. "You may not be my favorite person—far from it, in fact—but the pain of losing a loved one like that, of losing a parent? That's something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Not even you."

Kuvira paused, saying nothing. She remained staring straight down, her breathing deep and labored. Soon, her breathing calmed. She turned her head, gradually meeting Asami's gaze. Silver moonlight danced liked shadows across her face, filling her expression with an eery glow that, for a brief moment, caused Asami to forget who she was looking at. For that single moment, Kuvira wasn't the person who'd murdered her father. Nor the former Great Uniter. She was a broken woman, who'd lost one of the most important people in her life. A woman who needed comfort.

With a steadied breath, Kuvira finally managed to respond. "I'm surprised you're even talking to me."

"Honestly? So am I." Asami looked away, back towards the open night air. The moment faded, and Kuvira had returned. "I'll admit, having you here with us hasn't been easy for me. And seeing the way you are with Korra..."

Kuvira's breath stopped short in her throat. Panic lifted. Why would Asami be bringing up Korra? Did she know how Kuvira felt? Had she been too obvious, too open and intimate? The panic sank, plummeting like a stone. Even if she did know, Asami would have to realize that Korra would never do anything to betray her—that Kuvira's own feelings for the Avatar were wholly and completely unreciprocated. Wouldn't she?

"Look, I know you two are friends, and I know that isn't going to change, no matter how much I might wish otherwise," Asami continued, wringing her hands together. "It's just something I have to deal with."

Relief flooded her core. She exhaled, hand clutched to her stomach. No, Asami didn't know. She'd only been referring to Korra and Kuvira's friendship. Granted, that couldn't be an easy pill to swallow either, but it had to pale to how Asami would react if she knew Kuvira had fallen in love with her girlfriend.

She reached an instinctive hand to her neck, grasping at her dangling platinum pendant. Reassurance poured over her. Strength, comfort, relief. Her breathing relaxed again, not longer controlled by her nerves. For now, the secret remained just that. No need to worry.

"Plus, now that we're on the same team, we have to coexist." Asami leaned back on her hands, legs spread straight out in front of herself. "No matter how I might feel about it."

Kuvira offered a slow nod. "I know my being here is hard on you, and I'm sorry for that. But I'm not here to cause you pain, Asami. I'm here to save my family, and take down Zaheer. Once this is over, I'll be out of your hair again, back in prison."

Asami's gaze sharpened, locking their eyes together. The wind picked up, fluttering her dark locks behind her, captured by the breeze. "You've changed, Kuvira. As hard as that is for me to admit. I look at you, and I don't see the dictator who attacked Republic City. I just see a woman paying for her many mistakes." The sharpness in her eyes dulled, flickering with a palpable grief. "I'll never forget what you did. Trying to move on from it, trying to forgive you—it's been one of the most difficult things I've ever done. But..." Now a smile, slight and barely noticeable, but still there. "I'm going to keep trying."

Kuvira's throat numbed. Was she serious? In spite of everything, all the bad blood between them, Asami still intended to make the effort to try and forgive her? Where did anyone find that kind of resolve? "I'll keep trying, too. To be the person I always should have been, rather than the one I became."

"Well, take it from someone who has no reason to lie to you: I think you're well on your way."

In spite of herself, Kuvira managed a smile of her own. "Thank you."

Asami's gaze lowered, pausing when it reached Kuvira's neck. "What's that?"

Kuvira's fingers instinctively tightened around the pendant. Spirits, why had she gone and drawn attention to it? With a hard swallow, she let it go and held it up for Asami to see. The platinum metal glinted in the moonlight, bringing a silvery shine to the carved armadillo lion, and her name etched beneath it. "Oh, it's nothing, really. Just a birthday gift."

Asami studied it a moment, turning it over in her fingers. "Did Su give it to you?"

"No, it—" Kuvira caught herself. No, she couldn't go telling Asami that Korra had given it to her. They'd already moved on from that awkward part of the conversation, no need to reignite it now. She'd already hurt this woman enough. "I mean, yes. She gave it to me a long time ago. It's one of the few things I have to remind myself of her."

"It's beautiful." Asami examined the pendant a moment longer, before easing a quiet sigh and letting go of it. "Anyway, I should probably get back to the cockpit. You coming in?"

"I think I'll stay out here a while longer, actually," she said, watching the other woman stand up. "But thank you."

"Well, alright then." Asami waved, and turned to head back to the elevator. "Goodnight, Kuvira."

Bolin squinted down at the Pai Sho board, holding a hand to his chin in thought. Unusual, considering the rather fast pace he'd been playing at in their previous games, but his patience had been improving. Perhaps he had realized he'd fare better by taking time to think through his actions, rather than jumping at the first move that caught his eye. "Okay, I think I got this. Just give me one second." Finally, he touched a finger to one of his tiles and slid it forward. "Aha, try this!"

Kuvira grinned. "Oh, that's a good play, Bolin. Or at least it would have been, three turns ago. Now, I can do this." She reached down to one of her own tiles and jumped it backwards over another of her tiles, then forward across the last three of Bolin's. With a triumphant smirk, she leaned back in her seat and propped her legs up on the table. "And I believe that's game."

"What?" Bolin's eyes widened as he lowered himself closer to the board, staring at the tiles. "Nooo, come on! I was so close this time!" Pabu jumped into his lap, giving the board a long look before offering an encouraging chitter. Bolin sighed, looking down at the fire ferret. "Thanks, Pabu. I was so sure I had her that time."

"Don't be too upset, Bolin," Anraq said, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "She beats me worse than that every time I play her."

Kuvira laughed. "At least you're not losing in seven turns again."

"That was one time!" Anraq replied. "And I'd only just started playing!"

Bolin sat back in his seat and crossed his arms, one hand still on his chin. "Alright, I think I'm starting to figure you out. Best seven out of thirteen?"

"Your rematch will have to wait." Lin approached the table, pointing towards one of the windows. "We're coming up on Ba Sing Se now."

The entire group made their way over to the window, gazing at the city coming into view below. The Agrarian Zone passed below them as they cleared the Outer Wall, and soon the Inner Wall followed suit, giving way to the Lower Ring beyond. During the previous Earth Queen's rule, the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se had been little more than a massive slums, rife with poverty and refuse. Citizens scraped by, lucky to survive their life of squalor forced upon them by the ruling elites of the city. Eight years later, that poverty had vanished. The Lower Ring now bustled with lively markets and clean streets. Children ran around outside, playing bending games outside their homes, where families sat on balconies eating lunch. Every now then, they caught sight of the occasional satomobile driving through the streets. If not for the signature green and yellow décor of traditional Earth Republic style architecture, it might have passed for a neighborhood in Republic City.

"Wow, the Lower Ring actually looks really nice," Korra said, with a growing smile. "I haven't seen it since we were here eight years ago, tracking down new airbenders."

"Yeah, see, I told you, we totally fixed that up when we first came here after the fall of the Earth Queen," Bolin said, with a quick glance towards Kuvira. "Completely rebuilt most of the Lower Ring and set up families with better living conditions. Looks like things have only been improving since then."

Kuvira watched the sprawling neighborhoods pass by below, a distant well of pride threatening to bubble over. "Well, that was the goal—to help the Earth people, and improve their lives."

"So, not everything you did back then was bad, huh?" Opal turned from the window and offered a gentle smile. "It looks like you really did help Ba Sing Se."

"And other cities, too," Bolin affirmed. "For a while, we were making a real positive difference."

Kuvira closed her eyes. The billowing pride soured, and departed. "And then somewhere along the way, that changed."

"Whatever, that's in the past now!" Toph's voice called from overhead. Moments later, she poked her head over the second deck railing. "Stop thinking about it and concentrate on the here and now. We have a job to do!"

"Right," Korra said. "First step is to meet with the prime ministers and work out a plan to counter the Red Lotus when they show up."

"I don't know about the lot of you, but Bum-Ju and I are ready for action!" Bumi declared. Bum-Ju concurred with an eager chirp, as he flew up onto Bumi's shoulder.

Kya nodded. "I think we're all ready. Or at least, I hope we are."

"I know I am." Opal sucked in a deep breath, and pushed it out in a single huff. "Let's get down there and stop Zaheer."

Team Avatar's airship hovered down into the Upper Ring airfield. Landing crews guided it into an empty space at the end of a long line of other airships of varying sizes. The Future Industries vessel towered over all of them, a good twenty feet taller than the next largest. When the ship came to a complete stop, the gangway lowered, allowing the group to exit. Two figures met them at the end of the ramp. One was an older man with graying hair, wearing formal green robes embroidered with intricate gold fringe. The other was a young woman garbed in a floral patterned dress, her long dark hair tied back into a loose ponytail. She wore a round pair of glasses on her nose, and carried a clipboard tucked beneath one of her arms.

"Ah, Avatar Korra," the man said, with a low bow. "It is an honor to welcome you to the great city of Ba Sing Se. I am Guan, the United Earth Republic's Secretary of International Affairs. This is my assistant, Yula."

Korra pressed a fist against her palm and returned the bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Secretary Guan. I just wish the reason for our meeting was a little more favorable."

"Yes, terrible business, this whole Red Lotus thing," Guan said. "I can't believe what they did to Zaofu, and to think now they're after our prime ministers..."

"Well, you don't have anything to worry about," Korra insisted, with an encouraging smile. "My team and I are here to help protect the prime ministers and stop the Red Lotus."

"Yes, I've already been informed, and I must say I feel much more secure knowing that the Avatar is here for us. Now, why don't we—oh goodness!" Guan's eyes flared wide when he noticed the woman standing next to her. "Is—is that Kuvira?"

Yula, Guan's assistant, uttered a quiet gasp with the announcement of Kuvira. She took a step backwards, posture shrinking inward as if to make herself smaller.

"Oh, yes, it is," Korra said. "She's with me."

Guan's jaw trembled, maintaining his distressed staring at the former Great Uniter. "Nobody told me she would be here. I thought she was in prison!"

Kuvira sighed. Not an unexpected reaction, but nonetheless it drove a sullen spike through her core. How many times would she have to explain herself like this on their mission, and to how many people? "I was, but I've been given temporary parole to aid the Avatar. I've pledged myself to helping her take down Zaheer and the Red Lotus."

"I see..." Guan swallowed his concern, looking back to the Avatar. "Avatar Korra, are you sure this is safe?"

"Don't worry, Secretary, you have nothing to fear from Kuvira," she insisted. "The Red Lotus is our problem here, not her."

Guan shot another suspicious glare at the former Great Uniter. "If you say so. In any case, we should get you set up for your stay. There are some nice accommodations here in the Upper Ring for important guests. Yula will show you the way."

The young assistant blinked, practically stumbling forward to greet them. "Yes, of course. A pleasure to meet all of you." She bowed, and gestured for them to follow her towards a collection of gilded buildings in the distance. "Please, right this way."

"And here is where you'll be staying." Yula opened the door the guest's quarters and took another bow, arm extended to usher the group inside.

When Yula straightened herself, her eyes shifted towards Kuvira again. In spite of her attempts at being subtle, Kuvira noticed the look. She'd noticed every time the young assistant had looked her way during the walk over here. At first, she'd thought nothing of it. She was still supposed to be in prison, after all. People had a right to be nervous around her. After the fifteenth time or so, the glances grew steadily more unnerving. Kuvira returned cursory glances of her own, which only further spurred on their game of tag.

"Thank you, Yula." Korra gave the woman a bow, and made her way into the lavish foyer of the suite. As with all the accommodations in the Upper Ring, extravagance exuded from every gilded table and silk couch, a veritable palace. "Looks like there's plenty of room for everyone."

"There are seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, a full kitchen, a garden through the the back door, and an area to do laundry," Yula replied. Again, she chanced a quick look towards Kuvira.

"Wow, sounds like this place has everything," Kya said, as she tugged Lin farther inside. "Come on, let's see what the beds are like."

"It might be worth mentioning," Yula added, as she watched the two head towards one of the bedrooms, "the rooms are not soundproof."

Kya grinned over her shoulder. "We'll make it work!"

Lin's eyes widened, mortified at her girlfriend's insinuations. "Kya!" The older waterbender laughed, and a moment later they were gone.

"I think we should all take some time to get settled in," Korra said, raising a suggestive eyebrow at Asami. "I know some of us still need to sleep."

"Korra, I'm fi—fiiii-" Asami's response cut out with a deep, heavy yawn. When her breath calmed, she gave an awkward chuckle. "Yeah, okay, I could probably use a nap."

"Please, take all the time you need," Yula insisted. "I'll return later this evening to bring you to the state house for your meeting with the prime ministers."

Team Avatar cleared out within moments, everyone leaving to find themselves a room. Only Kuvira, Toph, and Yula remained standing in the foyer. Toph offered a tired grumble and wandered over to the nearby couch, promptly flopping herself onto it and curling up for a nap. Just Kuvira and Yula now.

Yet again, Yula stared.

Heat flushed into Kuvira's cheeks. She met the woman's gaze, unable to ignore the staring any longer. Enough was enough. "Why do you keep looking at me? I promise, I'm not going to start any trouble."

Yula recoiled with soft yelp, lifting her eyebrows. "Oh, no, it's not like that at all! It's just—you're the Great Uniter!"

"I used to be," she countered, with a sinking frown. "Not anymore."

"I can't believe it." Yula's demure posture broke with an excited squeal, clutching her hands close to her chest. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you!"

Kuvira balked. "Wait, you're happy to see me?"

"Oh my spirits, of course I am!" Yula stepped closer, a delighted smile curling across her face. "See, I used to live in the Lower Ring back when the Red Lotus took down the Earth Queen and the rioting started. My entire neighborhood went up in flames that day. My family and I lost everything we owned, what little there was, and after that we had to survive on the streets. But then you came to Ba Sing Se and fixed everything! We were set up in one of the new neighborhoods you built, and I even got a job working in the new mall to support my family."

Yula straightened her glasses, maintaining her smile. "Just look at the Lower Ring now! It's in so much better condition than it used to be, and nobody lives in filth anymore. Because of you, millions of people are better off today. You saved a lot of lives with what you did for this city. Now, I work at the state house with Secretary Guan, my family was able to move up to the Middle Ring—you're my idol! I even have one of those old posters of you hanging in my room. Oh, I can't believe this is actually happening." The young woman bounced up and down of her feet, grinning ear to ear. "This is one of the best days of my life!"

"I... uh... thank you?" Kuvira's words stumbled, unable to form a proper response. She remembered coming to Ba Sing Se, of course. She remembered restoring order and peace throughout the city. Despite all that, she'd never actually met any of the citizens affected by the restoration.

"Can I shake your hand?"

"...Sure?"

"Oh spirits, thank you!" Yula reached out and clasped one of Kuvira's hands, giving it an eager shake. Halfway into the gesture, she lunged forward for a hug instead.

Kuvira stiffened, unable to move. She stood there, eyes blinking with uncertainty, her insides churning with unknown emotions. Should she be flattered right now? Happy? Distressed? Confused, for sure. Definitely confused.

Yula released the hug and jumped back, an absolutely horrified expression sparking across her face. "Oh, oh no. I'm so sorry, Great Uniter! I got carried away, I didn't mean—I'm sorry."

"Oh, no, it's fine," Kuvira insisted, as she let her posture relax. "And please, just call me Kuvira."

Yula's cheeks blushed bright red. "Oh, oh gosh, okay. Kuvira." She uttered an embarrassed laugh and brushed back a loose strand of hair out of her face. "Anyway, I'll let you get settled in now. It was so nice meeting you!" She gave a quick bow and hurried out the door, practically skipping as she went.

When the assistant was gone, Toph looked up from her spot on the couch. "Looks like you have a fan."

"I did so many terrible things, I guess I'd forgotten the good I did," Kuvira said, still staring out the door where Yula had disappeared. "And the people I helped."

"You see, like I said, two sides to every coin," Toph stated, with a matter-of-fact nod. "By the way, if I were you I'd hit that while you have the chance."

"Wha—?" Kuvira snapped her attention towards the old woman, eyes bulging. "E-excuse me?"

Toph threw her head back and laughed. "You heard me! Doesn't take a truth seer to figure out you really got that girl's engine going, if you catch my meaning. Now, I don't know if they allow conjugal visits in Zaofu, but you might as well take advantage while you're free."

Was this really happening? Was she really having this conversation with Toph Beifong, of all people?

"I—but—" Kuvira sputtered, trying to spit out a proper response. She paused when she felt something shift against the belt of her uniform. With a curious brow, she slipped her fingers beneath the belt and pulled out a small, folded card. Had Yula slipped it there during the hug? "What is this?"

"Sounds like a piece of paper to me."

Kuvira scanned the card. And froze. "It's Yula's business card."

Toph sat straighter, eyebrows lifting with intrigue. "And does it have a phone number?"

She frowned, glaring at the old woman over the top of the card. "Yes..."

"Ahahaha!" Toph fell back against the couch and laughed harder than ever, legs kicking into the air. "Well now you have to! Go on, 'Great Uniter', have some fun while you're still young!"