Hi everyone, I hope you had a great holiday this year. This pandemic has everyone's spirits down, but it's a new year in the wake, let's hope it's a better one. Thank you for your patience here, I hope this chapter makes up for your wait.
In this chapter Korra and Kuvira take a trip outside the estate, with a small stop at the police station. It'll get intense with additional clues on Kuvira's past, but the details of the case won't come out yet. I know we keep jumping around, but I don't want to give away too much yet. The White Lotus will be put off until next chapter, I want to focus on Kuvira getting out more here.
I don't own Legend of Korra.
Enjoy!
"Ok honey, stand up straight for me."
"Mm." Kuvira did as Kya instructed, even held her arms out while the healer carefully felt around her ribs. They were still very tender, wrapped up good with fresh bandages, Kya was a wonderful healer, Kuvira felt comfortable with her.
"Alright, do they hurt still? Any muscle aches? Pain?" Kuvira shook her head.
"No, just a bit tender here and there."
"Good, that's progress. Now, you remember what I said, no heavy foods, but nothing too light either."
"Korra has been keeping me fed." The alpha watched from the far side of the room, at least hoping this would end soon. Despite the tension between them, Korra wanted to spend as much time with Kuvira as possible but not smother her. If Kya gave the clear they would go out to the station, and if possible meet Asami for lunch at her estate. If the press weren't so persistent of the Avatar's life story, Korra would let her go out more, hopefully in the future they would.
"Alright, you're done. You're doing very well, but no strenuous activity for another week, and I think you can start eating some more solid food, but nothing too greasy or sweet."
"Does that mean I can take her out?" Korra jumped in.
"You can, but the press is crawling everywhere. Where are you planning to go?" Korra looked at Kuvira.
"Down to the police station, Lin wanted to see us for something."
"See us?" Kuvira's attention turned to Korra. "For what?" Korra hadn't had the chance to tell Kuvira about the case, but now was probably not best either.
"She wasn't entirely clear, just that it was important." Kuvira didn't look like she believed her but said nothing. "Is she good though Kya?"
"She'll be fine, no heavy stuff still, I'll drive you to the station. My car isn't too conspicuous, and I can get us in the back lot with the police vehicles."
"Oh good, less spying eyes that way." Korra walked up to Kuvira. "Does that sound ok to you?"
"It's better than being stuck inside all day." Korra smiled.
"Good, and if we have time later, we can meet Asami for lunch."
"Lunch?" Kuvira's eyebrow rose slightly. "With the risk of the press seeing me?" Korra shook her head.
"We'll go to her home, she has a great chef and I think you'll like seeing the sites for a bit."
"Then…fine. If we have time, I'd like to see Ms. Sato."
"You can just call her Asami, no need for formalities." Korra touched her shoulder. "Go ahead and get dressed, Kya and I will wait out here for you." Kuvira turned, grabbed her clothes, and carefully walked into the bathroom to change.
"She seems much better, thanks to you." Kya spoke and Korra sighed.
"Physically yes, the bond is helping her. I just wish she didn't have to hate me so much."
"She doesn't." Korra stared at Kya. "I can tell by her aura that her hate doesn't lie with you, it's more of the situation that brought her to you. You once said you'd never take a mate, and she seems adamant that she wouldn't be a mate to any alpha. Now here you are, the bond is strong, and she's adjusting slowly but surely, to being yours."
"I hear you say it Kya, but it almost seems untrue." Korra looked back at the bathroom door. "I didn't want a mate because of my being the avatar, after what happened before with Zaheer…" Kya stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about him, he's locked up in a hole so deep even a badgermole couldn't break out. His followers too, they can't hurt you or Kuvira."
"I hope not, and while I've only just gotten Kuvira with me…if anyone hurts her, I won't hold back." Kya gave a light squeeze, and let go as the bathroom door clicked, and Kuvira stepped out. She had on a pair of long black pants, a sleeveless blue top, and black flats. Her arms had nearly healed, she had on a few bandages but nothing too out of the ordinary. Her long hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, draped over her right shoulder. So casual, yet to Korra she looked beautiful.
"I'm all set, are we ready?" those green eyes looked up, Korra felt her body get warm.
"We are, it's a bit windy out today, do you want a small jacket?" Kuvira shook her head. "Then we can go, Kya?"
"Right outside girls." The two women followed Kya out of the temple/mansion, they took the backseats and Kya in the front. Kya had a satomobile, though she only used it when visiting Korra or the hospital. Lin had gifted it to her after their one-year anniversary, stating she didn't want her mate getting exhausted from walking long distances; plus it was a good deal from Asami.
The drive to the station wasn't too bad, though Korra had peeked out the windows to see some citizens in their daily routines. Shop owners, food stands, pedestrians walking around, just an average day in Republic City. When she first arrived the city was in near chaos, and things had been rough at first with the equalists, but they got better over time.
"We're here." Korra looked ahead, seeing them about to pull into the back-parking lot, but she also spotted Kuvira eyeing the front of the large building. "Lin knows we're coming, we can go straight into her office."
"Good, I'd hate to get on her bad side if we showed up unannounced." Kya parked near the entrance, and Korra helped Kuvira out of the vehicle.
"That statue, was that Toph Beifong?" the omega sounded a bit nervous. Korra was a bit confused, until she remembered the statue in front, so that's what Kuvira was eyeing.
"It was, Republic City's first real chief of police." Kya sounded a bit proud. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason, I've just forgotten that she used to be here."
"Used to yeah, until she retired years ago, and then Lin took over." Kuvira stared at Kya, who chuckled. "Those two, I wish you'd both seen Lin when she first joined the academy. She acted like she'd take every criminal down on the first day, she was so cocky you could see the resemblance easily."
"Really? Chief Lin Beifong, cocky?" Kya gave Korra a look.
"She was young once too Korra, hard as it is to believe, she was quite a daredevil in those days, only after she graduated did she harden."
"What now?" noticing the confusion on her face.
"Lin, my mate, the chief of police…" Kya gasped slightly. "Oh that's right, I forgot you haven't met Lin directly, she's Toph's oldest daughter." Both women saw the omega pale slightly, but her face remained impassive. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, I…I guess you could saw I'm a fan of Toph but…"
"If you're nervous about meeting Lin don't be unless you're a criminal or suspect in a case she's alright around others. I dare say she's a better chief than Toph, and she has me to help her…unwind after hours." Kya got a sly look and Korra made a gagging sound.
"Kya eww…" the avatar shuddered.
"Oh hush, you two will have your own horror stories to tell one day." Korra blushed heavily and Kuvira looked away, her face turning slightly pink. "Ok, let's not keep her highness waiting too long, spirits know she's a bit stiff this time of day." They took the elevator up first, straight to the main floor; through some double doors in a room full of detectives who greeted Kya and Korra as they passed.
"Ah Ms. Kya, welcome back." A tall man wearing a silver uniform approached them. "Avatar Korra." He nodded at her and she nodded back. "And you miss…" he nodded to Kuvira, she reciprocated.
"Hello captain."
"Hello Saikhan, how are you?"
"Still here and still breathing, you're all here to see the chief?"
"We are, she should be expecting us." He motioned to the door behind him.
"You don't need my introduction do you?" Kya laughed. "Step right inside ladies."
"Thanks, say hello to your wife for me."
"Will do." Kya knocked on Lin's door, received a 'come in', and entered with Korra and Kuvira. Lin was at her desk flipping through some files, and she stood to greet them. Kya shut the door behind them and held out her arms to Lin.
"You're all here, good." Lin came and kissed her mate's cheek. "You must be Kuvira." She addressed the younger omega.
"Yes, hello."
"You seem well, I suppose Korra is taking good care of you?"
"She's been…nice, thank you chief."
"I assume that she's told you the reason for this visit?" Kuvira shook her head. "Why not?"
"I…" Korra jumped in. "I didn't get the chance, sorry Lin."
"You told me it was important, and she didn't say why." The omega pointed at Lin, and the older alpha gave a slight glare.
"I was afraid if I told you, then you wouldn't have come."
"Enough, no fighting right now." Lin motioned to a chair, which Kuvira took. "Kya, can you call Mako in here, tell him to bring the files, he'll know which ones." Kya poked her head out the door for a moment. "Kuvira, this isn't easy for me to discuss with you, and I know this might make you very uncomfortable, but we need your help on a case."
"What kind of case?"
"Well for starters, kidnapping and human trafficking, particularly omegas like you." Kuvira's eyes widened slightly. "I already mentioned this to Korra, we think an active alpha ring is going around abducting unmated omegas and selling them for money or breeding. All cases are similar, young omegas having no first heats, abducted in small areas and held in prisons until they're sold…" or worse, Kuvira and Korra caught that last unsaid bit. "If they resist, they get beaten, if they comply, they get fed little, but still beaten from time to time. Some managed to escape and are in protective custody, but there are still others missing."
"How many?"
"So far we've counted fifteen, that's including those who escaped, take four out we still have eleven." Kuvira stared at the woman, not noticing someone else enter the room until Mako came around with a thick file in his hands.
"And you think I can help…but how?"
"Because of this…" Mako handed the file to Lin's outstretched hand, and she pulled out a photo, the same one Korra had seen before. Kuvira took one look and gasped, standing up so fast she backed against the wall, knocking her chair away.
"Whoa!" Korra went up to her side, but Kuvira smacked away her hands. "Kuvira, calm down it's ok." The omega started shaking.
"How…how did you get that…?" Lin's face showed a hint of regret.
"One of the omega girls we found had it on her, said the men, or one of them, had it and kept it close. They never saw you, but the way they talked about the picture, we assumed you might have been the first victim." Kuvira looked scared.
"Lin, put that away." Kya scolded her mate, but Lin didn't argue and handed the picture to Mako. "Kuvira, Kuvira it's ok, you're safe here." Kuvira let Kya take her into her arms, gently coaxing her back to the chair which Korra picked up.
"I'm sorry I scared you, but…" Lin sighed. "We need to know, what happened to you when you were first captured." Kuvira was still shaking, Korra felt the regret coming up fast.
"I…" Kuvira started to clam down after a few minutes, Kya helping her with some deep breathing exercises. "I…I want to help but I…."
"Lin, let me talk to her alone for a bit." Kya stood up. "Korra, you and Mako go outside with Lin, I'll take Kuvira to one of the private rooms, not an interrogation one, and we'll talk then."
"But Kya I can…" Kya gave Korra a look, one she knew too well when the healer was serious. "Ok…Kuvira, I'll be out here if you need me." Korra could barely contain herself as they left the office, Lin led them into another room, near the interrogation cubes. As soon as the door shut, Korra's anger just flared up.
"Korra don't…" Mako tried but it was useless.
"I told you not to push her!" she got up in Lin's face. "You showed her that photo, I asked you to be careful with her and now she's…"
"Exactly how I suspected." Lin said and Korra snarled.
"Suspected? You wanted her to freak out and have a meltdown? I just got her out of the house Lin, I didn't want her to be upset!"
"I didn't want to do it Korra, but I had to. I needed to see the reaction, and now I know she was involved with that ring somehow."
"Involved? She was kidnapped!"
"That's what I meant, whatever she can tell us will be good to hear, after Kya calms her down." Korra's fist went back, but Lin caught it in her grasp. "Don't try it avatar, unless you want me to put you in a cell."
"You had no right to do that!"
"It was necessary, do you not realize how important this is?"
"Of course, I do! I just didn't think you would be so heartless to terrify my mate! How would you have felt if I did that to Kya?!"
"I'd be like you right now, but that's neither here nor there. As soon as she calms down we'll start talking." A knock at the door caused Korra to back off, and Kya stepped inside with Kuvira. Kya looked a bit angry, but Kuvira was calm, oddly.
"Kuvira, are you ok?" Korra went to her.
"I'm fine, I was shocked but Kya helped me."
"That was fast…" Mako stated the obvious, but no one seemed to care. Kya was good with calming others, one of the many reasons she chose to be a healer.
"You and I will talk later." Kya glared at Lin, who had the decency to look ashamed. "Kuvira has agreed to help, but we can't keep her here too long."
"Fine, we can start with the basics, I'll let Mako take the lead here." Mako stepped forward and bowed at Kuvira.
"Would you like a seat?" Kuvira nodded. Mako led her to a small table and she sat, he took out a notepad and pen, seating himself across from her. "Would you like a drink before we start?"
"No, thank you."
"We'll start simple, before you were kidnapped, where did you live?" Kuvira looked at Korra.
"Does she have to be here?" Korra gaped slightly.
"Why Kuvira? You don't want me in here?" the omega turned back to Mako.
"I'll feel more comfortable if she doesn't hear this, please." Korra heard the slight fear, despite the pang of sadness in her heart, it was clear enough.
"Lin…?" Kya looked to the chief.
"You can both wait outside, if we need you back we'll summon you in." they nodded, and Korra left the room with Kya. Korra let Kya take her to the breakroom, thankfully it was empty.
"Korra…"
"Don't, you know what I'm feeling, I should be there with her."
"I know, but Kuvira is still touchy about her past, it's not going to be easy for her to talk."
"She won't talk with me though, only Mako and Lin? What did you do to get her so calm so fast?" Kya gave a light smirk.
"A good healer's trade secret, one I'll share maybe in the future." Korra didn't smile. "Look Korra, what have you observed so far about Kuvira? Before and after the bonding?"
"She was scared, hurt, slightly timid, closed off, and then angry at the world and me for being in the situation. After we bonded, she's still mad, but she's calm, and she won't discuss her past, not much."
"I see, then it's possibly that even if she's accepted you as her mate, she's not ready to open up to you yet. You'll just have to give her a little space and more time, let her be the one to make the next step."
"Well, she did tell me something, but I don't know if it'll help." Kya leaned in.
"What did she say?"
"She was abandoned by her parents at eight, left in a city called Zaofu. Her dad was abusive to her mother because Kuvira was born an omega. She wouldn't say anything else, so I get the feeling that whatever family took her in she's got issues with." Kya's blue eyes widened slightly.
"Zaofu? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, she was tight-lipped about it, didn't say much else."
"Hmm, I might mention that to Lin."
"Why?" Korra had a feeling, and then it hit her. "Oh no, no don't go poking around it please?"
"Korra, Lin will probably do that anyway, just to make sure the facts are legit. I'm no cop but being mated to one and growing up with Toph I know the basics of how they work a case. I can tell you in the short time I was with Kuvira a while ago, she only agreed to help because she wants revenge."
"I can understand it, but what if she wants to get more involved? I can't let her get hurt."
"Then you protect her, be there for her even if she pushes you away just be there. I'll talk to Lin, and I have no doubts she'll be looking into Kuvira's background, but don't say anything yet."
"Why? I don't want any secrets between us, more than before I mean." Kya sighed.
"Did you notice how nervous she was when she asked about Toph's statue?" Korra nodded. "Did you also notice the shock at when I told her Lin is a Beifong?" another nod. "Then there's something else going on here, but no assumptions yet. For now, just keep with the baby steps, we'll work on the rest later."
"Fine." Korra leaned back against the wall. "Did…did she tell you anything else? When you were alone?"
"After I calmed her down, I told her this was her chance to save other omegas from the fate whoever these alphas are have in store. After a few moments of quiet, she asked me to pass a message along to Lin if they go digging around."
"What message?" Kya leaned in close to whisper.
"To take down the Earth Queen, for illegal enslavement of omegas and alphas."
Sorry sorry sorry, cliffhangers are terrible I know! I had to stop somewhere though, please forgive me!
So you see the last line, but is it true or is it just a ruse for someone working in the background? Is the queen really running an illegal ring? Will Korra and the others have a bigger challenge on their hands? What about Kuvira's nervousness on the Beifong name? Will Korra ever get her to open up?
Next chapter some of these shall be answered, can't say what though lol. White Lotus will finally meet Kuvira, but is it going to go well? Or is someone going to end up with a few bumps and bruises or worse?
Comments/reviews are much appreciated!
Later!