I had a plot-arc planned leading off of the last chapter, but it was just too damn dark for this story, so I decided to cut it and will just use some of the less angst-ridden bits.

Also, it has been revealed that the Fire Lord's name is Izumi... but this is an AU where Korra and Asami are a lesbian couple and Kuvira less Metal Hitler and more deadpan snarker, so whatever.

Time To Talk

Korra could swear; she'd grown up in the South Pole, a place where life was hard and often both short and violent. As such it wasn't uncommon to hear someone cussing the air blue in a way that would have made a sailor blush anywhere else in the world, and she'd learnt from her father, an acknowledged master of the art of creative swearing. It had taken the White Lotus Society years to teach her to reign in her more colourful language, allowing her to enter what was deemed Polite Society. But even she was stunned by the seemingly endless stream of profanity, obscenities and curses that Asami had launched into when she saw the reporters waiting outside the prison.

It was probably for the best that they hadn't brought the children.

There as some understandable public interest in the release of Hiroshi Sato, arguable the most famous of the Equalists to be arrested and impassioned. Many had argued at the time that fifteen years was too lenient, and there were those who felt that his early release on ground of good behaviour was a mistake on the part of the Attorney General. Some even went as far as to call it a publicity stunt aimed at bolstering her upcoming run for the Presidency against Raiko, who had been unwilling to block the move less he look petty.

Whatever the reasons, Hiroshi was being released from prison early, all be under his daughters supervision. Korra wasn't sure exactly why Asami had agreed to that, but she had, and now they were there to collect him from the prison. Korra felt more than a little troubled about the entire thing herself; she still had occasional nightmares about Amon and the Equalists, but they were thankfully growing fewer and less frequent. And she hadn't actually seen her father-in-law since his sentencing; she'd been one of the prosecutions key witnesses, and while she had taken no pleasure in helping convict him, she hadn't lost any sleep over it either. She had contemplated going to see him in prison, but after seeing how Asami's infrequent visits had affected her, she decided against it. But that meant that she had no idea how he was going to react to seeing her. According to he reports she'd read, he claimed to be repentant for his past crimes, and was looking for the chance to move on with his life in a more constructive direction. He apparently accepted his daughter sexuality, but there was little hard evidence about his feelings towards Korra herself, as both the Avatar who had crushed the uprising and as his daughter-in-law. Just to be on the safe side, Korra had decided not to rub his face in her relationship with Asami; whatever else he might be, he was still her father, and Korra doubted he'd want to be reminded what the two of them got up to in the privacy of their bedroom. Or any one of a number of other places where they had felt the need to expresses their love for one another physically.

As such, she stood holding Asami's hand to offer support, but made sure that they were standing slightly apart as the prison gates started to open. Korra had seen the photos, but they still hadn't brought home to her just how much prison had changed Hiroshi. He had lost the excess weight he'd been carrying, but he also seemed slightly shorter, his hair streaked with grey. But despite that, he carried himself with a quiet dignity, stopping to shake hands with the two guards escorting him, before stepping out to face the press. Korra could feel Asami tense up beside her, her pulse racing; all her fears over he fathers rehabilitation rested on how he reacted now he was free to say what he truly thought. Fortunately, from what Korra could hear, he seemed to be repeating what he'd said before; that he was sorry for his involvement in the Equalists, that he regretted the choices he had made, and wanted to find a way to try and repay society for the trouble he had caused. Asami grunted, but maintained a perfectly calm expression for the cameras.

Having finished with the press, Hiroshi made his way over to the two women.

"Asami." He bowed slightly to his daughter, "Thank you for your support."

"Someone managed to convince me that I needed to give you a second chance for my own spiritual well-being." his daughter managed a warm smile for the press, but her tone of voice told a different story, "And remember, I will be watching you."

"I understand your reluctance to believe me; I have much to make up for." Hiroshi nodded and turned to the Avatar and offered a hand, "It is good to see you again, Korra. I wish to apologise to you personally for my actions eight years ago; I was consumed by misplaced anger. My words and actions were inexcusable, but I hope that, one day, you will find it within you to forgive me."

"Everyone deserves a second chance." Korra took the offered hand and leaned in close to whisper in his ear, "You ever hurt Asami like that again, and I will kill you."

She stepped back and smiled sweetly, letting her words sink in.

"I am glad to see that my daughter has found someone with such strong feelings for her to spend her life with." Hiroshi seemed unphased by the threat, "I hope that I never give her cause to regret giving me this second chance."

"Well then, now that we're all best friends again." Asami smiled, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she gestured towards their waiting car, "Let's get you back home, shall we?"

Korra took the small suitcase that held what few personal possession Hiroshi owned and led the way over to the parked Satomobile. It was one of the Harmony line that Asami had designed, all be it highly customised with a much more powerful engine, run-on-flat tires, armour plating and reinforced glass. Korra had seen Asami throw it around the test track in the mansion grounds as if it was one of the racers she still tinkered with, and was sure that it would out-run anything it couldn't just push out of the way. They had three Harmonies fitted to the same specifications, an unfortunate necessity given the enemies they had made down the years. Asami climbed behind the wheel, and Korra stood to one side, waiting to see where Hiroshi would choose to sit. He seemed to hesitate for a while, then opened the rear door and climbed in, reaching out for his case. Korra handed it to him, then climbed in beside her wife, automatically securing her seat belt. Asami pulled off without a word, their protective detail keeping pace in the lead and tail cars.

"An impressive vehicle." Hiroshi commented as they joined the highway that ringed Republic City on three sides, "I can see why it sells so well."

Asami grunted, earning her a sharp look from Korra.

"We're having to expanding the factory to keep up with demand." the engineer commented, keeping both eyes firmly on the road ahead, "I have a team working on a more rugged, all terrain version for the North and South Poles. Cars like this are okay in the major settlements, but they tend to get bogged down if you venture too far out, and not everyone wants a snowmobile."

"That sounds like an interesting project." Hiroshi nodded, "Would it be possible for me to see the plans?"

"...I'll consider it." Asami relented, earning her an approving smile from Korra.

The rest of the drive was conducted in silence, Hiroshi content to simply look out at the changes to the city during his incarceration, and neither Asami nor Korra overly keen to engage him in conversation just yet. There was a crowed outside the front gate, something that had been the norm for a long time after Korra and Asami first got married, but had thankfully faded to just the occasional gawker or paparazzi looking for a candid photo. But now they were back in force, and it was clear from the placards they carried that they were not happy to see Hiroshi.

"I've arranged for you to have your own security detail." Asami informed her father as she drove through the gates and up the driveway, "Non-benders, but all highly skilled, including a couple of former Kyoshi Warriors, so you'll be perfectly safe."

"I apologise for the trouble." Her father bowed his head again, "Perhaps it would be easier if I lived elsewhere?"

"The terms of your release place you in my care for the next two years; I am legally required to keep you where I can see you." Asami pulled up in front of the house, "That said, for the sake of all involved, you'll be living in the guest house. You can have the run of the main house and grounds, within reason, but I should warn you that I turned over your 'workshop' to the White Lotus Society, and as you are far from their favourite person, you might want to avoid going there."

Hiroshi got out of the car and looked up at the house that had once been a monument to his success, but now represented just how much he had lost.

"I see you have put a lot of thought into this." He commented.

"I had a very good teacher who taught me to keep my friends close... and my enemies closer." Asami eyed his suspiciously, "Just remember; one word from me, and you're back in prison."

"I am aware of that fact." Her father nodded. "So, when do I get to meet my grandchildren?"

"Mako and Kuvira have them for the day." Korra moved between her wife and her father-in-law, "They'll be back in time for dinner, but we felt it best if you got settled in before things get too... emotional."

"That, and I wasn't sure I wanted to trust you around my children right away." Asami strode off into the house, "There's a tailor in the guest house to measure you for some new cloths. It would be impolite to keep him waiting."

"She's... under a lot of pressure at work right now." Korra did her best to apologise.

"I hurt her, and our relationship will never go back to the way it was." Hiroshi shook his head, "She doesn't want me here, and I acknowledge and accept that fact. But as much as she may not trust me with your children, my grandchildren, she does not trust me where she can not watch me, waiting for me to slip up."

"Will you?" Korra asked.

"That..." Hiroshi shrugged, his expression unreadable to the Avatar, "That remains to be seen."

To Be Continued...