Kuvira was trying to remember the last time she had felt the proverbial butterflies stirring on her stomach. Pacing inside her cell, she had repeatedly read the official correspondence received earlier that week. She went over the most relevant lines again as a cautious hope kept building inside her.
"After receiving counsel from advisors from all nations and the Air Nomads, the panel of jurists from the United Republic has decided to accept the suggestion of extradition of the convict Kuvira to a neutral territory. Due to the current dynamic political landscape in the former Earth Kingdom and the recent assassination attempt on the former Earth Empire leader at a Republic City penitentiary, it has been deemed that transfer to a yet undisclosed location can properly serve the cause of justice, the goal of rehabilitation of the convict and the preservation of her own safety."
But it was what Chief Beifong, who as customary had delivered the confidential mail, had remarked that contributed to her current restless state:
"As you are aware, Korra participated in the meetings in her role as Avatar, so she was able to offer her recommendations given that she has been following up on your progress closely. Apparently, the counsel has finally agreed on the location where you'll be extradited as well as the conditions that should be met."
"When should I know where I'll be taken?" Anxiety was painted on the metalbender's face.
"I believe the Avatar wanted to deliver the news herself," the chief of police replied. "Guess after we take you to your new home, we won't be seeing each other for a long time."
"Are you going to miss me Lin?"
The Chief offered a cool glance at the prisoner but finally relented with a more conciliatory look.
"I admit that both your behavior here as well as the continuous collaboration our government has received from you seems to confirm Korra's claims that you are on your way to rehabilitation. That doesn't change the fact that you still have a debt to fulfill but I'd rather have your talents put to good use than be wasted in prison. You're still young with a whole life ahead of you and history has proved that people can change for good when they want to do so."
Kuvira regarded the Chief of Police respectfully. "I hope I can make good on everyone's hopes because I'm tired of disappointing people."
"If you keep displaying the right attitude, I believe you will. And don't lose hope of that family reunion. Just make sure it doesn't take decades like it happened to me." Chief Lin Beifong wasn't known for smiling but Kuvira had the rare privilege of witnessing one, albeit subtle.
"I'll try Lin, but it's up to Su and the others to be willing to give me a second chance."
"Don't lose faith. Who knows, they might surprise you."
The metallic sound of the lock unlocking and the groan of the door hinges brought Kuvira out of her remembrance and in a leap she was on her feet. She knew exactly who was about to cross the door.
"Hi! Glad to see you awake… were you expecting me?" Korra said grinning, noticing that Kuvira was right in front of the door watching her expectantly.
"Lin told me everything…so, it has been decided then."
"Yup, it has. Some paperwork needs to be completed but you should be on your way to your new home in a couple of weeks."
"So soon…!"
"Apparently the idea of your extradition from Republic City custody wasn't as hard a sell as we all thought. As long as the new location agreed with their requirements, the bigwigs at the government didn't have a problem relinquishing the 'Kuvira situation' to someone else. Even Zhu Li was impressed on how smoothly negotiations went. They even threw in an airship and everything for transportation so you can be on your way quickly."
"Korra…" The former captain was staring sternly at the short haired woman.
"Uhuh?"
"You haven't mentioned where I'm going."
"Ooohh, right, right! You have cold weather clothes, don't you?"
Upon saying this, Korra presented the metalbender with a folder. "Details of your new location with pictures and maps are all there. I think you'll notice that the new place has some advantages over this penitentiary but it might take you some time to get used to it."
Kuvira sat down in front of the table and began examining the documents meticulously. "I see what you mean. I think I understand why everyone agreed without a fuss. More than extradition it's practically an exile."
"I guess you can call it that but think of it this way. You'll be away from the public's eye for a long time which means you won't be hassled with reminders of your past every day. It's your chance to really have a fresh start."
The former leader gave the Avatar a suspicious glance. "Do I see your hand in this?"
For the past months, Kuvira had been receiving steady mail from Korra describing the slow and boring pace the negotiations were taking. The Avatar might be a more compassionate person and less headstrong person in the present, but she still had a distinct distaste for political wrangling, stirring her natural impatience. At least Tenzin was there to rein Korra from escaping the dull meetings that were, much to her chagrin, part of her duties. Korra did remain surprisingly discreet about the actual details of the discussions on their correspondence, which in turn increased Kuvira's restlessness.
Korra flashed a noncommittal smile. "Maybe. Actually, it pretty much ended up being the one option left that wouldn't arise any controversy and could actually be considered neutral. But yeah, I threw in my input too."
The former captain stared at the pictures attempting to imagine herself in a totally different environment to the one she had been accustomed to all her life. It was indeed a new challenge and a chance for a new life.
"And what does Chief Tonraq think about this? It's his territory after all and he'll be receiving the person who almost killed his daughter more than once even if it is for custody."
"My dad agreed and in fact, he was the one to suggest the island as the location. My cousins were actually very interested in having you extradited to the North but dad and I didn't believe it was a good idea. We know Eska was sort of a fan of yours so we weren't sure that she might have ended up upgrading your status from detainee to guest."
"I wouldn't have minded that!" Kuvira exclaimed amused.
"I'm sure you wouldn't have but it would have defeated the purpose of the agreement and the whole being detained thing. Well, now you know. What do you think?"
Kuvira was still assimilating the news, especially the angle of the extreme cold weather, a concept that was alien to her.
"What do I think? That before I leave, I will need some pointers from someone who grew up in that environment so I don't become an iceberg before I complete my sentence."
Korra laughed and added: "Of course. Speaking of pointers, I know that with the limitations here you can't train properly but you still maintain the skills. I know you've been bending since an early age and you must have been quite the prodigy for Su to take you as tutor. I've been working to improve my metalbending but trying to get Lin to spare some time and patience with me has been impossible. I have figured out some things on my own by observing and by memory but I know I'm missing stuff."
Kuvira arched an eyebrow. "I'm not sure how I'll be able to help given the fact that I can't bend a single thing here for demonstration."
"Yeah…I sort of realized that now…"
The former captain burrowed her eyebrows in a pensive expression for an instant while Korra observed with curiosity. The metalbender let out a sigh. "How about this? We can go through some specific stances and I can practice them with you."
"Hmm, I think that might work."
Kuvira stood up and pushed the table away from the center of the cell allowing for some additional space and went to occupy the vacated space, gesturing to Korra to do the same.
"As you have learned, there are some specific variations from earthbending that allow metalbending to be possible. How about you go through some of the stances you know?"
Korra nodded and began going through several sets of movements while Kuvira observed with clinical eye. As the Avatar went through the motions, the former leader took the opportunity to admire her form as well as the drive and determination she put into her routine. She was glad they were no longer enemies because they could now share moments like these in which they could exchange knowledge of their craft instead of fighting each other in anger with it. Once the Avatar finished, Kuvira took her place and repeated Korra's movements. Even deprived of proper practice space and tools, the metalbender demonstrated she was still a natural as she ran through the routine almost flawlessly. Korra couldn't help but respect the tenacity her former enemy demonstrated in maintaining her skills even when it was impossible to put them into practice in this place. It was a relief to remember she was no longer a foe because she could still be a challenge as an opponent. When she finished, she stretched her left shoulder, apparently still not fully mended from the attack but she hadn't allowed this to hinder her movements.
"I believe you can notice the difference between what you did and what I did" the metalbender commented self-assuredly.
"That was pretty impressive for being out of practice. There's this one move you did…it went like this…" Korra demonstrated the maneuver. "Could you hold it for a few seconds so I can study it?"
"Sure" the metalbender agreed and soon acquired the posture and held it in place. The Avatar began circling around observing meticulously the stance. "Say Kuvira, for how long do you think you can hold it?"
"Su made us hold some stances for minutes, sometimes as far as ten minutes straight. I would get the worst cramps. It was horrible! I don't think I can hold it for that long anymore but I can still try for five at most."
If the former commander hadn't been so focused in her stance, she might have noticed the sudden playful glimmer that flashed in Korra's blue eyes. "Go ahead then."
Kuvira closed her eyes for added concentration, sensing that her muscles lacked the strong tone they used to have when she had practiced vigorously every single day. At least her future location promised to have plenty of space for a new routine even if bending would probably be difficult there. Too much snow, too little earth and way too much cold. She thought she perceived a warm presence closing in on her until soft lips that landed over her cheek barely brushing the corner of her lips confirmed it. Green eyes flung open although by sheer will and discipline, she didn't break the stance. A grinning Korra was still very close as she observed amused Kuvira's perplexed expression and the color rising on her face.
"Okay, time's up. You've made it."
Kuvira allowed her limbs to relax but her face kept the same stunned look.
"Korra…what was that all about?" the metalbender mumbled.
Korra's mischievous countenance morphed into sheepishness. "It's just that you were so serious and I kinda wanted to see if I could distract you and before I knew it, well…I'm sorry."
Kuvira sat down on the floor and made a movement to Korra to follow suit. The metalbender attempted to read the short haired woman's expression which went from flustered to embarrassed. She had the suspicion that there was something left unsaid that needed clarification.
"It's that all?" the former captain inquired. The Avatar let out a long sigh.
"No…the truth is that I like you but I didn't know how or when to tell you or if I should tell you at all." Color was rising on her tanned cheeks. Her head hung low. "This is all so confusing and complicated with our past history and all."
The former leader was listening carefully to every one of her companion's words attempting to make sense out of their meaning. Her own feelings towards Korra could also be considered complicated by the very same reasons.
"Confusing and complicated is an understatement" Kuvira replied, trying to inject some humor to her response. "Do you mean it? That you like me?"
Korra nodded, blushing an even more intense shade of crimson. "I didn't mean to upset you. How about we just forget what I've just said and we continue with the practice?"
"I didn't say I was upset."
Korra tilted her head up and found Kuvira's green eyes staring intently at her.
"You're not?" her voice couldn't conceal the amazement at her response.
"No. In fact, I've realized that I've been feeling the same way too for some time but like you said, it is a complicated situation and I have complicated circumstances. After all you've done for me I would have never dared to tell you what I felt because it would have added a layer of awkwardness to our situation that we certainly don't need. You in particular don't need it. You've already stuck your neck too much for my sake."
"I don't mind it you know…the awkwardness…"Korra offered. Her former enemy smiled at that.
"You should…you might avoid complications to your already demanding job."
"I know that but I just don't believe it is right to ignore or deny what I feel either. I mean, what are the chances of something like this happening? It must be for some reason."
Kuvira let out a deep sigh, her mind immersed in profound thoughts as an internal debate ensued. Was it right for her to accept this? Did she deserve this after all her misdeeds? Would it be right for Korra to do this? After long minutes of introspection, a sliver of determination crossed her eyes as she moved from where she had been seated and sat down facing an expectant Korra. She opened her arms and immediately Korra reacted, bringing her former foe into a warm embrace. A sense of contentment engulfed the dark haired bender concluding that this had been the right decision, complications be damned. Korra's chin had settled over Kuvira's right shoulder and she could sense her fingers playing with the dark braid that fell over her back.
"Do you understand that this…awkwardness if you want to call it can't be known, right? You as the Avatar have a reputation to uphold and just imagine what it would happen if you were seen cozying up to a war criminal."
"A cute looking criminal that is," the Southern Water tribe native offered, realizing that the small, almost imperceptible nick at the metalbender's left eyebrow that remained as consequence of the prison attack curiously increased her roguish charm.
"You don't make this easy, do you?" The metalbender said breaking the embrace momentarily to direct a stern look at Korra.
"Nope…I understand what you mean but at the same time I feel that it would be wrong to deny this connection."
Kuvira sighed. "I don't want to either but right now I have little control over my circumstances. Soon I'll be exiled to a snowy island in the middle of the ocean and will probably spend the next decade there until society decides I'm no longer a threat," the deposed leader concluded soberly.
"That snowy island happens to belong to my dad's tribe," Korra retorted with a playful grin that Kuvira found was attempting and almost succeeding in distracting her from what she wanted to communicate.
"I know that," Kuvira conceded. Korra's hands playing with her hair was proving to be even more distracting, a fact that was not lost on the Avatar who decided to continue the activity. Fearing that more pleasant distractions would soon sidetrack her from what she wanted to convey, she inhaled deeply as she took a few seconds to organize her words and thoughts.
"Korra…" Green eyes locked with blue profoundly. "Let me propose to you this: how about we see where this connection takes us but without pressures or labels. I'm aware that the loneliness of my incarceration makes the prospect of being liked by you so very appealing as you can imagine, and I'm also aware that you are still nursing a wounded heart. I like you but more than that, I have grown to genuinely care about you and I would like to do this for the right reasons."
The Avatar held the metalbender's hands with her own. "The fact that you are telling me all of this shows that you would do it for exactly the right reasons, and that's why I'm willing to take the chance."
Kuvira flashed a soft smile towards Korra. "Guess it has been decided then."
The Avatar stared at her with a serious countenance. "You're forgetting something."
"Uh?"
"Unless you want to turn into a popsicle in your exile, if you want me to help you with your cold weather gear, you'd better hurry up and kiss me!"
Kuvira laughed at that. As she brought Korra closer, she inquired in a more playful tone.
"Is that an order?"
"Order, suggestion…" Korra was cut short by Kuvira's soft lips over hers, more than complying with the order that had been given with a tender kiss that soon became more intense. Reluctantly, Korra broke the caress to gather some air and taking advantage of their pleasurable closeness, whispered against the metalbender's mouth:
"I will be there to welcome you to your snowy island and I hope you'll be open to receive more suggestions then."
Kuvira arched a dark eyebrow amused. "As long as you are willing to consider mine too."
"I think we can work something out," and with that, Korra proceeded to give Kuvira a long, passionate farewell kiss that later allowed the deposed leader to sleep profoundly and nightmare-free for the first night in months.
Author's Note:
There's a tribute of sorts to a scene from ATLA: The Rise of Kyoshi. if you've read the novel, then you already know which part it is. Hope you enjoyed the Easter Egg.
