In Hiding

Summary: Korra tried hard not to think about Kuvira living in a jail cell waiting for her trial to start – until she finds her sitting on her bed, looking for a place to hide. Set after series finale.

Chapter 6

Korra chewed her bottom lip as she paced around her small room. Kuvira was seated on the bed, following the Avatar with her eyes. She coughed harshly before wincing. "If I could wood bend, I would open up the floor and trap you underneath it," she snapped.

The Avatar rolled her eyes. She ran a hand through her hair and frowned. "I'm going to let that slide since I'm putting my neck on the line for you

"Right," she answered quietly. "I'm sorry. I'm just going crazy in here, and I've only been trapped for a few days"

"I know, that's understandable." Korra sat down opposite of her on the bed. She reached out and gently rubbed Kuvira's knee.

"How would you know the feeling?"

Korra sighed before rubbing the back of her neck. "When I was poisoned I couldn't do anything on my own for months," she explained. Kuvira placed a hand over her chest and cringed while taking another breath. "I just wanted to be able to do something by myself. Something as simple as going to the bathroom, but I couldn't."

"I couldn't go to the bathroom by myself," Kuvira answered. "In fact, I couldn't do anything by myself and I still can't." She sighed.

"Yes, but did you have to have someone physically move you from a wheelchair to…" Korra paused before biting her lip. "Are we really doing this? Trying to one up each other with who had it worse?" she chuckled. "Everything really is a fight with you."

"It's just this room." Kuvira looked at the wooden walls. Her breathing started to quicken. "These walls. This cube. It's just like jail," she gasped. "I'm in a jail away from jail."

"Kuvira?" Korra asked as the other girl hunched over. She jumped up and moved to her side. She started to rub small circles on her back. "Just breathe."

"I need to get out," she rasped. Korra jumped when Kuvira suddenly lifted her head. She grabbed the earthbender by the shoulders as she moved to get out of the bed. "I want to get out. I have to get out." Her voice started to get louder.

"Kuvira, you could do more damage to your lungs," the Avatar pleaded. "You can get through this." She winced as Kuvira fought against her. "It's not the place that is bothering you; it's the thought." Korra placed a hand on Kuvira's face before pressing her forehead against hers. "Breathe with me. In and out."

Kuvira's labored breathing slowed as she looked straight at Korra. She followed her instruction and began to inhale slowly. Korra would count to ten before exhaling slowly out her mouth.

A loud knock came on the door. Kuvira's eyes widened as she flinched. Korra placed a finger to her mouth before walking over to the bedroom door. "Who is it?" she hissed.

"It's me," a gentle voice responded. "You called me a few days ago and asked that –"

Korra opened the bedroom door, grabbed Kya's arm, and tugged her into the room. She peered down the hallway before closing the door, resting her back up against it. "Did anyone see you?"

"No. I know my way around this temple. I can easily get in and get out," Kya said with a smirk. She then shifted her focus over to Kuvira, who was still following Korra's previous instruction to breathe in between counts of ten. "Is this my patient?" Kuvira looked wearily over at Korra. "Don't worry, I'm a healer."

"You're willingly doing this?" Kuvira wheezed.

"I never turn people away when they need help," Kya sad gently as she walked over. She dropped to her knees beside the bed before placing her hand on Kuvira's chest. "Sorry, I just came from the south," she said once Kuvira jumped at the cool touch. "Hang on."

Kya opened a water skein before waving her arms in the air, bending the water it. It instantly began to glow a bright blue. Korra watched from her spot by the door as Kya worked the glowing water straight into Kuvira's chest. She winced as the earthbender grunted loudly in pain. Her forehead began to bead with sweat. "Stop," she pleaded.

"I'm almost done," Kya said. "Just hang on a bit more." Kuvira whimpered before clutching the bed sheets tightly in her fists. Her fingers turned white from the pressure. As the seconds passed her breathing evened and she started to relax. Korra walked over and wiped Kuvira's forehead free of sweat with her wrist. "There you go."

"Thank you," Kuvira whispered while taking in a deep breath. "It no longer feels like I have a ten pound rock on my chest."

"You're welcome," Kya answered with a smile. She waterbent the stream of water back into the skein before twisting the lid back on. "I suggest you take it easy for the next few days, though."

"That means you can't move my furniture around anymore," Korra said with a small laugh. "It's becoming that much harder to walk." She turned toward Kya and gave her a nod. "Thank you, for coming."

"Anytime, Korra." Kya reached out and brushed some of the Avatar's brown hair out of her face. She then cupped her cheek before pulling her into a hug.

"Wait," Kuvira demanded. "Why are you willingly helping me?"

"I told you." Korra pulled away from the embrace before placing a hand on the water master's shoulder. "Kya isn't a judgmental person."

"Didn't you hear about the things I did?"

"Of course." Kya nodded. "But through it all, you were really trying to help people. You're ways just came across unorthodox."

"So, you aren't going to turn me in?"

"No." Kya looked at Korra with a smile. "I believe that the Avatar know what she's doing in keeping you out of jail. I trust her judgment."

"What about Chief Beifong?" Kuvira questioned. "I've heard stories about her from Su. I'm sure she'll be scouring the entire city as many times as it takes to find me."

"I can handle Lin if the situation rises," Kya smirked. She crossed her arms over her chest before throwing each girl a wink. "She's just a puppy with a loud bark. Plus, I know firsthand about going above rules."

"Do you remember the plan?" Korra asked as Kya walked over to the door.

"If anyone asks I just dropped by for a visit to see my lovely brothers," Kya answered with a laugh. She gave the two a short wave before slipping out of the room.

Korra sat down on the end of the bed and looked closely at Kuvira. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," Kuvira sighed. "I think I'll finally be able to sleep through the night." She ran a hand through her hair before leaning back on the bed. She relaxed on top of the mattress and felt the softness molding her to body shape.

"You're definitely overdue," Korra commented. She bit her lip when she heard the soft snores emitting from Kuvira's nose. She slid off of the bed and moved the sheets out from under the earth bender before covering her up. "Sleep tight, Kuvira."

Korra stirred as she heard the sound of sheets ruffling. She jumped when a bright flash lit up the room before a roll of thunder filled the silence The repetition of the sound caused her to fully wake up. A soft cry filled her ears.

The Avatar climbed out of her make shift bed before scurrying over to the bed. Kuvira's dark hair had unraveled from her braid and was splayed out on the pillow. She moved uneasily, muttering something, and before wincing and shaking her head from the left to the right. Her legs jerked convulsively under the sheets and then stretched out again.

Korra took the earthbender by the shoulders and started to shake her. "Kuvira," she whispered. She paused when Kuvira whimpered out a soft "No." Her hands blindly grabbed onto the sheets and tugged. Her jaw clenched and she twitched as if she were just shocked. More lightning flashed outside of the room.

"Kuvira, wake up." Korra saw red as pain erupted in her nose. She forced herself not to cry out as she took a few steps back. Kuvira's eyes snapped opened. She gasped loudly as sweat started to drip down her skin. She blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness, before dropping her arm and turning to see Korra hunched over, holding her nose with two fingers. She flopped back onto the bed, breathing hard, and looking at the Avatar in confusion.

"No wonder people are afraid of you. You have a mean right hook," Korra commented through a painful smile. "You were having a nightmare."

"Oh," she answered in a small voice. Lightning flashed outside of the window. Kuvira gasped before grabbing a pillow and covering her face with it. Korra was at her side in an instant. She poked the tip of her nose carefully before sliding the pillow away from Kuvira's face. "I don't like lightning."

"Before or after jail?" Korra questioned.

"…After," came a quiet response. "I don't want to talk about it. Sorry I woke you up."

"It's no problem."

Kuvira flinched as a roll of thunder crashed above. Korra rubbed her shoulder before climbing over her onto the bed. She grabbed one of the pillows and placed it up against the adjacent wall. She leaned back against it before closing her eyes and pressing her fists together. "I'll just sit right here and meditate. You try and go back to sleep."

Before she could focus, Korra heard the door open. Kuvira buried herself deeper underneath the sheets as the Avatar jumped to her feet.

"No," Korra gasped as Rohan slipped into the room. He yawned and rubbed his eyes while walking over to the bed, a stuffed baby lemur gripped tightly in his hand. "What are you doing here?" she asked while picking him up. Kuvira sat up as Korra returned to her seat on the bed. She shifted backwards until she felt the pillow on her back.

"KoKo," he muttered while nuzzling closer to her. "Outside scary."

"So why didn't you go to your parents?" she whispered while rubbing his back.

"KoKo warm."

"Koko?" Kuvira repeated with a snicker. Korra rolled her eyes before kicking her lightly in the knee.

"Be quiet, Kuvira," she said with a laugh. Rohan lifted his head out of Korra's chest and turned to look at the earthbender. He reached out a small hand and placed it onto Kuvira's cheek. She looked at him in confusion before shifting her gaze to the Avatar, who shrugged her shoulders in response. Rohan then lightly tapped a finger against the birth mark on her cheek.

"KuKu?" he asked. Korra snorted before covering a hand over her mouth. Kuvira glared at her and pursed her lips. Rohan stood up on the bed and held Kuvira''s face with both of his hands. Her eyes widened as she watched him scour every inch of her face. She flinched as a flash of lightning raced across the sky. Rohan then picked up his stuffed lemur before holding it out to her. "So the night not so scary," he declared.

Kuvira looked at the old toy in her hand. She traced a finger around one of the plastic eyes. Rohan leaned down into her field of vision and stared up at her with his big brown eyes. "KuKu like?" he asked.

She half-smiled before ruffling his hair. "Yes, I like," she said sincerely.