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 13
"What's wrong with Rohan?" Pema asked as Kya stepped into the dining room. The toddler was screaming at the top of his lungs, his cheeks red and his voice becoming scratchier with every wail. She rushed over and plucked her child from the water bender's arms, before bouncing him up and down.
"It's good to see you, Kya," Tenzin said, walking over to his sister and giving her a hug.
"I don't know. He just started crying. I found him wandering the halls." Kya answered with a shrug. "It's good to see you too."
"What are you doing here in Republic City?"
"I thought I'd stop by for a visit during my travels."
"If we could focus," Lin snapped, sending a glare in her direction. The water bender rolled her eyes before waving a hand in the air. "The curfew has been set and we have people patrolling the city. If Kuvira is in the area, she can't get too far."
"What about my family?" Tenzin questioned.
"We will have people here at the temple, watching over everyone," the chief of police answered. She relaxed her stiff posture before sending him a gentle smile. "Your safety comes first."
"Do you really think Kuvira would harm our family?" Pema shouted over Rohan's screams.
"Who knows what she's really capable of?" Su questioned. She clenched her jaw, shaking her head back and forth. Her hands shook in her lap..
"What makes you think that she was here?"
"We found her handcuffs in the bay." Saikhan stepped forward and placed the metal bracelets on the table in front of them. "While we're only going off of this clue, it is something to look into."
"I have Mako working with us as well. As you know, he is the best detective we have on our force. I'm sure something will come up soon
"Chief Beifong," a member of the police force called out. He threw the doors pen to the dining room, doubled over and breathing hard. "Chief-"
"What makes you think you can just interrupt us?" she barked. Suyin placed a hand on her shoulder. Lin smacked her hand off before rising to her feet. "This had better be important. You know how I feel about-"
"It is about Mako," he gasped. "Me and another office saw him and the Avatar leaving her sleeping quarters."
"So?" she asked dryly.
"There left on the Avatar's polar-bear dog into the bay, with an air acolyte."
Chief Lin Beifong titled her head to the side in confusion. She tapped her chin in thought. "Why would she leave with someone?"
"While they do have free reign, the acolytes usually let me know when they venture off of the island," Tenzin added.
"Kuku?" Rohan whimpered.
Suyin gasped. She walked over to Pema and her toddler before leaning down a bit. "What did you just say, honey?" she asked gently. She looked at the toddler's mother before reaching out and running a finger down Rohan's wet cheek. She smiled warmly at him before cupping his smell cheek in her hand.
"Kuku," he repeated.
"She was here," Suyin announced. "Opal used to call Kuvira that same name when she was a baby because couldn't pronounce her name."
"Dammit, Korra!" Lin cursed. "Was there anyone nearby? An eyewitness?"
The guard glanced over at Kya, who calmly looked back at him. He regarded her apologetically. "She left the room a few moments after they departed, carrying the child," he admitted.
"How far could they have gone?" Lin barked.
"I'm not too sure, but it's going to storm soon." The guard straightened up, clicking his heels together. "They can't get too far in it. Not with Kuvira's fear of lightning."
Suyin turned away from baby Rohan and eyed the guard carefully. He stared back at her, taking a deep breath and slowly licking his bottom lip. "How do you know she has a fear of lightning?" she asked.
"…It was in her file." Chief Lin Beifong dismissed him with the nod of her head. The guard saluted her before stepping out of the room. He cast one more look at Kya and Suyin and then shut the door. Lin quickly turned towards the water bender, giving her a harsh glare, but did't say anything when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Lin, he's lying," Suyin announced once she heard his footsteps fading away.. Her older sister crossed her arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow. "I've known Kuvira for years. She's never had a fear of lightning."
"Wasn't there an electrical problem the day she escaped" Tenzin asked.
"Yes, there was," Lin slowly muttered.
"Okay, the coast is clear," Korra whispered. She stuck her upper body out of her bedroom window at the Sato Estate, holding her hands out. Naga bent down low, allowing Kuvira to climb up onto her back. The metalbender centered her balance before reaching up for the Avatar's hands. Korra easily pulled her through the window and into the bedroom. "Are you coming?"
"No, I have to get back before the chief notices," Mako answered from down below. "Good luck."
"You too," Korra called back. "Take Naga. She'll get you there faster. Be careful in the storm." Mako nodded and gave her a salute. She chuckled and rolled her eyes before giving him the gesture back. A deep roll of thunder filled the air, and was soon followed by a bolt of lightning. Naga whimpered and lifted her front paws towards the window. "It's okay, Naga. Mako will take care of you."
Mako rubbed Naga's side, muttering softly to her. Naga lowered herself from the side of the Sato Estate to the ground. She gave Mako a quick lick to his cheek before bending down, allowing him to climb on. Korra watched as Naga ran down the long driveway of the Sato Estate and into the streets of Republic City. When she couldn't spot her pet anymore, she closed the window as rain started to pour.
The cloud coverage caused the room to go very dark. Korra flicked on the lamp next to the bed and paused when she spotted a shaking lump underneath her sheets. "Kuvira?" The metalbender poked her head out of the sheets, her hazel eyes wide with fear. She let out a soft whimper as another flash of lightning lit up the sky.
"I would enjoy this bed more if it wasn't storming outside," she muttered. Korra walked over to the other side of the bed. She lifted the sheets before slipping underneath them. Kuvira flinched as she felt her dark arms wrap around her middle.
"What was wrong with my bed at the temple?" Korra asked quietly.
"It felt like I was sleeping on a sheet of rock," she answered. Every muscle in Kuvira's body tensed as lightning flashed once more. It was so bright, that she could see it from underneath the bedding. Korra held her tighter, resting her forehead against her spine. Kuvira frowned as heat started to gather in her cheeks.
"Hey, I slept on the floor remember. You shouldn't be complaining."
"You offered, and wouldn't take no for an answer," the metalbender reminded her. She shifted as her stomach started to flutter. Her palms and forehead began to bead with sweat. With each passing second, she could feel more heat radiating from Korra's body, causing her cheeks to warm even more.
"It's okay," Korra muttered. "With how fast the storm came, it should be over quickly." Kuvira felt her throat tightening. Her stomach clenched and relaxed. She grunted before pushing at the sheets, desperately trying to break free of its binding. 'What's wrong?"
Before she could answer, Kuvira sat up, leaned a bit to her right side, and violently emptied the contents of her stomach. Korra pulled the sheets off from over them before leaning over and rubbing Kuvira's back. The metalbender threw up a few more times, her body shaking with exertion, her clothes drenched with sweat, and her hair clung to her forehead.
"I'm sorry," Kuvira groaned, her hands shook as she reached up to wipe off her chin. "I didn't expect such a big response."
"It's no problem," Korra answered. She slid off of the bed before entering the bathroom, flicking on the light. She switched on the shower and pulled out a towel and washcloth from underneath the sink. "Why don't you wash yourself off and I'll change the sheets?"
Kuvira walked to the bathroom, hunched over and grabbing her stomach before closing the door behind her. She gazed around the bathroom, marveling at its luxurious decorations and various amenities. She peeled off her sweat soaked and vomit covered clothes before balling them up and placing them in the sink. The metalbender froze when she heard a light knock on the door.
"It's just me," Korra whispered. "I just wanted to grab your clothes to wash them." Kuvira looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her bruises and cuts had completely healed thanks to the session from Korra and Kya over the past few weeks. Her hazel eyes were brimmed with tears, but her skin seemed to have its healthy glow return.
"Just a second," she answered. Kuvira stepped into the shower and pulled the curtains shut. At the sound, the Avatar opened the door and stepped into the room. Kuvira instantly relaxed when she felt the warm water sprinkle onto her skin.
"The storm is passing, but I'll let you know if you need to get out." Korra grabbed Kuvira's soiled clothing before wrapping it up in the bedding she carried in her arms. As she walked back towards the door, she heard the metalbender let out a warm sigh. "Enjoy it."
Korra exited her bedroom and tiptoed down the long hallway towards the laundry room. She gripped the bedding tightly to her chest, making sure it didn't drag on the ground or bunch around her feet. As she walked down the hallway a door opened up behind her. Korra uttered a curse before conjuring up an air scooter and zipped down the hallway and turned a corner.
Asami stepped out of her office, rubbing her burning eyes. She frowned when a gust of wind picked up and blew her clothing and her hair around. She peered down the dark hallway, at both ends, before smiling softly. "Korra, is that you?" she called out.
When she didn't receive a response, she turned off the light to her office and closed the door. Pulling a set of keys out of her pocket, she locked the door and made her way up the hallway towards Korra's bedroom. Knocking lightly, she stepped into the room. "Korra, are you okay?" Asami's eyes scanned the empty bedding, noticing the few damp stains on the bed. A soft flash of lightning caught her attention before she heard the sounds of the shower. "Oh, maybe she's uncomfortable with the storm."
"Korra, is everything okay?" Asami asked while knocking on the bathroom door. "Is there anything I can help you with?" She turned around when she heard a noise behind her. She spotted tan arms carrying a pile of bedding. The engineer slowly looked back at the bathroom door. "Korra?"
The Avatar instantly dropped the bundle she was carrying to the floor. Her blue eyes widened when she spotted Asami standing by the bathroom door. She pulled her lips into a straight line, before slowly closing her eyes, shaking her head back and forth. Asami walked over to her, pointing between them and the bathroom door. "If you're there, then who's in there?"
Before the Avatar could answer, the shower turned off. Korra rubbed the back of her neck, shifting from foot to foot as the door handle twisted, before pulling the door open. She watched silently as Asami's eyes widened in shock, before relaxing with confusion, and then finally narrowing in anger as Kuvira stepped into the room, wrapping in a towel.
The metalbender halted when she spotted the two women in the room. As lighting flashed outside of the window, she barely flinched. The wrath set upon the engineer's features was more frightening than the weather outside.