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 26

"Here it is," Kuvira said, peering around the corner of a building. She stepped back onto the alleyway, pressing herself up against the brick wall as a few members of the Dai Li marched down the street. "The Earth Kingdom Federal Building. It holds the Records Bureau."

"How do we get in?" Asami whispered. "The Dai Li are crawling the streets."

"That must mean they're protecting something," Kuvira deduced. She looked to her right and spotted a fire escape on the side of a building. "We'll get in from the top." Kuvira lifted a hand in the air, curled her fingers into a fist, and then quickly brought her arm down. The fire escape slid down and stopped with a sudden jolt. She motioned for Asami to climb first, checking over her shoulder for any Dai Li agents.

Asami quickly scaled the ladder. She got up onto the roof of the building. Kuvira looked up and shielded her eyes from the sun. Asami peered over the edge and gave her a thumb up. "Coast is clear," she hissed. Kuvira took the ladder two at a time. While reaching the top of the roof, Asami offered her hand, and helped pull Kuvira up. As soon as Kuvira's feet stepped onto the roof three Dai Li agents leapt onto the roof from the opposite side of the building. "Or not," Asami muttered.

Kuvira charged forward before jumping into the air. Upon landing, she slammed her fists down hard. Two ovals of rock picked up from the roof and spun close to the Dai Li. As they dodged out of the way of the attack, Asami ran forward, turning on her electric glove. She moved to the right, to dodge a punch, before bringing her gloved hand into a Dai Li member's chest. He grunted in pain before collapsing to the ground. Kuvira grabbed Asami by the collar and pulled her out of the way as a piece of rock aimed for her ankles.

Kuvira spotted movement from the corner of her eye. A Dai Li agent had bent rock around their body to create some type of armor. Kuvira pushed Asami out of the way and rushed towards the Dai Li agent, easily moving around their extended arms. She moved behind them and bent low, sweeping her lag near their ankles. Kuvira cried out in shock as the Dai Li agent with the rock suit grabbed her leg and flung her across the room. Kouvira landed on her feet. She waved her arms high in the air, bending pieces of the fire escape and wrapped them around the Dai Li agent's feet, locking them in place.

"Are you okay?" Kuvira asked as Asami climbed to her feet. She watched in satisfaction as the Dai Li agent grunted, struggling to move his rock covered feet. Before Asami could respond, her eyes turned wide. Kuvira cried out in shock as she felt something hard collide with her back. She dropped to her knees, wheezing. Asami ran over and tried to help Kuvira to her feet, whom in turn was gasping to catch her breath.

"Why are you so desperate to get into the federal building?" the Dai Li agent demanded.

Asami glared at him. Kuvira reached up and brushed her bangs out of her face. She coughed violently before dropping back to her knees. The Dai Li agent took a step forward before yelling in pain. An electric current raced over his body before he slumped to the ground. Asami rubbed Kuvira's back and gasped in shock when the figure dressed in all black gently tossed her electric glove at her feet.

"Go," he instructed. Asami tried to get a good look at the fighter, but he was dressed in all black. His face was covered with a dark mask.

"What?" Asami asked.

"Hurry, before they wake up and ask for backup," he instructed before turning and heading to the side of the rooftop.

"Hey!" Asami shouted. The dark figure turned to face them. He limped while taking a few small steps backward. "Who are you?" she demanded. The dark figure held a finger up to his lips before jumping off the building. Asami let out a curse before running over, glancing down over the side. Down below, people on the streets were rushing around, trying to get their shopping done as dusk began to fall.

"We don't have time for this. Let's go." Kuvira appeared at Asami's side, her voice raspy. She grabbed Asami by the arm. "We have an opening." She handed Asami her electric glove before scooping her up in her arms. She turned and faced the Federal building. Kuvira stomped her foot into the ground. Beneath her feet a pillar of rock from the roof erupted sending them flying into the air. Asami gripped Kuvira tightly as they soared through the air.

Asami grunted as the two landed on the roof of Federal Building. Kuvira ran over to two metal doors, close with a lock. She made quick work of the metal before dropping inside. She reached up and helped Asami into the building. Asami reached into her pack and pulled out a flashlight.

"Always be prepared," Asami said as soon as she noticed Kuvira looking at the item in her hand. Kuvira shrugged before leading the way down a nearby flight of stairs, her coughing increasing with every few steps. Asami was about to suggest they stop so Kuvira could catch her breath but began to cough as well. The floors and air was filled with a thick layer of dust. Asami let out a loud sneeze, blowing more dust into the air.

"Here it is," Kuvira said, pushing on a large door with her shoulder. Asami moved the flashlight around the room. Four long bins took up most of the floor space. The four bins were green, blue, white and red. The walls were lined with beat up and rust gray cabinets. A few drawers were pulled open, but the only thing inside was spider webs. Kuvira waved her hand in the in an attempt to get rid of the foul smell that invaded her nostrils. "I've only been in this room once, at the start of rebuilding…before I became…" she slowly trailed off, slowly swallowing to add moisture to her dry throat.

"So, where to start?" Asami asked, moving her flashlight around the room. Kuvira walked over to the green bin filled to the brim with folders. She began to flip through them, speaking quietly to herself. "You know where yours is?"

"They're in a set order," Kuvira answered. "I found mine last time, but I couldn't bring myself to read it," she admitted. Asami stepped back, giving Kuvira some room but keeping the flashlight pointed in her direction so she could see. Asami made a sound of surprise when her foot stepped on something soft.

Asami placed her electric glove onto her hand and turned it on, using its electric charge as extra light. She looked at the ground and noticed numerous folders and pieces of paper littered the ground. "This place looks ransacked," she commented. "There's a lot of papers on the floor, and what is that smell?" she asked.

Kuvira didn't answer and stopped moving. She placed her hands on the bins and leaned over, her shoulders hunched. Asami coughed and turned off her glove, re-pocketing it before walking closer to Kuvira.

"It's not here," Kuvira said.

"What?"

"This isn't dust, its soot and ash," Kuvira answered. She reached into the pin and pulled out a handful before letting it slip through her fingers onto the ground. "They must have destroyed my records."

"I'm sorry," Asami whispered.

"Don't," Kuvira said harshly. She straightened and snatched the flashlight out of Asami's hand. "Your family info is over here." She walked around three rows of bins before stopping in front of a long red bin. Asami looked at it before turning to glance over her shoulder. The other three bins were filled but not to the extent of the red bin; those were overflowing with folders and papers.

Asami held her hand out for the flashlight. Kuvira slapped into her palm and took a few steps back. She wheezed and coughed loudly before turning and spitting at the ground. She reached up and wiped the spittle from her lips. She spat again in disgust as soot landed on her tongue. Asami held the flashlight up to shoulder height and plucked a red folder out of the bin. It had a Future Industries logo on the front. Asami ran her thumb across it before opening it and reading the first page.

"Well…" Kuvira prompted.

"…Just info on my father, may he rest in peace," Asami said. She continued to read the paper in her hand. The orb of light from the flashlight began to bounce around. Kuvira carefully took the flashlight out of Asami's hand. She held it straight so that Asami could properly read the pages.

"I thought you hated him."

"I could never hate him."

"Have you forgotten what your father did?" Kuvira asked.

Asami looked over at Kuvira with a look of sadness. "No. History and people against the Equalist movement won't ever let me forget what he did," she said quietly. "However, he was also a person. This file reminded me of that. He lost someone important to him. He was hurting, Kuvira. I remember him as my father. He was a great man, and I forgive him for everything that he had done in the past."

Asami carefully tucked the documents back into their respective folders. "Yes, he worked with the Equalists to try and eradicate all benders to have everyone on equal footing, and I hated him for it. I despised the man that he became. He wasn't my father. He wasn't the one who taught me how to fix my bike, or to re-wire a radio, or stumbled over the embarrassing topics of puberty and womanhood." She paused, clearing her throat. "He wasn't the one who groomed me to take over the family business. He was human. While I was close with my mother, he saw my love for tinkering and embraced it. He didn't tell me to act like a lady or dress a certain way, he accepted me every time I stepped into his work room."

Kuvira remained silent. She watched as Asami placed the contents of her family's history into her bag. She noticed numerous other pages in the folder but didn't press the issue.

"My mother was killed in a house fire during an invasion of our estate," Asami said, catching Kuvira off guard.

Kuvira pulled her lips into a thin line as she struggled to come up with something to say in response to the tidbit that was just dropped into her lap. "At least you know what happened," she finally uttered.

"I have never seen a love before like my father had given my mother. He was in shock, and to him, avenging her death by working with Amon was what he saw as right, and I don't blame him. Not anymore," she admitted. "Anyone can change after going through a traumatic event, and that is normal. It shows that we are all vulnerable and in tune with our emotions as human beings."

"My father helped protect Republic City from you, Kuvira, and it is time I recognize him for all the good he did, not for the period where he had lost his way." Asami rolled her shoulder back, and lifted her chin. "To others, he was a monster. My father probably felt like he found his purpose."

Kuvira watched as Asami's eyes began to glisten under the shine of the flashlight. Asami raised a shoulder before turning away. Kuvira stood still. She wasn't too sure on how to offer comfort to the other woman. She cleared her throat and offered her condolences once more.

"Did you know, that when I returned to work, the clock in my office stopped today at 4:27pm, the time he passed during the fight?" Asami asked.

Kuvira winced, guilt flooding her system. "You mean when I killed him?" Asami didn't answer; she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small round pocket watch. She held it up in the air, letting it dangle in between the two of them. The gold metal would sometimes catch the light, reflecting a light shine onto the floor.

"This watch I carry in my pocket, from my mother, hasn't worked since she passed. Yet, my father kept it and gave it to me on my thirteenth birthday. I will not replace the batteries. Like this watch, I won't touch that clock in my office," Asami said. "I want to keep it at that set time so I will never forget when he made things right in the city. It may have taken my three years to forgive him, but I can now say that I do." She yanked on the chain, sending the pocket watch into the air. She held out her hand and caught the watch in her palm, before repocketing it. "I love him, and I will miss him."

Kuvira nodded once. She stepped forward and placed a hand on Asami's shoulder. "Let's go back," Kuvira said quietly. "There's nothing else here and we've been gone for a while. Korra needs to know what happened."

Asami nodded once before following Kuvira out of the room.

"And then we came back here," Kuvira concluded. Korra inhaled deeply. She stared at Kuvira, her head titled, before turning to look at Asami. Asami remained quiet, her gaze focused on the carpeted floor. Korra then looked back at Kuvira with a raised eyebrow. "That's it," she quickly added.

Korra nodded once. She cleared her throat before looking over at Ayaka, who was curled up in bed in a deep sleep. "I'm sorry you didn't find anything," Korra whispered. She reached out and placed a hand on top of Asami's,

"That's not important right now," Kuvira said. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall. Glancing over at Ayaka, Kuvira raised a shoulder quickly wiping away a tear that had slipped out of the corner of her eye.

"Yes, it is," Korra said gently, "for the both of you, whether you want to welcome your feelings or not." Kuvira reached up and scratched at the front of her hairline, using her wrist to wipe away the little bit of snot gathering at the edge of her nostrils. "But, I'm curious about the person who helped you. Lin and her police force, her actual force, are probably on our heels. Even though she is helpful, she always puts her job first."

"Whom else could it be?" Kuvira snapped.

"Someone who knows the Earth Kingdom like the back of their hand," she answered with a shrug. "Who knows how to get around the Dai Li."

Kuvira snickered. Asami got up from her perch on arm of the chair Korra was sitting in. She placed herself on the edge of the large bed, watching her two comrades. She crossed one leg over the other and began to bounce her foot. "And who do you think-"

"Wing or Wei?" Korra suggested.

"Yeah, right," she scoffed.

Asami glanced over at Korra and noticed her right eye had begun to slightly twitch. It was a sign that Korra was quickly losing her patience. Over the years she has toned down her impulsive tendencies but picked up new habits in its place. "They're you're family and-"

"I don't have a family."

"Yes, you do," Asami interrupted. "You're just too stubborn to see." Korra and Kuvira turned to look at her. Asami looked over her shoulder at Ayaka before reaching out and gently brushing some of her long hair out of her face. She cleared her throat before looking at the two of them. "Everyone has a family in some way, shape or form. I found mine three to four years ago."

Korra half-smiled. As she looked over at Kuvira her smile faded. In its place a look of annoyance and anger. Kuvira rolled her eyes and sighed hard before waving a hand in the air. "We should get ready for bed," Korra said quietly. "We're meeting with Wu very early tomorrow."

"You can take the first shower," Asami said.

"Nah, one of you go," Korra responded. "I'm sure you want to wash the gunk off you."

"I insist."

Korra made a sound of agreement before getting out of the chair and stretching. She leaned over and kissed Asami lightly on the cheek before shuffling over to the bathroom. She flicked on the light and closed the door. Kuvira and Asami remained quiet, but it wasn't until Asami heard the shower kick on that she said something. "Do you want to be alone?" Asami asked.

Kuvira looked over at her in confusion, raised an eyebrow. "Who wants to be-"

"Because if you keep acting like this, and pushing people away, then you will really be alone," Asami continued, her voice hard. Kuvira sighed but remained quiet, giving Asami her full attention. "Korra was just trying to help. I was trying to help. The Beifongs were trying to help when they gave you food and shelter," she pointed out.

"What are you getting at?"

"I'm saying, we risked our lives and necks to let you escape from Republic City, a place where you said you'd accept any punishment deemed fit," Asami reminded her. "I don't blame you for wanting to escape the pain from those two guards and their revenge, but maybe act a little more grateful."

Kuvira blinked. Her look of confusion quickly turned to anger. "…Who says I'm not?" she asked.

"You have a funny way of showing it," Asami commented. "We may not be friends, it'll take some time to get there, but I'm now open to the idea, after today," she said quietly. Her harshness soon faded and a look of compassion soon took its place. Kuvira clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Don't pity me," Kuvira demanded.

Asami inhaled slowly, her tongue sticking out to run over her bottom lip. "The way Korra and our friends work well as a team, is to be open and honest with each other. We all have different lives, but we trust each other."

"What makes you think I don't trust you?"

"I don't think that," Asami insisted. "I think you don't trust yourself with your own feelings. It's okay to be vulnerable from time to time. I've seen you with Ayaka, but then you put up a façade when you notice Korra or I am watching." Asami tilted her head to the side, her dark hair barely sweeping her shoulders. She reached up instantly to brush it away but stopped when she felt the short ends of her hair.

Asami sighed before getting to her feet. She walked over and stood directly in front of Kuvira. "We're both hurting in the same way, I'm just more comfortable with myself to express it. To express everything that I'm feeling." Kuvira stiffened. Asami smiled sadly before stepping away. "I'm going to run downstairs to grab some water. Sweet dreams, Kuvira."

Kuvira grunted as Asami exited the room. A few moments later the shower turned off and in its place, was the sound of a faucet turning on. Kuvira moved from her place along the wall when she heard Ayaka whimper. She quickly climbed onto the bed, and made herself comfortable. She pulled Ayaka in her arms, careful not to wake her up, and tucked the young child's head underneath her chin.

"I haven't dreamt in years," Kuvira whispered, "I only have nightmares."