After her exercise session had unexpectedly turned into an impromptu fighting match against Asami Sato, the only thing on Kuvira's mind now was a much needed shower. Korra's healing had taken care of the worst of the aches and bruises but after the faceoff, her clothes and hair were an absolute mess. The metalbender moved hastily towards her room. The last thing she wanted was to cross paths with a furious Su whom she suspected, must had already found out and pinned the blame on her. The bout with Asami Sato had left her exhausted and the prospect of an equally exhausting argument with Su was simply nightmarish but at least she had been able to apologize to the industrialist face to face after many failed attempts in the past. Fortunately, the magnate was ready to move on from old grudges and accepted Kuvira's repentance in good faith. The unforeseen piece of news regarding Asami's budding relationship with Bataar provide a curious subject for the women to bond over. As she scanned her surroundings to make sure she steered clear from the Metal Clan Matriarch's sights, Kuvira remembered Asami's reaction to her unusual proposition with a grin.

"If we have to make a stop in Ba Sing Se, how about we go shopping?"

"Us? Why?" inquired Asami, making a double take intrigued by the mischievous glint in the metalbender's eyes. She wondered if Kuvira's jovial mood was linked to the wine they had just imbued or perhaps to the peck Korra stole from her when they thought Asami wasn't watching.

Kuvira leaned towards the magnate. "Now that you are dating Junior, if you are interested, I have some suggestions about things he likes. You engineers can be quite the complicated lot to please and coming out with ideas for gifts for Bataar was always a nightmare for me. Besides, I need an excuse to procure some presents for a certain someone" she added pointing at Korra who was leaning against the door frame chatting away with Opal and Bolin. Asami chuckled at that. She wouldn't have considered the former commander as a detail-oriented person but she hadn't pegged her as a selfless person either. Besides, the industrialist admitted to herself the proposal had piqued her interest.

"Going shopping sure sounds better than fighting and I've got to admit you've got a point. I was just raking my brains thinking what I could get Bataar for a gift and poor Korra would agonize over what she could get me. With me being a magnate didn't help matters for her either. I could share some suggestions about our lovely Avatar too if you'd like."

A seldom seen tender smile softened Kuvira's sharp features at the mention of Korra that made the industrialist feel much more reassured about the metalbender's feelings towards her best friend.

"Say no more. It's a deal then" Kuvira replied as both shared a complicit chuckle that made Korra's head snap back in suspicion.

"Thick as thieves…" she muttered as she shook her head.

Kuvira was now striding to her quarters when she halted abruptly to avoid colliding with a tall figure rushing towards the opposite direction. A flash of recognition surged through her brain cells when the man spoke.

"Kuvira?" Bataar pushed his glasses up in a nervous gesture.

"Bataar?" Kuvira replied almost in a murmur, dark angular eyebrows arching.

The former lovers stared at each other uneasily, a myriad emotions crossing their faces and a thousand thoughts simultaneously colliding inside their minds.

"I'm sorry…I didn't see you and…" Kuvira finally said with a slight quiver in her voice.

Bataar's glance fell over her current appearance noting the messy hair and blood stained shirt.

"I wasn't really paying attention in my hurry…" he retorted timidly. Kuvira recognized the peculiar look he had in his eyes, the one he had when he was sunk in thought, piecing things together in search of an answer. Kuvira's face brightened when it dawned on her what his intended destination was.

"Go, Asami's already awake and before you ask, she is okay" the metalbender said with a soft smile when he opened his mouth to speak. A stunned expression adorned his face. Bataar definitely wasn't expecting that answer, least of all from Kuvira. The engineer tried to reply but only managed to utter nondescript sounds. Kuvira chuckled as she placed a reassuring hand over his shoulder.

"I already know. There's some things we should discuss. Tell Lin when we can meet, okay?"

Bataar nodded as he finally let out a relieved smile of his own. "Okay, I'll let her know. It's good to see you."

"It is good to see you too. Now go!"

Bataar chuckled. "Right…bye Kuvira."

"Bye Bataar."

Kuvira glanced back with a wistful expression. When Lin informed her that she was returning to Zaofu, the former commander had braced for many uncomfortable and painful encounters with the people she had disappointed and hurt with her past actions. After this brief meeting, she hoped that maybe the one with her former fiancée would not be as difficult as she'd dreaded.

-oOo-

Kuvira pushed long tresses of black hair back as she finished the dense report on the Northeastern province that had been selected by Wu's advisors as the first sojourn of Earth Kingdom's troubled spots. She jotted some quick notes in her angular, neat handwriting on a small notebook before putting the report aside. With a long exhale, she stood up from the desk and rubbed her eyes. The mint tea that had been delivered a while ago remained in the same spot she had placed it, already gone cold. A tightness across the muscles of her shoulders and neck informed her of the long hours she'd been sitting down intently perusing the dry reading. As she glanced over the maps and notes scattered over the small desk, Kuvira concluded she had enough material to discuss with Bataar for their scheduled meeting tomorrow. A part of her hoped that the discussion on Earth Kingdom matters would take their minds away temporarily from the more delicate personal subjects that inevitably would have to be engaged. Another part wanted to engage the worst head on and finally leave it behind. Right now she wasn't sure wish side would prevail. The beam of light pouring from the adjacent door opening captured her attention with the corner of the eye. The Avatar entered the room wearing light blue pajamas. She had pulled part of her hair back in a short ponytail that Kuvira found particularly cute. It must be later than she thought.

"Still sore?" Korra asked when she noticed the metalbender engage in neck rotations.

"Uhum" she hummed in response. One hand was busy applying pressure behind her neck. "But not because of the fight, well not so much anyway. I've been marathoning through these reports for tomorrow's meetings and I'm really concerned about what we'll find there" she added as she pointed to the pile of documents scattered over the desk.

Korra moved behind the former commander and wordlessly took over the massaging duties. She could sense the tension knots under the fabric of her pajamas begin to yield to the firm pressure of her fingers.

"It's that bad uh?"

"It's complicated" Kuvira admitted. "I wasn't aware that some of our regional commanders refused to surrender command and stayed back in the towns as warlords. For them the war never stopped. Townspeople didn't oppose them because life went on the same. Bandits were taken care of, peace was maintained, and they kept a relatively good quality of life with their basic needs fulfilled even though they were legally in a state of rebellion. I wonder if they will even allow us to talk to them." There was concern in her eyes.

"If people have put up with them, maybe it's because they're not bad leaders. From what you've said, it seems they care about the people. It's the politics that they don't agree with. I think you'll be able to approach them if you first recognize the good things they've accomplished. That was the whole deal of your unification campaign at the beginning. To bring progress and stability to everyone, wasn't it?"

"It was. Your reasoning is sound. You're pretty good at this Avatar Korra" the metalbender stated admiringly.

"It comes with the territory. I had to pick up people skills on the go and believe me, it hasn't been easy. This Avatar business is way more than mastering the four elements and dealing with rogue spirits. Being cooped up with the White Lotus concentrating on my bending didn't do me any favors on the diplomacy department."

"But you've turned to be pretty good. You're a good fit for this even if you hate the political wrangling. I'm glad I can count with your counsel."

"You do. I want you to be successful in this, for the nation and for yourself."

"Thank you, for believing in me. And the massage thing." Kuvira added with a relieved smile. The knots had virtually melted away.

Korra smiled back. "You keep proving me I can. What you did with 'Sami…not the beating of course, but the apology. That took courage."

"I think she displayed the real courage between the two of us in allowing the person who took her father's life the chance to apologize in person."

"Both of you displayed enormous amounts of courage and I couldn't be prouder. By the way, what was that scheming behind my back that I saw?"

Kuvira chuckled. "Oh that, just girls' talk. I was offering her pointers about Baatar on the things he likes. She seemed very receptive to the idea."

Korra flashed an amused grin. "So you're bonding over the exes, who would have thought? So, what did you say about me?"

"That's none of your business" the metalbender shot back with a saucy smile.

"Hey...!"

"You're welcome to ask Bataar anything about me if you like now that he's here."

"I might just do that" threatened Korra trying her darndest to look serious to no avail.

All of a sudden, Kuvira bent from the waist as a fit of laughter overcame her.

"What's so funny?"

"Haven't you realized? You've got to admit this situation is weirdly amusing. Your ex is with my ex and I'm with you."

"Yeah, I was thinking the exact same thing. And I here I thought that Tenzin and Lin's situation was weird."

"What situation? I don't know a lot about your friends to be honest, although I did found out that both you and Asami dated Bolin's brother."

"Yeah, everyone in the Four Nations knew that we both dated Mako, courtesy of Bolin of course. And then having to see us dating each other was sorta weird for him" Korra added sheepishly.

"Oh, I bet. So what's the story with Lin and Tenzin?"

"Sit down. This one's a doozy."

Moments later after they got comfortable sitting side by side in the metalbender's bed, Korra told the story about Tenzin's romance with a young Lin to an amused Kuvira.

"But here comes the kicker; you know Tenzin's sister Kya, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, now the Chief and Kya are an item but Lin's like, super secretive and protective about it and Tenzin was like Mako, initially shocked to find out his sister was dating his ex, but eventually he got used to the idea. And Kya is super relaxed about it."

"I wouldn't have suspected it if you hadn't told me. Now that I think of it, I find their relationship strangely familiar…" Kuvira lifted an eyebrow at Korra. The Avatar's eyes widened amused.

"Of course! So now the trend is Southern Water Tribe benders falling for metalbenders?"

"It seems like it."

Korra snickered as she wrapped Kuvira in her arms. "Must be that we find that strong, grounded aura strangely appealing or perhaps is the abs of steel that you develop with all that core strength."

Kuvira couldn't help but to roll her eyes and groan audibly while Korra was positively guffawing at her own silliness.

"Abs of steel…really Korra. You have been hanging out with Bolin too much."

"You don't believe it? So what do you call this?" Korra sneaked a hand over the metalbender's flat abdomen under the pajamas. Kuvira tensed as her breath caught up on her throat. Korra's hands always seemed to have this effect on her, soft, firm and warm over her skin. Her tanned digits were tracing the defined muscles at a leisurely pace as she eyed the former commander with a roguish glint before leaving soft kisses over the firm surface.

"Okay, point taken" the metalbender conceded as she inhaled deeply. With a triumphant smile, Korra closed in on Kuvira and brought their lips together for a kiss.

"Oww" yelped Kuvira when Korra sought to deepen the caress.

"I'm sorry…your lip?"

"Yeah, you took care of the worst but it's still sore. I'm sorry I ruined the moment."

"Don't be, I got carried away. Here, let me make it up for you and if it bothers you, I'll stop, okay?"

The metalbender nodded and instants later Korra was placing soft feathery kisses over her cheeks and the corner of her lips, taking care in avoiding the area where it was still sore.

"Better?" the Avatar whispered brushing the tip of their noses together.

"Better" sighed Kuvira in acknowledgment.

"Korra"

'Humm?"

Kuvira brushed a strand of brown hair over the Avatar's ear. "Don't take this the wrong way but you need to sleep in your room for appearance's sake."

"I know, just not tonight. Not after this." Her index finger slid softly over the fading reddish bruising on Kuvira's jaw. The metalbender took her hand and brushed her lips to Korra's palm, touched by the Avatar's concern.

"I'm ready to call it a day. How about you?"

"Same" Korra concurred.

The former captain opened her arms and not a minute longer, Korra was snuggled beside Kuvira with her head nestled against her shoulder. Questing fingers drew arcane shapes over the metalbender's flat belly.

"I hope we can pull this off" Kuvira murmured softly against the Avatar's soft brown hair. "If we're successful it'll mean reduced sentences or even commutation for me and Bataar. I would like to be a free woman. I would like to be with you without worries of being found out."

Korra snuggled closer. "Free, exiled on the island, here in Zaofu, it doesn't make a difference to me. I will find you and I will be with you no matter what."

As she placed her hands over the Avatar's cheeks, Kuvira decided she could withstand some minor pain in exchange of rewarding the amazing woman in her arms with the kiss she properly deserved.

-oOo-

Kuvira wrung her hands nervously, pacing the short distance between the corridor and the room designated for the morning's meeting. Near her, Chief Lin Beifong and Hong Li made small talk as they waited for the government officials and Bataar Jr. to arrive. As the time for the appointment neared, the former commander's apprehension kept steadily rising. She dreaded to face Suyin. The Zaofu leader had already received the news of the incident between the Future Industries CEO and Kuvira, and according to her elder sister, she didn't take well to the news and it took a good deal of explaining to convince her the fight had not been initiated by the deposed dictator. Kuvira inhaled deeply when she saw Bataar arriving flanked by his mother and Asami. The affable countenance the Metal Clan Matriarch had maintained up to that moment transfigured almost immediately at the sight of her former protégé. The former leader resorted to her diplomatic skills, offering welcoming nod to Asami and Bataar and kept a neutral expression for her former teacher, grateful she didn't act as nervous as she actually felt. For a brief moment, the way the younger Beifong sister glared at her former student appeared to telegraph an imminent encounter but fortunately, the the tense moment was cut short when Korra made her appearance with Wu's officials. As the government envoys and the former Earth Empire leaders entered the room, the last things Kuvira saw was Suyin's indignant scowl and the Avatar's reassuring glance.

Hours later, Kuvira stood up to keep the blood circulating after a strenuous session of discussions and analysis with the government envoy and Bataar Jr. The long banquet table they had been sitting at was covered in documents, maps, and binders and the envoy's aide was still busy transcribing notes.

"So it's settled. In two days we fly to the Northeastern Provinces. Has Lieutenant Colonel Thran been notified in advance of our visit?" queried Kuvira.

"She has and she has agreed to receive the two of you. Thran mentioned that she used to have a good working relationship with you before the surrender and that she was willing to listen to what you had to say out of respect for your past accomplishments" Counselor Asakawa replied.

"Thran is a good officer and a good person. I wonder why she refused to step down" observed Bataar.

"My best guess is that she doesn't trust the potential candidates that might rise to power should she step down. I believe if we she's offered guarantees that the election will be a clean and transparent one, she might allow it. If these reports are correct, people will no doubt select her as provincial governor."

"I hope you are right Kuvira. She would face tough competition from Lai Bing, the millionaire investor" the engineer noted.

"He does have the money and influence but she has done the ground work. If the process is fair, he should not be able to influence votes through bribes and gifts" observed Kuvira as she glanced towards the large Earth Kingdom map pinned to the wall. A man approached Counselor Asakawa and murmured something.

"My apologies, I've been informed I have a call from Ba Sing Se. This shouldn't take long. I'll be right back." And upon saying this, the government official followed the man out. The envoy's aide took the opportunity for a break and quickly left the room too.

"This sure brings memories, don't you think?" ventured Bataar breaking the silence that had remained after Asakawa and his aides left.

"It does" admitted Kuvira with a small smile as she turned around to face Bataar. The map, the plans, the hours spent strategizing and organizing. She had lost count of how many hours they'd been engaged in designing their perfect Empire. It certainly seemed they had been more than the ones spent towards strengthening their relationship besides the mutual professional goals. By the time they reached the final stage of their unification mission, they looked and acted more like calculating business partners than the idealist, loving couple that left Zaofu together.

"I noticed Hong Li has been assigned to your security detail. Coincidentally, he was in charge of mine during my first years of house detention. We had long, interesting chats during those days. That was before I was allowed to work under supervision reconstructing the city domes with dad."

"He has done well for himself. He told me that he had wanted to leave with us but his family pressured him to remain here. Guess he had better foresight than we did."

Bataar chuckled. "Indeed. By the time I came back he had earned my mother's confidence enough to become captain of the guard. At least I appreciated the fact that I had someone I knew to speak to while I was imprisoned."

Kuvira looked positively stunned. She had been under the impression that the engineer had been placed under house arrest and being the eldest son of the city's founders, he was spared the unpleasantness of a prison cell.

"You were in prison here in Zaofu?"

Bataar nodded as his countenance sobered. "When I arrived from Republic City, my parents had already arranged for my house arrest but due to my role in the city conquest, not to mention detaining my own family, the people demanded that I shouldn't be spared the harsher punishment I deserved. It was well know you'd been moved to a maximum security wing in Republic City so the citizens here believed I should receive a similar treatment."

"I wasn't aware of that…"

"It wasn't maximum security but I did complete a stint in prison in order to comply with the citizen's wishes. Six months. My mother felt miserable but in the end, it was the right thing to do. People were outraged with the idea that I wouldn't be properly punished and they were in their right to feel that way. It wasn't so bad, the whole family would visit me almost every day."

The former commander remain pensive for a moment, contrasting her own situation cut off from pretty much all her acquaintances, with that of Bataar. More than the isolating nature of her imprisonment, it had been the severed ties with her foster family and those she had considered friends back home that had hit the hardest. She was for intents and purposes, alone. Korra's visits became literally a lifeline, a connection to a humanity she'd deemed lost.

"It wasn't so bad" the former second in command continued. "I was pretty amused when Hong Li told me of his crush with you. Apparently he never mentioned anything to you because besides you outranking him, all the guards knew back then of my interest in you and no one wanted to compete with the boss lady's son."

"Is that so? So you pretty much scared all the competition away" the metalbender commented with a grin.

"It wasn't my intention but apparently, it turned out that way" Bataar smiled back.

"I'm glad for you, about Asami" Kuvira said as she approached the engineer and sat down in front of him. "And I'm sorry about yesterday. It wasn't my intention to fight with your new girlfriend" she added with a grimace.

"I know, she told me and apparently, in the end it was better that way. You two got the opportunity to clear the space and she told me about your apology."

"It was the least I could do after what happened" she replied solemnly.

"I also had a long chat with Avatar Korra" Bataar said. Kuvira's eyes widened in concern.

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me and 'Sami. But she also told me about the South Pole and what you did there that almost cost you your life. These past years apparently have been rough on you."

"They have but compared to what I did, I still think I have gotten off easy. I keep getting chances to make things right, to apologize. I have encountered more understanding and mercy that I thought I'd deserved and that's why I'm here. I'm still trying to make amends."

"I know what you mean. I've done my fair share of that too." Bataar pushed his glasses up his nose as he observed the metalbender's subdued countenance.

"I'm not done yet with the apologies. I still have some very important people on my list, like you. I would like to do so now if you would allow it" Kuvira said, her voice slightly cracking.

The engineer was taken aback for a moment by the gesture as he noticed how the confident attitude the former leader had displayed during the meeting had been substituted by the cautious, apprehensive demeanor she displayed now.

"I will allow it" he affirmed.

Kuvira cleared out her throat. "During my first months in prison I was in a bad place emotionally and I took my frustrations off on you so I wrote horrible things to you." The metalbender was staring intently at her hands, her voice coming out hoarsely now remembering her accusations towards her former second in command. The letters were scathing and ruthless, revealing the dark place she had sunk into by her downfall and the creeping isolation of her incarceration.

"I remember. You accused me of betrayal…" he muttered, the memory of the pain and anger flashing through his mind.

"It was uncalled for and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that after what I tried to do to you with…" Kuvira stood up suddenly as she gathered a deep breath in an attempt to hold back the tears that were already glistening in her eyes.

"Kuvira, I know…you don't have to say it."

"I do! I need to say it. I can't keep hiding away from what I did" she said tremulously. Bataar stood up now and approached her but she lifted a hand to stop him.

"If was I who betrayed you that day. I betrayed your feelings and I hurt you in the worst way possible. I don't believe there's forgiveness for something like that but I want you to know that I have regretted it every single day of my life." Kuvira attempted to swallow a sob just but instead completely broke down in tears as she collapsed knees down to the floor. There was no stopping to the avalanche of guilt cumulated for years that finally came down. Bataar approached her again and this time she didn't refuse, surrounding a shuddering Kuvira with his arms. She seemed so frail and vulnerable in this state that it felt almost surreal. He could barely remember the last time she had allowed herself to be seen this way.

"I thank you for this" Bataar said, his voice beginning to falter too. "After what happened that day at the warehouse all I knew was pain and confusion and despair…I hated you for the longest time with the same passion I'd loved you until I felt I could no longer live with that rage consuming me. That's when I finally began to move on and was able to feel something more than hate and despair."

"I'm sorry…" was all that she could say repeatedly between chocked sobs. By the time Counselor Arakawa returned, he found the former leaders of the fallen Earth Empire sunk in a tear-soaked embrace, the silence only broken by soft sobs and whispered apologies. His aide was about to barge in when the envoy placed a hand over his shoulder, stopping him.

"I believe we can pause work for today. There's something far more important for the success of this enterprise taking place now."

Later that night, as she prepared to go to sleep, Kuvira made an annotation in a small notebook and placed a checkmark beside Bataar's name. Bolin, Opal, Asami, Korra and now Bataar. She had apologized face to face to all of them and the list of names appeared to be shorter now. But there was still the last name of the list, the one that surely presented the greatest challenge, one that Kuvira still didn't knew if she would ever be able to surmount.

Suyin Beifong.

Notes:

This chapter was chock-full of emotions with some overdue encounters. Hope you've enjoyed the angst and join me on the next chapter because there's still more in store for our beloved Kuvs.