Hey friends! So in honor of the weekend.. have another slice of Ironclad! As I get used to my schedule I'll figure out a day of the week to devote to Ironclad updates, so y'all will be able to tune in and know when to expect the fic. I've been having problems with the ff . net alert system. :/

Once again, huge shoutouts to you beautiful people who leave thoughtful reviews and lack accounts for me to thank you properly. I also was amused by the response to the lack of Keisai- he's very touched. ;) Onward!


Kuvira had been dancing when she heard the announcement of a visitor. She paused, frowning; the timing was all wrong for the lawyer, and Baatar had warned her that he might not have a chance to come by, as his help was needed with the reconstruction of the train tracks. She turned as the door opened, her eyebrows shooting up as she beheld the avatar. "Avatar Korra," she said. "What an...unexpected visit."

"Hey," Korra said, hesitating just in front of the door as it shut behind her. "Mind if I sit?"

"You don't need to behave like a guest," Kuvira said, taking a seat in one of the chairs and unwrapping the linen bindings from her arms. "I may live here now, but I assure you it isn't my home."

Korra cracked a smile. "Yeah, fair. I thought Baatar Junior would have told you to expect a visit from me before I left Republic City... did he forget?"

"No," Kuvira said frowning as she remembered, "I did. Is it time for you to depart already? I lose track of time quite easily these days."

"I'm afraid so," Korra said, fiddling with a scrap of paper on the table. "Wu's here for political asylum. He said he visited you?" Kuvira nodded. "I'm leaving for the Earth Kingdom next week, to see if I can help with the situation over there. That country's been a mess for the past few months, and with Wu gone it's only going to get worse."

Kuvira's expression darkened at the avatar's words. "I've suspected as much," she said quietly. "The papers I get are never from the empire... they try to keep me cut off from what's happening in my country, but I know how to read between the lines. Tell me honestly, Avatar Korra... how much have things worsened since my imprisonment?"

"It's bad," Korra confessed. "I'm still new to this whole... political thing, but I can't help but think that Raiko's meddling is what got the kingdom into this mess in the first place. After all, if not for him, you wouldn't have been tasked with cleaning up the mess the Red Lotus made-"

"I wasn't tasked with it," she snapped, "I stepped up. Suyin refused to help when Raiko and Tenzin begged her, and you were gone-" She paused, guilt pricking at her as she remembered the purple beam from the weapon bearing down upon her, and Korra's unhesitating resolve as she saved her life. "Forgive me," she said awkwardly. "That was out of line."

"No, no, it's fine," Korra said, eyes gentle. "You're right, I was out of commission at a pretty inconvenient time."

"Either way," Kuvira continued, "with you healing in the South Pole and with Suyin's recalcitrance and our people suffering..." She interlaced her fingers, hands clenching. "We don't need to rehash what's over. But I didn't need to be dubbed interim head of state by a man who claimed to be president of a country independent of the Earth Empire. After we took back Ba Sing Se, I knew that we'd be able to stabilize the rest of the country. I would have done it without his contract, and I hope he realizes that now."

"I'm not sure he does," Korra said. "But all this aside, I'm here to tell you that I won't be out of commission this time. The poorer states are in complete turmoil, and without the military support of your army, there's no security at all. I'll be starting with the refugee camps," she added. "I can't imagine what those children must be going though," Korra said softly.

Kuvira regarded the young woman in silence for a moment, feeling stricken. "How many?"

"A lot of the poorer states in the west," Korra said. "Yai, Daichi... the state of Omashu is currently trying to accommodate all of the refugees, but it's difficult. With you and Baatar gone and with Wu out of the picture, the governors are left with primary responsibility but they can't handle the loyalists or the bandits. General Xi is the interim head."

"I'm not surprised," Kuvira said. "You do realize that after the head of state is arrested, the military assumes power."

"You brought this on yourself," the avatar said angrily, her temper having finally run out. "If you hadn't been such a dictator and left Republic City alone, you'd be ruling your empire and happily married-"

Kuvira leapt to her feet as she brought her clenched hand onto the table loudly, nearly knocking her chair over in her haste. "Do not mention my engagement." They observed one another in silence. "Frankly, I'm appalled that Raiko thought he could send the prince back to the capital shortly after my arrest," she said as she slowly took her seat again. "Ba Sing Se still claims allegiance to the empire, Avatar Korra. This would be like the Northern Water Tribe sending dignitaries to tell a new chief how to rule the South." She quirked a brow. "Your father was elected, was he not?"

"He was," Korra said slowly, her expression thoughtful.

"Your people recognized him as their leader. He was instrumental in ending a civil war," Kuvira said entreatingly. "If the North were to impose their own puppet upon them, I doubt that the people who put your father in power would sit quietly."

"I get what you're saying," the avatar said, "but you can't keep focusing on the big picture like this! You did a lot of damage, and I don't need to bring up your personal life again to stress how badly it's affected you, as well as your people." Korra offered her hand. "I can tell that you need more time for it to sink in, but no matter how good your intentions were, you really screwed up somewhere along the way. I can promise you this: I won't let the good you did come undone." She smiled, stretching her hand out further. "I'm sorry that I couldn't be there when my help was needed, and that you had to do this alone. But the avatar is back, and I'm going to do everything in my power to help your people."

Kuvira hesitated before taking her hand. "I appreciate that, Avatar Korra."

Korra smiled. "Baatar Junior and I are on a first-name basis now," she said. "Why not you and me?" When Kuvira remained silent, her expression became sympathetic. "If we knew each other before all this happened," she said, her hand still on the table, "do you think we could have been friends?"

Kuvira stood and turned away, unable to look at her. "Thank you for the visit, Avatar." She heard Korra sigh and the scrape of the chair legs against the floor as she too stood.

"I guess... I'll see you in another five months then," she said awkwardly. "For Baatar Junior's trial, and everything."

"Yes," Kuvira said, still facing the window. "I wish you the best of luck. Oh, and Korra," she added as she turned, the name without the honorific slipping out on impulse, "thank you."

"You've already thanked me," Korra said with a bemused smile.

"Yes, but not for saving one life in particular," Kuvira said softly. Her right hand went to the ring, and she noticed Korra's eyes flit down to it and back up to her face.

"You're welcome," she said, and Kuvira watched in silence as she left the cell, slowly turning the ring over in her hand as the locks clicked and the footsteps died away.

o0o

Mako dropped the file on Lin's desk. "Chief? Just got through talking to the prisoners."

"You seem unhappy," she said. "Lousy interrogation?"

"I couldn't get much of anything out of them," Mako said in frustration. "One thing's for sure though, there are definitely intentions of trying to get Baatar back to the Earth Kingdom. Now that Xi is serving as the executive head of the state, there's talk amongst the loyalist party of calling for an exchange of war prisoners. Baatar and Kuvira would be released in exchange for the members of the United Forces they took during their march on Republic City. From what I've gathered, these guys just tried to take matters into their own hands and bust them out."

"Are they important members in the party, or just former men from Kuvira's army?" Lin asked, her eyes narrowing. "How big is the loyalist group here in the city?"

"That's what I've been trying to figure out," Mako said, "but I'm getting the impression that they're not really down with the loyalist agenda anymore. I tried calling Keisai to give him the information I got, to see if he had any ideas on where to go next."

"Yeah, he's got a real talent for getting people to spill their guts to him," Lin muttered. "He didn't answer the phone?"

"No," Mako said. "I'm sure I'll get a hold of him eventually, though. Bolin said something about going with him to try fireball... guessing that's a kind of whiskey from the Fire Nation?"

Lin nodded. "Anything else? He mentioned a file that the men left in Junior's apartment... why would they do that? Wouldn't that help the defense build the case? Obviously these guys want him out of commission now, even if their party wants him back in the kingdom."

"If the answers I got mean what I think they do," Mako said, his expression darkening, "they did it to send a warning. That file isn't all that they found- it's probably the least of his worries, and they're letting him know that they've got more ammunition to use against him in their possession."

"You think they have damning evidence they gave to the prosecution to help the case against him," Lin said, her chin in her hand as she nodded. "Good thinking, kid. Any plans on how to find out just how much damage they could have done with that?"

"I have a couple of ideas," Mako said, "but they all involve knowing where the loyalists are conducting their business in Republic City, and these guys won't crack." He shrugged. "I told Keisai to come to us when he had issues that required the police, but now I think I may need to go to him. Guy's a bit of a wildcard, but that comes with the territory."

Lin nodded grimacing. "Well, I'm getting used to the sound of his voice over the phone. If he calls -and if I know him, he will- I'll keep you posted, kid."

o0o

Bolin had spent the past few free evenings in the company of the lawyer. There was something undeniably exciting about being asked to visit with a man who had been on stealth missions with the most elite military in the world, had served as a frogman in a raid, and had jetted around the world with General Iroh. Keisai was easygoing for a former navy man, and Bolin felt that they had hit it off well as early as their first interview. With relatively little difficulty, they had met with one the triads, and Keisai had plied them with drinks at one of the seedier taverns in the city in attempts to loosen them up. They had little success despite their best efforts, but after multiple failed attempts to catch a lead, the lawyer showed up at the house one late afternoon with the promise of adventure. Mako was still at work, but Bolin was quick to scribble a note and bundle up before following the lawyer out into the cold, hopping into his car for the umpteenth time in pursuit of answers.

"Now listen to me, kid," Keisai said conspiratorially as he drove them down an unfamiliar road. "If your old pals from the gang aren't giving me the runaround-"

"Hey, we were only in the gang out of necessity!" Bolin protested.

"Not so loud," Keisai said softly, eyes narrowed as he drove. "In this part of town, the walls have ears. I figured you'd know that."

"How do you know that?" Bolin asked, watching the lawyer as he drove. "You're from a privileged family in the Fire Nation, and you're best buds with General Iroh, the prince! You shouldn't-"

"Damn it man, I told you to keep your voice down," he snapped. "Are you trying to get us mugged?"

"Sorry." They drove in silence for a little while longer, the sky darkening overhead. "So where'd you get the lead from?"

"It was good luck, honestly," Keisai said. "You know Shady Shin, I assume?"

"With the Triple Threats? Sure do," Bolin said, shuddering. "Thanks to that jerk, I almost got equalised by Amon! He double crossed Mako and Asami too." He snapped alert. "We're following his lead? You're going to get us killed! Or worse-"

"Calm down," Keisai said easily. "I'm not risking you, you'll be perfectly safe. Opal will murder me in my sleep if anything happens to your cute little face."

"Well, I'll accept cute," Bolin said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "I wouldn't say little, but cute? Yeah, cute's good.."

"Which section did you command again?" Keisai asked as he parked on a shadowed street corner. "Sixth, or seventh?"

"Seventh," Bolin said nervously as they got out of the car. "Look, are you sure this is a good idea? Kuvira had wanted posters out for me and Varrick after we deserted.. even if these guys aren't from my section they'll probably recognize me as a traitor to the state..."

"Bolin, I need you to listen to me," Keisai said, gripping him by the shoulders. "The guys who broke into Baatar's apartment no longer support him, and I doubt they support Kuvira anymore either. They ought to know that documents that incriminate him also hurt her case, and it's a little too convenient for a random corporal to be a part of the loyalist party and suddenly go rogue. I think there's a schism and Kuvira's fan base is splintering off into different sects. I need to know what they found besides the file they left us, how they got it, and what they did with the information they got their hands on."

"So what do I have to do with this?" Bolin asked, frowning as he tried to follow the lawyer's train of thought. "I don't know, Keisai... what if you're wrong, and they were just a couple of guys who got tired of Baatar helping fix Republic City? I wouldn't have thought of hurting Kuvira's case by turning in evidence against Baatar," he pointed out, "and I'm your average guy. I think you might be overestimating people. Just because you're a freaky diabolical lawyer-genius, it doesn't mean everyone else thinks like one."

Keisai winked. "I like praise man, but I'm far from a genius. You could be right, but either way your job is the same. If they don't recognize you, then you're just a faceless corporal who has an inside track for me, since you know enough about the workings of Kuvira's political camp. If they do... well, the guy Shady Shin hooked me up with doesn't seem rash-"

"You already met this guy?!"

"I told you to lower your voice, there's enough gang violence in this area already," Keisai snapped, glancing around furtively as a light in a window down the street was turned off. "Yes, at yet another seedy bar with bottom shelf liquor. I'm ninety-five percent certain he would've spiked my drink if I'd been a girl and ten years younger. He promised me information and we cut a deal. I've got the first half already, but I can't get the rest unless we go through with this." He handed Bolin a camera. "Hold my toy for me? If I say anything about heat or lighting, you might want to consider it a photo op."

"So I'm backup muscle if they recognize me?" Bolin said, cracking his knuckles before taking the camera. "Sure, I'll do what I can... but why not an undercover police escort?"

Keisai brought a finger to his lips. "This guy is too familiar with Lin's men, and no one else will give me an escort at this kind of short notice," he said. "I led the guy to think I'm not a bender, and he loosened up. He also didn't recognize a 'Nuktuk: Hero of the South' reference I made, so I doubt he'll recognize you from the movers, if at all."

"What information did he give you?" Bolin asked quietly as they neared the door. "How did you convince him to spill any at all?"

"The old fashioned way," the lawyer said, flipping a gold piece to the man at the entrance. "One thing I know for sure about the loyalist branch in the city- they don't come from money, and their idea of Kuvira's regime is extremely idealized. This rebel subset doesn't look like an exception." He paused as a man stepped in front of the light, casting his face into shadow and obscuring his features. "Evening, stranger," Keisai said easily. "I have something for you. Gift exchange time?"

Bolin winced as the door's locks clicked shut. The room around them had far too much metal in it for his liking, and the man blocking the exit hadn't touched the handle. "I'm out of bendables," he whispered.

"You go first," the man said. "Drop the bag." Keisai did so, his foot poised on it to slide it over.

"Going to need those papers, my friend," he said. "You've already got half of your fee, but I've only got a cover sheet and a first page."

"Why are you so interested in buying information for Baatar Junior's case?" the man asked, an edge to his voice. "The guy's a traitor to the empire, working for Raiko."

Keisai's eyes flitted to Bolin, and Bolin rearranged his scarf so his nose and mouth were better covered. "It's really cold in here," he said, giving a little shiver. "Think we could turn up the heat? To answer your question, I'm just an underling involved with the case, and collecting information for the prosecution. I couldn't pass up a lead like this."

"The prosecution for Baatar, or Kuvira?"

"Yes," Keisai said, shifting his position slightly. "The cases are linked, you know. A document that helps one of them helps the other, and a document that hurts one of them can just as easily hurt the other."

The man held up a hand to stop his accomplice who had just entered with the file. "Looks like our deal is off, then."

The lawyer frowned. "Don't be that way, man. You were cool with it until five seconds ago-"

"You didn't spell out your terms," the man snapped. "Are you prosecuting the Great Uniter, or not?"

"Keisai?" Bolin said in a tiny voice. With a sudden gesture, the second man ripped the scarf from Bolin's face.

"One of the dissenters," the first man said in disgust. "The deal's off. Next time, don't try this with a traitor to the cause."

The lawyer's eyes darted around the room. Men stood at both windows and at the door, with their apparent leader opposite him and Bolin in front of the lamp. "I'm sorry to hear that," Keisai said at last with a dramatic sigh, raising his hands in surrender. "We'll just be going, then. Please feel free to keep your pay... think of it as compensation for being such wonderful hosts. This has been truly illuminating-"

"You both aren't going anywhere," the man said with finality.

Bolin returned the lawyer's pointed look in confusion. "What? What am I supposed to do?"

Keisai groaned. "I'm never taking you with me anywhere again, kid."

"Enough," the man snapped. "Boys, take the prosecutor. Bolin's absence won't go unnoticed."

"Hurtful," Keisai said. "Well, let me at least shed some light on my identity, I'm a bit more important than you'd think."

Without warning, the lawyer sent out a flare that threw their main assailant's face into sharp relief. As the man staggered back in shock, Bolin realized not a second too soon what he was to do and hastily snapped a picture before the flames went out. "Got it!" he said triumphantly. "Let's bail!"

Keisai pivoted on the spot, shooting off a round of fire blasts at the men, his back to Bolin's. He kicked one of the nearby chairs to Bolin, jerking his head in the direction of the newly unprotected east window. "Get yourself out of here," he ordered, "and protect the film in that camera like your life depends on it or I swear I'll tell Opal about what you did in the bar-"

"No way," Bolin said, looping the camera around his neck by the strap and flinging the chair at the window, breaking the glass. He bended a chunk of brick from the road outside in front of them just in time to stop a slew of metal projectiles that shot their way. Keisai fired off another blast, this time at the door.

"Get your ass to safety," he insisted as he barely dodged another metal strip. It sliced through the fabric of his coat a bit too cleanly, and blood bloomed on the sleeve. "I don't need Su making me file a court case against myself!" He had maneuvered them so Bolin was aligned with the window of the one-floor building, easily accessible with a small nudge. Two of the men were keeping the barrage of metal coming, deterred by the blasts and Bolin's shield.

"What about the papers?" Bolin yelled over the din.

"Shit," Keisai swore. "Okay abort the mission and get out, I'll be right behind you-" and with that he fired a blast at the lights, throwing the room into darkness. Bolin swung up and out through the window, his coat catching on the broken glass, waiting anxiously. He could hear the sounds of a scuffle inside, followed by a crash as a body was thrown against a wall.

Bolin paced anxiously as the sharp whisper of metal projectiles cut through the air. "I'm still waiting..." he muttered. "Still waiting..." A huge flare of fire filled the room, shorting out the wires and nearly blowing the roof off. A few pieces of rubble fell in, and in the darkness Bolin thought he could see two silhouettes of men fleeing the scene. A horrible stillness followed, and he bended a large chunk of the pavement through the wall of the building, looking around. "Keisai?"

A small flare went up in the far corner of the room, and the lawyer waved weakly with a cheeky smile. "I said I'd be right behind you," he said, staggering to his feet. "It just took a bit longer than I expected, is all."

Bolin ran up to him, supporting him under a shoulder. "We're getting you to the hospital. Don't worry, I won't crash your car- Asami made me a pretty decent driver."

"Don't you dare," Keisai muttered. "It's a rental."

They exited the building, with Bolin returning the chunk of pavement to its place in the road. "Can't you do something about the blood? I can't believe you did that- you didn't even get the file for all that trouble!"

"Oh," Keisai said dramatically, fumbling as he removed his hand from its place against his side. "Oh, what's this?" He held up the folder, the cover slick with blood.

Bolin paused, dropping the keys in his lap as he slowly clapped. "You're good."

"Drive," Keisai snapped, wadding up his scarf and pressing it over the wound. "Drive, damn it, before they bring reinforcements."

"Oh! Right," Bolin said. The engine revved to life and they shot off as dusk settled over the area like a stifling blanket.

o0o

"Do you remember the first time you operated the mech in a scrimmage?" Kuvira asked suddenly. Baatar had surprised her by making time to visit, and now the distance between them on the cot was so small that the ends of her hair brushed his shoulder with the smallest of movements. She wished her nerve endings extended down the length of the strands.

"Better than I'd like to," he said, turning his face to hers. "I'd never done much more than test-run them until that point. I'd rank that under my top five most embarrassing moments."

"What's number one?" she said, smirking. "When you dropped all your papers in the courtyard on that windy day?"

"That's in the top three," Baatar conceded. "No, number one would be when-" He stopped himself, and Kuvira leaned away, avoiding his eyes. She instantly regretted the question; he had told her before that their first date, unofficial in her eyes but very much official in his, had topped his list.

He nudged her knee with his own. "What about the mech?" he asked, his voice neutral again.

"I was thinking about what you had said, about the loyalists leaving your file in your apartment," she said thoughtfully. "If they got their hands on that, it makes me concerned about what other incriminating documents there could have been in your airship." She looked at him, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Keisai doesn't know... what if they have-"

"I've thought about it too," he confessed. "But I can't do anything about it right now, so it does me little good to worry about it." He glanced at her, eyes softening. "That reminded you of my first scrimmage, of all things?"

Kuvira smiled, bringing her feet up to the edge of the cot and wrapping her arms around her knees. "It made me think of how you would have looked when you were captured, and that made me think of how you looked after the glass on the viewing panel of the mecha-suit was busted in," she said. "Mussed hair, glasses askew, that scowl... that growl of frustration," she added, her voice dropping in pitch as if to mimic him. "If you hadn't been hurt, it would have been hilarious."

"If I hadn't been hurt it would have been marginally less humiliating," Baatar corrected, pushing her shoulder gently when she tilted her face up. She had been balancing on the points of her heels and on her seat, and the push combined with the yielding surface of the cot nearly knocked her on her side.

"So hypersensitive," she teased as she released her knees, sitting normally again. "That was completely uncalled for."

"I wish I were sorry to interrupt," Lin said as she marched into the room, causing Kuvira to move away and jump to her feet, "but this is urgent. Baatar, I just got a call from Bolin. They're at the hospital right now."

"Is he hurt?" Kuvira demanded. "I told Keisai to be careful with Bolin-"

"Bolin is fine," Lin said grimly, and for a moment there was silence in the room. "Well? Are you going to stand there, or are you going to visit your lawyer? Kuvira obviously has no choice in the matter," she said, crossing her arms at Baatar's lack of response.

"Of course," Baatar said, the disbelief registering on his face as he stood. "What happened? How did it happen?"

"Stop standing around," Kuvira said, seizing his coat from the chair back and forcing him into it, sliding his arms into the sleeves. "Is he seriously injured?" she asked Lin, concern in her voice. "If getting his evidence is this risky, I'd rather just take the plea deal."

Frowning, Baatar stopped her hands with his own as she moved to face him, doing up the fastenings. "I can button my own coat, thank you," he said, his words clipped.

She tilted her head to the side. "You could act a bit more worried."

"I agree," Lin said. "Come on, Junior. I'll drive."

"Call me after the visit," Kuvira said, catching him by the arm as he followed Lin. "Baatar, you aren't listening to me," she snapped, spinning him around to face her again. In her peripheral vision, she saw Lin raise her eyebrows, her arms crossed over her chest.

"I'll call," he said evenly. His hand tightened over hers for a moment, but he only released himself from her grip and hurried after his aunt without a second glance.

o0o

The car ride was uncomfortably silent, as was the wait in the hospital lobby. Lin spoke little, but Baatar could see the lines of worry etched on her forehead. "He's probably fine," Baatar said, as if to reassure himself. "He can handle himself, I've seen it firsthand.."

"That kid is rash," Lin muttered. "Rash, and impulsive to a fault. I wish I waited longer to hear what Bolin had to say in full, but I needed to send my officers to his location to get a police report.."

"He'll see you now," a nurse said, smiling as she waved them over. "What's the relation?"

"Oh, there's no relation," Lin said. "I'm Chief Beifong-"

"I'm a friend," Baatar said without thinking. "Thank you, we'll be fine from here," he told the nurse, leading the way into the room.

"Man, remind me to never use a folder to staunch a wound again," Keisai was saying. Lin and Baatar exchanged looks as they walked over to the bed. "I ruined the file and I ended up ruining my scarf anyway- oh look, Bolin! Visitors!"

Lin sighed in relief as she saw the lawyer comfortably propped up in bed, a bandage over his upper arm and multiple minor scrapes and cuts elsewhere on his body. "Good to see you're in one piece," she said, crossing her arms. "Bolin gave me the location and officers are there now."

"You should see the other guy. Good to see you too, chief," Keisai said with a wink. "I would make a 'am I dead?' joke, but I may have suffered a mild concussion and somehow I doubt you'd hold back a slap just for that."

Lin's eye twitched. Bolin suppressed a giggle from his seat at the lawyer's bedside. "He'll be discharged in a bit," he explained. "It's nothing major, he just needed some stitches."

"Didn't even pass out," Keisai said. "Oh and Baatar, I got you a gift." He tossed the stained file at him. "You're welcome."

Baatar sat in the other chair, holding the file by the clean corner. "Keisai.. I've been the biggest-"

"Piece of shit?" the lawyer helpfully supplied. "Yeah, you have been."

Baatar scowled. "That works. Any amount of thanks or apologies doesn't seem sufficient after everything you've done," he said awkwardly. "You didn't have to go to this amount of trouble for me-"

"I did," Keisai said. "I'm contractually obligated to do whatever's within my power to win this case for you. Forget you, my pride's on the line, don't make this about you."

Baatar managed a smile. "Fair. I'll understand if you're still angry with me.." He paused, glancing at Lin without thinking. "I seem to have made a habit of poor behavior with the people trying to help me."

"Nah, we're good, man," Keisai said easily. "Apology accepted, I'm way too lazy to hold a grudge. Besides, this isn't just about you, Kuvira's my client too. Your cases are linked."

"Of course," Baatar said softly.

"Oh! That reminds me!" Bolin said, handing the camera to Lin. "We got a picture of the guy. Keisai made sure the film stayed safe... and kept me out of harm's way too."

"I can't get on your sister's bad side," the lawyer said, wincing as he shrugged. "Not that she has a /bad/ side in the literal sense..." he added with a wink. Baatar thought he saw his aunt's lips quirk upward as she repressed a smile. "Bolin did well.. too bad he sucks at taking a hint."

Baatar heaved a sigh as he glanced through the folder. "What do you think the odds are of the prosecution having a copy of this?"

"High," Keisai said flatly. "Very high. We'll discuss it later, but I don't like it."

"Need a lift home?" Lin offered. "Bolin, I can drop you off too."

"Sure," Bolin said. "Let me call Mako really quick." He left to go use the phone.

"I need to call Kuvira," Baatar said suddenly. He clapped the lawyer on his good shoulder. "She was worried when we got the message that you were in the hospital."

"Your fiancée is a bitch," Keisai said with a smile, "but sometimes I think you could learn something from her. So as thanks, you should take me out for a night."

Baatar's expression soured for a moment, but his voice was kind. "Anywhere you like." For the first time, he entertained Keisai's constant stream of chatter without complaint as they waited for the physician to officially discharge him, finding himself genuinely relieved that the man was safe.


A/N: Fireball whiskey. Hehe. I hope y'all chuckled because I did. Also, there's an A:tLA reference in there, I hope you caught it!

I considered calling this chapter #foreshadowing but I controlled myself. Also, I guess I kinda went back on what I said about the next update coming next week. Oops. But starting now, I'm going to shoot for weekly Thursday or Friday updates. Check the tumblr (nailsbyzai) for announcements if you're really invested- if not, just let your email send the notifications. Can't wait to read your theories for this chapter!