As y'all know, ff . net was down for the entire day. But let's not bitch about that. Onward!


For the next several days, Baatar's trial was featured on the front page of the daily paper. Even after the initial excitement died down, it continued to make headlines as updates slowly trickled out of the courtroom, and the news station on the radio repeatedly cut in to the daily broadcast with live updates. Keisai's snort had not escaped notice either and a picture of the lawyer, steam around his nostrils and a look of utmost disgust on his face, had made it into many a tabloid. Baatar's relationship to Kuvira was also under close scrutiny again, even though he was careful to keep his eyes off her after his initial impulsive glance. The gossip columns in lesser magazines dissected his every look behind him, branding the most minute of his movements attempts to look at Kuvira. Body language experts dissected his every move, Zhang's delivery of the prosecution statements, and the expressions of the judges, all to make suppositions about the most probable outcome of the trial.

Keisai pointed to one such article in the Times proclaiming an imminent victory for the United Republic as he and Baatar entered the courtroom the morning of the first slew of testimony for the prosecution. Baatar frowned. "I honestly don't know how you expect to come out of this successfully... they have everything on record." He paled as he recalled some of his topics of conversation with Kuvira. "Damn it, they have everything on record-"

"Relax," Keisai said, waving to Korra as they sat at the defense table. "Your dirty talk with her has nothing to do with the case. We're all professionals once we're in the courtroom, regardless of what we're like in day-to-day life. I thought you would know that by now, working with me."

Mako and Korra waved, pausing at the table before the court was called to order. "Keisai, Chief says you can break for lunch with her later if you want-"

Keisai hushed him, his eyes on the young prosecutor as she entered. "Not now, man. There's someone I need to impress."

"Are Fazle and Kimura even hiring right now?" Mako said, frowning as Korra smirked.

"I didn't say plural." Keisai rubbed his chin thoughtfully, looking back at his papers.

"There's something I should tell you about the head judge," Korra said anxiously. "Hotah-"

"Not now," Keisai said flatly as the judges entered from the chamber. "Get a good seat, guys. It's witnesses and evidence and testosterone from here on out... this is where the fun begins if you're a spectator and where the hell begins if you're the defense attorney for this guy."

Without fail, the loyalist faction protested loudly on the steps of the hall each time the trial began anew, and Lin sent a police escort for the commute to and from the hall every day. The trial seemed to pass in short episodes, with brief moments of interest as a new witness was called to the stand or when Hotah called for order and the removal of unruly loyalists who managed to infiltrate the courtroom and loudly voice their support. Witnesses were called over the course of several days, many of them civilians who had been displaced during the enacting of the Reunification Order. The attorney general read out the terms from Kuvira's original draft of the executive decree, stating that combatants encountered during operations furthering power of the Earth Empire were to be imprisoned immediately upon capture, without trial. Zhang's questions were simple, and the tearful families who had yet to be restored to their homes coupled with the graphic photos of the damages caused by the mecha-suits were more than enough to sell the points of heedless destruction of property in parts of the Earth Kingdom and Republic City. A projector was set up between the prosecution and defense tables, and Meilin clicked through the slides as Zhang extolled the various instances of inhumanity of the Earth Empire conquest.

Images of crying children, destroyed buildings, and ragged men and women in chains were flung up before the judges and the spectators again and again. The dates were read out, as were the state names- Haven City, Yai, the swamp in the Marshlands, and most recently Republic City. Pictures of the army firing on the resistance were burned into the retinas of the viewers. Masses of faceless soldiers, their helmet vents closed as their operations brought up choking clouds of dust and smoke, marched through conquered towns. Mecha-suits frozen in gruesome action as their steel pincers closed around rebels setting fire to a military encampment. An image of Zhu Li chained to the flag mast of the abandoned town during the weapon test was projected, and murmurs spread through the courtroom as the camera shutters went off like a chorus of whispers. Baatar's face was a mosaic of disbelief, grief, and anger, while Keisai leaned back in his seat, stroking his newly acquired beard as he checked his notes against the papers before him.

"The documentation of this subjugation speaks more eloquently on the subject of the Great Uniter and her Vice President's crimes against humanity than words ever could," Zhang said as the last reel of photos was displayed. Photographs and a short mover of the ore mines in Yai and Juroo played out on the screen, as if to emphasize his words. The smudged, despondent faces of the people, sweat cutting through the layers of clay on their faces, contrasted sharply with the unfeeling metal masks of the stationed troops. "These images are objective, and do not lie. If it please the bench, this concludes our remarks for this topic. The needless destruction of property is directly at odds with the laws and customs of war."

"Does the defense have any questions regarding the evidence presented?" Hotah asked.

Keisai stood languidly, dropping his jacket on the chair as he gave a little stretch. "A few, Your Honor," he said, giving his legal pad a final glance. "These photographs were obtained from the archives of the Great Uniter, correct?"

Zhang raised an eyebrow, giving the younger man a supercilious smile. "Yes."

"They were carefully labeled and filed, correct?"

"Presumably, in their original state," Zhang said. "In tracking down the documents, a great number of things had been moved, so the photographs and mover evidence were put back in order by the state."

"Your Honors, may I request the prosecution to bring up the first reel?" Keisai said, cocking his head to the side.

Hotah acquiesced.

"Meilin, be a dear," Keisai said. The attorney's blue eyes narrowed, but she set up the first reel of photographs again, clicking through. "Not so quickly, Meilin. Stop on that first one." Keisai turned to the spectators, one hand thrust into his pocket and the other pointed at the screen in a casual gesture. "Ladies and gentlemen, that was a very moving speech, but my opponent was vague on timeline, to the point that he left it out altogether towards the end. Seems disingenuous, doesn't it? This first photograph is undeniably from Haven City, as stated earlier by Attorney General Zhang. The flag of the state is visible just over that building in the upper left corner. The date is unknown, as the prosecution stated during the... long bout of time on the floor." Keisai's hand pointed sharply, his tone hardening. "What was not pointed out was the lack of military muscle in this picture. The men stationed behind the chained prisoners are not in uniform, the projectiles poised behind these poor civilians are earth, not metal, and there is not a trace of the Earth Empire military in the frame. Next picture, please." His voice rang with accusation as Meilin clicked through the reel and Keisai pointed out the various insignias of different warlords that had taken over states in the earth kingdom. He guided the eyes of the tribunal to the symbols that marked the men crying out for mercy from Kuvira's troops as bandits, and the civilians hiding in the background of the images as the army cut down the lines of rebels that bore the armbands and breastplates of their warlords.

Meilin returned to her seat once each reel had been picked apart and the room was filled with the click of cameras and their blinding flashes, her eyes on the young lawyer as he ceased his pacing to turn to the judges once more.

"It is fortunate that my client and the Great Uniter insisted on their admittedly vain documentation of their ventures," Keisai said, pausing until the room fell silent again. "Very fortunate indeed. As my esteemed colleague said earlier, these photographs are objective, and do not lie. He failed to remind us that men do. I have no further questions," he added, waving a hand at the projector dismissively as he took his seat again and Zhang's eyes blazed.

After Keisai's first cross-examination of Zhang the waning interest in Baatar's trial was rekindled in full force, and the prosecution and defense battled on the floor as if each had suffered a personal slight. Zhang presented the photographs of the Beifongs' prison, complete with the orders for arrest and the subsequent dismantling of the domes. "The defendant's own family was imprisoned by his command," he said, "as evidenced by his signature on the arrest order, the Reunification order, and the testimony of countless Zaofu citizens we previously provided for the benefit of the tribunal. They were moved to a factory under inhumane conditions, forced to live in cramped quarters lacking amenities, with disregard to the international humanitarian laws pertaining to prisoners of war-"

"Objection," Keisai said calmly. He was granted permission to speak, and pulled the prison order from the approved evidence held by the clerk. "The Beifongs were imprisoned, yes, but the prison order indicates that they each received three meals a day of sufficient nutritional and caloric intake, had their chi blocked before they were individually released to.. uh, relieve themselves..." He wrinkled his nose. "The point is that their treatment was as humane as could be reasonably expected, under the circumstances. My client and the Great Uniter had just thwarted an assassination attempt under a peaceful negotiation, and were in the process of mobilizing the army. Anything beyond a small wooden cell, sufficient caloric intake, and amenities under the supervision of chi blockers and armed personnel would prove impractical and unsafe to my client and the Great Uniter, and under the circumstances the treatment of the war prisoners, though bound to make for awkward family dinners now, was well within the rules and customs of war. I trust," he added, eyes narrowing, "that individuals of your esteemed rank do not need me to read out the legislation on the subject, consistent in substance regardless of the nation."

Meilin stood, whispering something to Zhang, and the courtroom buzzed with quiet chatter as the prosecution requested a timed recess.

"The status of prisoner of war only applies in international armed conflict. Prisoners of war are usually members of the armed forces of one of the parties to a conflict who fall into the hands of the adverse party." Meilin turned to the legal definition, reading aloud. "'Under the statutes of humanitarian law, prisoners cannot be prosecuted for taking a direct part in hostilities. Their detention is not a form of punishment, but only aims to prevent further participation in the conflict. They must be released and repatriated without delay after the end of hostilities. The detaining power may prosecute them for possible war crimes, but not for acts of violence that are lawful under international humanitarian law-"

"Stop, stop," Keisai said, smiling at her as he held up his hand. "Yes, prisoners of war must be treated humanely in all circumstances. But according to the legal definition, the Beifongs weren't really prisoners of war, were they? They were placed under military arrest for assassination attempts-"

"The gentleman is out of order," Zhang said evenly. "My colleague was mid-explanation-"

Hotah frowned as Misao leaned over to whisper something as Saikhan nodded. "The bench deems this cross-examination acceptable. You may proceed."

"Prisoners of war are protected against any act of violence, as well as against intimidation, insults, and public curiosity. My client had nothing to do with any of the above," Keisai said evenly. "I could even argue that since this was a military arrest, the point is moot. But if you want to, call Suyin Beifong to the stand. If she has anything to say about her own maltreatment from Baatar's hands, you certainly don't want to skip the testimony."

"And the dissenters in prison camps?" Meilin said. "Under the Reunification Order, which the defendant co-signed, combatants encountered during what Kuvira deemed..." She paused, arching an eyebrow as she read the header of the file, "Great Uniter operations were to be imprisoned immediately upon capture without trial.." She presented the copies of the documents to the clerk, to later be examined by the tribunal.

"I know," Keisai said, a curious expression on his face as he observed her. "Interesting choice of names."

"The twelve charges of illegal pacification operations stand," Meilin said, the trace of a smile from moments earlier dissipating. "His involvement is undeniable; the order refers to the camps as 'reeducation' camps, but they were prisons." She clicked through a reel of photos from the prison factories, the projected atmosphere dull grey and desolate, with workers of mixed ethnicities toiling at the metalworks. "The denial of a fair court hearing under the Reunification Order remains uncontested, and the ethnic selectivity should also be vilified-"

"Question for Meilin, Your Honors," Keisai said irritably, smiling the second he was granted permission to proceed. "Do you have proof of my client's involvement in the ethnic selection of prisoners?"

"The testimony from the escaped prisoners of camp nine is only a small example," she said. "And yes, we actually were able to obtain documentation of his name on the orders, specifically those for the states of Juroo, Yai, and Haven-"

"And your source was?" Keisai demanded, his eyes narrowing.

Meilin returned his gaze, and a look of understanding passed between the two. She turned to the judges. "The gentleman is out of order."

Keisai sighed theatrically as he was ordered back to his seat, and the trial was suspended for yet another day.

As the trial progressed and the days dragged on, the prosecution relied heavily on the mounds of documents written exclusively by Baatar and Kuvira, from drafted legislation detailing plans for the reorganization of states to the blueprints and notes for the various mech. Special attention was given to the colossus, as well as the destruction of the swamp grounds to harvest enough vines for energy cells. Special attention was given to Baatar's role in the conspiracy to annex Zaofu and the United Republic, first by presenting the drafts of the orders to mobilize the military, and then turning to the audio recordings of the numerous conversations between the two. Kuvira and Baatar had worked apart as much as they had worked together during the reunification process, and they briefed one another over private calls as often as they did over breakfast, with Baatar in the lab and Kuvira in the field.

The first time Kuvira's voice crackled to life over the audio, detailing her orders for the rebel factions in the northern provinces, Baatar stiffened. The lawyer placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Easy, man."

"This was the first time the topic of reclaiming the United Republic was recorded," Zhang said firmly. "It clearly was broached before, or the Great Uniter would not have chosen to record this particular conversation, as the bench will soon see. The defense has claimed that the defendant had little say in military matters of annexation and cannot be charged with conspiracy, but the damning evidence comes from him and him alone." He turned to Meilin. "Roll the tape." Kuvira's voice, a canned and crackly tone to it, filled the room.

"Where did we leave off?"

" I don't think we left off, per se..."

Baatar's head snapped up. "Can we fast-forward through this?"

Keisai smirked. "Oh, I've heard this audio before." Meilin glanced at them questioningly.

"This isn't going to be a 'shift my center of mass with your lever' thing again, this is a briefing session." Kuvira's voice was unmistakably light, even over the recording.

Baatar winced, his furious blush captured by a chorus of camera shutters. "Wow," Keisai said quietly. "Really?"

"No, but if all goes well today, we can determine the spring constants again. My room this time, though... I'll never understand why you prefer your bed so hard-"

Baatar buried his face in his hands as he heard his own words. "How is this relevant to the case?"

Keisai groaned. "I've heard this before. Meilin, spare the man this humiliation, it's another minute in-"

"I would," she said sympathetically, "but I'd risk skipping the most important part to our case."

"It's actually better for the back." Kuvira's voice bore a gentle, loving amusement that was foreign to the courtroom, and from her spot in the balcony, Korra glanced at Su, seated with the Beifongs in the gallery. Su's expression betrayed her surprise, and as she listened to the recording it was apparent that she too had not missed the warm affection in Kuvira's part of the audio as the tape played on."But I actually wanted to discuss something you brought up last night."

"Last night said you weren't interested in learning about the grand unification theory, but all right. You merge electromagnetic, weak, and strong gauge interactions of the standard model into one force-"

"I love you, but enough. I didn't record this call so I can play back your adolescent ramblings, Baatar!" Kuvira's laughter filled the courtroom, and as flashbulbs went off Baatar cringed, employing all of his restraint to keep from looking to see how she was taking the embarrassment. "Keep this professional for now... you can explain the standard model with a demonstration later. I meant your idea about the United Republic, and annexing it. Tell me more- I know it's been a point of contention ever since the Harmony Restoration movement—"

Meilin stopped the tape. "As you all heard, the defendant was the first to raise the idea of claiming the republic as Earth Empire territory," she said firmly. "The charges of conspiracy for territorial aggrandizement stand uncontested, and the war on the city was clearly a war of aggression, as we established through the documentation of their planning efforts."

"The evidence you have been presented with over the course of this trial has been primarily from the Great Uniter's archives," Zhang said as Meilin sat down. "It has not been tainted by overt testimony, through eyewitnesses or individuals for either side." His closing remarks were significantly shorter than the opening statement, summarizing the depth of Baatar's involvement in each aspect of the case for the judges. "Much of what we know -and much of what will be recorded for years to come- of the Great Uniter's campaign and the defendant's role in it was uncovered in this tribunal through factual, irrefutable documents and their analysis. We call upon you to take note the objective facets of the case, rather than be swayed by bleeding heart testimonials and biased witnesses. The prosecution rests."

"Finally," Keisai muttered. He cracked his knuckles. "Let's give them a rebuttal to remember."

The majority of the witnesses that Keisai had on his list had already been called to the stand by the prosecution, which ironically proved more convenient. He had had the chance to question Varrick on the stand immediately after Zhang and Meilin did, as well as extract a statement from Su about her living conditions during the arguments over the treatment of war prisoners. He quickly dismissed the claims of Baatar's signatures on the ethnic selectivity of prison camp orders, citing the evidence from a licensed graphologist the court had approved. However, his approach to witness testimony took everyone by surprise. Parents from Haven City spoke of the newly established roads and train system that had brought their town into the modern era. Young men and women spoke with admiration about Baatar's work in overhauling the education system in the outer rings of Ba Sing Se, and pioneering a program for low-cost higher education in the science fields. The testimony was consistent in painting the image of Baatar as the man responsible for a nationalized technology sector and empire infrastructure, while Kuvira handled the military affairs. Two witnesses in particular stood out for the defense, however, and the press coverage was so obnoxious that Hotah had to call for order a number of times.

Raiko was the penultimate witness called to the stand, his expression sour as he swore to tell nothing but the truth. "Mr. President, it's been a pleasure," Keisai said warmly. "I just have one question to ask you. Do you retract anything you said to me in your deposition?"

Raiko raised an eyebrow. "No."

"You're on the stand, Mr. President. After this, everything is binding."

"I have no objection," Raiko snapped. "I'm not about to think through another testimony if you only want me to repeat what I said-"

"No further questions," Keisai said smoothly. As Reiko returned to his seat, Keisai paced in front of the defense table. "Ladies and gentlemen, before I begin our concluding remarks, I'd like to play a bit of my deposition with the president. It doesn't have the same effect when I read the transcript out loud myself." He smiled as his voice played for the courtroom, scratchy from the dictaphone.

"Mr. President, you pardoned Varrick of his crimes against the state, and chose not to press charges against him despite his long employ with Kuvira. Why is that?"

"Varrick defected to the side of the United Republic early on. His service, especially against the colossus, merits forgiveness."

"Why was he pardoned?"

"Next question. That has no bearing on Kuvira or Baatar Junior's case." Keisai glanced at the Meilin, winking. "You don't sound that sweet in person. The audio must be distorted," he said quietly as his own voice played for the court.

"So service against the Earth Empire merits forgiveness, when it's on the side of the republic."

"Yes." There was a finality to Raiko's voice that wasn't lost on the spectators. "He defected before her defeat. I consider that sufficient."

Keisai nodded, slowly turning to face the judges' bench. "He considered that sufficient- and so do I, since he chose to retract nothing. I have one more witness before I close... the defense calls Kuvira to the stand."

A murmur ran through the court, and Kuvira took the stand. She raised her right hand as she promised to abide by the rules of the court. Despite her weight loss and prison attire, she commanded the steely authority of the Great Uniter the public had known. Her eyes flitted to Baatar multiple times the moment she was facing him, and as she waited for Keisai to proceed with his questioning she mouthed a tiny "hello," her lips quirking upward in an almost imperceptible smile.

"Only a few questions for you, sweetheart," Keisai said. "My client was your vice president, correct?"

"Yes."

"Why did you fire on him when he was taken hostage by the United Republic?"

Kuvira paused. Her jaw tightened and something flickered behind her eyes. For a moment she looked as though she was about to speak, but she mouthed something to Baatar instead that the body language experts in the papers would later devote days to analyzing as they waited for the verdict's release. "Because he defected."

Baatar started to stand, but the warning edge to Keisai's voice stopped him. "Care to elaborate?"

"He was taken hostage, and he wanted me to call off the military campaign to reclaim what rightfully is Earth Empire land," she said.

"We've all heard the recording," Keisai said slowly, his eyes blazing. "Your self-described 'inner circle' consisted of the vice president and yourself. Is there anyone else who could have known how to power down the colossus?"

"No. The military operations were entirely my own, but I was the only person aware of the colossus, besides him. No one was aware of its construction except Baatar and myself," she said. "The final assembly was conducted by the two of us. I handled the metalbending to put it together, since the factory workers only built the individual parts."

"The colossus imploded during your fight with Korra, correct?"

"Yes."

"Her stealth team infiltrated it?"

"Also correct."

"Is there any way the power core could have been destroyed without insider knowledge?"

Kuvira braced her hands on the witness box. "I don't need to repeat evidence you have on file. We've established that Baatar told the United Republic how to power off the weapon. He is still the only one who knows the mechanics behind it, and if he hadn't defected, this city would be an Earth Empire territory today."

Keisai grimaced. "That's… fantastic. What a guy. No further questions for the Great Uniter." When the prosecution expressed no desire to question Kuvira, he nodded to the bench. "I'll take a ten minute recess, please."

Kuvira was led back to her spot in the gallery by the security detail, and Keisai spent the remainder of his prep time arranging pieces of paper in a seemingly random order. His brow was furrowed with concentration, his eyes bright, and his hair standing on end from repeatedly running his hand through it. "Ready so soon?" Meilin observed drily as he took the floor for the final time, her voice low.

"I'm dedicating this to you," Keisai deadpanned, prompting her to cross her arms and look away in disgust. "Your Honors," he said, his easy colloquialisms gone and his voice carrying to the back of the courtroom, "I would like to begin by reminding you of Lushi Zhang's memorable opening statement from thirteen days back. He referred to the military tribunals following the Hundred Year War, and pointed out the Fire Nation's handling of the crimes against humanity as purely internal matters. My esteemed colleague has impressed upon us the importance of learning from the past, as students of history. As you deliberate on the case, remember that your decision will have a massive influence on future international military affairs. This trial, as he said, is 'novel and experimental,' and the wrong decision will not only speak volumes about your professional integrity, but also will set a poor precedent in the creation of international military law."

"The prosecution was quick to claim objectivity in using document-based evidence to propel the trial," Keisai said coolly, his eyes betraying his anger, "but they have been nothing but disingenuous. The documents that branded my client responsible for violations of the statutes concerning pacification operations -specifically those with orders for ethnic cleansing of the kingdom- were acquired from dissenters of the Earth Empire Loyalist Party, seeking to damage his chances of acquittal. The prosecution is aware of the role the camp managers played, and their disillusionment with Baatar after his contract with Republic City. To present such blatantly false documents as evidence discredits the entire court system, and is only a fraction of what discredits their case against my client altogether.

"The graphologist's testimony indicates that my client only dealt with issuing orders for the factories as part of the nationalized industry. The signatures on the ethnic cleansing orders were false, and the orders were drafted by the appointed military officials of the states rife with dissenters. The prosecution has exploited the limited resources of the defense, and blatantly presented objective evidence with a heavy skew. The Great Uniter herself was responsible for the state warden appointments, not Baatar. The Great Uniter herself testified that she alone handled military operations. If you question her honesty on this point, ask yourselves what she stands to gain by testifying favorably for the defendant." He looked at the judges, turning to look first at Baatar and then at the spectators. The room was silent as he slowly turned again. "If you find yourselves questioning her honesty, Your Honors, ask yourselves why a woman who willfully fired on her fiancé -a man she professed to love on record- would lie to defend someone she condemned to death once he 'defected' to the side of the United Republic. His actual defection came later, yet she dubbed his entreaties to withdraw from the city as defecting. Her testimony on the stand is to be strongly considered when making your decision.

"My client's hands are not completely unsullied," Keisai conceded. "No, he did a great deal during his term as vice president. He forced a modern magnetic railway system upon the country, established a national program for young Earth Kingdom citizens to pursue free higher education in the science, technology, and engineering fields, and nationalized an enfeebled industry sector by decrees that he drafted and that the Great Uniter signed off on. He also rebuilt damaged territories, starting as early as Ba Sing Se prior to his formal appointment as vice president and ending with his contract to build a new city hall- oh." Keisai threw his arms out in a grand gesture. "That's right, he built the hall we're standing in today. How considerate; he gave us a room in which we now argue his case.

"Of the thirty-two charges against him, the vast majority are unsubstantiated, and the burden is not on me to establish innocence but on the prosecution to determine sufficient guilt. According to the definition of inhumane treatment, the prisoners of war suffered no harm from my client's hands. The accommodations were sufficient, and arguable far superior to those that the Great Uniter herself endured in her first few weeks in Republic City. The written testimony from Suyin Beifong herself indicates that neither her nor her family suffered maltreatment from Baatar, and that despite the humiliation of being placed under military arrest -not strictly taken as a prisoner of war- she was not paraded before Zaofu or denied sufficient nutrition and amenities by my client. The nature of the prison was a necessity; the Beifongs are for the most part powerful benders.

"The nature of the new economy was also the result of necessity," Keisai continued. "My client and the Great Uniter were tasked with restructuring an entire government and filling a power vacuum in three years. In a loose alliance of states like the Earth Kingdom, the loss of a centralized power leads -and in this case led to- the ascension of petty warlords. Deposing those warlords was handled through the military, entirely through the commander in-chief herself. The charges of enforcing slave labor for Yai, Juroo, and two sites in Haven City also concern policies enacted through executive order, something for which my client cannot be blamed. The prosecution, though quick to play recordings with highly personal content to establish guilt through document-based evidence, failed to produce a single document that linked my client to these legal motions. And the documents pertaining to the reeducation camps and the alleged ethnic cleansing were of dubious acquisition; a brush with Earth Empire loyalists that oppose Baatar were responsible for falsifying those records and giving me sixty-nine stitches. Let my esteemed colleague object if I'm being dishonest.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the lawyer said, dropping the stack of papers on the table, "Your Honors, I began by citing the tribunals that determined the fate of the officials guilty of crimes against humanity in the Hundred Year War. Think back, for a moment. Had Lord Zuko not been allied with Avatar Aang, Firelord Ozai would have been at the mercy of the other sovereign nations. Had my client evaded capture during a time of peaceful negotiations-" the edge to those words was palpable- "he would have been the head of the Earth Kingdom with the current Commander Xi as his vice president. You heard the president earlier: defecting before the Great Uniter's final defeat is more than enough to warrant a pardon, but my client gave intel critical to stopping his own weapon and didn't receive the privilege Varrick did. All the United Republic has done is force a country that was on the rise for three years back down into the miry clay of instability, and in efforts to return an exiled monarch to the throne, brought about a new –and this time dysfunctional- military state. This trial is experimental, and after the verdict another tribunal will commence. The outcome could result in another war, or lasting peace. It makes it all the more critical that you treat this not as an opportunity to exact victors' justice out of spite and self-righteousness. To pay homage to my esteemed colleague Attorney General Zhang once again, I expect your juridical expertise to serve you well now that I have truly laid out the facts, and 'judge the precepts and powers of international law in favor of general good will and peace for the men and women of all nations.'"

o0o

Lin put her hand on Keisai's shoulder as he forced his way to the doors with Kuvira and her security detail in tow, surprising the lawyer with a warm smile. "I'm starting to see how you got that record of yours in such a short time, kid. That was outstanding."

Keisai forced a smile. "I couldn't show my full hand." He glanced at Kuvira. "Somebody didn't do as she was told, but loverboy's eager to see you," he said gently. "Come on."

"Kuvira," Baatar said, practically running to her as Keisai led her towards the family, her hands cuffed in platinum and the guards hovering awkwardly a few steps behind. "Why did you—" Before he realized it he was holding her, her arms folded and crushed between them against his chest. "That wasn't what you were supposed to testify," he said, holding her by the shoulders and pulling back to look at her. "And Keisai, were you trying to make me miserable?"

Kuvira rolled her eyes. "It was strategic, Baatar. Keisai and I can't tell you everything when we know you'll object to half of it." She cleared her throat softly and subtly jerked her head in the direction of his family.

"Why would you do that?"

"I just told you," she said with an exasperated sigh as his hands didn't move from her arms. "Can you let go of me?" She turned to face his parents and siblings. "Evening, everyone."

"Kuvira? You look… different," Wei said, pausing as he couldn't think of what to say next. "Not in a bad way, though."

Kuvira smiled hesitantly. "You're not mad at me for arresting you?"

Wing shrugged. "We did try to assassinate you, and you've been in jail for a year. You also kind of supported Baatar, so I think we're cool."

Baatar growled in frustration. "Boys, can we have a second to ourselves?"

Wei punched him in the shoulder. "You've apparently had loads of seconds to yourselves, no one gets over being nuked without tons of alone time. Good luck, bro. I really hope Keisai managed to sway the judges for you."

"Where did he go?" Wing added, looking around. "We need to thank him properly."

"With a sock on the arm?" Kuvira said, quirking a brow. "I wouldn't recommend it… he's been hurt enough on Baatar's case."

The twins answered her with a playful shove. "It's just affectionate." They walked off in the direction of the lawyer, forcing their way through the mob of newsmen that already had surrounded him.

"Can I count that as forgiveness?" she asked Baatar. "I've missed those boys…think they still play power disc?"

"They're five years younger than you," he said, his tone annoyed but his face betraying his happiness. "And yes. But they're twenty now… they're young men, Kuvira."

"I'll always see them as boys," Kuvira retorted. "I still remember them as little toddlers, and when they threatened that guard for flirting with me when I was in the security force.."

"I'm sorry, what?" he crossed his arms. "When was this?"

"When I was in the force," she repeated, smirking. "Don't look so appalled, that was when I was a beloved captain in your mother's guard. No one wants to date the former Great Uniter." She glanced at his parents, still waiting for them to finish. "Go talk to Suyin."

He let go of her, turning to his mother. "Mom," he said as he walked towards her, "I'm so sorry, I just wanted to talk to—"

She hugged him tightly, and Baatar smiled over her shoulder at his father, feeling for the first time that they had made progress. "It's okay, Junior. No matter what happens, we'll get through this as a family." She pulled back. "What does Keisai think of everything?"

"He's not acting like himself," Baatar confessed. "We can talk to him later.. please Mom, is there anything you want to say to Kuvira?"

Su's expression hardened, but she sighed. "There are a lot of things I want to say to her." They returned to where Kuvira stood, and Baatar let go of Su to put his arm around her shoulders.

"If you're going to fight, don't do it inside," he said, smiling as she tilted her head back. "I spent the better part of a year planning this building out and the marble was imported."

"Disorderly conduct? Me?" Kuvira said, crinkling her nose. "Impossible." She turned her attention to Su self-consciously. "Suyin, it's... good to see you again."

"I wish I could say the same," Su said.

Kuvira looked hurt, and Baatar opened his mouth to speak. "Suyin, I know I've given you and your family little reason to believe me," Kuvira said, shrugging his arm away, "but we're on the same side. Baatar deserves a chance to move on with his life. I love-" She paused abruptly, eyes suddenly huge as she caught herself— "seeing and reading about all that he's managed to achieve on his own in this short year, and I expect to see much more," she finished and hurried off to the guards far too soon.

Baatar stared after her. "Called it," Keisai said, sauntering over after hearing Kuvira's outburst. "Abso-f*cking-lutely called it."

"Did she-"

"Shhh," Keisai said, casually hooking his arm around Baatar's shoulders, "let's see what your outcome is first. We've got at least a week of deliberation before the tribunal reaches a verdict.. I gave them a lot to think on. But if things shake out the way I hope they do, you both can finally stop acting like teenagers and get to business."

Su raised her eyebrows. "Meaning?"

"Your son is not going to get over her, Su," Keisai said firmly, "and even though they can't be together he'll still love her long after the desire to bang her fades away-"

"Phrasing," Baatar muttered, cheeks reddening.

"-so I think a conversation between them both is only natural and necessary," he finished. "Kuvira told me even you thought they were a cute couple before she pulled the shit she did," he added, smirking.

Su looked embarrassed. "Well... I saw a lot of Baatar and myself in Junior and her, yes." She put her arm around Baatar. "Sweetie, no matter what the outcome is, I want you to know that we love you."

Baatar groaned. "Thank you, Mom. Can we please have this conversation at home?" He lowered his voice. "And I love you too."

"I agree, this isn't the place. Now we wait and see if my defense was airtight enough to get loverboy a chance at acquittal." Keisai ran his hand through his hair as he walked away, the crowd of newsmen parting before him, and Baatar could have sworn he heard him throw a final answer to the barrage of queries from the reporters: "My full name? Keisai Sabad. Remember it, no further questions."


A/N: OH SHIT DID SHE JUST SAY THAT?

Everyone knows "Remember the Name by Fort Minor, yeah? That's Keisai's theme song. That, and "Numb" by August Alsina. Coincidentally, both are songs I get down to. ;) HOPE YOU LIKED IT, STOKED TO READ THE REVIEWS. You all are wonderful and your positive words really helped me get over my inferiority complex with ch16! Sorry about the lateness, but in my defense it's been up on AO3 all day for anyone who regularly checks the tumblr!