"Iroh, how the hell are you?" Keisai said, seizing the man by the upper arms and pulling him in for a hug. "You cut it close, old friend. The trial's just around the corner."
"Easy," Iroh said, wincing. "I bruised my ribs a couple of weeks ago. We had difficulties passing through the Daichi Sea."
"Took a direct hit from some roving Kuvira-supporting vigilantes?"
"I wish," Iroh said sheepishly. "The seas were rough, and I hyperextended while trying to keep us from getting dismasted. You're looking a bit shabby," he said, patting Keisai on the shoulder. "I guess the meeting with Korra and Tenzin didn't go well."
"Tenzin no longer has a role within the legislature, and he wasn't present for many meetings regarding Kuvira's fate," Keisai grumbled. "He can attest to a meeting of the small council, called for by Raiko, but it ends there. There are no minutes for a more damning meeting that he's aware of, and Raiko's nixed my chances of getting into the archives."
"You still could shave," Iroh pointed out. "And Lin got you a warrant, didn't she?"
"I can't force my way in, man," Keisai said. "Saikhan is delaying its issue, and Lin can't convince him. He's taking his orders straight from that dickbag you call your commander in-chief."
Iroh grimaced. "I don't understand how the people reelected him."
"That's what I'm saying." The two walked through the busy streets together, talking conspiratorially. "Were you part of a dinner meeting between the president and his bitches?" Keisai asked, voice low.
"Keisai, they're called statesmen."
"That's what I said. Raiko's bitches." He paused as they passed the cafe Meilin frequented, leaning against the wall. "Were you there?"
"I wasn't," Iroh said, "but I wouldn't rule out that rumored bill of attainder if I were you-"
"I haven't ruled it out!" Keisai exploded, slamming his fists into the brick behind him and earning disapproving looks and comments from the startled passersby. "Damn it man, I can't get into the archives because your boss is deliberately giving me the runaround!"
Iroh frowned sympathetically. "Have you tried just... being you?"
Keisai raised a brow skeptically. "Is this more 'look for the silver sandwich' crap? Tell it to me straight, man. You suck at metaphors."
"No," Iroh said, "I'm being literal. You're the man that charmed your way out of a reprimand for speeding-"
"Loads of people have done that," Keisai said, waving his hand dismissively.
"-through a blockade," Iroh continued, raising his voice, "after getting caught by a naval officer."
Keisai shrugged. "I had a baby face at the time and acted contrite."
"You convinced that sweet cadet a year beneath us to cover for you when you wanted to conduct a raid on Han's barracks," Iroh said flatly.
"We don't speak of that," Keisai reproached him. "I still feel very guilty about her..."
"And then she brought you tarts during a bad week, when she still didn't know you that well," Iroh barreled on. "And you're telling me you can't convince an aide to let you see the archives?"
Keisai shrugged again. "I don't know, man. Isn't that a little misogynist? I mean yes, I've had my share of fun with the ladies, but I'm over thirty now. Don't you think it's time I quit it with the shameless flirting?"
Iroh stared. "I'm sorry, where did my oldest friend just disappear to...?"
"We can try," Keisai said as they resumed their walk, "but I don't think I've got that rakish something that always got me what I needed, not anymore. And I think it might be for the best."
"Oh," Iroh said after several minutes of silence. "So you like the lawyer?"
"Gross, no," Keisai said, though the flush that spread over the back of his neck told a different story. "Zhang is old, and... portly. And I don't swing that way."
"Yes, I was talking about Zhang, not the 'smoking hot assisting prosecutor,'" Iroh teased. "Are you sure you're ready to give up a different love for each season? That's not like you-"
"Shut up," Keisai said, punching him in the arm. "I don't have time for a woman right now, I'm too busy trying to get a certain loveryboy's bitchy fiancée back into his arms."
It didn't take long to find the people they needed to get them into the libraries, but the archives were closed to them, especially without the warrant. "It's supposed to be issued the day of the trial," Keisai said with poorly concealed irritation. "The chief of police will be by as soon as it's granted. This delay is preventing me from upholding the law, miss. If I were twenty pounds heavier and thirty years older and working for the state, would we be having this conversation?"
"No," the aide said, "and I probably wouldn't have had a reason to let you into the libraries either," she added, her inflection coquettish. "I'm sorry, sir. The president has asked that we stop all tours and inquiries until the trial's conclusion. My hands are tied."
"Could you do something for me, then?" Keisai said as he snapped his fingers, the old light of a new idea back in his eyes. "I need the minutes from a certain meeting... about two months after Kuvira's arrest... probably called something like the 'Tripartite Meeting' or something similar." He braced a hand on the edge of the woman's desk, leaning so close that Iroh was convinced the aide could smell the lawyer's cologne. "I'll call you as a witness, and once I'm cleared with the warrant I'll be able to use that as hard evidence too, assuming it exists."
The woman looked excited, despite her hesitance. "I'll- I'll try my best."
"Fantastic," Keisai said, pulling a pen from his breast pocket and scrawling his name on a scrap of paper. "No, wait; just give me your number. What's your name? I'm-"
"Bao," she said after she recited the number, smiling. "I already know who you are, you're the lawyer that came out of nowhere and won Baatar Junior's case. Do you mind if I keep the autograph?"
"Pretty name," he said absentmindedly, oblivious to the flush that tinted her cheeks at his words. "And it wasn't an autograph, but be my guest," he said, jotting down her number. "Excellent, I'll be in touch with you." He took her hand as he said his farewell, his expression darkening as he turned away and left the building with Iroh hurrying to catch up.
"Now imagine if you put some effort into it," Iroh said bracingly. "She was starstruck-"
"She's not my type," Keisai said. "And I want information, not a late-night prospect."
"I'm glad you've matured past that," Iroh said, "but this is your career, Keisai. I've never seen you so righteously angry about a case before. If a little harmless flirting gets you what you need-"
"Listen man, that girl probably doesn't want to be an aide forever. She probably wants to work her way up to a proper political office, and I don't care how egalitarian our hometown or Republic City is. You and I both know that in a male dominated field, she's going to have to deal with men as bad as me and likely worse sooner or later. Why start now?"
"Why does this bother you?" Iroh paused. "Not to say I don't agree, especially if it means you'll stop hitting on my sister's friends, but when did this become an issue for you? This is different! She was interested in you; the Keisai I knew even two months ago would have said that makes flirting for information fair game!"
"I can't," Keisai said stubbornly. "Well, at least we got something out of this. I hope she finds what I need... Tenzin seemed very confident that the meeting he went to wasn't the last of Raiko's political dealings."
"You'll find a way to get her out," Iroh said reassuringly. "You always have."
Keisai buried his face in his hands. "I don't know, man. I'm pretty sure the tribunal's rigged against me."
"That's rough, buddy." They sat together in silence on the patio table of the cafe, watching the crowds of people mill past. "Why do you always stop at this place?"
"Wishful thinking, I guess," Keisai said. "You never know who you might run into, if you get lucky."
o0o
"So Baatar was behaving as though he got lucky again," Keisai said, settling in for another chat with Kuvira after he updated her on the newest legal developments. "Good lay?"
Kuvira rolled her eyes. "Adequate. After fourteen months apart, high expectations will only land you with premature disappointment."
Keisai's eyebrows climbed ever-higher. "I really hope you've developed a sense of humor, or I'm going to pretend that we never had this conversation. You aren't allowed to get busy, you know this-"
She smirked, her grin broadening as the lawyer's face relaxed. "Do you really think I'd sleep with him while incarcerated? I have ample self-control, and I've proven it repeatedly."
He shrugged. "You have self-control. I wouldn't be surprised if loverboy managed to wear you down though... you're hopeless when he's in the room."
She frowned. "Am I? I thought I was doing better after the incident we don't speak of."
Keisai laughed, patting her hand. "You're a complete disaster, sweetheart. I feel like you're both waiting for me to get the hell out so you can pounce on each other, sometimes."
"You make it sound as though all we do is kiss," Kuvira said, her face coloring. "Maybe we just enjoy being able to speak freely with one another now, and -as much as I like you and your company- I'm not comfortable discussing those topics with anyone else." She hadn't expected her words to have a dramatic impact on the lawyer, but to her surprise, his gaze softened and his voice became gentle when he spoke.
"Kuvira, I feel as though I ought to tell you. Baatar told me about... ah, how do I say this... he told me how you ended up in Zaofu," he said. "For the record, I tried to stop him," he added, holding up his hands. "He just wouldn't shut up once he started."
She looked at her hands, free of gloves. The skin was dry and rough, her nails uneven and bitten, a dramatic downgrade from the manicured fingers of the Great Uniter. After she and Baatar had officially made up –or as Keisai was all to happy to remind her, made out—the ring felt unnecessary. She felt more secure with it safely tucked away in her breast pocket, close to her heart. A memory sprung to the forefront of her mind unbidden, and she found herself speaking without thinking. "Did he tell you about the aftermath too?"
"What do you mean?" Keisai frowned. "He told me what your parents... he just told me the events. I sort of speculated from there, about your bizarre obsession with tidiness and the way you seem claustrophobic sometimes. He didn't deny it, but beyond my own guesses I didn't know anything about..." He trailed off, apparently searching for a way to put it delicately- "long term effects of your experiences."
"I had a hard time sleeping at first," Kuvira began, her voice consciously detached and emotionless. "When I got to sleep, nightmares were not uncommon. Suyin was very kind to me, during those early months. I barely spoke to anyone but her. What bothered me more than anything else was seeing her with the twins... they must have been three years old, at the time. Suyin is a wonderful mother, Keisai. I was old enough to remember how my parents behaved with me when I was a little girl-"
"You were a little girl when they left you," he reminded her softly. "Growing up quickly doesn't mean you weren't eight."
She inclined her head. "It's easy to forget. Huan is a few months younger than me and Baatar a year older, and I think that was where I felt the difference the most."
"Because she treated them like children?"
"She sheltered her children from everything," Kuvira said slowly. "She wanted them -still wants them- to have perfect lives, to never feel helpless or alone. Family is the most important thing in the world to Suyin. When I was older, she told me about how she had run away at sixteen, and I was completely appalled. I've met Toph Beifong, Keisai."
She couldn't help but smile as the lawyer's jaw dropped and a childlike excitement lit up his face. "You've met her? Did she teach you how to metalbend? I've met Lord Zuko thanks to Iroh, but Toph always struck me as the cool one of Avatar Aang's friends."
"She is incredible," Kuvira said quietly. "She must be well into her eighties, but when she moves, you can feel the power behind every stance. Watching her bend is like watching stylized art. And she had this sort of playfulness about her that made everyone love her, no matter how cantankerous she could be. I was shy, but I watched the way she interacted with her grandchildren and with Su. She even showed me a couple of things… she told me I had potential. And so when Su told me how she had run away, I couldn't believe it. Sifu Toph was unconventional, certainly, but she was a loving mother. I couldn't believe that Suyin would run away from a family that loved her. I was upset after that talk, and that's when Baatar found me and asked me to tell him what was wrong."
"What made you trust him above the others?" Keisai said. "Opal was the only other girl in the house, and Huan was closer in age to you. Why him?"
"I'm not sure. He's always understood me, and where I'm coming from. I think part of it was because he felt out of place too, being the first non-bending Beifong. He was very withdrawn for a while, after Opal became an airbender. I don't think he talked to anyone but me, the week after they found out." They were silent for a while, observing the rain outside the window.
"And you still didn't realize he was in deep?"
"It's difficult, being part of a well-known family and the first grandson of the greatest earthbender in the world, hearing your parents praise the other boys in the family for their proficiency in the art," Kuvira said, pulling the ring from its pocket and suspending it above her open palm, watching it turn over and over in the air. "No one ever stopped to think that he took up engineering because of a genuine interest in the subject, everyone—Su, Baatar Senior, the wealthier families and the Earth Kingdom bluebloods—thought he did it because as a nonbender, he might as well follow in his father's footsteps. I know you think he's immature, and emotionally unguarded, and scheming, and petty. I know he can be selfish, and I know he can be hypersensitive-"
"You left out short-sighted and kind of a bitch," Keisai said, nodding. "But go on, I'm sensing a 'but he's amazing, because' coming up soon."
She smiled. "I'm not about to make excuses for him, because I'm aware that our time away from Zaofu brought out the worst in each of us. But believe me when I say there's more to him than that. He genuinely loves his work, and he lights up like a little child when he makes a breakthrough. I don't understand half of what he's saying when he explains his technology to me, but I love watching his excitement about something as dull as electromagnetics. He's hypersensitive, but he recognizes my moods when no one else can. He gets nauseatingly romantic too often, but it's helped me loosen up, and even though he's calculating and scheming to a fault, he really did get into this whole mess with me because he wanted to help our people. I think letting that old resentment fester was what made him so hateful towards his family, for a while. Even then, it was more towards his parents and their insistence that he stay apprenticed to his father; I can't think of a day that passed when he didn't talk about his brothers and sister, not even the day before we marched on Republic City."
"I can't think of a day that passed since the beginning of my employment that he didn't talk about you," Keisai said. "Has he proposed again?"
"No, why?" Kuvira demanded, squashing the sudden burst of hope that welled up unbidden in her chest. "Has he... said anything on the subject?" Her voice, despite her best efforts, sounded overeager to her ears.
"No," Keisai admitted. "I don't know, I just have a feeling that he will. You know him better than anyone else, don't you get that impression?"
"Not exactly," she said. "If I make it out of this alive, I think he would like to try again. But marriage? That's a long ways away, Keisai. It's not realistic."
"Since when has that stopped him?" he pressed. "Building a mega maid with a death ray attached to it in a week isn't realistic. Reuniting the earth kingdom-"
"Empire," she said, smiling.
"-watch yourself," he said, returning her grin, "is not realistic. Running away with the girl you've been in love with for years with the expectation of finally getting together and living happily ever after is not realistic. Baatar is not a realistic person, Kuvira. And on all counts, everything worked out."
"That last one couldn't have turned out more diametrically opposite to his expectation," she pointed out, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice.
Keisai gestured in a conciliatory manner. "Fair. I meant more along the lines of running off while deep in the friend zone and actually escaping it." He cocked his head to the side. "How do you suppose one escapes the 'fairly-bestowed-title-of-stereotypical-chauvinist-pig-that-hits-on-the-pretty-young-woman-in-a-traditionally-male-profession zone?" He smiled when she burst out laughing, leaning back in his seat and regarding her with what could only be described as fondness in his eyes.
"Is that why she dislikes you?" Kuvira said at last in an exaggerated voice. "You just now figured this out? I thought you were good with women."
"Uncalled for," he said, "and I don't know, Kuvira. She's incredibly sharp, and so driven... being selected to assist with the state's legal team is no small feat, not at our age. It's different for me, your cases require private legal counsel." He laughed ruefully. "I suppose I wish we weren't on opposite sides in this trial, she'd be a huge asset."
"Because it would be easier to start something if you were working together?" she said thoughtfully. "That's how Baatar and I started dating."
"Let's not get carried away, but I'm open to the possibilities. And I was under the impression that it started after you forced yourself on him when you were completely plastered," Keisai said with a wink. "Apparently you engaged in a bit of dirty dancing and made out heavily while your ex was in the room, and then the next day you both started dating... Why does Su have a problem with you guys? You're the perfect daughter in-law for that family."
"Why does he tell you these things?" she exploded. "We're going to have a talk when he visits..."
"Good," he said with a chuckle, "because I told him to come by today, and he should reach us soon."
It only took an additional thirty minutes for Baatar to arrive, and though he greeted Keisai immediately with a warm clasping of hands, Kuvira couldn't help but smile as his eyes strayed to her almost instinctively before he was through saying hello to the lawyer. "How have you been?" he asked her, taking the seat next to hers and resting his hand on her knee. "I've missed you."
"You saw me yesterday," she said flatly, even as her own hand covered his. "It's been less than twenty-four hours."
He smiled despite her pointed remark, and for a second she could see her lovestruck fiancé again behind the glasses, his eyes soft with adoration. "Is that supposed to make a difference?"
Keisai snorted.
"Well..." Her initial impulse was to say something drawing attention to the impracticality of the whole thing, but she bit back the snarky words that came to mind as she remembered the way he had professed his intention to make the most of their time together in light of the possibility of capital punishment. "I think it ought to," she said carefully. "I also think you should wait for Keisai to leave the room, don't you?"
Baatar shrugged. "Not particularly, he's seen far worse."
Kuvira frowned, her expression darkening when she glanced at the lawyer and saw his amused disgust. "Keisai, I'm sorry... could we have a moment to ourselves?"
"Lovers' quarrel?" he said easily. "Sure, we're done anyway. Baatar, please don't do anything stupid... you're acting like a complete f*ckboy." He glanced at Kuvira. "I don't understand how you deal with him... I guess you secretly enjoy it?"
"I asked myself that question every day," she said drily. "Every day."
"Too late for that," Baatar said. "I'll see you at dinner, Keisai?"
"No, I think I've had about as much of you two as I can stomach," Keisai said. "I'm sorry I'm not actually sorry, but you're starting to annoy me. Mostly you, man. We've swapped war stories, so I have a soft corner for her."
Kuvira smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. I was quite strict about public displays of affection during our rule, believe me."
"I do," the lawyer said. "Baatar, for the love of all that is holy, drink some water. You won't be seeing her much during the trial, so please try and exercise some self control."
Baatar sighed. "I'm aware. Could you give us the room?"
"You're so rude," she said. "Keisai is responsible for your new chance at life, and this is how you repay him?" She swatted his hand from her knee. "I expect better of you, Baatar."
"He's just really eager to get in your pants again," Keisai said without a hint of sarcasm. "It's both fascinating and disturbing to see how different you both are around each other... I don't know if I want to hug you or kick you into next week." He picked up his briefcase, blowing her a kiss. "Have fun, sweetheart. Please keep your polar bear dog on a leash, you only have a couple of days to go."
The door swung shut behind him and Kuvira half expected Baatar to start something decidedly against protocol, so she was pleasantly surprised when he positioned his chair closer to hers and wrapped an arm around her waist instead. "I know it's trite to say this, but I really do miss you whenever I'm away."
"You're sweet," she said. "You'd better get used to it, because the outcome isn't looking good."
"Then stop rebuffing me," he said, twirling the end of her braid around his fingers and kissing the top of her head. "You can tell me what you're thinking, Kuvira."
"I'm thinking about getting sentenced to death, or worse, life in prison," she said at last. "And I'm thinking about you settling down, meeting a woman who's nothing like me and who can make you completely happy, and look after the children you'll one day be a father to, and-"
"Stop," he said, tightening his hold. "Spirits, Kuvira. Stop, I can't listen to this."
"You asked me," she said evenly. "At least one of us has to think about likely outcomes, rather than live in denial."
"I don't know what I'd do if you were to... if that were to happen," he said, shaking his head. "I can't imagine myself with anyone besides you..."
They were silent for a little while, and Kuvira wondered at their ability to continue hammering a tired topic well past its death, but discussing it seemed an ever-present occurrence that neither of them enjoyed and that neither of them could do away with. "This is depressing. Do you know what we should do?" she said suddenly, seizing his arm.
"What?"
"I should teach you a dance," she said, standing and tugging him to his feet. "Come on, you love watching me dance."
"Watching is different from being forced to participate!" he protested, dragging his feet, but he was smiling too at her enthusiasm and change of topic. "And there's no music-"
"Please," she snorted. "As if we need music… but next time if you don't want to join me, you should bring the liuqin, do you still have it?"
Baatar winced. "I haven't played in years, Kuvira."
"That's no excuse, I haven't danced in..." She paused. "No, I actually dance pretty often now, it's good exercise."
He laughed, allowing her to guide his hand to her waist and take the other in her right hand. "Am I expected to lead?"
"No, you've always danced like the girl," she said dismissively. "What song shall we listen to in our heads? A battle hymn?"
"What about the one with the strings ensemble?" he suggested. "The one that sort of builds the whole while into a crescendo, with that sad motif that just jumps octaves each time it repeats again-"
"The one they played at your parents' party, when we were teenagers?"
"Yes," Baatar said, "if you're talking about the party that I left while it was in full swing, and decided to ruin your patrol."
She snapped her fingers. "The time I danced under the pavilion?"
For a moment she thought she saw something behind his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came. "That's the one."
"I'll count us off," she said decisively, and she stood poised on her toes, counting off the beats and launching into the dance, humming the opening bars in her throat.
Baatar had never been a gifted dance partner, stepping on her toes more often than not and hyperconscious of his frame, but dancing with him had a quaint and charming feel to it. She counted time for them both, cueing him as much as she could and stopping more than once to demonstrate a step that threw them off beat. There was something oddly soothing about being in hold with Baatar, even though her toes twinged in protest and his repeated apologies threatened to send her into a fit of giggles or irritation. Dancing with him, much like the feel of his hands in hers or his arms around her waist, made her feel safe, even as each step they took reminded her of the dangers her toes faced.
oOo
Baatar walked into his parents' suite, stopping when he saw his father ensconced between Su and Lin, a bottle of wine cupped between both his hands and Su's legs on his lap. His mother and his aunt had nearly emptied the contents of their wine glasses and seemed in a dour mood, while his namesake glanced from him to the clock and back. "Well hello, son. To what do we owe the honor?"
"Am I interrupting something?" Baatar said slowly as his father filled Su's glass.
"You're late, kid," Lin snapped. "You drop by when visiting hours are almost over, stay much later than I ought to allow, and conveniently forget that you told me you'd be by to see your parents afterward?"
"How did I forget?" Baatar said testily. "I'm here right now.."
"Took you long enough," Lin said. "Even if I give you ample time for driving, that still means you spent two hours with Kuvira."
Baatar raised his eyebrows, genuinely taken aback. "It didn't seem that long at the time.."
"That's cute," Lin said, sharply tugging the bottle from her brother in-law's hands and taking a swig before returning it to his possession. "Well, run along and make out with your girlfriend some more, this is adults only now."
His eye twitched. "I'm twenty-six."
"So stop acting like a teenager," his father said. "What did you get up to, or do I not want to know?"
Baatar paused, thinking back on the day's visit. It was without question the most chaste of all their interactions since what Kuvira had drily dubbed "The Table Incident," and the thought brought an unintentional smirk to his face. "Actually-"
"Again?" his father sighed as Su buried her face in his lap. "I'm so disappointed in you, Junior."
"What? No, nothing below board happened this time!" he protested, flushing.
"'This time'?"
"She and I just talked, why do you have a problem with that?"
"Because I'm gradually being forced to accept the fact that I failed as a parent," his father said. "I'm disappointed in you for breaking protocol repeatedly. After the verdict? I understand, I was young once. Do you really need to do this every single day?"
"It's a family trait?" he supplied feebly. "Dad, you fathered five kids."
"Junior, if you're having sex on the premises I'm writing you up," Lin said brusquely. "I'm not covering your ass for something like that."
"I'm not- why do you assume- agh," he growled in frustration, "everything is strictly grey area, Aunt Lin."
"Good," she replied, taking a final swig from her glass. "You still have zero dignity."
"And the number of children your mother and I have is not relevant here," his father reminded him. "You decided to start things up again with Kuvira, fine. Visiting her every day for physical intimacy? That's just..."
"This," Lin said. "This is why Keisai calls you a f*ckboy."
Baatar shrugged. "It's a bit inaccurate at the moment, but I won't contest it."
"Junior," Su said, her voice too loud, "why are you doing this? I thought you didn't you could be together again."
Baatar sighed, sitting opposite his parents and aunt. "Mom, I know you don't hate Kuvira. You were fond of her, and it's like Opal said, if she were really nothing more than a talented student to you I doubt you would have gotten so angry when we left."
Su drained her glass. "Sweetie, can you-"
"No dear," his father said firmly, "I'm not in the mood for your antics right now. Keep going, son." Su pouted, rolling the stem of the glass between her palms.
"That's all I had to say," Baatar said, shrugging. "I love her. I've forgiven her, and she tried to kill me too, you know." He paused. "This is such a disturbing family dynamic.."
"It's a family trait," Lin said, raising her glass to him. "It's part of being a Beifong."
"All I'm asking is that you try to look past some of what she's done, the same way you looked past what I did," he said earnestly. "She looked up to you, Mom. She thinks you're everything that a mother should be..." He trailed off, guilt knotting his insides, and slowly tried to find the words to continue. "Knowing her history, I should have appreciated you both more," he said quietly. "Even understanding Kuvira didn't open my eyes to how fortunate I am to have parents like you, even if I had my disagreements on how you raised us."
Lin stood, surprising him with a clap on the shoulder. "Good job, kid. Looks like you're going through some long overdue personal growth. Better late than never."
Baatar frowned. "Excuse me?"
"That was the first time you've apologized without vaguely justifying what a little shit you've been," Lin said. "It was refreshing."
"Oh." He felt his face heat. "I was just... sharing what was on my mind..."
"And that's how I know it was sincere," Lin said, taking her seat again. "Hit me," she said to her brother in-law, proffering her glass. "This is too good to be true."
Baatar shifted awkwardly in his seat. "So... Mom?"
Su sighed, evidently coming to terms with the fact that her glass would not be refilled. "Honey, I don't know what I think about Kuvira anymore. I'm happy that she helped your case, and I'm happy that you're happy, but I just can't be okay with you marrying that woman. Not after everything she's done."
His hand unconsciously went to his scar, and as he felt the raised skin he wrinkled his brow. "It was wrong of us to take Zaofu and imprison everyone, but you broke a truce. And when you fought her during the weapon test, you didn't waste any time with the lethal attacks. If we had somehow find a way to leave you as the governor, are you telling me you wouldn't have made another attempt on her life?"
Su shrugged. "No, I would've gone a different route. Perhaps poison, or holding you hostage so you couldn't build that monstrosity."
"I told her you wouldn't do it," Baatar said. "I said you wouldn't stoop to an assassination attempt during peaceful negotiations, and she said she hoped I was right. But she insisted on precautionary measures, and honestly? I'm glad she did. If you had killed her..." He shook his head. "I doubt I would have ever wanted to reconcile. It turned out for the best that she fired on the warehouse, because I never would have told you how to stop the colossus and I doubt I would have ever tried being with the family again. Especially after that assassination attempt- I thought I knew you well enough to know you wouldn't resort to that-"
"Junior, she tried to kill you," Su said. "How can you have already reconciled with her after that?"
"It's like you said," he said quietly. "She's a complicated person. It's funny how you told me that last year, but you never were interested in figuring out what makes her tick." Su was silent, but her eyes revealed saddened understanding, and for a moment Baatar felt hopeful.
His father nodded. "Well, this was the first conversation that seemed to go somewhere productive," he said. "Two days until her trial?"
Baatar grimaced. "Yes, the same day we planned to get married."
"We'll be there to watch," his father said. "You'll be sitting with us, I assume?"
"You're going?" His jaw dropped. "All of you?"
"Your brothers and sister are adamant about going," Baatar Sr. said, "and I think it's normal for me to have a healthy curiosity about the trial's proceedings. Besides, even after all that she's done, I can't look at her without seeing the little girl that held onto Su's hand like a lifeline on that first night." He nodded in Baatar's direction. "And she is your... something."
"Thank you, Dad. That means a lot." Baatar looked at Su. "Mom?"
"I have to testify," she said after a while. "Of course I'll be there."
"Yes, but-"
"I don't want to talk about this any further," Su said. "Sweetie, come on. You've already refilled Lin's twice-"
"Fine," his father said with resignation, pouring a liberal amount of wine into Su's glass. He looked at Baatar with a rueful smile. "If you both take after us as much as I suspect you do, you might have a shot at happiness." He paused. "Assuming she's acquitted, of course."
Baatar was startled. "Thank you," he said softly, as Su loudly expressed her interest in taking shots and his father tried in vain to quiet her. "Thank you," he repeated, this time inaudibly, looking out the window towards the newly expanded downtown sector, the buildings lit up with purple light seeming for all the world like constellations from heaven brought to earth.
A/N: I broke the fourth wall so many times this chapter, hehe. Keisai has never been more like me than he was in this chapter, I think.
Announcements- trial chapter next week! I'm traveling the week following that, so the second half of the trial and the verdict may be late, we'll see. Hope you enjoyed the expose on the tumblr, check it out if you haven't already! And check out the amazing fanart that saigneux did of ch19- simply incredible!
