Sorry about updating so late. The steam for this engine is slowly dying and I think it might be showing in this chapter. I will finish this one, I swear... It's just that I'm working on a lot of other stuff.
Good news though, Rufftoon on deviantart made Zhao/Korra comics a few years ago and I finally found them. That's awesome. I wonder if she knows about this fic...
But, now we're adding Kuvira to the mix. It can only get crazier, right?
The wooden door to her cell was opened slowly. She did not bother to look at the door as she figured the guards were there to bring her midday meal. She sat back against the wall and waited for them to leave. Except that they didn't. The sounds of a key chain being swung were heard.
"I see that they moved you into a wooden cell now that I'm out."
A smile formed on Kuvira's face, "It's quieter without you trying to make conversation. I had years of thinking to catch up on. But catching up isn't why you are here, isn't it?"
"Nope," Korra grinned, "I need your help. You still have a strong following and they're becoming a nuisance."
"And the President just decided to let you have me?"
The night after her first confrontation with President Kyung, she and the firebenders showed up to meet up with Asami. The president's wife was pleased to see her old friends and let them in without issue. When Kyung walked out from a room, undoing his tie, he stopped with a snarl on his face. Korra grinned and waved back before she continued to follow the rest of them to a living room. Asami halted her friend from entering for a moment.
"Korra," she grinned largely, holding herself from jumping with joy, "I'm glad you finally visited. I wanted to tell you before I told Mako. Kyung and I are expecting!"
While she didn't, Korra did jump up and down, "Oh, you're going to need-"
She began to list of a number of things for Asami to get. The inventor gave her friend a confused look and Korra realized what she had said.
"So it is true. You and the Earth King did have a child."
"What? No. Never… Where did you hear-," Korra sighed, "I'm going to maim Wu when I see him next."
"I just overheard Kyung speaking with someone on the phone. He said something about a child and wanting to take over the world with some criminals." Asami frowned.
Korra spoke not amused but the new information, "Taking over the world? That's the new story going through the governments?"
She growled before gently pushing her friend out of the way. Asami rushed after her.
"Korra, he isn't involved."
Kyung interrupted his conversation with Mako, only to stand as Korra began to accuse him.
"Taking over the world? Is that why you would not let me bring Kuvira along? You think I'm going to build an army of criminals?"
Kyung held his arms up, "Now Korra, I never said anything about an army. It's what the Anti-Avatar Movement has made claims on."
The Avatar grabbed his collar, much to Asami's dislike, and began to threaten him, "After I finish this issue in the Earth Kingdom, I will be back to visit you more about this Movement. For now, I want Kuvira."
The Avatar smirked, "Yeah, you can say that."
She walked in to help the former dictator up. The duo put an arm around each others' shoulders and walked out joking about something. Their laughter stopped when Mako gave them a look.
"Not best friends, eh?" Mako said. His arms were crossed.
Korra pointed with her free hand, "When you're stuck in a cell across from each others' for five years, it's hard not to."
"Did you two sleep with each other?" Zhao finally spoke.
"What?" the Avatar screeched, "No."
"What makes you think that?" the dictator asked.
Zhao grinned, "Oh you two have to catch up."
The Avatar cleared her throat, "Well, we have to head to Air Temple Island."
"Why is that?" Mako asked. He was pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose.
"Well, we need an air bison." Korra held a finger up, "And I'm positive Kuvira will want a change of clothes and a shower."
"Are you going to help her with that?" Zhao grinned as he asked.
"No. Seriously," Kuvira quickly answered, "Who is this idiot?"
"He's my shadow."
"And they go to bed on occasions." Mako added.
"Once! It was once."
Kuvira's arm left the Avatar's shoulder. She adjusted her prison uniform and cleared her throat.
"Suddenly my opinion of you has dropped, Avatar."
"Bite me. Don't answer that." Korra put a finger at Kuvira's mouth, "We're going before Republic City decides to burn us at a stake."
"Does Tenzin know we're coming?" Mako asked.
"Nope."
Tenzin was striding with a sense of joy as he entered the halls of the temple. He had heard that Korra was on the island for dinner and it had been long overdue since they spoke to each other. A part of him was curious about her time in the Spirit World. He was not able to ask her before because of her disappearance in the Earth Kingdom. When she was in the city, Korra never came by.
He walked into the dining room and felt like he was hit by a rock. His expectations of the night wisped by his ears and blew away as he spotted Kuvira and Zhao at the table. The Great Uniter and Mako simply looked annoyed and were suffering together in their depraved dinner. Korra was trying to stop Zhao from flirting with Pema. His brother sat in a strange silence as he tried to make sense of what was before him. The former councilman, airbending master and son of Avatar Aang had criminals in his home. It was completely awkward.
"Korra… what is this?" Tenzin spoke over everyone.
"Oh hey Tenzin," Korra tried to smile, "We just came to take an air bison and let Kuvira take a shower before we all leave to convince some people to go home."
Sensing an argument, Mako leaned towards the metalbender, "I'm getting out of here before something bad happens."
"Take me with you." Kuvira begged.
They got up and left just as Korra and Tenzin were about to get into an argument. Silence met them as they stood under the gazebo. They did not really speak with each other but they were sharing the view of the city. At least for Mako, it was a bit strange standing next to a woman that once tried to kill him and his friends.
"You're the nut that set my mech to blow, aren't you?" Kuvira finally asked as she leaned against a post, "Mako, right?"
"Yeah, that was me." Mako had his arms crossed as he sat on the railing, "And I have the scar to prove it."
They continued to linger in an awkward silence. Neither of them knew each other and that make talking about anything difficult. Until she asked how Bolin was doing. Mako went off about him and Opal. He talked about their children. His praising of Bolin let Kuvira begin of her own praising of the earthbender. By the time Korra finally found them, the pair was laughing in a controlled manner about the silliness that was Bolin.
"I see you two are getting along." The Avatar smirked as her arms crossed.
"You know," Mako shrugged, "We both find that our stories about Bolin are entertaining."
Kuvira pulled at her new blue shirt and pants, "Do you happen to have anything that you did not wear when we first met in Zaofu? Maybe with sleeves? It's a bit cold outside."
"Sorry." The Avatar said.
"I have a jacket." Mako said, "I never wear it because I never need it."
Korra waved them by, "We're leaving soon. Don't take all night."
"Says the one that went to bed with Zhao." Mako teased as he offered to escort Kuvira.
"It was one night! One regrettable night." Korra shouted right before hitting the gazebo with a flaming hand.
The Avatar cringed as she heard a cracking from the wood. She quickly glanced around, looking for Tenzin before following Mako and Kuvira back into the home.
Their first night camp was an awkward one. No one spoke and they all just sat around the fire. Korra seemed to be ignoring everyone. Zhao had his smirk on his face. Kuvira eyed them all and Mako just wanted someone to stab him to end his pain of having to sit amongst them. He felt the tense air between them and it was making him very uncomfortable.
"Mako, if you cannot stop squirming, I will put you in a hole in the ground." Kuvira finally broke the silence, "I am not going to kill you or anyone else."
"I'm not squirming."
"Is Makoto afraid?"
"I am not afraid of any of you!" He then crossed his arms, "This is just very uncomfortable and I just don't like it."
Kuvira and Zhao looked at each other before agreeing on something, "Denial."
"I am," Mako growled, "I'm just going to be silent. Korra can deal with you two. This is her stupid plan."
Korra looked up from her thoughts, "Am I missing out on something?"
"No. Just go back to your savage mindless thoughts." Zhao responded.
Kuvira shook her head, "I would actually like to hear your plan, Korra. That is, if you made one."
The Avatar chuckled, "I have a plan and it's a good plan."
The other three focused on her.
"Right, the plan." Korra began to tap her chin.
"You don't have a plan, do you?" Mako sighed.
Korra pointed a finger, "I have a plan; I just did not think it out to this point. I didn't think that Kyung would actually give me Kuvira for a week."
"You make it sound like I'm a sporty Satomobile that only comes out of storage once in a blue moon to impress people with." Kuvira frowned.
"Just a flavor of the week."
Korra crossed her arms as her face grew red, "Mako!"
The younger firebender chuckled. Kuvira eyed them all once more before lying down.
"I'm getting some sleep. I'm sure one of us will come up with a plan in the morning."
Mako nodded in agreement before pointing between the Avatar and the banished Admiral, "Behave."
Zhao then smirked, "I will behave but these Water Tribe Savages cannot be tamed. I will not take the blame for her actions. She might pounce on me in the night like the feral wolf-hound she is."
"I officially hate you all."