AN: Sorry for the wait on this. My muse has been flaky lately. Still un-beta'd, so please excuse the mistakes.

Kuvira did not exactly avoid Suyin for the rest of Korra and Lin's stay, but she did not exactly seek her out either. Kuvira spent what time she could with Korra, which Suyin no longer reacted to with seething jealousy (Korra had thought it was hilarious when Kuvira told her that Suyin had thought they were having an affair). Korra encouraged Kuvira to try and develop a normalized system of communication between her and Suyin. She said that if they had to live together, they would need to learn how to exist together and not be together. Kuvira found it to be incredibly difficult. More difficult than she would have anticipated. She would have expected things to go back to how they had been before Suyin's confession. But they did not. They stayed strange and awkward, and Kuvira found herself barely able to stay in the same room as Baatar. He looked at her like he knew how she felt. Then she remembered Suyin saying that she had no secrets from him, and Kuvira knew that he was aware of what had transpired, aware of her feelings for his wife. She kept waiting for him to confront her about it, to tell her he really was not comfortable with it, to tell her not to even look at Suyin. But he did not. He acted as normal as could be expected in such a situation. The only difference was that he sometimes stared at her for a bit too long, or looked a little too sincere when he asked how she was doing. She managed to avoid being alone with him while Korra and Lin were still there, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she would have to speak with him.

For her part, Suyin spent most of her time with Lin, and Kuvira got the distinct feeling that they were plotting something. Several times, she had come upon them only to have them immediately stop talking as soon as they saw her. Of course, neither of them gave anything away, but she thought Suyin's smiles of reassurance to her were much too innocent.

Kuvira did remember her promise to introduce Hua to Lin and Korra. The young guard was so excited that she could barely speak. Korra found this amusing Lin found it tedious, but she was a good sport since Hua was Kuvira's friend.

On the day Korra was supposed to leave, she came and found Kuvira, who was working with Kaori to repair a damaged section of barracks. Kaori was not really much help, but mostly she was there to learn and keep Kuvira company. She was showing Kaori how to set dry wall using bending, which was no small feat. The mix of different rocks and minerals along with the non-earth components made it a delicate matter. Kuvira did most of the work, but Kaori was diligently paying attention to everything she did.

When it was laid, Kuvira climbed up scaffolding to make sure each joint was plastered securely. Kaori joined her, and their conversation soon turned away from construction.

"So, did you meet Korra before….you know, prison?" Kaori asked her nervously. Since Baatar had admonished her for prying personal questions, Kaori had stopped really asking about Kuvira's life before she returned to Zaofu, but when they were alone, sometimes her curiosity got the better of her.

"I did," Kuvira said. She found that she was now remarkably comfortable with Kaori. When it was just the two of them, things were easy. There was no awkwardness, even when Kaori asked about Kuvira's time in prison. "I met her when I was a guard for Su."

"Like Hua?"

Kuvira smiled. "Yes. Korra came here when Opal became an airbender. And then we got caught up in the Red Lotus." Kuvira let her legs hang over the edge of the scaffolding. "I was Su's captain at the time."

"Wow." Kaori scooted closer. "So you've known her for like…forever!"

Kuvira narrowed her eyes playfully. "Are you saying I'm old?"

"What? No! Not as old as Su, anyway," Kaori said, grinning. Then her smile fell. "Are you two fighting?"

The question surprised Kuvira. "Why do you ask that?"

"You guys aren't really talking a lot. You're normally together so much." Kaori looked distressed. "I don't want you to fight with her. She's been, oh Kuvira you don't even know. She's been so different since you've been here."

"Different?"

"Yeah. She's so much happier now," Kaori insisted. "She's just like…better. She was always kind of sad before."

"Oh." Kuvira did not know what to say to that. It was a lot of pressure to know that her presence changed Suyin's attitude. That she could affect Suyin that much. It was too much. She did not want that kind of pressure on her. She did not want to be responsible for Suyin's happiness.

Kaori did not pick up on her shift in mood, and kept going. "She's always been nice, for sure. But like, now she's dancing a lot more and I even heard her singing the other day. I think she must really love you."

Seeing an opportunity to change the subject, Kuvira said, "She loves you, too. Very much."

Kaori blushed. "I know." Her brows furrowed, and she looked down at her hands. "I know Baatar wouldn't want me to ask you about this but…your parents left you when you were a kid, right?"

Kuvira swallowed. "Yes."

"Mine…died."

"I know," Kuvira said. "I'm sorry."

"It was different for you, wasn't it?"

"What was?" Kuvira had an idea, but she wanted to make sure she was sure she knew exactly what Kaori was asking.

"Coming to Su and Baatar. It was…it was a good thing for me," Kaori said. "I was sad about my parents, and it was just…it got better when I came here. But it wasn't like that for you, was it?"

"No. It was different. My parents…." She let out a long breath. "They left me. It was not…I never really was able to get over that. Su and Baatar didn't know what to do for me. I was…very angry for a very long time."

"I'm sorry," Kaori said, putting a hand on Kuvira's knee.

"It's all right. Things are better now." She gave Kaori a small smile. "And I'm so glad that being here has been good for you."

"I was worried for a while that you…well, that you didn't like me."

Guilt hit Kuvira like a punch in the gut, and she grasped Kaori's hand. "Seeing you for the first time was hard for me, I'll admit. But it was never because of you, Kaori. I think you're really amazing, and I really like getting to spend time with you."

Kaori flushed happily, and was about to say more when they were interrupted.

"Hey," Korra said as she knocked on the doorframe. "You got a second, Kuvira?"

"Sure." Kuvira hopped down from the scaffolding and turned to help Kaori down. "Why don't you go find Baatar for a while?"

Kaori pouted. "I want to stay and talk to Korra!"

"I know, but Korra and I have private things to talk about. You'll get to see her later today before she and Lin leave, I promise."

"Fiiiine," Kaori groaned before stomping from the room.

"You're really good with her," Korra remarked.

"You sound so surprised."

"You always said you never wanted kids."

"She's not my kid," Kuvira said, frowning. "She's barely even Su and Baatar's."

"Okay," Korra relented, hands raised in surrender. She did not sound convinced at all, and Kuvira scowled. Kaori was her….friend. Nothing more. Kuvira certainly did not worry about the girl, did not stay awake at night worrying about her. Did not lie awake wondering if Kaori's jovial manner would fad and twist into resentment the way her own had. She did not anxiously watch the girl eat to make sure she was getting the proper nutrition. She did not feel it like a blow to her stomach ever time Kaori fell during their practice sessions.

"Fuck," she breathed, and Korra laughed.

"Welcome to parenthood."

"I didn't want this," Kuvira groaned. "I can't even take care of myself."

"Luckily," Korra said, "Su and Baatar are the ones responsible for that part." She seemed to be enjoying this far too much for Kuvira's liking.

"She's not even mine."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes." She supposed she should not have been surprised by her own lack of hesitation in the answer. The girl had managed to become so important to Kuvira in such a short amount of time.

"Do you help take care of her?"

"Yes."

"Does she rely on you?"

Kuvira thought for a moment. "Yes."

"If someone hurt her, would you want to kill them?"

"Yes."

"Then she's yours. At least partially." Korra clapped her on the back. "Just because she's also Su and Baatar's doesn't mean she can't be yours, too."

Kuvira turned away. "You didn't come here to talk about Kaori."

Korra's face grew serious. "No, I didn't. I came here to talk about you and Su."

Kuvira sighed and brushed her hand off on her pants. "There's nothing to talk about. Nothing is going to happen."

"I just want to make sure you are going to be okay here."

"I will be," Kuvira promised. "I want his to work. I want to be able to stay here."

"I know. And we're going to do our best to make sure that happens. I just worry that Su is going to…push you once we're gone."

Kuvira wanted to deny it, but she knew Suyin well enough to admit that Korra's concerns were not unfounded. When Suyin wanted something, she rarely let herself go without. And she was very clear on how much she wanted Kuvira.

"She's promised not to," Kuvira said lamely, knowing Korra was unconvinced.

"Look, I love Su," Korra said. "She is a good friend, but we both know she's not just going to let this go. No matter what Lin or I tell her. In fact, I get the impression that Lin is conspiring with her, so you can't count on support there. Is there anyone who Suyin listens to? Who can keep her in line?"

"She listens to Baatar," Kuvira reluctantly revealed, knowing what Korra would suggest next.

"Then you should talk to him."

Kuvira sighed. "I can't, Korra. He's…he's her husband. It would be too….awkward."

"Kuvira, you have to get some kind of solid guarantee that I'm not leaving you in a situation that could blow up. I need to know that someone is looking out for you, and I think Baatar can do that, if you trust him."

"I do, but I don't want to put him in that position. His wife is in love with me. How can I…how can I ask him to do this?"

"I really think he's want to, Kuvira," Korra insisted. "He cares about you, too. Don't you see that in the way he hovers over you sometimes?"

"Korra-"

"Please, Kuvira. Promise me you'll talk to him."

Kuvira debated with herself for a moment, trying to see if there was any way out of this. Part of her suspected that Korra had already spoken to Baatar on the matter. "I'll try," was all she could manage.

Korra nodded. "All right. That's all I can ask for."

To Kuvira's relief, she let the matter drop, and they talked of other things until it was time for lunch. The entire meal, she kept avoiding both Suyin and Baatar's eyes. She felt so very mixed up about the entire thing, and she feared that she would not be able to figure out how to deal with it all. And as the time drew nearer for Korra and Lin to leave, Kuvira's anxiety grew. Would Suyin give her space, or would she be forced to leave Zaofu.

Those were the questions on her mind as she watched Korra and Lin depart in the airship. Suyin stood at her side, and tentatively put a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you all right?" she asked quietly.

"Yes."

"You've been avoiding me."

"Yes. I'm sorry."

Suyin shook her head. "No…don't apologize for that. This has been a very…tumultuous few days for you. For us both." She seemed to want more, but waited expectantly for Kuvira to say something.

"I just…needed, still need, some space."

"I understand," Suyin said sighing. "I shouldn't have sprung all of that on you."

"Su, please, I really…can't talk about this with you right now. I need time and space."

Suyin looked wounded, but quickly covered. "Of course. Of course." She removed her hand from Kuvira's shoulder and stiffened. "Kuvira-"

"Please, Su. Just let it rest for now." Kuvira took a step away, biting the inside of her cheek. "I need to go. I have some things I need to do." She gave Suyin one last glance before turning away from the older woman. She knew if Suyin kept pushing her, she would either fold and create a toxic situation, or she would be forced to leave. And she knew neither of those scenarios were things Suyin wanted. She just did not know how to make Suyin see that.

Kuvira did intend to keep her promise to Korra. She was going to seek out Baatar, but like every other Beifong she had ever known, he found her first. He caught her one morning as she was returning to her rooms from the practice yard. She was sweaty and tired, and she nearly groaned as she saw him because she had really been hoping for more time than this to prepare herself.

"Kuvira," he greeted, looking a little apprehensive, but trying to put forth a warm smile anyway.

"Baatar. How can I help you?"

"Can we go inside?" He must have seen her flinch because he quickly added, "It's nothing bad. I just would prefer some privacy, and I'm sure you would, too." He gave a meaningful look at the guards still stationed at each end of the corridor. They were there more for the peace of mind of the residents of Zaofu than anything else.

"Of course." Kuvira opened the door and ushered him inside. "Could you give me just a moment to change and freshen up?" She indicated her appearance.

"Oh, sure!" His eyes raked over her form, then he blushed furiously. He certainly did not stare in the obvious, brazen way Suyin did. Somehow it put her at east to know that he was nervous, too. She excused herself to her bedroom where she tried to wipe the sweat off herself. What she really needed was a shower (she and Hua had spared that morning, and Kuvira had held nothing back-and still gotten beaten), but it would have to wait. Once she was dressed, she went back out to face Baatar.

He was seated on her couch, looking out of place where Suyin always looked so at home.

"So, I suppose you're here to talk about Su," Kuvira said wanting to get to the point right away. He seemed surprised by her directness, but nodded.

"About you and Su, but yes."

"There's really nothing to talk about, Baatar. Nothing can happen between me and Su. I promise you that."

Baatar took a moment to reply. "I was, I suppose, twenty-seven when Su took her first lover since we have been together. We had talked of it at length, and even though I was unsure how I would handle it, I decided to see how it went."

"And let me guess. You found it wasn't that bad and I should give it a chance."

"No. It was awful." Baatar shook his head. "It was a woman, and I could smell her perfume on Su when she came back. It made me sick, and I was so jealous I thought it would consume me. And I'm not a jealous person. Su saw how it affected me so she offered to stay monogamous. She said she loved me and wanted me to be happy. I said yes. I wanted her to be with just me. I thought that if she had other lovers, it meant I wasn't enough or not attractive enough or that I was lacking in some way. She stayed faithful, but she was miserable. She was in love with a dance teacher, and she was denying herself that relationship for me. And I realized that just because she loved the dancer didn't mean she loved me any less. We had two children by that time, and I knew she wasn't going to leave me for this woman. So I decided to try again. It still felt horrible at first, but Su was…happier than I'd seen her in a long time. And our relationship became better. Eventually, I found it didn't bother me anymore."

Kuvira closed her eyes and turned away. "But you are always the one she comes back to. She would drop everyone else for you. I could never compete with what you have, and I would always be second best."

Baatar shook his head, face full of disbelief. "Kuvira, it's not a competition."

"She left all her other lovers, but kept you."

"We're married and have children together. I fear that if that wasn't the case, she would have left me, too, in the time after your imprisonment."

Surprised, Kuvira stared at him. "It was that bad?"

"She would never tell you herself, and I normally….would not divulge her secrets, but you should be aware. She went through several years of intense depression after your imprisonment. She left her other lovers. She withdrew from me. Isolated herself. Her other lovers have since moved on, and that is why she is not with them now. That and you."

"Me?"

"Since Lin's wedding, she has not sought out any other lovers. Not since she decided she wanted you. I don't know why. Perhaps her frustration at not having you has made it hard for her. You know she's not used to not getting what she wants."

Kuvira frowned at that. "I'm not a prize or a possession."

"No, I know. That's not what I meant. That's not how she…I'm not here to speak for her, Kuvira." His kind eyes softened. "I'm just here to talk to you and try to make sure you get an accurate idea of what it's like to have a polyamorous partner. Because it's not how you think it is."

With rowing frustration, Kuvira began pacing. "It doesn't matter anyway."

"Maybe not right now," Baatar said, "but what about the future? This arrangement doesn't have to be forever."

"I'm just…I can't think about it right now. I can barely deal with my emotions as it is. I just want…I've only been out of prison for about a month, and I haven't adjusted yet. There is so much for me to settle before I can even think…" She sighed and sat next to him. "I don't even know what my feelings for her are for sure." She took a deep breath, preparing herself to ask him to advocate for her. "I need her to not push me, Baatar. And you're the only person she might listen to about this."

"You want me to tell her to back off."

"Yes. I just...if she pushes, I don't know if I can stay here."

"If you left, it would devastate her," Baatar revealed. "She's been working for over a year to get you here. Ever since they started talking about you getting out on parole."

"I want to stay here, believe me. I just also have to look out for what's best for me."

He laid a hand on her knee. "I know. That's all I want, and really, that's all Su wants, too." He gave her a wry little smile. "She just thinks that she is what's best for you. I do agree that Zaofu is the best place for you."

"You've been so good to me," Kuvira said, hating how guilty she still felt. He had basically given her permission to romantically pursue his wife, yet somehow it still felt like cheating.

"I care about you, too, Kuvira," he said. "And Su loves you so much. And I love her. I just want both of you to be happy, and to find a way to work through this. It has been a long time since I was Su's only partner. I promise you, the prospect of you with my wife doesn't bother me. I want it for you and for Su, if that is what will make you both happy."

What Kuvira did next surprised her and Baatar both, for she had not done it to him close to thirty years. But she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Startled, he did not reciprocate immediately, but when he was over his shock, he tentatively placed his hands on her back, then let his arms wrap around her. It was different from being hugged by Su or Korra. His harms were bigger, and Kuvira felt completely surrounded by him. She felt safe and comfortable.

"You're a kind man, Baatar," she said fiercely. "Kinder to me than I have any right to-"

"Kuvira, please, we've been over this," Baatar interrupted. "Everything was forgiven a long time ago."

"I don't think I can do it," Kuvira said into his shirt. "Even if it's just you. I don't think I could handle it. And then…I would resent you, and I don't want that. I never want that to happen." Her voice caught, and she realized with horror that she was starting to cry. She had done far too much of that lately. I never want to feel that way about you. Because you don't deserve it. You're too good and kind."

He just hugged her closer, and hand coming up to cradle the back of her head. "We're going to figure this out, Kuvira. This is the start of your new life and we're going to make sure it's good." H pulled back and cupped her face, his hands so much larger and rougher than Suyin's. "I don't want this to cause you anguish. Loving someone shouldn't cause you pain. Not like that. I know that you aren't sure what your feelings for Su are, but I know you love her. At least in some way. Don't you?"

Kuvira bit her lip and nodded. He wiped a thumb across her cheek to pick up her tears. The act was so intimate coming from him. Suyin touched her all the time, casually, many times a day. Baatar hardly ever did, and now he was so close to her, inside her personal bubble. Long ago, she had distanced herself from him. He had been such a stark reminder of al she had lost, all she had lacked in her childhood. She had convinced herself that he was weak not worth her time, and she had instead focused on Suyin as her guardian, her chance for affection. She wondered now how things would have been different if she had accepted his kindness twenty years before. Perhaps she could have avoided the events that led her to prison.

Perhaps she would have married his son.

The thought sent such a shudder through her, felt so incredibly wrong, that she knew then and there that whatever happened with Suyin, she was better off this way. With Suyin and Baatar, in whatever capacity. So she swallowed her fear and doubt and straightened where she sat.

"I need time to think, and I need her to give me that," she said. "Until a time when she's not my guardian nothing can happen. After that, I don't know. But for now-"

"Nothing. I know." Baatar smiled at her. "I'll talk to Su. She won't like it, but she'll do what's best for you. She will. I'll make sure of it. I don't want you to worry about it."

"Thank you, Baatar," she said softly, affection for him welling inside her, constricting her chest in a pleasant way.

He waved her off. "I just want you to be happy and comfortable here."

Until this point, Kuvira had thought that his acceptance of her was out of some sort of guilt over how her childhood had gone. That he was trying to make up for how she had never integrated into his family before. But now, she thought it may have been something more. The way her looked at her reminded her sharply of how Suyin looked at her. Not the intensity, of course, but the affection was there. Perhaps the love. And she wanted him to touch her again. It had not been the passionate way Suyin seemed to want to touch her, but it had been so comforting.

"How…how is Su?" Kuvira asked tentatively. "I've been trying to keep my distance until I figure this out."

"She misses you," Baatar said. "Very much. But she's trying."

"I miss her, too." It had not even been that long since she had spent time with Suyin, only a few days, but the distance between them made it seem like longer. She was frightened that she would lose the friendship she had been rekindling with Suyin. No matter what happened, she worried that it would change things for the worse. If she kept herself away from Suyin, it could destroy what they had rebuilt. If she got to close and things went up in flames, she feared neither of them would be able to get over it. "I'm just...scared."

"I know. But we're going to take care of you." He laced his fingers in her, and she felt that maybe he could be right. He felt so safe, so solid. She thought perhaps the risk wasn't so great or daunting when she knew that he was there to catch her. He was such a contrast to Suyin's whirlwind effect, her intense passion and stubbornness. He was more insightful, more able to take the time to see what she needed. Not that Suyin didn't care. Because Kuvira knew she did. She just also knew that Suyin sometimes needed things spelled out for her. And no one knew Suyin better than Baatar. Perhaps he really could get through to her in a way Kuvira could not.

"Thank you. I want to do whatever I can to stay here," she told him. "I just want to make sure it's a healthy place for me."

"Of course. That's absolutely what we need to give you. Please, Kuvira, tell me if you need something to change. I know that you feel like your place here could become endangered, but I want you to know that it's not. No matter what Suyin's feelings are, I will guarantee that I won't let anything happen to you because of this. I don't want you to feel like you can't ask for anything. You're not in prison anymore. You're home. This is your home as much as it is mine and Su's."

"Baatar-"

"It is. Su and Lin are working on making that legal, so you won't just have to take my word for it."

"Oh." So that must have been what Suyin and Lin had been conspiring about. Suyin hadn't wasted any time trying to figure out a solution. It almost irritated Kuvira. No, it did irritate Kuvira. The time she asked for was not just because of the power dynamic. It was because she needed time to become her own person, to learn how to be an independent person again. "I don't know if I'm ready for that."

"I figured as much," he admitted. "I'll try to get her to back off on that, too."

"It's all just happening too fast, Baatar."

"I understand."

"Will Su understand?"

Baatar sighed. "I'm going to make sure she does, Kuvira." He squeezed her hand. "This is the type of thing I want you to tell me. If you're feeling pushed, and she's not listening, tell me. She needs to learn to listen to you. It's always been an issue for her. I know she wants to be the best she can for you."

Kuvira nodded, thankful. Korra had been right. It was essential to have Baatar on her side. To have him involved with this. As strange as it was for her, she now felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. He would help her. And she felt like she could try to move forward now.

She only hoped that Suyin would listen.