Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. Also thank you to Lagar for the idea. I hope you enjoy!

Kuvira's mind was spinning with all of the new excitements of the day. It had been exciting enough to have the Avatar and her friends come to train Opal, but finding out the matriarch had an estranged sister, watching them fight, and watching Opal train was the most interesting part. However, in the excitement, Kuvira couldn't help but feel a bit sad. She had hoped to be included in the family activities, maybe introduced to her pseudo aunt and the Avatar as part of the Beifong family. However, as the day drew on, it became clear that she was the guard, nothing more and nothing less.

Even when Opal left to train at the air temples, Kuvira was excluded. She didn't even receive a goodbye from the girl. Kuvira tried to hide her sadness, turning toward her guard duties instead and ignoring as everyone waved the girl off.

It was quiet in the estate as Kuvira did her rounds, giving her much time to reflect on the last couple days, even the last couple of years. Her relationship as part of the Beifong family was deteriorating, and she could not help but feel betrayed. However, the silence and her thoughts did not last for long. Kuvira could almost sense the stillness in the air before the attack, and suddenly she was running toward a fight for the Avatar's life.

Kuvira tried the best she could to defeat the attackers quickly. However, their skills were too much for the guards and her alone. Kuvira was slightly ashamed when the matriarch and her sister were able to save the Avatar. She felt completely useless.

The Avatar was quickly rushed into the estate with the rest of the visitors and Beifongs. Kuvira ordered the rest of the guard to search the entire city for the attackers before rushing into the estate after everyone. She would make her presence known. She could not go on being ignored.

She found Su, Lin, the Avatar's friends, Aiwei, and Korra in the study, Aiwei attending to Korra while Lin and Su argued over what had just happened. Kuvira's anger dissipated slightly when she saw the matriarch so upset. She stood in the doorway for a minute before she spoke.

"We searched the entire estate, but there's no sign of them," she reported.

She received no response from Su, not even a nod of appreciation for her efforts. Instead she was ordered to keep searching by the matriarch's sister of all people.

Kuvira nodded, stunned silent for a moment, before running off to follow her orders. She ignored the unwanted feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"We will be calling you in one by one," Su explained. "You are not permitted to leave this courtyard until you have been talked to. Anyone who leaves will be assumed to be guilty and punished accordingly."

"We would like to speak to Kuvira first," Aiwei stated as the matriarch finished her threat.

Kuvira couldn't help but be shocked. She had expected to be interrogated with the rest of the guard, but the sudden calling of her name made her angry at even being a suspect. However, she still walked into the room, sitting across from Aiwei and ignoring the stares from Su, Lin, Korra, and Mako.

"State your name and occupation," Aiwei began.

Kuvira looked at Su in question first, but when the woman gave her no reaction, she spoke, "My name is Kuvira. I am the captain of the Zaofu guard."

"And where were you last night when the Avatar was captured?"

"I was patrolling the main estate, like I do every night," Kuvira said, emphasizing the last phrase with a slight bite to it. She couldn't tell if anyone had noticed.

"And do you know anything about how the attackers got into Zaofu under your watch?" Aiwei said.

This question took Kuvira off guard, and she could detect the hint of blame toward her. She understood that the Avatar had almost been captured under her watch, but the idea that she would be completely blamed as a traitor to the household was almost more than she could take. She narrowed her eyes, looking again to Su to intervene, hoping that the woman would jump at her defense. She did no such thing.

Kuvira took a deep breath. "I am not aware of how they infiltrated the estate," she said calmly. "I am ashamed that they managed to slip past the guard and will do everything to remedy that carelessness. But I do not know who let them in, nor am responsible for betraying this family." She said the last word very cool, intending it to punctuate her point. She even noticed Su's eyebrow arch slightly at her tone.

"May I go now?" Kuvira finally asked, her expression betraying no emotion.

Aiwei nodded.

Kuvira stood slowly. Then she turned to Su and bowed.

"I'll get back to my duties."

After the long day of nothing but disappointments, Kuvira finally retired after her shift to her room. She slumped into a chair, setting her helmet aside and unclipping her armor. She looked at her helmet for a moment before looking away, the sudden wave of feelings she had had all day hitting her. She felt the tears welling in her eyes for a moment before she clenched them shut, letting a few roll down her cheek. These were not just tears of sadness but of anger as well.

She had thought that maybe, just maybe, she could have had a chance to act like a member of the Beifong household, especially in front of such guests. But she was wrong. She was the guard, and Su wouldn't even stand up for her in any other regard. Kuvira had thought she meant more to them than that.

Not only had she been treated as a second class citizen in front of what should have been her family and friends, she had failed in saving the Avatar, shown up by the matriarch and her sister who earlier that day could not stand her, and had been interrogated like a criminal.

A knocking at her door brought Kuvira out of her pity party. She rubbed her eyes quickly, wiping the remaining tears, before opening the door.

She was shocked to find the Avatar standing on the other side.

"Avatar Korra," Kuvira said shocked before she bowed. "What can I help you with?"

"You're the captain of the guard, right?" Korra asked.

Kuvira nodded. "You can call me Kuvira," she said.

Korra smiled.

"I wanted to thank you for helping save me," Korra said. "And I wanted to apologize for the interrogation earlier. I know being accused of something like that is enough to make anyone angry." Then, she bowed toward Kuvira.

Kuvira shook her head. "You have no reason to apologize," she said. "I didn't do much, And besides, it was my job. In fact, you should never have been attacked. I'm so sorry."

"Well I wasn't captured so I think you did your job just fine," Korra said. She paused. "I'm learning metalbending, and I hear you're one of the best in Zaofu. I would love to train with you sometime." The Avatar stuck out her hand. Kuvira took it and shook.

"I'd like that."

~AN~

Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing! You mean the world to me!

I hope you liked this chapter. It was actually quite difficult for me to write because so many things happen in this arc in Book 3. I will admit that I wrote this chapter about three different times and finally settled on this version. I hope you enjoyed!

Thanks again for the idea, Lagar! I really appreciate it! If anyone has anything else they really want written (a headcanon you have about Kuvira, something that occurred in the different seasons, etc.) shoot me a message. I love hearing from y'all.

Until next week!