IV
Summary: As Korra embarks on a mission to aid in the Earth Nation's reconstruction, she entrusts Kuvira, currently under house arrest, with the protection of Asami Sato. Meanwhile, Republic City faces continued reconstruction and a growing threat to Asami's life. As she grapples with her complex emotions toward her father's murderer, Asami must navigate political intrigue and personal turmoil to secure her safety and the future of Republic City.
TW/CW: Mentions of an eating disorder
Kuvira's eyebrows furrowed as she looked at the old plate of food in front of Asami on her desk. Putting the various street maps of Republic City to the side, she cleared her throat, clasping her hands behind her back. Asami ignored her. Kuvira raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
"I'm just about to finish my lunch," Asami said into the radio. She picked up a stray piece of bacon, broke off a small piece, and popped it into her mouth. Moving the piece of food with her tongue over to her right cheek, she chomped down, the loud crunch filling pockets of silence. Kuvira's eyes narrowed once she noticed the painful look flash across Asami's face before returning to normal.
"Okay, be careful, Korra" Asami's voice softened. It was then she recognized Kuvira's presence in the room. Her cheeks flushed a light pink as she practically curled in on herself. "I love you. Bye," she said before hanging up the radio.
As soon as Asami cradled the earpiece to the radio, Kuvira picked up the plate and held it directly in front of her face. "Eat this."
Asami pointed to her mouth as she rapidly chewed before swallowing. "I'm fine, thank you." She brushed past Kuvira before storming over to her office door, pulling it open, and moving to close it behind her. Kuvira quickly caught it with her hand, holding it still.
"You haven't been eating much for weeks."
"That's not true." Asami tugged on the door handle.
"You are good at many things, but lying isn't one of them," Kuvira pointed out. She let go of the door before holding her hand up. A light metal creaking sound creaked from the hinges of the door. Asami again pulled on the door handle but stopped upon realizing that it wouldn't move.
"Why do you care?" she demanded. Asami brushed past Kuvira back into her office. She sat back down at her desk and picked up some blueprints. Kuvira waved her right hand, closing the office door with a slam. She then used her right index and middle finger and took the blueprints out of Asami's hands, pausing to glance at the white markings. Asami snatched it back before folding it up, opening a drawer on her desk, and slamming it shut.
Kuvira rolled her eyes before placing the plate of food back onto the desk with her left hand, before clasping her hands behind her back. "We're not friends. More than likely never will be. I don't expect it and won't lose sleep over it. However, having my client endanger herself would not look good."
"You're not being paid for this job," Asami pointed out. "Need I remind you why you're here?"
"My job as your bodyguard is to make sure you are safe and protected. A way to make sure you are safe is to inspect all things that come near your person, so that doesn't cause harm or negate your health. While a gray area, this fits."
Asami placed her hands on the desk, leaning forward. Her dark hair spilled over her right shoulder, covering one eye. "Is that all you care about? Status and control? Look at how that turned out for you."
"I have been living with that guilt while trapped inside of Zaofu."
"From what I hear, you can move rather freely."
Kuvira clenched her jaw but kept her strong eye contact. "…Everywhere I'm trapped."
Asami scoffed. "Am I supposed to feel sorry for you? After everything you did. You murdered my father!"
"No, I didn't," Kuvira responded calmly.
"Do you not remember?" Asami reached for a framed photo on her desk before slamming it down, facing it towards Kuvira.
"Murder would mean I intentionally set out to kill him. It'd be manslaughter. Voluntary at best, involuntary at worst." Kuvira reached out and turned the photo frame back around. "From what I hear, he pressed your eject button. He saved your life-"
"Don't," Asami snapped. "Don't talk about it as if you understand. Do you ever own up to your charges?"
Why don't you ever take responsibility for your actions?
Kuvira growled in anger. She took a step backward, before moving into a fighting stance. Asami reached into her pocket, pulling out her electro glove. Before she could fit it onto her hand, Kuvira swung her leg high before slamming her foot down onto the desk. Her ankle monitor glowed a bright green. "In case you forgot, this is my taking responsibility."
Asami slowly placed the glove onto her hand. "Only after you had to be persuaded."
"Everyone is so quick to list my faults. Consider my achievements."
"Such as?"
Kuvira took a deep breath, letting it out sharply through her nose. "I'm the youngest person to be named Captain of the Guard of Zaofu's security team. I was the leader and principal dancer of the Zaofu dance troupe. I assisted Avatar Korra in the fight against Zaheer. Not to mention, helping end the Earth Empire's reign."
"Which you started. Even during that time, I didn't trust you."
"And yet, Korra did. I find it interesting. Mere months ago, you were guarding me to protect Korra. If I recall correctly, and I always do, afterward you were happy that we were on the same side against Guan. Now I'm guarding you."
"Are you saying Korra needs protection?"
"No, you do!" Kuvira placed her hands on the desk, mimicking Asami's stance. "Something is going to happen to you," she insisted. "I just…can't put my finger on it."
"Attacking my staff won't help you prove your point/"
"I've explained it once before, someone was going to attack. They were wearing this weird mask-"
"That is ridiculous," Asami said dismissively.
"Yes, because staying in the Sato Mansion in the middle of Republic City would be a preposterous idea to attack Asami Sato."
"It would be ridiculous for someone to be my bodyguard, there wouldn't be a way for something like that to happen," she pointed out. "Or should I be more worried about you? Like I have been?"
Kuvira immediately straightened up. "You're right." Asami's eyebrows rose. She stood up to her full height before reaching up and brushing her hair out of her face. "There should be more safety around the estate, and that will only happen once I can see how far I am allowed to roam." Kuvira moved back into her usual stance; hands clasped behind her back. "With your permission-"
"You may go."
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Kuvira cursed under her breath. She looked down at the ankle monitor on her right foot before taking a step back. The beeping immediately stopped, and the small red light turned green. A moment later, Asami emerged from a hidden door in the hall, holding a small black device. "Kuvira, that was fast," she commented, placing the device into her pocket.
"Checking out the range on this device is for your safety and mine," she said, raising an eyebrow. "What I find interesting though, is that I'm able to walk around a large part of this estate, and yet I can't enter this one space."
"There are some things I'm working on. It's confidential," Asami answered with a shrug.
"What's that?" Kuvira asked.
"I just said that there are somethings-"
"No, the device you just put in your pocket." Kuvira fought the strong urge to roll her eyes. "A tracker, I assume."
"Why ask a question if you already know the answer?" Asami asked. She turned on her heel before heading in the opposite direction. She reached up and wiped at a smudge of oil on her cheek. She then glanced down at her soiled hands. "I need to know where you are at all times."
"I thought that was my job," Kuvira said, once again taking her position of staying paces behind Asami. She nodded at the Sato Estate staff as they walked by.
"I don't need the reminder," Asami answered. She paused outside of a door and smiled graciously at Akari, who was standing next to it. Kuvira quickly looked the older woman over, frowning at how she had her hands tucked into the pockets of her apron. The woman noticed Kuvira looking before slowly removing her hands from the apron and holding them in front.
"A bath has been drawn to your liking, Ms. Sato," Akari said with a bow. "Fresh pajamas, towels, and scented oils are already placed inside."
"How do you always know?" Asami asked with a small laugh. "I do appreciate it, and all that you have done for me over the years."
"Of course, Ms. Sato" Akari said brightly. "With how much your father and mother have done for Republic City… how are you holding up?"
Kuvira noticed Asami's back stiffen as she brushed her dark locks off her shoulder. A brief flash of her neck appeared as her hair fluttered into place. A light pink mark peeked out from beneath her collar.
"About the same," Asami answered with a sigh. "But life goes on, right?" she asked. Akari nodded before stepping to the side. "I just have one more request. I would like some extra pillows in my room tonight."
"Right away, Ms. Sato." Akari nodded. Asami smiled once more before stepping into the bathroom and closing the door behind her. Moments later the loud sound of water pouring out of the faucet in the bathtub filled the silence of the hallway.
Kuvira turned and stood up against the wall, her hands clasped in front of her, her shoulders rolled back, and her head held high. Akari looked over at Kuvira, her smile immediately fading. Kuvira stared back, refusing to move from her position. The green light from her ankle monitor blinked steadily, periodically adding a pale glow to the lightly dimmed hallway.
"Was there something you'd like to say?" Kuvira asked.
Akari slowly shook her head, before giving a curt nod and heading down the hallway. Kuvira watched her out of her right peripheral but remained at her post. Steam started to spill from under the door, lapping at her ankles.
"Oh, I forgot!" Akari said with a small laugh. She rushed back over to Kuvira, pulling a bottle out of her apron. "Body wash for Ms. Sato. Would you mind giving this to her?"
Kuvira glanced at the bottle, and then Akari, and then back to the bottle. She cleared her throat before shifting her weight from one leg to the other, before becoming still again. "The door is right there."
"I must attend to her room," Akari insisted. She thrust a bottle into Kuvira's chest. On instinct, Kuvira reached up and held onto the bottle before it fell to the floor. "Thank you for your assistance," Akari said.
Kuvira made sure Akari caught the intensity of her glare before turning towards the door. Akari curtly nodded before rushing off down the hall. Kuvira lifted her hand and rapped her knuckles against the door. The loud rumbling sound of the water from the bathtub faucet into the bath was all she heard. She then knocked again, longer and louder than before.
"I said you can come in, Akari" Asami called out. Kuvira opened the bathroom door, letting out a hiss as steam came flooding out of the room. She waved her hand in the air, blowing some of the steam out of her face. Water droplets immediately spotted her forehead. She reached over and turned off the faucet.
Kuvira placed the body wash onto the edge of the bathtub and turned to make her way back out of the room but paused as she was able to make out Asami in the room. She was standing in front of the sink, washing her face with a red washcloth coated in suds. Her long dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, the long strands lightly tracing her back, reaching the edge of the band of her bra, barely brushing against the light pink scars splashed along Asami's back. The bumps and ridges of her ribs were visible, her skin stretching over the bone.
After rinsing the washcloth and wiping the soap from her face, Asami picked up a towel from the sink and dapped at her face, before leaning forward to wipe off the mirror. "Sorry, you know I like my water hot. I just needed to-" Asami stopped, noticing Kuvira in the reflection. Slowly, she moved the towel to cover her front before turning around.
Kuvira was caught off guard at seeing Asami without makeup on. Her piercing green eyes stood out against her pale skin. They were full of fear and shame. "Get out," she said softly.