A sharp knock on the door broke Kuvira out of her slumber.
"Kuvira? Suyin has requested your presence." A gentle voice said through the door. The earthbender groaned in response, but she did eventually roll out of bed. She decided against a complex outfit and settled on a simple robe and some loose fitting pants. She rounded the corner into her small bathroom to aggressively brush her teeth and lazily braid her long hair. Her fingers were sore from braiding it every day and a brief thought ran through her mind. Should she cut it? "Maybe another day," she thought to herself. After getting ready for the long and tedious day before her, she headed out to greet the guard.
"Any idea what this is about?" She asked as they walked towards the Beifong compound.
"No idea," the guard responded with a shrug. They continued to walk in silence until they reached the matriarchs office.
"Su! She's here," the guard called out.
"Come in!" Kuvira nodded at the guard once before stepping inside.
"So what's going on?" The younger of the two asked. Suyin quickly stood up from her desk and removed her reading glasses.
"It's good to see you after the debacle last night. I hope you slept well?" Kuvira's stance was closed off and almost defensive. Suyin knew she shouldn't have expected anything else, but still it hurt.
"I slept fine. What did you request me for?" She asked again, this time more direct. Trying not to lose her patience, Su took a deep breath.
"I was hoping you and I could spend some time together. I have a relatively free day and I chose to spend it with you. If you're okay with it, that is," the matriarch responded. Kuvira thought for a moment before hesitantly agreeing.
"What will we do?" She asked, her tone softening.
"Whatever you'd like, my dear."
Those words. Those goddamn words. The feeling Kuvira felt on the balcony hit her like an anvil as she stood there, pretending to be lost in thought.
"W-What do you normally like to do on your days off?" She asked, evading the question.
"Sometimes I dance, or visit my children." Suyin got quiet at the mention of her children that did not live in Zaofu. Truthfully, she still loved her kids regardless of what they had done. But still, there was part of her that would never fully forgive them for things they had done in the past. After her moment of thought about her children, she began her next thought. "There's actually a new spa that opened up in one of the neighboring compounds I've been meaning to go to. I believe it's even got a salon in it as well. We could go together if you'd like?" Kuvira's heart was beating out of her chest at this point.
"Why not?" She thought to herself. Regardless of any tension between the two, a day off was a nice thought.
"I suppose that would be alright," she replied tentatively. Truly she was nervous to spend the morning and possibly even afternoon with her old mentor. She was confused by whatever it was she was feeling and she did NOT wish to bring any of those potential feelings back. Still, the way Suyin's face lit up at her response made her heart flutter. "Will it just be the two of us?"
"It would be...unless you're afraid to be alone with me, my dear," she chuckled.
"W-Why would I be afraid to b-be alone with you?" In a matter of seconds Suyin was on her feet and leaning down, just inches away from the younger woman's face. She swiftly grabbed Kuvira's chin and tilted her head so that their lips were dangerously close.
"I don't know sweetheart...why would you?" In that moment Kuvira could feel her soul leaving her body. She became very close to just closing the gap between them and ruining everything she had worked so hard for. She could feel herself leaning in and almost losing herself in the warm touch. The younger metalbender's last bit of self restraint kicked in at the last second, and she pulled away feeling very embarrassed. Her face was hot and red and the reaction drew a small laugh out of Suyin.
"Maybe we should just go," Kuvira mumbled under her breath as she moved past Su.
Together the two of them left in silence and completely unsure of how the next few hours would pan out.
—
Walking up to the main entrance, the building itself didn't show much. It was a fairly standard metal building, but far less impressive than anything within the Beifong compound. But the inside? The INSIDE was truly a sight to be seen. Everything inside was state of the art and far beyond anything outside of the earth kingdom. It was clean and very well kept, the air even felt cleaner as opposed to cities such as Ba Sing Se. The younger earthbender took just a second to marvel in the sight before she felt a small tug on her hand.
"This way, my d- Kuvira," Suyin whispered with a small smile on her face. While she wanted to openly show her affection for the younger woman, she knew better than to do so in public. Truthfully, Kuvira was thankful for this. Still her heart swelled just a bit as she blindly followed Suyin, almost like a lovesick puppy.
Oh boy, could she feel the love fully hit her heart like a brick wall. She would've stopped dead in her tracks had the older woman not been dragging her along. The familiar feeling spread through her body like a wildfire, causing her to immediately tense up. Before she had another second to think about the absolute dumpster fire that was this problem, she was sucked out of her mind rapidly by the woman in front of her.
Suyin stood in front of her now, nearly completely nude.
"Go ahead and take your clothes off, dear. I've made sure this area is off limits for the time being so it's just us," she said as she finished removing her clothing. Blood started rushing to Kuvira's face as well as parts she hadn't used in years. "Here," Suyin spoke again, handing the younger woman a top resembling a bra and some loose pants. "I figured you wouldn't want to be fully nude in front of me...so I made sure to request a looser fitting outfit for you. Don't worry about changing, there's a room just around the corner. Just come out when you're ready sweetheart." The forethought Suyin had put into this trip truly touched Kuvira. Still, the younger earthbender wanted to show her guardian how far she had come.
Her hands slipped under the hem of her loose shirt and she carefully took the bindings off of her carefully wrapped chest. She briefly looked into the floor length mirror to check out her already fading bruise. A frown adorned her face before she shook away the negative thoughts that resulted in the dark mark. She continued to take off the bindings until her full chest was revealed. Instead of putting on the top she opted to go without it. As for the pants, she knew she was definitely not confident enough to go without them. She slipped them on quickly and made her way out to the steaming room.
Suyin's body was fully submerged in the hot water, her head leaned back, eyes closed, and a smile gracing her face.
"Oh thank the spirits her eyes are closed," Kuvira thought to herself. Her heart was pounding as she walked up to the edge of the tub. She glanced over at Suyin who was still blissfully unaware of her presence. "Just get in. Her eyes are closed and no one else is here. You can do this. This is nothing for you." She took one more deep breath before she finally took her place in the hot water.
Upon feeling the water move, Suyin's eyes shot open.
"I hope the clothes fit alright dear, I-" her mouth stopped dead in its tracks as she took in the sight before her. Kuvira's chest rising and lowering, stirring the water just a bit, her breasts peaking out over the water with every shallow breath. She looked nervous, almost embarrassed, but desperate to show she was making progress. Whether it was the steam around them or Kuvira's now exposed chest, the older woman's face turned bright red.
"Is something wrong?" Kuvira asked, followed by a shaky laugh. Su could barely find the strength within herself to look away from the exposed flesh before her.
"She's looks even more beautiful than she did ten years ago..." The older woman thought to herself. The old memories of the two of them in bed years and years ago flooded her brain quickly and she could feel her body temperature rising.
"No, sweetheart," she paused for a moment, letting her eyes take one last gaze of the other woman before meeting her eyes with a sultry tone. "Everything is fine." She smiled brightly as she rested her hand on Kuvira's knee.
"Is she...flirting? Spirits, no, that can't be...not after what happened at the wedding."
"No, she's definitely flirting. How do you feel about this?"
"I...I don't know. It feels safe and spirits does it feel exciting to be wanted..."
Kuvira's mind was racing and going back and forth on what it was she truly wanted out of this encounter. She wanted to show that she was doing better and that she could be independent but she also craved the touch she once felt years ago.
Oh but the younger woman's mind wasn't the only one that was racing. Suyin's mind was drifting to places it hadn't visited in years, both good and bad. Their relationship was currently very much on the rocks and they had both been attempting to mend it, and prove to Korra that this arrangement was a good idea. But the truth is, Su wanted so badly to close the empty space between them and rekindle the loving relationship they once had. To bring back all of those heated nights full of nothing but pure love and indescribable lust.
Between the steam and Suyin's hand lingering on Kuvira's thigh under the water, you could cut the tension with a knife. And then, it happened.
The younger woman lunged forward, finally giving in to her base desires, and planted her lips firmly on Suyin's. Her guardian was in shock for just a second before she gave in to her feelings as well. Hands went flying, waves rippling in the water, and the space between them ceased to exist. Kuvira was on top of her now, fingers locked firmly into the older woman's curled locks, as Suyin quickly grabbed her waist. They clung to each other desperately as if their lives depended on it. Their hands moved as if they had minds of their own and soft whimpers were being let go.
The seal had been broken. Oh spirits had it been broken. They could never go back and they both knew it. In that moment, however, neither of them cared. Their breathing was getting more and more intense as their movements became erratic. Kuvira's hands moved further and further down the other woman's body until she reached the spot Suyin needed her most. The older woman let out a small moan as she leaned into the touch, her mind drifting away to a peaceful place.
Suddenly Kuvira's hands were no longer on the silver haired earthbender.
"Kuvira...Spirits, as much as I want this and you...I can't do this without knowing you truly want this. I-I know we've been struggling recently and I just can't bring myself to let this happen without clarification," Suyin said after a few heavy breaths. Her hands had gone from the younger woman's hips to her face as she stared at her, looking for any sign that she was regretting her decision.
Guilt and remorse hit Kuvira like a brick. The old Kuvira would run away from the situation entirely and cry for hours on end. But now instead of letting her feelings overwhelm her, she simply got out of the water to sit on the edge of the pool. She herself took some deep breaths to calm back down before she spoke.
"I...I don't know. I'm so mad at you. And I'm so confused. I miss how I used to feel. I want our relationship to get better but I just have these feelings... I see how you've been looking at me. You look at me like I'm the only woman in the entire world. Like I'm the most beautiful person you've ever seen. And I just...miss that." A deep sigh made its way past Suyin's lips while they sat there still a few feet apart.
"Maybe we should cut this hangout session short and just think about what all of this means," the older woman said after a few moments. Suyin went to stand up, but a gentle hand stopped her.
"Do you...forgive me?" The younger earthbender asked hesitantly. It was the question she had been itching to ask since the moment she arrived in the Beifong compound and she knew she might not ever have the courage to ask it at a later time. A genuine smile made its way across Suyin's face, her eyes wrinkling at the edge.
"If I hadn't already forgiven you, I wouldn't have agreed to become your guardian."
The dam in Kuvira's heart burst, like an overwhelming flood. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about what that answer now meant to her. She could feel a massive release wash over her whole body as she pulled the older woman towards her and into a warm embrace.
"I love you," she thought to herself, "I want to be with you again. Anything to feel you the way I used to..." Her mouth failed to say any of those things out loud, and maybe that was for the better. She knew that with their newfound relationship, being together would be nearly impossible. Not only was there now a power imbalance, but she still had to worry about Korra and President Zhu Li, as well as Bataar and even Lin. Too many variables that could cause their relationship to go haywire. She wanted to tell Suyin about all of this, but ultimately chose against it.
"I think you're right. We should spend some time apart to think about all of this. And if you wouldn't mind, please keep this under wraps for now. I don't mind a select few knowing about this but since you have other children at home it's probably best to..." she trailed off towards the end, getting lost in the arms of her possible lover.
"Keep it a secret. I'm well aware of what this means dear. I suppose that you should probably speak to Kya about all of this, and I'll do the same with Bataar," Suyin replied with a sad tone.
When the two of them let go it was revealed that they had both begun crying. At that point, neither of them knew if they were good or bad tears.
—
The ride outside of the compound felt like forever. She hadn't left the city of Zaofu once since she had come back. The only reason it had been allowed this time was because of the previously unimaginable circumstance.
Suyin had offered to go with her or even send Huan but the younger woman shrugged off the suggestion, letting her know that she needed space right now. While the answer had initially stung, Suyin understood.
Kuvira allowed her mind to drift as she stared blindly out into the morning mist. The thoughts of their forbidden rendezvous filled her mind rapidly. The way Suyin's body felt against hers, the neediness of the kisses, the feeling of something very wrong that felt incredibly right. All things she wanted, and borderline despised. She should be ashamed of herself.
She could get past the morality of it all, she had done that many years ago. What plagued her mind now was the complexity of the situation. She had tried to murder the Beifong family, her ex fiancé included. She had tortured them, and assaulted Suyin. She had been a downright criminal.
And now here she was, a mere ten years later, older and greying. A sad little reminder of what she had previously been. A reminder of a terrible rein on the land. And for spirits sake! Suyin was her legal guardian. Despite the trouble Kuvira had caused, the older woman was supposed to be keeping her in check! There was the matter of a power imbalance largely at stake, and Bataar, and kids.
If this ventured further-
"Kuvira? Are you okay?" Kya's gentle voice broke her out of her trance at last. Kuvira blinked slowly and took a brief look around her, a frown settling upon her face. How long had she been in her home? How long had it been since the carriage ride?
"Sorry. I was lost in my thoughts," the younger woman mumbled sheepishly. Kya nodded knowingly.
"With the recent events I'm sure there's a lot to think about," the older woman replied as she took a long sip of her tea. A confused look spread across Kuvira's face. Had she told Kya what had happened? "If you're wondering how I know, Suyin gave me the run down. She seemed very distraught over the phone." The quick comment made Kuvira feel overwhelmingly insecure. She brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them close to her body, almost wishing that she could disappear.
"Would you like to tell me how you feel about the whole situation, or should I go first?" Kya asked, her voice softening just enough to pull an answer out of the younger woman.
"I miss her," she squeaked. "I miss everything about her. She's the only person who's ever made me feel so incredibly loved." Kya shook her head slowly before tentatively crossing her arms and legs.
"I get what you're saying. I'm hearing the words coming out of your mouth. But think about it this way. There is an incredibly big power imbalance between the two of you right now. She is your legal guardian for the time being and you have been out of prison for a little over 2 months. The flames rekindling makes sense, sure. But is this the best time for that to happen?" Before the younger woman could open her mouth to respond, Lin spoke.
"Did our relationship come at an appropriate time?" The former police chief laughed as she spoke. She had previously been wrapped up in her cooking, but of course she couldn't help but eaves drop. She grabbed the nearest rag and wiped down her hands before placing them on the counter as she leaned forward. "I'm not saying i necessarily condone of your...unorthodox relationship. I'm just saying, sometimes the things you need most come at odd times." A small smile and blush made its way across Kya's face upon hearing her wife speak.
"I'm not sure Kuvira could compare how our relationship started to her own, dear," the waterbender chuckled.
"I want to do this," Kuvira muttered under her breath. Both older women shifted their attention back to her with questioning looks on their faces. Suddenly she was on her feet, her head down, and fists balled up. "I want to be with her! I want to do whatever I need to to make this happen!" Her words echoed through the now quiet house. Lin was the first one to break through the uncomfortable silence with a long drawn out laugh.
"You've always reminded me of a younger version of myself. Have you thought about all of the repercussions?" She asked once she stopped laughing. Kuvira's face grew hot and she quickly sat down again.
"There's a lot of things that could go wrong. I could get my heart broken, I could end up back in prison, she could decide to reject me. I know that I have a lot more to lose than she does... and while that doesn't seem fair, I don't care. I have been in love with her for years. She completes me." The younger woman now turned to face Kya. "But if I'm going to do this, I'm going to need your help."
—
Her day had been cleared and now Suyin found herself pacing the empty halls of the main compound. She had considered resuming her work for the day, but found herself unable to concentrate on anything other than the problem at hand. Kuvira had been gone for hours now and the older earthbender feared for the time when she would come back.
In a meager attempt to distract herself, Suyin decided to run a bath. The water felt warm and soothing against her skin and after a few minutes she felt the pressure relieve itself from her chest.
Flashes from that afternoon raced across her mind. The feeling of Kuvira's body against her own, lips crashing together, the shakiness of them both. Suyin's hand slipped between her legs, unable to control the impulsive thought any longer.
"Thinking about your dear old husband?" A reserved male voice suddenly asked, followed by a hearty laugh. Suyin jumped at the voice and her hands gripped the sides of the tub. "Don't worry, I'm sure I can guess who you were really thinking about." Another chuckle echoed through the bathroom as the earthbender eased herself back into the warm water.
"Figures you found out about that whole situation. You and your magic ways," Suyin replied, pulling her husband in for a brief kiss.
"You wanna talk about it? Or would you rather get off in peace?" A playful smirk made its way across Bataar's face after his wife splashed him with water.
"Sit with me, like you did when we were younger," Suyin asked, a gentleness spreading through her words as they graced her lips. Her husband promptly turned to face the mirror across from the tub and sat down, his back leaned against the porcelain.
"Talk to me, dear."
A deep sigh escaped from Suyin's chest.
"I messed up."
...
"How so?"
...
"I'm still in love with her."
...
"You've never stopped loving her."
...
"No I haven't."
...
"Then what's the issue?"
...
"She still loves me."
...
"...Power imbalance issue?"
...
"Yes."
...
"Do you want to be together again?"
...
"Yes."
...
"Then that's all there is to it. You two are...kindred spirits, in so little words. You are a puzzle that requires more than just one piece. She is one step closer to completing you. Don't give that up. Don't give her up, Su."
Overwhelmed by the kind words of her husband, Suyin broke down. Her hands wrapped around Bataar's neck and she nuzzled into his neck.
"I love you."
...
"I know. You are the light of my life."
—
Kuvira held her head up high as she stormed into Suyin's office, the guard struggling to keep up the pace behind her.
"We need to talk." Her voice boomed through the office, startling the older woman quite a bit.
"Kuvira! What are you-" she was abruptly cut off as the younger woman wrapped her arms around Suyin's neck and pulled her in for a deeply passionate kiss. When she finally pulled back they were both breathless and a little red in the face.
"I'm moving in with your sister."
The rapid changing of subjects and abruptness of it all was making Suyin's head spin. She stumbled over to one of the couches and just sat there for a moment, trying to think of something, anything to say.
"I- uh. O-One thing at a time please," she quietly requested. With her confidence wavering just a bit, Kuvira continued to elaborate.
"I love you. But I can't be with you if I'm your ward. The only way to combat that is if I am transferred into Lin's care. We've already cleared it with Korra, but only if it's what you want too."
Kuvira moved to sit on the opposing couch, trying to fight off how bad the silence around her felt. Suyin continued to stay quiet, the look on her face looking quite sour. Everything happened so fast, almost too fast to comprehend. The younger woman loved her back...and she would no longer be living in the city of Zaofu. Pain struck first, overwhelming love second.
She stood up slowly, and bit unstable like, before motioning Kuvira to come towards her. The younger woman cautiously shuffled towards her, a nervous look written on her face. Suyin's hand shot out to roughly grab the front of Kuvira's shirt, the look in her eyes could've easily shot anyone down. Fear immediately ran through the other earthbender until she felt her mentors lips on her own.
In a matter of seconds their lips were melded together, each one of them savoring the taste of the other. Arms wrapped around the other person and the kisses became slow and tantalizing.
"Tell me you love me again," Suyin breathed between kisses.
"I love you."
The two kept going like they were the only ones in the world, completely ignoring the guard in the room. When they finally pulled apart their foreheads rested against each other while they attempted to catch their breath.
"We have a lot to talk about," Suyin said between huffs.
"We do," Kuvira replied, dreading the eventual talk to be had.
"Are you sure you want this?" A smile made its way across the younger woman's face.
"I have never wanted anything more in my life."