The Rebellion Within

Chapter 9: Picnic

"Checkmate... again..." Kuvira called out hesitantly, staring down at the chessboard before them. Korra sat across her, with her knees brought up to her chest, her arm over them and leaning her cheek against he fist. After the meeting with her superiors, Korra asked Kuvira if she wanted to come over for a friendly game of chess at her apartment. They were sitting on the floor since Korra hadn't put together the table that was given to her. She stared at the board blankly, not acknowledging Kuvira's third win in a row. "Korra."

"Hmm?" She looked up to meet worried green eyes and she sighed. "I'm sorry, my head isn't in the game."

"Oh I'm noticing. You've been playing the same strategy through all of the matches." Kuvira started picking up the pieces from the board to set them up again. "Talk to me. What's on your mind?"

Korra stared at her for a long minute, deciding where she should start. She didn't mind opening up to Kuvira. In fact, she never opened more to anyone other than her friend; and with good reason. They simply trusted each other above all, considering that they were both so similar and shared almost the same experiences. Kuvira has been nothing but her support during these years, and Korra returned that back to her gladly. They've been keeping themselves company during their years in Morocco, in more ways than one.

"Professional or personal?"

"I already know the war is going to get worse, Korra, I feel it in my bones." She struck her first move on the board and looked up at her. "Unless it's something about it that's weighing you?" Korra moved a piece from her side.

"Spain just simply can't handle this war for much longer." She simply said, but couldn't fight the urge to elaborate. "Morocco isn't the only problem that the main land has. Spain's politics are really...unstable right now. They just simply don't know what to do with their government and that's a problem that I feel will explode soon, and in the worst way. My father has been sending me letters, small pamphlets on politics and philosophy on them and all, and they're considering changing the government structure." She shook her head and watched Kuvira move another piece; and so on they played while talking.

"Which means..."

"A Republic is in talks, to divide the power and distribute it evenly through the structure to avoid concentrating it on one person. I guess they don't want one person in power with all that's happening with King Alfonso and Primo de Rivera."

"And you think people won't take that idea kindly."

"Spain is polarized as it is, between the fights of conservatives and progressivists.... I don't know. It's the perfect scenario of a civil war, if you ask me." Korra simply shrugged. She watched as Kuvira swallowed her perspective and looked away in thought.

"If it comes to that, it'll be inevitable. Let's just focus on this game and your personal conflicts, it's more entertaining and easily solvable." Kuvira said after a few minutes and Korra chuckled.

"I think I have a crush on a nurse." She stopped explaining when Kuvira gave out a sly laugh.

"Is it the tall one with dark hair?" Korra nodded, visualizing her on her own mind. "Yeah, everyone on the unit seems to fancy her. She's quite beautiful, I must admit. Even I got entranced by her pretty green eyes."

"But you have green ones too."

"Yeah, but hers for some reason seem prettier." They both laughed and Kuvira looked down in frustration at Korra's sudden chess move. "I take it you've been talking to her?"

"Yeah for these past two weeks...she's so smart and great. I invited her to dinner and she helped me solve some problems with the hospital." Kuvira's face shot up at this.