Kuvira was not generally prone to fidgeting. Years of training had taught her how to stand at attention for long periods of time while barely moving a muscle. And yet, she couldn't keep from shifting uncomfortably on the balls of her feet as the train pulled into the station. The sound of squealing metal seemed too loud, the smell of smoke too sharp.
Behind her, the small contingent of imperial guards didn't seem to mirror her discomfort. Their postures remained straight, their formation perfect, showing no hint of their leader's anxiety.
And why should they be anxious? This is just an ordinary state visit, not the start of a war.
At least, not for them. From Kuvira's perspective, a battle would actually be simpler than what was coming next. The train door slid open, and as the band began to play, Kuvira straightened, her chi hardening. She liked to think she'd mellowed a bit in the years since her marriage, that she no longer felt the need to prove her dominance over every other alpha she met. Certainly, she and Korra got on quite well. But this was different. This was...
"Suyin." The name came off of her tongue flat and hard as the ruler of Zaofu descended from the train car. Behind her came her husband, followed by several of her own guards and a handful of assistants, but Kuvira's attention remained fixed on Suyin.
"Hello, Kuvira," the other alpha replied, her voice distinctly unfriendly. It had been almost four years since they had last laid eyes on one another, and though there might be a few extra lines on Suyin's face, not much else about her had changed. Least of all, it seems, her attitude toward me.
"Welcome to Ba Sing Se. All of you." Kuvira made an attempt at a smile. She was under no illusions that she and Suyin liked each other. The relationship between them had been shattered when she and Korra had left Zaofu with a goodly chunk of Suyin's army, and nothing since then had put the pieces together again. Today, though, she would try her best to set that aside. Today, she would at least try to be civil, for Opal's sake if nothing else.
"We're glad to be here," Baatar Senior told her, the omega seeming far friendlier than his mate. "It's been too long since we last saw Opal, and this is such a special occasion."
"And just where is my daughter, anyway?"
Kuvira bristled at the accusatory tone of Suyin's question. It sounded as if she thought Kuvira had Opal chained up in a dingy basement, instead living in luxury in the royal palace, helping to run the Earth Empire.
"She's wasn't feeling up to coming out to meet you so early in the morning, I'm afraid," Kuvira said coolly, trying to keep her anger from showing. "I'm sure you can understand, given her condition."
"Of course," Baatar said before Suyin could respond. "I just hope everything's all right."
"It is," Kuvira told him. "I just wanted to make sure she got her rest. She's waiting for us back at the palace."
"Well then, let's get going." Without waiting for a response, Suyin marched past Kuvira and toward the exit to the train station, leaving the rest of her entourage as well as the Earth Empire dignitaries scrambling to catch up.
Kuvira sighed. Suyin's behavior had only confirmed her fears: that this was going to be a very long visit indeed.
* * *
The ride back to the palace was spent in awkward silence. Kuvira sat ramrod straight, hands clasped stiffly in her lap as Suyin glared at her from the other side of the satomobile. Even with Baatar Senior between them, holding Suyin's hand and pumping out enough soothing omega pheromones to cloud the back seat, the other alpha's glare didn't waver. It made the hairs on the back of Kuvira's neck bristle, but she did her best to ignore the challenge. She had promised Opal she would be on her best behavior, and with her mate ready to give birth to their child soon, the last thing Kuvira wanted to do was cause her any distress.
