Presence Of The Moon
by: Kellah/fuzzy-ninja.
A/N: Partially inspired by Keiko Matsui's instrumental song, "Presence of the Moon".
A:tLA belongs to Mike D. and Bryan K.
It's a clear, crisp night in the downtown are of Ba Sing Se. The people of the capital city are oblivious to the mass political change happening inside their walls, and continue to bustle about the busy days and sultry spring-to-summer nights.
Two teens wander inside this city of walls, bored and looking for something to do, anything to do. She's estatic to be near him again, and he's eagerly avoiding any of the people who may recognize him as "the tea boy".
It's a city of walls and secrets, and those two teens have more than their share of walls to break down and secrets to spill.
Zuko likens Ba Sing Se as a city of blinding lights; the city lights glisten, glow, and flicker in a bath of artificial early morning sunlight- something he never took note of before- when he was here with Jin.
Jin. He repeats her name in his mind, trying to erase it, and burn away the image that branded itself inside his brain. It was embarassing enough seeing her again, with Mai in his company. I am not Li. I am Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. I don't associate with peasants named Jin. I associate with noble ladies of the court. I have never served tea in my life. I am a soldier for my father and for the glory of my country. I serve him, not these puny Earth Kingdom folk. That's that.
It's not as easy as he wishes it could be.
Mai is disgusted at the filth that prowls the alleys and streets of the impenetrable city, but she bothers not with trivialities. She is out with what she believed was the unrequited, her childhood love, the fire prince that would save her from many things, among them, boredom.
Jin. She repeats the peasant girl's name in her mind and scowls as if it were the name of a pox or venereal disease. Knowing these people, who knows what sorts of rat diseases they carry on them.
"The moon sure is bright tonight." Mai comments to Zuko, hoping her offer of communication does not go sour.
He bites the bait, "Yes, it is." -but lets go.
Silence makes its commanding presence known again as they walk. To where, neither are sure. But in the city of many names, it ought to be an adventure.
The moon watches over them, guiding their journey of blossoming spring love.
The stars, in their frolic over the velvet heavens, giggle, and record it all to show the summer sun.
-FIN