Chapter 9: Shan
"Lucy…" Zuko said as we climbed aboard his ship, it sounded like he wanted to ask me something, but he stopped himself.
"It's ok Zuko, you can ask me anything."
"I was wondering how you did… whatever it is you did back there."
"I don't know. I don't even know what kind of bending that was."
"To me it looked like a mix of waterbending and firebending." He suggested. Everything stopped for a moment as I looked to him. Could that be it?
"Don't be ridiculous Zuko."
"But I've never seen anyone bend like that before! How did you know what to? Why did it seem like you were in a trance? What were you doing inside Roku's sanctuary?"
"I think it's time both of you got some rest." Iroh said as he came up to us, intersecting Zuko's barrage of questions. "You both had a long day."
"Alright Uncle, right after I ask—"
"No Zuko." Uncle interrupted, "Lucy looks tired, let her go to bed." I took the opportunity to awkwardly leave as Uncle Iroh and Zuko stared after me.
"So Zuko told me what he saw." Uncle said as I let him into my room. He was carrying tea.
"I suppose you want to know what really happened too." I said, pouring the tea for Uncle and me.
"Only if you are willing to tell me." He said, taking his cup.
"Ok, well, do you know anything about the prophet?" Iroh's eyes popped open, apparently he did.
"I've heard legends, but no one has seen the prophet in over 400 years."
"Does anyone know why?" He just shook his head. "Well if you hadn't already guessed, I'm the prophet. But Uncle I still don't understand what that means."
"I admit it's not my best subject either." He said, "But legends tell us of a prophet brought here by the spirits, gifted with knowledge far beyond our world, and a deep connection to the Avatar and spiritworld."
"What kind of connection?" I asked. Iroh just shrugged and took a sip of his tea. Doesn't matter, I already have some idea of what it is.
Zuko and I were sparring. He was firebending while I practice my non-bending skills with my fans. Those things will now be a permanent accessory to every outfit. Anyway, Zuko was firing blast after blast at me while I blocked, trying to get closer.
Then the boat moved and Zuko and I were knocked off our feet.
"Someone's changing our course!" Zuko yelled.
"Obviously!" I comment, following Zuko's ascent.
"What's the meaning of this mutiny? No one told you to change course!" Zuko yelled at the helmsman. I wandered over to Iroh and his competitor playing Pai Sho.
"Actually, someone did. I assure you it is a matter of utmost importance, Prince Zuko." Iroh said, as the other player thought on his next move. It was futile; Iroh rarely loses at this game.
"Is it something to do with the Avatar?" I could almost feel the hope in his voice. I had to cover my mouth with my burned hand to keep from laughing.
"Even more urgent. It seems... I've lost my lotus tile." Oh, the lotus tile! I laughed full heartily now.
"Lotus tile?" Zuko asked mystified, the look on his face wasn't helping me calm down.
"For my Pai Sho game. Most people think the lotus tile insignificant, but it is essential for the unusual strategy that I employ."
"You've changed our course for a stupid lotus tile?" By now I was calming down, still choking slightly on my giggles, but the hand I placed on Zuko's shoulder seemed to pause the conversation.
"It's not stupid Zuko, the lotus tile is actually very significant."
"Finally! Someone who appreciates its value. Just give me ten minutes, Zuko, to check the merchants at this port. Hopefully they'll have the lotus tile in stock and I can get on with my life!" Zuko, try as he might, is unable to control his anger and releases a flurry of flame from his mouth that reaches the ceiling as he walks away.
"I'm lucky to have such an understanding nephew." Iroh smiles as I fan away the smoke in my face.
When the boat reaches the dock I walk down the plank with Zuko and Iroh. My eyes travel along the various stalls and ships, sparkling with excitement at all the cool things I'll find. The second we're completely off the ship I wander off on my own.
Zuko gave me the spiel earlier about how I better return to the ship before they leave or I'll regret it. He refused to answer what he'd do to make me regret it.
I found all kinds of interesting things. Scrolls on old Earth Kingdom fairy tales, I wanted to buy them, but on the account that I can't read them decided against it. Jewelry which I kept trying on until the shopkeeper yelled at me to buy something or go away. I found this really cool ship selling antiques and they had an old necklace from the Air Nomads, I just had to buy it. I couldn't find the one thing I was looking for though, a lotus tile; this port really didn't have one. However, I did find something else while looking at a stall selling games.
"Are you sure you don't have one?" I asked the shopkeeper.
"Yes, I am."
"But you didn't even look." I accused.
"I would know if I had one and I don't, so just leave me alone."
"What if I looked? Can I do that?"
"No! I already told you I don't have a lotus tile."
I was about to argue more when I felt someone touch my butt. I turned about quickly to find that no one was there, but felt my sack of gold was missing. Angry, I stormed around the side of the stall. A figure just managed to dash behind. Not about to let this scum-bucket get away with my cash I hulled ass to catch up to him, tackling him from behind and landing on my bad arm.
"Shit!" I cried, not letting go of the perpetrator but moving us both so it didn't hurt like hell.
"Are you crazy?!" The person says, who I see now is a kid about 10 dressed in raggedy clothing.
"Am I crazy? You stole from me!" I force the sack out of his hands, by the red cloth and Fire Nation symbol on it I can tell it's mine, and let the kid go. He turns to face me, under his baggy clothes he looks really skinny and his face is covered in dirt. I feel pretty bad now. I soften up. "Why did you try to steal from me?"
"Does it matter? You probably stole it first." He accuses. "Why would a water tribe girl have such a fat bag of Fire Nation Gold?"
"Friends in high places. Now seriously, answer the question." I put my ninja grip on him to let him know he isn't going anywhere until I get some answers.
"Do I have to say it?" He whines, "Can't you see I'm dirt poor?"
"What about your family? Are they thieves too?"
"They're…gone." There's the slightest bit of a sad look in his eyes, but he hides it very well.
"There isn't anyone looking out for you?"
"There is Shan."
"Well then, let's go find Shan." I usher him forward, telling him to lead the way.
The kid, who I found out was named Kun, led me farther away from the town than I felt comfortable with. I was afraid of running into the Gaang out here. Luckily Kun took me to a cave, nowhere near the river.
"This cave looks nice." I commented, running my hand across the smooth walls.
"Thanks, I made it myself." The voice came from a corner of the cave, where the earth was made to resemble a living room. Sitting on the couch was a teenage boy, shaggy black hair, shirtless and toned, a bit dirty but it only made him seem more rugged. Ok, I'll admit it, he was hot.
"Shan… an earth bender… that sounds familiar…" I thought out loud before I face palmed, "Oh my, don't tell me! You were recently on a Fire Nation prison ship, right?"
"Yeah, me and Kun both. How'd you know that?" He walked over me, my face a mere inches away from his toned chest now. I refrained from touching him.
"I met your friends in Da Gang. Helped them break Suna's dad out of prison."
"Ah, a friend, good. We could use one of those, huh Kun?" We looked over to Kun.
"Yeah…" He said quietly. Kun looked a lot guiltier for attempting to steal my gold.
"How you two doing, now that your free? I mean… what are you going to do?" I started playing with my bangs, showing my nervousness.
"We were planning on hanging around here for a bit, then heading back to Da Gang. Kun isn't from around there, but he doesn't really have anywhere else to go."
"Alright then, here." I handed the gold over to Shan. He looked reluctant to take it.
"Money for food and supplies, maybe a horse or something." I answered his unasked question, "Kun tried stealing it earlier, but I wasn't sure how badly he needed it, now I'm sure you guys have more use for it than I do." Shan stared disappointed at Kun for a moment before turning back to me.
"We can't just take this. At least not without giving you something in return."
"Of course you can it's a gift."
"She was looking for a lotus tile at the market Shan." Kun offered.
"A lotus tile? That's a bit odd, but we've got one." Shan turned to the shadowed corners of the cave, unearthing hidden cubbies where he kept their stuff.
"Where'd you get it?" I was curious as to whether they knew the true meaning of the lotus tile.
"An old man on the ship we were on gave it to us. He said it would come in handy one day. I don't think this is what he meant, but here." He placed the tile gently in the palm of my hand.
"Thanks." I said casually.
"No, thank you!" Shan said earnestly, grabbing me around the waist and lifting me into a giant huge. When he released me our faces were merely inches apart, I looked into his dark brown eyes that seemed to stare into my very soul. He started to lean in closer. Blushing I ducked down very quickly, pretending I dropped the tile.
"Um… sorry I really must be going now." I stuttered, practically ripping my bangs off my head.
"Were you two about to kiss?" Kun pulled off a disgusted face really well.
"No!" I said a little too quickly. Why did I suddenly feel like I was cheating on someone I wasn't even with? I was halfway out the cave entrance when Shan grabbed my unbandaged wrist.
"Hey, who are you travelling with?"
"My Uncle, I really should be heading back."
"Do you have to?" He pauses, "I mean right now, I'd really like to thank you with more than just a pai sho tile. How about I take you to this little place in the market that I hear has excellent cakes."
Is he… Is he asking me out on a date?
"What about me Shan?" Kun asks, not looking very happy at almost getting left out or forgotten.
"Of course you'll be coming too." Shan replies, not missing a beat.
After being convinced to go on this not-a-date date with Shan and his adopted brother Kun, we headed back towards the pier, but not without some conversation.
"What's wrong with your arm?"
"Kun! You can't just ask that!" Shan chastises Kun.
"Why not?"
"Because… it's… you know… not polite." Shan explains weakly. "What if she doesn't want to talk about it." He whispers like I can't hear it, even though he and Kun are walking on either side of me.
"You know I can hear you guys right?"
"So do you want to talk about it or not?" Kun asks.
"I guess it doesn't really matter. I got burned while I was in Da Gang by one of the guards." Shan's face automatically becomes apologetic, as if he was the sole reason I got burnt.
"I'm sorry; you got hurt helping my friends…"
"No," I correct, "I got hurt before I met them. There was trouble with the guards around the port." Anger flashed across Shan's face before it softened and he gently took my left hand into his hands, careful not to hurt me.
"Does it still hurt?"
"It still throbs slightly, but only really hurts when it's touched or moves the wrong way."
The rest of the way was walked in silence.
"Come on guys, it's right around the corner." Shan said, leading us towards the mythical cake shop.
"That's what you said three corners ago Shan!" Kun whined.
"But this time I'm sure."
"You said that too." I joked.
In the corner of my eye I saw Zuko between the shops. He was about to get around the same corner we were. For some reason I couldn't let him see me with them.
"Uh Shan, I got to use the bathroom." The only sign of my inner panic was the hair wrapped around my finger.
"It's over there," he pointed behind me, "I'll show you." He led us away from Zuko, but I was still worried so I untied my orange scarf from around my face and hid my hair in it.
"Why are you trying to hide?" Kun asks from beside me.
"I'm not hiding." I deny.
"Then why are you whispering?" Damn, I didn't even notice I was whispering. I was saved from having to respond when we reached the outhouse. I'm not going to lie it was really gross. It's a good thing I didn't actually have to use it.
Instead I thought about what I was doing. Not the hiding in a gross outhouse part, but why I felt like I had to hide. Zuko and I weren't a couple. Even if I did have feelings for him it's only because I grew up watching his character develop and that's a bit weird. I'm not even sure we're the same species.
So what am I doing with Shan, and why do I feel like I'm betraying Zuko? I'm blaming it on my stupid teenage hormones.
"Are you almost done in there? You're taking forever!" Kun banged on the door of the outhouse. God that kid was annoying; I've only been in here for a few minutes.
"Mmmmm… These cakes are the best." I said between bites of the most delicious, sponge-y, dough-y, cake-ish thing of my life. "I don't even know what this is."
"It's a cake"
"Not where I come from, but either way it's supercalifragilisticexpialid ocious."
"That's not even a word." Kun protested.
"You know what kid? I'm not even going to argue that, that's how good this thing is."
Eventually all our cake is gone. Kun left, probably to pick more pockets. So now, it's just Shan and I, I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a bit awkward.
"Thanks for showing me this place." I say as I get up, "It was good, but I really must be going now."
"Lucy, wait." Shan stops me, "Before you go I just wanted to tell you thanks one more time and that I hope we'll meet again." He leans down, aiming for a kiss again. I intend to push him away before he can, but someone else stops it.
"Lucy?" I hear Zuko's voice from behind me. I twirl around, I can't see Shan's reaction, but he is so close now that I can feel him tense.
"Zuko, this isn't what it looks like."
"Doesn't matter what it looks like." He spoke with subdued anger, "You can just do whatever you want." He turned stiffly and left with heavy steps and tight fists.
"I gotta go." I said to Shan, leaving him dumbfounded. "Zuko!" I call out while running to catch up with him. "Zuko I swear I wasn't going to kiss him, you just interrupted before I had the chance to push him away."
"You don't have to lie to me Lucy. I don't care."
"Really? Because the way you're acting says otherwise." He doesn't reply, instead he continues walking, not even bothering to glance at me.
