Chapter seven: Affairs of the heart

I did not like boats – not the small ones! I am not a guy to get shaken lightly but these waves definitely did me no good. I could not understand how anyone could actually „love" the uggly brown soup – that was called the water of Yue bay! But Katara waved her arms in gracious circling motions while the boat propelled itself forward with an unnatural speed. I just cramped the oar I held in my hands without even using it. The only thing that kept me steady was the fresh breeze from the seaside. „So this is nodrink island." I stated, jumping aboard. It was good to feel solid wood under ones feet again. In my whole live I made two boattravels – one today and one in a cabbecart, I could not decide which one was less comfortable. Katara followed quickly. „Who has told you that nonsense? Of course we have a lot of juices here, you like onionbana?" she asked me. Well – I did fucking love onionbananajuice, I was wondering why she knew this. „ah – yes, I do. Actually the name comes from your brother, though if I recall right the air nomads drank some brew that must have been quite the killer. This Chaang stuff was heavier than rootbeer." I stated, tugging on my beard. Katara did not like the topic alcoholic drinks.

„Neither is good for your health Lee. So you should not drink such poison." she answered strict. Damn it – that woman had more of the look than Yumi could ever muster! Poor Bumi – no wonder that guy wanted to join the forces – that woman made you obey her, and on top of it you felt bad for not instantly doing it! The Island contained a wide park, with trees, clean cut grass and gravelly paths that led to small shrines, a small temple and the big house of the Avatar and his acolytes. It was pompous like the manison of an high ranking Lord – for me it almost looked unearthly. Absolutely beautiful. I just stared at it wide eyed. „Lee – that is just a house." Katara ruffled my hair. I was too asthonished to frown. „Holy spirits." I mumbled. And this miserly bastard had not even paid fivehundred yuan per month. Fuck you avatar! I clenched my fist, grit my teeth and then swallowed my anger down again. In the end I would be the one who said good riddance Daddy! „And you really built this yourself? I did not know that anyone could have so much money!" I babbled. Katara giggled. „No – of course not. Aang never was for something so pompous – it was a present from the council, they even made the island for us." she beamed. I swallowed hard – they made an artificial Island? I could not even imagine which capacities of rocks, gravel and earth had to bee moved to do so! We passed a goup of alcolytes, wearing bright orange robes.

The bald men and women were talking idly. They greeted friendly and so I also made a polite bow. „Doesnt that hurt Lee?" Katara asked concerned. „No – actually I feel nothing. I do not know if I even have a back any more Katara." I stated truthfully. Her eyes sparkled. „O you are a little lightweight if it comes to pain medication." she laughed while I was still searching the joke. We approaced the little temple, a lean boy was sitting there in a lotus position – his head was bald as an alcolytes. But he had silly blue arrows painted over his skull. I chuckled. „Why does this buddy paint himself an arrow on his head?" I asked Katara. She looked at me wideeyed. „Th – That are the tattoos of an airbending master!" she seemed astonished. My eyes bulged, the signs of a master? This was hilarious! „Aaha." I stated. „And why did they not take the triple spirals?" I asked. The boy opened his eyes. „I am meditating – so please talk somewhere... oh hello mother." the boy seemed silent. He somehow seemed old, even adult. Compared to this boy I was the kiddo, that I saw at once. „Lee Bei Gao – nice to meet you." I introduced myself with a formal bow that the boy returned. „I am Tenzin Son of Avatar Aang." he spoke with a silent pride that made my anger rise. „Tenzin – do not be so formal dear. Please." Katara spoke. „Mother!" he sighed embarrassed. „And for now you have had enough meditation Tenzin – there is something that is called life!" she stated with a risen index finger. „But – Sifu Aang said that I had to contemplate from my wordly desires. Mother I am the only remaining airbender." he whined. I snorted. The both eyed me intensely. „As if Sozin could annihilate a whole nomadic tribe with a single campaign. If you ask me there are airbenders all across the world, they just make no fuss about it. This people have been chased for nearly a century guys. Do you expect them to give up their lives and families just for some orange robes and some lore they maybe already know?" I asked incredulously. Tenzin flashed an angry look.

„You know nothing Lee bei Gao. You are a mean silly peasant." he snarled. „Tenzin!" Katara looked at her son with big eyes. „And if you do not stop chasing Lin I – I – will..." he was as read as a strawtato. „Exactly – you get mean on the streets pretty boy. And what are you going to do about it huh? Beat me up? Give it a try." I said calmly, inwardly I was laughing. As if I had a crush on Lin, but it seemed the poor boy was diggin her all the way. And if I recalled correctly Lin was swooning for this kid, as far as swooning was possible for Ling Bei Fong. I did not understand her at all. We still stared at each other. „But if its so important for you Tenzin - I am not chasing Lin Bei Fong." I leaned closer „We are just friends, kiddo." The poor kid was really puzzled as was his mother. „Uh – but Lin is talking about you every day, since she is here." Tenzing spoke defensively. „And she was worried." he pouted – how sweet, I let out a chuckle. „Yeah – I just walked through the docks as things started getting uggly – friends worry somethimes I have heard." I grinned and walked on. Katara had some hissing words with her son. I did not want to know what that was about, because poor Tenzin dissappeared into the small temple, his shoulders hanging. „I do not know what has gotten into Tenzin – he is such a sweet boy usually." Katara apologized. „Teenager Katara – heh – tell no one but i was much worse his age." I responded twinkling. She blinked her eyes. „Were? How old are you - seventeen?" she asked. I grinned devious. „Nope – actually twenty, or maybe twentyone – do not really know my birthday.

But at Tenzins age I spent my days drinking, selling opium and beating people up so do not make a fuss about his little snarking." I answered. That was the moment she batted her eyes and dropped her jaw – yep Chief Bei Fong badassery sells well! „Y – You did what?" she whispered. „No pride about that – really. But if you grow up in shangyang that are the usual hobbies for a kid." I told her. „Now I am much more interested in history and physics than in opium. Oh – did you know that there are just five specimen of moonflowers that can be used for cooking it?" I asked her. „In fact – none of them grows in Republic, which is the reason why the monsoons have so much money, because they ship in the stuff from the Firenation!" I explained. „But you can fix that with little glasshouses, and imported volcano soil!" I told her. Yes – I had planted opium for some guys when I worked as a delivery boy. That had been when my mother were too ill for whoring three years ago. „hmm – can you cook it? I mean- ahm the hospital needs it as a narcotic and its rather expensive. And we have some space here." Katara played with her hair. „I could do that – if the police allows it. Sorry but no stuff beyond the law from me. I want to be one of the good guys so – nope." I declined her request.

„Nono – of course I would not do it illegal, I will just have a chat with Toph some day." she explained while we entered the house. The rooms were huge, and bright due to the oversized windows. „Bumi – Lin – Su I am home!" the woman nearly sung. „And now I will just wip up some kind of meal. I hope you like mango pies for dessert Lee." she seemed content and happy. I nearly felt guilty at the thought that I could ruin this happiness forever. But heck – no one ever cared about my happiness. Again I had to correct myself. Yumi did care very much for my happiness. And now I had the money I would send it per messenger hawk. I still hoped she would come. I heard a loud thud. „Jo mom – I just wanna go fishing – can I have a boat?" Bumi yelled. „We have a guest Bumi – Lee is here." she answered. I was eying the expensive cupboard containing fine porcellaine dishes as I heard a thungdering. „Eyy man. you little bastard worried the shit out of us. Not writing for FIVE fucking days." he yelled and tried to tackle me in an infamous hug. I just barely escaped. „Hey – I was in jail. How should I write you a letter!" I yelped as he got hold of my hair and tugged me into a bone crushing hug. I felt really awkward, why was this guy so touchy feely! Well right – he was a son of Katara! „Man – you smell like my worn pants – let me out for fucks sake!" I protested. He finally had mercy and let me go.

Bumi frowned. „Why were you in jail Lee? What is so difficult in simply going home?" he asked. „Hm – some cop arrested me for chasing Concilman Sokka, thought I was a red monsoon guy or something. That guy really put me in a high security cell – really hilarious." I joked. „Spirits – what kind of idiot would suspect such a thing." he laughed. „Ey Bumi, where does Lin hang out? I have no desire to be greeted by some stonepole in my guts." I stated. „Uh – she had a quarrel with Su today, so I suppose she is on the cliffs. These Bei Fong Women a stubborn as hell, so they always need days to forgive each other. Or even longer – it can be really annoying, mostly because Su is so dramatic about all this!" he sighed. I nodded at him „By the way Bumi – is your little brother always so hotheaded?" I asked him. Bumi looked as if I had told him that badgermoles could fly. „T – Tenzin – hot-headed? Lee that guy is as levelheaded as a bookshelf. On his good days!" Bumi spoke. „K – you helped three people today Bumi! Thank you." I smiled, while my friend still looked puzzled. „Uh – what?" he asked.

„Not your business Bumi – I just say hi to Lin, meanwhile you can trie to talk your mother out of Ujiji or how this game is called." I answered while Bumis face dropped. „Yuck – not that terrible game again." he sighed. „Mum always wins – that is the reason why she loves this game. It is even worse the Pai sho!" he whined. „Pai Cho is cool Bumi. If you have gotten the basics of course." I was out of the door with this words and went in search for Lin. Tenzin still was meditating – I could not figure out what a girl like Lin could like in a guy like him! In fact I just was the opinion that Tenzin was even more boring than old men – because he could not tell cool stories of his youth! But that was not my problem, I just felt that I hat to set things up. They both seemed rather incompetent if it came to feelings – they were childhood friends for fucks sake. So what was so difficult about some silly words? I never had such problems with Yumi, we simply took our relationship out of the friend zone with a lot of booze. Perfect to eradicate insecurities – but on nodrink island this option was out of the way, not that a guy like Tenzin would ever agree to something as uncivilized as the Lee Style! I wandered around the island aimlessly. The alcolytes seemed to avoid the private parts of the avatars family. There were no fences, no walls – but everywere there existed invisible borders the air alcolytes did not dare to thread over. I was never one to be stopped by fences and so of course I walked where I wanted to walk. Finally I spotted a green clad person sitting on a cliffsedge. She seemed occupied by something on her knees. I closed the distance until I could see that she was – painting! I was surprised about this, because I never thought Lin had a girlish hobby like painting. She was deeply inside her work, crafting a beautiful earthkingdom temple with her coalpen. „Hey there." I greeted. Lin flinched, skweaked and her notebook sailed down into Yue bay. She was so startled she nearly fell of the cliff, too. „Oh sorry. I did not want to scare you." I apologized, I decided on buying her a new notebook instantly. She scrambled on her feet, her bottomlip trembled and than she slapped me across the face. The sound was loud, the pain searing and without eny doubt one could see a handprint on my cheek. She even shook her hand, while I staggered backwards. „What was that for?" I asked disturbed. „W-What are you idiot thinking? Walking home through a fucking warzone. You could have be-been killed Lee!" she yelled.

She stood there straight „Do you think you are not welcome – do you th-think we do not care!" she rambled on while I dropped my head and hoped that my long hair would hide the tears that were brimming in my eyes. My heart was racing in what I could just discribe as a mixture of joy and guilt. „A- And why did you not even send a fucking messengerhawk – Bumi cried for fucks sake! He thought you were fucking DEAD!" she croaked. I supposed the crying part was not related to Bumi, at least not solely. Meanwhile I did regain my composure and looked up. „Err- I was in jail. But really Lin – I – I am not good at that friends stuff. Really – I had no practice." I stumbled searching for words,until I decided that something simpler was needed. I stepped forward and pulled her in a close hug, I noticed she smelled after firelilies. Lin stiffened first, but than she returned the hug with more gusto than I appreciated. The ointment seemed to loose its effect. She broke the hug first, much to the pleasure of my back. „Just – just stop doing such bullshit." she frowned. „ I will try Lin, I really was surprised to see you drawing." I said honestly. She flushed „I – I do this for school. Really – it it is nothing fancy." she muttered. „Give yourself some credit girl. That was awesome and you knew it. Dang Lin, you could make a living out of this – not a good one but a living!" I answered. I was honest about it, she was as good as a streetpainter. On the other hand I had not seen her doing portraits. Her face turned purple. „You really think so Lee?" then she sighed.

„Either way – I will succeed my mother and some day I will be the Chief of police. I am a Bei Fong, no artist." Lin looked determined, though a bit unhappy. I wanted to say something, but I knew in this instant that all my words would be in vain. I asked in a colloquial tone. „Say Lin – is Tenzin always such a silent boy?" I asked colloquial. „Heh – no he really likes talking." she responded. „You have met him?" she asked I catched a short empty stare. I had to stifle a laugh – that girl was fallen, but I could not understand what could attract people so different to each other. Otherwise, Lin was painting, maybe she hid a lot more girly stuff than I could possibly imagine – I could picture her mother giving her a good smacking if she caught her daughter polishing her nails, or pasting her lips. „Yep – distracted his meditation, the guy was pissed but he did not even emphasize his feelings properly. Really, that guy needs to get taught some curses." I grinned. „Aww come on Lee, not every guy needs to throw f- bombs when he orders some tea." she stated defensively. I chuckled and locked eyes with her. „You do more than just like the guy, though I do not understand why. But that is not important." I stated. Lin just got even redder and stammered.

„A. A – Uhm." „Hey its natural to be in love sometimes ya know." I chuckled again. Geez that girl was acting worse than me at my best. A lot worse, for things between me and Yumi just kind of developed themselves. As I say, sometimes booze is the best matchmaker. „What do you know about this Lee – um – well I – I am just a bit confused ok." she spoke surprisingly calmly, she almost acted shy. „Oww – heck yeah Lee the womanizer is asked. So – surprise I actually have my ball and chains in Ba Sing Se." I said. „And well – I can say that me and Yumi are in the stuff quite deep. Though there is not much sappy crap between us and really Lin, the only thing I miss in Republic is her. Tomorrow the money for some tickets will start its travel – fuck the flat problems!" I was determined. Lin just dropped her jaw. „But – you look like a Ladiesman Lee. Well you are tiny but – some ladies have the feels for small men." she babbled. I was laughing and patted her back. „Spritis Lin, that was a good one!" I giggled while composing my pitiable self. „No – I have enough to do with one woman – ok she is one hell of a woman but that does not change the matter. So if you have any questions, feel free to ask Lin." I clapsed my hands behind my back and stared out into the open sea. „Ahm – how did you start things up Lee – I mean, you are the man and so you did start it did you not?" she asked with a slight quaver in her voice. Honestly I did not know who kissed whom first, In fact I could not even remember the first kiss between me and Yumi – and she did always say she did neither.

Somehow I doubted it, because that vile Miss Adachi could drink me under the table anytime she wanted. „I and Yumi were best friends for some time – about three years or so. We went through a lot of uggly stuff together and, yeah we always felt safe, or at least I did when she was around." I seated myself on the grass and continued fighting a small stinging in my heart. „And to speak the truth I had a crush on her for some time when it happened. But I knew that Yumi had some – bad expierieces with guys." I could not help but glare furious as I thought that some Stone Circles had jumped her in some filthy alley while she was half a child. I forced myself out of these thoughts – that was not something I should tell somebody – Yumi would be really angry, she hated sharing personal things with people – just I was an exception, or at least I wanted to believe that. „So I kept the stuff to myself and stayed in friend zone. But one day Yumi stopped by with a big bottle of sake, it was raining wolfbats, believe me!" I narrated. Lin now hung an my lips. „I cooked something, she got out of her clothes." I spoke. Lin yelped, which made me chuckle. „Geez Lin – she wrapped herself up in my old blanket, we both had no spares at that time." I explained. Then we ate and drank to our hearts content and afterwards – hm I suppose we had some fun with each other. I really was startled when I woke up next midday – just had a beautiful girl all over me. I just thought I was dreaming and slept again. And after that first night, hm – well we just kept going – though it was a moth or two till the three big ones spilled. In fact I was the first one who got all sappy – I even bought her a copper ring." I chuckled and yeah - I felt kind of embarrassed telling this to someone who did not even know Yumi. In fact I would never forget her face as I admitted that badass Lee Bei Gao had simply fallen in love with Yumi Adachi. At first she asked me if I was drunk and as I declined my girl got all teary – a really rare sight to behold...„Lee?"

Lin asked. I fliched „Uh yeah – chrm. Whats up?" I asked grinning sheepishly. „You looked like Bumi when he drools about a new love." she stated with a devious smile. „Thank you – I really feel flattered." I sighed. „But – really Lee. I – I am not ready to simply tear his clothes of – I mean, my mom always says take things head on, but..." Lin was flushed and eyed her toes very intesely. I snorted. „Geez – that would be too much for little baldy to handle." I chuckled. „But nevertheless Lin – that kid will not bring up the topic." I stated. „Do you think he does just like me as a friend?" she asked, she sounded battered and croaked „Yeah I know – I should be more girly like Su. And always jumpy and cuddly and such stuff. But – I – I just can not." she started cursing in an ancient Goangzhu dialect that was still spoken in the eastern kindgoms. I just understand some rather strong words.

„Come on Lin – that guy did threaten to beat me up if I did not stop chasing you." I told her „that sounds not like friend zone does it?" I told her. Lin Looked at me and yapped like a fish at the Ba Sing Se fish market. „But little Tenzin thinks you are out of his league, most definitely." I explained. „W- Why would he think something so stupid? He is a gentle, handsome and caring young man, who will be chased by every fucking girl in the city when he leaves home more often." Lin was convinced of her words. „Yuck – you like these silly arrows?" I spilled. „Oh – they are a part of who he is Lee. They are important to Tenzin, so yeah I like these silly arrows." she snapped back. „No offense Lin – no offense. Girl, I am not into guys I am allowed to say that am I? And to answer your question – you are pretty, self assured and older than him. So – out of his league, he thinks. " I stated calmly into her frowning face. She giggled. „Lee – how – how can you talk like this?" she asked me slighly take aback. I thought about that myself. Maybe I could talk about such stuff because I was an adult, at least somehow! „Do not know Lin – I am not that old I know why I am saying things like I say em." I admitted.

„But what I want say is – you have to make the first move, and even if the most guys will kick my butt for this. Almost always the girl makes the first step , just a little one, but – heck – she smiles, or sighs or does some kind of stuff and than click – the instincts jump in." I told shrugging. „ok." Lin answered. „But did you not say you did not even know when you and Yumi started getting friendly?" she asked me. „Well – Yumi is maybe the last one, but she was not first , sadly." I grinned. „In there I have some sappyness, though I am not one to spray around with it a lot." I admitted and released a heavy sigh. „So – now enough of this. The others will get suspicious if we sit around here, I do not want to be blown into some tree from baldy. And as I said, if I can be of any assistance Lin – you know where to find me." I ruffled her hair and than started walking. „Hey my hair." she protested. I grinned while I walked towards the big house in the middle of the island. It feld good beeing a friend. „The Lady Katara is cooking Lin." I laughed. She followed me with long strides while arranging her hair accurately. „You are such a pain in the ass Lee Bei Gao!" she snickered. „Thanks for the compliment Lady Bei Fong." I responded. We arrived nearly in time. Katara was prepairing the dishes, together with lins sister. The girl squealed in delight as she saw me and just jumped me as if we were best friends. I just rolled my eyes at Lin and Bumi. While Lin giggled Bumis lips formed the words „squeeze that tetties!" I let Su go and snorted in Bumis direction. That guy knew how to annoy me, he really did.

„Hey Lee – cool to see ya. I heard you were in jail?" she babbled, the teen definitely thought that was cool. „Jep – just a little missunderstanding. But now I am out and I hope that stays so." I said to the others. „Sure it will Lee is a nice guy. So – here comes the carot ginger soup." Katara hummed setting a large casserole on the table. The soup looked quite tasty, until I spooted some cube shaped white things floating in there." What is this?" I asked, doing my best to hide my scepticism. „This is tofu – a very traditional air nomad dish, as you should know." Tenzin said. He did glare at me like an angry puppy. Bumi did his best to fight a grin while Katara seemed rather concerned about her son acting so obiously out of character. After we all filled our small bowls I halted my spoon in midair. Why was nobody eating. Bumi nudged me. „The prayer man." he whispered. Katara indeed went to the small whalebone shrine and placed a smapp cup there chanting something in a strange language, her children did so, too. I wondered where the older sister of Bumi and Tenzin was. She should be in the City as far as I knew from Sokka.

I just watched silent. Lin had positioned herself next to Tenzin, while her little sister stuck at my other side. Katara came back at the table and invited us to eat. And that we did. It was not spoken much while we ate despite Su always wanting to know some things from my time im Ba Sing Se. I was short about it, I frankly found the girl annoying. Maybe I should speak some serious words with her, but I doubted that she would listen. When we were finished I started piling dishes on my forearms. „So – where is the kitchen Lady Katara?" I asked my eyes sparkling mischievous. „After all this is the least I can do after the delicious meal." I lied. I did not like the soup – but I could eat almost everything with a blank face. This Tofu stuff was uggly. It was slimy and wobbly – and strangely had barely any taste. „Lee -please you are our guest." Katara said. „Let Tenzin handle the dishes." she stated snidely. „No – I Insist!" I just walked into the direction i supposed the kitchen was. Katara followed me, again trying to talk my out of washing the dishes. That just hardened my resolve. So in he end i was washing the dishes, while Katara did the drying. „Are you an earthbender Lee? You just behave so stubborn." Katara asked me. For a sekond my heartbeat faltered, did she notice something? How could she? Did she recognize the blood of her husband in my veins? „No – I am not. Have not the eyes for it. „ I twinkled. Katara laughed again. „You really are a charmer arent you. The girls must stand in rows." she joked. I just smirked and finished the las bowl. „Who am I to judge the judgement of the great Queen of the South." I stated bowing low. My back stund. „Urgh. Curse ya shitty back." I fumed while I straighened myself. „The spirits know when to punish Lee." Katara waved a finger and then fled the kitchen. I hoped I could be saved from Suyin in the further course of this evening, but I highly doubted it. So I was going to prepare for some boardgames – in fact I loved games, if they were complicated.

Note:

So Inthehood starts playing with some feels, though I have two or three chapters that will be fluffy (not all Lee centered though) I will not plaster the whole story with it. That much to reassurance. I also thought that some religion would be cool - because in the Avatarverse the spirits do really exist, and the DO have power, so praying should be rather widespread shoudnt it? And to Katara - I really picture her being the Mother more than anything else,even in the next chapter we will see som badassdom of our sugarqueen.

So pray - pray to the REVIEWGOD!

Nevertheless a nice evening. In the Hood