Chapter Twenty-Six

End of summer, 97AG

Shen and Shay perused the rooftops of the Lower Ring. It was often the both of them got partnered up together. They were the younger members of the Dai Li and the older ones didn't really like being put up next to who they thought were they're inferiors.

There wasn't much happening that day. No rebellious and disobedient, panic causing people on their watch.

Shen looked towards the wall leading to the Inner Rings and sat down at the edge of the building they were standing on. "I guess there isn't much to do… Sit with me. Let's have a chat. How's your life been this days?", the twenty-three year old asked. Both their Dai Li signature braids swung in the wind. Shay wondered if it would rain. That hadn't happen much, and the crumbly soil could really go for some water.

He joined his partner and answered, "You know damn well we can't go around sharing information about our personal lives". His eyes rolled, clearly used to this start of conversation. Shen had a tendency to be chatty, but the seventeen year old usually cut it off. He normally never had much to talk about too.

But this days had been nothing but different from their usual selves.

"Oh come on! You always do this. There's got to be something you can tell me", he whined. Shay's eyes glinted in an unexpected way that had Shen craving for some much appreciated chatting. "There is!", he almost screamed, as he remembered that they were still on duty and should keep their voices down.

The younger agent was about to deny it when the older one cut him off, "Forget it! I know that look! It's got to be a girl". Shay sighted, "Well… yes. But I still don't think we should be talking. We are supposed to be working", he pointed out, looking at the mass of people below them.

"But I'm bored out of my mind and nothing's happening. Plus, you never seem to have girls on your mind. You've never talked to me about any girls. Now I'm curious", Shen demanded, crossing his arms over his deep green chest plate. Shay sighted again. He seemed to do that a lot when he patrolled with the amicable agent. "We only know each other for a year, tops. And I never talk to you about anything", he retorted.

"I can tell", Shen muttered with a smirk, "What?", the younger earthbender questioned, with a raised eyebrow. Shen's smirk dropped, "Uh nothing". After a few moments he added, "But you can still talk about her. No details needed". Shay watched him from the corner of his eye for a second and gave up at the sight of his partner with the biggest toothy smile he had ever seen.

"Fine", he finally conceded. "She's a refugee. She's been in the city for only three weeks and a half and she's helping me train my brother… with swords", he said, laying on the rooftop, his crossed arms behind his head and his legs dangling from the edge of the building.

"I bet she's pretty", Shen added, trying to picture her. The younger of the two rolled his eyes, "No, not pretty. Other girls are pretty. She's beautiful", he blurted out with a love struck smile. Shen laughed, "If you say so".

"Hey, don't laugh", Shay chastised. "I guess I won't tell you anything else", he added, looking sharply at his partner. Shen raised his hands in surrender, "Sorry, I won't laugh… I can see you're enjoying this too. Don't take the fun away. Tell me more about her", he fake begged.

Shay half closed his already sharp eyes. "Moving on then… She carries herself proudly, like she knows she's powerful and could cut you in half. She probably could". He thought about the times Rya taught his brother. The first time was a real shock. It was like she had transformed into a different person. Not in a bad way, though. It was as if he had finally seen her.

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Rya was taken to a clearing by an extremely happy Kanto and what seemed to be a neutral faced Shay. She carried her flyssas on both sides of her hips, hidden by a black tinged cloak that swung by her legs.

When they arrived it was made clear she would be teaching Kanto first. Shay told her his brother's strengths and weaknesses in earthbending and sat down on a fallen trunk with a sleepy Tai right beside him, observing.

He watched as Rya changed from the quiet and shy person he thought she was into a passionate and determined warrior as she taught the first set to his brother. She used her shiny flyssas and his brother used the wooden swords Shay had bought from the market near the tea shop that afternoon.

It was clear that from that day on he would been looking at her differently.

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"But I don't think she trusts me and Kanto yet. There's also something off about her", Shay added with a contemplative frown. "Do you think she's hiding something?", Shen suggested. "It could be… But I'm not entirely certain", he said.

A few moments passed before someone spoke again.

"She's mysterious, beautiful and skilled… Yeah I could see how you would fall for her", Shen commented absentmindedly. "What? I've not fallen for her", Shay yelped, raising himself from his comfortable position on the rooftop.

He imagined her sharp determined honey eyes, her plump pink lips and her soft raven hair. He wasn't in love. No. But Rya was definitely doing a number on him.

"Sure", the older one said, sarcastically.

Author's Note:

I'm sorry it took me such a while to update. It's been a busy month and to add to that I've had a major writer's block.
I won't be able to update as fast as before, maybe once or twice a month, until I'm on vacation, too.
Tell me what you think about the chapter. If you caught any mistakes do tell me by PM me or by review.

So until the next chapter, bbye