Hahn was done. Done waiting around for some Fire Nation deserter to lead him to his father. He was sick of seeing Chey came home every day with a smile on his face, getting to have a normal life with Janan. He was tired of repeatedly being rebuffed by Jin only for her to go behind his back and go out with some firebender. Then when he pointed out how illogical her way of thinking was, she had the nerve to act like he was the one spouting nonsense. Most of all, he was sick of waking up every morning to spend any amount of time with the always insufferable Bing.
Well he was done with all that. While Chey was busy making a new life in Ba Sing Se, Hahn had learned a few things. He learned that in order to get to Chameleon Bay one did not have to go through Ba Sing Se as Chey told him all those weeks ago. He had no idea why Chey hadn't told him that and just sent him that way, it's not like he needed help to get there. Hahn no longer cared though, he knew where his father was and nothing could stop him from reaching him.
Hahn grabbed the few belongings he called his own, which was only a bed roll as well as his machete and hatchet. He was glad nobody was home, it would make leaving all the more simple. It wasn't like he owed them a goodbye anyway.
He was a mere three feet from the front door when the handle turned and in came Jin and Chey. They both regarded him curiously. "What are you up to?" Chey asked, gesturing towards his weapons and pack.
"I'm out of here." Hahn said, feeling no need to be shy about his intentions.
"What do you mean?" Jin questioned.
"I mean I'm getting out of this Tui forsaken city and going to see my father." Chey's eyebrows instantly raised in what looked almost like worry. Hahn disregarded him and brushed past both of them.
"Chey." Jin snapped her fingers "Aren't you going to stop him?" Jin's motions finally snapped Chey out of his trance and he was out the door in a flash, Jin hot on his heels.
The normal musty spring air had been replaced with a cool damp feeling, storm clouds hanging low above. The streets had been deserted, the stores all closed down in preparation of the upcoming storm.
"Hahn!" Chey called out to the teenager, who was sulking a few paces ahead. "Wait up."
He turned on his heels to face Chey. "What do you want?" He grumbled out.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jin interjected, hands on her hips.
"Stay out of this Jin." Chey pushed her beside, ignoring her protests. "You're going to see your father." He said as more of a statement than a question.
"Yes. What of it?"
"I promise you that you won't like what you find."
"Nothing could be worse than having to spend another day here."
"Oh trust me, there are worse things that could happen to you."
"Yeah? Worse than having the one person who I have actually put some faith into lie to me?"
Chey raised an eyebrow, "What are you trying to say?"
"I know about Chameleon Bay, Chey. I know that you don't need to go through Ba Sing Se to reach it. You led me here and had no plans of leaving."
"I had my reasons!" Chey yelled.
"What? You wanted to hook up with your old fling!" Hahn shouted back.
"Uh, guys? You probably shouldn't be yelling so loud." Jin's warning fell on deaf ears.
"No! I was trying to protect you!" Chey tried to reason with him.
"Protect me! You basically kidnapped me!"
"It was for your own good!"
"What are you talking about? Since we met you have done nothing except act in your own interest!"
"Trust me, if you go looking for your father you will not be pleased."
"How would you know? How do you even know my father? Or anything about him? You have told me nothing except your name since we first met."
"I know your father alright, however briefly it may have been. But I know for a fact that he would be sick to his stomach to see you like this."
"How dare you speak as if you knew my father! How can you claim to know the man when you were on opposite sides of the war?"
"I knew him at the time a man is the most honest."
"What in Tui and La does that mean?"
"I was there when he died!" The scream echoed across the empty streets, Jin covered her mouth and Hahn stared at Chey in disbelief.
"What did you say?" Hahn whispered after a moment.
"Your father is dead Hahn. Him and his men were stationed outside Yu Dao, a Fire Nation colony. They were destroying every Fire Nation that sailed into port, my ship was sent in to investigate what was happening. They attacked us, but we overwhelmed them. I was taking your dad prisoner when one of my men killed him."
"No... no. You're lying! No one from the Fire Nation could ever kill someone as skilled as my father! You're lying to me! I'll bet you never even met my father! You just wanted me to come along on this sick perverted quest of yours! You spineless, selfish coward!" Hahn leveled a finger at Chey's chest.
He met Hahn with his own glare. "Then leave." Chey said coldly before turning back to the house, Jin pulling at his arm to try to make him stay.
"I was planning on it." Hahn mumbled to himself and then continuing on his way.
In spite of himself, Hahn had to admit that his time in Ba Sing Se was not a total waste of time. Without Janan's training, he most likely would not have felt the presence of several shadows on his tail. The rainfall came as a welcome guest as he hoped he could escape during the commotion.
Even after speeding up, his followers had both grown in number and not given up. He grabbed hold of his weapons and turned the corner-
"Get your corn here!" Bing's bellows could hardly be heard over the now thunderous storm, that didn't stop him from trying to sell his wares though.
"Oh Bing, I don't think I have ever been happier to see you." Hahn relaxed, genuinely happy to see his corn obsessed boss.
"Hahn my boy!" Bing sprang toward his employee and gave him a quick hug. "Why didn't you come in to work today?"
"Oh, well about that-"
"Bah, never mind, that is unimportant. What is important is that you are here now. I have great news to share with you! Apparently that horrid cabbage salesman had managed to sneak his way into Ba Sing Se, but fear not, for his cart has since been destroyed by yours truly." Bing flashed a toothy grin at Hahn. "What's the matter with you?" Bing finally noticed Hahn's disheveled appearance.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"Come on, Hahn. You can't sell me a cabbage and tell me its corn. Now tell me."
"I got into a fight with Chey about my father and-"
"Your father! Well that's a man I haven't thought about in quite a while. Hm... Koan! That was his name right?"
"You knew my father?"
"Of course I did! I was in Yu Dao for a short time actually, ya know, trying to establish good ties with the Fire Nation colonies. Your father was one of my regulars, course he was always undercover cause of all the Fire Nation patrols. That man could make the most delicious meals with corn. Had a crazy idea to put it under extreme heat, but we never got to try that experiment. He uh.. bit the dust the day after we came up with the idea."
"You mean... he is really dead?"
"You didn't know? Oh so sorry about that kid. I thought Chey would have told you, what with him being there that day and all."
"Wait? Chey was actually there?"
"You got a hearing problem, boy? I just said he was. Of course we hadn't met at that point. I didn't dare approach him either."
"Why is-"
"I have never seen a man look more remorseful than when I first saw Chey that day. I knew something must have upset him. And then to lose his friend right afterwards. I sure did not envy him after that."
Hahn rubbed the back of his neck. "What do you mean, what friend did he lose?"
"Well that archer he was with. The two looked as close as two ears of corn on a stalk. I heard Chey even spared his killer. I wonder if he ever completed that promise he made to his friend?"
"Promise?"
"Yup, he told his friend that he was going to give your father a proper Water Tribe burial, awful nice of him I thought. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I see a potential customer a mere three blocks away." He grabbed his cart and went sprinting down the street. "HEY YOU! WANT SOME CORN?"
Hahn's body rocked with sobs, thankfully hidden thanks to the rain. The sound of heavy footsteps drowned out his sobs and the rain.
"Excuse me." He looked up to see five rows of men wearing dark green robes and conical hats. "The Earth King has invited you to Lake Logai."
AN: Sorry this took so long to come out, I really wanted it to be just right. Anyway, lots of anonymous reviews so I will be answering them all here.
To General Ripper: Thanks so much for all the reviews. Zuko actually would be 12 when we first ran into him, due to it being a few years after his mom left, but only a few months before he received his scar. The reason why Chey or Piandao didn't mention that Zuko isn't like his father is mostly because I wanted to avoid any heavy handed reference like that. The story is really just to show the kind of impact that Chey had on Zuko, not what Zuko is all about. I too shared the sentiment about Hahn being extremely annoying and unlikable in the show, but hopefully he hasn't been too unbearable in my story. The reason why we haven't heard from Zhao in such a long time is mostly because Chey's contact to the outside world has been rather minimal since there is no communication about the war inside Ba Sing Se. Not to worry, I have plans for Zhao which will come to light very soon. Also, Chey has been inducted to the Order of the White Lotus, but that does not necessarily mean he will be a part of the Lotus army during the comet. Just keep reading to find out what happens.
Shen Peacock: I actually really enjoyed this idea and we will see just what is happening with Iroh a bit later in the story.
AhsokaTanofanboy: This probably isn't too big a spoiler to say that yes Jee is indeed still alive. Don't worry, he will be back soon.
Thanks so much for the reviews guys, you really make writing this story a lot easier. Now then as for this chapter, we finally had Hahn learning the truth about his dad. Who would've thought that Bing would be the voice of reason in this situation?
Anyway, until next time, thanks for reading and please enjoy.
