A/N: This is a trigger warning for the chapter containing attempted suicide, descriptions of corpses, explict violence and depression.
Chapter Ten - One Night In The City (2):
Outside the relative safety of the Qian estate, bustling vehicles went up and down the streets. Jen LuXian was left inside a hired carriage. He was taken by the woman protecting him, in the name of having fun and not sitting in his bedchambers. He twiddled his fingers, knowing being left alone was not the wisest decision Kumi made; she gave into the will of Ayeka, the other kyoshi girl and the one, who hired the carriage and was sent along with them. Master Qian was concerned for Jen LuXian being kidnapped out of nowhere, because of his status and reputation as a fallen man, who never bothered anyone, until he entered the crosshairs of the Daojing family of Gaoling. Jen LuXian was hyperaware of anything happening to him, because he was a foreign visitor and those were the favourite victims of the daofei in the city.
Jen LuXian jerked at the sound of beeping outside. The sounds of the city bothered him and exasperated his anxiety. He couldn't talk to the carriage driver, because she worked for the Qian family and was half-asleep. He did not want to be the odd wheel between Kumi and Ayeka, but his bodyguard was insistent in him coming with them. There was no excuses for Jen LuXian to be tired, because he and his retinue got plenty of rest on Air Temple Island, for the two nights they stayed there. For a man, who travelled through the distance of the Earth Kingdom, being tired was a symptom of a wider health issue, Jen LuXian came to terms with. He never told anyone, because people were used to seeing him, as the earthbending prodigy, to even wonder if the man had problems, with the inner workings of his spiritual chi and a spiritual doctor helped cure him.
The earth master was dressed in robes of jade green, with embroidery of the white crane motif on his robes. Wearing his colours mattered, because Jen LuXian had worn his colours, since he was an infant and throughout his life because colours gave a clan an identity and a sense of unity. Jen LuXian loved his homeland, despite not being there for over a year and a half. Distancing himself from home was difficult, but it had to be done because his family unintentionally ignored him. The Jen family put their love and excitement onto the soon to be born Jen Clan heir, as a way to distance themselves from Jen LuXian. He saw them, as his paternal family and the family, who had to raise him because the patrilineal clan mattered in the Earth Kingdom, and staying with his maternal family in Ba Sing Se would be worse than lingchi.
"Kumi...foolish girl. Leaving me was a mistake, no bodyguard, not even a graduate of a reputable dojo would commit. The Qian family's rotating bodyguard Ayeka wanted Kumi to herself, to the point of risking my life. I had no risks in my life, other than the incident that happened in Chameleon City. Stayed away from noble households and soiled politics, until I did a favour for Madam Pang and deliver a gift to Madam Daojing in Gaoling, that cannot be trusted with anyone else. I did the favour, for a mentally ill woman, who was my cousin's mother in law, who didn't ask for much and that delivery mission became what transpired in Gaoling with Kumi, myself and those dead Daojing household guards in the courtyard."
The man shook his head, cursing his kind nature under his breath. Jen LuXian's eyes were on the people passing the carriage without a blink of an eye. He wanted to be a speck, unnoticeable and not attract attention. Jen LuXian's tongue tasted vinegar, knowing dinner at the Qian household was filled with warmth and love, an environment he missed and tried to recreate in the homes of those, who allowed him to work for lodgings and then moved onto another place. As a nomad, Jen LuXian was detached from worldly things, committing himself to the ascetic lifestyle that was expected for unmarried members of his clan and seeing the world for the greyness it was. He enjoyed meeting all kinds of people, when he took the name Zhu Xian because Zhu was a common surname in the Earth Kingdom, and no one would question anything about him.
Seeking any kind of pleasure was a sin, but Jen LuXian found having his hair combed, a small token of feeling good about himself. His self-esteem was shattered to pieces, never liking how he looked in the mirror and the scar Lieutenant Ping gave him was enough to make him see himself as ugly. Jen LuXian gave up preening and fixing himself, because there was no point in dressing something that was ugly, his body followed his inner thoughts. He was jaded and lost his youthful beauty to grief and sorrow. Jen LuXian was lucky if anyone still saw him as the same young man from six years ago, who still had a life and was relatively happy. Sitting in the carriage was alienating, because it seemed Kumi abandoned Jen LuXian for her best friend, but he did not care because he put the happiness of others before his own.
He was a selfless person and it weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Nothing will happen to Jen LuXian, because his name was unknown in Republic City. On the other hand, everyone in the Earth Kingdom knew who Jen LuXian was, from the common people to the imperial class. It was why he adopted the name Zhu Xian, when travelling through the Earth Kingdom and the islands teaching earthbending. Being in remote villages and cities gave Jen LuXian a peace of mind, even though he had a complex about saving people, from poverty and from sickness. He made a promise to himself, no one else will die on his watch, knowing he wrapped so many dead bodies in white burial cloths, when the Xieye Sect was defeated. His hands ached, from preparing the withering corpses himself and wrapping the bodies in ashen white linens, until Zhu Iroh told him to stop. When Jen LuXian finished preparing Su Yong's body and his eyes widened, to the fact Su Yong still had his beauty, even in death and it caused him to sob loudly, in front of the Xieye Sect's surviving victims and soldiers of the United Forces.
A tear fell from his eye, swallowing a kind of shame no one knew about. Losing Su Yong to the Crimson Matron, his parents to sickness and his uncle being banished made Jen LuXian almost give up on his life. The world was hollow and empty, when Jen LuXian almost took two steps from a cliff outside of Bao Yun, which would have ended his life. Overwhelmed with grief and shame could do that to someone. The pain from Su Yong's death and the deaths of the Crimson Matron's hostages constricted his chi, and he couldn't bend normally for two years. Jen LuXian never told anyone that, but a spiritual doctor from the Fire Nation could tell something was wrong with him, sensing his chi flow was constricted and emotional trauma was linked to it. It took years to heal from Su Yong's death, not to punish himself for what he could not control at the time.
Jen LuXian was tired, tried physically and tired emotionally. Being jaded was survival for him and staying away from people was paramount. No one will be killed or harmed because of being in proximity to him and all the bad luck he attracted. Sitting alone in the carriage gave him time to think. Everything about Jen LuXian was bad luck, Kumi only stayed because she was paid to protect him and he was abandoned by everyone he knew, because of his reputation as a fallen man. Fallen for losing face for his family, fallen from filial piety that was the bedrock of Earth Kingdom society and fallen from the world. Jen LuXian remembered the tears of Jen Meiling, when he left Bao Yun again with Kumi and his serving retinue. He was leaving for good, knowing he had to leave the mountains and his uncle Jen Han allowed him to leave. Jen LuXian leaving his homeland will be long term and it will be a long time, before he will go back to realise he outstayed his welcome with the Jen Clan elders.
A gust of wind was heard outside, Jen LuXian clenched his hands into fists. Bad things have happened to him before, but it only showed how dependant Jen LuXian had been on Su Yong's protection for years and always relied on him. Kumi was not as dependable as Su Yong was, because he was planning on letting Kumi go, before the end of the year. He could not help, but think about the old bodyguard, who died for him and for the people, who escaped Gu Village, as a fire of sunset red consumed the village, until all that was left was ashes and shadow. This city, this modernity would be something Su Yong would like, as his parents were merchant lords and travelled often to trade in other locations in the Earth Kingdom.
The night was still young, but Jen LuXian cared little for leisure because he did not deserve it. He did not deserve the good things other people had, it was for them. A knock was sounded, at the side of the carriage, he shuffled himself to the side. The young master was aware of danger, everywhere he went. The knock persisted again, his heart was racing, not knowing whether he will be taken or was it Kumi apologising for neglecting him. His hands were trembling, but were still for the time being. He was sure the carriage driver should warn him of an intruder, but the woman was half-asleep and didn't realise what was happening. The carriage driver deserved to be dismissed by Master Qian, when they returned because laziness is something that should not be tolerated on the job, and the driver would be responsible if anything happened to him.
The earth master's hand was on the constriction that locked the doors. Jen LuXian knew what it was, because carriages in this city evolved from the ones in the Earth Kingdom, with contraptions to lock and open the doors. Such devices were intriguing, but Jen LuXian's fingers twisted the contraption for it to click open. He sat back, as the door creaked and a hand appeared in front of him. The look of the hand was familiar, as the palm was very calloused and had little scars near the lower fingers. Jen LuXian's eyes were on the hand moving towards him, not feeling any fear in his heart, as he should be. His instincts tell him, whomever the hand belonged to, did not want to do him any harm. If the person on the other side wanted to hurt Jen LuXian, they would have grabbed him out of the carriage, under the cover of darkness, because of the carriage driver as lazy as she is, would not see anything out of the ordinary.
Jen LuXian leaned forward, with his hand hanging above the other hand, that entered the carriage. It was quiet, to the point where Jen LuXian could hear his heart beating. He swallowed, as his hand was placed over the other hand, not holding the hand, but a light touch. The contact was familiar, but Jen LuXian's fingers holding the other side of the hand. His hand was not grasped in a demanding manner, more of allowing him control over his movement. It has been a long time, since Jen LuXian held anyone's hand outside of Kumi or potential suitors. It was a man's hand, he could tell because of the calloused palm and a woman's hand would be shaped differently, to a man's hand. The other hand held Jen LuXian's three fingers and the young master jolted, by the nature of it all. Jen LuXian avoided physical contact with people in general, because of the ascetic lifestyle he adopted, and he did not like strangers touching him. He then, let go of the hand, despite how common the touch between the two palms were, and how safe he felt holding someone else's hand, other than his warrior maid.
The man stood up, pushing the door open for a familiar face to appear in front of him. Jen LuXian's heart pounded against his ribcage, when Zhu Iroh appeared. His Royal Highness was as handsome as always, but his longish hair enhanced his angular cheekbones and lush lips. The shifu bit his lip, his eye staring at the other man's lips turning into a genuine smile. His outer tunic was maple red and undershirt was white, which had a part of the prince's chest exposed. Jen LuXian found it hard to look away, he had to because he was taught to respect royal figures, not objectify them. His mother Teng Jiao-Wen experienced her fair share of being objectified, which was the curse of being the most beautiful woman in the Earth Kingdom. Many suitors came from all over the world to ask for the Butterfly of the North's hand in marriage, but were rejected because praises of her heavenly beauty, giving expensive gifts and attention to her at parties was not enough for her.
Her Noble Grace, Duchess Teng Jiao-Wen did not attend to be anyone's trophy wife, especially with her kinship with the Hou-Ting Dynasty.
Jen LuXian was aware of how much he looked like his mother, which was both a blessing and a curse. He never preened himself properly for years, but his retinue did the best they could to make him look as average as possible, but it was impossible because Jen LuXian was a beauty in plain face as well. His kindly face earned people's trust, but it did something strange to the Earth Kingdom elite, it sent them into a lustful frenzy, when they looked at him and made the comparisons to his mother. Jen LuXian was fortunate to have acquaintances, who were not attracted to him and liked him because he was different to everyone else in the Earth Kingdom, who turned a blind eye to the suffering of the common people, who were not fortunate to live in places like Omashu or Ba Sing Se, which were fortified and protected from the troubles outside their walls.
"The hand...the palm and scarred fingers were war torn. The Zhu Prince held my hands many times before. My heart raced, beating against my ribcage and my face tightened. The butterflies were fluttering in my stomach, despite the fact of having a great meal at the Qian family's residence. The thought of being sick on his highness was a terrible possibility, but it was not a bad sickness in my stomach...but a sickness commonly associated with adolescence and the feelings of first love. My first love was Su Yong and he always protected me and did what he had to do to keep me safe, even though he served up a record of kills by any bodyguard in the Earth Kingdom. He was everything to me, and would never leave me in a carriage by myself and he would sit in the carriage with me."
From the steps of the carriage, Jen LuXian got off with gentle guidance with his hands being held. He knew Qian Heifen would be jealous, because she always wanted to hold his hand for years, but he never wanted her to, because intimate contact with women like that was improper. Jen LuXian could sense the colour of his cheeks changing, but he did not mind because he was standing close to Zhu Iroh, too close for what was proper between sworn brothers. It was different to Su Yong, because he was Jen LuXian's bodyguard and it was his job to be close to him. No one wanted to get close to Jen LuXian and only wanted to give him pity, because he was known as the young master, whose parents died from the wasting sickness and left him an orphan. Sworn brotherhood was a way, Jen LuXian could have friends, without the fear of being left behind and losing contact with the acquaintances he made in Omashu.
In the Earth Kingdom, sworn brotherhood between men was normal culturally, because it fostered kinship between men. Jen LuXian had more than one martial brother, because of his years spent in Omashu and learning about the southern culture there. The earth master heard from his uncle Jen Xizuan, that sworn brotherhood and sworn sisterhood was a way, for people who loved the same sex to be together, as most same sex love in the Earth Kingdom were usually born from martial friendships. He never understood love, because his first love was his bodyguard, two years older and more worldly than him. Jen LuXian was captivated by Su Yong, even though he was beginning to fall in love with someone else. A foreign student in Kong Laoshi's lectures, a firebender which was a forbidden suitor in the Earth Kingdom, because of the pain and torment the Fire Nation caused Jen LuXian's country. In Omashu, Jen LuXian saw that firebenders were the minority against the earthbending elite in the second largest city in the Earth Kingdom.
The night in the city was different; no lanterns or candlelight outside and everything was bright. Jen LuXian fiddled with the sleeves of his robes, not wanting Zhu Iroh to see the rogue pink on his face and question him. He looked closely, as the spring night reflected the glimmer in Zhu Iroh's molten gold eyes, which made the other man froze, where he was standing because Jen LuXian always liked beautiful eyes. His own eyes were obsidian brown, but had a silver spark that none of the other Jen Clan members had, because the silver spark was known for members of the Teng Clan. Jen LuXian was a mix of both his clans, but outwards he looked like any other member of his mother's clan. He had to prove himself, to be good enough for his own surname, because of the discrimination towards beautiful men, in a kingdom known for martial strength and great endurance.
"You could have refused me. You could have stayed in the carriage and ignored my hand." General Iroh replied.
"How long...have your hands been like that?" Jen LuXian asked.
"For years...it's the price of war."
"...I remember...what your hands used to look like, Your Highness."
"What did they used to look like?"
"Clear and unblemished, like mine used to be."
Zhu Iroh gazed at Jen LuXian, standing closer to where his forehead was inches away from the prince's eyes. "The thing is...I like your hands, A-Xian." The royal firebender said, in a gentler tone of voice, "I...wanted you to hold my hand."
"Why."
"Most women are afraid of my scarred hands, you are not."
"I dressed a lot of hand injuries, on my nomadic journey. Nothing is too gruesome for me."
The earth master's eyes widened, when Zhu Iroh's hand was above his head, and then patted the top of Jen LuXian's head lightly. The young master shrunk within himself, as if he received praised from Zhu Iroh for the first time. The prince caressed the top of Jen LuXian's head and the other man's eyes widened. "You're cute, when your eyes are like that." The general smiled at him, taking his hand off the young master's head. Zhu Iroh knew caressing a young master's hair was not normal, because such contact was reserved for significant others, family members and spouses.
"Take my arm." The firebender said boldly, offering his arm towards Jen LuXian.
"Why?"
"I want to take you somewhere."
"Is it an evening club?"
"No...much better."
"If the Qians know I am missing, they will have your head."
"Blame the carriage driver."
Jen LuXian could not believe the shamelessness of the Fire Nation prince. It was not a lie and the Qian family's carriage driver will be held responsible, if anything happened to him. The earth master knew no harm would come to him, whilst under Zhu Iroh's care because he will allow his honour to be stained again. Jen LuXian was not sure, where he will be taken, but he was sure General Zhu will not take him anywhere, that would shame him because the other man had the outmost respect for him. Jen LuXian was optimistic, his night will not be a grey cloud of boredom, that Kumi would have doomed him to and he will see more of the city, the prince called his home away from his country across the western sea.
Emerging from an alleyway, in another part of the city was not what Jen LuXian had in mind. His arm linked with Zhu Iroh's arm and he allowed himself to breathe for a while, and ignore the possible consequences of leaving the carriage. Jen LuXian wished to be taken out, rescued from boredom for an entire evening, because Kumi listened to Ayeka and not her better judgement as a bodyguard. An innocent sigh came from Jen LuXian's lips, knowing Kumi will throw a fit, when she realises he is missing and will tear through the entire city to find him. The Qian family will realise their bodyguard allowed their most important guest out of her sight and both kyoshi bodyguards will lose their jobs for it.
The earth master's eyes turned away, because of the comfort Jen LuXian felt with being close to Zhu Iroh. He was a man of thirty namedays, not a youth of sixteen, who wanted a friend, who did not feel sorry for him because his parents died. Jen LuXian lowered his head, against the prince's shoulder, the time they strolled through the alleyway from the carriage. His face reddened, when Zhu Iroh patted his head, because the rules on hair in the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation being the same; strangers cannot touch the hair of a noble person, unless they were a spouse, a significant other and a family member. The prince complimented Jen LuXian, calling him cute and liking his eyes. For the young master, he liked terms of endearment and being complimented because Jen LuXian was not used to people being nice to him, in this time because he was a fallen man and a black mark on his family's reputation.
It was like a labyrinth into somewhere, Jen LuXian never expected to end up. A dock was where they ended up, knowing these type of passages were in big Earth Kingdom cities, good for children with overactive imaginations and not for thirty year old jaded men. The moving water made Jen LuXian relax his shoulders, knowing he was afraid of Kumi getting into a fight with Iroh, for taking him out the carriage and leaving on his own will. It reminded him of being on the docks of Gasho Town, seeing boats coming in and out of the ports controlled by Omashu. Jen LuXian had done heavy labour on the ports of Gasho Town, when he visited the town on his journey; helping load cargo onto the ships heading south towards the state of Yi or up north to Garsai. It was before Jen LuXian started hearing about how lei tai was popular in Jinshu City, and wanted to travel there to try and beat the competition and be in a fighting ring for the last time.
Jen LuXian's eye caught on a well-crafted sampan anchored by the dock, with circular lanterns attached to the curved shelter, that was like a cabin in other boats. A sampan in sight softened his face, from a cold disposition into something pleasant. There was nothing pleasant to look at, when it came to Jen LuXian. He was a fallen man and no one wanted to get close to him. His fortunes soured and was bad luck from the former martial champion he was in his country. Glistening shades of moonlight reflected on the water, which Jen LuXian found beautiful, and he could almost see his reflection in the water. He used a part of his cascaded hair to cover the long-edged scar, that His Highness could see and be disgusted with Jen LuXian, if he did see that ruination on his face.
Zhu Iroh's lips turned into a smile, but could not stop gazing at the man next to him. "Your eyes light up to the sight of an old boat, you are really are old-fashioned."
"Old like your grandfather." Jen LuXian replied, with a bite in his tone.
"There it is."
Young Master Jen looked perplexed, knowing he commented on Zhu Iroh's grandfather and expected a retort back. "What."
"That harsh tongue of yours."
"I didn't know you cared about my tongue so much, Your Highness."
"What are you hiding?"
"None of your business..."
The tone in Jen LuXian's voice thickened with anger, what did a spoiled prince from the west know about his troubles. It was leftover bitterness from five years ago, Jen LuXian never blamed General Zhu for Su Yong's death because he knew the Crimson Matron was to blame, but deep inside was another story. Jen LuXian was warned by his classmates in Omashu; the jealousy of firebenders was dangerous and how some killed their own friends over passionate love. Zhu Iroh was from a bloodline of firebenders with killing intent, but he did not seem that way to Jen LuXian. He was always courteous and kind to the earth master, never wanting to do him any harm. The man fiddled with the strands of his hair, pushing it over to hide what marred his face, never wanting anyone to see what happened to him in Chameleon City, which resulted in Kumi having to kill the useless Earth Kingdom lieutenant for it.
A warmth radiated from the prince's shoulder and Jen LuXian leaned closer, his cheek pressing onto Zhu Iroh's arm. He caught the prince's lips trembling, but he couldn't see beneath the night and the firebender's face. His hand gripped onto the general's wrist, without meaning to and Jen LuXian knew this contact was beyond what friends would do, but they were different to the sworn brothers in the Earth Kingdom. The spring chill was what Jen LuXian was used to in Bao Yun, but it didn't do him any harm for itching to be closer to the firebender's body, a perfect place of warmth and the other man didn't mind it. If the prince was bothered by the young master leaning on him, he would have pushed him away, but he allowed Jen LuXian to almost snuggle against him.
The man took a step towards the sampan, but a part of the boat jerked and the front of his foot slipped, stepping onto his robes and tripped towards the water. Jen LuXian was captured, by a pair of arms stopping him from falling into the water, and his heart was thudding against his chest. His eyes widened, his body frozen and realising he was caught. Jen LuXian gasped, before he began to fall and the idea of falling was terrible, especially when Jen LuXian slipped because he stepped on his robes. The earth master did not like being vulnerable, because it made him look weak, a weak man who needed someone else to protect him, when he was capable in protecting himself.
From behind, the pair of arms were wrapped around Jen LuXian's body and across his chest, leaning closer to the other man. "Jen Lian...are you alright." Zhu Iroh said, in a lowered voice, almost like a whisper. He held the young master tightly, not wanting to let go of him. It was sweet, if they were children exhibiting the want for human contact and not thirty year old men, pushing against each other's boundaries and treating one of them like a young miss in distress.
Jen LuXian lowered his head, his hair covering both sides of his face and his cheeks flushed. His heart thundered, body warmed by the firebender's closeness to him. The earth master and the prince were familiar with the contact they had with each other, but something like this crossed all the boundaries sworn brothers should have. What in the name of Oma are you doing? Blushing like a dear maiden, because His Highness saved you from a cold bath. Jen LuXian ignored his thoughts, as the prince brought him to his feet. The fact this happened at night made it romantic, not that His Royal Highness had romantic inclinations towards him. Jen LuXian never thought of Zhu Iroh, a royal firebender being a tongzhi, as if it was any of his business to know what the prince's preferences were and what he liked.
The earth master cleared his throat, with a hand covering the mid-section of his chest. "I'm well, Your Highness." Jen LuXian said quietly, he did not want to express what he was feeling. It was complicated, because Jen LuXian wished to have one friend, who was not attracted to him. Those friends were far and few and were the ones, who were in their homes in the Earth Kingdom and obeying their families, as Jen LuXian should be and not roaming the Earth Kingdom like a spirit's damned scrap collector.
There was no earth on the platform near the sampan. Being this close to the prince, Jen LuXian sensed an irregular heartbreak from somewhere and his face was flushed. Jen LuXian turned away from Zhu Iroh, he could not keep a straight eye on him, but lowered his gaze and sighed. The young master had not been hugged in years, in any kind of way because contact like that would overwhelm him to tears and Jen LuXian was always been a sensitive child. He wiped a slow rolling tear from his eye, when the prince let him go. The air around them chilled, compared to the homely warmth Young Master Jen sensed earlier, despite almost falling from the platform. If Jen LuXian had a choice, he would allow himself to curl up in Zhu Iroh's arms, against the other man's chest for a long time, because no one could hold him that way and not be accused of breaking their bearings.
General Iroh closed his eyes, hoping for his upper lip to stop trembling and gain some normalcy. "I will help you." The royal firebender said, taking Jen LuXian's hand with one hand and the other hand was holding the young master's waist. The earth master's throat dried, his breath was shallow when the prince's hand grasped the left side of his waist. In his existence, only jade-like beauties were treated with this much care and it was normal for young masters to treat the ladies they liked this way. It was the chivalrous way of a gentleman. Jen LuXian has seen women do it with other women, and men with other men. The tongzhi couple Jen LuXian saw in Tuji held each other and kissed, when the fireworks were in the sky, in the small town on the edge of the Mo Ce Sea.
In a way, Jen LuXian envied the common folk, able to express their love so freely, in a kingdom that valued its culture, traditions and the bedrock custom of obeying the wishes of your family.
The earth master was capable, of getting into the sampan on his own, but he did not mind the help. What are you doing? Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom people are not supposed to love each other. If a third prince and a dragontamer can be killed for their love, what hope do you have in the world. What you feel is disgusting...don't act on it. Jen LuXian shook his head, ignoring those thoughts. Jen LuXian took the general's hand and got onto the sampan at the same time. Jen LuXian found the black water beautiful, especially when reflected in the sun or the moon. From the other side, near a misshapen lantern, the prince of the Fire Nation softened his face, allowing the youth charm that duty crushed shine through. His golden eyes reflected the light from the lantern and Jen LuXian's heart skipped a beat. It did not matter if Jen LuXian shamed himself, because any dignity he had left was gone and he did not deserve to have any, because of how unfilial he was to his family, his country and how he failed in the world.
The sampan motioned through the water, away from the dock and the land that encapsulated the city. Jen LuXian and Zhu Iroh were inside the shelter, with the people rowing the sampan from both sides of the longboat. It was a homely shelter with the outside lantern, brightly shining between them. There was a table between both men, laid with a red and gold patterned cloth and on top of it was a crimson red tea set, carefully decorated with dragons in white crafting. A teapot was in the middle of the table, it was shaped like the teapots from the Gintong Province, which were more curved than the rounded teapots from the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. Next to the tea set was a plate of golden lily cakes, a buttery cake flavoured with pineapple, a sweet fruit that was familiar to Jen LuXian because they were a staple food in Omashu, because the farmers in Gasho Town grew this fruit in abundance and pineapples have been a staple in Omashu's cuisine for centuries.
For the last two years, Jen LuXian worked in teahouses and knew lily cakes were popular and knew how to make them by hand. A young master from a noble clan, like Jen Lian should never enter a kitchen, let alone learn how to cook and serve the common people. He was tired of the constrained atmosphere in Bao Yun, because the elders in his family treated him with indifference, but Great Aunt Ruyi had been harsher than ever, telling him to stop mourning for that boy. His heart ached for the old mountain ranges of Bao Yun, but he did not miss the people inside the Jen Clan. Jen LuXian's elders soured on Su Yong years before his death and wanted to get rid of him, without offending Madam Teng, who was responsible for hiring Su Yong as his bodyguard. Jen LuXian's uncle Jen Han let him go, realising that staying in Bao Yun would have worsened Jen LuXian's mental state. He didn't align with his traditional paternal family in Bao Yun and staying with his maternal family, the Tengs in Ba Sing Se would be worse, than being married to someone he did not love for the rest of his life.
The tea was poured, spilling out a dark orange liquid into the tea cups. Jen LuXian gazed at Zhu Iroh's fingers, from the corner of his eye. The prince grasped the handle of the teapot, whilst pouring the tea and gently pushing a cup towards his side. A cough broke the tension in the atmosphere and Jen Lian was amused for a while, but Iroh fiddled with his newly grown ponytail, reaching past his shoulders. A sniff from his cup, and the young master closed his eyes to take in the aroma of the blend, it was nothing like blends in the Earth Kingdom. This blend must be new or something the prince made himself. Tea blends were not easy to make from scratch, because it took years of meticulous work, to get the blend right, for it to not be too earthy, like a cooking herb or too sweet like a loquat. Jen LuXian thought himself, a tea expert because of the amount of tea blends he has tasted, consumed and made himself in his lifetime, but he never smelled anything like this blend before.
Jen LuXian sat with both his legs together, never putting one leg above the other. That behaviour was for young masters like Guo Qiuyao, the brother of Guo Yufei and a known lush in Omashu. His hands was on the tea cup, taking in another sniff of this citrus blend and took the cup to his lips, drinking the tea for himself and the mixed blend hit the tip of his tongue. Jen LuXian tasted many tea blends in the past, from noble households to common teahouses and no cup of tea tasted the same, unless he was stuck in his maternal aunt's mansion and the tea was dull and didn't have the burst of flavour common teas had in the Earth Kingdom.
A smile crept upon the earth master's lips, drinking the tea and savouring the taste on his tongue. "Your Highness, where is this blend from. I would like to purchase some." Jen LuXian's tone sounded like an excited youth, who finished mastering the intermediate forms of earthbending. He was sure this tea blend was an invention from the Fire Nation, especially when the Jasmine Dragon was the most popular teahouse business in the Fire Nation, with teahouses in every part of the nation.
General Iroh had a bashful look on his face, and he admitted. "...It's a blend...I made myself, Your Grace." The prince sat like an upstanding general, not a limb out of place and his face bashful from Young Master Jen's compliment about this orange tea blend, which was Zhu Iroh's own creation and he wanted Jen LuXian to like it.
Jen LuXian sipped the tea more, not wanting to finish it because he wanted to savour the taste. It was a unique blend, made just for him. "I never thought you a tea master, Your Highness. The lily cakes were a nice gesture, knowing how much I like them."
"Do you still play Pai Sho?"
"Yes...the common people in Omashu appreciate my skill, despite me playing the northern style than the southern style."
"Winning or losing."
The earth master chuckled, believing His Highness was endearing, by how bashful he was by a compliment from him. "Didn't you lose a game to Ning Renshu years ago?" Jen LuXian's tone turned playful, drinking more of the tea and having eaten one of the lily cakes on the plate. It was known Zhu Iroh was a winner at Pai Sho, being the great-grand nephew of a Pai Sho master and his mother, Fire Lord Izumi being a master of strategy. Eight years ago, Zhu Iroh was beaten by Ning Renshu, an avid player and played the southern Earth Kingdom style of the game, which left no room for errors and spotted a lot of Iroh's mistakes and Ning Renshu played a defensive strategy.
"I was humble enough to lose to your Brother Ning."
"Better him than the Daojing young masters, they would have destroyed the board within seconds of losing. There is one thing Kuei Daojing hates more than the Beifongs is losing, he expects his sons to be winners."
"If I played against you, I would throw the game, if you asked me to."
"Why...do you not care about winning, Your Highness? Are you used to your pride chipping away?" Jen LuXian suggested, pulling out his fan and waving it across his face. With the fan near his face, Jen Lian looked the proper young master in the Earth Kingdom's noble society. Jen LuXian was not the only noble man to use a fan. Other young masters used fans to signify they were non-benders and use it as a defence weapon, to protect themselves if their household guards fail.
In his years in Omashu, Jen LuXian knew Ning Renshu used a fan, because his spiritual formation was low. Young Master Ning was the only boy in a household of four sisters and was spoiled rotten by his parents, because of his position, as the Defence Minister of Omashu's only son and a non-bender, which meant Ning Renshu was spoiled and cloistered. Jen LuXian used fans because he protected his people and used it as a defence weapon.
"I don't want to hurt your feelings, Jen Lian."
"Losing a game of Pai Sho does not hurt anymore."
A burst of laughter came from Zhu Iroh's lips and it sounded like a chiming bell. Jen LuXian gazed further, at the prince's clothes clinging onto his body, but his outer tunic was loose compared to the undershirt that exposed his chest and a gold pendant was around his neck, with a red dragon in the middle of rubies. The dragon pendant was priceless, because only members of the Fire Nation royal family wore this pendant, no matter if they were active in the royal palace or retired on Ember Island. Jen LuXian had seen Lord Zuko and Fire Lord Izumi wear the same pendant, when they came to Omashu for the wedding between Fu Meifen, the King of Omashu's daughter and the Governor of Yi's eldest nephew Kaiden in a lavish ceremony. In the Earth Kingdom, marriage was not for love, it was the union between families and it was the reassurance of positive relations between two states, whom came together in a common peace, after a trade dispute years ago.
The earth master fiddled with the sleeves of his robes, eating another of the lily cakes on the plate, having eaten three already. Lily cakes originated from Omashu, but Jen LuXian could see Zhu Iroh developed a love for these cakes and he saw why. When word of Avatar Aang's passing came to Omashu, Iroh had only been a Sergeant in the United Forces and their ships stopped in Gasho Town to stock supplies for their next journey. Jen LuXian found the prince in his uniform, crying in an alleyway of the town. Jen LuXian enveloped the royal firebender in his embrace, allowing him to lean onto the earthbender's shoulder. The loss of Avatar Aang broke His Highness's heart into pieces, having had the Avatar, as a fixture in his childhood and in his teenage years. It was known worldwide, Avatar Aang was an important part in the lives of his friends, their children and their grandchildren, who were in the same generation as Jen LuXian and Zhu Iroh.
Two lily cakes bought from a local bakery, it was what Jen LuXian gave to an inconsolable Zhu Iroh, encouraging him to eat something. He could not believe such buttery and pineapple flavoured cakes would bond them closer. Jen LuXian knew what loss felt like, having lost his parents at thirteen and witnessing his uncle's banishment from Bao Yun. The young master was the perfect person, at that moment to console the firebender on his loss, because he had to bear that grief alone. Eating the lily cakes brought those memories back, with every bite into the buttery pastry into Jen Lian's mouth. The tea was warm, even though there was no stove on the boat and General Zhu was a master firebender, he could have made the blend at home and boiled the water in the pot to the right temperature and consistency outside of his home.
Jen LuXian's eyes looked intently, to the threads of Zhu Iroh's undershirt loose by not closing the shirt properly, or was it a deliberate taunt. This happened to Young Master Jen often; young masters and ladies divesting themselves to catch his attention. Jen LuXian's eyes burned with the sight of Eldest Lady Sun and Second Lady Ning in one of Omashu's outdoor hot springs; they were naked and gesturing him to come into the spring with them, but he denied their request. At the time, Su Yong covered his young master's eyes with his hands and muttered how Omashu's ladies were shameless and not respectable like the ladies in Ba Sing Se were with their absolute modesty. Jen LuXian smirked, at the thought of Su Yong's teeth gritting, when the young master's eyes caught the full breasts of Second Lady Ning and blushed from it. Second Lady Ning was no flowery beauty, like the young misses of Ba Sing Se were, but a full bodied woman, who gave Jen LuXian his first kiss, when they were teenagers and sat close to each other in Kong Laoshi's lectures.
After the tea and lily cakes, Jen LuXian pondered on Pai Sho. He played all styles, but was more comfortable in playing the southern Earth Kingdom style, because he spent two years in the southern Earth Kingdom, making scraps into valuable items to be sold and doing favours for people. The young master created a persona called Zhu Xian and he became him, when he left Bao Yun. Zhu Xian was a pleasant and kind man, but beautiful enough to be considered a young master from a noble family, but earned his toil as a nomad. Using a common surname in the Earth Kingdom, meant no one knew who he was, unless Jen LuXian got into trouble with a local official and his golden butterfly pendant gave him away. The butterfly pendant exposed him as a member of the Teng family, but his body was built like a member of the Jen family in the north, which confused people and they ignored him and let him go on about his normal business.
"The outer lantern brings out, the beauty in your eyes, Your Grace." Zhu Iroh said, in a haughty tone.
Jen LuXian could feel the heat on his cheeks, not wanting the prince to see him blushing indefiantly. He needed to keep a rational head on him, and not lose his composure. The earth master was rubbing a hand, at the back of his neck, he shook off the compliment like it was nothing. Jen LuXian was used to people talking about his eyes, his nose or his smile, he stiffened himself from the comments because they were going to come either way. In the Fire Nation, men were more expressive in complimenting those they found attractive, it was a nation of high passions and shameless behaviour amongst the nobility, as Jen LuXian learned from the ports of Gasho Town and the tea rooms in Omashu's royal palace. He heard such things from Guo Qiuyao, but Jen LuXian knew to never trust the word of a drunk and a whoremonger and he was sure Guo Qiuyao was over exaggerating. The rumours were on the Fire Nation's young masters and young misses having sex filled parties in Caldera City's most exclusive pleasure houses.
The earth master was not sure, with Zhu Iroh moving from sitting opposite him to sitting next to him, his warmth radiated from his body and it was typical of firebenders. The spring night persisted and Jen LuXian was in proper layers enough to be warm, but a red blanket was upon the earthbender's shoulders and wrapped around his upper body. It was as if he was a child being tucked into bed, by his parents during a cold winter in Bao Yun. Jen LuXian's pupils contracted, with this gesture being done to him, a thirty year old man, who as a child used to be wrapped in warm blankets by his noble mother, when he had nightmares about the dark spirits from the stories of Avatar Kuruk and Teng Jiao-Wen stayed with her Xian'er, until the nightmares were banished from his dreams.
Young Master Jen wrapped the red blanket around his shoulders. His heart swelled with joy, having never had anyone be this tender towards him, unless they were an old auntie in any village, trying to treat him like a child. There was an inner child inside, that was broken when Jen LuXian saw the withered corpses of his parents, when their bodies returned to Bao Yun and he was old enough to see what jade disease looked like on the edge of death. The young master remembered Zhu Iroh's father, the royal consort Yuson Oshiro died from fever and he understood how much of a fatherless boy Zhu Iroh was and Jen Lian was just as fatherless as he was. His Highness looks exquisite up close, but the movement between his lips...no...he might have some woman in the Fire Nation waiting for him. He compliments me because he wants to be a good host, but I want to know if he does have someone in his life, just to get a clear answer from him."
Jen LuXian asked bitterly, "Why spend your time with me, if you someone in your country, Your Highness?"
"What do you mean, Your Grace?" General Iroh replied softly.
The earth master cleared his throat, wanting to appear stern and unmoved, like his father's martial clan, and not the opulent beauty of his mother's clan. "You are liked and popular, you must have some young miss waiting for you to return home." Jen LuXian was brittle in his tone, difficult to hide the vinegar in his tone. He devoted himself to spiritual faith and such things were beneath him and it was a sin to wonder about things that belong to others, but the human inside could not help what he felt at this moment.
Zhu Iroh guffawed with a hand over his face, even his laughter sounded charming to Jen LuXian. Was the prince laughing at him? If he was, how dare he laugh at him, all because he was senior to Jen Lian and thought Earth Kingdom nobility were too strict and old-fashioned. "No one is waiting for me in the Fire Nation, Your Grace. I am a man of the sea, I can't take anyone with me." General Iroh replied solemnly, considering his career took him on ships and travelled the world. Not even a royal fire master could take a concubine at sea and condemn them to a life of misery. A spoiled concubine of a royal or a noble could never consent to a life at sea, because they were used to being spoiled, by their wealthy patrons and wearing their clan colours in front of their spouses.
As cruel as it sounded, Jen LuXian was glad and his heart could rest. A jolt was sent through the earth master's hand, Zhu Iroh's right hand brushed against Jen LuXian's knuckles on his hand. The red blanket wrapped around Jen LuXian's shoulders slipped off. The prince's fingers were in-between Jen LuXian's fingers, stroking along the length of his fingers. The other man was flustered, a drop of sweat rolling down behind his ears. He sensed his rapid heartbeat against his chest, all because of tender touch between his fingers. Fingers that toiled in the Earth Kingdom, doing farm work or building things with his bending, which took a lot of spiritual energy. Jen LuXian leaned backwards, savouring the sensation between his fingers, brushing against his knuckles and those warm and familiar fingers went upwards, towards Jen LuXian's face.
The prince's middle and index fingers brushing the loose hair from the young master's face, itching to caress his cheek and his eyes stiffened by something he saw. Zhu Iroh's eyes widened, when his eyes were on the long edged scar along Jen LuXian's jawline. The earth master turned away; he did not like anyone looking at the scar. "Jen Lian...what happened to you? Who did this to you?" The general's voice thickened with distain and his tone threatening. The killing intent was evident in Zhu Iroh's tone of voice. Jen LuXian was either frightened or amused, because no one defended him like this before. No one stood up for him, whilst high society beat him down, for daring to love someone below his station and dared to mourn for Su Yong so much for five years.
"Please...don't look at me, Your Highness." exclaimed Jen LuXian, never wanting to be judged for something that happened to him. "I know you think, I'm grotesque and ugly, but...this is what I was hiding from you."
"Your Grace, do you think me so shallow, that I would think that way about you?"
Jen LuXian cleared his throat and gulped, he was ready to reveal what happened to his face. "I travelled to Chameleon City, where my retinue and I would work in a local teahouse. Kumi preferred to work as a guard in a pleasure house in the city, excusing the opportunity to look at beautiful women. I wasn't sure how Daiya, Shai and Jei would react, leaving their comfortable lives in Bao Yun to join me. The madam of the teahouse I worked in had a granddaughter, who worked there and was the target for bullies because of her plain looks. The girl Xiao Liu was no jade beauty like Pei Ling, but made great tea. One afternoon, a retinue of soldiers came into the city, from a military base across the bay and were usually favoured customers of local teahouses. This pig of a man, Lieutenant Ping liked harassing local women for his own pleasure. Men like this, did things like that because a uniform gave them superiority over the common people. I stepped in to defend a group of women from Lieutenant Ping's harassment, but he didn't respond kindly to people, getting involved in his business. He pulled a sharp knife and slashed the side of my jawline."
The young master could see Zhu Iroh's face twist in disgust, but was ashamed because he was a soldier too. Cut from the same cloth, as the man who scarred Jen LuXian's face. A tear fell from the prince's eye, for what Jen LuXian told him. The general lowered his head, away from the gaze he had on the scar on Jen LuXian's face. Wondering if the wound hurt him? Did the pain of the event still hurt him? and why was his bodyguard so slow to the knife coming Jen Lian's way. It was not always like this, but Jen LuXian knew the scar on his cheek, was a testament to Kumi's failure and how he forgave her for what happened to him.
Jen LuXian had a feeling, that Zhu Iroh will never forgive Kumi for allowing him to be harmed.
"Amongst the group of women was a doctor, who treated my wound. The teahouse madam and Xiao Liu were afraid, I would die because of the blood. Everything that happened, after I was scarred was a blur to me...I didn't know Lieutenant Ping was dead, until Kumi told me when we left the city. It did not matter, because I was lucky to be alive. Your Highness, I have been in these types of situations before, it comes with my fallen reputation and people having the licence to mock me."
The sign of Zhu Iroh turning away from Jen LuXian, made his heart sink. He is disgusted with you. That scar ruined your face and His Highness will never like you. He will be polite to you and take you back to the Qian family's home and stay away from you. The earth master ignored those thoughts, even though deep down, he believed them to be true. Jen LuXian could not afford to lose someone else in his life. He was expelled from noble society and wondered the Earth Kingdom. His life was an open road, with the young master teaching earthbending to those who had the potential, taught non-benders, how to fight for themselves and Jen LuXian even governed a village, for a few weeks, after his expulsion from Southern Water Tribe. It did not have the comfort of Bao Yun, knowing Jen LuXian's elders never wanted him back for shaming his family, but Jen LuXian knew he will return home one day and his cousins will welcome him.
General Iroh had a bated breath in his voice. "Jen Lian..."
Jen LuXian's face twisted in pain, to the point of cloaking away the resentment in his heart. "I know...you look at me...with pity. The same way, my uncle did when he let me go. Uncle Han was sad, just like you are now and I don't want your pity...and I..."
Before Jen LuXian could say anymore, a force of strength enveloped the young master's whole body. Zhu Iroh bringing the other man's body close to his chest and his arms around him. The earth master sensed he was cushioned by the warmth from the firebender's body and he closed his eyes and allowed himself to be comforted and enjoy it. The last time, Jen LuXian got genuine hug was from his older cousin Jen Chou and never looked back, because hugging his cousin felt like a cord between them had strengthened. Jen LuXian's head wanted to fall on the prince's shoulder, but he could not because it was inappropriate and crossed boundaries too much, too much for a royal firebender to handle his composure and noble bearing against contact so intimate from another man.
The shifu sensed Zhu Iroh's breathing, as it warmed with each exhale. Jen LuXian jerked away, pulling himself out of Iroh's embrace and moving away from where the prince was. "I imposed myself on you, Your Grace. Forgive me..." The firebender said, in a tone of reverence and a genuine sadness in his voice.
Jen LuXian murmured, "You didn't impose too much. It's...the first time...I have been comforted in a long time. Being taken care of...tenderly is what I miss about being with people I know, love and care about in this world."
"Keep the blanket."
The earth master's cheeks heated, to the point he was blushing and could be seen, from the lantern outside the shelter. "...I can't keep it, Your Highness. It's yours and I will give it back to you, when I'm done with it."
"Will you stay in the city for long?"
"No...I will send the retinue back to Bao Yun and I plan to release Kumi from my service. She is so young and I ruined her." Jen LuXian's voice was full of regret, it was not his choice to hire a young woman to be his bodyguard and he would prefer someone older than him for the job.
"Where are you planning to go?"
"Exploring the northeastern lands."
"What if you had someone to keep you company?"
"Like a bodyguard." Jen LuXian quipped.
"No...a companion, someone needs to look out for you, since you are planning to release the kyoshi girl."
"Are you offering to come with me, Your Highness?"
"It's a good time, to take a leave of absence from office and travel with you."
"Has anyone from your family travelled, Your Highness?"
General Iroh leaned back, with a leg crossed over the other. His black boots with white detailing were fine, but only the best for royalty. "My mother travelled a lot, as crown princess and meeting many people in the world. My father was not much of a traveller and prefers the comfort of home. Mizuki travelled, when she was a young scholar and it was how she and Lichen started courting each other. I never got the opportunity to travel outside the United Forces, apart from Omashu for the royal wedding and the Si Wong Desert for my grandmother's pendant."
"Would you like to travel? Run away from your duties?" Jen LuXian's tone became playful, wrapping the red blanket across his shoulders and smirking between his lips.
"If the right person asked me."
"Ready to run away from your office?"
"I would walk across miles for you."
The earth master was astounded, no one other than Su Yong would declare something like that. Jen LuXian's old life seemed like a lifetime ago, when he was declared one of the seven treasures of the Earth Kingdom, blessed by the heavens themselves and only great heroes got this title. He did not feel worthy, being amongst greats like Avatar Kyoshi and Xia Rulan. How could Jen LuXian compare of an Avatar, who put the world in order and a third prince who died to end a war. It must be for his deeds for the common people in his years of travelling the kingdom, not his martial feats when Jen LuXian was younger and his spiritual energy flowed, like the Long Crane River and was an earth master, with a reputation of being a virtuous man.
Jen LuXian and Zhu Iroh enjoyed the company, as the sampan turned from where they were and was being rowed again. The blanket was wrapped around Jen LuXian, snuggling into the red material on his shoulders and it kept him warm throughout the boat ride. He liked how shallow and quiet boat rides were, unless the shipwrights were talkative in the moment and Jen LuXian would oblige, because it would be rude not to, knowing he was not a talkative person. Jen LuXian only talked with people, he was familiar with unless something touched the man's heart, like when Zhu Iroh, laid in a bed in the White Swallow Tribe's home fighting the desert python's poison, still found time to tell Jen LuXian about his childhood, and the times he and his sister Mizuki met Avatar Aang through his visits to the Fire Nation.
He understood the prince's declaration, because loyalty from a firebender was everything, and they treasured their honour deep in their souls. Jen LuXian wondered, what Avatar Kyoshi's reaction was, when the firebender Rangi of the Sei'naka Clan swore her fealty and loyalty to follow her everywhere. It was similar to the stilled face of Young Master Jen, in reaction to what Zhu Iroh said to him and Jen LuXian's heart stopped for a moment. He did not want to forget it, because it reminded him of Su Yong and how determined his late bodyguard was in protecting him, from the scum the Earth Kingdom had to offer and killed them for him. Jen LuXian never forgot about Su Yong, even though he has been dead for five years. He treasured the years he had with his old bodyguard and the memories that sweetened, like a garden of blooming flowers.
Normality was a nice thing, something Jen LuXian craved when he arrived in this city. No disputes and no conflicts with people. The earth master moved closer to Zhu Iroh, seeing him look away from Jen LuXian in disgust because of the scar. His heart gladdened, when the firebender looked back at him. He still wanted to be in his company, even after what was revealed. Jen LuXian's stomach was a pit of anxiety, even though the orange flavoured tea had run out and the plate of lily cakes was finished. The young master tiltered his body to where the prince's right shoulder was and the contact was made. Eyes were tired, but Jen LuXian didn't want this silent night to end, knowing the man at his side would always care for him. No matter what happened between the five years and the hope of things changing, because fate was fickle, but was always kindest to its blossoming subjects.
PS - (朱贤) Zhu Xian is the name Jen LuXian used when travelling through the Earth Kingdom, after leaving his homeland to travel. It's an abbreviation of his courtesy name and Zhu being a common surname in the Earth Kingdom and the surname of the current Fire Nation royal family. It's intentional because it's Jen Lian taking Iroh's surname and signalling they will be a couple and progress towards marriage in the future.
- A sampan is a Chinese flat-bottomed longboat. It's a boat I wanted to use in the last half of the chapter, as a way to make Jen LuXian feel at home. It will be a common longboat used in the Earth Kingdom and the United Republic of Nations.
- Lingchi is translated from Chinese as a slow process of death. It's also known as death by a thousand cuts. It's a common saying for Jen LuXian, that he would rather be tortured or dead rather than live with his mother's opulent family in Ba Sing Se.
- Sworn brotherhood or sworn sisterhood is ritual kinship between men or women, who pledge themselves to brotherhood or sisterhood for the rest of their lives. It's a honour higher than ordinary friendship in Chinese Confician ranking in terms of the five interpersonal relationships. It's a common feature in wuxia and xianxia novels. In the Earth Kingdom, these relationships are also a code for same sex relationships and the relationships they have to cover the fact, these pairings are lovers and use sworn brotherhood or sisterhood to continue their relationships.
- In Chinese culture, white is the colour signifying mourning and death, which is why Fire Lord Ozai, Zuko and Azula wore white to Fire Lord Azulon's funeral. Jen Lian wrapped the dead bodies in Gu Village in that colour of cloth and spent hours preparing the dead.
- (同志) tongzhi is the Chinese formal word for homosexuality and an umbrella term for non-straight people. Jen LuXian uses this word, to reference gay people and wonders if Iroh is tongzhi himself because of how tender and kind he is towards him. The word will be used in future chapters, when Jen LuXian and Iroh start exploring their feelings for each other.
- Gasho Town is a port town on the western side of the state of Omashu, controlled by the rulers of Omashu themselves. It's a prosperous port town with trade from the other nations coming in and it's a regular supply stop for ships from the United Forces. It's one of the examples of the prosperity of Omashu and their influence in the southern Earth Kingdom has risen with the popular and martial Fu family ruling Omashu.