Well, another chapter of my Dai Li romance fic is hot off the presses! After two or three more chapters, Avatar canon events will start to rear their head big time for Hong and Rajata, so just be patient folks!

For now though, enjoy this particular one, in which Rajata visits her agent boyfriend's house a second time, finds out that he has a concubine, gets to know her and the rest of the household staff better, and our protagonists come very close to um, consummating their fast-moving relationship.

WARNING: This chapter contains:

-A member of the Dai Li scaring people for his own amusement.

-Children being physically disciplined.

-Two characters nearly engaging in mutually desired sexual intercourse.

-Suggestive foreplay, and a verbally expressed desire for sexual intercourse between two characters.

-A child barging in on/being exposed to two characters about to engage in sexual intercourse.

-Casually patriarchal, domineering behavior from Agent Hong.

-A female character wrongfully, but understandably anticipating being subjected to non-consensual sex.

-Dai Li creepiness.

-A Dai Li agent venting his frustration and hurt at being denied sexy time with the woman he adores on an innocent stone wall.

He hung, like an immense bat, from the chamber's stone ceiling with the aid of his rock boots. While his braid hung loose beneath his inverted crown, he kept his robes from flopping down over his face with the aid of a thin ring of rock that he'd bent around each ankle, plus a larger one clamped around his waist.

The place was right. And now the time nearly was too…

The sounds of footsteps, of a pair of female voices conversing as they headed down the hallway in his direction, made Hong both eagerly tense and smirk in anticipation as he prepared to silently strike.

"Lao Yan, your lovely guest is he- "Chu Hua began with a grin as she presented the other woman-before suddenly stopping short and looking around the reception hall in confusion on finding it seemingly vacant.

Rajata, dressed in an emerald green linen sari, draped over a tan choli top with elbow-length sleeves, and a pleated grass green lehenga skirt which reached to just above her ankles, spangled with a pattern of tiny silver triangles, was equally baffled by his unexpected absence as she too, began looking around.

"Hong? Where are you? Is this some sort of a tri-? "she began suspiciously, halting as she suddenly happened to notice his dangling braid.

Too late.

He'd already released his hold on the ceiling at that point, face split by a gleaming grin as he expertly righted himself in freefall and, bracing himself for the impact, landed like a pygmy puma in front of his very startled girlfriend and servant, boots hitting the floor with an almighty crack!

Chu Hua yelped, while Rajata screamed in shock, cracks radiating out from her feet through some of the stone floor tiles as she jerked back. Hong meanwhile, doubled over in uproarious, pleased laughter, a deep, barking sort of laugh which resounded through the room. Both women were far less amused.

"I should've realized," Chu Hua panted in equal parts agitation and exasperation, holding her hand against her chest. "I dearly wish you wouldn't do that, master."

Rajata's normally soft, cheerful brown eyes were now glaring at him with displeasure as he continued to laugh, her lips set tight.

"What was that for Hong?!" she chided. "Was it really necessary to 'greet' me that way? To scare me half to death just now?"

"To see the looks on both your faces? Absolutely!" Hong chuckled, even while he smoothed out the damage Rajata had just done to his floor with a sliding motion of his right hand, held flat, as he gently pulled across the stone, sealing all the cracks. Totally worth it.

"Well, I didn't think it was all that entertaining," Rajata groused, her breathing still ragged as she placed a hand on her hip in a gesture of irritation. "I mean, isn't that the exact way you Dai Li often ambush the baddi-? "

"Oh, don't be so cross, my princess," Hong replied as he strode towards her with a smile, taking her into his arms and giving his girlfriend an apologetic kiss on the cheek, then her crown, pausing briefly to inhale the sweet aroma of almonds from her hair oil. "Surely, even a stoic Dai Li agent like yours truly can indulge in a prank now and again?" he asked, giving her a measured grin as they parted.

"I guess," she replied, calming somewhat. "Just going to warn you though, I'm not going to fall for that one a second time!"

Perhaps I'll use my bending to walk through a wall behind where you're standing next time them, my lotus, he thought, inwardly smiling. That was always an enjoyable trick to play too.

"Unfortunately, I can be slow to learn at times," Chu Hua sighed.

"Also," Rajata advised, "never pull that with Maalai or my mom if they visit-even though they're non-benders, they'd scream so loud that the roof of this room would fall down anyway. And Tuhina-she'd shatter at least a couple of the supporting pillars with her bending."

"That certainly wouldn't do. Duly noted," he chuckled.

Striding over the shaggy platypus-bear rug, he shed his stone boots and took his stately place on the formal wooden couch, softly illuminated by glowstone lanterns, giving a welcoming smile as he gestured to Rajata to take a seat by said couch in a cushioned chair.

He would've liked it much better of course, if she could be sitting right at his side-but protocol decreed that it was still far too early for that pleasure.

"So, did my sentries give you any grief on your arrival?"

She shook her shapely head. "They were appropriately, well, on their guard (and here she grinned at her own pun), but with Chu Hua here to greet me at the gate and them already aware that I was coming, there were no issues."

He gave a quick nod and smile of satisfaction. "Good. Now, while I know that you're looking forward to beginning our romantic dinner date, I'd like to take some time first to officially introduce my various retainers, who all help keep this place from utterly going to shambles. You're probably going to be seeing them fairly regularly in the future, after all," he smirked.

"It would be my pleasure," Rajata cheerily replied.

She watched as the members of his retinue were presented. Chu Hua was already there of course, and stood at attention before them with the hems of her sleeves touching. A clap of Hong's bare hands, and Haoren emerged from the hall to bow before her as well. Shan, his cook. Haochi, the assistant cook. Xiapi and Sima, his gardeners. Biao, his barber. Yuxuan.

Abruptly, a pair of little children, a boy that Rajata estimated to be about seven years old, and a girl who was a little younger, came scurrying out into the reception hall. The boy tripped, did a faceplant, then righted himself before leading the girl before the stone platform, where they both regarded Rajata with excited interest.

It was fairly obvious that their appearance was an unplanned and unrequested one, for the servants looked at both children with a mixture of both disapproval and bewilderment, some even seeming torn between respectfully staying in place and rushing to lead them elsewhere.

Her agent boyfriend seemed more charmed and amused than anything else, surprise briefly flickering across his broad face before he gave a slow smile, telling the children, "What are you two little monkeys doing out here? I don't remember asking for you and your sister today, Xing Fen," he said with a mock frown of confusion.

The boy did an awkward bow before standing up once more and cheerily replying, "Zhenzhu and I just wanted to see your new girlfriend, Master Hong." Suddenly remembering at least some of his manners, he stood as straight as he could manage while he met Rajata's gaze, saying "Ni hao, Mrs., umm-"

"Rajata."

"Rajata. I'm Xing Fen, and this is my sister, Zhenzhu," he declared, with all the authority and pomp a seven-year-old boy could manage.

"You're very pretty," Zhenzhu grinned at her. "Are you going to marry Master Hong soon?"

She felt her cheeks flush in mortification as she gave a glance up at Hong. She then angled her gaze down towards her knees as she fidgeted and replied, "Well, um, it's a little early for he and I to decide things like that…"

As innocent and hopeful as the little girl's question may have been, Rajata found herself eager to move to another topic.

"Who's adorable, delightful kulantaikal are these?" she said with a warm smile as she leaned forward slightly in her chair, a question that was addressed just as much to Hong as Xing Fen and Zhenzhu.

"Oh, they're just my illegitimate progeny."

Rajata whirled around in her chair to face him, her mouth dropping open in shock. "Your illegitimate WHAT?!" She guessed that she should've expected such a thing though.

But then Hong's lips curled into a huge smirk, and he began chuckling, baring his teeth in glee. His servants, never wanting to possibly offend their formidable master, also smirked or laughed along with him. Xing Fen and Zhenzhu of course, were just plain confused.

Hong continued to grin, even as he pretended to give her a chiding look and shook his head playfully. "If you're going to have a Dai Li agent as your boyfriend, you'd better get used to me pulling a fast one on you now an-"

"There you two are!" a male voice shouted, just before two more servants, a young man and woman, breathing hard underneath their robes and flushed with exertion, dashed into the hall. "Didn't you both hear us tell you to stay in our quarters while we presented ourselves to Lao Yan!?" the man snapped at them.

"Yes Dad, but- "Xing Fen yelped as the man, presumably his father, grabbed him by the ear, and his presumed mother seized his sister by the arm, both parents mortified and fuming at such an immense breach of etiquette as they started to haul both kids away, repeatedly shooting Hong and Rajata nervous glances.

"You, young man," the servant began, "are going to get a thrash-"

"Let him be," Hong commanded. "Both of them. Their presence was unexpected-but not unwelcome either," he said with a slow smile, as the servants immediately released both children. "And my lotus flower seems to find them quite charming."

Rajata nodded. "Both your children are delightful-and so well-mannered too," she added with a smile. "I hope you won't be harsh to them after this for their blunder."

"Oh, of course not," the woman replied as she patted her daughter's head and briefly glanced up at Hong.

Yeah, I'd imagine so. If you cause me distress, then you cause your boss distress-which results in a bad day for you.

"Moving along," Hong said next to her as he gestured with a hand at the man and woman by way of introduction, who formally bowed to her, "this is Aiguo, and his wife Fengying."

After that, he waved all his retainers away in dismissal, the servants going their separate ways-and both Xing Fen and Zhenzhu giving her a grateful, friendly smile as they followed their parents.

Xing Fen even waved at them as he left. "It was nice to meet you, Raj-Rajata!" Zhenzhu cried over her shoulder.

"You as well!"

Once the reception hall was empty, Hong clapped his hands once more. In response, a pale-skinned young woman, wearing green and gold satin robes, her glossy black hair crowned by a hairpiece of green and white painted wood in which a pink carnation was fastened, came striding out of the opposite door and right up to the stone dais, the citron cuffs of her sleeves held together.

For several long seconds, her soft, slanted green eyes regarded Rajata with a combination of curiosity, appraisal, welcome, and suspicion all at once as she demurely approached. Rajata held the other woman's gaze, crossing her brown hands on her lap in a manner that she hoped would come across as nothing more than a reserved gesture.

Even before she gave her lord and master-and owner-a fond, respectful glance and smile, Rajata already knew what role this woman played in Hong's life.

For a few moments, she felt a sudden, almost nauseating surge of jealousy smolder within her. It made no rational sense, she knew. Concubines had no more say than an ostrich-horse did when it came to who ended up buying them, or if they freely wanted to serve their master.

She also knew that it was perfectly legal, normal and natural, for men throughout Ba Sing Se-especially if they were men of power and wealth like Hong-to have one or more concubines. For that matter-according to her father, grandfather, and uncle-back in Tenjiku, men who were members of either the royal family or noble houses owned concubines themselves.

Did it make any sense, to be struggling with these emotions of hurt and betrayal she was experiencing towards Hong right now, when members of her own-if far away-people did the same thing? Not really.

At the same time though…she wished that he'd had the decency to tell her earlier! And perhaps it was a selfish desire, but it'd been far more appealing to her heart and anma alike to anticipate eventually getting to have Agent Hong's body, spirit, bed, home, attention, and love all to herself. She found herself wanting to scream, to shed tears.

Hong's voice, suddenly disturbingly detached in its tone, sliced through her tumultuous emotions like a cold steel blade.

"Are you displeased to meet Concubine Mingxia, Rajata?" he asked her knowingly. He was giving her a small smile that was somewhere between polite and menacing, his jade gaze now almost reptilian as he regarded her from his higher, superior position on the dais.

Rajata realized that the stone floor was faintly vibrating under her feet, and she hurriedly shoved the ugly emotions back down, while forcing out a meek grin at the same time. Mingxia looked rather tense on her behalf.

There was no war in Ba Sing Se, and there was also no jealousy, no resentment, between the women who shared a man's affections and house.

"Certainly not! It's an honor to meet such an important member of this household as you, Concubine Mingxia!" Rajata swiftly, warmly addressed her, smiling as she gave her the namaste greeting with steepled hands.

She was deeply bound to Hong now, had become quietly assured that he would never harm her-and indeed, would kill anyone that tried, without a second thought-but she also knew better than to press her luck.

Thankfully, he seemed appeased. And the tiles under her soles no longer quivered.

"And you as well, Rajata," Mingxia replied, giving her visitor a respectful half-bow, for she was not only a free citizen and welcome guest, but would very likely eventually become her new mistress. Her measured smile was one of both hospitality-and vicarious relief.

The three of them had dinner together, Hong in his appointed place at the head of the table. First came a pitcher of water, and a pot of green tea. Drinking a few cups of the latter helped Rajata to further calm her emotions.

The servants then began bringing out foods that, to her touched delight, were a combination of foods from both Hong's culture, and her own. Obviously, he'd known the gesture would speak to her, please her…and had probably also figured it would help to pacify Rajata after the discomfort and shock of finding out about his concubine.

Vegetable pakora was served alongside shrimp spring rolls. Wood ear mushroom salad shared the table with saag paneer. Tomato rasam soup steamed next to fish and tofu soup. Tandoori chicken competed with five-spiced pork. Chapatis with peach chutney along with steamed buns. Payasam pudding, made from rice, cane sugar, milk, and nuts, and red bean buns.

It was a pleasing mixture of courses and flavors, and Rajata made a mental note to thank Shan and Haochi later for being willing to step out of their comfort zone when it came to the type of cuisine they prepared. A couple of the Tenjikuan dishes weren't up to standard-the chapatis, for instance, were rather dry for her taste-but hey, they'd get the knack in good time.

As for her qinglang, he seemed to enjoy the new, different dishes, the tandoori chicken and tomato rasam in particular. His concubine was more hesitant, confused by how Rajata often demonstrated how you used the tips of your fingers, your nails, to handle many of these foods, and was also put off a little by the variety and heat of the spices used to flavor them. Mingxia quite liked the payasam pudding and saag paneer though, showing her appreciation with a modest smile.

Rajata was still having very mixed feelings about how she was sharing Hong's table and affections with another woman. It was certainly quite an irksome double standard, she thought, that Hong could, as it struck him, vow to kill one of his own sentries in jealous rage if she so much as gave that man a friendly, teasing kiss—while she wasn't allowed to say a word of dismay or complaint about her own romantic rival.

But she shouldn't think of his concubine that way. Mingxia was proving to be harmless and gentle, had done nothing to actually wrong her, she reminded herself. They needed to work it out and get along.

And while she had no desire to get passionate with other women, thank you, a strange, adventurous part of Rajata still found the idea of sharing Hong's bed with Mingxia oddly-well, intriguing.

They all engaged in conversation about various topics, Rajata educating Mingxia about the assortment of new spices she was tasting in these unfamiliar foods, how her day job was actually selling these and other spices in the Middle Ring markets, why she wore a bindi on her forehead, what a sari was and the different ways to wear one, and the bangles around her wrists.

Mingxia, for her part, discussed the hobbies and activities that she spent her time doing whenever Hong was either on active duty or just not interested in her "services." She wrote poetry, arranged flowers, went out to see plays, visit a spa, go for a long walk, or go shopping under the watchful eye of a servant, did embroidery, spent time out in the garden, and enjoyed the companionship of her pug dog, which had been a birthday gift from her master.

After the meal was over, Hong courteously dismissed Mingxia as the servants gathered their dishes to be washed in the kitchen, telling her, "It's been a delight to have you join me for dinner and meet Rajata here, my beauty."

"Likewise," his concubine replied with a prim smile and modest bow in Rajata's direction.

"But now we're going to enjoy the rest of our evening together alone," he said.

She understood, and nodded before bowing one last time and drifting out of the room, both women having the sense of parting on amiable terms.

Hong watched, charmed, as Rajata bent down and interrupted Guanghua's slow, affectionate rubbing against her shins by gently picking up the Siamese and placing him in her lap.

"My, don't you ever have beautiful blue eyes," she told the cat, who formed his body into a half-curl on her thighs and allowed her to stroke his back with one hand, purring as she used the other to primly hold a stone pipe she'd requested, tobacco smoke drifting across the moonlit courtyard as she took drags on it.

Hong was seated beside her, nursing at a single stone cup of yellow wine while they both watched the stars come out above them. Occasionally, he stroked her dark arm, or ran his fingers down her side.

After several minutes though, Guanghua became restless, fidgeting and trying to get back to his feet.

"Had enough of my company, huh?" she grinned at the cat, pulling her hand away to allow him to gracefully leap to the floor.

"Nah," Hong smirked. "He's just a busy guy, with his own patrols to attend to. Like master-as if a cat can ever truly have a master!" he knowingly chuckled, "-like pet."

"Well, he's certainly a gorgeous kitty," Rajata commented in admiration as they watched Guanghua pad away to resume his nightly rounds.

"Like a certain young lady that I've come to know," Hong said playfully, before leaning over and kissing her cheek.

She giggled, and took his left wrist in her grip as she placed the pipe on the stone table with the other hand. At first, Hong thought she was just going to give it an affectionate squeeze-but then, to his mingled amazement and excitement, she placed the palm of his hand against her bare stomach, her skin smooth and warm.

Then, never breaking eye contact, Rajata seemed to gather her courage-and she slid his fingers underneath her choli top.

Hong found himself gaping in delighted disbelief at the gesture. Was that the tobacco talking? Was she trying to show up his concubine, basically telling him "What's Mingxia got that I don't?" Or was she doing this out of sincere passion?

Either way, it didn't matter, and he knew that he sure wasn't going to complain.

"Well, somebody's feeling eager," he knowingly grinned.

The moonlight in the narrow front courtyard glistened in her brown eyes, and seemed to mantle Rajata with the same precious metal that she took her name from as she told him, her voice soft and gentle, "Yes, I suppose I am. Are you, Hong?"

Once more, her beauty, her perfection, her gaze was as hypnotic as any conversion lantern. Hong felt his cheeks, his hands, his body become pleasantly heated as he nodded. The Dai Li were hardly known for being paragons of honesty, but he was sincere now as he removed his hand from underneath her blouse and slowly moved it up one of her thighs, from knee to hip.

"Absolutely," he told her softly, the pace of his breath quickening as he leaned in. "Believe me, I want you, my dark-skinned lotus flower. Need you bad. I've only been waiting for you to get into the same frame of mind, hear those gorgeous lips tell me you're ready to go."

"Your wish," she replied, as she got to her feet and pushed her chair back, showing her teeth in an impish smile, "is about to be granted then."

She took his hands, and helped to pull Hong to his feet while she also leaned in, kissing him on the hairline and reaching around to slowly run his queue through one of her hands as she whispered, "And I'm also quite happy to please you with 'those gorgeous lips,' starting with that-and finishing down there," giving a suggestive glance at his groin. "You have to please me back though!"

"Let's get down to business then," Hong said, reaching down to fumble at the sash securing his shenyi, the stone around him vibrating under his feet with the pent-up urges.

"I'm not doing it here, on hard rock, or cramped up in a chair," Rajata said, shaking her head. "Grass and soil are much more to my comfort-and besides, I'm in the mood for a bit of a chase," she grinned. "So, try to catch me now, my Shiva!"

She turned then, and bolted down the narrow courtyard, through the doors in the dividing walls, as she ardently giggled, turning and running under the paifang arch into the moonlit garden as Hong pursued. His heartbeat and breath came quick and hard, and it was an effort for him to deliberately shorten his strides-even in this foot race, with no earth-skating involved, he could catch up to Rajata in a matter of seconds if he wanted.

But that wouldn't suit Hong or this situation. He wanted to draw the thrill of this chase out, savor it like the huangjiu he'd just been drinking. Rajata was the quarry, and he was the hunter, in a pursuit as ancient as the world itself, and it would culminate not in a death, but in the purest form of shared love.

She kept glancing back over her shoulder as she weaved around bushes and flowerbeds, loudly protesting cormorant-geese scurrying and fluttering out of her path, as she laughed all the while. Under the apricot tree, she finally slowed, stopped, and let Hong make contact, her kanjal-lined eyes sparkling and hungry as she turned around to face him.

Despite having plenty of earth around to bend at him in defense, Rajata made no attempt to resist as they embraced, allowing Hong to press her warm, sweet-smelling, smaller form down to the grass, his fingers impatiently working at pulling her lehenga skirt to her knees and unwrapping her linen sari, while she folded back the front of his shenyi and ardently scrabbled at the waistband of his pantaloons, the touch of her fingers there already making him shudder in ecstasy-

"Oh spirits, yes- "Hong found himself starting to gasp.

"Ah fu- "Rajata panted.

They both froze as an excited child's voice cut through the night air.

"There you are, Master Yan!"

Oh shit.

Hong and Rajata both gasped in tandem and separated, Rajata hurriedly working to pull her skirt back up as they turned to see another little boy running towards them, waving his hands in excitement. This was Haochi's eight-year-old son, Sun.

"Oh Goddess," Hong groaned in a mixture of irritation and embarrassment, a different type of flush coming to his face. This was an awkward position to be caught in, to say the least.

True, he was very much the man of this house, and had the freedom to get passionate with a woman wherever he wanted on its grounds, at any time that he wanted. For that matter, as an agent of the Dai Li, he could openly engage in sex in broad daylight, in full uniform, in any ring of Ba Sing Se, and none of the local 'moral guardians' would dare to protest.

But even Hong found the idea of doing it in front of an innocent child to be pretty classless. Neither did he have the inclination to go drag Sun to Lake Laogai and demand that his coworkers in the Reeducation Branch "clean" the boy's mind over such a minor incident.

Still though, a big part of him was wishing that the boy was at the bottom of that lake right now as he got to his feet.

"What are you doing out here, Sun? And why are you looking for me?" he asked, trying not to sound or look unduly severe as Rajata also got to her feet and uncertainly stood behind him. He felt her place a gentle hand on his shoulder, and sensed what she was communicating.

Have mercy on the kid, please. I'm not happy that he ruined the moment either-but it was an accident, and he doesn't know any better.

"I wanted to show you what I just did, Master Hong!" Sun grinned, as he pointed to his feet. "Check them out! I used my bending to form a pair of stone boots, just like the ones you wear when you go out to chase after the bad people!"

Oh, spirits, how could he stay cross in the face of such innocent enthusiasm-and flattery?

Kneeling down to the boy's level, he inspected the stone shoes and smiled. They were actually quite good, as a child's attempts went. "Nice work, little man."

"They're awesome," Rajata warmly agreed as she bent over, giving Hong a quick, longing glance as she did so.

Sun smiled in delight as he caught his breath. "Thanks! But wow, I thought I'd never catch up to you two. Why were you chasing Rajata like that, Master Hong? And why were you both wrestling around and trying to take each other's clo-? "

"Sun?! Where has your little butt gone off to?! Answer me!" a male voice shouted. Another set of incoming footsteps, and a worried Haochi arrived seconds later.

Sun cringed as his father noticed him then. "There you are! What in Oma's name are you doing alone in the gar-?" Then he saw his imposing master, the flush that Hong and Rajata both had to their skin, how their clothing was disheveled.

Haochi immediately understood, gasping in horror while grasping his son's wrist and pulling him to the ground, the boy giving a sharp cry as the servant dropped to the dirt himself in a panicked, cowering bow, forehead touching the grass.

"Mast-Master," he stammered as he looked back up, "my sincerest apologies to you and Rajata alike. I fully accept the blame for this brat's interruption of your intima-"

Hong briefly made the dirt quiver under his feet, a sign to Haochi that you bet he was extremely irritated about this interruption. But then he relented, shoulders slumping as he sighed.

"What's done is done," he shrugged. "I excuse both you and your son-who is apparently well on his way to becoming a good candidate for the Dai Li himself," he added, favoring Sun with a smile and light nod. "Have him tell you all about those little stone boots."

"I shall, sir," Haochi replied, obviously relieved to have escaped punishment as he got to his feet and led Sun away towards the dark bulk of the house. Quickly.

Hong gave them a minute or two, then followed in the same direction as an idea struck him, telling Rajata, "Wait here. I'll be back shortly with something for you-before we pick up where we left off."

Rajata was just starting to wonder if Hong had either cruelly tricked or abandoned her, as she patiently sat on a wooden bench in the moonlit garden. Then she heard the tread of his feet, and saw him returning down the central path, hands held behind his broad back as if he was on patrol, or standing at attention.

She rose to her own feet, and went to meet him with a congenial smile.

"There you are, my Shiva! I was worried you'd run out on me," she purred.

He chuckled. "Oh, I can't make myself stay away from you for very long, trust me. Anyway, I brought you a couple of gifts."

He brought his left arm into view then, revealing a stone-mailed hand which lightly clutched a bunch of freshly picked chrysanthemums. Extending his arm in her direction, he gently pushed the glove at her, the stone fingers tightening harder around the stems before the rock glove came gliding up to her at the level of her navel.

"Thank you, Hong," she said, touched, as she slipped the bouquet of flowers out of the suspended glove, raising it to her nose and inhaling the lovely scent as her qinglang yanked the tiles back to cover his free hand. "They're beautiful!"

"You're welcome. And now for the second," he grinned. He brought his right arm around from his back now. This time, the chi in his bare fingers was commanding a freely suspended rock glove, its own stone fingers grasping the lip of a shallow porcelain bowl, which held a combination of more saag paneer and sliced Ma Yen sausage. He sent this glove and its cargo over to her as well, Rajata taking the bowl in her free hand before Hong sent the second glove darting back to cover his hand.

Then he shed both stone gloves, letting them fall to the grass intact, while he told her with a smooth smirk, "I thought you might like to share a midnight snack…but not until we've satisfied a different desire for flesh," raising his eyebrows suggestively.

He sidled up alongside her and kissed her cheek, as she inhaled the scent of both the flowers and his body, musky and male and exciting. She wanted it bad, and carefully placed the bowl and the bouquet on the grass before pressing her body against the agent's...

But then, to their mutual surprise, Rajata found herself hesitating and sideslipping away, uncertain.

"What in Koh's lair-?" he grunted, startled. "Is this about Mingxia?" he demanded. "I thought you seemed to like- "

"No, Hong," she quickly explained. "It has nothing to do with that."

"Well, Hou-Tu knows that you were sure ready and willing to get down not even an hour ago. What gives?" he asked, in baffled frustration.

"I guess-I changed my mind," she replied, turning away as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. "I'm not trying to play games with you, it's just that-"

Suddenly she cringed, fixing Hong's looming figure with a wide-eyed gaze as it dawned on her what a precarious position she was in, the realization that she technically had no voice in whatever came next.

She'd just denied one of the Dai Li-in his own house no less!-and even with her own ability to earthbend, Hong could still easily overpower and force her, right here, right now, with no legal or social consequences. As much as she tried to conceal it, the ground underneath her feet still began to quiver and slowly crack from the force of her frightened anticipation.

But Hong seemed to sense what she was dreading, as he regarded her with an expression of mingled disappointment and revulsion.

"Do you really think that poorly of my character?" he scoffed in offense. "I'm not that desperate…and I'm not that type of man either," he assured her. "Just shocked by you suddenly getting cold feet out of nowhere on me."

Relief seeped through Rajata, and she allowed her muscles to slacken somewhat. "I'm very sorry Hong, for going and…assuming." She sighed, running the fingers of a hand through her hair as she looked up at the stars. "I'm also sorry to hold out on-what I mean is-I still want it from you, don't get me wrong," she hurriedly told him, holding out her hands, "but…the passion's drained away, I'm afraid. It's just not the right time anymore, and I'd feel cheap if we still did it now."

He gave a brusque nod of understanding.

She slowly exhaled as she looked into his long green eyes, filled with hurt and longing.

"Don't hate Sun or Haochi for this, Hong. Please. It's probably better this way, in fact. We'll have our first time soon enough, and make it special, don't worry."

"I won't," he said. "And yeah, I guess you're right." Glancing up at the moon, he commented, "Well, the hour's late enough as it is anyway. You'd best be heading back, so that your parents and siblings don't stay up into the small hours of the morning worrying about you. And you're welcome to go take that bowl of food with you, to enjoy at home," he generously added.

"Is it okay if I send the bowl back by a runner? "

"Don't bother. Consider it a third gift from me."

Hong managed to be outwardly composed and courteous enough as he walked Rajata to the front gate, smiling and bidding her a friendly "Zai jian," as she got into his personal carriage for her trip back home.

But once he was certain that she was out of earshot, Hong stalked back into his garden, jaw clenched stiffly with frustration as he approached one of the stone walls which surrounded it, and chose a random spot.

The cormorant-geese burst into a new chorus of frantic honks as Hong suddenly gave a teeth-clenched, deep snarl of primal vexation, the tendons in his thick neck standing out as he yelled, once, then wildly tore at the stone slab with his fingers, gouging deep furrows out of the sandstone with the force of his chi. Within seconds, the surface of the wall looked like a platypus-bear had worked it over, tan chips and wedges and nuggets of stone flying in a dozen different directions.

His estate guards came rushing over immediately at the sound of the commotion, naturally.

"Master Hong, what's gotten int-?" one of them began.

"Are you oka-? "

Hong's only response was to look over his shoulder at the trio of guards, and stand especially tall as he gave them all a vicious glare which silently screamed that no, he was far from okay right now-and they really might want to consider leaving if they didn't want to get included in their bosses' tantrum. Right now.

They obliged, and Hong returned to venting his anger on the wall for another minute or so, using his bending to smash a couple of decorative boulders against it for good measure. A childish act, yes-but also a very satisfying one.

At last, he stepped back a few paces, drained, sweating, and panting as he regarded the damage he'd done. He gave a long sigh, infused with longing and sadness, and shook his head, his queue flopping back and forth across his shoulders.

"I guess you're right," he repeated in a whisper.

Qinglang means "male lover," aka boyfriend in Mandarin.

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