Eagle-eyed readers may notice that I went back and switched Laith and Teo's titles around, so it's Laith the Steadfast and Teo the Wise rather than the other way around. The reason for that is that I wrote this chapter, reread this chapter, and went "huh. Those fit way better the other way around".
Laith watched disapprovingly from his corner as Teo clattered around the room at top speed, arranging things haphazardly where he wanted them.
"Quit looking at me like that," Teo scowled, "It's gonna work, and it'll make all our lives so much easier when it does."
Teo continued to careen about as Laith raised a dubious eyebrow. He was entirely too cavalier about the various glassware, knives, and suspect materials sitting near the edges of the tables for Laith's peace of mind.
The wheel of Teo's chair crashed into one of the table legs, sending several of his chemicals and powders spilling right onto a burning candle. Laith dove behind a bench as the explosion rocked the room, peering out to raise an eyebrow at Teo.
"I'm fine, you can stop giving me that look any time now," Teo grumbled, hauling himself out from under his overturned chair, "You're not hurt, are you?"
Laith shook his head, leaving his hiding place to help Teo right his chair and clamber back into it.
"Good, and all the fires are out?" They both looked around and quickly doused the ones that weren't.
Finally they stood and looked around the sooty, wet room.
"Man, Suki's going to kill me," Teo groaned, "And when she does Azula is going to laugh."
Laith patted his back in sympathy and very carefully kept his expression blank.
"No, Dad!" Everyone turned in shock as Teo spoke up, radiating righteous fury and bitter disappointment, "I don't care if you did it for me, you shouldn't have done it at all. I would've been fine. How many more people won't be because of you?" He shook his head in disgust, and he swiveled his chair to leave the room as the Mechanist's face crumpled.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to go warn the others and defend my home."
Later, after everything was over, Team Avatar was packing up to leave when Teo wheeled over hesitantly.
"You said you met a Kyoshi warrior named Suki?" He asked.
"Yeah?" Aang replied.
"If you see her again, give her this? If she is who I think she is, she'll understand."
It was a little piece of wood, hastily carved, with the word North and the symbol for air on one side and the word wise on the other, written above the figure of a roaring lion.
Laith adjusted Teo's grip on the bow and watched his next few shots, which were much more accurate. Then he returned to the soldier teaching him and picked up his sword again.
"We don't have to be doing this, your highness," the soldier said hesitantly, "if you're more comfortable with the bow, you could join Prince Teo with the archers instead."
Laith did glance that direction once, longingly, but shook his head. He's been given this sword for a reason. He'd already used it to save the life of the girl who was supposed to be his sister queen. He would see this through to the end.
"Very well. Again."
The clash of swords rang through the camp.
"It's a good plan, Jet," Smellerbee said approvingly, "But how are you going to make sure there's enough water?"
"Just leave it to me," he said, ruffling her hair, "Once the reservoir is full enough and the blasting jelly is set up, it's going to be your job to set it off, Longshot. Sneers, I'll need you to..."
"No."
Everyone swung towards the corner in shock.
"What?" Jet asked. Laith couldn't tell if they were more surprised he'd spoken or that he'd said no to Jet.
"I said no," Laith tipped his hat back and looked Jet straight on the eye, "what you're planning is wrong, Jet. There are innocents down there, children. I've done a lot for you, things I'm not proud of, but this is one line I won't cross. Set your explosives, I can't stop you. But I won't help. Not anymore."
Without another word, Laith turned and left, leaving them all staring at his back. He headed out, not sure where he was going besides somewhere else. A ghost of the sword he'd left in Narnia rested at his hip.
The rustle of wind through the trees seemed to whisper approvingly, and Laith was abruptly certain that someone out there was proud of him. And maybe he was proud of himself too.
If you're wondering why Suki didn't have Teo's message when she ran into Azula, it's because it was lost with Appa's saddle.
Also, my posting schedule is basically "anytime I have two chapters written, I post one" so sorry it's not particularly consistent.
