A/N: This chapter is longer than the others, but for good reason. The reunion is finally here and the beginning of the love story. There is references to awkward boners and the reading of erotic picture books.
Chapter Six – The Young Master and The General Prince:
The time spent in the library was time well spent. Jen LuXian was strolling through the eastern courtyard of the island. He sent Kumi and the serving girls away to prepare the quarters, the airbender girl Jinora showed them. He enjoyed The Last Ruler of the Meng Dynasty, an exclusive book not known in the world because the 46th Earth King, the nephew of Tian the Great tried to have tomes and scrolls about his aunt's prosperous rule purged, because of his own misrule and being a poor successor to a queen, who never relied on the Avatar to save her reign from ruin. Jen LuXian was fortunate to meet a fellow bibliophile, even though Jinora was only twelve namedays old and was mature for her age, but that maturity came at a price of seeing the horrors of civil war and baby brother born in the storm of conflict.
A few air acolytes were in the library, most were girls glancing at the young master. One of them smiled and another girl giggled, which made Jen LuXian feel like, he was transported back to the Omashu's main classroom. Had Jen LuXian counted every gold coin, for every girl that stared or giggled at him, he would be the richest man in the world, richer than the ruling dynasties of the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. Jen LuXian knew The Last Ruler of the Meng Dynasty was published in Omashu, knowing Ba Sing Se restricted the entry of scholars from around the world, because of old Hou-Ting's paranoia. The Earth Queen's paranoia came from Pei Ling, Her Royal Highness being a peerless beauty, whilst the queen's own looks faded. Jen LuXian heard what the people of Tuji and Omashu called the current sovereign of the Earth Kingdom, The Toad of Ba Sing Se and no one bit their tongues at all. Omashu was ruled by its own monarch, Fu Huang, who hated Earth Queen Hou-Ting for decades and he was never shy in expressing it.
The library reminded Jen LuXian of home and solace. Where he could read anything from his family's library pavilion, after Jen LuXian finished teaching for the day, to get away from the pomp that served his home, especially when Chou-brother brought Pang Moyun home, as his wedded wife. His clan needed a noble marriage, to settle down the tension between Uncle Han and the other clan masters, offended by his uncle marrying a retired Kyoshi Warrior for love and not any of their sisters. Jen LuXian was excited to know The Last Ruler of the Meng Dynasty was available on Air Temple Island. It must have been hard work for the writer, for the subject was a queen, many people didn't know about because Tian the Great was private in her life, especially when she reigned and focused on ruling a united country and allowing arts and culture flourish in the kingdom.
If the Second Young Master of the Jen Clan had to sleep on the island, then he would get to read some of the other marvels this library kept. The young master and his retinue will not stay on the island too long, as they were to depart for the mainland and be hosted by the Qian family. The giggling and smiling from the air acolytes were more than enough for Jen LuXian, to wish he was an average looking man, as average as his father had been and not be at the centre of the affections of girls and women all over the world.
Young Jinora seemed to be a know it all, but she was a child with a lot on her shoulders. Jen LuXian found the circle of legacy heroes to be strange, knowing it was an exclusive group of friends, who were the sons and daughters of the people, who stopped the Hundred Years War and ensured Lord Zuko's vision for an era of peace and kindness would happen. The man was born into the Earth Kingdom's noble society, but choose to depart it, because he had an aversion to traditionalism and wanted an isolationist lifestyle. Where Jen LuXian would not hear people, talking about him or his family, especially when they had more important things to worry about, than the Jen Clan losing face again because it's most isolationist member.
"My cousin Tarrick is in the United Forces and helped save the city. He got hurt badly, when hunting down the Equalists, who kidnapped the bending teachers from the schools. My father said he is a bad influence on any girl older than Korra and Asami, since he left his kyoshi warrior girlfriend to save the city. I'm glad he is here, Tarrick always puts a smile on our faces, even when we are sad and no one is sad, when he is here bringing presents for us. Cousin Tarrick and General Iroh have been best friends, since they were my age, they always visit us together or the south pole, when Gran-Gran needs the company or when Great Aunt Suki isn't so lonely anymore."
The words of the airbender girl came to mind. Jen LuXian had forgotten about Lieutenant Tarrick. He last saw of the southern tribesman of the United Forces was in Omashu, returning the last of the abducted waterbenders to their families. The young master was not looking forward to the outward bravado, the man had towards people he liked or his friends, knowing Jen LuXian was a shy person and stayed away from people, due to his sheltered upbringing and aversion to people touching him. He welcomed Tarrick's brotherly embrace, even though the other man teased Jen LuXian for being a spoiled young mistress, to enjoy things like swimming with elephant koi and penguin sledding. Jen LuXian found the lieutenant to be shameless, with no respect for propriety and the rules of the world, just to spend time in wine sinks and take a variety of women to bed. Lieutenant Tarrick was an amorous charmer, like his grandfather and it was no secret the southern tribesman wanted to bed the young master himself.
Jen LuXian liked seeing familiar faces, especially those faces he saw, through the experience of facing the Crimson Matron and rescuing the waterbenders, who were taken by her disciples throughout the Earth Kingdom. He wondered how things were for the United Forces. The whispers from the merchants of Omashu, were of an insurgent war in Republic City, which had been won because of the revelation of the insurgent leader lying to his followers, into believing he was a non-bender, but the son of a crime lord. Jen LuXian had read about historical clan warfare in his family's library pavilion, as it was important to learn, which clans disliked each other and which ones married into each other. As it was easier to tell, who were the friends, allies and the enemies of the Jen Clan of Bao Yun.
The young master cheeks reddened, by the thought of the United Forces general visiting the island. It was what Jinora said, the general prince followed where Lieutenant Tarrick led, just like their grandfathers did. Jen LuXian initially planned to stay on the island, for two days rest for his retinue and nothing more. It was not in his plans, to come face to face with the man, who has been there for Jen LuXian, through the hardest and painful time in his life. His old bodyguard was killed by the Crimson Matron, the dead waterbenders in his arms and the loneliness of not having his most loyal protector with him. The fire prince shouldn't have done those things for him. Jen LuXian was a civilian and an Earth Kingdom citizen, which meant nothing, in their long years of friendship growing into something, that bypassed the social norms of what men should be for each other. Jen LuXian was luckily to have someone like Zhu Iroh in his life, someone who was there for him and someone who was trusting enough to kill for him.
Jen LuXian was humming a song, under his breath. He wondered what Kumi was doing, whilst he was in the library. She was more likely practicing her dojo fighting stances or resting, after days being on alert because the threat of the Daojing family following them. The second young master's heart ached, missing Su Yong even after five years. Thinking about Su Yong's shade being eclipsed by the young woman, who was his bodyguard now. Kumi had an open-mind and a sense of adventure, his late bodyguard didn't have, because Su Yong was dedicated to his job. It was a job Su Yong had been doing, since he was seventeen-years-old, fresh from the Northern Earth Academy and given the responsiblity by Madam Teng, Jen LuXian's maternal aunt from Ba Sing Se.
The eastern courtyard had a beauty, the western side didn't have. It was home to the largest grove of pink cherry blossom trees on the island, which was close to the gazebo, where anyone could look out into the sea and over the horizon. Jen LuXian didn't want to admit, he was slightly happier, strolling across the marble courtyard. What happened in Gaoling left the young master more self-conscious about his body than before, he was less trusting of being touched by anyone, other than his serving girls. A chuff escaped Jen LuXian's lips, which turned into a smile because he was alone, amidst the most beautiful floral display on the island. Someone like Kumi would not appreciate the beauty of flowers, unless she was giving them to pretty women, who caught her eye on their travels through the Earth Kingdom.
"This Oma's forsaken journey was Chou-brother's idea, and Uncle Han listened to him. The Jens and the Qians haven't been seen together in public, since Cousin Chou's wedding to Pang Moyun years ago. It is my duty to represent my family in front of the Qian family. It has been five years, since Su Yong died and the Crimson Matron was locked away. Nothing was the same, when I returned Su Yong's body and sword to his family in the Middle Ring. My family worried about me, becoming a reclusive and being shattered by the death of someone I loved so much. I miss him every day, even though Kumi was good and understood my need to grieve for him, before I was ready to accept her as my new bodyguard."
A grove like this, Su Yong would have loved, being a man of great charm towards other men. Jen LuXian's face stilled, standing in the courtyard. He was used to being alone, even before Su Yong died and his life was changed by the Crimson Matron. The wind lifted the flowing material of the master's robes; it was natural wind and not done by an airbender, attempting to expose him in his undergarments, which would be such a shameful sight, especially in front of Shifu Tenzin and his family. Under his eyes, a blush appeared. It was what happened when Jen LuXian had lewd thoughts in his head and forgot what his elders taught him about modesty and asceticism. He had been exposed to the explicit content of longyang and chungong in Omashu, because the state was liberal, when it came to such things and those things were exposed, to a sixteen-year-old Jen LuXian by the corrupting influence of the Prince of Omashu and the Eldest Young Master of the Guo family.
Jen LuXian wasn't always so disobedient. He had a reputation for being a respectable gentleman and reading explicit material was beneath him. Even though, he rejected five marriage proposals, Jen LuXian was highly rated, when it came to the ranking list, consisting of young gentlemen, who were the most desirable in the Earth Kingdom. His name was moved through the top three, but he had been number one for years, since the ranking list changed every year. Jen LuXian was pleasing to look at, his Teng blooded beauty and his earthbending mastery kept him in the ranking system, when other young masters have moved down on the list, because their families had lost face in public or those young masters were not attractive enough to the female population in the Earth Kingdom.
There was a similar ranking system in the Fire Nation, separated by gender. On the list of gentlemen in the Fire Nation, Prince Iroh was always number one, due to his status as the Fire Lord's son and arguably Lord Zuko's favourite grandchild. The ranking made sense, because there were many gentlemen in the Fire Nation, but none of them could hold a candle to the nation's prince. The golden eyes of the royal family, was something Jen LuXian had found beautiful and haunting. The golden eyes of the prince hid so much, hiding sorrowand the guilt of devastation behind his eyes. The last time, the young master had looked into the fire prince's eyes, was when tears fell from them, when he had to deliver the dead bodies of the perished waterbenders, back to their families and felt guilty for not saving them.
The blossom grove was calming, especially to a man, who spent his years in Omashu mastering the gupin, a traditional instrument. Music was one the six arts of a gentleman, a rigorous study for sons of noblemen and royal blood have to master, to reach the state of the perfect gentleman in society. Jen LuXian was considered the ideal gentleman, for mastering the six arts and being as fair as his mother. He didn't mind his place on the Earth Kingdom's ranking list of young gentlemen, because it bettered his family's reputation, after the scandal rejecting the five proposals caused. It was the middle of spring, which meant the cherry blossoms would fall from the trees, as it was the most natural sight seen in the world. His fingers touched the golden butterfly pendant, he wore around his neck, which had been his mother's last gift to him, before she and his father left Bao Yun for Ba Sing Se, to visit his mother's relatives in the Upper Ring. He didn't know that journey would be the last time, he saw his mother and father well and alive.
"...Still admiring the tree, Lian." A familiar voice spoke softly. The voice had been rich, layered with a refined tongue. Jen LuXian turned around, for his heart to race for the first time in five years. He opened his fan and held it towards his face. The fan he carried was decorated with the image of Tian the Great and the tiger, which had been the symbol of her rule, and a symbol the Jen Clan took for themselves, after the kingdom took the badgermole, as it's national symbol of strength and endurance.
The second young master knew, he must act the noble gentleman, especially in front of royalty. It had been bred into Jen LuXian's blood, since he was old enough to walk and talk. He was a descendant of royalty on his mother's side. Jen LuXian was always reminded, that his status was higher, than other nobility of the Earth Kingdom. The reason was because Earth King Kuei's aunt, the 51st Earth Princess married into the Teng family, thus making the Teng Clan bloodkin to the royal family and Ba Sing Se's most popular courtiers. The folding fan was inches away from Jen LuXian's face, knowing how people of all genders reacted to his appearance, how certain places were dangerous for Jen LuXian. He was a prime target for kidnapping, because of his distant royal blood, but with the warrior maid on his side, no one dared to attack him. The kyoshi bodyguards were more violent than their warrior sisters, due to their extensive training in the dojos. The household guards of Kuei Daojing learned that lesson the hard way, leaving two household guards dead and a courtyard stained of blood and abominable sin.
Jen LuXian's eyes widened, seeing the Fire Nation prince behind his fan. It had been five years, since he and the prince last saw each other. It had been a difficult time for the young master, to deal with the death of Su Yong and the imprisonment of the Crimson Matron by the White Lotus. "...I never thought...I would see you again, Your Highness." Jen LuXian said, bowing towards the prince, in the traditional greeting of the Fire Nation, a show of respect towards him because of his culture and status.
"I recognised one of your maids and the kinder one told me, where you were." replied General Iroh.
"Have you met Kumi? My bodyguard for four years. She is good, but tries to be perfect, but she will never be what he was."
"..I'm sorry, Lian. I should have been there for you."
"You had duties to attend to. You do not need to waste your time, consoling a grief-stricken gentleman." The young master said lowly. His grief over Su Yong didn't matter, compared to the prince's important duties in the United Forces, as it's general and duties to the Fire Nation, as a member of the royal family.
The general's voice turned from soft richness to seething with bitterness. "Don't...do that to yourself. Punishing yourself is not going to bring him back."
"I know...at least, I'm not as lonely as I was."
"I'm glad for you."
"What brings you to the island, Your Highness?"
"Tarrick brought presents for his cousins, and I never thought I would see you again."
The gentle and rich tone of Iroh's voice was foreign, to the ears of the men and women in his military division. To Jen LuXian, the Prince of the Fire Nation was always courteous towards him, as a fellow gentleman and a friend. His cheeks were sunken in and he was holding on, tighter and tighter to his fan. The young master couldn't believe Zhu Iroh was actually here, even though he had not seen him in five years, after the Crimson Matron's defeat. His obsidian brown softened, when the prince looked at him, with a golden mourning in his eyes. The experience with the Crimson Matron and her cult changed them forever, in a way most hardened soldiers would never experience, as the blood and terror that raged in Gu Village, all caused by a woman, who looked like a hapless grandmother, more likely to make winter fur coats for her grandchildren in Bao Yun.
The falling of the cherry blossoms was beautiful, at this time in spring. As the blue sky contrasted with the falling pink petals nearby. It reminded Jen LuXian of the red maple tree in Omashu's royal garden, where he spent time, as a teenager, away from the forced contact with the young masters of Omashu. He took a liking to red, because of the maple tree, as it made him feel safe and he wouldn't be the subject of gossip, by the young masters and ladies he shared classes with. The forced socialisation was out of sympathy, because people felt sorry for Jen LuXian, the young master who lost his parents, when he was thirteen and sent to Omashu at fifteen, to study the six arts. He never liked to socialise, because it was always someone, who wanted to be his friend out of pity and he didn't like that. It could be the reason why Jen LuXian allowed the royal firebender, Zhu Iroh to crawl within the belly of his existence, not befriending him out of pity, but out of curiosity about him, as an Earth Kingdom boy.
A petal fell into the young master's hand, it was tiny and meaningless to him. Jen LuXian, who didn't mind being given flowers, but took the seeds home to be planted. He was not sure why Prince Iroh was following him, as the young master kept walking. He was sure, the General of the United Forces had important things to do, then follow a wandering young master around, like it was his favourite past time. The other man had done so much for Jen LuXian years ago, so much more than a friend should do. It would be rude for Jen LuXian, to tell the son of the Fire Lord to get lost, and go back to the mainland. Jen LuXian shook his head, he wasn't raised with the loose tongue of a sailor, but those thoughts were rattling in his mind, ready to break the proper manners he was raised with. He was the son of a duchess; he should know better than to be rude to royalty, but he kept on strolling, not noticing the man in maroon clothes, following him through the falling petals.
In the Earth Kingdom, cherry blossoms were a love flower ranked higher than panda lilies. Jen LuXian was a man, accustomed to silencing his feelings because of the ascetic lifestyle he adopted. His eyes peered over at General Iroh tailing him, it reminded Jen LuXian how lost and confused he was, when it came to his sexuality, as a shy teenage boy, whose only sense of confidence came from earthbending. Bending built Jen LuXian's self-esteem and gave him a way, to fit into the martial culture of the Earth Kingdom, despite Jen LuXian's slimmer figure to the more muscular earthbenders in the kingdom. Petals from the blossom trees were all over Jen LuXian's transient bamboo green robes, as the man brushed them off, with the pink flowers contrasting poorly against his clothes. He held the fan against his face, not wanting General Iroh to see his eyes. The young master's eyes were obsidian brown, like the rest of his paternal clan, but had a reflection, not in the eyes of Chou and Meiling, when anyone looked into their eyes and compared them to Jen LuXian's eyes, darker and more beautiful in the sunlight.
"Are you stalking me?" Jen LuXian said, in a calmly tone, turning around to see Prince Iroh with his hands behind his back.
The United Forces leader stood like a man of his status should, but his feet shuffled on the marble ground. "The blossoms fell at the right time." The other man replied, looking across the courtyard, scattered in pink petals that surely the airbender children will play with later on.
"Do you like cherry blossoms?"
"I'm more of a fire lilies man, Your Grace."
Jen LuXian's face reddened shamelessly. He was used to people calling him Your Grace, because his mother was a duchess of royal blood. No one else did, especially the Daojing and Te families, who never used Jen LuXian's proper titles, as a way to mock him and express envy towards him and his mother's clan. Zhu Iroh, the thirty-year-old prince of a foreign nation calling Jen LuXian, Your Grace warmed his chilled heart. He was so used to people calling him Young Master Jen, that the thought of anyone calling him Your Grace raised goosebumps through his arms. The man did not care, as Iroh's presence was familiar to him, something that made Jen LuXian feel safe, after the horrors inflicted on him by the Crimson Matron. His fan covered his face, as a way of covering the fact, how difficult it was for Jen LuXian, to maintain eye contact with the prince, without the other man seeing the bright red on his face, from being called by his proper titles and being complimented by him.
Jen LuXian assumed, pulling his fan away from his face and folding it into his right hand. "Your friend must be offended, you left his side."
There was a slight flush of red appearing on the general's neck, when Jen LuXian removed the fan from his face. He was used to that kind of reaction, that it was normal to expect it. "Tarrick doesn't mind. It been so long, since I saw you so...content." General Iroh replied lightly.
"I'm glad...the nightmare is behind me."
The earthbending master looked away, as the soft wind from the west lifted his hair. "...Lian...I blame myself for what happened, but I don't regret what I had to do." The fire prince's tone was more forceful, but Jen LuXian could cite the softened golden gaze, to be a different contrast to the general's tone of voice. The young master's own eyes, had been in a state of mourning and he could not allow Zhu Iroh, to see the pieces of what once was his heart, broken when Su Yong died and healed over five years of seclusion.
"The Qian family will be happy to have me, as a guest of their residence." Jen LuXian's voice was more optimistic, changing the heavy subject, knowing he moved on and could not bear to remember those times anymore. Five years was long enough to forget what happened, but the fragments of suffering were still there and he still felt the presence of Su Yong in his heart.
"The Earth Kingdom exiles."
"The Earth Queen and the royalist clans call them, traitorous mockingbirds, who have abandoned their country."
"How do you feel about them, Lian? As a man, who values his culture and his country?" The prince asked awkwardly.
"The Qians are good people, despite them being forgiving towards the Fire Nation, who took everything from them. The other clans think the Qians are weak and do not belong in the Earth Kingdom anymore, despite being an old blood family. I have my own opinions on such matters, despite what the elders of my clan think of them."
General Iroh took a deep breath out, not allowing a spark of flame to expel from his lips. He only did so in the twin Water Tribes, where he would do that to keep himself warm from the cold. Jen LuXian once felt the firebender's warmth between the prince's hands in the south pole, when the young master had been cold and the prince held his hands to warm them. "It's nice to see your face, beneath the folding fan."
The Second Young Master of the Jen Clan got to see His Royal Highness closely, in a lowered gaze. The general had grown taller and his maroon clothing outlined his muscly body, as Fire Nation men were muscular because of the years of firebending training. Jen LuXian noticed Zhu Iroh's black hair, tied in a collarbone length ponytail, as he usually had his hair cut short for the United Forces, but something changed, for him to grow his hair. He found himself gazing towards the prince's angular cheekbones, as members of the royal family had great cheekbones, due to their descent from Lady Ta Min, and the strong nose came from her. The folding fan saved the young master from being embarrassed, but his face paled and it didn't go scarlet. His eyes diverted to what the other man's maroon clothes could be hiding and Jen LuXian shook his head, at such shameless thoughts and he had to stop thinking lewd things or else his face changed colour again.
Jen LuXian looked with a tiltered head, and asked curiously. "How did your mother react to you cutting your hair?"
"My grandfather was in shock, knowing the cultural implications of our hair. It's the reason why members of the nobility, the royal family and military class wear their hair in a topknot." General Iroh replied, expressing the displeasure on his face, with arched eyebrows and lowered the gaze in his golden eyes, which diverted to Jen LuXian himself.
"In the Earth Kingdom, it's a sign of shame, if you cut your hair. Most of us in the kingdom, we keep our hair long to show filial piety and respect for what grows from our bodies."
The fire prince leaned over, his chin almost where Jen LuXian's shoulder was and whispered in his ear. "Still...the same shy and dull Jen Lian I know. Did you enjoy seeing Master Kya again?"
The face of the Second Young Master Jen blushed again, reminiscing his brief feelings towards Master Kya, the last Avatar's daughter and an accomplished healer. Jen LuXian realised, it was her motherly aura that drew him to her. The man lost his own mother to a wasting sickness, and attached himself to older women, who had a maternal aura. The Queen of Omashu, tried to mother him, during his fostering, but he was thankful, she and Madam Guo became the mother figures he needed away from home. Jen LuXian had women in his clan to take care of him, in the years he missed his mother. He connected with Master Kya for another reason. The waterbender woman was the first queer woman, Jen LuXian had been exposed to. Everything Jen LuXian learned about queerness and same sex attractions was in the explicit books in Omashu. It was a shock and tantalising, for a young master, from a notoriously strict clan, whom practiced the rule of modesty, purity and the Earth Kingdom's stricter version of asceticism.
"She was the first person, who was open about her same sex preferences, like my uncle." The second young master answered, in a stiffened tone.
"I had to see for myself. I never believed someone like you, would be interested in such things." General Iroh replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Your clan has a reputation for being strict and practicing spiritualism, believing in purity and absolute modesty. It seems being the Avatar's earthbending teacher, gave you the freedom to explore. To explore who you are beneath the dull young master, who looks down upon people like me for expressing ourselves how we want to."
Beneath the blushing face, Jen LuXian's teeth gritted. He knew he would be disciplined by a ruler or a cane, if Jen LuXian dared to speak the way, the Fire Nation prince spoke to him. "What I never missed was your loose lips. I understand you spend most of your life with sailors, but don't speak to me with a mouth of filth." The young master spent months, trying to teach proper manners and etiquette to a thirteen year old Avatar, who didn't want to listen to him. Avatar Korra learned quickly, that speaking with a loose tongue, or shameless lips with result in punishment and only good behaviour was rewarded.
The young master ignored the fire prince. Jen LuXian gripped onto his folding fan in his hand. The eastern courtyard was beautiful with all types of flower species blooming, due to an eccentric air acolyte bringing back seeds of foreign flowers from the Earth Kingdom and Makapu to grow on Air Temple Island. This reminded Jen LuXian of home in Bao Yun, a central for animals not seen in other parts of the Earth Kingdom. He missed the lush groves of spring flowers that bloomed in the early spring, sitting near the window of his bedchambers and the sound of bat-monkeys howling through the night. Jen LuXian missed home, and he knew he will be home, after he does this small service for his clan.
At the corner of his eye, Jen LuXian noticed his right hand was grasped and he turned to face the prince's golden gaze. His eyes widened, as the other man's hand felt rough, between Jen LuXian's unblemished fingers, and the touch between their fingers pulsed through Jen LuXian's hand and through his body. Zhu Iroh held the gentleman's hand gently, brushing his thumb against the palm of Jen LuXian's hand, it happened too quickly for the man to react. He was shamelessly blushing again and avoiding eye contact with the other man. Jen LuXian was easily startled, because of his sheltered upbringing and didn't like being touched by other people. As he left his homeland, Jen LuXian's courage grew and so did his confidence. His sense of independence made him more stubborn than his Great Aunt Ruyi, who was the matriarch of the Jen Clan and the most hard-headed of Jen LuXian's relatives.
"Your Grace...I apologise for my unclothed manner, in the way I spoke to you. I disrespected your clan and I should take more care in what I say." General Iroh said, in a softer tone. He seemed genuine in being sorry for the slight insult given to Jen LuXian. The young master could not afford to be bitter towards the man, who protected him in Gu Village, saving his life from the Crimson Matron's torture and had the respect to help him bring Su Yong's sword and body back to his family.
"My retinue will stay on the island for two nights. Don't you have somewhere important to be, Your Highness." Master Jen replied.
"It's...nice to see a familiar face. A close brush with death made me think differently of life."
"...I'm glad, you are alive, Your Highness."
There was a warmth within Jen LuXian's chest. He never realised Zhu Iroh could have been dead two years ago, in the middle of civil war and risked his life to protect the city. He poured blood, sweat and tears into preserving the vision of unity by his grandfather and Avatar Aang. Jen LuXian couldn't bear to think, what it would have done to him, if Iroh had died. Jen LuXian already lost Su Yong to the Crimson Matron and he would have been broken, if he lost Iroh too. The burden on the young master's shoulders, has been alleviated, by the presence of the golden-eyed firebender in his life again. It was like a ray of sunlight pulled away, the black cloud over Jen LuXian's heart, since he lost his old bodyguard and the greatest of friend he ever had.
"Why don't you stay on the island longer? I'm sure the Qian family wouldn't mind the delay." Zhu Iroh said, in a pleasing manner. His lightened golden gaze was aimed at Jen LuXian, but the young master was too oblivious, to where the fire prince was looking and the man let go of Jen LuXian's hand, realising he was still holding it.
The general's hand brushed off, the cherry blossom petals on Jen LuXian's robes, in a way that didn't infringe on the young master's modesty. Zhu Iroh knew the rules, when it came to the Second Young Master of the Jen Clan; not to touch him without asking for consent. Jen LuXian was reminded of the time, he and Iroh were stuck in a coffin, when they were on the run from the Crimson Matron's bloodbenders and it was uncomfortable. Being confided into a small space was one thing, but to be inside a coffin with a man, Jen LuXian had fond feelings for was strange. At the time, Jen LuXian felt something hard against his body, and went red with mortification. It must have been mortifying for Prince Iroh as well, he wanted to make Jen LuXian feel less anxious, and held the other man in his arms, until the cost in Gu Village was safe and no red disciples were chasing them.
As the grandson of the Fire Lord, who espoused high honour. Jen LuXian could see that moment five years ago, was shameful for Iroh as well. Zhu Iroh respected Jen LuXian and should not have been that close to him physically. He was a noble gentleman from a strict clan and he was attractive as he got older. Jen LuXian had hidden the fact that he enjoyed it, being in close proximity to an attractive man was new to him, never having physical contact with anyone outside of Su Yong, who slept in the young master's bed with him. Su Yong was his bodyguard and it was normal in the Earth Kingdom's norms to do so.
"My people are tired. The long journey has exhausted them. I want Kumi to be in good shape for the troubles ahead."
"Does she like you?"
"As a person, yes. But as a potential suitor, no. Kumi likes other women and it made her perfect in the eyes of my clan. My family gradually soured on Su Yong, for getting closer to me, knowing he was the most loyal servant I had. They think Su Yong whispered poison in my ears, about usurping my cousin's place and I would not do that to him." Jen LuXian's voice trembled, at the end of his words. He didn't like mentioning, the mistreatment Su Yong got from Jen LuXian's family years later, because of the implicit closeness Su Yong had with his young master.
"...I'm sorry...Jen Lian...I wasn't there for you."
"I had the time and a new bodyguard was good for me. Someone my family will approve off and will not treat like Su Yong. The Kyoshi Warriors still command respect in the Earth Kingdom and to be protected by one is considered an honour."
The young master caught the sight of two airbending children whizzing past them. Jen LuXian was not the kind to be amused at such things, but he had a smile on his face. Jen LuXian smiled widely, knowing something broke Iroh, out of the soldier mannerisms for a second. He was unimpressed, because Jen LuXian was used to travelling outside his homeland and not seeing Chou-brother and Meiling-sister for a long time. The master earthbender missed his cousins, but he was certain they had their own lives to live, without Jen LuXian staining the reputation of their proud clan, because of his actions causing his family to lose face. Jen LuXian exhaled, holding his fan and glancing at the man at his side, not wanting him to know he was looking at him. The young master looked at things, and people he found attractive, to his eye. It was the way nature designed what was beautiful and what was not.
To the contrary, Jen LuXian was the man's courtesy name, as his clan still used those for their children. His birth name was Jen Lian, as his mother liked flowery names and Zhu Iroh was one of the only people outside his clan to call Jen LuXian by his given name. The man's ear would tingle or be flustered, when the fire prince calls him by his given name and not Young Master Jen, like everyone else did. Their relationship was different to the conventional sworn brotherhood, shared in the Earth Kingdom's martial culture between men. He didn't know what to call his relationship with the prince, as it went beyond the normal conventions of a friendship, but it crossed over into sworn brotherhood ten years ago.
The fading sun appeared on this side of the island. It was unlike anything Jen LuXian had seen in Bao Yun, when he saw the sun fade from the sky, but the big trees were always in the way. Time was different in the United Republic than the north-eastern Earth Kingdom. He brushed off whatever was left of the petals on his robes. It was a habit Jen LuXian developed, from childhood and was raised to have high standards, because of his status as a member of the Jen Clan. Practicing such habits was normal for Jen LuXian to do, in front of strangers and the people he knew. Through his travels in the Earth Kingdom, it was the first time Jen LuXian was truly exposed to people outside of his rank, since meeting sandbenders from the White Swallow Tribe years ago, and was exposed to sandbender culture, in a way no young master of a noble clan would. The sandbender tribes kept to themselves and people of Jen LuXian's rank labelled them as wild savages and sand demons.
The young master hoped Kumi did not interrupt him and his royal highness, especially with her skills in cutting off, the hands of rapers and making fun of maid servants, who cannot cook. Jen LuXian never wanted such pettiness in his presence, as he cultivated himself through the royal court of Omashu and learned everything he needed to there. General Iroh's gaze was upon Jen LuXian, but had an inkling of where the prince was staring at. Maybe it was the long-edged scar, hidden beneath his brown-black hair or the way his dark brown eyes was reflected in sunlight. The Fire Nation prince always looked at Jen LuXian in an attentive way, since they reunited in the Southern Water Tribe, when the young master arrived, officially as Avatar Korra's earthbending shifu.
"What if he saw the scar? What if he hates the look of it, ruining my face. The last time I was physically close with His Highness was the embrace, before the Teng Clan wheelhouse took me back to Bao Yun from Ba Sing Se. I never wanted to let go, even though I had just delivered Su Yong's remains to his family. The first year of recovery was difficult, I was full of rage and hatred towards the world that took Su Yong away. Written frantic letters, begging His Highness to take me away from the cold misery of home. My own family treated me like an invalid, even though they wanted me to recover at my own pace. The only family member, who didn't treat me like an invalid was Moyun, formerly an outsider, before she adjusted to the modest lifestyle of the Jen Clan, in comparison to the lavish lifestyle of the Pang family. Jen Moyun never saw death, but she watched her mother, Madam Pang fall into mental disarray, after an attempted kidnapping near the Xishan Mountains, which left her traumatised, seeing her guards die in front of her."
As a child, Jen LuXian was curious how the sky changed every day, from the clear blue morning into the pink-orange sunset. Nothing dictated earth, the way the sun and the moon did for fire and water. Earth was free and had no astronomical weakness in the world. Jen LuXian kept walking, beside the United Forces general. He could have told the prince to go away, but he sensed the other man wanted to be near him. Jen LuXian assumed Zhu Iroh held some guilt, for Su Yong's death and seeing the bodies of the dead waterbenders outside Gu Village. The taste of bitterness was on Jen LuXian's tongue, but he didn't care. The allure of the mixed coloured sunset didn't spoil whatever peace he had, away from Kumi's excitable ramblings and not even she, who was four years into the job, could be what Su Yong was for Jen LuXian. Su Yong had been the first friend, Jen LuXian had, as people only wanted to socialise with him, because they felt sorry for him, due to his dead parents and was isolated in his family's mountain residence.
Jen LuXian turned around, to catch a close glimpse of Zhu Iroh's fingers, inches away from the young master's hair. His eyes widened at the thought. A noble and respectable man wanting to reach out to have physical contact, that wasn't hand holding and fixing his headdress, when it was crooked. Jen LuXian had that approach from noble girls before, but he had Su Yong to tell them to get lost and the same would be said for boys, who had the same designs. The young master was familiar with the fact, the United Republic had its own rules, but in the Earth Kingdom, touching a noble man's hair was indecent and shameless behaviour, because only family members, spouses and significant others were allowed to touch the hair of a noble person.
General Iroh cleared his throat and asked. "I would like to escort you, to the Qian family's residence, if it's alright with you."
"Master and Madam Qian would be offended, by your instance to take over." Young Master Jen replied.
"I only want to make sure, you get there safely. There are people this city, who would take advantage of someone like you."
"A foreign visitor."
"Yes...and a heavenly beauty."
The earthbending master had a sense of discomfort, especially when people openly told him how beautiful he was. To the point, Great Aunt Ruyi almost made Jen LuXian wear a face veil, whenever he was in public. A face veil was a piece of material unmarried noble women wore in public, when travelling so the unworthy would not look upon the daughters of the earth and heavens. "You are too kind, Your Highness." Jen LuXian said softly.
"I call it, as I see it. You look more like your mother, every day Lian."
A chuckle escaped Jen LuXian's lips. He was used being called beautiful, that it became its own source of depreciating humour. The man was always compared to his mother, Teng Jiao-Wen, when it came to their features and outer beauty, but the only difference was the colour of their eyes. Jen LuXian had not laughed in years. There was always a noring sadness that surrounded him, but the presence of Zhu Iroh, meant Jen LuXian found a tenderness had returned to his life. A part of him wanted to be that naive young man, who loved bending and being a teacher, as it was the only respectable occupation that got him away from the military and ruffle feathers, amongst the nobility. Most of the nobility lamented of how, a talented earthbender like Jen LuXian, gave up any hopes of an honourable path into the military and had thrown away prestigious marriage proposals. He could have lived the life of a lazy husband, but it was not what Jen LuXian wanted in his life. He wanted to be the free spirit, his uncle Jen Xizuan was and still was, after his banishment from Bao Yun and living his life in Omashu.
The sunset was appearing across the sky, which Jen LuXian found beautiful to see. Without going to a watchtower or climbing a tree, just to get a glimpse of the disappearing sun and the orange and pink sprawled, across the open sky in his homeland. The young master stood beside the general, knowing both men shared the same experience, rescuing the abducted waterbenders from the Crimson Matron. Jen LuXian bit his lip, at the sight of General Iroh's golden gaze on him. They had a relationship, which couldn't be compared to a normal friendship between men of similar status, it was what was called sworn brotherhood. It could be a platonic attraction to a noble firebender and a war hero, even though Zhu Iroh almost lost his life trying defend the city, he put his life into protecting, much to the isolation from his homeland and his family.
The earthbender hoped this would not be the last sunset, he saw in this part of the world. As the glistening waters from the harbour caught his eye, Jen LuXian sensed a gentle grasp of a hand on his left shoulder, but he didn't force the hand away. It was as if Su Yong and not the Prince of the Fire Nation, who had his hand on his shoulder. It didn't make Jen LuXian sad, even though the prince's hand was removed from his shoulder, after a quick reaction, as a way to save face, from the prince's conduct towards the young master. This place invoked many feelings for Jen LuXian, but he wasn't even halfway through his journey, and he had a feeling staying on the island would change him. For a man used to being surrounded by nature at his home, the island was family oriented, just like the Jen Clan were. His clan never cared for anything, other than family and being good people in the world. The journey was going to be difficult, it was an experience that Jen LuXian had to let go and just follow what his heart wants in the coming days.
PS: Jen LuXian calls his cousins Chou-brother and Meiling-sister, because they were raised like siblings in a family oriented environment. The three of them are close enough to be like siblings, living in the same household. It was normal for the Jen Clan to do, because of their family values and putting emphasis on a united household, no matter the placement in the family.
- Usually no one was alllowed to call a royal person by their last name, only by their royal title. Jen LuXian is one of the only outsiders, who can call Iroh by his surname Zhu in this chapter and throughout the story. In the Earth Kingdom, the royal class are called by their titles and never by their names, unless by a clan the royal family had ties to from marriage or are friends with them.
- Chungong (Chinese hetero porn book) and longyang (Chinese gay porn book) were books Jen LuXian was exposed to in Omashu, under the influence of the Prince of Omashu. It was Jen LuXian's first look at sexuality, outside the ascetic belief system of his clan. Reading those books made a sixteen-year-old Jen LuXian realise he was interested in boys and girls. The books were Jen LuXian's sexual awakening and started his attraction to Iroh. Omashu is more liberal and open-minded, than the rest of the Earth Kingdom, when it came to queerness and sexual freedoms in the city.
- In Ancient Chinese culture, courtesy names were used in society. An old fashioned Earth Kingdom family like the Jens would use them for their children, which is the reason why Jen LuXian is the main character's courtesy name and which people refer to him as. He is refered to by his courtesy name and his given name, Jen Lian is only spoken by family members, even though Iroh is close enough to him that he can call him by his given name. Jen LuXian knows his mother chose his given name, but his courtesy name was chosen when he was fifteen by his uncle.
- The concept of face in Chinese culture refers to social standing, honour and respect in society. The idea of face can be earned or given, but it can also be lost. The actions that cause face to be lost has consequences on more than the individual, but on the group collective, like family. For example, Jen LuXian rejecting the five marriage proposals made the Jen Clan lose face in public and the reputation of their clan was ruined for a while, which humiliated the clan.
- The Gu Village is a village in the northwestern Earth Kingdom, miles from the Northern Air Temple. It's a village known for making and crafting coffins, as the Earth Kingdom's funeral rites involve burial, which was a profitable industry, until the Crimson Matron took over the village and made it the centre of her cult. It now has a reputation for having fog because of the cold air that comes from the Northern Water Tribe and Northern Air Temple. Gu Village has a reputation for being haunted by the unrested spirits of the waterbenders, who died there.