To my surprise, Iroh pursued me after a quick word with his men, striding powerfully to catch up with me in moments before he gently touched at my wrist but didn't grab on, silently requesting with that gesture that I stopped and talked to him, and seeing as he asked so nicely and called my name with such concern, I couldn't find it in my heart to refuse him, so I stopped and faced him. "Something is wrong, Miss Kanna. Tell me, what has happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"You look…deeply concerned and stressed over something. When I saw you in the crowd outside city hall, you looked as if you had been crying a great deal so I followed you." He'd seen me? Is that how he just happened to turn up at exactly the right place and time when I needed some rescuing? "It may be impertinent of me, but our grandparents were close friends and I felt that I could not ignore you whilst you were in such clear distress. If there is anything I can do, I am at your service." For a while I was a little stunned, not expecting such cordiality and kindness from someone after what had happened back home, but then I settled and gave a weak smile.
"Thank you, but I just needed some time to think. Something happened back home and my family and I argued…it wasn't pleasant, and I needed to get away for a while." General Iroh's brow quirked at me curiously.
"And you just wandered into dangerous territory and were almost taken hostage by criminals?"
"I needed to think a lot." I clarified and I almost laughed, feeling a little lighter for talking to Iroh even though it was just a basic conversation. "My thoughts got so wrapped up in my head, I wasn't even paying attention to where I was going. Dumb I know, but luckily you happened to be there. Thank you." Iroh nodded his head in acceptance, still studying me curiously.
"May I assist you home? It's late and it's unsafe to be walking around this time of night. Especially alone."
"I'm not going back." Folding my arms I looked away stubbornly. "They wouldn't want me there anyway." This time, Iroh looked surprised.
"That's your home, your family, of course they will want you there where it is safe."
"No, they won't. You don't…you don't know what the argument was about, the way they looked at me. They looked at me like I was a monster, somebody dangerous, my own friend thought I was going to hurt him. I can't go back to that. I won't." For a moment, Iroh looked like he wanted to ask for specifics but stopped himself, knowing that it was rude to pry into someone else's private affairs. Thinking that we were done talking, I made to leave but once more Iroh reached out to me, this time touching my hand where my fingers came to rest against his.
"Then in that case, where will you stay? Do you have someone you can stay with or money to pay for a hotel room?"
"My friends have an apartment, they're not living there because of the vines. I can stay there for the night, or I can just find somewhere to make myself a snow tent and sleep there." I listed off, already having thought of a couple of places I could sleep for the night. It's not like Bolin and Mako would be looking for me, and the last place they'd think to check is their own apartment so I could just figure out a way to get in and stay there. By this point, Iroh held onto my hand a little more insistently.
"In that case, I cannot in good conscience let you leave where I cannot be certain of your safety." At first my eyes narrowed, looking back at him dangerously and suspiciously until Iroh continued. "If you do not wish to return home, then perhaps you would be willing to come with me. There is plenty of space on my ship to rest, and you can have my own quarters for the night." I straightened up at the unexpected offer.
"I can't do that, that's your place. I can't just take it over like that." I said to him but Iroh insisted and basically, refused to let me go until I agreed so before I knew it, I was climbing into a vehicle with him in order to go to where his command ship was docked. He told me that he was scheduled to run some routine naval exercises the day after tomorrow but until then, the ship was being inspected and any repairs or upkeep completed before going. He then talked about the ship itself, giving a brief history on the development of the vessel over the years and it took me a while to realise that he was purposefully filling the silence so that I wouldn't become lost in my own thoughts.
"Although the room isn't much, it'll be comfortable. Is there anything I can get for you? There might be some food I could bring up from the kitchen…"
"It's more than enough, thank you. I'm sorry to put you out like this." I apologised, still feeling guilty as he showed me to his quarters. It was very simple but there were a few items around which had a personal touch to them. A photo of Iroh when he was younger with his mother and grandfather, as well as a painting of Lord Zuko's uncle, the Iroh he was named after. There was a fire nation canopy, a tea set complete with its own teapot, various other items and a few decorative medals which were displayed on a shelf.
"It's really no trouble." He answered, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Is there anything you would like to talk about?" Turning around I smiled to him but shook my head, feeling nothing now but tiredness. "Then I will leave you to rest. When you wake up tomorrow, come to the main deck or the bridge. If I'm not there, someone will find me for you. We can talk more then." Thanking him for a final time, this time with a bow, Iroh nodded his head curtly then closed the door, leaving me to rest.
It was almost a luxury to be able to sleep on a bed with a real mattress, sinking into the soft comfort and it was the best night's sleep I'd had in a long while, though several times I woke up from dreams and nightmares. Blood bender. I'm not a monster, and blood bending was only dangerous when applied in the wrong manner. I was certain I could use it to save lives, but they wouldn't listen. Well, not all of them anyway, and Mako, that hurt so bad when he recoiled from me. I knew I was right all along. They didn't view me as a real member of Team Avatar, as a real friend. I was just a background character whilst they were the heroes who saved the world and got all the fame, glory and recognition, leaving me in the dark.
