Childish things
I was disturbed by the huge amount of young people flocking in front of the headquarters. On top of this we, meaning me and lao, were making the business of our lifetime. All my woks were sizzling, my small oven was primped with red-bean buns and lao had no free ceramic filter. Because it was like a wholesale frenzy I wasn´t able to find out why all these people were here. They still kept pouring in like the yellow river during spring. However, I noticed that a suspicious lot of them were equipped with strange looking things that somehow reminded me on cameras. Only their objectives were somehow oversized and the housings were far too small to contain a decently sized silver plate coated in rather uncommon and expensive chemicals. Sadly, I had no time for a closer inspection one of these things. If you thought about it these guys were most likely journalists and other blood sucking pests. This made me wonder. Why were so many of them here? I hadn´t heard anything about something important happening in the police department. No arrest of squirrel-toad supporters, no new "lead-bit murders" or turf wars. Since Ping had wolfed down his noodles this morning, I was quite positive that I would have known if something important was going to happen. I handed some fried pork-chicken feet to a young woman and then tended to my dumplings. I was wondering what Sokka was doing at the moment. The squirt had talked about her job being annoyingly boring, while complaining about the fact that she wasn´t even close to prove a challenge to the guys in her dojo. I had responded that weight classes had been invented for a reason. Sokka didn´t take that well, like her mother, spirits bless her. Still she seemed to be brooding over something that was not related to her martial arts carrier at all. My prodding had been fruitless up till now. I guessed she would tell me sometimes – Sokka always needed time to make decisions. But that weren´t my only worries.
Lin was behaving much more childish than my daughter - though. She was outright annoying, most likely because of my, rather rude, peptalk on air temple island. On the bright side - she was leaving my flat voluntarily now… I would have been overjoyed, if I hadn´t the ill feeling that my presence was the main reason for her "going out to do some stuff" episodes. Well, she was a big girl and I had no right to behave like a scorned father or babysitter– right? In the meantime, Asami and Ma Ko also had invited us – meaning me, Lin and Ping – to a barbecue. I had my doubts about Lin attending any kind of festivity, but I definitely would like some roasted polar bear paws. Currently my busy cooking led to me running out of prepared raw materials. Suddenly a whole company of fully armed metal bending officers stepped out of the main entrance with loud clanking steps. They formed a half circle of heavy riot-shields and drawn platinum blades as if they expected a sudden burst of violence form the crowd. Damn – I should have packed up my noodle cart and left! I already saw myself filling out innumerable complaint forms for getting some kind of compensation for my trashed noodle cart! Why the heaven´s did they have to hold their announcements here and not on newly named Lin Bei Fong square! The place was big enough and could easily be sealed off from the city´s streets. Some of the people readied their cameras as I had the vague feeling of witnessing something historic. Indeed, Ping Hungshu and the four Councilmen of Republic City finally exited the main gates and stopped in the doorframe of the big double-doors that represented the main entrance of the police headquarters. A Lot of tiny explosions of flash- powder erupted from the raised cameras. Flash-powder was a mixture of metallic magnesium, potassium-chloride and antimon-sulfide that enabled defined flashes of white light because it burned extremely fast.
That´s just to be said to those of my dear readers who don´t dabble in the sciences for a pasttime. My brother was the first to raise his hands looking a lot like our father in the gleaming sun. His face was serene as he rose his smooth voice.
"Dear representatives of the Republic newspapers, dear civilian citizens – a hearty welcome on this important day." Tenzin cleared his throat. "Master Tenzin – does this mean that the United Republic gets an army?" "The council has discarded the plans of Miss Sato?" "Does this mean we declare war on the earth kingdoms?" a lot of different questions were yelled in a booming cacophony of voices. I was shocked. Was the council finally ready to admit that the plains of Chu Da threatened the peace of Rep. City? Would they really DO something against it? I was so excited that I was suddenly startled by the sharp smell of smoldering noodles. "Oh fuck!" I sighed as I removed the wok from the stove. Cleaning woks always was a pain in the ass, so I felt a twinge of frustration. Everyone´s attention was focused on the five men that were standing in the gateway.
Tenzin took his time until the crowds jabbering had reached a tolerable level. Then he continued in an admirably self-composed way. "Today was a very difficult day for me. I´m the successor of Avatar Aang – the last airbender - if you want to say so." Tenzin paused. "Everybody who is interested in politics knows that I´ve always tried to be a voice of reason in the heated debates of the council." At least the earth nation delegate had the politeness to nod reassuringly. I could imagine a furiously debating TenTen quite easily, despite his monky exterior! "With the beginning of the new age, the restoration of the air nation, I stopped being your councilman and became something different. I had to expand my view to the other nations because I was the only one who could give tradition and guidance to the air benders... To my people!" Tenzin obviously didn´t like talking about this Topic.
The people were whispering frantically and even forgot to shoot pictures of my brother. Tenzin looked a lot like the Avatar Aang statue in the harbor district, even if his beard made him look a lot less – innocent? "Many of my brothers and sisters hail from the earthern kingdoms and a quite great amount of them are of the wandering circles – gypsies. Sons of the Haka, of the rainbow tribes… to summarize, they are people that have watched politics for centuries without being considered important. My students taught me many things about the earth nations, as Councilman Guang Zhong Je may have noticed in our debates." There was something like a smile creeping around TenTens lips. Obviously, he and the earth nation councilman had their disagreements! The man was smiling a tad sourly. "In the last year a lot of my alcolytes have left the temples to return to their families, monks revoked their oaths and brought their staffs to blacksmiths." Tenzin narrated with furrowed brows. The journalists were gasping. "Most of those who´re left in the United Republic don´t have families, or they have brought their children, wives and parents with them. There are rooms in my house that are currently used by seven people and my fortunes are dwindling, because somebody has to provide for the air nomads." Tenzin explained with a hint of pride in his voice. Yeah TenTen definitely loved playing the enlightened Bodhisatva!
"Master Tenzin – why haven´t you told this to the public." "Why doesn´t the government help the air nomads?" people were yelling questions at my brother again. I was busy shoveling the already prepared food into the leftover pot. Nobody would be buying anything until Tenzin and his colleagues were done and I had the feeling that they would take their time. Lao wasn´t faring much better, the young man was staring at Tenzin intensely, while his teapots were piping and steaming like miniature trains. " I knew for a long time that the fall of Kuvira Bei Fong had left the earthern nations bickering and in a state of domestic chaos. I hope that my dear friend Guang Zhong Je will enlighten us on this matter, since he is a native of the nations! But - my dear members of the republic press – please focus on taking notes instead of shooting further photographs – let´s say that I, as the head of a forming tribe, have the duty to inform myself about the political situation in the nations. This I did and what I saw makes me sad and worried! It was neglection and ignorance, of the fire nation government and of US – the council of the United Republic - that led to the current situation! We have messed up, and I beg your forgiveness, dear citizens!" Tenzin actually bowed low, which was outrageous! People´s jaws were dropping as the water tribe councilman tried to pick up Tenzin from the floor with an angry frown. "You can´t say that we…" my brother waved his hands decisively and stayed on the ground. Guang Zhong Je furrowed his brows and also lowered himself. He didn´t apologize, even though he most likely was as much at fault as Tenzin. Tennouji Hisaki just stood there with a blank face, obviously he wouldn´t admit that he had done something wrong. Well – maybe he hadn´t? I wasn´t well-informed about the political shenanigans of the high council. After a felt eternity Tenzin rose. Earth nationers were wiping their eyes and even my throat was tight. It was the first time anybody apologized to us – to the people from the lower rings. I nodded, we had come a long, long way, since the days of my childhood.
"The earth nations have suffered, since the passing of emperor Kuei and even though the grand city finally has a government that looks out for the wealth and happiness of it´s populace, the majority of the fertile and wide lands of the nations have not! There still are lords that follow their flimsy moods and in many regions of the kingdoms it´s unwise to travel after sundown. Not due to spirits, but because of marauding bandits and mercenaries! Many of our cititzens are of the nation's kin. The Union of Earthern nations is our most important trading partner. It is our duty to aid them in their hours of peril. And the hour of peril is AT HAND – dear citizens! The plains of Chu da are revolting! Earth nation officials are threatened to join the Ling Clan or die! Soldiers are slaughtered and civil war stretches its claws towards the walls of Ba Sing Se!" Tenzin paused as a shudder went through the press. "So - we´re sending them money?" people wanted to know. Tenzin rose his hands and continued with a booming voice. "We´re already sending support, food, military equipment – but that will not do! The lords of Chu da have rallied the warlords that thrived through the nations for decades. They have an army the Union can not hope to defeat on it´s own!
WE – the United Republic of nations are the leader in electric technology, in mechanics, steam technology - even in the defense industry! Our export volume is fifty percent of the fire nation´s even though we barely have a quarter of it´s populace!" the people were swelling with confidence. "Even if our country is small… WE´RE not the earthern kingdoms, WE´RE not the fire nation, WE`RE not the water tribes, WE`RE not the air nomads! The high council has decided that it is high time we ACT as a nation and NOT as a former colony - my dear citizens!" Tenzins voice was booming now, almost like fathers had been! This time the Lord of Hisaki nodded in consent – he seemed almost eager. "The United forces aren´t just a tool of war. They´re an institution in which people of all nations can find a purpose that connects them. They have shown that we all can serve the greater good TOGETHER! However, they´re no proper army! The united forces only can be deployed for peace keeping measurements and that my dear citizens, is not something a country can depend on!" Tenzin gulped as if swallowing a poisonous tree viper. "Sometimes shedding blood is inevitable, even if I as a Master airbender and pacifist, despise this truth from the bottom of my heart. In the last decade the republic has been shaken by crime, by equalistic propaganda, by terrorists and shamanistic maniacs. It´s almost a miracle that the united republic still exists. I say – we cannot challenge fate anymore! We can´t send out our policemen to face armies with wooden bats and iron cables! Nobody can win a war with courage and valor! We need a self-defense force that can dispel an army – we need to make this city a safe place four our children and families. THIS is our first and foremost duty!" Tenzin concluded. The people were cheering and I felt a lump in my throat. I had the feeling that this speech would be something children would have to study during history class! While the people were still cheering for Tenzin, Guang Zhong Ye stepped forward. "I am Guang Zhong Ye and everybody knows that I always pleaded for a strong arm of Justice to govern the lands." The earth nationer had an accent of royal Guang Zhu lingering in his voice. He was a slim man with chiseled features, seemingly less imposing than my brother. His voice however was a man´s and it was quite loud and piercing.
"As councilman Tenzin already elaborated, we have the need for a self-defense force and since I am the only one of the council to have served as a senior officer, the council decided that I should be the executive supervisor during the formation of the self-defense force." The man paused and clasped his hands behind his back. His posture was ramrod straight. "I will be assisted through our Chief of police Mr. Hungshu Ping and his veteran metalbending corps, because these men are the best we have." The people were escalating again. "Who´ll be serving there?" "Will there be drafts?" "Where will the weaponry come from?" "Will they have bullet-throwers?" the journalists seemed like a herd of rabid cow-swine. Instead of waiting for them to settle down the little man just outshouted the journalists like a true officer. "SILENCE! I´ll answer all your questions in a civilized manner, so please return the favor." Zhong Ye did his best to not let his annoyance shine through. "As a former soldier I know that drafts do no good." There was a sudden silence. I also was stunned – no drafts? How did Zhong Ye want to get soldiers otherwise? The main reason the hundred-year war came to an end were draft riots, the earth-nation had draft-armies, the watertribes and the fire-nation had. The only people that didn´t draft were the savage southern tribes and tribal groups in other backwater regions that didn´t have a standing army!
"A soldier should serve his country as a true patriot and gentleman. Fulfilling one´s duty with body, mind and soul, offering up his life to protect his people. THAT and nothing else is a soldiers - is MY – duty!" He elaborated. "the council of the United Republic will not expect such a sacrifice from anybody. The self-defense force will be made up from volunteers, which will be trained from some of the finest the world has to offer. A soldier will be conscripted to serve either, for the duration of a war, for two years, for ten years or for life. Of course, we will pay our soldiers a life-long pension, once they aren´t able to serve the public anymore. The salary will be twice that of an equally ranked civilian official." He responded, while the journalists were busy taking notes.
"A common soldier will receive a paycheck of three thousand yuan a month, doubled when deployed. Of course, the father of a family will receive more - depending on the number of his children." The councilman paused. "I will stop with elaborating the benefits of being a soldier because our recruiting officers are at your service if you´re interested in joining the forces. The public may be asking how we intend to finance the facilities and equipment needed… The high council has decided that fifty percent of last year's tax income is to be invested in the self-defense forces. Furthermore, donations of private citizens are highly approved of. For instance, I would like to thank Miss Sato Asami, as well as Mister Varrick Son of Varrik for their donations and contracts that enable us to buy equipment for it´s raw material price." The crowd was whispering. "There are also other donors that have gone beyond anything we expected - like Mr. Tian Li." He paused, while everybody was asking who Mr. Li was. "Mr. Tian Li is not a rich businessman or party leader. He serves as a scriv in the council hall. The day we decided to found the self-defense forces he came to my office. He said; Councilman Zhong, please take my salary. Taking on a night job is the least I can do for our freedom." The Councilman stiffened and some people even started sniffling. "it´s thanks to men like Mr. Li that we have come this far and I pray to the spirits that I can live up to their expectations." His voice rose with new found vigor. "I swear on the eternal earth and my ancestors' bones that I will give my best! And that´s all that is to be said. I´ll not spend another hour on giving meaningless honorifics, I am going to talk about how our course of action is set!" He paused again. "The western quays sixteen to thirty are from now on reserved for the vessels of the Self-defense force. Future industries has already begun to manufacture ships of the frigate class "Azulon" currently used in the firenation army. According to the head of Sato naval architecture the first ships will be ready in the coming spring.
As we are speaking hundreds of workers are welding on our ships. Mishima vehicles Inc. has already begun manufacturing the three hundred Oni-II tanks ordered. One hundred Oni-I tanks were bought from the fire nation government for training purposes. Sato industries currently is erecting a bullet thrower manufacturing line in Foshan. The metal bending academy and it´s training grounds have been assigned to the self-defense forces. Furthermore, we have bought the lands of my cousin Ji je Zhong for educational purposes. Chung Pak Tao construction is already starting the construction of the military facilities needed. Beginning with the coming month we expect to conscript the first recruits that will be trained by officers from the 49th infantry of the firenation, from the instructors of the southern sword academy and the southern raiders of the Yuupik tribe." He responded, which resulted in booming applause. It seemed they had not spared effort and bribery to get their hands on some of the world's finest. "I´m not a man of a thousand words, so I would like to end this speech here. The delegates of the newspapers of course have many questions that I am willing to answer. Therefore, we have already prepared the council hall, to which we invite the journalists of republic city. I and my colleagues from the high council, as well as recruiting officers and military advisors are present there and will answer your every question." Ye Zhong concluded. There was a thunderous applause and even I clapped my hands enthusiastically.
Finally, the looming threat was addressed and people were doing the right things. It seemed I hadn´t stained my hands for nothing and maybe, just maybe, my brothers sacrifice wouldn´t prove itself pointless. The councilmen had given hope to the people and from the excited voices of the numerous young people I assumed that they already had their first recruits. I just hoped that my daughter wouldn´t sign up. Sokka just was the kind of person who would come back in a bag! TenTen and his cronies disappeared into the Headquarters, while the officers remained to see that the mob disentangled itself without much ruckus. I thanked the heavens that my noodle cart had survived my brother's speech without noticeable damage. Lao´s fancy pavilion hadn´t shared the same lucky fate. The green and white striped fabric was flapping in the breeze like a half dead tiger-seal. The tiny iron pipes that held the construction in place were bent in an unnatural shape. "Damn these scoundrels. Mother of faces!" Lao was lamenting. The young teamaker was staring at his cart with arms crossed in front of his chest. "Told ya that stuff was too fancy lao." I stated the obvious. Lao definitely had the drive to turn upper class in his lifetime, but he still was a few decades too early for tea pavilions. "Oh - Shut up lee." He snapped enraged. "My beautiful awning is torn to shreds by these savage animals!" he rambled. I gave myself a dry chuckle. "You´re owning a cart lao, no friggin tea house! Why´d you spend money on such shit anyways? It´s not like the customers would give a damn bout this." I shrugged. Lao didn´t dignifiy this with a response. Then he tried to straighten out the deformed pipes in a meaningless effort. "Hey Officers. Could you be so friendly as to fix these deformed iron rods over there?" I just blurted at some of the cops. "I guess Lao´ll give ya some free olongs." The addressed cops, which had ordered red bean buns eyed lao´s fuming, red faced self with plainly visible scoffs. "Depends on the offer, doesn´t it Hei Bei?" the younger one asked. The other man shrugged. "Ah – don´t ya show off yer skills whenever ye can rookie? How bout impressin that fine lookin ladies over there." He responded while pointing at two modern dressed young women who were interviewing three metal benders. I was wondering what kind of hate filled bummer the New Republic times would produce tomorrow.
This newspaper seemed to make a living out of shit-talking everything that happened, without caring about any kind of political agenda. The younger cop grudgingly walked over to Lao and took a look on the deformed metal pipes. He looked white like a sheet, with deep gray rings under his eyes. "Nice to see that cops still know how to celebrate something." I grinned. Hei Bei frowned. "Celebrations should not end with grown men puking into the Avatar Korra Fountain." He stated sourly. I chuckled at that. Weren´t parties supposed to end exactly this way? "ah come on, we´ve been young at some point as well." I responded shrugging. It wasn´t necessary to tell the officer I definitely was not above doing boyish things, like peeing against the council-halls main entrance, in my fifties. "I never did things like that." Hei Bei responded stiffly, while frowning at me. He carried himself every inch the law abiding official of the earthern nations. Yeah – the police had come a long way since my days. Gone were the days of cursing, hard drinking roughnecks that didn´t give a fuck about legislation and made their arrests based on human decency. Well – that of course was viewing history through a set of toned glasses - but you could notice that the officers were more "professional" these days. I scoffed "Missed out a lot of fun then." I quipped back which made the man's green eyes flash in disgust. "Urgh. Don´t you have any face?" he cringed. I just let out a low chuckle and shrugged. I never was one to bother much about face. People didn´t give me much face to begin with! "You´re interested in some dumplings? The´re fifty percent off!" I asked the officer. "I guess I´ll have some flameo noodles." Hei Bei responded while following his colleague who was listlessly bending the steel pipes of lao´s deformed pavilion.
The few dumplings I had left were turning glassy already, which meant that their dough would be tough as nails within the next few minutes. I guessed I wouldn´t sell them to anyone. That meant I could pack up my cart and call it a day. I´d had made more than enough cash today and it did seem that even my, slightly, erratic working hours didn´t sway my customers to visit other street kitchens when I was around. I guessed I just had gotten that good at cooking – or the others were that bad. "Eh Lao, calling it a day?" I asked the young man who just scoffed at me. "With your mindset you´ll never climb the ladder Lee. You´ve got to take your customers seriously! It´s a shame you´re not doing that with your talent!" he shook his head. I sighed. Maybe he was right and I should take my work more seriously, but I just had more important things to do! Actually, I didn´t know IF the things I did were more important.
Sokka was her own woman now and since she didn´t need my financial support anymore I wasn´t that dead set on building up a heritage for her. I wasn´t sure she even wanted to be my heir, because the girl had dreams on her , I WAS pretty sure my daughters' dreams didn´t involve running a restaurant. Sokka sucked a cooking and doing math's, which both were essential qualities for running a restaurant. I started cleaning my woks while hoping to get a good workout in the gym I had discovered a few weeks ago.
I definitely had to do a good core workout today if I wanted to keep my buff. I stepped into the pedals and marveled at the fact that I had been exhausted at this time of day half a year ago. However, I couldn´t shut out the lingering trace of darkness that was subtly wavering on the borders of my consciousness. Only those young enough to see the world in shades of black and white weren´t noticing it and started ahead with eagerly burning eyes. My heart bled for these kids, who without a doubt would have to see terrible things. War was approaching, we didn´t know when or how it was coming, but it definitely was. The older people, were praying to the gods for a miracle. I myself also had started lightning incense sticks every now and then because – what damage could it do? It was childish but what could a little prick like me do besides trying to appease the gods and hope for a miracle? Avatar Korra had directly offended the Ling Clan. The public was outraged, since the avatar had entered the Avatar state in front of the earthern parliament and declared a holy war. Nobody had ever heard of such a thing for centuries and since the Ling clan had responded by burning their summer homes in the upper Rings, almost causing a large-scale fire, we could take it for granted that they wouldn´t knowtow before the avatar. I was wondering what Korra was doing right now – the young woman never had seemed like a scheming person but a girl too passionate and brash for her own good. It also seemed to be the case that the Avatar had been escorted by soldiers after her speech in front of the delegates. There were no further news on avatar Korra, which made me wonder if somebody had locked her up. In the evening I was invited to the garden party Asami and Ma Ko were throwing, undoubtedly to celebrate the founding of the united forces. I really was looking forward to this celebration. I was riding towards the dragon flats, ignoring the wary eyed men that were unloading ancient looking trucks. If the goods weren´t smuggled my name was Kanto the pantless!
Some of the wets were spitting on the pavement as they watched me with furrowed brows. The neighborhood was turning shabbier and the hobos became more numerous. The scent of freshly distilled alcohol lingered in the air. Since Ping had taken over the Chief´s seat the moonshiners were getting feistier by the day. It seemed that bald Aang wasn´t even trying to hide his illegal business anymore. I for my part was happy with this turn of events, which meant a larger variety of spirits available for my small collection. This was especially true since I would never be able to buy firecognac from the thousand isles, imported ice wine from the north or other legal beverages. Bald Aangs boys weren´t sitting in front of their distillery. Dark clouds were looming over the city. I was suspecting a summerly thunderstorm, which was quite an ugly experience. Luckily thunderstorms in Rep City were nowhere as bad as in the firenation, where the Monsoon winds were meeting the islands at full force. There often were early winters, where the water was standing several feet high and houses were washed away by vicious floods. I parked my cart in the garage while the first thunders were roaring in the distance and heavy droplets of warm water were hitting my head. The rain was coming and even though there were just a few steps until I reached the staircase, I was wet from head to toe as I got there with my woks in my hands. I walked upstairs, cleaned up my woks and then finally entered my flat. Lin was looking up from a from a tiny sketchbook. She closed it while the rain was drumming on the roof. Water was streaming into the room in a worrying speed. It almost seemed as if a spring had formed on top of the roof. "FUCK!" I blurted as my eyes locked on the little stream that was heading towards the staircase and dripped through the spaces between the wooden floor.
Lin just stared dumbfounded as I was throwing a slightly dusty carpet in her direction. Beneath it I had stored the spare tiles. "Gods dammit! Help me!" I yelled as my hair was sticking to my face, while I placed one of the tiles in it´s original place. My hands were full of water and grime, while even more water was pouring down my arms and legs. I blinked and grabbed the next tile from Lin, who was handing them to me. "No to the left!" she ordered me as the tile somehow got stuck in the roof struts. I tore and turned but the bloody thing remained stuck. Lin also tried to help me with the stuck tile. We just both turned wet as coonies, while fighting against each other just as much as against the stuck tile. Somehow, we managed to put it back in place while cursing like sailors. Then we hurried and grabbed the two remaining rooftiles, which proved far less challenging. I waited until Lin, with the grace of a clumsy elementary schooler, placed the rooftile in place.
Miss Bei Fong was wringing out her green hair. "Yuck! I knew that was a stupid idea." She bitched, while tugging at her wide trousers that were hugging her curves quite closely. I smirked without noticing it. "Stop smiling you asshole! That´s YOUR fault!" she growled. I just wiggled my eyebrows. "So I´m able to make thunderstorms now?" I responded smugly. "I told you this was going to happen sometimes. But you insisted it was a dry summer without a trace of monsoon fingers!" she responded snidely, while I felt rather close to blushing. "Eff – well. It is summer – technically? Month of the Chickenpig?" I huffed. Lin suddenly started laughing loudly. It was the first time I saw her laugh since our quarrel, which was a beautiful sight. "What – officially autumn is just starting next month." I tried to justify myself. Lin was shaking her still dripping hair. She still was giggling. " Because two days are making summer so much more believable." She shook her head flinching "Ugh – now the bloody water even is in … in." She almost rubbed at her eyepatch. "God – that´s so ugly." She responded grimacing. I realized that I had no idea how weird having a scarred eye must feel sometimes. Lin was still quite tempted to remove the damp eyepatch. "just get it off already if it annoys you." I responded. Lin froze. Damn I guessed I had hit a sore spot again. Lin stood there, breathing out deeply. Then she removed the piece of velvet. The mangled skin of her eye was tinted a glinting pink. However, it wasn´t looking as terrible as I remembered. "Well, I´m wondering when the neighbors are going to make A ruckus, or maybe they even send the landlord." I mused while staring at the puddles of water dripping through my floor. "I guess you´ll just tell them that it´s summer and they should be happy to get a temporary relief from the scorching heat." She quipped, while trying to hide the bad side of her face. "Sure do." I responded. I guessed I really would do that if somebody was annoying me. Just because I wasn´t brash towards triads that didn´t mean I was afraid of your common dragon flat lowlife. Lin scoffed, strikingly resembling her mother. "Showoff. Nobody´ll even notice that lil bit of water." She responded and walked over to the bathroom. I sighed and just went across the floor to fetch some rags to clean up the mess. I was cleaning the floor as Lin reappeared. She looked much more familiar now. Instead of wearing her usual hard tribal outfits she was dressed in robes. I blinked startled. That were mine!
Sokka had bought the emerald robe as a birthday present three years ago! "I guess I´m taking over from here on." She noted while planting a hand at her hip. She wasn´t grimacing anymore so I guessed her ribs finally had stopped hurting. And since I started feeling uncomfortable, I hurried off into the bathroom where I grabbed another robe and was done with it. As I watched Lin wringing out a cleaning rag in my robe, I thanked the heavens that Sokka was nowhere to be seen. I would never have survived her teasing! "You´ve had dinner yet?" I asked wondering how I would feel when Lin had moved out again. I guessed the flat would become orderly and dusty again, since I would be spending more time on the streets than all by myself. "No, I´m not that interested in cooking horrid smelling soups. I mean – not even TenTen could eat my cooking!" Lin admitted. "And he was quite lovestruck when auntie Katara convinced me it would be cute to prepare a seven vegetables soup for him." She responded with a twinkle in her remaining eye. "Oh, that sounds like a good story. You know – one of the ones to tell little Ikki." I joked.
"You´ve told Ikki about me and Tenzin?" she was shocked, her mouth agape and I had no idea if she was angry or not. She relaxed and sighed. "I guess it was high time to end this weird – don´t talk about a time before Tenzin and Pema were a thing - situation." Lin wiped her nose, while I fired up the little stove with some self-pressed paper brickets. "You´re not going to throw rocks at me?" I marveled. She shook her head in a sudden movement. "Please – I´m not as bad as mother!" Lin responded while rolling her eyes EXACTLY as her mother. "You´re still a Bei Fong." I pointed out the obvious. "And since when did a Bei Fong do what she was expected to do?" she quirked an eyebrow. "Touche." I had to admit I was bested. Today I would stick to miso soup, mainly because I would attend a party tonight. "the kids are throwing a fancy party." I stated while cutting the tofu in neat little cubes. The seaweed was already cut and the water heating up. "Mako and Asami?" the question was rhetoric. "Yeah – Cause we get an army." I could help but smile, even though my eyes seemed to give me away. There was melancholy in my friends face. "Sadly enough we need one." She wrung her hands. "I´ve seen my share of violence Lee. I don´t want to be a soldier, but as a Bei Fong it´s kind of my duty to serve isn´t it?" she sighed. I smacked her on the backside of her head. "hey." She protested. "As much as it was yer mom´s duty ta marry a lordling and plop out some proper sons." I responded. She sighed. "You´re right Lee, but I don´t know why it doesn´t feel right." She admitted. "You´re waiting it out?" she asked me. I shrugged. "I just might. Never was good in following orders… I might spy for the Republic if somebody asks me nicely but that´s just the limit of it." I responded. "Oh spirits, you´re no patriot?" Lin teased. "As much as old man Zuk liked being firelord." I stated dryly. "Can´t blame you Lee. I mean, does nation actually mean anything? I mean, I´ve grown up with more people of water than with my kin – and it wasn´t bad or anything." Lin shrugged. "Why do I feel like you´re weasling out of the party the kids are throwing…" I furrowed my brows.
Lin sighed. "Well – who would want me there anyways? I´m just the grumpy kebab eating old hag." She muttered. "Ahm… that award will go to your mom." I stated, which produced a scoff from her. "Come on Lin, it´s a miracle Chouw hasn´t started calling you mommy Bei Fong by now." I prodded, she yelped and flushed, again making a quite weird … thing… with her facial expression. "Ok – I´ll attend then." She muttered, while planting her hands on the counter. There was a ghost of a smile dancing around her lips. "It´s weird that I feel so – ok. I mean, I´m not doing my duty at all. I´m not doing anything meaningful and just slack off like some kind of sloth!" She responded. I marveled at her sudden outburst. Yes, this could be called an emotional outburst for the former Iron maiden. "So what?" I responded. "You think you should feel bad?" I asked curiously. I´ve never fully understood how Lin could feel so obsessed with her job. "No – I, I really like it… I mean, that´s the problem! I shouldn´t like slacking off so much, should I?" she responded in an accusing tone. I was slightly frustrated. Just when would this brickhead stop accusing herself for behaving human! "Doing things you like isn´t bad Lin, just when will you finally understand that." I sighed. I couldn´t even recount how often I had told her this. "Well – Lee I – I just don´t know why I´m like this. I really don´t! My mom doesn´t think about things like these, uncle Sokka didn´t. My sis doesn´t." she sighed. "Maybe I ask myself if I got that from my father." She nibbled on her bottom lip. I couldn´t look at her in that moment. I felt guilty and wanted to tell her that she shouldn´t think about that piece of garbage for a split second. But I couldn´t do that, could I? "What do you think bout that Lee?" she asked. My mind was blank like a slate. "Um… Ergm.." I stuttered while feeling the color drain from my face. "I don´t know?" I squeaked almost terrified. I sure felt terrified because Lin definitely wouldn´t forgive me that I had never told her about her father. No matter how much the truth might hurt her.
"Yeah… why should you." She responded to my eternal relief. "not even uncle Sokka knew anything about this Kanto guy and he knew anything about mom." She concluded. "I wonder if he was an artist." She mused. "No!" I responded a tad too violently. She frowned. "Why ´d you think he wasn´t?" she asked. "Erm… could you imagine you mother dating some whiny, girly fucktard?" I shot back. Since we now were navigating in a minefield, I had regained my composure. Lin had to grin, she then turned serious. "You know, actually I can!" she responded. "I mean. Nobody imagined that YOU would turn out to be my best friend." She added dryly, I was baffled and quite happy. "No offense Lee, but I also never thought that would happen. More importantly uncle Sokka definitely was whiny! And he did do some really girly things." She added. "Shopping for clothes isn´t girly! Men tend do it if they don´t have wives that love to shoping for them!" I deadpanned. "You didn´t!" she pointed me out. I sighed. "Yeah – because Yumi would always bicker and nag me about being the incarnation of bad taste! You know – it was just so annoying that I let her buy my clothes or bought what she suggested! After all it was just about clothes." I responded truthfully. Lins eye went wide. "Yumi was THAT much into fashion?" she seemed shell shocked. "Oh – you´ve no idea Linny." I chided her. "Don´t call me that!" I was punched fiercely. "If you insist on pet naming me at least be creative about it." Lin grumbled annoyed. I rubbed my shoulder. "She loved working in the boutiques because she could fawn over robes and accessories all day long. Yumi might have loved fashion but that didn´t caused her to be some docile, meek wifey." I shrugged. Lin giggled. "Well, her styling tips were always top notch! And I admit we talked more about peachy yukatas than it was necessary." I scratched my beard. Then why don´t you wear something like that instead of MY robes, I wanted to yell at her. Why I didn´t do it was unclear to myself. I then went to warm up some miso soup, which was one of my personal favorites. Lin followed me like a lost puppy, which meant that there was something she wanted to talk about.
It seemed she finally had stopped avoiding me, which lightened my mood a great deal. I was cutting tofu and chopping black algae as she suddenly broke the silence. "Thanks." She suddenly blurted. The knife in my hand stopped for a second, while I thought about a proper response. I continued to chop the algae since I didn´t know what to answer. I merely let out a guttural grunt. "You´ve been right – I was a moping princess and it´s hilarious that I didn´t give up on Tenzin a decade ago…. I was a coward that stuck her head in the sand and ignored my hurt and anger… hm yeah.." she trailed off obviously uncomfortable. I silently put down the knife. "And I´m thankful that you didn´t stop prodding me about it until I realized that… even though… It still hurts." Her voice rattled a bit. I turned my head. Lin Bei Fong looked at the floor her lips twitching in a sad smile. "I guess." I responded while softly patting her back. Then I returned to cutting my vegetables. I really had been lucky to have avoided the Kanto topic and I actually had hopes that I had dodged it for good. I guessed it would be time to start preparing for Chouws barbecue, because I would have to buy at least some kind of present. "Eh-Lin, do you have any Idea how we can get to Sato´s without looking like taking a swim?" I wondered. Lin of couse scoffed. "You´ve been cast from sugar Lee? Because no, since you don´t own an umbrella and your noodle cart is too small for two people…" she noted a tad sourly. I sighed. Well, maybe the rain would stop soon enough, but somehow I felt quite doubtful about that.
Authors note: Hello again, please excuse my erratic publishing dates but I simply am a working adult now so there isn´t that much time for writing at hand. I hope you still enjoy the stuff i produce. Also, I´d appreciate some kind of feedback, as always. Have a nice day fellas!