Thsnks Znpk. :)
~ Lake Laogai (Part 2)~
Ryuu POV
"So, I was thinking about names for my new tea shop. How about the Jasmine Dragon? It's dramatic, poetic, has a nice ring to it."
I sat on the counter, my head in my hands, listening to Iroh pitch ideas for the tea shop. It was late evening outside. The sun barely kissed the horizon though. Spring, I guess. Days getting longer. Speaking of kissed: Zuko was leaning opposite me. He was trying his best to avoid my gaze.
After the kiss, he started acting awkward and avoiding towards me. Iroh had noticed this too. Something was playing in Zuko's mind and - by the expression on his face - it wasn't good. He pulled a flyer from his tunic and grit his teeth. I shook my head, disappointed.
"The Avatar is here in Ba Sing Se and he's lost his bison."
Iroh clicked his tounge, "We have a chance for a new life here. If you start stirring up trouble, we could lose all the good things that are happening for us."
I burrowed my eyes into his, "Princess, I love you truly - but you're obsessed with something that you cannot-"
"Have you ever thought that I want more from life than a nice apartment and a job serving tea?" Zuko snapped. He waved the flyer about, " I want my destiny!"
Iroh snatched the flyer from Zuko's hand and screwed it up. He lobbed it out of the window and inhaled sharply. Zuko was surprised at his Uncle's newfound anger. I iced over my expression and tried not to speak.
"What that means is up to you. There is nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity. I suggest you think about what it is that you want from your life and why."
Iroh composed himself and started brainstorming more ideas for the tea shop name. Zuko glared at me with a half-angry / half-miserable frown. I slid off of the counter and put my hands up. He exhaled slowly through his nose and trained my eyes on my feet.
"Please consider this - If you want to go through with this crazy idea - fine. But, Zuko, at least think about what you're throwing away if you return to the Fire Nation-" I pointed at both Iroh, who was leaning against the window frame, and then at myself "-Anyway, where would you hide a ten-tonne flying bison?"
I slammed the bedroom screen behind me. Then I just lay on the sleeping mat, hoping that Zuko would listen. Earlier, when we kissed, he was contented in this city. Why had he changed back to his old ways? I loved him. But he was being a jerk - it hurt to think that he would even think about throwing this (and me, by extension) away.
The screen rolled open to reveal Zuko. He screwed his eyes up and crouched at the end of the mat. From my laying position, I saw he was clenching his fists. He punched the floor and growled.
"All my banishment, I longed for home. Then, when I found you, I thought you would be like any servant. Seen and not heard. But I grew too attached to you. Then, when I realized I was falling, I tried to stop. But I couldn't. You're too... amazing. I love you, dang it! I'm conflicted! I - I want both you and my destiny. But... I don't know."
He flopped back against the wall and growled at himself. I gave up trying to make him feel bad. I sat up and leant against him. He pulled me to his chest and gently put a kiss on my forehead. I rolled my eyes and pulled his face down to mine in a true kiss.
It was a gentle kiss - anxious yet also familiar. Zuko pressed his forehead against mine but made no effort to deepen the pressure between us.
When I pulled away, he was smiling through saddened eyes. Yes - he was sometimes a jerk. But he needed someone at that moment, so I was there for him. Why ever not?
"Tha- thank you. I needed that."
I sat back on my heels and buried my mouth onto my arms. Zuko gently closed his eyes and curled up to sleep. I joined him quite soon after. Iroh snuck into the room and lay down on his mat. The heavy weight of sleep pressed on my eyelids. After checking Zuko was finally asleep, I let myself succumb to unconsciousness.
...
"Zuko?" I hissed through my teeth - groping around in the darkness for him. Where had been previously warm was now stone cold. Drawing conclusions - he had been gone about an hour. Iroh snored merrily, until I managed to wake him up.
"What's going on?" He shot upright, "Is everything alright? "
I sucked my gums, "No. Zuko's gone!"
I had woke up because of nightmares and - seeking comfort - went to move towards Zuko. But then he wasn't there. Through the darkness of the house, Iroh and I made our way to the front door. My satchel, which I had hid in an alcove behind a cupboard, was gone.
"Dammit. He's gone after the Avatar. Where in Badgermole's name could he be?"
Iroh stroked his beard thoughtfully. Something outside made my ears prick up. In the distance, I heard a scuffle and Zuko's voice. Iroh hadn't heard it however, so I grabbed the elder man's hand and guided him to the source of the noise.
We got there to late. A Da Li agent was rubbing his head as he squatted next to a destroyed Blue Spirit dummy. I crouched next to him and prompted the bemused man into giving us a hint at where Zuko was going. He slipped up and gave us the exact location: Lake Lagoai.
...
Needless to say, both Iroh and I were on a war path. We half-stormed and half-ran towards the lake edge where Iroh said he knew something about a 'Secret Tunnel' under the lake. My mind went a mile a minute worrying about Zuko.
"That reckless jerk! Why is he- ?"
He got to the Lake shore and Iroh - with a certain amount of worry in his voice - advised me to stay outside. Watch for people an' all that. I slumped down and watched Itoh proceed into the Da Li headquarters alone. The mosquitoes and midges swarmed around in the clammy lake air.
I felt as if I was being eaten alive. For the umpteenth time, I swatted the air and doused water on myself to try and rid myself of the blighters- it was in vain. About half an hour passed, judging by the position of the moon. By now, I was pacing about, overthinking everything.
I picked up a stone and skimmed it across the lake.
Then, from the hatch, a creak of metal apon metal echoed. I readied myself incase it wasn't Iroh or Zuko but was overwhelmingly relieved when Iroh's head popped up. He clambered out of the hatch - followed by Zuko. In one hand, he loosely held the Blue Spirit mask.
Iroh placed a comforting hand on his Nephew's shoulder, "You did the right thing, nephew. Leave it behind."
The mask flew out of Zuko's hand and into the lake. It bobbed around a bit before sinking into the murky inkyness of the lake. The duo shuffled along the peir towards me. Zuko closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. Iroh took his hand from his Nephew and jabbed his thumb over his shoulder.
I slid my hand into Zuko's and squeezed it gently. The moonlight played with his golden eyes. They refracted brilliant colours - inviting me to gaze longer. Zuko snapped me out of it by leaning against me. He put his head on mine - given he's three inches taller it was relatively easy.
"Right. Homeward bound, " Iroh paced ahead, crunching stones underfoot as he went.
