Elaki went through the motions, waiting until the day that her boss requested her to go to the Lower Ring to get the fabric. Kenshu had stated that he didn't need it until tomorrow, so Elaki set out late in the afternoon, making sure the door to the shop was closed, and walked toward the tram, empty bag slapping against her back and a basket in hand. Her pouch of money recently filled was a pleasant weight against her side.
She hummed throughout the tram, some distant song her mother sang to her when she was younger. It filled her mind as she sorted through the market wares, watching out of the corner of her eye for any anomalies. Elaki made her way through countless pieces of homemade jewelry and bought a few to support the makers.
The brunette kept to herself as she shopped, looking at items that interested her, which was a lot. She picked at some clothes that she would never in a lifetime wear because she could sew all of that in a second with her eyes closed. Loss threads. Crappy material. Definitely not worth two silver coins. But she understood that people needed to make money, whether it was from upping prices on crappy clothing, or stealing from venders, the girl understood. She had lived one of those lifestyles for a long period.
After having her fill of shopping, (she purchased two necklaces, a ring with a bright ruby in the center, a few slices of bread for breakfast and lunch, an apple, cow-goat cheese, and a half pound of meat) she set out for a quiet place to enjoy her meal. The streets were still full of shoving people, beggars shouting in the air, and kids laughing in the alleys. And whenever Elaki passed one of the kids, she smiled down on them, unable to help herself. Her heart hurt, somewhere distant, and she missed her brother, deeply.
Elaki searched for some time until she found a bench near the fabric store that she was supposed to pick up material. She set her bag in her lap, wary of people attempting to steal from her, and got started on making her sandwich. It was small, and she had a few things leftover afterward, which she planned to hand out to anyone who looked like they hadn't eaten a meal in days, but her stomach was full.
The girl stood, cracked her back, and picked up her things. She made her way into the store, waved at the owner who had always heartedly greeted her since she started picking up Kenshu's errands, and stepped up to the counter. The store owner, an elderly woman named Isabelle, smiled at her with yellowing teeth and stroked conversation up with the younger female.
"Buy anything nice today, Elaki?" She knew of Elaki's habits of purchasing things in the market on order days, and Elaki couldn't keep the smile off her face.
"I found a nice ring that I'll wear for a few days."
"Oooh, let me see it!" Elaki rummaged around in her bag briefly before pulling out the ring. She slipped it onto her middle finger and held it out, letting Isabelle coo and caw over the shining metal and the stone. "It's pretty. It goes well with your eyes."
Elaki's heart jumped. They were dangerous eyes. "Thank you!" Does she know? She must know. Elaki wanted to run away, but she waited on Isabelle to fill the order. Kenshu didn't want to hear of another lost purchaser for mysterious reasons. Elaki clenched her hands behind her back, and leaned against the counter, waiting, watching.
Elaki would talk to Kenshu if it got worse, but she would be quiet for now. She took a deep, calming breath, keeping the fire out of mouth. Kenshu didn't know. At least, she hoped he didn't know. She swallowed, fighting the burning feeling in her throat. It had been so long since she had firebended. She could stay here, as long as she stayed hidden.
Spirits, if only the Fire Nation had helped her after everyone had left. She wanted to fight. That mere fight with Dau got her blood ready to battle. Elaki would have to stop at the tea store on her way home to have another sandwich and some tea, soothing the burning hearth inside her soul. Kenshu didn't expect her back by closing time, so she could arrive as late as she wanted. Plus, the trams ran late closer toward the end of the week.
Isabelle was filling her order, and her son, Baolan, was counting up the order for her, writing neatly and watching her out of the corner of his eye. Elaki was nervous, as she normally was after someone mentioned her eyes. The Dai Li didn't normally patrol this area of the Lower Ring. She should be okay on her way to Lee's tea shop. She should be okay.
Baolan spoke, but Elaki hadn't heard. She was winding up and heating up and preparing for a fight that would never come. Spirits, she wanted to run. She wanted to go home. Why had they moved to that damn Fire Nation colony in the Earth Kingdom? Elaki wanted to shout, and it took everything out of her to nod and glance down at the total written at the bottom of the receipt.
"Thank you," she said, fishing around in her pouch for the correct amount for Baolan. She went to grab the receipt for Kenshu, but Baolan placed his calloused hand on top of hers.
"Are you okay?" he whispered, leaning conspiratorially forward. He gripped her hand comfortingly, but it felt like a vise around her fire creating hands. "You seem to have a lot on your mind today, more so than usual. Are you okay, Elaki?"
Elaki swallowed the heat down, swallowed the lump in her throat, and nodded. "Yeah. There's been a lot of work going on since the Avatar showed up, and the party. I'm fine. There's just a lot on my plate right now."
Baolan nodded as well, removed his hand from hers and grabbed the money, and said, "If you ever want to relax, I know I'm from the Lower Ring, but I know some good food places. If you want."
"I appreciate the offer, I really do. I'm just too busy for . . . for that stuff." Elaki waved a hand between them, and silence fell. She could hear Isabelle in the back, and she emerged from the backroom with her arms filled with clothes of green and brown.
"Kenshu sent a big order this time. I imagine it's because the Avatar's in town? Or the summer season will be upon us soon? The Upper Ring sure has a weird fashion taste," Isabelle said, laughing. She placed them on the counter in front of her son. "Help her put them in her bag, Baolan. There's a lot here."
It took some arranging, but Elaki was finally out of the shop and into the relatively fresh air of the market. She wanted to lean against the wall, for each social interaction could mean disaster, and she was safe for now. But she stood taller and walked the ways towards the tea shop.
Elaki had no idea why the two men comforted her. Maybe it was the possibility of the burn across Lee's face, or the warmth that the Uncle held. Whatever the reason, she wasn't the only one. There was a lot of chatter coming through the windows, and Elaki took a moment to ready herself to walk inside. She looked around the area and saw a glitter of metal to her left, towards the alley. However, when Elaki looked again, there was no one there.
It wasn't her problem anymore. It was unlikely that Dau would fight her here, but, if he did, Elaki would be weighed down by the wrapped materials. She hadn't really thought about it, but she was at a disadvantage walking, at night, with a large bag.
That was her problem for later, though. Elaki shrugged and walked into the crowded shop. Lee looked up from the order he was taking at the sound of the bell, and a small smile spread across Elaki's face. She chose a set relatively close to the soldiers who were near the counter; maybe she could ask them for an escort home, if she thought she needed it.
Elaki shrugged the heavy bag off her shoulder and placed it between her knees, moving her basket full of food onto her table. "No biscuits today," a voice said. "We're a little busy for that. Plus, we're not really a food place." It was Lee, standing above her, watching her move the items out of her basket.
"Believe it or not, I actually came for the tea. I brought my own food, if you would like some." Elaki, without really looking at him, started crafting three sandwiches from her leftovers. "Can I get a pot of oolong? Like, a whole pot, please?"
"Anything else?"
"No, that will be all. Thank you."
She watched as he walked to his uncle and asked for the tea, which he gladly made. The uncle moved with such grace that it reminded her of her grandfather, and she tore her eyes away to watch her sandwich making. Elaki had spent too much time recently thinking of people that were long buried. It did not do her well to dwell on those before her, for she was in danger currently.
By the time Lee came back with the pot and cup, Elaki had finished her sandwich. It's not that the uncle took too long to make it, but Elaki's raging fire had swelled too quickly and made her hungry. Her anxiety did that to her. Lee poured her cup and turned, leaving the pot in front of her.
"Oh, this is for you two," Elaki said, gesturing to the sandwiches on the table in front of her. "I had leftovers and didn't want to lug them home. So these are for you two." Lee grunted and took them to the back, and Elaki gazed back down at her own tea, swirling her cup just a little to watch the waves.
One of the soldiers exclaimed, "This is the best tea in the city!" Elaki nodded as she took a sip, and she watched as Lee grimaced.
"The secret ingredient is love," the uncle said, smiling broadly and smelling the cup in front of him. He held a quiet conversation with the shop owner, and Elaki leaned over to talk to the soldier about a paid escort to the tram station.
The door slammed open, and everyone looked over. A man dressed in padded armor with curved swords at his side arrived. He said, "I'm tired of waiting! These two men are firebenders!"
Elaki jumped up immediately, hand reaching for her bag and grabbing her own sword. It wasn't entirely illegal to carry a weapon, just not use it on innocent people. She carried, but she didn't fight often. Her own heart jumped into her throat again. The man pointed at Lee and his uncle, who stared back at him in shock.
The man pulled out his swords. "I know they're firebenders! I saw the old man heating his tea."
Bless the soldiers next to me, because the same one that praised the tea said, "He works in a tea shop."
"He's a firebender, I'm telling you!" He continued to wave his weapons around, and Elaki pulled her sword closer in front of her in a position ready to defend.
"Drop your swords, boy. Nice and easy." The soldier stood, and the boy stepped forward.
"You'll have to defend yourself, then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do."
Lee stepped forward, grabbing the soldiers dual swords. "You want a show?" Lee asked. "I'll give you a show!" Lee then moved into an attack position and kicked a wooden table at the other boy. The other boy jumped and dodged it, and Elaki moved back, especially as the boy shoved half of a table at her, almost pushing her against the wall.
Gracefully, the two fought, swords clashing against one another. However, at one point, the other boy got the upper hand and kicked Lee outside. "You must be getting tired of using those swords. Why don't you go ahead and firebend at me?"
The uncle shoved his way to the door. "Please, son, you're confused!" Elaki shoved her way past the uncle, sword down and ready. "You don't know what you're doing!"
"Bet you wish he'd help you out with a little fireblast right now!" The boy connected his curved blades together and swung, and Elaki saw her moment. She was somewhat protected by Kenshu. But Lee and his uncle were new refugees. Elaki didn't know what status they held, or if they were completely cleared to live here.
So she moved with a mind of her own, twisting and jumping over Lee. "You're the one who needs help," Lee said. He moved forward and sliced at the invader, but the invader ducked, dodging a harmful blow.
Elaki pushed Lee back, saying, "I got this. I'll explain later." He backed down, and Elaki pushed forward.
"You see that? Not only is the Fire Nation trying to push me down, but they're actively recruiting within the city! To get other people to do their dirty work!" The boy jumped onto the well in the square, and, Elaki, anticipating his next move, stood, feet planted, sword across her body, ready.
The boy swung and jumped, kicking outward. Elaki rolled to the side, and stood, pushing forward with her sword. She sliced a side of the boy's clothes, and he grunted, holding his side. A glint of blood shined in the street lamps.
They fought, swords clashing and sparking in the night air. A crowd formed, circling them in. Lee stood next to his uncle, swords at his side. He didn't know Elaki, and she didn't know him. But Elaki knew that she was safe to a certain degree. Safe with Kenshu. Safer in the Middle Ring. Safe from the Dai Li.
"Drop your weapons!" someone shouted. The two fighters pulled apart, leaving enough space between them to still clash blows.
"Arrest them! They're firebenders," the boy yelled.
"This poor boy is confused," the uncle said. Elaki looked at him briefly, and something flashed inside her soul as he continued to speak. "We're just simple refugees."
It was what she had used to get Kenshu to employ her. Same tone, same phrasing. Seem like the victim, because, to some degree, you are. Elaki stood back, sword down, and breathed to calm herself.
"This young man wrecked my tea shop and assaulted my employees!" the tea shop owner said.
"It's true, sir. We saw the whole thing," the soldier said. "This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city. And this young lady stood up for them."
"Come with us, son," the Dai Li agent said. The boy started to fight back, and they quickly put him down. Elaki watched as the boy disappeared into the dark struggling. The crowd slowly dispersed, and Elaki returned to the shop. The tea shop owner was explaining that there would be no charges tonight for the incident. Elaki moved toward her bag, which had rolled onto the floor during the shuffle.
Using the underside of her dress, Elaki wiped the blood off her sword and placed it, hidden, among the rolls of fabric. It had been an incident, that was for sure. She would have to make sure to keep it from Kenshu, if she could. He didn't like Elaki fighting. It put her in too much danger as a refugee. Had she done something stupid in intervening?
This is such a tone change from Isabelle's, Elaki sighed, clenched her fists, and swung the bag onto her shoulder and made her way outside.
"Hey! Wait!" Lee said from behind her. "I'll be right back, Uncle." Elaki waited outside the ruined door, watching the now quiet street. She hadn't even gotten to finish her tea. "Hey, Elaki, right?"
"Yeah." She began to move down the street, trying to keep herself away from the implications that the boy had brought to the table. Later on, Elaki would confront Lee. If he truly was a firebender, she wasn't alone amongst the crowds. But she would have to trust him. Could she trust him? What if he wasn't from the Fire Nation, and she was arrested?
"Thanks for what you did back there. But, why did you do it? I know how to fight," Lee said, fighting to catch up with her.
"Listen. I can tell you know how to fight." She paused, glancing around. "Your moves were good. So, good for you. Refugees have got to know when to pack their punches. But there's too many Dai Li agents around right now. I don't know your immigration statuses, but if you were arrested by the Dai Li for fighting and they discovered you weren't clear, or something was wrong with your documents, it would be likely that you wouldn't stay in Ba Sing Se."
The moon was big, and Elaki gazed upwards. "I'm clear. I mean, I am legally allowed to be here. My boss sponsors me, and it is safer for me to intervene in situations like that. It happens a lot, the Dai Li taking people that step out of line, especially from the Lower Ring."
He nodded, and Elaki continued to move. Something fiery had erupted again within both their souls. Elaki imagined Lee's to be something close to fear. But hers had a small amount of hope nestled within her soul. She had no way to know if Lee was Fire Nation, but his eyes burned like hers. And his uncle looked familiar, spoke with some air of authority.
"Thank you," Lee shouted, and she waved behind her, faith upon two tea makers in a city of lies. But he ran up to her, saying, "What happens to them? People that the Dai Li take?"
Elaki shrugged. "I don't really know. I mean, I understand that you're not supposed to mention the war, as it has never truly touched Ba Sing Se. But they allow violence to run rampant here. Are we free, or just hidden away in a city of walls? There's a lot to think about, but you're not supposed to talk about it. So be careful."
Something had sparked within Lee's eyes, Elaki knew. She shrugged again and knew she was late. She wouldn't mention what happened here with Kenshu, but she knew there was a line she had stepped on, but not crossed. Elaki would have to be careful. "Anyway, good night."