Lisa hummed to herself as she walked back along the path she came up. Noticing the gate to the Earth Kingdom courtyard was still open, she decided to walk on inside. She watched the King's four children chase each other around the courtyard. She was curious about her friend's twin brother. She looked around for the red clothing in a sea of green clothing. Lisa finally spotted him, sitting off by himself in a corner of the courtyard. She walked over to where he sat, noticing as she neared, how all he was doing was pulling threads out of the seam of his pants.
"Jae Joong-sshi." Lisa said as she sat in front of him. His tired eyes looked up at her, and then quickly looked around in search of someone more familiar. Lisa placed her hand on his leg to try to calm him down. This only resulted in him scooting back from her as he stood up. A few pathetic sounding whimpers were all it took to bring Yun Ho to his side. He placed a kind arm around Jae Joong and almost right away Jae Joong was calmed.
"It's not your fault Lisa-sshi. But he's not social since he can't talk." Jae Joong made a series of hand movements before sliding back down to sit on the ground.
Yun Ho laughed a little as he said to Lisa, "He says, 'You scared me.' He usually spends a lot of time by himself." Yun Ho looked down to where Jae Joong sat then reached down and pushed Jae Joong's hands off his pant seam. "Stop pulling the threads out, you make more work for your noonas." Jae Joong gave a cute pout to the standing man before making pictures in the dust. Lisa looked at what he was drawing. He drew a heart shape in the dust, inside the heart held the initials YH + JJ.
"Aw, that's so cute." Lisa cooed. Yun Ho smiled before speaking up.
"Why don't you come with me?" He said in a rather suggestive voice. Jae Joong's head looked up at him, a playful grin spread across his face. He quickly stood up and followed his husband into the house. "Well, now to find something else to do." Lisa thought to herself.
"Governors, always off on 'official' business." She heard a voice behind her say. She turned around to face the speaker; King Chang Min. Lisa gave a quick bow.
"Governor?" Lisa questioned.
"Yes, Yun Ho is the Earth Governor." Chang Min confirmed for her. "Yun Ho was being polite to simply say Jae Joong isn't social because he can't talk. Jae Joong can be a down-right brat at times. He's very used to getting special attention because he can't talk. It's probably best if you don't try to be around him when Yun Ho is not there."
The sound of the gong rang out. "Well seems its time to go eat!" Chang Min exclaimed. He walked over to pick two of his children up from the ground and dust them off before nudging them to their mother for final inspection. The children began to file out of the courtyard close behind their mother. Chang Min grabbed Yun Ho's two children then walked in their direction.
"Aren't the other two coming?" Lisa asked.
Chang Min looked back to her as he said, "Just watch." Soon enough, Jae Joong ran past her, Yun Ho hot on his heels. The two raced out the courtyard gates and ran up the path to the dining courtyard. Chang Min motioned for her to follow. She jogged to catch up. Once on the path leading to the dining courtyard, Lisa noticed that everyone else from the other groups was heading the same direction.
Lisa walked into the dining courtyard and looked around. Everyone seemed to have their own seats. All the Earth Kingdom gathered around one table, the Air Nomads around another and the Water Tribe around another table. She stood confused, not knowing where she should go. Sakura stood up from the Water Tribe table and walked to her.
"Come this way, you sit with us." Sakura led her to an empty seat beside her.
"Why is that table empty?" Lisa asked, pointing across the courtyard to the one empty table.
"That is the Fire Nation table, and they always come in after everyone else." Sakura explained without even looking up.
"Why are you…?"
"Bow your head down." Sakura whispered loudly at her. Lisa's question was answered and she quickly lowered her head. At that moment, the members of the Fire Nation entered the courtyard. Once they'd taken their seats, everyone lifted their heads back up. Food was soon being placed on the tables.
After the meal, Lisa noticed no one had yet left the tables. She glanced across to where her friend Bo Bae sat. Lisa was disappointed when her friend did not return her glance. The courtyard was quiet for several minutes before a series of chirps and clicks could be heard coming from Jae Joong's direction. Zuko turned to his direction and with a friendly voice said, "Yes, what is it Jae Joong?"
Taking the question as an invitation, Jae Joong was soon out of his seat and jogged to the Fire Lord's side. Lisa watched the silent conversation that ensued. Jae Joong stood between Bo Bae and Zuko and was speaking in sign language to them.
"So you know," Lisa heard Sakura say. "Only Jae Joong can get away with walking right up to Fire Lord Zuko like that."
"Why is that?"
"Jae Joong is the Fire Prince, and Fire Lady Bo Bae's twin sister, he gets special privileges none of us get. That lucky brat." The last part mumbled under her breath. Glancing in Yun Ho's direction, she noticed his eyes were reading the conversation going on in the front. Before long however, Yun Ho stood up and walked up front. As he approached the Fire Lord, he bowed respectfully before grabbing Jae Joong by the arm and pulling him back to his seat. All the way back Lisa could hear unhappy grunts coming from Jae Joong.
"Well then, since there are no serious matters to discuss, you may all go." Zuko announced before standing up and turning to leave. Lisa felt Sakura's hand on her arm, holding her down. She watched as the Fire Nation left first, followed by the Earth Kingdom.
"We go third." Sakura told her as she stood, now that it was their turn. As Lisa walked out she glanced ahead in the line to see Jae Joong making a serious of unhappy looking gestures at Yun Ho, who was seemingly ignoring him. Lisa was curious about what Jae Joong had been saying that caused Yun Ho to pull him away. She supposed though, she wouldn't find out. Lisa silently followed Sakura back to the Water Tribe. Upon arriving at her home, she went on inside for the night.