Nice Ears

For #22: "I've been here a long time. Can't imagine I'll ever leave."

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Something about the way he walked into the village with his head held high, herding a flock—or is it herd?—of hybrid pigs made Meng sigh.

He wasn't quite a refugee. At least, he wasn't because of the Fire Nation. Something about the way his mother looked with disdain at a passing group of less-than-qualified Earth Kingdom soldiers made her think otherwise.

His brother was lost to the war. His father soon after, trying to help his son. That didn't matter to Meng.

His hair was wild, and his livestock crowed at unreasonable hours of the morning. Meng called it a matter of time change and left it at that.

The boy had a goofy smile, and some didn't think he was worth half the trouble he caused. He'd easily made friends with the twins. He'd easily climbed the volcano and nearly gave his mother a heart attack, too. He had a carefree air about him.

Meng could see the sadness. So she brought him rice cakes, said she'd give him a fortune telling, and walked off. That's what the floozy did, she thought, she was aloof.

The next day, he came to Aunt Wu's house and asked for Meng. "How long you been here?" he asked.

"A long time," she smiled.

"You think you'd ever leave?" he asked, extending his hand out to Meng.

"Maybe," she smiled, taking his hand in her own. Reading the lines of his palms, she couldn't help but glance up. "Hey Lee."

"Yeah?"

"Nice ears."

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And we're done with set 3!

Jai-Kun offered the Meng/Lee pairing, and I jumped. It was the one pairing offered I hadn't thought of, so naturally I had to do it. Have to be honest; it was hard coming up with it. But I re-watched The Fortuneteller and looked at Zuko Alone snapshots over at and it came a little easier.

Thanks Jai-Kun!

Here's a deal, because I need ideas and my reviewers are kind. ANYONE who reviews this particular chapter gets a free chapter in the story. I'm already working on Chibi Horsewoman's from a few chapters back which should be up by Sunday. The deal is:

-Review, dur. And it doesn't matter if I'm already working on a story for you, I'd be more than happy to do another.

-drop a pairing and/or situation that you want. I'll take any pairings, doesn't matter. Even if I don't like it, I'll do it.

-I'll match what yours is to one of my prompts and have it up before you know it.

I'm trying to get all of these done before New Years. It's my End of the Year Resolution. : P

Drop a line and I'll drop a story!

-mcl