Chapter Seven: Lin
For Lin, the day ends well after sunset.
It is well into the night, the royal place is bathing in the light of million lampions, and the main plaza is still buzzing with life. The people are still celebrating the marriage that took place earlier that day.
Lin is far from the crowd, strolling on a near-deserted street, following a young boy.
"Come on, Lin!" Hiro urges her, taking her hand, and pulling her along, laughing all the way. "We are going to miss it if we don't hurry up!"
She laughs with him. She likes Hiro; loves him, even. He is a sweet boy, with brave dreams and great optimism. His parents have a small grocery just out of the town centre. They are not rich, but they don't struggle, either. He is their first-born, their only son. Maybe he could even win the hand of a second or third daughter of a minor palace official, but he still pursues her, her of all people.
He always treats her like she was the most beautiful girl in the world, a lady, a princess even, not a lowly palace maid she really is. Today he told her that she was the most fashionable woman in the city, just because of her new dress and the flower in her hair. She then, of course, told him that all servants who helped Fire Lady Katara get dressed that morning got robes like this, and that the flower in her hair is just a blossom from the white lotus lilies that she pinned into Fire Lady Katara's hair that morning, only this one wasn't needed, so her mistress, ever so generously, gave it to her.
Hiro pretended not to hear this. He kissed her cheek, her nose, and then, boldly, her lips.
She supposes that they have reached their destination, because Hiro stops after a left turn leading them into a small alley. Lin doesn't know what he is planning to do, but follows him anyway.
"Come on, I'll help you…" he says, but doesn't say what he will help her. She is about to ask, but then he crouches down by the wall, putting his hands together – he is giving her a lift. She hesitates for a moment, but then complies, placing her foot into his hands and her hands on the wall. In the next moment, she is on the top of the wall, Hiro right behind her.
What they are doing is bordering illegality – she hopes no palace guard will spot them – but she is not that bothered, she just giggles when her feet slips on the roof. Hiro laughs with her as he catches her, and she is feeling like she was tipsy, but she has only drank a glass of rice wine Hiro has brought her, and that shouldn't affect her this much. She reckons that it's the situation, the rush of the day and Hiro's presence that is making her feel drunk.
Soon, they are on the top of the building – it is three stories high, and she is surprised how easily she made it to the top. They sit on the roof, and she realizes that she is facing the royal palace; they are not that high up, at least considered to the other building in this area so close to the palace, but this one is placed so conveniently that there is nothing tall between it and the royal palace.
She sighs, taking in the sight.
"I've hoped that you would like it," Hiro whispers into her ear putting his arm around her. He is bold, again, but it's okay. She enjoys his company. "I found this place when I was a child. You could see and hear all the important announcements and happenings from here. I even watched Fire Lord Zuko's coronation from here. So I have thought that it would be a perfect place to watch the fireworks from…" Suddenly he is shy, but Lin finds it absolutely adorable. She rests her head on his shoulder, and Hiro sighs.
For a minute none of them speaks. Lin divides her attention between Hiro's thumbs drawing circles on the back of her hand and the palace – still so dark, but not even nearly as threatening as she used to see it during Fire Lord Ozai's reign. When she listens well enough, she can even hear the music coming from it. Oh, how she wishes to be there!
"You know…" Hiro starts, first almost timidly, then getting more and more enthusiastic. "I got a letter today. From the University. I got accepted. Can you believe it? I am going to study at the university!"
Lin raises her head, wanting to tell him how proud she is, and how great it is, but she doesn't get a chance to talk – he doesn't let her.
"I have already decided that I am going to major in Finances. If I do well, maybe I can even get a trainee job in the palace as soon as I graduate. I might make a Financial Minister in a few years." Yes, he is a real dreamer, Lin notes to herself, smiling sweetly, basking in the light of his excitement. Hiro and his impossible plans of the future… but she wouldn't have him otherwise. "And do you know what would that mean? If I was made a Financial Minister, I mean?"
It takes her a moment or two to realize that he is expecting her to answer.
"Well, then you would most likely move to the city centre, have a dozen of servants, and…" She realizes only now what would it really mean. Her heart churns at the thought. "And you would marry a well-bred girl, somebody who can find her place at court."
It shouldn't hurt, it really shouldn't. Not just because it's completely impossible that he would get as far Financial Minister, but also because there's nothing serious between them. They get on well, they go on dates sometimes, she lets him to kiss her; it's not something that will last. He is going to university, he is going to fight his way to the upper circles – even if he will never make Financial Minister, she knows that Hiro will get far in life. And she? She will be a palace maid all her life, just like her mother and grandmother were. Her best outlook on the future is to become a personal lady's maid to Fire Lady Katara – she seemed to like her that morning. So, even if Hiro and she are great right now, they will be in completely different leagues in a few years.
It shouldn't hurt, because she doesn't love him, not that way, but she still finds tears prickling her eyes.
"Oh, why are you crying now, my silly little flower?" He says when he first glimpses the tears running down her cheeks. He puts his arm around her again, pulling her close. She rests her head between his collarbone and chin, while he caresses her hair. "Are you afraid that I would leave you for some stuck-up noble girl? Not in a hundred lifetimes, my silly little flower. No noble girl could be as beautiful and kind and charming as you are. You are the only one for me, Lin."
His confession surprises her, and stops her tears in an instant.
"Really?" It's all she can ask, her voice still clouded by her tears.
"Of course!" Hiro answers, and he is all optimism and good mood again. "Believe me when I say that I am willing to marry only one woman, and that woman is you." He kisses her, chastely, on the lips, and Lin believes him. And no matter how much she wants to deny it, she has to admit it: she is, in fact, in love with this boy. "So, let me tell you what is really going to happen when I am Financial Minister," he tells her, sitting up straight. "First and foremost, I am going to marry you. Then, the two of us are going to move to the city centre, only a stone's throw from the palace. I have even found the ideal house already – you are going to love it. So, after that, we are going to live our perfect little life together. We are going to have some kids – three or four would be alright -, and we are also going to buy a small villa on Ember Island, because the minister who doesn't spend his Summer on Ember Island isn't a real minister at all. And during the other nine months of the year, while I am doing my very serious and important job, you are going to be a frequent guest at the palace. You are going to have tea with Fire Lady Katara on every Tuesday and Thursday, and you are going to be her favorite noblewoman. And, of course, our children are going to be best friends with the royal children. Then, let's say, twenty-five years from now, the heir of the throne is going to marry our eldest daughter. Doesn't it sound like a fantastic life, my silly little flower?" He wiggles his eyebrows at her - she can't tell how much is it a joke, and how much is serious -, and she laughs.
Just as she wants to tell him how completely ridiculous and terribly awesome he is, she hears a high sound, almost like a whistle, and in the next moment something bangs, and the sky is covered in brilliant red and blue sparks.
The fireworks have started.
She doesn't even try to speak anymore, she just leans back, resting against Hiro – her Hiro -, and enjoys the view; it really is beautiful from here, she admits to herself. And as the fireworks pop one right after another, lightening up the sky, there is only one thing on her mind: how will her children and grandchildren smile when she will tell them that the first time she realized that she loved their father or grandfather, was when they climbed a three-storey building and sat on the roof just to see the fireworks on the day of the greatest wedding she has ever lived to see.
She sighs contently and this time she is the one who starts the kiss. This day couldn't end better.
THE END
A/N: I know, virtually no Zutara in this chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it even this way :) I just thought that if I started with Lin, I should end it with her as well :) About the names: Hiro is one I have picked out earlier – it was supposed to be the name of Zuko and Katara's younger son in Kids Will Be Kids, but then I decided against it, because it has the same vowels as their firstborn's name in that story. Kanu and Lady Ming are completely made up – nothing interesting about them. Lin, Chon, Pei Pei and even Wu are, unashamedly, taken from Jackie Chan films, Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights :D Chon is the name of his character in both movies (he play an imperial guard who later moves to the Wild West), Lin is his little sister, Pei Pei is a Chinese princess he is in love with, and Wu – well, Wu Chow – is the bad guy in Shanghai Knights. I couldn't help it, I am a great admirer of both movies, especially the latter – Chakie's awesome style, great humor, Victorian London, historical references… what's not to love? :D
As an ending note, I would like to thank you for your attention and your reviews :) I hope you liked this little story.
All the best, until we meet again,
Orlissa
