Bikong didn't like to concern himself with other people's business.
He had his own duties to attend to, let alone worry about the issues of others. As one of Chief Hakoda's advisors in the departments of culture and heritage, he simply didn't have the time. Take now, for example: here he was, racing up and down the icy corridors of the Southern Water Tribe Palace (recently constructed too, so it was still difficult for him to navigate) in the dead of night the day before the Avatar was scheduled to arrive, still preparing. Bikong prided himself for his dedication to his job.
At the minute, he was carrying a large amount of scrolls, most of them lists. One was a guest list for a ball in the Fire Nation Capital, for which several more Southern Water Tribe members must still be selected to represent their nation. Bikong himself had volunteered. It was so out of his way, really. Leaving on such a trip would put him miles behind in his paperwork. But, if it was necessary for the wellbeing of the Tribe, then he would put himself out on the line.
Another scroll contained a list of rooms available for the Avatar to use during his stay. The palace contained many grand chambers, but they were still trying to determine which was the most spectacular.
Then there was the carefully composed schedule, which Bikong had laboured over for hours so that the Avatar wouldn't be idle for a moment. After all, such a grand personality who stayed so frequently couldn't follow the same schedule each visit, it would be far too dull! That, and the Southern Water Tribe had so much to offer in terms of culture! Why, Bikong would be ashamed if he left the almighty Avatar to simply lounge about.
Bikong frowned as he continued his trek through the hall, remembering an argument he had experienced today concerning his precious schedule. How dare she. Of all the nerve! Chief Hakoda's daughter or not, her insolence and lack of sensitivity towards the customs of her tribe were frankly despicable. When he was promoted, Bikong had reserved a mental note to warn Chief Hakoda against her headstrong ways. In the Northern Water Tribe women handled themselves much better.
Master Katara (he found her claiming of such a title traditionally reserved for men positively scandalous) had openly mocked him and his list in front of a large crowd this morning in the main hall. Frankly he had never been so insulted in his life! She had this ridiculous notion that the Avatar wouldn't be interested reading Water Tribe literature, or witnessing the collection of historical pelts of the Northern Water Tribe, here on loan for only a limited amount of time! Absurd. What could she possibly know of Air Nomad culture, and what they liked and didn't like to do? Just because she happened to be seeing the Avatar on a personal basis (another point with which Bikong strongly disagreed with. This childish carrying-on was disgraceful! With her outlandish behaviour he couldn't help but wonder whether she was in fact good enough for the likes of Avatar Aang), she thought she knew everything, did she?
Well, he thought smugly, clutching the schedule a little tighter to his chest as he walked. She'll see how wrong she is tomorrow.
Just then, as Bikong strode past a branching corridor, his sharp hearing picked up a strange sound: a muffled thud. He hesitated, straining his ears. Thud. There it was again. He sighed. After all, he didn't like to concern himself with other people's business.
He warily started down the corridor: the torches hadn't been lit, and as a result it was very dark. Then he heard another sound. Giggling. He picked up his pace, pausing only to light a torch. The sounds grew louder and louder until the corridor turned sharply and he found the source of the commotion.
The two lovers had sprung apart as the light blared out of nowhere, flooding the end of the corridor in a bath of orange. One he didn't recognise: a tall stranger in a hooded cloak. The other he did. Bikong narrowed his eyes. Master Katara. You didn't need to be a genius like Bikong to figure out what had been occurring.
There was a long pause. The pair appeared to be frozen in place. Then, Master Katara turned on the spot, stiffly slapping the stranger across the face. The stranger jerked back in shock.
"How dare you," she said loudly. "I am promised to the Avatar! Keep your hands to yourself, sir!" With one last glance at Bikong, she vanished into a room behind her, the icy door shutting with a crisp snap.
The stranger looked from the door through which she had vanished to Bikong, edging slowly to the opposite side of the corridor. He too slipped into a room in a similar fashion.
He lingered a moment longer, just to make sure they wouldn't be at it again the moment he turned his back. Satisfied, Bikong smirked. The Avatar's woman… He had always thought her to be a floozy, but now he was certain whatever little infatuation that had occurred was finished.
He turned on his heel, confidently sweeping back in the direction. All that time wasted…
After all, he didn't like to concern himself with other people's business.
A few minutes passed before the hooded figure dared to peer out of the room he'd taken shelter in. He crept across the corridor in a hesitant manner, ready to bolt at the slightest sign of the old man. He knocked softly on the door through which Master Katara had disappeared. In a sudden blur of brown and blue, she had spun him around and pinned him against the wall. She was breathing heavily.
"Why are you all wet?" whispered the stranger, baffled. Katara scowled.
"Because," she hissed through gritted teeth. "There's no room behind that door. Only ice. I had to melt a hole." The stranger tipped his head curiously towards the door.
"Really?" he asked. She sighed impatiently.
"Oh, Aang," she said grumpily. The stranger's head snapped back to attention. "You just met your new chaperon, Bikong. As you've probably gathered, he loves to concern himself with other people's business." The stranger groaned.
"What?" he whined. "Are you serious?"
"Deadly. He's got a whole schedule prepared, starting from the moment when you arrive tomorrow."
"Great," he grimaced. "Perfect, just what I need. Another person who knows exactly how I want to spend my time."
"Some of us have that formula down pat, actually," purred Katara. The stranger grinned, the flash of white teeth visible beneath the hood.
"One of them, at least," he consented. "If my whole week is booked, I think I'd better make use of what free time I have left, don't you?"
"Absolutely," she growled, wrapping her arms about the stranger's neck and slamming her mouth upon his.