Chapter 2

I don't know how long I sat straight up , but my back and butt hurt. I have never been the type to sit still, maybe it was because I was a woman of action instead of no movement whatsoever. I guess Iroh wanted me involved because of my division in the military which involves the supernatural. And since the avatar was the bridge between this world and the next I was qualified to be here. You would think that after a year the city would be rebuilt because Amon and his equalist movement are gone. They found out what happened to him and his brother former councilman Tarrlok.

Tarrlok had blown the boat up when they were escaping and even though Tarrlok was closer to the explosion he survived and Amon was in a bunch of bits and pieces. What most don't know is that Tarrlok and I were close not in a romantic sense but a father daughter way . Bumi knew because he had been my mentor at the academy and believed me when the incident had happened. But back to Tarrlok. My first trip to Republic City, Tarrlok was there when my father had business to attend to. Tarrlok would take me to the me to the park, to his meetings, and teach me how to use my bending. It amazed my teachers at the academy how much my firebending looked like waterbending.

Of course it hurt to find out that he was a blood bender and the son of Ykonne, the cities most infamous criminal. I still was eager to see him and catch up even if he was in a detention center. He will also want to speak with me about the incident at the academy and want to know why he was last to be informed. I must've been so focused on my thoughts that Bumi said something but I didn't answer so Iroh pinched me in the side. I glared at him and he kept his emotionless demeanor but I could see the amusement in his eyes.

" Im sorry Commander Bumi what did you say." I asked looking at him.

Commander Bumi was the son of avatar Aang , he had crazy brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin, a beard, and he wore a uniform just like Irohs but adorned with more metals. He was notorious with his crazy habits but he was a dear friend.

" I said I think you and General-Stick-Up-His-Ass should go with avatar Korra when she goes to the South Pole in a week." He said smirking.

" It is out of the question ." Iroh interrupted.

" Why is it out of the question?" I asked turning to meet him.

" Because I said said so." He replied " Now back to more important matters."

" Hold your horses your highness, since when did you make decisions for the both of us?"

I said angrily. My fists clenching at my sides.

" Because I am the male, my word goes. Your job is to obey me." He replied angrily as well.

" Iroh maybe you shouldn't-" Bumi tried to interject because he saw the candles in the room getting brighter.

" Let him speak because apparently my words mean nothing when up against a males. APPARENTLY I'm just a woman and therefore not capable of making my own decisions and only needed when told!" I screamed and stomped out of the meeting room leaving everyone dumbstruck.

Iros POV

" Everyone please leave, except for Bumi." I said solemnly.

Nobody objected but a lot of the female officers were glaring at me and gave me the you-son-of-a-bitch look. When they all left I turned to Bumi who was staring at me thoughtfully.

" What the hell was that?" I asked him.

" Lets just say Jade does not like being told what to do by men ."

" Why?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.

" Well it is not really my place to tell you …" He sighed rubbing the back of his neck. " But I have a feeling this will come up again but more explosive. You see Jade is and was a very attractive girl of course she never gave into any of the other males advances. I warned them if the even looked at her the wrong way they would get into trouble."

" Bumi what did they do?" I asked quietly.

" It was the eve of graduation, Jade not much into parties left early. About an hour later I noticed that one of my students, Loa was his name, was gone. I went to go find him and after about an hour I gave up and went to see if Jade was alright because he was one of the few that constantly try to flirt with her. Well just as I was about to knock on Jades door I heard a muffled scream . I quickly knocked the door down and my worst fear had come true."

" What did you see?" I asked looking down.

" Loa had Jade tied down and was raping her, it angered me to see him do that to her since she was a nice girl and never did anything to deserve it. I quickly pulled him off and knocked him unconscious. I covered Jade and untied her, she was crying and bleeding badly. The next morning Loa was in a containment unit but released early because he paid his way out. He was also a good student so they didn't charge him even though I fought tooth and nail to see him expelled. The board, of all men might I add, said that Jade could have been enjoying it and only pretend to be hurt. They also blamed her for being weak and not stopping Lao. So instead of getting the commanding officer position she worked so hard for she was sent to a secret division and Lao got a slap on the wrist." He finished angrily.

I was shocked. True Jade was beautiful and it would be very hard to resist the temptation but rape was wrong it had almost happened to my younger sister who was in the academy as well. Jade had been through something traumatic and painful and I acted like the biggest jerk in the world by using her own gender against her.

" Was she a virgin? Did she get …." I asked.

" Yes she was and we thought but I had my mother check. And even if she was the division she was in did some pretty dangerous stuff and she has been injured more than once."

" I see."

" Iroh, as your friend I can tell you that sometimes it is hard to get back up when you fall down. Even if you get back up sometimes a piece of you stays behind and it takes a special person to bring you back all the way." Bumi said leaving.

I remained silent after he left. I wanted to speak to Jade ask for her forgiveness, but I had a feeling that she would not want to see me. It is only a day to Republic City. I'll speak with her then.

Jades POV

I could not believe that stuck up, snobbish, sexist creep. And to think, I actually thought he would be a good husband! Only two men should be trusted, Tarrlok even though he is in prison, and Bumi. But I feel I did overreact and maybe embarrassed him. But it was for a good reason . He undermined me and used my gender against me like those bastards at the academy.

" But you can't blame him can you?" A little voice in my head said.

I paused, I could not really blame him because since the beginning of time men always thought themselves better besides a selected few. All I know is that when Iroh and I get married and have children there will be a major wake up call. I sighed, it has been a long day and I could really use some sleep. I laid down in the bed with furs on it , I prefer the water tribe way of bedding to traditional fire nation bedding ( Because of Tarrlok ) and fell asleep where memories plagued my mind.