I'M BAAAAAACK! Yeah, it was a great trip, thanks to all those who wished me luck. I saw Crater Lake (beautiful!), drove over golden Gate Bridge (not as fun as it sounds), climbed inside a redwood (the wood really deserves the name), and tried kuzumochi (DON'T DO IT!) Finished up the last of this chapter this morning and now I'm posting it.
And now, a big bunch of KyuriXZuko fluffiness for a welcome back!
Zuko and Kyuri were stopped as they made to leave the Gathering Hall. Myeong cut them off with a thrown out arm.
"Sister Kyuri," she greeted with a smile. "I just wanted to say good for you. It's about time someone put Chay in her place like that."
"I wasn't trying to put anyone anywhere," Kyuri replied. "I was just trying to-"
"Save your prince's life, I know," Myeong said, grinning slyly. Kyuri blushed and so did Zuko. "Well, either way, I just wanted to let you know that some people don't have a problem with your prince being here."
With that, Myeong left them, her orange dragon following after her sedately. Zuko flinched and whirled as hot breath blasted down around him. He turned and came face to nose with a gigantic, royal blue dragon that was eying him pointedly.
To his side, Sangilak suddenly perked up, tail thumping like some sort of giant dog. Sangilak leaned his neck over Zuko and playfully nipped the tip of the larger dragon's tail. The elder growled softly and gently bit the top of Sangilak's nose.
"What's going on?" Zuko asked, leaning over and whispering to Kyuri, who was standing there, staring at the dragon with wide eyes.
"That's Sangilak's father," she said faintly.
"Sangilak has a father?" Zuko said blankly.
"Most creatures do," said a deep, rumbling voice, and Zuko glanced back at the large blue dragon.
"I just meant-" Zuko began.
"You'd never thought about my son having family. It's understandable. It's something that doesn't occur very often, even to Dragoras. Dragons are, by nature, territorial, so we don't usually stay in large groups."
"Sister Kyuri!" boomed a voice, and Sangilak's father stepped back, moving off with another Dragora, as the Zhenzhu came forwards, her dragon Hua following behind. The Dragora and dragons moved aside respectfully as the elderly woman moved forwards. While at rest she looked fluid and graceful, she had a pronounced limp when she walked, something that her dragon echoed.
"Matriarch," Kyuri said, bowing her head respectfully. Zuko hesitated a moment, and then echoed the gesture, not sure whether he was supposed to or not.
"I would like to speak with you a moment, if it's not too much trouble."
"No trouble at all," Kyuri assured the older woman, although she couldn't really say any different.
"As I said, we'll be reforming the old Wings," Zhenzhu began. "Many of the Flight Commanders are no longer with us, thanks to Sozin's purge of those of us who stood against him." Zuko flinched at the mention and Zhenzhu glanced at him, smiling slightly. "I don't blame you, boy, it was way before your time."
"With all due respect Matriarch, what does this have to do with me?" Kyuri pressed.
"We'll be needing several new Flight Commanders," Zhenzhu said. "I believe Myeong would be a good addition, were she not already a member of the Healers Wing. I would say Chay as well, but she's so rooted in tradition and so quick to anger she might not be particularly effective. Can you think of anyone who might make a good Flight Commander?"
Kyuri and Zuko both had a sneaking suspicion where this was going, but Kyuri instead said, "I don't know many of my sisters, Matriarch, and I've never seen a true battle. I'm afraid I'm not the best person to ask."
"I'll tell you one of the other people I'm considering," Zhenzhu said, a smile creeping across her face as she spoke. "A younger sister, a good fighter, a good tactician, who has a great ability with words. She rode in today and in a matter of hours saved a life, talked the Dragora into going to war, and, most impressively… put Chay in her place."
"Me," Kyuri deadpanned.
"You," Zhenzhu said. Her face went serious. "Understand, I'm not giving you this honor simply to recognize or reward you. I expect you read up on Wing tactics, command, past battles, and anything else you think might be useful while we prepare. You will go into battle as a prepared Flight Commander, not a cocky fledgling, or I will knock you from your saddle and take command of your wing myself," Zhenzhu threatened.
"I am honored, and I will try my best to be a suitable Flight Commander," Kyuri said, bowing, her face in a state of glazed shock. "What Wing will I be commanding?"
"The 11th," Zhenzhu replied. "You may visit the armory at any time to gather your uniform and have your blades tended too. Of course, our library is open to you. If you understand, I'll bid you good day. I need a word with Azami."
"Of course, Matriarch, thank you again," Kyuri said, bowing humbly as the Matriarch swept away.
"What was all that about?" Zuko demanded as they made their way back to Kyuri's rooms. "Wings and Flight Commanders?"
They stepped inside and Kyuri collapsed onto the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. Zuko sat beside her.
"Wings are… Think of the Dragora equivalent of a troop," Kyuri explained. "After all, when we go to war, we're essentially an airborne army."
"I see," Zuko realized. "So, the Matriarch is like your Fire Lord, the Wings are your troops, and the Flight Commanders each lead a Wing?"
"Exactly," Kyuri nodded.
"What do you need a uniform for?" Zuko wondered. "I thought that this was your uniform," he said, tugging slightly on the edge of one of her sleeves.
"These are my Gathering robes," Kyuri said. "Each Dragora has a set. But they also have a uniform, and that's only worn in battle. Essentially, it's just armor, but it's made so that it's easy to move in during aerial combat. We don't touch the ground much in a fight," Kyuri explained.
"So what's a battle like from on a dragon?" Zuko asked, laying back across the bed. Kyuri stretched out next to him.
"Well," she began slowly. "When we prepare to march on our target, or, technically, to fly, then we'll go out onto the top of the island, in the open, and get into our formations, the troops all together. We'll fly the whole way there in formation, and the Matriarch commands us all. When we arrive, then the troops split off and come under the command of their Flight Commander. Troops all keep in contact with their dragons. We can communicate at the speed of thought in the air.
"The Healer's Wing that Zhenzhu mentioned always flies in the very back. They're the ones carrying medical equipment. They'll fly above the battle and then come down when a dragon or Dragora is injured. The Dragora tends to the wounded party while the dragon - or dragons, as the case may be - keep others back.
"The fact is that the dragons really do much of the fighting in the beginning. The classic tactic is to simply form a line and fly over a formation, blasting them with fire, and essentially roasting them all where they stand. It's devastating, but only works while in formation. Once the sides get blended together you can't really do that anymore. It's usually concentrated blasts from various sides against knots of fighters.
"The Dragora, since we're in the air, don't do much. We don't ever get close enough to anyone to do any short-range damage. We have archers, certainly, but not many. Most Dragora go up with their dragons armed with dozens of knives in special belts that are strapped to the dragon. As the dragon swoops, the Dragora throws knives. Occasionally, some of the more skillful also throw darts, needles, or pellets that are equally dangerous, but harder to use.
"Benders, of course, have an advantage. They can use long range attacks from up in the air, or sneak attacks from below. We have a variety of benders, so everyone is represented. Sadly, we lost our Airbenders to the Fire Nation's attack too, not that there were many to begin with. Airbenders were never really popular with dragons. No one knows why.
Kyuri paused for a moment to take a breath, and Zuko could see it all in his mind, the dragons flying in formation, a devastating force sweeping out of the sky, a hail of fire, arrows, and knives, benders sending out devastating attacks from the backs of their mounts. He couldn't imagine the Dragora ever losing a battle, gliding down like demons dressed in shining armor, benders attacking with all their might.
"The Wings all have individual purposes. The 1st is the Matriarch's personal escort and guard. They're the best of the best. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, are made of unbounded dragons of varying ranks. The 2nd are fledglings, the 3rd are hunters, and the 4th are blooded. The 5th are the archers. The 6th are one Healer's Wing. The 7th are the ones that throw needles, the 8th use darts, and the 9th use pellets. The 10th are the Distribution Wing. They fly overhead and Dragora return to them for more weapons if they run out. The 11th are Waterbenders, the 12th are Earthbenders, and the 13th are Firebenders. The 14th were the Airbenders, with they're gone now. The 15th is the other Healers Wing."
Zuko shook his head in wonder. "I always thought that the Dragora were more like some secret sect. You know, small, not too big of a threat. But you're like an army that's always ready to mobilize."
"I wouldn't go that far," Kyuri said, smiling in amusement. She frowned slightly though. "There's something I want to say though."
Zuko propped himself up on one arm and looked at her. She glanced at him out of the side of her eyes.
"Sounds serious."
"Well, I don't know how serious it is," Kyuri said slowly. "This is… more of a cautionary warning."
"What's wrong?" Zuko asked, frowning.
"Zhenzhu has given me an honor by making me Flight Commander, but she's also testing me. These next few days, as we gather ourselves for battle, I… probably won't be as- as open and affectionate as I've been lately. I'll be focused on learning as much as I can before we go, and I don't want you to think that I'm not as… as interested as I used to be, because I am, it's just-"
Zuko cut her off with a soft kiss, which she responded to eagerly, knotting her fingers in his shaggy hair and pulling him down on top of her. Zuko braced himself with an arm on each side of her head, slowly working his lips against hers softly. When he pulled back, Kyuri smiled at him dreamily. Zuko felt gratified to know that he was probably the only person who ever saw that expression.
"Now look who's babbling to try and spare someone's feelings," Zuko teased softly, planting a last, chaste kiss on her forehead.
"Oh, hush," Kyuri said.
Zuko smiled at her, and then cocked his head curiously as he saw the pendant resting between her collarbones. The high collar of her leathers would have normally covered it, but her robes were lower-cut.
"What's this?" Zuko asked, prodding it with a finger. Kyuri brought her hand up to the necklace and traced her fingertips along the line of the dragon's body. She smiled slightly, recalling Akna and Pakak and her other students and wondering how they were doing. Zuko saw the smile.
"If you're smiling about it, it must be something really good. Tell me about it," he coaxed.
"It was a gift from a little girl in the Northern Tribe," Kyuri explained. "Akna."
"Why'd she give it to you?" Zuko wondered.
Kyuri told him all about how her lessons started and how Pakak had been the first, and then he'd brought Akna, and how it got her thinking about family.
"I remember wondering what on earth was happing to me," Kyuri recalled. "I was suddenly wearing jewelry and contemplating what it would be like to have my own children and kissing boys-"
"Kissing?" Zuko said quickly. Jealousy rose up in his chest. "Who were you kissing?"
Kyuri looked up at him in surprise and raised her eyebrows, smirking slightly. "Careful Zuko. Green isn't your color." Her expression dropped slightly, and she almost looked, self-conscious. "Besides, you saw Mai before we were together, and I imagine that you kissed her a lot…"
"What do you mean by that?" Zuko asked, mildly offended. "Do you think Mai and I were one of those couples that were always attached at the lip or something?"
"No," Kyuri said patiently. "I only meant that… Well, Mai's an attractive girl, and… It's only natural you'd be affectionate."
Zuko gaped at her. "You… Are you worried that I think Mai's prettier that you?"
Kyuri sat up sharply. "I am not!" she sniffed.
"You are!" Zuko said, having to seriously restrain himself from laughing. A few giggles slipped through despite his best efforts.
"Even if I was, it's certainly not something to laugh about!" Kyuri snapped. Sangilak growled low from across the room and Zuko realized that this was genuinely bothering her as she perched herself on the edge of the bed and crossed her arms, staring resolutely at the wall.
"Hey," Zuko said soothingly, sitting up beside her. He slid his hand behind her neck and kissed her cheek fondly. "That's not something you need to worry about."
Kyuri raised an eyebrow skeptically, but kept staring at the wall. "So you're saying Mai's not attractive?"
Zuko huffed. He supposed that no matter how reserved Kyuri was, all girls had some confidence issues in some areas that shown through some times.
"I'm not saying that," Zuko said, struggling to find a way to explain himself. "I'm saying… It's like how a statue is pretty, but there's nothing much else there. It's only purpose is to be pretty. I'm not saying Mai's only purpose is being pretty," Zuko said, realizing how that sounded and not willing to speak ill of the girl even if he no longer cared for her like he once did. "It's that that's all you ever see. She never shows anything else. And you do. Admittedly, you're not as outgoing as a lot of people, but at least I can tell what you're thinking."
Kyuri glanced at him, surprised. "You can?"
Zuko nodded, scanning her eyes. Everything was mapped out there, no matter how blank her face stayed. "Right now you're surprised I said that. You're still feeling a bit self-conscious about your looks, which is ridiculous, because you're beautiful, and you're worried too, probably about the war and this Flight Commander thing. And you're worried about your friends. You're still hurting that they threw you out, but you know you have to accept it, and you think you have to keep it together or people will see you as weak, and that's completely ridiculous."
Kyuri gaped at him. Zuko had somehow managed to pinpoint exactly how she'd been feeling and what had been on her mind lately. It was… almost eerie how he'd managed to read her so well, mixing in a compliment so subtly she wondered if he even realized he did it.
"What the hell did I do to deserve you?" Kyuri whispered, still gaping at him. Zuko rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and grinned.
"I'm not that great a prize," he assured her self-consciously.
Kyuri smiled slightly. "Now it's my turn to address your confidence issues. You're flawed, so what? Everyone is! I know there's a lot of emotion wrapped up in that scar of yours, but I admire the fact that, whatever it is, you're clearly not letting it run your life as much as you used to. You're determined and passionate and besides that… I find you rather attractive. All in all, I think that makes a pretty great prize myself."
Sangilak let out a great huff, propelling himself off of his pillow and making for the door, swinging it open with a nudge from his nose.
"If I stay here much longer I'm going to vomit. Humans in love are absolutely disgusting."
The door swung shut on two very red teenagers. They'd never said the l-word, never brought it up, but they'd both been thinking about it. Kyuri remembered Yoshio's diary, how she spoke of heat in her relationship with the general, and she came to a decision. Zuko had burned himself through the icy covering of her heart and claimed a little piece of it for himself.
"Zuko?" Kyuri said softly. Zuko glanced at her, wondering what was coming. He had a suspicion, but he really didn't think Kyuri would be the one to say it first. He knew what he wanted her to say, but, would she?
"I…," Kyuri began, and paused, looking her lips. "I've found that I… I really…"
Kyuri frowned at herself. It was three little words. She was a Dragora. She'd gone undercover and fought for her life, escaped from a bounty hunter on a monster, a Fire Nation prison, and singing hippies. Three little words would not undo her.
"For spirit's sake!" she suddenly huffed. "I love you! Why am I struggling with saying that? It's three words, for Tui's sake, and…"
"Kyuri?" Zuko cut her off, watching her berate herself with amusement and a delighted warmth in his stomach.
"Hmm?" she wondered.
"You just said it."
Kyuri blinked, and reviewed her little ramble. "Oh. I suppose I did."
"I love you too," Zuko said, shaking his head at her, shoulders shaking with helpless chuckles at just how ridiculous she could be sometimes.
"Well… That's lovely to know."
"So tell me more about these individual Wings…"
They talked into the night before they finally settled under the sheets. There was a moment of awkwardness as they realized the connotations of a couple sharing one bed, but they both behaved maturely as the climbed under the covers. Kyuri rolled onto her side, pulling the covers up to her chin and snuggling down for a good night's sleep. Silk sheets… She could get used to this.
She felt the bed dip as Zuko crawled in behind her and settled on his side as well. Kyuri let out a surprised sound and tensed as a strong arm draped across her waist and pulled her back against a warm chest. She rolled over to face Zuko and blushed at how close they were.
"Is this okay?" Zuko whispered, wondering if he'd crossed a line. "I don't want you to be pressure to do anything or-"
"I- Yes, I'm," Kyuri murmured back. She let her muscles slacken and curled her neck to rest her forehead against his chest. Zuko's arm moved up stroke her hair and Kyuri fell asleep to the soothing motion faster then she could ever recall.
Zuko awoke alone the next day. He pawed at the cooling spat next to him absently, then sat up blearily as he met only sheets.
"Good morning."
Kyuri sat at the table, surrounded on two sides by piles of books and scrolls. Her eyes were focused on the page in front of her. One hand went between a plate of food and her mouth absently as she read.
"Morning," Zuko said as he rolled out of bed. He pulled on a shirt and walked over to her, peering over her shoulder at the page. He kissed her cheek casually before asking, "What are you reading?"
"Flight Commander's Basic Tactics," Kyuri replied. She nodded towards the plate. "There's enough there for you too."
"Sounds pretty basic," Zuko said, picking up a slice of fruit and popping it in his mouth.
"Well, the name wouldn't imply that, wouldn't it?" Kyuri smirked. "But the fact is I want to make sure I have a solid base before I get to the rest of this." She waved a hand at her pile.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Zuko asked.
"You can spar with me later," Kyuri suggested with a smile. She rolled her shoulders. "I haven't been practicing as much as I should be lately."
"It's a date," Zuko agreed.