Gyatso and Kara: Prodigies of an Avatar
By: Leelee488512
Chapter 34- Finished Business
Iroh leaned against the wall once more trying to find a way to get back into the flow again, but couldn't. He sighed, popping a wonton into his mouth, and made his way out of the ballroom. There was no reason to stay in his opinion.
The young prince stepped into the elaborate hallway and looked at the shining emerald upper half of the wall. Long, golden dragons were painted along the emerald, forming one huge dragon that had the Earth Kingdom symbol drawn in the eyes. On the bottom of the wall, divided by a long, golden bar, there was a red dragon design with a musty yellow background behind it.
"Beautiful, right? My grandmother invented that style of design." A voice interrupted the boy's examination abruptly.
Iroh spun around, surprised and adrenaline ready, to see a cocky girl standing behind him with a facetious smile. Her eerie green eyes stood out in front of the emerald wall and her long, wavy, dark hair framed her face in a way that it usually didn't.
"Topaz, I thought that you were going to stay back with Kuzon and Katara."
"Nah," Topaz sighed with a little laugh, "They fell asleep, so I decided to take a walk."
"Oh. . . mind if I join you?"
"No way! I'll race you to the training arena?" Topaz smiled, pushing her hair back as Iroh walked next to her.
". . . Actually, I was wondering if we could talk."
Topaz's bubbly expression changed at that. She and Iroh would have to be the closest members of the group, and they knew everything about each other.
"What's up with you?" She asked as they began walking down the hall at a casual pace.
"Um . . . nothing important." He lied shaking his head.
"You know that I can tell when you lie to me, right?" Topaz said elbowing her friend gently. She smiled but her eyes were concerned.
"Yeah, I do, but it was worth a try, wasn't it?"
"No, you should just tell me what's bugging you."
"Paz, it's not that easy." Iroh started, but couldn't continue due to Topaz's expression that yelled 'You are totally lying'.
"Really, it isn't, Topaz! Everything is so complicated." He sighed, stopping in his tracks to lean against the wall.
"You are such a baby. Wawa- I can't explain how I feeeeeeel! I'm so deprived-be a man, and that doesn't mean be a jerk. It means opening up your feelings-writing your poetry, maybe?"
"How did you know about that?" Iroh asked, getting paler by the minute.
"I always knew, even when you didn't." She sighed, leaning next to him with a pompous smile.
"What are you talking about?"
"Really, Iroh? . . . Fine, I'll explain. You remember when you lived with me and my parent for a couple of months, right?"
"How could I not? Those months were some of the best in my life-and worst." Iroh closed his eyes, remembering the time.
"I know-I was there-but anyways, you were describing them right before we went our separate ways because of the war. You said that the time that you spent away from you mother was-was debilitating and agonizingly dreadful like watching a dead body lose color or a beautiful flower grey."
"Topaz, come on, that was nothing-"
"For a five year old? I don't think so! You were ridiculous, and now that you actually write poetry, you hide it away from the world. Why?"
Iroh ran his hand through his hair and looked down, trying to find the right words to say. How was he supposed to say that he was afraid to make his true feelings known? He took a deep breath and began.
"Topaz. . . you don't share your artwork!"
"Yes I do-in fact, I brag about it. Don't try to make this about me, Iroh."
"Why don't you share the drawings that are personal?"
"Um, I don't know, their-oh. . ."
"Yeah, 'oh', Topaz." Iroh sighed. She had finally got it. Things were different when you put your heart and soul into something that was to be made public.
"Great . . . awkwardness."
"I'm not feeling awkward at all . . . can I ask you a question, Topaz?"
"Go for it."
"Okay, um, I was wondering if you liked anyone in the group?"
"What are you-a chick?" Topaz said with a laugh. He was the last person she expected to ask her that question.
"Sorry, that was too personal, wasn't it?" Iroh mumbled looking down.
"That wasn't a personal question at all. I don't like anybody right now, but you do."
"Wh-what! N-n-no! No way do I like anybody."
"Didn't your mom ever tell you that lying was bad, Prince Iroh?"
Iroh was about to reply with a smart answer, but he was interrupted by the fast walk of a certain Avatar's daughter. Kara, in all of her beauty, slid up to her two friends with a small smile. She had no idea that Topaz had even come down, and now she was with Iroh. As much as she hated thinking it, she wondered if they were involved with each other. It was a stupid thing to wonder, but made sense in a way, always talking to one another, always flocking together, laughing all of the time-suspicious.
"Topaz . . . you're here!" Kara said with an exaggerated smile that masked her worry.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"What is it, Kara?" Iroh asked pointedly as he turned to look at the girl. Her face saddened and she looked more insecure than she had when she came to them. He quickly regretted what he said.
"I was just looking for you, Iroh. Is that a freaking crime? There are a lot of weirdo-s in this crazy base that would love to force my mom, or myself for that matter, to do something so that you wouldn't get hurt! I can care, can't I?"
"Ookay, I'm gonna go to the ball, you know, see what's going on." Topaz exited from the scene, getting emotional whiplash from the tension that went back and forth between the two.
"Great, we forced Topaz to leave." Kara sighed putting her face in her hands.
"We forced her to leave? How about you forced her to leave?"
"You don't have to be a jerk to me, Iroh! I don't know how to get you back to normal! You're . . . you're . . . you're bipolar! One minute, we're best friends, the next you hate me again!"
"Kara, I don't hate you." Iroh sighed feeling the blood go from his face and his cheeks warm.
"Well, it feels like that Iroh!" Kara yelled, ready to punch him in the face. Her face, unlike his, was red with fury.
"You know what," She continued, trying to calm herself down. "I'm not even going to waste my breath or time on you. I'm done with trying."
And with that, she turned her heels and walked away, happy and sad at the same time.
Yes! Finally a chapter that I am content-happy even-with! I haven't had a lot of dialogue recently (its never been a very strong point for me, but it must become one) and I needed to develope character in my characters (haha), which I haven't been doing. Sorry for not updating in a long time, I've been having extreme writer's block-the Beatles didn't even cure me, so it was horrible. I hope you guys enjoyed it!
Review, please.
God Bless,
Leelee488512