Hi all!
Awesome to see the love from everybody :D
I'm sorry that this is a short chapter. But, think of it as an interlude between two long, kind of event-packed chapters, where I get to, you know, have some space and time and stuff. Besides, this one has Iroh POV which you all know is awesome and makes up for shortness (hopes they all fall for it).
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Much sadness all around
"Jin, where on earth have you been!"
The moment she stepped inside, the scolding started. Jin winced as she closed the sagging door behind her, head bowed as she slipped out of her shoes. "Your father let you out on the condition you were home by eleven! It's gone midnight! Do you have any idea how worried you made us?"
"I'm sorry." Jin mumbled, keeping her gaze lowered. "Time... Sort of got away on me... I didn't mean to..."
"You best be sorry!" The thickset women set her darning aside, stood up. "You have to get up for work in five hours. You'll be exhausted all day tomorrow!"
Not as bad as today. "I know Ma." She clutched at her dress. "I'm sorry." If she wanted to avoid a scolding, Jin could have extracted sympathy from her mother, bursting into tears and retelling the story of her long, horrible night, but what would it have done, really? Shan had, in reality, a limited knowledge of what exactly her daughter got up to when she slipped out at nights, but she could guess, and she did so correctly. What Jin didn't say to her was always expressed in her body language and facial expression when she got home – and recently, she'd been returning with an increasingly despondent look on her face. There was a time for scolding and grounding, and a time to talk, find out what was going on, to try and help.
"What's his name." She asked with a sigh, to Jin's surprise.
"Wh-what?" The girl blinked, caught out by her mothers' drastic change in tone. "Whose name?"
"The boy that's made you this miserable." Shan took her daughters arms, forcing her to sit down at one of the two cushioned chairs beside the stove, usually where Shan curled up at night with her mending once the washing-up was finished, and Renshu puffed thoughtfully at a sharp-smelling pipe. "Who is he?"
"Oh!" Jin blushed, caught out by her mothers' question. She watched as Shan set the teapot down on the stove, busying herself with the tea-things. "U-Um... What makes you think it's a boy?"
"Because I was sixteen once too, my girl." Shan took a brief seat on her chair. "There's a special sort of misery in your face that has only one explanation."
"We-ell..." Jin bit on her lower lip, the blush spreading across her nose. "Actually, there's... kind of... two." She twiddled her thumbs together.
"What?" The woman's forehead sank into her palm. "Jin..."
"I know, I know." Jin sighed. "I just... I saw Riku tonight... Again... And, well... He kind of..."
"You didn't, did you?" Shan started, her voice unusually sharp.
"No! No, I swear!" Jin pleaded. "He wanted to, but I wouldn't. I swear Ma, I'm not like that!" Anymore...
"Good." Shan closed her eyes for a moment, relief coursing through her. "I don't want you to make the mistakes I made Jin."
"I thought you love Dad." Jin frowned, watching as her mother got up, fetching the whistling pot from the stove.
"Oh, I do, dear, I do." She nodded. "But it wasn't an ideal situation, at all... I was only seventeen, and your father a year older... I wanted to marry him, but not to make sure Meng was legitimate." At the mention of her eldest child, Shan's faced tightened. "If things were different... If we waited until my Father approved and Renshu had found a more stable job, things would be a lot better than they are now." A cup of tea was pushed into Jin's hands.
"I like things the way they are." Jin argued. "Ma, don't beat yourself up for what you did all of those years ago. Look, no one knows what would have, or could have happened. It's in the past. Leave it alone..." She took a sip of her green tea. "What's in the past is in the past... It can't be changed now and it can't keep controlling your life..." Jin stared into her yellowish drink, her chest aching.
"I get the feeling it's this second boy that's the trouble." Shan smiled, glad to snatch a few rare moments with her daughter, even if it was at this stupidly late hour.
"Lee." Jin admitted. "He moved here recently. He was... a refugee." She took another sip of her tea. "But he's got a dark past... I know a bit about it but not all. He's shutting me out because of it, and refusing to see me anymore. He says that it's better for both of us, that he'll only end up hurting me, but..." She drew in a sharp breath. "I like him Ma, I do. He's so much more different than all the other boys I met. He's so sweet and caring and nice, and he's downright cute when he wants to be. I don't care about what he did or he used to be. It's now that's important. And now, he's... someone that I don't wanna let go of." Jin finished, draining the last of her tea, looking up at her mother. "What do I do?"
"... Just how bad is this past of his?" Shan asked her daughter very seriously, looking over the rim of her near-empty cup.
"... Bad." Jin admitted. "It... Let's just say that if I told you, you would probably forbid me from ever seeing him again and report him to the Dai Li."
"And you're asking me for advice?" Shan raised an eyebrow. "What do you think I'll say?"
"That I should leave well alone." Jin sighed, shoulder slumped. "That I'll only end up being hurt, and it wouldn't be worth it. That I should know better than to mess with types like him."
"And you're right." Shan agreed. "You've gotten my feeling spot on - not that you ever listen to me, of course." Jin forced a weak smile. "But Jin..." The woman looked rather sad. "You're not a child anymore, no matter how hard I try to deny that. You're strong young woman, and I know you can make your own choices. But please, whatever you must do, I beg of you, think of yourself, and think of us."
"Ma, I would never do anything to hurt you." Jin murmured. "You and Dad and my brothers mean everything to me, and just the thought of ever losing you hurts like you wouldn't believe. I'm not going to risk everything I have for this, I just..." She raked her fingers through her hair, her inner conflict evident.
"Go to bed, honey." Shan said warmly. "You're tired. You need rest."
"I-I know..." Jin slowly stood up with a stretch. "You're not mad at me are you?"
"Mad? I'm furious." Her mother said sharply. "You blatantly disobeyed your promise, risked getting mugged or arrested, and had me worried sick."
"I'm sorry." Jin mumbled one more time. She crossed the little room silently, turning, and pausing in the door way. "... 'Night, Ma."
"Good night, Jin." Shan smiled at her only daughter, who returned the expression, before making the quiet walk to her room. She pushed open her sagging door with a sigh, ready to collapse onto her bed. Problem was, somebody had beaten her to it.
"'Bout time you got back." Jiro lay on her bed with his arms folded behind his back, staring up at the ceiling. "I was almost thinking about packing it in."
"Jiro, go to bed." Jin rolled her eyes, tugging at the sash on her dress. "I need sleep."
"Yeah, yeah." The teenager slowly sat up, looking a little concerned. "Please tell me you didn't end up-"
"No, I didn't." Jin said testily, her outer dress hanging on the tiny clothes rack. "You're worse than Ma. Go away Jiro, I'm going to sleep."
"Aw, fine." He stood up, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. "So why are you so upset then?" Jiro asked after a moment of silence, studying Jin's face in the candlelight.
"... It's complicated." Jin said softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Jiro raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to tell you." Her voice tightened, and she clenched her hands into fists. "You wouldn't understand."
"Ah, girly stuff." Jiro sighed. "Fine. But if you need me to kick anybody's butt for you, don't hesitate to ask." He gave the girl a fond smile. "I don't mind looking out for you."
"I don't need you to kick anybody's butt for me." Jin stretched out on her bed, arms behind her head, much like her brother had lain a few moments before. "Sorry to disappoint."
"Aww, fine." He gave a mock pout, before straightening up, turning away from the girl. "'Night Jin."
"Night." She murmured, rolling over as Jiro closed the narrow door, staring at the shadows the candlelight threw on the wall. Slowly, she stretched out an arm, trailing her fingers across the rough-hewn boards, watching as her fingertips flushed a deep gold from the light.
Dammit! Jin groaned, flopping back into her original position, eyes locked on the ceiling. I'm not going to get Zuko out of my head, am I? She sighed sadly, the corners of her mouth drooping.
Zuko. That's a Fire Nation name if I ever heard one. No wonder he got a fake name Lee sounds so much more... Innocent. Jin closed her eyes. Poor Zuko... I saw the hurt in his eyes. I saw how upset he was. It's not the fear of being turned in that he's really afraid of. It's the rejection. I bet he's told people before. And I bet they hated him immediately for what he was. Does he not know me at all? Does he not realise that I would never do that?
But I did... Jinshuffled uncomfortably. I fled when I found out, and I refused to see him for days. Isn't that rejection? Ugh, I ama hypocrite. I was afraid. It was a big shock, learning that he was one of them. How else was I going to react?
But I do care about him so much... He actually treated me like I was worth something. Like I was more than just a dirty peasant. I know what I am, I accept it. I'm not happy about it, but I accept it. Perhaps it's just manners. It's probably how they do things in the Fire Nation. Honour and glory and all that. Treat your woman with kindness and respect, that ties in well... But the way he gave a damn, even though he looked sick with dread at the possibility of a date...
I'm not letting go of him. Jin sat up a little, kicking back the covers, and sliding beneath them, letting them gather around her waist. It was a mild spring night, the chill of winter almost completely gone from the late night air. If he thinks that just because our races are locked in a century-long war, we can't be together, then he's either very stupid or very weak-willed...
... Or very smart. Jin winced. We can be together, but without repercussions? Even if we got away with it, even if it was kept secret, what then? If the Fire Nation won, it would be undone, I'd be thrown into jail and killed and he would return to his country. But, if by some stroke of luck, the Fire Nation falls, he'd be strung up and lynched...
But no one is going to know. I'm sure not going to tell anyone, and I'm sure that he's smart enough to figure to keep it from everyone else. I found out because he was being so personal and intimate with me. He's not going to treat anybody else like that. He's safe. His secret is safe with me, doesn't he understand that?
He's not a monster, and he can't think of himself as one. Jin turned onto her side, pulling the thin blankets up to her chin. And he can't think that I would ever abandon him.
Selfish little prat. The girl smiled, despite herself, eyelids drooping.
I think this is a futile attempt.
Iroh groaned as he sat up, scratching at his stomach. Perhaps a nice cup of tea will help coax me back into sleep... Yes. He nodded, stepping up from his futon, shuffling across the tiny room and pushing open the screen door. The moonlight streamed through the windows, which Iroh had forgotten to close, bathing the half-packed room in a soft, silvery glow. Iroh paused for a moment, eyes locked with the moon. Of its' own accord, the elderly mans' mind drifted back to a night, just a couple of short months ago, in an ice-walled valley. He inclined his head in a short bow to Yue, before turning his attention to the stove in the corner of the room. Halfway in his journey, however, Iroh pulled up short, realising with a frown that his nephews' door was partly open.
"Zuko?" He blinked, padding towards the ajar door, sliding open the door a little more. "My nephew, why are you still up at this..." Iroh trailed off as he realised that the little room was devoid of all human life, Zuko's bed smooth and untouched.
No. Iroh closed his eyes. I should have known. Cursing himself under his breath, Iroh ran back into his room, pulling on his outer clothes as fast as he possibly could. Of course he was going to try and find the bison. I hope I can find him in time and make sure he doesn't do anything foolish. Iroh stepped into his shoes, before sprinting out of the small apartment with surprising agility for a man his age – But then again, Iroh was far from being remotely ordinary for a man his age. Ooh, what am I talking about? He's probably gotten himself arrested by now... In the street at this point, Iroh stood stock still, keeping as quiet as he possibly good, trying to pick up any sound, and noise from the silent atmosphere about himself.
I hope I'm not too late. Iroh winced, keeping to the shadows the best he could. I don't have the energy to rescue him from the Dai Li.
And he was doing so well... the elderly man mused sadly. I expected a relapse like this... But I was hoping that he would settle down here, find a nice girl and some friends...
Well, he did both, and it blew up in his face. Iroh sighed. Jin's ignoring him for some strange reason, and that Jet boy found out who we were and tried to get us arrested. He was right. Things have been going well with me, getting the Jasmine Dragon and the new apartment, but every effort he's tried to make to fit in has ended badly. No wonder he's so disheartened.
I've tried my best. What else can I do? He's never going to give up, no matter what I tell him. I've tried to make him see the light, so many times, but he's too fixated on something that will never happen. Iroh turned into the narrow side-alley, still keeping on high alert for any sound. I'll stand by him, until the end of my days, even if it lands me into the worst kind of trouble.
What's that? Iroh pulled up in his walk, eyes widening. The retired general dove into an open doorway, pushing the door until it was almost closed. Leaving a space to take peek, should the need arise, Iroh kept a careful eye out, waiting for the footstep he heard to walk by. Sure enough, a few moments later he caught sight of the Dai Li agent, slowly walking down the tiny side alley, with two Dao swords across his chest, the razor-sharp blades a hairs breadth from his throat.
Oh dear. Iroh winced, shrinking into the shadows of the abandoned house. Nephew, what are you doing? There was no doubt the black-clothed man in the blue mask was Zuko. He waited until they hadgone out of sight, but not out of sound, before slipping back into the narrow alley, keeping his footsteps light and body in the shadows. He'd follow Zuko, of course, to make sure that he was going to be all right, to aide him if he needed help, protect him if it got a bit nasty.
He'd follow Zuko to the end.
Say it with me: Aaaawwwwwwwwwwww.
Hope this puts things in canonical (Is that even a word?) Perspective for those who were unsure.
So yeah. Peace out brothers, hope I see you next chapter! Should be a fun time!
And don't forget to review :D. Just sending you a 'lil reminder. You know. Because you want to.