Thanks again to LadyFateContemplatingDisaster! (What a name, right? So long. But sooo cool!) Sorry for the wait. Haven't really had a moment to sit down. Orientation is in two days. Back to Commerce we go!)
Healed and Hunted
Taking Stock
Chapter 28
Sparring Room C
Kat
Her students were beginning to trickle out the door. The 'class' she taught had only started with twenty. It had grown, since then. Once the rumors began to spread-like wildfire, they did-dozens flocked to the place. Not all of them water-Inheritors. A couple fire-Inheritors and more than a few earth.
Once her class reached a certain size, she called to Toph and Lee for help. They took on the extra students without complaint. They didn't split the classes up by type. They simply allowed the students to choose their teachers. So far, it had worked.
The lesson for today was winding down. Eventually, it was only her and one boy. The boy was, maybe, fourteen. A year younger than required to attend.
"Everything okay, Jason? You seemed...distracted today," Kat said, as kindly as she was able. For one reason or another, she'd paid this child special attention. Something about him seemed different, but only if she looked out of the corner of her eye.
His head jerked to her. "What? Yeah. Everything's fine. Sorry."
The answer was one she'd given many times. She knew, more than most, what it really meant.
"Wanna help me tidy up?" Kat motioned to the training equipment on the floor. Buckets of water, plastic tubs of dirt. Towels and mops off to the side, kept especially for the younger Inheritors.
The young boy seemed eager to be doing something. In the silence, Kat practiced her breathing. In, out. Letting the energy flow. It was something Lee was teaching her.
It helped her clear her mind and focus. It was something she was passing on to the students.
The cleaning was much quicker than she had thought it would be. Jason had taken most of the water off the wall with his bending. She was pleased at his dedication.
She smiled at him. "Thanks for your help. Would have taken me ages by myself."
"You could have just...bent the water." Jason sounded glum. He turned his back to her as he finished placing the mops in perfect order.
Kat shrugged, answering, "I could have, sure. Sometimes I just like a quiet time to think. Cleaning is the perfect time for that. Small stuff to think about."
She was prodding. She was nosy, she couldn't help it. Especially when it came to kids. She knew everyone was having a tough time of it. Parents were pressuring for the shot. Children under eighteen had no say in whether or not they received it.
"Can I ask you something?" Jason was still staring at the wall.
"Go ahead. Shoot," Kat replied quickly.
The boy leaned on the wall and took a shaky breath.
"Anything, I swear. I'm not a counselor, but you can... talk to me. If you want," Kat reassured the boy.
That was all he needed. He looked at her and started crying, but still didn't say anything. When she moved closer, arms tentatively opened, he launched himself at her. His arms were around her before she could make heads or tails of his intentions. For two seconds, her brain screamed danger.
Then, she returned the hug.
Not everything was a threat. In, out.
"How do you...keep going? When everyone hates you?" he asked, voice breaking with his sobs.
The question brought tears to her eyes. When she was younger, she wondered the exact same thing. This child, she decided, was much a younger version of herself.
"I asked my Gran-Gran the same question, before she died. She knew about me." She stroked his hair with her fingers. "She told me that no matter what, I wasn't allowed to give up. That I was too special. Even if I didn't believe it."
They moved to the bench. The two separated, briefly, but the boy leaned onto Kat's shoulder. She was surprised at him. They weren't close, she thought, but perhaps closer than anyone else he knew.
"Must be nice. To have someone tell you that," Jason said, rubbing his face.
Kat let her head rest on his. "Your parents don't?"
It was quiet again.
"Foster parents told me I was a freak when they found out. Just happened to get me tested one day. I was there for a school shot. I already knew. I just...kept it secret," he explained at length.
Anger coursed through her. Still a child. Already trying to keep a secret from the world. From the people who should have been supporting him and shielding him.
"That day, they gave me the shot," Jason continued.
Kat blinked. "But... you..."
Jason looked up at her, "It didn't work. It wasn't even a bad shot. I've had two since then. Been...moved into three different families."
More anger. Real pain. No real family. It was a wonder that the boy was immune to the shot. The back of her mind said his blood could be used to synthesize medicine, but she threw the thought out. Jason was a child. Not a cure.
"Between families right now. State sent me here to wait," he finished.
The boy waited for her to say something. But she bit her lip. She was ready to yell and scream. It wasn't right, what was happening to him. Kat knew, though, if she opened her mouth now, she wouldn't be able to stop.
"What do you do when everyone goes home?" She wondered finally. Settled on a safer topic.
He shrugged, "Stay here. Practice. Try to pretend everything's alright."
"This weekend, Lee and I are going to look at apartments and houses. Do you want to come with us? It's something to do, at least," Kat offered reflexively.
The boy perked up. "Really?"
"Absolutely. It'll be fun." She smiled.
The door opened and Lee walked in. Jason looked back to Kat and grinned. "Thanks."
The kid skipped out after that, already in a much better mood than before. She took a shaky breath as Lee sat down, leaning into her.
"What was that about?" he wondered.
She looked at him. "That kid is coming with us. I hope that's alright."
"Ah, sure." He blinked down at her. "Why?"
Kat sighed, saying, "Couldn't leave him here by himself."
Lee would want a further explanation, but he was satisfied for the moment. Kat was glad for his company. It had been a while since she'd been so angry. With him around, it was very easy to distract herself.
Sunny Days Apartment Complex
Lee
This was the eighth place they were looking at. From where they were standing, it seemed nice enough. Originally, it had seemed like a great idea. It was exciting, of course, but it was exhausting. Each place he tried to renew his excitement, but he was wearing down.
Kat, too, seemed to be growing tired. The kid that was with them-Jason-seemed happy enough. After hearing why she'd brought the kid along, he was glad for the company. The kid was older than Kyoshi, and could talk on a more adult level. But, still, just a kid.
"Looks nice. Yeah?" Kat looked back at him, and he couldn't help the smile that broke out.
Jason nodded. "It's...better than the last two."
This sentiment Lee agreed with. With any luck, it would be as nice on the inside as out. As they went through the door, he was shocked at how comfortable the place seemed.
They were ushered up to a room on the fourth floor. Once again, the inside was...homey. Lee looked around the room and could imagine the two of them living here. It was the first place he'd managed to do so. Two bedrooms, one bath.
Kat was standing in the living room, staring at the walls.
"Would we be allowed to paint the walls?" she asked. He could see in her eyes that she was thinking the same thing he was. The idea was already taking shape in his head. A life beginning here. The two of them here...together.
"Sure. But it's your responsibility for upkeep," the landlord said.
Jason turned to Lee, asking, "So, do you like it?"
"Absolutely." This he said looking at Kat. Her face lit up, like he had just given her the best gift ever.
Kat grinned, saying, "So. This is it, huh?"
"I'm in." He put his hand out, and she placed hers over it. Jason, feeling left out, put his hand over theirs.
They told the landlord of their situation, and he simply listened the entire time. When they explained that they would have to wait until they passed their exams to move in, he accepted it. The landlord, after all was said and done, simply looked at them.
"You two... I look forward to having you as tenants," he said, shaking their hands.
Jason blinked at the three adults, asking hesitantly, "You're not...angry that they're Inheritors?"
The man looked at him very sternly, stating, "Son, they seem decent people. I don't give a da- I don't care about it."
Lee looked at Kat and raised an eyebrow. They had seen some hostility today, certainly, but not outright indifference. It was refreshing. Surprising, too.
The landlord smiled at the kid and handed him a dollar. "Hey, why don't you go and get yourself a drink out of the machine?"
Jason grinned, accepted the dollar, and ran off. The adults waited until the door was closed to speak again. Then, the landlord surprised him again.
"I know the two of you are pretty young, but it's pretty admirable that you raised such a fine boy," the landlord said, staring after said child.
What he said didn't register to Lee until Kat objected, "He's not ours. He just goes to our school. He didn't have anywhere to go, so we brought him along."
Lee blinked, replaying the last few sentences spoken.
"To the Inheritor school?" the landlord, Aaron, asked.
Kat nodded, "He's only fourteen. Doesn't even have to go. He's been out of three foster homes since the state found out about him. I couldn't just leave him."
Aaron's brow furrowed.
"Anyways. I'm looking forward to renting from you. Thanks for everything, Aaron," Kat said, grabbing Lee's hand.
Jason walked back in that moment. He had a vanilla coke in his hand, and he seemed rather pleased with himself. The boy stopped walking when he noticed the three of them staring.
"Well, we should get going. Uncle is sure to need help," Kat said, moving them along.
Lee looked back one last time. This place was going to be their home. Warmth washed through him. A place where he and Katara could coexist.
Now all he had to do was find time to get the ring out of his pocket and onto her finger.
LoTus
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a
Kat
She loved helping Mushi with the store. It was nice to work. Nice not to be defined by her abilities, but rather appreciated for the time she put into her work. Plus, she enjoyed dressing up for playing the part.
Lee had told her she looked like a maid, but she didn't care. It was fun. (Besides, Lee wasn't exactly complaining about the outfit.)
Even Jason was helping out today. The kid was good at clearing dishes, and he seemed rather uplifted by Mushi's presence.
After closing, while they were all clearing tables and scrubbing the floors, Mushi called Lee over. Kat watched carefully, as something seemed a little off, but tried not to listen. Uncle was muttering something, and Lee was shaking his head.
She sent Jason off to bed-it was ten at night, after all-and finished the work on her own. When Lee was done listening to his uncle, he joined her.
"Everything alright?" she asked, though she knew otherwise. Lee's face had frozen into a scowl. She had seen the look, months ago, but didn't exactly remember where.
Her boyfriend didn't look at her, saying, "My dad has taken to calling my uncle. He doesn't...get that I don't want to talk to him."
Kat nodded, wishing she knew what to say. She hadn't spoken to her own father in six months. Nor did she want to. She had no counsel to give. So, she kept her silence and listened.
"I don't understand. He ignores me for...my entire life, really. Then, out of the blue, he wants me to go back to Russia," Lee continued, wiping down the last table.
Kat took the dishes back and set them all in the dishwasher. The few that couldn't be washed she put in the sink to soak while she searched for the sponge. Lee followed her, opting to wash the dishes for her.
"He wants something. I know it." He placed a clean cup on the towel she had set up. Kat took another towel and dried the cup off.
"Hey. If it's really that important, he'll come here. Right?" she wondered, just to keep him talking.
A brief, hostile smile, "No. Always have to go to him. He's not going to budge."
She still had nothing to say. What was there to say?
"Screw it. It's not important," he said finally, finishing the last cup.
She took it from him as she said, "If it wasn't important, it wouldn't bother you."
Lee began emptying the sink. He watched the water swirl in the drain while Kat studied his face. He was more upset than he was letting on. She should have asked, but couldn't bring herself to.
"I guess... he's still my father," Lee told her.
Katara nodded, "Do you look like him?"
His brow furrowed, but he answered, "More than I like. My sister, too."
She blinked and thought about the statement. He'd never, once, mentioned a sister. She saw he regretted his choice of words. Kat didn't comment on it. She supposed if his sister was important, this wouldn't be the first time she was hearing about it.
"You should get some rest, Lee. You look tired." Kat kissed his cheek.
Lee grabbed her face and pressed his forehead to hers. She kissed him, lightly, but pulled away. As much as she wanted to help him, some things he had to deal with on her own. She couldn't muscle her way into those sorts of business. He would either tell her, or he wouldn't.
It was her job to be there no matter what.
"Katara. I...I just..." Lee looked at her helplessly.
She shook her head, "Goodnight, Lee. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite."
Another kiss before she made her way up stairs. Her room was dark, and frosty, but it felt like coming home. She collapsed onto the bed and reveled in the coolness of the sheets and underside of the pillows.
As wonderful as the temperature was, she didn't complain when Lee slipped in next to her.
Sometimes, she thought, it was more about not knowing and caring anyways. Sometimes, it was about being there for someone because it was the right thing to do.
"I love you, Katara," he whispered.
In the darkness she grinned. "I love you, whoever you are."
He snorted.
His arms were around her, and she realized it really didn't matter to her anymore. Her father, his father. A sister, too, apparently. It wasn't important.
He was here now. He could have been anywhere else in the world.
Yet, here he was.