Chapter 5: Meet the Parents

All males must sign up for the draft immediately upon their sixteenth birthday. If an individual is fortunate enough to be selected to the Earth King's Military, they will be subject for anywhere between two and ten years of service.

-Dai Li Ordinance #13

A few weeks passed by and Lee had to begrudgingly admit that he was beginning to grow accustomed to his new life in the Lower Ring. School was still as easy as it was painfully boring. He desperately missed all the extra-curricular activities he used to attend, but he did find that he was enjoying his newfound free time.

Today, on a particularly warm day, Lee found himself sitting against a tree desperately clinging to the last of its shade before the afternoon sun was directly overhead. His chest heaved slowly as the warmth was putting him to sleep.

"Are we going to sit here all day?" Jin said from beside him, her breath tickling at his neck as she turned to speak to him. She had become a near constant fixture in his life and Lee couldn't really remember how that happened. Not that he minded, Jin was very easy to be around.

"Mmm." Lee didn't bother to open his eyes before giving the non-answer, very content to do nothing.

Jin had taken him to Pa-Po Park, a favorite spot amongst Lower Ring residents for its stark contrast to the rest of the ring. It was situated on a large hill which allowed multi-tiered paths to snake through the thick greenery that grew in the surprisingly fertile soil. The miles long walk to get here had certainly been worth it, the park rivalled even those found in the Upper Ring.

Jin blew an exasperated breath out of her nostrils before leaning her head back against the tree. Used to her own busy household where nobody stopped moving for a second, Jin could not help but feel antsy after too long. To stave off the boredom, she studied Lee's face from the corner of her eye. The boy's sharp angular face had always fascinated her artistic side, she was far too used to the chubby round faces of most boys her age. Throwing caution to the wind, she pulled her sketch book from her bag and turned back towards Lee.

"Stay still, ok?" She spoke with a slight hitch in her voice.

Lee's right eye opened slightly to look at her. "Why?" He asked in a bewildered tone.

"I'm gonna sketch you." Jin replied as nonchalantly as she could before pulling a sharp stick of charcoal from her case.

"What?" Lee was fully awake now as he raised up on his palms to be more upright. He stared at her curiously as she smiled back widely. "Why do you want to do that?"

Jin just shrugged. "You have an interesting face." She said as if she was commenting on the weather.

"Thanks?" Lee cocked an eyebrow, unsure what the word "interesting" meant in this context.

"It's a good thing!" Jin gave a cheeky grin before continuing in a much softer tone. "It's beautiful."

The two of them were an instant competition to see whose cheeks could burn brighter. Lee coughed and turned away, no longer able to handle Jin's gaze.

"Umm… sure." He finally found his voice and surprised both of them by agreeing. "What should I do?"

"Just lean back and close your eyes like you were before." She pushed him back against the tree gently before repositioning herself to be directly in front of him.

For a few minutes the only sounds that could be heard was that of the charcoal gliding across the page. Lee opened his eyes just a crack to watch Jin as she went back and forth between glancing at him and returning to her work. The warmth that had once enveloped him like a blanket now made him itchy and uncomfortable. It took everything in his power to not squirm.

"We can talk if that helps." Jin said. As always, she was extremely perceptive to those around her and in turn always offered to help. "Just don't move your mouth too much."

Lee clamped his eyes shut, Jin's studious stare was about to bring on another blush. "Ok," He spoke through barely parted lips. "What should we talk about?"

Unseen to him, Jin rolled her eyes, he was never one to get conversation going. "What do you miss about living in the Upper Ring?"

The subject of his former home would've once sent Lee retreating into himself, but Jin had carefully chosen her spots and managed to find the formula for not upsetting him. Lee furrowed his brow as he considered the question.

Jin smacked him lightly on the hand. "No moving your eyebrows! I'm doing those now."

Lee grumbled something unintelligible before responding. "I miss my dao sword training."

"You were training with swords?" The high pitch in Jin's voice told how much this surprised her.

"Just wooden practice ones mostly." Lee explained, concentrating much harder on not moving his face. "Although on occasion my teacher would let me use the real ones."

"But why?" Jin couldn't begin to fathom what an Upper Ring kid was supposed to do with sword training.

Lee resisted the strong temptation to shrug. "I wanted to learn to fight and my dad took me to all sorts of different classes, the dao swords really excited me." He thought of his next words carefully before speaking again. "There are a lot of… choices available in the Upper Ring."

"Must be rough." Jin said with a small laugh. "What even are dao swords? Aren't all swords just… swords?"

Lee bit back his smile. "No, there are all sorts of different types. Dao swords are curved and are more like one sword cut in half, they are very difficult to use. I had been training with them for two years and was just getting beyond the basics."

"Can't you practice with the swords still on your own?"

"We had to sell the pair my dad bought me for my birthday when we moved." Lee spoke in that same sad tone that usually accompanied his longing for his former life.

"Oh." It was one of those rare times that Jin didn't know what to say.

The pair returned to silence for a few more minutes as Jin continued to sketch, her left hand getting dirtier as she gripped the charcoal more tightly for the intricate detailing of Lee's eyes.

"It isn't all bad though." Lee spoke without prompting for one of the first times since they met each other. "Living in the Lower Ring I mean. My father was always too busy with his classes or shows when we lived in the Upper Ring, so I didn't get to spend much time with him. We are hanging out more than I could ever remember now." He chanced a quick peek at her before lowering his voice to a whisper. "Plus… well…"

Jin prodded him with her foot. "Don't mumble."

Lee opened his eyes fully to capture Jin's gaze, who frowned at the sudden movement from her subject. Before she could object, he fought back his nerves and spoke. "I didn't really have any friends in the Upper Ring. It wasn't really encouraged at my old school to hang out with the other kids. We were told we there to learn, not socialize. So… I'm glad we're friends."

Jin caught herself from showing her surprise. Lee may not be the most talkative person in the world, but to spend his entire life without a single friend must've been miserable. She placed her sketchbook down for a second before rubbing his knee. "I'm glad we're friends too."

"Do you want to have dinner with my family tonight?"

They had gotten back to their district when Jin posed the question. It was just before sunset by the time they got back after having spent the entire day at the park. Lee had never spent any time at Jin's house or had even met her parents or her brother she mentioned on occasion, a fact he hadn't even realized until now.

His father was not much of worrier, his whimsical and carefree attitude bred over years of dropping everything just to capture the perfect landscape, so Lee knew he could easily agree without fear of repercussion. Despite this, Lee couldn't help but hesitate for a reason he couldn't quite place. One look at Jin's face though and he was doomed.

She was staring at him with a half-smile, her round olive-green eyes aglow as the last of the sun's rays framed her face. Lee knew that if he said no her face would fall for a moment before she quickly recovered in a manner unique only to Jin. The thought of it made him swallow his breath.

"Sure." Lee finally responded after a beat and Jin's half smile turned into a full-on grin.

"Great! You're going to love Gun-Su, he's a total stick in the mud like you." She said cheekily as she skipped away.

"Hey!" Lee called after her before jogging to keep up.

The two of them giggled as they weaved in between the crowded Lower Ring streets, both competing in an unofficial race despite Lee not even knowing where the finish line was located. He chased after Jin as her ponytail and bag bounced rhythmically behind her.

By the time Jin stopped outside one of the nicer homes dotting the Lower Ring, they were both panting for air and smiling at one another.

"Who knew you could have fun?" Jin continued her teasing before smoothing out the ruffles of her dress.

Lee stuck his tongue out at her. "Next time we race, I get to choose the finish line."

Jin gave a dramatic yawn. "Oh, was that a race? I hadn't noticed." She didn't allow time for a retort before slipping a key out from her bag and opening the front door of the house.

Lee followed her inside into a modestly sized foyer that opened to the rest of the home. The outside was no illusion, the house was certainly nicer than most Lower Ring buildings Lee had set foot in. It would stick out like a sore thumb in the Upper Ring or even just the Middle Ring, but it was immediately evident that Jin's family were not struggling to survive like so many others.

"Jin!" A woman's voice called out from around the far corner. "Get upstairs and wash up, we are waiting on you."

Jin gave a small embarrassed smile to Lee before responding. "Mama, I brought a guest."

There was a noise of something scuffing against the wooden floor followed by rapid footsteps before Jin's mother appeared from the corner. Despite looking just the tiniest bit flustered, Lee could immediately see the resemblance between Jin and her mother. They both shared the same deep green eyes, although her mother's were more pointed than Jin's. The largest similarity was the confident stride with which both mother and daughter seemed to have perfected without even trying. Anyone instantly knew when either of them entered a room.

Jin's mother was upon Lee in an instant, glancing over him with an appraising gaze masked only slightly by her welcoming smile. The fact that she had specks of flour in her tightly bound brown hair made her no less intimidating. It took everything in Lee's power to not swallow the breath he was holding.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am. I am Lee Yishu." He spoke with a deep bow after a few tense seconds of her staring down at him. Jin, with a small smirk tugging at her lips, was enjoying the scene far too much to introduce him.

"Well you're far too polite to be hanging around my daughter." She clearly taught Jin that same teasing tone. Her shoulders relaxed and Lee let out the breath he'd still been holding. She returned his bow with a small one of her own. "I am Tien, welcome to our home."

"Is Gun-Su home yet?" Jin asked, barely containing her excitement.

"He is already washed up and waiting for dinner, unlike you." Tien gave her daughter a pointed look. "And look at your dress, it's covered in dirt! Were you two digging with badger moles all day? Off to the bath, now."

"But Mama, Lee is here." Jin protested as she crossed her arms.

"And he will be there when you finish. We will entertain our guest while you make yourself presentable." Tien shooed Jin off who retreated upstairs with only the slightest grumble. "Lee, come with me and allow me to introduce you to the rest of my family."

She guided Lee with a hand between his shoulder blades until they were standing at the threshold of the dining room. Sat at the head of the rectangular table was undoubtedly Jin's father, while her brother Gun-Su was sat beside him. Both were still engaged in conversation but turned when Tien cleared her throat.

"This is Jin's new friend, Lee Yishu." She placed both hands on Lee's shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze. "Lee, this is my husband Siyu and my son, Gun-Su."

Both men bowed their heads in greeting which Lee returned. As he sat down, he took a quick chance to study each of them. Siyu appeared to be a few years older than his wife and had a thin layer of fat obscuring what was once a no doubt imposing stature. The only wrinkles on his face were caused by smiling though as evidenced by the wide grin he was flashing Lee. Jin had that same smile. Gun-Su was like looking back at time, the spitting image of his father with broad shoulders and muscles bulging from his arms.

"I am honored to meet you. Jin speaks highly of all of you." Lee said as he took the offered seat to Gun-Su's left.

Tien excused herself to go tend to the finish of dinner and check on Jin. Siyu wasted no time before leaning forward in his seat and grinning even wider. "Jin has been spending a lot of time with you Lee, you must be good company."

"Thank you, sir." Lee said while keeping his eyes slightly downcast.

Siyu's stomach gave the slightest jiggle as he laughed. "I won't accept being called 'sir', I'm not that old yet."

"Of course." Lee said with a nervous chuckle before continuing. "Your name… Siyu, are you named after the legendary Taku king?"

Both Gun-Su and Siyu's eyes widened slightly in surprise and shared a look. Siyu nodded before speaking. "A learned man, I can always appreciate someone who knows their history well. My grandfather was on King Siyu's council and was forced to flee with my father to Ba Sing Se after the fall of Taku. The King had a profound effect on him clearly."

"History is my favorite subject." Lee stated proudly. "I did a report on Taku last year for school. I can't believe the Fire Nation brought it to ruin."

"A great shame indeed." Siyu replied before clapping his hands together. "No use worrying about a past we can't change though, let's celebrate what we have. Tell us about yourself, Lee. Jin said your father is a painter?"

Lee couldn't help but to give a small frown, praying it wasn't noticeable to the other two at the table. "He… is." He settled on the vague answer before changing the subject quickly. "What do you do, sir- I mean Siyu? If you don't mind me asking."

Gun-Su shared another look with his father before the latter responded. "I work in customs; I've been processing hundreds of people into Ba Sing Se for the last twenty-five years. Some may call it boring, but I think it keeps me sharp."

"Everyone would call it boring." Gun-Su cut in. "I am an earthbender in the 21st Division of the Outer Wall Army."

Lee thought he picked up on the slightest bit of a threat behind Gun-Su's words, but he had that same calming smile of the rest of the family. Before he could dwell on it for any length of time, Siyu interjected. "Lee, you said your family name was Yishu, correct?"

Lee held in the pained groan, all too used to the endless praised lumped onto him for having a semi-famous father. He found it the least bit strange he hadn't minded as much when Jin found out. "Yes, I did. Why do you ask?" Lee said innocently, not wanting to give away the truth that easily.

Siyu scratched at his head in thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Never mind, I must be mistaken."

Before Lee could question the cryptic message, Tien reentered the room carrying two covered dishes before setting them on the table.

"Jin will be down in just a minute, wait for her before eating." She shot her husband a warning glance.

Jin came bouncing in the room a few moments later and the meal began. Lee struggled to keep up with the fast-paced conversation the family was clearly accustomed to, but enjoyed the chaotic energy in the household all the same.

The meal with Jin's family was certainly a lively affair. Various dishes of rice and fish were passed around at such a rapid pace it nearly gave Lee whiplash just trying to keep up. Everyone in the family had quite an appetite and dinner would've seen more like a contest than a nice gathering if not for the constant conversation going around the table. They did their best to keep Lee engaged in each one, but Lee was beginning to think he just couldn't handle a family as outgoing as Jin for too long.

Afterwards, Jin had volunteered to walk Lee home. A now pointless endeavor considering how well Lee was learning the streets of the Lower Ring, but neither of them seemed to want to voice this obvious fact.

"I don't think your brother likes me." Lee said as he walked behind Jin as they both balanced on an elevated retaining wall.

Jin turned to give him a strange look, nearly losing her balance before catching herself. "Gun-Su likes everyone, you're just being weird."

Lee couldn't agree less; it may not be evident to Jin but there was a certain rigidness that showed every time the older boy addressed him directly. It wasn't that he needed or even wanted everyone to like him, but he was used to at least knowing why he made someone upset. He couldn't think of anything that would've set Gun-Su off.

"You want to see that sketch I did of you?" Jin asked after jumping off the wall with a small twirl.

After having left the park earlier, Lee hadn't asked to see it and Jin hadn't offered. He didn't find anything particularly strange about that having never had his image captured before, not even by his father.

Looking back on in it now though he did recall the burning curiosity he felt in the moment as he spied Jin through nearly closed eyes, her tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth as she stared with such intent at the paper in front of her she could make a statue blink. He had no idea what could enrapture her so much that it looked as though she had to physically remind herself to breathe. His appearance, by his own admittance, was nothing special after all.

When Lee nodded his head it seemed to surprise Jin, as if she made the offer more as a courtesy and never expected him to actually accept it. With all the speed of a turtle seal she took her bag off her shoulders and reached inside to pull out her sketchbook. She flipped through it until she found the one from the afternoon and pulled it tight to her chest to obscure it.

"Just remember it isn't finished, ok?" Jin had never sounded so unsure of herself before handing the book over to Lee.

He didn't understand what was making her so nervous. Lee may have been the son of artist, but he didn't possess a single creative bone in his body. Needless to say, he was in no position to judge someone else's creation.

He turned the book around to face him and what he saw surprised him. Since he could talk his dad had been taking him to art shows and galleries trying to get his son to appreciate art more. All the paintings, sculptures, woven tapestries, and everything else that could fall under the broad umbrella that was the word "art" all looked as if they could have been made by the same person. That wasn't to say they weren't distinct or unique, but rather Lee wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a painter's masterpiece and what some university student created in a half hour.

Staring at Jin's sketch of himself though and he could finally admit how wrong he was. Jin's art was that of a student still, good but still with many years of practice until mastery. Lee's appraisal came with no judgement though, the sketch was incredibly well done given how short a time she spent on it and he was certain he could spend ten times longer and not produce something half as good. Jin was unrefined talent just begging to be taught, even Lee could see that.

Suddenly aware of Jin's hopeful stare boring a hole into him, Lee closed the sketchbook with a smile and handed it back to her. "It's amazing, Jin." He said earnestly. "Are you taking any lessons?" He never realized how little they had talked about her art before now, the subject always having been more a shared one between her and his dad. Lee didn't want to intrude but now just couldn't help himself.

Jin put the book back in her bag and rubbed at her forearm nervously. "Thanks, but there's no specialized schools like that in the Lower Ring. You have to know someone if you want to get teaching down here."

Lee gave her a funny look. "But you do know someone."

She gave him a strange glance before realization dawned on her. "I couldn't ask your father to do that. I just draw for fun, but he's a real artist."

Something in her tone made his heart drop to his stomach and he would do anything to squash the feeling. "Jin, you're like his favorite person. He may like you even more than he likes me. You just have to ask him."

Jin bit the inside of her cheek and smiled at him. "Thanks Lee." She surprised him with a quick hug before jumping back just as quickly. "And he's right to do it."

Lee turned his head. "What?"

A wicked smirk fell on her lips and she lightly smacked his arm before responding. "Liking me more than you."

She took off running and he chased her all the way back home, both nearly screaming with laughter.