Post by Gia on Apr 12, 2010 18:27:00 GMT -6
Quan-Li had been slowly eating the food that Karena had cooked. He had debated about saying something to Kanea, but Karena had gotten to it first. His brown eyes sent the firebender an appreciative look, but he stayed quiet. It wasn’t that he didn’t care. The earthbender loved his swordswoman. His mind went back to a day many months ago when he and Karena had gotten into an argument. He had been insistent that he’d loved Kanea, even though they had only known each other a few weeks, if that. As was usual with him, he got very defensive when challenged. He had made a low blow remarking on her relationship with Zuko, since then the two were merely engaged, but not together, and Karena was nearly five months pregnant at the time with the banished prince’s child.
The firebender had been insistent that it wasn’t love, because you actually had to know someone in order to love them. She had told him that she loved Zuko, because she knew him – the good and the bad. The fight had ended with Karena throwing a fireball within inches of his head, delivering a promised threat to him if he ever insulted her like that again. He didn’t doubt her. She was a fierce warrior and a fierce lover. He glanced at Zuko and Karena, and could see simply by the way they acted towards each other that what they were feeling was real. Had she been right all along? Was this just infatuation and the two of them had gotten in way over their heads?
It had been a few days since that night… Kanea and Quan-Li had gone on a walk together, which had ended up with them in the washroom. Months of pent up sexual attraction had let loose, and the two of them had ended up in the tub together. He knew it had been a mistake. Considering the circumstances of their lives, it had been stupid. It had been so wonderful, though, and she didn’t seem to mind too much. Of course, after that, they had both realized what they had done – as well as the consequences that could happen because of that night. What if he had gotten her pregnant? Every member of their team was valuable, and they might have taken her out of the fight, so to speak.
Quan-Li had missed Zuko and Karena leaving, but when the firebenders had come back, Karena had told Kanea to eat again. His fiancée had been upset and walked out, but returned shortly after. He watched her with his brown eyes, and noticed that she was still not eating anything. “Kanea, Karena is right,” he told her. “You need to eat. Think of what would happen in the fight if you starve yourself.” He paused for a moment, searching her face for a reaction. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.” His voice had a somber note to it, but it was clear that he meant every word. He debated on telling her to apologize to Karena, but he had never apologized for some of the things he’d said to her, so that would be kind of hypocritical of him.
Sokka listened to the goings on around him. He didn’t think he had ever been so tired in his life. Makaro was a tough teacher, and the older man had been drilling him the past few days since they had arrived at this little village. The master swordsman had told the boy from the Water Tribe that he was a natural, and would one day be a master – just like him. He didn’t feel that he was catching on quite as well as he had wanted to, though. Makaro assured him that it would come with time and practice. He had to make sure that the blue-eyed young man was fully prepared for the upcoming fight with Sabaku. He knew that he had an advantage over most new students of the sword because he had been in fights before.
Sokka was brought out of his reverie when Zuko and Karena left after the banished prince told his fiancée that he needed to talk to her. Narrowing in his eyes in confusion, he continued eating. They returned in a few minutes, the female firebender mothering Kanea for the second time that evening. Regardless of whether or not she was right, it was still funny, and caused Sokka to chuckle lightly, especially since Quan-Li agreed with Karena. Sure, she had been right to begin with, but it was still amusing. The young man had to mentally remark once again that the couple that argued the least was the ones not talking right now. More and more he found that relationships confused him. As normally happened, a conversation was struck up and it was serious… as usual.
As it turned out, since Iroh would not be joining them, their leverage with Haru and Xiaoyu’s father was gone. “Great, I just knew it couldn’t be that easy,” he said aloud. He listened as Zuko and Iroh spoke their bits, but found himself agreeing with the newest addition to their group as he let his more calculating side take over. “I agree with Xiaoyu,” said Sokka. “No offense and I’m sure Ember Island would a good in-between place, but how far is it from the Capital? We need a close place, and it sounds as if their father’s place will be much closer.” He turned his blue eyes towards Lakano, waiting for him to speak, noticing that Akita, Makaro, and Karena had looked towards the tall Waterbender as well. “Of course, if he doesn’t agree, we will have a problem, but I trust that they know their father well enough.”
Why are they all looking at me? Lakano thought to himself as many members of the group turned their eyes towards him. Some had said their piece, and why was it up to him to decide? It seemed that he had been named unofficial leader. The brunet was confused as to why, but he couldn’t do anything to change it now. Blue eyes looked carefully at the members of the group sitting around the table. It always seemed that since mealtimes were the only time they really had to sit together, it was the only time they had discuss the matters of their mission – and there were no light hearted ones among them. Once more, the Waterbender found himself realizing more and more how serious this matter was that he had gotten them into. With the Avatar unconscious in the next room, there seemed to be one problem after another.
Thinking about the words that had been said, Lakano knew he needed to be sure when he spoke. Zuko and Iroh brought up good points, but so did Xiaoyu. Sokka agreed with her, and despite his outward attitude at times, the brunet knew that the young man was far from stupid. On the one hand, they did not want to turn into people like the Ozai and Azula, and he could see why that would matter so much to the Fire Lord’s brother and son. After all, they were trying to get away from that… they didn’t need to be involved with anyone like that. On the other hand, unless Ember Island was very close the capital – and that was highly unlikely – it was not a good strategic place to go, as Sokka had pointed out. On that note, Xiaoyu was under the impression that her father could be reasoned with.
Since she and Haru knew him better that anyone else here at the table – after all, he was their father, and none of the rest of them had met him – he was inclined to agree with her words on the matter. Turning his blue eyes to look into the golden ones of his boyfriend, Lakano took a deep breath. “I agree with Xiaoyu,” he said aloud, his baritone voice the only thing that could be heard amongst the silence of the room. “Sokka also brings up a good point. While Ember Island – wherever it may be – would be nicer for not disturbed, Haru’s teashop would better strategically, since it’s closer to our end game.” His eyes flicked to Xiaoyu for a moment, before scanning the group. “We need someone inside the capital to help us, and if Xiaoyu thinks we can convince her father… I’m going to agree with her. After all, she and Haru would be the best judges on that matter.”
Lakano paused for a moment. “We will need a place to train, though… the Avatar will need it, as will we all, and training while inside the capital or near it is out of the question for some of us,” he pointed out. The brunet paused again as he allowed himself to get his thoughts into order. “It might good for us to find a place where we can train in peace… somewhere where some Earthbending and Waterbending won’t be noticed quite as easily.” Provided Ember Island was not out of their way, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea, at least has an in between place. “After all, we can’t stay in the Earth Kingdom forever, but training will be much more difficult for some of us once we leave it.” He decided to stop there. As much as he hated the idea of meeting his boyfriend’s father – who hated his son’s “lifestyle choice” – it was the best course of action in his opinion. They need help, and Karena had already pointed out that her father was too close to the Fire Lord to be considered.
Good to see you here.
Good to see you here.