2/4

"It isn't? Ha! Any time I ask to sit in on a council meeting, you deny me because of this, am I right? I am not a child, father! I'll be- I'll be married soon, you can't- keep me from- from learning how to lead our tribe, how to keep us all alive!" He voice rises and becomes shriller with every time she cuts herself off to force the words out. She's never been all that good with confrontations, but she pushes on.

"Yue," he says, softly, and it's entirely the wrong tone to take, at the moment.

"He told me before you did!" She points at me, but the accusation is for her father alone. "Why does he know more than I?" It would sound petulant, if it weren't so obvious that she is honestly confused on the matter, and devastated because of its implications. That he trusts me more. That he believes that I can handle this sort of knowledge and she can't.

I wince. And continue right on when he speaks, "He's a capable bender, and he's proven himself-"

"I never even had the chance to! I'm- I'm coddled and protected, and the only reason I know how to hold a dagger is because Kaito got bored one afternoon and taught me!"

Now it's my turn to look guilty as Arnook levels a look at me, but at this point I won't pretend to be sorry. I thought she'd need to know how to defend herself one day, and a dagger is something she can carry beneath her clothes.

He doesn't stop staring, so I shrug at him. I'm not a diplomat.

"And now somehow he's- he's the only one who tells me what goes on? When all he ever does is play pranks, and drink, and-" She colours, and isn't that charming?

I'm tempted to prompt her 'And…?' But this still isn't the time.

"I didn't want… after your mother died… and I'd already almost lost you once, I-" He cuts himself off. These two…

I should go. I take a step back to give them space, and maybe even make a break for it, but Yue's hand snatches me wrist before I can get far. Her grip is almost painful.

She doesn't look at me, but her shoulders tremble. "And your answer was to keep me in the dark about… everything?"

"I was going to tell you. Once you were married, I-"

"What."

"Well, once you were married, I could-"

"You never intended for me to become chief. That's what you're telling me. That, that mother's wishes are nothing to you?" He voice wavers with the force of her disbelief.

This is the first I've heard about her mother's wishes. Or Arnook's planning. It seems, we can add misogyny to our list of societal shortcomings. Not much of a surprise.

"I didn't say that! That's not at all what I-"

She silences him with a harsh, slashing gesture. "Enough! This- We're leaving!"

Yue drags me out of the room, and in answer to his pleading look, I nod. I'll see what I can do to put him in a more favourable light.

She ignores the looks we're getting, dragging me behind her, clearly upset, and to any who know her, ready to tear up. This is not a small thing. She has a right to feel the way she does, especially if Arnook always made her feel that she would be the tribe's leader one day. If her assumptions about the true nature of her engagement are true, Arnook is not the man I think he is.

The Spirit Oasis is our destination, and she slows to a stop at the entrance, breathes a deep breath, and tugs me inside behind her.

Her forcefulness is very uncharacteristic of her usual poised behaviour.

She goes to kneel before the pond, and forces me to do the same, if I don't want to yank myself free. I sit with crossed legs, instead.

'Hello, Tui and La,' I think, 'How much experience have you with agitated prncesses?' less than me, probably.

I resolve to let her begin the conversation. Anything I say will sound wrong, at this point.

"How-" her voice is thick with unspilled tears. No doubt her throat feels like it's closing up.

"Why…"

She turns her eyes on me, watery and devastated. Oh fuck. I am not equipped to handle this. Not well.

No words. Those will- I don't know. They're not what's needed.

Slowly, projecting my intentions so that she can move away if she wants to, I hug her. It feels awkward, and stilted, and clearly I've not hugged enough people since- since my mother. Well. Double fuck.

Sex is easy. It's familiar, movement, and never quite still. This is just painfully weird.

She must feel awkward, too, because she shifts, until we're properly pressed together, and her head is in the crook of my neck. I'm properly holding her now, and she feels so small, and delicate, and she's trembling.

"It's…" I slowly lift a hand to stroke her hair, "It'll be alright, I think."

She huffs, "You think? Spirits, no wonder you're always such an arse if this is what being kind does to you."

I sigh. At least she's not close to stuttering any more. I set my chin on top of her head.

"Stop that."

"Mmmno."

She shifts her head to look up at me, glaring. Alright, she's back. This worked out better than expected.

"Stop smirking."

I'm positive that my mouth was not doing anything like what she's accusing me of. Sighing, I resign myself to our familiar exchange, "Yes, princess."

Her mouth twists downwards. "Princess," she repeats, flatly. "Is that what I am?"

My arms still holding her up, I shrug. "To me, yes."

"Wonderful. Nothing's changed for you, huh?"

"I guess not. You're still the princess, the future leader of this tribe, and my personal pain in the-"

She hits me.

"Ow," I state, and get whacked up the backside of my head for my troubles.

"You moron! You're just like my father! Both stupid, and selfish, and drunk!"

"Hey. I'm not drunk."

"Right, but you will be, tonight! You're like, like mirrors of each other! Deciding what's good for me, and what isn't, and never telling me anything!" She leaves me no opportunity for protest as she rants. "And he's kept me in the dark for so long, going on about marriage when I could've been helping to protect the tribe! Marriage! When it could all end so soon!"

"Better to have someone lined up, just in case," I wonder whether it does her any good if I reiterate the motivations behind Arnook's encouraging her to choose Hahn as her intended.

"What?" She blinks, slowly. I'm sure the implications are already dawning on her, and she just wants to be sure that I said what she thinks I did.

"Well. We might all die. And we might not. But if your father ends up as one of the dead, we need someone to look to. You know how the people are, how the benders are, the council. They will hardly listen to you alone. You need someone respected by your side. Hahn is, with the warriors, just that. With my support for your union you have half the benders on your side, and the other half because of Pakku who has always supported your father. That leaves the civilians, who adore you. Think about it. With Hahn, you are in perfect position to take over the tribe."

"…What?"

I let go of her and let myself fall on my back. Sigh. "Politics, princess," I run a hand down my face and stare up at the night sky. "Our society is built on opinions of powerful people, and the people themselves."

She kicks me, not too gently.

"Ow. I was trying to be nice, here, princess. Show me some appreciation," I drawl, and roll to evade another kick.

Now comfortably back in my own private bubble of space, I can relax. Spirits, this girl is more than a handful. Good luck to you Hahn, although you might not be the one she decides on, after all. I think of Sokka. He'd worship the ground she walks on, the idiot.

"You fail," she states.

"Huh?"

"You fail at being nice."

"Great."

"What?"

"What?"

"You know what!"

"I… do?"

"Arrgh! That's it! I'll rule the tribe on my own one day! And you'll have to stop being such an idiot then! I'll make it a law!"

"I hereby command thy to never be an idiot again, Kaito, son of Hotaka! So it shall be henceforth!"

I am not prepared for the shawl that whacks me in the face.

The Avatar, I think as I watch his amazed face at Pakku and his student's performance for the New Moon Celebration, is a twelve-year-old child.

The world's hopes rest on his slim shoulders and there's nothing anyone can do to change that. I'm aware, always was aware, that he's younger than I am mentally. Maybe even physically if I don't count the hundred years he spent encased in ice. But seeing him flit about, well, he's just like I used to be when I was ten. Maybe a little more carefree, even. The poor kid. He has everyone's hopes riding on his back, just because the Avatar was traditionally a peacemaker.

Mine, too, as worried as I am about that fact.

Although he probably doesn't want any pity, it's what I feel for him. I wouldn't want to be the Avatar. The funny thing about responsibility is that it is never easy to define where it begins. I would argue that those who are not responsible for themselves are akin to children, or slaves. But does that make us all into slaves of the Avatar?

I'm aware that in the end, to stop Firelord and Fire Nation, Aang will have to step up, regardless of whether we are slaves or not.

That does not mean that I couldn't extend a helping hand. In what form, I don't know yet. I know of the invasion to come. If I were to remain here, in the North afterwards I might be able to build up a fort capable of withstanding a siege. I might be able to build a fleet of elite fighters who could take on the Fire Nation Navy by itself.

Those are, of course, fantasies. But they are possible, and so I would call them latent dreams.

However, too much hinges on this first point of contact with me and the story I once knew. Too much has cast this life into sharp relief for me to want to rely on vague memories of plotlines. Today has made it once more abundantly clear.

Reliance always makes dependent, which leads to compliance and eventually, weakness.

We're not weak. Yet.

As I lounge against the far back of the wall, it occurs to me that the looks the Southern Watertribe boy is sending Yue must make Hahn's blood boil. Yes, he looks like he wants to break the boy's face in. He bears it with dignity. It does make him look like an arrogant prick, though. Then again, it isn't like that would be a false impression to have of Hahn.

And Yue… well, she no longer looks like she holds the world's injustice in her hands like a sword to brandish at her father and the council members. I wonder sometimes if when she looks out from that tower of hers, if she wishes she could just run away. Now her mind is preoccupied with the future and while deciding she'll do as she pleases from now on is admirable, that does not include marital life.

Poor Hahn. He knows none of this. He believes she enjoys his company just as much as he does hers. Then again, I don't know what Yue even does with company that she enjoys.

Desperate for another train of thought, I cast my eyes about the hall. It was a very delicate hand that decorated it for tonight. I would guess it was Yuzuki. He's always been the most artistic of my generation.

He stands beside the waterfall with Buniq, in what looks like a deep conversation. Well. That's a match I would not have foreseen. Well then, to give them some privacy, I look for another entertaining image.

Ah, the Avatar and Pakku are being introduced.

Pakku, I note, is being his humble self and will be very popular, I'm sure. He strides off like the stuck-up man he is and I decide to intercept where the Avatar can see. I don't need to hover within Yue's eyesight, at this point. There is no one in her vicinity who I would suspect of wanting to harm her. Especially not with Hahn's eyes on her.

There is no sense in having the Avatar think Pakku's as strict as he portrays himself. Where'd we end up, if he took everything at face value? The Avatar should perhaps be gently guided into healthy suspicion of others.

"Pakku, wonderful display earlier. Very synchronised," I say, as I sling an arm across his shoulders. He shoots me a haughty look and stays silent, bony shoulders stiff beneath the thick padding of his coat. I think it is very unlikely that he could be nervous about teaching the Avatar, but…

"How long did you have to practise that for them to fall in line today?" I prod, and finally, a response. He never does like it when I belittle his students. No one can do that but him, apparently.

He shrugs my arm off and drafts a disapproving facial expression that has never worked on me. I don't see why he still puts it on. "I do not appreciate your insinuations."

I smirk and pat his shoulder, "Sure, sure."

His upper lip twitches. He hates that I'm taller than him now. That, or he's fully aware of what I'm doing. "What do you want?"

Well, straight to the point tonight, are we? "Don't be too hard on him and his friend, yeah? And remember that you didn't kick up too much of a fuss when I went and learned from Yugoda."

"I do not kick up fusses, Kaito," he says imperiously and his eyes flick towards the two Southern Watertribe kids. "And why bring it up now? You never wanted to speak of it before. To speak of it now is almost improper."

I decide to ignore the helpful tip on etiquette and lean forward as if about to disclose a secret. He frowns, but doesn't lean back. "The girl's a spitfire. She won't be backing down easily, Pakku."

Then I wink at him, enjoy his open-mouthed face for a second and amble off towards the section where Arnook is being all prim and proper.

Someone has to step in and stop this tragedy. With a bit of prodding he shares his drink, which is much better than what I had earlier.

"How is she?" he asks, eyes on his drink as he swirls it in his cup.

"Determined."

"To…?"

"Become the chief on her own merits. Without…" I glance at where she's speaking with Sokka, "Marriage to someone politically advantageous."

"That isn't what I hoped Hahn would be for her," he shoots me a sharp glance.

"I know that. But he's not someone she could love at the moment, since he represents everything she dislikes, or thinks she dislikes," I state meaningfully to look at Yue and her suitor.

"You think she'll…?"

I shrug. "She might. But definitely not with Hahn. Which is a pity, you know? He loves her," I tell this to my cup before downing it.

"I do," Arnook answers with a sigh. "I thought when she dragged you to me earlier that you and her…"

"What?" My eyes flicker to his profile and I see that he's teasing. "Spirits, no," I laugh at his cautioning stare, "She'd kill me within the first week."

"You've been on her guard rotation for two years now, Kaito."

"That long already?"

"Yes. You've only been a master for two years. No uncommon accomplishments or anything of the sort."

"Well. I had the choice between being Pakku's minion, or becoming his less minion-like minion."

"Sometimes," Arnook says, filling our cups again, "I don't understand what you're saying."

"Sometimes? I'll have to try harder, then."

"Kaito," he says gravely and turns to look at me fully, "Please don't."

"But chief," I begin to drawl, and Arnook, like the adult he is, takes a quick look around before deeming it safe to slap me up the back of my head for my tone while I continue undeterred, "I just like to keep you young and spontaneous."

"So try harder to be grown-up, and surprise me that way," he suggests.

"So… like who?" I ask, and Arnook groans.

"Be like…" He searches for a proper role model, realises he's coming up short, and sags into his cushion. Poor man.

We sit and drink until the Avatar comes over and starts telling his future girlfriend about their lesson with Pakku tomorrow. I wonder if he doesn't care about Pakku's lack of niceness, or just hasn't noticed it yet. Or maybe my ploy to dismiss Pakku's prickliness is already bearing fruit? I doubt it. Obliviousness can go a long way.

I've come to realise that deluding myself to that extent is more harmful than anything else. Nothing wrong with lying to yourself, so long as you still know that you're doing it. Although then it's more of a curtain you don't really pull aside to check whether reality still exists without your attention on it. Usually, it does. So you pick curtains with a nice pattern.

"Finally! I have so many questions," she gushes and Arnook and I trade a look. Yeah, that'll go over about as well as we expect. But then again, I was his student not so long ago. However, that might have lessened her chances at leniency from him, since he now knows how to best handle stubborn children.

"Poor Pakku," I say lowly and we share a grin.

"He said sunrise tomorrow. If you're not hungover you could come watch," Arnook suggests just as quietly.

"I wouldn't miss that show for anything in the world."

All in all, it's a good night. Hahn gets a bit drunker than he should, and I deposit him in my guest room because his dad's still not cool and go to bed for the two hours that we've got until sunrise.

Upon waking, I blearily stare up at the ceiling. Yue became a Strong Independent Individual with a Plan and will break Hahn's heart in a few hours… or days. Pausing for a moment in my motions to right myself, I remove the capital letters from that thought.

As I roll to my feet, I think about how the Avatar arrived, and Pakku will do his best to snuff out that cheer. I give him good odds. He can be a real wet rag to the face, when he wants to. And he'll want to.

At least the market is in full progress already, so I get breakfast on the way. Those freshly-baked crab-cakes are heavenly. And that stand that brews Yugoda's special tea already has a mug waiting for me. Nice girl, to think of me every morning. Already my day is looking up.

"Looking better than expected today, Kaito," her father comments as I hand over the money.

"Ah? It's your tea that makes me get out of bed every morning, even after the festival," I reply, inhaling the scent. "How do you manage to get up afterwards without the promise of it already waiting?"

He laughs, "I wasn't there. Aisu was, though," he glances at his daughter. She smiles, suddenly shy.

"I didn't see you there… you should have come and said hello!"

She shakes her head, "You were with the chief."

I frown. "Arnook would welcome you. He likes to speak with the people he protects, you know?"

She shrugs.

"Well, come next time! And you too, Keiki," I tell the man who is watching with a sly smile. "Arnook's been wanting to meet the people who motivate me to show up to guard duty on time."

They both nod with smiles. Well, that's settled, then. The people need to know who it is that rules them. And Arnook needs to speak with people who aren't stuffy old men and women.

I move along the stands, and find some breakfast. In the line for fishcakes I spot Katsuo. Sidling up to him and ignoring the huff of the person behind him, I clap his shoulder. "Good morning!"

He shoots me a glare for my trouble. Probably the volume. And my presence.

"I haven't seen you around," I mention as we shuffle a step forward.

He grunts something unintelligible. It sounds vaguely like 'patrol duty' and 'lucky arsehole' in between mumbling. I smile. My former fellow student under Pakku has never been the friendliest early in the morning.

"So you're in the next couple of days?"

A nod, accompanied by a suspicious glare.

"I've got something I want to talk to you about. I'll come find you tomorrow," I tell him and order first. I can feel the absolute loathing he has for me as he sends it out in angry waves. Well. It's his problem for knowing me in the first place.

With fishcakes in one hand, and tea in the other, I am ready for the day.

Pakku's already there when I arrive.

"Good morning!" I greet cheerfully, starting him.

In retaliation he bends the ice beneath my feet to throw me off balance, and I bend myself to the side smoothly, gliding around him to look him in the face. "Sleep well?" I continue as I avoid his sneak attacks from below, lazily ice-skating.

His glare from above impressive eye-bags is answer enough.

"Got a bit of a headache there, Pakku?"

He scowls.

"Want me to do the thing?"

"Call it by its name, Kaito."

"The Thing, then?"

He sighs. Glances around, and gives me a nod. I'm quick about curing his hangover, and he already looks less irritable. While changing absolutely nothing about his sour expression. With an especially cheerful grin for counterbalance, I move to lounge on the steps leading up to the palace. From my pocket I fish a strip of dried and pickled seaweed to chew on.

He does his warm-ups in silence, and I watch the sun begin to cast bright light and glitter over the city.

Once I get bored, I take pleasure in breaking his concentration with well-timed splashes of water close to his feet. His eyebrow twitches comically every time I do it, but ever since I became a Master myself, he doesn't chastise me anymore, feeling it below both our dignities. But he should know by now that I have none. It's good training anyway.

"Excited to be teaching the Avatar?" I ask, slurping my hot tea. Coffee is strangely absent in this world. Which is a tragedy in its own right. But Yugoda has this herbal mixture that 'wakens the spirit' that I even brew myself on particularly bad days when I don't manage to stop by the market. It's the small things that comfort.

"No more than I was you," he says drily, but without the cutting edge he takes with others. Should I be worried about my position as his favourite?

To tease him back, I tug a bit on his elegantly bent water. It shifts, barely, and is back to perfection with a baleful look in my direction. He knows me too well by now not to keep his guard up.

Keeping him on his toes is still my job, with uselessly perfect students like his current ones. Then again, maybe I should pass on the torch soon. The Avatar and his friend are bound to be good examples.

I'm lounging on the steps to the palace when the Avatar and the girl arrive. They look far too chipper for the hour. Then again, they're not allowed to drink yet.

"Good morning Master Pakku!" The Avatar shouts and finally Pakku drops his bending act.