Chapter 74
«Shall we talk?» I asked from the doorway.
«Well, come on in», she stepped aside and let me in. I wasted no time in collapsing on the couch, «About what?»
«About everything», I scratched the tip of my nose, «It's just been so long since we've seen each other. How are you? How are you doing?»
«I'm fine», she stretched out in the chair across from me, «I opened a metal school. The students are cretins, though, can't do anything.»
«How many do you have?» I asked with interest.
«Four», she waved her hand.
«Hundreds?»
«No, just four.»
«Only four?» I asked in surprise, «Why so few?»
«Few that fit», she shrugged.
«And how do you determine that?» I wondered, since I myself have about two dozen mages who can use metal magic.
«By this bracelet here», she showed me.
«May I?»
«Here you go», she tossed it to me.
«And how is it supposed to work?» I asked without touching it.
«It's supposed to vibrate», she shrugged.
«But it doesn't vibrate on me, even though I know how to use metal magic», I scratched the back of my head, «Does it react to you?»
«No», she scratched the back of her head again.
«Hmm», I turned it this way and that, «It probably only reacts to certain people who have a certain kind of magic. Except that almost every earth magician, in potential, can control metal», I scratched the back of my head, «And how's it going on the personal front?» I decided to broach the subject after all.
«Do you have any worthy candidates?» she asked.
«Uh. No.»
«Then leave me out of it», she replied gruffly. I had clearly chosen the wrong topic of conversation.
«Uh, okay», I scratched the back of my head, «I think I'll go now.»
«Okay.»
Yeah. She didn't like that. Not then, not now. Except I'd already made my decision. And I've never regretted it.
***
I'm sitting at my desk, bored. It's been an hour of to be or not to be. And there are a few other questions, not as big as the main one, but they're there. Anyway, I'm sitting there, bored, stroking Azula's knee under the table.
«What do you think?» she finally asked me.
«Is there a difference?» I raised my eyebrow in surprise, «I made arguments yesterday that are very hard to argue against. And what do I see now?» it was a rhetorical question because it was already clear.
«You came here, so you must be interested», Soka remarked.
«And you're right», I nodded, «I wanted to make sure that your decision would not affect my home and my people», I shrugged, «Anyway, I made my position clear yesterday.»
And the discussion returned to normal. But I loved Aang's killer argument of the day. Basically, he meditated all night last night and talked to Roku's avatar. And there he was, saying that there was no famine in the Land of Fire. If Zuko could, he would have burned Aang with his eyes. And no amount of reasoning could help.
And the apotheosis of that insanity was this balance movement crap. It's so stupid, I don't know. And when everyone was about to leave, I couldn't take it anymore.
You know, I don't think you're familiar with the saying, «Measure seven times and cut once», I looked around at everyone. Everyone was silent, «If you want to make some other stupid decision about my island, don't be too lazy to get off your asses and come visit and see how it's going. Okay?» I scratched my chin, wondering if I'd forgotten anything else. It turned out I hadn't. «I'd better go. I'm late as it is. Come on, honey.»
And I walked out of that shithouse. Well, that's a bullshit solution. I've been to these colonies and I've seen how people live. So I just don't understand Aang.
«Did you find out where Ty Lee is now?» I asked, putting my arm around her waist. Wow, I've gone ten days without a sweet and I still have a way home.
«She's back at the circus», she said calmly, intertwining her fingers with mine.
«Shall we stop by?» I wanted to please my lover, of course, but I wanted the sweet more.
«She's in the land of fire, mostly performing. So it won't be a long drive», and she gave me a sly look, «Will you be patient?
«Eh, you know the answer», I stopped and kissed her, «Why do you ask?»
«Maybe you changed your mind», she asked playfully.
«You would have found out yesterday», and I smiled, imagining this picture, «So would the whole palace.»
«We'll send a letter inviting you», she said, smiling contentedly in my arms «Home?»
«Yes, darling, home.»