Avatar: Fire Warrior Chapter 92 92: Vacation Time

"You know…" Her voice trembled slightly. "When Suki told her stories, I barely paid attention to the fact that adventures co with a price. Sotis a really awful one. I an, I knew sothing like this could happen, and I'd sensed things before… When you wander through the harbor district at night and can 'see' through walls, you notice a lot. But here…" She swallowed hard. "Those screams… the sll… I sank a ship with people on it. I sent them to the bottom."

"Life is dangerous. It often forces you to choose: either you or them. It tests how strong you are. Those people knew what they were signing up for when they took up weapons. Their captain…" I paused. "I spared him once already. Sent him to prison. But soone helped him escape, and he went right back to his old ways. There's no point pitying people like him — they'd never pity anyone else."

Carefully, I wrapped an arm around the girl and pulled her close.

"This sucks," Toph muttered weakly, though she didn't pull away.

"That's the world we live in. Maybe soday it'll beco better, but for now, this is what we have. If you want, I can take you back ho."

"No way!" Not even a second of hesitation. She twisted out of my embrace almost faster than the words left her mouth.. "Run away back under Mommy's wing the first ti I face danger?! Dream on!"

The girl half-jokingly shoved in the shoulder with both hands.

"Besides…" The outburst died down just as quickly as it had flared up, and Toph lowered her head slightly. "These last few days, I've been freer than I ever was in all the years before that. Though it'd be nice if your battle harem stopped trying to brush my hair and cuddle every single day…"

"Hey, that is not my 'battle harem'!" I protested at such outrageous slander.

"Oh really?" A smug grin spread across the little hooligan's face. "Did you know that three mbers of this 'definitely not a harem' show elevated heart rates, changes in breathing patterns, and at least five other signs of attraction whenever they're around you? And as for what you and Suki get up to in your cabin at night… I'll stay quiet about that." She proudly turned away with her arms folded across her chest… while blushing so hard her ears practically glowed.

"That's different — Suki and I aren't hiding the fact that we're together… Waiiiit a second. What do you an, 'in your cabin at night'?... You little pervert! Have you been spying on us?! And aren't you a bit young for that?"

"Heh-heh, like I'd see anything new there." The sheer confidence and audacity packed into this tiny gremlin were astounding, especially while her ears burned so red they looked ready to start steaming. "Need I remind you that I live in the sa house as my parents? And stone walls vibrations all a lot better than wooden paneling. Besides, I used to wander around the harbor too…"

"Yeah… what a generation," I muttered.

Well, teasing was helping her vent so of the tension. If it made her feel better, then so be it. I should probably ask Ju to make sothing sweet later — fortunately, part of the galleon's cargo really was fruit. Let the kid stuff herself with desserts; that ought to help. More "adult" thods of stress relief like alcohol and sex were definitely off-limits at her age.

Afterward, though, I'd have to start thinking about how to guard against a young voyeur with "x-ray vision."

***

Negotiations with the captain over the sale of the captured ship didn't work out. He wouldn't have minded, but the decision to purchase a vessel — even a dirt-cheap one — wasn't within his authority. He'd have to contact his superiors first, and that simply wasn't possible until we reached a proper port.

The rest of the voyage passed without incident. We reached the Southern base safely, disembarked from the galleon after leaving the captain the necessary papers and permits, as well as arranging a ti and place to et again later, then promptly requisitioned a raider and calmly sailed off toward so well-earned rest.

Ember Island awaited.

The island itself hadn't changed at all. The sa gorgeous beaches, restaurants, and theater. Everything looked exactly as it had more than two years ago, the last ti I'd enjoyed any of it.

My personal estate, however, was another story.

No, the building itself was still there, and on the contrary, there were no issues with the island administration whatsoever. The problem was that the estate had been sealed up for ages and badly needed cleaning and minor repairs. In short, it was a massive hassle.

After weighing the options, I rented one of the hotels for the n — they'd earned their vacation, and I'd managed to get a pretty decent discount there.

As for the warrior girls (and Toph), I invited them to stay at my father's house… which, for the sake of variety, actually happened to contain my father this ti.

The reunion scene between father and son was truly magnificent.

(End of Chapter)

P@treon: /SadRaven

🥳Joining P@treon keeps motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰