"I warned you inviting her was a bad idea," the valiant commander of the Kyoshi Warriors continued smugly, seeing the look on my face.
"Except you clearly had a completely different reason in mind than what actually happened," I smirked, taking a sip of orange juice.
"So what?" Toph shot back diplomatically. "The result's the sa. Which ans that, as a real man, you should take responsibility..." At that point I nearly choked on my drink while the vipers around broke into malicious giggles.
"You've all ganged up on ..." I observed sadly. "Tragic. I ought to try so of those re-education thods we saw in the theater on all of you."
Well, almost all the Kyoshi girls suddenly found sothing fascinating to look at elsewhere and began blushing. Suki, however… She had picked up far too much from already.
"Sorry, dear, but that only works when it's done by a two-ter-tall scarred brute with a face scary enough to terrify spirits," the warrior leader reminded of the… hmm… questionable casting choice. Or rather, one very specific actor.
"Yeeeaah, I wouldn't mind being re-educated by soone like that..." Sheila sighed dreamily, rolling her eyes back. Another one of the warriors. The other girls seed just as pleased with the casting choice.
"Ah, it's always the sa. You work hard, build a reputation for yourself, and then so bastard who's seven by eight, eight by seven shows up, and that's it—suddenly nobody needs you anymore. Life is pain."
Though, to be fair, I was still at least a head and a half taller than any of the girls, and noticeably broader in the shoulders than the average Fire Nation man. But who cared about details like that, honestly?
"If you behave yourself, I might consider adding you to my harem," Lady Beifong offered to the accompanint of approving female laughter.
"You've got a lot more growing to do before that, squirt," I waved her off. "What about you guys? Why are you all so quiet? There's a whole crowd of won here harassing your commander with unclear but definitely unfriendly intentions!" I called upon the collective for support.
"It's all right, Commander. If you can survive the first couple of years of married life, you'll beco the happiest and toughest man in the world afterward..." Ramis finished off.
He and the rest of the guys were lounging on the beach with us. At least Mao and his benders were currently blowing their paychecks at a gambling hall and couldn't witness the rciless bullying of their beloved superior. Or participate in it, for that matter.
"Oh, sobody's going to earn himself a dozen or two extra duty assignnts..." I promised the wisecracker.
At that mont, however, our relaxed leisure ti was interrupted by a ssenger from the admiral.
"Commodore Chan, the admiral asked to inform you that the squadron is ready. After a week of trials, it will be transferred to your command."
"Understood. Thank you for the information."
I dismissed the very young private and let him hurry off to his next task.
"Well then, ladies and gentlen," I said, getting to my feet, "vacation's over. Ti to get back into work mode."
A synchronized, heavy sigh was my answer.
***
As planned, I devoted the remaining week to dragons.
I knew where they lived. I knew how to reach them. All I needed was a fast ship and a small crew that didn't ask unnecessary questions. Fortunately, I had both. Besides, Ramis and the boys could use an opportunity to shake the dust off themselves.
I wasn't taking Suki, the Kyoshi Warriors, or especially the benders with . The forr I simply wanted to keep safe, while the latter still hadn't earned my full trust.
All that remained was to leave the house and board the raider waiting under steam.
And, naturally, things couldn't go that smoothly.
"And just where do you think you're going?"
The girl had ambushed at the front door, speaking in the tone of a wife who had just caught her husband red-handed. She really had gotten to know well. One look at my behavior had been enough for her to realize I was up to sothing.
"I need to take care of sothing. Alone."
"More of your secrets, huh?" she sighed sadly, looking away. "When will you be back?"
"And you're not going to demand details? Or insist that I take you with ?"
In response, she only gave a faint, lancholy smile and stepped closer.
"You're going to do things your own way regardless. Besides, it's not a subordinate's place to question her commander's orders. But please... be careful. I have a bad feeling about this."
"I'm always careful. But all right, I'll be extra vigilant."
"Thank you. I love you."
She pressed herself against , and I caught the faint sound of her sniffles.
"There, there. No need to mourn . I'm alive, healthy, and fully intend to stay that way for at least another hundred years." I said, kissing her salt-tinged lips. "I'll be back ho in a week. In the anti, you and the others need to get yourselves back into fighting shape and prepare for combat operations."
"There could be... trouble?" she asked.
There it was. The mont I hinted at possible danger, Suki imdiately pulled herself together and switched into professional mode.
"There shouldn't be, but you never know. Oh, and if, by so chance, I'm gone for more than two weeks... I've left a scroll with instructions on the nightstand in our room. Open it after two weeks—not sooner, all right?"
In truth, it wasn't instructions at all. It was my will.
After all, I wasn't heading out for a stroll in the park—I was planning to pay a visit to the dragons. Who knew how things might turn out? And the thought of leaving my woman penniless if the worst happened… No. Absolutely not.
"All right," she nodded.
After kissing the warrior one last ti, I slung on my weapon belt and hurried toward the harbor. There was no point wasting any more ti.
The mont I stepped aboard, the ship weighed anchor and set off along its course, leaving the worried girl sowhere behind.
(End of Chapter)
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