#just cuz | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fanboyzuko · 25 days

Text

you know what

happy april fools day. have the first chapter of ltf part 18

“Chief, the Dancing Tiger-Seal sent word of a solitary Fire Nation ship sailing nearby. They want to know how to proceed.”

Hakoda turned from the map on his wall, sharing a concerned glance with Bato at his side. After the fleet’s successful attack on a naval squadron, they’d raided the defeated ships’ intelligence before sinking them. The larger fleet the squadron was part of wasn’t scheduled to be in the area for another week. In the meantime, Hakoda and the rest of the Southern Water Tribe fleet were scattered and would soon be reconvening in another sea.

“Send reply to not engage. Try to stay out of sight, but if spotted, retreat. We don’t want to draw attention to our movement before the squadron’s defeat is discovered.”

The young man delivering the news nodded and raced off to fulfill the task. Bato hummed and turned back to the map. It should have been noncommittal, but Hakoda could hear the unspoken judgment.

“What?”

“It’s just one ship. We could rendezvous with the Dancing Tiger-Seal and easily sink it, even accounting for our injured.”

The thought had occurred to Hakoda as well, but he resolutely shook his head. “One ship will not make a difference to the Fire Nation, but could disrupt our plans completely should they prove to be strong fighters.”

Bato just hummed again.

“We went into this knowing it was a numbers game,” Hakoda said, containing himself from snapping at his friend. “Every one of our attacks need to be carefully weighed and planned to make the largest impact with the least amount of loss on our side.”

Like the spring thaw, Bato’s blank expression lit up with a wide smile. “I know that. Just making sure you have your defense ready because Chief Katjak is still hoping to unseat you as the fleet’s leader.”

Hakoda huffed a weary laugh as he tugged Bato down to dig his knuckles on top of his head as if they were still children. Rather than accept the punishment for being annoying, Bato went limp. Hakoda dropped him. Laughing, Bato rolled away and jumped up, ready to fend off further retaliation.

The promise of a wrestling match to blow off steam was all too alluring. They both probably would have given in to the temptation if not for another young man bursting into the room.

“Chief! Akiak spotted an Earth Kingdom vessel and thinks it might be the scholar kid our spies sent word of.”

As Bato fixed his hair, Hakoda focused on the news at hand. Over a year ago, Atka told them about a boy with a fascination for Avatar Yangchen and the spirits. The boy was said to be a nonbender from the Fire Nation colonies, and yet had somehow left the Si Wong desert on a sand sailer. He was said to have used the sand sailer by himself, and yet was rumored to have been part of a raid where a firebender’s attack had been mysteriously rendered useless.

The last Atka heard of him, he was making plans to venture to the North Pole. While there had been no word of the boy since, the song he helped craft was relentless in its reach. Whether he was the Avatar or not, there was no doubt he possessed a peculiar power that could affect the war effort if harnessed properly.

“Why does Akiak suspect that?”

Yutu shrugged. He was so young, he'd barely made the cut to join the warriors. “Dunno, you can ask him.”

Hakoda laughed and clapped the young man’s shoulder as he passed. “I’ll do just that.”

The majority of the crew milled about on deck, clearly curious about the potential of meeting the Avatar. Hakoda did not want to put too much hope on one child, but he could not deny his own curiosity.

Several flags flapped in the wind from the main mast, signaling to the small Earth Kingdom craft that the Soaring Stoat-Albatross was friendly and hoped to communicate. Regardless of the identity of those sailing, Akiak was right to raise their flags. Even if the sailors were from the colonies, they likely would want to steer clear of the Fire Nation ship in the area.

“Akiak!” Hakoda called up to the crow’s nest, where he was still keeping watch. Rather than battle against the wind to be heard, Hakoda signed once he had Akiak’s attention. “Why do you think that’s Atka’s scholar?”

“Boat’s moving too fast for the weather today,” Akiak signed back.

Hakoda glanced out to the sea. Though the small boat did not raise answering colors, she changed directions to meet the Soaring Stoat-Albatross. It didn’t seem to be moving at an unnatural speed.

“Not now,” Akiak clarified. “But it was when I first spotted it. Started moving with the currents once they saw us.”

Some of Atka’s spies suspected they saw the scholar airbending his sails, but it was still an unconfirmed rumor. Before Hakoda could further question Akiak’s hunch, he called down with laughter in his voice.

“And the kid on board has a scar on his face big enough I could see it from here.”

“Lead with that next time!” Hakoda scolded in a shout, but his own laughter betrayed his sternness. Well, there was little doubt now that they'd stumbled upon Atka’s scholar. A facial scar like that was far and few between.

As the Air Lantern—the name proudly painted on her hull—came within shouting distance, the scarred boy in question stood on the low cabin roof and called out, “What do you want?”

His companion, also scarred but not in the ways of fire, tugged the child down with a hiss. Despite the crowd on the deck, his gaze singled out Hakoda with a wary, but not entirely distrustful frown.

“I apologize for his rude greeting, but the sentiment stands. We’re just traveling through the area and do not have much in terms of supplies. What can we do for you, warriors?”

Hakoda smiled reassuringly. “More of what we can do for you, and that's to share our knowledge. There’s a Fire Nation warship in the area. You might want to proceed with caution.”

While the boy’s eyes widened in surprise, the man showed no outward reaction. “Should we be wary of a battle to avoid?”

“Hardly. We’re hoping to steer clear of the ship as well. But that’s not the only reason we flagged you down,” Hakoda laughed and leaned against the deck railing as he addressed the younger. “Are you perhaps the scholar Hui? My cousin spoke fondly of you, but has also been worried since you disappeared into Foggy Swamp.”

A rapid succession of expressions flitted across the boy’s face. Hakoda could see his thought process as he initially wanted to demand an answer, took a moment to think, grew confused, then came to a possible conclusion. He settled on a cautious smile as he looked up to Hakoda.

“You’re Atka’s cousin?”

“Well, my wife’s cousin. But family all the same.”

Hui’s smile grew. “What a coincidence! How is she doing? I hope I can visit her and Yawen again. They helped me so much, pointing me toward Foggy Swamp! And I need to tell Atka that I did end up taking her advice to visit the North Pole! I didn’t quite make it to the spirit gateway but it was still-”

Hakoda cut him off with a laugh. “Perhaps you and your companion would like to join me for lunch? I’ll happily send word on to Atka, and will enjoy hearing of your adventures as well.”

“Of course!” Hui agreed, then turned to his companion with a wince. “I mean, uh, if that’s alright?”

“Far be it from me to stop you,” the man laughed, but his eyes were hard as they met Hakoda’s. “It seems we’ve run into friends.”

The silent question and threat had Hakoda raising his hands in a show of peace. He truly meant no ill will for Hui, be he a nonbender, airbender, or the Avatar. But he was glad to see the young scholar had others watching his back.

Once introductions were made, the proposed lunch was set up on deck since the rest of the crew were as curious as Hakoda was about the mysterious Yangchen scholar. If Hui felt nervous about such an audience he didn’t show it. He easily settled into a story-teller’s cadence as he explained what he knew of Yangchen from her memoirs—going so far as to pull the tome itself from his pack—and how that led to him going to Foggy Swamp and the North Pole.

Bato settled beside Hakoda and said under his breath, “In the lunch set up, our guests were using sign language.”

“Did you catch what they discussed?”

“They were trying to be discreet. Still, I picked up that they were deciding what to tell us, and kept using a sign related to a bird or flight.”

It could be, but it could just as likely be a code or a name sign. Atka suspected Hui had a budding following, and as Kavi did not match the description of Hui’s past companions, Hakoda would go so far as to suspect Hui had more than that. Now, more than ever, the Avatar would need a group of confidants and supporters. If he was the Avatar.

A deep sorrow settled over Hakoda even as he smiled and joined in the cheer of Hui’s tales. There was no doubt of the spark of fire in the boy. There was no denying his heritage in the Fire Nation colonies, and that would mean the Avatar cycle had continued after the genocide of the Air Nomads. Had they been born in the North and kept secret from the world? Had they been from the South and were stolen away before they could discover their potential? Which was worse, for their brethren of the North to have abandoned the world or for the Water Avatar to have died captured and abused by their enemy?

“Are there icebenders in the South Pole?” Hui asked upon concluding a story about Chief Nukilik.

Silence spread across the crew as pained and uncomfortable glances were shared.

Kavi winced apologetically, then hissed to Hui, “Drop it.”

For all that Hui had learned about Water Tribe culture and history during his time in Agna Qel’a, he clearly did not know of the South’s strife. The boy glared at Kavi and huffed, “What? Why?” At the same time his hands moved in small signs, but the meaning was still clear to Hakoda.

“How else am I supposed to bring up mixed element bending?” He signed. Not bending all the elements, or a number. The sign for ‘mix’ was defined and clear. What did that mean?

“Fire Nation captured all our waterbenders years ago,” a youth from the Kuuk Tribe said bluntly. “Chief Hakoda’s wife was the last one and they killed her in their home. So there’s no waterbenders left, let alone some creative earthbender.”

Hui paled. He turned to Hakoda, stammered apologies falling from his lips, which Hakoda ended with a raised palm.

“While Agna Qel’a has been cut off from the world out of choice, so have we by our circumstances. It's not surprising for a youth far from the South Pole to be ignorant of our strife. But ultimately, this is why we now fight. Our losses have been great, and our only hope is to end the war before we join our ancestors.”

“It’d be great if the Avatar suddenly came back again to help us,” Yutu cut in pointedly.

Hui nodded and agreed with the sentiment. “I’m researching Yangchen, but have begun looking into the spirits as well. So I can’t help but hope I’ll find a way to the current Avatar in my studies.”

Contrasting with his smooth response, Hui was anything but discreet as he signed to Kavi, “Can’t we help them in the meantime?”

Kavi fared better in concealing their second conversation. While Hui’s signs drew some curious attention, it was quickly lost as Kavi directed conversation to the popular Yangchen song that had been spreading across the Earth Kingdom and how Hui had a hand in composing it. Several side conversations began and only once the undivided attention on them was gone did Kavi reply to Hui’s signed question.

“Dangerous balancing act,” he signed in a way that could be mistaken for fidgeting if not for Hakoda looking for it.

Hui attempted to mimic Kavi’s controlled signs and was less obvious this time. “Everything I’m doing is dangerous. What are the-” He used the flying name sign. “-for if not to help people like them?”

The softness in Kavi’s smile said more of the lengths he would go to protect this child than his earlier glare had. He was no mere follower or chaperone. His smile spoke of a love that Hakoda would be foolish to disregard. Luckily, Hakoda had no intentions of betraying Hui’s trust should he earn it.

“Alright, as entertaining as our guests have been, we have a deadline to make,” Hakoda called out once the discussion of Yangchen’s song reached a lull. “Say your goodbyes and get back to work.”

While the majority of the crew raised no issue in thanking Hui for his stories and returning to their posts, Yutu lingered. He met Hakoda’s raised brow with a defiant jut of his chin. Seemed he wasn’t about to let Hui leave without trying to get a solid answer about the Avatar out of him.

“So what sorts of places are you looking for to further your research?” Yutu asked once only Hakoda and Bato remained with their visitors.

Hui sighed and shrugged. “At the moment, nowhere in particular. I’ve been touring sites relevant to Yangchen, but I’m starting to run out of places accessible to me. Hopefully I’ll stumble upon something sooner or later.”

“Why are you so focused on Yangchen anyways? You were just in the North Pole. Why didn’t you learn more about Kuruk? And surely learning more about Kyoshi is way easier.”

“My mother was a big Yangchen fan and-” Hui began, a well rehearsed answer he must have given plenty of times before. But he cut himself short with a scoff. “Well, maybe it started that way. But Avatar Yangchen was the last known Air Avatar. Any remaining records about the Air Nomads tend to come in relation to her. Why shouldn’t I be focused on her when there’s no one else left to remember the airbenders?”

Yutu stepped back, caught off guard by Hui’s sudden intensity. He realized, just as Hakoda did, what the implication of Hui’s words was. The airbenders were gone. How else would one learn airbending than through a previous Air Avatar? A sly grin spread across Yutu's face as he nodded.

“Well, at the last port we were in, I heard rumors about a legitimate fortune teller in the area. Maybe if you find her, she can help you.”

Hui’s eyes shone with the strength of the midday sun. He grasped Yutu’s forearm with energetic gratitude, and repeated his thanks as Yutu scurried off to his post, leaving Hakoda and Bato alone in their guests’ company.

With a quick glance to each other, Kavi and Hui bowed, voicing their gratitude for the Soaring Stoat-Albatross’s hospitality. As they did, Kavi signed to Hui, “You go get the boat ready. I’ll talk to them.” Hui looked ready to argue, but with one stern look from Kavi, he sighed and jumped over to the Air Lantern.

“Thank you again for giving us warning, and for the company,” Kavi said lightly. “I think, perhaps, you and your cousin have built lofty expectations of Hui. But regardless of what you think, he’s not alone. And we want to try to extend some of our resources to help you too.”

Bato crossed his arms. “And who are the ‘we’ you speak of?”

“A group that’s been working against the war long before rumors of Hui started spreading.” Kavi shrugged and took a step back. “I can’t make any promises about what sort of help we can offer. Someone will find you sooner or later, and then you can decide what to do. I’m just letting you know to expect a stranger approaching you.”

The humble offer held more promise than Hakoda expected. This was a last second decision, but it wasn’t going to be an empty one. Though Hui was young, the people behind him were experienced.

“Thank you. We’ll await your representative then.” He laughed as he mimicked the two’s flying sign. “In exchange, some advice. The standard sign language most people know originated from the Water Tribes. Your conversations aren’t as secret as you believe them to be while in our midst.”

Kavi dragged a hand through his hair with a snort. “Duly noted. Thank you. Fair winds, may the spirits guide your sails.” With one last bow, he joined Hui on their boat.

Hakoda and Bato watched the Air Lantern sail away in contemplative silence.

Bato broke it first. “So do you think he’s-”

“Honestly, I have no idea what to think.” Hakoda signed the group’s name again. “But regardless, I’ll dare to hope.”

A heavy silence hung over Iroh as he waited for Jingyi to bring fresh tea and a young man Iroh had been selfishly ignoring. At first, Iroh avoided Lieutenant Kavi because he was a painful, visible reminder of both the siege and Lu Ten. When Zuko began spending time with the lieutenant, Iroh took the coward’s route and left things as they were. Iroh told himself it was because he believed Lt Kavi wanted nothing to do with him. The truth was much more pathetic.

Iroh thought he had come to terms with the distance that had grown between him and his son before Lu Ten’s death. He had accepted that though he’d turned from Lu Ten, he still knew his son and could live on upholding his memory. But with every story Zuko shared from Lt Kavi, Iroh’s confidence wavered. Why had Lu Ten never introduced Iroh to his friend? They had clearly been close for Lt Kavi to know as much as he did. Iroh was so afraid of learning there was yet another facet of his son’s life he’d been ignorant of.

But Iroh had abandoned a siege, his throne, and a year of his life for the mere chance of understanding Lu Ten better. No amount of terror would hold him back forever. And yet. When Iroh finally got over himself to approach Lt Kavi, he was hit with a completely different hard truth.

Lieutenant Kavi hated him.

Oh, the young man certainly did his best to conceal it. Their initial meeting had been their first and only personal conversation. At the time Iroh had been caught off guard by Lt Kavi’s supposed amicable attitude. After that, Kavi avoided Iroh as much as Iroh had been avoiding him. It was only as Iroh attempted to catch him for a conversation did he realize the extent Lt Kavi went to evade his presence.

If not for the timely reports Lt Kavi submitted as the head of his department, Iroh would think he was skiving off his work. He was never in his office whenever Iroh stopped by. Sparring with Zuko conveniently ended as soon as Iroh stepped on deck, unless Zuko joined the crew for training. Crew-wide training under the weapon department head had no consistent schedule and was usually announced the day of. Coincidentally, Iroh was always busy whenever a training session concluded. The few times he was free and tried to catch Lt Kavi at the end of a session, Lt Kavi either disappeared below deck in a blink or kept a few soldiers behind to do more one-on-one work.

Iroh tried to convince himself that it was all in his head. It was poor timing, nothing more. Besides, Iroh was allowing the unfortunate coincidences to prevent him from approaching Lt Kavi. He made up his mind to learn more about Lu Ten’s friend, but that did not mean he had the proper drive.

But then, Zuko did the unexpected and lent Avatar Yangchen’s memoirs to the young man. Zuko never parted with the book. Not even Iroh was allowed to borrow it to read on his own. Everything he learned about the previous Air Avatar was from Zuko’s retellings. Upon being asked why he allowed Lt Kavi to read Yangchen’s memoirs, Zuko unknowingly confirmed Iroh’s fears.

“Well, Yangchen deals with her grief in losing Akari and Huizhong through the entire thing. It’s why she wrote it! And, um, recently I’ve realized that Lu Ten was like Akari for Kavi, and that Kavi is still trying to come to terms with… that. So I’m hoping Yangchen can help him where I can’t.”

Lu Ten was like Akari to Kavi. Zuko chose his words with a purpose. He did not say ‘like Huizhong’ or ‘like Yangchen’s companions.’ No, losing Lu Ten for Lt Kavi was the same grief Yangchen felt in losing her partner. And Iroh had been none the wiser.

How could the man not hate Iroh?

So Iroh did his best to respect Lt Kavi's desire for space. It was the least he could do when Lt Kavi clearly respected Zuko’s—and Lu Ten’s—relationship with Iroh. Zuko was oblivious to the tension between them, despite every opportunity Lt Kavi had to express his opinions about Iroh.

That was why when the tattoo deception began, Iroh tried not to think too deeply as to who could influence Ensign Jae to keep the secret. He did not let his thoughts linger too long on how the tattooing was a crew wide endeavor, same as Zuko’s birthday party and re-established music nights had been. So he certainly did not consider just who the crew respected and followed as their de facto captain. Iroh tried his best to be thankful that Lt Kavi convinced Zuko to keep his tattoo small. He certainly did not dwell on the fact that Lt Kavi got a similar winged motif which spanned his entire back.

Iroh was willing to let all of that slide. But what happened yesterday? That was inexcusable. No matter how much Lt Kavi may detest Iroh, his history with Lu Ten did not justify withholding an immediate report about an encounter with the Southern Water Tribe fleet. Iroh should not have learned about it over breakfast, and only because Zuko was excited to share the southern alternative to a story he learned in the North Pole.

Upon further questioning, Zuko saw nothing wrong with how he boarded an enemy ship in the middle of the ocean. Iroh could understand the possible reasoning for allowing the encounter to happen, but he did not understand the secrecy. Especially when Zuko mentioned as a joke that the Water Tribe ship had spotted the Sazanami and warned them of crossing paths with it! Furious did not begin to cover how Iroh felt.

Lt Kavi arrived before Jingyi with their tea. He politely bowed and said his greetings, but did not move further into the room. There was not a flicker of distaste nor concern in his eyes as he met Iroh’s gaze and asked, “What do you need me for, sir?”

Cold doubt doused Iroh’s building ire. Had his paranoia done this young man a disservice? Clearing his throat, Iroh gestured for Lt Kavi to join him at the table. He did not move from his position in the doorway.

“Lieutenant Kavi, I’d like to discuss how my 15 year old nephew boarded an enemy nation’s vessel when you were supposed to be chaperoning him. And how I found out only just now over breakfast. Steward Jingyi will be arriving with some tea shortly. Please, have a seat.”

Shock had Lt Kavi’s eyes widening as he crossed the room and gingerly lowered himself to the cushion on the floor. There was no guilt nor distress from Iroh’s words. He appeared genuinely surprised.

“My apologies, General Iroh. That’s entirely my fault.”

Relief and guilt twisted in Iroh’s stomach. He so sorely doubted this young man when-

“I didn’t think Zuko would tell you,” Lt Kavi continued, as if perfectly reasonable words were leaving his mouth. “Sorry, let me rephrase. I didn’t think he would tell you they were anything more than fishermen or fellow travelers. They knew of him as Hui through the obvious Water Tribe spy network Zuko has already encountered, so there was no risk for either of us in the exchange. There’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“Nothing to be concerned about?!” Iroh slammed his hands on the table as he rose to his knees. His pulse pounded in his ears and his throat felt too tight after raising his voice. Where was Jingyi with their tea? Forcing himself to sit again and breathe deeply, Iroh tried again. All the while, Lt Kavi watched him impassively. “Regardless of your opinion of safety, I should have been informed the moment you returned last night. Zuko said they were aware of this ship, and I’m under the impression we’re lucky they’ve chosen to ignore us. Why did you think it was appropriate to keep this a secret?”

“Again, my apologies, Sir. I didn’t take the possible threat lightly. I spoke with the helmsman to adjust our course, and tasked the deck crew with increased watch for the next few days.” A flash of shrewdness broke Lt Kavi’s aloof act, so swift that Iroh would have doubted he saw it if not for the following words. “I suppose old habits die hard. It was common for us to- for Lu Ten to omit things that may upset you when he could handle it himself, or if everything worked out in the end. I’ll remember in the future that you want to be fully informed.”

Words escaped Iroh. Was Kavi alluding to his relationship with Lu Ten? Or was it something much bigger Lu Ten had kept from Iroh? His son had been so worn down, so exhausted during the siege. What else could he have been hiding?

In Iroh’s stunned silence, Lt Kavi stood with a genial smile. “Is there anything else you need, General Iroh?”

“I- No. That will be all. Thank you for your due diligence in keeping the crew safe.” Iroh cleared his throat again. “And- Yes. No matter what Lu Ten may have believed, I would rather be informed than avoid possible stress. Please don’t- Please don’t hesitate to speak to me about anything.”

Lt Kavi bowed with polite words of parting. As he turned for the door, Jingyi came stumbling in, narrowly avoiding a collision with quick steps. She appeared thoroughly harried as she glanced between them.

“I’m so sorry I took so long. Do- Do you still want tea?”

“Feel free to have my share, if General Iroh wants company,” Lt Kavi said, waving casually over his shoulder as he left Iroh’s office.

Jingyi turned her wide eyes to Iroh, the picture of an apologetic steward. Yet Iroh could not help but wonder as she set the tea down and gratefully accepted his invitation to share it.

Just how deep were the bonds between the crew of the Sazanami and a man who had as many reasons to earn their respect as he did reasons to despise Iroh?

After weeks passed without a representative from Hui’s group approaching them, Hakoda pushed the encounter and thoughts of the Avatar far from mind. He had a fleet to coordinate and keep alive, there was no time to waste hoping for outside support. The Southern Water Tribes knew they would be taking a gamble by actively joining the war so late. They knew that even with the Earth Army supporting them, they would largely be working alone.

“Hakoda, one of Atka’s is here,” Bato announced, poking his head into Hakoda’s tent with a concerned frown. Direct communication between the warriors and the Water Tribe spy ring was a risk they rarely took. Only something urgent could have Atka sending one of her spies to them.

“Is she injured?” Hakoda asked, fearing the worst.

“Travel weary, but unharmed. Got her set up with some jerky while the boys started dinner early. Should I send her in now?”

“Did she ask to see me immediately?”

“Nope. Honestly, she seems a bit nervous about meeting you.” Bato snorted with a shake of his head. “I know Atka needed a mix of girls, but I don’t know how this one’s fared for so long if meeting you has her getting shy.”

“Hey, I take offense to that!”

Bato laughed as he saw himself out, his job done now that Hakoda knew about their visitor. Sighing, Hakoda turned his attention back to the pile of correspondence spread out across his table. His latest letter from Atka was only a few weeks old. She hadn’t written anything about sending one of her women, so what could have changed since then? Was it merely Hakoda’s status as the fleet leader that had her jittery, or was there something larger going on?

Not wanting to unsettle the girl, Suluk, more, Hakoda took his time finishing his work and went out to join dinner as usual. He didn’t try to approach her through the meal, merely watched her interact with the young men who crowded around her. They were eager to hear personal news of their family and friends who’d left the south with Atka years before the warriors set out.

Suluk was quiet and polite. She answered the best she could about the wide-spread system of Water Tribe spies, which was surprisingly more information than Hakoda thought she could provide. From how she spoke, Suluk was aware of every member of the spy ring. Or at least, coincidentally, all the women with relations to those present. Hakoda didn’t know Atka trusted others beside herself to be so well informed. Was she training Suluk to be her second-in-command? It was a smart move, no one person could juggle all Atka did forever. But why hadn’t she mentioned anything about Suluk before?

Despite her clear connections with the spyring, no one in Hakoda’s camp personally knew Suluk. She hailed from the Qutailaq Tribe, which was so small they had been unable to provide any ships of their own for the Southern Fleet. Several men were scattered throughout the fleet crews, but none were currently with Hakoda. The Qutailaq Tribe’s meager contribution to the fleet was hardly a point of contention, for a disproportionate number of their women had joined Atka in the Earth Kingdom several years ago.

At the northernmost regions of the South Pole, the Qutailaq Tribe had remained connected with the rest of the world where other tribes became secluded and wary. Even before Atka organized their spies, members of the Qutailaq Tribe had footholds in the Earth Kingdom and disputed territories. For years, there was tension between them and the rest of the south for their dealings with even Fire Nation merchants, but now that history and knowledge was valued. Without the Qutailaq women to guide those who’d never left the South Pole, their spies would not have succeeded.

It would make sense for Atka to respect that contribution and elevate a Qutailaq woman to a position of responsibility. Suluk had the appearance of a good choice, for her paler skin and lack of defining Water Tribe features surely allowed her to travel without drawing much attention. Was her quiet meekness also part of that protection to keep attention off her? Perhaps so, but it still didn’t answer why Atka never said anything before sending Suluk.

When dinner came to an end, Suluk excused herself from the crowd that had gathered around her. She approached Hakoda with downcast eyes and fidgeting fingers.

“Chief Hakoda, sir, perhaps we could talk now?”

“Of course. Would you rather stay out here, or shall we move to my tent?”

Suluk didn’t hesitate despite still not meeting Hakoda’s gaze. “Perhaps this is best spoken of in private.”

Once relocated, Suluk sat a little straighter and glanced up long enough to grace Hakoda with a smile. “Thank you for letting me have time to orient myself before talking together. I’ll admit, I’ve been a bit nervous about this meeting. The women I work with are the first I’ve met of the other tribes.”

That put her behavior in a new light, and increased Hakoda’s evaluation of her fortitude. He didn’t acknowledge her admission beyond a laugh and light joke about his warriors’ eagerness to speak with Suluk. She again smiled and relaxed enough to stop fidgeting.

“So what’s brought you here, Suluk?” Hakoda asked, done waiting for answers. “Atka didn’t mention sending you in her last letter, and I cannot fathom why she’d risk you meeting with us.”

Suluk raised her hands and moved them in a unique sign reminiscent of flight, one Hakoda had decided to push from his mind. “Does this mean anything to you, Chief?”

A flare of hope leaped forth in Hakoda’s chest. The fleet was constantly on the move. Of course Hui’s group would have difficulty tracking them down. Meanwhile, they already knew Atka and now were aware of her connection to the fleet. It made sense that they would approach her first.

“Indeed it does, though I do not know the spoken name of the group. We met with the scholar boy, Hui, several weeks ago and were promised a representative of their group would approach us. What did they have to say?”

Suluk’s eyes widened. Firelight from the lanterns danced in her dark gaze. She quickly shook her head to clear her surprise, then said, “Sir, someone from the Wings approached Atka months ago.”

“What?” Hakoda fought to stay seated, he had a strong desire to pace off the sudden rush of nerves. His mind raced to recount his brief conversation with Kavi. What had he said about these Wings?

‘A group that’s been working against the war long before rumors of Hui started spreading.’

At the time, Hakoda believed the group had been hiding and supporting the Avatar before he ventured into the world. But Hui was young. He couldn’t have been involved in much before Atka heard rumors of him. Were these Wings formed to support him, or had they shifted their goals when Hui became a player in the war?

“Sir?” Suluk questioned, breaking the silence that had stretched too far as Hakoda lost himself in his thoughts. He nodded for her to speak. She began fidgeting again. “Um- I have heard of the Wings before they approached Atka. Which is why she sent me here to speak with you. Because she wants your opinion on what to do with them…”

At his prompting, Suluk continued. The cause for her hesitation was all too clear with her following words.

“Do you know anything about the Fire Nation’s Prince Lu Ten?”

Hakoda nodded, the iron taste of dread spreading across his tongue. “The son of their former crown prince, Iroh, whose death in the siege of Ba Sing Se led to Prince Iroh abandoning the siege and his throne. What does he have to do with anything?”

“I’ve heard whispers from some of the Earth Kingdom about him, and the Wings,” Suluk said quietly. She glanced over her shoulder as if afraid to find an eavesdropper. “Apparently he was a leader of these Wings, and they were operating in the Fire Army to sabotage the siege.”

“The Wings are Fire Nation?”

“Fire Nation and against the war, Sir.” Suluk suddenly sat straighter, her eyes meeting Hakoda’s straight on for the first time. The lanterns created the oddest effect, as if a halo of light was within her irises. “You know the Qutailaq Tribe has worked with Fire Nation merchants despite the war. While we never met the Wings, we know the entire people are not our enemy. And the Wings are offering us resources beyond what the Earth Kingdom could hope to offer. Medical aid, intel of Fire Navy movement, insider knowledge of the area.”

She clenched her fists in her lap, but charged forward.

“We’ve believed Hui to be from the Fire Nation colonies, and learning that the Wings are working with him only confirms that. So if we want to trust in what Hui’s doing, then we need to be able to work with people of the Fire Nation.”

“That’s if we believe Hui is the Avatar,” Hakoda said with a sigh. This was a tidal wave he hadn’t expected out of Hui and Kavi’s offer of help.

“Avatar!?”

Suluk’s cheeks flushed bright red and her lips pinched together after her outburst. She coughed and said in a strained voice, “I thought he was searching for the Avatar.”

Hakoda frowned. While none of them said it outright, Atka and her spies believed Hui’s research was a cover for teaching himself to be the Avatar. He had thought that it was the general consensus, or at least the theory was common knowledge. Perhaps Atka was keeping that kernel of hope closer to her chest than he realized.

“It’s a theory. But regardless of who he is, upon meeting him, Hui’s desire to aid us seemed genuine. If Atka believes we can trust these Wings, then it won’t hurt to open a line of communication. Did the contact who approached her speak anything of the logistics of this offered aid?”

Suluk shook her head. “No sir. Only that upon your acceptance of it, aid will find you. But- Chief Hakoda. Are you sure you can look beyond the Wings’ origins? Many are soldiers, even if they’ve turned their back on the war. Their leader was a Fire Nation royal. You know, I heard the Earth Kingdom targeted Prince Lu Ten despite learning about his work to aid them. What if we discover someone else like that is hiding among them?”

All valid points, and ones Hakoda would need to counter when he discussed this turn of events with the fleet council. They were likely the same questions Atka mulled over before sending Suluk to him with this proposal.

“We are not like the Earth Kingdom, with the numbers and resources to scoff at allies found beyond enemy lines.” Hakoda laughed wearily. “If the Wings prove to be true in their aid, I don’t think we can afford to turn them away even if we discovered Prince Iroh took up his son's cause upon his death and now leads them.”

A smile with a hint of teeth flashed across Suluk’s face as she stood. It was so brief, it could have been another trick of the light.

“I’ll pass that on, Chief Hakoda. I’m happy to hear you have the same mindset as Atka. If you don’t mind, may I rest the night before returning home?”

Hakoda laughed as he also rose. “Atka might come hunt me down herself if I didn’t see you well fed and rested after your long journey. Bato’s surely already arranged a tent for you, and you’re welcome to rest another night if need be.”

With a shy duck of her head and a light giggle, Suluk accepted his hospitality. Come morning, she was packed and gone before breakfast began cooking.

A few days later, Hakoda found a stack of scrolls and papers in his tent. There were several maps of the area with secluded coves expertly detailed, as well as locations where they could find medical aid or supplies. Just that would have been enough of a goodwill gesture to begin their relationship with the Wings, but the rest were all military documents. There were stacks and stacks of meticulously recorded personnel files and correspondence that provided a glance into the Fire Navy’s decision making process.

It was priceless information to better understand their enemy.

Several weeks later, Hakoda received a response from Atka after thanking her for sending Suluk and inquiring if she returned safely.

“Who?” was all it said.

Hakoda sat back and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Perhaps he could convince the Wings to give them pointers on espionage as well.

#:3 #just cuz #who knows when im going to finish this part and properly update #its burning a hole in my pocket

17 notes · View notes