Irrel's AU # 041 - 050
041 Down with love
The very first time he sees her is on his first day at college. She takes no notice of him because there are so many new and exciting things to discover. But to him, she stands out.
It's the way she walks, demurely yet proud, with strands of loose black hair framing her face. It looks incredibly soft and he feels a sudden itch in his hand - one that he knows will only vanish once he has been allowed to caress these silky tresses.
The spell is broken by his brother's hand on his shoulder. "I'll take you to your dorm, Ozai," he says and in those seconds, the unknown beauty disappears.
Ozai is a little astounded and shocked - no one ever told him that love just happens and adheres to no schedules other than it's own.
"I'm in love, Iroh," he whispers unbelievingly as they carry his bags to his room.
"Oh brother, with that look in your face, could you be anything else?" Iroh asks and grins benevolently.
* * * * *
042 Awkward (The boy who wouldn't talk)
It's all very emberassing. The first time they meet she's in a hurry to classes and runs him over. They both topple to the floor, sending their books flying.
"Oh my god, I am so sorry! I didn't see you standing there. I apologize, I didn't mean to run you over! Please don't be mad at me," she says in a rush and begins picking up their scattered books under his mute, shock-shelled gaze. 'Great going, Ursa. He probably thinks you're the rudest person to ever walk the earth' she thinks to herself.
"I am really sorry," she stresses once more, handing him his books before she picks up her own and dashes off to her course.
The next time she meets him is during lunch break. He sits on the librarys frontlawn, arms and legs akimbo, next to a slightly older boy, talking quietly. Their jeans are already stained green, but they do not seem to mind. She shifts uncomfortably, her Sundime frappucino in hand and eventually decides to walk over.
"Um... hi. I'm Ursa. I'm the one who ran you over this morning," she says and smiles tentatively. "I just wanted to apologize once more. I'm really sorry about that and I hope you weren't injured."
Both boys look at her, the elder looking bemused.
"So you're the unknown beauty that threw my brother off track this morning. I'm Iroh and this is my brother Ozai," he says jovially. "Nice to meet you, Ursa. Do you want to sit with us?"
She blushes, but then she sees the look on Ozai's face and quickly decides against staying.
"Um... thank you for the offer, Iroh, but I really need to get goi-Aaaaah!"
The next thing she knows, her frappucino is all over Ozai and she herself all over Iroh - literally.
"You might want to watch your step," Iroh calls after who ever pushed Ursa over. "And you might want to do that, too," he adds softly, turning to the girl in his lap.
Ozai rises and marches off, quietly but undoubtedly angry, much to Ursa's regret.
* * * * *
043 Negligence
These past days, Jin has been grossly neglected. Zuko barely talks to her anymore and if he does, it's more of a noncommittal grunt than actual conversation. He hasn't touched a twinkie in days (and that's saying something), hasn't slept more than he had to and hasn't once looked at her or touched her hand or kissed her good night.
His desk is littered with draft drawings, catalogues and blue prints of the shop Iroh acquired. Because now that Iroh is confined to a hospital bed, Zuko has taken over. He talks and negotiates to and with the former owners, craftsmen, insurance people, city administration and and and...
Still Jin doesn't mind because she is being neglected because of Iroh, not because of Katara.
* * * * *
044 Duality
Rita Hernandez ist both - a blessing and a curse. Naturally, she is neither of that at the same time, but Ozai knows it to be true nevertheless.
She knows just about every craftsman or vendor in the wider area of Omashu with their first name and receives discounts on everything except gas and illegals (although Ozai is not too sure on the illegals). Ever since she started working for him, his house has been nothing less than perfect: she places fresh flowers in the entrance hall every Friday morning (so that he himself can enjoy the beauty all through the weekend), makes sure the gardener keeps close to his work and away from the liquor cabinet, ensures that the pool boy has eyes for the pool only and not the girl sunbathing nearby in her (fashionable but way to skimpy to be worn by his daughter) red bikini and serves them meals and snacks that are both, delicious and healthy - not in that particular order.
But she also pokes around places where no poking is wanted: for instance his love life, the way he chooses to handle certain things (like his wife's passing - he knows she secretly takes Azula to the cemetery and he resents her for it), his drinking habits or his many abscences from home.
Isn't it convenient how she always forgets to fill up his liquor cabinet? Isn't it interesting how she always finds a way to remark - oh so innocently - on the women he brings home to communicate her displeasure with his choice? Isn't it outrageous how she goes against his wishes behind his back and thinks she can get away with it?
It is a shame, really, that Ozai never notices the elated smile on Rita's face when he sits down to talk to Azula and asks her about her day or when he stops by to smell the flowers in the entrance hall when he comes home from work. It truly is a shame that he mistakes the real blessing for a curse.
* * * * *
045 Answering machine
You have one new message. Received today at 7:30 PM.
"Hi... this is Zuko. Listen, I know it's been a while but Uncle Iroh had a heart attack. He's in the Ba Sing Se General Hospital. I... just thought you would want to know. Maybe you'd want to visit. I'm sure he'd appreciate it. He's on floor F, room 509. ... Bye."
Do you wish to delete your message?
...
Your message has been deleted.
* * * * *
046 Feminine
How dare that shrubbery on legs proclaim her a "dude" in the school cafeteria? How dare he tell everyone she was as feminine as a tank? How dare he.... how dare he?!
She was feminine if she wanted to be! She could wear a dress just like any other girl, be graceful and softspoken and all that stupid shit but she just didn't feel like it. So what was the big deal if she preferred wrestling over stupid teen romance series? If she wore combat boots instead of cheap Magnolo Blahni knock-offs, where did that make her any less feminine?
And to proof that point, Beatrix Smellington, better known as "Smellerbee" punched Jet in the face and broke his nose.
"You had it coming, you know," was Longshots laconic comment once Smellerbee had stormed off in a huff.
"Bud my dose! She broke my dose! Isd'd dere a law agaidsd dadd?" Jet wailed.
* * * * *
047 Girly Sports
The first thing he finds out about her is the fact that she's into sports. It's a good thing, too, what with him being rather athletic - former football star and all. Means he's got swagger, or so he thinks.
Except when he spots her at the local gym and casually sidles up to her with a remark about her Kyoshi Warriors sweater and their season, she completely ignores him. She doesn't even comment on the Southern Wolves shirt covering the expanses of his chiseled chest (yes, it's chiseled - he's been training after all and he doesn't feel too silly saying it himself). Maybe he's read the signs wrong. Maybe she isn't into American Football.
Some carefully placed enquiries around campus put him into perspective. She's not a cheerleader, as he'd presumed. Neither is she gymnast, although her slim form suggests as much. No, she's the Tri-State Champion in kendo, a bunch of complicated sounding fighting styles Sokka has never even heard of and the assistant trainer of the new dojo that has opened a few blocks away from university.
Of course, Sokka learns this only after he challenged her to a friendly match at the gym and suggested he show her some moves. In fact, he learns it when his face is pressed into the training mats covering the ground and her knee pinning him down quite effectively as she berates him for being a Male Chauvinist Pig.
It's not very helpful, either, that all his friends are watching and laughing.
* * * * *