Cause Some Trouble, Date Night Interlude
LOL I have like, three chapters that need to be posted here because I've been too lazy to update this journal, since no one reads CST here anyway.
CAUSE SOME TROUBLE
INTERLUDE--AT LAST
It was nearly sunset when Kuei and Zafirah arrived in the town of Meihui. The two of them had gotten a ride in Mr. Liu’s cart, along with a few other farmhands who wished to spend their free time in town. Basam had stayed behind to hang out at the beach with the rest of the farmhands, along with Bosco.
Meihui was nicer than Kuei had expected: it had a very clean, open feel to it. The stone-paved streets were lined with neatly maintained houses, their white walls contrasting attractively with green-trimmed roofs.
“Nice town,” Zafirah commented as they walked along. “Feels kinda weird walking on stone, though.”
“Ah,” Kuei said. He remembered that the Oasis had been all hard-packed dirt, and they’d been walking along dirt roads all this time. A question popped into his mind as he glanced down at her bare feet padding against the stone. “Zafirah, I was wondering why you and Basam changed your foot wrappings,” he said.
“Hm?”
“Well, before the eclipse, you and he both had wrappings that covered the midsection of your foot. But after the battle, you both changed the wrappings to leave your entire feet exposed.”
“Ah, right.” She nodded. “Well, we can’t go totally barefoot in the desert ‘cuz of the hot sand. The ball of the foot and the heel, they get callused nice and quick, but the middle of the foot stays all soft. You remember how hot the sand gets out there during the day.”
“Yes,” he agreed, wincing at the memory.
“So we have to keep that part of the foot protected. But we can’t wear shoes, ‘cuz that makes it harder to feel the sand when you Bend,” she explained.
“Oh, I see now. Bending is harder for you on solid dirt or rock, so now you’re exposing your whole feet to feel the earth better?” Kuei guessed.
“Exactly,” Zafirah agreed.
The garden was easy to find-it was located right in the center of the town-and it was, as promised, beautiful. Luscious flowers and trees surrounded the winding stone pathways, with tranquil koi ponds dotting the landscape like scattered blue gems. He and Zafirah walked side by side along the paths, taking their time. Kuei supposed that, to anyone watching, they would have looked like any other normal young couple-just strolling along, chatting idly, enjoying the warm climate and the stunning blooms. Of course, if they were to get close enough to listen in…
“I just don’t see the point to it, is all I’m sayin’,” Zafirah explained.
“You’re not enjoying the garden, then?” Kuei asked nervously. He twisted his hands, which were clasped behind his back.
“Oh, no, it’s not that. It’s all very pretty, I just don’t see much point in it,” she said. “Imagine all the water it takes to keep it lookin’ this nice!”
“A privilege of location, to be sure,” Kuei agreed.
“By which you mean, a privilege of not bein’ in the desert,” she pointed out with a smirk. Kuei chuckled and nodded.
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“And these fish! I figure they’re not for eating?” Zafirah asked.
“Not usually, no,” Kuei agreed. “They’re more ornamental than anything else.” He twisted his hands again. They were sweating badly by now, and his heart was hammering. He shot a glance around the garden, trying to pick out a good spot where he could talk privately with Zafirah. But everywhere he looked, he saw more people! It seemed as though half the town had decided that this was the perfect evening for a stroll in the garden. And every time they came to a relatively empty area, his throat would go dry. That certainly wasn’t helping.
After a while, they found a koi pond tucked away in a corner of the garden. A cherry blossom tree hung over it, dropping pale pink petals into the still water. There was a stone bench beside the pond, but Zafirah ignored it and sat down right at the water’s edge. She dipped her fingers into the water and a small koi swam up to her. Its body gleamed silver in the murky water, save for an orange blotch on the top of its head. The fish swam about her hand for a moment and then started mouthing at her fingertips.
“Sorry, little fish,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t have any food for you.” It kept right on nibbling at her hand, undaunted. Kuei laughed along with Zafirah as they watched the fish, and he smiled at the happiness on her face as she played with the koi. He could see the wonderment in her spirit, a liveliness that had survived her harsh life in the desert. At times like these, he could see it shining like a candle.
And then Kuei realized something: this was it… the perfect moment. There was no one else around, and he couldn’t have asked for a nicer spot. The red and orange glow of the setting sun reflected off the pond’s glassy surface, and its light seemed to set the cherry blossoms afire. He couldn’t imagine a better chance.
Kuei sat down next to Zafirah, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Just say it, he scolded himself. What’s the worst that could happen?
…She could laugh at me. Oh Spirits. No, Zafirah’s not cruel enough to do a thing like that. Just say it. Just tell her…
Kuei took a deep breath. It did nothing to steady his nerves. “Za-“
“Oh wow, look at that!” she exclaimed at the same moment. A big, orange koi zoomed across the pond, chasing away the silver-and-orange one. It nipped at her fingertips, and then drifted away when the attempt failed to yield any food. “Ha! Joke’s on you, big guy,” Zafirah told the orange koi as it swam away. Then she glanced up at him with a sheepish smile. “Sorry, were you about to say something?”
“I… I’ve forgotten what it was,” Kuei lied.
“Huh, oh well. Maybe you’ll remember it later,” she suggested, shrugging one slender shoulder.
“Yes, perhaps,” Kuei agreed weakly. Zafirah rose gracefully to her feet, brushing the dirt off of her tunic. Kuei stood up as well, cursing himself for losing his nerve. They walked on through the garden. He glanced over at Zafirah and noticed that she looked deep in thought. She was silent for a moment, and then she spoke.
“Um, hey, Kuei? I…” Her voice faltered, much to his surprise. What was on her mind? She put on a smile that looked strangely forced. “I’m hungry! Let’s go get some dinner.”
“All right,” he agreed, somewhat puzzled. They left the garden and headed back into the town itself, on the lookout for restaurants. Eventually, they both spotted one that looked promising. It was fairly small, with a covered patio in front. Low tables surrounded a fire pit to keep off the chill as night fell. The waiter seated them at a table by the fire pit and handed them a pair of menus. After perusing the parchment pages for a couple of minutes, Kuei noticed that Zafirah was staring at hers, reading it over and over.
“Having trouble deciding?” he asked lightly.
“I’ve never seen this many food choices before,” she mumbled, her nose still buried in the menu. “Back at the cantina, we didn’t even have anything written down like this. You just asked the bartender what he had that day.”
“Ah,” he said. He couldn’t help but wonder what she’d think of Ba Sing Se, then, with its countless restaurants and types of food. “Well,” he said, “Liu paid us our wages today, so we can afford to try a few things.”
“Sure,” she agreed. But after another couple of minutes, Kuei noticed that she was still staring blankly at her menu, and that there was an increasingly deep frown furrowing her brow.
“Does anything look good to you?” he asked. “We can go somewhere else if nothing here appeals to you.”
“No, it’s fine,” she muttered, slouching down behind her menu. Then she sat up again and put on a strained smile. “How ‘bout you pick something, huh? Surprise me.”
Kuei frowned, suddenly worried. “Is something wrong?” he asked cautiously. Her lips pressed together into a thin line and she glanced uneasily around the patio. Kuei followed her gaze, but he saw nothing in particular. The patio was mostly empty. Finally, she turned her stare down at the table and muttered something under her breath. “Sorry?” Kuei asked.
She let out an annoyed huff and leaned forward. “I can’t read it, okay?” she hissed. Kuei sat back in his chair, stunned.
“Oh,” he breathed. Well, now he felt truly inconsiderate. The possibility had never even occurred to him…
“I mean, I can read a few words of it-I think that one there says ‘duck’-but, Spirits, I don’t know…” She snorted in frustration. “Bleeding hogmonkeys, I can’t even remember the last time I had to read something.” She threw the menu down on the table and folded her arms tightly across her chest.
“What about, um, writing?” he ventured, unsure of how to approach the topic.
“I know a little,” she muttered. “Our parents taught us what they could-really, it was just enough to run the weapons shop. I probably know a little more than Basam, actually. All the times he skipped lessons to go practice his Bending with his buddies. Mom and Dad never really pushed the issue. We’re not stupid,” she added sharply, glancing up at him.
“I know,” Kuei assured her. She looked away again.
“It just…didn’t seem all that important, y’know?” she went on. “Words and writing, they weren’t…”
“They weren’t as much of a priority,” Kuei said softly. She lifted her head and met his eyes again.
“Exactly,” she agreed. “We had more useful things to learn.” Kuei thought of all the times he’d told them about his education; suddenly he felt terrible about it, as though he’d been flaunting his good fortune. However, an idea popped into his head-a way to share the wealth, as it were.
“I could help you, if you’d like,” he said, smiling.
“How’s that?” she asked, a puzzled look crossing her face.
“I could try to help you learn,” he said. “Basam, too, if he’s interested.”
The frown vanished from her face. “Really?” she asked.
“Yes, of course!” he agreed. “It would be an honor.”
That lovely smile that he knew so well appeared again. “Y’know what, I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” Zafirah said. She picked up the menu again. “You can start with this!” Kuei chuckled and scooted his chair around so that he sat next to her. She scooted over as well, until her shoulder bumped against his.
She jabbed a finger at a character on the page. “Yes, that means ‘duck’,” he said. “That one before it tells you that it’s roasted.” He kept his voice down as he spoke, mindful of maintaining their privacy. The lesson went on for another couple of minutes, with Zafirah pointing to words and Kuei explaining them. Then Zafirah glanced upward and grew slightly tense.
Kuei followed her eyes, saw the waiter returning, and acted quickly. “Yes, you’re right, those dumplings do sound tasty!” he said, raising his voice a little. Zafirah caught on right away.
“Yeah, we’ll definitely have to try those,” she agreed. The waiter greeted them with a friendly smile.
“Are you ready to order?” he asked placidly. Kuei nodded and ordered dumplings, noodles, and roast duck.
“Thanks,” Zafirah whispered to Kuei as the waiter walked away.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, smiling again.
“So, how’re you holding up with all the farm work?” Zafirah asked.
“Fine, thank you,” Kuei replied. They made idle small talk until the food arrived. The meal was delicious, but it wasn’t until the waiter came back with an offer of dessert that Zafirah’s eyes really lit up.
“What d’you have?” she asked eagerly. Kuei chuckled at her sweet tooth.
“Our special tonight is an egg custard tart,” the waiter said.
Zafirah arched a dubious eyebrow. “Egg custard?” she echoed.
“You’ll love it,” Kuei assured her, smiling. “Two egg custards, please,” he said, addressing the waiter. The waiter bowed and left, leaving them in silence. Kuei cleared his throat, suddenly nervous again and searching for something to say.
“So, um, how did the Earthbending practice go?” he asked. “Basam mentioned that you and he were going over some of it this morning.”
“Yeah. We didn’t do any actual Bending, though. We just did some stances. It went pretty well though,” she said.
“Oh. Good.” And there went that topic.
“You seem kinda… shifty. Is everything okay?” Zafirah asked. She looked worried.
“Yes, everything’s all right,” he said swiftly. Aside from my lack of courage, he added silently. She nodded, but she still looked faintly perturbed. Oh no, what if she thinks I regret asking her out? he wondered. But then the waiter came back with their tarts and Zafirah had more pressing matter to attend to. She picked up the tart, eying it suspiciously. Then she raised it to her lips and sniffed it a little. She opened her mouth and took a bite, sinking her teeth into the golden custard and flaky pastry.
Her eyes went wide. “’S delicious!” she exclaimed around a mouthful of tart.
Kuei smiled widely at her. “I knew you’d like it,” he said happily. He picked up his own tart and bit into it. She was right-the tart was fantastic. It was even better than the ones the royal cooks had made in Ba Sing Se.
Once their dessert was finished, they paid and left the restaurant. It was dark now and the streets were lit up with the yellow glow from rows of ornate lanterns. They kept walking, and soon they heard distant notes of music up ahead. They followed the sound and came to a small square. A fountain splashed and trickled at its center, but Kuei could hardly see it behind the crowd gathered at the near end of the square.
“Well, that explains the music,” Kuei said. There was a small band set up in the corner closest to them, playing their instruments atop a low dais. He could see some people in the crowd dancing, while others just stood or sat and listened. Right away, Zafirah grabbed Kuei’s arm and pulled him over to the crowd.
“Let’s go dance!” she suggested.
He glanced over at her, startled. “Dance?” he repeated.
“Yeah, c’mon! It’ll be fun!” she insisted. “You remember this one, right? From the desert?” She started dancing, swaying side to side while her arms moved gracefully. Sure enough, Kuei recognized it as the one Amaris had taught him. He lifted his arms and followed her steps-or at least, he tried to. As it turned out, remembering a dance and remembering how to do it were two entirely separate things. Zafirah smiled and kept to a nice, slow pace while he tried to re-learn the steps.
The music picked up and so did the pace of their dance. They moved faster, twisting around each other, stepping close and then springing away again. They would clasp hands, slide past each other and then go through the steps back to back before swinging back around to face each other. Zafirah tried gamely to repress a laugh as he stumbled through the steps, but he found himself laughing right along with her. He slowly started to get the hang of it, moving more easily now. After two songs, he could finally keep up.
The third song ended with a flourish and the band took a bow, to the thunderous applause of the onlookers. Kuei and Zafirah clapped along with them. Then Zafirah turned towards Kuei, an exhilarated smile on her face.
“See? Told you it’d be fun!” she crowed.
“You were right,” he agreed. “And I didn’t even step on your feet too often.” She laughed heartily at that. He chuckled as well, his heart soaring at the joy lighting up her face. Tell her! he ordered himself. He shot a quick look around the square; they were at the back of the crowd, and no one was really paying attention to them, anyway. The rest of the square was empty. Perhaps if they could go and sit by the fountain…
Kuei took another deep breath, and it almost helped this time. But before he could open his mouth to speak, two men bumped rudely into them. They were both guffawing loudly and they reeked of alcohol. They slurred some cheerful nonsense at Kuei and Zafirah before stumbling away. Zafirah snorted at them and shook her head, smirking.
“At least they’re having a good time,” she said jokingly, jerking her thumb after the men. Kuei laughed, but honestly, part of him wanted to kick those two. He looked at Zafirah again, but the moment was well and truly ruined. He repressed a sigh, defeated once again.
“Shall we keep walking?” he asked.
“Sure.” They moved away from the square. After a few minutes, something caught Zafirah’s eye. “Ooh, a Pai Sho table!” she exclaimed. She pointed at a teahouse off to their left; sure enough, Kuei saw a row of Pai Sho tables through the shop’s wide front windows.
“I didn’t know you played Pai Sho,” he commented.
“Don’t sound so surprised,” she teased. “An old man taught me, back at the Oasis. His name was Fung. He’d always sit there at that table, waiting for someone to challenge him.” Then the happy expression slid off her face. “He was with the prisoners that the Fire Nation took that night. I wonder how he’s doing…” she murmured. Kuei wanted to reassure her, but he knew there was nothing he could say.
“Well, then, let’s see how much of his lessons you’ve remembered,” he said lightly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She sniffled faintly, then looked up at him and smiled. They went in, ordered a pot of jasmine tea, and took a seat at a vacant table.
He let Zafirah have the first move. She sat there for a minute or two, examining the tiles and rubbing her chin. She reached out towards one, hesitated, then picked another tile and set it on the board with a click. It was a fairly ordinary opening move. Kuei quickly picked a tile of his own and placed it down. Zafirah made a soft hmm sound and deliberated over her tiles again. She set her next piece in place-another standard move. After a few more turns, though, she started to gain some confidence. What had seemed at first like a cut-and-dried game was rapidly becoming more and more surprising. Old Fung had been quite a teacher, whoever he was. Zafirah was grinning by then, and he knew that grin. He usually saw it when they were facing down Firebenders. It was slightly unnerving.
Kuei placed another tile and Zafirah chortled. “You know, part of the game is in keeping your strategy to yourself. I’m not sure that sinister laughter is very helpful to that end,” he said dryly. Zafirah scoffed and waved a dismissive hand.
“Please. This is a sinister laugh!” She let out a sharp cackle, drawing annoyed glares from neighboring tables. Kuei coughed to mask a laugh. He had to admit, though, that she was right about it being more sinister. He poured himself another cup of tea while Zafirah made her next move. She placed a tile and sat back, sipping from her own teacup with exaggerated elegance. He smiled and confidently placed another tile. She’d played a good game, but there were only a handful of moves that could get her out of the trap he’d set.
“Oho! A bold move, sir!” Zafirah exclaimed. She picked up a tile, but she deliberately placed her hand so he couldn’t see which one. “But not as bold as… this!” She set the tile down with a flourish and Kuei’s jaw dropped. He gaped at the board, astonished. Only a handful of moves, and she’d picked one of the least known! Zafirah leaned forward over the board, grinning at him. “What d’you say to that, hmm?” she teased, her lips curling in a victorious smirk.
Kuei opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. All he could think about was her. The words still wouldn’t come. Instead, he reached out to cup her cheek in the palm of his left hand, leaned across the game board, and pressed his lips to hers. It only lasted a moment but oh, her mouth felt so soft and so wonderful. He pulled back, his heart slamming against his ribs and his hands shaking. Zafirah stared at him; her eyes were round and wide, her cheeks red and her mouth hanging open. And she kept staring. Kuei’s heart sank, dread welling up within him.
“S-sorry. I’m sorry,” he blurted. “I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry.” He leaped up out of his chair and fled the teahouse. He didn’t pay any attention to where he was going. He could hardly even see. What have I done?!
///////
He kissed me. Kuei kissed me, Zafirah thought hazily. And then he… ran off? Oh Spirits, he thinks I’m upset! She could’ve laughed at the stupidity of the mix-up. In that moment, all the confusion she’d felt flew right out of her head. In that moment, she made her decision once and for all. She tossed a couple coins onto the table, to pay for the tea, and sprinted out of the teahouse.
Out on the street, she glanced around wildly. There! She caught a glimpse of his tall frame disappearing around the corner at the end of the street. She tore off after him. Her bare feet slapped against the smooth stone as she hurtled ahead. Kuei glanced nervously over his shoulder as she caught up to him. He looked like he was bracing himself for a smack, or at least a good yelling-at.
Well, she had a surprise for him. She grabbed his shoulder, spun him around, and flung her arms around his neck. Then she pushed herself up on her tiptoes and kissed him with all her heart. He gasped against her mouth, and then he kissed back, hesitantly at first, his hands reaching up to cup her cheeks gently. His mouth moved clumsily against hers and she was pretty sure that this was his first real kiss.
They were probably blocking traffic or something, standing in the middle of the street and all. She didn’t care. She didn’t care about much of anything, in fact, except for Kuei’s lips against hers, and his arms snaking around her waist to pull her close. She could feel his fingertips pressing into her back as he kissed her harder. Her heart was beating so hard that she was sure he could feel it against his own chest. She tightened her arms around his neck, pressing her body flush against his.
They finally pulled apart, both gasping for air. “I-uh-t-that was…” Kuei stammered, his face bright red. Then he stopped himself and cleared his throat. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a while,” he admitted breathlessly.
Zafirah smirked up at him. “Yeah? So how’s the real thing compare to what you imagined?” she asked, arching her eyebrows. He opened his mouth wordlessly, then sighed and kissed her again.
////////////////////
They decided to walk back to the farm. It wasn’t that far, and neither of them felt like waiting around for a ride on a cart filled with rowdy farmhands. And besides, they weren’t in any hurry.
The lights of the village faded behind them as they walked along the coastal road. Soon they had vanished, and the light of the moon and stars lit their way. They walked hand-in-hand at first, but then Zafirah sidled closer, wrapped her arm around his waist, and pressed her cheek against his chest, sighing deeply. Kuei glanced down at her and then carefully slipped his arm around Zafirah’s shoulders, pulling her close against his side. She was so warm, as though she held the heat of her homeland deep within herself.
It was a peaceful night. He could hear the waves booming on the shore to their right. The land to the left of the road was all farmland; Kuei could see the distant flicker of lights from farmhouses, set far back from the road.
They walked along in silence; Kuei couldn’t think of anything that needed to be said. Zafirah now knew how he felt and, miraculously, she felt the same. He could scarcely believe how lucky he was. He stroked his thumb against Zafirah’s upper arm, his chest aching from all the barely-constrained happiness within it.
Eventually, Zafirah halted and tapped her fingers against his waist. “Let’s stop and sit a while,” she suggested, nodding towards the beach. They stepped off the road and onto the sand, heading down towards the water. They stopped halfway down the beach and sat down on the cold sand. Zafirah scooted up against Kuei, leaning into his embrace. He drew his arms tightly around her.
They sat there for a while, just watching the inky black waves crash against the beach. Kuei pressed his cheek against the top of her head, enjoying the softness of her hair and the feeling of her body pressed next to his.
“It’s strange,” he mumbled, almost to himself.
“Strange?” Zafirah echoed. He could feel her tense up.
“Not in a bad way,” he added quickly. “It’s just that, well, I left the Avatar’s group without a destination in mind. I ended up in the desert by random choice… and somehow, I found you.” He gently placed his fingertips beneath her chin and tilted her head up, looking into her eyes.
She smiled at him. “Actually, I’m pretty sure it was me that did the finding,” she pointed out. He chuckled and nodded, remembering how she’d approached him in the cantina that day.
“I’m glad you did,” he said softly. He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
“Me too,” she whispered. He ducked his head and kissed her again. He felt so inept kissing her. Zafirah most likely had more experience in these matters than he did-he recalled that Shai had been her boyfriend, which meant that she’d had at least one past romance. He couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious at his own inexperience. And he definitely felt a bit nervous.
Every touch of their lips sent heat flooding through his veins. It was like a bolt of lightning, except it felt so very good. She pressed the palm of her left hand against his cheek, sliding her hand back to work her fingers into his hair. She pulled back from the kiss and her forehead creased.
“Hmm…” She reached up and quickly undid his topknot, stuffing the cloth cord into her pocket. Then she combed her fingers through his hair and grinned. “Much better,” she announced. Then she yanked him down and went right back to kissing him, her fingers tangled in his hair. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with his own hands; after a moment of hesitation, he settled one hand gently on her waist, his other hand braced against the sand. She scooted even closer, then pulled her mouth away from his and pressed her lips against his jaw. Then she lowered her head and her lips brushed his neck. He sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes closing. His fingers tightened on her waist as he felt his body starting to react to her attentions.
The rattle of cart wheels on the road made them pull apart. Kuei glanced up across the beach and saw the lantern-lit cart trundling along. The faint strains of a melody drifted down to them as the driver sang to himself. Kuei wasn’t sure whether to feel disappointed or relieved. Zafirah chuckled breathlessly and smoothed back the locks of hair framing her face.
“We should probably get back,” she muttered, giving him an almost shy smile.
“Y-yes,” Kuei agreed hazily. No, he was definitely disappointed. But at the same time, the interruption was probably a good thing. Or so he tried to tell himself, at any rate. He stood up, helping Zafirah up as well. They walked back to the road, hands clasped tightly together.
Half an hour later, Kuei felt a twinge as the farmhand house came into view. He couldn’t help but be a little sad that the night was over already. Zafirah leaned her head against his upper arm as they approached the warm, flickering lantern light spilling out around the front door. Kuei slid the door open and they walked slowly down the hall until they reached Zafirah’s room. They stopped outside the sliding door and Zafirah turned towards him. She smiled up at him, placing her left palm against the side of his face. He sighed and leaned into her touch.
“Good night, Kuei,” she murmured.
“Good night,” he echoed. He felt like he ought to say something else, but what? Instead, he lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Good night, Zafirah.”
“Good night-again,” she teased lightly. He flushed as he realized he’d said it twice, and then he chuckled as he let her fingers slip free of his. She gave him a little wave, winked at him, turned and disappeared into her room. Kuei stumbled back to his own room, beaming from ear to ear.
Basam was sound asleep when he entered the room-or so he thought, anyway.
“So I guess it went well?” Kuei jumped at the sudden sound of the Sandbender man’s voice. He turned and saw the younger man peeking out at him from beneath a half-open eyelid.
“Yes,” Kuei agreed dreamily. Basam chortled and shut his eyes again.
“Glad to hear it. I was starting to think you two would never get your act together,” he said cheerily. “Just remember one thing, Kuei: if you hurt her, or break her heart…”
“You’ll beat me to a pulp?” Kuei guessed.
Basam snorted. “Nah. There wouldn’t be anything left for me to beat on by the time Zafi was done with you.” Kuei chuckled nervously. “Zafi doesn’t need my help with her menfolk, believe me. She’d have it if she wanted it, of course, but generally, I don’t interfere,” Basam continued. “I trust her judgment. If she thinks you’re good enough for her, then I’m happy for the both of you.”
Kuei smiled. “Thank you,” he said. He pulled off his shirt, put it aside and collapsed onto his futon. Sleep didn’t come for a while, though, but he wasn’t too concerned by that. He stared up at the darkened ceiling, gazing into the shadows splayed across it. He smiled again-he couldn’t help it. He was completely, utterly, and perfectly happy.
/////////////////////////////
I have been waiting so long to write this chapter, you have no idea. :D After sixteen chapters, one prologue, and three interludes, I finally got them together. ^_^ OMG so happy. I literally did a victory dance while writing this.
Playlist! The best playlist everrrr!
1. Kiss The Girl [The Little Mermaid]-LOL yeah, I don’t need to add anything here.
2. Kingdom Dance [Tangled]-Chapter theme.
3. L. O. V. E. by V V Brown-IDK, you decide where this one goes!
4. Can You Feel the Love Tonight [The Lion King, Original Broadway Cast Recording]-Yeah, I used this song, that’s right!
CAUSE SOME TROUBLE
INTERLUDE--AT LAST
It was nearly sunset when Kuei and Zafirah arrived in the town of Meihui. The two of them had gotten a ride in Mr. Liu’s cart, along with a few other farmhands who wished to spend their free time in town. Basam had stayed behind to hang out at the beach with the rest of the farmhands, along with Bosco.
Meihui was nicer than Kuei had expected: it had a very clean, open feel to it. The stone-paved streets were lined with neatly maintained houses, their white walls contrasting attractively with green-trimmed roofs.
“Nice town,” Zafirah commented as they walked along. “Feels kinda weird walking on stone, though.”
“Ah,” Kuei said. He remembered that the Oasis had been all hard-packed dirt, and they’d been walking along dirt roads all this time. A question popped into his mind as he glanced down at her bare feet padding against the stone. “Zafirah, I was wondering why you and Basam changed your foot wrappings,” he said.
“Hm?”
“Well, before the eclipse, you and he both had wrappings that covered the midsection of your foot. But after the battle, you both changed the wrappings to leave your entire feet exposed.”
“Ah, right.” She nodded. “Well, we can’t go totally barefoot in the desert ‘cuz of the hot sand. The ball of the foot and the heel, they get callused nice and quick, but the middle of the foot stays all soft. You remember how hot the sand gets out there during the day.”
“Yes,” he agreed, wincing at the memory.
“So we have to keep that part of the foot protected. But we can’t wear shoes, ‘cuz that makes it harder to feel the sand when you Bend,” she explained.
“Oh, I see now. Bending is harder for you on solid dirt or rock, so now you’re exposing your whole feet to feel the earth better?” Kuei guessed.
“Exactly,” Zafirah agreed.
The garden was easy to find-it was located right in the center of the town-and it was, as promised, beautiful. Luscious flowers and trees surrounded the winding stone pathways, with tranquil koi ponds dotting the landscape like scattered blue gems. He and Zafirah walked side by side along the paths, taking their time. Kuei supposed that, to anyone watching, they would have looked like any other normal young couple-just strolling along, chatting idly, enjoying the warm climate and the stunning blooms. Of course, if they were to get close enough to listen in…
“I just don’t see the point to it, is all I’m sayin’,” Zafirah explained.
“You’re not enjoying the garden, then?” Kuei asked nervously. He twisted his hands, which were clasped behind his back.
“Oh, no, it’s not that. It’s all very pretty, I just don’t see much point in it,” she said. “Imagine all the water it takes to keep it lookin’ this nice!”
“A privilege of location, to be sure,” Kuei agreed.
“By which you mean, a privilege of not bein’ in the desert,” she pointed out with a smirk. Kuei chuckled and nodded.
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“And these fish! I figure they’re not for eating?” Zafirah asked.
“Not usually, no,” Kuei agreed. “They’re more ornamental than anything else.” He twisted his hands again. They were sweating badly by now, and his heart was hammering. He shot a glance around the garden, trying to pick out a good spot where he could talk privately with Zafirah. But everywhere he looked, he saw more people! It seemed as though half the town had decided that this was the perfect evening for a stroll in the garden. And every time they came to a relatively empty area, his throat would go dry. That certainly wasn’t helping.
After a while, they found a koi pond tucked away in a corner of the garden. A cherry blossom tree hung over it, dropping pale pink petals into the still water. There was a stone bench beside the pond, but Zafirah ignored it and sat down right at the water’s edge. She dipped her fingers into the water and a small koi swam up to her. Its body gleamed silver in the murky water, save for an orange blotch on the top of its head. The fish swam about her hand for a moment and then started mouthing at her fingertips.
“Sorry, little fish,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t have any food for you.” It kept right on nibbling at her hand, undaunted. Kuei laughed along with Zafirah as they watched the fish, and he smiled at the happiness on her face as she played with the koi. He could see the wonderment in her spirit, a liveliness that had survived her harsh life in the desert. At times like these, he could see it shining like a candle.
And then Kuei realized something: this was it… the perfect moment. There was no one else around, and he couldn’t have asked for a nicer spot. The red and orange glow of the setting sun reflected off the pond’s glassy surface, and its light seemed to set the cherry blossoms afire. He couldn’t imagine a better chance.
Kuei sat down next to Zafirah, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Just say it, he scolded himself. What’s the worst that could happen?
…She could laugh at me. Oh Spirits. No, Zafirah’s not cruel enough to do a thing like that. Just say it. Just tell her…
Kuei took a deep breath. It did nothing to steady his nerves. “Za-“
“Oh wow, look at that!” she exclaimed at the same moment. A big, orange koi zoomed across the pond, chasing away the silver-and-orange one. It nipped at her fingertips, and then drifted away when the attempt failed to yield any food. “Ha! Joke’s on you, big guy,” Zafirah told the orange koi as it swam away. Then she glanced up at him with a sheepish smile. “Sorry, were you about to say something?”
“I… I’ve forgotten what it was,” Kuei lied.
“Huh, oh well. Maybe you’ll remember it later,” she suggested, shrugging one slender shoulder.
“Yes, perhaps,” Kuei agreed weakly. Zafirah rose gracefully to her feet, brushing the dirt off of her tunic. Kuei stood up as well, cursing himself for losing his nerve. They walked on through the garden. He glanced over at Zafirah and noticed that she looked deep in thought. She was silent for a moment, and then she spoke.
“Um, hey, Kuei? I…” Her voice faltered, much to his surprise. What was on her mind? She put on a smile that looked strangely forced. “I’m hungry! Let’s go get some dinner.”
“All right,” he agreed, somewhat puzzled. They left the garden and headed back into the town itself, on the lookout for restaurants. Eventually, they both spotted one that looked promising. It was fairly small, with a covered patio in front. Low tables surrounded a fire pit to keep off the chill as night fell. The waiter seated them at a table by the fire pit and handed them a pair of menus. After perusing the parchment pages for a couple of minutes, Kuei noticed that Zafirah was staring at hers, reading it over and over.
“Having trouble deciding?” he asked lightly.
“I’ve never seen this many food choices before,” she mumbled, her nose still buried in the menu. “Back at the cantina, we didn’t even have anything written down like this. You just asked the bartender what he had that day.”
“Ah,” he said. He couldn’t help but wonder what she’d think of Ba Sing Se, then, with its countless restaurants and types of food. “Well,” he said, “Liu paid us our wages today, so we can afford to try a few things.”
“Sure,” she agreed. But after another couple of minutes, Kuei noticed that she was still staring blankly at her menu, and that there was an increasingly deep frown furrowing her brow.
“Does anything look good to you?” he asked. “We can go somewhere else if nothing here appeals to you.”
“No, it’s fine,” she muttered, slouching down behind her menu. Then she sat up again and put on a strained smile. “How ‘bout you pick something, huh? Surprise me.”
Kuei frowned, suddenly worried. “Is something wrong?” he asked cautiously. Her lips pressed together into a thin line and she glanced uneasily around the patio. Kuei followed her gaze, but he saw nothing in particular. The patio was mostly empty. Finally, she turned her stare down at the table and muttered something under her breath. “Sorry?” Kuei asked.
She let out an annoyed huff and leaned forward. “I can’t read it, okay?” she hissed. Kuei sat back in his chair, stunned.
“Oh,” he breathed. Well, now he felt truly inconsiderate. The possibility had never even occurred to him…
“I mean, I can read a few words of it-I think that one there says ‘duck’-but, Spirits, I don’t know…” She snorted in frustration. “Bleeding hogmonkeys, I can’t even remember the last time I had to read something.” She threw the menu down on the table and folded her arms tightly across her chest.
“What about, um, writing?” he ventured, unsure of how to approach the topic.
“I know a little,” she muttered. “Our parents taught us what they could-really, it was just enough to run the weapons shop. I probably know a little more than Basam, actually. All the times he skipped lessons to go practice his Bending with his buddies. Mom and Dad never really pushed the issue. We’re not stupid,” she added sharply, glancing up at him.
“I know,” Kuei assured her. She looked away again.
“It just…didn’t seem all that important, y’know?” she went on. “Words and writing, they weren’t…”
“They weren’t as much of a priority,” Kuei said softly. She lifted her head and met his eyes again.
“Exactly,” she agreed. “We had more useful things to learn.” Kuei thought of all the times he’d told them about his education; suddenly he felt terrible about it, as though he’d been flaunting his good fortune. However, an idea popped into his head-a way to share the wealth, as it were.
“I could help you, if you’d like,” he said, smiling.
“How’s that?” she asked, a puzzled look crossing her face.
“I could try to help you learn,” he said. “Basam, too, if he’s interested.”
The frown vanished from her face. “Really?” she asked.
“Yes, of course!” he agreed. “It would be an honor.”
That lovely smile that he knew so well appeared again. “Y’know what, I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” Zafirah said. She picked up the menu again. “You can start with this!” Kuei chuckled and scooted his chair around so that he sat next to her. She scooted over as well, until her shoulder bumped against his.
She jabbed a finger at a character on the page. “Yes, that means ‘duck’,” he said. “That one before it tells you that it’s roasted.” He kept his voice down as he spoke, mindful of maintaining their privacy. The lesson went on for another couple of minutes, with Zafirah pointing to words and Kuei explaining them. Then Zafirah glanced upward and grew slightly tense.
Kuei followed her eyes, saw the waiter returning, and acted quickly. “Yes, you’re right, those dumplings do sound tasty!” he said, raising his voice a little. Zafirah caught on right away.
“Yeah, we’ll definitely have to try those,” she agreed. The waiter greeted them with a friendly smile.
“Are you ready to order?” he asked placidly. Kuei nodded and ordered dumplings, noodles, and roast duck.
“Thanks,” Zafirah whispered to Kuei as the waiter walked away.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, smiling again.
“So, how’re you holding up with all the farm work?” Zafirah asked.
“Fine, thank you,” Kuei replied. They made idle small talk until the food arrived. The meal was delicious, but it wasn’t until the waiter came back with an offer of dessert that Zafirah’s eyes really lit up.
“What d’you have?” she asked eagerly. Kuei chuckled at her sweet tooth.
“Our special tonight is an egg custard tart,” the waiter said.
Zafirah arched a dubious eyebrow. “Egg custard?” she echoed.
“You’ll love it,” Kuei assured her, smiling. “Two egg custards, please,” he said, addressing the waiter. The waiter bowed and left, leaving them in silence. Kuei cleared his throat, suddenly nervous again and searching for something to say.
“So, um, how did the Earthbending practice go?” he asked. “Basam mentioned that you and he were going over some of it this morning.”
“Yeah. We didn’t do any actual Bending, though. We just did some stances. It went pretty well though,” she said.
“Oh. Good.” And there went that topic.
“You seem kinda… shifty. Is everything okay?” Zafirah asked. She looked worried.
“Yes, everything’s all right,” he said swiftly. Aside from my lack of courage, he added silently. She nodded, but she still looked faintly perturbed. Oh no, what if she thinks I regret asking her out? he wondered. But then the waiter came back with their tarts and Zafirah had more pressing matter to attend to. She picked up the tart, eying it suspiciously. Then she raised it to her lips and sniffed it a little. She opened her mouth and took a bite, sinking her teeth into the golden custard and flaky pastry.
Her eyes went wide. “’S delicious!” she exclaimed around a mouthful of tart.
Kuei smiled widely at her. “I knew you’d like it,” he said happily. He picked up his own tart and bit into it. She was right-the tart was fantastic. It was even better than the ones the royal cooks had made in Ba Sing Se.
Once their dessert was finished, they paid and left the restaurant. It was dark now and the streets were lit up with the yellow glow from rows of ornate lanterns. They kept walking, and soon they heard distant notes of music up ahead. They followed the sound and came to a small square. A fountain splashed and trickled at its center, but Kuei could hardly see it behind the crowd gathered at the near end of the square.
“Well, that explains the music,” Kuei said. There was a small band set up in the corner closest to them, playing their instruments atop a low dais. He could see some people in the crowd dancing, while others just stood or sat and listened. Right away, Zafirah grabbed Kuei’s arm and pulled him over to the crowd.
“Let’s go dance!” she suggested.
He glanced over at her, startled. “Dance?” he repeated.
“Yeah, c’mon! It’ll be fun!” she insisted. “You remember this one, right? From the desert?” She started dancing, swaying side to side while her arms moved gracefully. Sure enough, Kuei recognized it as the one Amaris had taught him. He lifted his arms and followed her steps-or at least, he tried to. As it turned out, remembering a dance and remembering how to do it were two entirely separate things. Zafirah smiled and kept to a nice, slow pace while he tried to re-learn the steps.
The music picked up and so did the pace of their dance. They moved faster, twisting around each other, stepping close and then springing away again. They would clasp hands, slide past each other and then go through the steps back to back before swinging back around to face each other. Zafirah tried gamely to repress a laugh as he stumbled through the steps, but he found himself laughing right along with her. He slowly started to get the hang of it, moving more easily now. After two songs, he could finally keep up.
The third song ended with a flourish and the band took a bow, to the thunderous applause of the onlookers. Kuei and Zafirah clapped along with them. Then Zafirah turned towards Kuei, an exhilarated smile on her face.
“See? Told you it’d be fun!” she crowed.
“You were right,” he agreed. “And I didn’t even step on your feet too often.” She laughed heartily at that. He chuckled as well, his heart soaring at the joy lighting up her face. Tell her! he ordered himself. He shot a quick look around the square; they were at the back of the crowd, and no one was really paying attention to them, anyway. The rest of the square was empty. Perhaps if they could go and sit by the fountain…
Kuei took another deep breath, and it almost helped this time. But before he could open his mouth to speak, two men bumped rudely into them. They were both guffawing loudly and they reeked of alcohol. They slurred some cheerful nonsense at Kuei and Zafirah before stumbling away. Zafirah snorted at them and shook her head, smirking.
“At least they’re having a good time,” she said jokingly, jerking her thumb after the men. Kuei laughed, but honestly, part of him wanted to kick those two. He looked at Zafirah again, but the moment was well and truly ruined. He repressed a sigh, defeated once again.
“Shall we keep walking?” he asked.
“Sure.” They moved away from the square. After a few minutes, something caught Zafirah’s eye. “Ooh, a Pai Sho table!” she exclaimed. She pointed at a teahouse off to their left; sure enough, Kuei saw a row of Pai Sho tables through the shop’s wide front windows.
“I didn’t know you played Pai Sho,” he commented.
“Don’t sound so surprised,” she teased. “An old man taught me, back at the Oasis. His name was Fung. He’d always sit there at that table, waiting for someone to challenge him.” Then the happy expression slid off her face. “He was with the prisoners that the Fire Nation took that night. I wonder how he’s doing…” she murmured. Kuei wanted to reassure her, but he knew there was nothing he could say.
“Well, then, let’s see how much of his lessons you’ve remembered,” he said lightly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She sniffled faintly, then looked up at him and smiled. They went in, ordered a pot of jasmine tea, and took a seat at a vacant table.
He let Zafirah have the first move. She sat there for a minute or two, examining the tiles and rubbing her chin. She reached out towards one, hesitated, then picked another tile and set it on the board with a click. It was a fairly ordinary opening move. Kuei quickly picked a tile of his own and placed it down. Zafirah made a soft hmm sound and deliberated over her tiles again. She set her next piece in place-another standard move. After a few more turns, though, she started to gain some confidence. What had seemed at first like a cut-and-dried game was rapidly becoming more and more surprising. Old Fung had been quite a teacher, whoever he was. Zafirah was grinning by then, and he knew that grin. He usually saw it when they were facing down Firebenders. It was slightly unnerving.
Kuei placed another tile and Zafirah chortled. “You know, part of the game is in keeping your strategy to yourself. I’m not sure that sinister laughter is very helpful to that end,” he said dryly. Zafirah scoffed and waved a dismissive hand.
“Please. This is a sinister laugh!” She let out a sharp cackle, drawing annoyed glares from neighboring tables. Kuei coughed to mask a laugh. He had to admit, though, that she was right about it being more sinister. He poured himself another cup of tea while Zafirah made her next move. She placed a tile and sat back, sipping from her own teacup with exaggerated elegance. He smiled and confidently placed another tile. She’d played a good game, but there were only a handful of moves that could get her out of the trap he’d set.
“Oho! A bold move, sir!” Zafirah exclaimed. She picked up a tile, but she deliberately placed her hand so he couldn’t see which one. “But not as bold as… this!” She set the tile down with a flourish and Kuei’s jaw dropped. He gaped at the board, astonished. Only a handful of moves, and she’d picked one of the least known! Zafirah leaned forward over the board, grinning at him. “What d’you say to that, hmm?” she teased, her lips curling in a victorious smirk.
Kuei opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. All he could think about was her. The words still wouldn’t come. Instead, he reached out to cup her cheek in the palm of his left hand, leaned across the game board, and pressed his lips to hers. It only lasted a moment but oh, her mouth felt so soft and so wonderful. He pulled back, his heart slamming against his ribs and his hands shaking. Zafirah stared at him; her eyes were round and wide, her cheeks red and her mouth hanging open. And she kept staring. Kuei’s heart sank, dread welling up within him.
“S-sorry. I’m sorry,” he blurted. “I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry.” He leaped up out of his chair and fled the teahouse. He didn’t pay any attention to where he was going. He could hardly even see. What have I done?!
///////
He kissed me. Kuei kissed me, Zafirah thought hazily. And then he… ran off? Oh Spirits, he thinks I’m upset! She could’ve laughed at the stupidity of the mix-up. In that moment, all the confusion she’d felt flew right out of her head. In that moment, she made her decision once and for all. She tossed a couple coins onto the table, to pay for the tea, and sprinted out of the teahouse.
Out on the street, she glanced around wildly. There! She caught a glimpse of his tall frame disappearing around the corner at the end of the street. She tore off after him. Her bare feet slapped against the smooth stone as she hurtled ahead. Kuei glanced nervously over his shoulder as she caught up to him. He looked like he was bracing himself for a smack, or at least a good yelling-at.
Well, she had a surprise for him. She grabbed his shoulder, spun him around, and flung her arms around his neck. Then she pushed herself up on her tiptoes and kissed him with all her heart. He gasped against her mouth, and then he kissed back, hesitantly at first, his hands reaching up to cup her cheeks gently. His mouth moved clumsily against hers and she was pretty sure that this was his first real kiss.
They were probably blocking traffic or something, standing in the middle of the street and all. She didn’t care. She didn’t care about much of anything, in fact, except for Kuei’s lips against hers, and his arms snaking around her waist to pull her close. She could feel his fingertips pressing into her back as he kissed her harder. Her heart was beating so hard that she was sure he could feel it against his own chest. She tightened her arms around his neck, pressing her body flush against his.
They finally pulled apart, both gasping for air. “I-uh-t-that was…” Kuei stammered, his face bright red. Then he stopped himself and cleared his throat. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a while,” he admitted breathlessly.
Zafirah smirked up at him. “Yeah? So how’s the real thing compare to what you imagined?” she asked, arching her eyebrows. He opened his mouth wordlessly, then sighed and kissed her again.
////////////////////
They decided to walk back to the farm. It wasn’t that far, and neither of them felt like waiting around for a ride on a cart filled with rowdy farmhands. And besides, they weren’t in any hurry.
The lights of the village faded behind them as they walked along the coastal road. Soon they had vanished, and the light of the moon and stars lit their way. They walked hand-in-hand at first, but then Zafirah sidled closer, wrapped her arm around his waist, and pressed her cheek against his chest, sighing deeply. Kuei glanced down at her and then carefully slipped his arm around Zafirah’s shoulders, pulling her close against his side. She was so warm, as though she held the heat of her homeland deep within herself.
It was a peaceful night. He could hear the waves booming on the shore to their right. The land to the left of the road was all farmland; Kuei could see the distant flicker of lights from farmhouses, set far back from the road.
They walked along in silence; Kuei couldn’t think of anything that needed to be said. Zafirah now knew how he felt and, miraculously, she felt the same. He could scarcely believe how lucky he was. He stroked his thumb against Zafirah’s upper arm, his chest aching from all the barely-constrained happiness within it.
Eventually, Zafirah halted and tapped her fingers against his waist. “Let’s stop and sit a while,” she suggested, nodding towards the beach. They stepped off the road and onto the sand, heading down towards the water. They stopped halfway down the beach and sat down on the cold sand. Zafirah scooted up against Kuei, leaning into his embrace. He drew his arms tightly around her.
They sat there for a while, just watching the inky black waves crash against the beach. Kuei pressed his cheek against the top of her head, enjoying the softness of her hair and the feeling of her body pressed next to his.
“It’s strange,” he mumbled, almost to himself.
“Strange?” Zafirah echoed. He could feel her tense up.
“Not in a bad way,” he added quickly. “It’s just that, well, I left the Avatar’s group without a destination in mind. I ended up in the desert by random choice… and somehow, I found you.” He gently placed his fingertips beneath her chin and tilted her head up, looking into her eyes.
She smiled at him. “Actually, I’m pretty sure it was me that did the finding,” she pointed out. He chuckled and nodded, remembering how she’d approached him in the cantina that day.
“I’m glad you did,” he said softly. He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
“Me too,” she whispered. He ducked his head and kissed her again. He felt so inept kissing her. Zafirah most likely had more experience in these matters than he did-he recalled that Shai had been her boyfriend, which meant that she’d had at least one past romance. He couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious at his own inexperience. And he definitely felt a bit nervous.
Every touch of their lips sent heat flooding through his veins. It was like a bolt of lightning, except it felt so very good. She pressed the palm of her left hand against his cheek, sliding her hand back to work her fingers into his hair. She pulled back from the kiss and her forehead creased.
“Hmm…” She reached up and quickly undid his topknot, stuffing the cloth cord into her pocket. Then she combed her fingers through his hair and grinned. “Much better,” she announced. Then she yanked him down and went right back to kissing him, her fingers tangled in his hair. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with his own hands; after a moment of hesitation, he settled one hand gently on her waist, his other hand braced against the sand. She scooted even closer, then pulled her mouth away from his and pressed her lips against his jaw. Then she lowered her head and her lips brushed his neck. He sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes closing. His fingers tightened on her waist as he felt his body starting to react to her attentions.
The rattle of cart wheels on the road made them pull apart. Kuei glanced up across the beach and saw the lantern-lit cart trundling along. The faint strains of a melody drifted down to them as the driver sang to himself. Kuei wasn’t sure whether to feel disappointed or relieved. Zafirah chuckled breathlessly and smoothed back the locks of hair framing her face.
“We should probably get back,” she muttered, giving him an almost shy smile.
“Y-yes,” Kuei agreed hazily. No, he was definitely disappointed. But at the same time, the interruption was probably a good thing. Or so he tried to tell himself, at any rate. He stood up, helping Zafirah up as well. They walked back to the road, hands clasped tightly together.
Half an hour later, Kuei felt a twinge as the farmhand house came into view. He couldn’t help but be a little sad that the night was over already. Zafirah leaned her head against his upper arm as they approached the warm, flickering lantern light spilling out around the front door. Kuei slid the door open and they walked slowly down the hall until they reached Zafirah’s room. They stopped outside the sliding door and Zafirah turned towards him. She smiled up at him, placing her left palm against the side of his face. He sighed and leaned into her touch.
“Good night, Kuei,” she murmured.
“Good night,” he echoed. He felt like he ought to say something else, but what? Instead, he lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Good night, Zafirah.”
“Good night-again,” she teased lightly. He flushed as he realized he’d said it twice, and then he chuckled as he let her fingers slip free of his. She gave him a little wave, winked at him, turned and disappeared into her room. Kuei stumbled back to his own room, beaming from ear to ear.
Basam was sound asleep when he entered the room-or so he thought, anyway.
“So I guess it went well?” Kuei jumped at the sudden sound of the Sandbender man’s voice. He turned and saw the younger man peeking out at him from beneath a half-open eyelid.
“Yes,” Kuei agreed dreamily. Basam chortled and shut his eyes again.
“Glad to hear it. I was starting to think you two would never get your act together,” he said cheerily. “Just remember one thing, Kuei: if you hurt her, or break her heart…”
“You’ll beat me to a pulp?” Kuei guessed.
Basam snorted. “Nah. There wouldn’t be anything left for me to beat on by the time Zafi was done with you.” Kuei chuckled nervously. “Zafi doesn’t need my help with her menfolk, believe me. She’d have it if she wanted it, of course, but generally, I don’t interfere,” Basam continued. “I trust her judgment. If she thinks you’re good enough for her, then I’m happy for the both of you.”
Kuei smiled. “Thank you,” he said. He pulled off his shirt, put it aside and collapsed onto his futon. Sleep didn’t come for a while, though, but he wasn’t too concerned by that. He stared up at the darkened ceiling, gazing into the shadows splayed across it. He smiled again-he couldn’t help it. He was completely, utterly, and perfectly happy.
/////////////////////////////
I have been waiting so long to write this chapter, you have no idea. :D After sixteen chapters, one prologue, and three interludes, I finally got them together. ^_^ OMG so happy. I literally did a victory dance while writing this.
Playlist! The best playlist everrrr!
1. Kiss The Girl [The Little Mermaid]-LOL yeah, I don’t need to add anything here.
2. Kingdom Dance [Tangled]-Chapter theme.
3. L. O. V. E. by V V Brown-IDK, you decide where this one goes!
4. Can You Feel the Love Tonight [The Lion King, Original Broadway Cast Recording]-Yeah, I used this song, that’s right!