Hmm…
If she'd been a little older, I might have called it jealousy.
But as things stood...
Only the Spirits know what goes on inside women's heads, regardless of their age.
I rubbed my temple wearily.
"I see you still don't understand. Let me explain."
"If someone had wanted to, your little stunt could have been interpreted as an assassination attempt against the heir to the throne. Carried out with earthbending. While you were a guest of the governor."
"That one 'joke' very nearly got you, your father, and the entire Morishita family killed. And it's entirely possible I would have had to cut off your heads myself, because if a 'traitor to the state' made it into the dungeons alive, she'd be praying for death by the very next day. Is that clear enough?"
The lamps in the room had long since been burning blue, and judging by the way the girls had instinctively recoiled, my eyes were probably glowing at full intensity as well.
Yeah...
Some homecoming.
I wouldn't be surprised if I'd gained a few more gray hairs today.
"You're lucky the governor didn't realize what happened. Otherwise, he might have turned you in—if only out of simple self-preservation. Something you apparently lack entirely!"
I felt like a complete bastard.
But it was better for me to tear into her now than to find myself facing that situation for real later.
"I understand." The girl lowered her head. "I don't even know what came over me. The way she acted so high and mighty, ordering everyone around... I'm sorry."
"All right." My irritation faded on its own at the sight of such a dejected picture.
Though, truth be told, I wasn't even sure whether she was genuinely remorseful or had simply "read" my emotional state, figured out what had caused it, and responded accordingly.
"But please, don't put yourself in that kind of situation again. Believe me, Toph, I know you're a very brave girl, a genius earthbender, and an incredibly strong person. I know all that. Do you understand? I know it all, and I'm still asking you not to take those kinds of risks. You don't think I'm an idiot who panics over nothing, do you?"
"Uh..." Beifong faltered.
"Exactly. And that goes for all of you as well, by the way." My gaze swept over the Kyoshi Warriors. "The princess isn't just some ordinary high-ranking bureaucrat who's gotten too full of herself because of her position. She's one of the strongest firebenders in the world, and she knows it. As for her personality..." I paused. "Let's just say she could make almost every horror story the rumors invent about me come true while perfectly sober and in full control of her faculties. And I'm talking about the real horror stories—not the dockworkers' wishful fantasies about the cushy lives of high officials."
"Is she really that much of a monster?" Suki asked, visibly impressed.
"That's how she was raised. She can be perfectly reasonable—she can laugh and overlook minor faults—but if you strike a nerve, you can forget about mercy. And publicly humiliating her would strike a nerve very effectively. So I'm asking all of you: don't put yourselves in that position."
"All right, we won't," Toph replied seriously. "And, Chan... thanks for worrying about me."
"You're welcome. And since you seem to agree that my concern is both justified and necessary, let me warn you right now: if you keep misbehaving and provoking the princess..."
I pointed a finger at her.
"...I'll spank you."
"Ha!" The sheer audacity of it made the girl plant her hands on her hips. "You know, that's not a very healthy obsession. I remember this one time down by the docks..."
"I! Do not! Want! To hear it!" Whatever that... that... Toph had managed to witness—and whatever effect it had had on a little girl's psyche—no, I absolutely did not want to think about it.
"Heh-heh, all right, I'll spare you." With that grin on her face, no one could possibly have called her "cute" anymore. "Well then, I was really happy to see you, but I suppose right now you've got something rather more interesting in mind than chatting with a little girl, so I'll leave you to it and go for a walk..."
Without waiting for our reaction, Miss Beifong strolled out of the guest apartments.
Watching her leave thoughtfully, I then turned my attention to the warriors.
"Ju, Dandan, I have an important—but dangerous—mission for you. Fair warning: it involves cruelty, sadism, and the basest of instincts. On the other hand, if you succeed, it should provide you with an immense amount of satisfaction."
"What kind of mission?" Suki asked after exchanging wary glances with her friends.
"You need to catch that little bandit, comb her hair, wash her face, and stuff her full of sweets until she's completely incapable of moving."
Considering how much the little gremlin loved all that childish fussing and coddling, it was the perfect punishment.
Yes, revenge it was. And my revenge would be terrible!
Well, she shouldn't have played with my nerves. Azula alone was more than enough for that.
The girls exchanged identical smiles after hearing my "devious plan" and promised to carry it out to perfection. They would, however, need to call in reinforcements—Beifong wasn't going to surrender without a fight.
Yeah...
I just hoped they wouldn't tear her apart for souvenirs.
***
"Spirits... I'm exhausted."
I slipped an arm around the girl as she began removing her armor. We still had plenty of time before evening and tea with our gracious host, so to hell with everyone else.
I wasn't here.
"Was it that bad?" She pulled back just enough to help me out of my own armor. It wasn't particularly heavy, but hugging a beautiful girl was far easier—and far more enjoyable—without it.
"Yes. Constant stress. One thing after another..."
"You've gone gray..." Her fingers slipped gently into my hair.
"I hope it looks good on me?" I smiled.
It just felt so good.
(End of Chapter)
P@treon: /SadRaven
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