Flameheart | Zuko

THIRTY-FIVE

Word of Homura driving off the thieves got out in a few days. People on the streets watched her as she walked by and in the pub, her boss seemed to not be as strict as usual, as if he was afraid she would attack him. He seemed to be the only one that was afraid of her, though. Her customers in the pub were definitely happy to be in her presence.

Zhu had given her more tip than usual. Pi the next day had suggested she joined his group of friends, and despite her denial, he didn't seem all that bothered. A few other customers asked her about her sword that they claimed was rather unique. Homura had honestly let them know she had forged it herself with the aid of her master - the leader of the Kyoshi warriors - her customers had been interested and so she had conceded and told them how she had travelled with her master to an island with a volcano close to the Earth Kingdom and had gathered rocks from there. They seemed impressed. In the next few days, she had been asked to tell the story of how her sword was forged so many times she had lost count.

Other than that, nothing had changed. She took food from the same man as always and from another merchant she took an apple and headed to the place she stayed at. She climbed on a rooftop and waited. A short while later, Chin joined her.

"You're late," she said in a playful tone as she tossed him the apple. He grabbed it and with a grin at her sat down beside her, laying his back against her side.

"I waited until mum got home to leave. She stayed at work until late today."

She hummed in response as Chin bit into his apple, no longer as hasty in eating it as he had been a few days ago. "How's your mum?"

"Fine," he swallowed, "she wants to invite you over for a meal sometime but I told her you work most of the day. I don't think we have the time to have a meal together."

"You're right, your mum and I are both busy," she agreed as he nuzzled into her side. She couldn't help but smile as she turned to face him. "What's with you and contact today?"

"I'm cold," he hummed as he got comfortable, his gaze falling on her ring. Homura looked in the distance over the rooftops of the city to the wall separating the Lower Ring from the richer parts of the city. After a while, Chin spoke up. "Do you miss your friends?"

Homura swallowed, her eyes not moving away from the wall. "Yes."

"Did you have many of them?"

She nodded, "I did."

"Did you have a best friend?"

She nodded once more, "I did."

"Tell me about your best friend."

"Her name is Suki," she said softly as Chin inched closer towards her. "I met her when we were ten and ever since then we stayed together at the same place. We went everywhere together and did everything together. She's pretty amazing."

Chin yawned, "How does she look like?"

He laid his head on her lap and she couldn't help but send him a smile as she turned to face him. "She has light hair and has eyes that are a really pretty blue. She's around my height and she's pretty muscular."

He giggled as he looked over her, at her sword. "Is she a swordfighter?"

"She knows how to fight with a sword, yes," she nodded, "she prefers using fans, though."

Chin blinked. "I didn't know you could use fans as a weapon."

"Well, now you know."

Chin grinned. "Did you have a boyfriend?"

Her eyes widened at once, "I don't know."

He laughed, "That means you did!" He stood up, a mischevious glint in his eyes. "Is he handsome? A good guy? Did he take you to watch the sunset?"