The Fire Nation's Lily (Wing Beifong x OC)

Book One, Chapter Two: Sneaking Out

Sayuri ate her breakfast in relative peace, until Korra stormed into the room and spotted the quiet princess. She plucked the newspaper from the hands of one of the monks, grabbed a bowl of rice and plopped down next to Sayuri. 

"Man, I am so ready for today!" Korra beamed, stuffing her mouth with grains of rice. "Do you think after lunch we could spar? I just passed my fire bending exam and I want to see how I do against you." 

Sayuri lowered the tea cup and turned to face Korra. She had rice stuck to her face and she stuffed a cabbage roll into her mouth. "I can't," Sayuri replied. "I will be in a meeting." 

Korra chewed her food thoughtfully and swallowed it. "What about after dinner? The kids could watch! I'm sure they'd to see our match." 

"I go to bed early," Sayuri lied, picking at her rice with the chopsticks. 

The Avatar huffed and crossed her arms. "Well, when can we spar?" 

"Honestly?" Sayuri asked, sneaking a peak at the woman beside her. The Avatar shook her head excitedly and the princess sighed. "Probably never."

"What? Why?" Korra demanded, slamming her hand on the table. 

"Our styles are not compatible," the princess declared. 

"I don't see how two fire benders would be incompatible." Korra snorted, chugging her tea down. 

Master Tenzin walked over towards their table and sat down across from them. While Sayuri tried to move on from the conversation, Korra seemed adamant on sparing. She wasn't taking no for an answer. The princess' patience was growing thin, and her grip on the teacup threatened to shatter the fine piece of pottery. 

Tenzin, of course, noticed this and decided to redirect the conversation. "Are you ready for the meeting?" he asked Sayuri. 

"I am. Although, I am hesitant on what to bring." 

"You do not need to bring anything," the air bender reassured. "Just make sure to listen and talk when addressed." 

The princess nodded and Korra began reading from the newspaper. "And in the final round, the Buzzard Wasps won with a decisive knockout." 

She lowered the top of the paper and put her arm around Sayuri's shoulder, pulling her closer. "What do you say, we go to the arena tonight, catch a few pro-bending matches?" 

Tenzin looked up from his tea and sighed. "That sport is a mockery of the noble tradition of bending." 

Korra rolled her eyes and nudged Sayuri. "Hey, princess, what's your opinion on pro-bending?"

"Why are you asking me?" Sayuri demanded. 

"Well, who knows more about noble stuff than a princess!" Korra beamed. 

Sayuri glanced at Tenzin, hoping to get some support from him, but he seemed to be curious to the princess' opinion as well. 

Sayuri licked her lips and rested her head in her hand. "Well, I guess you could say that I'm impartial to it." She noticed their confused faces and she continued. "I do not care for fighting, and I believe that one should only fight when it comes to protecting oneself or bettering your skills. However, I must admit, I am curious to see how their bending varies from that I have grown around with. As time progresses, nature takes its course and changes things, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse." 

Korra slammed the paper on the table and smiled. "That settles it, we're going to the arena tonight!" 

"No, you are not." Tenzin argued.