those amber eyes (slow updates)

Republic City: Part 2

Iroh's POV
As Y/N finished up with her food, I called the waiter over for the bill but Xavier shook his head, "no, no! Today this is on the house! Iroh, take the beautiful lady to see the sights!"

"Actually, Xavier, we're here for work-"

"Ah, business, pleasure... they get mixed up all of the time! There is no harm! Go, go! There is no time to be wasted!"

I sighed and awkwardly shrugged at Y/N, as Xavier chatted away to her as he led us to the door.

As we left, I quickly apologised, "I'm so sorry about him, I hope you weren't too uncomfortable with it all."

"No! No, it's fine! Your friend was lovely! The food was great... there's nothing to be sorry about!"

I kind of wanted to ask her if she did want to see the sights, but I didn't.

It would be weird if I did, right? I don't want to make this weird... besides, it'd be unprofessional to get distracted by tourist activities when we are trying to conduct an investigation.

"I've always wanted to see Republic City, maybe someday we can come back and you can show me around."

"I can show you around right now."

"What?"

"If you want, that is... don't feel like you have to, I'm not saying-"

She cut me off, grinning, "let's go!"

It was in this moment that I realised how bright the atmosphere around her was; I didn't know if she was faking her smiles but they felt so real.

She seemed so excited to see the city, kind of like the way kids react when they first discover that they can bend- she was asking questions about the metal bending police officers and standing up on the fences to get a better view of Air Temple Island.

"I knew Republic City had all this fancy tech and whatever but I didn't know it'd be like this!"

She looked back at me as she said that and we had this moment of eye contact that lingered a little longer than what was comfortable before I broke it and looked back out at Air Temple Island, "I wish I could've shown you more of it, but we have to leave in the morning"

She sighed and jumped down from the fence, "yeah, it's cool. Maybe when this is all over we can come back and you can give me the full 'city kid' experience"

I felt myself smile a little as I muttered back, "yeah, maybe"

As we strolled back towards the ship, Y/N asked, "so... full disclosure, I wasn't really paying much attention to what you and that police lady were talking about. Wanna fill me in?"

"Actually, Lin knows some people who are gonna sort out contacts for us. We're gonna head back to the Fire Nation so I can talk to some of them, our work is really only in restraining and confronting them- I got ahead of myself before, I'm not a police officer, investigating a crime isn't something I've got much experience with"

She nodded, "sounds good"

Y/N was good company, in the days we spent travelling back to the Fire Nation. You wouldn't think she was worried sick about her brother, you'd only notice that if you looked closely.

I wouldn't say I'm the best at reading people, but it was the moments when she would be laughing and as the laugh fades, there would be this tiny moment where you could tell; it was only for a fraction of a second, but it was there.

I didn't ask about it- I didn't think it'd be a good idea.

Later in our journey, I was doing some thinking about ways to track the terrorists down when I realised I should've gotten as much information out of Y/N as I could.

"So, uh- Y/N... what happened on the day of the attack? Do you remember the last time you saw your brother?"

It was kind of awkward because I had been trying to be careful around the topic because I knew it was sore, but all knowledge is good knowledge and the more I knew now the quicker I would be able to do my job.

She slightly sighed before sitting down over the edge of the boat, gesturing for me to follow suit.

"I'm sure that you know by now that Tojan and I are orphans; and it doesn't take a genius to figure out how that happened"

"The terrorists?"

She nodded, "so, ever since then, Tojan and I have had a plan of action. You know, to be ready for any type of attack from them. Anyway, so when they arrived, Tojan was out at the market, I was prepping for dinner early because he was supposed to bring someone home, I think he had a girlfriend, he didn't tell me, it was a surprise.

So, obviously, when they attacked, Tojan wasn't home, which we both were prepared for. But when he didn't return to our hiding space, I got really worried. So, then I was thinking: 'what if he's been caught up in the attack? But Tojan knows better. Maybe he's protecting his girlfriend?'

I left our safe space to find him and the market was up in flames, people fighting all over the streets, Tojan wasn't anywhere to be found"

I rubbed my chin, "I see... and is he a fire bender?"

"Yeah, he's a fire bender, but he's a lot better in combat with a sword than his bending and he didn't have him on him when he left for the market. Ugh, I can't believe I let him leave without it! And now, if he's- if he's dead, it's my fau-"

"Hey, Y/N, it's not your fault. It's gonna be okay, we'll find your brother"

She didn't look back at me, just blankly out at the ocean, "yeah, I hope so"