The Girl and the Fire Lord

21 Butterflies - Kaori's POV

"But why'd you bail? Yasuo is so handsome!" Hana practically shouted at the breakfast table.

"I know, I know. I just don't want to kiss someone I'm not officially dating and I don't really want to officially date him!" I explained. Her right eyebrow raised.

"You didn't even kiss him?"

"No..."

"Kaori! I know you move slowly, but this is practically crawling!" She said, and we laughed. When I got to Yasuo's door, I just didn't want to go in. I needed to cut things off before he got too involved. He took it pretty well.

"Hiromi!" Hana yelped excitedly. "I'm so glad you're here for breakfast again! We've missed you at our little mealtime catch-ups."

"We have! I feel like I haven't seen you in ages! How have you been-" 

"I've been amazing, thank you Kaori. And Hana, it's nice to see you for breakfast. I've missed you as well." She smiled and placed and grabbed our hands. I held hers tightly, happy to have her back. 

"So how are things with the Firelord?" Hana asked with a giggle. 

"We've decided to end things, but I'm doing fine. I've really missed Naoko, honestly." She took a sip of Hana's water and picked up the menu. "Zuko's busy all the time and he's dull to be with. Plus, he's a terrible kisser and didn't even try to sleep with me after we'd been on tons and tons of dates. I wouldn't be surprised if he's got a taste for men." She said, and Hana threw me a worried glance. Hiromi was closing herself off. 

I laid my other hand on hers. "I'm so sorry, Hiromi. I can't imagine-" 

"No, Kaori, you can't." She spat. Her eyes were cold and looked like they could kill. She softened her face and the corners of her mouth lifted into a small smile. "I'm sorry, I'm just sensitive right now." She pulled her hands away from mine and looked away from me. When she turned her face, I saw her clenched jaw and tensed shoulders. Hana and I would need to really be there for her over the next few weeks. Getting a glimpse at life with the Firelord only to have that taken from you must be gut-wrenching. I felt deeply for her. When we finished breakfast, I went off to my shift and they left for theirs. The fresh morning sun kissed my face and I smiled. One day I had to bring my family here to see this. 

"Ma'am?" A voice said from behind me. I turned to see who it was, and immediately dropped to a knee. 

"Firelord Zuko, it is an honor to see you." I said, keeping my head down and my heart steady. Hiromi's words flooded my head, and I shook them away. This wasn't one of the guards or some boy from the town. This was the Firelord we were talking about. 

"Um, you can stand up, ma'am." He said, and he offered out his hand. After a moment of thought, I decided the respectful thing to do would be to take his hand and do as he said. 

"Is there something I can do for you, sir? I could give you a tour of the garden! Or if you'd like me to cut you some flowers I can make you a bouquet! What's your favorite kind?" I rambled.

"My favorite flower is the white dragon lotus." 

"Oh yes! Those are absolutely stunning - and poisonous too! I can't cut those, though. They-"

"Wither away too quickly. You have to keep them planted and cared for or they'll die." He finished. A sweet smile spread across his face, and my stomach fluttered. "I found that out the hard way. I picked some of them thinking they were gorgeous and they died within the hour."

"Yeah, they'll do that to you." I said, unable to contain my blush and my grin. He couldn't seem to contain his either. 

"Do you... um... do you want to get dinner later? I'll be working late creating travel plans for our staff going to the colonies, but I'm free after ten. I can have dinners delivered to my room and I can show you all of the books I have on the plant life from different nations!" He said, wide-eyed and hopeful. Was he really asking me... surely not. I wondered what it would do to Hiromi if I went with him to this dinner. 

"Um..." I started, not really knowing how to finish. His face fell and his eyebrows raised.

"Oh goodness, I am not asking you to my room for any sort of weird, creepy reason I swear. I don't like to be around people all day. If I go to any of the common rooms people always come to me with questions, and after working I just need time away. I hope you don't think I'm trying to be disrespectful or-" he stuttered, freaking himself out more with every new word.

"No! No, not at all! I was just trying to gather my thoughts. It isn't every day the Firelord asks you to dinner." I said, still not knowing what I'd do about Hiromi. He was so kind, so genuine, and I wanted so badly to get to know him. Hiromi missed Naoko anyway.

Then again, if Firelord Zuko had already started something with Hiromi and ended that quickly, who was to say the same thing wouldn't happen to me? I really didn't want to get my hopes up. Especially not with someone who held so much power over me. He could take away my job and my family's livelihood with the snap of a finger. 

"I'm really sorry if I made you feel weird or anything. I just felt kind of... drawn to you I guess. I want to know more." He said. I felt safe with him, and I really wanted to know more about him too. 

"I'd love to have dinner with you." I said confidently. A huge grin spread across his face.

"Great! If you meet me in front of my room at 10:30 I'll be there! I can't wait to get to know you, Kaori. You seem like a lovely person." He said with a nod.

"I can't wait."