Stobotnik ATLA AU Snippet 3
Rockwell took a long sip from her tea. The blend was delicious, just as it always was when Lee brewed it. On the table were steaming meat buns and a small plate of cabbage cookies. Which surprisingly matched well with the tea.
Around her, the tea shop was bustling with activity. Guards who just got off duty were wearily watching the local kids dash around outside, some of them darting inside to take a sip of their parents' tea before running back out. A table of older residents sat in the corner, gossip flowing between them faster than the tea being poured.
Immediately, everyone stopped what they were doing to watch a stream of hot tea flow through the air and into the waiting patron's tea cup. A few people clapped as Lee gingerly smiled back at his adoring crowd.
He set down the teapot he had bended from to circle through the shop, checking if anyone needed anything. As he did, people gushed about his 'teabending', one older woman declaring he needed a bigger tea shop.
Lee took everything in with a small, pleased smile.
Smirking behind her own cup, Rockwell had to truly wonder where the waterbender came from.
From what the other Dai Li had reported, he had no apparent ties to any water tribes. The Avatar and his group had been in Ba Sing Se for two weeks now, and Lee had done nothing to reach out to the water tribesman in the group.
There was also the fact of his companion.
When Lee and Jim had arrived in Ba Sing Se, they had garnered a few glances. Two men traveling together wasn't odd, but when they stuck together and lived in a one bedroom apartment, it rose a few eyebrows. Especially when it was discovered Lee was a waterbender.
The local guards had actually brought it to the Dai Li's attention. Lee could heal and they wanted him to go through the proper channels to become a healer in Ba Sing Se. Which meant he had to be investigated by the Dai Li.
She hadn't been exactly pleased to be put on watch duty over two refugees, but the longer she spied on them, the more she wanted to learn.
Lee was naturally nurturing and would gladly hand a steaming cup of tea to anyone in need while also offering to heal their wound.
His companion, Jim, was quite the opposite. Several times already, the guards had to break up fights with him involved. He frequently threw fists with any rowdy patrons of the tea shop and those who entered the blacksmith he began working for. It seemed that the war had followed him into Ba Sing Se. Where the war did not exist.
While Lee was cool and collected, Jim was fiery and stubborn. True opposites if Rockwell would describe them.
But, when they were together, they balanced each other.
Jim calmed down and Lee became more assertive. It was becoming Rockwell's favorite drama.
Setting down her cup, she waved her hand to get Lee's attention. His smile widened as he approached.
Normally, Rockwell was never supposed to get so close to those she was observing, but with Lee, his cutting wit and sarcastic comments had made her laugh. One time, he had whispered an insult about a customer to her, causing her to spew tea out her nose.
Since then, they had become fast friends.
Hopefully he and Jim were clean so she could ask to recruit him to be the Dai Li's personal healer.
"Could you wrap these up for me, Lee-lee?"
"Sure thing, Rocky. Have a long shift tonight?"
"Every night this week," she had lied and said she was a guard on the wall. "I swear, they want me to drop from exhaustion."
"Let's hope not. You're the best earthbenders I've ever met."
Rockwell couldn't help but preen under his praise. She wasn't in charge of her own squadron of Dai Li for no reason, even if she couldn't tell Lee that.
Paying, Rockwell wished Lee a good night, knowing she would be watching him later.
"She's back," Ivo hissed. He purposely kept his eyes locked on the knife he was sharpening. Sitting at their small dinning table, he glanced up to see Stone's reaction.
"I think the Dai Li want to recruit me," Stone murmured as he finished scooping rice into each of their bowls.
"Absolutely not. We can't have them learning of our true origins, Lee."
"I know, Jim," Stone sighed. "But I still think Rockwell would be a powerful ally to have. You haven't seen the kind of bending she can do."
"It's not like she's the greatest earthbender in the world," Ivo scoffed. "It'd be nice if she could stop spying on us. I'm sure she'd turn tail if I sent a fireball her way."
"She'd gladly bring the whole apartment building down on you," Stone set their food on the table and handed Ivo a pair of chopsticks. "I don't think she likes you very much."
"Why not?" Ivo sneered, shoveling food into his mouth. "I'm a ray of sunshine."
Stone chuckled before he began eating as well. Ivo couldn't help but admire the way his cheeks were filling out once more. After escaping the Northern Water Tribe, they had been on the run for weeks, scrounging for food. Both of them had lost quite a bit of weight and muscle. Now though, with both of their meager earnings, they could eat well again.
Things would be better if the Dai Li stopped watching us, he thought bitterly. Idly, he glanced out the window. He couldn't see Rockwell, but he knew she was there. As much as he wanted to wave at her, he ignored her presence and changed the topic with Stone.
"I hear there'll be a play being put on in a local park."
Stone's eyes lit up. He had always loved going to Ember Island to see the plays.
"Do you think they'll do 'Love Amongst the Dragons'?"
"I doubt it. Would you like to go?"
"I'd love to!" Stone's eyes crinkled from how hard he smiled. Ivo couldn't remember how long it had been since he had seen that smile.
Perhaps they could spend a while longer in Ba Sing Se.
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