Chapter Text
The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from a small lamp on the bedside table. Tarz lay propped up against a mountain of pillows, his left arm heavily bandaged. The pain was a dull throb, now after the physician had measured out some acrid but floral smell potion and stood menacingly until he drained the small cup. He wouldn’t complain if he had to take it again. He heard hurried footsteps down the hall before a hesitant knock on his bedroom door. A smile touched his face.
‘I’m awake.’ He called.
Miyuna entered quietly, her face etched with worry. She must have, thankfully, managed to settle Kiyoi after today's harrowing events.
His semi-hazed brain lit up at her presence. My beautiful wife. Tarz looked at her, his amber eyes searching her dark grey ones. They were rimmed red from silent tears. A raw vulnerability he rarely saw on her. My beautiful wife is sad, because we are fighting.
Were they fighting? He didn’t know. He had agreed to this after all, even if… their daughter’s talents were a shock. If they were fighting, there had to be a disagreement; and there wasn’t. Just a complication, unexpected and dangerous. Perhaps it was more accurate to say they were both confused and afraid. Afraid? That’s new. He had never known Miyuna to be afraid.
‘Miyuna, love…’ He began, not sure what else to say.
Miyuna's shoulders slumped. 'I never intended this,' she repeated softly. Then, her brow furrowed. Thinking, searching, for a solution. 'Perhaps... perhaps we could try to have another child. I still could have time to bear another, I can find a suitable man, a firebender this time. Hopefully, the child will be fit to be the heir—take the pressure off her.'
Tarz looked at her, horrified. 'Miyuna, no. That would... that would hurt her so much. This whole stupid obsession with succession is what caused us so much grief in the first place. Think of us when we were “just spares”. Our Dewbug is far too clever to deceive, if you were to try again… She will know, but she won’t know why. She won’t see it as a mercy; she’ll think we were trying to replace her, that we think there is something wrong with her!'
'And what about her life?' Miyuna countered, her voice rising slightly. 'Living a lie? Never being able to be who she truly is? That won't hurt her More?'
‘Maybe…’ He sighed, massaging his head with his good hand. ‘But maybe I’m also selfish and don’t want to share you, not now, not again. I don’t think my heart could bear it.’
They fell silent.
Tarz reached out, his good hand finding Miyuna's. He clung to it, seeking solace and strength. 'Explain,' he said, his voice hoarse.
'Oh, Tarz.' Miyuna dropped his hand and moved to the head of the bed, sinking down onto the cushions beside him, her head falling into her hands. 'I... I never considered this. I was so certain... Hanokka wasn't a bender. He never showed any signs. He was a merchant...'
A fresh wave of concern washed over him. 'Hanokka? The ivory merchant from the Southern Water Tribe? Miyuna... did you even think of the danger? For you? For Kiyoi?' A sharp edge of disbelief coloured his tone.
'You said it was my choice,' she gritted, her voice defensive, 'you said I could choose. You told me to choose someone who didn’t live on the island, someone who didn’t have any ties to us, who could not be linked back. Of course I chose a foreign merchant.'
‘I’d hoped you had the sense to know I meant pick someone from a different island, not a different nation!’
‘You told me to choose someone I was comfortable with and who would treat me well… and you said you’d love them no matter what.’
Tarz sighed, running a hand through his hair, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at his injured arm. 'Miyuna, I'm not angry. I'm... I'm terrified because I do love Kiyoi. I don’t care who her father is, but I do care about her. I care about what having Hanokka as a father means for her. I’m terrified of the life she's going to have.’
‘So am I.’ She conceded. ‘Tarz… I…’ she trailed off with a sigh. ‘I’m sorry.’
His face pinched as he looked at her. He melted at the sight of her distraught face. ‘My love… you do not have to be sorry. What’s done is done.’
‘No…’ Miyuna sniffed and looked at him. ‘I’m sorry that at the time… it wasn’t entirely a logical choice. I should have had some sense about myself.’
His breath hitched. He must have flinched because Miyuna reacted with a sob. He schooled his face the best he could right now and reached for her hand again. ‘Did you love him?’
‘I don’t know…’ Tears fell from her eyes. ‘I love you, Tarz. I know I love you now more than I have ever loved anyone. But Hanokka… it was illogical, it was impractical, and it was incompatible. He had other ports, other women, probably other kids. I know he would not be tied down by anyone; I guess that’s what helped me justify him as a choice. I couldn’t say it was love, but still I wanted—‘
‘—You were attracted to him, Miyuna.’ He surmised with a small cordial laugh. ‘You felt attraction to him, and he reciprocated. He was your type, physically and charismatic. You found him sexy, Miyuna—‘
‘—Tarz?’ She stared at him, surprised he would use a word like that.
‘You thought he was sexy, Miyuna.’ He continued adamantly. ‘He satisfied you when you were neglected by a nervous, ignorant and cowardly husband. You don’t have to treat having some attachment to him as a moral failing.’
He looked at her downcast face, and worry spiked in him. ‘You still don’t want him now, do you? You haven’t been with Hanokka for years; you are just letting him see Kiyoi when he visits, right?’
‘Yes, it’s over now. I don’t still hold a flame for him. Not since…’ she trailed off and blushed. ‘Well, I think I made it very clear that night how I feel about you.’ She hung her head. ‘I just feel stupid, Tarz. I feel stupid for being reckless and not considering this a consequence. The lack of self-control...’
‘My dear captain,’ he cooed quietly, drawing her eyes to his face. ‘I’m sorry the brunt of my angst at this development has fallen on you.’ He sighed. ‘What I’m trying to convey now is that I am not angry with you. It’s okay if your choice was not completely… logical. I understand. Believe me, if attraction were a logical beast, I would never feel it.’
She frowned then. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I’d rather not share my younger self’s unactionable fantasies with their subject.’ He smirked.
‘You… me? Back then?’ she asked.
He scowled in offence. ‘Of course you! My beautiful, terrifying, newly wed wife was almost a nightly tormentor. Though I suppose it was somewhat self-inflicted. Imagine my regret and utter misery to learn that if I had just picked up the right book, I would have saved us both the—’
‘Tarz, are you on drugs?’ Miyuna cut him off suddenly.
He just smiled at her.
She gasped. ‘I knew you were far too loose lipped, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say sexy. We shouldn’t be having this conversation—‘
‘I’m fine. Miyuna, a few words of my internal monologue are slipping out. But I am perfectly sane and sober.’ He pleaded with her. ‘I want to know some things, though.’
‘What things?’ she shuffled closer, resting her back into the pillows alongside him.
'So, Hanokka was as... captivating as his daughter's unexpected talents?' He raised an eyebrow, a teasing note in his voice. 'What exactly did you find so alluring about the ivory merchant?—you know, for research purposes, of course.'
Miyuna, despite the gravity of their situation, couldn't help the small smile that touched her own lips. Even now, with the threat hanging over their heads, he could still make her laugh. He took it as a victory.
'He was... different,' she said with concentration.
‘Different?’ he echoed. ‘Different in personality or in looks? What did you find handsome about him? Was it his rippling muscles, his piercing blue eyes that could melt glaciers?'
Miyuna laughed softly. 'Yes, I suppose some might have found him handsome. Sounds like you did, by how much you remember of him.'
'Hmm, perhaps, or perhaps envy sharpens the eye,' Tarz mused, pretending to consider it, but focusing on her evasive answer, even in his stupor. 'So, it was the rippling muscles, piercing stare and the famous charm then?'
Miyuna leaned across and kissed him softly on the lips. Quieting him. 'You have your own unique charms, Tarz Ben Kuzo. Charms that have thoroughly captivated me, I might add.
‘But if you must know, what was so different about him…’ she watched his brow furrow in concentration and smiled at him. ‘It was more that he was different to anyone I’d ever met. Hew as just… free. Of everything. He saw a different side of me than the Fire Nation ever did,' she admitted. ‘He was fun, charismatic, he’d just try to connect with people; he had this way of telling stories that would keep you spellbound. It was fascinating. He just… I don’t Tarz it’s hard for us to comprehend, he just had a sense of adventure without duty or a militant bone in his body.'
'Spellbound, eh?' Tarz chuckled, a touch of mock jealousy in his tone. 'More captivating than my lectures, I presume?' He reached out with his hand and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek, his touch lingering. 'You'll have to tell me some of his tales sometime. Just to ensure I'm still the more thrilling conversationalist, of course.'
'Perhaps,' Miyuna said, a small smile playing on her lips. 'But don't expect me to reveal all his secrets. Some things are best left to the imagination.'
The silence stretched thick with unspoken anxieties. He didn’t like it. He kept hold of her face, turning it toward him, a mischievous glint sparking in his amber eyes.
'Well,' a wry smile played on his lips, 'can I at least know one thing, to put my anxious mind at rest?' He paused, then leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, suggestive murmur. 'Tell me, my Captain, am I at least his equal in the... nuances of oration?'
Miyuna's cheeks flushed. He smiled wider, taking it as a point scored.
'You, Tarz Ben Kuzo,' she said, her voice husky, 'have a way with words that... well, let's just say they leave me quite breathless.'
She reached out, her fingers tracing his face, her touch lingering on his jawline. 'You, for one, are the most intelligent and thoughtful man I know. You have a gift for understanding, a way of... reaching into the heart of things. You make me feel so utterly loved. And that,' she added, her voice softening, 'is a far greater talent than any amount of flowery prose or... physical... endowment.'
He smiled under her high praise and leaned back into the pillows, trying to draw her down next to him. Unfortunately, she just assisted him and stayed stubbornly upright next to him.
Miyuna sighed softly, her gaze drifting towards the closed door to the hallway. 'You know,' she said, her voice laced with a wistful fondness, 'she’s so much like her father.'
Tarz deflated slightly. A shadow crossed his features at the familiar pang. He looked away for a moment.
'Tarz,' she said, her hand alighted on his cheek gently. Her gaze was direct, filled with a love that banished any lingering doubt. 'I don't see anyone else raising her. Of course, I meant you.'
Warmth spread through Tarz, chasing away the inadequacy and doubt within him. He met her eyes as she continued stroking his forehead.
'She's so thoughtful, so incredibly smart. Eloquent, even. You know, just the other day,' she chuckled softly, 'she used the word 'ubiquitous' when describing sand. Ubiquitous! Where on earth did she learn that?'
Miyuna's eyes sparkled with pride. 'That's her. That's her sharp mind, her curiosity... it reminds me so much of you, Tarz. Your open-mindedness, your thirst for understanding... she has that same spark. She is our daughter. In every way that truly matters.' She leaned down and kissed him again, a soft, lingering press of her lips against his. 'Don't ever doubt that, my love.'
Tarz reached out, his uninjured hand cupping Miyuna's face, holding her close. 'Thank you, Miyuna,' he murmured against her lips. 'For saying that. For everything.'
He looked towards the door again, a new resolve hardening his gaze. 'Firebender or not, she's our Dewbug. And we are fortunate,' he said softly. 'Fortunate to have such a remarkable child. And fortunate to have each other, to face this... this uncertain path together.'
He leaned back to look his beloved wife in the eyes, tracing the line of Miyuna's jaw. 'We will protect her, Miyuna. We will do whatever it takes. And we will find a way to make this work. For Kiyoi, and for us.'
Miyuna leaned into his touch, her own hand covering his. 'I know we will, Tarz,' she said, her voice filled with the shakiness of tears. 'I’m just so scared.'
‘Me too.’ He nodded. ‘Today, doing what I did should’ve been terrifying, but I didn’t feel it. I just focused on her and you… and I’d do it again. Our love for her will make us brave enough to face this. And I’m not alone; we’re together, you and I. Co-conspirators, until the end.’
‘Until the end.’ She smiled back at him.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the unspoken vow binding them together. The fear and uncertainty were still present, but they were tempered by a shared resolve.
But Miyuna still hadn’t joined him in bed.
'So,' he posited, his playful tone returning. 'We have much to do once I am recovered. But perhaps we could spend a little time enjoying each other's company before we face whatever lies ahead.'
He sighed dramatically, leaning back against the pillows with an exaggerated groan. ‘It seems this valiant warrior is to be confined to his bed for days. The agony! The sheer boredom! How will I ever survive such a cruel and unusual punishment?' He cast a mournful look around the dimly lit room. 'No daring battles to command, no treacherous political machinations to navigate... just endless hours of staring at the ceiling.'
Miyuna raised a skeptical eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. 'Oh, I think you'll find ways to occupy your time, Governor,' she mused. 'You're a remarkably resourceful man when you put your mind to it.'
'Resourceful, yes,' he conceded with a theatrical sigh. 'But even my vast intellect has its limits when faced with the crushing monotony of bed rest. Perhaps,' he added, his eyes twinkling mischievously, 'my devoted wife could find some... creative ways to alleviate my suffering?'
Miyuna chuckled, a warm, melodious sound that filled the room. She leaned closer to the bed, her eyes sparkling with affection. 'Hmm, alleviate your suffering, you say?' she murmured, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. 'Well, Governor, I suppose I could be persuaded. Perhaps a few captivating tales of daring naval victories? Or maybe a detailed explanation of the intricacies of port commerce?' She paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes. 'Though, I do have other... more hands-on methods of tending to the wounded? Is that perhaps what you had in mind?'
‘Yes, please.’ He croaked.
She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, then trailed her lips down his cheek, her touch light and teasing. 'I would oblige, however,' she added, pulling back slightly, a thoughtful expression on her face, 'you are quite injured. Perhaps strenuous activity should be avoided.' Her eyes danced with amusement as she watched his devastation.
Tarz's lower lip jutted out in a rather un-governor-like pout. 'But I am brave, Miyuna! Hardy! And remarkably resilient, not to mention exceedingly eager to... recover. Surely a little gentle exertion wouldn't hinder my healing? Think of it as... therapeutic!'
Miyuna shook her head slowly, a fond smile playing on her lips as she watched his theatrical display. 'You are many things, Tarz,' she said, her voice warm with affection, 'but 'sensible' at the moment is not high on that list.'
'But am I... persuasive?' he persisted, his pout softening into a hopeful grin.
Miyuna leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips, a lingering touch that spoke volumes. 'You are exceedingly tempting, my Governor,' she whispered against his mouth. 'But you also need your rest. You endured a great deal today, and your body needs time to heal. I suspect you won’t feel the same when those painkillers wear off.' She gently smoothed his hair back from his forehead. 'Patience, my love. There will be time for... eagerness later.'
‘But… will you stay?’ he asked. ‘For tonight?’
Finally, she shuffled her body closer and swung her legs up onto the mattress. She laid her head on his chest, and he immediately wrapped his arm around her. Holding her best he could.
‘I’ll always stay when you ask me.’ She promised.
They lay there in the dim light, the unspoken promise binding them together. The fear was still there, a stone in their stomachs, but now it was mingled with a fragile hope and a fierce conviction that whatever the future held, they’d face it together.