【кετรยεкí】үιη & үαηg【Angel of Castiel】

Status
Not open for further replies.
"Calm down. They can't bother you unless you give them a reason to."

Her crystal eyes peered into his amber irises. Her gaze filled with uncertainty. She didn't respond. Ruri followed Ling, walking down a street that guided them back to their previous direction. She ignored the hand pressed against the small of her back. Now wasn't the time to feel flustered. Her hand clutched the front of his jacket. Ten minutes later, Ling escorted her inside his apartment. She never realized how close their homes were. Her own complex was down the street. After Ling closed the door, Ruri removed his jacket from her shoulders. She draped it over a nearby chair.

"Tea sounds lovely. Thank you," she replied gently. Ruri observed her surroundings, inspecting his home. It was larger than her apartment. However, it didn't surprise her. She recently moved to Ba Sing Se. For all she knew, Ling lived here for years. She padded across the floor and took a seat in front of a table. A sigh escaped her lips. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. A part of her regretted taking a nightly stroll.

"Thank you for helping me, Ling. It's been awhile since I've received this much kindness," she murmured.
 
"Thank you for helping me, Ling. It's been a while since I've received this much kindness."
Ruri murmured while Ling reached into the Ginseng compartment and began the brewing process like he did at work. It didn't take him long to finish and was pouring into two cups. One for the both of them. Placing the two cups on the tray with a few things to sweeten the tea. Walking nimbly over to the table he set the tray down before placing Ruri's cup in front of her.
"It's a shame. You're a nice girl... Sorry about touching you earlier. I had to make it look convincing."
Ling says while putting a little bit of honey into his tea before stirring it with a spoon.
"I hope you don't mind Ginseng. I thought it would help relax your nerves."
With that he lowered his spoon and took a sip of his tea, his amber orbs closing. As he set the cup down, he opened his eyes again. They stared worriedly at Ruri's tired face. Even he could see that she was exhausted. Maybe the Dai Lee scarred her more than he thought.
"You could sleep here if you want... I mean, you look tired and you can take my bed. -"
Shelia decided to make her presence known by throwing a pillow at his face again. Jumping next to Ruri as she made noises of disapproval.
"I would not! Jeez Shelia! I'd sleep on the couch if she decided to stay for the night."
Ling responds while pulling the pillow off his face. His cheeks turning a light pink from the perverted assumption his lemur companion had made.​
 
Ruri accepted the cup of tea. "It's alright. Ginseng sounds perfect," she replied. She sipped the tea slowly. Her gaze averted to the closed window. The tea eased her nerves. However, she felt more exhausted than before.

"...you can take my bed-"

He was cut off by a pillow. Ruri blinked in response. Her eyes shifted to Shelia. A fleeting chuckle escaped her lips. She presented the two a warm smile. "Thank you for the offer, but I don't want to worry Nebi. He isn't exactly the subtle type if I'm missing," she explained. She sipped more of her tea and leaned back against her chair. A curtain of dark brown hair draped over her shoulder. Her hair was currently down, free from her signature style.

"Despite your bickering, I detect both of you have a strong bond," Ruri commented. Her expression softened. "Forgive my previous scare. The Dai Lee been spying on me ever since I came here. I always see them when I'm with Nebi. I have my suspicions," she admitted. Her eyes averted to her cup of tea. "Sometimes, it feels like they are after Nebi. I know that's ridiculous. The Dai Lee are the police force of Ba Sing Se," she added. She lifted her right hand and tucked a few strands behind her ear. "I'm just being paranoid. They never make direct contact," she finished.
 
Ling felt his smile slowly slip from his face upon hearing Ruri's worries about the Dai Lee. It was probable that she was being watched by them. He wouldn't doubt it either. Yet, it was still unsettling.
"The very private police force... I'd still be careful if I were you Ruri."
He warns while taking another sip of his tea, letting the cup still rest close to his lips. If they had been after Nebi, they would have done something by now. Tried to take him legally, or illegally, as quickly as possible. Which lead him to ponder why they were following her. She was a waterbender from the Northern Water Tribe. Maybe they were scoping her out as a healer that could help them.
But why not be up front about it. So it lead him to believe that something was off.
"You haven't done anything that would pose a danger to the King? Or talked about the war outside to anyone?"
Amber orbs connected with crystal blue ones as he asked her. Making sure to cover his bases. Through the few months of him being here, there have been rumors... Whispers that anyone who brought up the war within in the walls would go.. Missing and return a stranger. One person he knew had been taken. Not that they said that they were. Their excuse being that they went on vacation.
"If not either, then you should be fine. They are probably just wary of you because you're a bender."
 
Ruri shook her head. "I figured that out on my first day. A kind older woman warned me not to talk about the war," she replied. Her eyes remained fixated on her cup. She absentmindedly bended the water in a circular pattern. Her stomach filled with unease. She didn't understand why she was special. She was completely harmless. Albeit, she was a powerful bender, Ruri was a healer. She isn't the type to use her bending for battle, unless it was absolutely necessary. She stopped her movements and sipped her tea. Ruri lifted her gaze and peered into Ling's amber irises.

"It may have to do with my origin. My people are very private. Members of the Northern Water Tribe remain in the North Pole. Some consider it rare for tribe members to leave. I'm one of the only few that left. However, none of us moved to Ba Sing Se. I'm the first waterbender to travel here," she explained. A small frown marred her lips. Her eyes lowered to the floor. "My presence could be a sign about the war. I left for my own personal reasons, but they wouldn't care about that," she suggested. Ruri set down her cup of tea on the table in front of her.

"If my assumption was correct, I don't know what I'd do without Nebi. He's my best friend," she murmured.
 
"Maybe... Though I doubt the Dai Lee would try to take him when he is near bystanders. He would cause a scene and that leads to questions. So, make sure that he is close to the tea shop during the day. Then the Dai Lee should leave him be, for now at least."
Ling suggests as he polished off his tea. With a small sigh he looked back at Ruri. She was as upset as one would expect in her situation. Shelia jumped into his lap and curled into a ball. The lemur finding sleep within the warmth that his body gave off. Petting his flying companion absentmindedly, he began to ponder words that would put his friend at ease.
"Mushi would be happy to help out, and kids already love him. Besides, I can't let you stay so sad, it doesn't suit you at all. A smile is much more fitting for your features."
He adds while his own features softened to show that he was being sincere. To him it wasn't a compliment. It was a fact. Smiles always made a person look better. Look happy. This fact was especially true with Ruri. Her smile was very fitting with how her features were naturally curved and soft.​
 
Ruri nodded in response. She presented him a small smile. "Nebi won't go down with a fight, that I'm sure of," she replied. Ruri pushed back her chair and rose into a standing position. She bowed to Ling respectively. "Thank you for your concern, Ling. However, I think it's time I leave," she added. Ruri walked towards the front door. Before she left, Ruri peered outside the window. It was completely clear, no Dai Lee in sight. "I'll see you at work," she added. Ruri unlocked the door, opened it, and exited Ling's apartment. A harsh breeze circulated past her. Ruri suppressed a shiver and descended down the steps, moving to the street. She sauntered down a dirt road. Her mind recalled Ling's words. She made a mental note to find a better spot for Nebi to lounge while she worked.

Ten minutes later, Ruri arrived at her home. She opened the door and entered, closing it behind her. Her large companion remained in his spot, sleeping. Her expression softened. It was rare for him to remain asleep when she slipped away. She padded across the room and plopped next to his side. She buried her face in his soft fur. "I won't let anyone take you away from me," she murmured. Her eyes fluttered shut. She drifted off, succumbing to her exhaustion.
 
After Ruri had left, Ling had went back to bed. Though, not after sending Shelia to keep an eye on her as she walked home. He stayed up until his flying companion came back a while later. Telling him that she had made it home safely. With that, he fell back onto his bed and passed out. Shelia curling up on his warm chest.
***
Only when the sun started to lighten the sky did he wake up. Groggily and clumsily as well. He was stumbling around his apartment to get ready. Showing off his normal morning person attitude while cursed at the ribbon that had disappeared on him. Even the lemur was helping him try to find it. Once it was found, underneath the pillow where he had left it, she also proved that she was capable of braiding hair.
The flying lemur braided the long locks of ebony before tying the ribbon to secure them.
Then Ling Yao was off to the tea shop of which he worked and was fed breakfast.

Upon his arrival, his stomach greeted Iroh and Zuko long before he even opened the door. The older one finding it amusing while the nephew rolled his eyes and resisted hitting his forehead with the palm of his hand.
"Do you have a black hole for a stomach?"
Zuko asked while watching Ling scarf down the small but filling breakfast Iroh had brought for the skinny firebender.
"I remember when I ate like that~"
Iroh chimed with a laugh while Zuko only made a face as the food disappeared and Ling drake the cup of tea that he had been forced to make only seconds before.
"Are you only capable of inhaling things?"
 
A few hours later, it was morning. Sunlight seeped past her window, beaming down on her form. A soft groan emitted from her lips. She buried her face deeper against her companion's pelt. After Nebi licked her face, she reluctantly awakened. She raised her hands above her head and stretched. She suppressed the urge to yawn. "I'm up, I'm up," she mumbled. Ruri massaged her forehead, feeling an upcoming migraine. A sigh escaped her lips. She made a mental note to limit her nightly strolls. Ruri rose into a standing position. She walked towards the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Twenty minutes later, Ruri walked out of her apartment, bathed and clothed. She fixed herself breakfast and gave Nebi his morning meal. Ruri hopped on top of her polar bear leopard and rode to work. Unbeknownst to her, a few Dai Lee agents watched her from afar.

By the time she arrived, her co-workers were present. Ruri slipped off of Nebi and walked inside. Her companion flopped on the ground, resuming his usual position. She would find him a more secure place to lounge later. "Good morning everyone," Ruri announced. She presented the men a warm smile. She sauntered across the shop, walked around the counter, and picked up her apron. Once she slipped it on, she was ready for work. She peered at Zuko and Ling with amusement. "He has quite the healthy appetite," she mused.

Ruri bowed respectively to Iroh. "I'm ready to learn more Master Mushi," she declared.
 
((Sorry for the long wait. My grandpa had an accident and I have been busy helping him currently.))

"Ruri, Lee is being mean."
Ling says while pointing to the facepalming Zuko. Not that his words really bothered him all that much. To be honest, he wasn't ashamed of how much he could eat. Nor was he amazed, he already knew he used up a lot of energy throughout the day just being him.
"I'm being honest. You take it negatively."
Zuko countered before being ushered into the kitchen by Iroh. Apparently, it would do him some good to sit in on the lesson of brewing. With a smile, the old man gestured to the kitchen.
"Yes, come with me. You and Lee will be learning today. Ling can handle the morning customers."
Almost to confirm his words, the very person he spoke of was already seating a few people who came in. His amber eyes closed while he spoke energetically to his customers and placing things on their table from seemingly out of his magical sleeves.
Iroh on the hand was showing Ruri and Zuko how to brew the special tea for the day. Once doing it successfully himself, he gave the finished product to Ling to serve before getting his two students to try. Zuko's was done correctly, but it wasn't the same as Iroh's. Maybe it lacked the passion put into it. The teenager, was not as fond of tea as his uncle.
Now with it being Ruri's turn, Zuko went back out front to help Ling.
"MY CABBAGES!"
"You need to learn how to control your lemur."
"You can try if you want Lee~"
"Shelia is your pet."
"Companion."
"Well, go take responsibility for your companion."
"Fine..."

With that arguement said and done, Ling shuffled out of the shop to the angry cabbage owner. Surprisingly calming the man down without having to pay anything out of pocket. But he did have to pick up the cabbages before heading back.​
 
Ruri nodded in response. "Alright," she replied gently. She followed Iroh in the back room, taking a seat on a nearby stool. She watched him demonstrate how to brew today's special. Unlike Zuko, Ruri was interested in tea. She developed an affinity after using tea for medicinal purposes. After Iroh was complete, he gave his finished product to Ling. Ruri rose from her seat and walked to her station. Ruri prepared today's special, memorizing Iroh's technique. She handed the cup to Iroh.

"How did I do Master Mushi?" she inquired curiously. Before she walked out to assist Ling and Zuko, Ruri wanted to make sure she passed. Since she was working inside a tea shop, it was important she learned how to brew various types of tea. An angry shout alerted her. Ruri poked her head through the back door. She blinked at the scene in front of her. A chuckle emitted from her lips. Ruri removed her head and stood in front of Iroh.

"It's quite lively here," she mused.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.