Even if Izumi did find her mother’s motivations a little suspect, at least her usual calm and level headed responses to things had quelled the situation for the moment. At least a week gave Izumi some time to mentally prepare for her parents meeting a boy she wasn’t even really certain was someone serious yet.
She could manufacture a few lies where she needed to, and try to make Sakchai look even better than she was certain he already did. Appealing. A good choice. He was definitely a good choice, right?
The relief showed a little on her face as she took her dad’s hand. And then he gave her that look.
Her stomach dropped into the cavity of her torso once more. Izumi swallowed.
“I’m…sure I don’t need a masseuse…” she said, even as she felt the tension growing in her shoulders at her father’s obvious indication that their conversation was hardly over. She cleared her throat.
“The journey wasn’t that stressful…Actually I thought it was kind of fun?” The Earth Kingdom nobles and generals, and the King himself had been…stubborn at times, and certainly they were uncompromising, but figuring out how to manipulate each of their strengths to her own advantage had been a challenge…and had made it easier to deal with their contrariness.
She wondered if this was why Aunt Azula liked her job in Republic City so much. It was a challenge, to make everything work for everyone.
“King Kuei and his ministers were all so nice and accommodating.”
“I’m glad they were, otherwise they would have the Firelord and Lady to answer to. After all, I had King Kuei quivering in his boots last time he disrespected a member of my family.” He snickered at the memory, his overly innocent smile returning, knowing damn well Izumi had read his face like a book just now (exactly as he had wanted her to).
He continued the idle chatter with wife and daughter as they returned to the palace. When they arrived, Zuko ordered that Izumi’s luggage be taken to her bedroom before turning to place a kiss on his daughter’s forehead.
“Well, we’ll leave you to unpack, my love. I’ve had some hot towels placed on the kotatsu and the masseuse is still available should you change your mind. Just shout if you need us, alright?”
Being left to her own devices before dinner was probably worse than continuing to be in her parents’ presence for the duration of the time between her arrival and the evening meal. It meant that Izumi got the time to stew and imagine all worst case scenarios where her dad was concerned.
He was over protective. He’d always been that way...But now that she was older and she had begun showing interest in boys, suddenly it seemed all the worse. At least her mom wasn’t losing her mind. She waived off the servants and unpacked her own things, to keep her hands busy, and then paced the length and breadth of her room too many times to count before her lady’s maid arrived in time to dress her for dinner.
Her travel clothes would hardly do, after all...Even if it was just a private family affair. Uncle Iroh, Agni bless him, had wandered in from town and left his tea shop in the hands of one of his assistants so that he could join them for their evening meal. He talked about nonsense things, and observed that the palace’s tea blend had slipped a little in quality, made suggestions about what to buy next time.
All started to feel better. Normal even. Izumi forgot, for a time, that she still had an impending talk with her father about...boys.
But of course the evening meal ended. Uncle Iroh went home. Mother left Izumi and Zuko to themselves...And Izumi was once again face to face with the Fire Lord and the reality that she couldn’t just duck out of answering questions forever.
Izumi screwed her mouth up in consternation, taking a sip of tea that had now gone cold.
“Thank you...for sending me to the Earth Kingdom. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to learn how other governments work.” Izumi traced the wood grain of the table with the tip of her index finger absently, watching the swirling pattern as she did.