Homecoming | Closed RP
@scorchedson continued [x]
It was as if his royal gowns were black purely so that grubby kids’ hugs didn’t leave too obvious a stain. Though, grubby hugs (and kids) were few and far between these days.
Speaking of, his daughter had been called to arms by Aang’s passionate children — ah, none of this was fair. It wasn’t speaking of, because Izumi was twenty, and fully capable of making her own decisions. She didn’t leave dirty marks on his robes anymore, mostly because she rarely got mucky anymore. And as for his old friend’s children, they weren’t anymore. Bumi was twenty-five, Kya also around Izumi’s age. It was difficult to picture that they were all that much older, that much more independent.
That much more capable of getting into serious trouble.
But Zuko tried to let her live her life, he didn’t want to hold her back. He’d been guilty of this in the past, but some lessons HAD to be learnt, some trials HAD to be faced. Sometimes, the only option was to face those things alone. But he made sure she always knew that she had a home to return to.
And, by the sounds of things! She had! Zuko turned in surprise at his ‘name’, hope filling his heart that he wasn’t just imagining things. And there his daughter was, grubby as ever, covered in— was that blood? Bruises? Rags?
“You’re—– oof!” She’d leapt into his arms before he could finish his statement, and Zuko encased her in a warm embrace.
When she pulled away, he followed suit and gave her a quickly fading smile. Was that dirt on her face or a bruise? Zuko pushed his thumb against her cheek softly, but stopped when it showed to be a bruise instead. And her glasses had broken! Had she brushed her hair at all since she was away? “You’re filthy,” he said softly, pushing hair back behind her ear, “and it looks like you’ve got some stories to tell. Are you going to tell me what you got up to this time, or am I going to have to call Bumi and ask myself?”
She squeezed her dad tightly, feeling the clench of relief in her stomach as they embraced. She hadn’t realised just how much she’d missed him...When he pulled back and his expression began to fall, however, Izumi was quickly reminded of how worried he could get over the smallest things.
She winced at the brush of his thumb on a bruise, trying to smile it off. Her smile quickly turned to a pout, and she pushed her broken spectacles up her long nose, brow drawing low.
“You really don’t have to threaten to call Bumi, dad.” She huffed. “It’s a long story. I can tell you it over tea, unless you’re busy with work right now.” Izumi eyed the generals who had stopped when their Fire Lord had stopped. Suddenly she felt self conscious.
Her expression fell into its royal mask. How quickly homecoming had become...The princess bit back a sigh.
“Bumi fought a giant badger-mole,” she slipped in, almost as a bribe, looking sidelong at her father. Grey had come to his temples in the months that she’d been away. Not much of it, but it was noticeable.
