royalbrooch-blog

[royalbrooch-blog]

ok now i’m actually back and not just making a post and disappearing again. i’m sorry, i know it’s really rude to leave people hanging when they’re waiting on threads and conversations. :( i’m trying really hard to get better about it despite my mental health issues but it’s still tough sometimes. i’ll try not to let that happen again in the future. 

[royalbrooch-blog]

hey. I've been having a depressive episode so I haven't been on lately but I'll try to see what replies I have to get to and stuff soon. thanks for being patient, sorry for disappearing. :(

[royalbrooch-blog]

idonthaveabackstory‌:

“We can still go.” A sloppy grin parted his face, his heart hammered in his chest. Wu’s reaction had been cute. Endearing. It had rendered Mako useless, left him smiling like an idiot, his fingers fumbling on Wu’s jacket; straightening the ruined material, cuffing the sleeves. A pathetic excuse just to keep touching him. “We can go to get dessert, we can do whatever you want- tomorrow you can even come to my grandmother’s for dinner if you want, I kind of promised you’d already be there-”

He was a far shot from the best of anything, but heated under the praise anyway. He peered at Wu carefully.

“I think I felt- felt this- since the night of the wedding.” He drew Wu’s fingers close to his chest. “Since you said you’d democratize the Earth Kingdom. I thought it was selfless. I was impressed. And I kind of wanted to ask you to dance, but I thought it would be weird, and there was so much press there, and you didn’t deserve a scandal-”

But there was nobody around now. Mako drew Wu closer against him, and nudged up his jaw, and kissed him again, carefully.

It was refreshing to be with Wu like this, not beneath the guise of Prince and Attendant or King and Civilian but as two orphans, caught in the rain, using one another for warmth. Mako ran his hands quickly along the outside of Wu’s. He blew hot air between them.

Because no matter how vehemently Wu tried to mask it, Mako recognized the lonely look in his eyes.

It wasn’t there now, though. There were tears, and joy, and perhaps the lingering danger that he would find himself spun around again. Mako laughed.

“We should go somewhere and get dry. Say goodbye to the badgermoles.”

“They’d never let us in like this,” Wu laughed. He looked down at himself. “Even if I am the King, we look like drowned elephant-rats. But I bet your grandma will have us anyway. I’d love to!” Wu was reluctant to pull away from Mako’s warmth, but he wanted to thank the badgermoles. He peeked into the opening of the cave and called out to them. “Goodbye, badgermoles! Thanks for your help!”

When Wu came back up to Mako, he took his hand. Mako’s hand was big, and kind of rough, and Wu’s was small and soft and he felt like it fit perfectly inside. “I don’t care about the scandal,” he said. “I would take a hundred million scandals for you. I would’ve said yes.”

He let his head rest against Mako’s shoulder, just for a moment. It was hard to walk that way, but Wu was so overjoyed that he couldn’t help himself. Mako was with him. Mako wanted to be with him, and what was more, he liked him. “I would dance with you in front of every reporter in Republic City.”

Once they got back into the city limits, there were plenty of places to go to dry off in. He’d sit in a dirty alleyway and still be happy at that moment. He didn’t let go of Mako’s hand when they came into the city. In fact, he held it tighter. Mako’s hand was too warm to let go of.

Someone with an umbrella passed by and didn’t give them a second glance. Nobody would recognize Wu as a king right now. He meant what he said, he didn’t care if there was a scandal, but it was nice not to have to worry about what everyone thought of him for few minutes. There was an awning in front of some kind of shop, and Wu stopped underneath it to catch his breath. He wasn’t used to walking so far, especially when he was already so excited. The rain drummed down around them, but for now they were safe from it. Wu took his hand away, only to reach up and touch Mako’s cheek. He kissed his jaw, the only part of him he could reach, and he didn’t care if the world saw.

A Royal Pain

[royalbrooch-blog]

they kissed !

[royalbrooch-blog]

idonthaveabackstory‌:

He was definitely blushing now, despite the way the rain had soaked him through and had him shaking. Or perhaps it was the nerves, Mako thought, watching Wu, and grinning. That would make sense.

He should have cut Wu off at some point, certainly he had ample opportunity to, but something in him held back. Because he wanted to hear this, maybe he wanted to hear Wu’s stupid long rant, because he’d always liked it when Wu talked in the past. Maybe Mako liked it because he didn’t talk himself, not really; he was quiet and reserved and serious and Wu had always been decidedly not those things; Mako’s unapologetic opposite. Charismatic, and bold, and friendly. The type of man who would sing in the shower and press his face into the flanks of fluffy animals despite the insurmountable weight of a whole nation on his skinny shoulders.

Mako envied it. More than that, he admired it.

All too soon, Wu’s monologue had stopped, and there was just the sound of the pounding rain and the scraping of the badgermoles heading back into their cave and Wu’s breathing. Fast. Loud. Nervous.

“You know, I’d have just accepted a yes.” Mako’s brow quirked upwards. A strange joy filled his chest. “But I’m glad I got the rest of it, too.”

His fingers were in Wu’s hair. He bent his neck forward- and stayed there for a second longer, breathing, shaking, damn, so many months with the King and still, he was so nervous- before pressing his lips against Wu’s.

“Um- sorry, I-” he pulled away for a moment before leaning in again, kissing him again. The King’s lips were soft, and wet, everything about the both of them was fucking wet, but for once Mako didn’t mind it. Nervous fingers slid along Wu’s jaw. “Is this okay?”

“Okay?” Wu echoed. “Is it okay? It’s... it’s.... incredible! Fantastic, perfect, every good word I can think of! Oh, wow! Wow!”

All of Wu’s worries melted away with the rain. Mako liked him. Mako had kissed him! All he wanted to say was “wow!” Nothing else made sense to say. Everything was amazing. Who cared if the Earth Kingdom still waited for him, needing more of Wu than Wu was able to give, when Mako had kissed him?

Wu wanted to kiss Mako again, but he was too tall. Even on his tiptoes, Wu couldn’t reach his face. He gently tugged on Mako’s collar to make him lean down, and then kissed him again. Mako’s lips were slightly chapped, and he still tasted just a little bit like fried dough, and Spirits, Wu had found a new favorite food. Wu pulled away and laughed, water going into his eyes and dripping down his face, and he was so happy, he couldn’t care less about how silly a King must look the way he looked now.

Wu spun Mako around, or rather, Mako let him spin him around, because Wu was too excited and happy to stay still. He wanted to dip him, but Wu wasn’t strong enough, so he settled for tugging him down and kissing him again. When they kissed, Wu felt like an airbender, because he felt like he was walking on air. Wu had never felt so good when he kissed someone before. Mako was incredible, as always. Wu’s blood rushed through his body and up to color his cheeks and wow, that was still the word for it, wow, Mako liked him, Mako had kissed him, Mako liked him too!

“Mako! You’re the best, Mako!” His voice was loud, and he was probably disturbing the badgermoles, but they could take it. He hugged Mako again, pushing his face into Mako’s chest. Wu could feel his muscles through his shirt, and it did funny things to his stomach, funny things it was okay for him to feel now, because maybe Mako felt the same. “I’m so glad we didn’t go to that stupid restaurant!”

A Royal Pain

[royalbrooch-blog]

idonthaveabackstory‌:

Spirits, it was-

Incredible. That was the word for it. Incredible, and not in the way that had his eyes rolling into the back of his head with irritation.

It was fucking cute. The badgermoles dwarfed the King, whose warbled singing even had Mako cringing, despite the grin on his face. He cast his jacket away on a rock and let the rains batter him. They would already be soaked. It would do no good here, anyway.

Besides, he’d never touched a badgermole before.

The largest one- the female, according to Mako’s research, and sue him but he’d read extensively on them because they were interesting, maybe, because he wanted to find out just why they’d liked Wu so much- was cool to his touch; its snout was wet and healthy and textured just the same as Pabu’s, except much larger. Mako reached out his bad hand, and hesitated, glancing at Wu- and scratched the beast behind the ears.

And the King was glowing, and his hug was warm and wet and Mako’s arms wrapped back around his skinny shoulders.

“Wu, you’re not-” Wu made to pull away. Mako’s arms tightened. “I mean, I know it must be terrifying, but you’re the King, I’m sure you can get out here again. And you can go to other places too, and meet other interesting people, and win over other enormous creatures with your horrible singing-”

He laughed, and tightened his grip, and Spirits, he hadn’t had a day like this in so long, either.

“Um.” His stomach lurched. He pulled away, a torrent of rain dripping from his hair and into his eyes. Wu was a soaking mess, hair plastered flat against his head, skin pimpled with goosebumps, and eyes so damn bright Mako could swear he were looking into the headlights of an oncoming Satomobile.

“You like me?” He asked, voice roughened by nerves.

Wu forgot to breathe for a second. Oh. Caught up in Mako’s embrace, he had almost forgotten he’d said it out loud.

“Of...” The words caught in Wu’s throat. “Of course I like you. Who wouldn’t?” He wanted to soften it, say it was because they were friends, but it felt like a lie, and Wu had never been a very good liar. Mako would see right through him, like he already did.

He looked down, afraid to meet Mako’s eyes. Wu knew Mako couldn’t see anything in someone like Wu, but it still hurt, the rejection burning under his skin before he even got it. Rejection had never really mattered to Wu before. No matter how awkward Wu’s flirting was, there were always a hundred other girls who wanted to date royalty, after all. He guessed that was another way Mako was different. “I mean...” Wu tugged at his wet sleeves, looking down at his hands. “I-I like you a lot. So much.” He closed his eyes, bracing for Mako’s distaste, cutting him off before he could even say it. “I know, it’s too much...”

One of the badgermoles snorted, making Wu look up. The other ones had started to wander off back into the cave, without Wu’s singing to keep them occupied, but the first one had stayed. Wu was pretty sure it was the one that had let him ride it. Its sightless gaze made Wu feel braver. He straightened up and managed to look Mako in the face. Mako’s cheeks were flushed from the rain, his hair out of place, his eyes like a fire in the gray storm. He was so pretty, and so kind, and smart and brave, and like nobody Wu had ever met before. Wu had never stood a chance.

“I didn’t even know we were really friends until today,” said Wu quickly. “I don’t expect anything out of you, I swear, I won’t even flirt with you--I like girls too, but not as much as I like you, and I think I have forever, ever since that day in Little Ba Sing Se when you told me I’d be a bad king--because you actually cared enough to think I could change, and nobody’s ever--I mean--” The words were pouring out of Wu’s mouth as fast as he could conceive them, and he felt like he was digging himself in deeper, too much like a badgermole, but he couldn’t seem to stop. He was too afraid to let Mako get a word in edgewise. “Nobody really cares about me, except for people who have to, because I’m King, and you--you make me feel... like I can be a better person. Someone who’s worth caring about.”

Wu balled his hands into fists, so tight even his manicured nails were digging into his palm. He made himself breathe.

“... I just think you’re the greatest guy in the whole world, that’s all.” Wu smiled weakly. “Please don’t be mad.”

A Royal Pain

[royalbrooch-blog]

idonthaveabackstory‌:

The rain made the city soft and quiet, muffling the sounds of the Satomobiles to Mako’s right as they walked and frightening the citizens indoors. It was warm; the clouds carried summer’s residual warmth even though the trees told him it was autumn, and Mako found he didn’t mind the droplets sliding down his nose, his jaw, the back of his neck.

His jacket was a poor cover. They should have stopped into a convenience store for an umbrella. But it was comfortable, even if his flesh prickled a little more than it should have to have the King so close to him. Mako caught Wu as he slipped on instinct alone- years of practice, really, he wanted to comment- and removed his fingers from Wu’s waist quickly.

Wu was soaked too, his hair was laden with water, coiling into a mess of curls rather than the usual wave and flopping unceremoniously into one of his eyes and before he could stop himself, Mako’s fingers were in it, touching it, arranging it.

“I think it looks better like this, actually.” He shrugged, and smiled, and continued onward.

They wouldn’t have a long walk to the city outskirts. Already, the buildings were becoming sparser while the mountain foliage thickened. The streets cleared of Satomobiles while the rain continued its incessant battering on the city below. Mako caught an inquisitive glance from the King as they stepped past the sign designating the city’s limits.

“Just trust me.”

The sidewalk became a maintained trailhead. Not long after, they stepped off of it entirely, and descended a grassy hillside. Mako’s chest tightened with anticipation. He’d only been here once before, out of curiosity alone, desperate to affirm a rumor at the Force that had been running rampant. Badgermoles, this close to the city. He’d thought of Wu. He’d had to see it.

The entrance to a towering cave greeted them at the far end of the hillside. Mako stopped just at the entrance, peering in.

It was dark within; unnaturally smooth walls stretched back as far as his eye could see. The smell of wet animal tinted the air.

They were here.

“There were rumors some months back about a family of badgermoles not far from the city limits,” he explained to Wu. “Two adults, and a litter of kittens. I checked on it in the library. Usually, they’re reclusive creatures. They hate stimulation and noise and vibrations in the earth so they settle far away from people. These ones must have been acclimated. I figured they were, you know.” A nudge to Wu’s shoulder. “Yours.”

“Mako!” Wu gasped, his hands going to his face. “They’re--! What! Aaah!” Wu couldn’t form a coherent sentence. He was too excited, and too overwhelmed. Why did Mako have to be so nice to him? Wu couldn’t take it.

Wu watched the cave entrance for a minute, trying to collect himself. If they had a litter, the badgermoles probably wouldn’t like it if he came further in, but he knew just how to make them come out. Wu hummed a little tune, and sure enough, after a few moments, one of the badgermoles poked its head out curiously.

Wu’s heart jumped in his chest, and he wasn’t sure if it was because of the badgermole or Mako. Wu hadn’t seen a real badgermole since Kuvira’s attack on the city, let alone the same badgermole. He inched closer, still humming, and the badgermole moved the rest of the way on its own. It put its snout under Wu’s hand, then nosed his stomach, almost knocking Wu down. “Woah, there,” he said, laughing, and the badgermole cocked its head at Wu’s lack of singing. He looked to Mako for just a second. He was watching with a look on his face that Wu didn’t know how to read.

When Wu stepped away from the badgermole, it followed him with its ears. Wu took Mako’s wrist and gently moved his hand to the badgermole’s snout. “He likes you,” he sang, completely off-key, moving to scratch the badgermole’s chin. “Almost as much as I do.”

Wait. Why did Wu have to say everything that he thought? Well, it was too late now. He moved on to sing about something else as quickly as he could: “These badgermoles know me,” and as he sang it, the other badgermole appeared, peeking out from the back of the cave. A relatively tiny little baby followed it, only just growing in its fur. It bobbed its head along to Wu’s song. Wu hummed as they drew closer. The baby stared at him with blind eyes. Wu’s face hurt from smiling.

The original badgermole was pushing its huge head into Mako’s hand now, relaxed and docile from the singing. The giant creatures dwarfed the two of them, and as long as he kept humming, it didn’t seem to mind when Wu pushed his face into its fur. He felt like crying, he was so happy. He didn’t want Mako to see that he’d teared up again. At least his wet hair was still dripping water down his face, so that the tears could pass for the rain.

Wu pulled away from the badgermole and wiped at his eyes. “I’m scared,” he admitted, pushing his hair out of his face. “I’m going to have to go back to doing everything a king is supposed to do, and I'm afraid I’ll never have a day as good as this again. But who cares?” Wu hugged Mako on impulse. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

A Royal Pain

[royalbrooch-blog]

Dev Patel + laughing so hard he squints (part 2) / (part 1)

[royalbrooch-blog]

Dev Patel + laughing so hard he squints

[royalbrooch-blog]

I never went to acting school. Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from great directors and my co-stars. Acting is about honesty. When I began, I was trying to squeeze as much emotion out of roles as I could and get big laughs. Now it’s about doing less, cutting away the fat.

[royalbrooch-blog]

drabble: caretaker/tutor

Goodbyes

Wu’s mother smiled at him, kneeling down to his level. “Your father and I are going away for a bit, my darling prince.”

“I know,” said Wu. “You’re going for your winter trip.” Every winter, his parents went to visit the southern colonies, to make sure everything was fine down there for his great-aunt, the Earth Queen. “I feel better today. I can go with you. I haven’t even coughed for weeks, you can ask Guang, I’m not lying. We went outside yesterday and I ran through the garden and I didn’t even get dizzy. And Guang said--”

“You’re rambling again, Wu,” said his mother gently.

“Dad? Can’t I go this time?”

Wu’s father shook his head, patting his son on the head and ruffling his hair. “You know you can’t, Wu. It’s too far away for you to travel.”

She felt his forehead. “You’re warm. You’re getting too excited. Go sit with Guang, and we’ll be back when spring comes.” She hugged him briefly, and he buried his face in her shoulder, breathing in her perfume. She pulled away and kissed Wu’s forehead, standing up and dusting herself off. His father smiled at him. 

“I love you,” said Wu.

“We love you too, son,” said his father. “Now go play. We’ll see you next year. Guang, can you take him?”

Wu’s nanny, Guang, appeared out of nowhere and took Wu’s tiny hand. “Come along, Your Eminence. It’s time for your history lesson.”

~~

“...And she said that I was so handsome, and I think she really liked me, Mom, not just because I’m a prince--”

“You’re rambling, Wu,” said his mother’s voice over the phone. The familiar phrase made shame pool in Wu’s stomach, like he was a little kid again. He’d just turned nineteen, not six. ”I’m glad you’re having fun at University, dear.”

“Is Dad there?”

“He’s in the other room. He’s busy with work, but I’m sure he’ll be able to talk to you next time.”

“Oh... alright.” Wu had wanted to ask him about the girls he met at University. How to tell when they really liked you, or when they just wanted you to buy them stuff. ”I’m doing great in Earth Kingdom History, by the way. I got a good grade on my last essay. Someone said it’s cheating to write about Earth King Kuei, since he’s my great-great-grandfather, but I still got an A-. And in Political Science--”

“Wu,” said Mom, a slight warning in her tone. Wu must have been rambling again. He shut up.

Wu heard his father’s voice in the background, muffled. It’s time to leave for the gala. Wu frowned. They always left so quickly.

“I need to go, honey.”

“Yeah,” said Wu. “Okay. I love you.”

“Be safe, Prince.”

“Bye.”

Wu hung up. Wu was rich enough to have a phone in his hotel room, so at least he could mope in peace. He sighed and sat on his bed. He wasn’t sure why he always felt so weird after he talked to his parents. It used to be something he looked forward to, but lately, it felt like a chore. The phone rang, and Wu rushed to pick it up, hoping maybe they’d cancelled their gala to talk to him. 

“Hey, Your Majesty,” came a female voice, but not his mother’s. It was the girl he’d been flirting with most recently. “I’m at the phone booth on Sixth Street. Don’t you want to take me to the party at Chin’s dorm?”

“You bet I do, sweetheart,” said Wu, who had no idea there was going to be a party. “I’ll be right there.”

“You’ll pay for the food, right? There’s going to be a lot of people.”

“Anything for a dame as pretty as you.”

A giggle came over the phone. Wu blushed. “And the alcohol, too.”

“Of course!” Wu agreed, his parents already forgotten. “I’ll have the driver pick you up as soon as I get dressed.”

~~

“It’s about your parents,” said Yong, the Earth Kingdom representative.

“Can’t it wait?” said Wu. “I’ve got stuff to do. Homework to ignore.”

“I’m afraid it’s a bit more important than that.”

Wu made a face. “Isn’t everything I say supposed to be important? I’m a prince, remember?”

“That’s precisely it, Your Majesty,” said Yong. Wu could hear the carefulness in his voice. “You’re a Prince. Your father and mother were a Prince and Princess, and the rebellions--”

“Were? Did they get demoted or something?”

“They’re... They’ve passed away, Your Highness.”

The bottom dropped out of Wu’s stomach. He couldn’t have heard that right. His throat was dry, and he barely heard the word as it came out of his mouth. “...What?”

“There was another uprising. They couldn’t escape the palace in time, and--and I’m afraid...”

“They’re dead?” Wu’s voice was small and weak.

“The news just came by telegram. I’m afraid it It wasn’t just your parents. All the royalty in the palace...”

Wu couldn’t hear the rest of Yong’s sentence. His ears were buzzing. He felt like he might pass out, like when he was a little kid and he used to get so dizzy he couldn’t move. He stumbled back, and when he couldn’t find a seat, he sat on the floor, his head in his hands, tears welling up in his eyes, as Yong described to him how his family was gone forever.

[royalbrooch-blog]

🍏

🍏- For something they secretly wish didn’t exist 

“Uh, the monarchy, of course!

Wait, it’s supposed to be a secret? ...Do I even have one of those?

I wish bee stings didn’t exist! I’m allergic to those, you know, and I barely got to go outside at all after the first time I got stung. I had to play inside unless someone was keeping a really good watch on me.

That’s not a secret either...?

Um...

It’s still the monarchy, but sometimes I wish it never existed at all, and the Earth Kingdom never had all the bad kings and queens it’s had over the centuries. Wow, I could never say that to my family. Maybe it’s a good thing they’re not around to listen, heh.

Is that secret enough?

...Sometimes I wish I didn’t exist. I’m afraid I’m one of the bad kings, and everything I’m doing is a huge mistake.

*cough* ...Yeah, bee stings. Let’s go with that.”

[royalbrooch-blog]

idonthaveabackstory‌:

“Like birds,” Mako repeated, brows drawing together, creasing his forehead. He didn’t have enough experience with parents to know what good ones looked like versus bad ones; certainly not enough to understand what was normal. But the thought of Wu’s parents galavanting off to somewhere warm and leaving the boy in the shithole of a city that was Ba Sing Se had his stomach clenching. If he was too sick to travel, they should have remained with him.

He glanced at Wu in time to catch one of the most excited looks grace the King’s features. Like the first time they’d stumbled across Little Ba Sing Se in Republic City, and Wu had trailed through critiquing the placement of the objects- honestly, Mako, had the architects never even been to Ba Sing Se? Or even surpassing that, when his usual night of meetings had been canceled, and Mako had recommended they visit the theater to see Varrick’s latest, even though he’d loathed himself for the suggestion alone, because it had him seething about Varrick throughout the evening.

But he just laughed, and waved away Wu’s plea. “Yes, we can go, but you’re going to get wet, and then you’re going to complain. Don’t think for an instant I’m going to feel sympathetic if you do.”

He gathered the trash collected at their table and slid it into one of the bins, and hesitated just before the door, unbuttoning his coat, sliding his arms out from the sleeves, and ushering Wu beneath it.

“C’mon. If we’re quick about it, we might not get too wet.”

“I won’t complain!” Wu lied. “Okay, maybe I will. You’d complain too if your jacket cost as much as mine did.”

He crowded under Mako’s jacket, having to get close to him to do so. Closer than they usually stood. It set Wu’s heart beating fast, and he grinned, putting his arm up so the water wouldn’t get into his eyes. The rain was driving directly down onto them. The jacket wasn’t helping much, but Wu was close to Mako, so he didn’t... care? This was new for him.

He followed wherever Mako led him down the unfamiliar streets. They quickly got soaked as the rain picked up. Wu looked up at Mako, silvery in the gray light, his hair messed up, bravely carrying the jacket above them even with his hurt arm. He looked focused, his eyes narrowed slightly, like he did when he was bending, or when he was checking the perimeters for evildoers, while the rain dripped in rivulets down his face. It was... cute. Wu had never thought of Mako as cute before. 

He was beautiful, actually.

Wu’s heart jumped into his throat. Oh, no. I think I like him. Like, really like him.

Wu was pretty sure he already knew that, but thinking it as a coherent thought hit him hard. He stumbled on the slippery streets, and Mako, of course, automatically caught him. Wu felt his face heat up so much he half expected the rain to turn to steam. He laughed and pulled away quickly, putting his hand over his mouth. He thought he liked Mako more than he’d ever liked anybody.

Wu didn’t know what to do with this information. He started to talk, as fast as he could, about anything. About the weather. “I usually don’t like getting wet,” he rambled. “It ruins my hair. I work really hard on my hair, you know. A king has got to look perfect. It’s part of the job!” A king has got to be perfect. He couldn’t go around falling for someone who’d never like him back. “I’m--um--where are we going, anyway?”

A Royal Pain

[royalbrooch-blog]

idonthaveabackstory‌:

Mako’s lip twitched. Despite his own complex feelings about his grandmother- despite the way thinking about her at all still had a hot resentment coiling in his gut and his fingers curling in on themselves, the immediate bond Wu had forged with his grandmother had been endearing. No, more than. Mako chanced another look in the King’s direction. His grandmother was a citizen from Ba Sing Se’s shithole Lower Ring, and Wu their King, and still he took the time to remember her name. To get to know her. To ask about her, in detail, even now.

Despite Wu’s various quirks, he really was a kindhearted man. Something in Mako’s chest warmed at the thought.

“Um, yeah. Yeah, it was. And that was nice of her.” His eyes had been on Wu too long. Mako refocused them on his drink. He felt soft, done in by the unhealthy food and this strange friendship and the thought that maybe his father would have been proud after all, as Mako had hoped. “He used to loan it to me when I was cold. Said it was something I’d need to learn to combat. Being cold. I don’t think he liked winters in the city, either. He always had so many layers on, and at our apartment, there were always blankets and space heaters.” Mako laughed. “Mom used to joke that it was why he liked her, too. Firebender’s warmth. It’s strange, how I still remember that.”

The first, trailing raindrops streaked the large window at the shop’s front. Mako’s eyes followed their descent down the glass.

“Were any of your family Earthbenders?”

Wu listened to Mako’s story with eager eyes, fascinated by how open Mako seemed. He was talking about his dad. Mako never talked to Wu like this, before. He didn’t know what he’d done, but he wanted to do it again. “My dad always used to leave during the Ba Sing Se winter. Well, I mean my mom too, both of them. I didn’t go with them because I was too sick to travel. They went south every winter. Like birds.” He chuckled at the memory. “I was so excited when they came home. They always brought so many gifts, and they’d hug me and tell me they missed me. My mom would pick me up and let me talk all about what I’d done while they were gone, for a long time! It was nice.”

Wu had to think to find the answer to that question. “My grandmother could Earthbend, I think. It doesn’t really run in our family." He looked down at his hands, remembering how when he was small he used to ache for it, for something to tie him to the Earth Kingdom beyond his blood. “When I was a kid, I used to pretend I could. I tried to copy the badgermoles, like the story about Toph. It never worked, though.”

Wu finished his food, and leaned back against the booth, filled up with warm food and the feeling of being next to Mako. “I’m full,” he said. “But there’s dessert on that menu. This is difficult.” Wu was small, he knew, and he couldn’t fit that much food inside him, but he knew whatever dessert they had had to be delicious. 

The rainclouds made the light next to the window silvery, mixed with the soft yellow of the lamps. Mako’s eyes caught the light, flashing tangerine, tying Wu’s stomach into knots. He didn’t know if he could ever eat again if this kept up. He didn’t want to leave, because he didn’t want Mako to leave. He’d eat until he got sick if it would make Mako stay longer, but he knew Mako wouldn’t approve of that.

“Can you show me somewhere else?”

He knew he sounded needy, but whatever. He didn’t want this day to end. “I’ve never seen this part of Republic City. You’ve lived here your whole life. You have to have a secret spot or something.”

A Royal Pain

[royalbrooch-blog]

inazumashiko‌:

~~~~

“I think that glare could use some training, yes.” Shiko snickered softly, but without any ill intentions. She actually liked the King, he seemed fun, and sweet. And in any case, she wasn’t sure if it was a good or a bad thing, to be taught to glare at people. That it helped sometimes, sure, but she hoped when her time came, she wouldn’t have to use it.

His ministers sounded like they could use some Izumi glare though. But maybe Wu did need some better training, after all, it seemed they’d become heir apparent around the same age, but he’d had less time actively working on this. 

His sudden change of pace startled her out of her pondering, and she found herself smiling once more. Escaping a palace, didn’t she know of that. 

“That sounds like a great plan, actually. The alliance’s first ever venture.” Shiko grinned, her fingers already working her crown off, and hair down. How wonderful to get rid of that overly done updo. “And yes, I can firebend. Azula says I’m decent, but Iroh says I’m better than. So don’t you worry, I’m sure I can get our backs covered.”

Her mother’s voice was loud in her head, reminding her of all of the rules, and protocolar behaviour she was stepping on here. But she put her in a tiny imaginary room in her head, and locked it. She was going out with King Wu, in his kingdom, that had to be reason enough not to get lectured, right? Probably not, but that wasn’t going to stop her. She’d been meaning to do it alone the second her mother glanced away, so doing it with company was much better.

“Come, your highness, let’s get out of here.” Shiko pocketed her crown as she stood, fixing her dress. “You have got to show me what’s a good Earth Kingdom bakery, or sweets shop!”

His plan worked! Shiko seemed excited, and that made Wu excited. He stood up so quickly he nearly spilled the remaining tea all over himself. He set the cup back down on the table and tried to think. He’d been to bakeries and sweets shops before, of course he had, right? Only in the Upper Ring, but he didn’t think going to the Lower Rings would be safe, anyway. He hadn’t thought to go to any since he came back from Republic City, so he had to think pretty far back.

“Oh, I know a place!” He grinned, much too excited to actually know something. “They sell all sorts of sweets. At least, I think they do. I’ve never, uh, actually been inside, but my nanny used to bring me egg tarts from there as a treat. I think I know where it is.” He started on his way out of the room, but as he did, he caught a glance of himself in the mirror. His clothes wouldn’t stand out in the Upper Ring, but... he would. “I think I need, like, a hat,” he said. “Someone will recognize me this close to the palace, and then we’ll get kidnapped or something.” That was what had been instilled into him, anyway. Don’t go anywhere without a bodyguard, or you’ll get kidnapped, or worse. But if Shiko could firebend, Wu didn’t see why she wouldn’t count. There’s no one to get mad at you anymore, he reminded himself. It was hard to go against so many years of being told that the world was too dangerous for someone like him.You’re not a prince, you’re a king.

He stopped at his dressing room on the way out, and dug through his wardrobe as quickly as he could. He put on the first thing he found, an elaborately embroidered green cloak with fur lining meant for the visits to the Water Tribes. He didn’t want to waste any time looking for something else. He might talk himself out of it otherwise.

Once they were on the first floor, Wu hesitated. There were guards everywhere, and they’d probably try to stop them. Not that they could, but someone would tell Fire Lord Izumi, and Wu got the feeling they should avoid that. He waved Shiko down the hall, away from the guards. “We should... go a different way. I mean, we don’t have to sneak out. I’m the King. We can go wherever. But it’s probably easier to avoid the guards--you understand, right?” Wu still felt like he was doing something he wasn’t supposed to. He was a bundle of nervous energy. There was a huge window at the end of the expansive marble hall. It was big and heavy and Wu was out of breath by the time he’d gotten it open, but it would be easy to climb out of it to the garden below. “There,” he panted. “We... we can go this way. ”

Wu waited until he caught his breath again and then carefully lowered himself down. Of course, his hands slipped off the windowsill and he yelped as he fell, but it wasn’t far enough to actually hurt much. He bit his tongue to keep himself from calling out “Wu down” when Mako wasn’t here. He picked himself up off the ground and dusted himself off, giving Shiko a thumbs up.

The Alliance

[royalbrooch-blog]

more bumiroh

[royalbrooch-blog]

idonthaveabackstory‌:

Mako lingered back; as Wu overpaid for the food, and floundered, and then as the steaming buns arrived, waiting for the King’s initial assessment. The entire debacle had him grinning, interested enough to neglect his own, steaming bun, although the smell of it was making his stomach ache with his own hunger.

It was only after Mako’s first bite, and Wu’s words, that his grin faltered. Mako set the bread back on the sheet of wax paper that served as a plate, and nabbed a napkin from the dispenser in the table’s center to dry the grease that had saturated his fingertips.

“Yeah, well.” He turned sad eyes up on Wu. This too was something he’d forgotten about the little King; the regular, not-so-subtle reminders that he too was an orphan.

It was jarring… and then it wasn’t. Actually, it was almost refreshing to have someone just say it like Wu did sometimes.

Wu’s eyes were sad too, wide with emotions and so damn green Mako forgot to swallow the last bits of sweet barbecue in his mouth for a moment.

“I’m sorry that had to happen to you.” So sorry it had his chest aching, the familiar grief he’d learned long ago would never let up, the desperation for one more moment with them, the chilling reminder he’d never have it. “If it helps, they’d probably want you to be happy, right? So if you do something they wouldn’t have liked- but if it makes you happy- you have to think that maybe it would have been alright after all.”

The sky was darkening from outside the shop’s grubby window; storm clouds rolled in overhead, threatening and ominous. The shop quieted in an unknowing reverie of the elements. Mako slid along the plasticine booth seat, a little closer to Wu. For a moment, his fingers found Wu’s wrist, giving a reassuring squeeze, before relinquishing it.

An uncomfortable warmth crept up the tight collar of his uniform. Mako unfastened the topmost button that sat tight against his throat. This was too much, to be destabilized so quickly. He’d forgotten how easily Wu could do that to him, too.

“Eat. Before it gets cold.”

Wu saw Mako’s smile disappear, and for a moment he panicked, afraid that he’d messed up somehow. Then Mako moved over and squeezed his wrist, and Wu realized Mako just felt for him. Mako showed he cared in small ways. Wu was finally starting to realize that.

“Maybe,” said Wu. “I don’t think I knew them well enough to know.”

He didn’t elaborate; Mako probably already knew Wu had grown up without much interference from his parents. They were always busy. They were royalty, after all. Wu didn’t begrudge them that. His nannies had never been mean to him. He wished he knew better what his parents were like, but the memories he did have of them were nice enough.

Rain started to beat against the windows of the small shop. Wu poked at his food, eating it slowly, so as to savor it. He raised his eyebrows at Mako.

“You never talk about your parents,” he said, only realizing after he said it that he maybe should have hesitated. “I know you’re an orphan, but...” He trailed off, waving his hand instead of finishing his sentence. He didn’t know what he was trying to say. He just wanted to listen to Mako talk.

Wu had never seen Mako like this before. He always just looked annoyed, before. Even when Mako first told Wu that his parents were dead, too, the man had been closed-off. Wu was a little scared. For the first time, Mako seemed almost fragile. Wu knew that Mako was still the same strong, tough powerhouse, but maybe, just this once, Mako felt safe enough not to be guarded.

Fried dough did amazing things, it seemed.

“Grandma Yin showed me the scarf that you gave her.” Yin loved the tattered old thing and had showed it to Wu proudly while they were staying together at Asami’s mansion. The scarf was red and old and falling apart. It looked well-worn. Yin certainly loved it. “It was your dad’s, right?”

Wu looked back down at his plate, then back to Mako. Mako’s eyes, always so striking, were soft and sad. “Grandma Yin said he would have been proud of you.”

A Royal Pain