Maintaining the Balance

"He declined our invitation."
Though he had been present when the messenger delivered the report, Izumi couldn't help reiterating it the moment she and her father, former Fire Lord Zuko, were alone.
As much as he wanted to allay his daughter's concerns, Zuko shook his head in response to her words, saying, "There is little we can do about it. Kahn is a very free-spirited young man. Trying to force his hand will have the opposite effect."
Exhaling a sigh, Izumi closed her eyes as she calmly replied, "I am well aware of that. The problem here is my daughter, Ehuza. Kahn is the first kindred spirit she has ever met. His exotic appearance, slim and muscular body, and boundless knowledge are an irresistible appeal for her. In her mind, Kahn may as well be her soulmate..."
Though she would have been worried if her daughter had chosen virtually anyone else, Izumi had approved of Kahn even before she met the young man. The knowledge the Order of the White Lotus had gleaned by simply observing his training with Korra was slowly revolutionizing how Bending was taught. He was also the literal Avatar of Fire, so people were bound to associate Kahn with the Fire Nation. To that end, they were practically forced to befriend or forge ties with him.
"I understand your concerns, Izumi. However, this isn't a matter where we have any say. The only people that can decide whether or not Ethuza and Kahn are in a relationship are the two of them. If Kahn refuses, Ethuza has little choice but to accept his decision."
"Little does not me no choice..."
Raising his brows, Zuko was about to ask what his daughter meant when Izumi readily explained, "Ethuza has requested permission to stay on Air Temple Island. She says she wants to research Air Nomad culture at the source..."
"..."
Since Ethuza had always been a very passive girl, Zuko couldn't help feeling a little surprised by his daughter's revelation. Similar to Tenzin, he reached up to caress his pointy white beard, an amused smile on his face as he mused, "It would appear our little Ethuza has chosen to fight for her future..."
Nodding her head in affirmation, a rare smile developed across Izumi's face as she affectionately muttered, "So it would appear."
...
..
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*tok* *tok* *tok*
After idling about in his room for much of the afternoon, Kahn was getting ready for his pre-dinner bath when a soft knock caught his attention.
"Again...?"
Since it was pretty rare for people to come and knock on his door, Kahn couldn't help feeling a little annoyed. At least he wasn't bare-chested this time around.
Pulling open the door, Kahn expected to find a junior Air Acolyte there to deliver a message. Instead, he found a petite and inordinately busty girl with a rounded face, large, olive-green eyes, and dark-brown hair bound into a ponytail.
Though she was surprised by the door opening so suddenly, an excited smile bloomed across the girl's face as she practically exclaimed, "Good evening, Kahn~!"
"..."
Resisting the urge to slam the door shut, Kahn emulated a forced smile as he replied, "Good evening to you as well, Princess Ethuza..."
Smiling even more radiantly, Ethuza's voice took on a sing-song quality as she said, "You remembered. It may not have been a rational thought, but I was afraid you might have forgotten me."
Shaking his head, Kahn managed to make Ethuza even happier by stating, "Impossible..." in his usual, flat tone.
Though his memory was far from perfect, Kahn could never forget the girl that had spontaneously proposed to him minutes after their first meeting. Even if he had, he would have surely been reminded by one of the dozens of letters she had sent since then, averaging between 2-3 a week.
Seeing Ethuza wearing the traditional brown, red, and golden attire of an Air Acolyte, Kahn didn't have to ask in order to grasp the situation. Ethuza, or, more accurately, her mother, had convinced Tenzin to allow her to stay on the island. Either that or she had genuinely become an Air Acolyte.
"What brings you to my room? While women aren't exactly prohibited from entering the Men's Dormitory, it is generally considered improper."
Adopting a half-lidded smile, Ethuza took a half-step towards Kahn, eyes turned up and hands linked behind her back as she playfully asked, "Oh? What's the worst that could happen~?"
"..."
Inhaling a deep, steadying breath, Kahn surprised Ethuza by grabbing her shoulders. Her heart began racing like a Jackelope, but before she could close her eyes and pucker her lips, Kahn shattered her delusions, stating, "I don't view you as a romantic interest. We hardly even know each other, so behaving like this is just going to make me even less inclined to speak with you."
Opening her mouth and eyes wide, Ethuza wanted to say something but found herself wholly unable to speak. She thought she had prepared for Kahn's rejection, but the indescribable pain in her chest made it apparent she wasn't.
Inhaling sharply to combat the sour feeling building in her nose, Ethuza forced a smile as she said, "I know. That's actually one of the reasons I came here. I know you don't like me...I just wanted you to know I'm not going to give up that easily. I believe there is real chemistry between us. You may not see it right now, but I'm certain I can prove it if you just gave me a chance..."
Since Kahn had only responded to three of her 49 letters, Ethuza would have to be a fool to believe he liked her. If she hadn't been a Princess, he might not have responded to even a single one. Thus, in an effort to show just how serious she was, she essentially begged her mother to allow her to become a noviciate, a trainee Air Acolyte/Nun.
Exhaling a subdued sigh, Kahn's expression softened as he explained, "I acknowledge your conviction, but I currently have no interest in romance. Even if I did, you aren't the first girl to choose me as a potential partner. I don't want to see you, or anyone else for that matter, fighting over me. For now, I just want to focus on my duties and responsibilities as the Avatar of Fire and Absolution. Fourteen is just too young to make decisions such as this..."
Contrary to Kahn's expectations, Ethuza seemed to be genuinely relieved by his words. Most of the tension drained from her body as she adopted a far more sincere smile and said, "That's a relief. I was afraid you found me ugly or annoying. If the only problem is that you're not ready to commit to a romantic relationship, I still have a chance."
Pumping her fists, Ethuza didn't wait for Kahn's response before breaking away from his hold and fleeing towards the exit. Tears were building in the corners of her eyes, but they did nothing to undermine the determination contained within.
After watching Ethuza's figure disappear around the corner, a genuinely exasperated expression marred Kahn's face as he shut his door, leaned against the wall, and allowed himself to slide down. Dealing with girls that had irrationally fallen in love with him was among the most tiring activities Kahn could imagine.
"If things are going to continue like this, maybe I should consider making my appearance less appealing..."
Though he understood the principles of physical attraction, Kahn hadn't anticipated that his appearance would cause as much trouble as it had. He had even caught Pema, a woman eighteen years his senior, stealing glances at him when he was helping out around the house. He knew she would never act on them, but just knowing the motherly woman viewed him in such a manner made Kahn feel a mixture of guilt, exasperation, and concern.
"I wonder if Rokr had to deal with this? I should try asking the next time I visit the Spirit World..."
Thinking of his fellow Templates, Kahn's mind briefly wandered to Akua. They had never met, but he had seen a picture of her on one of the fliers used to promote her concerts. She had a bit of a boyish look, but she was easily one of the most beautiful women Kahn had ever seen. She was also one of the most famous people in the world. If he was suffering this much while trying to stay low-key, Kahn imagined Akua's interpersonal relations were a literal nightmare...
...
..
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While Kahn was worrying about his burgeoning love life, Akua was lying face down on her bed, totally naked except for a white towel covering her bottom.
Sitting atop said towel, straddling Akua in little more than silken pajamas, was a girl around the same age as her. Her black hair, sharp features, and pale-green eyes had appeared in the dreams of countless men and young boys. Unfortunately for her would-be suitors, she currently only had eyes for the young woman she was massaging.
"Every time I see your body, I can't help feeling a little envious...I'll never understand how you're able to compact such powerful muscles into such a slender and beautiful frame..."
Running her fingers down the line of Akua's back, the raven-haired girl's thumbs briefly stopped near the 'dimples' of her best friend's lower back. She would have gone further, but Akua chimed in to say, "Ah, ah, hands above the waist, you damn spaghetti brat."
Clicking her tongue, the raven-haired girl continued massaging Akua in silence for a few moments before asking, "I heard the Fire Nation tried to book you to perform at Fire Lord Izumi's coronation. Are you sure it was such a good idea to turn them down? Your mother may be from the Nor-"
Interrupting before the girl could finish, Akua gave off a sullen impression as she said, "Asami...you know I don't like getting involved with anything political. If my father believes he can use me to curry favor with the Fire Nation, he can shove a Satomobile up his ass."
Though she didn't mind performing to maintain her public image, Akua rarely accepted invitations to perform at official events. She hated how the people of 'high society' created most of the issues they incessantly complained about. Thus, as someone who had immersed herself in the darkness of Republic City at a young age, Akua refused to contribute to the illusion of stability perpetuated by the political and business elite.
Exhaling a sigh, Asami kneaded the remarkably firm muscles of Akua's shoulders as she organized her thoughts. Their respective mothers had asked her to try and convince Akua to participate in the coronation, not for her father, but herself. Akua was one of the most influential people in Republic City despite being a mere fifteen years old. She might not care about politics, but her millions of fans did...
Hearing Asami sigh, Akua's face formed into a rather grumpy expression before she, too, exhaled a sigh. Then, catching Asami by surprise, Akua bucked her hips before rolling over faster than the raven-haired beauty could recover. By the time she did, Akua had firmly grabbed the latter's butt, firmly kneading it with her fingers as she asked, "What's this really about?"
Though a faint glow spread through her cheeks, Asami did her best to appear calm as she swallowed the knot in her throat and answered, "I'm worried about you. We'll both be turning sixteen pretty soon. If you're not going to be serious about your performing, I'm worried the public will turn against you..."
Rolling her eyes, Akua moved her hands from Asami's bottom to her waist as she said, "You worry too much, kitten. I keep telling you that things will sort themselves out in the next couple of years. Don't you trust me?"
Pulling Akua's hands from her waist, Asami entwined their fingers as she answered, "You know I do...it's just, no amount of trust can make me stop worrying about you..."
Adopting a mischievous grin, Akua pulled her hands over her head in a way that caused Asami to fall towards her as she said, "Then I guess I'll need to use other methods..."

Since he had expected her to be more aggressive, Kahn was pleasantly surprised when Ethuza seemed to focus on her studies. She would greet him if their paths crossed, but, for the most part, she let him go about his business as usual.
After the Princess's arrival, the only real change to Kahn's life was Jinora being in a perpetually bad mood. She was usually a sterling student who paid close attention and rarely slacked in her training. Ever since Ethuza's arrival, she had been pouty, mopey, and generally unfocused.
---
Though it should have been one of the foundational pillars of all Bending Arts, Airbenders had always regarded meditation and spiritual reflection as the most crucial aspects of their training. Because of this, Air Temple Island had numerous meditation pavilions, the most prominent of which was located atop a cliff overlooking Yue Bay and the adjoining Mo Ce Sea.
Since Kahn had forbidden them from starting their physical training before they were eight years old, Jinora and Ikki would spend an average of five hours a day meditating and focusing on the wind. It was a form of training intended to promote discipline, patience, and, most importantly, a general awareness of the flow of Chi in the environment.
Seeing Jinora slouching slightly while her three-year-old sister maintained a straight back, Kahn broke the two-and-a-half-hour silence by asking, "If you're unable to clear them from your mind, voice your thoughts aloud. Air is the element of freedom and expression. Compartmentalizing, especially negative emotions, is no different from poisoning oneself."
Hearing Kahn's words, Jinora's shoulders slumped even farther before she opened her eyes and asked, "Do I have to?"
Shaking his head, Kahn answered, "Even if you shout them to the open sea with no one else is around, it's enough. However, it's a lot healthier to share your grievances with people you trust. Bottling things up and only sharing once you've been backed into a corner or broken down will leave you feeling regretful and foolish."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Jinora lowered her eyes to the ground in front of Kahn as she tentatively explained, "I...I'm upset with my parents. I don't like that they allowed the Princess to come and stay on the island."
"Hmm..."
Resisting the urge to say, "Obviously," Kahn paused for a moment before asking, "Do the teachings of the Air Nomads shun people because of their political affiliation, status, or origin?"
Confused by Kahn's question, Jinora stared at him with her mouth agape before ultimately shaking her head and answering, "No..."
"Then you're not upset because they allowed her to come and stay on the island. You're upset because of something more...personal..."
Though he knew why Jinora was upset, Kahn knew it was important she voiced it herself. If he said it, it would sound like an accusation, and, as a result, she would deny it and feel attacked. He didn't want to compromise the trust they had built over the past few years, so Kahn could only coax the answer out of her.
Furrowing her brows, Jinora felt a mixture of guilt, shame, and uncertainty wash over her like a cold wind. She was the most aware of the reason she was upset, but she just couldn't say it. She wanted to, but the words kept getting stuck in her throat.
"You're focusing too much on your emotions. Close your eyes, relax your body, and breathe. Focus on the air entering your lungs, coursing through your body, and filling you with life. It's not as though I'm expecting you to answer right this instant. You've already made extraordinary progress in your training. Even if you need a few days, weeks, or even months, I have no intention of pressing the issue if you're unwilling to talk about it."
Demonstrating his point, Kahn straightened his back before linking his hands together and focusing on his breathing. He had already done what he could by broaching the subject and forcing it to the surface. From this moment onward, it was up to Jinora whether or not she wanted to follow his advice or keep brooding over the path of another.
Seeing Kahn resume his meditation, Jinora felt even guiltier than before. She also felt a little hurt, but understanding Kahn wasn't at fault for how she chose to feel, she did her best not to shift the blame to him. Instead, she cast a glance toward her sister, who, despite the conversation from before, at least pretended to be in a deep state of meditation.
Exhaling a sigh, Jinora brought her hands together and tried to focus on her breathing. Her mind was even more chaotic than before, but she felt obligated to at least try and enter a meditative state. Kahn had invested a lot of time and energy into her training, and she didn't want to disappoint him...
...
..
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Though Kahn had never even hinted at being interested in a relationship, Jinora wasn't the only girl suffering as a result of lovesickness.
Far to the South of Republic City, Korra could be seen flexing in front of a mirror with a vexed, clearly anxious look on her face.
"I look horrendous..."
Deflating like a balloon, Korra took a seat on a nearby bench in order to hang her head and sulk. She used to love her muscles, but ever since she had started her period a few months prior, she had been feeling gloomy and depressed as her body rapidly developed feminine characteristics.
Korra knew she was a girl, obviously, but the notion of being beautiful had never even crossed her mind until relatively recently. Now that she had a better understanding of the relations between men and women, a lot had changed in a very short period, both physically and mentally.
Though she was initially enthusiastic about her breasts developing from buds into proper mammaries, Korra couldn't shake the feeling they didn't suit her. Before she started puberty, she had worked hard to develop her abs, thighs, back, and shoulder muscles. Now that her waist had slimmed and certain parts of her body had begun to balloon, Korra felt like she was becoming a hideous monster. She had attempted to combat it by starving herself, but her mother, Katara, and pretty much everyone else prevented her from doing so.
"At this rate, I doubt Kahn will even want to look at me..."
Reaching up to caress the pale, icy-blue jade pendant dangling from her choker, something her parents had flipped out over, Korra felt a sudden and intense urge to just tear it away. She ultimately chose not to, but that did little to counteract feelings of pain, shame, and guilt that threatened to consume her whenever she recalled the circumstances of its creation.
Back when Korra had forced Kahn to carve the pendant for her, she hadn't fully understood its significance. She just wanted something to remember him by, so she had him carve a necklace for her after observing how her mother would often caress her own while gazing to the North.
Shortly after Kahn's departure, Korra learned the true significance of the necklace when her mother caught her trying it on. The incident ended up causing quite a stir, so much so that her father had immediately traveled from the North Pole just to discuss the matter directly.
At first, Korra thought she had done something wrong by making Kahn carve the necklace for her. She tried to take all of the blame, and, for a time, she seriously considered just throwing it into the ocean. It was the assurance of Katara and Toph that Kahn understood the significance of the necklace that compelled her to keep and eventually wear it.
Before his departure, Korra had never even considered that she might 'like like' Kahn. He was her best friend and someone she had learned to rely on due to his vast, seemingly endless knowledge. She liked him, sure, but the notion they could be something 'more' than friends had never registered for her back then.
With Katara and Toph reassuring her that Kahn understood what she had practically forced him into, Korra gradually became more conscious of the boy that had accompanied her during her childhood. She started viewing the time they spent together in a different light and, over time, gradually became embarrassed by her past self's actions.
In Korra's memory, Kahn was inhumanly patient and tolerant. There were occasions when he came across as a jerk, but more often than not, it was because of something she had said or done. Even then, Kahn would never hold grudges. Her past self had done things like creating pitfalls under his futon, drawing on his face during meditation, and even breaking down the walls of his room, but Kahn never got truly upset with her. He just endured everything her younger self threw at him and even offered advice on how to better conceal her traps.
Recalling the time when Kahn had attempted to teach her calligraphy so she could better draw on his face, a soft chuckle emanated from Korra's throat. She was still feeling a little frustrated about the recent changes in her body, but reminiscing about the times she spent with Kahn had, once again, made her feel better...
...
..
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While Kahn was accompanying Jinora and Ikki in the meditation pavilion, Ethuza kept a close eye on him through an expensive telescope she had purchased before moving to Air Temple Island. Its intended application was stargazing, but Ethuza had repurposed it into a spying tool to keep tabs on the boy she liked.
"Oh, Kahn...even when you're just sitting and doing nothing, you are the light that illuminates the darkness in my heart. If only I could be there at your side and feel your warmth against my skin..."
Imagining such a scene within her mind, a shudder ran through Ethuza's body that compelled her to adjust her position atop the branch she was perched. Lying prone against a tree branch for several hours was harder than she had anticipated, but it was nothing compared to the discomfort she felt not being able to see and spend time with Kahn.
Fortunately for Ethuza, the life of an Air Acolyte was remarkably leisurely. Kahn also lived an abnormally structured lifestyle, so much so that it was possible to surmise when and where he was located so long as you had a basic grasp of his schedule. The only time he deviated from his routine in the slightest was when someone interrupted or asked him for help.
Thanks to the excessive amount of free time she was provided, Ethuza was able to get a basic grasp of Kahn's entire schedule. She knew where he would be and what he would be doing at specific times throughout the day. Was this stalkery? Yes. However, for the sake of winning Kahn's love, Ethuza believed information and understanding would be key. Since Kahn was clearly uncomfortable with sharing directly, Ethuza had no choice but to observe and gather information discreetly.
"Hmm? What's this...?"
Adjusting the zoom and focus on her telescope, Ethuza was able to see a faint red blush developing across Kahn's eyelids. This further emphasized his exotic appeal, but before Ethuza could admire him fully, Kahn abruptly opened his eyes and gazed in her general direction.
"Eh...?"
While Air Temple Island wasn't the largest island in the world, it was still more than a kilometer across. Ethuza was currently on the opposite end of the island, so even if he were to look directly at her, Kahn shouldn't be able to see her. At least, that's what Ethuza was telling herself as Kahn narrowed his eyes in her direction...

*knock* *knock* *knock*
Hearing a knock at his door, Kahn, now appearing as a young boy with an athletic frame and wild, nearly pitch-black, opened his eyes and said, "It's open." in his usual, monotonous tone. He immediately came to regret this as the person who opened his door was none other than Jinora.
"Kahn? Are you-"
Seeing a shirtless Kahn supporting himself upside down on nothing but his fingertips, Jinora's brain briefly short-circuited. Physical training was an essential component of Chi development, so, ever since he was eight years old, Kahn had been training and refining his body every day, and it showed.
Though she had just turned seven a few months prior, Jinora had always been a curious, borderline precocious girl. She spent a lot of time reading historical dramas and romance stories, so, even though she shouldn't, she couldn't help gawking until Kahn flipped to his feet, back turned to her as he asked, "Do your parents know you're visiting the Men's Dormitory?"
"Uhh...."
Averting her eyes from the muscles of Kahn's back, Jinora replied, "Mom was the one who gave me permission. Dad wanted to speak with you, so I volunteered to fly over..."
Noticing Jinora avert her eyes, Kahn quickly donned a form-fitting black t-shirt and the fur-collard vest Korra had sent to him for his tenth birthday. It barely covered half of his torso ever since his growth spurt, but he still wore it whenever he went out.
"Understood. Let's go."
Without giving Jinora time to respond, Kahn practically ushered her out of his room. He didn't want her to develop the idea he was comfortable with her trespassing the Men's Dormitory, much less his room. Unless it was an emergency, she could have called out to him or asked one of the Acolytes loitering around outside to inform him of her arrival. There was no need to enter the Men's Dormitory directly.
Realizing she had erred, Jinora meekly inquired, "Did I mess up? Are...are you mad?"
Inhaling through his nose, Kahn made a show of exhaling a sincere yet feigned sigh of exasperation. He still struggled with emoting whenever he was genuinely angry or upset, but he had gotten a lot better at emulating the reactions others expected from him.
"It's fine so long as you don't make a habit of it. Next time, just call out to me. My ears are sensitive enough that I could probably hear you shouting from the Temple."
Misunderstanding Kahn's words, a faint blush colored Jinora's cheeks as she muttered, "I'm not that loud..."
With Jinora looking away from him with a pout, Kahn just shook his head before asking, "Do you know what your father wants to discuss? The only thing that comes to mind is Korra's coming of age ceremony, but that isn't for another five months."
Hearing Kahn mention Korra, Jinora's brows creased as she ignored his question and asked, "Do you miss her? Korra, I mean. You wear the jacket she made for you everywhere you go..."
Raising his brows, a faint smile developed across Kahn's face as he asked, "Didn't you say this jacket looked cool on me? You really change your tone whenever I mention Korra..."
"..."
Feeling annoyed, a burst of wind pulsed away from Jinora's feet as she said, "We should hurry..." before ascending into the sky as if gravity had suddenly stopped affecting her. She had improved significantly over the past three and a half years, so much so that she could easily cover more than a hundred kilometers before needing to rest. If she had a glider with her, she could easily quadruple that.
Exhaling yet another sigh, Kahn slipped his hands into his pockets as tiny bands of vibrant, bluish-white lightning began to crackle across his body, further accenting his already untamed hair. He could also fly if he wanted to, but his preferred method of travel, at least across short distances, was a technique he had coined the 'flash step'.
While the knowledge of numerous Flash Steps existed in Kahn's mind, the version he used was effectively just a superpowered leap. He had gotten much better at infusing lightning into his body, so much so that he could now target specific muscle groups. Fire Elemental Enhancement also had the curious effect of reducing the user's weight, so Kahn could now cover as much as 130m in a single step. The downside was that executing more than a dozen or so steps in quick succession would make his thighs and calves feel as though they were going to explode.
Unfortunately for Jinora, her maximum speed without her specialized equipment was only around 60km/h. Kahn's 'effective' speed was close to 400km/h, so he was already there waiting for her by the time she reached the Temple.
Landing a few meters away from Kahn, Jinora's expression was now a full-on glower as she said, "I hate when you do that..."
Scratching the back of his head, Kahn elected to remain silent as Jinora walked past him. He had learned to stay quiet whenever a woman, even a girl as young as Jinora, was behaving irrationally. Asking why they were upset or trying to reason with them would just further upset them. Thus, unless he had done something meriting an apology, he would just remain silent until they invariably apologized or explained why they were upset.
Demonstrating the value of this wisdom, Jinora and Kahn only made it a few steps into the Temple when the former lowered her head and softly muttered, "Sorry...I don't actually hate you or anything..."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Kahn stated, "I know." before extending his hand to ruffle Jinora's hair. She shook her head away in response, but, after checking to make sure her buns hadn't come undone, a faint smile developed across her face as she revealed, "I heard Dad say something about Fire Lord Zuko stepping down. I'm not sure what it has to do with you, but that's what they were talking about earlier."
Imagining several possibilities, none of them good, Kahn's expression morphed into a genuine frown. Tenzin had attempted, quite a number of times, to get him involved with the sociopolitical affairs of Republic City. He had also tried to arrange a meeting between him and Akua, but, as he had no desire to 'trigger' anything before Korra's arrival, Kahn had split his focus between training and educating Tenzin's two daughters, the seven-year-old Jinora and four-year-old Ikki.
Though Ikki was less talented than Jinora, she had the distinct advantage of having Kahn around her entire life. He had watched over her since she was an infant, and, during Pema's third pregnancy, he was the one taking care of her and Jinora while their mother battled a severe illness.
Kahn had refused Tenzin's and Pema's offer to become their adopted son, but he still viewed Jinora, Ikki, and the two-year-old Meelo as his siblings. He still had the duty of protecting Korra, but if anyone ever tried to harm Tenzin and his family, Kahn would show them the rather ironic reason he was the Avatar of Fire and Absolution. He would burn them until there was nothing left to forgive...
...
..
.
Despite seeing Kahn enter the room alongside his daughter, a fatherly smile developed across Tenzin's face as he said, "Ah, Kahn, thank you for coming on such short notice. I know today is your day off, so I appreciate you coming over."
Shaking his head, Kahn said, "It's not a problem." before shifting his gaze to Pema, smiling as he said, "Good afternoon, Pema."
Squinting her eyes in gratification, Pema returned a heartwarming smile of her own as she replied, "Good afternoon, Kahn. I see you used that little stepping technique of yours to get here. Your hair looks like a bird's nest."
Reaching up, Kahn attempted in vain to comb down his hair as he asked, "Tenzin, you wanted to see me? Is there something I can help with...?"
Understanding that Kahn wasn't one for small talk, Tenzin got straight to the point, explaining, "Fire Lord Zuko will soon be ceding his throne to his eldest daughter, Izumi. They have sent you an invitation and even have an airship waiting for you in port."
Rolling his eyes, Kahn asked, "And? I may be the Avatar of Fire, but I have no direct relation to the Fire Nation. I've also met Fire Lord Zuko a total of seven times. What purpose could he have in inviting me to his daughter's coronation?"
Shaking his head, Tenzin clarified, "It wasn't Lord Zuko who invited you, but the soon-to-be coronated Fire Lord Izumi. As for her reason...I don't think I need to explain that to you..."
--flashback to seven months prior---
Though it varied from region to region, most citizens of the Four Nations were considered adults by the age of fourteen, marriageable by the age of sixteen, and old enough to consume alcohol at eighteen.
After residing on Air Temple Island for the better part of four and a half years, Kahn, standing a commendable 168cm in height, was preparing to celebrate his fourteenth birthday.
Since turning fourteen was a special occasion, quite a number of people, several of which Kahn had never even met, came by to congratulate him. The majority belonged to the Order of the White Lotus, but the group that stood out most was Fire Lord Zuko and his extended family.
As the Avatar of Fire, Kahn was of special interest to the Fire Nation and, more specifically, the members of the Royal Family. They had invited him to come and tour the Fire Nation Capital several times and even extended him an offer to become the Royal Instructor of Izumi's daughter, Princess Ethuza.
Though Princess Izumi's eldest son, Crown Prince Iroh was thirty-three, her daughter, Princess Ethuza, was much younger at fourteen years old. She was considered something of a miracle child, as, before her sudden and unexpected pregnancy, Izumi had been showing signs of beginning menopause. This resulted in numerous complications and a complicated delivery, so, after much deliberation, Izumi decided to name her daughter Ethuza, meaning Precious Gift.
Since her daughter happened to be around the same age as Kahn, Izumi decided to accompany her father to Air Temple Island. She didn't believe anything would come of it, but, at the very least, she wanted to introduce her daughter to Kahn.
What Izumi had failed to take into consideration was just how exotic and handsome Kahn was. Her daughter was a bit of a recluse, often choosing to spend her time in the Palace Library, but even she couldn't help ogling the remarkably fit, untamed-looking youth.
After a considerable amount of hesitation, Ethuza managed to muster up the courage to speak with Kahn. Since she wasn't very sociable, she tried breaking the ice by quoting a passage she had stumbled across in one of her books. To her surprise, Kahn responded with a quote from the same book before confidently giving its title with a deadpan expression on his face.
Believing Kahn was one of her kin, meaning a bibliophile, all of the fear and anxiety Ethuza had felt approaching him vanished. Their conversation didn't last very long, but by the end of it, she was one reciprocative quote away from pouncing on him. He seemed to have encyclopedia knowledge of every book she had ever read, even the more obscure titles. Thus, after a mere seven minutes, Ethuza surprised virtually everyone at the party by spontaneously asking Kahn to marry her...
---back to the present---
"I have no intention of marrying Princess Ethuza. Please inform Lord Zuko and Fire Lord Izumi that I appreciate the efforts they made to provide an airship, but I won't be attending the coronation."
Without waiting for Tenzin's response, Kahn cupped his hands together before promptly turning around to leave. To his confusion, Tenzin didn't even try to stop him. Instead, the middle-aged Airbender began stroking his beard with an amused smile on his face...

Chapter 18: Chapter 18