── 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.

[ 001 ] HOME, SWEET, HOME
❝And who's this? Another one of your women?❞

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 SANYU HAD ONLY EVER been with one man: General Iroh II.

 Sometimes, being with him felt like stepping into a dream──intimate yet distant, as if she were caught between the warmth of the present and the ghosts of the past. Maybe it was the legacy he carried, the name that followed through history. His grandfather, Fire Lord Zuko, had been a close friend of her grandfather, Avatar Aang. The thought brought her a strange stir of comfort and unease, like their shared lineage always lingered around them.

 But there were moments──precious, fleeting moments──when all of that faded away.

 Iroh's touch had a way of unraveling her, filling cracks she hadn't known existed. It wasn't just passion──it was the gentle way he cupped her face, the warmth in his voice when he called her by name, the softness he hid from everyone else but her. He reshaped her in ways she couldn't explain, making her feel simultaneously whole and vulnerable.

 She loved watching him sleep. In those rare, peaceful moments, he wasn't a general, wasn't a prince, just Iroh. His features relaxed, and the weight he carried slipped away. She memorized those moments, holding them close like delicate treasures, because when he was awake, he was a man shaped by duty, by expectation. By the same burdens that often kept her awake at night.

 And yet, for all the tenderness, something always held her back.

 Their relationship felt like it hovered in a flimsy in-between space, neither defined nor dismissed. She loved the way he made her feel──safe, cherished──but she knew they were both avoiding the questions that would force them to confront whatever this was.

 Were they a fling? Something more?

 She didn't know. They never named it, never pushed past the unspoken boundaries. And maybe that was for the best. Naming it might make it real, and reality was far messier than this liminal space they had built.

 But when the nights stretched long, and the loneliness pressed in, she found herself reaching for him. For his warmth, for the way he grounded her when everything else felt like it was spinning out of control. She couldn't imagine facing it all without him. The thought of losing this──whatever this was──felt like staring into a void, one that might swallow her whole.

 So she stayed in his arms, letting the silence speak for them. Together, they shed their masks, if only for a few stolen hours. And even though she didn't know where they were headed, she knew one thing: when she was with him, the world felt just a little bit lighter.

 When the time came to let him go, Sanyu knew she would be ready. Their relationship had always been undefined. She was her mother's daughter, after all: strong enough to walk away when the moment demanded it, just as her mother had when she left her husband behind.

 Sunlight streamed through the slats of the curtains, painting golden lines across the general's bedroom. Sanyu stirred, shifting the heavy arm draped possessively over her waist. The room was still, save for the faint rustle of the sheets. Clothes lay scattered on the floor, discarded in the heat of passion the night before. She moved quietly, her bare feet brushing against the cool wooden floor as she searched for her garments.

 "Morning, general," she teased, glancing back at the man beginning to stir with a playful smile.

 He groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Morning, officer," he replied warmly, savoring the sound of her teasing tone.

 She stepped into the sunlight, slipping on her uniform piece by piece. Iroh propped himself up on one elbow, watching her with an easy smile, taking in the sight of her beautiful body. The light then caught the scar on her right arm, reminding him of her crushing childhood──one she had fought and barely survived. His gaze softened.

 "You're up early," he murmured, pushing himself out of bed and crossing the room to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a gentle kiss to the burned scar. "Too early."

 She leaned back into him for a moment before sighing softly. "Duty calls," she said as she fastened her belt. Her uniform was unlike the standard Republic City police attire. Instead of heavy metal plating, it was crafted from light, flexible material──designed to keep her nimble as she soared through the skies on her glider. Every detail was calculated, every ounce intentional, because for Sanyu, freedom of movement was non-negotiable.

 "Wouldn't you like to stay just a little longer?" Iroh asked, resting his head against her shoulder as if trying to anchor her there. His voice carried the faintest trace of longing, his body still aching from the night they had shared. He glanced down at her with a weary, lopsided grin. "You came all the way from Republic City just to see me."

 Sanyu wrinkled her nose in mock annoyance, though the affection in her gaze betrayed her. She tilted her head up, standing on her tippy toes to plant a soft kiss on his forehead, her fingers trailing through his silky hair. She couldn't help but marvel at how perfect he looked, even then.

 Firebenders, she thought, are something else. And General Iroh? He was the most beautiful man she'd ever laid eyes on.

 "On a glider, no less," he added, chuckling as he imagined the journey she had taken across the vast ocean to reach his battleship. It wasn't the first time she had done something this impulsive for him, and each time, it left him in awe. "You're incredible, you know that?"

 Her fingers lingered on his cheek for just a moment longer. There was a flicker of something in her eyes──an ache too raw to name or maybe a silent apology she couldn't bring herself to voice.

 "You know I can't stay," she said finally, her voice quieter now, like the words might hurt less if they were whispered.

 His hand shot up, catching hers as she started to pull away. "Don't do this," he pleaded. "Don't leave me like you always do. Not this time."

 She froze, his words hitting like a punch to the gut. Her lips parted, but nothing came out. Her usual mask of composure wavered, and the smile she tried to summon faltered before it could fully form.

 "I wish I could promise you that," she whispered, her breath ghosting against his skin as she leaned in close. "I really do."

 Then her lips met his──not just a kiss, but with everything she couldn't say. It was a desperate kind of fondness, a promise tangled with a goodbye she didn't have the strength to make.

 When she pulled back, her forehead rested against his for just a heartbeat longer. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

 And just like that, she slipped from his grasp, pulling on her coat. She crouched to retrieve her glider, which lay nestled among the general's scattered clothes.

 "Stay," Iroh pleaded once more, desperate to make her stay. "Just for breakfast?"

 He hadn't seen her in weeks, only heard from her through fleeting letters that left him with more questions than answers. Then, out of nowhere, she had shown up at his door in the dead of night, a crooked smile on her lips before kissing him with a passion that left him dizzy. He didn't always understand her──not her timing, her guardedness, or her tendency to vanish without warning──but oh, how he wanted to. He wanted to know every corner of her heart, if only she would let him in.

 Sanyu hesitated, her fingers brushing the glider's smooth wood. She turned to him, her expression softening. "I can't, Iroh. You know how dangerous Republic City is right now. Duty calls." Her hand reached out, caressing his face, her thumb brushing along his cheek with a tenderness that only made leaving harder. "I'm sorry. I hate leaving you."

 He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes briefly as he tried to memorize the feel of her skin against his. She was always like this: there one moment, gone the next, leaving him to wonder when she would return. His heart clenched at the thought of her walking out the door again, but he knew better than to fight her. Sanyu wasn't someone you could convince to stay──not when her heart was set on going.

 "Okay," he said, the word heavy with resignation. His hand reached out to squeeze hers, grounding himself in her presence for a fleeting moment longer. He forced a smile, gentle and full of love despite the ache in his chest that had become far too familiar. "I'll see you around, perhaps?"

 Her lips curved into a wistful smile. "I'll see you around," she murmured, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to his lips.

 But she didn't stop there. She peppered kisses across his face──his forehead, his cheeks, the tip of his nose──each one carrying the weight of the affection she struggled to put into words.

 "I love you, Iroh," she whispered against his skin. Her voice was barely audible, so soft she wasn't sure he heard it at all. Maybe she didn't want him to, not really. But deep down, in the part of her she kept locked away, she hoped he did. Because the words didn't come easily for her, and they meant more than she could say.

 She stepped back, her glider in hand, her gaze lingering on him a moment too long. It was as if she were memorizing the shape of him, the way he stood, the way he looked at her. Then, before her resolve could falter, she turned away.

 Iroh didn't stop her. He watched her go, his heart feeling impossibly heavy and full all at once. He didn't know where they were headed or what the future held for them, but he knew one thing for certain: Sanyu had his heart, whether she stayed or whether she flew.

 The door clicked shut behind her, and the silence that followed was deafening. It pressed down on him like the weight of unspoken words, of all the things he hadn't──couldn't──say when it mattered.

 "Take care, Sanyu," he murmured to the empty room. He leaned against the doorframe, dragging a hand through his hair.

 And already, he was counting. The days. The hours. The minutes. Until her next return──unexpected, fleeting, and bittersweet, as it always was.

 "I love you too..." he said at last. The only one left to hear him was the silence, but somehow, he hoped it carried to wherever she was.

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 FLYING WITH A GLIDER wasn't always the most reliable way to travel──especially in heavy rain. Sanyu knew this well.

 By the time she reached the fisherman's ship, soaked to the bone and clutching her glider like a lifeline, she felt more like a beggar than an airbender. Hitching rides from strangers wasn't exactly dignified, but she didn't have the luxury of pride. Not when it had already taken her nearly a week to get to Republic City.

 Sometimes, she surprised herself with the lengths she went for the people she loved. It was a bittersweet realization. The contrast to her father, Tenzin, was almost laughable. What had he ever done for her, really? He hadn't done a thing──not after that night, the one that had left scars far deeper than she was willing to admit. And when she had discovered his other family, the one he seemed to care so much about, it had broken something in her. The rage it had sparked still simmered, a quiet, relentless burn.

 Now, standing on the deck of the weather-worn ship, Sanyu gazed out at the endless ocean, the salty air whipping past her face. The fisherman──a wiry, weathered man who seemed as much a part of the sea as the waves themselves──worked the helm, his hands guiding the vessel through the waves toward its destination. Despite the storm raging in her heart, Sanyu was grateful for his kindness.

 Republic City finally appeared on the horizon, its towering buildings stretching into the clouds. Her heart thudded harder──not from relief, but from anticipation coursing through her veins. She tightened her grip on the glider strapped to her back.

 "Thank you, sir!" she called, raising her voice over the crash of the waves.

 The fisherman waved with a small smile, but she was already moving. With a practiced leap, she launched herself off the deck. The wind caught her, and she soared.

 The sky wrapped around her like an old friend, cool and fresh after the rain. The air pressed against her face as she glided, the world below shrinking with every passing second. Up here, everything felt lighter──the weight in her chest, the ache of old memories. If she could have become one with the wind, she would have. If she could have lived among the clouds, she'd never have looked back. But she wasn't the wind; she was only human.

 The suspension bridge stretched out beneath her, a silver thread connecting the bustling city to the rest of the world. To her left, the towering statue of her grandfather, Avatar Aang, came into view.

 She shifted her glider to take it all in. His calm, serene gaze watched over the city, the staff in his hand a symbol of peace and strength.

 No matter how many times she saw the statue, it never failed to tug at something deep inside her. Pride, mostly. Being the granddaughter of someone so revered was an honor she felt in her bones. But alongside that pride was guilt.

 Her grip tightened on the glider as her chest ached with her failures. The nightmares that plagued her had set her back, holding her airbending progress in place like an anchor. She wondered, not for the first time, what her grandfather would think if he could see her now. Would he have been disappointed?

 "I'm sorry, Grandpa..." Sanyu whispered, her gaze fixed on the towering statue of Avatar Aang. The words slipped out automatically, an apology laden with guilt. She always said it, every time she looked up at him.

 As she drew closer to Republic City, her heart tugged her toward Air Temple Island. It had been a week──three days to reach General Iroh's battleship and another three to return──since she last saw her half-siblings, Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo. She knew they had probably been watching the horizon every day, hoping for her arrival. Visiting them after her shift had become a ritual, a way to bond with them and ensure she was nothing like her absent father. She refused to follow in his footsteps.

 She sighed, shaking her head, before banking toward the harbor. The afternoon sun painted the island in golden hues as she landed firmly, her boots meeting the familiar stone path. It felt strange to be here while the city bustled without her, her mother likely deep in her work chasing criminals. Would Lin be angry? Sanyu wondered, her lips quirking into a nervous smile. Probably. But the thought of being scolded for prioritizing a man──a general, no less──made her smirk.

 From the distance, she heard it before she saw it: the excited shouts of her siblings. Her heart lightened as Meelo's small figure spun around dramatically, his arm shooting out to point at her.

 "Sanyu's back! Sanyu's back!" Ikki cried out, bouncing up and down with uncontainable energy.

 "Yay, Sanyu's back!" Meelo exclaimed before they both zoomed toward the harbor on air scooters, their laughter ringing out over the water.

 Jinora followed at a calmer pace. The eldest of Pema and Tenzin's children carried herself with a kind of maturity that set her apart from her younger siblings. Instead of air scooting, she ran, a wide smile lighting up her face.

 Sanyu's glider folded with a satisfying snap as she watched the kids sped toward her. Before she could even take a breath, Ikki and Meelo barreled into her, their small arms wrapping tightly around her waist. Their laughter bubbled up, filling the air with joy.

 "Sanyu! We missed you so much!" Ikki squealed, squeezing as if she would never let go.

 Meelo, not to be outdone, added, "We thought you were never coming back!"

 "Of course I came back," Sanyu said, laughing. "You think I'd leave you guys forever?"

 Jinora arrived moments later, her smile as warm as the late afternoon sun. She joined the hug, wrapping her arms around Sanyu and her younger siblings. Together, they formed a tight, comforting circle, their shared affection momentarily drowning out the world around them.

 "We missed you," Jinora confessed, pulling back from the embrace just enough to smile up at Sanyu. Meelo clung tightly to her arm, while Ikki scrambled onto Sanyu's back, latching on like a koala claiming a branch.

 "You were gone forever! Like, a whole week!" Ikki declared, nodding vigorously and tightening her arms around Sanyu's neck. "We waited for you every single day! We even stayed up all night, even though Dad got mad and said we needed to sleep..."

 "Yeah, we stayed up all night! It was awesome!" Meelo chimed in. He was full of energy as he clambered up alongside Ikki, managing to squish himself onto Sanyu's back. "So, did you bring us anything? Did you? Please say yes, big sister!"

 Sanyu couldn't help but laugh at their enthusiasm. They were always like this──bright, boundless energy wrapped in tiny bodies. They were rays of sunshine in her life, bursts of sunshine that she cherished deeply. She would do anything to protect them from the kind of hurt she had known too well.

 But as she watched them, a familiar ache crept in; her smile faltered briefly. She wondered, constantly wondered, what her childhood might have been like if things had been different. If Tenzin hadn't been so distant. If he'd shown her even a fraction of the love he so freely gave to these three. After all, he was her father too.

 "All right, all right, let's give your sister some space," Tenzin's voice carried over to them as he approached, his calm, measured tone contrasting starkly with the overwhelming energy of the younger kids.

 They groaned in unison but reluctantly peeled themselves off Sanyu, though Ikki lingered a second longer before hopping down.

 Sanyu glanced toward him and immediately noticed the young woman──a girl, really──walking beside him. Another one. Was this yet another woman he was considering as a bride? A new mother for his perfect little family? Sanyu's thoughts swirled bitterly. This one looked younger than Pema. Too young, probably closer to Sanyu's own age.

 The girl was dressed in Air Nomad attire. Sanyu blinked. Her lips pressed into a thin line. The robes looked awkward on her, as if they didn't quite fit her personality.

 "She might be tired from her work," Tenzin added, addressing the kids as he came closer. His expression was serious, like it always was around her.

 Sanyu's smile faded. The warmth she reserved for her siblings evaporated as Tenzin drew near. Their relationship had always been strained. She resented his sudden attempts to reconnect after so many years, his focus on his new family, and his lack of effort toward her and Lin. He was her father, but he rarely felt like one.

 "Oh. Hey... Dad," she mumbled, the word awkward on her tongue, as if it didn't quite belong. Her eyes flicked to the girl beside him, and her brow furrowed. "And who's this? Another one of your women?"

 Tenzin's face flushed as he sputtered, struggling to respond, while the girl stared at Sanyu, wide-eyed. Jinora and Ikki giggled behind her, and Meelo, always the instigator, piped up, "Yeah! She's one of his women! Trust me!"

 "Meelo!" Tenzin snapped before he straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. "No, she's not one of my women. For the record, I only have Pema──"

 "Right. Lin's not your woman anymore. Got it," Sanyu cut in, cool and detached. Her gaze shifted back to the stranger, who was now wearing an awkward smile. "So, who are you, then?"

 "I'm Korra!" the girl announced. She was brimming with confidence despite the tension in the air as she placed her hands on her hips. "The Avatar!"

 Sanyu fought the urge to roll her eyes, though her scowl deepened internally. The boundless energy radiating from Korra grated on her nerves. She wasn't fond of overly enthusiastic people──they reminded her too much of everything she wasn't. What was there to be so cheerful about when life had a habit of smacking you in the face?

 But despite herself, Sanyu's gaze lingered on Korra's determined expression. There was something admirable about that fiery spark in her eyes, something familiar. It was the look of someone who'd been through relentless training, someone who'd fought hard to get where they were. That kind of grit struck a chord with Sanyu, even if she'd never admit it out loud.

 "Are you training for airbending?" she asked, curious. Her eyes flicked to Korra's Air Nomad robes, and for a moment, she got distracted. Look at those arms, Sanyu thought, her gaze briefly locking on Korra's exposed muscles. She was built like a bodybuilder.

 "Yeah," Korra replied with a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of her neck. "It's been tough, though. I've mastered all the other elements, but airbending? Not so much." Her eyes lit up suddenly. "Oh! I saw you gliding earlier! So, you're an airbender, right? Can you teach me?"  

 "No," Sanyu said flatly before she left without another word. She didn't slow her pace, walking hand in hand with Jinora toward the mansion, her glider strapped to her back.

 Behind them, Meelo and Ikki darted around on their air scooters, zipping and weaving to keep up. Meelo nearly collided with a pillar as Ikki spun in a circle, giggling.

 Korra blinked, caught off guard by the bluntness. "Why not?" she asked, hurrying to keep up with the siblings. "I'm the Avatar, you know! You're supposed to help me learn airbending... uh, your way," she added, rubbing the back of her neck.

 "My way?" Sanyu repeated, arching her eyebrow in skepticism.

 Korra nodded enthusiastically, a hopeful grin spreading across her face.

 Sanyu stopped walking, turning just enough to glance at Korra over her shoulder. "If that's the case, my way is avoiding airbending altogether," she answered curtly. "Nice chatting with you, Avatar. Goodbye."

 She started walking again, but Korra, undeterred, jogged after her. Before she could say anything else, Meelo piped up.

 "Don't ever mention airbending to her!" he blurted, his small face uncharacteristically serious. "She hates it!"

 "Meelo!" Jinora hissed, spinning toward him with wide eyes. "Be quiet!"

 But it was too late. The damage was done.

 Sanyu froze, her expression shifting almost imperceptibly. The spark that always seemed to follow her, whether it was wild joy or stormy anger, dimmed, leaving her looking smaller, quieter. Jinora felt a pang in her chest at the sight. This version of Sanyu──the muted, somber one──felt wrong.

 Without a word, Jinora stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Sanyu in a comforting hug. "Hey," she whispered reassuringly. "It's okay..."

 Ikki darted over a second later, pressing herself against Sanyu's back and nuzzling her cheek against her sister's side. "Don't listen to Meelo," Ikki said brightly, her attempt at cheerfulness so earnest it almost hurt. "He just says stuff sometimes. And he smells funny."

 "I do not smell funny!" Meelo protested, puffing out his chest. "I'm just telling the truth!"

 "You're not helping," Jinora shot back over her shoulder, her arms still wrapped tightly around Sanyu.

 But Sanyu shrugged them off with a tired sigh, her shoulders slumping. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice was flat, her furrowed brow betraying her words.

 "Hey, wait!" Korra called after her, taking a step forward and raising a hand as if to stop her.

 Sanyu didn't turn; she didn't stop for the Avatar. She strode toward the mansion without another word, her little siblings trailing after her like shadows.

 Korra lowered her hand, a frown pulling at her brow. "What's her problem?"

 Tenzin approached quietly from behind with a grave expression. He had been watching from a distance, and the sight of Sanyu retreating twisted something deep inside him.

 "She's an airbender," Korra continued furiously. "She could help me learn. She should be helping me."

 Tenzin exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening. "It's not that simple," he said.

 Korra turned to face him, crossing her arms. "It's airbending, not rocket science," she said with a huff. "Why wouldn't she want to use it?"

 Tenzin flinched slightly at her words. "Sanyu hasn't practiced airbending since she was six years old," he told her, almost quietly. "She doesn't want to. All she knows──" He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. "──is how to glide."

 Korra stared at him, blinking in disbelief. "That's it?"

 Tenzin nodded sullenly. "She refuses to learn anything more."

 "Why?" Korra pressed, crossing her arms as irritation seeped into her posture. "She should be embracing her talent, not throwing it away."

 Tenzin's shoulders sagged, and he closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he spoke again, his voice was firm but tinged with sadness. "That's a story for another time," he said, clearly drawing a line. "For now, we need to focus on your training."

 Korra didn't push further, though her frown remained. "Fine," she muttered, turning to follow him.

 But as they walked toward the training grounds, her thoughts remained with Sanyu. There was something more to the young woman, something Korra couldn't quite grasp yet. And she hated not knowing.

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RULER OF HER HEART | ❝You don't like me
the way I like you, don't you?❞