EroticLiteracy
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- Jun 27, 2017
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The train jostled causing the man at the back of the train to jerk awake. The wide brimmed wicker hat placed low over his face shifted revealing a pair of intense red eyes that seemed to smolder. A large powerful forearm raised up strong firm hands grasping the brim and pushing it up to revealing a handsome ash stained face. The man’s biceps flexed as he moved uncurling his long large body and sighing in relief as his muscles popped and stretched. The man pushed himself back into a full sitting position his hands going behind his back to rub the tender skin.
“Mama what if it’s not safe?”
The man cocked his head pointing his ear in the direction of the small voice to the left. His bright shocking red eyes tracked the voice to a small girl wearing the colors of the earth kingdom. Her mother was sitting next to her smiling at the small child in the way only a mother could. The man watched as the mother leaned in planting a kiss on the girl’s forehead before leaning back and gesturing at the rolling mountains outside.
“The avatar has taken care of Kumira little dove” The mother said her voice soft “We have nothing to fear anymore”
The man shook his head a grimace forming as he reacted to her words.
“If only that were the case” He murmured to himself as he looked out the window. His red eyes seemed troubled and far off as he once again looked at the situation all around him.
The earth kingdom was still recovering from Kuvira and her mad grab for power. The bandits she managed to pacify and bring under her “army” were now declaring their independence and right to a “free state”. They didn’t care who they stomped on to get their way which meant villagers all over the earth kingdom were free games to the bandits. There was only so much Avatar Korra could do, and only so many villages the air nomads could reach.
The train jerked and began to slow. He rose grabbing onto the metal handles to keep himself steady as the others in the train began to move amongst themselves. They gave him a wide berth their eyes warily running over his brutish appearance, fire nation clothing, and the large curved sword hanging on his back. He made sure to smile at them back doing his absolute best to give of the air of a relaxed tourist. While most of them smiled back none of them made any moves to come over and engage him in conversation.
He didn’t hold it against them. His people had earned their reputation all on their own. Even after decades of peace and prosperity between the fire nation and the other tribes people were wary. The earth kingdom was one of the most wronged tribes by his people and their nature was to plant their feet and stand firm and stubborn. He understood that admired their fortitude.
Yet it still hurt
Still…. There was no sense in dwelling on such things not when he had a task before him. He began to move sliding his way past the members of the earth kingdom and heading toward the double doors that led out to the train station. He reached the doors just as they opened and he stepped out trading in the cool air-conditioned train for the harsh sun and dry mountain air. Sweat immediately began to bead on the back of his tan neck as the sun beat down on his head. With one smooth motion the man grabbed the straw hat from his back placing it on his head and tying the leather thong to keep it in place.
“Are you Zoro?”
The man turned taking in the elderly villager before smiling and nodding his head.
“I am” Zoro said reaching out to offer his hand “You must be Oolong”
“Let’s go” Oolong said his tone brusque as he turned away from Zoro and his offered hand. With a sigh Zoro dropped his hand following after the old man as he hobbled off the platform and towards a waiting cart.
“The woman who hired me in Ba Sing Se wasn’t sure on all the details” Zoro said following the old man onto the wooden cart “She seemed desperate for aid for her village… something about a barbarian group?”
“Nothing more than thugs” Oolong snapped his eyes narrowing as he urged the beast attached to the cart forward. With a jerk the cart began to move picking up the pace as the GeckoJackals powerful legs carried them across the hard packed dessert. Their long snout like noses sniffed the air and forked tongues flicked out of their mouth every few seconds as they moved down the road.
“If you could tell me more about them sir” Zoro said his tone soft and pleasant.
“What’s there to tell!” Oolong grumbled his hands disappearing into his dirt stained shirt as he fished out a small wooden pipe. He brought it to his mouth and patted his pants trying to find something before turning his attention to Zoro.
“Don’t suppose that fire of yours…”
Zoro sighed cutting him off with a wave of his hand.
“Yes”
He reached out snapping his fingers and creating a small flickering ember. He brought the ember to the bottom of the pipe letting it roast the herbs inside and activate them. Oolong nodded his head in thanks taking a deep drag and letting the smoke blow out of his nostrils as Zoro extinguished his flame.
“The bandits used to be part of that bitch Kuvira’s ensemble” Oolong said taking another hit from his pipe “Bunch of punks who thought they could throw in with her and gain a little infamy. After that Avatar of ours ended her they got scared and started demanding that we villages join them. They’ve asked for supplies are strongest benders and all of our women”
“I see” Zoro said “When are they coming back?”
“Tomorrow” Oolong replied as they began to traverse long winding hills “Plenty of enough time for you to eh… get ready right?”
“Ready?” Zoro said raising an eyebrow “Ready for what?”
You know” Oolong said grinning “Roast some hides! Or whatever it is you fire benders call it!”
“Roasting hides?” Zoro said his tone dismissive and angry “I’m sorry but you seem to be under the impression I am here to attack the bandits”
Oolong shot him a weird look before he laughed.
“Very funny!” Oolong said chuckling “I didn’t know you fire benders had a sense of humor!”
“I’m afraid we don’t” Zoro replied shaking his head “I am being entirely serious as I explained to your representative I am a pacifist. I will only draw my blade if the bandits refused to step down and it will be only to defend and scare them. I plan on using reasoning to calm them down”
The elder was silent his eyes wide with shock at Zoro’s words. Zoro could see the man trying to make sense of the contradiction in front of him. The man who could blast fire from his palms but instead opted for peace. Throughout his life Zorro had been the contradiction the fire nation who wanted to be anything but! Soon enough the elders expression went from shock to anger.
“We paid you money GOOD money” Oolong growled.
“And I will do as you paid for” Zoro countered crossing his arms “I will protect your village and I will act if it’s in danger but I will ALWAYS aim for peace first”
“Cant believe we gave you money” Oolong grumbled shaking his head as they rounded another hill “Should kick your ass myself…”
“Is that it?” Zoro asked ignoring the man’s threat and pointing at the small village nestled just behind the hill.
“Yeah that’s it”
Zoro rose standing in the cart as he took a good long look at the village. The village itself was nestled against a river with natural fortifications from both the rock and the walls shape by earth bending hands. He could see a row of fields just outside of the walls and fresh produce being picked by the women in the village while the men guarded them. Everyone looked on edge warry and fearful in a way that panged his heart. The fire in him burned with anger and the fire bender was forced to take a deep breath and stem his anger at the barbarians.
He wasn’t a fan of bullies
The cart began to slow the closer they got to the village. Within seconds the cart was surrounded by the kids in the village as they rushed to meet the new comer or pet the GeckoJackals. Oolong began to shoo them away but Zoro stopped him waving his hands and instead opting to jump out of the cart and join them.
“Hello” Children he said happily smiling at them as they backed away in sudden apprehensiveness.
The kids began to murmur amongst themselves sizing him up and eyeing the curved sword on his back.
“You’re a fire-bender right?!” One kid said pointing a finger almost in accusation.
“I am” Zoro said chuckling “Are you an Earth-bender?”
“Damn straight!” He said ignoring the looks some of the others gave him.
“More like a pebble bender!” Another kid shouted as the others laughed.
“No harm in being a pebble bender!” Zoro boasted giving the teased kid a kind smile “I was once a fire flicker…. No one starts off a bender children”
“What’s with the sword?!” an older girl asked putting her hands on her hips “I thought you were a fire bender”
“Does that mean I can’t be a swordsman to?” Zoro asked raising an eyebrow and unsheathing his sword in one smooth motion “I mean look how cool this looks!”
His long-curved sword burst into flames. The children shrieked and ran shouting amongst themselves as their eyes gazed at the flickering flaming steel. Once they felt they were at a safe distance they began to talk amongst themselves chattering and murmuring how cool it did indeed look.
“Children!”
Zoro extinguished the flames on the sword swinging it back into the scabbard on his back just as a man rushed up. Zoro sized him up taking in his strong almost mountain like appearance and the way the kids cowered and respectfully bowed their heads around him.
“You must be the chief” Zoro said happily extending his hand “I was just showing the kids-“
“We saw” The man said reaching out to shake his hand “My name Is Chief Umir… I uh hope the kids weren’t’”
“Bothering me?” Zoro asked raising an eyebrow “Not at all.. we were debating the aspects of fire flicking and pebble bending versus being a swordsman”
The kids giggled earning a look of exasperation and annoyance from the chief. They scattered giving Zoro one last look before rushing back to their waiting mothers. Once they were gone Umir turned his attention back to Zoro taking and sizing the man up before gesturing for the fire bender to follow him into the village.
“Thank you for coming” Umir said as they walked past the fields “I feel silly for seeking outside help… but me and my men are at our wits end”
“There is nothing dishonorable about protecting one’s family” Zoro replied his voice serious “Oolong and your representative explained the situation”
“They come tomorrow” Umir said his tone worried “My men and I were able to fend them off last time… but this time they said their leader himself is going to make an example of us”
“That won’t happen Chief Umir” Zoro told him stopping and placing his hand on his shoulder “I have already sent word to a representative of the air nation. One of the air nomads are going to come as well and should be here by tomorrow. Together we will deal with these bandits”
“An air nomad come here?” Chief Umir said his eyes widening in surprise “How did you?”
“The air nomads are assisting the entire nation during this transitionary period” Zoro said smiling at the chief “It was a simple matter of sending word”
“I see” Chief Umir said his tone one of pleasant surprise “I have to admit I feel much better now… We uh prepared a feast for you as a form of payment”
“Wonderful” Zoro said a large smile bursting over his face “A feast for new friends! Please allow me to freshen up and change into something more respectable and I shall be there!”
“We set up a guest hut for you” Chief Umir explained beckoning for one of the villagers to come over “She can show you to it”
“Thank you Chief Umir” Zoro said bowing his head and clasping the man on the shoulder “I shall be with you shortly and please try to relax”
He gave the chief another smile before releasing him. The pacifist Fire Bender turned leaving the chief and heading to his guest hut.
“Mama what if it’s not safe?”
The man cocked his head pointing his ear in the direction of the small voice to the left. His bright shocking red eyes tracked the voice to a small girl wearing the colors of the earth kingdom. Her mother was sitting next to her smiling at the small child in the way only a mother could. The man watched as the mother leaned in planting a kiss on the girl’s forehead before leaning back and gesturing at the rolling mountains outside.
“The avatar has taken care of Kumira little dove” The mother said her voice soft “We have nothing to fear anymore”
The man shook his head a grimace forming as he reacted to her words.
“If only that were the case” He murmured to himself as he looked out the window. His red eyes seemed troubled and far off as he once again looked at the situation all around him.
The earth kingdom was still recovering from Kuvira and her mad grab for power. The bandits she managed to pacify and bring under her “army” were now declaring their independence and right to a “free state”. They didn’t care who they stomped on to get their way which meant villagers all over the earth kingdom were free games to the bandits. There was only so much Avatar Korra could do, and only so many villages the air nomads could reach.
The train jerked and began to slow. He rose grabbing onto the metal handles to keep himself steady as the others in the train began to move amongst themselves. They gave him a wide berth their eyes warily running over his brutish appearance, fire nation clothing, and the large curved sword hanging on his back. He made sure to smile at them back doing his absolute best to give of the air of a relaxed tourist. While most of them smiled back none of them made any moves to come over and engage him in conversation.
He didn’t hold it against them. His people had earned their reputation all on their own. Even after decades of peace and prosperity between the fire nation and the other tribes people were wary. The earth kingdom was one of the most wronged tribes by his people and their nature was to plant their feet and stand firm and stubborn. He understood that admired their fortitude.
Yet it still hurt
Still…. There was no sense in dwelling on such things not when he had a task before him. He began to move sliding his way past the members of the earth kingdom and heading toward the double doors that led out to the train station. He reached the doors just as they opened and he stepped out trading in the cool air-conditioned train for the harsh sun and dry mountain air. Sweat immediately began to bead on the back of his tan neck as the sun beat down on his head. With one smooth motion the man grabbed the straw hat from his back placing it on his head and tying the leather thong to keep it in place.
“Are you Zoro?”
The man turned taking in the elderly villager before smiling and nodding his head.
“I am” Zoro said reaching out to offer his hand “You must be Oolong”
“Let’s go” Oolong said his tone brusque as he turned away from Zoro and his offered hand. With a sigh Zoro dropped his hand following after the old man as he hobbled off the platform and towards a waiting cart.
“The woman who hired me in Ba Sing Se wasn’t sure on all the details” Zoro said following the old man onto the wooden cart “She seemed desperate for aid for her village… something about a barbarian group?”
“Nothing more than thugs” Oolong snapped his eyes narrowing as he urged the beast attached to the cart forward. With a jerk the cart began to move picking up the pace as the GeckoJackals powerful legs carried them across the hard packed dessert. Their long snout like noses sniffed the air and forked tongues flicked out of their mouth every few seconds as they moved down the road.
“If you could tell me more about them sir” Zoro said his tone soft and pleasant.
“What’s there to tell!” Oolong grumbled his hands disappearing into his dirt stained shirt as he fished out a small wooden pipe. He brought it to his mouth and patted his pants trying to find something before turning his attention to Zoro.
“Don’t suppose that fire of yours…”
Zoro sighed cutting him off with a wave of his hand.
“Yes”
He reached out snapping his fingers and creating a small flickering ember. He brought the ember to the bottom of the pipe letting it roast the herbs inside and activate them. Oolong nodded his head in thanks taking a deep drag and letting the smoke blow out of his nostrils as Zoro extinguished his flame.
“The bandits used to be part of that bitch Kuvira’s ensemble” Oolong said taking another hit from his pipe “Bunch of punks who thought they could throw in with her and gain a little infamy. After that Avatar of ours ended her they got scared and started demanding that we villages join them. They’ve asked for supplies are strongest benders and all of our women”
“I see” Zoro said “When are they coming back?”
“Tomorrow” Oolong replied as they began to traverse long winding hills “Plenty of enough time for you to eh… get ready right?”
“Ready?” Zoro said raising an eyebrow “Ready for what?”
You know” Oolong said grinning “Roast some hides! Or whatever it is you fire benders call it!”
“Roasting hides?” Zoro said his tone dismissive and angry “I’m sorry but you seem to be under the impression I am here to attack the bandits”
Oolong shot him a weird look before he laughed.
“Very funny!” Oolong said chuckling “I didn’t know you fire benders had a sense of humor!”
“I’m afraid we don’t” Zoro replied shaking his head “I am being entirely serious as I explained to your representative I am a pacifist. I will only draw my blade if the bandits refused to step down and it will be only to defend and scare them. I plan on using reasoning to calm them down”
The elder was silent his eyes wide with shock at Zoro’s words. Zoro could see the man trying to make sense of the contradiction in front of him. The man who could blast fire from his palms but instead opted for peace. Throughout his life Zorro had been the contradiction the fire nation who wanted to be anything but! Soon enough the elders expression went from shock to anger.
“We paid you money GOOD money” Oolong growled.
“And I will do as you paid for” Zoro countered crossing his arms “I will protect your village and I will act if it’s in danger but I will ALWAYS aim for peace first”
“Cant believe we gave you money” Oolong grumbled shaking his head as they rounded another hill “Should kick your ass myself…”
“Is that it?” Zoro asked ignoring the man’s threat and pointing at the small village nestled just behind the hill.
“Yeah that’s it”
Zoro rose standing in the cart as he took a good long look at the village. The village itself was nestled against a river with natural fortifications from both the rock and the walls shape by earth bending hands. He could see a row of fields just outside of the walls and fresh produce being picked by the women in the village while the men guarded them. Everyone looked on edge warry and fearful in a way that panged his heart. The fire in him burned with anger and the fire bender was forced to take a deep breath and stem his anger at the barbarians.
He wasn’t a fan of bullies
The cart began to slow the closer they got to the village. Within seconds the cart was surrounded by the kids in the village as they rushed to meet the new comer or pet the GeckoJackals. Oolong began to shoo them away but Zoro stopped him waving his hands and instead opting to jump out of the cart and join them.
“Hello” Children he said happily smiling at them as they backed away in sudden apprehensiveness.
The kids began to murmur amongst themselves sizing him up and eyeing the curved sword on his back.
“You’re a fire-bender right?!” One kid said pointing a finger almost in accusation.
“I am” Zoro said chuckling “Are you an Earth-bender?”
“Damn straight!” He said ignoring the looks some of the others gave him.
“More like a pebble bender!” Another kid shouted as the others laughed.
“No harm in being a pebble bender!” Zoro boasted giving the teased kid a kind smile “I was once a fire flicker…. No one starts off a bender children”
“What’s with the sword?!” an older girl asked putting her hands on her hips “I thought you were a fire bender”
“Does that mean I can’t be a swordsman to?” Zoro asked raising an eyebrow and unsheathing his sword in one smooth motion “I mean look how cool this looks!”
His long-curved sword burst into flames. The children shrieked and ran shouting amongst themselves as their eyes gazed at the flickering flaming steel. Once they felt they were at a safe distance they began to talk amongst themselves chattering and murmuring how cool it did indeed look.
“Children!”
Zoro extinguished the flames on the sword swinging it back into the scabbard on his back just as a man rushed up. Zoro sized him up taking in his strong almost mountain like appearance and the way the kids cowered and respectfully bowed their heads around him.
“You must be the chief” Zoro said happily extending his hand “I was just showing the kids-“
“We saw” The man said reaching out to shake his hand “My name Is Chief Umir… I uh hope the kids weren’t’”
“Bothering me?” Zoro asked raising an eyebrow “Not at all.. we were debating the aspects of fire flicking and pebble bending versus being a swordsman”
The kids giggled earning a look of exasperation and annoyance from the chief. They scattered giving Zoro one last look before rushing back to their waiting mothers. Once they were gone Umir turned his attention back to Zoro taking and sizing the man up before gesturing for the fire bender to follow him into the village.
“Thank you for coming” Umir said as they walked past the fields “I feel silly for seeking outside help… but me and my men are at our wits end”
“There is nothing dishonorable about protecting one’s family” Zoro replied his voice serious “Oolong and your representative explained the situation”
“They come tomorrow” Umir said his tone worried “My men and I were able to fend them off last time… but this time they said their leader himself is going to make an example of us”
“That won’t happen Chief Umir” Zoro told him stopping and placing his hand on his shoulder “I have already sent word to a representative of the air nation. One of the air nomads are going to come as well and should be here by tomorrow. Together we will deal with these bandits”
“An air nomad come here?” Chief Umir said his eyes widening in surprise “How did you?”
“The air nomads are assisting the entire nation during this transitionary period” Zoro said smiling at the chief “It was a simple matter of sending word”
“I see” Chief Umir said his tone one of pleasant surprise “I have to admit I feel much better now… We uh prepared a feast for you as a form of payment”
“Wonderful” Zoro said a large smile bursting over his face “A feast for new friends! Please allow me to freshen up and change into something more respectable and I shall be there!”
“We set up a guest hut for you” Chief Umir explained beckoning for one of the villagers to come over “She can show you to it”
“Thank you Chief Umir” Zoro said bowing his head and clasping the man on the shoulder “I shall be with you shortly and please try to relax”
He gave the chief another smile before releasing him. The pacifist Fire Bender turned leaving the chief and heading to his guest hut.
