Three years. Three years and she was back. Back in the shadow of this place that she was dragged from the last time she was here. Dragged away in chains and in disgrace, she hated it as much as she wanted to be back. Its shadow loomed over her just like it loomed over her whole life. It had followed her, it had pursued her, and seeing it again made her stomach turn. Whether it was from fear or joy she didn't know. Maybe a little bit of both.
"Hey." June said putting her hand on Azula's back. The contact broke her out of her trance and she blinked as she looked away from the palace of the Fire Nation.
"You ok?" June asked.
"Yes, just didn't think I'd ever come back." Azula said still looking at the building. She didn't look to out of place as the square in front of the palace was full of people and even Junes Shirsho was not out of place amongst the animals and traffic of carts. The normal warm summer day meant just about everyone was out and about.
June gave her a small smile and gently pulled a willing Azula against her. The fugitive leaned her back against the taller bounty hunter and felt June rest her chin on her head.
"We don't have to be here, if you don't want to." The bounty hunter offered. The princess paused for a few moments then took a deep breath and pulled away. "No, it's my home and I will not be denied my place in it, not even by my self."
June gave a nod. "And remember if it is a trap we will just escape like we always do." She added with a smirk.
Azula smirked back before looked at the scroll she had in her hand again. It was a letter, she had avoided hunters and soldiers for years but a letter had finally found her and it was an invitation. It told her that she was allowed to return, that she could go back to the palace and talk to Zuko. It claimed that they would stop treating her as a criminal and finally let her come home.
Apparently he was over her escaping and the assassination attempt that followed, well to be fair it was more of a plot than an attempt. Besides, he broke it up before it went anywhere.
Anyway, she was here now and she was welcome, so she strolled forward like the royal she was with her head held high and her companion following close behind.
The guards watching the gates didn't seem to recognize her at first, but after Azula showed them the letter with the Fire Lord's seal she could see them tense up. Their bored expressions were instantly hardened and their eyes narrowed to a dangerous edge before they quickly ushered her and June in.
The servant that had led the pair to the throne room also walked nervously, and irritatingly slowly. Azula did not need to be led around this place. She could still recall where all the secret passages were located and how to access them. The whole time June stayed behind her, but she had left her mount outside.
"That will be all thank you." Azula waved off the servant as they got to the throne room. He glanced side to side. "My lady, with respect, I was asked to stay with you."
The firebender glared hot daggers at the much older man and her hands balled into fists as the began to sizzle. "Go away." She commanded.
Meeting the former fire princess gaze for only a moment the servant's resolve crumbled causing his head to lower in a deep bow. "As you wish my lady." Then with that he quickly scurried away.
Now alone in front of the door June put her hand out and rubbed Azula's back lightly. "Easy babe, we are trying to play nice here." Azula relaxed a little into the touch and released her hands. The bounty hunter was right, if she wanted this she would have to play nice. It was going to be hard, but she had to make this work.
It was at that moment that the grand doors to the throne room swung open and a guard appeared in the threshold to usher them inside.
There was no flame as Azula had expected and she could see to the end of the room clearly. There he was, his hair had grown longer and he fit better in the chair then he use too, but Azula had to hold back the sneer she felt forming on her lips.
Traditionally guests would be beckoned closer to the thrown, but Azula strode forward regardless, she was family after all. As she approached Azula could see that Zuko was speaking to someone about something and that he had yet to notice her presence. It wasn't until she was just in front of the steps leading up to the Dragon Throne that he finally noticed her. She had stopped only when she saw the guards around him thence up. He almost jumped a little when he turned to see her standing there.
"Azula?"
"Zuzu." she kicked her self mentally for starting so rudely, June was right she had to play nice. The bounty hunter had heard the nick name from her before and knew this might be off to a bad start.
He blinked in disbelief "It really is you. When the servant told me someone was here with the letter I sent, I have expected it to be an impostor."
"Well I'm not." Azula began. "I'm your sister. The one you threw in a mental ward, and had hunted down."
"And the one who plotted to kill me." Zuko added.
"Oh please it never got out of the pre-planning stage. Also that was a long time ago, I was still on the run until I got this letter." she said holding up the paper again. "Now is this you finally being clever and setting a trap for me or were you telling the truth."
'This is why I always do the talking.' June thought to her self as her partner ranted.
Aula had been on edge ever since they got that stupid letter and June wanted its story to end one way or another. At the rate things were going however, they would likely be back in the Earth Kingdom wilderness before long. That was fine as far as June was concerned, she was use to roughing it and it was far more enjoyable when she had company. However, as nice as it was sleeping under the stars with a warm firebender pressed up against her, the idea of staying in a royal palace and not having to jump at every snapped twig sounded way nicer.
"I-lets not do this Azula. The letter is real I assure you. I wanted it to bring you here because while I'm not sure if it is the best idea, I want to ...try again. I want to be a family again... I want us to forgive." Zuko said with a sigh.
June looked nervously between the two of them. Azula had never talked much about her past but she had heard enough from rumors that she knew these two did not get along.
"I'm tired of being on the run." Azula said sternly. "So as long as I get my title and privileges restored I will be part of your," Azula hesitated, the words she was trying to say feeling foreign to her. "Family. I will also try to forgive you, but no promises."
"Hey as long as you don't try to kill me I think we're on the right track." Zuko said with some amusement before standing from his throne and stepping down towards his sister. He went to try and pull her into a hug, but she stepped back with a scowl. "Too soon I suppose?"
"You're right, to soon." she glared at him for a moment before rolling her eyes.
Zuko looked disappointed, but didn't push. "Well either way, welcome back. Your room should be just as you left it so we won't need to make any living arrangements for your return." He said before motioning to his guards. "They will escort you there and I will be assigning guards to keep an eye one you for the time being. I trust you understand."
June let out a relived sigh as it seemed that this whole thing was in fact going to work out. The sound got the attention of the Fire-Lord who looked to her.
"Oh June, long time no see. What are you doing here?" Zuko inquired curiously
June crossed her arms. "I'm here with her." She gestured towards the princess.
Zuko now looked even more confused. "Oh I didn't have a reward planned for this but I'm sure we can find something for you."
The bounty hunter scowled. "Hey not everything I do is for money you know!"
Zuko looked to Azula who had an amused smirk. "Yes it is." Zuko tried to correct earning a harsh glare from the bounty hunter. "Umm I mean if not for a reward, why are you here? Did Azula promise you something?"
"She's my," Azula paused, "she's my friend Zuzu, I do have those you know."
June winced when she said 'friend', but decided not to comment on it.
"Really?" Zuko asked not looking between the two girls.
Azula scowled at him. June had worried Azula would mess this up, but apparently saying the wrong thing ran in the family. At least now it was more adorable than nerve-racking .
"I get it Zuko, try not to embarrass your self anymore." Azula finally broke the tension. "Now, if you could tell the servants that they have to listen to me, it's been a long time and I would like to go to my room."
"Sure Azula. Will you be joining us for dinner? I would like to discuss all the details of you staying here and while we have the chance, I'd like to know what you have been up to for these last few years." The Fire Lord questioned.
Azula picked at her nails as she spoke. "No I won't. I would like to enjoy this place for a night, but if it is acceptable, I will join you in the morning."
Zuko nodded satisfied with the compromise and Azula looked at him one more time before turning away and leaving the room. Unknown to all those around her that her heart was racing as the doors closed behind her. It was done, she had done it, and she was finally back. The suddenness and surprise of this actually working out was all hitting her at once and it made it hard for her to stand. She was home.
A pair of hands on her shoulders pushed her against the door and she looked up to see June's face just before there lips crashed together. The princess closed her eyes as the kiss deepened and wrapped her arms around June.
The bounty hunter pulled back after a moment and rested her forehead on her princess'. "What was that for?" Azula asked with a small smile.
"Oh I just wanted to see if it was any different kissing a real life princess." June joked looking down at the girl. Azula looked away, but June could see the light blush that the princess always tried to hide.
"Well?" Azula asked.
"Not to different yet, but I will keep exploring." June said with a sly smile as she let her hands caress over the princess' back.
"Now you have to bow to me." Azula said with a content sigh.
June laughed. "Not on your life kid."
"Fine." Azula said putting her nose in the air and pushing June away, though June could see her small playful smile. June rolled her eyes and followed behind with a smirk.
Walking into her room proved easier then Azula thought, it felt right and it felt like home. Just as her brother had claimed, everything was right where she had left it, with nothing out of place. A fact that was made all the more impressive when she noticed that there wasn't even the thinnest coating of dust on anything. The room was clearly being well maintained while she was gone.
June of course being herself had quickly messed it up by tossing her belongings into a random corner of the room and falling onto the bed before curling herself up in the covers, but Azula didn't mind sharing the bed. They had shared before. Many times in fact, though this would be the first time she had shared her actual bed.
Azula was still a bit in the daze as she went through drawers and the closest looking at everything she once owned. Her satchel bag that she had been carrying around for mouths that was made out of crude brown cloth looked very out of place amongst the gold, black, and royal red. She wanted to burn it away and get rid of that part of her life, but she hesitated as June's eyes glowed when she found Azula's royal jewelry.
"Don't steal those. The local markets will recognize it in a heartbeat anyway." Azula warned as she looked through her closet at her old robes and was briefly stricken with the worry that they might not fit her anymore. She had grown slightly over the last few years, though she supposed it wasn't a problem the royal tailor couldn't fix.
"Why would I?" June asked. "They're mine already after all." Azula didn't correct her.
Then a knock on the door drew both of there attention, and Azula sighed before answering. "You may enter."
"My lady, welcome to the palace. The Fire Lord has asked me to see to your needs and to help in anyway I can."
Azula didn't even look at the servant at the door. Based about the sound of their voice, they were a middle aged woman. "I need new cloths these all don't fit any more, we will be having dinner here, send options in a few hours, and send some one from the royal stables up here as well."
The servant bowed and exited the room. Azula's heart was slightly racing again. It'd been a long time since she ordered people around like that. Well, at least a long time since they listened. It felt odd, but right at the same time. She never realized how much she missed this.
"You seem to have not lost your touch 'your highness'." June mocked. Azula had her back to the bounty hunter and she glanced over to her without saying a word.
"Hey." June said walking over to the princess. "Be happy OK? This is real and what you wanted right?"
Azula nodded. "Just didn't think it would really happen." June went to kiss her again and the princess let the bounty hunter wrap her arms around her from behind and kiss her cheek until she slowly worked her way to the plant kisses on Azula's neck. Her eyes closed, as June moved back up, her warm breath on the princess' ear. "Be happy OK? And if you're having trouble let me help you out."
Azula twisted in the embrace and looked up into June's eyes. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you, I..." She hesitated, she hated looking weak, but June had seen her weak before. She had saved her life before and they had saved each others lives more then once in the past. "I would not be alive if it wasn't for you and... you know... I... you know…" she was struggling for word.
"Shh." June chuckled. "I know. It's been quite the ride for both of us, but it got us here and I love you too." She leaned down and kissed the princess again, and Azula melted into it.
Another knock on the door broke there moment though and Azula jumped out of Junes arms, who gritted her teeth and moved away as Azula allowed them in. The servant was back with another person with them. "My lady you asked to see some one from the stables."
"My companion's mount will be staying here for a long time." Azula said looking at June. "Take her down to the stables and she will inform you on how to properly care for it. I expect you to listen."
June rolled her eyes at being ordered around. "Alright I'll go take care of her. I will be back in a bit, try not to be to sad in your palace till I get back." June mocked the princess. Azula remained neutral, wanting to keep her facade in front of the servants. But she nodded slightly and June smiled and walked out of the room.
Alone at last Azula fell onto her bed trying to relax just a little bit in the silence. Naturally another knock on the door disturbed her peace. "Enter!" She growled. To her surprise, the door did not open, and she leaned her head up to look at the door and saw that it was still closed. Rolling her eyes she lied back down and internally called a servant stupid.
However, a moment later the door did open, and it did so eerily slowly. She picked her head up and saw someone standing in the door way. The woman was wearing a long green dress and still had white make up that looked like it had been quickly and improperly cleaned off. Azula's eyes went wide when she realized who she was staring at.
"Azula?" Ty Lee said in disbelief. The princess jumped to her feet but kept her back to the door.
"You're really here." Ty Lee said in a daze.
Finally turning around Azula looked her in the eyes. Her old friend hadn't changed much since she last saw her. Her big bright gray eyes still dominated her small round face and she still wore her hair in a single long braid that hung down her back.
They hadn't seen each other in such a long time and it made Azula suddenly feel self-conscious about how she must have looked. Her hair was longer and mostly just hung down her back except for the pieces that framed her face. She had a few new scrapes and scars now, but still looked basically the same, just older. They were both older.
"You look tired." Ty Lee said with concern clear in the tone.
Azula frowned. "I have not slept in a bed for while. It is what happens when you're a fugitive." She shot back.
The Kyoshi Warrior smiled back at Azula as if she hadn't heard the spite in her old friends voice. "Well now you're back, and you got your room!"
Azula glared at her. "What do you want Ty Lee?" The frown she got for that remark stung a little bit and it bugged her.
"Nothing, well I mean it is something, I just wanted to see you. You know, find out how your doing." Ty Lee said nervously.
"I've survived, it was hard but I survived." Azula said sternly. She kept her scowl until Ty Lee sprang foreword. A flash back hit the princess and she was about to defend her self until Ty Lee wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace. Azula was frozen in place, but her scowl remained.
"I was so worried about you." Ty Lee whimpered. "I wanted to look for you, I tried to follow any news about you that came to the palace, and when the news suddenly stopped," Ty Lee was almost crying now. Azula remembered when nearly a year ago was when June had convinced her that it was best to stop using her blue fire. It was a hard decision. Her fire was part of her, but it did help them stay out of trouble.
Azula pushed the Kyoshi Warrior off her and was forced to look at the sad face gazing at her. "Traitor." she spat.
To her credit, the warrior did not get more distraught but instead met the princess glare. "If I had to make the choice again, I wouldn't change what I did."
"What!?" Azula ignited her hands in out rage, but Ty Lee didn't flinch away.
"I did what was best for you, you know that." Ty Lee said calmly.
Azula scowled. "You don't give a damn about me! You abandoned me the first chance you got!" Azula was shouting now.
Azula's mind was racing with memories of those years ago during the war when Ty Lee had nearly always been by her side. Right up until the moment when she wasn't. The same moment everything started coming apart around her and she needed her to stay, and she didn't. It brought back memories of a time when she was alone in the palace and then of her time locked up in that institute. It made her hurt, which was a feeling that she hated. With no small amount of effort she forced them away, back into the dark corners of her mind.
She also hated the confused hurt look on Ty Lee. "I didn't abandon you! I...don't you remember when you where in the asylum?"
Azula gave her a confused expression. Honestly she didn't remember much from the year she spent drugged up and chained. She didn't even remember how she got out, but she did. "I remember you helped put me there." She accused.
Ty Lee went to say more but tears were forming in her eyes now. "But we..." That was all Ty Lee could manage to say.
Azula just gave her a confused glare. "I need to." she chocked out. "I...I can't...I need some time." Ty Lee was crying now and it made the princess stomach twist in an annoying way. She tried to will it away as Ty Lee ran out of the rooms in tears.
Azula felt an urge to follow, but pushed that away as she closed the door. Then she leaned her back against the frame and tried to think about her time in the asylum. She was trying to figure out what the hell Ty Lee was talking about. It made her head hurt, and occupied her thoughts so when there was a knock on the door she jumped a bit and was grateful no one was there to see it.
When she opened the door June was there the servant just behind her.
"Bring us food later, but that will be all for now." June ordered to the servant. They bowed and walked down the hall, while June gave a big smile to Azula.
"This is awesome." June said coming in the room. "You should have seen the stable masters face, he had never seen a shirsho before and when I told him what she eats, oh it was great."
Azula was looking at the floor. "I'm sure."
"Oh yeah, this place could definitely be home." June said laying back into the bed. Azula was already tired of thinking about Ty Lee and she wanted to stop.
She wanted to not care about anything except for the fact she would be sleeping in her own bed tonight and that she would not be sleeping alone. She moved over to the bed and crawled over June who smiled as Azula hovered over her. Azula lowered herself and met June in a kiss that quickly deepened, there tongues happily entangling.
"Glad you're enjoying your self." Azula said pulling back. "But its not quite home yet, do you wanna help me make it cozy?" She said with a devilish smile, batting her eyes.
"Hell yeah!" June said happily as she pulled Azula down on top of her.
yay new story time. This chapter is was graciously edited by Sillva, who does amazing work.