AN: This is an unconventional redemption story. It focuses 100 percent on character development and so has little when it comes to a plot beyond Azula redeeming herself. It's a traditional Fire-Nation-Wins AU inspired by Gaius Baltar and Caprica Six from Battlestar Galactica. I kind of see Tyzula in them and I've made a lot of BSG jokes in Liar in a Little Plaid Skirt. It's character-driven and focuses on Azula Redemption. There's some PG-13 sexual content, as a forewarning. That's all, I think.
Delirium
"You don't know how beautiful you look in that crown," says Ty Lee.
Azula looks up and then looks away. Not real, not real, not real.
Ty Lee says, "You don't even say go away anymore. I guess that's good. Do you really want me to go away?"
Not real, not real, not real. Azula does not make eye contact.
Ty Lee walks to her and Azula tries not to move. Maybe if she ignores it, it will go away. But no luck; Ty Lee has placed herself on Azula's lap, almost straddling her, a position that should be uncomfortable but is not. Hot lips touch Azula's neck.
No, no, no. She is gone. Ty Lee is gone and Ty Lee betrayed her so she deserved what she got.
Those hot lips press against her own and she swallows. She wants to sink into it, wants to enjoy it, but she cannot bear the pain. Ty Lee haunts her because she wants to hurt her. Azula knows that despite gentle hands running up her waist, pushing her dress up, up, up.
Ty Lee pulls her mouth away from Azula's skin. "I think that there are ways I could be real. I mean, I think I am real. Don't you think you're real?"
"Of course I do. But you're the product of my broken mind. I'm not stupid," Azula whispers. Yet, she cannot help but briefly surrender to the touch.
And then she jumps, because Ty Lee is gone and Counselor Kameko is bowing in front of her. This is bad; she wonders if Kameko saw that moment in which Azula pretended that fantasy was reality.
"Did I startle you? I apologize," Counselor Kameko says.
Azula swallows. "No. What is it you need?"
"The court is waiting for you, is all." Kameko blushes.
Fire Lord Azula has no idea why.
She stands and is grateful that she is alone.
The next morning, Azula wakes to a disapproving sound and a girlish voice.
Azula manages not to sigh. She does not feel any remorse about the current situation, and she has no clue why anyone – much less her own mind – would expect her to have regrets.
The Fire Lord is currently in bed with a very attractive woman who she does not know the name of, nor does she care. The girl sitting across from the bed is incredibly, incredibly unwelcome.
Fire Lord Azula weighs her options. The phantasm making sad baby animal faces at her is too much to ignore. She turns to the girl and orders, "Get out."
"What?" she first asks, but she complies without Azula needing to repeat herself.
Azula stands and finds the rest of her clothes. She hopes her ghost vanishes.
But, "Again, really?" Ty Lee asks. She pouts and it is almost cute. But, mostly, it is frustrating.
"Is this my conscience attempting to make me feel guilty? Is that some kind of emotion my brain just doesn't know how to process?" Azula says bitterly as she winnows through outfits. She has people to do this for her, but her hallucination is not making that easy.
"No. I don't think you could feel guilty if you tried," Ty Lee says, commenting as if that were a compliment. Azula decides to take it as one. "I think you're running from this way too hard."
"You should be the one running." Azula feels weak when she says that.
"You are my destiny," Ty Lee says. Azula thinks she is mocking her. "How could I give that up? You're lucky to have me. It would be worse if I was gone."
"It wouldn't," Azula argues. And then she adds the thought, "Why am I talking to you?"
Ty Lee giggles. "Because I'm basically real and stuff."
"No, you're not."
"Well, then you must be really crazy to be talking to nothing."
"I must be."
Azula is particularly brutal and tyrannical today. She cannot help it after her one night stand gone wrong. Everyone disturbing her seems beneath her concern. But she is undisturbed by visions. At least, for a few hours.
Yawning. Ty Lee yawns. "It's so bleak. Your life is boring."
Before she considers answering, military minds trickle in. Thank the spirits.
"We have the scout information on Iroh's forces," says War Minister Hulin. "He's expanding more quickly than we anticipated."
"There's never good news, is there?" Azula comments. Everyone seems too afraid to answer.
"But all he has is a mobile set of untrained soldiers. He's claiming land that's burnt and mostly deserted anyway," War Minister Hulin protests.
"He's claiming land. And training those soldiers as we speak. I think that you are too cozy with our solitary victory. We already had the Earth Kingdom before the comet. We have less of it now," Azula purrs. "Do not patronize me."
"We should go over what forces we can offer the Phoenix King, then…"
Azula thinks she has escaped scrutiny, but she certainly has not.
When she leaves the lengthy meeting, she finds someone waiting for her. Not this. He cannot do this to her. She already is giving him anything he wants, like those soldiers from the homeland, like anything he requests from afar.
She does not deserve this.
But she is polite, of course.
"Father, I wasn't prepared for your arrival. I will have lodgings put together for you. Do you want a formal greeting or –"
Ozai says, "None of that. I came unannounced intentionally."
"To test me?"
"No. You're a very selfish girl," he says. "I am too. I came so that you wouldn't sacrifice your work for the homeland to be ready for me."
"How kind," Azula replies. Her heart skips when she realizes how insincere she sounds.
"I will speak to you in the morning. I have arrangements to speak with a variety of people."
He is gone before she can even properly greet him. What a magnificent daddy.
An unexpected and unwanted voice comments, "Your eyes are… what's that word for super empty?"
"Vacant?" Azula breathes.
"Yes!" Ty Lee cheers, walking and touching Azula's hip. She pivots to stand in front of the princess.
She smells like her perfume. Smell comes with memories. Azula tries to tell herself that.
Ty Lee moves to kiss her and Azula turns her face. But she does feel hot lips on her cheekbone. She will not give in, even if that touch shocks her like a bolt of lightning. Even if Ty Lee has taken the liberty to press herself against the Fire Lord.
Azula has yet to give in. She is not sleeping with a hallucination. That would be absurd.
Well, she has to admit, not that absurd.
She would prefer this to be an elaborate sexual fantasy over something more disturbing.
"What's wrong?"
"I refuse to be in love with a corpse."
Ty Lee pulls away at the speed of lightning. The anger on her face is something that Azula has never seen before. It makes her heart pound and she wonders if she will need to strike.
"That's your own fault, isn't it?" Ty Lee shrieks. "Or have you forgotten?"
"I never will," Azula whispers.
Ty Lee continues to glare.
"Maybe that answers some of your questions."