My first fanfic here so it might be a bit rough. This will be a short thing fleshing out Azula's takeover of the Dai Li. Chapter 1 is set one evening after Katara is taken prisoner by the disguised Azula in Ba Sing Se. Chapter two and the epilogue takes place during the coup, just minutes before the Earth King is captured.
The Inner Ring:
It was comfortable night in Ba Sing Se, aside from the hum of the city's adolescent cicada-crickets that signaled spring would be giving way to summer soon. Azula took pleasure in burning any of the droning pests that came too close to the open window of her residence.
"I'm back!" Ty Lee said as she tumbled into the main room. "And I must say, your uncle's tea is absolutely delicious Azula. I tried one that was pink made with hibiscus leaves and lemon. It was tart but delightful!"
The fire princess raised an eyebrow at her bubbly friend. She couldn't have Zuko or Iroh knowing they were in the city just yet.
"Oh don't worry, I asked one of the Dai Li to fetch it for me once we found where your brother and uncle were. Iroh owns his own tea shop here. Mai, you should see Zuko in his serving outfit, it's quite adorable and he even seems to like working."
"Yeah right. There's no way Zuko could enjoy staying in boring city like this or working in a tea shop." Mai grumbled.
"The smile he had on seemed pretty earnest to me." Ty Lee shrugged. "Oh, almost forgot, I brought a tea biscuit back as a treat for Mr. Fuzzyface. Want to see if he'll do a trick for it Mai?"
"Yuck, no thank you. I've had enough of animals after bear-sitting today."
"Suit yourself."
"Oh, Ty Lee, a before you go, how was that Dai Li agent I sent with you? Was he unquestionably obedient?" Azula asked.
"Yes indeed. Those Dai Li are putty in your hands Azula." With that Ty Lee headed for her room for the night.
"Hmph, silly Ty Lee." Mai huffed. "Doesn't she know Long Feng and the Dai Li are just playing nice until the coup gets underway? Like one of those stupid 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer' political situations my dull dad used to talk about."
"Oh don't worry Mai. That fool Long Feng might have silly ideas about double crossing me but those Dai Li are mine. As soon as we get the word from the outer wall that the Avatar is back to save his little girlfriend I'll start the coup. And when Long Feng thinks it's safe to snake his way back, that is when I will break him." Azula said with a vicious grin. She noticed Mai still looked rather disinterested, at least more disinterested than usual. "What's the matter Mai? Don't tell me the thought of Zuzu in a waiter's apron is more interesting than my plan to take Ba Sing Se."
"No, your double cross does sound entertaining but what are we going to do with the Dai Li when we go back home? We can't just leave all of them here." Mai was right. Azula might be able control the Dai Li through fear here in Ba Sing Se but unless the princess stayed in the city or the Fire Lord could spare an equally fierce leader, Long Feng would make puppets out of the future Fire Nation occupants in no time.
"Why, I'll take the smartest ones home of course! I'm sure father will let me keep them around, it'll be fun."
"Oh great, more pets."