AN: Thank you all so much for your support. I've posted on here in the past and I have never ever gotten such an amazing response. To clarify the question of age difference, which has come up. Ty Lee is 21, and Haru is 21, Sokka and Suki are 24, and Azula is 16. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
Ty Lee walks in to the office of the Fire Lord, leaving the princess behind.
She cracks her knuckles over and over, listening to the very satisfying pop. It feels good to just focus on herself, and her deadliest weapon, instead of the way her heart pounds out of control. The offer of a job is exciting, and Ty Lee has a wanderlust that is difficult to satisfy, but she would be lying if she said that Fire Lord Ozai did not scare her. Her hands are well maintained and manicured, but she can steal bending, steal a life, or steal a heart, with nothing but them. Regardless of the well filed nails, and the sweet pea lotion that leaves them perpetually scented.
The heavy oak desk looks imported from the Earth Kingdom. And given the size and quality, a few funerals probably came with harvesting it. Ty Lee, however, likes to keep those numbers as vague statistics in her mind, to avoid thinking too much about implications or if she is working for the good guys or not.
Her friends have those doubts sometimes. They make Ty Lee uneasy, and she just tries to keep positive, even when not undercover.
He is looking at papers and scrolls as Ty Lee decides to take a seat and hope that it is not the wrong thing for her to do. She is adjusting herself in the chair once Fire Lord Ozai looks up. He is… handsome. Ty Lee has to admit that openly. And being close to him both feels terrifying and intriguing.
This is the man who signed off on a thousand orders that Ty Lee executed. He, probably without even knowing or thinking twice, used her as a sword, an extension of his arm. The blood is on her hands so his can stay clean. And, Ty Lee doubts he even knows.
"Thank you for saving my daughter," Ozai says and Ty Lee smiles and fumbles through three different thank yous. "I happen to be looking for a live-in bodyguard. Security details are one thing, but there are particular sets of skills that I require, and I want someone I feel comfortable being close to her."
Ty Lee thinks of Azula's proud assertion that she was nearly naked and the seductive glint in her eyes. But Ty Lee realizes her mind is in a dreadful gutter and it is likely that Ozai just has distaste for the other security Ty Lee interacted with. She doubts Ty Lee's friends would appeal to him, mostly because they are Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom.
"Are you thinking of me?" Ty Lee asks quietly and Ozai leans back. He subtly moves the papers so Ty Lee can catch a glimpse of what is on them. Her military history, everything the highest level of confidentiality. It is exposed in front of her, and she feels both proud and vulnerable.
"Yes. I like your history, and your personality is quite different from most people who have murdered as many people as you," Ozai says and Ty Lee gives him the smile she was taught.
It is the type of smile that could mean many things, but is not intimidating or rude. The viewer can interpret it, and they interpret it in the best possible way every time. Ty Lee knows a thousand kinds of grins and bats of her wide, gorgeous eyes, and only about three of them are real anymore. Not like they used to be, only a few years ago... even though it feels like an eternity ago.
"Espionage sets you up quite well for the reality of this situation," the Fire Lord says calmly and Ty Lee gives a half nod. "It will probably include far less of that very impressive display, and will have much more to do with attentively escorting her through every day activities, and analyzing those close to her."
"Those close to her?" Ty Lee asks faintly, rubbing her cuticles just out of sight. This seems far more tame than seducing generals, but it also feels awfully suspicious to her. She may be fairly young, but she has a detailed history in clandestine dealings.
"I have plenty of reasons to suspect, given the nature of certain events. You must be aware of this, given your past with infiltration."
Ty Lee hesitates for a moment before having an abrupt realization. She barely manages to seal her lips before she blurts it out and gets executed.
Azula was just used as bait to figure out what he is up against. He thinks that things are not well in Caldera. Ty Lee was chosen for the job, even if it just seemed like chance and word of mouth from her friends, and she is certain of it.
"I will be glad to help," Ty Lee says sweetly with a winning, glittering grin.
He seems rather at ease. As most men are. It doesn't even have to be sexual. A young, sweet, innocent woman seems to make them put their guard down. Ty Lee glances at the adolescent princess in the other room. Azula probably knows that too.
"I will insist that you remain in the palace. Stipends will be significant, since you're risking so much and protecting the one thing dearest to me." He seems to contemplate the next sentence, as Ty Lee teeters on her seat waiting. "One last thing; she does not like maternal or actually any older female figures in her life. She outgrew nannies very quickly."
Ty Lee withholds a grimace. This is going to be a bit like babysitting, isn't it? Just with a much higher probability of death.
"Thank you, and I accept, of course." Ty Lee flashes one more smile before he makes it clear that she is supposed to leave.
"I have no need for a bodyguard. Or a babysitter," Azula says coldly to her father and Ty Lee tries not to cringe.
"You are in danger. And I will not let you be harmed," Ozai states firmly and Azula sighs. Her eyes make a path up and down Ty Lee, looking for any weakness she can possibly find. "I also expect you to treat her much better than my past attempts."
Ty Lee's look of shock brings a hastily vanishing smirk to Azula's lips. But Ty Lee is an expert, and she is not going to be unprofessional simply because of this new and different job.
"Of course. Since now things have gotten much more dangerous." Azula looks briefly angry, and Ty Lee notices how quickly her expressions change, while her golden eyes remain like metal, unmoving, aged beyond her years, and far too alert.
"They have and you know it," Ozai says and Ty Lee knows what they mean.
The turmoil is not healthy for anyone. War is perpetual, in this world, and perhaps in any other. It shifts forms, but never vanishes. Without an Avatar, at least. That is the cost, Ty Lee supposes. No matter how many people an empire swallows, a few of them will try to slit the throat.
"I am well aware." Azula now stares at Ty Lee, and the former spy refuses to let it make her uncomfortable.
"Ty Lee, I've sent for your belongings to be collected and brought to your new lodgings. Please get to know my daughter and look over the itineraries for her birthday week," he says before leaving, looking grateful to do so.
It is even more suspicious to Ty Lee that he felt the need to oversee this personally. Surely he has more important things to do than show a bodyguard to his daughter's room and send for her belongings. Ty Lee clears her head, and tries to focus on her job.
A job that lends itself very nicely to figuring out what is going on here. It is what Ty Lee has trained for, for her entire life.
"Come in," Azula says briskly and Ty Lee does so silently.
The bedroom is nice. Ty Lee has seen many of them, from the beautiful one in the colonies she had, that overlooked pastures and she woke to sunrise and could smell fresh wood, to the ramshackle ones in impoverished places, to the bedrooms of high ranking enemies, so secretive and cold. Young girls in brothels, young siblings crammed into one room, young girls surrounded by dolls and paintings in the lap of cold luxury.
Azula's bedroom looks like none of those. It is dark, and the warm colors feel peculiarly cold. Her bed is large and neatly made, and the paintings and tapestries show no personality but her bloodline.
"You can sit down," Azula says, gesturing to the bed.
Ty Lee uneasily does so.
"Can I ask what your past attempts are?" Ty Lee says sweetly, attempting her best flattery, and Azula shrugs. Yes, it does seem that the way Ty Lee works with men and children are not going to work. Azula falls in between in a way that Ty Lee's charm is not prepared for or attuned to.
"Just other bodyguards and nannies and other protection he has forced on me. I don't like them, because I don't need to be protected or cared for. I am very strong."
"I saw that during the assassination attempt," Ty Lee says honestly. "You think quickly and stay calm. You're a talented girl, and I admire that a lot."
Ty Lee thinks her smile might be real, even if she consciously tilts her eyes into the light so they sparkle innocently.
Azula looks at her as if she has said something very strange. "Most people just comment on my bending."
"That was a given." Ty Lee shrugs and smiles. This grin is not real.
"I like that you didn't just comment on my bending," Azula says and Ty Lee tries to take it as a compliment. Instead, it just contributes to her discomfort and unease. "Don't take that as me liking you. I just want to let you know when you're doing something right. Gives you a fair chance."
"Thank you," Ty Lee says, bottling up her reluctance. She remembers getting a job at this fun boutique as a youth, and the other workers there gave her tips on the interview before the manager came back. She got the job, and it was lovely.
She very much doubts that Princess Azula is that generous.
"Where are you from?" Azula asks, leaning against a desk.
"A lot of places. But I was born inside of the wall," Ty Lee says honestly and Azula seems to be examining her twice as much as she is examining Azula. It is a strange feeling. "I've traveled the world."
"How lovely," Azula says, studying her nails disinterestedly. Ty Lee clenches her jaw again and can feel her head throbbing with an imminent migraine. "The itinerary is right here." She lifts a scroll from her desk and tosses it to Ty Lee. The ex-spy catches it and Azula seems again in deep thought.
Ty Lee unrolls it as Azula becomes silent. It occurs to Ty Lee that she should be watching Azula only when she is a few lines down in tomorrow's very complicated plans. She looks up and hope she has not failed her first task of being a bodyguard.
And she turns her head to quickly look away. "There was not a forewarning for that."
"I'm putting on my pajamas. It's late and I am very tired from nearly dying," Azula says and Ty Lee's eyebrow twitches. "Did you think I was giving you some kind of strip tease."
Ty Lee sighs lightly. "Of course not, princess. You are sixteen."
The repetitive phrase seems to bother Azula, and not just because the immovably cheery Ty Lee seems dampened by it. She must not like being reminded of her age.
"And you're a peasant." Azula finishes slipping on her nightdress but it does not cover much. "Well, not quite, you're better than that because you're military. But still a thousand rungs in the ladder beneath the people you're surrounded by."
"I'm used to that," Ty Lee says and Azula is stunned by how bold she is. "I worked in espionage on the most dangerous cases. I seduced generals and infiltrated fortresses. And I'm still here, and they're all dead or in your father's jails. Don't underestimate my wit or willpower."
Azula frowns faintly. "I still decide whether you stay or go."
"I know." Ty Lee says no more as Azula finishes readying herself for bed.
The bodyguard starts to leave and Azula sits up, looking at her. Looking at her with her nipples quite visibly pressing against her red floral camisole. No, no, Ty Lee cannot look at that.
"You're not going to spend the night? Am I not as good as those generals you seduced?" Azula whispers and Ty Lee looks at her for a moment.
"No, you're better than them. And a lot smarter. Which is why I'm not stupid enough to one night a dangerous and clever princess." None of it is a lie, but Ty Lee has to admit it is blatant and careless flattery.
"Well, that's true. But stay on the sofa in my quarters. In case I need anything."
Not a servant, Ty Lee wants to say, but she is not going to screw up her first night on the job.
"Of course, princess." Ty Lee escapes gratefully, and decides she will need to produce a boyfriend as quickly as possible.
Thank Agni she is pretty. And charming, for that matter.