New Era New Opportunity Chap9

Azula and Korra finally where finally on the elevator to go up to the training area, there former nights only being supplemented by the influence of the Satos.

"So who are you up against tonight anyway?" Azula asked breaking the silence that had come over them.

"Some team about bugs, they're predicting its going to be a close match." Korra resounded without much care.

"Will it?" Azula mused

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Korra said with a smile.

Both of them then felt the lurch of the elevator reaching the correct floor and after the door opened and headed into the large training area. Both Mako and Bolin where already there working through various routines.

Bolin turned to greet them. "Hey Korra, hey Azu glad you could make it."

"Yeah its good you're not late this time!" Mako said bitterly.

Bolin rolled his eyes and went to sit on a bench nearby; next to bench was a large box.

Korra turned towards Mako. "What's your problem!? We are here now and only a couple minutes late!" Korra said annoyed.

"A half hour is not a few! You may have a nice house, but me and Bolin need to win this so we can move out of an attic! We have no time for slackers!" He said angrily.

"Slacker?" Korra said dumbfounded but quickly got angery. "What stick got shoved up your ASS! Who do you think you are calling me a slacker and what makes you think..." Korra yelled storing over to Mako.

Azula attempted to stop her so reached out to try and grab her arm but missed.

'Eh' she thought waving her hand dismissively in the air. 'Let them fume for a bit'. Turning she saw Bolin slide over to one side of the bench to make enough room for her. Shurgging she walk over and sat down.

"So ah, you think we should stop them?" Bolin asked loud enough to be heard over the two's yelling.

"No, sometimes it's best to let the flames burn them self's out." Azula responded knowingly.

"Well that was a very fire bendy thing to say." Bolin mocked.

"Yes, yes it was."

Bolin laughed drawing her attention. "Why do you act like that? All proper like your better then everyone." He asked

Azula chuckled. "Someone has to be a mature around here." She said gesturing towards the pair who had now gotten quieter but still looked like they were not done yet.

Bolin grinned widely. "Well that's true, and it aint gona be me I don't want that job. Anyway Asami dropped this off for you earlier." He said kicking the box. "It's a team uniform, it's got all sort of buttons and zippers and such so it's pretty much one size fits all, and there's the door to the locker room." He finished gesturing towards a door.

Azula looked around quickly. "Where is she anyway she usually likes to watch the practices?"

Bolin shrugged. "She said that she had some work to do at home but I think-"

"BOLIN! Lets go!" Mako yelled anger still in his voice.

As Bolin picked himself from under the bench which he had very quickly hid under when he heard his name, Azula turned to see that Mako seemed red in the face and Korra was standing a little ways behind with her arms crossed.

'She can take care of herself', she thought to herself dismissing the thought of going over and seeing what there shouting match was all about now that it was over. Noticing that Mako and Bolin where getting into one of their training routine position Azula stood up and went over to the locker room to try on the new suit.

'Damn things needs a manual.' Azula thought closing the door behind her after nearly 20 minutes try to get the assortment of buttons and zippers to work right, while Bolin said it makes the suit a once size fits all Azula thought maybe it was part of the training for the pro-bending.

As she looked at the training gym she saw the team was practices one of their usual drills of working together and taking out targets but Azula could tell that there coordination was off especially between Korra and Mako. A loud clang of a door being thrown open drew her attention and she saw a arena official stick his head in.

"Ok Fire Ferrets your match starts in ten so please head down to the box."

Mako simply turned and headed for the door and Bolin was right behind him after a few stretches, he turned seeing Korra not following, "You coming Korra?"

"Yeah I'm just gona grab some water real quick." Korra responded walking over to the fountain that was near Azula.

Korra walked over quickly and bent over to drink.

"You know there is water in that little both the store us in before the match." Azula mocked.

Korra finished and got back up and sighed. "I know but I wanted to keep my distance in case Mako said something stupid again."

"I wouldn't think he would have much left after earlier." Azula said walking towards the door.

Korra followed and rolled her eyes. "Could you believe what he was saying? He was saying that because I live on the island thatI should stop looking down on them and acting like I am better than everyone else."

"Well that's rude." Azula said sarcastically. "I'm the one that acts like that not you."

Korra let out a big laugh. "Damn right you do! Don't get me wrong I like it your confidence it's just when it get to be smugness that its gets to be annoying. Why are you like that anyway?" Korra asked.

Azula shrugged. "It's a long story."

Korra grabbed her arm and stopped her about half way down the hall to box. "Hey you know I want to know about you. I think I have earned a bit more that kind of a brush off, you say it's a long story shorten it for now and tell me about it later." Korra said staring intently at her.

After a moments stare down Azula relented, a clever idea coming to mind.

"Fine, when I was younger I was raised being told that I was perfect and better then everyone else. Then…things happened and I found myself on a worldwide run and I found a lot out about myself and others."

Korra looked at her with care in her eyes. "And then you found out your more like other people then you thought and you try to cover up your disappointment by still acting like that."

Azula put on a sly smile. "Hell no. I found out that I was right! The only thing I learned is that people get annoyed when I rub it in their face." Azula looked at the surprised look on Korra's face. "What, you need to stop taking all your lessons from those airheads sooner or later. Besides I thought you liked my confidence, no come on you have a match."

Korra's face turned to a smile and she leaned forward and kissed Azula quickly on the lips.

"Was that for luck?" Azula asked.

Korra turned and continued down the hall. "Yeah and you look good in the uniform."

Azula went to follow her. "Well that's mostly me and not the uniform." Azula said earning a chuckle from Korra as she caught and walked next to her.

"But now that I have one I could get rid of Mako for you and we would still be a full team."

"Tempting, but I think Bolin would not like the idea." Korra said opening the door to the box.

The roar of the crowd hit them like a great wave as they entered the box. Bolin and Mako where tightening any lose straps and Asami was now there. The announcer could be heard introducing the match and Bolin, Mako and Korra quickly got into position. As the platform moved back towards the arena floor Azula walked over and leaned on the rail Asami walked over a moment later and stood next to her.

"Thanks for the suit." Azula said casually.

"No problem." Asami said seeming to not pay attention.

Looking back at the match Azula could tell that the team was having difficulty and quickly nearly lost the first round.

"So Mako seemed very Angry at Korra today do you have any idea why?" Azula did not care very much but liked having all avaible information.

Asami turned to look to look at her "Something about Korra apparently, we met last night and he seemed very angry with her and after he told me what happened I got to say that I have choice words for her as well."

Azula turned back just to watch Bolin get ready for a 1v1 fight , but her mind was still on what Asami had said. She felt an urge to go to the defense of Korra and decided on a why not reason instead of a why.

"So what your worried Mako will leave you for her I can—" Azula started but was cut off.

"No I just don't want to deal with her doing something stupid, Mako has told me I have heard that she can very stubborn and if she is going to keep doing things like this then it's going to get really old really fast." Asami said angry.

Azula rolled her eyes. She never likes these kinds of little squabbles. She saw them as pointless and annoying, but she realized that if she was going to make anything out of what was happening to Korra then she might have to get used to it. The concept made her start to reconsider the entire things at that life on the road did not sound so bad maybe. But she mentally shook her head of such thoughts and refocused to the task at hand. Form all the time they had talked one of the things that Korra had made clear was how happy she was to have friends.

"She won't." Azula said bluntly.

Asami turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"

Azula turned to look at her. "She won't do anything stupid like what you where saying so just leave it, she regrets what she did and I am sure she will apologize of you ask her to."

"You sure?" Asami asked skeptically.

'For sprits sake, it's like I am negotiating a trade deal.' Azula thought annoyed

Azula opened her mouth to respond more diplomatically but was interrupted by a loud buzzer going off.

"Is the match over?" Azula asked turning back towards the arena and saw that Mako was arguing with one of the referees that was motioning him towards the waiting lift.

"I think Mako got kicked out for attacking the ref!" Asami said surprised and annoyed.

"Idiot." Azula said annoyed. "He was probably mad about not winning the match and now he has ruined the teams chance." Azula finished just in time to catch a helmet thrown at her by Asami.

'Oh..' Azula thought looking up to her.

"You're the replacement and the teams waiting for you." Asami said with a smirk.

'…Shit.' Finished Azula's thought, her plan to keep a low profile would not be helped in the middle of an arena. Sure she said she would join the team but she had little intention of actually participating.

The platform got back to the box a Mako walked off it giving a quick good luck to Azula.

Azula paused trying to think of a way to get out of this situation…

"Don't be scared." Asami said.

Azula stopped in her thoughts and looked back and glared devilishly at Asami.

Asmai cowered and took a step back, looking to Mako with confusion and concern. Mako looked between the too. "I have not her long but I think I know enough to say that you properly should not have said that."

As the platform moved back towards the arena Azula turned back towards the center and got into a proper military pose with her back straight, legs shoulder with apart and hands clasped behind her back.

'Might as well do this right'. Azula thought to herself realizing if this was going to be when people started asking questions then she might as make sure her reputation was just as fierce as it once was.

As the platform returned to the ring Azula stepped off with her head held high and eyes focused on her 3 opponents. She walked up to Bolin and Korra who were huddled to gather. Bolin looked nervous while Korra just had a smile on her face.

After taking a quick at the other team Bolin turned to look at Azula. "Ok just remember the rules don't walk over the lines and-"

"I know the rules." Azula said sternly interrupting him.

Bolin raised his hands defensively. "Ok ok just making sure. Now the way we had this planned out with Mako is we use fire and earth to-"

"I know the plan." Azula said in the stern voice again.

Bolin raised one hand and left his mouth open as if he was about to say more but after a moment threw his hands up in defeat. "OK I guess we're good!" and walked off to his spot.

Azula noticed that Korra was still smiling at her.

"What?"

Korra laughed lightly to herself. "Nothing just remember, don't kill anyone." And she turned to go to her starting spot.

Azula let a smile come to her at the remark. Sure she had been told that before but the way Korra said it made it sound like a compliment, and it just made her happy.

As to why it made her feel so good was something that she would have to figure out later for as she got lost in her thoughts she missed the start of the match and barley dogged a rock disk from hitting her in the chest.

'Right then.' She thought to herself as the match began.

The opposing team seemed to have a grudge against Bolin because within moments of the match beginning all three of them where focusing on him and within seconds he was knock back hard out of the rings. While the team was focused on him Korra managed to knock the opposing water bender back 1 space. Azula was doing little more than dogging the various attacks. She was doing what she always did and analyzed her opponents to find the their weak points she focused on the opposing fire bender first.

From what she could tell by the look on his face and the way he was attacking she could deduce that he probably had a short temper that could be exploited.

As the fir bender continued his attacks she purposeful jumped in front of them and caught and extinguished the fire in her hands. She would go out of her way to catch shots not even aimed for her. All the while not doing any offecive moves herself. The plan worked well when he got angry and started launching a barrage of fire at Azula, which despite her being hit in the shoulder, had the desired of effect of also hitting the opposing teams earth bender in the back. In the resulting enough confusion to allow Korra attacks the water bender who was behind putting the team in one row. Seeing the opportunity Azula Kick a fire ball to hit the earth bender into the fire bender and then followed it up with a quick Series of attacks that sent all three members careening towards the edge of the flied. Before the earth bender fell off he managed to grab a hold of one end rock disk and stop himself from going off the edge. Azula quickly jumped forward and drew her right arm back to give one finally push to her openet off the edge. But the earth bender was faster then she thought and managed to throw himself into a standing position and slam his foot on the ground to get a disk a spun to send in flying at Azula. She was bringing her right arm forward in a closed and realized to late what was about to happen.

The disk hit her square in the on the flat part of her fist. Her four fingers broke instantly but thankfully did not break the skin. The shock wave from the hit pushed her hand up and back spraining her wrist and pushed her arm back hard to work off an old injury to dislocate her shoulder.

"Fuck!" Azula yelled spinning herself around bringing her arm close to her body as she finished her spin she kicked out her leg to send a particularly large strong blast at the earth bender which broke through the disk he had raised for a shield and sent him far off the end of the field.

Whether or not the crowd was cheering Azula could not care less as she held her arm close to her body as she walked back to the lift.

"Hey you did Awesome be happy!" Korra said touching Azula's right shoulder as she walked by.

Azula winced and pulled herself away and kept walking with Korra now following her with concern. "Hey what's wrong? We won and you had that awesome moment with the rock disk why are you giving me the cold shoulder?"

"I'm just tired and want to go back to island." Azula said now that both of them where on the platform moving back to box.

Korra looked down and noticed how Azula was holding her arm. "Is your arm ok, you're holding-"

"Its fine!" Azula snapped. "Let's just get back to the island ok!"

"Ok ok fine we'll head back." Korra said defeated.

Sitting on a bench in the center of the ferry, still in her pro bending uniform, heading back to the island Azula was taking deep breaths to control the pain in her right arm. It had been mostly under control when she first got it, but the congratulating hug from Bolin had not helped at all.

After apologizing and getting things worked out with Mako and Asami and convincing them that Korra was not going to do anything stupid, her and Korra had not spoken to each other since getting back to the ferry.

But now Korra was moving from her usually spot at the front of the boat and sat on the right side of Azula sighing heavily.

"So is the reason behind this attitude of yours going to be in the story I get to hear tonight?" Korra asked.

Azula looked at her in confusion. "What?"

Korra turned to look at her. "Well you owe me a longer story from earlier and I was just wondering if it was going to explain why you're so stuck up about getting help with your arm."

Azula sighed realizing the reason that she being so protective was because she did not want to look weak back at the arena. But, now it was just her and Korra and she felt like it would be best to get her arm heeled up as fast as possible.

"My fingers are broken my wrist is sprained and my shoulder is dislocated." Azula matter of factly.

Korra's face dropped. "What the Hell! Why didn't you bring this up earlier!"

"I will tell you about it later, now are you a healer or not?" Azula asked.

Korra sighed. "I got trained by the best person in the southern water tribe and-"

"So that's a yes, good while you do that I tell you the story you want to hear." Azula said as if it were an order, an idea of what to coming into her head about what to say.

Korra looked at her with mock annoyance. "What, I don't get a say in this?"

"Nope."

The ferry finally came to island minutes later and Korra told Azula to go to her room and that she needed to get a few things. Walking up to the building Azula decided that she should go to the temples library and grab a book before something else came up to distract her.

Looking around the many shelves of book and scrolls, she asked one of the air acolytes where the section on the fire nation was and after a few minutes of looking she found what she was looking for.

'The History of the Family of the Fire Lord: From the start to after the Great War.'

She may have been luckily up till now but she still had to be careful incase people started asking questions and started looking into her back round. She needed to know what the world knew about her, it was only a matter of time before Korra said something about her name and surly not everyone was as unknowing of the past as her.

Soon after taking the book to her room so she could look at later, Azula made her way to Korra's room. When she walked in she was surprised by how big it was of three her rooms could easy fit inside. Korra was sitting on her bed with a bowl of water, and a large feather.

"Good that you're here I was getting worried." Korra said standing up.

"Yeah I just wanted grab something real quick, now where do you want me, you got a chair or am I on the floor?" Azula asked looking around.

"Just lie down on my bed and I'll take care of you." Korra smiling and gesturing for Azula to lie down.

Azula looked at her skeptically. "your sure I have no problem with the floor and you can-"

"Azula, shut up and lay on the bed." Korra mockingly.

Azula liked hearing her name without anger in it, and she really liked hearing it from Korra. so she chuckled and raised her good arm in mock surender and walked over and laid on Korra's bed, her back propped up by pillows so she was sitting somewhat up. Korra walked over and sat in the chair that she put next to the bed. Moving slowly she moved Azula right arm so that is was lying next to its owner and she took the water and begun to move her glowing gloves on Azula's hand.

"I can't believe no one said anything about my blue fire back at the arena." Azula said hoping to find out some information and giving her a little more time to finish formulating her plan.

Korra scoffed. "Are you kidding me the announcer was shocked and could not stop talking about it. I think he said he wanted you for an interview."

"Oh." Azula said realizing that this may be bad. "Well that's too bad."

Korra laughed lightly. "So do I get to hear that story now?"

Azula sighed heavily. "Yes"

She had at first wanted to just brush this off and continue to give Korra various excuses until she forgot about the whole thing but the idea gave her a bad feeling. She did not want to keep evading to Korra or brushing her off. She did not want to... hurt her. Azula knew she would eventually but just maybe she could hold onto her once her past caught up to her.

But that would not happen tonight .Azula was clever and she came up with clever idea to tell her story without revealing anything of her past. All she had to do was change a few detail around.

From Fire nation princess, to Daughter of a rich land owner.

From great war, to local rebels.

From Avatar, to popular rebel leader.

From running from past ,to running from bounty hunters.

Other then that the story was more or less the same with some people left out and others made up to make sure it all made sense. It was probably one of the best lies that she had ever done except for the parts that weren't. Like her time in that accursed cell and betrayal of her friends. That part had slipped out and had earned a caring look from Korra part Azula managed to recover and kept going.

"So I took a ship from down the cost and came up hear wandered around the city for about a day before deciding that the Statue looked like a nice place to sleep, and then I met you." Azula finished rather pound of the tale that she told.

Korra was still healing Azula's arm. Azula thought the pain had left awhile ago but had not said anything. Korra at first had commented and asked questions during the story, but had stopped at the part about her mental break down about her brother betraying her. But then Korra stopped and put her hands to her side. Azula moved her fingers and twisted her wrist and found them working properly again, though she was still careful for her shoulder was still dislocated.

"So." Korra said her head still down. "That's why you always seem to act like people are after you, because they are."

"Yes." Azula said calmly.

"And what happens if they find you?" Korra asked.

"I get thrown back in my nice dark cell, to be drugged up and forgotten." Azula replied bitterly, remembering all the times that the Peasant told her that was going to be her fate.

Korra lunged at Azula grabbing her in a tight embrace and kissing her deeply on the lips. Azula was caught by surprise and tensed up, but slowly relaxed as the surprise passed. After a few moments Korra broke the kiss and rested her for head on Azula's.

"I won't let that happen. I don't care how mad these people are or about the things you did, your where just doing what you thought was right and they crossed a line. Throwing you jail is one thing but no one should have their mind taken away from them."

Korra moved her head so that she was resting on Azula's left shoulder."I don't want you ever worry when you are around me Azula, I won't let anything happen to you."

Azula laid there still dumb struck by how Korra was reacting to her story and what she was saying. Not only did Korra not seemed fazed by her less then kind past, but she also seemed to have taken her side at this point. And though it was a rather altered story it meant that maybe, when the truth came out she would still be by her side, which was certainly an idea that she likening more and more.

"Azula? You ok?" Korra asked getting her attention.

Azula turned her head so that she was facing her. "Yeah I was, I just...sorry no one has ever taken my side before."

"It's ok now you have me and I'll take care of you." Korra said softly.

Azula suddenly reminded of something that she wanted to ask Korra.

"Speaking of that, my shoulder is still out, and why do you have a feather?"

Korra's face dropped. "Oh...right sorry." She said getting up. "the feather is for ah... well I went to Pema to ask her about what to do a dislocated shoulder and she told me about an old Air Nomad technique."

Azula looked at her skeptically. "Just because something is old does not mean it works."

Korra laughed lightly grabbing the roughly 4 foot feather. "No no trust me this will work. Now balance this on your left hand."

"Ok" Azula said skeptically grabbing the feather and working to balance it by the stem in her hand. "Now what?"

Korra moved and sat on the right side of Azula putting one hand on her upper arm. "Ok, now say the line 'If sky bison's did not fly then they would be called ground bison'."

Azula turned to look at her holding the feather in her hand.

Korra chuckled. "Just do it, and keep balancing the feather."

Azula turned and went back to balancing her feather and after hearing Korra clear her thought she rolled her eyes and started. "If sky bison did not fly then they would be called-AH!"

Azula let out a scream of pain as she felt Korra push the joint back into place. Azula turned angrily towards Korra. "What the HELL-" she stopped when she noticed that the pain in her arms was gone and that she could move normally again, after moment of moving around she decide that it was better now, but was still very annoyed with Korra.

"What the Hell was with the feather and the words?" she asked annoyed.

Korra looked back at her with a amused smirk. "Well Pema says it works better than me saying 'Sit still while I do something very painful'. But I am sorry are you hurt do you need a kiss to make it better?" Korra said in mocked concern.

Azula could not but get amused by what Korra had done and brought her hand to the back of Korra's head. "It did not hurt though it was noticeable. But I will take what is offered." And she pulled Korra's head to hers and into a deep kiss.

Azula was happy. She had a good home, had gotten some friends that actually acted as though they like her, a crime group that she could quickly crush and get a good reputation, and a very likeable avatar in her arms.

'I could make this work very well if I do it right.' Azula thought to herself. the thought reminded her though of what was waiting in her room. The book would be very important to tell her what this time new of her and how she could avoid getting into any sort of trouble. So after a couple of more minutes of holding Korra she decided that for the sake of the long run she would have to go get a look at that book, so she slowly pulled away from Korra.

"Well thank you for helping me and for listening, buts it's been a long day and we both need our sleep, so sleep well I will see you in the morning." Azula said standing up from the bed. But after she took one step she felt Korra grad her arm, she looked down to see the longing on Korra's face.

"There's room in my bed for both of us, you can sleep here." Korra said softly.

'Oh that's tempting.' Azula thought to herself. But realized that she needed to think about the long run and that she would get her chance to later but she had been putting off reading about herself for too long so she slowly started pulling her arm to break Korra's grasp, but showed her strength and tightened her grip. Azula let out a smile at her determination.

"It is only sleep that you have in mind right?" She asked looking down at Korra.

Korra looked confused for a moment before her eyes widened in shock. "Yes! as you said it's been a long day and we need are sleep."

Azula laughed lightly. 'I guess I could put it off one more day.' she thought to herself moving back towards Korra, earning a smile from her.

"Ok fine I guess I could stay but you better not hog the blankets I may be a fire bender but-" Azula stopped when she thought she heard the sound of running.

Moments later the sound could be heard clearly and Korra stood up in surprise as it got closer.

"Korra!" yelled a voice that Azula thought was Tenzin

from out side the room.

"Korra are you still awake?" Tenzin asked knocking on the door."

"Yeah just a sec!" she responded walking over to the door and opening it. "What's going on Tenzin?"

"Amon is making an address on the radio, it could be importants so come quickly." He said with urgency.

Korra nodded her head and Tenzin went quickly back down the hall. She turned to look at Azula. "No sleep for us I guess to night."

Azula rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Apparently, now come on lets go see what the idiot is ranting about."

Korra nodded her head slightly and headed out the door.

'This better be good.' Azula thought to herself walking quickly to catch up.

For the record I am not a doctor so don't get mad at the medical stuff.