Okay. After many many months of not updating, I have finally gotten around to it. To tell the truth, I had kind of left this in the side for a while to pursue other ideas. However, I was struck with a creative inspiration this weekend to continue it, and so have began again. I will not promise regular updates, but much more frequent than previously. Thanks for your patience and enjoy. :)
It was a nearly mid-day when the two decided to venture out into the city. The weather was not overly hot during those mid day hours, nor was it exceedingly cold. It was a mild, breezy summer day. The birds whistled in the shade of the olive trees as a cool breeze lingered over the ancient valley where the Fire-Nation capital lay.
Azula and Aang strolled leisurely together, step in step, through the streets of the fire nation capital. They talked about this thing and the other, who was in and who was out, old memories and newly made ones. In all the conversation turned more into a mindless prattle in which both parties attentively listened to subjects, but never dwelt on them for too long. As they continued on, they walked past what had once been ornate temples and furnished city paths of the old city.
Much had changed in the ancient city since Zuko had inherited the throne three years previously, upon their father's death. For one, her brother had inherited a desire for all things western via their connection to this "foreign realm": Senor Mendoza. His relentless efforts to "modernize" his country, as he put it, completely changed the layout of the high-towered bastion from a organized, if not preposterously rigorous fortress, into a modernistic and thriving metropolis.
The natives, who had lived there for most of their lives, acting as servants and tradesmen to appeal to the imperial court, were soon replaced by mass-production factories and shops that catered not only for the extravagant taste of the Royals, but to the common people who were always flocking to the capital in ever growing numbers to make their way in life, expanding its size immensely.
All of this, surprisingly did not cause too much of a social upheaval in the political landscape of things. The rapid speed in which western technology had crept into the fabric of society had so completely transformed it, that it now looked entirely different than it once did. And the new generation, seeking to define itself from the generations past, were extremely quick to embrace these fresh ways.
With the coming of these foreigners and their technology, also came their fashion. Stores no longer sold the traditional dress of the lords and peasants, which were based on thousands of years of tradition and ceremony. Those were quickly replaced by the latest fashions imported from the Nanban's homeland. Ornate dress was replaced by plain trousers and shirts and kimonos were replaced by dresses and skirts. Thus, it was in no short time, that the city not only looked western in architecture and style; the people did as well.
This change in dress also applied to the new couple. Azula was content on wearing a red halter dress that extended just above her knees, and leaving a great part of her legs completely bare (something that, three years earlier, would have been unheard of). Aang, in keeping with the fashion of the time; wore a loose cotton shirt that allowed him a lot of air in the hot summer sun, and a pair of plain trousers in the new style, to keep in trend with the fad.
Indeed, the very guards who had three years earlier patrolled the streets in plates of red armor were entirely foreign in appearance. Their elaborate and metal suits were replaced by manufactured uniforms of crimson cotton; where once helmets graced their heads, there were tall funneled hats in the Nanban style; and not a sword was to be seen among them, except the ones carried by officers, and these also were now curved like sabers that Nanban officers wore. As much as the traditionalist wished it, the glistening steel of the musket and bayonet was more than satisfactory to achieve peace.
All of this was noted with the usual frankness by the pair of lovers who had become quite use to the sight of the transformation. Aang, always the mind of change, saw the adoption of these as a way of embracing the future and moving into a new era of tranquility and prosperity.
He wouldn't have been too wrong. Under Zuko, he had extended his power of his nation over the entire world his western-styled politics. By using cunning and diplomatic resources instead of open war to exercise his will, he had managed to do what his predecessors couldn't have dreamed of in over 100 years of constant war. He centralized all power of the four realms in his capital, with each Kingdom paying tribute to him. In addition, he had required a host of retainers and hostages from the foreign lands to stay forever bound to the capital, to make sure the prospect of war never occurred again.
Thus, was the fire nation's imperial ambition realized in the world, in a new era of harmony, that seemed to be beneficial to all. As the philosophers of the day pointed out, what did good for one, did good for all. This was a notion readily accepted, whether on the end of the bayonet or not.
Inasmuch as it was concerned, it did very little to upset the royal grace of the pair, one the duchess of their newly formed empire, and the other the transcendent delegate to the entire world. This union seemed suitably prompt, for now the best interest of one was linked to the other. There was no more need for cooperation when the political power of one could oblige the spiritual enlightenment of the other.
This alliance began to become manifest in a number of fears and rumors running around the capital, but none which were openly dissenting. This attention, however, did little to quell the vigor with which the two pursued their everyday lives, intermingled with commoner and noble alike.
While they were not officially "together," as it were, it was apparent to anyone who had eyes that it was more than met the eye. Their romance became the talk of the entire city, becoming a model of prestigious living and faithfulness, even if the two themselves didn't realize it.
For the present, they were satisfied to browse through the markets of the fire nation capital, to see all the fine commodities and merchandise the modernistic city had to offer. It was one of many of the pleasures their lives they enjoyed, being entirely removed from the political affairs that regularly dictated her brother's affairs. On this day, however, one fashionable and very large and prominent clothing store that caught their eye and had enticed them to enter its wide, but open-air doors.
They stepped inside with their normal candidness, trying not to draw any more attention than was needed. However, as expected, the second they passed over the threshold of the doors and into the brilliantly lite store, they were instantly recognized by the clerk sitting behind the desk in front, who hastily directed three young, male attendants to care for them.
Azula groaned as she saw them coming, lifting her, and rolling her eyes to the sky in a vain hope that they might notice and leave them be. Aang grabbed her hand and gave her a reassuring wink from the corner of his eye. Azula smiled to herself as she saw the smirk form on his thin lips. She knew she had taught him well.
The three attendants presented themselves to them. They walked astride their rigid postures underneath their blue cloaks, which were the distinctive clothing of their station and gave nods and boys in such a stiff manner that it looked like they were trying to put on the airs of soldiers. All it did, however, was make them look terribly awkward if not embarrassingly clumsy.
When they halted, the three bowed simultaneously. They bowed so low that it looked like they were trying to kiss the floor. Azula put her fan over her mouth and gave a stiffened giggle as she saw the hilarious spectacle of their sincere, but egregiously wrong, faux pas in an vain attempt to seem genteel. She noted, with her usual humor, that not even the palace servants treated her with so much obnoxiously attentive respect.
Aang put on the same bearing as the dissembled host of tailors. He cast his nose up high into the air while leading on his toes to appear taller. He closed his eyes and it wasn't apparent, even to Azula, that wasn't looking at the host as they bowed to the ground.
He let them bow for a long moment before he cleared his throat and began. "Gentleman" he said in the most posh and accentuated voice he could muster, "I'd like to request an article of clothing, upon which receiving; I would like to wear."
The first of three, the one on the far left, was the first to speak. "What do you wish, and we shall make it."
Aang looked up, as if pondering his fancy, and then gave them an apathetic look, one a superior gives to their inferior. "I'd like a 50 pairs of pants; each made of the finest silk, casual style, formal divisions, imbued in a pleasing color of blue-black, polka-dotted, pressed, iron, and folded."
The outrageous, if not contradictory demand, did not seem to bewilder the three servant-tailors. They merely bowed, and each uttered a resounding "Hai!" After which, they did an about-right and hurriedly scurried into the "Customs Room" that lay in the back of the store.
As soon as they were out of ear range, the two of them burst into fits of laughter.
"Do you really think they'll do it?" Aang asked trying to catch his breath.
"Oh no doubt," Azula said, equally incapacitated, "With looks as serious as theirs, I would have thought they were constipated!"
This sent the duo into another fit of laughter which they tried to stiffen but failed in doing until the necessity of air became too great of either of them. It was in that momentary silence that they realized that they were now free to explore the store, alone and safe from any unnecessary intrusions.
At first opportunity, Aang made a quick motion toward the door. "We should probably leave. They'll be back, no doubt, and be expecting us to pay."
But Azula softly chided him, letting her girlish enthusiasm overcome her, "Come on, let's go try on shoes."
"By 'us' you mean 'you'." Aang commented snidely.
"Of course," she said winking. "After all, I'm your better half."
Aang rolled his eyes and groaned. "Do I have to?"
"Come on." she said dragging him.
It was then that they both descended into the endless oblivion the store aisles. They went past rack after rack of tailored clothing for special occasions and every type of clothing and accessory under the sun. They went behind corners, and around bends until they found themselves in the isolated part of the store where the women's shoes were.
Azula squealed in one of the rare moments she ever showed weakness. "Oh Aang! Which ones should I try on?" Before he could open his mouth to answer, she had done so for him, "I guess I'll try them all!"Shoes, after all, were her weakness.
Azula systematically set about trying of a plethora of different shoes from the selves. She tried on sandals and flip-flops, high-heels and flats, ordinary and extravagant; she saw them all, and whatever she saw; she tried. All this she did with a great deal of care, tediously valuing every moment of the experience while Aang sat on a nearby bench, drifting in a stare of apathy and anxiousness.
All of this Azula had ruthlessly calculated before hand. She knew what he didn't like, which is why she chose this store especially. She noted the pain expressions he made, those looks of agonizing boredom on his face. She took great pleasure in seeing him suffer; not just suffering, suffering for her, for her whim. She knew he would do anything for her, whether he wanted to or not, and that was the most satisfying reward of all. However, she also knew that men were impatient, and that to keep them, you had to give them just enough to keep coming back.
She smiled slyly to herself. "Aang" she called innocently, rocking in her seat. "Why don't you help put on this pair? I know it fits me, but they just don't seem to want to slip on."
Aang shrugged and got up and proceeded over to her. He took the shoe and stared at her a brief moment, unsure of what to do. "Sit down" she told him a soft but commanding voice, "And put the shoe on my foot." Aang got on his knees with the shoe in his hand. She put her foot out in front of his face, her delicate toes plainly visible from underneath her stockings. "Go on." she said.
Aang didn't give a second thought and started putting on the shoe. He stared at the laces winding around her heel and tried desperately to get it on, shoving his entire strength in it. After several unsuccessful tries, he gave up and lifted his head to tell her, only to find that underneath her skirt, Azula wore no type of underwear.
His face flushed with red as he recoiled like a lightning bolt and Azula went into another burst of laughter. "That's not funny!" he said with more than a hint of indignity.
"Oh?" she asked caustically and produced the missing pair of panties from her pocket. She took the two ends by her index fingers and stretched them. "Don't you want these?" she asked seductively.
The blushed Aang gulped, his throat dry and his palms sweaty, and answered in a hallow, cracking "Yes".
"Well..." she said savoring his helpless obedience, "Come and get them..."
Aang stuttered, "I really don't think your brother would approve, especially if we're caught."
"My brother doesn't approve of a lot of things." she whispered.
They both leaned into each other's embrace and were soon collapsed atop one another on the floor.