Chapter 12

"How the hell do you lose an airship in a city!?" Azula yelled angrily walking out of the police HQ.

The morning after the disaster at arena Azula had insisted on going down to the station early in the morning, much to Korra's displeasure.

After their swim Korra and Azula had watched as the dark form of an airship hover over the arena and then fly off. Since they did not find Amon anywhere else they had figured that the airship must have gotten him.

After a night where Korra and Azula had done little more the pass out on their bed, Azula had been confident that in the morning the Police would have been competent to track the massive airship and by morning have Amon cornered and ready to be taken care off.

She had been proven wrong.

"Calm down Azu, there doing the best that they can." Korra said rolling her eyes.

"Well it's not good enough!" Azula shouted.

Korra decided that she had had enough and grabbed Azulas wrist and pulled her towards an ally way.

"What! I got right to be annoyed, first I had to sit there and listen to that cheater whine for an hour."

Korra had pulled Azula into an ally way and to the other side of a dumpster. Azula still in herself proclaimed righteous fury seemed to have not notice the change.

"Then the chief finally comes out and says they had lost-LOST a giant airship into the city." Azula finished catching her breath.

Korra pushed Azula's back up against the wall. "What about the cabbage corp. raid? You mad they left you out of that?"

Azula had finally noticed her change in surroundings and begun looking around confused.

"Well yeah it would be better use of time then heping Bolin and Mako move. Hey why are we-"

Azula was cut off by Korra pressing her lips to hers.

Azula responded by bringing arms Korra's wait pulling her closer, Korra wrapped her arms around Azula's neck also sending tongue venturing forth to meet Azula's.

Neither new how long they where looked to gather but by how much both where gasping for air after Korra broke off and leaned her for head on Azula's it must have been long enough, though neither would have agreed to that.

"There where people around" Korra Began speaking softly through catching her breath. "And you where so focused on getting Amon, I never… you just…" Korra stuttered out. Azula brought her hand up and held Korra by the chin, forcing her to look her in the eye.

"What is it?" Azula asked softly.

Korra took a deep breath. "I'm really glad you're safe. Amon did a number on you and we were lucking to escape." She finished resting her head on Azula's shoulder. "I'm just… so happy we both got out of that whole thing alright."

Azula unconsciously tightened her hold around Korra, finding it odd ,(but having nothing wrong with), how Korra never seemed to apply to her 'do not touch' rule. "I am glad we are both safe." Azula said earning a tightening of Korra's arms around her.

Azula took a moment to enjoy the feeling before she talked again. "I do have one question though, how did you get up to the roof?"

Korra pulled of Azula's shoulder laughing lightly. "It was actually Bolin's idea. I jumped down to the water then shot up with the water, than Tenzin gave me a blast of air to get me the rest of the way."

Azula chuckled shanking her head. "That's pretty crazy."

"Not as crazy as jumping off the roof." Korra countered.

'Hmp' Azula said putting on a fake face of insult. "It worked."

"Just try and think of something a little better next time k?" Korra said patting the side of Azula's face.

"Now come on we gota go help Bolin and Mako move to the island." Korra said breaking off. Azula took a few moments to appreciate the view of Korra walking away, letting her eyes wander over her fit and feminine form.

'All mine.'

She shook her head when she relised what she was doing, and walked quickly to catch back up.

'Can't slip, can't get close, must be able to break off' Azula repeated in her head a few times, though finding it feel more and more hollow each time.

They both walked to and used a trolly to get the rest of the way to the arena talking little except when Korra seemed to get impatient enough to ask Azula why she had been carrying around satchel bag.

"Don't worry about it." Azula said dismissively.

"See now that just makes me want to know more. So just tell me." Korra commanded.

"Think of it as surprise." Azula said simply. Korra eyed her for a moment before shrugging.

"Alright fine I know you would never hide anything from me." Korra said turning to look out the trolley window.

Azula nodded "Of course-". A Blast of memories that might have knocked her over hit like a giant wave. Memories of long days spent pursuing and plotting on how to hunt the Avatar and his companions. About her role in the war, from the loss of the great capitol to the creator of the idea to destroy the entire Earth Kingdom. And finally to her near killing of the last Avatar and breaking of the cycle that may have meant that Korra would never have existed at all.

"…not."

Korra seemed not to notice the minute pause but the rest of the ride went by in silence between to the two, with Azula lost in thought.

They finally arrived at the arena to find Bolin and Mako packing what few things they owned into a car.

"Hey guys what's going on?" Korra asked. "You got a ride to the ferry?"

"Hey Korra, hey Azu, what ferry …oh right the island living thing." Bolin greeted scratching the back of his head.

"What's going on?" Korra asked concerned.

"Asami offered to let us live at her place." Mako said putting things into the car

"We get to live in a Mansion!" Bolin said excitedly.

Mako rolled his eyes. "Do you wanna come hang out?"

Korra shrugged. " I don't know Tenzin wanted to-"

"Yes." Azula cut in. She remembered one important thing about Asami, she was rich. And after a quick car ride though the city she reliazed just how wealthy she was.

"Where did you say you got all your money from?" Azula asked cutting into what ever conversation was going on.

"Um my dad made the Sato mobile." Asami answered.

"So he is an engineer then?" Azula inquired.

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"Just wondering." Azula said patting her satchel bag with a sly smile

Azula watched intently as Asami drove Korra around the race track that dominated her estates back field.

"what's in the bag?" Bolin asked pointing to the satchel that Azula was carring.

Azula thought for a moment. "I'll show you." Reaching in her right hand she filled with the contents for a moment.

"Hey what's that over there?" Azula asked pointing with her left hand.

"I don't see any, what do you-AH!" Bolin yelled crumpling into the ground. Looking back up he saw Azula with a wicked smirk on her face and an equlist glove on her hand.

"What? How? You? WHAT!?" Bolin blathered out.

"Turns out that there is a small dial on the side that changes how powerful it is." Azula said matter of factly.

"Did you know that before you shocked me!?" Bolin demanded standing back up.

Azula smirked. "Thank you for your help with my research Bolin."

"Where did you get that thing anyway?" Mako asked.

"I found it."

The sound of the car pulling up cut Mako's inevitable next question off.

Azula chuckled as Korra stumbled out of it her legs shakeing and an oversized grin on her face.

"That was awesome!" Korra yelled out steadying herself.

Amused by the show Asami turned to Azula. "How about you Azu want to go for a ride?"

She thought for a moment. "Do you have another car?"

After a few minutes with Asami to explain how the clutch and for that matter a car worked Azula managed to get the thing to go all around the track with out crashing and once more going faster, all the while Korra cheering her on.

"You learn fast." Asami complimented as Azula brought the car to rather abrupt stop. "Well, fast enough."

"Yeah well I am good at learning new things." Azula said smugly

"really?" Asami said intrigued. "How about a quick race then?"

Azula shrugged "The daughter of the inventor vs the person with a total of30 min behind wheel… sure why not."

'As you go faster switch to higher gear, but slow down on the turns.' Azlua reminded herself a few more times has Asami lined up the cars at the starting line. When she had gone before on the track she had managed to get it up all the way to fourth gear but according to how Asami said the cars worked there were 2 more to use.

"You sure you don't me to drive backswords?" Asami asked sarcastically.

"I think I'll manage." Azula shot back putting on the goggles she had been given. She gave a quick wave to Korra who she could hear cheering for her, and turned to watch lights in-front of her.

'Green means go' Azula thought as she shifted her gaze back and forth from the light to the road.

The green light finally went and Azula did the proper footwork to send the car speeding forward.

Racing down the track Azula tried to turn and see Asami but found that she needed her full focus to be on the road and decided to do just that.

Going around the first turn Azula had some troubles turning at the high speed but managed to control it enough so that she was already into fourth gear by the second turn. After the second turn the track became more straight and saw that Asami was behind her!

'Holy crap I'm winning' Azula though excitedly. She pulled the stick into 5ht gear but looked again and saw that Asami was catching up. Pulling around the 4th and finale turn she felt like she was going to flip but still did not slow down.

Despite her efforts Asami was now right behind her and moving around the outside to pass.

'This better work.' Azula pleaded as she pulled the stick into the las gear spot.

The car disagreed with the move and letting out a terrible screech of metal and roar of grinding gears the car suddenly went from 60mph forward to trying to go backswords just as fast.

Azula was sent forward in her seat but was stoped from hitting anything from the harness she was wearing. The car did not go far as the rear slammed into the track wall, and kept going until the entire right sight had been crushed into it. The car finally stopped after nearly 20 yards.

Dazed hurt and confused, Azula unlatched the harness and more or less rolled her way out of the car and onto the ground.

'I miss my tank train.' Azula thought to herself as she enjoyed the surprisingly comfortable ground for a few moments more. Through the pounding in her head she started to hear her fake name being called as realized that the group was now rushing over to her.

With a grown she sat up and using the car for support managed to stand unsteadily up by the time they got to her.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Azula said trying to cut into the questions of concern. Azula was dazed from the crash, hurt from the crash and was now having 4 people talk at the same time around her.

"I'm Fine!" She yelled angrily getting the group to shut up. Sheep took a deep calming breath seeing the uneasy faces around her. "I'm fine, just a little sore."

"That's good." Korra finally said "But let's get you back to the house an healed up." She suggested walking up to help Azula who was still leaning on the wreck .

Azula waved her off and pushed off so that she was standing on her own. "I'm fine as I said. In fact I am more concerned about having to pay for this wreck."

Asami shook her head. "Don't worry about it, this is the texting track and you just helped test the new harness set up."

Azula could have said something about givving the guest an untested system, but she took a deep breath to calm her slef again. "Next time use Bolin I am sure he would make a very good testing dummy."

"Yeah." Bolin said proudly. "wait what". Earning a, all but Azula, group laugh.

"Alright sorry next time I'll give you a better car." Asami said after the laugh.

"I think I'll pass on driving for a while." Azula said dismissively.

Asami shrugged "All right, don't worry about it for a while then, we gotta get the track fixed up anyway ...and a new test car. So let's just head in shall we?"

The walk back to the manor was taken up by talk about the race and how even though Azula had done well for her first time... she had a few more tricks to learn.

"No I did not know there was a reverse." Azula said getting anoyed at the questions.

"You don't seem to be good with a lot of this tech stuff, where did you say you where from again?" Mako inquired.

"A ways away. Anyway, I am getting better and I don't need a radio or a car to make you suffer." She said turning to him with a glare, he backed down until Azula turned again chuckling.

The group walked into a simple parlor room with a few couches, chairs and small tables, with book shelves lining two walls and a large window letting in light on the back wall.

"Ok, Ok I know you can I was just wondering why you have that glove if you don't like technology?"

"Because I don't know anything about it." Azula said rolling her eyes. "I was hoping that since Asami's father is an engineer he could tell me more about it."

"Why didn't you ask Lin and the police to look at it?" Korra asked.

"Because I wanted to hold onto it and get some direct answers."

"Well my dad is usually busy most of the day, but at night he does go to his workshop. If you leave it here I'll ask him to look it over and I'm sure he could tell you everything about it."

Azula adjusted her self in the larch comfortable chair. "Well ok I guess I could come back after he looked at it." She looked around the chiar and then around the room. "we left it out at the track." She said with a sigh.

"I'll go get it." Korra said standing up.

After she left a buttler arrived and handed out some drinks and food.

"So Azu you really didn't answer where you are from." Bolin asked between bites.

"I know."

A few moments of silence passed awkwardly.

"So where are you from?" Asami asked breaking the silence. When Azula seemed to ignore her she continued.

"I traveled a lot and I can't think of any where that has no radio or cars."

Azula rolled her eyes realizing that this interrogation was not going to end.

"There are a few places." Azula tried to end the questioning. "But I have a question do all cars drive the same way?"

Asami nodded giving up on her question. "More or less my dad made the original so everything else is a copy."

"Which means they all have a reverse so be careful." Bolin mocked.

"Ha…ha…ha." Azula said sarcastically. "I think I'll keep to animals from now on."

"Oh come on you did fine you said your self you learn fast." Asami encouraged.

"Can I practice in your car?" Azula asked with a smirk.

Asami blinked a few times. "Hell no."

Mako and Bolin erupted into laughter.

"How about this," Mako said recovering. "You tell us where you are from and you get to drive Asami's car."

"Hey!" Asami started, whatever she said next Azula ignored her when she saw Korra slip silently into the room and take a cautionary look behind her.

"Find it Korra?" Bolin asked.

Korra turned. "hmm what yeah yeah I got it." She said clearly distracted.

'Something is going on.' Azula though to her self.

"Hey Korra do you think Tenzin will want us home by now?" Azula asked creating an exit.

Korra looked at her confused until her eyes widened in realization. "Ah yeah yeah we should probably get going!" She said quickly.

"Aww come on Asami has a pool!" Bolin pleaded. "I know you like to swim."

"I got a whole ocean back at the island Bolin, don't worry see ya." Korra responded quickly moving just as fast out the door.

"I'll leave the glove next time I wanted to fiddle with it a bit." Azula said standing up from the chair.

The left the rather bewildered group behind and headed for the door.

As they got closer they saw a rather portly fellow walking across the entry way reading a clip board.

Korra abruptly stopped to the point that Azula nearly ran into her.

The man noticed the commotion and stopped and turned to look at them.

"Oh hello Avatar. I did not see you there. I thought you would be Asami." He said kindly.

"Yeah we where but um yeah we gotto go back to the island to you know do Avatar stuff. " Korra said quickly with a nervous smile.

"Well ok then." He said slightly confused. "Have a nice evening."

"You too Mr. Sato." Korra said putting an over extended smile on.

Mr. Sato looked at her oddly for a moment before walking away lightly shaking his head.

After he was gone Korra let out her breath she was holding.

"Mind explaining what this is all about?" Azula asked.

Korra took her hand and dragged Azula quickly out of the mansion out of the property and down to a bus station.

With no one around Korra double checked and looked around. "I think Mr. Sato is working with the equilsits." She quietly said.

Azulas eyes narrowed in thought. "How do you know?"

"I heard talking on the phone with someone about how the Machines should be ready for the next attack."

"He said exactly that?" Azula inquired.

Korra nodded, "We should tell Tenzin."

"No." Azula said calmly. "I have a better idea."

After a bus, trolly, and finally a ferry ride filled with little except Korra leaning on Azula they arrived back to the island as the sun was going down in the early evening.

Tenzin was there to meet them.

"Hey tenzin, good news, Bolin and Mako are staying with Asami so you don't need to worry." Korra greeted.

The eternal annoyed look on Tenzin's face lighted a little at the news.

"Ah yes well that's good it could start getting crowded around here. But any way where have you been all day?"

"Well this mourning we went to the police station and then to the arena and then to the Sato mansion." Korra listed out.

Azula saw the look of worry mix with annoyance mix on Tenzin's face.

"How did you get around the city?"

Korra was about to answer but released that her answer would probably be wrong a closed her mouth.

"Korra…" Tenzin demanded

"Asami gave us a ride." Azula cut into the rescue.

Tenzin turned to look at her his gaze filled with a number thoughts. "Korra I believe Pema needs some help making dinner."

"Ok come on Azu."

"No." Tenzin cut in. " I need to talk to her."

'What now.' Azula thought to herself as Tenzin gestured for her to walk with him around the compound.

"I know you lied to help Korra back there." He said calmly.

"Yes." Azula said simply.

Tenzin sighed. "You took public transport didn't you?"

"Except for the part of the arena to the Sato house yes. Let me guess it's too dangerous to be out in public?"

"Yes. Amon has shown his true strength at it has proven to be great you should be more careful."

"I take it the raid today went well?"

"Yes no one was hurt and no unnecessary force was used."

Azula noticed the focus he put on 'unnecessary force', but held back any comment out of curiosity of where this was going.

"Any was I wanted to know how the sessions with Korra where going?"

Azula shrugged "good remember she did a lot for the arena plan and from what she told me she got to use some of what she learned." Azula noted with a smirk.

"Yes about that…" Tenzin began with a sigh. "I've noticed that Korra has become more… aggressive particularly with hr dealings with people."

'There it is' Azula realized, thankful for him to finally get to the point.\

"These are rough times Tenzin it's good to be assertive."

Tenzin stopped walking and Azula turned to see him looking at her carefully.

"I have been a council man for a long time and I have seen much of the world, I think iknow the difference between aggressive and assertive, and when someone is trying to inter change them." He said sternly.

Azula raised her hands to surrender. "Ok, ok I understand, I was just trying to show what I thought was best from my experience." In reality Azula cared little about what Tenzin thought. He was an air head just like his father. But, she did like having a home and being able to spend time with Korra so what ever he wanted she would make it work.

"Yes, your experience…" Tenzin rubbing his beard. "where exactly does your experience come from?"

"I have told you before." Azula began holding back the annoyance from her voice.

"Yes you did, you also said you where not a criminal. However I have some doubts about that now." Tenzin accused

"I will make this clear, I will not tell of my past and there is nothing you can do to make me." She said failing to hold the venom in her voice. She could survive not having a home, and she could make it work with Korra, but she was going to take any chances that would put her back in that cell.

Tenzin was taken aback by the declaration, he was about to say something but stopped when Azula put her hand up.

"And I have my reasons."

"But." She said lowering her hand.

"I have told Korra. And she has no problem with me or my past so I believe that have earned enough for that to suffice."

Tenzin relaxed and nodded his head lightly, much to Azula's relief.

"Ok I apologize I suppose I should not have come to such rash conclusions. If you have a past that you want to keep to yourself that's fin and I will trust Korra's judgment on the matter."

"Thank you." Azula said honestly. "and I will be sure to do what you requested."

Tenzin nodded good and thank you for your time. Now come hopefully Pema has finished dinner."

"And Korra has not burned it." Azula added feeling like she had avoided another car crash this evening.

Dinner went normally with little talk until Korra began talking about her car ride, which inevitably led to her bringing up Azula's own driving experience.

It was as bad as she thought it would when she got to the point of the crash with another round of 'Are you ok.' and 'Yes I'm fine.'

What made it worse was the several dozen different reaction and act outs the 3 kids did about the reverse problem.

After the meal Azula got volunteered to go out and help the 3 little annoyances feed the Bison's and lemurs. She put on a fake smile and faked interest in what they were saying as they led her out side.

The entire ordeal served only as a reminder about how much she hated air heads. It was not so much the kids themselves just the energy they showed and the occasional air-blast that they would do for fun that tried her patience to her limits the only saving grace was the oldest who caught on to her irritation and that she found out that perhaps if she played her cards right she could acquire one of the beasts.

Finally after a seemingly endless process that was not made easyier by the Kids Azula tiredly returned to Korra's room and closed the door by leaning on it with a tired sigh.

"I don't know which was more annoying the kids or the lemurs, they both made about the same noise." Azula tiredly looking up to see Korra… reading a book.

The book that Azula had taken from the library all that time ago.

"There not that bad, besides its pretty easy to distract them and make an escape." Korra simply not noticing the way that Azula had tensed up on the door.

"Hey did you know the same girl who took over Ba Sing Se also became the Fire-lady?" Korra asked still intently reading the book.

"What?" Azula blurted out in confusion.

Korra flipped the book back a couple pages and started reading. "Near the end of the war the women who would later prove instrumental in its down fall played an important role in its greatest victory. Mai led an elite team to infiltrate the mighty city that had resisted many a siege and turned its own defender against its self."

Korra finished looking up. "Took a whole city with a few people now that's someone I would want to meet."

"Give that to me!" Azula ordered moving quickly to take the book from Korra's hand. Korra tried to pull away but Azula far to quickly and she took the book and turned around so her back was facing Korra.

She reread the part Korra had read andher griptighted on the book as anger her anger flared.

'He wouldn't..' She thought with a mix of desperation and anger as she flipped through a few pages trying to find a very particular article.

The faint questions from Korra could be heard from behind but she ignored it as she zeroed in on exactly what she was looking for.

She found it, and the moment she did her heart sank and her body down with it down to the floor. She had always hated her brother and he had always hated her, but this…was too much. Even she would not have done what he had done to her. She read the line again to make sure it was true.

'Zuko was the only child of Fire lord Ozai and Lady Ursa…'


So we have arrived to one of the great questions of the story.
Thank you every one for all the reviews and Favorites so far.