Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the last Airbender." Nada thing bing!
Author's notes: Genma should have quit when he was ahead. He asked for it!
QueenTyzula: Rather hope you're still reading it. Tell me what's up ^_^
Krugerfan18: (laugh) thanks for the kind words :P
Snidget20: I hope you stay tuned then ^_^ Thanks for reading all the previous.
"Raking the Coals"
Chapter fourteen "Royal sentence"
Ty Lee's sisters and their mates had been swept up into a room as neatly as if they were toys picked up and stowed away. The manor was quiet and betrayed an aura of peace and security as Azula waited with her brother, Ty Lee, Mai and the ex-colonel in the secret chamber.
The girls had fallen asleep on one of the room's sofas and Ty Lee and Azula couldn't stop staring over at them even as they waited, limbs tensed and ready to spring into action. Ty Lee thanked her sister for helping her husband watch her children. She had gotten a sad smile and a question of what to do with their siblings.
"First, a time out. Then we take out the trash," Azula had growled. Ty Lee nodded. Her father had stabbed her in the back and was going to pay the price for it. Her sister didn't say anything to dissuade Azula either.
Besides with their three sweet daughters laying napping, Ty Lee knew her mate was entitled to her smat of vengeance. Azula's eyes made out the curve of her mate's jaw, her sweet face pinched with worry, love, and a whole lot more parental worry. Azula wanted nothing more than to take her into her arms, but first, business had to be finished.
Finally, there was commotion at the front doors to the estate. Servants moved to and fro, fetching things for the masters of the estate. Zuko tensed beside Azula. She was almost glad he had no soldiers with him. They could handle everything themselves.
And indeed, when Genma entered the secret chamber, he barely had time to squeak out "Fire Lord!" before Zuko grabbed his arm and tossed him across the room. He didn't bother to worry about societal niceties about respecting one's elders, or the fact that he had spawned the mother of his own daughter. Nope, a clear chunk across the room to fall badly and possibly damage something. Azula was instantly impressed, her aura surging with satisfaction as she moved up beside her enraged brother.
"YOU STOLE MY CHILDREN!" she thundered and was instantly satisfied when Genma's face paled with horror. Said children woke up on the divan and watched, eyes wide as their papa lost her temper and rightfully so. Mama wasn't calming her, so it must be warranted.
"I….I did no such thing…" Genma faltered, pushing to sit up, his long legs kicking hard. His wife looked equally pale but did nothing to intrude into the royal's attack.
"Oh, come off it, Father! They're right there in this room in YOUR house!" Ty Lee yelled. The pups were equally impressed with Mama's hidden temper and watched, whispering together.
"I verified all to the Fire Lord and their parents," the ex-colonel bit out.
"Who's to say HE didn't take them?" Genma lashed out. The trim young man held his hands up and barked with laughter.
"I should have known you were a lying snake from the start. No, no more!" he insisted. His wife took his side and Genma blanched.
Zuko went to signal for soldiers that weren't there, got over it, and knelt down. He and the Fire Lady delighted in tearing strips of cloth from the old man's robes and tying his wrists behind his back with them. Mai did know how to tie a mean knot.
"I will hold court. And you will receive your punishment in due time before all," Zuko said almost calmly. But his eyes glazed with a golden anger.
"Best to keep with tradition," Mai commented idly and Genma paled further. Zuko had been referring to old court punishments where the guilty were maimed or killed on the spot.
"Please, Fire Lord!" Genma begged as his son-in-law dragged him to his feet. Azula paused to collect two of her children into her arms gladly. Ty Lee picked up the third, holding her on her hip.
"Silence. I command it," Zuko said dryly. Genma's fears began to subside as he was marched through the streets, the commons and nobles staring at the odd procession. If it were Zuko offering the punishment, he would be getting off light. He had nothing to worry about.
Genma kept up his silent bolstering as he was relinquished to royal soldiers, and Captain Suki headed her warriors to march him to the prison cells. Indeed, he was getting off light.
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Princess Izumi stared as her dad let in her small cousins, their parents holding onto them. Her own dad stopped carrying her on his hip a few short years ago so it was passing strange behavior.
"Dad?" she asked. Her dad had his Fire Lord's face on, but he patted her head affectionately.
"It's okay, Izumi. We had to help your auntie with something," he said. Mai stooped to inspect her child's robes, to ensure she looked impeccable. Izumi was used to it and held her arms out for her mother to fuss over.
Ty Lee, for her part, stared at her eldest child, hers and her mate's, and nestled her face into Aiko's black hair. "I can't thank you enough, Zuko….."
"You applied pressure when the man needed it." Azula's gait was stiff but she still inclined her head to her brother in thanks.
Zuko gave a small smile. He was going through options in his head and coming to grips with the consequences of each idea. His time with Aang and his friends certainly had allotted him the ability to see each option through before implementing a course of action. If he went with one idea foremost in his mind, Zuko had a feeling Azula would thank him even further.
"It was nothing. He needed to be captured," Zuko said smoothly. He took Izumi's hand as he sat down. He had much to think about this night as Genma awaited the Fire Lord's pleasure.
Azula met Ty Lee's eyes, hoisting Kazumi and Nozomi to her shoulders. She was awestruck at the sudden depth of love in her gaze. Azula gave her a soft smile.
Everything would be alright. Even when Azula's eyes moved over Princess Izumi, she felt only love for her mate.
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The capital was in far better spirits.
After the strange procession they had glimpsed of their Fire Lord and Lady helping a young nobleman drag a man to the royal guards, they had gotten the news from the royals that all celebration events would continue as planned.
The dancers and performers were beside themselves, and the parades began when the royal family filed into their viewing boxes. Princess Izumi was between the royal pair, and Fire Princess Azula was in attendance with her family. High from the other noble's eyes and sufficiently blocked when they sat back in their chairs, Azula held onto her daughters. Ty Lee was cuddling Nozomi, whispering into her ear. Nozomi giggled. Kazumi and Aiko held onto Azula's neck, watching the dancers and performers below juggle and step into dance formations.
Ty Lee tensed as well as Azula when servants entered to bring refreshments. Azula held onto her daughters so tightly they protested. She let up her grip and the two girls settled onto her lap and got comfortable. Azula leaned back, letting them cuddle on her long legs. Azula leaned over to her mate and took her hand. Gently, her long fingers touched Ty Lee's hand all over. She raised her hand to kiss the back of it.
Ty Lee stroked her fingers and held onto her hand. They leaned shoulder to shoulder, their children in their laps, watching and giggling. By and by, they began to fall asleep, content with their twined auras around them. Azula leaned as close as she could without waking Aiko and pressed her lips to her mate's cheek. Ty Lee moved, and their lips met. Azula's heart thudded when Ty Lee murmured into her mouth. Her alpha ego was stoked, with their progeny on their legs cuddling in their sleep, and her mate's eyes wide with wonder as she kissed her back.
The urge to take her mate to the next room and open her robes and sink inside her was great, but Azula knew they'd have a free moment later. They had their children back and she was loath to wake them, or to let them out of her sight. The way Ty Lee's eyes moved down to the three napping pups told her she felt the same.
"Spirits, Zula….what ARE we going to do?" Ty Lee whispered, frustrated tears in her eyes. She sniffed, overcome. "How can we let them out of sight ever again?"
"That won't be for awhile," Azula declared. She rubbed the back of her hand against her mate's cheek, trying to soothe her. She pumped out comforting pheromones and was pleased when Ty Lee arched toward it. "We'll make certain only trusted people are near them."
"But what are we…."
"Mate," Azula rumbled. Her inner alpha preened as Ty Lee watched her, eyes wide. "We will protect our pups. And if I get you with pup again, I will protect them with my life. You know this."
The mental image of her mate and Zuko advancing on her father came to mind. Ty Lee nodded.
"I know….I know, Azula."
"Then relax…..we are all here together. And I love you," Azula whispered, almost as if the words were taboo. It would belie her image of a badass alpha princess. But no one was nearby, and Ty Lee's smile was radiant.
"I know. I love you, Azula."
Azula took her hand and kissed the back of it fervently. Later, she promised her mate with her eyes. When they were relaxed enough, and their pups were safely ensconced, would she tear herself away and find release in her mate. Ty Lee needed that too.
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Ty Lee helped her mate dress the next morning, the pups 'helping' as much as they could. Aiko had tugged one boot onto her papa's foot and Azula had to tamp her foot down to get it on fully. Nozomi giggled and offered up a sash. Azula stood and knotted it around her tunic waist. Ty Lee soothed out her long sleeves and her hand lingered along her mate's torso. She could feel Azula's abdominal muscles tense and retract beneath her touch.
Kazumi looked up at her parents, watching them share a loving gaze. Her small heart pinged. She hugged her father's leg and was shared in that love. Azula and Ty Lee made sure their small robes were proper and in order.
"The Fire Lord expects us," Ty Lee said to her children. Three small faces turned grave as they adopted Azula's still expression of concentration. Azula ran her hands over Ty Lee's waist, smoothing out her robes. Her hands gripped her hips fondly. She coughed and turned to take two of her children's hands.
"Let's go," she said. Ty Lee took up her third daughter's hand and the family filed out. Kyoshi Warriors were waiting to flank them as they traversed the length of the palace toward the throne room. Other nobles moved aside, bending the knee to Azula who led her family, her chin raised confidently.
No matter how Zuzu intended to disperse justice, she had to agree with his judgment. Azula found herself longing for the ire her brother raised in their brief vacation to Ember Island when they were teens and the War was in full swing. That brother she could get behind. The quiet Fire Lord with a tall seven-year-old with her own visage stamped on her features was a foreign man. And possibly diluted with the monk's teachings of non-violence as it were.
Azula resolved not to growl aloud. Her mate's chi swirled around hers, questioning. Azula rumbled and smiled at her mate. Ty Lee gave a terse smile back and Azula felt her small flashes of fear like shallow stabs to the belly.
Ty Lee was afraid and not afraid of what was going to happen. It was to be expected with her own father as the culprit of a crime against them, but her mate need not worry so much if Zuko were in charge of sentencing.
'It IS Zuzu,' Azula thought tiredly. Like a dog worrying at a bone, she picked over each option she thought her brother capable and willing to commit to. The prospects were not very promising to her mind addled and ready for vengeance.
The throngs of noblemen in the throne room parted, allowing Azula to stalk through at the head of her family. Whispers erupted among the men, women and children.
Zuko was waiting on his throne, perched on his knees from his seat on high. Mai sat at his left and his daughter knelt to his right. Azula made herself blink over that and focused on her brother's stern face. She pressed her fist into her palm and gave the slightest of bows to show respect for his title. Just slightly, just so. But he had helped save her children. So she inclined her head slightly.
Zuko's stern face lightened for an instant and Azula was aware of her three daughters following her gesture of respect beside her.
"Send in the accused," he intoned. His voice was pitched to carry, and Suki signaled to the imperial soldiers. The nobles gathered murmured and waited with baited breath.
Lord Genma still looked none too the worse for wear, his robes slashed in odd areas from the day before. But he looked presentable and clean even if his beard and hair were unkempt. Zuko signaled and one of the soldiers smacked the older man in the back of the knees with the butt of his staff. Genma cried out and was forced to wait on his knees.
"My lord…" he called out. Zuko held up a hand. Genma and the crowd silenced, waiting to hear what he would say. Zuko gathered himself, and inwardly he wished Aang and Katara were there to lend him strength. But he could do this. It was just.
Even if they would not agree completely.
Zuko knelt, his posture straight and true as he continued on. "Lord Genma. You may be the father of Lady Ty Lee, but you gave grievous insult by inflicting damage onto her family. You stole her children. You stole Fire Princess Azula's children. You cannot plead innocence…."
"I can! I had no part!" Genma spat out. Zuko's eyes narrowed. He gave a nod to Suki. She gestured to her warriors who unsheathed their fans and held the sharp edges against the man's throat. The bob in his throat bulged as he swallowed noticeably.
Zuko leaned forward on his knees, his eyes as intensely glad as his father's had once been. Older nobles shivered at the sight. "YOU CANNOT PLEAD INNOCENCE. I myself saw where you hid the three princesses. Your judgment will not be at my hands." His eyes flicked to Azula. "It will come from Princess Azula."
Azula blinked. And blinked again. She kept her straight posture. "Zuko?"
Zuko smiled. His voice carried to the occupants of the throne room. "He affronted your family by thinking he could steal and ransom your pups. Azula, I leave his sentencing in your hands."
Like a glimpse at the past, a devilishly satisfied smirk pulled at Azula's lips. "I suppose a thank you is in order, Fire Lord."
Zuko gave her an even smile. He sat up straight, fists clenched over his knees, seemingly relaxed. "You're welcome."
Mai wanted to laugh at the interaction between them. Apparently even when they were civil, Zuko and Azula sounded like they were bickering.
Genma began to sweat. He struggled between the two guards but Azula was already striding toward him, her pace quick and sure. A smirk was tugging at her lips as blue flames lined her fists. The Kyoshi Warriors stepped back, allowing her access.
The shock in Genma's eyes was worth the day of pain. Almost. Even as Azula was reaching for him, her heart was tugged in Ty Lee's direction. Her mate was afraid. She wasn't stopping her, and justice must be meted. But this WAS her father.
Azula flicked a glance to her mate. She was deathly pale, holding onto Nozomi and Aiko's hands. Her pups were watching her with a kind of reverent awe. But Ty Lee still nodded to her. Azula hoped she would forgive her as she grasped the top of Genma's face. Her palm slid over his right eye and his scream was horrible as her flames poured into his flesh. His eyeball oozed and collapsed beneath the heat, flowing in liquid rivulets down his cheek. As if wiping a wall clean, Azula's palm moved down in one hard pass, down his eye, his cheek and brushing off at the end of his jaw.
The man collapsed, hands going to his ruined face. Small choking sounds filled the quiet throne room.
Azula stared down at him, momentary satisfaction in his gaze. She turned to her brother seated on high. "He can live with the pain."
Zuko nodded, seemingly satisfied. "As you wish, Princess Azula."
As Genma was picked up and carried out of the throne room by servants, Azula lifted her chin as she stalked back to her family. Her nonbender pup Kazumi was clenching her small fists, and she looked thrilled with her father's judgment. Small flicks of blame flame spurted from Aiko's and Nozomi's hands and with a harsh shake of her head, they expelled their firebending. Azula stepped up to her mate and her heart was troubled when Ty Lee seemed to shy away from her.
But it was justice, in the old way. Zuko may have seemed distant with his seemingly progressive mandates, but even with the War gone, he knew he had to keep with tradition in some way. Azula was just glad she got to strike the blow. But had it done something to her mate?
Ty Lee took her elbow as they led their family past the throne, giving a bow as they passed. Ty Lee's eyes fell onto Izumi's small face. The girl had held up well, only the faintest trouble passing her features. She was trying to make her parents proud and Ty Lee's heart ached for her.
Azula, on her part, knew her mate took her arm because they were in public. She had no idea what to expect alone. They stepped to the side and watched as one of Ty Lee's sisters approached with her husband, both dressed in their best. The sister in fine robes, her husband in his old military uniform. The ex-colonel knelt before the throne and received his reward, a reinstatement to the Fire military, and with a promotion in rank.
The proud smile the man raised up to the Fire Lord filled Ty Lee with happiness, even as her heart warred with fear for her father's current health. Zuko, for his part, seemed to try balancing the ugly with the good and she was glad for it.
Ty Lee leaned against her mate's arm, trying to assure her. Azula was stiff beside her as they watched the rest of the court proceedings.
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The evening passed well for their children. Azula busied herself with a few firebending stances for her benders, and a few punches for Kazumi. Ty Lee kept stretching, dressed down in her simple flowing pants and top. The arches her body made as she lifted her legs over her head filled Azula with awe and longing. Was this solely for her benefit or was her love needing to collect herself after what had happened?
Ty Lee pressed her elbows to the floor between her spread legs. She perched her chin on her fist as she caught her mate's eye. As always, Azula's eyes roved over her and made her feel wanted. Their family dynamic felt normal and it felt good. She herself knew her father deserved the punishment he'd gotten, even if she could in her heart hope he would live with the shame of his marking.
But the careful way her mate handled the pups as well as the skittish way she left her to her stretching told a deeper story. Was Azula ashamed? Or merely concerned with her reaction? Ty Lee felt a surge of love for Azula flow through her and when her chi lurched out, Azula lifted her head, her eyes almost wide with surprise. Her golden eyes half-lidded as she caught her gaze. And only then did Azula go to her knees beside her on the rug.
"Hi," Azula mumbled almost shyly. "Do you…..need help?"
"Yes," Ty Lee admitted. She leaned back and poised her leg high on her mate's shoulder, giving a sigh as her muscles relaxed under the stretch. Azula had a hand on her knee and could have slipped it down her thigh if she wanted to. Her eyes certainly were roving down that way. Ty Lee felt a pang of want when her mate didn't move her hands where she wanted them. Azula gave a grunt, willing her lusts low as she helped her mate's leg ease back down. Warmth pooled between her legs at the sighs Ty Lee gave as she stretched. Her shift was already well on its way and no amount of inner scolding could get it to stop.
Dinner was good for the pups were happy and excited to be with them. Long after they'd been put to bed, Ty Lee regrettably slid out of the room the girls shared. It was intended she and Azula stay with them after their ordeal, but the stiff way her mate walked told her it all needed to be out, so it could be pushed back out of their lives together.
Ty Lee opened the door of the second bedchamber. The bed was large, and she walked around the far end toward the window. Ty Lee latched one corner of the shutters, and she jumped with surprise when Azula's warm body leaned into her side to reach above her head and help fasten the other shutter.
Ty Lee leaned back into her, hands sliding over Azula's arms. Azula grunted with surprise when her arms were locked back around her mate's waist, but she leaned into her. Sudden fear went through her veins and Azula's hands trembled. Ty Lee felt the shaky stirrings of her chi and stroked her hands over her arms.
"Azula. What you did…"
"Should I say I'm sorry?" Azula rumbled. "For your sake only, Ty. Not his. He deserved THAT at least."
To anyone else, Azula would have sounded like a petulant child. But Ty Lee had known her for years. She knew the traces of fear that lined her statement.
Ty Lee turned in her arms. Azula was struck by how stupidly grateful she felt when her mate's arms twined around her neck. "He did. Azula, what you did….. it was needed. Zuko asked you to do it…and you let him live."
Azula wriggled in her arms, unhappy at the mention of her brother, but she paid attention to the warm hands soothing between her shoulder blades and the warm lips moving along her jaw. Her eyes closed, Azula nuzzled Ty Lee's shoulder, rumbling when her top shifted down enough to permit her sweet-smelling flesh.
"Only because you were there," Azula mumbled. Her chin was lifted with two fingers and Ty Lee smiled hesitantly up at her. The kiss she pressed gently against Azula's mouth slowly heated up. Azula's heart gladly accepted Ty Lee's gesture and her mouth opened, her tongue pressing for entrance into her mate's mouth. Ty Lee let her in and they clung to each other. Azula was surprised when vertigo set in and they were falling to their knees.
"It's okay…." Ty Lee was murmuring against her neck. Azula turned her face and kissed her lips. "I still love you…."
Azula surged on top of her, her emotions fighting to the surface. She didn't have to voice it, but Ty Lee knew she had been truly worried about that after today.
They missed the bed completely and Ty Lee pulled her mate on top of her. Azula's hand was under her top, teasing her breast, the other going to the waistband of her loose pants. Ty Lee's hands moved down under her tunic, unlacing her. Her teasing movements against the lap of her trousers had Azula straining beneath them.
Azula groaned, tearing her mate's top off. She lowered her face to her breasts, lips tracing a nipple and drawing the nub into her mouth with careful scrapes of her teeth. Doing that while grinding her half-covered cock against her mate urged her mind to red hazy passion and Azula rode into it gladly.
Ty Lee wasn't much help, writhing beneath her. Azula huffed and knelt up, tugging down her flowing pants, and tossing them aside. Her top was just pushed up, and Azula enjoyed seeing her round breasts bounce with each movement as she worked her length inside. Her mate's familiar clinging warmth clenched around her and Azula knelt up. She pushed Ty Lee's legs up over her shoulders and began thrusting into her in earnest.
With their children in the next room, the parents tried to keep their moans low. But Ty Lee's gasps on each thrust back in had Azula's blood singing. She flashed a dark grin down to her jouncing mate, finger nails digging into the soft flesh of her thighs as she kept Ty Lee's wriggling legs atop her strong shoulders. The warm silk clutching at her throbbing length made her shout out loud a moment. Ty Lee's fingers dug into her knees where she could reach her, and she groaned aloud, echoing her.
When Ty Lee clutched at her, whimpering and moaning, Azula joined her in climax. It prided her that she could hold off on her release before her mate, but often Ty Lee drew out the most intense reactions in her. Azula held onto her legs, pumping her hips hard, sighing as spurt after hot spurt filled her mate. Ty Lee lay back panting. She murmured, rubbing Azula's knees.
Azula let her legs drop and collapsed bonelessly atop her. Ty Lee regained the barest of strength to hold onto her with her arms and legs. She kissed the top of Azula's head as she nuzzled her shoulder and throat.
"Didn't think we would….tonight…." Azula slurred. She tried to rise, but her arm muscles quaked. She stayed gladly in the comfort of her mate's embrace, liking how she clung to her. Ty Lee laughed beneath her.
"S'good we did…..it'll be okay," Ty Lee said by way of mentioning her father's fate and what Azula did to him. Azula laughed against her. She ran her tongue over the mating mark on the front of Ty Lee's throat and was satisfied when she shuddered beneath her. Her inner walls clutched her limp cock and Azula's blood boiled as she began to harden.
"Don't start something you can't finish," Azula said haughtily. She sucked slowly at the mating mark. Ty Lee's mouth reached her shoulder and her own mating mark. She sucked it hard, feeling Azula hard again.
"I think you'll find…" Ty Lee pushed at Azula, and with a few careful prods, got her mate to roll to her back. She settled on top, leaning back to hold herself up with her hands on Azula's strong thighs. "This an adequate…..solution."
Azula sighed with pleasure, pillowing her head on her folded arms. She grinned wantonly up at her mate's heaving breasts and flat stomach as she worked on her length.
"Quickly….the pups…." Azula muttered suddenly her mind going back to her responsibilities. Ty Lee's fingernails dug into her thighs and she rose and fell in a languid push. Azula gasped.
"Focus on me a moment," she murmured. Azula gave a nod, her golden eyes meeting Ty Lee's brown.
"Yes…" she purred. Ty Lee stoked their passion higher and she was more than ready for the ride.
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When he had left his wife, secretly and suddenly, Genma had no idea he would be allowed admittance to the royal prison. The building was high up on a craggy mountain peak overlooking the capital and Genma had had to stop and rest several times. His servants waited, patiently or impatiently. But the cold wind hurt the bandages covering half his face and jaw.
So he had to stop and rest, trying to catch part of a breath that would fill his lungs at least partially. His chest already hurt from the harshness of his intake of breath.
"Not much further, my lord," one of the men said. He let Genma lean on him. The one eye the older lord had left was wide as he took in their surroundings. Inside the prison gates, the soldiers walked him down many corridors and past several iron doors that held cells.
They stopped at one and one of the soldiers, a gruff woman, told him the rules. "You are not to approach the bars. Do not pass anything to the prisoner. Do not touch the prisoner. Do not be coerced into approaching. Now enter. You have ten minutes."
Ozai watched him with still golden eyes from the shadows of his barred cage. The golden irises gleamed with a knowing look and his mouth was curved with a knowing smirk. Genma heard the iron door behind him close with a hard clank and he approached the middle of the room, robes shuffling over his boots.
"Lord Genma, is it?" Ozai's voice oozed confidence even if his appearance was anything but. Genma was startled to notice that the prior Fire Lord's hair had not been trimmed and his beard fell fully into his lap. His hair had always been long, but the lack of grooming was shocking to him.
"Yes…." Genma's voice was hoarse and uneven to his own ears. He wanted to clear his throat, but his chest hurt from the struggle for air. He paused to catch his breath. "I am sorry to see you in this state….my lord."
Ozai's grin was almost jaunty as he leaned back on one hand. "Those not seduced by my worthless cur's new doctrines mostly are. My hapless pup makes certain they never can visit me. How did you come to get in, Genma?"
"I do have my ways," Genma wheezed. He was secretly pleased when Ozai finally deigned to comment on his new appearance. It meant a lot that he had ignored his deformity until now.
"By the looks of you, you'd had a disagreement with the new Fire Lord's decrees?" His words ended on a silent question. Genma nodded.
"Yes!...Yes….in more ways," he wheezed. "Would that….my daughter never met him."
"Ah, yes. She did lay with my son a time to grant him an heir." Ozai was almost lazy as his hand smoothed over the fabric of his grey top. "Why did she not stay with him? One can only imagine."
Genma's mind turned over in circles. It WAS perplexing. Better to know his daughter as one without loyalty. But she HAD always been loyal to the royal children. It just didn't make sense.
"I…..I do not know, Lord Ozai….."
Ozai leaned forward, his eyes hard points. "One would imagine a story there. Why lay with the new Fire Lord only to rush off to his sister? There is something we haven't overseen here."
Genma faltered for words. "Perhaps…I do not know what…."
"I think it has to do with everything." Ozai's smile was wide and deeply troubling to look at for very long. Genma blinked. "Perhaps there is more to Princess Izumi's parentage than what was told to us."
Genma blinked. And laughed. It hurt to do so. "Were that so! Zuko would be supplanted."
"And my friends would be handsomely rewarded." Ozai stared at the back of his nails. Genma was surprised to see how long they were. Blades were not permitted to him at all it seemed. "Would they not be?"
His golden eyes flicked up to meet Genma's. The bandaged lord found himself nodding. "Yes…yes!"
Ozai crossed his arms and smiled a smug smile in the dark. "We're glad to hear it."
Genma bowed to his knees at the use of the royal plural. "Of course…..Fire Lord."
End for now
End notes: And Happy thanksgiving! Stay strong, my lovelies. If you liked or have any beef or questions, go ahead and drop a review. Smash that button with all your heart and let me have it. Take care.
Pen
11/18/2018