Author's disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the Last Airbender"! Nathing.
Author's notes: Sorry this had to be a book end chapter. More plot pointy next one :P But I had to have some lulls and reactions in here. Enjoy!
QueenTyzula: Hehe thanks for nudging me, my friend :P Mai does strike me as coolly collected, a few scenes I wrote not being the exception :P But it was understandable? Azula may do more than win our favorite acrobat :P Mehehehe…..
Maraghoul: The cat/baby reference cracked me up :P Kept seeing both in a sack. And it was a poor decision not to tell Mai right away, but I guess that's life, you make mistakes? :P Enjoy my friend.
Harley Quinn Davidson: Mai is abit more collected in this exchange! :P She's holding onto those knives.
Hopelessromantic34: Awww you called the Tyluko stuff sweet :P Well Azula may or may not have a conniption if she finds out….. Stay tuned :P
"Stoking the fire"
Chapter twenty-nine "Uneasy Lull"
"Xie Ming didn't have to go rogue like that on us," one of the Kemurikage woman complained. She and her partner were the only infiltrators left in the royal palace after their third compatriot had died a fiery death at Zuko and Iroh's hands. To say they weren't happy about it was an understatement.
"She just HAD to try and be clever. Did she think she could take out the Fire Lord like that?" the other woman griped. The two of them were folding linens and blankets in a sitting room, setting them aside for their supervisor. She would distribute them to the servants changing the bedding in the guest rooms.
"That wasn't what Azula sent us here to do," the first woman murmured under her breath. "Xie Ming just wanted to have the glory all to herself. Zuko's not that stupid."
"We could do some more damage. He's tied up with his concern over his mates," the second woman noted. "He barely does council work. Granted it's the dead of winter, but still."
"Sow the seeds of discontent," the first woman nodded. "There are so few new soldiers left…."
"I think a late winter gift of death is in order." The second woman's eyes gleamed. "Come on, that old bat will need these sheets."
"Oh, how I love the smell of spilled blood," the first woman happily noted. They tucked the folded pieces of linen under their arms and walked out of the sitting room.
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The snow swirled and cascaded against the high windows. Zuko shouldered into his cloak, safe from the elements, but the swirling masses of white flakes made his eyes dart over to watch.
"How are the food stores?" he made himself ask. Lord Genma gave an indulgent smile.
"I know that look. Ty Lee's nearing her time," he said to the other lords. The older men smiled to each other.
"Soon we'll have a new announcement for the people. Have you both talked about names?" Genma was curious. Zuko couldn't keep a smile from his face.
"We have. The food stores?" he asked, trying to keep on track. But his lords seemed to be focused on his concubine. He'd be lying if he himself wasn't. Ty Lee was in her eighth month, huge, and dependent on his affection. Ty Lee visited Mai with him, but she barely put up with them. She tried to avoid her once friend as it was. It hurt, but Zuko understood her reactions.
Zuko silently hoped the hardships of winter would be put behind them with the birth of his child. He didn't consider it Azula's child at all. HE was the one doting on Ty Lee, taking care of her, catering to her needs and before she was this huge, learning the intricacies of her body.
"Well, my lord, it will all turn out. Winter can't last forever," one of the older lords said. He stroked his long white beard, eyes twinkling. "Take it from me, and enjoy these moments. It's not every day you become a father."
Zuko's heart thudded. "Yes…." He admitted.
"Look at him, he's blushing!" Lord Genma crowed. "My daughter has him reeled in."
Zuko didn't appreciate the wording, but the implication was there. Ty Lee was definitely nesting, readying for her child to be born. She welcomed him with open arms and his heart was being dragged in her direction, unsteady silent footing with his wife or not.
"I appreciate the sentiment," he said dryly to Genma. "How are the outlying islands doing?"
"They're getting by," one of the lords reported. "The snow has stopped in the southern most islands. Perhaps it will be a short winter after all."
"Perhaps," Zuko agreed. A glance out the window indicated it could go on forever, despite the report. The landscape was a pure white. Zuko cleared his throat.
"Shall we convene later? I want to check on Ty Lee," he said. Genma grinned, his even white teeth showing through his grey beard.
"Give her my best," he insisted. Zuko wondered whether Ty Lee would want to know this, but nodded.
He rose, Suki and another Kyoshi Warrior flanking him. The lords rose at the table, and bowed as he left the council room.
"Despite not being able to farm, the populace seems to be waiting," Suki commented at Zuko's elbow. He smiled over at her.
"Maybe it's a blessing, despite most of the crops being wiped out. It certainly seems to have halted Azula," he wondered. Suki nodded.
"Then it's a blessing. Time to rest and plan," Suki noted. Zuko stopped at Ty Lee's apartment door and bowed to her.
"I'll be fine. Ying is in with us," he said. Suki gave a wry smile.
"I'll still keep guard, Zuko."
Zuko flashed her his thanks in a smile and entered. Ying sat companionably with Ty Lee on one of the sofas. She was hugely round, breasts full, and belly jutting out. She shifted position on the sofa, trying to alleviate the pulling at her lower back. Her eyes lit up when he came in though.
"Zuko," she said happily enough. Zuko's tormented thoughts were soothed with the soft flutterings of her chi around his. He sat carefully beside her and rubbed her belly. The fabric of her casual robe pulled up around her calves as she shifted her legs.
"Hi, Ty," he said fondly. As always, Ty Lee's soft smiles sent a pang of emotion through his heart. It struck his primal alpha instincts to protect her and "their" child. The baby began kicking when his palm rubbed Ty Lee's belly protectively. "Hi, little pup."
Ty Lee smiled but grimaced as the baby began kicking in earnest. "You always rile it up."
"Are you uncomfortable?" Zuko asked with concern. His hand stopped in place. Ty Lee placed her hand over his and squeezed.
"Not very….go on. Talk to it," she urged. The worry in her heart eased somewhat with the soft look that came over Zuko's eyes.
"I already sang to it earlier. Go on, tell it a story," Ying suggested. Zuko nodded.
"Let me think…. .what about the tale of the Fire Prince and the eastern dragon?" he suggested. Ty Lee laughed.
"I doubt Ying's heard that one. Our wet nurses used to tell us tales like that," she explained to her friend.
"Go ahead," Ying said. Zuko knelt down and laid his ear against Ty Lee's belly. He began reciting the fable. The baby kicking as his voice echoed against his concubine's belly put his heart at ease. Ty Lee's hand ran through Zuko's black hair.
Zuko placed a kiss against her belly and knelt up. Ty Lee clutched the back of his neck when he kissed her softly. Tears pricked Ty Lee's eyes. The wrong sibling was still the wrong sibling even if love shone in his eyes.
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"Everyone wants to cater to your pregnancy," Mai commented. Ty Lee tried not to take offense. The two women stood with Zuko, Suki and several Kyoshi Warriors just inside one of the sitting rooms connected to the garden courtyards, waiting for their guests to arrive.
The snow came down in heavy white flakes. A dot circled down, as small as one of the snowflakes, then became bigger and bigger until it was a full-sized sky bison, circling to the courtyard. Appa gave a disgruntled roar as Aang and the others climbed down from his saddle. Flecks of ice clung to his horns.
Aang, wrapped in a large red cloak, brushed bits of snow from his bison's pelt. Katara and Sokka were heavily bundled into their Water Tribe fur coats, hoods pulled up.
Zuko opened the sitting room door to the outside, and a blast of icy wind blew in. He gestured and his servants ran out to collect Appa for the stables. Aang, Katara and Sokka made their way inside and brushed the snow from their coats and clothing.
"Greetings, your Fire Lordliness!" Aang teased. His eyes looked troubled, however. Zuko hugged him and Katara, and Sokka gently tapped his fist to Zuko's in greeting.
Ty Lee pressed a hand to her belly. The jovial greetings extended to her and Mai and as Katara carefully hugged the Fire Lady (who surprisingly, put up with it), Aang asked if he could touch her belly.
Ty Lee nodded, laying the Avatar's hand to her stomach. The child began kicking again, probably picking up on new voices and the smile on Aang's face was touching. Ty Lee wrapped him in a careful hug, her belly standing between them.
"Congratulations," Aang said. Ty Lee let him go, and Zuko carefully took her arm to steady her. Mai slowly blinked.
"Yeah, congrats!" Sokka crowed. "We brought you some baby things…" he rummaged in his shoulder bag. "Toys and some clothing and stuff…."
Ty Lee was touched. "You guys didn't have to do that!"
"Well, we wanted to," Katara said. She kept her words from fawning too much, with the aftermath of Mai's miscarriage hanging heavy over everyone's head. "But let's all sit down. It's too cold even for us Water Tribe!"
"Winter came on too quickly," Mai agreed. There was the troubled look in Aang's eyes again and even Katara fidgeted. Zuko had a feeling he was going to hear the news of THAT soon and privately.
"Let's get you guys warmed up," Suki added. Sokka angled close to wrap an arm around her, but she ducked his kiss. Anxiety roiled inside Sokka. "Come on…."
As Katara and Sokka visited with the women in Zuko's wife, Ying, Tsung and a few Kyoshi Warriors on guard, Aang tugged on Zuko's tunic sleeve, silently signaling he wanted to talk in private.
Once away from the others, Aang placed his fist in his palm and bowed lowly to Zuko. "I have to apologize, Zuko."
Zuko was confused. "What for? What'd you do, Aang?"
"I've been having flashes of premonition in the Avatar State for awhile now," Aang confessed. "Ever since before you bedded Ty Lee."
A pang of guilt sliced through Zuko's chest at that hint of subterfuge. "Well…what did you see?" he dared to ask.
"I saw your death," Aang said honestly. Tears filled his wide grey eyes. "I keep getting flash images of Azula's plans coming to fruition and your family crying over you. I can't stand to let that happen. Not only because we love you, but because of your reign. Zuko, you're the beginning of an era of peace. You HAVE to sit the Fire throne."
"You don't have to tell me that," Zuko admitted. "I'm doing the best I can at that as well….But Azula won't come near me. We won't let her kill me."
"I know, Zuko," Aang agreed, to placate his friend. "But see it I did. And well…the Avatar State took me over. I thought I had it mastered….but it still erupted from me." A look of supreme shame covered Aang's features. "I caused the early winter here with it…."
Zuko looked surprised. "No wonder," he stammered. "It seemed to come out of nowhere. I won't tell my council. I can think of several people who would be upset with you."
Aang had the grace to look ashamed. "I'm so sorry. I saw the farmlands on our way in. I did so much damage….I thought I had it all under control now."
Zuko clasped Aang's shoulder and squeezed. "It DID do some good. Azula's actions seem to have halted with the ice storms. You did do that at least."
Aang still looked upset. "I suppose so…."
Zuko sighed. "With Mai having miscarried, I'm trying to keep the peace with everyone. Ty's going to have the baby soon… at least that will be good news."
Aang brightened. "I can tell you congratulations again. I can't believe you're going to be a dad."
"You mean first among us?" Zuko teased his friend. "Have you lain with Katara yet?"
Aang blushed bright red. "An Air Nomad doesn't kiss and tell. Just don't tell her dad…"
Zuko laughed aloud, getting his implication. "Well, congratulations to you, too," he teased. "Better propose before she grows with child as well."
"I've been working on carving my own betrothal necklace," Aang admitted. "I wanted to add to her mother's necklace, but she always wears it and would miss it. Besides, I'd have to ask permission to alter it. Maybe after she receives mine I can add on to that one….."
"It sure would spoil the surprise if you asked for her mom's necklace first," Zuko agreed. It was apparent Aang had puzzled over the intricacies of proposing in Katara's culture. "Never thought when we were fighting in the War that we'd ever get to marriages."
"And children," Aang's eyes twinkled at his friend. "Have you and Ty Lee decided on a name?"
"We have a few picked out," Zuko admitted. "It's going to be a happy day despite…well…."
"Mai's feelings," Aang guessed.
"I was there for her when she miscarried," Zuko was quick to say. "Despite what you guys may think of me picking Ty Lee, I love my wife."
"Love is complicated," Aang agreed. "Do your best to be patient with her. For Mai, she's had to put up a lot with being near you and Ty Lee."
Guilt slammed Zuko's heart. "I know… I'm not with Ty to hurt her."
"I know," Aang said. "Come on, let's get back to the others."
Back in the main sitting room, Mai grudgingly made room for the Fire Lord beside her. Katara squeezed in on Zuko's other side, and Aang sat beside her. Katara blushed when her boyfriend laid a hand on her knee.
Suki avoided Sokka's eyes as she smoothed her warrior's robe. Sokka, for his part, was confused. She was being so distant and he just got there!
The sun set early with the rising snow storms and the friends stayed inside, safe and warm. The icy wind howled, echoing the forlorn calls from a few hearts.
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"Your turn, wife," Zuko murmured. He sat cross-legged on one side of the Pai Sho set standing between him and Mai. She had relented to a few games to stretch their minds after visiting with their friends. Ty Lee had wanted to nap and Suki and Ying went with her.
"Why, thank you….husband," Mai raised an eyebrow, adding to the title game between them.
Zuko sighed as she pushed one of her tiles opposite his. "I really do want to make things right, Mai."
"If you're hoping for forgiveness, that takes time," Mai said lowly. She watched Zuko with sullen golden eyes. Zuko perched his chin on one hand.
"I know…"
Things were strained, but as lenient as they were going to get. At least Mai wasn't threatening him with a knife or two. And sharing a game of wits was an unspoken gesture of respect.
"Isn't Ty Lee waiting for you?" Mai wondered. Zuko grunted.
"She's napping. I'll go at your leisure," he said. Mai sighed.
"Of course you will."
"Or until you're sick of me," Zuko added.
Mai snorted and moved one of her tiles. "That could be anytime soon."
"Thanks," Zuko said dryly. He made his move and Mai contemplated her retaliation on the board. She paused, thinking. Zuko watched her, chin perched on his hand. "Your move."
"I'm thinking," Mai insisted. Zuko reflected the exchange echoed their status in their marriage but kept it to himself.
"Of course," Zuko murmured. He poured Mai a glass of sake then one for himself. Mai raised an eyebrow when he made to clink his glass against hers.
"I thought you got all your congratulations in," Mai said dryly. Zuko shrugged, though his heart lurched pleasantly.
"But the baby's not born yet," he said. Mai's eyes swept down to the board. Zuko cringed to himself. "I'm sorry."
"You can stand to say it a few more times," Mai said. Zuko set his glass down and crawled around the set. He wrapped an arm around his wife and pulled her to his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he repeated. Mai let him pillow her head on his shoulder, thoughts awhirl.
"Of course," she said. "I think I'll turn into my family's apartment."
"Have a good night," Zuko murmured. Mai rose and helped Zuko to his feet.
"You too, I guess," she said. It hurt her that Zuko was, of course, opting to be with Ty Lee. All the more to work at masking the child's chi with his own signature pattern. He had to do it, but she knew his feelings were divided between her and his concubine. Ty Lee must be loving it.
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Zuko formed his night with Ty Lee and sat companionably with her and Ying. Ty Lee tried to knit and follow Lady Ursa's example, but she faltered. She threw down the knitting needles with disgust.
"Guess that's not my skill," she admitted. Zuko smiled wryly. He took one of Ty Lee's bare feet into his lap and began rubbing. Her ankles were so swollen; she arched her back, sighing with appreciation. "Thanks…"
Zuko only gave her a low smile. Their chi intertwined in languid pulls and he felt himself almost relax fully. Ying sat at the other end of the sofa, and Ty Lee was surrounded by her protectors. When she gasped as the baby began kicking again, both the Fire Lord and Kyoshi Warrior steadied her. The three found moments to laugh and relax. In their bubble of comfort, they were at ease with each other.
Zuko helped Ty Lee to the wide bed they shared when she tired and as she sat on the bed's edge, yawning, the Fire Lord removed her slippers and tucked her in.
"Are you going to work tonight?" Ty Lee asked. Zuko was pulling his clothes off. He slid into his own bedrobe and belted the garment.
"I'll keep one candle lit in case I need to read over something. Let's get you to rest," Zuko said. Ty Lee eased on her side and Zuko took up place behind her back. He placed one hand gently over the swell of her belly, and used the other to rub up and down her spine. Ty Lee pressed her cheek into the pillow and sighed loudly. The sounds went to Zuko's heart and down below the waist. He flexed his chi, keeping his lust at bay. Ty Lee wasn't in any condition for any sexual encounters, and it wouldn't do to become full-blown hard.
Ty Lee, for her part, wished she could fully forget Azula. Almost she wished it. It was hard to forget her when the evidence of their passion was pushing her belly out, and Zuko trying his hardest to help her forget. Or at the very least, relax under his ministrations. Ty Lee was grateful to him, could even learn to fall in love with his earnestness….but always, the shadow of her heart's desire would want another.
Azula, with her snapping golden eyes, seductive voice and beautiful face. Her anger, lust and power would be in some corner of Ty Lee's mind always. She had a feeling seeing their child's face would bring all of that to the forefront each and every moment. Even after she gave it to Zuko.
Ty Lee fell to sleep gently, with Zuko's hands on her back.
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When she woke, it was hours later, and the candle had long since gone out. The Fire Lord was gone from her bed. When he had to get up early for some council mishap or activity, he left a written note on the bedside table. Ty Lee pushed over to pick up the parchment. It said that of course, he had to convene his royal council at such an early hour. Zuko had signed his name with a flourish at the bottom and Ty Lee ran a finger along the scrawled characters. She set the parchment down and sighed.
It was still so early the sun hadn't risen yet; if it had, it was hidden behind roiling grey and black clouds. Another ice storm was well on its way, by the looks of it. Ty Lee didn't bother to dress; she kept her bedrobe on. Leaving the bedroom, she went to the small room Ying kept for her own bedroom. She sidled in and collapsed on the edge of her friend's narrow bed. Ying woke instantly.
"Are you okay?" she asked, sitting up. Ty Lee helped push Ying's tangled bangs out of her eyes.
"Yes….just restless. Won't you walk with me?" Ty Lee asked. Ying nodded and pushed out of the covers. She made to dress, but Ty Lee gestured her to stop.
"Let's just make a few laps and come back," she suggested. Ying's eyebrow raised.
"Are you trying to catch scent of the Kemurikage as servants?" she asked. Ty Lee gave a wry look.
"I can't help worrying; I'm due soon and they're still here. They can't be here when my baby's born," she vowed.
"I don't think this is a good idea," Ying swore. She still took Ty Lee's arm and the two left the concubine's apartments.
They began a slow trek around the surrounding corridors, and branched out from those to the outlying sitting rooms framing the snowed-in gardens.
The sun looked to be a good hour away from rising, the gloomy grey of the sky enfolding the corridors in darkness. Ty Lee found herself holding onto Ying's arm to steady herself. The child moved inside her, and gave a few thumps. She swallowed a gasp and kept moving. Suddenly, her swollen feet were unbearable and the child was making her exhausted.
"Shall we turn back?" Ying asked softly. The few servants they had passed were making beds in guest chambers and carrying odds and ends to the kitchens for the staff there.
"Yes….no," Ty Lee decided. "Let's go to the throne room."
She didn't know why she'd suddenly suggested it, but as the two women made their way down the straight-shot of a long corridor toward the elaborately carved double doors of the throne room, a feeling of slow dread yawned in Ty Lee. She couldn't keep it down; there was something truly off about this area of the palace.
Zuko couldn't be in the throne room at this time of day; there were no guards posted at the double doors. The closer Ty Lee and Ying got, the more anxiety built up inside the pregnant woman.
"There's no one here," Ying said, stating the obvious. Ty Lee paused before the double doors. She blinked. A flash caught the torchlight to her left; there, there it was again. Ty Lee peered closer. A wire of sorts, oddly thin and almost unnoticeable, carved its way from one of the stones in the wall. Ty Lee would have touched it, but Ying touched her wrist, halting her.
"What IS that? Don't touch it, Ty. We don't know what that is," Ying said pragmatically. Ty Lee blinked. The wire made a trek down the stone wall toward a hole beside the double doors. It obviously led inside the throne room.
"Come on," Ty Lee said. She and Ying pushed inside the cavernous throne room. The carved dragons in the walls were still; there was no Fire Lord's fire lighting the corners for them to dance against. The dais was empty and no one was present.
Still, Ty Lee pushed closer to the dais. There was a small door to the right of the stairs leading up to the Fire Lord's throne, and Ty Lee ventured toward it. She felt as if she were pushing through the vestiges of a dream.
Inside the small room behind the dais was a low desk and bits of parchment and writing tools perched on it. Ty Lee was curious to read the notes, but Zuko had to have put away or destroyed any notes from his father. She saw a few rolled futons in the corner and other necessities that indicated an overnight stay or two wasn't out of the norm for this hidden chamber.
Ying made a low grunt of discovery as they found the barely visible wire along the low wall beside the door. They followed the trek and overturned one of the neatly folded futons. Beneath the wire ended in an apparatus that could only indicate a detonation device of some kind. Ying took Ty Lee's arm and pulled her back on reflex when it dawned on them what it was in front of them.
"Why does Zuko have this?" Ying murmured. But the answer was obvious. Should he trip the detonation, the output from the wire, ending in the wall of the corridor outside the throne room, would end in a massive explosion.
"If Azula comes….. she…" Ty Lee's hands shook. Ying clasped her arm around her waist and helped lead her from the room. They exited to the cavernous throne room beyond.
"It's just a precaution. He won't really harm her…." Ying said, but she knew she was lying. If Azula attacked, Zuko was smart enough to do whatever it took to put her down and keep his position.
Ty Lee's pretty face pinched in a frown as they walked along the throne room to the double doors. "I think that's grossly out of context," she retorted. Ying walked her back to her chambers and safely inside, Ying set Ty Lee into one of the sofas and rubbed her hands.
"You're freezing, Ty! Let's draw you a bath," Ying suggested. Ty Lee hugged her elbows in her hands and nodded.
Inside her large washroom, Ying pumped the water tank, filling the inground tub. They'd have to grab a firebender soldier to adjust the temperature, but she got it started. As Ty Lee started to disrobe, she found her teeth chattering.
She had dreamt about this….Azula at her feet, the very life drawn out of her beautiful corpse. Zuko had fallen in the dream as well, and both notions terrified Ty Lee. They couldn't kill each other…. they couldn't!
Deep in her heart, Ty Lee knew what she had to do. She grunted down at her large belly. She couldn't even see her feet over it. She entrusted Ying to guide her to the tub's edge.
"Wait, cover up. I'll get a firebender," Ying murmured. She brushed her hand over Ty Lee's brow, smoothing her bangs back.
Ty Lee clasped the robe to her breasts and middle, covering herself as a young female soldier was led in by Ying. She gave a wide smile to the concubine after doing her task and Ty Lee gave a furtive smile, nodding. Once alone, she let the robe drop down.
Ying helped her into the tub. "Do you want any bath salts?"
"Yes, please," Ty Lee said. As Ying added ingredients to her hot bath, Ty Lee rested back against the tub's edge. She looked down at her wide belly, hands moving over the child inside her.
'Once you're out…once you're born….. I know what needs to be done….' Ty Lee thought. She kept the idea to herself. She trusted Ying with her life, but she wasn't even sure she could bring in her sister warrior in to her plans.
No, she'd have to do it alone. Ty Lee leaned back and sighed as the water seeped into her exhausted body.
End for now
End notes: Events coming up next chapter! Stay tuned! And stay strong, my lovelies :P
Most sincerely, pen
2/16/2017
