It was early in the morning when Azula's guards woke her and ordered her tersely out of bed. She got up and dressed quietly. It must be time. She slipped into her shoes, giving the toes each a light tug so that they curved properly. Her fingers were shaking. You'll get to see Ty Lee, whatever else happens. Focus on that. Don't think about the other stuff. Azula rose to her feet.
The imperial guards stopped her as she reached the door. "If you will put your hands behind your back, Miss Azula," one of them said calmly, producing a set of manacles.
"What?" Azula abruptly took a step back. Her arms came up slightly; she saw the guards subtly shift, and stopped. "Why?" she demanded. "I've been nothing but compliant with everything. I haven't lifted my hand against anyone!"
"Orders of Fire Lord Zuko," the guard said. His voice was cool. "You will comply, or you will be taken by force." Azula cast a glance behind her. The guards stationed by the window had approached her, and now stood about three feet behind her, both in firebending stances. Even the soldier stationed in the washroom was nearby; her eyes glinted at Azula from within the helm that hid her face.
Azula felt a familiar mixture of anger and helplessness. "This isn't fair," she protested softly. Her arms dropped loosely by her sides. "I...I haven't done anything..."
The soldiers didn't move. "You will comply," the guard with the manacles said again. "Put your hands behind your back!"
There was nothing she could do. Bitterness burned in Azula's mouth. Glowering, she lowered her head and slowly obeyed. She was seized; the guards cuffed and shackled her. So that's how it's going to be, is it, Zuko? She was grasped by the arms and guided from the room. Reminding me that I'm your prisoner, are you? Reminding me that you're the one with the power? As if I didn't know. As if you hadn't already broken me like a glass pitcher! Azula kept her head down as the guards escorted her down the hall. Bastard. So much for all of Mother's optimism. The old, familiar hopelessness fell over her like a blanket.
The war room was deserted, save for the lone figure up on the dais. Zuko was already seated on his cushion. She couldn't see Ty Lee. Was that a lie, too? Azula's unhappiness deepened. Her guards released her arms when they were about twenty feet from the front. Without a word, she knelt down to await her judgment. "Release my sister's chains," the Fire Lord ordered. She looked up with a frown as the manacles around her wrists were released. Doubtfully, Azula rubbed her wrists; she felt the shackles on her legs being removed. "Good," Zuko said. "Leave us. I will send for you when I have need of you." Azula heard their retreating footsteps, and the shutting of the door behind them. She was alone with her older brother.
There was silence for a while, as the siblings looked at each other. Azula was unsettled. Zuko wasn't speaking, and he'd ordered her unchained – what was his game? She wanted desperately to cry, or scream at him, or beg him for mercy, or...or a thousand other things. Azula struggled to maintain her control, opting to try to act as she always had with him. "Where's Ty Lee?" she demanded. "You promised she'd be here. Or was that just another of your lies?"
Zuko leaned his elbows on his knees. His mannerisms seemed much less formal than they had been since Azula had returned. "I promised she'd be here when we hammer out an agreement," he said quietly. "And she will be. This is just...a talk."
"A talk." Azula didn't know what to make of this. Her confusion wasn't helping her unsettled feeling. "Just a little conversation? Talk about the weather, that kind of thing?" She managed an acid smile.
"Maybe." He regarded her in silence yet again. "I've been thinking about you for a while, Azula. There's been a lot of people talking to me about you, since before you even arrived here. There've been a few on your side, and a lot against. And then I'd think about our history, and...well, the more I thought about these things, the less I trusted you." He paused. "That's why I've decided just to talk to you this morning. I realized that you're the only thing that really matters in all this – not peoples' opinions, and not what's happened in the past. You're the deciding factor. Either you've decided to reform, or you haven't. That's all that matters."
"Okay." The bluster fell away. Azula stared at him. "So...what do you want?" she blurted, bewildered. "What do you want me to do?"
Zuko moved to the front of the dais and sat down on the edge of it. "Come closer," he said. "I want to talk to you, Azula." She eyed him warily. Then, slowly, Azula moved forward. She stopped about five feet from where he sat. Then she dropped to her knees again with unconscious grace, never moving her suspicious eyes from his face. "Maybe we can forget who we are for a while – you know, all of the status and power and treason and...things like that. Let's pretend, just for a minute, that we're just two people having a conversation."
"About what?" Her lip curled. Just where the hell is he going with this?
"About you." He rested his hands on the corner of the dais, looking down at her quietly. "Just tell me about yourself. Whatever you like. Why did you come home? What are you hoping for in the future? What does Ty Lee really mean to you? That kind of thing." Azula's brows came down. "Come on. It's only for a few minutes, Azula. After that, we can go back to how we were, if you want."
Azula thrust out her jaw petulantly. "If you're so determined to be just two people having a conversation, why have me shackled and dragged here like a prisoner, my lord brother?" She put great sarcastic emphasis on the title.
"I wanted to make a point," he said calmly. "See, we can do things that way, if you want. I can have you and Ty Lee clapped in irons and treated as prisoners. You've had a good taste of that, I think." Azula shivered and looked away. She had, indeed. "Or you can cooperate with what I'm trying to do here. You can talk to me. It's your choice."
"Fine." I'll play along. If he's got some ulterior motive here, he'll tip his hand sooner or later. Azula folded her hands in her lap and looked down at them. "What were your questions, again? - Why did I come here?" He said nothing. "I think I already told you. Ty Lee wanted to go home. I wanted to stay in the Earth Kingdom. We had a chance to settle down in Taonan sometime this winter. If that would have worked out, I'd have been happy with it – just the chance to stop running and live quietly for a while. But Ty wanted to see the Fire Nation again." Azula sighed. "She had some idea that things would go back to the way they were. I told her it wouldn't be that way, but you know Ty Lee. I didn't want to disappoint her...so I came."
She looked up at Zuko. He was listening in silence, his hands still resting on the edge of the dais. "You asked me about what I hope for in the future. Right?" Zuko nodded. Azula looked away, her lips curving into a bitter smile. Why in the hell is he asking me that? Trying to act as if he even cares what I think. Why should I hope for anything, when he's got a knife to my throat? "I learned a few things in exile, big brother. My ideas of the future are much less..," she hesitated, "grandiose than they used to be. What do I hope for?" She slowly looked up again, meeting his gaze. "I hope to live long enough to be happy with Ty Lee for a while," she said quietly. "If that happens, it'll be more than I expect."
The Fire Lord pulled himself up to sit cross-legged. He rested his elbows on his knees. "So what is she to you?" he asked calmly.
Azula was afraid to answer. She looked down at her hands, biting her lips. There was a long silence as she struggled with herself. Finally, with a sigh, she gave in. "Ty Lee is my best friend," she said soberly. "She's..." She stopped, biting her lips again, and glanced at him through her lashes. He was still listening in silence, his expression unreadable. Azula took a deep breath. "When I was stabbed on board the ship, she was there with me," she murmured. "At first, when I thought I was dying, I didn't care. I was...kind of relieved, actually. It felt really peaceful. But then I heard Ty Lee's voice." She raised her eyes to his once more. "And I suddenly wanted to live, Zuko."
There was another long pause. Without comment, Zuko reached back and pulled a bellrope; his guards immediately filed back into the room. "Two of you, go and bring Lady Ty Lee here," he instructed. "No chains – leave her unbound, so long as she doesn't give you any trouble." He moved back to sit once more on his cushion on the dais. The hands of Azula's guards closed on her arms, pulling her back to kneel where she had been before. Azula stared down at the floor. She was filled with foreboding – she couldn't help but wonder if she was about to be finally and decisively separated from the little acrobat. It was well within Zuko's power; he had made that much very clear. He'd even shown revulsion at the thought of their relationship once or twice. That probably meant more than this temporary and seeming kindness on his part. She closed her eyes as wretchedness seeped into her very bones. Oh, gods, help me.
Then she heard the door open, and the heavy footsteps of guards, along with a much lighter tread. Azula's heart leaped into her throat. Ty Lee.
Suddenly, Azula couldn't bear to even look at the girl. She screwed her eyes shut, feeling herself beginning to shiver. He's going to dangle her in front of me, just so it will hurt more when he tears her away again. I can't bear it. Oh Agni, I can't bear it! There was a murmur of voices, and Zuko said something. Azula wasn't listening. A few moments later, she felt herself enveloped in a strong hug.
It was Ty Lee. It couldn't be anyone else. Azula knew the feel of her body, the sound of her breathing; her sweet smell filled her nostrils. The firebender shivered, leaning into the young woman's muscular form. She felt her head being cradled gently. "Are you all right, 'Zula?" came Ty Lee's soft voice. "They told me you weren't doing so well this week."
The sound of her voice was too much. Azula sucked in a deep, shuddering breath, her hands drifting upward to clutch at Ty Lee's shirt. Hot tears squeezed through her tightly-shut lids. She could hear the little acrobat whispering soft reassurances; her grip tightened. "I missed you," she breathed. "I missed you so much." She drew another sharp, quivering breath, almost a sob.
"Shh." Ty Lee dropped a few tiny kisses along the firebender's cheek. "It's okay. Don't cry, 'Zula. We'll be all right." Oh, gods, I wish that I believed that. Azula shivered once more, burying her face against Ty Lee's warm shoulder. "It's okay," Ty Lee whispered again, laying another small kiss on her cheekbone. "Take a deep breath. We're going to talk to Zuko about things now, right?" Azula nodded a little, drawing another shaky breath. "It'll be all right. I'm going to let go, now. Be brave, okay?" The acrobat's hand ran gently up and down Azula's back a few times. Then her arms released. Still shivering, Azula drew herself back up to her knees; she kept her eyes on the floor.
Zuko's voice, when he finally spoke, was calm. He was all business once more. "First things first, Azula. Here's what I've already promised you." She looked up to find a servant approaching. He held out a familiar black box to her. Listlessly, Azula took it. "Your crown and title are restored, under the same conditions as formerly," her brother said. "Is this acceptable to you?"
"Yes, my lord." Her voice sounded weary and sad, even to her own ears. A hopeless smile twitched her lips. I suppose I really ought to try to sound more enthusiastic. But what would be the point, anyway? "It's acceptable."
"Good." Zuko paused. "Now, let's discuss the terms of my lifting your house arrest. Those will differ between the two of you. Ty Lee, are you willing to swear fealty to me?"
"Sure." Ty Lee's voice was bright and cheerful. Stealing a glance at her, Azula saw that the acrobat was smiling. How does she do it? Surely she must still be angry. The bruises from her beatings haven't even faded yet.
Zuko nodded. "Then I see no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to do more or less as you please here in the palace, provided that you have a guard with you at all times," he said. "I believe your apology and reformation to be genuine. So those are the terms of your release; take the oath of loyalty, and stay with your guard."
"Great! I can do that." Ty Lee's smile was sweet and sincere. "Thanks so much, Fire Lord Zuko."
His eyes turned to his sister. Azula lowered her gaze again. "You abused what freedom you were given before this, so I'm sure I don't need to tell you that you'll be walking on thin ice." She nodded dully. "Your terms are these, Azula. I will grant you quarters in the nobles' wing of the palace. You will again be allowed the concessions I granted you before – one hour each morning for training, and one half-hour every afternoon for a walk in the garden of your choice. I will also allow you to go to the palace library when you choose, as long as you are accompanied by at least two of your guards. Other than that, you will remain in your quarters for the time being, under conditional house arrest."
There was a pause. Azula supposed she was expected to thank him, but the words stuck in her throat. She bowed her head quietly instead, her eyes fixed on the black marble beneath her knees. So I'm still a prisoner. She closed her eyes. What about Ty Lee? That's got to be next.
"And now," Zuko said slowly, "we come to the matter of you two, and your...relationship." Azula felt Ty Lee's fingers seek out hers and twine themselves about them. The firebender didn't open her eyes. There came a knock at the door. Zuko glanced at it, then referred to a small timepiece that he pulled from somewhere in his robe. "Perfect timing. That will be Mother and Mai, I think. They asked if they could advocate for you two."
His guess proved correct. The two noblewomen entered at his word. Mai glided smoothly to the dais, favored Azula and Ty Lee with a quiet smile, and, bowing to Zuko, took her seat gracefully at his right hand. Ursa was no less graceful, but much less formal. She stooped down to hug Ty Lee, who returned the embrace enthusiastically. Then her arms enveloped Azula. The young firebender let her head rest briefly against her mother's shoulder, but that was the only move she made. Lastly, mounting the steps to the dais, Ursa extended her hand to the Fire Lord. Zuko took and kissed it gravely, and Ursa sat down beside him. He turned and nodded at his wife.
Mai looked down at Azula, inclined her head gravely, and returned her gaze to Zuko. "I've already talked to you a few times about this matter, my lord husband," she said quietly. "I think Azula and Ty Lee should be allowed to be together. It would be both cruel and unnecessary to separate them any longer. I don't believe that either of them poses any threat to the security of the Fire Nation."
He nodded once. "I have heard your request." Zuko turned his attention to Princess Ursa. "And you are making the same one, I assume, Mother?"
"Yes, my son." Ursa looked down at the two girls with a quiet smile. "I ask you to be kind to your sister, and let her be with the girl she loves." She leaned in close to him and murmured in his ear for a minute or two. Zuko's amber eyes widened a touch at one point, and he shot Ty Lee a sharp glance, but he said nothing. At length, Ursa sat up again. Without comment, Zuko acknowledged her with a nod, and looked back at his wife. "You were saying that Ambassador Katara and Toph Bei Fong are weighing in on your side, too?"
"They do. Both of them are prepared to testify to that effect, if you require it," Mai affirmed.
"I don't know how you managed that." Zuko's lips twitched into the shadow of a smile. Without waiting for a response, he turned his golden gaze back to his sister. Azula stared downward, still silent, clinging to Ty Lee's hand as if her life depended on it. "Well, Azula – Ty Lee? Do you two have anything to add to this?"
Ty Lee wrapped her arms around Azula. Her large, gray eyes were earnest as she looked up at the Fire Lord. "Thank you for letting us out of prison," she said softly. "And the other things you're doing are good, Zu – Fire Lord Zuko. But I love Azula. It's been awful being separated from her! Please let us be together."
He nodded slowly. His gaze was fixed on his sister. "Azula." She shivered and closed her eyes. I wish he would just get this over with. "Look at me when I'm talking to you." Slowly, she obeyed, meeting his gaze quietly. His face was unreadable. "Do you have anything to say?"
I could talk for hours. I could beg you not to take her away from me. I could tell you Ty Lee's all I want, all I live for. I could say a lot of things to you, big brother. Azula could feel herself shivering again. Ty Lee squeezed her gently and murmured comforting words. I doubt he'd even listen to me. Oh, gods, just get it over with. She leaned into Ty Lee and buried her face in the girl's arm, shaking her head. She couldn't force her numb lips to move.
"All right." Zuko's voice was quiet. "In light of all these requests, I am willing to grant you two a trial period of two weeks. There will be no limits placed on your seeing each other during that period of time. All I ask is that you keep your relationship discreet, for political reasons that you both already know. At the end of that two-week period, I will meet with the two of you again in this room, and we'll discuss whether to extend it or not."
Azula's head came up in disbelief, and her eyes found her brother's. She vaguely noticed Mai and Ursa's smiles, and heard Ty Lee's happy exclamations, but she couldn't seem to speak. She could only stare at him and hug Ty Lee to herself in silence.
