A/N: Now I'm the villain in your history. Love and be loved. Read… and review!

Exit Interview

[Fall 113 AG]

Ty Lee settles into the uncomfortable metal chair with a cup of tea. She sits across the interrogation table from a blind girl and a much younger, much smaller scribe. A clock on the wall ticks as they sit and stare in silence. She knew it would eventually come to this, but now that she's here it's not quite what she expected. The Chief of Police stretches her arms and cracks her neck. Her bare feet rub into the ground. Toph gets comfortable while Ty Lee mentally prepares what she will say. She rehearses her answers. Finally everyone stops moving and making noise. Only the ticking of the clock fills the air. Ty Lee asks a question.

"Shall we begin?"

Slipping between the crowded streets of Republic City, a woman pulls her hood closer over her face. She stops and looks around for anyone following her. She approaches her destination slowly but surely. She circles the same routes three times over, always looking over her shoulder. She took the train going the wrong way, got lost in a crowd, then got back on the train going the other way. It's vital that she not be caught or found out. If this is going to happen, if she's going to make it work, no one can know where she is right now.

Not Zirin, not Ruki, not anyone.

"We're going to ask you some questions, as part of your exit interview with the Republic City Police Department. But you can think of it more as a friendly little chat. As a reminder, I will be using my seismic sense to ensure all answers are truthful."

"Of course. No problem with that."

"Kiph Oro here will be taking notes throughout since I certainly won't be doing so."

Ty Lee lets a small chuckle escape her lips. "Hello Kiph Oro, it's nice to meet you."

The meak girl squeaks out, "It's very nice to meet you finally as well, Ms. Ty Lee, ma'am."

"Please just call me Ty Lee."

"Yes ma'am."

"Alright, Ty Lee, let's get started. Why are you leaving the RCPD?"

"Toph, you already know."

"For the purposes of this interview please act like I do not know already. These are for official records and such."

"Okay, okay," she replies, exasperated already. "I'm leaving the RCPD and returning to Kyoshi Island, per our instructions from the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, Suki. After the last half-year Suki, as well as the Republic City Council, believe that the RCPD no longer needs the presence of the Kyoshi Warriors to operate autonomously."

"Thank you. Our next question is a simple yes or no. Did you feel you were equipped to do your job well?"

Ty Lee blinks and thinks back upon all the good she's been able to do. "Yes."

"Excellent. How would you describe the culture of the RCPD?"

Ty Lee doesn't see a point in lying. "It could be better. I'd say people are eager, maybe over eager. I'm hoping the nonbenders we've trained can help de-escalate matters that don't necessitate the presence of your metalbenders."

"Thank you for your honesty." Toph replies sincerely. "Did you consider staying on the RCPD and leaving the Kyoshi Warriors to do so?"

"No. Never seriously considered that."

"Was there anything we could've done to keep you here?"

"I honestly don't think so. I spent a lot of formative years in Caldera and on Kyoshi Island. I don't think I could ever feel at home somewhere else."

"How can the RCPD improve our training and development?"

Ty Lee takes a sip of her tea as she thinks about it. "I suppose what I said earlier, focusing more on non-benders."

Sensing that Ty Lee is withholding something, Toph asks, "Can you expand on that?"

Groaning, Ty Lee hems and haws a moment before answering. "Back when this place was just Cranefish Town there was all that Bender Supremacist stuff going on. I think people in leadership try to pretend like Liling wasn't a thing, but the common folks haven't forgotten about her. The highest level of influence secretly pulling the strings against their interests, all while smiling to their face and saying the nice things. Non-benders need to be in positions of power. They need to be seen as equal. So if there's anything RCPD can do, it's to give them more opportunities to succeed and to be in the public eye."

"Thank you for that long-winded answer, Ty Lee."

The brunette can tell that Toph is growing bored of the exit interview, if she was ever engaged with it to begin with. She asks the next question, "Would you consider coming back to work here in the future? Simple yes or no."

Ty Lee smiles. "Yes, I can see myself doing that."

"In what area or function?"

"I'd like to work the beat. I don't mind training new non-benders, and I'm glad I got to do some cases, but I think being on the beat and in the community would have been great."

"Thank you," Toph says as Kiph Oro transcribes on her notepad. "Speaking of your cases, tell us about the ones you've been working on that will now be reassigned. We have your notes, but what else do we need to know that we won't find in the notes?"

"The open cases I was on include a woman who was assaulted in the Industrial Sector, a series of robberies in Midtown, and probably most interesting is the defacement of Zuko's statue at the Central City Station. Let's start with the woman, Nilloro. Some things not in my case notes would include that I personally think she's fabricating the whole thing. Every time she tells us the story about her assailant, it's exactly the same. Like it's scripted. It's easier to keep a lie straight than it is to remember exact details when they're happening to you."

"Maybe I ought to have a chat with her."

"You have bigger things to worry about, Toph. But if she makes more noise then yes, that would probably put it all to rest."

"Okay. What about the robberies and the vandalism?"

"Robberies, non-case note things, hmm. Well, I personally think they're all connected."

"You think it's serial?"

"I do. I don't have enough evidence to that effect yet, which is why we haven't put out the notice to the community. But I've noticed it's every third week. So if that trend continues next week, it's something to consider."

Toph nods. She tilts her head to Kiph Oro, "Make a note that I want Lo Ranuo to look into that before next week."

Kiph Oro nods and jots it down. Toph asks, "And the vandalism?"

"Not much else to say about that, honestly. Probably some teenagers that are smart enough to get away with it so far, is my best guess."

"Excellent." Toph says. Kiph Oro finishes the last note. When Toph feels her finish writing she says, "Well, last formal question for your exit interview: is there anything else you'd like to share or add that you think we should know or be aware of before you leave?"

"Yes, actually." Ty Lee replies immediately

Suki had told her this would be the last question. She also cautioned Ty Lee against going off on this tangent. She decides to do it anyway.

"Azula is the key to collapsing the whole house of cards."

"Oh brother," Toph groans. "Give me a break with the Azula shit."

Kiph Oro begins scribbling notes. Toph interrupts her, "Don't write any of this down, KO."

"No, no, please write it down." Ty Lee puts Kiph Oro in a very awkward position. She decides to write it out in case something comes of it. "She is so close to all of us, we have all of these connections to her. If we can just get her to come to our side, we can expose a whole world of criminal activity."

"Do you ever think of anything else?" Toph asks, exasperated.

"Yes. Plenty of things," Ty Lee answers, perhaps too quickly.

"Ha," Toph laughs and points a finger at her. "You're lying!"

Kiph Oro is now furiously scribbling her notes to try and keep up. Ty Lee grumbles and pulls herself closer to the table. "Just hear me out."

"Fine," Toph crosses her arms. "One last time won't change the first three-hundred."

Ty Lee sighs. She's formulated the words very carefully over the last few months, maybe even years. She sits up more straight. "I just always felt like Azula was two steps behind me."

"Don't you mean two steps ahead?"

"No, I mean I think she was always right behind me. Like, she always had her eyes on me, always lurking, right behind, just out of sight, in the shadows. But every time I turn around, she's gone."

"Is this because she snuck up on you in the park a couple of months ago?"

"She just walked right up to me, Toph," Ty Lee chuckles. "I probably could've had a normal conversation if I didn't try to kill her on the spot."

"Speaking of killing, Suki mentioned you have a theory about that?"

"It's not a theory," Ty Lee replies with conviction. "I know. She hasn't killed anyone in three years. Since we fought our way out of that cave on Gou Island."

"I think the trail of dead bodies connected to the Dragon Empress would beg to differ."

"No," Ty Lee shakes her head. "No, that might be her people or something else. Zirin, or Ruki, or someone else. Copy cats, or people just trying to connect her to it while doing something else. She told me herself in the park that night, Toph. She said, 'I'm not doing it anymore.'"

"Well, when we prosecute her for all her war crimes eventually, I'm sure she'll call you as a star witness in her defense."

"I was a war criminal too, Toph. Yet here I am, talking to you. The Fire Nation said you and Aang and Katara and Sokka were war criminals. That doesn't mean any of you were actually bad people. Just like it doesn't for me. Just like it doesn't for her." Ty Lee replies. After a second of pause she adds, "All of life is about perspective."

"And my perspective is that I'm going to put her away for life. This is my city now. Sokka has a plan to draw her out. I've got Aang's support. Have no doubt about it, Pokey, I will find her. There is nowhere on this Earth that she can hide where I won't find her."

"And what are you going to do when you find her?"

"I'm going to ask Aang to take her bending away, just like her stupid Dad. Then she'll be nothing."

Ty Lee snorts in response.

"What's so funny, Pokey?"

"You think taking her bending away will change anything? She'll still be Azula. If she lost her bending, she'd still be herself."

"I guess we'll see about that."

A woman stops outside the entrance to her meeting place. This is her fourth time passing it. She is certain no one has followed her here. Absolutely certain. She takes one last long look around the back alley. She takes a deep breath and removes her hood. The Dragon Empress enters the rundown building.

"I'm telling you, Toph, she is out of the organized crime business. More and more Fire Warriors have been dropping out to join the Kyoshi Warriors. Suki says we may need to ramp up our production schedule on new homes for them. We've even started talking about some of them joining the RCPD, or really embodying the Fire Warrior name and going home to the Fire Nation. And she just let's them. No one gets killed for defecting."

Kiph Oro is frantically trying to shorthand everything as their near-screaming match reaches new heights. Toph yells back at her, "Everyone knows that's just to maintain her grip on the Island and the Earth Kingdom. If you start putting them in Republic City and the Fire Nation, you're just doing the work for her and endangering the welfare of communities all over the world!"

The Mother of Kemurikage walks into the dark establishment. Immediately she finds the stadium style seating going down. She takes her steps down, not seeing anyone. Down below, in the pit, there are some fighters practicing. She eyes them cautiously, trying to not be seen. She steps away and begins walking around, looking for someone.

"The Kemurikage have been hemorrhaging members since before the move to Republic City. We don't even have an accurate record of her allowing them to kidnap any kids because it's been so long. Three plus years, maybe longer."

"Oh, excuse them for not stealing children, they're busy with rival gangs and such here in the city. You just said yourself that you think they're the ones killing people, with or without her direction."

Kiph Oro doesn't say anything as they desperately try to catch up on the last few exchanges. Neither woman keeps the shouting match going. They both huff a few seconds and try to calm down in their own ways. Finally, Toph fixes her hair and says, in a more controlled tone, "Speaking of those rival gangs, Suki mentioned that you think there's someone we should be worried about?"

The Founder of the Red Lotus finally spots them. Sitting on the outskirts of the arena seating, in a dark corner, their back turned to her. Slowly, the Immortal Soldier sneaks up on the Kyoshi Warrior.

"Yes," Ty Lee replies. "When I mentioned the 'house of cards' earlier, he's part of that. I think and I hope she knows something about him and could help bring him in. He's still rising, but it's just odd. He's a non-bender, but it's very similar to those early days of Azula's empire building. Feels like he's just getting his feet wet."

Kiph Oro finally catches up and stops writing. Toph nods along, curious as ever about this new potential threat.

"What's his name?"

The Leader of the Fire Warriors comes to a stop beside the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors. The brunette turns and faces the golden eyed girl. She smirks up at her and snarkily says, "Welcome to where you're going."

Azula raises her eyebrows at this. She waves her hand towards the arena down below and says, "Bending cage matches? A little over-dramatic, don't you think, Suki?"

"Sokka and I are getting dinner, then coming here for some matches. Not really our scene, I think it's more fitting for you, but we thought we'd check it out," she pauses. Azula sits down beside her. Suki continues, "When you asked to meet, I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone."

Azula nods and stares down at the fighters working out and practicing with each other. She doesn't say anything so Suki asks, "What do you want, Dragon Empress?"

Azula smirks and feigns bravado. "I want to know how the food is year-round."

"Here?" Suki asks.

Azula shakes her head. "Kyoshi Island."

Suki, getting mixed signals, answers seriously. "It's heavily fish-based. Sometimes we branch out and do some chicken. I've actually got a recipe for chicken and rice. Very popular."

There is silence again. Suki side-eyes her. She asks, "What do you want?"

Azula sighs. "I want to accept your offer. You once said 'imagine if we always worked together.' I want to become one of the good guys."

"Are things not working out with Zirin?"

"Zirin? No, Zirin loves me," she replies instinctively. "Yeah, we're doing some really cool stuff, you know? One of my guys is making waves in the port in Yue Bay."

"That's great!" Suki feigns enthusiasm.

"I know!" Azula says, not picking up the sarcasm. "Zirin, she's really happy with me. Everyone is."

"But?"

"I'm looking for a new challenge."

"So you want to kill for us now?" Suki asks, very seriously.

Azula can't contain her chuckle. She shakes her head immediately, "No."

"I'm confused," Suki admits. Azula looks at her, concern growing. "What would you do for us?"

Azula searches her black eyes to confirm that she's looking for a genuine answer. When she gets it, she looks away. She shrugs and her mind rifles through some options. Staring down at the arena she offers, "I could be a Kyoshi Warrior. Defend your island and your honor. Help the police. Pass along information. Be a part of your Avatar gang. Like Zuko did."

Suki nods briefly and thinks. She asks her, "Who attacked Mai?"

Azula scoffs instantly. She looks at Suki, and answers sincerely, "I don't know."

"Who is Yakone?"

"What?"

"Poor start to a job interview, Puppetmaster."

Blinking in disbelief, Azula asks her, "You're turning me down?"

Suki shrugs now and replies, "I don't know what it is you're offering. You've been known for one thing and one thing only. If you can't do that, then what good are you to me? To anyone?"

"I can change." Azula tells her.

Suki nods her head but doesn't believe her. She replies, "If the Dragon Empress has retired, then what's left? Hmm? Just Azula?"

The weight begins sinking into Azula's chest.

"I can't see that working for Aang. Or the Kyoshi Warriors. Can you?"

Azula doesn't reply. She doesn't want to believe it's true. This was her exit strategy, and it was disappearing right in front of her. Suki looks down at her watch.

"I've got to get going. I suggest you get out of here before the arena starts filling up. Not sure the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe will let public enemy number one just walk out the door."

Suki collects her belongings and stands up. She can tell that the girl is shocked by this outcome. Before walking away she offers, "Good luck, Dragon Empress."

With that Suki leaves and Azula is left with nothing.

The sun has set and a brunette with a braided ponytail waits on the docks of Yue Bay. A ferry boat is preparing to welcome passengers. It will spend nearly two days crossing the Mo Ce Sea, down into the Silver Sea, and eventually drop her off at the port on the wrong side of Kyoshi Island. From there, she'll have a few hours trek through the woodlands until she reaches home. She sighs and looks out at the statue standing over the bay. The eyes of Avatar Aang watch out over the whole of Republic City. She boards the ferry boat and prepares for the long trip home.

The former circus star is so preoccupied with her own thoughts, she never noticed a familiar face join her onboard. A girl with ginger hair and violet eyes had followed her from the police headquarters, bought a ticket, and now joins her on the trip to Kyoshi Island. She has every intention of following Ty Lee all the way home.

A/N: This chapter's OST is "Bird Song" by Florence + The Machine.

Love always. Tyzula forever.

Notorious