The crowd cheers. Iroh, there because he has to be, holds his head in his hands. Zuko is still in the hospital. Aino and Zhao are sitting far apart from one another, stonily faced. The population of the Fire Nation has never seen an Agni Kai such as this. I do not think they have ever seen a woman fight.
I had no time to dress formally for the Agni Kai beforehand. I am in silk pants and slippers. I kick them off, and take off my jerkin. A thin band of cloth is all that separates my chest from the glaring world. Ozai is not fazed.
We bow, and the referee signals.
The fight has begun. I have never been in an Agni Kai before. A wall of fire hurdles towards me. I bend backwards, and it nearly clips my chin. The crowd gasps. My wig has fallen off. The blue arrow glares 'airbender' to the world. My husband is furious.
The heat of the flames is ridiculously easy to dodge, but they keep coming. I do not start to panic until my husband is there in front of me, and I on the ground. He gathers a fireball in his hand, and rears back. I see savage triumph in his eyes. I shall not let him win.
I heave myself backwards and spin in the air, using his heat as a propellant. I stand, my makeup melted off, my hands, feet, and chest all shouting their pride to the Air Nomads. He stumbles. I narrow my eyes and smile. I have the high ground. I volley fireballs as an airbender does gusts of wind, turning and using the air around me to propel my attacks. My husband trips on his own feet trying to dodge a cyclone of fire. He must think I have airbending abilities as well. It does not take much effort to understand currents and using them to your advantage, only creating something out of nothing is truly difficult.
Fool. All that muscle must have tightened his skull.
He is on the ground, and I have my fist at his nose. I could give him what he gave my son, pain beyond pain, one less eye to see. I could ruin his life forever. But as I stand there, panting in sick glory, my mind racing on adrenaline and endorphins, feeling all the rage of all the wives, mothers, grandmothers of the world who have seen their sons, husbands, and grandsons be mutilated—my eyes widen. My chest heaving, I look at the man who may as well have killed my baby.
I am too smart for this barbarism.
I throw my fireball with a cry of disgust, but it lands squarely to the left of Ozai's head. I glare at him, fire in my eyes. "Consider this a mercy, old man."
I turn on my heel and walk away.
I suddenly feel a grabbing, burning sensation on my bare back. That is before the pain. I fall, screaming. The flames sear my flesh and muscle, I trying hopelessly to swat it out. The crowd boos.
After what seems like forever, the pain stops. My back is no longer on fire, but it still feels hot and tender. I lie on the dirt, breathing dust and ash.
He cheated.
Tears in my eyes, I am handled by the medics and I allow it.
That bastard cheated.