Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the Last Airbender!" Nathing.
Author's notes: More heavy stuff. I had to pull out all the stops to get it just right.
Maraghoul: It killed me to half bury Ty Lee and company in the freezing dirt up to the neck. I thought "what would Azula do?" Imprison the worse way she could. As always, heavy thanks to you for helping with the outline of this tale 😝 Thanks so much!
QueenTyzula: Yeah, that was my Chekov's Bomb 😝 All questions to be answered 😝 It will come up! Enjoy, my friend. A hint of evil in the last scene justferyou.
Harley Quinn Davidson: I know, I kinda wanted Azula to win…. she's one of my favorites 😝 Stay tuned to see what happens!
Hopelessromantic34: I know I hinted heavily it would go this way… thanks for reading ^_^
CharlieBarrow: Thanks again for all the pm's and suggestions. I may use one or two of them 😝 You'll know when I do!
Guest reviewer: It does seem I favor the Gaang, but believe it that I have a soft spot for Azula. Being an 80s kid, I grew up with films and concepts of darkness before the dawn. As in, have all the bad stuff happen, before you can ever hope to see a happy ending. Don Bluth films were notorious for that when I was a kid 😝 So I'm throwing everything bad that could happen to her, but I intend for the story to end well, not so dark. Thanks for reading!
"Stoking the Fire"
Chapter forty-four "Interrogations"
Ty Lee clung to Zuko, burying her face in his shoulder as he rode into the palace. Suki pulled up alongside his lizard and exclaimed out.
"Ty Lee!" she called joyfully. Ty Lee raised her tear-stained face but managed a watery smile to her friend.
"Suki….."
"Don't talk, Ty…we'll get you home," Suki promised. Ty Lee's heart flip-flopped at the look on her face and Zuko's. They treated her as if she had been abused, and well, being unburied would definitely have given them a dark look at her captivity.
The Kyoshi Warriors that remained called out greetings to Ty Lee, but the Fire Lord bundled her inside and to a private room. He gently unwrapped her from his cloak. Ty Lee blushed when Zuko cupped her face in his large hands, a multitude of emotions on his face. Joy, consternation, fear and reassurance roiled in his chi. Ty Lee clutched his hands. His gaze settled on her bruises and anger roiled across his face.
"You're okay," he said again. Ty Lee knew what he meant; okay as in one piece. His thumb roughly rubbed along one bruise and she cringed. Ty Lee wrapped her arms around his neck, holding his head against her shoulder when he clutched her in an embrace. Ty Lee soothed Zuko's chi best she could, knowing she'd need to. She sensed when he scented Azula on her and he stiffened, backing up from her arms. Zuko's gaze swept up and down, his brows raising.
"Are you….alright?" Zuko stabbed. Ty Lee knew what he was hinting at.
'Did Azula rape you?' The unspoken question hung between them. Ty Lee shook her head. Her teeth clacked as cold set into her body. Zuko gestured and lit the hearth ablaze. He rewrapped his cloak around Ty Lee's shoulders. His gaze was stern and his touch possessive.
"I'm fine, really, Zuko," Ty Lee stammered. Zuko's mouth twitched sadly. He knelt and rubbed Ty Lee's hands in his. He flared his chi, and warmed hers. Ty Lee bent toward him, despite herself.
"I can smell her," he swore. "If she...hurt you… I'll have her banished."
'Or worse,' he thought. Ty Lee's thighs shifted, and the gesture must have pushed more of Azula's scent of release out. Zuko, kneeling at her feet, grimaced openly.
"I'm sending for a healer," he announced. Ty Lee shook her head.
"I don't need it…"
But as the bearded man Zuko brought in rubbed fresh salve across the bruises on her face, Ty Lee had to admit it felt good. When he made to undress her to investigate her privates, Ty Lee lashed out, pulling her tunic closed.
"I said I'm okay!" Ty Lee said, but her words were aimed at Zuko. The Fire Lord frowned softly.
Once the healer had taken his leave, Zuko bowed, clasping Ty Lee's hands.
"You're still so cold…" he fretted, rubbing her hands gently. "You must at least want a bath."
Ty Lee nodded, knowing and dreading Zuko would stay with her. She was brought to her old apartments and Ty Lee's eyes watered, noting Izumi's gifts in the corner of the room. The cradle was missing, however. Zuko led her into the washroom by the hand and pumped the water into the granite tub. Once the tub was filled, he firebended the temperature to a warm one.
Ty Lee slowly undressed, aware of Zuko's eyes on her. Her bare skin flushed under his gaze. She slunk into the water up to her chin.
Zuko had a gentle look on his face. More than likely, he still thought her attacked, and was trying to keep his distance. Oh, Azula….
"Mai has our daughter; they'll both be glad to see you," Zuko said softly, Ty Lee nodded. She leaned forward and Zuko scooted to the edge of the tub to wash her back.
He wanted to kiss her shoulder, but he knew he had to take things slow. Azula's scent was steadily being washed away, and his alpha instincts commanded he reclaim what was his. He made himself back off. You couldn't push someone who'd been attacked. He was certain that's what happened….. 'Damn Azula. She never could play nice. Damn her!'
Ty Lee's thoughts were going another direction. She remembered the gasps of passion as Azula pushed into her. She regrettably washed Azula's seed off her thighs and worked the soap into her skin. She bent forward, bangs in her eyes as Zuko gently poured cupful after cupful of water to help her rinse. He was being considerate, trying not to oogle her nakedness, or grope her. He acted as if she had been the victim of an attack. It galled her he thought this.
As Zuko helped her from the bath, eyes averting politely as he handed her a towel, Ty Lee knew she had to try again to clear Azula's name. An attempted coup was one thing; rape was a dangerous creature all in its own.
"She didn't force herself on me….my heat just happened," Ty Lee murmured. The pain on Zuko's face was palpable. Whether he believed her or not, was up to conjecture. He blinked and pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers. He wished he could banish the image from his mind. Azula on top of Ty Lee, forcing her thighs apart, thrusting into her…..She touched her palm to his face. "Zuko, she didn't. I'm not just saying that…"
Zuko clasped her hand and kissed the back of it idly. His golden eyes were whirling along with his thoughts. He blinked hard. "You'll want to see your daughter…. I'm just so glad you're okay."
Ty Lee clambered into a simple robe. "Azula….is she alright?"
Zuko looked pained, as if she'd slapped him in the face. He gave a small gasp and worked his fingers across the front of his tunic. He ground his lower lip between his teeth.
"Please, I have to know!" Ty Lee said. Zuko gave her a glower.
"Yes," he bit out. "She was hurt during her little coup, but she's alive."
Ty Lee had to concede just knowing that was good. She sighed to herself as she ran a comb through her damp hair. As her eyes settled around the washroom, she finally settled on the Fire Lord. Zuko was watching her in a very strange way. Her heart shifted.
"What about you? You're limping, Zuko….."
Zuko pressed a hand against his right hip and grimaced. "I'm fine," he said. "Or I will be."
Ty Lee had to reflect that was so. Zuko gently took her arm.
As they left the washroom, they found Mai waiting in the sitting room. Ty Lee found herself crying out at the sight of her daughter in the Fire Lady's arms. Mai stood, holding Izumi out, pain in her eyes. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. Ty Lee took the child, who cried out at the surge of chi and emotions, but quieted against her mother's familiar scent.
"Izumi, oh my baby…." Ty Lee couldn't stop crying. The baby hiccuped against her robe front, and her small feet wriggled. Mai wrapped an arm around Ty Lee's shoulder. She pressed her brow to her friend's temple.
"I'm just glad you were found….are you okay?" Mai's fingers grazed a bruise on her friend's face and her eyes were very sad.
"I'm fine!" Ty Lee squeaked. Zuko wrapped his arms around the two women, and the baby gave a few small squeals, taking in everyone's shifting chi. Mai wondered if Ty Lee was lying.
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When Zirin came to after the explosion, she was in chains, wrists heavily locked in manacles and ankle restraints keeping her movements hobbling. Torchlight flickered in the stone hallway outside her cell but Zirin tutted the soldiers for not frisking her better.
She reached up over her shoulder, wrists aching as they chafed against the manacles, until she could reach the part of her braid at the back of her neck. She dug in with her fingertips and withdrew a small piece of metal. She stuck the metal pin in her mouth, worked and shaped it to a fine point, then set to picking the locks. Really, Zuko's guards were slap-shod at best, irresponsible at worst.
In two minutes, Zirin had her manacles picked and her hands were free. Shifting her legs in front of her, she worked on her ankle restraints. The soldiers patrolling the hallways were talking about who to bring to Lord Iroh next and Zirin tensed. She slid behind the door, and waited for one of them to enter.
When the door opened, a shout arose as they noticed the piles of chains but no prisoner. Zirin burst from behind the door, fire streaming from both fists, and the soldiers retreated from her onslaught. The hue was raised and the call given, but Zirin made her way down the corridors of the prison at a fast sprint.
Within twenty minutes, she had snuck her way to the palace perimeter and jumped over the fence. Free, she was free…..but she wouldn't run. Zirin knew she had to plan her next move.
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"How is she?" Aang asked. He and Katara longed to welcome their friend, but Zuko led them from the concubine's apartment door. Suki and a few of the warriors were on guard outside. Aang noted Suki's eyes were very sad.
"Warmed and bathed. She has her baby…..and Mai's staying with her….." Zuko rubbed at his eyes with his wrist. "She says she wasn't…..hurt….by Azula, but I dunno. She smelled of her."
"Oh, Zuko….." Katara clasped his arm gently. She didn't know what to say. Zuko raised pain-filled eyes.
"At least Azula's in custody," Aang said. Zuko's eyes hardened.
"Yes….and she has a lot of explaining to do," he growled. His chi flared. Aang adjusted his shawl. He blinked dark-lined eyes. He was weary; they all were. They still hadn't gone to sleep, and the palace was only partially secure, with a new entrance to the throne room blown wide open to the elements.
"You can leave questioning your sister for tomorrow. We can at least secure some of the palace soldiers before we sleep," Aang suggested. Zuko growled.
"I can't sleep until some things are addressed. Please help Iroh with the palace soldiers. I leave it in your hands," Zuko said. Aang bowed with his fist in his palm.
"We'll do our best," Katara said. She and Aang turned to head for the conference hall Iroh was conducting his investigation in. General Mak was present, as well as his closest loyal soldiers. Each man and woman in the imperial armor was being questioned. A blind servant woman was led by the hand by Ursa to each person. With her palm settled over the throat of the soldier speaking, the woman could sense if someone was lying or covering their tracks. She was no earthbender, but she could tell by the thickening of the throat, sudden swallowing, or other motions.
Aang was secretly impressed. He and Katara joined Iroh and Ursa. Noren entered with a tray of energy tea. He blinked, tired as well.
"Where's Zuko?" Ursa asked. The couple shared a glance. Aang sighed.
"To the prison to see Azula," he said as carefully as he could. Ursa gave a small frown.
"Iroh, Zuko wouldn't really hurt Azula, would he? She's his sister," she worried. She had seen what was left of the entryway to the throne room. The sight gave her chills. So was the limping walk she had noticed her son had before he straightened under her stare. Iroh gave a gentle smile to ease her, but secretly, he didn't know. When a woman was involved in the picture, one couldn't be certain…
"I don't think so. I taught him better than that," Iroh said. As they began the questioning of the next soldier, a pit formed in Iroh's stomach. He had a very bad feeling. He'd have to check and make certain he was wrong….
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"Azula…..wake up…." A sweet voice said. When Azula opened her eyes, she could make out Ty Lee's bare shoulders and loose brown hair. She slowly began to smile.
"I'm awake. This is a nice surprise," Azula murmured. Ty Lee leaned down, bare breasts leaning against Azula's sternum, as she eased on top of her. Azula sighed as her body shifted and her cock pressed up against the acrobat through the covers.
Ty Lee rubbed against it gently, giving small shaky sighs. Azula reached up to cup the back of her head with both hands and pull her down for a kiss.
"Wake up….. wake up…." Ty Lee's voice murmured. Azula smiled, eyes closed. The tone of the words deepened and were suddenly screamed at her.
"Wake up…..wake up! WAKE UP!"
Azula's eyes slit open and her body roiled with fresh pain. She grimaced, sitting up. A healer must have been at her while she was unconscious for stray areas of her torso, arms and legs had been dug into. Most of the stone debris and shrapnel had been pulled out, but the wounds were only haphazardly cleaned. Agni's fire felt like it was inside her flesh. But Azula couldn't focus on petty details like that. She shoved at her messy bangs, pushing stray hairs out of her eyes and faltered when her wrists caught.
She was bound by wrist and ankle, and her brother was standing in front of her across the cell. He had the door shut and was standing against it, looming taller than her memory of him. He didn't cower at the sight of her. By all regards, he looked downright pissed.
Azula instantly strained against the chains and hissed a stream of blue fire. "Release me, Zuzu!" she hissed.
Zuko growled. He absorbed his sister's fire and dissipated it from his fists. Steam rose from the impact. He took a step forward into the cell, spine straight.
"I think you know that's not going to happen. You failed to take the throne from me. You need to stop, Azula," Zuko said. Anger lowered his brows over his eyes, but his words were almost polite.
Azula hissed and pushed at a few cuts along her arms. One broke open and blood slowly oozed from the light wound. "You think you've won just because you had a little bomb planted? I have several in my corner, Zuzu. You must know not all the nobles support you….. granted, plucking an heir was a good trick….."
Zuko blinked, and his gaze darkened. The mention of his child (HIS!) and involuntarily, her mother, made blind rage paint his vision red. He had to remember Iroh's teaching and inhaled and exhaled, flowing his chi and drawing his fire back in. His fists longed to stream death around the room, but he reined himself in.
"My child. By my woman. I found Ty Lee," Zuko bit out. The abrupt change of expression on Azula's face would have been humorous if the situation wasn't so dire. "She was freezing. Dammit, Azula….how could you do that?!"
Azula huffed, fingers coiling and uncoiling into fists. She drew a knee up to her chin and scowled at Zuko, fury stiffening her spine. "She was my prisoner. I take it you wouldn't know what to do with one, but I could do whatever I wanted to her."
Zuko gave a cry of fury, orange fire erupting from his mouth. He blasted a warning stream above Azula's head. Azula watched him, coldly. Just as she was congratulating herself for getting under Zuzu's skin for the millionth time, his tactic changed abruptly.
She knew he had also been referring to her scent being all over Ty Lee, indicating a coupling had happened. He had to be good and pissed off that she had effectively pissed all over his name by releasing inside his concubine. But his gaze drew still and cold and he sneered.
"Ty told me. Her heat happened; believe me, that'd be the ONLY reason you would have been able to get near her."
Azula's eyes widened momentarily, as the sudden surprise slammed into her gut, as effectively as if she were punched. She swallowed hard and licked her lower lip, suddenly terrified her brother could see the trace hurt in her eyes. Just as quickly, she reined her reaction in, but she saw a self-satisfied smirk spread across Zuko's lips. He had seen. And he knew he had hurt her.
Azula guffawed, trying to gain the upper hand. "And a sweet heat it was, too. You would have been mad to be near it. And she let me in easy enough….."
Zuko smacked a fist against the wall, the flames along his knuckles smacking a crater against the stonework. "You think she's yours for the taking? Just that easy? You forget, Azula, that I asked her to be my concubine. She could have chosen anyone. But she chose me. SHE SAID YES."
Azula's shoulders slumped, and darkness roiled behind her eyes. She blinked hard, hoping the moisture in the corner of her eyes weren't tears. "So, she…"
Zuko stalked closer, his cloak streaming. His golden eyes were curiously devoid of emotion as he stared down at his shackled sister. "She took me inside her countless times. In every position, in every way. She had my child. Even pregnant, she wanted me….you have no hold over her. You may as well give up. After all, wasn't she trying to get AWAY from you so long ago?"
Azula swallowed and small sparks of blue fire escaped her lips. Just as quickly, they smoldered to smoke. She sank in on herself as sudden doubt and pain crippled her. She opened her lips but no words came out. Her mind roiled with fury at that, but she was speechless. Zuko stood, tall, and imposing over her.
"She loves ME. Get used to this cell. You're going to be here for a long time."
Azula gave a harsh laugh. "So, I'll wear my shiny iron bracelets and rest awhile. You don't know what to do with what you have, Zuzu. You never did!"
Zuko gave her a loathing look over his shoulder. He steeled his will and narrowed his eyes. "You really think so? Well, get ready for some intimate questioning. I will know what nobles helped you and I'm getting that information."
Azula held up a hand and looked at the back of her nails. "Sure, try all you want….."
"By whatever means," Zuko snapped. "You may think I won't torture you and I won't."
Just as a smirk spread across Azula's features, Zuko surprised her utterly. "I promised Mother I wouldn't touch you. But that doesn't mean someone else won't."
Azula's eyes narrowed and her fingers shook. "You wouldn't…."
Zuko knelt before her, golden eyes furious. "TRY. ME."
As Azula's options narrowed in her mind, bitter laughter erupted from her lips. "Oh, Zuzu, you really ARE one of us! I knew you had it in you all along…."
Zuko shuddered, trying to throw off her acceptance. "Be ready…. Your turn is coming."
And with that, Zuko opened the door to leave. Azula heard him give a few instructions to the soldiers outside and his footsteps echo down the hall.
Gone was the scared big brother who had refused to explore hidden passageways in the palace with her. Ty Lee had opted to go with, instead…Ty Lee!
Grief suddenly tugged at Azula's heart, then before she could fathom the emotion, it thundered through her torso and gripped her lungs. Azula wheezed, making odd sounds of pain, as she began to cry. She raised her knees up and settled her brow against them. Her fingers fisted the fabric of her trousers, half torn and cut from the healer's intrusion to find her wounds. The sounds echoed off of the lonely stone walls.
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Zuko peered into Ty Lee's bedroom. Mai was curled up by her side, Izumi tucked between them on the bed. Ty Lee was curled protectively around the infant, one hand along her legs. Zuko gently closed the door and moved toward the bed. Mai opened her eyes and pulled the comforter back.
"Are you okay?" she whispered. Zuko gave a short nod. He pulled his cloak and boots off and climbed in on Mai's side. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek. Together, their sad eyes fell on their sleeping friend. Exhaustion had wiped her out and she slept heavily, face pinched in a frown even in sleep. Zuko's hand reached to settle over Ty Lee's.
End for now
End notes: I know, it seems I hate Azula or something. Believe me, she's one of my favorite characters! But to get to a satisfying end, there has to be real conflict, and real battles, outside and inside the body and mind. So, we're going to dark places with her again. Like the story? Smash that button and do that review thing 😝 Let me know!
Most sincerely, pen
5/20/2017