Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the last Airbender!" Nada thing.
Author's notes: Okay, what some of you have been waiting to see! Ty Lee giving the old one-two 😝 Read on!
Maraghoul: Always thanks to you for helping shape this story. It wouldn't exist the way it does without your help! My eternal thanks.
QueenTyzula: I know you're just gonna love this 😝 Lay on, Macduff!
Harley Quinn Davidson: Enjoy, enjoy 😝 I hope you like what's to come.
Guest number one: well hopefully you'll stay tuned.
Guest number two: I rather like Zuko myself 😝 glad someone else does!
"Stoking the fire"
Chapter forty-six "It comes to this"
Ty Lee let one of the wet nurses feed Izumi. She cleaned up the blankets and items around the baby's cradle, feelilng pretty strange about everything. This was the royal apartments, meaning it was Zuko and Mai's space. She had, without question, gone to sleep with Mai in their bed every night so they could be close to the baby, and Zuko had surprisingly kept his distance. He opted to sleep in the sitting room to respect her wishes.
But Zuko thought she'd been attacked by Azula and was somehow at ends about it. Ty Lee knew she'd have to have it out at some point. But the forlorn looks the Fire Lord gave her meant it would be harder and dicier a fight than she wanted to have with him. He'd understood her so far and had cradled her feelings. But what Ty Lee was going to have to do with his good intentions for her riled even her.
Ty Lee took the baby from the wet nurse and patted her back. She moved to the sitting room where only two of the Kyoshi Warriors were. Ever since she'd seen Azula in prison two days ago, Ty Lee had been an emotional mess. She'd gone over strategies in her head about what to do, but she had a bad feeling she'd have to ask for more help.
More than she was able to give on her own, anyway. Ty Lee knew her current status would have opened a few doors, but if she were going to walk the path she wanted, that status would no longer be. It was all a catch-22 that threatened to collapse under the slightest intrusion. It she continued on, Ty Lee would have to find help on her own devices. She couldn't rely on her parent's wealth to help. If she left Zuko fully, and she did confide to herself that she had to, they would just eagerly disown her and sidle up to her daughter for the influence they so craved.
Ty Lee had to reflect on her affection for Zuko. It was affection, true, and he'd taken care of her. But she understood Azula and spirits help her, she loved her. Zuko was going to have to understand that.
Izumi cried out against her breast and Ty Lee rocked her, murmuring softly. If she squinted just right, Izumi's soft features reminded her of her true sire, not the Fire Lord. She knew this to be true. Ty Lee gave her a soft kiss and laid her on a blanket on the floor. Izumi wriggled her legs and closed her eyes as her mother curled around her on the floor.
The door opened and Ty Lee tensed, expecting Zuko. But it was Mai. She dropped elegantly to the floor and curled up on Izumi's other side.
"I suppose it's too much to ask how you're doing," Mai murmured. The baby slept on, but latched onto her finger in her sleep.
Ty Lee sighed, but relented her friend was checking up on her sake, not because Zuko had asked it of her. "Everything is a mess. I've roiled up your marriage enough, and Mai, you know my heart doesn't lie with your husband."
Mai gave a sad smile. "I think even he knows it. But he's hopeful. He's such an idiot. When Zuko loves, it's with his whole heart."
"Quite a big difference from Ozai, huh?" Ty Lee sniped. She leaned her head on one arm. Mai nodded.
"Zuko can be a good man…..but he's found it's not easy to secure his reign. But what he did to Azula…..I know she was a traitor, but she's still a member of the royal family."
"I'm mad at him about it," Ty Lee confessed. "But it's so stupid that I understand why he had to do it. Azula would have done it…." Her hand rubbed Izumi's belly. "I just wish she didn't have it happen to her… If she could have left off and just escaped in the open..."
"He hasn't had her touched since. Don't worry, I've made sure," Mai murmured. "But Azula's in bad shape. You should see her…."
"I will. I have an idea or two…. about how to better help her…." But Ty Lee didn't elaborate. She bit her lip.
"I don't think love will be enough," Mai confessed. "Azula's going to need some real help."
"I know…." Ty Lee watched her daughter sleep. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
"Whatever you choose to do….. just know I'll watch over Izumi. I promise," Mai said. Ty Lee reached for her hand. She clasped it silently in thanks.
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By and by, Mai left her for her family. Ty Lee spent the next couple of hours playing with her child. When Izumi fell asleep, Ty Lee put her down in her cradle. She straightened, hearing a new voice in the royal sitting rooms. Zuko. She sighed and moved out to greet him.
"Hi, Ty," he said hopefully. The earnest happiness in his eyes made her heart hurt. She closed the door to the main bedroom.
"Izumi's sleeping," she said. "Please, can you leave us?"
This was said to the Kyoshi Warriors. They gave a nod and exited to guard the front door. Zuko met Ty Lee halfway and took her hand. He kissed the back of it. Ty Lee watched him with sad eyes.
"What's wrong, Ty?" he asked.
Ty Lee sighed carefully. "I think you know. Zuko, you know things do have to be this way, eventually and now."
Zuko felt his world suddenly upend unpleasantly. He blinked to keep his vision from going fuzzy as pure panic and stress closed in. "What way? I haven't done anything untoward to you…. I've kept away since….."
Ty Lee's lips stretched in a sad, thin line. "Zuko, what you scented on me wasn't an attack. Azula took me, but I asked her to. I asked her….."
Zuko's face plummeted with disappointment. His mouth worked and he swallowed. "So, she didn't rape you?"
The 'Are you sure?' was unspoken but heavily shaded in his words.
"No…. I told you, Zuko. She didn't," Ty Lee dared to take his hand. He clasped it strongly. "What I told you was the truth. I swear it."
"So, it was just your heat. And I wasn't there…." Zuko tried to maintain their old footing. But as if she were swiftly jabbing him with her fists and chi-blocking him, just as stiffly her words paralyzed him.
"You weren't there because I left you," Ty Lee agreed. "I'm so sorry, Zuko. You are the Fire Lord, and a good father….and I promised to help you with your problem, and I did….."
"Ty…." Zuko pleaded.
"Izumi is yours," Ty Lee swore. "I promised."
A sliver of the knot in Zuko's gut relaxed. Just ever so slightly. "You did…."
"But I can't be yours, Zuko. Not anymore. Your sister is locked up and she needs real help. Will you give it to her?"
Zuko gave a harsh cry and stalked back and forth. "She will go back to the institution if it will help…."
"No!" Ty Lee exclaimed. She followed Zuko, and clasped his arm, making him halt in his tracks. "Real help! Real evaluation, real analyzation, don't just put her in a strait jacket and lock her in a padded cell!"
"She tried to destroy me and our family to gain the throne! She's a dissenter to my rule," Zuko argued. "Even you can't argue with me keeping her locked up!"
"I can…" Ty Lee said softly. "Only in that you've forced her mind wide open and she's back in her own darkness."
Zuko looked guilty but he flicked his eyes away. "She's always had that darkness. That has nothing to do with me."
"You've felt a touch of that darkness too," Ty Lee went on. She pushed Zuko back until his knees hit the edge of one of the overstuffed chairs. He sank down into it abruptly. "But you forced hers back out. Or her back in. Whatever."
Zuko stared up at the beautiful woman. Putting his sister aside, he clasped Ty Lee's elbows in his hands. "You would leave me? Leave our family?"
"Mai's had to share you far too much," Ty Lee said. She closed her heart to Zuko's earnest golden eyes. "Joking aside, I don't love you…..not that way. I love Azula."
Tears pricked Zuko's eyes. He stared at her. After several long moments, he raggedly sighed. "Is there anything I can do? You're leaving me and you're not giving me any option to try and keep you!"
Ty Lee placed a gentle palm against his cheek. Her fingers moved against the edges of his scar. "You'll be fine, Zu. You have your wife and you have your child. You'll be okay."
"But will you be?" Zuko surprised her by pulling on her arms, and she fell forward into his lap. Ty Lee tried to climb off him, but Zuko's grip was strong. "Will you be okay chasing someone who may not love you the way that I do?!"
"Zuko…. stop it!…" Ty Lee gasped. She tried to climb off him but Zuko angled his mouth against hers and silenced her words in a kiss. Ty Lee held still, eyes wide, and moved her face to the side. "Zuko!"
"I love you, Ty. Please, stay with me…."
Ty Lee got her legs around his hips. She clutched his shoulders hard, fingertips digging in. "You know I can't."
Zuko's chest heaved up and down against her breasts. "Dammit, Ty…."
Ty Lee clasped his face, giving him a sad smile. "You're a strong man, Fire Lord. You'll be fine without me."
Her wriggling got the opposite reaction. As Ty Lee involuntarily moved against his crotch, trying to upright herself, his cock hardened, springing up between them. Ty Lee sighed, eyes going to the side.
Zuko moved his hands down to her buttocks and rolled her against him through the fabric of their robes. "You get me so hard all the time…. You can feel it. But not just THIS….."
Ty Lee had to blush as he rubbed against her. She felt guilty that she felt herself growing damp at the gesture.
"We have a connection. I know you. All of you," Zuko murmured. His soft words and his physical reaction were starting to have an effect, but Ty Lee licked her dry lips. She pressed a kiss against Zuko's cheek.
"Don't make me chi-block you," she murmured. She felt bad at the widened look of shock on Zuko's face. He regrettably let go of her hips and leaned back, hands clasping the arms of the chair and allowed her to climb off him. They both knew he didn't have a choice. He looked aside, chest heaving up and down in arrested lust.
"I love you," he said again. Ty Lee straightened her robes and gazed sadly down at the disheveled Fire Lord.
"I know," she said regrettably.
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Zuko stalked into his and his wife's bedchamber. He eyed the empty cradle in the corner and scrubbed a palm over his face. Ty Lee had left the royal apartments with her child in tow. She needed to be away from him, so Izumi had gone with her for the time being. Zuko took a few steps back and forth, then knelt on the floor. He bent under the bed and came up with a silver box. Opening it, he pulled out a cigar from the contents. Ty Lee didn't smoke but rarely, and she'd had their daughter, so he had opted to keep away from the habit. But spirits, he needed a smoke now. Juggling the cigar out, he stalked to the sitting room. No use getting smoke near the baby's things in case she would be back sleeping with them….
He lit the end of the cigar with the tip of his finger and puffed on the end, working the fire in. When the cigar was going, he inhaled deeply and exhaled. After that long contented puff, he gave a few smaller inhales, and exhaled deeper, blowing smoke rings across the sitting room. Sighing, he tugged his cloak off and pulled off his longer outer tunic. In just his under tunic and trousers, he leaned back on the sofa, letting his head fall on the back of the furniture. His long fingers held the cigar up as he reclined. He sat up and took another puff, and darted in search of something to use as an ash tray.
"It's been awhile for all of that."
Zuko turned as the Kyoshi Warriors allowed his wife into the apartment. Without thinking, he offered the cigar to Mai. The Fire Lady glided forward and took it from him. She inhaled deeply and turned her face to the side to stream smoke far from Zuko's face.
"Too long," Zuko admitted. "Ty Lee didn't smoke."
"And not with the baby," Mai agreed. She could feel the waves of hurt roiling off her husband. "Need I ask?"
"No. I won't hurt you," Zuko murmured. He sank back onto the sofa. He started when Mai's hands rubbed up his knees and thighs, bypassing the bulge between his legs as she moved up. She set the cigar between Zuko's lips and straddled his waist nimbly.
"But you're hurt. You're on the right step. What was it Aang says? To relax the mind, you must relax the body?" Mai worked her thighs around his hips and settled in. Her arms circled his neck and the small smile of content that crossed her husband's lips did her heart good.
"All this mess; I've become such a terrible host," Zuko murmured. He moved the cigar to the corner of his mouth. Mai lifted it from his mouth, gave him a deep kiss, then drew on the end of the cigar. Zuko smiled. "But perhaps I can be terrible a few more moments…"
"At least until the baby comes back," Mai agreed. She worked herself against Zuko's lap, pleased to feel the firm length of him harden against her. "Just relax…. Let your mind go. And you'll feel good."
"Always with you," Zuko murmured. He didn't want his wife to think he was just losing himself in her warmth after being rejected by his concubine, but she knew him. As his wife blushed, settling against him, he knew he could make her feel good too. "Mai…."
Mai set the cigar aside into the bowl Zuko had been using as an ash tray. She clasped his face in her hands, twined her fingers through his hair and cupped the back of his scalp. They twined and kissed. When their lips separated, they enjoyed the rest of the smoke together.
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"Azula…oh my baby…" Ursa murmured. She was peering into the window of the door of the princess's cell. Iroh clasped her elbow gently. What'd he'd glimpsed of his niece, she was disheveled, in pain, quite physically, and also mentally. To see the tears in Ursa's face killed him inside.
"From what I've seen of Azula, it won't do her good to see you right this moment," Iroh murmured regrettably. Ursa flashed troubled eyes to him. She remembered the anger from the young woman who'd tracked her family in Hira'a, the tears that flooded her anguished eyes even as she'd raged against her. She'd failed her children, and even if Zuko had forgiven her physical change and amnesia so long ago, it was apparent Azula still held resentment over it.
"I know…. I know…." Ursa wrapped her arms around the lord's neck. They held each other gently. "Well, you know we're going to have to do something about this."
"She can't spend the rest of her life behind bars," Iroh agreed. "And we're going to have to get her out of there at some point…."
"Let's send our messages to the healing institutions at the far end of the Fire islands. There has to be some manor, some place we can secure…If need be, we can get her away from Zuko…." Ursa contemplated.
Iroh gave a sad smile. "I'll do all I can to get your daughter help. I promised."
"Your promises are worth every word," Ursa murmured. The stare they shared was serious, and had nothing to do with the tall girl in the cell, curled in on herself and shivering.
General Mak's voice sounded from further down the stone corridor and the two royals pulled back from each other. A familiar voice was with him and Ursa blinked as her husband rounded the corner with the bearded general.
"Noren. Thanks for coming," she murmured. Iroh looked aside politely as the gray-haired man put his arms around Ursa.
"I would go anywhere you go," he said easily. He kissed his wife's cheek and peered into the cell door window. "So…. that's her."
"Azula," Ursa sighed. "What you saw of her in Hira'a doesn't put her in the best light, but my ex-husband's influence wasn't a good one for her."
"I'm so sorry, Ursa," Noren said carefully. His wife looked emotionally decimated. Having gotten her memories of her previous life back must have been hellacious. She had Zuko again, but Azula had always been on the path of darkness. He pitied the girl, but wanted to ease his wife's suffering.
"Well, let's begin…" Iroh suggested. The three adults went back to Ursa's chambers and began writing letters, their ink quills scratching along the parchment. They sealed the letters and prepared to take them to the messenger hawk station. Preferably after the Fire Lord had retired for the night. Iroh tried not to think their actions were treasonous, but even Zuko would forgive them. Eventually.
A knock came at the door.
"Enter," Ursa called. Suki sidled in. Ursa smiled. "Good evening, Suki."
"Good evening, my lady," Suki said. "There's someone who wishes to ask for your help…."
Before Ursa or Iroh could ask, Ty Lee pushed into the room. She wore her baby sling and Izumi was swaddled tightly against her breast. Ursa rose to her feet to take her granddaughter.
"Ty Lee! What's this all about?" she asked. Ursa hadn't had a chance to ask how she was after her capture and rescue, but Zuko had been taking care of her. As he always did…
Ty Lee smiled sadly. "If you can find it in you to forgive me, I want to be there to help Azula…first hand and at her side."
Iroh raised a thick eyebrow. "What about your child?"
"She's Zuko's," Ty Lee lied. "She will stay with him and the Fire Lady. But my lady, my lord, I have to be there for Azula. She needs us. She needs me….."
Ursa had so many questions, first among them being: "Why are you so certain she needs you?"
'My son needs you,' she thought.
"Trust that she does," Ty Lee said. Ursa wanted to further inquire, and Noren was frowning softly beside her, but Iroh gave a soft 'hmm.' He stroked his forked beard idly.
"The princess will need every friend that she can get. I say it's a good idea. We'll help watch over your child here," Iroh said.
The wide smile that erupted on Ty Lee's face was almost startling in its comparison to the timid expression she had worn greeting them. Tears filled the corners of the omega's eyes.
"Oh, thank you, thank you! What are you planning?" Ty Lee asked.
"We're securing a safe facility to send her to. Far from prison and far from here," Ursa said. "And Ty Lee….. I trust you won't tell Zuko what we're planning."
"I won't," Ty Lee said. Her guilt concerning Zuko was eclipsed by the happiness she felt as prospects looked up.
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"Just a moment, Ty Lee. Then we really should be going," Iroh urged. Ty Lee nodded. She tried to be brave as the lord offered the cell door key he'd secured from one of the soldiers. The iron door creaked slightly as they pulled it open. Azula was still in a similar position from before, long legs sprawled in front of her as she leaned against the wall. She was heavily chained and secured to the stonework; her manacled hands dangled between her knees. Her long hair was disheveled and hung loose around her face.
Ty Lee swallowed. She made herself think of her daughter for courage. 'Azula's daughter…. Azula, please be there,' she thought. The princess's body was before her. Her mind was another matter. Ty Lee was afraid, but she had to be strong. At least for the next few moments.
"Azula?..." Ty Lee's voice sounded croaky to her own ears. She swallowed hard and tried to form moisture in her mouth. The princess didn't move. "Azula, can you hear me? Are you awake?..."
Ty Lee took another few steps, aware of Iroh filling the doorframe, ready to run in and assist or get her if need be.
A low sound erupted from Azula's mouth. Ty Lee perked to hear her, but cringed when she recognized sarcastic laughter.
"You're not there…. you're not there…" Azula mumbled. Ty Lee swallowed. She ventured closer, but took a jump back when Azula sensed someone else near and exhaled a stream of blue fire. Just as quickly as it appeared, her fire fizzled out and only smoke remained.
Ty Lee cast a wildly sad look to Iroh and continued speaking. When Azula cradled her head in her hands and rocked back and forth, she had to give that first visit up to the evening. Iroh relocked the cell door and put his arm around Ty Lee's shoulders. As they walked out of the prison, Ty Lee leaned against his shoulder, crying softly.
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"Are you going to be doing that all evening?" Aang wondered. Zuko inhaled his cigar and exhaled a steady stream of smoke. His firebending made the plume of smoke thick.
"Sorry, Aang. But yes," Zuko said. He turned his head and exhaled his plume of smoke the other way.
"Is something troubling you? We have the palace secure. Everything will go back to how it should be," Aang said peaceably. Zuko wanted to agree, but his sister, his treacherous sister, kept riling his thoughts and world.
"Azula is, of course," Zuko complained. "I have to confess something….. as Fire Lord, I need information on who was helping her to try and supplant me. I ordered her tortured…."
Aang's grey eyes widened. "You didn't!" he gasped. "Zuko…I didn't think you'd ever do something so extreme. That's more your father's way!"
Zuko cringed. He tapped the cigar against a bowl, scattering ashes. "In a lot of ways, I had to. To secure my rule…."
"Don't give me that, Zuko. That's very unbecoming of a Fire Lord taking his country into an era of peace." Aang was frowning. Zuko sighed. "Well, is she okay?"
"Well, unbecoming or not, it's over and done with. I ended it," Zuko groused. He inhaled rapidly. "She'll be fine, I suppose…"
"Good," Aang retorted. He sat beside Zuko and waved one hand to clear the smoke around him. "You have your loyal soldiers again and the dissenters are in prison. What's still up your spine, Fire Lordliness?"
"…Ty Lee left me." Zuko wasn't sure he would tell his best friend that even at this early stage, but he was too hurt to care. Aang's eyes widened and his face took on a series of jerking emotions.
"Whu, really? That is…. Wow, I'm sorry, Zuko. Why?"
To Aang, it didn't make sense. Ty Lee had agreed to be a royal concubine and had given Zuko an heir. Had their relationship always been unstable or did they have a bad fight preceding the split?
Zuko heaved a heavy sigh. His chest moved up and down noticeably. "It's complicated…"
"I'm sure everyone who suffers a separation says that," Aang said, trying to be helpful.
Zuko heaved a shuddery laugh. "She doesn't love me. I have my wife and spirits I love her, but…. I'm still hurt, Aang."
"Of course you are," Aang gripped his shoulder and squeezed. "It will get better. You already have core support; your friends, your family, your wife and child. She IS keeping Princess Izumi here, right?" he fretted.
Zuko sighed. "I think so….. I hope so!" Sudden worry over his child seared through his heart. Zuko's gut roiled and he had the urge to be sick. "I have to talk to her about that…."
"Be gentle," Aang urged. "Even if she doesn't love you in that way, you were still friends."
Zuko set the cigar in the bowl and leaned back. His wrist was slung across his eyes and Aang was shocked to notice he was crying. "I hope you never have to experience this, Aang. It really does hurt…..when they talk about a heart breaking, well it really feels like that's what it's doing. My chest is killing me."
"Deep breathe exercises?" Aang suggested. Zuko nodded. He heaved a few shuddering sighs and stood up. Sitting cross-legged across from his friend on the rug, Zuko closed his eyes, tears smearing the corners of his lids. His inhales and exhales were long and ragged, and his chest quaked on each one.
End for now
End notes: Yeah, I know, too much Zuko? But it's gonna be awhile for…. other smut…..so let's take what we can get 😝 I'm trying to pace the story at a realistic pace! More Azula, we'll be getting our daily dose very, very soon….
Sincerely, pen
6/1/2016