Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the Last Airbender." Nada thing!
Author's notes: Boy we got a lot of balls in the air on this one :P Had to get this out by the weekend as always. Pen is going on vacation for a week! So, the next update will be a week delayed or so. Enjoy!
CharlieBarrow: for all the messages and….the then some messages :P (wink) Also some of Azula's dream lines were your suggestion. Thanks for jerking my mind out of a writing corner :P
Maraghoul: for your questions that shaped this story. Thanks again!
QueenTyzula: for the nudges of inspiration between writers :P
Harley Quinn Davidson: Enjoy :P
All my guest reviewers: hoping you like, even though I dread this chapter is rather short.
"Stoking the Fire"
Chapter fifty-two "Late Heat"
Zirin led her chicken-horse by the bridle. She had stolen the creature from the palace stables, and had easily followed the wheel tracks of the carriage Azula's mother and uncle had taken out of the capital. They thought they had been so clever and quick, but she had been hot on the trail. And that trail led directly to Princess Azula.
The wheel tracks led directly into the village spread out before her. Zirin lowered her traveling hat and led the creature along, side stepping puddles and the odd stray piece of dung. The pair must be staying in one of the town inn's up ahead.
Well, Zirin could keep an eye on their carriage's departure without being so conspicuous as trying to get a room at the same darn place. Zirin made her way across the street and aside, to an out of the way barn. She talked the farmer who owned it into letting her bed down with the chicken-horse in the straw. Her creature pecked at the straw, chewing rapidly as Zirin pulled a slat loose from the barn's wall. She had a direct view of the inn's front door now.
Smiling, Zirin pulled out a stick of dried jerky from her satchel. She chewed rapidly and went in search of a water bucket to get a drink from. Her stolen chicken-horse cawed raucously at her.
8
8
8
8
8
8
Ursa looked around the modest inn room with a raised eyebrow. There had been only one room available, but the innkeeper was probably elaborating. Perhaps there were more ready rooms, or an occupant could have been bribed to give theirs up.
But traveling without the royal standard or their real names meant they had to comply with the local's rules.
Iroh carried their bags in and sat on his knees on the floor. He smiled at his traveling companion.
"I know it's not ideal, but I promise not to snore, Ursa," he said. Ursa giggled.
"I know you'll be fine. It's just for tonight," Ursa said. She picked up one of the room's clean red yukatas, and handed one to Iroh. He accepted, blushing.
"I'll find someplace else to change. I'll be back in a few moments," he suggested. Ursa waited as Iroh stood, bowed politely and slid the door shut behind him. Ursa waited a few moments before unfastening her robes. She tucked the clean yukata around herself and fastened the sash. Iroh came back, his yukata billowing around his wider frame.
"Good fabric," he commented idly. Ursa tidied up the large room, folding their traveling robes and setting them on top of their satchels. Iroh took a comb out of his pack and carefully wound it through his beard. Ursa giggled.
"Don't tell me your husband doesn't do this," he teased. Ursa smiled, settling back on her feet as she knelt on the tatami mats.
"Oh, he does. But he does keep it pretty trim," she said. Iroh appeared thoughtful as he stroked a hand through the length of his beard. It did fork at the ends, and he grew a mustachio to match, but still; even the length must remind Ursa of his brother. The penchant for long beards did run in the family. And Noren kept his goatee neatly trimmed to his flesh.
"I suppose I could neaten this up," he said. Ursa gave a soft smile. Iroh resolved to ask the innkeeper for a pair of scissors and a razor the next morning.
"You will look far more dashing when you're kempt," she said. Iroh blinked, taking that in stride. The way Ursa's back straightened pushed her figure on display. Despite three children, her body still looked good in the folds of her clean inn yukata. Her breasts were rounder, far different from the skinny high-breasted girl that had first arrived at the capital on his brother's arm, afraid and shaking.
Iroh blinked and averted his gaze politely. "Shall I send for dinner, my lady?"
"Yes, please do…Night." Ursa's voice was teasing. Iroh laughed.
"Very well…Megumi. I'll be back," he said. Iroh left the room to order a tray of noodles and chicken-pork from the inn keeper, as well as a pitcher of ale. He gave a few more coins in that the tray would be delivered to their room.
The two adults feasted together, carefully slurping up noodles from large bowls and trying not to splatter on the clean tatami mats. Iroh found himself offering the choicier pieces of meat to Ursa and they joked as they ate. Ursa poured them both a tall glass of ale and she lifted hers in a toast.
"May the rest of the journey be this good. You're fun to travel with," Ursa said. Iroh grinned, lifting his glass high.
"So are you, my lady. I wish we could have done this often before my campaigns took me away so long ago."
Ursa's lips pursed and her eyes held a sad far-off look. "Ozai always thought it strange you never wrote to him. Your letters were addressed to your father, or to me and the children."
Iroh gave a soft smile. "You were the bright point to our home. And I DID have to send something to Father. He would have expected reports."
"True," Ursa reflected. They drank slowly, watching the soft lantern light dance around the corners of the room. Iroh flicked a glance to the folded futons in the corner beneath a pile of bedding and covers.
"I think it prudent we sleep across the room. I'll try not to snore too badly," he said. Ursa laughed.
"Oh you…."
As Iroh took up the meal tray, he noticed the inn keeper had put a chamber pot in their room, but asked the man for use of his personal wash room before heading back. Iroh would remain a gentleman, after all.
When he got back, Iroh noticed Ursa was gone. He looked rapidly around, then untensed as she slid the room's door back open and sidled in.
"I wanted to use the washroom. I guess we should turn in," she said sheepishly. Iroh smiled. The pair unfolded the futons and split the bedding. Ursa laid their satchels between the futons, and Iroh sat in his, waiting for Ursa to unpin her hair and comb it.
Finally, she leaned to blow out the lantern. The both of them piled under the bedding.
"Good night, Iroh."
Iroh smiled in the darkness. "Good night, Ursa."
As the woman's breathing slowed, Iroh tried to steady his racing thoughts. Lord Takumi's father, bedridden as he was, would still want to give him the proper offering of the White Lotus. What state was Azula in? Would Zuko hunt them down by royal decree? Iroh's thoughts were troubling and he tried to collapse to sleep.
Sleep did not come easily for him.
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
The next morning, Iroh was dreaming about soft curves and high gasps beside his ear. The hints of intimacy with a faceless woman, moaning and breathless beneath him, was a nice turn-about from the dreams he usually had. As Iroh began to wake, he was startled to feel himself harden, and soon he had a full-blown erection buried beneath his yukata and bedding.
Iroh's eyes opened slowly. The pile under the bedding beside him had to be Ursa. He could make out her hand moving beneath her yukata. Iroh's eyebrow raised high.
He knew for a woman to be that open with their motions, meant something drastic.
Then the scent hit him. Iroh almost staggered back as the sweet cloying scent of summer flowers hit him in the face. His cock gave a needy twitch and he cringed, inching his bedding from Ursa's.
Heat. She had to be in heat. There was no other explanation. Iroh closed his yukata firmly with both fists as he climbed to his feet. He gritted his teeth as his cock jutted out, tenting the fabric. The older lord eased to the door, grimacing.
Once at the door, he called Ursa awake. She woke, gasping, and confused. She stared at him before recognizing him. Her long black hair fell in uneven strands around her shoulders.
The hungry look Ursa bestowed on him slammed heat through Iroh's blood. His cock ached.
"I'll…go…. get you some tea!" Iroh sounded strangled. When Ursa nodded, he shut the door firmly and took off before he got into trouble. Asking for pheromone-concealing tea from the innkeeper was an exercise in patience. The innkeeper mistook them for a married couple and kept giving Iroh wide smiles.
Iroh set the tray of tea outside the room door and called through to Ursa to collect it. He stayed in the common room, waiting. After such a lengthy time that could be construed as rude, Iroh collected a breakfast tray and carried it. Knocking at the room door put trepidation through the lord.
When Ursa opened it, she looked frazzled, but more in one peace. The tea's concealment only did so much and the ache in his cock hurt terribly in her presence. She was already dressed for the day and her quick movements spoke of impatience despite herself. Iroh gaped at her. He collected his bag and robes, and went to dress in the washroom. After a quick cut of his beard, lowering it to an inch protruding from his chin, Iroh met back up with Ursa. He glowered and waved away interested alphas and betas in the common room.
Ursa took his elbow as they left for the stables. His arm burned where she touched him.
"Let's just press on…if we travel fast, the sooner we'll be there," Ursa said. Iroh's eyes focused on her red lips. Unwholesome thoughts flew through his head and he shook it, to clear the sexy cobwebs.
"Yes…. of course…. This way…"
The driver looked stunned when he scented Ursa and it took everything in Iroh not to hit him. As they climbed into the carriage, Iroh pressed the sleeve of his robe to his nose.
It was going to be a long day.
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Azula had lapsed to dreams and waking nightmares. She slept heavily, crying out, and when she woke, she couldn't see and kept calling out for events and people that had already passed them by. Ty Lee sat by her side, washing her perspiring forehead with cold compresses, but Ying was worried of the emotional toll that was pressing her friend.
"What is she talking about?" Ying murmured to Tsung as they offered another tray of food to Ty Lee. She took a few bites furtively, and fed Azula by hand. The princess fought against her, wide golden eyes unseeing.
Azula collapsed back, eyes closing. Her limbs twitched rapidly. Ty Lee brushed her hand across the princess's face. Azula grimaced.
"Why did you do it?" she murmured. Ty Lee jumped as if she'd been found out for a petty crime.
"Do what?" she murmured. Azula twitched further. She curled on her side, manacles clanking. Her lips moved and her eyes shifted crazily behind her closed lids. "You took her away from me…. why? I wanted to meet her…!"
The look shared between Ty Lee and her friends was one of stunned amazement. Ying and Ty Lee shared a knowing glance between them. They, Suki, Zuko and Mai, had kept the secret of Izumi's parentage, but was it possible the spirits or some entity was whispering the truth of the matter through Azula's fevered dreams? Anything seemed possible as the princess tossed and turned, wrists digging into the manacles around them.
The healers frowned and busied themselves.
"I'd like to give her another dose of the sleeping medication. It will cancel out the waking dreams," one of the men suggested.
"Maybe it's her wounds," Ty Lee suggested. She carefully cleaned out one cut along Azula's left arm and rebandaged it. "Is it possible she has a fever?"
"I imagine she could…. that means one of the cuts is infected. We'll have to rewash her all over and purge her blood," one of the men suggested. He stroked his long beard with one hand. Ying nodded.
"We'll help lift her, and also help with the washing," she suggested. Her tone meant the men should keep away from Azula's nudity.
The healers were nonperturbed. "As you wish."
As they talked amongst themselves, the healers began washing the visible cuts along Azula's arms. They pushed her pant legs up to wash out the ones on her legs. As they worked, heat roiled through Azula's blood. Her fever rampaged on, melding with her waking dreams.
The one she was in now wrenched her heart almost in two. Azula had walked into a chamber to find Ty Lee, clad in only a silky bed robe, drinking a reddish tinted tea in a round cup.
When Azula had demanded what she was doing, Ty Lee had winced guiltily. "Taking kajihana," she said as if it were natural. "I thought you didn't want an heir, and this one would have been born out of wedlock…."
Azula snarled, knocking the cup from her hand. The tea seeped into the mats. "You were pregnant? How could you?!"
"Oh, Azula. It's not like you won't plant another one in my belly." The sad look on Ty Lee's face tore Azula apart. She gasped, trying to catch her breath. All of her heirs vanished before her eyes, as insubstantial as smoke.
"But still, you….!" Azula's arguing words were cut short. She was walking and pushed into yet another room. Inside, Ty Lee had collapsed to the floor. Azula rushed to lift her, and when she laid two fingers to the omega's throat, she couldn't find a pulse. The crazed fear surged through Azula's mind and whirled through her chest.
Ty Lee, very much alive, and perched beside Azula's bed, started when the princess began sobbing aloud, hands scraping forward from her dreams. "What's wrong, Azula? What is it?"
The princess cried out, reaching for someone. Ty Lee took her hands in hers and squeezed. Her heart thudded hard when Azula calmed. Her breathing was still hard, but it was apparent she drew comfort from Ty Lee's touch.
Ty Lee wondered how long the calm moments could last, and especially when the princess awoke. She tried to remain optimistic, but her tasks were daunting to say the least.
"That's it, Ty. Open up. You're eating if I have to feed you," Tsung commanded. Ying watched her lover carefully feed their friend from a carefully poised pair of chopsticks. Ty Lee ate softly, face in a blush. Ying flashed Tsung a grateful look.
As the three women talked softly, Azula tumbled through her dreams. She walked through yet another endless hall of the royal palace and walked in on a child dressed in imperial red robes. The elaborate stitching was edged in gold and tailored to the child's small size. Azula raised an eyebrow. Zuzu's brat. She looked rather like him, same wide golden eyes, and mass of black hair. She barely looked like Ty Lee at all, with the imperial stamp all over her features. Funnily, in the dream, Izumi was five, when Azula knew she was no more than a babe in arms.
"Who are you?" The princess took up a defensive stance. Azula barked with laughter.
"Insolent pup. Didn't your father teach you any manners?" she sniffed. Izumi gave a pretty frown. There, there was a flash of Ty Lee in her features. Especially the pretty parts.
"My daddy told me to watch out for people like you. You're mean," Izumi said with all the plaintive honesty of a child. Azula frowned heavily. Her fists lined with blue fire.
"You need to learn respect!"
"Azula, stop!" Ty Lee called from far off. Azula's head whipped to the side, and Izumi ran toward the omega before she could move. The child wrapped her arms around Ty Lee's waist, smiling up at her mother. Ty Lee gave her a wide smile, palm caressing her cheek, before meeting Azula's eyes. They were very sad as she weighed the princess. Ty Lee seemed about to speak, when the scenery whipped past again.
In the blink of an eye, Ty Lee was gone and Azula glimpsed her brother carrying Izumi upon one shoulder toward the throne room. Well, let him have Ty Lee's child. At least she wasn't glimpsing their fucking again.
"Fucking Zuzu," Azula muttered under her breath. She sighed, walking down the hallway. They seemed to loop in circles, never ending, and seemed to end upon surprise visits. Azula looked for hidden catch ways as she went, but all the secret corridors seemed to have vanished as well. She slouched her shoulders and stalked along.
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Zuko folded his hands, and rested his chin on them as Noren entered his council room. The silver-haired man folded his hands before his waist and gave a short bow.
"You summoned me, my lord?" he asked politely. Zuko studied the man's face. His mother's husband had a strangely shaped long nose, and oddly cropped mustachio and neat goatee. His elongated eyes were rather different and seemed to fall out of his narrow face. Zuko knew he wasn't looking at the man's correct visage, but spirits could shape the physical world, and did so at people's wishes. The Mother of Faces certainly had for Noren and his mother.
"Yes," Zuko picked up a cup of tea beside his elbow and sipped. "What are you going to tell Kiyi about her mother's disappearance? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter."
Noren raised a thick eyebrow but remained neutral. "You can be angry with me all you like, Lord Zuko, but I had nothing to do with your mother's planning. Iroh found the location and she went along with him. Believe me, I don't know the location. If I did, I would tell you."
Belatedly, Noren reflected that was WHY he was kept in the dark. He sighed inwardly.
Zuko looked at him silently over the rim of his cup. He set it down. "And Kiyi?"
"I'll tell her her mother has things she has to do but is thinking of us. It is the truth, after all," Noren said stiffly. Zuko sighed. He waved a hand.
"Mai and I will join you both for dinner. Please, leave me," he said. Noren gave another short bow and left the council room.
Alone, Zuko leaned back in his chair. His spine slouched and he closed his eyes. Shuffling came from the door and Zuko wondered which council member or servant was trying to intrude on his silent moment. He slit an eye open and found his wife's visage rather close to him. Zuko smiled.
Mai sat on the arm of his chair, and pushed his bangs out of his eyes. "The Fire Lord looks cross," she said. Zuko wrapped an arm around her waist.
"The Fire Lord could do without all the backstabbing intrigues," he lamented. "But this helps."
Mai slung an arm around his neck as they kissed. A knock sounded at the council door. Mai made a face.
"Tell those old men to leave you alone," she urged. Zuko smiled as she played with the small hairs at the back of his neck. The rest of his hair was pulled back into its customary topknot.
"I believe I called for this interruption," Zuko said. He was right. In came three hunters, tough looking men and women in sleeveless tunics. "Welcome to the palace, hunters."
"When the Fire Lord calls for the best, here we are," one of the women said.
"Well met," Mai said. She climbed off the arm of her husband's chair and slid into the seat beside him. They clasped hands under the table.
"Can you hunt for a woman discreetly? She'll be traveling with a lord of the court." Zuko said.
One of the men stroked his long beard. "Who is the woman? And who is she traveling with?"
"My mother, Lady Ursa," Zuko said regrettably. "She will be traveling with Lord Iroh."
"The Dragon of the West and the royal mother? This IS a big assignment."
"It is. Gather information to where they're heading and you can name your price," Zuko said. The three bowed, fists in their palms.
"It shall be done, my lord."
"Good. Depart as soon as you're able," Zuko ordered. The three left the room. Mai turned toward her husband, eyebrow raised high.
"I know you won't do anything to your mother or uncle, but was this really necessary?"
"It is. I'll know where Azula is hiding. I have to," Zuko said. He stood, cloak streaming down his back. "Come, I promised Noren we'd dine with him and my sister. Kiyi's going to need the company once she finds out Mother is gone."
Mai took her husband's elbow and they exited the council room.
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Ursa watched Iroh sadly as they jounced about in the carriage. He was leaning as far from her as he could while trying to remain polite. It was impolite of her, but she noticed his physical reactions. Her belly roiled with coiled lust, and her body felt enflamed. She needed and wanted to be touched, but her husband was far away. Even now, her body longed to be the center of attention and the small glances Iroh snuck out of the corner of his eye infuriated and delighted her.
"You don't have to sit all the way against the wall, Iroh."
"Believe me, this is more efficient. I won't disturb you," Iroh said. Ursa ran her hands up and down her sides and thighs. Her skin burned beneath her robes.
"I can't get by with just teas and…. myself." Ursa looked like she was going to cry. And she really did feel like she was in that much pain. Iroh looked like he was in pain himself.
"I won't touch you, my lady. You have my word," Iroh pleaded. Ursa flashed troubled eyes to him. A fine sheen of sweat made her brow glisten.
"If it's just my heat…. I need help… I feel like I'm going to die without satisfaction…"
Iroh slouched. His cock stood at attention anyways, despite his feelings. "My lady, this is impudent! You'll have to touch yourself tonight…. you are married!"
"Yes, and mated…." Ursa touched her throat. Ozai's old mating bite laid across the major thick of her throat, but a new bite resided half over it, imposing over his touch. Iroh reflected Noren had the right of it to place his bite directly over his brother's. If he had his way, he would have done the same…..
"So, think of your husband," Iroh pleaded. "Noren is a good man…."
"And he's not here!" Ursa sounded close to tears. "What you must think of me, roiling like a maid in lust…. I can't help it, I need…."
"Can I confess something?" Iroh's voice sounded small to his ears. Ursa took his hand and his skin burned beneath her touch. "My father offered you to me first. He asked if I wanted to wed Avatar Roku's granddaughter, and I gave up my claim to you. Ozai jumped at the chance, and you know what happened there."
Ursa stared at her friend with astonishment. How differently her life would have gone if Iroh had just said yes. She would have had a loving marriage, wouldn't be banished, wouldn't have had a hand in slaying Fire Lord Azulon….. Zuko wouldn't have been marred or banished, Azula would have turned out vastly different under Iroh's tutelage…. if only!...
All the what-ifs of the past fled as the two stared at each with a rather serious expression. Ursa's heart leapt out of her chest as Iroh slid closer on the bench and took her lips in a deep kiss.
End for now
End notes: I apologize this seems so short! Stay strong, my lovelies. I'll be keeping the story in mind, and jotting notes down on vacation. Cause writing IS relaxing to me :P Like it, smash that button and do that review thing ^_^
Most sincerely, pen
7/15/2017