Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: The Last Airbender". Nada thing.
Author's notes: I admit, my worsening vision inspires a lot of this Azula blindness. Not that I am anywhere near blind, of course.
CharlieBarrow: For all the messages and wonderful wishes, thank you.
Maraghoul: My thanks for always helping with story ideas and the very shape of the tale.
QueenTyzula: Thank you for always reading and being supportive ^_^
Harley Quinn Davidson: enjoy what's to come!
Yubella: hopefully you like what's to come.
"Stoking the Fire"
Chapter fifty-nine "Blind touch"
"Someone's coming." One of the hunters tensed. The other two picked up weapons, as they all crouched, waiting around their small camp fire. The winter snow was melting, but it was still far too cold at night.
When the lone traveler leading a chicken-horse by the bridle strode into view, the three rough and tumble men and women relaxed. Slightly.
"State your business," one of the men ordered. Zirin gave him a tired look, but decided to comply.
The locals around this part were really tense, it seemed.
"I'm just a weary traveler, passing through. I won't cause you any trouble." Zirin could sound contrite if she tried, and she tried it now.
The woman, looking as rough as the men with her sleeves torn off her tunic, slim biceps roiling, turned to her companions. "Do you think you're going to rough up every local? Go on, woman. We won't cause any trouble if you won't."
"My thanks." Zirin touched her hand to the brim of her wide traveling hat and walked past the small camp site. The men watched her warily and one plucked at a wicked-looking battle axe idly.
She couldn't say she hadn't seen these three before. But apparently, they hadn't placed her and Zirni wanted to keep it that way. She was having a slow time of it as it was, trailing the royal carriage's tracks. Luckily, or unluckily if you saw it that way, the cold was still bad enough in the mornings that the dirt of the roads froze. The wheel tracks would keep a while longer.
There were a few isolated noble manors out this way, but Zirin still didn't have any clue to which one Azula had been taken to. With luck, she'd locate the correct one and scout the situation.
Lord Iroh had set up the whole affair. If Lady Ty Lee was there, she had better get the jump on her like last time. Zirin could only remember how just a graze of the acrobat's clever finger points had made her shoulder sag. She didn't want to know what a direct strike would do.
Zirin gave her a princess a silent wish to be well and mounted her chicken-horse. She took off at a trot, following the sun in the horizon.
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"Easy, short steps," Ying urged. She found it strange that the unblinking Fire princess listened to her so fervently. Her boots shuffled across the grass of the gardens as she made her way towards Ying's voice.
"I'm not…stepping on the lilies, am I?" It touched Ty Lee that Azula was apparently worried about something other than herself.
"No, they're beyond the small partition. You're a ways away from that. Want to sit?" Ty Lee asked. At Azula's nod, they sank to the grass. Azula leaned on one hand, and Ty Lee watched her curl her fingers into the green beneath her. Her tunic and trousers were finely pressed, but the blank unseeing stare of the princess filled Ty Lee with a touch of fear.
Would Azula gain her vision again? The healers were absolutely certain it was self-induced and caused by stress or fear. To Ty Lee, it made no sense. But then again, she hadn't been ostensibly abandoned by one parent and raised by the worst one. She had no way of knowing how seeing Ursa again in her true form had triggered Azula's core fear of abandonment.
As Azula's head tilted toward the grass, face pinched in an expression of concentration, Ty Lee took the time to study her. Azula's long black hair fell in a loose ponytail down her back, and her long bangs framed her smooth jaw. Ty Lee could only dimly remember kissing that jaw towards those smirking lips, when she'd thrust her heat at her. Azula had been receptive, but as receptive physically as an alpha being granted access to a heat could be. It didn't mean anything.
But when Ty Lee gently urged Azula's hand toward one of the flowers beside them so she could touch, Azula didn't jerk away. As Azula's long fingers explored the petals of the flower carefully, Ty Lee was surprised at her gentle touch. Azula had always been poised for attack and strength. Her long fingers carefully handled the petals with ease.
Azula looked so contemplative, Ty Lee didn't want to ruin the moment. But when Ying and Tsung began conversing gently together behind her, Azula's head angled toward them.
"You two. You're from the Kyoshi Warriors, aren't you?" Azula asked. A touch of her old strength lined her words. Ying blinked.
"Yes," she said. Tsung laid her hand over Ying's. Azula nodded, bangs falling into her wide-open eyes.
"How did you two meet? You sound very close."
Ty Lee was pleased to see Tsung smile. "We are. We grew up together on Kyoshi Island."
"Hmm." Azula didn't question further, but Ty Lee knew her mind was going in circles. Perhaps she just wanted to know who was so close to her as to be granted access to her royal person. And at Iroh's permission. "Well, we can't always be with those we want to. Right, Ty Lee?"
Ty Lee's eyes dropped to the grass, even though Azula couldn't see her. She sighed, squeezing her hands over her knees. "No, I don't know what you mean."
Azula frowned. "Must I have it out in front of your friends? Why hasn't Zuzu come to collect me from you already?"
Ty Lee blinked. "Because we spirited you away from him, without his permission. Zuko doesn't know where we are."
"Why? I'm in no position to be a threat, is that it?"
"No…it was for you."
Ying jerked quietly on Tsung's arm, signaling her to walk with her from the slightly quarrelling pair on the grass. Tsung stepped as quietly as she could with her.
"Lot good it did. Zuzu got to lock Father up. He's still in here with me," Azula complained. Ty Lee blinked, at that important inkling of information. She'd have to tell Iroh and the healers. Preferably without young Lord Takumi hanging on at Iroh's elbow and his every word. He was starting to creep her out.
"I…I didn't know that. When I left my parents, I left them behind me," Ty Lee confessed. Azula's fingers coiled in the grass. She pulled out a few tufts idly.
"You are lucky," she declared bitterly. Without her vision, she didn't feel as strong or confident as she once was. She had to depend on Ty Lee and her friends. And while they were being pleasant, the entire situation served to stifle her mood. Who wanted an alpha that was not strong?
Ozai's horrible lessons swirled in her mind, despite herself. When Ty Lee offered her arm to rise, so Azula could get her exercise in, Azula gladly took it, to better stretch the kinks out of her legs. She didn't want her body to go to waste. But if she could never see again, that may be so.
Azula shuddered, picturing Zuko's hand on the small hand clutching her sleeve gently.
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Zuko blinked, as he held his hands opposite Izumi's sides. He separated from her, watching his daughter sit up, round body swaying slightly. She could sit up for under a minute and each time, his heart soared.
"Come on, 'Zumi, you can do it!" he whispered encouragement. Izumi's face split into a beam as she rolled to her back, stockinged feet flying up. He laughed and picked her up. Mai smiled as Zuko kissed the baby lovingly on her brow.
"Don't push her, Zuko. Soon she'll be walking and getting into everything."
"That's why we have servants. To help watch our princess." Zuko's grin was infectious though and Mai swept down to her knees beside her small family. Izumi flailed grasping fingers toward her, golden eyes wide. Mai took her and swung her gently in the air.
"But I don't mind if Mama's little girl walks now! Want to try it, Izumi?"
The baby squealed as her mother tickled her. Zuko watched the two of them, heart full to bursting. He'd way-laid Lord Genma under house arrest, and the only piece missing was Ty Lee to enjoy her daughter. But he'd care for her while she was gone. Ty Lee would see her daughter again one day. He'd make certain of it.
"Don't get serious on me, Fire Lord," Mai teased. Zuko leaned to kiss her cheek.
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Zirin looked over her shoulder, severe features pinched in consternation. Those three hunters were back, following along the trail behind her and trying NOT to look like they were following her. Zirin smelled a mole-rat. What were they on about and why were they going her way? They HAD to be following. Zirin had even doubled back on her chicken-horse and followed the carriage wheel's tracks at a distance.
And there they were again. She wondered if she'd have to bring a fight to them to continue on alone. Zirin's fists clenched. She swayed in the saddle, and pretended to search for something along the tree line. She could hear quiet cursing in the distance. Zirin frowned as she kicked her heels into the chicken-horse's sides and went on at a canter. She'd have to pretend to make a camp site and take off as night fell. At the very least to put distance between them. Zirin hated to have to travel in the dark. She didn't want to damage her steed. And she wouldn't be able to see the carriage tracks.
But she had to lose the extra weight. It was far too annoying to be followed as it was.
"She's slowing down again," the woman hunter said. Her companions followed at a slow pace beside her. They'd seen the same traveler quite a few times along their trek and it didn't take a genius to notice she was traveling along the same way with them. What was her agenda and who was she?
"Well, we'll follow. Lord Zuko commanded we find the whereabouts of his uncle and lady mother. We'd best press on," one of the men murmured. The other two nodded, shouldering their weapons idly as they went.
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Azula could hear the hiss of the bathwater as the faucet was turned off. She could sense the heat of the bath water as she smelled the steam rising from the surface. She idly worked her toothbrush in her mouth, cleaning up after the evening meal. One of the servants was idly combing her long hair.
"It's ready. Do you need help in, Azula?"
Azula almost jumped out of her skin. Somehow, Ty Lee had sidled in quietly. Her shoulders slouched inside her bath robe as she spit into the sink and sipped an offered glass of water. Her fingers tightened around the glass.
"No! I can take a bath by myself, Ty Lee. Would you both give me some privacy?" Azula ground out.
"Okay, Azula."
"Princess."
The two shuffled out of the door and Azula waited a moment longer, to make certain she was alone. After satisfied no one could see, she unfastened her robe, letting it drop to the tiled floor. She carefully felt along the wall as she slowly walked toward the tub. Her knee struck the rounded edge of the large tub and Azula bit back a curse. She lifted a foot, eased it into the steaming water, and climbed in. As she settled back, she lost her balance, a good portion of the water sloshing over the edge. Great, now her robe was drenched.
Azula cursed, reaching around her for the washcloth. She found it, but her unseeing eyes couldn't make anything out. Only the room's dim light edging the corner of her eyes, but no shapes or anything substantial. Just as Azula's fingers grasped and found the bar of soap, she squeezed too hard and the soap flew out of her hands and across the bathroom floor. She heard the thunk! As it hit and skidded far away. Azula lost her temper finally, cursing under her breath.
She made to grasp the tub's edge to climb out and search for the soap, but she sat back down. She had already drenched the tiled floor. The last thing she needed was to trip and damage herself. After fighting herself mentally for a moment, Azula's voice rang out in the stillness.
"Ty Lee?"
"Yes?" the door creaked open and Ty Lee shuffled in. Azula pointed blindly.
"Careful, there's water all over." Before Ty Lee could thank her, Azula went on. "Could….could you find the bar of soap? I lost it."
"Of course," Ty Lee said. Azula heard shuffling sounds and sloshing footsteps. She padded closer and Azula held her hand out expectantly. She really couldn't control Ty Lee's sight and Azula found herself straightening her spine, her breasts showing. She began to soap up her washcloth carefully and rubbed the soap in along her arms. She winced as the soap made their way into a healing cut.
"Here…let me." Azula couldn't fight her and Ty Lee took the washcloth, turning the princess to scrub her back gently. The ministrations felt entirely too good and Azula's chin tilted forward against her clavicle. She had to bite her lip to keep a groan from escaping her lips. Ty Lee's hands had always felt good on her skin, and they felt good now. The odd dark thought of those hands touching her brother tinged her mind. Azula's unseeing eyes opened and she scowled down at the steaming bathwater.
"Can you stand?" Ty Lee asked. Azula stood, arm supported by Ty Lee's other hand. Once Ty Lee had Azula holding onto a bar fixated into the stone wall beside the tub, her hands went lower, scrubbing soap in gently along her belly, and lower to her thighs and down to her knees and calves. Heat pounded between Azula's legs and she bit her lip as her shift pushed into being. If Ty Lee noticed her sprouting shaft of flesh, she didn't say a word, and neither did she touch it to clean it. She was being polite, but Azula knew she had to have seen. Azula turned, presenting her muscular backside.
"My back could use more washing," she offered, hiding herself from view. A small sigh escaped Ty Lee's lips. She murmured her agreement and the washcloth dipped low, past Azula's buttocks and along the backs of her legs. Azula noticed her movements carefully washed around the healing cuts on the back of her thighs.
At Ty Lee's gentle coaxing, Azula sat back into the warm water. She eased back, half floating, hair floating around her. When she sat up, Ty Lee cupped water over her scalp, wetting her hair again. Azula started, then sighed as Ty Lee's fingers worked shampoo into her hair, hands lightly massaging her scalp in firm passes. Azula sank into the bathwater.
After she was done, Azula stood. Ty Lee offered her hands to help lead her out of the bathtub, Standing naked, Azula accepted a toweling off by Ty Lee. The acrobat tried not to let her hands graze over certain areas obscenely. Azula waited, bare skin glistening. Ty Lee touched her bare arm and got her arms above her head.
Azula grunted into the fabric as a long night gown was pulled over her. It was made of silk and clung to her slightly damp skin in areas. Azula held her hand out and stopped Ty Lee from touching her damp hair.
"I can do this at least," she said. Ty Lee murmured her agreement and a comb was pressed into her palm. Azula set the comb to her hair and sorted her long locks. She sighed as she lost her hair tie. Ty Lee's clever fingers wound through her dark hair suddenly, pulling the wet locks back into a ponytail. She tied the end off and Azula flung the tail over her shoulder, trying to give a smirk.
That she couldn't see Ty Lee's face made her smirk falter. But nevertheless, Azula made her stride long as she walked out of the washroom. The fact she was holding onto Ty Lee's arm belied her strong stance.
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Ty Lee said a soft good night to Azula. She made her way to her bed chamber next door, grudgingly. She didn't want to leave Azula's side, but the princess insisted she would be fine and one of the healers had opted to sit with her. At least until she fell asleep.
Ty Lee wished Ying and Tsung goodnight, and watched with a twinge of longing as they entered their borrowed bedchamber, arms around each other. She undressed inside her bedchamber, shivering. The servants had set a fire in the hearth for her, but the nights were still too cold. Azula was in the next room, awake but unseeing. At least she'd be receptive to her help, despite her harsh words in the garden. Ty Lee pulled the covers off the wide bed and climbed in, bed robe flaring. She thought of Azula's pale beauty, overlapped with Izumi's round face. She was so cold, and she thought back on Zuko's warm embraces with regret.
He had kept her warm. And Azula was still far off to offer that to her. Ty Lee idly wondered what Azula would do if she snuck into her bed at night. More than likely flail and order her out. Ty Lee's heart hurt despite herself. She'd chosen this road, and she knew it was going to be hard. And there wasn't any prize in sight for her choices. She had been committed to getting Azula help. But this cold manor was full of strange people, and Takumi's eyes were too shining when he asked her about Azula.
She wondered if she'd have to do something about their benefactor. Iroh and Azula's mother were here, and very well could have been at the edge of the earth, for all the help they've given. Well, it had to be up to her.
As Ty Lee slept, she dreamed. Azula was living in the palace comfortably and the Fire Lord kept his throne. Ty Lee's heart leaped as she noted her princess holding Izumi's pudgy hands, helping her to walk. Izumi's high giggles filled the halls and Ty Lee stopped, heart in her throat. Azula flashed a mad grin to her, and her grip was encouraging for the pup.
As Azula was complimenting Ty Lee on her beautiful child, Ty Lee woke in a fit. Her heart jumped in her chest and tears filled her eyes. She wanted to tell Azula, one day. But she needed her sole help now. Ty Lee rolled over, pulling the comforter over her head. She cried silently into the night.
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Azula's eyes were open and if she could see, she would have been staring at the ceiling. She focused on the images her memory could bring forth instead. The two Kyoshi Warriors that aided her at Ty Lee's side. The way they'd looked at each other when they thought Azula hadn't seen. Ty Lee's furtive hopeful eyes. Azula had to admit, the washing had been touching and Ty Lee had made her feel good.
Now, her memories were all she could see. Azula closed her lids, the slightly darker darkness taking over her attention. Her mother was here. Well, at least Ty Lee stood between them…. didn't she?
'She will…. Mother won't get close,' Azula thought. She wished suddenly she hadn't sent Ty Lee away. The soft murmurs of the healer as he read notes out loud irritated her, but were oddly comforting at once. He would alert her with his squeaking voice if Mother stole into her chambers.
At the very least, she was unshackled. Azula pulled her covers up and leaned on her left side, cheek pressed to her hand.
End for now
End notes: Like it? Smash that button and do that review thing.
Most sincerely, pen
9/08/2017