Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the Last Airbender!" Nothing.
Author's notes: On we press. Stay strong, my lovelies!
CharlieBarrow: For all the ideas, and the nudges, thanks, guardsman ^_^
QueenTyzula: Thanks for the nudges and the thoughts.
Maraghoul: As always, this story wouldn't exist without your input.
Harley Quinn Davidson: Enjoy, enjoy.
Llll: hoping you enjoy this one.
"Stoking the Fire"
Chapter sixty-three "Tipped Hand"
Ying flashed a mad grin to Ty Lee across the room as Azula washed her face in the washroom. "So, you'll be fine in here?"
"Knock it off, Ying." Ty Lee's voice lowered so it couldn't be heard from the washroom. "I'm counting on you guys to keep your ears open. She's here."
Ying sobered instantly. She nodded. "I think we should stay in here too, no matter what the princess says…."
"She'll know something's up," Ty Lee worried. She gave a flash of her old smile. "Besides, these are lethal." She held up her hands, wiggling her fingers. Ying smiled but Tsung took her arm, giving Ty Lee a worried look.
"Shout. Seriously," Tsung said. The lovers left, shooting a look laden with concern over their shoulders as they went. Ty Lee had a feeling they'd be on the edge of their bed, barely able to sleep. More's the pity for them.
As Ty Lee pulled back the covers of Azula's wide bed, she was not thinking about anything extra-curricular as it were. She was wondering how long she could stay awake to watch over Azula, or if she did sleep, could she wake in time before Zirin got in…. when a few crashes sounded from the washroom. There was no window in the washroom but Ty Lee found herself running anyway. A manic image of Zirin folded against the wall behind the claw-foot tub ran evilly through her mind's eye and Ty Lee burst in without knocking.
Azula jerked toward the door, golden eyes wide and unseeing. She palmed a fireball, and let it extinguish. She could tell by scent and chi that it was Ty Lee. "What is it?" she asked, almost painfully. Ty Lee made a quick once-over then leaned against the tub, sighing.
"Nothing, just checking up on you…. Are you ready for bed?"
Azula shivered despite herself. The words were innocent enough, but ever since that morning when she'd woken up wet and limp against the omega, her thoughts were going clearly to the gutter.
"If I said yes?" Azula asked. She heard Ty Lee hum under her breath as she tidied up something in the washroom.
"Then we'll go lay down."
Azula raised an eyebrow, grinning in her head. She took Ty Lee's hand and let her lead her from the washroom. The dratted healers were there, but Azula waved away a sleeping draught.
"I don't need it. Ty Lee's here while I sleep," she said. She could feel the spike of confidence in Ty Lee's chi and knew she'd said right. With these exchanges, Azula was more and more certain thoughts of her brother were being taken from the omega's mind.
She was here in her bed, in her presence, and Azula would be the alpha to reclaim her. She rolled her shoulders, unfastening her bun and letting her black hair fall free down her back. She climbed into the bed and Ty Lee led the healers from the room. Ty Lee couldn't help re-latching the window shutters. She blew out the lantern and climbed under an offered edge of the sheets. Sliding in, Ty Lee's bed robe pulled up along her legs, and Azula blushed, feeling a bare calf against her own.
Ty Lee froze, goose pimples rising on her skin. Azula leaned on one elbow, frowning to herself. She turned and aimed her lips toward Ty Lee's face. Ty Lee pecked her lips back, feeling a hint of lips moving back against hers as Azula leaned down on her pillow. The blinded alpha was smiling, a hint of the predator on her lips again. Ty Lee was startled to see it there.
"Azula?" she found herself asking.
Azula pulled the sheets over Ty Lee's hip, patting it into place. "Just getting you comfortable..." The old pounding pressure began to rise in her blood and Azula made herself inhale and exhale in shallow sips to get herself under control.
Ty Lee had to seem she wanted to be with her. She was the one that had drugged and stolen her after all, and she had fallen directly into her hands, needing her. It could all be a ploy, to get Azula all wrapped up in a nice neat little bow. But feeling the molding chi of the omega work around her made Azula not even care.
Obviously, it wasn't Zuzu's idea for his lovely concubine to run away with the head of the coup….
Azula waited as Ty Lee blew out the lantern and got comfortable. She felt as awkward as a pre-teen, waiting to see if she could touch, and how much. But the reciprocating chi Ty Lee danced in her direction told her it was okay. Azula hesitantly touched the hand beside her. She stroked Ty Lee's fingers. Ty Lee blushed as Azula lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
Azula inhaled Ty Lee's sweet scent and she turned the small hand over in her grasp, pressing delicate kisses along her fingers and palm. Expanding on the chivalrous gesture earned her a gasp from the omega. Azula's prickly ego stoked back to almost her normal limits as she carefully kissed Ty Lee's wrist, angling higher. Ty Lee's small hand swept through her long black hair, urging her.
Their bare feet and legs touched under the covers as Ty Lee slid up against Azula's side. Warm, Azula was always so warm. Her firebending kept her as toasty as an oven sometimes, and for an instant, Ty Lee wanted to strip her robe and shove the covers off. Azula gave a happy hum against her head. Ty Lee turned her face up in the dark. Azula's mouth hovered above hers, seeking in the double darkness of her vision and the dim room.
Ty Lee stroked her cheek and urged her down. Azula's lips met the corner of her mouth, then adjusted and struck home. Ty Lee let the princess stroke her tongue into her mouth and she pushed her tongue back in gentle strokes. Azula gave a contented hum in her mouth, and her fingers traced Ty Lee's wrist. She pressed Ty Lee's arm to the mattress in a semi hold. The gesture at strength made Ty Lee's blood surge between her legs. She sighed, letting her chi out in comforting waves. It enveloped Azula's shaky life force and stroked the edges. Azula sighed, and her fingers caressed up and down Ty Lee's bare arm as she let her fingers go.
Azula tensed only for a moment when Ty Lee's fingers skimmed the back of her neck, sifting through her loose dark hair. "Ty…."
Ty Lee admitted she loved hearing her nickname on the princess's lips. She slid into the cradle of Azula's arms, loving how their bodies pressed up close. Her round breasts pressed up into Azula's, and she could hear the light groan in the alpha's throat as the evidence of a shift slowly sprouted between her legs and up against Ty Lee's hip. Ty Lee stroked Azula's face, trying to be gentle, but the evidence of the princess's arousal had her mouth dry. She wanted to touch her, she wanted to pull Azula into her, but the light gasp Azula pressed into her shoulder made Ty Lee's heart ache.
Azula's inner alpha would be released. She just had to know she wasn't going anywhere.
"I'm here, Azula," Ty Lee whispered. Her heart hammered in her chest. Azula traced her fingers along Ty Lee's jaw quietly in the dark.
"You are," she admitted. Just feeling the omega in her world of darkness made it somewhat bearable. And her sweet kisses were driving her slowly mad.
'Now,' her alpha instincts insisted. 'Do it now. She wants you…'
Ty Lee was touching her back, matching her kiss for kiss. The slow approach was so unlike her that Azula didn't know where to start almost. But Ty Lee slowly kissed her, urging Azula to stroke her tongue against hers. Azula's head swam. Her lust rose slowly and steadily. When Ty Lee made to push on top, Azula gently tipped her to her back and climbed on top.
Their limbs twined, and they rubbed against each other. After several minutes of being pinned, Ty Lee rubbed shamelessly against her protruding arousal, giving soft sighs of appreciation. The buzzed high noise inside Azula's head increased at the soft sounds of pleasure. She was doing that to her, not Zuzu. And they hadn't even taken their robes off.
It remained to be seen if things would keep progressing. When Azula felt a small hand along the sash of her bed robe, reaching, she gently took hold of it. She kissed the back of Ty Lee's fingers and pinned her down gently beneath the weight of her torso.
"In due time," she whispered. Ty Lee blushed in the dark. It was so unlike Azula to pass up a sexual conquest, especially when she was this hard. But she had to be content with what Azula would allow. She clutched her back gently, welcoming her weight onto her.
"Yes….."Ty Lee agreed. Azula's lips curved upward. She urged the omega's face up and kissed her longingly.
As Azula fell asleep slowly against her, Ty Lee marveled she could fall asleep in her physical state. She must have been tired. But as her face tilted against her shoulder, Ty Lee knew she had to be somewhat relaxed around her to sleep right in her arms. It was an ego booster and Ty Lee relished it, hands gentle along her back, gliding over the silk of her bed robe.
Ty Lee had dozed off beneath her, but a rustling at the shuttered window made her snap awake. As carefully as she could, she eased out from under Azula, pressing the princess to lay with her cheek against the mattress. With the princess at rest, Ty Lee gave a light hop off the side of the bed, and darted across the stone floor.
When Zirin darted her head between the shutters at the window, Ty Lee grabbed her. Zirin only had a moment to give a startled "oof!" as she was yanked inside to the floor. Ty Lee held one of her arms high up above her head, pressing her knee directly between Zirin's shoulder blades, pinning her and keeping her momentum off balance.
"What...!." Zirin hissed into the dark. Ty Lee gripped her arm higher, and jabbed her knee between her shoulder blades. Zirin was startled to feel her back start to go numb. Her fingers flailed. "Let me go!"
Ty Lee's grip was like iron. "You can't have her. She's safe here!"
"Is she?" Zirin hissed. She turned her face into the stone, glaring one eye up at Ty Lee's shadowy form. "Or did you blind her to keep her here?!"
"I didn't do that!" Ty Lee hissed. Her fingers gripped Zirin's wrist tighter. "I can't have you taking her away from here!"
"And I'm not leaving her with you!" Zirin hissed. "You mess her mind up. She's the rightful Fire Lord and we are going to win in the end…."
"I don't care about that," Ty Lee said. "Fire Lord, princess, she's still Azula."
Zirin huffed. "You meddle with her destiny, girl. I'm trying to right her to it. The nation will flourish under her."
Ty Lee shook her head. She'd heard stories of how Azula had fallen apart taking control of the nation before the Comet. "It won't do her any good, Zirin! She has to have peace."
'Leave it to Zuko. He can bear the Fire throne…. Azula doesn't need the stress of her lineage tearing her apart…..' Ty Lee's thoughts fell apart on top of each other, and she forced herself to whisper. Azula was asleep in the bed across the room, for the moment at peace, and stilled. She would do anything to keep her that way.
"Peace!" Zirin hissed, cheek pressed into the stone. "Peace can only come when Azula can see and Zuko is dead! You have to let her go with me. What good can you do, omega?"
Ty Lee kept her hold on the noblewoman, glaring in the dim room. "A lot better than you! What are you going to do? Carry Azula on your back through the woods and storm the castle yourself? You guys got lucky last time. You could have been killed!"
Ty Lee had seen the hole blasted through the hallway and doors of the throne room. It had long been repaired and the hallway fixed, but still, knowing Zuko did that to keep Azula away…. It chilled her to the bone.
"I'll figure something out!" Zirin hissed. Ty Lee carefully slid her knee down the woman's back, to just above her ass, to keep her leverage. She gave her arm a tug. "Up. You're going to Lord Iroh and he'll…."
Ty Lee's grip was good, so she was shocked when Zirin found a break to whirl out of, jumping for the window like a madwoman. It wasn't a neat jump. She half fell on the stone window sill, right leg scraping as she pushed herself out onto the rooftop.
Ty Lee bounded to her feet and made for the window. But Zirin was long gone. And she hadn't even gotten a glance where she had gone. Damn it!
Ty Lee stayed vigilant at the window, gazing back and forth. Finally, after several moments but really felt like an hour, she carefully shuttered and bolted the window panels. When Ty Lee climbed back into the bed, Azula groaned in her sleep and rolled closer. Ty Lee blushed at the leg thrown over hers, and the arm round her breasts. She cuddled into Azula's warmth, eyes darting around the room.
As dawn approached, Ty Lee finally let herself go.
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When Azula woke, she felt the warmth beside her and a careful inhale and testing surge of her chi told her the body belonged to Ty Lee, of course. The omega slept deeply and evenly. Azula gently touched her cheek with soft finger tips, unwilling to wake her. By and by, Ty Lee woke with soft yawns. Azula smiled what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
"You're up," she said. Ty Lee giggled. Azula felt warm lips on her cheek and blushed.
"Did you rest well?" Ty Lee asked. Azula nodded. Far easier than she would have thought. She hadn't dreamed of her father but once, and Ty Lee's approach in her dream had driven him away. The glad feeling of that dream stayed with her listening to the omega's bubbly tone.
Azula nodded. She reached, and her fingers grazed Ty Lee's face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Did you?"
Before Ty Lee could answer, there was a knock at the door. "Must be Ying and Tsung."
"Call them in," Azula sighed. It was them, but the healers had beaten them inside. Lord Takumi was on the Kyoshi Warrior's heels. Ty Lee sat up in the bed and made to get up. Before Azula could bring her back, the wheedling tones of the young lord rang out. She sighed.
"Takumi." Azula made his name sound like a chore.
"Good morning, Princess," Takumi chirped. "Can I interest you in our small waterfall just outside the manor? It makes wonderful music."
Azula had to admit, he was bringing her blindness into account. She grunted, sweeping her long hair over her back.
"Perhaps…." She said. Takumi chirped in her peripheral. Of course, he didn't want Ty Lee to go with. She was ready to refuse when the lord took his leave. Ty Lee took Azula's hand and led her up from the bed. "He sure is a pain."
"Be that as it may, he is being a gracious host," Ty Lee said carefully. Azula felt she shouldn't have bothered to make nice.
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"I hope you enjoy the wine. It's made and casked here at the manor," Takumi said. Ty Lee raised an eyebrow. The tray before here was beautifully decorated, with a tall lute of glass filled with a dark red liquid. There were even a few sweet breads on a plate and Ty Lee nibbled on that instead.
"It's too early to have a drink. I must get back to Azula," Ty Lee said carefully. Takumi's eyes were too bright, too shining as he smiled.
"Just a sip. You won't be disappointed."
Ty Lee picked up the glass to be polite. She took a sip, then another. She had to admit, the flavor was very good. Heady with a touch of sweet without being too overpowering. Before she knew it, she had finished the glass. The glass tumbled and fell to its side as Ty Lee tried to set it back on the tray and missed.
She blinked, feeling her head waver. "What…" was all she could say before her vision swam and her breathing slowed. Takumi was smiling widely as her vision blurred and her eyes began to slide closed. No, no, she couldn't fall asleep! She had to stay awake…Azula….
Ty Lee's last desperate thought was for the princess as she fell, unconscious. Takumi neatly caught her as she pitched forward, gently laying the omega onto the floor.
"Sweet dreams. You won't miss much, my lady," Takumi murmured. He locked the door behind him. The last he saw of Ty Lee as he left was her leg peeking out from beneath the table.
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Azula was clutching her knees tightly with both hands as Ying combed her hair. She was as gentle as Ty Lee, and she expertly tied the long black tresses into a tidy topknot.
"Where's Ty Lee?" Azula found herself asking the omega's close friend. She heard Ying sigh behind her.
"I'm not sure, princess. But, don't worry! Tsung's looking for her now," she said brightly. While she was a little tense with Zirin on the loose and her lover out of sight, Ying knew she could trust her to find Ty Lee. What if this was Zirin's doing…?
Azula grunted. "Yes…hopefully she finds her." It was so unlike Ty Lee to be away that Azula was truly troubled. In her past glory campaign days, she didn't put much stock into staying near her companions. She knew they would seek HER out. But Ty Lee's absence delivered a blow to her middle. Especially since she had been trying to convince her she was on the princess's side.
'Zuzu, zero. Me, one,' Azula snickered in her head. The old conceited mental tone almost soothed her anxiety. Almost. Ying straightened Azula's tunic collar and hummed behind her. Azula adjusted the cuffs of her sleeves and stood up swiftly. She cleared her throat.
"Is he going to show his face or what? We should just join your lover in her search," Azula said, Ying made a non-committal sound and then Takumi's wheedling voice sounded from the doorway. Of course. Just about everyone was getting the jump on her these days.
"Shall we, princess?"
Azula sighed. She walked slowly across the room, Ying at her side not touching but guiding her by her close proximity. Azula stopped in front of the annoying voice. She blinked sightless eyes. "Let's go already."
It wasn't like listening to some waterfall was going to fill her days with sunshine and rainbows, but the distraction was there. As they left, Azula kept her ears sharpened and honed. She listened to the servant's random bits of gossip as Takumi took her arm to guide her down the stone stairs and to a side manor door. Azula almost flung him off her at that first touch. How DARE he!
She seethed, her chi roiling. Even he had to feel its turbulence. But he kept up a merry chatter. Azula heard a side door open and Takumi led her out. Grass crunched beneath her boots. Azula kept her ears open. She couldn't sense Ty Lee's chi anywhere and the steadily rising volume of a waterfall interfered with her senses. Sudden paranoia made Azula wonder if Takumi wanted her here on purpose for the sake of blinding her hearing as well.
"Careful….step here…." Takumi guided Azula by the elbow toward what sounded like a fast rushing waterfall. The noise echoed and escalated in volume in Azula's ears. She grit her teeth and minced her steps across the grass. She had no idea how close she was to the water and she wasn't about to ask.
"There, I can hear it. What do you want?" Azula asked point-blank. She could feel the beta's chi waver and recoil at her abrupt tactless question. Takumi coughed.
"A host should always be gracious to his guest. I attended the royal academy in the capital once. Same as you, I bet!" Takumi said, a little too closely to her ear. Azula frowned.
"I didn't know. And I don't care." Her old iron came back, lining her words and she was pleased to feel dismay uncoil through Takumi's chi. She frowned when a solid line of fear traced up and down her spine. She was unaccustomed to relying on anyone for help, and she found she DID need his help back inside the manor. She had no idea where the side door to the grounds were! Azula cursed herself for not counting her steps, focusing on the stupid waterfall sound instead. She was well and truly blinded. "Where ARE we anyways?"
"Outside the manor."
Azula hissed, irate at the intentionally vague description. She was through with playing and grabbed Takumi by the shoulder. She shook him, delighted in his startled gasp. What kind of man was he? She should shake him to an inch of his life. "And WHERE is THAT?!"
"Where we won't be disturbed. Princess, if I may, I would be a good match. I can extend the proper courtship for your position…. even if you remain princess…."
Azula flung Takumi off her in disgust and took two shaky steps back, boot heels reaching for the grass. "WHAT in all blazes are you yammering on about?! What match?"
"Between you and me! I may be a beta, but it's not unheard of for betas to conceive for alphas…I have taken that into consideration. Forget the omega girl…."
Ty Lee! She'd almost forgotten her. Azula growled as memories of Ty Lee's face filtered through her dark mind. "Where is she?"
Takumi gave a shaky laugh and Azula whirled as his voice moved to the left of her.
"She won't interrupt, don't worry…"
Azula's fists flared with fire and she turned toward his voice. "WHERE IS SHE?!"
Takumi swallowed noisily. "She's…."
Azula snarled and spun on her heel. Sightless, her angry stumble probably looked comical, but she was beyond appearances. Azula grasped and faltered in her hurrying steps, feeling for anything in her path. She was never more relieved to hear a familiar voice in her life when a door slammed open VERY close to her left, and Ying's voice called her name frantically.
"Azula!"
Azula felt the stone wall in front of her, pushed from it, and rounded to her left. Familiar fingers gripped her tunic sleeve, guiding her to the door. "Ying? What's wrong? Is it Ty?"
Ying walked her quickly inside and Azula was absurdly grateful. "Yes! We can't find her, and Tsung is looking…. I went to find you and you were gone!"
"Have you found her?" Iroh's voice rounded the corner and Azula cringed, on display as it were, and she could do nothing to hide herself. "Oh, you have…"
Ying faltered, but Azula gripped her wrist desperately. "Reunions will have to wait, Uncle. I have to find a member of my party."
Ying gratefully went with her, bobbing a bow to Iroh as they passed, and hurrying Azula up the stairs, carefully.
Takumi walked inside slowly, looking around warily as he did. Iroh crossed his arms.
"If this is going where I think it is, you and I are having a long conversation. NOW." Iroh said.
Takumi hung his head. Even if he broached his mistake to his father, he knew as a member of the White Lotus, he would acquiesce to a Grand Master of the society. He really was out to wash on this one. "Yes, my lord…."
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Tsung met the two upstairs. With a muttered "I found her," Azula gladly followed the tall girl's voice as she led them up another flight of stairs and down several hallways. They pushed inside and Azula was dismayed to feel Ty Lee's limp form on the rug. She knelt down, carefully reaching, and cradled the girl's head in the crook of her arm.
"What happened?!" Azula barked. Tsung grumbled, turning over what sounded like glasses on the table.
"Looks like a bit of the bubbly, princess. Ying, can you find a healer?"
"Sure."
Azula tensed, every muscle in her body tight and quivering with rage. Poison? Was that it? When a healer's quavering voice faltered in the doorway, she snapped at the man to hurry up and potion her a potion for the fallen omega.
Azula stood, grasping Ying's wrist a little too roughly as she led her to another bedroom. Tsung said she was going to bring Ty Lee, and Azula knew the tall girl could handle her slight weight. Ying sat Azula on the edge of a strange bed, and she reached, feeling Ty Lee's limp arm on the comforter. She held her hand lightly, wishing she would wake.
Azula listened for Ty Lee's breathing, and the involuntary sounds of the Kyoshi Warriors tidying up the new bedroom.
"I think it better if you took up residence here, princess. Tsung and I will take up the bedroom next door," Ying said sternly. Azula nodded. She brought up Ty Lee's wide smile in her mind's eye to focus on.
"Yes! Farther from Lord Fancy Britches," she complained. "He is SO on my royal shit list!"
"What'd he do?" Tsung asked nearby. Azula grunted, blushing angrily.
"Made a play for my hand. Who does he think he is?!"
Ying giggled despite herself, and sobered over the situation. For an instant, it sounded like girlfriends shooting the shit. "Definitely out of his league, for sure. You'll be safe here, princess. We'll make sure of it."
Azula almost thanked her out loud. But her soft grunt, and her tightened hold over Ty Lee's hand was visible thanks enough.
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Zuko peered into his bedroom. Mai was napping, robes askew. Izumi was curled up in a ball beside her and Mai's arm was protectively over the baby. He padded closer and knelt beside the bed. Mai opened her eyes as he laid a handful of fire lilies on the bedside table.
"The symbol of fiery love," Mai observed. "The royal gardener must be throwing a fit."
"They'll grow back," Zuko said airily. He stroked her arm and smiled as their baby pressed into Mai's chest as she slept. "I'm leaving for Mountainside Manor, Mai. I'd ask you to come, but I know you won't."
"Who says I won't? I just choose not to get ensnared in Ty Lee's foolishness." Mai's words were harsh, but her eyes were gentle. She did hope their friend was okay. Zuko liked to think also she was keeping away from Azula for his own sake too. Fierce love for her clawed in his heart.
"I have to arrest Azula. She went against my crown. She has to answer for it," Zuko said evenly. Mai's eyes sparkled.
"Don't just capture Ty Lee as well. I'm sure she'll tell you what she wants."
The old hurt left by Ty Lee clawed Zuko in his chest. He huffed and looked away. Of course, it bothered him that she had run off with the conspirator against his rule. It was seen by many as an open act of defiance. But he knew Ty Lee. She wasn't doing this just to get him. It was for Azula. His sister who destroyed many things in her wake and was destroying one more life thrown into her orbit. He raggedly sighed.
"Yes, I'm sure she will."
Ty Lee's daughter opened her eyes and grinned, noticing him. It was very much Ty Lee's unabashed smile and Zuko's heart lurched. He took the baby and sat on the edge of the bed, crooning to her. She patted his smooth cheeks and drooled against his tunic front.
Mai leaned on one elbow watching her husband grapple with his options and with himself. It was just like Zuko, always trying to do the right thing and still getting bitten in the ass for it. She touched his arm. Zuko gave a brave smile but her lips against his gave him strength. "Mai?"
"Go then. Just come back in one piece. With or without Azula," Mai said. She left Ty Lee out, knowing she would stand up for her new position. Silently, she wished her friend well.
Zuko handed Izumi back to Mai and stood. "I'll have news for you soon." Silently, he wondered if Ty Lee would come back if he asked.
End for now
End notes: Like it, hit that button and do that review thing. Until the next time!
Most sincerely, pen
10/21/2017