Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Avatar: the last Airbender!" Nada thing.
Author's Notes: Are you ready, guys? Let's ride the train of fun! What's going to happen, read on, cause I don't think I can wait!
Maraghoul: for helping me form this story to begin with, you always get my thanks.
QueenTyzula: For the reversal nudges, it is appreciated and anticipated :P Thank you, my friend!
NeverfoundandLost: I know I keep saying it, but wait and see! I'm trying to make it all flow realistically :P
Harley Quinn Davidson: Hehe you go on with your cheering :P Stay tuned.
Lance58: Wow I seem to have invoked all of you to hate Zuko. Can I say that wasn't my intention? :P
Hypothetisch: well….hopefully you'll find out here and now! :P
Lill: Thank you for the kind words.
"Stoking the Fire"
Chapter sixty-eight "Fire Lord's Discovery"
Zuko strode down the halls of Mountainside Manor, his chi a whirling mass of anger. Suki was hard-pressed to keep up, and she gestured to the Kyoshi Warrior to split off to look for Princess Azula. Zuko barked his own orders for the Imperial soldiers to do the same. Takumi withered at his side and Zuko flashed the beta a hard stare, his chi roiling like a living thing. Takumi cowered beneath the look.
"Fire Lord, I have kept the best accommodations for your sister….and if I can suggest, a pairing with a lord of your choosing could keep her more tractable and to your liking…!"
Zuko stopped in his tracks and seemed to see Takumi for the first time. He wasn't much to look at, and his chi was so weak; it was a sputtering flame in comparison to the bonfire that roared within him, or if he were being honest, Azula…. Zuko growled.
"We can discuss a possible match with you later." Zuko muttered. His mind was awhirl, trying to stay abreast of the element of surprise. If the lord of the manor were surprised, he could only imagine his sister didn't know he was coming. And Ty Lee….
Swallowing the sudden lump that bobbed in his throat, Zuko took off again, Suki on his heels.
"Yes, my lord!" Takumi called hopefully. The Fire Lord did not deign to answer.
As the Fire Lord stalked along, Zirin glimpsed him across a hallway and promptly dropped the linen she was carrying. What was the Fire Lord doing there?! She didn't care what Ty Lee had to say. She had to get to Azula first. Zirin took off in the opposite direction for the princess's new chambers.
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"What in the spirit's name?" Tsung muttered. It sounded like a stampede of servants were rushing outside the chambers, even up on the third floor. Ying opened the front door of the chambers a crack to look. Servants were indeed rushing to and fro, and it wasn't just for the young lord's pleasure. Something else had them all riled up. She shut the door.
"We need to tell Ty and the princess. Something's wrong," Ying fretted. She and her girlfriend hurried to the open room. The clouds had parted from the blue sky and the sun was shining into the stone room. Azula had her head on Ty Lee's breast, the omega soothing her with rubs along her back. Their chi coiled around each other in languid pushes and pulls, and Ying was loathe to disturb the moment of peace. Azula had had so little of it as it were.
Ty Lee noted the look in her friend's eyes. Azula must have felt the pull of her chi for her head raised. The cheek that had been pressed to Ty Lee's round breast was red. "What is it?"
"Something's up," Tsung swore. "The servants are rushing around like mad. This can't just be a lord's hissy fit."
Azula was amused by the Kyoshi Warrior's description of Fire nobility and stood tall from the bench. She gave a nod. "Shall we look further?"
"I fear it will come to us," Ying admitted. Ty Lee felt a shiver through her. Something was wrong, horribly wrong. She felt as if her world was going to be upended yet again. Flash images of Mai, her time at the palace, and her daughter sprang through her mind's eye. Then her gaze settled on Azula's profile and her heart twanged with pain.
"Has someone come?" Ty Lee asked softly. Instinctively, she knew who it was. Her body had responded to his, and even afar, she could scent his swirling chi. Ty Lee swallowed. She turned to the alpha she had chosen, her fingers touching her wrist. Azula had scented the very same and her golden eyes were wide and a bit mad-capped.
"Stay here," Azula swore. Her chi hardened, and Ty Lee trembled before her intensity. "If that's Zuzu, he's mine."
Ty Lee placed her hand over Azula's wrist; she was touched her hand could stop Azula for a moment at least. "Azula, please…"
A hard light filled Azula's golden eyes. "Did you offer to share your bed with me even now?" 'After your heat was finished?' was implied. Ty Lee nodded, eyes soft.
"Yes…I did. With you. Just let me handle Zuko…"
"You don't need to handle him. You've already handled him enough." Azula couldn't keep the bitter jealousy out of her tone. "I'll be the one to do the handling for you."
"Azula!" Ty Lee gasped. She pressed a hand against Azula's sternum and pushed her chi over her alpha in comforting waves. Azula clasped her hand to her breast and leaned to kiss her. The movement was so sudden that she was frozen. Azula's lips were soft as they moved against hers. Ty Lee fell into the sudden soft touch.
"Ying, Tsung, come with me," Azula said as she straightened. She made it half an order. The two Kyoshi women nodded, but as they left and the door to the open room was latched and locked, Ying started.
"You don't want Ty to see the Fire Lord?"
Azula shook her head. "No…. Not gonna happen. Zuzu can't have her again!"
Both women could understand the alpha's hurt. Her words were laced with pain. Both looked regrettably to the door. Ty Lee was calling through it, knocking rapidly. They wanted to stay with Ty Lee, but if they left Azula alone with Fire Lord Zuko…. who knew what would happen.
"We're sorry, Ty," Tsung said. She and Ying hastened after Azula as she sped through the bed chamber to the door to the hallway. She pushed through, dodging servants, and shoving several that came close to running bodily into her. Tsung and Ying stepped over the sprawling bodies tossed out of Azula's wake as she stormed down the hall.
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Ty Lee peered out of the open wall of the stone room. The ground was a long way off, but when she focused, she could see niches and grooves in the stone surface. She could climb out and…. somewhere. The locked door wasn't going to easily open for her. Ty Lee bit back tears as she hoisted herself up at waist level, up and over the stone wall, face open to the sky above.
The wind whipped loose strands of her bangs across her face as she carefully climbed along to a natural ledge jutting out of the mountainside. Years of tumbling, stretching and training made it almost a walk in the park. Even her down time after having Izumi didn't make her fear for her own life. But the going was still slow. Ty Lee fit her fingers into the grooves in the mountain wall, feeling along, inching forward, her boots toeing into natural holes in the stone.
She had to hurry, she had to reach the first floor, where the source of swirling, riotous chi was. She could feel Azula's now familiar chi signature moving quickly along the third floor. She was heading straight for him. Ty Lee bit back a sob and prayed the spirits would keep the two of them in check. Unbidden, a nightmare from long ago surged through her mind's eye. Azula and Zuko, flung across from each other, limbs distorted and still as they lay dying by each other's hand. No, she couldn't let that happen!
"Please…." Ty Lee grunted as she felt along, moving slowly down the mountain's side. She had to hurry, had to get there…. As she carefully felt along, Ty Lee feared she was already too late.
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Zuko should have been surprised rounding the corner and seeing his sister coming his way. She was not incapacitated, asleep or tied to a bed. She was on her feet, fully in control of her body, and dressed in her normal Fire Nation imperial outfit. Her bangs flew over her face as she stalked his way. Zuko halted, flinging one arm in front of Suki to stop her from moving toward her. He may have to face her, but he wouldn't endanger her life.
"Well, Zuzu, you found me. I won't ask how," Azula drawled. Her red lips were stretched in a sneering smile, golden eyes hard as they met his. Zuko steeled himself, stoking his chi to a hard mass of will. "Bet you weren't expecting me to disappear like that…"
"There are so many things I wasn't expecting," Zuko snapped. Orange flames licked from the ends of his knuckles as he clenched his fists. The two surrounded each other. Suki met Tsung and Ying's eyes across the hallway. All three women looked terrified. Whatever was going to happen, they wouldn't be able to stop or aide, for good or ill. "Where's Ty?"
Those were the words that unleashed Azula's rage. Her eyes gleamed with hatred and she surged toward her brother, right kick flying in an arc toward his head.
"SHE'S NOT YOURS ANYMORE!" she screamed. Zuko raised his wrist to deflect her kick and force her back. He sprang back and gestured to Suki.
"Stay back!" he commanded. Suki did as he asked. Azula's next kick connected with his left forearm flung rapidly up to meet her, but the strike still knocked him back a foot. While he was regaining his rooted stance, Azula whirled in a spinning back kick, knocking him in the side of the head deftly. Bright lights sparked behind Zuko's eyelids as he flew to the ground.
Blue flames were in Azula's hands as she stood astride his chest, feet planted wide over his torso. Her face was a rictus of sneering anger. "She upheld her little deal with you, now leave her, Zuzu! She plucked me from your prison; she wanted to!"
"No!" Zuko arched on his shoulders, kicking upward. Azula leaped away from him, blasting a stream of blue fire at him. Zuko absorbed the flame with his chi, pushing it far away. A tapestry on the wall caught fire, and he neatly drew the flames back. Suki dashed the tapestry to the ground in his peripheral vision, ensuring the embers didn't spark up again. "You tricked her or made her or…."
All of his pain was getting the better of him. In that instance, Zuko had no idea how similar he truly was to his sister in how they viewed Ty Lee's actions and their pain from it. In his memory of her, and the way she savored his touch, the Ty Lee of Zuko's mind would never leave him. Never mind that she had left twice now, leaving their child in his care to go after her sire. While he had been toiling in secret, and coming to grips with losing his path of self-entitled destiny as Fire Prince in the Earth Kingdom so many years ago, Azula had taken Ty Lee, and his future wife, in her own campaign to the same place. All three had formed a bond that eroded or evolved, and continued to this day. It wasn't fair if Ty Lee had learned to fall in love with Azula in that time and place. She wouldn't willingly leave him now!
Azula laughing forced the thoughts to the back of Zuko's mind, forcing him to the here and now pretty damn quickly. Streams of blue fire erupted from her lips as she laughed at him. "I didn't make her do a thing, Zuzu! She took me, and here we all are now….. "
"Where is she?" Zuko demanded. He threw a fist at Azula; she dodged. Whirling around each other, legs wide in kata stances drilled into them since childhood, the two parried and danced in a deadly game. Blows were aimed and a few landed. Azula hissed as Zuko got a lucky punch in, her cheek heating from the impact. Azula stepped into his personal space and aimed a well-placed elbow into his chest. Zuko wheezed, trying to catch his breath. He sprang back from Azula's relentless fury.
"Not here…for you…..to take away! She wants me!" Azula roared. She caught Zuko's wrist, and tore him close, spitting fire right into his face. Zuko held his face back from the flames. "You can't have my omega!"
Tsung and Ying gaped at her as the honest words roiled over everyone within earshot. Zuko's face contorted with rage. He spat a stream of orange fire that made Azula duck back and let him go. They each dissipated the others flames from hitting home and circled each other in the center of the fiery inferno. The Kyoshi Warriors, however, backed off.
The noise inside Zuko's head screamed to white silence as he tuned into his adrenaline, letting it carry him and his firebending. Holding onto his focus was the only way to keep up with and counter Azula's hellishly fast punches and kicks. A familiar voice was screaming in his peripheral and Zuko blinked hard, springing back from a series of kicks. He flicked his eyes quickly to the right to see who would dare intrude. This fight was a long time in coming.
Azula saw her the same moment he did. Her lips parted, her eyes softening for an instant. She then barked at the omega to get back and fast. "I told you to stay!" she snapped. Ty Lee looked a bit the worse for wear, the hem of her tunic ripped and hanging jagged against her waist. Her braid looked unkempt as if she'd just come out of a very windy area.
Zuko took a step toward Ty Lee as if he were in a dream. She was okay! She was okay….what was more, he was going to make sure she stayed that way! "Ty…."
Azula hissed. A stream of blue fire came his way and Zuko threw himself to the floor, deflecting the flames from his person as best he could. He could hear Ty Lee shriek in surprise and alarm. Dread iced through his veins. "Stay away from her!" he roared. Azula didn't flinch from his surging chi.
Hers spiked erratically, clashing with his. As they leaped to charge at each other again, fists clenched, both halted as a small form darted between them. Azula gaped at Ty Lee who had forced her way between them. One of her hands was on Zuko's chest, bodily pushing him with all her might, and the other was tucked along Azula's sternum, placed almost lovingly. Azula's heart went concave at the gesture.
Ty Lee turned pleading eyes to Azula, her chi leaking out to lick at the corners of Azula's. Azula relaxed. Almost. Her legs were still tense, and ready to carry her forward.
Ty Lee turned to Zuko, and her pleading gaze turned intensely to his attention. The Fire Lord blinked as Ty Lee bent to one knee before him, clasping the edges of his cloak. She brought the swipe of fabric to her face, leaning her brow against it in a broad gesture of fealty and forgiveness. Azula seethed at the gesture. She advanced forward but only the soft pleading look of Ty Lee kept her from shoving at her brother. She was the only alpha Ty Lee should be kneeling to, her inner alpha wheedled. Azula hissed.
"Fire Lord Zuko…" Ty Lee settled on formality. "My lord, please, don't arrest Azula. She's getting real help and we could all use a helping hand in our time of need…"
Zuko swallowed. He gripped Ty Lee's elbow, helping her to rise. "No, get up, Ty…. I won't have this…"
When his fingers clutched her arms, Azula moved. Faster than a blur, she was on him, shoving past Ty Lee. The Fire Lord was flung head over tea kettle, his legs flying up as he crashed to the stone floor.
"Zuko!" Ty Lee gasped. She whirled toward her alpha. There was anger and rage across Azula's features, but it was directed at her brother, not so much her. She placed a hand gently across Azula's collarbone, forcing her to halt. "Don't make me chi-block the two of you!"
Tsung and Ying blanched across the hallway. Everything was happening so fast, they could barely keep up. But all three persons were still whole and in one piece.
"Get back, Ty!" Zuko commanded from his prone position. He pushed up on his elbows, wincing. His long legs sprawled in front of him on the ground. "Azula, get away from her!"
Azula turned maddened eyes toward him. "MAKE ME!"
Ty Lee turned Azula's jaw toward her. Her hands cradled her alpha's face and Zuko and Suki were alarmed to see the calm it put in the princess. Azula's chi visibly dimmed down, simmering to a burning ember of heat that pulsated between her and the omega.
Ty Lee murmured lowly, but straining as he was, Zuko could hear her words. "I'm going to make it all better….for us….so we can be alone….."
Azula visibly almost sagged in relief. Her hard eyes swept over Zuko. His heart fell to his stomach and he was swallowing. Sorrow seeped through his veins.
"Ty Lee?" he asked softly. The omega smiled bravely at him, but tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. He liked to think it was for his benefit, but Zuko couldn't fool himself for so long.
"I'm sorry, Lord Zuko. I couldn't let your sister remain your prisoner, even if she's done wrong….Please, I have done nothing but serve you and the crown. Please consider my duty to you finished and my daughter Azula's payment…." Tears did slide down Ty Lee's cheeks now. Her lip trembled and Azula wanted to put her arms around her. Pain roiled through the omega and she wanted to stop it. "Please, forgive Azula's crimes to the crown. She will stay out of your reign, I swear it…."
Something nagged at the back of Azula's mind about that. But as she gazed at the crying omega, she could feel cracks in her heart meld whole. Her coup didn't seem so important anymore….
Zuko's mouth downturned in a frown, as his eyes softened. When Ty Lee made to fall to her knees through her proclamation again, Azula did take her arm this time. She gently lifted the omega to her feet, hand protectively around her waist. Zuko swallowed hard.
"I came to arrest her….and bring you home. You have made a different choice taking my sister from the prison…..are you certain you want this?" Zuko's voice cracked at the end. Suki's heart bled for him despite herself. Her friend was suffering more heartbreak where Ty Lee was concerned and while she wished Ty Lee well, she didn't know how it was all going to come out. Suki could scent the connection between Azula all over Ty Lee. They had joined and recently. The look on Zuko's face indicated he scented the same. A rictus of sadness and disgust was across his pale features.
"Yes… "Ty Lee's eyes were wide. In openly defying the Fire Lord, he could extend punishment to her and arrest Azula anyway. She had to hope every shared embrace and moment was going through his mind. He had too much affection for her. And she had to sever and kill that affection in choosing Azula. It was a dicey position to balance on and Ty Lee lowered her head to him. "I want this, my lord."
Zuko turned his head sharply away. Azula was gazing at the omega in obvious shock. For the moment, he didn't fear an attack from her. He tried to get a handle on his emotions as utter rejection welled through him. It formed a pit in his heart and stomach, and spread blackness through his mind. To say it hurt was an understatement. Every shared touch, every embrace, every moment with their daughter was being given back to him to keep alone.
"You…you've made your choice…." Zuko tried to keep his words even. His lips pressed into a thin line. He shuddered a sigh and searched for strength. "Our daughter is your pardon. Be at peace, Lady Ty Lee…"
The surprised look on the omega's face should have been reconciliation enough, but it wasn't. Zuko offered her a curt bow of the head and whirled back, Suki on his heels. She shared a surprised look with her Kyoshi Warriors, who stayed on Ty Lee and Princess Azula's side of the hall. She would talk with them about desertion later but now…. she needed to be with Lord Zuko.
As Zuko stalked away, his legs leaden, he could barely hear Ty Lee's response.
"Thank you…."
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"Zuko…..Lord Zuko…wait.." Suki called. Zuko had wandered and stalked up and down the second and third floors, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. She knew he wasn't seeing his surroundings when they went through the same hallway landing twice. She touched his elbow. The hurt roiling in Zuko's eyes slayed her. She smiled bravely for him. "Please, if you need to rest, you should. We've had a long journey….."
"And clearly it's ended." Zuko looked around at the decorative tapestries of Lord Takumi's estate. He grimaced. "I don't know if I want to stay under this roof tonight…."
"Isn't your lady mother and uncle here?" Suki asked. She could have kicked herself at the new expression of pain across Zuko's face.
"Yes….Arrrrgghh, everyone is fucking with me," he complained openly to his friend. A few imperial soldiers that had come with his retinue entered the end of the hall, then dashed away at the look on his face. Mai had told Suki in confidence the news about his mother being with his uncle. It was a surprise for sure, but only one more skeleton for the royal family closet. The closet of secrets was full as it were.
"Well, we should see what their plans are…. they've certainly kept Azula here in one piece," Suki said wisely. Zuko looked very tired.
"A quick hello. Then you and I are going to backtrack for an inn," he swore. Zuko could feel the familiar traces of Ty Lee's chi intertwine with his sister's. He wanted to be ill and he didn't want to stay to find out what else was transpiring. Best to leave with most of his pride intact.
"My lord, where is the royal mother and Lord Iroh?" Suki asked Takumi. The young lord was leaning insolently against the banister of the main spiraling staircase, apparently waiting for them. He full-out kowtowed to Zuko, pressing his brow to the stone floor.
"In her chambers," he was happy to note. Even if Iroh had given him a verbal reaming a few days ago and his sponsorship into the White Lotus was withdrawn. Iroh was royalty, but Zuko was the Fire Lord. Takumi smiled, casting his full charisma into play. "I must say, my lord, it does my family proud to know the Fire Lord has entered our humble estate…."
"You were housing my family members," Zuko said dryly. "Can you leave us or something?"
Takumi blinked but nodded rapidly. "Of course. Let me know if you need anything else, my lord."
Zuko scratched his jaw idly, watching the thin man jog off, robes flapping. "If I need anything, I'll trust you and your warriors, Suki. I'm so tired of brown-nosers."
"I imagine you would be." Suki kept her demeanor jovial as they found Lady Ursa's chambers. Zuko knocked hard and called through the door.
"I know you're there, Mother. It's me," he called. There was a commotion of movement on the other side and the door was yanked open in a hurry. His mother was fully dressed, and so was Iroh when both peered in, thank the spirits. Zuko didn't know whether to be thankful or not. "So. Here you are. Do you know how worried your family was?"
Suki saw the blush of guilt dart across Lady Ursa's features. She reached out and touched her son's hands, clutching them. "I'll answer any crime you see fit to lay on me, son. But I know I was doing the right thing," she insisted. Zuko gave her a wary look.
He peered in and waved to his uncle and Iroh greeted him happily enough, but the look of restraint on Zuko's features told them he knew. Somehow, he knew what they had gotten up to in the spare time.
"Well, since the family's all together, I'll put some tea on," Iroh said happily. Zuko pulled a face.
"Thank you, uncle, but I'm not spending the night in this estate. I've already given my sentence to Azula and Ty Lee. I don't want to stay any longer than I have to."
Iroh almost dropped a tea kettle at those words. He flashed an alarmed look to his nephew who was still lingering in the door frame, Suki right behind him.
"And…what sentence is that?" The look on his face was interested and wary. So, he still had a surprise or two in his corner as Fire Lord. Zuko gave a neutral look.
"Gave consent to Ty Lee's request. Watch after Azula, but I will leave soldiers to report to me. Unchained or not, I don't want any more coups falling into my lap."
Ursa and Iroh shared a look and it pissed Zuko off to no end. They both turned to him and nodded. "Won't you stay at least a little and tell me how Kiyi and Noren are doing?" Ursa pleaded with her eldest child. Zuko shook his head.
"I really have to leave this place. But I am surprised you care how your husband is doing." Zuko chose his words with care. The look of crushing indecision on his mother's face was not gratifying in any way, but he had of course implied he knew what he knew. Another shared look between lovers and Zuko was ready to be sick.
"Of course..." Ursa murmured. She stood, holding her arms out. Zuko allowed her to press him into a hug. His shoulders slouched despite himself. "Are you going back to the capital now?"
"Ina day or two. To settle my affairs here." Zuko nodded. "Goodnight, Mother."
"Good night, Zuko," Ursa tried to smile for him but it was an effort. Iroh waved to his departing nephew.
"Good night, Lord Zuko," he called. Zuko didn't respond.
All the way downstairs, Zuko stewed in his own juices quietly. Suki signaled, and her Kyoshi Warriors followed. All of them piled into the two carriages as the imperial soldiers were left behind to watch the estate and ensure Azula didn't suddenly leave.
Suki signaled to the driver to take off and the carriage lurched off down the gravel driveway. Zuko leaned back in his seat, swaying with the carriage's movements. Two other Kyoshi Warriors were in the imperial carriage and he kept his expression neutral. He could tell Suki and her warriors were worried over his well-being, but after being rebuffed by his once concubine, he didn't want their pity.
He wanted to stew alone, and go home to his wife and child immediately. But no, had to play the smart game for the long-run and tack down Azula's ambitions. It would remain in the bedroom with Ty Lee it seemed and it gnawed Zuko's pride down.
Suki kept a congenial banter as the carriage continued on. After checking into an inn in the very next village, Zuko retired. After taking off his armor and clothes, he reclined on a settee in a dressing robe. He had tugged his topknot loose and long strands of hair ran down his neck. He covered his face with one sleeve, finally alone. Just before he could settle into a good cry, there was a knock on the door.
"My lord, Suki wants to recite a play of our history for you. At your convenience, of course. You need to take your mind off your troubles." The Kyoshi Warrior at his door wasn't well known to him but her kind smile told him all of them would do anything to ease his pain. Zuko was touched.
"Yes, of course. I hope she doesn't mind the casual garb." Here Zuko gestured to his robe. The woman laughed.
"We're all under-dressed, my lord. You'll fit right in."
Zuko was welcomed into the warrior's shared chambers. Suki stood at attention, in her sleeping shift, head dress and make-up still on however. She cleared her throat, and gestured to a few of the women to join her.
Zuko lounged back, and watched. He gave Suki a rueful look. She smiled back.
"Ladies! And Fire Lord." Suki gave a bow in Zuko's direction. "Delight in our recitation of the early days of the Kyoshi Warriors. In those days, only Kyoshi's wife and her sister-in-law traveled with her. Kyoshi's wife had been waylaid by bandits and she had been struck down by their ill intentions. Upon rescue, Kyoshi took her by secret route to the Spirit World itself to heal. When they emerged from that plane, Kyoshi's wife was pregnant and the next generation of Kyoshi's Warriors began…"
The recitation made Zuko's mind turn over in interesting ways. Obviously, anyone would take out of the bandit story that Kyoshi's child was a result of the bandits afore mentioned ill intentions toward her wife. Obviously, the past Avatar had made the best of a very bad situation. But in the dimly lit inn room, with his friend in her shift, painted face expressive as she mimed and spoke, her friends on either side posing at the proper interval of words, he wondered if there was more to it. Perhaps. Like the past Avatar's life, it was lost to years and years in between cycles.
One of the women beside him offered him a cup of sake and as Suki hailed her village's lineage to the past Avatar, everyone raised their cups in a toast. Suki knelt opposite Zuko and clinked her cup to his. The smile on Zuko's face was more genuine than it had been an hour or two ago. Inwardly, he thanked his friend.
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Tsung and Ying flanked Azula and Ty Lee as they walked aimlessly back to their chambers. Ty Lee's arms were around Azula's waist, holding onto her and Azula's arm clasped her tightly. She was unwilling to let go, even lifting Ty Lee a few steps should she not keep up.
"It's okay….it's okay… "Ty Lee whispered into Azula's shoulder. "I'm here."
The sad frown Azula flashed down to her made her heart ache. But a steady thrum of longing linked Azula's chi to Ty Lee's. She leaned down and pecked her lips across Ty Lee's as the Kyoshi Warriors opened up their bedchamber.
"I know," she finally could admit. The wide smile on Ty Lee's face warmed her. Zuzu was gone, he wasn't even staying at this manor, and Ty Lee had told him she was hers. Things would turn out…at the very least, today no one would end in a bloodbath.
As the Kyoshi Warriors sheepishly sidled down the hallway to find a new bedchamber, they left the princess and acrobat together. Ty Lee waved. Azula gestured to the threshold. She bent and picked Ty Lee up, carrying her inside. Ty Lee sighed with surprised glee. She clung to Azula's neck. Just as Azula set her down, a knock sounded at the open door.
Both women turned. Zirin gave a wry smile as she stepped in. She bowed to one knee before Azula. All of the alpha's past turmoil surged forth. How she had planned and pined for months on end. It all didn't seem important anymore. Not with Ty Lee's small hands twined round her neck. Ty Lee trembled against her. Azula ran her hand down her back, soothing her with her iron hard chi.
"Zirin. You didn't leave," Azula murmured. Ty Lee flashed the Kemurikage a worried look. Just when things were being set to right, it would be just like fate to throw Zirin into the mix and dash her hopes away.
"I could never leave you, Princess. After you've had your bit of fun, of course." Zirin crossed her arms and regarded Ty Lee with an aloof expression. "When you're ready to resume your plans against the Fire Lord, I'll be ready to go. Minus the omega, of course."
Ty Lee clung to Azula's back. Azula gave an annoyed scowl. "I'm not going anywhere without Ty Lee. You'd do well to keep that in mind, Zirin."
Zirin flashed Ty Lee a glare. She bowed her head to the princess. "As you say… will we move against Zuko?"
"No."
Zirin blinked hard. "No? Why?"
"Few know how the Fire throne is a pain in the ass," Azula griped. She made her words flippant. "Let it crush Zuzu's mind instead."
Zirin gaped at her. She looked like her whole world was plummeting. "But…..but…WHY? You planned this for years! We were on the road for months! Why!"
Azula glanced down at Ty Lee. She gave a shrug to Zirin, but Ty Lee knew her heart was in her words. "It's not that important anymore. I'll find my own great deeds. The nation will still know me for the stronger royal."
"I'd rather sing the praises of Fire Lord Azula," Zirin complained. "Princess, if you'd reconsider…."
"I'll think about it." Azula said. She gestured to the door. "Go….I want to be alone with my companion."
Zirin bowed low again. She closed the door firmly behind her. Azula patted Ty Lee's hip, let her go and sauntered to lower the latch across the door.
"Now…where were we?" Azula was startled to see tears in Ty Lee's eyes. Her large palm covered the omega's cheek. "You're here…we're here."
'Don't cry' were the words in Azula's startled golden eyes. Ty Lee smiled weakly and tried to reign in her tears.
"Is it Zuzu? Did he make you that upset?" Azula scowled. Ty Lee shook her head. Then Azula got it. Ty Lee's wording of giving her child up completely as payment for her transgressions. She missed the princess. That was all. "You gave away your child… for me."
Ty Lee wrapped her arms around Azula's neck, sniffling. When Azula's arms wrapped round her, lifting her feet from the ground, she fell into her solid embrace, crying. Azula patted her, murmuring against her hair.
"You'll still see her…whenever you want," Azula promised. The alpha need to protect surged through her. "Maybe I could help take your mind off of her…. Put you to rights."
'Breed her,' her inner alpha whispered deviously. Azula pressed a smear of hot kisses along Ty Lee's throat, opening the clasps of her tunic. Ty Lee shivered when her long fingers opened her breast band, and cupped one round breast.
"Yes…I know you will." The smile on Ty Lee's face was hopeful even as tears dotted her vision. Azula cupped her chin up and kissed the tears from the corners of her eyes. The gentle gesture made Ty Lee shiver more than any erotic stimulation.
Together, they shed their clothes and fell back onto the bed. The covers were kicked off and away as they got comfortable with each other.
End for now
End notes: Stay strong, my lovelies. This story could be winding down to an end but there is an impromptu sequel planned for the families. Like this, smash that button and do that review thing.
Most sincerely,
Pen 11/24/2017