Avatar Chapter 11
I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender
It was a wondrous day, in fact more than wondrous and a certain acrobat was cartwheeling down the halls and humming tunes in celebration. Ty Lee knew she had never been this happy, ever.
It had been a week since she confessed her true feeling to Azula, and seven wondrous days since Azula had returned them, sort of. Ty Lee expected that Azula was not going to instantly proclaim her love for her, but none the less they were a couple now. In secret of course as Azula did not want her father to find out which Ty Lee immediately agreed too, it was sort of downer but she then saw it as a plus as it added another dimension to their relationship.
Their relationship was odd, Ty Lee knew she was being for more daring then she should be in private with Azula; light pecks on her cheek, hugging her all the time, shoulder rubs. Azula did not seem to mind and she even tried to be romantic at times, tried being a suitable word.
Yesterday Azula commented that her hair was radiant like a flaming projection shot from a warship, Ty Lee supposed it was the thought that counted. Azula never tried to initiate anything physical so far but in a very Azula like way she was trying, Ty Lee's heart swelled when she caught her girlfriend reading children's stories for tips on how to be friendly to people.
Outside of their chambers however it was business as usual and Ty Lee made sure to tone down the joy of being with Azula all the time, the Princess had explained to her that she herself did not know how their relationship could turn out. And Ty Lee understood, Azula was the Crown Princess and heir to the throne and thus would be Fire Lord one day.
It was expected of her to marry, though Ozai was still strong and healthy so she would not be pressured anytime soon. None the less there were already suitors competing for the Princess attention, some were present at the New Year's festival. Ty Lee was not there at the time but Azula made quite an impression on them, it sent all of her potential mates running but that was life.
Ty Lee understood that this relationship was going to be complicated but she was always the optimist and hoped the future would bring good fortune. And the universe seemed to hear her plea as one of Azula's projects appeared to bear fruit, the work on the imperial railway.
Ty Lee remembered the pair of engineers behind it, one was a young man named Galizo Val Roh, his debt collectors called him Gaz for short, and his female companion Iza. Gaz was…odd, but he was a genius when it came to the Fire Nation technology, while Iza was the voice of reason, bodyguard, assistant and child hood friend.
Two months after Azula first came into the ministry they had approached her and Gaz had given a heartfelt and bizarre speech of the fantastic opportunity that this railway could bring. It had been envisioned by Gaz's uncle two decades ago but the logistics and funding did not come together, the project was too big and mechanical knowhow was simply not there, the project flopped.
Gaz on the other hand had an epiphany while eating a bowl of porridge one day and managed to convince Iza very wealthy mother to loan him a substantial sum to build a prototype.
After the prototype worked, to everyone's shock apparently, Gaz set up a meeting and dragged Iza, various models and diagrams to Azula's study to implore the Princess to give the project her royal blessing, promising that it would revolutionize all aspects of life.
After Iza punched him in the back of head to stop Gaz from hyperventilating, she apologized to Azula but repeated his plea in a more moderate tone. Ty Lee could not understand much of what the man said but it sounded amazing, being able to travel quickly from one end of the country to the other without needing an animal drawn carriage.
Azula had sat there in silence for a few minutes before wiring up an official declaration and stamping it with the royal seal. The eccentric engineer wanted to hug Azula but his assistant clubbed him with a think leather strap and she dragged his unconscious form out the door, not before bowing and thanking Azula.
That night Azula had explained that the potential of this project would change the world, the ability to travel with such speed and consistency was unheard of in the Fire Nation. Ty Lee remembered lessons from the academy, they learned that unlike the other people of the world they of the Fire Nation had to use knowledge, hard work and pure force to make a living.
They were not like the Earth Kingdom who build could homes and roads from the land itself. They were not like the Water Tribes who made build cities of ice and tame the ocean with a wave of an arm. They are not like the Air Nomads who could fly through air and cared for nothing below their temples.
They of the Fire Nation could not command the world around them; all they had was their fire, its warmth and light, their passion and desire to change. Azula explained that building this railway in the Fire Nation would be an enormous boon for the nation, and if it worked it would be started in the colonies where it would solidify their hold on the entire region.
Azula also confided that it was risky, the monetary and labour costs would be enormous and if it failed the consequences would be dire.
But now the first few legs of the project were complete, connecting some minor trading ports with interior cities or worksites in the northern part of the country. The plan was to start small and if they worked out every major city in the nation would be attached to the system.
And Azula was going to inspect every inch of the completed track and check on the building sights of those yet to be completed. It was a long trip to the northern edge and Azula planned to spend several weeks making sure the crowns investment was secure.
This meant they would be alone for long stretches of time as it was only them and a select few servants and guards accompanying them. Li and Lo were stated they would be coming too but would meet up with them about halfway through, something about Azula needing to learn about field governance and they needing to visit a certain retreat that children had no place in.
So Ty Lee was with Azula in the Princess's room helping to pack personal belongings, and resisting the urge to give her yet another hug. She couldn't help it, she was an affectionate person and every time she wrapped her arms around Azula or gave her quick kiss on the cheek she would see Azula's aura brighten, it was beautiful and kind of sad.
For such small things to make a difference was extraordinary but it also meant that Azula was, for a lack of kinder word, damaged. Ty Lee knew this, she probably had for a while, but seeing Azula at her weakest and learning about auras meant she could see obvious signs of it.
She could tell the character of someone quite simply now as all she had to do was watch the way their aura changed, whether in color or shape, its size, and it feeling. It was hard to explain and Ty Lee doubted she could describe it but she knew what he saw was true, even when she wished it was not.
Azula's aura on the surface was powerful, bright and vibrant colors were present especially when she was bending. But if Ty Lee focused she saw those pure black cracks just under the surface. They expanded whenever Azula messed up a form, slacked even slightly on her studies, thought of her mother or simply let the stress of her position get to her.
Ty Lee admitted to herself that she was not the brightest, biggest or warmest flame on the candle wick but she knew that her being with Azula was helping, Azula trusted her, probably more than she had trusted anyone. Ty Lee knew that if she had left that night on the balcony the Azula that was her friend from childhood would start to fade, and if she were to leave from now on…Ty Lee was certain that her Azula would be gone forever and replaced with the monster people thought she was.
There was absolutely no going back from now on and Ty Lee wondered if she had revealed her feelings too early but she made a promise to her Princess and Ty Lee as going to keep it.
"Agni's breathe, why won't you fit?! I will make you feel my eternal wrath!" Ty Lee looked over and saw Azula trying to fit a crossbow in her personal pack.
"Zula…why are you brining a deadly weapon with you." Ty Lee was not aware of any dangers in the area they were going, and since when did Azula need weapons.
"This Ty Lee, it our nation's finest personal weapon, hand held, accurate and it can be tipped with explosive jelly, I received it from a suck up in war ministry for my birthday and yet I have not fired it once." Azula was praising and yet glaring at the weapon that refused to fit into her pack.
"Okaaaay, and what are you planning to shoot with it Azula." Ty Lee asked with worry.
"Well I obviously don't know yet, whatever or whoever is unlucky enough to annoy me at the wrong time…don't look at me like that that I saw you pack that obnoxiously colored toy." Azula was now cradling the weapon as the way Ty Lee suspected she hugged her stuffed bunny-bear.
She smiled, Azula did have a soft side though it was buried within a hard layer of fire and condescension. "All right Zula we can put it in my pack if you want, we can it put next to Sir Fluffles."
Azula took a look at her own bag, stuffed to the brim yet organized brilliantly and then to Ty Lee's, a mess of random items with plenty of room left over. "How… you know what never mind here."
Azula placed the surprisingly lightweight crossbow in her hands and Ty Lee placed it right next to the obnoxiously colored toy Azula despised. Ty Lee turned around and saw Azula making a final check of her bag. Getting a sly smile Ty Lee silently stepped up behind her and wrapped her arms around Azula's middle, the Princess froze as she usually did.
"So Zuuuuuuula are you excited about our trip? I am, it will be the farthest I've traveled in my life and we'll be some of the first people ever to ride a train, it's so cool" Ty Lee smiled but felt that Azula was not totally paying attention.
"Oh, what, ah yes of course Ty Lee this is a momentous occasion that promises to be very enlightening, and, um I'm sure it will be very good for your aura…" Azula was stumbling all over herself, Ty Lee sighed.
She let go and walked around to look Azula in eye "Azula, sweetie, you don't have to be so nervous." Ty Lee leaned forward and placed a light kiss on Azula's cheek before once again wrapping her arms around her and resting her head on her girlfriends shoulder, Azula meanwhile had raised her arms and seemed to be contemplating what to do.
"Zula you know you don't have to try so hard, just put your arms around me, I promise it will be fine." Azula seemed to take offence "I know full well it will be fine, I am simply determining the best way to do this." The flustered Princess ended up awkwardly putting her arms around Ty Lee, as if unsure how much contact was optimal.
It very Azula like Ty Lee accepted, she was a prodigy who had to be perfect everything she did and was obviously doing the same here. Unfortunately physical affection, romance and anything involved in a social relationships was not her cup of tea and it showed.
Luckily Ty Lee was an expert on physical affection and quickly wrapped her arms completely around Azula, arms and all, in tight bear hug.
"T-Ty, it is getting hard to breath and I feel ridiculous so cease this infernal action, go strangle Sir Fluffles instead." Azula was blushing madly.
"Ok cutie" Ty Lee gave Azula one last kiss before letting go. She heard Azula mumble something about her pride and reputation but Ty Lee was content, the whole world could fear Azula but she would still love her Princess.