Chapter 8.

Disclaimer .I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.

Story- Set 5 years after the series ended. A young fire nation officer is given the task of watching after Azula .Can he succeed after others had failed.

It had been an hour since they had left the palace and yet Azula had shown no sign of slowing down. Due to the nature of their escape it would take time for Zuko to send out troops after them so it was best if she and Ando put fair distance between them and the palace. The sun had set and dusk was setting in. She looked over at Ando who looked deep in his own thoughts. Azula had half expected him to whine and complain about how risky and bold Azula's actions in their escape had been. And yet not one word from him, as if the young man knew it was no point in arguing with her and had accepted the situation he found himself now in.

Ando caught Azula looking at him and raised an eyebrow. The last words Mai had said echoed in his head as they ran. Though they might now be out of the palace and on the run he felt that his job was to still look after Azula. He would make sure nothing happened to the Princess but first it might be an idea to ask where they were heading, if Azula did have some destination in mind. Plus they would have to find a place to settle down and get some rest. Azula must have reached the same conclusion as she stopped and looked around to take in their surroundings.

"We'll stop here for a short while. Besides I don't think you've eaten yet," Azula announced as she reached into her bag and pulled out the wrapped food she took from the meal Ty Lee had brought her. She took half and tossed the rest to Ando who thanked her before digging in. Azula looked up at the sky trying to figure out which direction they should head in. For a moment it brought back memories of her chase of the Avatar and his friends the only difference now is that she was the one being chased after. Ando observed her quietly chewing on his food before swallowing it down.

"So what's the plan your highness?" Ando asked once they had finished eating. Now they had left the palace which in hindsight was the easy part; the real issue was where they could go. Word would eventually go out and wanted posters put up at nearly every small town or village within the fire nation. Dare they risk travelling outside to one of the other nations who most certainly would not be too excited by the thought of Azula suddenly dropping in unannounced?

"I thought I'd take a tour of the world, maybe drop in on your home town," Azula smiled and looked at Ando with a grin. This surprised Ando as he wouldn't have fathomed Azula would be interested in visiting a small village out in the colonies. Soon the two of them were running again as the moon began to cast its light down from the night sky. Ando noticed how the moon made Azula appear lovelier but kept that thought to him. Soon the pair of them reached a clearing which Azula felt would work as a place to settle down for the night.

"I'll unpack, you go get some wood for a fire," she told Ando who nodded and quickly went about his duty. Azula watched him running her eyes over him while unpacking. Perhaps Ty Lee was right that he was quite handsome but Azula didn't concern herself with such things. Soon a fire was blazing and the two sat apart watching it flicker and give warmth.

"I wonder if everything is fine back at the palace; we did leave a bit of a mess," Ando spoke, deciding to try making idle conversation. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to sleep with so much having happened and the uncertainty that lay ahead. Azula just looked into the fire as if peering deep between its flames. Zuko was probably sending out messages to every official at every posting in the Fire Nation. Reaching up Azula pulled off her hair clip letting her hair unfurl and drop down over her shoulders. She took one last look at the clip before flicking it into the fire watching as the golden clip began to melt.

"The palace was another period of time, so just forget about it," Azula quietly murmured as she then pulled a blanket over herself and turned over to sleep. Ando watched her as the fire slowly petted out until it was embers and the smoke drifted off into the horizon. Closing his eyes Ando drifted to sleep as the world turned around them. Daylight arrived and the warmth of the sun touched lightly across his cheek and the sound of birds in the distance. Opening his eyes Ando felt something brush against him and to his surprise Azula has there her head rested against his chest.

"She must have moved over in her sleep," Ando thought to himself, his heart racing unsure how he'd explain this if Azula woke up at any minute. Gently lifting her up he stood and slowly moved off to go find something for breakfast. Taking one last glimpse of the sleeping princess he quickly moved off to find some form of food. Azula opened her eyes and sat up yawning unaware anything had happened, so by the time he arrived back with a couple of small fruit he found on a nearby tree he was back with the food.

"Oh you're awake, sleep well?" Ando inquired handing her a piece of fruit. Azula nodded and looked round taking in their surroundings. After packing away their bags and changes into some fresh clothing the two set off. Neither of them spoke while they travelled until they happened to come by a small tavern at the end of a set of cross roads.

Let's stop here. I think a bed would be better than the hard ground for my delicate body," Azula said heading straight inside without giving Ando a chance to disagree. Walking up to the innkeeper she inquired if there were any rooms available. The inn keeper gave them both a look and Ando for a moment considered the possibility he might recognize them. Azula meanwhile decided to take the opportunity to make sure they would get a room.

"Please sir it won't be for long! Besides my fiancée and I missed our transport to the Earth Kingdom and are trying to get to the nearest port," Azula said in a soft small voice. Ando looked at her and merely nodded as the inn keeper had brought the whole story. He handed Azula a key and said the two of them could stay the night. She thanked him and nudged Ando into paying the inn fee from what little money he had. Once in the room Azula sat on the bed and smiled at her handiwork.

"I can't believe you lied like that!" Ando told her, putting their bags over in a corner. Azula laughed and grinned at him amused by his reaction.

"Please I've lied to better men than him, besides I don't think he would he brought we're related," Azula pointed out matter of fact. Ando could only nod in agreement and hoped that no one would inquire further. He did however point out to Azula that he hadn't been able to bring much in the way of money with him due to the rushed nature of their escape.

"I'm sure we'll find some way to get money by fair means or foul," Azula grinned and dismissed Ando so she could have a quick bath before dinner. Ando left her to clean up and then went to wait for Azula to join him for dinner. He carefully watched as people entered and exited the inn in case someone recognized him from any wanted posters that had been posted. Azula eventually joined him looking much refreshed after her bath and the two settled down to eat.

"You should ease up, believe me this would be one of the last places Zuko would believe us to be," Azula told him with a smile. Ando raised an eyebrow but said nothing as their meal arrived. The two ate in silence, careful not to attract any undue attention to them before returning up to their room. Ando noticed they had been given a room with only one bed and the thought that he might have to share with Azula, making him nervous especially with how he had awoken that morning.

"Oh hope you don't mind sleeping on the floor. I'm sure we won't be disturbed so there's no need for us to share and play to the cover story I gave," Azula stated pulling out an evening gown she had managed to bring with her. Ando was about to protest but she ignored him and went into the small bathroom to dress. Sighing he made do making a small bed out of a blanket and using the two bags as pillows. Azula entered the room and made her way between the sheets and lay down closing her eyes.

"Good night Azula" Ando called up to her as he blew out the light of the room lantern. He closed his eyes and pondered what lay ahead for them tomorrow. If Azula and he did eventually make it to his home village, how would he explain it? The whole engagement deal might not work with the folks back home, especially if they found out who Azula really was. Still the thought of being viewed as her 'fiancée' wasn't a bad thing he thought to himself .After all it was an upgrade from his position at the palace wasn't it? Ando then heard shuffling from over at the bed. Azula it seemed was having a restless sleep. Standing up her crept over to the bed and peered down at Azula who was gripping the sheets as she tossed and turned.

"Trust is for fools...I'm the real fire lord" Azula moaned and muttered. Ando looked at her unsure whether he should wake her or not. He then felt Azula reach out and grip his arm tight as she continued the battle inside her dream. Ando watched her continue to toss and turn until eventually she fell into a deep slumber, a single tear running down her face. Taking part of the sheet Ando wiped it away lightly from her face. Moving back to his makeshift bed Ando lay there staring at the ceiling. Azula did have her worries after all it seemed. Should he talk to her about it or keep silent on the matter?

To be continued...

Hey all .Hope you enjoyed this chapter and I really want to to say thank you to all those that have read and reviewed & favourite this fic it really means a lot and I really appreciate it . Hopefully I'll get the next chapter done quickly as I can so please as always read and review comments are welcome and no flames please .