Good freaking Lord it's been a long time. I'm so sorry for how late this is. I've been really really busy, but now I'm not because I graduated YESTERDAY so as of right now, I have lots of free time and can dedicate more of it to this story.

And I do plan on finishing this, so never worry about abandonment.

I actually like this chapter alot...just cuz :3

Oh yes and I apologize beforehand for any misonstrued details. I had a computer issue and lost the entire plot outline for this story so this chapter involved lots of guesswork on my part.

And one more thing-I love all the guesses about Lady Grey.

They make me happy for a variety of reasons, but a gentle reminder don't take any of these characters at face value xDDD

Safe Haven

"You're timing is impeccable." Lady Grey greeted her softly, and ushered Toph into her room. The earthbender navigated her way around the masked ruler, and seated herself in the back of the room, taking residence in her normal seat. Behind her, Horatio drifted into the room and made himself comfortable at his master's side, leaning on Lady Grey's leg. This was a familiar situation they found themselves in-all assembled together, both monarchs facing each other- singularly focused on their goals, on opposite ends of the spectrum. Toph was painfully aware of the chasm opening between them. Lady Grey was going to ask for something outlandish and ridiculous again. It was an innate feeling of dread that told her so, a sixth sense of sorts. Last time she had been summoned like this, it was for Lady Grey to ask for help in freeing Azula.

She wondered what she'd be asked to do this time.

"General, there's something I need you to do." Lady Grey began tentatively-and Toph's expression changed from worry to one of oblique amusement. Her masked counterpart was predictable.

"Name it." She drawled lazily, stretching her arms out behind her head. She knew even if the request was eccentric she would end up acquiescing. She rarely ever refused her fellow ruler because her masked friend was nothing if not pragmatic. She operated within her moral limitations and only wanted to serve the people's best interests.

A selfless person...

If Toph cared about people that way-Lady Grey would be someone to aspire too.

As it was, she found her endless martyrdom and self sacrificing nature a bit...exhausting.

It was hard to rise to the occasion and do the right thing, when nobody else wants too. This post war era was not a time of ethical clarity. The line between good and evil was even more blurred than normal. Toph could barely discern the difference, but she made due because anything else would be foolish. She lived without regrets, and refused to accumulate any now. She would not have her life governed by past failures.

True to form, Lady Grey didn't waste time on polite idiosyncrasies, "General, I want you to go to the surface and stop the Dragon of the West. Send him home; incapacitate him; I don't care. He's becoming a menace. He has completely shut down two cities already. They have a curfew-No one can leave or enter. People's things have been confiscated, and their homes have been invaded without probable cause while he searches for Azula." With each word Lady Grey's voice seemed to lower in distaste.

Toph sat up from her languid pose, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I take it I'll be missing Ty Lee's funeral today then?" She said slowly, trying to understand the unorthodox charge directed at her.

"No." Her masked companion responded immediately.

"So I'll be leaving for this mission tomorrow?" Toph asked incredulously again.

"No, you'll be leaving now, and be back in time for Bane's funeral tonight." The masked woman explained patiently, and Toph imagined her to be smiling cryptically. Lady Grey didn't seem to realize the scope of the favor she was asking. She wanted Toph to cripple one of Zuko's most eminent forces in less than 24 hours, and then make it back in time for Ty Lee's funeral. What a daunting idea...Toph had an unwavering belief in her abilities, and her skill as a leader but c'mon- this was Iroh they were talking about. He didn't grow to be that old because he was stupid.

"I don't know if this is a good idea. The time table you just want is going to be hard to stick to." Toph complained with a sigh, exhaling an exasperated puff of air.

"I'm only asking for something this difficult because I believe you can handle it. You've been missing for almost 5 years General. Iroh won't be expecting you. You have the element of surprise on your side, and although we have fewer numbers, our men make a more dangerous task force than theirs. You molded them into a better team, and you are a better leader." Lady Grey said diplomatically. The depth beneath her words was not hard to discern. Iroh was competent, and a brilliant strategist, but Toph was adaptable, and a genius. If pressed, she could and would outwit the Dragon of the West.

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Toph admonished her lightly.

"It's not flattery. Can you do this?" Lady Grey poised the question like a challenge, halting the earthbender's inner musings.

The blind woman pretended to think about it. After a dramatic pause she grinned confidently. "I'll do more than that." Toph stated bluntly, a smirk dominating her face. "Since you're asking me to perform miracles today-I'll kill two birds with one stone." Toph held up two fingers, counting down her plan out loud. "Not only will I subdue Iroh, and his regulators," one finger fell. "I'll send a second group to circle back and find Bane's body so we can give her a proper funeral." Her other finger fell, and Toph made a fist, her sightless eyes glaring into ephemeral world of darkness she'd grown accustomed too.

"...Isn't that a bit reckless?" Lady Grey asks cautiously, doubt coloring her words.

Toph made a face. "Of course it is. The entire plan is suicidal."

"And you're going to do it anyway?" The masked monarch asked incredulously.

"Forcing Iroh into submission was your idea." Toph grunted, shaking her head. "Look-I see it like this, we need to make sure Azula doesn't fall into Iroh's hands. I can stop him. As you've pointed out I have the advantage of surprise, and no one knows where I've been the last five years. The shock of seeing me again, as an enemy, should give me an edge in battle. Also it should send Iroh back to Zuko with something to report, which would give one of our groups time to emancipate Bane's body." A small grin quirked Toph's lips. "Two birds. One stone."

"One problem." Lady Grey interjected smoothly, already finding the flaws in Toph's ingenius scheme. "Who is going to lead this second group?"

The earthbender frowned.

Bane was her second-in-command.

She hadn't found the time to replace her yet...

"Hrmmm." She hummed thoughtfully, picking through names in her mind. It was hard to discern who was qualified, and who wasn't to lead. She needed a person that was on a first name basis with most of the citizens in Safe Haven-someone who could use the skills of their unit in an organized and effective manner; someone who was adaptable, and willing to toil alongside the rest of their unit on and off the battle field. That eliminated so many people from the list, and to make matters worse-she personally had to know her second-in-command. She didn't want any subjugation problems, because on the field, her word took precedence over everyone elses-so now she had a dilemma. There was only one person that fit all of that criteria, and Toph was hesitant to name him.

"What about Aang?" Lady Grey asked after a moment.

Toph blinked, one slender eyebrow rising in belief and disdain. "Twinkle Toes?" She asked, her voice dropping in vehement disapproval. "You've got to be joking."

"He's not a viable candidate?"

Toph shook her head hastily. "No. Don't get me wrong, Aang is a one man powerhouse, but we're talking about leading a squad here-that takes more than good fighting skills. Aang hasn't truly been a leader on the field in years, and in this day and age, when people might die in battle- I dunno how useful he would be. He's not decisive enough."

"So who do you suggest?" Lady Grey asked seriously.

Even after ruminating about it for several minutes only one name came to mind. Toph rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "Navaro might be the best choice."

"Navaro? He's just a kid." The masked monarch reprimanded her sharply, and Toph's sightless eyes darkened considerably at her tone.

"He's not just a kid..I was able to lead a fighting force at his age...and we've already given him leeway to fight with us. Telling him he's too young now would be hypocritical. Honestly, the boy's got talent, and he knows everyone. The other fighters respect him, and even though he's young, he's hardly been exempt from things. I think he can do this."

"You're his earthbending master, of course you think he's invulnerable, but he still-"

"Lady." Toph cut her off, and abruptly stood up from her seat. "Trust me. Navaro is well suited for this, and he won't break from earning the position."

Only silence answered her.

Toph could understand the tumultuous thoughts burdening her friend. Sending children into battle was horrific. Navaro had accompanied her on missions before, but nothing like this. Something on this scale could be the catalyst for her protege, the turning point for him. It was one thing to experience death's touch vicariously through someone else. It was another thing entirely to stare death in the face. Navaro had watched Ty Lee die, and although he hadn't spoken about it much she knew it had marked him. Could he endure the idea of his own death the same implacable attitude? Or would he be irreparably damaged?

A weary sigh echoed throughout the room.

"Alright Toph" Lady Grey breathed. "...I want you to assemble your squads with Navaro, and leave immediately."

Toph smiled wanly. "Of course." She dipped her head in acknowledgment of the masked woman's words, and quickly turned to leave.

Once again, she'd gotten her way.

Was she in the right though?

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Journal Entry

'Zula, after you said you hated me-it was like I couldn't breathe. You took control of my life before the war, and my lungs were just another one of your possessions, just like my organs, my heart, and my mind. By saying you hated me, you took my oxygen away. You said I was the worst traitor of them all, so my heart stopped beating. I wonder if those organs would ever correctly again...and then I got a message...

"Ty Lee...C'mon what's wrong?" Suki asked softly, glancing down at the abnormally quiet girl in her lap. She gently stroked the acrobat's forehead, and tried to quell the uneasy feeling her gut. Ty Lee had been acting strangely for the last week or so. The bubbly girl was many things-she was sociable, optimistic, and she was a woman that was never seen without a smile. Except this week she was constantly frowning. It was like the last vestiges of happiness had been drained from her. All week long Ty Lee had been pale, avoiding people, and every conversation with her had been strained because she'd been uncharacteristically silent. She was an emotional wreck, and even those that didn't know her well had noticed. Ty Lee wore her emotions on her sleeve, and every warrior on Kiyoshi Island was aware of her despondent presence. Although no one had approached her about her disquieting behavior. Today Suki had managed to corner her. She'd never seen a gloomy Ty Lee before...it was unsettling. She'd asked her directly what was wrong, and got no reply. She tried the indirect approach by encircling the smaller woman in a tight embrace-hoping she could elicit some type of response from her. However, no matter how much she prompted her, the acrobat refused to divulge her thoughts. Ty Lee took one look at Suki's patient face, and the quiet concern there, and all but collapsed into the woman's arms. Suki had been lightly threading her fingers through Ty Lee's hair ever since.

Even now she was refusing to speak,

Instead of answering her, the acrobat buried her face further into Suki's side, but not before the Kyoshi warrior caught a glimpse of dull vacant eyes.

She shuddered.

Something was eating at Ty Lee-something big.

"Ty..." The question froze on her lips. The acrobat had visited Azula last week, and had been a shell of a person ever since. "Did something happen last week?" She asked carefully, pausing in her ministrations.

The despairing woman stiffened in her arms.

That was a yes.

"It's Azula isn't it?" Suki murmured the inference with a fond hint of exasperation. With Ty Lee it could only be Azula. The acrobat was always gravitating towards the former princess, always unconsciously drifting closer to her even when Azula was out of reach. It was fascinating, watching someone so carefree, so guile-less, pine after a woman who had very little regard for humanity, and the world around her. One could only wonder if Azula felt the same pull with the same intensity. The princess didn't strike her as the type to be guided by emotional impulses. Azula was cold. Azula was calculating. Azula was the reason Ty Lee was hopelessly lost right now...

"She said she hated me." The acrobat whispered, wincing even as the words left her lips.

Suki began gently stroking her friend's forehead again, as she tried to think of something meaningful to say. She was under the distinct impression that Azula hated everyone, but perhaps that wasn't the case. If Azula hated everyone with the same indiscriminate loathing she claimed to, than Ty Lee wouldn't be so shocked right now. Clearly Ty Lee had not been part of the vast majority of the population that Azula wanted to dispose of. From an outsider's perspective-They were an odd pair, not friends, not enemies but there was something disproportional about their relationship. Ty Lee treated Azula like she was Agni reborn-demurely following her instruction, and clinging to the stalwart belief that Azula was flawless. Azula herself, seemed to believe she was incapable of making mistakes, and that bled into her relationships as well. Her interactions with the people around her held varying degrees of contempt, and unrelenting hostility. Ty Lee was no exception; she'd seen Azula verbally decimate Ty Lee in passing, and all the bubbly woman did was smile. But even then, the fire princess was different with Ty Lee. Her sarcasm wasn't as biting, her mannerisms were not as cold. Azula almost seemed human in the acrobat's presence. Suki suspected that Ty Lee served as the former princess's conscience.

A harrowing job indeed, but one that the acrobat accepted with grace, and no small amount of ambiguity.

But that begged the question-what exactly was going on with Ty Lee and Azula now?

Was the fire princess serious about hating Ty Lee?

Suki made a curious sound in the back of her throat. "Well, I'd like to say she didn't mean it, but-I don't know Azula as well as you do. From what I can tell, she seems to always act and speak in extremes. She might not hate you at all Ty." Suki reasoned, her brows furrowing in thought. Comforting people was not a skill she was good at, and it didn't help that she still resented the former princess.

Azula was cruel.

Suki had endured days of agony, and pure undiluted torture at that vile woman's hands. Her body still bore scars she'd earned from Azula's fire.

Suki had never met someone that deliberately went out of their way to make people miserable, and Azula did so regularly-a self made sadist in her element. Ty Lee didn't deserve to suffer because of her. Innately, Suki understood that, but she also understood that her friend couldn't help herself where Azula was involved.

"No...It wasn't like that-" Ty Lee glanced up at Suki with glassy eyes. "Azula meant it." The acrobat murmured brokenly in a way that was so self assured-so certain it made a sliver of empathy creep through her. Having someone you care about, bluntly express their hatred for you was not something that was easy to swallow. She released a ragged breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Azula's just..." Words tumbled out to defend the fire princess, and Suki had to pause.

Azula was what?

Hurting.

Lashing out.

Being Azula.

Her tongue clicked thoughtfully against the roof of her mouth, and Suki focused her attention back to Ty Lee again. "Azula's trying to survive that's all. Hatred might be the only thing driving her right now." She said finally. It was guess she haphazardly threw out there in hopes of culling Ty Lee's terrible mood. However, it wasn't an inaccurate statement at all. Azula was most likely dealing with her incarceration the only way she knew how.

A snort, and then for the first time in several days Ty Lee laughs of her own accord. Suki didn't recall saying anything funny, but hearing the smaller woman giggle was such a relief she didn't question it. Shoulder's shaking with laughter, Ty Lee bonelessly slid from Suki's lap, her eyes twinkling in bemusement. At Suki's completely bewildered expression, Ty Lee only laughed harder, but eventually she settled on her side. Winded from laughter she glanced up at Suki. "That's such an Azula thing to do...focus obsessively on one emotion to get her through the tough times." Ty Lee rubbed her eyes tiredly. "She can be predictable like that."

"You would know." Suki smiled weakly, trying not to sag against the wall in relief as she felt the tension in the room dissipating.

She was feeling suffocated earlier.

"Suki!" The pounding of metal boots against the wood floors alerted her to her warrior sister's arrival a second before she said something. Suki glanced sideways towards the armor clad woman in the doorway, and after drinking in her expression-Suki's whole persona changed. She sat up straighter, and her lips thinned into a serious line.

"What's wrong?" She asked-suddenly all business while Ty Lee distanced herself from the conversation-staring up at the ceiling.

"We just got a message, from the Fire Nation." The woman, who's given name was Yumi reported dutifully.

"And?" Suki demanded, her expression grave. Zuko rarily ever sent messages, and usually when he did something insidious was in the works.

"They're still trying to iron out all of the details, but a group of people just made an attempt on the Firelord's life. The perpetrators were captured, and taken into the Palace prison while everything is being sorted out. They're being interrogated right now." Yumi finished speaking without taking a breath, and when she was done Suki had paled considerably.

An assassination attempt?

"Is Zuko alright? What about Mai?" Ty Lee bulldozed into the conversation, her hazel eyes filled with panic for her friends. Suki felt her initial shock over Yumi's words dissipating, and she shook her head. This was the most energetic she'd seen Ty Lee in over a week, and although the change was refreshing the circumstances surrounding the change were delicate. Her and Yumi shared a mutual look of understanding. Their was no concrete information yet, just vague descriptions that lacked substance. No one really knew anything because following an attempted murder, especially of someone in Zuko's position, the whole palace would be in a state of chaotic disarray.

"I'm sorry...I don't know anything more than what I've told you." Yumi murmured regretfully, unable to meet Ty Lee's demanding gaze.

Suki saw a plethora of emotions race across the acrobat's face: terror, worry, anxiousness-outright horror over what she had just been told. Ty Lee must be feeling overwhelmed after having one emotional calamity after another assault her. She'd almost lost two friends in the span of two weeks-Ty Lee never spoke of her real family, but Suki could read between the lines: Mai, Zuko, and Azula were Ty Lee's family, and right now she was terrified for all of them. Feeling the emotional turmoil, the acrobat was drowning in Suki calmly approached the smaller woman and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hey..we don't know anything definite yet. Mai and Zuko are probably okay."

Ty Lee shook her head, obviously not reassured. "What if..." The acrobat trailed off, her face taking on a sickly pallor. She clearly was thinking of the worst possible scenario.

Suki felt Yumi looking helplessly at her, the younger Kiyoshi warrior feeling horrible for being the bearer of bad news. Suki glanced between the two upset women before resigning herself to the most obvious course of action. Taking charge of the situation, Suki's grip slackened on Ty Lee's shoulder, and she stood up glancing in Yumi's direction. "Is the private airship that goes to the capital still in port?" She questioned, walking towards the door.

"Yes, but even if we use the ship, we can't enter the Palace since the assassination-everything's been locked down. No one can enter or leave." Yumi correctly guessed what Suki planned to do, and pointed out the obvious flaw in the plan. Suki wasn't really listening though. Whether they had to sneak in, or break in-they were going to the palace to check on Zuko and Mai. Locks and guards were just obstacles to go around.

"We'll make do." Suki said curtly, before glancing down at Ty Lee. "Are you coming?"

The acrobat blinked, completely lost. "You're going to the palace?" She asked, her eyes wide in wonderment.

Suki smirked a little.

Typical Ty Lee.

"No-we're going to the palace. You want to check on your friends right?"

Ty Lee nodded hesitantly, still in shock. "Yeah."

Suki extended a hand out for her. "Come on then..."

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'Zula I really didn't know what to think as I took Suki's hand and she led me to the airship. I was relieved the assassin was caught. I was upset that something like this happened, and I was terrified of it's consequences. The whole time we were in the airship I was thinking, What if Zuko was hurt? Or Mai? What if this was just a prelude to something worse? What if it happens again and they succeed next time?...Little did I know this was just one of many assassination attempts, meant to dethrone Zuko. People are persistent when they hate someone that much.

Azula closed the journal.

She'd only heard about the one successful murder attempt that took Mai's life. She'd forgotten that several failed assassination attempts occur before a successful one takes place. Multiple people tried to kill Zuko multiple times, and Ty Lee managed to recall the first time someone raised a blade against him. "It's a shame they didn't succeed." Azula smiled bitterly, and ran a hand through her hair. If they had-things wouldn't be such a mess right now. Her hands clenched into fists in her lap as she glared at her useless limbs. She wouldn't be a mess right now.

Toph had to carry her to a futon because she couldn't walk on her own.

Everytime she tried-and she tried daily, her legs would tremble, and then collapse bonelessly beneath her.

It was infuriating.

Willpower wasn't enough.

Pure relentless effort wasn't enough.

No amount of training would fix this.

Nothing she did would end with her recovering perfectly.

Instead she was forced to rely on abstract eventualities. Eventually, time would see to her recovery. Eventually, rest would strengthen her muscles enough for use. Eventually, she would be able to stop saying eventually because her body will have reconstructed itself. Not now though. Not today. For now she was stuck in this pitiable state, and forced to rely on people to help her, and not just any people-her enemies. The Avatar. Lady Grey. Toph.

Toph.

Her keeper. Her protector. Her antagonist. The earthbender filled so many roles in Azula's life. A lifetime ago they were on opposite sides-ready to end each other. Now Toph was a necessary evil, and she felt the earthbender's influence over every aspect of her life: Toph was there in the morning when she woke up. She was there at night when Azula went to sleep. The room the fire princess had decimated earlier was now fully furnished again, but Toph didn't stay in there. She stayed in Azula's room. Every night. It was a gradual process, acclimating to the eatherbender's presence-but in three short weeks she had. She was used to their banter, and the subtle way they accommodated each other to make things more bearable. She could honestly say that Toph was..tolerable. A nuisance, but a tolerable nuisance. If nothing else, Toph's saving grace was her senses that seemed especially attuned to her. The earthbender made sure Azula was never alone with her thoughts for too long. When Azula felt despair settling over her like a cloak-Toph ensnared her in a verbal sparring match to distract her. When Azula focused too intently on her physical condition-Toph was there with Kei's poultice reminding her it was temporary.

It was a subtle thing, but Azula knew exactly what the earthbender was doing: Toph was silently maneuvering her into a position where recovery was not just an option, but a foregone conclusion. It was strange having someone gracelessly shove her in a certain direction to help her. Usually Azula was the one in control, and she wasn't thrilled about handing over the reigns to Toph.

Bei Fong or not, Toph didn't deserve that sort of power.

But as much as it irked her to admit it, the blind woman did have power here and she was intimidating in her own way. And to make things worse, not only did Toph have power-she knew she had power. She was aware of her position in Safe Haven, and she carried herself like a monarch-a position Azula could intimately relate to. However, with power came pride, and an egocentric mindset. What made her want to kill the earthbender was Toph never flaunted her power unless she was with Azula. The earthbender purposely went out of her way to aggravate her.

After agonizing over why that might be-the fire princess came to one conclusion: Toph was still trying to push her.

Azula wasn't allowed to be weak in the earthbender's presence.

Toph wanted her to rise the challenge, and keep vaulting past the obstacles keeping them on separate levels.

That explained all the little things Toph was doing to irritate her-the constant jabs about her sitting around to be waited on like a princess again, the snide comments about Azula's lackluster behavior, and the little quips Toph came up with when she wanted to be annoying. She'd taken to calling Azula Sunshine, and Sparks just to get under her skin, because those were two things that Azula definitely was not. To be perfectly honest everytime the earthbender called her those names, she wanted to hurt her. Badly.

Toph never stopped being facetious.

Azula never stopped hating her for it after.

It was a vicious cycle.

And one she really wanted to escape from.

She missed the icy numbness that came with being alone.

Being surrounded by people, people with no devastating motives, or dastardly intentions was ruining her.

"Knock knock."

A fist pounded on the doorway, and Azula glanced up to see the Avatar entering the room. The sight of him made her sigh. He was still the same awkward, quirky boy she remembered from ten years ago. There were a few key differences. He was broader in the shoulders. Taller, and had a more distinguished look about him-but in essence he seemed the same. As if to illustrate her point, he sent a cheeky grin her way, and waved hesitantly. "Hey Azula." He said cheerily.

His chipper attitude was nauseating...

"Avatar." She said curtly, while sending him an appraising look. "To what do I owe this unpleasant meeting?"

He chuckled nervously, and took a seat across from her so his back was resting against the wall. "I'm not here to bug you. Toph just asked me to keep you company because Lady Grey sent her and Navaro to the surface for awhile. She's leaving now."

Ah, so the Avatar was her assigned babysitter for the day.

Fantastic.

Azula snorted unhappily. "And you couldn't go with her?"

A small break to breathe...but not one without conditions. She was now stuck with the Avatar for an indeterminable amount of time. He wasn't a scary individual at all, but his presence was tedious. He grinned a bit at her exasperated expression. "The issue Toph is taking care of was turned into a Safe Haven issue, and although I'm aligned with Lady Grey and Toph I'm not part of this place. I can't explicitly participate in most of the things they do. Otherwise I lose my ability to funnel them information from the outside."

"...You can't spy if the enemy suspects you of treachery in other words." Azula surmised his words with a frown.

"Yep." He said throwing his hands behind his head, and leaning back languidly against the wall. "And in this case, it works out for me because I've been meaning to talk to you anyway." His voice dropped cautiously as if waiting for a verbal rebuttal. Azula did grace him with a skeptical look, her amber eyes darkening to a dangerous hue. What could he possibly have to say that hasn't been said, or hinted at already?

She'd been here close to three weeks, and had no real interaction with the Avatar until today.

Azula thought she had already heard all the meaningless drabble, and false pretenses she could swallow.

"I can't exactly stop you from speaking." Azula groused bitterly, glaring at the monk.

He flinched a bit at her glare, but remained resolutely rooted in his seat."I was wondering," he began tentatively, and his hands came to rest in his lap, "How are you doing in all of this?" He rushed to elaborate when he saw her staring blankly at him. She was having trouble comprehending him. Was he actually asking her how she felt right now? "I mean how are you doing after waking up from a coma and finding out about all this? The Purging? Your friends? Your brother?" He met her gaze-unflinchingly this time, and Azula was reminded that despite what her instincts were telling her, this was not the same painfully inexperienced Avatar from ten years ago. He had grown exponentially while she had withered away.

After a very long and strained silence, Azula sighed wearily. "Does it matter?"

"Of course it does-" He answered seriously before she cut him off again.

"I mean in the grand scheme of things-Avatar," She cut him an irritated look. "What I'm feeling right now, has no bearing on the giant debacle you allowed to happen." She droned tonelessly.

The monk blinked at the lackluster response, and her flat accusal. "I allowed it?" He echoed her words, surprise creeping over his features. Azula doubted the man in front of her had thought through his afternoon when he wandered into her room. He didn't seriously expect to intrude in her personal space, and leave after having a heart-to-heart did he? Azula's feelings were her own prerogative-no one elses.

"You helped put that idiot on the throne, and then when things went wrong you enabled him to do whatever he pleased. Zuzu was never meant to rule. As you can tell, he's not good with power." Azula rolled her eyes, unable to mask her disgust with her brother.

Instead of looking surprised, or indignant-The Avatar looked amused at her words. "You're saying you would have been better with that sort of power?"

Obviously.

Azula smirked. "That goes without saying, Avatar."

A shadow of a smile crossed the monk's face before it smoothed out-signaling a shift in mood. "I think most would disagree. You ended up in prison. Your brother ended up on the throne. Can you really boast that you're the superior one anymore?" His words made her pause. He was voicing things she'd been suppressing in the back of her mind-notions that she refused to entertain or acknowledge. She'd been doubting her superiority ever since she woke up. She didn't feel powerful, and as much as it irked her to admit it-she might not deserve the throne either. In her current state, even if she devised an ingenious plan, and used a coup d'etat to steal the Fire Nation back from her brother, she wouldn't be strong enough to rule. It was a sobering thought, one that left her without anything coherent to say.

It was a sad day indeed when Azula was at a loss for words, especially against an Avatar that only recently gained the gift of incite.

"Look, Azula I'm not trying to patronize you." Now he says that? Azula scowled, but he continued on, oblivious to her impatient stare. "And I didn't really mean to touch on your ego. I wanted to ask if you were okay. Even if its you...the last few weeks must have been rough, and I know Toph doesn't exactly have the nicest bedside manner."

Her scowl only darkened at his words. When people spoke like this there was no hope of her understanding them. He was concerning himself with her like they were friends, instead of bitter enemies. "Why do you even care? I'm not one of your loyal companions that helped you through the war. I was the one that mercilessly toyed with you, and tried to hand you over to my father on a silver platter, and I would do it again without a second thought if the opportunity arose." She lashed out with words, the only true weapon she had, and had to cull her fury when he didn't strike back. He just smiled-in a familiar patient way Ty Lee used to in the face of her anger.

"I know you would." The monk said softly.

And just like that she was defeated. All the breath left her sails, and her shoulder's slumped sullenly. "You're all insufferable. Every last one of you. Like persistent scabs-everytime I rid myself of one, another patch tries to grow in it's place. No matter what I say or do, nothing drives you away." She complained earnestly, thoroughly fed up with the people here.

The Avatar had the gall to smile. "You're developing a fungal affection for us, aren't you?"

Azula sent him an unamused look, and he had the grace to look sheepish.

"Well, even if you're not, I can't help but empathize with you." He stood up, and stretched rolling his shoulders till a satisfying crack was heard. He glanced up at the ceiling, an absentminded smile creeping over his face as he reminisced about something she couldn't see. "I know what it's like to wake up and have the world completely different from when you went to sleep."

Azula frowned.

That's right.

The Avatar was gone for over one hundred years.

When he woke up-everything was different. She remembered the confusion, and the rage when she opened her eyes to an entirely different era, and had to wonder if the man in front of her felt the same things when he woke up. There were some key differences between their situations. She wasn't a twelve year old boy with the weight of the world on her shoulders, and she didn't have the luxury of waking up in a casket of ice. She was a wartime criminal-condemned by her brother, and alive by the grace of Agni. He woke up in the middle of a war. She woke up in the middle of hell.

He flashed her a knowing look. "It was terrifying wasn't it? Not being sure of anything? Not knowing what had changed, or who? And to make things worse you woke up a different person too, with a whole different array of problems." He gestured pointedly to her broken body. "Sometimes you wonder if it would be easier to go back into the coma..." He asked, ripping from her words she would never allow to pass her lips. Wishing for the coward's way out, for a hopeless escape like that would destroy her long before Zuko did. It appeared that on a primal level, the Avatar did understand, and to a much lesser extent he could read her.

"You're not gonna feed me some line about how it get's easier with time are you?" She asked, her voice dripping with disdain.

"No." He shook his head emphatically, an ambiguous grin firmly in place. "The opposite. It get's harder." Oh, that's marvelous, Avatar. In the future, when you get the urge to speak to me, don't-Azula thought venomously. "But-you're going to get through it the same way I did I think. I was able to acclimate because I had my friends."

Azula blinked.

Was he joking?

At her abhorrent expression, the monk chuckled. "I'm serious. Toph, Lady Grey, and I were all close friends with Ty Lee, and by extension you. We're going to make this as painless for you as possible." He said cheerily, and Azula felt something a kin to horror creeping down her spine. She had no desire to be friends with this man, or any of his other motley crew. They were irritants at best; liabilities at worst, and detrimental to her health either way. "And besides," He murmured softly, fixing her with a grave look, which subsequently made Azula tense at the sudden change in atmosphere. "Ty Lee's funeral is today, and we all need the support."

She was not at the top of her game today.

All traces of indignation faded at his words, and Azula deflated.

It had slipped her mind...

"Ty Lee." A gentle whisper; a slight caress of the acrobat's name from her lips.

Another part of her was going to be buried today.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Meanwhile...

Navaro followed his earthbending master silently through the darkness. She'd dragged him off from his meal, and thrown a travel pack in his face-demanding he follow her to Pao Chen-a checkpoint in one of the tunnel circuits. Apparently, they were meeting a task force there, and they were going to discuss a mission. That, however, did not explain why Toph was making them take the long way around, and wanted to speak with him alone. The acclaimed General had been silent since they left the outer boundaries of Safe Haven.

It was making him nervous.

"Are you going to tell me why you dragged me out of Safe Haven, down this dark creepy tunnel, where there are no witnesses, and no one can hear me scream?" He asked, finally breaking the silence.

Toph stopped walking abruptly, and he had to scramble back quickly so he didn't run into her. A low laugh resonated against the walls, and Navaro relaxed imperceptibly. She was laughing. Laughing was good. "Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out." Toph apologized in a tone that was anything but sincere. "I actually dragged you out here for a reason."

Navaro glared at her silheoutted form in the darkness. "Such as?"

Why was she stalling?

He'd known the blind woman for almost five years now, and been her apprentice for half that time. She never had a problem speaking her mind, or expounding her thoughts. Why was today so different? She knew he wouldn't overreact-just like she knew he could handle anything she charged him with. Toph knew everything about him- his personality, his feelings, his skills, his past-why he was an orphan, why he was terrified of the Fire Nation, and Zuko, and she also knew why he would do virtually anything she said..

Toph was like the older sister he never had.

He trusted her with everything.

And she treated him like family.

"Navaro, look- I know you were there when Ty Lee passed, and I know I haven't really talked with you about it, and I'm sorry for that. I need to be more attentive. It's just-you're so self-sufficient, that it's hard to figure out when you do and don't need me around for things...So, are you okay?"

Navaro thought about it. He remembered Bane's face, her oddly resigned expression, her last shuddering breath as she died. His breath hitched, and his hands clenched into fists. Trying to gather himself, his blunt nails dug into his skin, and he used the pain as a focal point. "I'm fine." He lied, his voice coming out shakier than he'd like.

To be perfectly honest, he wasn't fine.

He hated himself a little.

He was right there, and he let Bane die, not only was he unable to save her, he just left her there. He felt it was necessary at the time. He couldn't carry Azula, and Bane, but understanding how practical his decision was at the time didn't stop the guilt from plaguing him. He should have been stronger. He should have been faster. If Toph was there, she could have saved everyone, but she was clearing the path underground so they could leave without being followed, or detected. Bane's death was on his shoulders.

"You're a terrible liar, kid." Toph informed him, and he winced at being caught.

No one could lie to the General.

"I'm not...happy about what happened. Bane-didn't deserve to die like that." Navaro told her with a grimace. It was a fact, and an admission all at once. He couldn't force himself to tell Toph how useless he felt.

"I think if Ty could have chosen any way to die, that would have been it. That girl loved Azula more than life itself." His earthbending master paused, before continuing on in a much softer tone of voice. "Her death wasn't your fault." She surprised him by correctly guessing his thoughts. "There's nothing you could have done."

"You don't know that!" The ferocity of his surprise startled them both, and he realized he just yelled at Toph of all people. But once the words were out, he couldn't stop the rockslide of insecurities from pouring out of him. "If I had gotten her to you, or if I had seen that Azula was about to get attacked I could have done something. I could have done anything, instead I just stood there."

He felt a hand descend upon his head, lightly patting him. "It wouldn't have mattered. If her wounds were as severe as you led me to believe, moving her would have killed her anyways, and even if you had managed by some miracle to drag her over to my location-I don't know anything about healing. She would have died in my care as well, and let's say hypothetically you did see Azula in danger what would you have done? Would you have taken that hit for her? Then you would be dead too." Each word felt like a needle probing deeper into his flesh. It hurt more than anything being told that no matter what he did, Bane would have died. "You did what was best Navaro...and that's why I need your help now."

What?

Navaro blinked. "I...don't understand. I got someone killed."

Toph's voice cut through his self-defeating logic. "No, you kept someone alive, and made the best possible decision with the resources you had available. In spite of Bane's death-Azula is alive because of you, and I need someone with your head to lead a mission today."

Her words warmed him, and terrified him at the same time.

What was he supposed to say to that?

His earthbending master still believed in him, even though he had very little confidence in himself right now. "What do you need me to do?" He asked finally, his hands unclenching so they relaxed at his side.

"The Dragon of the West has been on a rampage, looking for Azula. Two cities have been placed under martial law already, and he's en route to the third one. I need to send him packing back to the Fire Nation because he's getting closer to Safe Haven, and if we don't get rid of him now he will be a real problem later. If I stop him, it will give Zuko something else to focus on besides Azula...However, since Ty Lee's funeral is tonight I decided we should kill two birds with one stone. I need someone to go and get her body-A group that will either carry her back here, or bring her ashes back so we can lay her to rest the right way." The hand on his shoulder fell away. "I want you to lead that group."

"But aren't there guards everywhere where she is..." He frowned remembering Zuko's edict about Bane. The Firelord set her on the edge of the Fire Nation for the crows to feed on, and placed guards around her so no one interferes.

"Yes, that's why it's dangerous, and it's also why I need someone I trust to take care of it." Toph said lightly, and Navaro wished he could say her trust was justified, but he just didn't know.

At the same time even if he thinks her trust is misplaced, how could he say no?

He was worried, but it wasn't in his nature to back down, and he definitely didn't want to disappoint Toph.

He'd rather try and fail miserably, then not try at all and end up always wondering.

"Alright, I'll do it." He agreed hesitantly, and even in the absolute darkness he could feel her smirk.

"Excellent. Let's do this then."

And we're done. The next chapter shall be up in awhile. I'm not going to say when because I clearly can't stick to timelines. I decided to give Navaro some perspective time since I feel like I haven't expanded on his character enough even though he's so very important to this plot. Anyways. Comments? Questions?
R and R and thank you for patiently waiting for the update. The next one is going to be fairly long because I have to hit the palace, the journal, Iroh and Toph, Navaro and Bane, as well as Katara...

So look out out for that.

Laterz My lovelies.