The movements are second nature to Azula though the results leave a great deal to be desired. Rivulets of sweat drip down her back soaking her thin shirt plastering it to her skin. Every morning she has made a point to go through the motions but that's all they are now…just motions. Even when she completes the kata perfectly there is no spark at her fingertips. No fire running through her veins. No lightening under her skin.
This must be how Ozai feels. Defeated, alone, diminished. Losing the war hurts more than she thought it would. The sting lingers. Azula always expected that if she was on the losing side, that if she lost, that she would be dead. Actually she had always planned on it.
Azula lives though she can't say she is alive. This can't be living.
The Fire Nation is still powerful and strong. It is still the greatest nation in the world and the other nations bow down to it. That's not quite right. The Northern Water Tribe is scattered having their arctic fortress sunk into the sea. The Southern Water Tribe was nearly nonexistent anyway but for some reason they have been spared. He has some sort of nostalgia for the place it would seem.
The Earth Kingdom is all that really remains but with each passing day they are slowly being choked out as the iron grip of the Fire Nation closes around them. It is slow progress but not because it has to be. The kingdom could be easily defeated in only a few weeks, maybe less if he leads the attack personally but he doesn't.
It is the last vestige of power that Azula has: to keep his attention. If he is focused on her, then he is content to let his generals and admirals run the war.
It's not an easy task. It's not that his attention wanders; far from it. He has a hawk like focus on her, every move she makes, every person she speaks to. It is like an obsession he has with her, a jealous obsession at that.
Feeling the orange sun beating down on her, Azula stands at the edge of the training yard. This is as far as she can get from her personal guard without incident. It is the smallest hint of freedom she has in her day and she relishes every moment of it. Bending over she stretches the tired muscles in her legs.
Something catches her eye but Azula knows better than to react to it. Eyes are everywhere reporting her every movement. Sliding to the ground to sit and stretch again, she reaches out and gently pulls the paper to her.
It is small. Nearly too small to be noticed but it is uncrumpled and clean. It has been purposely left for her. Masking her movements as stretches, she unfolds it carefully on the ground before her.
You are not alone.
The words stare at her, as much a comfort as they are a mystery. There is nothing more to be had from the message though and she folds it back before slipping it inside her shirt to destroy later. It would not do well for it to be found even if it is as nondescript as it can get.
Azula casts curious eyes around her as she flexes her muscles. Nothing is out of place. Nothing more to gleam from this unusual find. Nothing more to give her hope.
A guard calls her name and her heart sinks at the notice that she has been summoned to their chambers.
Looking up at the blazing sun as it moves overhead, Azula makes a brief prayer to Agni that she really isn't alone.
OoOoOoOo
The servant girl is new. The green eyes are bright and hard to miss as she pours a cup of steaming tea. In the days Azula was the princess of the Fire Nation and Ozai ruled she would not have taken notice of the girl. Peasants were beneath her.
However, as Fire Lady Azula, she is starved for connection and she stares at the girl longer than usual. The woman is unpracticed in her task of serving. Something is out of place.
"Where are you from?" Azula asks mildly amused as the woman's green eyes flick up nervously.
"I am from Omashu, Your Highness."
Omashu had fallen ages ago, dealt a devastating blow that knocked old King Bumi quite literally off his feet and headfirst into the unforgiving rock that he was once a master of.
"How did you end up here?" A servant from the Earth Kingdom is rare. There is such a low view of the other nations that even in defeat they are still scorned.
"I was a gift." The woman demurs, eyes averted.
Azula contemplates this. "A gift?" Slavery has made a startling come back. Something had to be done with all the spoils of war. "A gift to my husband?" She asks already knowing the answer.
The woman nods but still doesn't meet her eyes.
Azula picks up her tea. "I am truly sorry to hear that." No doubt the girl was afraid that her duties would require something other than serving tea. That at least is something neither she nor any other woman at the palace has to be concerned with. "What is your name?"
"Jiao."
"Have you met him yet?" Azula asks, in what she hopes, is a friendly manner. Growing up as she did, social pleasantries often escaped her but her time travelling with the others during the war helped bring her out of the cracked shell of her childhood.
Jiao shakes her head but Azula can see the sliver of fear in the girl's mannerisms.
"Just keep your head down and you will be fine."
Azula sees the way the girl's eyes focus on the dark purple bruises that peek out from the arms of her silk dress. Reaching with her other hand the Fire Lady tugs the sleeve down to hide them.
"Don't worry about that. It seems that is an honor he only bestows upon me." It is the dark humor of the situation that helps her keep her sanity.
"It's worse than what I have heard." Jiao whispers.
Something about the way the green eyed girl speaks puts Azula on edge.
"What do you mean?" Her voice drops low. Anyone could be listening.
When Jiao meets Azula's eyes there is a confidence radiating from the woman that reminds Azula of someone she knew long ago, of a woman that brimmed with hope and compassion and saw the good in others. A woman that has long since been lost and swallowed up.
"You are not alone, Your Highness."
She isn't alone. Never alone. How can she be alone?
"Leave me alone!" Her anger is reaching a dangerous point and soon she will not be responsible for what happens.
"Azula, let me explain!" Aang calls, chasing after her and dodging the heavy foot traffic of the city.
"There is nothing to explain." Her words are harsh and menacing as she stalks away, slipping in and out of the crowd with all the stealth of a jungle cat.
If Aang notices the danger he is in, then he doesn't let on as he follows, using his Air Bending to catch up to her in an alleyway. Gentle hands on her arms turn her to face him.
"I had nothing to do with it. Please believe me." His gray eyes are so open and honest as he pleads with her.
Deep down, on some level, Azula knows he isn't to blame but a woman can only take so much. There is a decided downside to being involved with the Avatar, even if they try to keep their relationship under wraps.
"She was kissing you, Aang." Azula growls, eyes flashing with anger. Even if he was more a hapless victim in this, she won't let it go. Seeing another woman with her arms wrapped around him, lips on his, is the last straw on her already frayed nerves.
Azula knows she shouldn't make a big deal about it. This happens. This will happen. Savior of the world, Master of the four elements, and the last Air Bender does make for a rather romantic back story. Add in his charm and looks and it is a recipe for disaster.
"I didn't ask for it and certainly didn't encourage it." Aang wants so much for her to understand.
She didn't have this growing up. No one would dare touch either her or Zuko that way. No one would just walk up say hello and literally throw themselves at one of the royal siblings. Imprisonment and possible execution were wonderful deterrents to unwanted romantic encounters.
Azula looks away from the earnest gray eyes. The days leading up to the invasion are wearing on all of them. How she is meant to fight and be any good during a solar eclipse is beyond her. Without her bending, she will be, for lack of a better word, blind. The only upside is so will all the other Fire Benders including Ozai. However, she is sure Ozai already has his plans set into motion for the eclipse. Her father is wily like that.
"I just want this war to be over." It is a rare moment of vulnerability and one she is loathe expressing even to him.
"I do too." Aang says quietly as he steps in closer to her. Warm arms wrap around her pulling her against him.
Azula takes this moment to relax into him. "I don't like this." Being on the run is a different life. There are good times. There are bad times. Knowing she is doing what is right soothes her in the trying times. The man in front of her does too.
With one arm around her still, his hand tips her face up to his. "I want only you, Azula. No one else. It will always be you." There is such truth in his words.
Azula draws a deep breath. "What will you do when you face Ozai?"
Gray eyes hold hers for a beat before he looks away."I don't know."
It has become a point of contention within the group.
Kill Ozai.
Don't kill Ozai.
They fight and bicker about it but the Avatar stays above the fray. The final decision rests with him. There are times he feels alone and she can see it in his eyes.
He's the last Air Bender. He's the last line of defense. He's the last hope for the world.
Taking his face in her hands, she whispers against his lips, "You are not alone."
AN: This has three different parts to it. The first Azula is at the palace and it is after the defeat at Sozin's Comet. The second part is set around the same time frame...Yes she is Fire lady Azula at this point and is married. The third is before the Day of Black Sun when she is with the Gaang.