After the gliding test succeeded, Teo and the Mechanist started perfecting and adapting the glider technology. Especially after the Mechanist had gone back to the Northern Air Temple in secret to find the basis of his inspiration. They also started planning larger balloons, and started perfecting designs for larger aircraft. Though it constantly frustrated the two of them when the engineers took out the boilers and fuel sources and replaced them with firebending. "Even if it is manned by an entire crew of firebenders, there should be a backup!" the Mechanist slammed the workshop door in the face of the head engineer in charge of building the drill.

"Of all the bull pig-headed, small minded imbeciles they send me," the Mechanist wandered back to the large workbench. Over the years, the tables had been rearranged. Teo's small table had been upgraded to a much larger table that was easier for him to use while sitting in his chair.

"Dad just calm down. He's just doing his job the way he was taught. We can't all be visionaries," he chuckled, moving a magnifying lens in front of his face. "Hey dad, come look at this."

The Mechanist sighed and put his frustrations out of his mind as he looked over his son's shoulder. Teo was now fourteen, and when he wasn't with the Fire Princess, he spent his days in the workshop with his gliders and various other tasks that kept him occupied. He didn't often get the chance to fly, but he would always volunteer to carry important designs and messages from the workshop to the build site of the more complicated machinery. "What's this then?"

Teo fixed the magnifying glass to the end of a jointed arm and moved it in over the table top. "Hands free magnification! Which should come in handy for you, since you've got less than the rest of us."

The Mechanist laughed and clapped his son on the shoulder, "Good one. On the invention and the joke."

"I was going to make the run again today," Teo said, moving his feet to the floor and levering himself into a standing position using the edge of the work bench. His braces clicked and locked as he stood and he slowly shuffled his feet and edged around the table.

It wasn't a natural movement, but it did put him on a somewhat level ground when it came to the engineers. The people of the fire nation didn't excuse weakness. There were no cripples begging in the streets of the capital. Since he started "walking" and "standing", Teo had gained more authority as his father's assistant and Azula's personal servant.

The Mechanist watched his son hobble towards his glider. Thankfully they'd perfected folding the wings months ago, otherwise it'd hardly be convenient to carry the whole glider at all times. "You know, son, we could probably just attach a modified glider to the back of your chair."

"Maybe one day. But I'm... invisible," he started speaking, turning as he rested against the workbench. "Looking down is for the weak. Only those taller than your shoulder will be heard."

"Yes, I suppose I understand that. It," the Mechanist paused, knowing his son's frustrations. It hurt him that if they had lived anywhere else, Teo would be accepted regardless. "It isn't like that everywhere."

"I'm not invisible to the people that matter," Teo pushed off of the workbench and made it across the room to his flying gear. "You and Princess Azula are all I need," and Teo's smile showed that he didn't know how much the statement cut at his heart.

The Fire Nation had corrupted his son. The young princess hadn't used fear. Just the promise of friendship, even a hostile one, had meant more to Teo than anything in the world. And even if they escaped... if he snuck Teo out of here in the dead of night... his son would only resent him. How had he miscalculated so badly?

"I will be out by the balloon. I think I've got the auto-altitude adjustment figured out. I can't wait to show Princess Azula," Teo continued, despite the Mechannist's internal struggling.

The White Lotus had promised they would protect them from this eventuality. He needed to get a letter out. But now he couldn't even trust Teo to deliver it securely.

"Do you think she'll be back soon?"

"What?" the Mechanist snapped out of his calculations and looked at the teenager. He had grown so much from that fragile infant. Now when they both stood, they could look each other in the eye.

"Do you think the Princess found the traitors yet?" Teo repeated, pulling his goggles on his head.

"No," a new voice chimed in. "Not yet. But I will," Azula stood in the doorway of the workshop, arms crossed as she stared at Teo.

"Princess!" his son beamed at her and took a cautious step forward. The princess seemed taken aback. She had been gone for several months, and her presence in the workshop had been sporadic at best. This was the first time she'd seen Teo standing.

Azula looked from Teo to the Mechanist, "I need a balloon. And Teo's with me now." The princess walked up to Teo, looking him in the eye. "We're going to find my brother."

It didn't take long for Teo and Azula's personal servants to pack some supplies. Teo had even folded and stored his wheelchair in the corner. Azula hadn't been very specific to where they were going, or how long it would be. She just said they needed the balloon to pick up a couple of friends and then they would take her royal barge the rest of the way.

It didn't matter much though. This was the first time that he and Azula would be alone together for any length of time. Several thoughts swirled around his head as he prepped the balloon for takeoff. He already knew they were both too old to lay under a blanket, making up stories about dragons. He settled himself in the seat beside the rudder and rubbed his leg. He overexerted himself by showing off for his princess. He knew he should take off the braces now, let himself rest. But he knew Azula wouldn't tolerate weakness. And he didn't want to be left behind again.

"Are we ready?" Azula asked as she settled into the seat opposite of him.

"Whenever you are, Princess. We have enough supplies for a week."

"Good," she nodded, waiting as he stoked the furnace that fed the balloon, causing them to rise. He felt her eyes on him as he cast off the tether rope. "You're twitching."

Teo looked down, frowning as his legs were shaking. "That... happens sometimes."

He didn't notice her leave her seat until she knelt in front of him, undoing the buckles of his braces. She'd never touched them before, but she had watched him put them on and take them off enough times. "I can't use you if you hurt yourself so soon into our mission. No more walking unless I say so. Is that clear?"

"Y-yes Princess Azula. I'm sorry," he let her tend to him, not sure what to say to her tending to him.

"Besides, I don't know if I like that you're taller than me," she remarked as she resumed sitting on the bench across from him.

"I grew over the summer," he said lamely. "Where are we going?"

"To meet some friends. But first, we need to go to the circus."

~ For those reading, thank you. I hope you're enjoying my story so far. I believe this has been my favorite chapter to write so far. Also, I think this is the only Teo and Azula (Tezula? Azo?) fic on this site. I've tried to make it realistic, even though it is still, at its core, a crack pairing. ~