It was stifling. Not Fire Nation fleets burning acres of earth kingdom land stifling, but close enough. The aftermath of war had settled long enough ago that most citizens of the world could see a bonfire smoking in the distance and not ready the nearby military armory. Yet it wasn't long enough to not be remembered by those who grew up or Aang's case unthawed during the times of Phoenix King Ozai's reign.
So much had changed since those times, yet most things remained the same.
Now the beacon of progress as some called it, Republic City, stood high as a testament of social progress. Yet, even this carried the stress and weight of those founded it. The mountains of paperwork stacked higher than the tallest steeple on a desk against the window, overlooking the city was another testament of this.
Aang had not touched any of it since a week ago. He did not care to answer the calls of the citizens and city council members looking for their avatar to solve the smallest disagreements in the newfound city. The thought of looking at the print brought a headache almost immediately.
Instead, Aang held onto his two-year old son, Tenzin as if to use the toddler to shield him from an incoming onslaught. The baby did not seem to mind his father's selfish intentions and cooed sweetly in a neverending game of patty-cake. As he made Tenzin "roll over", circling his chubby arms about and "put the cake in the pan", Aang thought on his new role of politician.
Just another title. He thought to himself.
If there was anything he hated more, it was titles. He never wanted to be the avatar nor did he want this new role, but found himself carrying both on his shoulders. Any form of escape would be good right now, but with Katara taking on her role of mother and Water Tribe head of state, Sokka being Head Councilman and Chief Warrior, Toph as Chief of police and reluctant mother and Zuko as Fire lord, the avatar found his duties to be lonesome and permanent.
He knew better than to ask more of Katara, the woman had enough on her plate as it was, but he would be lying if he said he didn't miss their solitude most days. He loved his children and their life, but something was missing, something...exciting or personal. He wasn't quite sure of it yet.
"I'd better get to work," the man told his son, kissing him on the cheek.
As if on cue, an air acolyte entered the room, bowing first before asking, "Should I dismiss young Tenzin away, Sir?"
Aang wanted to roll his eyes, but he knew the air acolyte meant no harm. It was Zuko who so graciously allowed several former fire nation palace servants to follow him as a means of good will and a birthday gift.
Katara had been thrilled for the extra set of hands, so Aang would have to be content with it as well.
After Tenzin was taken away and he was left alone, the avatar stared towards the leaning tower of pamphlets with a cold eye as if his greatest adversary would vanquish him in a matter of seconds. He often wondered how Zuko could deal with this day in and out. The fire lord's attention span was trying at times, but he rarely, if ever, missed a deadline as Aang so often did.
Taking a seat at his desk, the avatar decided to write a scroll to his friend to ask for help. He knew Zuko would be more than willing to, but it pained him to write the words. When he finally finished after nearly an hour, Aang retrieved a messenger hawk.
Maybe I should ask in person. He suddenly thought instead. Anything, to take him away from staring at those scrolls again.
It did not take much convincing for Katara to agree to his plan and he found himself on Appa before the sun could set behind his beloved city. The trip to the Capital City would take less than a day by air and sure enough by morning the next day, he had landed to the screams and surprise of several of the city's wealthy inhabitants.
Pulling the reigns to signal Appa to land in the middle of the palace's square, the bison groaned, making a quick landing at which Aang gave him some nuts that he had loaded into his staff. The two were greeted by the palace guards who were much friendlier in today's peaceful times.
"May we escort your bison, Avatar?" One of the two men asked, after bowing.
Aang nodded, bowing to them as well despite the looks of shock on their faces at the gesture. After the men left, Aang was readily greeted by several females garbed in Kemurikage gowns and masks.
Not again. He thought, readying a stance, stopping short of blowing a whirlwind of air when one of the ladies laughed haughtily.
"Trust me, if we wanted to attack you, we would have done it, Avatar".
"Azula?" Called Aang, recognizing the voice immediately. The woman said nothing further, however, instead stretching a manicured fingernail towards a nearby palanquin with several waiting men to carry it.
"The fire lord awaits," Another woman said.
Aang shrugged off the gesture. "No thanks, I'd rather walk, but what are you all doing here?"
The women did not respond, instead using their signature smoke to blind the avatar and disappear as quickly as they appeared. Aang decided to ask Fire Lord Zuko upon seeing him about the women who had terrorized his city before. A part of him hoped that he was daydreaming everything.
"They are my newest line of defense. Think Dai Li meets Fire Nation," announced Zuko with an apathetic shrug when Aang asked the burning question. "Azula used her knowledge of the Dai Li's ways to protect our nation".
The avatar thought over Zuko's words, a chill running down his spine at the idea of Azula's style of protection. He did not question the fire lord further, instead immediately bringing up his mountains of pamphlets in his home office.
"How do you keep up with everything?" He asked the ruler.
Zuko gave him a look of sympathy from his place on the throne. With a wave, he stood with Aang following him quickly to the balcony that overlooked his kingdom. Lighting a cigar, Zuko leaned an arm on the railing.
"My sister," he finally revealed when they were completely alone.
Though, Aang knew he couldn't have been talking of Kiyi, he asked to be sure, "Azula?"
Zuko nodded in affirmation. " She works from the shadows. Without Uncle, I needed her more than ever".
Now Aang was concerned. Just how much control did Azula have over the Fire Nation, or the throne?
Sensing his friend's thoughts, Zuko added. "It's been years, Aang. Years since the war. Everyone has changed. Including my sister. Maybe she could help you?"
That was where the story began. Something so innocent as a request for help had led to this. Meeting Azula again was like seeing the beauty of the heavens spread before a doomed soul like a buffet. And the avatar became completely aware of the fact that he was indeed mortal. A weak man with selfish tendencies. It was the perfect recipe for disaster. What started as months of intellectual discussions and the lowering of the mountainous paperwork, led to hours of sweat-filled nights in his office. Pale legs trapped around his waist and ruby paint covering his neck.
It was only a matter of time before he gave in. Needless to say that the fire lord would be pissed at knowing exactly what the princess of the fire nation was doing to the avatar on a nightly basis and Katara would be hurt beyond repair if the news ever reached her. Yet, neither the princess or Aang gave it much thought.
Suckling her pale neck, Aang groaned deeply as she squeezed around him. Azula drove him mad most times whether they were intimate or not. Yet, her vulnerable moans in his ear was just what he had been missing. He watched her move with the slow, methodical ways of her prodigious bending and held tightly to her hips.
This had become routine to them. Whether in her old bedroom or his office on the island, they found each other in the most intimate of ways. Aang knew exactly at which point the princess had reached her peak. As usual, she grasped his shoulders, steadily moving back and forth with choking cries, biting her lips to stop herself from alerting the whole temple to their antics.
"Yessss," she hissed as always.
She was close. Aang prepared himself to catch her when she collapsed. He would always be selfish when it came to Azula. Almost...there... Her breathing hitched, legs trembling before she whined and let out a devastating, silent scream that only one man witnessed.
Afterwards, Aang held the princess like one of his children and kissed her sweaty forehead before they drifted off to sleep.
Naturally, all things came to an end and Azula left him as quickly as she had entered his life. Like the lightning she wielded, she had transformed into the wife of one Zuko's generals. Leaving Aang in dismay at how quicky and suddenly she had abandoned him.
Katara had noticed her husband's increasing irritability and often wondered exactly what the princess and the avatar had been up to well into the morning hours during Azula's brief stay on Air Temple Island. She paid the matter no mind, though was happy to see the princess go when the time came and even happier to know that the princess had been wedded with motherhood shortly following.
Zuko had been like a kid in a candy store when he discovered that he would be an uncle and invited everyone to the palace to celebrate the baby's first birthday. Reluctantly, Aang decided to go. Anything to escaped the new mountain of pamphlets on his desk since Azula's sudden departure.
"Welcome!" Called Lady Ursa upon seeing the family, waving an eager hand from beside her eldest son. Her other arm was curled around a small bundle that was no doubt Azula's new addition.
Aang seethed, hoping the jealousy did not show on his face as he helped his own wife and children from the bison.
"Sokka and Suki are inside already," stated Zuko, his face radiating as if the child came directly from his loins.
Katara hurried to hug both the fire lord and his mother, though Aang lingered some distance behind.
"Congratulations!" Squealed Katara, cooing at the little bundled Ursa held. "He's--" Aang noted the pause and strange facial expression his wife held.
Though she was a genius at the art of not showing her true feelings at times, he had learned how to read her. Something was wrong. He wondered if the baby was deformed. A part of him held a vicious hope that the child looked nothing like his mother, it would be too much.
"He's, he's beautiful," Katara said with some crack in her voice. "Just...beautiful. Azula is really...lucky".
Aang heaved, teeth nearly breaking. He wanted to return home. He did not want to share in the happiness that his former mistress had obviously found so readily upon leaving him.
"He is," replied Zuko. "I had tried to talk Azula into giving him an Avatar blessing," he added with a wink in Aang's direction that seemed more like a tease.
Did Zuko know of his feelings for his sister? There was no way he would be so calm about it as this. Aang felt as though his legs were being held by bolders as he dragged his feet towards the others, his children filing close beside him.
When he reached Ursa, he dared to peer into the woman's arms, surprised at what he saw. Azula had indeed given birth to a beautiful baby boy, with a head of dark brown hair and...gray eyes. Shocked, Aang looked from the baby to a still faced Katara now standing behind Ursa.
"Yes," the waterbender answered for him. "That would be a great idea, Zuko. As a matter of fact, we would love to congratulate Azula and her new husband in person".
Part one of a little Kazulaang tale I've been meaning to write. A bit of jealous Aang in the mix which was difficult to write actually. I'm feeling good about this one.
