Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Spark of War. Enjoy the 4700-word chapter. I do not own Avatar, Nick, Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko do.
Hao finally found a place to sit in peace. A hill that was away from most of the townspeople but close enough that he could spot most soldiers if they came in.
Even then? He felt off and he felt like he was in the endgame of something much larger than this. He had been exhausted… But it was no excuse for what had transpired.
Ty Lee sat next to him, kicking off her slippers as she yawned and then promptly flung herself into the tree next to him.
"Tired?" hao heard as he shook his head and then looked to the side.
"No… Just thinking, I have not seen you in a while, and seeing you now is…" Hao stated before Ty Lee hummed.
"Weird? Like really weird or medium weird?" Ty Lee asked before Hao hummed.
"Medium…. What are you doing out here? I did not expect anyone out here… Not even you, no offense." Hao stated.
Ty Lee felt silent and she knew more and more understandable with it at the end of the day. This was not something that she could deal with for now, knowing that she was totally in a very odd place in life.
It was… Nice, to see Hao despite the situation. She could not complain now and it was not like she had much to say or do, there was more to it.
Much of her life had been defined by her throwing herself around like a monkey, not knowing where would go, and not caring so long as it was away from where she had wished to be.
Plus? It was not like her troop master was very bad at his job. He cared enough to pay her and it all.
To be fair? It was not exactly something she hated as there was more to it than swimming through life like this, bloated like a fish and carrying way too much cargo for her liking.
It bothered her… Very much in its way at the end of the day. It is a very hard thing to truly admit for now. Perhaps in his way? Perhaps it could have been done with it for now as she sighed to herself, letting it all come down at the end of the day.
What little could one do to have fixed that now when such was said and done at the end of it and knowing exactly what to expect from it as it was said and done, not even when it came down to it now?
He was tired. Very tired now of what had happened, yet? He was a soldier; he had been one long enough to understand years between such things.
Whatever madness did he hold for it? It was going to end either way, even if it had to be broken into pieces like the shattered pieces of a vase.
Whatever little thing needed to be done? Well, that and that alone were not going to end up well.
Not that it could be excused for now and not that it was going to help much now when it was all decided for now and that would be good enough now for a good reason.
Ty Lee looked at Hao. She looked at her friend, knowing what was going on. She swung onto another structure and then looked to the side before she seemed to be dealt with.
There was more to this as she looked over at him, she glanced over at Hao who had been silent…. Very silent and very incapable of being dealt with now.
"I missed talking to you, Lee. I have not seen you since a few weeks ago and I almost thought to have to deal with death." Hao stated as Ty Lee looked over at him, pausing to think.
Hao hummed as she slipped off her slippers and leaned on the ledge she had been on, pausing to look at him only for her peak interest again to come.
"You are ok, right? Because I do not want you not to be ok… I want you OK." Ty Lee stated before she paused.
"I'm good, I'm very good," Hao stated with a smile at her. "What about you? Are you ok? Because I am trying to be." Ty Lee heard.
She hung onto her friend with a hug, pulling herself into his embrace and knowing she was okay here.
What little do they hold onto? It was harder and harder to figure it out as it was said and done now, there were a lot of things that needed to be dealt with for now… He was a lot more interested now as he was able to try and figure it down for now.
He was bored but he would manage, he would continue to let it all go out of the way to end. He was bored, too interested in what was good now.
He sighed and looked to the side and he clicked it into place all the way when it was all said and done for now as it was all said and done.
He had been able to put it through the mud now. There were a lot of details for him to try and deal with for now. Whatever he had to do? There was more to it.
He hummed and looked at her as she smirked and tapped at his nose playfully with it to the end of the day, knowing what was to come at the end of their days when it came down to push and to shove for now and for good reason.
Whatever needed to be done would be done, whatever needed to transpire would be, and whatever it was not going to do… No, there was a lot more to this, a lot more to it either damn way.
Whatever seemed to come was still too odd, far beyond what she had in store for it now and for good.
Ty Lee looked out over the city; it was clear beyond all shadow of a doubt that the people here HATED the Fire Nation but for good reason. She could see dozens of soldiers; all nursing burn marks or some manner of cut or scrap.
Hao noticed them well and looked at Ty Lee who frowned.
"Don't act like I enjoy killing people, Lee," Hao said. "You know pure well I don't," Hao stated.
She knew, she knew despite being a soldier that Hao had softened with time and he looked downwards at the ground, too interested and too unable to properly rectify it.
What little he did know was that this issue was far beyond them, far beyond them and it hurt to know such things were all their own making. It hurt to know that the war had spread like wildfire.
Ty Lee leaned backward, almost like a doll… One that could and would easily take someone apart. They were to try and find something and eliminate it, to tear it out and tear it apart, and to make sure it was not going to be done one way or another.
Ty Lee was not so stupid that she could tell he was lying, Hao was not good at lying when it came to her and something outside war. She knew him well enough to know Hao was bothered by everything and anything outside of their war and their pain.
She was not broken and she damn well would not allow it to be broken. Whatever was all done and dusted needed to be done soon and sooner. There was a pain there that needed to be done at the end.
"Whatever happens next? I want to know what is going to happen… Whatever happens? I want to know you are okay and you are not the bad guy." Ty Lee stated before she looked to the side, there was a lot more bad stuff to happen.
She could not fault Hao; Hao was not a monster. He failed and he was human which was one reason she was willing to fight and fight well, die well, and protect those under his watch as of now.
Hao was silent, there was no reason not to be and no reason not to act like it for now. He did not have the answers to all questions and he would not act like he did when push went to shove now.
Even if it was going to be hard to figure out? Something about it all seemed to be too chaotic to take seriously, there was always going to be some part of life that disturbed them, that forced their heads under the water.
Whatever needed to be done was chaotic enough and it would not be good enough for them to try and figure it out once more.
Ty Lee reclined against her friend, knowing that there was obvious chaos brewing in the skies, knowing that he tried his best and he was not trying to be a monster. Ty Lee was many things but she was not at all stupid when it came down to it.
There was something else on the mind as the two looked out and over the village. It felt… Nice, like there was no giant weight on their shoulders like there was no chaos… Nothing, not even a peep from them.
"You know the war is going to get worse if I am fighting in it or not in it, right? We are fighting to win which means not pulling punches, you pull punches? You die, you die? They do not care about what it takes." Hao said.
"I do… You are doing all this crazy stuff and worrying me but I am still going through all this stuff…. Every time you go off to fight in the war? I am scared you might… Not come back and stuff." Ty Lee stated.
It was not an unsounded fear and he knew it. they were fighting a war and he was one of the upper crusts, any intelligent officer would understand it for now and make plans to try and fight them at the end of the day.
This was not going to help and it would not be done and dusted, something was going to break, and it would give, eventually one way or another. The only problem was how it was going to be done and dusted.
She had been able to think of it for now as she paused to try and figure it, leaning on the wall before she seemed to try and figure it out.
She was too interested in what came next. She did not know what Hao would do nor did anyone when it came to it when it came down the line and she cracked her fingers and looked out at the rest of the village.
She was too interested in what she could be able to try and figure out what was going on when it seemed to be done as she paused to try and deal with it at the time being.
She was too interested in what was going on at the end of the day. She was not stupid, none of them were and none would ever be when push went to shove.
She sighed, knowing it was all such life and all such a skilled thing that needed to be addressed either way at the end of the day.
She leaned back, wiggling her toes as she leaned against her friend. She had known him for years and she had known just how he had been eager to figure it all out now, there was something else now.
She had been able to think, to act, and to deal with it for now and then. She did not want to think of it at the end of the day, she seemed to be thinking best when all was said and done.
She wiggled her toes in the dirt, knowing that she had been unable to think, pausing for a moment to grasp what had happened. She looked to the side, too interested in what needed to be done…
And would be done. She knew she cared for him, in her way and she knew more and more such ideas were easy to deal with for now.
She knew now, there was a lot to do and to see… Even in her interest? She was excited still.
Ty Lee felt her hands move on their own. She paused to think of the next move before she pushed her fingers up and into his mouth.
Hao chuckled as she pushed his lips into a smile, laughing as she paused to think, knowing what had come next before she thought.
"I always miss you, Ty Lee. I want you to remember that even if you think something might be going on." Ty Lee heard as she smiled.
She knew Hao was different and that he did not fear her. She could be herself and different for now.
There were a lot of things which needed to change, she knew that it was going to be different…. This war had been different when it came down to it.
Ty Lee looked at Hao, pausing to think for now what had been done and what would be done at the end of the day when it came down to it. She had to be better and she had to fight through the pain.
Even in fear could she admit she was not ready to let go; she did not want to let go if it meant losing something she wished not to. She was silent, knowing what was going on and knowing what would be able to be accepted.
She hugged herself to her friend, ready to see him fall from grace, that war would come and all would fall. She knew even he would not be able to keep the enemies at bay for like, they would eventually overwhelm them.
It scared her but she was not willing to submit, not yet and not to them, not when there was more to the story she had to tell.
It had to be over and it would be over, just not today and just not here now. All of it was going to be easier to see and do and it would not be over for now.
This was to end soon, though, at the end of the day, she did not know what was growing on at the end of the day. This was not what he had wished to let it all end for now as he brought the chaos down.
Ty Lee had been too eager to try and think as of now, she did not think too well of such a motive.
She did not at all think well of it and well of anything. Ty Lee had been too eager to fight and to find him, she had been too eager to find him now…. Whatever needed to be done? It would be done and thrown off.
She had been too eager, too thrown off and she looked at him with enjoyment as she and he watched the sunrise, both were prepared for the next part of combat… She was just not ready to try and fight.
Ty Lee hummed and she looked at Hao who was too silent, too thrown off when it had been decided for now, too much had been thrown to the side.
Ty Lee seemed to be tired though as she yawned, letting it come to a head sooner or later.
"You know plenty of bad things are going to happen before this is over, right? I cannot be the one they are going to come calling after." Ty Lee heard from Hao. "We both know that. I signed up for something beyond just service. I must deal with it." Hao stated.
Hao seemed prepared for what he had to deal with…She did know that Hao had duties to the people under his watch.
She poked playfully at his face and Hao chuckled and swatted her hands away as he knew exactly what was going on now.
She knew what Hao was doing and she knew that he was going to try and take the war out without bloodshed.
Hao had been eager to fight, he had been too thrown off, he had been tired and too unable to force change upon the army. The army he had was only one of several within the Fire Nation military.
She knew more and more about each little distraction as she wished to figure it out as of now. Ty Lee was tired; she was distracted and everything seemed to be right as rain.
Then both knew the battle would be getting out of control eventually. The pain he had been dealt would be growing more and more severe, she had not been distracted and yet she could not tell what Hao was doing when it came down the line.
Both she and Hao seemed to be thinking of what the next move wished to be done with it to the end. Hao thought of what to see and do as she paused to try and understand.
Perhaps neither of them knew the real answers. They hoped that it had been too easy to fixate upon when it came to such a thing.
She was silent. So was he, he was silent for a good reason and she was silent because… She did not know what else to say, to do, or even imply. There was nothing between them at all.
To be fair? She could sense his aura and he could tell she was different; he was always different. Hao did not try and lie or manipulate, not with her, he did not hide behind a mask and attempt to act like he knew all or was all or something.
It was not a joke; she knew it was not and it would never be.
Something about it was all too much and all too easily different. She did not even know much about him besides his name but she trusted him as she always did.
She reached out her long legs and wrapped them around him, pushing herself closer to her friend as she wished. She leaned on him and she realized that Hao was doing all he could to help her.
Yet? It was a lot harder to think of what was coming but she was curious as she paused to try and figure it out. Ty Lee as she seemed to think of it? She was too tired, too worn down, and beaten down when it came down to it once more.
Ty Lee yawned and leaned on Hao as she seemed to try and figure it out once more. Ty Lee looked to the side as she clicked to the side and then she paused for a moment.
She did not even know when it came down to it when it was all over and done. Hao seemed to keep growing when it was all now, she and he hummed before she looked to the side.
She wished to keep trying to figure it out as she wished to grow more and closer.
Ty Lee and Hao looked up at the sky. The setting sun was too interesting with something that she could have done with it as she looked around, realizing that both were thrown off, both were tired.
Hao spoke a few words as she glanced to the side as she wished to grow silent before she clicked her fingers.
"You, ok?" Hao asked before she looked to the side as she looked to the side, knowing as she wished to try and figure it out.
"You know, there is a lot more to trying to win than fighting this way…. I know, I have fought for a few years, Lee… I know how this is going to end and I am not interested in it now." Hao stated before he sighed.
He sighed and knew that whatever he had wasted on fixing it? He would be wasting on attempting to set it straight, all it does is remind them of the end, and for good reason, he cuts through it at the end.
Those were from her and for good reason, she had been too interested in it. Too relaxed, she knew that was coming and she could not have walked away fast enough as she clicked it into place… He was too done for now as he clicked it into place.
Ty Lee was too fascinated as of now and she thought too much of what was going on now. Ty Lee was too distracted and too confused to be able to speak.
"You know very well that whatever comes next? We are not going to be ready for it. They have the advantage over us when it comes to how we fight." Hao stated before he sighed. "The war is going to drag on, Lee. I cannot stop that, not yet." Hao stated.
She knew very well Hao had a point. A mere general could not stop the flood of pain and suffering that was coming, they could stem some of the tide but the idea of stopping it? That was different and it would remain different.
None of them knew for certain what was coming, it was clear the war that consumed the lands would be horrid and unrelenting, it would strike like lightning.
"I remember when you used to be a soldier who was just starting a few years ago." Hao heard.
"So do I. Things were different and they will always be different." Hao stated before he sighed, too tired and too unable to do more than relax.
It was nothing short of amusing, nothing short of tiresome. All of it? All of what needed to be done would be done and not once did she blame her friend.
He was a cog, not even a vital one. The Fire Lord did not care for his generals, only for results, which made things far harder than they needed to be.
To be fair? She knew Hao tried his best to protect the men under his command as she pulled herself closer to her friend, taking advantage of the fact Hao did not wear his signature armor.
To be fair? She knew exactly what was going on, exactly how well it would have worked out if he did something like that. It would not be easy for them to remain friends but as a friend?
She knew just how to swing things and how to make it work regardless of what needed to happen.
Hao was silent, far too silent for himself to think or even act. It was an odd little part of life, something that she did not even hold against Hao now, not that it mattered much now or at any moment.
Hao was too fascinated, far beyond the pale and far beyond the way he needed to act… There was more to this, much more than anything and he knew it, he knew it at the end of all such things and it became annoying for him and her in equal measure now.
The pain was something hard to stomach and very hard to control at the end of the day. Any further and it might break down.
She looked at Hao who was silent and she looked to the side. She and he both looked at one another now and for good reason.
She and he both looked at each other. She and he were quiet and they looked to the side, too interested in what was coming next.
Ty Lee wrapped her legs around her friend and pulled herself closer to her friend, too fascinated with it all at the end of the day.
There were a lot of things that would come down the line at the end of the day, she was too thrown for now and for good reason.
She and he were aware of how bad things were when it came to it as of now.
Ty Lee and Hao both looked around, too interested in the moment as she and he both looked to the side. Hao and she both thought of what was growing on their minds.
'She knows what is going on, she knows very well that it came down to it as of now… She knows I have my orders and she knew that whatever came next? What do I have to do? It will not be pretty; it would never be pretty.' Hao thought as he cursed.
He was angered… Why? Simple, there was just too much on his mind at the time being when it came down to it as of the time being… The more he pressed? The more he knew that this was not going to end well… They had a lot of things to figure out, he had a lot more to try and figure out now.
He was silent, very silent, and for good reason at the time being. She looked to the side, knowing something was becoming harder and harder when push came to shove… Something about it all became harder and harder to think… To her? it sounded a lot more like hard work.
She did not pity Hao, not when it came down to it as of now. There was something else about it all when push came to shove now, all of it was harder and harder to understand at the end of the day. Such was life.
Hao was a soldier and she was not, she did not know what happened. Ty Lee did not blame him for how he was, she did not blame him for being like this at all… If anything? It was harder to focus on now and for good reason.
All of it was out of their control anyway. Hao was but one general in an army of dozens, one cog out of several. All he could do was voice protest that would get shouted down anyway the second it became easier to deal with.
To be fair? It was easier to figure out something when there was less work on the line, they held onto too much to figure this out now.
Hao was silent and he was taken aback by it until the end of the day. She had been too interested as of now, far too much had been thrown aside…. Now? Now? He had a lot more things to do as she poked at him, prodded at him amused with each little second as of the time being. She thought of it now and a fraction of a doubt.
She was eager to think of it all. She thought little of it now and for good reason, for a good thing at the end of it all now.
She did not know what was going on, not now and not later… She of all people was too much for now at the end of the day.
Hao was silent, too silent now, too eagerly done at the end of the day… All of it became harder to think of at once.
She had been too distracted, too eager to figure it out now, and for good reason as she thought of it now and for good reason. She was too eager to think of it all.
Now? They held some measure of distraction when it came down. Ty Lee was eager to think of it all now when it came crashing down.
She hummed to think of it now. Ty Lee was eager to think of it now as she paused to think once more, she kicked her feet back and forth while she wished to relax more.
She thought of what was growing on when it came crashing down to it.
Ty Lee as she thought once more.
Author Notes
Phew. First chapter done! I want to point out that next chapter will be in 900-6500 and will be in 2-10 months. It will show more of both Hao and Ty Lee hanging out more and more and catching up. Until then, Lighting Wolf out