A/N: And she feels like home. If the shoe fits, walk in it, everywhere you go. Love and be loved. Read… and review!

Lonlhai Fire

[Winter/Spring 124 AG]

Winters in Ba Sing Se were proving to be arid, to say the least. Compared to the Fire Nation, they are freezing; to Republic City, they're frigid; Lanxi, they're good; and Kyoshi Island, they're brisk. Akola was winding her way around the back alleys of Southside, headed to the Base of Operations, the ends of her hair lightly brushing against her shoulders. She makes a mental note to cut it soon before it gets too long. Despite her being bullish on the weather, she dons her iconic red scarf all the same. She reasons that today is a bit biting, so in function, it makes sense. It also looks incredible on her.

She pushes open the door and walks into the warmth and is greeted by the old familiar sight of Jin sitting in the chair by the window. She's reading through some documents with her glasses hanging low on the bridge of her nose. When Akola enters, Jin looks up and greets the librarian with a light, half-hearted smile.

"You're up early." Jin mutters before going back to her papers.

"Yes, well, it's a big day. What with Siq's presentation and all." Akola replies, grabbing some fruit on the dining table.

In the few months since coming to Ba Sing Se and subsequently joining Jin's Southside group, Akola marvels at how much and how little she has learned about its various inhabitants. On the one hand there was Siq, where seemingly daily she was gleaning a new fun fact or pearl of wisdom. The young boy nearing adulthood has become her closest confidant and, while she would not dare admit it out loud, her dearest friend in Ba Sing Se.

Just yesterday, Siq became the first to learn that Akola was actually a fire bender. They shared a living quarters and he had set fire to the kitchen accidentally. By the time they were both aware and on sight, Akola had no choice but to bend the fire into embers. It was a choice of secrecy or homelessness. Surely, Jin and company would've helped out if it came to that, but in a fight or flight moment of panic, Akola saw the simplest answer and went with it. She trusts Siq to keep his mouth shut, and threatened him with mortal peril should he break that trust.

On the other end of the spectrum is Jin, who is an enigma. A woman of many talents, secrets, and mysteries. She doesn't trust easily and it's clear those within her inner circle are sworn by blood oath into secrecy. All of which is fine with Akola because she recognizes that she operates in the same way.

Nonetheless, Akola is curious. She isn't sure if Jin is a ruthless crime lord, like The Widow or The Dragon Empress, or just a benevolent, maternal, mastermind streetrat. Six months in the Southside has her leaning towards the latter, but the former can't be ruled out yet.

"That's right, you're going with him aren't you?" Jin says without looking up.

"Indeed."

"Do you know anything about this invention of his?"

"Not a clue. Haven't asked."

"Hmm," Jin makes a face. "I have and he won't even tell me."

A few weeks back Siq had sent a letter to The First Bank of Ba Sing Se with notes about an entrepreneurial enterprise of his. It granted him a brief, 30-minute introduction meeting last week with a representative from the bank, then another with a different rep, and now the opportunity to present his proposal to some high ranking officials. If things turned out well, they could invest in his idea and his whole life would change.

Which made it all the odder that he wouldn't share it with anyone. Akola had picked up that as a non-bender Siq was fascinated with bending and in particular fire bending. He has a hundred thousand questions for Akola after yesterday that she refuses to answer as of yet. He also has a mind for the sciences. Akola assumes he is marrying these two concepts in some way. Even so, if he wishes to keep it under lock and key, Akola will not intervene.

"This must be a great honor for him to get an audience with the first bank to be founded in Ba Sing Se."

"Oh, don't get it confused," Jin stops her. "They weren't the first bank. In fact, they've barely been around, what, 15 years or so now?"

"Hmm," Akola hums. "Shrewd decision on their part in that case. Could've fooled me."

"So who will be doing most of the talking?" Jin asks, putting her papers away and coming to join Akola at the counter. "The old, headstrong woman who knows nothing about the subject, or the boy genius who is as charismatic as that fruit you're eating?"

Akola laughs. "I'm just there for moral support."

"I reckoned." She replies with a shrug.

"Although," Akola says with a devilish smile. "In another life, I used to make presentations like this all the time to people with money."

"What were you doing?" Jin asks with a chuckle. She pushes her laugh to the side as she finishes her joke, "Threatening to kill them if they didn't pay you?"

Jin grabs an apple and bites in. Akola smiles meekly back at her. "Something like that, yeah."

"Ha! You're a strange girl, Akola."

"Please!" She flips her scarf around, "Have I told you how people used to call me the Lady in Red? I insist you call me such."

Jin laughs loudly at this. When it finally subsides she asks, "So, will you be attending the celebration this afternoon?"

"You really are confident in a teenager securing a loan from the bank."

"We're optimistic. We can party if he gets it, and cheer him up if he doesn't," she replies quickly. "And besides, there's a lot of that going around since you came to the Southside."

"What's that? Partying?"

"Optimism."

"I suppose."

"So you'll be there tonight?"

"Depends," Akola replies with a grin. "Do I finally get to meet your partner? The mystery person?"

"Why not call him my husband? You're the only one who insists on calling him my 'partner.'"

"I speak from a lifetime of experience where people assume I'm with a man, especially when they hear I'm married."

"Ah yes. Your own mysterious Ty Lin. When will we be meeting her? Seems unfair for you to finally meet my lover, but not the reverse."

"Maybe someday. But I insist, you first."

The door creaks open.

"Guess you'll have to come to the party to find out."

Aiwei enters the base of operations. He quickly offers his apologies, sounding still half-asleep, "Sorry I'm late."

"C'mon, Book Buddy," she says, grabbing another piece of fruit, this one for him. She walks towards the door he's standing at. "We've got work to do."

"See you both later tonight." Jin says as they exit.

"This just doesn't line up with what we've read so far." Aiwei complains.

The two of them are in the Southside Lower Ring Public Library, where Akola has been working for nearly six months now. They are surrounded by open texts at a table near Akola's station. She's the only one working today, but luckily it's not very busy. The job doesn't pay well but it pays enough for a woman with no debts, and who wants to spend her days reading and requesting books from near and far.

"I think it does." She replies simply.

"No, it doesn't!"

"Then why write this?"

"To get published!" Aewei explains. "They had to put something, so they just put anything using the same tired, educated guesses that their predecessors came up with. Maybe if you got some real books from the middle ring."

"I'm working on it, relax. I don't have much sway yet."

"You mean to say you suck as a researcher and librarian?"

"Alright, how's about this." She ignores his jab. "Why don't you review everything we know, or everything we think we know so far, as facts."

Aewei agrees. He pushes the books and notes all aside. He's been helping Akola for months on this project and he knows most of it by heart now. He recites from memory, "Avatar Asuna was from Ember Island, but is sometimes referred to as Avatar Akola. Why exactly? We're still not sure."

"Right."

"She, he, they were a late blooming fire bender."

"And as a result," Akola starts.

"And as a result, the world did not know they were the avatar for many years. And because they didn't know they were the avatar either, they didn't try practicing other bending."

Picking up from there, Akola adds, "At 16, they attended the Trials of the Dragons, where the Sun Warriors discovered that they were the Avatar."

"By 20, they had mastered all 4 elements."

"She, he, they married a woman named Mareen from the Air Nation."

"They learned lightning bending."

"And became The Spirit of Lightning."

"They rode a dragon named Song."

"Which inspired hope to all who saw them flying by."

"And then Monk Sanzin-"

"Uh, excuse me?" The two are interrupted by a woman who had been in the library, and now approaches their table. She apologizes, "I hope I'm not interrupting?"

"No, not at all." Akola quickly replies and moves away from their research. She takes the few steps through the soft light of the library to the main table. When she arrives, she looks up at the woman and is struck by her appearance.

Standing opposed to her is a woman with light skin, brown eyes, and brown hair. She's rather short, closer to Akola's height, and looks approximately the same age, in her late 30's. Her hair held up in a ponytail that descends with most of her hair, and bangs on each side, framing her face. She bats her massive eyelashes at Akola and then debuts a huge, magnificent smile. Her eyes narrow slightly with a knowing look.

"Are you checking me out?"

Caught in the act, Akola stumbles over her words. "Uh. Um, no!"

"So you're not checking me out?"

"Oh," Akola realizes that she means the book the woman is holding. "Oh, yes, sorry. I-"

"Did you think I meant something else?" She teases her.

"No. No. No, I," the former crime lord stammers. "Sorry. Please, let me check that book out for you."

The woman across from Akola continues to wear a mischievous grin. She adds, "This place is stacked. But you know all about that right?"

Akola can't help it as she feels her cheeks grow red instantly. "I'm sorry?"

"Since you work here and all?"

Akola is being teased. She's being teased! Openly and publicly, this beautiful woman has no shame whatsoever. She pays it no mind, knowing that Ty Lee would likely lean into this kind of moment, but nonetheless Akola feels a need to be honorable to her long-distance wife. She folds the book over and reviews the cover. She's surprised by what she reads.

"A Modern View of the Fire Nation?" She reads out loud.

"That's right," she says with a nod. "I skimmed it a little, so I'm gonna take it home. It skips right over Sozin and looks at Ozai and Fire Lord Zuko."

"Zuko?" She asks, eyes darting up.

"That's right," she replies nonchalantly. "His early childhood, his banishment. Helping the Avatar. Becoming the Fire Lord and his reign thus far."

"Agni," she mutters. "They're writing books about this stuff already?"

"It's been over 20 years since the 100 Years War ended. I'm interested to see what the historians say about my homeland."

Looking up again Akola doesn't stumble over her words this time. "Your homeland? You're from the Fire Nation?"

"I am indeed." She says with a genuine smile.

"What part?"

"Right on the border of the Earth Kingdom. Yanxi Village on Tanoshi Island. Right off the coast of Crescent Island, before you would hit-"

"Jang Hui Village, I know the area!"

"Oh, a fellow Fire Nation girl?"

"Yes. A few hundred miles west of you. Ember Island."

"Oh, excuse me, Rich Girl."

"Well, I mean-"

"No no. I've never known anyone from Ember Island who didn't come from money."

"Well, yes. My family was wealthy when I was a girl. But that was a long time ago."

"I see." The woman says, her eyes thinking a bit. There's a knowing look. "Any reason they disowned you?"

"Ah!" Akola stops herself. "I can't be telling all of my secrets when I know so little about you."

"Oh honey," she replies sweetly. "I'm as open of a book as the one you're holding in your hands."

"Ha!" Akola laughs. The bells above the library door ring as new patrons enter. She asks, "How about we start with your name?"

With that luminous smile and an outstretched right hand she replies, "I'm On Ji of Tanoshi Island. It's a pleasure to meet you…?"

"I'm Akola, the rich girl from Ember Island." She says, reaching the hand out to shake it.

"Akola!" A pair of voices yell in unison as they approach the desk.

"Agni." Akola mutters as the twins walk towards her station. "These two drunkards always have the worst fucking timing."

"Well, in that case," On Ji replies, taking the book from Akola. "I'm gonna head out. But maybe I'll see you around, Akola."

"Akola, you got any spare coin?" Bing asks.

"We'll pay you back next week, no doubt!" Beng adds.

Akola watches On Ji walk away. She had been eye-catching at first. Funny and flirtatious. But most of all, she was interesting and talkative about the Fire Nation.

'Ty would love her.' She thinks to herself as the fraternal twins descend upon her with their latest half-brain scheme to get more cactus juice.

"Thanks for covering for me, Sanae!" Azula shouts as she and Aiwei exit the library and into the sunny streets of Ba Sing Se.

She wraps the red scarf around her neck. She's in a rush, while Aiwei is only along for the ride. She wants to hurry back so she has enough time to take a bath before going to the big meeting with Siq. Akola is busy recollecting what a successful and excellent day that it's been between the research they got done and meeting a native Fire Nation woman too, around her same age.

They are a dozen steps outside of the library when someone catches her eye. Akola looks up and sees a pair of piercing green eyes trained intently on her. What's more is that they look familiar. She takes in the full features. A young, burly, bald woman with a thin, lightning bolt scar over her right eye. It stops her in her tracks when she remembers the woman. She had seen her only once before, nearly a year and a half ago, at a secret meeting where she was bruised and kidnapped in the streets of the Misty Palm Oasis. The women make eye contact and Akola knows that the bill has come due.

"Aiwei," she says to him. He stops and turns back, standing sideways. With a head nod she instructs the young boy, "Go on ahead. I'll catch up in a bit."

"Suit yourself." He replies and takes off without another word.

Azula takes slow steps, barely moving at all, until he disappears from view. Then she turns back to the woman and walks up to her. As she approaches the woman, they make eye contact. The unnamed woman turns and begins leading Azula further into the underbelly of Ba Sing Se. They walk on for about two minutes in silence, getting further away from the general populace. Finally, she slows to a halt and Azula takes the final steps to close the distance. She turns around to face the fallen empress, and steps aside, allowing her entry.

When Azula walks past the woman, she finds a barren street of Ba Sing Se's lower ring. She's not sure if it's barren by nature or design. She takes a step inward and then sees it. Jutting out into traffic ever so slightly is a Pai Sho table, and sitting at it waiting for her is the familiar man with no hair, but a full beard and sharp grey eyes. She strides up to him.

"May I have this game?"

He nods, extending an open hand for her to sit down. When she does, he tells her, "The guest has the first move."

In silence they set to playing their game. By the third move Azula takes a piece, but puts herself in a vulnerable position and ends up needing to retreat from her advance. Despite striking first, ultimately she loses pieces.

"No guards this time?"

"You complained of hostility last time."

"No fear of being struck down?"

"Now look who brings the hostility?"

They don't say anything for a moment as they both contemplate the board.

"You disappeared for a while there, didn't you?" He asks.

It's noteworthy to her that he didn't know where she was, and admits as much as well. She calculates her move. "Didn't you say something about no stones unturned?"

She takes a piece as he calmly replies, "All signs point to you being on Kyoshi Island. I didn't fret because I knew you just wanted to prepare the perfect gift for me."

She sweats but remains on the attack. "Yes. It's not quite done yet. I wasn't sure when you would come back for it."

He takes a piece and controls the center of the board. He grows hostile but his voice remains calm, "Or perhaps you hoped I wouldn't come back. Or that we'd lost you permanently in your new identity as Akola of Ember Island?"

She moves a piece. "After the Oasis, I had faith you could find me again."

"Do you enjoy it?" He asks with a hum. "This quiet life of yours?"

She looks down at the board and feels herself losing ground, quickly. She's desperate and afraid of making more mistakes. She is both afraid to answer and preoccupied with the game, the silence dragging on for seconds. Finally he speaks.

"Of course you do! We in the Red Lotus relish hiding in plain sight. And so I've realized something, Akola."

She moves and he counters before she can even draw a breath. "There's a threat to you greater than your friends and family and even yourself."

She stares at the board but he has her full attention.

"It's your anonymity. It's being resurrected. Nothing is a greater threat to the Dragon Empress than for Azula to be brought back to life."

She looks at a losing board and every avenue of attack and defense countered.

"So I was wrong in the Oasis; it benefits us both for the Dragon Empress to remain dead. So let's keep it that way, shall we?"

Azula gulps and doesn't reply. He examines a board where she has no recourse. Where she cornered herself with her own actions and inactions. He gloats.

"You know, you used to be deadly when the pai sho chips were low. But somewhere along the way you lost your edge. You became too focused on the present. You became nothing in the endgame."

He stands up and towers over her. She looks up into his cold, grey eyes. "I'll be back in the summer. Have your offering by then."

He turns to leave.

"What do you want from me? What more could I give you?"

He stops and turns back to her. He gives it a thought before settling on an answer.

"The Red Lotus has always had an appreciation for unique talents. Blue fire, lightning, rock gloves, smoke and shadows. I've heard rumors about the Lower Ring. They say there's a woman who has Seismic Sense. Do you know her?"

The legend is mixing up Aiwei's ability with Jin's face of the organization. Of course, no one outside of the Southside could know the truth. Azula considers her options. She lies.

"I haven't."

"Hmm," he groans. "Well, if you want to be left to your peaceful life, and you want the same for your wife, your brother, your little village, and everyone else you care about, then I suggest you find her before we return for the summer."

He begins to walk away but she pushes the chair out from under her, fists engulfing in flame.

"After this there will be no more, Xai Bau. I won't be held hostage by you in perpetuity."

He turns sideways to look at her. He scowls as he replies. "Why don't you focus on finding that woman first?"

With this he turns and walks away. In the blink of an eye, about a dozen, maybe two dozen acolytes appear from hiding all along the street and fall in line behind him. He had never been alone after all. It is a reminder of the strength and quiet nature of the Red Lotus. Azula watches them all go and struggles to accept what comes next.

Akola is slowly ambling through the streets of Ba Sing Se, headed back to her shared home, lost in a daze. She is replaying everything in her mind. The conversation, the threats, the demands. She thinks of Aiwei and what she will do. She is scared and worried and lost. So much is going through her mind that she doesn't hear someone running up to her.

"Akola! Akola!" The dark skinned boy from the Water Tribe shakes her out of her fog.

She looks up and into Siq's waiting eyes. He looks exhausted and anxious. He grabs her arm and starts dragging her in a different direction.

"We have to go. We're going to be late!"

"Oh," she stumbles over her words and drags her feet. "I don't know if I can still-

"Shut it, Akola. You're going!"

"I'm in no condition-"

"Best friends don't leave each other behind!"

Akola reluctantly concedes and falls into lockstep with him. He carries a satchel on his shoulder, filled to the brim with papers and books. He's in a hurry but glad to have his partner with him, and even a little smug after she tried to back out briefly. He decides to push her a little with some prodding questions.

"Alright, so I have some questions about your bending," he whispers that final word while looking about. They make brief eye contact while marching forward and then he adds, "I was reading today, and I've heard it said that some firebenders can also bend lightning. What about you?"

Akola, despite everything telling her not to, can't help but chuckle. She rolls her eyes and shoves him playfully in the shoulder. His exuberance for life is nothing short of contagious, and she can't help but to catch on to it.

"Okay, one more question."

The two friends wait in a stuffy conference room. They had dressed for the warmth of winter and now sweat in the heat of the small room. Akola recognizes this as a tactic of the powerful and manipulative. She has helped to assure Siq several times since entering that this is intentional and to not let his confidence be deterred. The exact advice and help Siq needed to hear.

"No more questions, your presentation is about to start."

His confidence has only led to Siq attempting to fill the silence with more questions.

"Okay, last question!"

"Fine," she concedes, although perturbed. "But make it quick."

"Do you have to do things with your hands to do the bending? Like, do you always have to make a motion?"

"I have to do something," she explains. "It's not like I can just summon fire or lightning without at least some kind of physical act."

Just as Akola finishes this sentence the door pushes open and in steps a large, older man. He towered over the room like a giant. Akola guesses that he is Fire Nation or Earth Kingdom, his skin too fair to be of Water Tribe descent. She thinks him twenty or so years her senior. He's dressed in an ornate outfit made with the finest material. He speaks with a low, gruff, and serious voice.

"Alright, let's get right down to it. My associates who have spoken with you have been impressed. But for ventures such as this one, they send me in."

"And who are you exactly?" Azula interrupts.

He takes a seat at the table and pulls out a notepad and quill. "Gaaler. Spelled with two A's, not one. Are you the inventor?"

"I'm not, he is."

"Then who are you?"

"She's my-"

"His consult."

Gaaler grumbles. "Very well."

"So what do you do here, Gaaler?"

"You're not the one asking questions today, Miss-?"

"Akola."

"Miss Akola."

"Well, I just surmise, given that you're the one they send in for big projects such as our own, and with how you're dressed, I wondered how much time we're wasting."

"Wasting. The only one wasting-"

"We'll present to no less than the Loan Officer."

Siq remains silent but his heart races as Akola plays the man like an instrument. He raises his voice and shifts his seat to face her, "I'll have you know I'm the Chief Financial Officer for The First Bank of Ba Sing Se."

"Thank you for introducing yourself, Gaaler, the CFO of this bank," Akola replies without the hint of a smile. "May I introduce to you, the inventor… Siq of the Southern Water Tribe."

Gaaler grows angry with the petulant woman but turns his attention to the boy.

"Well, Siq. Formalities and pleasantries aside," he starts with a side eye to Akola. "This is a serious venture that The First Bank is considering. You're asking for a large sum of money up front."

"I am." Siq admits.

"This is a lot of capital for an unproven project."

"It is." Siq admits.

"I'm not keen on giving lump sums to dark skinned boys who haven't even cut their teeth yet in the business world."

This insult ignites some fury in Akola. She rears up to interrupt the racist old man, but Siq gets the words out first. "Indeed. Yet here you are?"

Gaaler settles into his chair. "And yet here I am."

"Because the loan officers and advisors I've met with, who have heard from me and seen what it can do, they have all suggested you approve it."

Akola is disarmed at how shrewd this is of the young man. His tact and guile are not new to her in the last few months, but how adept he is at the game. How well he plays it, with natural talent. Siq flashes his bright, pearly whites and the room is lit up by them. He laughs a genuine, heartfelt laugh and addresses Gaaler. "So you want to meet with me and see it for yourself and know you and your whole staff aren't being gamed."

"Aye," he replies, his patience thinning. "So why don't you get on with it already."

"Excellent," Siq replies. He pushes his chair out from behind him and stands up. He stands at the front of the small room and opens his presentation. "Allow me to introduce you both to Lonlhai Fire!"

He quickly sweeps all of the papers on the desk into a trash bin and quickly posits two vials onto the desk from his pocket.

"None of these papers are important, yes?"

"That's right." Gaaler replies.

"Excellent. Now, behold, the beauty of-"

He pulls a third vial from his pocket, quickly uncorks it and pours it out onto the empty basket. He pulls from another pocket a match, which he swiftly ignites and drops onto into the basket.

"Now, hold- ah!"

Akola blinks and shields her eyes as it ignites. In the briefest of flashes of blue fire. She opens her eyes again and the fire is red, but she is certain she saw floom to life with blue fire–a sight she had never seen done before in her life outside of her own hands.

"This is," Siq adds with a smile. "The future of fire."

"Is it true?" Gaaler asks, suspicion and hope intertwined in his voice.

Azula resists every urge to not interject asking is what true. She gets her answer shortly.

Siq opens the first vial and takes a small swig. He slides it across the table. "Hurry now, don't be shy. It's simple drinking water. Both of you, don't delay."

Gaaler takes a sip then hands it to Akola. She sips and confirms the taste before sliding it back.

"Now, as it were, water extinguishes fire," he leads them on. As he begins to tip the vial over the wastebasket. "But what if it didn't?"

The water pours out steadily. Azula isn't sure if it would be enough to quell the fire, but it should've subdued it a bit. Instead, nothing happens as the fire continues. It might even rage on moreso, in spite of the water.

"Lonlhai Fire is the next evolution in fire based technologies. It can't be extinguished with water. If I had a bowl, I'd gladly show you how it burns on top of water, in fact."

Siq opens the second vial and pours it out. It looks like sand and quickly extinguishes the flame.

"My own invention, the formula for which only I know. Gone are the days whereby fire benders are shackled to the lot of life that they need to be hired for fire duties. Lonlhai Fire can assist with infrastructure and architecture. We can keep fires running throughout the winter for low income families and other destitute individuals. Light fires in the rain to keep people from getting sick. Many other magnificent applications."

He slides the wastebasket across the table so they can examine the inside. Akola confirms it's sand.

"You know this will ruffle feathers," Gaaler tells him. "Putting people out of jobs."

Siq recognizes this clear as day but has to secure the investment. It is life changing coin.

"I don't see it that way. Perhaps best of all, this frees fire benders up to pursue other passions in life. Instead of being living, breathing furnaces, they can seek out the arts and languages, or whatever their hearts desire."

Akola can't help but see the military uses of it as a weapon, and the danger of putting fire bending soldiers out of work, or rendering them obsolete in warfare. A fire that can survive water and burn on top of it, if used for certain reasons, could be a weapon of war. The ultimate weapon of war, outside of the Avatar themself. A part of Azula wonders briefly how different, how much better or worse things would be if Siq's invention had existed during the 100 Years' War. An invention born at the exact right time in history.

"Why 'Lonlhai'? It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue."

Siq stands at attention. The black skinned boy smiles his trademarked smile at them. He swishes his long ponytail out of the way. With a shrug he explains, "I was born in the Lonlhai Village, on Linlhao Island."

After some blank expressions he goes on.

"If you couldn't tell by my skin, and as Akola said earlier, I'm from the Southern Water Tribe. I wanted to pay proper respects. If this fire of mine is going to burn forever, I want to be sure people know the name of my home. Thus, Lonlhai Fire."

Akola is disarmed at his genuineness. He is himself fully and outwardly. She huffs and shakes her head as she smiles at the teenager who could be mistaken for a child.

"We would have an, ahem, very strict timeline on production. There can be naught an interruption in production if we're going to put this sort of money forward," Gaaler says, leaning in. His head dips and he peers up at the presenter. "Does that strike you with fear, Siq?"

Full of confidence and true faith, he replies proudly, "Absolutely not."

"Where's the formula for this?" Gaaler asks. "We would want assurances if you couldn't keep up with schedule."

Siq points to his head. "This is the only place where the formula exists."

"I was warned of this. Surely you can not expect us to pay you such an obscene amount of money and not have the formula in writing."

"Tell me, Mr. Gaaler, do you fear that I would run from such 'obscene amount of money?'"

Akola smirks. Siq continues, "You've seen it done. You know I can make it. There would be no benefit to me to secure the loan and run with it. Not when I can do more and make more with time, once the loan is paid back with interest."

"Indeed." Gaaler concedes.

A question comes to Akola so she interjects, "Do you fear the venture failing? Is that why you want the formula? Is that what keeps you up at night? Or do you have other plans for the Lonlhai Fire?"

Gaaler laughs heartily. "The only thing that keeps me up at night is owing someone else money."

After a pause Siq puts his hand out. "So what do you say, Gaaler? Let's both sleep easy from now on."

Gaaler contemples the boy. Akola is stunned by Siq's salesmanship and cunning. She is not surprised in the least when Gaaler stands and shakes with Siq to unofficially mark the beginning of their partnership.

The winter air is thick with the smells of smoke. Fires all around the lower ring as strangers gather together. The camaraderie is nice, but the body heat is nicer. Two good friends walk through the streets, chattering about the most exciting news to happen to the Southside in many moons.

"And what's the first thing you're going to buy with all of that money?"

"What do you mean! I'm using it for the business. I've already scoped out a space for rent, between Mama's place and that bar the twins like, it used to be-"

"Oh shut up," Akola admonishes him. "You know damn well-"

"You're right, I'm buying a house. I'm buying the biggest freaking house the Lower Ring has ever seen!"

The two start laughing hysterically just as they arrive for a celebratory party.

Far away from the revelers of Ba Sing Se, a woman warrior and her chieftain husband stand before a wall of string and pictures in Republic City. It's a web of connecting events and individuals. They have spent six months building it out and are no closer today than when they first settled on this objective.

The tides have been rocky, but not anything they haven't endured. In the deepest recesses of her mind, Suki fears the ends to which it will take to unravel the thread. She knows her morals will not allow her to sink so low. There is a higher road, there is assuredly always a better way to find what she seeks. Yet the more they dig, the deeper the earth breaks with nothing underneath.

Suki can't help but marvel at how complex and deep the empire spreads. It would be impressive if it wasn't so terrifying and frustrating. She wonders if the Dragon Empress had such a far reaching control. A quote echoes in her mind.

'"I'm sure. There was always more going on than I knew."'

A comforting voice cuts through the fog.

"Hey, hey," it gets her attention. She turns to her husband. His eyes like bright blue skies, his smile as warm as the sun. He nods his head. "I'm with you all the way. We're gonna nail this bastard."

She agrees. The Monster Powerful Being on Earth will not know rest until her digging is done. Keep going until the truth is unearthed.

"Speech! Speech! Speech" The crowd of mostly inebriated Southside revelers call out.

Akola spins a cup of cactus juice in her hand as she watches her boy-wonder climbing up on a table. She's never really one to drink, only doing so on special occasions. She reasons this because she's heard and seen it do more harm than good. Bing and Beng, for example, are fine people but their obsessive search after the next drink is not something she ever wants to find herself in. Besides, when you're covering up a lifetime of hidden tracks, it's best to not lose your inhibitions and speak out of turn.

Siq stands on the table now and turns to address all the attendees. He thanks them for coming and encourages them to eat and drink as much as they can. He's thankful for their support and excited about what comes next. After dragging this out, and weighing his words carefully, he steals a fleeting glance at Akola. She smirks at him and gives him a raised eyebrow. He nods.

"Finally, one thing I want to say about all of this. I know everyone is talking about the money and what I can buy and such, but that's not why I got into this. I really am doing this to help people."

This receives loud cheering and claps across the room. He acknowledges them and waits for it to die down.

"You see, before my parents passed, they taught me that when you have an astounding gift, you have an obligation. You must bring it forward. Not hide it from the world. Pretending to be anything less than your brilliant self, with all your abilities," he steals a glance at Akola. "It serves no one. It just makes the world colder."

He pauses, not for applause but to gather himself. The crowd cheers him on anyway. After they stop he finishes, "So here's to warming up a cold world. And here's to my parents from Lonlhai Village. To my parent here, Mama."

This receives perhaps the loudest ovation.

"And here's to the Southside!"

Akola knows that he was referring to her firebending, but the boy has no idea how on-the-nose his speech was for her life. What's more is despite all of their friendship and connection, she learned a little more about Siq tonight. She always knew he was an orphan, but she had never heard him speak of his parents before now.

"Akola." A warm voice cuts through her thoughts.

She turns and sees Jin. The benevolent and beloved Mama strides up to her, arms outstretched. Akola embraces her and holds her tight. When they part, Jin takes a step back and smiles. "So how much talking did you end up doing? Really?"

"None, honestly." She replies. "I nearly ripped the fucking bankers head off at the beginning, but once he got into his groove, there was nothing to stop him."

"I'm surprised but not entirely. He is rather smart about certain things. So was the invention as good as advertised?"

"It was. It might just change the world."

"Babe!" Someone calls to Jin. She looks over her shoulder and sees them coming. She turns back to Akola. "Ah yes. As promised, allow me to introduce you to-"

A familiar face approaches much to each woman's surprise. The fair skin and brunette hair and striking beauty appears before her for the second time today.

"On Ji?"

"Rich Girl?"

"Rich Girl?" Jin asks, confused.

"Very funny."

"It's Akola, right? Sorry, Babe, just a tease, that's all."

"You two know each other?"

"Oh yeah, she was checking me out today."

"Was she now?"

"First of all," Akola puts a finger up to Jin. "I knew you were a gender betrayer. I could smell it a mile away."

The three women all share a laugh. They enjoy each other's company and spend the rest of the night talking until the last partygoer leaves. Akola, Jin, On Ji, Siq, and eventually Aewei joins them. They share stories and jokes. Akola protects her secrets but for the night she lets herself be present with them. Fully present and just happy. It's blissful and some of the warmest she's felt since leaving Lanxi, at least in time spent without Ty Lee.

Azula knows that the Red Lotus awaits. She knows that they will not accept anything less than the young boy who sits with her.

'But for tonight, we can just pretend like everything will be okay.'

A/N: This chapter's OST is "Punching in a Dream" by The Naked and Famous. And finally, happy Tyzula Week to all those who celebrate! They announced Tyzula Week back in October. At that time I was on pace to finish Book 3 right around now (late December). After hearing about Tyzula Week though, I had to contribute to the prompts! So I pivoted away from writing Book 3 to write 7 one-shots, one for each fic. It was fun, and really exciting at the beginning, but by the end I was ready to be done & return to our story here. Right now I still have Chapter 7 done already, but this chapter is a better cut-off point for people to have to sit and wait for the rest of it. I imagine I should be done by late February, maybe sometime in March when the rest of Book 3 comes out. After I finished posting Book 2, I was in a bad place personally and with writing. I took a whole 6 months off from writing. But now I'm back and excited to keep writing Shattered Porcelain. I hope you've enjoyed this little Slice of Life style book. There's a lot coming as Azula tries to live her life, but with the Red Lotus (and others?) still haunting her. What's more, this was the perfect cut off point because I got to introduce you to my new sapphic rarepair! I call them On Jin. There will be a whole chapter later on dedicated to learning their love story. I'm so f*cking excited about it. I've been dreaming up this moment of debuting them so that ATLA twt and fans everywhere can see the potential that I see. Both women will have their own respective importance in Book 3 and each will have impactful moments with Akola/Azula. Gosh I am so, so, so happy and excited to share them and their story with you all! Okay, anyway, that's enough for now. I'll see you all later down the line!

Love always. Tyzula forever.

Notorious