Chapter Five: In the Shadows
Aang and Toph moved silently through the shadowed alleys of the lower ring, the air thick with the scent of decay and desperation. Nadir Palace loomed ahead, a crumbling monument to neglect. The building, once grand, now stood as a testament to the slums, decaying concrete cracked and worn, graffiti scrawled across the walls like scars on a weathered face.
As they approached, Aang pulled up his hood, hoping to conceal his identity. Even in the depths of the slums, the Avatar's presence could cause complications they didn't need.
They ascended the stairs, each step echoing hollowly in the empty halls. The silence was oppressive, the only sounds their breathing and the distant murmur of the city outside. Finally, they reached the fourth floor, stopping before apartment 438.
Aang raised his hand to knock, but Toph's quick gesture halted him. She wiggled her foot, sensing the vibrations beneath the door, then leaned in close, her voice barely a whisper.
"One behind the door, watching us through the peephole," she murmured. "Two to the right, probably not a threat. Two more to the left, at a table—sounds like Pai Sho pieces. There's a door across from this one... I think there are three people back there, but I'm not sure."
Aang nodded, steeling himself. At Tophâs signal, he knocked.
The door creaked open, revealing a gruff man with a hard, weathered face. His eyes flicked over them with disinterest before he spoke, his tone rough and indifferent.
"Fifty a hole, or all three for one-twenty." he said, voice dripping with casual cruelty.
Aang's blood boiled, his fists clenching at his sides. The casual depravity of the offer made his stomach turn, and the anger rising within him threatened to overflow. Sensing the shift in Aang's demeanor, Toph quickly reached out and grabbed his hand, grounding him with her steady presence.
The doorman's eyes narrowed, suspicion dawning. He moved to close the door, but Aang acted faster. With a swift movement, he airbent the door wide open, the force of it sending the man careening to the left, crashing into a table with a startled yelp.
"Guess we're doing this," Toph said with a smirk. She bent the earth beneath the two men to the right, securing them to the floor. The other three, including the doorman and the Pai Sho players, froze, realizing they were outmatched by the situation unfolding around them.
Aang's focus shifted to the door at the back of the apartment. His heart pounded as he approached it, dread coiling in his stomach. With a deep breath, he opened the door.
The sight that greeted him was chilling. Azula lay nude and battered on the ground, her body marred by bruises, cuts, and the unmistakable signs of Jactus abuse. The two men who had been violating her had disengaged, now standing against the wall, their faces pale with fear.
Aang's vision blurred with rage, his body trembling as the Avatar State threatened to take over. The air around him crackled with energy, and his arrow began to glow with a searing light.
Before he could lose himself to the fury, Toph was there, her hand on his arm, her voice calm and steady. "Hey, breathe. We've got this. She needs you to be strong, not spiritual. Let's just get her out of here, okay?"
Aang's breath hitched, the light in his arrow dimming as he let Toph's words anchor him. He nodded, the fury still simmering but under control. He turned to the gang members, his voice low and menacing. "Is this what you do now? Get women hooked on Jactus and then... this?"
The men said nothing, too terrified to speak, their eyes darting to the ground. Aang's disgust was palpable, but he knew there was nothing more to gain from them. Toph stepped forward, giving Aang a look that told him she'd handle Azula.
"I'll get her decent," Toph said. "Wait for me outside."
Aang turned away, unable to bear the sight any longer. Toph moved to Azula's side, her heart aching for the broken woman before her. She found a towel hanging on a drying rack, though it was far from clean. Still, it was the best she had. Gently, she wiped the dirt and blood from Azula's skin, then dressed her in a robe she found tossed in a corner.
"Come on, Azula," Toph whispered, her voice soft but firm. "We're getting you out of here."
Azula was barely conscious, her body limp as Toph helped her to her feet. But she managed to stand, leaning heavily on Toph as they made their way to the door.
"Aang", Toph called. "I need your help."
Together, they guided Azula out of the apartment. Aang's expression was one of grim determination as he turned to Toph.
"Wall it up," he said, his voice cold.
Toph didn't hesitate. With a powerful stomp, she sealed the apartment's entrance, trapping the horrors within.
"Let's get her to the Water Tribe consulate," Toph suggested. "They'll have healers there who can help, no questions asked."
Aang nodded, thankful for her quick thinking. As they made their way through the slums, Toph stopped at a nearby communication center, discreetly alerting the authorities about the walled-up apartment. But their focus remained on Azula, and getting her the help she desperately needed.