A/N: New Chapter! Getting a bit more Percy and Azula. I've unfortunately had a bit of a slow writing process recently, so there will definitely be chapters weekly (unless stated otherwise), but nothing faster than that.
Anyways, hope you enjoy the chapter and as always, let me know what you think of it!

Word Count: 4711

4. Reciprocating Help (The Princess Has Way Too Many Problems)

Azula walked back through the trees to the clearing. Once more, she saw Percy slaving away over the tree stump. And once more, she was startled by the normality of his position. Only this time, he didn't even seem too surprised or worried about what just happened. His pet ostrich horse curled up off to the side in the shade of a tree, one eye poking out looking at her.

"Did you come here to help? Or are you just going to keep staring again?"

The princess heard the teasing in his voice, but couldn't deny the irrational urge had just to say yes and begin helping. She felt she didn't have control over her voice at the moment.

"You need help?" Was that… complimentary? What am I doing?

Percy did look intrigued by her question. She might've said it with a little too much admiration. The deep voice was screaming at her, but around the presence of this boy, it seemed to lose all dominion over her brain.

"Everyone needs help, princess. It's just a matter of whether they want to ask for it." Percy stopped his arms mid-swing to look at her. "Or they're just too prideful."

He smirked and just went back to his work. Azula felt a smile coming to her face and it seemed way too natural, one she couldn't stop. The boy seemed very aware of how to deal with people who let pride get in their way.

Percy's answer also seemed to be too poignant to be just about their conversation now. It felt like an invitation to Azula, but she didn't know what for. She decided to ask the questions she'd come here for. At least, after what had happened.

"What was that back there? What did you do to me? Why did you help stop it?" She kept going, without realising she was asking more than one question.

Percy seemed all too pleased that the conversation was going this way. Was this what the invitation was for? To talk about that? Did he actually want to help?

"How about you help me with some of this wood, then we can talk about it?"

His cheery demeanour just after what had happened was beginning to grind her. Well, it was forcing too many smiles to try and break out for her liking.

"No!" Her hand shot out and a blast of fire hit the next log he would've chopped. "I need you to answer me now!"

To her shock, Percy seemed only mildly phased, as though he was expecting such a reaction.

"Now why did you have to go and do that?" With a simple wave of his hand, the fire sizzled out from next to him. "If I'm going to help you, then you may as well learn something during it. Or help me. Isn't that fair?"

"I don't have anything to learn from you." She retorted, indignantly.

"Is that right?"

Percy just looked away from her. Returning to his job of chopping timber. The waterbender seemed all too casual about the smouldering timber a few feet off to his side.

"Yes." She stubbornly continued.

After a considerable pause, where she just awkwardly stood behind him, he spoke up again. Azula was happy he did, because she was almost going to give in to helping him. She really despised the anxious feeling she'd had before.

"I used to get like that a lot." Percy's soft, cosy voice began.

His voice was an odd mix of vulnerable and strong. Like, he seemed to be exposing himself to her, but yet so secure in what he was saying that she couldn't find it within herself to agree with the muffled shouts of weak from inside her brain.

"It got better, but I still get them from time to time." He continued.

Azula realised she was much closer to him before. His much quieter voice pulling her in and making her be in his vicinity just to hear it. She'd never felt the power of a quiet voice. A calm and collected voice yes, but a quiet one, no. The closer she got, and the more clearly she heard his voice, the more she felt like she was being sucked into a whirlpool of emotion.

"Could you pass me that log?" She found herself squatting to help lift the mostly burnt log onto the stump. "At least this'll be half-decent firewood."

Azula was completely dumbfounded. When did this happen? How did I get in this position?

"So, what question did you want answered first?" Apparently sensing that she wasn't able to properly form sentences, he just continued. "Okay, to start at the beginning, what that was?"

Azula just nodded. She found she couldn't do much else.

"Well, I've heard them be called a lot of things. But I believe the best way to describe them is an anxiety attack?"

"W-What do you mean? You attacked me with anxiety?" She asked seriously.

Percy turned to her, before laughing hard. He clutched his stomach and bent over, leaning against the wood. Azula wanted to be offended by it, but found it was a bit too infectious for her to be that bothered. The increasingly less rare smile adorned her face briefly, as she thought about what she'd actually asked.

"Sorry, that was slightly mean of me. But no," he continued laughing, whilst speaking, "I didn't attack you with anxiety. If I could, that would be quite effective though."

Percy finally seemed to get his laughter under control and his face grew slightly more serious.

"Anxiety attacks aren't something someone else can create. They could trigger them, but it is all your body's reaction."

"A reaction to what?" Anything to not feel like that again.

"Well, it can be anything. It's usually a traumatic experience, although it doesn't have to be."

"I don't have any of those." She responded defensively.

Percy just raised his eyebrow at her.

"It can be the build-up of stress. I think it can also be a trait passed down through family but I'm not sure about that one."

His eyebrows were scrunched in a cute, NO, thinking face. Azula shook her head, only just processing Percy's words.

"Well it's definitely not any of them. No royal would ever have such a thing."

Percy just looked at her, unconvinced. She only just realised that she seemed to have that very affliction, and was royal.

"Uhuh."

She just looked away, not able to meet his eyes.

"So, how do I stop it?"

She spied his figure in her periphery, and saw him shrug his shoulders. She couldn't imagine returning to her father, only to have her collapse in front of him like that. It was making her clench her fists again, and her heart beat faster.

"Breathe." He whispered.

She seemed to follow his suggestion automatically, only just realising how short her breaths were. After focusing on her breathing for a bit, he continued. "In my experience? A lot of talking about it helps."

Azula's eyes shot to him and she glared fiercely.

"No, you won't get to me that way." She hissed at him. Percy just looked at her confused. "You won't get me to reveal anything to you like that. I won't be manipulated. And not by you."

To her immense surprise, Percy didn't react hurt. Nor did he react angrily. There was a quiet sadness that emanated from his drooped head as he heard her.

"Alright then, if you say so." Percy calmly swung the axe, imbedding it into the trunk on the ground.

The waterbender stood, picked up his firewood and began walking away, only for her to realise the sun was slowly lowering itself in the sky. As Azula was admiring the view of the sun setting to the left of them over the lake, Percy turned back to her.

"I'm not manipulating you, Azula. I still haven't, really." She turned her attention back to him. "But if you immediately assume I am doing that, then I wonder who really does manipulate you."

Percy's statement hung in the air as she watched him retreat to his cave. His obedient ostrich horse trotting along behind him, keeping its head on a swivel. As soon as the waterbender left, the voices came crashing down on her. And more terrifyingly, the feelings she was getting before came back.

Your father would have you banished for such weakness.

The lighter voice cut in, softly prodding at her.

Breathe. Just breathe. In and out.

Azula felt comforted by it, and after it being repeated to herself in her head, she managed to get it all under control. But the weight of all those words never left her. Prying at the back of her mind, waiting for her to lose focus on her breathing to pounce.

Deciding that standing still wasn't in her best interest, the princess moved back to where she'd tied off her mongoose lizard. Her things were still strapped to the side of her mount. Azula figured that she'd need to set up her tent, as sleeping near… him, probably wouldn't end well and she didn't even want to risk it. She'd already done that way too much with him behind bars.

The princess set to building her tent, but again, found it almost impossibly difficult.

How do peasants do this menial task? How do the soldiers, that did this for me? Because that's their job.

After fifteen long minutes of pulling at fancy cloth and poles, the tent found itself thrown to the ground by the side of her now awake mongoose lizard. Azula slumped down against a tree overlooking the lake. Stupid waterbender. Making me come all the way out to the lake, on my own, to use a tent. That I can't even use! She shot a fire blast out to the lake, enviously watching her reddish blue flames.

Azula began to feel tired though, as the evening progressed. The small waves lapping at the shore and the odd feeling of security of her enemy being not a hundred yards away made her eyes droop dramatically. Using her last bits of energy, she pulled together some sticks from near her, lighting them on fire with her fingers.

Not looking at the flames, and instead, watching the water shift and flow, back and forth. It almost rocked her to sleep, as she sought comfort in a most mundane force of nature. Azula couldn't find it in herself to be annoyed at such a quandary, being comforted by an element she'd despised and thought beneath her.

Curling around the small flames, the princess' eyes closed. With her breaths matching the lapping of the small crests onto the shore, she fell into her first proper sleep since Ba Sing Se, almost a week ago.

Waves crashing over her mind, emptying it of all the voices.

Aang was struggling in the water. He'd just seen the spirits of Roku and Yue come to him and tell him that he hadn't failed, and that he couldn't give up.

The airbender had ran from the boat. Not only because he was dead to the world again, but because he should've done better. If it hadn't been for Percy… he'd be dead. That was something he'd asked Katara while doing the healing. After remembering everything that happened, he'd realised Percy had come with him.

'Where's Percy?' was all he had to say, and the reaction was palpable. Katara had a sad, resigned look to her. At first, Aang was worried he hadn't made it somehow. But then she'd told him he'd left, needing time to himself.

The boy understood that. Knowing Percy had been through something similar to him, just for a longer period of time, it was no doubt that he would want a break from all of this. Aang hated it, but he felt he could use a slight break too.

No, I need to train. I need to defeat the Fire Lord.

Finding it within himself, he pulled a wave behind him, bending it and then the air to surf on a piece of tree bark. He made it to an island made of volcanic rock, washing up on the shore. He realised pretty quickly this was the same island that Roku's temple had once been.

He lay on the ground, contemplating his choices and everything that happened as he looked up at the sky. Aang was curious if Percy had experienced anything like this. The… 'pretty much dying and people thinking you're dead' part. He got the feeling that the mysterious waterbender had, somehow. That would be very much in line with who he was.

But he owed the man his life, he wanted to utilise that to its fullest. That meant defeating the Fire Nation. His own thoughts caught, remembering what Percy had told him, all the way back on the pass.

'Don't let the stress make you push away your other friends.' And 'the only reason I'm standing here is because of the people I had around me.' He smiled at the thought, hearing Appa come in to land by his sprawled-out figure.

He assumed it was Momo that licked his face, opening his eyes to check, and Aang saw the rest of his friends jump and run towards him. He couldn't really push away that his heart leapt slightly at watching Katara run towards him with a worried look. Well, the worried look part wasn't good, but the rest, he thoroughly enjoyed. Especially the hug soon after. Thankfully, her worry was quickly replaced by happiness.

"You're okay!" She said, still hugging him. Everyone clambered around him, including Appa and Momo, for a big group hug. They all separated.

"I have so much to do." He said.

"I know, but you'll have our help."

Having Percy's words rattling around his head, he beamed at her.

"Thank you. I couldn't do any of this without any of you guys."

In typical Toph fashion, she ignored his niceties, in order for a reminder of her brutal training regimen.

"You didn't think you could get out of training just by coming to the Fire Nation, did you?"

"What about the invasion?"

"We'll join up with my dad and the invasion force the day of the eclipse." Sokka replied.

"Hey! What's… oh, it's your glider." Toph said, picking it up and handing it to him.

"It's okay. If someone saw it, it would give away my identity. It's better for now that no one knows I'm alive."

Aang jumped and stabbed it into one of the streams of lava flowing down the side of the volcano. He moved back down to the group.

"And besides, the only people I want to know I'm alive are all right here." He got a smile out of everyone. "Oh, and speaking of… Percy?"

"Yeah, he knows you're okay." Katara said. Aang nodded appreciatively.

"And our dad will pick him up before the invasion." Sokka put in.

"Good, but… he can airbend?!"

"Oh, so you remembered that too." The waterbender said.

"Yeah, apparently it was so cool." Toph said, admiringly. As if she was thinking of just exactly how it could've potentially looked. Or felt.

"Scary Toph, I said scary." Katara interjected.

"Whatever."

"He called air 'meh'." The young boy mumbled.

"What was that, Aang?" Katara asked.

"I said, he called my bending 'meh'. On the pass. He said it was meh. And he can do it too?!"

Toph just chuckled and punched him on the arm, earthbending herself back onto Appa. The rest of the group followed, with Aang still looking up at the volcano.

"He called my bending meh. How could he do that, and then create a storm that only the Avatar can create?" The Avatar mumbled to himself.

"Come on Aang, let's go!"

"I'm coming!" He replied to Sokka, airbending his way onto Appa's back.

The group then sailed off into the night, leaving no remains of his glider to be found, as it burned and melted away in the lava.

Percy woke up bright and early. He wasn't used to this, and hadn't done it much whilst being at the side of the lake, but he felt generally refreshed. He'd slept well for a number of reasons. He had a relatively dreamless sleep and now knew that he wasn't just running into a brick wall with his attempts to show the princess a better path. There was a possibility, albeit an unlikely one, that she could walk down that path. And he sure as Hades was going to see if he could help make that happen.

Yesterday had been surprisingly productive for him. Not only had the princess helped him with his wood… gross, no, helped me with the logs I'm using for the cabin, but she'd also shown him a glimpse of what her actual mental state was. And fragile wasn't even close to covering it.

The fact that her father had pushed her to such an extent that it was causing her anxiety attacks was just another thing added to the pile of reasons for Percy's hatred of the Fire Lord. He just seemed like an all-around terrible person. Not dissimilar to Kronos.

Even though one was a literal deity, I'm sure Ozai likes to picture himself as such. Arrogant piece of shit.

Percy began his morning routine. It consisted of feeding Afosiosi with what little he could, who'd already become quite happy with her new nickname, stamping out his rather feeble attempt at a fire from last night, usually only small embers were left by the morning, then walking out for his day's work.

Only this morning, that last part didn't happen. His curiosity getting the better of him, Percy wandered off to where he heard the crackling of a fire, following a trail of smoke above the tree line. Coming upon a campsite, if it could even be called that, he saw the princess curled up, shivering, huddled around a small but still burning fire. The cool wind blowing off the lake, only just beginning to be warmed by the earliest rays of the sun hitting the tops of the mountains behind them, seemed to be a bit too much for Azula's royal get up.

The princess really was shuddering, in comparison to whatever the animal was she'd rode in on, he'd forgotten the name, who was exhaling contentedly. That was the least worst part about the animal. The really creepy lizard-animal-thingy was just staring at him, uncomfortably. He'd gotten somewhat acquainted with them whilst he shared their cell block, but they'd been asleep most of the time. Now, outside of the cage, it seemed intent on making him shiver.

Percy just sighed. His mother's stern teachings of manners and how to treat guests flooding his brain. The memories brought on a fond smile, as he traipsed back up to the cave. Azula was, by the loosest of definitions, a guest, and he couldn't just let her freeze.

In the past few days, he'd managed to hunt down a second porcupine boar thingy, and de-quill it. He'd found the original pelt to be quite comfortable, and was slightly envious of letting Siosi use it for so long.

Although I guess that could've been a reason she stayed. Not because she's loyal, but for the comfy blanket. That does seem like her.

Speaking of his loose-tongued friend, that's what he was greeted with when he re-entered his cave.

'Is the fiery bitch still here?'

Percy just rolled his eyes. He wasn't going to argue with her on that. Despite it being a bit crass and quite derogatory, Azula hadn't really done anything nice… at all. Plus, Siosi didn't seem to have the best experience with the royal family, with Zuko forcing her around the Earth Kingdom and starving the both of them. So he let this one slide.

"Yeah, the princess is still here." He bent over, picking up his boar-fur blanket.

'You're giving her that?! But that's the good shit.' Percy turned to his animal friend.

"So did you stay here all this time waiting for me, or was it for 'the good shit'?"

'I can neither confirm nor deny any such questions.' Percy just chuckled to himself. I thought that might've had something to do with it. 'But you're still going to give it to her?'

"She's cold." He said, as if that wasn't self-explanatory. Apparently, it wasn't enough. He wasn't sure, but he could've sworn that Siosi shrugged, or at least ruffled her feathers in a shrug-like manner.

"Whatever you say, dumbass.' Well I hope that nickname doesn't stick. I'd almost prefer being called 'Boss' again over that.

Percy left behind his feeding ostrich horse to return to the still cold princess. The sun was now mostly over the horizon, shining off the water brilliantly.

Afosiosi did have a point, she had tried to kill him multiple times. But he'd been the guest of so many of his enemies, be it Medusa, Circe or any of the monster lairs he'd entered, he didn't particularly want to uphold their standard of manners. No, he preferred to be like Damasen. That giant had saved him and Annabeth, and he'd had practically nothing to gain from it.

Be like Damasen. Percy looked out at the morning sun with a bitter-sweet smile. I should be better at saying hello to the sun and stars. I can't ever forget.

He heard the princess muttering something and jolting around slightly, bringing him out of his thoughts, as though she was fighting or in some kind of distress. He thought about waiting around to hear what she was mumbling, but decided against it. Eavesdropping, even for the person's benefit, just didn't seem right.

Instead, he walked up to her, ignoring the sounds, and placed the blanket around her. Almost immediately, the shivering and jolting stopped. Percy tightened it around her, in a cocoon-like fashion, one that his mother always used to do for him, before backing away a bit.

Reflexively, Azula gripped onto the blanket and curled up more comfortably in it, pulling it up to her neck and rolling so she was completely wrapped up in its warmth.

Percy sighed quietly, leaving the little area the firebender had set up. He did notice that the fire was noticeably higher than it had been whilst the sun was below the horizon. The demigod also saw the rather amusing camping gear, aggressively strewn about the place. He hadn't taken the time to notice it, but it was very 'royal' of her to not know how to do such things.

Choosing to laugh at the pretentiousness of the royalty instead of get frustrated by it, he wandered back to Afosiosi. His grievances wouldn't do much in the grand scheme of things. The ostrich horse was stretching in the morning sun, ruffling her feathers and just making a big deal about being up, as per usual.

'Back to chopping wood, dumbass?'

Percy sighed one more, resignedly, turning his back to his 'friend' and walking towards the tree stump with logs spread out beside it.

'What? Just because I'm right doesn't mean you have to be a little shit about it.'

"Are you going to be like this all the time?"

'You know it, dumbass.'

"You're as bad as Arion."

Azula woke feeling much more comforted than she had in a long while. Her dreams had been rather anxiety-inducing, many to do with her father finding her in such a state as yesterday, but they'd stopped at some point. She didn't know when, but what she did know was that there was a new feeling surrounding her.

The tickle of fur was her first indication of that. It was wrapped tightly around her and she knew, with absolute certainty, that she wasn't the one to do that.

It was an odd feeling, because as much as she wanted to throw the fur blanket off of her and burn it, it just felt way too comfortable for her to do such a thing.

After a few minutes of internal debate with herself, she pushed the fur off of her. The sun angled through the low trees, was now completely clear of the mountains of the pass. The princess had obviously woken late into the morning.

She heard the sounds of wood being chopped over where she knew the clearing was. Azula put it together.

He's given this to me? Why would he give this to me? He's manipulating you!

The deep, cutting voice didn't seem to have a reason for it though. The princess couldn't, for the life of her, convince herself that it was some manipulation tactic. He hadn't been there when she woke up, and if he didn't ask for any kind of information in return for it, then what was he to gain from it. Her trust maybe, but that wasn't sitting right with her.

Azula picked up the blanket from the ground and wrapped it around her shoulders, finding almost too much comfort in something given to her by him. The odd salty fragrance enveloping her. She decided she needed to confront him about the disgusting, warm, comfortable blanket.

The princess walked through the trees to see Percy, once again stood over a log. She couldn't help but notice the tense, built muscles in his arms as they came down to go straight through the tough wood. It was impressive, but she tried not thinking about that too much. It's giving a savage too much credit.

Azula heard a squawk of some kind come from behind the waterbender and then saw the stupid ostrich horse looking at her. Actually, if she didn't know any better, said ostrich horse was glaring at her, looking on suspiciously with thin eyes. But they can't do that, they're animals.

"I know she's here. If she wants to say anything, she can say it."

It sounded to the princess that he was replying to someone. And the only other thing here was the ostrich horse.

It wasn't the first time she'd seen him do it, but it was becoming ever more disconcerting that he was. And she was even more worried that she was starting to believe he was actually conversing with it.

Yet another squawk was followed by a reply.

"Yes, I'm aware that she's wearing the 'good shit'."

He seemed to be speaking rather exasperatedly, but Azula could just hear a hint of amusement in his voice.

Is he making fun of me? Also… is the blanket the good shit? How is that a way to describe a blanket?

Unknowingly, she was clutching it tighter around her arms. It took her a few seconds to realise that, yes, she was holding onto her blanket for dear life.

My blanket? A peasant's blanket.

It did almost feel… addicting. The same feeling she got when she was able to sleep, after so long, whilst being around the annoying human being in front of her.

After a few minutes of watching him work, with the unnerving gaze of the ostrich horse on her the whole time, Azula realised that, unlike yesterday, she was going to have to start the conversation if she wanted one. So, she started with something that was of the utmost importance.

"You speak to that animal like it can understand you. And you can understand it."

She swore she could hear a snort come from the ostrich horse, but she shot a withering glare at it. That got it to be a bit more defensive and move back slightly. It flapped its wings before making a screech. Percy just seemed to chuckle at it.

"Well?" Azula continued.

Not enjoying how her question wasn't answered. Nor how she seemed to be actively interacting with said ostrich horse.

"Was there a question?" Percy said, all too sarcastically for her liking.

He still hadn't looked at her once since she'd arrived at the clearing. The princess realised she, indeed, hadn't actually asked a question.

"Why?"

"Oh, because it can." He said seriously. Yeah right. Percy paused to look her dead in the eyes. "And I can too."

WHAT?!

A/N: There we have it. A lot more Percy and Azula stuff. The character development between them is tough, trying to be realistic/slow enough but also keep the pacing going. Hope you enjoy the pace we're setting. Plus I threw a little Aang in there, because that was a fun interaction that was set up on the pass. Plus a bit of Toph admiration. The ending will be continued on in the next chapter, obviously. Let me know what you all think!

Some review replies:

A-gods-flame: Thank you! So... she stayed the night, but not with him. There is a lot to unpack with her characters mental state and it will be at some points gradual, but at others... not so. There will be breakdowns and her hair is cool recurring symbolism/a motif that I use heavily, so don't worry about that. Anyways, hope you liked it and what I'll continue to do with this story and stay safe also!

Guest: Thank you! That's awesome. I do actually prefer this book to the first slightly. It just explores a lot more depth to the characters (specifically Azula) and gets down to the nitty-gritty of why I decided to write it.

Jctherebel/screwthefates1806/HellRaiderS/Iamironman15/Death Fury/IAmOutOfIdeas: Thank you all! Yet another update and I hope you all enjoyed!

CRUDEN: You are indeed right with that guess. Much like people who do struggle with it, it's rarely a one time thing. Not to mention none of the things that caused it have changed at all. Hope you enjoyed this chapter though.

Shobu556: Me too! Honestly when I first thought of the ostrich horse plot line (way back when writing The Chase), I went and looked up all the animals in atla for that reason. So annoying they don't have anymore. I could create some, but it might be a bit too far out of left field. There is the potential for using the 'gemsbok bull' as Percy talks to a zebra in the lightning thief. And a gemsbok/antelope type animal would be close to that, but idk. Let me know on that.

Artorias78: Yeah, that was big for me. It shows that Percy isn't all forgiving, because he never was. Azula hasn't really shown any signs of change so he was understandable enraged at her. But seeing how it effected her (and that she does actually have a conscience), he was a bit more understanding.

Gabe1234: Yup! Got a bit more of Azula's psyche in this one too, plus an incite into Percy's slightly as well.

WildMan98: It's awesome! And so great you're honoured. Yeah, trying to make Percy seem like Percy is so important to me, even more so in these quiet but powerful moments. Thank you! You too!

perachelmakesmepuke728: Thank you! Yeah, I figured things like mental health would be a complete unknown in this world (taking inspiration from Asia of centuries past) and that seemed like the best way for Azula to show some vulnerability. It forces her to ask questions and open up, which is the only way I see her doing so. Thanks! And that's awesome, I'm glad that all came across and more of the above to come.

CyrusWolfricFaust81194: I don't think so. Honestly, I feel like it'd detract from a lot of the character development that came in the first book (Percy finding a new life for himself) and also just muddle with the story. Throwing yet another unexplainable power into the mix would be fun until it just became another hugely influential variable. So probably not unless I find a really substantial, deep and interesting character arc I can use with it.

Thank you to everyone reading, see you next week!

-P