Wandering Firebender

Eighty Two: Strings

Alger motioned for the surrounding earthbenders to step back as Elio and Azula came out of the cave. Elio brought his hand up to shield his eyes from the light. Azula did the same, covering her eyes with her hand and turning her face away.

Cindra and Sri stood behind Alger, and all three of them were shocked to see that Elio was leading Azula by the hand.

"What's the deal here?" Sri asked him as they approached.

"The princess will be coming back with us voluntarily. We need to get the ship ready to leave immediately, right?" Elio asked.

"That's right," Alger confirmed with a nod. "I'm glad you're alright. Both of you look no worse for wear." He observed, glancing at Azula with an odd expression.

"Despite all efforts, I'm doing just fine. I'm assuming the water tribe girl here healed where I burned you?" Azula presumed, pointing to Cindra while speaking to Alger.

"I did. So what made you change your mind all of a sudden, princess?" She inquired, staring Azula down.

Azula didn't respond. Instead, she scoffed and gave Cindra a sideways smile. That's when Cindra noticed that she was still holding hands with Elio. Her eyes widened a little. What was she implying?

"Let's get going before we get into any more trouble out here." Elio said.

"Agreed." Alger nodded.

Cindra and Alger turned away and started to walk back first. Elio followed behind them and pulled Azula along. However, she only took one step before pulling away, slipping her hand out of his.

"Don't-"

Elio was only able to get out the one word before she let go and quickly backed away from him. She started to turn around so she could make another escape attempt. However, she didn't get very far before Sri hit her with several chi-blocking strikes right in her side.

Azula growled in pain and swung wildly at her with her other arm, blue flames shooting out of her palm. Sri ducked under the fiery attack and completely immobilized the princess with several more strikes.

"Agh! Not again!" Azula growled in pain as she crashed onto the ground, landing on her sides with her legs folded back behind her. The way she hit the dirt caused her hair to bounce up for a moment before it fell over her mouth.

"What was that?!" Cindra exclaimed as she and Alger turned around.

"She was about to make another break for it. I was just able to get her," Sri explained. "Sorry, Elio." She said to him.

"Y-Yeah...no, good job..." Elio spoke absently. His eyes were wide in surprise. He just stood there staring at Azula on the floor.

"Elio...Elio?" Cindra called to him with no response.

"We need to go." Alger reminded him. He took a step towards Azula. That's when Elio snapped out of his daze. He held his hand out and stopped him.

"I got her," He said. He walked up to Azula and knelt down beside her. He put a hand on her shoulder and turned her onto her back so he could see her. He moved the hair out of her face. His eyebrows furrowed with disappointment.

"Why did you do that?" He asked her quietly.

Azula didn't answer. She just scowled and looked away from him.

Elio shook his head and scooped his arms underneath her. He carefully lifted her, tucking her body to his chest and standing up. Alger walked up next to him.

"It's a long way back to the ship. You sure you wanna do that?" He asked.

"I got it. Just tuck her arms in so they're not dangling like that." Elio instructed. Alger did as he asked, taking Azula's arms and laying them on top of her so that they wouldn't hang limply from her shoulders.

With that, Elio turned around and led the way back to the airship with the others following behind him. It was a totally silent walk all the way back through the forest to the beach where the ship still was.

They arrived to find that Elio's men were staying by the ship while the townsfolk were gathered nearby, looking to antagonize the men by yelling at them and throwing trash in their direction.

"Here we go again." Sri commented under her breath as they approached.

"Everyone!" Elio called to his men as he approached the ship, "Inform the crew that we're taking off immediately! Set a course for the Fire Nation right now!" He ordered as he went inside. The others hurriedly followed him in.

"We should hurry before the mob out there does anything else." Sri suggested.

"Yeah. Can't really blame them though, since somebody decided to start attacking them first." Cindra pointed out, glaring at Azula even though she couldn't see her.

"Spread the word and have an announcement made on the speakers for me so we can get out of here. I'm taking Azula down below to the brig." Elio said.

"Let someone help you, Elio. You've been carrying her for awhile now. I'll find someone to help." Cindra said.

"I got it. Just do what I asked you to do, please." Elio said. He did his best to make his tone sound as calm and inoffensive as possible, but nevertheless some harshness still managed to slip out.

"Fine." Cindra shook her head and left first.

"As soon as everyone's onboard, I want this ship in the air." Elio said to Alger and Sri before going downstairs with Azula.

Down in the empty brig, a good distance away from where everyone and everything else was, Elio took her to the cell at the end of the hall. He used his foot to open the cage door and set her down on the floor, sitting her up against the wall. She stared at him unhappily as she bound her hands and feet so she couldn't bend.

"It didn't have to be this way," He muttered as he finished. "I told you I would treat you well if you came with me." He added. Azula couldn't move, but he could tell by her little smile and the roll of her eyes that she wanted to shake her head at him.

"It was always going to be like this, Elio, you just refuse to see it."

"You chose this. I didn't force this on you. I gave you a way out." Elio argued.

However, Azula said nothing in response. She looked away from him again. She evidently had nothing more to say right now. Elio sighed irritably and stood up. He stepped out of the cell and locked it behind him, wrapping his hand around one of the bars afterwards.

"You should be able to move in a couple hours. I'll bring you food at meal time. Until then...it should be 2 or 3 days for us to get back to the Fire Nation." Elio said.

Azula scoffed at this. Then Elio left her alone...

Once Elio's ship had taken off, he retreated to his room to write up his report for Fire Lord Zuko. As day started to fade into night, Cindra and Alger and Sri sat in the dining hall eating dinner and discussing what they had witnessed on this mission.

"Mm...something's off with Elio and Azula. I'm not sure what it was. Well, I mean, I saw what it looked like, but I'm not sure what I really saw, if that makes sense." Sri expressed her thoughts as she chewed her food.

"She said something to him. She has to have said something," Cindra reasoned. "Elio's told me the stories about how crazy and manipulative Azula is. Something she said must've gotten to him."

"I'm not sure..." Alger said, awkwardly tapping his finger against his cup. "I think it goes back to the conversation we were having before. I think it's fair to say that Elio has some kind of...emotional attachment to the princess."

"After all the times they fought? You know that makes like no sense, right?" Sri argued.

The debate was cut short by Elio coming into the dining hall. Conversation hushed all throughout the room when he came in. A handful of his men had seen him personally carrying the princess of the Fire Nation into the ship, so they were likely having conversations of a similar caliber.

Elio got two plates of food and two cups of water. Then he turned around and left the room right away.

"Hold on, guys. I'll talk to him," Cindra said, getting up from her chair. She hurried out of the room and caught up with Elio in the hallway just outside of the dining hall. She put a hand on his arm to get his attention.

"Hey. Are you doing okay?" She asked.

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm alright. Sorry, I've been busy writing my report for Zuko. I also took a nap, believe it or not. Today's finally catching up with me. I'm still really tired." He expressed with a breathy chuckle.

"Yeah, I gotcha. The past two days have been rough on all of us," She said, rubbing his arm consolingly. "I'm assuming that second plate there is for the princess?"

"Yeah. Unfortunately we have to keep her bound up down there, so she can't feed herself. So I might be down there for a bit." He said with a sigh.

"I see. How about you let me do it? You seem like you could use a break." She offered.

"I got it," Elio shook his head at the suggestion. "Thank you though. I think it's better if I do it." He said, starting to make his way down the hall.

"I'm not so sure about that." Cindra commented. Elio stopped and turned back around.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean...it's pretty obvious that this whole thing upsets you for whatever reason. Maybe you need to take a step back and process why." She suggested.

"You're right. I am upset. This whole situation feels wrong. But Zuko made it clear that she seems to trust me. If anyone's gonna get her to change her mind on this whole mess, it'll be me." He said.

"You don't really think she's gonna flip, do you? If she was, she would've done it back when we saved you from earthbenders." She pointed out.

"Maybe...but it's still possible." He insisted.

"I think she's messing with you, Elio. She wants to keep you on a string, and it seems to be working." She said with a little extra attitude.

"Excuse me?" Elio raised an eyebrow at her, "I'm not sure what you're insinuating here, Cindra, but I need to go." He dismissed her, stepping back and turning to leave again.

"Just be careful, Elio, that's all I'm saying. None of us want to see you get hurt. But I know you're trying your best." Cindra said, pushing her tone back down and speaking with a gentle voice.

"...thanks." Elio said quietly before going back downstairs to the brig.

Elio came to Azula's cell to find her right where he had left her: sitting on the floor with a sunken expression. She lifted her head up to look at him. Her eyes narrowed on him as he opened the cage door, entered her cell, and then closed it behind him.

"I brought you dinner. Just came out of the kitchen. You hungry?" He asked as he brought the food to her. He set it down on the floor before sitting down next to her.

Azula looked away from him and rolled her eyes. Her expression made it pretty obvious that she thought that was a dumb question.

"Here." Elio turned towards her and held the plate up. Using a fork, he began to feed her one bite at a time. Despite her annoyance, she didn't protest to the food.

"Give me some water."

"Sure." Elio agreed, holding up her cup so she could have a sip. She swallowed it and sighed.

"This is humiliating." She muttered quietly, barely above a whisper.

"Sorry. I wasn't sure if you'd rather me do it or someone you don't know." He expressed.

"Neither, really...but at least you'll keep this between us." She said, giving him a look.

"Yeah, I'd rather it stay between us." He agreed with a nod.

Once she was finished with her food, she looked down and noticed that Elio hadn't eaten anything yet, "Your food is probably cold now." She commented.

"If only I had a way to heat it up." He said dryly, using his firebending to warm the food again. Then he began to eat.

"Why did you come down here to eat with me?" She asked, looking at him strangely.

"Someone had to feed you."

"Well I'm fed, and yet you're still here." She pointed out.

"True," He nodded and took another bite of his food. "I have a question to ask you."

"What's that?"

"At what point during our talk in the cave did you start lying to me?" He asked. Azula exhaled sharply through her nose.

"Don't act so hurt, Elio. Your mission was to bring me back to the Fire Nation by any means necessary. You would've chi-blocked me yourself regardless, the peasant girl just beat you to it."

"I think I made it pretty clear in there that I didn't wanna hurt you." He said in a lower, more bitter tone.

"Ah yes, so I can heal my mind and then you'll be free to pursue me. That would put you in line nicely for the throne should something happen to my dear brother." She said sarcastically.

"That's what you think this is? A power grab?" Elio asked in surprise.

"Power is the only thing that matters in this world, Elio."

"No it doesn't. What matters is what you do with it. You know why? 'Cause there's always someone next in line. But what you do with what you have is how you'll be remembered. How do you wanna be remembered, princess? Surely not like this!" He argued with her.

"In due time, things will take their course as they should, and I'll be right back where I belong." She vowed.

"This is ridiculous," Elio shook his head in frustration. "I stick my hand out to you and this is what I get. You're literally biting the hand that feeds you here."

"Then you're foolish for being so trusting. You should've known better." She said spitefully.

"So it was all a lie then? The whole conversation, the promises, the kiss," He listed off. "It was all just a play to get me to let my guard down? Fine. Whatever.

"But let me tell you something. I did believe you. Because I want to help you and I want to trust you. But clearly I made a mistake." He said angrily, turning and starting to get up so he could leave.

"Elio."

"What?" He said with an attitude, looking back at her.

Azula took in a breath and sighed, "I'm sorry." She said; the second time today she was apologizing to him.

"Are you?"

"I know you were telling me the truth. You're the only one still trying to help me. We shouldn't be arguing with one another." She said. Elio sighed and sat down by her again.

"I just don't understand why, Azula. Why are you making this so difficult?" He asked again.

"We may never agree on what paths we should take, Elio. You're far too compassionate. I don't want to do things any other way but my own. As much as I hate this, I'm not compromising." Azula stood firm on her stance.

"I'm not asking you to give up who you are, but there's a better path for you if you were just willing to try it. All you have to do is look." He insisted.

"Has that worked out for you?" She asked, adjusting herself to sit up on her knees.

"It has...it cost a great deal, but I know that I'm a part of something bigger than myself. Helping others makes me feel...better." He admitted.

"I've given my everything to my father, Elio. All I have left is myself, and there's nothing to give to others." Azula said.

"You know that's not true. You won't hone your gifts for something more. I truly believe that you could be doing so much if you just..." Elio trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"Changed? Listened? Fell in line?" Azula asked.

"...I don't know," He shook his head. "It has to come from you."

"Elio," Azula moved closer, as close as her chains would let her. "I didn't lie to you in the cave...I haven't been this vulnerable since Mai and Ty Lee left. I was being genuine." She confirmed.

"I understand...I was being genuine too." Elio said with a sigh. He turned to look at her. Azula nodded, her eyes meeting his for only half a second before they drifted downwards.

Elio leaned towards her and put a hand on the side of her head. He rested his forehead against hers. He shut his eyes and they kissed again, lingering in it for awhile before Azula pulled away ever so slightly.

"You do realize that now you've allowed yourself to become emotionally compromised for my sake." She pointed out, looking right in his eyes now.

"Yeah," Elio acknowledged with a tired sigh. "You're not wrong, I guess." He said as he moved back.

"Seems a little shameful...even for you." She teased, tilting her head back and smirking a little.

"Tch, goodnight, princess." He said, getting up from the floor. He took the empty plates and cups with him.

"See you in the morning, captain."

Elio went back up to the dining hall to drop off the dirty dishes. Without thinking, he went into the kitchen and rinsed them off himself. As he did, he contemplated on what had happened between him and Azula today.

He had allowed himself to get caught up in a whirlwind of emotions, and now he felt like she had yet again exposed his weaknesses.

Should he say anything? Should he keep this indiscretion to himself? He had to, right? There's no way that the Fire Lord would take kindly to such a destructive and dangerous dynamic with his sister. He dried his hands off and rubbed his mouth with his fingers.

It was a long night for him as he laid in bed wondering how he was going to keep this secret...

Meanwhile, back down in the brig, Azula had a lot to think about too. Mainly, she was just disappointed in Elio – not for what he did, but that he hadn't done it sooner. Perhaps he could've been persuaded to take her side, and things would have turned out differently.

"Princess." Cindra greeted her bitterly.

Azula, who was looking off to the side while deep in thought, froze for a moment. Her eyes immediately landed on Cindra. She licked her lips before speaking.

"What's your name?" Azula asked curiously.

"My name is Cindra," She said before stepping up to the cell bars. "I don't know what your deal with Elio is, but you better leave him alone. He's dealing with too much to have you trying to manipulate and use him. He won't let you go." She said firmly, shaking her head at the princess.

"You're right. He won't let go," Azula couldn't help but smirk. "In fact, he's holding on tight. Your little platitudes won't change that now."

"What is wrong with you?! Do you just enjoy making people miserable?" Cindra spat.

"I enjoy being the smartest person in the room." Azula said smugly.

"Shut up. If you're so smart, why don't you just escape? Hm?"

"Looking for a rematch, are we? It'll go the same way." Azula teased.

"Try me." Cindra dared her.

"All in due time, I suppose." She shrugged.

"I'll say it again: leave Elio alone. Stop trying to hurt him. I already know you wanna keep him wrapped around your finger. It won't work," She said again, raising her voice.

"Oh, you poor thing. You love him so openly it's gross." She teased him.

"You're right, I do. It's something you clearly know nothing about, 'cause no one's ever loved you." Cindra shot back. Azula's face twitched into a scornful expression just for a moment.

"I told you I would make Elio hurt, Cindra, and I'm a woman of my word. There's a string wrapped around his heart that leads riiight back to me. And no matter what you do, whenever I pull it, he will feel it. And I have every intention of taking full advantage of that." Azula said with a malicious smile.

Cindra gritted her teeth angrily. There was so much that she wanted to say, but she couldn't find the words to express just how angry she was. So she just pointed at her and stormed off.

Azula scoffed in amusement before sitting back and relaxing again. She wasn't entirely sure how she was gonna fulfill her promise right now, but seeing Elio struggle and Cindra squirm was enough to help her rest just a little easier...