Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

198. Chapter 198: Iroh's suspicions 2

Waking up alone was disappointing, if restful. Azula groaned as the light filtered into her room through the small openings between her drapes: her bed was far too large for her to sleep on by herself, especially on a day where she might not meet Sokka at all… she allowed herself to sulk about that briefly, but she pushed herself onto her elbows and knees, crawling over the mattress until she picked up Sokka's necklace on her nightstand. She smiled fondly at it, stroking it with her thumb.

"Wish me luck today" she whispered, bringing the necklace to her lips briefly before placing it inside the nightstand's cabinet and closing it promptly. She always kept it stashed away safely, to ensure no servants would ever catch a single glimpse of it, and so far, she had been successful. Today would be no different.

Azula was sitting up on the bed, stretching and yawning with the abandon of a Princess who knew herself alone and free to drop all acts of gracefulness and perfection, when she heard the expected knock on the door: the servants had arrived, bringing her breakfast. She sighed, slouching for just a little longer before pushing herself off the bed, rubbing her eyes still. The lingering exhaustion after her trip was still doing a number on the Princess: by the time the council meeting arrived she would have covered the bags under her eyes, and her bed hair would be properly fastened in a half-knot, and no one would ever suspect her sore muscles needed several more hours of rest to be in their best shape once more…

Yet all that exhaustion seemed to vanish altogether when she saw Iroh standing amidst her assigned servants.

"Good morning, Princess Azula!" he declared, with that happy grin she had often found irksome and stupid as a child. She couldn't think much more highly of it so many years later.

"Uncle?" she said, disdain dripping from her voice "What the blazes do you think you're doing here?"

"Oh, now, no need to be so defensive" he laughed "Consider this a white flag, of sorts? I have arranged matters so we may have breakfast together, if just for today. If it goes well, perhaps it can become a weekly arrangement and…!"

"Wait just a minute, you just decided all this by yourself, without even asking me if you could do this?" Azula said, her indignation increasing steadily. She had been level-headed when dealing with Iroh on the previous day: she certainly didn't feel so strong-minded right now.

"Well, I just assumed that if I asked you'd say no, so…"

"Why, yes, I would have, and I say so now too" Azula growled "You saw yourself to my room, you can see yourself right back to yours just as easily"

"But I already asked the servants to bring my food here…" said Iroh, pouting "Come now, Princess Azula. Just one breakfast, then, forget the weekly arrangement…"

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Azula asked, scowling distrustfully at her uncle "Last I knew, you wanted me as far away from you and everything you held dear as possible, why are you forcing some shared breakfast on me now?"

"Well… on one hand, it's been years since I last shared a meal with my family" Iroh said, shrugging.

"Has it? Here I was certain Toph felt like family to you" Azula said, curtly.

"Oh, well, of course she does, but blood relatives are as important as friendships…"

"Are they, really?" Azula asked, staring down at Iroh derisively "You're cursed with blood relatives for all your life, whether you want to be or not. Your friends you choose for yourself, so if they're as much of a burden as your family is, it's your own fault for choosing them poorly"

"Huh. Interesting perspective" said Iroh, smiling a little "Then perhaps my second reason to be here will appeal to you…"

"As if…"

"Toph talked to me yesterday, you see" Iroh said, and Azula's brow furrowed immediately "She seemed distraught… upset, I suppose, is a better word. All because her two best friends can't seem to get along, and she misses the times when they did, however ephemeral as they might have been. Perhaps it's not the best of reasons to try mending fences… but I can't say I want to give Toph more reasons to be upset than I already have in the past"

As unwilling as Azula was to offer her uncle leeway in any regards, that final explanation gave her pause. Oh, it could be an act, she knew… and yet Iroh looked and sounded genuine, as genuine as he did when he spoke of Zuko or Lu Ten. Perhaps she was being swayed by her own investment in the young earthbender, perhaps Iroh was just manipulating her and Toph had proved the perfect excuse for it… but Toph had complained to her about that same thing just yesterday, hadn't she?

However unwilling Azula might have been to strike up a truce with uncle, she had indeed claimed she didn't make efforts to amend their relationship because she believed Iroh never would… but wasn't he doing it now?

"P-Princess…?"

Only then did Azula realize she had kept the way blocked for all the servants, carrying twice as many trays and dishes as they generally did. With a disgruntled face, she stepped out of the way: she wasn't sure yet if Iroh's intentions were as pure as he made them seem but putting up with him for one morning might be enough to decipher as much.

The servants filed inside without further ado, and Azula studied Iroh's reaction intently… to find him perplexed, wide-eyed and speechless as his food was marched inside Azula's bedroom's annex dining chamber.

"Why the face? Isn't this what you wanted, Uncle?" Azula asked, her tone taunting and menacing at once.

"Well… yes" he admitted, with an awkward smile "But I honestly had braced myself for a full-blown rejection instead. I'm surprised"

"Don't get used to it" Azula snapped: she held back the urge to slam the door in her uncle's face as she made her way to her dresser, hoping to at least improve her hair's state before dealing with Iroh as they ate.

She couldn't drop her guard, that was for certain. Iroh was up to no good more often than not, and perhaps he had discovered, through Toph's silences and hesitation, that Azula had found Zuko. Chances were he wanted to talk about that… but the Princess had no intentions of humoring him. Zuko had a family now, a life of his own, one he seemed to cherish and value deeply, and he hadn't wanted anyone to interfere in it: she wouldn't let Iroh do that, whether he had good intentions or not.

"Thank you, thank you…" Iroh was saying, as the servants placed their food on the table.

Azula glared at him through the dresser's mirror as she tamed her disorderly hair before arranging it into a proper ponytail quickly, constantly surveilling that Iroh wouldn't do or say anything suspicious. She checked quickly on the love bites as well, confirming to her relief that they were fading by now: even so, she was quick to cover them up lightly with her makeup, hoping Iroh wouldn't have noticed them in her room's dim light. The servants were taking their leave by the time she joined her uncle by the table: Iroh grinned as Azula sat at his right, leaving proper distance between them, for her own comfort.

"So…" said Iroh, pressing his lips together awkwardly "How have you been?"

Azula responded to that with a disbelieving glare. Her uncle blinked innocently in her direction.

"You're not honestly trying to make small talk, are you?" Azula groaned "If this is about us getting along, why, isn't it enough for you to tell Toph we managed to share a single meal without wanting to strangle each other? It would already amount to considerable progress for us, I suspect… and truly, if that's the goal, the best way to avoid an untoward development of the sort would be for us to eat as quietly as possible…"

"Oh, I suppose it would be a good step forward, but perhaps we can try to take more than one at a time?" suggested Iroh, with a shrug "It is but a simple question, isn't it?"

Azula rolled her eyes and sighed, staring at her food as she felt her appetite draining her by the minute. Her uncle was always unnerving, but never as much as when he attempted to be cordial with her…

"I've been fine, Uncle" she said, between gritted teeth. He smiled.

"Good to know" he nodded, finally taking up his chopsticks and starting to eat his bowl of rice "And… aren't you going to ask me too?"

"Might as well just answer the question without me asking it, seeing as you're so eager to share details about your eventful life" Azula snapped. Iroh sighed in defeat.

"Well… I've been fine too" he finished. Azula rolled her eyes and began eating, deciding to focus on her food instead of Iroh's irritating attempts at conversation "Oh, I heard your friend Ty Lee is getting married! Toph mentioned it yesterday. I hope her union with her husband spans for many long and happy years"

"That's nice of you" Azula said, dryly.

"I imagine you'll be helping with the arrangements for the wedding?" Iroh asked, and Azula sighed before nodding.

"That's the plan, though I can't say I'll be able to devote myself to the task as fully as I would have merely a year ago" she admitted "I'll do what I can regardless, but still…"

"Hmm, yes. I've heard you had a hectic year" Iroh said "Those new slavery laws… I haven't had a chance to read them yet, but it sounds like a massive undertaking"

"It is. The Enforcers have done their duty well enough so far…" Azula said, uncertain of how much information about the group she should volunteer to her uncle "But this is only the start for them"

"It's good that you take it so seriously, though" said Iroh, nodding sagely "Truthfully, I've never heard of a Crown Prince or Princess who had even written laws before taking up the mantle of Fire Lord. Your father certainly granted you an unparalleled honor"

"I suppose he did…" Azula whispered, biting back the urge to reveal Ozai hadn't done it out of any sense of honor, whatsoever. All of it had happened merely because he had wanted to avoid more slave rebellions…

"So yes, make the most of it" said Iroh, reaching to pour himself a cup of tea "Being Crown Princess is quite demanding on its own, but responsibilities of this magnitude should make it even more challenging, despite you'll likely find the outcome is quite rewarding nonetheless…"

"You were given larger responsibilities than I was, weren't you?" Azula asked "The Enforcers aren't that large a group yet. You, though, led massive armies by Fire Lord Azulon's command, didn't you?"

"Oh, I did, but it's hardly comparable" Iroh chuckled, setting down the teapot after having poured the dark liquid in Azula's cup as well "I had spent all my life learning the ways of war, training in them. By the time I sieged Ba Sing Se I was a seasoned warrior and leader… you, though, have been Crown Princess for merely three years and you've already outdone all those who came before you. You have always been an overachiever, that can't be denied, but still…"

"I suppose I have" Azula said, picking up the teacup and draining its contents slowly.

"Either way, with so many possibilities before you, I'm somewhat surprised your biggest enterprise to date was writing slavery laws" said Iroh, smiling as he raised his own cup "I often am foolish to think I've measured you well, but you're full of surprises. Can I ask what compelled you to write them?"

"You can, I suppose…" Azula said, setting down her half-drained cup "But I doubt it'll be as moving and heart-warming a story as you might expect"

"Huh, now I'm even more curious!" Iroh said, grinning before taking the first sip of tea.

"Well… the story is that Sokka and I joined a Pairs Tournament with Haru and Ty Lee as our partners" Azula explained "But while we were there, Haru told us he wanted to track down his fam-… Uncle?"

Azula couldn't remember seeing such a bewildered expression on her Uncle's face before: there was no shortage of disgust in it, but most of all, Iroh was stunned, as though in sheer mystification.

His eyes were set on the teacup he was holding.

"Uncle…" Azula said, suspicion rising inside her as she began guessing what his potential problem might be.

"Why… why are you drinking this?" he asked, frowning "Why… why would anyone willingly drink such a brew of tea?"

"S-say what?" Azula blurted out, trying not to sound as nervous as she felt. It was only out of disgust over the taste, right? He was merely being his obnoxious, snobby self when it came to tea…? "Please, Uncle, I know you think you're the greatest tea connoisseur of all time, but…"

"I don't mean to offend you, Princess Azula…" said Iroh, staring at her with wide eyes now "But if you find any enjoyment in this particular brew, you have some truly unsophisticated taste buds…"

"Huh… that's nice of you to say" Azula said, dryly. Still, he seemed to fixate on the taste… so perhaps he had no idea what the true purpose of her daily tea was. As much as Iroh was the biggest tea-drinker Azula knew, he surely had never drunk this particular tea… for why would he? It was only supposed to work on women, after all.

"There are so many teas you could be drinking instead, truly" said Iroh, grimacing "I have no shortage of leaves selections in my room! I'll bring you some of those, you shouldn't ever drink this nonsense again…"

"There's no need for that, Uncle. Perhaps I am just… that unrefined" Azula said, curtly.

"You're not" said Iroh, looking at her matter-of-factly "No one is. Princess Azula, truly… how did you ever even come by this mix of perennial apian plant and wild carrot seeds?"

So, he knew the ingredients immediately, did he? The realization didn't soothe Azula's rising panic, not in the least… but she could give him a believable enough story, couldn't she? It would only be a half-lie, to a fault…

"My friend Mai once offered me some once" Azula said, shrugging "She drinks it often, cultivates the plants in her own garden. As you well know, I never cared for tea but… for some reason I found this one to be an enjoyable brew. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Oh… oh dear" said Iroh, sighing and shaking his head. Azula stiffened.

"What is it?" she asked, point-blank, no longer as eager to play innocent as she had been. If he had something to say, he had better blurt it out already…

"Well, your friend doesn't drink this tea just because she likes it" Iroh started, with a shrug "Maybe she does, I wouldn't know, perhaps her taste buds are as bad as yours… but this particular brew has a purpose, Azula. And if your friend didn't explain it…"

"A purpose?" Azula repeated, trying to sound as skeptical as possible. Iroh nodded.

"It prevents pregnancy" he said. Azula raised her eyebrows in perfectly feigned surprise "A married lady like her would of course resort to contraceptive measures to avoid bearing more children than she can raise… but you, Princess Azula, you have no reason to drink this tea at all and I advise you to stop doing it, altogether"

"Just because you think it tastes bad?" Azula asked, derisively "I don't see what the problem could possibly be, Uncle…"

"The problem, Azula, is that by drinking this, you might be taking risks you didn't account for" Iroh said, gravely "And by that, I mean that… that you might just render yourself sterile if you continue to drink it"

Now Azula didn't feign her surprise, let alone her discomfort and outrage. That… that made no sense, did it? Mai had never warned her of that, neither had Ty Lee… curses, not even the herbalist in the Earth Kingdom had claimed there were such risks! Iroh had to be making that up, or…

Oh. Oh, of course he was.

Her stomach sank, so powerfully she nearly fell off her chair. If he knew the tea prevented pregnancy… then it meant he'd suspect her of drinking it for that express purpose. Why would any chaste, pure woman drink such a distasteful tea brew willingly? He surely had thought that as soon as he had tasted it… and concluded she wasn't chaste and pure at all. He wouldn't be wrong, of course: she hadn't been a virgin in quite some time, and preventing pregnancy was exactly why she had been drinking it… but Iroh couldn't possibly know that.

If Iroh knew the truth, if Iroh figured out she was carrying out what he would see as an irresponsible, illegal, improper affair with her gladiator, he would tell Ozai immediately.

And that would be the end.

She averted her gaze from Iroh, her outrage at his boldness rising slowly. Perhaps he'd come in here hoping to find any weaknesses, anything he could exploit… and, fool that she was, she had allowed him to find one, the very worst one. So much for hiding Sokka's necklace safely, so much for staying tucked in her bed rather than escaping to spend the night with the man she loved. She might as well have done any of those things instead, for it would have even been more dignified if Iroh had begun suspecting she had an illicit relationship through anything but the tea…

"You haven't been drinking it for long, have you?" Iroh asked, his voice soft, concerned… and Azula resisted the urge to throw a fistful of flames at him. She covered her mouth with a hand before lying with the shake of her head "Well, good. If that's the case, you'll be safe from the worst of the consequences. You are Crown Princess, after all… as much as I know you don't wish to marry or have offspring yet, you will have to do both things eventually, for duty even if not for genuine love. So… it's in your best interest to keep your body in the best possible shape"

"Figures that the one tea brew I learned to enjoy would be the one trying to kill my future progeny" Azula said, with a sarcastic smile. Oh, if she was good at something, it was at playing along with someone's game until she could turn the rules around to her favor… "Well, then, I suppose I'll have to stop drinking it. Back to water and plain juices from now on…"

"You'll be grateful once you have your first child" Iroh said, smiling reassuringly "It will be for the best"

Either he was a stellar actor, and he was feigning concern perfectly, or he knew more about the tea brew than Azula did. The second thing, sadly, was likely enough… but deep down Azula was convinced that the old man sitting beside her had begun suspecting she kept some genuinely controversial secrets: all this talk of sterility was but a trap, a ruse laid down to corner her into choosing whether to carry out a secret love affair or to privilege her future children instead. She'd do best to confirm with Mai that this tea couldn't possibly render her sterile, though… she wasn't ready to have children yet, but she had assumed she would be, at some point.

Worse yet, after the dream-like week she had shared with Sokka, she had as good as looked forward to them forming a family and raising children together, if the timing was ever right, if the world ever relented and allowed it to happen. Had she been told, five years ago, that this tea might make her barren, she would have consumed it by the gallons. Right now… right now she hesitated, wary of whatever she might have been doing to her body without her awareness.

If this was merely a cruel ploy from Iroh, which it likely was, Azula wouldn't forgive him. No, she wouldn't possibly let it slide. No matter how many manipulative excuses he might use to try to get closer to her, no matter how nicely he presented himself and how he pretended to be concerned with her health… she meant to close all doors on a potential reconciliation with the man if he truly had lied about something so serious just to get a reaction from her. She had done worse to other people, she supposed… but her patience with Iroh had been wearing thin for years. This would be the final push, the last nudge needed for a mountain to collapse upon itself, and Azula hardly needed more reasons to distrust her Uncle than what he would be giving her, if her suspicions were proven true…

He continued eating quietly now, though Azula could feel his stare upon her. He was studying her reaction, waiting for any openings, any vulnerabilities that might reveal the kind of weakness he could exploit. The kind of weakness that would allow him to push forward his ambitions to place Zuko on the throne instead of her… a futile endeavor, of course, considering Zuko was in the South Pole and had no intentions of returning to the Fire Nation for the foreseeable future.

She forced herself to eat as well, the frown on her brow heavy despite her best attempts to keep up appearances. Her appetite was as good as dead, but if she showed how much his claims had affected her, she'd land herself in more trouble than Iroh was worth. Still, the sooner she could get rid of him, the better.

"Will you be done anytime soon?" Azula asked, nonchalantly "As much as you may enjoy eating at leisure, I have quite a lot to do today, and I have to get started soon…"

"O-oh, of course, of course" said Iroh, nodding quickly. Azula flinched, realizing Iroh had no intentions of taking his food elsewhere, and instead he rushed through the meal, eating so recklessly he would make Sokka look dignified.

She held back a dismissive groan, but she said nothing as she took only a few more mouthfuls of rice and pushed herself up to her feet. He had certainly thrown her off, her newfound stability shattered by the looming threat of whatever Iroh might have guessed about her personal life… if only it weren't her uncle, if only it were anyone else, she could have put her trust in the hopes that the man might have mercy, that he might decide to overlook her apparent transgressions. But it was Iroh, the only person she knew who would be able to identify a tea brew with a single taste, who had spent his entire life learning all sorts of apparently trivial information about tea… only for it to prove not-so-trivial now. Curse everything, she should have turned him down as soon as he showed up at her door…

"I will say, though, despite the unfortunate brew you were partial to… I'm relieved I didn't have to work quite as hard as I did with Zuko to convince you that tea was worthwhile" Iroh said, chuckling as he finished his plate's contents at last "It took forever for Zuko to finally grasp its true virtues, instead of thinking it was merely… m-merely hot-leaf juice"

"Merely hot-leaf juice?" Azula repeated, sarcastically "Perish the thought…"

"I know!" Iroh exclaimed, shaking his head and standing up "But as you've already learned to appreciate tea, then the next time we do this I'll gladly bring you a batch of my best herbs…!"

"Next time?" Azula repeated, following him to her bedroom's door "What makes you think there will be a next time, Uncle? I thought we'd agreed this was only a one-time thing, and just to appease Toph…"

"Oh, well, you certainly said so, but I'd like to think you'll change your mind about that, just as you did about tea" Iroh said, grinning innocently. Azula's scowl was prominent and direct.

"Unlikely" she said, bluntly. Iroh stared at her in surprise.

"Really?"

"I'm far too busy for these pleasantries as of late. You only got away with it this time for Toph's sake, nothing more" Azula declared, curtly "So I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted, now please…"

She opened the door and waited for him to exit the room. Iroh seemed to hesitate for a moment but he offered her an encouraging smile before long.

"I did enjoy it. Thank you for humoring me" he said, bowing his head towards her "Good luck on your endeavors"

"Why, thank you…" Azula said, with an unpleasant tone, as Iroh stepped outside. She closed the door as soon as he was through the threshold and rolled her eyes before rushing to her wardrobe, muttering under her breath: "And good riddance to you, Uncle"

Her last spiteful words were spoken out of Iroh's earshot, even though he had lingered by the door, a slow, intelligent smile spreading over his face. Oh, she was sly, the smartest person in her generation, Iroh suspected. She had always been so capable, so perceptive, seeing through all traps, walking through them confidently after disarming anything that might ever threaten her. Constantly in pursuit of success and glory, striving to be the ideal heir for a father who would demand nothing but perfection from her…

And she was involved in an illicit love affair, out of wedlock.

Of all mistakes she could be making, of all things that could bring her down, this was by far the most unthinkable of all, and Iroh nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. His niece, ever so determined, so set in her ways, with liquid ambition coursing through her veins instead of blood… and yet she had caved in to the most mundane of needs, seeking out a man for pleasure and companionship even if that could easily spell out her doom.

Her father wouldn't stand for it, that went without saying. The proper, pure Fire Lord, ever loyal to the wife he had lost, hadn't taken a single lover after Ursa had left. He would never understand that his daughter could possibly have succumbed to the base needs of any common woman, not after having set an example for her, through all these years, of how righteous he was for dismissing love and lust as needless in a life in pursuit of power. He would expect her to be like him, surely, to rein back her emotions and urges if she experienced them at all… but she hadn't. That tea meant she hadn't.

The implications kept Iroh smiling in disbelief as he walked down the corridors, his arms behind his back. Perhaps it was too soon to tell… perhaps it was merely a hedonistic impulse, but it meant that she was, for once, breaking away from Ozai's expectations. And if she was breaking away from him in this one regard… then maybe she could be persuaded to do so in many others, just as well.

Still… if there was one thing he could tell right away, without needing any further information, or needing to scheme into making Azula reveal her truths, it was the identity of the man she would be sinning with. Because, while Iroh wouldn't have put it past her to take multiple lovers if the urge struck her, something already told him she had no need for it. She already had the perfect man at hand, ready and eager to please her at all times, in any regards…

The thought gave him pause as he slowed near his room. That, perhaps, was unfair to Sokka… the young man was, without a doubt, infatuated with Azula, but he was no fool either way. Iroh didn't know him too well, but what he had seen of him, what he had learned about him during their crisis in Ba Sing Se, had been enough for Iroh to develop some respect for him. It was easy to see why Azula had sensed potential in him… why other associates of Iroh's had, too. He wasn't a mere plaything for the Princess, to be toyed with until she grew bored. Their relationship was personal… it always had been.

From the moment he had seen Azula again, ten years after he had last been in the Fire Nation, he had sensed something odd about her behavior with her gladiator. She had taken to her feet, muttering words to herself as she waited for the time of his initial fight against Toph to run out, after which she had dashed out of the balcony without looking back… and later on he had come across her helping him walk in the Palace, his arm around her shoulders. It was the sort of thing he would have expected her to demand her servants to do for her: he would have never imagined someone as proud and stubborn as Azula would take upon such a strenuous task of her own volition.

By the time the Rough Rhinos incident had taken place, Iroh had decided to sabotage Azula's career in the Gladiator League by offering her exactly what she had sought for years: a genuine mission on the field, in exchange for neglecting the Gladiator Business. She had responded by taking her gladiator with her, but at the time she had been angry, tense, in a mood so foul she had reminded him eerily of Ozai whenever he had come across her. Iroh had told Sokka he was surprised by how much Azula trusted him by then, by how close they had become… and the aghast look on his face had convinced Iroh that the Blue Wolf's bond with his niece had been strained, if not outright severed, at that point. Perhaps it had something to do with why he and Toph had found Azula training so furiously in the Agni Kai chamber, merely a few weeks earlier…

That instance had unconsciously convinced him Azula would never pursue Sokka as a romantic partner… he didn't know for certain what had happened between them, but he had assumed any attempts to bridge their distance would have ended poorly. He suspected their partnership had improved later on because they had accepted the boundaries they had to abide by, the limits they couldn't break… but what if he had misread them all along? What if, when they had found them in Ba Sing Se's Palace, after their dangerous crash across the building's roof, Azula's relieved and sincere smile as she sat beside her gladiator had a bigger meaning than he had assumed? That time, when Sokka had stepped forward to defend her just after they had arranged his second fight against Toph… Iroh had taken it as merely a show of strength, of support towards his sponsor, to further the notion that theirs was some sort of unbreakable team… what if all of it had meant more than he had been willing to see, just like the glare he had given Iroh just the previous day?

For years Iroh had intended to tear down Azula's rise to power, and he had failed at it more often than not: Ozai constantly made matters easier for her, and the Princess herself had never been one to squander any opportunities she was given. Iroh had been blinded by his perceptions, by having believed he had read and weighed Azula properly… when the truth had been staring him in the face for who knew how long. Had this affair begun before Ba Sing Se, or afterwards? Had the signs been there all along, and he had been too set on his misconceptions about his niece to read them properly?

If this was lust, nothing but two impulsive young people acting on attraction, then Iroh had the means to take down Azula for good, leaving the way open for Zuko to return to take a throne that was rightfully his…

But what if it was love?

The possibilities Iroh had weighed in his mind on the previous day had doubled in size, at an alarming rate. Suddenly he found himself facing the most unexpected possibility: that his niece, of all people, would be capable of rebelling against Ozai if she truly cared for the man who was her partner in more ways than one. If she truly loved Sokka… then she would certainly want to be with him, wouldn't she? She would hope to share her life with him if their bond went deeper than what mere physical attraction could offer: her father, and his Fire Nation, would never allow that.

Wasn't she trying to remediate that, little by little, though? These slavery laws… Iroh hadn't understood, not in the least, why Azula would wish to offer slaves more leeway, more freedoms, a better life than what they were forced to endure. It seemed so unlike Ozai to allow her to get away with such laws… but perhaps they had something to do with some of the news he'd heard of the Capital while he was on the road with Toph. That slave rebellion… could Azula have turned it around to her benefit? For her relationship's benefit, most of all? By slowly but surely reinstating the rights of slaves, she would ease her nation into growing used to relationships between the highborn and the lesser members of society, such as that of her own, secret affair…?

It made perfect sense, even though he had never expected his niece to love someone, of course. She had been raised by Ozai under the belief that love and emotions were dreadful weaknesses, much like Iroh himself was raised to believe as much by Azulon, who preached the same nonsense. Iroh had learned otherwise on his own, over time, upon learning the benefits of mercy as opposed to cruelty, upon experiencing true happiness with his wife and son… had Azula begun questioning her father just as Iroh had questioned his own? He had never voiced his doubts, of course, constantly keeping to himself that he didn't believe in all of his father's philosophies anymore… if Azula was undergoing the same epiphanies he had, she would have to operate around Ozai, constantly watching her back, carefully setting up the pieces on her Pai Sho board before taking action and revealing her true hand…

All seemed perfect, seamless, to the point that Iroh's reservations upon having misunderstood Zuko's destiny for Azula's had as good as vanished… until it dawned upon him that, if that were the case, he had no role to play in it. Everything made sense… except that. He was supposed to be involved, wasn't he? Such were the words he had abided by through the past decades, that ethereal promise he had clung to…

"General Iroh, sir…?"

He was brought out of his ruminations to find he had been standing by his bedroom's door for a long time, unmoving, a hand on the pommel. The servant who had called him seemed puzzled, but he recognized her right away.

"Oh, Liling" said Iroh, smiling warmly at her "I was lost in thought…"

"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt, if so…" said Liling, lowering her gaze "It's merely, well… there's a council meeting today"

"Ah? And my brother sent you to inform me of it?" Iroh asked, amused.

"Well… no. But I had to prepare the Throne Room, along with others" Liling continued, before raising her gaze "I informed you as soon as I had the chance…"

Iroh smiled and nodded, patting the girl's shoulder. She smiled back, clearly eager for approval.

"You have done well" he said "I'll mention it in my next report"

"I… you honor me, Grand Lotus" Liling whispered quietly, her cheeks flushing with delight at her leader's acknowledgement. Iroh breathed deeply and dropped his hand.

"Well, then… I guess I have a council meeting to attend" he said, pulling his bedroom door open, a clever smirk spreading over his face anew.

---

Ozai's meetings were usually any of its invitees' first priorities. Preparing fully for them would be the only thing to occupy Azula's mind in normal circumstances, and she would try to push aside all other thoughts and concerns to focus properly on the subjects to be discussed, with varying degrees of success.

For once, though, Azula had hastened her preparations, buckled up her golden armor properly and fixed her hair before rushing down the Palace corridors, her brow heavily furrowed. First, she stopped by the kitchens retrieve the pouch of tea leaves she had been giving her maids for years now, so they could prepare her morning tea with them… she always kept another share of them in her room, as a precaution, but her procedure would have to change drastically from now on.

She had secured the tea, but she couldn't head to the meeting yet: she needed a word with the head of her servants, and she intended to have it as soon as possible. Knowing her uncle, the man wouldn't waste much time before seeking out the women who generally attended Azula's daily needs, hoping to figure out more glimmers of truth about her private life through their testimonies… and she had to cover all her bases before that could happen.

"Zhilan" Azula called the head of her maids, as soon as she found her inside the servants' resting room.

The woman, much older than the Princess, bolted to her feet. All the others around her were equally surprised by Azula's sudden appearance, casting wary glances at her, for she was clearly not in the best of moods.

"Y-yes, Princess? Is something amiss?" Zhilan asked, nervously.

"I need to have a private word with you" Azula said sternly.

It was sad to think her easy, blissful mood had been chased away so quickly by Iroh's meddling. Curse that man and his big nose… her blood nearly boiled upon thinking about him, as Zhilan followed her outside the room: Azula closed its door quickly, ensuring the rest of the servants would know better than to eavesdrop on their conversation in the corridor.

"W-was anything not to your liking today, Princess?" asked Zhilan.

"Other than my uncle's intrusion, everything was fine" Azula said, curtly. Zhilan flinched "If he tries this again, refuse to comply with his demands. That's an order"

"A-as you wish, Princess"

"On another note…" said Azula, her jaw square as she clenched her fists "I have confiscated the tea I usually take with my breakfast. From now on, bring juice instead"

"Oh? Was anything wrong with it?" asked Zhilan.

"It's not important" Azula said, quickly "I won't be taking it anymore. Now, though… if my uncle asks when I started drinking it, I want you to say it was two months ago"

"Two months…?" repeated Zhilan "But we've brewed this tea since-…"

"I'm well aware, Zhilan, but I've just given you an order, haven't I?" Azula said, unyielding steel in her glare. Zhilan flinched and nodded promptly "This is another one: under no circumstances will you reveal the truth, not to my uncle, nor anyone else. You will convey this order to the rest of my assigned servants and to the kitchens too. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Princess. Of course"

"Good, then. Thank you for your diligence" Azula said, breathing deeply before nodding in the woman's direction.

Had the situation been any less dire, any less worrisome, she wouldn't have been so harsh with Zhilan. But if Sokka's life hinged on keeping Iroh off their trail, she'd do anything in her power to stop his intrusions into her personal life. She meant to protect their relationship, regardless of the cost… regardless of whatever might be necessary to secure Iroh's permanent silence.

She had no more time to waste, though: the council meeting would begin soon, and surely her father would be waiting for her already. She sped up her pace on her way to the Throne Room, trying to ease some of her tension before seeing her father again. Ozai wasn't likely to be pleased to see her so stressed out again, but there was nothing she could do to help it at the moment…

Unfamiliar Imperial Guards opened the curtains for her once she reached the Throne Room, and she found around half the council was already there. Her father, as ever, sat at his throne, the place at his right hand available for her. She strode towards it confidently, drawing a few eyes to herself, but no one spoke to her as she climbed the steps to her seat, right next to the Fire Lord.

"Good morning, Father" Azula said, bowing respectfully towards him, as she ever did in the Throne Room. Ozai nodded in acknowledgement.

"Good morning to you as well, Azula" he said. She sat down beside him, legs crossed, taking slow and deep breaths to soothe her raging, terrified heart "Are you prepared for today's meeting?"

"I believe so. I read your report last night" Azula said, and Ozai smiled.

"Good to know you didn't tear through it as soon as you left my study"

"I have learned some restraint" Azula said, raising her eyebrows "Either way, I may have a few ideas to offer, depending on how the meeting unfolds…"

"Then I look forward to hearing them. Your ideas are quite often the better ones in any meeting I may hold" Ozai stated "You don't seem all that relaxed anymore, though… are you well, child?"

"It's… nothing" Azula started, despite knowing Ozai wouldn't be fended off that easily. She sighed though, rolling her eyes "Well, it is something. Iroh… I've only been around him for two days and he's already tried to test my patience beyond its natural limits"

"Oh. I see" said Ozai, grimacing "Have you discovered why they returned…?"

"It seems Zuko sent him a letter, from wherever he may be" Azula shrugged "There's not much information on his whereabouts, he merely wanted Iroh to stop traveling as much and take it easy, I suppose. But I'd be tempted to think my uncle actually returned just to make my life miserable…"

"And why's that?" Ozai asked, amused.

"He showed up at my doorstep this morning, adamant about sharing his meal with me" Azula said, grimacing. Ozai huffed.

"No wonder you're so moody"

"No wonder indeed" Azula said, shaking her head.

"I suppose he might just be hoping to turn you into his new surrogate child?" Ozai asked, amused "Perhaps that is whatever Zuko's letter led him to decide. He needed a replacement for him… and he decided to pick you"

"He's playing a game he has no hopes of winning if he truly expects to manipulate me into doing his bidding" Azula snapped "Zuko didn't know any better, but I do. I'm no one's puppet, let alone his"

"Indeed" said Ozai, smirking as the last members of his council finally took their seats around the map "But you can put your uncle out of your mind for the time being: we can begin now"

The usual rite before the meetings began, with the reciting of the Fire Nation's Oath. But once they were seated, and Ozai had gestured at War Minister Qin to begin, a stocky figure crossed the curtains nonchalantly…

"Ah, I'm sorry I'm late!"

Ozai's usual stoic semblance during these meetings shifted into irritation instantly as his brother waded through the men sitting around the world map. Iroh smiled awkwardly, the same way he ever did to lower people's guards… not that it had ever worked on Ozai, let alone on his daughter.

"Are you, now…?" Ozai said, scowling as Iroh clambered up to his position by Ozai's left hand.

"I heard in passing that there would be a meeting, I assumed my invitation got lost in the preparation process!"

"Oh, no doubt it did" Ozai said, seething. Of course his brother's invitation hadn't gotten lost: he hadn't been invited at all, in the first place. Iroh certainly had returned determined to be a nuisance for everyone, hadn't he?

Ozai exchanged a glance with his daughter: it didn't escape him that Azula seemed even more uncomfortable with Iroh's presence than he was. They were of one mind, then: the Dragon of the West was up to no good. Why exactly was he up to it in a council meeting that certainly didn't concern him, though?

"S-shall I begin, my Lord?" asked War Minister Qin, nervous now upon sensing Ozai's irritation. Nonetheless, the Fire Lord nodded.

"Please do, War Minister" Ozai declared, his voice powerful and commanding, as though to convey he would tolerate no more interruptions. War Minister Qin cleared his throat and obeyed.

"The Enforcers have begun operations in the mainland, and the success of their first raid has become public knowledge. The slavery laws have been official for two months to this date, and those who had doubted they would be enforced properly are now, most certainly, fearing retribution. Nevertheless, the Enforcers have not reached every Fire Nation territory just yet. Their activities are strictly limited to the mainland, and even nearby islands wait for their own Enforcers squads to arrive.

"Word has been sent from governors and mayors from all Fire Nation territories: if the slavery laws will be enforced, it must be done as soon as possible, everywhere. Many of them have manifested a desire to help with whatever requirements the Enforcers may need, in order to operate in their cities and towns… but they lie in wait for official orders from the mainland before they can know how to proceed. After all, the Enforcers are a new group, and as is known, they don't operate the same way any of the other army branches do.

"It would be in the Fire Nation's best interests, then, to determine how to enforce the new laws in the rest of our territories as fast as possible, with the cooperation of the leaders of each city and town"

With that, War Minister Qin took his seat. Azula waited, withholding her personal opinions until the rest of the council began voicing their own.

"If I may…" spoke up General Mak, stroking his chin "I believe it ought to be a priority to enforce the laws, rather than to focus on building the group responsible for it. Couldn't the Domestic Forces and Army help by taking up the Enforcers' duties until their numbers are large enough to cover all territories in the Fire Nation?"

"It would be a valid idea, but the Enforcers were assembled precisely because the army is known to be spread too thin" Azula cut in "Both the Domestic Forces and the Army have their own duties to uphold, duties they shouldn't neglect by taking up new ones that they are scarcely trained for"

"That may be so, but you cannot hope to train enough new Enforcers quickly enough to attend the needs of the Colonies" said Mak, frowning "Even if you increased your recruitment efforts, you'll be hard-pressed to assemble enough squads to cover such vast territories and major settlements"

"There have been no recruitment efforts in the Colonies for the Enforcers, though" Azula said "I wouldn't intend to train large numbers of Enforcers in the mainland only to send them out to work in lands and cities locals would be far better suited to work in"

"Then… you'd convey the order of recruiting new Enforcers to each leader in the Colonies and the Fire Nation islands?" said Commander Gon, puzzled "But… who will instruct the new recruits? How will they know how to proceed? The laws establish some of their procedures but surely you have developed some of your own while training this first generation of Enforcers…"

"Perhaps we are getting ahead of ourselves" said General Ling "First of all, we need to determine whether action will be taken about the Colonies already or not. I believe it's a risky gamble: unless we have a fail-proof plan on how Enforcers operations in the Colonies should unfold, blindly investing resources into building Enforcers bases and training new recruits abroad may be ill-advised"

"A fair point, though I have no intentions of withholding whatever resources may be needed for the success of this venture" Ozai said, glancing at Azula "Nonetheless, a proper plan would be preferable to shots in the dark with little hope of success. I suspect, though, that you already have something in mind, Princess Azula?"

"I do" Azula said, nodding "Each location, each city and town, will be different from the others. As General Ling pointed out, resources will be needed for the building of bases for the recruits to train and to host the confiscated slaves in. I believe reconnaissance will be needed: either I or another highly ranked member of the Enforcers should travel to each major settlement in the Fire Nation, to determine with the local authorities how to address recruitment, training, availability of buildings and everything else that might be necessary for the Enforcers to operate in each location. I understand this isn't how most army branches proceed, but as the Enforcers are needed everywhere, as quickly as possible, it's in our best interests to ensure as much efficiency in recruitment and training in the individual cases of each town and city"

"If time constraints and efficiency concern you, though, that kind of trip probably wouldn't be your best bet" said Iroh, surprising Azula with his intervention.

"Is there a better alternative?" Azula asked, frowning warily.

"I believe there is" said Iroh, grinning "Arrange a meeting, whether with all governors and mayors or with their representatives: they can inform you of their circumstances and available resources, and you can design specific instructions for each representative once you've met with them. In fact… hold a large briefing on the general duties and procedures for the Enforcers, first of all! After that, instruct those who need it in detail, and then, weeks or months after they begin recruitment efforts, you can travel to each settlement to ensure all is going according to plan"

"That seems dangerous, though" said Commander Gon "A gathering of that magnitude… with all mayors and governors? It would be ripe for criminals and rebels to attack…"

"Proper security can be arranged, I'm sure…" said Iroh, shrugging "I doubt the meetings would last longer than a week, too. A convenient, secret location can be selected for this gathering, and all preparations should be as quiet as possible, so no enemies of the Fire Nation catch wind of what's happening"

"Still risky… yet there's merit to this idea" Ozai said, begrudgingly. Acknowledging, in public, that his brother had said something reasonable was as pleasant as willfully swallowing poison "Each authority in the islands and Colonies should be contacted once we have settled on a location for this meeting and ensured its full protection. A two-weeks' notice ought to be enough for each representative to arrive safely, yes?"

"Ideally, yes" said War Minister Qin, nodding promptly.

"Princess Azula, the Enforcers are yours" Ozai said, glancing at his daughter now. Her face was a stern mask right now "Nonetheless, you are free to send a representative of your own too, if you'd prefer to remain in the Capital…"

"I'll go" she said, without a hint of doubt. She didn't even glance at Iroh, despite his reaction to her words was likely of vital importance… "The current Enforcers' leadership should continue their work in the mainland, pulling them away from those duties would hinder the organization instead of benefitting it. I'm better suited for this task than they could be"

Ozai nodded, before asking War Minister Qin more questions regarding the possible locations for the upcoming meeting. Half an hour later, they were discussing which commanding officer in the room would be tasked with all matters pertaining security for the event: once that was settled, Ozai declared their meeting adjourned.

All signs pointed at this being the right course of action, the smart one, even… yet Azula's unease was on the rise. Iroh had certainly offered a good idea on how to proceed, perhaps the best one altogether… but his motives couldn't be more suspicious. Cutting across Azula's idea to travel across all Fire Nation-held lands, backing her into a corner so she'd have to take a shorter trip instead, one that would allow little to no leisure time, let alone chances to attend gladiator fights in any available Arenas in the territories she'd visit…

She wasn't surprised at all to find Iroh intercepting her with a pleased grin on his face once she was ready to leave the Throne Room. Ozai had taken off already, as had most his council members, leaving only a handful of them near the door.

"You forgot to mention at breakfast that your urgent business was this meeting, Azula" he said, with innocent amusement. Azula scoffed.

"I had no reason to" she declared "As helpful as your intervention may have been, Uncle, you've had nothing to do with the slavery laws so far. You said yourself you haven't even read them"

"Uh… I haven't. But I suspect I'll have enough time to read them on my way to the meeting" Iroh said, with a shrug. Azula's frown deepened.

"You'll what, now?" she said. He grinned.

"I didn't announce my interest in attending, I feared you might say no and Ozai would deny me the opportunity…" he said "But as much as I haven't read these laws yet, they interest me greatly. What you have done for the nation, for the forsaken and forgotten… it is no easy feat, Princess Azula, I hope you're aware of that. It pleases me you're making such efforts for those who need them most"

"Ah. No doubt it does" Azula hissed, scowling "So, you just want to see everything up close? That's what this is about?"

"Of course" said Iroh, chuckling "I'm thinking… perhaps Toph is right. Perhaps I didn't give you the credit you deserve"

"Right. Excuse me if I don't jump for joy at having your approval" Azula said, rolling her eyes "This is a mission, Uncle, an important one but a mission all the same. As such, I want it to succeed. You needn't make a bigger deal out of it than that"

"Well, I suppose you'd think that…" Iroh whispered, scratching the back of his head.

"You truly don't have anything to gain from coming along. You've already been on the road for a whole year, after a decade of traveling with Zuko" Azula said, rolling her eyes "You do realize you're not getting any younger, don't you?"

"Ah, concerned for my health? No need, no need…!"

"Hardly" Azula snapped, though Iroh continued to laugh.

"It will be my honor to be part of this meeting, I'm sure" said Iroh, beaming "You'll write history with your decisions, Princess Azula"

"So it seems, Uncle" Azula huffed, shaking her head "At any rate, I have to check on the Enforcers and I'd like to think you'll finally stop following me around places…"

"Oh, sure, until the big meeting with the Colonies' representatives!" Iroh said, grinning at her. Azula rolled her eyes again as she moved towards the curtains dangling at the Throne Room's threshold.

Yet, to Iroh's surprise, the Princess stopped before crossing them, shooting one of her trademark deadly glares at him from over her shoulder.

"You're terribly enthusiastic about this, so I guess I should warn you: if you have the slightest intention to sabotage that meeting in any way, or to cause more trouble than you could ever hope to be worth… it will be the very last time you ever meddle in my affairs, Uncle. For good"

Iroh only smiled and shrugged, betraying no fear at the Princess's blatant threat. As soon as she crossed the curtains, though, his grin faded: Zuko hadn't been gentle at the earliest stages of their ten-year voyage, but he couldn't remember him speaking threats as icily as Azula could. Then again, Zuko had only been thirteen back then… Azula was almost twice his age by now. And it was Azula, too… She was cold, calculating, obsessed with triumph and glory. All those things he knew, and he liked none of them.

But this was the chance he needed to see through her cracks, to discover whether she was every bit as heartless as her father was, or if that was merely the surface that concealed a purer heart than Iroh thought lay underneath. She hadn't hesitated upon facing this first trap… a trap meant to test whether she would be willing to be away from her gladiator for over a week or not. Had she sensed his intent? Seeing how guarded she constantly was, it wouldn't surprise him in the least if she had. So perhaps this was all bravado… all of it in attempts to cover up for what she knew Iroh was already guessing at.

If that was the case, there was no doubt left, not that Iroh had any, that the man in her life was her gladiator. And she would be protecting him and their relationship by putting distance between them, by trying to steer Iroh away from his suspicions…

If it wasn't the case, though, it meant Iroh had seen a whole world worth of suspicions in something utterly coincidental, casual, irrelevant as Azula's terrible taste in tea. If only Azula's history with her gladiator had been any different, if there was no fondness between them both, perhaps Iroh would be less inclined to suspect anything… but he was willing to believe Azula could amount to more than the sum of her parts. Just as someone, long ago, had believed the same of him…

At first, he had survived off the money he had brought with him upon ditching the convoy that was meant to guide him to his warship: instead of going home, as he had been supposed to, he had deserted the army. Later on, he had struggled and begged for help from the same people upon whom he had cast the dark shadows of war by steering his soldiers right to their doorstep. Some were generous: others recognized him, and there was no generosity to be found in them, only fear, rage and vengeance.

By the last days of his lone journey, he had sold his royal armor, his weapons, everything of value he had ever clung to. His once dark hair fell off his scalp in fistfuls of silver clumps, having changed colors within weeks, months, however long he had been on the road, he didn't know how much time it had been anymore. He walked barefooted across the land, feet bleeding across the rocky grounds, his body trembling as the cold breeze blew against his body: the wind was far warmer than the death-like ice that seemed to have taken the place of his heart.

He didn't remember at what point he had tripped and fallen, at what point had he lost consciousness, suspecting he'd never regain it… hoping for it, even. For, if he didn't wake again, it might mean he would find Lu Ten in the Spirit World, the only place he had wanted to reach anymore…

He didn't notice his rescuers' arrival. How they had carried him away, he didn't know either. For how long he was unconscious, they never told him: he woke again in a humble hut, the sounds of a crackling fireplace both familiar and unknown to his ears. His mind was a blur, his thoughts a jumble… and yet they both seemed to clear quickly upon recognizing the man who sat beside him, watching him sleep with the stern fixation of a frustrated teacher with an unruly student.

The scars over his eyebrow, the disapproving scowl upon his features, were all reminiscent of a man he had known before… The shaggy hair and the ragged clothes were nothing like what Iroh could remember of him, though. The fire of determination that had once glowed in Jeong Jeong's eyes had faded slowly with every day he had spent serving Fire Lord Azulon… but it was back now. Why? How had he found Iroh? What did he intend to do next? Weak as he was, Iroh didn't dare ask any questions yet…

Yet it all had a purpose. It wasn't chance that Jeong Jeong had found him… It wasn't chance that Lu Ten had died when he did. All of it had to happen, or else the world would never change, never evolve further. The former admiral had committed crimes against the Earth Kingdom as severe as Iroh's own… yet in their older years they had opened their eyes and understood the wrong in their beliefs. Would it be so unreasonable for a younger woman as smart as Azula to do the same?

Iroh sighed, hoping deeply that his newfound faith in his niece would be rewarded. For, if it wasn't, the Princess was only bound to further submerge their world in the certain doom her father already had condemned it to.

---

Xin Long sent reassuring thoughts to Azula as they flew to the Enforcers' headquarters, but the Princess's tension wouldn't fade away easily. Iroh had nothing but circumstantial evidence, nothing but shallow suspicions he could hardly make use of… and yet they were spot-on, of course they were. Any mistakes, any slip-ups, and one of her very worst enemies would have every bit of ammunition he needed to tear her to shreds. Unlike Zhao, who had assumed Sokka's affection for Azula was harmless, Iroh would weaponize his knowledge. He would turn it to his favor, to Zuko's favor, or what he thought was Zuko's favor, and…

Xin Long jolted, startling her out of her thoughts as they neared the building. The dragon raised his head to look at her reproachfully, and Azula sighed, running her hands through his mane.

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be so tense, he doesn't have enough on me to accuse me of anything serious yet… but hell, he's testing me in every way he can. And if that bullshit about the tea were true, Xin, I…"

Oh, she didn't know what she'd do, truthfully. Even now it seemed unlikely, nothing but a tale he had spun to scare her into giving up tea if she was to bear children someday, as was expected of her. But it felt like she was running at full strength with Iroh hot on her heels, and he kept gaining on her, no matter what she did. He couldn't be trusted, that much went without saying… but how far was he willing to go to destroy her? Did he know any restraint? Would he blackmail her once he had solid evidence of her relationship with Sokka? Would he reveal the truth openly without giving her a chance to bribe him or threaten him into silence…?

She had to put an end to his pestering, as soon as possible. If he would attach himself to her upcoming trip, then that was where she would set matters straight with Iroh for once and for all. Whether by lying and claiming she had nothing to do with Sokka – a lie she would despise herself for uttering, however necessary it might be –, or by threatening him into full silence if he found indisputable evidence of her so-called crimes… either way, she had to ensure Iroh wouldn't pose a threat to their relationship, to everything they had worked for over the past years, and she knew Sokka would agree completely with that notion.

Xin Long seemed to have given up on helping his rider relax by the time he landed in one of the Enforcers' training courtyards. Azula climbed off the saddle and thanked him for the ride, her brow pressed against his for a brief moment.

"I know I'm being no fun again… I hope it won't be for long" she sighed "I'll be back soon, likely. Try not to set anyone on fire by then"

Xin Long rolled his eyes at her request, complaining that he'd have no means of entertainment if he couldn't do that. Azula smiled warmly at him before entering the building: strangely enough, there was no one in the larger courtyard where she often landed with Xin Long. In all likelihood, the majority of the Enforcers were still working with the slaves directly and they couldn't devote the same amount of time to martial training as they used to.

Commander Rahi had been in his office, and he seemed genuinely surprised and pleased to see Azula again. She exchanged pleasantries with the man before summoning him to another room. Before long, she had gathered Sergeant Daiki and Captain Jung-woo as well: the last to arrive was Captain Mei Xun, who seemed both relieved and aghast to see her, for reasons Azula had as good as forgotten about after having spent an entire morning panicking over her uncle and his dangerous antics.

"Welcome back, Princess" Mei Xun said, smiling half-heartedly "I hope your time off was enjoyable"

"It was, but it's over now and I would very much like to focus on what requires our attention" Azula said, simply, before gesturing at the rest of the Enforcers' leaders to take their seats on the available chairs in the room. She remained on her feet, however "I read the report on the activities of the Enforcers last night. I wished to congratulate all of you for a job well done: this first raid could have been chaotic, but you have handled yourselves adeptly, as officers of your caliber ought to"

"Thank you, Princess…" said Sergeant Daiki, smiling nervously as he blushed at those compliments.

"That being said, there are some issues that need to be addressed" Azula said, her arms behind her back as she turned to Commander Rahi "I believe you were the one who added the addendum in the report about the difficulties faced in handling the slave markets?"

"Yes" said Rahi, nodding "Raids may be the core of the action, but we cannot turn a blind eye to the final stage of our process. Many slave markets in the Capital are still barely adequate, in accordance with the law, and we have a fair share of slaves who haven't been relocated to markets because of that"

"How are the sales of those markets still in conditions to operate?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I suppose the right word is… complicated" said Rahi "Many people seem outright scared of owning slaves by now, and I suspect it will only get worse when raids come closer to their immediate vicinity. Demand is not as high as it could be, out of fear of consequences of the Enforcers' actions, so the available markets are still nearly fully stocked…"

"I see" Azula said, breathing deeply "Any other concerns to bring to the table?"

"There is one" Mei Xun said, leaning forward on her chair "Tracking down the people who fled just before we reached Hui Yi has proven… difficult, at best, impossible in most cases. The underworld of the Fire Nation is, most likely, harboring the fugitives. The same underworld the old slavery system operated in…"

"It probably still does, in truth" Azula said, bluntly. The disappointed faces of the younger officials didn't shake Azula, though: they had to be aware of the problems they were facing if they hoped to do anything to resolve them "Prohibition breeds illegality. Many people will refuse to abide by the new laws at all costs, finding them unfair, uncomfortable and unnecessary. If they can get away with buying slaves in black markets and escape our notice, they will"

"Once we have enough recruits we'll be able to raid places more often" said Captain Jung-woo "The procedures establish that we have the right to perform surprise raids at any given moment, in any households suspected of slave mistreatment. Even if they acquire the slaves by dishonest means, we can still get them out of there, can't we?"

"Certainly, but wouldn't it be better if we could avoid reaching such extremes, altogether?" Azula asked.

"Do you have anything in mind?" Mei Xun asked. Azula shrugged.

"Perhaps" she mused, leaning against the table behind her "The Enforcers have only started out, so it stands to reason that we are still working by trial and error. Only now, after the first raid, do we face many new difficulties that come with our duties. If we hope to be more successful, more efficient, we must learn from this initial experience to improve our future performances. So… we need to create different divisions for our forces"

"Different divisions?" asked Sergeant Daiki.

"We will need a division devoted to security and enforcing of the laws in the markets" Azula said "It won't have to be huge, of course, but it will be necessary all the same. These officials will be specialized in supervising slave markets, improving their conditions and ensuring all laws are respected there. We already have some Enforcers stationed in the markets as guards, but it's not enough, so… I'd say it's time to create a division dedicated to conditioning the slave markets alone"

"That would certainly help matters" said Rahi, nodding promptly.

"If necessary, feel free to find other retired officers, or administrative ones, to lead the market division, if that's the name we'll give it" Azula said, with raised eyebrows "You'll still be in charge of administering the bulk of the Enforcers, Commander Rahi, so it may be a safer bet if you don't overwork yourself by taking up a role at the helm of the market division, too"

"Understandable. I think I can track down some officers who could be interested in the job" Rahi said, nodding.

"And of course, we would need yet another division" Azula said, looking at Mei Xun now "A division devoted to intelligence, to be precise"

"Espionage?" Mei Xun asked, surprised.

"Indeed" Azula said, nodding "Either by recruiting people who are close to the Fire Nation's criminal underbelly, or by infiltrating versatile spies into towns and villages that are hotbeds of crime like Hui Yi, a division dedicated to unraveling everything that eludes uniformed officials and commanding officers like ourselves. This, I suspect, will help us figure out what forces supported the former slavery system, and we may have a better chance at dismantling it this way"

"It won't be easy" said Captain Jung-woo "Perhaps it can be done, but I don't think any of us have been trained in stealth operations or infiltration, right?"

"I doubt it, but I know of some soldiers with experience in those matters" Mei Xun said, biting her lip "I can try to recruit them for the Enforcers, if you believe it's wise, Princess"

"I do, actually. That would be quite helpful" Azula said, nodding "I doubt we'll be able to take down the entirety of the black markets and illicit businesses easily, it's an ambitious goal to have… but striking at them, showing they're not safe from the Enforcers either, may be the first step towards ensuring that everyone abides by the laws as they're supposed to"

"So, there should be strike teams, spies… it will be a sophisticated, specialized group" said Mei Xun, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm "This might just work, though it will take time for it to be arranged properly. It will be very dangerous, though, potentially the most dangerous of all three branches within the Enforcers…"

"It would be, yes" Azula conceded "But Rahi is right: the raids aren't everything. If these are new problems you've identified, then they're problems that need to be addressed. If, by the time these problems are settled you find new ones, we'll deal with those, too. An illness can't be treated if it doesn't display any symptoms, and the same is true to our efforts with the slavery laws. We are off to a good start, but our work as Enforcers is only just beginning"

The four sitting opposite her seemed pleased with her words, something Azula took as a triumph as she announced they could return to their duties now. She only hoped her leadership would continue to be so agreeable to the group in the future: the more problems arose, the more difficult it would prove to clog the holes that were certain to appear in their boat. However satisfied as they might be right now, leadership wasn't bound to be a bed of roses, and she would do best to prepare herself for a future where their meetings might not proceed so smoothly…

The three men filed out of the room one by one, but Captain Mei Xun lingered behind, electing to close the door again once Rahi had left. Azula raised an eyebrow at the woman, inquisitively.

"Any reason why you're keeping us both in this room, Captain Mei Xun? I have some other business to attend to…" said Azula. Mei Xun nodded.

"I know you do, but I… I have something to report that I preferred to speak about in private" said Mei Xun, frowning.

"Oh? Do tell…" Azula said, hoping to sound intrigued rather than dismissive…

"It's about Instructor Sokka…" said Mei Xun, her brow furrowed "Today is the first time we've seen him in over a week"

"Ah. And I'm hardly surprised to hear it" Azula said, unable to repress a smile "Were his swordsmanship classes sorely missed…?"

"Well, the more experienced students took to leading the others through their drills and starting the new recruits with the basics" Mei Xun said, her hands on her hips "But… I'm quite displeased, if I may say so. I understand he's a slave, different rules apply to him, to a fault… but this lack of discipline is unacceptable. I haven't spoken properly with him yet, I thought perhaps you were more likely to get through to him since you know him better, but I certainly expected him to behave with more dignity than he has displayed over the last week"

"I see…" said Azula, raising her eyebrows "Well, truthfully, Sokka has been at my beck and call for years now. It's little surprise that, at the first chance of freedom he's had in such a long time, he took advantage of it to avoid his duties. He's here today, you said?"

"Yes, and he's certainly apologized profusely for not showing up…" said Mei Xun, scowling "But…! Oh, it may not be my place to say this, but I feel I must. Had he merely been indisposed for a reasonable excuse, I wouldn't be quite as outraged. But Princess… I visited his house, intending to check on him and ensure he was alright, and upon arriving I overheard… I overheard he was being intimate with a woman. I don't know who it was"

"Oh…" Azula said, with a snarl of disgust "No wonder you're so disappointed"

"You understand, right?" said Mei Xun, frowning "He has a duty to the Enforcers! Neglecting it for nothing but… but debauchery! It's something unbefitting of a man of his station!"

"Then again, you forget who he is…" Azula sighed "That rebellious fool often does whatever he wants, whenever he wants to: in many regards he hardly feels like a slave at all. I won't deny it's quite unnerving to know he was squandering his duties just to be with a woman… but at the same time, I've demanded much of him for all this time. It's not that strange that he would want a taste of freedom as soon as it was there for the taking…"

"Doesn't this make him unreliable?" Mei Xun asked, worried "As… as a partner for you, I mean. If he's so fickle, wouldn't he be liable to escaping when… when you need him for fights, for instance?"

"If that were the case, he would have been long gone by now" Azula smiled "Neglecting his duties during this week was a dreadful mistake on his part, hands down… but he came back here now anyways. I will, of course, have a word with him about his unacceptable behavior, but I'd say you can cut him some slack. As we've all learned, slaves have suffered through more than most of us can dare imagine"

"I… I know that" Mei Xun sighed, lowering her gaze "It just seemed unfair. Because, for him to do such a thing while you were gone seemed…"

"Seemed… like what?" Azula asked, when Mei Xun froze. The older woman grimaced, though, avoiding the Princess's eyes.

"I-it merely seemed to me that you deserved a more loyal gladiator than that" Mei Xun finished, uneasily. Azula smiled.

"Well, then, I'll try to straighten him out into one now, if I can" she said "Thank you for your concern regardless, Mei Xun"

Azula walked away quickly, leaving the Captain to follow her with her gaze. If the woman's hesitation and nervousness suggested she, as well, had suspicions about Azula's relationship with her gladiator, the Princess most certainly didn't care to hear about them, today of all days. The sooner she spoke to Sokka, the better.

For he was here, training new recruits, and goodness, as difficult as today had been, knowing she would see him was enough to lighten her heavy heart. She sped her way through the corridors until she found him in a courtyard, smaller than the one where she had left Xin Long. There were about twelve young women standing in formation before him, all of them wielding wooden swords, admiration plain across their features as they listened intently to their instructor.

"You have the basics down, that much is true, but you're way too stiff and that won't do" Sokka was declaring, hands on his hips "A sword master must be nimble, dexterous, flowing from one stance to the other just as smoothly as thoughts follow each other in our heads. There's a purpose to each of the stances you've learned, but you'll have to duel each other to understand what they are, I suppose…"

The excitement was plain on the apprentices' faces upon the prospect of duels. Sokka smiled before pairing the twelve up into six duos: moments later the girls were attempting to fight, at first clumsily following suit with their prior training, but soon enough growing more aggressive, breaking protocol easily. Sokka watched them with a crooked eyebrow: these recruits were still too fresh, but he intended to intensify their training so they could catch up to the rest of the Enforcers in no time.

He was so serious and determined that he hadn't noticed Azula's gaze upon him. She couldn't hold back an instinctive, blissful smile before striding as quietly as possible towards him.

"See? Can't hold your sword that way or you'll drop it!" Sokka called to one pair "And you two, careful with your footing, any enemy would knock you down without breaking a sweat if you stand like that! And hey! Cool it down a notch, you're not trying to behead your partner with a wooden sword, are you?!"

"Sounds like you have your hands full, Instructor Sokka"

He jumped at the sound of that voice behind him, and the inevitable smile spread over his face as he turned around quickly. His trainees went forgotten as his eyes found Azula's, his heart beating ever faster just to be near her again.

"Azula!" he grinned, before remembering himself, to a fault. How he longed to rush in and kiss her… instead he straightened up, smiling awkwardly at her "Uh, hello, is what I meant. Good to know you could drop by! These are the new recruits, heh! A lively bunch, they are!"

"I can tell" Azula smiled, wishing she could restrain the fondness she sensed in her own voice, the warmth she regarded him with. She was in plain sight for the recruits, as much as they were still sparring and not focused on their instructor at all, and she should be more careful, all in all… but she couldn't quite control herself these days "They show some promise, at least. Looks like a few are quite eager to beat each other to a pulp…"

"Yeah, you know how it is… you weren't all that different when you started training with me" Sokka smiled, and Azula laughed softly.

"I suppose that's fair" she said, watching as one girl successfully disarmed another.

"I did it!" she exclaimed, turning to find Sokka with her gaze "Instructor Sokka, I…! Oh! Princess Azula!"

Her loud exclamation interrupted the concentration of everyone else in the courtyard: suddenly all eyes were on her, and if she had thought they seemed to admire Sokka before, it was nothing compared with how awed every single one of those twelve girls were upon being in her presence. In a very disorderly fashion, all of them bowed down clumsily, some dropping their swords, others fumbling with what to do with them as they performed their reverences. Despite her usual annoyance at nervous bowing, Azula couldn't help but smile this time.

"I take it they haven't been here very long…" she said, assuming they would be more disciplined soon "Rise, all of you"

"Do you need anything, though?" Sokka asked, biting his lip as the girls obeyed the Princess's order, eyeing them expectantly. Azula nodded.

"A word with you, if possible… about your activities over the past week, or so" Azula said, smiling dryly. Sokka raised an eyebrow, confused "I've spoken with Captain Mei Xun, and, well… is it true you neglected your duties for as long as I've been absent?"

"U-uh… I, w-well…" said Sokka, grimacing. Azula's smile couldn't seem to stop growing, even if she knew that was beyond ill-advised in these circumstances.

"I'll take your stuttering as confirmation, then" she said, shaking her head "Come on. We have much to discuss"

"We do? Uh, well… okay, Enforcers, keep on cycling through the drills I taught you earlier" Sokka said to his apprentices "I'll be back soon, I think? Probably?"

"You'll have to be, else I'll end up on trial for mistreating my slave" Azula teased him, leading the way towards a nearby flight of stairs.

"Heh. That certainly is a relief these days" Sokka conceded, smiling reassuringly at his students "Keep it up, I'll be back soon!"

"Y-yes, Instructor Sokka" said the one who had disarmed her opponent earlier, watching with surprised curiosity as he sprang after the Princess with an undignified stumble.

Azula walked through the corridor, then up a flight of stairs, quickening her pace until she picked a room that seemed far enough from the courtyard to provide them with proper privacy. Sokka's hand darted off faster than hers, and he opened the door for her with a gallant grin before following her inside the room.

She had so much to tell him, too much of importance had happened in a single damned day… but first of all she had to kiss him fiercely, her hands cupping his face as he hoisted her in his arms, ever holding her closely. They didn't often indulge in escapades of the sort while in the Enforcers' Headquarters, but it seemed today was fated to be an exception.

"I missed you so much…" Sokka spoke against her lips between many kisses. Azula groaned, clawing at the back of his shirt as she claimed his mouth countless times with her own.

"I think I missed you more… I'm sure I did, actually" she whispered.

"Oh, yeah? What's this, some sort of silly competition again…?" Sokka teased her "Or… did something happen? Azula…"

"I wish it were a competition, really…" she sighed, dropping her head against his shoulder "Yes, something happened. Many things, if anything. And you're not going to like it"

"Something bigger than the nasty glares Mei Xun keeps shooting my way?" Sokka grimaced "I guess she's not a gossip, despite I feared she might be… no one's treated me all that poorly. I think she didn't tell anyone about my supposedly fickle allegiances…"

"She's definitely mad at you, yes" said Azula, smiling weakly "And I think she suspects we're… well, closer than we should be, so what you supposedly did amounts to an unforgivable betrayal in her eyes. Getting her to come around won't be easy, though not impossible, I hope. Whereas there's a much worse threat on the horizon…"

"Uh-oh…"

"Iroh" Azula said, closing her eyes. Sokka's stomach sank heavily.

"Iroh? Wait… what do you mean? The White Lotus… or is he onto us too?" Sokka asked.

"The second thing, and it's my fault" Azula sighed, covering her face with her hands as she stepped away from Sokka "I was a fool. Toph complained so much about how we don't get along yesterday, and he claimed she'd complained about it to him, too, so… so he came to patch things up between us, at least to a fault, over breakfast. But I drink my tea at breakfast, and…"

"Oh, no. No. The bastard realized what kind of tea it was…?" Sokka said, eyes widening.

"Have you ever known someone half as devoted to studying tea brews as my uncle?" Azula asked, grimacing "Because I sure haven't. The second he tasted it, he… he knew I couldn't be drinking something like that for any other reason, even if I claimed I genuinely enjoyed the flavor and played it as though I had no idea it could prevent pregnancy. And now… now I'm doing anything I can to get him off our trail. The story I made up wasn't believable enough, and he's hellbent on figuring out what's going on between us"

"That's bad. Really bad" Sokka said, his hands trembling as he longed to hold his Princess again "Do you have any plans on how to deal with this yet? Do you need me to do anything…?"

"To train the Enforcers… to stay here, and keep working hard, and regain Mei Xun's trust" Azula sighed "I need you to do that… while I'm abroad at a meeting about the slavery laws"

The disheartenment she found in his eyes was both devastating and moving. She had no choice but to leave him behind for a few weeks, she knew this… and yet she didn't know how she'd ever find the courage to sail away for a trip that wouldn't include him. She couldn't remember the last time she'd done that.

"Why? How…? Did he arrange that?" Sokka asked, distrustful.

"Something along those lines, yes" Azula whispered "I'd offered to travel through the cities in the Colonies, to meet with the authorities of each of them to instruct them on how to recruit their own Enforcers, and he interjected that it would be much more efficient to summon governors and mayors to a specific location for a meeting instead. Had I refused and insisted on going on a longer trip despite this was a much more efficient solution, he could have taken it as confirmation that I can barely stomach being away from you… which indeed, I can't, but if I'm going to mislead him about us, he can't know that, can he?"

"Ugh" Sokka groaned, reaching up to clasp Azula's shoulders to draw her into another tight embrace. The Princess sighed, clutching at his clothes, her face buried in his chest "Sometimes I still wonder if we're too paranoid, if maybe he's the one in the right and we're too stubborn and thickheaded to understand Iroh… but then he does this kind of stuff and I just want to beat him to a pulp"

"I can't say I agree with the first notion, but if you do want to beat him up, I certainly won't get in your way" Azula smiled, nuzzling his neck "I guess if I told you what he said about the tea you might just snatch Xin Long's reins and fly to the Palace to do just that…"

"What do you mean?" Sokka asked.

"I… I don't know if there's any truth to his claim, but I suspect there isn't" Azula started "In all likelihood, Iroh was only trying to get a rise out of me with stupid provocations…"

"And he failed, right?"

"So far, yes. I can't say my patience will last much longer, though" Azula sighed "He… he claimed drinking this tea in large quantities could render me sterile"

"He… wait, what?!" Sokka said, pulling away to stare at her in astonishment "That can't be right… can it? I mean, if that were true…!"

"Mai would've said something, right? I thought so too" Azula whispered "It makes no sense to me. Whatever hazards there could be in it, they can't be quite that serious. But he knows one of my vital duties as Crown Princess is to provide the Royal Family with heirs, so if I had insisted on drinking the tea it would have meant I'd be willing to risk sterility… and why on earth would I privilege an unpleasant tea brew over my own offspring, if not so I could continue carrying out a secret relationship?"

"Then he's definitely onto you. Onto us" Sokka huffed, shaking his head "What can we do, then? Do you have any ideas on how to make him stop?"

"A few, all unpleasant, but necessary" Azula sighed "The problem really resides in… in how much distance we'll have to hold between us so he'll leave us alone. For how long, too…"

"For crying out loud" Sokka huffed, pressing his forehead to hers "If it's too long, I really might just take extreme measures to put a stop to this…"

"I won't blame you in the least for that" Azula smiled, reaching up to caress his cheek "As for the tea's alleged dangers, I will speak with Mai about it tomorrow once I meet with them. Now I have a very good reason not to forget about our encounter"

"Yeah, make sure you'll be okay" Sokka said, taking her hands in his to kiss her knuckles softly "I know you've said you don't know if you want kids, but I'd rather you're all healthy and not having them by choice than not having any because there's no choice at all… ugh, there ought to be something men could do too. It's stupid that you're the only one taking measures to avoid pregnancy… women can't be pregnant without a man, can they?"

"You know as much" Azula smiled "I suppose you could look into it, if you'd like. As for me… I'll have to stop drinking that tea in the Palace now, at risk of being caught by Iroh. If I can visit you early in the morning I'll brew it at your house, otherwise… I guess I'll just have to do it here, if I can"

"Curse him, really. Putting you through all this for… for what?" Sokka grumbled "What the hell does he expect to gain from making you lose everything you've gained over the last years?"

"I wish I knew" Azula sighed "Zuko isn't coming back to take my position anytime soon. Beyond his obvious interest in supporting him, even if Zuko outright refused his assistance, Iroh has never been easy to read"

"So we're just clueless about whatever he intends. If he finds out about us, if he confirms it… should we expect the worst?" Sokka asked, nervously. Azula nodded, even if her entire chest seemed to collapse upon itself at the very thought.

"Maybe he'll surprise us, right? Maybe he'll turn out to be innocent and nice. But I'm not taking any chances" Azula said, breathing deeply "I'm getting him off our trail, at whatever cost. He's not going to bring you any harm as long as I have a say upon the matter"

"And he won't harm you either as long as I do" Sokka huffed, stroking her fringe gently "So… Iroh might have figured us out, we're stealing moments wherever we can get them, we're not likely to meet often: seems like we've definitely come home, huh?"

"Ugh, I know" Azula groaned, dropping against him "We really should just have stayed in Shu Jing forever…"

"Damn right we should have" Sokka mumbled, his head atop hers.

They both knew they were being wishful, fickle, perhaps even foolish: they had the opportunity to shape the world with their actions as they were now. Being Wentai and Jing had been a lot of fun, but they would never have a chance to change what needed to be changed if they had given up their actual lives. As much as it pained them to face such truth, it was impossible to ignore it.

They were no strangers to strife and struggles, but this felt different. So much more rode on this, more than on anything else… but they still had a chance. Had Iroh raised an alert about Azula's relationship already, there was no doubt Ozai would have already acted on it, sending his soldiers to remove everyone and everything he deemed unworthy of his daughter. Until that moment arrived, if it ever would, Azula had a chance to anticipate her uncle's movements and to be prepared to counter them if need be. For if there was one thing she would never allow Iroh to steal away from her, it was the man whose arms now held her closely, offering comfort and support in a world where she hadn't found either thing until she met him. And if she had to lie, to scheme, to trick her Uncle in the most unfathomable way possible, she certainly would do it: she was more than ready to face any trials, hurdles and pain, everything that might threaten them, for Sokka's sake.