Fire and Wind: Acquiring an Acrobat
Oof, this one gave me quite a bit of trouble, let me tell you guys that much. But it's finally done! Please Enjoy!
~~~
Their quest for the Avatar couldn't start immediately, much to Seng's displeasure. First, Azula needed to gather some wayward allies as, according to her, her current staff was incredibly lacking. They had left behind the ship and made their way inland with only a few soldiers and Seng herself, and since Azula didn't trust anyone else to keep her in line, she had been practically glued to the princess's hip for the past several days.
The experience was interesting to say the least. Seng had basically been relegated to the play the part of the princess's personal servant, fetching her things, attending to her every need, and just generally keeping her satisfied as they made their way through the dense, forested paths of the Earth Kingdom.
It wasn't the worst thing Seng had been forced to do, not by far. As a matter of fact, once you got past the haughty undertones in her every other word and the way she truly seemed to believe that she was better than everyone around her by the sheer virtue of being herself, Azula wasn't horrible company. At the very least, Seng had met and worked for people that were far worse in comparison. And she couldn't lie, she made for interesting company.
Of course, that didn't mean they were friends all of the sudden, far from it. Even though Seng's freedoms had gone from that of a prisoner to that of a servant, Azula was still the princess of the Fire Nation, and Seng was the thief that tried to steal her crown. A fact that was battered into her head every time they sparred.
As Seng had expected, Azula took her lack of bending talent as some sort of personal offence and planned on whipping her into decent fighting shape, regardless of her thoughts on the matter. Seng was no stranger to pain, but training so hard that your body felt like it was going to give out on you one night, only to get up and do it again the next morning, took a little bit of getting used to.
Today though, she had been graciously spared the hellish training today, though given the reason, Seng wasn't sure whether or not she should be happy about that.
Seng stared at the colorful display before her, full of conflicted feelings, none of them good. She turned her head to the side, “A circus? Why in the world would you ever want to go to the circus?”
She spat the word like a curse and beside her, Azula raised a delicate brow as she lowered herself from her ostrich horse. She was the only one of the two of them who had such an animal, forcing Seng to walk beside her for miles to this spot, which Seng was only now discovering was actual a traveling circus, set up for all to enjoy.
“I wasn't aware you had an adverse view of the circus.” Azula said as she held out her reins for Seng to take. The airbender did so, tying the animal to a nearby post without much complaint. “I would have imagined that someone like you would appreciate a place like this.”
“I was a part of the circus once.” Seng grunted, tying off the hitch and petting the animal to calm it down. With so many other animals here, especially the carnivores, it was a bit skittish, “I know what kinds of things go on here.”
Azula didn't look surprised to hear that, “I suppose it only makes sense that a roaming band of vagabonds would appeal to someone like you.” She sniffed, leading the way through the camp towards some unknown destination.
“It did at first.” Seng admitted, “I thought it would be a good way to earn money and maybe some sort of companionship. When I joined up though, I quickly found out that the only people who willingly join a circus are idealistic idiots with too much light in their eyes, or the ones who have no other options.”
“Much like yourself then?” Azula gave her a sidelong glance, “I wonder why you left. It seems like you'd be right at home.”
“I guess I just didn't have what it took to room with a bunch of swindlers, thieves, and possible murderers.” Seng grunted, “I'd rather have to deal with animals attacking me in my sleep than a human trying to crawl into my cot to do the same.”
Seng had thankfully never had anything like that happen, but she had heard stories. Even the most shady circus wouldn’t let things like that fly, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t happen on occasion when people weren’t afraid of the consequences.
“Well I doubt you'll find many of them here. This circus is one of the more reputable bands around. Or so I've heard.”
“They're all the same once you blur the lines enough.” Seng said, before shaking her head, “Anyway, who are we here for? I'd like to get out of here as soon as physically possible.”
“Well if you'd like, you can always try to run away. I could use the target practice.” Azula said offhandedly, “As for who we are here for, I believe I already told you. We're looking for a friend of mine, Ty Lee. Last I heard, she joined up with a traveling show in this region and recently, this particular circus has been touting their recent talent. A highly accomplished acrobat and contortionist.”
“How is an acrobat supposed to help us hunt for the Avatar?”
“Ty Lee is more than a simple gymnast. Though her personality is very… distinct, she is still very formidable in ways that one would never expect. She will be a great asset to us. Much moreso thany any of those incompetent fools on the ship.”
“If we can even find her.” Seng said, shooting a dirty look at a shifty looking strongman staring at them as they passed. He gave her a crooked grin in return and she sneered at him, “There are so many circus freaks here that finding one acrobat will be like finding a needle in a haystack.”
Her vitriolic words did not go unnoticed by the princess who smoothly looked over, following her gaze to the creep that was staring at them, before her eyes moved right past him as something much more interesting caught her attention. She stopped in her tracks, a smile appearing on her face, “Perhaps not.”
Ignoring the strongman, Seng followed her gaze and paused as she was met with a fairly interesting sight. A girl their age in bright pastel colors was holding herself upright in a handstand, her eyes narrowed in concentration as she stared right past them. Just that wouldn’t be impressive, but she was holding p her entire body with only the tips of her index fingers, not even supporting herself on the nearby fence post or even just the wall of the tent.
It was a feat that even Seng would find herself hard pressed to replicate even if she had the help of her bending and someone for support, and she practically gaped at the brightly colored girl, before slowly turning to Azula who was giving her an almost smug look.
“I assume that's her?” She asked rhetorically, gesturing towards the girl. Azula ignored her, instead choosing to walk right by her and towards the girl. Seng watched her go before sighing and following behind her, “Guess so.”
They walked the girl who had somehow not taken notice of their approach, and Seng hung back a little bit to watch as Azula stepped directly into her line of sight, “Ty Lee? Could that possibly be you?” she asked, as if she hadn’t been specifically seeking her out. Big brown eyes blinked, before a massive grin bloomed to life on the acrobat’s face.
She flipped upright, turning to give Azula a massive grin as she rushed forward to hug her tightly, “Azula! It’s so good to see you!”
To Seng’s surprise, Azula didn’t shove the girl off or even look disgruntled by the embrace. Instead she wrapped her arms around Ty Lee as well, a small smile crossing her face as she returned the hug. Seng didn’t even know she could smile unless it was in response to someone’s suffering.
“It’s good to see you as well, Ty Lee.” She responded, and Seng could tell that it was a genuine statement
Azula backed away with a soft smile on her face, gesturing vaguely, “Please don’t let me interrupt… whatever it is you’re doing. Our conversation can continue while you stretch.”
Ty Lee hopped back, shaking her head and sending her braid swinging to and fro, “It’s okay. I’m all warmed up anyway. I want to talk to you! What are you doing here and gasp, who’s this?”
It seemed that she had finally noticed Seng. The airbender gave her a silent nod of greeting as big grey eyes looked her over eagerly, before widening in surprise, “Her aura! It’s almost the same color as yours! That’s amazing! Where in the world did you find her?”
Ty Lee jumped up to the confused airbender, gazing at her with big eyes. Seng raised an eyebrow, stepping away from the extremely peppy and clearly eccentric girl, “Aura?”
“Ignore her, Ty Lee. She is inconsequential to my reason for being here.” Azula said flippantly, and Ty Lee immediately obeyed with a happy ‘okay!’ flipping backwards into yet another handstand.
“So why are you here?” Ty Lee asked, bending her legs so that they were basically wrapped around her head in a way that made Seng's legs twitch in sympathy. She tilted her head, giving Azula a curious look, “Did you come to watch the show?”
Azula gave a noncommittal hum, glancing over at a couple of handlers trying and failing to wrangle a platypus-bear. Seemingly sensing her stare, it looked back at her before promptly raising itself up and planting an egg right there on the ground. Azula’s face wrinkled in disgust as she looked away from the display, while Seng smirked at her discomfort, “No, I’m afraid that such banal entertainment isn’t on the schedule today. I’m here for a much different reason.”
“Well then what brought you here?” Ty Lee asked, clearly eager to know why her friend had sought her out.
“A mission of the utmost importance.” Azula replied, “We are hunting a pair of traitors. You remember my fuddy duddy uncle and Zuzu, don’t you? Father has declared them enemies of the nation and ordered their capture. I would appreciate your help in completing the task.”
Ty Lee froze and her smile became uncomfortable all of the sudden, “Oh, uh, I would love to! But I can’t. I’ve found my place here, Azula, I can’t just leave. I mean look at me!” She stood up smiling brightly as she gestured at herself, “My aura has never been pinker!”
Azula wasn't willing to accept that explanation. She needed Ty Lee by her side if she wanted any chance of capturing her brother and uncle, nevermind the Avatar. She stepped forward, putting a hand on her friend’s shoulder, surprising her, and Seng, greatly as her voice took on a more gentle tone
“Ty Lee, I beg you to reconsider.” She said, “I am not going to beg, but you are one of my closest companions and I would truly appreciate your assistance in this matter.”
Seng stare at the back of Azula’s head in open-mouthed shock. She couldn’t believe that the princess was actually just asking for help instead of demanding it. Heck, she couldn’t believe that Azula was even putting up with Ty Lee’s eccentricities just for the sake of nobody but the girl herself. Over the weeks that she had spent in Azula’s company, she had never seen her act like this. All of her ice cold tones had melted away, replaced with something far warmer.
And the look in her eyes… She wasn’t putting on an act. She actually thought of Ty Lee as a comrade and not just another soldier that they needed to collect. Were they actually friends? Seng didn’t think that she was even capable of friendship.
“Azula…” Ty Lee frowned for the first time during the exchanges giving Azula an apologetic look, “I'm sorry but I really can't. I've finally found a place I belong and I don't want to give that up. You have plenty of soldiers, can't they help you?”
“I'm afraid not, my soldiers don't have a single intelligent thought to share between them.” Azula shook her head, and there was an odd inflection to her voice that Seng had a hard time placing, “Is this circus truly so important to you that you would completely disregard your dear friend’s plight?”
Ty Lee hesitated for a moment, before nodding ashamedly and looking away. Azula’s face shifted almost imperceptibly, and Seng saw her eyes widened for a split second before returning to normal.
“I see…” She said, and her tone had shifted, becoming much closer to what Seng had come to associate her with, “I had thought we were closer than that. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised…”
She stepped away, taking her hand off of Ty Lee’s shoulder. She looked around at the circus around them, and her face shifted, becoming far less friendly and far more neutral, as if she were distancing herself from the current situation, “I never imagined that you would find yourself in a place like this, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You always did talk about wanting to make your own way in the world, away from your sisters and parents. It seems like you finally found a place that you belong.”
Ty Lee smiled again, though it was smaller and almost confused, “I really did. I love it here! Everyone’s so nice and friendly and I’m not treated like some proper lady, I can finally be free!”
Azula nodded, “Indeed. But I can’t help but wonder something.”
Ty Lee tilted her head, and Seng tensed at the look in Azula’s eyes as she turned her way, “What is it?”
“Doesn’t this place seem a bit like a fire hazard?” Azula asked innocently, “After all, with this many tents this close together, even a master waterbender would have difficulty putting out such a blaze should something happen to catch unexpectedly.”
Ty Lee went stock still at the princess’s words and Azula continued, “Why, I imagine that few would survive such an ordeal. With the animals running around in a panic and trampling any in their path, not to mention the poor spectators of the show gone wrong. I imagine that even if they should survive, the reputation of the circus would be ruined forever…”
Her statement hung in the air, heavy and sharp, and Seng slowly looked towards Ty Lee to find the acrobat staring at Azula with a set jaw and clenched fists. She could clearly see the threat for what it was. If she didn’t join Azula, the princess would burn her precious circus to the ground.
Seng would like to say that she was surprised but she would be lying. Azula had already shown herself to be a master manipulator, tricking both her brother and uncle so that she could bring them home to be imprisoned and perhaps even worse. Why wouldn’t she do so to her friend as well if it meant that she could get what she wanted.
Eventually, Ty Lee untensed, clearly realizing that her decision had been made for her. She gave Azula a mockery of the smile that she had greeted her with, and Seng was sure she could see the glint of tears in her eyes, “Alright Azula. Just give me a little bit to get my things and say and I’ll join you.”
Azula smiled, sharp and cold, “Excellent. I’m glad to see that you changed your mind and came around to the right way of thinking, Ty Lee. Welcome to the team.”
~~~
With Ty Lee recruited and on board, Omashu was their next destination. It was further north in newly conquered territory which meant around nother week and a half of travel. A week and a half which was made more interesting with the addition of Ty Lee, who made it her mission to talk Seng's ear off any chance she got.
Though it was slightly annoying, Seng didn’t complain much. She sort of reminded her of her younger brother, Jin, or what little she could remember about him. It also made the time go by much faster and it felt like only a couple hours after they left from the circus before they were already making camp, with Seng being forced to do all the actual heavy lifting.
Once the tents were set up and the fire was roaring in the pit, Seng sat down beside the lounging princess, who gave her a sidelong glance, before returning her attention back towards Ty Lee, “It is a good thing that you decided to join us, Ty Lee.”
“Well, you didn’t really give me much of a choice, Azula!” Ty Lee giggled, somehow keeping it from sounding forced, “Showing up here out of the blue and asking me to go on an adventure like this? How could I ever say no?”
Azula looked towards the fire, “I’ll admit, I was worried I’d have to use… other methods to convince you to join us. I’m glad to see that I didn’t have to do something potentially drastic like setting fire to that entire pastel playground.”
Seng snorted, moving the wood in the fire with a stick to get it roaring again, “I would have liked to see that.”
Ty Lee laughed awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable at the borderline threat the princess had issued, “Yeah, it’s a good thing that didn’t happen. I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt because of me.“
Azula just nodded, before looking at Seng, “Thief, go and get the rations from our packs. We've unfortunately run out of fresh meat so our meal tonight will be sparse.”
Seng gave the princess a flat look, “I literally just sat down.”
“And now you'll be getting back up to get our rations.” Azula responded, “Unless you'd like to spend the rest of the journey to Omashu chained to the back of my ostrich-horse.”
“It'd be an improvement to walking beside it. At least then I wouldn't have to carry your crap.” Sent retorted, before her mouth clicked shut as she realized what she just said. Ty Lee gasped and Azula narrowed her eyes, and Seng realized that she might have gone too far.
The fire in the pit swelled with the princess's anger, bright orange slowly shifting as blue strands of flame appeared within the pit. Azula stared at Seng, the loud crackle and popping of the once dying fire a declaration of her anger.
“Perhaps I've been too lenient with you, Thief.” Azula spoke cooly as the fire gradually shifted color, “You seem to misunderstand just how this relationship between you and I works, so let me remind you.”
The fire shifted abruptly, the remaining orange and red blazing cyan as Azula established her control over the blaze. The flames shadowed her face, as she leaned forward, staring Seng in the eyes as the airbender did her best to keep her face stoic, “I am currently the only thing standing between you and the hangman's noose. At any moment of my choosing, I can ship you off to the capitol to be executed or imprisoned for the rest of your natural life. We have made a deal, yes,
but that does not mean that I will tolerate disrespect. And I most certainly will not tolerate backtalk or jokes at my expense.
“But I can be reasonable.” She continued, her voice becoming semi-friendly once more “Go get the rations and I will forgive your transgressions, so long as you remember your place and keep that smart mouth of yours shut.”
The crackle of the fire echoed in the silence as Seng stoically stood. Azula and Ty Lee watched her with equal parts expectation and worry. The airbender bowed at the waist towards the former, her voice low as she spoke, “As you command, Princess.”
Azula smiled and Ty Lee relaxed slightly as the fire returned to its normal hue, “That’s more like it. Make it quick.”
Seng did an about face and made her way to where she had stored their packs at the edge of the camp. Nearby, the ostrich-horse hitched to a nearby tree gave her a mean look as she passed it by, but she ignored it as she dug through the packs sitting on the forest floor, picking out the one that held their food.
As she untied the string at the top, Seng’s mind was whirling with conflicting feelings, most present among them all was an incredible sense of foolishness at what she had just done.
Seng had been alone for a majority of the past few years. There were times when she had fallen in with one group or another, but they were few and far between and never lasted long. As such, she had forgotten how lonely she actually was. Humans crave companionship, that was just a natural aspect of their nature. In the years that she had spent alone, Seng had gotten used to ignoring the part of her that yearned for actual friends or even companions to just spend time with, but that had apparently all come unraveled the longer she spent in Azula’s company and now she slipped up and overstepped.
She had gotten so caught up in having someone to actually talk to and just be around that she had let her guard down. She had forgotten that Azula wasn’t just some snooty noble, but was actually the royal heir to a nation at war, and she was just a prisoner in her care. They were not friends. They weren’t even comrades. They were allies of convenience. Nothing more, nothing less.
Opening the pack containing the rations, Seng blinked as she was met with dense blocks of grain masquerading as bread and some salted, dried meat that she knew just by looking at would be like eating shoe leather.
Looking around for anything fresher or at least more edible, Seng was dismayed to see that there was nothing but more boxes of the same junk. She looked down at the ‘food’ again, her face wrinkling.
“Yeah, no.” Slamming the box shut, Seng did an about face and walked back to the fire where the other two were waiting. Upon noticing that she was empty handed, Azula narrowed her eyes at the Airbender.
“I ordered you to get our food and yet you return with not a morsel to be found. Are you disobeying my orders, Thief?” She asked dangerously.
Seng crossed her arms, looking the princess dead in the eye. Ty Lee looked between the two of them worriedly as the tension returned to boiling in an instant, “Look, I don't know how they do things in the Fire Nation, but around here, we're not fond of eating bricks and rubber. I can hunt for some real food.”
Azula raised an eyebrow at her words, an amused smile crossing her face “Hunt? Do you plan to strangle a wild moose-luon with your bare hands?”
“No, because moose-lion is about as good to eat as what you have in that box. You hunt them for their horns, not their meat.” Seng retorted, “If you'd give me my bow back, I'm sure I'd be able to rustle up something that will fill our stomachs and won't make us feel like we've eaten a brick.”
Azula gave her a suspicious look, “Is this some doomed ploy to try and escape? You do understand my men are combing these woods for my protection? Incompetent though they may be, you have no hope of getting away.”
Seng spread her arms, “I'm not stupid. Even if I could get past them, we're so deep in Fire Nation territory that there's no way I'd be able to avoid all of the patrols around here. I'd be back in prison before the week is out.”
She crossed her arms, staring at Azula “Look, give me my bow and a couple arrows, and I'll make us something good to eat and we can go to bed on a full stomach. I can't imagine a princess like you had the same palate as some Earth Kingdom peasant. I ate better than that in that cell.”
Azula considered her words carefully before conceding her point. Seng knew these lands much better and had hunted for food before. It was plausible that she would be able to find something more edible than those rations that made Azula's stomach churn.
Besides, even with her now she was no match for Azula herself, nor Ty Lee. Giving her her bow back for a little while could actually have it's benefits.
“Very well, you may have your bow back for the remainder of our journey to Omashu.” Azula conceded, making Seng grin. Golden eyes narrowed upon her, “But do not think for a second that it will allow you to defeat me and escape your binds. You are still far below me in just about every aspect and a piece of wood and some twine will not change that.”
Seng gave her a low bow, holding back her excitement at the prospect of having her bow in hand once more, “I wouldn't dream of it, Princess.”
“Ty Lee, you will accompany her. Make sure she doesn't try anything stupid.” Azula ordered, and Ty Lee immediately hopped up with a wide smile on her face. Perhaps she was excited to get away from the one who had threatened to destroy her livelihood.
“Okay!”
“And do try and hurry back. My patience is already rather thin as it is.”