Avatar: Reborn in Ice and Blood

Two steps backwards, and I am ankle-deep in the water. This is my territory, and Circus Girl will have to be very careful if she wants to engage here. A small fist curls itself into my shirt.

So, this is how we warily begin to talk.

...

"Azula," Circus Girl says, looking forlorn and hurt at the way Azula appears battle-ready.

The girl herself looks torn. She knows she needs me, and she needs me to cooperate with healing her. She has, as of now, no idea what my motivations are. And I'll do my best to keep it that way. Which is why her only choice is to go along with my suggestions. They have nothing to bargain with, at the moment, except for the slowly approaching squad of firebenders in the forest.

But Azula and I can be gone within seconds, travelling down the river at a speed they could never hope to follow without machines. The forest here is dense enough that it would slow them down significantly, so really only rhinos would manage to have them catch up with us when we rest.

However, if we manage to secure passage on a boat, especially if I help out a little, we will be gone without a trace.

"Tell your soldiers to stay back," I say, and Mai nods sharply, gesturing with a hand that still holds some knives.

"You said you would return my brother upon the fulfilment of your demands," she says, eyes murderous.

I shrug slightly, "I did. But you're no longer in a position to fulfil those demands, are you?"

"It was all a ruse in the first place!" she spits, and I'm tempted to laugh. Sometimes I even manage to fool myself into believing that I'm a man of my word.

"Of course it was," I agree in a flat voice, more amused than anything at this point. "The princess and I intend to continue on our little journey," I announce without preamble. I want to leave the brat with Mai, but I want to see if I can get anything out of her for it first, "Preferably without being hunted."

Circus Girl, once again, only says her friend's name, "Azula."

The princess turns her head to the side. A clear showing of lingering hurt that cuts Circus Girl deeply. Azula must still be smarting from how they handled her, as though she could not be given vital information that had absolutely everything to do with her. Their fear will also still be fresh in her mind, what with how willingly she followed me as we fled Omashu.

She has yet to awaken her desire to inspire terror in others. Perhaps her brother's banishment was cause for her to believe that only fear would keep her safe. It works very well for her father, after all, whereas her uncle with his grief fell from grace for love. I wonder how she would have turned out had her mother devoted more attention to Azula, instead of seeing only her hated husband in the little girl.

This is not the time for speculation, however. These thoughts are rendered moot by Azula's current set of circumstances anyhow.

For now, I need Mai to demand the return of her brother once she realises only prolonged exposure will allow for any forgiveness on Azula's part. So long as Mai desires it, of course. Circus Girl does, that much is evident.

"I demand the return of my brother. If you comply immediately, I will consider out earlier agreement fulfilled."

I consider arguing. But at the moment there is little gain in that course of action. Furthermore, she still owes me that favour. I very much want to be able to cash it in some day.

"Alright," I agree easily and beckon her closer even as I move a step towards her. I half expect Circus Girl to stop her friend, to demand that I be the one to forsake the advantage of the close river, but she just watches mutely as Mai cautiously comes to stand before me.

"No."

Azula's voice proclaiming disagreement is loud and clear over the sound of water lapping at my feet and the rustle of wind in the trees.

"What?" Mai questions, disbelief clear as she stares at the princess.

"He will not hand it over," she states, and I'm beginning to feel curious about what she intends. What in her convoluted mind has her believe that A, she could control my actions; B, Mai would agree to what she demands when her priority is clearly the brat, since she did not inquire after Azula's actions before attempting to secure him; and C, the continued presence of the baby to be somehow beneficial to her?

I decide to wait this out. I'm curious about their reactions. This might also provide some insight into whether she views the other two as tools or friends.

"What? Azula, why are you doing this?" Circus Girl asks, dismayed.

Azula chooses to ignore her for the time being, her focus on Mai. It feels like there is a challenge in the air, a rink being laid out before us. A test of will? Of convictions? If it is one, she has chosen the time for it well. If Mai bows to her decision, simply because it was Azula who made it, Azula will have established her dominance once more. Both over Mai and Circus Girl, as well as illusorily over me, for if Mai no longer wishes to take her brother, I will be stuck caring for the brat. The brat who looks quite interested in and aware of the proceedings.

"A leader," Mai says lowly, carefully and dangerously, "Is trusted when the outcome of their decisions is beneficial to the one who obeys them."

Holy beefcake, she's telling Azula to give reasons and give them now, or it will be violence she receives in place of her fulfilled will.

Mai knows that this will have consequences. And she is prepared to meet them head on. What gives her the courage for it is likely the fact that Azula still doesn't have her memory back, and the fact that I was about to hand over her brother without protest. What provided her with the motivation to go against Azula in this were probably the recent violent events as a – when regarded in a certain light – direct result of Azula's decisions.

"Trust!" Azula's shout is as startling as it is gratifying. "If a leader cannot trust that they will be obeyed without question, the leader must choose appropriate punishment to be the motivation for future occurrences!"

It sounds now like they're spitting textbook answers at each other. Come to think of it, they must have met in school or something. I wonder, how did they all become friends? Innocence and naiveté will have guaranteed that Circus Girl finds no fault in Azula's behaviour. But Mai?

"Azula, we're your friends! You can-" Circus Girl tries to placate, but Azula interrupts her.

"Friends! Don't make me laugh!" Her voice is so brittle, I think she's more likely to cry, "It took him for you to tell me what was going on at all! Why we weren't in the palace, where everyone was, why you looked so much older! How dare you call yourself my friend?!"

Azula is holding back tears.

What the hell. Azula, speculated sociopath, is holding back tears.

Mai's usually cold expression has morphed into one of surprise. Circus Girl is already crying, hiccups and sniffs colouring the picture as though she were the hurt, the betrayed. There isn't much left and she would be outright brawling. While I find her display revolting, there is a part of me that wants to reach out to Azula, the little temperamental chit whose company has grown on me these past weeks, and provide some steady comfort.

I note it with surprise. And weariness.

I cannot trust it. I can't trust that she is genuinely this upset and not manipulating every single one of us masterfully.

And yet, it's a step in the right direction. After this show of vulnerability, Mai and Circus Girl will no longer fear her as absolutely as they have. Their perhaps misguided sensations of understanding, sympathy and empathy will both allow for emotional comfort for Azula, as well was provide a far more deeply reaching basis for manipulation.

This, I realise, is what Azula wanted. To accuse childishly – as befits her current mental age – and regain servants who will do her bidding. There is the possibility of this being genuine, of course. Which is the only thing holding me back from just handing over the brat to Mai, in order to watch Azula's reactions.

It would also provide her with an example of how anything she desires, anything she demands makes me want to do the exact opposite. Which would give her relatively solid grounds for manipulation, once more.

Also, while it might have been information Azula would have liked to have that pertained her, it was not essential to her survival, so long as she was kept in a safe environment. Really, this is all my fault, and I can't begin to say how funny that is.

...

Don't forget to throw some power stones :)

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