A Time of Change {ATLA & LOK}

Chapter 39 - This Isn't Right

A/N
Hey guys!! It has been a hooooot minute hasn't it? Apologies. I went to uni, covid happened, I graduated uni, i went back to uni to do a masters and now im in a full time internship! So doing a lot of adulting, not alot of time for writing unfortunately.

But! I'm back, I recently completed 2 campaigns as a game master for the avatar legends TTRPG, so that's got me back into the spirit of things!

I can't believe this fanfic has been going for almost 10 years now! Crazy? And people are still here for this incomplete mess? Wow, I still get notifications and am all, wow ... people are still reading this?

There are a couple things I have changed;

1. Talia will not have used / tried out her flight since coming back to the material world.
- a super small and inconsequential change for the story so far, but important for the future.

2. Removed a small bit from the ending of last chapter. Rechecked the time line a rejigged a bit! So enjoy the below, the rest of the day!

—————

After taking Kai away the Dai Li made everyone line up again. Talia was getting tired, there were clear signs of exhaustion on her face and body. The bags she had developed over the week were getting worse, her shoulders slumped, sweat along her brow evident. Holding her light for this long, while keeping a constant eye out, being fed minimal sloppy food, and being kept underground was both physically,  mentally and spiritually draining for her. Making everyone line up again and continue the drills was brutal. Maintaining her composure and cover was beginning to get difficult and her technique was getting sloppy.  They needed out of here, and fast.

She had been clipped by a few disks when they called for lunch. Talia let out a shaky breath and dropped her arms. And Seyan quickly hurried over to her "Kimmeik" she whispered worriedly. "Are you alright?"

Talia nodded, "yeah I'm fine" she winced slightly as she stretched out her elbow which had caught the edge of a disk earlier. "Just need some food in me" she smiled trying to reassure her. Seyan didn't seem to buy it.

Talia knew that if she muttered so much as a word about her condition or desires to get out the Dai Li would be hot on her tail. She has already attracted too much attention earlier. Hopefully seeing her 'broken' they may leave her alone.

Grabbing their rations which Talia was sure was veggie because there was no way there was any meat in the slop, she approached the table with the others. "Yung" she greeted Kai's partner sitting down slouching in relief as she was off her feet "what's the hole?" She whispered hoping to find answers.

He looked worried for a second biting his finger "we really shouldn't talk about this Kimmeik" he said back nervously looking around at the Dai Li, the others looking away as well.

"I need to know Yung" she wiped some sweat of her brow "please" she looked to Pio and Luhan hoping they may answer. "If we're going to get out of here" she hushed her voice right up "it needs to be soon, and we need Kai with us" she said scratching the back of her hand where her tattoo should be slightly. "I-I can't keep doing this" she told them shakily.

Shimah sighed turning back after giving the Dai Li nearby a side glance, the room was quiet, but not silent so hushed conversation wasn't unusual. "It's a seclusion room, somewhere else in the facility" he whispered. "I spent some time there when I was new" he grit his teeth remembering it.

Talia let out a frustrated sigh. That wouldn't do, she looked around briefly and back to her food messing with it in thought. How would they get out, everything was locked tight, you'd need an Earth bender to get out of here. A hand fell on the shoulder.