The Pawn |Katara

NINE

Azula was not in the palace the next day. 

Akira trained on his own, attempting to not show any kind of discomfort or agitation, knowing that in such a place, everyone could be listening in. Especially now Azula had brought the Dai Li in. It was only a couple of days ago when he had been speaking to Azula and out of nowhere a Dai Li agent had appeared beside him, moving so quietly he had never noticed him coming. He had started to believe that even the walls had ears and the trees had eyes. So he remained on guard, attempted to get rid of any disturbing thoughts by training harder and harder. It was around the time he usually finished his training that Azula got in the yard, dressed in her formal attire, her hair let loose, falling behind her back. Akira stopped, straightened up as she got close. 

"Your form's getting better," she told him as she stopped in front of him. He barely seemed to accept her words before he questioned her.

"What happened to your hair?"

"Just something that happened during the mission."

He frowned, "What mission?"

"I figured out where the Avatar must have been hiding and checked out my theory. I was right, of course."

He attempted to seem upset. "You could have told me. I would have joined you."

"There was no need," she waved him off. When he didn't speak any more, she raised a brow at him. "Are you not going to ask what happened?"

"I apologise," he lowered his head briefly, "naturally, I would want to know what happened."

She hummed, "The Avatar was hiding at the Southern Air Temple. I took an airship and bombed it."

She had turned away while talking and was making her way back to the palace. He rushed after her the moment he grabbed the shirt he had disgarded. "So you killed him?"

"No, he got away on his sky bison," she scowled for a moment before she seemed to get back to her usual self. "It does not matter, though. They know I can find them if I want to."

"I doubt they had ever forgotten, Azula."

"You are right, I have proven my abilities before," she admitted. She looked at him from the corner of her eyes. "When are you heading to Ember Island?"

"In two days," he replied, "my parents will stay here, though. It will be just Akemi and I."

"Yes, I know, father has a war council while you will be gone," she spoke, mainly to herself. "It's better you leave, actually. It's not like I could keep you much company. The council is supposed to take all day long."

"I know your duties are important, Azula, don't worry," he sent her a small smile meant to reassure her. "Perhaps you can join me next time."

Her lips twisted in a semblance of a smirk. "I doubt Chan would be thrilled."

He chuckled, put his shirt back on when it was clear they had reached the gates of the palace he passed through to enter or exit the estate. He turned to her with a small smile still, although part of him was saddened. Things had not turned out the way he had hoped they would. He was angry at Azula, that much he knew. Angry for being so stubborn, for throwing Mai and Ty Lee in prison. At the same time, though, he couldn't hate her. It was peculiar. He truly had to make sense of what it was he was feeling.

"You should tell me about your plans next time," he spoke before he left, no sign of his inner turmoil in his expression as he prepared to leave. "Perhaps I could help you."

She did not answer him, only tilted her head, as if she were analysing him. He was used to being appraised by her. His expression did not falter, and in the end, she spoke to let him know he could leave. "Perhaps you could."