As the dawn sky slowly lit up, Azula led her friends to the barracks of her regiment. Ty Lee and Mai were still rubbing their eyes and yawning, but they’d been the ones who were curious about what was happening. “My brother made a mistake, so he’s going to own up to it,” was all the princess gave them.
She’d have preferred spending the night with Xing, to give what comfort she could to him. But Ren had said that he’d locked himself in his room, and Azula had her friends waiting for her. Not to mention an agitated Overseer Dae to calm down.
The latter was at least easy enough to deal with. Dae’s unabashed favoritism for Xing was quickly sated when she told him the matter was dealt with. The way Dae kept rambling about taking his sword to Zuko though exposed a new weakness about the man to Azula. Reliable and effective as he was, she’d have to be careful about giving him news about the 11th and Xing from now on.
Azula could only imagine how much more fanatical the overseer would be if Xing had managed to pry his arm loose to avoid being amputated.
“Ooh, nice place,” Ty Lee commented as they reached the gates of the 11th’s barracks. “The aura’s a bit yucky though…” Azula fought the urge to roll her eyes at that, reminding herself that with Xing’s spirit talking, maybe her friend’s thing with auras had some merit.
Besides, with the air of anticipation lingering around the armored but unhelmeted men and women all neatly lined up in parade formation, Azula could see where Ty Lee was coming from.
The whole regiment stood at attention, but as they noticed their royal patron, Xing gave an order and they dropped to their knees in unison.
“Impressive toy soldiers you’ve collected Azula,” Mai said, her bland tone heavily masking her teasing.
Ty Lee nodded, her gaze sweeping across the formation with excitement. “Yeah, they look far cooler than the soldiers I’ve met! Ooh, and the aura’s all turned a nice red too!” She paused, and then gave Azula a grin as she pointed at Xing. “He’s kinda hot,” the acrobat whispered loudly, one hand cupping her mouth. “But a little young, don’tcha think?”
This time Azula did roll her eyes, giving a glance to her regiment first. “You may rise.” Only after they did so did she lead her friends over to Xing, chaining her nervousness at the coming introduction. She saw through his mask of professionalism; how his hand twisted slightly, how his back threatened to slouch every few seconds. He hadn’t gotten over Zuko’s stupidity.
Hopefully, her little intervention would perk him up. Azula preferred her Xing more sure and confident.
“Girls, this is Colonel Xing, of my 11th Regiment. Xing, this is Mai and Ty Lee, old classmates.”
Xing’s eyes shifted to Mai, and then Ty Lee - and Azula felt a weird relief that his eyes remained fixed on their faces - before he gave a sharp salute. “Lady Mai, Lady Ty Lee. The 11th Royal Regiment welcomes you and is grateful for your presence.”
“So you’re the Scorpion?” Mai asked, sizing him up. “Far too polite for a bloodthirsty monster.”
Azula felt only a little annoyed, reminding herself that Xing’s reputation was allowed to be exaggerated on purpose, so her friend’s impression was to be expected.
She did however feel a bit more annoyed at how Ty Lee studied him. “Oh, you’re way better looking than they say.” Before the princess could cut in, the other girl directed a smirk at her. “I can see why Azula’s got you collared.”
Even as a blush crept up her cheeks and a new host of images flashed through her mind, Azula’s eyebrow went up. “Collared?”
Mai was the one to answer with a sigh and a roll of her eyes. “Some people say that you’ve got the Scorpion on a tight leash, releasing him on your enemies like an attack dog… Attack scorpion.” The dour girl gave an uncharacteristic grin. “I don’t think you want to know how they say you keep him collared.”
Ty Lee giggled, and Azula could hear some of the soldiers - Ren and Ping especially - snorting or coughing..
Azula was more distracted by the images of herself trying to actually collar Xing to be annoyed by their reactions. After all, what were the chances of Xing actually allowing her to get it around his neck? In all likelihood, he’d be the one to overpower her and force the humiliation around her neck, and then he’d probably further humiliate her by-
“Azula?”
She snapped out of that pleasant little imagination with a cough, and then waved a stupidly grinning Ty Lee off. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
“If I may ask, your highness,” Xing interrupted in a formal tone. “To what does your regiment owe the pleasure of such an early visit?”
Oh. He didn’t know? Azula’s gaze flickered to Mozi standing beside her colonel, whose slight wince confirmed it.
Well, time to give Xing the good news personally then.
“I’ve been informed of my brother’s…impropriety,” Azula said, noting with some concern how Xing froze up. “I’ve had a talk with him last night to…educate him about his error. He should be here soon.”
“Princess?” There was something other than mild confusion in his tone. Concern?
Ty Lee broke her worrying train of thought. “Speaking of, that’s your brother Azula?”
The princess turned towards the road, where sure enough, a disheveled Zuko dragged himself closer, while Uncle Iroh followed right behind with an expression of heavy concern. Azula wouldn’t be surprised if her brother had refused his help in getting here.
Xing saw the princes too, and he immediately hurried towards them. Azula noted how looks were exchanged between the officers of the 11th, as well as the worry that flickered on Mai’s face. The three girls followed after the colonel, and as he and Zuko drew closer, the latter stopped to drop to his knees.
“Colonel Xing,” Zuko rasped rather clearly considering the dark bruise on his cheek, “I deeply apologize for what I said yesterday.” He was about to bend over and plant his forehead onto the dirt road, but Xing intercepted him.
“Prince Zuko, please rise.”
Zuko shook his head in response. “Please… Please find it in yourself to forgive me for what I did.”
There was a moment of silence as Xing stared at the marks left on Zuko’s face. He glanced up at Iroh, who gave a pained look but otherwise did not reply, and then turned towards Azula, who found herself surprised by the anger building in her colonel’s eyes.
“Princess… Azula, you did this to your brother?”
As she opened her mouth to form a reply, someone else spoke out. “I did it,” came the voice of Ping, who took a step forward to meet Xing’s stare. Azula turned to stare at the woman, who now wore a stoic mask.
“I did it,” Ren said, and did the same as her colleague.
“I did it.” Kai followed after, and then Mozi and the other captains followed suit.
Azula’s mind raced. The officers had stepped in; they’d noticed Xing’s reaction and immediately acted.
Or had they known all along that this would be how he reacted? But they still came for Zuko?
Azula gulped and then steeled her resolve. Only a weak ruler deflects blame onto others. She waved the soldiers back, and then stepped forwards to meet Xing’s glare.
“I did it,” she said evenly, not backing down from the turbulent emotion in her colonel’s gaze. “I had to make sure that my brother understood the enormity of his mistake. I made it clear that he had misdirected his anger.”
Xing did not reply at first, but then his head returned towards Uncle Iroh. “You let her-”
Azula didn’t let him finish. “I had Kai and Mozi hold my uncle back to stop him from interfering.” Xing got up, and as their eyes met once more, the princess’ assumption that he understood her actions was correct.
Unfortunately, her assumption that he’d agree to it in any way was far off the mark.
“Did you have to be so harsh on your own brother?”
A hint of defensiveness spiked in Azula. “I had to hammer the message home or my boneheaded brother wouldn’t get it. He turned on you, Xing, and that was a mistake.”
“But so is beating him up like this,” he immediately replied, and the princess then realized that she had grossly miscalculated the results of her actions. She’d thought that Xing would at worst need firm convincing to properly receive Zuko’s apology. Instead, he had slipped into the beginnings of a combat stance.
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Zuko shook his head and joined the conversation. “My…my sister is right, Xing,” he surprisingly groaned out. “I…I was wrong to insult you. You didn’t deserve-”
“No she’s not, Zuko,” the colonel snapped. “We’ll talk after you’re healed up.”
Azula frowned. “I can’t allow you to do that, Xing.”
“Why not?”
She drew in a breath. “Because, I made it official that my father’s decree also applied to this regiment. Zuko will get no special treatment from the 11th.”
“But he’s your brother,” Xing reasoned, and Azula felt her tolerance for his tolerance towards Zuko reach its breaking point.
“And?” she asked, taking a step forward. “It shouldn’t stop him from suffering from the consequences of his mistakes. You were insulted, and by extension so was the 11th. My regiment. Such things cannot be left unpunished.”
“All he did was-”
Azula waved a hand to cut him off. “All he did, as an officially dishonored prince, was lose his common restraint and gravely insult a commander of the Fire Nation, an act of disrespect that calls for Agni Kai by you or any of your subordinates.”
That got Xing to shut up and think at least.
“Zuko made a mistake. Your officers were rightfully going to rectify that mistake. I found a more productive compromise.”
“Did it have to warrant taking everything from him?”
“Not everything, but yes.” Azula leveled a frown at her Xing. “Consequences must be paid for, Xing. Even for my brother who you so greatly treasure. I thought you of all people would understand the importance of reputation and morale.”
Xing finally broke his stare from Azula to glance at the officers behind her, who were not backing down either. Finally, the colonel gave a heavy sigh and shook his head.
“This wasn’t the way to do this,” he muttered. “You should have let me handle this,” he said, both to Azula and his officers.
“And then what?” the princess hissed back. “You’d let him off with a slap on the wrist. You’d let resentment grow in the regiment for that?” Azula couldn’t hold back her sneer. “What have the spirits planned for Zuko, Xing? Why do you care so much about my brother that you treat him with such a soft touch?”
At that, the anger in Xing’s eyes flared, but the air around them turned cold despite the rising sun. Azula defiantly met the boy’s gaze, noticing how his jaws were grinding ever so slightly. Beside him, Zuko seemed torn, but it was Uncle Iroh who finally stepped in between them and broke the tension.
“Everyone, please calm down. The day is beginning, it will not be good for passing townsfolk to see this…bickering.”
Azula forced herself to relax and gave a shallow nod. “You’re right, uncle. I’m sorry for…losing my temper.” She gave Xing a look, and he too unwound and nodded to a ceasefire. The air warmed up to normal temperatures right after that.
“We’ll talk in the office. Zuko gets to see the healers.”
Azula didn’t bother arguing over that point and instead waved a hand. “Oh, alright. But you’ll receive his apology after that, as you rightly deserve to.”
“So long as he’s not being dragged through the mud and degraded,” Xing replied, and then marched past Azula, throwing a look at the captains as he walked past them.
“Would’ve been better if we did go the extra mile and just kil-”
“Shaddap, idiot,” Ren hissed as she smacked Rufen into silence.
Azula returned to Ty Lee and Mai, noting their discomfort and concern. As ever, Ty Lee was more obvious with it, while Mai tried to hide it under a mask of boredom.
“Huh, lovers’ tiff?”
“Office disagreement,” Azula curtly corrected Mai. “You alright, Ty Lee? Hope all the posturing didn’t scare you too much?”
The usually smiling girl shook her head. “It’s nothing. Just… That Xing of yours… He was in an ugly purple just now.”
Oh? “And that means…”
“He’s troubled and angry.” Azula was about to make a snide remark, but her friend continued. “Like he’s struggling against something he wants to keep hidden.”
Now that was curious. And quite worrying.
“Come on,” Azula simply said. “There’s breakfast in the mess hall.”
They followed the officers back into the barracks, with Zuko and Uncle Iroh an awkward distance apart. The soldiers dispersed from their formation to return to their usual routine. Azula left her friends in the care of the officers, and saw off her uncle and brother into the prisoners’ compound, and then headed into Xing’s office.
Koshi and the other bodyguards stood guard outside and would become an impenetrable barrier against eavesdroppers and unwanted guests.
Xing was slumped in his seat, and didn’t waste time in speaking as soon as the door was closed. “Please, Azula, Zuko needs your support.”
“And are you going to tell me why exactly?”
“Because…” He paused, and then let out a loud sigh before fixing a weary gaze on her. “Because he’ll be the one to win over the Avatar.”
Azula froze at that, staring mutely at Xing, who sighed again.
“He’s supposed to…go over to the Avatar’s side. I was…hoping…to have him soften the Avatar’s stance against us. Against you, when the time comes.”
The princess found her words too jumbled up to form a decent reply. “And how…?”
Xing gave a short huff. “He was supposed to be trapped with the Avatar somehow, and switch sides. But after your father’s decree, I…I don’t know how to proceed.”
Azula broke herself out of her daze and frowned. “And my intervention doesn’t help things?” she asked honestly.
It took a few seconds before Xing slowly straightened in his seat. “I honestly don’t know anymore. But you still shouldn’t have harmed him like that.”
The princess snorted. “I told you, I-”
“You should’ve left it to me, Azula,” Xing said in a half-pleading tone. “My officers should’ve left it to me. I can’t have anyone do my dirty work for me. Not without me knowing it, like this.”
Azula folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him. “As if you don’t do the same for others. How many men have you ordered silenced before you informed their victims?”
Her colonel rose up from his seat with another sigh. “So I’m a hypocrite.”
“I’m glad you noticed.” Azula let the silence bloom, losing herself in her thoughts for a moment before sighing. “I might have overdone it with Zuko. But your officers were still right to demand satisfaction from him. In court, their devotion to avenge the slight on you would be worth commending.”
“They’d end up brutalizing him.”
“That’s why I stepped in,” she instantly replied.
“You were barely any better.”
Azula forced herself to shrug the words off. “As I said, I’ll admit that I might have overdone it.”
“Can you at least return some indirect support for your brother?”
“No. Besides, now that he knows about it, with how hard headed Zuko is, he’d probably reject any help from you and me from now on.” She allowed herself a dry smirk. “I’m sure he still has a way to go before he finally gives up on his delusions of honor and chasing father’s approval.”
Xing walked over to her, with only resignation in his eyes. “So…now what?”
“We wait for Zuko’s apology,” Azula replied without missing a beat. “I forgot to mention it earlier, but I did give him a chance to earn the regiment’s good graces back.” It didn’t take much for the wheels in her head to produce an idea. “You could just figure out a way to fit him into whatever plans the spirits still have for him. They haven’t failed you yet, I heard, so you can trust them to guide him to where he’s needed.”
“It…doesn’t work like that,” Xing groaned.
“Then come up with a different plan, for both Zuko’s deluded need for honor and winning the Avatar over,” Azula breezily said. “In any case, we probably still have some time, I hope you can hold whatever you have against me only against me, and at least have a cordial meeting with my friends.”
Thankfully, Xing just nodded and followed her to the door.
“I’ll still have to arrange something for Mozi and the captains,” he muttered.
“Nothing public,” Azula relented. “I’ll step in if you go too far with whatever you come up with.”
“We were talking about hypocrites?”
“Everyone’s a hypocrite,” she instantly answered back.