Focused Fire (ATLA)

Qi Song had to remind himself to remain alert as he followed Princess Azula into the home base of the 11th Regiment. They might be good friends, but he had an image as a royal bodyguard to consider.

Plus he’d already been written up once by the damned head office about his ‘lackadaisical’ attitude, though it was a small consolation that Qi Song was not the only one. Practically everyone who was tasked to watch the crown princess had a write up or at least an informal telling off, exclusively because of their relaxed conduct when in the midst of the princess’ pet psychopaths.

The soldiers of the 11th were brutal fighters, but also steadfast friends to Qi Song and his colleagues, and in the cases of several officers, utterly loyal friends to the crown princess. The other royal bodyguards guarding the Fire Lord didn’t know just how safe the royal daughter was in the midst of her troops, but then they’d never seen how both parties had interacted.

Princess Azula had grown along with her regiment, allowing herself to change to fit into the sanctioned murderers that welcomed her almost as family. The other bodyguards had confirmed that she’d definitely tempered herself, losing most of her casual sadism and pettiness while gaining a different flavor of self-confidence. Among the soldiers, she was more relaxed and far less prickly, to the point where she endured the bumbling of her palace tutors rather than cycle them through exile and punishments.

“Bettering yourself is good,” Qi Song had overheard Captain Ping counsel her, “But if you throw everything else away to be the best, or what you think is the best of what goal you’re seeking, then you’ll be nothing but a lifeless tool.”

“What applies to Xing also applies to you, Azula,” Captain Ren had added. “You’re a princess, meant to rule over the Fire Nation, not lead the front lines. Frankly, if you have to worry about dealing with putting down unruly nobles and generals through duels so often, then maybe it’s because you’ve focused on the wrong things.” 

Before this, their advice would’ve warranted banishment or worse. But the months with the regiment made Princess Azula seriously consider the words. Not only that, but the two captains were the only ones who were able to actually refer to the crown princess simply as ‘Azula’. An unsuspecting court noble had once tried to berate them for their lack of decorum, but Princess Azula’s glare quickly silenced her and only through the mercy of both captains did the poor woman retain her position in court…and probably her life, judging from the sheer fury in the princess’ gaze. 

That same fury was directed to anyone who dared get in the way of her regiment’s growth. Princess Azula reluctantly tolerated delays due to weather, supply shortages or even sickness, but spirits save any who dare try to swindle or bend the rules with her. Two officials from the Colonial Ministry had already been removed from their posts after trying to make excuses for the unwarranted delays in supplying the colonial barracks with its shipment of weapons and armor. The scouts of the 11th had been sent to quietly investigate, and found the shipments sold piecemeal to various forces throughout the colonies.

Princess Azula had sent out letters ‘requesting’ the return of the supplies from governors and generals, and to their credit every piece of equipment was accounted for within a month’s time. The princess graciously reimbursed the buyers, with the corrupt officials’ wealth of course, and no further face was lost.

The Fire Lord had been impressed and mildly disapproving when he heard of the whole thing. He liked how the princess wielded her fear and authority, but he’d have preferred the officials responsible be literally fired.

With that kind of a reputation built around herself, it was hard for Qi Song not to feel a bit safer when he entered the compound of the 11th Regiment’s base before the sun rose. They were likely as protective of her as he was, maybe even more so for the officers who viewed her as a younger but highly talented sister.

Most soldiers took the time to stop and bow as the royal group walked past them, though a few managed respectful nods instead as they hurried past to handle some task or another. The crown princess was lenient with the latter, and everyone knew if there was an entourage trailing behind her these rushing soldiers would stop to pay their full respects.

Princess Azula marched with purpose towards the private quarters of the regiment’s colonel, probably for the first time since the base had been built. Up until now, it was empty thanks to how busy Colonel Xing kept himself in the front lines. They reached the door and the princess gave sharp knocks on the door, almost treating it like a practice dummy with how much force she was using.

When the door finally opened, the tenseness that surrounded the princess throughout the morning vanished. Qi Song also forcefully ignored the peripheral view of her face from his position behind her right flank. It was safer not to acknowledge the fact that his charge’s cheeks bloomed with faint redness as the young colonel appeared, dressed in a plain sleeping robe.

Colonel Xing’s sleepy eyes immediately snapped to focus and he straightened to attention. “Your highness,” he greeted with a casual bow and salute.

“Xing,” the crown princess returned with a stiff nod. Qi Song did not waste his time or risk his life wondering whether her eyes actually rested on the colonel’s body for a bit longer than necessary. “You’re up late.”

“Because I was up late, princess.” At her head tilting to one side, the commander shrugged. “Working on your plan to secure the colonies.”

Princess Azula smirked at that, still finding it amusing that she was taking credit for an idea the colonel had brought to her attention in their letters. Qi Song knew, because he heard her discussing it with Captain Ren and some of the generals in court, including a few High Generals in the war council. The bodyguard also knew that she’d have preferred letting Colonel Xing take the credit for a chance of more recognition, if not for the fact that the plan would face more resistance if that were the case.

“It’s not too great a challenge, I hope?”

“Just down to the what-ifs, the main details have been triple-checked and given over to the new officers to review and poke holes in.”

“Good. I have secured the services of General Sho, and Colonels Dao, Koda, Yashen and Hwa. You have your army, Xing.”

“More like you have your army, princess.”

The crown princess rolled her eyes. “Semantics. With the new army’s core confirmed, we will see how many more will flock to this unglamorous task.”

“If we can gain even half of the names you’ve highlighted, the campaign would be done in a year’s time. Two, at most.”

There was a huff before Princess Azula folded her arms. “Do you have such low expectations from me?”

“No, your highness,” the colonel replied with a shake of his head. “Just low expectations from everyone else.”

“Perhaps. But don’t forget, it is my name that will be attached to this operation. As unglamorous as it might be, there will still be many who will seek out a chance at earning royal favor.”

“Of course, your highness.”

“Now, make yourself presentable. You owe me a sparring match, for the years you’ve been gone, and…for the other day.”

Qi Song purged the thought that a blushing princess might be cute, so that he didn’t accidentally sign his death warrant by blurting it out at the wrong time. 

*****

The regimental home base was quiet, but it was not because the sun was still rising. The recruits here would usually be in the middle of endurance drills by now, or finishing up their night training. And neither did the 11th being given leave as a whole contribute to the heavy silence, as many of the soldiers would only head back to their homes in a few days time, once the captains had finished transferring recent knowledge to the instructors to further refine the curriculum.

Instead, it was Azula’s presence that kept everyone still. Her and Xing, standing across from her in the sparring grounds.

She didn’t mind the silent stares of the soldiers ringing the grounds on the two of them, she didn’t care that her bodyguards were tense with worry.

The princess’ attention was fixed on Xing. It helped that he was lightly dressed, Azula rather liked how his toned muscles shift subtly as he adopted a faux casual stance, his hands behind his back. She liked his smile that was now free of the intimidating (to the weaklings) helmets of the regiment. She liked how his eyes hinted at how serious he was taking this spar despite the false complacency he displayed.

“Firebenders, ready!”

That was not the call to start the fight, merely the sign to get the firebending soldiers around them to prepare to intercept any stray shots.

Azula grinned. This was going to be fun.

“And…begin!”

At Ren’s mark, Azula propelled herself forwards with the aid of fiery bursts from her feet. Xing merely leaned back and twisted out of the way, letting her fist pass just inches away from his face. She was going too fast to properly redirect her strike, so Azula lashed out with her legs instead.

Xing, the cocky bastard, took four steps back to avoid the wave of fire hurled from her feet. Azula landed in a roll, sending out bolts of fire with hands and feet as she did so to maintain distance from her opponent. The princess needn’t have bothered, as Xing was content to remain in place, only twisting out of the way of the projectiles.

“Your new stance might annoy me,” she remarked before launching herself at him again. It took two long strides to close the distance, and Azula exploded in a flurry of punches and kicks, trying to box her smirking opponent in. Xing sidestepped and dodged, but eventually a low kick followed by a jab to the ribs forced him to finally release his hands from his back to slap away her strike.

“Gotcha,” Azula hissed, grinning hard.

Xing let out a short chuckle before he retaliated, and it was the princess’ turn to be put on the defensive. He struck quickly, almost as fast as the scorpion that he adopted as his emblem. Azula found herself backpedaling as deflecting and twisting away from the fists and knife hands were insufficient to keep her untouched.

Despite the shifting balance of the fight, Azula was grinning from the exhilaration of such a fight. Try as they might, the captains still held back out of her position, and the vapid fools in court that dared take up her offer were not even worth the satisfaction of victory. Xing was only restraining his abilities so that he did not outright kill her with a blast of white fire, but otherwise his strikes carried the intent to actually hurt.

And yet there were people who dared say he would not know how to appease a royal princess. Idiots.

Azula leant in to slip through a strike, and sent her knee shooting up into Xing’s exposed stomach. She realized the trap too late, but managed to turn the rising knee into a swift kick that pushed both of them back before his elbow came down on her neck.

As they resetted their stances, the princess found herself grinning harder. The feel of Xing’s skin still lingered pleasantly on the sole of her feet. It was hard and warm, and there was an urge to try getting an open palm on him somehow. Azula crushed that stray thought and focused on the fight. She was determined to at least try and win this fight.

Deciding that another brawl would not favor her, Azula dropped into a traditional Sleeping Dragon stance. As expected, Xing rushed at her to stop her from firebending. She quickly flowed into a combat stance of the 11th, and her hands quickly snapped out into a punch. The sounds of awe from the soldiers around her sent a thrill running up her spine as blue bolts of fire forced Xing to sidestep and almost (only almost!) stumble.

With his charge slowed, Azula channeled her chi into her hands to conjure three short blades of blue fire between her closed fingers on each hand, as if she were suddenly wielding throwing knives. She fully broke Xing’s charge by hurling the ‘daggers’, sending six bolts of azure flame that forced him to leap aside, and then back.

“Oh, well done, princess.” The praise, while snarky in its delivery, was genuine. Xing wouldn’t be grinning like that if it wasn’t. Azula knew him well enough, even with the three years apart.

“Thanks,” she replied smugly, letting a ball of blue fire dance in an open hand. “It was something I developed by myself.”

“No doubt about it, otherwise whoever taught you such a technique would not shut up about it.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

“It doesn’t hurt if the princess who leads us proves herself to be extraordinary in her abilities.”

“Your attempts at flattery have been noted.” And Azula will never admit how much she enjoyed it. Not in public, anyway. “Now, we’re in the middle of a fight?”

“Of course, your highness. Let me end this so I can continue singing your praises.”

He leant back, and with a quick downwards slash blasted apart the ground between them in a huge wave of white fire. Azula flinched at the blinding light and the wall of heat slamming into her, but still sent jets of blue fire into the fading explosion.

She had misjudged Xing, instead of diving through the cloud of smoke and dust as she’d expected, Azula glimpsed up to find the boy diving downwards, head and fists first, from the air. She quickly punched out more bolts of fire, though the hasty attacks were quickly batted aside.

Azula was forced to jump away when Xing let out a torrent of blinding fire, but the blast wave knocked her off balance and caused her feet to trip over one another. She was falling backwards, but the fall was arrested when strong hands reached out to grab her wrists and pull her back up. 

The force of it almost sent Azula tripping straight into Xing, and she barely stopped herself from smashing her head into his. As it was, her was barely a handspan away from his smirking features, and for some reason that knowledge froze Azula up.

“Careful there, your highness,” he said lightly. “Wouldn’t want you to dirty yourself too much...” Xing’s smirk flashed into something more mischievous for the briefest of moments as he added two words that only she could hear. “...my princess.”

Azula stiffened and snapped out of the trance, the urges to press her face against Xing banished at the heavy insinuation of his two words. 

‘My princess’ he’d said. Again.

Xing had declared his possession of her. He’d staked his claim, even if only in private.

Azula found fighting back the giddy urge to grin or smile or just jump onto Xing, and instead backed away and offered a salute to end the fight. “Well…well done, colonel. You prove yourself worthy of my attention once again.”

“And I am grateful as ever for it…your highness.” 

He should’ve used ‘my princess’ again. 

Azula really wanted to hear him say that again.

“Quite. Now come my colonel, we’ve some matters to discuss.”

“As you command.” She stiffened for the briefest of moments, and felt a wash of relief and satisfaction when he added in a whisper, “My princess”.

She could get used to the pleasant tingle from hearing that very quickly, but right now, the princess had to pointedly ignore the stupid grins on Ren’s and Ping’s faces. At least the men were smart enough to pretend nothing had happened.