#also azula is way more sympathetic very early on this time around and i appreciate them being realistic | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

grither55 · 3 years

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The Princess and the Peasant - (An Azula Epic) - Chapter 78 - Paradise Lost

"I brought you a flower Momma!" Elle exclaimed in a proud voice while her mother accepted the offering with a compassionate smile.

"Thank you for the flower Elle. That was very sweet of you." Lana spoke in a warm voice as she gazed down at her daughter with tender amber eyes while Elle beamed from ear to ear.

"I thought it was pretty so I decided to give it to you!" The blonde-haired child cried out in an innocent voice while her mother let out a fond chuckle.

"Once more. Arigatou Elle." The medic replied in a maternal voice as she patted her daughter's soft hair while the little girl smiled up at her.

Only for her lips to curve into a gentle smile when the small girl leaped into her arms.

"Mom!" Elle shouted in a joyful voice just as her mother's arms wrapped around her back.

"Elle…my daughter. I love you." Lana declared in a loving voice as she held her daughter against her chest.

"And I love you too mom." The blonde-haired child chirped in a cheery voice as she laughed happily while her mother hugged her close.

And with that the two sat together hugging one another for several minutes while they watched the birds fly into the air.

While the mother affectionately ruffled her laughing daughter's hair.

All the while the child enthusiastically pointed out one bird after another.

"Look mom! That one's my favorite! It's so pretty!" Elle spoke in a gleeful voice with Lana smiling warmly while she patted her plush head.

"You said the same thing about the last one Elle." The medic stated in a mirthful voice as she grinned down at her daughter's adorable face.

"Ooh! Look at that one!" The blonde-haired child cried out with her attention already drifting to another fluttering bird while her mother smiled alongside her.

"I see. That one is indeed lovely." Lana commented in a voice of boundless patience with her small daughter seated in her lap.

While they gazed up into the sky as the sun rose high into the air over the district.

"I wish I was a bird." Elle remarked in a lovable voice with her mother still gazing down at her fondly.

"Don't we all dear." The medic conversed as she gazed into the clouds with warm amber eyes that were trying her hardest to stay upbeat.

It wasn't easy though.

Not after all that they have been through.

But she has to try.

If not for herself but for her husband and her children.

"S-someday…I want to flow free like a bird soaring high in the air." The blonde-haired child announced in a wistful voice with a hand under her chin while she stared up with sparkling amber eyes.

"That would be nice wouldn't it?" Lana pondered in tender voice with her hand in her daughter's hair while Elle sat against her chest.

And for what it was worth.

For a few moments everything was at peace in their little world.

As much as it could be anyhow.

Until the medic turned her head when she heard the sound of someone shouting out to her to see a middle-aged man running frantically up the hill.

"What is it?" The medic questioned as she faced the man with her young daughter turning to follow her gaze.

"I am sorry to bother you Lana but there is a medical emergency." The black-haired man informed in an exhausted voice while the medic's eyes took on a more downcast countenance as she pushed herself up.

"Another one?" Lana answered in a frustrated voice as she pulled Elle with her daughter peering up at her in innocent curiosity.

"Another one. The same as before." The middle-aged man replied gravely with the physician sighing heavily as she nodded her head.

"I will be right there." The medic stated in a grave voice with her hand linked in with her child's while the man nodded his head.

"I'll relay the message." The black-haired man responded before turning to rush off while the medic stared on with a depressed look in her eyes.

"Come on Elle. We need to go back." Lana announced with a heavy sigh as she held Elle's hand in her own while Elle's eyes flashed in disappointment.

"B-but we just left…" Elle protested in a pouting voice as she followed after her mother with her smaller hand in her mother's own.

"I know but there are people in need of us." The medic answered in a patient voice before she turned to gaze down at her daughter when the child stopped to pout.

"Why should we care about them? Why can't we just stay here for as long as we want? Just me and you…" The blonde-haired child mumbled as she bashfully kicked at her feet while her mother knelt down with her hands touching her shoulders.

"Because it is the right thing to do. We must never turn away from another being in need. It is our duty to lend a helping hand. However, we are able." Lana lectured with a kind countenance while Elle gazed up at her with her innocent amber eyes taking in her words.

"Lend a helping hand?" Elle asked in a curious voice as she smiled shyly while her mother patted her shoulders.

"Yes, dear. There is only one way that we will recover as a society from the damage of the great war. And that is through love and peace." The medic declared in a passionate voice with a smile returning to her lips while her child adorably tilted her head.

"Love and peace?" The blonde-haired child breathed in an awe-stricken voice while her mother beamed down at her.

"That's right Elle. Love and peace." Lana spoke with her hand patting Elle's shoulder while the little girl considered her words.

Only for her smile to grow when her daughter repeated her words.

"Love and peace!" Elle cried out with a bright smile while Lana grinned at her with her hand grasping at hers once more.

"That's my daughter. Don't worry Elle. We can come back to this flower field as much as you like." The medic assured as she clutched her daughter's hand in her own once more.

"I would like that mom." The blonde-haired child stated in a cheerful voice once more while she gazed up into her mother's affectionate eyes.

"There is something that I want you to know Elle." Lana remarked as she gazed down seriously into her child's indescribably curious vibrant eyes.

"What is it Mother?" Elle queried in a soft voice while Lana gazed down at her with tender amber eyes.

"You are my pride. You…give me hope for this world." The medic stated in a beyond loving voice while the little girl's eyes grew wet in appreciation.

Just as the child jumped into her mother's arms once more while they held each other for the briefest of moments.

"I... love you so much Mother." The blonde-haired child sniffled in a devoted voice while her mother hugged her back.

"And I love you even more." Lana whispered in a tender voice with her golden hair blowing in the breeze while she held her child into her chest.

The flowers swept in the warm summer breeze while the mother and her child savored their momentary embrace.

Until seconds later Lana was forced to end the hug much to her regret.

And with that they ventured back into the district that they called home.

One of many conglomerations of society that formed after the third world war.

And once more Lana stood with her lips in a grimace while she gazed down at the heavily breathing patient with sweat breaking out all over his face.

Before she turned to the people waiting behind her.

"Cancer I presume. My suggestion is that we do what we can to ease the pain." The medic spoke in a solemn voice while a Russian man standing beside her nodded his head in agreement.

And soon afterward the other volunteers of various ethnicities came to the same conclusion.

About twenty minutes later.

Lana stood outside of the building with her face in her hand while she gazed down with sorrowful amber eyes.

Just as she turned her head when she heard the sound of hesitant footsteps behind her only to find herself face to face with her husband.

Elias was a blond-haired man, like herself. But unlike her he was not of partial Japanese descent.

He was a former soldier of British ancestry. And his eyes were a bright blue.

His hair was short and as recently combed. He wore a brown jacket and a pair of tan pants.

Like her he was in his early thirties.

They had met on the road a long time ago and they have been together ever since.

The husband sighed as he leaned against the wall beside her while he placed his hands in his pockets.

Before he turned to gaze at her with concerned blue eyes.

"I take it that it didn't go well?" Elias asked in a sympathetic voice while his wife shook her head.

"No. No, it did not." Lana muttered in a distraught voice while she turned to watch her husband shift beside her.

"I realize that this isn't a good time…" The husband trailed off in uncertainty while his lover turned to him in concern.

"What is it?" The medic pondered just as a knot developed in her stomach when she caught the familiar look in her husband's eyes.

"It's Felix. He had some trouble at school." Elias announced in a frustrated voice while Lana's kind eyes grew wide in worry.

Just before she rushed past her worried husband before he could even get so much as a chance to say another word.

And with that the two were rushing off towards the school.

Meanwhile.

A blond-haired teenage boy was walking across the school yard while he gazed ahead with annoyed amber eyes.

He was wearing a blue tee shirt and his hands were in his pockets.

And he was also wearing a pair of black glasses over his nose.

Felix paused in his step when he heard one of the other boys shout out to him from a nearby table.

While he turned to gaze at them just as they called out a jeering taunt.

"Oh look! It's the crazy boy!" A boy called out in a mocking voice while his friends laughed in amusement beside him.

Only for Felix to just gaze back with an almost bored look in his amber eyes.

Just before a small smile formed on his lips before he spoke out a reply.

"I take it that you haven't heard Tomas." Felix spoke in an unfazed voice while the boys stared back at him in slight puzzlement.

"Heard what?" Tomas asked in a scoff while the other boy walked closer.

Just before he came to a stop before their table with a smile on his lips.

"You're an orphan now. Your father was killed on patrol." The teenager announced in a malicious voice with his words causing Tomas's face turned as white as can be.

And the boy's friends stared at him with a mixture of shock and anger in their eyes while their friend shook in disbelief.

"That's not true! You're lying!" The dark-haired boy shouted with his eyes wide in terror while Felix smiled even wider.

"I'm afraid not. My condolences though." Felix stated in a nonchalant voice as he turned to walk away with delight in his eyes when he heard the other boy cry out in sorrow.

Only for a fist to slam into his cheek not a moment later as he fell to the ground with his glasses soaring off of his face.

And soon enough the three boys stood over him kicking him in the stomach.

Shortly afterward.

Lana and Elias sat in the councilor's office while they listened to the Hindi man tell them what happened

While the medic listened with her amber eyes wide in motherly concern while her husband sighed heavily alongside her.

Only for even Elias's eyes to widen when they were told just what their son said that set the bullies off.

"Felix said what?" Elias questioned with a good bit of anger in his voice while the woman beside him stared on with her eyes wide in emotion.

"I said that your son tauntingly informed Tomas about his father's death." Amar replied in a curt voice while the two parents stared back in alarm.

"Felix…" The medic trailed off in a disconcerted voice with her amber eyes becoming downcast while the councilor gazed back at her.

"Lana. Out of respect for all that you have done for the community I am going to put this as lightly as I can. But I must be frank with you." The councilor commented with a heavy accent to his voice as he folded his palms over his desk.

All the while the woman listened with her husband's hand on her shoulder.

"Fine. Say what you must." Lana answered with a frown already on her lips as she shook her head in anticipation of what she suspected that the man was about to say.

"Your son is deeply disturbed Lana." Amar spoke in a deathly serious voice while Lana clutched at the sleeves of her blouse with a deep frown upon her lips.

"Are you calling my son a monster?" The medic questioned in a pointed voice as she gazed at the councilor's sighing face.

"Don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say that." The councilor stated with the two parents exchanging a troubled look before the mother turned back to him.

"Yes, you did. I'm not excusing what Felix did. And I can assure you that we will have a long talk with him. But he is only lashing out because those boys have been bullying him for weeks!" Lana insisted with her fists clenched in her lap.

But Elias didn't seem so certain.

"Your son took joy in telling another boy that his father died. This isn't something that any child of a healthy state of mind would do." Amar remarked in a sterner voice while Lana gazed away with emotional amber eyes.

"We understand that Amar." Elias assured as he rubbed the bridge of his nose while he frowned in concern.

"But that's not all. Two weeks ago, your son was caught trying to masturbate in the tool room with rope tied around his neck." The dark-haired man continued in a blunt voice with both parents falling silent in their seats.

Neither parent knew how to respond to such blatant sexual debauchery.

"H-he did what?" The medic blurted out in a baffled voice with her mouth hanging open in disbelief.

"What I am trying to get at is that your son is showing early symptoms of dangerous behavior. And to be blunt it is beyond the realm of my expertise." Amar declared as he gazed back at the two taken aback parents while Lana audibly swallowed.

"What can we do?" The husband queried in a quiet voice while his wife held her face in her hand.

"The only thing I can suggest is taking him to a larger city further west for a more comprehensive treatment plan." The dark-haired man announced as he set a paper down on his desk while the two parents now looked completely unsettled.

"Further west? Why can't you do anything for him here? Travel between zones is highly dangerous and…" Lana protested with maternal concern in her voice while Amar gazed gravely back at her.

"Look around you Lana. We can barely treat the sick and the wounded here as it is. We can't even give the terminally ill the proper care that they deserve. And you think we have the facilities to treat that?" Amar explained with his hand waving in the air just as Lana stood up from her seat.

While her concerned husband did so as well while he gazed back at her with worried blue eyes.

"Felix is not a monster! He is not!" The medic exclaimed in a distraught voice while the councilor sat there in silence.

Just before she turned around and walked out with her husband quickly following after her once more.

Elias walked out with his eyes gazing downward as he sighed heavily under his breath.

Just when they think that they can enjoy a peaceful moment.

There is always something else.

Elle sat on the floor with a video game controller in hand with a sunny smile on her face while she gazed at the television in excitement.

While various items and family belongings decorating the walls of the household.

In particular there was a small shelf with several family photos set out on display.

One was of Lana smiling happily with the mutually content Elias, their seemingly disinterested son Felix and a two-year-old Elle grinning adorably back at the camera.

And another was of Elias and Lana on their wedding night.

And a third was a familiar one of Lana hugging both of her children.

"Yay! I beat the second stage!" Elle cheered with a little fist pumping in the air while she grinned back at the tv screen.

Just before she enthusiastically bit her lip when the third round began.

All the while the sound of raised voices was heard from the kitchen in the background.

"Felix! Look at your mother when she is talking to you!" Elias demanded with anger in his eyes that only increased when Felix mockingly rolled his eyes.

"You cannot say something like that Felix! It's not right. I thought I raised you to be better than that." Lana exclaimed as she stood behind her son while the teenage boy turned to gaze up at her.

"Why can't I?" Felix retorted in a playful voice with his mother frowning down at him.

"Because it is morally wrong. That's why." The medic stated adamantly only for her eyes shimmer in renewed emotion when her son scoffed.

"And what makes you think that I care about morals? Look around you Mother. There are no morals anymore." The teenager spoke in an uncaring voice that took both of his parents aback before he stood up from his seat.

"How…how can you say that? Morals will always have meaning!" Lana insisted with her hands at her hips while Elias stared at their son in disbelief.

For quite some time they had both known that their son was troubled to say the least.

But never to this extent.

"The only way to survive is if you stop playing by the rules." Felix stated as he turned to walk out while his mother stared on with hurt in her warm amber eyes.

Just as his father placed an angered hand on his shoulder.

"Hold it. This talk isn't yet Felix! I also heard about your perversions at school!" The father shouted with his blue eyes staring angrily down at his son's back just as the boy turned to face him.

"So, you found out that I am into auto erotic asphyxiation. What of it?" The teenager quipped in a dismissive voice while his two parents stared at him in complete bewilderment.

"There will never be a repeat of either of these incidents that's what." Elias remarked in a firm voice with his eyes glaring down at his son.

While Lana held a hand over her forehead as she sunk back against the wall under great stress.

"Who do you think I am? Elle? I'm not who you think I am…and I am getting really sick of acting like I am." Felix replied before he pushed his father's stunned hand off his shoulder while he strode towards the front door.

While the two parents stared after him in frustration only for their feelings to grow when the boy withdrew a pack of cigarettes.

"S-since when did you pick up smoking?" The medic pondered in a helpless voice with her eyes gazing after her son as he opened the front door.

"Oh, I don't know. A few months ago." The teenager answered in an unbothered voice as he waved a hand in the air while his father glared after his back.

"Please Felix…. please let us help you." Lana called out in a saddened voice that only grew when her son said nothing in response.

Before closing the door shut behind him.

And with that Lana slumped against the wall with her palm over her face while Elias stood in a mutually unsettled silence.

With their sole comfort being the sound of Elle's happy voice and the video games sounds that were coming from the adjacent room.

The overwhelmed mother turned to glance in the direction of her cheerful daughter before she wordlessly pushed herself off the wall.

Before she walked into the living room while her husband gazed after her with concerned blue eyes.

While she came to a stop over her joyful child just as Elle turned to beam up at her.

"Do you mind if I sit with you Elle?" The medic questioned in a soft voice with her smile beginning to return when her little girl tugged on her pant leg.

"I would like that mom! Would you like to play a game with me?" The blonde-haired child cried out in an innocent voice that contrasted her brother's behavior while her mother chuckled over her.

"Yes dear. I think I would like that." Lana spoke before she sat down on her posterior beside her small daughter while she slipped an arm around her little girl's shoulder.

All the while taking solace in how her youngest began to lean into her side with an adorable smile on her lips.

"I…love you momma." Elle announced in a bashful voice just as her hair was ruffled by Lana's hand while her mother lovingly held her against her stomach.

"And I love you my sweet Elle. And I always will." The medic declared with a trace of emotion in her voice while she embraced her child under her arm while the little girl leaned into her embrace.

All the while her husband watched them with his depressed countenance giving way to a small smile.

No matter how bleak life became for them.

Elle was always able to bring a smile to their face.

And they both loved her for it.

The following day…

Felix was once again thrown against the wall while he spat out saliva when Gregory punched him in the stomach.

Which was soon followed up by a kick to gut from Alexander.

The two boys hissed in their rage while the other teen slumped against the wall with his hand over his stomach while Tomas glared down at him.

"I am going to make you regret mocking my dad!" Tomas shouted with heavy emotion in his voice before he punched Felix across the jaw.

And with that the three bullies continued to beat up Felix just as they had many other times before.

And soon afterward the scowling boy entered through the back door of his home while he made his way to his room with his amber eyes boiling over in anger.

Just before he passed the living room to see his kid sister happily playing her old Super Nintendo once more.

"Woo hoo! I advanced to the next world!" Elle cheered in a jubilant voice with her controller in hand while she threw her hands in the air.

Just as she heard her brother step up behind her while he rolled his amber eyes down at her.

"How many times are you going to play Super Mario Brothers 3? You've already beaten it several times now." Felix commented from behind his sister just as she turned to gaze up at him only for her amber eyes to widen when she took in his bruises.

"Felix…what happened to your face?" The blonde-haled child pondered in a concerned voice while her older brother shrugged his shoulders.

"I just had a run in with some assholes who won't be around much longer." The teenager answered in a dismissive voice with a small smile on his lips while he adjusted his cracked glasses.

"Oh…do you want to play a round of Mario Kart?" Elle queried in a hopeful voice while Felix gazed down at her with amused amber eyes.

"Are you going to cry if you lose?" Felix inquired in a taunting voice only for his little sister to puff out her chest in a show of confidence.

"No. And who said that I would be the one losing?" The blonde-haired child retorted in a childishly proud voice while her brother scoffed before he sat down on the floor beside her.

"Let's put your confidence to the test then." The brother spoke in a smug voice as he grasped a controller while his sister did the same.

"Bring it!" Elle chimed in a happy voice with her amber eyes expressing great delight at sharing a rare moment with her elder brother.

Her brother had been getting much colder as of late and it seemed as if he was drifting away from her and her parents.

That made her sad and she wished that there was a way for them to grow closer.

Perhaps a few rounds of a game will bring them closer together once again.

Six days later in the local town hall building.

Lana stood before a podium with a crowd gathered before her while her husband and her daughter watched from the seating area.

Despite her concerns over her son's increasingly unstable behavior she knew that she had to focus on the community at hand.

That didn't mean that it didn't hurt to do so.

Only to find herself cracking a soft smile a moment later when she caught sight of little Elle waving enthusiastically at her from the crowd beside her chuckling husband.

"The great war has taken more from us than can ever be put into words. We have lost loved ones, our homes, some of us even our countries, and with-it sickness and death. But through it all…together we have seen that there is hope." Lana spoke before the microphone with her amber eyes gazing out at her audience while the townspeople of many ethnicities listened in silence.

All the while young Elle sat there beside her father with her amber eyes paying keen attention to her mother's words.

While her father listened with a proud smile on his face.

"It doesn't matter who we are, where we came from, or what the color of our skin is, what religion you may or may not believe in, your sexual orientation. All that matters…is that we are living beings. And we are in this together." The medic remarked with her hands on the podium while her eyes met the crowds many moved faces.

One person after another gazed around at one another while the dedicated woman continued her speech.

"The only way that we will ever conquer the hatred of the past is through love and peace. We must continue onward together as a community and we must never forget one thing." Lana stated with her mouth over the microphone while her voice resounded throughout the moved audience.

Yet none more so than Elle herself.

The little girl sat with her bright eyes staring on in admiration while she committed every wise word to memory that her mother spoke.

"No living being has the right to take the life of another. Our ancestors were wrong to do so and we would be just as wrong to do the same. The path to peace is a difficult road to travel but I truly believe that it is the right one." The medic announced with emotion in her amber eyes while the taken aback community listened in contemplation.

And the child gazed on with her hands folded in her lap as she bit her lip while her father held a hand on her shoulder.

"No living being has the right to take the life of another…" Elle murmured in a naïve voice with an innocent smile forming on her lips while her father turned to smile down at her.

And with that the crowd muttered to one another before the medic stepped away spoke into the mic one final time.

"That is all. Thank you for hearing me out." Lana concluded as she backed away from the microphone while the sound of clapping began from the audience.

The first to do so was none other than her excited daughter and her husband.

Followed by many other people in the audience.

"Go mom!" The blonde-haired child cheered with a fist in the air while her mother smiled back at her in appreciation.

"Yes, well done Lana." The husband spoke with a grin while his wife smiled as she made her way towards them.

"Thank you…both of you for your support. Do either of you know where Felix got off to?" The medic inquired in a concerned voice with her good mood wavering a fraction while the two shook their heads.

"No. I don't. He doesn't listen to anything I say anymore. Honestly Lana…I…don't think that there is much more than we can do." Elias responded in a quiet voice with a waning smile while his wife looked saddened after hearing those words.

The mother said nothing in response it was all she could do to numbly nod.

Yet she knew that she could never give up on her son.

No matter what he becomes Felix is still her son and that means that there must be hope for him.

"Maybe Felix would be happier if we played more games together. I'll ask him if he wants to play Mario Kart later! That will cheer him up!" Elle chirped in a sweet voice while both of her parents gazed at her fondly.

Neither voicing how they very much doubted that it would have any effect on altering their son's behavior.

Only for the couple to swiftly find themselves torn from their thoughts when not a moment later when the sound of a woman shouting pierced the air.

Screaming something about a gunman being sighted outside of the town hall.

And just like that the crowd erupted in a panic as people spun around in a panic fearing an attack from an unseen gunman.

While Lana pulled Elle's frightened body close as she glanced around with worry in her amber eyes while Elias guided them out of the panicked building.

Just minutes before outside of the Rosewood speaking event.

The boys from before were gathered outside with the leader Tomas sitting with his depressed head in his hands.

While his friends Gregory and Alexander glanced were trying and failing to console his sorrows.

Despite Tomas's best efforts to play it off it was obvious that he was torn up by his father's passing.

That was when all three of them glanced up when they saw a familiar person walking out of the large crowd.

Felix strode with a jacket over his shoulders while his increasingly cold eyes stared back at them with cruel intent.

While the three boys pushed themselves up from their seats as they glared back at him.

"The psycho boy is back again." Gregory sneered as he strode forward with his two friends.

"Looks like someone didn't learn his lesson." Alexander snarled as he cracked his knuckles while Tomas stared at Felix's smiling face with furious eyes.

"I am going to beat the shit out of you so bad that you won't be able to walk for weeks." Tomas spoke as he pointed a finger at Felix's undaunted face.

Only for all three of them to gaze on in surprise when the teenager let out a demented laugh with his hands in his pockets.

"Hey there Tomas. How was your father's funeral?" Felix pondered in a taunting voice as he lit a cigarette with a lighter while the three boys stared back at him in growing rage.

"You! I am going to kill you!" The dark-haired boy screamed in his rage with his friends flanking him from behind.

Only for all three of them to freeze in their steps when Felix flashed them a dark smirk before he withdrew a handgun from his coat pocket.

The three bullies froze up when they suddenly found themselves facing down the barrel of a pistol while the other boy stared back at them with his amber eyes alight in cruel delight.

"Is…that fucking thing loaded?" Alexander asked in disbelief as he froze in his tracks while Gregory stood motionless frozen beside him.

"Don't be stupid! Of course, it's not loaded! He's just trying to scare us!" Tomas shouted in a poor attempt at playing off his fear while his two friends gazed on in uncertainty.

And then the pistol pointed back at the three boy's faces while the blond-haired teenager's lips curved into a cold grin.

"No living being has the right to take the life of another." Lana spoke in the distance from inside the townhall while Felix stared down the three increasingly unnerved boys.

A brief moment of silence passed them just before the other two boys pulled back on Tomas's sleeve.

"Come…on Tomas this isn't worth it." Alexander advised as he backed away with his eyes never leaving Felix's handgun while the boy smiled back at them.

"Yeah…it isn't." Gregory agreed as he too backed away while he too pulled back his angered friend.

"Right. Let's go." The dark-haired boy muttered in a still angered voice while he eyed the pistol warily.

And not a moment later they vanished around the corner while Felix finally lowered the pistol.

"That's right. Run away." The teenager chuckled in a demented laugh with the gun raising to his lips.

And then he ran his tongue along his lips as he continued to laugh in a demented manner while he cradled the gun against his cheek.

How long he stood there posing with the pistol he wasn't certain.

It wasn't until he heard a woman scream in fear after taking note of his gun that he was torn from his reverie.

And just as quickly after the woman screamed townspeople began to rush out to check on her while Felix rolled his amber eyes over their squeamishness.

Just before he slid the gun back into his jacket pocket before he broke out into a run in the opposite direction of the rushing crowd.

"What happened! You said that you saw someone about to bring in a gun to the townhall?" Someone called out in a panic while the woman in question hurriedly nodded her head.

"Y-yes! A boy pulled out a gun and he looked as if he was going to enter the building! I could see it in his eyes he was truly planning on shooting someone!" The woman exclaimed in a frenzy while she gazed back at the concerned crowd.

Just as Lana and Elias cautiously made their way out with their eyes widening as they shared a look with one another.

But before they had a chance to ponder the matter they spun around when they realized that their daughter had gotten separated from them in the rush.

"Elle! Elle!" Lana shouted in a worried voice with her maternal eyes gazing around in search of her daughter while Elias turned back to her.

"Calm down Lana. I'll go find her. Just get back to the house okay?" Elias instructed in a supportive voice with his hands on his wife's shoulders while Lana shakily nodded her head.

And with that the man broke out into a run-in search of both their youngest and their oldest.

All the while never able to suppress the bad feeling of just who the alleged boy might be.

Elsewhere on the other side of town.

A lone scarlet-haired child walked in a trance with her hair brown eyes staring blankly ahead.

Cuts were adorning her tired cheeks while she a solemn expression shone throughout her eyes.

Yet somehow throughout it all a smile still graced her features.

She took a tired step with her ragged shirt swaying in the breeze while her wary eyes gazed around in search of food and water.

All the while her booted feet padded along the ground as she strode into the desolate town with her red hair blowing lightly behind her.

She wandered for quite some time while she ducked in and out of view of the large crowds with her paranoid eyes gazing about while she hid in a narrow alleyway.

Just as her brown eyes to widened as she spun around when she heard a voice speak up from behind her.

"Hello! Eek!" Elle cried out in a cheery voice only to find herself being pulled in by the redhead's fists while the older girl stared back at her with narrowed brown eyes.

Only for the scarlet-haired girl's brown eyes to relax somewhat when she saw that it wasn't an attacker.

"What do you want?" The scarlet-haired child questioned in a guarded voice as she released the smaller girl from her grip.

While she stared at the little blonde with searching brown eyes only to furrow her brows when the girl smiled brightly back at her.

"You looked lonely so I thought that I would come say hi and ask you if you wanted to be friends!" The blonde-haired child chirped as she padded closer while the redhead scrunched up her nose in bewilderment.

"No. I do not. Now go away." The orphan answered in a dismissive voice as she turned away while the blonde's shoulders slumped.

Only for Elle to regain her cheer not a moment later as she approached her back once more.

"My name is Elle! What's your name?" Elle pondered in an innocent voice with the redhead glancing back at her in exasperation.

"I don't have a name. And I thought I told you to go away." The scarlet-haired child remarked with shame in her eyes while the other child gasped in horror.

"You don't have a name?" The blonde-haired child asked in a saddened voice while the redhead trudged ahead just as she padded after her.

"No. I…don't. I…lost it somewhere along the way…" The orphan confessed with a waning smile as she stared down at her feet while the little blonde's eyes grew wet with tears.

"Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry." Elle spoke in a softer voice with the redhead turning to gaze at her in confusion.

"Why are you crying? And why are you apologizing?" The scarlet-haired child questioned in a confused voice with the younger girl still following after her heels.

"Because that's the saddest thing that I have ever heard." The blonde-haired child mumbled in a quieter voice while the redhead turned away once more.

"Yeah well. You can go away now." The orphan muttered with her back turned to the blonde only for a loud growling sound to resonate from her belly.

She paused in her step with her brown eyes gazing down at her stomach in annoyance just as she turned her head to find herself gazing back into the blonde's concerned amber eyes.

"You must be really hungry…I know! If you want you could come back with me to my house and eat as much as you like!" Elle chirped with a sunny smile while the older girl's brown eyes flashed in surprise.

All the while the redhead's stomach continued to growl.

And for a moment there the orphan almost gave in.

Almost but she knew better than to foolishly trust in other people.

"No. I don't just follow other people around. For all I know this is a trap." The scarlet-haired child retorted with a scoff while the blonde blinked back at her in adorable bewilderment.

"A trap? I wasn't going to trap you. But I was hoping that we could play hang out!" The blonde-haired child piped in a cheery voice with her words puzzling the redhead even further.

"My answer remains the same." The orphan stated in a firm voice just as the younger girl tilted her head with a finger under her chin.

"Hey! I'll bring the food to you then! How does that sound?" Elle pondered in a helpful voice with her words taking the older girl aback.

"Why would you bring me…. never mind. Fine. Whatever." The scarlet-haired child commented with a shrug while she watched the peculiar child turn to dart off.

"Okay! I'll be back soon new friend!" The blonde-haired child called out in a happy voice as she waved over her shoulder while the older girl scrunched up her nose as she watched her run off.

"We're not friends." The orphan protested as she gazed after the younger girl before she turned away to peer down at her feet.

And somehow despite her best efforts she was smiling once more.

Only this time it was a more genuine smile than the one she usually wore to deter people from beating her.

About a half an hour later…

The redhead sat at the end of the alley with her brown eyes gazing on in surprise when the blonde came rushing back with a handful of food items in hand.

"I'm back!" Elle cried out as she struggled to carry all of the food items while the other girl eyed her curiously.

'She actually came.' The scarlet-haired child thought as she watched the younger girl come to a stop before her.

"I can see that." The orphan stated in a taken aback voice while she stared on as a bunch of food items were dropped down before her.

"I brought candy, crackers, cookies, bread, canned fruit, water and more!" The blonde-haired child blurted out in an excited voice while the redhead quietly gazed down at the pile of food.

"Thanks." The orphan muttered as she reached for a loaf of bread while she unwrapped it.

All the while gazing down at it with searching brown eyes to search for any hint of poison.

Before she glanced up at the younger child through the corner of her eye just as she took a bite out of it.

It was obvious that the girl wasn't cunning enough to plan anything of the sort.

She was far too transparent for her own good.

"Does that mean that we're friends now?" Elle questioned in a cheery voice as she sat across from the nameless redhead who gazed back at her oddly.

"No. It doesn't. It just means that I owe you a debt. That is all." The scarlet-haired child replied in a more mature voice while the smaller girl sulked once more.

"A debt?" The blonde-haired child repeated in a puzzled voice with her young eyes blinking in puzzlement.

"Yes, a debt. People don't just help someone else without expecting something in return." The orphan spoke as she chewed on her bread while gazing back at the younger child's naïve face.

"I don't want anything in return from you. My mother taught me never to ignore someone in need…" Elle assured with a nod while the redhead still furrowed her brows in confusion.

But before either one of them could say another word a familiar voice was heard calling out Elle's name.

"Elle! Where are you?" Elias called out as he searched a nearby street for his daughter.

Just as Elle sprang up from her seat while the older child stared on with increased paranoia in her brown eyes.

"That's my dad calling me…I'll be right back. I have to let him know that I am okay. I'll see you soon!" The blonde-haired child exclaimed with a smile while the other girl gazed at her quietly while she ran off.

Only to never hear a reply from the mysterious child seated in the alleyway.

"I'm right here Dad!" Elle shouted as her father turned to gaze back at her with relieved blue eyes.

"There you are. Where have you been? You shouldn't be wandering around like this Elle. There's a panic going around about a gunman that was sighted outside of the townhall and people are trying to find him before he hurts someone." The father remarked as he approached his daughter while the little girl smiled up at her.

"I'm sorry Father. But I made a new friend! I ran into this girl and she was hungry. So, I brought her some of our food and we were just getting to know each other!" The blonde-haired child piped in a carefree voice with her father gazing down at her in surprise.

"Did you now? Well, that was kind of you Elle." Elias replied in an approving voice while his daughter pulled on his hand as he followed her to the alley.

"I did. Dad this is my new…she's gone…" Elle trailed off in a bummed-out voice as she gazed into the alley with no trace of the redhead save for a can or two that the girl left behind.

The father just sighed fondly before he pulled on his child to return to their home while the girl stared on in disappointment.

It was no small secret that Elle had trouble making friends with kids her own age.

And that she was very excited over the prospect of making new friends.

"Come on Elle. We need to go back. It's not safe to wander about right now." The father advised as his little girl followed alongside him with her amber eyes lingering at the empty alley.

"Where did she go? I hope I see her again…" The blonde-haired child mumbled as her father patted her shoulder.

"I'm sure you will see her again Elle." Elias commented in a gentle voice with Elle's hand in his own while they walked back home.

While Elle gazed over her shoulder for a final time before turning away as she bit her lip in uncertainty.

Before the two continued through the many crowds until they vanished into the distance.

Back at the house…

Elle and both of her parents soon had returned to their house.

The mother and father had sent their daughter to her room when they heard their son return.

Felix was leaning against the porch railing with a lit cigarette between his fingers when he idly turned his head just as he heard his parents step outside to confront him.

The distraught look in their eyes was all the confirmation that he needed to know what was on their minds.

"Felix. Did you brandish a gun outside of the town hall today?" Elias asked in a hardened voice with his frustrated giving way to great anger when the boy nodded his head.

Lana stared at her son with her lips agape in disbelief while Felix turned to meet their gaze.

"I did. I was contemplating shooting Tomas, Gregory and Alexander." Felix admitted in a casual voice with a smile on his lips while his two parents froze up in shock over his blunt admission.

The mother and father stood in a shaken silence as they exchanged a distraught look before the blonde finally found the nerve to address her son.

"Why Felix…why would you even consider doing something so horrible?" Lana pondered in a stunned voice with her heart racing in her chest while Elias never took his beyond disappointed gaze off their son.

"That's a silly question. Don't you think? Maybe because my day would go much smoother without three fools accosting me at every turn." The teenager remarked in a dismissive voice with his cold amber eyes staring back at his two parent's increasingly surprised faces.

"You can't just shoot them! There are other ways to solve a problem that do not involve murder. How can you even say that?" The father questioned in a stunned voice while he gazed hard at his now shrugging son.

Just as Lana placed a shaky hand on Felix's shoulder while she gazed back into her son's much colder amber eyes.

"You have no right to shoot those boys. No more than they have to bully you. No living being has the right to take the life of another." The medic explained in a maternal voice with her hand on her son's shoulder.

While the teenager glanced into her eyes before he turned to gaze out over the railing of the porch.

Just before the boy spoke words that made her heart drop into her stomach.

"I disagree with you. And so, do the majority of people on this planet. What you speak of is nothing more than an idealistic dream that is just that…a dream." Felix spoke with his cigarette between his fingers while he smiled back into his mother's shocked eyes.

The mother's hand fell from the boy's shoulder while she stood there struggling to comprehend what had become of her son.

They had always known that he was a troubled boy.

But to this extent?

"If people like your mother didn't strive so hard for a better tomorrow then people in this community would lose hope! And that hope is all that they have!" Elias exclaimed in a greatly impassioned voice with his fists clenched at his sides while Lana still stared at their son in disbelief.

"Then let them. Those people mean nothing to me." The teenager commented in a callous voice with a wave of his hand while his parents took a step back in astonishment.

"W-what are you saying Felix?" Lana inquired in a pained voice with her amber eyes staring at her son in rising despair while Felix put out his cigarette.

"I'm not who you think I am. I am not like Elle. I am not like you and I am not like Father. I am not like anyone here. And I have grown sick of pretending that I care all about all of these meaningless rules." Felix declared as he pushed himself up off the railing with his amber eyes staring back at his parent's speechless faces.

The two parents were so floored by their son's words that they didn't even know how to respond.

And worse of all.

More and more they were starting to wonder if the school councilor was right.

"All of my life I have felt so unhappy. So, discontent…so hollow. But when I saw the fear in their eyes…for the first time in my life I truly felt alive." The teenager announced in an eerily relaxed voice while his parents stood frozen where they stood in shock.

And if they were even starting to fear what their son had become.

"I-is there something that we did wrong? Did we not give you enough love? Is that it?" The medic breathed in an emotional voice as she gazed on wide eyed at her son's changed face.

All the while her husband took hold of her wrist before she could approach the boy when he stepped past them just as he began to stride down the stairs.

"Not that I can recall no. It's just the way I am." Felix answered in a shrug as he gazed back at his parents from top step while they stared at him in a disbelieving silence.

"I want that gun Felix." The father spoke in a tone that brook no room for argument while he stared at his son with indescribable disappointment in his eyes.

Only for his blue eyes to widen when the teenager let out an unstable laugh while he gazed back up at them.

"Go ahead and take it. If you can find it." The teenager called out as he resumed walking down the stairs while his parents stared after him in a destroyed silence.

"I don't want you anywhere near your sister. From this moment forward you are not to be around her." Elias commented with a scowl on his lips while Lana stood in a stunned silence beside him.

Only to never receive a reply as they watched their son walk off with his jacket swaying behind him.

Neither Lana nor Elias knew how to digest this new side of their son.

They didn't know what to say or do about it, or if there was something that they could have done sooner.

In any case they just didn't know.

And then mere moments later Lana shakily stepped into the house with her worried husband following after her.

While he watched his wife head upstairs to their daughter's bedroom while he held a deeply aggravated hand over his forehead.

And moments later the mother stood in the doorway of her youngest's bedroom while the child sat on her bed with her back turned to her.

"Elle." Lana began with her eyes lingering on her daughter's small frame just as Elle turned to smile brightly back at her.

"Yes mom?" Elle replied in an innocent voice while she gazed up as her mother moved to sit beside her.

Only to smile even brighter when her mother sat down in front of her with her amber eyes staring down at her with great emotion in her gaze.

And not a moment later the mother pulled her confused daughter into a tight embrace with the little girl's chin settling on her shoulder.

"This world is full of people that have abandoned their humanity. Please Elle…don't ever become like them. Don't you ever let them take your light away." The medic spoke in a tender voice with her arms wrapped around her daughter's back.

While she gazed sorrowfully over her child's shoulder just as the little girl hugged her back.

"I won't mom. I promise." The blonde-haired child assured in a soft voice with her head upon her mother's shoulder while the woman gripped her closely.

"That's good. I am glad to hear it." Lana sighed with her eyes watering over while Elle hugged her fiercely.

"No living being has the right to take the life of another." Elle mumbled with her arms around her mother's neck while Lana patted her back.

"Yes, Elle. No living being has the right to take the life of another." The medic agreed with her arms holding her child close while her gaze cheered up considerably.

It is just as she said before.

This child truly gives her hope for the world.

"I…love you momma." The blonde-haired girl informed in a gentle voice with her face in her mother's shoulder while the woman smiled down at her.

"And I love you too Daughter. More than anything in this world." Lana remarked in a passionate voice with her eyes closed as she held Elle in her arms.

While Elle leaned into her mother's neck with a sunny smile on her innocent lips.

And for a brief moment, however fleeting. All was perfect in the world of the mother and her daughter.

The following day.

The sun was shining over the town.

And the birds were soaring high into the air.

And Elle was standing in the flower field watching the birds fly into the skies with a cheerful smile adorning her cheeks while she picked another flower for her mother.

The child laughed as she smiled from ear to ear just as a butterfly flew by her head.

And that was when she heard it.

Boom!

An explosion rocketed through the settlement below just as Elle spun around in fright.

And then her mouth fell open in shock as the flower she had picked fell to the grass below.

And her callow amber eyes widened in childlike disorientation while she gazed down at a raging fire below.

And rapidly approaching soldiers in the distance.

Another round of gunfire shot off while she stood there trembling in disbelief while she listened to the shouts of terror from below.

And then the child broke out into a panicked run down the hill.

And just like that Elle's entire world was ripped right out from beneath her feet.

And her life would never be the same again.

#Azula #Avatar The Last Airbender #ty lee avatar #mai avatar #femslash

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