Everyone said that the first time was difficult.
And boy, were they right.
No, not that first time pervert.
The first time she had to take care of someone else, other than herself.
Toph rubbed a damp cloth over the chest of the Uzumaki, who was alone with his pants on the bank of the huge river. They had reached the entrance to the snake pass and when she noticed that the shinobi stopped having a fever and his wounds looked better, she thought about giving him a bath.
Katara had told him it was wrong and to let Sokka do it.
But she told him only two words.
'I am blind'
There was nothing I could see, and I wasn't interested in touching anything other than cleaning.
She was firm with the rest of Team Avatar; she was going to take care of her best friend, just her.
I owed.
And well, the other members of Team Avatar chose wisely, not contradicting someone who could lift mountains and crush them with them.
Although they didn't have to do it either, surprisingly, the bandit was very responsible in caring for the Uzumaki, who had been unconscious for 2 days, showing no signs that he would wake up soon.
Maybe he's in a coma or too tired, and needed time to recover.
They hoped it was the latter.
Finishing cleaning her friend, the blind bandit began to dress him, but after putting him on an improvised sled, with ropes that she pulled, it was surprising how easily a small girl like her could pull a man so easily. boy a little less than twice his weight.
"That?" Toph stopped when she felt a touch on her shoulder, and from the rhythm of her heart, she knew it was the mute girl. It was difficult for her to communicate with her.
"She asks if you want to eat some rice." Ying had to be the translator between both girls, who made a difficult duo to deal with; one could not speak nor the other see, making communication null.
"Yes." Toph didn't think twice and took the rice balls and ate them in large bites. It should be said that Yoru looked at her with an uncomfortable smile, due to the impolite way of eating.
"She says now, if you let her help by pulling the sleigh." Ying knew that the blind girl was very attached to the Orange pillar, and seeing how she frowned slightly in annoyance said that she didn't like the idea.
"Fine," surprisingly she agreed, giving one of the ropes to the mute girl so she could also pull the sled.
Katara saw this with good eyes; apparently, the girl was little by little maturing as a person. A few hours ago, they left the main road of Ba Sing Se; they had not been allowed to pass through the underground ships.
They had left many of their belongings in the fight against General Siu and the warrior; they did not have a single gold coin, and the golden pass of Toph's Beifong family was not enough for the four of them, plus the small family of refugees will pass.
They were forced to choose another path, but not only since Suki had joined them. She, along with other Kyoshi warriors, had mobilized from their island to go to Ba Sing Se, to help where they could.
And by twists of fate, he had encountered Team Avatar.
Arriving at the entrance to the snake path, the group prepares for whatever awaits them there, towards one of their most important destinations, Ba Sing Se.
….
"I think this is goodbye."
The guards at the entrance to the underground ships were overwhelmed by the arrival of hundreds of refugees led by three people, two teenagers, and an old man, who stopped shortly before entering the cave.
Iroh being the one to speak, took the time to look at the face of each of the refugees, with whom he had traveled for weeks.
"I hope everyone can have the life they want, with hard work and patience, nothing is impossible."
The families smiled at the old man's words, and they looked at each other to let an old woman pass that Azula recognized. She was the old woman who left those potatoes weeks ago so that her large family could eat.
"I think I speak for everyone; there are not enough words to show our gratitude to you." All the people shared the same look as the old woman, looking in a light of gratitude and respect towards Azula, who had become the guide they needed to get here.
If it hadn't been for her, not even half of the people who were present here would have arrived.
Or maybe no one, the distraction she made to help them get there faster, caused her to be seen as a savior.
Azula…hated this.
She didn't want to see those looks on these people; she didn't deserve them.
Since she started traveling with them, she didn't care about their lives. If an army had attacked them, she would have just left, only fighting if anyone dared to attack her.
As for Yoko's attack, they were lucky that she was the head of the crowd that day, and had a lot of frustration to take out.
At the end of the day, she didn't protect them or guide them like a savior.
She just did what she wanted.
"We don't have much..." the old woman slowly took out a fairly loaded bag, opening it to reveal stacks of coins, from cobra to silver and some gold, "Everyone did their part, for this..."
"No," Zuko and Iroh looked curiously at the princess, who kept a stone expression and her arms crossed, "I don't need some peasants' money, it's yours."
The refugees did not feel offended, they knew that the girl had her… peculiar way of expressing herself, and they could understand that it was her 'humble' way, so to speak, of rejecting money, and leaving it to them.
"You are... you are a good person." Carefully the old woman leaned on her knees, immediately all the other refugees imitated her, and soon hundreds of people were on their knees, giving a bow of respect and gratitude to the girl, "Thank you..."
"..." Azula didn't know what to say or think; she had had armies and people of her nation kneel before her, but it was only out of fear. This was very different from what she was used to.
Little by little the people stood up, to give a final farewell greeting to the princess; they left, it was now time to move on to the next step of what they wanted, a good life.
It didn't take long until only Azula, Zuko, Iroh, and a handful of other people were left.
"And you?" The banished princess now turned to her 'servant,' the great armored warrior who remained silent the entire time.
"I will go where you go Lady Zu, all of us will." She along with her group of mercenaries had their loyalty with their new guide; no matter where it was, they would do it too.
"You will not do it."
"My Lady?" The giant did not wait for her to say that; confused she looked into her eyes, those deep dark eyes that left her enchanted.
"I do not need you."
"..." The warrior stiffened, tightening her grip on her club, "You don't need me?"
"No, now live your life, live your dream."
"My dream."
"Yes," the firebender's expression softened a little, still looking into the eyes of the giant woman, "Don't be stupid, don't live a life where you have to please others, I... I hated people who live their lives under the shadow and desires of others. Live as you want, not as others want."
"..." Iroh smiled sideways; apparently, she was growing up faster than I expected, and those words, it was as if she were saying them to herself. She saw a lot of herself in the armored warrior.
"I..." Confused, the woman looked at her followers, who looked just as thoughtful as her. A full minute passed until the armored woman dropped her big club heavily and left it stuck in the ground, "Live as I want?"
[ If you want to read advance Chapters then go to Pat reon and support me there.
PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]