The full moon brightened up the dark sky, making the sand on the beach glow faintly. Zuko sat alone on the shore with his knees drawn up and his arms crossed over them. His amber gaze watched the waves crash rhythmically against the beach. The muffled soft clash of the ocean water against the sand was soothing to his ears.

This short vacation with his sister, Mai, and Ty lee had not been as relaxing as he had planned it to be. In all honesty, he hoped that it would relieve him of the stress that had been weighing him down since the gruesome knowledge that the Avatar was still alive. He had no proof that he still walked this earth but his gut told him that the young Air Bender survived Azula's deadly lightning strike and it was all thanks to the Water Bender's spirit water.

He groaned, burying his face within his arms, taking a deep breath to steady his paranoia. Should his father find out the existence of the Avatar, then he would surely give him another scar to match the one he already had or worse… end his life. Then his sister would rise as heir to the throne, ruling as Fire Lord in his place. The thought made him seethe.

His sister had always been better than him, excelling at whatever she set her mind to. She would most likely make a better ruler than he would. Maybe…it was better that way.

The shifting of sand broke through the train of thoughts that were plaguing him. The footsteps were light and precise, telling him that the person who approached was as perfect as her prodigious Fire Bending. He lifted his head up to look back at the dark water but did not bother turning his head to acknowledge her.

"Finding it hard to sleep Zuzu?" Her voice was as critical as ever but he could tell that it was feigned. Zuko could detect softness in the tone she tried to hide. He couldn't help but wonder for a brief moment if there was something dark his sister tried to keep hidden. A weakness that could be exploited from the perfection she surrounded herself with. It made him uneasy thinking that she could possibly be that fragile, breaking under the slightest pressure.

He glanced to his right as she stopped beside him, instinct making him wary "What do you want Azula?"

Silence.

Azula sat down beside him, drawing her knees up to mirror him. He turned his head to face her but she would not meet his gaze. He noticed that she still wore her outfit from the party much like himself. He took in the way her amber eyes glistened in the moon's glow as she gazed at the stars above. Her voice was just above a whisper, sounding hypnotic to his ears. "Why do you think I always want something?"

For a reason unknown to him, his heart beat a little faster. "You're telling me you don't?"

Azula smiled with amusement as she turned to look at him. The spark in those amber eyes almost made his heart stop all together and only then did he realize how close she was. The questions that burned through his mind of what was happening stopped as she reached out with her left hand to cup his face gently. He was so sure she would burn him but the touch only electrified the tension dancing between them "Are you scared of me…?"

The question caught him of guard. Was he scared of her? He searched her golden eyes wondering what was going through the thoughts she always hid so well. The power his sister wielded terrified him. Her cold confidence terrified him. The fear she controlled terrified him. If he were to be honest…yes he was scared. He was scared of what all that perfection, power, and fear could do to her. His answer solidified in his mind at the truth he never realized "I am scared for you."

Azula's fingers brushed through his hair, the gentle action making his senses heighten. He could not help the affect she was having over him even if he tried. Her eyes searched his and in them he could detect affection "Same as always Zuzu…even when you're strong, you're weak." Before he could stop her, his sister brought her face closer, gently kissing him on the cheek. He could feel the smirk on her lips and the fire burning in his blood.

He watched her stand up in silence, before she slowly approached the water. Without warning, she shed the clothing she wore until only her pale skin glowed faintly in the moonlight. Zuko's breath caught in his throat as his traitorous eyes grazed over the curves of his sibling's body. Her wavy hair shifted slightly in the warm breeze revealing her athletic frame further. For all he knew, she could just be a ghost and this was all a dream but the heat washing over his body told him it wasn't. The temptation that gripped his heart and mind made him forget of the moral boundaries that existed between them.

Azula turned her head to gaze at him and the desire they spoke of made his sense of control abandon him. Her voice was as alluring as her body "You're more than welcome to join me if you wish. The choice is yours." Without another word she dipped her toes into the gently crashing waves, her body wading deeper until the water reached her waist.

Damn you Azula.

Mirroring her actions he shed his clothing beside her discarded ones and made his way into the water, until he stood just a foot from her. He couldn't help the quiet anticipation that spread through him as Azula closed the space between them, her breasts brushing against his heated skin, her amber eyes daring "Do I make you nervous…?" Skillful hands glided up his chest until they wrapped around his neck allowing her to press her forehead against his. Her chest rose up and down deeply as if she were trying to tame her emotions that were always under her control. She was just as nervous as he was and that moment of vulnerability made his heart quicken.

In response Zuko wrapped his arms around her waist, never wanting this illusion of love to end "Always…" He brought his lips down to hers, kissing them softly. Azula responded passionately, pressing her body closer to his. In that moment, all their fears disappeared as they attended to each other's need. Healing wounds and hiding monsters they knew existed within their hearts. The night seemed to last forever as the two siblings lost themselves to one another not realizing that the truth they hid so well had been revealed.

After all…Ember Island reveals the true you.