Prologue
The firebending prodigy was impressed, intrigued even, by the waterbender. Her form was closer to Azula's than many in the Fire Nation since she had adopted more fluid motions to capitalize upon her agile build. The flecks of amber and crimson in her eyes ignited a bit as she took in the girl's movements, the way her curved body flowed as the water she wielded so effortlessly – beautifully. Azula smirked as she watched the team escape the assassin's explosive third eye once more. She had an idea… she had several ideas. She sat down upon the Earth and created a small, nearly white blue flame in her cupped hand, meditating upon it.
Deep blue eyes scanned the beach warily; it was more secluded than any other on Ember Island, perfect for an ambush.
"You're shaking before you even see me" a voice said softly as if carried by the wind, and Katara instinctively created a wall of water around herself. Out of the darkness, a blue flame sparked, illuminating Azula's face. Katara was taken off-guard by her appearance. Her hair was held in a simple, high ponytail and she wasn't wearing armor. Instead, she wore silken trousers that fell just to her calf, and a sleeveless robe of the same crimson material. Azula smiled as she felt Katara's gaze traveling over her toned body; this may be easier than she'd thought, she realized.
"It is you" Katara said, her voice caught in her throat before her stubbornness overtook her.
"What do you want? If you wanted to capture me, meeting on the beach was a pretty dumb idea!" Azula shook her head.
"Obviously… I suggested the beach on a full moon so that you would be at your most powerful. It isn't a trap. I want to speak with you."
"I have nothing to say to you!" Katara said, feeling surprisingly vulnerable to this woman despite the full moon's energy coursing through her. She returned the water to the sea, glared at her, and started to walk away but Azula easily caught up to her.
"Katara, wait!" she said, seizing her wrist.
"Let me go!" Katara shouted, trying to pull away but Azula tightened her grip.
"Please" she said softly, solemnly. Katara had never seen these expressions before, the gentleness or sincerity and she realized that Azula was far more beautiful than she'd thought. Blushing, she tugged again to release herself from Azula's grasp. She would have preferred that the princess try to kill her rather than look at her with those burning eyes.
The two sat in front of the brilliant orange fire, not too far apart. Katara couldn't believe the story Azula had just told her. She always knew she was intelligent but this… How could one person, one person of her own age even, have controlled so much of the world she knew? She breathed in deeply before speaking.
"So for all of this time, you've been manipulating everyone? The Fire Lord, your mother, Zuko, Aang, everyone…" Azula nodded silently, her eyes searching Katara's, her warmth creeping into their coolness.
"I realized after my grandfather ordered Zuko killed that there was this… weakness in our family, a darkness. I felt it in me, too. I still feel it sometimes, which has made playing my part easier in some respects. Zuko has it as well; it's why he's struggled so much. Even our Uncle has had to face it."
"But… you were only a child…" Katara protested softly and Azula smirked at seeing concern flash in the waterbender's eyes. Gently she brushed the back of her fingers against the girl's jawline, trailing them to the necklace she wore and cupping it carefully.
"And you were only a child when your mother was taken from you. 'Whenever I try to remember my mother, Katara's is the only face I can see.' Isn't that what your brother told the earthbender? Both of us have forfeit our youth, Katara, that's why it had to be you to hear these things. You're the only one who could understand it. You're the only one who can stand on equal-footing with me in this war." Katara held Azula's hand in place. She liked this Azula, even if she was just as arrogant as the one she knew from the battlefield. Azula noticed the girl's softened expression and smiled.
"Where did you go to just now? I wonder…" Azula said softly and Katara blushed, letting go of Azula's hand and clasping hers together in her lap, appearing a bit like a conflicted child. Azula let her hand fall away also, tucking her hair behind her ear. Azula contemplated her, and Katara could have sworn she felt the firebender's eyes tracing over her every feature. She shivered and Azula concealed her smile.
"Here…" she said, removing her robe and exposing her broad shoulders and toned stomach, draping it over the girl. Katara blushed deeply, trying not to look at her but feeling drawn to the lines of her muscles and the softness of her skin. Azula raised her hand, and effortlessly increased the temperature of the fire.
"Thank you" Katara whispered and Azula nodded.
"So, how can I help?" Katara asked, strengthening her resolve.
"I need you to do something for me. I need for you to make absolutely certain that it is Zuko who comes to face me in the capital. It must be him to defeat me. After all that I've done, after what people have seen yet not seen, I cannot become Fire Lord. My motives would never be trusted. Besides that, now that he has faced the dragons and cleansed himself of his weaknesses, he has finally proven himself worthy of leading our people."
"What about you?"
"It needn't concern you" Azula was surprised then by Katara seizing her arm and looking into her eyes.
"Azula, what about you?" The firebender smiled, holding Katara's hand in place.
"At some point, I will make a 'remarkable recovery' and resume my role as Princess. Then, I can protect my people and help my brother who, though certainly kinder than me, lacks my understanding of politics. We will restore honor to our family and to our people, one step at a time. But I'll need you to go along with it. You must trust me, and you must help Zuko to defeat me. I'll hold back as much as possible but I still have to make a good showing." Katara's grip on her arm tightened but she nodded before suddenly wrapping her arms around Azula's neck, pressing their bodies together. Azula sighed quietly, encircling the girl's waist, caressing the small of her back and entangling her fingers in her chocolate curls. She felt Katara's toned body relax against her and took the opportunity to tighten her hold of her.
"It's such a shame that you're the Avatar's girlfriend. I wonder if I were the one to defeat my father, if you might come to love me instead…" Katara gasped and then slowly pulled away, facing Azula whose eyes were burning softly like a sunrise. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound emerged, and the taller girl cupped her chin, covering her lips with her own. Katara gasped into the kiss, unintentionally allowing Azula entrance. She held the firebender's shoulders firmly at first but as she felt the warmth of her tongue caressing her own, trailing along the roof of her mouth, exploring everywhere, her resolve failed and she groaned into the kiss. They would need air soon but her body protested and she held tightly to Azula's shoulders, searching her warmth as well. Finally, breathlessly, they parted. Azula's eyes appeared to be glowing amber and Katara's were soft, reflective.
"I'll see you in the capital then, my beautiful enemy" Azula said, smirking at the last word as she stood to leave. Katara grasped her wrist gently, drawing her attention, trembling as she stood to face her.
"I'm not… I'm not his girlfriend. He wants me to be and he keeps kissing me. You aren't the only one who controls events, Azula. I permit it because I won't allow him to be distracted by this; he's only a boy still. What can he know about love?" Katara chuckled softly.
"He's so dear to me, like Sokka is… I even told myself that I need to marry him to help him as the Avatar." Azula noticed the darkening of her eyes and held her arms, smiling down at her, letting her fingernails gently course over the tan skin and causing her to tremble.
"How much have you sacrificed for the world already? There are scars on your body that even you cannot heal. How many of your people and mine have died? How late do your nightmares keep you awake, Katara?" Azula shook her head.
"Don't imprison yourself to protect him. He's the Avatar, and he will understand, even if it hurts. If he loves you, he must let you go." Katara's eyes widened. Any doubts she'd held onto being incinerated by those words. Azula understood what love meant, and she understood that sometimes it conflicted with logic. This was the real princess of the Fire Nation.
"Hush…" Azula whispered, drawing her into her arms. When had Katara started crying? She didn't know but she clung to the stronger girl as sobs wracked her body.
"Shh… shh…" Azula whispered, caressing her back and placing warm kisses upon her temple. Katara sobbed and felt herself slipping. Azula realized her failing and effortlessly lifted her into her arms.
"I have you" she said and Katara buried her head into her neck, nestling her body against Azula's as she cried.
"Everything was forfeit. Why? Why do you think you can't have anything? Why does this stupid war have to ruin everything?" Azula contemplated her; she was conflicted. Her desire to seduce the girl had been replaced by concern. This was why she never dated – she had no idea how to be casual about anything really. Her gaze moved to the small beach house she was staying in and then back to Katara.
"Did you tell your friends when you'd be back?" Katara rubbed at her eyes with the edge of her palm, shaking her head.
"I told them I was leaving for the night to do some thinking." Azula smiled.
"Stay the night with me?" Katara blushed and Azula gingerly set her down, their bare feet tapping one another in the sand.
"I won't try to coerce you into it. See that house there on the cliff?" she signaled it with her gaze and Katara nodded.
"I leave tomorrow at mid-morning to return to the capital" she said, taking a step back, and taking hold of Katara's hand but instead of leading her to the house, she brought the underside of her wrist to her lips, placing a warm kiss there, her gaze never faltering. And then she walked away, leaving Katara shaken, tingling.