A/N: Zuko takes Azula camping. Set after the End of the War. Zuko/Azula brother-sister fic. Idea suggested by Seraina. Prompts: Two characters sit around the campfire, "evaporate", "I never thought about it that way"
Disclaimer: I do not own AtLA.
As the silence stretched out between them, Azula wondered why she had agreed to this ridiculous outing in the first place. When Zuko suggested this trip for them to start over, Azula reluctantly agreed. It wasn't like she could deny the Fire Lord and her most recent therapist thought it would be good for her. But so far, they had done nothing but stare into each other's faces.
"If I wanted to get reacquainted with the shape of your scar, I could have done that in your sleep, Zuzu," she said while inspecting her nails.
Zuko frowned though he looked slightly relieved that she had broken the silence. "You wouldn't be able to get into my room, Azula," Zuko said.
She grinned. "Do you want to test that out, Zuzu?" she asked. Upon seeing Zuko's eyes widen, Azula laughed. "I'm kidding," she said, before adding, "Or am I?"
Zuko blinked a bit and then did something unexpected. He laughed, a side-aching and loud sound which travelled through the trees around them. Azula stared at him for a moment before she too joined in, the tension evaporating as they enjoyed each other.
When Zuko calmed down, he said quietly, "I missed this."
"You missed me threatening to visit you in your sleep?" Azula asked.
Zuko shook his head. "I missed you. You, being so sure of yourself. You haven't been this way in a long time," he said.
Azula looked down at her hands. "I never thought about it that way," she said. It was true. This had been the most she had felt like her old self in a long time, though she found she wasn't as angry as she used to be either. It was kind of nice.
Then there was a sudden hand on her shoulder. She turned to her brother as he sat closer to her and gave her a small smile. Azula could have shoved him, slapped him across the face, but she didn't. She allowed him to pull her into his side as they enjoyed each other's company in silence by the fire.