Hello there. Thanks for reading my story. I realized that I posted it first, without putting in my comments…guess I was just eager to get it out there :P
This is actually my first fanfic… so please let me know what you think of it, alright? ^_^
Big thanks to zutarakid50, for putting up with my paranoia about this, and helping me fix it up too. Read her stuff, it generates good karma (and lulz).
Four figures slowly approached the looming, tiered mansion. Although the four were powerful individuals, and in a well-to-do neighborhood, they crept down the darkened street with a nervous, almost frightened air. It was like watching four duck-geese walk into a slaughterhouse.
The pagoda-like structure worked with the setting sun to cast a shadow on their path, one of the figures noted. He wore a majestic set of imperial robes, complete with wide shoulder pads and gold trim that accentuated his already powerful presence. However, instead of being a traditional Fire Nation red, his robes were jet black, with two embroidered dragons rising up from the hem, one red, and one blue, to represent his travels with the Avatar and the wisdom he gained from them. Most telling of his experiences, however, was the large red burn scar over his left eye.
The figure to his left agreed, citing a bad omen. She also wore imperial garb, and though her colors were more traditional, her dress was striking because of its beauty. It was loose fitting with large sleeves (a must) yet elegant. The different shades of red worked together to make her appear as if she were truly a fire lady, and not the Fire Lady. Zuko had recommended this dress to her because it livened up her otherwise gaunt appearance. While that comment had earned him a night locked out of the royal suite, his point was ultimately taken. Besides, she thought, it goes pretty well with my usual hair buns.
The other two, more simply dressed, were more positive about the situation. There was a young man, dressed in a pair of baggy canvas pants held up by a loose rope belt. Over this, he wore the traditional Air Monk robes, but the robes had been altered so he could open them to better feel the air on his skin. The opened robes revealed his bare chest and the medallion that rested there. The large blue arrow running over his shaved head confirmed his mastery over his element. "I don't think it's anything so serious, Mai," he said, turning to the Fire Lady.
The girlish woman cartwheeling in front of the group spoke up. "Aang's right, you know," she sang cheerily. "In fact, I think it makes the house look beautiful." She sprung into a flip at the end of a cartwheel and landed on her feet, facing the other three with her arms outstretched in a "ta-da" pose. She quickly withdrew them, though, when the chilly autumn air found the skin left exposed by her red and pink outfit. The woman, hugging herself and shivering a bit, turned to the house with an expectant look. "The sunset makes the house look like a big, warm, bonfire," she murmured happily, feeling warmer at the thought and smiling.
Aang, Zuko, and Mai exchanged nervous glances. "Way to go. You jinxed it, Ty Lee," Mai muttered with a roll of her eyes. Ty Lee, realizing her mistake, appeared flustered for a moment. She eventually resurfaced from her confusion with a slight frown.
"Oh, come on you guys," she whined, "you're not giving her enough credit. She wouldn't do that to her own house." While she tried to appear sure of what she said, a twinge in her voice gave away her own doubts. Knowing that she was not at all convincing, Ty Lee deepened her frown and stared at her shoes.
This reaction from the perpetually optimistic Ty Lee did nothing to reassure the others. In fact, with the eerily empty street and dark colors of the nearby houses, Ty Lee's melancholy thickened the tension. Aang, sensing it, decided to say something. "Look, it doesn't help to scare ourselves to death like this," said Aang, slightly exasperated. "Whatever will happen will happen. Let's go into this with an open mind and hope for the best."
"Spoken like a true Air Monk," Mai sniped, causing Zuko to place a sobering hand on her shoulder.
"He's right," Zuko conceded with a sigh, "Let's just get it over with." By this time, they had already reached the heavy wooden doors of the ominous house.
After a moment of bickering, Mai shoved Zuko towards the doors. "Fine then, you want to get it over with?" she asked with angry sarcasm. "You open the doors."
While he was reluctant to do it, Zuko eventually suppressed his fear of decapitation by fire blast, and approached the brass knockers. With a steadying breath, he dutifully grabbed the handles and gave three firm knocks. After a minute of tense silence, the door creaked open to reveal a woman with shimmering, raven black hair. Her look of mild annoyance immediately jumped to one of surprise, before melting into a tilted grin. She placed a hand on her hip, leaning against the door slightly and laughing softly. "Hello, Zuzu," she said.
"Hello, Azula," Zuko replied calmly.
"It's, uh, it's really nice of you to…ah," Aang stuttered, "to let us visit on—on such short notice, Azula."
"Oh, it's really no problem at all," Azula said in an enigmatic voice. It was too genuine to be sarcastic, yet too sardonic to be sincere. Her appearance was unusual as well. While she appeared to be alone, save for a few servants, Azula was immaculately dressed. Her hair was in a tight, pristine bun on the back of her head, and she wore a snow-white kimono with red flowers patterned on it. While for a normal princess, this would have been normal attire, Azula would never wear anything so frilly if she could help it.
"Whoa," Ty Lee whispered to Mai as Aang and Azula continued their conversation. "Azula looks really nice today."
"I can tell," Mai quipped while stealing glances over her shoulder at Azula. "Wonder what she's all dressed up for."
Before Ty Lee could speculate, Aang turned to the group with a smile. "Hey, good news everybody," Aang said, his confidence seemingly restored. "Azula said she'd show us around the house if we wanted."
Mai began to make a frank objection when Zuko interrupted. "I think that's a great idea," he said with as much sincerity as he could muster.
"Okay then," Azula said, turning away from the group. "If you all will come this way, we can start…"
As Azula walked down the red carpeted hallway, Mai elbowed Zuko sharply. "Why the hell did you do that?" Mai hissed angrily.
"I'm trying to be polite," Zuko retorted, rubbing his side.
"Yeah, funny how you're never polite when we visit anywhere I want to go."
"That's totally different, and you're totally over-reacting! This is my sister!"
"Hmph," Mai grumbled. "Don't think I'll let you get away with this. You know our 'Friday Night Fun Time'?"
"Mai, please, this isn't—"
"Gone. For a month."
Aang and Ty Lee giggled at the hushed argument, causing Azula to turn back. "What's the matter?" she asked in a motherly tone full of sarcasm. "Did poor Zuzu make a fool of himself?" Aang and Ty Lee began laughing louder, and even Mai grinned. Zuko groaned. He knew it was going to be a long night.
The tour, as awkward as it was, became even more bizarre by Azula's behavior. She was in a fancy, feminine dress, and she wasn't being forced to wear it. She welcomed everyone into her home with minimal reluctance, and her guests noticed that she seemed a lot happier than expected. While she certainly wasn't as bubbly as Ty Lee, and she was still a little abrasive, her new willingness to socialize, joke, and be polite eventually caused the visitors to become nervous.
Ty Lee was the first to mention the difference. In the midst of the tour, she gave a puzzling hum as she scratched her head with one finger.
"What is it, Ty Lee?" Azula asked with an air of concern. "I didn't think that my furniture would be so interesting."
"Oh," Ty Lee gasped slightly, "it's not that… I don't mean to say your furniture isn't interesting, it's quite—"
"Get to the point, please," Azula sighed, annoyed.
"Well," Ty Lee ventured carefully, "I just noticed that your aura looks so much…different."
Azula stopped walking for a moment. "I guess I should take that as a compliment," Azula said with a roll of her eyes.
"N-no," Ty Lee quickly stammered, not wanting to offend. "It's not a bad different. It's totally a good different. Your aura is more like mine now," she ended with a hopeful smile.
Azula's expression became one of mild annoyance. "Like yours, Ty Lee?" she said firmly, causing Ty Lee to flinch inwardly. "One step closer to perfection…"
"No, I didn't mean it like that," Ty Lee cried, beside herself. She began fiddling uneasily with the edge of her outfit.
Suddenly, Azula began to giggle. "Oh, relax, Ty Lee. I'm only joking. You're so easy to frighten," she smiled jauntily. After the nervous laughter of her guests died down, Azula continued, "I thought you would be more used to this, with Toph hanging around."
"Actually," Aang started, "It's been a while since Ty Lee has seen Toph. She's been on Kyoshi Island most of the time."
"Ah, that's right," Azula said, "I remember now."
Ty Lee, having gotten over her anxiety, began bobbing her head like an ostrich-horse with something stuck in its throat. Sensing that Ty Lee was about to do something regrettable, Zuko gave Ty Lee his best you-better-not-say-something-stupid look. Ty Lee ignored it.
"Aang's right," she chirped obliviously, "I'd love to hang out with him and his friends more often, but I've been having so much fun on Kyoshi that I haven't had the time to visit them. In fact, the last time I saw Toph was the last time we came to visit you—"
At this Zuko gave a small growl and slapped his hand to his forehead. Ty Lee realized her faux pas the minute the words left her mouth. She squeaked a small "oops", and turned to mouth the words "sorry guys" to Aang and Mai. While Aang was doing his best to keep his composure, Mai was glaring daggers at a hapless Ty Lee. The room fell dead silent.
Azula felt the corners of her lips take a slight downturn. She was a little disappointed that they didn't trust her, and now, watching the silent panic in front of her, she knew exactly why. She sighed dramatically, leaning against a nearby table, and wondered if she was trying too hard to be a good hostess. Finally, when the silence became almost unbearable, Azula spoke.
"Look," she huffed, more than a little peeved, "if you're expecting me to spin around and hurl a fireball at you when you're not looking, you don't have to worry. Just loosen up! I'm trying to make you comfortable."
Ty Lee and Aang, being the more considerate members of the group, made hasty apologies, guilty looks on their faces. Mai, however, was incredulous. "What?!" she exploded, finally letting the Azula's strange behavior get to her. "Since when did you care about anyone's comfort, of all things?"
Zuko tried to calm her, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Mai, please…" he pleaded, "You have to—"
Mai interrupted him mid-sentence. She was very clearly having none of it. "Zuko, no!" she shouted, shoving him. "I know you're trying to play the diplomat and all, but really! Don't you think Azula's acting unusual?"
Ty Lee, always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, spoke up. "It's true," she started, "this is unusual for Azula… but I don't see what's wrong with it. She's only trying to be friendlier, that's all."
"No, that's not all," Mai insisted.
"So, what is it?" Azula said with a surprised laugh. "You think because I welcome you that I have some ulterior motives?"
"Yes!" Mai snapped back, arms crossed angrily.
"That's ridiculous!" Azula sputtered with offense. "I'm doing my best, how dare you—"
"Look," Zuko sighed behind his palm, "It doesn't help to—"
"Zuko!" Mai exclaimed, turning abruptly to her husband. "How can you deny it? She's definitely acting bizarre!"
Azula was not fazed. "You're one to talk, Mai," she said with a slightly detached air.
Mai clenched her teeth, her ire growing with every word. "And what is that supposed to mean?" she growled.
"Oh, I don't know," Azula continued casually, "It's just that… aren't you being more than an emotionless shell of a girl today?"
Azula's veiled insult at first seemed to irritate Mai even further, but after a second of fuming, Mai's fire suddenly burned out. "W-well, I, uh," she stammered. Her anger had gone, leaving only a frustrated blush.
"In fact," Azula noted, her confidence growing, "All of you are acting strangely today. Ty Lee is letting me depress her, Mai is some puddle of emotions, and Zuzu is trying to be the voice of reason! What's next? Will Aang start cutting his wrists?"
"Hey," Zuko began indignantly, "I don't—"
"Azula, please stop it," Aang interrupted. "You're being unfair here. You were very kind in allowing us to come into your home on such short notice. But Mai is right, you are acting a little different than you normally would."
"And that doesn't give you the right to make fun of us just because you're still sore about the last time we came to visit you," Ty Lee added, pouting.
Azula furrowed her brow a little, as if she were about to lash out, but then she relaxed her face and exhaled. "I've gotten over that," she said soberly, "though I wish you wouldn't belittle it by saying I'm 'sore' about it."
Ty Lee gave an innocent shrug. "I didn't think it was that bad," she said timidly, fiddling with her hands. "We were only trying to help."
"Help?" Azula cried out, half laughing and half disbelieving. "Your help was an insult!"
"What do you—" Aang started.
"Don't give me that!" Azula shouted, finally losing her composure. "You brought me Long Feng! You tried to brainwash me into being some docile cow!"
"He stopped the brainwashing years ago, Azula," Aang said in a firm yet calm voice. "He's moved on to become one of the best psychiatrists in the Earth Kingdom, you know that."
"I know that's what he told you," Azula seethed, "But you don't know him. He's a devious old snake, and I wouldn't be surprised for a second if he still used his 'Dai Li re-education techniques'."
Zuko attempted to get into the argument again. "We had a reason for picking Long Feng," he started, "You were—"
"I was what? Volatile? Crazy? Bat-shit insane?!" Azula shouted, her voice cracking on the last syllable as her anger reached its peak. She began to realize just how angry she was, and the effect it was having on her guests.
No, Azula thought to herself, taking deep, shaky breaths. This is what they expected me to do. I have to calm down. And with that, she dissipated her anger and accepted the hurt she was so accustomed to hiding.
"I knew that during the war, you didn't like me, and I sure as hell didn't like you," said Azula with a new stability. "I admit, the day of the Comet wasn't one of my finer moments. But after the war, I recovered. I may not have been friendly or the one you would invite over for tea, but at least I had given up my old, violent ways. Just so you all would accept me."
"Azula…" Zuko attempted, but Azula rolled along.
"But then, two months ago, everyone shows up at my doorstep, with this Long Feng, trying to 'help' me," she continued, pointing an accusatory finger. "That was the last straw. After you hadn't seen me for a year, you show up at my home, thinking I needed to be 'helped,' as if I were sick!" While Azula was still clearly angry, this time she had control, and didn't explode.
"Listen," Zuko intervened once again, "that—"
"Please don't make excuses, Zuko," Azula sighed tiredly. "You know that it's true." Surveying the group with her analytical eye, Azula continued. "Judging from your clothing, you and Mai were probably at some party commemorating the anniversary of the end of the war. The topic of war reminded you of me, and you felt guilty, so you and Mai made a last minute decision to come visit me."
"If that's true," Mai brazened, "then why are Ty Lee and Aang in normal clothes?"
"They were probably at the party too," Azula explained. "They're Aang and Ty Lee; they've never been much for ceremony, which is why they're in those clothes. As for why, they were probably the only people good-natured enough to come visit after how I reacted the last time."
There was a silence that more than confirmed Azula's suspicions. Mai glanced at Azula awkwardly before returning her gaze to the floor.
After a minute, Zuko broke the silence. "Azula," Zuko sighed, "I…"
"Look," Azula interrupted, "I'm trying to—"
"Ugh, will everybody STOP CUTTING ME OFF?" Zuko roared in frustration, a small plume of fire breath erupting from his mouth. Azula was startled into silence, not expecting such an explosion in the now somber hallway.
When Zuko had everyone's attention, he continued. "My turn to be psychic," he said with a slight grin. "I think what Azula was trying to say is, 'I'm trying to turn over a new leaf.'"
This time, silence proved Zuko to be right. "But...Azula? Turn over a new leaf?" Mai asked skeptically. "That's like Aang becoming a steak connoisseur."
Aang stuck out his tongue in disgust at the analogy. "Gross," he shuddered.
"It sounds weird," Zuko said, ignoring the side comments, "but it's the truth. Haven't you noticed? Azula welcoming us in, giving us a tour of her home, trying to joke with us… the old Azula would never do these things."
"I'm right here, you know," Azula said.
"If she's so different," Mai asked, "why did she make fun of us like that?"
"Oh, grow up," Azula snorted. "I'm not trying to be a different person, just a nicer one."
Before Mai could be contrary again, Aang agreed, "Zuko has a point. Even when we set her off like that, she did her best to calm down and speak rationally. She even admitted her problem to us."
"That's true," Ty Lee marveled. "Azula used to be way too guarded to do that."
"Right," Zuko reasoned, "and it was because she was so guarded that I brought Long Feng." He then turned to Azula, hands raised in a peaceful gesture. "I never thought that you would be so opposed to it, but since you never opened up to anyone, I thought that was the only way we could help you. Honestly, I never thought anything was wrong with you, and now that I look back on it, Long Feng wasn't the best choice, considering your history with him. I'm sorry, and I hope you can understand me." And with this, Zuko made a small bow.
Azula held a pensive look on her face as the room fell into silence once again. Zuko kept his head bowed the whole time, and the others exchanged nervous glances. Finally, Azula gave a large sigh, and then smiled. "I guess I can forgive you," she said, imitating Mai's deadpan demeanor. "It was a really lame excuse though. I still hate you." Everyone snickered except Mai.
"I do not sound like that!" she complained. "My voice isn't even that gravelly!"
"Well, actually…" Zuko started. He stopped however, when he saw Mai leering at him. He did not want another elbow in his side. "Actually, uh…what I don't understand is… why you want to change, Azula."
"Nice save," Aang stage-whispered to him.
"No reason," Azula replied coolly, "I just said, 'The world is becoming a better place, maybe I should become a better person.'"
"…You've lost your touch, Azula," Zuko said. "I don't even need Toph for that one."
"Yeah," Ty Lee laughed, "I know you wouldn't change unless someone or something forced you to."
At the word "someone," Azula did something most people never thought her capable of doing. It was subtle and short, so much so that only Ty Lee, who was looking directly at her, noticed.
Azula blushed.
"Ohhhh," Ty Lee hummed, face alight with a grin, "I get it."
Azula suddenly realized that Ty Lee had seen her. "What?" she said, all too hastily. "What do you get?"
"I get why you're acting so different. I should have guessed!"
"I already told you, I changed on my own."
Ignoring Azula, Ty Lee pressed on. "It would explain why your aura was so pink, and why you blushed just now!"
"Azula blushed?" Aang and Zuko said in unison, dumbfounded.
"Uh-huh," Ty Lee confirmed, nodding enthusiastically. "She looked just like Mai did when Azula told her she was less emotionless than usual."
"She did?" Mai asked. Then the realization dawned on her. "Ah, I see what Ty Lee is saying," she said, a smirk on her face.
"N-no you don't!" Azula stuttered, "You don't understand anything!"
"Wow," Zuko said as he struck a thoughtful pose. "They must be on to something if they've got Azula nervous."
"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Aang groaned.
"I guess so," Mai said. "Ty Lee said that Azula looked the same way I did when she noticed that I was being a bit more…passionate… than usual."
"Uh-oh," Zuko smiled, "I think I know now."
"Well I don't," Aang grumbled with a huff. He crossed his arms sulkily.
"Sheesh," Ty Lee reproached, sighing. "You boys can be so oblivious sometimes."
"Aang's not oblivious!" Azula interjected. "He's not missing anything!" Azula knew she was losing ground, but she hoped that maybe her attempts could convince the ever-gullible Avatar.
But she was ignored yet again. "The reason Mai changed is because she had Zuko to help her," Ty Lee dutifully explained to Aang. "That's why she blushed. She loves Zuko."
"So if Azula blushed the same way," Mai said, "Then that means…"
"Nothing!" Azula interrupted, trying to keep a nonchalant appearance and failing. "You all are just being silly!"
Once more, Azula was ignored. Aang held his chin in his hand, wrinkling his lip in concentration. After a few thoughtful seconds, Aang slowly lowered his hand and burst into an extremely wide grin. "So that means…"
Azula decided to try changing her tactics from persuasion to intimidation. "I swear to Agni," she hissed in the most menacing voice possible, "if you say it, we'll see just how much of the old me is left." This threat would have been effective, if only her face weren't flaming red from embarrassment.
Ty Lee finally said the words Azula dreaded to hear. "Azula's in lo-ove!" she sang childishly.
"I AM NOT!" protested Azula in an equally childish voice. However, the deepening blush creeping across her cheeks and her smile at the word "love" was more than enough proof. She tried to turn away, to hide her embarrassment from her visitors, but the damage was already done.
"Wow, Azula," Aang said, astonished, smile growing even wider. "That's great!"
"So she really isn't inherently evil," Zuko laughed.
As the buzz of her friends' conversation continued, Azula became lost in her own thoughts, absolutely tongue-tied. Normally, her quick, militaristic thinking provided her with just the right thing to say to keep control of a conversation. Normally, with a few words, Azula would have been able to end this silly "love" gossip. And yet, she couldn't, no matter how fast her mind raced. Most infuriatingly, the one thing stopping her from controlling her burning cheeks and the excited conversation was the one thing she couldn't: her feelings for…
"So what's his name?" Ty Lee asked loudly, shaking Azula out of her introspection.
"What? What's whose name?" Azula covered sloppily.
"Oh, please," Mai sighed, rolling her eyes, "tell us your boyfriend's name."
"He's not my boyfriend!" Azula snapped instinctively. When she realized her admission, Azula said decidedly, "I'm not telling you."
"Oh, come on Azula!" Ty Lee whined, "Is it someone we know?"
Azula turned her nose upwards in response. "Not telling," she sang smugly.
"Really, Azula?" Mai asked, slightly annoyed.
"Really, Mai," Azula countered, clearly enjoying the group's frustration.
"Ugh," Zuko grunted, "there's no need for you all to be so immature."
Irked at having been called immature, Azula turned to face them. "Listen," she said, eyebrows arched. "You should just put the whole thing out of your minds. I haven't confirmed or denied anything, and as far as you need to know, I felt the need to become a better person on my own."
A servant approached Azula and murmured a few words to her. With a wave of her hand, he gave a slight bow and left. "It appears that dinner is ready," she said tersely. "Now, if we can put this foolishness behind us, I would be delighted if you'd join me."
Somehow, as soon the words left her mouth, an overwhelming sense of déjà vu washed over Azula. As it passed, she gasped, beginning to wonder at what could have caused it, when she was interrupted by Zuko.
"Oh, I'm sure we'd love to stay, but I think everyone's pretty tired from the party…right?" Zuko added with a little more force than necessary.
"What ever do you mean, darling?" Mai asked sarcastically, blatantly ignoring the hint. "I'm not tired."
"Me neither!" Ty Lee chirped.
"I am a little hungry," Aang admitted. "I think that's a good idea. We'll have dinner with you, Azula."
"Great," Azula said, pretending not to her Zuko's grumblings. "Come this way, please." And with that she pivoted on her heel and started down the hall.
Zuko started to trudge after his sister when he felt a familiar sharp pain in his back. "Ow!" he exclaimed, rubbing the spot. "Why did you do that, Mai?"
"You were grumbling," Mai explained simply. "And don't be so loud."
"That was uncalled for!" Zuko whispered indignantly, "if anything I should be elbowing you!"
Mai began to laugh haughtily. "Oh, please, I'd like to see you try," she cackled quietly. "And this is revenge for forcing me to come in the first place."
"Oh, it won't be so bad," Ty Lee said softly, hoping to relax the visibly angered Fire Lord. "She's been nice to us so far, we should be nice too."
"Think of it this way," Aang offered with a sly smile, "maybe we can get her to tell us who this mystery man is after a few glasses of wine."
"Aang!" Ty Lee gasped in astonishment. "I never knew you were so… bad!"
"I can't believe you, Aang," Zuko groaned. "I never thought you would slide this low."
"Oh, stop being a drama queen," Mai said playfully. "We're just curious."
In front of the gossiping guests, Azula snorted inwardly at the hushed conversation. It was rather silly of them to think that she couldn't hear them when they were about five yards behind her. She let out a chuckle when she thought about their even sillier plan. If they were planning to ferret it out of her with some wine…
Suddenly, the déjà vu returned, and it only took her a second to realize what she had done. She staggered to a halt in the middle of the hallway, breaking into a cold sweat and covering her face with a palm. Her friends called out to her when they saw her bizarre movement.
"Azula, are you okay?" Ty Lee said, running to Azula's side. "Are you feeling sick?"
"N-no," Azula said, recovering. "I'm okay."
"Maybe you should walk with us," Aang said, concerned.
"No, I'm fine," Azula insisted, "it was nothing, really." She then smiled weakly, earning skeptical stares from her guests. She began leading them down the hall again, and after a few moments, they began their conversation again. Although she had brought her appearance back to normal, Azula felt a dread in the pit of her stomach like a lead weight. She silently scolded herself for being so careless, for forgetting her own plans in all the excitement.
Him, dinner, wine. It had all crashed down on her like a tidal wave.
She invited him to dine with her that night.
The dining room was the one room that Azula hadn't shown her guests on their tour. While it certainly wasn't tiny, it was a cozy room, with a perfectly round, mahogany table in its center. The warm light from the candles and the curtains hanging at the entrances made the burgundy-colored room seem as if it were insulated from the rest of the house, or even the rest of the world. Once Azula had shown everyone to their seats, she took her own, and attempted to start a conversation. "So, this whole time we've been talking about me," Azula began, managing to mask her nervousness. "What have you all been up to? Have you been holding out under your duties as Fire Lord, Zuzu?"
Zuko, peeved at both his nickname and the fact that he was forced to stay, gave a grumpy huff. "I'm doing a fine job," he replied. "Sometimes it gets a little annoying—" and with this he gave a glance to Mai— "but I manage."
Mai gave a disinterested sigh, but otherwise did not respond to Zuko's whining. Sensing she wasn't going to get much else out of the couple, Azula turned her attention to Aang. "And you?" she asked. "How have things been between you and Katara?"
Aang's face fell slightly, a blush visible in the gentle light. "Things are fine," he admitted, "but recently we got into an argument."
"Oh, Aang, that's terrible!" Ty Lee exclaimed. "The way you two act when you're together, I thought you never argued!"
"She's right," Azula mused. "The last time I saw you two, you were hanging all over each other like someone had tied you into a knot. Tell us what happened."
Aang's blush deepened, but he gave a sad sigh. "It's a long story. I don't want to ramble on about my problems."
"Oh, don't worry," Mai said, giving a crooked grin to Zuko. "We've got plenty of time, haven't we?"
"I don't know…" Aang said.
Azula leveled a glance at Aang. "If I didn't want to hear it, would I really have asked?" she reasoned.
Aang paused for a moment before giving up. "If you say so," he began tentatively.
Aang hadn't gone on for long before Azula's mind began to wander. As she cast a nervous glance to the curtains behind her, she was glad for once that he was late. As long as she could keep the discussion away from him, she was sure things would be okay. Azula was even beginning to feel confident…
Unexpectedly, a hand came and tapped Azula on the shoulder, surprising her from her nervous thoughts. "What?" she shouted, spinning around and knocking her plate to the carpet in the process. "What is it?"
"M-my apologies, Princess Azula," the servant stammered. "I only wanted to ask if you would prefer the miso or the udon as your soup…"
"Oh," Azula blurted awkwardly under the gazes of her guests. "Udon, please."
The servant gave a quick bow before hastily returning to the kitchens. Azula groaned as she bent to pick up her pate and hide her embarrassment. It was going to be a long night.
"Haha, I guess it was my fault… I should apologize to Katara," Aang said, thoroughly cheered up. "You're right, Azula. Thanks for the advice."
"I'm glad to help," Azula returned, taking a sip from her glass.
"Um, Azula?" Ty Lee asked nervously, pushing her fingers together. "Since you have such good relationship advice…"
Azula laughed a little louder than normal, causing Mai and Aang to exchange expectant glances. "Sure, what is it, Ty Lee?"
"Um…well you see," Ty Lee began, pressing her fingers together, "there's this guy who I've thought was cute for a really long time."
"Okay, and what's the problem? Knowing you, Ty Lee, you would have started talking to him a long time ago, if he wasn't already all over you."
"Well, every time I see him, he's with someone else."
Azula took another drink of wine. "Really?"
"Yeah," Ty Lee confirmed with a shy nod. "First he was with this weird redhead, and now he's with some short little tomboy."
"Why don't you just tell him how you feel? Try flirting with him a bit?"
At this, the unusually depressed Ty Lee gave a small shudder. "Oh no," she said, "If his girlfriend found out, that would be the end of me."
Azula began giggling. "What could she do to you, Ty Lee?"
Ty Lee simply shook her head. "I don't want to know," she stated simply.
Azula took another drink of her wine. While she was beginning to feel a bit tipsy, the dinner was nearly over, so everyone had already had a little to drink. Mai and Aang had been watching her behavior since the start of the dinner, however. Feeling confident, she decided to humor them. "Y'know," she said, swinging her arm around and pointing at Ty Lee, "If someone tried to move in on my man, I'd probably kill 'em."
Mai and Aang suddenly lit up, and whispered excitedly to Zuko, causing Azula to smile. She knew that he wouldn't show up any time soon, and when he did, a servant would alert her before anyone learned of it. Ty Lee, though, was oblivious to the entire game being played around her. "Really?" she squeaked uneasily.
"Oh yeah," Azula continued, pretending to take a large draft of wine. "I don't even let other girls look at him and get away with it."
"Oh my," Ty Lee said to herself quietly as Mai hijacked the conversation.
"Wow, Azula," she said craftily, refilling Azula's glass. "He must be really hot."
"Oh, you don't even know," Azula laughed, accepting the glass.
"Even hotter than old Grumpypants here?" Mai asked, pointing to Zuko, who had been silently fuming across the table until now.
"Hey, don't ask her that!" he yelled, forgetting he was supposed to be grumpy. "She's my sister!"
"Most definitely," Azula said, ignoring her brother.
"What?" Zuko shouted in disbelief. "You can't—"
"Don't get so angry, Aang," Azula slurred, "I've just never really had a thing for bald heads."
After a moment of silence, save for Azula's giggling, Mai leaned over and pulled Zuko and Aang closer. "Do you realize what she just did?" she whispered elatedly. "She mistook you for Aang, Zuko! She must be stone drunk!"
"Why did I even let you get her this drunk?" Zuko asked rhetorically. "What kind of brother am I?"
"Hehe, Aangry," Azula said to no one in particular.
"I think I might be on Zuko's side this time," Aang said. "Let's just ask her who the guy is, before she makes herself sick."
"Oh, you're no fun," Mai said frustrated, pushing the two away. But as she was about to ask who the mystery man was, a servant came up to Azula and told her something quietly. Surprisingly, Azula, stood up, straight as a rod.
"Excuse me," Azula said in a very clear, un-drunken voice before she strode out of the room, past the curtains.
The room fell into silence again for a few seconds before Zuko stood up, slamming the table with both hands. "Do you know what she just did?!" he snarled. "She was faking it! She had me worried for nothing!"
"Really? I couldn't tell," Mai said with unsmiling sarcasm. Turning her attention to a distracted-looking Ty Lee, Mai asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"Will Toph really kill me if I try to take Sokka from her?" Ty Lee cried out after a moment, a very worried look on her face.
Zuko slapped his palm to his forehead. "No, Ty Lee, Toph won't kill you," he growled.
"Oh, that's a relief," Ty Lee sighed, comforted. Aang, however, shuffled over to Zuko with a frightened look.
"You don't know Toph very—" he started to whisper, but Zuko cut him off.
"I know her well enough," he replied. Aang, not wanting to know what sadistic pleasure Zuko took in sending Ty Lee to her death, focused on Ty Lee and Mai's conversation.
"You want me to spy on her?" Ty Lee asked, head cocked to the side. "Why don't you do it?"
"Because I don't have my knives on me," Mai admitted, defeated. "If she catches you, at least you can do your chi-block moves."
Not wanting to put her friend in danger, Ty Lee nodded nervously. "Oh, fine," she pouted, "I'll do it. Be right back." She then ran to the curtain, peeked behind it cautiously, then slipped through.
"…Wait, I thought you always had your knives," Zuko realized after Ty Lee had already gone.
"I do," Mai said with a devious smile, sliding one of her stilettos into her hand.
Zuko and Aang were shocked, but eventually Zuko recovered, and laughing, wrapped his arms around Mai. "This is why I love you," he said, drawing her closer, "you can be such a bad girl sometimes."
Aang watched the couple kiss, confounded. He wondered why everyone else seemed to have it in for such a nice person. It must be a Fire Nation thing, he concluded.
Ty Lee slid carefully through the now shadowed hallway, following the distant sounds of conversation and laughter. As she glided down the deep red carpet, she began to pick up snatches of the talk.
That sounds like Azula, she thought, but there's someone else with her… a man! And at this realization Ty Lee squealed, almost alerting a servant to her presence. Luckily, she had dove behind a corner, obscuring herself from his view.
Ty Lee exhaled a puff of air, glad that she hadn't been discovered. But then, with a start, she noticed that she was closer than ever to the voices. She began walking toward them again, and soon found herself in the entrance hall. Darting behind a nearby staircase, Ty Lee peered into the room and let out a barely audible gasp. There, she saw Azula in the arms of a strange man. His rough appearance and messy brown hair surprised Ty Lee. Now that's strange, Ty Lee thought, I never thought Azula would go for someone as wild looking as that. Unfortunately, from her vantage point, Ty Lee couldn't see the man's face. As she futilely craned her neck to get a better look, she listened to the lovers' exchange.
"…Come on, baby," the man said, bringing his arm across Azula's back. "Why can't we go have dinner? It's our anniversary."
"I already told you," Azula said, pushing him away playfully. "I had some unexpected guests…and they're still here."
"Why can't I meet them?" the man asked, sidling up to Azula again.
"It wouldn't be a very good idea," Azula returned.
"Well then… maybe you should kick them out, and let us have some fun."
"I can't do that either…this is the first time I've seen them in months."
The man took a step back. "Months?...uh, it's not who I think it is, is it?"
Azula sighed. "I'm afraid it is."
The man then dropped his playful air. "Maybe I'd better go then," he suggested, and turned for the door. Before he got far, however, Azula pulled him back.
"Oh, no you don't," she said with a sly grin, grabbing his neck. Before they started kissing, Ty Lee was able to get a glimpse of the mysterious man's face. He had dark eyes, thin, angular eyebrows, and…was incredibly handsome. Having seen enough, Ty Lee slipped back into the hallway, and ran quickly to the dining room.
"I wonder what's taking her so long," Mai wondered impatiently. "It doesn't take this long to spy on someone."
"Maybe Azula got her," Aang suggested.
Before Mai and Zuko could reply, Ty Lee burst through the curtains, squealing like a five year old. "Oh, oh, you'd never believe it!" Ty Lee squeaked, out of breath. "There's this really hot guy with Azula, and they were making out and everything!"
"No way," Mai gasped.
"Totally," Ty Lee confirmed. "He even said it was their anniversary or something."
Zuko, relatively disinterested in the gossip until now, stood from the table abruptly. "What?" Zuko asked incredulously. "Did you just say anniversary?" He then slammed his fist to the table. "My sister got married without asking my permission!?"
"Jeez, protective much?" Mai asked, having been jostled by Zuko's outburst.
Aang managed to stay focused however. "Were you able to recognize who it was?" he interrogated.
"No," Ty Lee answered, "But he seems to know who we are—"
"Show me where this creep is," Zuko demanded, steaming mad.
"I think you should relax, Zuko," Aang tried.
"SHOW ME, Ty Lee," the Fire Lord insisted.
"Okay," she said, shrinking back,, not wanting to anger him any further. Following Ty Lee through the curtain, the group ran to confront Azula.
Azula felt her lover slowly break away from the kiss. She tried to pull him back in, but his strong neck refused to budge.
"I really should be going," he said in his rakish voice. "I don't want your guests to find us."
Almost on cue, Zuko barged into the room, hands alight, startling the couple from their embrace. "Alright," he shouted, "I want to know exactly what…what…" Zuko stopped when he saw exactly whom it was that Azula was kissing. "That's impossible," he breathed, his flaming arms extinguished.
The man looked up, surprised, but then smiled expectantly. "Hey Zuko," he greeted.
Right on Zuko's heels were Ty Lee and Mai. Mai looked at the wiry yet well-built man in front of her and gasped. "You weren't lying when you said he was hot," Mai said to her friend aside.
Bringing up the rear, Aang walked in briskly, bringing a small breeze in with him. "Don't kill him Zuko," he exclaimed, "I'm sure he…" Aang too was stunned into silence when he saw who was standing before them."
Normally Azula would have thought of something to say to explain the awkward circumstances. Normally, she would have been more careful. And yet, there she was, unable to do anything but blush furiously.
"I can't believe it!" Aang hollered, breaking the silence. "Jet! You're alive!"
"Heh," Jet laughed, leaning on a nearby banister, "Who said I was dead? I told you I'd be okay."
"Jet, you have a lot of explaining to do," Zuko said sternly, walking up to the couple.
"Whoa now," the Freedom Fighter said, standing and putting his hands up. "Let's just relax.."
"Wait," Mai and Ty Lee exclaimed, "You know this guy?"
"Too well," Aang and Zuko replied in unison.
Azula tried her best to speak, to justify Jet's presence. But all she could do was gasp with embarrassment and blush deeper. Just she felt she was about to explode, Azula felt a hand slip into hers. Azula turned to see Jet smiling at her in his confident way. "I've never seen you this embarrassed before," Jet said with a laugh. He tried to pull her closer, but Azula stayed frozen with humiliation.
"Hey," Zuko started, "hands off—"
"Oh, shut up," Mai interrupted.
"What's wrong?" Jet asked, frowning. He knew Azula could be odd at times, but…
After a pause, Azula quietly laughed, "I don't think I've ever blushed so hard in my life. It feels like…"
"Everything is catching—" Jet started.
"Yes," Azula finished, "everything is catching on fire."
"Everything is catching on fire," Ty Lee echoed dreamily as she watched the pair fall into an embrace. "Aww, that's so cute! You should totally kiss right now!"
Azula, about to do what Ty Lee had suggested, stopped short and shot an angry look at Ty Lee and raised an arm up. She growled, hand crackling with potential lightning. "I swear, if you don't get out of here…"
"See, we were right. She was going to set her house on fire."
"Don't be so melodramatic. Your clothes don't count as her house, Zuko."
"Well, at least we survived, right?"
"Don't even start, Ty Lee. You got us into this with your little comment."
"Did you hear that?"
"What, Aang? I don't hear anything."
"…there it goes again, it's getting closer. It sounds like… uh oh."
"What? It sounds like what?"
"Lightning."
Originally, I was planning on making this more cute and fluffy-ish, but Azula was pretty OOC, so I changed it to what it is now.
The next stories aren't gonna be anywhere near as long, this one is kinda special…:P So from now on, no more than 2,000 words.
Anyway, I hoped this made you lol at least once. If it did, review. If it didn't, review. XD Don't worry about trying to write a fancy-sounding one or anything, I just wanna know if you liked it or not.
Next up: Fingertips, Part 1. ^_^ I already have this one in my head…
