[Flashback]

A soft knock reverberated off the enormous chamber doors. It may have seemed quiet to those who had been awake but to the sleeping form curled up in his bed, it seemed like the loudest thing he had ever heard in his life. The person he had his arm draped over groaned in her sleep as the knocking continued, at this rate his girlfriend would wake up in a foul mood. He did not want to deal with that. Regrettably the Fire Lord slipped out of his bed as soundlessly as he could, making his way to the doors of his room. This had better be important enough to get me out of bed in the middle of the night…

He opened the doors just enough for him to see outside into the hall, squinting his eyes at the bright light coming from the nearby torches. Adjusting to the brightness, he noticed his personal messenger standing there nervously looking like he was on the edge of having break down from waking up the leader of his nation at such an unreasonable hour. Indeed it was… The man before him bowed respectfully. "M-my Lord, I am so sorry for waking you up at this hour but I have a message from the Mental Institute where your sister is being held."

Immediately Zuko was awake. Fear coursed through him as memories from their encounter a month back resurfaced. His sister had tried to drown herself, causing him to leave his home immediately in the middle of the night to confront her. He had anxiety since then of leaving her alone, stationing a guard with her every moment of the day to keep track of her. Although, if he knew Azula well, she would find a way around the system he built. His talk with her seemed to have helped but there was no telling with his sister what her true intentions would ultimately be. If she wanted to end her life she would.

"What was the message?" Dread swept through him as the worst possible answers charged through his mind, not one scenario staying as the next one came along. "Is my sister alright?"

"Yes my Lord." The man relaxed somewhat as he noticed his Fire Lord was not angry with him "Actually, it was not from the doctors themselves but from Princess Azula. She requests your presence."

"Azula…?" Confusion replaced the fear that had been there moments before. What did his sister want with him in the middle of the night? Not once had she ever sent him a letter of any sort, whether it was to talk with him or to require of him to go visit her. Seeing it was the in the dead of night it had to be important. At least he hoped it was. Why else wake him up so late? He sighed "Let her know I am on my way. Prepare the ship. I will be there shortly."

After the man accepted his leader's request, Zuko closed the door behind him. Looking back towards his bed, he noticed a pair of eyes looking at him calmly though they were filled with exhaustion. He made his way over to Mai, sitting on the bed next to her. Her voice sounded groggy as she managed to form her question "What was that about?"

Zuko groaned as he flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the canopy, his eyes settling on the intricate designs winding through the wood work. "Azula wants me at the Asylum."

His girlfriend sat up straighter, looking down at him in surprise "What does she want you there for? It's the middle of the night…it can't be that important."

"It must be for her to deliver a message this late. She never has before." Zuko followed the design of fire to the very top of the canopy before resting his eyesight on his conflicted girlfriend's face. He knew that she didn't trust her former best friend anymore. He recognized the mistrust flitting through her dark eyes, but he had to do this. Azula had no one else to help her. He knew now how much his concern meant to his sister. "I have to go see her Mai. After what almost happened last time…I can't take any chances."

Mai took a deep breath before speaking "If that is what you feel you need to do then go to her. If anyone can help her through the mess she is in, it's you. No one else will if you don't." She bent down to kiss him softly on the lips, before gazing into his eyes. "Are you sure you can trust her…?"

"I don't know if I can but so far she hasn't given me any reason to doubt her. She really is coming around Mai…" He tried to keep his annoyance in check. He knew how defensive he was becoming of his sister lately but he understood where his girlfriends question came from. "I can handle Azula."

"If you believe that then you will surely get a bolt of lightning through the chest…" She covered up her harsh words with a smile even though it didn't quite reach her eyes "I trust you…just be careful."

He smiled fondly at her before kissing her back "I won't be long. I will be there an hour at most hopefully but it depends on her. I will stay as long as she needs me to." Getting up from their bed he made his way over to his wardrobe, throwing on a hooded cloak over his body. There was no need to get dressed up in his Fire Lord clothing if this visit was to be at night. After making sure his appearance was decent, he made his way to the ship that would bring him straight to where his sister waited for him on Ember Island.

In a dark room overlooking the island, golden eyes stared out of the window in the direction she knew was the Fire Nation Palace, where her brother would be arriving from. The prodigy held her knees up to her chest, her back resting against the wall. Her breaths came in short gasps as she tried desperately to calm her anxiety. She had managed to cease her pacing, convincing herself to sit on her bed and try to relax. Her usual fire bending she practiced did not help this time around to calm her nerves or mind. She had tried relentlessly to quiet her thoughts but the voices seemed louder this time as she lay awake. The only thing she could think to do after the past hour was to contact the one person she knew would be able to help her. Clenching her jaw, she swallowed back a desperate cry, clutching her hair tightly, body tensing, as the sounds inside her head increased in volume. A tear streaked down her face, her eyes shutting closed swiftly. "Zuzu…please get here soon…"

[End Flashback]

Zuko's mind returned to reality as he entered Mai's house. The servant that let him in hurried quickly to inform his girlfriend of his arrival. Walking over to the living room off to his right, he looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings. He remembered all the times he had visited her during his return from banishment. The memories came back to him steadily, bringing with it a sense of warmth. All those times they spent together when he had no one else. That was a lie though…when he wasn't with Mai he was either by himself or with his sister.

Ever since his coronation and rise to Fire Lord he hardly had time to go visit her. She was the one who usually came to him. This time he didn't have a choice…if he wanted to make things right again with Mai then he had to do as she wanted. He had to explain what Azula had actually meant at dinner. The question was…would he be able to lie to her?

There was no way that he could tell Mai how he had cheated on her with Azula. That would not be an option. It couldn't be. How could he betray her like that…? How could you actually be comfortable feeling your sister up…kissing her as you did…? He grimaced. The thought of Azula waiting for him tonight made him shiver. He had to get this situation under control. He had to get himself under control.

He heard footsteps that he didn't recognize as his girlfriends. Turning around, he recognized the same servant who had let him in. The man bowed to him, fist to palm "My Lord. Lady Mai awaits you up in her private room. Would you like me to show you the way?"

Zuko smiled kindly, shaking his head "That's not necessary. I can find my way to her. Thank you." He dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand. Bowing once again, the servant went off into a different part of the large house. Zuko stood there for a few moments, trying to calm himself down. His heart beat wildly in his chest, muscles tensing. You need to calm down. Relax. He took a deep breath to center himself before making his way upstairs. Each step he took seemed to be harder than the last. It took no longer than a minute or two before he reached the doors leading to where his girlfriend waited on the other side. The urge to turn around and run was tempting. He couldn't keep running from this though. He never would be able to.

Slowly, he opened the door. Mai's tall, slender figure greeted him on the opposite side of where he was, facing away. She was looking out the large window towards the capital. She hadn't turned to acknowledge him yet. Swallowing nervously, he gazed around the room as he stepped in, closing the door behind him. He smiled softly as he took in her private chambers. It contained of a couch in the center with a table in front. Around the room were a few smaller tables with figures of some sort on them and a few book shelves that were filled. On one wall was a glass case that held a collection of knives she gathered throughout her travels over the Earth Kingdom. This was where they had spent most of their time together. It calmed him to feel something so familiar and tangible. He held onto it as he approached her, closing the door behind him.

Mai took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Truth be told she would have rather waited longer to confront him but she would just be delaying the inevitable. Three weeks had been long enough. In that time she had come to terms with what she wanted from Zuko. She wanted honesty and she would take no less from him. She also wanted Azula to stay as far away from him as was physically possible… You're asking for something that will never happen.

"It's about time you showed up…" Turning around, she made sure her voice gave nothing away to the anger she felt in seeing him, although she wasn't quite sure why she was mad at him. Some instinct inside told her that what she felt was not wrong in any way. If that was the case…what was he hiding from her then? She had an idea…she just hoped she was wrong…"You took longer than expected. I thought your meetings usually ended mid afternoon."

She noticed the way his eyes gleamed nervously, his body tensing up. If there was anything useful Azula taught her it was to watch for any signs given off by the body to tell what people were trying to hide. She remembered the princess telling her that for humans to control that instinctive part of themselves took strict training. Obviously her former friend had practiced day and night in that sense. Azula would not allow anyone to see into her mind or behind the wall she had built solidly around herself. It would have to take someone really skilled in order to break her down. Zuko on the other hand had little to no discipline.

Zuko tried desperately to stay calm as the guilt he felt coursed through him. He should have been here a half hour sooner but his sister had him preoccupied. With her body you mean… shoving those thoughts away he forced himself to not give off any signs that may give him away if he hadn't already. "Yes, they did end at their usual time. I had to go do something first before I came over though."

"And what would that 'something' be?" Mai's voice betrayed her suspicion towards him and rightfully so. He struggled not to wince as she went on "Did you have important Fire Lord Responsibilities to attend to? Did one of them happen to be seeing your sister?"

Zuko let out a frustrated sigh "So what if I happened to go check on my sister first before coming over here? That shouldn't even matter…" He knew he was getting defensive but it was too easy when it came down to his sibling. He had accepted his fierce protectiveness over Azula. That would never change. "Azula has been mad at me just as you have been since we had dinner. I wanted to talk with her to make sure everything was ok between us. She had been avoiding me for three weeks much like you have. She changed around her Fire Bending Training so that it was opposite to mine. I didn't even see her in the halls of the palace!"

Mai walked over to the center of the room in front of him, leaving some distance between them. "Now I can't fathom why she would be mad at you Zuko…she seemed to be very generous in her praises towards your Fire Bending. Correct me if I am wrong but since when has she ever complimented you?"

Avoiding the obvious Komodo Rhino in the room, he ignored her first comment "I told you that she has changed. Why is it so wrong that she actually does see potential in my Fire Bending? I mean I was surprised too but it's not a bad thing. It shows progress."

"Be that as it may, it doesn't explain the way she looked at you throughout dinner. Like there was some sort of possessiveness over you." Mai's unease returned to her. She remembered clearly the way Azula's piercing gaze had hardly ever left her brother's form. Although it was subtle, Mai clearly picked it up even though Zuko stayed oblivious "That doesn't strike you as something wrong…?"

Zuko clenched his jaw, gritting out his words "No it doesn't. It's Azula! She likes to keep control over everyone. That's normal for her." Please…let's just end it right here. He could feel the truth of his betrayal hanging around them, weighing heavy on his shoulders. It taunted him much like Azula had when they were children. He couldn't go on like this.

"No…not with the way she was acting that night. Usually she is full of snide remarks on your training. That's normal behavior for Azula. For her to actually show…affection towards you is not." She clenched her fists. Why was he trying to dance around her with lies? Bracing herself she headed straight for the question that she needed to have answered "Zuko…don't lie to me. What actually happened between you and Azula that night…?"

"I already told you Mai…nothing happened. I have no idea what Azula was referring too!" He swept his hands in the air, fear sweeping through him. "We spared. She taught me how to lightning bend. I tried but failed to control it. We went inside. That was it!"

"Then what was all this talk about you actually mastering it…? What did she mean when she talked of how both of you created lightning in a new way?" Her voice rose, anger seeping through. She kept talking as she walked towards him, watching as he backed up to the couch sitting down abruptly when he hit it. His guilt glistened in his eyes, making her suspicions on what they did all the more real "Tell me Zuko…you both said different things…I know Azula is a good liar but when she wants to make something known she does it convincingly without skipping a beat."

"Mai stop!" Putting his head in his hands he tried desperately to keep the conversation from the truth. "I promise you there is nothing going on!"

"Then what did she mean Zuko! Stop trying to lie to me!" She clenched her jaw as her throat tightened. She just wanted this day to end. She wanted to throw her knives at something… preferably his prodigious sister. Azula had to ruin everything…and this was how she got revenge over her betrayal: Taking someone precious to her.

"Mai what do you think she meant?!" Zuko lifted his head up, staring her dead in the eyes. They were both getting closer to the truth. He could read what she thought happened to them as he gazed into her eyes. See the pain in them even though she kept her composure outside in check "I am telling you the truth!"

"Zuko…"

"All we did was-"

"Did you have sex with her?"

Zuko froze. He felt all the will power steadily drain out of him at facing the truth of what he did from the one person who should never have known. His mind brought him back a few weeks ago: gazing into amber eyes that mirrored his own…the feel of his sister's lips against his…the sounds she had made…a burning fire he had never felt before coursing through him. At that time, he had wondered what would happen if Mai ever found out. He couldn't have cared less, not when the women, who now preoccupied his thoughts, was in his arms at that time, her body pressed heavily against his and the concrete wall behind, spewing blue fire over their heads as she reached her climax.

Azula who invited him to her chambers tonight if he really did want to continue what they had started…

He didn't know what to say; couldn't even begin to form a sentence that had even the slightest chance to save his relationship with Mai. What have I done…? He had to try though "W-what? You think that I would actually have sex with my sister…?"

Mai stood rigid as stone. She could hardly breathe, her voice becoming a low whisper "It's not that hard to put two and two together Zuko…I can see it in your eyes." She backed away from him, unwilling to accept what she had just learned, her eyes becoming distant as the truth sank in.

"Why do you think that's what we did…?" Zuko's voice shook, as he gathered whatever strength he had left into his words. "I would never-"

"Shut it Zuko." She turned her dark eyes on his, her face scrunching up in pain "I would be an idiot to think nothing had developed between you two when you started visiting her at the institution." She felt bile rise in the back of her throat. The thought of what they did making her sick. "The way you treated her. Defended her…how protective you are of her, talked about her all the time. Those nights you spent at the asylum with her because all she had to do was ask. A couple of those times you had been with me but didn't hesitate or consider how I may feel… I could see the change in you even though you were too blind to see it. And on top of it all…it's not even with another Fire Nation girl…it's with your sister…"

"Mai" Zuko stood up to approach her cautiously. Seeing that she hardly so much as flinched, he managed to get within two feet of her before he stopped. His anxiety was now at its peak. He couldn't be- "What are you trying to say…? Are you telling me that I…am…that I could possibly be-"

"In love with your sister? Yes…that is exactly what I am telling you."

She didn't realize what was happening when Zuko grabbed her arms pulling her into his embrace. Before she could register in her mind what he was doing, she felt his lips on hers. All she could do was feel numb as his mouth moved against hers, longing and full of love. His hands slid down to her waste, slipping underneath her shirt to feel her skin. She wanted so badly to shove him off…disgusted as she was with him but she didn't… slowly her anger dissolved into a need to comfort her mind in knowing he still loved her. She hesitantly responded back, moving her hands to the back of his head, pulling him closer.

Zuko relaxed, feeling relieved that she was reciprocating his attention on her. He almost thought that this wouldn't work but indeed it had. He could still save their relationship. He needed her right now. He didn't want to lose her. Breaking their passionate kiss, he tried to catch his breath. He raised his eyes in level with hers; they betrayed her anger still but more so confusion. His voice was husky as he spoke "Mai…I love you. Please…I promise you nothing happened." He raised his right hand from under her shirt to push her hair behind her ear "Please believe me…"

Forcing herself not to look away from him, she replied "How do I know that I can trust what you say…? Azula…"

"Mai…" He brought his right hand to cup her cheek "Azula has gotten better. I won't deny that but there is no question to how much you both despise each other." Zuko forced out the words. They felt like poison on his tongue. Manipulation was never a game he was good at but right now he needed to be. Azula is having a bad influence on me… He would have smirked at the irony of it, if the situation he faced wasn't as serious as it was "It would make sense for her to get back at you however she could, even if it is just to make you paranoid. In the end…" He took a deep breath before pushing out the last sentence in his lie "Azula will always be Azula. I love her but I am, in no way, in love with her."

Mai was hesitant to reply back, her mind temporarily silenced from their kiss and his words. As much as she wanted to deny his explanation what he said made sense… why should she believe Azula on anything she said? Her former friend was nothing but a liar, bitter from the fact that she loved Zuko more than she had feared her. Azula could never understand this love that had become the driving force to her betrayal. She would never have what she held now with Zuko. To even think that Zuko could actually… No…he never would. And I was a fool to believe Azula otherwise…

"The only women I am in love with…" Zuko turned her neck slightly upwards, giving him access to her bare neck. He brought his lips to her skin, kissing her softly before biting her, listening as she took a sharp intake of breath. "...is you"

Liar…

The voice seemed to whisper mockingly in his ear. Zuko tried drowning her voice out by kissing Mai hungrily on the neck, switching to different locations each time. His actions almost seemed desperate. Then again…he was. He could not escape Azula even when he was so far away from the palace. She haunted his thoughts but also his mind. He felt somehow that she knew he was going to arrive here today…

She let him go too easily...

A moan escaped the lips of the women he was now kissing fully on the lips, backing her up to the couch. Shaky hands roamed each other's skin, pulling off clothes that got in the way of what they both desired. She was needy like he was but in a different way. She wanted to be reassured that the man she trusted with her life still loved her. He on the other hand only wished to be purified of his sins: A foolish wish but one all the same. They fell, him over her, his hands grabbing both her breasts roughly, causing a gasp to escape her mouth. He grinned against her lips as he massaged them both, pressing his groin against her heated area.

She had him trapped…

A heavy groan escaped his lips as the daring women before him encircled his cock with her skillful hand, dragging them up and down his length, the pressure building up inside his body, waiting to be released. He wanted to give in…No. He couldn't finish this soon…not yet. He wouldn't allow her to get the best of him. That was always the game they played. Who would be the one to outdo the other? Who would be the one to dominate? Which of their flames would burn the brightest in the darkness they both shared?

She already won…she had a long time ago...

Pulling away he grabbed her pants on either side, yanking them down and off her legs. He placed his head between her thighs, letting his tongue travel up and down her folds, teasing her as much as possible. He wanted her to beg for him. There would be no other way. There could be no other way between them. It was that game they played.

They were the only two players…oh how right she had been...

She grabbed his hair, pulling him closer, her voice increasing in volume till he could have sworn the servants knew what they were up to by now. Not like that mattered to him. He was the Fire Lord after all. "Zuko…" There it was. That is what he wanted to hear.

"Tell me what you want…" He hissed into her.

"You…" Just like last time.

Hovering an inch over her body, he plunged into her core. Groaning as he went deeper. Her moans mixed with his. He needed this. He needed her. There could be no other way around it. He pumped into her, his pace increasing…and yet there was something missing this time during their exchange. Throughout their session, there had been no fire…no lightning to be found. How could that be…? It had been there the last time…

Zuko's mind grew hazy as his pleasure consumed him…in the end he could not hold it back, as her accursed name escaped his lips, shattering the illusion he had created around himself and everything he had built.

"Azula…"

"Azula?"

And just like that…everything fell apart.

The Azure Dragon backed him up into a corner, her fangs glistening menacingly...

His eyes snapped open at his own words. Suddenly, without so much as a warning, he pulled out of his girlfriend, stumbling back onto the opposite side of the couch. Her eyes were wide with horror much like his own, as he stared dumbfounded back at her. This wasn't the courtyard. And the woman who sat across from him was most certainly not his sister.

The Red Dragon tensed his muscles, ready to fight her…and yet, as he gazed around at the blue flames she created, he slowly relaxed, finding that there was beauty in the creature that mirrored him…there was more to her than what she actually showed…

Azula was not here.

Azula was back at the palace, waiting for him tonight in her room. She had known he would be here today and had also predicted his moves yet again. Always ten steps ahead. If he really wanted her, then he would come back to her tonight. She was right. That was where he wanted to be right now. Not here, as exposed as he was, embarrassingly so, to Mai, who he called his girlfriend for four years. The girl he loved with all his heart but could not come close to the Fire Princess herself. Mai…who had just heard him moan out his sister's name in the heat of their passionate embrace with each other.

The Azure Dragon would not let him escape the blue flames she surrounded them both with…

"Mai…I-"

Yet…he did not bother fighting…instead he approached her, allowing his orange flames to merge with hers…

"Get out."

The Azure Dragon gazed back at him expectantly… longingly… her features softening…looks like the Red Dragon wanted to stay…

The only thought that swept through his mind was that he really was in love with his sister…

After all…once a male and female dragon bonded through their fire, they were mates for life, bound to each other's side for eternity.

…and with fear creeping through his limbs, he found that he wouldn't want it any other way.

[Flashback]

Zuko stopped in front of the door that would lead to his sister's bedroom. He had his hands on his knees breathing heavily. He was out of breath, for he had run all the way up here, his paranoia getting to him at what he may face when he arrived. He needed no directing to Azula's room. He knew the path by heart. In fact the staff hadn't even been able to salute properly to their leader as be flew past them. He had even left his guards down stairs, telling them that they were not needed. They had protested once until Zuko convinced them that he would be more than safe with his sister.

Catching his breath, he forced himself to be still, slowly straightening up. There was no noise coming from the other side of the wall that separated him and his sister. The darkness that surrounded the iron door he had to go through set him on edge. It seemed to whisper ominously to him. He became fearful of what state he might find his sister in. She had called him here for a reason. Azula doesn't ask his presence for nothing. In fact, this had been the first time he received a letter from her… Too bad it couldn't have been just to hangout like normal siblings…

Knowing he couldn't stand here a moment longer, he grabbed the cold door knob, twisting it slowly, pushing it open. He hesitated, peeking inside the room. It was pitch black. He could hardly see anything. He opened the door some more as he called out to her "Azula…?" His voice whispered into the darkness receiving no response. Gritting his teeth, he pushed the door open more, just to pull back a second later as a ball of blue fire slammed into the wall just beside his face.

Zuko's eyes widened as another hit the wall, his mouth agape in astonishment. This was worse than he had originally thought it would be like. Trying to keep his voice calm he called out to her again "Azula! It's me, Zuko!"

Again no response.

Taking a deep breath, knowing he was about to tame a dragon, he pushed the door wide open, jumping through. This time a stream of flames greeted him. He quickly put up a wall of fire to shield himself, crossing his arms as he did so. "Azula stop!"

"Get away from me!" Her voice sounded so unlike her. He was used to the prodigy being calm and collected. It unnerved him the way her voice shook, as if she had been crying, but also to the point of screaming. The last time he had heard her like this had been when they faced each other in the Agni Kai for the throne. Azula had been borderline insane in those final hours…he had hoped to never see her that way again.

How ignorant of him to believe otherwise.

Zuko knew he had to calm her down somehow. Squinting through the flames that shrouded him, he saw the source of where her fire had come from. In the corner of the bedroom on the floor, there was his sister, crouching down, almost like she had been in a fetal position before he had entered. Though it was hard to decipher, he could tell that her eyes were wide with panic, rage, and fear. All mixed together for his sister was not good… for her or for anyone else.

The onslaught of fire stopped suddenly. Zuko hesitantly put out his own fire, bracing himself for more, but none came. Straightening up, he gazed into the darkness, willing his eyes to adjust. When they did, he saw a pair of amber eyes glowing softly from the part of the room that his sister resided. Taking a step forward, he approached her cautiously, only to stop a moment later as he saw a hand rise up, blue fire conjuring in her palm, ready to be thrown. He raised his hands midway "Azula…it's ok. It's your brother, Zuko…"

"Stay back! I'm warning you…" Her voice bordered on paranoia. His sister backed up farther into the corner of the room as if she believed she could escape somehow by melting into the wall. She acted like a trapped animal, ready to strike out at any given moment. He knew he had to tread carefully.

"Zula…you asked for me to come here…remember?" His gut twisted at the state he saw his sister in. Her hair was disheveled when usually it was kept tidy. He noticed bags under her eyes as if she hadn't slept in days. It was hard to tell but her body was shaking. Her eyes hardened as he locked his gaze on hers. The fire that he had come to see from her spirit returned as instinct took a hold to defend. It was dangerous. He took a deep breath.

One step forward.

"I came here to make sure everything was alright…" Mistrust. That was all he could read from her. She had not lowered her hand yet.

Another step.

"I want to help you…please calm down." Confusion. Hesitation.

The Princess lowered her hand slightly "Zuzu…?" Realization crept over her as the situation she was in dawned on her. The light from the moon outside allowed her to recognize her brother. This wasn't the palace. Her father was not here…he was in jail back at the capital. No longer was he the Fire Lord nor the great damn Phoenix King. No longer was he here to torment her…but he did. He was just here threatening her life. Speaking harshly of how shameful she had become. A failure to all the great plans he had set out for her…No they were only for him… she corrected herself. Still, she had never been so scared in her life.

Her brother…he looked so much like their father. Her eyes rested on his concerned gaze. Ozai could never hold such warmth in his eyes. They never had: Only rage, cleverness or nothing at all. Zuko did have his father's features, the only thing setting them apart was the scar he had been given from the man she had to deal with three years alone without her brother. Those had been dark times. She had thought it was her father she had been facing moments before…although it might be wrong for her to think this way, but she was thankful for the burn mark that separated them.

Tears slowly started spilling from her eyes as she clenched her jaw. Her throat tightened causing her to be unable to speak. It is him…my brother… Azula wasn't entirely sure why she did this next, in any other circumstance she would never allow herself to show such a moment of weakness, but something overcame her. Relief mixed with fear. Happiness mixed with sorrow. It was strange to feel these but she couldn't help it when she got to her feet, causing her brother to step back reflexively, as she ran towards him. He couldn't avoid it though as Azula's body collided with his, her arms gripping around his midsection tightly, her face buried in his chest, as she cried softly. How pathetic she must look…He hadn't responded to her yet. He didn't push her away or reciprocate her gesture. She soon felt embarrassment creeping over her at her sudden outburst. This wasn't like her. Maybe she should step back... The prodigy suddenly felt self conscious about to release her death hold. She stopped though the moment when she felt his strong arms hesitantly wrap around her small frame, his head resting on hers.

Azula felt her face heat up at the close contact, instinct causing her to step back but he didn't let her escape his grasp completely. Her heart rate sped up, pounding in her ears, as her amber eyes met with his. The soft smile she was greeted with set her nerves on edge. She had to get away from him even though some other hidden emotion she hadn't quite come to understand, told her to stay put. She didn't want to pull away. It was taking all her willpower to fight off the urge to bring her face closer to his…possibly- No…What is wrong with you…? I need to get away from him. "Zuko… let go…" Her voice shook nervously as she averted eye contact.

"You're the one who hugged me first." His voice held amusement at her flustered appearance of what she had done. "Going soft on me now…?"

She snorted in disbelief "Don't kid yourself…as if I would ever be nice to you!" She pushed away from him, turning around to hide the small smile that crept over her face. Shaking her head she snapped at him "Took you long enough to get here!" She looked over her shoulder, glaring at him. She flicked her wrist to light up one of the torches on the wall.

He returned to his usual self as guilt graced his features. "I'm sorry…it takes a while to get here. I am just thankful you're safe."

"I might not have been if you had come later…" She whispered, her voice seeming to echo off the walls, disappearing into the shadows. "The voices…they keep getting worse as the days go on…"

"Has it really been getting that bad…?"

His concern warmed her a bit but not enough to diminish the fear she still felt. Even though she felt safe with him around, he was just going to leave again… "I wasn't able to get any sleep…I keep having these nightmares that just won't go away." She turned her body towards him "I wake up screaming in the night sometimes…" She wasn't sure why she was being so open with him but who else was she going to confide in? She had no one else…

He walked over to her, noticing she flinched but made no move to back away or resist his hand as he placed it on her shoulder in comfort. "Can you tell me what kind of dreams they are…?" He wasn't used to his sister being so vulnerable. It made him happy though that she trusted him enough to do so. He noticed how she would not look at him, refused to even. Was she afraid he wouldn't be able to understand?

She went and sat on her bed, motioning for him to take the seat across from her on the chair she used to sit at her desk. He brought it over, placing it two feet between them. He sat down, hunching over slightly to place his arms on his legs, his fingers intertwining with each other. Nothing in this moment was more important than being here for his sister. The world could catch on fire and still he would remain here with her. She needed him that much was clear, even though she never said she did. He didn't have to hear it from her to know.

His sister hesitated to speak. Zuko could tell that it was hard for her whatever she felt she had to hide "Hey…" He took her hand gently, squeezing it "It's ok. No one is around to hear but me."

Azula looked down at his hand, her face unreadable as she squeezed it back lightly, lacing her fingers with his. He blushed. He wasn't used to his sister reciprocating touch. He couldn't remember the last time she did if it had even happened at all "I know…"

She sighed heavily knowing it was best to get this done and over with… the sooner the better. "Every night…I keep dreaming of the eve of my coronation. When I lost all control of myself." She took a deep breath "It replays without skipping a beat every night. I lost my humanity that day…if I had any at all to begin with…"

"That's not true Azula…you-"

She placed her finger over his mouth, shushing him. "It's rude to interrupt Zuzu…I won't have an argument on how I used to be or still am. I have to accept it eventually." She took her hand away from him. He looked like he wanted to argue against her statement but he remained quiet.

"That night…I was truly a monster. The one mother surely saw in me…" She swallowed hard, tears burning in her eyes as she continued. She refused to cry. She had done enough of that lately. "I don't know when I lost myself but I did without knowing it. In order to survive I had to play the part of the favorite child in our father's eyes. It was the logical thing to do. At the time all I wanted to do was please him…to be everything he wanted." She scoffed "What a lie that was…all those praises…promises…only to throw me aside when it was convenient for him to do so. We thought alike back then…I used to do the same.

I became the monster I feared that night because I lost control of what I believed in. The life I had had been fake…not only that but I lost those closest to me." She saw her brother flinch. He still feels guilty…good. She felt bitterness course through her but she was able to tame it. His destiny had lain with the Avatar and his friends at the time...there was nothing that could have stopped it from happening "My best friends betrayed me because they didn't recognize me anymore… I didn't myself… My father abandoned me like mother did because he never truly loved me…You left me when I started to believe that life would return to normal as foolish as that sounded…" She glanced back at their laced hands. When did she do that? She didn't bother undoing them. Instead she brushed her thumb over his hand lightly. "I needed you Zuko…I did too when we fought in that Agni Kai…"

She didn't want to relive that dream again but she had to finish the story she had started for him to truly understand her. "That's where my dreams always lead…to that fight between us. Except…each time it ends differently…" She clenched her jaw as visions from her nightmare came back to her in pieces "Every time I get to that point when I conjured lightning to strike that water tribe girl…you weren't able to save her. It strikes her right in the heart. Her body falling to the ground, twitching violently, horrible noises raking her body…" Her eyes became unfocused "You come at me to avenge her death…in the end I am able to knock you down. The fight was awful…there was so much blood…" Her voice lowered to a whisper "Your eyes…you were so scared…so fearful in what I had become. Yet there was so much compassion at the same time that diminished whatever anger had taken a hold of you before. You tried to plead with me…help me. I wanted to stop…I didn't want to do it…" her voice began shaking as the tears she held back streaked down her face "I always smile down wickedly at you. I can't force myself to stop…as I strike you through the chest with lightning. I can't stop…then I start laughing manically which only ends up with me somehow chained to the ground sobbing…the only thing for me to look at is your unconscious body…" She took her free hand and wiped away the tears furiously "That's how I wake up every night. Screaming…crying…then the voices start and usually its father come to take me down next. I am no longer useful to him. He talks down to me, telling me how much of a failure I am…it goes on like that for hours…it feels like it will never end."

"Is that why…?" He stopped. "The reason why you…"

"Why I shot fire at you when you came through that door…?" She laughed softly "Yes…you and him look awfully alike." She finally looked up at his face, noticing the hurt. It wasn't his fault that he looked so much like their father. She smiled softly "It's alright though…you're nothing like him…that much I do know." She hesitantly brought her free hand to his face, cupping the burnt side, rubbing her thumb over his cheek. She never had been good at comforting people…it wasn't anything she had been taught but she had to try somehow no matter how unfamiliar it was "This scar separates you from him…it shows how different you two are and not just in appearances but in experience. You are wiser now than you ever could have been if he had not banished you…"

He looked up to meet her gaze; he smiled warmly as he brought his other hand to place it over hers. "Thank you…" He had never looked at it that way before, never expected his sister to comfort him as she did even though it was she who needed it now more than ever. How selfless she has become…or maybe she always had been that way but he was just too ignorant to notice. "That nightmare though…when did it start…?"

She dropped her hand from his face "The night I tried to kill myself…" Zuko's heart twisted as she looked away from him and towards their hands again. "It's so awful Zuko…" her voice dropped to a whisper "It never ends…it hurts so much. I just want them to go away...that's why I…I tried to take my life as I did."

He brought his hand up to brush her dark hair behind her ear. He held it there for a moment, noticing as the dimness from the torch she lit earlier flickered over her face, how beautiful she actually was…"Is there anything I can do to help you…?" He wasn't entirely sure what he could do…he felt useless. How could he even begin to help her fight her own inner demons…? Those dreams that haunted her every night…? Her answer to his question was not what he expected to be the solution.

"Stay the night with me…" She avoided eye contact completely. He noticed though how she blushed furiously at her own answer. He couldn't help but have the same reaction as his sister. His heart thrummed in his chest…why did it feel like there was more to this request than what it seemed on the surface? His own thoughts and emotions unnerved him.

Azula could feel the heat in her face. There was no way she could've hid that from him or repressed it. It was instinctive much like all her actions or thoughts had been lately towards him. Why was she being so impulsive? To ask her brother to stay the night with her sounded more like-she stopped her own train of thought from continuing. The last thing you need is to start having fantasies about your own brother… He didn't respond though. She raised her usual wall around herself, feeling highly vulnerable. "N-never mind…forget I even said anything. I don't know why I even-"

He stopped her midway, taking her chin in his free hand to make her look at him "Would that help you…?"

Her blush increased as she nodded her head "You don't know this but…" It was hard for her to continue, to confess her own secret. You are able to tell him the horrible nightmares of killing him…this shouldn't be so difficult! But it was for her…it felt more like a confession to something she hadn't quite grasped yet. "Y-you were always able to chase away the voices inside my head…just from your sheer presence alone…" Her voice shook as she spoke. Get a grip! It's not like you're confessing your undying love to him or anything! For some reason that sounded ironic… "Please…don't go…" She looked back up to meet his gaze unflinchingly.

"If that is what it will take for you to get some rest…if that is what you need…" he paused. He didn't know what had gotten into him. To even consider staying over night at the institution was insane in itself. How could he refuse though...? He said that he would always be there for her. And the way she was looking at him now...there was no mask to hide her emotions this time. She was being completely open, allowing herself to be vulnerable before him, like she had been all night. Except this time...it felt different. He was completely captivated by her... He took a deep breath as his answer solidified in his mind. "Then I will. I just have to go let the captain know of my decision"

Azula's heart stopped. She didn't think he would agree… she swallowed nervously, trying to collect herself together as he left the room without another word. "What did I just get myself into…?" She placed her hands on her head, looking at the ground. "Why did you ask that? Why did he agree so easily…?" Why is he the only one who can make you feel this way…? These thoughts danced around her head along with unwanted scenarios that played around in her mind, scenes in which a sister should never be involved with her older brother in: Her nerves electrified. Nothing was going to happen. She would make sure of that. Her heart beat widely as he entered back in her room, closing the door behind himself. The silence stretched out between them as he made his way over to her bed.

"Where would you like me to sleep?" He felt uneasy at the anticipation he felt growing inside him. It made him sick. He was doing this for her though… He glanced at the ground. "I could sleep on the floor-"

"No…" He looked back up at her. "I want you to sleep with me…in my bed." Her eyes finally rested on his, her gaze unreadable.

Zuko felt his heart rate pick up. "Is that what you want…?"

Azula nodded her head slightly, her eyes taking on an emotion he couldn't quite read from her "Yes…" She blushed again. Gods she looked cute when she got flustered like that…he shook his head mentally. Nodding his head he waited for her to get settled, avoiding the fact that all she wore was a robe.

Her hands shook as she pulled the blankets back, feeling his gaze set on her. She got under the covers, gesturing for him to do the same. He climbed over, settling in behind her. There was tense silence. She could hear him breathing heavily… He's nervous… she felt his arms wrap around her stomach slowly, pulling her closer to him. Her own breath quickened. He's not the only one… without so much as a thought on her next action she daringly took one of his hands, lacing her fingers with his. She brought them up to her lips, kissing them softly. She felt him take a sharp breath but he didn't stop her. She continued her gentle gesture, until she turned her head around to meet his golden gaze. I must be out of my mind… This time not resisting the instinct that took over her, she slowly brought her mouth closer, placing her lips on his. She wasn't quite sure why she did this but she had for so long wanted to. He didn't pull away though as he returned her action.

They kissed softly like that for a few moments until Azula broke the contact between them. She breathed heavily, as the shock of what she did crept over her; she saw it reflected in his gaze. The confusion he had over his face mirrored hers. What they had just done…why? "Zuzu… I-" Fear swept over her. What if he decided to leave? She couldn't bear the thought of being alone tonight. Why had she done that…?

"Don't worry about it…" He pulled her closer, letting her head rest on his chest, hoping she couldn't read his mind on just how much he had enjoyed that small kiss. A mixture of emotions swept through his body as he processed what they had just done. "Try to get some sleep…"

Azula clutched the shirt he wore, her heart steadily returning to its normal rhythm. A blush lightly covered her cheeks. She had done a lot of that tonight…too much for her own liking. Her lips tingled from where his had just been. She couldn't stop the smile that graced her features. It's not like there was anything to lose at this point except for him…he wouldn't leave her though. She knew he wouldn't… The Princess hardly registered when he kissed her head softly, her eyes closing as her body relaxed. Never before had she felt safer than in his arms right now, the warmth radiating from his body helping to put her to sleep.

"Good night Zula…" He whispered, as his arms tightened around her small frame, one of his hands being clutched by hers. Their kiss made his stomach twist as thoughts of Mai back at home in their bed, passed through his mind. He tried burying these feelings convincing himself that what had just happened was normal … siblings did that right…? His thoughts slowed as the heat from her body swept over him, her inner fire mixing with his. The last thought he had was right now at this point in time…he didn't want to be anywhere else…

[End Flashback]