Okay. I'm not even going to try and make an excuse. Instead, I'm going to try and finish this story before I leave for basic training. I hate leaving things unfinished. I think, this may be the first and last fanfiction I will ever make. It takes too much time. Serious props goes to those who make more than one. Respect.
Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA. If I did, it would air when I SAY it will air the FIRST time…man, I hate waiting! I postponed my departure (deportation) so that I could catch the series finale! Anyway, on to the story!
"Long time no see, huh, Zuzu?"
Zuko felt his blood run cold.
No. No…it couldn't be…
"Oh yes, big brother, it's me," the cold female said as she sauntered into the room. Her heels softly clicked against the wooden floor. "I know it's been awhile, but," she shrugged and flicked a piece of hair out of her face, "But I haven't changed much."
She stopped. "And neither have you." She smirked and motioned towards his face. "Still sporting that parting gift from father, I see."
Rage coursed through Zuko's body as he fought the urge to deck his little sister. Instead, he clenched his fist and nodded.
"Yeah. Maybe you should get your face burned, too." It was Zuko's turn to smirk. "It would sure be an improvement."
Zuko heard a light chuckle from behind him.
The cocky smirk fell from her face.
"Well, it seems my brother finally grew some cajones." She inclined her head towards Katara. "Perhaps you helped with that."
Katara stood and slightly tilted her head to the side. "Why are you here, Azula?"
Azula flicked another strand of hair back behind her ear and continued her path towards the group. "I just wanted to stop by and visit my uncle and brother. It's been so long since we've talked and had a real family dinner." She frowned and pursed her lips. "Is that so hard to believe?"
"Yes."
Katara shot Zuko a withering look before turning back to Azula. "Why are you really here?" Katara suddenly froze then swiftly crouched into a defensive position, fists raised. "You're here to take me back." Her fists tightened. "That's not going to happen."
Everyone present visibly stiffened at the sound of Azula's light yet callous laughter. She gently patted her manicured nails against her chest, then wiped her eyes, though no tears were present.
Well, what did you expect? Zuko thought to himself. The devil can't cry.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Zuko blinked in confusion at Azula's words. He looked at Katara, but her face was impassive, though still in the defensive position.
Azula waved her hand dismissively as she wandered closer to Katara. "Why, assassin, do you always assume that everything is about you?"
"Katara."
Azula stopped in her tracks and blinked. "What?"
Katara, still crouched, nodded her head in her direction. "You said it yourself. My name is Katara." Her eyes narrowed. "Use it."
Azula regained composure and slowly placed her hands on her hips. She grinned. "Why, assassin, you know that senseless animals like you don't bear a real name."
Katara didn't miss a beat. "Why? You have one."
Azula once more lost her composure and looked as if she was about to make a move towards blue eyed girl, but quickly stopped. She took a step back and crossed her arms. "No more insults." She narrowed her own eyes. "It's time we finish this."
She snapped her fingers and black clad suited men immediately stormed into the room. Iroh and Zuko hopped to their own feet and backed away until their backs aligned with the fireplace. Katara was still in front of them. She crouched even deeper and went to clasp the hilt of her sword, but only found air. Zuko felt a chill rip through him.
Her sword was in the other room.
Though Katara's back was to him, he could see her body tighten as her hand went back to her defensive stance. He knew what she was thinking. She had to get that sword.
He looked to his uncle to see if he noticed. Iroh glanced at him and gave a slight nod to signal he had.
They needed a distraction.
The flood of men soon stopped as they made an arc around their smug princess. There were at least 30 men packed into the small room. Azula uncrossed her arms and wandered even closer to the group. She leaned forward until she was right in Katara's face. Her trademark grin sending bolts of annoyance through Zuko's own body.
"It isn't just about you, anymore, assassin. Father sent me here." Her grin widened.
"He means for me to kill you…" She shrugged, rolled her eyes and nodded towards Zuko and Iroh. "…And anyone else who gets in the way."
Katara chuckled.
It not only surprised the cold hearted woman before her, but the two men behind the obviously insane girl.
What the hell was she laughing about!?
Katara sighed. "Your father didn't send you here, Azula." She shook her head with a small smile playing at her lips. "What makes you think I would believe that?" The smile grew. "He needs me. He needs me to keep killing all those people who broke his rules."
The room seemed to go cold despite the fireplace and the numerous amounts of people present in the cramped living space. Zuko blinked. So that's who she was killing? People who…upset him?
Azula narrowed her eyes. "How did you…?"
"Figure it out?" Katara finished. She shook her head. "It was after you had me kill my own father." Katara paused from the memory, but pushed herself to continue. "All of those men and women…they varied so much. Rich, poor, young, old, beautiful, ugly. They couldn't all owe him money, where would that leave the rich people? They all couldn't have double-crossed him, where would that leave that 90-year old man I had to kill?" Azula's eyes widened. Katara gave her a ghastly smile and nod. "Yes, I remember him. The man could barely breathe or crap on his own, nevertheless even think of trying to physically outdo your father. And the ugly people," she continued, "They wouldn't fit anywhere." She snorted. "He would never think to lower himself to even talk to anyone not as beautiful as himself."
Katara slowly shook her head. "No. He has people killed that have angered him…or someone else indirectly…" she stared pointedly into Azula's eyes. Azula could only half vindictively stare back. Katara nodded as if this was confirmation enough.
"You see, Azula? He needs me. Since he first… "hired" me," sarcasm dripped like hot oil from her tongue. "I have been the first assassin to not leave any evidence leaking to him." Azula stiffened once more. The ghastly grin returned. "Oh yes. I am a valuable asset to him, which you and I both know."
Katara tilted her head and straightened. "And that's why you're here…isn't it, Azula?" The grin widened. "Because, you know, that with just your father and I…,"
The grin became a full blown smile. "You would become…," her head tilted downward,
"Obsolete."
Zuko blinked once more. So that's why his sister was here? To keep herself useful?
Azula's eyes shook with rage and her fists clenched and unclenched as she fought to regain composure. Her breathing came in short pants and puffs and beads of sweat were rolling down her face. The men around her seemed to lose a little in the posture. What were they to do without the instructions of their leader?
Suddenly, Azula stopped shaking, and she slowly righted herself. She straightened her red cuffs and smoothed down the wrinkles of imperfection that apparently only she could see, and pushed a strand behind her ear.
"Yes."
Not only was Zuko and Iroh shocked, but Katara as well. She blinked, but said nothing.
Azula moved her jaw around in her mouth as if what she was about to say was extremely uncomfortable…which it might as well be.
"You are correct, you peasant."
Zuko was tempted to ask her what happened to assassin and no more insults, but decided against it. If Katara said nothing, then neither would he.
Azula sighed, then continued. "Father is becoming more and more…laissez-faire, in his judgment calls." She raised her head higher. "I intend to correct that."
Katara lifted an eyebrow. "How?"
The grin had returned. "By showing him, of course. He needed to target, bigger, better people. People that had more influence, more to offer." Azula did an ungraceful unladylike snort. "Instead of those worthless, vagabond, filth he deals with all the time." She shot Katara a nasty smile. "No offense."
Katara ignored her comment. "You originally planned on using my skills in order to achieve these goals." She nodded, almost appreciatively. "You really do think bigger, Azula." Her own grin returned. "What happened, though?"
It was apparent to Zuko, though, that Katara already knew what had happened. He only hoped that had asked for his and his uncle's benefit. Probably not.
Azula snapped her teeth together and narrowed her eyes. "You, that's what happened. You were too…," she growled, "good. Father didn't want to listen to what I had to say. Everything was going perfectly. Why should he change anything?" Azula shrugged and sighed. She looked up at Katara. "You know how father's can be." She gave a mock gasp and touched her fingers to her lips. "Oh wait!" She dragged her fingers away from her face and smirked. "You don't."
Katara, again, seemed unfazed. "You're pathetic."
It was Azula's turn to blink. "What?"
Katara crossed her arms. "Always wanting daddy's approval. Always thinking big," she frowned. "But never on your own."
Azula narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Something changed. Zuko felt it. So did Katara, for she immediately dropped into her defensive crouch.
Someone else was here.
"Azula?"
The ice queen stiffened and abruptly turned towards the open door.
"Father?"
A white clad figure moved into the room. Zuko almost snorted. A white suit. How ironic.
As the man fully immersed himself into the room he pulled on his suit and looked about the room. By the look on his lightly toned, yet handsome face, he was disgusted with what he saw.
"I thought you would at least do a little bit more with the place," his deep voice rumbled, and lazily bounced around the room. "But what else should I have expected,"
He too flashed his more practiced malicious grin. "From a fuddy duddy older brother."
Zuko glanced at his uncle and was surprised by what he saw. His uncle's face was so contorted it looked as if his insides were being twisted and ripped from his body.
They probably were.
Iroh looked as if he was about to say something to his estranged younger brother, but Azula muttered something under her breathe that sounded a lot like, "That was my line," but Zuko could have been wrong.
Either way, Ozai turned towards his second born, his faced alight with fury. "What was that!?"
Azula closed her eyes and clasped her hands behind her back. "I said nothing, father."
Ozai rounded on her. "Yes you did, you little liar!" He growled low in his throat and waved his hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter! I heard what you said, Azula."
Azula tried to remain ignorant and arched an eyebrow. "What? I said noth…,"
"DON'T LIE TO ME, AZULA!!" Ozai roared and everyone present flinched. He marched over to her until her towered over her frame. "You thought I was going to kill you."
Ozai surprised everyone in the room by gently placing his hand atop her head. "I would never kill you, my child."
Zuko felt a pang of jealousy, but quickly pushed it aside. This man was never truly his father to begin with. Nothing that…disturbed could have ever raised him to become the strong man he was today. He glanced once more at his uncle. It was this man he owed his life and adoration to. He looked forward. And it was to that girl that he owed his undying devotion to, the girl he lov…
"You have uses, as well."
Zuko was snapped back into the real world by the sound of Ozai's voice. He at first thought he was talking to him, then realized he was still talking to his demented excuse for a daughter.
She bowed her head and grinned. "Thank you father."
Ozai nodded and continued stroking her hair. "Yes. Not as useful as my little assassin, mind you…," Azula visibly stiffened under her father's touch. Ozai continued to pet his daughter's hair, but his eyes were looking over her head at something undeterminable.
"As a matter of fact, you would already be dead if I didn't know that my little assassin would be so uncooperative."
Azula jerked, but still did not move from his touch.
Pity swelled within Zuko. Now he knew what the girl before him had meant. She was so intelligent, so independent, yet she refused to step outside her father's shadow. She would rather play in a world that bowed to her father's whims, therefore hers. Without him, she had no power. Though she would never admit it…
She was as spineless as she portrayed her father to be.
Ozai continued his ministrations for a moment as the group, and the black cladded men looked on in silence. Ozai suddenly turned to face the group with an eyebrow raised. His eyes landed on Katara.
"You are still uncooperative, right?"
Katara narrowed her eyes and widened her stance.
Ozai sighed. "Apparently yes. Very well."
He pulled away from Azula and brushed at her attire before straightening his own. He righted his tie and tugged on his collar and coughed in his throat. Then, his eyes grew cold.
"Kill them."
Okay, I am so sorry that I didn't put the battle scene in this chapter, 'cause I know I said I would, but…my head just wasn't ready for a battle scene, and I couldn't fit it into this chapter without making it ridiculously long. Besides, I like this better. It pretty much clears up everything in the story. If it hasn't, go ahead and write your questions in the review box. I will absolutely do my best to answer them. Again, sorry for being away for so long. There was no excuse for that. Have a great day, and review pleaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzeee!! ;)
