The home of the scientists is an old Fire Nation military base. They withdrew troops from this sector of the Earth Kingdom about two years ago, but it never fell into disrepair or thorough abandonment.
A merc explains to the kids, "They're R&D for the Fire Nation military."
"But you all aren't soldiers," Azula says warily.
"No, we're not. Fire Lord Ozai doesn't find this place too important. It doesn't need much protection but the recent attacks from the Earth Kingdom in this area say otherwise. The sponsor for this project pays out of his own pocket to keep the research safe," says the grizzled man. Azula sees no lie on his face, and therefore nods.
It is best if there are fewer chances to be recognized. As soon as they enter the grounds of the base, Azula turns to the same man.
"We want to join you. We will work for free, if you let us live here and eat your food," Azula announces. Zuko clenches his jaw, Toph clenches her fists and Ty Lee cocks her head to the side. "Can you offer that?"
He studies the kids. "Sure, if you don't need any training."
"Trust us. We do not," purrs Azula, exuding the kind of confidence that sways anyone.
"Good. I'm not one to turn down free help."
As soon as they enter the living quarters of the base, Zuko turns to his sister, fuming. They walk into the small room with two bunk beds and nothing else, and, while Ty Lee and Toph slowly settle, he broadens his stance and crosses his arms. Azula does not stand down.
He growls, "We're not seriously joining these people, are we?"
"It's better than camping in the woods. We remain connected to the world and get to fight. Besides, I consider this temporary. It's an alliance that will serve us well for a period of time," Azula explains. Her words are true enough to make Zuko begrudgingly nod. Toph does not argue either and Ty Lee would never say a word against the princess.
"Can I talk to you in the other room?" Zuko asks of his sister.
"Yes," Azula replies, nodding. They step aside, leaving Toph and Ty Lee behind.
They enter a room with more decoration. It looks like a living area with a few living things growing in plain vases, paintings on the walls and a worn Pai Sho board on one of the four tables. Zuko lights three of the candles and turns to Azula.
"I don't know if I can follow you," says Zuko. "I don't know if I should. You helped me get away from Zhao, but maybe we should part ways tomorrow. I'm…" He groans, wishing he did not have to have this conversation. "I'm finding it hard to believe that you're not just playing us. It's exactly what you would do."
"Yes, it is," Azula says. "But not this time. I have the Avatar, I have a destiny and you have a destiny as well. You and your little girlfriend have been thrust together with me and Ty Lee before and we ignored that sign. I am beginning to embrace my role in whatever is to come."
"Your role in whatever is to come?" Zuko laughs. She remains frozen in place. "You act so calm and casual; you act like you have a right to change sides. You've done a lot of terrible things and you're never going to pay for them."
"I can pay for them by doing a good thing," Azula says.
"It doesn't count as a good thing if you're only doing it to get laid."
"That is not my reasoning. I have not been given a choice." Azula steps forward. "You have not either. We were born to restore balance, even if we did not know it." She lifts her hand towards his face. Zuko's muscles tense, holding him in place. "Trust me."
When her fingertips land on his scar, the candles flare and he seizes a vase of lavender. He throws it at the wall with all of his might. It shatters forcefully. The moment the glass breaks, Azula scratches the side of her face with her nails and covers the bleeding cut with her palm. When she gasps, Zuko turns to her, panting.
She slowly lowers her hand. He looks at her and his expression contorts with guilt.
"I didn't…" Zuko furrows his brow. "I'm sorry."
"I know you are," replies Azula. "All I want is for this to work out. I want us to win. This is the best course of action at present."
"I'm…" Zuko sighs. "I'm going to trust you."
"Trust me?" Azula cannot believe those words. She does not think she has ever heard them from someone who knows her. "How do you know you can trust me?"
"I don't. That's what trust is."
"What trust is?"
"Not knowing but doing it anyway. It's a leap of faith. I know you've never taken one but they're worth it about half the time."
"I did take one," Azula snaps. "I saved the life of a girl who tried to steal from me."
"That was one that paid off."
"Depending on the day I would agree."
"Depending on the day?"
Azula sighs and averts her eyes when she says, "Sometimes I regret it."
Zuko has no response.
He does not believe she wants one.
They just silently return to their bedroom and go to sleep on opposite bunks.
The next morning at daybreak, Azula and Zuko go out to the yard. Ty Lee and Toph sleep in, not being firebenders and therefore not appreciating waking up at dawn.
Once the girls do wake, Ty Lee captures Toph to impose her wicked will.
"Toph, you need to discover make-up," Ty Lee says, patting the shoulder of her new friend.
"I'm blind. I don't need to look nice."
"So? Other people can see you and—as your super good friend I'm telling you the truth—you look awful. Kinda shabby and really dirty. I'm gonna make you so pretty."
"We're on a military base. Where will we get make-up?"
"There are women here. Duh."
"And… you think they have make-up?"
"Yup! There's one girl who's really hot and she always looks made-up. We should find her! Then we can have ladies' day together!"
"Where's Zuko?"
"Oh! And we can talk about your undying love for Zuko."
Toph sighs. "If you weren't the Avatar I would kick your ass right now."
Out in the yard, Azula holds up a stone ball with one hand. Zuko glances around and sees the two hoops of a very dangerous sport that no one let them play as children. The adults always said it could too easily leave the Fire Nation short of two heirs.
"Looking for some fun, ZuZu?" Azula asks.
Zuko groans. "I'm not playing Tama with you."
"You are just afraid to lose," purrs Azula, holding up the stone ball.
"Azula, you might be good at firebending, but you're frail. I might break your bones by accident in a ball game."
"Oh, come on," Azula says.
Zuko cannot say no to that challenge.
Ty Lee cannot find make-up, but she does find war paint. With a chopstick, she makes a palette of gorgeous hues and forces Toph to sit still in the communal bathroom, in front of the wide but cracked mirror. She survives the snide comments as she eagerly does her work.
At last, Ty Lee smiles and steps back. She looks at the mirror and grins wider at herself.
"What do you think?" asks Ty Lee excitedly, clasping her hands together.
"I think it looks great," sarcastically replies Toph. "I'm leaving now and I better not look ridiculous. I have better things to do than ladies' day."
Ty Lee pouts.
"You're not a very good friend," she grumbles to herself.
Toph just shrugs and leaves the bathroom.
Azula lies down, sweating profusely. The Earth Kingdom cold freezes the sweat onto her body, making her start to shiver. Zuko sits near her, still clutching the smooth stone ball.
"Do you surrender yet?" he asks.
Azula keeps gasping. She does not want to say it, but he might be better than her at this.
"I…" Azula squeezes her eyes shut. "No! I do not surrender!"
She claws across the rock and grass to reach for the ball. As she tries to reach it, she finds that Zuko is too weary to get up and away from her. She sets one palm on the ball, but cannot get up and continue playing. Since he cannot either, they just remain that way.
Slumped on a Tama court, bruised, exhausted, but together.
Maybe the sibling bonding was mildly effective.
"Toph," says Ty Lee as they walk back to their bunks, "I think you look super pretty. You are super pretty under all the dirt."
"You kinda say that about everybody," Toph says, flopping down on the lower left bunk.
"But I mean it about you," Ty Lee says, crawling up the ladder to the upper right one. "I just want to be friends and friends give each other makeovers sometimes. We can do earthbending tomorrow if you want. I need to learn it anyway and I'll so let you get a couple shots if that'll make it up to you."
Toph laughs. "You're kinda cute. But only kinda. Mostly you're sickeningly sweet."
Ty Lee grins at the ceiling.
They are definitely friends now.