The late night is getting to her. She rests her head on the chair back, closing her eyes. They have spent hours questioning prisoners.
Trying to satisfy her brother's request to spare the traitors has proven time-consuming. For some reason they are not as apt to give up their secrets without some serious persuasion techniques.
In the end she is no closer to an answer.
At the moment they are hiding from their other halves in one of the secret rooms in the palace. It's a simple study on the lower level. Across from her, Zuko sits with a distant look on his face.
"You are wasting time." She accuses him.
He scowls at her. "This is my decision to make, not yours."
She stares him down, unaffected by his attitude.
This is the Zuko she missed from their younger years.
Sometimes she wonders how much different it all would have been if they had been on the same side.
"Let me talk with him. You don't even have to go." Her voice is sugar sweet, cloying and soothing.
It is her final resort.
He gives a small shake of his head but doesn't look away from her. "Aang won't like that."
A surge of anger shoots through her."He also won't like standing over our dead bodies." She spits at him.
Zuko looks away from the fury in her eyes. "I don't know what to do anymore."
The quiet admission gives her the opening she's been looking for.
"I know precisely what to do and the sooner you stop holding me back the more likely we all come out of this alive."
They are interrupted by a knock at the door.
The servant bows low. "Fire Lady Katara has gone into labor."
Zuko closes his eyes, muttering a curse, and Azula smiles in triumph.
Fate is forcing the Fire Lord's hand.
"How long does this take?" Toph taps an impatient foot on the stones.
"From what I understand this could take hours." Azula scowls at the noises coming from beyond the Fire Lord's bedroom door. It does nothing to hearten her about her own future.
The sounds are less than encouraging. A splash of water and a resulting yelp signify just how irate Katara is becoming.
"Is she bending at him?" Aang moves closer to the door, curious.
"I would be." Azula counters, drawing a look of concern from him.
"Great, more lightening zipping around. Hope you're back in fighting shape by that time, Twinkletoes." Toph laughs. She really takes too much joy out of his misery.
"I'm sure it's not that bad." It's unclear just who he is trying to assure.
"What did they teach at those Temples?" Were all Air Benders so irritatingly optimistic?
The door opens and a very harried Fire Lord steps out. They all look at him expectantly.
"Katara, wanted me to take a break." He says hesitantly.
"You mean she kicked you out." Toph calls him out.
He drops his head in resignation.
Azula watches him keenly as he moves to sit across from her.
"Women say all sorts of things they don't mean when they're in labor." She assures him.
He meets her eyes but she can tell he is thinking about more than his wife's threats.
"Maybe you two could go in and give her some encouragement?" He looks at the other two benders. "She could use her friends."
Toph laughs. "This is something I can't pass on! Come on, Twinkletoes!" She grabs the Avatar's hand and drags him through the doors.
Azula smiles after them. "Crafty."
Zuko shrugs. "I knew Toph couldn't resist."
He stands and waves her to follow. As they make their way through his rooms, she eyes the changes he has made. Water Tribe decorations are evident in his residence. He leads her to his office. A mountain of paper clutters the desk.
"Seems like you're falling behind, Zuzu." She observes as she thumbs through some of the documents.
He ignores her as he takes his seat and begins writing.
"No one but you and I will know about this." He warns.
She rolls her eyes, like he has to instruct her on secrets.
He hands her the paper. "Go when Aang's busy or sleeping. This is something I do not want to have to explain to either one of them. Find out what you need and get out of there."
He has grown to trust her so much. Things are falling into place more and more for her.
"Think about whom you're talking too, Zuko. Secrets are my thing."
She hides the paper in the folds of her formal robes and moves towards the door. "I'll go now. Keep him busy."
Her hand is on the door when his voice stops her."Azula, be careful."
Looking over her shoulder, she gives him her most beguiling smile. "Don't worry. Little sister is on top of this."
Zuko should know better. Azula is good at keeping one hand from knowing what the other hand is doing.
She has always had excellent night vision and with the moon hiding now, it comes in handy. The path is committed to memory and she travels it in silence. Ears ready for any sign of attack.
The guards eye her warily but with the paper Zuko gave her they quickly step aside. She dismisses them from outside the cell doors. There will be no witnesses.
The room is dark but the torches spring to life with a wave of her hand.
A deep voice greets her as she steps farther into the room. "If it isn't the Avatar's whore."
Sitting on the cold stone floor in front of the metal cage, she looks at the golden eyes that are so much like her own.
"Hello, Father." Her infamous smirk graces her lips.
The palace is equipped with a myriad of back doors and secret passages. Azula slips back inside without anyone the wiser, at least she hopes.
The Fire Lord is where she left him, sitting in his office. He looks at her with expectant eyes.
"Well?"
She shakes her head. "He refused to speak."
Azula specializes in half-truths.
Zuko slumps back in his chair. "I didn't think he would." She has the impression he feels backed into a corner.
The princess sits in one of the chairs in front of his desk. The soft cushions are a welcome change from the cold stones of the prison.
"I think with a few more visits I can get him to open up." Her eager eyes watch her brother for any sign of disagreement.
"Is that a good idea?" While he is questioning the wisdom in her words, there is a tone in his voice that shows he is not set against the idea.
He just needs a bit more of a push.
"You know how father is. He is, of course, quite put off by the idea that both of his children have been miserable failures to him." She keeps her face carefully blank, ignoring the dark look he sends her way. "Trust me on this, Zuko. There is always the alternative."
He could let her repeat her rather effective actions in the dungeons again but it leaves a nasty taste in the Fire Lord's mouth.
"Fine, talk to him again if you must. Just be careful. Don't let him get in your head."
She smiles. Sometimes Zuko forgets who she is.
When they return to the anteroom of the Fire Lord's bedroom, they are met with weary expressions.
"How is it?" Zuko asks with a small amount of trepidation.
Aang shakes his head. "I would rather face Combustion man than go in there again."
Toph is sprawled on the floor. "Sugar Queen isn't so sweet when she's trying to splat out a human."
Zuko's shoulders slump. "I better go back in there." He doesn't move towards the door until Azula pushes him.
"Stop being foolish."
He glares at her but Azula is far better at this than he is and the Fire Lord draws a deep breath before crossing the threshold again.
"It shouldn't be much longer." Toph volunteers.
She sits and leans her head against her husband's shoulder.
"Where did you and Zuko disappear too?" He asks as he pulls her closer.
"To his office. Sometimes Zuzu is a bit hopeless." Her voice is tired.
It is mentally exhausting trying to play both sides against the other. She's thankful she is able to keep the Metal Bender in the dark.
They lapse into silence and she finds herself drifting off.
"He's here!" Toph sits up.
Sure enough they hear the wail of a baby.
Minutes pass and Zuko opens the door bearing the largest smile she has ever seen on his face. He waves them in.
Katara is situated in the middle of the bed looking tired but smiling. Resting on her chest is a small bundle. Zuko carefully picks him up and brings him to them. Golden eyes peer out at them staring intently at the new faces.
"His name is Akihiko." He announces with no small amount of joy.
Aang takes the offered bundle and the same boyish grin she has come to love shines on his face. He runs a finger over the baby's forehead, reverently.
"He will be a powerful Fire Bender." The Avatar pronounces.
Zuko's face lights up. "Really?"
Aang nods.
Toph leans over gently caressing the baby's soft hair. "Who does he look like: Sparky or Sugar Queen?"
Aang looks closer."Zuko, definitely."
"Poor kid." Toph and Aang laugh.
Zuko wants to scowl but can't find it in his happiness to do so.
Aang hands the baby back before moving to Katara's side with Toph in tow.
Zuko gently places the baby in Azula's arms.
She looks at the small child and feels the unfamiliar prick of tears in her eyes. With one finger she strokes the baby's soft cheek, watching in fascination as he yawns. It's a feeling unlike any she has had before and it leaves her feeling off balance.
A sense of fierce certainty runs through her as she places a kiss on the baby's forehead.
Crimson lips whisper a dark promise meant only for Akihiko's ears.
Azula will do what she must for the glory of the Fire Nation.