Zuko stared in shock at his palace. There, at the top of the steps, stood Uncle and Azula along with a handful of embarrassed servants and nobles. Uncle looked bashful while Azula managed to glare and look extremely happy at the same time. It was very unnerving.
The palanquins halted letting Zuko and his entourage step through the transparent curtains. Shock and horror was all the Zuko could feel at that very moment in time. "What in the name of dear sweet Agni happened to my palace?!"
"Your loving, beautiful, and generous sister wanted to decorate for her beloved brother's return." Uncle prodded Azula while giving Zuko a warning squint.
"Yes, Zuko, you wouldn't want to offend your beloved yet deranged little sister who went through quite a bit of trouble to decorate the palace for you." Azula pointed out sweetly, "Because. She. Missed. You." She said through gritted teeth.
Suddenly, Zuko couldn't gather the will to be too mad about the fact that she basically decked his entire palace from top to bottom and most of the gardens in sanitary tissue and streamer (it looked like she attempted fireworks too because a few of the shrubs were still smoking). Gently shaking his head he managed to laugh, "I missed you too Azula. Can I get a hug?" He held an arm out to her like he always did, but this time she actually took him up on the offer. Ever so slowly she moved closer to his side like he was a dangerous animal or like he was going to catch on fire if she got too close. She still gave him a quick hug though, which was nice.
Once that was over, Azula turned her attention to Katara and her family that had arrived along with Zuko, "I perceive the presence of a particularly unmien gaggle of persons to whom do not belong to the marvelous nation such as the one they are in. Zuko, what is the purpose of these uncouth persons who clutter our halls? Also, why is she here? The atrocious imbecile who was able to obtain one prosperous strike in the final conflict which resulted in inevitable demise."
Uncle looked horrified! Zuko on the other hand was prepared, "Azula, please. We talked about this before I left. These people are friends and if you would give her a chance, Katara is actually a very nice person."
"Naturally, you would assume what you said is true, when in fact it is not. You aided her in her mission after all."
The crowd of people gasped at Azula's bravely spoken words. If they had come from anyone else the person would probably have been… put to death.
"My sister is not an imbecile. And my family is not uncouth." Sokka said, not unkindly, but also with warning.
"Well, from the manner in which you all are attired and presenting your selves it will be difficult to form a convincing counter argument." Azula scoffed.
"I am disheartened to realize that a lulu of a princess, such as yourself, does not deem other forms of royally to be of importance or meet up to the altitudinous expectations of such a flawless being." Sokka shot back in politeness that rivaled with the elite of Zuko's top nobles (the ones who were under Ozai). There were a few sharp intakes of breath and quiet hisses in the background.
Azula gave him a quick once over before nodding sharply and turning to leave with a flustered Uncle making apologies for her.
"Welcome to my home, guys." Zuko sighed pinching the bridge of his nose.
Carefully Zuko whispered to Uncle, "She can cook?"
"No, but don't tell her that. She's made so much progress since the planning process had begun. She really does care for you."
"It's going to be difficult to get Azula's stamp-of-approval for Katara." Zuko whispered sadly.
Azula's stamp-of-approval is something that Azula's therapist came up with. She gets to put her stamp of approval on things that she has control of, like dinner. It had its limitations 1. Zuko get's to veto it if unreasonable 2. It has to be reasonable 3. It cannot be a national matter 4. Zuko and Uncle can add other rules if necessary.
Azula didn't like it much, except for when she got to put legit stamps on things, but it did show her that her opinion matters, and that Zuko and Uncle really do take her into consideration.
They started the stamps roughly three months ago and she now believes that she is more Zuko' brother and Uncle's niece than she has ever been. She once told her therapist, "Since Zuzu and Uncle Fatso have started listening, they aren't so bad."
Lulu—an outstanding example of a particular type of person or thing.
Posted 2/7/14