Azula closed the door behind her with a click.
Aang's room had surprisingly little decorations. Perhaps it was a result of his nomadic lifestyle. Azula passed and appraising eye over the wooden airglider leaning against the wall.
"This doesn't have the safety features or comforts of the newer models," pointed out Azula.
Aang winced and looked up from his suitcase. "Yeah, I don't like those accessories. They feel unnecessary."
Azula thought of the metal airgliders with their straps and cushions that resembled one or two seater planes. "This one suits you," she declared.
He smiled. "Thanks."
She watched him fold his clothes and pondered how to best broach the subject. She must have been thinking too loudly for Aang caught her staring.
At his questioning look and debatable puppy dog eyes Azula decided on the direct approach.
"During the assassination attempt there was a moment when I was flying, with firebending. I didn't know if my brother was dead or alive."
He's in front of her, but Azula placed a finger on his lips before he could offer sympathy. This wasn't about her.
She crested her finger from his lips to the edge of his neck and stared at the arrow tattoo on his forehead. Up close, she can see the minute differences between his tattoo and the ones worn by the other airbenders. Azula wondered if Aang had ever seen a tattoo gun.
"I don't know how you do it," she said, "there was a moment when I thought 'is this what it means to let go?' because it didn't matter how long I stayed in the air, if my brother was dead I couldn't bring him back, and if he was alive, I couldn't save him. And that was just one person."
She froze. There were tears welling up in his eyes. Azula thought about getting Katara because Katara could soothe whereas Azula could only burn. A yearning, all consuming flame that took Aang's love and gave him nothing in return but pain.
She pressed a kiss to his forehead as an unspoken apology. He didn't respond. A lump formed in her throat. "I shouldn't have brought it up," she admitted and took a step back.
Strong arms stopped her mid-step. Her mouth is filled with chaste and fervent kisses.
"Aang?" she mumbled.
"I'd miss you if I went back," he said.
"Back where."
"A different time. A different place," he replied and then he did a peculiar thing where he held her face in his hands and did nothing but stare.
"Hey why is this door closed—OH!"
The door slammed shut.
"Your roommate?" asked Azula.
He nodded without letting go of her face. "His name is Sokka."
She clasped her hand over his, trapping him. "You didn't answer my question," she said with a tilt to her voice and the slightest of warnings.
He hid a half smile in her shoulder. Then her neck.
"Aang."
He sighed, brushing away her bangs. "There's no point in worrying about it. I can't return, so why not enjoy the view?"
"And that doesn't hurt?"
"Sometimes," he softly admitted, "but it would also hurt to go back."
There was a knock on the door.
"Would it also hurt if I killed your roommate?" asked Azula.
He whispered, "please don't," then went to answer the door.
Sokka stood with one hand raised to knock on the door and the other hand covering his eyes. "If you two are decent, the interview is starting soon and we're gathering in front of the television."
"Yeah we're decent," said Aang while Azula rolled her eyes.
"Oh, in that case." Sokka held his hand out to her. "Hi, I'm Sokka. You must be Aang's girlfriend."
She shook his hand. "Azula. And we were only kissing."
"We have a strict no cooties rule in this apartment."
Azula scoffed. "Aang said you and Suki break that rule all the time."
"Aang!" shouted Sokka with theatre levels of betrayal.
"Sorry Sokka but it's true."
"E tu, Aang?"
"Huh?"
"Seriously, what are they teaching homeschooled kids?" muttered Sokka. "Anyways, police interview in fifteen so put the cooties back in the cootie catcher and go pick a seat on the couch."
"Will do," said Aang, then he turned to Azula with a mischievous grin. "You're joining us on the hike, right?"
Azula had hoped he'd forgotten. "No," she said, "I have cello lessons."
His grin turned into a pout. "But you don't like the cello! And it's break!"
She shook her head. "I can't. Let's just watch the interview."
"Okay…" he said, and she pressed a lingering kiss on his hand.
Azula held Aang's hand and subtly soaked in the feeling of sitting on a crowded couch. There was the feel of Aang's knees pressed against her own, the sounds of Sokka's loud chewing, Suki's whispers, Katara's rummaging, and Toph's occasional grunts.
"Azula, won't your dad notice you're gone?" called Katara.
"We told him she was shadowing me," answered Toph.
"Are you okay sitting over there?" asked Katara, " I can pull up a chair or bring more cushions."
"I can't see. No point in me facing the screen. I can hear everything just fine from the side of the tv."
"Okay. Would anyone like more popcorn? Sokka?"
"Sure—ow!" Suki elbowed him and turned to Katara. "We'd love some more, but afterwards maybe you should sit down and relax."
"I am relaxed," defended Katara.
It was like experiencing the zoo from the inside. Not that Azula had ever been to the zoo, but she had read descriptions about it and heard about the circus from Ty Lee, which Azula imagined was fairly similar, and so she could piece together a picture. Sitting on a crowded couch felt like that picture. She should, in all honesty, hate the feeling but there was something soothing about having people bundled around her.
Azula tried to not let the feeling affect her too much.
"I've had servants less attentive than you," she said to Katara with the hint of a smile. "Are you considering the profession?"
"I'm not a servant!" said Katara, "I'm being a good host! We've never had this many people in the apartment before."
"It's only two more," pointed out Aang.
"Alright, fine." Katara slumped down into her seat.
"…so about that popcorn?" asked Sokka.
Katara got up, and a few minutes later a bag of popcorn went sailing through the air. It exploded against Sokka's face, sending bits of popcorn everywhere. Azula brushed the strays out of her hair, marveling, briefly, at the new sensation before deciding with disgust that she didn't much care for the feeling of butter in her hair.
"— suffered a humiliating downfall. I'm here today with Long Feng's replacement: Police Captain Kuvira. Captain Kuvira, tell us, do you believe the Earth Districts will benefit from girl power?"
The camera panned over to the stiff Police Captain who leaned into the microphone,
"I believe the Earth Districts will benefit from having a Police Captain that unites them towards a better future."
"And will that future benefit young girls?"
"I suppose—"
"Great! Back to you—
*click*
"Okay, questionable journalism aside, did anyone else get a dictator vibe from the new Captain?" asked Suki.
Aang wrinkled his nose. "Vibe?"
"A feeling," explained Katara.
Azula looked at her nails. "That's because she is a power-hungry dictator. We needed someone to balance out Noatak and my father. Captain Kuvira will stop them from grabbing power and she has great loyalty towards the Earth Districts. She was the best option."
"A dictator was the best option?" said Sokka, "Seriously?" `
Toph rapped her knuckles against the floor. "Hey, to be a Police Captain you gotta have worked in the system for a while. Trust me, there weren't any good options."
Sokka crossed his arms and scowled.
"If you're that worried about her you can do some more patrols," added Toph.
Sokka froze. "Patrols? Why would I be doing patrols? I'm not a cop. You're a cop. You're the one who should be doing patrols."
"Look, I'm not an idiot," said Toph, digging a finger into her ear, "and your costumes don't disguise you from my seismic sense. If Aang's the Avatar then you must be Boomerang Boy, Katara's Painted Lady, and Suki would be the Kyoshi Warrior. You can call me the Blind Bandit."
Azula felt stares on her. "Aang is terrible with secrets," she said and the stares fell on Aang.
Aang sheepishly rubbed his head. "Sorry! But now that the secrets out, Toph can join us on the hike!"
"Sure, why not?" said Toph, flicking a speck of earwax.
Aang looked to Azula with a pleading expression on his face.
"I said no," said Azula, standing up. "It's getting late. Let's go, Captain Beifong."
"Twinkletoes was just being nice. You didn't have to be mean to him."
Azula stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets. "He'll keep asking otherwise. This way he understands."
He did not understand.
"Hey, so, this is a kidnapping."