Azula didn't tell him everything about her conversation with Chise. There was really no point in doing so. She had already made sure the subjects were not going to be brought up again, the woman had sworn fealty, and letting Zuko know too much would only make him feel stressed and act stupid. That had probably been the reason why Mayu had not implied the possibility of incest like Chise had: they knew him well.
Though not as well as Azula did.
She knew her brother had a habit of ignoring anything that proved their family was far from an ideal one. He had not believed her when she told him their dad was going to follow the Fire Lord's order - their grandfather's order - and kill his firstborn. He refused to recognize the monster Ozai was, even after being disfigured and banished by him. Twice he had ignored all common sense just to believe her lies that he would be welcomed home and have his dream family. And though he now could see that their mother was not perfect and had hurt her, he still insisted she loved them both instead of just him.
That's why it wasn't a surprise for her to see him walking in circles through her room, rambling about how ridiculous this whole thing was, absolutely furious and downright offended that anyone would think their relationship was, somehow, a problem.
And he was right. It was not a problem. But that didn't mean it was conventional or 'moral', and Azula knew there had to be at least some part of him that was well aware of that fact. The only thing she didn't know was how long he could keep turning a blind eye to something so obvious.
"Calm down, Zuzu" she got up from the bed walked toward her brother, putting her hands on his shoulders so he would stay where he was "You said it yourself, they were exaggerating. They'll realize it eventually, and this whole thing won't matter. Stop worrying."
"It's not just Chise and Mayu, Azula. If even your doctors think you could be just manipulating me, then what do the people outside the palace think? You're the specialist in politics, you know how a reputation as weak and gullible could be used against me."
How come he only decides to be smart when it's inconvenient?
"I'm not saying we should ignore it and hope it'll go away, I'm just saying you're freaking out over something that isn't that big a deal. Like you always do. No one has any more evidence than they did five months ago, and they'll never have because I'm not trying to take the throne for myself or to use you as my puppet."
He still looked unsure.
"Let's just go to bed, okay? We'll know just how to handle this once we've gotten enough rest and you've cooled down."
That seemed to convince him. Zuko still wasn't a perfect leader, but he knew better than to act on impulse and let his emotions cloud his judgement like he used to not that long ago. Azula could see why so many people trusted him to rule their nation now.
If you trusted this fool you call brother, you wouldn't feel the need to hide anything from him. How can you possibly expect to make him a better Fire Lord? You know he's as much as a disgrace as your father was. And as you were and continue to be.
Azula ignored the voice in her head and went back to her bed. She could see her brother was still obsessing over the doctor's concerns. He probably wouldn't be able to sleep unless he got some indication that this wasn't going to be the disaster he was anticipating.
"If you're that worried about what people will say" she said, rolling her eyes "we can pretend we're trying to find some kind of middle ground with them. I'll stop going to the council meetings and you'll stop following me around. I'll talk to the doctors alone from now on, and we won't spend as much time together as we'd like to."
"Do you think that will work?"
No.
"Yes" she assured him "It will look like we're trying to cooperate, and it will show everyone you're the one in control, not me. But I still need you to stay with me at night, I won't feel safe otherwise" she added quickly.
Zuko pulled her in for a quick hug "Won't be a problem."
Azula smiled. Just like her brother avoided letting his temper become apparent to most people, yet dropped the act of calm and collected leader when he was with her, she felt safe enough to become vulnerable with him. She had never thought she'd like having someone see her softer side - a side Azula herself could sometimes forget existed.
If you care for your brother that much, you should be honest with him. Tell him the truth, dear.
Not you again, Azula complained silently to her 'mother', before holding Zuko tighter just as he was about to pull away. His whole body became tense for a moment, before relaxing again as he soothed her. He no longer needed her to speak up to know when she needed his support.
Azula would not tell Zuko that, by that point, some people were probably starting to suspect she had seduced him. She couldn't. It would only scare him away and ruin what he was finally allowing himself to feel. He liked that they were not 'normal' siblings as much as she did, but he needed more time to get used to the idea. And Azula needed to see just how far she could push him. To toy with him a little more. To enjoy what was finally within her reach.
So, she would have to reassure him it wasn't what it seemed. Everyone else could think whatever they wanted to think, as long as it didn't get in their way. She had waited too long for this and she would not let it be taken away now.
