As Azula explained her plan to Zuko's friends, she could feel the weight of his fixated gaze on her. She tried to focus solely on making herself understood and discussing any possible flaws on her strategy, but her brother's silence stood out among the hundreds of questions the princess was trying to answer.
She knew this was probably the worst time for her to force herself back into the center of this conflict, since her nightmare earlier that day had made Zuko paranoid, but if she didn't speak up he and his friends could form a different plan to deal with the traitors, and prevent her from convincing him to let her be by his side, both in battle and in the councils that preceded it.
"Are you okay, Zuko?" the Avatar asked, and this time, her brother didn't even bother to answer.
"Of course he's not" Toph laughed "We're about to steal his sister."
He didn't lash out or look embarrassed. He just stood there, not moving a single muscle, his eyes never leaving Azula's. She knew he wanted her to change her mind, but she wasn't quite sure if he was begging her to forget this idea or demanding that she did so.
"Look, Zuko" the waterbender placed a hand on his shoulder, and the gesture didn't please Azula at all "I don't like this anymore than you do, but it is our best option right now. If Azula manages to convince Ozai's supporters that she's on their side, she can get some vital information to help us defeat them."
"Plus, if you have a better idea, you should had said so before Azula talked our ears off all morning" Toph complained.
After what felt like an eternity, Zuko finally spoke up "Please leave us alone. I have something to discuss with my sister" his polite yet cold tone made his friends look at him weird, but Azula felt proud. Her brother still wore his heart on his sleeve, but he was learning to mask his emotions a lot better. Once the door close behind him, he took a step towards her "You're not doing this. I won't let you."
"Be reasonable, Zuzu. This is our best chance, and i won't be in any danger. You'll choose the guards that will pose as traitors with me, and your friends will be hidden close by in case we are discovered and need help. I'll take the information i need, then come back to palace."
"And then you'll fight every single traitor you see in front of you."
"I won't push it too far" she didn't bother denying her intention, there was no point in doing so "But I'll defend what's ours just as fiercely as you will."
"And then what, Azula?" she could hear his anger and fear "You'll fall apart like you did before? I'll lose my sister again?"
"It won't happen."
"You don't know that."
"It won't happen" she insisted "Why are you going to fight them yourself, Zuko?"
"It doesn't matter, and I already told you I'll stay here that's what it takes to keep you safe."
"Answer the question."
"It has nothing to do with this!" his refusal made Azula feel even more confident in her point.
"It has everything to do with this" her hands cupped his face "You'll fight alongside your men because it is both your right and your duty to do so. Because you want to save your people from a threat you would have once been a part of. Because you love your family and you want them to have everything that is rightfully theirs. And because you're too proud and stubborn to let anyone stop you from doing anything you know you have to do."
He took her hands in his, then took a step back, as if physically distancing himself from her would change the fact that at least some part of him knew she was right "You just won't back down, will you?"
Azula shook her head 'no' and got close to her brother again "I'll be by your side where I belong. No matter the risk. We'll make sure the whole world knows nothing can come between us" she embraced him "I'll keep you safe, and I know you'll do the same for me. We'll be fine as long as we're together, Zuzu."
Zuko pulled away and made her look at him "How can you be so sure?" he asked, leaning down to press his forehead against her while his thumb caressed her cheek.
"Because you proved it to me. Every single day for the past two years."
He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. Azula allowed herself to enjoy that moment of peace, closing her eyes. But it didn't last long.
You're hurting him. And if you're wrong, he'll never forgive himself for putting you in harm's way.
It was the truth, but it didn't change anything. This wasn't going to be easy, but it was another step towards the life she would build with him.
"We have to do this, Zuzu. For us."