Azula was already sick of all these people. The last thing she needed when she wasn't feeling well, was being surrounded by a bunch of irritating idiots who were constantly praising Ozai and trying to please her in the hopes that that would gain them hers and his favor. There were already over twenty new traitors she had met and interrogated on everything they knew, claiming it was to support 'their' plan of making Ozai ruler again, and each one was, somehow, always worse than the previous.

The most annoying by far had been Yisha, a young girl from a somewhat wealthy family that seemed to be determined to be Azula's new best friend. She wasn't even good at pretending to actually like her, and that complete incompetence infuriated Azula more than anything.

Yet, of course, the second the princess actually managed to gather enough energy to have an actual conversation with Aiyra, the last person she'd have to question, she found the girl in a bon-fire with Aosu - her boyfriend, she believed - Seejih, Taizen, Xang... and Yisha.

"Your highness!" the girl said in that loud, high pitched voice that was starting to give Azula a headache "It is an honor to have you join us"

"There are somethings I need to know, and I was hoping Aiyra might be able to help" she answered, and the young woman simply nodded.

"I'll tell you any information I have, your highness"

Azula smiled and started asking about the obvious things, like the girl's family and if they were helping them in any way, how she had joined the other traitors, and how was she useful to the group. She then moved on to interrogating her on what she knew about people's reactions to their plan, if she believed they had enough supporters to have a real chance at winning, if there was anyone she believed could be convinced to join them and if said people had any kind of power in their nation.

She saved her real question for the end.

"Did you hear anything about Zuko?" Azula asked, having to suppress a smile as the traitors all visibly tensed up.

They call him weak and pretend they're ready to face him in battle, yet just the mere mention of his name scares them half to death.

"No one heard much about him. Except..." Seejih seemed uncomfortable to have to talk about it "There are gross, disturbing lies being spread about your relationship with him, your highness. They say that you... well, they want to convince people that you're-"

"That I'm his lover" she finished it for him, rolling her eyes "As if Zuko would ever be that lucky."

Taizen seemed genuinely offended, disgusted and even shocked by what he heard, even though Azula was pretty sure this wasn't the first time he or any of them was hearing about it. Yisha laughed it off, saying it was either a pathetic attempt to make her look bad or to make Zuko look good. But Aiyra and Aosu remained completely silent, which Azula didn't like at all.

"Do you two believe there's any truth behind those rumors?" the princess asked, and the other three turned to them, immediately looking at their friends like they had been their sworn enemies for years.

"Of course not" Aosu answered "Even though the amount of time I've heard you spent with him is very odd, I'm sure you have an explanation for it, assuming that is even true in the first place."

Like I'd ever have to explain myself to such a useless insect like you.

"Your highness" Aiyra feigned innocence "It's just that such foolishness doesn't even deserve our attention, let alone yours."

"You two heard someone insult and lie about your Fire Lord, and didn't say a word in her defense" Xang's tone was stern "What will the two of you do when someone does the same to the Phoenix King?"

The girl had the decency to look ashamed. Aosu on the other hand, was furious.

"You dare question my loyalty to king Ozai? To call me a coward? I was sent to the boiling rock for supporting him. You ended up there after you refused to fight for him"

For the hundredth time Azula wanted to slap her brother for not listening to her. She had told him that bringing Xang was a mistake. The man was loyal and by far the most competent of all the people he had chosen to follow her, but his past disloyalty to their father was not secret, and while people changing sides during wars wasn't uncommon, it made him an obvious suspect for any and all kinds of treason.

"That's enough" the princess stood up, her rage making the flames around them grow bigger and turn blue for a second, causing everyone to jump back, expecting an attack "Master Xang has proven his loyalty, and has been more useful to me than all of you combined. Prove me you're worth anything at all before you act like I should trust you more than him or anyone else. And learn. Your. Place. You're in no position to ever question me on my decisions, and you're not owed explanations about anything I do or don't do."

Aosu bowed "Forgive me, your highness. I meant you no disrespect"

Azula looked at him and his girlfriend "Next time you two insult me in any way, accidentally or not, you'll each have to fight me in an Agni Kai" she said, making all six of them stare at her in fear. She forced herself to smirk and say what they would expect her to "Maybe you'll both have scars to match my brother's" she locked eyes with Aosu "Tonight however, you'll get a more merciful punishment. You'll fight all four of your friends and Master Xang. At the same time, and without using your bending. Now."

The six of them immediately got up and assumed their positions. Azula had to admit that she liked still being able to scared people into doing everything she wanted them, and that Xang's cruel attacks were entertaining.

But of course, she would have preferred if it had been her brother fighting.