"We need to talk" the old man said, entering the room without warning or permission.
"Oh, do we?" Azula mocked, rolling her eyes "Uncle, I've had a long day and my head is killing me. I don't have the time for, nor am I interested in a hearing you scream at me for corrupting your son and using him as a pawn in my wicked little schemes."
"I'm not here to fight."
"But you are here to try and fail to convince me not to marry Zuko" she smirked "I suggest you stop wasting time and apologize to your nephew. He was hoping you'd give a long speech about our love story."
Iroh looked disgusted "I see where Zuko got the idea to be so unrelenting about this insanity."
"You should give him more credit, Uncle. I wouldn't have fallen for him if he was the puppet you're making him out to be."
"So you really are in love with him?" he seemed pleasantly surprised - or at least as pleased as he could be.
"So you did think I was just using him."
"I knew it was a possibility" he admitted "But I did not wish it to be true, if that's what you're implying. It might have never seen eye to eye, Azula..."
"Well, that's an understatement" she interrupted.
"But you're still my niece, and I never wanted for us to be enemies."
"Spare me of your excuses and explanations. We're different people, and we oppose each other in almost everything. We never got along, and probably never will. You expect the worst from me, and I expect you to nearly bore to death. It's simple, and blood doesn't change that."
"But we have one thing in common" he said in that unnecessarily serious tone that never suited him well "We both care about Zuko and want the best for him."
"Yes. But I'm the one who knows that the best for him is me."
"Azula, this isn't normal."
"Who cares?" she was sick of hearing that argument "It's not normal, it's not right, it's dangerous, it's inappropriate... even if all that's true, it still doesn't mean anything to me. He makes me happy, and I'll make him happy. I need him just as much as he needs me, and neither of us will let anyone get in our way."
"This will destroy both of you."
"Being forced to fight each other destroyed us. I finally have a family, uncle. I'm not giving up on it."
"A family..." he said, sadly "This isn't what a family should be like, Azula. And your brother will still be there for you whenever you need him if you change your mind about this."
"I know. But I won't, and neither will he" she said, turning her back on him, looking in the mirror and removing her make up. She had no idea why he thought he'd ever be able to convince her to do what he said "Now stop wasting time and start helping your nephew. Did you find the people I told you to look for in Ba Sing Se?"
"Yes" she could hear the discomfort in his voice "You were right. Some of them are still loyal to you."
She smirked "Only the smart ones. Good job, uncle. Keep this up and I just might be kind enough to allow Zuko invite you to our wedding."