6 - Zutara from Other's POV
"Why in Agni's name did they have to have the wedding down here?" Azula groused, huddled around a small flame cupped in her palm.
Her mother smiled. "Zuko will be living here from now on," she said soothingly. "It's only appropriate for them to be married in the traditions of his new family's culture."
Azula eyed her. "You can't tell me you're not upset, not being able to plan and fuss over all the arrangements. He's your little boy, after all." This was no longer literally true, of course. Zuko, now twenty years old, had outstripped their mother (and has always been taller than Azula, to her nonsensical chagrin), and was very nearly taller than their father too, which Azula knew Ozai was not pleased about. And the thick bundle of furs and cloaks he wore to ward off this infernal cold just made him seem bigger. But Azula was not one to mince over semantics.
Ursa looked rather wistful at Azula's accusation, and she felt momentarily bad. "I'm not saying this is the wedding I dreamed of for him," she admitted quietly. "I always thought he would stay in the Fire Nation, gain a position in the Fire Lord or the Crown Prince's service and distinguish himself that way. But his position here is important. And he's found a wonderful partner to share his life with." She turned to Azula, somehow looking both somber and joyful. It made Azula a little uncomfortable. "I couldn't be happier for him. He's found what makes him happy, and that's all any mother really wants."
Azula grimaced, but withheld her tart response. Zuko was the charmed child, and she knew their mother preferred him. It was difficult to hear her wax poetic about Zuko's happiness and painfully perfect fiance all while knowing she privately worried Azula would never find her own.
Her mother seemed to understand her twisted lips though, because she bravely took one hand from the warmth of her muffler and put it on Azula's. "You're still so young, darling. You have all the time in the world to find what makes you happy. It's not always a person. Your brother was just lucky."
Azula sighed. Zuko was lucky. But that didn't make her unlucky. She just had to look a little harder for her happiness.
A/N
No-war AU Azula is a really interesting idea to me-where does her driving force really come from? Without Firebending being tainted by the war, does she still excel? (I think yes, but Zuko would be able to match her better.) I'm interested to write more of her, don't be surprised to see her again here, haha.
E.I. signing out