Debut
3. Hey Little Sister
Azula cleans herself up for the wedding of her brother and a traitor. She does not want to be a part of it, but she swallows her pride and makes herself beautiful. Princess Azula knows very well that she will outshine the bride.
Ty Lee comes out of her room. She looks incredible, but Azula pretends to be unimpressed. Azula has been with people since they parted, but none of them held a candle to her first. She could pretend that they were just as good if she wanted. She could pretend that the father of her child was just as good if she wanted.
"It's so beautiful out. It's a perfect day for a wedding." Ty Lee smiles. She has eyed Azula oddly since she found out the news, but Princess Azula expected no less.
"It is, isn't it?" Azula lies, taking Ty Lee's hand and caressing her wrist. She watches the acrobat blush and feels a surge of power. This will be easy. "So, you got your wish. I will make my grand debut as your date."
"Yeah." Ty Lee gulps; Azula wonders what scares her so much. Perhaps the prying eyes, or perhaps the baby inside of the princess, or perhaps she is just overwhelmed by how sexy Azula is. It could go either way and Azula does not care to find out.
Azula and Ty Lee arrive at the wedding. It has yet to start, because Ty Lee is in charge of half of it. Princess Azula has heard that, unsurprisingly, Mai had little interest in choreographing the most important day of her life, and so Ty Lee did it for her.
Ty Lee nervously glances at Azula before they walk inside.
No one notices them at first. Everyone is absorbed with setting up the extremely lavish affair. Azula hangs back until she sees Zuko. A smirk growing on her lips, Azula walks across the room, dragging Ty Lee behind her, and touches his back.
He spins around and screams and pushes off of the wall. Azula counters his kneejerk attack and he steps down, standing in front of her.
"… Ty Lee?" he asks, turning to her. His eyes still flit to Azula repeatedly.
"She's my date," Ty Lee says. Azula laughs; this could not be more deliciously absurd. "Surprise!"
Zuko now shamelessly stares at Azula.
"What?" Azula purrs. "Have you never seen a ghost before, ZuZu?"
Zuko, dumbstruck, keeps staring.
Ty Lee interjects, "She's, uh, back and stuff. She showed up on my doorstep last night. I wished for a date to your wedding and my wish came true."
Fire Lord Zuko clears his throat.
"Yeah, that's why people say to be careful what you wish for," he remarks.
Azula smirks. "How insulting. My feelings will never recover."
"You can't be in public. I can't afford that. It will be an international incident that could cost the Fire Nation significantly and…" Zuko trails off. Azula looks unfazed and she can feel his fear. She could destroy him just by existing in the open. "You should go to the palace."
"No. I promised Ty Lee I would accompany her to this wedding, and I keep promises," Azula lies, winking. He knows very well that she does not; everyone does.
"Please," Zuko says. "I can make you very comfortable."
"Until you lock me up. No, I think I am happy like this," Azula says.
"I'll have to lock you up if you don't agree. This can't happen," Zuko replies, and Azula does realize she might not get away with this as easily as she thought she would.
"You don't want me here?" Azula asks. Zuko's eyes widen and he glares for a flicker of a second. "You will be forced to arrest me. I think this event will be fun."
He is forced to arrest her.
She goes quietly, because that was all she wanted. The wedding sounded like pure torture, but she had to play Ty Lee properly and had to catch Zuko by surprise.
Her cell feels comfortable as she executes her schemes without a hitch.
.
4. Who's the One You Want?
Azula sits, dressed beautifully, in a cell for hours.
Her first visitor is not her brother. She expected Zuko would sacrifice his precious wedding night to gawk and make such a grand decision, but he does not. Ty Lee shows up. She holds her shoes in one hand and her cheeks are flushed from dancing.
"I'm sorry you got arrested," Ty Lee says, and Azula contains her happiness.
She has a shield. No one can touch her so long as Ty Lee is her thrall, and Azula could pull that off with relative ease.
"I thought I would, but I thought our trade was fair. Will you spend the night with me?" If Ty Lee agrees, Azula will know she has her unwavering loyalty. She also will prove how little effort it takes to exploit a guilty and love-struck woman.
"Yes," Ty Lee says, sinking to the floor. She leans against the bars, unable to take her eyes off of Azula.
No one is able to do that.
Azula could not ask for a better night.
Ty Lee sleeping on a stone floor. Azula waiting awake for tomorrow.
She hopes it will not surprise her.
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5. It's a Nice Day to Start Again
Azula says to her brother, "I have had a good deal of time to mature and learn to control myself. Of course, I don't think I will ever fully heal, but I've had a journey to rival yours. I never betrayed my Nation, even when it betrayed me. I deserve a second chance."
Zuko strokes his chin, lost in thought. Azula knows his reply, but she pretends to be hopeful and clueless.
He says, "Ty Lee did promise to watch you. She can stop you, if you try to hurt anyone."
"But will she?" Azula asks. She cannot help it. "Maybe I still own people you think gave me up. It takes more than a few years to erase me from this world."
Zuko nods. "That's probably true, but I trust Ty Lee."
"Do you trust me?" Azula playfully inquires.
"I think we both know the answer to that question. I have to hold onto you until I figure out what to do on an international level. You're complicated and risky to the world's balance. All the same, I do believe in second chances, and maybe you deserve one," Zuko says. "You were sick, and you were controlled, and young. I think you have potential."
"How sweet. I am flattered." Azula smirks. He drums his fingers on the arm of his seat. "Set me free so I can be with my old flame."
"I'm putting you on lockdown. You don't have to stay here; it's too public, but you have to stay in your old room. I've had it cleaned and prepared for you. If you leave it, betraying my limited trust, you will end up in the Boiling Rock," Zuko says.
"What a big boy you have become," she admits. "I am not mocking you when I say that I am impressed. You are almost as commanding as me."
"We're leaving," Zuko says, standing up. He gestures for the guards to shackle his sister and take her along with him.
"Be careful with me," Azula snaps at one guard. "I'm knocked up and you don't want to manhandle a royal child."
Zuko turns to her, his eyes wide.
He thought he had it figured out.
Azula loves it when people are so mistaken.