Rating: M (E on Uncensored Version on AO3)

Canon-Divergent

Content Warning: references to child engagement and marriage, vague underage sex, deceased major characters aka Aang and Katara are dead (unmentioned), imprisoned character aka Iroh (unmentioned)

Note: This was mostly just an excuse for me to depict Azula giving the dominant couple speech to Zuko instead of Chain—er sorry, "Chan"—and have Zuko accept it with little thought needed, knowing he'd have little to lose and so much to gain. It probably helped that many huge 'obstacles' to their relationship had been out of the way here, so the choice was easier to make, heh heh. This is not meant as an insult to Mai or Azula, etc. It's nothing personal.

Zuko walked out of his old childhood summer home and sat down directly in front of it, holding a piece of his history from inside. So many happy memories were made there, he wished he could go back to it somehow.

Azula walked out of the beach party that she, her brother and her two friends had been invited to (and where she'd just finished making a fool of the host within). She went to search for Zuko, at the place she knew would attract him most.

When she saw him, she came closer until she was standing a short distance off.

She then spoke to him:

"I thought I'd find you here."

"Those summers we spent here seem so long ago. So much has changed."

"Come to the beach house with me, I have...something I'd like to talk to you about. Come on, this place is depressing."

He put down the stone that he'd picked up, which had been imprinted by his hand long ago, then got up and began following her to the beach house they were currently staying at.

The invite, albeit somewhat secretive in the way it was spoken, sounded warm and inviting to his ears; a welcome change from her usual stern, intimidating tone.

As they walked over to it, she asked him about himself and Mai.

"So I heard you and Mai have called it quits?"

"Pfft, yup."

Was that what she wanted to speak to him about?

"I feared this would happen. It's such a shame, but if it doesn't work then it doesn't work."

He didn't respond, only went back to his thoughts.

"Oh by the way, I told them I'd meet them on the beach again later. This is more important right now."

"What exactly is this?"

"I'll explain when we get there."

They continued onward. The sound of waves crashing was easily heard, seemingly coming from all directions. Every few steps, a pretty shell or unlucky sea creature could be spotted on the shore.

Eventually they made it to the front of the beach house. Azula grabbed Zuko's hand and guided him in. He glanced at the convergence in surprise. They hadn't held hands in ages. What did this gesture mean?

They were now inside a small, dimly lit empty bedroom. She closed the door; still holding onto his hand.

"Azula, what's this about?"

She turned and grabbed his shoulders and suddenly pressed him up against one of the walls.

If the mood hadn't shifted the moment she touched him, it definitely had now.

"Agh!" He yelped at the abruptness of the move.

She was smiling coyly at him now.

"Zuko...let's have that talk...

So I can see you and Mai clearly aren't compatible. Disappointing but not too surprising. She is, after all, an acquired taste. Now, just because you two didn't work, doesn't mean there isn't someone else out there who may be a better match for you."

She was right perhaps, but what was she getting at?

"Uhh?"

"You're single now, and so am I. You're powerful, and so am I. You're a skilled fighter, so am I. You are and will always be royalty, as will I. You're from a lineage of amazing firebenders, as am I. You fight for what you believe in, so do I. You're determined and unyielding, same here. You like people that keep you on your toes and are interesting, me too. We grew up together, and know each other at least a bit better than others know us. And for what it's worth, I think you're easy on the eyes, and I get the feeling you think the same of me and can also see the shared traits between us."

Was she saying what it sounded like she was?

"You–you don't mean…?"

"Yes Zuko, I think we should go for it. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, though I had enough self-control to wait until you or Mai ended your courtship. It only makes sense, doesn't it? We're at good ages to realize this too. Just think of it. Together, you and I would be the strongest couple."

She held up her hands and suddenly set her palms ablaze with cyan flames.

"We'd dominate the Earth!"

She extinguished her fire, then crossed her arms.

"So, what do you think?"

The entire time, he'd had a dopey entranced look on his face as she spoke. After she finished, he promptly answered.

"Okay."

She suddenly looked confused, but quickly recovered. So that was it? Did he even need convincing in the first place?

"Ah, so you were thinking the same thing, weren't you!"

She accused him in a triumphant tone of voice.

"Uh...yeah…"

He basically had been. At least subconsciously...

"Wonderful. So, are you ready to—

She spoke her next three words wantingly.

—prove your commitment?"

He still had a dazed expression on, as though he was barely conscious.

"What do you have in mind?"

She slinked backward toward the bed behind them and plopped onto it. She then began pulling down her skirt, until she revealed thin, hot pink fabric underneath which matched her lipstick. She placed her hands on her crop top, implying she was planning to take it and any remaining clothing off.

He was completely awestruck. He didn't know what others may think of this. He wasn't even sure yet if their father would approve of this.

But—

"Azula, are you–are you...sure about this? That we won't regret this?"

—he trusted her judgement. Even if he wasn't always sure how much he could trust her.

"I don't concern myself with the past enough to regret anything. And I see nothing about this that could cause a negative reflection anyway. There's no one in this world better for us than each other, and everyone can already see it. Even Father. Even you. So what are we waiting for?"

He gave one last unsure glance in her direction before he stopped worrying—stopped thinking hard about choices—for the first time that day, and chose to follow his instincts.

He began undressing his own body, starting with his shirt. She sat on the bed waiting.

"I can't wait for our wedding." She whispered into his ear once they were close again.

They'd both sunk into the bed now, adrenaline and excitement rushing through both, ideas for the future in the far back of the mind of one. Azula wrapped her arms around Zuko's upper back while he placed his hands on her upper waist.

He then pressed his lips to her's, starting their kiss off firm but lively. Soon he began tonguing at her mouth, and she opened up for him. Their entries were warm and wet as their slick flesh helixed around each other, the pull intense.

He moved a hand onto her inner thigh, she broke the kiss to better see what he was doing. Did he know what to do?

He looked back to her and she caught the appearance of uncertainty in his eyes again. Now she felt unsure, this wasn't her area of expertise either. But she wasn't worried.

"Do—?"

No, she had a better idea.

"Do whatever feels natural, Zuko. And I'll do the same."

He listened and did just as she told him.

He began by slowly stroking both her inner thighs; up, down and all around, dangerously close to her womanhood. He kept that pace until he heard her let out a quiet moan, then he sped up.

"Mmm aahhh."

She placed her lips back to his and their tongue spar continued.

Eventually she grabbed a hold of the last article of clothing on his body and began pulling them down mid-kiss.

The kissing; the moaning and gasping, grunting groaning; nibbles on the ear, biting on lips and neck. It was all becoming overwhelming.

The strong suction of their union was very loud, and distinct in sound. It'd be a wonder if no one ended up hearing them tonight.

She sighed, feeling relieved.

"We really should do that more often. Although it sure makes quite the mess."

He only responded by pressing his lips to hers again. She melted into it with him.

They were walking back down to the beach. The sky and surroundings were now a navy blue-indigo in hue. Mai and Ty Lee came into view and the two girls focused their attention on the siblings once they could see them.

"So then I told her—hey look! Azula and Zuko are back!" Ty Lee yelled.

"It's about time. I was starting to think she'd ditched us," Mai gloomily responded.

She'd gotten sick of listening to Ty Lee yammer about her family (especially her sisters), and hoped this would be the end of it. There were, in fact, worse things than being bored.

Once they arrived the royal siblings both sat down—right next to each other. Not expected.

Azula had her usual calm and confident demeanor on her face, but now with a hint of...nervousness to it? Maybe shyness?

Zuko on the other hand seemed lost in thought, as he tended to lately, but also...laidback? Perhaps low in energy?

Azula: "Hello friends. Sorry we were gone so long."

Ty Lee: "It's no big deal Azula, you really weren't gone that long."

Mai: Speak for yourself. I think my nails grew while they were away.

Ty Lee: "So what were you both doing anyway? And what's with the scarves?"

Zuko's eyes darted to the side at Azula, who'd already thought up a response. Mai noticed this.

Azula: "We were just at the beach house for a bit. We both ate something, and I must add that our food is far better than that party's excuse for food. We also chatted and relaxed a little before realizing it was probably high time for us to return. Oh, and the scarves are because it's gotten a tad chilly out here."

A very convincing lie.

Ty Lee: "Well alright then. Sounds like a good time. But can't firebenders warm themselves up with their chi?"

Azula: "Mm, yes. But not very well when they're tired. Also we get a lot of our power from the sun, remember?"

Ty Lee: "Ohh. Right, right."

The entire time, Mai had barely been listening and focused more on the Prince and Princess's appearances. Mai wasn't one to pay all that much attention to other people's thoughts, feelings or body language, but something seemed off about them from the moment they both came back. She'd noticed earlier the odd emotional vibes they were giving off. Ty Lee pointing out their scarves and how neither of them should need one, made her more suspicious. She knew Azula could be an expert liar when she needed to be. And why only bring scarves with them?

Ty Lee: "I'm kinda cold myself, to be honest."

Azula looked at Zuko now and he actually took the hint.

Zuko: "Here, this might help."

He held his hand out and ignited a relatively large fire in its palm.

Ty Lee: "It does a little, thanks."

The light from the palm-ridden fire now shown on all of them, exposing even more oddities.

Mai could now see that Azula's lipstick was currently far less bold than it had been not one hour ago. Sure, this could be from eating and drinking and other mundane things that required a lot of lip movement. Added together with everything else however, it didn't look innocent. She also knew Azula was the sort to reapply makeup if she felt it was less than "perfect". She definitely should have before she left, in that case. But somehow, it slipped her mind. As though she'd rushed to get back ASAP while trying to avoid suspicion.

Mai looked again at Zuko and at that moment, something huge caught her eye.

Hot pink. At the corner of his mouth.

Easy to miss but also hard to unsee once spotted.

It appeared that Mai's gut instinct had been correct, as much as she hadn't wanted to believe it. She then deeply scowled at both of them and jumped up to leave.

Mai: "I'm out of here!"

She stormed off.

Ty Lee: "Huh? What's wrong Mai!" Ty Lee shouted after her.

All three remaining teens watched as she disappeared from sight.

Ty Lee: "Wow! Her aura just went from gray to black! Just like that!"

Azula: "My goodness. What's gotten under her skirt? And should we check for the same underneath our own?"

She pulled at the bottom of hers to emphasize her point.

Zuko only looked down at the sand and rubbed the back of his neck.

Ty Lee: "I guess breakups do that to some people, huh? No offense Zuko."

Zuko: "Uhh...none taken."

Azula: "Oh, right. Yes I suppose that must be it. Let's all just wish her well for the time being then, until she feels better. And how are you feeling, Zuko?"

She'd turned to him now.

Zuko: "Uhm...good, I think."

He stared at the flame still within his hand, trying not to think too hard.

She scooted closer to him and placed a hand on his farthermost shoulder blade.

"Yeah...I bet."

She knowingly smiled at him, and he awkwardly grinned back.

Ty Lee: So cute!

Ty Lee was staring at both of them and smiling with joy, only seeing two siblings finally getting along for the first time in ages; completely unaware of what was between the lines.

Note: This probably went a bit further than I originally intended it to go. Maybe. Anyway, feedback is always appreciated. Thanks for reading!