#11: Proposal Part I
Prompted By: BabydollEyelashes & GuitarBOSS
It is early morning, Azula has just finished her dawn training, and she is now settling down to attempt to eat. But her stomach feels as if she is about to vomit, as it has for the four days leading up to the Fire Festival. Because Uncle visits from Ba Sing Se ─ he is already here making loud noises in the kitchen, as if he is a particularly uncouth servant ─ and a variety of others will be showing up.
Like Ty Lee.
And Azula is trying to figure out exactly the right thing to say to win her over. This will be the most challenging of all of her negotiations, and even her inexhaustible wit is proving useless.
Azula convinced the Earth Kingdom to give her Ba Sing Se. She has coerced nearly every brilliant military mind. But... asking someone to marry her is making her draw a blank. It makes her want to burn down buildings, but instead, she is trying to hide it.
"Azula, I don't like that look on your face," Mai says, cocking an eyebrow. "You look like you're conniving. I sleep with multiple knives."
"I'm not going to murder you and Zuko in your sleep. Unless you keep making comments like that, of course," Azula replies sharply, looking far from amused.
Mai sighs and does not respond. It is a bright morning, Azula is still dressed in training clothes, her clavicle exposed from the fabric that hangs loosely around her slender body. Her golden eyes are focused intently on the wall, her pupils lost in her thoughts. And Mai is peeling apart an orange with a knife with impressive dexterity.
"I finished the tea," says a loud, confident voice and Azula jumps and flinches. Mai hides her smirk behind a slice of her fruit. Former General Iroh walks into the dining room, which is hosting the two beautiful royals and an assortment of breakfast foods that they are barely touching.
"Was that statement really necessary enough to interrupt me?" Azula murmurs, half to herself.
"So you are conniving," Mai says, leaning in so close that Azula can smell the oranges on her breath. She raises her eyebrow again and Azula fights the urge to singe it off. "Come on, tell us."
Before Azula can respond with an icy, snide remark, Iroh interrupts with, "Her girlfriend is visiting today, Mai."
Mai cannot hide her smirk this time. Azula pushes her feebly, a weak shove and Mai starts laughing. Iroh smiles too warmly, much to Azula's disgust, and pours them both mint tea. The aroma is strong and Azula hates to admit that it is pleasant.
"Your girlfriend is visiting, Azula?" Mai laughs and Azula pointedly looks away. "That's... I don't even know what to say about that."
"Uncle, you have no right to─ "
"May I say that I think your relationship is a beautiful thing," Iroh says with a warm smile and Azula rolls her eyes and slumps in her chair with the grace and poise of a twelve year old being lectured by their parents. "She makes you glow."
"I am not glowing, uncle. I think you're just developing cataracts from old age."
Iroh ignores her, which simply seems to enrage her more. "You both are a beautiful, and clearly care for each other deeply."
"Maybe... glaucoma. Definitely worse than cataracts," Azula says sharply and sweetly, like a dagger dipped in honey. Mai sucks in a deep breath to keep from laughing at the absurdity of this breakfast.
Azula sighs and wonders if she should simply get up and leave. Uncle is sitting down calmly, pouring himself a cup of tea.
"So what are you conniving, Azula?" Mai asks, trying to change the subject.
"I told you not to invade my privacy, and I would appreciate it if you listened," Azula snaps, crossing her arms and glaring at her breakfast. She feels as if they are ripping her open and vivisecting her and it is utterly disgusting.
"Ah, I see," Uncle says as if he can read her mind. That is Azula's talent, not his. "You have an important question for her, don't you?"
"You're getting more and more senile every day Uncle." Azula shoves her plate across the table and stands up pointedly. Mai notices she is shaking, but is too busy watching the scene to say anything. "It's a wonder we don't just lock you up somewhere nice for you to die in peace."
Mai makes a choking sound and Azula flashes her a gilded glare.
"These accusations of me loving her are greatly exaggerated," Azula continues as she starts to walk away. "I mean, what reason would I have to love her, Uncle?"
"One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving," Uncle says and Azula rolls her eyes again. "Keep that in mind."
"More infinite wisdom from the Nation's greatest failure," Azula says airily before haughtily sighing and abandoning her breakfast.
She returns to her bedroom, sighing again and lying on the bed. Across from her is a betrothal bracelet, golden, forged in hot fire. Metal wrapped around your wrist to signify you're getting married. Like shackles.
How disturbingly fitting.
This love accusation is preposterous. Azula just has the feeling of her ribs being torn open and someone being inside of her, just messing up her insides. And apparently marriage must be the solution to this kind of injury, that hurts far worse than snapped bones and burnt ankles.
This better work out tonight.
