(Theme Fifty-One) Wedding Part II
(As Prompted By) BabydollEyelashes
"I don't find this as exciting as I think you think I do," is the first thing Katara says when Zuko proposes the surprise wedding to her. Zuko can only shrug to that.
"I find it exciting," Aang remarks earnestly and Zuko smiles at him.
"Me too. She's going to love it," Zuko says and Katara makes a hmming noise in the back of her throat. "What?"
"I think she's going to hate it," Katara says dryly and Zuko sighs.
"Please play along. It'll be great." Zuko attempts to reassure her, but she does not seem very reassured. Still, Katara crosses her arms, nods and agrees to help Zuko execute this ridiculous plan of giving Azula a surprise wedding.
Meanwhile, Azula is yanking Ty Lee down a hallway as the acrobat demands confused questions. This is an incredible mess and Azula is about to have an nervous breakdown as she tries to escape the building and get out amongst the trees and flowers.
They finally make it outside into the hot, humid night. The damp grass brushes against Ty Lee's bare ankles as she stops asking Azula where they are going and crosses her arms. Party guests walk around, in and out of the smooth stone building Zuko and Aang had constructed. And couples are outside clinging to each other.
"My brother is going to surprise marry us," Azula says softly and Ty Lee squints at her, looking confused. "He thinks we're engaged and haven't told him."
"A surprise wedding seems kind of inappropriate and ridiculous," Ty Lee says quietly. "Hm. So, I believe you."
"Why would I lie to you about something this serious?" Azula demands in a frantic whisper. Ty Lee starts giggling and Azula's eyebrow twitches. "What is it? Why are you laughing?"
"Because it's kind of ridiculous. Let's just let him do it," Ty Lee says as soon as she silences her shaking shoulders. "Why does it matter so much?" Pause. "Wait... are you embarrassed to be married to me? Are you?"
"No," Azula snaps but Ty Lee has a look in her eyes that Azula is well aware is bad news. "I'm not embarrassed to be married to you."
"You are, aren't you?" Ty Lee says sharply, crossing her arms. "Alright, I'm done. This party sucks anyway!"
"I married you because I love you," Azula says quietly, her cheeks flushing light red. Ty Lee narrows her smoldering eyes. "And if you want, I will tell everyone. But not on my brother's terms."
"So, look at this from my perspective. Either you are embarrassed to be married to me, or you value your rivalry with Zuko more than our relationship. Those are the two options," Ty Lee says, her words laced with venom. Azula swallows, her mouth suddenly very dry.
"Yes... they are, aren't they?"
"You're not doing a very good job of defending yourself," Ty Lee says. "You promised you would tell people by now."
"But isn't it fun to have a secret?" Azula offers, but it is far too late. "The benefit of nobody knowing is─"
"The benefit of nobody knowing is that when I divorce you, you saved yourself a lot of humiliation!" Ty Lee screams and necks snap towards them.
Azula wants to fade into the fabric of time. People are already staring as Ty Lee storms away with the subtlety of the Ember Island Players. And then they stare even harder.
This unfortunate situation has just become significantly more unfortunate. Azula contemplates following her, but instead turns on her heel and returns to the stuffy party. She passes a variety of familiar faces that she does not bother to address as she seizes Mai's elbow from behind and pulls her into an alcove in the wall.
Mai tears her arm away and opens her mouth to ask, but Azula's voice comes out, saying sharply, "I think she just broke up with me. I'm incredibly confused and Zuko cannot follow through with this wedding."
"She just broke up with you? I thought you were married. Azula, what is happening?" Mai demands, silently cursing Zuko and his ridiculous shenanigans.
"I think she's divorcing me. Or something. Because I don't want anyone to know that we're married."
"Ugh. You are awful but that is a new level of awful. She's not that embarrassing," Mai says, looking utterly disgusted.
"I'm not embarrassed to be married to her. We just kept it a secret because we kind of have gotten engaged at least ten times and then broken it off, so logically we just kept it quiet. Then it was kind of exciting to elope and have everybody not know. But I promised we would tell people eventually and have a coronation and all sorts of things that haven't happened yet," Azula says quickly, the words tumbling from her lips beyond her control.
"You got engaged at least ten times?" is what Mai extracts from it.
"Yes. Starting from age fourteen. It never works out very well."
"We have to tell Zuko before he starts this wedding," Mai says, ignoring this sudden revelation.
"No. I think I can win her back before it starts," Azula suggests and Mai rolls her eyes. "I mean, this surprise wedding is a perfect way to cover up the fact that we've been secretly married. It means no one has to confess their lies. We have go find her. Hurry!"
"I didn't say I was going to help you. Why do you just assume I'm going to help you?" Mai sighs, but Azula is already walking towards the exit.
Mai follows her, rolling her amber eyes.
Meanwhile, Zuko, Katara and Aang are planning a wedding.
"Okay, I already talked to the Fire Sages. We're good," Zuko says proudly as Aang is scrutinizing a dress. The Avatar seems into the wedding and excited; Zuko knew he would jump on board about helping Azula.
Katara, however, has a protest. "You realize you just want to catch her publicly in a lie," she says, picking up the red and charcoal colored veil.
Aang freezes and looks at Zuko. The Fire Lord turns red and Katara cocks an eyebrow.
"That's not true. I want to give her this wedding because she and Ty Lee deserve it."
"Deserve it for what?" Katara taps her fingers on her elbow.
"Ty Lee left the Kyoshi Warriors for her. And Azula has not tried to kill anyone in like two years," Zuko says and Aang resumes his work. Katara purses her lips and Zuko realizes he is not going to win with her. She sees right through him.
"You know what, I don't like her. I kind of look forward to her expression when you announce this," Katara says with a shrug.
"Then go get the marriage certificates," Zuko orders and Katara narrows her cobalt eyes at him. "Please."
"Better." Katara leaves into the dripping wet and sweltering hot night.
As Aang and Zuko prepare the wedding and Katara goes to find marriage certificates, Azula and Mai are searching for Ty Lee. Mai has torn off her stockings and heels and is walking barefoot as Azula clings to her sweaty hand as if she will run away.
"She's definitely not at her house," Mai says and Azula nods once. "Probably not at the palace if she's so sure she's divorcing you. Wait... isn't it illegal for you to get divorced?"
"My parents aren't married anymore." Azula shrugs.
"I think that's... complicated. Azula, she loves you enough to suffer through your unbearable presence for decades. Maybe this is a good thing, seeing as you won't be publicly humiliated by Zuko if Ty Lee isn't even there," Mai says in utter exasperation.
"What should I say when I find her?"
"Do I strike you as particularly romantic?" Mai is, of course, ignored. "What did you say to get her to marry you in the first place?"
"Pretty words. And very expensive jewelry," Azula says earnestly and Mai just shrugs. "Look, Zuko is playing right into my hands with this surprise wedding. He has no idea but he absolutely is. It's perfect."
"Don't tell her that," Mai says as they stop to catch their breath on a twisted steel bridge. "Zuko is doing this to one up you, and you're doing it to one up Zuko. Your competition is kind of depressing. This is almost as painful as the time you had me verify paint chips with the carpenters to prove that it was fire blossom red and not ruby red."
"I won!" Azula says and Mai rolls her eyes. All the princess seems to do these days is miss the point. No... that has been her style for years. "I do love her."
"I know," Mai says before realizing she should say something more encouraging. Azula very rarely expresses attachment or emotion, and this is a significant step forward for her. "Why didn't you two tell me that you were married? It's not like I have any other friends to tell. Ty Lee is terrible at secrets too..."
"She's terrible at keeping your secrets," Azula replies with a small smirk. "Where is she? How could she have gotten so far?"
"Let's try Sozin Memorial Plaza. It's one of her crying spots."
"And one of her hitting on boys spots! Run," Azula says, her eyes flickering wide.
Mai stifles her laughter.
Meanwhile, something occurs to Aang. "Fire Nation weddings have rings."
"You're right. Where are we supposed to get rings this late? And this last minute?" Zuko's heart leaps into his throat. It is not a true marriage without rings. That is as important as the tied ropes and baked bread.
"Is there a sketchy part of town?" Aang asks, which is not a response Zuko was expecting.
"We're going to get assassinated," Zuko sighs. "Okay, come on. Let's hurry."
And so Aang and Zuko start to escape the party. Until they are blockaded at the door by Sokka and Suki.
"Where have you been?" Suki demands sharply and Zuko cringes. Aang rubs his neck awkwardly. "We've been trying to address the entire crowd. And Toph is not exactly a people person. Neither is Sokka."
"It's an emergency." Aang pats Sokka on the shoulder and nods for Zuko to escape.
"Sokka," Zuko says, taking two steps backwards as Aang freezes, "I need you to keep the guests here as long as possible. We have a huge plan for tonight."
"Seriously?" Sokka squints at Zuko, but eventually nods. He trusts the Avatar and the Fire Lord, as much as that makes his life more difficult.
Aang and Zuko head out to the East Side of Caldera. It would be best to not be wearing such expensive clothes, and while Zuko removes his crown and Aang attempts to cover his tattoos with a hat, they are likely not fooling anyone.
"So, Zuko," Aang says as they turn down a dark, damp street, "do you have a best man speech planned?"
"I do not think Azula would appreciate me as best man."
"Well, who else is going to do it? At least as her brother you kind of have to," Aang says, cocking an eyebrow.
"Ugh. Uh..." Zuko tries to think while analyzing the streets for danger. "When Azula is not trying to kill me..."
"Go for an anecdote," Aang says with a sharp nod.
"The first time Azula tried to kill me..."
"Nope," Aang interrupts and Zuko groans. "I suggest avoiding the killing part."
"If you're so gifted at speeches, why don't you be the best man?" Zuko snaps and Aang chuckles. "You know what, I'll stay simple. Some of the times I've had with Azula have been good. There, speech. I'll save the spotlight for Mai."
"That's not bad," Aang lies. He does not think Zuko is going to do any better. "Is Katara right? Is this just another part of the endless saga of Fire Sibling Rivalry?"
"Well, okay, I admit that I want to call her out on her lying. But, you know, I do want this to be the best wedding it can be for her. She's my sister and I would do anything for her," Zuko says, feeling uncomfortable. Aang always puts him in the odd position of discussing his feelings, while most in the Fire Nation would slap Zuko for saying he cared about anyone or anything. "I wouldn't have spent so much time on her, helping her, for all these years, for no reason."
Aang smiles and Zuko is unsure why. "There's your speech."
"She would kill me for that one," Zuko says, shaking his head slowly.
"Well, then consider it another point for Zuko in the Fire Sibling Rivalry Saga," Aang says as they approach a store with lights glowing.
"This is the scariest store I've seen since the Earth Kingdom," Zuko remarks, his neck-bones tensed.
"It's okay. I'm the Avatar. I always go in the creepy tunnel first," Aang replies calmly and Zuko is unsure what to make of it.
They walk inside.
Across town, Azula and Mai make it to Sozin Memorial Plaza.
"She's here," Azula breathes, relief washing over her.
"Azula, don't look," Mai says, but it is too late.
In the gazebo, among the statues and soaking flowers, is Ty Lee. Her lips are attached to someone's face.
"I'm going to handle this like a responsible adult," Azula says slowly and Mai does not believe her for a second. "By breaking his arm."
"Azula, you're going to get arrested."
"My brother is Fire Lord. I'd like to see them try."
"Azula, this is not the way to her heart!" Mai hobbles after her, but a piece of sharp gravel punctures her bare foot. She curses and grabs it as she hears a sickening snap and shriek. This is the most disastrous night in the history of Zuko's bad ideas.
"Come on," Azula says forcefully as Mai cringes at the whimpering, muscled man with tostled hair and perfect amber eyes now starting to cry and clutching his arm with his back pressed against the gazebo. "As your wife, I officially put a stop to this. How far were you going to go with this creep?"
Azula grabs Ty Lee before she can respond and Mai grimaces. It could have gone worse, she supposes. It could always have gone worse.
Aang and Zuko make it out of the sketchy pawn shop with two rings in hand.
"These are probably stolen off of a corpse," Zuko says, analyzing them. "They look kind of corpse robber-ish."
"That sounds just like Azula's style," Aang replies warmly and Zuko supposes he has a point.
The two groups intersect as soon as they arrive back at Four Nations Park. Ty Lee is crying as Azula pulls on her and Mai limps, one of her feet bleeding. Aang and Zuko run into Katara, who is holding the papers and guarding over the other wedding supplies.
Sokka is standing in front of the crowd, awkwardly trying to prolong the affair with no knowledge of why Zuko asked him to do it.
"Please stop crying," Azula sighs as soon as they are inside.
"Yeah, check on your bleeding friend," Mai mumbles to herself.
"I can't," Ty Lee sobs, sniffing in mucus. Azula rubs her temples.
"I'm sorry for losing control like that. It was a passionate, heat of the moment move," Azula admits and Ty Lee shakes her head. "We've gotten engaged eleven times. We might as well get married twice."
Only sobbing from Ty Lee.
"I'm sorry. There, an apology. I don't give those out freely," Azula says and Ty Lee wipes her eyes.
"You shouldn't be sorry. I'm crying because that's the most romantic thing I've ever seen. Of course I'll remarry you Azula. And then I'll divorce you and marry you eight more times," Ty Lee says and Mai breathes in through her teeth.
"That might be overkill," Mai murmurs. Again, no one listens.
"You're so weird," Azula whispers before kissing Ty Lee on the lips.
"Yay, love, romance. Get in there so that poor Water Tribe guy can stop humiliating himself," Mai orders, and, finally, she is heard.
Azula and Ty Lee walk into the banquet hall, frazzled, and sit back in their chairs.
Zuko sees them, having never noticed they were gone, and walks to remove Sokka from the position where he is sweating profusely and attempting bad jokes.
"There's something very special happening tonight," Zuko says regally and suddenly the bored crowd is paying attention. "A surprise wedding for my sister and her fiancée. Now, Azula hasn't told me that she's engaged. And, so, here's my engagement gift. A wedding. Are you surprised?"
"Incredibly," Azula lies, as Ty Lee forces a terrible surprised face.
Azula and Ty Lee spin around in the night, as people are quite enjoying the party. It has become much more lively than a dull charity event. And the wedding was well executed. Zuko pulled out all the stops, and Azula is glad that he played right into her hands like a moron. Everybody wins tonight.
"Why aren't you crying? You're married. Zuko actually pulled off a really impressive wedding for three hours of preparation," Mai says sharply before poking the side of Azula's eye.
"Ouch, you bitch," Azula shrieks, rubbing her eye.
"She's not crying yet. Poke her again," Ty Lee orders and Mai shakes her head.
"That's my contribution," Mai says. "If you guys get married again, you're going to tell at least me, right?"
"Yes, yes, of course," Azula says, waving a hand dismissively.
"Zuko's coming, act surprised," Ty Lee squeals, spinning Azula to the side to face her brother.
"You got me, Zuko. A princess surrenders with dignity," Azula purrs, wrapping her arm around Ty Lee's waist. "I suppose I couldn't hide my engagement from such an intelligent man as yourself."
"I got you," Zuko says and Azula smirks. "I win. And I completely still think that paint was fire blossom red."
"It wasn't, ZuZu." She shakes her head. "I notice you didn't even bother to give me a speech. And, I mean, for spur of the moment vows, mine were quite beautiful."
"They were," Ty Lee says sweetly. She was quite impressed with them, although she had heard them before at their real wedding.
"Azula, some of the times I've had with you have been good." He forcibly clinks glasses with her, sloshing some of the wine onto her hand.
"That's very sweet of you. The feeling is mutual," Azula says honestly.
"You liked the wedding. And everyone said you would hate it," Zuko remarks and Azula shakes her head. "Admit it, you liked it. You liked it."
"It was adequate," Azula replies haughtily and Zuko supposes he will take the small victory. "Did you steal these rings off of a corpse?"
"Long story." Zuko shakes his head and leaves Azula and Ty Lee to their small, spinning dance in the shadows.
"I'm really excited for our next eight weddings," Ty Lee says, and at least for tonight, Azula does not bother to correct her.
