A/N: I didn't ever intend for 'arcs' in this fic, even if I have some two-part drabbles and such. But the drabbles leading up to Drabble 75 are going to be chronological, and then it's going to go back to just being random times and places and such.


(Theme Seventy) Pink is Not Her Color

(As Prompted By) GuitarBOSS

Azula does not notice the copious stares she gets this morning.

Admittedly, she is very used to being gawked, leered or gazed at by strangers, friends, and generally everyone with a pulse and eyes. They tend to be wondering if the Crazy Princess is going to have some kind of outburst or flay someone alive with blue fire. But stares from Fire Lord Zuko and Fire Lady Mai are a little more unusual.

All the same, Azula's mind just writes them off as other gazes meant to be ignored. Because her mind is fixated on much more important things; things that make her mouth dry and her palms sweaty. She is so clueless, and there does not seem to be anyone to help her.

She feels weak, and has a massive headache as she sits at the table and runs her fingers through her hair as her tea becomes cold. Her heart rate is too fast, or maybe too slow, and she does not know what she is supposed to do at this point.

Azula jumps and flinches when Zuko bounds into the room, his feet as heavy on the stone floor as usual. He looks concerned and she usually wants to burn off the rest of his face when he gives her those worried parental eyes.

"Um, Azula," Zuko says quietly and she stares up at him. She must look pretty bad because he recoils, his cheeks reddened, nearly the color of his scar. "You must have had a rough night, huh?"

Oh, cringe... gross, did Zuko seriously just talk about his sister's sex life? He feels queasy, but he knows he sometimes has to do horrible, gross things as a responsible conservator, and Fire Lord. Like question her about last night's activities, which are pretty obvious, granted the fact that Ty Lee arrived yesterday to stay for two weeks.

"How did you know?" Azula screams, thinking she is speaking quite quietly, but nearly destroying Zuko's eardrums. It gives him momentary pause as he thinks they might be talking about two very different things.

"How do I know wha─" and she is gone before Zuko can say a word.

Hours after breakfast, the jostled and mad-eyed Azula does not find out why people are staring until Mai points it out to her. And she has been to a variety of secret places today, in an utter panic, possibly taking breaks to take deep breaths and try not to scream herself to death.

"You know you're wearing Ty Lee's dress, right?" Mai says so casually, and Azula wonders why no one has bothered to tell her that. "Pink is not your color... at all."

"Well maybe pink is the color of the blood of my enemies on white clothes maybe if I washed them and it didn't come out all the way!" She gasps and sits down, missing the sofa and not noticing that either. Mai squints slightly, the drastic expression of concern. "And pink is also the color of Fire Nation baby girls and I won't be able to wear Ty Lee's clothes by accident soon because ─"

"Don't. Don't continue this. The more you say, the more damage you are doing to yourself. And while it would be hilarious to watch you completely have a breakdown and burn down a wing of the palace while dressed like you're going to your first day of Lady Etiquette Lessons for Four Year Olds, I might burn alive."

"You're such a good friend!" Azula snaps, her teeth clicking together like an animal. Mai straightens her back so as not to recoil.

"You and Ty Lee are not exclusive during times where you are unable to see each other for stretches of months. Also, she might be lying about being pregnant to get you to do something. She seems like that kind of person. And obviously you left in a hurry this morning without talking to her, which is... the kind of person you are." Pause. "It isn't like it's your kid and you're not obliged to take care of it."

"She probably doesn't even know the father's name. And I just got this like sudden sensation of obligation to do something. Like firebending training or saying snarky things to my brother." Pause. "She took care of me for a long time, and put her whole life aside for that..."

"Oh, Azula, you do have a heart."

"Shut up!" Azula snarls, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

"All sarcasm aside, I think this is a decision you should make as a couple or something. I would say get advice from an adult who knows what to do, but I actually don't think you know a single person who has any idea how to properly raise a child."

"I've been running around all day trying to figure this out with various people. Who didn't tell me what I was wearing! All of them will eventually pay..." Pause. "Mai, will you talk to Ty ─"

"No. Did she say it in a breaking up with you way, or in a apologizing way, or in a give her advice on what to do way, or like a commit to me right now and let's be parents way?" Mai asks and Azula just lies down and closes her eyes. "Have you decided to give up?" Silence. "Well, that's fine. One of the few things I actually like is giving up. But it's not one of the few things you like."

Azula groans. "I will talk to her. As soon as I change into maybe, I'm thinking political negotiation clothes, but beautiful and not at all controlling make-up. Does that sound trustworthy and responsible?"

"Literally anything other than that will make you seem... well, alright no, literally nothing on Earth will ever make you look trustworthy, but not like a five year old? Anything other than that."

And Azula sighs and walks away, not knowing how she can cope with this.

Some mornings she can barely brush her fucking teeth; how does anyone expect her to do this?

To Be Continued...