ZW 2012 Day 1: Serendipity

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Jack of No Trades, Master of All

Azula catches Katara and Zuko is what we shall say is a compromising position.

The only thing that has ever beaten her, Azula complains to herself, is arthritis. Well, arthritis and a psychotic break, but as Zuzu likes to say, that was a long time ago and there's no need to dwell on it. Zuzu has always been so good at forgetting her rare faults (just the way Azula likes it).

Azula likes to imagine her skin is still soft and her hair still black, but now that she's regularly sharp minded those things are less easily imagined. Just the same, making Zuzu squirm is just as satisfying as it was when they were young, and despite her frustratingly limited ability to walk properly-abused her joints in childhood, ruined her knees, insufficient rest periods, the doctors lecture. Fools. Perfection would never betray her. Ty Lee, on the other hand, was perfectly capable of ruining Azula's joints with that foolish chi-blocking episode.

Focus, Azula.

She's procured a machine that her great-nephew calls a camera from that Water Tribe imbecile (who insists he invented the technology, but frankly Azula thinks he was as much help designing this as he was designing the infamous submarines used in the colossal failure that was the Day of Black Sun invasion. Brutal failure, all of it. But Iroh has assured her the camera is precisely suited to her needs). At any rate, she's about to try her hand at photography, and master it, of course. She might be old, but she's still Princess Azula.

And thus, Azula cracks her knuckles (an unfortunate habit she picked up in the asylum), steadies her face against a burning wince, and smiles as she pushes herself out of her chair. She and the aforementioned camera step carefully through the long hallways (Azula is very careful not to shuffle) and into the old gardens where Mother used to feed turtleducks. Carefully, Azula lowers herself to the ground, in the midst of several bushes. This, she thinks, is the artist's shot. Leaves surround her, leaving just enough space to form a symmetrical-but-not-too-symmetrical gap, through which she can see the sun glimmering on the turtleduck pond and the grass lightly quivering in the warm breeze.

She lifts the camera and adjusts it, but doesn't take the shot.

Zuko's gravelly old man voice has interrupted her peace and quiet. He's prattling about politics again, the logistics of abdicating to Izumi. A few years ago Azula would have ordered him to abdicate to his little sister, but with the control the people have over the government these days it's hardly worth the trouble. So, she heaves a heavy sigh and slouches slightly in the bushes, focusing her camera on the precise spot she wants to capture.

Naturally, that's precisely where Zuko decides to stand. That horrible Water Tribe woman trails behind him, chuckling at something probably stupid he said. Azula narrows her eyes and rests her finger on the correct button for taking the photograph. As soon as they move out of the way, this shot is hers. And they'd better move soon. The sun won't stay here forever.

"And what would you do with yourself if you abdicated?" Katara asks.

Die of boredom.

"Travel the world, maybe I'll appoint myself ambassador."

Azula rolls her eyes. Zuzu an ambassador, indeed.

"Anything else?"

A smile creeps over Azula's face as Zuko puts his hands on Katara's waist and leans in, close to her face. "Would I be welcome in the South Pole?"

"Always," she says, and Azula feels sick (though with still enough presence of mind to know a money shot when she sees one). Katara leans closer and presses her lips to his, one hand tracing the side of his face. Zuko pulls her closer so that their bodies are pressed together and deepens the kiss. They break apart after a bit, and Katara runs her hands over Zuko's back as he kisses her neck.

It's all too perfect. Azula presses the button. A flash erupts from the cover of the bushes.

"What was that?" Katara shrieks, jumping away from Zuko (not as gracefully as she used to, Azula notes with some satisfaction).

Azula struggles to get off the ground but is not met with success. "Zuzu!"

Zuko hastens over to her and reaches down to help her up. "Azula, you know you're not supposed to sit on the ground!"

She waves him off. "The doctors underestimate me."

Zuko raises his eyebrow. "What's that?"

She lifts the camera in her hand. "What, this? Never you mind Zuzu."

"It's a camera," Katara provides, unhelpfully. "Sokka helped design it."

"What does it do?" Zuko, of course, has always been an idiot.

"It's for taking photographs, Dum-Dum."

Zuko pales. Katara doesn't look much better. "I didn't know you were interested in photography, Azula."

She doesn't have time for this. "I'm very interested. And yes, I now have a photograph of you and your girlfriend. And yes, I do intend to distribute this to every news organization in the Fire Nation."

"No!" Zuko grabs her wrist as she walks away. "Stay out of this, Azula."

"It's just so serendipitous that I was here to capture the moment, Brother."

Zuko pinches the bridge of his nose and Katara looks between them helplessly. "What do you want?"

Azula turns away from them, cradling the camera in her arms. Walking away, she taunts him over her shoulder, "I haven't decided yet. But you'll be the first to know."

She thinks she might hear Zuko stomp his foot. Good. She's not lost her touch.

A/N: Thanks to all who read, review, favorite, etc. I had fun with this one; hope you did too ;).