"The only person she's afraid of is her father. She's like a deer in headlights just at the mention of his name. I assume since you're talking to me, you want a bit of leverage on whatever dirt you're trying to dig up. That should lead you in the right direction."

"Why are you admitting all of this to me? I thought she was your friend?"

"She's never been. But I'm only telling you because I know you won't get very far in whatever you're trying to do. The girl's an iron fence."

"But you just gave me her greatest weakness…"

"Doesn't matter. I know there's nothing you can do to really harm her. She's indestructible like that."

"And you resent her for it…don't you?"

Chan couldn't believe the gold mine he'd stumbled upon. A wealth of knowledge had been within his reach all this time and he would've missed it if he hadn't decided to have lunch outside today.

Mai was a reticent, standoffish girl who hung out with the other "goths" at school. Chan didn't have all the details as to why they were mockingly called goths, but it was something along the lines of them being posers and not fully committing to the lifestyle as others did. He thought it was all weird, freaky bullshit that no one outside of their circles gave a fuck about.

Both sides of the argument creeped him out so he didn't bother to make distinctions. They dressed in dark clothes that eclipsed any room they walked in. The girls wore long skirts barely brushing their ankles, always in long sleeved shirts despite the weather. They kept their dark hair bobbed which didn't stop it from partially or completely covering their faces. Eccentric streaks of neon colors lit up their hair.

The guys similarly wore out of season clothing that either accentuated their frail bodies or swallowed them under clothes six sizes too big. It was hard to tell whether they really wanted attention or not. Their version of rebelling and fighting the status quo only seemed to bring them the notoriety and attention he knew that they so deeply craved.

The goths usually spent their lunch break smoking behind one of the buildings less frequented by the security guards, but Mai was nowhere near them. Chan had seen her taking a drag from one of her "friends''' cigarettes and embarrassing herself, nearly choking from all her coughing.

He caught the tail end of them laughing her off before she found a spot to sit alone. Ah, he thought to himself. The realization of who you'll never be. Must be tough.

Mai was avoiding eye contact now. She had her arms crossed stubbornly and her cheeks puffed with a childish anger. She sighed and rolled her eyes before flicking her head in his direction. "Don't try that psychoanalyzing bullshit with me. I had enough of that with Azula," Mai scoffed.

Chan chuckled, his shoulders rolling with amusement. He walked off, seeing that whatever intel gathering opportunity was quickly closing up as Mai's frown grew deeper and deeper until he swore her face would get stuck like that.

Friendship so easily washed down the drain was a pitiful thing to bear witness to.

….

In the aftermath of Azula's uncharacteristic outburst, she'd been doing everything in her power to retain a sense of normalcy. She wasn't outright hostile nor conniving with Ruon Jian anymore, but that didn't mean she was going to be some dopey, lovesick girl either.

Ruon Jian had been a good sport about it too. He hadn't pressured her into talking about anything nor did he bring up the endless possibilities of their relationship status. She was grateful for it. Really she was. She'd wanted to burst into tears every time he extended a show of kindness towards her.

Did she really deserve all of this? Someone so perfect and loving? What the hell did he even see in her?

In the midst of her own confusion and faint distrust, she kept close contact to a minimum. Warmth and love was new to her. Azula was afraid that she'd get greedy and crave it if she indulged in her desires just for it to be snatched from underneath her in the blink of an eye. Instead, she settled for stolen glances across corridors and peeking through classroom doors. If she was feeling particularly daring, she'd even let her hands linger near his, her fingers brushing softly against his knuckles as they walked side by side.

Ruon Jian took the more traditional, chivalrous route of carrying her bag (only in places others wouldn't spot them), opening doors, taking her out on aimless drives for hours at a time, or just talking to each other during lunch break.

As Azula listened to him prattle on about his morning, she realized how lonely she'd always been, how starved for affection she was, and how she longed to be in the presence of someone who she didn't have to force or be forced to be around.

Her arm rested on the picnic table they both sat on, her head propped up against her hand, as a goofy smile lit up her face. Ruon Jian halted in his speech when he looked up. A mischievous grin crinkled his features.

"I take it hearing how Mr. Piandao tortures his third period block amuses you."

"A little," she joked.

He smiled in good nature. He turned to straddle the bench and scooted himself closer to her. He tilted his head a little, mouth slightly ajar, eyes roving her face in wonder. Azula straightened, backing away a little. Her tongue ran over her teeth checking for any stains. She became aware of her armpits, wondering if she'd been sweating this whole time.

She lightly grazed the loose strands of hair from her high bun and pushed them behind her ear. Ruon Jian only moved closer. Azula coughed awkwardly as he leaned further into her face.

"R-Ruon Jian?"

"Hm?" he hummed absentmindedly.

Her fingertips pushed against his chest, stopping him from narrowing the gap between them. "What are you doing?" she asked, not meaning for her voice to tick up in panic. Hearing the alarm in her tone, he backed away immediately.

He hid his face sheepishly behind his hand, a faint blush forming on his cheeks. "You…you looked really pretty just then," he stammered out.

Azula felt her body temperature rise. She turned away from him, patting her cheeks, trying to settle down the coloring on her own face. When she'd finally calmed herself down, she turned and found that Ruon Jian was inching his way towards her again. She felt her eyes fluttering closed instinctively, the butterflies wreaking havoc on her stomach, the lightheadedness settling in.

Just as their heads curved into each others', lips centimeters apart, Azula panicked and pushed him away. He looked a bit disheartened, not sure of what the problem was. Azula avoided eye contact as she fiddled with the end of her uniform skirt.

"Someone will see us," she muttered.

Ruon Jian sighed in relief and grabbed her hand. He rose from the bench and pulled her along with him. She looked startled as he held her hand in his, tripping over her own feet in the process of standing. He helped her stand to full height and smiled.

"We've got 15 minutes of lunch period left," he mused as he took a look at his wrist watch. "The janitor's closet on the ground floor near the baseball field is usually open. We could finish…this in there."

"But someone-"

"Nobody walks over there at this time. Trust me."

"I only want to kiss you," she said, still shy about the whole ordeal. "So no funny business."

Ruon Jian led the way to their hideout, his hand to his forehead in a mock salute. "Aye aye boss."

….

"I do hope that this can be a civil conversation."

"It'll be so as long as you keep it that way, dear."

"Don't call me that," Ursa bemoaned.

Ozai didn't look fazed by her huffy tone. They were in an office going over paperwork entailing the tedious details of child custody. A surprising event that had come totally out of left field in Ozai's eyes. He didn't understand the show Ursa was making, but he'd put an end to it soon.

"I do wonder what precipitated this most hasty decision."

Ursa stiffened. The finger she swiped against the documents to read the tiny words came to an abrupt halt that gave her a nasty papercut. She winced at the searing pain and held it in her mouth to dull the pain. She wasn't planning on him asking her any questions, that much Ozai could tell. But he'd be damned if he went through these proceedings and didn't at least make a show of putting up a fight.

"The original deal we - no you - worked out had me separated from my children. I'd like to right that wrong and have them be under my care."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." Ursa blinked, stupefied like it was an affront to even be asking her such a question.

Ozai shrugged and leaned into the comfort of the reclining chair. His eyes closed as he focused on only his breathing. The light snarls from his throat unsettled Ursa. The rhythmic up and down motion of his chest only evoked a deep-seated panic within her. He looked so peaceful then. So approachable. But she'd only remember moments like this happening right before one of his horrid moods kicked in. She sat up a bit taller in her chair.

"What?" she scowled, annoyed at his nonchalance.

"What?" he parroted, eyes still closed in a zen state.

"You don't ask innocent questions. Just go on and say what you were going to say."

Ozai smirked. The small rippling of his chest was the only indication that he had chuckled at her nervousness. As he slowly rose to lean over and prop his chin up on his hand, Ursa instinctively grabbed at her purse. She hadn't carried any of her usual defense items today. She really hoped that today would remain civil.

Ozai laughed sadistically at her anxiousness. Ursa's frown lines only deepened. "Our children-"

"My children."

The menacing man smiled. Ursa felt a shiver run down her spine. She clutched her purse more tightly.

"Tomato, tomato. Anyway, they're almost grown. I'm sure that their memories of you are far and few in between-"

"Thanks to you."

"Oh sure. Blame it all on me. But I remember you accepting this life without your children with alacrity."

"You threatened me. You threatened my family. My friends."

"You're a mother," Ozai deadpanned, no humor coloring his voice. "I don't know much about motherhood, but I've never heard of nor seen a mother give up 'her' children as easily as you did. You could've fought harder. Snuck them off in the middle of the night. Shown up after school and gone on the run. Something extraordinary to show that you're this super mother you claim to be."

"You know you would've had me arrested," Ursa scoffed. "Or worse."

Ozai shrugged. A playful grin lit his face. "Without a doubt. But I expected it of you. I would've respected you more for it. But you never did. You just left and never once went to seek out your children. So I'm sorry, I just don't understand what all of this is now."

"I want to reconnect with them. To get to know them again. To fill in the gaps of those lost years you robbed us of."

"Oh," Ozai chirped, a mischievous grin forming into something sinister. "Is that why you're only requesting custody of Zuko?"