"Azula, hurry up" Zuko said impatiently, knocking on her door for the hundredth time.
"Just a minute!" she shouted.
He should have known she would take long to get ready. Not only was Azula still a perfectionist, but both her and Zuko knew people would be paying close attention to the estranged princess as she finally returned to the palace. She had spent a long time explaining how important it was that she looked her best, and had given him a carefully detailed list of everything she'd need to achive that goal.
I just know she's going to have all kinds of sugestions of how a proper Fire Lord would present himself.
Finally, Azula opened the door.
"How do i look?" she asked.
Zuko looked at his sister, paying close attention to every detail - he knew she wouldn't accept an immediate, disinterested answer. She was using the same hair style she used to favor years ago: a top knot, and fangs framing her face. Her make up had been perfectly applied, highlighting her eyes and covering up the few scratch marks she had on her right cheek. Her nails were neither too short or too long, and she had on red nail-polish. Her clothes were elegant and practical: a long-sleeved black shirt, a brand new red armor, black pants, and black boots with a few golden details.
"You look great. And intimidating."
She smiled. "Good."
As the carriage was getting closer to the palace, Zuko could see his sister looking more and more tense. To most people, Azula would have looked like the most confident person in the world, but Zuko had spent more than enough time around her to know how she'd act when she felt completely in control, and how she'd act when she wanted others to believe she wasn't concerned about anything.
She gave herself away by asking too many questions. A confident Azula would have asked him only two things: What were the most crucial informations she absolutely had to be up to date with, and exactly what kind of behaviour was expected of her once they got the palace? However, she had also asked him when his friends were coming back to the Fire Nation, how mother and uncle Iroh had reacted to the news that she would be coming home, if people had been more angry or scared when they heard she would be released from the hospital, how many people that knew her when she was younger were going to be at the palace that day, and - most important of all - she had asked him, looking somewhat guilty, wheter this decision had made anyone turn against him.
He tried his best to reasure her.
"I promisse you everything's going to be fine. It's like i told you before" he took her hands in his "I'm not the only one vouching for you, and soon enough people will see for themselves that you've changed."
Azula simply nodded, and turned to look at the view. After a moment, she started the conversation again "The capital looks so different. It's a bit jarring, but i think i like it better now".
Zuko smiled "I hope you like what i did with the palace too."
"Oh, don't worry, i'll make sure to help you fix anything i don't like."
He rolled his eyes "Of course you will"
