"Ready?" Zuko asked as he offered his hand to his sister to help her off the carriage.
Azula didn't answer him. Instead, she accepted his help and stood by his side, watching as the grand doors to palace were being opened to her for the first time in years. As the two of them walked in together, guards, servants and functionaries bowed deeply to the two siblings, making Azula smile for one brief moment, before she saw the two figures behind them.
Things are better now, Zuko thought to himself, they both visited her in the hospital many times and tried to help her as much they could. She doesn't hate them anymore.
Still, he couldn't help but to feel uneasy as Azula walked up to them, ignoring everyone else in sight. He followed her, praying that the people around them didn't notice Azula's momentary discomfort - or his.
"Mother. Uncle" she said in a somewhat cold tone, bowing to them. She was visibly tense.
"I'm so glad you're here, darling" their mother said, before pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you."
Azula hesitated for a moment, before returning the hug, looking both pleased and a bit uncomfortable. Once their mother let her go, she spoke up again, her tone sounding a bit more natural this time. "It's good to see you. Zuko told me how you and Iroh defended me when one of his advisers tried to convince him to wait at least another year before letting me come back. Thank you" she turned to their uncle "thank you".
"You have nothing to thank us for." Iroh said, bowing to her briefly "we simply stated a fact. You are better now, and it was time for you to come home."
Zuko sighed in relief. Azula's relationship with them was far from perfect, but at least the three of them seemed to still be willing to make an effort to salvage things.
Suddenly, he realised Azula looked a little tense again. As he looked around, he saw all the dozens of people that were trying - and failing - not to stare at his sister. Some of them looked scared, some looked angry, and other's looked like they were simply waiting for her to do... something. Almost like they were curious children looking at a strange, yet fascinating creature.
Azula ignored them all.
"Can you take me to my room, Zuzu?"
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Honestly, i was expecting people to either attack me or run away screaming."
"I told you didn't have worry so much."
"Zuko, come on, you looked like you were about to have a heart attack when you saw how they were looking at me." Azula said, smirking.
He fidgeted for a moment "I just didn't want anything to discourage you. You deserve a fresh start."
"I know. I just wanted to get out of there because..."she seemed unsure of what exactly she wanted to say "I just needed a moment. So much happened so fast this past few days. I didn't like being at the hospital, but i got used to it. Now i'm suddenly a princess again, people bow to me and calm me 'your highness', i'm in my old home, i can go wherever i want to, there are going to be no doctors checking on me every other hour, i'm going to live with you and mom again, and next week i'll see your friends - and my old friends - at your birthday" she sounded like she still couldn't believe it.
"Do you want to be alone?" he asked.
Azula thought about it for a moment, then nodded "But I'll still have lunch with you later. With the three of you, that is." she added quickly.
"You don't have to if you don't want. You can eat here in your room, or it could be just the two of us" Zuko offered. Truly, he didn't want to leave his sister by herself, or to be rude to Ursa and Iroh - but he also didn't want to make Azula feel pressured or uncomfortable on her first day home.
"Have someone call for me when everything is ready" she insisted "I just need to be alone for a little while."
"Okay." He said before turn away to leave her room "let me know if you need anything."
"I will."
