22. ZUKO DOESN'T DO COMMUNICATION

Azula tossed and turned in her bed, the comfort of sleep only out of arm's reach. She scowled even with her eyes closed. It had been a good day for her. She finally got to see her father after waiting for days. She was even praised for her efforts.

So why doesn't she feel less than satisfied about it?

Golden eyes snapped open in a show of annoyance and Azula got off her bed. She made her way toward her wardrobe to don the inconspicuous cloak hanging on the clothes tree standing next to the large cupboard. She made a quick stop at the Palace Kitchen before leaving the Palace premises.

The moon was high in the night sky as the Princess made her way towards the Capital City Prison, the path now committed to the young firebender's memory. She entered the tower and marched straight down to the lowest level before opening the metal door.

Percy was lying on the ragged sheet for a mattress when she entered. Green eyes snapped open to see the Princess taking out a plate from the basket in her arm and placing it right in front of his cell.

Then, like the night before, silence blanketed the room. The sound of the ventilation was drowned out by the blood rushing in Azula's ears. They remained so for a few minutes - the firebender just standing stiffly, glaring daggers at the man who continued to wear a face of disinterest - until the tense atmosphere was broken by a tired sigh that escaped Percy's lips as he sat up.

"Is there something I can help you with?" His tone was bored as if he could be doing anything else that was more important than being visited by Princess Azula of the Fire Nation.

"I have questions," the words tumbled out of her mouth in a demanding tone before her mind could even formulate a proper sentence.

Through the dim lighting, she saw Percy raise a raven black eyebrow at her statement before eyeing the plate disinterestedly. "So? You think offering me a drumstick will make me spill my life story?"

"You'll answer me anyway" she waved him off before looking at the plate. "It's komodo chicken," she offered, "it's better than prison food I'd wager. beats prison food,"

Instead of reaching for the plate, Percy's eyes scanned the ground in search of something before he stretched his arm to pick up a pebble to examine it. Then he tossed it aside and watched as it bounce off the concrete wall.

Azula felt her perfectly plucked eyebrow twitch. His clear disregard for her and her 'peace offering' infuriated her, and she wanted to– Azula took a deep breath, reigning in her thoughts from straying too far. Once she felt her boiling blood subside, she opened her eyes with a renewed focus on the 'why' she was here.

"Who are the Children of Zoos?"

Azula expected his reaction to being one of panic, of wide eyes and stuttering lips as he stumbles his way to a bad and blatantly false denial. She did not expect Percy's answer to in a chuckle so soft the Princess almost brushed it off. But when she noticed that the man's shoulders were shaking, she realized that he was laughing. The sound was coarse and hollow, but it was a laugh all the same. She felt her eyebrow twitch again.

She kept her tone as even as possible. "Does something amuse you?"

The laughter began to subside, but Azula did not doubt that her prisoner was smiling.

"Ah, if only Thalia and Jason could hear that," he lamented. "They'd offer a fist bump, but then they probably won't since it came from you."

"Are you mocking me?" Her question came out in a growl, any semblance of composure uncharacteristically gone as he began to grind on her nerves.

"Would it matter if the answer was 'no'?" Thick sarcasm laced his reply, "For the record, the answer was not 'no'."

"I will not ask again–"

"You're about to."

"Who are these Children?"

"Why does it matter?"

Azula clammed her mouth shut before she could slip up. It would be a show of weakness if she were to admit the reasoning behind her interest in these 'Children'. Her silence allowed green eyes to study her face, and it felt as though they were searching her soul.

Then his face lit up, his pupils gleaming with a mixture of excitement and understanding as he whistled lowly.

"So that's what it's about."

Golden eyes narrowed warily, but Azula was quick to hide her curiosity. "What was 'what' about?"

"You're curious as to why I'm immune to your lightning," he stated nonchalantly, "you're trying to find out who I was referring to when I said I have taken stronger bolts from the Children of Zeus."

If it hadn't been for years of training in mastering the face of political impassiveness Azula would have shown her shock at how he pieced it together so quickly. But while she kept a stoic look, Percy kept going on.

"You're worried that these 'Children' pose a threat to your father. That if there is someone who can wield lightning more powerful than him, they'll challenge for the Throne."

"Would it matter if that's true?"

"It wouldn't, no. Not really," Percy answered immediately, then he stood up and began dusting his faded pants. "Because I can assure you, Princess, you already have more than enough on your plate."

"And what, pray tell, do you mean by that?" It took all her willpower not to be intimidated by the fact that he towered over her. The metal bars that separated them provided some reprieve to the Princess, albeit slightly.

"I heard the guards chatting outside," Percy said as he neared the bars. He squatted down to pick up the piece of komodo chicken from the plate and made a show of examining every inch of it. "They said you're a hero. Even created a song in your name, though they were singing off-tune. Very off tune."

Azula wasn't sure where this conversation was headed. "I don't see how–"

"What do you think will happen when the world finds out you didn't finish the job?" Percy interjected with feigned innocence plastered all over his face as his sea-green eyes stared at her.

Golden eyes narrowed at the rhetorical question. "The Avatar is dead."

Percy hummed at her reply. From the lack of insincerity, it sounded like he was listening to a child tell an exaggerated story. "You shot him with what? Your lightning bolt?" He asked, the komodo chicken drumstick waving in his hand as he started gesturing around.

"No one could have survived my lightning strike." She stated with finality.

"I did," his mouth was full as he chewed into the drumstick. His eyes snapped towards her, the sea-green orbs round as plates as he gasped in obviously fake shock. "Are you saying that the legendary Avatar is that weak?" His face twisted into a smug smile, "Or are you admitting that I'm stronger than you?"

If looks could burn, the bars separating Azula and Percy would have melted and the man would be nothing but a pile of ash. But Azula did not have the ability to firebend with her eyes, so the prisoner remained standing there with his overly mocking smile spewing nonsense.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," she commented with a hard edge never heard of from her, before she whirled around and stormed out the room. The metal door slammed behind her way too slowly as Percy's mocking statement reached her ears.

"I'm not the one having trouble sleeping, Princess."

oOo

"Aang, I'm trying to be mature and not immediately shoot down your idea," Sokka took a deep breath as he looked the airbender in the eye, "but it sounds really terrible."

"Yeah, we got our outfits," Toph chimed in, "What do you need to go to school for?"

Aang remained upbeat despite the doubt thrown his way. He just needed to convince them. "Every minute I'm in that classroom, I'm learning new things about the Fire Nation. I already have a picture of Fire Lord Ozai." He showed them a painted portrait of the current monarch before holding up another portrait that appeared to be his very own rendition of the original. "And here's one that I made out of noodles!"

"Impressive. I admit." Sokka rubbed his chin in thought as he stared at the noodle art. "But I still think it's too dangerous."

Aang raised an eyebrow, realising that they would still need a little more push to agree with his idea. He switched tactics.

"Well, I guess we'll never find out about the secret river then," the airbender didn't even try to hide the smirk creeping up his face as he watch Sokka's ear pique at the information. "It goes right to the Fire Lord's palace. We were supposed to learn about it in class tomorrow."

"There's no secret river. There are a few secret chambers, though," Zuko interjected and Aang winced internally. He forgot that they have a literal former Prince now sitting with them when he made up the tale.

Sokka waved a finger in the firebender's direction. "Now, now. The river was most likely created when you were busy chasing us." The Water Tribesman turned his attention to Aang, so he did not see amber eyes roll at his speculation. "Let's stay a few more days. I am a fan of secret rivers."

As Aang leapt from his sitting position, his fist punching the air in triumph while cheering 'flamey-o' much to everyone's confusion, Zuko couldn't help but feel that the whole 'Aang goes to school plan' would not go accordingly.

And it definitely did not go to plan. Around the time that school ended, the boy came back with the news that he needed to bring his 'parents' to have a conference with the principal because he was involved in a fight. Which was the most bewildering news Zuko had ever heard since Aang was more of a pacifist than a street fighter.

The others didn't question it, however, and Sokka and Katara quickly put on more disguises before following Aang to school. They came back a few hours later, Sokka leading the trio as he marched forth with purpose in his step with Aang following behind, his head hanging slightly in dejection. Katara just raised an eyebrow in her brother's direction.

"That settles it! No more school for you, young man." Sokka announced, still in his 'father' persona while stroking the fake beard that was attached to his chin. In Zuko's silent opinion, the Water Tribesman looked rather ridiculous.

"I'm not ready to leave yet," Aang protested. "I'm having fun for once, just being a normal kid. You don't know what it's like, Sokka. You get to be normal all the time."

Sokka's eyes narrowed at the remark and he felt a vein pop in his forehead when Toph's laugh rang within the cave's wall. He side-eyed the young earthbender, but she didn't seem to notice it.

"Listen, guys," Aang's sombre tone gained his friends' attention.'' Those kids at school are the future of the Fire Nation." Aang pressed on, hoping he could have them see his way, "If we want to change this place for the better, we need to show them a little taste of freedom."

Sokka looked sceptical, though he would admit he was curious. "What could you possibly do for a country of depraved little fire monsters?" Blue eyes darted towards Zuko sitting across him and muttered a soft 'no offence'.

The scar-faced teenager replied with a non-committal shrug.

Aang's eyes lit up further when he realized that his friends were buying into his idea. "I'm gonna throw them," he started dancing, "a secret dance party."

Aang waited as his friends stared wide-eyed and mouth agape at him. Until Sokka shot him the most deadpan expression ever. "Go to your room!"

Zuko's eyes darted towards the direction Sokka was pointing at and blinked when he saw that said 'room' was nothing but a wall. Shrugging it off, he turned his attention back to Aang. "So, when is this 'secret' dance party being held?"

Turns out, Aang was planning to have the party in a few hours and had invited the whole school. So the group got to work immediately, with Toph earthbending a stage while Zuko found himself helping Sokka place candles on the sides of the cave. Despite his curiosity, the firebender was too afraid to ask how the Water Tribesman was able to obtain so many candles.

"I can't believe we're having a dance party," Sokka said incredulously, "It seems so ... silly."

"Well, you didn't disagree with the idea," Zuko commented, earning a glare from the other teen.

Aang, having missed the small exchange, turned to look at them. "Don't think of it as a dance party, but as a cultural event celebrating the art of fancy footwork!"

Both Zuko and Sokka shared a look the moment the airbender broke into another dance.

Toph suddenly shushed them. "They're coming," she warned, "everyone stop bending!"

Aang jogged toward Appa and patted his old friend on the side. "Sorry buddy, you should probably wait out back."

Appa glanced at the exit and made a rumbling noise that sounded like a grumble. Aang was about to console his friend when Zuko spoke up behind him, surprising the Avatar.

"I'll keep him company until we've reached the exit," Zuko offered. Despite being surprised, Aang nodded and thanked the older teen for helping before he spun around with his hands on his hips, grinning so wide Zuko was worried that his cheeks would fall off.

There was another grumble and Zuko immediately focused on the furry sky bison standing in front of him. He walked up to pat Appa on the nose, a gesture which seemed to calm the beast down.

"Let's go," he nodded towards the exit. Appa remained hesitant, so the firebender tried again. "We don't want unnecessary attention on Aang right?"

Black beady eyes blinked as if understanding and agreeing with the boy's suggestion. Zuko started to walk toward the exit with Appa following him. The moment they were out in open space, the sky bison bumped its nose onto Zuko, causing the teen to stumble forward. The glare that came from amber eyes packed no heat as Zuko couldn't hide the smile that was forming on his face.

"I'll see you later, you big furball," he said, earning another bump from Appa but he was already out of reach as he made his way toward the front entrance of the cave.

By the time he returned, the party had started. Several kids were playing instruments on the elevated stage, though Zuko noted the students were standing around and just staring at Aang who was trying to convince them to participate. It was missing the 'dancing' aspect of a 'dance party'.

Then Aang started running low on the ground, calling the move 'Phoenix Flight from a hundred years ago to the 'ooh's and 'aah's of the gathered onlookers. Amber eyes scanned the place and found the rest of Team Avatar sitting on a makeshift table away from the crowd. He made to join the group, careful to not bump into any other student with practised grace.

Though it wasn't exactly that hard since everyone left a wide berth for him to pass when they saw him.

Katara was the first to notice his arrival. She handed him a cup made of ice, undoubted bent by her for the occasion, which he accepted with a soft 'thank you'.

Before he could drink from the cup, Sokka started nudging him and he almost spilt his drink. Pushing down his irritation at being interrupted from enjoying a much-needed refreshment, he glanced at Sokka to see an excited look on the Water Tribesman's face. Raising his eyebrow, amber eyes followed Sokka's gaze to see that Aang was still in the centre of the crowd, now dancing with a girl.

"They look pretty good together," Sokka commented.

"Eh, if that's what you like," Zuko stopped himself from taking a sip from his drink when he heard Katara's reply. Or rather, the weird tone she used. Sparing a glance towards the waterbender, he noted that she had turned away from the dance floor, though she was stealing glances whenever she thought no one was looking as the other students started dancing with the duo on the dance floor.

Huh. Zuko decided not to comment on it and proceeded to enjoy his drink.

"Excuse me," he bit back a sigh at being interrupted from his cooling drink again. Looking up, he saw that a girl was standing in front of him, her hands clasped together while her eyes were glued to her shoes.

"Can I help you?" Zuko asked, confused as to why suddenly he was being approached. Given how the other students made a wide berth earlier, he thought that he would be left alone.

"I…" the girl started rubbing her hands, "I was wondering if you want to dance?"

Amber eyes blinked at the question. He was sitting down, which should be enough to tell others that he did not want to dance. Not that he was going to say that. It sounds rude and he was certain that his Uncle would smack him over the head if he did say that.

"Sorry," he tried instead, "but I can't dance. My body is… rigid."

Despite his attempt at being polite, the girl looked downcast as she turned around to join her friends.

"Dude," Sokka said, gaining Zuko's attention. The Water Tribesman was pinching the bridge of his nose, though Zuko was concerned that the other boy was experiencing constipation judging from the pinched look on his face. "We've really got to work on your people skills."

The statement confused Zuko. As far as he was aware, he didn't do anything wrong. And why do they need to work on his people skills? Chalking it up to 'The Many Things that Make No Sense', Zuko returned his attention to watching the dance floor and saw Aang finishing his dance with Katara.

Wait. When did that happen?

Zuko narrowed his eyes suspiciously when the crowd suddenly stopped dancing and darted towards the entrance where the students were looking on with trepidation. He counted five figures standing there, four of the guards and the other being the headmaster if his fancier garb were anything to go by. Zuko felt his muscles tense as he prepared to dash for the exit.

"He's the one we want!" The headmaster roared and pointed a finger at Aang. "The boy with the headband!"

Well, judging from the 'uh oh' that Aang blurted out, it appeared that even the airbender agreed party time was over.

oOo

It wasn't over. The fight was far from it. Bodies flew left and right. The ceiling was coming down and–

Azula's eyes snapped open in an instant and darted around in search of signs of danger. There was no threat nearby. Unless she counted the pillow her head was resting on as one.

The blanket that covered her from the night cold suddenly felt restrictive. She immediately tore it away and tossed it to the ground. Her other hand grabbed a part of the bed sheet tightly as she sat up.

But the goosebumps still shivered along her skin, and somehow she knew it wasn't from the stinging cold air. Azula clenched her eyes shut, her mind fighting against her body as it wrestled control to calm her erratic and shallow breathing.

After a few minutes of heavy silence when she finally feel the thumping in her ears stop, did Azula dare open her eyes again. Golden orbs scanned the room once more. The cloak hanging upside down on the room divider looked as though it was mocking her. Azula peeled her attention from the red garment as she walked toward her dressing table to light up the candle while her mind tried to focus on a different topic.

Against her conscious judgement, the Princess's thoughts drifted towards the 'meeting' she had the previous night. The way the prisoner had taunted her and controlled the conversation despite her being the supposed interrogator, the one in charge.

It felt wrong.

His final words before she decided she was wasting her time rang in her ears loudly.

"What do you think will happen when the world finds out you didn't finish the job?"

Azula growled lowly when the question repeated itself like a bad opera song in the back of her mind. He was trying to distract her. It's nothing but a waste of time.

She looked at her bed, then at the doors, noting that the corridor outside her room was still lit, and then darted back to her bed once more. Suppressing a sigh, Azula decided she would try to get some sleep.

Not that the Princess would ever admit it, but at the very least the light from her candle provided her with some sense of ease as she shut her eyes.


I'm on discord now, hanging out with a bunch of other writers who after definitely more prominent and well-known (cough Greed720, lildrummerboi, bakkughan cough constellations, stellarys cough cough) So yea, if you guys haven't joined and want to join just click on the link in my profile