The Firelord called his sister to his private chambers almost immediately following the events of the afternoon.
He stood and stared, but not the way she imagined in the night while she slept. Instead of staring at her with the adoration she so sorely wanted, he stood with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed. And he clearly wanted an answer. "Well?"
"I'm not sure what to say Azula, you insulted the generals and Queen of our most powerful ally." His tone reminded her strangely of how their mother would lecture them after they did something they were not supposed to. Zuko yelled, not entirely angry with Azula, but just telling her why what she did was not right. His eyes unfortunately, were even harsher than that, they scorned and hurt her worst than words could do.
She began to get infuriated with him for not understanding. "I was simply stating what I thought to be true for the Fire Nation. You seem to have lost sight of what it means to be a voice for your people." She glared at him, her voice dripping with disappointment.
It suddenly made sense, Azula was just trying to have him to notice her, and the question now was: why? It must have been important, she would not risk banishment and dishonor for something small. He sighed and asked her. "What do you want from me?"
His question seemed to catch her off guard. She had wanted to tell him for a while now, but now that she had the chance, she wasn't sure whether or not she could find where to begin.
Zuko's attention suddenly went to the door, as it did Azula found what he was listening to, Mai's unmistakable footsteps were dragging along the marble floors, a sign of boredom on her part.
A knock came shortly as the steps ceased close to the door.
"Come in." Zuko's voice sounded reserved, as if he felt the same intrusion into their conversation as Azula did.
When Mai opened the door she didn't notice Azula at first, given the swagger in her hips as she approached the Fire Lord. Mai it seemed, had come out of her shell since being with Zuko, she was absolutely able to express herself now that she had experienced love. She had let her hair down, and wore nothing more than a see through robe she had obviously acquired in the underbelly of the Fire Nation. It surprised Azula, even after all these years, to see her best friend in such a state. Though she had to admit she'd made Azula attracted to the fairer sex on more than one occasion as a result.
Mai was simply a taller more well-endowed version of Azula. Her breasts seemed to be perfect, no blemishes or anything of the sort scarred her porcelain form. She had a very subtle physique from the way she trained in knife throwing. She was not scrawny, but by the same token her legs had just enough form to them to be in the precarious neutral ground of beauty which used to be that of her underwhelming personality. Mai hugged her husband and ran her fingers through his hair. "I don't care who knocks on that door, you are mine for the next two hours." Mai whispered in his ear.
"Not now Mai." Zuko motioned with his eyes over to Azula. Mai gave her a quick glance and immediately freed Zuko from her grasp. Zuko straightened his robes almost feverishly and with a great indignity in his movements. "If you'll excuse us, I don't know if you were told, but I'm in a meeting." Mai then slowly walked towards the door in a tease, almost as if to antagonize both the siblings, but quickened in pace when Zuko made what could only be described as a cross between muffled whistle and a hiss with his teeth and lower lip.
Zuko still had a short fuse. The servants knew it and Mai knew it as well. And while Mai would never admit it, she loved to please Zuko in whatever way he desired. It was not that he abused her into compliance. She loved to get hit, that was the problem. So Zuko, when they first got married made an agreement, that he would always hit her more times in bed than when in a savage rage. Azula knew this better than anyone, and told no one… she secretly wanted to be the one with the bruises in the morning.
Azula just stood there, and before he could open his mouth again, she sat on the foot of the royal bed. "I need a favor." She sounded hurried almost panicky. Azula had come to terms with what she felt a while ago, but there were so many things that could ruin the night with her brother, meetings, and diplomatic trips to the far reaches of the other nations. She knew she must act fast if that one single night she wanted would come to reality, as if her dream turned from sweet to ash in her mouth if it was interrupted.
Zuko noticed something was different about the way she moved, she had a sway she had seen in Mai earlier, she smiled at him in the most seductive way, she undid her hair from the tight bun and let it drape about her shoulders. What was it, Zuko wondered?
Why did he like it so much? And for the love of everything decent why couldn't he turn away. "What do you want?" He couldn't help but be a little suspicious, as the old saying went 'Azula always lies.'
"I need to talk to you, what I have to tell you must not be heard by the servants or anyone else." The stress in Azula's voice made a believer out of Zuko, this wasn't like her at all. He agreed to meet Azula in her room just before sunset. She was one step closer…