4 Years Ago….
"Zuzu, why do you have to go?" Soza's small hands were clamped tightly around her brother's ankle as he tried to walk up the gangplank of his ship.
"Soza, let go of me," He tried to pry my hands from him, but the girl only held on more desperately.
"I don't understand why Father is making you leave." Zuko touched the newly wrapped left side of his face and a look of pain washed over him.
"Father doesn't want me here," the venom in his voice shocked Soza.
"But I want you to stay Zuzu. Azula always bosses me around when you're not there."
A flash of anger altered her brother's features.
"Listen carefully, Soza. You must always remember that Azula always lies." He knelt down on one knee and took both of his sister's tiny hands in his.
"I need you to remember that no matter what. Promise me."
There was such an anguished look in his eye that she agreed immediately. She nodded as tears cascaded down her face.
Azula always lies," she whispered back.
He gave her a half smile and ruffled her hair before standing back up. He looked her over carefully before speaking again.
Soza sniffed and roughly wiped away her tears, "When will I see you again?"
"Not for a long time. I swear to you though I will bring back the Avatar and restore my honor, my birthright, and get Father's love." There was something in his determined look as he stepped onto his ship that made Soza shiver.
He poked her forehead lovingly before turning away to hide the sadness that he felt.
"Goodbye, brother," Soza choked, before stepping off the gangplank.
She stayed rooted to the spot as his ship sailed out of sight. The last glimpse of Zuko that she could make out was him raising an arm in farewell to the only person that would miss him and cared. She answered with a halfhearted wave and stood watching until his ship disappeared over the horizon. It was only then that she let her legs give way and she cried as her heart broke within her. Her protector was gone.
Soza felt Azula's hand rest on her shoulder, mocking comfort as the younger girl stared out to the sea.
"Are you sure you wish to stay on the ship?" Soza sighed and crossed her arms, determined not to budge.
During their voyage to the Earth Kingdom, she had had plenty of time to think about seeing her brother and her uncle again. She would never admit it, but she was scared. She didn't know how she would react to seeing Zuko again. There had been a time when she had idolized her older brother, when he could do nothing wrong in her eyes; but things were different now. Her Father's orders were clear and there would be no room for hesitation. Back at home it had seemed so much simpler, but now Soza just wasn't sure she could do it.
"I don't want to deal with those fools," the firebender spat, feigning disgust to cover the confusion she felt.
"Well that's why we're here, to bring them back," Azula's lip curled. She could tell her sister was wavering, but being the brilliant strategist that she was, she had planned on it.
"Do you want the Fire Nation to continue to suffer because of our dear uncle and brother? They have brought shame on us and are responsible for our defeat at the North Pole. If they are allowed to roam free they could cause more trouble for the Fire Nation." Azula put just the right amount of emotion in her words to coax Soza to turn and face her.
"I am aware of that, Azula, but I'm sure you can take care of them. Or has the great prodigy gotten herself into something she can't handle?" Soza shook off Azula's hand and leaned casually against the side of the ship, her arms crossed, with a glint of triumph dancing in her eyes.
"Of course I can handle two traitors on my own." Azula waved off Soza's comment, walking to stand beside her with one hand resting on the side of the ship, "I'm just worried about you."
Her change of tone momentarily threw Soza off.
"Worried?" she snorted in disbelief at the outrageous comment, all traces of humor gone.
"Why would you worry about me?"
"Because your orders were to capture the traitors, not tag along and watch me do it for you," Azula sneered, inspecting her unusually sharp fingernails.
Soza's heart plummeted at her answer. Abruptly, she turned to face the ocean again, her arms remaining crossed.
"I just don't want to see Zuko right now," she muttered, more to herself then to her sister.
"Ah yes, he did leave you all alone. That wasn't very brotherly of him,"
"He couldn't help it! He was banished!" The firebender snarled, amber eyes staring daggers at Azula.
Inside, Azula gloated at how easily she had managed to get under her sister's skin.
"Well yes he was, but he had a choice. He could have fought Father and retained a small shred of honor instead of being weak and begging forgiveness."
"Fighting Father would have been suicide," Soza replied dully, staring at the waves lapping against the ship.
Azula shrugged, a knowing expression playing on her face, "You didn't think so before."
She noticed with satisfaction that her sister had become pale and, for some reason, couldn't stop her hands from trembling. Soza knew she shouldn't be surprised that Azula knew…but still she hadn't told a soul.
"How did you know?" her voice sounded hollow and detached, eerily like Mai.
"I sometimes hear servants whispering," Azula waved her hand dismissively and turned her predatory eyes toward Soza.
The younger princess took a steadying breath, "It wasn't a physical fight. I just tried to get him to change his mind." She avoided looking at her sister's face, scared that Azula could tell what she had tried to get the Firelord to do. Thankfully, her sister avoided pressing for details.
"From what I've heard, he was more merciful with you than with Zuzu."
Soza flinched, unbidden memories replaying themselves before her eyes.
"Yes Father is definitely known for his mercy," she rolled her eyes voice dripping with sarcasm.
"All the more reason to come with me dum-dum." Soza sighed. Azula had her there.
"Fine, Zula, I'll go with you."
"I thought you might," Azula said, smirking, before walking toward the gangplank.
Resigning herself to the whims of her sister, Soza followed.
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Azula's information on the whereabouts of her relatives proved to be accurate. Leave it to Uncle to choose a spa resort to lie low. The house the two were staying in had been easy enough to enter while they were gone. Now all she had to do was wait. She was seated in a chair next to a table laden with shells.
Beside her, Soza sighed, "Agni, where are they? I just want to get this over with now."
Azula frowned at the girl's impatience. "They will get here soon enough. Then we can let the fools follow us willingly back to the Fire Nation only to be thrown into prison."
A cruel smile played across her lips. Deception came so naturally to her and it gave her such a satisfied feeling. She glanced down at the strange assortment of shells that Uncle had undoubtedly left behind. She rolled her eyes at yet another sign that the once famed 'Dragon of the West' was becoming senile. She picked a shell up at random, looking at it out of boredom. Soza was becoming more fidgety as the seconds ticked by, tilting her chair backward, and resting her feet on the table.
"Oh relax, Soza. We will be reunited with our relatives soon enough," Azula chided, still examining the shell with apparent fascination. Soza opened her mouth to reply, but at that moment two people entered the bathhouse.
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Soza froze as her brother strode into the room. A large scar covered most of the left side of his face, from his eye to his ear. He looked more haggard from his travels during his exile and bitterness seemed to have become a permanent part of his expression. A scowl was on his face as he watched Uncle empty a bag full of more shells onto another table.
"Look at these magnificent shells! I will treasure them for years to come," he beamed holding up a particularly beautiful pure white conch shell.
"We don't need anymore useless things. You forget we have to carry everything ourselves now." Zuko growled.
Before they could argue about the importance of keepsakes, Azula interrupted them.
"Hello brother. Uncle," acting every bit the perfect princess.
Zuko started at the sound of her voice and turned toward its source. He stared angrily at Azula before looking behind her at Soza. His eyes widened and he started forward, before checking himself and staying where he was.
"Soza, is that – what are you doing here?" Heart racing Soza almost rushed on to tell him the truth, but Azula sensing weakness interrupted.
"In my country, we exchange a pleasant hello before asking questions." She rose from her chair and walked over to stand in front of Zuko, "Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?"
His expression changed from confusion back to anger, "Don't call me that!"
"To what do we owe this honor," Uncle interrupted, gazing suspiciously at Azula.
"Hmm? Must be a family trait. Both of you so quick to get to the point," her hand flexed and the shell she was still holding shattered between her nails.
Soza quickly rose from her chair, trying to diffuse the situation before her two siblings tore each other apart, "We have come to deliver a message from the Firelord. Considering the contents, we thought it would be best to arrive in person."
To everyone around her, Soza appeared calm and collected, but inside she was raging. Zuko looked at her, his gaze softening. Soza felt like running right then. She felt like a traitor to Zuko for lying to his face. She was leading him to his death, and she was doing it as calmly as Azula. What had she become?
Mechanically, she told Zuko the thing he desperately wanted to hear. The one thing coming from the one person he trusted.
"Father – Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him."
Her brother fought to keep his face neutral as he tried to hide the small spark of hope that was building inside him.
"He's heard plots to overthrow him. Treacherous plots. Family are the only ones you can really trust." Azula said softly, pretending to care.
Soza was sickened by the lack of guilt that her sister was showing. If anything, she knew Azula was enjoying this. Azula turned to her sister then, waiting for her to finish. Inwardly, Soza was screaming at her willingness to go along with this plan. She wanted to stop the terrible lie that was now emanating from her mouth.
"Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home."
She knew as soon as she said this that she and Zuko would never be the same. The mantra that he had taught her would take on a new form once he discovered the truth. It hurt knowing that she would become the thing her brother hated the most, and that those hate filled glances he reserved for Azula would be magnified when he looked at her. Soza always lies…
I was pretty happy with this chapter actually. I'm hoping to show more interaction between Soza and Zuko because I love how they act with one another. Also yes, I took the foreheard poke from Itachi and what he always does to Sasuke hehe I couldn't resist.