Azula
It wasn't fair. Zuzu had everything. He had the throne. Mother loved him more. Uncle loved him more. Not that I blamed Uncle, of course. He had a lover that adored him, had for ten years. Ty Lee loved me, just as I loved her, but she just wasn't made for monogamy. I put up with her straying, because if I didn't I would lose her completely. Now he was having children with the Avatar. It simply wasn't fair. I forced a smile.
"Congratulations, Zuzu." It was the best I could muster. I hope he wasn't expecting me to coo over how wonderful it was that he was having children with the man he adored. The irony of the situation wasn't lost on me. Ten years ago, I had been the one with everything, and Zuzu had been jealous of me. He frowned at me. Apparently he was.
"Azula? Is everything all right? You've been meditating the way the doctors said to, right?" Or he could just be worried about my mental health. Looking down, I realized why. Smoke was rising from my robes where I had hidden my clenched fists. I relaxed them, hoping the robe wasn't ruined. Zuzu paid for all my robes. I hated having to take money from him.
"Yes. Everything's fine. I just wasn't…" I searched for the best word. "expecting your news is all." He nods; obviously wishing the Avatar was there. I know why he didn't bring him to see me. I don't blame him.
"Is everything all right with you and Ty Lee?" Zuzu was definitely more observant than he had been years earlier.
"No. She's off with yet another boyfriend."
"Why do you stay with her if she cheats on you so often?"
"Because I love her. And she loves me; she just…can't handle monogamy." Ten years earlier, before my breakdown, I would never have accepted it. I would have insisted that Ty Lee either be with me and me alone, or I would have broken up with her. Zuzu bit his lip.
"I know you don't like it when I try to tell you how you should live your life, but, as your older brother, I think you deserve better than someone who cheats on you with someone else every other week. It makes you miserable, and that's not part of a healthy relationship." Maybe Zuzu was right. Maybe Ty Lee and I should break up. I would have to think about it some more, and talk to Ty Lee before I made up my mind.
"Thanks, Zuzu. I'll take that under consideration." He smiled at me, a little sadly. I guess he thought that I would completely disregard his advice. Zuzu's relationship with Aang had lasted ten years, and was still going strong. His advice about relationships was probably good. "I…I really am happy for you, Zuko. I'm just jealous." And why shouldn't I be? He had everything I wanted. He crossed the room to where I was sitting and pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. I cried on his chest, grateful for his comforting gesture. I guess Ty Lee's infidelities had a bigger effect on me than I thought.
He didn't say anything, just held me close and stroked my hair as I cried. "Thanks, Zuzu. For everything."
"Any time. That's what big brothers are for, right?"
"Yeah. That's what big brothers are for." That and annoying their little sisters.