"What was that?" Azula asked, panicked.
Zuko lifted from her neck to say, "Ignore it," before attempting to devour her lips again.
Azula kissed him, nearly getting lost in his passion again before coming to her senses and pushing his shoulders away.
"Zuko, stop it!" She snapped. The fire lord gave a playful pout.
"The bedroom?" He asked.
Azula rolled her eyes, squirming away from her brother. Her mind whirled at the possibility of being caught. There would be no explaining their way out of the matter, not to mention as shortly after Fire Lady Miserable's untimely demise.
Azula had been hurt by her friend's choice to abandon Zuko and their daughter. Hurt soon turned into anger as she gathered herself, leaving Uncle Fuddy Duddy to enter Mai's birthing room unannounced. Thankfully, the woman was coherent though her voice was raspier than normal, even in her surprise, "Azula!" when the princess entered.
Azula glared at the two nurses at the woman's side, arms crossed. They understood her non-verbal meaning readily and bowed as they left, shutting the door, as Azula watched them go.
"So," said the woman, smoothly. "The infamous traitor has struck again," she snapped, impeccably calm.
Azula felt proud of the rouse of fear in Mai's eyes. The girl was dying, yet leave it to Azula to make an almost dead woman fear for her life. She had not lost her touch, after all.
"It's not like Zuko will care," said the woman with a shrug. "He has his heir".
Azula felt her blood boil. Before she could stop herself, she was at the woman's side, eyes shooting daggers.
"He made you his queen! How could you do this to him?"
"Jealous, much?" Mai asked, with a chuckle at Azula's guilt-ridden expression. "If I'd known sooner just how often you shared my part in bed, I would have given you the honor of the labor pains".
A raised eyebrow came from the princess as she backed away from Mai's bedside. She knew! Azula would have laughed had she not been shocked. How long had Mai known? Most people whispered obscene rumors about her, such as she had a fondness for the same likeness, sleeping with every man in Zuko's court or the avatar.
This, however, could ruin her brother and that she would not allow. "Don't worry," piped Mai. "Your secret's safe with me. Think of it as a peace offering, Azula. We were once friends, I think".
Azula shot her a glare. "Secret?"
At this Mai sighed, closing her eyes and refusing to say more. Azula blinked as though she was reawakening. Hyperventilation took over as she looked to her friend. She needed air, anything, time to think. Why could she not remember what Mai had said earlier?
Oh, no. It happened again. She thought, refusing to dwell more as she left the room towards her own, slamming the door behind her.
"OUT!" She growled to the handmaidens, making them jump as they hurried away.
Scrambling to the vanity, Azula reapplied her horrendous make-up with trembling hands. Like Agni's Hell, Mai. She thought, wiping away her imperfect eyeliner and restarting. I can't be Izumi's mother. She cursed when the bottle slipped from her hands. I'm a monster. She reminded herself of Ursa's words.
"Such a weak woman!" She said to the mirror before retrieving the bottle to start the process over. "That bitch's son sure likes fucking this monster!"
Azula knew she needed to get a grip before she reentered the ballroom. Everyone hated the monster. Grasping her thoughts, she straightened her back on her vanity's stool, staring at the finished product. She dismissed Lady Miserable from her mind and thought of the egg in her uncle's clutches which brought a smile across her face. Perhaps not all was lost.
#
At the sound of an unknown object crashing against hard flooring, Azula pushed her bewildered older brother away and glared at him. The fire lord brought his fist to lips, clearing his throat before his eyes met his sibling's, though lacking the same anger that flashed from her golden orbs.
"There are at least a thousand-people frolicking our home, Idiot," hissed Azula, wondering what possessed her scarred brother to get so intimately close.
With a shrug, Zuko smoothed his robes. "So, what?" he asked, making his sister's nose wrinkle in disgust.
Leading with her shoulder, she pushed past the taller man, fists clenched. Her emotions were getting the best of her, yet again, and she cursed herself for it. Father would be furious at her actions, but…
Ozai doesn't matter, anymore. She reminded herself. Zuko's fire lord. The world is safe now. The avatar called it balancing. Things were balancing in the world. Everything, but me. Thought the princess, ignoring her brother's calls for her to return to him.
Making her way down the corridor, she stopped at a mirror to check her make-up. Thankfully, she looked well enough to return to Izumi's celebration and not like the crazed girl she had been years ago. In an instant, she felt transformed as she blinked several times, smirking at the mirror image of herself. She was a new woman now, despite what anyone else felt or thought. People were constantly treating her like she was frail, but she was anything but a weakling. Besides any child who could survive Ozai's fathering…
"It was a close call," said the avatar, making her turn to face him. Of course, a weakling would save her friend…What has happened to you? We used to be perfect! Now, I have to clean up this mess YOU made when you started getting a conscience and shit. She scolded herself, barely hearing the sound of the air nomad's voice. "It's good you told me about it when you did. You're a good friend, Azula".
The firebender gave a dismissive shrug. "So, Misery will live, after all?" She asked to be sure.
Avatar Aang gave a smirk. "Yeah, but she didn't seem happy about it," he answered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Serves her right…she doesn't get to just opt out whenever she wants, like another Ursa. Izumi deserves better! Azula silently praised her weak side for the action, considering it payback for the Boiling Rock.
"Don't worry, that's just her way of saying 'thank you'," she lied smoothly to the avatar. With each stride, she thought less on the fire lady. Besides, it was rather inconvenient and selfish of Mai to thrust the responsibility of raising Izumi on her no matter how jealous she was about their "relationship".
Of course, "weak half" would flip about the true nature of "love" for their brother, but with age and no one else to lean on, the man in Zuko had simply noted the woman in his sister, making their recent interactions…uncomfortable. Azula chuckled. It's a good thing I am here. She told herself.
"What?" Asked the woman when she noticed the tattooed man had not left her presence. "Are you expecting a reward for your feats?" Aang chuckled as always, making Azula suck her teeth.
"I have matters to attend to, Avatar," she stated, regally, prepared to sashay away, when a hand grasped her wrist to still her.
Azula looked to the hand on her wrist, then up to the man it belonged to.
"Thank you," said the avatar, softly. "You don't know how much that ceremony meant to me".
The plain, sweet goodness of the man was enough to rot the woman's teeth. She wanted to lie about it being all Zuzu's idea again, but obviously the man knew the truth and Azula could care less, either way. That was the other half's idea anyway, while she was the ensemble of perfection.
You're losing your touch. She told herself. It was either that or the rules of life had changed more than she originally thought.
"Aang!"
Both benders' heads jerked in the direction of the fire lord's voice. Aang, of course, smiled at his friend, preparing to tell the news of Lady Misery's survival. Azula, however, knew her brother better than her own mind and sent a glare his way.
"She's alive?" Asked the fire lord, when the news was revealed. For once, Azula found it difficult to read his true thoughts.
"She was poisoned," added Aang. "I can stay a few days to make sure she recovers".
Zuko's eyes widened. "No, that won't-"
Idiot! Azula screamed in her head at him. "Yes, please do, Avatar!" She cut in quickly.
Aang looked between the two before giving a curt nod. "I'll let Katara know," he answered before the moment grew more awkward.
"You should be grateful," Azula hissed low, in case the man was not out of earshot. "The man saved your wife".
"Of course I am," answered Zuko, though his tone was unconvincing, and Azula did not need aura reading to know he was lying. "I just don't feel comfortable with the way he stares at you like fresh kale soup".
"Oh, like you do?" Countered the former princess with an eyeroll. "Grow up, Zuzu. We're adults. You can't forget yourself every time a man wants to fuck me".
The bared teeth, made Azula chuckle haughtily before a flash of pink caught the siblings' peripherals.
"Oh, I…ahem, hiya Princess…I mean, I didn't hear anything!" Piped the "friend" both halves of Azula avoided like the plague. Red-faced, Ty Lee hurriedly rushed down the hall towards the women's restroom.
"Or woman," Azula added with a smirk at Zuko's grimace.
#
The moment the siblings rejoined the plethora of guests in the ballroom, Azula could feel the eyes on them as if they were the honorees of the party. Azula held her head high. This was her at pique condition. She was always a natural at these types of events when her other half was not busy embarrassing them with awkward teenage flirting that resulted in her having to save face by burning an admiral's son's home to the ground for hurting the weaker half's feelings.
She instantly noted the avatar's staring from his table and swallowed her chuckle before floating away, confident she caught the powerful avatar's hazel eyes as she joined her family. Deciding that the other half was better suited to deal with Uncle Fuddy and company, she left her to it after she took a seat.
Uncle Iroh's icy cold stare was on her. Though she wasn't a stranger to the old man's suspicious gazes, she was rather surprised to see it, especially after their last encounter. Azula refused to lock eyes with her murdering mother, of course, along with the fire lord's quick looks of longing as well. She felt panicked and unequipped to deal with the scrutiny. Blinking twice, Perfection revealed herself, yet again.
Seriously, Azula! How did we get to this point? Perfection scolded, rolling her eyes. What an irritating man their brother could be. Azula had been so worried about the awkward moment on the balcony, imagine if she remembered more about her and her brother's "exchanges". Perfection wanted to laugh at the poor sap, but she decided to spare her weaker half as they had enough to deal with currently.
Perfection sighed, giving nods of approval to varying dignitaries after their speeches. She was well on her third glass of red wine when a familiar urge hit her that was not Azula's usual urge for a cigar. Avatar Aang had just begun his speech after his wife. Perfection blinked thrice times over the rim of her glass of wine, her eyes moving from the air nomad's lips downward to his jutting chest. She felt as though her skin was on fire. Luckily, applause broke her trance and she stood before the councilman could make his way center stage.
"Where are you going?" Hissed the fire lord, instantly.
Perfection waved him away, disgusted. "To breathe," she snapped, grasping the hem of her gown. "Agni, you are such a fucking pain," she added to Zuko's dismay, hurrying away with a dismissive wave for the guards not to follow her. Unlike the weak Azula, Perfection did not need escorts. Her mind was on a singular mission, one that Azula would regret, but fortunately won't remember. After all, if it wasn't for her, Azula would never have any fun.
#
The egg in Iroh's pocket gave a shake that made the old man jerk. He had noticed Azula and Zuko's quick, heated exchange along with her hasty exit. He was thankful Zuko had not gone after his sister. The act would have been considered extremely rude. The general tried to erase the images from his mind of what he had witnessed on the balcony. He planned to discuss the matter with the fire lord very soon, however.
Azula's abrupt exit did make him feel more at ease, at least. Ikem and Kiyi left their perch to join others in dancing on the ballroom floor, soon after the speeches which left the old general, Ursa and the fuming fire lord. Iroh did not want to broach the subject with his nephew's mother around, so he made small talk with the woman.
"I wonder when this episode will pass," the woman suddenly mumbled, earning her a glare from her son that Iroh noticed.
"Mother," said the man, sternly.
"Iroh should know, Zuko," insisted Ursa, closing her eyes if attempting to block out the world.
"We've dealt with it before. Azula will come around like she always does".
"They're getting more frequent. She can't handle this, Zuko. Perhaps you should consider having her readmitted".
"No, never," growled Zuko, shocking the general with his tone towards the mother he adored. "Azula's place is right here," before the older adults could speak, the fire lord was up leaving his throne to thank the nobles, dignitaries etcetera for supporting his daughter.
Iroh felt the egg in his pocket yet again. Finally, after a long pause, Iroh braved to lean towards Ursa to say, "Tell me about Azula's episodes".
#
Perfection smiled at the knock on her bedroom door. She hated wasting time, especially when she felt like this. Her inner thighs were slick as she made her way to the door with light steps. Only one thing was on her mind. Her grin stretched as the object of her desires stood before her in the door frame. Before he could speak, she grasped him to silently state her intentions, though he was aware as he was semi-stiff between her fingers, already.
She felt beautiful under his gaze, like a perfect, porcelain doll that needed to be broken. Yes, she wanted to be fucked tonight, hard. Azula had made a fool of herself crying into their uncle's arms like a child! What a disgrace. Tears were for the weak like her. Now it was up to Perfection to forget the mess Azula had made of their life of being Lord Zuzu's lapdog, protecting his mother and her family, his miserable wife and daughter day in and day out.
Banishing the thoughts, Perfection relished in the fact that she had settled the score on Azula's behalf with their brother. She denounced their position as princess in front of the world, and despite their brother's advances, which once worked in the past times she fucked him when there were no better men to be had, she was still leaving! Take that, weak half!
Such a weak woman! She scolded her mind, leading the man by the cock to her bed.
The man currently under her spell was only useful for one thing. Perfection was reminded instantly of that one when her dress was discarded, and she was bent over the bed's edge, the scent of musk, sweat and air nomad filling her nostrils. She knew from his smacks against her backside that this would be a royal fucking and she took the bedsheets between her teeth, spreading her knees in anticipation.
Azula was placed properly far away in Perfection's mind. Right now, Perfection was a freak of the night for the world's so-called savior. He was hooked from her tight, drenched walls and willingness to do any and everything he could conjure in his fantasies. She was more than happy to please.
His gasps weren't new to this half of the former crowned princess, though, her "true self" would constantly wonder where people got the "ridiculous ideas" about her and the numerous men she never remembered. Perfection had enough fun for both of them, from noble men and women, to their brother, the avatar and numerous other nameless and faceless men that she did not care to keep a record of.
Was not sure how well I could execute this idea, but yes Azula has an alter ego associated with the Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. I reveal the alter ego by name "Perfection" towards the end as not to confuse anyone. Let me know what you think! QTZ.