The Fire Lord's chamber was purpose built for intimidation- to raise an individual towards the image of a god. The Fire Lord was absolute, his word was law; his will was the will of the Fire Nation. The chamber made it clear that there was no questioning the Fire Lord as he was, in effect, Agni on Earth.

As the Fire Princess approached the perpetual wall of rising flame the silhouette of Fire Lord Zuko became more pronounced, noticeably smaller than the Fire Lord's before him and somehow visibly unsure- like he didn't exactly belong.

The Princess knelt and stared up at her brother, waiting for him to begin with a half smirk threatening to tear across her face.

"Well?" Zuko's tone was resigned, as if he had been worn down over several days from various sources.

"You're the one who wanted to see me." The Princess's tone made it clear that she wanted Zuko to stop wasting her time.

"This is the first time we've seen each other since..." Zuko unconsciously cleared his throat in a nervous gesture. "...the fight and you have nothing to say to me?"

"You won. What else is there to say?"

"Tell me it's over." Azula's brow furrowed in confusion, "Tell me it's over and I will believe you."

Azula sat in silence for a moment that seemed to stretch for an eternity. "It's over."

Zuko gave a slight nod before continuing. "Princess Azula you are hereby absolved of any consequences that may result from your actions when acting under the command of Fire Lord Ozai, my will is the will of Agni, so shall it be." Zuko's words flowed with absolute power and clarity, in that moment none could mistake him for anything but a son of Agni.

"I thank the Fire Lord for choosing the path of justice." Azula looked up at her brother expectantly, waiting for him to allow her to leave. As Zuko gave her a slight nod, the Princess rose and exited the chamber with her chin tilted high.

--

Azula found herself standing in the private royal gardens, looking across the small pond that had been her mother's favorite place to spend time with her favored child. The turtle-duck family swam happily around the small stretch of water. The father- inexplicably absent, yet the rest of the family were happily quacking regardless. Azula mused that the turtle-ducks should have migrated south by this time of the year and that perhaps she was simply imagining their presence. Failure and insanity- how appropriate.

"You always preferred the tree." Zuko's voice came out of nowhere, tinged with a confused inquisitiveness.

"The tree always seemed to better enjoy my company." Zuko's confusion was only compounded by this reply. Azula's tone offered no help as to its meaning.

"Your old room has been prepared for you. I'd hoped that you would remain in the palace."

"It would be proper. You haven't moved Uncle close to me I hope, the horrors of off-key music nights have spread throughout the nation."

The companionable humour achieved its purpose- Zuko began to unconsciously fidget and stared off in to the distance.

There was a pause. Zuko's tone turned official and grim. "Azula- about the fight..." The Princess turned to meet her brother's gaze, her expression was torn between a bitter glare and a disinterested glance.

"Don't." Her tone was kept restrained but one could hear the scream behind the word. "It's done."

Zuko stood there without moving, he understood. But he continued to stand there, as if he needed something else but could not ask for it.

Azula was unsure what it was, but after a moment it dawned on her. Sadness and defeat almost pushed down her brow. "I'm not going to try to kill you brother. What else would I have left?"

With a bow the Princess retired to her quarters, Zuko stood staring down at the turtle-ducks for several minutes before taking his leave as well.