Azula sees him a half second before he sees her. Zuko is quick to react and before Azula can even open her mouth to speak, he flips her and is dragging her into the river. She flails but he is angry so much so that he overwhelms her attempts to fight back. Not that she is putting up a serious defense. She came with the intent of smoothing things over and Zuko will be less likely to accept her apology if she beats him senseless.
The Crown Prince has no such reservations as he drags her into deeper waters.
She kicks and tries to find purchase on the rocky bottom but he sweeps her feet out from under her and plunges her head first into the river. Azula fights and manages to break the surface to gasp for air.
"Stop!" Her words are lost as he plunges her back under.
Each time her head breaks the surface of the water, Zuko yells threats and curses, before pushing her down.
The commotion draws the attention of the others who are by this point standing on the beach, watching in confusion.
Azula strikes, bloodying his nose, which grants her a momentary reprieve to slip out of his grasp. She makes a go for the beach. With a yell, Zuko pounces, wrapping one arm around her throat as he yanks her back into the deep and pushing her under.
"You're going to drown her!" Aang calls over the noise.
Zuko glares, even as he pushes his sister's head farther into the water. "That's the idea."
He really isn't leaving her any other option and her next strike is low but effective in releasing his hold on her. Zuko yelps and Azula's head breaks the surface of the water again. She swims away putting some distance between them.
"I'm not here to fight!" She yells between gasps for air.
A water whip strikes her soundly in the back of the head before a wave of water drags her under.
"Katara!" Aang yells even as he moves to counter with a wave that drops Azula onto the beach instead.
Earthen bonds form around her wrists and ankles as she drops her head to the sandy shore breathing heavy.
Katara is wading into the river to help an irate Zuko to shore.
"Why are you here?" Zuko grits out glaring murderously at her as he leans heavily on the Water Bender.
"To apologize," Azula raises her head to look up at him. "I told Uncle you wouldn't understand."
Zuko's eyes brighten at the mention of Iroh. "Where is he?"
Dropping her head back onto the sand with a thump, she gives a short laugh. "I wish I knew. I haven't seen him in months."
Zuko seethes. "Is he alive at least?"
"I certainly didn't kill him." Her face grows serious. "I don't know. We were attacked and the ship sunk."
He stares at her unsure if he should trust her or not.
"For what it's worth, she doesn't seem to be lying." Toph shrugs.
"She's fooled you before, Toph." Sokka reminds them.
Frustration from months of travel and the numerous pitfalls she has found herself in bubbles to the surface. "I am not lying."
Zuko snorts.
"I have been exiled the same as you, brother, and the Fire Lord has put a price on my head."
This gets his attention. "I don't believe you."
Azula growls as she pulls at the binding sand. "In my pack, you will find a wanted poster."
Suki retrieves it and rifles through her things before producing the paper and holding it up for the others to see.
Sokka peers closer at it. "You could have this made up to trick us."
Azula exhales and smoke comes out. "Zuko, please believe me. I can prove it to you."
He moves to stand over his sister, curiosity etched on his face. "How?"
"Release me and I will show you but not them." She glares at the others standing around.
Zuko's eyes widen in understanding. "No." He whispers in disbelief.
The anger fades from her eyes and he sees the truth in them. "Yes."
He holds her gaze for a beat longer. "Let her up."
Katara opens her mouth to protest but he cuts her off. "Now." He says to Toph.
The bindings disappear and she stands up slowly so as to not alarm them.
"Are we doing this with an audience?"
Zuko can see her act for what it is. There is an underlying sense of fear and nervousness behind the bravado. "Go on, I'll be fine."
"I don't think it's such a great idea." Sokka says hesitantly.
"Toph can keep an eye on things." Zuko allows.
Azula huffs. "She can stay for all I care but the rest of you can kindly leave."
It's as much as a compromise as they will get so they reluctantly move away.
Watching them retreat she casts a look at the blind girl. "You seem shorter close up."
Toph smiles. "Funny, you seem just as psychotic half-drowned."
"Quit stalling," Zuko snaps.
Turning away from him she begins to unlace her shirt. Letting it drop down her back, she stands and waits.
Toph frowns at the sudden rise in Sparky's heart rate and temperature. He only gets like this when he is really, really angry. It makes his anger from before seem like a vacation.
"Who did this to you?" Zuko's voice is low and menacing.
"Who do you think?" Azula snaps at him.
He reaches out and runs a finger over the jagged marks. They are nearly healed but the angry stripes scar her back up and down.
"Why?" Zuko chokes out.
Azula pulls her shirt up and begins to lace it again. "For letting you and the Avatar slip through my fingers."
A hand on her shoulder turns her to face him. "I'm sorry, Azula. I'm so sorry." He wraps her up in his arms and pulls her close.
Azula is not one to hug but the months of exile have worn on her and she leans against him. "I'm sorry as well, brother."
Toph stands, uncertain of just what has happened. "So we all love each other again?"
Zuko looks Azula over. He can see the exhaustion etched on her face. Her eyes have a slightly haunted look to them. "You could say that."
"Great, cause I'm starving. We were about to eat before you and Princess decided to go for a swim." Toph turns and walks back towards camp.
In the distance they can hear her herding the others along.
"Banishment isn't so bad once you get use to it." Zuko says with a grin.
Azula gives a weak smile. "It's been absolute hell so far. I wasn't really sure I would ever find you."
He frowns. "How did you find us?"
She picks up her pack, tying it closed again. "You're easier to find than you think."
Zuko makes a face, as he leads her back to camp. "Great."
They regard her with suspicion. Well, almost all of them do.
"Here, it's not on par with the palace kitchen but it grows on you." Aang says handing her a bowl of some sort of soup.
She looks down at the steaming liquid. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Princess." He says as he sits beside her with his own bowl. They are seated at the edge of camp away from the warmth of the fire.
Azula takes a sip and blanches at the taste.
"Give it time." Aang encourages her. "Besides Katara made it and you want to score as many points with her as you can."
Azula glances over at the Water Bender. "She's sitting awfully close to Zuko." She observes.
Aang gives a laugh. "Do not point that out to Sokka or we will have another attempted drowning."
She smiles at this.
They eat in quiet listening to the sounds of the group around the campfire.
"Why are you being nice to me?" Azula asks suddenly.
The Air Bender doesn't look at her. "You were only doing what you had to do."
Forcing herself to gulp down the rest of the soup, she sits the bowl down and tries to not make a face.
"Well, so much for that. I guess in retrospect it's a good thing I failed to capture you."
His eyes are so serious when he looks at her. "Is it?"
Azula stills as she meets his gray eyes. "It could have been worse." She says quietly.
Aang nods but doesn't look away. "Zuko didn't tell me anything but I could tell he was upset and I know your father isn't exactly the forgiving type."
Azula stretches her legs out in front of her. "He's not. He was furious but I didn't give him the satisfaction of hearing me scream." She smiles at the Fire Lord's frustration.
The Air Bender flinches at the implication in her words. "If you need anything, just let me know." He says softly. "I can heal some but Katara is really the better healer."
Azula casts her eyes over to the Water Bender and watches as her brother leans in close to say something in the girl's ear.
"I somehow doubt she will be keen to help me out. She was quick enough to help Zuko drown me."
Aang laughs. "I'm surprised you let him try."
For months she has searched for Zuko to try to make amends. Being on the run from the Fire Nation has not been an easy task.
"We have to stop Ozai." Azula says with a grim certainty.
"You mean I have to stop Ozai." Aang amends.
Azula spares him a glance. "Not like you have to do it alone."
With a small shake of his head, he looks up at the sky. "Actually, I do."
He sits in profile to her and she eyes him carefully. All their hopes rest on him. If he were to fail to stop the Fire Lord, to stop her father, then she can't imagine what will happen.
"You can do it. We just have to make sure you're ready."
Looking at her with a hint of surprise, he asks, "We?"
Azula casts a look back to where Zuko was but is now absent from. Golden eyes flick around seeking him out but failing to locate the prince.
"It would seem to me that your Fire Bending sifu has other things on his mind."
The Water Bender is nowhere to be found either.
Aang laughs. "It's a poorly kept secret."
Azula presses her lips together and hums. "So it would seem." Zuko really has been slumming it if he is taking up with a Water Tribe peasant. "Fortunately for you, I am a prodigy." She says with a cold sense of satisfaction.
"Prodigy?" Aang rolls it over on his tongue. Thoughts flitting to other things. "That sounds promising."
As if picking up on his thoughts, Azula smiles. "I'm sure it will be."
AN: Azula finally finds Zuko and the Gaang. No big reveals in this one but I thought we could do with something more lighthearted today.