Azula quirked an eyebrow at the slightly hysterical laugh that greeted her.
"Pleased to see me, dear Zuzu? I'm flattered." Cool, calm, domineering with that slight trace of derision. Definitely Azula.
"Not really." He replied with a shrug. It was the honest truth, he didn't care anymore. Uncle was a traitor from the beginning and nothing she did could hurt him like that.
She almost seemed at a loss. Clearly she had witnessed everything, and she was likely behind the invitation in the first place. But then the moment passed and she was back in control, so swiftly none noticed it.
"Well then, I hope you don't mind?" She asked with a poisoned smile, and gave a small gesture towards Iroh. Immediately two Dai Li on either side of her stepped forward and shot their rock fists at the still stunned Iroh. Acting on instinct, Zuko blasted the missiles apart and then followed up fluidly with two controlled explosions that floored the agents without singeing his sister.
The standing Dai Li gaped at the instant defeat of their companions, then remembered themselves not half a second later and took their stances. Zuko readied himself for what must be the fight of his life. So many earthbending masters and Azula.
And then he remembered he no longer cared, and lowered his arms. "Sorry. Reflex. Go ahead." Was that him speaking? It sounded... Cold.
If she had quirked her eyebrow before, Azula now raised them both as high as possible. And quickly waved down her twitchy companions.
"Well look who grew up. Just a little too late though, Zuzu. Father changed his mind; you two are to be executed. Though you do get the honour of a formal execution at sunset, benefits of royal blood and all. Take them!" The last was barked to her Dai Li, who reacted instantly.
Most turned their gloves on Zuko, after all he had just knocked down two of their number in an instant. He fell under the weight of their attacks, pinned to the ground and restrained. This left Iroh free to destroy the far fewer gloves sent his way with a massive blast of fire from his mouth, Dragon of the West indeed, before fleeing through a newly made hole in the wall.
Zuko didn't bother struggling. Half of him was ready to explode and rage until the world was nothing more than ash and glass. The other half just didn't care anymore. Uncle was a traitor from the beginning and nothing she did could hurt him like that.
He felt them pick him up and half carry him somewhere, felt them punch him, felt them throw him tumbling down some sort of tunnel into a crystal-lit cave. Felt himself reacting to everything. But none of it mattered.
And then as he landed face-first on the ground, his head clearing just in time for him to hear a girl call his name. He collected himself and sat up.
Ah, the water bender. Of course.