It was her birthday.
There were guests from all over the Capital here to celebrate this day for their Fire Princess. There were presents piled up on two giant tables. There was a feast in her honor fit for the Earth King. Where ever she walked, eyes were always on her form begging to be recognized by the stunning beauty that she was. Young men terrified to get close even though they looked from afar. Young girls that bore jealousy in their eyes upon everything they wished to have, whispered to each other at the tables.
Princess Azula, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and Fire Lady Ursa, wanted for nothing.
And there she walked, with her head held high. Her signature smirk speaking of the confidence she masked herself in. To anyone here, they would only see a powerful Princess loving the attention she was being given tonight.
Then why did it seem to him that she looked like the loneliest person in the ball room?
Zuko's concerned gaze watched her from across the room. He stood by Mai who was listening to Ty lee babble about the boys she had encountered this evening. He had stopped paying attention as soon as he caught sight of his sister, not that he was really listening in the first place.
He had been learning to read Azula as of late, which had never been his intention to begin with. It was as if the person he thought he knew was just an illusion painted on a pretty face. Underneath the layers of intimidation and fear there was so much more to see.
Azula walked to the edge of the room, glancing casually at the guests that surrounded her before slipping away out into the royal garden. Zuko hesitated and then placed his wine down so that he could follow her. Even though their relationship had put them at odds with one another since that fateful night, he still had the obligation of making sure she was alright. They were brother and sister after all.
Once he made it outside he stopped to look around for her. It wasn't long before he spotted her beside the pond in which he and their mother used to sit at to feed the turtle ducks. Carefully he walked closer, being sure to not disturb her.
Azula gazed into the pond, watching as her reflection shifted and wavered in moonlight. There was a tense silence until she shot azure flames into the water with an angry cry, causing Zuko to jump. Mist sprayed into the air and evaporated from the heat. Steam rose up to engulf the Princess like a coffin, ready to suffocate her at any given moment but like the water, it too dissipated until there was nothing left.
Azula straightened up before speaking "Don't you know it's rude to spy on people Zuzu?" she turned her head to glare at him, her amber eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. He felt fear run through him for a brief moment. In these shadows, his sister looked deadly, and her unspoken threat seemed real.
The mask she wore, however, was not.
Zuko sighed as he stepped out from behind the tree to face her. Forcing himself not to show how much he wanted to turn tail and run, he shoved his hands in his coat pockets. "I wanted to make sure you were alright."
Azula turned around, her amber gaze flashed briefly and in that split second he saw hesitation and uncertainty. For all he knew, that could have been faked. Her voice was smooth and calculating "Why wouldn't I be? I came out here to get some fresh air. It's stifling when you have every man and woman coming over to congratulate you. Then they want to talk about your future and who you're going to marry." She scoffed "I have no time for such petty nonsense."
Zuko picked his words carefully "Talking or thinking about marriage?"
"Marriage of course," Azula snapped as she crossed her arms "It's a waste of time. I heard father was going to arrange a marriage for me but it never went through. The thought makes me laugh. If any of those cowards aren't brave enough to come and ask me to dance then they aren't worthy of my time."
"This isn't about the party is it…?" Zuko asked and for the first time in his life, Azula had nothing to say. The stern look in her eyes vanished being replaced by an insecurity he had never witnessed before in his life growing up with her.
Azula shook her head, her voice eerily quiet "There is so much more that you don't understand."
Zuko did not miss the hurt in her eyes.
Did it mean that much to her?
He spoke gently "If I'd known that's what you wanted I wouldn't have waited this long." He smiled softly as he extended his hand "Would you like to dance?"
Azula blushed furiously as she gritted her teeth "You think this is funny?"
"Not at all," He spoke genuinely, wanting to make sure that what he was offering was of mutual interests "I want to do this."
Azula hesitated before accepting his proposal with nod. Taking her hand in his, he pulled her off to the gazebo that had been recently built. He lit the torches with his bending but noticed some were manipulated to hold a blue tone instead. Turning to face her, he placed is hands around her waist while she wrapped her hands around his neck. He felt his heart rate steadily increase as he gazed into her amber eyes. He took in her raven colored hair, creamy skin, and athletic frame hugged tight by the blue kimono dress she wore. Her beauty was truly breathtaking and for a moment he felt so unworthy of her.
As they turned in a small circle to a silent tune of cricket mice, Azula blushed lightly, her eyes becoming wary "Stop gazing at me like a dumb struck rabbit."
He couldn't help but blush. He pressed his forehead against hers smiling "Can you blame me…?"
Azula let out a shaky breath "I suppose not…"
Zuko couldn't help himself as he kissed her gently, hating the weakness he had whenever she was around and as Azula pressed her lips back against his with just as much tenderness, he was sure that she felt the same way.