"Okay, will you ever tell me the real reason you turned my idea down?" Azula asked her brother as they walked down the hall.
"What idea?"
"About asking father to help." She said quietly. "It could work and you know it."
"That's not the point, Azula…" Zuko replied shortly. The last thing he wanted was having this conversation with his sister right now. He was already mad at her for what she did with Mai. But that was something he could just scream his frustration off with her and it would be fine. Ozai was something complete different. Talking, even thinking, about him was hard. And when it comes to the former Fire Lord's relationship with Azula, things were even more complicated.
"It's not like I have never talked to him since I got back here." She said, impatiently.
Clearly, she was ready to pick up a fight. He had sort of won their last discussion, so she wanted to get even. It was always like this, since she was born. And even now that they were on the same side, he was still learning how to deal with her without tragic consequences. Letting her win was always the easiest way. But sometimes it was just impossible. And other times, he would just lose his temper and make a terrible decision that would drive her over the edge. After that conversation they had had the day after the party, things were better between them. The discussion they just had about his personal life didn't seem to affect that, stupid fights seemed to be part of their basic interaction anyway. However, talking about their father could change that.
Zuko didn't believe his sister would betray him choosing Ozai over him. He had never considered that possibility since day one. It wasn't as though he thought Azula wasn't capable of such a thing. One thing he had learned was that his sister was capable of anything. But he also knew she wasn't stupid. Ozai was a lost cause. He was a fallen ruler. He had lost his power and his bend. Even though he had some supporters, if he ever got the throne back, he wouldn't last very long. Zuko knew it and he knew Azula had already thought of it. She always thought of everything. So, in the beginning, he might have been afraid she would do something against him, something against his friends or even the people, but she would never help Ozai to be back in power. That was for sure.
For some reason, his sister visited Ozai though. Not once, but a few times. She never hid it. She didn't make a fuss about it either. Zuko didn't really understand why she would do such a thing. He also couldn't deny it was something that hurt him. Azula was never a caring sister. But there were times he would really believe she cared about him and in this last year these moments seemed to be more often. So, the fact she still wanted to see Ozai after all he had done to him hurt because he felt as though she couldn't care less. He knew it was something selfish to think since she might have had her reasons, but sometimes it was just hard to be the better person.
There was also another reason why he hated every time she saw Ozai. A reason he didn't quite know how to deal with. He feared for her. He knew what Ozai could do. What he could do to Azula. And for some reason, he didn't want his father to hurt her. Azula may have said she didn't believe Ozai cared for neither of them, but sometimes Zuko wondered if she actually believed that, if there wasn't a part of her that hoped for their father to care. He would understand that. He didn't know how to bring that up though. Being a protective brother, mostly to Azula, wasn't much his thing, but sometimes he couldn't really help it. However, he always seemed to mess things up because of it.
"I know, Azula. That isn't the problem."
"Then what?" She crossed her arms over her chest.
He decided he would give her the easiest answer. It wasn't a lie. He was a terrible liar anyway, but it wasn't the whole reason.
"Azula, you work for me now! Everything you would do is connected to my government. I don't want people to think I asked my father for help. What would they think of me?"
Azula shrugged. "Then, just blame me. Tell them you didn't allow me but I went anyway. That's totally something I would do."
The Fire Lord groaned and shook his head. "What's the matter with you? Do you want people to dislike you? I try to clean your reputation and you make it worse every time."
The Princess just rolled her eyes at her brother. "Whatever, Zuko. Let's just find the blind girl."
Sokka found the assassins in the forest. Actually he found one of them, the youngest. The same he helped scaping during the party. He led him to the place they were hiding. It was a small abandoned hut in the middle of the woods.
In the hut, there were several men. One was the leader, the oldest. Sokka had seen him before. The others were spread. The place was tight, so they couldn't move that much.
"How the hell did they find out we were coming?!" The leader asked angrily.
"How am I supposed to know?" Sokka answered angrily. He didn't know who was the person who gave him that note was, but if the murders didn't know anything about it, he thought it was better to keep it that way. "I didn't know you were coming! You lied to me!"
"Of course, we did!" The man replied. "You thought we would trust you easily like that?"
"That seemed to have worked pretty well…" Sokka commented with sarcasm.
The youngest one finally spoke, "He saved my life though. Agni knows what that devil princess would do if she caught me. I don't even want to know what she is doing to our friends who were caught." He looked genuinely alarmed and worried.
Sokka automatically opened his mouth to defend Azula, but then he just bit his tongue to be quiet. He wondered what she had done to these people, so they would be so scared of her. Actually, it wasn't that hard to think of something. His sister would probably agree with these guys. However, she would never do anything that extreme. At least, he hoped so.
"Yeah. You saved my son." The old one agreed, looking at Sokka. "So, you have some credits with us." Sokka nodded, facing the man seriously. "Look, some people were helping us. Powerful people." The main explained. Yes, the Governor is one of them, Sokka thought. "Not because they care if the Princess will be dead or not, but because they want the Fire Lord distracted with this whole mess. They have their own plans."
Sokka only nodded. "I see."
"That's how we got into the Palace the first times. But it's not exactly easy since there are guards everywhere." He went on. "Now we have you. And if you do your job well, we won't even need those nobles' help anymore. They are pretty mad at us for breaking into the party, when we weren't supposed to."
"So, were they at the party?" Sokka wanted a name. At least, then, he would have some proof.
The man ignored him though.
"Just listen. We are invading the Palace again and you are going to help us to get to the Princess without being caught." The old guy said and Sokka swallowed hard. He only thought of one thing. How he was going to protect Azula. "But we are not doing anything now. Everyone must be alarmed now. Let's wait more. But be prepared. When the time comes, we will call you again."
"Fine." Sokka agreed. He was about to leave when he turned around and asked. "Why do you hate her so badly?"
One of the guys frowned. "What's the matter, boy? Having seconds thoughts?"
He tried to look as mad as he could. "No! I just… Well, you know my reasons. I want to know yours."
"Let's just say she destroyed my life." The old man said. "And now it's time for her to pay me back."
"How is that even possible?!" Zuko asked, shocked, staring at the map he and Azula were tracing.
The siblings were sat on the floor, across from each other at a table. Toph was laid, spread on a couch next to them. The earthbender was trying to help them trace all the tunnels under the Palace, despite her blindness.
"Actually, it makes sense. It's a huge and very old Palace, Zuzu." Azula commented, not bothering looking at her brother.
"But how didn't anyone know about it?"
Azula shrugged. "We knew about some of them… I found some, exploring as a kid…" She paused, tracing a line on the paper. "Well, those passages were built many years ago and only the Fire Lords were allowed to know. So, they could scape if there was an invasion or something. The Fire Lords were supposed to pass it on, but I guess some of them were afraid of their own children." She glanced at her brother. "Who could blame them, right? And then, this knowledge was lost."
"Enters me," Toph said, proudly from the couch. "You are welcome."
Azula rolled her eyes. "Great. You did your job. Leave, now." She groaned, tiredly.
The Earthbender just ignored her though. The Princess couldn't help but feel both intrigued and outraged that the other girl didn't seem to fear her. She just treated her like any other person. With simply no respect.
Dawn was breaking. A ray of weak sunshine was coming from the window. The Princess was exhausted, her hair was down and messy and she was still wearing her nightgown. Her brother didn't look much better. He actually looked a bit worse, since he was still wearing his Fire Lord's outfit from the day before, which gave him a look that he hadn't washed up for a while. Azula thought of that with disgust. On the table, there were several cups of teas and many pieces of scrolls.
"Ignore her, Toph. She is just grumpy because of sleep deprivation." Zuko muttered, annoyed.
Azula glared at him, but before she could anything the younger girl replied, "Wow, so I guess she never sleeps, right?"
Zuko couldn't help but snort. Azula just kicked him under the table.
That was how Sokka found them.
"Morning?" He entered the room, looking quite worried. "The guards told me you were here. What happened?"
"Well, your friend finally decided to be helpful," Azula replied, sipping a cup of tea.
Toph made an annoyed sound. "Your girlfriend is just upset because I was able to accomplish something she wasn't."
Azula gagged at the sound of 'girlfriend' and she didn't stop coughing until the end of Toph's sentence. What the hell? How did she know that? Did Aang say anything? She was going to kill him. Burn every cell in his body.
Sokka seemed just as perplexed as she was. He blinked at Toph, waiting for an explanation. Then, he realized she couldn't see his face or the way he was glaring at her. His main worry right now was Zuko. He would certainly snap. Sokka could already hear the screams.
"Okay, Toph, I know you meant to insult Azula, but I'm pretty sure Sokka was the most offended one," Zuko commented with half a smile, still looking down at the map on the table. "No one deserves a nightmare such as dating my sister…"
Azula was blinking at him, confused. She also seemed to be expecting a dramatic reaction from her brother. "What?" She mumbled, before realizing Zuko thought it was just a joke. Maybe it really was. Toph couldn't know anything about it, could she?
Zuko frowned at her. "Why are you looking at me like that? I meant it. No offense, but I pity the guy whoever tries to date you."
Azula noticed Sokka sighing in relief before he giggled and sat next to Zuko. "I agree."
The Princess couldn't help but glare at him, feeling a little bit offended. "Oh really?" She asked with poison. "Well, I'd rather go on date with a flying bison than with you. At least they smell better."
"Hey! I don't smell!" Sokka called her out, looking genuinely annoyed.
The Princess just smirked at him, pleased with herself.
Toph for some reason remained in silent. And Azula only wondered what that silence meant.
"Enough. Sokka, look here." Zuko started, and then explained to him what they had been doing the whole night. Sokka also told them what he had discovered.
"So, they are going to invade the Palace again…" Zuko seemed to be thinking out loud.
"Yeah, but now that's not a problem!" Sokka, on the other hand, seemed pretty energetic. "Look what you guys found out. Now we know every passage under the Palace. We can easily intercept them!"
Azula nodded, looking at him. "Exactly. Now, we just let them come…"
"And we will be ready to catch them!" Sokka completed and the Princess just nodded at him, smirking.
"Great. We only have to know when that's happening, so we can send mom, Kiyi, Noren and you away from here." Zuko said, turning to Azula. "Just in case things get dangerous."
Azula raised one eyebrow. "I get why they need to leave. But me? Excuse, but I'm the most powerful person inside this Palace right now!"
"Bold of you to assume you are more powerful than me, Princess!" Toph shouted at her.
"Well, we can solve that easily…." Azula started, but Zuko raised one hand to stop her.
"No. Azula, they are coming after you. It's better if you are not here."
The Princess rolled her eyes. "I won't leave, Zuzu. But we can discuss that later." She stood up.
Sokka rose up lazily, following her.
"Where do you think you are going?" Zuko asked, kind of outraged.
Azula turned around to face him. "To sleep? I spent the whole night looking at your face and Miss I'm-The-Best-Earthbender-In-The-World. I'm sick of you."
"Well. At least, we agree at something, Princess." Toph commented. "And I can't even see your faces."
Zuko rolled his eyes at them. "That's too bad. We have this meeting, remember?"
"Meeting? Today?" Azula looked at him shocked. She always knew everything that was going on in the Palace, since their Father's government. She would certainly know if they had a meeting now. Unless…
"I sent a report to your office the other day," Zuko explained, giving her a sort of disapproving look.
Damn it. The reports. She had barely worked these past days. It was all a blur. All she could remember was that she had had sex with Sokka. In her office. In her room. In his room. And once in the balcony. What was wrong with her? That was a question she had been asking herself since Sokka appeared in her life. He did nothing but a great mess, and still, she couldn't get enough of him. However, right now she wanted to kill him. She was completely unprepared because of him.
"Oh. The report. Sure." She lied to her brother.
"Yeah," Her brother also stood up. "And it will be a long day. You know how it is when the Earth Kingdom ambassadors are here."
"The Earth Kingdom ambassadors?!" Azula asked in shocked. This couldn't be happening.
"Well, yes. Didn't you read the report?"
"I must have forgotten!" She said, frustrated. "Damn it. I can't believe it!" She groaned, angrily. "Okay, I'm not going! You can tell me how it went later."
She could notice Sokka was frowning curiously at her. The Princess was often quite stressed out over work but she never reacted like this. She never refused to work. For some reason, Zuko seemed to understand the reason, because he just sighed.
"Come on, Azula. Don't be ridiculous. You have to go."
"I'm tired!" She complained, her voice came out silly and childishly. "Plus, I don't get why I have to go. They hate me. Everything I say or do they treat it as either a threat or an act of a crazy woman!" She explained, raising her voice.
Zuko shrugged. "I thought you liked it when people were scared of you."
"Don't patronize me!" She groaned. "I like it when people take me seriously. In this case, they know I won't do anything to them! So it's just humiliating!" The Princess crossed her arms over her chest, looking away from her brother. "I'm not going." She muttered.
"Azula, it's important for you to be there and show them that you care about what they have to say. And that you've changed…" Zuko's voice sounded gentler now.
"But I don't care! And I haven't changed!" She shouted back.
Azula heard Toph's laugh behind Zuko.
"Isn't it obvious? She is scared." The Earthbender rose from the couch and walked past them. "The mighty Princess Azula… A coward. That's unexpected."
The Princess gritted her teeth as she glared at Toph.
"I imagine she looks like she wants to kill me now." Toph chuckled. "But she is quiet because she has no argument since it's the truth."
"QUIET, YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Azula shouted angrily, she could feel her cheeks burning though.
"Are you scared to face them, Azula? Is that it?" Zuko asked with a concerned tone.
"NO!" The Princess gave him an incredulous look. "I have been with them before. Why would I be scared? It's just annoying to be around people who think I'm a madwoman and have no respect for anything I say."
"See? Scared." Toph coughed as she left the room.
Azula groaned. "Okay, fine. I'm going to this stupid meeting."
"Azula, if you-" Zuko tried to say something but was cut off.
"DON'T!" She glared at her brother making him shut his mouth. "I will just wash up and go to the throne room within one hour."
"Your friends are definitely trying to drive me crazy!" Azula growled as she walked in her room.
She called two servants and asked to prepare her bath, and then she sat on her bed, sulking.
Sokka only laughed at her reaction.
She glared at him and crossed her arms. "What?! Do you think this is funny?"
He shook his head and sat next to her. "Hey, calm down… It's just funny how you felt so attacked by what Toph said. You shouldn't care so much about what people think of you."
"I don't! Actually, I couldn't care less about what that blind little pest thinks of me. I'm just going so Zuko will leave me alone!" She explained, still fuming.
Sokka nodded, suppressing a smile. "Sure."
After servants left the room announcing the bath was ready, Sokka leaned in and kissed her. Azula felt all the tension and worries melting away. But then she pulled back, blinking trying to come back to reality.
"What's the matter?" He asked, his eyes widened at her.
"Sokka," she sounded a little breathless. "We are going too far!"
"What do you mean?" Sokka frowned.
"I missed Zuko's reports because the last couple of days I did nothing but make out with you!"
Sokka smirked. "We did more than make out."
Azula punched his arm.
"Ouch! Okay, okay… I get it!" He said, rubbing his arm. "I'm sorry, really, I didn't want to interfere with your work or anything. It's just hard to control myself when I'm around you." He smiled, leaning in again and brushing his lips against her neck. "You are too beautiful, you know that?"
The Princess automatically closed her eyes and let out a moan, as she threw her head back. "Damn you…" She mumbled.
"Sorry, sorry…" He said, suddenly pulling back. "I will behave, I promise."
It took her a while to focus again. Her mind was blank. Her body on fire. She felt dizzy. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him, she thought as she looked at his stupid smile and his bright blue eyes.
She took a deep breath. "Good. I need to focus now! You have no idea how the meetings with the Earth Kindgom ambassadors are disastrous." She rolled eyes her. "They really hate me."
"I can imagine…" He winced. "I just thought I could help you relax…"
Azula gritted her teeth. "No!" She stood up abruptly. "Don't."
He laughed a little. "Alright, alright. I'm waiting for you outside, then."
She nodded awkwardly. "Good!"
Sokka found Katara and Aang at the balcony having a snack.
The minute he sat there with them, Katara stopped what she was doing and looked at him inquisitively. "Sure. So, will you tell me what kind of witchcraft Azula did to you so suddenly you blindly trust her?"
Aang just took a deep breath. He knew those discussions between Sokka and Katara were always long and difficult since both were so stubborn. And he understood both sides.
Even though he didn't hold a grudge as bad as Katara, he had to admit it wasn't exactly easy to see Azula as an ally. After all, she had almost killed him. He would forever carry a scar because of that. At the same time, he trusted Sokka and he knew the boy wasn't stupid to trust Azula like that if he hadn't a reason. Not to mention, he hadn't seen Sokka so crazy for a girl in a while.
"Katara, listen." Sokka took a deep breath. "I know you have all the reasons to be suspicious of Azula. But have you considered that you might be exaggerating? Think about Zuko. Remember how long it took for you to trust him? And in the end, he was actually on our side. Azula may be complicated but you are also very difficult with this kind of thing!"
Katara glared at him. "But the situation is completely different! Azula is not like Zuko. Zuko apologized! He tried to fix things! She doesn't even try to be nice to us."
"Yeah, you are right about that." Aang agreed and he saw Sokka looking at him frustrated. He was supposed to be helping to improve Azula's reputation. "No, seriously, she doesn't even try to be nice, but it's not because she doesn't care about other people's feelings. Well, at least not only because of that. I think she wants to be seen like this."
"Like a bitch?" Katara muttered.
Sokka glared at her. "KATARA!"
His sister just ignored him, crossing her arms over her chest.
Aang sighed. "Guys, I'm serious. Think! She lost everything at the end of the war! And now she is here, working with the people who defeated her. I think that might really hurt her ego. So, that's why she treats us badly. To make herself feel better. So she can she feels as her old self."
Sokka's eyes widened to Aang as he nodded. "That makes sense! I mean, just now, she told Zuko she hadn't changed! I think she doesn't want us to believe she is actually different because she sees that as a weakness!"
Katara shook her head. "What?! Being at the good side is a weakness?"
"To Azula? Yes." Sokka answered. "At least admitting it."
"That makes no sense!" His sister shouted
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Of course, it doesn't! It's Azula…" He said with some sort of annoyance. Aang let out a small laugh. "The thing is, if you keep accusing her and pointing out what she does wrong she will only fight you back. She will only keep acting like this. You need to get past this."
"Oh, you would know, wouldn't you?" Katara suddenly had an accusing tone.
Sokka looked at her with his eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"She acts differently with you. I saw it. She is almost nice." She said with some sort of disgust. "Why is that?"
Sokka swallowed. Did Katara notice something? Did Aang say something? No, he would never… Azula was right, they were getting too reckless. "I… I don't know. I think she trusts me now. Then, she acts like this. It's hard to understand her, Katara!" He groaned. "I'm just asking for you to be less… you… around her."
The girl narrowed her eyes at her brother. "Let me see if I get it right. She tries to kill us. She never apologizes or acts nicely. She keeps doing horrible things. And I have to change?"
Aang sighed. "Katara, you have to be the reasonable one."
Sokka nodded exasperatedly. "Yes, please! Because Azula would never!"
The waterbender sighed deeply. "Fine. I will try. But if she ever-"
"I know, I know!" Sokka cut her off.
At that moment, Suki and Toph had arrived at the balcony.
"Hey, guys!" Suki smiled at them. "What's going on?"
"We are talking about Azula." Aang replied with a tired smile.
Suki's eyes suddenly widened. "Wait, did you tell them-?" The question seemed to come out faster then she could think.
"NO!" Sokka glared at her. If Suki mentioned the accident where Azula burned him to Katara, it would be the end of the world. "I mean, we are talking about how Katara needs to be patient to Azula, because otherwise there will just be too many fights."
"Tell us what?" Katara asked, raising her tone.
Sokka wanted to scream. What kind of thing had he done to have such terrible karma?
"That…" Sokka started, swallowing trying to come up with something.
"That Azula and Zuko asked me to help them last night." Toph completed. "And I think we might actually get the assassins this time."
Sokka breathed with relief. He owed Toph one. Wait, he thought, why was she even helping him? He didn't have time to think of that now.
"Yeah… So here what we are going to do…" He started.
The reunions with Earthkindgom ambassadors took almost the whole day. Sokka walked to the Princess' chambers, so he could wait for her. Then, Suki appeared and came really close to him. One could think she was about to kiss him. But she just sighed and gave him a sad smile.
"I'm sorry for earlier today. I don't know what I was thinking…" She said, apologetically.
"Yeah, it's fine. I think Katara bought it. I mean, I hate lying to her! But if she finds out Azula has hurt me, she will never understand!" He explained, frustrated.
Suki nodded. "I know. I don't understand it either. I get that she isn't as evil as she used to be. But I don't get why you defend her so much."
Sokka shook his head. "It's complicated, Suki… Please, just trust me, okay?"
The girl touched his shoulder. "Sure." She smiled. "What are exes for?" She joked and he smiled back.
Guards were walking down the corridor as usual. What Sokka and Suki would never imagine was that someone had actually paid attention to their conversation. Someone who wasn't a guard or an outlaw. But a friend, a sister, who was known to be both loving and tempestuous at the same time.
Katara gritted her teeth as she walked away without being seen.
A/N: Thank you for reading it! Please review it! :)