CHAPTER 14

Zuko barged into her room without a warning or a knock. She abruptly jolted, not expecting him at all.

"Have you ever heard of knocking, Zuzu? Are you forgetting your manners?" she said mockingly staring at her brother's reflection on the mirror in her boudoir.

"We need to talk." he stated commandingly behind her, crossing his arms. He wasn't happy. But really, when was Zuzu happy?

Azula sighed and kept brushing her hair. "Someone woke up grumpy, huh?" she joked.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you." he ordered in a serious, firm tone that he had never used on her before.

She raised her eyes and saw him through the mirror with a frown. She read his body language; he was angry about something. The frown between his eyebrows was more prominent than ever. His jaw was so hardly clenched that the veins in his neck were popping out. He was a minute away from starting to breathe fire.

The Princess calmed her expression taking a deep breath. She left her brush on the dressing table and turned around to face her brother. She crossed her arms and legs before saying; "Fine, then talk." she replied, stoic, not understanding the suddenness of his grim mood.

His expression didn't change "When were you planning on telling me that you are plotting to go see Father, behind my back?" he asked bitterly, directly to the point and emphasizing the last three words.

She closed her eyes, trying to remain calm. She straightened her back as everything became clear. Her grips around her arms tightened, her nails digging in her skin, through her clothes. "Sokka, told you." she affirmed with her eyes closed. She should have seen it coming.

She cursed her insides. She should have never trusted him. Trust is for fools. And I'm a fool for trusting him, she cursed.

"He did. And not you," he remarked sulkily. "Why did I have to find out through my friend instead of you?"

Azula swallowed. "I was going to tell you but..." she said, deciding to talk with the truth.

"When?" Zuko cut her off abruptly, "After you had gone to see him in secrecy? Behind my back?" he said, ferociously.

"No," she denied. This was the kind of misunderstanding she was hoping to avoid. "I was going to tell you, but I was waiting for the moment…"

"For what?!" he snapped, suddenly.

"The right moment to tell you to avoid this!" she shouted, getting tired of his attitude. "A misunderstanding!"

"Are you sure that it was for that?" he ranted, frowning. His muscles tensing.

"I-I... Yes!" she grunted. However, she knew the true intention of his question. The hidden meaning behind it. She wished he was clear about it and just had the balls to ask straight away. He was doubting her intentions. She knew it. "What are you trying to…"

"What are you planning, Azula?" he questioned her, ranting. But for her, it sounded more like an accusation..

"I-I'm… nothing!" she said, baffled. For once, she wasn't planning a thing. "I'm planning nothing." she assured him, even though, she knew it was pointless. He didn't believe her.

"If that was true, why didn't you tell me, huh?" he questioned her, his frowning deepening. Taking a couple steps forward.

"Because I knew you would overreact like you always do. And I was right!" she pointed out, raising her voice and standing up.

"I'm overreacting because you are hiding things for me!" Zuko rebuked her. The vein from his neck popping out. His ears read.

She scoffed, crossing her arms. "I'm hiding things from you?" she raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Oh, don't go there, brother. I mean, it's not like you spent an entire year hiding something for me." she recalled, fumed.

"I was protecting you!" he replied between clenched teeth.

"Sure, you were." she said, ironically.

"And that's not the point!" he yelled, raged. "We are talking about you!"

"What? Do you think that just because years ago you used to sneak away to visit uncle in the prison and eventually betrayed us, you think I'm going to do the same?" she walked up to him. Her eyes fixed on his. "Well, newsflash brother, I do value loyalty! I'm not like you, who would trade away their family for some foreigners. I'm not like you!" she exploded, wrathful.

"I know that!" he snarled before taking a deep breath. "I know you are not like me." he said, sounding calmer.

They remained in silence for a few seconds.

Azula returned to the dressing table, grabbed her brush again, and brushed some ends of her raven hair. "I was planning on telling you, I was." she assured him. Her intention had never been going behind his back, she was only waiting for the right moment to tell him.

"Why did you tell Sokka before me then?" her brother asked her.

She didn't know what to reply, as she didn't know the answer herself. She shrugged, still brushing the ends of her hair and avoiding his glance through the reflection of the mirror. "I-I don't know. We were talking, and I might have spilt it," she acknowledged. "Still, he had no right to tell you." she was furious with him. She had precisely asked him to not tell Zuko yet, and what was the first thing he did? Tell Zuko. Once more, someone had proved to her that nobody could be trusted.

She was going to make him pay for his mistake.

"He's my friend. He's only worried. He doesn't think it's a good idea," Zuko excused him. "And neither do I."

"Why?" she questioned him, suddenly. Her eyes meeting his through the mirror. "For a full year, you have had no leads about what all the allegations might mean. And you know as well as me that if there is someone who might know more about this, it's Ozai."

Zuko grimaced and avoided her glance. He dropped on the edge of her bed. "Still…"

"Just give me one good reason why you don't think it's a good idea?" she asked him, intrigued as calm as she could turn to face him.

"I-I…" he doubted himself somewhat.

She bit the inside of her cheek. That was just the answer she needed. The lack of response told her everything. She had been right. Her assumptions had been correct, even though it hurt her to have the affirmation.

He didn't trust her.

But that wasn't going to stop her.

"I see," she muttered, glancing at the floor, trying to pretend that she was unaffected. "You're worried he might get into my head and convince me to betray you, don't you?" she said, bluntly. It was more an affirmation than a question that needed answering.

"I…" Zuko was out of words.

The Princess turned her back towards him and returned to readying herself. "In that case, I'm just informing you; when we get back, I'm going to see him," she informed him, deadpanned. She wasn't asking for his permission or his opinion. She was going to do it no matter what, and that was a fact.

"What?... Wait, no! Nuh-uh. You are not seeing him." he stated, furrowing his eyebrows and standing up in a jump.

"I said; I'm just informing you," she grunted between gritted teeth. The grip on her brush tightening. "I'm not asking for your permission, Zuko." she stared at him with daring eyes through the mirror, holding his gaze.

"And I said; No. You are not seeing him." he declared, dead serious. His nostrils flaring.

Azula raised her chin. Her chest was burning with rage. She could feel her inner fire growing. "Is that an order or a suggestion?" she dared him to order her. She knew his words hadn't been a suggestion. He had never ordered her to do anything, and he wasn't going to start now.

"Take it as you wish," he rebuked. "As your brother, I must protect you, and seeing him will be a mistake." he was determined to not give in.

She huffed, raising her eyebrows. "Protect me?" she turned to face him. "Who asked you to do that?"

Azula always had a way to make him lose his patience easily, yet this time she was taking it too far.

"Argh!" he grunted, raising his arms, exasperated. His patience was about to run out. "Can you please stop being so stubborn for once in your life?!" he retorted, seething. The vein on his neck and the one on his forehead was popping out and his face was turning as red as his clothes.

"You're the one to talk!" she snapped back, getting on her feet.

"Will you listen to me for once in your life?!" Zuko hollered. His chest going up and down. "Damn it, Azula! Just do as I say!"

"Or what?" she dared him. If he wasn't going to let her explain, why would she listen to him? She had never listened to him. Then why would she do it now?

"Or I'll be forced to assign a guard to follow you around twenty-four hours, once we get back to the Capital." he warned her, dead serious.

"You wouldn't dare." Azula uttered, chagrined, tightening the grip around her brush. Her hands were shaking in anger. Having someone follow her twenty-fours hours was something not even her father had dared to do. Not even for the three years she was Crown Princess.

"If you don't stop acting like a child, I will!" Zuko threatened her one last time, before heading towards the door.

"You are the one acting like a child!" she barked. He wasn't going to have the last word on this. He wasn't. "And just so you know, brother; I'm seeing him. And there is nothing you can do to avoid it!"

...

"Tsk! I shouldn't have told him," Sokka cursed for the tenth time in the last fifteen minutes. "Azula's going to kill me." he muttered, passing through the hallway. He was about to make a ditch. He ran a hand through his hair once more. His anxiety was eating him away.

Zuko had not reacted as he had thought he would, and he might have made things worse when he had only tried to help. But of course, as the universe hates him, everything has gone bad.

"Don't you believe her?" he asked the Fire Lord, astonished by his negative reaction.

"I haven't believed a word from her since she learned to talk." he had replied, turning his back to him and walking away.

"Where are you going?"

"To get the truth out of her." he had said, before heading towards his sister's room.

"This can't be good." said Sokka, cursing once more. "I'll explain myself to her and everything would be fine, right?" he talked to himself, "Of course she would understand."

"You." Azula bellowed as soon as she turned in the hallway's corner and saw him. Fire running through her veins.

"Or maybe not," he said, with a shiver running down his back. Her frowned expression, her clenched jaw, and her clasped fist confirmed everything he had been fearing. She was furious. And furious at him. "H-Hey, Azula…" he said, nervously walking backward as she stomped towards him.

"You filthy, peasant!" she insulted him choleric.

Cold sweat ran through his back. For a moment, he thought she was going to throw a fireball at him or lightning. "Judging by that enraged look, I'd say that if looks could kill I'd already be two meters under?" he tried to joke in an attempt to ease her mood. He failed miserably,

"Oh, please, if I killed you, I wouldn't even bother burying you." she grunted.

"O... kay…" a jittery snicker escaped his mouth.

The Princess reached him, grabbed him by the neck of his shirt and slammed him against the opposing wall. Sokka winced but didn't complain. After all, he had brought her rage upon himself.

"Didn't I tell you, savage?" she asked hostile. "Didn't I tell you specifically to not say a word to Zuko about this?" her knuckles were white from her grip around his shirt.

He glanced towards the floor. "I-I wanted to help."

"And when did I ask for your damn help?! You didn't want to help. You wanted to be a fucking hero! That's what you wanted!" she screamed, even though raising her voice and cursing didn't help ease her rage. "But guess what, I don't need your help. And I don't need a fucking hero! You and your pathetic little friends are always getting into everyone's business, ruining everything!"

"I'm sorry, I thought that maybe…"

"I don't care what you thought!" she cut him off, bitter, "I asked you one thing, one! And you couldn't trust me? You couldn't trust that I would tell him?" she was pulling his shirt so hard that it was starting to hurt.

"It's not that, Azula… I was trying to…" he tried to explain that he had never intended for any of this to happen.

"Save it!" she interrupted his lame excuses. She wasn't in the mood to hear them. "Whatever your intention was, I don't care. Just stay the hell out of my fucking way! I don't want your help. I don't need it. I'm fine on my own. I'm better alone." she said, the last part uttered in a dejected manner. The grip on his shirt was loosening.

Sokka noticed how her glance fell for a moment. He grabbed her by the wrists, softly, just enough to stop her from walking away. "It's because you've been alone so long that now, you feel like you aren't." he said, calmly. He knew he had screwed up, but he didn't wish to cause another misunderstanding between them,

She glared at him. Her eye's like knives. "How could you possibly know that?! You don't know me enough to say that! You don't know me at all!" she yelled. How did he dare to talk about something he didn't understand?

"How couldn't I know that, if it's so clear?" he uttered, letting go of her wrist. After a moment of silence, he said; "I just wanted to help."

The Princess clenched her jaw. "And when did I ask for help? For your help?..." she grunted, this time she pulled him down to meet her eyes. "Let me be clear with you, peasant. Stay the hell out of my life. You are not my brother. You are not my father. And you were barely my friend. So, get the fuck away from me!" she hollered, letting go of her grip on his shirt abruptly and turning around to walk away.

"I'm not doing that." said Sokka, grabbing her by one of her wrists. This time his grip was firm and steady around them. He pulled her back towards him, almost crashing against him.

"Let go." she grunted, between grit teeth with fierce eyes.

"Your mouth might say that you want me to stay away, but you truly don't want that." he said, stolidly meeting her eyes, his heart rate rising from the proximity.

She stared at him fixedly. "How could you know that?" she muttered. "You don't know me at all."

Nobody does, she thought.

A side smile appeared on one corner of his lips. "I know you better than what you believe. You keep saying that you are better alone and that you wish to be alone, but deep down inside you, you know that's not true."

She looked away, clenching her free hand. Her nails caused damage to her skin. He was right. How could he read her so well? Why could he read her like an open book? Why?

She gulped hard. "Sokka, let go." she ordered him.

His eyes went to her other hand. He noticed how she was digging her nails in her palm.

"No," he said, reaching for her free hand. That caught her off guard, when she noticed he was forcing her to relax her hand to stop hurting herself. "Your definition about relationships has been so messed up your entire life that you don't even know that sometimes people do things to try to help you out willingly, without second motives and only because they care about you!" he stared at her eyes, fixedly hoping that she would believe in the honesty of his words.

She glanced away from him and freed her hands from his grip. "I don't need anyone caring about me!" she stated, "Nobody has ever cared about me before, why would they, huh? I have been alone my entire life. And that isn't going to suddenly change!" she said, bleakly.

Not even if I wish for it, she thought.

"Not because you don't want to," said Sokka. Couldn't she see that he was trying to get closer to her?

"I told you; I'm better alone." said the Princess, staring at the ground, downcast.

He sighed in defeat "You just see what you want to see… Well, in that case… congratulations. You are not just alone, you are very lonely." he said with pity, something that didn't go unnoticed by the Princess. Still, she hated the look he was giving her. His grip around her wrist loosened.

Sokka knew he had said something wrong when he noticed her expression, and he couldn't help to feel awful. But it was too late to say something. His words had already reached her. His words were like a cold bucket of water.

Azula had heard those exact words he had just told her in her nightmares, and they had never affected her as much as they were affecting her now. Hearing them in reality was ten times worse. And from his mouth only exacerbated it…

Her blood boiled.

She didn't need his pity. Or anyone's. She needed nobody. Only herself.

She clenched her teeth. "You…"

If she punched him in the face, he wasn't going to complain. He knew he probably deserved it.

"Now, I get it," a third voice interrupted them, making them turn to it. "Now I get why you keep rejecting me. I suspected it since the other night when I saw you in the hallways and now, it all clear." he said, walking towards them.

"Not now, Hahn." Sokka warned him. He was not in the mood to deal with his stupidity.

But he ignored him and addressed the Princess directly. "You know, I asked around and now, I know everything about your... breakdown," he said looking at her haughtily, like if he had the upper hand. "I know everything you have done."

Azula raised her eyebrows and her chin. Her back tensed. She looked at him with disdain. Her right hand balled into a fist.

Sokka noticed this. "Hanh, leave. I'm warning you." He threatened him, clearly annoyed and stepping between him and the Princess, reaching for her arm behind him to make her relax again.

Hanh eyes left Azula's and went to him. "Why? Why do you care savage?" he asked sardonically, raising an eyebrow. He noticed his arm grabbing hers. "Are you two dating?" he asked with mockery, "Or perhaps, as you couldn't fuck the Princess Yue, you still want to fuck a Princess?"

Sokka clenched his jaw at his words. Hahn was Arnook's advisor, he couldn't just punch him, right? Not even if he deserved it, badly. But his patience was running thin. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

Hahn's attention returned to the Princess. "Really? I would have thought that at least as the Princess of the most powerful nation in the world you would maintain higher standards. A scum from the South? I mean, you are beautiful, you could do so much better." he said staring at her up and down.

It was the kind of glance that made Azula's inside twist with disgust and Sokka's chest burn with rage.

Azula took a step forward, sick of his nonsense. She attempted to raise her hand, ready to blast him, but Sokka's grip tightened around her fist. She stared at him with furious eyes.

"Like you?" Sokka mocked. He was also fighting to keep it cool.

"Well, I'd blame her breakdown for the fact that she chose to fuck around with you." he spouted.

She attempted to raise her hand against him, but struggled as Sokka's hold was steady. He wished to break his face, but one of them had to remain calm. One of them needed to maintain a cool head. And right now, it had to be him as Azula seemed to be a second away from frying him. Which frankly, wouldn't be a bad idea. Hahn was earning it.

If he managed to ease Azula's wrath right now, he'd make sure to break his nose next time Hahn talked gibberish, not worrying about the consequences.

"What a shame, you are so beautiful, but at the same time you and probably your family are all nuts." said Arnook's advisor, taking a step towards the Princess.

"Hahn, I will one say this again; Shut up or I will make you." Sokka threatened him with a deadly glance, standing before him to stop him from getting any closer to Azula.

Hahn quirked a brow. "Listen, savage," he said, "I'll give you some advice; If I were you, I would put as much distance as I could between you, her and her family. If you don't, you might end up as crazy," he said. "She must be nice for a fuck, but other than that…"

"Hey!" he yelled. That was it. He wasn't going to tolerate him anymore. "I wouldn't say that again, Hahn. Get the fuck out of here." he pushed him with a hand on his chest.

If he dared say another word, he was going to beat the shit out of him, not caring about the possible consequences. He was being disrespectful towards Azula. And any girl deserved respect. Not just Azula, his sister, or any stranger. Every girl deserved respect, no matter what.

His rage was telling him to jump at him and beat him up. If he explained to Arnook, he might understand. But his rational side was telling him not to, to hold it in a little bit longer.

Thankfully, Hahn gave them a smile filled with arrogance before turning around and leaving them alone again.

Once he was out of sight. Azula slapped his hand off hers, freeing herself from his grip and attempting to trail behind him. She wasn't going to let him get away with it. She was going to make him swallow his words.

Sokka was quick to reach and grabbed her again by the wrist, stopping her from following him. She stared at him with a death glare. Eyes filled with rage.

"Let go." she grunted. It wasn't a suggestion, it was a demand. That scum from the North was going to pay for disrespecting her.

"No." he replied. She slapped his handoff. But he grabbed her again. "Don't go." he pleaded with her with begging eyes.

"Why?! Are you going to attempt to help me again?! Are you going to protect me in some way?!" she confronted him, fumed. "Who the hell are you to stop me?!" this time when she freed herself from him, he didn't proceed to grab her again.

"What happened to being nice?" he shouted as she walked away from him.

"I just flipped my bitch switch back on." she stated, determined to make Hahn suffer.

She found him on the back stairs of the Palace. The same stairs where she had made Ty Lee and Mai fool the Dai Lee agents that we're spying on them, years ago.

"Hahn." she called him with the nicest, but fake tone she could muster.

"Yes?" he turned around, and a pleased smile appeared across his face, "Did you just come after me? What, did you realize that I'm a better candidate than that stupid scum from the South?" he said, cockily.

"There was never any doubt in my mind," said Azula, feigning agreement with his statement. "Everyone knows that the Northerners are much more civilized than the Southerners." she walked up to him.

"Of course. We are also superior, stronger, and smarter than them." he listed, cavalier, standing on the first step of the stair.

"Really?" she asked, pretending genuine interest in his words. She was shortening the distance between them.

"Yeah, there is no doubt in that." he stated.

"Is that so?" she said, flirty. "Can you prove it?" she caressed his face seductively, even if the physical contact with him disgusted her.

"Of course, I can prove it," he said, pleased with the touch and sudden interest from the Princess. He bit his lower lip as his hands went to her waist.

"Really?" she raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, but what do I get in exchange?" he side smile.

"I'm a Princess. I can give you everything you wish." she whispered into his ear. Her hand went from his cheek to his jaw, trailing all the way down his neck.

"Everything, even...?" his eyes wandered bluntly through her body, focusing overall on her breasts.

She faked a smile at him. "Of course. I can give you everything you wish for, because I'm not only the Princess but also…" his expression changed as she wrapped her hand around the neck of his shirt almost to the point of almost choking him. "... everyone is terrified of me," she had snatched him in a way that his body was completely angled backward over the stairs. "Listen, Huhn."

"I-It's Hahn." he corrected her.

"I don't care," she snarled, "But I think that answers your question, doesn't it? Whatever you're thinking… No. It's never going to happen. I'm a Princess and you're simply scum from the North, with no name. No lineage. No good looks. And certainly no brains. There is nothing you could offer me. You are just vermin under my shoe, a savage that dreams of power but holds no respect for those who already have it.

"If you ever disrespect me again with that filthy tongue of yours, a little warning, next time I'll make sure to tear it out and burn it. Am I clear?" she threatened him. He didn't respond, he was astonished and petrified at the same time. He heard stories of her so a shiver of terror rushed down his spine. "Now, you should get lost."

"A-Are you crazy?" he squealed once he snapped out of his shock. "W-What are you doing? Let me go!"

Azula smirked mischievously. "As you wish… Goodbye," Azula said as she let go of his shirt, diminishing what little balance he had left. He stumbled down the stairs and fell obstreperously. At some point, as he fell down the stairs, she heard a bone crack, followed by his whines. A satisfied, wicked expression appeared on her face as she headed back inside the Palace.

During the next week, everyone in the meeting realized that something was off with her. She would usually be more participative during the negotiations, yet, in each one of the meetings during that week she was mentally absent.

Whenever someone talked to her, she would simply ignore them rudely or would reply with a one-word answer. She would be the last one to arrive every morning and the first one to leave the room, avoiding everyone.

Every time Sokka tried to begin a chat with her, she would simply turn around and ignore him. If they crossed in the hallways, she would avoid him like a plague. All the progress that they had done, it had disappeared in a blink of an eye and he felt terrible because he knew that it was his fault.

Apart from Azula's rage, Hahn's absence was also noted. Arnook claimed that he had had an accident, and he was recovering in his room. Yet, Sokka had the small suspicion that Azula had been -somehow- involved in his minor accident.

It wasn't until the last meeting of the week when Hahn finally joined them again. To everyone's surprise, he walked in with crutches due to a broken leg.

He gave an ugly glare to the Princess, which she completely ignored, but didn't go unnoticed by Sokka. Still, he was the only one to notice it.

"Are you okay?" Katara inquired him, politely once everyone left the room. The adults were gone, as well as Azula. It was only Hahn and the Gaang in the room.

"I have a broken leg. Do I look like I'm okay?" he snapped at her, abruptly.

"Hey, don't talk like that to my sister," Sokka warned him. Katara had only asked him out of curiosity, nothing else.

"Or what?" he grunted, defying at him. "Stupid Southerners." he muttered, annoyed.

"I'm sick and tired of you," Sokka strode towards him, enraged. "You're the most repulsive human being I've ever seen." He accused him, grabbing him by the shirt and forcing him to stand, not caring if he had a broken leg. Nobody had managed to make him lose his composure as fast and as easy as him. And this time, he wasn't going to hold back.

"Me? Oh, and what do you say about your crazy girlfriend, huh?" Hahn bellowed, "Who do you think caused me this?"

"Did Azula…?" Zuko mumbled, widening his eyes.

"Yeah. That maniac bitch threw me down the stairs." he said fumed.

"You earned it." said Sokka, remembering every word he had said, and getting angrier and angrier.

"Say that again, scum." Hahn defied him.

"You earned it!" he snapped, "If the other day I didn't break your face after everything you told her it's because we had something bigger to discuss than your pitiful existence."

And this time I'm not going to hold back, he thought once again.

"What did he say, Sokka?" Zuko asked to know. He knew his friend wasn't someone to easily lose his patience to the point of violence.

"Trust me, you don't want to know. Otherwise, you'd give him a scar as big as yours." Sokka replied, his eyes never leaving Hanh.

"Did you… Did you disrespect my sister?" the Fire Lord took a step forward. Even if they were mad at each other, he wasn't going to allow anyone to disrespect his sibling. "I said nothing that wasn't true! And he knows it!" Hahn stated, anger tainting his voice.

"Hahn, you better shut up before I make you," Sokka threatened him, clenching his teeth. "Does your ass ever get jealous from all the shit that comes out of your mouth?" he spouted, his knuckles turning white and his face red.

Katara took a step towards her sibling to try to calm him down, even though she suspected it was useless. Toph was ready to use her earthbending in case they needed to be separated.

The Northerner scoffed. "So, you fuck a crazy Princess and now you think you're so superior, huh?" he said with contempt.

"What?! Repeat that!" Zuko dared him, angered.

Katara placed a hand on his chest to stop him when he took a step closer. Having a confrontation about to happen involving Sokka, it was already bad to add Zuko to the equation.

"What did you just…" Sokka raised his arm, ready to slam his fist against his nose.

"Sokka, please," Aang jumped, grabbing him by the arm. "It's not going to make you feel better," the Avatar assured him, "Please, violence is never the answer."

Perhaps Aang was right. It wasn't going to make him feel better. Sokka lowered his fist and let go of Hahn's shirt slowly.

"That's right. Listen to your friend, stupid peasant." muttered Hahn, cockily.

"That's it, my patience's gone," grunted Sokka before punching him in the nose. Hahn crashed against the floor with a squeal. "That's for being a crappy human being," his fist slammed against his face a second time. This time when his fist made contact with his face, he heard something crack. Probably his nose. Followed by another whine. "And that, for everything you said the other day," said Sokka, straightening his back and gazing toward Aang. "You were wrong. Beating him does make me feel better. And consider yourself lucky I didn't break your other three limbs." he said, giving one last glance at Hahn before storming out of the room, under the flabbergasted expression of everyone.

He walked aimlessly for a while, letting his rage consume him and finally abandon his body. He took a few deep breaths as he felt his heart rate finally calming, and he finally realized where his feet had dragged him.

The gardens.

He wandered around for a while until he found himself staring at the shadow in the pavilion. He recognized it instantly.

She was staring at the lotus flowers floating in the water, leaning on the railing like the first time he had found her there.

He looked at her from the distance, debating if he should head to talk to her. She was probably really mad at him, but if they never talked about it then they'd never make amends. He studied her from afar for a moment.

Azula wiped her face with her hands, and when he got closer to the pavilion, he could swear he had heard her sob.

He approached her slowly, trying not to startle her, the rage leaving his body as soon as he had heard her soft, short breaths.

"Are you okay?" he inquired softly, with concern.

But instead of getting a reply, she stormed off away from him before he could do anything.

"You know you can't avoid this forever," he shouted after her. She stopped on her tracks momentarily. "We'd need to talk about it eventually," he said, watching her leave.

He followed her with his glance until she disappeared in the hallways of the Palace.

Sokka sighed, dejectedly leaning his back on the railing. He needed to find a way to talk to her in private without getting interrupted, and with that somehow not giving her a chance to run away.

"Hey." Aang's voice startled him.

"Hey," he replied, downcast, "If you're going to give me a lecture on why I shouldn't have punched Hahn, save it for later. Right now, I'm not in the mood."

"I wasn't, but are you okay?" the Avatar inquired, worried. He hasn't seen his friend like that in a while.

"Me? Perfect." he lied, glancing down at the reflection of the sky on the lake's water. "Why?"

Aang shrugged, aware that he was lying to him. "It's just the last couple of days you've been a little distracted," he said. Not only had he noticed, but also Katara. And they were getting worried about him.

"Oh, that's just…" he sighed, before putting up a forced smile on his lips. "... It's nothing, pal." his eyes drifted unconsciously in the direction that the Princess had disappeared to. Something that his friend noticed.

Aang had seen Azula disappear in the same direction. "I don't think it's nothing," said the monk, "I mean, I might sound like Ty Lee, but your aura seems a little troubled, even depressed. What is it? Did something happen with Azula?" he asked, directly.

He turned towards him, frowning. "How do you know it has something to do with Azula?"

He shrugged. "It's just that both of you have been a little too distracted during the meetings. I mean, she used to ask a lot of questions making sure we didn't miss on any details and we covered every aspect of the talks more than what was necessary," he said, "She used to participate a lot and these last few days, she's been quiet. And you, well, you seem somewhat despondent. Not to mention that you two seemed to hang around lately. But now it looks like she…"

"She avoids me like a pest?" he finished. There was no point in hiding it from his friend. It seemed like everyone else had noticed his change of mood during the past week as well.

"Well, I was going to say she's avoiding us all, but if you put it like that then it means that it's personal, right?"

"I suppose." he sighed. But he knew that it was personal. "We fought." he confessed.

"I see… I don't want to automatically assume that it was your fault, but I assume it was your fault," said Aang, making Sokka pout. "But, may I inquire what was the fight about? I mean, you two seemed to be getting along fine."

"More than fine," Sokka admitted. "I even believed that we could be friends, but now… I ruined it." he lowered his glance.

"How?" the Avatar asked, curious.

He took a deep breath. "She told me something and made me promise that I wasn't going to tell Zuko, but I did. And he didn't take it very well and..."

"And she found out you told him?" Aang finished. He believed he knew where this was going.

"Yes," Sokka nodded. "And of course she was furious… I was just trying to help." he muttered.

"Oh, I see. It was about her going to see Ozai, right?" he raised his eyebrows, "Zuko did seem pretty upset about it."

"Yeah… When she told me, I tried to convince her to not do it. But then, she told me her reasons why she wanted to do it and even though I didn't agree with them I said I understood her, but that still she needed to tell Zuko. And she told me she was going to do it, but she didn't know how because he was going to take it badly, so she made me promise her not to tell him…" he rambled.

"But you did." said the monk.

"I thought if I talked with him first and tried to put a good word to him about why she wanted to do it, he would understand easier, but I guess he lashed out against her."

It took a moment for Aang to reply. "So, he lashed out at her, and didn't hear her reasons."

"Exactly." Sokka confirmed.

"And then she lashed out at you."

"Yes, and I mean, I don't blame her. If I'd have been in her shoes, I would also be furious. From what I can tell, it created a misunderstanding between them. And I get why she is so angry at me. She must believe I betrayed her trust."

"But you did it because you wished to help." said Aang, understanding.

"I know, but she is so mad that she wouldn't listen to me or any apology."

"I see," said the Avatar with a hand under his chin, thoughtful. "Then, that's what's bothering you."

"Do you have any Avatar advice?" he asked, hopefully.

"Well, honestly, it's a complicated situation," Aang began, "But right now, I think the best you could do is wait. Wait for the waters to settle. Maybe even talk with Zuko," he proposed, "I bet Zuko would listen to you. And if you tell him and explain to him the reasons Azula gave you, he might be able to understand. I mean, I'm almost certain that Zuko is more worried about Azula being alone with Ozai because he is afraid he might manipulate her and try to influence her than anything else."

"But if that worries him, it means he doesn't trust her." Sokka retorted.

"No. I believe that he trusts her. But he doesn't trust in his father," Aang cleared, "During the revolutions in Yu Dao he went to seek his advice, yet I believe he somehow managed to influence him. That's why I believe he is worried, because he could do the same to her. And I believe that he doesn't want to lose his sister to his father again." he explained.

"Oh." he muttered.

"As for Azula… Well, I would suggest to wait a little bit, but when you get a chance to talk to her, go do it and try to explain why you did it. I'm sure that if you are honest to her, she would appreciate it and understand your reasons," he proposed, "You two are the smartest people I know, and you two understand each other like no one else. I'm sure you two can find a solution to your disagreement."

Sokka pondered his friend's advice before speaking. "Thanks, Aang. It helped." he said, thankfully.

"Well, I'm the Avatar, that's what I do," said Aang, shrugging and smiling. "But if you don't mind me asking Sokka, why are you so worried about her?"

"I owe it to her." he replied.

"For what happened in Yu Dao?"

Sokka shook his head. "I guess I never told you what happened during my little trip to Lian Yu, huh?"

Sokka told Aang about what had happened in Lian Yu, just like he had done with his sister weeks ago.

"I see," muttered the monk once Sokka finished his explanation. He smirked. "I told you; she was good."

"Your Avatar's instincts never fail you, huh?" Sokka mocked.

…

It was until their lunch at the next free day, that everyone was able to gather around to talk. Even the Kyoshi Warrior joined them. They had been working non-stop every day since their arrival, so Zuko had suggested they take one day off.

"Ugh… I really needed to sleep in late." said Ty Lee, stretching her arms over the table, lazily.

"Well, you and the girls have been working hard for weeks," said Zuko, "You deserved a rest."

Azula rolled her eyes, annoyed. "I just hope you're here to announce that you have finally found something. I mean, it's been weeks since you went to search for anything and yet you haven't come with anything useful," she spat with venom, "So, I'm guessing there is a good reason for you to be loitering."

Everyone's glance turned to her.

"Azula." Zuko chided her from the other end of the table.

All the Kyoshi Warriors glanced at her with contempt for her words. But before one of them could reply, Aang intervened.

"S-she means that it's been a while since we all sat together," he said, "And that she knows that you've been working hard every day and that it is surprising that you girls joined us for dinner." the Avatar excused her, trying to ease the Warriors' rage.

The Princess' eyes went blank, annoyed.

"Azula, given how much they've been working," said Zuko, "They also deserve a break."

"Sure," she muttered, ironic. "If they have, then why haven't they got any leads?"

"We are trying our best, okay?" one of the Kyoshi Warriors she didn't recognize snapped, annoyed about the Princess' attitude.

"And we are doing this for Zuko, not for you." added another one.

"You should at least be thankful." said the last one.

"Azula, the girls are working very hard." Ursa tried to interfere.

Azula scoffed, ignoring her mother. "Painted girls 1, 2, and 3." she pointed at them with disdain.

"We have names, you know?" said one with black hair and a ponytail.

"And I don't care, you know? It's not relevant," she grunted, "And shush… the important people are talking."

"Azula." Sokka muttered next to her. He knew that her rude attitude towards the warriors was because of her grim mood, and her anger towards her brother.

"Can you at least pretend to be nice?" Suki rebuked.

"Wait," the Princess narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. "Which one are you? I can never distinguish you with all the face paint and the outfits."

"I'm Suki," the leader of the warriors, snarled. "The one you captured and locked in the Boiling Rock?"

She snapped her fingers. "Oh, right. Now, I remember you," she said, "The leader. What did you say your name was again?" she asked to irritate her more. She knew perfectly who she was.

"Could you be any more rude?" Toph commented.

"I actually could." the Princess replied.

"Then, can you at least try to be nice?" the earthbender asked, changing her choice of words.

Azula turned towards her with legs and arms crossed over her chest. "Half my childhood I was mentally abused and manipulated by a parent while being abandoned by the other one. So this being 'nice thing' is practically nonexistent for me, so why should I, huh?" she snapped.

"Why is she so moody? Her aura is all troubled again." Ty Lee muttered to Zuko.

The Fire Lord took a deep breath. He knew her attitude was because of him. "She is angry at me. Because she wants to see Ozai once we return and I said no, because I believe it's not a good idea." he explained.

"Ahhh…" she replied, "But I don't see why it is so bad that she goes to see your father? You did it a few times to ask for advice after the war ended."

Azula eyes widened at her ex-friend's words. "You… What?!" she yelled, fumed.

Zuko facepalmed in the forehead. That was a detail Azula didn't know.

"Uh-oh." Sokka murmured.

"Did I hear this correctly?! Did she say; You went to visit him a few times?!" she ranted.

"I-It wasn't like that… It's not like that." he stammered.

"So, let me get this clear," Azula began by suddenly standing up, "When I proposed to see him after years of not seeing him and to actually close a chapter of my life, it was wrong, and you went crazy about it. But it was fine when you went to see him right after the war ended to ask for advice!" she grunted with disbelief. She stared at her brother with incredulity. "This is the reason why we would never get along! For your double moral standards! When you do it, it's right, but when I want to do it is wrong? You know what Zuko? Go fuck yourself!" she cursed him and turned to leave the room.

If she remained one more second there, she might probably set his hair on fire.

"Wait, no…" Zuko called her "Argh, why do you always have to make a tantrum whenever you don't get something you want?" he chided her, irked.

She froze at the moment and turned around. "Excuse me?!" she huffed, not believing his words. Did he just say that?

Fuck, Sokka cursed. If Azula had been mad before now she was even more enraged than ever. He could see in her eyes the rage that was running through her veins and it was all directed towards Zuko. Rage and fury starting to take control over her. A feeling similar to when she was chained to the floor on the day of the comet. She feels like a full cup of tea that is about to spill, unable to hold it anymore.

"This can't be good." muttered Aang.

"I make tantrums?" Azula repeated, furious. "How dare you? We both know that I'm not the one that makes tantrums, wiping-baby. Every time something didn't go your way, you'd always end up running and crying into her arms," she pointed at Ursa, "While I spent my entire life working my ass off. I never had it easy like you. Everyone was always expecting so much from me. I couldn't allow myself to live under anything else than excellence or perfection."

Zuko stared at her, flabbergasted. "I had it easy?!" he growled, "You think I had it easy? Does this make you believe I had it easy?" he pointed at the scar on his face. "You were always our father's favorite. Praised by everyone for being a prodigy with your blue fire and always living up to his expectations. He never gave you a scar for the rest of your life!"

"Oh, boo-hoo poor Zuko. He didn't have the love of one person in his life!" she mocked with hate, "Poor Zuko, his life was miserable because he couldn't have the love of the only person that is incapable of loving! That scar is only the reminder that for once in your life you had to work hard for something."

"Once?!" he raised his eyebrows, elated. "I have always worked hard!"

"Really?!" she crossed her arms over her chest. "Does working hard mean falling asleep in school or missing your training sessions when you feel it, and still not being grounded?!" she asked, choleric. "Our entire life you complained about me being better than you. But that wasn't something that just showed up out of nowhere. I worked my ass off for years with tutors, private lessons because unlike you... the only moment I felt a little bit of appreciation was when I excelled at something! You could allow yourself to fail and would still be praised by everyone. Everyone complimented you, even if you failed.

"You were the first-born son. You had her love," she pointed with her head towards his mother. "Uncle's guidance. And I had what? I was the second born, a daughter. I had nothing. I had to earn it. That's why I worked hard. Trained harder. Because improving my bending or being mean was the only way for me to be praised by someone. For my father."

"Don't try to play the victim here!"

"I'm not playing the victim!" she shouted. How dare he? "I have never and never will. But you only care to see what is in front of you and not the complete picture. You wanted to find her to close a chapter of your life. That's fine. You asked for help to find her. I helped. But when I tried to do the same thing with the only person who ever showed me a little bit of caring, I'm a horrible person?" the heat growing inside of her was growing through her chest and then extending to every limp. Her heartbeat increased. Her jaw clenched and her breathing shortened.

"He could try to manipulate you!"

"Do you think I'm stupid or something?!" Azula raged. "I know that! I know it. Do you think I would throw away everything I have accomplished? For once… in my life I have someone that chose me before you and truly cares," she said, giving a quick glance at Kiyi. "I'm not going to throw that away."

Zuko was astonished. No words came out of his mouth.

"Azula, you have to understand your brother. He is only worried about you." Ursa tried to intervene.

"Shut up! You get to say nothing on this!" Azula snapped, furious. "In fact, I'm pretty sure all this mess is because I never had a decent mother while growing up!"

"Don't talk to her like that!" Zuko defended her.

The Princess scoffed. "She might be your mother, but like hell she is mine." she grunted, staring at his mother with hate.

"A-Azula…" Ursa called her.

"You know what…" she dropped her hands at each side of her body. "It's useless fighting with you. It's obvious you don't trust me. And you only see what you want to see."

"I trust you. I do." the Fire Lord rushed to say.

"You don't!" she cut him, "You have never trusted me. Not even when I helped you go back home during the war. I had nothing to win from it, and I did it. And what was the first thing you did? Accuse me of plotting something against you."

"You admitted you were!" he replied, recalling that chat in her room.

"Because I was angry!" she yelled. "You barged into my room and began suspecting my intentions, so yes, I lied. Because I knew that no matter what I told you at the first chance, you will throw me to the wolves. And I guess I was right!"

"Like you had never done that before!" he hollered.

"I never did! I would have never," the Princess said with a somber glance. "Because a foolish part of me always thought that as your sister you would at least do the same for me. But you never did," she took a deep breath. Zuko was out of words. "I have to admit that, that foolish part of me… was also the part that didn't allow me to see your betrayal coming. You abandoned me. Choosing them over me!" she nodded with her head towards his stupid friends. "But I don't even know why I was even surprised, I mean, you always chose everyone else before me."

"I-I…" Zuko opened his mouth, but no words came out of it.

Azula glanced at the floor with a sad smirk on her face. "See? You know I'm right. And I know. I acknowledged it. I might not have been the best sister in the world, but I was a better sibling than you ever where!" she yelled. "Still, I don't blame you, you know?" she said, clenching her jaw, her heart beating against her chest like a drum.

Everyone's glance was on her. And she hated it. The way they were looking at her just made her blood boil. So, she was going to say everything. Not keeping anything.

"I get it. I'm the reincarnation of evil himself. The favorite child of the most wicked man in the world. For you, I will always be your wicked evil little sister who enjoys making your life miserable and always lies… Because that is it, isn't it? Azula always lies."

"Azula, that's not…" Zuko spoke finally.

"Save it, Zuzu. For a year, I have been loyal to you. Helping you whenever you had 'moral dilemmas' and advising you towards what's best for the nation… I have been trying so hard… to make you trust me... like I trusted you once…" her chest was getting heavier. She could feel a pressure growing on it. "For a year I have been trying so hard… But of course, it only takes you one little misunderstanding that you don't even let me explain to ruin it all…"

"That's not…"

"Zuko," she cut him off, calmly. Biting the inside of her cheek. "I'm tired of this. I have been trying to ignore your distrust in me. But I'm so tired…" her voice trembled against her will. "I'm done with you. With trying to be good… I'm done…"

"What do you mean you're done?" Sokka asked, as Zuko was too troubled to talk.

"It seems that everyone's mistakes are forgotten. Except for mine," she said, "Suddenly, he turns good and everything is forgotten, huh? You too," she glanced at Ty Lee. "I guess everyone here chose to not remember that both of you helped me conquer Ba Sing Se. And also, you helped me put the warriors -your new best-friends- all in jail. Yet, I'm here being the only one getting distrustful glances. Judging looks. Wary stares."

The room remained silent. Nobody said a word. Nobody moved.

"I don't know how you all measure morals, but however you do it; stop. Neither of you has the right to judge." she stated, before leaving the room, leaving everyone else in it feeling a little dejected.

Zuko rushed to trail behind her, but before he could leave the room, a hand on the shoulder stopped him. "Zuko, she needs to be alone." said Sokka. To that, the Fire Lord didn't reply because he knew that his friend was right. Probably following his sibling right now would cause an even bigger -if it was possible- disagreement.

"You know," said Toph, "I know it would probably make you feel worse, but all the time while she was talking, I could sense that everything she was saying was the truth."

Zuko couldn't help but feel downhearted at her words. He had been an idiot. An asshole towards his sister because yes, she had spent the past year helping him and all he had ever done was hide things from her even though they had agreed on not doing it.

All he could think of was that he needed to mend things with her. But how the hell was he going to do that?"

…

Azula rushed out, not wanting to be one more second there. She wanted to scream. The contained rage she was still feeling needed to get out.

As she walked away from the room, she could feel a scream at the back of her throat. Her mind races with everything she wants to scream, unleash, at them. At her mother. At her brother.

And when she thought she was far enough and alone, she did it. A scream with a rage of fire came out of her throat until her lungs were completely empty and hurt from the lack of air. But still, she felt an unpleasant feeling in her chest.

She didn't realize she was crying until she felt something wet trail down her neck. Tears. But she didn't know if they were tears from anger or sadness.

Probably both.

According to one of her physicians; one of the causes of her mental breakdown had been the fact that for so long she had repressed her feelings, and they had been right. Her father's teachings and claims had always revolved around how feelings showed weakness. And weakness was something she hadn't been allowed to have growing up.

But her father wasn't there anymore, and she needed to get it out one way or another. She needed to find a place where she could be alone. Somewhere no one would think to look for her.

It took her a moment, but she was able to think of the perfect place.

…

"Listen, I'm just going to be here for a while, okay?" she said, "I know you don't like me, but I don't care. So as long as you ignore me, I will ignore you two, deal?" she asked seriously.

Appa roared in response.

"I will take that as a yes." the Princess muttered, sitting on the floor and leaning her back on the wall before closing her eyes, seeking some mental peace.

…

"... and he lashed out at me without letting me explain," finished Azula, her explanation. "So what do you think? Everything's Sokka's fault, right?" she inquired, seated on the floor in front of the bison. Her back was towards the door.

Appa roared.

The Princess let out a big sigh. "Right? I knew you would say that," she muttered. "Now that I think about it, you aren't that bad of beast. Still… you are a little stinky."

The bison growled.

"I guess you're probably right," she said, "Do you think…"

"Azula?" a voice behind her startled her.

"Oh, it's you, monk." said as she saw the Avatar walking in with food for the bison.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised by finding her there out of all places. And if he had heard correctly, she had been maintaining a conversation with his flying bison.

She shrugged. "I don't even know it myself." she admitted, standing up and ready to leave.

"I see," he muttered, "Azula," he called her when she was leaving.

"Huh?"

"Well, I just… I just wanted to apologize." he said.

"A-Apologize?" she mumbled. Him? Apologize? The guy she had... killed was apologizing? She should be the one apologizing to him!

Aang made a traditional sign of greeting and respect to her. One hand in a fist against the other one stretched.

The Princess raised her eyebrows, astonished by his gesture.

"You were right back in the dining room. We have been quick to judge you. And I feel terrible. As the monks taught me, our past experiences may have made us the way we are, but we don't have to stay that way," he said, "Our past doesn't define us. People can change. And your actions for the past year have proved that. I believe you are trying to change."

"Well, you seem to be the only one." she whispered.

"Sokka believes it too." he rushed to say.

Azula pressed her lips in a thin line. "Anyway, thank you for that," she said, and before trying to leave she added. "You know, fridges, you are smarter than you look."

"T-Thanks, I guess?" he said, tilting his head. "Either way, just... give it time, I assure you it will be fine. Everyone else will eventually see it." he said, reassuringly and unconsciously patting her on the head.

Azula blinked. "D-Did you just… pat me on the head?" she frowned.

"Hehe," he laughed nervously, stretching the back of his neck when he realized what he had done. "S-Sorry, it was unconscious." he apologized.

"It was weird. But all of you are weirdos so..." she shrugged. "Still, thank you, Aang." was the last thing she said.

...

Thankfully for her, the next day she could spend most of her day seeing no one. She spent most of her morning finishing some random paperwork that needs her attention. Keeping her mind busy with work was always helpful for her. A busy mind was an untroubled mind.

Knock. Knock

Azula took a deep breath, hoping that it wasn't her older sibling. She was still angry, but she didn't wish to have another confrontation. She wasn't in the mood.

"Come in." she said, not looking away from the paper in her hands. She didn't expect the voice she heard.

"Hey," muttered Sokka, peeking by the door. She didn't respond or cared to glance in his direction. "I was wondering if we could talk?"

"No, but sadly I can't avoid you." she said, matter-of-factly. Great.

"It's just I was…"

Another knock on the door. She tensed up again. Now what?

"Come in." said Azula.

Both of their heads turned towards the door.

"Azu!" Kiyi's voice relaxed her. "Huh? Nice! You're also here, Sokka," she said with a smile, "Does this mean you are both ready?"

The Princess frowned, confused. "Ready? For what?"

A/N:

I can't believe the amount of love for this story! I mean woah... thank you so much and as a little gift and ans nobody seems to guess the meaning behind the title, I decided to be good either way and give you all a tinny little piece of spoiler.

This happens around chapter 30 -more or less-

"Katara stop!" Sokka squealed with horror.

"No, keep going."

"Stop, she is bleeding!"

"I'm fine!"

"It's a signal from your body telling you to stop… The effort it's too much and we don't stop it could end up causing more damage."