Playing with Azula could be fun sometimes. Mostly when she didn't feel like being mean or tricking him into doing something embarrassing in front of people. He liked it when they'd chase each other around the garden, ran around through the secret passages of the palace, or fought with wooden swords. He especially liked it when they dressed up as characters from their favorite stories to reenact them.
His sister was very good at playing pretend. She could make a convincing pirate, dragon, evil spirit, mermaid, witch and, of course, Fire Lord.
It should not have come as a surprise to him that pretending to be a dutiful wife and caring mom was omething she could do with ease as well, yet it did. Something about Azula acting all humble and kind, like she was an ordinary girl instead of a princess, and being so sweet to him just seemed so wrong, but he had to admit he liked it. It was a nice break from constantly fighting and pretending to fight.
So, he went to her room, bringing her the fire lilies he had 'bought' (picked from the royal garden).
"Darling! You're home!" she said as she ran straight to his arm as soon he opened the door "I missed you so much!"
She kissed his cheeks repeatedly, and instead of the usual embarrassment that kind of thing would have caused him to feel, his chest swelled with pride. He hugged her back, kissed her forehead, then handed her the flowers.
"They're so beautiful! Thank you!" she placed the flowers on a little vase - that Zuko was pretty sure she didn't ask permission to bring to her chambers - then took him by the hand, guiding him to the little table where their 'children' were.
He couldn't thank Mai and Ty Lee enough for buying Azula these huge dolls of important Fire Lords and Fire Ladies. It had always been incredibly awkward to have tea-time with rag dolls that were either headless or were impaled by large hairpins that acted as a spine attaching their decapitated heads back to their bodies. That kind of morbid sight didn't exactly match with the little fantasy of a happy, loving family.
There were three girls and six boys and, as usual, Azula made the dolls of Fire Ladies sit next to their husbands, even though they were supposed to be siblings for this little game. At the center of the table, there was mochi and tea, and Azula didn't have any of it before 'feeding the children.' It was oddly cute seeing her be so gentle.
"You kids better eat everything! You need to eat a lot so you'll grow and be strong like your dad"
Zuko couldn't recall Azula ever calling him strong, not even as a joke. But even though it was still all make believe, hearing her use him as positive exemple gave him the warm, fuzzy feelings.
"Or as strong as their mom" he said, placing his hand atop of hers. Azula looked away, hiding a smile. She really knew how to play the role perfectly.
"I think getting on my level is still a bit more difficult, Zuzu" she teases.
"Just you wait, I've been practicing a lot" he looks at the dolls, because his sister always complained that he didn't interact with their 'children' enough for her liking, and asks "Who do you kids think is the strongest bender?"
"That's not fair! Of course they're going to pick you, you bring home all the food!"
"Hey, you're the mom. All kids like their moms more than their dads"
"No, they don't"
"Yes, they do"
"No, they don't"
"Yes, they do"
"No, they d-" Zuko cuts her off by sticking some mochi in her mouth. He had been waiting for a chance to do this ever since Azula pulled the same tactic on him a few weeks before during a different, equally as silly argument.
"You shouldn't talk with your mouth full, honey. We have to set a good exemple for our babies"
Azula flicks his forehead then goes back to eating, looking a bit cranky.
He reaches for her hand again "I'll teach them swordplay, you teach them firebending. Deal?"
"Deal"
They continue having dinner, then start getting the kids ready for sleep. Azula lays them down one by one on a little make-shift bed she's made for them (it looks a bit like a bed one makes for their pet, but he'd never say it because she'd surely feel insulted) while Zuko reads them a story. Afterwards, she gives them all forehead kisses and Zuko does the same.
To his surprise, Azula doesn't kick him out of her room now that playtime is over, like she usually does. She gives him a big hug, then asks him to spend the night. He probably would have felt a bit suspicious... if the bedtime story he had been reading hadn't been a bit too effective and made him feel like going to bed too, especially as Azula starts blowing out the candles that were lighting up the room.
When he lays down, Azula does too, and even though the bed is huge, she still ends up glued to his side, holding his hand.
"You'll be such a good dad when we're older"
"Uh... thanks?"
"And do you think I'll be a good mom too?"
"I guess"
She frowns "You guess?"
"I don't know. I mean, you're good with the dolls"
"I'm more than good with them!" she says, sitting up "I'm excellent!"
"Fine, fine, can we sleep?"
She's still pouting, so sits up too.
"You'll be great. Better than great even. Absolutely perfect. The best mom ever"
She looks away in fake embarrassment again. She must REALLY like playing pretend.
They both grow quiet for a moment, and Zuko lies down again. Azula hugs him, and looks at him like she's confused.
"What is it now?"
"Aren't you gonna kiss me goodnight?"
He sighs and kisses her forehead, but she only chuckles.
"A real kiss, dum-dum"
It's his turn to frown "What do you mean?"
She presses her lips to his, and Zuko's entire face turns red.
"W-what... what was that?"
"A goodnight kiss, duh"
"Why?"
"Isn't that what married people do?" she sounds like she genuinely cannot understand his astonishment.
"We're not married"
"Not yet, but we're already practicing for it"
"Practicing?" there's a billion thoughts going through his head just because of that simple word, and not a single one of them is anywhere near coherent.
"What did you think this whole thing was, Zuko? We practice for school, for combat, for important events of the nation. Why can't we practice for our marriage?"
"Azula, I can't marry you"
"Of course you can! You're a prince!"
"I'm your brother"
"Exactly, dummy" she kissed his cheek "We're supposed to be together. Royalty only marries royalty, and once our nation rules the entire world, we'll have no option but each other."
He had never heard something sound so logical and so insane at the same time.
"You're messing with me" he accused.
"I'm being a good future-wife" she kissed him on the lips again, then went back to cuddling with him "Now stop trying to pick up a fight, you'll wake up the kids"
He's too stunned to speak, and eventually Azula falls asleep next to him. The young prince doesn't know if he should talk to his mother the next day, to ask if Azula is right and they'll have to get married once they're adults. He doesn't know if he wants to be told that she's wrong or that she's right.
Either way, Azula will clearly ask him to 'practice' again.
He wouldn't dream of saying no.