Zuko was, to put it midly, not the smartest person Azula had ever met.
He had always been so guilliable, it took almost no effort from her to make him believe something stupid and obviously false. It could be something as simple as 'these berries don't actually make you sick, I eat them all the time', a more fantastical lie like 'the first Fire Lord had a three-headed dragon', or even one as wild as 'dad told me you're adopted.'
But one thing she had to admit: he was never boring.
Or at least he didn't use to be boring. But on the entire boat trip from the Earth Kingdom to the Fire Nation, he had been sulking more than usual, and the fact that he was feeling guilty over turning his back on their uncle was practically written all over his face. Azula had been graceful enough to try and talk to him about it, but he insisted that everything was fine - and would always look incredibly uncomfortable when she was around, and eventually started avoiding her as much as possible.
She hadn't even done anything yet! But he was already acting like he had any right to be mad at her, and after she had just gave him what he had wanted so desperately for the past three years: a chance to come home, to be a proud, honorable prince again. Yet because it meant letting a traitor face the consequences of his actions, Zuko was mad at her, and couldn't even admit it!
Azula promised herself she would not let this get to her. She'd avoid him until he stopped being ridiculous, and she was actually doing a great job at it.
Until she saw him laughing while talking to Mai - who was clearly flirting with him.
The princess couldn't believe it. She gave her brother everything he had ever wanted, and didn't get so much as a smile as a thank you for it. But then the second he thinks he might get some action with a girl, he's grinning from ear to ear and looking like he's been upset in his entire life? How pathetic!
It didn't last long, since the following morning he was upset again, even though he had just stepped back into the palace after three years. Still, Azula couldn't help but resent that fleeting moment of joy he had gotten.
She had confronted her brother in the garden, hoping he'd slip up and accidentally say much, as he tended to do, and she'd know if he had any intention of dating her friend.
Instead she was hit with the horrible realization that not only could the Avatar still be alive - but that Zuko was just going to let her tell their dad, like an idiot, that she had been the gone to kill him.
She couldn't even imagine how furious Ozai would have been, how humiliated she would have felt.
But she could picture the inevitable indifference Zuko would demonstrate, clear as day. She didn't know what would make her more furious: if he had done it as a deliberate attempt to be father's favorite, of if it had simply been another case of him being too stupid and self-absorbed to even think of how his actions could any consequence.
Either way, she decided to give him a taste of his own medicine, telling dad Zuko had been the one to bravely slay the Avatar. Let him have the glory - and the shame.
As she imagined, Zuko wasn't happy about it and made sure she knew it. But he really should have chosen any other time of the day to talk about it.
Instead, she wakes up to the sound of her door being opened and someone stepping into the room. The light makes her close her eyes again as fast as she had opened them, and Zuko, idiot that he is, doesn't even close the door behind himself, so she has no choice but to get used to it. She made a mental note to have her chambers redecorated.
"Why'd you do it?"
"You're going to have to be a little more specific" Azula shifted, pressing her head further into the pillow, despite being well aware her brother wasn't going to let this go.
"Why'd you tell father that I was the one who killed the Avatar?"
The princess sighed "Can't this wait until morning?"
"It. Can't."
Azula let out a long breath "Fine. Toss me my robe, will you?"
Zuko ignored the request and stepped closer to the bed, his arms crossed over his chest as he bit back his anger "Answer the question"
So that was how it was going to be?
Fine.
The sheet slid down as Azula sat up, exposing her bare breasts. She wasn't fully comfortable with what she was doing, but the odds of someone else walking down the hall at this time of night and catching a glimpse of her like this were next to zero. The small embarrassment of letting Zuko see her like this was worth it, just to teach him to listen every now and then.
And oh Agni, his reaction was honestly beautiful. For a moment all Zuko did was gape, red-faced, at the sight of her, like he'd do when he was younger and saw a pretty woman, then he whirled around and slammed the door shut.
"What the hell, Azula?!"
"What?" she asks as she gets up, hoping her cheeks won't turn red and spoil her little game "You're the one who came barging into my room in the middle of the night. I should be asking you that question."
Zuko half turned, about to continue the argument, only to see her, standing next to the bed, still completely naked. He snapped his eyes shut immediately, face even redder, and the princess couldn't help but feel flattered.
"What-put some clothes on!"
"But I thought this couldn't wait?" she asks in the most innocent tone she can fake.
"That's-" Zuko tried and failed to come up with a response and blindly flailed in the direction where her dressing table was. Upon locating the robe he tossed it in her general direction. It fell to the floor, and Azula could have smacked him upside the head for it "Put that on."
"You wake me up in the middle of the night, ask me stupid questions, and now have the gall to boss my around?!"
"Azula put it on!"
The princess laughed in disbelief, and bent over to get her robe and kick Zuko out of her room... when she had a devious idea.
She had never done anything like that in her whole life, nor had she thought she ever would. This kind of behavior was beneath a princess, and she had already crossed a few lines that night. But she knew Zuko would never want anyone to find out about this, and he was the only boy that wasn't afraid of her. She would never get the chance to experience something like this, not until father decided to find her a husband, and it seemed he had no intention to even consider that, at least for the time being.
She wanted to know what it'd be like to feel wanted for once.
"Now what is this about?" she asks, trying her best to sound confident.
Zuko turned around and immediately froze.
Azula had put the robe on, but she hadn't bothered to close it.
Zuko sputtered, unable to say anything as she walked closer, the useless silk sliding off her right shoulder.
She put her hand on his chest and smirked "What's the matter, Zuzu? I thought this couldn't wait?"
He shakes his head, then takes a few steps back, trying to create some distance between, but she won't let him.
"Why'd you tell Father I killed the Avatar?"
"Oh, that. Well you were just so worried about how father would react about you coming home without capturing the Avatar" she caresses his cheek and lets her hand slide down to his chin and neck until it's back on his chest again "I figured that if I gave you the credit you wouldn't have anything to worry about."
"You're lying" Zuko accused weakly, looking like he was doing everything in his power to keep his eyes on her face. And even then Azula could practically see the dirty thoughts that were crossing his head "You have to have some other motive"
"If you say so" she said dismissively as she turned around and walked back towards the bed, allowing the useless piece of silk to fall to the floor, letting her brother see everything "Now if you don't mind, I really do need my beauty sleep. Unless, of course, there was something else you needed?"
The princess turned, placing all of her weight onto her hands and elbows as she lay down on her bed, her legs slightly parted. She stared at him for a moment, with the eyes of a predator ready to devour her prey.
To her delight, Zuko, seemingly without even noticing, was walking towards her bed, eyes shamelessly roaming every inch of her naked figure. Azula knew her cheeks had to be burning red at this point, but it didn't matter.
"Or, perhaps, something you want?" she asks, admiring the way he's towering over her, licking his lips, hands clenched into fists and shaking like he's doing all in his power to hold back from reaching out to touch her.
"What are you playing at?"
Azula pointedly lowered her gaze on his body and smirked as she drew her eyes back up "I think you know"
He stood still, watching as she crawled towards him on all fours, then kneeling so they were at eye-leve. Gently, she trails her fingers across his chest, steadily bringing them lower until she was able to gently grip her prize.
Zuko jerked but couldn't resist leaning into her grip.
"Zuzu, won't you come to bed? Mine is awfully large for just one person, and it would be a shame to waste this moment, don't you think?"
"We can't... I can't..."
"Oh, what's so wrong about showing your sister some love?" she asks, kissing cheek as she lets her hair down"Come on, let me welcome you home properly" she whispers - then smiles as Zuko kneels on the bed, climbing atop of it, wrapping his arms around her "Good boy"
Zuko kisses her deeply, expert hands shamelessly moving through her whole body - hair, face, neck, arms, breasts, stomach, back, ass, thighs... time and time again, harshly and gently, both like he's just exploring it and like he's sticking his claim. All while his tongue toys and spars with her own, only adding fuel to the fire that is making her all the more eager, and honestly needy, for this.
But she's frustrated that she can't really touch him the same way, due to the armor he has own.
As soon as Zuko breaks the kiss for air, the two of them panting, Azula's fingertips trail through the torso of his armor "Take it off"
"Who's the one being bossy again?" he huffs before grabbing her by the hair and pulling at it gently, making her throw her head back. His warm, soft lips are on her neck and it only makes the throbbing ache between her legs worse.
"Don't tease"
"Consider it payback for your little stunt" his teeth graze her neck and shoulder, making her whine pathetically.
"Don't start being difficult unless you want to end the night jerking off in your room"
She gasps as he suddenly sneaks his hand in between her legs, cupping her soaked cunt, fingers already sliding easily through her slit.
"Somehow I doubt you'll actually do that" he presses a quick kiss to her lips "This whole thing was your idea"
"Ah yes, and you'd never have such impure thoughts without being provoked, would you?" she taunts, nipping at his lower lip "I don't wanna fight tonight, dum-dum. Just take off those clothes and fuck me"
He chuckles "If you insist"
He tosses the head-piece aside, then lets Azula help him off the armor. He kicks his shoes off and gets to the center of the bed, pulling her with him as they kiss, hands roaming each other's bodies freely.
"But don't think this changes anything" he says, taking off his shirt "You're still awful and I'm still furious"
Azula rolls her eyes "If you say so. Now come here" she laces her arms around his neck and pulls him in for a kiss. He kisses back, but only for a moment, then moves his kisses down to her chin, jawline, neck and collarbone, covering her skin with hickeys. Azula buries her hands in his hair, encouraging him to continue.
He moves even lower then, kissing and groping her breasts, ocasionally biting her sensitive nipples very gently as she sighs in pleasure, holding him close. One his hands slides down her body and Azula spreads her legs from him, letting him touch her sex once again. He works two of his fingers inside her, thursting in and out slowly. Azula has to bite her lip to fight back a loud moan.
"More" she asks, not caring, for once in her life, if she's the one in control, if she can get the upper hand, if she could use this against Zuko later.
No, all that matters is that her brother is making her feel good, desired...
Loved, she dares to hope.
Azula pulls at his hair until he looks at her again. He is stunned to see just how vulnerable she looks, pleading eyes staring back at him.
"I need you" she says, placing a gentle hand on his face, caressing it, palm against his cheek, fingertips tracing the rough, red skin of his scar "I missed you"
Zuko is looking at him like he doesn't even recognize her, struggling to take in her words - then suddenly his mouth is on hers again and he's holding her in his arms in an embrace that brings a an old, familiar, long-forgotten joy to her heart. On that moment, it feels absurd that she ever thought she would be happier after he was gone, after she no longer had a rival that could gain father's affection.
Not even at his most tender and honest had Ozai ever given her anything that could compare to this.
Zuko finally undresses fully and places himself between her legs, holding one of her hands and letting their fingers entwine as he makes her his, entering her slowly, stopping every now and then, letting her get used to the sensation, until she has taken every inch.
For a few instants, he doesn't move, looking at her expression, trying to see any trace of pain or discomfort, before setting a slow, steady pace that only builds the excitement. It doesn't take long for Azula to get carried away, moving her hips wildly, wanting to feel every his cock sliding in and out of her, craving more of that friction, asking him to give it to her harder, faster, deeper. Zuko immediately obliges each and every time, eager to please.
Never has she seen her brother be so docile, yet so confident at the same time. It's strange. It's intriguing.
The delight she feels when it becomes clear that he's struggling not to cum just yet only makes it better.
"Needy are we?" she taunts, like he had to her just a few minutes before.
"Shut up" he says, but it lacks the usual anger she has learned to expect from her brother.
Instead he just continues fucking her, the pleasure building up and up until her climax washes over her in wave after wave, making her legs shake, her back arch, her nails dig into Zuko's back, and a truly obscene sound escape past her lips as she throws her head back, eyes tightly shut.
Only as she's coming down from her high does she feel Zuko still above her, hips slamming into hers with enough force to make her cry out again as he spills himself inside her without a care in the world.
Somewhere, in the back of her mind, Azula knows this is a potential disaster. That she should push him off of her, kick him out, and pray that this doesn't end with her having to explain to her father that she dishonored herself and ended up pregnant.
Instead, she only panics when Zuko starts to move again, locking her arms and legs around him.
"Don't pull out yet" she begs.
"I won't" he promises, repeatedly kissing her forehead, lips and cheeks to soothe her.
It doesn't take long for her to feel him getting hard again, slidding in and out of her, lips on her neck, hands grabbing onto her waist possessively.
She should remind him of the risks, for her brother has never been very bright, especially not when acting on impulse.
She has no intention of doing so.