Author note: so my sleep deprived ass didn't notice that i missed a whole chapter about the end of the tournament, it's fucking sad but the next chapter ignores the whole thing and i feel bad about it. like my brain blanked out because for the last several weeks i've been writitng blind as the initial notes i had are gone, i will post this but then i will officially be taking a break from this story for the rest of the month and when i come back i will come back with a plan. sorry but i need to think about where this is goign.


Zuko

"I don't want you to go" Mai's head rested on my shoulder, and she looked at me longingly.

"You heard Ozai I can't stay even if I wanted to, you could come with me" I knew that she wouldn't, her father wouldn't allow it, not without a formal betrothal or a big enough incentive.

My not-so-little sessions of plowing Mai senseless showed me the power of my lure, it was good that I also had the addiction defense, or she would suffer withdrawal without me. The constant need she showed of needing my touch was off-putting for me, I had never seen Mai like this before so open and emotional, there were more important things to think about.

The second round of fighting must be over now and my time as a guest was about to be over, it was maybe a dick move to leave Iroh alone but he could take care of himself and his political clout was way better than mine, still, I should have been present as he looked for allies as I was the leader of my faction.

Another thing that I have to think about is Azula, she had not been acting like I thought she would after our talk, it looks like I will have to capture her the old-fashioned way.

"You know I can't go with you" I had forgotten about Mai while thinking but her voice dragged me back into the present "But if your search takes you closer to me that would be a funny coincidence"

"I will make sure to think about it, but you will have to be a great host for me" with a peck on the lips I separated myself from her "I need to look for my uncle, see you soon Mai"

After crossing the empty room, I open the door slightly and relax, the people are enjoying themselves far too much and the stench of alcohol and smoke will cover the scent of sex and sweat. Finding Iroh is not as difficult as one might think, there was a reason he got fat and it wasn't because he drank a lot.

I approach the chairs where my uncle is sitting surrounded by some ladies and smile at him from the distance, they're not bad looking and he seems to be enjoying their attention while they're feeding him, I shoot him a thumbs up and he raises his glass before I go looking for Azula.

Finding her isn't difficult either I just have to see what place everyone is avoiding to know where she is, I snort when I notice that she is on the same balcony I was fucking Mai not long ago. With a pitcher of wine in my hand and two glasses I make my approach, it's incredible that they care so little about underage drinking but when the culture is so militaristic it makes sense.

"You look stressed, want a drink?" Azula's piercing gaze passed over my whole body before she took the wine without saying anything "If you're not going to talk I will leave"

Azula stops me and drags me into a chair that is very familiar to me "Zuzu I have some questions"

Unexpected as it is this is not unwelcome and it's easier to navigate around Azula's warped worldview if she is the one asking questions "And those would be?"

She poured herself a glass and downed it one go before doing it again, it was worrying, I mean, why would Azula need liquid courage to ask a question?

"If I suspect that you're lying I will throw lightning at you and accuse you of attempted murder," I knew Azula was serious as she didn't even bother with the 'Zuzu' shit "Are you planning on killing father?"

I debated with myself for a few seconds as the silence stretched out between us, this was no place to admit what I was planning and I couldn't be sure if Azula would remain silent if I answered yes but I had no doubt that she would do as she warned me if she caught me lying to her face.

"I am" the words carry across the air and even the noise coming from the party appears to lessen in our little corner of the world, Azula's face doesn't change, doesn't show anything but the same stoic expression as she nods.

"If I don't join you, will you kill me too?" it frustrated me that I could read nothing from her tone, Azula may as well have been a statue but this time there was nothing to think about my response to her question was instant.

"No, I don't think I can, even if everyone else asked me to, even if Iroh was the one asking, I wouldn't do it"

She stares at me unflinchingly, looking for any signs of deceit, and when she doesn't find any, she asks again "why? Why would you let me live?"

I can only laugh at her for the question, her angry frown is the only change in her expression and Azula shows a surprising amount of restraint by not attacking me immediately.

"Because I love you" it wasn't the love one had for a wife or a girlfriend it was something more familial, that in time could grow into something more meaningful but it wasn't a lie to say that I cared about Azula or that I loved her.

She didn't respond at all, Azula simply turned around and stared at the beach "Do you remember the day you almost drowned and father saved you?"

"I do, but no matter how good things were then those days are long gone. I won't change my mind Azula"

She kept staring at the ocean even as she spoke again "I think those days were the last time I was happy in my childhood. I don't know what to do but when I figure it out you will be the first to know, goodbye Zuzu"

Without meeting my eyes Azula left the balcony.


Azula

Zuko was still an idiot if he could say that he loved her without even knowing the things she had done in Ozai's name and the lengths she was willing to go to finish any tasks that fell upon her,
she supposed that his naivety was endearing in a way and he was clearly somewhat smart as there was no way that their father would just ignore the threat that Zuko presented.

Azula found herself in the unique position to play kingmaker and she would choose the side that brought the best benefits to her, Ozai used her as an executioner but if Azula ever tried to advance her position she would quickly find herself in the same position Zuko was in, once she thought to wait him out and just ascend to the throne in her later years but with a civil war on the horizon that was no longer viable.

So long as Zuko presented a threat the Fire Nation would be divided, Azula didn't particularly care for the peasants but she understood that a war like that would weaken her nation. The best option, the one that would turn everything back to how it was before, was to kill Zuko, however, it would prove challenging given his ability to ignore fire and Zuko's skills that were not as low as she once thought them to be.

On the other hand, Azula doubted her ability to acquire power if Zuko were ever to ascend the throne, however his session of debauchery with Mai presented another avenue for power. Azula could spread the rumor that Zuko was not Ozai's son that he just looked like him and that Ozai didn't want to admit to being cucked, then she could just marry Zuko to quell any doubt about the claims of her descendants and it's not like royalty has never done marriages like that before.

It would be a stretch, but it would give her the crown she so craved, Zuko could be easily led by his cock and everyone that was not Ozai would live happily, maybe not Mai… at least in the beginning. But that plan was risky if anything went wrong then her dream of ruling would turn to ash and all she would have done was help Zuko for no reason.

Azula was beautiful enough that not even her brother would resist her and if she made Zuko completely dependent on her all the better, it's not like she cared if he said he loved her but hearing it all the time wouldn't be a bad thing.

Now she had to do something she had never done before, Azula would have to start playing with politics, she shuddered at the thought of having to entertain those loathsome nobles that prattled incessantly and thought her nothing but a brute. They would be getting a nice surprise and until she decided what to do she could tell her father that she merely was reinforcing their position, empty words, and promises had their uses.


Author note: it's me again, so as always my Patron is below. Tsun-Tsun Azula is a go and plans to rule the Fire Nation without looking like inbred monsters too.