Review. Faster updates for this and other stories if this and other stories get more reviews. Would love to see art work of this or any of my other work. Faster reviews for my other less popular stories means that more updates at a faster pace. Or just more stories like this one.
Also any requests in reviews will probably be ignored.
Also just to be clear. I do not do pedophilia, all characters are aged up in this stuff or aged down depending on the character, no loli, no yaoi, no shota, I don't do watersports (Shit/Piss/fart fetish shit)I don't do stuff like vore or entire bodies getting shoved into places (Shrink play) I don't do blood play or torture (Ball/cock crushing etc) or certain old people, (Yes I am a fucking hypocrite) . Also if you ask for something in reviews that normally means I won't do it. So anyone who asks for that will be disappointed. If you have questions/requests/suggestions PM me instead.
Also have an ao3 account under the same name. and same titles.
The sound of the breeze through the twisted pink petaled trees was relaxing. The scent of the nearby volcano left a tangy smoky smell in the air. Katara took another large bite of the fire honey. The gooey sweet treat sticking to the inside of her throat. She sipped some tea.
Azula was kicking the air rapidly. Her movements coming faster and faster. The fire nation girls eyes were narrowed. Her teeth bared. She looked more aggressive, more alive, more angry then Katara had seen her since she first arrivied. Azula paused in a move and changed to a different one.
Katara checked the book open beside her. Azula was mixing up the order again. Trying to memorize the moves, which she was getting down perfectly, but also not be constrained by the book. Katara smugly smiled, she had given her that advice. And it seemed to be taking.
Azula dropped her core, bent her knees, and punched out three quick jabs at the air. Three small blue fireballs came out of her knuckles. Azula took a deep breath, and then made a cut with her hands. The fire that came out of the side of her hand this time was a dark red. The fire rapidly burnt out before it reached anything flammable.
Azula stood stock still in the center of the garden. Her hands balled into fists. Her sides shaking. Katara stood up with a bronze tray, warm damp towels rolled up on top. She walked forward and offered one to Azula. Who was staring downwards, her teeth grinding together in irritation.
"Whats the matter?" Katara asked. She was a naturally curious child. So she couldn't help asking. Even if she didn't entirely care. Or even like this girl too much. Katara reminded herself what Hama had said the other day. How if she wanted to remain safe here, if she wanted to thrive here, then she couldn't let the Fire nation royal siblings realize what she was thinking. So she smiled politely. Trying to look every inch the obedient, polite, helpful little girl.
Azula snorted as she grabbed one of the rolled towels. She rapidly rubbed it across her face. Then over her hands and wrists. Her training whites were starting to look worn out. She put them through a very difficult routine. Katara had never seen anyone so rough on their own items. Or on their own bodies. And yet Azula seemed to relish in the physical punishment.
"You wouldn't understand." Azula snapped back. Katara frowned in response. Azula marched back over to the blanket. She grabbed a cup of pre-poured tea and slurped it down. She glanced over at the fire honey. Her eyes looked at it scornfully. Katara kneeled down beside Azula. Grass stains getting into her nice red robe.
"I might. You've been weird ever since we ate together." Katara responded. And it was true. Azula was still being rude and standoffish. A regular brat. Which was weird since the last few days, heck ever since Katara had been brought before her, Azula was nothing short of mean and monsterous. Now she was acting more like just a common bully.
Katara knew a thing or two about bullies. But they normally didn't last long in the Southern Water Tribe. If a child was being cruel, or mean, or selfish, an adult was normally close by. And they would tell that child's parents. In a world of just cold and ice and snow you had to work together. Being mean for no reason was a good way for people to get hurt. Cooperation was prized. Team work and a can do attitude was highly regarded. And being a greedy or cruel person was normally frowned upon. Or quickly nipped in the bud.
Azula lay back on the grass. Even while at ease the young girl seemed tense. Katara's eyes roamed up and down the girl. Azula's hands were a contradiction. The palms were firm and hard, but the backs were well maintained and manicured. She obviously wore a lot of lotion and creams to keep them looking that nice. But she punished the inside of her palms. Made them look hard and vaguely mannish. Katara had never seen palms that worn, unless she counted the fisherman from her tribe.
"You mean after my mother permitted you to eat like you were equal to us?" Azula snapped. She glared at Katara. Katara bit back her anger, which was massive. She calmed the seas that raged within her and tried to be a little more….sympathetic. She had to remind herself that Azula was a super rich princess. Which meant that she probably wasn't all that right in the head.
"Yes. After you were nice enough to share your soup spoon with me. And Zuko his chopsticks. Why are you being so nasty to me right now?" Katara asked. Azula looked at Katara as if she was the stupidest child that she had ever met in her life.
"Why am I being mean? Why am I….Zuko is the mean one! Mother is the mean one! I'm just doing what they expect me to do!" Azula jumped to her feet and began pacing back and forth. Her hands waving in the air. Her veneer of cool cruel indifference giving way. Like a wave of fire shooting out of a furnace.
"I do exactly what is expected of me! I follow the orders of my social betters! I follow the forms in the books! I master rudimentary material and thrive with a challenge! And what do I get from it? Nothing! I get scornful looks from my mother and smug smiles from my father! I get dismissed by my brother! My own brother! Who probably have no idea what that feels like! No one does! No one knows what its like! For your peer, for your first friend, for your older brother to constantly talk down to you! To treat me like I am some sort of mad woman!" Katara watched Azula who was marching from one side of the garden to the other.
Sweat was starting to bead on Azula's head. Her hands snapped out and little flickers of blue flames shot from them. Not far enough to actually hit anything. But they were hot. And they were overwhelming. And Katara could feel the heat flickering off of Azula's hands from where she sat. Katara shimmied backwards as Azula continued on her rant.
"I mean you hear him over there right?" Azula paused and pointed towards the walkway. Katara cocked her head. She could hear some panting and the crack of metal on metal. The schwing of a sword through the air. And the whuff as something firm and large got whacked.
"He trains day in and day out with those toys of his. He thinks he could become some sort of a sword smith if he trained hard enough. That father would actually permit him to demean himself like that. He is permitted to break the mold. To do something unexpected…and mother rewards him for it. She loves him for it. She gives him praise and comfort. But the moment I break free and do something unexpected—"
"Like what?" Katara chimed in. She did not care to just be talked at like this. It got boring very fast. Azula paused and glowered.
"What?"
"What what?"
"What what what what?"
"What?" Katara asked confused. Azula growled and marched forwards shoving her forehead against Kataras.
"Don't make fun of me."
"Wouldn't dream of it. I'm just wondering…what do you mean? When do you try to break your mold?" Azula sat down next to Katara and seemed to get herself under control. She took a few deep breaths. She glared to the side. Glares seemed to be her default expression.
"The dolls."
"The dolls?"
"Are you a person or an echo?"
"I thought I was a pet or something." Katara snarked back. Azula smirked at that.
"You are. And don't forget that. Like a parakeet iguana. Or a flamingo donkey. But…The dolls. My uncle sends me dolls. Like the fat fool he is. Every single city he conquers or small town he stops in he sends back a present. For Zuko a fine looking knife, or a piece of armor from a slain enemy, or a book on the history of that specific section of the earth kingdom. For mother only the finest of furs and silks. For father jewels the size of my head and gold that would bankrupt some nobles. And for me? A doll. Constantly a doll, with painted faces, porcelain ones, cloth ones, ones carved of the softest wood. Ones made with the fur of rare or extinct animals. Some dressed in finery, some dressed as serving wenches. Some that resemble me, others that resemble earth kingdom peasents. Always a doll. Constantly. Just dolls, dolls, dolls!" Azula was panting by this point.
"I've always liked dolls. I had one. I would share it with my best friend back home. Her name is Niyok. It was made by my grandmother. Whale seal skin for the face and whale fur for the stuffing. We would pretend that it was a child we were both raising. I miss her."
"The doll or the friend?" Azula said with a raised eyebrow.
"Both." Katara turned to face Azula. "But I interrupted you. My apologies fire princess Azula. Please continue."
"I will continue. But not because you asked me to. I was angry about something…yes. The dolls. I am expected to be the perfect little fire nation princess. To master countless fire bending moves, which I have. To be well spoken, intelligent, prim, proper, and to be a fine warrior. I've achieved all of that. And my rewards…dolls. Or a brief nod of encouragement. Nothing more."
Katara bit her tongue. Azula lived in more finery then some people saw in their entire lives. She was waited on hand and foot, she was presented with only the finest items three different nations could provide her. And still it wasn't enough? That was one of the brattiest most selfish thing that Katara had ever heard! But she had to stay polite, she had to bite her tongue, she had to convince the girl that she was on her side.
"What do you really want then?" Azula glanced back towards the hallway. Zuko's training was still drifting towards the two of them.
"What he has I suppose. Mothers love, more possibilities, weapons. People to give me what I want."
"Or to understand what you want?"
"Don't attempt to psycho analyze me. I say exactly what I want to say. I don't want dolls. And I don't want to be given dolls. I want to be given the things that Zuko has. Mother's love, fathers love, Uncle's love. And the possibilities. Do you know that most men of the fire nation royal family go into the military? No of course you would not know that. How could a foolish little girl like you know that? Father says it is to keep them sharp, and to understand the chains of command. My brother when he comes of age will join the army. Just like our father and uncle and cousin did. Or maybe he will become a politician. Or get it in his head to become some sort of business and shipping magnate. The best that I can hope for is the marriage to some sort of wealthy noble. Used as a pawn at best, discarded to some elderly fire nation fool." Azula snorted her disdain. Katara handed her another towel. Azula roughly rubbed her face.
"It's ridiculous. Although if I am truly lucky I may just manage to secure a marriage between Lu Ten and myself."
"Lu Ten?" Katara curiously took one of the towels herself and rubbed her hands with it. Trying to figure out why the fire nation royal family liked these things so much. They sure were warm and soft. Azula noticed but did not remark upon it.
"My older cousin. General Iroh's son. He is serving on the front lines now. In a few years he shall be made general, maybe even higher. He is second in line for the throne, behind my fat fool of an uncle. If we are lucky Iroh will meet with an accident and Lu Ten would take over." Katara squeezed the towel and stared at Azula.
"What?"
"Your cousin? Why would you want to marry your cousin?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Azula seemed genuinely confused by the question. As if Katara asked her why the wind blows and why wasn't the sky green. Common sense dictated both responses.
"Well. He's your cousin! Isn't that…weird?" Azula rolled her eyes.
"I forget that you are a southern tribe barbarian sometimes. It was perfectly natural for fire nation royals and higher ranking lords and ladies to marry relatives. My grandfathers great great grandfather married his aunt. And she was a product of a brother sister joining that went back ten unbroken generations. My ancestor Sozin broke that tradition to show that he was above such silly squabbles as tradition. Which is what lead to all of those random rebellions by fire nobles later on. If he had stuck with tradition and married his own close relative maybe it would have avoided more trouble down the road."
"We're not barbarians." Katara said firmly. She glared back at Azula. "We just don't marry our cousins. We would go to nearby villages for wedding gatherings. It helped reinforce inter clan teamwork."
"Yes. And look where that got you." Azula said scornfully. Katara pouted and glared to the side. "Besides. If Lu Ten and I marry that means I could become the fire nation lady. That much power…Finally I would have the same level of respect as Zuko gets just for…for being Zuko!"
A door opened on its runners. Feet came pounding down the corridor. The two girls watched Zuko as he sprinted with the biggest grin on his face. He had a dulled sword on his back. Azula snorted and stared after him.
"Look at him. Not a care in the world. He gets it all so easily…And here I am. He is so infuriating."
"All brothers are. I've got one back home. His name is Sokka." Katara said. Azula studied Katara as she talked. Katara rolled the towel forward and backward in her hands. "We would fight a lot. And I thought he was lucky. He was permitted to go on hunting trips with our father. And he was going to learn the warrior way. Only a select few women could learn the warrior way. He got on my nerves a lot, sometimes acting like he was better then me. But I knew he cared. I always knew he cared. I'm sure Zuko cares about you too."
Azula lay back down on the grass. Her chin resting on her hands. She snorted again in response.
"Doubtful."
"Have you ever talked to him about how you feel?" Katara asked. Azula's eyebrows rose. Realization slowly danced over her face.
"I don't think you ever did. Try to fix your relationship with your brother before you act like he is out to get you. Or thinks he is better then you. Your mom too for that matter. You kept on saying he gets to do whatever he wants and is praised for that rebellion, and you get punished for following everyones expectations perfectly….Well maybe you could learn something from him." Azula blew at some grass. She was picking at it. Her fingernails going faster and faster.
Then she tensed up. Katara had placed her hands on either side of Azula's shoulder blades. The thumbs digging in. Azula began to swing around, only to feel something shift and pop inside of her. A deep ache in her shoulders and arms instantly disappeared.
"What are you…ah!" Katara dug down a bit lower and deeper. "Are you massaging me?"
"You looked stiff. I thought that your muscles could use it." Katara responded. Azula frowned and dug her fingers into the dirt again.
"Yes well…Only touch me with my permission next time. But continue…also lower." Azula said while staring into space. Katara's words bouncing through her young head.
The darkness was so dense and complete that not even stars were visible. Zuko's bed chamber also had thick curtains that blocked off all sounds. And his bed was massive and comfortable. And still he found himself face to face with Katara. Their noses just a few inches apart. Katara snored softly. Her mouth open and drooling a little, one of her small hands was curled up beneath her ear. Zuko squinted, he could sort of see her shape in the deep darkness.
He reached out and snapped his fingers, a small spark shot upwards. Then a deeper spark. And then a small flickering flame danced between them. Katara blinked her eyes before staring back at the young man. His eyes had the same deep gold color of his mothers. His soft features looked vaguely sad. As if he had a sorrow within him. But one that he couldn't explain.
"It's not morning yet." Katara yawned.
"What did you say to my sister?" He demanded. Katara blinked in annoyance.
"You woke me up for that?"
"I'm using you to keep my bed warm, just be lucky that you are permitted that. Your proper bed is on the ground. You are more then welcome to that one." Katara frowned and then composed herself. She knew that she was pushing her luck.
"Forgive me my master Zuko. You woke me up. I was sleepy and didn't not expect that question. We talked about you mostly. And your uncle. And your cousin."
"You be careful around her. She is evil. She can't be trusted." Zuko said warningly. Katara frowned back and sat up.
"That's your sister."
"And?" Zuko sat up too. He wasn't much taller then her, but he did have fire on his hands. And she didn't. Katara crossed her arms and glared at him.
"That's a terrible thing to say. If my brother said something like that to me, our mother would have cuffed the back of his head."
"You have a brother?" Zuko asked in confusion. Katara frowned deeper. Did these fire nation royal brats just think they appeared out of thin air? Did they not think that people actually had lives outside of them? Clearly Zuko and Azula thought that the entire universe revolved around them and their needs. Katara wondered just how stupid and pig headed this Lu Ten and Iroh were.
"Yes. And best friends. And a father. And a home. And a doll. And plenty of other things back in the south pole. And Azula only seems to have herself. And the possibility of being forced into a marriage with some gross old general or something."
"So?" Zuko's brow furrowed.
"So? So? So she should be able to marry who she wants. That's whats so." Katara poked Zuko in the chest. He stared down in shock. No servant had ever dared act like this with him before. His head was spinning. And his chest was pumping a mile a minute.
"You can't just—"
"You woke me up! If you ever expect to talk to a girl then know you don't act mean to her after interrupting her sleep! Now listen up! Azula told me a lot about you—"Zuko dropped his hand and the flames went out. Katara frowned as her eyes struggled to readjust. She heard the bed sheets rustling. She lunged forwards grappling in the dark.
"Just because I can't see you doesn't mean I can't give you a piece of my mind!" She wrapped her arms around what she thought was his skinny chest, she yelped as he grabbed her ears and twisted.
"No one talks to me like that! No one treats a fire nation royal prince like this!" He said. Katara flung him around as he kicked at his bed. The bed scraped as the two children rolled over it. Finally it ended with them in a polar bear hug and panting. Legs locked and chins buried into the other's shoulders.
"My big brother did much worse then this to me. Sokka knew how to fight. He was a snow wrestler, not a good one but he practiced his moves on me! You big brothers are all the same! All we want is a bit of time and attention and and and…validation! Azula craves your validation! And you call her evil? How cruel are you?" Zuko shook Katara off and summoned enough fire to his palms to make a small ball in each palm.
Katara stared right back. Her ears were red and sore, her hair was a mess, and her eyes were wide. But she didn't look frightened. Or scared of him. Just sort of sad. He felt a disappointment well up in him. He was fighting a little serving girl in the middle of the night. What sort of prince did that?
"Don't you two care about each other? Don't you want to be a family?" Katara asked softly. Zuko's palms extinguished. The bed shifted as he lay back down and yanked the covers back up. Katara remained crouching on her side of the bed. And since he hadn't dismissed her she lay back down. Eventually her even breathing told Zuko she had gone to sleep. But he could not quite his mind. And so remained awake until breakfast.
Review. Faster updates for this and other stories if this and other stories get more reviews. Would love to see art work of this or any of my other work. Faster reviews for my other less popular stories means that more updates at a faster pace. Or just more stories like this one.
Also any requests in reviews will probably be ignored.
Also just to be clear. I do not do pedophilia, all characters are aged up in this stuff or aged down depending on the character, no loli, no yaoi, no shota, I don't do watersports (Shit/Piss/fart fetish shit)I don't do stuff like vore or entire bodies getting shoved into places (Shrink play) I don't do blood play or torture (Ball/cock crushing etc) or certain old people, (Yes I am a fucking hypocrite) . Also if you ask for something in reviews that normally means I won't do it. So anyone who asks for that will be disappointed. If you have questions/requests/suggestions PM me instead.
Also have an ao3 account under the same name. and same titles.