#irisewiththesun

Azula was still going over the past couple of minutes in her head. Chan’s reaction, her own choice of words maybe, when the commotion inside pulled her back to the present. A short exhalation centered her again. Of course it hadn’t been her, the boy was just an idiot who couldn’t tell head from tails, much as any other high-ranked soldier’s entitled son.

Walking back inside, it was easy to spot where the agitation was, and she wasn’t surprised to hear from Ty Lee that Zuko had snapped and left the place. She hardly bothered not to roll her eyes as Mai sat on the very spot she’d shared with her brother, as tight-lipped as usual. Why was it that she always had to fix everything between the bunch of them?

So it was with an exasperated sigh, that Azula left the party to trace Zuko’s path, and bring him back to them. Yet again.

It didn’t take her long, she knew her brother after all, and there were but two places he’d be right now. One, the first option if it were available, with their uncle. Agni knew why the old man held such a high place in Zuko’s esteem. But, that removed from the table, only their old family home was left. After all, Zuko did love to reminisce.

The way there was easy enough, even when she hadn’t made it in years. But it was on the opposite side of the main beach, the house nestled between sharp stone slabs, and forgotten greenery. The red rooftops emerged ominous amongst it all, with the memory of past glories. It was all so dead now, not a light in sight. It almost felt as if the nation’s fire had completely left that particular area of the island.

A clear sky above, and the sea breeze blowing at her back, Azula walked the path leading to the abandoned building. If she were to believe in all of the nonsense that left Lo and Li’s mouths, then she’d say the island was pushing her towards Zuko.

And he was there alright, sitting alone on the house deck, entertaining something in his hands. She wanted to shake her head at his gloomy attitude, but found herself feeling the emptiness around them far too close to her chest.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

Lin woke up from her nap with a start, there had been some noise, and she had jumped to sit up, looking around, a bit lost. The room she was sleeping in was empty, and huge, and she didn't know how to do that thing with her feet, to know where people were yet. 

She yawned, and rubbed at her eyes, climbing off of the giant bed, and taking to the empty hallways of the palace to find someone. It was dark out and even though she wasn't scared -she was a big girl now, and a Beifong!- she'd much rather be with someone than alone. 

There were a lot of doors that led to unexplored places still, and a few where she dared to poke her head in, trying to find a known face. A few assistants looked at her, as she walked aimlessly, and she waved at them with a groggy smile. 

She took a turn somewhere, and found herself in known terrain. At the end of this hall, there was a door she was familiar with. She knocked and waited.

“Oh, it’s alright I guess.” Bumi said, walking around the office, taking everything in, and stopping on one of the bookcases, exploring the pictures and trinkets there. He picked one up, a tiny, metal statue of the Fire Lord. “Cool.” He whispered, putting it back in its place.

“I wish Lin was here though, or Sokka.” Bumi dragged his feet to seat on an empty chair in front of his uncle. “Kya is training with mom, and when Izumi comes they’ll go do girls’ stuff.” He said with a roll of his eyes. 

“That’s okay. I’ve had tea...” Shiko skipped the chair, and mumbled around the office instead. “this morning... yesterday... tomorrow...” She looked around the place, it looked nice, cozy, and private. 

Continued with @thcbluespirit

Azula shook her head and buried herself further into him, hadn’t he learned her love was inconvenient at the very least? She looked up at him, finding his eyes already on her.

She’d explored the possibility of going to the city before, seeing what her brother had been working towards all this years. He’d certainly offered her the trip before. The duration of it, was not really a thing that affected much her decision of going or not. But people, people outside the palace- people in Caldera were one thing, but she wasn’t sure how she would fare in Republic City.

But Zuko offered it each time, regardless of her constant refusals, and she did miss him every time he left. “Okay. I’ll go.” Azula answered, sounding more convinced than she was.

EXCESSIVELY DETAILED HEADCANON MEME

44. Superstitions or views on the occult?

Azula believes in facts first and foremost, what she can see, touch and prove with evidence. She’s not overly superstitious, and doesn’t really care for occultism, although that last one is indecisive, given that spirits and astral powers in ATLA’s world are a fact.

That being said, she has a few habits she’s picked up with time, things she does before certain activity, which she’ll claim for as long as she breaths that are not superstitions. Such as holding certain things only with her left hand, always keeping something red on her, no matter what color she’s wearing, or never sleeping with her head to the North.

45. Do they express their thoughts through words or deeds?

It will depend on who she’s interacting with, but it tends to be a mix of them. 

Usually a rant on how she’s right about something will be just that; long, and filled with unnecessary complex words, arms leisurely crossed at her chest, or her sprawled over something, examining her nails.

She knew he knew she was there. They’d become alert with time, hypervigilant in their own home. Something that lingered in them, even after all these years of him being gone. Still, he played the part, and remained in the middle of his bed, unmoving, pretending. She appreciated it.

Azula walked softly, feet making no noise on the carpeted floor. She stood by the bed a moment longer, debating herself, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest, and the slight off-one every so often, that told on him not being really in the dreams realm.

Eventually- what she’d learned was just before he grew impatient, and looked at her with those worried gold eyes- she slid in between the covers and sheets, head finding his shoulder. Her fingers sat gingerly over the scar on his chest, the reason she’d woken up today.

It was slightly different each time; his scars, his vanishment, her breakdown, a glimpse of their past, his voice, hers. And Azula would wake up in a fit. Sit up in bed counting the seconds. Calling reality back to her, biting her lips not to call for him. Until she couldn't help it anymore, and went in his search.

He’d long ago stopped running to her bedroom when she cried out, she’d asked him to. But she’d still to break this one habit. He said it was okay, Zuko always did. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and held her. And it was everything she needed to fix herself for the foreseeable future.

That night she’d tried, the same as always, to stay alone. Not to need him. But the nightmare had been particularly bad. There were words she could still not shake from her mind, awful truths, disgusting lies, nasty secrets. A mirror that showed just how much she’d burned.

If he were awake, he’d ask she tell him, and she would. And then there would be two of them. As it was, she could protect him from her, the same as he did. And as his hand pressed on her arm, and he kissed her temple, her hand tightened on his robe over the scar.

“I’m sorry you have to carry them on the outside.” She whispered to the silk of his shoulder. His grip became harder, just for a second. A single tear escaped her, running over the bridge of her nose to the other side, getting lost somewhere between the mess of long hair under them.

A gift for @thcbluespirit - This, and all the gross things in the world. Thank you.

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The palace was in silence. Azula opened her eyes in bed, taking in the shadows of the room in a frown; she wasn’t exactly sure what had awakened her, but she felt something was off. Maybe it was the silence.

It had to be close to sunrise, she could feel her blood beginning to prickle with the element’s call, so why was it so quiet? She sat up in bed, and called for her personal assistant. The girl didn’t show. For a moment, fear threatened to creep to the front of her mind, but she pushed it away. There shouldn’t be a reason to fear anything, just the previous night everything had been as usual as the day before. Maybe it was too early. Perhaps she’d awoken before the rest of the palace. It wouldn’t be the first time a dream disturbed her, and she wound up sitting in the garden, with the blue-turned-to-pink, hues of dawn.

She slid out of the bed, and into a simple dress, not bothering with shoes or her hair, and took to the hallways. The silence there was even louder, not a servant or guard in sight, but not a single body either, so was this something to be worried about, or was this- was this a dream maybe? She walked aimlessly through the corridors, trying to make sense of the situation. Trying to avoid the stare of the portraits, and the reflection of the windows, because if this was in fact in her mind, then those would get her in trouble.

Her feet took her to the throne room, and the dining one, and she peeked into Zuko’s office as well. Everything seemed normal enough. Empty. But normal. She tugged down the sleeves of her dress, disquieted. The kitchens seemed like a good place as any to go next; she’d have some water, maybe even tea, and think about this more. Through the open curtains to a side, the sun was filtering, and she dared look to find the gardens equally vacant. Most odd.

Azula’s spine tensed unwittingly when she heard noise coming from her destination. She halted, breath stuck high in her chest, as she tried to figure out what was happening on the other side of the doors. After a moment though, it seemed as if someone was cooking, which was the most logical thing giving the place, but still- she looked over her shoulder. The empty hallway stretched long into the red curtains, the sun coming in golden patterns through the high glass windows. Moving forward looked better, at least for now.

“Zuko?” She frowned, once inside the kitchens, and blinked a couple of times. “What- are you cooking?” So maybe this was really a dream after all. Azula took a look over the island countertop where her brother- the Fire Lord- had assembled what looked like breakfast. Her eyes went back to him, eyebrows raising in a wondering manner.

“You woke up early.” He commented. Azula shrugged, unable to discern what was happening here still.

“Don’t I always?” She took a couple of hesitant steps inside, gaze moving over Zuko, fingers trailing over the marble top. It all seemed real enough. “Where is everyone?”

“I guess you do. I should’ve started earlier then.” He smiled, sheepishly, and she knew she was missing something, but couldn’t really tell what, and that was really disconcerting. “I sent them away, for the day. It’s just you and me today.”

“Oh.” That seemed to be a happy thing, if her brother’s face was of any indication, and she couldn’t say she minded really; on the contrary, time alone with Zuko was rare. But- “And the reason?”

He grinned. Slowly, his lips stretched into a grin she didn’t get to see often, what with the meetings, and paperwork, and life in general. She couldn’t help but to let her own lips follow with a small curve of their own. If he was happy, then she was as well.

“Today it’s a year.” He said, as if he were talking about the weather, and it finally dawned on her. Lips parted, her brow furrowed once more, in recognition.

A year already, and she’d never even noticed. She’d never marked the date, had barely been able to tell day from night those first weeks at the palace, after her release from the asylum. But of course he would. And of course he would be so stupidly considerate, and-

“I don’t think I’m ready.” The words left her on their own, but they were true. The doctor, her therapist, the bending instructor, they’d all said a year. A year and she could remove the cuffs once and for all. But as she felt reality trickle down her back in a warming feeling- in anticipation of what could be- she felt fear turning the tip of her fingers into ice. “Maybe we should wait.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Azula, you know you’re ready. I know you are.” He smiled encouragingly. “I’ve seen your training, I’ve been with you without the cuffs before, and the instructor says you’re in control of it.”

“It’s not perfect. I can do better.” She countered albeit half-heartedly, and he shook his head, but didn’t look put out by her choice of words. If anything, he was amused, as if he’d expecting as much.

“Well, I don’t really care. And, you know, I’ve told everyone to leave today in case you decided to burn the palace down, so-” The key glinted in his hand, and he took a step towards her, smiling. She took two back. “Come on, Azula, don’t you want to burn some stuff? I’m granting permission.”

She wanted, she really did. Maybe not burning stuff, but take off the horrid cuffs once and for all. Feel her fire free again. But the risks- a part of her feared a mishap. Zuko waved the key in the air, walking towards her. She eyed the breakfast once more, endearment mistied her eyes. He’d really been waiting for this. She turned back to her brother to find him making his way around the island.

“You just want me to burn this place down so that you free yourself of all the work. Don’t think I don’t know how your mind works.” She taunted, smirking. He shrugged, his face an attempt at innocence. “Well, I’m not doing your dirty work, brother.” And she sprinted out the door.

She heard Zuko laugh, and a second later he was fast on her heels, and she cursed her clothes, because they were less than ideal to run, and he was taller than her. He’d catch her in no time. She made a closed turn into a lounge room, using her deftness to hop over the furniture and gain some distance.

Azula had almost managed to reach one of the doors to the gardens when he caught her. Zuko’s arms closed around her middle, and he picked her up and spun her around. His laughter echoed in the vastness of the empty palace, and she followed suit with her own, rather agitated one.

“Put me down, Zuko!” She complained in between chuckles, wriggling in his arms, but he just laughed louder, and twisted her to fit over his shoulder. “Come on, this is awful behaviour of a Fire Lord, brother! What will your advisers say?”

“You know- ouch, someone once told me, what were the words? Hey knock it off-” Zuko marched down a hallway, and Azula used her new position to poke at his ribs and tug at his hair. “This Princess once told me, fuck the advisors, so I’m just following her word on it.”

“You just pick and choose when to listen to Princesses, don’t you?” She kept a steady rhythm on her fingers digging at his sides, lips curved in a permanent resigned smile. It would seem they were going back to the kitchens.

“Of course. It is my job as the Fire Lord to see what fits, and what doesn’t.” Zuko crossed the doors and put her down, his broader frame against them, keeping her from exiting again. He raised his unburnt eyebrow, and with an exaggerated sigh, she put her hands forward. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Still, as he took the key to one of the cuffs, his fingers trembled, and Azula stopped breathing. This was it. After today she’d be free, completely free. The notion was almost nauseating. For years now she’d depended on him, he was her support, her friend, her warmth. She wondered if he was thinking the same thing. If he’d miss having her clinging to him like a child. Probably not. But in any case-

“We’ll still train together, right?” Azula’s voice was small, her heart readying for a negative answer. Zuko looked up, and she thought she saw a tear escape the corner of his good eye.

“Every time you want to, yes.” The key clicked. Once, the cuff clattered on the floor. Twice, the second followed. She was afraid of breathing, could feel the fire nudging her to do so.

She quieted it down, there was time for that. Instead, her arms found each other around Zuko’s waist, and she rested her head on his shoulder. His hugged her back not a second later, fingers running through her hair. And they stayed there for a moment, no need for words, when they were both feeling the same thing; their fires getting acquainted with one another once more.

“Come brother-” She pulled away softly, threading fingers with his, and walking to the island countertop, where breakfast awaited for them. “let’s eat, and then we can run around the palace burning some stuff. I do have permission, after all.” She smiled up at him.

“Of course. Anything you want, so long as you burn some of those awful legislation papers as well.” He smirked down at her, nudging her shoulder and moving to seat on a stool.

His eyes were fixed on her, and she halted her movements, fork with stabbed waffle waiting midway to her lips. Azula raised an eyebrow at him. “If you get sentimental I’ll zap you.” She threatened, and put the bite in her mouth.

“Oh, this is actually good. Do tell, where is the Chef hiding?” She teased, leaning into him with a chuckle.

“You’re funny.” Zuko’s arm hugged her by the shoulders, and kissed her temple. “The more you tease me, the less you get to burn.”