#sokkla

“No, Azula I need to—" he stopped for a second, taking a deep breath before he looked at his sister again, "I have to ask a few questions and I just want you to be honest with me. I need ask them before I tell you what I want to tell you."

"So you're just going to come into my room, demand answers from me and excuse me of lying all in one go?"

"No! I just… you scared me Azula!" Zuko shouted and Azula opened and closed her mouth, unable to find words to respond to him.

Either he had gotten better at lying and acting or he was serious.

"You are…despite what you might believe I think about you, you are one of the strongest people I have ever met, ever known. You… no matter what happened in the past and what happens in the future, you will always be my baby sister."

"You have mother's brat. My not-monstrous replacement."

"Azula stop! I'm telling you that seeing you like that, scared of Ozai like that, scared me. You've never been like that before."

"What did you hear?" Azula had been avoiding this topic if she was being truthful. She didn't want to know what she had said but it had been eating away at her like a starving parasite.

"Are you going to answer my questions?" Zuko fired back and Azula glared at him.

"What is this? Some type of negotiation?"

"An even trade?" Zuko suggested instead.

"Nothing about this trade is even. I receive nothing from answering whatever questions you might have." Azula frowned and Zuko's expression mirrored hers.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" The Princess snarled.

"For treating you like a monster. For acting like there was no good in you."

The air felt like it stopped flowing in the room rather than Azula just holding her breath.

"What?" This time it was breath as she looked back at him.

"I know that the drift between us is bigger than just some sibling rivalry. Our parents pit us against each other, compared us to one another and that wasn't our fault. I thought you had everything, everything that was supposed to be mine and-"

"You thought wrong." Azula coldly cut him off, hating the direction this conversation was going.

"I know that now! I know-"

"You know nothing!" Azula bellowed. She hated how her emotions, her pain, and resentment boiled over until it was impossible to push them down anymore. "You have no clue what I went through! What I felt, what Ozai put me through!"

"Then tell me! Tell me what the dream was about. Talk to me Azula! I meant what I said, I am sorry. I wasn't perfect and I played my part just was well as you did. We didn't have a choice then but we have one now! I am sorry Azula. I want to help you and I can't help you if I'm kept in the dark."

"I never asked for you help! I'm fine without your help, I've gone without it my whole life!" Azula wanted this to be over but Zuko looked firm in his spot.

The Fire Lord was not going to let this go.