Small and Precious Words [Zuko]

[azula]

Why am I here again? Azula mentally asked herself for what must be the millionth time. She sat in the courtyard as she usually did enjoying the last rays of light before an impending storm would roll in. It was late in the afternoon and rain could be smelled in the air.

She sat on the bench next to the turtle duck pond. She wasn't sure why she was always so drawn here. Perhaps it was all of those happy childhood memories of chucking rocks at turtle ducks. Maybe it was just remembering being happy. Azula couldn't really be bothered to think too much about it.

Few followed her in to the courtyard except perhaps the guards that were constantly keeping an eye on her. She ignored them for the most part. Not that they had any choice but to accept that. It wasn't like she was about to speak to anyone.

She was wearing a rather long robe that came over her soft slippered feet. None of the armor of before. Barely the shoulder piece that she was accustomed to wearing. The garment felt too loose. Not enough structure. Not really any reason for someone unable to bend fire to wear armor though, was there? Her long dark hair hung loose today with slight wave in it. She had spent the morning in her room still trying to replicate her hair style. A servant approached, asking to assist but Azula had been quick to turn a cold shoulder to the girl. She would figure this out.

Azula leaned forward to pick up one of the little seedlings that had fallen from the trees. Her shortened fingernails tore at the plant matter that surrounded the seed before the seed was tossed in to the water. One of the turtleducks quickly swam over to investigate. Azula watched it quietly.

[fire lord zuko]

Years had passed since the war ended, years since the Royal family of the magnificent Fire Nation was destroyed and shattered in pieces. While in palace ZUko, new Fire Lord was dealing with the building of a new city, the past Fire Lord Ozai was in prison, no bending powers at all and Azula spend 10 years in a mental institution. Which Zuko thought was working on her, she started to show some advances, until something happened again and she stopped talking. It was the moment when he decided that if there was some place she should be was her home, the palace.

He ordered the healers to bring her back to the palace, even when they didn't share the same ideas. But he was on a very important meeting in the new Republic city by the moment she was moved back into the palace, but as soon as the meeting finished, he ordered his bodyguard, Hikari to take him back to the palace as soon as possible.He wanted to see his sister, he wanted to check if it would be possible that she could get better being in a place that she found not so alien to her.

He walked into the palace and asked about the location of the princess Azula in that moment, they told her that she was in the turtle ducks lake, he thanked the servant and then walked to that place. He stopped at the entrance when he saw her sitting on the bench, in a way she reminded him of their mother. He smiled and walked closer. "I'm glad you're spending a relaxing moment out in the fresh air, Azula"

NOTES: hope it's ok, and sorry for the delay!

[azula]

There was a ripple in the water. A flicker really. Her eyes came to the surface of the water to see a familiar face staring back up at her. Recently when seeing reflective surfaces, she had needed to do a double take...never quite sure if she was seeing her own face or that of her mother. She was taking more of the lost woman's features on every day. She could see herself sitting on the bench and Ursa seated next to her.

It isn't true, my darling. Why can't you see that?

The image leaned over and wrapped her arm around Azula's reflection. There was an ache in her chest as she looked over. Part of her almost hoped to see her there. But what remained of her rational mind knew better. Azula could feel her jaw tighten and her eyes narrow at the image in the water. Why did she insist on doing this? Why did she mock her like this? I won't cry. She won't get the satisfaction.

You were doing so well.

Azula pulled off one of her slippers and tossed it at the image as Zuko spoke. She hadn't even seen or heard him approach. As the water started to grow still once again, Ursa was gone and Zuko standing where she had been. Remaining silent, Azula looked to his image and acknowledged she knew he was here. The dull ache in her chest before however remained. Her eyes closed.

[fire lord zuko]

Zuko looked at his beloved sister and couldn't believe that she was still so lost in her mind, he would love to be the one in her place, then she wouldn't be suffering that much in that moment. He breathed deeply and walked a bit closer, knelt by the pond and lifted his sleeve with his left hand, then with his right onw he stretched out and grabbed her shoe, then got up and as he was taking the water off her shoe, he looked at her again and smiled gently.

"I'll put it here so the sun can dry it, ok?" then he looked back at her after placing the shoe on the ground by the bench where she had been sitting on moments before he walked out and talked to her. Then he sat but not on the bench, but on the ground as he used to do it with his mother. Maybe if Azula saw that he wasn't acting all bossy and like the fire lord, she would open her heart again to him. "Azula... sister, why don't you want to talk?"

He asked and then took off the imperial robe, he wanted to be only Zuko, her brother, he wanted her to be again his sister, well she always was kind of strong will girl, but his father was who turned her against him and against whatever good she had inside. Well he was going to fight and fight until he could bring his sister back.

[azula]

Azula didn't look up at him when he moved to retrieve her shoe and set it on the ground by the bench. She remained standing, watching a reflection that still looked too much like Her. The sadness was there but Azula was far thinner. Much more pale. After several seconds she had to look away, moving to sit back on the bench. It was then she noticed Zuko sitting on the ground nearby and speaking to her.

He would be answered by a shrug though her hands were clenched so tightly her nails dug in to her palms. She looked away from him, instead focusing her gaze on the long branches of the willow tree. The wind blew, pulling at her hair. What was he doing?

He's talking to me like a mental patient. Another part of her mind answered. He keeps his voice quiet as not to upset you. He asks simple questions and waits patiently for some kind of answer. He might wait all day. Because I'm unstable. Because no one quite knows what will set me off. Does he even think I hear him at all?

Agni how she hated this place anymore.

[fire lord zuko]

Zuko knew what doctors said about her, that she wouldn't be the same... Maybe ever. That no matter what he tried to do or he tried ro make her understand, sh would never be able to come back, she would never be the princess Azula that he once knew.

He didn't want to believe that! She was strong enough to come back from the darkness where she was in that moment. But would she be aware about that power in her about the strength that she held in her heart? Zuko was sure that their father would have destrpyed that knowledge in her brain, long time ago.

Zuko remembered that when they were children she loved the fire and maybe that would be a joint for them. Maybe if she saw that he trusted her enough to fire bend with her there and maybe also allowed her to use some of that fire... Maybe sge would come back.

Zuko breathed deeply and looked at Azula. "I know you can hear me... I know you're in there somewhere and I won't give up on you." he said and looked at the gates. "bring us some food and water" immediately two maids got up in side and wwnt to get what he ordered.

Then he looked at Azula and sat next to her. "Azula, I know we didn't get along that much, but we're the only family we got." then he stretched out his hand and placed it in front of her. Then a small flame popped onto his hand. "Azula, I know you're in there, my sister, the princess, the one I know, not the one my father modeled. He waited to see what she did about it.