Family lunches are always fun

[iamfirelord]

It had been so long since Azula had a bath and even the ones she had from the mental ward were not indulgent, relaxing things. But Zuko had arranged a morning of pampering and she spent the time in peace from the voices in her mind. Free from her mother and when she finished, she felt better than she had in a while but had been fearful of

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[sifuhonorpants]

Zuko walks Azula around the turtle duck pond. He is wary of getting close to it because he of his bad reputation with the mother turtle duck. Zuko leads her to a table that already been prepared before their arrival. Zuko sees a assortment of fruits already set out on the table. A pitcher of ice tea is already brewing in the sun, and also a pitcher of water is sitting out waiting for them. Also in case of a unexpected guest he prepared another place setting. Thinking that Mai or any of the gaang might come over.

Zuko looks at his sister and smiles, "Well enjoy yourself Azula. The servers will be out shortly to take your order."

[maixknives]

Mai walks as fast as she can without running, inwardly cursing Zuko for this last minute plan and wishing she had had more time to prepare. Last time she had seen Azula was hardly something she could feel warm and fuzzy about; she imagined that lunch would be the same.

She rounds the corner and sees, in the gardens, that Zuko and Azula have already arrived. Azula looks clean and calm, while Zuko looks somewhat wary, occasionally looking over at the turtle-duck pond with some trepidation. She can't blame him - even she had suffered through seeing Azula's "games" with the poor birds.

"Sorry I'm late," she calls, closing the distance between them and her with flurried steps. "I didn't have much time to prepare," she shoots Zuko an annoyed glance as she says this, before turning to Azula

[iamfirelord]

Azula laughs when she notices Zuko avoiding the turtle-duck pond. They’re turtle-ducks! He is so much bigger than they are! "They won't bite Zuzu." She bends down to pick up a pebble on the walk around the pond, tossing it in her hand and smirking. She turns with Zuko towards the table, tossing the small rock into the pond and enjoying the sound of the squawking turtle-ducks fleein behind her. It feels like things are back the way they should be...aside from the Firelord robes her brother wears. She drops into a seat, looking unimpressed at all the effort Zuko obviously went to.

She pours herself some tea into one of the celadon cups, turning it in her hand and heating it. As the cup slowly heats, she spots Mai running and the cup boils in her palms. Azula purses her lips, staring at Mai and all at once the negativity comes back. The hate, the paranoia and the...hurt...it’s all there again when Mai addresses her as princess. She shakily sets her cup down with a harsh slam and refuses return the greeting. “Shall I bow?”

[sifuhonorpants]

Zuko looks at her sister commanding Mai and raises an eyebrow and says protectively, "I'll test it. I am surprised you need it testing when I am drinking it already Azula."

A little annoyed Zuko sticks out his hand waiting for Azula to hand him her glass.

[iamfirelord]

“This isn’t how its supposed to be.” She feels Mai freeze up and a distant part of her tries to figure out why so she can use it against her but she just…can’t. She stops struggling completely and falls against Mai just a little.

When Zuko mentions their father, Azula looks up sharply. She’s not sure she will forgive their father either and she isn’t sure what to make of Zuko’s words. It’s a trick. But then her mother is standing by him and telling her to trust him and she squeezes her eyes shut, moving against Mai and turning her hands to grip Mai’s. “I will never be loyal to you!”

[maixknives]

Mai doesn't resist Azula's hold on her hands - she just kneels there. Anything she wants to say - or would have said - dries up in her throat. She just sits there.

She knows it's insane to let Azula hold her bare hands like this - she could be burned - but she doesn't move. She can't shake how Azula had, just seconds ago, actually relaxed against her, just for a moment.

So she just...sits. Waits. Wonders what she is supposed to say, if anything at all...

[sifuhonorpants]

Zuko looks at Azula sadly, "No, I decided I want you in my life Azula. You are my sister, and I still love you regardless of our past."

Zuko shakes his head and looks back in at the pond. He thinks to himself, "I loves her even though she tormented me when we were children. Zuko your taking a big risk with this gesture of good faith. What if she hadn't change, and she is playing you for a fool?"

[iamfirelord]

His words don’t make sense. Love…family, its all meaningless to her. She can’t remember when family mattered. Her hands are shaking and she’s swaying on her knees, her body bumping Mai’s as she moves faintly. He would never offer his loyalty, it has to be a trick. If their father turned his back on her, how could she trust Zuko’s loyalty?

“No. I don’t believe you. You would never give me your loyalty.” She pulls her hands away and starts to struggle in Mai’s hug, thinking she’s sensed the trap.

[sifuhonorpants]

Zuko notices again the tension building in the air between the both Azula and Mai. Zuko watches how Azula demeanor changed in a instant, and he starts to wonder if it worth the effort trying to help her. No, he can't think like that anymore. She is family after all.

Zuko walks to Mai side and looks at Azula and gives a Azula warning glare to stop, but he says nothing.

[iamfirelord]

Her look is calm as she glances to Zuko, looking at him innocently. She did nothing wrong and Mai should watch herself. But, she held her tongue, giving the other girl a hard look. Azula tries hard not to let the hurt show. She realizes her best friend is completely lost to her and she really can't trust anyone. It hurts more than the knife that sliced her arm and she flashes back painfully to when Mai chose Zuko over her. Just like her mother

[maixknives]

Mai says nothing. She just stands there, putting her hands in her sleeves, hoping that her expression is as blank as possible.

That one moment, that one shred of vulnerability, that Azula had allowed herself to show in Mai's arms was long gone. Mai now knew that there was no going back. It was done.

Turning her back, she moves to summon the servants to clean up the mess.

[sifuhonorpants]

Zuko frustrated at how this lunch went, but he should have known it would have turned out this way. Zuko decides the best decision is to take Azula back to her cell. He looks at Azula and says, "Your cell should be cleaned by now, and you should have a fresh bed. I will escort you back to your cell."

He sighs and turns to Mai and says, "I'll take Azula back now. I will come see you when I am done with her."