Chapter Text
Azula watched as Zuko kept bugging mother. What a dum-dum he is. She watched as he turned his head around and frowned before coming to her and pulling her towards mother, she watched as mother's face turned down. That was right she was a monster, mother said so, everyone knew so. But Zuko the stupid dummy was pulling her along with him, did he not know? Was he really that stupid that he didn't know about her?
She watched as mother leave, as Zuko stay his cheeks red as he rambled about how he wanted to put the 'Love Amongst The Dragons' for mother's birthday. "I was wondering if we could put the play for mother's birthday? She has been so sad for days and I thought that might make her happy. We could do it like how we used to do it when we were younger-"
Ahh...I see...My my you have grown Zuzu, you have learned to use your cunning brain. But he rambled on and on and she watched as he didn't even run out of breath. She lifted her hand, making him pause. "Fine, I will do the play with you." His smile, the stupid smile was so big and bright she thought maybe Agni had blessed him in a stupid way. But never the less, she agreed with him and now she couldn't go back on her word.
*********************************************
It wasn't funny making the play with Zuzu, it wasn't at all. The dum-dum can't even act right! She wanted to make everything perfect, it would be if stupid ko-ko would do his play right rather than changing it all the time!!
********************************************
Mother cried at the end of their act, had they failed so much their mistakes made mother cry? Zuzu ran to mother but she hugged and kissed him the forehead. No, it seems her failure has made mother cry, of course. It makes sense, she was a monster and mother didn't like monsters. She like weak babies like Zuzu.
But mother called for her, Azula was ready, ready for the strike, ready for the burn, ready for the scolding. But...but she...she was pulled into the hug. It makes no sense, why? Was this a way to lower her guard before giving her punshiment? She didn't know, she didn't. but she stayed in the hug, it felt so warm, like laying on the ever green glass in the garden as Agni made sure his light fell on her. As the breeze made sure she didn't feel hot nor cold but comfortable, the earth under soft on her back taking away the ache from her bones rather than giving her more.
She liked it, she really did. And if playing and doing stupid things with the dum-dum meant she would get to do such things. She would join him, sometimes. Only few times.
"I love both of you so much. Thank you, that was the best gift I have ever gotten from anyone. Your acting skills were so good, I am proud of you two."
Azula felt something shift, she felt calmer. She didn't know why but she did.