Chapter Text
For a moment, dead silence reigned in the Temple of Air. After that, the winds howled in the air and boomerangs, pieces of ice began to fly, as well as questions from a little blind girl about why they attack people who are just standing.
"I have come to redeem myself before the world, to teach Aang fire magic and help him destroy the Lord Fire," Zuko proclaimed when Aang's embarrassment at the attempt by himself and his friends to harm people who really just stand still reached a certain limit, after which he stopped his friends.
"I'm here to make sure that you don't offend my brother," Azula continued cheekily.
Katara breathed out indignantly. "This prince was chasing us all over the world like animals, almost killed each of us several times, burned villages, took hostages and are you afraid that we will offend him?"
"He is very vulnerable," Azula nodded, then pushed Zuko with her elbow to his to considerable surprise and embarrassment. "Everything will be fine, Zuko, they already respect you."
"Azula, I'm really ashamed of what I did," Zuko groaned. "How can you respect me for this?"
"You showed courage and strength, I don't care about the morality of your actions," the princess retorted.
"Being her brother is hard too," Sokka couldn't help but sympathize.
Katara cast a cold glance at Sokka, promising long hours full of pouring water.
"The funny thing is that she's telling the truth," Toph reported.
Zuko choked on air and looked at her in surprise.
"What?"
"She's our live lie detector and will easily figure out your sister's dirty secrets," Sokka grinned.
Zuko and Azula looked at each other dumbfounded. Azula was the first to break down and her slightly hysterical laughter swept over the temple. Zuko soon joined in the laughter, while the others looked at them like idiots.
"She, she... oh, Agni, now I want to buy her glasses... they will help her just like she helped them now..."
"Azula... oh... don't laugh at the blind...uh… We should have told them right away..."
"No, it's okay, I like such jokes," Toph replied a little tensely, "But what's wrong with you two?"
"I'm sorry," Zuko finally managed to overcome his laughter. "It's just that Azula can't lie. This part of her soul is burned out."
A thoughtful silence reigned in the camp until Sokka, as the unspoken leader in incomprehensible situations, took responsibility and asked a question.
"What?"
"This is an ancient way to negotiate with the spirits, you need to bring your child, then the spirit of Agni will take away part of the soul in exchange for power for the child."
"Is something wrong?" asked Azula, looking at the terrified majority of the group.
"Wait, so all this time Azula was only telling the truth, but she still managed to capture the Kingdom of Earth?", the insufficiently spiritual Sokka was surprised.
"To take away a part of her own daughter's soul," Katara, despite the rage burning in her, was shocked, such sacrilege defied all her maternal instincts. "And you call this monster father and protect him!"
"Called and protected," Azula corrected laconically. "My family has recently been reduced to Zuko, not literally, unfortunately."
"There is still an uncle," said Iroh's beloved nephew.
"I decide for myself who my relative is."
"So are you really here just to protect Zuko?", Aang decided to clarify, who was unnerved by the prospect of co-existence with the princess who killed him.
"Besides, Zuko looks better against my background..."
"Better" solely from the point of view of peasant morality. That doesn't make me any worse than Zuko", thought the princess.
"... and Zuko is a better chance that you will take him in.," Azula blurted out and mentally kicked herself.
"This tactic really works," Sokka muttered.
Toph smiled dirty.
"So you don't know how to lie. And if I ask, what kind of underwe..."
"I will burn your legs so that you will forever become a helpless blind girl," Azula replied evenly.
"Even if you can, you will still give an answer before that..."
"She's really going to do it," Zuko shuddered. "There is a reason why she was the Agni Kai champion among girls. One of her rivals still can't speak."
"This insolent bitch asked about our family's secret. She won't tell anyone else," Azula said fiercely.
Katara started up again.
"Aang, not only do these monsters make friends, they also threaten us!"
"I suppose she has the right to a private life," the Avatar replied in confusion, thinking about the problems of forgiveness.
Katara was angry again.
"Aang, these monsters are not only trying to pretend to be friends, they are also threatening us!"
"I suppose she has a right to privacy," the Avatar replied in confusion, reflecting on the problems of forgiveness.
Zuko decided to act as a peacemaker.
"Everything is fine, it's just that Azula needs to ask questions correctly. For example, do not ask "Azula, what is your favorite color?"...
"Red", Azula replied.
"... need to declare your interest, for example, "I'm thinking about what your favorite color is" or at least ask "Azula, can I ask your favorite color?"
"You can," Azula replied and sighed. "I'm really not going to burn you for no reason, but my secrets are my secrets. And if it makes you feel better, I don't cripple people for every irrelevant question. If that were the case, then Zuko would have more than one scar on his face."
Azula saw the displeased looks of others, replayed what she had said in her head and decided to clarify.
"No, his scar wasn't my doing. I haven't burned or maimed brothers and allies for no good reason since I was six years old."
"You broke Ty Lee's leg," Zuko retorted.
"She fell from a tree," Azula replied doubtfully, who had seen her friend fall and still could not believe that an acrobat could fall from a tree. Probably should have chosen a less rotten tree.
"Because you threw her skirt up a tree."
"I like her," Toph laughed.
Katara gave Toph an icy look, obviously forgetting about the earth mage's blindness.
"That's because you haven't spent three weeks at Aang's bedside."
Azula is bored with this unconstructive discussion.
"You have three options. Accept us, bind us, or accept only Zuko and bind me. If you kick me out, I will become a haunting nightmare for you."
"We're already used to it," Sokka grumbled. "Although it's more likely that Zuko was a haunting nightmare, and you just appeared out of nowhere to destroy everything we were working on."
Azula was flattered. These people could definitely appreciate a job well done. Maybe they'll work together. The princess wondered if it was time to use her main argument, and came to the conclusion that her opponents were not yet mentally ready, and she herself had not yet fully figured out their weaknesses.
"Or we can kick you both out," Katara announced.
“No. Zuko is determined to redeem himself and I will not let nobody get in the way," Azula objected.
The princess did not say that Zuko himself would not allow himself to be rejected, and with the tenacity of a nestling following a mother turtleduck, he would pursue the Avatar with a demand to accept himself to them. Why say something that everyone understands anyway?
"Great, now we have two moms," Toph sighed wearily.
Katara choked with rage and temporarily withdrew from the discussion. Azula thought that if Katara had been born her sister, this world would have already been burned to the ground. Fortunately for this world, the girl was born in the culture of a Southern tribe that did not understand the inability to contain anger — too nervous and irritable people usually often fell off boats, sometimes even through their own fault.
"Azula, we can't take Zuko without proof of his decency," Sokka, the unspoken head of the HR department, continued the interview.
It sounded like, "I'm going to prove that he's not worthy." The princess decided that it was better than if they were rejected for no reason.
"He freed Aang from Zhao's captivity," Azula replied.
"How do you know?", Zuko was surprised.
Only you had the motive and the skills.
You are Zhao's enemy and a master of disguise.
It was your favorite character.
Because you were acting like an idiot as usual.
"I understood by the mask and the weapon. It's strange that your father didn't recognize you."
"He stopped being a father before the Blue Spirit became my favorite hero," Zuko replied sadly.
"Is there anything else to say in his favor besides kidnapping Aang for personal purposes?" asked Sokka.
Azula remembered that this water peasant is astute and draws conclusions quickly. But he loves trying to figure out things he doesn't understand too much. She just needs to throw more firewood into the chaos and then Sokka will continue to try to figure out what is happening, Katara will stop interfering, speechless with rage, Toph will be more interesting with them and, most importantly, the Avatar will get used to the fact that Zuko is an ordinary person. And then she'll crush them with facts.
"He feeds the turtleduck," Azula replied, again ahead of Zuko.
Her brother choked in surprise.
"What's special about this?", Sokka was surprised.
"I don't like them. You need to be Zuko to feed them voluntarily."
"What's wrong with them?" Zuko couldn't stand it. "This is a rhetorical question," Zuko recalled the curse of Azula.
They are a memory of the split in our family.
"Do they bite."
"Is there anything other than love for animals?" asked Sokka.
"I freed the Avatar's bison," Zuko replied.
"I said besides animals..."
"Appa is not an animal, he is our friend!" exclaimed Aang.
Azula rolled her eyes and suddenly remembered the main thing.
"And also that story with the unlucky conscripts from the 41st ..."
"Azula," Zuko said sternly, and his sister, to her and his surprise, shut up. "I have to tell this case myself."
This is his story and Azula will not be able to honor the memory of those guys or at least not make fun of them.
"I was 13 years old, I visited the Military Council for the first time. Uncle Iroh told me to be quiet, but as always I didn't listen. One of the generals suggested sending the 41st Division, consisting of new recruits against veterans of earthbending, into battle. He called them fresh meat. I was indignant, I shouted that you can't sacrifice your people. Father...Fire Lord proclaimed that I should fight on Agni Kai. When I realized that the fight would not be with the general, but with my father, I refused to fight, and my father burned my face for my cowardice and banished me to look for an Avatar. He said that I had lost my honor and could only regain it by doing something that my grandfather and great-grandfather could not do. And when I woke up, I found out that 41st had died in full force. They were only a year older than you."
Azula shivered imperceptibly at these memories.
"So that's why you've been tried to catch me so hard," Aang muttered.
"I said that when we first met!", Zuko exclaimed.
The Princess rolled her eyes. Zuzu is always so indignant when people don't listen to his problems.
"I was busy saving my life! I didn't listen to your words!", Aang continued the dispute.
Katara finally pulled herself together.
"It's a very touching story, but in fact, I think Zuko is even less trustworthy than his sister."
Azula choked this time.
"Unlike Zuko, she didn't betray us. And she followed us for less time than her brother."
Azula blinked, not believing what was happening. The idea that in someone's eyes she was a lesser monster than Zuzu would have been funny in any other situation.
"Therefore, I don't think Zuko is worthy of trust."
Azula decided that there was only one explanation for what was happening — the water peasant deliberately drowned Zuko's reputation, because then both Zuko and Azula would have to leave. A good move for someone born in a snowdrift, if you forget about Zuko's stubbornness.
"Since we found out that I am more trustworthy, then I put myself forward for the role of a teacher," retorted Azula.
"I didn't say that you were worthy...", Katara waved her hands.
"You said yourself that I am more worthy than animal friend, Avatar savior and selfless defender of Zuko's youth soldiers."
Toph burst out laughing.
"Why do we need any of you at all?", Sokka suddenly asked.
"To teach Avatar firebending," Azula replied.
"It was a rhetorical question."
"You should have said that before she answered," the princess's older brother frowned.
"I mean, there's also their uncle, who has proven himself to be the good."
"Great idea, Sokka," Toph praised him. "Let's throw away the guy who hasn't killed anyone yet..."
"Not that he wouldn't try," Katara muttered.
"... and will go to no one knows where to pull out of captivity the Dragon of the West, whose hands have been soaked in blood for decades."
It's a pity we didn't take uncle, you would have looked like a saint against his background," Azula whispered.
Instead of the answer Zuko tried to insult Azula to look.
"Their uncle is a good man!" said Katara.
"Maybe they are too, we haven't seen them for two months," Toph grinned.
"She killed Aang! How can a murderer become a good person?"
"So you also agree that their uncle is a bad person."
"I thought you liked their uncle, Toph," Sokka remarked.
"Yes, he's a nice old man. And he said that Zuko is a good person inside. And you promised to accept him when his kindness is on the outside. Here she is outside."
"Where?" asked Sokka.
"On the silver platter on which he brought the lessons of firebending. Or did you lie to grandpa then, who came to help save your sister?", Toph continued to press, provoking Katara's puzzled look in the direction of Sokka.
"How little we know about our uncle," Zuko muttered.
"You're twisting my words, I didn't promise!" exclaimed Sokka. "We say Zuko hasn't done anything yet to be good."
"He saved Appa!" exclaimed Aang. "Besides, he has good intentions. I don't think we should take away his chance to redeem himself."
"Two out of four for us," Azula thought.
"What about her?" asked Katara.
"Didn't we find out that I'm more moral than Zuko?", Azula scoffed.
"As if you know anything about morality," Katara muttered.
"Don't worry, I won't burden you, I won't be with you, but with my brother."
"No, it doesn't work that way," Sokka said. "And I don't believe either of them."
Katara nodded in agreement. Azula sighed slowly, the situation had reached a dead end. Without hesitating anymore, the princess took out a trump card from her sleeve.
"Earth Kingdom will die without us."
Silence reigned in the Temple again.
"Yes," Zuko said gloomily, not wanting to bring up the subject because of his participation in the meeting. "The Lord of Fire intends to burn the former Kingdom of Earth to the ground, starting with Ba Sing Se."
"Who would you have to be to want to burn down the largest city in the world?" asked Katara in disbelief.
"Our uncle", Azula thought.
"So... how will your presence save them?" Sokka asked cautiously.
"If you take us in, we will reveal the plans of the Fire Master and teach the Avatar firebending."
"If you were good people, you would reveal your father's plans unconditionally," Katara spat out.
Azula's patience snapped. She gave them a chance to be responsible people and accept them as allies, but they refused. She gave them a chance to become victims of her blackmail, they refused. Stop coddling them, it's time to trample them into the mud. Azula squared her shoulders with pleasure, measured those around her with an arrogant look and gave vent to her anger.
"My brother and I are betraying the most terrible and powerful man in the world in an extremely insulting manner, making ourselves a target for the most powerful state in the History of humanity, and you reject us out of an insufficiently pleasant way for you to offer our services? We are the prince and princess of the Fire Nation, we don't have to beg you to accept us, we don't even need you to end the war, we could just wait for our father's death and then stop the conflict. We are here because Zuko does not intend to participate in the death of people, waiting for the death of our father! We have an heir to the throne who can end the war, we have a firebending curriculum, we have two of the greatest firebenders of the four, we have plans for the Fire Nation and knowledge of where and when Ozai will be, and you reject it for no good reason! Don't tell me about distrust — I can't lie, I'm incapable of keeping silent, you have a live lie detector, you don't have a single reason to reject us! Come on, Zuko, let's find some iceberg and freeze into it until a new, more conscious Avatar grows. We won't have to wait long, because his friends intend to unleash him against the greatest firebender without weapons, just because for them to see the annoyance on our faces is more important than winning the war and their friend's life!"
Azula barely hid a triumphant smile at the sight of shame on the faces of Aang and Sokka. Toph was grinning contentedly, knowing that what was said did not apply to her. Katara was still looking at Zuko and Azula with displeasure, but she didn't say anything.
"I guess it's time to vote. Aang?", Sokka spoke up.
"I think we should give them a chance. They won't have a better time for this."
"Toph?"
"You know my opinion, I agree to accept the family of Fiery Heels."
"Katara?"
"I'm still against who we take, but we have no other way out."
"I'm also in favor. Welcome aboard."
After the organizational issues were resolved and a cozy premises was found for the royal family, located as far away from Aang as possible, there was a knock on the door of their room.
Opening the door, Azula saw Katara standing with a threatening face.
"Zuko, Katara came here to say that if we touch anyone with a finger, she will freeze our eyes, dry our bodies, turn our blood into thousands of ice needles, and our tongues..."
"I don't have such a perverted fantasy like you, but that's right," Katara interrupted her. "I don't trust both of you and I'll be watching you with both eyes."
"I'll be watching you too, and if I see even a drop of water on Zuko...", Azula grinned.
Katara slammed the door in the princess's face.
"You're not even trying to be friendly with them," Zuko grumbled.
"I don't need to be friends with them. I'm only here to outlive my father and not let you do anything stupid."
"They're good people," Zuko, with the greatest effort of will, missed his sister's banter.
"This is a gang of idiots and Toph."
"You singled out Toph separately," Zuko remarked.
"Yes, she's the only person I like here. She has common sense."
Zuko paused for a moment.
"Azula, I'd like to know if you're okay. You've been fighting for the People of Fire for so long, and now we're going to make our country lose the war and all your successes will turn to ashes."
"You're looking at the situation the wrong way. I ended the war by capturing Ba Sing Se. We won. Now we are just eliminating the father who is interfering with the peace talks and sway the Avatar to our side."
Zuko sighed. The process of persuading Azula promised to be long.