"Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free."
Here, you shall regain your way. Here you will be saved. I, as your father, am here to set you on the right track. And this is how.
Do not cower before the fire you started, Azula.
[ Ozai continued living within his own world as the drive kept on. His eyes were only concentrated on the road and the GPS screen. He was steadfast and he was unmoving. Which is not typical behavior for him. ]
[ He is erratic and he is irritable usually.
“ Keep mumbling to yourself. Maybe Mother will hear your so sad sob story. “ She pricked at him. Each jab towards a sensitive spot to the man seemed heavenly. She felt no shame in her bones: only prolonged frustration.
Out of annoyance, she spoke up, “ horrible father .&&
[ Once the two made their way to the camp, and Azula’s arrogance had shifted back into panic, Ozai smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes, his smiles hadn’t done that in a long time. Not since before his firstborn. ]
Proverbs 11:21.
Tch. It is merely coincidence that you happened to see me here like this. I’d have been truly delighted never having to see you again.
[ A lie. Or was it? Ozai didn’t know for sure. A loud part of himself was quick to bury his doubts. ]
She too was feeling a mixture
of emotions, but compared to
him, she was having a difficult
time managing to keep eye
contact with him as she tried to
keep her composure.
"I could ask you the same, since we've
apparently
[ In fact, in his ideal world, he’d be giving his daughter a scar that matched her brother’s. Letting the siblings have something to bond over like the gracious father he is. ]
[ But no. ]
[ Ozai continued driving. ]
horriblechildrenhorriblehorrible. lord be rid their demons…
[ But he shouldn’t. Azula Chae is a walking money printer. To harm her is to harm the brand and to harm the illusion he spent years building for the public’s gaze. ]
[ He didn’t fear her. He wasn’t like the wretched woman he married. ]
[ But throughout it all, he didn’t entertain Azula’s newfound attitude. Or rather, her discovery of the attitude that had been locked away for so long. ]
[ He daydreamed as he idly drove off to this unknown place. Thoughts of inflicting more pain on her for this audacity… ]
[ Ozai showed no reaction to the pain his thoughtless driving had inflicted upon his daughter. In fact, Ozai showed nearly no reaction to anything at all aside from those mindless mutters under his breath as he drove. ]
thesechildren.. ungratefulrottenchildren. consumedbyevil.
The immediate swerve of the car only sent Azula crashing into the side again. Her shoulder connected awkwardly with the material, an injury to remember. A loud gasp left her followed by her own voice breaking.
A dislocated shoulder. A pain she did not experience in a long time.
[ Back on the highway, he sped up. ]
You both took her from me.
[ Almost at the speed limit. But not quite there. ]
No weapon formed against me shall prosper. And every tongue which rises against me in judgement, I shall condemn.
[ The sharpness of the hit that Azula landed on Ozai had him shaken. Entirely caught off guard. So much so that he nearly swerves and crashes right there, but he didn’t. He swerved into the next exit, it was conveniently placed. ]
. . .
Once they entered the highway, Azula felt all hope drain from her body. He’d be reckless in ways that weren’t enough to kill them, but frighten Azula out of her own skin. Azula did not feel scared - she shouldn’t, from her Father’s expectations.
The evil lingering within you will be expelled soon. You’ll be safe, Azula.
[ The businessman’s voice was eerily low, but still faltering due to the barely hidden rage. ]
This must’ve been what Ursa saw in you. It was you two all along. You evil, wretched children…