⠀
the princess stood and watched ٫
eyes shifting between the woman
and the treeline ٫ hands working
to shake the sand from her hair ָ֢
the word earned no reaction at
first until the cracking of the trees
falling ٫ eyes
𖬺͟
⠀
ㅤ
“ the avatar is nothing — compared to me. to / us /. “
attention aimed at the trees before her — hand extended , pointer and middle finger aimed.
“ watch. “
⠀
shifting twords the pink haired
woman ָ֢
〝 i quiet enjoyed that forest ָ֢ ָ֢
though ٫ that was impressive ָ֢ 〞
arms cross ٫ head tilting slightly
as she studied the womanʾs
demeanor ָ֢
𖬺͟
⠀
⠀
i—
( she couldnʾt get any more
than that out ٫ burying herself
into the fabrics of his sleeves ָ֢
he is so warm ٫ tears soaking
into his shoulder ָ֢ )
⠀
ᅠ
no. they were not — you were used by our father. he hurt you , manipulated you — and we were all blind to it.
( arms held tighter around her , his own voice becoming wobbly with emotion. )
⠀
you were always theirs ָ֢ ָ֢
iroh hated me ٫ mother thought
me evil ָ֢ ָ֢ they were right ָ֢
( head staying in his hands ٫
lip fighting to stay straight and
not waiver ָ֢ )
⠀
ᅠ
the people don’t matter. what they think does not summarize who you are.
i acknowledge that i was privileged with uncle iroh. and .. i’m sorry that i couldn’t see that.
( crestfallen gaze, eyes closed — thoughts paining him. )
⠀
( she flinched away from his
hands ٫ golden eyes moving
away ָ֢ she canʾt look at him ָ֢ )
easy for you to say ָ֢
youʾve always been her son ٫
iʾll always be his in the eyes
of the people ָ֢
⠀
ᅠ
no. you won’t.
( hands cup her face, thumbs wiping away her tears. his tone is confident yet soft , firm in his belief. )
you have your own life now. you are whoever you want to be, azula.
⠀
youʾre ursaʾs son ٫ irohʾs nephew ָ֢ ָ֢
i will always be his ָ֢ ָ֢
( tears drip into red fabric ٫
though she hides it well on the
outside ָ֢ she just hopes he
doesnʾt notice ָ֢ )
⠀
⠀
( fingers gripped tighter at the
fabric ٫ just thankful no one was
around ָ֢ )
no ָ֢ ָ֢ iʾm not royalty anymore ָ֢ ָ֢
i am my fatherʾs daughter after all ָ֢
⠀
⠀
( she frowned ٫ face buried in
the red fabrics of his robes ָ֢
hands hesitated ٫ hands gripping
at the back of his robes ٫ once
royal robes replaced with plain ٫
completely shrouded by his ָ֢ )
⠀