Chapter Text
Growing up, Zuko and Azula weren't the same as they seemed to the public, their friends, or even their family. To others, everyone assumed the siblings despised each other, they just couldn't get along.
They always fought, they always played too rough, and they always did nothing but either ignored each other or get under the other's skin. No one would have ever assumed the truth that...
Behind closed doors, in the dead of night. Small giggles and shushing could be heard if you listen close enough. "Shh! Azula! Someone will hear!" Zuko whisper-shouted as he brought his finger to his lips, trying to silence his little sister's giggles.
"You say that like you're not laughing yourself Zuzu! Didn't you see grandfather's face after father declared he should be the crown prince instead of dear old tea-loving uncle! He looked like a Badgerfrog!" Azula snickered as she covered her mouth to quiet her giggling, Zuko having to hold his breath to avoid laughing loudly. Azulon had called the family to display themselves to him, Azula and Zuko both showing their grandfather their bending skills while Azulon gave the news of Iroh's loss at Ba Sing Se and Lu Ten's death.
Though the children had only heard a small bit of their fathers and Azulon's conversation, they heard their father declare that he instead should take his place as the crown prince rather than Iroh, though they were pulled away before they could hear their grandfather's answer.
While Azula was ecstatic to hear that their father could be the next Fire Lord.
Zuko couldn't help the sinking and dreadful feeling that overcame him at such an idea.
"What do you think grandfather said to father though? After he made us leave?" Zuko asked while Azula shrugged.
"I don't know! Maybe I would've known if you would have let me snoop as I wanted instead of pulling me along to feed the turtleducks!" Azula giggled as she shoved her brother playfully, and Zuko grunted as he was pushed onto his back, Azula then fell on top of him causing the boy to grunt again as the air was knocked out of him.
"Oh, you would have just gotten us both in trouble! Besides, it probably was something boring! Besides you like the turtleducks, admit it!" Zuko chuckled as he laid back and let his sister get comfortable on his chest.
"Still, now I'm curious, do you think father would tell us if we asked?" Azula questioned while Zuko sighed.
"Don't even joke like that Azula, you know father wouldn't ever tell us anything. He would just get angry at us for asking." Zuko sighed while Azula pouted at her brother's answer.
Though both kids immediately sprang up when they heard hurried footsteps approaching Zuko's room. "Azula quick! Hide in the closet!" Zuko hissed as he helped Azula off of his bed and hurried the girl to his closet.
"Zuzu!" Azula hissed as she looked back at her brother, only for Zuko to shush her as he opened the closet door and pushed her inside, motioning for her to stay quiet as he ran back to his beds and dove under the covers, pretending to be asleep while Azula watched as the hooded figure entered her brother's room.
A hand gently touches Zuko's shoulder. The boy flinches slightly, only to turn his head and see his mother's tear-stained face. "Mom?" Zuko asked quietly while he desperately tried not to look over at his closet and give away Azula's location.
"Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you. But listen to me. You must protect your sister. You are all she has now." Ursa begged as she pulled her son up and hugged him tightly, Zuko staring at his closet wide-eyed, while he could see Azula's golden irises practically glowing in the dark.
"Mom, what-." Zuko tried only to cut himself off when Ursa let him go and back away.
"Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are. Never forget what you do for the ones you love. Never forget your loyalty." Ursa begged as she pulled up her hood while a few tears fell from her eyes as she ran away down the dark hallway.
Once the woman was out of sight, Zuko jumped out of bed while Azula jumped out of the closet, the two running to the still-opened doors as they looked for their mother in the shadow of the pillars.
"What was mother talking about Zuko?!" Azula asked quietly, the 7-year-old still searching the shadows for any semblance of the woman.
"I... I don't know." Zuko answered, the 11-year-old still staring down the hallway with wide eyes.
"Zuko why did she say you needed to take care of me?! Zuko! Zuko!" Azula called as she grabbed her brother's arm, trying to get answers from her just brother who was just as clueless as she was.
"I-I don't know Azula, but we should go to bed. Maybe we can ask her in the morning. We don't want to get caught." Zuko sighed as he closed his doors, though he couldn't help the sinking feeling in his heart as he did so.
"Alright... fine... I'm tired anyways! Mother always speaks such nonsense! It's probably something silly!" Azula declared as she climbed back into her older brother's bed, happily snuggling into the covers as she waited for Zuko to join her and become her personal body heater and pillow just as usual whenever the girl would demand a sibling sleepover.
"Yeah... hopefully." Zuko breathed as he went back to bed and let Azula use him as her pillow, the boy then fell asleep with his mother's words on his mind, and the pained and terrified look in her eyes burning into his heart.
Though that sinking feeling soon became a pit when the very next day they were given the news of their grandfather's untimely death. And their mother's sudden and unexplainable disappearance.
And Zuko wished for nothing more than the chance to go back.
And run after his mother before the shadows took her away from them.
"Zuko!! You know for someone who should be more mature than me, you'd think you'd wake up on time!" Azula shouted as she rudely barged into the teenager's room, Zuko startling awake as he looked around the room for the form of his sister so he could glare at the pre-teen for such a rude awakening.
Only to yell as Azula tackled him from behind him, forcing his body to fold in half as she shoved his head into his blankets. "Azula!!" Zuko hissed as he pushed Azula off of him, his back cracking in return for his joints being bent and twisted in strange positions.
"Come now, brother! You are finally old enough to be allowed in the war meetings! You mustn't be late!" Azula cheered tauntingly as she grabbed Zuko's clothes and tossed them onto the teenager's bed. It had been four years since that fateful night, and to this day, Azula and Zuko debated if it was all nothing more than a fever dream. Though regardless, Zuko had presented, and he was old enough to be allowed into the war meetings.
"And since when have you been so excited about any of this? I thought you were still upset since they wouldn't allow you in because you're not presented yet?" Zuko questioned while Azula huffed as she walked past her brother and grabbed the male's hair brush, immediately setting to work to get the few knots out of her elder brother's hair. Despite Zuko's shouts of pain from his hair being yanked out of his scalp.
"Idiots! If they would allow me in there once, I'm sure they would see it would only take us a few more months before I led us to the victory of this war!" Azula declared as she threw the hairbrush onto her brother's dresser, pouting as Zuko put on his clothes.
"So, you are still upset about that?" Zuko questioned as he looked around for his hair tie to place his hair in its usual small high ponytail. Only to shriek when Azula yanked him down by his hair and did the ponytail for him. The teen winced slightly once she was done, knowing his scalp would be incredibly sore after this.
"Of course, I'm still mad! They're imbeciles! All of them! But you are less of an idiot brother. Which is why I know I can count on you!" Azula declared as she turned around flamboyantly to her older brother who was clipping his belt together before snapping his head to Azula.
"And what in the name of the spirits is that supposed to mean?!" Zuko shouted while Azula smiled innocently, though Zuko knew that smile. And it was anything but innocent.
"Dearest brother, I can't get in with any of those stuck-up generals, but now that you are allowed in those meetings, I am allowed to come in as your guest! And wouldn't this boring meeting be so much better if I was there? I could keep you company so those old dust bags don't bore you to death!" Azula offered, though Zuko could tell that this was more of a command than an offer.
"Azula! I can't, I was barely allowed in that room myself! Do you not remember how infuriated father was when I presented as Omega?! I swore he would kill me where I stood! Father was so furious! Or have you forgotten how no one else but you and uncle know that I am Omega while the rest of our kingdom believes me to be a Beta?" Zuko argued as he lifted his right sleeve, revealing the Omegan tattoo-like mark that sat at the boy's pulse point.
"He wouldn't have killed you! Father was just grumpy because you wouldn't be able to take the throne unless you have a husband! But that won't matter! You won't need one, because I will present as an Alpha, I will immediately inherit the throne but you will be able to be my royal advisor, my right hand! But neither of us will make any good leaders if we both don't go to those meetings brother! Or would you rather go all alone and eventually need a husband soon?" Azula questioned while Zuko groaned at the memory of his father ranting angrily at Zuko for being such a burden and disgracing their family by being an Omega and forcing Ozai to have to find the teen a husband before he could even think of inheriting the throne.
"Alright fine! But you must promise me that you will stay quiet! You will not speak out of line and you will only listen. Do you promise me?" Zuko questioned as he held up his hand for Azula to press her own against his.
"I promise brother." Azula cheered as she placed her hand against her brothers, both of their hands then emitting their individual flames, the sparks, and colors of red and blue dancing together before the flames died out.
The two had always done the ritual of mixing their flames as a sign of their promise. It showed their loyalty to one another, while also giving them a more personal way of making the other swear to something.
"You will not regret this brother!" Azula cheered as the 11-year-old grabbed the 15-year-old's hand and immediately began to sprint down the halls with him, Zuko eventually matching his sister's pace as they laugh all the way to the war room. Only to nearly run into Iroh as the man had walked forward in front of them before they could run into the war room.
"U-Uncle!" Zuko shrieked while Azula looked away from her uncle, an expression of nonchalance gracing her face as she didn't give away her excitement.
"I see you brought a plus one to join you during this meeting. Your first might I add princess Zuko?" Iroh questioned with a smirk, though whispering the very last part of his question, allowing no one to hear to honorific he used for the teen.
"Uncle! Please! I don't have to use those honorifics until I am married..." Zuko whispered harshly, praying to the spirits that no one heard his uncle, though Azula merely snickered at her brother's plea. The Omega then glared at his sister before she turned away with a cough covering the rest of her laughter.
"Of course, well prince Zuko. You do realize that no one who is unpresented or under the age of 15 is allowed in the war room?" Iroh reminded while Azula huffed at her uncle, crossing her arms as she glared at the Alpha.
"I know uncle, but she will be silent, no one will notice her. Besides, is it not best that she learns of our glorious nation early on so she can become the best leader there could be?" Zuko questioned with a cheesy smile, bending down to hug Azula close to him by the girl's shoulders as he elbowed the girl to copy him. The girl then smiled similarly to her brother while Iroh sighed.
"Was it not you always taught me that learning early is a great man's success? Who are we to dwindle the ambition of the young who merely want to lead this nation to glory?" Zuko questioned sheepishly while Iroh chuckled as he covered his eyes with his hand, shaking his head.
"Very well, but stay silent. Both of you, these old windbags are very stingy." Iroh chuckled as he opened the curtain, allowing Zuko and Azula to walk in first, the Omega somewhat hiding the girl behind him as he made his way to his seat, Azula sitting next to him quickly as they both held neutral expressions. Knowing better than to draw attention to themselves.
Though once the war meeting commenced Zuko and Azula found themselves listening intently, a few of the generals speaking of new plans for an upcoming raid of sorts against an Earth Kingdom battalion.
"But the forty-first is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" One of the soldiers' questioned the general Bujing.
"I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait than fresh meat?" The general smirked while Azula and Zuko went wide-eyed.
"That's idiotic! You're wasting what could be essentially important pieces in this war? All for what? Because you are too scared to stand up yourself and fight with true honor?!" Azula accused while Zuko went pale as he stood quickly and stood in front of his sister, shielding her from the angry and disapproving gazes.
"What she meant was that you can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?" Zuko restated, trying to soften the bite his sister's words had while Azula then realized her own mistake, the girl then pushed herself closer to Zuko as she hunched her shoulders to shield herself from the gazes that were locked on the two royals.
After Zuko's and Azula's outburst in the meeting, Ozai became furious with his children, though Zuko in particular, seeing as he had spoken out against an Alpha general, while he himself was an Omega. Which made his status as the prince practically meaningless in this situation.
"The challenge against the general is an act of complete disrespect! And there is only one way to settle this. You dare speak out against your elder. So, you must fight for your forgiveness and honor!" Ozai declared as he stood abruptly, though Zuko could feel how Ozai's gaze was boring into Azula.
And he feared the worst.
He feared that Ozai was talking to Azula.
So, before Azula could even utter any type of response.
He spoke.
"I accept! I will fight for forgiveness and honor for this disrespect. I am not afraid!" Zuko declared as he looked back at the general that he had disrespected. While Azula stared at her brother with widened eyes, the girl was left speechless, though her brother merely held her hand from behind him.
But Zuko and Azula both misunderstood.
When the Agni Kai began, the teen was left shirtless while tight white bandages covered his wrists and shoulders, hiding the presentation marks that would mark him as either Omega or Beta, while most assumed that the ones on his shoulders were the ones covering his marks, it was truly the ones on his wrists.
Zuko turned to face his opponent, though he was surprised to see it was not the general. "Father?! Why is father in the arena, uncle?!" Azula questioned as she turned to her uncle who sat beside her, the man merely staring fearfully into the arena as Azula's question was ignored.
Zuko had spoken out against the general's plan, but by doing so in the Fire Lord's war room, it was the Fire Lord whom he had disrespected. Zuko would have to duel his father.
"Uncle?!" Azula shouted as she went to stand, only to be pulled back down by her uncle, the Alpha still staying silent as others around them watched expectantly, smiling at the fight they had gathered to see.
And Azula knew they were not smiling because they believed in her brother.
When Prince Zuko saw that it was his father who had come to duel him, he knew that this was no accident, that Ozai was talking to him in the war room. That this was his father's chance to rid him as he pleased with no questions asked. "Please, Father. I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart. I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!" Zuko apologized as he knelt to his father's approaching form.
"You will fight for your honor and forgiveness," Ozai commanded as he continued to stride forward toward his son. Zuko's head still bowed as he looked to his side and found Azula and Iroh in the stands, Azula standing as she looked upon her brother with an expression that Zuko couldn't for the life of him understand.
Though the boy then turned his gaze back to the ground as he screwed his eyes shut. "I meant you no disrespect. I am your loyal son." Zuko declared, his voice breaking, he couldn't help but feel like this was his death sentence. And yet it was not his fear of death that kept him at his knees.
"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" Ozai commanded while Zuko couldn't help but think back to his mother's words.
"Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are. Never forget what you do for the ones you love. Never forget your loyalty."
(Remember where my loyalty lies.) Zuko reminded himself as he thought of his mother, his sister, his uncle...... his father.
"I won't fight you." Zuko declared as he sat on his knees with his head bowed to his father.
"You will learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher." Ozai declares as Zuko looks up at his father, his tears gleaming in the light as he fought to keep his expression neutral, though the way his lip wobbled could be a key to giving him away.
And as Ozai raises his fist the sounds of a fire blast were heard, and Zuko's agony-filled screams echoed around the room. Iroh looked away as Azula stared wide-eyed at the sight while the faces of the spectators were brightened by the flames.
The girl hesitated, but only for a moment as she then pushed herself to run out of the stands. Where was she running to? Was she going to try and stop her father? Would she wait for Zuko in his chambers? Or were the screams of her brother, of the one who had raised her as their mother should have just too much for her to handle?
She waited near her brother's chambers, she waited until sundown. Until her anxiety forced her to move. She entered her brother's room and paced. He hadn't returned. And then her brother's words of earlier echoed in her mind.
"Do you not remember how infuriated father was when I presented as Omega?! I swore he would kill me where I stood! Father was so furious!"
(Surely father wouldn't... He wouldn't.) Azula thought as she froze in place, her anxiety worsening as the sun was nearly out of sight, leaving her in the fleeting embraces of the fading light.
Though the girl jumped when she heard thumping footsteps approach the room. The girl then dived into the closet, just as she had done when she was younger. But when the form of her brother was pushed into the room, bandages wrapped around him while his scorched and tattered clothes barely clung to his body, the girl jumped out of the closet and ran to her brother.
"Zuko!!" Azula screeched as she tackled the boy to the ground, only for Zuko to hiss in pain as his body hit the ground. Though Azula gasped softly at the sight of half of his face wrapped in bandages. Along with his entire body covered in slowly reddening bandages, a few dark bruises peeking out from a few of the wrappings.
But that wasn't what startled her the most.
No, it was the lifeless and almost... broken gleam that captured her brother's eye.
"Brother..." Azula breathed as she gave Zuko space while also allowing herself to get a full glimpse of the damage that had been done.
"Azula..." Zuko whispered, his voice hoarse and Azula visibly shook, whether it be from sadness or anger, it was truly impossible to know.
"Why?! Why would you do that!? You're an imbecile! I could have handled it! I could have handled that fight! Why would you speak for me!?! Why would you stand in front of me?! It was I who spoke out of term! Not you!! You horrible idiot brother why would-." Azula screamed furiously, who she was furious at was still being determined. Though she was cut off as Zuko hugged the girl tightly.
"Did I not make a promise long ago to protect you? That is my role. I will always protect you, so as long as I am still breathing." Zuko swore as he pulled the younger to him tighter, Azula merely hugging her brother back with just as much strength.
"Idiot... Y-You're... You're so stupid! I-I don't need y-you to protect me! I-I...... I-I'll be the o-one to p-protect you! S-So, stop acting l-like an imbecile. You're the o-only smart one around here..." Azula hissed while her voice wavered as she held back her tears and the lump in her throat made her cough as she refused to cry.
"Of course, I'm sorry Azula. You're right..." Zuko breathed out with a small laugh, the boy then slowly stood, only to whimper as his body screamed out in agony, and Azula only noticed then how his bandages were the same shade as her clothes.
"Zuzu!" Azula shouted as she stood abruptly immediately pushing her brother up the rest of the way as she then forced the teen to lean against her as she walked the two to the connecting bathroom.
A large bucket of water was already placed near the tub, though Azula lit a flame on her hand, heating the water as she placed Zuko next to it. The girl then rummaged through the few things that her brother kept in the bathroom until she found the bandages and wrappings she was searching for.
Azula then ripped off the now completely bloody bandages and wrappings, only to gasp softly at the sight of dark and gruesome bruises that were only beginning to form on the boy's back and a few on his shoulders, while gashes and cuts covered almost every part of the teen's body. "This will hurt," Azula warned as she grabbed a clean rag and dipped it in the now warm water she had heated, the girl then pressed the rag to some of the larger gashes on the boy's back.
Zuko hissed in pain as his back arched away from the sting, though Azula merely grabbed his unbruised shoulder and pulled him back, Zuko groaning and hissing throughout the process as Azula continued to rebandaged him as she applied some kind of healing ointment to the Omega's wounds.
(I'm almost happy I didn't see these happen...) Azula thought to herself as she glared at one of the larger gashes that traveled from Zuko's left shoulder blade to his hipbone.
"Thank the spirits you're not a doctor." Zuko chuckled dryly, the boy fighting desperately to keep his eyes open, only for the fight to be easily won as Azula pressed hard against one of the bruises on his rip. The boy hissed as he tried to stay still, though he didn't notice the way Azula's glare was unfocused and her lips were pressed into a thin line.
"You should have let me take the challenge." Azula hissed while Zuko sighed tiredly, though thankful when he felt Azula merely begin to wrap up his injuries, rather than pressing into them with either a hot rag or ointment that made each injury sting worse.
"You weren't even supposed to be in there in the first place. It was my duty to take responsibility," Zuko replied, though the boy missed the way Azula's hands clenched as she bit her tongue. The girl then gave Zuko a robe as the boy tied it around himself, his still tattered pants hugging his legs while his chest was left exposed aside from the bandages that hugged his torso.
"I wouldn't have been there if I hadn't convinced you..." Azula muttered bitterly, though Zuko heard her words, the boy then turned around and sat on his backside, his legs crossed over one another while Azula couldn't help but glare at her brother's eye.
She knew it was burned, she saw the flame, and she watched her father do it. But a part of her didn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it.
"I'm older, I could've stood my ground and said no. But I was selfish and brought you anyways. Uncle even warned me. But I ignored it. And I didn't have to speak up after you, but I did. This is no one's fault but my own, I deserved the punishment I received." Zuko stated as he looked away from his sister, though the girl couldn't help but stare at her brother flabbergasted.
"How dare you say such a thing!!" Azula shouted as she stood, staring down at the boy with rage-filled eyes.
"You are not weak Zuko! You are not an imbecile like the rest of them! You do not admit this defeat! I refuse to have a brother who would admit such a thing that isn't even the truth! I..." Azula tried to continue, only for her words to die in her throat as the lump in her throat choked her, her tears burning her eyes as her bottom lip wobbled, the girl then clenching her fist as she screwed her eyes shut. Trying to resist the urge to let her tears fall.
"You... You are not to blame. I am. I-I... You w-were just protecting m-me... J-Just like you always do..." Azula struggled out as she coughed from holding her breath, quickly wiping her eyes so her tears would run down her cheeks.
Zuko then stood slowly, careful of his slowly numbing wounds. The boy then gently pulled Azula into his chest, the girl clutching his robe tightly as she buried her head into his chest, her head just barely missing his shoulder.
"You don't have to protect me Zuko! I'm not weak! I-I..." Azula shouted as she punched her brother gently in his shoulders, Zuko grunting quietly as he allowed Azula to let out her emotions.
"E-Even now... W-Why?!? J-Just stop c-caring!! S-Stop protecting me!! Why c-can't you just h-hate me!?! Why can't y-you just hate me the way m-mother did?!" Azula screamed as her tears streamed down her face her voice wavering due to the lump in her throat.
"We both know I can't do that. I'll always care for you Azula, I'll always protect you if I can. None of this was your fault, and if you believe it to be true, then it is not mine either. But don't ask me why I can't hate you. I could never, I love you Azula. And I know mother did as well." Zuko stated as he placed his hand on top of Azula's head comfortingly, though Azula looked up at her brother with a glare, a clear sign that she didn't believe the teen's words.
"Have you ever known me as a liar Azula?" Zuko asked while Azula shook her head slowly, the girl reburying her head in her brother's chest, sniffling softly. And for some time, they stayed that way, silent, yet their bond speaking for them.
The night went by quickly. Azula had passed out on her brother's bed while Zuko stayed awake. The boy packed up the few bags he knew he would be allowed to take, tying up the last belt on his armor as he sheathed his twin swords on his back, the Omega's body screaming in protest to every movement, but he ignored it.
And by dawn, he had packed everything he needed. Though when he looked upon the sleeping form of his sister, he smiled sadly, the boy quietly walking forward as he placed a kiss on her head, placing the note and Earth Kingdom blade that he had been gifted so long ago on the nightstand beside her.
And with a final look back, the Omega left. The shadows of the pillars hid him away from view. Though it took only about 20 minutes later for Azula to wake up, blinking slowly as she noticed the blade and the note on the nightstand.
Dear Azula,
I'm sorry, but I couldn't tell you in person, if I had, I would not have had the strength to leave, and I didn't want to cause another fight. I figured that you do not know of my banishment. Father declared that since I didn't fight back immediately and since I lost the Angi Kai, I was banished with dishonor, I may only return if I capture the Avatar and return them to father, or kill them when they are in the Avatar State.
But dear sister I hope that you know that I do love you. I will always be with you; I apologize that I was too weak to have to tell you in this letter rather than myself. But I promise I will fight with all that I am so I may return as soon as possible and regain my honor. I leave you my blade as a reminder of my loyalty and love for you.
I know you've always liked it better than that old doll uncle gave you.
I hope that with time you may come to forgive me. And if you cannot I understand, but know I will always be with you in spirit. I leave you to protect yourself now, though if you are to ever need guidance, I suggest uncle, he will help you, but if you choose to learn on your own accord I trust in you to be able to handle that and much more.
With love, your brother,
Zuko.
The letter then burst into flames as Azula snatched the blade from off of the nightstand, the girl then ran down the slowly lightening hallways, passing by servants who all stared after her, though she could not bring herself to care as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her to the docks.
When she finally reached the docks, she ducked under and avoided the guards that attempted to stop her or catch her. The girl then tackled her brother to the ground as he went to board his ship. The pre-teen panted as she stared down at her brother with rage and sadness, though no one would have ever guessed that sadness was in those eyes.
Only Zuko.
"Y-You dare leave?! Y-You, dare leave and only explain yourself in a letter?!?" Azula screamed as Zuko sat up and smiled sadly at his sister.
"I'm sorry Azula, but I must, and as I wrote, I was too weak to have done it in person," Zuko explained himself as he grabbed Azula's shoulders and pulled her up with him, glaring at the few guards who stared at the scene. The guards then turned abruptly and gave the siblings some form of privacy.
"I forbid it! I forbid you to leave! You can't! I won't let you leave!" Azula screamed as she clung to her brother, glaring at his chest while Zuko sighed tiredly as he patted the girl's head gently.
"I'm sorry Azula, I hope you can forgive me," Zuko spoke softly, as he grabbed the girl's arms and forced her to let go of him as he gave her one last small smile before turning to leave.
"Stop!!" Azula screamed as she grabbed her brother's hand, as she then reached to her neck and unclipped the necklace that had been hidden in her clothes. Zuko looked back at her as she held up the necklace for him to take.
It was a small dragon pendant, it was a gorgeous obsidian stone that seemed to shine in the sun, though the dragon-carved stone was small enough to be hidden in armor if necessary.
"If I am to have your blade then you will take this. I expect you to return it just as I will return the blade." Azula commanded as Zuko gently took the necklace, admiring it for a moment, and then reclipped it to where it hugged his neck loosely.
"I promise," Zuko swore as he held up his hand for Azula to press her own against.
Azula then raised her hand and pressed her hand against Zuko's both of their hands then emitted their individual flames, the sparks, and colors of red and blue dancing together before the flames died out.
"Goodbye, sister." Zuko sighed sadly as he turned and walked away, boarding the empty ship that he was to leave with, alone. He then steered it out of the dock, the figure of the boat slowly fading from view as Azula clutched the blade in her hand tightly.
"Goodbye brother, I love you too," Azula whispered as she turned as walked back to the castle. A silent prayer on her mind that the blade in her hand would return to its rightful owner soon.