Chapter Text
Stepping out into the blazing sun, Zuko sighed and stared straight ahead at a building he’d lately become very familiar with. The mental institution Azula had been admitted to post-war, post-Agni Kai, was pleasant enough looking on the outside. On the inside, though, Zuko knew it wasn’t entirely perfect.
The floors weren’t truly clean, the windows were grimy, and the doors creaked as they opened. The only plus side, Zuko had to admit, was that the healers were all pleasant. They were very kind and always happy to help. They divulged a lot about Azula’s healing journey and told him during each visit that she was getting better.
It was that which had led Zuko here today. Almost a year had passed since Azula was admitted following her hearing and from his visits and the healers’ comments, he wanted to offer her a hand. With their father in prison and their mother missing, they were the only two left.
Zuko admitted that, despite her many wrongs, he missed his sister. They’d grown up in the same emotionless household and it had affected them both in different ways. Ozai had sunk his claws deep into both the siblings and broken them.
The only difference was that Zuko had managed to heal with the help of Uncle Iroh and his friends whereas Azula had lost both her family and friends, and, eventually, her way.
Now, however, with the praises the healers were giving her, Zuko was sure that he could help her regain her sense of self and bring back his little sister.
Squaring his shoulders, Zuko stared directly ahead and walked towards the hospital.
Upon entering, Zuko was immediately met with an eerie air. An air unlike one he’d felt in the hospital before. A shiver ran up his back as he wondered if he should’ve asked someone along with him.
Still, he trudged onwards until he reached the front desk. There was no one there whereas, usually, someone was sat waiting.
Not sure what else to do, Zuko coughed in an attempt to gain someone’s attention. He wasn’t sure who or where they would come from, but he knew he couldn’t just go waltzing around the hospital without permission. Well, he could, but it wouldn’t look good for him.
Thankfully, someone seemed to hear his cough and a moment later, a woman with golden eyes and black hair appeared before him, looking nothing but shocked to see him there.
Zuko fought off a confused frown.
Something was wrong, he immediately decided.
“Fire Lord Zuko,” the woman blurted. “W-we weren’t expecting you today.”
“I apologise. My visit was unannounced,” Zuko said for the sake of politeness. “But I’m here to visit my sister. Is she in her usual room?”
Zuko made to walk away, in the direction of the hallway which led to Azula’s room, but was stopped by the woman rounding the desk.
“Uh, I apologise, Fire Lord Zuko, but the princess isn’t in the mood for visitors today,” she said to which Zuko’s frown deepened.
Something was really wrong here. Many times before had Zuko visited Azula regardless of what mood she was in and the healers had always let him.
“I won’t be long,” Zuko replied and then sidestepped the woman.
“Fire Lord Zuko, I insist!” She protested, hurrying to catch up with him. Zuko sighed with annoyance. “Princess Azula doesn’t want to see anyone today!”
“I don’t care. She’s my sister and I want to see her,” Zuko said.
He didn’t stop his stride, moving through the building with determination.
“But-“
“And as the Fire Lord, I am demanding you let me see my sister,” Zuko continued. “If you don’t, then I will have no choice but to bring the Avatar.”
The woman paled at that. Zuko almost felt bad for her, but he could tell something weird was going on and he was getting frustrated.
He just wanted to see Azula and extend his offer to her. The healers had never acted this way before, albeit Zuko had never turned up unannounced before. Perhaps there was something more sinister at play here that he wasn’t aware of.
With this thought in mind, Zuko gave the healer one final look before turning and continuing on his way. He took the path that he remembered to be the way to Azula’s room, not stopping for a second.
Eventually, he rounded a corner and saw a very familiar looking door. He gave a sigh of relief and strode over to it before stopping, and knocking on the dirty metal.
There was no reply from within the room for a moment so Zuko’s hand moved its way down to the lock which he unlocked before pushing the creaky door open. The first thing that hit Zuko was the smell. The distinct smell of urine wafted from the room and assaulted his nostrils. With a wince, the Fire Lord turned away and covered for his nose for a second, fighting the overwhelming urge to gag.
"Damn," he grimaced under his breath. "What the..."
Steeling himself, Zuko turned his gaze back to the room and dropped his hand from his nose. With his hand, he pushed the door the rest of the way open, allowing the firelight from the hallway to spill into the room. And there, sitting on the bed in the dark, straight jacket tight around her tiny frame, was none other than Azula.
His little sister, thin as a pole and pale as parchment. Sitting cross-legged, staring directly ahead at the opposing wall.
Zuko cautiously entered the room, glancing at the wall Azula was staring at. He coughed a little, the stench burning his nostrils. He looked at the bed Azula was sitting on, spotting a large, dark stain on the thin mattress. A flare of anger burned within him, wondering how the healers could've let this happen and why they hadn't done anything about it.
Had it always been like this? Zuko didn't recall seeing any signs of such mistreatment before.
"Azula?" He questioned, approaching her.
But there was no reply from his sister.
"Azula, it's me, Zuko."
Again, nothing.
Frowning, Zuko rounded the bed and stood in front of Azula. It was then that he noticed not only the glazed over look in his sister's usually amber eyes, but also the prominent bruising around her pale throat.
In that moment, Zuko's world seemed to screech to a halt. Purple and blue bruising encircled Azula's throat in the shape of what looked like a hand.
Without even thinking, Zuko's hand reached out towards her throat, fingers inching closer to the bruise with a feeling of disbelief until, just as he'd almost made contact, there was a quiet gasp from Azula.
Zuko instantly withdrew his hand, startled at the sudden reaction from his sister. When he glanced at her eyes, they looked to be less glazed over but still murky.
"I'm sorry," he apologised, "I didn't mean to scare you, Zula. I wouldn't hurt you."
When there was, yet again, no reply, Zuko's anger began to burn fiercely within his chest. What had they done to his sister? Not only was she clearly malnourished and lacking contact with the sun, a must-have for any firebender, there were clear marks on her skin. Someone had lain their hands upon his little sister. Someone who was supposed to be helping her heal was only bringing more harm towards her.
"Azula?" He questioned in one last attempt at getting her attention.
Nothing.
Taking a steading breath, Zuko turned around and stepped out of the room. The breath of mildly fresher air that met him was a relief, but there was no chance to bask in it. He turned to the right, meaning to find the nearest healer and demand answers when, suddenly footsteps met his ears.
Good, he thought. It meant he didn't have to leave Azula's side.
With squared shoulders and a blazing glare, Zuko waited for the healers to round the corner and, once they had, his attention snapped to them.
It was glaringly obvious that they knew he was angry when they stopped where they were and ceased their approach.
Zuko grunted quietly under his breath and closed the distance between them instead.
“Fire Lord Zuko-“
“Be quiet,” Zuko interrupted without hesitation.
The healers’ jaws snapped shut. A part of Zuko hated to see the flicker of fear that crossed their expressions, but another, much bigger part of him couldn’t get Azula’s distant gaze out of his mind, and the anger that flared within him was parasitic. It burned in his chest like molten lava and singed his veins.
Someone had put their hands on his sister. They’d denied her, her basic rights. Whatever they’d done, it had broken down even the strongest of spirits.
“When I admitted Azula to your hospital, I expected her to be cared for. To be looked after and healed,” Zuko stated.
“Please, let us exp-“
“No!” Zuko snapped. “No, I don’t want your explanations or your excuses. I want my sister removed from this asylum and brought back to the palace. And you will all face punishment for your crimes against the princess of the Fire Nation.”
It had been a long time since Azula had been referred to as the princess. Many believed she’d lost that title a long time ago, most notably during the final Agni Kai. Even some of the closest people to Zuko didn’t believe Azula was the princess anymore.
But Zuko knew, deep down, that she was.
Zuko was Fire Lord because he’d previously been the prince, and the last Fire Lord, his father, was sort of no longer available (he was locked away for good). Azula was his sister, though- she’d been born into the royal family, just like him- which meant that, no matter what, she was still the princess.
Clearly these people had forgotten it, or they didn’t care. Either way, princess or not, they weren’t going to get away with treating his sister like this.
“Fire Lord Zuko, we don’t recommend removing her from our care. She’s not we-“
“Enough!” Zuko shouted. “It seems you’ve forgotten who you’re talking to.”
The healers shrank a little.
“I am your Fire Lord, and she is my sister. You’ve gotten away with your mistreatment for too long. I will be removing her from your care effective immediately. Is that understood?”
Silence overwhelmed them for a moment before, eventually, one of the healers at the front of the small group nodded.
“Fetch me a wheelchair,” Zuko ordered.
One of the healers scurried off to do that as Zuko reentered Azula’s room. Just the sight of her alone was enough to make his heart shatter.
What have they done to you, Lala? He wondered.
“Come on, Azula. I’m getting you out of here,” Zuko mumbled, more for himself than Azula’s sake as she was still staring at the wall. “There are healers at the palace who can care for you instead.”
Unfortunately, or fortunately, Zuko was still wise enough to know that Azula wasn’t safe enough, to herself or others, to remove the straitjacket yet so he was forced to keep that on her as he carefully guided her to her feet.
Thankfully, she seemed to be at least semi-aware as she was able to stand up on her own just with him guiding her, yet her gaze still remained distant and glossy. It was strange to Zuko. She was like a puppet on strings, Zuko choosing her every move.
A moment later, the healer returned with the wheelchair and Zuko coaxed Azula into it. She sat down without complaint, her head tilting to the right just slightly, messy hair falling into her eyes.
There was a strap on the wheelchair that Zuko could use to strap Azula into the chair. He seriously considered it, staring at the leather binds before mentally shaking his head.
Planting his hands on the handles, Zuko pushed Azula around the healers, casting them a withering glare on the way out.
Once he was past the healers and out of their sight, he turned his eyes to his sister instead.
Don’t worry, Azula, I’m taking you home, he thought.