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[unstable]

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[unstable]

[ He moves so erratically, like he was trying to make everything perfect, but she knew all too well that nothing could ever be. They keep locking eyes, Azula mostly trying to read him and his overwhelming apology, still upset with how easy he seemed to blame her, to hate her, when confronted with something he didn't entirely understand. Maybe she had deserved it, for the pain and suffering she'd caused him throughout her years, but she thought that the time they'd spent together on Lunatia and Avalon was far more valuable than the war they were forced into as children.

The candles are soothing, at least, Azula watching him as she hovers awkwardly in front of Zuko and the small bathroom. She finishes undressing, leaving her clothes in a heap at her feet, combing fingers through tangled, wet locks as she looks past him and to the water. His question is hilarious to her, if only because it was a testament to how little he seemed to understand her, even now. All she ever was was alone, she never wanted to be-- which is why it hurt so much with how quickly Zuko wanted to uproot himself when they argued or fought, like he couldn't wait to be apart from her. ]

No, I don't.

[ She states plainly, golden eyes scanning his face before she brushes past him carefully to avoid stepping on flames, bending over to touch the water in the tub with her fingertips. ]

[rediscovering]

Okay. Then I'll sit here with you.

[ He says matter-of-factly, as if that hadn't been his plan to begin with... He moves some beauty products he'd set up on the closed toilet seat to the ground so he can sit there rather stiffly, glancing about the room. He can't help his eyes eventually linger on Azula from head to toe, though, standing before him playing with the milky white water. There's something seemingly very soft about her in this moment, watching her fingertips drift over the water, the candlelight dancing across her form, in this odd moment of Zuko's vulnerability more than hers. Zuko doesn't understand her. And he's realized that. That's so much part of what's prompted all of this. He understands himself and extends that empathy, knowing he likes to be alone to relax... but he's learning to expand that point of reference, even if it's still somewhat limited to Azula and Iroh as it's always been. Since being spirited away, though, he's gained a lot of new perspectives. But only in this past week or two, since registering Aang's big reveal, he's started to truly try to consider Azula's perspective another way. He may not be good at it yet but... obviously, he's trying. ]

[unstable]

[ He hit the nail on the head with this, at least, the idea of excessive pampering something she can enjoy regardless of whatever else she may be feeling. Her lack of willingness to participate in anything that would earn her income meant not having this luxury in Avalon, but she hadn't been afforded it for several years now back in the Fire Nation either. It's welcome.

She exhales as she steps into the tub, shifting until she's mostly submerged and comfortable, the water warm and soothing enough to force her to ease up all the tension in her body she hadn't yet allowed herself to give up. Zuko shouldn't be forgiven so easily, this had been the first time in months since she'd been genuinely bothered by his words, his actions, the vitriol in the way he said her name. ]

Did you want to say something or just watch me bathe?

[ Azula head rests on the back of the tub, rolling it just enough to put Zuko fully in her line of sight. ]

[rediscovering]

Yeah... I want to talk...

[ She could deduce that much, surely, Zuko; so talk. Yet, somehow, now that he's here here with her, all the one-sided rehearsals of this conversation he'd had with his dragon while he cleaned home alone for hours before the moment to talk finally came, seem suddenly not all that useful. He'd just worked himself up. Now he finds himself sitting awkwardly on a toilet with his hands on his knees surrounded overwhelmingly by his own efforts and words aren't coming to him as easily as he'd imagined they would when the time came. He'd had no problem holding his tongue when he'd confronted Azula about their mom, their future, and he's determined to be a better listener this time around; the irony that he's trying to apply this warped wisdom to how he acts when he's apologizing is lost on him still, though. ]

...How have you been?

[ It's a simple enough question in his words, but something in his tone, the heavy weight of his voice asking it, the furrow of his brow and the way he glances at her, speaks to something far less simple. ]

[unstable]

[ The princess shrugs her shoulders in response, never eager to discuss feelings-- this is definitely what this was leading to, wasn't it? Azula sinks as deep as she can into the water, if any this was motivation to get them a better place with a bigger tub, so she can drown herself when she feels like the conversation is headed in a direction she doesn't want.

He's giving her such a look she know that his question won't be satisfied by such a simple gesture, so she lets out a heavy sigh instead. Fine, Zuko, you can have what you want. ]

I've been fine. I'm not the one with the problem.

[ Happy, now? Though admittedly, it had hurt how he'd been with her, talked to her, so much so that it was overwhelming what he was doing now. She didn't like this game, awkwardly flitting about each other with all their trust issues spilled out before them, uncertain to move closer or back from one another even when they both knew all they wanted was their strange love to be acknowledged and accepted without all the fuss. It never could be easy between them, a blessing and a curse, really, each of them a short fuse that could be lit by what seems like literally anything in any moment. ]

That's what this is about, right? Your problem?