For real guys. Any ships you wanna see? Any ideas at all? I'm trying here, but I'm not a magician. Also, I don't know who you ship.

This is a lot shorter than my last one, which was really long for me. This is more my average.

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Zuko dropped Mai off at her room. After a lot of thought- or so they told Lo and Li- they decided to stay in the Royal Family's beach house, just overnight. They said that they were teenagers, and as such wanted some personal space. In reality, none of them wanted to be around the creepy old twins any more than they had to. "I'm sorry for getting so worked up," He apologized, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It's alright. You're angry. You're going through a lot. It's not pathetic, no matter what Azula says."

"I guess."

"She's jealous of you, you know."

"Her? Jealous of ME? Why in the world would SHE be jealous of ME? That couldn't possibly be true."

Mai looked down the hall. "I know her better than you. After all, I've been best friends with her and Ty Lee since they were six. But if you don't believe me, I don't blame you. You should ask her yourself. Goodnight, Zuko." She kissed him and slipped into her room.

"Excuse me, Zuzu." Azula brushed past him. Only thinking for a second, he reached out and grabbed her arm. She looked back at him, startled. "What is this about?"

"I think we need to have a talk."

Azula laughed. "Didn't we already?" She tried to pull her arm from his grip, but he held on tighter.

"No, really, Azula. We need to talk."

She sighed. "Fine. Talk. I want to go to bed soon though, so don't hold me up."

"I wouldn't think of it. Let's talk in my room."

She shrugged.

Ty Lee's head popped out of the room she and Azula were sharing. "'Zula! You coming?"

"In a minute!" Azula called back. "How about this, Zuzu? I go change into my pajamas- you can too- and then I'll come back? K? Good." She walked into her room.

Zuko rolled his eyes but entered his room and got ready for bed. Five minutes later, he was wonder if Azula was coming at all. But there was a knock at his door and she walked in. "What took so long?"

Azula scoffed. "I had to comb my hair and take my makeup off. That's not exactly a speedy thing to do."

"It's not?"

Azula rolled her eyes. "You are SUCH an idiot, Dum-Dum. Now hurry up, what did you wanna talk about?" She sounded snide. Clearly, she thought whatever Zuko wanted to talk about was beneath her.

"What you said at the beach. About Mother liking me more. Did she really?"

Azula looked dumbfounded. "You're still thinking about that?"

"I've just... I've never thought about her like that. I never thought you cared about what she thought about you."

Azula scoffed. "Of course I care. She was my mother as much as she was yours. And yes, she liked you more. She was nearly as open about it as Father is about liking me best. Did you really never notice?"

Zuko shook his head. He was embarrassed. Was it really that obvious? But one thing his younger sister said stuck in his mind. "Do you really think Mother saw you as a monster?"

"Why wouldn't I? She did."

"No, she didn't." Zuko said defensively. Mom would never think that about her own child. Of that, he was certain.

Azula scoffed. "Tell me Zuzu, what is the first thing you think of, or see, or hear when you think of Mother?"

Zuko smiled as fond memories filled his head. "Feeling all warm as she gives me a hug and tells me she loves me. What about you?"

Azula smiled wryly. "My first thought is her saying 'What is wrong with that child'. You remember when she said that?"

"In her defense, you did just say some extremely messed up stuff."

"Doesn't mean she should've said it aloud. She didn't even stop to think about whether or not I'd hear, or how much it would hurt." Her voice broke for a second, but she soon turned haughty again.

"But it doesn't matter. She's gone now, and I've got Father. I'm perfect, I don't have to worry about losing his love as long as I stay like I am. Unlike you. He might still be proud of you, but you should watch your back. Hate to see what would happen if the Avatar is still alive, after all. Goodnight, Zuzu." She walked out of the room, leaving the door open. Clearly, she was ticked off at him for making her feel bad. "Ty Lee! What was it that you wanted to do so bad?"

Zuko sighed and got up, closing the door. He started to pace. Azula's words filled his head. He remembered his mother's comment that day. But she hadn't meant it, had she? Zuko huffed. Of course she had. Azula was messed up, even then. But Ursa certainly hadn't meant to hurt her. She'd be horrified to find out that she had. Wouldn't she? But she had said it, and nothing could take it back. Zuko couldn't imagine what it would be like if the first memory of his mother he could think of was something hurtful.

For the first time in years, Zuko found himself angry at his mother. He gripped his chair. Why did he care so much about Azula? She was an awful sister, manipulating him at every opportunity. He tried to tell himself that that's what she was doing now. Trying to pull her sob story into him. But as he fell asleep, he heard Azula's voice in his head. "I don't have a sob story like the rest of you".

What an amazing lie that was.

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If only they'd talk like this in the show 😒