Azula interrupted our little hug.

"Come down to the beach. Everyone's waiting," she said.

I nodded, following her out. She took us down to the campfire where everyone was sitting. Mai on a rock, Ty Lee on a log and I sat beside her. Zuko just sat on the floor. I sat next to Azula.

"So," I said quietly, when suddenly Zuko tossed another picture in the fire to keep the flame going.

"Why would you throw away something so precious?" Ty Lee said.

"It's none of your business, circus freak."

"Zuko!" I sputtered. "What the hell was that?"

"No, no, let him say it," Ty Lee said, tears suddenly gathering in her eyes. "You know how hard it was for me to live with six sisters who looked exactly like me?" Ty Lee wiped her eyes, getting very emotional all of a sudden. "That's why I joined the circus so I could become unique. Being called 'circus freak' is a compliment!"

"And that's why you want so much attention," Mai rolled her eyes, "you barely got any when you were young."

"Yeah?" Ty Lee shot back, "Well you got so much attention being the only child and you still have this gloomy aura hanging around you."

"I don't believe in auras." She sighed, laying back on the rock.

"You don't believe in anything," Zuko scoffed.

"My dad was a politician. I got whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, as long as I behaved like the little girl I was. I was always under the spotlight so I couldn't mess up."

"And that's you have so much trouble expressing your feelings." Azula concluded, leaning back. 

Wow. Rough childhood.

A burst of anger kind of ran through me. Oh, you had a rough childhood?

Suddenly, Mai stood up and started shouting things. I hadn't seen her act like that ever. But my ears were ringing. I couldn't hear. Something literally crashed inside of me, and then suddenly, as quick as it came, it disappeared.

"Mai," Zuko said to her.

"Don't touch me," Mai said. "I'm angry."

Good for you, Mai.

"You're angry?" Zuko yelled. "I have had the most suckish life anyone could ever have. My own father banished me when I was thirteen. My mother disappeared. I lost my Uncle. I'm just so angry."

"Who are you angry at?" Azula asked.

"I don't know."

"Then how come you're angry?" Ty Lee asked.

"There has to be a reason," Mai said, turning away from him.

"I don't know who I'm mad at."

"Is it me?" Azula asked.

"Or me?" Ty Lee put in.

"Who are you mad at?"

"I'm mad at myself!" Zuko yelled, and the flames shot up into the sky. "I'm just . . . mad."

"I get it, Zuko." Mai looked at him. "It's okay."

"Hey Mia," I said, suddenly annoyed, "Why don't you cut the act and sit down?"

"Excuse me?" her head whipped towards me. "And what's your problem?"

"What's my problem?" I stood up as the fire got bigger, "I just found out my own mother ditched me and betrayed my father. And she was from the water tribe. Haven't you had this feeling before that no matter where your mother went, even if she left you when you were a kid, you loved her anyway? Well I had that feeling. All the way up to the moment when Azula told me she left me on purpose. Who knows, I might even have a sibling somewhere out there." I wiped my eyes, staring at all of them angrily. "I'm a part of the Fire Nation now. My whole life back home has been forgotten. I'm going to try my best to fit in now, because I'm stuck. And when the time comes to answer your father, I'm going to say yes. I am loyal to the Fire Nation."

"That's how my mother was," Azula leaned back on one arm. "She always thought I was a monster. Well, she was right," Azula laughed, "But it still hurts to hear your own mother say that. She always liked Zuko more. And that hurts you know, when the parent picks favorites."

"Oh yeah? Like our father does. Does that hurt you?" Zuko scoffed. "Yeah, didn't think so."

"I get it," I said, sitting back next to Azula. "Your mother left when you were small too, right?" I asked.

Azula looked at me. "Right."

"Right." Zuko repeated.

"I guess every one of us has something in common." I looked at everyone.

"Well, I guess the beach did have a way to get all our secrets out," Mai said.

"Right, Mia." I grinned.

"Mia's right." Azula laughed. And it was a real, genuine laugh without the cold pitch to it.

"You should laugh more often." I smiled at Azula. "Like, really laugh. Like when I do this." I pinched her under the rib again and she almost squealed, covering her mouth.

"I'm going to get you for that." Azula glared.

"Later on. I'm enjoying the night right now," I sighed, leaning back on my arms.

She sighed. "I might as well do that too."

"It helps." Ty Lee giggled, scooting closer. Even Mai huddled in. "I totally feel smoothed." Ty Lee sighed. I put an arm over Azula's shoulder and looked over her at Zuko who looked at me.

I smiled.

He smiled back.

"Hey," I suddenly said, feeling a tingly feeling run through my spine, "Let's go back to the party."

"For what?" Everyone asked in unison.

I smirked evilly.

🔥🔥🔥

Chan wailed as everything crashed to the floor. Zuko broke everything and I made sure I attacked a few vases. Azula broke apart tables, and Mai and Ty Lee dealt with everyone else.

"That was a brilliant idea," Azula said after. "I would've thought of that too, if you'd given me a few more seconds."

"I bet you would. We could pass as twins," I winked, and she laughed again.

"Oh yes. What shall we call ourselves?"

"Hmm . . . " I said as she put her arm over my shoulders, "We're the Furious Two?"

"No." she said automatically. "I want the word twins, and you want the word furious. So how about Twinfuries?" 

"Oooh that's nice," I agreed. "I love it."

"I knew you'd like it."

"Cause we're like twins you know," I chuckled, "You know what I like and I know what you—no? Too much?"

"Too much." She rolled her eyes. "We're not really related."

"True."

🔥🔥🔥

I sat at the edge of the beach as the water lapped at my bare ankles. It felt weird. The water felt unfamiliar. I shivered. No, it wasn't calling me. I bended the water as it twirled over my head, but I didn't feel it. 

"Hey." Someone said behind me. I turned to see Zuko.

"Hey. Why don't you join me?" I patted the ground beside me, ehich Zuko obliged to. "Hey, can I ask you a question? I asked.

"Go ahead."

"When you touch the water, what do you feel? Exactly?" 

He bit his lip. "Uh . . . I feel water."

"No. What feeling does water give you?"

"No feeling. It's just there."

"And fire?" I asked.

"Power." he said almost immediately. "Is that what you were looking for?"

"Yeah." I said. "Oh, God."

"What's wrong?"

"If I . . . like, bend water, shouldn't I feel something?" I said.

"Well everybody is different. So bend fire and see what happens," Zuko suggested.

I stood up. "Good idea." I braced my legs and arms, and bended fire. Almost immediately, energy flowed through my arms, and suddenly the water below my feet turned to ice. I slipped, falling on my back and hitting my head. "Dang it," I mumbled, sitting up and rubbing the back of my head. "That wasn't intentional."

"You crushed a sandcastle. Made by a kid," Zuko put in.

"Do you think I'm losing my waterbender side?" I asked him. "Or am I imagining things?"

"I'll be optimistic." Zuko took a deep breath. "Yeah you're losing it." he breathed out.

"Oh way to be otimistic." I swatted his arm. "But firebending isn't bad, so the crushing the sandcastle has nothing to do with it."

"Azula." Zuko coughed. "Fire Lord." he coughed again.

"Me." I coughed back, trying to make a point.

"You." He coughed again.

"Whatever. I gotta go." I stood up, walking away.

"Wait," Zuko called after me, falling into step beside me and taking my wrist, swinging my arm back and forth. "I'm not a jerk."

I rolled my eyes at him and blew out through my lips, shooting him a smile. "Whatever you say, Zuzu." 

"Don't call me that."

"Why, doesn't Mia call you that?" I laughed.

"No." He pulled his hand away from my wrist.

"Fine. Mr. Touchy and Miss Gloomy Butt, eh? You guys are perfect for each other." I rolled my eyes, walking faster and leaving him behind.

"No. No, wait, it's not like that—"

"Oh you know it is as much as I do," I retorted.

"Can you just wait—"

"I will not."

"I just wanna—"

"Don't wanna hear it!" I said, putting my fingers in my ears and starting a loud hum.

"Fine." Zuko scowled, turning on his heel and walking away.

"Fine!" I called after him.

♋♋♋

Zuko marched back to his room.

She was so stubborn. She wouldn't even listen to what he wanted to say. It was weird though; he didn't want to say it.

He hadn't even really said it to Mia— Mai. He smiled to himself. The name stuck.

I . . . 

He couldn't say the words out loud. 

Get over it. Zuko said. You'll never have the chance to say it out loud. She won't let you . . . Why?

Because she completely, positively knows what you're going to say but she doesn't trust you enough to know that you mean it.

And that's why she'll never let you say it.