Azula could sense it almost. Like a flame feeling the heat of another. Her father was close and he was lying in wait somewhere. She could find him if she really wanted to. It wouldn't be hard, but each time she got the urge to abandon her place in the palace she remembered Ty Lee and kept herself from vanishing.
Even as the wedding festivities continued she was focused solely on the danger ahead. The inevitable storm that would fall upon them and swallow them whole. She needed to be ready, she needed to be prepared, and she needed to be in the right mindset for the battle to come.
Yes, Zuko would try to face Ozai but he would fail. He was out of practice. He was an impeccable bender, Azula would give him credit for that, but being firelord had swamped his time with paperwork and not bending practice. Azula, on the other hand, had plenty of time to train. She was a machine ready to steam roll ahead. No one was going to stop her.
Except maybe her mother who insisted on getting a proper outfit for Azula to attend the wedding in.
"I don't want anything overzealous," Azula glowered, looking like an upset kid as her mother and younger sister worked on fitting her for a new uniform. This was supposed to be a "uniform only for special occasions" which Azula found stupid. Why make something that was only going to be worn once or twice.
"Wait until you get married Azula!" Kiyi smiled. "You and Ty can have a big old wedding too!"
"That won't happen," Azula frowned, "and you're being irrational."
"I don't see why it couldn't," Kiyi shrugged, looking crestfallen at how quickly her idea was shot down. "Don't you love her?"
"You're young Kiyi, you don't understand. Things are much more complicated for people like me and Ty. It's easy for Zuko and Mai," Azula explained, her harsh tone softening slightly. "People approve of their relationship."
"Well can't we just banish anyone who doesn't like you?" Kiyi asked, helping Ursa pin some crimson fabric in place.
"Unfortunately it doesn't work like that," Azula sighed, eyeing her mother with care. "Don't stab me."
"I won't if you stand still," Ursa laughed. "Besides, being poked won't be so bad when it's all done. You'll look absolutely beautiful."
"Yeah, but I'll feel like a hog monkey in a suit no doubt," Azula muttered, questioning her sister and mother's abilities to actually make an outfit themselves instead of relying on the palace's seamstresses.
— — —
"We're going to have to look nice Toph," Katara sighed, watching the earthbender make an invisible snow angel on the palace carpet of a guest room.
"I always look nice, Katara, right Suki?" Toph asked.
"Right," Suki nodded, earning a grin from the earthbender.
"She's lying," Katara argued.
"Nope, she's being honest. I can tell."
"Do you guys think Ozai is really going to show up again?" Ty Lee worried, breaking up the playful argument.
"Well gee, Ty, I-I don't know but hopefully he won't," Suki sighed, noticing the way the acrobat had been keeping to herself all day.
"I didn't think you were afraid of him," Toph notes, sitting up right.
"I'm not...I'm just worried is all. I have friends and family here that could be hurt if he goes ballistic," Ty Lee explained, but Suki knew the real reason behind her friend's worry. Ty Lee was scared for Azula but she'd never let the princess know.
"Like the boys said," Katara looked softly at the acrobat, "we've beaten him before so we can do it again."
"Yeah, and Zuko can't die or anything because I still need my life changing field trip," Toph noted, crossing her arms for emphasis. "He can just bail out on that."
"Right," Ty Lee laughed, but her smile didn't reach her eyes like it always did.
"Besides, the wedding is in two weeks anyways, we have time to prepare," Katara noted, though she seemed to be somewhat comforting herself with that sentiment too.
A soft knock sounded at the door, "May I come in?"
"Yeah!" Ty Lee eagerly got up and ventured over to the door and opening it for Azula to enter. "Did you get poked a lot?"
"Only three times, all of them from Kiyi," Azula glowered.
"Oof," Toph winced. "Never fun when you have to get fitted for something. I always hated that with my parents. Worst part of the day."
"I was wondering if anyone knew where Mai was?" Azula asked, mildly ignoring Toph. She didn't want to be in the room with all of them more than she had to, let alone with Katara eyeing her so intently.
"Uhm, I saw her in the study," Suki frowned in thought, "but I don't know if she's still there."
"That's okay, I'll look anyway," Azula nodded at the warrior before turning to leave and pausing. "Uh, thank you, by the way."
"No problem," Suki smiled, watching the fire bender disappear around the corner.
"No offense to anyone but it's still really weird to see her so normal and saying thank you about things," Katara shivered, "I just...I don't know. It gives me the heebie jeebies."
"Now you sound like your brother," Toph snorted.
— — —
"Mai?" Azula asked, knocking lightly on the study door. It opened with a small creak.
"Hey," Mai rasped, looking tired and worn out, "are you okay?"
"Fine," Azula promised, "can I come in?"
"Sure, just trying to organize some things. This place looked like a whirlwind had passed through," Mai explained, gesturing to the cluttered but semi organized desk.
"I uh, I found this from ages ago. I thought maybe you'd like to have it?" Azula asked, holding out a small hand carved comb. "You lost it years ago when we were ten. I found it lodged in an old bird nest out in a courtyard statue."
"Which one?" Mai asked, gingerly taking the comb.
"The far left one. General Phan's statue. Up near the top of his uniform by the shoulder blades," Azula explained, tapping her fingers anxiously against the sides of her legs.
"That's...that's an impressive climb," Mai snorted, turning the comb over in her hands. "You know Zuko made this for me right?"
"Yeah," Azula nodded. "I remember him cursing to himself at night trying to finish it before Secret Lover's day. It was funny to say the least. He asked for my help and I told him to suck it up and do it himself."
"Sound about right," Mai smirked, rubbing her thumb over the childish designs engraved in the fine wood. "Thank you."
"Of course," Azula nodded, before rather impulsively hugging the other girl.
"Hey," Mai muttered, surprised by the sudden emotion from her friend. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, you're just getting married," Azula sighed, but her voice trembled slightly, "and I may be a little upset."
"Why?"
"You'll spend more time with Zuko," Azula admitted, not pulling back from he hug. "Which I know is stupid, and I never really treated you like a proper friend when we were younger and I might not get the chance to make it up to you-"
"I promise I won't ignore you," Mai smiled gently. "And all of that's in the past now, remember?"
"I hate change."
"I know."
"Don't tell anyone I'm hugging you," Azula frowned, finally pulling back from the hug.
"I won't as long as you don't tell anyone I smiled and hugged you back," Mai decided, holding out her hand. Azula shook it and they both gave each other bashful grins.
"See you around."Azula straightened her appearance and promptly left acting as if nothing had happened. She'd never really hugged Mai before but she decided she liked it, thought Ty Lee's hugs were still far superior.