azula’s subtle jab doesn’t go unnoticed. grin quickly flattens to nothing more than a line while the retort of “unlike you fire nation, we were spiritually enlightened enough to all. be. benders.” runs through his head. he doesn’t dare say it though. he can’t. what kind of avatar would he be if he picked fights with the princess of the fire nation ? —– even if she does always start it.
with a light sigh ( and quick mental mantra of ‘ don’t fight the fire princess. don’t fight the fire princess ’ ) aang follows her, running a reassuring hand across appa’s shoulder as he walks by. but when grey eyes wander the structure supposedly for appa’s protection, the lack of smile starts to turn into a frown ; apprehension creeps in. ❝ i don’t know, azula. this doesn’t feel right. ❞ sky bison and air nomads get along for a reason. they’re travelers, they value freedom. and this ? this feels like taking appa’s freedom away. ❝ what do you think, momo ? ❞ aang turns to the lemur and is greeted with a furry head tilt and ears standing to attention. ❝ do you like this place ? ❞
appearing to roughly understand the question —– a rare event indeed —–, momo leaves his perch atop appa to fly around the structure. a few circles overhead and he lands by the aforementioned strings. another head tilt. a shake. a tug. then a harder tug. the lemur’s chattering grows louder ( and more frustrated ) as he keeps trying to no avail. it’s with one final screech that he gives up and returns to comfort of appa’s head.
that’s all aang needed to hear. ❝ if appa and momo both don’t like it, i don’t like it. appa’s a ten ton sky bison, he can take care of himself. besides, if anyone wants to hurt appa, they’ll have to go through me. ❞
there it is: the reaction she expects when someone comes across her . here’s something she’s expected since her uncle ended the war : no one outside of the fire nation liked her ( hell , her own mother detested her ) . and she’s well trained in picking holes in arguments , there’s more than one reason her uncle knows she’s fit for firelord .
princess watches him hold his thoughts back , there’s a reason why zuzu gets along with him , isn’t there ? she assumes it’s something about opposites attracting . mai and ty lee were the same way , azula was always good enough to know how to be likable to anyone - if she wanted to be , that is . that was surely a rare occasion . everything’s a calculated move on her part . ‘ there’s feelings and then there’s sense , aang . you need both for survival . ’ the war may be over , but the violence isn’t going anywhere for a long time . arms cross , head tilts to him , shakes her head at the lemur .
the thing has arms that resembles twigs , and though small and quick , she knows there are plenty of benders that have aim that could catch him ; azula includes herself in that group , though not inclined . nose wrinkles , the flying animal probably reeks . azula lifts up her arm , uses two fingers to pull a string , the overhead opening up to let in light to the barn . ‘ we can add more oil to the pulley if need be . ’ this is her version of compromise .
‘ if i recall correctly , it was my brother who was your firebender teacher , right ? ’ azula muses , always one to drawl out the details to get to the point , if only to annoy the shit out of others . ‘ and appa wasn’t a big fan when zuzu and i were at each other , no ? ’ azula has never been the ... gentle type , even when tasked with bringing her brother and the avatar back with her .
‘ don’t underestimate how far my father’s follower’s anger can go - ’ even she’s had to deal with them , and oh are they thorns in the side . ‘ the technology they have access to can fly , easily deal with rock , and i’m not even sure what water can do with some of earth’s strongest metal - ’ she waves her hands , confidence exuding off of her . if she wasn’t herself , she’d feel sorry for whoever has to deal with her . a pause .
‘ i can guarantee you that their first plan of action will be going for your pets - ’ it’s what her father taught her : care is weakness . ‘ - to get you . ’ a pause , she pulls another string and a door on the side opens , opening to an inside greenhouse type of place . ‘ the palace is virtually impossible to get into - much less the middle of the grounds . ’ she’s making her statement : the safest place for the time being is right here . then she shrugs .
‘ so if the war starts up again because your sky bison doesn’t like barns , well . ’ casts him a glance . ‘ i’ll remember that when i become firelord . ’