Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Vongrak.
Azula POV.
I woke up at the same time as Izumi, along with the sun, stretched lazily, got out of bed, and sighed as I looked at Taylor, Darkness, and Ruby snuggled together comfortably and fast asleep. The bed was getting too small; we hadn't done anything last night, but most of us were already getting used to sleeping with Izumi and the rest of the group, so we kept gathering in the same bed, even if it was just to sleep.
And the group was only going to get bigger now that Tanya and Viktoriya were in the mix. It was really lucky that Izumi's room was bigger than average, even so, his bed had its limitations.
"Shall we go?" Izumi asked as he finished getting dressed near the door.
"Go ahead, I need to call Zuko." I said with a mocking smile. Izumi looked at me and raised an eyebrow.
"Today? Sunday? At… 5:30 in the morning? I'm pretty sure we're on the same time zone as the Fire Nation." Izumi said playfully, and I just smiled sadistically.
"It's the perfect moment." I said with my eyes sparkling. Izumi snorted and shook his head playfully.
"I'll wait for you outside, have fun," Izumi said playfully. I chuckled as I watched him leave. I grabbed my scroll and left Izumi's room before heading to mine so as not to disturb the girls who were still sleeping.
The idea was to get Zuko up and annoy him, not the girls. I snorted and shook my head. I was really softening up.
I grabbed my scroll wheel and dialed Zuko's number. Obviously, the call didn't connect, but I let it ring for a long time before it went straight to voicemail. I hung up and dialed Zuko again; this time, the call connected.
"Azula?" Zuko groaned sleepily, his voice hoarse from disuse and his words slurred. I smiled broadly when I heard a woman moan nearby.
"Screw you, Azula! I don't want to hear her, Zuko, get out of the room!" I smiled broadly at Mai's muffled voice as Zuko was banished from his room. I hadn't even spoken yet, and it was already perfect.
"I hate you." Zuko groaned in pain. I could hear him twitching and the rustling of clothes. I just let him take his time. "Azula, it's 5 a.m.." Zuko groaned.
"Hello, Zuzu, I missed you too. I took some precious time out of my very busy school schedule just to call my dear brother and my lovely sister-in-law, and this is how they answer me? You know, Zuzu, it's truly unbecoming of the Fire Lord." I teased playfully. Zuko groaned loudly.
"It's 5 a.m.!" he repeated, and I smiled broadly. "And besides, I'm sure our father, the previous Fire Lord, would have burned the whole palace down if you woke him up at this hour!" Zuko groaned.
"Please, Zuzu, Father used to wake up at this hour, instead you're just throwing a tantrum and complaining, how... disappointing, brother." I purred playfully. Zuko groaned even more.
"What do you want? If you're thinking of sending another sex toy, I swear to Agni that-" I burst out laughing, interrupting him.
"I hope my belongings remain intact; they're gifts for a very close friend," I said playfully. I was planning to give all the sex toys to Izumi; I'm sure he'd find a use for them with Darkness.
"It's all in a storeroom in the castle. I was going to leave it in your room, but Kiyi keeps going in and hanging around when we're not looking. Mom didn't want her near those things." Zuko grumbled. "I don't even know how she keeps getting in. Mom locks your room." Zuko snorted. I scoffed. Yeah, right, as if the palace didn't have dozens of secret passages in case of an attack.
My room is one of the heiresses' rooms, so obviously there would be passageways and places to enter and escape.
"Very well." Accept the excuse.
"So? The reason for the call? " Zuko asked again wearily; I could hear him yawn loudly.
"No idea," I said, shrugging, even though he couldn't see me.
"You woke me up... at 5 in the morning... just to annoy me?" Zuko asked in a tense voice, and I smiled broadly.
"Of course not." Of course I did. "You've been texting me about something urgent, so I have no idea what YOU wanted to talk to me about." I said easily.
"Oh, yes," Zuko said, this time sounding very alert. I straightened up slightly. Now, this really seemed serious, but knowing Zuko, it could be anything. "So—" Zuko cleared his throat. "You know winter break is coming up, right?" Zuko asked lightly, though there was a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"I'm aware of the weather and the date, yes, so I know they're getting closer. Although I'd hardly call it close when there are still three months to go." I said easily.
"Yes, of course, three months, that's still a ways off," Zuko said nervously. I rolled my eyes.
"Get to the point, Zuzu." I interrupted while giving him the order.
"Did you have plans for the winter break?" Zuko asked quickly, and I blinked while humming.
"I've got them, yes, spending Christmas and New Year's with Izumi, her mother, and the girls. I think we were going to have a Christmas party, and after that, most of the group will go back to their families for New Year's and the holidays, and I'll continue staying with Izumi." I said easily as I went over my plans. Darkness, Ruby, Tanya, Visha, Jinx, and some other girls would return to their countries for two weeks to spend the first few weeks of the year at home before starting the next term.
Me? I was going to spend New Year's with Izumi, Taylor, and her mother, and then I would have my internships again with Endeavor starting on January 1st.
"Oh..." Zuko said, almost disappointed. I rolled my eyes.
"What do you want, Zuzu? Speak up." I snorted dryly. Zuko pouted.
"I... was hoping you'd come home during the holidays?" Zuko said shyly. I rolled my eyes.
"I thought I was exiled, Zuzu. Besides, I can't think of anything worse than spending my vacation near Ursa, Iroh, and the others. Why would I want to do something like that?" I dragged out the words, staring lazily at my nails.
"I…" Zuko tried to say timidly, then he stopped and I heard him take a deep breath. "Mai'spregnant!" Zuko said quickly and I froze.
"Excuse me... what?" I asked stupidly while trying to register the words, and almost begging that I had misheard.
"I... Mai's pregnant, she's four months along, I... wanted you to come visit us." Zuko said more slowly, almost pleading, though I could hear undeniable happiness in his voice. I stopped stiffly.
Mai pregnant? Mai, that damn Mai, pregnant with Zuko's baby?! I almost wanted to look at my phone in outrage.
"Mai is pregnant?!" I couldn't help but ask in disbelief.
"Yes, she is pregnant. We confirmed it a little less than one month ago. We haven't made a public statement yet; I wanted to wait to tell you first," Zuko said gently. I blinked in disbelief.
"Wow... and here I thought you were having performance issues." I said the first thing that came to mind.
"Wh -me-what?! I don't have any problem?!" Zuko yelled indignantly and ashamed, I huffed loudly.
"Zuzu, you locked me up in the asylum almost four years ago, that means Mai betrayed me because of you the same amount of time ago, I may have been crazy, but I wasn't uninformed, you two got together almost immediately."
"The fact that you hadn't gotten her pregnant in four years was almost worrying; I was seriously about to hire a doctor to check if everything was okay with you down there," I said dryly.
"Azula!!" Zuko exclaimed, embarrassed.
"And we're sure it's yours?" I asked again.
"Azula!!" This time, he seemed even more furious.
"I mean it-"
"Enough," Zuko groaned wearily. I snorted and smiled; it was so easy. "So, are you coming?" he asked hopefully. I snorted loudly.
"Of course not," I said immediately.
"W-why not?" Zuko asked. I could practically hear him pout. I rolled my eyes. And he was supposed to have usurped my throne.
"Zuzu, are you an idiot?" I asked sharply. "Don't answer, you are." I interrupted, I could hear his teeth clenching tightly. "Believe me, I'm sure no one in the palace wants me there, especially with Mai pregnant, and I really don't want to be in the same room with her."
"I've seen her throw knives, Zuko, and I don't want to be near her when she's heavily pregnant, hormonal, and extremely irritable with knives around, especially since she still hates me. I trust that normal Mai won't suddenly stab me; she usually has excellent control over her emotions. But a pregnant Mai? I'm a prodigy, Zuko, but I'm not stupid." I said dryly.
"b-but-"
"Even so, even if Mai doesn't stab me again, I'm sure she'll be terribly stressed, and if I'm not there, Ursa won't be able to blame me for anything that happens. Ursa won't even let me near Kiyi without her hovering over me. Do you really think she wants me near her grandchild? " I sneered.
"...they are your nephew." Zuko murmured softly. I rolled my eyes.
"And Kiyi is my sister." I slurred the words; Zuko remained silent. "And likewise, she won't even be born by the time I go on vacation." I countered; Zuko remained silent, and I made no effort to fill the silence.
"...Mai wants you to come." Zuko said after a few minutes, and I huffed even louder before bursting into laughter.
"I see you've become a comedian, Zuzu. I always knew you had a career as a clown," I said mockingly.
"I'm serious," Zuko said without hesitation.
"I really find it hard to believe that Mai said, 'Yes, I want Azula, the person who almost killed me because I betrayed her, to come see me pregnant.' Please, Zuzu, come up with more believable lies. Haven't you learned anything?" I snorted mockingly.
"Well... she didn't exactly say it in those words," Zuko said shyly. I rolled my eyes. "But... she didn't object when I told her the idea," Zuko added. I stopped stiffly before I could snort.
"That's practically a yes for Mai, wow, you really got her, Zuzu. Tell me, are you that good at fucking Mai, or did you beg her for weeks? How many daggers do I throw at you? " I asked dryly.
"Azula!!" Zuko shouted, embarrassed. "...and three weeks and seven knives." Zuko admitted, and I burst out laughing. "So... are you coming?" Zuko asked again.
"By Agni, Zuko. Seriously, why is this so important to you? " I groaned wearily. I could feel the headache starting to build up.
"I... want the whole family there," Zuko said softly. I snorted.
"You already have Ursa, Iroh, and Kiyi, the beautiful happy family." I scoffed.
"I want you here too," Zuko said firmly. I wrinkled my nose.
"You say that like you've been waiting years for this." I snorted and froze as some cables connected, almost wanting to look at the scroll in horror. "For the love of—Zuko, tell me you didn't do it." I hissed sharply.
"...I don't know what you mean." Zuko said tremulously, and I groaned loudly.
"You waited to have a child until I was out of the asylum?! An asylum that, I remind you, is where you put me!" I asked incredulously. Zuko remained silent.
"...maybe." Zuko said timidly, and I groaned even louder. That damn idiot. "Well, yes, fine. I wanted to wait until you were free and healthy, and you are! You're doing an excellent job at UA and as a hero! I... want my sister here with me." Zuko said finally, and I groaned loudly. Agni, give me patience, because if you give me strength, I'll burn Zuko from Japan.
"I told you I can't, I have plans. I'm spending the holidays with Izumi, and then I have my Work Studies with Endeavor's agency during the break, and as you know, I'm a really dedicated woman, I can't cancel on Endeavor, Zuzu." I said sweetly. A lie, I could.
The Work Studies could begin at any time. I hadn't planned to return to the palace during the winter holidays, so I had decided to accept returning on January 1st, but most of the girls would begin their Work Studies in the third week of January, when the holidays ended and they returned to the country.
"Please?" Zuzu pleaded, massaging my temple. "Kiyi wants to see you again too. She's learned so much and wants to spend time with you, to show you what she's learned."
"Wow, emotional blackmail? I admit, you've improved. I suppose you can learn a thing or two." I said dryly.
"...does it work?" Zuko asked hopefully. I sighed.
"No," I said without hesitation. Zuko groaned loudly.
"Okay! What do you want? " Zuko asked. I heard him pout, and I snorted.
"Straight to bribery? Wow." I said mockingly. "But since you're offering, I want to be able to visit Father." I said without hesitation. Zuko remained silent, and I sneered, about to open my mouth.
"Okay," Zuko said, stopping me in my tracks.
"Okay?" I couldn't help but ask, almost surprised. Zuko sighed.
"Yes, okay. As I said... you've improved, you've been doing excellent work at UA and working as a hero, I have no reason to deny you a visit with Father." Zuko said gently, and I grimaced. "If you want to visit him, I'll make sure to arrange a visit."
"Wow, I really wasn't expecting that." I couldn't help but be honest. Then I sighed wearily, ran a hand over my face, and bit my lip hard. Was I really going to torture myself to spend a week or two with Zuko, Ursa, and everyone else just so I could visit Father? Was I going to ignore Iori's invitation just for that?
But… on the other hand, I hadn't seen my father in almost four years. I closed my eyes before sighing and clenching my teeth.
"Fine. I'll go." I grumbled in annoyance.
"Are you coming?!" Zuko asked excitedly; I could almost hear him bouncing with excitement. I clicked my tongue.
"Yes, I'll go, don't get too excited, I want that meeting with Father." I blurted out.
"Yes, of course, I'll take care of it! Let me know the date you'll be coming, I'll make sure to prepare everything! " Zuko said quickly, excitedly. I sighed; I was already regretting it.
"You'd better." I grunted, then hung up, not even letting him say goodbye.
I groaned loudly as I put the scroll aside, running my hands wearily over my face again. I was already regretting that. I sighed in annoyance as I left the room to go train with Izumi.
I left the bedroom before glancing distractedly at what appeared to be… tools and technology left on the floor in front of the door. I saw Izumi as he moved from one kata to another with his wooden sword. I was about to speak when I looked to the side and saw… Jinx asleep on the nearby bench.
"What happened to her?" I asked curtly as I approached.
"Apparently, she spent the night working. She fainted at the door, so I laid her down there while I trained," Izumi said casually. I raised an eyebrow, noticing Izumi's mysterious smile. I just snorted and held out my hand. Izumi pulled a wooden sword from his shadows, and I took it. "So? You took longer than I expected just to annoy Zuko," Izumi said.
"It turns out that what I had to say was important." I said curtly. Izumi hummed curiously. "Mai's pregnant." My eyes flashed as Izumi lost his rhythm and stared at me incredulously.
"Mai?! Mai's pregnant!? The same one you told me had a uterus as frozen as hell and that it was impossible for life to grow inside her? " Izumi asked in shock, and I burst out laughing at the memory.
"That's the one." I said playfully. Izumi huffed as he resumed his katas. I joined him and synchronized my movements with his.
"So? A nephew, huh? How long has she been pregnant? " Izumi asked curiously.
"According to Zuko, four months now," I said simply. "He wants me back for winter break in three months," I added with a grimace. "And much to the detriment of my sanity, I agreed to go," I added sufferingly.
"Ouch, you'll have a terrible time." Izumi said mockingly. I huffed and threw a little fire in the next kata. Izumi just moved his sword and deflected the flames with extreme ease while moving fluidly.
"Yes, I'll still spend Christmas with you, but I'll have to leave for New Year's." I sighed ruefully. I was really looking forward to this vacation.
"Don't worry," Izumi said, shaking her head. "Mom will understand." I just sighed wearily; I was really looking forward to this vacation. We both continued moving in silence for a few minutes. "So..." Izumi began, starting to smile. I resisted the urge to shudder. That smile didn't bode well; it was the same smile he wore when he was planning something crazy.
"What?" I asked directly, cautiously. Izumi stopped and turned around before smiling broadly at me.
"And tell me... since you're going to have such a terrible time during the holidays, we can fix that and find a way to have some fun with it. So... what if you bring a date? I mean, I'd volunteer as your tribute." Izumi said with a wide smile. I paused for a few moments, then began to smile just as widely.
"Izumi... you're a damn genius." I said, my eyes sparkling with amusement. Izumi bowed.
"I know, I know. Nothing better than spending the holidays annoying, provoking, and causing an aneurysm in my fiancée's family." Izumi sighed dreamily, and I smiled slightly.
"Oh, Ursa is going to hate you." I said with a wide smile. Izumi giggled slightly.
"I suppose you agree then?" Izumi asked playfully.
"More than agree." I said without hesitation before sighing. "Even so, I feel bad for Iori. Should I take her and Taylor too?" I asked curiously. Izumi hummed softly.
"We could ask her, we have time to decide to go, until the last minute, I seriously doubt you really cared about warning Zuko and the others, the element of surprise is the best." Izumi said playfully, I burst out laughing and nodded.
"Yes, it is," I said playfully. "Great, we'll ask her," I said, my eyes sparkling. Really, now the vacation didn't seem so awful. In fact, I couldn't wait until my 'family' met Izumi.