"This is my bedroom. These are my possessions. You are now one of them. Find solace and rejoice in the knowledge that you will be a prize jewel in my arsenal." Azula said as she paraded Katara around the overly large luxurious bedroom. Katara did not want to admit that she was impressed. But she was impressed. She had no idea that a single child could own so much finery.
And treat so much of it like toss away garbage. There were luxurious red silk curtains that ran from ceiling to floor. Rugs made of rare and exotic animal furs, so deep and soft that Katara sunk all the way to the ankle. The bed took up most of one wall. With a canopy of the finest see through veils. The pillows were a small mountain. There were enough of them for everyone in Katara's home village to have three.
'I wonder where they got the wealth to have such fine items.' Katara thought scornfully to herself. Wealth did not come from nowhere. She might be young but she was smart enough to know that. The fire nation wasn't wealthy and powerful simply because they were wealthy and powerful. The fire nation was wealthy and powerful at the expense of all the other nations.
"Pay attention pet." Azula said warningly as she yanked on Katara's chain. Katara stumbled with Azula's cruel yanking. Katara was walking as slowly as she possibly could. Trying to take as much time as she could milk. She knew she had to serve these people. But she was going to make it as inconvenient as she could.
"Now. These are my stuffed animals and dolls. I hate them." Azula said gesturing to a rag tag pile of toys. Katara's eyes widened. There were more toys then Katara had ever seen in her life! Fine dolls carved of the softest wood. Fantastical animals knitted with care. The paints and dyes across these items were vibrant. Almost alive with the energy and forethought that the creators had obviously so lovingly placed into each and every item.
"You hate them?" Katara asked in confusion. Azula kicked a stuffed python rabbit onto the top of the pile.
"All I ever receive from visiting dignitaries and relatives are dolls and stuffed animals. Childish toys meant to keep me dull and complacent. I never get what I really desire." Katara glanced between the little girl and the rest of the room. Katara was sure that she had everything she ever wanted in this place.
"And what is it you really want?" Katara ventured.
"Power and real estate." Azula responded. The little girl cleared her throat. Katara noticed a thick layer of make up on Azula's face. The eye shadow and lipstick was also noticeable under the less severe fire lights from the rest of the palace.
Katara noticed a small vanity mirror and sitting chair. Placed before the mirror was a pile of cosmetics. Katara only recognized the strange tubes with the ruby red paint for lips. None of the other things seemed familiar. But Katara could guess. The white sticky paste was like the war paint that men wore for war. The charcoal sticks to make eyes pop. And other tins and bowls full of colors to flatter a woman's complexion.
It all seemed rather overkill to the water tribe girl. And it sat out of place compared to the rest of the room. It sat like a warning. To force the fire nation girl to act more grown up then she really was.
"Your job is to arrange the pile perfectly. Every single day. And to also make my bed. Fetch me my training manuals and to serve me as little more then a living mobile footstool. Is that understood?" The fire nation princess said with a borderline feral smile. Katara quirked an eyebrow. She placed her hands on her hips in a very grown up fashion and glowered at the girl.
"Fine." Katara said with as much ice as she could muster. She did not like the way that Azula was looking at her. There was possession in the girls eyes. There was a sense of superiority. As if Katara was a yappy little chipmunk seal that had wandered too close.
"Do not take that tone with me." Azula snapped and pulled Katara close until they were nose to nose. "Say it like that again and I will burn you."
"Is that a promise?" Katara snarked back. She knew what she was doing was dangerous. She knew what she was doing was wrong. She knew that she was pushing the powerful young girls buttons. And still she had to push. She had to force Azula's hand. She had to force a reaction.
Azula's hand snaked out and whiffed across Katara's face. Katara gasped and clutched her stinging cheek. Azula smirked at the wide eyed little girl.
"Yes." Azula said in a sing song voice. Katara closed her eyes, felt herself close to tears. She had to be good. She couldn't waterbend. She had to protect her mother….
"Now get over here and make this bed. If you make it right I won't hit you again. Do it wrong or screw it up and I'll burn you." Azula said as she began walking to the massive bed. Her back turned. Her head held high. Katara felt an overwhelming surge of anger pillowing inside of her. She knew she couldn't water bend….But she was not going to be talked to like that! Katara ground her teeth together. Azula's eyes widened in surprise as a snarling Katara tackled her.
Zuko paused when he heard the banging noise. It sounded like a pair of wild animals were loose in the royal bed chambers. Or like a small army was attacking them. He walked towards Azula's door. His blunt training sword came out of it's sheath. He wouldn't be able to kill anything with it. But it was better then going in weaponless. He knew how dangerous Azula could be whenever she was interrupted. And he certainly didn't feel like having her ire turned towards him.
Zuko eased the door open slowly. Then swung it full open. He stood, shocked, the scene before him was….well rather comical.
Azula's meticulously organized pile of stuffed animals was flung across the room. Her vanity mirror was cracked. The priceless makeup smeared in puffs across the wall. It looked like someones face had been dragged across it. The canopy above the bed had been yanked down as well.
And sitting on the floor was a giant red burrito. Stuffed full of curses, hate, and Azula. Who was face down, her make up smeared, her hair in a wild tangle, and only her eyes showing from underneath the folds of red blanket. Straddling the blanket in a snapped chain was the new water tribe slave girl. Katara's face had some scratches on it, her hair was singed, and it looked like someone had tried to bite her.
"Who can't make a bed now huh?! Who makes promises now huh?!" Katara shouted at the still squirming furious Azula. Who couldn't really move. Katara was bucked wildly as she pushed down on Azula'z back.
"What happened?" Zuko asked in confusion. Katara and Azula stopped their struggling and turned to look at the doorway. Both were red in the face and sweaty from exertion. Azula kicked her feet helplessly against the floor. A large crack ran down the marble.
"MMHMHGNGMMM!" Azula shouted at her brother in a deep mindless rage. The blankets around her mouth muffled everything and were wet with sweat, rage and spit.
"Get off of her." Zuko ordered Katara as he strode forwards. Katara blinked and then paled. Realization coming back to her fast. She quickly slipped off of Azula and took a few steps back. Meekly staring at the floor. Her hands folded in front of her. Zuko kneeled next to Azula in concern.
"Are you alright?" He asked as he slipped his sword back into its sheath and pulled the blanket away from Azula's mouth. Azula yowled as she shook her head free of the blanket.
"Finally! I've been yelling forever! Where are our idiot bodyguards?! I'll have their heads for this! Leaving me alone with a feral animal! She is wild! She could have bitten me!"
"I don't bite!" Katara shouted stomping her foot. Zuko turned to look at Katara in confusion.
"You don't bite?" He asked.
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