ATLA: Azlua

All I've ever Known

When she arrived at the gates, the guards stationed there straightened at her approach. They nodded in silent recognition before stepping aside to let her through. The courtyard was quiet, the air heavy with the scent of ash and sulfur. A faint breeze rustled the leaves of the sparse trees lining the path to the main entrance.

Inside, the atmosphere was equally subdued. Servants moved through the halls with practiced efficiency, their footsteps barely audible against the polished stone floors. One of them, a young woman with wide eyes and a nervous demeanor, approached Mai hesitantly.

"Lady Mai," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Something happened last night... between the Fire Lord and Prince Zuko."

Mai stopped, her expression remaining calm even as her mind sharpened with sudden focus. "What happened?" she asked, her tone measured but firm.

The servant hesitated, glancing around as though afraid of being overheard. "There was shouting. Loud enough to wake some of the staff. Then... the sound of plates breaking. The Fire Lord stormed out, and... and the prince—" She faltered, biting her lip as though she'd already said too much.

Mai's hands clenched briefly at her sides before she forced them to relax. Her voice remained steady. "Thank you. You're dismissed."

The servant bowed quickly and hurried away, leaving Mai standing alone in the dimly lit hallway. Her chest tightened as she processed the girl's words. Azula's fury was nothing new, but this felt different—more personal, more dangerous. Zuko didn't deserve this. Not from Azula. Not now.

--

The hallways of the manor were silent, save for the faint echo of Mai's footsteps as she walked toward Zuko's room. The air was thick with the familiar scent of sulfur and ash that permeated Molten Island, a constant reminder of its volcanic nature. Despite the quiet, a sense of unease prickled at her. Something about this visit felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.

She reached Zuko's door and paused, raising her hand to knock. Before her knuckles met the wood, a muffled groan from inside stopped her cold. Her heart skipped a beat, and without thinking, she pushed the door open.

"Zuko?" she called, stepping inside.

The scene before her made her breath catch. Zuko stood with his back to her, struggling to re-bandage himself. A makeshift dressing hung loosely around his torso, blood seeping through the fabric and staining the skin around small but jagged cuts that crisscrossed his back. His movements were stiff, his shoulders hunched as he fumbled with the strips of cloth in his hands.

Mai gasped, her eyes widening. "What happened to you?"

Zuko froze at the sound of her voice. He turned his head slightly, his golden eyes meeting hers with a mixture of annoyance and resignation. "It's nothing," he said gruffly, his voice strained. "Just leave me alone."

"It's not nothing," Mai snapped, stepping further into the room and closing the door behind her. Her sharp gaze scanned the wounds, anger flaring in her chest. "Who did this?"

Zuko turned back to the bandages, refusing to meet her eyes. "I said it's nothing," he muttered. "You shouldn't have come in."

Mai's expression hardened as she crossed the room in a few quick strides. "You're terrible at lying," she said flatly. "Who did this to you?"

When he didn't answer, she grabbed the edge of the bloodied bandage and pulled it away, her movements careful but firm. Zuko hissed in pain, but she ignored his protest, her focus on the raw, angry cuts beneath.

"Zuko," she said again, her voice quieter but no less intense. "How did this happen?"

He let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping. "It's not a big deal," he said finally. "Azula did it."