"Shoulders back," Lo ordered, slamming a slim stick against (Y/N)'s back, causing her to yelp and straighten her slouching back.
"Head high." Li tilted (Y/N)'s chin up sharply.
(Y/N) had never felt more uncomfortable in her entire existence. Out of all the other Fire Nation people the Fire Lord had ordered to teach her the Fire Nation way the twins Lo and Li were her favorite. Of course they were both blunt and precise but there was a certain air of familiarity around them.
The Twin Advisors were non benders but they were both her instructors for bending, which was a great feat in itself. They were also given the task of teaching her adequate behavior and as annoyed as (Y/N) was about this whole ordeal she somehow respected the two too much to speak out of term.
They were in the Palace Private Royal Library's balcony. (Y/N) sat at the center with a table placed in front of her with a teacup and kettle overlooking the courtyard and Palace gates. Lo and Li circled her, correcting her movements where wrong and intervening when she picked the teacup in a rough manner.
She'd received so many slaps with that stick on her back for slouching that her back was starting to sting and throb.
(Y/N) reached over and gently took the kettle in her hand delicately, silently wincing and waiting for the sting from one of the twin's sticks. She quietly sighed in relief when there was just the resounding sound of the wind stirring the leaves by the palace courtyard.
She poured the water in and made sure not a single drop fell out of place.
"Think of a lady as a fire. You want a warm steady flame that delicately dances with the wind much like your Dragon Dance. One that becomes grace and warmth, one that brings life and steadiness-" Lo said.
"-not a raging fire that blindly destroys everything in its path, one that knows no grace and balance. One that does not know its boundaries is lost to humanity, Young Dragon." Li completed.
(Y/N) stopped herself from asking if they both rehearsed these wise expressions beforehand or if they just wing it and hope the other is on the same wise boat. Instead she gently picked the cup up and made sure her back was straight. She looked out at the view, at the courtyard and her eyes zeroed in on Zuko.
He was running around chasing Azula who had a piece of paper in her hand. Feeling eyes on him, Zuko looked around. Finally he looked up and saw (Y/N). His face lit up like the sun as he quickly waved while chasing his sister.
(Y/N) struggled not to wave back ecstatically for fear of getting slapped by two perfectionists with sticks. She took a sip of her tea delicately.
Azula ran through a couple officials and they gasped as they jumped out of the way to avoid colliding with the young prince as he barreled down after his sister.
Zuko turned again to the balcony to see if she were still looking; when he found that she was he grinned widely and waved again. (Y/N) stifled a smile as she watched him run around in envy, how she wished she could go out and run and play.
He was looking at her and not watching the tree he was running straight into until he collided into it with such force the tree shudders and lost leaves.
(Y/N) couldn't hold it in. She spit the tea out and burst out laughing. Lo and Li wasted no time in slamming their sticks against her forehead so hard she could feel it throbbing like a pulsating heartbeat on her forehead.
"Owwy!" She exclaimed rubbing her throbbing red forehead.
"Again!" They both snapped.
"Damn humans are so picky." She muttered miserably and straightened her posture again.
This adequate training lasted the entire day until she finished a whole cup of tea properly. What was the point of adequate training if she were going to be locked up for the rest of her mortal life?
After her adequate training she retired back to her room.
A few servants came in and informed her that they were there to help her get ready for dinner with the royal family. She stifled a groan and complied. This will all be over soon; she'd be with Hisashi, chasing through the many plains in the spirit world and cliff diving soon.
Her hair was tied into a high bun with a heavy pin placed in the center with the fire nation insignia. Her robe was heavy and seemed over the top but then again so were all her other outfits. Her forehead was still throbbing and red much to the servant's horror, they tried all sorts of facials and massages but the bump was persistent.
After an hour of attempting to soothe the swelling in vain, they finally let her go.
She was walked out by two servants and four guards. Gradually her guard count was decreasing; things were going according to plan.
When they turned a left into the hallway she saw Zuko up ahead staring at one of the paintings of Sozin in awe. She smiled softly, as much as she despised what that picture stood for, seeing Zuko so in awe and admiration warmed her heart
He turned to her when she walked closer and that was when she saw the bump on his forehead; it looked just like hers.
"Hey unicorn." Zuko teased.
(Y/N) giggled. "You literally have a horn yourself mister."
"Well mine brings out my eyes, besides how'd you get yours?"
"Li and Lo." She replied as if it were obvious.
Zuko visibly shuddered at the thought.
"What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be at the dinner table?" (Y/N) asked.
Zuko shifted his gaze to the two guards behind her and the two guards three meters in front of her. He glared at them. He never liked the idea of her being heavily guarded. They always emphasized that she wasn't here by choice; she was prisoner.
"Zuko?" (Y/N) tried to grab his attention; she followed his gaze and saw that he was glaring at the guards.
"Why are they still here?" Zuko grumbled, referring to the guards.
(Y/N) sighed. "I'm not sure either but forget about them you didn't answer my question."
"Oh!" Zuko grinned cutely, "Me and my forehead bump were actually waiting for you and yours."
(Y/N) laughed. "We should start a club for forehead bumps."
"Come on we'll be late." He grabbed her hand.
She looked down at his hand on her arm and paled.
"W-what are you-" Before she even finished her sentence he dashed down the hallway with her.
"Prince Zuko!" The guards called out.
(Y/N) laughed loudly, pulled by his hand as they ran down the hallway past the guards. He turned back to her while they were running and saw her laughing. She squeezed his hand and he smiled, his gaze softening on her. They ran through the hallways dodging the guards.
The guards chased after them, calling their names to stop them.
They even ran past the same officials from the Courtyard and received loud berating words from them to which they both just laughed mischievously to.
Running through the palace hallways from the guards was exhilarating; whenever she was with Zuko she almost felt free again. She had the widest smile etched on her face.
Finally they made it to the Dining Hall doors with the four guards panting a few meters down from them.
(Y/N) giggled. "That was epic."
Zuko did a fancy bow. "You mean I'm epic." He corrected.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." She playfully rolled her eyes as they both entered the Dining Hall.
When she entered the dining hall, the first thing she noticed was that Iroh wasn't present, his sit was empty. She turned slightly to Zuko.
"Where's Uncle Iroh?" She whispered.
"Not sure, but I heard mother talking about some Official Palace errands." Zuko replied.
"Oh I see." She muttered.
Azulon was at the head of the table as usual with Ozai to his left and Azula next to him. Zuko went to take a sit next to Ursa and she took her seat by Azulon; she had done so the past few days.
"Ahh Young Dragon." Azulon acknowledged.
"Fire Lord." (Y/N) said with a small bow.
The servants started bring in the feast in rows. The scent filled the whole room with the rich aroma of all sorts of delicacies.
"Li and Lo tell me your adequacy training is coming along well." Azulon noted. "You also seem to be less..." He searched for the right word, "temperamental. Getting used to the Fire Nation then?"
(Y/N) nodded through clenched teeth.
She and Zuko had gotten to be such great friends that she had allowed herself moments of weakness and familiarity of this place. This wasn't her home and the presence of the Fire Lord reminded her that the longer she remained here the further she was from Hisashi.
Iroh had gone out to make preparations for her escape and soon everything would fall into place, she just had to be patient. However she couldn't help but notice that she hadn't seen Admiral Enzo in weeks since the walk to the garden. There was something very foul and ominous about that man. His whole energy reeked of chaos.