rediscovering | avalon inbox;

But they want to help a problem that doesn’t exist! What if her lies snowball?! Now I’m lying to keep up with her because Aurora wants to feed us! So if anyone realizes it’s a trick, it’s on both of us! It seems like Li Min caught on, thankfully, but… Aerith and Aurora are trusting and giving and kind… I don’t want to trick them! We do need money and food, we always need money and food — but not like this! If this is her latest solution, I’d go back to shoplifting with her in a heartbeat!

[ He doesn’t think he’s ever even mentioned that criminal stint they had to Gokudera. As far as Zuko’s aware, only Sokka knows, and Sokka only knows because… well, he caught him in the act. Whoops. ]

Contact them privately and explain, then. You’re making a bigger deal out of this than you need to. Stop shoplifting. You’re only inconveniencing who you steal from, and that makes the prices higher.

Azula’s lied to me all our lives, now she’s lying about me — publicly — to exploit my friends! I think it’s a big deal!

Anyway, we haven’t stolen anything for months, it’s fine. At least I haven’t…

[ You hear that exasperated tone? He’s not in the mood to be scolded for this. Again. ]

Do what you can, but you remember what I said last time? You can’t be responsible for your sister. Still, if you do. Know that you’re only making more problems for yourself.

[Gokudera is not conveying a tone. He’s not in the mood for… anything.]

I know, I know… You’re right… it’s just— [ He heaves a sigh. ] …aggravating! Maybe I should just message Aerith and say “turns out we don’t need it” and send her the money back… I don’t know… This is so dumb.

Yeah

…Are you in a bad mood or something?

Aurora caught me trying to take off my collar. Takeshi is gone. The Tenth found out I’ve been keeping secrets from him. I’m doing great.

…Since I’m not actually sick— can I come over?

Why? Isn’t Aurora coming over?

Right… After?

Do what you want

…How about we go somewhere, instead, then? You can get out of the house. Distraction.

No. Thanks

fine
then i’ll come over after all

see you then

[ It's an hour or so before Zuko's over, uncharacteristically not as prompt as usual. The whole ordeal with Azula's post and Aurora's soup became much more time-consuming than he'd expected. However, she did bring him some chamomile tea, so he's brought that along to share with Gokudera; he figures he could actually use it more than Zuko... but right now some calming tea is just what he needs, too. The irony; how time has flown since he would have screamed at Iroh for offering him some when he was upset like this... Two years feels much longer. So much has changed. His relationship with Azula has changed so drastically in that time, too. But somehow today... it felt like old times. He'd rather be with a mopey Gokudera than a jokey Azula right now.

He knocks at the door with a bit less force than usual. He's wearing comfortable clothes, more casual than usual too, just a big grey T-shirt and his loose-fitting red Fire Nation pants, and black and white trainers with stripes — Abibas style, you know. He has a thin black backpack, carrying the chamomile tea, his sheathed twin dao swords he's seldom without, and unseen, also Zunyan in there... Overall, pretty chill and somehow sporty looking, different than his usual jeans and hoodies or fitted trousers and pullovers — these are his house clothes, really, he just came right over. Most noticeably, though, he has got his hair cut short again, like it'd been when he first arrived in Avalon and met Gokudera for the "first" time. He's not bothered to deal with it in months, and his hair grows pretty fast, so it's a nice change for him. Hikaru did it just today, maybe made it a little more clean and chic and modern, but flattering indeed; the host has a knack. Zuko's always happy with his haircuts from Hikaru, and he'd even admit... it's kind of fun. They always had good talks during his haircuts.

That, of course, happened before Zuko casually browsed the network and saw a crude drawing of himself as a very unpleasant surprise. Maybe the day's not ruined, though... He also always has fun with Gokudera seemingly no matter what they do. And even if they don't have any fun at all today, even if they just sit in silence together, brooding — still better than being home with Azula right now. ]

[It takes a few minutes for Gokudera to get to the door, and when he does, he looks haggard. Dressed in grey joggers and a white t-shirt, it seems he’s trying to be comfortable. There is cat hair on him, and bags under his eyes that are far more noticeable since they draw darkness to the bloodshot pink of his eyes which are simultaneously swollen from crying. The boy’s nose is pink, face pale, and neck flushed, looking no more irritated than usual.

He opens the door and turns to walk back into the small living room, shooing Uri off, who takes to approaching Zukon and welcoming him in with rumbling purrs.]

How’s Aurora?

[His voice is terribly hoarse and congested as he moves to pull out his journal and write in it, G-script filling most of it.]

[ Zuko's still wary of this new Uri, the rumbling purrs sounding more like growls to his ear; they haven't bonded yet like they had when he was tiny. So he's fine with Gokudera shooing him off. Besides, Gokudera looks, uh... unwell. Zuko just wears a discerning scowl, cocking a brow as the boy pulls out a journal. ]

She's fine... [ He says distantly, half-heartedly, gazing at Gokudera's hands, wondering what he's writing. ] Azula isn't fine.

[ The irritation in his voice is clear, even if his eyes are still distracted. ]

What do you mean?

[Uri moves, but comes right back to sit against the arm of the sleeper, leaning against Gokudera to comfort him. He reaches up with his unoccupied hand to stroke over the leopard's head.

He's writing, but not hurriedly. Just... trying to gather himself. He has a lot to think about.]

[ Zuko watches him pet the cat idly, writing all the while. It strikes him as odd. He doesn't feel brushed off — Gokudera is asking him questions, clearly listening. But Zuko's so singleminded, himself, it's curious to him the boy can multitask this way, and so his eyes are fixed on him with a strange expression mixing with his already resting scowl. He's never seen Gokudera write in front of him, though he knows the boy journals. He continues as he takes his seat, sitting at the edge stiffly, a tentative tone to his voice. ]

Azula is... upset. She was mad I invited Aurora over— I mean, Aurora invited herself over... And Azula's mad that I went along with her stupid post. But she was furious Aurora came over.

[ He finally pries his eyes off Gokudera and leans back in his seat limply, eyes drifting up at the ceiling in frustration, sighing, a deeper weight to his voice as he writes off the topic. ]

...It's hard to explain.

[Each symbol drawn would look like he's doodling to most everyone. Zuko knows about G-Script, though, and the bomber is quite practiced. He's got different ways of approaching his magic, his fighting techniques, but right now it's all just about how he feels. He may not be listening as well to Zuko as he usually would, but he glances at him between sentences. Maybe some of what the firebender says will make it onto the pages for him to look over and think on later.]

Doesn't sound like it should be your problem. She wanted money or food, right? Not wanting someone to actually care that much and go for it. Or maybe she was just angry that Aurora saw through her lie and yet still wanted to be there for you. Maybe Azula thought she should be the one to take care of both of you and that was her way of doing it...

It's all maybes. I haven't had people bicker over my care for a long time.

[And now that he thinks on it, he doesn't miss it. Having people want his attention was nice, but he wouldn't give up his independence. Not even if that meant he could have Takeshi back and admitting that he's property. Gokudera frowns once he's done talking, mind wandering back into what he was brooding about when he initially got Zuko's text.]

avalon inbox;

Likewise staying voice pointedly lol…

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action; lol i wrote you a long reflective one, sup

Aww, sup thanks dude

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