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The start of the morning was one of the most fast-paced of Yue's life. She had been unceremoniously woken up by several workers of the palace. She knew, of course, that she would need to be prepared for the following day, but she had not expected being shaken awake- let alone being shaken awake at sunrise. She will never be able to understand how they can rise so early, here.
Her robes had to be fitted—thankfully something that did not take an excess of time. They are elegant, and impressive. Yue cannot pretend they are not beautiful, but despite consisting of multiple comfortable layers, the fabric is thin, and unfamiliar. The Fire nationals did not dare touch her hair—that was something that was decided to be handled by her own people the following day. They perfected her nails at the end of their frantic whispering about her hair's length and neatness, and then they released her into the palace to do as she pleased.
Yue sighs, before gaining her bearing on the palace. If she remembers correctly, she is not too far from her room, at least. Her father had informed her the night previous that he would be busy for the morning, so she had no expectations of company from him. She starts walking down the hall, towards her room. She cannot imagine how anyone could live here for an extended period of time. The halls are so empty and the people, ironically, so cold.
She turns a corner, and nearly walks directly into Prince Zuko.
"Oh, sorry." He says, stepping back quickly.
"Sorry!" She says at the same time.
The two of them stand there awkwardly for a few moments, just looking at each other.
"Were you going somewhere?" Yue asks, breaking the silence. Zuko shrugs.
"Not really." He says, scratching his neck. "Everyone is sort of busy right now, so I was going to go sit in the garden." He says.
Yue nods. "I understand. Were you wanting to be alone?" She asks, curiously. He shakes his head.
"No, you can join me if you want." He offers, with a slight smile on his lips. Yue returns it in kind.
"I would like to, thank you."
The two of them walk through the halls, heading in the general direction of the gardens- but with little conviction. Yue soaks everything in. Looming portraits, scattered artefacts and antiquities standing either on tables or the floor.
"Is it strange to be home?" Yue asks suddenly. "I understand that you have spent a lot of time traveling with the Avatar." She adds.
"It is." He says. There are a few moments where Yue thinks he does not intend to continue. "It's hard to really think of it as home, now, though." He says with a frown. "Of course, it'll always be home. I’ll be Fire Lord, one day. But after spending so much time away living, it feels really strange... if you know what I mean?" He says, glancing at her with the question.
Yue hums in thought. "I do not really understand the feeling, but I do know what you mean."
"You're homesick?" Zuko asks. Yue smiles.
"Of course. It is... nice, here, but I could not imagine ever having to leave my home for long. I have no idea how you can do it." She says, her smile waning with her words. She misses home, and she has hardly even been gone. She can't help but hope that Azula ends up with a similar feeling towards home as Zuko.
Zuko nods, looking a bit to the floor as they walk. They reach one of the handful of palace exits- the same one she had taken a few times now towards the gardens. Yue notices now, that this is the first time since they reached the Fire Nation, that her guards aren't trailing behind her. The two must have been shooed off, or gotten lost in the flurry of the morning.
The two of them walk outside, and Yue looks to the side, at a portion of the palace. The overbearing, violently red walls and shingled roofs. She turns back to fall in step with Zuko again, the slight pause minute. At least, despite its appearances and history, the towering building still manages to turn out kind people.
They step into the garden. The grass framing the wide path is dewy, and there are the quiet sounds of birds chirping in the scattered trees. Compared to the harsh gloom of the palace, the garden is gentle and alive.
"I should assume that you and Azula are not particularly close?" Yue says, the thought of her and Zuko's first meeting, and his strange warning appearing in her head as they appear in the garden on her mind.
Zuko nearly jumps at the question. "Not really. I care about her, but things could be kind of rough growing up. And she was kind of mean."
Yue raises an eyebrow. "Are you not older than her?" She teases. He scowls.
"Were you like this before you met her? I can't believe there could be a person that would tease so much, so soon after meeting someone." He asks. She smiles only slightly in response.
They approach the pond. The turtle ducks once again swarm towards Zuko—now far less apprehensive of Yue having seen her more than once... and without the presence of an intense Azula.
He lifts one of the turtle ducks up, holding it close to his chest in one arm as he scratches its head.
"Has she really been kind to you?" Zuko asks, nearly startling Yue this time.
"What do you mean?" She asks.
Zuko falters for a moment. "You said Azula seemed kind enough, when we first spoke."
Yue thinks for a few minutes. She had said that. She does not think she was wrong in her prior words, either. Azula had been kind, certainly more kind even than whoever she was certain she would have been arranged to marry back home... She nearly sticks her tongue out at the idea of marrying Hahn, the most obvious choice, had this arrangement not been made..
Azula was... Azula. She was a bit flat but she was at least considerate. She was awkward, but she powered through conversation. She seemed driven, but Yue wasn't sure what toward. She was certainly not harsh on the eyes either. Yue feels her cheeks warm a bit.
She looks at Zuko, then firmly, "Yes, she has been." She takes a short breath. "In the time leading up to our arrival, I was truthfully terrified." She admits. "I was scared that she would be cruel, some Fire Nation monster. But..." She says, before smiling slightly. "She has been a very pleasant surprise. I feel less afraid for the future, even if I am still nervous." She says finally, a strength to her tone that she hadn't realized she felt previously.
Zuko is looking at her with raised eyebrows. "I'm glad to hear it." He says, smiling a bit in return. He then sighs, and looks back to the turtle duck in his hands. "Don't tell her I told you this, but for a long time, Azula... wasn't happy. When Uncle took the throne from our Father, it changed a lot for her. For everyone, obviously, but especially her. She hasn't been the nicest since we were small, but she closed herself off even more."
Yue's brows furrow. She could easily imagine that losing one's father would have a great effect on a person, even if one's father was a terror to the world. She is certain that losing her mother changed her, even if she was very young at the time. Zuko looks at Yue, and with a serious, but lighter tone he continues.
"I'm glad that she has been kind to you. She's always been good at pretending... but one thing she never really figured out was pretending to be nice." He says with a slight scowl, before lightening up. "I believe you about her. And I'm glad you were firm about it."
Yue nods. "Of course. And thank you for telling me a bit about her." She says. She lets out a silent breath, and looks out on the water. She runs her hand over the cool grass, the blades tickling the tips of her fingers. "I'd hope to speak with her soon, at least once before the wedding," She says thoughtfully. "Would you be willing to direct me towards her room?"
Zuko thinks for a moment. "I ratted her out only just earlier to the servants," Yue clicks her tongue at this, and he huffs, "I imagine it can't have taken too long for them to get her ready..." He continues. He scratches his chin with his thumb, and nods. "Of course, but I can't imagine that anyone would want the two of you meeting privately,"
Yue furrows her brows, she opens her mouth to interrupt, but he continues quickly.
"I can take you to her room secretly, no one will have any idea." He says, pushing himself up to his feet swiftly. Yue giggles, standing up and following as he directs her towards one of the side gates in the garden. "I know just the way, we can surprise her..." He says, his tone only just giddy, but compared to the seemingly subdued demeanor he had presented otherwise, Yue can't help but imagine he is ecstatic.
She has no problem at all, giving the crown prince a little joy, after such a heavy chat with a practical stranger.