Work Text:
In the two years that Kiyi has gotten to know her big sister, she's noticed a few things about her. Lala is scary when she's mad, something that Zuzu either hasn't realized yet(and if that's the case, Kiyi has no idea how. Zuzu and Lala have known each other since they were kids, so he should know everything about his little sister, for Agni's sake) or he just doesn't care. Lala loves food, especially mochi. Of course she'll never admit this to anyone, but Kiyi suspects that everyone in the palace knows at this point. Lala always has a servant bring a bowl of mochi to her room whenever she's in a bad mood, and mother has made a habit out of making mochi herself to share it with Lala as a way to bond with her. Her big sister is also a very powerful firebender, probably the best in the whole world. It's a good thing that she asked Lala to be her firebending teacher.
There's one thing about her big sister that interests her even more than all of this, however. That one thing being how protective Lala can be. Or rather, how Lala gets protective with her, and her alone. Kiyi first noticed it when Lala was showing her a kata one day during training. When she tried to do what was just shown to her, she made a mistake and fell on the ground, which resulted in a cut on her knee. She thought that Lala would be upset with her for failing to do such a simple move, much like she does whenever she and Zuzu train together. So Kiyi was shocked when instead of getting angry with her, Lala ran over to her and asked if she was ok, while looking over her wound. Kiyi said that she was fine and that she could continue, but Lala took her inside to be looked at by the head nurse. Just to make sure , she said.
"Your little sister is going to be just fine, Princess Azula. Her knee will be sore for a while, but that's it." Lala looks relieved at this. The nurse looks as if she's trying to hold back a laugh at seeing Lala so distraught over a cut of all things. Before they left, Lala thanked the nurse(which shocked Kiyi, because her big sister never says thank you to anyone, except for a few select people. And even then it wasn't too often.) The nurse somehow manages to keep it together the whole time. Kiyi thought that was a smart move. Lala probably would have burned her alive if she laughed.
A few hours later and it was time for bed. Lala came into her room to read her a bedtime story and tuck her in for the night…which is something that she's never done before. Seriously, what is wrong with her sister today? Was she that worried because she got a cut? Before she left the room, Kiyi asked her why she seemed so freaked out earlier. Instead of looking at her while she's responding to the question, Lala turns away from her and mutters "Because Ursa wouldn't let me live it down if something happened to you, that's why. Goodnight, Kiyi."
Huh
Maybe Zuzu was right when he said "Azula always lies."
The second time she noticed it was when her and Lala were out and about, just hanging out and having a good time, when all of a sudden a few boys ran into them by accident, knocking Kiyi down in the process. One of the boys went to go help her up, but was stopped by the boy with the big head. "Why are you going to help her up? She's not royalty, no matter what anyone says. She's a fake princess."
Well that certainly hurt her feelings
Kiyi tried to hold back the tears, she really did. Because Lala is strong and never cries and Kiyi wants to be just like her big sister. Thinking this did not stop the tears from falling though. The boy with the big head started laughing at her and calling her a crybaby, which only made her cry even more. Then all of a sudden he stopped and got a terrified look on his face. Kiyi was confused by this. After all, why would he be afraid of a crybaby? Then she realized what, or rather who, he was staring at. He wasn't looking at her. He was looking at Lala. Kiyi turned around to look at her big sister.
If looks could kill, all three of these boys would have been dead.
And is that blue fire that Kiyi sees beginning to take shape on Lala's fingertips?
The boys must have noticed this too, because they screamed in terror while shouting "We're so sorry, Princess Azula!!" and ran off. If there was one good thing about that encounter, it was that Kiyi got to enjoy a piggyback ride on the way back to the palace.
After a few more times of witnessing what Kiyi eventually called "Protective Lala Mode" she decided to go find Zuzu and ask him about this side of their sister. Perhaps he's seen it as well. Of course Zuzu had no idea what she was talking about.
It really should be no surprise to her that Zuzu is completely oblivious when it comes to anything that has to do with Lala.
When Kiyi asks Zuzu why he thinks Lala is like this with only her, he says "I admit, I'm still learning new things about Azula everyday. But I think her overprotective side coming out whenever something happens to you is her way of showing how much she loves you. Azula has always been an 'actions speaks louder than words' kind of person." Kiyi is satisfied with this answer. She thanks Zuzu before leaving his office, intent on finding her big sister. As she begins the search, Kiyi smiles to herself while thinking about what Zuzu told her.
I love you too, Lala.