Percy stood at the prow of the ship, taking in the air as the Fire Nation cruiser cut through the water on the way back home. He felt amazing, being at sea always brought a sense of joy and calm that nowhere else on the planet seemed to. He closed his eyes as the wind ruffled his hair and clothing. They were moving at 35 knots.
He remained silent as Zuko came and stood at his side for a minute as they stood in companionable silence before speaking, "You work fast."
Percy smirked, "I try sometimes."
Zuko glanced sideways at his friend who seemed so relaxed and carefree at the moment, he wasn't sure he'd ever seen Percy so calm before. Usually, he was always twitching or doing something, this controlled energy was unusual, to say the least.
"That was some announcement," Zuko said dryly with sarcasm clear in his tone.
"You liked that huh?" Percy chuckled.
"Nothing quite like Azula demanding everyone's presence before walking up, kissing you, and telling everyone that you're together and to deal with it."
"To be fair, it is Azula, she doesn't do anything halfway," Percy said with a laugh.
"No she doesn't."
( - )
Moonlight trickled through the cabin window onto two people in bed. One of them was deep in slumber while the other was awake. Azula listened to the steady rhythm of Percy's heartbeat as his chest rose and fell. She gazed intently at his sleeping form as she brushed a bang off his forehead before tracing a finger down his jawline. Now that she had him, it was hard to keep her hands off him, he had the looks of a god after all.
They'd decided not to tell anybody else about his true origins yet. Percy was going to tell Piandao what he'd learned in the library when he got home, but not Ty Lee and Zuko, not yet at least. Selfishly, Azula liked being the only one who knew his secrets. She felt special and important to know that it was just her who knew just what her boyfriend was exactly.
However, they had chosen to tell their friends about their new relationship. It would have been too much effort and guilt to lie to them or attempt to hide it. From the rest of the Fire Nation though? Azula knew they needed to hide their feelings. Ozai would be furious and that wasn't even getting into the political implications with Raijin. She would walk the unspoken line in the sand and manipulate whoever she needed to so that she could have Percy. She wasn't too worried though, she was a great actor and Percy was her own personal bodyguard.
He'd be around her all the time, not to mention with the addition of the Dai Li she'd have even more eyes and ears around. She had only brought over a dozen aboard the trip back home, the rest would be needed in controlling Ba Sing Se. But having her own legion of bodyguards was definitely appealing, for the moment she had them blocking off the entire corridor where her and Percy's rooms were at. Nobody would be getting by them and finding out about how their sleeping arrangements were slightly different.
She sighed as she curled into Percy's side. He was a lot of trouble to go for but he was worth it.
( - )
The group had spent almost the entirety of the last few days together. Messing around aboard the ship, playing different games, getting food, or just talking. The chemistry between the group had been great and Percy was happy to see Zuko fit right in like he hadn't missed a beat. It was only on the last day before they got back home that an uneasy mood seemed to descend on the group.
Zuko had been agitated and despite Percy's best efforts, he couldn't avail his fears. Zuko was about to see his father for the first time in four years. The last time he'd seen the man, he'd been scarred for life and exiled. Percy could understand his fear. Azula had been extra touchy, definitely something he wasn't complaining about, but he knew she was wrestling with the fact that tomorrow she wouldn't be able to do so openly for a long time. For Percy, he missed his father. Unlike Azula and Zuko, Piandao was a good man and a better dad. He hadn't visited him in a very long time now, perhaps Azula would come along as well? However he was a bit nervous about what his father would say to him, he had just helped kill the Avatar and conquer Ba Sing Se after all. His father had never directly stated it, but Percy got the unspoken feeling that he didn't agree with the Fire Nation's conquest of the world.
