iknowucan | Friends in Need; RL with Azula

"So what?" Ryan looked honestly confused at the idea of not caring about something that wasn't directly affecting him.

Azula, on the other hand, was still always completely baffled by the concept. "So it doesn't matter to you!"

"...What does that have to do with anything?" He blinked at her. "It matters to you, doesn't it?"

She evaded the question. "You're not me."

"Well, no." And he was starting to think he should be grateful for that. "But if it matters to a friend, then it matters to me."

"We're not friends." She curled into herself tighter.

"Yeah, and Chuck's not secretly a nice guy." He looked at her and finally reached out to tug at the pillow over her head - not enough to pull it away, but enough to indicate that it should be gone. "Azula, come on. You're stronger than this."

"I don't want to TALK to you," she half-shrieked, resisting his efforts and even kicking out with her leg. Of course she was stronger than this-- wasn't she? She was supposed to be strong enough to not care at all, about anyone, but that hadn't worked out. And if it didn't deal with war and politics and business, she didn't know how to deal with it. She was angry at that, she was angry at the community, and-- though she wouldn't admit it-- she was angry at herself.

He was starting to believe that Sharpay might actually be easier to deal with than someone else. That was kind of frightening. He recoiled from the kick, even if it was a little impossible to hit him, and tugged harder on the pillow. "Then yell at me. C'mon. You don't need to do this, Azula! You're locking yourself up so no one can help you."

"I don't want your help," she gasped, continuing to resist the tugs. She could feel herself starting to lose control again; this was not what she wanted. If this kept up she might yell, scream, set the room on fire... or-- worst of all-- cry.

It was a sickening thought.

He pursed his lips. How the heck could someone be so stubborn? She was obviously upset about this doctor leaving the community, she was hurt and angry and... she didn't believe it, or something? How did that make any sense?

He gave one last light yank. "Well, I'm making you want it! I don't want to see you like this! I like you better when you're catty and smart - and kind of funny even though you're being super mean. Right now you're just... you don't seem happy!"

When did he decide that Azula had ever been happy? Whatever, he wasn't going to think about it.

Azula jerked up, her face inches from his. "OF COURSE I'M NOT HAPPY!" she shrieked.

Woah okay too close! He slid away from the wall and nearly fell over trying to get a little distance. "You keep acting like you're all right or that you don't need help when it's obvious you do, is all I meant!" He couldn't help but stammer a little bit at the get-go, upset that he had made her even more upset. "I just want you to talk to me so you don't end up... doing something dumb!"

"I don't do dumb things." Azula got to her feet and, with one last scathing look, stomped from the room. She hoped her wouldn't follow her, but she had a feeling that he would.

He frowned and watched her get up. Logically, he knew that when a girl stormed off, he wasn't supposed to follow. He was supposed to let them... calm down. It worked the same with anyone, really. "Azula, hold on," he finally sighed, climbing to his feet and following after her. "I'm sorry, I'm not good at talking to girls who aren't my sister and I know there are, like, rules for this, but I'm just trying to be here for you. You make it awfully hard, though."

"I told you, I don't want to talk." She kept walking down the hall, going into the master bedroom and sitting down against the wall in there.

He caught up with her, but stood in the doorway instead of following her all the way in. "Well, you obviously want something - and don't say 'for you to go away' because we both know I'm way too dumb to leave when you ask me." A little self-deprecating humor was a good idea, right?

"I don't want you." She wasn't yelling anymore, at least, but she was still clearly upset.

"I know, you want Dr. Cuddy, but I'm trying to help you..." Don't say get over it, "Deal with it until we figure something out."

"I don't need help." She leaned her head against the wall; the fight had gone from her just as quickly as it had come. She was tired.

He was treating her like a powder keg - or a rabid dog. Who knew. "You have a pile of blankets in an abandoned home that's in an alternate universe of where Dr. Cuddy lives." He crossed his arms - that sounded like help might be needed to him.

"So?" Azula didn't see the problem. Though she loved the Fire Nation dearly and was committed to its success at any cost, she had grown increasingly uncomfortable with spending too much leisure time at the palace (that was all Father and Ty Lee's fault, of course). Lisa's house was where she felt comfortable, and so she was going to stay there, alternate universe or not.

He sighed and stepped forward, still kind of cautious but trying to look like he wasn't concerned. "It's kind of a call for help. Like, you can't... stay here. It's a house in a world and it's probably for sale - what if people come in to look at it?"

"No one's come so far." She knew that he was right, but she didn't particularly care. She wanted to stay here and that was the end of it.

"It's not a call for help. It's a call to be left alone."

"Not yet, but... I mean, you can't expect it to stay like this."

He risked a few more steps forward. "You can't always do things on your own, you know."

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