Sparingly, at least at first

After this huge revelation, Zuko still had trouble composing himself. Azula looked at him quite suspiciously, but didn't ask any further questions. Instead, they resumed their walk through the courtyard, in silence. The young Fire Lord was trying to digest what he had just confirmed to be true: He had absolute power over a person. Not just any person, but his sister. And the same went for his father, his mother... and if he recalled the words of that deity correctly, even any past or future members of his family. It was too much to even consider to be possible...

But there was something that he found extremely reassuring at this moment: It was the ultimate insurance that Azula wouldn't pose a threat to anyone ever again, if it came to that. He would prefer not having to exert this kind of power over anyone, but it was very comforting to know in the case of his sister. So he turned abruptly towards her, startling the princess a bit. "Azula... let's get you out of here.", he said to her suddenly.

Azula raised an eyebrow at the sudden outburst. "And where, pray tell, dear brother, do you want to go?", she asked suspiciously.

So Zuko held out his hand for her to take. "Let's go home... together.", he told her and allowed himself a small smile as, after a moments hesitation, she took his hand...

An hour later, Zuko once again stood at the prow of his ship, looking out towards the waves, when Azula walked up to him. Though she still bore the marks of her involuntary stay at that facility, she looked stronger again, more like her old self. "So, tell me... what happened while I was gone? What did you do to father? Is he... did you kill him?", she inquired as she stood next to Zuko, joining him in looking out at the sea before them while the ship carried them towards the capital.

It occured to Zuko that of course Azula hadn't been kept up to date with the events of the world, let alone her own family. And she had a right to know. He exhaled slowly before responding. "No... no, I did not kill him. Aang... the Avatar found a way to take his bending away. He's been imprisoned ever since.", he told her.

Azula nodded thoughtfully. Zuko wondered how she felt about their father now, after everything that had happened. Perhaps he could ask her. With his powers, he could even make her tell him the truth, but... he decided that he owed her that much respect at least that she'd get to keep those feelings hidden if she didn't want him to know. Still, her answer surprised him a little. "Good... that's good. Would be better if he was dead, but it's a start.", she replied, sounding very non-chalant about the idea of her formerly beloved father being reduced to a shadow of his former self and possibly imprisoned for life and even remorseful that he wasn't dead.

It was enough to unsettle Zuko as he turned towards her. "How can you even say that? Yes, he's done a lot of bad things, to both of us and the world, but he's still our father. Do you really expect me to have him executed?", he questioned her.

His sister turned and met his gaze effortlessly. "Yes.", Azula stated, bluntly, before elaborating. "Zuko, even without his bending, he's a threat to you. A rebellion could be started in his name. Many generals and other wealthy landowners profitted from the war and from being close to the Fire Lord. Now that that's over, what do you think they'll think of you, who is reversing all of that?", she asked him. Zuko hated to admit it, but she was making a lot of sense. He had noticed some frustrated glares, heard some bitter whisperings from some of his advisors and generals when they thought he was out of earshot. "All I am saying is that you should be mindful about these possibilities, Zuzu.", Azula warned him, again using that nickname she had come up for him when they were children.

"Are you... actually looking out for me?", Zuko asked, surprised at the actually good advice she was giving him. If she had wanted, she could have easily let him be deposed by the first uprising and have their father or even herself, as his rightful heir, be installed as Fire Lord instead. The fact that she didn't gave Zuko hope that his wish about Azula caring for him really was working, though to what extent remained to be seen. He knew he could have made her unquestionably loyal to him with a single thought, but... that seemed too **** for him.

Azula shrugged. "Well, somebody has to, apparently. I'm surprised Mai hasn't warned you about these things before. She's nobility, she ought to know.", she said, turning back to the sea but kept looking at Zuko from the corner of her eye.

That name caused Zuko to wince slightly. Mai... he still cared for her, immensely so. Remembering their last conversation, before she left... that hurt. And having to acknowledge what had happened hurt even more. "Mai... broke up with me. She found out that I went to father for advice without telling her and left.", he admitted. He knew she'd been justified in leaving, in feeling hurt over his refusal to confide in her, he just... he just wished she would have understood.

"Well, that was a dumb thing of her to do. She turned on me for your sake and then dumps you?", Azula laughed, though her laughter had an edge of bitterness to it that was hard to ignore. Zuko made a mental note to try and reconcile the two of them at some point. And Ty Lee as well, for that matter. Azula had been pushed over the edge by their perceived betrayal. Perhaps mending these relationships could help in fully reforming Azula?

Zuko was still pondering the possibilities when Azula spoke up again. "But asking father for advice wasn't a bad idea. You could learn a thing or two from him, you know?", she added.

While he had gritted his teeth through her earlier assessment of Mai, this one was too far. "Like what? Abandoning my family and only looking to satisfy my own ego?", he yelled, raising his voice higher than he had meant to. He only saw that may have overdone it as he saw the shock in Azulas widened eyes.

"That's... not what I meant.", Azula tried to defend her point, but Zukos sudden outburst of anger had surprised her and his accusations hit close to home. Azula couldn't deny that he was right.

Exhaling, Zuko tried to let go of his anger. He succeeded, mostly. "He told me that I shouldn't concern myself with any higher ideals, that since I am the Fire Lord, whatever I want to do is the higher ideal.", he recounted the advice that Ozai had given him. "But he's wrong. Being the Fire Lord shouldn't mean that you get to do whatever you want. It should mean that you're responsibility is to your people, your nation... and to the world. Father forgot that. Everyone forgot that. But I'll do my best to remind them.", he told her, though he might as well have been talking to himself. This was conviction now, his duty... to change the world, starting with his nation. And before that, his family.

Azula remained quite for a few moments and Zuko was almost certain she was about to laugh at him. "Well well well, Zuko... whatever happened to you when I wasn't watching? You've grown up...", she said in what sounded awfully like admiration. But that couldn't be it, right? This was still Azula speaking, right? And true enough, just when Zuko was about to thank his sister for the compliment, she added "You're still stupid, so I guess I'll have **** but to help you out for a while.", with a laugh.

Despite himself, Zuko chuckled a bit too. "Well, thanks for that, Azula. I'll be counting on you then."

"Oh, you can, Zuzu... you can.", she replied. And though it could've sounded like a sinister promise of betrayal later on, for some reason, it didn't. Zuko actually trusted her, for once. And, if it turned out that he was fooled again by his sister, at least now he had the means to ensure her loyalty...