#she's distrustful and on edge so every interaction inevitably turns into a confrontation yknow

[fearbend]

A GLASSHOUSE OF A GIRL, just barely held together, ready to crack and topple at the faintest of winds. her brow creases in suspicion, then hardens into paranoia; a festering, live thing, as palpable as can be. nearby, the campfire crackles to new heights as if stoked by unease, cold air steaming against a flurry of sparks.

not in the mood for revelations, she bristles under howl’s questioning, bothered anew by his sudden curiosity. of course she’d find herself stuck with such meddlesome company. just her luck. born out of nothing other than circumstance and convenience, their tentative alliance has been rife with speculation and shrouded in a great deal of mystery since the very beginning, with both parties keeping to themselves, lying and withholding as and when needed ⎯ function over form. so why were they now veering off course?

her pause gives way to a pocket of silence, a slow simmer building to a boil. secrets. they are often the most valuable of currencies and she will guard hers brazenly, like a dragon might its hoard ⎯ no matter the cost. ❝ what’s it to you? what are you really playing at here? ❞ an accusation more than anything else, words leaden with the sting of one too many betrayals. she miscalculated once, but never again. whatever ulterior motives fuelled this asinine probing into her past, she will stamp them out lest he try anything unsavoury. better yet, she should torch him where he stands. do away with would-be traitors before they can do the same to her. what need does she have for some gangling companion anyway? he’s served his purpose well enough so far, but he’d only drag her down in the end. dead weight she’d be better off without. yes, cutting the threat off at the root might just be the way to go.

like filthy peasants.   howl laughs.   not because he wholeheartedly believes in her words,   but because it’s such an earnest way of putting their dilemma that there’s nothing else he’s able to do.   in spite of their current peasantly means for camp   ( the fact that they’re both sitting on the dirty ground in clothes that were absolutely not made to withstand the wear of the outdoors ),   howl finds it almost … nice.   it is certainly enlightening,   to have to travel with his relatively new companion like this.   less comfort means more revelation    or so howl has come to learn of the world,   for the short time he's been alive.   nor has it been lost on him that azula isn't revealing very much of herself every now,   even after the weeks since they found each other.   she acts as though he's merely her unwilling travel companion,   and several times has he believed she would ditch him to be rid of him.   several times has he acted imprudently toward her all because he's had such suspicions,   and several times has he been proven wrong.   he's still by her side,   after all.

❝    yes,   of course.    ❞    there's still humour in his voice yet,   and the faintest smile at his lips he can't tame down completely.   it's better to agree with her than cause her any reason to point her sharp words at him tonight.   and he is nothing if not pleasant to those he's still trying to figure out.   and azula ?   is an enigma all of her own.   he does not wish for anyone in the fire lord's family to know that he's been evading their war draft for the past several years.   so he keeps the peace.    ❝    we wouldn't want to be on foot for any longer than we have to be.   in fact,   i rather hate sleeping outside.   but,   since none of the towns happen to be anywhere nearby  …  well,   regardless,   tomorrow.    ❞

and then,   because he cannot help himself,   he mutters,    ❝    but i'd still like to know in future what throne and crown you believe you deserve by right.    ❞    and stretches a hand over the fire,   catching a spark in his fingers before pulling it back and rubbing his hands together.   this warmth,   he presses to the front of his neck,   curling where he sits and watching her out of the corner of his gleaming green gaze.   he's hoping his prod will get a rise out of her,   at least.   he might even get something from it.