Hey again. This is just something I've written for my Avatar OC in which he explores his artistic side and everything like that. I don't really have any plans to finish this, but I'll appreciate any constructive criticism and comments.

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In both his home and the Fire Nation Palace, Shinobu was often seen with a calm expression on his face. In front of him and strewn all around him were multiple scrolls of painted surroundings and figures, each sketched with a master's eye and appreciation for beauty that made it seem as if the images were reflected in water. Being casually twirled in his hands was not his ever-present black bo staff, but a pen being dipped in reddish ink to complete a drawing. Many who saw his works presumed that he would take up the brush instead of the staff, possibly serving as a painter for the royal family. But as it turned out, when he came across that that old master who caught him stealing those many years ago, that fate was not for him. Instead of being an artist, he focused all of his ability and prowess to the arts of staff-fighting and Firebending. Yet in quiet moments, when he sought peace and harmony within himself, the young man often took parchment and ink and depicted the things he had seen both in this world and in the land of visions. It allowed him to relax and focus his thoughts.

With the same ease he wielded his staff, the young man depicted images of those he came across in his travels, both friends and enemies. The Avatar was captured with that completely open and freely happy expression on his face, an expression that stayed with him as a fair youth and even now, many years later as a young man. The Earthbending master Toph was also depicted as a mature young woman and given to Aang. (Shinobu promised to "draw in the dirt" to allow the blind princess to see his work also.) The Water Tribe siblings Sokka and Katara were sketched also in young adulthood. The former was being assaulted in a comical fashion by a wave of young women wanting some of the 'hot piece of totty', while the latter was portrayed in the moonlight, staring out at the ocean with clear blue eyes. The bounty hunter also took his pen to drawing the husband of the aforementioned Waterbending Master's lover Zuko (even venturing a depiction scar-free) and a tribute to General Iroh, the great Dragon of the West. Ty Lee soared through the air on the trapeze, dancing with the clouds and exemplifying the true spirit of the Air Nomads, the blood of which flowing through her veins. Mai was captured with that same laconic expression in her golden eyes and shrunken in her palm, facing the golden sun of a new dawn. She was holding her smiling little brother in her arms, and despite herself, there was a faint grin visible on her face as they saw the brilliant orb rise high into the skies.

Yet, Azula...the image he drew of her held a special touch. Drawn with an expert's hand and eye for beauty, the princess of the Fire Nation was drawn not as some sort of virtuous savior, but a fallen deity. The two large dragonic wings sprouting from her back were feather soft to the eye, yet would undoubtedly have been keen as a razor to the touch. While the left blazed snow-white and drove away enemies with its burning purity, the ebony-black right wing shrouded the light in darkness. Her piercing coppery-brown eyes alight with power and uncontestable majesty, the wicked smile on the sketched face tempting to the very soul. Holding a hand of blazing azure flame, the daughter of Ozai occupied the throne of the Fire Nation as was her 'divine birthright', the absolute ruler of all she surveyed. Whether it was a choice of the artist or a natural adaptation, the throne room was twisted into a Hellish mockery of its regal glory; the white-hot fires were stoked high while the guards, doubtlessly cowed by the Firebending prodigy's aura, prostrated themselves in front of her. While it may have seemed that the blazing inferno surrounding Azula demonized her appearance, it could also be theorized that it was the raven-haired princess's presence that controlled the scene and twisted it into a caricature, altering it to her own liking. She looked like the great empresses and aristocracy of the past, holding the power of life and death in her beautiful yet deadly hands.

Part of Shinobu was curious as to how Azula would react to his demonic depiction of her. Granted, he was adept at reading the moods and intentions of others, in order to best interact with them or know when to give them space. But her...dear Agni, Azula was nearly impossible to get a full bead on. The daughter of Ozai was far more deadly and vindictive than any young woman he had ever known when angered, and this only added to her already volatile nature. Though her tender moments were usually rarer than her moments of out-and-out rage, she did shift almost unpredictably between those two and her standard sort of vain, dry cynicism. It was intriguing, to say the least. He also knew that no matter how he tried, he'd never quite be able to predict her behavior accurately. It was a rare pleasure when Azula did just as he thought she would. Usually she did the exact opposite, almost as though the Firebender could read his mind and was purposefully making an effort to be contrary.

But he wouldn't have to wait too long to know her opinion. The faintest sound of grass being crunched alerted him to the presence of another. Without even turning to acknowledge the stranger, Shinobu continued to stroke, his inner flame finding the person's aura very familiar. A great power was slowly making its way towards him, like a beacon of light in a dark cave. Brilliant Firebending might was mixed with vicious intellect, a Machiavellian bent and smug confidence, forming a mask of such carefully perfected craftsmanship that it could belong to only one. A small smile graced his lips as he turned, his calm brown eyes catching the seemingly impassive gaze of the Princess of the Fire Nation, Azula.

With a cool eye, she spied the various pictures on the ground and casually picked one up, ignoring his raised eyebrow. Flipping it over and keeping that casual indifference firmly in place, Azula was staring into the face of the Avatar, his eternally grinning expression and open countenance expertly captured by the young man. Had she not known it was on a scroll, she would swear that she were looking directly at the bald Airbender in the flesh. Only the faintest raising of her black eyebrows gave notice to her approval of his skills, though she'd be damned if she'd allow him to actually see it. She had a reputation to uphold.

Tossing it to the grass beneath her, Azula picked up another drawing, this one portraying her friend Ty Lee. Grey eyes appearing silver due to the lighting in the picture, the acrobat soared through the breathless air with a natural grace unequaled by man or animal. Again, the raven-haired female was seeing his ability, and again she would suppress her approval. Without having spoken a word to Shinobu, Azula picked up other pictures, gazed at them, then dropped them on the grass. For some reason she didn't want to fathom, she didn't simply burn them as she did with the brilliant portraits countless nobles and such drew of her. Guess she wasn't in the mood to do it...or something.

Had it been any other artist, the topaz-eyed female would have coolly dismissed their life-work, burn it to cinders in front of them and smirk while doing it. So why was it that she didn't do it with him? As a matter of fact, why did she give a remote damn about what he drew, anyway?

Again pushing that question to the back of her mind along with many others regarding Shinobu that she would deny existed, she picked up the closest one to him. Stopping, his brown eyes met her icy coppery gaze as she turned it over to see...herself. Granted, it was a depiction of her apparently inspired by nightmares, but it was...well, different. Most portraits from would-be lovers or consorts depicted her as a delicate maiden or--Agni help her--some sort of regal doll devoid of ambition or strength. Yet this of her being a tempting goddess, radiating with the power and confidence she so wielded, was much more to her liking. Azula had never really cared for art, but she found herself actually liking this picture.

For a moment, the young man was convinced that she was about to suffer an attack of ague before he witnessed something he'd rarely seen before. The lips of the Princess widened, the ends curling lightly as her coppery eyes briefly sparkled with suppressed glee. Staring at herself as depicted by his hand, Princess Azula, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and granddaughter of Azulon...was smiling. It was an honest smile devoid of malice, as opposed to the scowl, scornful sneer, evil smirk or wicked grin that would mar her darkly face. Though Shinobu would readily admit it was a lovely in a surreal way, he would have sooner expected her father to cross-dress and sing with the Rough Rhinos than ever see that.

While Shinobu may not have been afraid of Azula anymore (or at least, far less so than the rest of the Fire Nation), he was still slightly unnerved by her reaction. Azula was SMILING. AZULA was smiling. It wasn't the evil world-domination smile she'd have on occasion, or the arrogant smirk of seeing an enemy realize that they didn't stand a chance against her. It was the same smile he once saw on the Avatar's face when someone mentioned penguin sledding, an expression totally devoid of malicious intent or unsavory thoughts. It made her look softer, more gentle...and above all, human.

"Very nice," Azula judged after a few moments, her now fully-Hellish grin a mirror to that of her painted counterpart. That comment was even more odd than the smile.

'Very nice?' Shinobu thought cynically. Everyone else that saw that either he had an eye for depicting true evil or that she was a true demonspawn of Hell in human flesh. That image of a demonic Azula was enough to frighten small animals and children. (And apparently, Sokka when just waking up. The psychic mists of early morning didn't negate the shock of such a thing, if the Waterbending warrior's scream was of any indication.)

But knowing Azula, she'd probably take those things as complements, which was the most frightening thing of all.

"I'm glad you approve, Princess," Shinobu nodded, erring on the side of caution in using formality. For all he knew, this was some sort of trap and she was about to explode in a rage. He was prepared to bolt like a rabbit in that case.

To his utter shock, Azula bent down and kissed him on the cheek. Normally, such acts of affection were never shown in a public setting, where she remained aloof to him. After all, her reputation as a cold and ruthless bitch would not be able to withstand such displays.

"I'll keep this," Azula remarked with finality as she held the parchment in her hands like a newborn child. The smile never faded from her lips as she looked at what her consort had created. "You've actually captured me as I am."