The Fire Within - an atla fanfic (Zuko x OC)

So You Think You Can Love Me

I heard the door to Zuko's room open and I lifted my head slowly. Azula was back. "Ashley, get up."

I simply just laid back down.

"Get up Ashley." Azula snapped. "Or no dinner for you."

I sighed and stood up. "What do you even want from me?"

"Friendship, of course." Azula replied with a plastered on smile. "Let's go."

I followed her slowly. "No guards to carry me around anymore?"

"Of course not. That would be rude. Besides, you won't leave anyway." Azula said casually.

"Why wouldn't I leave?" I asked.

"Because you are loyal."

"Yeah, not to you." I said with a tiny scoff.

We sat down in the dining room, and I began absentmindedly eating the food.

"How's your day been?" Azula asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Pretty bad. I got kidnapped and now I'm being enslaved as your friend, against my will, may I add."

"You said we were friends first." Azula commented. After my silence, Azula began again. "I know it's probably hard to not have your bending. Perhaps you can have it back once I have a reason to trust you. If you act more friendly."

I didn't understand this behavior. Perhaps she had fallen off so hard, the only thing keeping her sane was the idea that someone still was there for her. "Actually, I'm fine without my bending."

"No you aren't." Azula said with a tiny scoff.

I took a swig of my drink and tapped my fingers on the table rhythmically. "I'll be your friend again." I stated dryly. "If you let me have my bending back, and if you don't lock my door at night."

She gave a satisfied smile. "Deal."

I sighed and thought of some friend-activities. "Let's go shopping tomorrow."

"Shopping? I've never gone shopping." Azula stated.

"How have you never gone shopping? You're a teenager, aren't you?" I asked in disbelief.

"I don't have time for such trivial things." Azula answered. "Why shop when you have servants to?"

"Then it's settled. We will go shopping tomorrow." I stated.

After dinner, I was taken back to my room with Azula and a guard.

The guard pulled out a syringe, of the stuff I was guessing took away my firebending. "Hey, I thought I could have my firebending back." I complained.

"Just do half a dose." Azula told the guard. "I heard this stuff can be pretty bad. Gives some crazy drowsiness and nausea."

"Yeah, it does." I said, thinking back to earlier in annoyance.

"Well, I'll wane you off of it. But for now, you'll get a little less every day." Azula stated.

I glanced over at the guard in mistrust. "You better have a fresh needle on that, I'm not trying to get hepatitis."

"What is hepatitis?" The guard asked.

I narrowed my eyes and winced as I felt a pinch near my neck. "You should probably get more qualified people to do this." I told Azula.

"Who? Your father?" She asked with a tiny snicker.

"No, but maybe an actual doctor." I snapped.