The Pawn |Katara

TWENTY-SEVEN

Akira didn't remember the last time he had seen the Fire Nation prisons close to the palace under the light of day. He had gotten used to heading over under the cover of night, the torches flickering with the slightest wind that was hardly ever powerful enough to make them go out. The image of the prison when the sun still shone was rather different. The building was intimidating, even more so during the day, when he could clearly make out all the windows linked to prison cells and the guards were even more in number. Still, he had no fear as he approached the entrance. With his cloak absent and dressed in his official uniform, the guards were quick to recognise him. They opened the door for him at once. He passed by them in the corridors with nothing more than a nod, opened the door to Azula's cell without asking for their permission or encouragement. He closed it behind him without looking, his gaze instead on Azula who was sitting on the floor of her cell.

"You came early today," she said instead of a greeting. She raised one of her knees in front of her, rested a hand on it. The shackles on her feet and hands jingled at the movement. Akira took a step closer.

"Why did you ask for me?"

"Can I not ask where my friend has gone?"

He pursed his lips. "I thought you said we are not friends."

She smirked, "You were never forgetful. I thought you wouldn't be coming. Zuko said something about a trip to Ba Sing Se the other day."

"He told you about it?" he wondered as he walked closer, made himself comfortable on the stool that had long since been placed in Azula's cell for anyone visiting to rest. "I had not known he mentioned his plans to you."

"I may have pushed him into the right direction," she admitted, her smirk widened. She tilted her head to the side as she analysed him. "So you did not go with Zuko?"

"I will be heading there after our talk." He faced her fully. "Akemi is gone."

Her smirk fell. "I know."

"And yet that's all you say," he pursed his lips. "I did not know what I expected, really. I should have known this would be your reply."

"Did you want my condolences?" she raised a brow at him. "What difference would that make?"

"None," he shook his head, stood up. "Do you have anything to say to me?"

"You're leaving? That was short-"

"I won't be coming here for a while, probably," he cut her off, met her gaze one last time before he reached the door. "Don't ask for me."

Azula didn't call for him as he crossed the threshold of her cell and he never thought she would. She had never once begged people to stay and he doubted she would now. He was unsure whether he wanted her to call for him and ask him to stay back, and if she ever had, he knew not what he would have done. The temptation to run but also to stay was strong and he did not know which one would have been the strongest if she had voiced such a will. But she did not. And so he left the cell, left the door to close behind him. He sent a short nod at the guard he had passed only a while ago and took the way to the exit. 

The warmth of the morning sun was welcoming. He took the downhill back to the palace, where he knew Mai would have a war balloon ready for him to take to Ba Sing Se. He only needed to load provisions, wake Katara up and then they would be leaving in an attempt to catch up to the rest of the company. 

It had not been long ago that he and Katara had gone to sleep. He was rather tired still, even though he had woken hours ago with the sun's ascend, but he imagined Katara wouldn't be having a similar issue. He was expecting her to still be in her room by the time he returned to the palace, and he had no plans to bother her until he absolutely had to.