Shots

EMBERS OF LIFE

I have an obsession with A:tLAxBNHA

Azula has perished, cold and tired and weak. It was pathetic, really. She couldn't have hated herself more for it. At least the mirror isn't talking, but maybe it's worse, now Mom is standing before her. Maybe it's been weeks or months or years, but it's so dark here; but it's never quiet, why won't it be quiet. Shut up!

Then, there is light. It's bright, and warm and fuzzy. Azula wants the sun. She craves Agni on her flesh. To burn is to destroy, to burn is to live. But, she will not bring destruction again. She will be loved, not feared. Because Mai loved Zuko more than she feared Azula. She will burn brighter than ever before.

There is fire on her fingertips.

A woman she does not know is holding her. This woman is blank faced, eyes hard and cold and the color of molten gold. Her hair is melting, melting, melting like lava from the mouth of a volcano.

Her eyes are so cold, Azula thinks. It's like Father.

"Take him."

"Yes, dear."

Then a man looks at him, shiny blue eyes. Waterbender eyes. Has she been reincarnated? To the child of a waterbender and a firebender? She growls, but it comes out as a whine. It is not her legacy to become a peasant.

"Pathetic,"

"Oh come now, dear, what's his name?"

"You pick it, since you care so much." The woman glares out. A hiss spills from between her lips.

"Okay.. little Enji. Welcome to the world."

_

Azula came to realize, after a month, that this was not her world. She hated it, she missed everything, everything. Her brother would be a Fire Lord, she supposes. She was supposed to be Fire Lord. Her. Father said it himself, then again, Father would be king. She would be the same. One step below him, the little princess. She hated it. She hated everything.

She misses Zuko, but she ignores the feeling, it becomes lost and foreign to her. Love was never a thing she thought about; but her behavior around Father proves her wrong.

She can do far too little for her mind to compensate. It's a terrible feeling, being weak. Then, Zuzu was weak before he beat her with that Waterbender peasant. As soon as she could write, she would document it all. Everything that was Azula.

Everything.

"Come on, Enji, don't you want to play?" This boy, Enji, his father is so much different from hers. He loves her and love triumphs over fear, Azula.

"No!" She screams. "Don't play! No play!"

His eyes widen, beautiful blue. More so than any waterbending peasant she'd ever met. They sparkle with joy, pride. Father never looked at her like that, her new Mom never looks at her like that. She wants to hug him, to cry and say that he shouldn't leave her.

She misses Zuzu. It hasn't occurred to her in years, but she really does. It's not because she misses the fighting, her being better. She misses having a brother. She misses Zuzu.

Mother stands in the doorway, a smirk twisting on her lips.

"What did you say, honey?" There's something evil in her eyes that looks far too much like Ozai. It's dark and looming.