Note: Incredibly late companion is late. Also, very short and less shippy. Wanted to explore the characters more. I feel that The Southern Raiders was pretty much the beginning of Azula's downward spiral. This is set just after that episode.
Softly leaping out of the shadows, light and stealthy as a black cat, Azula stepped onto the square patch of moonlight, its silvery glow washing her white. The blade in her hand caught the light and gleamed briefly before she tucked the cool steel into her sleeve. For a split second, the knife reflected fractured beams around the room. Her heart skipped a beat when the light hit the prince's face and his brow creased. If he would open his eyes, she'd be dead in two seconds. But he did not and her heart resumed its regular rhythm.
In three quiet steps, she was at his beside, her shadow falling across the silk sheets. She could not tell what color they were. The room, bathed in shadows and sparse moonlight, was void of color. It was her first time to see his hair not tied in a tight knot, but simply falling across his face. With his mouth open slightly, he was almost amusing to watch and with his chest (slowly heaving up and down) bare, it seemed all too easy. Yet, now was not a time for second thoughts. She pulled out the dagger and raised it high above the sleeping prince. With both hands gripping the handle, she breathed in deep and...wide blue eyes met her golden ones.
Time froze.
The knife was still up in the air. Azula's heart was about to break open her ribcage. He was going to kill her. She could only do two things: plunge the knife into him before he could make a move or jump out the window. She did neither because time unfroze and melted and the knife was no longer up in the air, but in the prince's hand and pointed straight at Azula's throat. She could only stare into his striking blue eyes before the black-and-white world tipped over and she crashed onto the floor.
The princess sat up with a growl. She had fallen off her bed and the last time this occured was when she was five years old. At that time, she recalled, she had dreamed about drowning. Tangled in her blanket, the young princess tumbled onto the floor, wailing and her mother rushed into the room...Azula, still with a scowl on her face, got on her feet and padded towards the nearest window, pulling open the curtains. There was no point in going back to sleep. Her head was far too muddled with thoughts to doze.
It was nearly dawn, the sky a watery blue, the stars fading behind pale yellow clouds. Like cupping water in her hands, the dream began to slip away, but she did her best to hold onto it. So, this is how it feels to be on the other side, she mused. She was the assassin, the freedom fighter, the hero, while he, that Water Tribe peasant, was the sleeping target, the royal tyrant, the villain. It was all so vivid, so disturbingly believable. She was not surprised the peasant had found his way into her subconscious. Their little exchange during the Day of Black Sun two days ago regaled her so.
She had not met anyone before, who dared to challenge her, mere inches from her face. With others, there was always a hint of fear in their eyes, but his were raw both with hot, red anger and cold, blue vengeance. Perhaps it was because she had no Firebending powers at that moment, but Azula believed, eclipse or no eclipse, the boy would still have pushed her up against the wall and glared her down to bits. He was foolish. They all were. Azula recalled yesterday's events at the Western Air Temple. They could run, but they certainly could not hide. The Avatar, her witless brother, that Water Tribe peasant...
The sun was peaking over the horizon now. Its first few beams lit up the sky. Azula instantly felt calmer as Agni's rays began to warm her frigid body.
They had no idea what's about to come their way.
-fin-
Reviews are more than welcome. :)