I do not own anything
Am I the only one who finds it highly disturbing that while Azula was locked in the depths of madness, haunted by visions of her mother, Noriko just went through life as usual?
Shrieks and sobs from the small institution echoed through the night, shattering the almost-idyllic scene. The halls were empty; the doctors and nurses had locked up their patients for the night and retired long ago, and only the unmoving, impassive guards remained awake and alert.
Princess Azula sat on her cot, hunched over as she tried to lose herself in the plain, inexpressive flooring rather than pay attention to the ghost that flittered across the edges of her vision.
"You look so broken, my dear," the ghost said sadly. Azula didn't move when a deceptively warm hand brushed through her hair. "You used to be so proud."
"Leave me alone," Azula muttered.
The ghost sighed. "Let me help you, Azula," the ghost pleaded. "It hurts me to see you like this."
"No."
"Please."
The princess' eyes were dull when she turned to glare at the ghost. "How can you help me? You're the reason I'm here to begin with." She jerked her chin around the room. "Try to fool me all you like. I know how you've betrayed me."
"I would never betray you, my love." The ghost's voice was full of mourning, and a mouth too solid to be anything less than real murmured into her hair. "I love you, Azula."
"You don't," Azula insisted. "You fear me – you've always feared me. You think I'm a monster." Her voice had grown tired of saying it over and over, but the ghost refused to accept what they both knew was true.
"I don't fear you. I love you, and I always have."
Arms clothed in regal silk wrapped around her in a suffocating perversion of an embrace. Azula struggled, but the ghost's vice-like grip was too strong for her to break. The cloying stench of cinnamon and daisies gagged her even as she fought to breathe. The ghost spoke again, slow serenity masking malice and hatred.
"I love you, Azula."
She screamed.
~oOo~
On another island many miles away, a humble family of three dwelled in their equally humble home. An oblivious Noriko smiled in her sleep, ignorant of the cries of the princess.
I thought it would help make it more eerie if Azula didn't call her anything other than "the ghost" as well as contribute to how Azula's trying not to give in, so to speak.
I made cover art for this fic, but I'm too impatient to wait to finish before posting this.
Review!