Visiting Hours

It's late.

Glowing lanterns hang from the wall.

Steady footsteps of guards walking over iron grates.

Faint screams from the prisoners.

She would shiver, but the only scream she's scared to hear is hers.

Footsteps stop when she walks down the corridor.

Rushes of movement.

A guard screams.

Bodies thump to the grate, and light footsteps run on, the jingle of keys the only sound left.

A door creaks open, rusted metal hinges squeaking.

Fire.

She stumbles back, hides behind the door as blue flame bursts out at her.

"Leave me be!"

"Azula."

The fire ceases.

She steps around the door.

Golden, pained eyes stare up at her, defiant and bright.

"Why are you here, you pathetic cry-baby."

Because you feel lost without her.

"Azula, just come on."

You step forward to the door, and she rattles the chains, keys jingling in the lock.

Booted footsteps ring on metal above the cell, you push the door open and go to unlock the shackles holding Azula.

"There's not much time, they already know I'm here."

"And yet you thought it was a good idea to break me out of here? Please."

Bright blue fire sizzles through the air, breaks her other chains once you've got one cuff undone.

You grab her wrist and run.

Running until your legs tire and the sun is raising into the sky. You stop on the side of the volcano, catch your breath, and look over at her.

Her hair falls down her shoulders, bangs still a mess, hair one big tangle. You'll brush it out when you're not in direct danger.

You eye the sore red marks on her wrists and take her arm to keep running. The glow of torches high on the volcano urges you faster.

You stop, far from the kingdom, and kneel among the trees to take the length of her hair in your hand.

The dagger you didn't bring for you is heavy in your hand, and you cut her hair short.

She shakes the cut hair off her shoulders, takes the dagger and tucks it in her belt.

"Come on."

You follow her when she heads farther into the forest.

(a note, this fic is being rewritten because i'm in pain.)