Suki….Suki….his voice spread through her body, soft like a warm blanket in the dead of winter. She clung to it but it was fading fast
"Mmm…Sokka?"
"Wake up." There was no warmth or kindness in the voice, and a terrible coldness seeped into her dream. With great effort Suki fluttered her heavy lids open to find herself lying on the icy floor of a prison cell. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, the pain of fresh burn wounds began surging through her body. It was unbearable.
"Uhharhhh!"
"I see you're finally awake." The voice was syrupy sweet and dangerous, and the kyoshi warrior sensed that it was smirking at her torment.
"What do you want?" Suki demanded, panting as another wave of pain flowed over her. A ball of fire erupted from across the room where a girl about her age stood leaning against the wall. It was the fire nation princess herself, the very one Suki had battled earlier that day as the warriors defended Appa. Or at least she thought it was earlier that day, though she didn't know how long she had been taken as a prisoner.
"Hmph. Tell me, who is this Sokka? A sibling…friend…no…A lover perhaps?" she could hear the taunting in Azula's voice.
"What do you want?!" Suki shouted more forcefully, leaning forward with rage. It was then that she noticed the shackles that bound her wrists to the stone wall she was sitting against.
"Ohh, so sad to be separated from the ones you love. I'm sure you're warrior friends felt so lonely when their fearless leader was captured." There was a sharp intake of breath.
"Where are my warriors?!"
"Dead. I killed them all myself."
"You're lying."
"Am I?" Azula's hand slid under her silk robe, pulling out a golden kyoshi warrior's weapon. Suki could not help the tear that spilled down her cheek as Azula began fanning herself with it. "You know, these really do make good fans. It gets so stuffy at the palace during the summer heat" She cackled loudly, enjoying every minute of her prisoners suffering.
"You're lying…" Suki repeated less certainly, clenching her mouth closed and squinting her eyes shut as more tears began streaking down her face.
"I'm not. So don't think anyone's going to come rescue you. You're alone."
"I'm not!" In a rage of passion Suki lifted her head, screaming so loudly that the smirk slid off of the fire princess's face "As long as the Avatar is still alive, I will never be alone! You're nation will lose this war at the hands of the Avatar and all your prisoners will be freed!"
"Enough!" Azula clenched her fist and the ball of fire disappeared. She was silent as slow footsteps clicked against the stone floor towards the fiery kyoshi leader. And suddenly, Suki felt a horrible searing ring of torture surround her wrists. She screamed.
"I don't have the patience for insolence. You will learn to bite your tongue." There was no playfulness or torment in Azula's voice--- just hatred. As the ball of fire appeared again, Suki's pain subsided, but only slightly. She bit down on her lower lip but could not choke back the sobs. Azula had heated the metal shackles surrounding Suki's wrists, an agony so terrible it had rendered her speechless. All she could do was try and hold back the whimpers that threatened to escape her lips, holding on to what little pride she had left. She thought of her warriors, so strong and brave, and prayed that Azula's convincing voice had been a lie. She thought of her village and prayed that her people would be alright. She thought of Appa, and hoped he returned to Aang safely. She thought of Katara, Toph and Aang, the avatar, praying they were safe and fighting strong. And lastly, she thought of Sokka. Of the feel of his lips against hers, the warmth of his breath, and the strong comfort of his arms cradling her. She gladly became lost in the melodic joy of his laugh, the kindness in his smile, and the goodness in his heart. She prayed for his safety and longed for his love. It was her escape.
Azula's hand, despite it being one of a fire bender's was icy cold. It yanked Suki's chin upwards so that their faces were now inches from one another. The glow of the fire danced in the princess's eyes, and the taunting smirk returned to her features. "I will break you, Suki, leader of the Kyoshi warriors. There is no questioning that. You're suffering, however, is based merely on your cooperation"
Suki opened her eyes a little wider, her brow still creased in pain and anger. She sucked inwards then daringly spit right into Azula's eye. The fire princess wailed in disgust, backing away from her prisoners face. After a moment of pure bewildered repulsion, Azula turned back to Suki, all signs of gaiety lost from her open eye as the other remained closed. "Very well."
And with a burst of flame, Suki's torture resumed.