You can barely see the shadowy silhouette of your friend through the dark gloomyness of the dungeon. But you can feel her. You can feel her gaze examining every part of you. You can feel the anger, the rage- but mostly you can feel the disappointment. You stop yourself from laughing; she is trapped behind bars and yet you're the one that feels caged.
She walks slowly out from the shadows. Her features merge in to the light to reveal a calculated smirk, a disinterested glare. You're not fooled for a minute. Her hair is unbound and hangs around her shoulders making her look less intimidating than you are used to.
"So nice of you to come visit." Her voice is sunny and sweet, but with that undercurrent of mocking and arrogance that is never absent.
You pause in an attempt to regain the upper hand. But in truth it's cowardice- and her smirk begins to tug at the side of her mouth before her gaze drops away to focus on a distant wall.
As she turns her head back towards you, her mouth quirks in irritation and you know what's coming. "Well? Just because I'm in this place doesn't give you the right to waste my time. What is it that you want?"
"I wanted to see how you were." The words flow out of your mouth without thought. You sound lost and pained in your own head. You wish that it would stop.
She scoffs, looks down to the floor and gently shakes her head. The action is so small and common, but seems so wrong for her. She had always been so strong- so defiant and brave. But you can see it now, something that you never thought you would see in her: defeat.
A pain enters your throat and it becomes harder to breath. It takes everything you have to keep it from your face. It takes you a few seconds to realise that she isn't even looking at you anymore.
Her voice is soft and dreamy; you have to strain to hear her clearly. "It's amusing. I finally become Fire Lord and it turns out to be nothing." You can hear a bitter hollowness that tugs at your heart.
"I'm sure you looked good in the robes though. All hallowed and commanding." Mirth enters your voice and all of a sudden you're 10 years old and everything is okay.
You decide to say it before you lose your nerve again. "Azula- I'm sorry."
Her expression melts in to neutrality. Her eyes begin to gaze through you to the wall behind. Her mouth opens as if to say something but then closes again as if she reconsiders. Suddenly her eyes snap back to yours and harsh lines etch themselves around her mouth.
"So am I."
She turns and her body is consumed by the shadows yet again. You can feel a steady beating of red and gray that you can't identify or understand. Your eyes begin to twitch as you make your way towards the door and the outside world.
You don't think you'll ever see her again.