Azula wasn't one for thankfulness. Everything she owned was handed to her…as it so clearly should have been. What was there to be grateful for? Especially since luxury was natural. Second nature.
Or at least it was at one point.
As of late, the girl had nothing to her name. Nothing but a straitjacket and a few jumbled thoughts. Agonizing thoughts. She would rather be rid of them. Both the thoughts and the straitjacket and the thoughts. Having nothing at all was better than that.
Azula often found herself wandering back to those distant days where she actually had wonderful things. When she wasn't in ruin. On some days the princess actually began to wonder if she ever had any riches at all, or if that was all just a dream.
Some sort of pseudo memories created by her broken mind to make her feel as though she was…at one point…someone of importance.
It hurt her head to think about.
It hurt her head to the point of tears on some days.
At last Azula had decided it probably was all just a dream and that she was never actually one of the Fire Nation Royals. If she was wouldn't she have gotten at least one visitor?
It was all a lie.
Her mind was just so tricky.
And yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that all of her memories were real. And that she should stop trying to convince herself otherwise.
Her head hurt more.
She needed some kind of confirmation.
The firebender requested a copy of her family tree…documentation of her birth…anything. She was denied.
Curled into a tight ball she willed herself to sleep. Not that it would ever come. She had to many thoughts.
The next day opened as every other. Azula was more than content to stay in bed. The staff never wanted to comply with this notion. Today, in fact, they insisted she woke up right away. As it was a 'special' day.
She stared up at them blank faced and with no intentions of giving them an easy time.
They picked her up as gently as they possibly could (which still ended up leaving a bruise or two where they gripped her arm) and sat her in her wheelchair, where they'd push her wherever they desired.
In the room stood a familiar face. The girl looked sad and distraught compared to the one from her false memories…her old life?
Her old life, she decided.
Ty-Lee offered a little wave and then with some hesitance, a slight hug.
Azula felt her lower lip tremble. She had wanted confirmation, and there it was. She had no clue what to do with it.
For once she was just grateful that someone was there for her.
All of the things she had taken for granted, Azula wanted them back. Her crown, her servants, her bedroom, and assortment of cosmetics.
Azula wanted to go home.
Apparently she had said so out loud for Ty-Lee hugged her tighter and offered to take her home with her.
Azula gave an affirmative nod. It wouldn't be her home nor her high class lifestyle. But at least it was something. At least she had someone.
It was bitter, she realized, how one couldn't be grateful until they knew what they had.