CLANK CLANK CLANK. The sound of metal being tapped repeatedly woke up Azula much too early for her liking. Her hands were still in incredible pain and were covered in dry blood. She should wake up to get fed and a healer should be arriving soon to patch her up. That could wait a couple of minutes though, it's not like she was going anywhere any time soon. She tried to make herself as comfortable as possible on the stone floor when she heard it, it wasn't the tedious grunting of her usual guard with the slime they try to pass off as breakfast, no, she had heard this voice before.

"Um-hi Azula." The water tribe boy broke through her thoughts and made her open her eyes. She slowly turned to face him and let out a small cry of pain as she shifted her torso. Sleeping on the floor had made her sore and the wall punching from the previous night didn't help either.

"You ok there?" He sounded sincere as he said this and when Azula looked into his blue eyes she was sure he was. How curious it was to see him actually worried about someone who had tried to kill him and his friends. She wasn't sure if it was out of weakness and fear or just plain stupidity. To trust someone like her…well the first time is understandable, what he was doing now was completely inconceivable. It would have been incredibly stupid too, if it weren't for her current condition. The condition his friends had put her in.

"Just fantastic peasant." The words came out cold and heartless. She had forbidden herself from showing weakness or need towards anyone. Her pride might have suffered some serious injuries but it was still there willing her forward. He was slightly taken aback at this but he stayed persistent.

"I'll take that as a maybe then." As he said the words he dropped himself on the hard floor and leaned against the wall facing Azula's cell. His eyes surveyed her critically from top to bottom and bottom to top, as if searching for something. She began to feel slightly amused at this.

"Lost your way tribesman?" It was about time she had a little fun. "Or do you usually stroll around in private cell blocks staring blankly at random prisoners?"

"Oh yeah, I get a kick out of watching people I don't know in pain and suffering." The concern that used to be in his eyes was replaced with something more dangerous. "That's probably something we have in common."

Of course. It was foolish of her to think he seemed remotely understanding. She must remember not to underestimate this one, he might seem like the annoying guy in the background, but his strategies had helped foil her plans. And now he was starting to test her patience.

"What do you want?" She inquired bluntly. Even if there was absolutely nothing else to occupy her time, she didn't like wasting it on irritating and condescending visitors.

He shrugged off the question. "You should get yourself cleaned up."

"What a fine suggestion, I'll just grab the silk towel next to my imperial bed and wipe these little stains away." Azula toyed.

"You know for someone who's insane and locked up you can be a bit sassy."

This suggestion immersed Azula en deep thought. She had been extra sarcastic ever since her arrival there. She didn't have many chances to interact with people so she took every chance possible to use the snippy remarks that came to her mind during the endless hours spent lying on her bed.

"So what's the chef's special today? Or are you too high positioned now to bring a lowly prisoner her breakfast?"

He shoved his hand in the bag he was carrying, his face still unreadable, and pulled out a package slightly bigger than the palm of his hand. He stood from his spot, walked towards the gate and shoved the mysterious item towards her. "More like lunch. I made it myself, extra meat if you don't mind."

She remained still staring blankly at the sandwich, slightly suspicious. Surely this was some plot of some group against the Avatar's means that wanted her dead. He was from the water tribe after all, a pack of wild savages. But she was sure little innocent Aang wouldn't approve of his friend disposing of her. So she just stayed unmoving in her uncomfortable spot on the floor, her eyes trying to read the tribesman expression. After about a minute he sighed and placed it carefully on the floor.

"I'm not here to hurt you Azula."

It was too much, her extremely short temper peaked. She rose with surprising speed and lunged towards the metal bars separating them, firmly gripping the tubes. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" she shouted to his face, only inches away from hers. He put his hands on hers and looked her dead in the eye. "To help."

A wave of flashbacks from her mother's visit the previous night suddenly drowned her. Why did everyone keep saying that they want to help her? They probably just want to turn her into something they can use to their benefit. No one cares about her enough to genuinely help. It's all a ruse to keep her under control in the undoubtedly long and painful life ahead of her. At the age of fourteen she was already a convicted criminal so her time behind bars would be more extensive than any other outlaws. Unless, of course, they had decided to end her and get it over with. It was plausible but extremely improbable in Azula's opinion. That still wasn't a good enough reason for her to trust the boy in front of her or the sandwich he offered.

She pulled her hands away from the gate and balled her hands into clenched fists. "I believe you've overstayed your welcome, it's time for you to go." She turned on her heel and began to walk in the direction of the sink before a warm hand came in contact with her shoulder. "I won't hurt you." It was barely a whisper but it was clear enough to provoke one of her tantrums.

"How dare you touch me?" Azula exclaimed shoving off aggressively his gesture. "Even if I am incarcerated here I'm still the princess of the Fire Nation. Who do you think you are, coming down here acting concerned? You can't fool me! Surely my mother sent you. I should have known, she was rambling on about helping me and other nonsense last night. Well I don't need your help, so you can just go!" Her breathing was speeding up and she was losing control fast. She quickly stepped in front of the stone basin and dipped her soiled hands in the browning water. It soothed her ever so slightly, but that wouldn't last long. Her visitor seemed completely perplexed at her outburst.

"Azula, your mother has been missing for years; she couldn't possibly have come here to talk to you." His voice sounded more scared than worried.

The cracking dam that held Azula's emotions back completely burst at this comment. "SHUT UP. You don't KNOW anything! Just shut up and GO AWAY!" With the last words she picked up one of the shards of mirror from the previous night and hurled it towards the shocked tribesman in the dirt corridor in front of her cell. But she didn't see how he fared with the glass because she collapsed on the floor again crying quietly.