It was impossible to tell how much time was passing. Azula's cell had no windows, so there was no light other than the unchanging glow of the crystals in the ceiling. She was fed at roughly regular intervals. From the frequency of her meals, she guessed that she had been in prison for about a week, but she wasn't really sure. She'd had no further visits from her uncle yet – or anyone else, for that matter. The only other human faces she had seen were the inscrutable visages of her Dai Li jailors. And they can hardly be considered human, she thought savagely. They never speak – they never even change their expressions. Might as well be made of stone...

With a deep sigh, she flopped down on her mattress and buried her face in her arms. She was tired of pacing the perimeter of her cell – tired of the relentless green glow – sick to death of being confined like this. For a while, she'd taken to muttering things to herself, just to hear the sound of a voice. Then she had stopped, shuddering at the specter of insanity.

The things that tortured her were very near to her here. There were no distractions – there was nothing and no one to comfort her. Waking or sleeping, visions rose before her eyes. Her father, turning from her coldly and going to conquer the Earth Kingdom without her. Her mother's half-frightened, half-horrified face. Zuko's harsh eyes as he condemned her to exile. Mai and Ty Lee turning against her at the Boiling Rock. Mai crumpling to the ground, badly wounded. Ty Lee's eyes, full of trust and love as they gazed at her. Azula's breath hissed between her teeth. I've failed. Everything I've ever done has come to nothing. The prodigy, chosen and blessed by Agni – hah! Cursed is more like it. She rolled onto her back and stared up at the featureless ceiling. I couldn't hold on to my kingdom. I couldn't take down my brother. I couldn't capture the Avatar – a mere twelve-year-old boy! And now here I am, rotting in prison. I couldn't even protect Ty Lee. She dug the heels of her hands into her eyes, trying to silence the accusing thoughts.

Oh, why can't everyone just leave me alone?

Voices – Azula could hear them, muffled as they were through the stone wall of her cell. She sat up, her self-torture forgotten for the moment, and listened. She was not disappointed. A moment or two later, the wall opened up, and someone entered her cell. Azula's mouth dropped open. "Ty!"

The girl was heavily bound; her feet were shackled, and her hands were cuffed to her waist. Her brown hair hung loosely around her shoulders, freed from its ever-present braid. She gaped at Azula in bewilderment as her Dai Li guards released her chains. Without a word, the earthbenders left; the two girls stared at each other in blank astonishment for a while.

The firebender was the first to recover. "Ty Lee," she whispered, rising to her feet. "Why...what..?"

"Azula!" The acrobat flung herself forward, nearly tackling the other woman to the ground with the force of her hug. "Oh, 'Zula, I'm so glad to see you," she sobbed. "They wouldn't tell me anything. I'm so glad you're safe!"

The lump in Azula's throat made it hard to speak. She hugged Ty Lee hard, squeezing her eyes shut against the tears that threatened to break free. "Ty," she said hoarsely. "I missed you. I missed you so much." The acrobat suddenly crushed her lips against hers. Azula kissed her back hungrily, her hands reaching up to clutch the girl's shoulders. Ty Lee shifted in her grasp as she trailed passionate kisses up to the corner of her jaw. The firebender drew in a shaky breath; tears squeezed from beneath her tightly-shut lids and trickled down her cheeks. "Oh, I missed you..."

"I missed you, too." Azula opened her eyes to find Ty Lee smiling through her own tears. "I didn't know if I'd ever see you again." The acrobat tightened her grip and nestled her head against the former princess's shoulder. "What's going on, Azula? What are they going to do to us?"

"I don't really know," the firebender admitted. "My uncle, Iroh, was here a few days ago. He told me you hadn't been hurt, and that there were no plans to kill us. Other than that, he said all he wanted to do was talk. Liar." She scowled at the memory. "They haven't hurt you, have they?"

"No. No one laid a hand on me." Ty Lee shook her head; her hair tickled Azula's neck as she moved. "They took off the chains and gave me food. Really, they were pretty nice. It's been awfully lonely, though! And I was scared because I didn't know where you were." The firebender felt the young woman's hand caress the back of her arm. "But I'm not scared anymore."

Azula winced. You shouldn't trust me so much, Ty. I'm just as helpless as you. She closed her eyes again and rested her face against the top of the acrobat's head, inhaling the scent of her hair. "I wonder why they brought you here?" she murmured.

"They didn't say. I don't know." The acrobat shrugged. "They just came and chained me, and told me I was being moved to a different cell."

This made Azula's eyes narrow. What? But...why would they put us in the same cell? She thought back to her visit from her uncle. He questioned me about her. He probably knows we're lovers. This will be his doing – he must be trying to get my guard down by doing me favors. Then she felt the girl in her arms sigh a little. Her lips twitched into a rueful smile. Well...whatever the reason, she's here now. I might as well enjoy it while it lasts. She bent her head down and kissed Ty Lee's forehead.

The acrobat raised her head to return the kiss. Azula lost track of herself for a while after that, conscious only of Ty Lee's fiery touch and soft lips. Then she was down on her back on her mattress, and Ty Lee was on top of her, tugging at her prison tunic. Azula stopped her suddenly, and the acrobat looked at her in surprise. "Can't," the firebender muttered. "They might come in..."

Ty Lee chuckled. "Then let them look," she whispered, catching Azula's earlobe between her teeth and nipping gently. "Besides, don't they see everything every time they take us for a bath, anyway?"

"Well...yes, but..." The firebender's protests died into a soft gasp, and she stopped resisting. Again, the world of prison cells and guards melted away under Ty Lee's tender hands.

O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Azula was outside, surrounded by crowds of people. She was down on her knees, her hands bound behind her back; the heavy hands of Dai Li agents rested on her shoulders, holding her still. She looked around, puzzled. She recognized the place. It was one of the town squares in Ba Sing Se – the one in the Inner Circle, where she had once been feted as the conqueror of the Earth Kingdom. Looking straight ahead, she saw a low wooden platform before her. A hooded executioner stood there, resting his sword casually against what could only be a chopping block. Icy fear washed through her.

The crowd began to cheer. It wasn't the roar of celebration that Azula had often heard – it was dark and eager, like a pack of hounds baying for blood. She trembled. She was certain that it was her blood they were after! She squirmed, but the hands on her shoulders held her firmly.

Then something to her right caught her eye. Soldiers were parting the crowd; she caught sight of a prisoner being led through the bloodthirsty mob. The captive was small and slender – the top of her head barely came up to the middle of her guards' chests. She was heavily cuffed and shackled, and a green rag had been bound over her eyes. As she was led up the steps to the platform, Azula suddenly recognized her. "Ty Lee!"

This couldn't be happening. Azula struggled desperately, but she couldn't so much as stand up. The soldiers dragged their prisoner to the waiting block. One of them dealt Ty Lee a hard kick to the back of her legs, and she fell onto her knees. The firebender couldn't even move, now. She tried to cry out as the acrobat was pushed down onto the block, but her mouth and throat refused to obey her. "No, no, no..." Her mind screamed in horror as the executioner's sword swept down in one final, shining arc...

Someone was saying her name. Azula became conscious of a warm body pressed up against hers. She could feel herself shaking, and there was wetness on her cheeks. A sob tore itself from between her clenched teeth; gentle fingers brushed the tears from her face. She felt someone kiss her cheekbone. "Azula," came the soft voice again. "Azula, it's all right. Wake up." She opened her streaming eyes.

The dull greenish light of her cell met her bleary gaze. Ty Lee's face hovered over her, her gray eyes almost black in the dim light. The acrobat stroked the side of her face and kissed her again. "Are you all right now, 'Zula? I think you were having a bad dream."

"Ty," Azula croaked, relief flooding her. She pulled her close – she felt pleasantly solid and warm. "Oh, Ty...I'm sorry!" And her tears flowed faster.

"Sorry for what, silly?" The girl laughed softly, threading her fingers into her lover's black hair. "Waking me up? I can always go back to sleep, you know."

"No." The firebender was still trembling. "For...for not protecting you. I should have been able to keep you safe, Ty! I...I should..."

"Don't be ridiculous." Ty Lee rested her fingertips against Azula's mouth, forestalling her protest. The acrobat's lips were curved into a tender smile. "If I'd been exiled all alone, I'd have been dead long ago, so you have protected me. And besides, even if you were as weak as an owl-kitten, I'd still love you." She pressed a warm kiss to the side of the firebender's neck. "So stop worrying, 'Zula."

Slowly, Azula relaxed. The nightmare faded as she hugged Ty Lee close. She took a deep breath. "Don't let go."

"I won't." The acrobat cuddled against her like a small child. Sleep tugged at Azula's eyelids again. She let them shut and dozed lightly. "'Zula?" came Ty Lee's drowsy voice.

"Mm?" Azula was already half-asleep.

"I love you."

The gymnast's arms tightened a little around Azula's body. The firebender gave a sleepy laugh. She patted Ty Lee's side gently. "I love you, too," she murmured.