There was a hollow feeling in Azula's chest when she first saw her father. Despite everything she had heard, she could never truly bring herself to believe that the man behind those bars wasn't the proud Fire Lord Ozai. That there wasn't still a chance, however small, that he could one day rise again and start a new war.

That possibility disappeared from her mind in mere seconds. The man before her wasn't the one she and Zuko had known their whole lives. Their father still looked somewhat strong, but he was not nearly as threatening and imposing as he would have been just two years prior, and it was jarring to see him in prison clothes and in a cell, instead of wearing expensive robes while sitting on his throne, looking down on everyone with a wall of fire behind him. He was pale as a ghost, his long hair was a mess, and the anger that seemed to radiate off of him felt more like a desperate cry for help.

"Fire Lord Zuko" he spat the words like the worst of insults, and his voice sent shivers down Azula's spine "What brings you here?"

Zuko ignored him and turned to the Dai Li "I assume all of you still remember what my father used to be like" he said, making Azula smirk "I want you to look him at now."

"So now I'm an exotic animal in a zoo on top of being a prisoner? Or are you simply trying to make your insane sister look better by comparison?"

Her brother drew one of his swords and pressed it to their father's neck with unbelievable speed, making him jump back.

"Don't speak unless spoken to, and watch your tongue if I ever allow to speak at all. Don't test my patience."

For the first time in her life, Azula saw her keep his mouth shut. The princess looked at Ozai and Zuko as if seeing them for the first time. She had seen her brother defeated and being forced to comply, but there was always that righteous fury in his eyes, a fiery rage that always made it clear he would keep fighting, whenever he could and in any possible way. It usually was reckless, often stupid, and constantly made him a bit of a martyr, but there was something to be admired about it and showed just how strong he was - it had won him the crown after all. The anger she saw in her father's eyes came from nothing more wounded pride, and made him look like a petty, spoiled child.

Zuko turned to the Dai Li again "Ozai is the one person to ever have his bending taken away. For now" he walked in their direction and the eight men looked terrified of him, even though he was not the one with the power to take away their earthbending "I'm giving you a chance. I expect the people in this palace to be safe, I expect the common folk to be free to live their lives without fear, and I want my friends and family to be treated with the same respect you've all shown me today."

He then brought a hand to the handle of one of his swords, probably not even realizing he was doing so.

"And if my sister says any of you gave her reason to believe she's not safe with the bunch of you following her around, if any of you hide anything from her, if you hurt her in any way" his voice was filled with rage and concern, making her heart skip a beat "I'll destroy you. All of you. Is that clear?"

"Yes, My Lord" they all said in unison.

"Dismissed"

Without another word, the Dai Li left, uncle Iroh and Zuko's friends walking right behind them.

"So" Ozai started talking again "You've found yourself a good loyal fool, Azula. How many days did it take for you to convince him you and your personal army won't try to kill him and his pathetic friends this time?"

"Azula" her brother called before she could answer "Come with me. We have work to do."

"Yes, My Lord" she said, following him, yet not being able to stop herself from giving one last look at their father. A sad man, way in over his head, doomed to grow bitter each day until the end of his days. A completely hollow shell.

Is this all that you are now? Is this all that you ever were?

Zuko gently took her hand and lead her outside. When the prison's door was shut behind them, and her brother looked her, his expression softening for the first time that day, if felt like a spell was broken. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling him melt against her and his body relaxing.

"I love you" she whispered to him, then pulled away just to look into his kind, golden eyes, seeing that all that rage he let out was still very much alive, but hiding away, waiting for the right time to resurface.

Azula smirked.

"I knew you could do it, Zuzu."

She took his hand and made him follow her back to the palace.