"The Fire Nation took my mother away. I won't lose anyone else. If you dare hurt Aang—"

Azula tunes her out. She would much rather be subjected to Bei Fong's crudeness than to the waterbender's theatrics.

"—Are you even listening to me?"

"No," replies Azula and she smirks when the waterbender's face turns an interesting shade of purple.

"I don't know why the others let you join us. We should've thrown you into prison!"

"Well," Azula says slowly, knowing that the calmness of her voice will only anger the waterbender further, "there were no prisons that could hold me before I gained the Avatar's bending abilities…Oh! And you need me to help prevent the world from ending. Can't forget about that."

"Is that all he is to you? Bending abilities?"

Azula tsks. "And here I thought you were the smart one. Of course that's all he is to me."

"But I saw you two…"

Azula grits her teeth. "A misunderstanding."

The waterbender crosses her arms. "Why did you join us in the first place if it wasn't for your soulmate?"

"I don't want to die, waterbender. I live in this world as well in case that escaped your notice."

"Your father doesn't share those concerns. Are you saying you don't want to rule the world with him? You expect us to believe that?"

"I don't want to rule a wasteland." Azula brings her hand up to inspect her nails, drawing attention to her soulmark, and says, "Besides, it doesn't matter what I want. These markings make me no better than the Avatar in my father's eyes, and he will sooner kill me than allow a threat to his throne. He was never one for sharing the spotlight."

"But you can't choose your soulmate..."

"Do you think that matters?"

The waterbender frowns and plays with her hair. Azula can't quite tell what she's thinking so she waits.

"The Fire Nation took my mother away—"

Oh here we go again.

"— but that wasn't your fault…and it wasn't mine either. I'm so—"

"Stop," Azula sneers. "I don't need your pity."

"It's not pity! It's empathy—"

"I don't need that either. We have a common goal, that's it, and after that goal is completed I will personally end you and your friends."

Watery eyes turn to ice. Azula is proud to note that there is not a shred of pity remaining in the glare directed her way.

"No you won't," vows the waterbender, "Aang will stop you."