Hello! Mulan is being released this sunday on my country! I'm so excited. So in it's honor we will reflecto today in some hard topics. So TW: Torture and PTSD.

Hope the read is an easy one and you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: ATLA and it's characters are not mine.

Enjoy!

Suki woke up the next morning, feeling sore from sleeping on the ground. She got close to her bag, ready to do her everyday makeup. She sat up in front of the small mirror. As she blindly search for her brushes, flashbacks of the day she was captured came back to her:

She could hear their laughs, one of the girls, seemed to be called Mai, complaining about the new plan Azula had in mind. The princess as always, dismissed her and continued explaining. She could feel her arms and legs losing their circulation as well as her mouth and cheeks. Everything was really tight. She heard steps coming, stopping her breath as the cover from her eyes was removed.

There it was, those evil eyes staring at her. A small grin appeared in her face.

-Do you feel comfortable? Or do you want them tighter? After all, seems you like exotic things, like the flying bison you were so hard trying to forget.

The sneer in Azula's face was enough to fuel fire inside Suki's eyes. The princess laughed in her face seeing the reaction she had brough in her.

-Peasants are so easy to mess with. One sentence and she's already mad.

Suki tasted the cloth in her mouth as she tried to spit. With disgust in her face, Azula snapped her fingers as Ty Lee and Mai entered the room. Her sight from the floor made them look taller than they were in the battlefield. Both girls lifted her, the bubblier girl poking her body, disabling her.

Her body again, didn't respond to her commands. As both girls dropped her to the floor, laughing at hoy helpless she would look. As she lay on the floor, she could see both of them undoing the restrain they had her in. The only thing they left was the one in her mouth. Her uniform became heavier to her, as she tried in vain moving.

-Give up the fight fangirl. See over that little room over there?

Suki being paralyzed, couldn't turn her head, so Azula forcefully turned it for her. As her eyes focused, she saw how only one person could fit in there. "Great, so I'll be there all the trip to the prison." Mai walked to the door, opening it slowly. Suki caught her reflection in one of the thousand mirrors inside.

Her face was a mess. Dried tears and blood mixed with the paint in her face. Her nose looking almost brown from all the punches she used to get for talking back at Azula. Her liner messed up as the nights she silently cried for not being able to save her warriors in charge. The cloth restraining her mouth being her own belt, "for her own safety" as Ty Lee told her. The more she looked at her face the bigger the grief she felt.

-Ow… My favorite prisoner is sad! Why are you looking so sadly at your reflection?- Said Azula with a fake sweet voice.

-Maybe because she looks like a clown. As we are going to look-Answered an annoyed Mai.

-Well, is that true?- Azula asked her looking to her through the mirror. Suki only frowned, feeling safe in her armor gear.

Azula gave some instructions to her friends as she sat down in the bed, still looking at Suki through the mirror, now smirking. As she saw Ty Lee's hands grabbing her armor, panic shoot in her veins. Trying again, in vain to move and defend herself, she saw how they stripped her from her armor and weapons, Azula using her war fan to get some fresh air.

As she was only now in her underwear and headpiece, the girls looked to Azula.

-Are we changing her or is she staying like this all the trip?-Asked Ty Lee concerned eyeing Suki.

Azula stood up and approached Suki, kneeling beside her. Their eyes met as she removed the headpiece, sneer in the princess face as she stood up, inspecting the head piece.

-Put her in the room.

Both of them dragged her to the mirror room. Her make up and underwear still on. As they both left the room, cold water dropped from a bucket above her. Coughing water as she was laying facing the ceiling.

-You know, that underwear you use is kinda ugly. Maybe we should remove it so you could not freeze?- Said Azula gesturing Mai. Her friend with an annoyed face, got close to Suki and threw her weapons, slicing the last Suki had of dignity.

The three girls laughed as Suki tried to not cry in front of them, seeing another bucked of water being filled above her. The water hit her face and body, lowering her body heat. She saw as Ty Lee closed the door…

-Wait. We're missing something.

Azula got close to the door, inspecting her naked body. In shame, Suki focused to the now half full bucket of water above her. Azula's eyes were now in her line of vision, one hand reaching her face.

-We forgot about this belt. Now, is there something you want to tell me? You're my favorite after all.

Rage. Her teeth clutching each other, as she tried to put her best facade of proudness.

-Sokka will rescue me and the Avatar will defeat the fire nation. Princess scum.

The spit almost hit Azula between her eyes, angering her. She got out of her sight as water came down at her face, entering her mouth. She coughed at this and pain shoot her as her lips closed.

-Sokka? That water tribe boy? You wish. He probably has another girlfriend at the moment. You definitely like exotic things heh?

Laughed filled the room as she punched her in her abdomen continuing with a kick to her face. She could feel blood in her mouth, praying for water to come down again at her, easing her.

-That's enough!- Azula screamed looking up. The ceiling was replaced then by another mirror. -Sweet dreams! When you get to your cell you'll wish to have slept more in here.

The door closed and light was filled in the room. She could see how pathetic she looked. Her make up was gone and was replaced with bruises in her face and blood. Redness in her belly, hands and ankles, were the rope was tied. Still unable to move, she closed her eyes to sleep, feeling helpless.

Her eyes opened again, not knowing how to track time in the small room. She moved her hand slowly, testing the ability to move at her will again. As she recovered control of her body again, she sat up, seeing mirrors under her too. Tired and malnourished, she slowly stood up, trying to keep her head up, searching for an exit. The room barely fit her. She sat again, looking at herself in the mirror.

This was not who she was. She was captured and mauled. Stripped from her clothes but not her hope.

-It's okay Suki. Sokka is close. He's probably figuring out how to bust me out of here.

The door opened causing the lights to go off. It terrified her the thought of a male entering her little cell. As she pressed her body to a corner, she could only see the long ponytail as the warden closed the door. The lights lit up, a small tray with fruit and cake as well as a glass of a red liquid inside.

She got closed to it, a small note under one of the plates. She read it.

"Hope you like my selection of cakes. Ty Lee begged me to deliver you some food, and as you're the funniest to chat with, I green light her. Enjoy it! Prison food sucks, so don't get used to it."

Her teeth clutched again, tears streaming down her face, not wanting to give in. What if it was poisoned? She was really starving. She looked at herself as she grabbed the cake and possibly poisoned wine. She cried harder as she bite it. She closed her eyes as she engulfed everything.

She laid down, not having anything else to do. As she opened her eyes, her reflection was still of the broken girl, scared for her life. She was mad as her fingers lined her face.

Anger boiled up, as she cried. Her sobs were loud and uncontrollably. She hugged her knees, breaking herself. She chocked between her cries, hyperventilating.

-P..please…Save me Sokka…

She hated being this powerless. Hoping for her knight in shinning armor. This was a feeling she buried years ago as her parents died trying to protect her. She would be her own savior, as nobody would take care of her.

-Sokka…

Her cries became louder as she muttered his name. He was his only hope of getting out. As she didn't have more tears to cry, her sight began blurring as the tiredness began to wore her out. Staring at herself, the same broken girl she swore was dead, showing out again.

-Are you okay bombshell?

Her voice startled her, focusing in the present. She blinked seeing herself in the mirror, a tear flowing silently. She sighed, lucky Toph was blind.

-Yes, thank you for asking.

-You're lying.- Top quickly answered as she got close to Suki. Suki facepalmed herself, forgetting her integrated liar detector.- I can't see you but I can feel your heartbeat. What's wrong? Did Sokka hurt you?

A soft laugh escaped Suki's lips, grabbing one of Toph's hand.

-No, it's not him. Don't think much about it, I forgot I didn't have my Kyoshi makeup with me.-She answered squeezing the small hand.- I'll get better as the day goes by.

Toph eyes narrowed, sensing the hurt in her voice. Uncharacteristic of her, she stood up and hugged her, surprising the older teenager. She hugged back, feeling comfort.

-Sokka has been looking for you. I don't know why he didn't search you here first tho.

Suki smiled at the mention of his name. She stood up to change, not minding Toph as she couldn't see her.

-Would you mind if we instead trained?- She said as she waited for an answer from her little friend.

-It would be my pleasure. I was starting to get bored.- Toph said as she cracked her knuckles- Don't be fooled by my age and sight warrior!

-I would never underestimate the blind bandit- Sukki answered walking outside the tent.

Sokka and Aang were laying on the ground, wondering how Katara's adventure was going. Sokka was skeptical about her sister leaving on a revenge travel, but not so sure she would stop before hurting the killer of her mom. He stood up, excusing himself and traveling down to the beach. The cloudy day was enough to sour further his mood. As he sat close to the shore, the water calmed down, as if not wanting to disturb his thoughts.

Zuko's question and Katara's statement made him question how he had dealt with his mother dying. Sure, he was little and felt powerless as his dad didn't gave him the chance to directly confront him, but trusted his small family to overcome the grief and pain the fire nation had caused them. "Is that really a bad thing?" He kneeled, his face reflecting in the eerie calm water of the ocean.

The quietness of everything made him really dig in the scars left from that day. His heart aching hard as he couldn't protect his sister from seeing something the corpse of their mom. She grew up too fast. He failed everybody that day.

-Oh Kat… I should have gone with you. I….I'm a failure…-He said softly, talking to the water.

Tears ran like as waterfalls, sobbing quietly and controlled, not in the mood of disturbing the ocean. He grabbed a small fist of sand, as if trying to remind him his duty as the friend of the Avatar. But how hard was for him finally realizing he has always failed to protect the people he loved?

His mom, his little sister, princess Yue….Just the thought of her name raged him. His face changing with the freshly released sand he threw in the water. Then he remembered those days he knew something was wrong but ignored it.

Suki. He didn't try hard enough to search for her, afraid of being seen as too clingy. He hadn't even touch the subject with her. "How could she even love me? I left her and didn't rescue her right… Again…"

His fist caught in the water, screaming in anger. His breath heavy as he tried to control himself, not wanting to caught attention.

He stood up, determination in his face. As he watched the waters beginning to move as they would normally do, he saw through the guy with the boomerang. He will be better. He will protect both of them. He would not let them down again.

-It's a promise.

He closed his eyes as the air touched his face. Breathing to remember the smell of the ocean, something that kept him close to his reality. It was time for him to be a better brother, friend and lover. Determination in his heart, not willing to succumb to the despair and pain the enemy has for years inflicted.

He opened his eyes, feeling water in his cheek. It was starting to rain. He smiled to the rainy sky, silently praying to his mom for courage. "I will show everybody mom. Please know that I love you as much as Katara…"

-Even if I don't remember you a lot… I love you. I will protect both of them, show you how I would had done if I got the chance…- Finished Sokka. Bowing and going back to the camping site.

The sound of the rain was relaxing for her. Suki felt tired and hurt. She grabbed some incense they bought and lit it, the smell filling her room as she sat in front of the mirror to comb her hair. The training day with the girl was exhausting, helping her develop a lot faster reflexes and reactions she never thought she had. Some turns where harder than others, as she tried to use and invisible katana or fan, forgetting they were somewhere in Ba Sing Se.

It upset her again the thought of it. As she watched herself her motions became sharper and a lot less gentle, mad at her face. Her uniform and make up made her feel powerful and complete, helping show the world the values she carried and lived for in her heart. She put down the comb, staring at herself again, fading her conscience into memories.

-Tell me! Don't be shy. I know I look better than you did.

Azula posed to her, along with Ty Lee and a bored Mai.

-Hello, I'm the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors and we're here to protect you and talk about the strategy.- She continued faking a smile.

Suki sat angered, not bothering to answer at anything Azula was trying to make her react.

-C'mon! It's not fun if she's not answering. Let's go, I'm bored and want to remove this ugly paint from my face.- The trio agreed and turned to close the door again.

This somehow triggered her. How dare she called it ugly with a face like hers?

-Maybe it's not the make up what makes it ugly…-She said as a whisper.

-Excuse me?- Mai answered, glancing at her.

-Maybe It's your face that doesn't go with anything ugly brat!

Azula and Ty Lee looked at her friend, who was bothered but not angry. The princess turned to look at the fallen leader, as she angrily stared back.

-You're not worth the armor. The three of you are not worth it and look ugly, rotten brats.- She said still staring at them, now smiling.

Her heart wanted to escape her body as she saw the princess get close to her. She stood proudly, not wanting to show fear. Her fighting stance ready, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Smiling, the princess stopped her tracks and snapped her fingers, sending Ty Lee instead to battle her in the small mirror room.

Both of them exchanging fists, not hurting each other as they blocked on par. What she didn't thought of was the blades of their other friend. She screamed at the feeling of the blades on her legs, opening her stance and dropping to the ground, the mirrors behind and under her breaking.

The pain was nothing she had felt before as the cushion of her armor protected her. She winced in pain, defeated. The girls left the room as the princess entered again, smiling and clapping.

-Congratulations! Your officially a fucking stupid. Who thought Sokka and you had so much in common?

Suki stood observing her body, touching the areas as the pain appeared. Small marks and scars could be seen almost fading in her glutes and lower back. Then she felt it again in her tights and calves, as if the mirrors and blades were still in there.

-Here are the clothes. When you even get the chance to move of course, you can put them on. See? Must of my prisoners just go naked, walking in shame. But not you…- Azula said, lifting her face as she grabbed her hair.

-What you say if we give her a farewell gift? Should we cut her shorter?- Said Mai smiling, pulling out a pair of scissors.

-I don't think she cares a lot. She even thinks she's prettier than us! Leave her in her bubble world.-Said Ty Lee, dismissing her.

Azula kept the grip on her hair, tightening until she could see pain in her face. Suki held the stare, not willing to give in.

She was standing there, in the safety of the camp, with her friends and the savior of the world. All of them who loved them and appreciated her for who she was, with or without armor. Especially Sokka…. Then… She felt it again.

-I'm so sad to said goodbye! We won't get to be roomies again.- Said Azula as she looked at her- Don't worry, I'll tell that peasant you adore so much any message you want me to deliver. Just don't get your hopes to high, the moment I deliver it will be the last thing he will hear.

That was it. She frowned and screamed as Azula gripped harder her hair. Satisfied, she let go of her hair, smashing her head on the bloody floor.

-The avatar will defeat you and you'll pay for everything you bitch.

-Auch! That would have hurt a 2 year old full of dreams of world peace. Not me though.- replied Azula smirking, enjoying the chat.

-Sokka will rescue me, so keep your lame treats to yourself. You wish you could even beat him.- said Suki full of conviction.

Azula laughed hard, tears almost getting out of her face.

-Oh my, that's why you're my favorite. Give it up, he hasn't save you and were you go, no one has gotten out. Sorry not sorry.

Suki saw as azula got close to her feet. The mirrors helping her as she was powerless of her own body. She closed her eyes and screamed, pain shooting all over her body. It felt and eternity to her for the pain to cease, not knowing if hours or days have gone by.

Sokka ran scared of the screams coming from his girlfriend tent. Aang and Toph close behind.

-How is that you didn't feel anything?- Shouted Sokka as he entered the tent.

Toph remembered the exchange she had with Suki in the morning, stopping Aang midair and closing the door tent with a wall rock.

-Hey! Why did you do that!-Exclaimed Aang shocked the abrupt stop to aid her friend.

-It's still only the 4 of us in here Aang. Something's wrong with her and it's not physical.

Aang looked at her, understanding the weight of her words. He nodded and both of them returned to their tents, allowing some privacy to the couple.

Sokka tried hugging her, only to be punched. He felt metal in his tongue, knowing first hand how strong her punches were. Suki didn't stopped screaming, cornering herself on the tent.

-Suki! It's me! Sokka!- He said trying again to get close to her.

-You're really pretty girl… what are you doing in a place like this?

Her face turned in disgust at the muscle guy behind her, eyeing her up and down as if she was a piece of meat.

-Get away from me or you'll regret it.

Not even letting him answer, she attacked him, making clear to the other prisoners she was not the small weak girl to be taken advantage of.

-Suki!

Sokka tried his hardest, not knowing how to calm her. She punched and dragged herself as if trying to escape. As she turned her back it was his moment to paralyze her, launching his body into her back. She screamed louder as he pinned her hands behind her back to avoid more punching.

-Suki you are safe! You are safe!- He repeated into her ear as she didn't stopped screaming.

He was running out of ideas to bring her back to reality. The position was awkward and clearly exasperating her more. He turned her below him so their faces will meet. As he repeated his words to her, he noticed how her eyes were… just not there.

-It burns! Please stop!- Said his girlfriend with tears falling down her face.

Seeing her like that made his heart break. He knew why she was like this. Prison in the fire nation was known to be cruel. Someone in there as sweet and strong as her had to take a toll somehow. He sighed, crying to.

-Suki it's me. We're safe… no one will hurt you as long as you're with me. The war will end… I'll protect you…

Her eyes looked at him in horror, focusing without signals of her returning to the present.

-You're my girl…my strong, brave warrior… come back Suki…we're safe…

She screamed harder, hyperventilating. Sokka feeling defeated, cried harder. Feeling impotence as the situation kept escalating. As his tears wet her face, she stopped screaming, still looking at him with fear. He loudly began sobbing and crying, as his grip on her began to loosen up.

Suki saw him crying above her. Her skin on the dirt and his body shaking. She was speechless as he kept staring at her crying.

-Suki come back…I love you… I need you here…

Her eyes focused in his teary ones, saddening her. What had happened?

-I'm here.

His reactions of surprise caught her off guard as he hugged her, dropping to the floors beside her, a strong grip on her head as he placed it on his chest.

-I'm so sorry Suki… I should have searched for you faster…I..I..

She now realized what happened. How real felt everything until she came back to earth. His tears were the one who made her come back. How she hated to feel so dependent on him.

-It's not your fault… I was supposed to be stronger and…and… she….

Choke. Her words choked as another moan of pain escaped her lips, hugging him hard and crying into his chest. He comforted her, stroking her back and hair as she let it all out.

-I need my armor Sokka… I don't like myself…like this… I can't pretend anymore…

This caught his attention, shocked at the perception she had of herself. Not wanting to interrupt, he continued listening.

-I don't feel strong without it… it gave me courage and… and… they mocked it. My essence my…I want my make up and…my mask…it helps me believe in myself and my force and….

He couldn't keep hearing her like that. It pained him to see how destroyed her confidence was after her encounter with the fire nation princess. Now he really wished to have slit her throat the moment he could.

He kissed her forehead, comforting her as she kept crying.

-Suki… You are strong. With or without your uniform. I know it's a part of you and I wouldn't change it for anything…but… I believe in you. You don't need all of that for the world to notice how unique and quick witted you are.

Suki sobbed as he heard the monologue.

-Maybe you don't like how you look without it…but let me tell you. You're gorgeous and stunning, and it shows with whatever you wear. You know why? Cuz it's your heart what makes you so superior to everyone I had met. You can wink and kick my butt at the same time just like only you could. You are smart, you are strong, you are important. Even avatar Kyoshi can see it trough Aang, you know, Avatar linking an all that stuff?- Sokka looked at her as Suki chuckled at the thought of Avatar Kyoshi watching her through Aang.

He smiled as Suki's breath calmed down, the sobs finally ending. He cupped her face between his hands and lifted her face so they could see each other.

-I'll take care of you. Keep being your beautiful, brave self you have always been.

-Sokka…

-Wait, I still haven't finished.-Answered Sokka as he placed a finger in her lips, hushing her.-You can count on me Suki, even the days like today you don't feel like you're yourself, I'll make sure to remind you who you are and how luck I'm to have you in my life.

She blushed at the determination in his eyes, as he finished talking. A small smile formed in her lips, feeling safe in his arms. The world seemed to fade as they both looked at each other, the intimacy growing as their breaths coordinated.

-Thank you.-She finally said.

-My pleasure.- He responded kissing her cheek.

-Can we… talk…about it?- She asked with pain in her voice, looking at him with emptiness.

-Of course, anything to make you feel better.

The night went by as the couple talked about the tortures she went through in Azula's ride and the boiling rock prison, taking pauses to cry both of them and to cuddle, the shy warrior taking her time to tell her horror story and showing some of the scars still visible.

"That's why she didn't let me see her back" Sokka thought as he delicately touched the scars in her back and glutes. He felt stupid for not noticing anything the 2 past days, blaming himself.

Hours continued and the sun began to rise, Suki finally sleeping in his arms. Sokka still awake thinking about everything she endured until the moment they reunited. His hand still stroking her auburn hair.

"I swear I'll make you forget this. You will never look back at this again…my strong beauty"

She was as pretty and radiant as a diamond. Hurt and tossed aside, but still shinning.

"I swear after all of this is over… our last teens will be amazing. Just wait for it" He closed his eyes as he tried to sleep beside her. Her calm heartbeat in to his ears was a lullaby, drifting him away as tiredness grew in his body, finally sleeping.

Sweet and sad, i think. More clouds of sweetness and pink auras will come in the next chapters.

hope you enjoyed!