almost were parents
After a long, long fight with her wife last night, Azula found herself as the visitor in a maximum security prison. She knew she needed to do this, after everything with Ty Lee, and how she utterly lost her deference and submission when Azula insisted they would never be parents. Azula never even knew Ty Lee had such bravery, or such a barbed tongue.
"Daddy," said Azula thoughtlessly. She sounded like a child, when she intended to come here as coldly and cruelly as she could. She cleared her throat. "Father, we need to talk."
"It sounds serious." And he sounded mocking. What a fantastic way to begin this conversation.
"I want to speak to you about something of importance." Azula stared at her father through the lightly dancing shadows. "You cannot create something and then wash your hands of it. Sooner or later the day comes when you can no longer hide from the things you have done."
"Care to speak less cryptically?" growled the former Fire Lord.
Azula said icily, "You have done damage. I am not talking about war. I am talking about your first and foremost duty which was to raise your children. Admirable job with that, really. Almost as successful as your scheme to conquer the Earth Kingdom."
He rises, towering over her despite standing behind thick iron bars. Azula remains steady and sturdy, arms still crossed.
"I took good care of you. You wanted for nothing. Unless you're suddenly here to defend Zuko."
"My wife wants to be a mother. I can't bear for that to happen."
"Because of your mother?"
"Because I am just like you, and I cannot in good conscience pass that abuse onto my children."
"Good conscience? I thought I raised you better than to have a conscience." He said the word as if speaking of pure scum rising from a putrid pond.
"Maybe. But I have never seen her so angry as when I refused her request. And I couldn't sleep last night, thinking about every single time you let me down."
Ozai said nothing.
Azula cleared her throat and continued, "I won't let you hide from the things you've done anymore. I won't let you wash your hands of the things you have created. And when you have suffered enough, perhaps I will reconsider what Ty Lee wants from me."
Slowly, she leaves the room and gently shuts the door behind her.