"No". Said Aang with finality to the raging flames of the lit throne where his friend's shadow loomed.

"It must be done," answered the fire lord without a hint of sympathy in his voice.

"No," repeated Aang, picking up his staff to leave. "That was only for your father. I won't hurt Azula that way. I can't even believe you're suggesting it, Zuko".

"It's not like Katara disagrees with me," pointed out the fire lord.

Sighing, the avatar thought on his girlfriend and her utter disdain for the fallen princess of the fire nation. The two had been at odds for some time over the issue of taking Azula's ability to bend away when since it was first mentioned by the fire lord.

She knows my feelings on this. Aang thought to himself. She knows where my heart is.

"Why are you so caring about this now? You don't owe her anything. She shot you down in cold blood".

In more ways than one. Dwelled Aang as his mind drifted to the island Azula was held on for her mental instability.

"I'm not doing it, Zuko".

"Well, I hope you don't expect these little visits to continue until you do".

Aang did not respond. Instead he left to board Appa and head in the direction of the island. If Zuko was going to stop his visits with Princess Azula, she needed to know from him first. She needed to know that he would not abandon her. Ever.

#

Azula shook in her straitjacket. It was so cold in the building lately.

"Eat your food, Princess!" Growled the mental health nurse who obviously held a piss poor grudge against a princess she had never met before Azula was thrown in the hell hole.

"No," she said, adamantly. "I don't want that," she announced shoving the bowl of infested porridge away.

"Expecting your boyfriend, huh?" Taunted the nurse, though keeping a safe distance from the fire-breathing prodigy, recently nicknamed, "The Azure Dragon" by her followers. "He's not coming".

Azula refused to listen to the woman. The avatar had been faithfully visiting her for the past six months at the end of each week. She had begun to look forward to seeing him and they had begun to share stories. It was nice to talk to someone real instead of the ghosts that appeared in her cell. Choosing to ignore the voices telling her that the avatar could not be trusted, Azula gazed out of a single window for the smelly bison over the horizon.

It's spring, maybe he's cleaning Appa. She thought, chuckling to herself as she found herself remembering the avatar's stories and silly animal names.

More hours passed, yet Azula thought on his last visit instead of the dwindling visiting hours.

"I brought food".

"NO thanks".

"It's your favorite. Kimodo chicken, Zuko told me".

"Why are you discussing me with Zu Zu?"

"I guess I want to get to know you, better. You're always on my mind".

Time passed and visiting hours were over with no Aang. Azula was speechless as she was wheeled back to her cell and locked away. Kicking herself for allowing herself to trust him of all people, a flicker of light from a small flame appeared in the corner of her lonely cell.

"You came," she gasped, seeing Aang's taller stature and calm smile behind the flame.

"Of course," said the young man. "I wanted us to be alone for once".

"Why? Are you-"

Lips pressed into hers before she could allow the words to slip. Azula moaned, instinctively, forgetting her anger and closing her eyes to absorb the man's taste. As if reading her mind, he spoke, softly. "I will never give up on you, Princess".

Cringing, Azula felt horribly vulnerable. "I'm a monster, Avatar. You can't change me".

"You're perfect, Azula. If you call yourself a monster then I love that monster".

The words brought mist to her eyes. He was honest. She could feel his honesty. In a low voice she said softly. "Then I pity you," with that she held her thoughts as their lips met again. He who fights monsters should take care, lest they become a monster, themselves".