Azula coughed a bit as she hit the ground. Β Of course, the hitting the ground was the bizarre part, because to an outside observer, she had literally warped into existence from nothing at all about three feet off the ground, as if sheβd been laying on a bed when her location suddenly, magically,Β changed.
"So, child?" Koh purred, coiling around the fallen princess. Β Azula had lost a drastic amount of weight in the two years sheβd been interred in the asylum. Β Two years of ritual humiliation and routine torture, two years of writing letters to Zuko about her treatment thereβ¦ Β She had no idea that theyβd been intercepted by the asylum staff, that Zuko had no idea of the abuses she suffered there. Β Given the bad blood between her and her brother running already, she assumed he was complicit in it, if not the one that had ordered it outright.
After two years, she could take it no longer. Β Sheβd begun pleading to the Spirits, for assistance, for death, for anything to get her out of that place. Β The one that had answered her was Koh, the trickster and face stealer, but also a very wise old spirit who sometimes dealt in knowledge. Β Or, it seemed, in favours.
"Iβll take you somewhere you will not be tracked. Β You will not be chased. Β You wonβt be able to do anything against your brother or his allies from there, but neither will they against you. Β This is a fresh start, completely. Β Iβm not going to offer you useless platitudes about turning over a fresh leaf, but it would be a waste if you didnβt learn from some of your old mistakes. Β For the duration of your life, you wonβt need to worry about our agreement at all. Β Iβll come for you when you die. Β You wonβt be using your face after that anyway, so Iβll have it then. Β Do we have a deal?"
Reflexively, Azula reached up to run her fingers over her eye and cheek, now sunken and hollow, and shadows appearing below the first. Β Despite the nervousness she felt dealing with a Spirit that was known to cause havoc, she nodded her head. Β She really had meant it. Β Anything to get her out of that place. βW-we have a deal. Β The terms are fair.β
"Lay down, child," Koh murmured, patting the bed Azula had in her cell in a mockery of parental affection, switching to the face of a moderately pretty woman of Fire Nation descent.
Azula stretched out obediently, closing her eyes for a momentβ¦
She coughed again as her awkward landing had stirred up dust on the ground sheβd fallen onto. Β She pushed herself up to an awkward half sitting half laying position, noticing first a pair of feet standing somewhat in front of her. Β She raised her eyes, settling her golden gaze in front of the man sheβd been dropped off in front of. Β She looked frightful at her unhealthy weight, with the sickly tone to her skin, even her hair was uncombed and partially matted. Β But for her dignity (or his own amusement?) Koh had traded the thin hospital gown sheβd been wearing for the armour sheβd worn during her days as the Crown Princess. Β Her hairpiece had fallen onto the ground near her, and she picked it up, closing her hand around it tightly, almost as if to score the metalβs pattern into her hand and remind herself of who she was.
βWhere am I?" she asked, drawing herself slowly to her feet. Β She swayed a bit as she stood, but managed to pull herself up straight. Β She wasnβt manic, like she had been on the day of her near-coronation, she was just weak and unhealthy. Β She swept her eyes over the man in front of her, taking stock of him as quickly as she could. Β He looked regal and imposingβ¦ Β A powerful ally, perhaps, if she could convince him she was worth more than the mess she appeared to be at the moment.
