The former Fire Lord sat as he always did, in his small, dark cell, alone. He already had how many paces long and wide it was, he knew how may bars surrounded him, even the ones above him, and he could almost predict exactly what times he was to be fed. He almost knew when Zuko would seem to make a random visit as well, though it was mostly for the questioning of the whereabouts of his mother.

The cell disgusted Ozai more and more each day, the plainness, the dreary loneliness. He always felt as though he would talk to anyone, just for the sake of conversation, but as soon as anyone entered the room, he would glare or grumble, ignoring them like he had the right; like he had any rights anymore.

He heard a clank and didn't budge from where it was he sat. The sound the large, metal door made had grown on him and the last thing it ever did was startle or make him anxious and curious. He heard a set of light feet pad towards him and remained staring at the ground.

Zuko wanted to know where she was, when she had been sent there, if he had any information on her relocating, ect. It was time the boy moved on from his mother's disappearance and be grateful she left to spare his worthless life.

He felt his eyebrow twitch when the shadow cast over him didn't move. He glanced up and realized it was too dark to make out who was gracing him with his presence. The only light he was provided was that of the moon.

He could see a hooded figure, staring down at him, and at first he gave a skeptical eye. Zuko wouldn't have to disguise himself, nor would anyone else in the palace.

"What to you want?" He grumbled, knotting his brows together, acting as though he knew who was here.

"…Ozai." A faint voice whispered, and he watched a thin, bony hand cover the area under the hood he presumed to be the person's mouth. A soft growl made its way from his throat and his glare deepened.

"What do you want already?" He asked again, though his voice wasn't anything like it used to be. It wasn't strong, firm, demanding; now it was raspy, weak, and pitiful. He hated the way he sounded now, so he scarcely spoke. It's not like anyone really took notice anyways. He wasn't Fire Lord, he was a mocked prisoner now.

"Ozai…" The whisper came again, only this time the figure crouched before him and he remained sitting against his wall. He wasn't about to run for some peasant who might wish to free him, who supported him. He knew how incapable they were and how easily they'd go against their word for money or some food. Nobody ever missed his leadership enough to properly strategize him escaping. "Ozai…it's me." The voice was louder now, it was a delicate feminine voice, but it was one that he knew. He had heard it before, so once again, he raised his head and felt himself gape.

Her pale, porcelain skin reflected the moonlight with her golden eyes, that seemed welled up with tears. Her soft, pink lips were in a frown and her dark brown hair was tucked in the back of the hood. He just stared for a few moments, not sure what to say or how to even respond.

"I came in about two days ago…I heard what happened and…I wanted to see if you were well." She whispered, gently holding her hand through the bars of his cell. He slowly moved his body forward, still staring blankly into her eyes. She smiled lightly and stroked his cheek.

"…Ursa." He mumbled, though it was barely audible. Her smile remained as she nodded, absentmindedly stroking his cheek.

"…it didn't have to be this way, Ozai. You could have turned this whole war around…you could have bettered yourself." She pulled her hand back and he subconsciously pulled away at the same time, realizing he was leaning into her hand. He went back to his wall.

"That war…past tense, there isn't a this war anymore." He scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"There's still a war…a civil one here for your followers and…the other nations, the Earth Kingdom in particular, that aren't able to look passed the wickedness done by our nation…people are still fighting." She explained and stopped when she saw a smirk on his face.

"Good." Was his simple response; she let out a sigh.

"You haven't changed…your months alone in here…there's still no hope for you." She looked down to her lap and he felt a pang of guilt. She bit down on her bottom lip and he reached out and caressed her arm, causing her to blink up at him.

"There was never hope for me, Ursa." He said in a voice he hardly recognized. It was his previous voice, stern, serious, and it made her heart sink. She looked into his emotionless eyes. "There's never been any good in me, and there won't be." He pulled his hand away, knowing that was a lie. She was the good in him. She was always his positive influence, at least the one he would hear out. Once she left, he had nobody. Power overcame him with ease.

She pushed his ivory strands of hair out his face and he allowed her, watching her delicate fingertips. His face was worn; it looked almost sunken-in, tired, he was exhausted. He had managed to keep his body in check, well-toned, but his face showed his worry, or maybe just his sickness of being here.

"There will always be a place for you in my heart, Ozai." She whispered and he remained silent. She stood up and he quickly looked up and stopped himself from reaching for her. He watched as she dug in her robe and pulled out a set of keys, unlocking his cell. To his surprise, he didn't make any attempts to flee. She let herself in, and then locked the cell once again behind her, causing him to arch a curious brow.

She courteously sat beside him on the cold, stone floor of his cell and he kept his gaze ahead of him, careful not to meet her eyes. She wrapped one arm around his shoulder and pulled him down to lean on her, softly stroking his hair. He allowed her to and shifted his wait until he was comfortable.

"…things could have been so different." She said again, though now she, too, was staring off into space.

"Ursa…don't dwell on what could've been or what could be…don't worry about my future or what will become of either of us…just focus on now, and the time we have together, even if it's only tonight."

And that's just what she did.

…Continue?