Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
This is an altogether new story I'm starting. The relationships all change over time and I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to go about it all yet. For clarification, Sokka helps lead some of Zuko's army, he stays at the palace when he's not out…making peace or fighting rebels or whatever. Some characters I probably wont go into, the focuses move in and out so it's not just one couple centric. Enjoy. .
Sokka crept as he usually did in the palace halls. He never imagined walking them, let alone being welcome here. But it had been a year or so since the war, and he knew the path to where he was headed like the back of his hand. He kept glancing over his shoulder out of nervous habit, though at this hour nearly everyone was asleep. He knocked twice lightly on the large, crimson double doors in front of him before cracking them. The light from the hall he wandered flooded the darkened room, though he made sure he was quickly in and the door clicked behind him.
"…Azula?" He whispered, peering over her bed. Even now he could see her blood red lips twist into her usual mischievous smile, and her golden orbs pierce through the dark. She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to her, hearing him grunt as he landed on the bed.
"It took you a while." She whispered in his ear and he nodded. The affair had somehow been going on for months, and he was still scared about it. If someone would find out, or what if Suki came back? Then there was always the possibility of her killing him. Even after therapy, something about the princess seemed crazy to him.
"Yeah…they were staying up late tonight…" He closed his eyes when he felt her teeth nip at his earlobe. "Azula?"
"Hm?" She began tugging at his shirt and he shifted his weight to roll beside her. She followed his gesture by moving on her side and tracing his collarbone with her painted lips.
"Do you think this will ever be…more?" He asked with some anxiousness. She looked up, arching her brow at him. He could tell her mood was strictly business now, she wasn't so hard to read once she trusted you…or maybe had relations. Sokka wasn't sure she'd ever really trust anyone again.
"Explain yourself." She had a fistful of his shirt in her palm, though he could feel it was more tense than lustful. His throat was dry, though he knew if he kept going along with this façade it'd lead to something like this. He looked down blankly at the satin sheets of her bed, feeling her glare stay on him.
"All this is…is sex. I mean, sure, I know you, you were trying to kill me not all that long ago, but I want more…depth." He hesitantly looked up and she scoffed. She roughly pushed him away, though he didn't fall, and rolled over on the bed so her back was facing him. She muttered under her breath and felt him place his hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off and rolled her eyes.
"I should have known someone like you would want more. Don't you have that little girlfriend of yours? That one Ty Lee is with?" He heard the venom roll off her tongue at her former friend's name.
"Suki…I don't know…we hardly communicate I mean, for all I know, she could be married or something." He realized how much it stung to admit that. "But either way, I have more of a connection with you than her right now...it's kind of a secret, but I like our secret." He assured and she pulled the blanket over her robed shoulder.
"Get out, Sokka. Like you said, this is nothing but sex. You mean nothing to me." She quipped and he frowned, biting his bottom lip. As he expected, he regretted saying anything. They both sat upright at the sound of a door slamming from the hallway. Azula slipped out of the bed and held her finger up to Sokka as she approached the door, signaling for him to remain where he was. He sat up and, from his place on the bed, tried to see what was going on. Azula, knowing he would try this, opened the door just so she had enough room to stand in the doorframe, leaning against it with crossed arms and blocking any view Sokka would have. He let a soft groan escape his lips. She smirked, proud of her accomplishment, but it quickly twisted into a scowl. She saw the soon-to-be Fire Lady swiftly pace by her, a hooded cloak disguising her form. Azula grabbed her arm and felt the girl tense.
"I told you I'm not…" Mai stopped short and stared blankly at the princess. Azula had a skeptical brow arched curiously, though her eyes showed how shocked she was. Mai had been crying; her puffy eyes and running mascara proved it. The girl with no soul was crying.
"Told me what, Mai?" Azula asked and she remained silent, pursing her lips, though Azula knew she was trying to keep from crying. Something had happened, only they hadn't spoken since Azula came back a few short months ago. Neither intended on it, Azula wasn't sure if she even cared or wanted to be the first to know. She couldn't tell, then again, she wasn't really trying. What if she did actually care?
"Nothing, Azula." Mai spat through clenched teeth, gripping the fabric of her cloak so it remained shut. Azula parted her lips, but couldn't find words to say. She almost wanted to apologize, for forcing her friend to decide like that, knowing how she felt. She almost wanted to hug her, pretend the past never happened. But she couldn't, instead she convinced herself it was the therapy bull and she needed to drain the remainder of it from her memory. "I'm leaving…" She whispered, hearing her own voice tremble. Azula loosened her grip, but didn't let go. She found moisture in her throat again, the courage she once had, but she didn't say the things she wanted to.
"I guess he didn't love you as much as you loved him." She quipped, not sure why she said it, but she had. Mai watched her contently; Azula's unreadable eyes still baffled her. Normally she'd argue her point, but what was it again? Once again, the princess had proven herself right. Azula let go of the robe and Mai subconsciously pulled it to her. They stared into each other's eyes but it was only so long before Mai turned on her heel and quickly walked off. The manner she did it in reminded Azula of Ursa. Azula watched until the girl, once her friend, turned the corner. She wasn't sure where she was going, or even why, but the only thought that haunted her was would she see her again? And if she did, would she react differently? It didn't matter; clearly Zuko ruined her being here. She took another step in the hall, so she could see beyond the pillar, and watched Zuko staring blankly from his chambers, the chambers Mai once shared with him.
He glanced to her and immediately looked away. His sister looked curious for once, not feigning to be all-knowing. He turned to his room and quietly shut the door behind him. Azula pulled her robe close and followed his suit, sitting on the end of the bed, feeling Sokka crawl over to her. Right, he was here still.
"What's going on?" He whispered, resting his chin on her shoulder. She let out a sigh and stroked the side of his head, running her fingers through his loose hair. He purred and she tilted her head so it leaned against his.
"I…don't know." She confessed, turning to face him. He placed a gentle peck on her lips and she let him, glad the issue was dropped. "You should go back, it's getting late." She shifted her body away and crawled under the covers of her bed. Sokka frowned, watching her unhappily and contemplating what he should do.
"Could I…stay here the night?" He asked as she closed her eyes. Without opening them she answered no. He got to his feet and brushed back her bangs before kissing her forehead. "Goodnight, Azula." He waited a moment to see if she responded, but she only did so by rolling over on the bed. He made his way to the door, sneaking back to his room, over a wasted hour or so. He threw himself back on his bed, not even bothering to change, and stared at the ceiling. He had a bad feeling about what was going on, it made his stomach turn. He'd break it off in the morning with Azula, or maybe he wouldn't have to, maybe she'd get the hint and they just would go back to not speaking. In the morning, he'd write to Suki. That's what he would do.
"I just…I told her the arranged marriage…I tried to tell her how it was suggested to me, how it'd bring peace faster and she got uptight and…" Zuko started to ramble, sitting on the edge of his uncle's bed. Iroh yawned and sipped his tea as he listened to the events that happened over an hour ago. The sun had barely risen and it seemed as though Zuko had been up for sometime pondering this.
"You brought up this offer to her once before, did you not, Nephew?" He asked in a raspy voice. Helping the Fire Lord bring peace was something Iroh would always do; however helping his nephew with personal problems was something he preferred more. He scratched the back of his neck, he was an early riser but this was somewhat an extreme.
"A couple months ago…when I found out it was possible…just…I don't know, it's been bothering me, I though of all people, Mai would understand. I don't get it…I love her and all…" Zuko looked up with tired eyes.
"Ah, but do you?" Iroh inquired.
"What do you mean?" Zuko turned his body to face his uncle, listening as intently as he could. So many thoughts flooded his mind since he became Fire Lord; this was only one of the many problems he and Mai faced.
"You're seriously considering this…arranged business, are you not? Clearly if you truly loved Mai, you'd both be wed and with children by now, your father wasted no time making you." He winked and Zuko scrunched his nose in distaste. "But in all seriousness, it's haunting you, I can tell, the thought of marrying a stranger for peace. I also know you love Mai, but are you in love with her? These are things you must figure out on your own." He frowned, wishing he could be of more aid.
"I know…thank you, Uncle." Zuko got up and stretched his arms over his head. Iroh nodded in acknowledgement and placed his empty glass neatly beside him on the end table.
"Just remember, are you considering this marriage for the peace of the world, or your own happiness, and once you figure that out, ask yourself if you have your priorities right." He watched Zuko nod and wave before leaving the room. The sun peaked over the horizon and Iroh sighed, closing his eyes. He could afford some extra sleep tonight.