Chapter two: A touch of fire
Tossing in pain he silenced his moans, hoping that sleep or even unconsciousness would take him at least for a few hours so his body could get rest. Being forced to sleep on his one side only due to this bad shoulder, he found the once comfortable mattress unbearable, the thin blanket he was given scratched against his chest and arms like a wire brush, oh how he longed for his sleeping bag.
Sweat ran down his face as the fever slowly ravaged his body, playing tricks on his mind as the room spun violently threatening to cause his nausea to return. He had no clue what time it was, his room lacked a window. Not that knowing what time it was would help him in his situation anyway. Thinking of any possible way to escape alluded his tired mind as it ran in circles like a stupid dog chasing its tail.
Sitting up painfully Sokka took a good look around the room; the walls and floor were gray, hard and dull. Much like the rest of the building, a large drain was located on the floor, perhaps for easily clean up. Shaking the idea out of his mind he scanned the rest of his surroundings, the large wooden door was only visible in the dark room due to the light that outlined it from the outside. This was his only source of light flickering every now and then sending shadows into the room. There was one great shadow that crawled towards him threateningly, massive and black trying to engulfing the room. Again and again it advanced, but each time a burst of light from the lamps brightened the hall, sending more light into his room. Yet though it never reached him still he couldn't help but cower, feeling as if all the cold from his cell was gathering in that shadow.
Azula had him and he knew with one flick of her wrist he wouldn't even have time to scream before flames engulfed him. Perhaps his best plan of action would be to let himself perish, that way Aang and Katara would be safe.
As he contemplated his own death the door creaked open, a sliver of light entering the dark room. Someone must have been ordered to check up on him, praying it wasn't Azula his silent wishes were shattered when he caught sight of her eyes.
"The guard told me you have been up all night moaning, they feared you dead when you fell silent," As she approached Sokka saw that she was no longer dressed in her armor but a simple robe that swayed as she made her way across the room, oddly it made her look a little less menacing, still her eyes betrayed that impression, like two glowing golden orbs they caught the light. They looked so beautiful, but Sokka knew it was a false beauty only a ruse much like the bright coloring on a deadly snake.
As she reached down he eyed her long fingernails knowing that any moment they had the ability to cause great pain, but for now he felt safe, but that feeling felt so frail it could be destroyed with a puff of air. Her hand felt like ice against his burning skin, strange that hands that could control fire had the ability to feel cold, and bring unwelcome comfort against his fever ridden body; Sokka would have laughed at the irony if he didn't fear the sharp eyes of Azula looking down at him trying to read his face, in the darkness of the room.
"His fever is worse, get the healer again," Azula ordered, keeping her hand against his forehead.
Walking in cautiously the guard bowed deeply, even in the dim light Sokka could tell he was afraid. "My lady the healer was called out only moments ago to treat soldiers on the front. He will not be back for days."
Azula clenched her firsts tightly in Sokka's thin blanket, strangely her face never changed, it remained calm and collected. Perhaps she had learned to control her rage over the years Sokka thought to himself, or perhaps she was just a good actor.
"Very well get the medicine I will treat him myself, I doubt any of you worthless bastards know how to do it properly anyway," Sighing she looked down on him again, "You are really starting to cause more problems then I think you are worth. But father wants you alive so alive you shall stay."
"You're wasting your time; my sister and the Avatar know better then to walk into a fire nation camp. How do you think we have managed to stay a step ahead of you for all these years," Suddenly the mood in the room shifted as her once gentle hand resting on his forehead clasped him around the neck, a silent warning that he was stepping out of line.
Azula smiled when she felt the rush of blood pulse under his skin as his heart raced in fear of possible death. His blue eyes held the fear of captivity, but he hid it well under all his pride much like Zuko.
True he was a pain in the ass but perhaps he would be some sort of amusement for her, once his strength returned it would be interesting to see how far he could be pushed before he broke.
Releasing her hold just as quickly, Azula ran her slender finger down his cheek, allowing her nail to draw a faint line down his tanned skin, enjoying the way he looked back at her with confusion at the sudden switch of moods. One moment her fingers brought the certain promise of death, now she was caressing him with gentle touches. His eyes followed her finger as it trailed down his jaw and neck, sending light shivers across his skin. Slowly her finger rested on the edge of his bandages and before he had time to react she pressed lightly on his wound. Sharp pain once again flashed down his arm, he squinted his eyes shut as to not let on that it still caused him discomfort.
He tensed again when he felt her warm breath against the shell of his ear, and the smell of jasmine flood his senses. He knew she must be leaning over him, her mouth only inches from him, "Watch your mouth water boy, or next time I wont let go." Her words fell into his ear like poison, dripping with malice.
Pulling back when the sound of the door echoed off the walls, a sound Sokka was happy to hear at last. The guard approached holding a small wooden box, hesitantly he handed it over leaving soon after.
Azula opened the wooden box placing it on the bedside table, as she looked the bottle over Sokka busied himself with trailing the grains of the wood box trying as hard as possible to look invisible.
"Open your mouth," Azula commanded.
Sokka knew that if he let the fever continue he would most likely die, but this would also save his sister and Aang. "No." he replied sounding much stronger then he actually was.
The fire princess glared down at him, cocking her head to the side as if she had misheard his statement.
"I'm sorry what was that?" she growled, her grasp on the medical bottle tightening so much Sokka thought it might shatter.
Taking in a deep breath to calm his nerves he spoke again, "No I refuse to take it, how do I know it's safe."
"I have no time for this," Azula snapped back her voice turning dangerous. "I will not have you die on me. You are going to take this whether you want to or not!"
"How?" Sokka spat back his confidence returning at the sight of the frazzled princess.
Azula glared daggers at him, how dare a peasant defy her like this? Then an idea came to her.
What little confidence Sokka had built up drained from his body when a smile replaced Azula's scowl. He knew she had an idea but unless it consisted of prying his mouth open he was pretty sure that medicine would remain in that bottle.
Bringing the bottle up to eye level Azula studied it over carefully then tipping it up to her red lips she drank the contents. Sokka could only watch in complete confusion, sitting himself up off the bed to confirm what he actually saw happened. He watched her gaze shift from the empty bottle to rest on him. Without any ability to control it, he began to shiver as if the air had turned to ice. Maybe it was from the infectious fever? Maybe it was blinding fear? Whatever it was it caused him to loose the ability to move, only watch as she moved her small body closer to his on the bed/
Her hand then snaked behind his neck and roughly pulled him towards her, Sokka's eyes shot wide open when he felt her lips against his. Surprisingly her lips were soft, moving against his perhaps in a final kiss of death. Slowly he could feel her hot tongue gliding across his lips, her movements were slow and deliberate she knew exactly what she was doing, but she didn't wait for his approval before she forced his mouth open, pressing herself closer against him.
A bitter taste filled Sokka's mouth and before he knew why she had kissed him she pulled away, placing her finger over his lips just daring him to spit the medication out.
Swallowing in defeat Sokka cursed himself, truly she was far more cleaver then he had first thought. Getting up Azula spit what remaining medicine she had in her mouth onto the floor. Soon enough Sokka knew why she didn't want to risk any getting into her system as he felt a total numbing of his body, the pain drifted away like smoke caught in a wind and just as easily forgotten. Sinking down onto the mattress his vision blurred, he saw her say something but by this point his hearing had left him as well, only allowing muffled sounds to enter his brain. The feeling of the blanket being pulled over his body was the last thing he remembered.
I'll try and update as soon as possible but realy i have no clue where this story is headed, so it will be interesting for me as well. Hope Sokka and Azula are not OOC.
