Sokka walked with Jin across the moonlit city holding hands, he joked and laughed with her but his heart wasn't in it. He tried to have fun with Jin but his mind was elsewhere, his mind was with Jet outside he was holding hands with the most beautiful girl in Ba Sing Se but inside he was still in that cell under the depths of lake Laogai.

"Something happened" Jin stated.

Sokka laughed and smiled at her "What are you" he started to say

"Don't lie to me" Jin stated harshly.

Sokka sighed "Yeah" was his reply as he looked to the ground in shame.

"tell me" she ordered softly but it was clear that it wasn't up for debate.

Sokka walked off the path letting his hand slip out of hers and leaned heavily against a tree that lined the walkway until he slid down the tree. His shirt rode up in the back and tugged against the tree bark but he didn't care, he leaned his head against the tree lazily staring up at the night sky.

Jin walked over and sat beside the troubled man "Tell me" she said just as softly but more firmly. She rested her head on his shoulder and felt his warmth as she tucked her shoulder behind his pushing him forward slightly.

Her hair brushed his cheek "I don't know how to tell you without making you hate me" he said running his hand through his hair.

"Don't hold anything back" she said turning so that her forehead was resting on his chin "I won't hate you, I promise" she said, her voice deep and soothing.

"You don't understand how bad it is" he said with panic rising in his voice.

Jin put turned so that she was facing him and placed a kiss on his forehead and wrapped her arms around his head "It doesn't matter, no matter what it is"

She pulled him tight "I've seen the war" she said darkly "I've seen men kill each other because they were born on the wrong side of an ocean, I've seen villages burned, children dying and screaming. I've seen monsters, I know monsters, and I know you're not one". She pulled back slightly and smiled at him.

Sokka would never admit it but right now that was the thing he needed to hear the most. He returned her smile before it fell off his face again and he looked at his feet "Hey" she said cupping his cheek in her palm "eyes up here big guy" she chuckled.

"Ya caught me" he laughed as his eyes softened and his smile returned. He took a deep breath and said it firmly "I killed a man" he said without flinching.

It hit him like a truck, like saying it somehow made it real "Who" she asked softly

Killed someone? Azula thought, Long Feng had escaped who had he killed? she hadn't been appraised of a casualty report.

"A guy I met a while ago" Sokka responded "His name was Jet"

"I'm sorry" she said. What does this "Jet" have to do with Long Feng she thought "What happened" she asked.

"Long Feng did something to him, it messed with his head so bad he didn't even know it was me and he went crazy" Sokka replied. Brainwashing Azula thought it seem he's keeping more secrets than I suspected, I'll have to deal with him sooner than later.

Azula stared at him for a moment before saying "you did what you had to, you survived, you made it back here" she said "to me"

Sokka and Azula shared a sad smile as she sat back down next to him. Maybe I can turn Sokka into a loyal fire nation soldier she thought

"To me" it was quiet but she had wanted him to hear it and it made his heart ache, I don't deserve her he thought with a sad smile.

"Right before the end" he said with a pause "he came around, and he thanked me, he was glad to be free of having someone else play inside his head"

Perhaps brainwashing is... ill advised Azula thought. She stood up and offered him her hand "come with me" she said