Chapter 10 – Past Meets A Princess
As he slept in his tent, Sokka wondered if he had done the right thing. He had made Azula sleep outside that night and he would deal with her in the morning. He thought about it, but he could not find a good reason why he should forgive her: she had attacked and imprisoned Suki, she had made his sister's husband's life a misery, and she had killed Aang. There was no incentive for him to forgive her at all.
But what if she did repent? If she said she loved him, then perhaps she was finally sorry for everything she had done. He knew she was a good actress, but she had really seemed upset earlier. Sokka's brain began to hurt with wondering, and from the confusion he fished out a memory from when Hakoda was on his deathbed:
"Sokka" he had said, "promise me one thing."
"What, dad? Anything."
"Always forgive people, no matter what. In a troubled world, you'll need as many friends as you can get."
"Ok, dad, whatever you say. I promise I will."
This gave him his answer. Careful not to wake Ty Lee, who was snoozing next to him, Sokka slipped out of the tent and into the freezing night. He spotted Azula sleeping near the village wall and crept, silently, towards her. Azula's eyes snapped open as soon as he stepped within a few yards of her. She leapt up and stood poised.
"What do you want?" She stood defensively and ready to strike, "Haven't you humiliated me enough?" She did not cry this time, but her makeup was still smudged from earlier.
"Shh, no. I just wanted to say I'm sorry, and I realise that I should have forgiven you." Azula relaxed her defensive stance.
"What?"
"Just…don't say anything," he stepped closer and kissed her. It wasn't just a peck, or one of those meaningless quick ones: it was a warm, proper, gentle one that really meant something. After they separated, Azula breathed a quick, 'wow', and they stood and watched the sea roll.
"What should I do about Ty Lee? How am I going to tell her that I'm with you now?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I've been planning that moment ever since I knew she was your girlfriend."
"Oh, ok. It's good to know that I've finally found someone who knows what they're doing." He chuckled, "don't tell Suki I said that!"
"I feel a bit faint, can we sit down?" She gazed up at the sky, "It must be the full moon. I always feel weaker during the full moon."
"Yeah, of course," they sat on the wall. "Well, because I'm Water Tribe, it means, theoretically, I'm stronger with the moon and a that stuff," he laughed, "I complete you!" They both laughed.
"You know, you're not as evil as you seem."
"No?"
"No."