Chapter thirteen: The rules of Royalty
"You think can I came here you insult you further?" Azula questioned trying to avert her
eyes from his; she couldn't stand seeing the hate glowing within them.
"Well I really can't think of anything else that you would want to do, maybe try and get as much information as you can before I die!" Sokka yelled lunging at her but begin stopped mere inches from her face. The chains clanged loudly as he struggled against the steel that bit into his wrist as he desperately tried to get to her. After a few seconds blood started to make his wrist slippery gain, reopening old wounds but he didn't care.
Crossing her arms in slight annoyance Azula sighed loudly, "Don't yell so loud you will cause Renshu to come running back."
"Pff, what do I care, either die now or die later," Sokka spat back angrily.
The two shared a heated stare momentarily, the sound of their breathing filling the cold air.
Grabbing his shirt collar Azula pulled his roughly towards her, soft smooth lips crushed against his. Sokka's lips were dry and rough, but they still were able to send shivers across the skin.
Sokka just stood motionless, feet firmly planted to the ground. He wanted to respond back, but afraid that she was just playing with him again he fought with every ounce of strength to not let his body give in.
Pulling away Azula locked her eyes with his, now that he had been caught off guard he was much easier to read. Confusion was flashing across his cold blue eyes now.
"For being a scientist you are still very stupid when it comes to the world of politics and power." Her voice was soft now and seemed very out of place amongst the rough stone walls and rusted metal doors. Her finger traced the curve of his jaw gently, her nail leaving a faint line over his tanned skin.
Sokka lowered his arms, letting them now lay by his sides. "What do you mean?" he questioned, the tone of his voice sounding slightly less bitter.
"A good liar is never one step ahead of you they are usually six or seven, and I am a very good liar." A smile spread across her face, her red lips curving up as she saw gradual understanding enter the face of the young man.
"You didn't think I was going to let you die did you?" she asked, amusement apparent in her voice.
Sokka lowered his head; he couldn't believe he was that stupid to think she had betrayed him in such a way, but still weary he did not reach out to her, even after she rested her hand on his chest.
Looking up he grinned at her slightly, "Well thanks for letting me know you were going to do this." His voice did not sound angry, only relived to know he was safe for the moment.
"If you would have been more experienced with the deceitful world of royalty and politics, yes perhaps I would have. But to ensure they suspected nothing I had to let you think I had betrayed you." Raising her hand she brushed away the loose hairs out of his face, "Granted I'll admit that some of it was on the spot acting and for a second I thought Renshu was going to take your head off."
Sokka raised his eyebrow at the mention of the commander's name, "Who is that guy anyway?"
Sokka was surprised when Azula seemed slightly taken back by the question, "The commander is just a very close friend of the family. He is the most favored commander in my father's army. Why do you ask?"
"No reason," Sokka lied. Truthfully he had wanted to know why the commander seemed oddly protective over the princess, but at the moment he had no time for small talk.
Azula slipped something out of her sleeve and handed it to Sokka. Immediately he felt the cool metal against his palm and knew it was a key.
Moving closer to him she whispered in his ear, "In half and hour you will hear a guard walk by, wait until you can no longer hear his steps. Once he is gone you have fifteen minutes until he comes back around again." Her voice was soft but held the tone of seriousness that caused Sokka's heart to race with slight fear. "Follow the stairs upwards; you should not meet anymore guards if you stay walking in that same corridor. It will lead outside, then walk towards the old trading building that is built next to the wall. There is an old door there that no one uses; I will meet you outside the wall." Pulling back just enough to see his face she again kissed him, this time it was not full of lust or passion but a kiss that felt almost mournful as it fell against his lips. "Good luck," she whispered softly against is neck, her finger running along the curve of his chin.
For a moment there eyes met, both thinking that perhaps this was truly the last time they would see one another. Azula was standing motionless, her porcelain like skin glowing in the dim light, joy and sorrow mingled in her eyes.
Without another word she turned and left, not looking back, knowing that if she did she wasn't entirely sure if she would be able to leave his side again.
The door clanged loudly behind her, the rusted metal screeching loudly echoing down the stone walls.
Azula kept her focus on the path before her, a seemingly endless hall of worn stone and dancing flames, all the while her mind still with the watertribsman locked away behind her. Watching the shadows on the wall she sighed deeply, knowing that now she was no better then her brother. No perhaps even worse. She had betrayed her father and her nation.
As she headed out of the dungeon a figure could be seen standing in the hall unmoving, even when she approached they remained still as if expecting it was her. Frowning Azula knew who it was.
"What now Renshu?" she asked hotly. She was in no mood to deal with him at the moment.
The man stepped forward his cloak swaying gracefully behind him, darkness hiding most of his features from her, "Nothing, I was just wanting to know you were alright."
Crossing her arms Azula continued, "He is chained up, what harm would he do me?"
Bowing deeply Renshu replied, "I'm sure nothing, my princess."
"Well thank you for your concern but I'm going to bed," Azula turned to walk away but a strong hand stopped her suddenly. Spinning her around quickly she found herself trapped between him and the cold wall. Fear shot thorough her body, thinking that maybe he suspected something. She just prayed he couldn't see the concern in her face.
His eyes studied her carefully, darting back and forth across her features. He had brilliantly golden eyes, but unlike the stone the color acquired its name from, his gaze was hard and stern. Eventually his eyes met with hers, his face serious and without emotion, "I am curious though, as to why you spent so long down there? The dungeon is no place for a princess."
Pushing his arm away roughly Azula snapped back, "That is not of your concern."
Slamming his hand back against the wall trapping her yet again, the commander's voice began to hold the slightest hint of anger lurking just underneath.
"Oh? I think it is," he said, voice gruff sounding. Azula jerked back slightly when he moved closer to her, the strong smell of liquor met her nose when his warm breath moved against her skin like a hot sickening breeze. "Don't forget your father's arrangement between us. I would hate to have something bad happen to you before then."
Looking forward Azula managed to focus on a wooden door across from them, her mind desperately trying to ignore the close proximity of the commander. Breathing slowly she could feel her heart race widely in her chest. She was not afraid of many people but Renshu was one of them. He was a powerful enough fire bender to attract the attention of her father. That alone said everything.
The compulsion to just blast him with fire was playing with her thoughts, but the knowledge of her father's certain punishment to follow made her keep her hands by her sides, knuckles white from clenching them so tightly.
Renshu grinned briefly; his smile was in part a challenge. His golden eyes glowed brightly as the light cast shadows along his features; he knew what she was thinking. But his strong ties with the Fire Lord would ensure her thoughts would remain only as thoughts.
The presence he gave off filled her with unease, and no matter were she looked his eyes still could be seen. She fidgeted against the wall, her skin slowly feeling as if tiny needles were pricking her, she needed to get away.
Resting her hands against his chest she pushed him back. This time he moved without resistance. "You need not worry, I still remember."
"And make sure it stays that way," he said after her, his eyes watching the direction she had walked.
Sokka sat against the wall fumbling with the key in his hands, listening for anything that sounded like footsteps. He had already undone the chains binding his wrists, but that was just one step in the hundreds he still had to do until freedom was finally his again.
Closing his eyes he tried not to think about the possible death that awaited him outside the cold steel door of his prison. Either way he was going to die in this city, in a few minutes or days. But it was going to happen.
He whispered the instructions Azula had given him over an over again, his mind picturing his escape and freedom. But instead of finding Azula outside the great white walls he always found the commanders cold eyes looking down on him just before the burst of fire.
"Stop it Sokka," he scolded himself, "You can do this." Saying the words out loud did little to help convince him that he was going to see another day, but it helped to calm him.
Water splashed nearby, the sound vibrated through the freezing air filling his ears, reminding him of his sister. Oh how he wanted to see his sister again, she was all he had left in this world, and he knew he was all she had. "You can't screw this up Sokka," he told himself, "If not for yourself then for Katara, you can't die tonight."
Suddenly Sokka's eyes shot open at the sound of heavy footsteps, slow and unrushed the guard shuffled down the hall. Feet crunching the small pebbles that littered the floor, the sound echoing down the many empty halls.
Clenching the key in a white knuckled grasp, he held his breath. His eyes watched as the shadow of a figure passed by his cell. Getting up slowly he crept towards the door, lowering his head towards the crack between the floor and the door to try and pick up the sound of the guards movements. Slowly the sound hushed until it was gone, being replaced with the constant racket of water drops hitting the stone floor.
Raising the key Sokka knew this was it, once that door was open he had only two possible ways of ending this.
Taking one last breath before sliding the key into the lock he prepared himself for the worst.
Sorry sooooo much for making you guy's wait so long for this chapter but for a while I had school, then finals. And I just started at a job where there is shift work so that leaves me with little to no ambition to write, plus the lack of new Avatar episodes also makes it hard. This chapter was not so good I know but it is another one of those 'transition' chapters.