A/N: Sorry for the delay in this. I had a plot bunny that I couldn't ignore and I started a new story. I'm not giving up on this story so don't worry about that. The word document I write this story on is at 111 pages and that's way to much to give up on. Like always feel free to read enjoy and leave comments.
Family Reunion
"Master Sokka, your messenger hawk has returned from the Fire Nation with a message for you." Sokka waved the messenger in without looking up from his workbench.
Sokka finally looked up at the Kyoshi Warrior recruit when she reached him and gave her a gentle smile.
"Hawkey's returned with a message you say? Well let's have a look then shall we?" Sokka said as he took the scroll from the girl and unrolled it.
Sokka,
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to let you know that Katara and I will be heading to the South Pole before winter hits to see how the village is doing. We will be stopping by to visit you. Toph asked if we would bring her with us to Kyoshi Island. You know how convincing Toph can be. My arm still hurts. We will be leaving here tomorrow.
Avatar Aang
Sokka frowned upon reading the letter. He hadn't seen his sister in over a year and he wasn't really looking forward to seeing her again.
"Do you know if Suki is in the dojo?" Sokka asked the girl after several minutes of silence.
"Yes, she's in training with the others." The girl replied
"Thank you." Sokka said.
Sokka's mind was racing with thoughts about how seeing his sister again would go. The last time they saw each other it wasn't pretty and he was still bitter about the whole situation. He needed to talk this over with Suki. She was always able to calm him down and help him think clearly. Sokka decided that this was important enough to interrupt Suki's training so he got up and headed to the dojo.
Sokka stood leaning against the entrance way to the dojo and watched Suki instruct her warriors. He smiled to himself as he admired her beauty. She was such a strong leader and he couldn't help but love her for the way commanded respect from her warriors by her example and her kind heart. People just gravitated to her would follow her lead. Suki's leadership ability flowed as naturally to her as water does in a river.
Suki caught Sokka's eyes when she noticed him standing in the doorway smiling that smile that he only gave her. Her heart still fluttered every time she saw that smile. She held his gaze for a few seconds longer and she noticed the worry in his eyes.
"Akemi, can you take over for me." Suki said to her second in command.
Suki walked up to Sokka and give him a peck on the lips in greeting and smiled warmly at him. Sokka took her hand, intertwined their fingers and led her away from the dojo. The couple walked out of the village and towards the beach in silence just enjoying each other's company.
"Sokka, what's bothering you I can see it in your eyes." Suki said finally breaking the silence.
"Katara and Aang are coming to visit us." He said as he handed her the scroll.
They were in the Fire Nation when the message was sent. It takes Hawkey about a week to fly here so I'm assuming they'll be here in two days." Sokka deduced and handed her the message.
Suki read the message over and after another moment of silence she responded. "At least Toph will be here."
"Yeah, at least Toph will be here." Sokka repeated. "How am I going to deal with Katara? I don't even know how to talk to her anymore." Sokka said in frustration.
Suki let go of his hand and wrapped her arm around his bicep to get a little closer to comfort him while he thought out loud. Suki learned that there was no need to really say anything. Just being close to him and be an ear for him as he thought things through always worked best. He was the smartest man she knew and he could solve most any problem if given a chance to think it over.
"I feel like I don't even know her anymore. She's changed so much...I've changed so much." He changed course of his thoughts mid sentence. "I'm not the same person I was back when we first found Aang. Why does she still see me as the boy I was when we first met Aang, instead of the man I became at the end of the war? What do I have to do to prove that I'm not that boy anymore?"
"Sokka, you don't have to prove anything. You know who you are, and if she's too stubborn to see that then that's her problem." I told him before he went down a path he wouldn't want to go down.
"You're right Suki. You're always right." He said as he kissed my head. "I'm just going to be me and not get worked up about it. If things come to a head I'm going to do what do what Master Piandao taught and remain calm and sure handed." He said with finality.
"We should probably let Azula know. With her history with Katara, she might need all the time she can get to prepare herself." Suki said and then steered them towards Azula's hut.
A knock at her door brought Azula out of her trance. She had cleaned and organized her house from top to bottom three times and was in the process of refolding her clothes for the second when the knock came. She finished folding the wool tunic in her hands and got up to answer the door. She opened the door to her only friends and gestured them in with a rare smile.
"Wow Azula, this place is spotless." Sokka mentioned as he looked around and saw everything was in place and aligned with a militarily precision. A result of her upbringing and possible a result mental stability he figured.
Azula raised an eyebrow at Sokka. "Filth annoys me." She said in a tone that suggested cleanliness is the norm and should be expected. "Please, have a seat." Azula gestured to the table. "Would you like some tea?"
Sokka sat and noticed Azula playing the picture perfect host. He was somewhat surprised that Azula, who had a tendency to act haughty, would act in such a way. As Sokka thought about it he really shouldn't be surprised, she was nobility, royalty even and hosting teas and dinners was probably taught to all women in Fire Nation culture.
"Yes please." Suki responded to Azula breaking Sokka out of his train of thought.
Suki watched Azula prepare tea for them. When she lit the fire with spark rocks Suki saw how she looked at the flames longingly. The look in her eyes pained Suki's heart. Azula had lost so much but losing her fire hurt her the most. Suki would never be able to understand how painful it would be to lose something that was part of your soul like Azula had.
"Here let me help." Suki said as she got up hoping to distract Azula.
"You're my guests, it wouldn't be right for you to have to assist. It would make me a bad host." Azula replied.
The tone in Azula's voice made Suki stop. The Fire Nation culture is largely based on honor and the last thing Suki wanted to do was insult and shame Azula.
Azula finished making the tea and set it at the table and joined them.
"What brings you to my home?" Azula asks nonchalantly.
"To see how you're doing." Sokka responded a little too quickly.
"You are not a very good liar Sokka." Azula said with raised eyebrows.
Sokka sighed a "Fine" and handed her the message he received from Aang. Azula read carefully read the letter and her eyes widened.
"She's coming here?" Azula finally asked.
"They should be here in two days or so." Suki replied.
"Keep her away from me. I will not be held responsible for my actions if she provokes me." Azula commanded.
Sokka groaned internally. He knew the two would have to encounter one another at some point. He was hoping it would have been later when she was more comfortable dealing with people normally.
"Azula this could be good for you. It could be a huge step in your recovery process." Sokka said to which Azula scoffed.
"That girl is part of the reason I'm in this mess." Azula winced as soon as the words left her mouth. She closed her eyes and breathed deep to try and collect her thoughts. She knew it wasn't Katara's fault she lost her mind and that in the long run losing that fight was the best thing for her and the world, but it was still a huge hit on her pride and her self-worth and it was what led to her losing her bending.
Azula breathed deeply again. "I mean, she hates me and will never forgive me. I see little point in having to confront someone who wants me dead and apparently has no problem using torture to do so." Azula reasoned.
She was right and Sokka knew but he knew there was no way to avoid a confrontation and the only thing he could do is damage control. He hoped it would be Azula being the better person and showing her change that would put out most of the fires.
"Listen Azula." He said pinching the bridge of his nose. "There is no way to avoid a confrontation. I think it would be best if we got it out-of-the-way in a controlled environment and you show how much you changed in front of everybody the better things will be for you and everybody else."
Blast a perfectly logical argument countered with an even more flawless one. Azula thought as she reluctantly agreed with Sokka.
"You know, you beating me at my own game is getting rather irritating." Azula said in acceptance.
"Good, now let's talk strategy. How are we going to approach this." Sokka said as if it were a battle plan.
o0o0o0o0o0o
Two days later...
Sokka, Suki, and Azula were standing at the entrance to the village with a full contingent of Kyoshi warriors. As Sokka predicted The Avatar's sky bison was spotted in the distance two days after the message arrived. The Avatar, being responsible for ending the war, was to be given a hero's welcome and given a celebration in his honor. Katara and Toph were to be given the same honor as hero's of the war in their own right.
Sokka stomach twisted with nervousness as Appa's figure grew larger in the distance. Suki sensing Sokka's apprehension took hold of his hand and squeezed it in comfort.
Appa landed some twenty yards away in the clearing just outside the village. Sokka got a good look at the three passengers' faces. Aang had his typical childish grin. Toph looked relieved to be finally on the ground. The look on Katara's face made Sokka's stomach sink. She had a deep scowl and her angry eyes were set heavily on Azula. Azula noticed and chose to heed Sokka's advice and looked down to avoid returning the fierce gaze.
Suki's warriors formed two columns at her back while Suki stood in full armor and face paint. Sokka stood to her right, he was too in full armor, though his armor was that of the Water Tribe. Azula stood to Suki's left a half a step behind her. She a simple grey tunic short sleeved tunic and matching grey pants, a look of pure humility.
"Welcome Avatar Aang, Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, and Toph Bei Fong of the Earth Kingdom, you honor Kyoshi Island with your presence." Suki said formally and her and Sokka gave a slight bow.
Azula dropped to her knees and touched her forehead to the ground in a full bow. "Thank you for your mercies Avatar. I have been told of your petitions to spare me the executioners block." Azula said meekly.
The three guests were thrown off by Azula's display of humility though Katara quickly recovered and assumed it was a rouse or some way to get attention and glared down at the girl.
Aang's reaction was different he was still not used to people bowing to him and regarding him as higher than royalty. He smiled down at Azula and muttered. "Please Azula, stand. There is no need to bow."
Azula stood and then faced Katara directly. "Master Katara." She said respectfully and bowed to her in the traditional Fire Nation way. Katara stood straight backed and glared daggers at the girl refusing to meet Azula's bow. Several awkward seconds passed and Azula remained bowed.
"Katara, we're waiting." Toph said loudly ignoring all social protocol.
Katara sighed loudly and finally returned a half hazard bow of her own. Azula straightened and turn to bow to Toph but was cut off.
"Don't even think about it Goldy-eyes." Toph told Azula.
"Goldy-eyes?" Azula questioned in confusion. "What happened to crazy-pants?"
"I don't think crazy-pants is really fair and I've heard lots of people talk about your golden eyes. So, Goldy-eyes." Toph said as if it were nothing.
After Azula and Toph's conversation she turned she turned and noticed the tension between Sokka and his sister. She told him about their last encounter and how they hadn't talked since he left the peace meetings over a year ago. She watched Sokka give his sister a strained smile and a way to formal greeting. Sokka never did formal and for him to give do that for his own sister really showed the strain in their relationship. The Avatar seemed to be oblivious or pretended to be oblivious to the awkward interaction between his girlfriend and her brother. Azula thought to herself either he is really good or he is an idiot and her father was pathetic to have lost to him. Azula's thoughts were interrupted by a slug to the arm. She looked in shock to see that it was Toph.
"Let's get out of here, the tension is suffocating." Toph muttered under her breath.
" I can't exactly leave. I am to be escorted at all times when I'm not in my hut." Replied.
"Ugh, fine I'll move things along then." Toph huffed.
"Snoozles you too good to say hi to me or something?" Toph said rather loudly.
Sokka jumped a little and chuckled sheepishly.
"Of course not Toph I value my life too much." Sokka joked.
There was a feast prepared in honor of the Avatar and the hero's of the war. The Suki, Sokka and rest of the heroic teens sat at the table of honor. The rest of the town filled the tables that spread throughout the town square. Azula on the other hand was forced to sit at the far end of the square at a small table and guarded by a Kyoshi warrior. Fortunately, Ty Lee volunteered for the role. Sokka was a little irritated that Azula was forced to be shunned but knew it was for the best at the moment and he was grateful for Ty Lee to keep her company.
Ty Lee sat chatting away at Azula and for that she was thankful. Normally Ty Lee's constant blabbering would grate on Azula's nerves but tonight it was a welcome distraction to the open hostility of Katara and most of the village for that matter. Large social gatherings with a bunch of people who would rather see you hanging from a noose were not pleasant.
"Ty Lee, do you think they'll ever forgive me?" Azula asked suddenly
"Of course Azula. What's not to forgive." Ty Lee replied cheerfully.
Azula gave her a cross look and said. "Ty Lee I know you're not that vapid and naïve. Drop the charade and give me a straight answer." Azula said a bit harder than she intended.
Ty Lee's smile disappeared and had a rare serious look on her face. "I don't know Azula. You've done some pretty hurtful things, though not nearly as many as you've been blamed for. But I've heard the things people say. I spent time with a lot of prisoners of war while I was in prison and my time here on Kyoshi Island. You and Ozai pretty are given pretty much all the blame of everything that happened during the war. I was in Ba Sing Se when the verdict was passed down that you were not to be executed. Me and the rest of the Kyoshi Warriors were in full on riot control for nearly two days. It's going to take a lot for you to earn forgiveness, but they forgave me right?" Ty Lee explained.
"Ty Lee you're like a little teddy bear nobody can stay mad at you for very long."
Ty Lee beamed like a little girl on her birthday at the complement.
"But I suppose you're right. I mean they forgave Zuzu after all."
Dinner was an awkward ordeal for Sokka. He and Katara tried to pretend everything was amicable but the tension was thick and everybody picked up on it. Sokka was mostly silent during the whole meal which was almost unheard of, but he put on a strong front and tried really hard not to say something stupid. Katara didn't make it very easy when she openly and hatefully complained about Azula.
"Why is she even here? I can't believe you even let her come to the feast. She should be bound and locked in a cage, not allowed to walk free." Katara spat.
"Katara, she's not a caged animal. She is here on a work restitution program and she is escorted by at least one Kyoshi warrior at all times." Suki answered saving Sokka the trouble.
Aang put a hand on Katara's shoulder. It was enough for her to cut off Katara's continued rant. The rest of the dinner conversation was about all the different peace initiatives that had been put in place and how the rebuilding process is going between the nations. Sokka did manage to mention his blacksmith shop and that he was made an official master swordsman.
Katara scoffed and expressed her disbelieve. Sokka couldn't get his head around her hostility toward him. She saw what he did during the war. She knows that he was pretty much the leader of their group during the war. Why has she been acting like he was still the goofy ignorant Sokka still back at the south pole.
"Katara, Sokka continued his training under Master Piandao. That's why he was in the Fire Nation all last year. Master Piandao named him a master himself just a few weeks ago." Suki once again stepped in.
Sokka grabbed Suki's hand under the table and gave it an affectionate thank you squeeze and gave her a warm loving smile.
The feast ended with the Kyoshi warriors giving martial arts display that was a welcome distraction from the tense meal.
"Hey Katara, can we talk?" Sokka asked in a serious tone as everybody was leaving the feast.
Katara glanced over at Aang who gave her a nod. Katara accepted his invitation with a nod of her own.
"Let's take a walk." Sokka said as he motioned for her towards a trail.
They walked for several minutes in silence. Sokka was trying to get his thoughts together.
"What happened to us?" He finally asked breaking the silence. "We used to be so caring to each other. What happened that drove us apart?" Sokka asked. He had his own ideas but he wanted to hear what she had to say. If she would admit what it is instead of live in denial.
Katara sighed and dropped her shoulders. "People change Sokka. Some of us had to grow up and take up responsibilities." She replied.
Sokka was a little hurt and angry at what she was implying. It was as he had expected. She was blinded by denial and used his perceived 'lack of maturity' as an excuse.
He chose to not bring this up for now instead he chose to redirect and twist her words. "True, our responsibilities did take us in different directions. You seem to be needed at the Avatar's side in a more political role. I felt I needed to finish my training so I could be better equipped to take over as chief of the tribe when dad is ready to hand it over." He said calmly.
He read her reaction clear as a bell. He could tell she was dismissive and didn't think he could handle being chief. "Dad hasn't told you?" He asked with a slight cocky smirk that the darkness hid. "Dad and I have talked about it for a while."
This took Katara completely off guard. She hadn't been communicating with family much and she figured after Sokka abruptly left the peace meetings that he had shirked his duty to his tribe and his responsibilities all together.
"You don't think I can do it do you? You don't think that I've grown up, that I'll ever grow up." He said it in a way that she knew it wasn't a question.
She was caught off guard and she did what she always did she became defensive and angry. "Well what do you expect me to think. You've never taken anything seriously and you've never shown responsibility for anything in your life." She yelled.
"You don't honestly believe that do you Katara? Think back Katara during the war who led the invasion on the day of black sun? Who came up with the plan that won the war. Who led the charge that took out the air fleet? Who rescued Dad from the boiling rock? Who kept our group focused and on track? Think Katara, was it Aang? Toph? You?" I said a lot calmer than I thought I could have.
Katara was quiet for a long time. She was looking at the ground with her brows furrowed and her jaw set. Her fists were clenched tight but she said nothing.
"Who then Katara, tell me who was it?" I demanded
She squared up on me and had to look up to stare me in the face and she shouted. "You! Aright it was you!"
"Then why do you treat me as you do? Why do you treat me is such distain?" I asked full of sorrow.
"Because" She said quietly with eyes full of unshed tears. "Because of the guilt...the shame...the hurt." She cried as she sunk to her knees. Sokka followed her down and drew her in his arms.
"I killed that man in cold blood." She sobbed. "You were right Sokka. It did nothing to satisfy the hurt from losing mom. It only made me angrier and the hurt worse. I see his face every night. Your words shamed me that night in the Fire Nation and I took my guilt out on you because I can't take it. I lashed out at you to drive the guilt away and it brought even more guilt to see the hurt I caused you." She cried into Sokka's shoulder as she clutched his shirt tightly.
"Let it out, let the pain out." He said as he rubbed her back and holding her tight.
Katara cried out much of her anger and guilt. Sokka knew she still needed more time and she still had a ways to go but she made progress. But at least he knew their relationship would be much better.