Author's Note: This chapter gets kind of gay. Only kind of though.
Chapter 26: Treasure Hunt
"Sokka!" Kiyi shrieked, running and jumping into his arms, nearly bowling him over.
"Whoa," he laughed, catching his balance. "Hey there, Kiyi! I swear you get bigger every time I see you!" He gave her a quick hug and set her down on the grass.
"Hey Sokka!" Ty Lee, sitting lotus style next to Suki, waved to him from a blanket on the shaded grass beneath a large tree in the Palace courtyard. "What are you doing here?!"
"Oh, uh, I was just hoping to surprise Azula with an unannounced visit," he replied, walking over to the girls with Kiyi skipping merrily behind him. He took a seat on the blanket and glanced around. "I'm surprised she didn't want to join in on your tea party."
"I hate to tell you, but she's not here…" Suki frowned.
"Oh. When will she be back?"
"I actually have no idea. She took off unexpectedly without saying a word." The Kyoshi warrior fidgeted with the handle of her tea cup.
"Ah, I forgot to tell you," the acrobat winced, looking at Suki with regret. "She wrote to me saying she's in Makapu Village in the Earth Kingdom with Zuko and Iroh."
"I see," Sokka scowled, wondering what the three firebenders could possibly be doing in such a backwards village. "So she's gone gone."
"Sorry you came all this way… if you'd like, I can write back to her and tell her to come home!" Ty Lee offered, perking up.
"No no, that's okay. I wanted to surprise her."
"Hey, well since you're here, why don't you join us and have some tea?" Suki suggested, reaching for the kettle. "I'm sure Kiyi would like that."
"I would! But…" Kiyi grinned mischievously. "This tea party is for girls only – "
"It's true," the acrobat confirmed. "She did say that."
" – but you can still join us if… you dress up."
The way the little girl was smirking up at him was endearing. He imagined that's what little Azula must have looked like.
"It wouldn't be the first time you've dressed like a girl," the Kyoshi warrior sneered.
"Hey, I rocked that uniform! And headdress. And face paint." He stood up. "You know what? Let's do this. Dress me up."
Ty Lee jumped up. "I have the perfect outfit for you! Let's go!"
Suki and Kiyi watched Ty Lee take Sokka's hand and pull him toward the Palace.
When they returned minutes later, the blue-eyed warrior was wearing a rose-colored crop top, accentuated by a maroon ribbon, with the skirt to match.
The girls giggled at him.
"Well, what do you think?" the acrobat asked with a wide grin.
"Sokka, you can actually pull that off!" Suki laughed.
"He knows it too," Ty Lee jeered. "He was staring at himself in the mirror for an awfully long time…"
"What? I look pretty!" He sat down next to Kiyi on the blanket, folding his knees back so that no one could see up his skirt. "I mean, I'd do me."
"Sokka!" the Kyoshi warrior hissed with a clenched jaw, glancing at Kiyi and back at him.
"What I meant to say is, I'd date me."
"So would I," the young firebender flirted, batting her eyelashes and leaning in closer to the blue-eyed warrior.
"How about we find you someone more age appropriate?" Suki chuckled.
"Kiyi, remember when we were playing hide-and-go-seek and I told you Azula was my very special friend?" Sokka asked.
"Mmhmm."
"Well, the reason why I'm here now is because…" He sighed. "… I'd like to ask her to be more than that."
Ty Lee and Suki looked at each other, wide-eyed and smiling with excitement.
"Like… to be your girlfriend?"
"Something like that," he blushed.
"Awwwww!" the acrobat squealed.
"What do you think about that?"
"Hmmm…" The little girl paused to think, looking down at the blanket. She turned back to him with a genuine smile. "Azzie is very beautiful and you are very handsome. Azzie is very smart and you are very smart. Azzie is a prodigy firebender, and you're a… you know how to throw a boomerang. So… I approve!"
"Thank you, Kiyi. Your approval is very important to me," he smiled, leaning forward to pour himself a cup of tea. "Now if only I could get the approval of another firebender…"
"Hi, Aunt Wu," the warrior stammered awkwardly. "M – My name's Sokka and I'm – "
"Yes, I remember you. You're the – "
"The skeptic who advised people not to listen to your fortunes… yeah, that's me." He looked down at his feet.
"I was going to say you're the clever boy who saved our village from being destroyed by the volcano," the elderly woman laughed warmly. "And who helped the Avatar end the War. Thank you for your heroism."
He smiled at her, his cheeks a tad red.
"Well, what can I do for you? I don't imagine you came all this way for a reading…"
"I'm looking for someone. I heard she might be here..."
She looked at him with intrigue.
"It's, uh, Princess Azula of the Fire Nation."
"I see," she smiled softly. "Looking to win her heart I take it?"
"How did you…?"
"She had a reading here during her visit. I'm not sure if I was able to help her, but I'd like to think I did."
"During her visit? So she's not here anymore? She left?"
"She was here briefly with her brother and handsome uncle…"
"Iroh? Handsome?!" Sokka thought, struggling not to make his oogie face.
"… but I'm afraid she's no longer here," she frowned. "They took off a few days ago."
He huffed with disappointment. "Did they happen to say where they were going? Back to the Palace perhaps?"
"Hmmm… I believe they were heading back to Ba Sing Se, but I could be mistaken."
"Thank you, that's very helpful." He gave her a weak smile. "I guess I should be on my way then."
"You've traveled far. I'm just about to close up for the day and you look like you could use a hot meal and some rest. Why don't you stay the night? My house is close by."
He hadn't realized how tired and hungry he was until she brought it to his attention. "That's very generous, Aunt Wu. But I wouldn't want to be an inconvenience."
"Nonsense!" the gray-haired woman dismissed. "Just think of it as a thank-you for protecting our village all those years ago."
"Well… okay then. Thank you." The warrior watched her lock up her establishment and began walking her home. "Hey, Aunt Wu, can I ask you something?"
"Why, of course."
"During Azula's reading… did I come up at all?"
She didn't answer.
"Did she say anything about me? Did you see me at all in her fortune? Please, I need to know… do we end up together?"
"Sokka," she laughed. "You know I can't tell you that." She watched his face fall. "But what I can tell you is this." She looked him in the eye. "You are actively shaping your own destiny. Just look at you, searching for your loved one all over the world."
He nodded, smiling faintly.
"And I believe if you keep carrying on the way you are…" She rested her hand on his shoulder. "You two will find each other."
"Why isn't it my second favorite firebender?" Sokka playfully announced upon entering the Jasmine Dragon, extending his arms out wide for a hug.
"Sokka!" Zuko shouted, standing up from one of the tables. He met his friend in the middle of the tea shop and gave him a hug. "It's good to see you! What are you even doing here?"
"It's good to see you too," the warrior smiled. "Well this may come as a shock to you, but I was actually looking for your sister."
"Who, Kiyi?" he asked facetiously.
He laughed. "I actually just saw her at the Palace. She… made me wear a dress."
"Yeah she does that," the firebender chuckled. "I bet you were very pretty."
"I was, thank you!"
"Wait… why were you at the Palace?"
"I told you, I'm looking for Azula. I wanted to surprise her."
The Fire Lord looked at him with concern. "So you're not mad at her anymore? You… you'd like to patch things up?"
"That's the plan – "
His gut twisted. "You really hurt her, you know."
"I know," Sokka sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Well, uh… Azula isn't here."
He blinked a few times. "What?!"
"Yeah she just left yesterday… she decided to go back to the Palace to try and work out some things with Mother."
"Oh." The warrior took a deep breath. "I'm glad she's going to talk things out with Ursa, but… I kinda had this whole date already planned for her…"
Zuko raised an eyebrow.
"I actually stopped by the tea shop an hour ago when I got in. I peeked through the window and saw you and Iroh, and I just assumed Azula was here too. So I went to a fancy spa in the Upper Ring and scheduled a couple's package for us… manis, pedis, massages, time in the mud baths… you know, things she'd do with her girlfriends. I figured it would be relaxing for the two of us."
"That does sound relaxing…"
"Perhaps you two should go together," Iroh bellowed, walking through the drapes from the kitchen into the dining area.
"Iroh!" Sokka greeted, walking briskly toward the older man to give him a hug.
"It's been too long," the elderly firebender said, hugging him tightly.
"Ooh, before I forget, I was just at Makapu Village and Aunt Wu asked me to give you a kiss for her…"
"…Well?" Iroh pointed to his cheek.
"Uhhh…" The warrior wasn't sure what to do.
"I'm just kidding." He smiled.
Sokka released a relieved laugh. "You got me there."
"But I was not kidding about you two going to the spa together – "
"Uncle," Zuko cut in. "The package is for couples."
"Perfect for a couple of best friends," Iroh chortled.
"I don't know…" Sokka scrunched his face. "Guys don't really do that sort of thing with each other…"
"Even for two open-minded individuals such as yourselves?"
"Hmmph." The boys crossed their arms and shifted their gaze away from each other.
"Nephew, you said yourself that it sounded relaxing, and Sokka, you wouldn't want all that money to go to waste…"
"Sokka, you didn't already pay for it did you?" the Fire Lord questioned.
"I had to!" he answered. "They wouldn't schedule me otherwise."
"Well then just get a refund!"
"No refunds! Store policy."
"Ergh!" Zuko huffed with frustration, smoke coming out of his nostrils. "Okay. Maybe a little talk from the Fire Lord would help change their mind."
"Maybe…"
"Then let's go." The aggravated Fire Lord grabbed his friend by the shirt collar and pulled him forward.
"Bye, Iroh!" the warrior called, waving at him as he got dragged out of the tea shop.
"Have a nice time at the spa, boys!"
"I've got to say, I really enjoy being pampered like this," Sokka confessed as he and Zuko entered the dim-lighted massage room. "My nails have never looked so shiny!"
"Yeah. I hate to admit it, but I'm really glad we did this," the firebender smiled. "It's been a while since I treated myself…"
"Really?" He chuckled skeptically. "Because while all the calluses on my feet were being filed down, yours were baby smooth."
His cheeks reddened. "Perks of being royalty I guess."
"No wonder you're such an expensive date," he joked.
"Shhhh, not so loud! They can probably hear you." He gestured to the thinly draped partition leading to the hallway.
The warrior laughed. "Relax, I'm just – "
"I have a reputation to uphold."
"I know, I know. Geesh." He smiled mischievously. "With an attitude like that you'd better put out after this at the very least."
The Fire Lord clenched his fists, causing the flames of the sparsely scattered candles to surge and nearly char the ceiling.
His laughter only grew.
Realizing how ridiculous he was being, Zuko released the tension in his fists and started to laugh. He had missed this. Joking around with his best friend, the guy he could always count on to make bad puns and put a smile on his face.
"But in all seriousness, we should probably do what the masseuses asked us to do." He pulled the tie of his bathrobe and let the fabric drop to the floor, revealing his completely nude body.
"Spirits Sokka, a little warning next time!" he hissed, averting his gaze.
"What?" He picked up the robe and confidently paraded around the other side of the room to hang it up. "Does the presence of a naked man make you uncomfortable?" He stood triumphantly in front of the firebender with his legs apart and his hands on his hips.
"Shut up," he laughed.
"It's your turn," Sokka challenged.
"Well don't watch!"
"Fiiiiine." He crossed the room and kept his back toward his friend.
Zuko removed his bathrobe and hung it up.
"Aha!" the warrior cried, spinning around and pointing his index fingers at the firebender.
"You asshole. I'm gonna get you back – "
"Are you two ready for your massages?" a female voice called from behind the partition.
"Uhhhh…" The boys bolted to their respective massage tables, lay down on their stomachs, and shimmied the sheets over them. "Yes, we're ready!"
The warrior was still chuckling to himself when the masseuses entered.
"What could Azula possibly see in him?" Zuko thought, shaking his head and smiling self-consciously. Except that he knew the answer. Sokka was one-of-a-kind.
Two beautiful masseuses filed in. The younger of the two, a black-haired girl with soft features, stood by Sokka's table, and the other, a brunette with cat-like eyes, took to Zuko's.
"Have you two ever had massages before?" the older masseuse asked as a formality.
"Mmhmm," the boys responded.
"Great, well please speak up at any time if you'd prefer more or less pressure."
The boys nodded.
"Do you prefer silence with your massage or conversation?" the black-haired girl inquired.
"Conversation," Sokka replied while Zuko answered, "Silence."
The masseuses looked at each other and giggled.
"He's the boss," the warrior conceded. "Silence it is."
The women smiled with acknowledgement and went to work on their respective customers, rubbing their heads and necks.
The boys groaned in satisfaction.
However, twenty minutes later, nearly halfway through the massage, Sokka heard Zuko's masseuse whisper.
"I think your friend is asleep," she snickered.
Sokka huffed, thinking it a little selfish to sleep given the exuberant cost of the services.
"Should I wake him?"
"No," he grumbled. "Let the royal highness sleep."
"So… are you two…" Sokka's masseuse grinned slyly. "…lovers?"
"Zuko and me?" The warrior let out a hearty laugh. "No, we're just good friends."
"You don't have to keep secrets here, you know," she continued. "In Ba Sing Se, as long as all the rules are followed, we don't discriminate. And you two would make such a cute couple!"
"Well, that's good to know, but I assure you no secrets are being kept. Believe it or not, we're fighting for the same girl."
"What?" the brunette questioned with disbelief. "But I don't sense any animosity between you two."
"There was, but I think we've come to a better understanding. We're not gonna let her interfere with our friendship."
"That's very mature of you."
"Thank you. It's not easy, but – "
"Is it Princess Azula?" the younger girl blurted.
Zuko's masseuse shot her a dirty look.
"What?" Sokka shifted with discomfort. "Why would you think that?"
"There have been a lot of rumors regarding the nature of the Fire Lord's… relationship with his sister…"
He chuckled.
"So is it true?"
"I'm neither going to confirm nor deny that."
The masseuses giggled.
"Well, I think it's really heartwarming that you can stay such good friends while going after the same girl," Sokka's masseuse smiled.
"Considering we even managed to stay friends after he stole my first real girlfriend from me and then dumped her a few months later like she was nothing…" He turned his head to the side to look over at Zuko. "… I don't think there's much that could ever break us apart."
"Awwww!"
"You hear that?" the older girl whispered to the firebender. "You have such an amazing friend."
"Hey, it's time to roll onto your back," the black-haired girl informed.
Sokka nodded and rolled over beneath the sheets.
The brunette gently nudged her slumbering client. "Can you turn over?"
"But you have to admit… Jet's pretty hot for a guy," Zuko mumbled, unconsciously rolling over, still very much asleep.
Sokka and the masseuses burst out laughing.
Zuko's masseuse smoothed out the Fire Lord's covers and began rubbing his chest. "Sounds like someone is having a very interesting dream…"
Sokka shed his robe and dipped his foot into the mud bath. "Mmmmm. The mud is fine."
Thankful that no one else was using the facilities, Zuko hung up both robes and joined his friend in the tub. "Ahhh. I don't hate this as much as I thought I would."
"And here I thought you didn't mind getting a little dirty," he sneered. "Life as Fire Lord must have softened you up."
"Maybe," he chuckled. "Mud's just not exactly my thing… I don't get how Toph loves it so much."
"Well, this mud is grade A upper ring Ba Sing Se mud. Perfectly clean!"
"Perfectly clean? Your naked ass is in here!"
"I'll have you know my naked ass is perfectly clean too!"
The boys laughed.
"Hey, so… how's Azula doing?" Sokka asked hesitantly.
"I… don't think we should talk about her."
"Really? I think it's important that we do."
Zuko frowned, but then his demeanor perked up. "Fine, we can talk about Azula, but only if… you tell me what's in that Spirits damn book of hers!"
"Ohhhh no," Sokka laughed. "You know she'd kill me if I told you anything about it. Plus, I thought it didn't bother you anymore."
"Every time I've tried to get rid of it, it's always found its way back into my bedroom! Eventually I gave up. I considered burning it, but I decided against facing Azula's wrath…"
"Well the book can't possibly be the worst thing she's done to torture you since she got back from University…"
"No, definitely not. The worst part is…" The firebender paused to think. "… the rules she gave me."
"Rules?"
"You know, like when I can and can't have her – she always has to be in control – and how I'm not 'allowed' to hook up with anyone else…"
"She said that?"
"Well not in those exact words, but – "
"What were her exact words?"
"I don't remember – that was months ago! Why does that even matter?"
"I'm curious if there's a loophole." Sokka placed his hand on Zuko's shoulder. "I just want to help you, buddy."
"Hmmm…" The Fire Lord racked his brain as he tried to recall that moment. "I believe she said something like, 'You're not allowed to solicit any other girls'."
"Well there you go!" Sokka laughed. "You can still hook up with other people…"
Zuko raised an eyebrow.
"… just not other girls."
The firebender stared at his friend blankly.
"According to the rules, you can hook up with guys all you want." The warrior grinned widely.
He rolled his eyes. "Not interested."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm not gay, Sokka!"
"But have you ever tried? I mean, how different can it really be?"
"No, I've never tried!" he hissed. "… Have you?"
"Well, no… but I wouldn't be opposed to it." A faint blush filled his cheeks. "Would you?"
"… I don't know… I've never really considered it before."
"Liar," Sokka laughed. "I distinctly remember Katara telling everyone about your sex dream about Jet."
Zuko scrunched his face with objection but his features softened when he started to laugh. "Okay… you got me there. But you have to admit… Jet's pretty hot for a guy."
"Yeah, I guess," he admitted. "So… you guys never fooled around when you were on that ferry?"
"No," he denied. "Well… we kinda had a… moment, but I took off before anything could happen."
"… Do you regret that? I mean, now that he's…"
"I guess," the Fire Lord shrugged. "I was a bit curious…"
"Zuko," he exhaled. "Do you want to… oh I don't know… try it?"
He stopped breathing for a moment, unsure of what to do or say. Was this really happening?!
"… With me, if that wasn't clear…"
"Uh, I – I don't kn – you're my – wouldn't it be – but what if – "
Sokka snickered at how flustered he was getting.
" – But you're my best friend!" He refused to make eye contact.
"And as your best friend, I'd guarantee no one would find out about it."
"Well I – " He took a deep breath. "I… I guess it would piss off Azula." He brought his golden eyes up to meet his friend's oceanic pools of blue.
"Kissing in the name of revenge is something I can get behind," he smirked, leaning in closer to the firebender.
Zuko closed his eyes. And then he felt warm, soft lips on his. And it was good. As the moment lingered and the kiss deepened, he felt a muddy hand cup his cheek and pull him forward, and he didn't mind the mud on his face. He reached a hand around the small of the warrior's back and just as Sokka climbed onto his lap…
Zuko shot straight up on the massage table, dazed and panting.
The older masseuse looked worried. "Sorry to wake you, but your massage is finished. I hope you enjoyed it…"
"Uhhh… y – yes. Thank you very much," he stammered. "Sorry, I must have dozed off."
"That is quite alright," she assured. "Well, we're going to step out so you two can get dressed. Please take your time getting up."
The masseuses bowed to them before taking their leave.
"Have a nice dream there buddy?" Sokka teased, casting his eyes down at the obvious tent on Zuko's sheets.
The firebender buried his head in his hands. "This day could not get more humiliating…"
"Hey, don't worry about it. You must have been really enjoying your massage. I'm sure it happens all the time." He threw Zuko's robe at him. "Now get dressed. It's time to go to the mud baths."
Azula found Ursa kneeling beneath a shaded tree feeding the baby turtle-ducks in the pond. "Hello, Mother." She spoke quietly, with hesitance.
"Azula. How nice of you and your brother to return to your responsibilities." Her tone was cold. "And here I thought you two would be mature enough to not run away from home like children who didn't get their way."
"Actually, Zuko's still in Ba Sing Se…" She stood by the edge of the pond, wondering if her mother noticed that the turtle-ducks were not swimming away from her. "But you're right – it was immature to run away. I wanted to come back so we could talk."
"About what?" she asked, dreading the possibility of talking about what she had walked in on not so long ago. She still couldn't quite get the disturbing image out of her head.
"About…" Her brow furrowed. "… why you've never given me a fair chance."
"Azula," she breathed, her eyes wide with shock. "I have given you a fair chance."
"No, you haven't. You still don't. You – you've always given Zuko the benefit of the doubt, paid more attention to him, coddled him, and…" Her voice trailed off. "… loved him unconditionally. Why… why not me?"
Ursa looked up at her daughter with great concern. "Is that… how you really see it?"
The princess was silent.
She sighed. "Do you have any idea what it was like for Zuko having to grow up with a younger sister who was constantly overshadowing him?" She was met with more silence. "It was clear from a young age that you were brighter and a stronger firebender, something which your father never failed to point out. You shined each and every time Ozai praised you, but your brother… he withdrew. A mother knows where she is needed. Zuko needed me, but you, my daughter, did not."
"But I did need you! I needed your praise and approval instead of your contempt and disappointment, I needed your attention, I needed you to look at me the same way you looked at Zuko, I needed you to be proud of me instead of ashamed, and most of all, I needed you to not leave me alone with him. With Ozai." She took a deep breath. "If you hadn't left me alone with him, if he hadn't been the one to raise me, maybe you wouldn't look at me like… I'm defective, like I'm… not capable of doing anything good." A hot tear spilled down her face.
"I don't know what you want me to say, dear," she whispered. "You know why I had to leave – "
"I know, it's just that… I thought things would be different after I got back from University."
Ursa cast her eyes at the ground.
"But you and Noren barely talk to me – "
"That's not true."
"Small talk doesn't count. Neither of you have made the effort to get to know me."
"It's not like you've gone out of your way to get to know either of us – "
"But you're my mother! You're supposed to be the bigger person. I shouldn't have to confront you like this to get you to notice me!" She bit her lip to keep it from trembling.
"You're right." After a short pause, she looked up at her daughter who was barely keeping it together. "I was also hoping that things would be different when you returned, but the truth is… Noren and I are having trouble forgiving you for what you did to Kiyi."
Azula shot her a pained look. "Are you serious?! You know why I did that!"
"I know you think you did the right thing, and there's no denying that you made Zuko look like a hero in a time when our nation was doubtful about his leadership and that you exposed and destroyed the New Ozai Society, but the bottom line is… you kidnapped Kiyi and other Fire Nation children! I know the children were not harmed, but the kidnapping can't be overlooked."
"That was nearly five years ago!," she cried. "I was still recovering! You don't think I could have possibly changed during my years at University?!"
"But you haven't changed."
"If you're talking about Zuko, then you have no idea – "
"Actually I do." She narrowed her eyes. "Zuko told me he wants to share his title with you. I wonder where he got an idea like that. You're manipulating him."
Her hands clenched into fists. "You're wrong." She was shaking, tears rolling down her cheeks. She loathed falling apart like this in front of her mother. "It was Zuko's idea to share his title with me, and I haven't even accepted his offer. But it doesn't matter what I tell you – you're not going to believe me anyway."
Ursa had never seen her daughter this emotional before. In childhood, Azula would only get angry and firebend when upset, refusing to show tears or weakness of any kind. Either that or she would freeze up and be completely stoic, the more frightening reaction. But now she was showing her emotions in a more appropriate manner. "Perhaps she has changed," she thought, releasing a strained breath. "Azula… I'm going to give you the opportunity to tell me why you're doing what you're doing with Zuko."
Azula was struggling to find the words through all her labored breaths.
"Come sit," she suggested, patting the grass next to her.
Cautiously, she sat down. After calming down a bit, she spoke, softly and sincerely. "As you know, Zuko and I haven't always had the best relationship, but I believe the lowest point was when he threw me into that asylum. He never knew how badly I was mistreated there, how they kept me in a straightjacket most of the time, how they fed me slop that peasants wouldn't even touch, how the attendants were too afraid to go near me, how no one believed I could even recover. He never knew because he never visited. Not even once. No one did. For over a year, the only voices I heard were from the people I imagined, or my own self-destructive thoughts."
A shiver crept up Ursa's spine.
"When Zuko had me released, it was only because he needed my help finding you. And even though I knew he did not care for my well-being and that he was going to throw me back in there after I finished helping, I was still so relieved to be out and have an ounce of freedom. Of course, I did not make the trip easy for him or our company, but even so, he said something to me right before I ran off into the Forgetful Valley that made me think our messed-up relationship could be saved. And at a time in my life when I felt I was not capable of being loved, I clung to those words."
Tears welled in Ursa's eyes.
"I devised the whole Kemurikage plan because I wanted to thank him and show him that I could be trusted. With all his enemies vanquished, he'd have nothing to fear. I thought he'd be grateful and we could make amends afterward, but instead he sent me away to University. So he wouldn't have to deal with me. Because he didn't want me in his life." She solemnly shook her head. "It was like he was throwing me in the asylum all over again."
"I had no idea you felt that way. I can't help but feel responsible… Noren and I were the ones who suggested you should go to University."
"I figured as much, but it was still Zuko's choice. He's the one who pulled strings to get me enrolled." She sighed. "I just wanted to be part of the family, but I just ended up feeling discarded. That's… that's when I truly believed no one would ever love me, and Zuko's words, the words that I replayed over and over in my head, became meaningless to me. I..." She swallowed hard. "I wanted revenge. I wanted to destroy Zuko's control over me. So when I came back… I exacted my revenge on him. I made him want me."
Ursa shuddered.
"Perhaps my intentions were not the greatest initially, but as time went on… things changed between us. At some point, I wasn't in it for the revenge – I just wanted to feel closer to him. And for once in our lives, we were connecting, listening, understanding, caring, trusting! Sometimes I feel like he's the only one in the world who gets me. I never would have thought we'd be this close."
"You're going to have to learn to be close in other ways – "
"I know. It's just that I… I love him. And he loves me. Something I never thought possible. And I'm scared because… I can't lose him."
"There are many different kinds of love, my dear." She looked at her daughter sympathetically. "I think you're confused."
"Perhaps I am." She wiped some tears from her face. "For most of my life, I never thought that love was something I'd ever experience. But now…" She laughed under her breath. "I seem to have too much. It's overwhelming, and I don't know what to do."
Ursa laughed softly. "I thought you were in a relationship with Sokka…"
"I... I don't think he wants me anymore," the firebender whimpered. "I don't blame him."
"I don't believe that's true... Not too long after you left for Ba Sing Se, he came here looking for you."
Azula stared at her mother wide-eyed, feeling as if her heart had ceased pumping blood. "… Really?!"
"Well yes, I – I wouldn't make something like that up!"
"Did he say what he wanted?"
"No, he just said he was looking for you." Sensing that Azula was second-guessing his intentions, she put her hand on her daughter's back. "But I doubt he would come all this way if he no longer cared for you…"
"You think so? You don't think he's going to end things with me?"
"No, honey," Ursa smiled warmly. "The way he lights up when he talks about you tells me he's ready to take things more seriously with you. And mothers have a way of knowing these things."
"Thank you, Mother," she trembled with a soft smile.
Taking Azula completely off-guard, Ursa wrapped her arms around her daughter and pulled her in for a hug.
And to Ursa's surprise, Azula hugged her back.
"Is… everything okay?" Sokka asked Zuko, noticing that the firebender was eyeing the mud baths with great suspicion.
"Yeah… it's just, for some reason I thought the mud baths would be communal…"
"Like one giant tub?"
"Yeah…"
"Wouldn't that be kinda gross?" he laughed, plunging himself into his tub. "I mean, I'm pretty sure they have to clean these things out after every use."
"Yeah, you're probably right." Zuko hung up his robe and stepped into the tub next to his friend's, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment.
"Ahhh," the warrior sighed with satisfaction. "You know what?"
"What?"
"Aang would be really jealous of us right now."
"You think?" he chuckled. "I know he's in touch with his feminine side and all, but he's not exactly into materialistic or lavish things…"
"Oh, come on. He would absolutely love this."
The Fire Lord shrugged.
The two sat in silence for a moment.
"Hey, so… how's Azula doing?" Sokka asked cautiously.
Zuko smacked himself in the face, leaving a muddy handprint on his cheek.
"What was that for?!"
He shook his head. "I'm just having some serious déjà vu right now… just wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming again."
"Would you rather talk about your sexy dream instead of Azula?" he inquired with a wicked grin.
"No, I really wouldn't." The firebender blushed.
"Aw, that's disappointing," the warrior teased. "But I suppose that's for the best. Because there's something really important I need to ask you…"
He looked over at his blue-eyed friend, his face riddled with intrigue and apprehension. "Well…?"
"You see, I'd like to ask for your blessing…" Sokka's heart was pounding in his chest.
"My blessing?"
He smiled warmly. "I'd like to ask Azula to marry me."
Zuko froze. He didn't know what to say or what he was feeling. Those words were a punch in the gut.
"Granted we make up and I'm positive she wants to be with me, of course… please say something."
"Sokka… I just don't know." He felt like crying.
"Zuko," he sighed. "We've had this talk. You know you can't be with her."
"I know – "
"Look. I understand why you've grown attached to her. I'm not judging. I get it. And I'm sorry for saying this, but you need to let her go – "
"But I can't!" the Fire Lord snapped. "How can I 'let her go' when… when I just got her? I can't lose her… I can't."
"Zuko… how did you think this would end?"
He shook his head quickly.
"Your relationship is not sustainable, you know – "
"I know. You're right." He let out a weak laugh. "Mother… walked in on us."
The warrior nearly choked. "What?!"
"If you think getting hard while being massaged is embarrassing…"
"I'm… I'm so sorry."
"Anyway, you're right about Azula and me. We could never work. Not while the Fire Nation is pressuring me to find my Fire Lady and start producing heirs. I guess I'm just not quite ready to face reality yet. I'm not ready to let her go."
"I understand how difficult – "
"I'm not finished," Zuko cut in. He took a deep breath. "That being said… I know how Azula feels about you and… you're my best friend and the greatest guy I know. No one could possibly make Azula happier than you." A faint smile spread across his cheeks. "And that's really all I care about. So, Sokka, I guess what I'm saying is… if and only if she chooses you… you have my blessing."
"You're the best, you're the best!" Sokka leaned over the side of his tub and threw his arms around his friend's upper back. "I love you so much, I could kiss you right now, you know that?"
He gulped, his heartrate climbing a bit. "Please don't." He hugged him back.
"I hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot for saying this, but I had a fail-proof way of getting your blessing…"
The firebender shot him an incredulous glare. "How…?"
"Remember the day after your masquerade ball when you wanted help finding your 'mystery girl'?"
He clenched his jaw.
"You agreed that you'd owe whoever found her a favored that could be redeemed at any time without question."
"I vaguely remember that," he groaned, rolling his eyes. "But that's such lion-bull shit – you set that up!"
"Yeah," the warrior laughed. "I crack myself up sometimes."
"I've noticed."
"Hey, you know what's weird?"
The firebender raised an eyebrow.
"If everything goes well… we'll be brothers!"
He snorted. "Don't remind me."
"But just so you know, that doesn't give you permission to fuck me."
"Fuck you," he laughed, punching Sokka hard on the upper arm.
"Why does everyone always hit me?!"
"Excuse me," a female voice interrupted. The spa receptionist approached the boys in the mud baths, deliberately walking up to the warrior. "You're Sokka, right?"
"Yeah… am I in trouble?"
"An urgent letter just arrived for you." She handed him the paper and promptly left to give the boys privacy.
Sokka quickly unraveled the scroll and read its contents. "Oh no."
"What's wrong?" Zuko queried, visibly worried.
"It's my dad. He – He's injured. Badly." He passed the paper over to the firebender.
"Sokka," he exhaled, scanning the letter. "I'm so sorry. What can I do to help?"
"Tell Azula that I'm sorry and I'm looking for her and… just explain what happened. Please."
"Of course."
Sokka sighed, deeply disappointed that his search for Azula would have to wait. "I need to go home."
Author's Notes:
(1) Someone told me that Sokka and Zuko could use some more bromance, and I agreed. It was about time I wrote a Zukka chapter.
(2) With Sokka going home to the Southern Water Tribe, do you think he'll get the chance to propose? How do you think Azula would react?
(3) Well, you definitely won't find out in the next chapter. That will be the final Ba Sing Se University flashback chapter.