Thanks, the balance is starting to come together now. "I like how Azula choose a more careful approach to give Sokka an opening to tell her his story." She didn't want to push him like she did the first time lol, it didn't end to well the last time. "He does trust her and her careful and compassionite approach has deepened this level of trust." And that's always very important for a relationship and helpful twice over for when she goes to talk to the rest of the gang again. "I love how she understands his hesitation and his own struggle with his action." I think that she tends to take the more logical approach rather than the emotional one and in this instance it kind of helps Sokka to hear the rational aspects. "It also adds Azula's favorite aspect, the rational approach to problems, but here you let it be so much more than just a simple calculation." It was a calculation with compassion behind it lol. "Great job!" Thank you! :D "And the little kiss was so perfect. This little affection is so much from Azula," had to sneak it in there because I like softie Azula xD "Last aspect I noticed with a big smile and which I really love no matter if it was just coincidence or done on purpose is Azula's first quote as she notice the ship of the Fire Lord." Yeah, she's happy to see him again, which is a lot for Azula. "It seems that some hidden memories are coming back." It was a little impulse for her to call him Zuzu again lol. Another muscle memory type thing. But yes, she hadn't realized the significance of it. "Thank you again for this wonderful chapter and for sharing your creativity with us since years. Have a wonderful day and keep on having fun with your stories" You're welcome! And thanks again for so many lovely reviews. 3
This boat ride is significantly more pleasant than the trip to the island. This time she is unbound and free to roam the ship as she pleases. She thinks that this might possibly be the first pleasant experience that she has had on a boat. For the time being, she is the only one awake. Supposedly, firebenders are early to rise, but the sun hasn't yet risen. She hopes that Sokka won't be too disappointed to find himself alone in the room. It had simply become too stuffy in there for her; Azula has come to decide that she doesn't have a particular love for cramped spaces. Looking out at the open ocean, she decides that she isn't very fond of vast spaces either. The lapping waves remind her too much of the rolling hills of snow but with white traded for blue.
She has to admit, for as nerve wracking as it is, it is pretty. The reflection of the deep indigo of early morning. A tinge of sunlight gold, puts a glimmer in the water. If the boat weren't rocking so heavily, Azula would lean against the rail and peer into the depths.
In her head she runs over a list of tasks to be done, though there isn't much that she can complete when confined to a boat in the middle of the ocean. She has already told Zuko of the organization and-just in case it hadn't been brought up in Yu-Kang's promised council meeting, Sokka has informed him of Jeong Jeong's fate. Azula has also declared that they should have a second meeting to discuss the Vine Research Facility and their possible whereabouts.
Today's agenda will mostly consist of laying down a full and sturdy plan, she has the basic makings of one already, but she should like to fine tune them. Ideally the Fire Nation's military will scope out the tundra for the facility and storm it. They will collect research notes and she will use them to make her mind whole again.
"So...are we going to tell Zuko about, you know…?"
Azula jolts. Telling Zuko about how close she had let herself grow to Sokka is most certainly not on her list of tasks. "Why should we?" She isn't sure that it is anything noteworthy enough to share at all. One small and rather impulsive peck on the cheek isn't much to fuss over.
"I don't know, because he's your brother."
"Yes, exactly." Azula replies. "There isn't much to tell anyhow." Deciding that she has someone to keep the boat from pitching her overboard, she leans back against the railing.
"I'd want to know if my sister was kissing someone!"
Azula rolls her eyes. "So you can what, wave your boomerang in their face?"
"That's right!" He declares boldly. He is spirited, she'll give him that.
"It was one small kiss, Sokka." She shrugs. She isn't sure if it could even be called a kiss. "It isn't anything noteworthy. Now quiet down and watch with me." She turns around to face the sunrise and pats the rail next to her.
Sokka sighs audibly and comes to stand next to her, dangling his arms over the banister. She notices that he has taken the time to trim and sculpt his formerly scraggly beard. He smells like the ocean spray.
.oOo.
All in all, the princess looks rather happy. At the very least, she looks tranquil. The gold of the rising sun gives her face a certain radiance. She hasn't yet combed her hair nor put on her makeup. He still isn't used to seeing her anything less than perfectly groomed.
"It isn't anything noteworthy at all?" He quirks a brow.
Deep down, he hopes that she will ask him if he wants it to be. Instead she, almost too cheerfully, replies, "nope, not particularly." Somehow, he is also relieved. Simple. It is much simpler this way.
He tells himself that he still loves Suki. That when he gets a chance, he will try to rekindle things with her. That he will assure her that they can make time for each other no matter how much effort it takes.
"Are you alright?" Azula asks.
"Just thinking." He replies.
"About?"
"Just...what I'm going to do when this is all over."
.oOo.
"Did they treat you well?" Zuko asks in between forkfuls of dumplings.
"Well enough." Azula replies. All things considered, she had been kept rather comfortable. But then, her standards have lowered significantly as far as institutions go. "How are things at home?" She can't quite bring herself to ask if the others have mentioned her at all.
"Hectic." Zuko replies. "With Jeong Jeong and Chan dead and you going missing for so long, people are starting to get scared. The nobles anyways. I've got all of the imperial firebenders on full alert but that isn't helping much."
"I'm sure that they'll feel better once we establish a solid plan. Rather, once you agree to my plan."
"You already have a plan?" He asks. "I shouldn't be surprised." He adds with a laugh.
"Was I good at planning things?"
"You were, like, a mastermind!" Sokka interrupts. "It was kind of your thing. And mine, I was the idea guy of my group too. So it was interesting trying to out plan you."
"Failing to out plan me." She corrects. "Anyhow, it's isn't a complete plan but it is a start. I know that I was held in the Southern Water Tribe and I was in a compound close enough to the village to survive a blizzard. Though, I presume that the Vine Research Facility has probably vacated it by now, unless they have assumed that I'd gotten myself killed."
"So we might have surprise on our side?" Zuko inquires.
Azula nods, "perhaps, if they haven't relocated. So we will have a team comb the tundra for the facility when the weather is stable enough. Dr. Yu-Kang mentioned a Lake Laogai, we will also search there. And we should try to find the place where they harvest their spirit vines from, they probably frequent the place."
"The Foggy Swamp." Sokka puts in. When she shoots him a questioning look he adds. "There's this banyan tree and its roots, they do all kinds of crazy things. They can make you hallucinate and they can mess with your chi."
"Well then we should probably send a team to the Foggy Swamp as well." Azula declares. "With luck we can uncover their research notes; we can put a stop to whatever they plan on using their findings for and I can get my memories back." She folds her hands atop the table. "It's simple really." Simple save for that she still isn't sure that her memories will benefit her at all anymore.
She tries not to dwell much on the possibility of scrambling her mind even further or erasing her new memories. And these memories are ones that she shouldn't like to lose.
"I think that, that sounds manageable." Zuko replies.
"Good." She nods. "I am hoping to get things in motion as soon as we get back."
"You really want your memories back." Sokka mutters.
"I really want to see that organization disassembled." She clarifies. The sooner she can be rid of them, the sooner much of her anxiety will be alleviated. "I'd like to shut them down before they have another shot at me."
She catches Zuko staring at the scars on her arms, his lips press into a thin line. "Yeah, I'd like to keep that from happening too." She catches a twinge of fury in his soft golden eyes. "Trust me, they won't have a second chance."
She doesn't doubt his sincerity. The sheer seething in his eyes when she'd first showed him the scars had been almost palpable. She very nearly covered them up again on the spot. Now he looks at her with pity. She doesn't particularly like this, it makes her feel somehow helpless. "I'm fine." She mutters. "You don't need to look at me like that."
He chuckles. "Sorry, I forgot that you don't like that."
Azula finishes her platter of dumplings and pushes it to the side. "Don't worry about it." She stands and pushes her chair in. "I'd like to get some sleep in before we begin tomorrow." As she passes Sokka, she gives his hand a light tug.
"But I'm not done eating!"
She rolls her eyes, "you're never done eating."
"What do you need Sokka for?"
"I have trouble sleeping, sometimes Sokka stays in my room with me." Though, lately, sometimes has become all the time.
"Fine." He grumbles and pushes his dumplings aside.
She makes Sokka wait outside while she slips into her silk night robes. She gives a satisfied sigh as she smoothes her hands over the fabric. This fits her much better than the institution attire. It doesn't drag and bury her in its excess cloth. She revels in its comforts for a moment longer before beckoning Sokka inside.
She might just get some decent sleep tonight if she can ignore the rocking and undulating of the ship.
.oOo.
Once again, he watches the princess tuck herself in. He hopes that tonight will be nightmare free. Just maybe she is cozy enough to sleep through the night, she sure looks it. He arranges his pillows and blankets on the chair.
Azula's brows knit. "Why are you all the way over there?"
"Your brother will kick my ass if he catches me in bed with you, clothes or no clothes." He expects her to crinkle her nose, like she always does when he says something stupid, at the notion of them laying in bed with no clothes. But she doesn't phased by it at all. She simply pats the spot next to her as she always does. "Alright, I'm coming."
She gives a delighted little grin and makes room for him. It is becoming routine now, and he thinks that he also sleeps better with company. For the better part of the night they lay facing away from each other. Eventually he rolls to face her and later she shifts to face him.
And when she thinks that he is asleep, she slides her hand over his and intertwines their fingers.