Hello everybody. This is it the final chapter. For the last time I wish all of you some fun with this one.

Ignoring Instincts

Days blurred into weeks which blurred into months. And the pain didn't fade. Not like other times. Every corner reminded Azula at her decision to spite Sokka all this hate in his face. The bedroom which was reminding her at her old one she used to have in the Palace. The library which was filled with the same books and scrolls she had down in this dark cage. The trainings room and the trainings areal in the little garden. The worst was the bathroom and facilities. The stupid shield Sokka has painted was hanging at the door. It must have survived her rampage and of course even after all she had done Sokka has ordered to bring it up to her new quarter with everything else which has survived the destruction down there. But like she told Sokka in a moment of weakness.

She deserved it.

All of it.

Like he deserved none of it.

Azula has seen how stubborn Sokka was. She has seen how she was affecting him. It was the only consolation for the Princess. She has saved him from the monster with these lies. She has saved him from becoming one too. It would have hurt even more if this would have happened. So it was better this way. Never forget lesson one.

And so Azula saw no point at leaving this cage anymore.

Nothing she would find outside of it has any meaning to her. She deserved to be caged away and so she stayed.

It was the perfect place to bring her misery, to give her painful stings at every corner of it.

She returned to train and to her surprise no one stopped her from doing so.

She returned to order books and scrolls and to her surprise she still got them.

Ching returned to her as some sort of personal staff and she left him in one piece.

Like she did with Dr. Kujing. The man returned to his weekly visits and was simply asking about how she was doing and Azula couldn't remember why but at one day she has considered to answer. The conversations have been short and it took time but at one of these visits she dared to ask the man a vital question. A question which was keep moving her mind since she was brought here.

"Why?"

It has been a test and Azula was pleased that her instinct hasn't failed her cause the man instantly knew which topic she was touching with this question.

"Why I choose to give you a new quarter? Because it has been the ambassador's wish."

Azula frowned at this answer and it was obvious that the man had to suppress a chuckle.

"It's not that I would have followed his wish blindly. It's not so simple."

Dr. Kujing got serious and started to rub his chin.

"Sometimes routines are making us blind. They definitely have blinded me. I have stopped to keep trying and the ambassador… well he has broken this routine."

Azula huffed and the man faced her piercing look.

"Things have happen the way they have. Neither I'm proud of it nor am I apologizing for it. But I do blame me for giving up searching until the ambassador showed up with his own struggle and his wish to visit you. He has given an opening to all of us. And so I dared to give his instinct a try."

Azula was chewing on her cheek. She hated the way Sokka was still stirring up her emotions. She had become better to conceal it but the sting remained and it was hurting like at the day she has spitted her loathing at him. Finally she snapped out of her wandering thoughts as she noticed the observing look of Dr. Kujing resting on her.

"He was a fool to trust me. Luckily I have taught him better."

Azula's voice was much quieter than she has planned to be. Dr. Kujing released a sad sigh.

"But he has trusted you. And he has never give up hope or broke his promise."

Azula's eyes widened in surprise and Dr. Kujing bowed with a warm smile.

"I simply dared to follow an instinct."

To know these facts weren't a help. Days moved on and Azula kept up her routine. But nothing she was doing was able to drive away this remaining bitterness in her heart. Dr. Kujing kept trying to offer her chances to talk about it, but she stayed quiet, always keeping conversations just around her general state of health and comfort. He has informed her that he has asked her family to try visits again if she would agree to see them and to her bitter surprise Zuko and mother kept asking for it instantly but she refused to see them. As more it upset her to notice the breakfast table set up for two one morning.

Of course they would ignore her wishes sooner or later.

Azula released an annoyed huff at the fire lilies at the table in the dining room and the fine decorated table and the carefully placed food on it. All of this smelled like Zuko's idea and she considered to blast everything off the table but couldn't find the final drive to do so. It wouldn't change anything. She was about to return to her sleeping room in order to wait until her stupid brother would give up as she noticed a little box beside one plate. Azula had no clue why, but curiosity won over her instinct to ignore this little object and so she picked up the box and opened it.

She almost dropped it with a teary gasp of surprise. Shaky hands lifted a blue ribbon up before her face. Sokka's ribbon.

"I remembered I forgot a parting gift."

This warm voice made Azula nearly jump. Her moth stood agape in total surprise as she dared to turn around. The Princess couldn't believe her eyes. Sokka was standing within the doorway with his ridiculous warm smile on his lips. Azula just stared at him like she has seen a ghost.

"But…"

Sokka blushed and a flicker of sadness rushed over his face.

"I'm sorry Azula."

Her confusion grew stronger and she leaned her head to her left. Sokka dared to make a step towards her blushing even deeper.

"I…"

He took a deep breath and finally dared to face her golden eyes with his deep blue ones.

"You knew they would forgive me. You knew they would understand me. All you had to do was to hurt me as hard as you could to push me away so I would dare to forget your lessons."

Azula felt a heat rushing over her. It was twisting her head and stomach but she couldn't break the eye contact. These deep blue eyes. There was a new fire in them which didn't allow to avoid his look.

"You told me that I have given you the chance to hurt anyone down there. It has taken some time and help to realize that it wasn't me you have referred to."

Azula felt herself shivering at his words. Sokka was getting closer to her.

"That's a lie Sokka…"

It was a trembling whisper and Azula felt tears prickling in her eyes. How could he dare to do this again? She already has pushed as hard as possible to keep him away. But here he was again with this warm smile and his blue eyes watching at her and waking up all these pathetic emotions. The man closed the distance with a careful step and carefully took the ribbon out of her shaking hands.

"Maybe… But it's the lie I want to believe in. You have decided to save me from you but you've forgot one aspect."

He circled Azula and a shiver was running down her spine as she noticed his hands parting her hair to form her bangles and the topknot.

"When you understand someone's pain you might be able to help this person to heal instead of to live with it."

He finished the topknot and turned her around carefully. His smile was so warm.

"There was a way back for me. My friends. You have found it. You have believed in it and in my instincts."

He dared to take her hand and Azula noticed her breath hitch.

"My friends… Katara… they have helped me to realize it. They dare to see it the same way, Azula."

He carefully brought her shaking hand towards his face and finally dared to fest his head in her palm.

"You've said you sometimes need to forget all these lessons for some time. What about to forget these lessons once and for all?"

Azula seemed to drown in these blue eyes. Emotions were roaring in her heart and kept struggling with her instinct to burn his cheek. All she would have to do was to light a flame at her palm. It would push him away.

"Spare me of your pity."

It was a weak whisper and to her surprise it only earned a warm smile.

"Compassion isn't pity Azula. What I have… what I see is such a strong and amazing woman. A woman who could handle everything, even to be true to herself. To my experiences this requires incredible strength. Strength I wouldn't have found without your help."

Azula's fingers were jerking at his cheek. She could feel the heat already rising but Sokka didn't do anything to remove her hand. He kept pressing hers at his cheek softly with his own.

"But… I hurt people…"

Sokka just smiled even warmer and dared to pull her closer with his other hand.

"I think I have proven that I can handle some pain."

Azula felt her knees getting soft and she had to take a grip at his robe to keep her on her feet. Her voice fell down to a whisper.

"People don't change so easily. You're the best prove."

She felt him pulling her at his chest and tears were in his eyes. His face was so close at hers.

"We would have time, Azula."

He nodded to the doorway and Azula gasped as she spotted Sokka's bag leaning at the frame. She turned back to him and tears were finally running down her cheeks. The warrior wiped them away carefully.

"Time to get to know each other. To open up step by step."

His look was so full of trust and hope.

"In case you would dare to try it."

All instincts screamed in her to slap him right here and now. This was a lie. But no matter how hard she tried to find a prove for her instincts she couldn't find one. And she was tried. She has been tired since months. Maybe it was time to ignore her instincts. Only a fool would dare to trust her. But it would be easier if she wouldn't be the only fool. And so Azula closed her arms around Sokka to place a desperate kiss on his lips.

She could feel this fire jumping high in her as the man returned the kiss instantly. Things still were far from being alright, but there was hope and for the first time since years Azula had hope that it wasn't a false one. Sokka understood her. Like she has understood him. She has found a way for him, so maybe he could find a way for her. Together.

Sooo. My first Sokkla fic and I hope I have done an acceptable job. Azula hasn't trusted herself in this one and the decision to attack Sokka and to destroy everything was her choice to save Sokka. She has played his game for a while and has started to teach him her way to deal with it but she also started to have feelings for him and so she decided to save him before her lessons and herself. But Sokka has seen through her scheme in the end. I have decided to end this one here. Azula has still a long way to go and so would have this starting relationship here but she hasn't to face this way on her own and she has already changed one aspect. Azula dares to let Sokka in her life to help. I tried to slow down the progress Azula was making since I feel a full recovery in this kind of setting would need so much more space.

Like announced I'll take a break from writing now. This one was the last loose end I had to finish. I hope you had some fun with this story. Thank you for the encouragement and the kind words for me from all of you. Have a wonderful time.

Yours

gemsofformenos