Heads up, I'm starting a new job soon-granted it's only part-time, thanks covid-so updates might not be as regular or follow a particular scheduled.

SOKKLAFIL: Thanks :D Yeah the breakup and time apart leaves him with a lot of concerns, confusions, and questions. Azula has hardened a little, in a sense and Sokka recognizes it on her. Like you said, she's gotten stronger for her troubles and Sokka is more fearful. But he's lucky to have a supportive, family, girlfriend, and friends.

gemsofformenos: Sorry to hear it. I'm also gonna be a bit shorter on time now. Hopefully you'll find that spark again soon!

And thanks again! Sokka is definitely going to be tackling some harder things and trying to get back on his feet. Because as you said, it's hard for him to grasp the little changes in Azula and the larger ones in the way that things have begun to progress without him. He can't just walk back in and pick up exactly where he left off. "And you're dealing with a new found fear of open water. Sokka has bern through a nightmare and right now this fact kicks in." Of course, the phobia certianly doesn't help and its extra bitter knowing that it used to be something he loved. "And that the Azula she's now might not love him anymore or worse that he wouldn't love her anymore." But this is his most pressing fear at the moment. And of course, Jet is gonna have trouble dealing with things. "I love how you're linking this mass of fears and worries ogether and how they still remain spereated aspects of Sokka's struggle. Strong chapter, keep on having fun with your stories." Thanks once again, I'm so glad that you're enjoying the fic!

She shoos Sokka away before her father can make a fuss. She has to give the boy props, he handles it with the twinkle of humor that she expects from him, "I'd climb out the window, but you know…"

Azula rolls her eyes. "Just hurry back to the other cabinet and pretend like we didn't spend the night together."

"Oh yeah, because we got real raunchy with Katara sleeping over there." He wriggles his brows.

She nudges him.

"How about this, how about we just walk out of this cabin and pretend like I just knocked and asked if you were awake yet?"

"But father…"

"Still over thinking things? Guess it's good to know that some things are still the same." He takes her hand. "Come on." She lets him lead her out of the cabin. "Besides, I don't think that your dad will get too angry over something so small."

"I suppose, not." She pauses. "It's Jet that we have to worry about."

She tightens her grip on his hand, if only for the sake of doing so. Two weeks in and she still feels as though it is some kind of illusion, just like those phantom sails. Maybe if she grips tightly enough she will be reassured that he is real.

She is sure that someone would have told her if she were just talking to herself this whole time.

"Can we sit in the shade?" Sokka asks.

"I like the sun."

He points to a few remaining blisters and the discolored patches of skin.

She rolls her eyes. "Sorry, I forgot that you have baby skin now. Make yourself comfortable, I'm going to say good morning to father."

.oOo.

Sokka finds himself the shadiest spot on deck and peers out at the rushing waters. The day cloudy and somewhat cool, a few seagulls zip by. He looks at the ocean, its waters are calm. He almost calls for Azula to come back. Instead he balls his fists and forces him to stare at the waves. She will be back soon. But not soon enough, he can tell that she is having a conversation with her father.

He thinks of approaching Zuko and Katara, but they are much too close to the railings for comfort. Even if they weren't, Zuko has his arm slung over Katara's shoulder and they are doing that thing again...the thing where he gazes down at her and she looks up at him and their eyes sparkle.

Katara has made a very clear rule about this. Even after so long away he can very clearly hear her whining, "stop being annoying and overbearing! When I'm with Zuko, we need alone time."

He doesn't have such rules with Azula. He is fine with Katara intruding and he thinks that Azula finds humor in Zuko walking in on them locking lips. His expressions are usually exaggeratedly humorous.

Though he thinks that circumstances might have changed. He can't imagine her brushing him off at the moment. She turns around and her expression brightens. "Sokka! You're awake!" She turns back to Zuko. "Can you go check on breakfast? Sokka usually likes it first thing when he gets up."

Zuko nods and makes his way below deck while Katara comes and finds a spot next to him. "Why don't you come and sit at one of the tables?"

"Too much sunlight."

"Too much sunlight?"

Azula sniffs. "Hasn't he told you yet?"

Katara's brows furrow. "Tell me what?"

"He found an island full of vampire chimps and one of them bit him."

"They would have never bit me!" He throws his hands up.

"So it was the mosquitoes then?"

"Vampire mosquitoes?" Katara crinkles her nose.

"He had a really rough time." Azula shrugs. "Come on, just sit in the sun for breakfast and then we can go hide in the cabins. I'll even sit in front of you and block the sunlight."

He bursts out laughing. "I think that, that only works if the one blocking the sun is taller than the one being shielded."

Azula's eyes narrow and she half pouts, "fine. You're on your own then."

He stands up and brushes his hand against her cheek. Heaven knows that he missed this kind of banter, missed that pout, those eyes. Missed Katara's soft giggle. More than anything though, he is thankful for one more small reassurance that she hasn't changed too much, even if she seems to have matured several years in the span of a few months. "Alright, we can sit at the tables for a bit."

She gives a smug smile and hustles him towards the tables. Ten minutes later he is thrilled to see a plate of eggs and a sausage patty. And the good homemade kind too, not the cardboard tasting hospital sort.

"Not so fast!" Katara reaches for his hand. "Your doctors said that you should still eat slow, your body is still…"

He sighs, "in starvation mode, I know."

.oOo.

She catches him glaring from across the boat. She doesn't have to look up to know that he is. It is quite a palpable feeling. Normally she request a polite, 'can you perhaps knock it the hell off please?' Instead, she looks up from her plate and asks, "why don't you come sit with us, Jet?"

"So I can watch the two of you getting all..." he shudders and sticks his tongue out like a child.

Azula rolls her eyes. "We really should talk. All three of us."

"What's there to y'all about? You love him more. He's back. I was just a placeholder."

"You weren't just a placeholder." Azula assures as gently as she can, albeit she isn't a particularly gentle person. "I really was planning on moving on with you. Taking you to the homecoming dance…" she trails off, realizing too late that it would only make things worse to prattle on about what could have been.

"In other words, I'm the second choice?" He stands. "Got it. Because that's much better."

Louder than necessary, he pushes in his chair and makes his way towards the cabins. Azula inhales deeply. She supposed that she should just be thankful to have Sokka again. She's rather lose Jet to hurt feelings than Sokka to death.

"He'll come around."

"I hope that he does."

The sulk in his posture puts a tint over Azula's happiness. The cabin door closes rather noisily.

"Well that was dramatic."

"Shut up Zuzu." She snaps. "You're pretty dramatic yourself!"

"I'm sticking up for you!"

But it was she who made the first cut. She who did the hurting and heart crushing. "You shouldn't." Is all that she says. "I don't need you to."

"Whatever." He grumbles. "I thought that you'd be in a better mood once Sokka got back."

Azula's mood plummeted further. "I am."

Sokka laughs, "you're really selling it."

Her expression must be betraying her, or maybe it is that she is gripping her cup and peering into it as though it has some sort of answer, because Sokka's laughter fades and his expression changes from one brand of soft to another.

He rubs her back, between her shoulder blades just like he used to. Like he had the day her mother died and like he did when they stood before the coffin for one final viewing. Azula wishes that she hadn't gone to it. But she knows that it would do her mother no justice if she shied away from her at the last moment.

"Geez, I didn't think an expression could get any darker." Zuko mutters. "And you just called me…"

Katara lifts a hand. "Not now, Zuko. What are you thinking about?"

"Nevermind." Azula mutters. "I'm going to go give father a break from steering."