Chapter 15: Mother bears can be just as intimidating.
Four months later
Summer had come and gone, replaced with the biting winds of autumn and rougher conditions than the usually docile Mo Ce Sea. Regardless, it was business as usual for the crew of the Blue Spirit Shipping Company, as stocks needed replenishing and new goods needed to be transported. Thankfully, they had more orders and jobs that did not put them in harm's way outside of the usual risks that came with being a transporter that worked mainly on the other side of the law. In addition, Zuko had implemented stricter vetting on job offers after getting a stern talking to by Ursa, who had to deal with the fallout of carrying out operations in Fire Nation waters without informing head office.
That being said, the lack of action slowly gnawed at their minds except for Aang, who was more than happy to avoid any form of confrontation that resulted in the loss of life. However, even the usually pacifist monk found it rather boring staring at the grey sheet that was the ocean around this time of the year that at the end of the month, he put in a request for a leave so he could return to the Southern Air Temple. Seeing as there was no need to retain him for the foreseeable future as business would taper off to a trickle in a few weeks, he let him go, taking his air bison with him.
Thus, it was on a blustery autumn day that Zuko found the Water Tribesman bouncing a ball off the ceiling, seemingly trying to leave a hole in the plaster. Giving Zuko a glance over as a sign of acknowledgement, he continued his bouncing, a dull thud echoing every time the ball hit the ceiling. Miffed at the perceived lack of respect, Zuko lit the ball on fire as it travelled back down onto Sokka, which finally forced him to get out of the way and off the bed. "What the heck Zuko? A simple 'hey' would have sufficed, ya know! Spirits above, sometimes I can't tell if you switch brains with your sister every so often with the way you act sometimes." he pouted.
"So what if I do exchange devious thoughts with my sister every once in a while? It still doesn't change the fact that I am your employer. Speaking of which, I got a bunch of invoices and bills that need following up on." Zuko replied, thrusting a stack of papers into his arms. "Figured you could use some time outside, you look like you're going to bounce yourself off the wall if we didn't head out to sea. Also, Azula is coming along with you."
"Wait what? Why does she have to tag along?" he complained.
"Why? Is that a problem?" was the reply.
"Bro, it's your sis we're talking about here. When is she not a problem?!"
"That ain't my problem to deal with, you figure it out."
"If it makes you happy, fine. Just don't blame me if we spent the night in a slammer."
"I'm never happy, especially if you both get in trouble with law enforcement. Yes, I know Chief Fong is as bent as a conman's yuan but I would very much appreciate it if you both could stay out of trouble. If it's any motivation, any bail is coming out of your commission. " was his parting reply before dragging him out of the room.
Two hours later
"Remind me why am I being roped into this menial crap? Zuzu better have a damn good reason for making me cancel my spa appointment for this." complained Azula as the duo headed towards the Cabbage Bar. "Look, if it's any consolation, I don't like this as much as you do. So the sooner we get this done, the quicker we can go back to whatever we were doing. Besides, we've only got the bar and the arms shipment left." sighed Sokka. "And how is this supposed to be any consolation? You still haven't answered my question."
"I don't know, okay? Zuko didn't even give me a reason so there's that." replied Sokka whilst rubbing his forehead as he felt a headache coming on the horizon.
As soon as they walked into the bar, the owner scowled and greeted them with a gruff tone "I should have both of you shot on sight, y'all have been nothing but Spirits damned trouble for me. Especially you Azula, you're half the reason why my fire insurance premium is so damn expensive. Now what do you want?"
"Now now Mr. Cabbage man, you wouldn't want to be using that tone to your supplier now would you? Unless, of course you want your fees to triple in price for the next shipment." she purred as she handed over the invoice from Sokka. "Spirits above, extortion is what this is." he muttered as he scanned over the invoice before pulling out a chequebook and cutting one out to her. "See, wasn't that easy?" she smirked, while Sokka merely sighed as he placed a check mark near the bar on his map.
"Alright last stop, the Flying Opera Company? What gives? What does an acting troupe have to do with being one of Zuko's customers?" mused Sokka, while they made their way to their last stop. "You're a smart boy, you'll figure it out." Before they knew it, they were standing at the door of the building. Seeing that the sun was slowly inching its way down, Azula proceeded to give the doorbell a few vigorous slaps while yelling "This is the Blue Spirit Shipping Company, open up!"
After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably closer to a few minutes in reality, a tattooed lady opened up the door, her expression one of annoyance at having been rudely interrupted. "Spirits above, you really are asking for an ass-whooping Azula. Say, who's that cute boy in the back? You never really struck me as the kind of person to keep a boy toy around."
At this, Sokka sputtered "B-boy toy? Please, I'm no one's boy toy here.", clearly feeling insulted by her implied meaning. Azula merely snickered before replying "Knock it off June, we're here for business, not to speculate on my love life." At this, June merely chuckled and shot back "My my, I'd never thought I'd see the day when Azula snags herself a boyfriend. And a Water Tribesman to boot, damn girl you never cease to surprise me." turning Azula's cheeks bright red and speechless. Before she could reply, Sokka answered "She told you to knock it off, didn't she? Besides, we're here for official Blue Spirit business, not a social visit."
"Ooo, he's a feisty one. I can see why you picked him. Alright then, follow me. I'll take you both to her office." she replied, before turning around and moving down the hallway. As she did so, she made sure to give Sokka a saucy wink that would surely bring out the green eyed monster in Azula. To her credit, she managed to keep her calm, telling herself that she and Sokka had almost nothing in common and that she most definitely wasn't attracted to him. Sokka however, was not privy to the inner workings of Azula's mind, but was taking in his surroundings. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted what looked like burlap sacks tucked away in a room and filed it in the back of his mind.
Soon enough, after a couple of twists and turns they were standing in front of a mahogany door. A few raps and the door revealed a middle aged woman poring over some documents, a pot of tea in a glass pot on the side. Looking up from her work, she raised an eyebrow and inquired "And who might you two kids be?" June answered on their behalf, mentioning they were here on Blue Spirit business. "Ah, I presume you're here for the settlement of accounts? Come, have a seat."
As they sat, Sokka handed over a chit to the old woman, who slipped on a pair of reading glasses and scanned through the list. Raising an eyebrow at the last line, she looked up and asked "I remember putting in an order for a shipment of some Black Armory Hammerhead machine guns. Care to explain why they aren't on the list but the price you're charging me is the same?", displeased at this perceived rip off.
"You're not the only one who needs those machine guns, we need it just as much as you do." Azula shot back. "Is that so? Well then, I am happy to take my business elsewhere if this is how you treat your best client. Ursa was right, you really don't have much respect for elders do you now?" At this, small sparks began to form on her fingertips but the sound of a hammer being pulled back and a voice from behind warned "Choose your next moves very carefully, Sparky. Wouldn't want your boyfriend to be scrapping your grey matter off his outfit now do you?", sending a mixture of anger and mild embarrassment into her facial expression.
Keeping his cool, Sokka replied "You could take your business elsewhere, and Hotel Azulon could accidentally find out that an acting troupe is mysteriously in possession of a hundred tons of China white. Now wouldn't that be strange, an acting troupe in possession of a hundred tons of China white? A few grams here and there can be explained away as a habit, but a hundred tons? Surely you and I both know the consequences of messing with Hotel Azulon. I for one, would rather be chased by a four hundred foot tall purple platypus bear with silver wings and a pink horn than face Ursa's wrath when she finds out. How about this, you have first priority on the next shipment of Black Armory assault rifles plus a thirty-five percent discount for your troubles. In exchange, you get to keep that China white. Do we have a deal?"
Upon hearing this, the lady merely leaned back and chuckled "I see why Zuko sent you to collect this. You've got gumption, coming into my turf and making bold counter offers. I agree, poking that fire bear is definitely bad for health, to say nothing of business. Very well then, I will wire the money later today." At this, Sokka merely smiled before answering "I'm glad we could come to a mutually beneficial understanding.", hiding the fact that his heart and mind were racing at a million miles a minute. As they stood up to leave, the woman behind the desk called out "Miss Azula, it would do well to not resort to violence as your first choice when things do not go your way. A sharp mind like yours should be well aware of that fact. Now run along, if there is nothing else left to discuss."
When they left the building, Azula sent a small bolt of electricity into Sokka's arm, eliciting a yelp and an angry face from him. "What the hell was that for?" "That, was for being absolutely reckless is what it is. You're lucky that lady didn't bloodbend us both there and then when you mentioned the China white." "Since when do you care about my safety?" he shot back, not quite understanding her reaction to what Sokka considered a rather successful business deal. "I don't believe I have to answer that." she snapped.
Suddenly, things clicked into place and Sokka smirked "Oh I see how it is." At this statement, Azula rolled her eyes and replied "If you think this is what you think this is, you are one hundred percent delusional. Though I suppose, it can't be helped, for I am well aware of the effect I have on men."
"You're not actively denying it. That's very unlike you." Sokka teased.
"I am now." she replied.
"But you didn't just now."
"That was just now, this is the present. Deal with it.", she huffed.
"What, a highborn princess like you cannot admit to taking a shine to someone like me? I know I would." he teased, whilst wiggling his eyebrows.
"There's no accounting for taste.", she countered, before making fake gagging sounds.
"I'll have you know they called me 'Sokka the backbender' in college."
"Which just proves my point about not accounting for taste. Especially when you let your hair down. You look like a stoned-out hippie, that's what. Though I suppose if that is your taste in girls, I can't help you.", silencing him for a few minutes.
"At least I don't laugh like a hyena on crack" he muttered to himself.
"What was that, serf?"
"Nothing."
"That absolutely did not sound like 'nothing'. Spit it out now or else."
"Or else what?"
"Wouldn't you like to know, snow savage?" she whispered huskily in his ear, before sending a bolt into his unguarded rear end when she sensed he had sufficiently let his guard down.
"Ow! For Spirits' sake Azula, stop being so childish!"
"Make me."
In an instant, Sokka had twirled her against the wall in the nearest alleyway, pinning her hands above her head. A look of surprise flitted across her face before she regained her usual proud expression. "My my Sokka, I didn't you still had some vestiges of the savage in you. Truly, you are full of surprises." she purred. A chill wind breezed past, forcing Sokka to press in closer to her body in search of warmth. Blue eyes met gold in a staring contest, the air between them heating up in more ways than one, their lips inching ever so dangerously close to contact. When their faces were naught more than millimeters away, a very familiar voice rang out, followed by the sounds of boots on pavement.
"Just what exactly are you doing with my daughter, Mr. Sokka of the Water Tribe. Nothing too salacious, I hope, for your sakes." Ursa's voice reverberated, stern, with the slightest edge bleeding through hinting at the violence she was more than willing to unleash upon the hapless rapscallion who dared defile her daughter's virtue. Behind her, Kiyi merely snickered at the currently compromising position her sister and their co-worker was caught in.