Chapter 18: All's fair in love and war

"MMph, that mmmph" she shouted, her words muffled by the rag she had in her mouth while her hand gripped the sides of the bunk like a vice.

"Well sorry, I didn't think a small flesh wound required morphine. Besides, aren't you supposed to be tough as nails?" Sokka replied, his face loosening up after being wound tight from concentration.

"First off, you took your sweet ass time stitching that wound up. Secondly, just because I'm a hardass doesn't mean I don't need painkillers you idiot. Why don't I stitch you up without painkillers for a change?" she replied after spitting out the rag on the floor.

"So you do have a weakness."

"Bitch, I might be the best damn firebender short of Roku himself but I'm a girl too ya know."

"Language Azula, there's a kid on board."

"Pretty sure being in pain gives me a reason to swear, asshat. Besides, I sure as hell ain't gonna moaning and mewling because I damn sure know that's what you want."

At this, Sokka merely rolled his eyes and sighed. Packing up his medic kit, he walked over to where the kid was currently resting in her wheelchair to check up on her. But seeing as she was fast asleep, he made sure the brakes were fastened securely before turning his head to Aang, who looked similarly exhausted after not only extracting the bullet, but sewing up and stabilizing the woman, who was also now in dreamland as the vessel made its way back to port via a much more smoother passage.

Seeing as there wasn't much left to be done, he grabbed a spare change of clothes and went to shower, washing off the stress of the past few hours. As the hot water percolated and splashed over him, he mused on his previous decision to turn back for Azula with reckless abandon knowing he was just as, if not more vulnerable as a non-bender on top of being a non-combatant but also to carry her in his arms. The fact she didn't immediately turn him into a human torch was a small mercy in itself. Hoping that she didn't read too much into it, he turned off the shower and headed back to his bunk when a soft whisper was heard behind him. Thank you, it said

Turning around to the source of the voice, he spotted her standing looking somewhat sheepishly.

"Don't mention it. Besides, I'd trust you'd do the same for me too."

"But-

"I said what I - hmph!" as Azula sandwiched his face between her hands and gave him a forceful kiss, pushing him against the hull by the sudden intensity and forcefulness of it. As they broke for air, she backed off and said "Don't look too deeply into this. Think of this as a thank you gift, no more no less. If you get any ideas, well….you know what I'm capable of. Good night, peasant.", leaving him blushingly scared and aroused at the same time, the aftertaste of her lips still lingering on his like a phantom.

Shaking his head, he gave up at trying to understand the complex being that was Azula and made his way back to the bunk. As he drifted off, a pair of honey golden eyes and sweet tasting lips swirled in his dreams.

46 hours later

The air on the boat was somewhat awkward between them after that kiss and Sokka was glad to be pulling into port. It also didn't help matters that they were always running into each other more frequently it seemed, or that she had been invading his dreamland in highly inappropriate ways. As they near the docks, he could see a welcome committee had been set up, with men posted all around scanning the area and a suspicious looking bulge under their coats. When they finally docked, Sokka whispered into the intercom "Be on guard, this smells kinda fishy to me."

"You mean like how you normally smell anyways?" Azula's voice flooded his comms.

"Haha very funny, Azula."

At last, the gang set foot on terra firma, glad to be out of the ship. As they made their way to the motorcade, Ursa and Kiyi approached them, with a handful of men following behind. In addition, two men in suits followed in their footsteps. As soon as Zuko spotted them, he turned around to face his crew and whispered "I don't like this, keep them in the center. Sokka, switch places with Aang, I need all the bending I can get if things go south." Turning his head back to the front, he saw Kiyi depress some sort of transmitter hidden in her sleeve twice and half the men spread out to secure the perimeter. Raising an eyebrow, he asked "Since when did Kiyi get her own detachment?"

"It was about time she started taking on some more responsibilities in the operations. Can't let her elder siblings have all the fun, now can we?" Ursa replied. Meanwhile, the suited men made their way to the front and the elder of the duo opened up the floor with "I trust it was not too much of a hassle?'

"You tell me." Zuko scowled.

"I don't understand." the younger man replied.

'What my dunderhead of a brother means", Azula spoke "is that you've got a badgermole in the system. So fix your leaks."

"I see. But you have the package, no?"

"We're not amateurs here, no shit we got her out." Azula spat.

"Watch your mouth!" the younger man snapped.

"Make me." Azula smirked defiantly.

"That's enough." Ursa intervened. Looking at the elder man, she fixed him with a harsh glare that said Rein him in or else before turning to Azula and replying "You and I are going to have a talk young lady after this." in a cold tone and Azula immediately knew she was in for it big time.

Focusing back on the trade, Ursa remarked "You have what you came here for, see to it that you hold up your end of the bargain or else." Deeming it somewhat safe, Zuko then allowed the woman and her kid to move in the direction of the two men. As they left the scene, Azula tried to sneak away from her mother but was halted with a commanding voice "Just where do you think you're going young lady?"

15 minutes later, Ursa's office

"Could you not hold your tongue for one minute?' Ursa chided, as she leaned back against the desk, arms folded in displeasure.

"Look mom, if I'm old enough to be putting fireballs and bullets into people I'd think I'm allowed to say whatever I want." Azula retorted.

At this, Ursa merely took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose before sighing.

"There is a proper time and place for everything. That includes knowing when it is appropriate to mouth off and when to bide your time."

"If you're expecting me to be a good little princess, don't waste your time."

"Please don't make me break out the cane."

"It's not like dad hasn't tried that on me before, what makes you think you caning me is going to make a difference?" she replied defiantly.

Suddenly, Azula found herself clutching the side of her cheek, which felt like it was on fire.

"Choose your next words very carefully, Miss Azula Qing. I have no qualms in handing out another one. " her mother warned, a stern expression on her face.

As she tried to process what happened, her sense of shock turned into an unfamiliar sense of fear as she realised this was not the mother who was once timid and worried at her behaviour, but one of iron will and demanded discipline. However, seeing her own daughter stunned into silent submission also did an emotional number on Ursa, who was somewhat expecting a snarky reply and did not expect her normally acidic daughter to break so easily.

For a moment, a sense of shock pervaded the atmosphere. Then a solitary tear rolled down Azula's cheek as her grip on her emotions began to loosen. Soon enough, she broke completely down and kneeled in front of her mother, apologizing profusely as the solitary tear became a steady stream falling on the carpet.

Not exactly expecting such a strong reaction, Ursa knelt down and pulled her close, whispering apologies and stroking her back as Azula continued to sob, her speech stuttering as she tried to regain some composure while choking back more tears. As Ursa clutched her daughter in her embrace, she couldn't help but think back to the last time Azula wept in her arms like this, which seemed almost like a lifetime ago.

20 years ago

Royal Gardens

"Azula dear, don't run too far!" Ursa called, as a rambunctious Azula rushed out, happy to be free of calligraphy lessons. It was in her mind, the most boring thing a 5 year old had to endure and by Agni, was she glad it was over. As she basked in the warm glow of the late afternoon sun, a flash of blue caught the corner of her eye as the rose bush near the turtleduck lake, piquing her natural curiosity.

Meanwhile, Ursa was huffing and puffing as her robes didn't allow her to move as fast to catch up with her. On the other hand, Azula's amber orbs widened like saucers as she found to her pleasant surprise, it was in full bloom and the vivid intensity of the blue reminded her of the colour of her flames. Instinctively, she reached out to touch it, only to be stung by its thorns. Naturally, she acted as any five year old would and started to sob, which slowly turned into a full on waterworks display as she clutched her pricked finger.

Upon hearing her cries, Ursa hastened her pace and rushed over to cradle her in her lap. Stroking her back, she whispered repeatedly into her ear "It's okay, mama's here. It's okay". At last, her cries faded into a small sob as Azula reluctantly released the finger she had been clutching all this while. Expecting the worst, instead she was surprised as Ursa took out a handkerchief, wrapped it around the wound and gently lowered her to the ground, before leading her to the physician, never once chastising her for her actions but showing tenderness in exchange.

Turning back to the present, she found that Azula had stilled in her arms and had for all intents and purposes, cried herself to sleep in her embrace. Mustering as much strength as her body could muster, she lifted them off the floor and placed her on the couch. As Azula lay on the couch fast asleep, her chest steadily rising and falling, Ursa called Kiyi to take her half sister back home, speaking in hushed tones as to not wake the firebender.

On the other side of town, Kiyi was sparring with Zuko when her phone rang. Upon seeing it was her mother, Kiyi quickly replied "Yes mom, what is it?...Oh, okay sure."

Zuko raised an eyebrow and she replied "It's mom, she wants me to pick up 'Lala from her office."

"I see, take Sokka with you. I doubt she'll want to see me all sweaty and what not."

"Probably not, but then it's not like I'm any better though. Do you think she'll mind if I use her shampoo?"

"Honestly I don't see why not. If she kicks up a fuss, I'll handle it."

"Thanks Zuzu!" Kiyi smiled brightly at her half brother.

As Kiyi went to take a shower, on the other side of town, the two men in suits and their passengers were steadily cruising back to the airport, where an airship would take them back to the Fire Nation immediately. However, things were not going to plan as out of the blue, the younger man in the front passenger seat inexplicably yanked the steering wheel hard to the left, smacking the older man's head into the side window and sending them screeching to a halt.

"What the hell are you doing?" the older man asked in shock.

Silence greeted him.

Slowly, the younger man got out of the car, drew a pistol and executed the senior man with a quick double tap to the head. The scientist in the back seat tried to wake up from her daze and return fire with her firebending, but her weakened body would not allow her and thus, she and her child were brutally and efficiently dispatched to the realm of the Spirit World with another brace of expertly placed double taps to the head. Satisfied his work was done, he unscrewed the fuel cap, pulled out a lighter, tossed it into the tank and walked away casually without a care in the world as the charnel house of a car turned into a blazing funeral pyre.

Making his way to the nearest payphone, he slotted in some coins, punched a number and merely said "It is finished." when he heard it connect.

As Kiyi and Sokka made their way to Ursa's office, Sokka asked "Are you sure you want me to tag along instead of Zuko? Your mom doesn't like me."

Kiyi replied "Nah, you'll be fine. Besides, you seriously turning down an opportunity to see her?"

"I mean, I see her everyday, we're coworkers."

"Didn't look that way to me back in that alleyway."

"Well, I-uh, erm…"

"Don't need to be shy, admit it you like her."

"I-I'm not answering that!"

"Whatever you say, Sokka. You can't lie to yourself forever though." Kiyi replied, flicking her hair back as she did so.

"Say, you look pretty cute yourself. " Sokka replied, praying that his attempt at changing the subject would not be noticed.

"Complementing my good looks isn't going to get you off the hook. Besides, why would I want to muscle in on Sis's boy toy when I've got my own?"

"Why does everyone think I'm her boy toy? Also, I don't need to know you have your own, TMI girl!"

As they neared the building, Kiyi shot off a text to her mom that she was here.

The text she received next puzzled her. Don't need to knock, door unlocked. Azula is sleeping.

Gotcha. She replied.

Finally, they made their way to Ursa's office and opened the door as silently as they could, not wanting to wake Azula up. Noticing that she had curled up into a ball, Sokka volunteered to carry her to the vehicle, much to the muffled snickering of Kiyi and the skeptical hard gaze of Ursa, who understandably wasn't too trusting of his intentions after the alley incident. But seeing as Kiyi would be understandably sore from her sparring session, Ursa reluctantly allowed Sokka to carry her, with the unspoken threat of horrible things he would face if he ever decided to allow his hands to wander.

Mercifully, Azula was still asleep as they climbed up the stairs into their living area above the office and Sokka gently laid her down on her bed. Lingering just a little longer to admire after she'd been tucked in, he brushed a stray hair from her forehead and planted a gentle kiss before moving out of her room.

Closing the door, he was greeted by Kiyi's smug smirk "So, still not going to admit you're head over heels for her, huh? You know, I could tell Ursa about this….or-"

"T-that's blackmail!"

"Then confess to her, you idiot!"

"And be crispified by her? No thanks!"

"Well, guess I'll have to send her the video clip then." Kiyi cackled.

"Why are you and your sister like this?"

"Because it's what little sisters do best. Don't worry, I won't tell my mom a thing. Unless, you break her heart. Good night." she ended in an overly sweet tone, before sauntering out of the room with a flick of her ponytail.