A/N: There will be lemon/smut in this chap. If you don't like it, then stop after the boardroom meeting.

Chapter 22: Operation Rolling Thunder, Part 3

Boardroom

Sankan Palace Hotel

As Ursa entered the room, she could feel multiple pairs of eyes sizing her up, trying to get a read on any form of weakness that was sure to be ruthlessly exploited. After all, she was but a lone woman (as far as she could tell) in an overwhelmingly male-dominated and machismo society, where pride and glory was tied up in the amount of women and wealth one could accumulate and flaunt, as well as the capability to commit violence bordering on the level of war crimes.

Still, there was respect, however begrudgingly given, to those who chose to exercise more finesse and restraint in their approach whilst still getting the results that they set out to achieve.

One of the heads, a man with twin maroon koi swimming in an endless circle emblazoned on his forearms jeered "What took you so long, ash maker ?"

Ignoring his question, she took her place on the board, much to the chagrin of the man who was trying to get a raise out of her.

"Shall we get down to business then?" the woman at the end of the table asked in a tone that expected complete obedience.

"Right then, Madam Ursa would you like to explain your sudden mobilization of forces as well as the rather heavy handed assault on the Terra Triad safehouse this morning?"

Gazing at the rest of the board, Ursa kept her emotions in check as she wanted nothing more than to tear the man opposite her from limb to limb. Taking a deep breath, she explained "At roughly ten thirty last night, individuals from a certain group attempted to assassinate my child with a car bomb. In response, a call to arms was issued in response and a follow on retaliatory strike was launched on their hideout this morning."

"I see. And you believe this war is justified?"

"According to clause four in the agreement, I am entitled to pursue appropriate retaliatory action in response to deliberate and unprovoked targeting of descendants as I see fit."

"What do you have to say in response, Mr. Chin?" Yi Ching asked, turning his gaze on to the head of the Terra Triad, who had a pair of shades, even indoors.

"I know the rules as well as you do, what makes you think I stand to profit from the bombing of your child? After all, she's worth much more alive and intact than missing a limb or two, wouldn't you agree?' he smirked, the implied meaning left hanging as bait in order to get a rise out of her.

"I wonder if one could say the same about your niece, Chin Beifong? Though I suppose, being blind means at least you are spared the sight of being, how shall I put it, taken advantage of repeatedly. Though I suppose she might enjoy it, given that I've heard being blind enhances your other senses." she replied. Don't dish out what you cannot handle, Chin, she thought to herself.

"You dare!" he shouted, standing up from his seat.

"Both of you, control yourselves." she warned before continuing "This war needs to cease, effective immediately. As I see it, the proverbial scoreboard is even, and I'd like to keep it that way."

"If that's all, why are we summoned here?" a bald man asked.

"Because the rest of you will be tasked with enforcing the ceasefire. In exchange, both Hotel Azulon and Terra Triad will fund the cost of maintaining this ceasefire as well as a 15% cut in all profits for the next 24 months."

"Why do the other two groups get a 15% cut of our profits? Is funding the cost of the ceasefire not a steep enough penalty as is?" Ursa demanded

"The initial figure was set at 30% cut, pray I don't alter the deal any further." was the woman's reply.

Noticing Chin's metal bracelets start to meld together into a sharp blade, she calmly stated "Mr. Chin, you should know that the Sankan Palace is a neutral space, any further actions will result in excommunication.", while staring him down, grey eyes clashing against jade.

Taking a deep breath, he reluctantly turned it back into its bracelet form.

"With that out of the way, we shall now proceed with the finer points of this ceasefire agreement. Now.."

Blue Spirit Shipping Company

As Sokka headed to the kitchen to grab something to eat, he bumped into the last person he wanted to see heading to the same destination. Tui and La, this is just like the boat ride again, he muttered to himself. Alright Sokka, try not to make this more awkward than it already is, he told himself.

Meanwhile, Azula was thinking the exact same thing. Agni above, why must it be him and not Zuzu? I promise I'll burn extra incense, just let me get through this please! she prayed silently, hoping that her patron deity would grant her plea.

Unknowingly, both of them reached for the fridge at the exact same time, their fingers brushing against each other. Clearly, their prayers would not be answered this time. Like an electric shock, both of them immediately pulled back and stared at each other awkwardly, their faces turning red although Azula's blush was more evident due to her alabaster skin.

"I'll er, just, erm, you go first." Sokka opened, rubbing the back of his neck while trying to look as sheepish as possible. With that, he busied himself with preparing coffee before Azula pointed out there was already coffee in the pot on the stove.

"Oh. Yeah, right. Stupid me." was his reply.

As Sokka moved to grab some milk out of the fridge, Zuko came into the kitchen and told them "We just got a call from mom, it seems like she might have an assignment for us. Aang could use some help in the shipyard with refits so make yourselves useful. Meet us at Hotel Azulon in about an hour." When Zuko and Kiyi left the building, both of them turned to face each other, thankful that there wasn't anyone in the house to eavesdrop on them attempting to tackle the four hundred pound moose lion in the room.

"Tell me Sokka, do you like me?" she asked, causing him to almost choke on his drink. Spirits above, she awfully direct.

"Is there an answer you're looking for?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not." she replied, trying to look as casual as possible leaning against the countertop.

"What incentive is there for me to give you the answer you're looking for?" he teased.

"Oh I don't know, the threat of death by fire or electrocution, possible reciprocated affection, the chance to copulate and produce heirs…Did I mention electrocution?" she said while pretending to take a closer interest in her nails.

"Well then, I guess that isn't much incentive to lie now is it?"

"I suppose not."

The tension in the air was heavy as Sokka deliberated on his answer in silence, leaving Azula to try and guess what was on his mind as his eyes, normally a good indicator of his thought process, was ice cold and unreadable right now.

Finally, Sokka spoke "'Against all rational reason and logic, I-"

"I what, Sokka?"

"I do."

"Really?"

"Really. I do."

With that, she stepped closer to where Sokka was, the scent of her shampoo reminding him of a tropical paradise."Against all reason and logic, Sokka, I-I-don't dislike you either." hoping he would catch the hidden meaning.

"Well that makes two of us." he chuckled, closing the distance himself as their food was long forgotten, the scent of the ocean from Sokka filling her nostrils.

Somehow, the spot that they met in the middle was illuminated by a beam of sunlight, making it look all the more cheesy and sappy than it really was.

In a flash, lips crashed against each other, as hands wrapped around the other's back, their torsos grinding together as time stood still. When they broke, both of them just stood there, foreheads touching, savouring the moment.

Like a bolt out of the blue, their lips and bodies crashed into one another with renewed passion and intensity. This time, hands and fingers roamed about, feeling every nook and cranny, every hill and valley of each others' bodies as their desires flared higher and higher. Picking her up, she instinctively wrapped her legs around Sokka as he started to move his mouth lower and lower onto her neck and collarbones, turning her face completely flushed with arousal as she did not bother holding back her moans of pleasure.

"Unnngh Sokka, what-what are you doing to me?" she panted, unable to keep up with his ministrations as he set both of them down on the sofa, with her still firmly in his lap thanks to his hands on her hips grinding it against his groin.

Pausing, he looked her dead in the eyes and said "Showing you just how much I like you." before looking down at her cleavage.

"I could go lower, but only if you want me too, Princess."

"I-I-I'd like that." she whispered into his ear so softly, Sokka thought he'd imagined it.

"Well then, if you could lift your arms up."

"I'm not hearing the magic words?"

"Please, would you lift your arms up?"

"Still not hearing it." she smirked as she cupped his face in her hands while continuing to grind on him.

"Pretty please, Princess, would you kindly lift your arms up so I can take your shirt off and absolutely ravage your tits?" he whispered back huskily. If her cheeks weren't pink enough, they were absolutely as red as a tomato by how matter of factly Sokka's mouth could say such filthy things.

"You have a really dirty mind, you know that?" she purred while lifting her hands up

"What can I say except you've been a bad bad influence on an impressionable young boy like me? Besides, you can't deny it turns you on." he teased before flicking her nose as she took off her shirt and bra, before placing an arm over them while unbuttoning his shirt with her free hand.

Before Sokka had a chance to move her arms away and taste her, the phone rang with a loud shrill tone.

"Guess you won't be tasting these sisters today." she teased wickedly, a smug grin on her face.

"But can I have a peek? Just a little, pretty please?" he pretended to beg while putting on his best polar bear puppy eyes.

"Careful, I might like this submissive version of you." she replied before slowly lifting her arm away. In a flash, Sokka pounced on her and began to devour her breasts rapidly like food from the heavens, mixing in swirls, licks and the occasional nibble as he drove her closer and closer to the peak of pleasure. Meanwhile, Azula writhed and thrashed about under him, her fingers pulling on his wolf's tail tightly as she tried to move his mouth away from her sensitive flesh. Spirits above, you're a noisy one he thought as her moans and mewls only encouraged him further, switching from one to the next without ceasing. Just like that, he felt her come undone as she let out a scream of ecstasy, an intense blue plume of fire exiting from her mouth that finally caused him to cease as the heat was unbearable.

As Sokka moved off her to finally answer the phone, Azula slowly descended from her post orgasm high, only to notice the front of her pants were a mess, as was her hair and chest, still somewhat sticky from his ministrations. Sighing deeply, she fixed an angry glare on Sokka who was on the phone when he caught her amber eyes fixed on him like a tigress on a hapless deer.

"What's taking you guys so long? It's half an hour already?"

"Well, we erm, er - Ohhh shit." he muttered as he accidentally glanced in her direction.

"What do you mean oh shit ? Sokka, explain?Sokka?"

"Er, Zuko I'll talk later gotta run now, your sister's gonna try and kill me. Bye!" he stammered before slamming the phone down and raising his hands in surrender and fear.

"Now, now babe, we can er, talk about this right? Right?"

Leaping off the couch, she pounced on him in a flash, bringing him tumbling to the floor in a loud crash. Flipping him around, she tore his clothes off and went to town on him, showing him just what would happen if he went too far by doing what he just did to her.

"Ahh Azula, no, stop, please, no stop please, I'm gonna-"he cried, before he exploded in his pants. Noticing that he finally climaxed as well, she let him recover before pinching his now red cheeks together in her hand.

"Next time, I won't be so merciful. Consider this a warning the next time you want to try some funny shit with me." she purred, to which a trembling Sokka could only nod in terror and gulp, as he tried his best to focus on her face and not her gently swaying breasts.

"Y-yes princess! Please don't hurt me!"

"Good, at least you know your place, peasant."she cooed and planted a large hickey on his neck, before flicking his nose in return and getting up to head to the shower, leaving Sokka frozen on the ground in fear and trembling. Tui and La, just what have I signed myself up for?, was the solitary thought that ricocheted around in his dazed mind.