Chapter 28: Midnight Hunting Party, Part 4

Coffee house

Agna Q'ela

It was a pretty boring stakeout, all things considered. Sure, there had been some initial action when the Water Tribe boy and the former Crown Princess showed up first at the house, though from where he was sitting, it could have just been a mixed teen couple as there was a sizable Fire Nation expatriate community in the NWT, mostly engineers working for local mining concerns as well as the fisheries and seafood business.

Because of this, interracial couples weren't uncommon, especially amongst the younger generation who were more connected and open to other cultures than their elders, who had to endure harrowing siege conditions imposed by the Fire Nation Navy and its Marine detachments during the Hundred Years War and thus, developed a stigma and negative racial bias towards people from the archipelago. In fact, there were now more than a few up and coming politicians and public servants who had either mixed parentage or were born in the NWT, such as deputy head of the Interior Directorate, the ambassadors to the United Republics and the Fire Nation respectively, men and women whose loyalty to the tribe was unquestionable.

Thirty minutes later, his suspicions were all but confirmed as the chieftainess herself, along with several other prolific individuals entered the same house. Making a mental note to thank whoever it was who provided them with a list of safe houses used by the Directorate, he made the call to Sen, who gave him his orders to continue watching the premise. Draining the last of his now cold coffee, he decided he'd overstayed his welcome in the cafe and made his way to his vessel, a sleek affair that could cut the waves with effortless grace while handling the tight turns that made up the waterways of the city with ease.

Before he could reach the vessel, a stranger bumped into him, knocking his keys dangerously near the edge of the canal.

"What the hell, can't you see where you're going you-"

"Oh, I'm so so sorry, mister! I-it won't happen again, I promise! Did you drop anything" the stranger replied, the hood of her hoodie flipping over and obscuring her face as she bowed repeatedly.

"If you could help me find my keys, that would be very much appreciated, miss." he replied, sounding rather annoyed.

Bending over, she picked up the keys and handed it to the man, who snatched it without so much as a 'thank you'. "Did your parents ever teach you manners?" she chided.

"Who the hell do you think you are to-wait a minute, you-you're Princess Azula!"

"Oh dear, and here I thought you wouldn't recognize me. Maybe this will teach you to say 'thank you' when someone does something for you, you rude bitch." she scolded, before knocking him out with an electrified fist. For good measure, she gave the man a hard kick to balls.

While Zuko and Sokka winced, before quickly bundling up the unconscious man into the house, Katara turned and asked "Was that really necessary?"

"I am still a royal, and royals deserve to be treated with respect and reverence."

"I hope you treat Sokka better than how you did to that man, for his sake."
"You should tell your brother that. Ask him how many times has his wandering hands-"

"Okay that's enough information, I don't need to know what kind of kinky shit you and him get up to. Do I need to sanitize the couch with bleach?" Katara cut her off, her face turning green at the thought of them defiling the house while they were out.

"No, we haven't gone that far. Yet. Are all Water Tribespeople this revved up, or is it just your brother?"

"What exactly are you implying? You don't see me trying to climb Aang like a tree."

"I don't know, what else can you do in your ice hut besides go at it like rabaroos?"

"Just because my brother is attracted to every pretty face he comes across doesn't mean every tribesperson is as horny as he is." Katara shot back while pulling her hair in frustration. At this rate, she figured she'd probably need to freeze him to the wall to teach him a lesson.

Basement

Safe House

"Is he awake yet?"

"I don't know, how hard did you punch him?" Bulan asked, while twirling a stray strand of hair.

"Hard enough."

"Somehow I feel there's something else you're not telling me."

"Why would you say that?"

"Because every time your boyfriend looks at you he instinctively moves his hand over his balls."

"I, well, may have kicked him in the nuts. It wasn't a hard kick, I promise."

"Why are you Fire Nation people so violent?"

"I could say the same about you. I mean, I'm pretty sure you're a halfie."

"Mom never told me who dad was, or what he did, only that he was a bad man."

"Sounds like parent of the year if you'd ask me."

"I've read your dossier, and it sounds like your parents weren't any better."

"Welcome to the Fire Nation royal household, where favouritism and regicide is the order of the day." Azula replied sarcastically.

"Sounds like family gatherings are a blast."

"Pretty sure some granduncle or granddad killed their sibling in an impromptu Agni Kai during a feast."

"I didn't mean that literally you know."

"What else can you expect from a dysfunctional household? Anyways, this family talk is getting boring, I'll be heading upstairs if there's nothing else."

"Go ahead, I'll need to head back to the office anyways. Tui and La know how much paperwork is piled up on my desk. I wish I could just do fieldwork all day."

xxXxx

As she stood underneath the hot shower, the hot water rushing over her skin like a waterfall, her mind wandered back to her past, when she was still the crown princess, groomed by her father to take over the Dragon Throne over her elder brother, who he saw as weak and unfit for duty.

At first, she was happy and excited that she, the younger sibling and a female to boot, was being selected over the traditional firstborn male heir in over two centuries of rule. However, that excitement proved short-lived as her teenage years were clouded by harsh and intense discipline and training by her father, who viewed her innate firebending abilities nothing more as living incarnation of the wrath of Agni, sent forth to bring judgement and fire upon all enemies of Caldera, both foreign and domestic.

In addition, her father saw any expression of emotion as a weakness, forcing out or suppressing any hint with beating and fire whips. After every beating, she was sent to the infirmary, where the physicians could only shake their heads as they worked their best to treat and cover up the burns with healing salves and poultices. If any of them dared speak out against such abuse, they would be be renditioned, never to be seen again.

Shaking her head to break such depressing thoughts, she turned off the tap and dried herself with her bending, before putting on a hoodie and sweats, looking very much like a college student and not at all like a princess.

Putting on a pair of earbuds, she made her way to the couch, put on a pair of reading glasses and started to go through the small pile of folders that Bulan had left for them. Meanwhile at the table, Aang continued to tinker with Shishio's phone, jotting down notes whenever he saw something that caught his eye as the other members went to bed or used the time to meditate. After a while, even Aang decided he had been staring at screens long enough and headed off to bed, leaving her alone, a solitary lamp to keep her company.

So engrossed was she in her reading materials, that she didn't notice a pair of hands starting to massage her shoulders. Only when she felt the breath tickle the hairs on the back of her neck did she finally look away from the files and found herself looking into twin pools of blue, full of concern.

Pulling out her earbuds, she asked "What's up Sokka?"

"You're still up? It's almost midnight already." he replied, while burrowing his head in the side of her neck as he planted soft kisses.

"I guess I lost track of time. After all, the outside looks the same once the sun sets at five. Why are you up?"

"I saw the light from under my door, so I decided to check. Want someone to keep you company?" he replied as he breathed in her scent, the smell of wildflowers filling his nose.

"I can't concentrate when you're around." she replied, before letting out a soft purr of contentment as Sokka's hands continued to work her muscles.

"No funny business, I promise."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

With that, he leapt over and joined her on the couch, placing her in his lap as he continued to massage her back. When he deemed her fully relaxed, he unwrapped the towel on her head and let her hair fall in a smooth dark curtain on her back, where he proceeded to run his fingers through them as if to comb it, placing small knots, loops and braids.

"You know, this college student aesthetic looks good on you, you know."

"Pretty sure you'd say I'd look good in anything really."

"That's because you're just so perfect." he mumbled into her as he planted another kiss on her neck.

"Somehow you just know the right thing to say. I'm sure there were many broken hearts you left in Ba Sing Se University."

"That's because none of them could compare to you."

"I'm a princess, they're commoners, of course they'd be found lacking." she replied, finding it harder to concentrate the longer she stayed in his lap. At last she called it quits and placed the folders on the floor, before giving Sokka a kiss on the lips. Granted, it wasn't the best angle but he didn't complain, returning in kind with a full bodied kiss as his hands slipped around her waist to pull her closer.

"You feel so comfortable, I don't want to move." she replied after a long silence of just basking in each other's presence.

"Me too, but my neck is gonna kill me tomorrow."

"Here, use this." she said, handing over a cushion for Sokka to place against his neck.

"Thanks."

Placing her head on his shoulder, she turned her body sideways and wrapped her arms around Sokka before whispering in his ear "Good night, my little wolf", before adding in a small still voice "I love you.", so soft that Sokka almost thought he imagined it.

Removing her glasses and placing it on the side table, he whispered back "Good night to you too, little dragon. Love you and sweet dreams." before pulling a nearby blanket over them and turning off the light. In response, Azula only clung on to him tighter, before letting out a contented sigh and slipping peacefully into dreamland.

Agni Kai apartment

Midtown District

Agna Q'ela

"Sen, did you hear from Shishio yet?"

"No, why?"

"Don't you think he would have called back a few hours ago?"

"Hmm, you're right. This is concerning."

"What's the call then? The longer we leave him there the higher the chance of him spilling secrets, whether he intends to or not."

"But what if it's a trap meant to bait us in? After all, if they figured out they have a tail whose to say they aren't expecting us?"

"We'll get him out, I swear. Just-just give me some time to plan this okay? Last thing we want to do is to walk into an ambush and we all get killed or captured."

"Alright, I'll tell the team to be on standby."

"You should get some rest, we can't afford any more mistakes."

Meeting room

Sankan Palace Hotel

Pirate's Pier

"Please do explain how the incapacitation of one measly lieutenant is worth a platoon of my best chongjab-i ?"

"Clearly you and I don't place the same value on human capital, which makes negotiating a blood price rather difficult."

"If I don't, which you're claiming as such, then enlighten me why I'm sitting across from you?"

"Because your position is considerably weaker than it was before the previous ceasefire. You yourself pointed out that the only reason you're here is because you lost your best gunslingers to my strike force, not because of any obligation to your men."

"Miss Ursa, I believe that is enough provocation. Be thankful we have not blacklisted you for what you did this morning."

"Then maybe you should have visited me in person instead of sending a messenger boy who can't close a deal to save his life."

Choosing not to respond to the bait, she kept her calm and asked "What exactly would give you reason to stay your hand?"

In response, she pulled out a list of names and placed it on the table. "Hand over these individuals, and I'll cease all operations against your organization, plus I'll even throw in some territorial concessions. Simple."

"This-this is-"

"Is what? I've been in the game long enough to recognize governmental interference and meddling."

"As if it isn't patently obvious the Agni Kai is nothing more than a useful proxy for the Fire Nation."

"Restrain yourselves, both of you. This is neutral territory." Yi Ching warned.

Going down the list of names, he took out a pen and circled a few before handing the list back to her. "If we can agree to exclude these few names, I'll accept your offer and throw in a free shipment of Earth herb."

"Seems like a rather paltry concession if you'd ask me. What I'm offering you is so much more, it hardly seems fair."

"Fine, I'll throw in a few plantations on Makapu. Satisfied?"

"Not really, but it seems like a promising start. What do you think, commissioner?"

"I'd say that is more like it."

"Very well then, I believe we have reached a consensus then. The contracts will be mailed to your respective offices within the next two working days. For you Miss Ursa, you would have to pay additional penalties for breaking the ceasefire."

"Fair enough. Will that be all?"

"A time and place for the handover of individuals will be determined in due time, as soon as the contracts are signed and sealed. One last thing, please try not to kill each other as soon as both of you exit the hotel, else I'd have to excommunicate the survivor."

"I'd like to see you try." was Ursa's parting response.

In her dream, she was standing in a vast white plain, stretching as far as the eye could see. Above, the sky shimmered and rippled with all the colours of the world, never remaining a single hue for more than a fleeting few seconds.

Just then a pair of familiar hands surrounded her waist, before slowly giving her gentle fleeting kisses, eliciting soft moans of pleasure from her. The hands slowly turned her around, bringing her face to face with her beau, a necklace in his hand.

"I-is that, for me?"

"Will you marry me, princess?"

"I-I-"

But before she could say the magical words, her dreamscape started to shake and wobble, as if in an earthquake. Trying to steady herself, she saw the Sokka in her dreams mouth the words "Wake up."

"What?"

"Wake up." it repeated more firmly.

"Wh-what's going on?"

"Wake up princess." a more real and somewhat annoying voice broke through the haze.

Trying her best to shake off the vestiges of sleep, she groggily replied "F-five more minutes." before curling up closer into his chest.

"And here I thought firebenders rise with the sun." Sokka grumbled, before shaking her awake again.

"Sonofabitch Sokka, let me enjoy my dream for five more minutes you asshole!" she finally exclaimed.

"I'm sorry but you're needed, the suspect just woke up."

"Hmmph, fine." she grumbled.

"Sorry for interrupting your dream, honey. It sounded like a good dream."

"You should be."

"How can I make it up to you then?" he replied, while giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"You'll see. Now run along while I think of a suitable punishment for you." she replied deviously, leaving Sokka wondering about his fate as she uncovered the blanket and got up from his lap.