Chapter 37: Midnight Hunting Party, Part 13

Council Room

Chief's Residence

"Chief Hahn, Chieftainess Bulan, what do you have to say for yourselves? More importantly, what actions is the Interior Directorate going to take to restore public safety as well as law and order?"

"Signals intercepted a phone call mentioning Skolas, but there was no indication or word on the street that the House of Wolves would launch an attack. A coordinated attack like this takes time and resources, of which the latter cannot have been produced overnight."

"Our best course of action right now is to declare martial law, extreme as it may sound. Reducing further civilian casualties is just as important as dismantling or wiping out both the Wolves and the Agni Kai."

"Based on your professional opinion, what are the chances that the Wolves are being funded by the Agni Kai or worse still, working hand in hand?"

"Skolas? He doesn't care too much about where the money and arms come from, only that he has the means to run his campaign. The lower ranks and perhaps their captain might, but I doubt they truly know who their benefactor is. The only ones who are in the know are most likely their so-called 'Barons' and 'Baronesses'."

"I see." Arnook replied, before retreating into deep contemplation. Noticing his expression, Bulan asked " Is there something you'd like to tell us? You seem like you know the upper echelons or at the very least, did your research on them beforehand. What exactly are you not telling us?"

After what seemed like an extremely long and calculated pause, he answered " Skolas is your godfather."

'Whoop-de-doo, another family member gone off the rails. Tell me dad, are there any more of our family that I' d need to put on the watchlist? What's next, my adoptive mother is some White Lotus deep cover agent, which is why she has to use the servant entrances every time she visits. Honestly dad, at this point nothing surprises me."

"Well about that-" Arnook replied, somewhat mortified that she'd figured out his wife's day job.

"Save your breath for the barrage of press conferences, just keep those nosy politicians off me and Hahnny's back until this is all over and done with, thank you very much. Last thing we need is a Spirits' damned council hearing by some two bit fuckface councilman on how this isn't a woman's job and he could have done it better etc." she shot back, wrapping her betrothed possessively with her arms, leaving Hahn burning red and speechless at her public usage of his nickname in front of her father.

Shaking his head while muttering as to why Tui and La decided to bless him with an infuriating intelligent and mercurial adopted daughter, Arnokk merely replied "I suppose." in a weary tone.

The fireteam aboard the airship weren't strangers to being deployed to exotically hostile locales on deniable operations with minimal backup. Being seconded to the former Queen Consort, who's current day job was running one of the most powerful criminal organizations coupled with the fact that she was the matriarch to the original heir/heiresses of the Dragon Throne (if it weren't for a small hiccup known as the Hundred Years' War) lent the whole operation an air of incredulity.

Getting one's hands dirty was one thing, working hand in glove with a criminal organization was a whole different ball game. Even after so long away from the palace, Ursa still exhibited a quiet steel that commanded, no demanded respect from those around her, if not outright reverence bordering on worship. It didn't help that her own private army she was carrying were all hardened veterans with a combined experience pool that outranked and were larger than their collective age put together.

Having decided that she had made them uncomfortable enough, Ursa gestured at the refreshments off to the side and said "Feel free to help yourselves whenever, you are not disrespecting me if you do so. However, it would be much more preferable if you sated your hungers after the briefing. With that said, who here is the Fireteam Leader?"

"I am, your, um, Highness?." a young, fresh faced captain stepped forward.

"Deary me, the SAD head wasn't lying when she said they had a manpower shortage. You seem a bit too young, captain. How old are you and your team? Seems a shame be sending such handsome young men like yourselves." she remarked

"I'm twenty-two, your Highness. The average age for my fireteam is about twenty-four."

"How much did your CO brief you or your team?"

"Pack winter gear and be discreet were our marching orders, your Highness."

"I see. I'll see to it that my secretary hands out the full dossiers but for now, the long and short of it is that we are to perform a house cleaning operation. You will answer to me and me alone for the duration of this operation, understand?"

"Roger that."

"You and your men are dismissed. I will send for you when we are near."

Safe house

"What's our plan of attack? What do we know about this 'House of Wolves'? " Zuko asked

"We know they're capable of large scale attacks on a whim and their command structure, but that's about it. We don't know where their hideouts are, what their lines of communication are, not to mention who's bankrolling them." Bulan stated.

"Isn't it obvious, the Agni Kais are bankrolling them. I mean, what better cover for your actions than an ultranationalist organization with a penchant for dress up and spectaculars?" Azula replied as if it was the easiest thing in the world to figure out.

"If that's the case, what are they trying to hide?" Hahn asked.

"The ambassador mentioned rare earth minerals, didn't he? Look, here's an article from five years ago talking about that association buying a majority stake in this mining consortium. Now why would an association that revolves around the fishing industry invest in mining? Certainly not to diversify their portfolio, that's for sure." Sokka pointed out.

"Since when did you become an expert on mining and front companies?" Azula quizzed.

"While you were recovering in the hospital, I had to keep busy somehow."

"So dedicated to the mission it turns me on." Azula cooed, intentionally teasing him by rubbing her bottom against Sokka's crotch. "Are you trying to embarass me in front of everyone?" he hissed, gripping her hips to stop her grinding.

"Can we like, y'know, focus on the task at hand and fuck each other's brains out later?" Bulan chided.

"You touch her Sokka, you're a dead man. Fiancee or not." Zuko threatened.

"What, you jealous you don't got someone to cuddle with, Zuzu?" she smirked.

"Anyways…" Hahn interjected with a clap. "Aang, did you pick up any chatter?"

"Not much, but there is something fishy going on near this spot." he replied, pointing to a cove located close to the nearest gap between the Earth Kingdom and the Northern Water Tribe. "There's been multiple calls back and forth from Agna Q'ela to this location since the attack. My bet is, that's where their hideout."

"Great job Aang, let's get this show on the road."

As the gang peeled off to make the necessary arrangements, Sokka whispered into Azula's ear "Keep that up next time and I will bend you over, audience or no audience."

"Oooh, am I supposed to be scared?" she huskily replied, pulling him for a searing kiss. When they broke, Sokka answered "Don't think you're getting away that easily."

"Just what do you have in mind, hmm?" she teased, backing him into a corner and pinning him against the wall.

"Wouldn't you like to know, my little firefly?" he teased back, nuzzling her with his nose.

"Perhaps…" she teased back.

"Is that so? Well, I'd ravish you so hard your throat would be sore from screaming my name."

"Bold words, but can you back it up?"

"I'd hate to disappoint a princess like you." he countered, placing his hands on her hips and pulling her close in for another searing kiss. This time, his hands wandered from her hips up to her chest while hers responded in kind. Before long, the fronts of their clothes were open, and Sokka lavished her neck with nibbles and licks that sent her into a tizzy. Reaching behind her, he pulled the pin out of her hair, letting it fall in long raven locks.

"Hey, that took hours to do up!" she whined.

"You look better with your hair down." was his response. As their makeout session climbed in intensity, so did Azula as she leapt into his arms, supporting herself by wrapping her legs around his waist. Instinctively, Sokka moved his hands to her thighs, helping her to support her weight.

Placing himself on a chair, his hands then wandered back to her chest, massaging it while he continued to mark her neck with love bites. Pausing his ministrations, he took her necklace off of her, much to Azula's curiosity.

"Why did you do that?"

"I'd like to taste you as you are without the chain getting in the way."

"Maybe you should have thought about it before deciding to go with a necklace instead of something less obstructing." she replied, taking advantage of his inactivity to return the favour whilst her hands roamed his body, intentionally teasing him with the tip of her nail.

"But how will people know you're mine?" he replied, his hands slipping under her sports bra to access her nipples, which strained against its confines.

"I could-eungh-tattoo it on me-Sokka I can't think straight when you do that." she panted, her cheeks taking on a rosy glow.

"Aww, getting flustered aren't you, my little firefly?" he cooed.

"Haha very funny...hnghh... I-I'm close." she whispered, as Sokka buried his face in between her cleavage, giving tiny bites and licks to the flanks of her breasts. Thrusting her hands in his hair, she pinned his face in whilst tugging harshly on his strands, egging him on. Meanwhile, his hands slipped between her pants and grabbed large handfuls of her firm buttocks, sending a lusty moan reverberating through her body. In response, Sokka shifted his hips to grind harder against her, bringing her closer and closer to that blest peak.

Unfortunately, their bonding time was abruptly cut short by the sound of a throat clearing. Whipping their heads to the source, they found Bulan leaning against the wall, a large knowing grin plastered on her face. "Just how long have you been watching us?" Azula barked, very much displeased at her intrusion into her private life. "Let's just say I heard you both long before I saw you both. Life tip, don't go having sexy times in a public space, else I just might have to arrest you both for violating curfew and public decency."

"I'm not sure shoving us both in a cell is going to help."

"Who said you were going to share a cell with him? Anyways, might I suggest putting on some concealer before we leave? Your brother might lose his shit if he sees your hickeys."

"Zuzu can shove his opinions right up his ass. As far as I'm concerned, we're more or less practically married, so Zuzu can shut it."

"Does your mom know? More importantly, will you lose your titles if you marry him? Lastly, why are you so violent compared to your half sister?"

"Yes, no and why does everyone compare me to Kiyi? She might look innocent and cute and shit, but let me tell you she's not some goody two shoes. Now fuck off before I toast your ass.", to which she simply turned around and pulled down her dress enough to reveal her backside for a brief moment, before covering it up again. "Consider yourself mooned." she taunted, before sauntering away, intentionally putting a sway in her hips to bring out the jealousy in Azula. "Just so you know," she stated, "there's a bet going around the office to see how long you both can last before straight up fucking each other's brains out before the ceremony. I've got a good chunk of change riding on this so don't fuck this up for me alright?" before hanging a left and disappearing.

Noticing her beau's eyes were fixed on Bulan's curves the whole time, she whipped his face back to face and demanded "What are you looking at? Trying to compare my ass to hers, hmm?"

"N-n-no, no, firefly I wasn't! Honest!"

"Really? Is mine not up to your liking, Soksok ? " she asked in a sweet sickly voice that set off alarm bells ringing in his mind. Tread very very carefully, Sokka,he thought to himself.

"You're the only one I ever want and besides, she's taken by someone else. Just like I am by you." "Besides," he added in a conspiratorial voice, " you're the only one who gets wetter the harder I spank you, or have you forgotten?", turning her face bright red at the mention.

"It's not like you don't get a hardon when I return the favour."

"Then I'd say we were made for each other then. Love you, firefly."

"Love you too. Now finish what you started before we go, you dirty savage you."

"It'll be my honour, Princess Firefly.", before shoving his fingers into her now sopping wet core and vibrating rapidly, making her pant.

"Ohhh...hngghh...Sokkaaa!" she wailed, before thrusting herself into Sokka so hard the chair they were on crashed on the floor with a loud thud.

"You," kiss "are" kiss "just" kiss "amazing, you know that?"

"Thanks for stating the obvious. Now, don't we have ourselves some wolves to catch?" she breathlessly replied.

"So dedicated to the mission, it turns me on." he taunted her back. "Come on, let's not keep your brother waiting."

Outside, Zuko, Aang, Bulan and Hahn all heard Azula's screaming Sokka's name, before turning to look at them with concern. "What's going on in between them?"

"Well buddy, you don't wanna know." Hahn replied, placing a firm hand on his shoulder and escorting him to the waiting boat.

Hospital

It was definitely shaping up to be a long tiring day as even though most had perished in the initial assault, there were definitely many survivors and other injured personnel that required medical attention. Between Kiyi and Katara, they treated about fifty patients in total, before both of them slumped against the wall, drained and fatigued from expending so much energy and focus healing and patching whoever they could.

"I'm so tired I could sleep for weeks." Katara groaned.

"Me too." Kiyi replied, resting her head on her shoulders, straining to open her eyes. A passing nurse spotted them slumped against the wall and directed them to a nearby resting room, where there was an empty bunk bed.

"You can take the bed, I'll sleep on the table here."

"But-"

"Shhh, it's nap time. We've got a lot more work to do before the day is out."

"Yes mom." before laying her head on the pillow. In seconds, both of them were fast asleep. As they slept off their exhaustion, a mixed squad of White Lotus and Nanuk Special Police Unit personnel strode into the lobby, ostensibly to provide an extra layer of security in case the Wolves launched another attack. Although the presence of armed men should have set off red flags, their uniforms and gear, coupled with some official looking letters assuaged most of their concerns, although one could not be too careful and thus, their long guns and water skins had to be surrendered, although side arms and a small vial was allowed.

This of course, was to be expected and their kit altered to suit the situation. If all went to plan, their targets would not suspect a thing. Now free to move about, they made their way to the emergency center and asked the desk for the whereabouts of Katara and Kiyi. After being pointed to a resting room down the corridor, they headed off in that direction.

Posting two men outside as lookouts, the rest of them filed into the room and two others pulled out a syringe from their medical kit, before simultaneously injecting them both with a tranquilizer that not only ensured they would be unconscious, but also act as a chi suppressant for when they eventually woke up.

Package secured, they exfiltrated out the fire escape to a waiting vessel. Taking zero chances, they placed a hood on their heads and zip tied their hands together. With a nod to their driver, they sped off, their patrol boat providing the cover they needed to bypass the checkpoints.

Basement

Getting dunked with a bucket of ice cold water was not how Kiyi expected to wake up, nor was finding her wrists chained to the walls.

"Where-where am I?" she groggily asked. A rough callused hand stroked her cheek, before delivering a slap that shook off the last vestiges of sleep away, the burning sensation jolting her awake.

"You will only speak when spoken to, understand?"

Having little say in the matter, she mutely nodded. "Now, I suppose you have many questions you would like to have answered, but I am afraid that shall have to wait. You and your siblings have caused me enough trouble as it stands, to say nothing less of the Interior Directorate's meddling. In the meantime, behave yourself and I promise no harm will come to your friend, understand?"

"Y-yes." she shivered. Trying to summon her bending to warm herself up, no flame came out, her fire chakra seemingly blocked.

"It seems the chi suppressant lasts longer than I thought. As much as I'd enjoy seeing you suffer from the effects of hypothermia, losing such a valuable bargaining chip just will not do." he commented, before summoning someone to wrap her in blankets."

"Now, be a good girl and don't try to play hero. Else, I will not be responsible for whatever consequences that would befall you."

"After all", he whispered "there are many who would kill to have the chance to pleasure themselves with a member of the royal family. And we wouldn't want the line to be sullied with commoner blood, would we not?" sending a chill down her spine.

Zuzu, Azzie, where are you? Help!, she thought to herself, as the stone door slammed shut, plunging her cell back into darkness with the only source of illumination filtering in from a tiny slit window high above her restraints. Pulling her knees closer to herself, she sent a silent prayer to Agni, before sobbing quietly.

"What do we do with that water witch, master?"

"That Water Tribe trash? Do with the savage as you see fit. Just...try not to leave any visible marks, lest the asking price for her be significantly diminished. And you know how I hate giving discounts."

"Yes master." he replied, salivating at the chance to have his way with not only the last waterbender of the South, but also a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family. The others can wait their turn, they're mine, he thought to himself, feeling himself get a hardon already just from the thoughts alone.

Pulling open the slot on her cell, he took in the unconscious prisoner chained to the wall, committing her body to memory before closing the slot and plunging Katara's cell as well into darkness.