Part I - An Agreement
The small mushroom-like clouds of dust that gathered at the base of his ostrich-horse were beginning to irritate his eyes as they kicked up with every mile. He tiredly rubbed his eyes in an attempt to soothe them but it proved to only irritate them further.
"Damn… at least it's only a few more miles until the next town." Sokka yawned under his breath to no one in particular. He had been alone on the road for at least a week since he'd left Omashu. The arid climate had begun to give way to more verdant fauna earlier in the day as he rode closer to the coast.
Sokka still wasn't quite sure where he was going as his ostrich-horse carried him further along the desolate road even though he'd had more than enough time to set a destination since he had left Republic City. Despite being the Plans Man, the Guy with a Schedule…. It was something he would rather ignore at the moment. What good was a plan when the universe was hellbent on his suffering and sending any plans he'd made to shreds?
Instead, he focused on how his backside was beginning to protest at the constant jostling motion of the saddle, even if each bump reminded him of the comforts of his luxurious apartment he had left behind.
"Yeah, well this is better than having to sit through a best man fitting or planning a bachelor party…" Sokka scowled at the ostrich-horse who had become well accustomed to his random outbursts in the week they had spent together. The creature continued in its unconcerned trot, enjoying the cool shade the trees offered now that the deserts were behind them.
The two progressed on the lonely road until a spattering of houses gave way to a modest town along the coastline. It was Sokka's first time being in the area. His travels around the world had neglected this unassuming corner of the world. The fresh breeze that came through the treetops from across the bay ran a thrill of excitement through Sokka's spine at the thought of being somewhere completely new and unexplored. It had been several years since he'd felt such an emotion so akin to hope.
The townspeople he passed looked at him curiously, clearly not used to visitors coming from the mainland. He smiled at them as good naturally as he could even if he knew that his easy going nature had been long gone. The humor that most had associated with him throughout the years had slowly been extinguished as the relationships around him grew without him. It was never a pleasant feeling to feel that one's friends had outgrown him and despite their protest, Sokka felt that he had no other choice but to leave them and figure out who he was without their influence.
Sokka wondered how much of himself he had lost throughout the years to the pretense of being the "funny guy", the "walking punchline" for the sake of his friend's comfort….
He shook his head. At least for the moment, he was a nobody. He was free to make up a whole new persona if he so chose to do so. In this corner of the world, he wasn't an influential politician, he didn't have a famous brother-in-law and his ex wasn't marrying his best friend who happened to be the Fire Lord-...
The bitterness at the thought rose to his throat, choking the smile that had taken residence across his face as he strolled aimlessly through the quaint town.
That was the main reason that he had found himself wandering this abandoned edge of the world. He wanted to forget that Suki… the only girl he had at one point imagined spending the rest of his life with, was marrying his best friend and that he had foolishly given his blessing...
"Hey there, could you point me towards an inn or a pub?" Sokka asked a young boy as he strolled into the main square of the seaside village in an attempt to stop his train of thought. There were merchants bustling about along with village folks and street food vendors. His stomach grumbled at the smell of the different aromas that wafted through the square, each one so delectable and distinct from the other.
Even though it was quite early in the day, he was keen to get off his ostrich-horse and have a proper meal of more than just jerky and wild nuts. Long gone were the days where he could have traveled for days on end without respite and wake up feeling spry. It was cruel that despite only being twenty-seven years old his body protested so loudly when mildly put out.
"Sure thing, take this road down towards the docks. There should be a few inns along the way… though most should be busy since the laborers from the Southern Earth Kingdom are in the area in preparation for the harvest." The buck-toothed boy said as he struggled to keep up with Sokka and brush his ostrich-horse at the same time.
"Thanks, kid!" He tossed him a silver coin, waving the kid off as he made his way towards where the boy had directed. Sokka weaved the ostrich-horse expertly through the crowded square as the boy ran off eagerly holding the silver coin preciously against his chest. Clearly the silver piece was more than he had seen his entire life.
As the boy had predicted, most of the inns were indeed at capacity. He hadn't expected that the town would have had so many options on where to stay and for those options to be just out of his reach. Actually, it seemed fitting considering his current predicament…
The hostel hostess of the most recent failed hospitality attempt kindly directed him towards the last tavern off the side of the main street. It was a run-down, wooden, three story building that took up the entire lot. The porch seemed inviting enough even if the gutters and siding were askew and the garden overrun with weeds and vegetation.
"The Sunflower House…" Sokka read aloud the elegant characters written on the sign of the frontgate as his nose crinkled in distaste as he looked at the bright yellow building. It was adequately named for sure… the yellow facade of the eyesore stood out tall from among the other other buildings in the area.
Sokka jumped off his ostrich-horse and stretched his tightly wound muscles, rubbing the back of his neck as he made his way through the stone garden path. He'd seen earthbending arenas in better shape than this walkway and was mentally citing the establishment for building violations as he secured his animal to one of the lamp posts that lined the building and grabbed his travel pack.
The building did not have much foot traffic or people surrounding it like the other lodgings. There was a lull in the air as the midday lunch rush had quieted down. As he walked up the porch stairs, the wood beneath his feet groaned loudly at the weight but held strongly. If he wasn't so desperate to find a place to rest for the evening, Sokka would have taken his chances and continued on to the next town, even if the map he had indicated that it was more than a half day's ride away.
Inside of the Sunflower House was slightly better kept than the outside, but only marginally. The entire first floor was dedicated to the tavern with an impressive bar that span the length of the wall in front of the kitchen area. Mismatched tables, chairs and furniture filled the open space and there was a handsome fireplace that crackled happily in the corner. The room would have been brilliantly lit with natural light if the windows that lined the building had actually seen a proper cleaning in recent years.
Several tables had dirty plates that still required to be taken into the kitchen. A few people had lingered from lunch. There was an old couple playing pai sho near the fireplace, discussing what new events that had transpired among one of their mutual friends. Another group of men were laughing loudly over pints at the bar.
Across from the entrance where Sokka stood, towards the back of the room had another counter that stood in front of the staircases that lead to the rooms and a hallway where he assumed were the private residence of the owners. There were sixteen pegs behind the counter with ten keys hanging on the wall.
"I'll just stay the night and head off in the morning..." He thought to himself as he crossed the room.
No one paid him any attention as he waited at the counter. The check-in book that was sitting there looked underused. He knocked on the counter loudly but there was no response.
He spotted a gold bell with a dragon's head as the handle. It was the nicest thing he had seen since he'd walked in. The weight of the bell surprised him as he gave it a good shake, the sound loudly ringing throughout the building.
"Set that down… I heard you the first time." came a young woman's voice from the upstairs.
"Oh, sorry… I just thou-" Sokka began to explain as he looked towards the direction the hostess' voice had emitted from. The lithe body of a woman carrying a load of sheets descended down the stairs. A jet black ponytail peaked above the mountain of laundry while pale arms attempted to control the tangled mess of sheets threatening to tumble out of her grasp.
"Yes, yes.. No need to apologize or explain. I've been a bit understaffed since my housekeeper ran off with my kitchen hand but you probably do not care about that…" Her voice trailed off as she set down her load, her back to Sokka. She readjusted her ponytail to secure the locks that had escaped.
When she turned around, Sokka was struck with the young woman's beauty. Her face was regal with high cheekbones, a sharp nose and elegant pinkish lips. Her pale features were rosy with blush from the effort of carrying the laundry. Despite the lack of defining eye makeup, her dark lashes framing her amber eyes stood out in stark contrast to their honey-colored pools. Eyes that reminded him of a certain Fire Lord…
Sokka let out a yelp of surprise, nearly dropping his travel pack. The woman gave no indication of recognizing Sokka as a dark eyebrow raised impatiently, her fingers drummed the desk rudely.
"Well…? Can I help you or are you going to stand there wasting my time?" She briskly asked.
"Her customer service is awful..." he thought. "Uhh...*ahem* I need a room for myself and a stable with feed for my ostrich-horse."
"Name?"
"Umm… Wang Fire?"
"Is that a question or an invitation?" She smirked as she busied herself with the reservation. Sokka felt his face redden and he was sure that his eyes were jutting out of their sockets.
"Wha-... I don-..." He began to stammer but she cut him off.
"How many nights will you be staying?"
"Uhh...not sure yet." He said sheepishly.
"Well, it's twenty copper pieces or two silver coins for the room and the stable each night. Twenty-five copper pieces and I'll include three meals but you must let me know ahead of time if you'll be ordering a meal."
Sokka stared at the woman. It had been years since anyone had heard even whispers of Azula. It had been a sore subject for Zuko for many years after they had gone looking for Ursa. After she had ran into the forest, any mention of Zuko's sister was quickly brushed aside until any memories of Azula had faded completely. Zuko and Aang had always skirted any conversations about the princess so he had assumed that she'd died or was locked in a padded room in some frozen jail cell.
Curiosity was eating at him. The woman in front of him was clearly Azula yet she was acting like she had never met him! Even her voice was eerily similar to the cadence that he associated with the princess. He put a gold coin on the counter, "I'll stay four nights for now."
"Alright, would you like a room with a view of the bay or of the mountains?"
"It doesn't matter…" She grabbed the key that was hanging from room ten.
"I finished serving lunch about an hour ago… if you wait a moment I can fix something up for you or will you be wanting to wait for dinner?"
"I'll wait for dinner." At that moment his stomach decided to let out a resounding protest.
She wrinkled her nose at the noise as she handed him the key, "How about I bring some tea and cakes as you settle in? In the meantime, my father will look after your ostrich-horse. Your room is the first door on the left, third floor."
Sokka felt as if the floor had finally given way to his weight at the thought of the deposed Fire Lord Ozai tending to his ostrich-horse. He shook his head as he gathered his key and pack and headed towards the staircase. Each step melted into the other and he found himself standing in front of room ten without realizing how his feet had moved of their own accord.
The key turned in the lock without effort and he found himself standing in a modest sized corner room with a bathing chamber attached. The bed was large enough to fit two people and he had a view of both the mountains and the bay. The bedding and towels were clean yet it was apparent that it had been many years since they were first purchased.
He set his pack down on the floor as he sat on the bed. His head was spinning at all the information that was swirling around in his head. Somehow in his efforts to escape a certain Fire Nation royal he ended up stumbling upon another one who had been missing and whom he had not ended on the nicest of terms all those years ago.
A sharp knock came at the door and the maybe-Azula-but-most-definitely-Azula came in with a tray of hot tea, shortbread and cakes. She moved towards the table in the corner of the room and set the tray down.
"Dinner will be ready in a few hours. I'll have someone call you down so you don't miss it." she said as poured the tea, the steam curled above the porcelain and disappeared in a whisp.
"Thanks, Miss… uhh, sorry I didn't catch your name earlier." Sokka asked in a manner he attempted to come across as nonchalant.
"Himawari." She said as she strolled out of the room, closing the door behind her.
He stood staring at the spot where Azula… no Himawari, had just left. What was she trying to pull with this elaborate act?
Sokka locked the door and walked over towards the window where he saw an old man with frizzled white hair and a young teenage boy with a mop of curly black hair leading his ostrich-horse towards the small stables in the back of the garden. The old man certainly did not look like Ozai, who he was sure was still locked up in a cell where only Zuko and a few high level Fire Nation officials knew.
The tea and cookies beckoned him, yet he resisted. He tossed the tea out of the window and left the cookies untouched. Until he figured out what exactly was going on with Azula or Himawari he would have to be on high alert.
He ripped into one of his stashes of jerky and ate nervously. The bed he decided was too comfortable to be a suspect in Azula's plot and so Sokka's consciousness slowly washed away to emptiness.
A heavy knock at the door jolted Sokka awake. The soft bedding refused to let him go from the warm embrace the sheets offered.
"Mister Fire? Dinner will be served soon. My aunt asked me to be sure that I let you know." a boyish, soft-spoken voice came from the other side of the door.
"Alright… I'll be down soon" Sokka replied groggily, tempted to just fall back asleep but his hunger was something he could no longer ignore as the smells from the kitchen began to enter the room. Jerky just wasn't a substitute for a proper meal.
He listened to the footsteps clumsily fade down the stairs as he sat up on the bed. Sokka stretched languidly, rolling his head around his shoulders in an attempt to shake off the last remnants of sleep.
After relieving himself in the small bathing chamber which thankfully had plumbing and splashing clean water across his face, he headed down towards the tavern.
Each step enhanced the smells of whatever had been cooking in the kitchen. Sokka's mouth watered as the rich aromas began to take definition. His nose perked up as he noted the scent of seafood soup and freshly cooked rice.
The tavern had filled to about half capacity with day laborers and men working down at the docks looking for a warm meal. The old man he had seen outside of his window was serving bowls of hot seafood soup, rice and side dishes at the various occupied tables. He looked like a frail old thing, hobbling around with a tray that looked far too heavy for his wispy frame.
The boy, who appeared to be on the cusp of adolescence and the one he assumed had called him for dinner had a similar physique. Scrawny and small, the boy was replacing empty bowls and pints and he pointed Sokka towards an empty table near the back of the room.
Sokka sat down at the table. It wobbled dangerously but he decided that the state of the other tables were no better. The boy brought him a pint of beer and a few side dishes to start and headed back to the kitchen without a word.
He felt uneasy at the thought of drinking or eating anything that could have been potentially poisoned by Azula. The other patrons ate and drank without concern. Perhaps he would have to find his meal elsewhere? It would really be a shame since the bowls of soup he had seen looked so enticing…
Azu-... No, Himawari came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with a bowl of soup placed on top of it. She had an apron tied across the front of her clothes. Her face was flushed and covered with smudges of flour. It was clear that she was the one who had prepared the meal. Some of the men whistled their appreciation at the sight of her and she coolly ignored the attention as she continued to where Sokka sat.
She set the tray down on the table and sat down across from him. Himawari pulled out a spoon from the front of her apron and dipped it gently into his bowl. Her lips parted slightly as she cooled the broth before tasting it. Wordlessly, she did the same for every dish he had been served, she even had taken a sip of his beer.
"There, it's not poisoned…"She finally spoke.
Sokka tilted his head curiously, "How di-..."
"One of my regular customers complained that he was attacked by an angry storm cloud earlier… but he had a distinct smell of assam tea rather than his usual sweaty scent." She said casually, eyeing him up and down.
"Well, I-I-..." Sokka stammered but stopped when Himawari lifted a finger to silence him.
"You should eat while it's still hot, Sokka. We'll talk after I finish serving dinner." She stood up and sauntered towards the kitchen, leaving him speechless.
So Himawari was indeed Azula, and Azula definitely remembered who Sokka was. But why go through the effort of having him believe otherwise?
Confident that he wasn't about to be poisoned, he began to eat. His mind temporarily setting aside Himawari-who-was-also-Azula. The steaming, clear broth ran across his palate, down his throat, warming him from inside out. It had been richly seasoned with the local flavors that the sea and village so abundantly gave. He picked the clam shells out and slurped the noodles with appreciation. The enoki mushrooms were hearty and chewy, the carrots and green onions crisp. Even the plain rice had the perfect notes of toasted nuttyness that made his heart soar with happiness.
He cleared the first bowl and almost immediately the older man brought another bowl of the same soup. It was just as delicious as the first, no soggy noodles or mushy vegetables in sight. When he finished he motioned for the boy to bring him another helping of everything until he was the only one who remained eating. The other customers had either settled into their pints or had wandered outside to enjoy their smoke pipes and the brisk spring night.
The teenage boy and the old man began to clear up the empty tables.
"Will you be needing a fifth serving, Mr. Wang? I think my aunt is wanting to close the kitchen for the night..." the boy asked timidly.
Sokka shook his head and rubbed his stomach happily. He pulled out a few silver coins from his pocket and handed it to the boy, "No, thank you… I haven't had such a great meal in a long time. What's your name kid?"
"Thank you sir, my name is Tae." he replied as he pocketed the coins and began to clear the table.
"Well Tae, make sure to let your aunt know that I will be taking all of my meals during my stay here if the rest are as delicious as this one was. Is this a family establishment?" Sokka inquired casually.
"Yes sir… My grandfather and aunt run the business and I help out with some things here and there. Although my aunt doesn't let me work if it interferes with my studies."
"Your aunt… has she always lived in the area?"
Tae's eyebrow rose slightly at the odd question, "My aunt has lived here for as long as I can remember. She's been my guardian ever since my parents and grandmother passed away three years ago."
"I'm sorry to hear about your parents. It's not easy losing someone you love." Sokka acknowledged awkwardly.
He shrugged, "A lot of people in the area lost someone to the Fever around that time. I almost died too but thanks to my aunt I survived, she saved my life. Although, I think that it may have stunted my growth..."
"Tae! Finish up here and get to bed now… it's a school night!"Azula's voice interrupted them.
Tae jumped and scurried off to the kitchen while carrying his tray of dirty plates. "Yes Auntie!"
"Auntie…?" Sokka smirked as Azula sat down in the chair she had previously used, setting two full pints and a pitcher of beer in between them. She moved another spare chair to lift her legs up and she began to massage her tired calves.
"Yes, Auntie… the kid used to call me Auntie Wa-wa but he decided one day that he was too cool for that."
"Is this where you've been all this time?"
She began to pick at her short nails, "Mostly… You appeared so shocked to see me. I'm surprised that my dear brother and the Avatar didn't mention what became of me. "
"I am. Imagine my surprise when I saw someone I had thought dead for many years casually asking if I wanted a room with a view of the sea."
Azula picked up her beer and slowly finished half of its contents. "I suppose I'm pleased that my brother was able to keep his word and maintain my whereabouts a secret from even his closest friends. Although being thought of as dead doesn't quite sit well with me…" She paused for a moment, absentmindedly tracing the scratched surface of the wooden table, "So what brings you to this corner of the world if you had no idea I was here? Surely it's not just a coincidence that you happened upon my inn?"
"This was actually the only place left in town with a room. Everywhere else was full and I've been sleeping on the side of the road ever since I left Omashu last week." He took a sip of the beer she had placed in front of him, "Why did you pretend not to recognize me?
"I watched you come in through the gate while I was upstairs. You've grown a bit since the last time I saw you so I wasn't sure if you were just some random water tribesman or if you had come looking for me. The look on your face convinced me that even though you recognized me, we weren't going to have a full out brawl in the middle of my pub."
"You'd probably kick my ass even if I had tried…"
Azula smirked, "Clearly you still remain the brains to my brother and the Avatar's operations… very wise of you not to provoke me."
Sokka smiled slightly at the compliment laced with a threat, "I'm not so sure about that anymore, Princess… A lot has changed since you've left."
Azula's eyes narrowed and her voice fell to a low whisper, "You idiot! Don't call me that here! My family may be aware of my true identity but if any of my customers find out who I really am, I may as well leave town now. Call me Himawari…"
Sokka wasn't dismayed at her outburst. He placed his elbows on the table, one hand under his chin and the other rested casually on the surface, "Now that is a story I'm interested in hearing… how did you end up with that name and here of all places?"
"I asked first, don't think I've forgotten that you still haven't told me why you're here."
"If I tell you, will you tell me why you have a whole new family and identity?"
"I am under no obligation to do so. "
"Then what would stop me from letting everyone know that a certain Fire Nation Princess makes a mean bowl of seafood noodle soup? I need to know exactly what to say just as much as what not to say… what if I let something slip?" He grinned as he took another sip of beer.
She glared at him menacingly, "You know, I am always looking for new ingredients to add to my menu, perhaps Stupid-Big-Mouthed-Water-Tribesman should be tomorrow's main dish? Might be too dry..."
He let out a loud bark of laughter, "Hahaha! Oh Princess... I think it'd be bad for business if you started cooking your patrons. By the looks of it, you don't need any more negative publicity. And I resent you calling me dry... Sure I'd turn out a bit lean since I have hardly any body fat but I'd still be incredibly delicious."
Azula rolled her eyes at the cheeky wink he sent her way, "Remarkable, I threaten to cannibalize you and your only offense is that you'd turn out better than I expect."
"I can't help if you think that I'm not only a snack, but delicious enough to be the full meal…"
"How are you still so infuriating? I didn't think it could be possible..."
Sokka leaned back in his chair, "It's a gift I have… I know exactly how to get under Fire Nation Royal's skin…"
"Fine, I'll tell you but I want to know if I do need to poison your meal tomorrow." She snapped.
His eyes widened in horror, "No! I never thought I'd say this but your cooking is amazing! I think that I'd happily eat anything you gave me even if I knew that it was poisoned…" Sokka rubbed the side of his temple, "Okay, okay… Long story short, I-I ran away."
Azula looked at him incredulously, "Aren't you a bit too old to run away from home? Or did your wife find out about your mistress and the two of them ended up joining forces and running you out of town?"
Sokka blinked for a moment, attempting to comprehend the words that came out of the princess. He let out a chuckle,"Oh shut up… there are no mistresses or wives running me out of town."
She lifted her pint to her lips, "Really? You strike me as the kind that would marry his childhood sweetheart only to have his fun on the side while your wife pumps out your ugly babies."
He laughed more boisterously this time. "You know Princess, I always wondered why Zuko was so unfunny, I think it might be that you ended up with most of the funny traits in your family."
Azula hid her smirk behind her beer, "Finally, someone recognizes my comedic genius. Although Tae might disagree with you… So, you ran away from what?"
Sokka couldn't decide how he was going to explain his situation when he himself was having trouble reconciling the most recent events of his life, "You know your brother is getting married, right?"
"Oh dear, I have a runaway bride on my hands, don't I? He sadly has not sent your wedding invitation..."
"Haha! No, none of that! The bride and groom-to-be are ecstatic and very much in love."
"And you're… in love with one of them?"
Sokka's hand shot up in denial, "No! Not anymore! Zuko is marrying my ex Suki..."
"That painted fan girl?" Azula sneered, "I didn't think possible that my brother and that painted warrior could have such terrible tastes… Sadly, they both could do better. So, you're jealous that Zuzu is betrothed to your former girlfriend?"
"I'm not jealous... I think that I just never saw them as a serious item. I knew they had feelings for each other back when Suki and I were still dating but I thought it was a silly crush or they just wanted to fuck. Feelings are bound to happen when you spend every waking hour together…. Anyways, we broke up a long time ago when I realized that there were one too many people in our relationship, even if she hadn't noticed herself. They didn't start anything until at least a year after our break up. At least that's what they said. It's difficult to know exactly how they became an official item when I was always going between the Fire Nation, the Southern Water Tribe and Republic City... but you hear things even when you're travelling." He ran a hand over the top of his wolf tail, "Back when Suki and I were still together we'd talk about where we'd end up living and it never seemed that she was willing to leave behind her life on Kyoshi Island just as much as I didn't budge from setting roots in the Southern Water Tribe eventually…. But with Zuko, she's giving all of that up to become the Fire Lady. It had me thinking that maybe I just wasn't enough for her, or that I'll never be enough for a woman to just pick me as their first option."
Azula set down her empty mug, "When is the wedding?"
"Their engagement ball will be during the summer solstice and the wedding is at summer's end."
"You have time to sabotage their nuptials then?"
Sokka choked slightly on his beer, "WHAT! I don't want to sabotage anything… I just want to be out of the way. It's been a nightmare having to go between Republic City and the Fire Nation so I can help plan my best friend and ex-girlfriend's wedding . It was not something that I'm too keen on doing either. Maybe it's selfish but I think I've done enough of setting my own feelings aside for the sake of those around me."
"So you are not upset that they're getting married, rather you resent them for involving you on their happiest day when you're miserably alone."
He flinched at how honest her observation had been, "When you put it that way, I sound like an asshole."
"Oh yes, you are an asshole. However, I think that my brother and my future sister-in-law also lack some tact."Sokka raised a confused eyebrow and she continued, "I see that propriety has left the palace under Zuzu's reign...Clearly anyone who has been in a romantic relationship with a bride or groom has no business in the planning of said wedding, regardless of how amiable the relationships are. The scandal it would cause to know that the groom and the best man both slept with the bride would be highly inappropriate and the only thing that anyone would talk upper crust of Fire Nation nobelity are easily scandalized and impossible to silence when they get their claws on any kind of gossip."
"When you put it that way, I guess I'm not the weird one…"
"Rest assured you are, but not for wanting to give them space. Is that really what drove you all the way here?"
"Yes, well that and I just needed to be someplace away from it all. Even if I hadn't been involved in the planning of the wedding, there would have been no escaping all the gossip and fake sympathies I kept receiving from everyone," He shifted the tone of his voice to higher pitch, mocking all those that had shown him concern, "Oh Councilman Sokka, isn't it wonderful that your younger sister and the Avatar are having another child? The Fire Lord should hurry up and produce several heirs! Don't you worry, Councilman... I'm sure you'll find someone soon.. I almost knocked out Kuei's ambassador to the United Nations just to get him to stop talking about how often he prays to Kyoshi for Suki to have at least ten children."
Azula let out a soft noise of disgust as she poured Sokka and herself more beer. He watched as she stayed silent, she finally spoke, "I assume that you'll be wandering aimlessly until the wedding? Do you plan to stay here long? As much as my family needs the business, I would rather not have someone disturbing my peace by dredging up old wounds or bringing unwanted attention."
"I haven't really planned anything to be honest. About ten days ago, I just left in the middle of one of my meetings and then I found myself on the road... And you seem to be doing a lot better here than when you were in the Fire Nation… I wouldn't want to mess that up for you seeing as how you didn't fry me on sight."
"It certainly is no palace, but yes, I am much better here than I ever was back home...it seems strange to even call it that seeing how most people would be happy to murder me on sight if I so much as step foot in the palace gardens."
"No one will murder you...I already told you that everyone thinks your dead. Out of site, out of mind!"
"How reassuring… Nevertheless, I don't want to risk what little sense of normalcy I have. It wouldn't be fair to my father and Tae."
"How did they end up getting mixed up with you?"
"It was my mother who found me… Not Ursa, no. The woman I call mother died a few years ago from Fever that took over the town. It killed Tae's mom and dad as well. I tried to do everything in my power to save her like she saved my life but the woman was determined to make sure that I understood that I didn't need to do anything to repay her. She told me in her delirious state that she was content with me just sitting next to her, holding her hand... and that even if the time we had was short, the magnitude of her love for me would be enough to soothe any pain she was in."
Sokka reached out without realizing, taking her hand in his. She scoffed it off.
"Oh Spirits, we are not close enough for you to be touching me so casually. Just because we tried to kill each other as teenagers and now we're talking over pints does not mean you can cross my personal space."
"Oops, sorry… How did your mother find you? I thought that you got lost in the Forgetful Valley."
"That part is unclear to me as well… I think that whatever I had come across in the Valley had caused me such a great shock that I had also lost my bending for a few years… I just remember waking up here, in the Sunflower House a few weeks after I had run into the Valley. My mother and father were nursing me back to health. She had been in Hira'a visiting a cousin who had married into one of the families there. My parents knew immediately who I was and everything I had done yet they did not treat me any differently from their own daughter. Not one of them called me a monster despite how terribly I acted the first few months. I- I had never had anyone meet my cruelty with kindness. Such mercy would have been a despicable act of cowardice in Ozai's eyes… Eventually, I realized that I had nowhere to go and I didn't want to leave them either. Mother insisted that I reach out to Zuzu and at least let him know that I was alive and well even if I didn't want him looking for me."
Azula played with the ring on her first digit mindlessly, twisting the band around her finger.
"You said that you had lost your bending… did you get it back?"
"I did eventually… At first I couldn't even so much as conjure a spark to light some kindling. Mother had me in the kitchen at that time to help her prepare the meals for the inn. Once she had me taking on more than just chopping vegetables, I noticed that my inner fire had reignited…It went against everything I had learned about firebending. How could I debase my sacred element to such a menial task as cooking? And then I saw how much our customers were enjoying our food, food I helped make... I realized there was nothing menial in making someone happy through a good meal. My firebending was still quite weak though. It didn't come back in full force until my father and I were attacked while travelling back from Chameleon Bay. I struck them down with lightning… I'm positive that I must have melted at least one of those sad bastards' face off. It took weeks for my father to recover from the attack, but thank the Spirits that he is in much better health now…"
It was Sokka's turn to stay silent as he drained the contents of his pint. He felt a pang of guilt as he reflected on the princess's hardships over the years. Guilt at not even considering that perhaps the princess had always been someone who wanted to find a home underneath her vicious exterior all those years ago... He had not been exactly kind to her either when they went off looking for Ursa. Zuko had confided in him in the months after Azula's disappearance, one of the rare moments he actually spoke of his sister, that Azula and Ursa's relationship had always been strained, that she had hallucinated Ursa's appearance when she had lost the Agni Kai battle against Zuko and Katara. In retrospect, it had been nothing short of cruel trying to force the young girl to search for a woman who had caused her so much turmoil while being in an unstable mental state.
"I'm glad that you guys found each other… your mother and father sound like wonderful people. A huge step up from you-know-who...I know it might be difficult for you to believe this but I think that if any of us deserved a fresh start after the war, I'm glad that it was you."
"Eww…don't get sappy on me or give me a speech on hope and forgiveness Avatar Boomerang…" She rolled her eyes.
"Haha, I truly wasn't! It just amazes me that someone who I thought was the incarnation of evil and darkness is possibly my new favorite cook. Seriously, I wish I had ten stomachs so that I could eat more of your food! "
"Oh Agni, you'll run me out of business with your savage appetite..."
"I will pay more if that means that I can have as many helpings of whatever you make!"
She looked unconvinced. "This is why they say not to feed stray goat-dogs… they'll never leave you alone. You know that your presence disturbs my peace, which I'm afraid is far too valuable of a price for you to pay."
Sokka scratched his chin in thought as he looked around the tavern, "How about this? I'll hang around here while all the wedding planning goes on… I can help you fix up the place so that it doesn't fall apart on top of one of your customers, meanwhile I can stay here in exchange for the labor and I pay for everything I eat. That seems like a win-win situation for the both of us! You have a steady stream of capital while I have all my meals taken care of..."
"What if someone comes looking for you? You left behind a lot of responsibilities and I don't want it showing up at my doorstep."
"They won't come looking for me here. I left a note with my secretary that I was going to the Northern Water Tribe for an extended fishing trip and I won't be able to be reached. He's more than capable of handling small matters and any emergencies just get forwarded to Katara and Aang."
Azula contemplated his offer. Her eyes appraised the run down state of the floors and windows that had been sealed with years of neglect. "Very well… I accept your offer. However, I have a few conditions that you must follow... First of all, when you return you must not let anyone, even my brother, know that you were here. I'm sure you'll be able to invent some lie. Second, you cannot let anyone know who you really are and how we know each other. If someone asks, tell them that we lived in the same village when we were younger. And don't forget to call me Himawari…"
"Okay, I can do that… anything else?"
"Yes. Do NOT bring any women back to your room. We run a family establishment, not a brothel. Tae does not need you corrupting his innocence by watching you sneak a new woman into your room every night."
Sokka's eyes bugged out a little, "Hey now! What kind of a man do you take me for?"
She rolled her eyes, "Oh please! I've been in the hospitality business for nine years. I've seen your type come and go all the time."
"W-WHAT! M-My type?! What do you mean by that?" Sokka stammered looking thoroughly confused.
"What I mean is that you're the type who probably pretends to be unassuming and a perfect gentleman yet secretly you know that you're a womanizer. I'm sure that even before you and the warrior broke up, you had plenty of distractions to keep your mind occupied. Once you did break up you probably had a whole routine in place of picking up girls and sending them off with flowers or something equally ridiculous the following morning only to have the next one in line waiting for you."
Sokka felt heat creep up his collar, "Well that's not fair, it wouldn't be just one night… sometimes they lasted up to two weeks."
"I rest my case. Regardless, whatever or whomever you do, make sure it doesn't interfere with my life here. If it does, I'll make sure that your water witch sister receives your remains in an urn. Understood?"
He nodded his head in agreement, wondering if perhaps he should have just continued on his travels, "Understood…"
"Well then, I must go and make sure the kitchen is tidy for tomorrow morning. Sleep well…"
She picked up the empty pitcher and glasses and headed to the kitchen. Sokka remained seated for a moment and then stood up as well. It had been a strange day but for the first time in years he felt that perhaps his luck could change for the better.
*AN*This was meant to be a one-shot but it somehow ended up being a bit longer than expected which is why I split it up into four chapters. I hope you enjoy it!
