Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

247. Chapter 247: The Ultimate Gladiator 18

A lifetime ago, she had taken her seat on the throne-like chair she had used to keep on the Barge's deck before it had become a training site for herself and her gladiator. She had stemmed in her frustrations, determined to succeed at her personal quests, as she glared at the icebergs they passed by while sailing to their destination. She had hoped her first diplomatic mission would jumpstart her political career, forcing her father's many nobles and military leaders to acknowledge her… to stop looking at her brother's absent figure as the only possible next Fire Lord.

That mission had changed everything… but not in the way she had wanted matters to change, back then. No acknowledgement had arrived – most of all, because her credit had been stolen by a man upon whom she'd taken her revenge later. She had been kept home instead, waiting impatiently for another chance, for her moment, dreading it might never arrive, yet willing to craft it with her own hands if need be… for two years, she had never considered the greatest change in her life had already been set in motion when she had first stepped into that icy pole, expecting to find nothing in it but a meeting between bickering fools. What she had found, instead, had been her first battle against a genuine enemy… a man who embodied everything she should have wanted to destroy.

Even then, she hadn't wanted to do it. The man who had offered her respect, who had fought and sacrificed himself for his people, had puzzled her, filling her with curiosity… curiosity she never expected would be sated. She had assumed she would never see him again after he had been carried off to Hui Yi… and she had lived two years of her life sparing him nothing but occasional thoughts, if even that.

It had been six years since that day. Six years since she had last seen those tall ice spikes rising out of the water, since she had taken advantage of her bodily heat, of her inner flame, to fight off the cold while suspecting lesser firebenders would have never been able to withstand the low temperatures she could field successfully. Six years since she had expected her life to change. Now, six years later, she returned with the certainty that everything would change in the South Pole, yet again… and this time, not for the better.

These days, she cared nothing for the acknowledgement she had sought so desperately in her youth. She no longer would have minded, she realized, if anyone still wanted Zuko as Fire Lord: curses, she'd choose him as Fire Lord over her father as well, in a heartbeat, if the opportunity arose. The power, the glory she had once coveted and fought for, the recognition, the greatness… none of it held the slightest appeal to her anymore. For they were sailing through the frozen, icy waters of the South Pole… and it meant the end was nigh, no matter how she might try to delay the inevitable. For delaying it too long would only be counterproductive, she knew that: Ozai's ships, which she had no doubt were sailing their way already, would catch up to them and lay waste to the South Pole if they could, if they happened to catch up with the Barge there. They had to intercept the Barge at sea instead… it was the only way. It was the only way.

Yet every thought of what needed to be done, of the simple breakfast she had intended to find just now, had fragmented and shattered inside her mind. The Barge continued to progress, likely at a much higher speed than was safe… at much higher speed than Azula wanted it to, anymore. She could barely breathe and not because the air was thinner: her hand found support on the archway that led out of the tower as she forced her eyes off those icebergs.

Feeling lightheaded, uneasy, Azula didn't walk to the dining deck: instead, she crossed the corridors that would lead her to the bridge. The world felt unfocused and unreal as she endeavored to retain her footing, to move without faltering towards the command room of her ship, where she'd confirm the obvious… where she'd find out just how long they had left, if they had any time left at all.

Tai Wei stood at the ship's helm, with Qiang aiding in navigation and Rui Shi standing by, likely ready to convey messages between the men in the engine room and the bridge. They had been speaking amongst themselves when she opened the door, but Azula didn't take her time to listen in on what they were saying: all their eyes shifted towards the door, panic plain across their faces once they recognized her.

"Princess…" Rui Shi called, softly "I… didn't think you'd be awake yet"

"I… it was cold. I thought… it doesn't matter" Azula said, swallowing hard, her teeth chattered as she spoke: it wasn't the cold's fault, however. She wished it were the consequence of something as physical and straightforward as that "Are we…? I… I saw the icebergs, I just… I just wanted to know for sure if…"

"It… it is the South Pole, Princess" Tai Wei confirmed, his voice soft, remorseful.

Azula clenched her jaw, hard: she had known it, of course she had known it… but she hadn't wanted it to be true. If just for a few more days, if just for a little while longer… she wasn't ready to say goodbye: she knew, deep down, that she never would be.

"We won't reach the available docks at the settlement for another two hours or so, will we?" Rui Shi asked Tai Wei, loudly enough to snap Azula out of her torrent of thoughts momentarily. The temporary captain of the ship cleared his throat and nodded.

"If they're still usable, yeah. It will still be a while before we get there, it's true" Tai Wei said, nodding.

Rui Shi bowed his head in acknowledgement before glancing at Azula meaningfully. Her throat was closing in… but the sympathetic, meaningful gaze of her close friend spoke lengths to her, eliciting a moment of clarity in the Princess's aching soul.

"Two hours it is, then" he said, softly "Go to him"

No scolding… no reminder that she should find something to eat, which indeed, had been her purpose when she had come downstairs. Again, Rui Shi encouraged her to act on her feelings, on her impulses… for he understood the very depths of the pain and fears overtaking the Princess. He, as well, had said goodbye to someone he had intended to spend his life with… after everything Azula had been through recently, it didn't surprise him at all that a woman who had ever been a paragon of strength would lack it when she was faced with the worst challenge she had ever known.

Yet, as skittish as he had been over their many displays of affection throughout the trip – whether simple ones such as their handholding, or more intimate ones, such as knocking on the door of their cabin when the sounds of lovemaking had finally subsided – he didn't merely turn a blind eye to it now… he, instead, offered her one more chance to be with the man she loved. Two more hours… and then it was over. The six years that had changed her life would come to an abrupt, unwanted end, and a new period in her life would begin.

A life without Sokka.

She didn't hesitate, nodding towards Rui Shi before dashing away down the corridors of the ship. The former captain watched her go, fearful for her stability, for her heart's evident turmoil and struggle. He was no stranger to the devastation that took hold of the Princess whenever she was at risk of losing Sokka… he couldn't help but dread how she would react, how she would act, once he was out of her life for good, even if this was her own decision, her own sacrifice.

"I don't think they should tarry much longer once we arrive, Rui Shi" Tai Wei said quietly, swallowing hard "If we're going to try to get caught closer to the Earth Kingdom, we have to get going as fast as possible…"

"We will" Rui Shi said, quietly "After… after they're done saying goodbye"

"Rui Shi…" Tai Wei whispered, eyeing his fellow guard remorsefully.

"We'll take off at haste, as soon as they're done" Rui Shi whispered "We'll keep the engines running on low power… then set the ship in motion once he's no longer on board. That's what we'll do"

Tai Wei sighed but nodded: they had sacrificed much for the Princess already. Giving her two more hours, or perhaps three, hardly seemed a dreadful notion. None of them knew what would happen later anyhow, only that they would be traveling still, away from the South Pole… leaving the gladiator behind. Whatever fate awaited them after that final moment, none of them looked forward to the Princess's promised heartbreak once she said her last goodbye to the man she had grown to love most deeply.

Clinging to the handrails with far more desperation than ever before, Azula rushed upstairs as fast as her feet could carry her: the cold bit into her legs, into her skin, into her soul, regardless of the thick clothes she had clad herself with before leaving her cabin. No matter how she trembled, no heat seemed to return, just as her breaths escaped her in a wild frenzy. Another flight of stairs, just one more, and she'd reach him. No, it didn't damn matter if she was exhausted once she arrived, her energies still low and scarcely replenished, despite their frequent sex should have aided further in the regeneration of her chi. She gritted her teeth, though, and pushed through, climbing the last steps as hastily as she could, longing to do nothing but lock the door behind her and stay with Sokka in that room forever…

She had left the door open when she had gone downstairs: through it, she could see his sitting shape, by the edge of the mattress. His strong back glistened under the pale light of the room's lanterns, though some bandages still crisscrossed over his abdomen and lower back, hiding away the bruises that had taken the longest to fade away. The burns over his limbs were slowly fading too, shifting into natural skin color, in some cases… into a more faded color, when it came to the more serious ones. The bandage he had sported on his head for most the journey had come off merely two days ago: his long hair, reaching down to his shoulders, covered the remnants of the healing wound on the back of his head.

Perhaps she should have been used to seeing him like this, after ten days at sea with him… but the silent strength in his figure, the straightness of his muscular back and shoulders, the flow of his smooth hair, all of it entranced her as she stood in place, gazing at him as though she had spent her life searching for a sight as magnificent as him… as though that sight would fade before her eyes if she didn't keep them upon it for as long as possible.

He had woken up without her… he had been halfway through dressing up, it seemed. He had pulled up his trousers, at least, but now he sat in place, on the bed they had shared, amid the many layers of sheets and blankets he had insisted on using all at once, to ensure Azula's body heat would be preserved perfectly. Yet, while he had a clean shirt in his hands, he still seemed to be reflecting on whether to clad himself with it or not… perhaps he was pondering something else instead, something similar to the thoughts that coursed through her mind right now…

For, unlike her, Sokka might have glanced out the cabin's windows to discover they were close to their destination at last. He might have realized it right away… and he might be regretting not having fought harder against Azula's designs. He might be wishing for more time, he might long to take her into his arms and never let go… he might still want to keep their final kiss as far away as possible, delaying it until somehow the stars changed indeed, until they were ready to offer them a chance to live out the rest of their days together, just as they had wanted it to be.

Azula stepped closer to the doorway, unsteady still, uneasy, even if the very sight of him calmed her slightly: he was still here. She still had him, no matter if the sand was running out of their hourglass. They had about two hours left… and it seemed so little, contrasted with four years of nurturing a bond gradually until it had become the very core of their lives, their purpose, their motivation, everything that mattered. No longer did Azula crave glory of any sort… she wanted nothing but him. No longer would she begrudge herself for wishing she had been born a commoner just to be with him… she would have given up everything in a heartbeat if the consequences for it were less steep than she knew they would be.

No longer would she fight against what her heart longed for: she gave in to those desires today, for the last time. She knew he would be just as determined, as desperate as she was, to make every remaining second count… to create the last treasured memories they'd ever share.

A sigh left Sokka's chest, his shoulders dropping gently before he glanced over his shoulder: those clever, soulful blue eyes found Azula's gold. A streak of fear crossed his face for just one moment… fear she reflected in her own gaze, just as inevitably, just as honestly. Yet within moments, serenity settled upon his handsome features. Azula breathed out slowly… and she stepped inside the room.

Sokka didn't move from where he sat, but his gaze followed her as she crossed the cabin with slower footsteps than she intended. Whatever strain she had put her body through by rushing upstairs went forgotten now: their silence, this time, didn't feel uncomfortable, and neither one was desperate to break it as Azula came to stand right in front of Sokka, unable and unwilling to tear her eyes off him. He returned her gaze without cowering, reflecting nothing but affection in his loving eyes as she raised her hand slowly, letting her fingertips skirt over his left cheekbone before her fingers enticed him to raise his head just a little higher… just enough to tilt it in the perfect angle for her to lean down over him and press a soft, almost shy kiss upon his lips.

Sokka responded quietly, though he ached with loneliness once she pulled away only moments after bringing their lips together. His hands, strong and rough as they always had been, rose to her hips, reeling her in, letting her support her weight with her hands upon his shoulders, her knees resting against the mattress, right between his spread legs. Heartfelt gazes conveyed the deepest understanding between their souls… the keen awareness they shared that, unless their destinies proved more merciful than they had been so far, they stood at the very end of the line: this was their last opportunity to share in each other's love as deep and intimately as possible.

When Sokka's hands guided her gently, Azula followed: she climbed back on the bed, her knees at either side of him as their lips met once more. Brisk, chaste kisses seemed to open the way for the long, deep ones they ever relished in offering each other: Azula's nose dug into Sokka's left cheek as she leaned in, deeper, her tongue twirling around his own as his hands tightened their grip around her waist. The foreboding future hung over their heads so heavily, threatening and unwanted, but every kiss seemed to stall it, to push it aside, to force it to wait… to let them take their time loving each other thoroughly, as they always had. As they ever had intended to.

Even now, when an acute, unbearable pain struck at their hearts, the two lovers, hearts linked, energy combined, seemed to understand each other without words, and in that understanding, they could only rejoice in how far they had come together. Mistakes had been made from the earliest moments of their relationship, but what occupied them were the beautiful memories they had crafted together. Every step they had taken, every choice they had made… every day and night in each other's company, strengthening their bond by sparring, by debating endlessly, by stealing kisses that seemed to shake the very foundations of their world each time they dared act upon their impulses. That their love had withstood every test until now could only fill them with the hope that it would withstand this one, as well… that perhaps this wasn't the end after all, despite having no true basis for such hopes other than the faith they shared in each other.

Sokka had regained a fair amount of strength across the ten days they had spent at sea: many of his wounds pained him less these days, most of his bruises and burns faded and faint by now. Where he had needed midnight nectar to clear his head from pain when they had first boarded the ship, he could ignore the many stabs of pain by now, as they grew weaker every day. He had regained his risk-taking attitude, even if in small matters: the arm he kept wrapped around Azula's waist reeled her close enough to hoist her up, to lay her across the mattress once again, on the spot he had vacated mere moments ago when he had awakened. Azula didn't protest, although she gasped, eyeing Sokka with concern until he had deposited her perfectly upon the soft fabrics of their multiple layers of sheets and blankets. That he betrayed no pain, that he didn't flinch not even once, lit her eyes with blissful relief mere instants before she wrapped her arms around his neck, legs around his waist: trapped in her hold, scarcely holding himself in place above her, Sokka wanted nothing but to remain exactly where he was, a desire he conveyed by kissing Azula as willfully as she kissed him.

He didn't forget about her wounded shoulder – Azula did, though, unconcerned with the injury that had plagued her over the course of the past month. The ointment Jianghuo had offered her had done its job and her skin had returned to its natural color after the brutality of the Imperial Guards had caused it to swell and redden: she could forget about it often now, even if every time she mistakenly laid down on her left side it would shoot jolts of pain through her system. Right now, though, she laid on her back instead… and she embraced Sokka fully, much as she had the first time she had ever found herself on a bed with him, with a time limit dangling over their heads and hearts… yet a much more forgiving one than the one that tormented them now.

Silent as she had remained, she hadn't told Sokka how long they had left. Perhaps it was for the better: Sokka's lips scarcely left hers, and Azula suspected he wanted to hear no explanations, no warnings, no predictions… he wanted to surrender to the love they shared one more time, without allowing the pain of the impending future to dampen the moment, to hinder the devotion he wanted to continue offering her freely. Truthfully, Azula felt the same way: the melancholy of the situation couldn't muddle their last opportunity to be together. If this wasn't the last time they would ever meet, if it wasn't their last chance to share in each other's company, then it meant the situation wasn't as hopeless as it seemed… and if it was the last time, they didn't wish to look back on it and remember only heartache and misery.

No… they wanted to remember much more than that. They wanted to create memories worth treasuring… memories of moments that should last them a lifetime. Sokka broke off the kiss, his soft breaths brushing against her skin as he gazed upon her longingly: every detail across her face, each smooth feature, the deviously sharp angle of her beautiful golden eyes, her straight nose, her full lips… it was a face he had carried with him, in his soul, from the moment their paths had first converged. It was the face he would carry in his heart for the rest of his life, for it belonged to the woman he loved with every fiber of his being, with every component of his soul.

The first words he spoke to her that morning were the words he had inevitably thought, from the very moment he had first lain eyes upon her:

"You're beautiful"

Azula had accepted that brief pause between kisses, letting herself gaze upon the handsome the man she loved just as well. The light from the lanterns fell upon his dark skin, highlighting his features, letting her marvel in the strength of his set jaw, the depth of his clever azure eyes, the defined cheekbones, the stubble on his chin that he had deliberately preserved ever since he realized she seemed to like it. Yet just as her fingers trailed delicately over his face, softly caressing his cheek, he spoke those words… and she found she coveted the sound of his voice just as well. That man who could make her laugh herself to tears with his silliest antics… the same man who could make her knees weak with anticipation whenever she saw his most serious façade, just as well. She had grown to love every part of him… right now, lying down underneath him, a mere breath away from his lips, she found said love renewed and strengthened yet again, ever reforged by his own love for her.

"So are you" she whispered, softly: words she would usually speak to tease him, to trigger his most ridiculous instincts to preserve and protect his manliness, were devoid of jocosity this time.

Just so, Sokka only smiled warmly… as did Azula. That comfort of knowing each other so intimately, to the point of being perfectly capable of predicting each other's responses, to knowing exactly how to tease one another in the most agreeable way… that kind of understanding didn't come easily, it couldn't be born between any two people. From wanting to outsmart one another, in a constant contest to earn each other's respect and acknowledgement, their jabs at each other had gained another purpose… this very purpose: making each other smile, their eyes lighting up with the purest form of fondness, familiarity and comfort.

There was no chasing away the heartache, both knew as much… yet now, as their lips met again, they still smiled as they held each other closely. For as long as they had left, they were triumphantly together… triumphantly belonging to each other. Those very smiles were meant to be remembered and treasured, along with all the sensations, the actions and words they longed to commit to memory for eternity.

Neither one had known how to contain tears many times across the past weeks… but right now, as their eyes met before their lips did, the cold that surrounded them seemed to flee in the face of the purest warmth they felt: breaking the spell that grief and misery had held upon them, they devoted themselves to each deep kiss, to the delightful game between their jousting tongues, to the tightness of the embrace they shared. Azula's hands trailed down over Sokka's bare back, over the many light scars she had draped across it, over the large one that crossed down to his waist as well. Every familiar ridge of his body, every single inch of him, seemed to belong to her just as much as she belonged to him. She knew him so intimately, down to every weak spot across his body, every place he longed to feel her touch in, and she sought to sate his needs for certain today, letting her fully spread hands travel across his shoulder blades, down his spine, and to the trousers he had likely fastened mere instants before she had returned to their cabin.

Her fingers slipped through the fabric, between the clothes and the skin, softly kneading as they went deeper, clasping his rear as boldly as she pleased. When he laughed softly against her lips, Azula couldn't contain a grin of her own: the cleverness in his gaze as he pulled away set off a blissful jolting sensation within her chest, the joy she ever felt when she was with him.

"I'll get my turn at that too…" he whispered with certainty, and Azula laughed before nodding.

"You always do" she smiled, squeezing each buttock deliberately, prompting Sokka to groan playfully in response.

Still laughing softly, she pushed down his clothes as best she could in the restrictive position they were in. Sokka writhed, shrugging off the trousers and underwear as best he could: Azula pulled him close, setting him down on the mattress and climbing over his body to push down his loose clothes. Her hands wouldn't waste the opportunity to caress as much of his skin as she could, most delicately as she moved down his thighs, where he still sported a few healing wounds. Sokka had relaxed at first, allowing her freedom to strip him naked before sitting up, ready to reach for her once she tossed his clothes aside.

She took her time revealing him, though, and she didn't cower from his manly body the way she had the first time they had lain together: now she smiled at the full sight of him, at his strong muscles, his defined abdomen, his firm collarbone… long ago, she had found herself too flustered to even look at him: now she couldn't look away, knowing she had loved this body for years… knowing he had been hers, by his choice, for even longer than that.

She could have admired him forever, she gladly would have… but Sokka's hands clasped hers delicately, reeling her close until she sat between his now spread legs. His fingers delicately found her chin, tilting her head towards him, letting their lips meet once again, in a slow and tender exchange that gained heat when Azula leaned closer to him, as she sought to make out every contour of his body with her adventurous hands. Sokka never had failed to rise up to her passion, returning every caress with as much devotion as she offered them, kissing her so powerfully she soon found herself breathless and delighted with her resulting lightheadedness. This was how she wanted him: strong, true to his needs and desires, honest and forthright, with that clever smile and the kindest eyes she had ever gazed upon. Breathing heavily, Azula raised her own gaze to meet his own when their kiss parted, only for his hand to move back and cup the nape of her neck gently: angling his face smoothly, his lips returned to hers in that same heartfelt manner, and Azula surrendered to his affection and the fumbling of his free hand with the fastening of the first layer of her clothes.

The sash with which she had held everything together came off easily enough, but their long, deep kisses were interrupted by the next layer, a long tunic. Before they could return to them, the next tunic stood in the way, and afterwards a long-sleeved shirt: after offering her brisk kisses before setting out to undo the next layer, Sokka couldn't help but laugh at the fourth layer, his shoulders shaking as Azula's did as well, weakly.

"To this day… you still wear too many clothes" he teased her. Azula grinned and shook her head.

"Try not to slice them off me this time… or rip them to pieces with your bare hands" she responded. Sokka chuckled, shaking his head too as he kissed her again "As mad as I was afterwards, that was…"

"That was…?" Sokka asked, with a knowing, flirty, teasing tone that brought Azula to laugh as he slid closer to her, towering over her frame as he knelt while she sat on the mattress.

"Far more exciting than it should have been… and far more amusing too, when you found you weren't done yet" Azula laughed, pressing her brow to his: Sokka's mouth fell upon hers again, a hum of disapproval sending her into another soft spree of laughter. His lips traveled further, kissing her cheek, her jawline, then descending to her neck… which was, on the most part, covered with tall-collared clothes he'd be tearing off her in no time.

"I bet you want to laugh at my expenses just as much today as you did that day, eh?" Sokka smiled "Must be why you did this…"

"I did it because I was cold…" Azula said, and a gasp escaped her lips as Sokka's wrapped over what little exposed skin of her neck as he could reach for, between her jawline and clothes "But if I'd thought… it'd annoy you this much… I'd be wearing even more of them…"

"How dare you…!" Sokka hissed teasingly, prompting Azula to laugh even harder as she swayed in his firm arms: his kisses grew more voracious, just as his hands tugged at her clothes again, pulling the long-sleeved shirt over her abdomen and breasts only to reveal, of course, yet another shirt.

She was still laughing as he changed their position again: now she sat comfortably on his lap as he relieved her of each clothing garment, one by one. To satisfy both his needs to kiss her without restraint and to relieve her of her outfit, he would pause after each item had been discarded, kissing her deeply just as he stripped her bare. He was free to caress her rear in this position, much as she had touched his own when the opportunity arose: teasingly, Azula swayed against his hands, welcoming his intimate caresses as willfully as she dared. Sokka grinned, tugging loose the final, tight shirt she had clad herself in, finally exposing the neck he couldn't help but dive for, and she couldn't help but expose for him just as well.

With her legs fully spread, no matter if they were still covered in clothes, Azula pressed tighter to Sokka, her body leaning against his, delighting in the friction and the wonders his mouth would weave upon her near-feverish skin. He groaned lovingly, arms wrapping tenderly over her lower back to reel her close, to take advantage of the opportunity to kiss across her exposed body while his fingers trailed upwards, to find the tip of the bandages she kept across her chest: just one strategic tug and her upper body would be fully exposed to him. His lips pressed every smooth kiss they could offer upon her skin, most delicately upon her three scars, as the fabric that concealed her chest came undone smoothly, slowly, letting those entrancing mounds and their perked nipples beckon and tempt him to travel lower, so he could meet them with his voracious kisses. But he would strip her fully first… he needed to do so. He wanted to see all of her, just as she could see all of him: it didn't matter how many times they had given themselves to the other, they could never seem to lose the excitement, the anticipation that ever took hold of them upon sharing in any form of intimacy, let alone the deepest of them all.

Without waiting for him to speak aloud his intent, Azula hoisted herself slightly, allowing him to tug down her trousers – one pair of them, seeing as she had clad herself in two layers. Sokka sighed in feigned frustration, prompting Azula to laugh as she pressed her brow to his, delighting in his knowing smile, the loving mischief that gleamed in his eyes. His hands crawled under the fabric, slipping between the layers until finally he found bare skin underneath: she pressed a warm kiss to his lips once his hand clasped her buttock fully, kneading softly and longingly, and he grunted pleasantly under her affectionate gestures. Little by little, Sokka dragged the trousers down, exposing her waist while letting his fingers trail upon her hipbones. She rose to her knees, allowing him to push the trousers lower, then she leaned forward, as though to lie down on the bed, atop him… and offering him a most generous view of her breasts moments before he found himself blissfully smothered by them, soothed by the warm, soft skin he ever was tempted by. Against his reservations, he took to pressing willful kisses upon her skin, eliciting low but heartfelt moans from his lover: after delicately rolling with her upon the mattress, he finally could remove her lower body's clothes smoothly, keeping his face buried in her chest while he tugged the last clothing items off her body.

Her legs hugged him, retaining him in place: a chilling breeze drawled into the cabin, seeking to steal away their comfortable warmth, but neither one appeared aware of its presence. Heat rose within their bodies, underneath their skin: with every kiss Sokka pressed upon her waiting chest, Azula's heat swirled and rose, instinctively gearing up for a release she could only wish would arrive later, much later, once she'd had her fill… though she knew she never would.

He toyed with her breasts most pleasantly, switching between them, offering them no end of kisses and soft suctions while cupping them in his rough hands. He seemed to hold back from devouring them as wildly as ever, though Azula suspected he wished to do exactly that: she pressed up against him, compelling him to gasp as her body rose to meet his. The tender kisses gained a hungry tune, giving some room to his instinctive needs amidst all his overflowing affection and playfulness. Her skin beckoned him, and he obeyed its call, letting himself go wild with pleasure as he listened keen and attentively to the symphony of moans that poured from Azula's lips.

Her chest heaved by the time he finally offered it some respite: her nipples felt blissfully raw once his own chest met them, as he rose over the bed to gaze at her with a guilty grin.

"Sorry if… if I went overboard" he whispered. Azula smiled back.

"Never… never apologize for pleasuring me so well, silly…" she said, raising a hand to the nape of his neck and reeling him close, claiming his reddened lips with her own as their bodies met, soft and warm, offering each other the perfect means with which to fight off the cold, the ones Sokka often had told Azula they'd resort to in order to deal with low temperatures. The proposal had been tempting even when she wasn't ready to accept it, completely agreeable afterwards… today, she found it was the perfect moment to fulfill that particular idea of Sokka's.

Their tongues brushed together longingly as Sokka held himself above her with one arm only: his right hand returned to raking her body, down the breasts he had devoured so delightfully, and to her abdomen next, teasing her navel gently just to smile once her body jolted. Their kiss broke by then and he gazed at her with enough fondness to set Azula's heart on fire.

"You always put me to the test in the best of ways, huh…?" he whispered, teasingly "I can't… can't make up my mind. Do I want to kiss you, or do I want to gaze at every inch of you…?"

"You could always try both" Azula answered, softly. Sokka snickered and leaned in, eyes open even as he was less than a breath away from her.

"Such an obvious solution, isn't it?" he said, and Azula smiled while struggling to keep her own eyes fully open, despite the impulse that compelled her to close them, much like his own.

He dared kiss her while gazing at her, insistently, intently, and her excitement only surged and boiled because of it: his free hand would travel delicately upon her shuddering pelvis, no doubt on its way to her core and clit: she could barely wait until it got there. Yet moments before it did, Sokka broke off the spree of bold kisses, laughing and shaking his head.

"It's fun… but I can't see you all that well this way" he confessed, between chuckles "Too close to take in all of you, evidently…"

"Guess your conundrum remains unsolvable" Azula smiled, pressing her brow to his "Might be you ought to try seeing with your lips, how about that?"

"Ah? And should I kiss you with my eyes too, if so?" he smirked. Azula snorted, and she couldn't restrain her laughter once he leaned close, pressing his face to hers, his closed eyes rubbing her skin dorkily, eyelids fluttering against her in a ticklish manner "Hmm… complicated, but doable"

"Sokka…!" she called his name with amusement, intending to drag him up to her lips again, but his hand finally slid lower, and her words and intentions froze when a sudden wave of pleasure rose and crashed inside her, rendering her thoughts mute when his fingertips parted her nether lips and teased her sensitive clit.

The next time she called his name, she did so breathlessly. When she tilted his head upwards towards hers, she stole a kiss as though to find her bearings through it, to anchor herself to reality with him… yet he only hoisted her higher and higher, exploring every crevice, every fold of her soaked, heated skin, retreading each step he had ever taken whenever he made her his.

The tender amusement they had basked in, the many smiles they had shared, had now been put on hold: their bodies swayed together, all their senses overflowing with passion they unleashed upon each other through non-stop, deep kisses. They tasted, touched, inhaled each other, listening to every moan and sigh, every groan and cry, every brush of skin and every heartbeat that raced hastily, flooding their minds with thoughtless desires, impulses that tore down the remnants of whatever walls had ever existed between them. In every chance of respite, every instance when they needed to breathe in air despite wanting to breathe in nothing but each other, their eyes would meet as well, warm gold with loving blue, much as the flames Azula had learned to bend: just as the result of blending both types of fire proved to be an extraordinary, beautiful spectacle, the union between them had proven to have a similar outcome. Between their eyes, their hearts, their ever-growing devotion for each other, they had created a love stronger than the forces that meant to tear them apart. No matter the distance between them in the future, that truth would remain unchanged: their love would not falter, not for a second, not even when a whole ocean, countless miles, and who knew how many years, might stand between them.

Her body reacted easily, eagerly to his touch, perhaps far more enthusiastically than she would have liked: if only he hadn't known her as well as he did… if only he hadn't always thrilled her as profoundly as only he could, perhaps she could have delayed that first peak for a moment longer, but the vulnerable moment loomed closer with each intimate caress, and he could tell.

Delicately, smoothly, Sokka allowed his fingers to slip down, towards her opening: the soft walls wrapped around him, smooth enough to prompt him to groan against her as she moaned urgently, longing for more than just his fingers… and yet treasuring that just as well, welcoming every intimate caress as he stroked her core, deeper and deeper: her body shuddered, her chest heaving with each breath, and his lips pressed gentle kisses upon her hoisted mounds while his eyes shifted knowingly towards hers. She was close, she mouthed as much to him, and Sokka only nodded as he continued onwards, prodding and caressing her intimately, letting his thumb rise up to the swollen clit. Azula gasped, clenched up, damn near screamed, but Sokka didn't pull away: her legs shuddered as she held him in place, wordlessly begging him to keep going, to guide her through her climax as expertly as he ever did. Sokka complied, pressing more kisses to her lips, muffling the cries of passion: his caresses didn't slow down, not even after those walls had tightened and shuddered, rubbing against his fingers pleasantly and encouraging him to long for the moment he'd replace them with his manhood instead… but not yet. They would take it easy… they would take it long and slow. Today, he would worship every inch of her body with all of his own… he refused to rush this.

He didn't slow down after the first release, even though he wasn't as intense as he had been in other trysts: even so, his fingers remained buried inside her, and the kisses he offered her to soothe her back into tranquility helped her catch her breath, clear her mind from blinding pleasure… only for that same excitement to build up one more time, with Sokka's intense, deep eyes gazing into her own, as though wanting to see through her, across each figment of her soul: she spread herself open, clinging to no pretenses, no lies… giving herself to him completely, without holding anything back, vulnerable, fragile and afraid, just as she was unashamed, devoted and overflown with conviction that she belonged in his strong arms, now and forever.

He breathed heavily against her too once her second peak burst across her body, causing her to throw her head back as her body reacted powerfully to the magic Sokka elicited upon it. Even now, he seemed tempted to keep going, and he might have indeed taken his time to stir her excitement yet again… only for Azula's hand to reach down to his, compelling him to withdraw it.

He swallowed hard, gazing at her warily: had he gone too far, or was she simply ready for something else…? It wasn't easy to tell which option was right, but Azula wasted no time with explanations as she pulled him closer. Sokka's lips found hers instants before she rolled them on the bed, pinning Sokka on the mattress before she crawled down to his waist.

"Azula…!" he gasped, recognizing her intent a moment too late: supporting her weight with her right hand, her left clasped his manhood by the base, guiding the fully erect organ into her waiting mouth.

He had never asked her to do this, not in all the years of their relationship: it was always Azula who chose to offer him this form of pleasure, taking the initiative to drive him wild through oral pleasure… yet today it was, once more, a decision with countless layers, chief among them her need to feel him, to remember everything about him, to take him as deeply as she could, to let her tongue trail across every ridge of his shaft, to expose his tip with her lips by leaning closer to him, allowing the head of his cock to brush against the roof of her mouth. Never had Sokka expected a blowjob would feel as emotionally charged as it did today: in all that bliss, he nearly found himself tearing up again, but he restrained himself. That Azula had come to love him so sincerely meant the world to him: where she had once been so hesitant to do this, uncertain of herself, she had slowly learned to do it when she sought to stir his excitement to the extreme. Now, she did it simply because it was him… because every part of him belonged to her, just as every part of her belonged to him.

He gritted his teeth as the pleasure rose higher and higher: he wouldn't be able to withhold his climax for later if she continued this way… but where he had always warned her vocally in the past, this time he caressed her face delicately, wordlessly urging her to glance at him: their eyes met, and his parted lips and heaving chest conveyed his relentless fingering of her might have excited him more than he had anticipated. Even so, Azula's determined golden eyes bore into his own: she had no intentions of slowing down now. She would carry this to term, tightening her lips pleasantly as she bobbed her head back and forth, seeking his very essence, betraying no doubts or hesitation as she guided her lover closer to the cusp of uncontrolled pleasure.

His attempts to contain his cries went to waste as he groaned, his whole body trembling as the pent-up passion surged, singing across his veins. Echoes of the countless times he had felt so fulfilled with her pulsated with his every heartbeat: it was a sensation he had never experienced until he had known her, and even now, as she devoured him, breathing deeply through her nose as her face rested against his strong, bandaged abdomen, he felt it anew. He was only at peace, only truly unafraid of being who he was, whenever he was with her…

His fingers could have tightened over her hair, or ensured she remained in position despite she had no intentions of pulling back, not even as his cock jolted in that familiar way it ever did when he was close to finishing. Instead, his hands cupped her face, shivering violently, offering her the gentlest of caresses as his body came undone, unleashing his seed as his head spun with blissful pleasure, born from the delightful, warm contact of her mouth, lips and tongue, with the erect shaft that emptied itself in her now.

Sokka breathed with difficulty, seeing clouds and stains dancing before his eyes: Azula had yet to release him, lavishing his shaft with earnest affection as she sucked and licked it yet again, as though she couldn't have enough of him just yet… he allowed himself a careless smile as she covered his sensitive skin with slow kisses, finally letting his shaft out of her mouth, though most unwillingly. Her gaze rose towards his, and she crooked an eyebrow at his grin, finding there might be far more meaning in it than mere elation over receiving oral gratification from the woman he loved.

"What is it?" she asked, softly. He shrugged, caressing her hair delicately.

"Can't help but remember… that a certain Princess once said she'd never be caught doing something as undignified as this" he said, letting his fingers trail over her cheekbones, down to her lips. Azula smiled a little, kissing his fingertips as Sokka smiled fondly at her.

"What can I say…? It's an acquired taste" she whispered, teasingly. Sokka chuckled and shook his head, pushing himself up with difficulty by resting his weight on his arm.

"If you say so… but I know something that tastes marvelously, and always has" he whispered, sitting up. Azula smiled again, letting his hands move lower down her body, reaching her waist and pulling her closer to him "Let me return the favor?"

"Always" Azula answered, pressing her brow to his.

Sokka grinned, stealing a quick kiss from her lips before rolling them both on the mattress anew, basking in yet another chance to gaze at each other for as long as they dared… until Sokka's eagerness to taste Azula overcame all his other impulses: one more kiss, this time longer and deeper, and he took off on his typical path, pressing his lips across her body as he made his way to her legs: some of the kisses were chaste, gentle, whereas others were passionate and intense, leaving wonderful red marks across her pale skin, marks she'd had to hide urgently merely a few weeks ago… marks that she now longed to sport across her body for as long as she might live.

She spread her legs wholly, offering him full freedom to dive in, to bury his face in her folds, to keep him in place until his jaw couldn't withstand the constant effort of devouring her. She wondered if he would continue endlessly if she allowed it… if they had enough time for it, even if his muscles gave way. As his strong, calloused hands caressed her exposed thighs, she let herself believe he would be that resilient… she allowed her imagination to take wind as she closed her eyes and focused on the sensations upon her skin. Both the touch of his hands and the smooth work of his mouth upon her legs proved so delightful she found herself at a loss for breath as she trembled when Sokka released the air he'd been holding against her soaked folds. A shudder of pleasure shook her instants before his mouth, tentative and slow, inched closer, trailing upon her warm skin, letting her scent fill his lungs, her taste flooding his mouth when he finally dared wrap his lips over her nether ones.

Her pleasure answered him faithfully, as it ever did: he had memorized her every weak spot after so many years of acquainting himself with her body. He could elicit every sensation he wished to, knowing exactly what to touch and what to kiss in the order she liked it best. While her pelvis would jolt whenever the pleasure overwhelmed her, she didn't pull away from his lips, not even for an instant. If her body somehow couldn't withstand these rushes of adrenaline and bliss coursing inside her veins, despite all the years of practice, she would certainly lose her senses in the best of ways, blacking out in bliss as the man she had given her heart to made love to her with his mouth, lavishing her skin with his tongue, his brow drawn together in heartfelt concentration. He offered her everything he had… and she accepted it all, gladly, just as he ever had with her. Their hearts would beat as one, echoing each other, ignoring all matters of chi-rotting or injuries as their souls blended again and again, their very lifeforces bonded intimately in every sense.

Azula's hands moved to her own thighs, finding Sokka's: he allowed her to lace their fingers together, to grip his hands tightly as she swayed against his powerful mouth. His hands were anchors, keeping her locked around him when his love seemed to offer her a chance to fly off to places unknown through strength she'd only found with him. But she didn't wish to go anywhere, not if she couldn't bring him with her, not if she couldn't bask in his generous affection, whether in bed or outside it…

It was impossible to keep it out of her mind completely, no matter if she wanted to focus on the here and now… on the wonderful moment they had been allowed to share in that chilly, difficult morning. Her mind rang constantly with reminders that this would be the last… that this would be the end. That from this day forward, her partner, lover, husband and best friend would become her most precious memory instead… yet it served as an effective reminder of why she couldn't let a single instant go to waste. Why she couldn't take anything for granted, no matter how many times he'd done it before, such as this long and thorough cunnilingus: his tongue skirted across each fold, mapping them out for the thousandth time, his fingers tight around her own, offering her the support she had been seeking when the pleasure took her by storm. Even in bed, where one faltered, the other stood their ground. Theirs had never been a relationship of conformity, of half-measures… it had been a relationship fated for understanding, for balance even if they had failed to balance their love with the demands of their world. Yet the flow of energy between them remained pure and smooth… it reminded them that they belonged, that they were loved, and that they always would be.

The swirling bliss Azula had already experienced earlier could be recalled easily: Sokka's mouth gave her little respite, taking full advantage of her submission until she was trembling violently on the mattress, in a tangle of wild moans and desperate cries of passion that ever spurred him onwards. She had ever been vocal when he took to arousing her as best he could… but the sound of her voice right now, a mix between bliss, hope, despair and excitement, was one he never intended to forget. Each of those soft cries accompanied the sway of her hips: she asked for more, wordlessly, and he delivered… bringing her to the soaring heights of her latest orgasm, for the second time in that cold morning.

She dropped heavily on the mattress when the throes of excitement shuddered out of her body in a rush: she couldn't seem to stop trembling, her hands still retaining Sokka in place… not that they needed to do so, for his mouth had yet to stop its motions, his tongue lapping at her folds hungrily still, lips wrapping around her sensitive core, boosting her excitement once again when she scarcely expected it. She whimpered, her grip around his hands tightening… just as it had been the very first time she had lain bare before him, she knew she could ask him to stop whenever she wanted to utter the word… yet she couldn't bring herself to do so. No, she would be self-indulgent, she would let him continue as long as he could, as long as her body still endured…

Her loud moan was virtually a scream, and she did nothing to contain it: another burst, and Sokka still wouldn't ease up. He would seem a starving man, stuffing himself at haste, caring little for the consequences, mindlessly acting on impulse, leaving her red skin pleasantly raw under his mouth's reckless ministrations. Oh, but he was unfair… she should have kept going longer too. She could have… if they had time to spare, she certainly would try it again, as long as he gave her the chance. As each climax burned through her system in the most delightfully pleasant way, setting her body on fire so many times she felt her whole soul soaring away into another plane of existence, she suspected he might actually give her no such chance… and she selfishly couldn't put a stop to it. This felt good… so good it wiped away every other thought from her mind. Her shuddering core couldn't appear to stop jolting under the touch of his mouth, blinding pleasure numbing her mind enough that she failed to notice as tears spilled from her eyes – whether she shed them because of the complicated emotions she was experiencing or the excessive pleasure, she didn't know.

Despite his intent, he couldn't do this forever. Sokka pulled away after another of her many loud cries had faded: he breathed heavily, lips red, jaw sore as he gazed at his wife's naked body, exposed for him and him alone. He trembled as each of her curves drew him in, ushering him to continue using his mouth as he had so far, upon every single inch of her body now… oh, he wanted to. He certainly intended to.

His lips trailed over her hipbones, hands finally leaving hers just so he could caress her body tenderly. Azula continued to breathe with difficulty, eyes closed as the blinding bliss destroyed whatever was left of her self-control.

"We… were so quiet… over the last days, and now…" Azula spoke breathily, with a guilty grin as Sokka climbed over her body with each kiss he placed upon the body he treasured so deeply.

"Now we're not so quiet… I like it better this way" Sokka smirked, before taking one of her breasts in his mouth, offering a long, teasing suck to her nipple. Azula whimpered, arching her back into him.

"I've noticed… you just want to embarrass me, don't you…?" she spoke between moans, prompting Sokka to laugh as he shifted to her other nipple. Azula gasped and groaned, fingernails trailing over his back delicately "Sokka, damn…"

"I just… want you to be happy" he answered, and his earnest words seemed to bring reality back into focus, even if neither of them cared to confront it "As far as I can tell… orgasms help a lot with that, don't they?"

"If you're the one gifting them to me… of course they do" Azula said, swallowing hard… yet the lump in her throat didn't go away despite that.

"So… you shouldn't be embarrassed" he whispered, teasingly "Why would happiness be embarrassing, eh?"

"Beats me…" Azula said, smiling a little, despite tears burned in her eyes again.

"Just give me a little while and I can do it again, if you want…" he whispered, burying his face in the valley between her breasts "Jaw's a bit sore right now, but…"

"Silly… injuring yourself by giving me oral sex" Azula laughed, wrapping her arms around her amused lover's body "There's… there's other ways to make me happy. One very obvious way, at that"

"Ah? Very obvious?" Sokka repeated, teasingly: Azula urged him to rise to her level, and he lingered perched in place, gazing warmly into her golden eyes "Well… my jaw shouldn't be a problem for that"

"Hopefully not. Because I… I intend to kiss you all the while, if it's all the same to you" Azula smiled, cupping his face. Sokka chuckled, leaning close and pressing his brow to hers.

"With a proposal like that… you can't honestly expect me to say no, can you?" he said. Azula smiled and nodded before offering him a quick, almost shy kiss.

"That was the hope" she responded, teasingly: Sokka chuckled before learning in, kissing her fully as her legs shifted underneath him, his own slipping into position right underneath her thighs.

Her arms slid into place, locking around his neck as their bodies pressed together: the remaining pain that might plague them had gone forgotten for the time being as they focused on nothing but each other. Sokka's lips sought Azula's repeatedly, even if he had been tired moments ago – but it was notoriously easy to dismiss any exhaustion if he'd have a chance to kiss her once again. His shaft's length pressed against her swollen clit, eliciting soft moans from her throat that poured into Sokka's mouth: her warmth already invited him to go all the way, but so focused he was on kissing her that he made no move to enter her yet. Neither one seemed plagued by urgency, despite knowing their time was running out, but every angle of their lips brushing together elicited spirited bliss within their souls, a heightened pleasure with subtle differences as they explored each other once again, thoroughly, eagerly, as if it were the very first time they'd ever tasted each other's lips.

Sokka shifted his position slightly: the friction between his manhood and Azula's exposed nub brought her to as good as yelp against his mouth. He smiled, despite himself, as his cock throbbed with need he wished to delay as long as possible… but perhaps he had delayed it long enough. He might just end up bursting again just by grinding together this way… and he didn't know if they'd have enough time for further rounds, if he did.

"I'm… I'm going for it" he whispered, softly. Azula nodded, pressing her brow to his.

"Please…" she replied, just as quietly. Sokka smiled: she needed this just as much as he did. She longed for the joining of their bodies, and he had done his best to fulfill her every need if it was within his power to do so: it would be no different today, he would see to that.

Releasing a breath slowly, letting the air caress her skin smoothly, Sokka shifted again, raising his hips, allowing the tip of his manhood to find her entrance: Azula's legs, wrapped around his waist, tightened as she pulled him closer. Sokka's hands held him in place above her, the head of his cock breaching through her smooth, ready folds and diving deeper inside her, flowing with remarkable ease after Azula's previous multiple climaxes had paved the way perfectly for him.

Sokka groaned, gritting his teeth and shutting his eyes tightly as to ensure his tears would stay where they were: she was so warm, so comforting, offering him a chance to find his bearings as he cherished every inch of her his manhood would explore. He thrusted slowly, gently, opening his eyes to find her own were gazing at him lovingly, half-lidded as they were.

Boldly, he dove in for another kiss that she returned gladly: his every thrust went deeper, her moans ever louder, even when his mouth kept hers occupied. She held him closely, ensuring he would stay in place, that once her body molded around his, he would linger inside her for as long as possible… for as long as they might have left, if she could get away with it.

He moved slowly, and she did nothing to spur him onwards: if anything, her body shivered pleasantly enough at his easy rhythm, and she knew that if he grew any wilder her body might fail to keep up with him. Yet it was clear, even though his hips swayed smoothly against hers, that he wasn't chasing after a climax this time around: he wanted her, to feel every inch of her body, to resonate his soul against hers. He wanted to spur on her heartbeats, to fill her lungs with their shared breaths, to abandon himself to oblivion if he could do so in her arms. The belonging he had found with her was unparalleled, like nothing he had ever experienced in his life until she had come along. He knew that knowledge of being part of her, of her being part of him, forevermore, would prove comforting someday… right now, it seemed to shatter his heart in a million pieces: he didn't want to let go. He knew he had to… for her sake, for the world's sake, he'd have to, even if it killed him. But he still didn't want to…

Overwhelmed, he broke off their kiss, pressing his face to the side of her neck as he picked up speed, recklessly unleashing his emotions through actions. Azula rejected none of it, moaning freely, holding him closely, her face right beside his: she offered his ear a soft kiss, trailing her hands over his strong, muscular back, and he knew she was trying to smooth over his pain with her caresses. Again, he faltered only to find strength in her, even if strength he wasn't ready to act on yet. He wasn't sure he had ever experienced so many emotional ups and downs in rapid succession before, but that would merely be one more new thing he had discovered with Azula. Who could have told him he would ever feel anything quite as intensely as he did when he was with her? How could he have expected himself, his very energy, would find such vibrant life upon responding to Azula's own? She had cast the most entrancing of spells upon his soul and he never wanted to wake from the dream-like bliss she could elicit masterfully within him…

Overcome by his own impulses, controlled by emotions that conquered him, Sokka returned to Azula's lips, kissing her passionately, and she responded with just as much enthusiasm. Clinging to him, Azula turned them on the mattress until they were on their sides: even then he didn't stop thrusting, trapping her lower lip between his own as he allowed her to reclaim control if she wished it. He didn't resist against her… not anymore.

Azula gripped Sokka tightly as she made to sit up properly. Sokka understood her intent, pushing himself up, letting her tighten her legs around his waist again as his own settled on a lotus position. Sitting together, halfway down the mattress, the weak light of a lantern fell upon their bodies, offering them the chance to gaze at each other, wound up closely together as they were. Their rhythm had slowed again after the shift in position, by Azula's design: she wanted more, much more, and she had needed him to slow down not because her body couldn't take it, but because her heart couldn't. If he finished too fast… if he did, it would be over. It couldn't be over yet. Just as he couldn't let go, neither could she.

The excitement had risen earlier, however, and hers, in particular, was easily reclaimed: her body shivered as his thrusts drove through her and she let her head fall back, exposing her neck for his hungry mouth to devour. Sucking slowly on her neck, shifting on the bed lightly, Sokka continued to thrust as best he could, with what strength he could muster while Azula did the same while sitting atop him. Her urgent moans said she was close, perhaps far closer than she had intended to be… and Sokka knew he was no better off. If only they were less efficient at sex, their wishes to carry on for as long as possible might have gone fulfilled… but instinct took over emotion, whether they wanted it to or not: Azula's body clenched as her walls squeezed Sokka's cock, a tearing cry leaving her lips when her body burned again.

That delightful warmth couldn't be resisted, Sokka knew as much… but he tried. He certainly tried, until his whole body gave way to his overwhelming need to find fulfillment inside her. Drilling harder into her than he had intended, Sokka gasped and whimpered until his spurting seed rushed out of him, his body betraying his mind cruelly by failing to endure, if just for a little longer…

Azula breathed heavily by his ear: the pressure of his pelvis against her swollen clit still thrilled her, still seemed to encourage them to continue… Sokka turned his head, stealing a wanton kiss from her lips that Azula offered quickly before glancing towards the nearest window. Sokka's lips pressed softly to her cheek, down her jawline, as her narrow eyes studied the outside world, if just for a moment, focusing both on sights, sounds and even the motions of the Barge to determine…:

"We're still moving" she whispered. Sokka gazed at her questioningly, his face pressed against hers "The Barge. It's… it's still in motion. So… we still have some more time. We do, so…"

"So… round two?" Sokka asked, with a light grin. Azula laughed, pressing her brow to his.

"As many as you want. Anything you want, love" she whispered, before stealing a deep kiss from him, one he surrendered most willingly.

They didn't slow down, scarcely giving each other any respite after every climax: neither one seemed to think of wounds, of hunger, of any other bodily needs when everything they wanted was each other. There would be time to worry about everything else later, much later, once they had conveyed everything they needed to say, whether with words or without them. They rolled across the mattress, sharing countless kisses, shifting in position as many times as they could: climaxes were no longer the mark of the end of a tryst, only a brief pause, a moment to cherish every sensation before they gave themselves to each other once again, emotional and careless as they were. Every surge of unwanted thoughts of their doomed future was countered by ferocious kisses, by verbal jabs and well-natured taunts, after which they would inevitably smile at each other, all tears kept at bay or brushed away as the present gained focus anew.

Thrusting deep inside Azula one more time, holding her atop him, her body pressed to his, Sokka rolled them in the bed yet again and pushed his way through her ever-ready core until she cried out blissfully, eyes closed, the whole world at a standstill as she burned brightly… as he shot his own essence inside her as well, fulfilled contentment flooding his system as he pressed a longing, heartfelt kiss upon her lips, groaning as their climaxes melted together, triggered and unleashed at the same time, in the perfect synch they had long been immersed in, their hearts beating bravely as one.

His heavy breaths brushed against her lips, compelling her to kiss him again, to wrap her arms around his strong body and thrive in their connection still. Maybe there was still time, maybe they could go again, even if her body appeared to be utterly demolished by the overload of pleasure…

The lack of noise, beyond their room, brought a light frown to her face.

She turned her head towards the window: no silhouettes moved past it anymore. If anything… the distant shapes she could see were static, beyond the light buoying movements of the large vessel.

They had stopped.

The Barge had docked and anchored in the South Pole's shores.

For a moment, she thought she'd be sick. The violent shift of emotions within her chest sent her spiraling, and she felt as though she was falling despite she was firmly lodged in the bed, between Sokka's strong frame and a mattress…

The sudden tightening of her grip around him, the light clawing of her nails into his skin, brought Sokka to close his eyes… to refuse to face reality for a moment, despite he knew what her reaction meant. He swallowed hard before daring venture a glance through that same window Azula couldn't seem to tear her eyes off, trembling violently in his arms now, and not over pleasure.

"We… aren't moving anymore, are we?" he said, his voice choked. Azula swallowed hard, shaking her head as Sokka breathed out slowly through his mouth, gazing at her with the same doubt he saw reflected in her eyes "We have… we have to…"

He couldn't seem to finish uttering the sentence. Instead, he breathed deeply several times, trying to still himself… before sweeping Azula into a warm, tight, urgent embrace, his face buried in her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her hair as he clung to her, still unwilling, still not ready to let go.

She put up no resistance as they rolled on the bed again: even now, so distraught as he was, Sokka made certain to turn them so Azula would rest on her right arm, never on her left: facing her on the mattress, he took to a spree of quick, reckless kisses that Azula responded to without wasting a single moment. Kiss by kiss, they soothed each other gradually, finding profound comfort in the tangle of limbs they'd become, wrapped together in that cold, dark day in which the sun wouldn't rise.

The closeness and intimacy allowed them to channel the emotions, to speak to each other wordlessly, to bridge their souls anew until they had calmed: they lay exposed across their bed, heartfelt eyes conveying just as much love and affection as their kisses had.

"Someone's… bound to come check on us" Sokka mumbled softly, half-heartedly. Azula nodded, pressing her brow to his.

"And whoever does… is going to find us completely naked" she finished, and Sokka snorted at her words "Oops"

"Maybe no one will come after all" Sokka smiled, pressing his brow to hers "They'd know what we were up to, they're not stupid…"

"Rather, there's enough of them filthy-minded enough to guess correctly…" Azula said, between soft laughs "And then there's Rui Shi too, who knew this was exactly what we'd do. He… he told me we had around two hours. I… I can't really believe they've already passed, to be honest"

"Neither can I" Sokka said, closing his eyes and breathing deeply "I've wanted to stop time on so many occasions when we've been together, you know? To make our very best moments last a lifetime… should happen now, shouldn't it? Would be good if it did…"

"It would be" Azula agreed, her hand cupping Sokka's face: their eyes only met with a brief glimpse of sorrow before she leaned in for a deeper kiss, letting her tongue and lips engage each other as true peace failed to find them.

Silence reigned again in their cabin, only interrupted by the shifting of their bodies, by the sounds of each exchange between their mouths, by each breath that escaped their lips. Still, neither one seemed to make any move to go anywhere, and Sokka smiled inevitably at that realization.

"I… kind of thought you'd be the responsible one here" he whispered "You usually are…"

"Hmm… I guess so" Azula conceded, caressing his chest gently "Can't say I… I feel like being responsible today"

"That's great. Two irresponsible fools, in bed for eternity" Sokka decided, beaming teasingly, as Azula laughed and pressed her brow to his.

"You should take that as a distress call of a sort… implying you're the one who should take charge now, because I can't seem to" Azula smiled. Sokka snorted.

"What makes you think I can? No way. You're stronger than me in every sense that counts, if you can't do it, I can't either…" he said, innocently, prompting Azula to laugh again and shake her head.

"What a pair we make, husband…" she said, her nose brushing against his cheek before her lips pressed against it softly.

"The best pair there is, as far as I'm concerned" Sokka decided, closing his eyes under her tender kisses.

"No question there… absolutely none" Azula said softly, releasing a soft sigh against his skin. Sokka hummed, trailing a hand over her flank, the other smoothly traveling up and down her arched spine "But I guess… we'll have to find our resolve sooner than later. Otherwise… all this will have been a waste, right?"

"Right…" Sokka said, swallowing hard.

"Just… imagine the looks on their faces when you show up at the village's walls" Azula said, with a tender smile "All strong and handsome as you are… none of them will expect it at all. Your sister… she'll be pleased to see you again, right? We'd planned on… on seeing them again in Whaletail Island, but surely she'll think this is better…"

"Heh… she'd only think that for about a week, tops" Sokka said, with a smirk "By then, she'll be sick of me all over again and you'll get a letter begging you to take me back as soon as you can…"

"No way…" Azula said, smiling as Sokka laughed, pressing his brow to hers "She's been desperate to see you for as long as she has, you really think she'll be bored of you in a week?"

"Of course. I'll be a pain, you see…" Sokka said, as the hand on her flank traveled lower, to her waist. Azula smirked and shook her head.

"Why? Plan on talking her ear off about how much sex you had with me?" she asked. Sokka snorted.

"That's a thought…" he smirked, prompting Azula to grunt in a teasingly menacing manner "Well, now, I can absolutely do that. I'll tell her all about how manly and commanding I was, and you melted in my arms every time…"

"She'll be vomiting all over your boots if you do that, but go ahead and try, I dare you" Azula taunted him, prodding Sokka's nose with her own as he laughed again.

"Here I thought you'd tell me you're far more commanding than I am…" he said. Azula snorted, shaking her head before kissing him softly.

"You've done a number on me since the first moment, reckless man that you are" she whispered "If only you were anyone else… I'd probably want to walk all over you"

"You did once, though…" Sokka pointed out, smiling as Azula raised an eyebrow "Literally, too. Forgot about…?"

"Ah, damn, that was so long ago…" Azula groaned, laughing as she hid her face from him in his shoulder. Sokka chuckled, kissing her shoulder softly.

"I'm just teasing, no need to feel bad about that nonsense now…" he said, caressing her face as Azula sighed, shaking her head.

"For what it's worth… I shouldn't have done that kind of thing, even if I was well beyond reason back in the day" Azula said, pressing her brow to his "I'm sorry"

"Apologies don't suit you any better than they suit me" Sokka teased her. Azula laughed and shook her head "Guess that's one more reason why we're perfect together, isn't it?"

"Maybe" Azula said, gazing into his eyes lovingly "Either way… I won't protest the notion that you've dominated my whole world in bed. At least, not too strongly"

"You've done as you've pleased with me too, damn… don't pretend you're all meek and submissive now, wife" Sokka snickered, tickling her softly so she'd writhe against him, laughing again "I'm trying to pick a fight here, you've got to bite the bait…"

"That's how I'm picking the fight, you see… by not biting at all. Then you're the one frustrated and I win either way" Azula smirked. Sokka chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to her lips.

"You're so perfect, damn it" he said, letting his fingertips trail down her cheeks, where countless tears had spilled across the past weeks. Azula smiled warmly, tightening her legs and arms' grip around him.

"So are you" she whispered "Maybe that's what will infuriate your sister, come to think of it…"

"What? That I think you're perfect, or that you think I'm perfect…?" Sokka smiled. Azula laughed and shrugged.

"That you are, I mean, as sibling rivalries tend to verse around that topic in my experience, but either of those answers would work" she said "Jokes aside… your father will probably be thrilled to see you again, if what Katara told you in Whaletail Island is true. If what Zuko told me is true, too…"

"Well, that's…" Sokka said, a knot forming in his throat as Azula smiled as encouragingly as she could.

"All those boys you trained… they're all probably fully grown men by now, huh?" she said "They'll probably flock to you for all sorts of lessons on how to fight… and you really ought to humor them, too. Surely it'll come in handy…"

"Hopefully…" Sokka whispered, his voice choked.

"Though… I guess the best part is my brother, isn't it?" Azula said, with a weak smile "If you'll allow me one request… it's that you annoy and pester him for the both of us"

"Ah?" Sokka said, smiling through his tearful eyes "That sounds ambitious…"

"Surely you can pull it off" Azula laughed "Start by calling him Zuzu and he's never going to stop seething"

Sokka chuckled through the tears that blinked in the corners of his eyes. His hand cupped Azula's face delicately, softly, before pressing a gentle, tender kiss to her lips. She proved yet again to be braver and stronger than he could ever expect to be, by encouraging him to find a brighter side to going back to the South Pole when the very words she had uttered were likely destroying her. If only he had any hopes to persuade her to stay… but just as easily as the idea sparkled in his mind, it fizzled away: he couldn't beg for more. He couldn't continue to be selfish. Azula intended to sacrifice herself in thousands of ways for his sake, for his people, and delaying it or stopping her would help no one.

With strength he wasn't sure he knew he had in him, Sokka collected Azula in his arms, wrapped warmly around her as he pushed himself up to a sitting position, bringing her with him. A slow sigh left his lips as he settled in place: little by little, step by step, he would do what needed to be done… so that Azula, in turn, would be able to do what she needed to, just as well.

Sitting upon his lap, Azula cradled Sokka's face between her hands before kissing him softly, almost gratefully, for making the effort to move at all… an effort she wasn't sure she could have put in without his initial push, frankly. Try as though she might to convince him, and herself, that this was the only way, her heart trembled at the knowledge of what was coming… at the impending loneliness she wanted to keep at bay for as long as possible.

"I… don't think I'll ever be ready for this" Sokka admitted, pressing his brow to hers. Azula swallowed hard, her fingertips tracking gently over his cheekbones.

"Me neither" she confessed in turn, and once more, they found comfort in their shared feelings, in understanding each other perfectly.

Sokka hugged her tighter against his chest, and Azula nestled there warmly for a long moment… but soon, he moved across the bed, bringing her with him as he reached the edge of the mattress. Once more, a sigh left his lips once he reached his temporary destination: why had it been so much easier to charge into an Arena while half-starved and badly beaten, to fight a man who couldn't be defeated, than simply dressing up and heading home? The broad strokes of what he had to do next were, generally, simple enough… and yet he couldn't do it without taking at least ten seconds to brace himself for each of his next moves.

"It's so surreal… being here again" he whispered, glancing out the window: the tall ridges of familiar tall mountains and hills of snow had been everything he had wanted to see back when he had been stuck in the Amateur Arena. If only he could feel half as excited about seeing them now…

"Well… in some ways, it's only fitting" Azula said, smiling as she raised her head… as she forced her unsteady legs, still affected by the onslaught of relentless lovemaking, to move and allow her to stand up "It may not be the way we intended it… rather, it certainly isn't the way we intended it, but… we've fulfilled the terms of our deal, haven't we?"

"We… have?" Sokka asked, puzzled: his hands lingered on Azula's waist even as she stood up, both because he longed for any contact between them and to help Azula, as her stance seldom looked as unbalanced as it did right now.

"The League is gone… but even so, just before the Dome was destroyed, you defeated the top gladiator, didn't you?" Azula said. Sokka scoffed.

"That's the newer deal, not the first one. The first one said I had to become the top gladiator for real, you know? Number one, and that sure didn't happen" he said, stubbornly "It would have for sure, don't get me wrong, but… where were we in the ranking, last we knew, huh? I mean…"

"I'm afraid it's not particularly important anymore, is it?" Azula said, with a remorseful smile "But you're still the last man standing, altogether. Doesn't matter if we ran away… you lived to fight another day"

"I… I guess so" Sokka whispered: her hand cupped his face, and she leaned down to kiss him again before encouraging him to stand with her by nudging him with her hands on his flanks "Okay, okay, I'm going…"

The two lovers barely wanted to relinquish their hold on each other, but they had no choice to do so as they collected each other's clothes in the unusually messy cabin: Sokka's simple change of clothes had cluttered to the side of the bed he'd been sitting at, while Azula's had scattered all across the room when Sokka had removed each layer from her body earlier. The Princess couldn't hold back from taunting her lover as he struggled to collect her garments, stepping closer to him with his clothes as he reached behind a bedside table to find the sash he'd taken off her waist. Her hands slid up his back, almost tickling him, and Sokka rose back to his full height with the sash in hand, proudly.

"Just got to find your underwear now… but I guess you're all done first, right?" he said. Azula smiled, raising Sokka's own set of underwear.

"Maybe you should've been faster…" she teased him, but Sokka snorted.

"Or maybe, just maybe, you were wearing three times as many clothes as usual, which is already saying something, seeing how you've always worn too many clothes?" Sokka teased her right back, wrapping an arm around her waist and prompting her to laugh as he kissed her softly "Still, I don't see the issue. If I can't find all your clothes that fast… it just means my eyes get to feast on your gorgeous body for longer, isn't that right?"

"Oh, really, now? You intend to make me walk out there, fully naked?" Azula asked, smirking. Sokka scoffed.

"Well, no, but you know, while you're in here…" he pouted, prodding her nose with his own, spurring on Azula's amusement.

"I'd much rather be able to walk out there with you without risking frostbite, but if you insist…" she said, and Sokka groaned before wrapping her in a tighter embrace: her laughter warmed his heart and soul, and he wished he could hold that very sound in his mind for as long as he might live "I can just wear my usual outfit, though… might be for the best if I do, anyway."

"You're sure? Not twenty layers of clothes, then? I don't get to delay this forever?" he whined, pressing repeated kisses to her shoulders "Oh, fine… I'll dress you up, I can do that. I could do it with my eyes closed, even, but I won't because that'd be boring…"

"I wouldn't want you to do it with your eyes closed, anyway" Azula chuckled, as Sokka released her from his hold, smiling gently at her: he stroked her jawline gently with his fingers before reaching for the last of the garments he had yet to collect for her.

They took turns dressing each other, starting by dragging each other's underwear up – Sokka had knelt before Azula, pressing countless kisses to her hipbones and abdomen as he finished, rising all the way to her lips to find his Princess smiling with genuine delight under his affection. Most unwillingly, he collected her breasts' bandages and rolled them over her chest, a most amusing pout on his lips as he hid the mounds from his gaze, prompting Azula to laugh as she placed a hand on his still bare chest.

"One would think you didn't just spend two hours or more doing whatever you pleased with them…" she said.

"One would think you'd know it takes longer than that to satisfy my need of you" Sokka said, smiling gently "Especially after all this time…"

"I suppose…" Azula smiled, letting her eyes drift down to his now-covered manhood "You did keep up remarkably well with me all along. Today, in particular, I… I'd think I went overboard, huh?"

"Not possible" Sokka smiled, pressing his brow to hers again.

"You're remarkably resilient, then. You and Mr. Boomerang down there" Azula smiled, pressing a quick kiss to Sokka's lips, finding him laughing once she did.

"Did you seriously just address him by his proper, noble title at last?" Sokka asked, feigning absolute surprise and amazement. Azula laughed and shook her head, dropping her head on his shoulder as Sokka breathed deeply "I can't believe it. This is a truly momentous occasion. I'm sorry, I think we'll have to postpone all this drab business of getting dressed, Mr. Boomerang wants to thank you for…"

"Don't be ridiculous" Azula laughed, shaking her head as she reached for his trousers "Come on. We can't stop now, we've already taken so long… it's a miracle Rui Shi hasn't dropped by to check on us yet"

"I suppose it is" Sokka smiled sadly, but he complied by letting Azula tug his clothes into place: making Azula laugh through the process, he realized, made it a little less difficult… a little less painful.

He wrapped her chest smoothly with her bandages, reaching for one of her sets of pants as well and returning her earlier favor: she was already reaching for the shirt he hadn't finished dressing in earlier, sliding it over his shoulders whenever his hands weren't occupied. Azula smiled as the shirt hung open over his chest, raising her own arms as Sokka slid her long-sleeved shirt over her frame as well, aiding her by tugging out her hair from the neck of the garment.

"Say… I probably should wear the armor, shouldn't I?" Sokka suggested. Azula raised her eyebrows questioningly "You shouldn't wear yours, though… your shoulder's still a problem"

"I could, though…"

"No need" Sokka smiled, caressing her cheek "Not unless you think it'll help you with the cold or something. Would it?"

"Doubtful, but it might just be more appropriate anyway" Azula said "I guess you want to wear yours because it'll be easier than carrying it around, huh…?"

"I do have a few bags, after all…" Sokka said, glancing at his luggage and raising his eyebrows "Though, you know, you and the guys could help me haul all this into the village…"

"Ah?" Azula smiled a little "How far away is it that you'd need our help?"

"Eh… I guess about twenty minutes' walk from the settlement?" Sokka said, with a shrug "It's not that bad, but… no, no, it's actually really bad! I'm still so weak, you and the guys have to help, and then you could stay for supper, and…"

"Uh-huh" Azula raised her eyebrows, and Sokka grinned guiltily before sighing.

"Can't blame a guy for trying, can you?" he said, pressing another quick kiss to her brow "But we're still not done with the clothes anyway, love"

Azula sighed but nodded, caressing his chest… longing to make his wish come true, despite knowing it would be wrong, utterly irresponsible to even indulge in those thoughts: if she had even a glimpse of the village, of the lives they could lead in it, together… she might fail to find the strength to leave at all. Sokka knew as much: that he'd desist so easily, in such good nature as well, proved the last thing he wanted was to burden her any further, as he'd told her in the early days of their voyage. Instead, he picked out her long tunic from her cabin's closet, sliding it over her frame just as he had with her shirt earlier: he'd brought the belt with him as well and Azula followed his example, tightening Sokka's sash over the waistcloth he ever had favored wearing.

"Should I go on with more layers, or…?" Sokka asked, smiling a little, but Azula shook her head. "I know you said you didn't need more, but…"

"I'm not as cold anymore… probably because of all the action we had" she smiled "I… I'll be fine like this. Don't worry"

"Want me to brush your hair?" Sokka asked, caressing her face gently.

"Want me to brush yours?" Azula responded, and Sokka grinned before nodding quickly "Well, good. I would have, even if you had said no"

"Your hair's nicer than mine…" he said, reaching for the hairbrush Azula had always kept on her dresser. The Princess snorted and shook her head, raising a hand to slide her fingers across his smooth locks.

"Your hair's far nicer… and a lot more entertaining too" Azula chuckled "Every time I remember how it frizzed up after Xin Long did that dive, when we visited Firelight…"

"What, you're not going to laugh about that even now…" Sokka said accusingly, just before Azula indeed gave herself to a new spree of laughter "My poor hair, disrespected in this manner…"

"It was far too amusing, I'm not going to apologize…" she chuckled, and Sokka grinned before shaking his head, pulling her towards him by spinning her gently in place, so he would face her back.

"Not going to ask you to apologize anyway" Sokka said: he took to brushing then, and Azula released a blissful sigh as she closed her eyes "I love it when you're mean. I always have"

"That's not healthy for you, you know…?" she said. Sokka chuckled and shook his head "Liking it when people aren't nice to you…"

"I like it when you aren't. I don't even know why, it always gets me going" he said "Though I won't deny I love your gentle sides as well. I… I love everything about you. Not that that's news, but still…"

"It's not… but it's nice to know anyway" Azula whispered, letting her hand reach back blindly, caressing Sokka's hipbone gently.

He grinned, composing her half-knot as she ever liked it, leaving the twin strands to frame her face perfectly: his lips pressed to her cheek once he was done and she could feel him smiling against her skin.

"As beautiful as ever, if not more so" Sokka whispered "Nah, never mind, definitely more so. You always outdo yourself…"

"I doubt that's true, but sure" Azula smiled, turning in his arms and kissing him softly "Your turn now"

It was much easier and faster to compose Sokka's usual hairstyle, no matter how much longer his hair was these days: Azula's fingers combed through his strands before and after tying it up, smiling as she toyed with the resulting wolf's tail. Not much preparation was left, she knew… Sokka reached for his own bandages, set on the nightstand, and the fingerless gloves he had ever liked to wear. Azula knew her assistance was unnecessary, he could bandage his forearms easily enough… but she helped regardless, and Sokka smiled as their fingers met often through the process. He couldn't hold back from stealing another kiss from her before they moved on to the next items.

"So… where did your hairpiece end up at?" Sokka said, with a guilty smile as he looked through the cabin "I'm usually a little more careful, but…"

"I don't think I was wearing it right now, actually" Azula said, moving towards her dresser and rummaging through its cabinets "It's here somewhere… ah. There we are"

"Found it?" Sokka said, with a small smile "You don't have to wear it if you don't want to. Just checking we didn't misplace it or anything… you have to bear with it forever, you know? Can't replace it, otherwise, how will you be constantly reminded that I stabbed someone with it…?"

"Of all the things to bring up, Sokka, really…" Azula said, shooting him a teasing glare from over her shoulder as Sokka laughed guiltily: he had collected their boots, setting them at the foot of the bed, and Azula joined him there, only for him to steal the hairpiece from her hands and set it in place, right atop her half-knot.

"There we are… that's my Princess" he whispered, touching her face with his knuckles softly. Azula smiled, taking his hand in hers to press a kiss to his fingers.

"Always yours" she said, earnestly. His smile was heartbreaking, but genuine, and he kissed her lips quickly before helping her with her boots, only for Azula to return the favor, ever keeping up with each other.

Sokka glanced out the window as Azula returned to her dresser: he wasn't sure what she'd be looking for now, but reality seemed to hit him again as he gazed at the mountains: if only the circumstances were any different, this situation would feel like a dream come true. Returning home should fill him with a wondrous sense of nostalgia… not melancholy for what he'd leave behind.

He released a sigh, picking up his armor from a corner in the room and setting it in place without waiting for Azula's help this time, ever minding that she wouldn't overuse her recovering shoulder. He expected her to complain, but she seemed to understand as she turned to face him again, holding her own armor in her hands.

"You're sure?" Sokka asked. Azula swallowed hard and nodded.

He sighed but smiled before stepping forward, raising the armor over her head delicately. Azula held her arms up so he could clasp the armor properly around her body, and she thanked him for his delicacy with another tender kiss. Her hands fell upon his arms, and the sensation of his bandages brought her to realize he was missing something.

"Well… you need the armguards too, don't you?" she said, with a sad smile "I'll get them"

"I guess I do need them for the full warrior regalia" Sokka smiled a little, hands on his hips as Azula took to rummaging through his bags.

She went through all of them, failing to find the armguards that, as it happened, were sitting just behind a bag, right next to where his armor had been: Sokka chuckled as he noticed that, and Azula smiled before shutting tightly the bag she'd been searching through before rising to her feet, bringing the armguards with her.

"And that's my Blue Wolf…" she said, smiling fondly once she tightened the armguards perfectly, as she had long learned how. Sokka's hands fell upon hers, warm and gentle, no matter how rough the skin of his palms might be.

"We've come a long way, eh? Since… since the two of us were here last" Sokka said, with a sad smile. Azula swallowed hard but nodded in agreement "Couldn't have expected… well, any of what we lived through, back when we first met. You were impossibly beautiful and that definitely messed me up from the get-go… but I couldn't have dreamt we'd ever become everything we are for each other"

"I'd think it would've been rather strange if you'd dreamed up a partnership like ours back then…" Azula smiled "Especially with the asshole who, well…"

"Who thought very little of the idiot who was charmed by her blue fire?" Sokka smiled teasingly. Azula laughed and shook her head.

"To be fair… I just wasn't paying enough attention to you? It was dark too, it's always the dark period when I drop by…" Azula said, shrugging as Sokka scoffed.

"So, I was totally taken with how beautiful you were, but you thought I was just completely ordinary, is it?" he said, smiling teasingly too "Guess I shouldn't be surprised…"

"Oh, come on, I wasn't paying attention to how handsome you were because I was too busy drinking in my own glory to think of anything but myself" Azula said, shaking her head "The next time we met I was a lot more aware of it, mind you…"

"Sure, because I was way bulkier by then" Sokka teased her, prompting Azula to laugh again "See, see? I know you better than you wish I did, Princess. Doesn't matter if you didn't realize how handsome I was since the start… you were charmed sooner than later just as well"

"By the fool who was charmed by my blue fire, yes" Azula smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck, reeling him in for another kiss "What an adventure this has been, huh?"

"It has…" Sokka said, smiling sadly again "I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. And I know it was only as extraordinary as it was… because I lived it with you"

"Yes…" Azula said, swallowing hard and nodding "Because we lived through all of it, together"

They stood in silence after those words, forehead to forehead, eyes closed, breathing slowly, following each other's rhythm, much as they did when they danced together. A long, tender moment of peace, of silent appreciation… of gratitude for the journey they had cherished so profoundly, a journey they couldn't help but feel had been cut short far too soon. Yet it would always feel that way, they both knew as much: even if they were to live out all their lives together, it wouldn't suffice. Another life would be required, another cycle for their two souls, attuned and bonded, to further the love that had fulfilled them so profoundly across the years of their partnership. Perhaps another life wouldn't be enough either: they might need thousands of lives, and even then, every time they were torn from each other's side would be an unfairness, a wrongness that would need to be set right… if it couldn't be set right in that very lifetime, then the next one would have to allow it. One way or another, they'd find their way back… they'd reclaim what they were set to lose today. It was the only relief… the only respite they could cling to while refusing to let their love become nothing but a memory. It was, instead, a reality… one that they intended to fight for with every ounce of strength in their battered hearts until their paths finally converged again.

"We should…" Azula said, her voice faded. Sokka offered her a soft affirmative, yet again unwilling to move.

"We should" he agreed. Azula breathed deeply, opening her eyes… to find him doing the same thing.

Gold and blue met, merging through their joining lips, infusing them with life, with strength, with certainties that they hoped would never waver: their love would endure. The distance between them wouldn't change the truth: they were part of each other and they always would be.

Watching Sokka strapping the many bags onto his back brought back memories Azula didn't wish to think of… not right now. Where thoughts of Shu Jing could come and go with ease before, now they pained her profoundly, constantly filling her with a pointless urge to turn back time and forget the world with Sokka so they could live on together, far from the political life she no longer coveted as eagerly as she had in the past. As hurtful as it might be, though, Sokka looked strong, almost fully recovered, as he rose to his full height again, all four bags on his armored shoulders, all weapons in place… even a small, reassuring smile upon his face, attempting to offer her the courage she now lacked, in the face of stepping out of their room together for the last time.

"Let's… let's go then" he said, his voice faint, no matter how strong he tried to present himself. Azula nodded, gritting her teeth as she stepped forward: her hand curled around his, guiding him out of the cabin… ensuring he would climb the stairs beside her, as the equals they had become… as the partners they would always be.

Their slow pace resembled that of a temple rite: reverent, timed, conscious of every move of their bodies as they moved down, from one floor to the next… until they finally reached the threshold of the Barge's tower. Azula breathed deeply, glaring at it reproachfully for just one moment, before tugging Sokka onwards. He followed, a step behind her, uncertain if they ought to continue holding hands upon glimpsing a few shadows on deck: all her guards were there, and the old impulse to hide their relationship nearly brought him to stop walking altogether… yet Azula held onto him. Her firmness spoke for itself: she would hide nothing anymore, not from her guards, not from the rest of the world, regardless of how it might condemn them. Sokka swallowed hard, closing his eyes briefly before taking a step forward: his fingers slid between hers, intertwining their hands gently as they stepped out into the open, amidst the shadows of a persistent night that would only let up in a few more months…

The guards glanced at them as soon as they appeared: strangely, they had been silent rather than talking among themselves as usual. All ten men had been on deck, and while some resolved to stay put, standing close to the Barge's railing, others stood up straight and stepped closer to the newly arriving pair – if they took notice of their linked hands, they made no mention of it, no matter how much bolder the gesture was than the Princess's so far contained affection towards the gladiator while the guards were around.

"Princess…" Rui Shi whispered, the first to react to their arrival. Azula nodded curtly in his direction, acknowledging his presence and the words he left unspoken.

"Is… is the Barge ready to set sail again?" she asked, quietly. Rui Shi nodded, glancing at Tai Wei, who had stepped up as well.

"We're ready to go. I just… figured I'd be here for now" Tai Wei said, with a weak smile he directed at Sokka "Ready to disembark yet?"

"Not really…" Sokka admitted, with a pained grin of his own "But I'd better not delay you guys any further, right?"

Azula's grip on his hand tightened upon his words, and Sokka responded by stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. The guards reacted as well upon hearing them: voices carried over easily in such a silent, still land, where only the cutting chill of the night, when spurred onwards by the wind, made a whistling noise that coursed across the icy territory. The ones standing by the railing stepped closer… all of them intending to say their goodbyes, Sokka realized, with a heavy heart. He gritted his teeth, trying to smile, but failing to find the strength for it as Taro set a hand on his shoulder first… and then leaned in for a quick hug, patting his back gently over his many bags.

"It was a true honor getting to know you, my friend" he said, smiling kindly once he pulled away. Sokka smiled as well, nodding.

"Make sure to keep up with your medicine, alright?" he said "Take care of yourself, Taro"

"Always, always…" Taro said, reassuringly, only for many of his fellow guards to shoot him looks of disbelief and skepticism.

"You'll owe me another Mahjong game, Sokka" Fei Li said, smiling sadly as well "I'm not done restoring my reputation, you hear me? One day… I'll avenge myself against your evil hands, alright?"

"Heh. Guess you'll know where to find me for that" Sokka said, raising an eyebrow with mild amusement "Though I won't pull my punches if you discard the perfect tiles for me to win…"

"Oh, come on now…" Fei Li huffed, though he grinned afterwards as Sokka chuckled softly.

One by one, the guards spoke to him, offering him encouraging words, kind wishes, good fortune, as well as the occasional hug that would never fail to throw off Sokka, even after Taro's own. If he ever had doubted he had a place among them, in this Royal Procession, that moment cleared it away perfectly: every man aboard the Barge believed him to be one of them… an equal, or perhaps even more than that. He was, after all, their Princess's partner: the respect they offered him warmed his heart enough to break it further, as he allowed himself to think, to feel, to know, that he had found true belonging among the least expected people… the very same people who had taken him from this Pole when he hadn't wanted to leave it at all. The very people who had brought him back today, at huge cost to themselves… when he no longer wanted to stay for good.

Rui Shi, naturally, went last: by then, Tai Wei and half the guards had entered the Barge's tower again, preparing for sailing away yet again. The former captain breathed deeply, meeting Sokka's sorrowful gaze with his own.

"They've all said it already, but I hope you won't be tired of hearing it yet" said Rui Shi, solemnly, breathing deeply before speaking those words anew: "It was an honor, Gladiator"

Sokka gritted his teeth, nodding as he offered Rui Shi his hand once more time. Aware now of what Sokka's intent would be, Rui Shi smiled and clasped his forearm firmly, just as firmly as Sokka clasped his own.

"Until we meet again?" Sokka said, his voice strained by emotion. Rui Shi, as stoic as he tried to be, seemed as choked up as his friend was upon nodding in agreement.

"Until we meet again, Sokka"

Rui Shi released Sokka's forearm, almost unwillingly, and stepped back. His eyes shifted towards Azula, finding her head unusually hung… suspecting, immediately, that she was containing tears she didn't wish to shed at all, let alone before them all. Rui Shi nodded in her direction, unsure if she would see it, before taking a step back: the way was clear now. There were only two more people for Sokka to say goodbye to.

One of them lingered by the end of the Barge, curled up as he shivered in the cold weather that did no favors to the dragon's endurance. They would be out of this freezing environment soon but even that bittersweet thought did nothing to soothe him. Sokka breathed deeply as he guided Azula towards Xin Long gently: the dragon reared his head upon realizing his second rider was approaching… upon realizing it might be the very last time that Azula's chosen mate would be with them.

He groaned softly, as good as a whimper, when Sokka and Azula stopped before him. Sokka smiled sadly, reaching a hand down to Xin Long's head, only for the dragon to nearly tackle him as he pressed his snout to Sokka's armor, groaning repeatedly, in a spree of thoughts that, despite all his progress at understanding the dragon, Sokka couldn't make any sense of. He chuckled, wrapping an arm around Xin Long, pressing his face to the creature's hair, as Azula often did.

"I'm going to miss you too, buddy" he said: twin tears escaped his eyes, spilling onto Xin Long's pale mane. The dragon didn't seem to notice them, or, if he did, he found no harm in them "I have no idea what you're saying, but… you'd better believe I will"

"He's… telling you this is no place for a dragon like you to live in" Azula said, with a sad smile "As… as you've been acknowledged as one, by his friends…"

"Oh, damn… I see now" Sokka chuckled, smiling too as he slid his free hand into Xin Long's hair "I'm a really weird dragon, I guess… but this is where I was born, Xin. It's… dark here, yeah. Not as bad as your cave, but… somewhat lonely, too. Maybe… maybe that's why we both love Azula as we do, eh? We discovered so much more of the world thanks to her, didn't we…?"

Azula sniffed beside him, dabbing at her eyes quickly with her free hand. Xin Long groaned, pressing his face against Sokka's now. The gladiator sighed, hugging Xin Long's frame as best he could.

"Watch over her for the both of us, Xin" he said, with a thread of a voice. The dragon grunted affirmatively, and Sokka smiled "Take care, big guy. I… I love you"

Xin Long grunted again: he made the effort to speak the words back to Sokka, it seemed, though his draconic features didn't allow it. Sokka chuckled, letting a few more tears spill down his cheeks as he caressed Xin Long's brow.

"Goodbye, Xin Long" he whispered: the golden eyes of the magnificent creature had never seemed more heartbroken than they were now, even when hidden under a shroud of perpetual night.

Sokka stepped back, his eyes still locked with Xin Long's. The dragon made no other efforts to move, though… all he could do was gaze at the man who smiled at him with a heavy heart before tearing his blue eyes off the creature… and settling them upon the woman who had accompanied him, hands firmly locked, even now.

"Az-…"

"I'll… walk you down the ramp" Azula said, simply. Sokka's breath caught, and his words were cut off, but he smiled and nodded.

The guards had set the ramp in place already: it led to the poorly maintained docks that had been left behind by the Fire Nation troops. The vacated settlement still stood in place not too far from the port, on the level land that stood in the space between two large ice cliffs that hugged the harbor. The metal structure, abandoned and unnatural, loomed before them… and it looked so much smaller than either of them remembered it to be.

"It used to appear so threatening, eh?" Sokka said, with a small grin, as they stopped at the top of the ramp again. Azula breathed deeply and nodded "Maybe it's just because there's no more soldiers there…"

"Strangely enough… you did achieve what you set out to do that day, huh?" Azula said, with a sad smile of her own "Took you longer than you planned, but… they left for good. And you taught the fool who defeated you that her people never belonged here, just as well…"

"Well, now… not in the way they were invading, no" Sokka said, with a sad grin "But I think… I think we've both learned lots of things over the years. Among them… sometimes you can build a true home in the least expected place, if you do it the right way"

"Yeah… I guess you're right" Azula said, smiling again before taking a deep breath.

Together, they stepped forward, down the ramp and onto the dock: Sokka had no recollection of having walked that dock before, as he had been dragged by the guards while losing consciousness the last time he had ever been there. He breathed deeply as they stepped deeper into the cold, into the Pole… into the snow that soon muffled their footsteps, chilling their feet within instants.

They stood together in silence for another moment: Sokka breathed deeply, taking in the familiar surroundings that somehow seemed so foreign now, after so long of being removed from them. Memories flowed in his mind, countless childhood moments spent frolicking in the snow, playing with his sister, attempting to grow up into a great warrior like his father… but nothing was stronger than the memory of the first time he had laid eyes upon the beautiful woman who stood beside him now.

"To think we were out for blood the first time we were here, together" Sokka whispered, smiling as he shrugged off his bags, releasing Azula's hand begrudgingly to set everything down.

"We were certainly the definition of young and foolish" Azula replied, smiling a little as she allowed memories to rise in her mind again "I'll never know how I ever earned your love after that, but…"

"I'll never know how I earned yours either, and yet here we are" Sokka said, smiling teasingly too as he turned to face her directly.

Azula swallowed hard, turning to face Sokka as well. So much had changed since that first encounter… their whole worlds had been torn apart, turned over countless times, until everything they had ever taken for granted had been questioned, every certainty dispelled, forcing them to set aside all their learned beliefs if they hoped to ever understand each other.

All these years later, it went without saying that they had been successful. Azula's fragile grin rendered her vulnerable, showing emotions no one would have never believed possible from the young woman who had stood her ground against an attack of Water Tribe warriors… just so, the loving eyes Sokka turned upon her would seem impossible for a man who had been determined to rid his people and home of the Fire Nation, no matter the cost.

"It's been… the adventure of a lifetime, for sure" Sokka said, with a grin that held more confidence than he felt at the moment "I know I've said it a thousand times, but I… I'm proud of us. I'm proud we're no longer those two young fools…"

"So am I" Azula said, breathing deeply but smiling as well "All those years couldn't have gone by in vain, after all"

"They most certainly didn't" Sokka said, raising his eyebrows: Azula laughed softly, and again Sokka wished he could capture the moment, even if just that final glimpse of laughter, no matter if it was tinged with sorrow.

"Make sure to… to reach the village as quickly as you can. You're probably not accustomed to the weather anymore, so…" Azula said. Sokka nodded weakly.

"Don't worry about me, Azula…"

"After all this time, you still think you can convince me not to worry?" she asked, with a sad smile. Sokka grinned back, warmth rising in his body, even when the cold bit into their bodies as carelessly as it did in every gust of wind "I'll always worry, Sokka. Even if you gave me no reason to, I'd still worry"

"That's pretty lousy of me, now, isn't it?" Sokka chuckled "What a trustworthy gladiator I am, if you couldn't stop worrying about me at all…"

"You were… you are, the greatest gladiator there ever has been" Azula said, earnestly. Sokka's chest tightened again: his gaze didn't leave hers, not even for a second… not even if, in the darkness of the Pole, he could scarcely glimpse the beautiful hue of her golden eyes, just as she barely could see his own "You're also the best husband I could have ever asked for…"

"And you the best wife I could have asked for, as well" Sokka whispered, his voice as heartfelt as hers. Azula swallowed hard and nodded.

"Then you agree that it's only natural for spouses to worry about anything and everything, whether there's basis for it or not" she concluded, smiling a little.

Sokka chuckled again: his smile nearly shattered her resolve right then and there. How would she ever find the strength to live on, knowing she might never see him smiling at her in that tender manner again? The miserable thought weaseled its way into her mind, and she shut her eyes tightly as though to lock it away, to dismiss it… to leave it for her to ponder later, not now. Not at the very last instants she'd share with the love of her life…

"Just… make sure you get proper rest, and food. And that your wounds heal properly, too" Azula said, swallowing hard, though the lump in her throat didn't recede "Be… be patient with yourself, if you can. This… it won't be easy on either of us. But if we stay true to our promises…"

"There's still a chance this isn't the end" Sokka said, his voice deeper, but frayed nonetheless "A chance this isn't truly goodbye… not for good"

"There is" Azula said, with a sad smile "I… I'll wait for it. I'll live for that. I promise"

"So will I" Sokka whispered: his hand rose, and it was cold against her reddening cheek, but Azula clasped it with her own hand, to ensure he wouldn't pull it away just yet "In the meantime, though… I know I'll dream about you. I know I'll see your face every time I close my eyes. I know I'll hear your voice in the wind. I know… I know I'll never truly be alone, because you'll never truly leave me"

"I… I won't. Nor will you leave me" Azula said, trembling as she clung to his hand "We're… we're attuned. Our souls…"

"Are one and the same" Sokka said, smiling "No one can tear us apart… not for real"

"Not forever" Azula agreed, nodding.

His other hand rose to cup her face, and he leaned closer, just as she did. Azula clung to him, her nose brushing his just as he whispered in a white, lingering breath:

"I will always love you, Azula. Always"

She nodded, at first failing to find the strength to respond… then realizing, almost immediately, that these might be the last words she'd ever speak to him. The last chance to tell him how she felt, no matter if he had long known it… the last chance to say words she never thought anyone would elicit from her:

"And I will always love you, Sokka"

Her voice seemed to shatter as she spoke his name: her hand clasped the nape of his neck as she pulled him in, and he wrapped his arms around her waist as their lips met in the middle of their impulse: there was no restraint to their exchange, to the blatant, earnest gesture of love they made, as though to seal their many promises, hoping to live long enough to see each of them fulfilled… hoping the world's many changes would forgive their trespasses one day, and allow them the freedom to spend as many days as they could, together.

They swayed in place, overcome by passion, regardless of how spirited and genuine their earlier lovemaking had been. Azula's arms wrapped around Sokka's neck, pulling him close just as he raised her up to his level, tightly embracing her as their breaths mingled, as their tongues danced and twirled together, as their lips moved against each other, flowing in the same perfect harmonic motion of their attuned, kindred souls.

Just as before… they'd have to end it. They'd have to step away. It would have to end, for if it didn't, the consequences would be unimaginable. All their sacrifices would be worth nothing… it had to end. They would have to pull away. They would have to… but just one more moment. One more brush of their lips, one more intake of breath, one more muffled whimper of passion and pain, one more tear, escaping down their cheeks, threatening to freeze upon their skin…

Most the men that lingered on deck had intended to give the Princess and her gladiator as much privacy as they could… but even the more curious of them couldn't stand to watch their exchange now. They had never seen the Princess as unabashed, as devoted to displays of affection of any kind… and now that they did, they could feel the outpour of emotions, even at a distance. The agony of separation overcame every possible smidge of pride the Princess might still have left… losing the man she had given herself to, with whom she knew she belonged, had shaken her profoundly even now, when she still nestled in his arms and he was held by hers.

No one would interrupt. No one would speak a single word, only venturing occasional glances, with no intentions of putting a stop to that final kiss.

It meant one of them would have to pull away. One of them would have to find the strength to end it indeed… even if, as things stood, neither one seemed to know how to so much as breathe without the other. Warning signs continued to shoot off in their minds, but just one more moment. One more, to keep the last at bay, for a little longer…

They would remember the taste of each other's lips, the tenderness of each kiss, the warmth and wonder, the blissful moments they had shared, where they had found strength and joy in their ever-improving bond. Every stolen kiss, every sneaky caress, every word to taunt and tease, to lift up and praise, to offer affection and comfort… every danger they had faced together, every milestone they had overcome, every misconception they had proven wrong… every achievement they had claimed, side by side.

If they had been able to fight off even death, as many times as they had… surely they could do this. Surely they could live without the other, if just for a little while… if just for a little while.

They would remember how to do so. They had done it, through all their childhood and teenage years, until meeting when they had. They would relearn how to carry on without letting go of everything they had accomplished together: whatever might come in the future, they would remember they were loved unconditionally by the one in whose arms they would always belong, from the very first moment, forevermore.

One more kiss… one more brush between their lips. One more dance between their tongues. One more caress of their hands, one more moment of breathing each other in, of the thrilling, heartwarming sensation of being one…

And Azula turned her face to the side.

Cold seeped through the seams of his clothes, through his heavy armor, through his soul, as Azula stepped out of his embrace, marching back to the ramp without another word. Without another kiss. Without another final, stolen moment…

Panic shook Sokka suddenly: no. Not yet, no, he had known he wouldn't be ready, but now that he was facing this reality, the vertigo that snagged him, that shook him, that paralyzed him made it clear he truly wasn't. He couldn't do this: he couldn't let her go, no matter if she begged him to…

By the time he dared glance at the ramp again, it was no longer there: two guards, with their heads hung, had collected it, raising it up to the deck and putting it away.

He couldn't see her anymore.

"N-no… no, no…" he mumbled, almost unconsciously, shivering so violently he could barely contain his heart's shattering anymore "Azula… no, you can't just…!"

He stepped towards the dock again, leaving behind his bags… just as he was being left behind, whether he was ready to face a life without Azula or not.

"Azula… Azula!" he called, the urgency in his voice ringing in the distance, across the sea, throughout the frozen tundra he had once called his home… until the woman whose name he had called had changed the meaning of that word forever.

She had barely been able to hold herself upright once she reached the deck again. Rui Shi had stepped forward, as he ever did, when he saw Azula holding her face in her hands, breathing with difficulty. He had only been able to set a hand on her shoulder when Sokka's voice reached her… and she reared her head instantly, her heart answering his by sheer impulse, by true instinct…

She stepped closer to the railing the guards had only just sealed up, the location where the ramp had been set a moment ago. Whether he had something to say or not… whether he had a thousand regrets, whether he was merely going to make a last request, Azula needed to hear him. She needed to hear that voice, the one voice she had loved and longed for, the one sure source of comfort she had found throughout her life…

"Don't…!" Sokka gasped, as tears broke every barrier, pouring down his cheeks, spilling into the snow "Don't ever give up! Don't ever forget… that I'm with you, no matter what!"

She had braced herself for other words, for other demands… not for further reminders of how much strength he had ever helped her find. She shivered violently, nearly crumpling on the deck, held upright only by the hand she used to still herself as tears poured down her cheeks as well: damn those tears, she could barely see him through them. No, she couldn't possibly let her final memory of him become a blurry mess, could she? She rubbed her eyes almost violently, nearly failing to stay upright as the weight of her sorrow overcame her yet again…

"You'll come back to me!" Sokka shouted, fists tight and trembling "And if you can't…! T-then I'll go to you!"

"D-don't… Sokka, please…" Azula barely managed to utter the words, knowing he wouldn't hear them.

"I belong with you! I know I do, and I know I always will!" he roared, shuddering powerfully "You… you are everything to me. You are my true home… you always will be. So don't…!"

The whirring sound of engines shook Sokka to the bone: trails of smoke suddenly rose from the chimneys of the Barge… and just so, it started moving.

"No… no, no, no!" Sokka nearly shrieked, rushing to the very edge of the dock: for one wild, stupid moment, he allowed himself to consider jumping into the freezing water, to chase the massive ship that was slowly pulling away…

"Don't, Sokka! Don't!"

Oh, even now she saw through him. Even now, as she shrank in the distance, beautiful and devastated, she knew his heart and soul better than even Sokka himself did.

He froze at the edge of the dock, the tears pouring down his cheeks in a torrent, his whole body shuddering violently as the Barge pulled away… as Azula raced towards the stern, rushing to the very end of the ship so she could still see him… so she could still gaze upon him until the last moment, just as he longed to gaze at her the same way…

The last moment. How could it possibly be the last moment? How could everything end this way…?

"No…" Sokka sobbed, falling to his knees on the dock, as good as pleading with Azula as far as she was "Don't… d-don't go… don't leave me… don't leave me!"

His earnest cry tore through his heart… straight into hers. Azula still could hear him… and her chest seemed to split open as she finally lost control of her body: she fell as well, clinging to the railing of her ship as powerful sobs shook her to her core. She couldn't even feel the hands that attempted to aid her, Rui Shi's hands… all she could feel was devastating pain, a hemorrhage of misery spilling out of her heart, overtaking her senses… but not enough for her not to hear him. Not enough for her not to still see his silhouette, smaller and smaller with each moment that passed.

The reality of their separation had been imminent, but it hadn't sank in properly until he lingered behind… until she sailed away, to a future dark, unknown and unwanted. Never before had she left him in this manner, with this sense of permanence, this knowledge that it was, indeed, the end of the greatest period of her life. The knowledge that she wouldn't just come back in a few days… that she would have to stay away from him, who knew for how long, until everything was settled… until her father was no longer a threat. Until she either found the strength to depose him, kill him, or endure him until he dropped dead… and who knew what sort of punishments he would inflict upon her in the meantime?

That Sokka would be safe, she knew, would be her only solace… but how could it even feel like solace now as his blurry shape continued to fade in the distance? As his desperate, shattered voice barely reached her anymore…

"Azula…! Azula, please…!"

He had held back, for her sake. He had allowed this to happen because she had needed him to allow it. He had agreed to this course of action because he had realized she would accept no alternatives that meant risking more lives than they could protect through this devastating plan. He had never wanted this… neither had she. But that he'd contained his pleas, that he'd restrained himself throughout their voyage, only to finally be true to his feelings when he could no longer act on them, was the final act of love he had showed her. The final way for him to accept her choices… to respect them, no matter how profoundly he disagreed with them. He had wanted to cause her no more pain… but he couldn't hold back any longer. Azula certainly didn't blame him: if she could have found her voice, she would have raised it one more time, she would have tried to reach him. If she'd had any strength left, she might have been just as tempted as he was to jump off her ship and swim towards him, even if she'd likely die frozen in the process – he was already so far away, curses, he was as good as one dark dot in the middle of even darker surroundings by now…

"Sokka…" she managed to speak, but only those nearby could hear her as she shivered and sobbed painfully "Sokka…!"

"Azula…" he called his name, as though to answer her across that distance…

But he couldn't hear her anymore. She couldn't hear him, either.

"N-no… don't go… p-please, don't…" Sokka sobbed, shivering as he continued to sink in place, on that old metallic dock "Azula… come back. I thought I could, but I really can't… I can't do this. I can't… I can't go back… not without you. Come back. Come back…"

The barge was smaller yet… so small he could hardly distinguish it amidst the icebergs, the sea, the dark horizon ahead, let alone through the film of tears that clouded his eyes and mind at the same time.

Overcome by a mix of fury, sorrow and despair, Sokka screamed.

It was the last sound of his voice that would reach Azula's ears.

She couldn't see him anymore, either.

She didn't return the scream, shuddering and shivering in place as she was: Rui Shi's arms were wrapped around her body, and she hardly registered them at all. Cradled by the former captain of her guards, Azula found no comfort, no relief from the grief that now had seemed to take the place of her heart, her soul, everything that had ever seemed so essential for her…

He was gone. She had left him behind… he was gone.

She had to face the future, whatever it might be, without him.

There was no turning back, no second thoughts would amount to anything. There was no chance to do anything but regret wasting whatever time they had wasted… regret not spending every instant of their shared time making certain they conveyed just how deeply their love went, fighting to preserve their relationship, being far more careful than they had been in order to live on together, even if in secret forevermore. By now, all their wildest ambitions didn't matter one bit: who needed a throne? Who needed a crown? Who needed a wild fortress to hide away in? All Azula could have asked for… all she would have asked for anymore, if she could have one wish fulfilled, would have been Sokka.

And yet she was sailing away from him, knowing in her utterly wrecked heart that it was the right choice, even if every element that composed her existence refused to believe it. She would only keep him alive this way… she would only be able to dream of a future where they'd return to each other this way.

But it would hurt… it would hurt, terribly, until that day arrived, if it ever did. She would have to learn to live with that pain… to endure it as best she could, or to let it consume her and put an end to her misery if she ever failed to evoke thoughts of him, if she couldn't find his strength whenever she lacked it. And it hurt terribly now, as she was torn from the man who had become everything for her, just as she had been everything for him…

Azula had never expected to cry violently before her soldiers… but as deeply afflicted as she was, the notion of shame didn't even present itself in the least. Nothing seemed to matter at all anymore… not even the specks of snow that started to fall from the sky, startling the guards that lingered near her.

"It's… it's not a good idea to stay out here" said Fei Li, quietly. Rui Shi gritted his teeth and nodded, tightening his grip around Azula, her head resting against his chest: she shivered and wept, as small white crystals fell upon her skin and hair.

Inevitably, Rui Shi wondered if perhaps the world itself might mourn this heartbreaking moment alongside the two lovers who had been torn apart. He swallowed hard, rubbing Azula's back gently before rising to his feet, carrying her with him with difficulty: she wouldn't cooperate easily, he knew… but he refused to let her catch a cold, or worse than that, by staying out in the open as she cried at will.

"I'll take her upstairs" Rui Shi said, softly. Fei Li and the remaining guards nodded "Go… help Tai Wei. I'll be fine"

"You sure?" asked Jianghuo, and Rui Shi nodded.

"Go" he said, tightening his grip around Azula's waist.

He tugged her towards the tower, but Azula refused to move: she cast one more glance at the shore, as good as shrugging off Rui Shi's hold… to find she couldn't see the docks anymore. To find only a few of the mountain's silhouettes could still be recognized as they sailed north… as they sailed in a wholly different direction, headed towards the Earth Kingdom now.

She shivered and shook her head: chi corruption had felt like this, a ghostly sensation of emptiness tearing through her, pulsating across her body, rendering her helpless… lifeless. Suddenly, without Sokka… she was bereft of comfort, of protection, of peace. Never before had she been so desolated just to be apart from him… but never before had she said goodbye to him with no hopes of seeing him again. Never before had she let go of what she had loved most with no true plan of how to reclaim it, if she ever did…

"Come, Princess" Rui Shi spoke, softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders again "It's too cold out here. Come"

This time, she didn't resist. There was no point in fighting back… nothing to fight for, either. He was gone. She had left him behind. Fool that she was… she had abandoned what she had loved most. What she had needed most desperately in order to breathe, to wake up each morning, to sleep every night… Xin Long seemed to howl, voicing her pain for her, and Azula wanted to curl up with him and cry into his scales, but she lacked the strength. She couldn't move anywhere but wherever Rui Shi was shepherding her off to… she couldn't elaborate thoughts anymore, at least, none that weren't about him. He was gone… he was gone.

It took them almost five minutes to reach the topmost cabin of the tower: Rui Shi sighed as he helped Azula inside, glancing warily at the room in fear of finding anything of Sokka's in the vicinity… but it seemed he had packed properly. Nothing stood out right away… yet even the lack of signs of Sokka's presence wouldn't change the fact that he had been right here with her, mere moments ago. Maybe Rui Shi couldn't see those signs himself… but maybe the Princess could, maybe in the scent that hung in the air, still carrying reminders of Sokka. Or in the way he had set the hairbrush, right after using it. Or in the multiple layers of crumpled sheets on their bed… sheets that still might retain some of his warmth, in such a cold day.

Azula disengaged from Rui Shi's hold only to reach for the mattress, touching the lingering shapes of bodies across it: what fools they were for sleeping on whatever position and side they pleased… their essence had mixed so much she wouldn't be able to find the place where Sokka's presence could still be felt most strongly like this.

Gritting her teeth, failing to contain more sobs, Azula simply sank in the bed, amid the many sheets Sokka had insisted on setting for her benefit. Even now, his loving concern for her, his constant care to ensure she would be alright, could be felt in his past actions: unconcerned with any propriety, with common sense, Azula gave herself to her tears, as good as wailing in misery upon a love lost, beyond hope of recovery. A love she'd long for until her last breath… a love she'd seek out anew in her next life, whatever it might be. A love she'd feel in her every heartbeat, a love that would be ever-present on her mind, no matter how hollow she felt upon losing him… upon knowing she wouldn't wake beside him anymore, or hear him speak his loving, silly, heartfelt words to her. Upon knowing she would no longer make new memories with him to chase away the misery that overtook her…

Rui Shi breathed out slowly, understanding Azula's sorrow far too acutely. He swallowed hard before settling on helping her, disregarding that she had voiced no need for his support: he unbuckled her boots, removing them from her feet, before covering her with a blanket smoothly.

"I… will check on you in a while. I doubt you want me here now, anyways" he whispered, softly, expecting no response… and none came.

He couldn't hold back from stroking Azula's hair in an affectionate gesture that he knew would be meaningless for her right now: it wasn't his hand she longed to feel upon her skin, to cling to with her own. He understood as much… and yet he wished he could do more. Her pain was much like the one that dwelled in his heart… and he knew firsthand he had needed time alone, as well as an urgent mission, to keep his head together when he had said goodbye to Song. Perhaps, in time, Azula's own mission would come back into focus… but until it did, Rui Shi knew she would benefit most from time, space and patience. He was prepared to give her all three.

He rose, stepping towards the door, gazing at her one more time: he would check on her again in a few hours, maybe bring her something to eat, though he doubted she'd want anything at all. Still, he had to look after her, just as he always did… it was, he knew, his last unspoken mission for the Princess he had been sworn to. It could be thankless work, he was aware of it… but he didn't want or need any rewards. All he needed was the knowledge that he had helped her, one way or another, and the hope that she'd find her way out of her misery if he did…

That misery would be her only company for now, though. Lying across that bed, shivering violently, feeling pain in places within her soul she had never known until then, Azula could only evoke thoughts of Sokka… the feeling of him, against her, on this very bed. The sensation of his hand upon hers, as it had been as they walked out of the tower… as it had been as they walked together into Firelight, and underneath the Fire Nation's Capital. What she would give if only she could hold that hand once more, just for another moment…

She raised a hand indeed, towards nothingness, as though by willing it hard enough, he would appear beside her again. As though by wanting it with all her heart, she would turn back time and keep this catastrophe from taking place…

Similar thoughts ran through the mind of her now-estranged lover, who lingered still on that dock, shivering over pain and cold, which seemed one and the same to him right now. He had raised a hand, as though to call them back, even if he couldn't see them anymore… he couldn't drop it, not when he longed to feel hers curling around it, her fingers slipping smoothly between his own. His teeth chattered: his tears froze on his cheeks, painfully so… and he didn't care. He couldn't care.

"Come… come back…"

His voice still left his lips somehow, amid the stirred snow that grew more persistent by the minute. He should have taken cover… but he couldn't move. He didn't have the strength to do so… not beyond dropping on his side, curling into himself as snow piled up around him, as though poised to freeze him alive.

"C-come back…" he said again, stretching out his hand, his fingers, towards the ship that wouldn't turn back to find him this time around…

For one moment, he thought he could feel her.

For one moment, she thought she could feel him.

For one moment, it was as though their fingers had touched, regardless of the constantly increasing distance between them.

For one moment, their souls were bridged, and their grief swirled together in a hurry, conveying a hint of comfort in understanding one another… just before emptiness settled within their freezing, broken hearts, right where the truest fulfillment had dwelled once instead.

Cold, slow and swirling, enveloped them: little by little, the world they had once intended to save for seemed to wither into insignificance around them… and they only closed their eyes and surrendered to the darkness that consumed them.

---

A/N:

This is not the end for Gladiator.

I don't know how many of you may have been unaware of that reality, but if you were, I wanted to let you know that this story will see a brighter future than this, eventually.

This chapter marks the end of what I refer to as Part 2. Part 3, then, is going to be the story of how our two leads regain their strength gradually and how their journeys will bring them together once more. Part 3 is also the final, third act of Gladiator: it will be long, as everything I write ever is, but updates will be released on a weekly basis starting next week. If I can keep up with this schedule (and I'll do my best to do so) Gladiator will stay on a weekly update rate from now on. There's going to be a double update to start off Part 3, too… so there you go. I know the anguish of this arc was overwhelming (I literally can't read this chapter without crying…), but as empty as the words may seem to be, there's big stuff in the horizon. Part 3 is by far the most ambitious storytelling I've ever set out to do… and hopefully, it will turn out to be the best conclusion I could give to the epic tale of our Princess and her Gladiator.

Once more… I warn that, if you're emotionally overwhelmed, you should wait at least for about 3-4 arcs of Part 3 to be fully published (… if you're too depressed, maybe wait about 7 instead) before catching up. There's going to be dark things in the near future, I do intend to drop warnings wherever they're due, but there's also a few good surprises down the line, if that helps at all.

Ultimately… Gladiator always has been built with a positive ending in mind. This is one of our lowest points for sure… but while there's stories that thematically can only end darkly, I don't believe that's the case for this one and I certainly never built it in that direction. So… yeah. The going gets rough, but I truly hope that my intended outcome for this story will make every step along the way worth our while, both yours as readers and mine as writer.

As you've come far enough to read this note… thanks for reading Gladiator's first two parts. They were some of the most gratifying writing I've ever done, and I really hope that Part 3's rounding out of things will make the earlier stages of the story even better than they already were. Thanks again… and I guess I'll see you next week (or in many weeks, as the case may be) for the beginning of Part 3.