A/N: It was brought to my attention today that there is an update on the e-mail alert services. To keep e-mail alerts active, you need to go to account settings and "opt-in". And you need to repeat this every 90 days since the site will automatically "opt-off" and you won't be getting alerts if you don't turn it on again by yourself.
She dabbed the cloth gently on the small wound above his eyebrow. Sokka gasped on the chair at the sudden pain he felt on the wound.
"I'll put the band aid on now. It's over soon." Azula said.
Although she tried to hide it, she had worried when she saw his brow bleeding. It had looked worse than it was. The wound wasn't as deep as she thought, so she stood next to his chair to tend to it. Thankfully, the bleeding stopped.
"Does it hurt badly?" she asked, sticking the band aid on his wound.
"What do you care if I'm safe?"
Azula slowed down her movements. His question did hurt her in a strange way. It didn't sit well with her.
Sensing her silence and the tension Sokka realized the mistake. He meant it as a joke, but somehow the words sounded more serious than intended. He had to admit though, deep down he wondered if she cared for him as desperately as he did care for her.
When he looked up to see her face, he worried and felt bad. Before he could say anything, she did.
"I do care about you and your safety Sokka." Azula said. While speaking, she put a hand on his cheek softly.
Admitting and expressing her feelings were never easy. She knew Sokka valued her. He was caring with her. Yet a part of her was unsure sometimes.
The way his face looked with the band aid on his eyebrow, was something she didn't like at all. It was something small, but he was hurt. So, she tried to overcome her insecurity for him.
"Maybe you feel like I don't care for you. But trust me when I say that you are the most important person for me in this world. And I surely don't like seeing you looking at me hurt."
She talked with a sad smile. Tender and slightly blushing. Sokka's eyes sparked at her words. At the same time, it broke his heart to see that fragile smile on her beautiful face.
Azula turned around to leave.
"No!" Sokka said. He reached for her arm and held it, so that she turned around. When he stood up, his head hurt because of the abrupt movement. "Ahh!"
"Sokka, if you make sudden movements it will hurt!" Azula said forgetting her overwhelming feelings shortly.
But Sokka ignored the pain, since nothing was more important than her.
"I'm sorry Azula, I meant it as a joke." he said.
"Really?" Azula asked.
"Yes! I know you care for me. You may not show it openly all the time, but I know. You are the most important person for me too always remember that okay?" he said smiling. Clear words gently spoken.
She nodded slowly, many emotions in her eyes.
"Come here." Sokka stretched out his strong arms.
Azula neared him and they hugged each other at the exact moment. He put his arms around her shoulder, caressing her hair and back. A smile spread over his face. She put hers on his broad back, under his arms and rested her head on his shoulder.
She felt the safest in his arms. He felt the happiest in her arms.
