Set: #3
Week 8: "What do you care if I'm safe?"
Genres: Hurt/Comfort
Rating: K
Setting: Gaoling (post-comics)
"What do you care if I'm safe?"
"May I buy you a drink?" Sokka asked suavely, sitting next to a beautiful stranger at the bar.
Their eyes met. Sokka nearly fell off the stool. "Azula?!"
Sure, she looked different – her hair was short, her face makeup-free, she wore plain Earth Kingdom clothes – but there was no mistaking those golden eyes.
"Y-You must have me mistaken for someone else." She got up to leave in a hurry.
"Wait!" He followed her out. "Hold on!"
"I can't believe it," she muttered. "I can't believe you of all people would be after my bounty."
"I'm not! I swear I'm not. Look…" He stopped her. "Zuko regrets putting a bounty on you. It got out of hand – "
"Out of hand?! Do you know how many people are out to get me right now?! You shouldn't even be talking to me – i-it's too dangerous."
"Let me help you! I can get you back to the Fire Nation safely."
"What do you care if I'm safe?!"
"I could say the same to you!"
They stared at each other in burning silence.
"I don't know," he whispered, breaking the tension. "I just… find myself caring."
She smiled meekly. "You're a strange one, Sokka."