A.N. Secret Santa 2021. This is gift to waywardavatarenthusiast
"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all around, OH!" Zuko was happily jumping around the house when pan to the face stopped him almost dead in his track and made him fall on his ass.
"Hey, what was that? Its Christmas!" Zuko was rubbing his nose and checking if it wasn't broken.
"Its December 10th, you fool." Azula replied to Zuko while holding frying pan in her hands.
"Stop fooling around!"
Zuko looked with horror at Azula and, after standing up and hugging his head with his hands, he ran out of the room screaming:
"Mom, Azula being mean to me again!" Azula just snorted at her brother. Several minutes later Ursa would come to scold her for her bad behavior.
This was all just a dream. That's what Azula told herself after she woke up. A dream about different life where she wasn't princess and her father wasn't fire lord. The reality was different. The mother was just a distant memory now and they weren't kids living in Fire nation palace. Azula was in the process of conquering Ba Sing Se while Zuko, according to dai li reports, was being his stupid self and mingling with local peasant. He was messing with some local girl. Typical fool. Apparently Eastern Kingdom was living on different calendar that Fire nation and there were different holidays because of it.
A different life. Azula wondered how it would feel. Maybe she should try it. Azula decided to get some peasant clothes and check how it would feel when no one knows who she is.
Azula decided to check her luck in middle ring. The lover ring was just too dirty for her taste while the upper ring was so full of boring rich fools it made her want to set them all on fire and be done with it. So now she was strolling the streets of middle ring when she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there." Boy's voice reached Azula ears. "Would this graceful lady accept my apology and grace me with her presence in nearby tea house." Azula raised her eyes and found two blue eyes looking at her.
"Is this how the peasants do things? No dancing around bush or long conversations about air?" Azula thought about current situation. "It wouldn't be bad to explore this opportunity. After all no one would know who she is this night and she could safely revert back to being princess in the morning."
"Sure." Azula extended her hand to handsome tribesmen and let him lead her see the tea house. She allowed herself to be just a simple girl for this one day instead of conquering princess and her companion was really handsome so it was additional plus in current situation.
The boy let her to what looked like it would be a tea house, but once they entered it was clear that instead it was a tavern full of funny looking people.
Sokka led the girl to empty table and after several minutes a waitress come to take their order.
"Could you please bring us something to eat and drink?" Sokka addressed the waitress. "Something meaty would be best."
"Sorry I forgot to introduce myself, I am Sokka." Sokka smiled at the girl sitting nearby.
"Lin" Azula blurted first known Earth kingdom name without any second thought.
"It's pleasure to be acquainted and share this beautiful night with you, Lin." Sokka beamed with joy.
o0o0o0od
The night was going well. Sokka joked and told stories of his wild adventures while carefully omitting details that he was traveling with avatar. The beer was good. He and pretty girl nearby finished one mug after another and ordered more. There was something alluring about this strange girl with pretty eyes that looked like they had flames burning inside them. Sokka finished his mug of beer and felt the rising need for the music. The locals were already drunk and singing all kind of nonsense and some even urging Sokka to join up with them. Sokka was tipsy so after several glances to the beautiful girl sitting nearby, he decided to impress the girl with his singing.
"Storm the winter shores of Earth kingdom Fa la la la la, la la la lan. Loot and pillage with your warband Fa la la la la"
"Fa la la la la, la la la lan" Other drunkards decided to join in and entire tavern started to sing smashing mugs together.
"Celebrate the glorious battle Fa la la la la, la la la lan. Troll the ancient Fire nation"
"Fa la la la la, la la la lan" Entire tavern joined in smashing mugs together and emptying them on the spot.
"In the blaze of Fire nation burning, Fa la la la la, la la la lan. Slay your foes and sing 'til mornin,"
"Fa la la la la, la la la lan"
Azula was the only one that wasn't singing because she didn't know how to do it. She never visited such places and had no experience with drunk singing.
"Off we tribesmen sail together, Fa la la la la, la la la lan. Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa la la la la, la la la lera." Sokka was in full swing of singing when he grabbed Azula's hand and asked her to join in. The rest of tavern joined it with their supporting shouts encouraging her to sing. This was awkward. Azula had to think of something.
"Conquer the World, and rule its lands! Let earth receive her Queen; Let every soul, be guided by my hand." Azula decided to sing some random nonsense after all everyone was already drunk and lyrics here didn't matter.
"Conquer the World, your rightful realm! Lead men to victory! Through fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Let slip the dogs of war Let slip the dogs of war…"
"Let slip, the dogs of war" everyone in the tavern joined to sing along and then smashed mugs and emptied its contents into their mouths.
"That was great! I didn't know you could sing so good." Sokka hugged Azula and after several seconds he kissed her. The alcohol was doing its thing and took Sokka several minutes to register what he has done. Sokka noticed that the girl's face turned red and he couldn't understand if it was alcohol or his actions that reddened her face.
"Sorry. I should have asked you first." Sokka felt the need to apologize, but was silenced when the girl before him put her finger to his lips.
"It's ok. If you didn't do it, I would have done it now." Azula grabbed Sokka's collar, pulled him toward herself and started kissing him.
Sokka was mesmerized and it took him several minutes to recover, but when finally got back to his sense he saw the scene change. Some drunkard had too much of alcohol and couldn't control his body. He slipped and fell on other drunkards and in no time, it turned into full blown brawl with everyone trying to beat up anyone they could get their hands on. Sokka grabbed girl's hand and rushed out of that place before dai li came to calm down everyone. He managed to get out just in time when he saw famous straw hats approaching tavern in great number and ready to round up anyone inside it. He decided to leave the scene as quickly as possible just in case some fool mistaken him for something he wasn't and locked him up.
"Looks like we are clear." Sokka turned back to face the girl who was still holding his hand. "Do you want me to lead you home?"
"Sure" The answer left Azula's lips without thinking.
O0o0o0o
Zuko was returning back from his errand when he heard familiar voices that horrified him so he jumped into nearby canal to hide under bridge. Soon after male and female voices reached his place as their owners walked over that same the bridge making Zuko anxious. He recognized the unmistaken voice of his devious sister casually talking and laughing with snow savage boy that once hit him with the boomerang. Zuko was all drenched with canal water when he dared to peek at the passerby. It was too dark to clearly see so Zuko couldn't confirm what he saw and heard. It was unheard thing to think that his sister, Azula, and that tribesman would casually walk in Ba Sing Se like some lovey-dovey couple when they were mortal enemies. Zuko came to conclusion that his lack of honor was messing with his mind and making him see unheard things.