"Oookay…" Sokka said, extending a hand towards the ground. "Hop on now, Hawky. Carefully…"
The messenger hawk looked at him for a moment before leaping up to his gloved hand, flapping his wings in the process. Sokka tried not to be startled by the bird's quick motion, but it seemed it would take some time for him to get used to his pet's movements. Nevertheless, the hawk landed on his hand, its talons digging into the thick glove Sokka had donned to learn the arts of falconry.
"Ha! You didn't fall!" Sokka exclaimed happily, as Hawky sought to find the proper balance on Sokka's hand. "We actually did…!"
And before he could finish celebrating, the hawk hopped off his unstable hand yet again, clearly uncomfortable by the way Sokka was holding him. Sokka grimaced and frowned, scratching his head with his free hand.
"Drat, what am I doing wrong…?" he muttered, dropping on the backyard's ground with his legs crossed as he looked at the hawk. "I think I'm doing what the Captain told me…"
"The Captain taught you how to use messenger hawks?" Song asked, taking Sokka by surprise as she approached him in their home's backyard.
"Eavesdropper," Sokka said, pouting childishly before answering her question. "Yeah, he told me how to deal with them when we were heading back to the Capital on Azula's barge. I think he might have forgotten a few details, though…"
"You ought to ask him again whenever you have a chance, then," said Song, smiling and kneeling by the bird. "He's a beautiful hawk."
"He's a pweetty little Hawky, that he iiiis," Sokka said, earning himself a confused look from Song as he stroked the hawk's feathers. "He's got pweetty feathers, yes he doooes!"
"Well… that he didn't fly away after that shows just how loyal he is," Song said, at which Sokka glared at her. "Have you seen if he's properly trained to deliver messages?"
"Well… he's got to be," said Sokka, shrugging. "According to Azula, this bird is perfectly trained, and if anyone needs training in this relationship, it'll be me."
"In the relationship between you and the bird, or between you and her?" Song asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking.
"In… both, I suppose," said Sokka, blushing and lowering his gaze. "You really have an evil mind underneath all that gentle demeanor, don't you?"
"Oh, don't be so sour," said Song, giggling. "How about you try directing him towards me for starters, to see if he's ready to deliver messages?"
"Delivery training?" Sokka asked. "But you'll need a glove too… you don't want those talons digging into your arm, do you?"
"Oh, right," said Song. "But he could land next to me, can't he? Not all people have gloves on their hands at every moment, do they? So, if you get a message out of the blue, the bird has to land somewhere, doesn't he?"
"I guess you're right," said Sokka, rubbing his chin before extending his gloved hand towards the bird again. "Well, then, Hawky! Your first test flight starts now! Go over to Song and flap your wings at her! Give her a big fright so that she stops picking on me!"
"Oh, please…" said Song, rolling her eyes.
"Come now, Hawky…!" said Sokka, as the bird hopped up to his hand. "And… Go! To Song, Hawky, to Song! You can do it! You can…!"
"You don't have to yell so much!" said Song, when the bird landed right beside her only instants after setting off. "We're not even six feet apart."
"W-well, it was Hawky's first test flight! I needed to give him proper support!" Sokka exclaimed, his voice cracking.
"You should worry more about giving him proper support with your hand than with your cheers…" Song said, with a guilty smile.
"Okay, what's with you today, woman?!" Sokka exclaimed, glaring at her as she laughed again. "Don't you think I have to put up with enough snarky remarks from Azula for you to add more to the list?"
"Sorry, sorry," said Song, still giggling. "You've got your hands full as it is, truly."
"Thanks for noticing," Sokka said before turning his attention towards his hawk again. "Now, come back here, Hawky… jump right up to my hand, boy, okay? Come here, come here, come now, Hawky…!"
The bird turned towards him and leapt, flapping his wings until his talons had safely gripped Sokka's hand.
"There you go!" Sokka exclaimed cheerfully, as he watched Hawky in joy. "Who's my favorite hawk ever? Yes, you are! Yes, you are!"
Hawky let Sokka pet him, this time managing to stand in Sokka's hand with more ease. Sokka almost wept of relief when the bird was able to spend over ten seconds perched on his hand without falling or jumping off.
"We did it at last, Hawky," he said, wiping invisible tears from his eyes. "See, see! When we work together, there's nothing to worry about! It's you and me against the world, Hawky!"
"You make a good team indeed," said Song, smiling. "You just need to finish getting the hang of it…"
"Well, it's been a couple of days since I got him, I'd say this is too much progress as it is," Sokka admitted, smiling and lowering his hand so that Hawky could jump down to the ground again. "At least I didn't make the blunder to have him stand on my burned arm this time…"
"That's why it had those scratch marks?" Song asked, grimacing as her eyes went to the wound on Sokka's forearm that she had treated upon his return home.
"Yeah," the gladiator replied, as the bird hopped down. "I made that mistake when I was trying to learn how to handle him on the ship… it's why the Captain decided to teach me what he knew about messenger hawks. First thing he told me was that you couldn't assume this was easy just because it looked easy…"
"Well, you've seen he was right about that," Song said, smiling. "But say… did you want a messenger hawk for any particular reason? It's an odd thing to request…"
"Nah, not really," said Sokka, shrugging. "We just passed by that post office and I thought they were cool, you know? And seeing as Azula already has her flying pet, I figured I'd get one too!"
"Huh… well, so long as you don't hope to fly on him like she does with her dragon…" said Song, smiling uncomfortably.
"Why does everyone think I'm that stupid?" Sokka asked with a grimace, as Song chuckled. "What did you think I wanted him for, anyways?"
"Oh, well…" said Song, lowering her gaze. "I sort of guessed you might be planning on using the hawk to send messages to your family, maybe. To let them know you were okay."
"To let them know I'm alive, in the first place," said Sokka, sighing. "They probably think I'm dead, for starters. They wouldn't have expected otherwise from the Fire Nation."
"You mentioned something about that when we were just getting to know each other, yeah…" said Song.
"But there's not much point in trying to send Hawky down to the South Pole," said Sokka, caressing the hawk's feathers. "I don't know if he'd survive polar temperatures, he's clearly a tropical bird. And in the unlikely case that he could survive the weather, he could get caught in snow storms and the sort, so I really don't think it's a good idea. And to make it worse, they'd probably just shoot him down if they saw a Fire Nation bird flying towards them…"
"Oh, I… I didn't think about all those things," said Song, grimacing. "I actually thought that might be what you were up to, with this messenger hawk thing… I was sure you wanted to reach out to them."
"It would be nice to let them know I'm okay," said Sokka. "But I think I'd need to send about fifty letters to them so that they understand just how I ended up becoming the gladiator of the very Princess who dragged me away from home in the first place…"
"Not easy to explain, truly," Song muttered, lowering her gaze. "Anyone would be startled by the thought of you getting along with her when she's supposed to be your worst enemy. You were fighting against the Fire Nation the last time they saw you in your Tribe… and now you even saved the Fire Nation from those attackers a few weeks ago. That's news they're not bound to react kindly to."
"Probably not," said Sokka, frowning as his eyes seemed to darken. "I guess they wouldn't understand this… hell, I wouldn't have understood it a year ago either. But things have changed far beyond what I ever expected them to… and I'm genuinely glad they have. I guess they might take me for a traitor or they'll think I was brainwashed, but if anything, I think I've opened my eyes to reality after all this time."
"Meaning?" Song asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, the Fire Nation made heaps of mistakes, and their wrongdoings can't be erased from history, nor should they be seen as acts of kindness, as some of their people think… But no more blood needs to be shed for this war to end, I think."
"You hope the Princess will change things for the better, don't you?" Song asked.
"She told me she would," said Sokka. "She has every intention to do so, once she's the one ruling the Fire Nation. And there's a chance she could be able to influence her father, perhaps, so that he realizes he doesn't need to keep tearing down the world to prove his might. But that could be too far a stretch…"
"You have so much faith in her anyways," said Song, smiling. "I'm glad."
"Glad that I have faith or glad that Azula might end this war?" Sokka asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well… both things," said Song, shrugging. "I never saw any sense in the war… I don't really like the Fire Nation for the bad things they did, but I don't want anyone else to die over the Hundred Year War. If the fighting could just end… if we all could just find peace at last, I'd be content."
"That's not all there is to it, though," said Sokka, sighing. "There's a lot more at stake… you and I, Song, we're fine despite our status as slaves, but there are plenty of others who aren't as well off as we are."
"I know," said Song. "But the Princess has been rather kind to us. If she's the one in charge of the Fire Nation, she might order her people to treat their slaves better, perhaps?"
"I'd rather hope she abolishes slavery altogether but she might not want to do that," said Sokka. "Though who knows? She just might surprise us…"
"Even if she doesn't, though, you told me she would take you home again once she's finished with you, didn't you?" asked Song. "You're not going to remain a slave forever."
"Probably not," said Sokka. "But the day our deal ends is so far away I can hardly picture it, to be honest."
"I guess," said Song. She didn't understand the true nature of their deal, and thus she didn't know what Sokka was supposed to do to earn his trip back home. Whatever it was, though, it was clearly going to take a long time to get it done. "But… you miss your Tribe, don't you?"
"What…? Well, of course," said Sokka, smiling weakly. "How could I not? They're my comrades, my family. I wish I could see my sister and ask her if she's really leading the warriors nowadays. I heard as much, but I have no clue…"
"Oh? Your sister? How do you know it's her?" Song asked, puzzled.
"Well, she's the only waterbender in our tribe," said Sokka. "And apparently there was a waterbender leading the southern forces as of late. That's what Azula told me, at least. And if that's the case… if Katara is the one in charge right now, I just can't help but wonder how many things have changed down there since I left."
"I doubt your disappearance went unnoticed," muttered Song. "They must miss you."
"Yeah… maybe" said Sokka, swallowing hard. Every day he wondered what his father might think… what he would say if he knew what had really happened to his son. Maybe he'd think Sokka would have been better off dying, as Bato had, rather than becoming the Princess's gladiator.
"Still, I'm sure they'll be very happy to know you're okay," said Song, smiling.
"I can only hope so," said Sokka, with a smile that seemed a grimace instead.
"So, are you going to send Hawky for another flight?" Song asked, hoping to change the subject. Sokka had been rather lively before, but as the conversation had drifted towards this topic, the atmosphere between them had become rather uneasy.
"Oh… maybe," said Sokka, rubbing his chin with his free hand. "I guess we should, huh? He ought to deliver a real message this time around, too."
"A message now? Will you be sending the Princess a love letter, then?" Song asked, giggling as Sokka blushed at her words.
"You're really something, Song," he said, shaking his head. "If she ever got a love letter, she'd burn it, no matter who sends it."
"Oh… so the real reason you wouldn't send one is because she'd burn it, and not because you don't want to confess your feelings?" Song asked, smiling.
"Okay, you've gotten enough amusement out of this conversation for the time being," Sokka grunted, glaring at her before standing up.
"Though, jokes aside, if you're really sending a message, it'll be to her, won't it?" Song asked, raising her eyebrows.
Sokka couldn't keep from blushing again as he stalked into the house, muttering under his breath. And Song laughed again at his embarrassment, stroking the hawk's feathers gently while Sokka found parchment and ink to compose the letter he'd be sending shortly…
Azula was finishing her breakfast when she heard a strange sound by the window in her room. She frowned and looked towards it to find none other than the very hawk she had bought for Sokka a few days earlier.
"And what does he want?" she muttered, although she couldn't help but feel slightly pleased to see him contacting her so early in the morning.
This was probably just a message for the sake of making sure the hawk was properly trained to find his bearings, Azula assumed, as she stopped beside the bird. Hawky turned around on the windowsill so Azula could access the canister on its back with ease, and she pulled out the small scroll, unfolding it to find a message at which she could only stare at in utter disbelief as she read it over and over.
My place or yours?
Curse it… did that moron know what a message like this one seemed to convey?! For crying out loud, did he truly lack any common sense?!
No… he knew what it came off as. And he knew she'd be indignant about it. Which was exactly why he had written those words, and no more. She could easily picture him smirking proudly at his newly discovered method to tease her… Oh, but he was going to get it. She had told him no prank messages, or else he'd pay for it. Yet she was sure that, as soon as she told him off over this, he would claim that she had read too much into it. He was only asking if they would train in the Palace or at his house, of course!
Azula rolled her eyes as she anticipated his responses, but she couldn't keep from smiling. That stupid gladiator would be the death of her at this rate…
But as she pondered how to reply to him, to perfectly tear apart his great plan to tease her, there was a knock on her door. Azula frowned and turned towards it, thinking she ought to change out of her sleeping gown before facing anyone who might have come to see her… but it wasn't wise to keep the person outside waiting when there were chances it might even be her father.
"Come in," she said loudly, setting down the scroll on a nearby dresser and looking at the door warily.
She didn't have to worry much, apparently, for the visitor happened to be the Captain. She looked at him inquisitively as he turned towards her, which was his cue to speak quickly.
"The Fire Lord has just called for a war meeting, Princess," he said, at which Azula frowned. "An urgent war meeting."
"What about?" Azula asked, confused. "Did he explain anything? Or is this some top-secret matter he cannot disclose to a Royal Guard?"
"Apparently it is," said Rui Shi, shrugging. "I don't know what the purpose of the meeting is. But it seemed he wanted it done right away. I suggest you get ready as quickly as possible, Princess."
"I shall," said Azula. "But for me to do that, you need to get out first."
"Oh… of course, Princess," said the Captain, bowing down curtly and walking outside the room as she watched him with a frown on her face.
What could have happened that her father had decided to hold an urgent war meeting? Did he find the spies they had been looking for? Or was this some matter completely unrelated to the White Lotus? Azula's frown only deepened as she gave the matter further thought…
Her gaze found the hawk again, and she remembered she hadn't replied to Sokka yet. But her intent of giving him a response that would make him drop his jaw and fail to find an answer for her had lost its appeal. Nevertheless, she scribbled a quick response before starting to get ready for the meeting that awaited her.
Chances are it will be neither. I have a war meeting to attend, and I don't know how long it will take. You're free to play with your hawk for today.
"War meeting?" Sokka repeated as he read the message, frowning. That seemed ominous, for some reason. Maybe because he had been talking to Song about the hopeful end of the Hundred Year War just a moment ago, and meanwhile the Fire Lord was calling for war meetings…
"Did Hawky make it back okay?" Song asked, from the kitchen.
"Yeah, he… he's fine," Sokka said, still clutching the paper with mild concern.
"Will you meet her there, then, or will she come here?" Song asked, wiping her hands with a cloth and walking towards the threshold of the room. "I need to know if she'll eat lunch here or… Sokka?"
"I think… I think I'll be going over there," Sokka said, smiling. "Don't worry about feeding me, I'll probably snatch something at the Palace if I can get away with it."
"Oh… okay," said Song, blinking a few times. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, just… she seems to think I 'play with my hawk'," said Sokka, an eyebrow twitching. "You think that was an innuendo, or do you think she actually meant it literally? Am I reading too much into this?"
"Huh, well…" said Song, falling silent for a moment before chuckling and heading into the kitchen again.
"What's so funny, huh?!" Sokka exclaimed angrily, shaking a fist towards her, which only compelled her to laugh louder.
Yet as his mind returned to the main content of the letter, he frowned again. He would stop by the Palace, and he'd probably take Azula by surprise by doing so… and he'd find out whatever this emergency war meeting was about, one way or another.
Ozai nodded towards Azula when she entered the Throne Room. Only War Minister Qin had arrived by the time she passed the curtains, but several generals entered the room when she took her seat at her father's right hand.
"An urgent meeting, is it?" Azula asked. "I hope this isn't about the matter of the statue…"
"Oh, that has been taken care of already," said Ozai, though Azula sensed the displeasure distinctly in his voice as he thought about what had happened to his statue during the Scavenger Hunt. "Apparently it was an earthbending mishap… apparently. Hearing about this has made me reconsider having earthbenders joining our nation. If they'll thank me for my kindness by tearing down my statues…"
"I doubt this is a conspiracy, Father…" said Azula, knowing she treaded dangerous grounds by contradicting Ozai when he felt insulted.
"I hope not," said Ozai, looking at her sternly and judgmentally for a moment. The force in his stare was such that Azula froze in place. "For I heard your gladiator was partially the reason why the statue was brought down in the first place."
"That… well, Father, if you believe my gladiator might be at fault for it, you ought to blame the Arena's staff members first of all," said Azula, blushing slightly under his unspoken questioning. "If they hadn't placed the item of the Scavenger Hunt on your statue, Sokka wouldn't have climbed it and that earthbender wouldn't have knocked it down…"
"Indeed," said Ozai, frowning. "Fools, all of them. I should have them all punished… but I won't. I am a merciful man after all."
"So, if you won't punish all of them… it means you will punish some of them, at least?"
"It took an earthbender to tear down my statue. So it'll be the earthbender who will face the consequences of his wrongdoing," said Ozai. "The statue has been restored successfully already, and it sustained no permanent damage. But this slight must be punished nonetheless."
"I… I understand, father," said Azula, nodding. "And if you believe you ought to punish my gladiator as well…"
"I should, he is quite reckless for climbing my statue," said Ozai. "Yet he is your gladiator, and he has provided plenty of services for the Fire Nation in the past. I will spare him this time, but I rather doubt there will be a second opportunity in which I'll forgive such atrocious crime. Make sure to convey that to him, so that he gives matters a second thought before climbing another of my statues."
"I shall, Father," said Azula, rather relieved to know her father wouldn't unleash his wrath upon Sokka. That was for her to do. "What is this meeting about, then?"
"You will find out soon enough," said Ozai, looking forward again, as the last generals entered the room. "Let us begin this urgent meeting."
Azula frowned as she performed the Fire Nation Oath along with the rest of the men, as tradition in every meeting. Was it her idea, or there was no seat available at her father's left side this time? Her uncle wouldn't be attending this meeting?
"Take your seats," said Ozai once the Oath was done. "I thank you all for coming on such short notice. The matter we must discuss could not bear any waiting, I'm afraid. War Minister Qin, if you will."
The man in question stood up and bowed at Ozai before beginning to speak.
"Thank you, my Lord," he said, turning towards the rest of the crowd. "An urgent report arrived this morning, from our settlement down at the Southern Water Tribe."
Azula froze in her spot upon those words. She looked at Qin as though he had driven a spear through her chest with his words. What had he just said…? The South? Weren't their problems with the North as of late? There couldn't be problems with the Southern Water Tribe, not now…
"According to this report… there is a second waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe," Qin said, and the entire room seemed to gasp at his statement.
"A second…?" repeated Mak, aghast.
"That cannot be," said Azula, frowning. "There is only one waterbender down south… if there happens to be a second one it would have to be a child, or a late bloomer, at best."
"Apparently, it's neither, according to the report," said Qin. "It seems it's a young man, and he could bend the ice in ways our soldiers had never seen before. He is far more powerful than the only other waterbender we had knowledge of… he frustrated an attack on the Water Tribe by taking out our entire brigade, single-handedly."
"That's ridiculous, no single man would be capable of such a feat," said Bujing, his eyes widening in horror.
"I find it hard to believe myself, general," said Qin. "But if this is the report we received, then I suggest we act upon it instead of doubting its veracity."
"And Qin is right on that regard," said Ozai, who hadn't flinched upon the War Minister's revelation. He had been informed of the matter beforehand, clearly, which was why the council had been summoned in the first place. "If it is true that there is a new, powerful waterbender down south, then we had best handle this threat properly instead of crossing our fingers and hoping we were misinformed."
"Yet it's simply… according to what I know, there was only one waterbender left in that Tribe," said Azula, shaking her head.
Sokka would be furious… he would lose his mind if he heard about this. But he would have to find out eventually… she couldn't simply not tell him, not if her father intended to send soldiers to vanquish the Water Tribe, as she suspected. And if anyone would know about there being a second waterbender in his tribe, it would have to be him…
"Did your gladiator say as much?" Ozai asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not quite," Azula muttered. "Yet he never mentioned another waterbender, let alone a skilled one."
"Perhaps he concealed it from you," said Ozai, frowning.
"Or perhaps this new waterbender is a newcomer," Azula suggested. "My gladiator hasn't been in the South Pole for over three years. This man might have arrived into the tribe while my gladiator wasn't there anymore."
"Then… is it someone from the Northern Tribe?" asked General Ling. "Someone who has traveled to the South Pole to assist them?"
"That is most unlikely," said Commander Gei. "The Northern Water Tribe couldn't possibly send a ship anywhere while avoiding our navy's notice. And the north needs all the waterbenders they can find to fight against the full strength of our armies."
"Where did he come from, then?" said Ling. "Is he a hermit of some sort? He might have been a waterbender living deeper inside the Pole who…"
"It hardly matters who he is or where he came from," Ozai growled, frowning and silencing Ling effectively. "What matters is for us to decide how we shall handle this threat."
"We should send more troops down South," said Bujing. "Firebenders. The light period is about to end, but if we send them right away they will have an advantage and they will be capable of seizing the two waterbenders in the Tribe…"
"I would much rather have them vanquished completely," muttered Ozai, between gritted teeth. "Water can defeat fire, thus making the waterbenders our biggest threat. And I would rather have the world burn down under the power of our firebenders than allow those pathetic savages to extinguish our flames."
Azula's hands balled into fists upon her father's words. Vanquish the Southern Water Tribe? He couldn't possibly mean it… not now. Not when she finally got along with Sokka. Not when she was already thinking about sending him back down with his people once he fulfilled their deal. What was she supposed to do with him if he no longer had a Tribe to return to?
It wasn't as though she wanted her father to obliterate the Water Tribes to begin with… at least, not anymore. She understood the strategic value of defeating them, considering that, out of all the nations, the Water Tribes were the only ones that might be capable of defeating the Fire Nation. But even so… the Earth Kingdom was one thing, with its large territories and people that served much better as allies, or at least, as subordinates, than they did as enemies. The Poles, on the other hand, were places the Fire Nation could never occupy. There was nothing of value for them in the forsaken icy tundra, and destroying them for naught was a waste of time, wasn't it?
"Yet sending firebenders might work against us…" said Mak, frowning.
"Sending anyone might work against us," Azula declared, taking a deep breath. Ozai's eyes moved towards her.
"And what might that mean, Azula?" Ozai inquired.
"I understand completely the need to eliminate the threat the Water Tribe represents, father." Azula stated. "Yet, if you are attempting to take out the Water Tribes, you cannot divide your forces. Not when the North Pole has proven as difficult to conquer as it has."
"So, you're suggesting…?" Ozai muttered, looking at his daughter carefully.
"Take down the North first," Azula said, knowing Sokka would still be enraged if he knew she had said such thing… but there was nothing to be done for it right now. If she told her father to stop fighting the war altogether she could kiss her life goodbye. "The South can wait. They hardly have any ships, and there are only a handful of warriors and two waterbenders now, apparently. They pose no military threat to us at all. We could take them out in no time, but only once we have obtained the North. Until then…"
"The Princess speaks truly," said Colonel Shinu, reserved as he was. "Taking out the South might be easy, but to do it you would need to use troops that are currently engaged in duty elsewhere. Most the navy remains in the North and they need every possible ship, or else this battle, that has lasted over half a decade by now, will go to waste just as the Dragon of the West's siege on Ba Sing Se did. The armies are spread thin through the Fire Nation Colonies and the Fire Nation itself…"
"The Southern Water Tribe isn't as big a threat as it seems, not in truth," Azula finished. "Taking over the South… it's not a priority at the moment. It will be an easy battle if we ever need to fight it."
Ozai frowned. He didn't want this matter to remain pending, and he wondered if this was Azula's true reason for wanting to leave the Southern Water Tribe alone for the time being. If only her gladiator weren't a southern savage, he wouldn't take her arguments to be biased in any way. Nevertheless, this was Azula. How could her arguments be biased at all? She knew better than that. It wasn't as though she could ever consider that slave to be anything but a slave…
"Then you believe we ought to forget the South Pole for the time being?" Ozai asked, probingly. "Perhaps even take the men in the settlement and add them to our ranks wherever we might need them?"
"I did not say that," Azula muttered. "Those in the settlement ought to remain there, so that we don't lose the territories we have gained. That much should remain as it is."
"Of course," said Ozai, nodding as she passed his test. If she had told him to call back the troops on the settlement he would have asked her if her recent illness had affected her better judgment.
"The troops in the South should guard our position and remain stationed in the settlement, perhaps even arrange careful attacks in hopes to take the waterbenders captive," said Mak. "In the meantime, the rest of our navy should set out to tear down the Northern Water Tribe as quickly as possible."
"It has been anything but quick," said Ozai, sighing. "Very well. I take it this should be our plan in action… for now, at least. All in favor?"
To Azula's relief, most hands were raised upon Ozai's question… save those of a few military leaders. And Azula could sense the Fire Lord sided with those who hadn't cast their votes… yet it seemed he was willing to let this matter slide for the time being. Perhaps he hoped the new asset of the Water Tribe would destroy the settlement, so that he could recriminate Azula later for convincing the council that this predicament didn't need a final resolution.
But Ozai could do something worse than just telling off his daughter, and once she noticed the look on his eyes, Azula quickly suspected he might do it. He could ignore the council's decision to impose his own… he had done as much on countless occasions before: he was the Fire Lord after all, and his decisions were final. He would send his own, selected troops, down South to eliminate the threats, regardless if it meant splitting his forces beyond what was reasonable. Because one waterbender wasn't much of a concern, but two of them could mean trouble. And Ozai would not stand for any form of trouble coming from the Water Tribes, not while he remained the Lord of the Fire Nation.
Sokka stood in the Royal Gallery, his arms folded over his chest as he looked at the Throne Room. He was aware that he wasn't welcome in war meetings, no matter if he had been allowed to witness a trial. Surely the image Ozai had of him would have crumbled if he had heard that Sokka had some part in the incident with his statue. Hence, Sokka hoped he wouldn't face the man today: he only had come to see Azula after all, to make sure they wouldn't be shipped off to the ends of the world to capture more war criminals… or to make sure the White Lotus spy wouldn't be executed, if that happened to be the subject of this meeting.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of footsteps and conversation down the same hallway in which he stood. He raised an eyebrow and saw, to his surprise, that the Blind Bandit and her sponsor were walking by, carrying bags and luggage under their arms. Had they only just arrived at the Palace?
"I assure you, the tile of the Tiger is far more important than most people give it credit for," Iroh said. "Not as much as the White Lotus, mind you, but the Tiger is not only a piece with offensive abilities…"
"I have offensive abilities myself, most the people I talk to get offended one way or another," said Toph, snorting. "Included that one right there! Hey, Dog! Been a while, hasn't it?"
"Missed me that much? It's only been about three days since I kicked your butt…" said Sokka, raising an eyebrow as the two arrivals walked up to him.
"Kicked my butt?" Toph asked, apparently amused. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Sokka, but you didn't kick anyone's butt. Do I have to remind you who got the first place in the Hunt?"
"You know, it's a bit irrelevant who won or not, considering just how embarrassed you were after realizing you'd taken your absolute victory for granted…" said Sokka, smirking.
"Well, you don't have to worry, I'll probably be able to get all ten objects next time… but oh, of course I won't," said Toph, with a dramatic sigh. "I'd forgotten I'll be too high in the ranking to take part in that Scavenger Hunt again. Oh, well. Make sure to take all ten objects for me on the next go, will you?"
"And what makes you so sure I'll still be able to participate in it?" Sokka asked, glaring at her.
"Well, probably the fact that you're no good against benders of any kind..." Toph snickered.
"Good enough to fool you, though," grunted Sokka.
"Wow, you're so proud of that... is it that hard to realize that, despite your trickery, I still won?"
"Well, well, calm down, you two," said Iroh smiling. "No need to hold on to what has already passed."
"True enough…" said Toph, folding her arms over her chest.
"What are you doing here, though?" Sokka asked Iroh. "Weren't you asked to attend the urgent war meeting?"
"Oh, were you?" Iroh asked, startling Sokka by his odd question before laughing loudly at his reaction. "Toph and I only just arrived in the Capital about an hour ago. If there was an urgent meeting, I clearly wasn't informed. But it's of no matter, these meetings tend to be so boring…"
"Huh," said Sokka, frowning. Boring or not, shouldn't the Fire Lord's brother attend important meetings? This man was too weird… "How come did you just get here, though? Were you drinking tea all over the world again?"
"Now that is a trip I would like to take," said Iroh, his eyes glistening.
"Apparently, we had missed out on a few places" said Toph "Not that I mind that much, but after having so much tea you just keep hitting the bathroom non-stop for…"
"I don't need to hear the details, thank you," said Sokka, raising his hand to stop her.
"Well, aren't you Mr. Oversensitive now! And here I thought that was Zuko!" said Toph, smirking. Sokka raised an eyebrow upon her mention of Azula's brother, but it took only an instant for him to realize why the earthbender had decided to criticize the Prince.
Zuko had approached his uncle from behind as silently as possible, but it seemed no amount of stealth would be enough to keep the Blind Bandit from noticing him. He frowned upon her insult, and she turned towards him with a beaming face.
"But it seems our friend here grew out of his title, if he's done moping around at last," said Toph, smiling. "Welcome to the real world again! We really didn't miss you much, but since you're back we'd better pretend we're glad to have you with us, huh…?"
"Zuko," said Iroh, giving his nephew a warm smile, yet eyeing him nervously. Zuko seemed about to retort to Toph, but he caught sight of the look on his uncle's face.
"Uncle…" he said, swallowing hard. "You're back."
"Yes, we just returned. We were victorious in our event, in case you wondered," said Iroh, still smiling.
"Uh… good," said Zuko, though it seemed he didn't care much for the information. "Uncle, I… I think I'm ready to talk with you. If you still want to hear me out, that is."
"Oh… oh," said Iroh, surprised. It wasn't every day that his nephew declared he would open up to him. And considering how Zuko had behaved the last few days, Iroh had thought the Prince wouldn't want to speak to him any time soon. Yet here he was, asking him for a conversation… "Good to know, Zuko. Of course I'll hear you."
"Hear him? What do you have to talk about?" Sokka asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That's… not your concern," said Zuko, lowering his gaze.
"Hey!" Sokka exclaimed, pouting. "You're going to be all stuck-up again now, huh?!"
"No, he's serious," said Toph, folding her arms over her chest. "This isn't a matter you should be concerned with."
"Oh, really?" said Sokka, looking at Toph with skepticism.
"Yep," said Toph, nodding. "It's a matter that involves only Iroh, Zuko and me."
"You?!" said Zuko, startled. "What? You have nothing to do with this either!"
"What?! So you're not telling me either?!" Toph asked, a hand going to her chest as she turned towards Zuko dramatically. "Wait a minute, you're actually shutting me out?"
"Of course I am! I want to talk to my uncle, alone!" Zuko said, looking at her in utter confusion.
"Oh, well then, fine!" Toph stated, folding her arms over her chest again. "Don't worry, that's okay, you go tell Iroh your sad little secrets, I don't mind! He'll tell me all about them later anyways!"
"What?" Zuko exclaimed, looking at Iroh accusingly. "You wouldn't…!"
"Of course not, Zuko," said Iroh, smiling sympathetically at him. "I won't tell anyone the details of our conversation, you have my word."
"Huh… good," said Zuko, relieved, but Toph's reaction was the exact opposite of that.
"What?! So you're not telling me, Iroh?! After all this time, after everything our friendship means to me?!" she exclaimed, now turning towards Iroh and making him chuckle under his breath as he realized she was just being overly dramatic to tease Zuko.
"Now, now, Toph…"
"No, forget it! Don't worry, I don't want to hear his petty princely problems anyhow!" Toph exclaimed. "We'll make our own club, this other reject and I! The club of the badass gladiators, no Royal Family members allowed!"
"Oh, I'm not invited to join your gang? I'm so disappointed," said Zuko, rolling his eyes. "Uncle…"
"Yes, yes, let's go, Zuko…" said Iroh, chuckling. "I'll see you later, Toph."
"Yeah, sure you will, but I won't be seeing you!" Toph exclaimed. "And… that's literal."
Iroh laughed at her joke on his way out of the hallway with Zuko, and Toph smirked as she sensed them leave. Sokka looked at her with slight unease, wondering just how someone could undergo so many mood swings in just a short while. Toph seemed to realize he was staring at her, and she turned around to smile at him.
"No, the club isn't a real thing, just trying to tease and bug Prince Moody over there. So don't get excited. If I were to make a club of badass gladiators, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't fit the requirements…"
"Of course not," said Sokka, rolling his eyes. "Soon enough you'll eat your own words, you'll see."
"Oh, I sure look forward to that… only, I don't," she said, smirking. "And you can take that one literally too."
With that, she chuckled again and walked off, leaving Sokka staring after her in utter confusion. Who knew a blind girl would joke about her condition so freely…?
But as she turned into another hallway, one that probably led to her room, the curtains before the Throne Room were pulled back by the generals that were leaving the war meeting. It was over now… Sokka swallowed hard and watched intently, hoping Azula would come out soon.
And she did, though Sokka didn't fail to see she seemed somewhat disturbed. Sokka frowned, worried, but he walked up to her with a smile, hoping she would relax a little upon seeing him. But given the way she looked at him, eyes wide and fists clenched, it seemed he had achieved the exact opposite effect of what he expected with his smile.
"Azula? Are you okay?" Sokka asked.
"What… why are you here?" Azula asked, trying to act natural and failing at it.
"Uh, no reason, I just… I just thought that was a bit surprising for you to have an urgent meeting all of sudden," said Sokka, shrugging. "I thought it might be about the White Lotus. Did you guys find the spy?"
"No, we… we haven't, not yet," said Azula, shaking her head. "Or, if we have, my father has failed to inform me of it."
"Then that's not what this was about?" Sokka asked. "What was it, then?"
Azula looked at Sokka worriedly for a moment before taking a deep breath. Well, he was going to find out eventually, and she much preferred it would be sooner rather than later. If he was going to lose his mind over this matter, it would be best if he couldn't accuse her of keeping the truth from him, at least.
"Sokka, there was a… a report from the settlement," Azula said, without meeting his eyes.
His eyes widened instantly upon hearing those words. Just as Azula had expected, he wasn't bound to take this well… especially once she told him about what she suspected her father would do.
"Apparently there is a second waterbender in your Tribe… a waterbender strong enough to tear down an attack from all our soldiers, by himself," said Azula. "You had said your sister was a waterbender…"
"My sister is the only waterbender," said Sokka, frowning in confusion now. Azula didn't fail to notice it was ages since she had last seen Sokka behaving as seriously as he did right now. It reminded her of the way he had acted back when they met for the second time in Hui Yi. "She… she's the only waterbender in the Tribe. This has to be a mistake."
"According to this report, this other waterbender is a man," said Azula, still keeping her eyes low. "There were no late bloomers in the Tribe? Not even someone who seemed to have skills for bending?"
"No, nobody… not while I was there," said Sokka, shaking his head in disbelief. "This can't… how could it be? It's got to be wrong. It's… what are you going to do? What is your father going to do about this? Is he planning to attack again? To…?"
"No, well… that isn't what the council agreed," said Azula. "I told him not to… I advised against it, telling my father that it would be wiser to continue focusing on the North and leave the South be for the moment."
"Then… you'll do nothing?" Sokka asked, still uneasy but it seemed he was growing relieved slowly upon Azula's words.
"It's what the council decided," said Azula, sighing. "The North has held its own for as long as it has… I'm sure the tides won't be turning in that battle any time soon, neither side is going to surrender so easily. So I think you needn't worry about your sister tribe getting destroyed any time soon. Yet…"
"Yet what?" Sokka asked, his frown deepening again. "Is there anything else, Azula?"
"Just…" said Azula, gritting her teeth. "The council may have decided this, but my father… chances are he might not heed that decision. It wouldn't be the first time he gathers his council and later on makes a choice that goes completely against what was said during the council. He is the Fire Lord… his word is law, regardless if it's supported by the rest of his advisors or not."
"So you think… you think he'll try to attack the South?" Sokka asked, clenching a fist as he felt a surge of anger within his chest.
"He might," said Azula. "And I fear he… he doesn't want any captives this time around."
"They didn't come for captives when they killed my mother," grunted Sokka, his gaze darting towards the curtain again. "You really think he'll do this?"
"He might. I don't know," said Azula, looking at him in worry. "I did my best to convince him it was a waste of time, but…"
"But it might not have been enough," said Sokka, frowning and walking past her. "Is he still in there?"
"Wha…? Sokka, you can't just…! What are you going to do?" Azula asked, reaching out towards him and pulling his arm to hold him back.
"Maybe you can't convince him… but maybe I can," said Sokka, looking at her seriously.
"Y-you…?" Azula asked. "Sokka, what are you going to…?"
"Don't fret. I'm not going to do anything I'll regret," Sokka said, as Azula relinquished her grip. "I'll be back in a moment."
"But…"
And with that, Sokka swept aside the curtains and stepped into the Throne Room. Azula found herself even forgetting to breathe upon the idea of Sokka confronting his father regarding this matter… her gladiator would get himself killed outside the Arena if he dared threaten her father or attempt to give him an order of any kind. Or else, he would try to kill Ozai himself… and that was something Azula wouldn't be able to stand for either. It didn't matter what sort of things Sokka had done for her or her nation, how successful he had been in the Gladiator League as of late, or what feelings she held towards him, if he hurt her father, she wouldn't let it slide. Her loyalty was with her people… with her father. And that wasn't about to change anytime soon.
All the same, Sokka's loyalties still lay with his people. No matter how much he had grown and learned over the course of these last years, or how he had grown to appreciate the Fire Nation despite its wrongdoings, his heart still lingered with his Tribe. And if someone was planning on crushing it, be it Azula's father or anyone else, he would make sure to have a say upon the matter.
When Sokka entered the room, Ozai had been speaking to the moustache man who had looked at him during Lo and Li's trial. The Fire Lord took notice of his presence and lifted an eyebrow. The general turned and saw Sokka, and he imitated the Fire Lord's gesture.
"Why… barging into the Throne Room just because you feel like it, gladiator?" Ozai asked.
"I need a word," said Sokka, striding quickly towards Ozai. "In private."
"Is that so?" said Ozai, frowning. Whatever the man wanted, it seemed he thought it was important enough to barge into the Throne Room as he just had. "Well, then. Bujing, please leave us. The gladiator needs a word."
Bujing bowed before Ozai and walked away. The man crossed the curtains of the Throne Room just as Sokka reached Ozai.
"Given the look on your face, it would seem you coaxed the subject of the war meeting out of my daughter," said Ozai, raising an eyebrow. "I take it you truly know nothing about the second waterbender we recently heard of, as she said you didn't?"
"I don't," said Sokka, frowning. "This is news for me too. But I didn't come to you to talk about the new waterbender."
"No? Then to what do I owe this… talk?" said Ozai, refusing to refer to this conversation as a 'pleasure', for he was sure it wouldn't be one.
"Are you planning on attacking the Southern Water Tribe?" Sokka asked.
"It seems my daughter failed to inform you of the decision of the council, if you have to ask me whether I shall…"
"Your daughter told me what happened," said Sokka. "She said the council decided not to attack."
"Then where is the need to barge into my Throne Room as you just did to ask me what you already know?" Ozai asked, with a sigh of exasperation.
"I know what she said. But I also know you're the Fire Lord," said Sokka, his frown deepening again. "If you feel like going against your council's decision, you can simply do so. You're the one who calls the shots here, aren't you?"
"So, you came to ask if I would try to melt down your pole?" Ozai asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No… I came here to make sure you won't melt down my pole," said Sokka, so firmly Ozai fell silent for a moment, wondering how a mere slave could boast so much confidence.
"Ah… is that so?" Ozai asked, his golden gaze clashing against Sokka's.
"It is," said Sokka. "Because you're a man of honor, aren't you?"
Ozai was genuinely startled when Sokka pulled that card out of his deck. Again, it took him a moment to digest just what this slave was referring to, but once he did he could only smile in amazement.
"Ah… you are truly far more than just a common slave, are you not?" Ozai said, smirking.
"I thought you already knew that by now," said Sokka, his frown letting up now that the Fire Lord's response hadn't been as explosive as he had expected it to be.
"Then this is what your second favor will be? You want me to leave your Tribe alone?" said Ozai.
"The first favor was for saving your daughter's life, so I traded it for the lives of others," said Sokka. "Now I exchange saving your nation for my own. Don't order an attack of any kind upon the Southern Water Tribe, not now, not ever."
"Oh? And whatever shall I do if your tribesmen attack us instead?" asked Ozai. "You cannot expect my soldiers to remain idle…"
"My tribesmen aren't bound to attack anyone," said Sokka, though he knew he was kidding himself, likely. If this new waterbender was as fierce a leader as he was a bender, chances were his tribesmen would be attacking the Fire Nation settlement sometime soon. "Not unless they feel threatened."
"From what I recall, we weren't threatening your people by the time those ships from the Southern Water Tribe sought to defeat my army in the Earth Kingdom…" said Ozai, folding his arms over his chest.
"Times have changed," said Sokka, lowering his gaze. "I rather doubt my… I doubt the Chief will want our people to take part in the war again. If anything, he'll be grateful for this period of peace, even if it's only down South. So leave them be. The South holds no threats for you anymore."
"So you want me to sign a peace treaty with them, then?" Ozai asked. "Should I pull back the soldiers in my settlement as well?"
"Why… that would be quite nice, if I'm to be honest," said Sokka, his hands on his hips as he remembered all about the settlement in which he had relinquished his freedom so long ago.
"Shall I give you a room in the Palace as well, now we're at it?" the Fire Lord asked.
"Now that is a stretch, I'll say…" said Sokka, rubbing his chin.
The Fire Lord rolled his eyes but couldn't keep from laughing under his breath.
"You truly have no shame. Are you like this around my daughter as well, gladiator?"
"Ah… maybe," said Sokka, gulping now. "Yet I think I'm entitled to ask for your people to leave mine alone. I helped you get rid of those who could have torn down the Fire Nation… didn't you say you hardly believed there was a way to pay me back for my services? Well, this is the way to pay back. Leave the Southern Water Tribe alone, from here on. Don't attack them ever again. Give out the order to those in the settlement to leave them be, and tell them to relocate elsewhere as well… for I can't say what that crazy waterbender might be capable of. He might tear the settlement out of the Pole if he's really that strong"
"Can't our people live together in harmony, though?" said Ozai, smiling ironically.
"Well, I wonder," said Sokka, shrugging. "If you're willing to risk it…"
"Oh, truly… owing you anything has been a great mistake," said Ozai, sighing heavily. "I'll do my very best to avoid it in the future. Here I thought pleasing a slave would be far easier than this…"
"Well, I am no ordinary slave," said Sokka. "As it seems you've come to notice."
"Surprisingly clever, and quite knowledgeable about how to play his role in the world," said Ozai, nodding. "I'm not certain if you're an enemy or an ally, especially after your last request. But thankfully, that was truly the last one. You are getting no more favors from me, gladiator."
"I need no more favors so long as you consent to fulfill this one," said Sokka.
"Very well, then," said Ozai. "You have my word, gladiator. No harm will come to your people. As you well said, I am a man of honor. I won't order any attacks upon them."
"Good," said Sokka, nodding.
"And that is enough of you for the time being," said Ozai, waving Sokka off. "Go find someone else to cash favors out of… not my daughter, though. Try my brother, perhaps. Though he will likely only provide you with tea and cookies…"
"Uh… right," said Sokka, smiling uncomfortably.
He didn't even want to imagine what sort of favors Ozai thought he would ask of Azula, yet Sokka knew well enough that, even if she owed him anything, there was no chance she would pay him back physically, in any way. He sure wouldn't ask for it either anyhow. It didn't matter how strongly he felt towards her… no, exactly because of how strongly he felt towards her, he refused to act on those feelings. He wasn't the sort of man she deserved, and no matter how much he longed for her, he knew she was far beyond his reach. A single grain of sand couldn't shoot for the stars, regardless of how badly it wanted to join them in the sky.
"Very well, then, get out," said Ozai, waving Sokka off and heading towards the backdoors. "It has been more than enough of the Southern Water Tribe for the time being."
"Alright, then. Uh… thanks for complying," said Sokka, but Ozai didn't respond. Sokka sighed with relief as he walked towards the curtains, hoping Ozai would remain true to the favor he had just requested of him. So far Sokka had heard the White Lotus people were still safe and alive in prison: if the Fire Lord had kept his word in that regard, he ought to keep it in this one too.
Azula was stunned to find Sokka had come out of his meeting without a scratch on him… at least, no new ones. He was still bruised and wounded from the event, and there were some scratches on his arm and hand because of his hawk, but he bore no injuries aside from those.
"Sokka…?" she muttered, and he showed her a reassuring smile, to her surprise.
"Told you I'd do it," he said, laughing at the look of utter disbelief on her face after hearing his words.
Several hours later, they both sat by the Palace gardens; Sokka's hawk was perched on his hand again while Azula taught him how to hold the bird properly. He had told the Princess about his conversation with the Fire Lord, and she was rather shocked to hear it had unfolded as successfully as it had, but naturally, she was relieved. Sokka had raised an eyebrow when she had declared she was only glad that she had somewhere to drop him at by the time she was through with him, but he knew her well enough by now to understand what those words truly meant. Azula was rather dishonest when it came down to her feelings… but it was the only matter in which Sokka could see right through her with ease.
It was already afternoon by the time all discussions about the Southern Water Tribe were over, hence they decided not to train for the day. Instead, Sokka had asked Azula to help him figure out what he still didn't understand about handling messenger hawks. He had fetched Hawky and returned to the Palace, and now he was busy training with the bird in hopes to perfect his falconry skills.
"Is this really any better?" Sokka asked, holding the bird close to him. "I kind of get the feeling he'll pick my eye out if I hold him like this."
"If you're that scared of him, I'm pretty sure he'll feel compelled to do so," said Azula, smirking. "I didn't think you'd be so afraid of losing an eye…"
"Well, Princess, my eyes are my best feature," said Sokka, waving his free hand around himself before standing up and walking towards the garden.
"Your cockiness truly knows no boundaries, does it?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow and Sokka chuckled.
"Alright, Hawky," said Sokka, smiling. "You're going to fly and then get back to me, okay? Let's practice your landings! Azula had to do that with Xin Long, so we've got to do it too."
"Ah… you'll summon him just by calling his name," said Azula, folding her arms over her chest.
"Huh?" said Sokka, looking at Azula in confusion for a moment before a groan was heard from the skies.
The hawk in his hand flapped away when the dragon landed heavily in front of Sokka, making him squeal and jump back in surprise. Azula couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, and Xin Long did the same.
"You're trying to give me a heart attack here, Xin Long?! You crazy dragon!" Sokka squeaked, before looking around himself in despair. "Hawky?! Hawky! Where did you go, buddy?!"
Xin Long seemed to wink at Azula, at which she could only beam. That devious dragon was just as mean as she was… every time he startled Sokka in one way or another she felt a surge of pride towards him.
"Hard to believe he can go from being such a serious man, making demands to the most powerful man in the world, to the clown he's currently behaving as."
Azula managed to keep from being startled by her father's voice, and she stood up as gracefully as she could, hoping Ozai wouldn't criticize her for sitting so leisurely by the garden. But seeing how he was busy watching as Sokka asked his hawk to come down the tree he was perched at, it seemed he wasn't here to tell her off for some reason.
"He happens to go back and forth quite often. I'd say I'm already used to it," said Azula, turning towards her father. "He told me what he asked of you…"
"He seemed to know the details of our war meeting quite quickly. You two are closer than I expected," said Ozai, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
"He was simply waiting for me today, for our daily training sessions," Azula lied quickly. "When I didn't show up at his house, he decided to come here instead. He was outside the Throne Room, and he overheard other generals speaking about the Water Tribe… so he asked me what the meeting was about."
"I see," said Ozai. It was a perfectly logical explanation after all, even when he didn't approve of her disclosing the information as she had. Yet he hardly blamed her, not when he had witnessed just what that slave was capable of… "He's quite something, your gladiator. Not at all what you would expect from a mere slave."
"He is rather unexpected in some ways, though predictable in others," said Azula.
"Definitely not predictable when it came to these favors, I will admit," said Ozai, looking at Sokka fixedly. The gladiator had managed to convince his hawk to hop back on his hand, but the dragon nearby was expelling smoke through his nostrils, making both the bird and Sokka rather uneasy upon the dragon's menace of fire.
"He would have made you regret them one way or another," said Azula, sighing. "I suppose now you wish you hadn't vowed to fulfill any favors to him."
"Truly," said Ozai. "I only expected him to make a predictable request from a regular slave… instead he has managed to wreck my plans in the long run, plans to obliterate two of my worst enemies. Fortunately for you, he didn't tell me to stand down on our war against the Northern Water Tribe… he would have died quite an unseemly death if he had made such a request."
"You would have…?" Azula asked, the idea of Sokka dying by her father's orders making her feel lightheaded.
"No, not me. Someone else could have killed him, there was no need to do it with my own hands," said Ozai, simply. "But he had the good sense not to take this matter so far, hence he won't be slain."
"Indeed, he did," said Azula. "I would have loathed having to find another gladiator after all the hard work I've put into this one."
"Understandable," said Ozai, smirking. It was good to know the only reason his daughter didn't want him to kill the fighter was because finding a replacement would prove a true bother for her.
"Can I ask, though…?" Azula started. "What were you expecting when you offered those favors to him? What did you think he would request from you?"
"Oh, slaves given the opportunity to obtain anything they wish for can be rather gullible," said Ozai. "After living a life of suffering, they jump at every chance to improve their lives and rid themselves of their strife permanently. Therefore, I thought your gladiator might ask me to revoke his status as a slave… and even request a title of nobility or two. Given how shameless he has always been, that wouldn't have surprised me in the slightest."
"And you would have accepted that?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Revoking his status, certainly," said Ozai. "That wouldn't have been a bother. But a title of nobility…? That would have been a definite 'no'."
Azula smirked and nodded. Just as she had expected.
"Yet he had two favors, didn't he?" Azula asked. "If this is what you expected him to cash out of the first one… how did you expect him to make use of the second one?"
Ozai smiled now, and he looked at his daughter fondly, to her surprise.
"By requesting that which other men who had earned my gratitude and good will had dared ask for in the past: your hand in marriage."
If Azula had been drinking a beverage of some sort, she surely would have spewed it all over her father upon that last sentence. She looked at him in utter disbelief, an eyebrow raised, her mouth agape while Ozai smiled at her reaction.
"Y-you honestly thought… you thought he would ask for that? Why?" Azula said, still in utter shock.
"Why, it would be rather foolish of him not to wish to marry you," said Ozai, turning towards Sokka again. "The beautiful Princess of the Fire Nation? Any man would dream of it… unless said man was rather blind or incredibly stupid, as I said. Not only this, but life as an Honorary Citizen might have been quite hard already, if he had asked to be revoked of his status as a slave. Finding something to make a living from would have been a difficult feat for someone who used to be a gladiator. Yet by marrying into the Royal Family he wouldn't have had to concern himself with such matters. He would have found a ticket into quite an easy life…"
"Truly, but…" said Azula, shaking her head. This had to be a sick joke… her father was telling her he had expected Sokka to wish to marry her. Not even in her most ridiculous dreams could she had ever imagined she'd hear her father uttering such words… especially when he wasn't aware of the way her heart was racing upon the mere thought of marrying Sokka. It was ridiculous to even consider it, and yet… "Would you have accepted that? I know he saved my life, but… would you have allowed him to make such a request, father?"
Ozai laughed again, and Azula only grew uneasy at the sound. Did he know what strange thoughts were passing her mind right now? Did he know she was currently imagining what her life might be like if her father had agreed to let her marry her gladiator?
"Of course not," was Ozai's curt response at her question. "Letting my daughter wed a mere Water Tribe man? I hardly believe so."
And with that, the strange daze Azula had been in vanished instantly. Well, that had been surreal. She should have never been as gullible as to think her father would give his consent for her to marry Sokka, it was simply ridiculous… and it was also ridiculous that she would feel disappointed to hear her father dismissing the notion as he just had. There was no reason for her to feel this way… it wasn't as though she had ever believed there was a future for them. She knew there had never been one, and there never would be.
"I figured as much," Azula said, folding her arms over her chest.
"You need a husband, that much we already know," said Ozai. "But after keeping your hand safe for so long, in hopes to find a man suitable for you, I definitely wouldn't have you marry… that."
Sokka was currently standing in front of Xin Long, glaring at him in quite a silly manner. Xin Long looked back at him, but his gaze kept flickering towards the hawk on Sokka's hand.
"Hawky, meet Xin Long," said Sokka. "Xin Long… don't eat Hawky. He's my pet hawk, and he's a good friend. Am I clear?"
Apparently, he wasn't. Xin Long spat blazes aimed towards the bird, only missing his head for a few inches. Sokka squealed and jumped back, and naturally, Hawky flew out of his hand and away from Xin Long.
"Xin Long, you evil dragon! And what do you think you're doing now?!" Sokka squealed, as the dragon jumped into the air to chase down the hawk. "Xin Long, STOP! COME BACK HERE, BOTH OF YOU!"
"Clearly…" Ozai continued, as Sokka ran after the dragon, still shouting at him. "I would not stand for having such a buffoon as my son-in-law."
Azula watched the chase with amusement, despite herself. Ozai sighed and rolled his eyes, turning to leave.
"Nevertheless, you will have to marry someone. And the sooner, the better. I would much rather know our lineage is secured as soon as possible… and through you rather than your brother."
"Of course," said Azula, though for once she actually wished her father wouldn't choose her over Zuko. Why couldn't he be the one pressured to procreate while she became her father's official heir in the eyes of the entire Fire Nation?
"I'll see to finding proper prospects for you soon. I'll notify you if I find anyone suitable for the role of your husband," said Ozai, before starting down the hallway. Azula had no answers for his last statements.
It was one thing thinking about marrying the man he'd deemed a buffoon… for at least she knew she wouldn't be bored for an instant if she were to share her life with him. They had been together as gladiator and sponsor for well over half a year now, and despite the countless arguments and dreadful fights they'd had, Azula saw him as an integral part of her life. She enjoyed her time with him, even when he was her exact opposite in almost any regard.
Yet thinking about marrying a nobleman of any kind… the idea made her nauseous. She wanted no husband, for she knew what sort of life would await her if she were to take one. As she was, she had proved to the Fire Nation just how capable a Princess and leader she was… but if she were to marry someone, her claims and rights to succeed her father would vanish.
For it didn't matter if she was the one who actually carried royal blood in her veins… if she were married, her husband would become Fire Lord. And she would simply become the means to perpetuate their dynasty, no more than that. The title of Fire Lady had always seemed as an empty carcass to her.
But so long as she had a say upon the matter, she would rid herself of every potential suitor her father found for her, no matter if that displeased him. And just as Sokka had helped her with Chan, she was sure he would be able to help her take down any other man who dared try to take her as his wife without her consent. So long as they continued to work together, she doubted she had anything to fear.
For Sokka hadn't asked for her hand in marriage, either knowing he wouldn't be granted such a wish or because he understood how little she wished to become anyone's wife. And yet he was the only man she had ever felt comfortable around… the only man who had been capable of turning her entire world upside down and gotten away with it all, while bearing that proud smile on his face. The only man who had ever stirred those feelings that currently burned within her chest as she watched him, chasing after the two flying creatures… though now it seemed it was the bird and dragon who chased him.
Azula raised an eyebrow as she saw him stumble and trip with his own feet as he fled from Xin Long, and right behind the dragon flew the hawk. Sokka landed face-first on the ground, and Xin Long claimed his triumph by settling atop him, trapping Sokka underneath him. Hawky perched on one of Xin Long's horns… and neither bird nor dragon seemed bothered by each other anymore. It seemed as though they had decided it was more fun to gang up on Sokka instead.
"Oh, joy," said Sokka, his face covered in dirt as he lifted his head to glare daggers at the dragon.
And Azula could do nothing but laugh at him, as Sokka shouted he wasn't the dragon's mattress. His foolishness knew no ends, did it? Yet she couldn't stop smiling while watching him. Yes… so long as she kept him by her side, so long as they fought their battles together, there would be nothing for either of them to fear.