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...

90. Chapter 90: The Slate-Festivals 8

She assured herself time over and time again, as she made her way through the metallic hallways, that everything would be fine. That Sokka was stronger than she realized, that the Millennium Dragon wasn't bound to be too vicious a fighter, that the Arena was dangerous but Sokka still could prove himself above the harsh conditions in this fighting pit…

Yet she couldn't confer enough optimism to herself through these thoughts. She had to stop halfway to through the corridor and rest against a wall briefly, her chest heaving as she breathed deeply. The truth of what was going to happen next was catching up to her, and as it often happened whenever she led Sokka to fights that had nearly cost him his life, she was starting to regret this completely. No amount of recognition or points could be worth this, could they? But perhaps things would turn out for the best… perhaps they would. She had to wait and see the outcome of it all, there was nothing more she could do at this point.

But the risk of losing him hurt in more ways than she ever expected it to. It was far worse than it had been before, and not only because of what had happened between them on the ship. The fact that he had proved to be the key to unleashing gold firebending still amazed her, and while the potential of creating that fire would always rest within her, it was thanks to him that she had figured out how to use it. He had brought out a side of herself that Azula hadn't known even existed until he showed up. Only thanks to him had she started considering that perhaps she wasn't quite the monster she had feared she was for the longest time…

She couldn't lose him today. No matter if she had to jump headfirst into the lava to save him: the cost would be well worth it, if it would help her keep him with her for a while longer.

She punched the wall and huffed, trying to brush away the morbid thoughts. She simply had to stop thinking. This was getting her nowhere, and she should reach the stands once and for all. The fight wasn't going to start until she got there, and the sooner it began, the sooner it would end.

She took to the stairs that would lead her to the viewing area. These stands were the smallest she had seen up to date, as they only occupied a small portion of the Arena's wall. At most, thirty people might fit within them. There was no distinction between the area where the judges and the rest of the crowd would sit, but Azula found that Aonu was on the very center of the stands. She guessed she was meant to take the empty seat beside him.

The cavern where the fight would take place – for it was a cavern, regardless if it was covered with metal or not – was eerie and daunting. Azula frowned as she stared at the wide metallic platform that hung from only four thick chains, each of them attached to one of the corners of the ring. She thought it was a rather unstable structure, and the small railing that lined the fighting area wasn't reassuring in the slightest. It didn't seem like it could provide proper protection to either fighter.

The square platform hovered much lower than the stands, at enough distance to keep the crowd away from the line of fire, Azula guessed. And about twenty feet below the platform, at the bottom of the cavern, stood the metallic gate under which stirred the island's magma. She breathed deeply one last time and moved towards her seat, glancing around herself to find that the group that had come to cheer Sokka would be sitting on the right side of the stands. She thought she heard Haru whisper about how creepy this place was, a thought she agreed with wholeheartedly, as she sat down next to her fellow sponsor.

"Is your gladiator ready?" he asked, and Azula nodded.

"It seems so," she said. "How are the gladiators supposed to reach the fighting pit?"

"There are metal bridges that extend mechanically from the doors at the stand-by rooms," said Aonu. "It's not too complicated."

"I disagree," Azula said, frowning and gazing about herself in distaste. "This entire place is far more complicated than it should be. In all honesty, I can't see the reasoning behind designing an Arena such as this one."

"It serves many purposes," Aonu said, looking at her with narrow eyes, as though he believed her foolish for saying such words. "One of them being that a fight held in this Arena is more prestigious than them all. Only the best will see the Slate and live to tell the tale."

"It seems a waste, though, to spend so much money to build this place instead of using it, and the metal needed for this nonsense, for more important tasks," said Azula, raising her eyebrows. "Considering, besides, that this place is only used once every six months."

"While it is true that it is an incredibly expensive Arena, it's worth the price," said Aonu, and Azula frowned.

"Oh, really? Why is that?" Azula asked, looking at him skeptically.

"Because this is the best Arena to set apart the powerful from the weak," said Aonu. "Here… here it doesn't matter where you came from or where you're going. Nobody has the right to judge you when you can triumph in the Slate. It's an Arena for true gladiators, for the ones who deserve to be at the top. And the ones who aren't good enough will be crushed."

"You seem to thrive in the idea of crushing," Azula said, turning to face the platform. "Is it you're an earthbender, by any chance?"

Aonu stiffened next to her and her eyes shifted towards him. Somehow that seemed to be a sensitive spot for the man…

"Do you believe earthbenders are brutish?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. "That their art is lesser than your firebending?"

"Oh, I do," Azula said, bluntly, and the man glared at her angrily. "But I mean no offense to you. Most benders' 'arts', as you called them, are far beneath mine, firebenders and earthbenders alike."

"Well, it is good to see you're as confident in your abilities as you are," said Aonu, frowning.

"It's not quite confidence as it is honesty," Azula said, with a subtle smirk. She had never expected trash-talk to be this liberating while feeling as anxious as she was. "Just as yours when you speak so fondly of lesser fighters getting crushed."

"I am not as fond of it as you believe," Aonu replied, and while he tried to sound less antagonistic towards her, she still could sense the bitterness in his tone. "But I have seen it happen many times, Princess. Only the best can triumph in the Slate."

"Indeed. No wonder Combustion Man defeated your fighter every single time they faced one another in this ring, or any other," Azula said, and Aonu cringed. "I suppose some of the truly superior fighters cannot be matched, not even by your Millennium Dragon, can they?"

"That remains to be seen. But even if that were the case…" said Aonu, shifting on his seat as the metal bridges he had told Azula about began to extend towards the platform. "I have the suspicion that your fighter, Princess, isn't quite as superior a fighter as you might want to believe he is."

"I have no illusions about his superiority," Azula said, wishing she were actually lying. "But I do have trust in his skills. I know just how much potential lies within him. And I know that his specialty happens to be his capacity to outsmart and overwhelm his enemy in the least expected ways. Feel free to look down on him if you wish, but you just might find he's a greater fighter than you give him credit for."

The doors from the stand-by rooms swung open, and the gladiators walked towards the platform through the bridges. Azula's eyes were trained on Sokka, and even at a distance she could glimpse the stern frown on his face. She hoped his determination would pay off: she didn't want to bite back all the things she had just said to Aonu, but she was prepared to do it… she just needed him to survive. It was the one thing she cared about at this point.

"Oh, well. Speak as you will about your fighter, it hardly matters," said Aonu, relaxing with a deep sigh. "We will see his true worth soon enough. And once we do, perhaps you'll understand."

"Understand what, pray tell?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow and glaring at Aonu.

"That perhaps there are some games you shouldn't play," Aonu said, simply. "That you may have been misled to believe that the world was yours for the taking. But as it happens, princesses are meant to stay in their golden towers for a reason."

"I don't see why that should be the case. You didn't stay in yours," Azula replied, flatly, and Aonu smiled a little, to her discomfort.

"You'll understand," he repeated, closing his eyes only for an instant: his green glare was sharp as steel once he opened them again. "And if you don't, then surely you will bring about that man's death sooner than later. And if even after he's dead you still wish to play this game, you will prove, indeed, that you don't belong in the world of gladiators. If you don't understand the rules, you don't deserve to play the game."

"We'll see just who's the one who doesn't deserve to play," Azula muttered, staring at the fighting pit as well. She truly wished it could be her in the fighting ring instead of Sokka, and that the man next to her was the opponent rather than the Millennium Dragon. If only there were an event where sponsors could take the places of their gladiators, she would gladly challenge Aonu to it…

The retractile bridges withdrew once both the fighters had climbed onto the metallic platform – its surface was perfectly polished and flat, Sokka noticed. There were no obstacles of any sort in it, only the metallic railing that was meant to keep the two gladiators within the fighting area. It was as tall as his waist, though, so the Millennium Dragon wouldn't have much trouble pushing him over it if he felt like doing so…

The gate to the magma was closed at the moment, but Sokka already could feel the intense heat searing through the metal. Despite the sunlight couldn't touch them underground, this was the hottest ring Sokka had ever fought in. He breathed slowly, though: he had learned a few tricks to endure heat during his training. He was sure he could bear with this.

The Millennium Dragon stretched as he walked towards the center of the platform, cracking his neck side to side as he readied himself for battle. Sokka stared at his massive chest briefly, wondering if perhaps it wouldn't be more convenient to fight in this heat with fewer clothes, just as his opponent meant to. His many layers of flame-retardant clothing might end up being a hindrance rather than a helpful resource…

"Here we are, eh, kiddo?" said the Millennium Dragon, with a friendly smile. He stretched his hand towards Sokka, who hesitated briefly before taking it. "Good luck. Let's try to make it out alive, eh?"

"Uh, yeah… let's do that" said Sokka, smiling a little as well. The man's words surprised him. Could someone as powerful as the Millennium Dragon truly believe he was at risk of dying in this ring? If the man suspected he might not survive, just how could Sokka hope this fight to result in anything other than death?

"My name's Renzhi, by the way, kid. What's yours?" he said, letting go of Sokka's hand.

"I'm Sokka," he replied, with a bit more confidence. That the man would be so friendly and kind gave him a little relief despite his fears. Maybe he wouldn't be out to kill Sokka, after all.

"Great then, kid," said Renzhi, and Sokka raised an eyebrow. Odd that he would ask for his name just to keep calling him kid… "Let's see if we can take an hour of this hell, shall we?"

"Yeah," said Sokka, stepping back slowly and looking at Renzhi with determination.

The Millennium Dragon waved a hand towards the stands, signaling that they were ready to begin. The gesture surprised Azula. Never before had she seen a combat where gladiators would be the ones to decide when to start fighting. Yet indeed, as he raised his hand, the judges nodded and one of them flipped the hourglass that would time this battle. And thus, the fight began.

Sokka felt his heart thumping in his chest anxiously as he stared at his opponent, whose eyes were set on his. Renzhi's countenance hadn't changed in the slightest even after calling for the beginning of the fight. He simply observed Sokka, as though waiting for him to make the first move.

Would it be wise to attack? Sokka feared that might just trigger his opponent's aggressiveness, and he didn't want to bring the Millennium Dragon's wrath upon him. So he simply gritted his teeth and paced slowly, keeping proper distance between himself and his enemy. Renzhi watched him with curiosity at first, but soon it was amusement. When Sokka stopped moving, his opponent merely started laughing. Sokka cringed.

"What's so funny?" he muttered, and Renzhi smiled at him.

"Now, boy, you don't need to be so afraid of me! I don't bite!" he said.

"Oh, no, but I'm pretty sure you burn," Sokka replied. "I'd rather not take chances, mind you."

"Eh, true. Why accept this fight if you knew I'd burn you, then?" said Renzhi.

"Because my sponsor figured I could fight you already," said Sokka, gulping. "Might be she was wrong, though…"

"Heh? The Princess was wrong, you reckon?" asked Renzhi. "Well, well… shall we test that?"

Sokka clenched his teeth upon Renzhi's threat and he reached up for his boomerang with a quick hand. The man wore no armor, so blocking his chi wouldn't be as hard as Sokka had dreaded. Perhaps with a quick block this early in the battle he might gain an edge over his opponent…

He decided to aim big, trying to strike the man's lower spine, to paralyze his body completely. The blue boomerang soared through the air at great speed, but Renzhi only looked at it with derision. Never before had someone attempted to fight him with such an insignificant weapon.

He didn't even bother conjuring fire to boost the kick he gave the spinning weapon, knocking it off course and towards the edge of the ring. Sokka grimaced, feeling rather foolish. He should have covered for the boomerang's attack, but he had been rather fearful of Renzhi's response to close-quarters combat. He didn't dare unsheathe Space Sword, for trying to attack his opponent with his blade just might result in his instant defeat.

"Now, now, that's not all you've got, is it?" said Renzhi, raising an eyebrow. "You looked tougher than that in Yu Dao. C'mon, where's that cool sword of yours, eh? Let me see it!"

"T-the hell…?" said Sokka, wary. Renzhi laughed at how intimidated Sokka seemed to be.

"You can pick up your silly toy if you want, I don't mind," he said, jerking his head towards the boomerang. "But I want you to bring out the real stuff, boy. Don't make me waste my time, now, will you?"

"To be honest, I'd rather just waste it," Sokka confessed. "At least, about an hour of it…"

"Heh, you want to be trapped in this platform with me for an hour without doing anything? Want to braid each other's hair too?" Renzhi mocked him, and Sokka grimaced. "Or do you want to prove you have every right to be here, boy?"

Sokka frowned and looked at his opponent with thoughtful eyes. Long ago he'd lived by a non-spoken code between gladiators, a code about honoring your opponent by giving him the best fight you could muster. It was a fact that either of the gladiators, if not both, would die in the Amateur League, so why not give one another the best fight of their lives, so they could go down proudly? Perhaps he ought to do the same now, then. Perhaps he ought to forget the points, forget his record, and only think about this battle.

Sokka's eyes gleamed with determination again, his resolve steadier now. He moved to pick up his boomerang, but instead of sheathing it for good, as Renzhi expected, he pulled out his black sword and held both weapons in his hands.

"That's right, boy," said Renzhi, smiling. "Show me what you're made of."

Sokka lunged at his opponent, who finally seemed to get serious now that Sokka had unleashed his deadliest weapon. Sokka had expected Renzhi to evade his attack, and he kept his boomerang in tow, hoping to use it to block the man's chi when the right moment came. He swung Space Sword down on the Millennium Dragon, but to his surprise, Renzhi conjured orange fire through his fist and used it to protect himself from the weapon.

When the sword merely rebounded against the flames, Sokka assumed he had somehow struck the man's fist directly… but there was no evidence of a wound on Renzhi's hand. Sokka leapt back, confused, and his opponent smiled.

"What was…? What did you just do?" Sokka asked.

Above, in the stands, the Princess identified the firebending technique immediately: the Millennium Dragon had condensed his flames. It wasn't an unheard-of ability, most qualified firebenders were capable of condensing their flames. It was the best way to use fire defensively, for condensed flames served as shields against solid objects. Yet condensed flames were not a firebending technique Azula, or most firebenders, favored. It was draining, and it required much stamina to produce condensed fire for prolonged periods of time. More often than not, there were more efficient means to best any foes than by resorting to walls or shields of condensed flames. So, either the Millennium Dragon was rather reckless by using such a tiring technique unnecessarily… or perhaps he was showcasing, just by that move, what his true strength as a firebender was.

Azula shuddered in her seat at the thought. The Millennium Dragon was the second-best fighter in the ranking, she hadn't forgotten that, but she hadn't expected his high position to have been earned through stamina-based firebending. It would make perfect sense if that were the case, though…

"C'mon, don't be so scared, boy!" said Renzhi, raising a fist. "See for yourself, eh?"

He punched the air, and a bright and powerful firebending blast shot straight towards Sokka. The Blue Wolf had to arch his body back to evade it, the speed of the attack taking him by surprise. Renzhi smirked proudly as Sokka struggled to regain his balance.

Sokka's eyes were wide as glared at his opponent. This wasn't firebending like any he had seen before. It was far too powerful, far too dense… it didn't feel like normal fire, not even like Azula's fire. What on earth was it?

"Never fought a bender who had mastered condensed flames before, then?" Renzhi said. "Doesn't your Princess fight with them, eh?"

"No," Sokka said, frowning and allowing his gaze to flicker towards Azula briefly. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she looked worried. Were condensed flames such a terrible thing? Judging by the expression on her face, it seemed they were. "She has way cooler tricks than this up her sleeve, though."

"Oh? I've heard about it," said Renzhi, nodding. "The blue fire, eh? I bet that's got to be amazing fire to condense."

"She has lightning too, you know," said Sokka, smirking. "She nearly fried me with it once, but she failed. If I could get through her lightning, I'm pretty sure your funky fire isn't going to stop me."

"Haha! Well, that's a confident guy right there!" said Renzhi, chuckling. "Let's see just how great you are, then, boy!"

Sokka only started thinking his bravado might have been a bad idea when his opponent began casting his condensed flames towards him with far more power. Not only were the blasts strong, but they were fast. Sokka felt far less inclined to discard his flame-retardant clothing now.

Renzhi's fire kept him on his toes, for all he could do was evade it: his boomerang would only rebound against the flames, and even Space Sword couldn't genuinely cut through them. Attempting to block the flames would be folly: he couldn't fight against this fire. All he could do was fight his way around it, or at least, try to.

"T-this is… how the hell is he doing that?" Zuko asked, staring at the ring in disbelief.

"What is he doing?" Suki asked, anxious. The sight of Sokka struggling this much only at the start of the battle was starting to unnerve her. "What's this about condensed fire?"

"It's not an uncommon technique," Zuko said. "But nobody can hold it for so long without getting exhausted. It's… it's ridiculous that he's using it like this. It's usually defensive fire, but he's using it for offense…"

The small explanation Zuko was giving was quickly interrupted when a loud metallic noise shook the entire Arena. Sokka was confused by it briefly until he saw red lights dancing on the metal walls now… and until he felt the temperature of the room rising even further.

The gate was open.

The lava stirred down below, and everyone in the stands watched it with dread in their eyes. Sokka didn't have time to even look over the edge of the platform, though. The Millennium Dragon continued to cast fire blast after fire blast towards him, keeping him too busy to waste any time staring down at the magma below. Sokka gritted his teeth, feeling the sweat trickling down his back. After yet another powerful attack by his opponent, Sokka stumbled while trying to avoid getting scorched. Despite his efforts, the flames caught his shoulder, but his armor kept him from getting burned badly.

He lifted his eyes quickly, wary of the Millennium Dragon's next attack, but he found Renzhi had dropped his hands, and was staring at him with amusement.

"How about that, then?" he said, chuckling a little before walking to the edge of the platform and staring down at the lava pit. "Now, would you look at that… it's burning real good down there"

Sokka gritted his teeth and crawled towards the edge of the platform. His eyes widened when he saw the lava down below, and he averted his eyes quickly as an unpleasant sensation of vertigo began meddling with his senses. He had flown many times with Azula and Xin Long, yet never had he done it while thinking of what could happen if he fell off the saddle. He had always thought he would be fine, perhaps because he trusted the dragon carrying his weight… but he sure couldn't trust the platform keeping him suspended above the magma in the same way.

"C'mon, kid, it's no biggie," said Renzhi, noticing Sokka's obvious panic. "It's going to close again in five minutes. Forget the lava and get back to the fight."

"Easier said than done, pal," said Sokka, breathing heavily as he forced himself to stand up. "If I fall in there…"

"If you fall in there…?" said Renzhi, raising an eyebrow when Sokka fell silent.

If he fell there, he would fail to keep his promise, Sokka thought, gritting his teeth and glaring at his opponent.

He was on the losing end of this fight, he had been even before it began… but unless he put his foot down, it would only get worse. Five minutes of the fight had gone by, and he had gotten through them with a single wound that didn't amount to much. So long as he remained on the same track, he would keep his promise indeed. He refused to disappoint her today.

"I'll get a lot of burns, and I've already got enough scars as it is," said Sokka, surprising Renzhi. "So yeah… I'd rather not fall at all."

"Oh, and I guess you'd rather not fight at all, too?" Renzhi asked, and Sokka smirked.

"Well, if you'd rather give me the easy way out I wouldn't mind. We could just sit here and catch up, just as you wanted us to…"

"Sit down on this platform and your ass will be on fire in no time, boy," said Renzhi. "Besides, I'm here to fight. It's good to chat while on the job, but the job must be done. I want to see how strong you are, if there's anything for you to show, that is."

"Yeah, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you in that area," Sokka said, with resignation. "To be perfectly honest, I'm not that strong. Not as strong as you, by far."

"Oh, well. No non-bender could be," said Renzhi, shrugging carelessly.

"So if strength is what you expected, I'm very sorry," said Sokka. "But I haven't won most my battles with strength, as you might know."

"No, that's for certain," said Renzhi, smirking. "You're a resourceful brat, that you are… but I've got to say I'm not impressed by your wits yet"

"Maybe because I haven't started using them," said Sokka, with a proud smirk. Renzhi raised an eyebrow, at which Sokka realized he had implied not having been thinking at all so far. He grimaced and dropped his gaze. "Well, that didn't come out right…"

The same metallic sound from earlier shook the Arena just then, and Renzhi ventured a glance down to the lava pit. The gates were closing yet again.

"Well, there you go," he said. "You can stop panicking now, bo-… oi!"

Sokka had leapt forward, his sword tightly clutched in his right hand as he bolted towards his enemy. The Millennium Dragon lifted his fist in front of him, conjuring a wall of condensed fire in hopes to use it as a barrier, but while doing so, his back remained unprotected. And so Sokka took his chance, tossing his boomerang in the perfect angle to strike the man's back…

But the Millennium Dragon noticed Sokka's ploy just in time to move a few inches. The boomerang caught his hip rather than his spine. It was still an effective blow, but it failed to block his chi as Sokka had been hoping it would. The Blue Wolf caught his boomerang in mid-air and slid past another of Renzhi's walls of condensed flames. Sokka feinted to the right, but spun around quickly as his opponent moved to strike him, and with his elbow he struck Renzhi's back for good.

The impact of his elbow wasn't precise enough to successfully block the Millennium Dragon's chi, but it was still a better blow than any Sokka had expected to deliver through the fight. Yet the glory of his successful attack was short-lived, for the Millennium Dragon kicked an arch of condensed flames at him, with which he effectively put distance between himself and Sokka. The Blue Wolf leapt back, hoping to take the chance to attack again, but Renzhi kicked a powerful blast with his other foot as Sokka inched forward. It struck him in the chest, tossing him back powerfully against the railing. Fortunately, the attack didn't cast him out of the platform, but he still crashed hard against the metal bars and his head swung back with the power of the backlash.

The attack hadn't really harmed him, his armor and clothes protected him from the fire well enough, but his neck hurt so badly he feared it had snapped. He groaned in pain as Renzhi rubbed his back and stared at Sokka in disbelief yet also admiration.

"You got me good, boy. You really did… I'm impressed," he said, as Sokka gritted his teeth. "Got to say I'm surprised you'd resort to waiting 'til I lost focus, but a good fighter makes do with what he's got, right?"

"At least he tries to," said Sokka, grimacing and rubbing his neck with one hand. The Millennium Dragon smiled and nodded towards him.

"Yep, being strong's not all there is to you, boy. I'll give you that, if nothing else."

"Good to know I'll get that much credit," said Sokka, still rather sore as he pushed himself to his feet, picking up his weapons again.

Despite all his training, he felt weaker than ever before. Striking his enemy just once was a feat that seemed to demand for all his efforts, and the Millennium Dragon's sturdiness and resistance was as good as an impossible barrier for Sokka to tear through. He couldn't win. There was no way he could defeat this man.

Sokka's agility was helpful, but only if he was close enough to Renzhi to get set on fire if the Millennium Dragon caught him. Long-range attacks were hardly any use, at this rate his boomerang might rebound against the condensed flames and fall down on the gates of the lava pit, if it didn't fall into the lava once they opened, that was. He couldn't take that risk with his oldest weapon. If it wasn't going to provide him the opening he needed to defeat Renzhi, then he could simply sheathe it and use another one instead…

His hand nearly trembled as he reached for the hilt of the white sword. He wasn't sure if two swords would help in any way, but at least he could try to use both weapons to win somehow. If it seemed Wolf's Bane wasn't helping either, then he would have to resort to something else… even though he doubted the bomb he had brought with him, or his knife, would help in this situation if two swords wouldn't do the trick.

"Well, that's a neat blade," said Renzhi, raising his eyebrows approvingly. "Is it new?"

"Actually, it's borrowed," Sokka said, his neck still aching badly.

"Looks pretty cool, though," said Renzhi, approvingly. "A black sword and a white one… you've got sense of style, don't you?"

"Why, thank you. I guess I do," Sokka said, smiling despite the pain. He wasn't about to shrink away from such compliments even in these circumstances.

Azula had been watching worriedly as Sokka flinched over the pain. His last stunt had surprised her, but the final outcome had been just as she had expected it. Sokka was fighting with someone well beyond his league. He was fortunate the man wasn't vicious, though… of course, by the time Sokka thanked Renzhi for his compliment she could only stare at him skeptically. Was he serious? Sometimes she truly wondered what the hell was going through Sokka's head during fights such as this one…

"Truly a clever gladiator, isn't he?" Aonu said sarcastically next to Azula. Despite her growing distaste for the man, Azula couldn't find it in her to defend Sokka.

"Yes, he is that extraordinary…" she muttered in the same tone, and Aonu snorted. She glared at him momentarily before focusing on Sokka again. She released a breath slowly, wondering if Wolf's Bane would serve any purpose… she hated thinking that Sokka's preparation and training were falling short of the challenge he had been forced to face. He had managed to deliver a blow to his opponent, but he definitely wasn't on the same level as the Millennium Dragon.

"Let's see if you're any better with the white sword, then," said Renzhi, smiling and dashing forth towards Sokka.

It surprised the Blue Wolf to see his opponent attack him in a physical way now. Sokka lifted his weapons to defend himself, but he didn't expect to accomplish much by trying to stand his ground against his rival. He would have to keep evading his enemy's attacks, hoping to come up with a more efficient method of defending himself in the process…

The Millennium Dragon's assault was powerful, just as Sokka expected. Blows and fire blasts rained on him, and he could hardly evade them. There were no openings, he didn't have a single chance to strike his opponent again. And he couldn't possibly slither away from every single attack even though he still tried to.

The next attack that caught Sokka struck him square in the chest and sent him flying once again. He spun in the air before collapsing gracelessly on the heated metal floor. He gritted his teeth, his chest aching despite the armor had yet again proven its worth by keeping him protected. He clutched both his swords, stabbing the platform with Space Sword to help himself to his feet again… and it was then that the spark of an idea struck him.

Renzhi readied himself for a new attack, but when he reached Sokka he found an unexpected metallic barrier rising from the platform. It was meant to serve as a barricade of a sort, and Sokka had managed to create it by cutting the floor's metal in a semi-circular pattern and lifting it up with the help of his swords. Renzhi had meant to toss more condensed fire at his opponent but now was left gaping in surprise at the improvised metallic shield Sokka had procured.

"Huh. You don't see that every day," he said, blinking a few times.

Sokka hid behind the barrier, his breath hitching as he waited warily. His barrier would serve its purpose briefly, he knew, but perhaps it would suffice… if it did, all the negative connotations of what he'd just done wouldn't amount to much. He figured cutting the platform like this would knock twenty points off his record, but considering he hardly ever lost points by breaking furniture, it didn't seem like a great loss to him.

The true problem of this new technique, though, was that he had left a gaping hole in the platform… and through it he could watch as the gate to the lava opened again. He gulped as the heat rose once more, the stirring magma awaiting him down below. Maybe cutting the platform hadn't been such a great idea after all…

When the Millennium Dragon's first fire blast struck the improvised metal shield, Sokka grew more convinced that he had made a mistake. The shield that should have protected him was now turning red hot as his opponent sustained a steady stream of firebending that meant to melt the metal protecting Sokka. As soon as it gave out, Sokka would be done for…

He noticed something as he watched how the fire crashed against the metal, though: this was normal firebending. It wasn't the special fire Renzhi had been using so far… so this was his chance.

He clasped both Space Sword and Wolf's Bane with the same hand before tossing his boomerang as quickly as he could manage. When it tore through the fire with ease he smiled triumphantly, and when the fire stream stopped he guessed his weapon had struck his target as intended… perhaps Renzhi wasn't quite as invulnerable as he thought he was.

Sokka allowed himself to glance over of the metal shield quickly, finding that his boomerang had fallen to the floor, not far from where the Millennium Dragon stood now, clutching his limp left arm. Sokka's eyes flew open in amazement. He had chi-blocked him! For good!

"He… he did it!" Ty Lee squealed in amazement, and for a brief moment, the spirits of the group who had come in Sokka's support were lifted. Despite it all, his training hadn't been that useless. He had managed to hurt his opponent twice now! If he kept up at this rate, then maybe things weren't so hopeless for him after all.

Aonu frowned worriedly upon his gladiator's reaction to the chi-block. It wasn't an unheard-of skill, but the Blue Wolf hadn't been known for using it. Aonu had investigated Sokka's run as a gladiator thoroughly, and he couldn't recall chi-blocking being part of his skills as a fighter. Yet he had indeed done it this time around…

And with that, to Aonu's delight and everyone else's surprise, he had managed to anger his opponent.

"Well, that's not a nice trick," Renzhi growled, as Sokka dashed out of his hiding spot.

He raced to reach for his boomerang before Renzhi could kick the weapon off the platform, perhaps, for Sokka dreaded he just might do that… but he didn't. The Millennium Dragon remained where he was, a heavy frown clouding his face now, and upon his unresponsiveness, Sokka figured he should launch himself into a tentative attack, if nothing else.

With his swords in tow, Sokka attempted to hurt his opponent again… and was met by a powerful fist to the face that, yet again, sent him rolling and stumbling back on the platform.

Sokka felt the world tremble around him as he tried to find his bearings. He had dropped his weapons upon the force of the impact. He wasn't entirely sure, but he thought he'd felt his brain move within his skull…

It took him a moment to process the punch hadn't even been coated with firebending. He looked at Renzhi to find him struggling to move his immobilized arm, his other hand pressed into a tight fist. The chi-blocking couldn't possibly have stopped him from bending with his other limbs, now, could it…?

As Sokka discovered next, it hadn't. When Renzhi noticed Sokka had found his bearings again he shot a powerful fire blast at him with his functional arm, prompting Sokka to evade his attacks once more. Only then did Sokka notice he was unarmed: his three weapons were lying on the platform not too far from where he was. He tried to collect them, but another fire blast kept him at bay, the weapons out of reach, and the next attacks managed to separate him from them effectively.

Renzhi's attacks were fiercer now, and Sokka didn't fail to notice the man was no longer amused or enjoying the battle. Now he seemed rather angry, and Sokka wasn't entirely sure why. Hadn't he wanted Sokka to give him a good fight? Why the blazes was he so angry about it now?

"Hey!" Sokka shouted, after evading yet another nigh-scorching fireball. "Calm down, will you?! It'll wear off!"

Renzhi only snarled and continued to attack, and all the while he kept trying to move his hand in hopes to regain the feeling in his fingers. When Sokka saw that they were starting to shift he gritted his teeth. This had been his best advantage in the fight so far… he couldn't waste it.

He gritted his teeth before roaring and throwing himself towards the weapons in what seemed to be a suicide attempt. He leapt to the sides to evade the fire blasts when they came, also shrinking in his frame when necessary and leaping as high as he could to avoid the fire. He caught the scent of something burning after several of his opponent's attacks, and he gritted his teeth, guessing the clothes hadn't been as resistant to fire as they were supposed to be…

But he continued to run towards his weapons all the same. He had to reach them, or else he would be done for. The Millennium Dragon was finally serious, and unless he was armed and ready to attack him or defend himself, Sokka probably wouldn't last enough in this fight to see the next time the lava pit opened.

He threw himself in the air to reach for his weapons, and flames caught his leg. He flinched as he soared through the air, and his hands finally found his boomerang and one of the swords, he didn't even know which. He rolled fast on the floor and tossed the first weapon fast, hoping to strike his opponent again…

But so long as the boomerang was in Renzhi's visual range, there was no way it would strike him. The man delivered an uppercut, coated with condensed flames, to strike the boomerang. And up it flew, spinning still, but knocked completely off course…

The weapon landed not far behind Azula at the stands, who turned to glance at it briefly before turning to the fight again, worriedly. Sokka had picked up both his swords, and the gate to the lava had closed again by now… but the fight was only going to become harder for him without his one long-range weapon.

Sokka looked up at his sponsor, and Azula nodded reassuringly. She saw the relief in his eyes upon knowing the boomerang was fine before he pushed himself to his feet, focusing on the firebender again… to find Renzhi could move his limp arm once again.

"Neat trick didn't work out as well as you hoped, now, did it?" said Renzhi, his eyes blazing angrily as he glared at Sokka.

"Come on… you wanted me to fight you properly, so I did," said Sokka, swallowing hard. "I get that you're not used to being hit by weaker guys than you, but still…"

"I'm not used to being hit altogether, boy," said Renzhi, and Sokka stared at him in surprise and amazement. He couldn't help but wonder just how long had it been since someone had actually hurt this fighter in battle… knowing now that it wasn't a common occurrence made him feel unexpectedly proud of his accomplishment. "Especially not like that. Not pleasant, you know, getting your chi-blocked."

"Oh, believe me, I know," said Sokka, nodding sympathetically. Renzhi's glare earned a more amused quality now, but it remained fierce all the same. He flexed and stretched his arm and fingers, making sure they were fully functional.

"If you know how it is, then you get why it annoys me so much, don't you, boy?" he said, his lips curling into a small smirk.

"Uuuuh… not really?" Sokka said, gulping. This did not sound good.

"By the way… your hair's on fire," he said, and Sokka grimaced. No wonder he had smelled something burning.

He patted his ponytail, trying to smother the burning strands of hair as Renzhi readied himself for another round of flames to overwhelm Sokka with. Sokka hadn't quite thought that his opponent's capacities were far beyond his understanding until now: Renzhi had only been playing with him, for he had expected Sokka would be easy to defeat, and he had meant for this to be a very simple, easy fight. And while Renzhi still had a better shot than Sokka to achieve victory, by far, the man was no longer in a good mood… and he meant to pummel a very confused Sokka, who clasped both swords tightly and tried to jump out of the way of the next attacks his enemy cast towards him.

Renzhi charged his fire blasts, making them even stronger than before, and instead of unleashing mere fireballs, now he attacked with powerful streams of flames. And Sokka's agility, which had been his best advantage so far, had been weakened over the burn he had received on his leg. He couldn't be as fast as before while he limped his way around the Millennium Dragon's attacks. And tried as he might, he couldn't evade all the attacks his opponent sent his way.

He took a powerful blast of fire to the forearm, which spread across his skin and burned his elbow. Then he took another one to the stomach, which sent him tumbling yet again, but this time the attack didn't stop there. The Millennium Dragon charged another stream of fire and shot it at Sokka, who only had an instant to cut up the platform and push the metal upwards again, creating yet another makeshift shield that barely could resist against the infernal fires.

The attack ceased soon, though, and when Sokka was about to glance out to find if Renzhi would give him a break, he found the man was charging another fire blast as he ran around the metallic shield Sokka had fashioned out of the platform. He was going to shoot that massive attack at him, and Sokka dreaded that, if it caught him, he would be done for…

When Renzhi growled and extended both his arms, twin streams of fire shot towards Sokka. The barrage of flames made the Blue Wolf flinch as he jumped out of the attack's range, but he couldn't get away unscathed yet again. He felt one of the blasts catch his leg for the second time, and it sent him spinning through the air until he crashed against the railing at one of the four corners of the platform.

And as he cringed at the pain, he felt the platform shift in a very strange way. It was as though gravity had suddenly decided to pull harder on the corner of the ring he had fallen on… but no, that made no sense, gravity couldn't just work differently all of sudden like that…

He lifted his gaze to find that the other fire stream, the one that hadn't caught him, had struck one of the chains that suspended the platform instead. And the blast had been powerful enough to melt several of the links in the chain, breaking it and leaving the platform to tilt dangerously now that it was unbalanced.

"Oh, hell!" Sokka shouted, trying to push himself away from the edge of the ring. The platform was leaning, but maybe he could still stand up and move to the higher end of the ring somehow…

Again, the gate down below slid open, and now Sokka cringed as the heat warmed the metallic platform once more. It would burn him at this rate, so he pushed himself up to his feet brusquely…

When he tried to get away from the tilted corner of the ring, another fire blast nearly struck him. Sokka gasped and shrunk on his frame once more, but his opponent's barrage of attacks was relentless.

One of Renzhi's fireballs caught him in the chest, hitting him with enough power to send him over the railing.

Everyone in the stands felt their breath catch as Sokka nearly fell to the lava down below, only breaking his fall by stabbing horizontally the leaning platform with Space Sword at the very last second. Azula felt herself paling as she watched him with wide eyes. She had to hold back the urge to jump off her seat and propel herself down there with her bending to snatch him out of that hell-hole… and she sure would have done it if he hadn't managed to remain in the game, despite it all.

"Oh, no… oh, no…" Ty Lee was saying, her hands on her mouth. Even Mai's eyes were wide as she stared at Sokka worriedly.

The gravity of the situation only seemed to hit Zuko now, of all times. He hadn't expected Sokka to win this fight… but he hadn't expected him to fall to his death either. He had thought they had trained him well: he was sure Sokka could handle the fight… and indeed, he could have handled the Slate, but he couldn't handle the Millennium Dragon. The man's skill was beyond Sokka's capacities. He was a truly extraordinary bender.

"He… he's not going to make it," Suki said, shivering next to Zuko. "He's… he's…"

Renzhi shot another fire blast at Sokka as he tried to push himself atop the platform again. Sokka flinched and yelled as the fire grazed his hand. It seemed the Millennium Dragon hadn't meant to attack him with the full extent of his power this time. He probably didn't think it would be necessary now that Sokka was dangling at the border of the ring.

Sokka struggled to climb atop the ring again, and he was forced to sheathe Wolf's Bane so he could try to clutch at the railings to hoist himself up. But his every attempt was met with more fire. The heat was becoming unbearable, he could feel sweat rolling down from his forehead and over all his body. The flames that waited down below only seemed hotter than the ones that were close to singing his fingers… why, despite everything he'd done to make himself a better fighter, couldn't he do any better than this? Was this the full extent of his abilities?

Azula's nails were digging into her palms as she watched Sokka dangling from the border of the platform, but she could hardly feel the pain she was inflicting to herself. Her stomach was in knots, her heart threatening to burst from her chest and not in the way it usually did whenever it concerned Sokka. This was just as bad as his first fight against Toph, if not worse. And not even half the fight had passed just yet…

"There is a fine line between a common fighter and a gladiator, Princess," Aonu started saying beside her, dragging the syllables of her title as though uttering the mere word was beneath him. "And only some sponsors are able to see it when choosing the one who will represent them. It's no shame, really, failing to find the right gladiator for you on the first attempt…"

Sokka's struggle not to fall off the platform seemed to only become worse as Aonu spoke. His opponent began to jump on the platform, making it rise and fall slow but dangerously, threatening to knock Sokka down. He launched more fire towards him, and Sokka continued to sweat and grind his teeth as the platform rocked. His fingers hurt like hell after all his efforts to keep holding onto Space Sword's hilt. And still he couldn't climb atop the platform again…

"But as the moment of truth arrives, you prove your quality as a sponsor by knowing whether to continue holding on to a useless fighter, or by letting him go to seek a better one," Aonu said, breathing deeply, as though the entire experience was relaxing for him.

His words passed through Azula's ears, but she barely registered them. She stared hard at the platform, as though her insistent gazing would somehow give Sokka the strength he needed to climb up on that platform once again… he had to do it. He just had to.

"Come on, Sokka…" said Haru, gritting his teeth, all their group watching the Blue Wolf nervously. Ty Lee looked as though she were about to cry, and her gladiator surrounded her shoulders with an arm.

Zuko swallowed hard, trying not to be negative about this, but could Sokka get out of this situation? Even if he climbed atop the platform again, it would only result in more struggles for the non-bender. It was a fact that he couldn't win, but everyone had thought he would at least survive…

He was startled when he noticed movement next to him, and he looked at Suki to find she was trembling violently. She gritted her teeth as she watched the fight, and Zuko frowned but reached out to touch her hand, hoping to appease her somehow.

"Hey…" he said, but she shook her head and stood up, darting out of the stands and back to the vestibule quickly, almost kicking Sokka's discarded boomerang in the process.

Zuko glanced at the fight again, finding that the gate to the lava was closing. Well, now at least Sokka wouldn't be fried alive… with that small relief in mind, he stood up as well and chased after Suki quickly.

She hadn't gone back into the vestibule, but instead followed one of the hallways that led to the standby rooms. Zuko gathered she had done that in order to be alone, but he wasn't sure if that would be a good idea right now. He hadn't seen her act like this ever since encountering her for the first time in Mai's house.

"Suki…" he said, as she shivered. He thought he could see tears shining in her eyes.

"He's not going to make it. He's… he's not going to make it," she started whispering, biting her lower lip and trying not to cry. "I knew this wasn't going to work, I knew… he's just going to die, isn't he? Like…"

"No, he's not," Zuko said, frowning and approaching her. "He's going to be fine. The gate just closed right after you left, he's not going to fall in there. Sokka is a big idiot, Suki, but he's tougher than he looks, and we know it. He's not that easy to kill…"

"Weren't you in there?" Suki asked him, her eyes wide as she looked at him in disbelief. "He's… he's dangling at the edge of the platform, defenseless! And… and you think it's not easy to kill him? Maybe for us it's not, but the Millennium Dragon… he's going to kill Sokka. He's…"

"No, he won't," Zuko said, placing his hands on her shoulders and looking at her sternly. "Suki…"

He had meant to tell her to believe in Sokka, to remember that the fool they'd been training with wasn't the kind to just die in a difficult fight. He'd had plenty of those already, and yet he had survived every single one. He would do it again, Zuko was certain…

But Suki's desolate helplessness made him fall silent. There was fear in those eyes, actual terror… Zuko wasn't entirely sure of why. Was it Sokka's fate that horrified her so, or was it perhaps the memory of the other gladiators she had known and cared for, who had died violently in the fighting pit? Or was it the realization that she would be returning to this very life one day…?

Zuko froze as he looked at her, not knowing for certain if which one, if not all, of the possibilities had shaken up Suki so badly. He had never given thought to the fact that Suki was, despite all things, a gladiator. Regardless of everything she had undergone, all the pain and trials she had suffered, she was meant to fight for her life again in a fighting pit one day, just as Sokka was fighting right now.

"You're…" he whispered, looking at her with intensity. "Suki, you're…"

"I can't watch this," Suki said, shaking her head. "It was… it was bad enough with Kerron. I can't take this again. I can't take any of this, Zuko. I… I can't watch him die…"

"You won't," Zuko said, grinding his teeth and nodding with determination. "You're not going to do anything you don't want to, Suki, and I'll make sure of it."

"Zuko…" she whispered, and he frowned.

"If you don't want to see this, you don't have to. If you don't want to go back to this life, then you won't have to either. And if Ty Lee tries to make you… then I can just buy you off her and never have you return to the Gladiator League again! I… I'm not going to put you through this hell again, Suki. I won't let that happen."

"I… I'll have to," she said, shaking her head and looking at him in despair. "Zuko, I can't just run away from…"

"Yes, yes, you can!" Zuko said. "Suki, this entire business is… it's plain revolting. The only reason why I ever bothered with it was because of you. And you were always too good for it. You deserve better than to suffer through this bullshit for the rest of your life… you deserve to live. You…"

"Zuko, I…" Suki said, looking at him in surprise and confusion.

The words he was saying weren't quite registering with her just yet. He was proposing to free her from the burden of being a gladiator? The prospect of a life where she wouldn't have to return to an Arena ever again was somehow mind-blowing. She had never even considered it as a possibility. She had always expected to die a warrior, to fall on the battlefield one way or another… and after being dragged to Shu Wo she had assumed the entire contrary, that she would die a meaningless death, amongst people who wouldn't care whether she lived or died. From hoping for the death of a warrior, she had started to believe she would have the death of a slave… and now Zuko seemed to offer her an alternative she had never thought of. An alternative she wasn't entirely sure of what entailed…

"I will look after you now," he said, earnestly, just as he had two nights prior. "Suki, I…"

"Why?" she asked, looking at him in disbelief. "Why would you do this…? Zuko, I'm… I'm no one special. Why should you even…?"

"If you're no one special then I'm damn sure neither am I," Zuko said, and Suki froze. "You're… you're the most amazing woman I know, Suki! And I want to do this because I…"

The words caught in his chest briefly as he stared at her, his heart drumming wildly in his chest. Suki seemed completely confused, and still somewhat scared, but now Zuko wasn't so sure if it was the gladiator fight that terrified her so much. It didn't matter, though. He was here to help her. He meant to be by her side. She wouldn't have to bear her burdens alone anymore, and he'd make sure of it.

"Because I love you, Suki," he said, and her eyes widened as her jaw dropped.

He didn't let her respond to his confession, unsure if she would reject him or reciprocate his feelings. But what she felt towards him wasn't what mattered right now. What mattered was that he was offering her his everything, and giving her the chance to finally get away from a life he knew she didn't want to return to. He would give her anything she wanted, so long as it was in his power to give. He was in love with her, truly, faithfully, desperately…

When he kissed her he felt himself burn, and he held her close as he continued to caress her lips with his. Suki didn't respond by doing much more than placing her hands on his chest, her eyes fluttering shut as her mind went blank. His words repeated themselves in her mind, but their meaning was taking ages to sink in. He loved her…?

The sound of loud voices broke their trance, though. Zuko pulled away from her and frowned in confusion, but as soon as he did, Suki stepped towards the passageway that led to the stands once more, his hands dropping from her shoulders because of her motions. And before he could so much as call out for her, she had darted out of his sight.

Zuko froze, his stomach sinking. Maybe he had come on too strong… but her lack of response made him feel like he had swallowed a massive block of ice. He wasn't unfamiliar with the sensation, not entirely. He hung his head, victim to the same miserable discomfort he had grown accustomed to during his childhood and teenage years, that feeling of utter inadequacy, of loneliness, of nothingness… the overwhelming weight of rejection.

He stood in the same place for a moment before the sounds that had compelled Suki to return to the stands reached Zuko again, and despite feeling as lowly as he did, he forced his feet to lead him back to where he could see what was unfolding in the fighting ring…

When the two of them left, Sokka had still been struggling to climb atop the platform again. He had dangled off the metal, his fingers aching, his feet kicking desperately at the air… but perhaps there was something he could still do while in this situation. Renzhi had been jumping to tilt the platform up and down, hadn't he? So Sokka could swing his legs together in order to shift the platform back and forth. If the Millennium Dragon wanted to rock the platform, then Sokka would indeed rock the platform.

Most the crowd had stared in utter surprise when he had started to move the platform too. Ty Lee and Haru, who had almost jumped after Suki and Zuko, were now glued to their seats as the platform started to move more violently. Renzhi had been forced to stop attacking, in fear of falling off the ring if he tried to continue bending… and that gave Sokka the chance he had needed.

Still rocking the platform back and forth as though it were a swing, he reached out with his free hand to clasp the red-hot railing above him. His hand burned horribly when he touched it, even through his glove, but he managed to lift himself into the platform at long last anyhow. He was quick to pull Space Sword out of the scab he had made on the platform with it, and he released Wolf's Bane as well, his chest heaving. Holding the swords hurt both his hands by now, but this was still better than dropping on the metallic gates that protected them from the lava, he was sure of it.

Renzhi was actually smiling, and he gave Sokka a pleased grin. The Blue Wolf, exhausted, injured and angry as he was, didn't return it.

"Gotta grant it to you, kid. You are tougher than you look," he said, smirking before getting ready to attack again.

Sokka was in no state to evade the new barrage of flames, though. He frowned before lifting his swords, hoping to meet them head-on.

"You idiot…" Azula whispered, her eyes widening. If he received the attack directly he would be done for, and he knew it.

But Sokka didn't see any purpose to fighting this way anymore. If he was going to be blasted out of the platform, so be it. At least the damn fight would finally be over with.

When the condensed fire came swirling towards him he roared, attempting to cut through the fire with his two blades… and he succeeded in doing so.

The powerful sweep of the swords wasn't unlike anything Sokka had done so far, yet somehow, the Millennium Dragon's potent fire faded in thin air as the swords cut through it.

The entire Arena was shaken by a gasp, and Renzhi stopped attacking, stunned cold by what had just happened. Sokka himself was blinking blankly, the burns and bruises in his body still stinging but he hardly felt them. What the hell had he just done?

"What in the name of…?" Aonu said, sitting next to Azula, his eyes wide. The Princess would have basked in the man's reaction hadn't she been just as shocked as he was.

"Sokka?" she whispered, as he stared at the swords in his hands.

Something truly strange and unexpected had happened. He had attempted to attack the Millennium Dragon with Space Sword earlier, yet failed at it… so how come did it work this time? How did he manage to swat the fire away…?

His eyes shifted towards Wolf's Bane instead, and he frowned. Maybe it hadn't been Space Sword. Because maybe…

Renzhi shot out a tentative fireball at Sokka, and he met it with Wolf's Bane alone this time. And the sword slashed through the fire, making it dance along its blade, as though submitting the powerful flames to its will, before making them vanish in thin air.

Sokka glanced up at Azula for an instant, utterly confused. The Princess could only return the same stare, her blade's strange properties a surprise for her as well. She had never used Wolf's Bane to fight against a firebender after all, so she couldn't have known it could do this…

Yet perhaps it made more sense than she realized. For Wolf's Bane, just like Space Sword, was no ordinary blade. Space Sword had been crafted from a fallen meteorite, and Wolf's Bane material, on the other hand, was rather ordinary… but its forging method, on the other hand, hadn't been quite so ordinary. She had never thought that dragons could imbue special properties on metals, but that was the only logical explanation she could think of as Sokka held the sword in his hand.

But whatever reason was behind this strange phenomenon, one thing was for certain: Sokka was going to make the most of this discovery.

Renzhi stared at the non-bender in disbelief and confusion as Sokka lashed out to attack him. He shot more fire towards him, but Sokka cut it down with Wolf's Bane with ease. The crowd gasped more loudly this time, echoes of their surprised cries resounding within the Arena. The wild grin on the Blue Wolf's face was nearly more terrifying than the blade he was wielding. Never before had Renzhi faced this sort of fighter, someone who could annul his potent fire as though he weren't doing much more than batting away an annoying fly. While other gladiators had given Renzhi truly difficult fights, and while he had never defeated Combustion Man, at least he had always been able to fend for himself with his fire. This was completely unprecedented…

For the first time ever, the Millennium Dragon was being driven to a corner by a non-bender. Earthbenders had gotten the better of him before, or tried to, and he had fought firebenders stronger than himself… but never had this happened with a non-bender. And while it was rather interesting, it was starting to worry Renzhi indeed… there was no way, even now, that this boy would defeat him, was there?

The thought solidified in his head and forced him to put his everything into the fight. As much as he had been mostly interested in finding out what capacities this boy had, this had turned into a real fight without his awareness. And unless he took the Blue Wolf seriously, the outcome of this battle would be the one thing he had never even considered a possibility for it: he couldn't let himself lose against this boy.

Sokka gritted his teeth when a brand-new barrage of flames flew towards him. Renzhi was attacking far more consistently now, with consecutive and strong fireballs that Sokka could hardly defend against, but despite it was no easy feat, he managed to swat them all away. Fortunately, Wolf's Bane was lighter than Space Sword, and waving it through the air proved much easier for Sokka.

When Sokka broke through the barriers of flames that his opponent was casting, he tore open a gap through the condensed fire with Wolf's Bane and stabbed through it with Space Sword. Renzhi was forced to jump back and launch another attack, but Sokka felt ready to take anything the firebender tried to throw at him. The rocking platform was a problem for both of them, though, for it threatened to knock them off their feet if they didn't time their footsteps carefully.

The same routine repeated itself time after time, despite Sokka's wounds kept aching and begging him for respite, but he didn't dare take a second to catch his breath. He was covered with sweat from head to toes, and the pain from each of his burns increased as he moved as quickly as he could around Renzhi's fire. He almost caught the firebender's leg with Space Sword, and he tore through nearly every defensive barrier the Millennium Dragon lifted around himself.

But there was a particularly powerful blast aimed at his head, and Sokka chose to duck instead of cutting it with Wolf's Bane. And that was all it took for Sokka's luck to change again, and not for the better.

The fire sped towards one of the chains, specifically towards the one next to the chain that had already broken. Renzhi stopped attacking when he saw what was about to happen; he turned on his heels and jumped towards the railing at the other opposite of the platform. Sokka frowned at that, turning in confusion, for he had seen the expression on his opponent's face… and he had turned just as one of the chain's links melted under the fire's strength.

That was all it would take for the horizontal platform to collapse, swinging violently until it was fully vertical now.

Sokka stared in horror at the shattering chain and tried to jump upwards, hoping to hold on to the railing that the Millennium Dragon had intelligently reached out for already, but he was too far away. He wouldn't make it.

He slid down the metallic platform, passing over the creases he had created earlier while trying to defend himself with makeshift metallic shields. He yelled as he clawed at the platform with Space Sword, but this time he had stabbed it with the sword vertically. It did nothing to break his fall.

His shouts ceased when he fell on the railings at the lower end of the platform. They seemed to sustain his weight, but they were far too hot still, and they were burning Sokka's legs through his clothes again.

"Dammit!" he gasped, gritting his teeth and trying to claw his way upwards with his swords, but Wolf's Bane couldn't cut through the metal like Space Sword could.

He was pressed against the hot platform, and he stared in sheer horror as he watched the gates down below sliding open, again with that loud noise that he feared would haunt his dreams for the rest of his life… if he survived long enough to dream again, that was. If he fell into the lava there would be no need to worry about having trouble sleeping, for by then he'd sleep for good.

He cringed at the thought and clawed at the platform with Space Sword. He had to get up to where the Millennium Dragon was to fight him again. He couldn't stay down here or he'd be toast… the heat was already unbearable before, but right now it was infernal. All the water in his body would dry up at this rate…

Yet a fireball struck his hand when he tried to start his climb upwards with Space Sword. He flinched and drew his hand away, gritting his teeth and glaring at the Millennium Dragon. The firebender had climbed to his feet and was balancing his weight on the railing at the top of the platform.

"Sorry, kid!" he called out. "But it's either me or you!"

Sokka stared at him in sheer horror. Why did it have to be either one?! Why couldn't they both survive?!

He didn't have a chance to voice his thoughts, though, for another fire blast flew straight towards him. Sokka winced and crawled towards one of the corners of the platform, pulling Space Sword out of the socket he had carved into the metal. More fire flew at him as he moved. He tried to evade it somehow, but he failed more often than not, cringing whenever it struck him.

The platform was swinging back and forth most dangerously, and it seemed as though it was about to fall in the lava at this rate. Renzhi wasn't optimistic about its odds: the two remaining chains didn't appear strong enough to hold the platform's weight. But he could save himself by holding on to the remaining chains as the platform fell… whereas his rival wouldn't have the same chance. It was a shame, he had to admit, for the kid was no doubt the most intriguing non-bender he had ever fought…

He unleashed fire on the Blue Wolf, who continued trying to avoid being scorched, but he couldn't evade all blows. They were on the same side of the platform by now, Sokka holding on to the railing at the corner as the lava, hot and threatening, waited for them down below…

"I'm going to soak in a freezing bath when I'm out of here… I swear I will…" Sokka told himself, gulping as he swatted a fire blast with Wolf's Bane. It was a fact that he had lost this fight, he had no doubts left about it anymore… but at the very least he could survive. This was already the fourth time the lava gate opened, so it meant there were only around fifteen minutes left… he could take fifteen minutes more of this, yes, he could…

The next blast convinced him otherwise when it struck him in the shoulder, nearly knocking him off the platform altogether hadn't he been holding onto the metal railing with his legs.

Azula jumped to her feet, her entire body trembling at this point. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Sokka with despair. If he fell… no, he couldn't fall. He wouldn't fall. He had promised he'd come back to her…

Renzhi watched Sokka's struggle with sympathetic eyes, despite himself. He glanced at Aonu to find his sponsor appeared somewhat nervous about the chaotic fight, yet still pleased to see that his fighter had the upper hand in the middle of this potential catastrophe. His eyes met Renzhi's, finding his gladiator was reluctant to finish the fight. But he nodded towards him, and the Millennium Dragon sighed before turning towards Sokka.

"I really am sorry," he said, gulping before readying himself to attack again.

Sokka's eyes widened before outrage took over him. He snarled angrily at the man and pushed himself up with the help of the railing, a frown on his face.

"You fucker… Like hell you're going to get away with that!" he snapped, sheathing Wolf's Bane and clutching Space Sword hard. If he was going down, then he would take the bastard with him.

Renzhi stopped himself just before releasing the attack he had been preparing for Sokka when he saw him sheathe the white sword. Everyone in the crowd watched in confusion as Sokka roared angrily, extending his right arm before tossing Space Sword powerfully, and it spun in an arched trajectory… straight towards the chain Renzhi had been holding onto.

By the time Renzhi understood what Sokka had done, it was already too late for him to knock the sword off course. It cut cleanly through the chain, and it would have done the same to the remaining chain as it progressed in the trajectory Sokka had devised for it, but since there was but one chain left, the chain swung the platform to the side as it oscillated dangerously. The sword flew past the final chain, lodging into the metallic wall as the platform swayed dangerously from side to side within the cave.

"Sokka!" Azula exclaimed, unable to hold back the cry as she saw him dangling at the very bottom corner of the platform, holding onto the railing with everything he had left.

Aonu as well stood up now, a horrified expression on his face as he watched his gladiator swaying in the air, panic-ridden as he clutched the nearest railing. The platform swung, the remaining chain creaked and made the entire contraption spin on itself. Renzhi clutched the railing, the spins so violent he feared he would spill his stomach's contents.

Sokka gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, the spins making him sick as well, but the fire underneath him worried him far more. He couldn't let go of the railing no matter what, and even so, he still might fall into the lava once the last chain gave away…

One of the platform's corners crashed against the wall, the very corner Renzhi had been holding on to. The crash was violent enough to send vibrations throughout his body, and to make him release the railing altogether. He clawed at the metallic wall, trying to find a ledge to hold onto before sliding down to his death in the lava… and, fortunately for him, the platform had crashed right above the door that led to one of the stand-by rooms. His hand soon caught the border of the retractile bridge, and he held on to it with every bit of strength he had left, badly injured as he was after that violent crash against the wall.

But Sokka wasn't at either side of the now vertical platform. He was at the very bottom, suffering as the metal contraption swung from side to side, threatening to drop him in the boiling lava as the links of the chain grew weaker and weaker…

"No, no… just hold on," Azula muttered, her uneven breath coming in gasps. "Please, Sokka, don't you dare… don't you dare let go…"

There was no escape, though. Regardless of what he did, he was going to fall into the lava pit. He couldn't get away, he couldn't possibly climb up the spinning platform on time before it collapsed. The situation was entirely hopeless.

Being this close to death was no longer a common experience for him. He wasn't used to living with his life on the line anymore… and he certainly didn't look forward to death as he had during his days as an amateur gladiator, when there had been nothing left for him to lose. He grimaced and tried to glance up at the stands, but everything was a blur because of the spinning platform. He gritted his teeth, having wished to at least look upon her face one last time…

"I'm sorry, Azula…" he whispered, as the chain's links stretched more…

The sound of the closing gate startled him out of his state of resignation, his discarded hope returning to him immediately. The lava was going away! He couldn't see it, dangling off the platform as he was, but he was hearing the distinct sound of the gate closing…!

And indeed, the unbearable heat decreased greatly. The lava was gone for now. Sokka let himself breathe out in relief just before an unknown man's voice called out to him from below:

"Let go!"

"Say what?!" Sokka exclaimed, confused, still clutching the railing hard.

"Let go of the railing now! You're safe from the lava, but the platform's still going to fall! It'll crush you if you don't let go!"

Sokka gritted his teeth and did as he was told, unsure of why he was obeying whoever was talking to him. He released the railing and dropped atop the gate on his back, the blow to his back and the back of his head sending him into yet another world of pain, as black and red spots swum before his eyes.

The lava was heating the gate horribly even though it was sealed, and Sokka gritted his teeth as he felt the heat sear through his clothes and burn his body even more. But before he could even think of pushing himself up, he felt hands grasping his body and pulling him up brusquely. He cringed as he was dragged away from the spot he had fallen on, and he was about to ask the people carrying him to be a little kinder when something very large and heavy collapsed on the ground right behind them. Sokka's helpers jumped nervously when the platform fell, but they were less tense once the risk of being smashed by the platform was gone.

Azula remained on her feet, staring down at the fallen platform, her eyes wide, her entire body trembling. She still struggled to catch her breath, and her hands were absurdly cold considering how high the temperatures were within the Arena. Next to her, Aonu was shouting as Renzhi's bridge extended, which allowing him to climb onto it and return to the stand-by room. Azula didn't understand any of what the man was saying beside her, her eyes glued to Sokka, who seemed stunned by everything that had taken place just now, as the staff members fussed over him. But he was alive… he was safe. He was fine, or at least he would be eventually…

Azula released a deep breath, blinking blankly as she processed the situation, closing her eyes and rubbing her forehead. Aonu stopped shouting once his gladiator was well on his way to safety, and everyone around them began chatting in amazement after that intense battle. Azula didn't think she was in any fit state to talk yet, but she was forced out of her shock by the judges, who approached her and Aonu.

"Now that was some battle…" they started, and Azula turned towards them as they spoke, struggling to focus on anything other than Sokka, even now.

The three staff members who had helped Sokka were now fussing over his wounds to check how much medical care he'd need, but Sokka wasn't paying them much attention. Now that the world wasn't spinning anymore he could see her, standing high above, truly out of his reach… but still there for his eyes to see, at the very least, and that was all he needed right now.

She was listening to the judges intently, Sokka found, and he couldn't see her too well from down below, but her body language suggested she was rather tense, as was the Millennium Dragon's sponsor, who stood right next to her. Suddenly her jaw dropped, and the other man hung his head.

She turned around, searching for him with her eyes and finding him quickly. He smiled, delighted to meet her gaze again after having dreaded he would lose her for good… and he found she was smiling as well, ecstatic.

He didn't have much time to study the smile on her face, or to figure out just why she was so happy. He gathered she was relieved he was still alive, but somehow her smile seemed to suggest she was delighted over something else as well. But perhaps the injuries were playing games with him, though, and she wasn't grinning as happily as he thought she was…

He lost sight of her as the staff members led him into a passageway, and he remained in the dark regarding what the judges had just told the two sponsors. The rest of the group in the stands had stood up too, walking up to Azula, who was laughing in utter disbelief now.

"That's… it's not logical. They were both about to fall," Aonu said, his eyes wide. "It's not right!"

"Regrettably, the rule states that the fighters who fall outside the ring are instantly disqualified," said the judge. "As soon as the Millennium Dragon was out of the platform, the victory was to be awarded to the Blue Wolf. I'm sorry, but despite your fighter's superior performance throughout the battle, this is what the rules state…"

"Wait, wait, wait… he won?!" Ty Lee exclaimed, her jaw dropping as Azula turned to look at them with a thrilled grin on her face.

"He… he won," she said again, laughing. "He's alive, the asshole, and he… he won!"

"Oh! Oh, he won!" Ty Lee squealed excitedly, as Haru smiled as well, throwing a fist into the air.

"He won!" he exclaimed as well. Ty Lee jumped to hug Azula, and for once, the Princess hugged her back, too shocked by the news to be her usual aloof self towards her friend.

"Hell, that guy has some ridiculous luck…" Mai said, raising her eyebrows but smiling weakly as well.

At the sound of a relieved sigh, Mai turned to find Suki breathing out repeatedly, the news of Sokka's victory serving to appease her stress at last. Zuko was also relieved, but when he heard Suki's sigh he frowned a little, his jaw set. Mai's own relief changed into confusion upon Zuko's behavior. What on earth had happened with those two when they had left the stands?

Azula was handed a large, polished silver plate by the judges: the trophy awarded to the winner of the Slate had to be, indeed, a slate. The Princess stared at it in amazement, reading the inscription that had just been written on it… the inscription that confirmed the Blue Wolf as the winner of this fight.

Yet while the trophy was quite welcome, Azula found she didn't care for it half as much as she should. She only wanted to see Sokka once again, as soon as possible. She handed the trophy to Haru and Ty Lee, who were rather curious about it, and she picked up the boomerang that had fallen behind her on the stands, ready to bring it back to her gladiator.

Sokka was being tended to in a room within the building, and a staff member had to lead Azula there. The physicians were in the middle of dealing with Sokka's many burns and bruises, and he cringed frequently as they rubbed ointments on his skin. They'd had him remove his armor and most his clothes to tend to him properly, and while the idea of being around a half-naked Sokka would naturally embarrass Azula, she could have thrown herself into his arms right then and there had they been alone, regardless of his attire or lack thereof. She smiled at him, with far more tenderness than Sokka was used to seeing on her face, but he rather liked seeing her smile like that even so.

"Sokka…"

"H-hey there," he said, with a clumsy smile as one of the healers bandaged his bruised cheek. "Damn, it's good to see you…"

"You're unbelievable…" Azula said, laughing softly as she looked at him in amazement. "I'm willing to bet you didn't plan any of what happened out there, did you?"

"Heh, I'm glad you give me that much credit," Sokka said, pouting before he smiled guiltily. "But nope, I didn't plan any of it. I had no idea your sword could do that…"

"If it's any consolation, neither did I," Azula said, smiling and giving him his boomerang. Sokka smiled happily upon clasping his dear weapon tightly in his hand again. "Some staff members are working towards retrieving Space Sword. They told me they'd deliver it to me once they could get it out of where it's stuck."

"Heh, good. That's very nice of them," Sokka said with a clumsy grin, as the rest of the group entered the room.

"It's bound to take a while for them to detach it from that wall," said Azula, breathing deeply. "But either way, it doesn't matter. You… you did it, Sokka. You actually did it."

"I did, eh? Survived the Slate," he said, smiling clumsily. "My hair got burned and all, but I still did it. First non-bender to ever make it, right?"

Azula raised her eyebrows in disbelief at his words before starting to laugh, and Sokka looked at her in confusion.

"What? Wait, is it I'm not the first?"

"Oh, Sokka," she said, still laughing and looking at him gently. "You're not just the first non-bender to survive this hell of an Arena: you won."

Sokka blinked a few times at her words, their meaning refusing to register inside his mind. Azula could only keep chuckling at his befuddled expression, and his eyes widened when Ty Lee and Haru came closer, still holding the trophy.

"Look, Sokka! It's got your name on it and everything!" Ty Lee squeaked loudly, making Sokka flinch at the sound.

"Y-yeah? Hehe… he. That's, um, nice, I guess. I… won?" he said, staring at Azula in confusion again. "How did I…? N-no, no, that's got to be a mistake. Look at me, I'm a mess…"

"So am I, boy," said a voice at the other side of the room, and only then did they all notice that the Millennium Dragon was being tended to by another group of healers. He was smiling with resignation at Sokka. "Getting slammed into that wall probably broke a couple of my ribs."

"Heh… sorry," said Sokka, before frowning and looking at his opponent with irritation. "But you were trying to kill me! I… I shouldn't be sorry at all! The hell's the matter with you?!"

Renzhi laughed loudly, though doing so seemed to hurt him quite a lot. While his injuries weren't too severe, they still pained him.

"That's what a gladiator's got to do, Sokka," he said, smiling. "And you did it too, so well done. Only one other gladiator had ever beat me before, did you know that?"

"Uh… I think I did…" said Sokka, blinking blankly. "B-but let's get technical, I didn't really win, I just…!"

"You won, you silly man, stop trying to make it look like less than it is!" Ty Lee exclaimed, giggling. "Oh, I should hug you, but you're just so hurt that I don't dare…"

"Smart call," said Azula, raising her eyebrows at her friend, though still smiling.

"How are you feeling, Sokka?" Suki asked, looking at him worriedly, and Sokka shrugged weakly.

"Burned, beaten and confused, if you want me to be perfectly honest…" he said, and one of the physicians intervened.

"His wounds aren't so bad, most of them are superficial, except for the ones on his hands. Those will need careful attention. Still, he's in great shape considering he was fighting in the Slate. But he would do best to get some rest, with no more difficult fights anytime soon."

"That won't be a problem. No more insane fights for the time being, then," Azula said, smiling and nodding at Sokka, who sighed in relief at the news.

"You did better than we expected, even though it almost seems our training wasn't that helpful," Mai said to Sokka. "Still, you survived, and you even won. And at long last this nonsense is over."

"Right," he said, with a brief nod before frowning "But I… won?"

Azula rolled her eyes and sighed, but she smiled all the same. It seemed it would take quite some time for Sokka to wrap his head around his triumph, but she didn't mind. He was alive and safe, and that was what she cared about the most. She didn't mind if she had to spend the rest of their lives telling him that he had indeed won in the Slate, she would do so gladly if she had to. Her heart was ablaze with joy, for he had kept his vow to her. He had returned to her, just as he had sworn he would.

---

The trip back to the Capital was, naturally, far less hectic than the one to the Slate. There was no drinking this time, because all thoughts of alcohol had slipped from Ty Lee's mind, as she imagined what it might be like for Haru to be the first earthbender to win in the Slate. Naturally, the idea didn't appeal to the gladiator much, but seeing Ty Lee so enthusiastic about the matter at least served to amuse Mai.

"Now, come on, dear!" Ty Lee exclaimed, as Haru gritted his teeth and shook his head promptly. The three of them had remained on deck during the day, watching as the sun traveled through the sky while the ship returned home. "You know you could do it! You've beaten Sokka before! They have the right to challenge at the Slate now, so Azula should just challenge us! Sokka can let you beat him and there you have it! Three thousand points for you!"

"I doubt Azula would agree to that," Mai pointed out, and Ty Lee pouted.

"Well, why not?"

"Because she would want those three thousand points for herself, you know…" said Mai, shrugging, as Haru shook his head again.

"I can't fight in there! There's no way I can earthbend when the only thing in that place is metal! Or is it you expect me to bend lava?"

"Well… have you ever tried to bend lava?" Ty Lee asked, smiling broadly at Haru. The skeptical glare the young man gave her was quite a clear response by itself. "Well, come on! If you never try it, you'll never know if you can do it!"

"I'd rather not take the chances," Haru replied, stubbornly, and Ty Lee scowled.

"Oh, come on, Haruuuu! It will be fun!" she insisted, and Mai rolled her eyes but smiled. Their conflict was slightly ridiculous but they were still somewhat entertaining, most unlike another of the pairs aboard the ship…

Zuko had locked himself up inside his cabin ever since they had set out to the Capital again, refusing to talk to anyone. It didn't quite seem like he was angry, and he even congratulated Sokka for his success as they were leaving the Slate. But something was definitely wrong with him, and Mai dreaded it might have something to do with the girl who had been making Zuko rather happy all along until this fight had taken place…

Suki had been knocking on Zuko's door for what felt like hours already. She hoped to talk to him somehow, now that they could speak privately again, but Zuko refused to open the door and listen to her. She had called for him countless times, begging him to talk to her, but the Prince remained stubbornly inside his cabin.

"Please, Zuko…" she whispered, her forehead pressed against the door. "I know I should have said something, but I'm trying to say something now… please, can't we just talk? Zuko?"

The Prince sighed, closing his eyes as he lay on his bed, determined not to let her words move him. For he was sure that, if she had really wanted him, she would have said so already. She wouldn't have needed to think, she wouldn't have been so quick to get out of his grasp. He knew he had been rash, that he had been far too forceful… that he had ruined his chances with her altogether by being so stupid. Why had he confessed when he had? It had been a mistake, most obviously, and he didn't think he was ready to face the consequences for it.

He gritted his teeth and berated himself, still hearing her voice calling for him outside. But he couldn't answer her. He wouldn't. He already knew what she would say, and he wasn't ready to be rejected. Not by her, of all people.

---

"Ow. Ow. Oooow!" Sokka complained, as the wet cloth rubbed against his hand's burn. "That hurts. Ow…"

"You could stop whining, you know. This is meant to help you in the long run," Azula said, dipping the cloth in the bucket of cold water again before returning to the wound in question.

Sokka hadn't expected her to take it upon herself to heal him, but he hadn't been that surprised when she had chosen to accompany him to his room and tend to his wounds. He knew she was pleased by the fight's result, and he also knew how worried she had been about his safety while he was fighting the Millennium Dragon above a lava pit. That she would take care of him made him feel much better, even if his burns still hurt terribly.

"According to the physicians, you broke some of the blisters you had here, so we need to take extra care with these burns," Azula said, scowling as she looked at his hand carefully. "They don't look so bad, but they must hurt a lot… hopefully the ointments the physicians gave us will help for good."

"Come on, I've had worse burns," Sokka said, smiling at her. She raised her eyes before caressing the wound again with the wet cloth. "This silly burn to my hand is nothing compared to that one time when a Princess punched me so hard that she broke my armor and burned my… ow! Oooow!"

"Could you try not squirming?" Azula said, withdrawing the cloth and looking at Sokka sternly as he grimaced at the pain.

"W-well, can you try doing it so it doesn't hurt at all?" he asked, blinking tears from his eyes. Azula sighed heavily.

"I really doubt it," she said, taking the ointment now and dabbing the cloth on it. "Be still now. I don't want to hurt you even more with this. You know I'm not quite a healer after all…"

"So far you've done just fine, though," said Sokka, smiling as she took his hand in hers. "So there's probably no need to… ah! Aaaaah, damn it, that stings!"

"Stay put, I said, or you'll only make it worse," Azula snapped, through gritted teeth. Sokka contained the cries of pain, pressing his eyes tightly shut as Azula continued to rub the ointment on him. When she saw him pout she couldn't hold back a soft laugh. "Come on, enough funny faces. Let's bandage it."

"Okay, then…" he said, gulping as she took the bandages and wrapped his hand most carefully. Despite her harsh words and general demeanor, she was being quite gentle by nursing him this way. The water and the ointments would have hurt regardless of how she applied them, but they surely would have been far worse if she had been unkind about it.

His hand still bothered him by the time it was fully bandaged, for the burns he had sustained with both of them were quite nasty. The blisters on his palms had gotten worse because of how he had fought so eagerly with his swords… the contact between his damaged skin and the leather had proven to be a dreadful combination. The rest of his wounds weren't as awful as the ones to his hands – despite his doubts, the flame-retardant clothes had served their purpose well enough, even though he still had sustained many minor burns across his body.

"So… are you planning on tending to everything else too?" Sokka asked, with a mischievous smile. Azula raised an eyebrow.

"You wish I would. You heard the physician, the ones that need careful attention are the burns on your hands. You can probably deal with the others yourself, or Song could deal with them once we're home again."

"Well, that's a pity. You've been a very nice healer," said Sokka, grinning goofily.

"Heh," Azula said, skeptically. "What you like aren't my healing skills, to be precise…"

"Oh, and you know what I like?" he asked, smiling suggestively.

"From what I gather, you definitely like pain," she said, smirking at him. "Else I figure you wouldn't be asking that question."

"Hey, now, that's not true…" Sokka said, with another pout, but he breathed out in relief and closed his eyes, dropping his head back on his bed's pillows. "Damn, I can't believe that's over with,"

"Me neither," said Azula. "It's strange that it's all behind us now. The ceremony, this fight…"

"Well, I guess not everything is behind us entirely…" Sokka said, gulping and looking at Azula apprehensively.

It took her a moment to figure what he was talking about and he noticed her confusion. He cleared his throat and raised his eyebrows.

"I seem to remember you wanted to scold me for something… didn't you?"

The words rang a bell for her, and as realization dawned on her, he continued to grimace. He was quite certain he wouldn't want to hear whatever she wanted to say about their drunken fiasco…

"Why, I did say I'd scold you, didn't I?" she said, and Sokka gulped and nodded.

"Yep. You were pretty clear about that," he said, and she smiled.

"Right," she muttered.

He waited for a while, guessing she was trying to organize her thoughts, but when he glanced at her he found she was actually smiling and shaking her head.

"Azula?" he said, surprised.

"Why is it that every single time I want to tell you off for doing something idiotic, you get yourself half-killed and I end up forgetting why I was mad at you in the first place?" she asked, and Sokka smiled weakly.

"Hey, it hasn't happened every single time. I think you've told me off for many stupid things as it is…"

"Not for all of them, though," she said, raising her eyebrows. "You… you nearly died out there, you know?"

"I know," he said, looking at her apologetically. "I… I really didn't want things to come to that, but at the time I didn't see another way out. I'm really sorry for worrying you."

"And I'm sorry for making you fight in there, regardless of if you won or not," she said, caressing the back of his bandaged hand. "We got an important boost now, but… but I'd rather we don't take such big risks again. It's not worth it."

"It's not worth it, really?" Sokka asked, smiling a little. "Well… that's probably one of the sweetest things you've ever said to me."

"Say I'm sweet again and I might start thinking fighting in the Slate is worth it, indeed," Azula said, with a cruel smirk, and Sokka froze.

"Uh, okay, fine," he said, with a soft laugh. "So, uh… am I not getting scolded, then?"

"You really think you can get away with what you did?" Azula asked, raising her eyebrows, and Sokka smiled and shook his head.

"Nope. I'm pretty sure I can't," he said, as she leaned closer to him, smiling.

"Good to know you're aware of it. Then I'll get to scolding you soon. But… I'll do it when the thrill of what happened back there is gone," she said, pressing her forehead lightly against Sokka's. He chuckled.

"Damn, I hope those three thousand points go up to your head for a very long time, then…" he said, as she smiled again and kissed him softly.

He closed his eyes, the sensation of her lips on his refreshing and delightful: it was pleasant enough that he could forget about the burns, if just for a moment.

"You did a great job out there," Azula said, her eyes closed. "See, just as… as you believed in me, I believed in you. And everything worked out indeed. What are the chances, huh?"

"Yeah… it's hard to believe still," he said, laughing softly. "I won… and my hair got burned, but I won, eh?"

"Yes, you won indeed Just… don't ever scare me like that again, will you?"

"I'll try not to," he whispered, lifting her chin with his bandaged fingers to kiss her again.

Despite the fragility of the kisses they shared, and despite the countless problems that they had yet to resolve, the two smiled and basked in the glory of their victory: the worst of their ordeals in the Gladiator League up to date was finally behind them.