Chapter 4: Recovery

It's not unusual for Sokka to visit the office while Azula and Hakoda are working. Sometimes he joins them for lunch; other times he just stops by for a short chat. But ever since Suki arrived, Sokka rarely shows up alone. Azula is fairly indifferent to Suki's presence. She wouldn't say they're friends by any stretch of the imagination, but they're on somewhat friendly terms. They can tolerate each other at the very least, which is a huge improvement from the way things were when Azula first moved back to the palace. Ty Lee had been instrumental in making sure they all got along. While Azula is appreciative of that, she gets the impression Suki will never fully forgive her for having her imprisoned in the Boiling Rock, and she can't exactly blame her for that.

But today, Sokka is not accompanied by his girlfriend, and Azula can tell he has something on his mind. Her stomach knots with dread.

She tells herself that maybe it won't be bad news. The last time he showed up alone, he did offer Azula a heartfelt apology for bailing on her. He seemed genuinely remorseful. Of course, Azula would have forgiven him anyway, after all, so many people in her life, including Sokka, had given her a second chance. She would have been foolish not to do the same.

He sits down in front of her at her desk, as if she's invited him in for a meeting. "Do you have a minute?" he asks, his voice squeaking at the end.

"Sure… what's going on?"

"N-Nothing! I, um, just wanted to talk to you about the Glacier Spirits Festival."

"Oh, right. I forgot about that. That's coming up soon, right?"

"It's on the winter solstice."

She nods. "So what about it? You're not chickening out of your proposal, are you?"

"No!" he says quickly, shaking his head. "Not at all."

"Okay, good."

He's quiet for a moment. He's never quiet, and Azula doesn't know what to make of it. The suspense gnaws at her.

"So…" he starts, avoiding eye contact. "I just wanted to invite you to come with us to the celebration." He looks up and smiles awkwardly at her.

"With you and Suki?"

"Well, yeah, me and Suki… and the rest of the group."

"Who's 'the rest of the group'?" she questions. Her voice falls flat. "Aang and Katara…"

"Aang and Katara, Toph and her boyfriend Satoru, and Ty Lee's even coming down for the event – "

"Oh, that's gr– "

"– and her date as well."

She wrinkles her face. "Ty Lee's dating someone?"

"Well, not exactly." He pauses. "Katara… kinda set her up with someone."

Suddenly everything makes sense. Sokka's strange mood, why he doesn't want to have this conversation with her… she gets it. There's only one reason why Katara would want to find a date for Ty Lee, and it's not out of the kindness of her heart. "I see," she mutters. "So what you're really asking me is if I'd like to spend the night being a ninth wheel to four couples."

"W-Well, it doesn't have to be like that – we're all going to hang out as friends."

"Spare me, Sokka. You know this isn't really an invitation."

"Yes, it is!"

"Who wants me there? Really?"

"Well I do – "

"Besides you and Ty Lee."

He fidgets in his seat and bites his lip.

"That's what I thought."

"Well most of them don't mind you being there."

"Great." She rolls her eyes. "That's exactly what I want to hear."

"I'm sorry, okay? I really am. I know how this sounds."

She scowls. "Well, you can go and tell Katara that she's won this battle. I'm not going."

"Azula, come on." He gives her a pleading look. "Just think about it – "

"I can't think of anything more nauseating than spending the night with four happy couples. I'd rather be alone. So thanks, but no thanks, I'll pass."

He sighs with defeat. "I don't… I don't want you to miss out. The Glacier Spirits Festival is really fun, the food is amazing and the fireworks display is – "

"I've been to enough street fairs in my day, and I've seen plenty of fireworks."

He frowns. "Again, I'm really sorry…"

"It's fine," she murmurs. But it's not fine. She's the opposite of fine. She hasn't felt this low, this alone in a long while. But perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. She'd clearly been living in a fantasy land, where she had friends and people who wanted her around. It was never real. And she only has herself to blame. Given everything she's done, why would she expect things could ever change? She's a monster and that's how she'll always be perceived.

"I miss hanging out with you," he says softly.

She doesn't believe him, but she doesn't want to cause trouble. She remembers her goal when she first came to the Southern Water Tribe. Lay low, work hard, go home. "I miss hanging out with you too."

He gives her a weak smile.

"Let me know how the proposal goes, okay?"

His mood picks up. "I will!"

She watches him leave and she just wants to shrivel into nothingness.

Hakoda looks sorrowfully over at her from his desk. "Azula, I couldn't help but overhear – "

"I don't want to talk about it." She clenches her jaw as she chokes back tears.

"Would you like to take the rest of the day off?"

"No." She shakes her head. "I'm fine." Lay low, work hard, go home.

It's the day of the festival and Azula is not wearing the Water Tribe dress Sokka insisted she wear that evening. Why would she bother dressing up if she has no intention of going? No, instead she dons her most comfortable Fire Nation attire and impulsively decides to head to the office. With all the commotion of the festival going on, it's too damn loud outside, too joyous of an atmosphere for her liking, but the "palace" should be empty. If she throws herself into her work, perhaps she'll just forget all about the stupid festival and stupid Katara and her loyal friends.

For a while, her system works. The office is eerily quiet. Oddly enough, she finds Hakoda's absence to be a slight distraction, even though she's been in the office plenty of times without him before. She realizes how much more secure she feels when he's around. He's been so kind to her, kinder than she deserves. She sighs at her desk and buries her head in some paperwork.

Just as the sun vanishes beneath the horizon, she's startled by a man's voice and instinctively prepares herself for combat, readying a fireball in her palm.

"Oh," she breathes, extinguishing the flame. "It's just you."

Hakoda raises his arms in surrender. "I didn't come here looking for a fight," he says with a gentle laugh.

"Sorry, old habits," she snickers. "So what are you doing here?"

"The better question is, what are you doing here?" he counters.

"What does it look like?"

"It looks like you're working when you should be at the festival."

She dips her head back and rolls her eyes. "I told you I'm not going."

He smiles. "That's where you're mistaken."

"Hakoda, no. I don't want to go."

"I think you do, I think you just don't want to go alone."

"Well, as you can see," she sneers, gesturing to the empty room around her, "I'm just swarmed with companions who'd like to accompany me."

"Azula…" he says, lowering his eyes at her. "Come on. Let's go."

"'Let's'?" she repeats, looking for clarification.

"I'm taking you to the festival."

"Oh no." She raises a hand in protest. "I'm not going to let you waste your time at some dumb festival just because you feel sorry for me."

"And I'm not going to let you waste your time feeling sorry for yourself."

She opens her mouth to speak but he continues over her.

"Besides, I was planning on going anyway. But I think it would be more fun if I had some company."

"And I'm sure my name was the first to pop into your head when you thought about with whom you'd like to spend your evening," she says sarcastically.

"Actually it was."

She crosses her arms. "I don't believe you."

"You don't have to. But, just so you know, I'm not leaving here without you."

"Then get comfortable because you're in for a long night."

He laughs. "Azula, whether you like it or not, you're coming with me to the festival."

"You can't make me do anything," she challenges.

"I'm not taking no for an answer."

Something about the sternness and authoritarian tone of his voice gives her goosebumps. She likes seeing this side of him. "I'm… I'm not dressed for the occasion."

"So we'll stop by the inn, you'll get changed, and then we'll be on our way."

"But – "

"Azula, what makes you think you have a say in this?"

She smirks. It appears she doesn't have a say in the matter. And she finds that all the more intriguing.

"Now come on. Let's go."

She changes quicky in her room, slipping on the Water Tribe dress that made Sokka's jaw drop. It may be the shortest day of the year, and a cold one at that, but she figures she can stay warm enough without an outer layer since the dress is lined with fur and made for this climate. She tidies her hair and makeup and heads out to meet Hakoda, who's waiting for her at the entrance.

His blue eyes widen. "Wow, you look – " He blinks. "– Th-That's a nice dress."

Her cheeks fill with heat. She smirks. "Your son helped pick it out for me."

"Well, he has good taste."

"I suppose," she says, shrugging.

He smiles. "Shall we?" He starts to walk down the steps, but she doesn't follow.

"What if…"

He turns back around.

"What if we run into…" Her voice trails off as she looks down at her boots.

"Then we snub 'em," he says with a wide grin.

She looks back up at him, raising an eyebrow. "You would really snub your own offspring?"

He laughs. "Well, normally no, but… I think they've treated you unfairly, especially Katara."

Azula can't believe he's taking her side. Over his own children!

"They're old enough to understand their actions have consequences. So if we run into them, we'll just pretend we never saw them and go somewhere else. How does that sound?"

A mischievous smile spreads across her face.

The festival is bright and energetic. Strings of blue and yellow lanterns align the perimeter and weave throughout the aisles of games and food vendors. The center is crowded with people watching performers on the big stage. Music can be heard on every street. The sensory overload instantly distracts Azula from her self-pity party, especially as Hakoda forces some food into her hand.

"Here," he says, handing her some sort of kebab.

"What is it?"

"I don't know," he shrugs. "Meat."

Like father, like son. "Alright." She tears into the meat stick, realizing she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. "Mmm. Delicious." She looks over at him and he's already finished his first kebab and has a second meat stick in hand.

"So, where to first?" he asks.

"Hmm… How about some games?"

As they stroll through the aisles of frivolous festival games, Azula's reminded of her trips to the Ember Island boardwalk with Zuko, Mai, and Ty Lee. She and Zuzu always ended up in some stupid competition over who could win the most prizes. She smiles to herself as she plays back the night Zuko accidentally set fire to one of the combat games in the arcade.

"I bet you I can win more games than you," she taunts, grinning up at Hakoda.

He laughs. "Is that what you think?"

"Mmhmm."

"Oh, it's on!"

They proceed to hop from game to game, collecting prizes and taking names, distracting each other with silly noises and movements as their competition heats. Much to Azula's chagrin, Hakoda is annoyingly good at these types of games, however, unlike how she would have acted around her brother, she remains a good sport. She's happy to see Hakoda taking the competition so seriously and not going easy on her. But what thrills her even more is how the two of them are undoubtfully ruining the fun of the Water Tribe children who stand no chance to them. Hakoda is at least kind enough to hand out the prizes he's winning to screaming children to appease them. Azula is not so generous. She walks proudly with the stuffed animals she's collected so far: a miniature polar bear dog, a pink pentapus, and a white deer fox. She notices Hakoda giving her a funny look.

"What?" she asks.

"Nothing," he chuckles.

"No, tell me."

"I just didn't think the fearsome Fire Nation princess would have such a fondness for cute animals."

"I do not!"

"Yes, you do," he continues to tease.

She narrows her eyes at him.

"It's okay. Your secret's safe with me."

"Well, who doesn't like cute animals?" she scowls. "Animals are better than people." As if on cue, out of the corner of her eye she spots what she believes to be the top of Ty Lee's signature braided ponytail snaking through the crowd. Her stomach drops. Sure enough, Ty Lee and her handsome date, albeit with a questionable mustache, and the rest of the group come into focus. "Speaking of…" She gestures to the oncoming group with a quick nod of her head.

"Come on," he says urgently, turning his back toward them and walking briskly away. "Let's try that ring toss game on the other side."

"Let me guess… you're a ring toss pro?"

"No, not at all." He gives her a playful smile. "I just saw you eyeing that giant stuffed otter penguin and thought you might like a chance to win it."

"I was eyeing no such thing!" she stammers, blushing with embarrassment.

"Sure you weren't."

She rolls her eyes.

They approach the ring toss stand and Azula wonders why all the prizes are huge compared to those of the other games. The young man attending the booth greets them but suddenly looks uneasy and a tad guilty when he recognizes the Head Chieftain. After several failed attempts at the game, it becomes clear why.

"This game is rigged," Azula snarls after throwing her final ring.

"N-No, it's not," the attendant nervously insists. "See?" He grabs a ring from his belt and successfully throws it onto one of the many bottleheads. "Just takes practice."

"Oh really?" she challenges. "Then let me use your ring."

"W-What?"

"The ring you just used. Give me that one."

Panicked, he looks at the Head Chieftain for help.

"You heard her," Hakoda says with a smug smile.

He swallows and reluctantly hands over the ring. It's sweaty. Azula recoils with disgust. Without asking, she grabs one of Hakoda's rings and compares the two. Just as she suspected, the attendant's ring is larger. She looks up at the attendant with daggers in her eyes. At this point he's sweating bullets. "Care to explain?"

"It's n-not up to me, I-I just work here!" he stutters. "Please don't tell anyone. H-Here." He quickly hands them their money back. "We're good now, right?"

Azula shrugs and turns to walk away, but Hakoda places a hand on her shoulder and stops her.

"We don't care about the money. We're not leaving here until we get that otter penguin."

Her eyes light up as she gazes at Hakoda.

"I-I can't give you a prize unless you actually win," he attendant squeaks. "My boss would kill me if she found out. Come on, I gave you your money back."

"That's not good enough."

"I've got this, Hakoda," she sneers, tossing the larger ring from the attendant in the air and catching it. She takes a step back, winds up, and gently tosses the ring into the sea of bottles. The ring catches on to one of the bottleheads, swirls around a couple of times, and then falls to the ground. "Damn it!"

"Sorry, Azula," he frowns, looking down at his remaining rings. "Well, may as well chuck the rest of these." He grabs the rings and throws them carelessly. As fate would have it, one of them lands directly on a bottlehead. His mouth falls open.

"Well, I'll be," the attendant says, dumbfounded.

"YES! YOU DID IT!" Azula cheers, giving Hakoda a celebratory high-five before turning to the attendant. "Suck on that, you crook."

Hakoda snickers at the unexpected foul language that even caught Azula off guard as it left her own mouth. "The penguin otter, please."

"You've earned it." The man pulls a penguin otter off the rack and hands it to him. "Now, please leave my booth."

Hakoda and Azula walk away grinning from ear to ear, basking in their triumph.

"Well, here you go," Hakoda smiles, offering Azula the stuffed animal.

"Really? You're not going to pawn it off on some insufferable child?"

He shakes his head. "I want you to have it." He hands it to her.

Her cheeks flush as her hand grazes his. "Thank you," she says quietly.

"You're very welcome. So… where to now?"

"Ummm… let's see…" All of sudden, Azula hears her name being called through the crowd.

"Azula! Azulaaaaaa!"

It's Ty Lee. She found her. Shit.

Before they can escape, Ty Lee torpedoes into Azula, hugging her tight and picking her up in the air. "Azula! I can't believe you're here!"

"Put. Me. Down," she manages to get out.

Ty Lee sets her down. "I'm so happy to see you! Katara said you weren't coming."

"I… I guess I've had a change of heart."

"Well that's great! Now we can watch the fireworks together." She looks up at the Head Chieftain. "You too, Hakoda! Hi, by the way."

"Hello, Ty Lee" he chuckles. "It's always good to see you."

"So you'll come, right? The show starts in fifteen minutes – "

"Oh, is it that late already?" Hakoda asks. "Sorry, I need to get headed back."

Azula isn't sure if he's trying to give her an out or if he's pushing her to spend time with the others. "What do you need to do?" she questions.

"Well," he starts, quieting his voice, "Katara, Aang, and I are throwing together a little engagement party for Sokka and Suki tonight."

"WHAT?!" Ty Lee gasps with excitement. "Sokka's going to propose?!"

"You mean he hasn't already?" Azula asks.

"No! Well now we have to find the others. I don't want to miss this!" She grabs Azula's hand and starts pulling.

"Wait, Ty, hold on." Azula turns to Hakoda. "Don't you need some help getting set up? It's getting pretty cold anyway – "

"No, no. Thanks for the offer, but I have everything under control. You should go see the fireworks with your friends."

Azula opens her mouth to protest, but as if he can read her mind, Hakoda addresses her concern.

"Knowing my daughter, I bet she and Aang have already left."

"Yes, they did!" Ty Lee confirms. "Katara said she was feeling tired and Aang took her home, but now I know the real reason, and I can't wait to party tonight!"

"Well, I… I guess I could…"

Hakoda smiles softly. "Here, take this." He removes his coat. "You said you were getting cold."

"Oh, no. Hakoda, I couldn't," Azula politely refuses. "You'll freeze."

"Hah," he laughs dismissively. "Good one." He drapes the coat around Azula's shoulders. It's huge on her. "There you go. Just return it to me when you can."

"Thank you." She returns the soft smile.

"Now go enjoy the fireworks!" He turns his back to them and takes off.

Immediately after Hakoda is out of earshot, Ty Lee latches onto Azula's arm and whispers. "Girl, tell me everything."

"What do you mean?" she laughs.

"About you and Hakoda!"

"What?" She looks at Ty Lee, puzzled.

"It looked like you two were just on a date!"

"Wh-What, no we weren't!" Azula is truly shocked to hear this. Why would Ty Lee think something like this? Then again, the girl has a tendency to see romance just about everywhere. "We're just friends. Colleagues."

"But he gave you his coat."

"Because he's a gentleman…"

"And I saw him win you that adorable stuffed otter penguin!"

Azula rolls her eyes. "He was just being nice."

Ty Lee shakes her head. "Girl, I know attraction when I see it, and there were sparks flying everywhere."

"I don't know what to tell you, Ty. There's nothing going on between us."

"Seriously? You've never even thought about it?"

"Would you?"

"Yeah, are you kidding me? He's hot!"

"He's Sokka and Katara's dad!"

"Yeah, exactly. He's a daddy."

"Ty!" The way Ty Lee emphasized the word made Azula's cheeks flush. Is that a thing young women desire? Hot dads? Well… Hakoda is certainly easy on the eyes…

"What?" she shrugs, smirking. "I'm just saying if I were you, I'd go for it. And you know he's thinking about it too."

"No way. Hakoda's never given me that impression."

"Azula. You're the smartest, prettiest girl in the whole world. Of course he's thought about it."

"Well, you're right about those things, but in this case you're mistaken. There's no way he's ever looked at me like that."

"I'm never wrong about these things," she smiles. "You'll see."