Ch8

Azula had remained in silence for the remainder of the day's activities. After having her injuries tended to, she could find nothing more to gripe about. What could have been noted by anyone as a cold-shouldered and ungrateful silence, was actually her means of showing some gratitude to her captors.

The princes wouldn't admit it- especially to these two non-bending peasants, but she was somewhat thankful Suki had helped her with her injuries. Although she resisted at the time, the effort was now blossoming its rewards. Her injuries no longer aches and pained with every movement she made. Her ribs were still sore and would remain uncomfortable for a while as there was nothing to do to heal a fractured rib, except to wrap the area in bandages for support as it healed naturally. But her stab wound no longer tore at her side. Instead it felt at ease with nor further stress. Her temperature had gone down as well.

In the presence of these two, although she was still being held captive against her will, she at least felt secure. If anything were to attack her, 'boomerang oaf' and 'real life fan wielding doll' would bear the brunt of the attack before she did.

This was where the appreciation ended, however. Although she didn't talk, and they didn't say much to her, that did not stop the incessant conversation between the two of them. A chatter that did not seem to end! Azula genuinely began to wonder how much these two could manage to compliment one another. "You were so amazing taking down those airships" and "Did you see yourself when you scaled that tower to get to the warden at the prison escape? You were something" were merely two out of a seemingly never ending slur of praises that succeeded in making Azula roll her eyes. She almost could not resist sighing out loud behind the two.

She sat across from them, the small campfire separating the two sides. Suki maintained a watchful gaze at Azula while she nuzzled her head between Sokka's neck and shoulder.

"You two are just...inseparable, aren't you," Azula finally remarked after a day of silence. "I don't think I've ever been able to relate to Mai constantly commenting on things that 'make her nauseous'...until now."

Before Suki could speak, Sokka placed his index finger over her still painted lips. "Hold that thought, Suki. She's just messing with you."

"You seem awfully comfortable with me around," she redirected. "Perhaps you speak from experience."

"Yeah," he answered, maintaining his attention to Suki, rather. "She did manage to get to me too..during the eclipse...but she was talking about you! I couldn't help myself."

A slightly disappointed expression came across Suki's face, but only for a second as the arm that went around her waist hugged tighter, melting the frown into a smile.

Azula looked Suki over and down, the Kyoshi warrior was still fully outfitted in her uniform. On missions out in the field, especially like this one where she could need to spring into action at a moment's notice, she stayed close to fully outfitted even when sleeping; only removing armor plating and weapons such as her sword and fans.

"Do you ever get uncomfortable wearing that thing?" Azula once again prodded. "Not only does your outfit look ridiculous, it even visually looks uncomfortable. I feel constricted just looking at you."

"Do you mind?" Suki hissed. "Trying to have a restful moment."

Azula placed a hand on her chest and looked at her with an innocent act on her face, "Me? minding? I'm merely returning the favor. You two were fully of never ending chatter throughout today, I merely thought you liked to talk incessantly," she mocked.

"And no, I don't," Suki adamantly stood her ground, "It's an honor to wear this uniform to let you know."

"Please," Azula scoffed. "It was the most uncomfortable thing I have ever worn. I don't know how you manage to fight with all that weight on."

"Well you-"

"And then there's all that make up.I have never caked that much on at one time. It felt like I had the face of a doll!"

"Hey, I think she looks great when fully dressed up," Sokka chimed in casually. "When I met up with her again near Ba Sing Se, none of us recognized her because it was the first time we had seen her without her makeup on."

Azula simply scoffed. What would these two know about elegance?

"You know," Sokka motioned, "When you're like this, you aren't that bad of a person, Azula."

"Like how?" Her eyes narrowed at him.

"You know," he tried to find the right words. "Just..casual. Not trying to kill us."

"We could change that," she responded with a threatening aura. "Do you really think these cuffs will stop me? Against a couple of non-benders?"

"I think you severely underestimate who you're up against," Suki remarked.

Azula rolled her eyes. "Please…"

"If she wants to run," Sokka interrupted, "then by all means she's free to."

"What are you saying, Sokka?" Suki looked to him with some concerned confusion.

"I'm just saying. She's cuffed at the wrists, not the ankles. I'm actually surprised she didn't even try to get away for the whole day," he explained. "Something is holding her here with us."

The princess said nothing. There was nothing to say, he was right afterall. This swamp, whatever it was, was unsettling even to her. She simply gave him a silent deadly glare.

"It's this swamp isn't it?"

She did not answer, Azula just looked off to the side. The weak glow of the campfire illuminated half of her face.

Suki snickered slightly. To think, the ruthless warrior princess was scared of some trees and the dark. The same girl who managed to defeat her outside Ba Sing Se, who single handedly organized a coup and takeover of the Earth Kingdom's greatest stronghold, and killed the Avatar...was unsettled by this swamp of all things.

Sokka didn't see things that way though. He still harbored bitterness and anger toward the girl who sat across from him, but he couldn't ignore what he could see. Deep within, she was- as much as he hated to admit it, amazing. Objectively, her talents were something to behold, even for him. Azula had been a source of genuine fear for the water tribe warrior. He would be more than willing to single handedly try and defend against a Fire Navy ship, and its crew of soldiers, and a banished Fire Nation prince with nothing more than a spear, club, and boomerang. But the idea of a one on one duel with the former princess could make him drastically reconsider.

Knowing this, however, and remembering what she used to be. Sokka couldn't look past how she was now. Her royal attitude, sharp remarks, and life threatening glare was still there. She was still even resourceful. But something was off. He read that the same fire that drove a deadly force of nature, was dying. She did not come off as the person who once tried to kill him and his friends, and even succeeded once. The ruthless warrior princess of the Fire Nation, now rather seemed more on level to him and Suki: a teenager with nowhere to go, scared of the dark and what could be lurking in it. Truthfully, he felt bad for her.

"We need to stoke this fire," Sokka changed the subject. "It's dying." They hadn't made it out of the swamp yet, but Sokka knew they would reach the edge by the end of the next day.

"I'll go get the spark rocks," Suki offered, letting off Sokka.

"That won't be necessary," he simply replied as he walked around the fire, tossing more dry grass and twigs. He pickpocketed a small iron key from Suki's belt which he concealed in a closed fist. He knelt beside the deposed princess.

"What are you-" she flinched at his unannounced motion to her hands.

She heard a crisp click as the cuffs released. The cool air finally could be felt at her wrists which had been arrested for the entire day. Her eyes jumped from her now freed wrists to Sokka's face. Looking back into her golden irises were a pair of sincere blue orbs. Sokka didn't smile at all at this, in reality he was taking a big risk and leap of faith with Azula. She saw a stern grimace expression whose message was strongly conveyed by the sincerity of his eyes. "I can trust you, right?" is what she could read from the look on his face. Azula was left speechless at the gesture. Part of her wanted to run. Part of her wanted to blast these two 'high and mighty inferior peasants.' But she remained still, no aggression or attempt to flee. Someone, an enemy, was showing her kindness?

"Sokka! What are you doing?" Suki was genuinely concerned. "Can you really trust her?" She instinctively had a hand already grasping one of her fans, ready to draw. He held up a calming hand behind him, gesturing to her that it was okay.

"Can you help us with the fire?" His voice was sincere.

"Why would I help the likes of you?" Azula hissed. Subconsciously, she wrapped her arms around her legs, hugging her knees to her chest.

Suki stayed vigilant.

"Truthfully, you don't have a reason to. I get it. We were sworn enemies, and we've tried to kill each other a couple of times. If I was in your position, I'd be pretty skeptical too. But as I said before, being with Aang and- and Zuko, travelling the world, and seeing a lot of things has...kinda altered my perspective. And I'm willing to try to put all the tension and animosity between us behind me," he admitted. "If you're willing to try too."

Azula stayed silent and bit her cheek, gazing into the glow of the dying fire.

"...And coincidentally...we have a dying fire and a master firebender," Sokka teased. "The math adds up."

Suki's eyes narrowed. She remained on edge.

"And it's gonna get pretty dark soon…"

After another moment of consideration Azula finally replied. "Well..it is getting rather..cold isn't it," She sighed and rolled her eyes. Agni, what was she going along with?

Azula sat up and focused on the fire. Sokka was expecting a blast of blue flame. She closed her eyes, now sitting cross legged. The master inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, once in preparation. It was a no brainer that this was a very simple feat for her, it was borderline insulting. Sokka and Suki noticed that the weak flame seemed to rise and glow with each inhale and fall with each exhale. Finally, she took a deep breath inward and exhaled fully. The flame rose, now full of life, seeming to erupt like an exploding volcano.

Sokka looked back to Suki, a smug look on his face. She smiled warmly back at him and dropped her grip on her fan, settling back into a more relaxed position.

"Thank you, Azula," Sokka said sincerely.