FIRE DAY
DAY 8
"Are you done with your list for tonight?" Sokka asked her while walking in the Palace hallways.
"Nope," Azula denied, "In full honesty, I haven't even started it," she admitted glancing into the distance.
"Really?" he asked startled, "Why not?"
"It's just... I can't seem to think in something to write down," she confessed, "It always difficult to think about something. Is it yours ready?" she asked curiously.
"Yeah," he said, putting his hands in his pockets. "I ended it this morning, before practice with Piandao."
"So, you regret a lot of things?" she teased him, smirking.
For tonight bonfire, every citizen had to write down a small letter, with things they did or didn't regret it from last year, and then throw it in the fire, to let their all regrets wash away.
Sokka shook his head, "No. It's more like…" he explained, when a voice he hadn't heard before interrupted them.
"It's that my little mochi?" A deep, warm, calmed voice behind them said, making the Princess's eyes and mouth widen in surprise.
Her neck turned so fast that Sokka thought it might snap. "Oh, my gods!..." she said before the biggest smile -Sokka has ever seen on her- appeared in her face, which makes him feel a little pissed and disgusted.
A man in her thirties or something, pale skin, black hair, and gold eyes were staring back at them. With a smile on his face. Azula rushed to him as fast as she could. "You are here!" she said as soon as he welcomed her in an embracing hug, raising her from the floor, still holding her.
"It good to see you, mochi." The new arrival said while placing her back on the floor.
"What? Who?, Why?..." The Princess asked still in shock looking at her cousin, "You...What?" she was euphoric, so happy to see him, that her joy was really evident, even at the distance.
Lu Ten snickered at her reaction, "Surprised?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," she admitted, still smiling. Then, she frowned, "By the way…" she pinches his cheek really hard.
Sokka walked slowly towards with a sullen look.
Lu Ten made a grin of pain, "Ouch… " he whined, "Azula, it hurts."
She squished harder, "Three years? Really? It took you three years?" she scolded him between teeth, still frowning.
Her cousin bent forward a little bit in pain, "Azula… Please mochi…"
"Don't even try it. I'm really pissed with you…" she said bitterly, pinching him even harder.
"Let me explain…"
"Oh, you do have a lot to explain…" uttered Azula, "You…"
"Azula?" Sokka intervened.
"Huh?..." she turned to him, finally freeing her cousin, who rubbed his soared cheek.
"Who is this?" he inquired bitterly.
"Lu Ten." her cousin introduced himself.
"Sokka." he nodded a little, still looking at him warily. Who was this guy? And what kind of relationship he had with the Princess, that she was so eager to see him?
"Sokka," she called him, "Would you mind if we catch up later?" she asked.
He jolted up a little bit, his jaw clenched. "N-No, of course," he said, trying to mask his displeasure. It minded him.
"Great," Azula said, before turning back to her cousin, "Come on." she dragged him by the arm. "Where is your father, anyways?" she asked him, as they strolled through the hallway, focused only in her cousin, that she didn't even hear Sokka farewell.
"Bye," Sokka muttered while watching them go, with the deepest frown on his face.
Who the hell was that guy? He thought with his blood starting to boil.
...
"Azula, seriously I can't feel my face," Lu Ten whined once more, still rubbing his face. "You have gotten stronger, even if you don't look like it."
"The older you get, the whiner you get, don't you?" she mocked snickering a little bit. "I'm so pissed at you, I should burn your eyebrows, you know," she grunted.
"I certainly hope, you don't my niece," her Uncle said appearing in front of them, as they turned a corner to a new hallway. "I'm sure it is his best feature." he teased.
"Uncle." Azula greeted the old man with a cold tone.
"Oi,..." he made a grin, "Such coldness…" he pointed out, "I'm still your uncle, young lady…." Iroh said severely before smiling, "But oh my, my... Haven't you got more prettier?"
"She has..." Lu Ten muttered, trying to get to her good side again.
Azula smiled cockily and poked her cousin with her elbow in the ribs. He winced.
"Indeed, I have…" she said cavalier, not being fooled by her cousin's attempt, "Just because you compliment me, doesn't mean I have forgiven you." she menacingly narrowed her eyes.
"I know," said Lu Ten, nodding.
"Why don't we catch up with some tea?" Proposed her Uncle, "I asked for some tea to be served in the studio." He said leading them to said room.
"Of course you did," Azula muttered. Her Uncle was still the same old, but they followed him. "By the way, did your father got by any chance any fatter?" Azula muttered to her cousin in a low voice. So her Uncle -a few steps ahead- will not listen to her.
"Yeah, he did," he whispered, "but don't tell him. It would break his heart" she smirked.
"So, how have you been?" her uncle asked her, once they were sat, with some tea, and gulab jamun.
Now she knew why Sokka had been available to find some in the kitchen the previous day, it was his cousin's favorite dessert.
"Perfect, indeed." the Princess blew to her tea to try to cold it down.
"I heart my brother is still trying to arrange you a marriage." Iroh inquired.
She placed her cup down and sighed. "Yeah, he is still trying," she said quizzically.
"And I hope, you are still trying your best to politely reject your suitors," he smirked.
Azula snickered, "I got the rejection part covered… the politely...not so much…" she admitted making a grin.
"As I will hope from you, little mochi…" Lu ten pokes her jokingly, "As ruthless as ever…"
"Oi, wretched child!" Iroh squealed, looking at his child. "Don't encourage her!" he scolded him, "I'm sure my brother is trying really hard to find you, suitors…"
"Yeah…" She sighed, "He is eager to have grandchildren… ," she leaned back, crossing her arms, "He thinks that if we wait any longer, by the time they are available to walk he wouldn't have the energies to chase them..." Azula rolled her eyes.
"If that gets to happen, it's because probably he is not drinking enough tea…" Her uncle pointed out. "Look at me, I feel like a teenager and I can still chase after my grandkids who are a force to reckon."
"Well, if they are his…" she mocked, glancing and pointing with her head towards Lu Ten. "I'm sure they are..."
"Hey…! You are the one to talk!" Lu Ten retorted affronted, "Little miss prodigy, still terrorizing Zuko? Being a nightmare for him?" he smirked.
"He is overdramatic, but, of course…" said Azula, "The old traditions have to remain…" she said playfully, "Now that I remember, when am I going to meet your little brats?" she questioned him raising an eyebrow.
"They are with Rin," said Lu Ten, "They fell asleep on the way here, and they get moody if they are woken up abruptly…" he explained, "Wait. Hey! Little brats?"
"What? Did I lie?" she asked trying to sound innocent, "So heavy sleepers then?"
"Yeah, must be her mother's side of the family…." he joked, making a grin.
The Princess rolled her eyes, as she knew, it was from his side of the family. Uncle was a loud and heavy sleeper as well as his son, who Azula remembered, having to pull his sideburns to wake him up when she was little.
"By the way, I will suggest you, to not let them out of your sight…" said Azula, "If mother or father bond with them, you will probably end up not getting your children back."
Both Lu Ten and Iroh tilted their head backward, laughing uncontrollably.
After a while catching up, Lu Ten looked at her with a mischievous smile. "So…"
"So what?" the Princess quirked an eyebrow.
"Who is Sokka?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"Oh, come on, mochi…." Lu Ten teased her, poking her, "Who is he?"
Azula sighed, "He is the son of the Southern Chief."
"And...?" he insisted.
The door opened abruptly.
"I was informed, that you were here, not thanks to you, it seems," The Fire Lord voice, jolted them making them turn their attention. The Fire Lord, as well as the Fire Lady and the Prince, walked in. "It's not polite to not greet brother," Ozai scolded his older brother. "Have you forgotten your manners?"
"My apologies, brother." Iroh excused.
"Aunt," Lu ten said, standing up, and walking towards her parents, "You get more and more beautiful with the pass of the time, dear aunt," he said flattering her mother with a compliment, before embracing her in a short hug. "You are like a good wine, you get better as the time pass by."
"You are such a bootlicker, Lu Ten," Ursa said smiling, with a little blush, she loved getting compliments.
"Not at all, I'm just stating a fact," he said smiling, before turning to Ozai. "Uncle," he extended his arms at each side.
"Please nephew, refrain from hugging…" The Fire Lord tried to oppose to his nephew affection raising a hand to stop him but failing. "… There, there, you were very much missed." he patted Lu Ten in the back a few times.
"Uncle," Lu Ten tilted his head when he let go of his Uncle Ozai. "Have you gained weight?" he asked, "Maybe it was my imagination but I…"
"When do you leave?" Ozai asked rim, with a stoic expression.
"Oi, oi, Ozai." Iroh intervened amused, "You haven't seen us in three years, and this is how you welcome us?"
"Apologies brother. Welcome, both of you," he made a pause, "When do you leave?" Ozai insisted again, still bitterly.
"Don't be like that and hug me…." Iroh imitating his son, extending his arms, and embracing his younger brother into an even more crashing hug.
"You do have gotten fatter." Ozai pointed out, muttering and pouting when his brother let him go. His wife pokes him in the ribs.
"Well, I wanted to go on a diet, but I feel like I have way too much on my plate right now." Joked Iroh, only his son laughed and the rest of the Royal family, either rolled their eyes or facepalmed.
"Cousin." Lu Ten greeted Zuko.
"How was your trip?" The Prince asked.
"Incredibly smooth," he said, before glancing at everyone again. "But, what's new around here, huh?" Lu Ten asked, "Does my aunt still scolds my uncle when he misbehaves?" said quizzically.
"I don't misbehave," Ozai muttered, pouting.
"Of course I still do, darling," Ursa stated, with a little smirk, reaching to hold her husband's hand and making him stop pouting. "And how is father's life treating you?" she asked curiously, taking sit in one of the couches.
"Well, is not as easy as I thought, to be completely honest." Lu Ten admitted.
"Of course it's not. Children are either a blessing or a curse. Look at mine for example," Ozai said, glancing towards Zuko and Azula, which looked at each other with affronted looks. "There are both disrespectful brats."
"Humph, and you say we inherit the over-dramatic thing from mom." teased Azula resting her chin on her palm, while smirking.
Zuko rolled his eyes, "You love to play the victim dad." he stated, making everyone in the room except for his father, laugh while sitting in the empty spot next to his sister.
"Tsk! See? What did I tell you? Disrespectful and ungrateful," The Fire Lord said, shaking his head before looking at his nephew. "Either way, enjoy it while they are still little, then they will grow up, and turn in to those," he said pointing at his children with disdain.
"Aren't you complaining so much, for someone who wants grandchildren so desperately?" Azula inquired raising an eyebrow, "We are the only way for you to get that, remember?" she said referring to herself and Zuko.
"Grandchildren it's different. Isn't brother?" Ozai glanced towards his brother, searching for his agreement.
"Yeah," Iroh nodded, "Raise your children, so you can spoil your grandchildren."
"And that's what I intend to do," The Fire Lord uttered, "Spoil my grandchildren."
"Dear," Lady Ursa called Lu Ten, "When are we going to meet the twins? And where is Rin?" she asked him excitedly to meet them. She had been wanting to meet them for a while now. "Last time I saw her, was back at the wedding."
"Rin was with them. They were taking his nap when we arrived, but they should be…" Lu Ten was interrupted when the door opened again.
"Daddy!" A small blur entered in the room and rushed towards Lu Ten, who quickly welcomed with open arms and hold him.
"He was having a nightmare, and as soon as he woke up he started asking for you." Lu Ten's wife walked in the room, with another child in her arms, this one more asleep than awake.
"Did he?" he looked at his son, "What was the nightmare about Rei?" The boy hid his face in his arms, and just hugged his father. "It's okay" he caressed his son in the head.
"Rin, darling. How have you been?" The Fire Lady was the first one to greet the newcomer, moving herself a little in the couch to let an empty spot for Rin, and inviting her to sit patting the site next to her.
The girl had slightly tanned skin, and brown hair, her features were delicate and elegant. Rin was noble-born, but even if she hadn't been, her features will make you believe otherwise. She had a unique beauty, not many girls in the Earth Kingdom had.
The girl nodded, too, and softly smiled to everyone in the room, before sitting on the couch. "I have been doing fine. My parents send their greetings," she said.
"How's Governor Yona?" Fire Lord Ozai asked looking more focused in the little boy who was slowly getting more awake by every passing moment.
"Well, seems like being a grandfather fills him up with vitality."
"I will have to agree with that," Iroh said, "Since the twin's birth my health just keeps improving."
"See?" Ozai said with his eyes wandering through his children, which only rolled his eyes. "That's another reason to want grandchildren."
"In that case, we will be more than pleased to lend you the twins for a couple of days." Lu Ten joked while passing his son Rei to his aunt Ursa, who smiled excitedly welcoming him into her lap.
Rin did the same with Lei when she saw him extending his arms towards The Fire Lord.
"Ohhh... Careful," Azula said, "You might not get them back." she mocked.
"Hush… Wicked child." sneered her father, but not even a second later, Lei took his beard and pulled it, making Ozai wince.
Azula and Zuko burst out in laughs.
"I should have warned you brother," Iroh said trying to suppress his laugh, "They like to do that, quite a lot," he said caressing his own beard.
Ozai looked menacing at both of his children, who were still laughing.
"Stop laughing," Zuko muttered to his sister tittering.
"You stop laughing," said Azula between giggles.
"I can't if you don't stop." They both pressed their lips to try and stop the snickering but failing.
"Are you thinking about having more children?" asked The Fire Lady to Rin, more focused in Rei than in whatever her children were doing.
"Yes. We want a little girl," said Rin, glancing towards Lu Ten who nodded in agreement.
Zuko quirked an eyebrow, "Why? Don't you enjoy a peaceful life? Or do you hate your children?" he asked mockingly, Azula rolled her eyes, and poked him in the ribs. "What?" he shrugged innocently, "Talking thru personal experience."
"Haha. Hilarious." said The Princess, bitterly frowning.
"So, that means at least you are expecting another child soon?" inquired The Fire Lord.
"Hopefully," said Rin.
"If not, I guess we will have to keep going until we get her." teased Lu Ten crossing his arms and winking at his wife.
"Keep going till…?" asked Zuko, wary and curious.
"At least, until we got a little battalion, or we have the girl, whatever happens first." he shrugged, half-joking, but half-serious.
"Then, I hope you are the one bearing them, dear." pointed out Rin, scowling and side smiling.
A servant appeared at the door moments later, to announce to them that the food was served in the dining room. And also to inform you that the rooms for the new newcomers were ready.
"By the way, my brother Jet, he really wanted to come," said Rin to The Princess as they were all heading to the dining room. "But his friends were in town, so he couldn't come with us. He really wants to meet you, Princess," she smiled, "It's unfortunate that you haven't met yet."
Azula had to admit, that even though she had been bitter towards Rin when they first meet, the girl had always been a ray of sunshine, always smiling and polite.
And the more The Princess got to know her, the she realized of Rin's good heart, no wonder she had trapped the heart of her cousin.
The only thing she hated about her, was the fact that she lived in the god-damn Earth Kingdom, which had made for them to barely see Lu Ten and her Uncle.
"Me?" Azula frowned.
"I have told him, so many stories of you, that now, he is intrigued to know you." Lu Ten said proudly placing his arm around her shoulders. "Maybe next time we came, he will be available to join us."
"Please, just make sure next time it isn't in three bloody years." she pleaded.
"I promise," Her cousin said raising a hand as a promising sign. "The business is going incredibly well. Since we added the fortune cookies to the menu, people from all over the Kingdom is coming to the shop. "
"By the way, how did it go with the investors from Ba Sing Se?" Zuko asked.
"Incredible. They want to open some franchises in the city," said Lu Ten "Dad is overjoyed. He never thought the jasmine dragon will be this successful," he patted Zuko in the shoulder, "Thank you again for coming to help last month."
"So," Azula tilted her head towards them, "That's the detour you took before coming here?" she asked, Zuko nodded, "Huh... So you knew they were coming?" her sibling nodded again, "Huh." she said before punching him in the arm.
"What the…" he squealed.
"You knew they were coming, and you didn't think about telling me? Quite a brother you are, Zuzu." Azula scolded him, annoyed.
"He told me not to!" Zuko excused, making a grin of pain, blaming Lu Ten while rubbing his arm.
"Hey," Lu Ten raised his arms in defense, "I didn't know if we were going to make it on time, for your birthday, mochi," he explained, "So I asked him to keep it as a secret."
"Tch…"
"I can totally see, that you two are more of the punch first, ask later type, huh?" Rin smirked glancing back and forwards between Zuko and Azula. "No wonder you and my brother got into a fight on your first encounter."
Azula sighed, "Why doesn't that surprises me?" she looked at her older brother disapprovingly.
"Hey! He attacked me first!" Zuko squealed, "It was a misunderstanding on both parts."
"Practically they both acted like idiots," Rin explained to The Princess, "They went at each other throats, with no reason."
"Can you imagine both of their faces, when they meet again back in our house?" said Lu Ten amused, still remembering how shocked they were to find each other there. "But by the end of his stay, they were really good friends."
"I wouldn't say, friends," said Zuko, "But we do got to get along."
"Oh... Come on, you two had fun." Lu Ten poked him.
"Fine," Zuko rolled his eyes and shrugged, "He is a cool guy," he admitted while walking inside the diner, and after nodding towards his cousin he headed towards his usual spot next to Suki, who greeted him with a smile.
The servants had made sure to add enough spots in the table for the new-arrived family.
The Princess followed her sibling example and headed towards her usual spot.
"So?" Zuko asked her as soon as she took her usual place next to him.
"So, what?" Azula asked confused and quirking an eyebrow.
"Am I the best brother or am I not?"
Azula smirked, "You are far for hearing those words coming out of my mouth," Zuko pouted, "but thank you. It does mean a lot." she smiled softly.
It meant to her a lot, the fact of having her cousin home. It had been three years, since she last so him, and for as long as she could remember they had been really close with each other, even more than her and Zuko. So having him back home, even if it was for a while, it means the world.
The Prince made a grin, "Huh," he huffed, "I guess I will take it."
Azula looked across the table hoping to find Sokka glance as usual, but instead, she found him -for an unknown reason- looking at her fumed. As soon as he realized she had gotten his glance he instantly looked away and concentrated on his meal.
What the….? she thought. She has never seen that expression on him, not even the first day they meet when they were rude to each other.
During all the meal, Azula tried to make him look at her to ask him, why he looked so angry, but he just kept avoiding her eyes, and not only hers, everyone else too.
"Are you alright?" she whispered to him, leading a little bit over the table to try to avoid everyone else attention. He remained silent. "Is it something wrong?" she insisted again.
But again, he didn't say a thing
Okay, something is not right with him, she thought.
Instead, he whipped his mouth; he glanced at Azula for a split of a second, but more than enough for her to realize and confirm that he was fumed, -and fumed at her?-, before leaving the diner.
"What his problem?" Zuko asked, he also noticed Sokka's bad mood.
"I don't know," said Azula, "But I need to find out." she stood up and followed him outside.
"What's her problem?" Zuko turned to his remaining friends in the table and all of the shrugged.
…
The Princess had jogged after him, trying to reach him.
"Hey," she called for him, "Hey," she insisted, never in a hundred years she pictured herself chasing after some guy, but hell, there she was, and he wasn't just some guy. "Hey, Sokka.," she finally took hold of him and made him turn. "Sokka, What's wrong?" she asked him.
He looked at her, scowling. How could he tell her what was wrong when he didn't know it himself? How could he tell her he was jealous when he didn't even know why? "Nothing," he said bitterly, wanting to be left alone to put his thoughts in order.
"Liar," she said crossing her arms, "Obviously something is not okay," Azula started crossing her arms over her chest. "So, tell me what is it?"
"Nothing," he muttered, clenching his jaw and looking away.
Azula rolled her eyes a little irked, "If it was nothing, you wouldn't have that look in your face." she stated, thinking he was acting like a child, but still concerned about his attitude.
Sokka clenched his fist, "It's nothing, okay?!" his tone startled her, "I need to be alone. I need to think." he said in a tone that sounded way too harshly for his liking. She didn't move, "Just go!" he raised his voice, raising his arm to courage her to leave him alone. "GO!"
He needed it to think, to put his thoughts and feeling in order, and he knew that right now her company will just make him more confused, but seeing her face after his last word, make him want to rewind on time. He was going to regret it later on.
Azula felt her rage increasing. He wanted her to leave? Fine. She will leave. "Fine!" she grunted, "And screw you, bloody peasant!" she uttered fumed and scowling before leaving him there. Standing alone in the middle of the hallway.
How could he…? How had he dared to…? Urgg… What was he even furious about it? Why was he furious at her? Her mind raced with all those thoughts.
"Mochi, I…"
"Not now." she roared at her cousin when passing by next to him towards the Agni Kai chamber.
"What happens?" Rin asked his husband when she saw him, a little elated.
"I don't know," he said, looking down the hallways his cousin had just come from, and finding it only another person walking away.
…
Sokka had headed towards the training grounds, where he and Master Piandao had been training, he needs it some time alone; he needs it to think, to clear his mind, and a way that had always worked for him, was physical work to ease his mind. So, he started to practice some of the movements Piandao had taught him that morning.
He tried to ease his mind, but he couldn't seem to find a way to do it, all he could think about it was at the irked look Azula had told him when he raises his voice. He had felt horrible as soon as he glances towards her, but he needed it to be alone.
He needs it to put his thought in order, but mostly... his feelings. Was it jealousy what he had felt earlier when Azula rushed to hug the new-comer?. Was it jealousy the unpleasant feeling he had to feel in his chest? Was he getting feelings for her?
Sokka knew he liked to spend time with her, hearing her talk about her childhood, about her fond memories, he enjoyed listening to her voice whenever she has explained something to him, or when he was mocking with or at him, he thought of her laughter as one of the best sounds in the world, her golden eyes whenever they crashed against his were the prettiest thing he had ever saw, and her smile was something that made his heart race up.
"Is Paindao your master?" A voice behind him jolted him up.
He turned around to answer, and it surprised him to find the last person he would have ever imagine seeing. "Yeah... I was just finishing, so it all yours… " he said walking to leave.
"Actually, I was thinking if you needed a sparring buddy?" he asked him politely, "He was also my master, a long time ago," he added, "I'm Lu Ten, by the way."
"I know. We meet earlier," he said, and when he looked closely at him. He couldn't help but find a certain resemblance between Lu Ten and Zuko.
He was stockier than Zuko but shorter, he also had the same gold eyes and black hair, and another aspect to stand out were his particular sideburns.
"Sokka, son of Southern chief, right?" Lu Ten inquired.
"How do you know?" Sokka was intrigued by how he knew that fact of him.
"Azula told me," he said side smiling.
"Oh..." he glanced down. Wait, did that mean she had talked about him with this guy?
"So, what do you say? New student versus old student?" he insisted.
"I'm new at this," Sokka admitted.
"Come on… It's been ages since I last willed a sword. And maybe I can teach you some tricks." he proposed. He wasn't going to give up anytime soon.
"Fine." agreed, sighing, thinking that he might insist until he accepted.
"Let's see how good you are." Lu Ten smirked.
Sokka and Piandao had been training with wood swords, as he was only starting his training, so he lent one to Lu Ten.
They both wielded their swords between them. Their stances were steady and firm. Both of their expressions were serious and focused.
Lu Ten was the first one to swoop over with his sword, but Sokka luckily enough blocked his first, second, and third attempt of a strike.
Lu Ten was fast, but Sokka had good reflections. They both took a step back, trying to put distances between them before another attack.
Lu Ten smiled, "You are a good boy. But you can still do better." he said cockily, which made Sokka's blood boil and want him to erase his smirk from his face.
Lu Ten comes at him again, swinging his sword, he throws one attack, which Sokka's was barely fast enough to avoid by jumping aside, which allowed him to try to strike him back, swinging his sword horizontally to tries to hit his opponent, but for his bad luck, Lu Ten dodged by bending back under it and moving out of the way.
They swung their swords again, but this time when they both crashed together, Sokka in a quick movement slipped all the way for what it was supposed to be the blade till the handle of Lu Ten's sword. Sokka twisted the handle and with a swift move, Lu Ten sword was out of the way. Sokka moved to strike him, but Lu Ten also wittily jumped back out of his way once more.
"Your attack was sharp this time," Lu Ten added walking backward trying to put distance once more, "But is too bad. I avoid it." he said airily.
"You are unarmed," Sokka noted.
"Not for long," he replied before jumping once landing with his hands and then taking impulse to jump once more, this time landing with his feet inches away from his sword.
By the time Sokka reached him, Lu Ten was wielding again his sword and back on his steady feet.
Their swords crashed once more, and this time Lu Ten smirked before bumping him hard with his elbow, making Sokka wobble backward.
"Use everything to your advantage. Your footing is fine. Your technique is fine. You have improved a lot for just a few lessons with Piandao. I'm impressed." Lu Ten admitted, really impressed before lunged him.
"Thanks," said Sokka bitterly.
"No need to thank me," he side smiled, "Just stating fact. You can be a great swordmaster, better than myself, even better than Piandao."
"Trying to distract me now?" Sokka smirked.
They both walked in circles for a moment, trying to gain their breaths.
"No. you seem very distracted on your own." he pointed out. They swung their swords once more, crashing between them. "Why did you and Azula fight?"
Sokka frowned, why did he would bring her up right now? "Why do you care?" he backfired.
The swords crashed low, then up, and then low once more.
"She seemed furious," Lu Ten said before sliding enough to be right next to Sokka with both swords still locked, and elbow him in the ribs, not as hard as he could do but still making him wince. "And honestly, I don't like seeing mochi angry," he admitted stepping back, "What did you two fight about?" Sokka was still wincing, "If you tell me, I can help you make amends with my cousin."
His eyes widened at the last word, not thinking to have heard correctly. "Your cousin?"
"Yeah…"
"Wait… Azula is your... your... Oh god I'm an idiot!" he face-palmed himself, for his idiocy, he had caused a lot of problems for nothing. He had gotten jealous for nothing.
"If you fill me in, I would be available to either agree or disagree with you," he said before lunging him once more.
"I don't need you to agree or not, I know I am," Sokka admitted, no longer interested in the duel. "The thing is..."
"You like her." Lu Ten quickly assumed.
"I... What?" his eyes widened and his heart started to beat faster at the sudden revelation.
He was right. He was one hundred percent right. That will explain everything. Why he had been wanting to spend every minute with her, why he enjoyed his company so much, why he longed for her company, and why he had acted like a total prick earlier, he had been jealous, incredibly and uncontrollably jealous.
All those questions he had made to himself earlier had a clear answer now... He liked Azula.
That brief moment of distraction served Lu Ten to twist his body, and with a swift move, he was available to stand behind him, and punch him with his blade on the back of his knee, which took him by surprise and made him bend and dropping his sword almost instantly, getting him out of his thoughts.
Before he could reach again for his sword, Lu Ten pressed the tip of his blade under his cheek. "It seems like I won," he said before moving the sword aside and offering him a hand to help him stand, which Sokka gladly accepted. "Amazing duel boy, it been more than three years since I last shield a sword. But it's good to see I still have it." he smiled, proud of himself.
"Are you bragging about the fact that you haven't touched a sword in three years and still managed to defeat me?" said Sokka.
Lu Ten snickered and shook his head. "Don't be so harsh with you… you have only been training with Piandao what, a month?"
"Three days actually." Sokka clarified.
His mouth hung open. "T-Three days? You are kidding, right?" Sokka smiled shyly and denied with his head. "Whoa… I'm stunned ... Amazed…. Boy, you… really… Whoa." Lu Ten was really impressed. Once he was out of his shock, he returned to the main issue. "So, getting back at the main topic. You do like Azula, huh?" he teased him, leaning on his sword, which was used as a supporter for his weight.
"I…" Sokka muttered deeply blushed and glancing away.
"No need to hide it, boy... The fact you blushed, just confirmed my assumptions," he smirked, and Sokka could help but notice the resemblance of that gesture between him and Azula's "Does she knows?" he asked, tilting his head curiously, but when he noticed his reaction there was no need for Sokka to say nothing. "Of course she doesn't know."
"In all honesty, I didn't even know it myself until you said it," Sokka admitted.
"Really?" Lu Ten raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah...I mean, I was getting suspicious. I enjoy spending time with her, and I think she is incredibly smart, funny, and is the most beautiful girl I have ever meet and…"
"Oi… You don't like her, I think you might be falling in love for her…" Lu Ten smiled, the expression in his face, it reminded him of the stupid face he used to make years ago, whenever he would think of Rin.
Sokka gulped dumbstruck, and blushed again, "I… I really like her, and it's stupid if you think about it, I mean, I have only known her for a week and…"
Lu Ten interrupted him. "So what?" he made a grin, "You know how long it took me to realize I loved my wife?" Sokka shook his head, "A date," he told him, before sighing. "Love is not about how long or how much you have known each other, it's about feeling a special connection with someone, and that goes beyond explanation... Love can't be explained."
They stayed in silence for a moment, Sokka had to process all the information. "You know, you do give pretty good advice," he said after a while.
Lu Ten shrugged and smiled, "Well, when your father is like mine, who spends most of his time drinking tea and thinking about proverbs and in the meaning of life, you tend to learn a thing or two." he patted him in the shoulder, and Sokka could help but feel a little more composed.
Sokka sighed, "Can I ask you one last thing?"
"Shoot."
"Usually, with my sister, I will wait a few hours to apologize for something stupid that I did, but in Azula's case...you know her better, what do you suggest? Should I go find her and apologize now, or should I wait for her to hold down a little bit?" he inquired.
Lu Ten placed a hand on his chin. "I suggest you to go fix things now. She tends to overthink everything and if you wait till the end of the day, she will be ten times more fumed than she is right now," he advised him, "But, a little warning, be careful if she is in the Agni Kai chamber or the shooting field," he warned him, "Just proceed with caution."
…
He was such an idiot. How did he dare too? She had been worried enough to chase him down the hallway to ask him what was the matter, and he had practically sent her off… She wanted to rip his head off. All those thoughts she had once had of him during the welcoming feast about murdering him, were coming back at her at an incredible speed.
"Stupid, Stupid," she grunted furiously while shooting fire blast in the Agni Kai chamber. "How did he dare to…?!" Azula let out a roar of fire, "Agrr... Idiot, stupid bloody savage." Her teeth were starting to hurt for having them clenched so long, but her anger could seem to disappear. "But, whose fault is it? Mine! I'm a bloody Princess! I should have... I should… agrr... I'm so pissed right now I can even think of a way of hurting him." she huffed before rubbing her face with exasperation.
"Screw this," she muttered getting off the platform and heading towards the Library. She needed it to distract and ease herself, and what better way to do it than that with something that it will never send her off.
…
As Lu Ten advised him, he went immediately to try to apologize.
Sokka first went to look for her at the Library, then at her room, at the gardens, at the dining room, the studio, the coronation temple, and even at the nursery, but he just simply could seem to find her. Was she avoiding him? Well, he deserved it, if it was the case, but he needed it to find her.
So he went back to square one. The Library.
Certainly, if she was not there, she will sooner or later will be. So, he decided that whatever was the case, he better waited for her there.
He knocked at the door, just in case she was inside. He got no answer, so he barged inside.
He scanned the room with his eyes to confirm it was indeed empty until his eyes landed on one of the couches.
And there she was, with a scroll on her lap, her hair spread over one of the pillows on the couch, her mouth slightly open and her eyes closed. She was asleep.
He walked slowly and quietly, trying to not wake her up. Sokka looked closely at her, it was the first time; he saw her asleep, a soft smile appeared on his face. She looked so calm, so peaceful, he didn't have the heart to wake her up ... so he didn't.
Sokka leaned closer and moved the scroll in her lap to the coffee table, where he was sat.
"How can you look so pretty even sleep?" he muttered softly while brushing one of her hair strands away from her face. "I know I should be apologizing with you awake, but... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted as I did, you only wanted to help," he caressed her hair, "But I'm an idiot, and now you are mad at me and I deserve it," he sighed, "I was a mess, you know? Totally confused." he admitted, "I tried to ignore my feelings, but it was useless… Thinking that, that annoying girl I meet the first day, now, it will be the person I want to spend every day with…" Sokka bit his lower lip, smiling softly. "I don't know if I will ever get the courage to tell you these while you are awake, but, for now, I can say that…. Azula... I'm falling for you."
A knock on the door woke her. It took her a moment to realize she had fallen asleep in the library. She rubbed her eyes, and let out a little yawn while recovering her posture.
"Yes?"
"Princess. The bonfire is starting soon." The voice of a servant announced from the other side of the door.
"Thanks. Be right there," she said, before hearing the servant steps disappear. "Shit," she muttered when she remembered that she hasn't written her regrets for the bonfire, looking for a paper and brush and ink.
…
It was almost two hours later, when Azula was finally ready, with her red and black cheongsam, she had already given up with the fact her mother had been matching hers and Zuko's clothes, so now she just accepted her fate.
She tucked the piece of paper in one of her sleeves. She had only been available to think in three things to write down.
When she left her room, her first thought was to find Sokka, and then she remembered. She was angry at him. "Screw him," she muttered while heading towards the Coronation Plaza.
The Plaza was even more crowded than the night of the opening feast, as this time it was open to the entire citizens. There were food stands for the people to try, and right in the middle, there was a huge bonfire, more than 10 feet tall, lighted by the head sage with holy fire from the temple.
Her eyes scanned all over the place trying to maybe find her friends, Mai and Ty Lee, or her cousin or maybe even Zuko. But instead, her eyes landed on Sokka's who was looking firmly at her.
Her heart flinched when he smiled warmly at her, but instead of smiling back, she glanced aside ignoring him, still pissed at him, and made sure to blend in the crowd.
The first person she could spot was her brother, next to his girlfriend, talking vividly with Lu Ten and his wife.
"There you are, mochi." Lu Ten greeted her before his eyes went from her to Zuko. "Did my aunt chose your…?"
Zuko sighed, "Yes, she did."
"For the entire month." replied bitter Azula.
"Well," Lu Ten smirked, "I think you both look adorable." he mocked making a goofy face.
"I thought the same." Suki smiled, pinching one of his boyfriend's cheeks. Zuko rolled his eyes.
"It's embarrassing," he complained.
"Agree," Azula sighed, "And the twins?" she asked, "Did my parents already stole them?"
Rin and Lu Ten chuckle. "No. They are over there." he pointed out, and they saw two blurs rushing pass them. "Running around."
"By the way mochi..." Lu Ten said, "Did... huh?" Something got his attention. "No way!..." he smiled, "Goong Yoo!" he screamed before saluting someone, he embraced him into a hug. "Long time no see, buddy!"
Zuko and Azula were equally surprised to see Goong Yoo. He was Lu Ten best friend since they could remember; they had both studied in the academy together and then enlisted in the army.
"I could say the same." Goong Yoo smile, before greeting everyone else. "Long time no see Prince, Princess."
"I could say the same Captain, or should I say Commander?" she smirked.
While growing up Goong Yoo had been one of the most handsome men, she had ever met.
Well, to be fair, other than men of her family, she had only to meet him and a bunch of old Generals. But still, he was incredibly handsome, so much that it almost seemed unfair for any other human being.
He wasn't just handsome; he was also incredibly intelligent, first place back in the academy, and in the army admission exam, he was from a noble family with a record in the Fire Nation army, and all those qualities made him, every lady perfect man. Also, according to Ty Lee, he was the number one more coveted bachelor in the nation.
"Word does fly around, huh?" Goong Yoo replied.
"Well, it does," said Azula.
"I didn't know you will be joining us for the festivals," said Lu Ten.
"Me neither," he said, "But let's say that, it's good when you have connections with Royal Family... and also my uncle Zhao helped." Goong Yoo admitted.
"How is Admiral Zhao?" Zuko asked.
"Old, but healthy," he replied, "But overall busy, very busy."
"Yeah, I remember my father being really busy when he was General," said Lu Ten, "Being the Admiral of the Navy should be exhausting."
"He is in charge of the Fire Nation Navy right?" Rin inquired.
"Indeed. Not a simple task," said Goong Yoo.
"But according to my father, he is doing wonderfully, the navy is progressing faster than ever," Zuko added.
"It is. But enough chat about work." Goong Yoo said. "How have things being in the mainland lately? Still rejecting suitors, Princess?" He said with a hint of mockery.
"How could you possibly have heard about that in Whale-tail Island? And why everyone is so interested in that?" she uttered, a little annoyed.
Everyone chuckled, "Well when the Princess of the most powerful nation keeps rejecting suitors, word starts to spread of her persona."
"Not a good one, I hope," Azula muttered.
"On the contrary. Rumors say that either your ruthless or beauty is what keeps scaring them." He smirked.
"I will say more about the former." Zuko mocked.
"And what about you, huh?" he glanced at him, You have gone taller."
"So have you, Goong Yoo."
"You look so much like the Fire Lord is kind of scary," Goong Yoo confessed, "How was your sailing?"
"Enlightening," said Zuko, "But also, while I was going through the Earth Kingdom... rumors said you have turned into a womanizer around the Earth Kingdom girls," he said a little quizzical.
"Rumors are just that, Prince," he replied, amused.
"So I'm guessing for that, that you haven't found a girl?" he asked, "How is that possible? According to Ty Lee…"
"Your friend who used to jump everywhere?" he looked at the Princess and she nodded.
"That one," said Zuko, "You are the most wanted bachelor in the Nation."
"Oi," The Princess poked her sibling in the ribs. "Why are you interrogating him so much? You want to find out if he goals for the opposite team, so you might get a chance or what?" Azula mocked. "Have manners! Your girlfriend is here!" Suki snickered.
"Why do you hate me?" Zuko looked at his sister scowling, "I can't simply ask for curiosity?"
Suki rolled her eyes, a little amused, "Are you two fighting again?" Suki intervened, but the siblings didn't hear her. Lu Ten shook his head in disapproval but with amusement.
"Yeah, yeah Mister curiosity, why don't you leave him alone? He has just arrived and you are bombarding him with questions." Azula grunted.
"Huh? Why so defensive, sister?" Zuko smirked, "I thought about Sokka and you…"
"Shut up!" she grunted.
"Who is Sokka?" asked Goong Yoo curiously.
"Would you two stop it?" Suki interfered again, making the sibling stop momentarily. "The son of the Southern Chief," she informed him.
"And Azula's puppy love," Zuko said teasing.
"He is not my puppy love." The Princess protested.
"Huh? Then I guess is more serious than that then." The Prince said quizzically.
"Seriously?" Suki snorted a little pissed, "That's it, time off you two." she intervened between them, sick of their fighting. "Come on, Zuko. Excuse us." she dragged his boyfriend away by the wrist to find their friends.
They found Aang, Katara, and Sokka with Mai, Ty Lee, and Haru not too far from there.
"Hey." they both greeted.
"Hey."
"Where is your sister?" Mai asked.
"Over there." Zuko pointed. The entire group looked over.
"Who is that?" Katara asked curiously, "We saw him, in the dining room but we don't know who he is."
"The one holding a kid, is my cousin Lu Ten and his wife Rin, the one next to him, is his best friend, Goong Yoo. He's the Commander of the special forces of the Fire Nation Navy." The Prince explained.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Ty Lee jolted at the sound of the name. "Goong Yoo? As in that Goong Yoo?"
Haru quirked a brow, chagrined, "Why do you sound so excited?" he grunted between teeth, but his girlfriend ignored him.
"What other Goong Yoo do you know?" Mai inquired.
"Hush."
Zuko rolled his eyes, "Yes, Ty Lee. That Goong Yoo." he said, frowning.
"That Goong Yoo?" Sokka asked intrigued, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just the number one bachelor of the Fire Nation." Ty Lee explained, "And I mean, just look at him, he is gorgeous, he was sculpted by gods," At that moment her glance crashed with Haru's. "Of course you are still cuter, honey," she said innocently, before giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
Lu Ten's son Rei had been fighting with a bug who had been bothering him for a while, he had been trying to catch it, but his baby clumsy hands had been failing to do until the little bug decided to land on his father cheek.
The slap was so hard that everyone went silent. His father even winced at the slap. His little hand was marked on his father's cheek.
Azula almost took her hands to her mouth to try to cover her laugh, but completely failed to when Rin and Goong Yoo started to laugh out loud.
"I knew I would like you," said Azula extended her hand in front of Rei for a high five. Rei looked at his hand with the bug, and then at the other one, and thankful for the Princess he high fived her with his bug-free hand.
"Good boy." Goong Yoo pinched one of his cheeks.
Lu Ten rubbed his sore cheek, pouting at his son.
"Oh, and also, I forgot to mention…" said Ty Lee looking by the corner of her eye towards Sokka when a mischievous idea crushed her mind. "He was Azula's first crush."
Sokka blinked a few times. "H-Her what?"
"Right, Mai?"
"Indeed." Mai agreed.
"They would make a very attractive couple," Ruo Jian muttered.
Sokka's mouth widened, "W-Well he is not that handsome." he said bitterly.
"What?" All the girls except for Mai said at the same time.
"Are you blind?" Suki asked stunned, "I saw him up close and I guarantee you, he is ten times more handsome up close."
"He is what now?" Zuko scowled at his girlfriend, but she didn't notice.
"He is the most beautiful human I have ever seen," Katara said also amazed before sighing.
Aang quirked an eyebrow while pouting, "Do they think that we can hear them?" The avatar asked the boys.
"It's not fair, to be that pretty," Katara complained.
"And can you believe that he is still single?" Ty Lee said.
"He is….?" Suki and Katara said stunned at the same time, Ty Lee nodded. "Whoa…"
A multiple clear of throats got the girl's attention back to reality.
"What do you think you are doing?" Zuko said grinning his teeth with his arms and eyes closed. Suki could see his forehead vein popping.
"I feel angry and disappointed," said Aang with his hand on his hips while shaking his head.
"All of the above," Haru said, frowning, "Come on, boys. Let's grab something to eat." he looked at the boys which all nodded and very pissed headed towards the city.
"Do you think they were mad?" Katara asked even though she knew the answer.
"They seemed very mad," said Ty Lee.
"Oh, Damn," Suki muttered, before the three of them headed behind the boys.
Sokka was absorbed in the girl in front of him. He hadn't taken his eyes off her for a moment.
He felt a little dumb, looking at her from a distance, but he was still finding the moment to apologize, to…
The guy Goong Yoo had tucked one of her bangs behind her ear, and she smiled at him.
That was it, that was the moment.
"...I didn't beg." Lu Ten said affronted.
"Honey, you did beg," Rin said, snickering.
"I like to believe that after much insisting, I finally convinced you of going on a date with me," he stated, "Hey Sokka." he smiled to the boy, making everyone look in the same direction.
"Hey," he said nervously, with his hands in his pockets. He looked towards the Princess, who glanced in the opposite direction. He could, she was still mad, maybe it would have been better to work her up and apologize sooner. "A-Azula... Can we talk?"
She looked at him, frowning with the most bitter and fumed look he had ever seen on her. "No," she stated, "I'm furious at you."
"Azula... I want to apolog…" he tried to insist. He had to try.
"Didn't you hear?" she narrowed her eyes before saying rim. "I don't want to talk with you. Go."
The moment she saw his hurt face, she felt like the most horrible human being. She regretted talking to him like that, but she was still angry. She saw him go with his head low and almost dragging his feet.
She followed him with her eyes and saw him take sit in one of the benches close to the bonfire, bending over with his elbow resting on his knees. He was dejected.
Maybe she had been too harsh with him, after all, he had come to apologize, but she didn't give him the chance to.
Azula had to admit that maybe she was acting a little childish and way too spiteful. She bit her lower lip. She didn't want to waste the few times they were going to spend together mad at each other, in fact, she wanted to spend every day with him, and she realizes that she might have longed for him that night more than she dared to admit.
A stab of guilt hit her again, just by remembering his eyes when she had sent him away.
"Excuse me." she excused to her cousin, and the company walking away. "Can I get a few of those?"
He sighed again. What was he expecting? Of course, she was going to be pissed at him, and the worst thing is, that he knew he deserved it after all he had been the one to send her away first, due to his stupid jealousy. If he had only asked, all this mess might not have happened. But of course, he had to be an idiot and ruin it.
Just when he had realized of his feeling for her, he had made a mess of things.
"Fire flakes?" A voice next to him started him.
He forced a smile at Ty Woo. "No thanks. I'm not hungry."
"What some company?" she asked.
"Actually, I don't think I will be a good company right now," he said lowering his gaze again, he wanted to be left alone, he wanted to sink in his own misery.
"Not hungry? I don't buy that," he heard a sarcastic voice say, before catching the look of something by the corner of his eyes. Sokka glanced up and his heart began beating really fast. "Take it as a peace offering," Azula said shrugging and handing him some dango. He blinked a few times, dumbstruck. "But,..." she removed the dango a little, "Only if you accept that today acted like a total jerk today, and the misunderstanding was your fault and that you are an idiot," she smirked.
He let out a soft laugh, "I do. I accept all that. I admitted." Sokka said joyfully. He would admit everything she wanted him to if that meant they got to be in good terms again, which was what he longed the most right now.
"Good," The Princess gave him the dango again and made him a sign to move a little over. "What did she want it?" Azula asked him, referring to Ty Woo.
Sokka shrugged, "I don't know." he said. He only cared about her, and only her.
She looked at him and smiled softly. He did the same. The Princess leaned her head on his shoulder for a split of a second, to assure him they were fine. "Was it good?" she asked him after he finished his dango.
"Really."
She offered him the last bit of her own dango, "What is this?" she asked him at the paper coming out of his pocket.
"My regret list," he said, looking at the paper now in the Princess's hand. "Did you finish yours?"
"Yeah..." she took out her own from her sleeve. "It's short, but it's something."
"I was actually starting to consider adding more to it," Sokka admitted while looking at her, taking his list from her hands. "What do you say if we get rid of them for once and for all?"
"I would like that," said Azula.
They both stood up and leaned closer to the fire. At the same time, dozen of people were starting to do the same thing.
They saw their papers slowly burn in the fire.
They stood side by side, enjoying each other company, and when Sokka surrounded her shoulder with his arms, she couldn't help but lean her head on him again, but this time, it stayed there until the bonfire was over.
N/A:
Fire Day: Totally invented festivity. People is supposed to make a list of everything they regret during the past year, and eventually burning it at the bon Fire, which helps them to be "reborn" into the new year, as a someone free and without regret.
Yes, Jet and Rin are siblings.
Also, what do you think they wrote in the list?...
Here is what i though she wrote, but still not 100% sure, she is a girl confident of herself, and with no many regrets, so it was hard to think about something.
Trying to control everything, even when I can't.
Not living the moment.
Worrying too much about the future.