THE GOD OF THE DEATH
DAY 11
AZULA'S BIRTHDAY
Her servants had come early, like every morning, to get her ready.
The Royal's birthdays were one of the most expected celebrations in the nation, and as her birthday was on the solstice day, which also happens to be the God of the Death festivity, it was meant to be a busy day for everyone, not only at the Palace but also at the city.
Her maids were finishing arranging her hair while starting to get everything ready for her preparation for the night, -they will always go a little overboard with the preparations- when another one knocked on the door.
"Princess," the servant said as soon as he walked in and bowed, "Fire Lord Ozai and Fire Lady Ursa wish to see you in the throne room, as soon as possible," he informed.
"I see," Azula said, dismissing her maids with a sign, "Anything else?" she asked.
"Yes," he said, "Happy 21st birthday, Princess" he congratulated her, as well as her servants, had done it previously.
"Thanks," she said before taking one last look at the mirror and heading out towards the throne room, where her parents were waiting for her.
She walked through the hallways, being congratulated a couple of times by the servants that were passing by, and on the last hallway, she almost crashed against Zuko.
"Watch it!" he whined.
"One of us needs to get a bell around their neck, we can't keep running into each other like this," said Azula.
"Agree," he said when he saw her, "and, happy birthday."
"Thanks," said Azula, "You are not going to try and hug me, right?" she asked warily making a grin.
Zuko smirked, "I might try. Just to annoy you." he teased.
Azula shook her head, "Eww… No," she said taking distance from her sibling, but he managed to surround her by the shoulders to annoy her, as they walked together. "You disgust me." she mocked getting him off and pushing him away.
"Love you, too," Zuko answered, rolling his eyes, not feeling slightly affronted by his sister.
"Did they summon you?" Azula asked curiously.
"Yeah," he replied, "Have any idea of why?" Zuko asked inquisitively.
"No," she admitted, "I thought they wanted to congratulate me, but if they summoned you too, I'm not so sure anymore," she muttered, drawing the curtains, before walking inside.
Her father flames at the back illuminated the entire room.
The room was empty, except for to figures at the back of the room, which they both assumed that were their parents.
Both of them turned in their direction as soon as they heard their steps.
"What is it?" Azula asked, as soon as she was just a few feet away. "Why did you summon us so early?" she inquired both wary and curious.
They would usually summon them after breakfast.
"As eager as always daughter," her father said with a smirk, "But first, happy birthday Azula," he said with a smile.
She thanked him, and when her mother wished her a happy birthday, the Fire Lady forced her into a hug which she welcomed.
"Why am I here?" Zuko asked crossing his arms, he didn't understand why he had been summoned too.
"Oi, will you two calm down?" Fire Lord Ozai scolded them, "We are getting to the point, okay?" he said before signaling the servants, who left the room after bowing. "So, Zuko, Azula... " he started when the servants came back with two large boxes and placed them in front of them. "As you both know, in our family, it is a tradition that when a fire bender turns 21, he or she is meant to make a bond with a dragon and…" he explained, but Azula interrupted him holding a hand.
"Wait, hold on a minute," she said frowning, "I'm turning 21, so I get that," she made a pause, "but, why is he doing it?" she asked, pointing at Zuko.
The Prince rolled his eyes and huffed. "Little devil, in case you don't remember I'm 23," he replied bitterly, crossing his arms.
"Exactly," Azula uttered, "You were supposed to do it, two years ago, little wimp," she restored, "You lost your chance and…"
"You know, it's a known fact that the oldest is always the favorite. Mom and Dad got it right the first time," stated Zuko.
"Yeah?" Azula quirked a brow, "Then why did they keep trying?"
Her mother cleared her throat loudly. Both of her kid glanced towards her and they could she, one of her eyebrows twitching.
They both closed their mouths.
Ozai sighed, "Anyways, as I was saying, at 21 you are supposed to get a dragon." he repeated.
"As Zuko, couldn't get one while he was sailing, we thought now it was a good moment, to give it to you both." her mother said with a smile.
Zuko and Azula glanced at each other, scowling for a moment. Were they? Were they getting a dragon?
Having a dragon in the Fire Nation, it wasn't something unheard off, most of the more talented masters had one, both of their great grandfathers Roku and Sozin had their owns, as well as her grandfather Azulon, and every member of the Royal family who was a bender, including her uncle and Lu Ten.
Even her father had Seiryū, his yellow dragon.
The dragons were guiding creatures to the fire benders, such as the flying bison to the air benders. You create a long-lasting lifetime bond with the dragon; they became a partner in the fire bender life.
Their parents made them a sign for them to open the boxes in front of them.
"But I thought dragons were coming back till tomorrow," said Azula, looking at her parents, curious.
Most of the dragons had flown to the Son Warriors land to their festival like every year.
"Seiryū returned this morning, you know he enjoys fireworks," said the Fire Lord, "Go on."
Zuko and Azula opened the boxes in front of them.
A small dragon, probably not more than a few months old, with blue scales, and already capable of flying, as he demonstrated fast as he spread his wings to flutter on top of her, before landing in her shoulder.
"From now on, you both have to take care of them and they will take care of you… Once you had given them a name, your bond will be completed." explained their father.
"I'm going to call you Druk," muttered Zuko to his red sleepy dragons in his arm, without losing a second.
"Not very original," said Azula, making a grin.
Druk was a very popular name used in dragons due to his meaning.
"Shut up…" he snarled, "How are you naming him?"
The Princess took a minute to think about it. "Ao," she said, "It's short, simple, and it fits him."
"Well, it's better than naming your dragon, dragon," he mocked.
"Tsk!" The Fire Lord eyebrow twitched, his children were making fun of him, again...
Azula knew what he meant. He was making fun of their father. His father dragon name Seiryū actually meant dragon, so he was called dragon, dragon.
"Yeah, not original… at all," she flouted, "But at least he didn't call you Son."
The sibling chuckled as well as their mother.
"Both of you shut up!" Ozai uttered, "It's too early for me to get a headache," he grunted, rubbing one of his temples. "You are dismissed... just go."
"One last thing before you go," her mother said, "Be sure to be on time at the salon, the sooner we start the little feast, the sooner we will be available to head towards the festival."
...
After last night's failure, he had asked for Ty Lee's help to prepare something for tonight. He wanted it to be perfect; he was not only going to tell her his feeling, but it was also her birthday, so either way, it had to be perfect.
Once he was done with his daily training, he had rushed to the town, to try to find a nice spot for the fireworks, Ty Lee had suggested him, something near the lake.
Sokka wandered around the streets, close to the lakeshore, to find the perfect spot. Until he found it. He made a mental note of everything he could need to make it perfect.
The city was packed out, people doing last-minute shopping for the festival. Locals were seating their offerings outside of the houses, the masks were selling fast, and they were all almost gone.
He even got a glimpse of his sibling, Aang, and even Ty Lee, -or who he thought it was Ty Lee- looking thru for masks in the market.
He peaked a little, remembering he was also going to need one until one got his attention. After asking to the sealer a few things, he decided to buy two of them.
Sokka didn't know why he was so nervous, more nervous than his previous times with his girlfriends, but then he realized, he had never actually dated a Princess or a girl like Azula for the matter, she was smart, fun, and beautiful, she could have any boy she wanted, and that scared him a little bit, he was just a boy for the South, a non-bender, she could do so much better.
He wasn't worthy of her.
But either way, that wasn't going to stop him from confessing tonight. He was going to tell her. He needed it to get it out of his chest.
Tonight, it was going to be a special night.
…
After leaving Ao in the sanctuary to rest, to get used to the Palace, she had stopped by her room, to pick the scrolls she had been leaving around, here and there, to put again in the Library.
She was almost done with the last couple when a knock on the door got her attention.
"Come on in," she said, not turning around, waiting to hear a servant.
"Hey," said Sokka, once he saw her, standing in front of the desk, with her back towards him.
"Hey," she said, turning as soon as he heard him, and unconsciously smiled when she saw him. "I was starting to wonder where my favorite annoying snow boy was going to show up" she teased him.
He rolled his eyes, but smiled, "Yeah, I missed you too…" he said with a little blush, "So…" he walked towards her with his hands on his back. "I went with Katara and Aang to town this morning, to get us some mask for tonight festival," he lied, obviously he couldn't say the real reason, why he had been out in town. But a little white lie would not hurt anyone, after all, he had spotted them in the city. "And… I was wondering if you already had your mask?" he asked.
Azula frowned and nodded, "My mother always takes care of that...Why?" she raised an eyebrow, curious about why he was asking that.
"Well..."
She rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms, "Why?" she insisted, wondering also why he had been keeping his hands on his back.
"I kind of... got us these," he showed her what he has been hiding in his back. He showed her two masks, both of them were blue, but in different shades, "This one kind of reminded me of you…" Azula narrowed her eyes, looking at it most closely, it seemed to be a dragon, while the other one looked more like a wolf. "Because… your fire is blue, and the dragons were the first fire benders... and you know… this sounded much better in my head, now it stupid." he said a little embarrassed.
"What? NO!..." said The Princess, "Sokka, wait!" she took his hand, stopping him from leaving.
"It made more sense in my head," he admitted with a grin.
"I beat it did," she side smiled and took the mask from his hands. "I like it."
His eyes widened, "You do?"
She nodded, and then shrugged, "I guess my mother wouldn't bother if I wear this one instead, this year." said Azula, taking the mask from his hand.
"Really?..." she smiled at him, "I mean, I was worried because I thought that with all the masks I wouldn't be available to recognize you and…" Sokka scratched the back of his head, anxiously. "I even asked the seller if they were unique designs because I don't want to…"
"Sokka," she interrupted him, caressing his cheek in an involuntary movement. "You are rambling."
He glanced towards her.
Blue and golden eyes meet.
"I am?" he asked, lost in the gold of her eyes, and she nodded. "Sorry," he muttered, still lost in her eyes.
Azula, slowly removed her hand from his cheek, wishing she could caress it a little longer, and he promptly felt the urgency to stop her, her touch was warm and soft against his skin.
"So… you said these were unique designs? " she asked him, trying to sound natural, and taking a better look at the mask.
"Yeah...This one is unique…" he affirmed, "By the way, what are you wearing tonight?" he asked, wanting to have all the possible knowledge he will need to find her quickly and efficiently that night.
"Mmm… a red and gold dress, I think," said Azula, "Why?" she raised an eyebrow.
Sokka smiled softly, "That way, I will be available to find you." he said with a hint of blush in his face.
Her heart started to race like crazy, and she could feel the blood in her cheeks. "You think?" she teased, "In that case, I might not put it so easy to you…" she narrowed her eyes and smirked.
Sokka chuckled, "Azula… " he muttered softly, taking a step closer. "It doesn't matter how hard it is… But I will always find you." he tucked in one of her bangs, behind an ear, and then his hand traveled to her cheek.
Now, it was him who reached to caress her cheek.
The Princess gulped as she got lost in the blue of his eyes. The way he was looking at her, it made her melt. She was really hoping that this time, his stomach would not interrupt them. That he would finally kiss her.
"I've been wanting to…" he whispered so close he could feel her breathing.
"To what?..." she muttered, thinking if she should just tiptoe and kiss him instead before would something interrupted them.
When then the door opened suddenly.
"Azula." Zuko walked inside, making them jolt and break apart.
It surprised Sokka so much, he even threw his mask in the air.
"What?! Don't you knock?" she snarled at him when Sokka caught his mask after a few tries, and he turned his attention to the shelves.
"Sorry…" he apologized, taking a step back. Zuko knocked on the door twice. "Hey Azula," he repeated.
"What do you want Zuzu?" she asked grinding her teeth, angry at her sibling, who had come to interrupt in the worst possible movement.
"I…." he stopped when he saw the deadly-looking glance his sister was giving him, which caused some shivers down his spine. "I-I was wondering I-if you knew where D-Druk was?" he asked.
"Druk, as in your dragon?!" she quirked an eyebrow, Zuko nodded, "Oh gods, it's not even a day, and you already lost him?" Azula asked, not believing her brother careless.
"I didn't lose him," The Prince started, "I just happen to… not know where he currently is."
Azula sighed, "Yeah, that's the definition of lost."
"That's your definition, mine is not knowing him where abounds temporarily…." he said, and then looked around the Library not seeing his sibling dragon. "Where is Ao?" he asked.
"At the sanctuary, why?"
"The sanctuary of course!" he said widening his eyes, "Why I didn't think of that?" Zuko muttered, walking out of the room.
Azula shook her head at their brother. "Because you are stupid." she snarled, before being left alone with Sokka again…
She sighed.
"Who is Druk? and Ao?" he asked, noticed he had never heard those names.
"Oh, I haven't told you," she said, "It's…." she started when another knock interrupted them. "What Zuzu?" she grunted to the door, she was going to rip his head off.
But instead, the door opened to reveal one of her maids. "Princess, everything is ready. We have to start to prepare you for tonight," she said peeking through the door.
Azula sighed and nodded to her maid, "Okay, I'm coming." she said, the servant closed the door, and waited for the Princess outside.
"Already?" Sokka asked, hoping to spend a little time with her, before tonight.
"They all get a little crazy, during special occasions," she explained, "And, would you mind if we meet in the city?" she asked, remembering the little feast she had to attend.
"No," he said, oddly surprised of her to ask him that, but saving him from having to ask for the same, he still had something to do before the fireworks. "N-Not, at all... But why?" he inquired.
Azula sighed, "My father has this thing with his advisers and his high commands were they have a little feast, it's really short, and not much of a feast but it's tradition, we do it every birthday…," she stopped, realizing she was getting off the topic. "Anyways, I have to be there… So, would you be alright for a few hours?" she asked him.
Sokka frowned and made a grin, placing a hand under his chin. "With one condition," he said, which took her by surprise. What silly thing was he going to ask her?
"What condition?" she replied, warily.
He smiled, "You are mine for the rest of the night."
Azula felt again the blush on her cheeks and could contain a smile. "I-I…." she chuckled a little, due to the nervousness, and playing with the mask in her hands. "Okay," she muttered, nodding.
"Princess?" the servant called her from the other side of the door a second time.
"I'm coming," she blurted, "Then, I guess I will see you tonight."
"Yeah…" Sokka said, "I will be wearing blue." he smiled and showered her one last time his mask.
"And I, a red dress..." she whispered, before opening the door.
"Azula" he called her one last time, holding her by the wrist. He took a step forward. "Happy birthday," he said, before leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek.
…
The servants had displaced everything in her bed, her dress for tonight, as well as her hair adornments, and everything she would be wearing tonight. She placed the mask on the bed.
She got into her bathrobe, with the help of her servants.
"The Fire Lady already sent this year mask Princess." a maid said placing the mask in her vanity, where they were undoing her hair to get her ready for her bath.
"Place it on the bed, next to the other one," she instructed.
The bath was full of rose water, and the scent of essential oils filled the room. Her maids will always get overboard on her birthday, but she would never complain. She loved to be pampered.
She had a servant taking care of her hair, her nails, and for everything, she could possibly need.
"Princess?" she looked over the door, "Lady Ty Lee is here," she announced.
"Why?" she asked, surprised Ty Lee would never come without announcement or being summoned first.
"She needs to ask you a favor." The maid said.
"Azula," she heard her friend's voice. "I need a favor."
"What?"
"Ty Woo, accidentally broke the mask I'm wearing tonight," Ty Lee said, "And I already went to the city to try and find a new one but they are all sold out."
"Are you sure it was an accident?" she asked, nothing with Ty Woo was an accident.
"It's Ty Woo, of course, it wasn't," her friend said, "I was wondering if you, by any chance had one to spare…" she asked with a tone of hopefully in her voice, Azula knew her friend believed in all legends, auras, palm reading, fortune telling but overall in spirits histories, and if she didn't have a mask for the festival, she would prefer to simply not be part of it.
Azula sighed, " Yeah, sure…" she said, "The one from the bed, the one at the right."
"Thank you," Ty Lee said, "You are the best lifesaver," she heard her friend, and after a moment. "Azula?" she called her again.
"Huh?" The Princess muttered with her eyes closed, she loved to get her hair caressed and brushed. It almost got her sleepy.
"Happy birthday."
...
The red cheongsam was pure perfection. It was one of the most beautiful pieces she had ever seen or worn. The red satin was bright and soft, and the gold pattern simulated the traditional cherry blossom flowers, and the black details here and there made it a handmade masterpiece. It had a few alterations, compared to her other dresses, this one was above of her knees length, with a belt around her waist, it was a long sleeve, and they were flowy but they didn't get in the way.
The shoes were matching, red with gold detail, and they fitted perfectly.
Her maids then proceed to take care of preparing her skin and applying her makeup as well as doing her hair. They had chosen to leave it loose, making a braid at each side of the head and then crossing them on the top, to make it look like a crown of braids, to then place some gold pieces in the braids here and there, leaving, of course, her bangs at each side.
"Look at you," said Zuko, when they meet in the hallway, "You almost look like a girl."
"You almost look like a human being."
"Rude," said her brother, "Where is your shadow?" he asked teasingly.
"Where is yours?"
"I will meet Suki, at the city, after this," he said, "By the way, I saw General Bujin, back there. I thought he had died during these past years. He isn't like 90 or something?"
"92 actually, but he just refuses to retire. And now, are gonna be here forever!" Azula she sighed, "Last year, he took so long to finish his meal, that I thought he had died."
General Bujin was the oldest man in the military, a stubborn man who refused to retire.
After dinner, they would usually be free to do as they pleased during the festival, but for the last couple of years, the dinner had extended so long that it had been almost midnight time when it was over.
They were the last one to arrive in the salon, the Generals and Admirals were there as well as some other important officers including her Uncle, Goong Yoo and Lu Ten who had rushed towards her as soon as he saw her to congratulate her.
"My little mochi is 21 today!" he had said while raising her from the floor on a crushing hug, "They grow up so fast." Lu Ten pretended to wipe some fake tears.
"Well…" Zuko made a mockery grin.
"Shut up!" she smacked him in the head.
"Stop smacking me in the head Azula, you will ruin my hair." Zuko whined, "It took me a while to get it done."
"Stop smacking me in the head Azula, you will ruin my hair." she imitated him in a funny matter.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously?"
"Hey stop it…"
"You stop it…"
Zuko turned towards Lu Ten and his Uncle. "Wanna help?"
"I wish I could, but I don't want to." Lu Ten replied, biting the biscuit he had to steal from his father.
The dinner began shortly after, with a few talks here and there, all of the guests wishing her a very happy birthday, which she thanked, and of course, there was the recurrent talk with Admiral Chan, about reconsidering his son, which Azula politely declined like every year.
"Oh, my gods!" Zuko whined as he watched warily at General Bujing. "He is doing it on purpose, right?" he muttered to his sibling, losing his patience quicker than what she thought, "He can't possibly eat that slow."
Azula glanced in the same direction, "Actually, I think he is probably slept, or he did died this time," then General Bujing moved, "Oh no, he is alive."
"We are going to be here forever!" The Prince complained, and the Princess patted him in the should.
"I told you so…"
For once, she agreed with her brother; the dinner was taking longer than usual, and she was also getting a little anxious, and probably Sokka's was getting a little frantic of waiting from her.
"Listen you two," Lu Ten jolted them, "See the door back there?" he nodded in a direction, from where some servants were going and coming, "It's for the service, there is a hallway that…"
"... takes you outright in the dinning. I know," said Azula, "But what about our…"
"If your parents ask, I got your back." Lu Ten winked at his cousins, "You both will own me one, but go. Now."
As Lu Ten indicated, they sneaked out once they got an opportunity; they followed the hallway, a few servants looked at them curiously, and in less than five minutes they were both out in the empty dining room.
They split up towards their rooms, Azula went to get the mask Sokka had gotten her, but it was surprised by not finding it, instead, she found the one her mother had seen it.
Ty Lee had gotten the wrong one.
She must be dyslexic.
She headed to their meeting spot, expecting to find Sokka there, and then look for Ty Lee to make the exchange, but when she got there, she was surprised to find the swing spot, empty.
Had she gotten there too early? Or too late? Had Sokka gone for a walk while he waited for her? Should she wait for him? All those questions rushed to her mind as she scanned around the place trying to get a glimpse of his face.
Azula sighed, maybe she should wait for him, a little bit, in case she had come in advance, or he had gone for a walk.
She played with the mask between her hands, getting more and more nervous at each passing second, she laughed at herself, feeling ridiculous for getting nervous for meeting a boy like if she was one of those dumb girls she used to laugh when she was younger. She remembered mocking Mai whenever she used to get nervous or embarrassed when being around Zuko, when they were younger, but know she was sure if her friend saw her like this, she would make fun of her.
Her heart raced remembering the previous night, she was sure Sokka was going to kiss her back then, if the moment hadn't got ruined, and also earlier that day, but… what if she was imagining this? Seeing signals where there were not? Maybe she was imagining all of it because she wanted it to happen, but if those weren't his intentions?
Sokka had said a few flirting comments here and there, but after many years of friendship with Ty Lee, she had discovered that there were naturally flirty people, as she had been naturally socially awkward in her teenage years.
Azula sighed, maybe she should go find him, before midnight, where everyone would put the mask on and would make it a hundred times more difficult to find him.
"Azula?" she heard her name called.
"Ty Lee?" she asked, as her friend took her mask off, she was wearing a lovely pink and gold dress, and was accompanied by who the Princess assumed it was Haru.
"W-What are you doing here?" she asked, and Azula notices a little nervousness in her voice, "Y-You aren't supposed to be here."
The Princess raised her eyebrows, "Excuse me?" she frowned.
"I mean, why aren't you with Sokka?"
"I was waiting for him, but I think he is late, and I was going to…" then she remembered, "That's not the mask I lend you," she said, frowning.
"Oh?" Ty Lee looked at it, and then sighed, "As soon as I got home, Ty Woo ripped off my hands." she explained.
"We need to find your sister," Azula said with urgency, "Sokka got me that mask to use it today and…"
Ty Lee's eyes widened, "Shit!" she cursed, and quickly grabbed the Princess by the wrist.
"W-What are you doing, Ty Lee?" the Princess asked while being dragged by her friend, pushing the crowd away. "Where are you taking me?"
She demanded to know, as they were trying to walk through the people, and for the first time during the festival, Azula almost wished to be escorted by her procession, so people would move over easier and faster.
"...the hell, Ty Lee?" Azula complained when her friend finally let go of her friend, they were close to the river shore, "Why are you acting all of a sudden like…" but her friend wasn't listening to the Princess, she had her attention, into shadow a little further. "Are you even listening?"
But Ty Lee didn't answer. She narrowed her eyes to try to get a better look. They seemed to be having a private moment, holding hands and all.
And then she saw him…
She had been imagining things; she had fooled herself after all…
An intense, unpleasant heating grew in her chest.
"That little witch…" Ty Lee muttered, but before she could walk in their direction, Azula grabbed her friend by the arm stopping her. "A-Azu…"
"You know, I just remembered... I'm not feeling really well," she said, "I'm going to head back, okay?"
"B-But.."
"Enjoy the festival." said the Princess before getting lost in the crowd.
Azula clenched her jaw and fists. Her nails were digging in her palms, and for a second she thought she might start to cry. She couldn't know if she was angry or hurt, all she knew is that she wanted to be alone.
He had totally fooled her. For a moment she thought she might mean something to him, as he was starting to mean something for her. In fact, who was she kidding? He already meant something for her, more than she would ever admit.
She thought she might be special for him. Turns out, she was not.
How did he dare to play with her like that? To trick her into thinking in something that it was not? He had not only tricked her mind but also -even if she wasn't going to acknowledge it- her heart. But it was all her fault for being tricked for a freaking peasant!
But… he had never said or admit to her anything… Everything were assumptions and conjectures.
Damn Sokka! Damn him! Damn me for stupid! she cursed in her mind.
The Princess was thankful for not have crossed anyone on her way back; she didn't want to talk to anyone right now.
She looked at how Ao played with some fireflies and hovered around and over the empty turtle duck.
"Happy birthday to me," she muttered sarcastically. After all, the fact that she was feeling so miserable was her fault. She felt her eyes tickled, but no, she wasn't going to cry, she wasn't going to cry for something as foolish as this, she was better than that, stronger.
"At least, someone is having a good time," she said watching Ao, flutter with the fireflies.
Azula was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the steps approaching.
"Darling?" her mother's voice jolted her, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be already at the Festival?" Ursa took a seat next to her.
Azula shrugged, "I guess I got bored." she lied.
"What's wrong, Azula?" her mother brushed one of her bangs behind her ear.
"Nothing…" she lied again, with a fake smile, "Why do you think something is wrong?"
"Darling…" her mother's tone was really calm, "You don't sit in front of the turtle ducks pond unless you're really upset… " Azula sighed, caught red-handed, "And you are frowning more than usual," her mother poked in the frown to make it relax it. "So… Tell me."
"It's nothing mom, seriously," she said side, smiling, trying not to break in tears.
"Do I have to force you to tell me?" her mother threatened her.
"Mom!" she whined, she did not need it this right now.
"Don't mom at me, little miss…" Azula straightened her back, "Come on, just tell me."
Azula massaged her forehead, irked. "Fine... But first... Can I ask you something first?"
Ursa nodded, "Of course."
"How did… How did you know you were in love with dad?" her mother's eyes widened, "I mean… I know the whole arranged married thing, but… what happen? Like, really."
Ursa made a grin trying to make memory, "Well... Let's see... Mmmm… As you know, great grandfather Sozin and great grandfather Roku were long life friends. And as friends, they wanted to one day, be available to be family… I mean, the legacy of a Fire Lord and from the Avatar himself, that was quite ambitious… and for many years they tried… But you know how it was… Your grandfather Azulon meet your grandmother and my parents got married." Azula nodded, "But the hope of one day uniting both legacies never died. So… ever since we were kids, your father and I would spend summers at Ember Island. Our parents were hoping we will eventually start to get along… but we were children back then… I used to believe he was a spoiled brat, and he used to call me annoying evil girl." her mother smiled at the memory.
"Well… nothing much has changed, right?" she teased, and her mother chuckled.
"Yeah…. back then, I remember we both would do tantrums before every summer, there was even a point when we really hated each other…. One time, he pissed me off so much…., I don't even remember what or why anymore, but I got into his room at night, with a pillow willing to suffocate him." her mother confessed between mirths.
"You did?" Azula chuckled, "And did he ever find out?"
"Oh, yeah… years later I told him," Ursa said, "But… back to your question...When I turned 21, your father made an unofficial visit to Hira'a to have a talk… and we made an agreement. "
"What kind of agreement?"
"Well, he confessed to me."
"He did?!" Azula's eyes widened, "I always thought it was you who confessed."
"Oh, no darling… it was him," Ursa smiled, "And after he confessed to me, he asked me for a year… a year to get to know each other well, without family pressures, just… us. And I accepted. During that year we got to know each other really well… I found a whole new side of him, and he also knew another whole Ursa."
"How?"
"I found out the real him, he was incredibly smart, intuitive, serious, but whenever he was around me he was goofy, fun, and whenever he was troubled by something, he will ask for my opinion. He listened to my ideas, he tried to show interest in my hobbies, and I did the same with his…" Ursa told her, "And you know, as a Prince he had tons of girls behind him, pretty ones, daughters of nobles, well educated… But you know, his crush for me was so big, he only ignored the rest of the girls," she said proudly, "And I think, realizing that he only had eyes for me, made me start to have feelings for him."
"But... How did you know? How did you know you loved him?" she asked.
"I think it was when I started to miss him as soon as he was gone, or I couldn't wait to see him and ask him about his day, or when not even spending the entire day with him was enough…" Ursa brushed some strands of hair of her daughter, "But I think when I finally admitted to myself I loved him, was when he came to me… He wasn't yet sure of my feelings towards him, but he did something I never thought he would…"
"What?"
"He told me I was free…" she said, "I was free of my compromise with him. He putted my happiness before his… and that's what told me: This is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. Remember what I told you last time? The only man who deserves you is the one who thinks he doesn't."
She remained silent for a moment.
Her parent's relationship might have not been perfect since the beginning but with the pass of the time they had turned out to be soulmates, eventually.
Just when she had finally coped with the idea of having feelings towards Sokka, and actually hoping for the first time, that he had feeling towards her too, everything got ruined.
Everything her mother had just told her about realizing her feelings towards her father, was something she had tried to avoid, to acknowledge, to avoid being hurt, but now it was too late…
"And mom… Have you ever regret it?" Azula questioned her after a moment.
"Not even for a second," Ursa smiled, "Of course we had and have our disagreements, it's totally normal, but we always figure it out. And don't forget, this marriage gave me two amazing kids." Azula smiled at her mom and rested her head on her shoulder. "The thing of love, my darling, is… not try to find your other half… It's more like two whole people that complement each other."
Another moment of silence grew between them. "Thanks, mom for… this," she muttered.
"Listen, Azula…. whatever issue you and Sokka have…"
Her eyes widened, "What?!... W-Why would you…?!"
Ursa rolled her eyes, "Azula, I birthed you!…. I know you better than anyone!…." Azula sighed, "Even if your father claims you're just like him, he is wrong, you are just like me, and I know you didn't just ask me for curiosity, so tell me…"
"It's complicated mom…"
"It always is... emotions always are complicated."
Azula rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry it is just, I'm a little uncomfortable with… emotions."
Ursa chuckled and shook her head. "Oh, gods… You do are your father's daughter..." she caressed her daughter's hair. "Azula, you might show a hard exterior, but I know you are much more than that, you are smart, funny, and undeniable beautiful."
"Are you saying that because I look just like you?"
"Of course not…" her mother smirked, "... But you also have feelings and insecurities like any other girl…. Stop running from a chance of love, just because you are scared of being hurt." she advised her daughter, and the silence grew around them.
"Mom, how did you know?" she asked, hoping not having to explain to her mother.
"I just knew," Ursa muttered shrugging, "At first I thought it was just one-sided by the way he looked at you when you weren't looking, or the way his eyes looked for you in every room, but then, I saw the way you looked at him the day you got sick and he went to see you."
"So, you are saying you have known I liked him since that day?"
"It was quite obvious."
"And, you know, you didn't bother in telling me?" Azula asked.
The Fire Lady snickered. "I wanted you to figure it out on your own."
The Princess let out a sarcastic huff.
"My love?" her father's voice jolted them both, "Are you ready?..." he looked at his daughter, "... Azula? Shouldn't you be….?"
"She is feeling a little sicky, my dear." her mother hurried to lie and approach her husband.
"Are you feeling sick, darling?" Ozai asked her.
"It's nothing, dad." she smiled.
"What were you two girls plotting, huh?" he raised an eyebrow.
"I was just telling her our story, to distract her," Ursa said.
"Oh… Were you telling her about how after much begging and begging from your part, I finally accepted your proposal?" Ozai teased, Ursa poke him in the ribs and he chuckled. He huffed, "Fine, after much begging from my part…"
"And don't you dare to forget it," Ursa said before landing a kiss on him.
Azula made a grin. Sometimes her parents were like two horny, silly teenagers. "Oh pleasee...Just go!… Have fun, both of you." she waved vigorously to make them go.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes…. Go!" she told them.
When her parents finally left, and she was left alone with her thoughts.
"... when I started to miss him as soon as he was gone, or I couldn't wait to see him and ask him about his day, or when not even spending the entire day with him was enough…" Her mother's words resounded him her mind because those described how she had been feeling lately whenever she was around Sokka.
It was something she never felt before, for anyone, missing him even before he was gone, spending the day with him and yet feeling like it wasn't enough, and thinking about him so constantly she was unavailable to focus on something for too long.
It was official; she was in love.
She was soo... head over heels for him. For Sokka.
"Oh, damn it!" she said, why holding her head between her arms. "I'm screwed." she cursed.
These kinds of things didn't get to happen to her, she didn't get to catch feelings for someone, and least likely for a goofy boy who lived at the end of the world, and has a ferocious appetite, and a stupid sense of humor, and had amazing looks, and those stupid, those stupid god damn blue eyes.
"Agr!..." she grunted, "Why now? And why him? Damn it! Damn it!"
She couldn't just have felt from someone from her nation? Someone, she might have a future with or have an actual feeling towards her? Why was the universe doing these to her? Was it punishing her for all the things she had done to Zuko in her younger years? Was it karma? Well, whatever it was, now she needed it to find a way to get over Sokka fast. He had made his choice, and she wasn't, so she was going to make hers and forget him.
But that was easier said than done.
Azula was so focused on her own thoughts, that she didn't hear the steps approaching.
"Azula?" her eyes widened, and her heart jolted, "I have been looking you everywhere."
Yeah, sure. I didn't seem like it, back in the city, she thought.
"Not everywhere," she muttered barely audible, fumed, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with someone else?"
"What? No," he approached her, "We were supposed to meet back in the street…"
Yeah, sure, she huffed and didn't answer.
"What are you doing here?" Sokka asked, standing behind her. She could feel his presence, but she refused to turn.
"I was... looking at the turtle ducks…." she lied.
Sokka looked at the pond... it was empty. "There are no turtle ducks."
"I know that… and that's because they have just gone to sleep," she lied again, "And so should I…" she stood up and walked past him.
Sokka froze for a moment, "Azula, wait," he went after her and stopped her by the wrist. "Listen, I wanted to talk with you about what happen earlier…"
She shook off his grip, abruptly. "It's okay, you don't have to…" she didn't want to hear his excuses, which he didn't need to give, after all, they were nothing.
"No, that's the thing, I do have to… I mean, I want too...Listen…" he took one of her hands. "It was a mistake, okay?... "
"Sokka, it's okay… You don't have to apologize for wanting to spend time with other girls…" she made her most convincing smile, trying not to show that she was actually really hurt in the inside, "Who am I, to stop you anyways…?"
"Azula!" he cut her off, and he holds her by the shoulders, "I don't want to spend time with other girls…" Sokka's heart was beating so heart he thought he might get a stroke.
Azula looked so dazzling. It was a fact she looked naturally beautiful every day, but at that particular moment, he found her ten times more dazzling. She was perfect, just perfect.
It was now or never; he knew it; he had screwed up earlier; he knew it, and now it was his chance to fix it. If Azula was already making this kind of assumptions -of him wanting to spend time with other girls-, if he waited any longer to tell her how he actually felt, he might lose her, and that scared him. "I lied to you…." he whispered.
"What? When?" her eyes widened, I knew it, she thought.
"Yesterday, at the boat… I didn't forget what I was going to tell you… I just... I just flinched...and I'm so stupid for that… and I was planning to tell you tonight, but then everything got complicated. I had everything planned for your birthday..." her face relaxed. This was unexpected. Her heart started to beat even faster than already was for his closeness.
His words sounded honest, desperate, and his eyes looking at her were sincere. He was speaking the truth. "We were supposed to enjoy the fireworks, and I was going to tell you that…"
"Tell me what?" she takes a step towards him, racing her chin. Her eyes meeting his, and all previous rage feelings vanishing instantly. He looked so handsome for an unknown reason to her, -well, not that unknown-. Damn you! Get a hold of yourself, damn it.
"I-I…."
"You what?" she insisted.
"I know that you must be really angry at me right now for what you saw in the city, but it's all a misunderstanding, I thought it was you, and…" he made a pause, "For a while, I have tried to deny it, and right now it's possibly the last thing you want to hear, but if I don't tell you now, I don't know when I would get the guts to say it…. and I also know that I don't deserve you, but at least I thought you should know that..." Sokka took a moment to glance at her.
`and I know that I don't deserve you´ Azula smiled at his words.
Has she jumped to conclusions once again? Did he…? Was he…?
"Fuck," he smiled, "You are beautiful."
The Princess's mouth wide open, and she could feel all the colors in her face. "Y-You…" she tried to hide the smile on her face. Sokka smiled too, and Azula felt her heart in her throat, and her breathing stopped when he caressed her cheeks and kissed her forehead.
She froze and stopped her breathing. Still, she wanted to know what he had meant to say to her. She wanted to hear him say it, to hear him say it out loud, so her mind and heart could be finally at ease.
"Y-You said you had something to tell me… What was it? Or that was it?"
He shook his head, "I... I-I love you." he said.
And before anything else happened, she tiptoed before giving him a quick peek on the lips, which took him by surprise. "Next time, don't forget it."
Sokka smiled at her, the reality just hitting him. Had he imagined? No, she had kissed him. Azula had kissed him.
"What is it?" Azula asked him when she realized the way he was looking at her. Like if she was the most beautiful thing in the world. His hands were a little shaky.
"I-I'm nervous, okay?" he admitted blushing, he didn't want to ruin the moment or anything, but he was being ridiculous, it was not like the first time he was kissing a girl.
But it was, in fact, the first time he had kissed a Princess, he had kissed Azula.
She rolled her eyes, "What are you, a child? Didn't you have a girlfriend before? I should be the nervous one!" she mocked.
"I-I did!" he squealed, and Azula chuckled, "I did, I had a girlfriend before... It just... I-I well… aren't you nervous?" he asked.
"No." she lied in her most calm voice, she was terrified.
"Really?"
Azula nodded, "Yeah, but you are acting so cowardly." she mocked, yet she found tenderly the fact that he was so nervous about kissing her when all the time he acted so confident.
"I'm not!" Sokka whined, "It just...my heart is…" he was looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
"I'm totally cool," she said calmly even though her heart was racing really fast, her hands were sweating and her legs were of jelly.
"Really?"
"Yeah," she smirked before quickly tiptoeing again and kissing him, "In case you might faint." she smiled, teasing him and kissing him were two things she had started to love.
All his plans had gotten ruined, but in the end, everything had turned out for the better, well more like for the best, even better than he had imagined. She liked him, too.
It was perfect.
Sokka chuckled, before taking her face with his hands and leaning down to finally kiss her as she wanted.
This time, the kiss was longer and eager; she had surrounded his neck and pulled him to deepen the kiss.
Sokka couldn't believe it was happening, he had wanted to do it more than he would ever admit and just realizing that it was happening it was so exhilarating. Holding her tight was all he wanted it, feel her breathing, her heartbeat. This time he had the chance to taste her, she tasted like cherries his hands were to her waist to bringer even closer.
His mind when blank. He couldn't think about anything else than the here and now, and right now, it was even better than he ever dreamt of. Her lips were soft, delicate, but they caused a hundred sensations in him.
She was everything he had always wanted, and now he wasn't going to let her go.
Azula had always liked to be the one in control, to be in charge of managing the things, but for once, she let it go; she let him take the lead, his grip getting steadier like he was holding on to her, making her feel safe, like if he was never going to let her go, and she hoped he wouldn't because, she was screwed, now, she would never be available to let him go.
The way he was kissing her send shivers down her spine, it was like something she had never experienced before. Her heart beating fast and all her senses were running while with all the sensations she was feeling. It was intoxicating; it was overwhelming, but it was the most incredible feeling, ever touch, every breath, every kiss… It was consuming.
She let go for a moment to regain her breath, but his lips got hers again, his hands went below her bottom to raise her from the floor. That way she wouldn't have a chance to run away from him.
"I love you," he whispered, when they split up to get some air, both breathing heavily.
Azula snickered and muttered, caressing his face, "Idiot." she smiled, before leaning down to kiss him once more.
And then, the fireworks began, but they were long forgotten, as they were busier in something else, but still, if something was sure, it was that it was going to be a birthday she would never forget.
She was happy; he was happy. They were happy.
N/A
*Seiryū means dragon in japanese, Ao means blue, and Druk according to wikipedia it was the god dragon of thunder I believe.
This history was supposed to be a short one, originally it was only meant to be 1 or 2 chapter at most, but then my little mind started to come up with more and more ideas, that I couldn't stop. Then, it turned into a ten chapters long, but now, and here we are nine chapters in and yet, I still don't know how long it might be. Definitely longer than 10 chapter, but less than 20 I guarantee you that, but still I don't have and exact number.
Also, while working on this I have like other two (More like five) one shots of two chapter max, (which I hope they will stay like that) that I wish to publish... and to all those Sokkla fans, I'm also working in a long ass fic (never as long as gladiator, but definitely longer than 15 chapters probably around 50? maybe?) while writing this. I already have 200 pages of notes in my computer of that history, plus the chapters i already have started to wrote, and the notes in my notebook. If everything goes as planed, I will start to publish that one once this one is done, with quicker updates (Hopefully)
It going to be canon based, after the imbalance comics, like one or two years later and of course it's going to be Azula redemption arc, we want and deserve.
For this fic I wanted to write something relaxed, chill, but for the other one is gonna be like writing a bike, and the bike was in hell.