BUTTERFLIES DAY
DAY 25
"Could you give me that?" Azula asked him, pointing at something one of the higher shelves of the Library.
Sokka had been a little moody all day. And she believed it was still because of what she had said the day before about mochi and him.
"So, you do need me in your life," said Sokka cockily as lowered the scroll she had asked him. "Still choosing mochi over me?" he quirked an eyebrow.
"I could replace you with a chair," she replied, taking the scroll from his hands. "Mochi? I don't think so." she dropped herself on one of the couches.
Sokka took sit next to her, and she extended her legs over his. He started to play with her bangs.
"You really liked it, didn't you?" he asked looking at the lantern in the shape of a dragon that he had gotten yesterday, that it was now resting in her desk.
"Humph," she shrugged, "I never thought I would like silly things like this, you know?" she said nodding to the lantern and then to the bracelet on her wrist. "I mean, I guess I'm so used to luxury, expensive jewelry that everything else seemed just... meh..." she made a grin, "I never thought that a trinket like this would turn into my favorite item."
"Yeah, it's re...Trinket?" he said between teeth, narrowing his eyes.
She rolled her eyes and gave him a little peek in the lips. "You know what I mean."
Sokka smirked cockily. "So, you thought you were insatiable, but then you met me." he mocked.
"You think too highly of yourself," she replied, frowning a little bit.
"Am I not everything you wanted?" he quirked an eyebrow teasingly.
"I wanted a little less arrogance. I have enough with mine." Azula uttered, "But I guess I can't have everything in life. Not even if I'm a Princess." she focused her attention on her scroll.
Sokka snickered. "Still, the fact that you chose a `trinket´ that I gave you over anything luxury you could have, just…" she looked up to him, "Makes me love you more," he said with a smile.
The Princess looked over to the window. She sighed. "It's not even lunchtime, and you have already managed to make me feel uncontrollable with your cheesiness," she complained, before punching him in the elbow. "Damn you!" she pouted.
Sokka chuckled again and surrounded her with his arms, bringing her closer. "Come on, we have to go."
"Go? Where?" she frowned.
Sokka slid an arm under her knees and the other behind her back to pick her up. "Yesterday, I ran into Lu Ten and he asked me if we could take care of the twins for a moment," he said standing up with her in his arms.
"Huh?" Azula quirked a brow and patted him in the arm to place her down. "Why did he ask you instead of me?" she inquired crossing her arms.
"Because he said you would have said no." he replied.
"So? I'm his cousin. He should be asking me to do it, and I should be forcing you to do it. Not asking you and forcing me to do it. That's not how it works." she claimed.
Sokka mirrored her and crossed his arms, quirking an eyebrow. "Would you have accepted if he had asked you?"
"We both know my answer," she uttered with a fake smile.
"No?"
"No." she confirmed.
"Yeah, I assume that." Sokka sighed.
"I need you to learn how to say no to my family," said Azula, "They all have this talent of manipulating people."
"Funny." he smirked with a hand under his chin and the other one on his waist.
"What?"
"I thought the only manipulative it was you." he said teasingly.
"Get out." she commanded pointing at the door.
"But, didn't you call it convincing, instead of manipulation?" he pondered with a hand under his chin, ignoring her last words.
"Everyone knows it's the same," she replied narrowing her eyes. "How do you think my family has ruled this country?"
Sokka raised his eyebrows. "With justice and wisdom?"
"Ha… You are lucky you are cute." said Azula pinching him in the cheeks.
"Come on, then." said Sokka leading to the door.
"No." said Azula, not moving an inch.
"Do you want me to carry you?"
"You wouldn't dare."
…
"Okay, I get it, I get it. Pull me down." she pleaded him for the fifth time as he carried her on his shoulder under the wary looks of the Royal Guards.
And Sokka had dared indeed. In a swift move, he had managed to lift her from the floor and placed her on his shoulder before heading towards the Royal Garden.
"Na-ha."
"I'm going to get back at you for this, you know that right?" she grunted irked.
"Yeap," replied Sokka. He was fully aware she was going to get back at him for doing this to her.
"Sorry we are late, someone didn't want to come." he said a second before putting her down.
"Agr…" she snarled, she felt undignified. "This is not fair. You manipulated him." she pointed accusingly at her cousin, who had looked at the scene amused and was trying really hard to not laugh.
"I didn't!" said Lu Ten.
"You did!" said Azula amusingly, "You knew he is just too good to say no. That's why you asked him to do it and no me! Because you knew I was going to say no." she frowned, irked.
Lu Ten opened his mouth, and then closed it, "I might have done that." he muttered.
Azula huffed fumed. "So?" she said after looking around, "Where are you little brats which now I have to babysit thanks to this moron?"
"They are a little over a year. How hard it can be?" asked Sokka.
"You would be surprised." she sighed.
One time during her teenage years, Mai had had to babysit her younger brother Tom-Tom, and the Princess and Ty Lee had gone to her house to have a nice chat and get together, but it had been impossible. Tom-Tom was an over hyperactive kid, curious about everything and couldn't stay still not even for a second. He was also in that stage where kids just drool everywhere and find really amusing pulling people's hair. Ty Lee had ended up with a headache that day and the Princess smelling to dried slime.
"Let's just get this going." said Azula resigned and just wanting the day to be over.
"It's just going to be a couple of hours," said Lu Ten, "Rin and I have some things to do on the Capitol and it would be faster and easier without the kids." he explained.
"And couldn't your father had done it?" she inquired.
"He is coming with us." he replied.
"My parents? I'm sure they would have loved to do it." she claimed.
"They had Fire Lord and Fire Lay stuff to do." said Lu Ten.
"Zuko?" the Princess quirked an eyebrow.
"Romantic date with Suki."
Azula huffed annoyed. "I believe you are just making excuses for me to do this," she narrowed her eyes. "How truly desperate can you be for you to seriously think that this is a good idea?"
Lu Ten pressed his lips in a thin line. "You know, I'm starting to reconsider it."
"Ignore her," Sokka intervened, "We are going to be fine. We are going to have fun with the twins."
"Thanks," said Lu Ten with an honest smile towards the warrior. "Just make sure that they behave, okay? The three of them." he mocked towards his cousin who pouted.
"You are going to owe me a big one." she said pointing at her cousin, "And you, I'm going to get back at you later."
They waited just a couple minutes before Rin showed up with the twins.
"They just had their nap. Their diapers are changed, and they had their meal just now." she said,
"So, you shouldn't have any problem with them."
"Awesome." said Sokka holding one in his arms, who he thought it was Lei.
"Azu, they love seeing firebending. It really keeps them entertained."
The Princess made a grin at Rei who was looking at her with vivid eyes.
"At least they have a nice taste," she muttered, before raising her eyebrows at Lu Ten and Rin.
"Anything else?"
Rin and Lu Ten shared a glance. "No. I believe that's it."
"Go then! The faster you leave the faster you are back." she told them.
A little while after Lu Ten and Rin had left, Sokka, her, and the twins had starred in the gardens.
They had placed the kids in the grass.
"See is not that bad." said Sokka's as the Princess lighted a small flame in her hand, and when the twins tried to reach it, she would make it disappear.
"According to you," she replied, "I can think of at least another... maybe ten or twenty other things that I would rather prefer be doing than this."
"Like what?" he quirked a brow.
"Well, for instance, you and me, could be doing something that children should not see." said the Princess.
"Which is… Oh," he smirked mischievously, "And you dare to say I'm the perv?"
Azula rolled her eyes annoyed. "Do you mind doing a little of thinking with your upstairs brain?... I mean, just for a moment." Sokka pouted. She chuckled at his reaction. "Gods! Your mind it's so dirty and perverted, savage." she said, "I meant sparing! Children shouldn't see violence. Or in any case, me kicking your ass."
"Oh," he scratched the back of his head blushing. "But, still… Do you think that there would be a problem if we did both?" he inquired bluntly.
She glanced at him frowning. "Do you want me to throw you a rock?"
Sokka opened his mouth to reply but did a pause before saying. "I… I do not want that. I'm fine with you throwing me verbal attack," he said before Lei pulled his hair. "Hey, you little imp! Don't do that!" he whined scolding the kid.
Lei lower lip trembled and his eyes filled with water.
Sokka panicked at the sight of this. "N-No, don't cry." he pleaded.
"Tsk! Great," said Azula ironically, "Now you made him cry." she grunted at Sokka. "Lei, come on," she called the little kid which rushed to her and to his twin. She whipped the kids tears. "That horrible, stupid, and bad savage made you cry? Sit here with your brother."
Sokka pouted again.
Lei dropped himself in the glass next to Rei and Azula turned another flame on. Both kids smiled at the sign of her blue flames.
"I didn't even offer myself and I ended up babysitting three kids." she muttered.
…
"Mochi!" Lu Ten called her, "Can you come here for a second?" he asked her with a sign.
"Sure." she said.
"Wait!" said Sokka, "Are you going to leave me here with both of them?" he asked concerned.
"Yeah," replied Azula, "Hang in there, manly man." she mocked before she standing up and heading towards her cousin. "What is it?" she inquired when she stood next to them.
"Well," Lu Ten began.
"We have been meaning to ask you something for a while," said Rin sharing a glance with her husband.
"Okay," she said slowly and frowning getting more and more intrigued about what it was about.
She crossed her arms.
"It's nothing official, yet." Lu Ten clarified, "But as you know, we want to have another child."
"Yeah. A girl, right?" Azula uttered.
"Yes," said Rin, "So, we were wondering that if when we conceive our daughter…, would you like to be her godmother?"
The question itself startled her. It was not something she would have expected now, or ever. She blinked a little astonished about the matter before she could say an answer.
"Me?" she asked to reaffirm.
"Yes, you Mochi," said Lu Ten. He had expected the question to leave her without words. Usually, she would have a sassy or snarky reply to almost everything in the world.
"We thought about it a lot and we decide for you and my brother Jet to be the godparents of our next child," Rin explained with a soft smile. "Do you like the idea?" she raised an eyebrow.
"M-Me... really?"
…
Sokka looked over at where the Princess was talking with her cousin and his wife. A smile appeared in his lips as one grew on hers as she conversed with them.
The twins were pulling the grass with his little clumsy hands.
He smiled just by looking at the Princess. She was dazzling.
"Sokka, right?" a voice pulled him out of his trance while looking at Azula.
"Yeah." he replied. And was a little shocked to find out who it was.
"I'm Goong Yoo." he said dropping next to him and the twins with a small smile.
Sokka grunted for his insides. The bastard was really good looking.
"You are Lu Ten's friend, right?" he inquired curious about why he was there talking to him instead of to his friend.
"Yeah," said Goong Yoo, "We have been best friends since we were five." he explained.
"Oh." muttered Sokka, looking back at where Azula was.
"You are lucky, you know?" said Goong Yoo with his attention on Rei as he saw the little one, pull grass from the floor and dropping it on his lap.
"Sorry?" he glanced at him a little disoriented at his words.
A side smile appeared in his face as he stared at the same direction Sokka had been doing it. "She chose you," he muttered, "The Princess."
"Oh… yeah," he agreed, still not knowing what was all this about. "I'm the luckiest," he stated before adding, "In fact, I don't know how a girl like her could have chosen a guy like me." said Sokka softly in full honesty.
He was no idiot. He was fully aware that he just some common random guy -who had amazing looks, an incredible sense of humor and was incredibly skilled with the sword- but that still other than that was nothing special, while her was the entire opposite.
She was a Princess. The most talented and skilled firebender of her age, -the only known and acknowledged blue fire bender in history- a natural strategist, with an intelligence above most, with a fun dark humor and not to mention that she was the most gorgeous thing he had ever seen in his life.
"I'm happy for her," said Goong Yoo with a smile.
Sokka could tell that it was an honest smile. He was truly happy for her.
"You know," Goong Yoo gulped, "If she hadn't met you, in two years I would have asked to the Fire Lord for her hand in marriage." he admitted.
Sokka eyes and mouth widened at his words. "W-What…?"
This guy was making a really odd confession to him and a part of him couldn't help but felt a little worried.
Goong Yoo was everything he was not.
According to Ty Lee, he was an excellent Firebender under only the Royal Family. He was part of the Fire Nation army and with his young age he was now one of the highest ranks. Not to mention that his looks were excellent or the fact that Goong Yoo had grown side by side with Lu Ten, Zuko and Azula. He probably knew her even better than him, and something that it was still like a thorn in the back of his mind was that he had been Azula's first crush.
Goong Yoo smiled at him in a way that told him that he had nothing to worry about. That he wasn't going to try to do anything, that he only wanted to let someone know.
"I know I shouldn't but," he sighed and shrugged. "I have always kind of had a little crush on her." he confessed making feel Sokka a little uneasy. "But it was kind of terrifying you know? Back then, she was the granddaughter of the Fire Lord. She was a prodigy and from the best firebending family. Since she was really little, she was always really smart and beautiful. And with the past of the time, she just keeps getting smarter and more beautiful." he uttered. Before glancing towards Sokka. "I'm sorry I'm telling you this. You might think is out of place and inappropriate." he apologized.
"No," Sokka shook his head. "Don't worry." he muttered before asking, "Why were you going to wait two years?" he asked intrigued.
Goong Yoo placed Rei on his lap and lighted a little flame in his hands which the little one saw with amazement. "The Royal family is only allowed to get married with members of the nobility," he explained.
"But, aren't you?" Sokka asked tilting his head.
"Yes, but because of my family heritage." said Goong Yoo, "I wanted to make my own merits, you know? Not depending of my family's name. So, I was going to wait to get a promotion to Admiral before asking for her hand."
"I see." he whispered.
Only members of the nobility? But he wasn't nobility… His father was the Chief of the South Tribe but did it count? And he wasn't Fire Nation, and he wasn't a bender or had a power full ancestor. All those kinds of questions started to rush into his mind.
And also, there was only five days of festivals. What was going to happen with them? Azula had told him a few times that member of the Royal Family isn't allowed to leave the Fire Nation, so, what was going to happen with them after that? He had thought about coming to visit as much as he could, but if the same thing that happened with Suki occurred?
And if he stayed? He had thought about that a few times. He could stay. But would she let him? She was stubborn, and she knew -because he had told her many times- how much he loved to be free and travel the world and Sokka was really doubting that Azula was going to allow him to give up all that.
Sokka knew he wanted to be with her more than anything and he knew she wanted the same, but still, he couldn't ask her to give up her position. He couldn't ask her to do the same thing Lu Ten had done, that would be selfish.
They would have to figure it out something, sooner or later.
Sokka glanced in her direction and she seemed to notice because she looked back at him and smiled softly. The kind of smile that warmed his heart and made him remember how much of a lucky bastard he was of having a girl like her just looking at him.
"She seems really happy with you," said Goong Yoo when he noticed their exchange of smiles. "And you also look really in love." he added.
"Yeah," Sokka admitted, "It's kind of silly if you take in consideration how long have we meet each other."
Twenty-five days in total. And it had only taken them less than eleven days to acknowledge that they had feelings for each other.
"Not at all," Goong Yoo said, "In fact, it reminds me of Lu Ten. He had gone to get some supplies when we were helping a small town to settle in the Earth Kingdom. Hours later, he returned empty-handed and with a stupid smile across his face." he snickered remembering the dork face Lu Ten had carried all day.
"What happen?"
"It was the first time he saw Rin." he explained, "He only saw her in the street for 10 seconds but he was totally in love. He didn't ask for her name but still... for what she says, they didn't even talk or anything until a week later because every time he would try to start conversation with her his mind would go completely blank."
Sokka snickered. He had misjudged Lu Ten at first mistaking him from one of Azula's suitors when he hadn't even acknowledged his own feeling towards her. But once he got to knew him, he realized that Lu Ten was one of those guys that you just simply like for their personality.
"He is something else, right?" he glanced again to where Azula was with Lu Ten and Rin and it seemed that he had said something funny because the two girls were laughing
Goong Yoo nodded in agreement. "You have no idea. He got me into so many troubles while growing up that I lose count." he said in amusement, remembering all those troubles they had gotten in.
…
They were heading back to his dorm after the festival. Sokka had been a little mind absent all night and Azula's couldn't help but notice that.
During the entire festival he had been distracted. While she had been amazed by the amounts of fireflies her father had managed to bright to the Nation he seemed to have his thoughts somewhere else from time to time.
"What on that little head of yours?" she asked him closing the door of his room behind her. She pressed the lock.
He dropped in the edge of his bed. His talk with Goong Yoo had left him a little unsettled wandering about their future and what was going to happen with them.
"Azula, I talked with Goong Yoo and…" he made a pause about how to get to the topic they needed to discuss, but at the same time didn't want too.
"I saw you to talking in the gardens." she said standing in front of him, "What did you talk about?" she asked wondering if that was what had him so unquiet.
"Well, he told me something that left me thinking." he muttered.
"That's an improvement." she joked to try to lighten his mood.
"Azula…" he said in a serious tone.
"What?" said Azula pretending total innocence. Before climbing on top of his lap with her legs at each side of him.
"I'm serious," said Sokka holding her from the waist. She frowned at his expression, he seemed really troubled "It left me thinking…" he gulped before asking, "Is it truth the Royal Family can only marry a member of the nobility?"
She smiled before kissing him.
So that was what was troubling him, she thought. Enjoy the now. Fuck the future. I can worry about that in five days.
He corresponded her kiss eager as always. He was always in a good mood for a kissing session.
"Yeah... So?" she replied when they split to take air, pressing her forehead on his.
"It's just…" he swallowed had. Should he really bring the topic now? "I know it's rushed but, in the future…" he tried to say but Azula shut him with another kiss.
"Sokka." she whispered between kisses.
"What?" his mind was blank. He had totally forgotten what he wanted to say.
"Do you seriously want to talk about the future right now, when we could be doing something else?" she asked, moving her hips in a suggestive way that made his heartbeat increase ten times.
"Like what?" he patented, but already knowing her answer.
"Like this…" she replies before undoing his shirt, toasting it somewhere and pushing him to the mattress. "You still want to talk about the future or enjoy the moment?" she asked him, as she undid her hair.
"Enjoy the moment. Fuck the future." he said without thinking, before pulling her close to him.
He left out a groan against her mouth when he felt the way she was swinging her hips on top of him. She knew what it she was doing perfectly, and she knew she had total control over him.
Azula kissed him in the chest and descended further licking and sucking. She took her time in his amazing abs. But when she got to the line of his pants she smirked towards him, and his heartbeat doubled, making his erection even more noticeable.
He couldn't take his eyes away of her as she lowered herself more and more.
She bit her lower lips seductively. She dropped on her knees at the edge of the bed. Her hands caressing that vulnerable part of his over his clothes. Her face at the same level of his crotch.
Azula proceed to place her hair in a high ponytail to keep it out of the way, and as she did it, his expectation grew and grew as well as his little friend.
No wonder she had looked the door he thought. It was sure for both of them that they didn't want to get caught in another compromising situation.
Sokka gulped hard. He never thought she would be the one to have the initiative to do it. And even though she hasn't begun yet, he couldn't help but imagining how her mouth would feel around him.
He dropped his head on the mattress and closed his eyes, as he felt her hands again on the edge of his pants.
An evil smirk appeared on her face. "I think I should head to bed, now." she said standing up, "I feel a little tired."
Sokka opened wide his eyes. "What?" he squealed.
"Yeah, babysitting really can wear you out." she said mischievously while pretending to yawn and heading towards the door.
"W-Wait... Are you seriously going to leave me like this?"
"Didn't I tell you I was going to get back at you for earlier?" she quirked a brow, "I hope you have learned." she said with a cocky smile before leaving and closing the door behind her.
"Azu... Agr!" he groaned, there was no use trying to call her. "I should have seen that one coming."
He couldn't even get mad at her, after all, she had warned him. This was all on him for being an idiot.
FLOW WITH THE CURRENT
DAY 26
"What are you doing up there?" Azula asked him after looking for him around.
At first, she had thought that when he didn't show up after his training that he was mad at her for what had happened last night. So, after waiting for a while for him, she went to look for him. While she was walking by the gardens, a small rock flew next to her which made her turn her attention towards the direction that it had come. She was surprised to find him up in one of the bigger trees.
Sokka looked troubled.
"I needed to think..." he said softly, looking at the little rock his hands. He was still thinking about his conversation with Goong Yoo.
"And you think that throwing me that will help you think?" she inquired, nodding towards the rock in his hand.
"It was an accident." said Sokka. The rock had slipped out of his hands just when she had been passing by. Could have been her or someone else.
"Yeah... sure." she said ironically. Before turning around to leave.
"Where are you going?" he asked her.
"Inside. It looks like it going to be an electric storm." said Azula pointing at the sky which was really cloudy. Even thought it was around mid-day thanks to the grey clouds it looked really dark already. "I'm guessing today's festival would have to be cancelled."
Sokka smirked. "You, who can produce lighting are afraid of them?" he teased.
"No," she crossed her arms. "But I certainly don't want to get wet. Not after what happened last time." she said remembering her bad fever. "By the way... if you don't go down before it starts, you will probably die. Trees tend to be great anchors for lighting."
"Worried about me?" he mocked.
"I'm just stating a fact." she replied before turning around to leave again.
Sokka takes the little rock in his hands and threw it next to her.
"Really?" she quirked an eyebrow with her hands at her waists.
He opens his mouth to reply but the yelp of a hawk makes them turn their attention towards the animal. "Huh? It's hawky." he says. Last time he had seen the bird it had been on his first night in the Palace. His father had used hawky to send a message to gran-gran in the Pole. She must have replied to them. The bird flies around him before popping on his shoulder. "Ugh… Hawky..." he scolds the bird, making a grin of disgust.
Azula laughed loudly at his misfortune. "Karma." she uttered wiping the tears from her eyes after laughing so hard.
Sokka smiled at her. "You look gorgeous when you laugh at other misfortunes."
"Only then?" she teased him quirking a brow.
He rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean." he said jumping off the tree.
"I don't know…" Azula shrugged as she headed towards the hallway. "Maybe you need to explain it better."
"I might." he replied before rushing behind her and tucking an arm under her knees and lifting her from the floor.
She squealed with amusement when he spinned in circles with her.
...
"Dad?" Sokka found his father coming out of his room an hour later. To deliver him the message from Hawky.
"Hey, son." his father greeted him and patted him on the shoulder encouraging him to walk with him. "What is it?"
"Hawky is back." he said leading the message to his father.
"Thanks." replied her father, "I'm surprised to find you alone. You and the Princess had been glued to each other for the last couple of days." he said with a smile.
It had been a while since he had last since his son like that. Happy, but most importantly… In love, something he hasn't seen in his son for a while.
Still, he was a little worried about his son.
Ozai had told him all the complications that became with being part of the Royal Family, and even though he would love for their families to unite, he wasn't sure if Sokka was ready to take an important decision like that. But maybe he was getting way ahead of it.
"Yeah…" said Sokka, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to hide his evident blush. "She is amazing."
"Really?" Hakoda inquired as he saw his saw smile.
"Dad, she is… everything I ever wanted," he stated, "She is beautiful, smart, sarcastic and not to mention that she loves to eat as much as I do." Hakoda snickered at his comment. "But…" he made a pause, his expression changed.
"But what, son?" Hakoda noticed his troubled expression. "What is it? What is troubling?"
Sokka sighed deeply. "It's complicated dad." he began, "I mean, for starters she is a Princess. While I'm just… me. She is an amazing firebender and I'm a non-bender and dad. What if.. if I'm not just good enough?"
Hakoda pressed his son's shoulder, trying to comfort him.
"Son. I'm pretty sure she knew all that and didn't stop her from falling for you." said his father, before placing a hand on his shoulder. "Listen, you know how your mother and I knew each other our entire lives, right?" Sokka nodded, "Well, before I asked her to go on a date with me, I was just in the same situation you are now. She was the most skilled non-bender healer from the tribe and the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. And me, well, even though I was the son of the chief, I was mainly just a boy with bad jokes and average skills for hunting and fishing.
Many boys were after your mother, yet she kept rejecting them all. At the same time, I was gathering the courage to ask her on a date, but one day, she suddenly did it instead. And even though in our first date nothing came out as planned, and I mean nothing. I tried my best to make her laugh. At the end of the date when I asked her to repeat it, your mother agreed saying that she had had a great time." said Hakoda remembering his younger years. "I guess what I'm trying to tell you is, that even though I was the son of the chief in the end, your mother loved me for who I was. Not Hakoda the son of the chief, but Hakoda the boy with terrible jokes.
I believe that for Princess Azula was the same. Ozai told me about how she rejected every single one of her past suitors. Yet, with you it was different."
"I guess." muttered Sokka.
"For instance, I vividly remember how you two screamed at each other at the feast when we made you that joke about being each other future husband and wife." Hakoda smirked.
"Spirits bless the poor naive girl that ends up with you."
"Spirits bless the poor bastard that ends up with you." they had screamed at each other.
"I think that for her, what makes you special it was the fact that since the very beginning you were true to yourself and honest with her."
Sokka sighed. "Well, back then I remember I thought she was a nightmare and a cocky Princess." he said.
Hakoda chuckled. "And if I recall correctly, you told her that she was the competition of the devil itself." his father made a grin.
"I... I think I did." said Sokka, rubbing the back of his neck.
"But now, you don't think like that anymore, do you?" the chief inquired.
"I don't. In fact, Dad" he made a pause before saying, "I think I love her." his son admitted.
Hakoda smiled. "I don't see a problem with that."
"It's just. Dad, I don't know if I'm good enough for her… I don't… And sometimes, sometimes… I hate myself for not knowing what I want." he said troubled, "I love traveling and I will love to show her the world, but I can't. She has a duty and a stupid traditions that stops her. Azula is a Princess, while I'm just… some guy from the South."
"And being a guy from the South is a problem?" said Hakoda.
"No." Sokka replied, "I'm proud of who am I and from where I come, but I don't know if that's good enough… If that is good enough for a Princess." he ran a hand thru his hairs.
"Well, for what it seems right now, for Princess Azula, it's enough."
"And that's another problem dad," Hakoda tilted his head, "That for now, it's not enough. What will happen in a year? Or in a couple of months? What if it happens, the same thing that happened with Suki? Dad, I'm not sure if I'm ready to spend months without seeing her. Hell, I'm not even sure if I would be available to say goodbye in five days. The mere thought it's just… I don't know what to do, I don't. I'm just…" he made a pause scratching his head exasperated. "The only thing I'm certain right now, it's that I love her, and she loves me."
"And that it's enough for me," said Hakoda, "You have become a man I'm proud of. You are everything I could have wished. And I just want you to know, that whatever choice you make, you will have my full support. As long as you are happy, I'm happy."
"Really?"
"Of course."
However, unknown to them, a third person had heard every word of their conversation
…
"You look like you could use some company." Azula said when she found him leaning on one of the balustrades watching at the gardens.
Sokka turned to glance at her. His eyes meet her. He blinked but smiles softly before saying. "If it's you, always." he extended a hand towards her and she takes it gladly. Then, he pulls her towards him and kiss her knuckles.
She says nothing but as she admired him, caressing her hand distractedly.
He thanks her with a soft kiss on her temple just for being there with him, next to him. He had spent the last couple of hours pondering about what he was going to do.
"Azula." he muttered, glancing at their hands.
"Yeah?" she replies, following his glance.
"Can I hug you?" he asked her.
And she finds it a little surprising as he had never been the one to ask for permission for doing those kinds of things. She says nothing. Instead, she smiles softly, nods a little, extending her both of her arms at each side of her body.
Without another word, he surrounds her tiny body with his arms, and embraces her touch and her warmth. "This is just what I need it." he whispered softly to her ear. She smiles when she feels his warm breath next to her neck as he hides his face in her vape.
"You are being ridiculous." said Azula in a low voice.
"I'm not. Your hugs recharge." said Sokka against the skin of her neck.
"Recharge you?"
"Yeah… Half battery now... Three quarters… Almost there… Fully recharged." he said, kissing the top of her head, yet not letting her go.
"Sokka," she looks up to him, "Why don't you let go, then?" she asked playfully, not wanting him to let go.
"No. Just let's stay like this a little bit longer." he placed his chin on her head.
Azula doesn't reply. Instead, she tightens her arms around him and leaned her head on his chest.
They fit so perfectly with each other, that her high is so perfect for her to be available to listen perfectly at his heartbeat.
CHERRY BLOSSOM TREE'S FESTIVAL.
DAY 27
"Hey mochi." Lu Ten greets her as she is leaning on one of the balustrades of the Palace, obviously distracted in her thoughts.
"Hey." she replies softly, not noticing the box full of mochi's that Lu Ten is offering her.
He looks at her a little curious, is not common for her to reject Mochi. "What on you mind?" he asks her.
"It's nothing." Azula muttered.
"You wouldn't have rejected mochi, if it was nothing." he noted, "Spill it."
She scratched her eyebrow. "Have you ever regret it?"
"The what?" he asked with his mouth full, raising an eyebrow.
"Your choice," she said, "I mean, choosing Rin, over… over everything. Your birthright, your right to rule, your life in general. You give up your old life for a new one. So, have you ever…?"
Lu Ten glanced at her and placed the mochis aside. He tucked one of her bangs behind her hair, before saying. "Never. Not even for a second."
"Lu," Azula uttered, "How did you and Rin felt in love?"
Her cousin pondered a little bit her question. "I saw her on the street." he said.
The Princess remained in silence for a couple of seconds, waiting for him to proceed. "And?"
"And… That's it." Lu Ten replied.
"What?" Azula retorted baffled. "But, how did you…? How come that…? Did you just…?"
Lu Ten snickered at her astonished reaction. "Azula, what do you actually want to know?"
"I… Actually, I don't know." she admitted, "Maybe a little bit of advice?"
"For you? Always."
…
"I know you talked about this festival and said that everything was pink… l didn't expect this amount of pink." muttered Sokka making a grin at how the color pink was in everything. In the food, in the drinks, in the clothes. Everything was the same color of the flower on the tree they were sitting under.
"It's the cherry blossom festival." Ty Le said in an overly excited manner. "We are going to have fun." she assured her, pulling the Princess and Sokka to the place she had set up.
"It's Ty Lee's favorite festival." said Azula.
"Yeah… I assumed as much." Sokka replied, glancing everywhere, trying to find something that it wasn't pink.
The festival consisted in people having picnics under the shadow of the cherry blossom trees, and that that everything was pink just like the flower. The point was to enjoy one of the wanders that came with the spring.
"How often do you wash your undergarments?" Haru asked to Sokka.
Ty Lee had come up with a game for them to entertain themselves. And after Zuko, Suki, Aang and Katara joined them, the game had turned more interesting.
"Regularly." Sokka said firmly.
"Liar." Katara huffed, being fully aware it was a lie.
"It was my turn, when you get your turn you answer." Sokka replied.
"Katara," Azula called her, "How often does he do it?" she asked quizzically.
"Until, it can practically stand by itself." the waterbender uttered with a disgusted grin.
Everyone imitated her grin of disgust.
"Eww…"
"You should smell his sleeping bag. It smells like someone died in there." said Katara.
"Shush…." Sokka silenced his sibling. "Who's next?"
"Me," said Ty Lee. "This one is for the siblings, would you trade your sibling in for a thousand golden pieces?"
Zuko huffed sarcastically. "For a hundred." he said in a heartbeat.
"Make it ten and we have a deal." Azula retorted.
"I'm only worth then pieces of gold?" the Prince snarled at his sibling.
"You are right," Azula pondered with a hand under her chin. "Just take him and I would add a hundred pieces of gold."
Zuko rolled his eyes, annoyed. "I love you too," he said sarcastically.
"Okay, my turn," said the Princess, "Mai, who is your favorite sibling of Ty Lee including her?"
Mai sighed before answering. "Ty Mai." she replied in a bit.
"What?" Ty Lee squealed. "You have crossed two words with her."
"I know. That's why." Mai said.
Ty Lee glanced at her friend, very offended, but Mai only focused her attention on studying her nails.
"Aang, hen was the last time you wet the bed?" Suki asked.
"I was eight? I think?" Aang said, pondering. "It was one of those dreams where you dream that you are in the bathroom and pee. You know what I mean?"
The guys nodded.
"Well, still you were much younger that Zuzu." Azula muttered.
The Princess tilted her head and quirked an eyebrow towards her brother. "Don't you remember? It was when Lu Ten told us the story of the black-eyed kids. You were scared for weeks. And if I recall correctly,- which I do- the night he told us that story, you wetted the bed."
Zuko raised his eyebrows, and his mouth widened. "How do you…? Mom promised not to tell…" he squealed.
"She didn't." Azula replied before smirking. "I assumed you did, but now I know you did wet the bed." she said with amusement. Her suspects had been right, as always.
"Agr... I hate when you do that!" he snarled.
"Being smarter than you?" she teased him.
"No, trick me like that."
"Mmmm... same thing." said Azula, waving a hand carelessly.
"What's the black-eyed kids?" Aang asked curiously. He had never heard that story before.
"It's an old horror story that adults used to make the children go to bed early." the Princess explained.
They all shared a glance. "Never hear of it."
"Either here."
Azula sighed before explaining. "According to the story this a kids that died in very violent ways…"
"Be heading, murdered, drowned… the usual." Zuko intervened.
They all made concerned grins.
"These kids appear at midnight knocking at your door and asking for help, `According´ to the people that has seen them, they are pale, white-iss almost and they look like any normal kids. But you can't see their eyes…" Azula continued. "They ask for help to find their parents claiming they are lost. They supposedly have this kind of `influence´ on you that makes you want to help them. But once you notice their eyes they turn really violent…"
"They are supposed to be some kind of vengeful souls." the Prince added.
"And how do you make them go again?" Suki inquired a little trouble by the story.
"Just don't open the door and go back to bed." the Princess explained casually.
"Oh, that's it?" asked the Avatar who was clinging to his girlfriend.
They all shared a concerned looked, except for the two royals.
"No wonder why you two are so messed up." Sokka uttered, making everyone chuckle.
"Hey…" Azula poked him in the ribs. "Anyway, just to rectify. He was twelve the last he wetted the bed."
Now everyone laughed, forgetting the disturbing story.
"Tsk… I need friends," Zuko grunted.
"We are friends." said Katara, still amused.
"I mean better friends." he pouted, causing them to burst out in laughs.
Sokka glanced towards Azula's diverted.
She leaned her head on his shoulder and he holds her tightly, before he pressed a kiss on her temple.
They spent a pleasant fun evening full of jokes, fun stories and food.
If this was meant to be their last day together, she was gratified that at least it had been a day where they had laughed until their stomach had ached, and her eyes had shared tears from laugher. Surrounded by people, they both valued.
…
She had called her maids to her chamber. She felt in the need of a little -but very much needed- pampering.
"I need you to deliver a message to Sokka, the son of Hakoda Chief of the South." Azula told to one of her maids, when they were about to retire from her room after helping her to get ready for bed.
"Of course, my Princess." she replied with a little vow, "What should I deliver?"
NOMAND'S DAY
DAY 28
"As soon as I get back into my room, I want no one, and I mean no one to be allowed to come in for the next five days. No exceptions, starting today. Am being I clear?" she instructed to her guards.
"Yes, Princess." both replied at the same time.
Azula had made the decision of placing two of them at the door of her room and gave them exact instructions. After what she was about to do, she was going to need them.
She finds him in the exact same spot where they both had shared their first kiss during her birthday night. He is looking at the pond, waiting for her.
"Hey." he smiles as she reached him, but his smile disappears as soon as he saw the expression on her face. "What is it?"
The sooner that it was done. The better for both of their shakes.
"We need to talk."
A/N:
Alls festivities are fictional.
Only three more chapters and an epilogue left of this story.
Firstly I want to apologize for the long... waiting between chapter 13 and this one. It's been one hectic month. I'm graduating from college and I was drowning in paper work, finals and all that. Also I was helping my sister to take care of my nephew as the daycare in Mexico are closed due to the pandemic. I barely had time to do anything and honestly, my free time I focused on writing ahead of my next story and the timeline for that one.
By the way I realized that this story got 10K readings! Woah... That's just woah! Thank you to everyone who has been with this story since the beginning and also to those who joined along the way.