EPILOGUE
3 YEARS LATER
REPUBLIC CITY.
"Thank you." Azula, replied as she received the book in her hands.
"Enjoy your copy of the first edition, Princess." said the librarian, with a little vow. "And please visit again time again."
"Of course." said the Princess as she headed outside of the bookstore.
"Your first time outside of the Fire Nation and your first visit into Republic City and the first thing you do is visit a bookstore? What a nerd." Zuko mocked, leaned on the wall next to the door with his arm crossed.
Their Barge had reached the port of Republic City last night, really late. And after getting installed and getting rested she had decided to go sigh-seeing. Sadly, Zuko had tagged along.
Azula gave him a fake smile and raised her middle finger. "Says our next Fire Lord who doesn't even know the history of the formation of the Fire Islands." she said as they wandered around the streets.
"I do know it!" he refuted. She raised her eyebrows. "I just happened to not remember it right now."
She huffed. "Idiot."
"Shut up. I'm stressed about the wedding, okay?" he grunted.
She smirked. "Yet, Suki seems completely calm." she sneered, "Could be possible that she might be having second thoughts? We are a month away from the ceremony, but do I need to remind you that she can still change her mind and dump your ass?"
"Azula, shut up!" he whined.
"Just saying, Zuzu." she said, quizzically.
He sighed. "Whatever, you called plenty of attention back inside the bookstore. And when you said you were going sigh-seeing, I thought it would be something more interesting than a library."
She rolled her eyes, annoyed. "First, I didn't ask you to come with me. You tagged along." she reminded him.
Her brother's eyes when white. "Only because Suki had things to do with her friends. The warriors. She hasn't seen them in a while."
"She is probably planning how to flee you." she muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing," she said, "Then you could have stayed at the Council's building."
"That would have been boring." he said.
"Then, stop bitching! It's unmanly." she grunted, pondering throwing him a rock at his head.
"I'm not bitching!" he replied, "I'm just curious. What book could you want so bad that the first thing you would do its go to a library? When technically back in the Capital you have thousands of texts?" he quirked a brow.
"It's a first edition I have been looking for a while." Azula said, "And finally I got it."
"First edition? Which book?" he asked.
"None of your business, noisy." said the Princess, sticking her tongue at him.
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Wench." he muttered.
"Ass-crack." she insulted him back.
"Bitch." he said between teeth.
"Teenie-weenie." she replied, mischievously.
"Hey!" he snapped, "You went too far!" he frowned.
"You started it!"
Her brother sighed. "Anyway, just a little piece of advice Azula, next time, if you don't want to get so much attention," he pointed at the top of her head, "Remove the headpiece, first"
"Yeah, yeah… I forgot." she said, removing it from her hair. She was about to tuck it into her pockets when someone bumped into her, making her drop it.
"Watch it!" she grunted.
"Sorry." whoever crashed against her apologized in the distance.
"Idiot." she snarled, picking it up and placing it into her pockets.
"Bad side of not being around your guards or with the royal procession," said Zuko, "That happens a lot."
Azula sighed. "Let's go to. We are supposed to meet Druk and Ao in the central park." she said before the Royal siblings set out in that direction.
They walked in silence for a moment. Zuko was still making up his mind about if he should bring up the topic he had been thinking all day after running into Katara in the Council's building.
"Azula," he muttered.
"Huh?" she glanced at him.
He gulped. He knew her sister had been avoiding touching the topic about anything related to Sokka for almost three years, and whenever he brought it up she would abruptly change the subject.
"I'm just wandering…Tonight at the inauguration, if you happened to run into Sokka, what would you do?" he asked.
"I-I…" she remained in silence and glanced at the floor.
Since their father had informed them about their trip to Republic City, her anxiety had been at the top. Just the mere thinking of seeing him again after three years, and maybe finding out that he had moved on and maybe even had a family of his own, returned her to the day he had left. And her heart broke all over again.
She shrugged. "Nothing," she finally said, "I mean, it's been three years Zuko. I'm sure he moved on, perhaps even have a family of his own. Still, If I see him again, I would make sure to put on a happy smile."
"I see," said Zuko, "So, in that case, you could say that you moved on from him? I mean, you and Jet seem to be really close. And, his looks are really… good."
Azula chuckled. "Oh my, oh my, Zuko… I didn't know you enjoyed playing for both sides." she mocked.
…
Sokka had looked around the bookstore for a while. It was an enormous place with thousands of books and different texts. Only the engineering section was around three hallways with dozens of bookcases filled with dozens of titles.
It took him a while to find the one he was looking for; Engineering for beginners: The basic.
He was heading to the counter to pay, when he noticed a bunch of people crowded by the door. He stretched his neck to get a glimpse of what it was the fuss about, but he noticed nothing strange.
"Did you see her?" a girl mumbled to another.
The other girl nodded. "It was her. She is prettier than the rumors said." she replied, "Her portraits don't make her justice."
"I can't believe she was here." replied a third one, "I never thought I would see a member of the Royalty so close."
Royalty?
Sokka poke the shoulder of one of them. "Excuse me, do you have an idea of what is going on? Why is everyone so crowned?" he asked.
All the girls turned at him, a couple blushed staring at him.
"Didn't you saw her?" one of the girls replied, astonished.
He tilted his head. "Who?"
"The Princess." she replied with a smile.
P-Princess?
His eyes and mouth were agape. "W-What Princess?" he stuttered. His heart raced like crazy just by thinking it could be her.
Three years had passed since the last time he had seen her, but not even a day where he, for at least a second, didn't think about her.
The girl smiled at him with disbelieve. "The Princess of the Fire Nation. Princess Azula." she said.
He froze for a moment.
Azula.
She was there. She was in Republic City. "P-Princess Azula?" he mumbled, believing he might have heard wrong.
The girl nodded. "She was here a few moments ago," she said and returned her attention to her friends. "I never thought I will meet someone from the royalty of the Fire Nation."
"I wish we would have gotten a glimpse of Prince Zuko, too. He is probably just as handsome." one of the girls muttered, dreamy. "Can you believe he is marrying a common girl from the Earth Kingdom?"
Sokka processed the words, but it was until the book slipped from his hands, when he finally was available to reach back into reality. "Where did she go?" he asked the girl, holding her by the shoulders.
He needed to find her.
"I-I guess that direction." she pointed.
"Thanks." he said as he breaks through the crowd, hoping that she was still out there. Close.
Sokka rushed in the direction the girl had pointed at him. But for his bad luck, the streets are full of people. Merchants and passers-by filled every inch, which makes his task ten times harder.
His heart was full. He had waited three years to see her again. Three years.
And after three years, finally, they were not only in the same town, but they had also been under the same roof.
He had traveled to attend the inauguration ceremony of Republic City with his family. And he hadn't been sure if she was going to be available to attend as the confirmation letter his father had sent to the Fire Nation hadn't had a reply before they had left the south. And when he hadn't seen her neither at the Air Nomads or at the Earth Kingdom inauguration, he had assumed that they would not be attending.
But now, he knew that Azula was there. But where? He needed to find her. He couldn't wait till that night. He couldn't. Not when he knew she was so close.
"Sorry," he apologized after dumping into someone in the street. He didn't bother in looking back as his eyes were glancing around, trying to find her in the crowd. She was tiny, so he was looking for her golden hairpiece. Something that would help him identify her easier.
He kept walking around for a few blocks. Studying every girl with black hair, but none was Azula.
"Damn it!" he cursed. He had lost her. He had been so close to finding her.
Sokka dropped himself by one of the fountains. Sitting on the edge, defeated. When a gigantic shadow flew above him.
A dragon.
A blue dragon.
"Ao," Sokka muttered, not losing time and following the gigantic creature, hoping that it would lead him to his owner.
…
The Princess smiled when she saw her blue dragon shadow over her. She was sat in the green grass of Central Park with her legs crossed and her old copy of Love Among Dragons.
She had made Zuko take her new copy back to the Council's Building while she wandered around the city a while. They had parted ways just minutes before the arrival of Ao, as her brother was also on his way to meet his now-fiancée, Suki.
The blue dragon landed next to her and placed his head over her lap.
"Did you enjoy the city?" she asked, petting the dragon's head. The dragon nodded. "I promise that from now on, you will get to see the world more…" she said, "And you will meet other dragons to annoy -besides Druk- and who knows maybe we will find you even a girlfriend?" she teased him.
Ao closed his eyes for a moment, as the Princess, keep reading when a pair of hands covered her eyes.
She turned a little startle but her heart eases when she noticed who it was. A huge smile grows on her face. "Oh, hi beautiful," she said, stretching her arms to hold the lovely baby girl in front of her.
"She wanted to see you." he said, "She missed her favorite person in the world." he sat next to her, resting his weight on his arms.
"Why do you have her?" she asked him, sitting baby Mirai on her lap.
"I went looking for you. And when she heard your name, she just threw herself at me. I supposed she wanted to see you." said Jet, chewing a blade of wheatgrass.
Mirai was Lu Ten and Rin's third kid. She was fourteen months old, and like the twins, which resembled more to his father than to his mother, Mirai did too. Fair skin with black hair. She resembled so much to his father's side of the family that Mirai could even pass as a mini version of the Princess, excluding her eyes, which were black like her mother's.
"Did you enjoy the city?" he asked, leaning closer ad brushing a few strands of her hair off her shoulders.
"Yeah." she said.
Last year, before Mirai's birth, Rin's family had traveled to the Fire Nation as Lu Ten wished to have his daughter born in the same place where he had been born. That's when she had met Jet.
Unlike Zuko and Jet, they had hit off instantly after making fun at Zuko's expenses. And after a while, they had grown found with each other, something they were still. For some reason, Jet kind of reminded her of Sokka.
"Mommy… Mommy." baby Mirai babbled, stretching her arms towards her godmother. "Dada…" she did the same towards Jet, his godfather.
"I think she misses your sister." said Azula.
"And your cousin." he replied, standing up and offering a hand to help her stand. "Come on."
She grabs Mirai with a hand and takes Jet's with the other one.
"Let's go. Also, I want to show you around." he said, surrounding her by the shoulders as they walked away.
...
Sokka followed Ao into the Central Park. And after a moment, he finally saw the dragon stop and fly over the same point. Under him, sat on the grass, was Azula.
"I found you." he smiled.
She was more beautiful than he could remember her. Her long black hair felt fully over her shoulders and lower of her waist. She was dazzling. Just by looking at her, he could feel his chest about to explode from the anticipation.
The dragon descendent and placed his head on her lap. She smiled back at him as she patted him on the head.
That smile. That freaking smile made him smile like a fool. His eyes couldn't believe what he was seeing. He pinched himself just in case he was dreaming or having a vision.
Sokka walked towards her, but before he could get any closer a boy with tan skin, brown hair and funny looking eyebrows, holding a baby covered her eyes from behind.
A huge smile appeared on her face when she saw the baby. The boy of the funny eyebrows passes the baby to her and sat next to her. She placed the baby on her lap.
Sokka saw them talk. He was a little far to hear at their conversation and his lip-reading abilities were non-existence. He noticed the boy leaning closer and brushing some strands of her hair off her shoulder.
His heart raced, but not in a good way. His mind formulated dozens of questions as unpleasant heat grew in his chest.
Who that baby was? Why did it look so much like Azula? What if it was her baby? What if the guy next to her was the father? What if she had moved on? What if she had forgotten about him? What if she was married? What if…?
"Mommy… Mommy." the baby babbled, stretching her arms towards Azula. "Dada…" she did the same towards the man next to the Princess.
It couldn't be…
They said a few words, and then he stood extending a hand towards Azula. She took it and before they walked away, Sokka saw him surrounding her by the shoulders.
He had lost her. He had lost his Princess. Sokka had lost Azula.
He stares at them heartbroken as they walk away when he feels a warm huff behind his neck.
Sokka turned only to find Ao - Azula's dragon- staring back at him, dangerously. The dragon was huge; it was not the little lizard he remembered anymore, and probably now it was a hundred times more deadly.
The dragon stood firmly before him, frowning and with smoke coming from his nostrils.
"Hey, buddy," he said, nervously, "Do you remember me?" he asked, praying that the dragon remembered him.
The dragon narrowed his eyes and glanced at him more closely. Sokka gulped. It was just like that time with Seiryū. The dragon sniffed him before licking him from head to toe, changing his dangerous glare to a friendly one.
"Ugh!" he complained, "It's good to see you two, Ao." he patted him on the head. The dragon rolled on the grass playfully, before pointing at something on the grass with his head. "What? What is it?" he asked, confused, "I don't speak dragon, okay?"
The dragon huffed, before biting him on the sleeve and showing him what he meant.
"What is…" he raised his eyebrows when he noticed something on the floor. "Oh," he bent to pick it up, "Couldn't you be clearer?" he claimed to the dragon.
It was a copy of Love Amongst Dragons.
He gave it a little browse when he noticed something on the cover.
I don't like flowers; they are a waste, Azula had told him. Yet, she kept a dry fire carnation behind the cover of her book. And not only that.
As a bookmark, she kept the letter he had written her.
Maybe it was silly, but for him to had found that those two little things mean a lot because they gave him hope. Hope that maybe not everything was lost. That maybe… he hadn't lost her fully.
Maybe he could still fight for her.
…
She was finishing the last touches to her arrangement for tonight's inauguration of the Fire Nation sector in Republic City.
Her maids had done an outstanding job getting her ready. Her red and gold hanfu was exquisite, every detail was perfect. Her makeup was spotless, and all around her head, she had entwined in her hair small subtle golden strings that every time she moves her head, made her hair look like it was shining. They had curled the ends of her raven hair and had pulled the top half in her usual top-knot, leaving her bangs to frame her face.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in." said Azula as their maids were arranging the last touches of her hair.
The door opened to reveal her parents looking as fancy as her. Both of them were wearing red and gold hanfus, like hers, but with some alterations. Her mother was a little more wide-open around the shoulders and had golden embroidery all over the right lapel. All her hair was up and decorated with gold ornaments. Her father's hanfu was a little bit more ostentatious. Big sleeves that almost touched the floor, high neck with gold embroidery, and his hair spotless as ever.
"Darling, you look exquisite!" said her mother, admiring her daughter's beauty. "Doesn't she Ozai?" she asked her husband.
"Indeed. She resembles me every day more and more." he said, proudly.
"You wish." Muttered her mother.
"Here you are," said Zuko, walking into her room, with a hanfu that matched with hers. "What are we waiting or why are we here?" he asked, confused.
"We were just waiting for you," said her mother, "But now that you are here, we can go."
"Wait," her father stopped them, "You haven't told me how do I look." he said.
Zuko and Azula stared at him. "You look... Royal." said Zuko.
"Just don't look down or your dewlap becomes really notorious." Azula added.
"I don't have dewlap!" he snapped, horrified at his daughter's claims.
She rolled her eyes. "Okay… You don't. But stop frowning. Your wrinkles are getting more visible around your eyes." she pointed at him in the corner of his eyes.
"What did you just say, spoiled brat?" he grunted.
"Let's go, before he lashes out at us." said Zuko, amused, pulling her by the arm out of the room, while both tried to repress a laugh from their father expression.
….
He walked in with his heart beating against his chest as if it was about to come out of it. His palms were sweating, and the expectation was eating him. He was wearing his best clothes. He spent at least two hours bathing, shaving, and making sure he looked in his best self.
Sokka glanced around, trying to get a glimpse of her, but his eyes couldn't find her. She wasn't there yet. He took one of the wine glasses one waiter offered him as he walked through the room, trying to calm his nerves.
His eyes were focused on the girl with raven hair, but he couldn't find her when a couple bumped into him.
"Shit! Sorry" the girl apologized for making him spill a little of his drink.
"Don't worry." he replied when he noticed who was the girl that had bumped to him.
Ty Lee.
"Sokka!" she greeted him, raising her eyebrows. "Hey!"
"Ty Lee! Haru!" he said with a smile. It had been really long since he had last seen them.
"Hey Sokka." the earthbender saluted him.
"I didn't think I will see you here." said Sokka.
"Well, Azu… We were invited." said Ty Lee, joyful.
They shared a friendly talk for a while. Sokka hoping that the Princess would eventually show up looking for her friend and giving them a chance to talk. During their chat, he didn't take his eyes off the door. He only wished to see her walking through the door
And like if the spirits had listened to him. She did.
The Princess walked by the door, joined by Zuko and Suki. The three of them were keeping a entertained chat. Azula was dazzling. Seeing her looking so beautiful perfect had left him speechless. His eyes could only focus on her, leaving his surroundings in the oblivion.
His heart was at his throat and his mind went blank just by looking at her.
Everything about her screamed perfection.
She smiled after saying something to upset her sibling. Suki and the Princess laughed while Zuko frowned.
Should I wait to talk to her? So, I go now? How should I approach it? What do I tell her? His mind rambled.
He finished the content of his glass in a gulp, determined to talk to her about anything, even if it was about the weather.
But before he could take a step towards her. The funny-looking eyebrow guy appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her by the shoulders. They exchanged a few words and then he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to talk with Lu Ten, who he hasn't seen till that moment.
"Who is that?" Sokka inquired to Ty Lee, without removing his eyes from the Princess.
She glanced in the same direction. "It's Jet," she said, "He is Rin's brother."
He raised his eyebrows, glancing at the girl next to him. "Ah..." he muttered, before asking the question he was most curious about, "A-And does he… He and Azula…?" he gulped at the expectation.
"They get along," said Ty Lee, taking a sip of her glass. "He is a fun, nice guy. And also, his looks are nice." she said, trying to get a reaction from him.
Azula smiled at Jet with agreement at something he said. Her smile made his heart jolt up.
Sokka was so amazed by her presence that he didn't even acknowledge that Ty Lee had ignored his question.
"How has she been?" he asked Ty Lee, looking away from the Princess for a moment.
She gave him a warm smile. "She is been… healthy," she replied.
He frowned at her answer. "Healthy? Has she been happy?" he questioned.
"That depends… Why are you asking?" she quirked a brow, taking another sip of her wine.
"I just… I guess I still have feelings for her." he said, blushing.
Ty Lee sighed, deeply. "Sokka... When you left, she was broken," she said, "Never in my entire life I have ever seen her like that. And I know for sure that I never wanted to see her like that again."
She could still remember how she had fallen asleep between sobs. And how depressed she had looked for the next couple of months. It had taken her a look to be -almost- back to her old self and still after this long she could notice the Princess aura still a little bit stained.
"I know," Sokka assured her, glancing at the floor. "And trust me, there hasn't been a day I haven't thought of her. It just… I don't know if I should go talk to her. I really wish to but…"
Ty Lee side smiled. "Listen, she puts a brave face to the public. But I know her better than anyone else. And also, know that… that she has loved no one as she loved you. And she really did." she assured him.
"Loved?" he asked, wary.
She shook her head. "I'm not the one you should ask about how Azula feels about you… You should ask her, not me." she advised her.
"I know. It's just… I'm scared that she might..."
"Moved on?"
"Yes," he admitted, "And I know I'm selfish for not hoping she didn't but…"
Ty Lee gave him a comprehensive smile. "It's normal, that's love…. But unless you ask her. You will never find out. And as far as I can tell you is that, if someone has a chance with her. It's you."
…
The entire Royal Family was up on the stage, as Avatar Aang was telling a few words of gratitude for everyone's hard work and everyone's involvement to make the United Republic of Nations possible. He thanked the Fire Lord Ozai for his participation and for being the main brain behind all of it.
Sokka couldn't look away from her. She was just breathtaking in her dress. It was like a total vision for him.
Then her eyes wandered around the crowd. And he saw her side smile when her eyes meet Rin's brother. He stared at him for a moment scrutinizing him and he noticed that he was looking at the Princess like a precious thing for him, something he treasured and at that moment, he realized that he was looking at her with love eyes. And he knew it perfectly, because it was the same way he glanced at Azula.
"Zuko, Azula, could you please give us the honor?" Fire Lord Ozai pleaded, extending an arm towards the monument that would represent the Fire Nation district in Republic City.
They both nodded, extending their arms with their palms together facing up, before an orange flame appeared on them. Then, the flame changed its color to blue, astonishing the crowd, and when they lit the torch in the monument, it changed back to orange.
The crowd exploded in applause.
Both siblings smiled pleased and their eyes wandered through the crowd.
Her eyes wandered around the room. She was available to find Haru and Ty Lee next to her, who gave her the biggest smile, and right next to her a couple of blue eyes were staring at her.
She froze for a moment when she noticed the owner of those eyes. Those damn blue eyes.
Sokka was smiling at her, warmly. Her heart flinched the moment she saw him. He was brawnier than she could remember and somehow; he was more handsome.
Just like her eyes had remained on him, his eyes never turned away from her.
Not even when she lowered from the stage and her heartbeat like crazy by every step closer, she took in his direction. She could swear he wasn't even blinking as she approached him. And under his attentive glance, she couldn't help to blush deeply. Her hands were sweaty. After all this time, Sokka could still cause these kinds of reactions in her.
Sokka was just as nervous as she was, maybe even more as his knees were shaking and his mouth had suddenly gone dry. "Hey." he said like a whisper.
"Hey." she replied with a little smile. Her heart was like a drum against her chest.
"I didn't know you would be here." he lied. He knew, and he had waited all night to get a chance to talk to her.
"Same." she said. She was hoping he would be, but wasn't totally sure if he was going to attend.
"So... How have you been?" Sokka asked the first thing he could think of.
"Fine," said Azula, "And you? How have you been?" she inquired, hoping that he wasn't either married or dating anyone.
"That depends." he replied.
She frowned, confused. "Depends on what?"
"Did you get married?" Sokka asked, abruptly.
"No."
"Did you get engaged?"
"No."
He placed a hand under his chin. "Do you have a boyfriend?" he quirked a brow.
"No." she answered.
Sokka smiled widely. "Then, I'm fine." he said, relieved that all his previous assumptions had been wrong.
Azula shook her eyes with amusement, a smile escaping from her lips. "You haven't changed at all savage." she said, trying to repress a chuckle.
He side smiled cockily. "I got more handsome, but I think it doesn't notice."
It does, she thought.
"So.."
"And…" they talked at the same time. A little chuckle escaped their lips.
"You first." said Sokka.
"Well, I was wondering if you…"
"Hey Azula," Jet appeared from the crowd and interjected their conversation. "I want to introduce you to some friends." he said.
"I-I..." she said, a little divided between going or staying.
"It's okay," said Sokka, staring at her troubled eyes, "We can talk later." he said with a reassuring smile.
"A-Alright… I-I... see you, Sokka." she said, parting ways and following Jet.
He watched her even at the distance. How Jet seemed to introduce her to a bunch of his friends. Mostly boys and only to a girl. From time to time, Azula would glance over his direction and would give him a little smile.
He was so focused on her that he didn't notice a presence next to him.
"So, the Princess, huh? Were you two together or something?" Toph asked, leaning on him.
"What?" he stared at the earthbender.
"It just… When you two were talking I felt a change in both heartbeats," she explained, "In yours and hers. Like when someone is nervous, or anxious, or perhaps… in love." she quirked an eyebrow, teasingly.
"You did?"
"Are you doubting my skills?" she raised her eyebrows.
"No," he denied before smiling. "It's just…" he smiled, glancing again in her direction. So close, yet so far.
"Complicated?"
"I guess." he muttered, dejected.
"But, you two have feelings for each other, right?" the earthbender stated, crossing her arms over her chest. "I mean, that change of heartbeat, it's not just because."
"I… I hope you are right." he mumbled. But by how everything looked, it was almost certain that his friend was right.
"I am. But still…" she sighed.
"Still?" he tilted his head.
"She is way out of your league." she pointed out.
"Hey… I know." he acknowledged in a slow voice the last part, watching towards the Princess again, and seeing her blush when their eyes collided again. And that's when he remembered that he had something from her.
…
"Azula." he called her in the middle of the hallway as she headed to her room.
"Hey." she said with a smile. She hasn't expected to see him so late.
He scratched the back of his neck. "Back at the party… I forgot to give you this," he said, extending her old copy of Love Among Dragons. He had rushed back to his room to get the book and have another excuse to talk to her.
"Wait, how did you...? How did you...?" she rambled, intrigued, and confused.
"It's a long story, but I can tell you tomorrow at the feast… if you wish, of course," he said, blushing deeply.
"I would like that." she smiled.
"T-Then, I will see you tomorrow?" she nodded, "Good night." he said his farewells.
"Good night" she replied before Sokka leaned over and placed a soft chase kiss on her cheek.
She saw him disappear down the hallway, before her eyes when to the book in her hands, and in that moment she noticed that behind the front cover, the old dry flower she used to keep there, had been replaced for a new one.
A huge smile spread across her face.
Spirits, how much have I missed him, she thought. Before heading to find someone to talk to and that would probably advise her about what to do.
…
She knocked on the door repeatedly with both hands.
The door swung open, revealing a very misaligned Ty Lee. Her hair was messy as well as her nightgown. She was narrowing her eyes as she was still trying to adjust her eyes to the light.
"What the hell are you doing?" the Princess asked.
"Sleeping. What the hell are you doing?" said Ty Lee, astonished by the late visit of the Princess.
"Having an existential crisis," said Azula, peeking over the acrobat shoulder, "Hey Haru." she greeted her friend's companion in her bed.
"Hey, Princess." he replied, sleepily.
"Do you mind if I steal her?" she asked him, pointing at her friend.
"Mmm… No, not at all." the earthbender said.
"Now."
"Can't it wait until tomorrow?" her friend inquired, grimacing.
"No." Azula denied.
She signed. "Alright, alright," she said, yawning, "Let me find my shoes."
…
"… And I don't know what to do, should I wait or should I just go for it?" the Princess explained walking up and down In the gardens making a ditch while her friend listened to her eating an ice cream pot she had gotten from hell knows where.
"So… Wait, what?" Ty Lee grimaced, confused.
"Ty Lee!" Azula chided her.
"Sorry, sorry…" she apologized, "I'm still processing all of it. I'm still half-sleep." she excused before sighing. "Let's see…" she pondered for a moment. "I will say just… go for it. Don't wait. You already spent three years being miserable. Just for once, just go for it." she advised her.
"You think?" the Princess dropped next to her.
"Listen, when I and Haru split for a while I more than once, I honestly thought I would never see him again. Yet I did," she said, "As soon as I saw him in the Capital, I knew that I had already waited too long to see him again, so I took courage and I just when for it. And I have never regretted it."
Azula sighed, staring at her wrist and playing with the bracelet on it. "Have you ever thought what would have happened if Haru would have gotten married or had a girlfriend?"
"Well, it would have been uncomfortable, but lucky for me. He had been thinking the same as me. Also, don't worry about any of it. Sokka is still crazy about you," she said, making her friend blush. "Tonight, every time you looked away, he kept staring at you as if you were the most fascinating thing on earth. Plus, the way he asked me about you, it's obvious he is still pretty in love."
"Thank you." she muttered.
"No problem," said Ty Lee, leaning her head on the Princess shoulder, "Just… next time can you wait till the morning?"
Azula snickered. "Alright. Alright. I will."
…
During the last feast, each nation was going to present the person who was going to take part as a member of the council. Like the night before, the first thing he did as he walked into the salon it was a look around for her.
He found her talking with her parents in the middle of the room.
She was wearing a red silky skirt, shorter at the front with a sheer top of the same color with gold details and loose sleeves and golden shoes. Her hair, perfect as always.
He stood there looking at her, until the ceremony was about to begin and she followed her father somewhere, disappearing from the crowd.
"Son?" Hakoda's voice brought him back to reality.
"Huh?" he blinked a few times.
"We are about to begin," he informed him.
"Okay, I'm coming." he said.
This time it was Aang who gave the speech explaining that the council would be an extension from their homelands. And that they would take care of finding the solutions to every disagreement that occurred in Republic City. The members of the council would have to not only safeguarding their citizen safety but also, they would work altogether to assure the harmony between citizens.
They also said that the Avatar was going to take part in the council, but he would not act as an active member. Then, he introduced each leader of the nations to allow them to present the respective member of their nation.
The Air nomads introduced a girl named Xing-Ying. Chief Arnook, a man named Ragaz. King Kuei as Earth Kingdom representative of an old man named Shisui. Then it was Fire Lord Ozai's turn.
"...I believe that there is no one better to take the honor of being the representative of my nation than someone that cares for her citizens and has only worked for the past years helping me and proposing projects for the prosperity of my nation," said the Fire Lord, "She has worked with me side by side, constantly nagging me whenever I forget to sign or to seal a decree," the crowded laughed, "Whence, that why I firmly believe that there is no one better than her to take this important role. So, it's my pride and my honor to present you, -someone I'm going to deeply miss back at home-, my daughter; Princess Azula."
Azula rushed to the stage. The crowd exploded in cheers. The other members of the council gave her little vows, and she nodded in response.
She stood up next to the other member, with a smile on her face.
Now, it was his father's turn.
Yet, Sokka zoomed out completely at his father's words. He was just staring at Azula on the stage. His father introduced the members of their tribe that would take part in the council.
"Hey," Katara punched him slightly in the back, "Go." she said.
He had lost his queue. It had to get on to the stage.
"Sorry." he apologized with his father as soon as he got up the stage.
"Nevermind," he replied.
Sokka greeted the other members of the future council with little vow, one by one, until he reached the Princess.
He froze when his eyes met hers as reality hit him.
Azula was going to be a member of the council. Which meant… she was going to be living in Republic City, like him. So, did it mean that she was… free?
She gave him a bright smile that made his heart stirred up. All color rushed to his face.
"I-I…" he lacked words. He gulped and then walked up and stood next to her as the Avatar closed the speech.
Accidentally, their hands brushed, which made them share a glance for a split of a second. Neither could avoid blushing. Azula glanced away with her face red. She was dazzling. And when she brushed her hair off her shoulder, and that's when he noticed.
Her sleeve slipped till her elbow, revealing a blue small bracelet hanging on her wrist. He recognized it immediately.
His bracelet.
She was still wearing his bracelet.
And that glimpse, in that split of a second, it was enough for him to do what he had been wishing to do since the day he had left the Fire Nation. His rush of adrenaline blinded him of everything that it was happening around him, and he only did what his impulse told him.
He grabbed her by the wrist, and pulled her closer to him, he grabbed her by the back of her neck and slammed his lips against hers.
The suddenness of his act took her by surprise, but as soon as she felt his lips over hers, she got lost in the kiss, forgetting where they were and who was watching them. It was only them who mattered. Only they who existed.
He pulled her closer by the waist, and she surrounded his neck with her arms, deepening the kiss. It was just as she remembered, just as intoxicating and addictive. And this time, she was sure that there was no way possible to live without his kisses, now that she had tasted them again.
They split when they ran out of air, and that's when both realized their situation. They had kissed in front of everyone.
Both blushed from head to toe under everyone's glances. Lucky for them, Aang saved them, wishing the rest of the guests to keep enjoying the feast.
"C-Can we…?" Sokka stammered, nervous as their hand remained entangled.
Azula nodded. "Let's talk outside." she said with a little smile, to which he replied kissing her knuckles before dragging her outside the room.
"So… That happened." she muttered, glancing at the floor as they walked through the enormous garden.
"Yeah," Sokka replied, his heart beating against his chest like a drum. "I'm sorry," he stopped his tracks. "It was a stupid impulse. I just… It's just... I saw you there and I couldn't stop thinking how dazzling you looked and then I saw the bracelet and I… I just went for it… And," he said, quickly.
"Sokka," she cut him, "It's okay. I'm not mad." she assured him by placing a hand on his chest to calm him a little bit, "In fact, I'm… the total opposite. Being honest, I was actually hoping that you will notice the bracelet." she confessed.
He raised his eyebrows. "Really?" she nodded.
"Well," he showed her his wrist. A red and gold bracelet hanging from it. "I was kind of hoping for the same," he confessed. A huge smile spread across his face. Before they keep walking side by side.
They remained in silence for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. Their hands brushing against each other.
"Azula," he spoke after a while, "So, you been part of the council, what does it mean?" He inquired, "Does it mean you will get to live in the city?"
"Indeed. My parents had arranged a place for me to live," she said, "It's not the Palace, but it's still a nice place. Why?"
"It's just…" he stopped for the second time and reached for her hands. "Azula, I still mean everything I told you three years ago. And don't care if I have to spend the rest of my life in the Fire Nation, if I get to be with you… I don't care…" he confessed.
"Sokka," the Princess mumbled.
"Please, let me… let me explain," he pleaded, "For three years, I woke up every morning with the urge of going back to the Fire Nation or at least write you a letter, but every single time when I was about to… I… I couldn't find the strength to do it… Maybe I was just afraid that… that one day I will get a reply from you saying you were getting engaged or wed and I…."
"You what?"
"I couldn't bear to even think about it…" he admitted, "It destroyed me just the mere idea that you might be happy with someone else. Someone that it wasn't me."
Azula smiled warmly at him. Now it was her turn to talk. "For three years… There wasn't a day I was truly and fully happy. Because during those three years all I could think about was about how happy I had been with you, and it didn't matter what I did, nothing was the same without you. And for three years, I could only wait and hope for the day I will see you again. Hoping that you would keep your promise. I will hold you in my heart…"
"Until I can hold you in my arms again." he finished, recalling the last sentences he had written in the letter he had left her. He wrapped his arms around her. Holding her in his arms.
"I-I'm so sorry, Azula I should have… I should have sent you at least one letter… Damn it, I should have visited you at least one." he apologized.
"You should have. You should have," she muttered against his chest. Her arms went around his waist, as she buried her nose in his shirt, enjoying his scent and warmth.
"Still, there is something I have to ask," he said, looking down at her, "What is up with you and the freaky eye-brow guy?" he asked trying to mask his jealousy.
"Jet?" she raised her eyebrows, "He is Rin's brother. Why?"
"No reason." he lied.
She smirked mischievously. "Are you jealous?" she teased him.
"M-Me?!" he squeaked, "Of course not. Pfftt…" he huffed, "I mean… have you seen that guy?"
"Just spill it. Where you?"
"I… I might have been," he admitted, "But right now, he is not the one who is holding you in his arms." He tightened his grip around her.
She side smiled, rolling her eyes. "You are incorrigible."
"There hasn't been a day that I haven't thought of you." he grabbed her face, making her look up at him.
"You better, moron." she said, before tiptoeing and joining their lips together.
...
"What are you looking at?" the Princess inquired when she noticed Sokka's fixed glance on her. They had been in the gardens for almost an hour catching up.
"You." he replied.
Her cheeks reddened. "Stop it."
Sokka smirked, playfully. "We both know you don't want me to stop." he said, teasingly reaching for her hand. He caressed her knuckles before placing a kiss on them.
The silence grew around them, but it wasn't awkward.
"You know," Azula spoke after a moment, "I spent years living under the pressure of being the perfect Princess. The perfect firebender. I was the first girl born into the Royal Family in over 500 years, also I was the first firebender girl in almost 800 years. My parents never pressured me, but the nobility and the council were quite a pain in the ass.
"I always had to prove my worth. And when my uncle and my cousin abdicated and my father was crowned, the pressure just kept increasing. One reason of why my fire it's blue, it's because I wanted them to prove them wrong, that just because I was a girl, I wasn't any lesser than them," she explained, "Then, stupid Zuko when on his trip of 'self-finding' and for him to do that, he had to be temporary "removed" from the succession line. If my father would have died during his trip; I would have been crowned the next Fire Lord, not him. And honestly, the years he was gone were the worst. I was judged by everything I did, by everything I didn't do. Like why I wasn't getting engaged or making babies?"
"Now that you put it like that, your nation sounds horrible." said Sokka, grimacing.
She rolled her eyes, amused. "Back then, when we first met. You wanted to become chief, to keep traveling with your sister and the Avatar around the world, and you even mentioned that one day you wanted to become chief from your tribe while I just wanted to be free. Then we happened. Do you remember how I keep telling you that my father wanted me to get married and how he kept introducing me to suitors?" Sokka nodded, "Well, even though I knew I loved you more than anything, there was this little part of me that deep down unknown to me… keep fighting against it. Not only because I didn't want you to be tied forever to the same place, but also because it felt kind of imposed." she admitted.
"Imposed?"
"Don't you remember that our parents 'joked' about us being engaged?"
"Ah… That." he remembered.
"Yeah, that," she took a deep breath, "The thing is, I think a small part of me was denying to see a future between us because it would be like agreeing to an arranged marriage. I mean, since the first moment, my father was trying to set us up and even though we eventually got together without his intervention, it kind of seemed like it had been his plan all along. Am I making any sense?" she asked, wondering if she was explaining herself.
"Yes," said Sokka, "So... you wanted me, but a little part of you was trying to deny all, right?"
Azula nodded. "Yes. That's also why I keep telling you to go," she said before adding "Also, after you left my father talked with me and it appears that the entire council was opposing us."
"What?!" he squealed, confused.
She shrugged. "For years, the Fire Lord blood-line had been kept as much pure as it can be. Marrying Princes with high-born girls. Princesses with excellent firebenders from outstanding lineages. The Fire Lord might propose a union, but if the council doesn't approve, it can't happen."
"What?" he squeaked again, "Why would a group of elders choose who you can or can't love?"
"It's been like that for centuries," she stated, "The point of an arranged marriage is to make sure the decency of the bloodline with firebenders. I mean, would you imagine a Fire Lord that couldn't firebend? That's why they do it." she explained, "When my cousin abdicated and married Rin, the council just simply lost it. And when my uncle abdicated too, it was hell. Immediately they began introducing potential suitors to Zuko, and once I came to age, they did it with me too. It was overwhelming. I think that was another reason why he chose to temporarily "be removed" from the succession line and travel."
"But, when he did that, that left you like the only heir, right?" he asked, frowning.
"Exactly. So can you imagine their reaction when I spent years rejecting suitor after suitor and then suddenly I fell for a Water Tribe boy?" she said with a smile.
"That must have been a shock." he muttered.
"Yes. For my parents was a delight, but for the council it was unimaginable. During the festival, I was too distracted with you to notice, but my father was dealing with them in secrecy. I noticed weeks later after you left," he said, "Eventually things returned to normal, but when Zuko and Suki announced their engagement, my father almost went bald because of the amount of stress he was living under. But… in a turning shock of events, as the council was digging to find something into Suki's past to avoid their union, they found that she is actually the great-great-great many greats-granddaughter of Avatar Kyoshi."
Sokka eyes widened. "Really?"
"Uh-huh. And not only that. Suki has some ancestors that were firebenders. Or something like that," she waved a hand carelessly, "Whenever Zuko talks to me, I just block his voice. After that, the council couldn't refuse their marriage."
"Woah..." he exclaimed, "So that means that I know three descendants from Avatar's. Your great grandfather, Roku. Suki and her great-great-many greats-grandmother Kyoshi and I met Aang too."
"Quite an influential guy, aren't you, huh?" she mocked, poking him in the ribs.
"But I'm still wondering. So, if the council accepted Zuko and Suki's union, that would mean that they would get off your back about finding you a suitor?"
"Why the question? Jealous?" she poked him, teasingly. A few drops of rain began to splash them.
"Yes." he admitted, abruptly, "Also, I'm sure I'm not related to any previous Avatar"
Azula shook her head. "You don't have to worry about that. When my father made me a member of the council of Republic City, he practically told them to suck it."
"Have I ever told you that I really like your father?"
"Ugh… Damn it! He adores you two. Tsk!" she grunted, amused.
"Oh, c'mon. I'm adorable." he joked, making poppy eyes.
The Princess rolled her eyes. "You are still as incorrigible as ever." she said before squealing when the rain fully soaked them.
"We should go inside and get changed. I don't want you to get sick." said Sokka as they headed back into the building.
…
"Here." Sokka lend her a dry towel from his bath to dry herself.
"Thanks." she said, drying her damped hair.
"What?" he asked her when he noticed she was staring at him.
"Well," he heard the lock on his door, "I was wondering…" she began walking towards him, "Do you think we would be required, downstairs? Will your presence be required at the feast?" she inquired, nervously.
Sokka frowned. "Why?"
Azula pressed her lips together and a little smile escaped from her lips as her face turned red. "Because I think we can do something more… entertaining."
He quirked a brow, smirking. "Like what?" he asked.
"Let's say that there are a couple of things that I have been wanting to do to you for a while," she said, surrounding his neck with her arms. "And some other I want you to do to me."
"Oh, really?" he smiled, mischievously pulling her closer by the waist. She nodded. "In that case, your wish is my command, Princess." he said, caressing her cheek lovingly. Spirits, how he had missed her. Touching her, caressing her, kissing her. This time it was going to be different. Because this time was forever.
"Good." she muttered before tiptoeing to kissing him again. This time it was a sweet kiss. There was no desperation. It was calm, yet the most intoxicating kiss ever.
She leads him to his bed. His lips not leaving hers. And when his legs hit the mattress, she pushed him into it to making him sit.
The Princess kicked her shoes off before climbing on the bed and sitting on his lap. Her legs spreading at each side of him. Her skirt lifted to her knees. As their mouths kept devouring each other. She grabbed him from the back of his neck to deepen the kiss.
They didn't slip for a second. He kicked off his shoes, too, as her hands went to take care of his shirt. She undid the belt at the front, revealing his perfect, muscular, tan chest.
Azula split from his lips to take a moment to peak. She bit her lower lip. It was still as perfect as she remembered, maybe even a little more. She swallowed hard, her mouth getting dry for a moment. Her eyes traveled from his abs all the way up to his jaw, to his eyes.
The beautiful blue eyes were staring at her with uncertainty. Sokka was wondering if she had stopped thinking they were going too fast. But all his doubts vanished when the Princess took off his wet shirt completely and tossed aside somewhere in the room and slammed her mouth against his to keep eating each other. The air in the room filled with lust.
He grabbed her by her bottoms and gave them a little squeeze. A soft moan escaped her lips. The sound was so sexy that his blood rushed to his groin. Also, the way Azula was moving her hips over him, only made his expectation grow.
He raised, before placing her on the mattress as he used his hands to support his way over her. He didn't care if the sheet got damped, after all, she could dry them in a second wit her bending. His hand traveled from her calves to her thighs, sneaking under her skirt as he was leaving a trail of kisses over her jaw, her neck.
A shiver rushed down her spine as he felt his hand on her tights rise towards that soft place between her legs. She could feel the places where he had touched her burning. It was a pleasant burn that threatened her with turning her either crazy and an addict to it.
Her hands go to his hair, freeing it and making it fall like a curtain around his face. A groan escaped from her mouth. She had forgotten how handsome he looked with his hair down.
"What?" he looked up to her.
"Nothing… It's just…" she gulped, "I had... almost forgotten how handsome... you look with your hair down." she muttered between gasps. Her chest going up and down uncontrollably.
Sokka smirked. "It's my secret weapon," he said before winking at her. He stared at her lovingly for a moment. It was better than his dreams. Having her in his bed with her hair spread all over the mattress, blushed and his touching her inappropriately. "I missed you, gorgeous." he admitted caressing her cheek.
"I miss you too, savage." she brushed a few of his damp strands behind his ear.
Her skirt followed as the next item to disappear.
Azula pushed him aside making him place his back on the mattress and she got on top of him., again. He can't help to have a blood rush to his groin when he sees her brush all of her hair over one shoulder as she is on top of him. She looked so beautiful.
She licked and sucked his earlobe, while her hands explored his chest, his arms, his neck. She pulled him back up into a sitting position.
Now, thanks to the fact that her skirt was gone, and she was only in underwear, she could feel his erection growing in his pants.
Her cleavage left at his sight, those sexy moles on her collarbone.
'All your moles and beauty marks are the places where you liked and were most kissed in your past life.'
A moan escaped off her lips when he brushed her hair over her shoulders, exposing skin to him and kissed her neck with despair.
As he worked wonders with his mouth on her, she took care of undoing the knots of her shirt. She needed more. More of him, kissing her all over. She needed his mouth in every possible place of her body. Every limp, every inch of her was burning of lust. She longed for his touch, his carelessness to have him on top of her driving her crazy.
Her shirt slid open. Exposing her to him more than she had ever been exposed before. She was in her lingerie for him. Exposed for him. For Sokka.
Maybe she should have felt a little embarrassed, but after noticing the way Sokka was staring at her, she only felt desired. Excited, even.
He grabbed her by the neck once more and crashed their lips together. His free hand ascended slowly through her spine. His fingertips brushing against her skin. His hand stopped on her rips. Right below her breasts.
Azula moved her hips on purpose, rubbing against his groin. A groan escaped his mouth. His cock growing more and more with every swing of her hips, making him crazy. A shiver of expectation rushed through her entire body when she felt him completely hard under her.
He groaned, again.
Sokka took her by the waist and placed her back against the mattress. His mouth descended through her neck, through her collarbone, leaving a trail of kisses as she played with his hair. Then he started to go lower and lower. Kissing her through the valley of her breast, her belly button and she couldn't help but curl her toes and bite her lower lip as he reached the edge of her underwear.
He glanced at her like asking for permission, and when a soft, barely audible moan escaped her lips, he took it like a yes. She was giving him permission.
Slowly he slipped down her underwear, in such a caressed manner that it was exhilarating for both of them.
They were both shaking from expectation.
Just by looking at her, he got as hard as a rock. At her beautiful face blushed, her amazing breast, her toned abs, and her dazzling legs.
He kicked his pants off. And Azula didn't lose a chance to track his fit body. Before pushing herself up to capture his lips with hers again.
"Are you…. sure?" he asked, gasping, pressing his forehead against her.
"Are you…. seriously... asking me that, right now?" she replied, "I told you once; I want you to do to me, everything you have done to me in your dreams." she said, sliding off her last piece of clothing, revealing her breasts to him.
She was fully naked before him. Only for him.
His cock tightened in his underwear as he saw her fully naked before him
The tension in her stomach was going to go anywhere. It only kept growing and growing. And the one between her legs.
He kissed her on the lips with lust, with hunger. He bit her lower lip, and their tongues fought with each other.
Her hands grabbed him from the back of his neck, and his were on her waist. One of them caressed her soft skin like silk. She shivered while he caressed the sensitive skin of her breasts. A moan escaped her lips as he played with one of her nipples between her fingers. It was driving her crazy and her legs were turning to jelly.
His mouth left her and when to one of her nipples, slicking and sucking it while he played with the other one with his fingers. She arched her back to give him more access. To allow him to touch her more. She was getting intoxicated by how good it made her feel.
She was playing with his hair as he played with her breasts. Moan and groans escaped her mouth. He was making her feel so good and horny.
Hundred sensations drowned her.
The foreplay was making her needy and desperate for him.
"Sokka." she muttered as she could.
He glanced at her, a little afraid she might ask him to stop.
"I don't think... it's fair, that I'm fully naked, while you are still wearing your underwear." she said mischievously. Breading heavily as he kept playing with her nipple, making her crazy.
He smirked. "Is it fair now?" he inquired, after he disposed of his underwear.
Azula bit her lip when she saw the size of his cock and let out a sigh. She could feel her folds pulsing, eager to have him inside.
"Fair." she uttered, pulling him by the neck and kissing him again.
He placed himself between her legs.
She bent a leg for him to caress. She was desperate for his touch.
His hand went up and down her tight. He was torturing her. Caressing with his fingers her skin close to her entrance. He was enjoying having her stirring below him at his touch.
His lips kissed her knee before going higher and higher until reaching her inner thigh. Her breathing shortened. He was a master of the pre-show. He was teasing her with all the things that he could do to her.
She was feeling her entrance weeping from the teasing he was forcing her to endure. Her hips moved unwillingly, eager for him. She wanted him to just slide inside of her. But he seemed to have other plans. She shivered when she felt his breath between her legs. And when he finally licked her, her mind when dizzy as she exploded in pleasure.
The stimulation she was feeling was out of this world. Yet, he was gentle, wanting her to get used to his tongue.
When he sucked her clit, a spasm of pleasure took hold of her.
One lick, two licks. One suck, two sucks. Sokka licked every nerve of her. Making her first orgasm grow. He had been down for barely a minute and everything she was feeling was unthinkable. She let out a cry of pleasure as her orgasm hit her, making her legs shake. Still, he keeps licking her and sucking her without a rest.
"Sokka" she called him when she felt the second one growing, "With you." she pleaded him.
He went up to her mouth again, devouring her body on his way up. He placed himself in a position between her legs. His length was rubbing against her entrance. Ready for him.
She felt him filling her slowly. Her nails dug in her back as he slipped inside of her. It was an uncomfortable but pleasant filling. Until he reached that barrier he ought to break. She bit her lower lip hard as it broke.
"Fuck." she cursed under her breath.
"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned, glancing at her eyes.
"Perfect." she muttered before kissing him again.
He stayed still a moment for her to adapt to him. The first stroke after that one, she could feel his cock slide deeper into her. She rolled her eyes back in complete dismay as he went in and out, alternating the speed of his hips
The next penetration felt so good on her sensitive walls. She bit her lip as he was picking his rhythm as she loosened up a little. Her orgasm grew quickly as she moaned in pleasure. He was about to cum too.
Then, he hit her that sensitive spot inside of her.
Her back arched as her climax drowned her. He followed next, shivering as his orgasm took over him.
Sokka kissed her one last time on the lips, before coming out of her, dropping on the mattress next to her, both panting.
"Are you okay?" he asked her as he stroked her hair gently.
Azula curled in his arms and chest. The beating of his heart was still accelerated as well as hers.
She swallowed her mouth was dry. "l-I don't think… I would never get tired of doing this with you." she admitted, tracing circles in his chest with her fingers.
"What? Make love?" he asked, raising his eyebrow, glancing down at her.
"Ugr... Don't call it that. It sounds too cheesy for me." she said, closing her eyes as she enjoyed his heartbeat.
"Well, get used to it, because I would call it like that forever." he said before entangling his hand with her. The bracelets one over the other.
After all, the legend behind had been true, he thought, smiling and tightening his hold around her and also closing his eyes because of exhaustion.
Finally, the lovers that had been separated for some reason, had gone around and had finally met again with their feelings for each other still remaining.
…
Two years later.
Southern Water Tribe.
Katara and Azula had been watching at the horizon for a couple of minutes, waiting for their boys' boat to appear in one of the small hills around the village, like they used to do it.
Every six months, Hakoda would take Sokka, Aang, and some other members of the trip for a week-long trip. They had been doing it for years now, and it was a way for the men in the village to bond.
"So, when are you going to tell him?" Katara asked her with baby Bumi sat in her lap.
"I don't know." said Azula, "I'm still trying to process it myself. It's unexpected."
"Well, sometimes life doesn't go as planned."
"I know that," she muttered, "I guess I might tell him tonight. The sooner he finds out, the better, don't you think?"
Katara smiled warmly at her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "If you need anything, just let me know, okay?"
The Princess returned the smile to her sister-in-law, before returning her attention to the ocean. "Where are they? They should be back by now." she said. Their ship was nowhere to be seen.
"Maybe the waves weren't that cooperative," said Katara, "Relax. We must be seeing them any second now," she assured, "Oh? Look, there they are." the waterbender pointed out at the boat sailing towards the pier.
The Princess quickly rose from the floor, and before Katara said anything else, she rushed down the hill.
"Be careful!" Katara shouted.
She ran across the village towards the pier, as fast as she could. It was always really exciting to see Sokka after their trip, or after being apart for a few days.
She dumped slightly into some villagers that weren't fast to move away.
"Huh?" muttered one, "Sokka must be back." she heard him said in the distance.
The pier was crowded. Some ships were unloading their cargo from the Earth Kingdom or the Fire Nation.
Some sailors greeted her quickly with a smile, but she ignored them, having only eyes for the one sailor she was looking around. A few of them were kind enough to direct her to the pier where the last ship had docked.
Azula rushed towards, and when she saw him helping unload. The smile on her face as well as the beating in her heart increased. She didn't know if it was for the little race to the pier or just because she had missed him.
He noticed her gaze on him and smiled as wide as her. He had missed her too.
"Careful, don't run," Sokka uttered, when she rushed to him, "I have told you not to run in the snow." he scolded her after he raised off the floor embracing her in a welcoming hug with her legs surrounding him in the waist. "Spirits! I missed you so much."
"I missed you too." she said with a smile, before leaning down to kiss him, but their kiss was cut short by a voice.
"Oi, oi… Don't eat bread in front of the poor." whined Baki, one of the boys of the tribe that has been joining them during their trips.
Sokka and Azula chuckled at the claim of the boy and kissed again to annoy him.
"Tsk! You two get a room!" now it was Tenki who shouted.
"They have been married for over a year, and they still do that every time after our trip." Baki complained, grimacing.
"Hushh... you two," said Aang, "Let them be. When you two get a girlfriend, I bet you are going to be just like that." he pointed out.
"Now, I want a girlfriend," muttered Baki.
"Me too." replied Tenki
…
"Hey, gorgeous." Sokka walked into their room after taking a warm bath to erase the smell of fish from him.
"Hey." she replied as she finished the letter.
"What are you doing?" he inquired, looking over her shoulder.
"I'm writing a letter to my father," she said, folding it before he could read it. "By the way, I have a surprise for you."
"For me?" He raised his eyebrows. It was unexpected. It wasn't their anniversary or any other special date.
"Yeah over there. There's a little box opened to it," she gestured towards the nightstand.
Intrigued, he took the boxes and started to undo the ribbon. "By the way, what are you writing your father about? I thought you told him about the council decisions in the last letter." he asked, opening the box.
"I did. This letter is to let him know he might need to find another adviser soon." she said.
"Another adviser? What do you mean?" he asked, startled for her sudden revelation.
"Well, I might not be able to travel too much for a while…"
"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't you be available to do it? What aren't you telling me?" he asked, worried.
She sighed. "It might get difficult…"
"Why?" he removed the lid and his eyes widened, "Is this real?!" she nodded, "Oh my gods! Are you…? Are you serious?! It's not a joke, right?! Really?!"
Azula nodded, biting her lower lip. "Are you happy?"
"Am I… am I happy?!" an enormous smile spread across his face, "Of course I'm happy! It's the best news ever! How?! When?!" he rushed to her and picked her from the floor, spinning in circles.
"You seriously want me to describe the process?" she raised an eyebrow, "I think it was the night before we traveled to the tribe…"
"I need to tell everyone... I just…" he said, overly excited. "I love you! I LOVE YOU!" she leaned down to kiss him. Seeing him that happy fills her with tremendous joy.
"I'm going to be a father of a little girl."
"Didn't you find it odd that it was two pairs of shoes?" she asked.
His mouth opened, agape. "Two?!"
"According to your sister." said the Princess.
"I'm gonna be a father of TWO little girls!" he said, ecstatic.
"Well, it's still too early to know and it could be two boys or a boy and a girl." said Azula.
"It doesn't matter as long as you are the mother and I'm the father." said Sokka.
The Princess made a grin. "Yeah, about that…"
"Hey!" he squealed, "I know they are mine because nobody makes love to you like me."
"Tsk… Aren't you cocky, huh?" she muttered.
"I love you, my Princess." he said, lovingly.
Azula smiled at him, focussing on his beautiful blue eyes. "I love you, savage."
And like that, the next chapter of their lives and probably their most exciting adventure began. All thanks to The Mochi Unification Movement.
And that's it.
The last chapter of the first fic I have ever finished and I feel really proud. Thank you to everyone that read this silly story that popped out one day in my head. Thank you to all the lovely comments. And for sticking with the Mochi Movement until the end.
If you wish to read more Sokkla content I have published the first chapter of my next fic. The Light That Left Your Eyes. I hope you all enjoy that one like this one or even more as I would be working with a beta to help me improve and be able to the tell the story I wish to share.
Libby