Hey everybody, I'm back from vacation with a brand new chapter. Sorry to leave with that big cliffhanger before, but I see it got a lot of people interested in this thing. Of course, that also meant some questions were asked, and I'd just like to address them. The Sokka-Azula thing... first off, I thought this paring was crazy at first too. But people were able to put some good theories behind it, so I eventually was won over.
So that left the question of how to do it. First, I sprinkled in little moments in previous stories that could spark a relationship. Then, I put them both in emotinally difficult situations in this story (Suki, leaving the Fire Nation). Finally, I gave both of them a chance to show some feeling toward each other, but I also had both of them be too guarded to really admit it, until the emotional stress broke them down. And as for the theory that they seemed to expereinced at the end... well, I tried not to get too into it, but I figured, they're teenagers, both old enough to have had 'the talk', and emotinally charged. I felt that was enough to get things started. Anyway, I still appreciate all your thoughts, and please, keeping giving reviews and reading.
Chap. 31
"Oh My GOD!!"
Sokka stirred from under the covers. Slowly, he opened his and looked out. Already, the rays of early morning light were streaming down from outside. For a moment, Sokka was tempted to close his eyes and get back to sleep, but he knew that if his head hit the pillow, the next thing he would know was his father, yelling at him for his laziness. With a yawn, Sokka stretched out and got ready to greet the day.
However, when he stretched out, Sokka felt something strange next to him. At first, it felt soft and silky to the touch. Sokka felt like he wanted to run his hands through it. But when he did, he felt something else, something that felt smooth and warm and….. alive. The longer he felt it, the more he could feel something in his sleep addled brain try to assert itself, until he heard a soft moan that destroyed all the barriers and shot the information directly to where it needed to go. Sokka's head immediately turned to the side, where it met the just awakened face of Azula. The two faces stared at each other until Azula realized what had happened as well. As they stared in shock, they began to scream, as both of them twisted and turned to get away from the other. Sokka fell on the floor with a thud, dragging the blanket with him.
"Darya almighty!" Azula swore, as she looked down at Sokka. "Did we…."
"Let me see." Sokka said. He pulled up the blankets for a second then said, "Well, considering we both remember it and we're both naked, then yeah, we did."
"Nake… Ahh!" Azula screamed, as she realized that without the blanket, she was completely exposed. "For Darya's sake, give me that thing now!"
"Well, could ya let me grab my pants first?" Sokka snapped, as he reached over into a pile of clothes and dug out a set of pants. He quickly slipped them on under the blanket, then tossed the blanket to Azula, who instantly wrapped herself into it.
"I don't understand. How did this happen?" Azula asked. "The last thing I remember, we were arguing and then…."
"That part I remember quite well." Sokka said with a smirk.
"Oh shut up." Azula snapped.
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't realize what a horrible experience this was for you." Sokka snapped back.
"Well….. it wasn't really horrible." Azula said, her face turning red as she spoke. Sokka raised an eyebrow at that, but before he could say anything, another voice filled the air.
"Sokka! Wake up man, we need to talk!" Hierro's voice said, as it rang out from the outside.
"Oh crap!" Sokka swore. "Quick, hide!"
"Way ahead of you." Azula said, as she grabbed Sokka's shirt from under the bed, and then pulled the covers up and lay still under them. Sokka started to grab some things from around the bed to throw on the bed, but before he could, Hierro pushed his way through the cloth door and entered the tent.
"Sokka, we…oh good you're up." Hierro said. "Sorry to wake you like that. Looks like you thought we were under attack."
"Uh, yeah, I was having a nightmare or something when you called me." Sokka said, dropping the stuff in a huff. "But I'm awake now. Yep, awake and ready to get into all the regular duties I have around the camp, like I do every day."
"Uh, that's good." Hierro said. "But before you do, there's something I need to ask you about?"
"Of course, what is it?"
"Did you see Azula after last night?"
"What? Why? What's going on with her?"
"She never reported back to the barracks and no one has seen her this morning yet. Some people are starting to get antsy about, and I wanted to know if you saw her leave last night."
Sokka's mind whirled as it tried to come up with an excuse, which meant his mouth went on autopilot. "Uh, Azula? No, I don't think I saw her. I mean, of course I saw her because I know who you're talking about. And I did see her last night, because she of course had to be here last night because no one else saw her leave, and… and…"
Thankfully, before Sokka could humiliate himself further, there was a yawn from the bed that grabbed Hierro's attention. As Sokka turned, Azula slowly rose out of the bed and stretched, as if she had just woken up.
"Ahh…. Morning Sokka. Hierro, what a surprise to see you here."
"Well, the feeling is kinda mutual." Hierro said. "Um, why are you in Sokka's bed? And wearing his shirt?"
"Why do… oh, you filthy man you." Azula said with a laugh. "No, no, it's not like that. After last night I was exhausted, and practically falling asleep on the way to the barracks. Sokka was nice enough to offer me his tent, since it was much closer. And since I didn't want to sleep in my regular clothes, he loaned me one of his shirts."
"Is that what happened?" Hierro asked Sokka, turning to face him.
"Yes. Yes that's exactly what happened." Sokka said.
"Well… ok then." The spider said, after a moment's consideration. "Just tell us when something like this happens. We were all rather worried about it."
"Sure, sure. I'm sorry that we caused you such trouble." Sokka said.
"It's all right. Now come on, we need you for a meeting. There's some new information we need to discuss. And Azula, you're wanted for training."
Both of them nodded, and Hierro turned to leave. But when he was about to get to the door, he suddenly stopped. Looking to his left, he pointed at a bundle near the door and asked, "Sokka, isn't that your sleeping bag?"
"Uh-huh." Sokka said, as Azula grimaced behind him.
"So where did you sleep last night?" the spider asked.
"Um….. um…." Sokka sputtered.
"Something isn't right here." Hierro said. Stepping back into the tent, he took a second look around. As his analytical mind looked over everything, he began to speak aloud voicing his thoughts and observations.
"Ok, only one bed. No other place to sleep. Area around bed is a mess. Azula's clothes in pile, but not Sokka's. Both look disheveled and smell of sweat. Sokka wearing his pants and Azula wearing his shirt. Azula apparently not wearing anything under Sokka's shirt, and…and…..OH MY GOD!!"
"Hierro, it's not what you think." Sokka protested, as the spider's eyes went wide with understanding. He took another look at the two of them, and then he again exclaimed, "OH MY GOD!!"
"Calm down, before everyone hears you." Azula said, though her face was already beet red.
"You two were playing icicle in the forge?!" Hierro spat. "Jesus H. Baldheaded Christ, how did this happen?"
Before they could answer, Hierro started talking again, this time rambling to himself as he paced the tent. "I should've known. I should've known bringing her in here would start something. I…. No, what am I saying, this is a two way street here. He had to… Aw hell what does it matter? This has to be a sign; no, the sign. And now, we're all going to die. It's the end. It has to be the end. Why God why? I mean, I'm pretty much ready, but why them? They had things to do. Aang and the others, goddamit, they had things to do."
"Have you ever seen him like this?" Azula asked.
"No, never." Sokka moaned. "This cannot get any worse."
"Son, are you ready yet?" Hakoda said as he walked into the tent. However, upon seeing the strange sights insider, he stopped short, and looked his son almost as who has gone mad.
"Did I miss something here?" Hakoda asked, his eyes right on Sokka.
The young boy started to respond, but then Hierro actually noticed Hakoda, stopped his ranting, and looked at the man with a strange smile.
"Hakoda, my friend." The spider said, wrapping an arm around the man. "I have wonderful news for you."
"Do you now?" Hakoda asked.
"Yes. We no longer have to worry about the Fire Nation. In fact, I think we should call off the attack, send the Army home, and spend a considerable amount of time with our loved ones."
"Sounds good. But why such a radical plan?"
"Because Hakoda, your son just spent the night banging the Fire Nation Princess and has therefore given a major kickstart to the Apocalypse."
"Oh that's….. Sokka you did WHAT?!" Hakoda yelled, whipping around to stare at his son with a mix of shock and pride.
"Yes my friend, your son is now a man." Hierro said, as Sokka looked down on the floor. "Now, I'm sure that you all have a lot to talk about, so I'm going to go and celebrate the end of the world in the traditional Irish way- getting incredibly drunk on cheap liquor. See you later."
"Hold it right there." Hakoda said, grabbing the spider and pulling him back inside. "Look, this is a very serious matter. If word gets out, the camp could be in an uproar. Now, I am going to talk to my son, but in the meantime, we have a meeting to get to."
"What's going on?" Sokka asked.
"Oscuridad has some new information to pass out to us. And it appears, we will have some for him. Now get dressed and let's get moving."
"Dad, wait. You don't need to….."
"Sokka, this is a very serious matter. It would have been difficult if you had done this with another Firebender, but instead, you have done it with the Princess, who has a shaky enough reputation as it is. There are many different possibilities that could arise and few of them are good. Now both of you, hurry and dress so that we can deal with this.
Sokka and Azula both nodded, and began to dress. Hakoda and Hierro turned to allow them privacy. But by doing so, they failed to notice the pair of eyes that had been watching from a hole inside the tent walls. They also failed to notice as those eyes moved away and left the tent.
"So let me get this straight, just once more." Oscuridad said, nearly twenty minutes later as he looked at Sokka and Azula, along with Hakoda, Luz, Iroh, Aang, Toph, Katara, and the rest of the generals and Knights.
"You two had sex."
"Yes.'
"With each other."
"Yes."
'Willingly."
"Yes."
"Hierro, I concur with you. The end of the world is at hand."
"Oh will everyone stop saying that!" Sokka snapped. "We just had sex. We didn't kill anyone."
"Look, it's not that Sokka, it's just that it is incredibly bad timing. Azula's been making a lot of progress but she's not completely trusted. You're an important figure in the Water Tribe, but now it looks like your interests are compromised."
"Compromised?!"
"I'm not saying that I think so, but other people might." Oscuridad replied.
"Frankly, I just think it's kinda weird." Aang said. "I mean, you two have never gotten along."
"Aang's right. I trust you Sokka, but this is just surreal." Katara said. "Part of me is wondering if this is some kind of …..I don't know, something to hurt Suki and.."
"Katara!" Sokka gasped. "How could you accuse of that? I would never…."
"Look, that's not important." Hakoda said. "Katara has a right to her opinions. What I want to know is if either of you can actually explain how and why this happened."
"How is that any of your business?" Azula snapped. "What happened was strictly between us."
"And if it gets around, it could affect the entire relationship of this army." Hakoda said. "So if there are problems because of this, I at least want to understand why you and my son decided to do this."
Azula glared at Hakoda, but after a moment, she looked back at Sokka, her face open and questioning. Sokka looked back, his face the same. They looked at each other for almost a full minute, waiting for the other to speak. Finally, one of them did.
"I-I can't really explain it." Azula said. "I can't say that I always liked Sokka, but I guess, well, after I interrogated him on my ship, and he didn't say a word despite my….. methods….I guess I started to respect that. I never really respected anyone but my father before, certainly someone from another Nation. It was so strange, but I couldn't stop thinking about it after a while. That's what really made me save him in Ba Sing Se. And after that fight, and seeing him save me, an enemy, and watching him in this Army … maybe, that's what led to all this."
"When I first saw you, I did think that you were…. Attractive." Sokka admitted. "I thought the same thing after you tortured me, but I also thought you were crazy. But after you saved me in Ba Sing Se, I did have to look at you differently. I thought that there might be some good in you after all. Traveling with Aang and Zuko changed my thoughts on a lot of things. I started to think that maybe I could help you, instead of destroying you. I was sort of looking for someone to protect after Yue and Suki, but I don't think you need it anymore. But if I'm wrong, I would like to help."
"Why didn't you tell me this instead of mocking me?" Azula asked.
"Why didn't you?" Sokka asked.
Iroh let out a laugh. "Children, this is often the most sure sign of love- the inability to admit it."
"Huh?" both Sokka and Azula asked simultaneously.
"I think you two are classic Beatrice and Benedict sufferers." Luz said. "In my world, there is a play called Much Ado About Nothing. Two of the characters are named Beatrice and Benedict, and they are these long-suffering rivals that insult each other in a battle of wits. But the truth is, they both love each other, but they're too proud to admit it. If that isn't you two, I don't know what is."
"Literary comparisons aside," Oscuridad said. "I think that the most important things right now are that that you two figure out just what it is that has developed between you and that we keep this quiet. If the Army finds out…. Well, I don't foresee a lot of good possibilities. But most critical of all, on your very immortal souls, no one, under any circumstances, tells Zuko."
"Oh no, Zuko. He'll flay both of us alive if he finds out." Sokka moaned.
"I don't know. My brother has hated me for a long time." Azula said thoughtfully. "We made a little progress last night, but…"
"Azula, allow to make this clear to you." Luz said. "You are his little sister. Sokka is his little brother. Now, aside from the fact that this is a hair's width away from being unbelievably wrong, somewhere, deep in his soul, Zuko has protective feelings for you. Deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, down in his soul, but trust me, they exist. And if he was to find out about this, he will have the typical older brother reaction- to allow those feelings to overwhelm him, and swear a blood oath to kill the man who has deflowered you. And in that state, it may take the entire Army to stop him."
"Oh come on, it can't be that bad." Azula replied.
"I know. I had three older brothers growing up." Luz said.
"Maybe, but that isn't my brother. Zuko has changed too much. He's more apt to be rational then give in to his temper like that now. Besides, he's so caught up with training and Jin I can't believe he would find out."
Luz raised an eyebrow at that, and started to speak, but before she could even begin, a yell ripped through the air, one so loud that it was heard clearly in every corner of the campsite.
"SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Ooooh shit." Iroh muttered, rubbing the space between his eyes in dreary anticipation.
"Told you so." Luz said, glaring at Azula.
"Never mind that, let's just get Sokka out of here." Aang said, moving to the back door. "I don't think Zuko is in the mood for a rational discussion right now."
"Hurry Aang." Sokka exclaimed, as he ran towards the back door. But before he could make it, the front door was pushed aside, and Zuko stood there, his eyes narrowed, breathing like a raging bull. He looked straight at Sokka, pointed and said in a slow, menacing voice, "You."
"Zuko, I can explain." Sokka began, but it was already too late. Zuko leapt through the air with a roar and pounced on his brother. As the others watched, the two of them began to roll around, as Zuko wrapped his hands around Sokka's throat and began to squeeze.
"Oh for God's sake, come on!" Luz yelled, as she moved towards the struggling siblings. Oscuridad and Hakoda quickly followed, as the fox grabbed the two boys, pulled them upright, broke Zuko's stranglehold and then threw him over to Osc and Hakoda, who held him fast.
"Let me go! Let me kill him!" Zuko screamed, as he struggled to escape.
"Killing him won't solve anything." The bat replied, as he doubled his grip.
"Yes it will!"
"Will it change what happened?" Hakoda asked. "I'm as upset as you are Prince, but mindless anger will not solve this. And you have come too far to lose control now."
Zuko struggled for a few more seconds, but slowly, he began to regain control of himself. With a visible effort, he took a deep breath and managed to look up at Sokka without reaching for his neck.
"Zuko, I'm sorry." Sokka began, even as he massaged his throat. "I didn't plan for this to happen, and neither did Azula. It just,…. It just did."
"That's your best answer?" Zuko asked incredulously. "You are my brother. She is my sister. This is unbelievably close to being damningly wrong and the best you can tell me is that it just happened?"
"No, that is what happened." Azula snapped, facing her brother. "I didn't expect this either, but if you want to blame someone, you can blame both of us, all right? We both know I could've forced Sokka away if I wanted to. But I didn't. I let it happen. That makes me as responsible as it does him. But it's our problem to solve, and you barging in like this does not help matters!"
Zuko was quiet for a moment, then said, "So why did you let it happen? Do you love him?"
"………I…….Maybe…….. I don't know. And neither does he. But we have a right to find out. You got that chance, why can't I have it?"
"……….Fine. But I'm not just going to look away completely."
"Fine."
"You can let me go now." Zuko said to Hakoda and Oscuridad. The two released him, and after he collected himself, Oscuridad asked, "Does anyone else know Zuko? And how did you find out in the first place?"
"Hahn told me." Zuko answered. "Don't worry, I made sure he wouldn't tell another soul."
"You didn't kill him, did you?" Katara asked.
"No, but I threatened too if he breathed a word to anyone." Zuko said. "But as my sister pointed out, this is not a matter we should discuss. But I believe that there is one we should. Oscuridad, you called this meeting. What has happened?"
"Something extremely disparaging." The bat replied. "Last night, I received a message from the farmers. They have new reports on 'Sozin's Revenge." I'll be announcing it to the rest of the Army, but I wanted to tell you all in private first…"
"Men and women of the Army." The bat said a few hours later, as he walked the hastily constructed platform, overlooking the vast number of soldiers before him. "We have trained long and hard, and prepared for the day when we could finally rid the world of the evil of Fire Lord Ozai. In a few days, our assault on the capital will commence, and I could not ask for a better Army. But despite all of our efforts, fate has thrown a new complication in our way."
"The farmers of this island, who have been gracious enough to supply us with food and information, have recently discovered the construction of a new Fire Nation weapon. None of them were able to determine the nature of this weapon, only it's name- Sozin Reborn. However, our allies were able to learn that this weapon, if completed in time, would have enough power to end our campaign before we even reached the walls of the Fire Nation capital."
"Unfortunately, this weapon is nearing completion. By our estimates, it will be completed before our attack can commence. Therefore, we must take out this weapon before it can be used against us. Therefore today, we will march on the main weapons factory, capture it, and destroy Sozin's Revenge before it can be used against us."
At that, there was great uproar from the troops. Some were ready for battle, but far more protested this early and unprepared for battle. At this, Aang took to the front and held up his hands for silence. But the noise continued. Frowning, Aang laid down his staff, then began to twist in a strange movement, until he held his hand up, and a bolt of lightning shot upwards towards the sky. The crowd instantly fell silent, and watched as the young Avatar spoke.
"Listen everyone, I know you're afraid." Aang said. "But you're all ready for this. You've learned to work together, to be as one, and pool your power. This Army is like one great Avatar. All the elements, working together as one. If we all remember that, if we all work together, then there's no way we can lose! You were all ready to stand with me at the capital. Stand with me now, and we can't be beaten! Who's with me?!"
The Army looked at Aang, then gave a collective yell of approval. Aang raised his fist in approval, then asked for silence again.
"There is one more thing I must ask of you before we do this." He said. "There's a reason we need to attack the capital on that one day. That day is the Day of Black Sun- a solar eclipse. We had to keep this secret from you until we were sure all could be trusted, but now, there is not a one here who has not earned that trust. Because when that eclipse happens, all Firebenders will lose their power, and we will be able to take the capital easily."
"At the same time, we don't want to lose our own Firebenders. Therefore, Fuego has devised a solution to this problem. Fue?"
The red man nodded, and stepped to the front. Addressing the crowd, he said, "Firebenders draw their power from the sun. But I do not. My power comes from the heart and soul of my father, Darya, Architect of Flame. And his power is limitless. Therefore I ask all Firebenders to come forward, and through my power, I shall bless you in the name of Darya. Through that blessing, the power of Darya shall be within you, and when Black Sun strikes, he will give you the power you need. Firebenders, please come forward, and receive the blessing."
As Fuego finished, the Firebenders began to move into a line before the platform, waiting to receive their mark. But before them, Zuko and Iroh moved into place. They knelt before Fuego, as the red man drew his spear. As the red stone in its hilt began to glow, Fuego placed his hand upon the stone, and when he removed it, his hand glowed with the same light. Fuego placed the hand upon Zuko's forehead first, and whispered, "Father, bless this man with your holy fire, and be with him when he needs you, so that he might do your work upon this earth."
As he spoke, Fuego moved his fingers, tracing the symbol of the Fire Nation on Zuko's forehead. As he traced it, the light remained where his fingers had touched, keeping the shape. When Fuego removed his hand, the symbol remained a moment, then faded away into Zuko's skin. Fuego nodded, then repeated the process with Iroh. One by one, Fuego blessed the Army's Firebenders, protecting them from Black Sun. It took a long time, but finally, Fuego came to the last Firebender in the Army.
"Ready, Princess?" he asked, as Azula stepped before him.
She nodded in reply, and knelt down, ready to receive the blessing. Fuego took the light from the spear and moved to bless the girl. But as his hand was about to touch her forehead, it suddenly stopped. Azula looked up in confusion, as Fuego attempted to move his hand down again. But strangely, it refused to move.
"Father, please." Fuego whispered. But his words had no effect; his hand remained frozen in the air. Finally, Azula thought of an idea, and bent her head forward further, towards Fuego's hand. But as she came close, the light suddenly vanished. Both she and Fuego stared in shock, then the red man tried to get the light back. But the spear also went dark. He looked at it, then sadly turned his head to Azula.
"I'm sorry." He said. "Darya won't allow you his blessing."
"What? Why?" Azula asked.
"He doesn't feel you've earned it." Fuego said. "And until he does, there is nothing I can do. I'm sorry."