Azula stares at the man in front of her. It takes a moment for her to recognise him.
"You're the Water Tribe boy," she whispers under her breath. He's grown taller and his muscles have filled in since she last saw him.
Sokka shakes off the dread and holds steady. Confidence is intimidation, he reminds himself.
"Hi, Azula," Sokka manages to say coolly. "It's been a few years."
A few years? The comment picks at Azula. There's no one here, she thinks, so she decides to release some fire, letting it roll in her hand. Azula relishes in the fire that she's kept suppressed for so long, letting the energy flow through her body and pool in her palm. The threat doesn't faze the warrior before her though, and Azula growls in irritation.
"It's been almost six years." Azula draws out every word slowly. "I'll ask you one more time."
The fire in her hand flickers menacingly.
"What are you doing following me?" Azula sneers, flame in her hand illuminating her face with bright blue light. She takes a step forward, but Sokka stays unmoving.
"You may not know this, princess, but you kind of have a really big bounty on your head," he lies easily. "I'm in between jobs right now and, I gotta say, I could really use the money."
Azula shoots her fire at Sokka, which he deftly avoids without breaking a sweat, even managing a mocking smile. Azula narrows her eyes at the sheer audacity of his grin.
"Aww! Come on, princess. I could even split the bounty with you. And you get a free ride home! I'd say it's a good deal."
Sokka didn't even pause with the mocking tone as he narrowly avoids another shot of fire. Azula's frustration begins to build and she growls in annoyance.
"Fool! I can't go home just yet." Azula means to sound threatening but she surprises both herself and Sokka with the desperation that colours her tone. Sokka's expression changes with something Azula has learnt to abhor: pity. The pity on her opponent's face is like a slap to Azula and she recoils as if in physical pain.
It's a mistake.
Sokka takes advantage of Azula's step back and trips her. She cries out in pain as she lands on her foot at an unnatural angle and falls. She tries, but can't seem to get herself to stand up again. Before she can throw more fire, he has her on her knees, hands held behind her back. She struggles against him but he still manages to bind her hands together. She struggles, and Sokka doesn't realise Azula is no longer just fighting against him, but her own demons as well. Being pushed into the same defeated position she was forced into on the day she lost everything triggers a rage and pain Azula thought she had overcome. Azula whimpers as she fights the bindings as much as she fights the darkness within herself. She fights so much that the rope cuts skin. When rope bites into exposed raw flesh, Azula lets out a loud cry of pain. When she fries the raw flesh trying to burn the rope off, the loud cry becomes a long wail.
Azula screams and she gives in to the dark madness within herself.
"What just happened?" Sokka whispers to himself.
He stares at the seemingly lifeless form of Azula. Then, he turns her over gently to check her pulse and breath then lets out a sigh of relief when he finds out she's just passed out. Whatever he thought he might face on this mission, Azula burning herself and losing consciousness from the pain was really low on the long list. Watching her whimper in pain had reminded him of an injured animal but after she had burned herself, Azula turned into a woman possessed. She had finally stopped when she fainted from total exhaustion. Even if she was heartless, Sokka was not. Even if he knew he had to take her down, standing there and watching her anguish had been heartbreaking for him.
He supposes he should take care of her now.
Sokka easily carries Azula to a spot away from the road. He cuts off the singed rope bindings and inspects the rest of her body for any damage. Other than a badly hurt ankle and her wrists, Azula is fine. As he examines her, he tries not to notice that Azula is really attractive when she's not wailing in pain. He cleans the wounds on her wrists, giving thanks to the spirits when she stirs but doesn't wake. After applying a healing salve then wrapping each wrist with bandages, Sokka starts a fire and wonders what he should do next. He also wonders when he started having sympathy for an enemy.
He wonders if he will regret this kindness.
Azula awoke to the smell of home. Or, more accurately, she awoke to the smell of spiced meat. She finds herself sleeping on a soft sleeping bag instead of the familiar scratchy bed sheets of her prison and sits up straight. She sees Sokka not too far from her. Next to him is a small fire with meat twined around sticks, the source of the smell. He notices she's awoken and turns to face her. Azula immediately is on the defensive with fire in her hand.
"I won't hurt you if you put away the fire," he says softly.
She sits up straighter.
"I don't think you're in any position to make demands."
"I don't think you do either, you can't even walk. You don't even know where we are."
She looks around and realises she can't see any sign of the road they were on. Azula extinguishes her fire and tries to put some pressure on her right foot then freezes at the sharp pain.
Azula looks up and Sokka sees something that looks like fear in her eyes.
Azula thinks hard and tells herself that she has begged the torturers in her prison before. She can beg now, even if it is to this Water Tribe peasant. Before she can stop herself, the plea is out of her mouth.
"Don't hurt me."
Sokka sees the injured animal in her again.
"I won't hurt you, Azula."
This doesn't reassure her.
"If you tell me where you plan on going."
For some reason, a condition makes her relax. Azula doesn't have to beg, she can bargain. The fear disappears and a sly grin is on her lip. Sokka's gaze lowers to the curve of her lip before looking back up again.
"If I tell you, will you even let me go there?" Azula drawls with acid, but Sokka takes her up on her words.
"If you want to negotiate, fine. I'll take you there. But you have to follow me back to the Fire Nation after that, no resistance."
Azula is on familiar ground with a negotiation, so she knows to let him stew for a while she finally speaks.
"You have a deal, ponytail. No resistance."
"Then tell me where you're going."
"Don't I get some meat first?"
It turns out the meat Sokka has twined around sticks is actually spiced beef jerky.
"These are a Fire Nation specialty, you know. No where else can you find seasoned meat like this."
Sokka stares at Azula, but says nothing.
"You didn't have to fire them up, you know. Not that I mind, whatever you've done to them, these things feel almost like fresh meat," Azula continues. "You know, small talk is only polite. You can answer me back."
"I'm sorry I'm still worried you'll burn me."
"Don't worry, peasant. I don't go back on my agreements. Anyway, I won't be firebending with my burnt hands anytime soon. You're absolutely in charge here, big boy."
Sokka pays no attention to her baiting.
"Give me your foot."
"Oh," Azula stretches the syllable in a moan. "Are all Water Tribe men as kinky as you?"
Sokka ignores her as he wraps up her ankle. His hands are gentle, but the wrap is snug. Azula is at first stunned by his touch, then touched by his kindness. No, this is not kindness, Azula reminds herself. This is part of a deal they made.
"Not too tight?"
"No." It's the only word she can manage. Sokka lets go of her foot.
"Get some rest then. We'll see how far you can go tomorrow."
"You could always be my ostrich horse. We'd go much further."
Sokka looks up at her from his sleeping spot leaning against a rock.
"It's a joke. You can laugh."
Sokka manages a dry laugh.
"And you could suddenly sprout wings and fly like a giant panther raven."
"Do those even exist?"
"You'd be surprised. I've met one. Now go to sleep."
Azula smiles as she snuggles into the sleeping bag. Keeping the enemy off guard was proving easier than she thought it would be.