So finally a new chapter! I know it took me too long to finish it and we all know that it´s not because of the length of that chapter. I just started studying after the last chapter and never seemed to find the time and then ATLA was finished and it somehow drifted of my mind. But with the news of the live-action movie coming strong this sommer I knew I had to continue.
The truth was Sokka didn´t really want to go back in the igloo. It was too confusing but surely Azula would question where he was soon. Life could be so easy without women, Sokka said to himself. But also decidedly a lot less fun...
The rest of the evening however went by without any further "incidents". Maybe it was because they were both tired by this point or maybe it was because Azula was busy continuing her story.
Going to Ba Sing Se was the right thing, it served a purpose for Azula as it did for Zuko. She realized that she had to stop lamenting her faith and accept the reality. But staying there wasn´t an option. There was no chance she could ever carve a life for herself in that city.
"You could have stayed with your uncle.", Sokka interrupted her. Azula shook her head, "No I couldn´t. I never had the best relationship with uncle Fattso you know.". Sokka smirked, "Well I would have loved seeing you in a waiteress uniform anyway.". Azula kindly ignored that comment and continued with her story.
Deciding to leave Ba Sing Se and knowing where to go next are to seperate things however and Azula found herself aimlessly wandering around the Earthkingdom for quite some time. Going from town to town she stayed nowhere longer than a few days. She didn´t want it any other way being the most comfortable whenever she camped on the road rather than having stay in shady taverns. She had hardly any contact with other people and when she did than to buy supplies or to swipe the pockets of the occasional wealthy traveler to bolster her supplies. She still struggled with her destiny from time to time especially whenever it came to her how much her life now was like Zuko´s a year ago. But at the same time that thought gave her the strength to continue. She would be stronger than Zuko, she would not whine, she would do what he could not, accepting this new life.
"But truly accepting my new life meant that I had to settle down eventually, that I had to actually start a new life. And...", Azula blushed a little, "somehow I could only see myself doing that at the only place where there was the only person I considered a friend. Here...". Sokka smiled at her, "I am glad you decided that way. I know I never actually cared about you when we were enemies but now I do. Sometimes it is lonely for me here too but now I have somebody here whom I can call a true friend.". He walked around the table and gave Azula a warm hug. And like the time they hugged onboard the ship the tears started to flow again. "You know I always want to be happy and smile for you because I know you want me to. And yet I cried more in front of you than I ever did in my whole life. That doesn´t make a lot of sense." She tried to laugh but the tears were still flowing.
Sokka smiled at her again with that warm grin and compassionate gaze he seemed to have reserved only for her or did so atleast in Azula´s oppinion. "You have a soft spot for me that´s okay.". "But if you ever tell someone I have to kill you. Soft spot or not.", as she said that she looked dead serious and Sokka was a bit uneasy. But then they both started to laugh. "I missed your sense of humor, Azula." "One question though Sokka, what does living here mean?". "You mean besides fishing firenation princesses out of the water?", he got a little bump in his ribs for that, "You´ll see tomorrow. When you´ll start your new life!".
So I know it is not big, just a little chapter to ease into the story again. Hope you´ll review anyway. Z