Author Note: Yeah, I'm holding off on the 'fun stuff' but it is coming (pun intended) soon..ish. Maybe. "evil laugh" Thanks for reading and continuing to read the story! Enjoy Chapter 11 Leave reviews and mark as following or favorite! Please.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any rights to Avatar the Last Air Bender. I did not create it and I will not profit from it in any way, shape or form.
Chapter 11: Freedom's Confession
"There are you happy now. I've never had sex. Now will you get off me," Azula said forcefully. She was annoyed, at Sokka for starring at her in shock, and at herself for revealing her shaming secret.
She wasn't ashamed that she still was a virgin, exactly. It was more that she was ashamed because of why she was still a virgin. Everyone she knew had 'hooked' up at least once in their life, but not her. She was too good at scaring men off for that kind of activity.
When Sokka still didn't move from his position above her, she pushed him aside and sat up. He landed on his side next to her, his facial features stuck in a shocked expression. She quickly tied up her shirt once more and turned away. All that could be heard was the rain pelting the tent.
He thinks I'm a freak now. I thought he'd be different. But no, he's just like the other one...
Azula tried not to cry. She never cried, crying was a weakness. As she had in the past, she covered her sadness with a blanket of anger and superiority.
So what if he didn't want her anymore. So what if he found her less desirable. She didn't need him. She didn't need some...peasant putting his hands all over her, or giving her kisses that made her head spin hours afterwards.
Her shoulders slumped, was she ever going to find someone of the opposite to like her in the way she always dreamed about? She had always dreamed of someone who liked, or even loved, the fact that she was both strong and independent. There was no other way for her to be.
As she sat there in her thoughts, she didn't notice Sokka sitting up and moving closer behind her. It wasn't until he placed a hand on her shoulder that she even gave the physical Sokka a thought.
"Azula...I didn't know...I would have…" She heard him begin.
She slapped his hand off and moved to get under the sleeping bag, only to be stopped by the fact that Sokka was sitting on it.
"Don't think anything of it. It's nothing. You don't have to apologize." She took a deep breath and continued in her arrogant voice, "There's nothing to apologize for. I know what you think of me now. And I don't want you to make some lame ass apology for it." She looked at him directly, keeping her face calm and careless. "We'll just chalk this up to a failed experiment and move on. We have a mission to accomplish. And we can't be distracted by...by this." She finished lamely turning her face once more.
She felt his hand brush her cheek, she closed her eyes, trying to block out the feelings the simple gesture made her feel. Slowly, she felt him turning her to face him. She braced herself and opened her eyes to see him looking at her with...affection?
Maybe he doesn't think I'm a freak.
She had to admit to herself that this self-doubt was really getting on her nerves. She never had doubted herself before, now it seemed to be an issue for her all the time. This only added to her irritation about the whole ordeal.
'You've never been in a relationship before either. You were a weapon for your father, nothing more,' and evil little voice whispered in her head. That thought dissolved her irritation.
A relationship, was that was this was?
"Azula I don't think you're a freak at all," Sokka said quietly.
Crap did I say that out loud?
"If I had known about your...umm...lack of experience I wouldn't have pushed so hard. I didn't realize you've never...been with anyone else," Sokka said nervously.
Azula stayed quiet, waiting to see what he did next. She wasn't going to say anything until she knew for sure that he wasn't laughing at her.
"I swear this doesn't change anything…well okay it changes a bit," Azula's face fell. "Now wait, it only changes on 'my' end. It just, makes me want…no need, to be gentler with you. I should probably work on not pushing you against anything." His voice sounded shy and a little guilty to Azula's ears.
"But what if I do like being pushed against things?" Azula surprised herself by asking.
Azula watched as Sokka paused, as if thinking. A little glint, that excited Azula, appeared as he replied," What kind of man would I be to not do what lady asks of me? I'll just be…gentler about it."
"I'm not a delicate flower because of this you know. I just haven't had the chance to...gain experience," she said, using his phrase from earlier.
"I would never consider you a delicate flower Princess. Beautiful like one yes, but delicate you are not."
She could consider that a compliment...she supposed.
"But, I would like to know...if you don't mind me asking...what umm what have you done?"
Wasn't that the question of the evening...
Straightening her shoulders she looked directly at Sokka and replied, "I've kissed a man before. Well a young man before. We were teenagers." Azula noticed that his face had that shocked expression again.
Azula saw him smack his forehead with his hand. "Are all the men in the Fire Nation stupid? Seriously, you should have to be fighting them off with your lighting," he stated still sounding shocked.
She couldn't help it, she giggled. The idea of having to fight off men with her lighting because they all wanted to be intimate with her was slightly hilarious. Her lightening was created by her control; her control was what normally scared the men away in the first place.
"I left the 'fighting off men' thing to Ty Lee. I was too busy trying to conquer the world and then...I sort of went insane...and was in prison." She thought a bit more then confessed," and I've just never attracted men before. They all just seemed...afraid of me. A woman of power isn't exactly considered desirable in the Fire Nation."
"Well I always thought the Fire Nation was full of idiots. And it's good to know I was right." Azula watched as Sokka brought his hands up and cupped her face, gently forcing her to make direct eye contact.
"You are very desirable Azula. To me, I sometimes can't stop thinking about how desirable you are. Don't change for anyone…well don't change from who you are now." He paused, "Because I have to admit, the old Azula was a little scary...but even then, I still found you attractive."
She took his face in her hands as well leaning closely and giving him a light kiss.
"I find you very desirable too Sokka. I just…I need some time. While it's not really a big deal, I just don't want to jump into it. Can you understand that? Can you be okay with that?"
She held her breath worried that this would be the ending to whatever it was they had.
"Of course I can handle it. When you're ready, you just let me know. I'll be there."
Azula smiled; yes he really was a gentleman. She moved off the sleeping bag and started to slide in under it.
"Well in that case Peasant, since we've established the rules, why don't we just share this sleeping bag? That way we'll both be warm and I won't wake up to your teeth chattering."
She suppressed a giggle at Sokka's stunned face. Soon Sokka climbed off and then into the sleeping bag, her giggles subsided into a sigh.
"See that wasn't so hard. Good night Peasant." And with that she turned away from him on her side. She pressed her body into his, delighted when his arm came across her waist, pulling her closer.
"You are going to be the death of me Princess."
"But you'll die a happy man, Peasant."
And with that she fell asleep.
The next morning Azula woke up to the sound of heavy rain beating against the tent. Even though the sun was blocked, she knew it was nearing dawn.
As she tried to shift out of the sleeping bag, an arm wrapped itself tighter around her waist and pulled her closer to the body sleeping next to her. She tested moving away again, but found the arm across her waist was like steel and didn't budge.
She looked at Sokka. Like usual, he was sprawled out, well as much as a person could be sharing a sleeping bag, on his stomach. His face was turned towards her.
Although she didn't have much room to move around in, she still took the opportunity to explore what lay before her. Softly she brushed her free hand through his hair to his shoulder. From his shoulder down and across the arm that was currently holding her captured.
She explored the hard muscles of his arm. A couple of times she came across a few small scars, as though he had been cut while in battle.
After exploring his arm, she moved to his back. Azula gently, placed her hand at the base of his neck and slid her hand down and across the expanse of it. It was just like his arms, strong and yet so soft.
Sighing, and getting tired of not being able to move and explore as much as she'd like, Azula ran her hand through Sokka's hair then pulled lightly.
Sokka's head shot up and he shouted, "Azula wants her freedom! I got it!"
Azula couldn't help it, she laughed. That was not the reaction she expected. She watched as Sokka turned towards her, glaring.
"I didn't say anything about you running. In fact I didn't say anything! Why did you pull my hair?"
"Well it's nice to know my reminders are working. Now remove your arm, it's like steel and I can't move, "she said in her most commanding voice.
"I'll show you not moving," he replied threateningly. A moment later Azula found herself under Sokka's entire body with her lips pressed under his own.
I could get used to a morning routine like this
Sokka lifted his head away.
"You don't seem to mind not moving right now," Sokka said smugly.
"That's because I have more area to explore," Azula replied running her hands up and down his chest and abs. She felt him quiver, empowering her.
"You know, while I may enjoy being pushed and pinned, sometimes I would like to do the pinning myself." and with that she rolled them both until she was straddling him. She felt his hardened length between her thighs and shivered slightly.
"It seems you like it too," she laughed bending down to kiss him again. She felt his hands run up her sides, then her back, moving her closer to him.
She broke the kiss and braced herself on her arms looking down at him.
"I remember the first time you slammed me against the wall. Even when I was your enemy, it still gave me a bit of a thrill. Of course I also was thinking about killing you, but your earth bender saved the day. Thankfully," Azula laughed again and bent down for another kiss. However, this time Sokka didn't respond.
"Hey it was in the past, nothing to get upset about now. I no longer have any desire to kill you." She paused, oblivious to Sokka's tense body beneath her. "Now that I'm thinking of it, didn't you do that because of that Kyoshi warrior? Wasn't she your girlfriend?"
"Suki, her name was Suki," it was said so quietly Azula had to bend down further to hear him.
"Whatever happened to her?" At that question Sokka gently, but firmly, grabbed Azula by the waist and moved her off him.
"Hey what happened?" Azula asked curiously. She was picking up on the darkening of Sokka's mood. She watched as Sokka got out of the sleeping bag and moved towards the tent flap.
Were they still lovers perhaps? Maybe he was feeling guilty for deceiving this…other woman. This thought angered Azula greatly.
"Are you...still seeing her? Because if you are, you can consider this...thing we have over. I won't be the other woman." She said sternly, getting angrier as he stayed silent, his back still turned towards her.
"Aren't you going to say anything? What the hell Sokka?"
He turned his head towards her, "She's dead." Azula met Sokka's dead eyes directly. Not even a hint of emotion showed within their depths. Azula braced herself for his next statement, "And I'm the one that caused it."
With that he walked out into the pouring rain, closing the tent tightly behind him.
What?
